Belgium made light work of minnows Luxembourg as Domenico Tedesco's side rounded off their Euro 2024 preparations with a 3-0 victory.
Romelu Lukaku was at the double at Stade Roi Baudouin, with Leandro Trossard also getting in on the act for the Red Devils.
Belgium dominated from the off, though Luxembourg held out until Lukaku converted from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute.
Lukaku made it 2-0 shortly after the restart, with the 31-year-old on hand to finish after fine work from Jeremy Doku.
Trossard added further gloss nine minutes from time, and Belgium will now turn their attention to Euro 2024.
They face Slovakia in their opening group match on June 17, with fixtures against Romania and Ukraine to follow.
Data Debrief: Total control
It really could have been much worse for Luxembourg, given Belgium accumulated 4.81 expected goals from 27 attempts.
In return, Luxembourg mustered just 0.01 xG (essentially, having just one per cent of scoring all match), managing only one shot.
Like the rest of the cricketing world, I was gripped by USA’s victory over Pakistan. It is a huge result which is not only incredible for them but massive for cricket as a whole.
You always expect a few upsets at World Cups and having started well by beating Canada, USA put Pakistan under the pump for pretty much the whole game. The atmosphere in Texas looked great and I think it marks the day the World Cup really started.
USA look very well organised and the way they stood up to that Pakistan attack, one of the best bowling units at the World Cup, you have to give huge kudos to them.
They will now look to cash in on this result and they can absolutely reach the Super 8s – what a story that would be.
They have such talent in the team. Aaron Jones looks right at home on the big stage. For cricket to grow in any country, you need a hero and he is the USA hero. He scored 90-odd against Canada to see them home and now this in the Super Over – what an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup he has had already.
Andries Gous is also a very, very good player, I've watched him in a few tournaments in the US. He's a very good striker of the cricket ball and is very good against spin. Steven Taylor is a quality player, Nitish Kumar can bat as well and Corey Anderson brings the experience.
They know the conditions very well and these grounds do not have big boundaries, so if they get going, they can hurt you.
As for Pakistan, they have no time to waste. They have to re-group for the biggest game of the tournament against India in New York City – that’s just got even bigger.
Their backs are up against the wall and coming off a loss like that straight into playing a team like India, who traditionally have the upper hand in these games, is a huge challenge. India are in the driver's seat, definitely a more relaxed seat, but this is India versus Pakistan at a World Cup, so you can take nothing for granted.
Windies should also capitalize on home advantage
USA are making the most of home advantage so far and my hope is that the West Indies can do the same.
It's never easy playing home, especially in a big occasion like a World Cup, because the expectation is so high.
We know the conditions very well, so outsiders might think we should actually go all the way and win the tournament, but it’s never quite as simple as that.
It is actually quite rare for a home team to win a T20 World Cup but hopefully this year will be a change of fortune. We can lift the trophy on June 29 in Barbados, for sure.
Having not qualified for the last ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, this tournament is so important for cricket in the Caribbean. This is a huge thing for the players to step up and be counted.
We started with an edgy win over Papua New Guinea but sometimes an edgy win is a good win. It was important to start on a winning note and now they just need to kick on, make sure they get to the Super 8s and then look to take it further.
It’s up to the players now to entertain the fans and make sure we get some quality support in the stands, and fill it up.
Nicholas Pooran is going to be key in that respect and Brandon King has been batting superbly as well. I think we have a well balanced all-round team. Romario Shepherd and Andre Russell will have a big part to play at the back end, we have two quality spinners in Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein, and Alzarri Joseph is rapid and very steady.
Anything can happen in that first game, no matter who you are playing – just ask Pakistan – so the win was the most important thing. But if I was in that dressing room, I would be asking for more. I would be saying ‘look, that was our bad game but we still got a win. Now we must push on from here’.
Everyone should be hungrier to go out and deliver more with the bat and with the ball, and step up another level. We certainly have the players capable of doing that.
Ante Budimir's third international goal ensured Croatia secured a first victory over Portugal as they concluded their Euro 2024 preparations with a win.
