Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt has been left out of the Netherlands starting lineup for their Euro 2024 round of 16 clash against Romania. This continues a trend of De Ligt being benched under coach Ronald Koeman, who prefers Virgil Van Dijk and Stefan de Vrij as his starting center-backs. De Ligt’s lack of playing time has prompted him to seek professional help, and rumors suggest he could be on the move to Manchester United this summer.
Ianis Hagi, son of legendary Romanian footballer Gheorghe Hagi, started for Romania in their Euro 2024 quarterfinal match against the Netherlands. The 25-year-old winger has been a key player for Romania, contributing to their top finish in Group E.
Indian athlete Parul Chaudhary has qualified for both the 3000m steeplechase and the 5000m race at the upcoming Paris Olympics. This makes her the only Indian track and field athlete to qualify for two events. Meanwhile, Jeswin Aldrin has a chance to secure his Olympic spot in the long jump due to an injury to M Sreeshankar.
Tadej Pogacar launched a powerful attack near the summit of the Col du Galibier, extending his lead on the descent and reclaiming the yellow jersey in a dramatic Stage 4 of the Tour de France. Two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard fought hard but finished 37 seconds behind.
England fast bowler James Anderson, set to retire from Test cricket next week, showcased his enduring brilliance with a seven-wicket haul in the County Championship match against Nottinghamshire. This performance comes ahead of his final Test match against the West Indies at Lord’s on July 10th.
Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk will host their UEFA Champions League matches at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The agreement with Schalke covers all home games and potential knockout matches. This marks a significant move for Shakhtar, who have been unable to play in their home city of Donetsk since 2014 due to the Russian-backed separatists. The partnership also reflects Schalke’s shift away from their previous relationship with Russian gas giant Gazprom.
The Paris Olympic village, designed without air conditioning to reduce carbon emissions, will be equipped with 2,500 temporary cooling units to address athletes’ concerns about summer heat. While the village features a geothermal cooling system, the lack of permanent air conditioning raised worries about athlete comfort, particularly from the influential US Olympic team. Organizers responded by allowing teams to order portable units at their own expense, emphasizing a compromise between environmental goals and athlete well-being.
The Euro 2024 Round of 16 match between Romania and Netherlands is set to kick off on Tuesday, July 2nd at 9:30 PM IST. The match will be broadcast live on multiple Sony Sports channels in various languages and can be live-streamed on the SonyLIV app and website.
The sons of former England cricket legends Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff are set to make their Test debuts for England’s under-19 team against Sri Lanka. Archie Vaughan and Rocky Flintoff, along with other notable names like Jaydn Denly (nephew of Joe Denly) and Farhan Ahmed (brother of Rehan Ahmed), are part of the squad. The two-Test series will be a chance for these young players to showcase their skills and potentially follow in the footsteps of their famous fathers.
Defending champion Elena Rybakina cruised past Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the second round of Wimbledon, showcasing her powerful game and overcoming recent fitness challenges.
