Former striker Romario has demanded that Brazil sack manager Carlo Ancelotti following the nation’s disastrous Round of 16 exit at the 2026 World Cup.
The South American giants were eliminated by Norway after Erling Haaland scored twice to render Neymar’s late penalty a mere consolation.
It marks the earliest departure from the global tournament for the Selecao since the 1990 competition in Italy.
The Italian manager was initially appointed to replicate his unprecedented club success on the international stage.
‘A national disgrace’
The 1994 World Cup winner has launched a scathing attack on the current regime, insisting the veteran tactician must be dismissed immediately.
“He cannot remain Brazil’s head coach,” Romario told talkSPORT.
If I had been in charge of the federation, I would have walked into the dressing room, told him to go to hell and torn up his contract on the spot.
The 58-year-old even suggested he would explore legal avenues against the former Real Madrid boss over the defeat.
“The match against Norway was a disgrace,” he added.
“I’d even take him to court.”
Selection controversies and media bias
The European coach has faced intense scrutiny for his squad selection ahead of the tournament.
Critics have heavily questioned the decision to include an injury-plagued, 34-year-old Neymar at the expense of Chelsea forward Joao Pedro.
Romario also accused the domestic media of offering the foreign manager a level of protection never afforded to his Brazilian predecessors.
“We had Dunga, he lost, and he left,” the legendary forward explained.
“Now we have this damned Ancelotti, who has lost and will keep on losing.
“If he were a Brazilian coach, you would have torn him apart by now, but because he’s a foreigner, nobody says anything.”
Ancelotti vows to rebuild
Despite the vitriol surrounding his position, the five-time Champions League-winning manager remains defiant about his future.
He acknowledged the profound sadness surrounding the early elimination but described the tournament as a valuable learning experience.
“We must continue to work and improve and find new ideas,” Ancelotti stated after the match.
“I believe that this loss is not the end, but the beginning of a new cycle.”
San Antonio Spurs have secured the future of NBA star Victor Wembanyama after the France centre agreed a five-year maximum rookie extension worth £188m ($252m).
The 22-year-old committed his long-term future to the Texas franchise by signing the lucrative agreement.
He reportedly holds a player option for the fifth season of the historic contract.
The towering 7ft 4in defender consciously chose not to demand additional financial clauses, affording the organisation greater salary cap flexibility.
Defensive dominance and historic recognition
This monumental extension follows a stellar 2025-26 campaign where the former first overall pick established himself as the premier rim protector in the sport.
He became the youngest athlete in history to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, sweeping all 100 first-place votes.
His formidable presence yielded a league-leading 3.1 blocks per game across 64 regular-season appearances.
The two-time All-Star also proved lethal offensively, averaging career highs of 25 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
Championship ambitions remain
Those commanding performances propelled the Western Conference outfit all the way to the NBA Finals last season.
However, their ultimate championship dreams were dashed following a 4-1 series defeat to the New York Knicks.
Anticipation of the new agreement was high after the generational talent addressed supporters directly online.
“Spurs family, I’m here to stay. Whatever it takes.”
Jude Bellingham has firmly cemented his status as an indispensable figure for his country after driving England to the World Cup quarter-finals in the USA with four goals and a crucial assist.
The Real Madrid midfielder has delivered a mesmerising body of work that ranks among the finest individual performances seen in an England shirt during recent major tournaments.
Following a 2-0 victory over Panama, where the former Borussia Dortmund star set up Harry Kane, travelling supporters have been loudly serenading the 23-year-old across America.
It now seems utterly ludicrous that there was ever genuine debate surrounding whether the talented playmaker would even secure a starting place in this tournament squad.
Rapid rise from Birmingham to Madrid
Of course, the global superstar is entirely accustomed to this level of adulation having burst onto the professional scene in spectacular fashion back in 2019.
Making his senior debut for hometown club Birmingham City at just 16 years and 38 days old, the prodigy shattered a long-standing record held by club legend Trevor Francis.
Early scouting reports immediately highlighted the teenager’s exceptional athleticism, graceful running, and an uncanny ability to effortlessly carry the ball away from intense pressure.
Within a year, a high-profile £20.7m transfer took the midfield maestro to the German Bundesliga, prompting his childhood club to famously retire his number 22 shirt after a mere 44 appearances.
Earning international recognition under Southgate
Sir Gareth Southgate quickly recognised this generational talent, fast-tracking the 17-year-old into the senior national side for a debut against the Republic of Ireland in November 2020.
Despite mounting public clamour for a regular starting berth following brilliant domestic displays in Germany, the then-England manager cautiously restricted his young prospect to three substitute appearances during the delayed Euro 2020 campaign.
Today, the accomplished Champions League winner has completely vindicated those early advocates by dominating the international stage and carrying his nation’s hopes deep into the knockout phases.
Will Jordan has become the All Blacks’ all-time leading try scorer after registering a hat-trick in New Zealand’s victory over Italy in Wellington.
The 28-year-old touched down in the right corner to complete his treble and reach exactly 50 Test tries in just his 56th international appearance.
That milestone strike took the versatile back past the long-standing national tally previously held by former full-back Doug Howlett.
Surpassing a generation of wingers
The New Zealand try record had proved famously resilient over the past two decades despite the emergence of several prolific finishers.
Both Joe Rokocoko and Julian Savea threatened to claim the outright lead during their respective careers, but the formidable duo ultimately stalled on 46 international scores.
Current squad member Beauden Barrett also sits just behind the leading pack with a tally of 45 tries.
Chasing the global milestone
Following his record-breaking touch down, the outside back delivered a shark-fin celebration in tribute to his domestic provincial side, the Tasman Mako.
