Jul. 29—CHAMPAIGN — Matt Leskis has a unique perspective on the football rivalry between Champaign Central and Centennial.
He grew up playing in the battle for Champaign.
Albeit for Centennial, where he graduated from in 1986. The Chargers went 2-2 against the Maroons during his time as a player.
Leskis has served as the Central coach, however, for the last two seasons. When those annual matchups happened the second week of the season.
That won't be the case this year, though. The Maroons and Chargers will meet in Week 9 at Tommy Stewart Field with the regular-season finale scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 16.

#central #maroons #week

Formula One is seriously considering shifting its season finale as the U.S.–Iran war continues in the Middle East.
F1 president Stefano Domenicali told reporters on Wednesday that the finale of the 2026 season will be hosted in Europe if the "situation will not be cleared the way that we believe it should be." The last two races on the calendar are in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
"For us today, the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed," Domenicali said. "By the way, they are already sold out."
He added that the deadline to make a decision is in the "middle of September."
F1 was slated to have a record-tying 24 races to start the season, but that quickly changed after races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were canceled in March and April, respectively, due to the war.

#formula #Iran

The PGa Tour heads to Detroit Golf Club one final time.
While the Tour could return, this week's 2026 Rocket Classic is expected to be the final event at the Donald Ross course in Michigan, which has hosted the tournament since 2019. It boats a strong field, if it is indeed the finale, with numerous top-10 players in the world like Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark and others.
Aldrich Potgieter is the defending champion of the event. Last week's winner, Jackson Koivun, is also in the field.
Here's a look at Thursday's first-round tee times and TV information for the Rocket Classic:
7:00 AM – Brendon Todd, Lanto Griffin, Eric Cole

#final #Event #golf #donald

Aaron Rodgers has officially ended the speculation. He stated there is "zero debate" regarding his future. The four-time MVP confirmed 2026 will be his last season. This news arrives as he reports for his 22nd NFL training camp. Fans can stop guessing about his next move. The decision is final and clear. Rodgers wants to play his final year with freedom.
Rodgers spoke after a conditioning test in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He echoed a sentiment he shared back in May. He admitted he thought last year might be his finale. Then head coach Mike McCarthy got hired by the Steelers. Rodgers discussed the situation with his wife. She told him he could play one more year. The pieces finally came together for this reunion. Rodgers dismissed any idea of changing his mind later. He shook his head firmly when asked about returning. "No," the veteran quarterback said. "Zero debate. Zero."
Not everyone agrees that the decision is permanent. Wide receiver DK Metcalf offered a different perspective to local media. He refused to rule out another year for Rodgers. Metcalf noted that players often speak at the start of a year. They do not know how the season will unfold. He suggested Rodgers might not even get hit this year. If that happens, he could say "let's go out there and do another one." Metcalf believes this mindset puts a weight off Rodgers' back. The quarterback is playing free and enjoying time with close friends. Yet Rodgers remains firm on his timeline. He is not leaving the door open for a 2027 campaign.
This situation marks a significant reunion for Rodgers and McCarthy. The head coach previously coached Rodgers for 13 seasons in Green Bay. That partnership began in 2005 during Rodgers' second NFL season. Now they work together again in Pittsburgh. The context of their history adds weight to this final chapter. Rodgers values the chance to close his career with his old coach. This specific dynamic likely influenced his decision to stay for one more year. The team environment feels right for a final run.
Rodgers made the right call by locking in this timeline. Uncertainty drains energy from a player's performance. Knowing the end date allows him to focus entirely on winning. He does not need to worry about contract extensions or future plans. This clarity helps him play with the freedom Metcalf described. The pressure of the "what if" scenario is gone. It is time to enjoy the game without looking ahead. His confidence in this decision shows his maturity as an athlete.

#year #time #season #head

Detroit — As of right this minute, manager AJ Hinch has every intention of sending Tarik Skubal to the mound Wednesday for his scheduled start in the finale against the Orioles.
Trade deadline rumors be ****** ed.
"We're trying to win the series so it puts us in a better position to be a playoff team," Hinch said. "The information I have is, win the series. We obviously need to win tonight (Tuesday) to put us in that position. But I fully expect him to start."
More: Tigers activate Javier Báez, DFA Jake Rogers
Skubal, who is coming off a 12-strikeout performance against the Royals, fully expects the same thing.

