NEW DELHI: West Indies captain Roston Chase said his team's 90-run victory over Pakistan in the opening Test was a tribute to legendary all-rounder Garry Sobers, with the players determined to honour the cricket great. Sobers, widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in the game's history, passed away on July 17 at the age of 89. Tuesday marked what would have been his 90th birthday.
Following West Indies' victory at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Chase revealed that the team had spoken about Sobers before the match.

"We wanted to make him proud and had a chat about it before the match. I hope he is smiling down on us."

Chase also thanked the fans who turned up to support the home side.

"I also want to thank the Trinidad crowd for coming out and supporting us. It was not a big crowd, but it gave us enough energy and support to go out there and perform," Chase said.

The win handed West Indies a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.
West Indies entered the Pakistan series after a 1-0 Test series victory over Sri Lanka, and Chase said the team's recent performances were the result of months of hard work.

"I think these two teams that we've played, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, they're closer to us in the rankings. I don't want to say they're teams we should beat, but I think it's a more even contest between us."
He further said, "The guys are confident and over the last few months we've been putting in some extra hard work. We had a camp as well before the Sri Lanka series and I think that really helped us become closer as a unit and also work on our weaknesses and improve our strengths as well. So I think that this is the upliftment of that practice and camp."
Fast bowlers dominated throughout the match at Tarouba, with all 40 wickets falling to seam bowling.

Justin Greaves starred with 5/27 in Pakistan's first innings, while Jayden Seales claimed 5/20 in the second innings. Together, they picked up 13 wickets.

Greaves also produced the rare achievement of bowling five successive wicket maidens in Pakistan's first innings.

Speaking about the conditions, Chase said, "I think it just goes to show that it was more friendly towards the seamers. The Pakistani spinner (Ali Usman) bowled a number of overs (13 in the first innings), he didn't get a wicket. (Jomel) Warrican bowled a few (18 across two innings), didn't get a wicket and didn't look too threatening as well. The (fast bowlers) really put the ball in the right areas and it paid off."

#west

The Professional Fighters League has finalized the lineup for itsJuly 31 event at UBS Arena in Long Island, New York, featuring an11-bout card headlined by a lightweight **** le fight.

PFL New York is headlined by UsmanNurmagomedov vs. ArchieColgan. The card also features several notable matchups acrossthe main and preliminary cards.
PFL New York will see undefeated champion Nurmagomedov (21-0)defend his lightweight crown against unbeaten contender Colgan(13-0) in the main event.

In the co-headliner, top-ranked women's flyweight DakotaDitcheva (15-0) returns after more than a year on the sidelinesagainst DeniseKielholtz (9-5) in a bout with significant **** le implicationsat 125 pounds.

The main card also includes a light heavyweight matchup betweenDovletdzhanYagshimuradov (26-8-1) and SimeonPowell (12-2), while unbeaten lightweight prospect AmruMagomedov (10-0) squares off against AngelAlvarez (11-2).

The preliminary card is topped by a bantamweight clash betweenRaufeonStots (21-4) and unbeaten LazaroDayron (10-0-1). Elsewhere, JonathanPiersma (12-3) faces Omar ElDafrawy (15-6) in a 175-pound catchweight contest, Sean Gauci(11-1) faces AllanBegosso (10-4-1) at bantamweight and unbeaten light heavyweightprospects MoustaphaDiakhate (5-0-1) and ZachariaNishimwe (4-0) are also set to collide.

A lightweighttitle fight headlines PFL NY: Tune on Friday, July 31 at 7 p.m. ETon ESPN.

Other scheduled matchups include a light heavyweight bout betweenundefeated KhabibNabiev (12-0) and JamelleJones (15-8), a women's flyweight contest featuring MontanaDe La Rosa (13-9-1) against unbeaten TatianaPostarnakova (7-0) and a lightweight matchup pitting Chamy Delva(7-1) against LevanKhabalaev (4-0).

The prelims begin at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT on ESPN App, with the maincard airing at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ESPN.

#unbeaten #main

Justin Greaves etched his name into Test cricket history with a sensational spell against Pakistan, becoming the first bowler in recorded Test history to deliver five consecutive wicket-maidens during the opening Test in Tarouba, Trinidad.

