Daniel Maldini became the third generation of Maldini to represent Italy after his father Paolo and grandfather Cesare 🥹🧬🇮🇹
Thursday 17 October 2024
SOITH AFRICA SHOCK AUSTRALIA, KNOCKS OUT SIX-TIME CHAMPIONS TO TRACH T20 WORLD CUP FINAL
South Africa pulled off a stunning upset by knocking six-time champions Australia out of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, securing a dominant eight-wicket victory in the semi-final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The Proteas, led by Laura Wolvaardt, avenged their 2023 defeat to Meg Lanning’s Australia in Cape Town, where they lost by 19 runs in the final. This time, they triumphed over the defending champions, who were missing their captain Alyssa Healy due to a foot injury sustained in the match against Pakistan. With this win, South Africa defeated Australia for the first time in eight T20 World Cup meetings and snapped the Aussies' impressive 15-match winning streak in the tournament.
Asked to bat first, Australia posted a modest total of 134/5. South Africa’s Ayobonga Khaka struck early, dismissing makeshift opener Grace Harris for just three runs. Georgia Wareham soon followed, but Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath steadied the innings with a 50-run partnership for the third wicket. Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba broke the stand, removing McGrath for 27.
Mooney top-scored for Australia with 44 off 42 balls before being run out in the 17th over, while Ellyse Perry injected energy into the innings, smashing 31 off 23 balls. Phoebe Litchfield added a quick-fire 16 off nine deliveries to push the total.
Khaka was the standout bowler for South Africa, finishing with figures of 2/24 in her four overs, while Marizanne Kapp and Mlaba chipped in with one wicket each. Chloe Tryon also bowled economically to contain Australia’s batting lineup. South Africa's victory sets the stage for an exciting final, as they aim for their first Women’s T20 World Cup title.
ANGEL REESE GOT HONEST ABOUT COMPETING WITH CAITLIN CLARK THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
Perhaps no rookie competition has been more covered by the media this year than that between Chicago Sky's Angel Reese and Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark.
Their regular season matchups in the WNBA sometimes got ugly for reasons out of the players' control, but for the most part, Reese and Clark's arrival to the league has led to a positive ripple effect causing record numbers of viewers to tune into women's basketball games week after week.
Reese spoke about her and Clark's inaugural season in the W in a recent feature article for the Wall Street Journal and had a candid take on their competitive battles throughout the years. Their on-court "rivalry" dates all the way back to their collegiate playing days, when Reese suited up for LSU and Clark was breaking records with Iowa.
"It's just a full-circle moment of how women are viewed when it comes to trash-talking," Reese said. "It's okay in men's sports. We're going to normalize that in women's sports as well. So it's just super-competitive. I think we're two great competitors."
Reese was referring to a notorious moment during the 2023 NCAA championship game when she appeared to taunt Clark by mimicking the Hawkeyes guard's "You Can't See Me" gesture. LSU went on to beat Iowa, 102-85.
"We brought a lot of fans to this league," Reese said of her and Clark's rookie campaigns. "And I think we're going to continue to do that. And one day, hopefully, we'll be teammates."
Reese and Clark notably linked up for the first time during the WNBA All-Star Game in July. With both players' Olympic futures looming in the horizon, that likely won't be the last time fans see the marquee stars share a court together.
- BY KRISTEN WONG SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
COWBOYS GREAT TROY AIKMAN RIPS LAZY $136 MILLION STAR, FELLOW WRS
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| Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb (middle) |
In terms of personnel, Cowboys backers are aware of the attrition that struck in the last seven months, with the team allowing key free agents to leave and not doing all that much to replace them. Don’t mention past transactions to Jerry Jones, of course, but when it comes to Cowboys great Troy Aikman, you might get a more honest assessment of what’s going on with the messiest 3-3 team in the NFL.
Offseason moves aside, Aikman said on Thursday that the Cowboys problems are not limited to the players who are no longer on the team—there’s plenty to worry about with the players who are still around.
Speaking on Dallas sports radio, 96.7 The Ticket, Aikman laid into one of the units that is not supposed to be all that bad for the Cowboys: the receivers.
And he started with star playmaker CeeDee Lamb, who was given a four-year, $136 million contract after missing training camp and most of the preseason, but has not been up to snuff yet this season.
“I think the routes are terrible. I think they run terrible routes,” Aikman said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “And I’ve thought that beyond this year. I think CeeDee (Lamb) has got to improve in his route running. As a quarterback, if you’re not certain where guys are going to be consistently, it’s hard to play the position. That’s what I see”
CeeDee Lamb Not the Only WR at Fault
The criticism was not limited to Lamb, either. The Cowboys’ No. 2 receiver, Brandin Cooks, has been out with an infection in his knee that will cause him to miss four games (he has missed two). Not having his veteran leadership has hurt, but the problems go beyond Cooks.
Said Aikman: “I see guys lazy coming off the line of scrimmage. Sometimes they run, usually if they do, it’s because they’re anticipating they’re going to get the football on that play, but if they’re not, they don’t. And it all ties together. I’m not impressed with that part of it.”
Lamb is the most obvious target, though, because he is coming off a year in which he led the league and set a franchise record with 135 receptions, for 1,749 yards. His yards per game have dropped from 102.9 last year to 77.8 this year, and he is catching just 58.2% of the balls thrown his way.
The team’s No. 3 receiver, Jalen Tolbert, has played well, with 24 catches and 290 yards, and a 70.6% catch rate. But he is inexperienced, as are the Cowboys’ other options, Kavontae Turpin and Jalen Brooks.
Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Putting up Subpar Numbers
Aikman offered his view of what’s happening with the Cowboys receivers as a defense of quarterback Dak Prescott, who is also collecting a major new contract, having landed a $240 million, four-year deal just before the start of the season.
But Prescott has been under pressure thanks to the Cowboys putting out two rookies on the offensive line, and combined with the lack of execution from the receivers, Prescott has been able to put up only eight touchdowns and six interceptions.
His 85.5 quarterback rating is the worst of his career.
“It’s hard to play the (quarterback) position if you’re not certain how guys are going to run routes or where they’re going to be,” Aikman said. “And I’m not speaking for Dak (Prescott). Dak may say, ‘Hey, I think (their routes) are amazing.’ But as a former quarterback watching it, it’s gotta get a lot better.”