#orioles

LIV Golf Michigan, the league's $40 million team championship, is set to be officially canceled after the status of the 2026 season finale had come under serious doubt last week, sources tell Front Office Sports.
An official announcement on the cancellation is expected on Wednesday, according to golf media personality Tom Hobbs, who runs the Flushing It social accounts, which first reported the news.
LIV Michigan had been scheduled for Aug. 27-30 in suburban Detroit at The Cardinal at Saint John's Resort, which is owned by the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation. Spokespeople for LIV Golf, Saint John's Resort, and the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation have yet to respond to a request for comment from FOS.
As of early Tuesday afternoon, there had not been any internal announcement or memo to players about the cancelation, one source told FOS. But the news does not come as a surprise to anyone inside or around LIV.
The team championship was one of two events FOS sources had pegged last month as being at the most risk of being canceled as a sentiment grew among those in and around LIV that the funding from the Saudi PIF—which has announced it would stop funding LIV after this season—could dry up even earlier than expected. The other event at most risk, per sources, was LIV's regular-season finale in Indianapolis Aug. 20-23, but that is currently scheduled to still take place.

#saint #resort

LIV Golf's team finale has reportedly been canceled.
The report by Flushing It comes a couple weeks after Cleeks captain Martin Kaymer told Today's Golfer that LIV's team championship, scheduled for Aug. 27-30 at The Cardinal at Saint John's in Plymouth, Michigan, was "highly unlikely" to take place.
Flushing It, which previously cited several contractors whose travel arrangements for the event had been canceled, said that an official announcement was expected from LIV on Wednesday.
LIV Michigan was supposed to offer a $40 million purse, down from $50 million last year, with $11.2 million going to the winning team. But PIF's funding, originally announced to run through this year, has begun to dry up earlier than anticipated, according to Front Office Sports, which quoted one LIV source as saying last month, "I don't think they'll ever get to Michigan."
The Detroit News reported last week that no infrastructure had been built at The Cardinal, another ominous sign for LIV Michigan, which would become the second LIV tournament to be scrapped this year.

#million #last

Heading into the 2026 season, Los Angeles Rams legend Norm Van Brocklin's single-game passing record has stood for almost 75 years. With all the changes made to benefit the passing game over the years, it's truly astonishing that Van Brocklin's mark of 554 yards has stood for this long. That said, which quarterback is most likely to break it this season?
Having a 500-yard passing game is a crowning achievement for single callers. Including the playoffs, there have only been 27 such games in NFL history, with Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and Drew Brees the only QBs to have thrown for over 500 yards multiple times. Kirk Cousins is the most recent to have done so, throwing for 509 yards in a 2024 win over the Buccaneers.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the top candidates to topple Van Brocklin's record in 2026.
Let's start with the option closest to home. Stafford once threw for 520 yards as a member of the Lions in the 2011 regular season finale against the Packers at Lambeau Field. Unfortunately, it came in a losing effort, as the quarterback on the opposite sideline, Matt Flynn, threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns in a 45-41 Green Bay win.
Stafford seems like an easy choice given that he's already a member of the 500 Club and has one of the league's most explosive offenses at his disposal. However, he's thrown for at least 450 yards with the Rams once, which came against the Seahawks late last season.

#yards #game #single #stood

The debate surrounding Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's ODI future refuses to die down despite both continuing to deliver for India. While neither head coach Gautam Gambhir nor chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar has publicly committed to their participation in the 2027 World Cup, keeping the speculation around their future alive.

India's recent 1-2 ODI series defeat against England only added fuel to the conversation. Rohit silenced critics with a match-winning century in the series finale, registering his 34th ODI hundred amid speculation that the Lord's fixture could be his final international appearance. Kohli, meanwhile, chipped in with two half-centuries during the series after both senior batters struggled in the opening match.

