Bryce Harper was none too pleased after he was rung up on a check swing Friday night against the Detroit Tigers.
The Philadelphia Phillies star thought he was walked when he saw a low payoff pitch from Tigers reliever Will Vest with two runners in scoring position and first base open with two outs. Harper checked his swing, though, and Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler challenged to third-base umpire Vic Carapazza, who ruled Harper went around and was subsequently out on strikes.
Upset at the call, he gestured toward Carapazza and repeated "there's no way," maybe with an added expletive. That ended his night a tad early, take a look:
After the pitch, Harper put his bat down and started to take off his shin guard, preparing to go to first base before he was called out. Whether he went around or not was certainly a close call.
On the night, he was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk. Despite the late ejection, the Phillies were able to come out on top with a 5-4 win after a two-run eighth inning. They scored three runs in the seventh before Harper was tossed.
Phil Foden has been warned that he's the attacking midfielder most likely to lose their England World Cup spot, with Jude Bellingham backed to be on the plane. The Real Madrid man's omission from October's squad cast doubt over his place in Thomas Tuchel's setup. His November recall, and especially his starting role against Albania, eased those concerns.
Bellingham dug out after being subbed
Bellingham showed clear disappointment when his number went up during the 2-0 win in Tirana. He didn’t erupt, sulk, or storm off, but he didn’t disguise his frustration either. Tuchel admitted afterwards that he hadn’t even noticed it during the match.
"I’ll have to review it," he said with a shrug. "We're about standards, commitment and respect to each other. We'll not change our decision just because someone is waving their arms."
While all eyes were on Bellingham’s every gesture, Foden was dealing with his own storyline. The Manchester City star had not played for England since March, and his return produced a mix of bright moments and quiet frustration. He delivered an assist for Eberechi Eze in the win over Serbia and injected flair against Albania. But he also began both matches from the bench which is an unfamiliar role for one of the Premier League’s standout performers.
The surprise was amplified by Tuchel’s promise that both Foden and Bellingham were being brought back to play central roles. Yet even with that assurance, Foden didn’t start. The manager has openly expressed reluctance to field Foden, Bellingham and Harry Kane together, believing all three operate best in central pockets of the pitch. Against Albania, he relented, but for only 22 minutes. The question now is how long Foden will accept being a rotation option when the World Cup begins.
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Foden's patience could be tested in 2026
Former England forward Emile Heskey has delivered one of the bluntest assessments yet of England’s creative logjam. Asked which attacking midfielder is most vulnerable, he didn’t hesitate.
Speaking exclusively to , Heskey admitted: "It’d probably be Foden. In my eyes, I think it’ll probably be between Foden and Cole Palmer. Cole Palmer hasn’t played much, so he needs to start playing to get that fitness up, especially for a manager who’s all about aggressive running and intensity, so it’ll be out of them.
"I think Jude will go [to the World Cup], if I’m honest with you. I don’t know too much about the camaraderie and the governance within the camp that everyone keeps talking about, but if you’re just going off play, I would say Jude has to go because he comes up with vital goals at pivotal times as well."
But the former striker also highlighted another rising contender in Morgan Rogers, as Heskey could barely contain his admiration for the Bournemouth attacker.
"But then, I think Morgan Rogers is brilliant," he said. "I love the way that he plays. I love the enthusiasm that he plays with. I love the positions that he gets into. He makes intelligent runs off the ball because he creates space for others as well with his runs. I definitely think he’s pushing as a starter, not just a squad player. I think he’s brilliant in that sense. I just think he gives you so much on and off the ball with intelligent runs, and he’s having a good season for me."
Can England cope if a big name misses out?
Heskey believes England could afford to leave one, or even two, high-profile No.10s at home and still challenge for the trophy.
"Yeah, definitely. They’ve got a togetherness anyway as a squad," he said. "They’ve got some fantastic players. They’re the cream of the crop for me. I can’t see them all not being there, but I could see probably one of them not being there, or one or two of them not being there."