The West Indies all-rounder produced a devastating burst on Day 3 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, turning the match on its head after Pakistan appeared well placed in their first innings. Greaves finished with career-best figures of 5/27 from 11 overs, with all five wickets coming in five successive maiden overs without conceding a single run. It was also the 31-year-old's maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

Pakistan resumed the day trailing West Indies' first-innings total of 311 and looked to be building a strong reply through Shan Masood and Salman Agha. The pair safely negotiated the opening hour before Shamar Joseph broke the stand by bowling Agha.

What followed was one of the most remarkable spells in recent Test history.

Greaves dismissed centurion Shan Masood for 109 when the Pakistan batter chopped the ball back onto his stumps. He then removed Aamer Jamal with a delivery that jagged back sharply before trapping Ali Usman leg-before for a duck in the very next over.

Pakistan's hopes rested on Mohammad Rizwan, but Greaves forced the wicketkeeper-batter into flashing at a wide delivery, resulting in an edge behind. In the first over after lunch, he completed his five-wicket haul when Mohammad Abbas poked outside off stump and was caught behind.

The astonishing burst triggered a dramatic collapse, with Pakistan losing five wickets for just 15 runs before eventually being bowled out for 282, handing West Indies a first-innings lead of 29.

Greaves' feat surpassed the previous record of four consecutive wicket-maidens, achieved by former England fast bowler Stuart Broad against South Africa in Johannesburg in January 2016.

The spell not only marked Greaves' maiden Test five-for but also ensured his name entered the record books with an achievement never before seen in available Test records.

#greaves

Javier Mendez detailed Islam Makhachev's preparation for his upcoming welterweight ***** le bout against Ian Machado Garry. The bout will headline UFC 330, marking Makhachev's first welterweight ***** le defense.
Mendez, Makhachev's longtime coach at AKA, believes his pupil has the correct strategy to defeat Machado Garry. The Dagestani, who is known for his grappling ability, can also hold his own on the feet, making him a well-rounded fighter. Although he does not have a training partner that can replicate the Irishman's fighting style, he benefits from training with Usman Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov, the current PFL lightweight champion, is also preparing for his fight at PFL New York. As a result, he and Makhachev can maximize their training sessions while preparing for their respective bouts.
"We don't have somebody [like Machado Garry] at our disposal that is that good. But, we do have who I happen to believe is the No.1 lightweight in the world, Usman, as a main sparring partner," Mendez exclusively told Heavy Sports via NewBettingSites.uk.
Javier Mendez also revealed how Usman Nurmagomedov has helped Islam Makhachev during his training camp. Mendez stressed the importance of Makhachev's timing, particularly when throwing strikes.

#training

Javier Mendez detailed Islam Makhachev's preparation for his upcoming welterweight **** le bout against Ian Machado Garry. The bout will headline UFC 330, marking Makhachev's first welterweight **** le defense.
Mendez, Makhachev's longtime coach at AKA, believes his pupil has the correct strategy to defeat Machado Garry. The Dagestani, who is known for his grappling ability, can also hold his own on the feet, making him a well-rounded fighter. Although he does not have a training partner that can replicate the Irishman's fighting style, he benefits from training with Usman Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov, the current PFL lightweight champion, is also preparing for his fight at PFL New York. As a result, he and Makhachev can maximize their training sessions while preparing for their respective bouts.
"We don't have somebody [like Machado Garry] at our disposal that is that good. But, we do have who I happen to believe is the No.1 lightweight in the world, Usman, as a main sparring partner," Mendez exclusively told Heavy Sports via NewBettingSites.uk.
Javier Mendez also revealed how Usman Nurmagomedov has helped Islam Makhachev during his training camp. Mendez stressed the importance of Makhachev's timing, particularly when throwing strikes.

#welterweight

Hangin' em up?
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight kingpin Kamaru Usman suffered a lopsided unanimous decision loss to former Middleweight roost-ruler Dricus du Plessis in the main event of UFC Oklahoma City last weekend (Sat., July 18, 2026) inside Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
While Usman had a strong fifth round, the former Welterweight champion was not very competitive with Du Plessis for most of the fight. He was rocked several times, struggled to close distance and was unable to consistently take the South African down to implement his wrestling game.
As it turns out, there may have been a pretty significant reason for that.
Usman was apparently compromised.