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta believes there is no need to question Rohit and Kohli's places in the side, but stressed that both must make an immediate impact whenever a series begins instead of taking time to settle.

"That has to be a conversation with everyone, not just them (Kohli and Rohit), that they have to start the series well and hit the ground running. That is a challenge. You can't take one or two games to get into the groove. But that's where the support staff comes in and has conversations with the players by creating an environment to get the best out of everyone," Deep Dasgupta said on his YouTube channel.

Dasgupta insisted that the standards applied to the two stalwarts should remain unchanged despite the increasing scrutiny around their careers.

"There is no conversation needed with them about their places in the team. Four years back, it wasn't like they had to be reminded before every series that they would be in the team. They knew they would be in the team based on their performances. So how does that change now? It does not and should not change," he added.
Questions over the future of Rohit and Kohli have surfaced repeatedly since both retired from Test cricket last year, leaving ODIs as their only international format. Before the Lord's ODI against England, reports suggested that the selection committee was considering moving on from Rohit ahead of the 2027 World Cup to create an opening for Yashasvi Jaiswal.

However, the BCCI leadership dismissed reports that the Lord's encounter would be Rohit's final international appearance.

Dasgupta believes the constant speculation is largely because the pair now feature in only one international format, making every ODI performance subject to greater scrutiny.
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"This discussion about their future is getting exaggerated because they play only one format. When you play multiple formats, if you fail in one but score in the other, the failure is forgotten. So that's a challenge for these two that can't be denied. People will remember what they last did in this format because they play only one format. But the conversation with them should be the same as it was three years ago," he added.

#dasgupta #intern

With rookies already in camp, the Tennessee **** ans are just a few days away from taking the field and watching the position battles commence.
Tennessee made some significant changes to its roster throughout the offseason and will look a lot different than it did in 2025, but it still has some questions to answer on both sides of the ball. In his preseason preview, ESPN's Turron Davenport outlines three key position battles to watch once camp kicks off that could have a major impact on the outcome of the 2026 season.
There's no slam-dunk favorite in the three-way battle between veterans Austin Schlottmann and Andre James and rookie Pat Coogan. Schlottmann has the upper hand, having played in Daboll's offense the past two seasons. But James, a late addition during minicamp, started 31 games for offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo with the Raiders in 2022 and 2023. Coogan has an outside shot at the job because of his top-level communication skills, but he has an uphill battle after being selected in the sixth round in April.
The late addition of James adds some more intrigue to this competition, which had the appearance of a two-horse race throughout most of the offseason. James did have his best seasons under Bricillo, and could surprise. Coogan has championship pedigree from his college days, and could eventually see some reps, definitely making it one of the positions to watch.
Veterans Cordell Volson and Jackson Slater are the primary competitors in this battle. Volson has 48 starts under his belt after being selected by the Bengals in the fourth round in 2022. He missed the 2025 season after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder last August. Slater enters his second season after being selected in the fifth round last year. He played 34 snaps last season, all of which came in the season finale against the Jaguars. Someone needs to emerge quickly to help solidify the right side, especially with questions surrounding Latham at right tackle.

#james

Defending World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers will launch a summer of live Major League Baseball on the BBC when they meet the New York Mets on Sunday.
The Dodgers lead the National League again in 2026, with last season's Most Valuable Player, Shohei Ohtani, to the fore as they target a third consecutive World Series ****** le.
The struggling Mets are in need of inspiration from star man Juan Soto as they look to turn around a difficult start to the season.
The game sets up a run of 10 consecutive live Sunday night MLB matches on the BBC, including the season finale on September 27 before four post-season games the following week.
Why Dodgers are on brink of World Series dynasty

#World #league #defending

The Atlanta Braves secured another series win after Thursday’s 6-5 defeat over the San Diego Padres. The Braves took the series 3-1, making it their second series win since returning from the All-Star Break.
Chris Sale got the start in the series finale, where he struck out 11 in six innings. He surrendered three runs, but the offense picked him up. The Atlanta lineup totaled nine hits, four of them home runs.
Up next, the Braves travel to Camden Yards for a weekend clash with the Baltimore Orioles. The series gets underway tonight at 7:05 ET.
Sean Murphy is joining the Gwinnett Stripers Friday evening to begin his rehab ***** ignment. He has missed the last two months with a fractured finger.
St. Louis Cardinals reliever Max Rajcic recently underwent Tommy John surgery. He will miss the remainder of the season and likely all of 2027.