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The battle ahead for the Three Lions
England’s fight for creativity is a full-scale power struggle between some of Europe’s most gifted footballers. Tuchel has insisted the World Cup squad will be built on "standards, commitment, and respect."
Dawid Malan, Zak Crawley set hosts on way to 193 for 5, the highest score of the men’s tournament since 2023
ECB Media15-Aug-2025Northern Superchargers 193 for 5 (Malan 58, Crawley 45) beat Birmingham Phoenix 157 for 9 (Bethell 48, Livingstone 46*, Potts 3-26, Lawes 2-23, Rashid 2-26, Duffy 2-31) by 36 runsAn absorbing game in front of a capacity Leeds crowd finally went the way of Harry Brook’s Superchargers, who claimed top spot outright in the men’s Hundred following another scintillating batting performance against Birmingham Phoenix.In pursuit of the Superchargers’ 193 for 5 – the highest score in the men’s tournament since the 2023 season – a magnificent partnership of 80 in just 42 balls between Phoenix’s Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell briefly threatened to upset the odds, but the brilliance of Adil Rashid, who removed Bethell caught-and-bowled with 87 still needed from 38 balls, ultimately swung the momentum back to the home team.Livingstone kept swinging after Bethell’s departure but Rashid’s guile was too much for the Phoenix hitters. In a game dominated by the bat, on a flat pitch with a lightning fast outfield, it was the great legspinner who once again proved to be the difference, outfoxing Livingstone with his 17th delivery to settle the contest.The Phoenix top order again failed to fire, with three wickets falling in the powerplay – two of them to the excellent Matthew Potts, who finished up with three. Phoenix now face an uphill task to qualify for the latter stages of the competition.With the bat, the Superchargers’ superb top four were yet again irrepressible. Zak Crawley and Dawid Malan continued their fruitful opening partnership, adding 67 in 31 balls – Crawley was particularly savage on anything wide, racking up six fours and two sixes in his 23-ball stay – before Michael Pepper and then Brook took centre stage.Brook opened his account with an outrageous scoop for six off his first ball, and finished with 31 from just 14 deliveries as the home side added 40 in the last 20 balls.With three wins in four, Andrew Flintoff’s team are emerging as one of the teams to beat in this year’s tournament.Rashid, named the Meerkat Match Hero, said: “I thought we played exceptionally well. We put a great score on the board, which allowed us bowlers to go out there and attack to take wickets. We’ve got world class players all the way through and great firepower in the middle order.”I know their batters are going to come hard at me, so I need to be unpredictable and mix it up. It’s useful for me because I’ve bowled to a lot of these boys in the nets, so I know their strengths and weaknesses as well, which all plays a part. You’re always learning every day, and hopefully I’ll keep learning until the day comes when I hang up the boots.”