#plessis

As the MLB trade deadline approaches, Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman has become one of the most intriguing names to watch. With Toronto falling well short of expectations in 2026, rival executives expect the Blue Jays to listen on several veterans, and Gausman is among the biggest potential trade chips.
However, any team hoping to acquire the veteran ace will have to navigate one important obstacle: his no-trade protection. According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, Gausman has the ability to block trades to eight specific teams, giving him significant control over where he could finish the season.
MORE: One player every MLB team will trade at the 2026 trade deadline
Per Rosenthal, Gausman can veto a deal to the following organizations:
Cincinnati Reds

#jays #kevin

Dricus Du Plessis' coach disagrees with Kamaru Usman's complaints throughout the UFC Fight Night 281 headliner.
Du Plessis (24-3 MMA, 10-1 UFC) gave Usman all he could handle on the feet this past Saturday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Usman (21-5 MMA, 16-4 UFC) was badly hurt on multiple occasions, but Morne Visser revealed the strategy was not to hunt for the finish.
Usman asked the referee to intervene during the fight when claiming that he was poked in the eye then later struck with a low blow.
"The game plan was 100 percent to completely stay composed, and that's what (Du Plessis) did," Visser told Submission Radio. "Obviously he listens very well to me, so I've never ever pushed him through the whole fight to push for the finish. I saw that Kamaru does recover very quickly after getting hit that hard and punched that hard in the face. I mean, he was out a couple of times on his feet, but I shouted very loudly to Dricus just to stay composed and pick the shots because a guy who recovers that quickly is dangerous. He's desperate.
"So, I am super, super happy with our results. I think this is the best I've seen Dricus ever or the world has seen him ever. This was a high-pressure fight. I mean, this was our comeback fight after 10, 11 months off. So, I'm very happy. And he listened. We never pushed for anything. We never pushed once for the finish, not even once. I mean, you saw Kamaru complaining about a low blow and the thumb or the finger, all nonsense. Dricus could have finished him there, but he was just not pushing. He was just respectful."

#plessis #usman

The first-place Tampa Bay Rays (58-42) will look to make it three straight this week against the struggling Toronto Blue Jays (46-55) tonight at Rogers Centre. Tampa Bay has dominated the first two games of this series, outscoring Toronto 19-3. With the Yankees rained out yesterday, the Rays' lead in the AL East is now two games. Meanwhile, the Jays are firmly entrenched in the AL East cellar, 12.5 games behind Tampa Bay.
Last night was all Tampa Bay beginning with a three-run first. The Rays pounded out a 12-2 victory, following up Monday's 7-1 win with another offensive explosion. Yandy Díaz led the charge, going 2-for-6 with a home run, three RBIs, and a run scored. On the mound, Drew Rasmussen earned the victory, allowing just two runs on seven hits over five innings while striking out five. Toronto starter Kevin Gausman never found his rhythm, surrendering five runs (four earned) on nine hits in only 3.1 innings, suffering his ninth loss of the season.
Griffin Jax (5-7, 4.08 ERA) gets the ball for Tampa Bay tonight seeking his sixth win of the season. Through 26 appearances, the right-hander has logged 75 innings with 77 strikeouts and a respectable 1.27 WHIP. He is looking to right the ship after a brutal outing last week in which he allowed seven runs on eight hits over just five innings in a 10-0 loss to the Red Sox in Boston. His previous two starts this month yielded better results: one run allowed in five innings against Seattle on July 11 and three runs over five innings against the Yankees on July 6.
It's a bullpen game for Toronto who counters with right-hander Braydon Fisher (3-3, 3.65 ERA). Fisher has quietly been one of Toronto's more effective pitchers this season but has yet to pitch more than 1.2 innings in any outing this season. He did throw one inning Monday against the Rays giving up a couple hits and a run. The Rays have limited history against Fisher, though Yandy Díaz is 2-for-4 (.500) with a 1.100 OPS against him.
Lets dive into tonight's matchup and find a sweat or two.

#fisher

Nottingham Forest are confident of closing a deal for Ousmane Diomande this summer.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
Fabrizio Romano reports on X (formerly Twitter) that the Tricky Trees have sent a proposal valued at around €40m [£34.1m] for the Sporting CP centre-back.
Sources close to Liverpool had previously indicated that the Reds’ recruitment team admired the 22-year-old centre-half.
It’s remarkable work by Forest if the Premier League outfit does indeed manage to secure the footballer for below Sporting’s €80m [£68.2m] release clause.