#Braves

LIV Golf is likely to see its season finale cancelled, in what would be a disaster for the tour.
That’s according to one of their own players, Martin Kaymer, who said there is a 95% chance the final event of the year will not go ahead.
2026 has been disastrous for LIV Golf. Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed left, the Saudi Public Investment Fund withdrew support, and the Asian Tour, once connected to LIV, is now a partner with the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
LIV Michigan’s cancellation is just the latest blow, and it’s exposed a major weakness in their model.
As LIV CEO Scott O’Neil is on a desperate search for investment, his pitch has been centered around a number of key areas. One is the uniqueness of team golf, but that has been undermined by the cancellation of LIV’s Team Championship finale.

#golf #team #brooks

Two Visalia youth baseball teams made history over the weekend.
On Saturday, July 18, the Visalia Blues 11U baseball team defeated Tulare in a 4-3 nailbiter before taking down Elk Grove in the Pacific Southwest Regional Tournament finale.
On the same day, the Blues 12U squad defeated Hilo Black of Hawaii to claim their respective regional championship.
And now, both the Visalia Blues 11U and 12U baseball teams will be heading to the 2026 Cal Ripken World Series.
"It's pretty special, but I'm not surprised by it either," Blues 11U manager Brandon Peters said.

#Baseball

After a strong showing at the NBA’s 2026 summer league in Las Vegas, the Houston Rockets announced Wednesday that Isaiah Crawford was re-signed by the team.
A 6-foot-6 forward with shooting potential on offense and considerable versatility on defense, Crawford is now 24 years old.
From the team’s announcement:
Crawford appeared in 14 games as a two-way player for the Rockets in 2025-26, averaging 11.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 ******* ists and 1.2 blocks per 36 minutes played. He recorded career highs of 11 points and 6 rebounds in the season finale versus Memphis on April 12.
In 20 games while transferred to the Rockets’ G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley, Crawford averaged 19.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.1 ******* ists, and 2.1 steals while shooting 51.5% from the floor and 39.2% from 3-point range.

#crawford #points #games #vegas

The 2026 LIV Golf season still has four events on its schedule — in the United Kingdom, New York, Indianapolis, and the season finale Team Championship in Michigan. However, that final event could be in jeopardy.
From captain of the Cleeks Golf Club, Martin Kaymer, believing it is highly unlikely the finale will happen as scheduled, to CEO Scott O’Neil refusing to guarantee that the final four tournaments of LIV's season will be played, to Jon Rahm refusing to commit to a future with LIV Golf, there was plenty of reason for skepticism surrounding the end of the 2026 season.
With the future of LIV Golf in question throughout this year, more recent news has failed to quell fans' skepticism about the league in general. Here's what we know.
LIV Golf remains in the headlines as executives meet amid ongoing conversations about the future of the sport.

See the LIV golfers who continue to draw attention through both current competition and their place in the broader discussion.

Above, Byeong Hun An in action during the first round of play at LIV Golf Riyadh at the Riyadh Golf Club.

