Entertainment
Writing a magnificent new chapter in American soccer history, the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) officially punched their ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage on Friday afternoon, June 19, 2026, with a commanding 2-0 victory over Australia. Playing before a raucous, sold-out home crowd at Seattle Stadium, head coach Mauricio Pochettino orchestrated a high-energy, possession-heavy tactical masterpiece that limited the Australian Socceroos to minimal offensive traction. The Americans established dynamic control early in the 11th minute when a lethal low cross from Folarin Balogun forced a desperate own goal from Australian defender Cameron Burgess, before 21-year-old Alex Freeman sealed the historic result in the 43rd minute with a sensational, VAR-verified header off a deflected loose ball. What made the performance remarkably significant was that the USMNT executed this clinical triumph without their talismanic captain Christian Pulisic, who sat out with a calf strain—relying instead on the robust central midfield engine of Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie to dictate terms. Backed mathematically by Paraguay’s subsequent win over Türkiye, the Stars and Stripes have won back-to-back World Cup fixtures for the first time since 1930, granting Pochettino the luxury of resting key starters for their final Group D clash at SoFi Stadium.
Vaibhav Suryabanshi’s altercation with Sri Lanka A players after India’s Super Over defeat on Monday raises questions. The tri-series in Dambulla was supposed to be another step in the rise of the teenage prodigy.
Captain Shubman Gill battled intense heat and cramps to produce a masterful 154, while the increasingly confident Ishan Kishan scored a statement century as India recorded a dominant 170-run win over Afghanistan in the second ODI here on Wednesday to seal the series.India have taken a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match series.
Kolkata, a city known far and wide for its sports lovers who have a record of going berserk when things do not live up to its expectations saw access taking precedence. when Lionel Messi briefly and chaotically appeared at Yuba Bharati stadium in Salt Lake recently. It was indeed a revealing moment of how not to showcase global icons.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accepted the resignation of her cabinet colleague Aroop Biswas from the sports and youth affairs portfolio following widespread criticism over alleged mismanagement at the Salt Lake Stadium during an event featuring legendary footballer Lionel Messi on December 13.
Aiden Markram helped South Africa avoid another unwanted batting record but it wasn’t enough to stop India winning a lopsided third Twenty20 match by seven wickets on Sunday.
South Africa beat India by 51 runs in the second T20I at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur in New Chandigarh on Thursday. The Aiden Markram-led South Africa hence squared the five-match T20I series 1-1 after the second game.
India thrashed South Africa by 101 runs as the visitors collapsed for a meagre 74 in the opening T20I at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday. India had earlier posted 175/6 thanks to a rescue act by Hardik Pandya.
The handsome He man with a vulnerable look, Dharmendra, a top bracket star of Hindi films is no.more. Even as romantic Rajesh Khanna faded away and angry young man Amitabh Bachchan ceased to be the force in the box office that he used to be.
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