#forest #centre #ousmane #official

For a man who led France with such distinction, it was not a Bastille Day to savour. Didier Deschamps led his country for longer than Charles de Gaulle, albeit in rather different roles and with a less bombastic style. But he is football's most decorated Frenchman on the global stage. On a day seemingly designed for the French, however, his World Cup in effect ended. Spain outclassed France in Dallas.
After 14 years, after this 14 July, his reign only has a third-place play-off to come. There will be no third World Cup for Deschamps as player or manager, no third consecutive final in the dugout. He can retire the dark suit and white shirt he wore even in the 100-degree heat of Philadelphia. He can still figure in the conversations for the best World Cup manager of all, but victory in New York on Sunday could have rendered him the nonpareil.
"It was not important on a personal level if I leave in a semi-final or final," said Deschamps. In a sense, there was no false modesty; Deschamps has not made it about him, always designing his team around his players, not vice-versa. Yet when he reached the end, it was to a side built around a philosophy, a style of play, an identity. In a sense, Deschamps has seemed the ultimate international manager: because international football can be based around building an environment that players enjoy and decided by moments. Kylian Mbappe can be the best moments player in the world, France the best moments team: but there were no moments against Spain, who suffocated the French forwards and passed with intelligence. They were less reliant on the spectacular.
Until they reached Texas, Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise had obliged; against Senegal, Iraq, Norway and Sweden, and then in a six-minute burst against Morocco. It illustrated that France possessed attacking talent of the highest quality in greater depth than anyone else. Olise was outstanding in the first four games, when France scored 13 goals; less so in the last three, when they got three. Dembele, after his 2022 World Cup ended so ignominiously, proved there were second acts in Deschamps' France, with five goals. Mbappe delivered in every match, except against Spain, before pointing the finger elsewhere in the aftermath of this comprehensive loss.
For much of his tenure, Deschamps was deemed a dullard; maybe unfairly, given his sides have scored four and three in World Cup finals. At the last, and even as France barely threatened the Spain goal, he may have perished by being too adventurous. The tournament began with an underlying question if he should bring in a third midfielder, sacrificing whichever of Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola started for more solidity, and with the ***** umption he would do it at the business end of the competition. If ever there was a time to do it, it was against Spain's pass masters. But Deschamps stuck with 4-2-3-1 and, too often, Spain manoeuvred their way around France in midfield. Deschamps' difficulties were

Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer KhabibNurmagomedov believes IslamMakhachev is in for a tricky outing against IanGarry.

Makhachev (28-1) is set to defend his welterweight **** le for thefirst time against Garry (17-1) in the main event of UFC330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.Makhachev's friend and mentor, Nurmagomedov, notes that his protégéhas never faced an opponent as tall as Garry.
Nurmagomedov admits that Garry's elusive style is a difficultpuzzle to crack. "The Eagle" further notes that Makhachev, nearing35, is six years older than Garry. According to the former unbeatenlightweight champion, the stylistic threat from Garry, combinedwith the age difference, makes it a difficult matchup forMakhachev.

"We've never faced an opponent this tall - 193 cm [6'4"],"Nurmagomedov said on the "Smol Talk" podcast. "We'll have to chasehim, close the distance, grab him, and take him down. It will be adifficult fight. And Islam is almost 35. The stylistic matchup andthe age together make this a difficult fight… I expect a hardfight, **** uming we don't get an early finish. Spending five roundswith this opponent won't be easy. The training camp will bedifficult too, first because we have to find someone who canimitate him."

American Kickboxing Academy founder and head coach of theDagestani team, Javier Mendez, recently revealed that Professional Fighters League champion UsmanNurmagomedov is helping Makhachev by mimicking Garry intraining.