Cordelia Griffith’s bustling knock of 60 from 35 balls laid the foundations for Essex to end their Vitality Blast campaign on a high by seeing off Durham at Chelmsford.The right-hander shared a second-wicket partnership of 66 from 44 with skipper Grace Scrivens (48 from 39) as the home side posted 164 for 3.Durham looked well-placed to chase that down after an opening stand of 78 from 57 between Suzie Bates, who top-scored with 45 from 39 and Emma Marlow – but the momentum shifted after the pair both departed in quick succession.Spinners Abtaha Maqsood and Sophia Smale, who both returned 2 for 26, squeezed the visitors further and their five-match unbeaten sequence came to an end as they fell nine runs short.With Lauren Winfield-Hill returning to Yorkshire at the end of her loan spell, Maddie Penna moved up to open with Scrivens and their partnership of 63 from 52 provided Essex with a strong start after winning the toss.Having pummelled Katherine Fraser to the fence twice in her knock of 25 from 29, the hard-hitting Australian was then given out leg before, but Griffith took up the baton with relish as she lifted Sophia Turner over long-on for six.Griffith’s positive running between the wickets, allied with aggressive strokeplay, propelled her beyond her partner as she raced to a 26-ball half-century but Scrivens narrowly missed out on that landmark, caught reverse paddling Sophia Turner.Durham finished strongly, with legspinner Katie Levick (1 for 24) removing Griffith and she and Sophia Turner gave away just 13 from the last two overs – six of those from the final ball of the innings, dispatched out of the ground by Jo Gardner.Like the home side, Durham progressed through their batting powerplay without shedding any wickets and Bates’ powerful striking kept the scoreboard ticking along as she thumped Kate Coppack for successive boundaries.Marlow (25 from 23) filled a capable supporting role until her miscued drive off Smale sailed into the hands of extra cover – and Durham lost their other set batter in the next over when Bates holed out off Maqsood.The legspinner also accounted for Hollie Armitage, bowled attempting a reverse sweep, but former Essex player Mady Villiers (28 from 22) and Bess Heath (24 from 18) kept the visitors in contention, adding a quickfire 40.However, the task of scoring 17 from the final over proved beyond Durham, who lost two wickets in three balls to stumpings by Amara Carr as Penna closed the game out.
A win at Anfield is as sweet as they come for those of a Manchester United persuasion, with Sunday’s deserved 2-1 victory over struggling champions Liverpool having been almost ten years in the making.
In previous seasons, Cody Gakpo’s late strike may have seen the visitors crumble to a late defeat, or hold on for what would have been seen as a ‘creditable’ but frustrating draw – but not this time.
Up stepped the previously maligned Harry Maguire to deliver the goods yet again, with United’s resurgent centre-back now at the centre of calls for an England recall ahead of next year’s World Cup. So too is back three colleague, Luke Shaw.
It is worth remembering, such is the turbulent nature of the Old Trafford side, that it was just a matter of weeks ago that both men were under the microscope for their performance in the Manchester derby, having been left scrambling at the sight of the surging Erling Haaland.
These players are built up to such heights, before being reduced to such lows, with even the weekend win needing to come with a sense of calm. Such peaks and troughs, such extremes, are no good to anyone.
One man who knows all about navigating the United rollercoaster is Paul Pogba, with the marmite Frenchman having defined the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era more than most.
How Paul Pogba would fit into Amorim's 3-4-3 system
The tale of Pogba’s time in Manchester has been discussed chapter and verse. He came. He left. He came back again. He won the League Cup and Europa League, yet appeared to angle for an exit every summer after. Then he left again in 2022.
Now back in his native France with Monaco, after serving an 18-month suspension at Juventus following a doping ban, Pogba remains among the most polarising United players of modern times.
The sight of the World Cup winner trudging off for his final outing, at Anfield ironically, was fitting for an £89m move that simply didn’t pay off as expected, with the noise that surrounded him – his doing or not – having been frankly tiring.
It wasn’t seen enough, although when actually in his pomp, the fleet-footed midfield could be such a menace, memorably picking up four assists in the opening weekend win over Leeds United in August 2021.
Operating almost as a left-sided midfielder, the maverick playmaker appeared to relish the freedom of being able to get forward and attack, safe in the knowledge that there was ample cover behind him.
In that regard, he may well have been perfect as a number ten in Ruben Amorim’s current set-up, with that role seeing the likes of Mason Mount or Matheus Cunha act as a connector between the midfield and forward line.
Being nudged into a more advanced berth briefly brought the best out of Pogba following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s arrival to replace Jose Mourinho, with the 6 foot 3 machine ending 2018/19 with 27 goals and assists to his name in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt – his best return for United.
Perhaps ill-utilised at Old Trafford, or also not capable of taking on the talismanic role that was expected of him, the now 32-year-old will forever remain a quandary for the Red Devils.
Hopefully, the newest Pogba-type figure can be far more effective under Amorim’s watch.
