FC Köln welcome Werder Bremen to the RheinEnergieStadion on Saturday evening as both sides look to secure their second Bundesliga win of the season.
The Billy Goats were handed their first defeat of the season last time out, losing 4-1 away at VfB Stuttgart.
Bremen, meanwhile, make the trip to the Cathedral City after securing a fantastic 3-1 win against RB Leipzig last Saturday.
With kick-off at 18:30 CEST, here are the confirmed starting lineups.
FC Köln (4-5-1): Schwäbe - Castro-Montes, Simpson-Pusey, Lochoshvili, Mensah - Bülter, Krauß, Skhiri, Moore, Maina - Dallinga

#saturday #goats

Stephen Curry has made up his mind about re-signing with the Warriors, Veteran reporter says originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the Golden State Warriors is whether Stephen Curry is re-signing with the team or if he'll head into free agency after the 2026-27 season. He's obviously the face of this franchise, along with Draymond Green, so it would be a huge blow to see him go.
But, this is the NBA, and just look at what happened with LeBron James leaving the Lakers after eight seasons. So, anything can happen in this league.
Now, one veteran Warriors beat writer is **** erting that he knows exactly what Curry will do when it's time to sign on the dotted line. He says Curry is staying in Golden State.
Longtime NBA journalist and The Athletic columnist Marcus Thompson II spoke with HoopsHype about his new book, "Game Changers: The GOATs Who Revolutionized Basketball," and during the talk, he discussed Curry's future.

#state

A North Carolina mother speaks out after her family was exposed to rabid goats from a local petting zoo. This comes as state health officials recommend over 250 people seek treatment. NBC News' Anne Thompson reports.

#mother #family #exposed

Pakistan's head coach and captain merry-go-round: Are the players scapegoats in a systemic issue? originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Pakistan's Test squad and coaching staff faced a wholesale overhaul mid-series in England.
Five years since Ehsan Mani's exit, Pakistan cricket has cycled through constant captaincy, coaching, and administrative instability.
Pakistan's overall records across formats show declining Test performance despite reasonable success in white-ball ICC tournaments.
There's an easy target sitting right in front of us every time Pakistan's cricketers walk out to bat or bowl, and when the team fails miserably, they become sitting ducks waiting for **** fire to be showered on them from all directions.

#test #england

After the move was held up for several weeks, Tottenham Hotspur have now given Mikey Moore permission to join 1. FC Köln, according to Sky Germany and Fabrizio Romano.
The 19-year-old is set to join the Billy Goats on a season-long loan, with his medical examination expected to take place shortly.
Köln have reportedly been in agreement with Moore for some time, but the deal stalled while Tottenham waited for attacking reinforcements to arrive.
Moore has made three appearances for Tottenham's first team this season, racking up one goal and one ******* ist.
He spent last season as a regular starter for Rangers FC on loan.

#hotspur #germany

Several baby goats at a mobile petting zoo in North Carolina were infected with rabies, and authorities are asking anyone who had contact with the animals to reach out to health officials. Rabies can be deadly if people don't receive treatment before symptoms begin.
Residents in western North Carolina may have had contact with the infected goats from Farm Adventures at the mobile petting zoo's location in Harmony or at off-site events between July 28 and August 27, local officials said in a statement.
Farm Adventures is based in Iredell County and books events in surrounding communities, and officials say the owner has been cooperating with the investigation.
"There is not a broad risk to the public — only those who attended events at the mobile petting zoo and were in close contact with the goats are at risk," officials said, asking residents to call their local health department for a rabies risk ***** sment and potential treatment.
"Residents should not wait for symptoms before calling," Mecklenburg County Health Director Dr. Kimberly Scott said.

#Health #mobile #petting

FC Köln will look to improve upon their 14th place finish last year and reach the top half for the first time since their promotion.
Köln were helped massively by an Ísak Jóhannesson double in the first round of the DFB Pokal as they turned around a 1-0 deficit to defeat Wurzburger Kickers 2-1.
Substitute Linton Maina provided the key ***** ist to the winner in the DFB Pokal to see the Billy Goats into the second round.
New Köln signing and returnee to the side Ellyes Skhiri made an appearance in Wurzburg after being substituted in the 74th minute.
He will no doubt make his first appearance for Köln since 2023 on Saturday for the home side.