The visitors took the lead from the penalty spot inside the opening 10 minutes after Vitinha's clumsy challenge on Mateo Kovacic saw captain Luka Modric assume responsibility and fire the ball beyond Diogo Costa.
Croatia's dominance continued for much of the first period, with Lovro Majer forcing Portugal's goalkeeper into making a smart save as Zlatko Dalic's side were rarely troubled by an attacking quartet of Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix and Goncalo Ramos.
However, substitute Diogo Jota was on hand to level the scores three minutes after the restart, tapping home Nelson Semedo's teasing delivery into the area.
Heading into the eighth meeting between the sides, Croatia had managed just one draw from their previous seven encounters with Portugal, but a maiden triumph was theirs when striker Budimir reacted quickest to turn home Mario Pasalic's shot that had come back off the crossbar.
The introductions of Premier League duo Pedro Neto and Mathues Nunes offered the hosts more attacking pedigree, but they were unable to find a way past Dominik Livakovic as Ruben Dias squandered a golden opportunity late on to share the spoils, with Cristiano Ronaldo remaining an unused substitute.
Data Debrief: Budimir the boy as Kovacic stays perfect
Budimir's three shots in the encounter produced the highest xG of anyone on the pitch at 1.07, with Portugal's players combined finishing with an xG of only 1.54.
At the heart of Croatia's midfield, Kovacic was the only player for either side to record a 100 per cent pass completion, completing all 39 of his attempted passes.
Antoine Griezmann has described France team-mate Olivier Giroud as the ideal team player ahead of the 37-year-old's final home international fixture on Sunday.
Les Bleus conclude their Euro 2024 preparations with a friendly fixture against Canada in Bordeaux, before travelling to Germany for their Group D opener against Austria.
The tournament will be Giroud's final for his country, after the former Arsenal striker confirmed he would be retiring from international football at the end of the competition. He will be hoping to add to his 57 goals, which currently has him as France's all-time top scorer.
A move to the United States is on the horizon for the 2018 World Cup winner, officially joining LAFC when the MLS' transfer window opens on July 18, leaving Milan after a three-year stint having scored 48 goals in 132 appearances, the second-most he has managed for a single club behind the Gunners.
Speaking ahead of their fixture against Jesse Marsch's side, Griezmann hailed his team-mate's contribution to his national side, hoping the fixture at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux is a special occasion.
"Giroud said that's his last dance, I hope tomorrow there’s a special something for him," Griezmann said.
"He's a man who deserves recognition. To be the player he has been…that's him, he's the ideal player for a group, for a coach, I have total respect for him and what he's done."
This will be France's first game against Canada since the 1986 World Cup and head coach Didier Deschamps is expecting a more difficult test than last Wednesday when France beat Luxembourg 3-0 in Metz.
Griezmann acknowledged the difficulty his side face, saying: “We need to see if we're ready, tactically, offensively, defensively. This is going to give you some confidence before the big tournament. It's important to see if we're ready. If not, we need to work on it.
"[Canada] won't be easy. We saw that at the World Cup. They have players who are increasingly present here in Europe, so the game is improving over there. They have renowned players, it's a good test for us."
An emotional Jasmine Paolini says this year's French Open was "the best days of my life" following her final defeat to Iga Swiatek on Saturday.
It was the Italian’s maiden Grand Slam final after she saw off Mirra Andreeva in straight sets in the semi-finals.
Paolini was already assured of breaking into the top 10 in the WTA rankings on Monday, no matter her result in the final.
She also booked her place in the women's doubles final after coming from behind with partner Sara Errani and will be playing that showpiece on Sunday.
Speaking after the single’s final, Paolini said she could not believe the journey she had been on in the past two weeks.
"Thanks for coming. I really enjoyed playing today," a choked-up Paolini said.
"The best days of my life, I think. Tomorrow, I have the doubles final. It's been a very intense 15 days, and I'm really happy to be here.
"Today was tough, but I'm really proud of myself anyway. You were cheering for me and that is unbelievable.