Having achieved his half-century at a blistering pace, the Crusaders star is now perfectly positioned to challenge the global scoring charts.
Japan’s Daisuke Ohata currently holds the official world record with 69 tries, though a number of those efforts occurred in fixtures with disputed Test status.
South African legend Bryan Habana remains the benchmark for Tier One nations after registering 67 times in 124 caps for the Springboks.
Jordan Pickford will become England’s most capped player in World Cup history when he makes his 18th tournament appearance against Norway in the quarter-final in Miami.
The 32-year-old surpasses the previous national record held by legendary shot-stopper Peter Shilton.
This landmark occasion will also mark his 90th international cap overall across five major tournaments.
Consistent excellence on the global stage
The Everton number one maintained his unrivalled status following a magnificent individual display during the recent 3-2 victory over Mexico in the Azteca.
Since making his senior debut against Germany in November 2017, the Wearsider has fended off every challenger to keep the gloves.
He has conceded just 59 goals and registered 44 clean sheets in his 89 games for the Three Lions so far.
According to Opta statistics, the reliable custodian has made only two errors leading directly to goals throughout his entire international career.
Earning long-overdue recognition
His domestic form has been equally impressive, securing 23 clean sheets in his last two Premier League campaigns.
That figure places the former Sunderland academy graduate second only to Arsenal’s David Raya in the top-flight rankings.
Former national team goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes the current incumbent remains vastly under-appreciated despite these stellar numbers.
I think he has been under-appreciated for Everton and England when you look at the numbers he’s posting, the games he is playing and the number of clean sheets he has.
Paul Robinson
With England, you look at his experience, the way he has gone deep into tournaments.
Robinson highlighted how the veteran’s superb long-range distribution served as a potent attacking weapon during the recent triumph in Mexico City.
I also think he’s worked on his short distribution as well and I think he’s evolved as a goalkeeper and a person.
Paige Bueckers scored 34 points as the Dallas Wings defeated expansion franchise the Toronto Tempo 108-95 in front of a WNBA regular-season record crowd of 20,996 in Montreal on Friday.
The historic attendance at the Bell Centre surpassed the previous regular-season benchmark of 20,711, which was set during a clash between Washington and Indiana in September 2024.
Only two WNBA Finals games in Detroit during 2003 and 2007 have ever drawn larger overall crowds.
Bueckers shines in historic Canadian showcase
The former UConn standout delivered a clinical offensive performance by shooting 13-of-22 from the field while adding six assists and six rebounds.
Her scoring masterclass was supported by Arike Ogunbowale and Jessica Shepard, who both contributed 20 points for the visiting side.
Azzi Fudd also reached double figures with 13 points to ensure the Texas-based franchise completed an undefeated four-game road trip.
Expansion franchise struggles continue despite Mabrey effort
Marina Mabrey tried to keep the Canadian outfit competitive with an impressive 34-point display that included six made three-pointers.
Laura Juskaite offered strong secondary scoring for the hosts by adding 25 points to the tally.
However, the offensive output was not enough to prevent a fourth consecutive defeat for the league’s newest team.
The Toronto squad will have an immediate opportunity to bounce back when they face the New York Liberty at the same venue on Sunday.
The Colombian football federation has strongly condemned death threats directed at Jaminton Campaz after the midfielder’s extra-time miss contributed to a World Cup shootout exit against Switzerland.
The 24-year-old missed a critical scoring opportunity during the round of 16 tie when his decisive shot went wide of the target.
Following the tense defeat, the Rosario Central player saw his social media accounts flooded with hostile comments and severe intimidation.
As a precaution, the embattled international limited his online interactions and decided against taking the return flight to South America alongside his teammates.
Authorities urged to launch swift investigation
Colombian football officials have urgently requested the country’s attorney general to expedite a thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators.
“No athlete, nor any member of their inner circle, should be subjected to intimidation for representing their country in a sporting arena.”
The governing body released a robust statement demanding that sporting disappointments must never translate into real-world aggression.
“Football must be a space for unity, respect, and hope – never a setting for hatred, intimidation or violence.”
Tragic historical echoes for Colombian football
Taking to Instagram, the targeted playmaker shared an image of himself covering his face in frustration alongside a heartfelt plea for respect.
“We may think differently or feel frustration and sadness, but no passion justifies hatred or living in fear.”
This sinister harassment inevitably evokes tragic memories of a notoriously dark chapter in the South American nation’s sporting history.
During the 1994 tournament in the United States, defender Andres Escobar scored an own-goal in a devastating group-stage loss to the host nation.
Just days after the squad was eliminated and returned home, the beloved centre-back was murdered in the city of Medellin.
Miami Heat centre Bam Adebayo struck former teammate Tyler Herro during a physical altercation at a Las Vegas hotel practice court on Friday morning.
The confrontation reportedly escalated after the All-Star big man approached the guard regarding critical comments made recently on social media.
Those online remarks surfaced shortly after the conclusion of their successful seven-year partnership in South Florida.
Trade fallout sparks tension
The sharp-shooting guard was recently transferred to the Milwaukee Bucks as a key piece in the blockbuster trade involving two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Following the off-court incident, the Miami franchise released a brief official response.
“We are aware and not commenting.”
Officials from the Milwaukee organisation similarly declined to provide any statement regarding the morning clash.
Courtside appearance follows dispute
Despite the physical dispute, the newly acquired Bucks player attended Friday’s Summer League fixture between his current and former employers.
He was spotted sitting courtside at the Thomas & Mack Center throughout the exhibition contest.
The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year greeted his Milwaukee teammates and conversed amicably with Miami forward Jaime Jaquez Jr on the hardwood.
He subsequently departed the arena without addressing the awaiting media personnel.