#appearance #wurzburger #kickers #substitute

After months of rumors and speculation, Said El Mala has decided to sign a contract extension with FC Köln rather than make a move to RB Leipzig or Borussia Dortmund. El Mala's decision to extend his contract with the Billy Goats is an interesting one.
The highly regarded young attacker had attracted attention from two of Germany's biggest clubs, but instead stuck with FC Köln, where he should have a clearer pathway to being a starter.
For El Mala, the decision appears to be about more than simply joining the biggest possible club at 19-years-old. Playing consistently, taking on responsibility and continuing his development could ultimately prove more valuable than immediately competing for minutes at Dortmund or Leipzig.
Köln also represents an opportunity for El Mala to further establish himself in the Bundesliga and demonstrate that he belongs at the highest level. If he develops as expected, those clubs may not be the last giants to show legitimate interest:
Not only did El Mala sign the extension, but he was give the No. 10 jersey, which has not been worn in Cologne since the days of Lukas Podolski:

#mala #contract #biggest #clubs

NEW DELHI: With India's growing injury list putting the spotlight on the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), its head VVS Laxman has pushed back against the scrutiny surrounding the Bengaluru-based facility, insisting that injuries are an unavoidable part of a cricketer's career and that the focus should be on monitoring players rather than finding scapegoats.

The CoE has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks amid concerns over rehabilitation timelines, fitness ******* sments and communication between its sports science team and the national selection committee. Several key players are currently dealing with injuries, with Jasprit ******* rah, Sai Sudharsan, Harshit Rana, Nitish ******* ar Reddy and Washington Sundar among those facing fitness concerns.

Laxman, however, defended the institution's broader role, stressing that it should not be reduced to a rehabilitation centre.

"CoE is not merely a rehab centre. There are bigger roles to play for it in helping cricketers achieve excellence," Laxman said at a press conference in Bengaluru on Sunday.

His comments come at a time when the CoE's injury-management programme is under renewed examination, particularly with India set to begin a crucial Test series against Sri Lanka on August 15.
Laxman also refused to attribute India's injury problems to any individual or department, arguing that injuries are an inherent part of professional sport.

"Injuries are part and parcel of any player's career. That's why monitoring system is very critical. And we don't use the term blame then we will be trying to find scapegoats," he said.

The CoE chief pointed towards the facility's monitoring systems and the measures being used to ******* s players continuously, rather than relying solely on conventional fitness tests.

"Yo Yo test cannot be done when a player is part of the series, so we have introduced Bronco test by Adrian, so that the fitness can be monitored continously," Laxman said.

He cited ******* rah and Sudharsan as examples of players whose fitness was ******* sed through multiple parameters before decisions were made on their availability.

"Jasprit ******* rah and B Sai Sudharsan were picked as subject to fitness. We move them from one parameter to other before giving the clearance to play. The communication between CoE and team management is quite seamless," he added.

The comments are significant given the uncertainty that has surrounded the availability of both ******* rah and Sudharsan for the Sri Lanka Tests.

Both players were initially included in India's squad subject to fitness, but the CoE's medical and sports science experts ultimately opted for caution after ******* sing their respective conditions.

Bumrah's absence is particularly significant, with the fast bowler's knee continuing to cause problems after an impact injury. Fluid retention has required additional recovery time, forcing India to prepare for the series without one of their most impo

Goats' Championship — Saturday, Aug. 8
The St. Joseph Goats get the honor to host The Arena League Championship Game this Saturday at their home stadium, Civic Arena. The Goats will take on the Arkansas Diamonds, who they played in Week 1 this season and came out on top 40-14. The Goats will be playing in their first championship after defeating the Nebraska Siege 57-55. While the Diamonds will be playing in their second straight TAL Championship. For more information and tickets, visit https://stjgoatsfootball.c...
High School Sports — Monday, Aug. 10
It's that time of year! Fall sports are back for MSHSAA schools. Although we're a long way from the crisp fall days and Friday night lights, Aug. 10 marks the start of practices for schools in the area. The News-Press will be on the ground covering our county's schools and producing previews for individual teams, including a very important Pigskin Preview releasing on Aug. 28.
Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp

#goats #arena

Borussia Dortmund submitted a reported €42m bid including bonuses to Cologne for Said El Mala last week, which was quickly rebuffed by the Billy Goats. Sky Germany report that BVB offered €26m fixed + €16m in possible bonuses – €8m realistically achievable, and the other €8m unrealistic.
The bid, submitted last week, reportedly irritated Cologne bosses because it fell short of their €50m price tag set for El Mala. Additionally, the Dortmund's offer is a figure Cologne sporting director Thomas Kessler refuses to let his prized ******* et depart the club for after his breakout campaign.
El Mala, who is interested in making the move to Dortmund, was lauded by Cologne head coach Rene Wagner for his professional conduct in pre-season training.
El Mala is a talented winger with excellent dribbling and playmaking skills. Many questioned why he was not called up for the German national team after his impressive display at Cologne. In total he has made 34 league appearances for Cologne scoring 13 goals and providing five ******* ists in his maiden campaign.
GGFN | Brook Genene

#cologne #mala

Jordan Pickford says England are ready to topple Lionel Messi and Argentina and reach a first World Cup final since 1966.
The massive semi-final clash will see Messi take on the Three Lions for the first time. Much of the focus has been on whether England will be able to contain the eight-time Ballon D'Or winner, who continues to shine on the biggest stage at 39-years-old.
"Of course everyone will talk about Messi because he's one of the GOATs of the game," admitted Pickford. "But you can't look past the ability and the talent that we've got in the squad.
"Going forward, defensively, togetherness, we've got it all there and that's what we need to put on show on Wednesday.
"But we also can't just talk about Messi. They're a good side and they're reigning champions, so they're a good side.

Argentina won the 2022 World Cup, further cementing Lionel Messi's name as one of, if not the, greatest players to ever play the game.
Messi joins celebrated countryman Diego Maradona as debated 'GOATS' to lift the World Cup trophy, as Argentina won for the third time and first since the 1986 tournament in Mexico.
MORE — 100 days away | 2026 World Cup qualification hub
Of course, Kylian Mbappe and France won the previous tournament, four years after Germany laid claim to the 2014 honors through Mario Gotze's marvelous winner.
Uruguay won the first World Cup in 1930 and is one of six teams to win multiple World Cups (Italy, France, Brazil, Germany, Argentina). England and Spain each won once.

1. FC Köln have bolstered their defensive ranks with the signing of 27-year-old left-back Gideon Mensah.
The Ghana international joins the Billy Goats on a free transfer from AJ Auxerre and has signed a two-year deal.
"We have been looking at Gideon for a longer period of time and are pleased that we could convince him to join FC. He brings international experience to the table, put in strong performances in France last season and showed just that at the World Cup as well," said 1. FC Köln managing director Thomas Kessler.
"Gideon is a player that always puts the team first and has a high-level of tactical discipline, plenty of defensive strengths and brings a real dynamic onto the pitch. His profile will give our squad increased stability and quality, increasing our options at this position even further."
Mensah revealed that he had several offers to consider after representing Ghana at the World Cup.

Over the recent years, the Miami Dolphins have been seen as a soft football team under former head coach, Mike McDaniel. When the team played bigger, more physical teams the results were never pretty. Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley are now looking to be the bully and not the bullied. You can see that in their very first draft selection with Kadyn Proctor, who is a huge man that moves well. It may not happen this season, but give the new front office some time to get their players in here and we can judge for ourselves if this team is still soft or not.
You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day's round-up below.
'We're not trying to be the soft and pretty Miami Dolphins' — One young talent says what every fan wants to hear
One of the Miami Dolphins' young talents says the mentality in the building matches the hopes of the fanbase.
Ranking the Most Important Dolphins, No. 16: Kacmarek a Clear Building Block
Going over every player on the roster and examining their projected role for the 2026 season
One of the Miami Dolphins' GOATs appears to be buying what the franchise's new regime is selling
Miami Dolphins legend Jason Taylor knows what it takes to thrive in the NFL. He seems to be buying the direction of this new regime.

By reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the third time in a row, France matches a feat achieved only by Brazil (from 1994 to 2002) and Germany (from 1982 to 1990 and from 2002 to 2014)!
They’ve been compared by goals, **** ists, playing style, trophies... now it’s about their teeth.
Yep, you read that right, their teeth. A dentist gave an **** ysis of the two GOATs’ teeth and apparently, the advantage goes to the Portuguese star.
We thought we’d seen it all, and then the Internet reminds us that’s far from the case. Some clever guy managed to get his hands on the banner paying tribute to James Milner’s record for most Premier League appearances.
This banner, signed by the record holder, is actually up for sale for €880. Now the question is who would want that in their garden.