"I have to say congratulations to you, Iga. Playing you here is the toughest challenge in the sport. You are doing a great job - world number one and many slams.
"I want to thank my team, my family, everyone who is cheering for me every day. Congratulations to everyone who made this tournament special."
Iga Swiatek thanked the fans at the French Open for giving her the belief she needed to win the tournament after nearly being knocked out in the second round.
The world number one won her fourth title at Roland Garros, and her third in a row with a dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory over Jasmine Paolini on Saturday.
However, she almost made a shock early exit in the tournament at the hands of Naomi Osaka but pulled off an incredible comeback.
Swiatek saved a match point against the former world number one to come from 5-2 down to win the deciding set 7-5, setting her on her way to the trophy.
Now, she is the second player in the Open Era to win all of her first five Women's Singles Grand Slam finals after Monica Seles.
From the round of 16 onwards, Swiatek dropped just 11 games combined on her way to securing the title, but following her win, she said it was the crowd in Paris that boosted her confidence following that game.
"I love this place, I wait every year to come back here," Swiatek said after winning her title.
"I was almost out in the second round so thank you for still cheering for me. I needed to believe that this was possible. It’s been an emotional tournament. Thank you for supporting me.
"I want to thank my team, my family, without them I wouldn't be here. I want to thank everyone who made this tournament possible."
Paolini played in her maiden Grand Slam final and also reached the doubles final on Sunday with partner Sara Errani.
Swiatek was full of praise for her opponent and wished her well in her upcoming showpiece.
"Congrats for an amazing tournament," she added.
"I'm really impressed with how you've been playing these last two weeks. I hope we'll have many more matches in final rounds."
Poland will be without Arkadiusz Milik for their Euro 2024 campaign, with manager Michal Probierz confirming the striker had sustained an injury in their 3-1 victory over Ukraine.
The Juventus striker was forced to withdraw from the action in just the second minute of their encounter at the Stadion Narodowy after going down with a knee injury and was assisted off the pitch by medical staff.
The Eagles boss confirmed that the 30-year-old would not feature in the tournament, with the Polish FA revealing Milik will undergo arthroscopic surgery, having suffered a meniscus problem.
The striker has previously found himself in this unfortunate scenario, having missed Euro 2021 following an injury in Marseille's final match of the 2020-21 Ligue 1 campaign. He also did not feature in either of Poland's play-off qualifiers against Estonia and Wales in March.
Milik managed eight goals for Juventus in 36 appearances in all competitions last season but could now face a significant spell on the sidelines.
Poland face Turkey in their final warm-up fixture before travelling to Germany on Monday, facing the Netherlands in their Group A opener in Hamburg on June 16, followed by matches against Austria and France.
Final Poland squad: Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus), Lukasz Skorupski (Bologna), Marcin Bulka (Nice), Jan Bednarek (Southampton), Bartosz Bereszynski (Empoli), Jakub Kiwior (Arsenal), Tymoteusz Puchacz (Kaisersluatern), Bartosz Salamon (Lech Poznan), Pawel Dawidowicz (Verona), Sebastian Walukiewicz (Empoli), Kamil Grosicki (Pogon Szczecin), Piotr Zielenski (Napoli), Przemyslaw Frankowski (Lens), Sebastian Szymanski (Fenerbahce), Jakub Moder (Brighton), Damian Szymanski (AEK Athens), Nicola Zalewksi (Roma), Bartosz Slisz (Atlanta United), Michal Skoras (Club Brugge), Jakub Piotrowksi (Ludogorets Razgrad), Taras Romanczuk (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Kacper Urbanski (Bologna), Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona), Karol Swiderksi (Verona), Krzysztof Piatek (Istanbul Basaksehir), Adam Buksa (Antalyaspor).
Rocco Lopez and Mattea Issa are the early leaders at the Jamaica Golf Association's National Senior Trials which began on Friday at the Half Moon Golf Course in St. James.
Lopez ended the first round on even par 72 after being on one under par up to the 17th hole but bogeyed the 18th hole.