- Sean Deveney
MAX VERSTAPPEN DISCOURAGES 'TOO GOOD' OSCAR PIASTRI FROM AIDING LANDO NORRIS F1 TITLE BID
Lando Norris is chasing down Max Verstappen in the Formula 1 world championship but the Briton's McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri has also proven himself capable of challenging the best
Max Verstappen has revealed that he would not aid Lando Norris' world title bid by accepting being McLaren's secondary driver, were he in Oscar Piastri's position.
Dutch world champions Verstappen leads the drivers' championship once again after taking seven wins and 11 podium places but has seen results dwindle over the course of the season. That has seen Norris rise to the fore and the British racer now only sits 52 points behind with six races remaning.
Norris stood atop the podium last time out in Singapore also claimed victory in Netherlands, while team-mate Piastri tasted success in Azerbaijan to ensure McLaren took the win in three of the last four races. At Monza, Piastri took second, while Norris took third.
Verstappen has not earned a win since the Spanish Grand Prix in June. With an increasing chance of overhauling the 27-year-old Red Bull driver's lead it is said McLaren to have decided to give Norris priority on-track when the situation calls for it.
Piastri was not required to give up position at Monza when he finished one place ahead of his team-mate but as the tensions ramps up, he could now be pushed into a supporting role. That is not something Verstappen would accept, and he believes Piastri's talent should mean he doesn't either..
"For me he's definitely not a [number two driver] and if I was him I would never accept it," Verstappen told Autosport. "For me it's easy to talk, of course, because I've been in Formula 1 for 10 years and it's Oscar's second season, so it is always harder to put your foot down.
"But he's just a great F1 driver who doesn't deserve it to give up wins and positions and play second fiddle because he's asked to."
While it could easily be perceived that Verstappen is trying to add some needle to the relationship of his rivals, Norris appears unafraid to fight for success in the final weeks of the season. The Briton does not want to rob Piastri of victories and simply wants to prove he is the best.
"If a driver is doing better than me and performing, I need to do a better job, so I wouldn't want to take that away from someone," Norris said.
"I also don't want to be given a championship. Yes, it would be great to have a championship, and on the short term you feel amazing, but I don't think you'd be proud of that in the long run.
"I want to win it by beating Max, beating my competitors, and proving that I'm the best on track."
Piastri said in September he was happy to come to agreement with his team however. The Australian racer said: "It still needs some more discussion, but the main point is it's not me going to be pulling over for Lando every single race because none of us, including Lando, wants to go racing in that way.
"Selfishly, as a driver, I have my own interests and team orders are not that fun. But in saying that I realise there is a big bigger picture here than just myself. It's not just about me and I am happy to play a supporting role at this point of the season."
- Scott Trotter, Sports Writer
76ERS' MCCAIN OUT OF HOSPITAL AFTER FALL IN PRESEASON GAME
PHILADELPHIA -- 76ers first-round pick Jared McCain was released from the hospital Thursday morning after taking a hard fall late in Wednesday's preseason victory over the Brooklyn Nets, according to the team.
McCain was hospitalized to be evaluated for a concussion, among other things, after he had appeared to struggle to catch his breath on the court.
The 76ers said McCain would be reevaluated later Thursday.
"It was rough," 76ers coach Nick Nurse said after the game. "He's going to the hospital to get checked out. Obviously, he was having trouble breathing there, maybe got the wind knocked out of him, not sure what was going on there, but never quite seen one like that before, so let's hope he's OK and see what the report is from the hospital."
McCain, who finished with 9 points and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes, drove to the basket in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter and, after colliding with a Nets defender, fell back and appeared to smack his head and back sharply on the floor at Wells Fargo Center.
He remained down for several minutes, coughing and appearing to struggle to catch his breath, before eventually getting to his feet and being helped off the court.
McCain, 20, was the 16th pick in June's NBA draft out of Duke and has averaged 12.8 points and 4.6 rebounds across five preseason games for the 76ers this month.
- Tim Bontemps, ESPN
SABRINA LONESCU SECURES LIBERTY GAME 3 WIN VS. LYNX IN WNBA FINALS
MINNEAPOLIS -- Sabrina Ionescu had to watch video in the locker room of her winning 3-pointer Wednesday night to know just how long it was. But she said that as soon as she launched it, she thought, "Yeah, this is in."
Ionescu's 28-foot dagger that swished with 1 second left -- "definitely the biggest shot of my career" -- gave the New York Liberty an 80-77 come-from-behind win over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. The Liberty are now one victory away from their first league title in franchise history.
"I would say I visualize a lot when I'm practicing in the offseason, the night before a game, the day of a game," Ionescu said. "I'm always visualizing different scenarios and putting myself in tough situations. Obviously, I didn't play my best tonight, but finding a way to continue to stick with it ... I feel like that's been a big growth for me, whether the ball is going in or not."
This one went in, the 10th 3-pointer of the game for the Liberty. Ionescu's shot left the Lynx's record crowd of 19,521 stunned, much like Minnesota did to the New York crowd in Game 1, a 95-93 Lynx win in overtime.
The Liberty lost an 18-point lead in that game; the Lynx lost a 15-point edge Wednesday. In both cases, there were dramatic momentum shifts and huge plays in the kind of heavyweight matchup expected when the top two seeds play for a championship.
"The hardest thing to do when we're in a series ... is there's so many ups and downs and swings," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said, "and it takes special mental toughness and physical toughness to weather those swings. We're disappointed -- we're home, we played well and just couldn't come up with the win.
"We have to dust ourselves off and get another crack at it here at home. We'll see what we can do on Friday."
The teams will return to Target Center with the Lynx trying to send the series back to New York for a deciding Game 5 on Sunday. Minnesota has an uphill battle, but it has been done before. Four other teams have won the WNBA title after being down 2-1 in the Finals, including the Lynx in 2017.
The Liberty want to end the series Friday. They are one of three original WNBA teams still in the city where they started; the other two, the Los Angeles Sparks and Phoenix Mercury, each have won three titles.
New York has played for the championship five times before this year. One of the most dramatic of those series losses was in 1999, when the Liberty won Game 2 of what was then a best-of-three series at Houston on Teresa Weatherspoon's shot at the buzzer from beyond half court, only to lose the next day to the Comets.
