Netherlands hit 'minimal standard' vs. Japan, Koeman says - ESPN
ARLINGTON, Texas — Ronald Koeman has said Netherlands' performance in Sunday's 2-2 draw against Japan should be their «minimal standard» if they are to win the World Cup.
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Belgium seek to take the initiative with win in opener against Egypt
SEATTLE, June 14 : Belgium will aim to get on the front foot in their World Cup opener against Egypt, coach Rudi Garcia said on Sunday, though he warned his players to be wary of a team he described as one of the best Africa has ever produced.
Tuchel's 'Grade E' ref Turpin to take charge of England's World Cup opener
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, June 14 : England's opening World Cup match against Croatia on Wednesday will be refereed by Frenchman Clement Turpin, who was once labelled "Grade E" by Thomas Tuchel who is now their coach.
Second-half goal frenzy lights up World Cup prospects for Dutch and Japan
June 14 : Matches are often described as a game of two halves but seldom has the old cliche been more apt than on Sunday when all the goals in the Netherlands' 2-2 draw against Japan came in a pulsating second period after a cagey first 45 minutes.
Stopping the 'Hamilton train' will not be easy, says Wolff
BARCELONA, June 15 : Lewis Hamilton is in the Formula One title reckoning and will be hard to stop now that he is a grand prix winner with Ferrari, according to his former Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.
Netherlands coach Koeman defends tactics after frustration against Japan
SANTA CLARA, California, June 14 : Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman defended his tactics and substitutions after Dutch hopes of victory in their World Cup opener were foiled by a late Japan goal in the 2-2 draw on Sunday. Two well-taken goals by captain Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville either side of Keito Nakamura's conversion put the Netherlands in the lead twice but a deflected Daichi Kamada strike two minutes from time saw the spoils shared. Six minutes after Summerville's 64th-minute goal, Koeman took off the winger in a triple substitution and later added a third centre back in Nathan Ake. The more defensive setup backfired, though, with Japan seizing the initiative and Ogawa firing a header goalward to set up Kamada's equalising deflection. Koeman, however, said he had no regrets about his tactics and that shoddy defending was to blame. "There was also a problem with pressure on the flanks. So if you look at the game, both goals, well, we didn't defend well," he told reporters. "Football is a funny game because, after Japan scored the second goal, they started defending as well. "So we could have scored a third goal.
Egyptians optimistic ahead of World Cup opener against Belgium
Eight years on from Egypt’s last appearance at the World Cup, the Pharaohs are back competing at the quadrennial extravaganza far removed from the negativity that surrounded their campaign at Russia 2018. Back then, the North Africans arrived at the World Cup with Mohamed Salah nursing a shoulder injury he sustained in the Champions League final, just 20 days prior to Egypt’s first game in Russia. The injury cast a dark cloud on the Egyptians, who were present at a World Cup for the first time in 28 years and were hoping to rely on their star winger to lead them against the hosts, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia in their group. Salah missed Egypt’s opening game and was not 100 percent when he played in the other two. Logistical problems (the Pharaohs traveled over 8,500km to play all three games, the most of any team), drama surrounding Salah’s image rights, lack of security at the players’ hotel, and a controversial meet and greet with Chechnyan leadership, all marred Egypt’s long-awaited return to the World Cup and they left Russia with three losses from three games. After failing to qualify for Qatar 2022, Egypt went undefeated under head coach Hossam Hassan to punch their ticket to this year’s World Cup and they kick off their journey in Seattle on Monday against Belgium feeling prepared, positive and confident, despite the difficult task at hand against a team that finished third in Russia 2018. The feeling of optimism extends beyond the players and staff; it is felt on the Egyptian streets and in every household. Even the TV commercials in Egypt are sending a message of hopefulness, be it the Orange ads with the tagline “To all the doubters, this time we’re in it for the long haul”, or Salah’s Pepsi ad set to a Amr Diab
Ranking all seven fights at the UFC White House event - ESPN
The UFC will put on one of its most anticipated fight cards of the year this week, as the promotion hosts an event on the White House's South Lawn on Sunday night.