His scorecard showed three birdies on holes five, twelve and sixteen but they were cancelled out by the three bogeys on holes number one, three and eighteen.
Three former national golf champions Zandre Roye (the current champion), William Knibbs (2023) and Oshae Haye (2022) all shot four over par 76 for a three-way tie for second place.
Roye held the lead at the 13th hole with a two under par score but had a wretched time on the course after that after sending down four bogeys and a double bogey. Overall, he shot four birdies, six bogeys and a double bogey for the round.
Knibbs, who has been away from the local golf scene for a while, sent town six bogeys in the round including bogeys on holes 17 and 18 but he had two birdies in the back nine on holes 10 and 12.
Haye's scorecard showed four bogeys and a double bogey but his two birdies on holes 11 and 12 helped him to share the second spot.
Many time national representative Owen Samuda was one stroke back in fifth place on five over par 77.
Fresh off her first national female golf title was Mattea Issa leads the female section of the national trials by five clear strokes.
Issa closed the first round on four over par 76 after recovering from a rough start bogeying holes number one and two.
She followed up with a birdies on hole number seven but got into trouble again with bogeys on holes nine and sixteen plus a double bogey on hole number 11. She did get a reprieve with a birdie on fifteen.
Emily Mayne returned for the trials after coming off a successful college season in the United States where she helped her university to win the national collegiate championship.
She had a torrid time on the course, sending down 10 bogeys and a birdie for a first-round score of nine over par 81. She topped the national trials in 2022 at the same venue so she will be looking to improve in the second and third rounds.
The golfers will tee off at 10:00 am on Saturday as they seek to improve their scores and positions in order to gain a spot on the national team to represent Jamaica at the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championship in July.
Much like West Indies Head coach Darren Sammy did recently, all-rounder Roston Chase stressed the need for the Caribbean side to not only up their game, but to also remain grounded as they prepare to face newcomers Uganda in their second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup encounter on Saturday.
Chase, who posted an unbeaten 27-ball 42 which propelled West Indies to a five-wicket win over Papua New Guinea in their Group C opener last week, concurred with Sammy that the win was too close for comfort, as they surpassed their target with a solitary over to spare.
Sammy in that post-game assessment, warned his team against complacency against perceived lesser opponents, especially given the number of upsets in the tournament so far, the latest of which came on Friday when Afghanistan hammered New Zealand by 80 runs.
As such, Afghanistan head Group C standings on four points, two ahead of West Indies and Uganda on two points each, with New Zealand and Papua New Guinea yet to get on the board. Uganda also bettered Papua New Guinea in a low-scoring affair.
With that in mind, Chase is well aware that West Indies will require a more efficient execution under the lights at the Guyana National Stadium, as Uganda has nothing to lose heading into the encounter.
“I just think that it’s a World Cup, so you can’t underestimate any team. Every team is as strong as any other team – but I just think for us, it’s a case where we have to improve our dot-ball percentage, especially in the middle overs,” he told journalists during a pre-match news conference on the eve of the game.
“I mean, the pitch is a difficult one that we played on in the first game, so I think it’s a case where we just need to not panic too quickly – just try to stabilise the middle overs, because we have a lot of power in the back end to kind of make up for it. So it’s just a case where we just need to get a few more singles, and turns ones into twos, and stuff like that, and then just launch in the back end,” he added.
Though not as explosive like some of his teammates where boundary hitting is concerned, Chase, 32, has adjusted well to his role in the team –to be a stabilizing force, if and when called upon.
Prior to the global spectacle, Chase showcased his immense growth as a T20 batsman, with scores of 74 and 33 against Nepal, followed by unbeaten knocks of 67 and 32 in the warm-up sweep of South Africa.
“In my cricketing career, I’ve always been one to get some hard tasks, so I really cherish the opportunity and the experiences. I mean, obviously, it’s good to go out there and get an easy job, but I think that your teammates, coaches and especially the fans, I think they rate you more and they appreciate you more when you come through these hard times,” Chase reasoned.