#club #four #finale #final

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (49-54) will go for a sweep of the Miami Marlins (52-50) tonight in the finale of their three-game series at Daikin Park in Houston, TX.
RHP Peter Lambert (8-5, 3.03 ERA), who’s posted a 1.02 ERA (2ER/17.2IP) in his three starts this month, will get the start for the Astros tonight opposite RHP Sandy Alcantara (10-5, 3.89 ERA) and the Marlins.
RIDING THE LAMBO: Tonight’s Astros starter RHP Peter Lambert leads the Astros in wins and among AL pitchers he ranks second in opponent average (.197) and sixth in ERA (3.03) (min. 90IP). Lambert pitched last year for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the NPB, posting a 3.98 ERA (55ER/124.1IP) with 111 strikeouts in 23 starts.
MOVING UP THE LIST: Manager Joe Espada has 224 managerial wins as the Astros skipper, which ties him with Terry Collins (224 wins) for 10th all-time in managerial wins in club history. The two immediately trail Hal Lanier (254 wins) for ninth on that all-time list.
GET ‘EM EARLY: The Astros rank first in the AL and second in the Majors in 1st-inning runs (68). Overall, the Astros rank 11th in the Majors in runs (468), two spots ahead of the Marlins (455), who rank 13th.

#marlins

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani threw a bullpen session prior to Wednesday's game at Philadelphia.
Ohtani had been scheduled to start against the Phillies in the finale of the three-game series. But left knee irritation that kept him out of last week’s All-Star Game scrapped those plans.
The four-time MVP last pitched on July 3. He received a lubricant injection in his balky knee, which does not bother him while batting.
Ohtani was in the lineup Wednesday batting leadoff as the designated hitter. The two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers are scheduled to visit the White House on Thursday, an off day. They begin a three-game series at the New York Mets on Friday.
Ohtani threw about 30 pitches in the bullpen.

#ohtani #philadelphia

Carolina Chaos defenseman Jack Rowlett has been placed on injured reserve after suffering an upper-body injury in the first quarter of Saturday's 10-8 loss to the Denver Outlaws that required the five-time All-Pro to be transported to the local hospital in Fairfield.
According to Dr. Paul Sethi, Medical Director at the PLL, Rowlett was diagnosed with both a cervical strain and a sternoclavicular strain on the left side of his body.
Rowlett will be reassessed heading into Carolina's regular-season finale against the Utah Archers on Aug. 7.
"He will be out the next two weeks, so three games," Chaos general manager Spencer Ford said on Monday. "[He is] in a lot of pain but will get better."
While on injured reserve, Rowlett will miss Carolina's game against the Boston Cannons on July 25, as well as the Chaos' back-to-back contests against the California Redwoods on July 31 and the Philadelphia Waterdogs on Aug. 1.

#july #reserve #body

Argentina must have nine lives, right? Somehow, Argentina has found a way to survive at the last minute in just about every one of its 2026 FIFA World Cup matches. Yes, this style of play has had everyone on the edge of their seats. But how long can this style of play really last? So far, the drama has played superbly on TV (much to FOX and Telemundo's delight). But do the defending World Cup champions have one more in them to repeat yet again?
While Argentina, the Group J winner, has yet again reached the final, the road to Sunday's finale at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, hasn't been an easy one. Time and again, Argentina has been on the brink of elimination. Who will ever forget little-known Cape Verde nearly knocking off the defending champs when Argentina needed extra time in the Round of 32 before finally coming away with a 3-2 win.
The following round against Egypt in the Round of 16 welcomed ridicule against FIFA's officiating and conspiracy theories that the international football federation desperately wanted La Albiceleste to move on. The officiating was so suspicious that non-Argentina soccer fans started referring to Argentina simply as VARgentina, after VAR rulings lifted Argentina to a 3-2 win.
It seemed like Argentina's luck had finally run out in the quarterfinals against Switzerland, which came so, so close to forcing penalty kicks before Argentina bailed itself out in extra time — but only after Breel Embolo was given a red card. Pundits outside Argentina railed against the team because it barely survived against teams outside the top 15 world rankings. Those same pundits deduced that Argentina had finally met its match in the semifinal against an England team ranked fourth in the world.
England held a 1-0 lead and were merely minutes away from going to the final. But the Three Lions played it safe. Way too safe, some would argue, allowing Argentina to score two late goals to survive and advance.