Ahead of the upcoming 2026-27 Bundesliga season, 1.FC Köln are working hard to beef out their squad with new arrivals.
One such name set to arrive at the Cathedral City club is Gideon Mensah after the two parties reached an agreement on a move.
Mensah, a left-back by trade, will join Effzeh on a free contract provided he completes his medical today, Friday 10 July.
The 27-year-old was part of Ghana's World Cup squad, playing 90 minutes in each of their four fixtures at the tournament.
Mensah is not the only World Cup pedigree player joining the Billygoats – Paul Okon-Engstler is the second imminent arrival.

Joel Lorenzi: Caleb Wilson: "I want to be the greatest of all time. ... Y'all got one of the goats in y'all history, so it's time for another one."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Caleb Wilson: 'I want to be the greatest of all-time'

Football. Soccer. The beautiful game. Whatever you call it, it's inescapable. The 2026 FIFA World Cup kickoff is still days away, but you can't scroll online without being served tunnel fits, Mbappé memes, stadium tours and … is that Channing Tatum in a blond ponytail?
Log off all you want, but there's no hiding from the soccer hysteria IRL either. McDonald's has World Cup-themed Happy Meals. The grocery store is selling Christian Pulisic-collab Ritz crackers and cleat-shaped mac and cheese. Everyone's wearing a jersey and arguing about GOATs, flops and Lamine Yamal's hamstring.
The only thing left to do is join 'em. Here's your guide to the pre-tournament discourse — from the players and fans swarming North America to the storylines tugging at our heartstrings to the pop culture tie-ins worth getting caught up on. At the risk of getting an Elmo-style trolling: We just hope everyone has fun.
While there's a lot of early hype, the kickoff takes place on June 11 and — strap in — because the final isn't until July 19. So pace yourselves accordingly.
There are three host countries this year: U.S., Canada and Mexico. Within that, the action will be spread across 16 cities, including the New York metro area, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas and Kansas City.

A high-profile lawsuit between two well-known entities is never just tried in a courthouse; it's also tried in the court of public opinion. And that's exactly what's happening with the Pattie Gonia vs. Patagonia copyright infringement case. The apparel company sued the drag queen in January after she applied for a trademark to sell merchandise and promote her activism and online marketing. This, the company alleges in a statement posted on its website, violated a previously held agreement between the two parties — though the drag queen claims there was no agreement.
Patagonia maintained it did not want to sue Pattie Gonia, but needed to do so to protect its trademark and itself from bad actors. Initially, when the lawsuit was filed, the drag queen remained silent. However, that silence was broken last week, when she uploaded a video to Instagram and a written statement, claiming that the brand is trying to "erase an activist." At first, Pattie had the court of public opinion on her side, especially in this fraught political landscape where queer and nonbinary people's rights are at risk, and drag queens are used as scapegoats.
The two parties have shared their stipulations for dropping the lawsuit on social media: Pattie says that she would drop her pursuit of a trademark if the brand agrees to drop the lawsuit. Meanwhile, the brand says it will drop the lawsuit if she drops all trademark applications, ceases using its logos, and stops selling and promoting apparel and other products under the name Pattie Gonia.
As the two parties reach a stalemate, Out spoke with three lawyers who specialize in trademark and intellectual property law about what is going on in this case, who has greater legal standing, and what the path forward is for both Pattie Gonia and Patagonia.
Alexandra J. Roberts is a professor of law and media at Northeastern University and a leading voice in intellectual property and social media, with expertise in trademark law. She largely sides with Pattie because she feels the brand has a much higher bar to clear, given the claims in the lawsuit.

After six months on loan at 1. FC Köln, Felipe Chávez is heading back to Bayern Munich.
The Billy Goats confirmed on Thursday that they will not exercise their option to sign the 19-year-old midfielder on a permanent basis.
Chávez made seven appearances for Köln, playing a total of 96 minutes.
The young Peru international has featured twice for Bayern’s senior team.
His contract with the German double winners runs until the summer of 2027.