“So I am just always looking to do good even when the pressure is on. I know that once I come out on top, people love me. Once I’m doing what is required for the team, and doing it well, I am happy with that,” the Barbadian noted.
That said, Chase pointed to his unwavering determination to chart his own legacy in the format, as many have likened his role in the team to that of former Jamaican stalwart and batting all-rounder Marlon Samuels, who was instrumental to West Indies’ T20 World Cup triumphs in 2012 and 2016.
“There could only be one Marlon Samuels and one Roston Chase,” Chase declared.
“I mean, if people want to call it the Marlon Samuels role, I have no problem with that. He’s won two world titles playing that role and being the Man-of-the-Match in two of the finals. So, I have no problem with that tag, but I’m my own player,” he ended.
Santi Cazorla has revealed that Mikel Arteta has left the door open for a possible return to Arsenal as part of his coaching staff when he comes to the end of his glistening career.
The 39-year-old returned to his boyhood club Real Oviedo last year and is on the brink of helping Luis Carrion's side return to La Liga after a 23-year exile, in which they dropped as low as the fourth tier of Spanish football.
It is expected that the two-time European Championship winner will retire following their second division play-off final fixture against Eibar, with the possibility of embarking on a career in coaching with the club he spent six years at as a player.
Cazorla made 180 appearances for the Gunners between 2012 and 2016, scoring 29 goals and providing 44 assists in that time, winning the FA Cup and Community Shield on two occasions alongside his fellow compatriot Arteta.
While the Spaniard's full focus will remain on Saturday's fixture with the Carbayones, he revealed that conversations have been had with the Arsenal boss about a potential return to the Emirates.
"I have a very special affection for Arsenal," Cazorla told Sky Sports. "I spent six wonderful years there, and I know how much all the people love me there.
"Of course, I was fortunate to share a dressing room with Mikel Arteta, and now he is the manager. We had conversations about that, but right now I am not focused on anything other than contributing to this club, Oviedo, and continuing to enjoy football as a player.
"After that, we will see what the future holds for me. It is clear that Arsenal is a club that has always left the door open to me to return. But right now, I have enough on my mind with the play-offs and trying to enjoy the last days of my playing career."
Iga Swiatek wins her third consecutive French Open title with a dominant straight-sets victory over Jasmine Paolini on Saturday.
The world number one's brilliant winning streak continued as she won 6-2, 6-1 in one hour and eight minutes on court Philippe-Chatrier.
Paolini, playing in her maiden grand slam final, caused a few nerves by getting an early break, but it was exactly what Swiatek needed to get her focus.
Swiatek won every game in the first set from that point, using power to force Paolini to cover more ground. As mistakes crept into her game, the Pole pushed harder and took the lead.
Swiatek upped her level once more in the second set, with the Italian struggling to find any answers to get back into the tie.
The 23-year-old worked her way through the gears neatly, earning another double break to storm through the first five games.
In her last chance to stay in the match, Paolini went on the offensive to ensure she did not end up on the wrong end of a bagel scoreline, but it only took one more game for Swiatek to wrap up her fifth grand slam title.
Swiatek chases down greats
Swiatek has been equalling records for fun this year, and that only continued with her French Open victory on Saturday.
She now has an impressive four titles at Roland Garros under her belt, and she is just the second women's player to win three consecutively since Justine Henin between 2005 and 2007, and the youngest since Monica Seles between 1990-92.
She is also just the second women's player to win all five of her finals in Grand Slams after Seles during the Open Era, having won the US Open in 2022 as well.
Not only that, but Swiatek is the first player to win three consecutive titles at a single Grand Slam tournament since Serena Williams dominated the US Open between 2012-14.
Swiatek had already previously picked up silverware at the Qatar Open, Indian Wells, Madrid Open and Italian Open in 2024 before adding the Grand Slam title.
She was the favourite going into Saturday's match-up and looked unstoppable, and many will be left wondering just how far she will be able to go in the rest of the year.
A French Open run to be proud of for Paolini
Labelled as a late-bloomer, Paolini is the third player in the last decade to reach her first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros after turning 28, along with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (2021) and Lucie Safarova (2015).
