World Cup quarterfinals: It’s Messi, Morocco, and 6 teams from Europe. And that’s not unusual
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) – The World Cup has narrowed to eight teams, with six from Europe. Unless Morocco surprises everyone, the champion will be from Europe or South America as usual. Historically, 12 champions have come from Europe and 10 from South America. North America is hosting this year and had high hopes with the U.S., Mexico, and Canada but all were eliminated before the quarterfinals. Africa’s hopes now rest on Morocco. Despite some close matches, African teams also made early exits. The tournament continues to show dominance by traditional soccer powerhouses.
‘Ferytale’ rolls on at Wimbledon as British wild card Fery reaches semifinals after meeting queen
LONDON (AP) – The “Ferytale” continues at Wimbledon. Arthur Fery grew up five minutes from the All England Club and now the 114th-ranked player is a semifinalist at the grass-court Grand Slam. The 23-year-old British player who needed a wild-card invitation to enter the tournament beat ninth-seeded Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-0 on Centre Court in front of a Royal Box contingent that included Britain’s Queen Camilla on Wednesday. He will face Alexander Zverev in Friday’s semifinals. Earlier, Marta Kostyuk beat Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2 to reach her first Wimbledon semifinals. Kostyuk will be back on Centre Court on Thursday to face Linda Noskova, who beat Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-5.
Why World Cup game balls always make their way back onto the pitch during matches
ATLANTA (AP) – Game balls for World Cup matches have become stars in their own right during the tournament. The ball has made headlines with its embedded technology and raised questions among fans, including: Why is everyone expected to promptly toss the ball back onto the pitch? It’s a question more out of curiosity than an outcry for change. Catching a baseball in the stands during a game and taking the souvenir home is one of the cherished traditions of America’s favorite pastime. FIFA requires that any ball leaving the field be returned. Soccer historian Charles Cuttone explains that this has always been the norm, partly due to the ball’s cost and technology. Despite the technology, some fans feel they should keep the ball, especially after spending heavily on attending the event.
Justin Verlander plans to retire after this season, capping a career with 3 Cy Young Awards
DETROIT (AP) – Justin Verlander plans to call it a career later this year. The three-time Cy Young Award winner, two-time World Series champion and 2011 AL MVP will retire after this season with the Detroit Tigers. Verlander made the announcement on Wednesday, shortly after he was added as a Legend Pick to the American League All-Star roster. The 43-year-old Verlander is the oldest player in Major League Baseball. He signed a $13 million, one-year contract. He has pitched only once this season and that was back in March. Verlander went on the injured list with hip inflammation and a pulled hamstring.
Ukraine’s Kostyuk extends Wimbledon run as attacks hit Kyiv. She slams IOC decision on Russia
LONDON (AP) – As Marta Kostyuk played her first Wimbledon quarterfinal on Centre Court, her compatriots back home in Ukraine were dealing with another deadly attack by Russia on Kyiv. It has been the same for much of her run to the semifinals at the Grand Slam tournament. For Kostyuk, every day is about finding a way to focus on tennis while not shutting her eyes to what is going on at home. After beating Jasmine Paolini, Kostyuk says: “It’s not easy to disconnect entirely” but that “I try for these things not to influence me too much.” She also criticized the International Olympic Committee for provisionally lifting its ban on Russia, calling the decision “terrible.”
Blackhawks star Connor Bedard to miss start of the season after shoulder surgery
CHICAGO (AP) – Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard will miss the start of the season after he had surgery on his left shoulder. Team physician Michael Terry says Bedard is expected “to make a full recovery in an approximate timeline of four months.” The NHL hasn’t announced its regular-season schedule, but the Blackhawks played their first game last season on Oct. 7. Bedard, who turns 21 on July 17, got hurt while skating with a group of NHL players last week in his hometown of Vancouver. It’s a major blow for a Blackhawks team trying to emerge from a painful rebuilding process.
Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease has bid for his 2nd career no-hitter broken up by Giants in 9th inning
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays took a no-hitter into the ninth inning on Wednesday before the Giants’ Heliot Ramos broke it up a line-drive single to center field. Cease was lifted after Ramos’ hit and got a standing ovation from the San Francisco crowd. Tyler Rogers came on and got the last three outs on four pitches as the Blue Jays won 10-0. The 30-year-old Cease threw a career-high 118 pitches, 81 for strikes, as he sought his second career no-hitter and the first solo no-hitter in the majors since 2024. The All-Star right-hander struck out 11 to increase his American League-leading total to 148.
Queen Camilla visits Wimbledon and is joined by actor who played her husband
LONDON (AP) – Britain’s Queen Camilla is making her customary visit to Wimbledon and was joined in the Royal Box by an actor who once portrayed her husband. It is the fourth year in a row that the queen, the wife of King Charles III, has visited the All England Club on Day 10 of the grass-court Grand Slam tournament. She wore a light blue dress as she took her seat to watch the women’s quarterfinal between Jasmine Paolini and Marta Kostyuk on Centre Court. Other famous faces in the Royal Box included actors Elle Fanning and Dominic West, who was nominated for an Emmy for his role as Charles in the Netflix drama “The Crown.”
The family number 10 now belongs to Tim Hardaway Jr. in Miami. He calls it a superpower
MIAMI (AP) – Tim Hardaway Jr. now wears a Miami Heat jersey, following in his father’s footsteps. The Heat introduced him on Wednesday, giving him a No. 10 jersey with “Jr.” added. Hardaway Jr. often visited Miami as an opponent, inspired by his father’s retired jersey. Now he joins the team he grew up around. He recalls running around the practice floor as a kid while his dad played. Miami wanted a superstar and shooting talent this offseason. Hardaway fits the bill, coming off a strong season. His role is to support Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo by making shots.
Boston’s Willson Contreras, Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone latest to commit to Home Run Derby
Boston’s Willson Contreras and Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone are the latest sluggers to commit to participating in the Home Run Derby on Monday in Philadelphia. The 34-year-old Contreras has 20 homers in 306 at-bats, and stands just a few shy of the career best of 24 he had for the Chicago Cubs in 2019. He is looking to become the first Red Sox player to win a Home Run Derby since David Ortiz in 2010. Contreras and the 23-year-old Caglianone join Ben Rice from the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero in the competition. The other four participants have not yet been announced.
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