Man Utd's new Paul Pogba under Amorim
Pogba’s time in United will, rightly, be lost to history before too long. A player who promised so much upon his return in 2016 ultimately delivered so little.
That is in stark contrast to his former teammate, Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese truly emerging as the main man in midfield, his record of 100 goals and 87 assists for the club in 299 games proving as much.
Unlike the Frenchman, even when shifted into a less-suited role the United skipper can still flourish, with Sunday seeing him deliver the crucial assist to Maguire, amid an influential showing in his deep-lying berth.
That decision to drop Fernandes deeper has been in order to accommodate the likes of Mount and Cunha in attack, with the latter man particularly impressing against Arne Slot’s side.
A wait for a goal or assist continues for the £62.5m Brazilian, yet – as noted by journalist Sam Pilger – he already looks to be an “incredible signing”, having led the line superbly last time out.
Described as a “maverick” by ex-MEN correspondent Samuel Luckhurst, there are shades of Pogba about the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man, having already proven himself to be a powerful ball carrier in his left-sided – or central – role.
Against the Merseysiders, the 26-year-old completed 100% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore, while winning two fouls for his side, representing a particular outlet late on when United needed to retain possession.
Cunha vs Liverpool
Stat
Record
Minutes played
90+
Touches
55
Successful dribbles
2/2
Total shots
2
Fouls won
2
Possession lost
14
Pass accuracy
83%
Ground duels
4/9
Aerial duels
1/4
Stats via Sofascore
Not blessed with blistering pace, much like Pogba, Cunha has that knack for being able to fend off his opposite man, while also boasting the quality to be able to slalom his way up the pitch.
Indeed, among forwards in Europe’s top five leagues, he currently ranks in the top 3% for progressive carries – and the top 1% for progressive passes – as per FBref. Pogba, for instance, ranked in the top 19% and top 4% of midfielders for those two metrics, respectively, during his 2018/19 pomp.
Powerful but with the poise to match, Cunha appears to boast the very best attributes of Pogba, acting as a figure who sucks defenders towards him, yet can easily manoeuvre space for himself with a delightful turn or dribble.
The telling difference between him and the Frenchman, however, is that he is also a “workhorse” – as noted by Luckhurst – with there simply so many facets to his game to enjoy.
He’s not perfect, having been given a four-game ban last season at Molineux, but he does certainly look to be the new ‘maverick’ figure at Old Trafford. That sort of status may not have been worn well by Pogba, yet hopefully Cunha’s addition will prove to be far more fruitful.
The early signs are no doubt promising.
£62m Man Utd star looks like their best player "since Fergie retired"
Manchester United might just have turned a corner under Ruben Amorim’s wing.
A postagem na qual o Botafogo oficializou a demissão de Bruno Lage teve repercussão entre os jogadores. Na rede social Instagram, os meio-campistas Marlon Freitas e Matías Segovia curtiram o comunicado com a confirmação do fim da trajetória do técnico no Glorioso.
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A dupla é considerada crucial para o elenco botafoguense.
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Entre as mais de 110 mil curtidas, também estava a de Tiano Gomes, gerente geral das categorias de base do clube.
O Botafogo vinha de uma sequência de maus resultados sob o comando de Bruno Lage. Porém, a decisão de barrar Tiquinho Soares no confronto com o Goiás causou irritação entre os jogadores, tornando sua situação dificílima. Na noite de terça-feira (3), sua saída foi sacramentada.
Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham has claimed Ruben Amorim “obviously doesn’t appreciate” one of his brightest players.
Amorim looking to put own stamp on Man Utd squad
Amorim has made it abundantly clear that he is not willing to change his three-at-the-back system, despite it not yielding the results he would’ve been hoping for, with Man United making a slow start to the Premier League campaign.
The summer transfer window presented the 40-year-old with his first real opportunity to put his own stamp on his squad, and he opted to strengthen in attacking areas for the most part, with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha among the most high-profile signings.