It was always going to be a tough ask for Paolini to get her hands on the French Open trophy going up against as formidable an opponent as Swiatek.
Though she had already pulled off a big upset against Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals, and it looked like she could be on for another shock after a strong opening, she struggled to match her opponent's aggression.
2024 has already seen Paolini undergo huge changes – she came into the year with a losing record of 78-87 and one career title.
Since the turn of the year, she is 22-10 with one trophy and has the French Open doubles final to look forward to on Sunday with partner Sara Errani.
She is already confirmed to move into the top 10 of the rankings following the end of the tournament, having said before the final that she never dreamed this far ahead, only taking each match as it came.
Julian Nagelsmann said he would "not allow any discussion" surrounding Manuel Neuer following his mistake against Greece in their final game ahead of Euro 2024.
The Bayern Munich goalkeeper was at fault for the opening goal of their encounter with Nikos Papadopoulos' side in Monchengladbach, spilling Christos Tzolis' shot into the path of Georgios Masouras, who tapped home.
But the tournament hosts were able to overcome that initial setback, with Kai Havertz levelling 10 minutes into the second half before Pascal Gross secured the victory in the final minute of normal time.
Neuer's error came shortly after it was announced that Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nubel had been dropped from Nagelsmann's 26-man squad, with Oliver Baumann and Marc-Andre ter Stegen named as the other two within the group.
The 38-year-old has played in every single major tournament for his nation since 2010 but has not played for his country since 2022 due to injury.
Speaking shortly after the friendly fixture, the German head coach was quick to defend his number one ahead of their Group A opener against Scotland next week, stating that everything was fine before Die Mannschaft's 14th appearance in the competition.
"I won’t let any discussion arise, even if everyone tries to start one," Nagelsmann said.
"When he makes a mistake it's easy to say that it was his fault. But at the end of the day, it was a series of mistakes. He pulled off three class saves during the match - saves that others might not be able to make. Everything is fine."
Stefan Ortega has signed a new contract with Manchester City ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign.
The German goalkeeper has put pen to paper on a one-year extension that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2026.
His previous deal was due to expire next year, and the news comes as a timely boost for Pep Guardiola as speculation continues to surround Ederson's long-term future at the club.
It is believed that the Brazilian is wanted by a number of clubs in the Saudi Pro League ahead of this transfer window, having lifted his 17th major honour with the Citizens this season.
Ortega played a key role for City last season, making 20 appearances in all competitions and keeping seven clean sheets, with his most notable contribution coming in their 2-0 away success against Tottenham in their penultimate league fixture.
He came on as a substitute for the injured Ederson, making a flurry of important saves to take a big step towards their record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title.
“I am delighted to be staying at Manchester City for longer," Ortega said after signing his new contract.
"This is a football club that provides players with everything we need to be our best. Every single day I feel motivated and challenged, and I have improved as a goalkeeper since coming here two years ago.
“My family are really settled here in England, I love everything about it here. Signing this deal means I can now focus 100 per cent on next season and beyond. [My aim is to] try to get the number one spot. This is why I signed for Man City.”
Max Verstappen admitted it was not an "ideal" start to his Canadian Grand Prix after enduring technical trouble with his car on Friday.
The practice session in Montreal was heavily disrupted by intermittent rain, causing the headline lap times to be effectively meaningless.
However, Verstappen, who was 18th fastest in the second session, suffered a problem with the energy recovery system (ERS) in Practice Two after just four laps, with the Red Bull trailing smoke before returning to the pits.
Red Bull are investigating the cause of the fault ahead of Saturday's qualifying.
"It's not ideal," said Verstappen.
"I would have liked to drive more laps, some other people had a few more laps in the dry and a few more laps in the wet.
"It's definitely not how I would have liked to get on in FP2 but it's more important to figure out what actually happened and what kind of implication it will have for this year and the rest of the year."
Verstappen has won just one of the last three Grand Prix, with Red Bull now holding just a 24-point lead over Ferrari in the championship.
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