#england #pundits

The summer league has ended for the Philadelphia 76ers after they finished 2-3 out in Las Vegas. They won their first two games, but then ended on a 3-game skid. However, wins and losses do not matter out in Vegas. It's all about how the young players look and how they can adjust to the NBA game after to prepare for what's to come.
Sixers rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr. had some big moments in the summer league as he showed off his skills. He averaged 18.5 points, 5.8 ****** ists, and 3.5 rebounds along with 1.5 steals in four games. He put all of his skills on display and should be able to bring that talent to the league when the regular season begins in October.
Here are the three biggest observations on Philon while at the summer league:
Philon showed the capability to be able to put the ball in the basket. His percentages weren't great, he shot 38.2% overall and 25.8% from deep, but that can be attributed to being the main threat on the floor and teams swarming him whenever he crossed halfcourt. He also was shooting a respectable 39% from deep before a 1-for-13 showing in his final outing on July 15. There were plenty of times when he was blitzed and had to quickly adjust to how teams were defending him. Even with the extra attention, Philon was able to get into the paint, give the summer Sixers somebody who could make plays for others, and was able to make his presence known. It was a solid showing and should give the team some optimism about adding a 3-level scorer to the bench unit.
Over the four games in Vegas, Philon compiled 23 ****** ists against 10 turnovers in the four games he played. He had four turnovers in the finale against the Magic, but fatigue could have been a factor. He played 36:35 in that one on the second day of a back-to-back and he averaged 32 minutes in the summer league. He had seven ****** ists in the opener against the Detroit Pistons, six against the Indiana Pacers, four against the Houston Rockets, and six against the Magic. He was able to make plays for others, was directing traffic, and showed a lot of confidence for a rookie. The Sixers should be happy with what they saw.

#league #four #assists

Lionel Messi has sent an emotional message to Argentina supporters following La Albiceleste's heartbreaking World Cup finale.
Messi's hopes of leading Argentina back-to-back World Cup ******* les ended with a painful 1-0 defeat to reigning European champions Spain in the final.
The defeat left Messi visibly emotional, with the eight-time Balon d'Or winner seen in tears after the final whistle as Argentina's dream came to an end.
The match itself was filled with drama both during and after the game.
Argentina put in a historically disappointing performance with Lionel Scaloni's troops unable to find their groove against a dominant Spanish side.

#spain

Barcelona star Gavi took to social media to send a heartfelt message the way of Blaugrana legend Lionel Messi early this week. This of course comes after Gavi's Spain got the better of Messi's Argentina in the finale of the 2026 World Cup.
The reigning European and South American champions went head-to-head this past weekend, on the grandest stage in international football.
When all was said and done, a member of Hansi Flick's Barcelona squad proved himself the decisive figure, as Ferran Torres' extra-time strike proved the difference between the sides after 120 minutes.
Ferran was one of eight Blaugrana players included in Luis de la Fuente's La Roja ranks for the World Cup.
And as alluded to above, with the dust having now settled on Sunday's matchup, another such star has sent a message the way of the crestfallen Lionel Messi.

#ferran #star #head

Being a Formula 1 World Champion comes with a massive, unavoidable spotlight, but McLaren's Lando Norris is officially drawing a hard line in the sand. During the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, the 26-year-old opened up about the increasingly aggressive paparazzi tactics he has faced off the track, revealing a deeply unsettling incident that left him feeling completely "violated".
While Norris has always been a fan favorite thanks to his laid-back Twitch streams and gaming sessions, his profile skyrocketed after clinching his maiden **** le in the 2025 season finale. Now, he is dealing with the ugly side of global superstardom.
Speaking to The Independent at Spa-Francorchamps, Norris detailed a recent, highly invasive encounter in the UK capital. Rather than just snapping a photo outside a restaurant, photographers actively stalked his car.
"The next level is paparazzi waiting for you in places or tailing you. I drove to my friend's house in London, and I knew a paparazzi was just following me the whole way. And following me through London for 40 minutes, just waiting to see who I was going to meet and where I was going."
For a driver who previously admitted he used to just stay inside and game until midnight, the shift has been jarring. Norris noted that while staying in and being hyper-disciplined wasn't a "bad thing," he is now older and simply wants to enjoy normal dinners with friends without it becoming a social media spectacle.