Garry has racked up 10 UFC wins and suffered his lone professionalloss to ShavkatRakhmonov, who is sidelined due to an injury. Meanwhile,Makhachev is undefeated in 16 straight Octagon outings, includingsix **** le fights. The latter is tied with AndersonSilva for consecutive UFC wins, and a victory at UFC 330 willsee the Dagestani set a new record.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been one of the stars of this summer’s World Cup. The Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder has returned to his dominant best and has played a key role in Spain’s progression to the final of the 2026 World Cup. Spain booked their place in the final of the tournament with a dominant 2-0 win over tournament favourites France overnight. Rodri put in a masterful display in midfield to help Spain beat a powerful French outfit. In the process, Rodri’s performance against France was a reminder that Manchester City must extend his contract with the club.
The midfield battle loomed as the decisive factor in Spain’s World Cup semi-final against France. With Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise starting for France, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot started in midfield for Didier Deschamps’ side. In midfield, Spain started Rodri and Fabiàn Ruiz in midfield with Dani Olmo also dropping into midfield.
Simply put, France were overmatched in midfield. A first-half penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal and a second-half strike from Pedro Porro would seal a 2-0 win for Spain. As would an outstanding performance from every Spanish player on the pitch. At the heart of it all was Rodri, who was absolutely brilliant in midfield.
Rodri was at his imperious best in last night’s World Cup semi-final. He dictated the tempo of last night’s match with support from Fabiàn Ruiz and his teammates. Manchester City’s midfield general covered the pitch exceptionally well, routinely snuffing out the threat of the French. Rodri’s ability to read the game and contain any danger was superb. In possession, Rodri was his composed self as the occasion never phased him.
Rodri’s performance last night was reminiscent of his best displays for Manchester City. He has rightly earned the plaudits that his performance deserved. If anything, Rodri’s display was a reminder that he remains by far and away the best number six in world football by some distance.

Everyone thought France would crush Spain. They were counting on Kylian Mbappe and that flashy attack to blow the doors off. Wrong. The reality on the pitch was a total shocker. Spain didn’t just match them; they outsmarted them completely. France’s big threats? Totally neutralized by a smarter, hungrier Spanish squad.
Spain showed the world something huge today. Luis de la Fuente called his squad the best team on the planet. His words carried weight after that dominant 2-0 victory. Think about that for a second. This win proves a collective unit can beat a group of individual stars. It’s not about who you have. It’s about how they play together.
The French lineup looked toothless despite the global superstars on the roster. They threw Rayan Cherki into the mix, but it made zero difference. Spain controlled the game from the first whistle to the last. Their strategy worked perfectly against a team full of famous names. And here’s the kicker: They didn’t even break a sweat doing it.
France hoped their stars would do the damage if Mbappe didn’t score. They looked to Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, and Bradley Barcola for goals. Desire Doue also played, but the French attack failed completely. Not great. They couldn’t find any way to break through the Spanish defense. It was a wall, plain and simple.
Patrick Vieira, a former World Cup winner for France, admitted the truth. He told ITV that Spain dominated the game in every single aspect. Spain circulated the ball with their usual composure throughout the match. They moved France around and opened gaps to exploit them easily. Classic misdirection. Vieira knows a thing or two about winning big.

UFC Oklahoma City has a late addition to the mix.
This Saturday, the UFC heads to Paycom Center in Oklahoma City with a middleweight main event between former champion Dricus du Plessis and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. And on Tuesday, MMA Fighting confirmed that a late addition fight between undefeated prospects takes place on the undercard when Damien Anderson takes on Ezra Elliott in a featherweight contest. Marcel Dorff was first to report the news.
Anderson (5-0) is a 29-year-old fighter out of Texas, with all of his MMA wins coming via stoppage. Anderson spent most of his MMA career in Fury FC, but also has an extensive grappling background, even competing at a UFC Fight Pass Invitational in 2024. Most recently, Anderson submitted Hondo Gutierrez with a kneebar at CFFC 150.
Elliott (7-0) is a 26-year-old prospect hailing from Arizona, where he trains at the MMA Lab. All of Elliott’s career wins have also come by stoppage, including his most recent win over Ashtin Canigla at RUF 68 in May.
Aside from the main event, UFC Oklahoma City also features a middleweight co-main event between Jared Cannonier and Christian Leroy Duncan.

ARLINGTON, TX – It has been nearly two years since France was held scoreless in any international competition, dating back to a 0-0 draw in November 2024 versus Israel in the UEFA Nations League.
Against Spain in the World Cup semifinals, though, just about everything went wrong for the championship favorites.
Les Bleus, led by a world-class attacking trio of Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappé – the Golden Boot leader – and Ousmane Dembélé, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, did more than just fail to score in their 2-0 loss, they struggled to create scoring chances, in general. France created zero big chances, only had three shots on goal and finished the match with 0.30 expected goals.
REQUIRED READING: Mbappé went missing. Spain is the prime suspect | Opinion
Looking to avenge its 2022 World Cup loss to Argentina, France brought its worst game at the worst time.