However, one position in which Amorim was ultimately unable to strengthen is central midfield, which he could look to rectify in January, amid links with the likes of Al-Hilal’s Ruben Neves and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba.
United’s interest in a new central midfielder comes amid Kobbie Mainoo receiving very little game time, with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes predominantly being given the nod in the engine room.
Now, Sheringham has claimed that Amorim is simply not a fan of Mainoo.
Mainoo should be given chance against Brentford
It is clear the £70m-rated midfielder isn’t held in the highest of regards by the United boss, having failed to start a single Premier League game this season, but the 20-year-old should be given the opportunity to prove himself against Brentford.
It is very difficult for any player to show what they can do if they only appear as a substitute, and the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium could be the perfect chance for the Englishman to make a statement, given that Casemiro is suspended.
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However, it remains to be seen whether the midfielder is given the nod, given that he is clearly below Manuel Ugarte in the pecking order, with the Uruguayan being brought on at half-time after Casemiro saw red against Chelsea.
With a place in England’s World Cup squad next summer on the line, it is little wonder Mainoo is agitating for a move, and he is likely to grow even more frustrated if he’s once again benched against Brentford.
Chelsea chiefs are expected to undergo a busy end to the summer window, with many deals being lined up through to deadline day on September 1.
Enzo Maresca’s side secured their first win of the new Premier League season on Friday with a thumping 5-1 win away to West Ham, with goals from Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernández, Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah cancelling out Lucas Paqueta’s opening goal.
The only real downside to this game was Cole Palmer’s injury, who suffered a groin problem warming up.
A dismal Hammers side simply couldn’t cope with Chelsea’s serious attacking flair in the final third, but given just how early doors it is, there is no real indication whether the Blues are that good or West Ham are simply that poor.
Considering Graham Potter’s side have conceded eight goals in just two Premier League games, it is more likely the latter point as things stand.
Chelsea still have some upgrading to do in terms of recruitment, with BlueCo currently attempting to round-off deals for Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons.
Both Simons and Garnacho have agreed personal terms to join Chelsea, but the club’s pact with UEFA means that they must wait patiently for Maresca’s side to sell off certain players before officially moving to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are under pressure to produce a ‘positive transfer balance’, or risk being unable to register new signings in their Champions League squad this season.
They’ll also be registering Andrey Santos, who’s set to be integrated into Chelsea’s first team after a stellar season on loan at sister club Strasbourg in 2024/2025.
Chelsea tip Andrey Santos for "important" role
According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are “very happy” with Santos, who notched his first assist for the club on his debut in the Club World Cup earlier this summer.
AndreySantos on loan at RC Strasbourg
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano states that those within the west London club are convinced that Santos can become an “important” player for Maresca, and are set to reject any and all approaches for the Brazilian.
Maresca has also confirmed that the 21-year-old, who bagged a brilliant 11 goals and six assists for Strasbourg from midfield in 2024/2025, won’t be going anywhere, despite reports of an approach from Man United.
After failing to win once more in the Scottish Premiership, one journalist believes that Russell Martin is done at Ibrox and has suggested when Rangers could decide to sack their manager.
Martin admits Ibrox atmosphere is "difficult"
It couldn’t have been a much worse start for Martin. Rangers have been inescapably woeful. The Gers sit 10th and haven’t won a single game in five attempts in the Scottish Premiership to mark their worst start to a league campaign in 47 years. It’s history that the 49ers do not need at the start of a new era and history that Ibrox has turned toxic in the face of.
Boos echoed around the stadium as Rangers fell to defeat once again last weekend. Even as Martin returned from the tunnel after half-time, he was met with the anger of his own home fans. This time it was Hearts who benefitted, picking up their first Ibrox victory since 2014, and compiling Martin’s misery to a new level entirely.
Martin admitted that the atmosphere at Ibrox is currently “difficult”, but also claimed that some fans didn’t want him at the club in the first place – telling reporters: “I don’t think many of them wanted me here in the first place.