July 14 (UPI) -- Spain defenders made France's previously potent attack appear pedestrian, shutting out the World Cup favorites Tuesday to advance to the 2026 finale.
Forward Mikel Oyarzabal and defender Pedro Porro found the net in the 2-0 triumph in Arlington, Texas. Spain goalie Unai Simon logged three saves to become the first goalie in World Cup history to secure six clean sheets in the same tournament.
"Today, we were facing the one of the best squads in the world," Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said on the Fox broadcast. "But in front of them, they faced the best team in the world.
"That's the difference. That's a big plus. These players deserve everything."
The top-ranked Spaniards will meet No. 3 Argentina, the defending champions, or No. 4 England in the 2026 World Cup Final at 3 p.m. EDT Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.

The dominance of Barcelona star Lamine Yamal in fixtures against Real Madrid counterpart Kylian Mbappé continued on Tuesday evening.
This came on the international stage, as Spain booked their place in the finale of the World Cup in style.
La Roja marked their return to action a short time ago, locking horns with the aforementioned France in a highly anticipated showdown in Dallas.
The aforementioned Lamine featured from the off in the fixture, from his customary berth on the right flank. And en route to an eventual 2-0 triumph, the 18-year-old played a starring role, winning a penalty and causing all sorts of issues with his constant dribbles out wide.
Kylian Mbappé, on the other hand, endured a night to forget, toiling in his efforts to impact proceedings amid a masterful defensive display from the Spanish.

Spain has entered the scoring chat against France in Tuesday's World Cup semifinal match.
Mikel Oyarzabal gave Spain a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute on a penalty kick following a foul in the box against Lamine Yamal. The goal was Oyarzabal's fifth of the World Cup, which leads the side at the tournament.
The Real Sociedad club forward snapped a 358-minute scoreless streak from France, which previously hadn't allowed a goal since its 4-1 defeat of Norway in its group stage finale.
Should Spain beat France, it will head to the World Cup final against the winner of England-Argentina at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The 2026 World Cup is the largest ever, and USA TODAY is going all in with reporters on the ground in all 16 host cities across three countries to cover 48 teams vying for the trophy. Get our World Cup: Extra Time newsletter in your inbox every morning and join our WhatsApp channel to get the latest updates right in your texts.

Jul. 13—History suggests that the Cincinnati Reds have work to do to avoid being sellers at the trade deadline on Aug. 3.
Entering the series finale against the Cubs on Sunday, July 11, the Reds were seven games under .500 (43-51). In 2024, the Reds were sellers at the trade deadline when they were five games under .500. In 2025, the Reds were buyers at the deadline when they were five games over .500.
If the Reds don't turn July into their best month of this season, they'll face some tough decisions.
And if the Reds end up being sellers, they have several interesting trade candidates.
Third baseman/DH Eugenio Suárez

Jannik Sinner's four-set win over Alexander Zverev in the men's singles final provided a fitting finale to a fabulous fortnight at Wimbledon.
Here, the Press **** ociation picks out five memorable matches.
Women's final – Linda Noskova beat Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
First-time grand slam finalist Noskova squandered five championship points in a dramatic second-set collapse before recovering to win a wild final.
Another former Czech champion, the late Jana Novotna, came to mind when Noskova blew a 5-2 lead in the second set to send the contest to a decider.

The Mets were three outs away on Sunday from salvaging the finale of their three-game series with the Boston Red Sox and entering the All-Star break on a rare high note.
A win wouldn't have done much in the standings as New York is well out of contention in what has been a lost season, but the feeling in the clubhouse would've been positive after Zach Thornton pitched brilliantly in just his third major league start and in line for his first career win.
But even small wins are hard to come by for the Mets this season as Francisco Lindor and Devin Williams were unable to finish the job in the ninth.
Lindor, who was responsible for driving in both New York runs with a first inning double and a solo shot in the sixth, couldn't field a ground ball hit directly at him that could've easily been turned for a game-ending double play which allowed the inning to continue.
"The ball ate me up," Lindor said after the game. "I went after it, it just took a hard hop and hit me on the palm of my hand – the palm and wrist area. I just didn't make the play. It's unacceptable."