After largely dominating the World Cup, France hit a wall in Tuesday's semifinal in a 2-0 loss to a Spain team that has allowed just a single goal in seven World Cup games.
Spain's defense locked up French stars Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé while getting a goal in each half to advance to Sunday's final. Spain's first goal arrived via a borderline penalty in which Lamine Yamal drew contact in the box from Lucas Digne while he didn't have possession of the ball.
After the game, France coach Didier Deschamps was asked about the officiating, and he was clearly displeased with the decision.
"Now, I'm asking you, and I'm not going to answer it," Deschamps said, via translation from French. "I don't want to come across as a whiner because we lost, but did tonight's referee have the level to officiate a World Cup semifinal?
When asked a follow-up, Deschamps said that he wasn't just displeased with the critical first-half penalty.

Spain is still alive!
La Roja handled France 2-0 in the World Cup semifinals on Tuesday, July 14, boosting themselves into the final match and ending Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé's run.
After Spain's eighth all-time win over Les Bleus in the World Cup, they will now play either England or Argentina in the final match on Sunday, July 19.
Mbappé still has a chance to capture the Golden Boot as France will face the loser of England vs. Argentina in the third place match on Saturday, July 18.
More: Mbappé went missing. Spain is the prime suspect | Opinion

ARLINGTON, TX — It finally happened in the 81st minute of a 90-minute match. The most fearsome attack in the world put a shot on target.
France manager Didier Deschamps had headaches selecting which of his top-class attackers to play, putting fearsome foursomes on the field spearheaded by Kylian Mbappé, spurred on by the creativity of Michael Olise and with Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé on one wing.
They had smashed through teams, scoring six goals in three knockout matches on the way to Tuesday's semifinal.
Then, it met Spain.
The Désiré Doué shot from outside the box in the 81st and two shots by Dembélé from tight angles in the 96th and 97th minute as France desperately tried to break through were the only efforts they were able to put on Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon over the course of 90 minutes. Once again these teams met in a semifinal. Once again, France is out, with Spain winning 2-0 thanks to a goal on either side of halftime.

How to continue watching Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, other France players after World Cup: Club teams and how to follow Les Bleus' stars originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After 90 minutes in Dallas, it was France who bowed out of the 2026 World Cup in the semifinals. The 2018 winner and 2022 runner-up just missed out on revenge for their previous tournament finish, which means the French players are off to vacation and rejoin their clubs.
Nearly the entirety of the French roster will now scatter across the continent of Europe to get ready for their upcoming seasons in league play, including Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise.
That French attacking trio has evolved into one of the strongest attacking fronts throughout international soccer. The trifecta will have to wait a bit until their next chance at chasing an international trophy.
Now, success must be sought after at the club level.

They won the 2018 World Cup and finished runner-up in 2022 after an incredible final. But France will be coming to Miami to play for the bronze medal in the 2026 World Cup after a shocking loss in the semifinals.
Les Bleus were shut out by Spain 2-0 on Tuesday, July 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. A penalty on teenage star Lamine Yamal led to a Mikel Oyarzabal goal in the 22nd minute, with Pedro Porro adding a second-half goal. It would have been 3-0 if Spain's star 19-year-old had not been ruled offside a few minutes later.
The loss means Spain will play Sunday, July 19 for its second World Cup ***** le at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Meanwhile Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and the star-studded team from France will head to South Florida to play for third place. They could face off against Lionel Messi again if defending champion Argentina lose to Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and England in the other semifinal.
Shop for World Cup tickets in Miami
France has not made an appearance in Miami at this World Cup, though both of its potential opponents have. Argentina won a 3-2 thriller against tournament darling Cape Verde on July 3, while England beat Erling Haaland and Norway just a few days ago in the quarterfinals.

France and Spain will kick off proceedings for this year’s World Cup semi-finals in Dallas, as they face off for just the second time in the tournament’s history.
La Roja have conceded just one goal so far this tournament, which came in their quarter-final tie with Belgium when Charles De Ketelaere headed home late in the first half. However, they have only scored 11 goals, which is certainly fewer than most would have expected given the star power they possess in attack and the free-flowing football they adopt so well.
Meanwhile, France have been similarly strong at the back, conceding just two goals, albeit against weaker opposition, whilst still finding the net 16 times so far this campaign. Eight of those have come from Kylian Mbappé, who remains top of the scoring charts for the tournament, whilst the other eight have been shared amongst Ousmane Dembélé (5), Bradley Barcola (2) and Desiré Doué (1).
Didier Deschamps’ men will be looking to become just the third country in history to reach three consecutive World Cup finals, joining West Germany (1982, 1986 & 1990) and Brazil (1994, 1998 & 2002). Should they do so, then Mbappé could very well become the first person in history to score in three consecutive finals, having already done so against Croatia in 2018 and Argentina in 2022; he would also become on the second player to feature in three consecutive finals, following in the footsteps of Cafu.
Should Spain make the final, however, it will be the first time they have done so since winning it in 2010, which was their only other appearance at that stage of the competition. With England in the semi-final on the other side of the draw, there is, of course, a chance we see a repeat of the Euro 2024 final, which saw Spain run out 2-1 winners.

