Roma manager Jose Mourinho might prefer to call himself “the Sage One” now

Harry Kane defended Harry Maguire as the England captain hit out at the way the defender has been “scapegoated” amid “really unnecessary scrutiny”. Little more than two years on from being named in the European Championship team of the tournament, the 30-year-old is now the butt of jokes to many. Maguire’s struggle for form and game-time at Manchester United have increased the spotlight on a player that has remained an integral part of the England squad. Boss Gareth Southgate said the treatment of the centre-back was “ridiculous”, “a joke” and “beyond anything I’ve ever seen” after he was mocked mercilessly against Scotland at Hampden Park. Kane wrapped up that 3-1 friendly win following an own goal by half-time introduction Maguire, who the England skipper believes faces unwarranted attention and ridicule. “I think H has come under some really unnecessary scrutiny,” the Bayern Munich striker said. “Probably been scapegoated a little bit in terms of the way the team has gone over recent times. “He is a really good friend of mine, he’s a great guy, a really hard working professional. “From an England point of view, he has been one of our best defenders and one of the best defenders in the history of our country in an England shirt. “It’s part of our game now, it’s part of football. You get scrutinised all over social media but knowing him, all he will want to do is work harder and improve and stay focused. “We’re fully behind him in the national team. I know the coach has come out and backed him fully. “There’s always going to be noise around players but the most important thing is that we have a really strong core with England and that’s the most important thing going into big games and big tournaments.” Kane and Maguire go from team-mates to opponents as Bayern host out-of-sorts United in Wednesday’s Champions League Group A opener. Harry is a great guy, a great professional. A lot of young players can look at him and his journey to hopefully motivate them to be footballers as well. Harry Kane on Harry Maguire Put to sharpshooter Kane he could make matters worse for the defender, he said: “Yeah, but this is football. I’ve come up against friends or England team-mates before. “Once you get on to the pitch, your competitiveness comes out and you want to do your best for your team and nothing else really enters your mind. That’s not something I think about. “But Harry is a great guy, a great professional. A lot of young players can look at him and his journey to hopefully motivate them to be footballers as well. “But, yeah, if he plays (on Wednesday night) that friendship goes away for 90 minutes and I do my best for Bayern Munich.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Chris Billam-Smith confident of Lawrence Okolie win but doubts appeal of rematch Roy Hodgson set to return to Crystal Palace dugout on Saturday after illness Harry Kane happy with Bayern Munich decision ahead of Manchester United meeting

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DALLAS (AP) — Jason Robertson scored twice and Joe Pavelski had a goal and two assists, helping the Dallas Stars beat the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning 8-1 on Saturday.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is ready to make a leap forward entering his second season of the NFL

David Moyes was frustrated by some of the decisions made by referee Peter Bankes in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle. Mohammed Kudus climbed off the bench to score his first Premier League goal a minute from full-time as the Hammers snatched a point. But Moyes was fuming with Bankes for awarding a free-kick for Lucas Paqueta’s challenge on Sandro Tonali which led to Alexander Isak’s first goal. The Hammers boss also felt Bruno Guimaraes could have been shown a second yellow card, having been booked moments earlier, when he tripped James Ward-Prowse. “It might have got away from us a wee bit but I wouldn’t blame them with the referee’s decisions,” said Moyes. “That came from the free-kick that got the first goal back. I think on another day it wouldn’t have been given. “I thought that was pretty harsh on us, as was the decision early on which could have been a second yellow card. I’m not going to say something to get me into trouble. I just think it was a really close call.” Newcastle boss Eddie Howe defended his Brazilian midfielder. He said: “It’s one of those where he’s made two challenges in quick succession which probably makes them look worse than they are. I think it would’ve been incredibly harsh.” Tomas Soucek fired West Ham into the lead after eight minutes but Isak’s quickfire second-half double put Newcastle in control. Isak also hit a post from a tight angle before Ghana winger Kudus lashed in an equaliser from 20 yards. West Ham almost won it when Jarrod Bowen, on the day he signed a new long-term contract, fizzed the ball across goal and wide. “I’m pleased with a point,” added Moyes. “We played well in the first half against a top team, one of the best teams in Europe the way they’ve been playing. “It was tough, they played really well. We had difficult moments but we stuck at it. We could have gone 3-1 down but we could have won it 3-2. The game was very close,” Howe admitted Isak’s late miss after rounding Hammers keeper Alphonse Areola proved costly. “He’s played really well today, he’s gone round the keeper and done everything right, but the angle got too tight in the end. But when you’ve drawn that’s maybe a moment you’d like to replay again. “It was a really tough first half, we weren’t ourselves and probably deserved to be 1-0 down. It was totally different in the second half, we deserved to lead so it’s disappointing not to get over the line.” Read More Aberdeen held to goalless draw by bottom side St Johnstone at wet Pittodrie Gregor Townsend eager for Scotland’s old heads to prolong international careers Gary O’Neil plays down tension after Unai Emery walks away before handshake Kieran Hardy gets World Cup call as Wales look to boost scrum-half options Lewis Dunk’s goal denies Liverpool come-from-behind victory at Brighton Jake Jarman takes vault gold at World Gymnastics Championships

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Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals starts on Thursday, June 1. Here is how fans can win a free burrito from Chipotle throughout the series.The 2023 NBA Finals have finally arrived, and just two teams remain. The Miami Heat made it out of the Eastern Conference after clinching the No. 8 seed in the pl...