New Delhi, July 19 (IANS) France striker Kylian Mbappe penned an emotional note for coach Didier Deschamps, who is departing after 14 years of exceptional dedication to Les Bleus and French football. France finished fourth in the FIFA World Cup 2026 after going down 4-6 to England. It marked Deschamps’ farewell as France manager after 14 years in charge. The 57-year-old took over an underachieving side from Laurent Blanc in 2012 and led it to a second crown in 2018.”You who gave us so much. We s…

New Delhi, July 19 (IANS) With the three-match ODI series between India and England locked at 1-1, former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has backed Rohit Sharma to make tactical adjustments against pace all-rounder Sam Curran in the series decider at Lord’s while insisting that the Indian captain’s strike rate is not a cause for concern. Speaking ahead of the final ODI, Nayar analysed Rohit’s approach in English conditions, the challenge posed by Curran, and the importance of adapting to t…

New Delhi, July 19 (IANS) With the ODI series between India and England set to be decided at Lord’s, former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar believes the spotlight will once again fall on the gripping battle between Jasprit Bumrah and Joe Root. Speaking ahead of the series decider, Nayar praised Root’s approach against India’s premier fast bowler, backed Bumrah’s methods despite the England batter’s success, and said India’s think tank would inevitably discuss fresh plans to dismiss the in-f…

Miami, July 19 (IANS) Bukayo Saka reflected on becoming the third England player to score three goals or more in two editions of the World Cup, after Gary Lineker and Harry Kane and stated that he feels proud to be part of the elite list.Saka came away with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick, getting on the scoresheet with first in the 37th minute, doubling his tally on the stroke of half time and completing his treble from the spot late in the second period.In doing so, he became the seco…

Tokyo, July 19 (IANS) Former world champion and two-time Olympic medallist shuttler PV Sindhu clinched her first BWF Tour title in two years after beating familiar foe and home favourite Akane Yamaguchi to win her maiden Japan Open Super 750 badminton tournament on Sunday. Sindhu registered a 21-17, 21-17 win over four-time champion Yamaguchi here at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Moreover, Sindhu became the first Indian to win a Japan Open.This is the former world champion’s first BWF World …

Miami, July 19 (IANS) England manager Thomas Tuchel hailed the “unbelievable” resilience of his squad after the Three Lions secured its best FIFA World Cup finish in 60 years, overcoming France 6-4 in a thrilling bronze medal match. Tuchel’s side won a 10-goal thriller at Miami Stadium against Les Bleus, following an eye-catching first-half performance, to end this summer’s campaign on a high. And, in doing so, England recorded their highest World Cup finish since lifting the trophy at Wembley i…

Miami, July 19 (IANS) France’s Kylian Mbappe broke Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 21 in the third-place play-off, though Les Bleus lost 6-4 to England. Both Mbappe and Messi began World Cup 2026 adrift of former leader Miroslav Klose. Mbappe now has 22 World Cup goals in as many matches, scoring twice to move ahead of Messi and extend his lead in the Golden Boot race to 10 goals at this tournament, two ahead of Messi.Prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026, Klose led the overall sc…

Budapest (Hungary), July 19 (IANS) Continuing India’s outstanding run in the Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial Senior Ranking Tournament 2026, teenage wrestling sensation Kajal delivered a commanding performance to capture the gold medal in the women’s 76kg category in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday.Displaying the same elite pedigree that saw her get crowned the 2025 U20 World Champion and the 2024 U17 World Champion, Kajal proved that her age-group dominance has seamless…

New York, July 18 (IANS) Spain coach Luis de la Fuente says the only thing that makes him nervous about the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina is that his team will have to fly in a helicopter.The comment says a lot about the calm radiated by the 65-year-old, who spent most of his playing career at Athletic Bilbao and most of his coaching career with youth teams, with five seasons in the Athletic Bilbao youth system and joining the Spanish Football Federation in 2013, with just 11 games…

Bastad (Sweden), July 18 (IANS) Andrey Rublev and Luciano Darderi will be clashing in the final of the Nordea Open ATP 250 series event after both bounced back from second-set setbacks in their respective semifinals on Saturday to set a title showdown between two former champions in Bastad.Top seed Rublev defeated Alejandro Tabilo 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to reach his second Bastad final, while defending champion Darderi outlasted Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 6-4, 6-7(11), 6-3 in a gripping two-hour, 57-minute ba…