As we enter the business end of the 2026 World Cup with only four nations remaining, the first of the semi-final ties sees France take on Spain. Both powerhouses of the European game were rightfully amongst the bookies' favourites before the tournament got going.
France have been arguably the standard setters in the World Cup to date, blending defensive solidity with high-octane attacking football. Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano has been one of their shining lights alongside William Saliba in the back four.
Moving into the middle third, former Borussia Mönchengladbach talent Manu Koné has deputised for Aurelien Tchouameni. Bayern Munich's Michael Olise continues to pull the strings from a central position, while ex-BVB star Ousmane Dembélé compliments Kylian Mbappé nicely.
Spain, by contrast, have been a fraction underwhelming in an attacking sense. Nonetheless, they continue to march forth with their strong defensive discipline proving to be the backbone of their success – they leaked their only goal to Belgium thus far.
Although their talisman Lamine Yamal has been quiet by his lofty standards, the winger showed signs of improvement in their quarter final success. Meanwhile, former Dortmund man Mikel Merino continues to deliver game-defining goals off the bench as of late.

France is through to the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup thanks to a 2-0 win over Morocco, and Michael Olise is once again the focus despite Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé being the goalscorers. Football icons Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović raved over Olise’s performance and likened him to former NFL quarterback Tom Brady:
Henry: I want to talk about the pass of Michael Olise. As soon as you get the ball, it’s over. We’re here in Foxborough… Tom Brady, that’s one of your loop passes in between.
Ibrahimović: He did amazing again. He was the point guard. The ‘Tom Brady of France’ today. When you have a player like Olise, don’t think. Just run and the ball will arrive – and it will arrive exactly where you want it.
– FOX Soccer as captured by X account iMiaSanMia
The 24-year-old Bayern Munich winger is the darling of the media for all the right reasons: his creativity and technique is on display for the world to see.

Tottenham Hotspur have fresh encouragement in the race for Eli Junior Kroupi, with Paris Saint-Germain now advancing on Ferran Torres after accepting their pursuit of the Bournemouth forward is fading. According to TeamTalk, the change in direction in Paris has opened a serious window for Spurs to press on with one of their priority attacking plans.
PSG had seen Kroupi as their standout option while seeking a replacement for Goncalo Ramos, who is edging towards AC Milan. Yet the French champions have now been told the young attacker is unwilling to join if it means taking a secondary role behind "the likes of Ousmane Dembele and the club's established attacking stars". That detail matters, because it speaks directly to what has been driving this situation from the start, regular football and a clear pathway.
With that in mind, PSG have moved quickly. TeamTalk reports that Ferran Torres has "now emerged as PSG's preferred alternative", with the Spain international making strong progress towards a switch from Barcelona. The report adds that Torres has "now agreed personal terms with PSG" and that talks between the clubs are moving forward. For Tottenham, that development could prove pivotal.
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There has already been a strong indication that Tottenham's interest in Kroupi is more than exploratory. The 20-year-old has been identified as one of the club's leading attacking targets, with the current regime continuing a major squad build. What stands out in this latest update is the suggestion that Kroupi finds the prospect of joining Tottenham "hugely appealing". In a market where elite young forwards can often wait on bigger names, that wording feels significant.

Much has already been written at this World Cup about the phenomenal numbers Kylian Mbappé has put up. What has been overlooked a bit, though, is that France’s other stars are delivering too. One of them is Ousmane Dembélé, drawing parallels to a legendary duo.
On the one hand, there is Mbappé with eight goals in the current tournament. That currently puts him joint top of the scoring charts alongside Lionel Messi. Not too far behind, in fifth place, is also Dembélé with five goals. Truly not a bad tally either.
'ESPN' shows just how rare it is for two attackers to produce like this at a World Cup.
The last duo to score five goals or more each at a World Cup were Brazilians Ronaldo and Rivaldo in 2002. The two Ballon d'Or winners of course also went on to lift the World Cup trophy that year.
Ronaldo finished the entire tournament with eight goals, while Rivaldo scored five times. So these are the same numbers currently posted by the two Frenchmen. The difference is that Mbappé and Dembélé will still have two more matches to improve their personal stats.

France underscored their status as the World Cup's team to beat on Thursday, overpowering African champions Morocco with a clinical 2-0 win to book their third consecutive semi-finals appearance.
Kylian Mbappe curled in his eighth goal of the tournament on 60 minutes before Ousmane Dembele doubled Les Bleus' lead six minutes later to complete a drama-free victory at the Gillette Stadium outside Boston.
The win sends the 2018 champions into the last four, where they will face either Spain or Belgium at the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas next Tuesday.
"I think that is three consecutive semi-finals, so that's already a good thing. It seems logical and natural, but you still have to achieve it," France coach Didier Deschamps said.
"Obviously, I have great players, otherwise we wouldn't get there, but it's good."

FOXBORO — Thursday afternoon saw France close this World Cup chapter at Boston Stadium in grand style.
Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé both netted brilliant goals in the second half while Morocco was swept aside. It was something approaching a sequel to the 2022 semifinal meeting between the two nations, one ultimately decided by the same score.
France departed under warm sunshine with a 2-0 quarterfinal victory and the crowd of 63,811 fans witnessed another argument as to why they now hold firm favorite status in this tournament. Dembélé’s hat trick against Norway during the group stages here offered a first piece of evidence and a return for the knockout rounds proved to be just another step.
“We are in our own bubble here — myself especially,” France manager Didier Deschamps said via translator. “I want to remain calm and collected. But the players have a duty to give everything on the pitch.
“At times, we’re not succeeding, but we have now taken another step today — again reaching the semifinals. And now we’re here.”

In this energetic live reaction episode of The Cooligans broadcasting straight from a venue in Boston, Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros deliver immediate ******* ysis following France’s clinical 2-0 victory over Morocco in the World Cup quarterfinals. The guys break down a complete, poised, and deeply unified French squad that currently looks a notch above tournament heavyweights like England and Argentina. They marvel at the incredible maturity and selfless play of Kylian Mbappé, whose dynamic run set up Ousmane Dembélé's fifth goal of the tournament to lock down the victory.
The hosts dive into the jaw-dropping stats surrounding this historic French team, noting that they are the first nation since Brazil in 2002 to feature two individual players with five or more goals in a single World Cup campaign. They contrast France's elite tactical output with a highly compact, lackluster performance from Morocco, placing a "stock down" tag on abysmal defensive outings from fullbacks Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui. The conversation then shifts to the dramatic subplot of the Golden Boot race, where Mbappé and Lionel Messi sit tied at eight goals apiece following Argentina’s miraculous, highly controversial 3-2 comeback win against Egypt.
Finally, the guys look ahead to the next massive quarterfinal clash on the bracket: Spain versus Belgium. Christian and Alexis dissect Luis de la Fuente’s tactical setup for Spain, praising the standout tournament performances of Álex Baena and Mikel Oyarzábal, while ******* yzing whether Kevin De Bruyne can pull off a masterclass to keep Belgium's run alive. They close out the stream by taking fan comments from the live chat, discussing Nico González's viral post-match tattoo, and celebrating Swiss-Dominican hero Ruben Vargas.
Timestamps:
(00:00) — Live From Boston: Post-Match Reactions to France 2-0 Morocco

France coach Didier Deschamps paid tribute to forward Kylian Mbappe after he scored his eighth goal of the World Cup to fire Les Bleus into the semi-finals on Thursday with a 2-0 victory over Morocco.
Mbappe opened the scoring on the hour mark at the Gillette Stadium near Boston having earlier had a penalty saved. Ousmane Dembele then completed the job as France reached the last four of a World Cup for the third tournament in a row.
"When it's Kylian, there's no problem -- he never doubts himself, even though he had another chance before scoring," Deschamps told French broadcaster M6 after Mbappe netted his 20th World Cup goal in 20 appearances at the tournament.
Mbappe burst onto the global stage by starring in the side that won the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and then top-scored at the 2022 edition in Qatar with eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final -- he now has two more games at this World Cup to overtake that tally.
Deschamps confirmed that Mbappe was substituted late in the second half because he had taken a knock to the ankle -- the forward was seen applying ice on the sidelines.