Weatherspoon's shot, often cited as the most famous in league history, is one of four times that a WNBA player has made a winning 3-pointer in the last 5 seconds of a Finals game. The others were Minnesota's Maya Moore in Game 3 in 2015 against Indiana, and Los Angeles' Nikki Teasley in Game 2 in 2002 against New York.
Teasley's shot won that series in what was then still a best-of-three Finals. Moore and Minnesota lost Game 4 of the 2015 Finals, but then won Game 5 and the title.
So Ionescu is the fourth player to pull off this feat, and it came in a game that was eerily similar to New York's victory when Weatherspoon made her shot 25 years ago. The Liberty led for just 2 minutes, 19 seconds Wednesday, the second-shortest amount of time leading in a Finals win in WNBA history.
The shortest time to lead in a Finals win? You guessed it: Game 2 of the 1999 Finals, when the Liberty led the Comets for just 2:15 before Weatherspoon's buzzer-beater.
Trying to win a long-awaited championship for New York has been on Ionescu's mind since she was drafted No. 1 in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that cancelled the NCAA tournament her senior season at Oregon.
Ionescu then suffered a season-ending ankle injury in her third Liberty game. She left the WNBA's COVID-19 bubble in Bradenton, Florida, and went home to California to rehab. Ionescu said she couldn't bring herself to watch many Liberty games on television the rest of that season, as the team finished 2-20.
Then, before the 2023 season, she was joined by free agents Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot, and Jonquel Jones, who arrived via trade. Those players and Ionescu helped form the core of the team that is playing in its second consecutive WNBA Finals.
The Liberty lost 3-1 to the Las Vegas Aces last season, but the players said they learned a lot about themselves in the process. This season, New York had the best record in the regular season (32-8) and is the No. 1 seed.
The Liberty didn't look like it in the first quarter Wednesday. Contrary to fast starts in the first two games of the Finals, the Liberty trailed 28-18 after the first quarter. They cut the deficit to 43-35 by halftime.
In the third quarter, though, Stewart took over, scoring 14 points and bringing New York to within 62-61. The Lynx defense was hampered somewhat by forward Alanna Smith dealing with a back injury she suffered in the second quarter. She still played nearly 20 minutes but was clearly in pain.
Stewart previously won WNBA titles in 2018 and 2020 with the team that drafted her No. 1 in 2016, the Seattle Storm. Now playing for the team in her home state of New York, Stewart had a tough finish to Game 1 when she missed a free throw at the end of regulation and a layup at the end of overtime.
Since then, though, Stewart has come back strong. Along with her game-high 30 points Wednesday, she had 11 rebounds and 4 blocks.
"That was just a great All-WNBA second-team performance."
Sabrina Ionescu, named to the All-WNBA second team earlier Wednesday
"We don't win this game without Stewie," Ionescu said.
Ionescu, Jones and Leonie Fiebich each finished with 13 points.
Ionescu was named to the All-WNBA second team earlier Wednesday; some thought she should have been on the first team.
"That was just a great All-WNBA second-team performance," Ionescu joked after the game.
New York coach Sandy Brondello said even if Ionescu was 4-of-11 from the field before the winning shot, she never doubted for a minute she should take it.
"Obviously, Stewie got us back in there, willed us in there," Brondello said. "But I thought, '[At] the right time, this is Sabrina.' She's a great shooter.
"What I love about her is that she backs herself. Not everyone can take those big shots and make them. She can."
ESPN Research contributed to this report.
- Michael Voepel, ESPN Senior Writer
PAUL POGBA DRIVEN BY ANGER TO RETURN BETTER FROM DOPING BAN
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| Getty |
Paul Pogba has warned he will return to football "even better" from his ban for taking a prohibited substance, stating that he is driven by "anger" at his absence.
The 2018 World Cup winner is set to restart his career in March 2025 after seeing his ban for taking DHEA, a testosterone-enhancing supplement, reduced from four years to 18 months.
"For sure. It's going to be a new Pogba," he said when asked by ESPN if he can reach the heights of his peak despite the enforced break from the sport. "That's definitely for sure. And in the positive way, like I said, with more hunger, with more determination.
"I feel like a kid that just want to be professional again, that never signed professional. So this is the anger I have. That's what drives me. And I will do everything to come back at the level I was before and even better. Why not?"
Pogba, who told ESPN that he considered retiring before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced the severity of his ban, said he is determined to prove his fitness after injuries blighted his latter years at Manchester United and his return to Juventus.
After rejoining the Serie A side in 2022, Pogba managed just 161 minutes in 10 appearances in all competitions in the 2022-23 season as he was affected by knee, hamstring and groin problems.
"When you're injured mentally you probably get injured also physically," the 31-year-old said. "So one of the important things was to clean all that and have only positive energy around me, and obviously by being professional, by doing the right thing -- you're not 18 anymore for sure.
"So you have to take care of yourself and I want to dedicate all this time that I have and for the next year to dedicate on obviously what I love the most and to be at the level I want to be."
Pogba also said he is intent looking at football in a different light after nearly seeing his livelihood abruptly ended.
"When they take something from you that you love so much and that's when you appreciate it the most," he said. "So I see football totally different now, and I will enjoy every moment that I will have until the end of my career.
"Because I see [the ban as] a test, I've tested something like what would happen at the end of your career when you don't play anymore. So I just want to appreciate it, enjoy it and make people enjoy it."
Pogba and his entourage are holding contract termination talks with Juventus ahead of his planned return to football next March.
- Julien Laurens, Correspondent
ENGLAND MANAGER THOMAS TUCHEL BULLISH ON 2026 WORLD CUP AIM
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| Thomas Tuchel was appointed as England manager on Wednesday. Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images |
New England head coach Thomas Tuchel has said he will not shy away from publicly stating his aim is to win the 2026 World Cup and believes only "nuances" and "details" have stopped the side ending their long wait for silverware.
Gareth Southgate came closer than any manager since Sir Alf Ramsey to delivering England's first men's trophy since 1966, guiding the team to back-to-back Euros finals.
Southgate stepped down after losing the Euro 2024 showpiece to Spain in July and the Football Association (FA) responded by appointing under-21 manager Lee Carsley on an interim basis before pivoting to a proven winner in Tuchel.
Sources have told ESPN that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was among the 10 candidates FA chief executive Mark Bullingham revealed on Wednesday that they had spoken to during the process.
However, they ultimately chose Tuchel, who has won 11 major honours at club level including the 2021 Champions League with Chelsea.
The 51-year-old will start his 18-month contract on Jan. 1 -- meaning he will get just one tournament cycle as things stand -- and when asked if it was win or bust for him with England, Tuchel said: "I don't know, it depends. I know what you're saying. No, it's not a gamble, but we speak it out now very clearly why we are here and what we want to achieve.
"We are not shy of it. We are absolutely open about it. It does not help the more often we speak about it, but it should be out there and then we can set the standards and set the values and principles because then we have to live up to them for 18 months.
"Let's judge it when we have done it. If we decide it was a failure, then we will not continue. If we decide it was not a failure, then we will continue. Let's see. No one can predict the future.
"It feels absolutely right for me to do so, it feels clear and it feels easy for me to explain. When it's easy to explain, it's normally good.
"We are playing with players for the best league and the biggest competition in the world. We have a group of young hungry players. We are desperate to win a title, so we have all the ingredients, so I think we should try to implement this into our style of play.
"I think we should play an attacking style of football and we should try to emphasise a physical side of the game because this is what English football is all about and this is what excites our supporters, and this is what suits the players."
Southgate led England to the 2018 World Cup semifinals where they were beaten in extra-time by Croatia. They lost the Euro 2020 final on penalties before exiting the World Cup two years later with a narrow 2-1 defeat to France in which Harry Kane missed a late penalty that would have tied the score.
Spain edged another tight game 2-1 in Berlin and when asked to explain what England were missing, Tuchel said: "I think it's just nuances, it's just details. If you lose on penalties in a final, who would I be to say I know what you did wrong when you were there.
"You were there. We or they have been in two finals I think. Semifinals and quarterfinals. Lost each of them very, very close, each of them could have gone either way. The genuine belief is that we are there, that we are ready."
Bullingham also defended the appointment of a foreign-born manager -- the third in England's history -- despite the FA making the development of homegrown players and managers at St. George's Park central to their mission.
Citing the arrival of English coach Anthony Barry as Tuchel's assistant, Bullingham said: "If you look at St. George's Park overall, I think it has been a really good success. Our pathway is really strong, both from a coaches and players point of view. There are a lot of fantastic young coaches around and obviously Anthony is one of those.
- James Olley, Senior Writer, ESPN FC
LONZO BALL SCORES 10 IN RETURN, REFLECTS ON REHAB: '
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| Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images |
CHICAGO -- As Lonzo Ball checked into his first NBA game in more than 2½ years Wednesday night, the United Center crowd serenaded him with a standing ovation. He threw his hands in the air and tapped his heart, acknowledging the crowd before playing for the first time since Jan. 14, 2022.
Ball was restricted to 15 minutes, but finished with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field in Chicago's 125-123 preseason victory against Minnesota.
"Felt a lot better playing than watching," Ball said after the game. "I couldn't even put it into words how it felt being out there. ... It was definitely a moment I'll never forget."
Since playing in his last NBA game more than 1,000 days ago, Ball has undergone three arthroscopic procedures on his left knee, including a rare double cartilage transplant in March 2023.
"Long. Really long," Ball said with a laugh of his recovery process. "But looking back on it, it went a lot faster than I thought. ... Them telling me 18 more months recovery [after the third surgery], it sounds crazy in the moment, but now I'm here. It's all behind me now."
Earlier Wednesday, Ball said he was "full of joy" to be preparing for a game again but also acknowledged he would not be the same player he was when he last took the court for a game.
- Jamal Collier, ESPN
SERENA WILLIAMS HAS BENIGN CYST REMOVED FROM NECK AND 'ALL IS OK'
NEW YORK -- Serena Williams said she had a benign branchial cyst "the size of a small grapefruit" removed from her neck and "all is OK."
The retired tennis star, 43, posted Wednesday on social media that she found a lump on her neck in May, had an MRI exam, and was told she didn't need to get it removed if she didn't want to. So she didn't then, "but it kept growing," Williams said.
After more tests, including a biopsy that was negative for cancer, Williams said, her doctors said she should have a procedure.
She showed video of herself in a hospital bed and wrote: "So this is me removing it. I am feeling so grateful, and fortunate everything worked out, and most of all I'm healthy."
In a separate social media post, she said she is "still recovering, but getting better. Health always comes first."
Williams announced her retirement -- famously eschewing that term and saying instead she was "evolving" away from professional tennis -- shortly before playing in the 2022 US Open, her last tournament.
She won 23 Grand Slam titles in singles, the most by a woman in the sport's professional era, and another 14 in doubles with her older sister Venus. Serena Williams spent more than 300 weeks at No. 1 in the WTA rankings and collected four Olympic gold medals.
- Associated Press
Wednesday 16 October 2024
THE 2024 ASEAN CHAMPIONSHIP LINEUP IS NOW SET - SO HOW ARE THE CONTENDERS SHAPING UP?
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| The 2024 ASEAN Championship -- which kicks off on Dec. 8 -- will see familiar foes Malaysia and Singapore renew their traditional rivalry, with both drawn in Group A alongside defending champions Thailand, Cambodia and Timor-Leste. Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images |
On Tuesday, the lineup for the 2024 ASEAN Championship was set in stone.
With Timor-Leste securing a 1-0 aggregate triumph over Brunei Darussalam in the qualifying playoff, the ten teams that will contest Southeast Asia's premier international tournament at the end of the year has now been finalised.
Timor-Leste will slot into Group A, which is headlined by defending champions and record seven-time winners Thailand, while also consisting of Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia.
Meanwhile, Group B is looking equally competitive with Indonesia and Vietnam -- the only two teams from the region to have reached the third stage of the Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup in the two most-recent editions -- leading the way, along with Philippines, Myanmar and Laos.
With the qualifying playoff coinciding with the recent international break, it means that all ten contenders were in action in their penultimate window to finalise preparations before the tournament kicks off on Dec. 8.
Here, we assess where each team stands at the moment with less than two months to go to kickoff.
CAMBODIA
After parting ways with Felix Dalmas last month, Cambodia played their first matches under Koji Gyotoku this past week -- a 3-2 win over Chinese Taipei followed by a 3-0 loss to Hong Kong.
Gyotoku, whose official title is "interim head coach" is no stranger to Cambodian football having been involved in the national youth setup since 2019, taking charge of the U-17, U-21 and U-23 teams at various stages.
In the win over Chinese Taipei, Min Ratanak and Sieng Chanthea provided the goals as the 22-year-olds continue to grow in influence in the team.
INDONESIA
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| Indonesia continue to give a good account of themselves in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but suffered a first defeat on Tuesday with a 2-1 loss to China. Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images |
As Southeast Asia's sole representatives in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, Indonesia were the only team -- other than Timor-Leste and Brunei -- to experience competitive action this window.
They continued their run of creditable results last Thursday although they were aggrieved over a late equaliser that saw Bahrain force a 2-2 draw, before suffering a first defeat of the campaign after being beaten 2-1 by China on Tuesday.
Indonesia continue to boosted by the constant influx of Europe-born players of local heritage, with Eredivisie duo Mees Hilgers and Eliano Reijnders the latest to make their international bows.
Although Merah Putih continue to give an excellent account of themselves against some of Asia's powerhouses, it remains to be seen how many of their overseas-based contingent will be available for the ASEAN Championship - which does not fall during an official FIFA international window.
It could leave coach Shin Tae-Yong needing to revert to his Indonesian born-and-bred players, who have served him so well in leading the team's initial resurgence when he arrived.
LAOS
Since being eliminated by Nepal in the first round of the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup, Laos have not played an official match -- a span which has now reached an entire year.
They are among the teams that have made a recent coaching change, with Ha Hyeok-Jun only appointed in August and tasked with both the senior and U-23 teams.
Laos spent the recent international break on a training camp in Thailand and changing of the guard could be on the cards, with 16 of the 30 players involved uncapped and only two -- Bounphachan Bounkong and Phoutthasay Khochalern -- boasting more than 20 international appearances to their names.
MALAYSIA
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| Malaysia's 4-0 loss to New Zealand -- captained by Premier League stalwart Chris Wood -- had the silver lining of a first senior cap for Selangor centre-back Harith Haiqal. DJ MILLS/AFP via Getty Images |
Malaysia played just one friendly this window -- a 4-0 loss to New Zealand that was hardly an embarrassing result considering the opponents had a notable number of Europe-based players at their disposal, including Premier League stalwart Chris Wood and Serie A man Liberato Cacace.
It did prompt coach Pau Marti -- who was thrusted into the role following the abrupt departure of Kim Pan-Gon -- to apologise for the result, although it must be remembered that his first two games at the helm last month included an impressive 1-0 triumph over Lebanon.
Marti did use the opportunity to hand a first cap to Selangor defender Harith Haiqal, and -- for now -- will have one final friendly to finetune his tactics for the ASEAN Championship when Harimau Malaya play India on Nov. 19.
MYANMAR
Myanmar's latest exploits saw them take on Sri Lanka in back-to-back home matches - which resulted in a 2-0 win and a 0-0 draw.
It was perhaps not the sternest of opposition as, even with Myanmar's lowly FIFA world ranking of 167th, Sri Lanka sit 33 places blow are the second lowest-ranked team in all of Asia - and the 11th-lowest in the world out of 210 teams in the classification.
Myanmar will get a better test of their credentials in November when they meet Singapore on Nov. 15. They were originally meant to face Lebanon four days later, although it remains to be seen if the latter will be available after they had to cancel their commitments this window.
PHILIPPINES
After a 3-0 loss to Thailand, Philippines bounced back to finish third in the King's Cup with a 3-0 victory over Tajikistan -- an impressive result considering the opposition had made a remarkable run to the quarterfinals of the AFC Asian Cup at the start of the year.
It marked new coach Albert Capellas' first matches in charge, after his predecessor Tom Saintfiet left the job just six months after being appointed.
Recent overseas-born additions during the short-lived Saintfiet era in Bjørn Martin Kristensen and Zico Bailey both netted their first international goals, while Bundesliga man Gerrit Holtmann was also on target.
Still, Holtmann is unlikely to be available for the ASEAN Championship - as could be the case with Philippines' nine other Europe-based players, which includes five of the six listed forwards in their latest squad.
SINGAPORE
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| Singapore tested themselves against formidable opposition in the form of five-time J1 League champions Yokohama F. Marinos -- who fielded a starting XI entirely comprising players involved in the first team setup. Football Association of Singapore |
For the second consecutive window, Singapore did not play any international friendlies but instead focused on centralised training -- this time in Japan, where they took on three J1 League clubs in practice matches.
A 2-1 victory over Tokyo Verdy was sandwiched by 4-0 and 7-1 losses to FC Tokyo and Yokohama F. Marinos respectively, but it is worth mentioning that all three clubs fielded teams with considerable first-team experience.
In particular, five-time J1 League champions Marinos had a starting XI which boasted ex-Japan internationals Kota Mizunuma and Kazuya Yamamura, as well as Brazilian import Eduardo, while Singapore coach Tsutomu Ogura opted to use this clash to blood a plethora of young prospects.
The Lions will finally get some international exposure next month when they entertain Myanmar and Chinese Taipei on Nov. 15 and 19 respectively.
THAILAND
In the landmark 50th edition of the King's Cup, Thailand did disappoint as they won their own annual friendly tournament for the first time since 2017 with an impressive 2-1 win over Syria.
Before the decider, they had beaten Philippines 3-1 in the semifinals as Suphanat Mueanta -- with a brace -- continued his hot run of form with four goals in three international outings before he was kept at bay by the Syrians.
Talismanic playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin also netted in both matches, while there was a first cap for rising Muangthong United star Kakana Khamyok, who started against Philippines.
It is believed that the reigning ASEAN champions will finish their tournament warm-up with friendlies against Lebanon and Yemen in November.
TIMOR-LESTE
The only team featuring at the ASEAN Championship that had to earn this place at the tournament, Timor-Leste's quest began well as they beat Brunei 1-0 in the first leg courtesy of a Gali Freitas winner.
Although they were unable to do the same in the return encounter, a 0-0 draw was still enough to secure a return to the competition after they surprisingly missed out in 2022.
VIETNAM
Vietnam's planned preparations for this window were hampered by Lebanon's withdrawal from a triangular tournament due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
It meant they had just one game to play -- a 1-1 draw with India which saw captain Que Ngoc Hai denied from the penalty spot, although there was a first senior goal for 21-year-old Bùi Vĩ Hào -- one of their standouts at this year's AFC U-23 Asian Cup.
After winning his first game in charge - a 3-2 win World Cup qualifying win over Philippines on June 6 which ended an eight-match losing streak, Kim Sang-Sik is now on his own mini-poor run of form with three losses and a draw from Vietnam's past four outings.
- Gabriel Tan
ANTHONY JOSHUA VS. DANIEL DUBOIS: IBF SET FOR APRIL 2025 REMATCH DEADLINE DATE FOR ANY SECOND HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT
A potential rematch between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua would have to happen by April 22 next year, according to the IBF's rules; Dubois' mandatory title defence is likely to be against the winner of Martin Bakole's IBF final eliminator against Agit Kabayel.
The IBF will permit their heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois to rematch Anthony Joshua. But there is a deadline on it.
A Dubois vs Joshua would have to happen before a date in April of next year.
Dubois knocked out Joshua last month at Wembley Stadium in sensational style to defend the title.
For Dubois, who was elevated from Interim titlist to world champion prior to that fight, the contest with Joshua was actually a mandatory title defence.
Under the IBF's rules, Dubois now has nine months within which he can make a voluntary defence, opening the door for a Joshua rematch, as long as it happens by April 22.
Rule 5.A.2 of the IBF's regulations regarding the heavyweight division states that "all optional defences, and any and all other bouts, by a champion shall be concluded at least 60 days prior to the date the champion's mandatory is due".
After this date, Dubois must fulfil a mandatory title defence, which is likely to be against the winner of Martin Bakole's IBF final eliminator with Agit Kabayel.
Dubois will be notified on approximately April 22 of his June 21 mandatory.
The IBF regulations state the champion "shall be obligated to mandatorily defend his championship within intervals of no more than nine months against the leading available contender in the heavyweight division as designated by the championships chairman".
The IBF has, however, stated that Dubois would be free to pursue a unification bout after this date.
The only unification fight available to Dubois would be against the winner of the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury rematch and thus a shot at the undisputed heavyweight title.
Usyk will fight Fury in Saudi Arabia on December 21, with the WBC, WBO and WBA belts at stake.
Plans for AJ vs Dubois II?
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, which stages the Riyadh Season events, revealed that a major fight card is being put together that will pit rival promoters Queensberry and Matchroom against each other.
In June Queensberry beat Matchroom in a '5 vs 5' team match. A second version of that event is being worked on for February which could involve the Dubois-Joshua rematch.
Previously Alalshikh told Sky Sports: "See in February again Queensberry against Matchroom, 5 vs 5, we will finish it maybe this week with a big surprise and then let's see the result about this fight, the result of the big fight December 21, [Oleksandr] Usyk-Tyson [Fury].
"Joshua, Dubois, Tyson, Usyk, everyone, everyone on the line.
"This is what we want. We want the big fights and to see who's really the best fighters in each division."
Matchroom's Eddie Hearn, who promotes Joshua, previously told Sky Sports: "I know that he is leaning towards the rematch because he wants to win the world heavyweight title.
"Fighting [Deontay] Wilder, [or] waiting for Fury, and then you've got all next year bubbling around not really fighting for the world heavyweight title.
"If it's solely down to AJ, which it will be at the end of the day, I think it's going to be very hard to talk him out of taking the rematch."
LIONEL MESSI NETS HAT-TRICKS FOR ARGENTINA, SAYS HAMES 'CAN BE MY LAST'
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| Lionel Messi, left, celebrates with Thiago Almada after scoring a goal for Argentina against Bolivia. Getty Images |
Lionel Messi turned in another vintage performance for Argentina, scoring three goals and adding two assists in a runaway win over Bolivia in South American World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night.
After the game, a 6-0 win for Argentina in front of a raucous crowd at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium, the 2022 World Cup winner said he is trying to savor every moment with the national team and acknowledged the end of his playing days is near.
"It is very nice to play here feeling the affection of the Argentina fans," Messi said after the game. "It makes me emotional to listen how they shout my name. We all enjoy this connection with the fans and we love playing at home."
When asked about his future and whether he'd help Argentina defend their title at the 2026 World Cup, Messi was cautious and honest with his answer.
"I didn't set any date or deadline about my future," Messi said. "I'm just enjoying all this. I am more emotional than ever and taking all the love from the people because I know these can be my last games."
The superstar, who missed the two rounds of the competition in September because of a right ankle injury, played from start to finish Tuesday and added to his personal history book in the process. It was the first time Messi recorded multiple goals and assists in a single game for the national team, and the hat trick -- taking him to 112 international goals -- was his 10th, tying him with Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo for career games with a hat trick.
Messi's first goal came after a mistake by a Bolivian defender, who missed a pass and allowed the 37-year-old Messi to run freely and finish unchallenged in front of goalkeeper Billy Viscarra. Messi assisted on Lautaro Martínez's goal in the 42th minute and gave a decisive pass once again in added time on a goal by Julián Álvarez.
Argentina appeared to slow its pace after the break but scored again through Thiago Almada in the 69th minute. The striker scored from close range after a low cross by Nahuel Molina.
Messi's show had two great finishing touches from the edge of the box, the first in the 84th and the second in the 86th minute, and the joy was apparent on the 37-year-old's face as he celebrated with teammates.
"It's a joy to be present and appreciate this moment. Being surrounded by younger teammates, given my age, makes me feel like a kid again," Messi said. "I find myself doing silly things because I feel so comfortable. As long as I maintain that feeling and can continue contributing to the team, I plan to be here enjoying [the national team]."
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni shared in the joy of watching his team's superstar and reiterated what he has said all along when asked about how long Messi would continue to play with the national team.
"The only thing I ask of him is to keep playing as long as he can," Scaloni said. "It's a joy to watch him on the soccer field. He never ceases to amaze us."
The result kept the World Cup champions as leaders of the round-robin competition with 22 points after 10 matches, three points clear of second-place Colombia, who earlier beat Chile 4-0. Uruguay is in third position with 16 points after a goalless draw with Ecuador.
Two more rounds of South American World Cup qualifying will be played in November.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first expanded version of the tournament, with 48 teams competing in the United States, Canada and Mexico for the game's biggest trophy.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.
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BREAKING: THOMAS TUCHEL APPOINTED ENGLAND HEAD COACH
Thomas Tuchel will start his England post on January 1 and will be assisted by English coach Anthony Barry; Lee Carsley will again take charge during the November international break; Tuchel: "We will do everything we can to make England successful and the supporters proud"
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| Thomas Tuchel has been appointed the new England manager |
Thomas Tuchel has been confirmed by the FA as new England head coach.
The German - who becomes the Three Lions' third foreign coach after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello - signed his contract on October 8 and will start work on January 1.
Tuchel will be assisted by English coach Anthony Barry, who worked with him at Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
Lee Carsley will remain in interim charge of the senior team during the November international break for games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland, before returning to his previous post as U21s manager.
Tuchel said: "I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team. I have long felt a personal connection to the game in this country, and it has given me some incredible moments already. To have the chance to represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting.
"Working closely with Anthony as my assistant coach, we will do everything we can to make England successful and the supporters proud. I want to thank the FA, in particular Mark [Bullingham] and John [McDermott], for their trust and I am looking forward to starting our journey together."
The German boasts considerable elite-level experience having led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021 and also taken charge of Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
Tuchel will speak as England manager for the first time on Wednesday afternoon, at a press conference starting at 1.30pm. You can watch it live on Sky Sports News and on Sky's digital platforms.
Who is new England assistant Barry?
Liverpudlian Barry first met Tuchel when the German joined Chelsea in 2021, having already been at the club working under Frank Lampard.
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| Anthony Barry worked with Tuchel at Chelsea and Bayern Munich |
He is widely regarded as one of the most promising upcoming English coaches and while he was at Chelsea, several Championship sides considered making him their manager.
At Chelsea, Barry undoubtedly made an impact under Tuchel - so much so that he stepped in as Chelsea caretaker boss when the German had Covid-19.
Barry then joined Tuchel's backroom staff at Bayern Munich. and also held assistant manager roles with the Republic of Ireland, while he was also Roberto Martinez's No 2 in the Belgium and Portugal national team set-ups.
Tuchel has credited Barry for the quality of his analysis, as well as his personality and drilling on the training pitch, and Barry is also known to be a set-piece specialist.
Speaking after being appointed England manager, Barry said in a statement: "For any Englishman in football, working with the national team is the pinnacle and I didn't hesitate when Thomas asked me to come and join him again.
"I know what a great place St. George's Park is and how much of an advantage it gives our England teams, and the support it gives to coaches.
"This squad is very talented and have done so much to bring the country together, I look forward to meeting and working with them on this exciting project."
WHO IS SAMSON DAUDA, THE WINNER OF MR. OLYMPIA 2024? SEE THE RESULTS OF ALL THE MR. OLYMPIA CATEGORIES
He claimed the top prize in Las Vegas
We have a new champion! The representative of the United Kingdom, the Nigerian Samson Dauda wins the Mr. Olympia 2024 with a record first prize of $600,000. While the Canadian Chris Bumstead (Cbum) conquered for the sixth consecutive time the title in Classic Physique Olympia.
Mr. Olympia returns to the world stage for its 2024 edition. The most muscular men and women ever seen took part in the competition.
The 60th edition of Mr. Olympia 2024, the world's most important bodybuilding competition, was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada in the United States, where several bodybuilders from around the world competed for the title of "World's Strongest Man" in the various categories of the competition.
Who is Samson Dauda?
Samson Dauda is no stranger to the world of bodybuilding, having started his career in this field back in 2014.
He came mightily close to achieving his dream last year in the Mr. Olympia competition, finishing third, and this year finally came his moment to clinch the top prize.
It is not his first piece of silverware in bodybuilding however, as he is also a former Arnold Classic champion.
They etched their names in Mr. Olympia history
As the world's largest bodybuilding competition, Mr. Olympia winners continue to have their names etched in history. With five winners in six years, the excitement around the Mr. Olympia 2024 competition was like no other we've seen.
This year was special for many reasons. Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know that it's actually the 60th anniversary of the competition. In addition to being an amazing achievement, this also means that the Sandow winner receives a special 24-karat gold plated trophy.
Did Derek Lunsford win a second Sandow? Maybe Angela Yeo dethroned Andrea Shaw? Before we give you the results, we can safely say that this year was one to remember.
Without further ado, here are the results of Mr. Olympia 2024!
Winners of the Mr. Olympia 2024
On Friday, seven of the winners of this edition of the Mr Olympia were announced, in which the crowning of Andrea Shaw stood out, who won her second championship in the Ms Olympia category, defeating Angela Yeo and Ashley Linette Jones. While in the 212 Olympia category, it was Keone Pearson who also won his second championship in a row, which allowed him to defeat Shaun Clarida and Spain's Angel Calderon Frias.
Complete list of Mr. Olympia 2024 winners:
Samson Dauda (Mr. Olympia)
Chris Bumstead (Classic Physique Olympia)
Ryan Terry (Men's Physique Olympia)
Harold Kelley (Wheelchair Olympia)
Andrea Shaw (Ms Olympia)
Keone Pearson (212 Olympia)
Missy Truscott (Fitness Olympia)
Cydney Gillon (Figure Olympia)
Sarah Villegas (Womens Physique Olympia)
Isabel Nunez (Wellness Olympia)
Lauralie Chapados (Bikini Olympia)
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FERGUSON TO LEAVE MAN UTD GLOBAL AMBASSADOR ROLE
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| Sir Alex Ferguson (centre) attended Manchester United's 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in the Europa League against Twente last month |
Sir Alex Ferguson will leave his role as Manchester United ambassador at the end of the season.
Ferguson has been paid a multi-million pound sum by United since his retirement as manager in 2013.
During that period the 82-year-old has acted as a global ambassador and club director. He has been a regular at games and retains a seat in the directors' box.
United legend Eric Cantona called the decision "scandalous" adding on Instagram, external: "Sir Alex Ferguson should be able to do anything he wants at the club until the day he dies. Such a lack of respect."
Club sources say Ferguson, United's most successful manager thanks to his 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, five FA Cups and four League Cups amongst others, will always be welcome at Old Trafford and the decision has been taken amicably following a direct conversation between the Scot and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe last week.
However, it comes as Ratcliffe looks to slash costs in order to invest more money in the team.
Over 250 staff members have been made redundant already in a move the club expect to save around £10m a year.
Last month, United announced a £113m net loss. It is known to be close to the Premier League's £115m three-year loss limit, although the club has said they are committed to abiding by the rules.
United are currently 14th in the Premier League and manager Erik ten Hag remains in his job before Saturday's game against Brentford despite intense speculation over his future.
- Simon Stone, Chief football news reporter, BBC
JONAS EIDEVALL LEAVES ARSENAL
We can confirm that Jonas Eidevall has resigned from his position as head coach of our women’s first team and leaves us with immediate effect.
Jonas joined Arsenal in June 2021 from FC Rosengard in Sweden, winning two FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup titles during three full seasons with us. We also reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League - in 2022/23 - for the first time in ten years during Jonas’ tenure in north London.
First Team Assistant Coach Renée Slegers will take charge of the team as our Interim Head Coach.
Sporting Director Edu Gaspar said: “We thank Jonas for his commitment to the club and achievements here since joining us in 2021.
“We have great respect for the dedication and commitment he showed to our women’s first team and recognise the role he has played in the growth and development of Arsenal Women. We all wish him the very best for the future.
“Our focus will now turn to the process of appointing a new Head Coach, and in the meantime, supporting Renée, as she takes interim charge of the team starting with two important fixtures this week.”
Director of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to Jonas for his hard work and dedication to Arsenal Football Club over the past three years.
“Jonas has brought us back-to-back trophies in the last two seasons, together with many memorable moments on the pitch.
“We wish Jonas and his family the best of health, happiness and success for the future.
“We have full confidence in Renée to take responsibility for the team in the interim period."
The search for a new Head Coach is underway and we will make a further announcement when that process is complete.
Copyright 2024 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
TOM GORES' PURCHASE OF 27% STAKE IN CHARGERS OK'D BY NFL OWNERS
Tom Gores' purchase of a 27% stake in the Los Angeles Chargers was approved by NFL team owners Tuesday during the league's fall meetings in Atlanta.
Gores, who also owns the NBA's Detroit Pistons, bought the 24% share held by Dea Spanos Berberian, which includes 9% that is in a family trust that has a 36% stake in the team. He also purchased 1% each from shares owned by Dean Spanos, Alexis Spanos Ruhl and Michael Spanos for estate planning purposes.
"It's a privilege to join the Chargers ownership group and become part of the NFL. I have great respect for Dean's leadership throughout the NFL community, the Spanos family and its legacy," Gores said in a statement. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to invest in the Chargers and I look forward to partnering with Dean, Michael and Alexis in our shared commitment to compete for championships. I'm passionate about sports and proud to become part of an organization dedicated to winning on and off the field."
The 60-year-old Gores has a net worth of $11.8 billion, according to Bloomberg. In 1995, he founded Platinum Equity, which has its headquarters in Beverly Hills.
Gores' purchase comes after NFL owners on Sept. 1 approved allowing private equity funds to buy stakes in teams. However, this is a purchase by Gores and not affiliated with Platinum Equity.
Despite having more than a one-quarter stake, Gores will not have a role in the Chargers' daily business or a path to a controlling stake. The Spanos family owns 69% of the Chargers with 4% controlled by legacy owners from the franchise's early days in San Diego.
Alex Spanos bought the San Diego Chargers in 1984, and Dean Spanos took over managing the franchise in 1994.
The approval by league owners ends a bitter three-year dispute between Spanos Berberian and her siblings. Spanos Berberian filed a lawsuit against Chargers controlling owner Dean Spanos in 2021 that alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Spanos Trust and tried to force a sale.
She filed another lawsuit in 2022 accusing her brother of "misogynistic" behavior, "self-dealing" and repeated "breaches of fiduciary duty."
As part of the sale, Spanos Berberian agreed to resolve her disputes with the family and the franchise.
"Faye and Alex Spanos fervently wished that the Chargers would always be a vital part of their family's legacy. This ensures that the franchise will remain permanently under the control of Dean Spanos and his siblings Alexis and Michael," the Spanos family said in a statement.
- Associated Press
THOMAS TUCHEL SET TO BE NAMED ENGLAND MANAGER - SOURCES
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| Thomas Tuchel is set to become the full-time replacement for Gareth Southgate. Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images |
Thomas Tuchel is set to become England's new men's head coach after talks accelerated with the Football Association at a rapid pace in the past 48 hours, sources told ESPN.
The FA are set to hold a news conference at Wembley on Wednesday with Tuchel likely to be confirmed as Gareth Southgate's successor.
Southgate stepped down after eight years after England's Euro 2024 defeat to Spain.
The FA initially appointed under-21s boss Lee Carsley on an interim basis for England's autumn UEFA Nations League fixtures as they stepped up their search for possible candidates, who included Tuchel and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
Carsley repeatedly refused to rule himself in or out of the running for the role on a permanent basis and while speculation grew that the FA were hopeful he would prove himself able to succeed Southgate, sources told ESPN that English football's governing body were in fact making contact with high-profile alternatives.
Tuchel has been out of work since leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last season, but he won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021.
In January during an exclusive interview with ESPN, Tuchel was asked whether he felt more appreciated in England rather than his native Germany.
"Yes," he replied. "I feel that we are very critical with each other in Germany and especially with players or coaches and not only with me. "Pretty simple question. ... I felt more appreciation in England, yes."
Tuchel will become the third foreign-born manager and first German to take charge of England.
Sources told ESPN that Guardiola was approached several weeks ago but the 53-year-old was uncertain over his future after entering the final year of his contract at Etihad Stadium.
The FA also considered English candidates including Graham Porter and Eddie Howe but their job specification -- published in July -- stated that the successful candidate would need "significant experience of English football" and "a strong track record delivering results in the Premier League and/or leading international competitions."
Tuchel has won 11 major trophies including the Bundesliga with Bayern, two Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain and the DFB-Pokal with Borussia Dortmund.
England reached back-to-back Euros finals under Southgate and are targeting a first trophy in 60 years at the 2026 World Cup.
- James Olley, Senior Writer, ESPN FC
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