Ben Stokes’ Ashes gamble on Moeen Ali might have backfired

Manny Machado homered into the second deck in left field in the fourth inning and then hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the seven-run eighth inning for the San Diego Padres, who beat NL West-leading Los Angeles 8-3 to snap a six-game losing streak to the Dodgers

Captain of the German national team since 2019, Alexandra Popp has established herself as one of the stalwarts of the women’s game and the German national side since making her debut in 2010. A full-back-turned-forward, the 32-year-old will be carrying her nation’s hopes on her shoulders at the Women’s World Cup as she looks to avenge their heartbreaking defeat to England in Euro 2022 final last summer. Born in Witten, in western Germany, Popp began her fledgling football career as a student at Gesamtschule Berger Feld in Gelsenkirchen. The elite footballing school trains players for the men’s Bundesliga side, Schalke, with Popp the only female student to attend the school courtesy of a special permit. Having also played for mixed-gender teams at FC Silschede, Popp eventually got her first taste of senior football at Recklinghausen in the fourth tier of German football. Her stay there would last just one year with the then 17-year-old joining top-flight Duisburg in 2008 under the tutelage of the current national team manager, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. Popp would enjoy a hugely successful first season, winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League and German Cup with Duisburg. She would follow that up the following season by retaining the German Cup with the season culminating in Popp making her debut for the senior national team in 2010. After two further years, Popp transferred to Wolfsburg in 2012 where she remains today. Much like her debut season at Duisburg, Popp would hit the ground running at Wolfsburg with a famous treble-winning campaign that saw her side capture the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Frauen-Bundesliga and German Cup. Her career at Wolfsburg went from strength to strength as Popp guided her side to a successful defence of the UEFA Women’s Champions League and Frauen-Bundesliga in the 2013-14 season. Whilst her Wolfsburg side may not have tasted European glory since that 2014 season, they have been the dominant force in domestic German women’s football with her side winning the German Cup for nine-straight seasons while also winning the Frauen-Bundesliga on five occasions. For the national team, Popp has also been a stalwart since her debut in 2010, scoring 62 goals in 128 appearances. Despite missing the final through injury, Popp scored eight goals as Germany went on to retain the Euros in 2013. Get all the latest Women’s World Cup odds here Having lost in the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup, the national side would go on to claim gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In 2019, Popp would become captain of the national side ahead of the World Cup where they fell to Sweeden in the quarter-finals. A heartbreaking injury in the warm-up for last year’s Euros finals prevented Popp from playing as England defeated Germany in extra time. Read More FIFA Women’s World Cup fixtures and full schedule Women’s football world rankings: Who could take No 1 at the World Cup? Germany and Alexandra Popp are out for revenge - the World Cup is the perfect chance

Josh Allen was back to himself after a terrible opener

Their latest loss prompted Toronto players to call a postgame meeting in response to a 2-9 stretch Blue Jays manager John Schneider described as being “punched right in the face.”

Ben Davies has taken over the Wales captaincy hoping his club Tottenham’s rise to the top of the Premier League can benefit the Dragons’ Euro 2024 ambitions. Davies replaces the injured Aaron Ramsey as skipper for Wednesday’s friendly with Gibraltar and the vital European Championship qualifier against Croatia in Cardiff on Sunday. The long-serving Tottenham full-back has been used by new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou as a substitute so far this season but the 30-year-old says he has arrived for international duty in good spirits. Davies said: “Players want to be in winning teams and right now I’m lucky enough that I’m in a squad where we are picking up good results and doing well. “It’s about bringing that intensity and enthusiasm and the stuff that is working into the training camp this week. “The Gibraltar game is important to us as a group that we get minutes together on the field. “Hopefully we pick up another good result that gives us confidence going into the big game against Croatia.” Cardiff midfielder Ramsey misses out this week with a knee tendon injury and is also set to be sidelined for the final Euro qualifiers against Armenia and Turkey next month. It is a big setback for a Wales side who are also without Davies’ Tottenham team-mate Brennan Johnson through injury and in need of a positive result against Croatia to keep automatic hopes of qualification for next summer’s final in Germany alive. “Aaron’s a great player and to be without him is definitely a blow,” said Davies. “It gives the boys who have come in his absence before another chance to show what they can do and we’re excited for the games. “We believe in the younger players we’ve got, the players coming through and those that have come through in the last few years. “You can call it a transitional period, but I believe we’ve got players ready to go right now.” On the captaincy, Davies – who has done the job previously, most recently in the goalless friendly with South Korea last month – added: “It’s something I’m incredibly proud to do. “I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve done it before but it’s nice going into the games knowing the situation we’re in. I’m ready for it. ”I’ve been seen as one of the leaders in the group for a while now, so it doesn’t feel too different. “I’ll just be myself, stick to the values I’ve got, and hopefully get the boys going for the games.” The first meeting between Wales and Gibraltar at senior men’s level marks the return of the Dragons to Wrexham’s SToK Cae Ras. The ground staged Wales’ first home game in 1877 and is often referred to as the spiritual home of Welsh football. But Wales have only played there once since 2008 – a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago in March 2019. Davies said: “It is something that has actually been playing on the boys’ minds for a while. “We are very appreciative as a group of the efforts of the North Walian fans to come to Cardiff to watch games, especially in midweek and the late ones. We know it is a tough, long journey at times. “But we are incredibly grateful to get the chance to come up north and play at Wrexham and in front of our loyal fans. We can’t wait to play in front of them.” Read More Dan Evans beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in third round of Shanghai Masters Gareth Anscombe and Liam Williams ‘recovering well’ ahead of Wales quarter-final Will Rowlands ready for knockout action after Wales achieve ‘minimum standard’ Ronan Kelleher will treat ‘biggest game of career’ like any other Ireland match England would be naive to play Jofra Archer during the World Cup – Eoin Morgan Marcus Smith hails Daley Thompson sprint sessions as he bids to emulate NZ duo

The Ryder Cup certainly gets its money's worth when it comes to press sessions and when that happens reporters often run out of things to ask about – or a the v

Hard Knocks failed to give Pat McAfee credit for Aaron Rodgers scoop.

Roberto Firmino will leave Liverpool when his contract expires at the end of the month, with the club producing a three-part documentary to honour his time at Anfield. Former teammates such as Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah feature.

We're breaking down the latest NHL rumors, including Calgary going up in Flames, grading the latest NHL trade and signings and more.We've reached the pinnacle of the NHL offseason with the draft and free agency upon us this week. But general managers have been ahead of the game. We...

Ill-disciplined Italy scored 31 unanswered second-half points to take temporary charge of Pool A with a 38-17 World Cup victory over...

The 2023 Women's World Cup finally gets underway on Thursday with the two host nations kicking off the tournament and the summer of footballing festivities.