“We have a lot of new guys in there. We have a lot of players trying to feel their way in an environment that’s really difficult to feel their way into. Really, really difficult. So we just have to make sure they’re alright as human beings first and improve their performance. But there’s anxiety at the moment.”
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Whether that is the case or not, however, there’s no denying that time is running out for Martin to save his job and one journalist has now set a date that he could be sacked.
When Rangers could sack Russell Martin
According to the Daily Record’s Andy Newport, Martin could be sacked if he doesn’t get a result against Hibernian in the Scottish Cup on Saturday. If the Gers exit the cup competition, it will mark five games without a win and potentially game over for Martin’s tenure.
Newport told Daily Record: “In the eyes of the supporters, he’s toast, he’s done. When he came in, it was the most lukewarm of receptions he got when he was appointed, and the scepticism and the concerns the fans have had since then have only grown. If Martin doesn’t get a result against Hibs, that’ll be the end for him.”
That verdict is no real shock. The biggest surprise is arguably that he is still in a job after the Hearts game and Ibrox’s reaction to that result. Alas, as things stand, Martin seemingly has one last chance to save his job in Scotland.
تحدث النرويجي إيرلينج هالاند، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي مانشستر سيتي، عن منافسته على لقب الحذاء الذهبي رفقة هاري كين وكيليان مبابي في تصريحات عقب فوزه على برينتفورد في الدوري الإنجليزي.
وواجه مانشستر سيتي نظيره برينتفورد، ضمن منافسات الجولة السابعة من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “بريميرليج” على ملعب “جيتك كوميونيتي ستاديوم”، في تمام الساعة السادسة والنصف مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة ومكة المكرمة.
وانتهت المباراة بفوز رجال جوارديولا بنتيجة 1/0 على برينتفورد، في المباراة التي جمعتهما عصر اليوم، الأحد، ضمن منافسات البريميرليج.
وسجل هالاند، الهدف الأول لصالح مانشستر سيتي في الدقيقة التاسعة من عمر المباراة، وهو الهدف الوحيد الذي تم إحرازه في اللقاء.
وقال المهاجم النرويجي في تصريحات عقب المباراة لشبكة “سكاي سبورتس”: “قدمنا مباراة رائعة قبل التوقف الدولي وأنا سعيد بذلك”.
اقرأ أيضًا | هالاند: هذا أفضل هدف بالنسبة لي.. وأوجه التحية إلى ابني
وأضاف: “أعتقد أننا قدمنا أداءً رائعًا في الشوط الأول، سنحت لتيجاني (ريندرز) فرصة تسجيل الهدف الثاني، لكننا لم نستغلها، هذا هو الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، كل ملعب تلعب فيه يختلف عن الآخر، وقد قدم برينتفورد أداءً رائعًا، رمياتهم الطويلة، وأسلوب لعبهم رائع”.
وأكمل: “نجحنا في الحفاظ على شباكنا نظيفة مرة أخرى مع جيجي (دوناروما) في المرمى، أداء رائع مرة أخرى وفي النهاية، بعد عدم الفوز في منتصف الأسبوع، نحاول استعادة نشاطنا والاستعداد للمباراة التالية، هذا ما نحتاجه، لذلك في النهاية نحن جميعًا سعداء، الآن، كلنا نركز على المباريات الدولية”.
حول سباق الحذاء الذهبي الأوروبي مع هاري كين أتم: “لا تنسوا كيليان (مبابي) أيضًا، لقد كانت بدايته عظيمة، إنهم يقدمون أداءً رائعًا، لذلك يجب مواكبة مستواهم”.
ويتصدر الدولي الإنجليزي هاري كين، جدول ترتيب هدافي الدوري الألماني برصيد 11 هدفًا، فيما سجل مبابي 9 أهداف في صدارة هدافي الدوري الإسباني “لا ليجا”، وهو نفس عدد الأهداف التي يتصدر بها هالاند جدول هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي.