Bayern Munich forward Michael Olise has become the first player since 1994 to provide five assists at a single World Cup as France prepare for their last-16 tie against Paraguay.

The 24-year-old matched Germany international Thomas Hassler’s long-standing tournament record and is now widely considered one of the finest attacking talents in world football.

His phenomenal international form follows a staggering domestic campaign where the London-born attacker registered 25 goals and 28 assists for the Bundesliga champions.

Shunning the modern superstar lifestyle

Despite his meteoric rise, the former Crystal Palace winger actively avoids the traditional trappings of modern football fame.

He possesses no commercial sportswear contracts, rarely grants media interviews and notoriously produces incredibly subdued goal celebrations.

Those who observed his development from a young age insist his reserved demeanour stems from authenticity rather than arrogance.

A childhood defined by quiet brilliance

Born in London to a French-Algerian mother and a Nigerian father, his exceptional talent was immediately apparent during his primary school days.

Daniel Coker, his former sports teacher at Dr Triplett’s CE Primary School in Hayes, recognised a unique sporting prodigy.

“When I saw him play…I knew that he was going to be something special.”

Coker revealed that the youngster, who was already attached to Chelsea’s academy at the time, dominated every physical activity he attempted.

“He’d come and have a go and just blow us out the water with how good he was.”

The perfectionist who hates the limelight

Even as a prodigious child, the French international displayed the exact same muted reactions to success that baffle fans today.

“He gave so many assists to our team, he’d score loads of goals, but he didn’t used to celebrate, he just used to get back straight in and want to go again,” Coker added.

Rachel Anderson, his former headteacher, recalled a fiercely competitive pupil who struggled to abandon a football after playtime had ended.

“He was a perfectionist and over-analysed everything. He was a bright boy so he did well academically.”

While he was eligible to represent England, Nigeria or Algeria, early signs always suggested he would ultimately choose to wear the famous blue shirt of France.

Ireland secured a dramatic 33-31 comeback victory over Australia in the Nations Championship in Sydney after Wallabies replacement Ben Donaldson missed a last-gasp penalty.

The touring side were far from their fluid best but still managed to extend their winning streak against the hosts dating back to 2018.

Replacement prop Tom Clarkson proved the ultimate hero by crossing the whitewash in the 77th minute to snatch a decisive late lead.

With time expired, the home crowd held its breath as Donaldson lined up a long-range kick to steal the victory.

Wallabies strike early in first-half blitz

The effort drifted agonizingly wide of the right upright, ensuring Andy Farrell’s men escaped with a bonus-point triumph.

Earlier in the contest, the hosts capitalized on uncharacteristic Irish errors to build a five-point advantage by half-time.

Dylan Pietsch, Jock Campbell, Josh Canham and Ryan Lonergan all crossed during a frenetic opening 40 minutes for the gold-clad outfit.

Heavyweight resilience shines through

However, the Six Nations heavyweights refused to capitulate under mounting pressure in the southern hemisphere.

Cian Prendergast, Josh van der Flier and Jamison Gibson-Park responded with crucial scores of their own to keep the visitors firmly in touch.

Following the restart, Hugo Keenan secured the vital bonus point before livewire scrum-half Tate McDermott restored the advantage for the Australians.

Late drama seals historic escape

A tense final quarter saw Dan Sheehan stripped of a potential score following intervention from the television match official.

Despite this setback, the resilient Irish pack relentlessly battered the opposition defensive line during the closing stages.

Clarkson eventually powered over for his second international try, setting the stage for the missed final kick that ultimately decided the enthralling encounter.

Match line-ups

Australia:

Ireland:

England full-back George Furbank has been ruled out of the Test match against South Africa in Johannesburg after being rushed to hospital with appendicitis.

The 29-year-old was due to start at Ellis Park in what would have been his first international appearance since 2024.

However, the Harlequins-bound playmaker began suffering symptoms following the captain’s run and will no longer feature against the Springboks.

Head coach Steve Borthwick now faces a significant selection headache as he attempts to end a four-match losing streak.

Replacement options for Borthwick

Freddie Steward, the squad’s other specialist full-back, is currently nursing an ankle injury and remains unavailable.

This leaves Marcus Smith as the most likely candidate to be promoted from the replacements bench into the starting XV.

The late withdrawal is a major disruption to the attacking plans formulated for this gruelling Nations Championship itinerary.

Continuation of injury woes

This latest medical emergency marks another cruel setback for a player who recently led Northampton Saints to the Premiership title.

The versatile back broke his arm at the end of 2024 before enduring a heavily disrupted 2025 season plagued by recurring calf and knee issues.

A subsequent concussion also kept him out of the start of the Six Nations, a tournament that yielded England’s worst-ever championship campaign.

Following the clash in Johannesburg, the national side will travel to face Fiji and Argentina later this July.

Will Jordan scored twice as New Zealand defeated France 34-32 to win a captivating nine-try thriller in the inaugural Nations Championship opener in Christchurch.

The prolific wing struck in the seventh and 71st minutes to secure a triumphant start to Dave Rennie’s tenure as head coach.

His crucial brace also moves the dynamic attacker within just two scores of Doug Howlett’s all-time record of 49 tries for the national side.

Roigard shines in attacking spectacle

Cam Roigard delivered an outstanding performance at scrum-half, crossing the whitewash twice for the southern hemisphere giants.

Back-row forward Peter Lakai was also on target during a high-octane encounter that showcased relentless attacking intent from both tier-one nations.

The reigning Six Nations champions ultimately fell agonisingly short of a rare victory on New Zealand soil despite a spirited and clinical fightback.

Depleted France denied by disallowed try

Damian Penaud, Antoine Hastoy, Theo Attissogbe and Matthieu Jalibert all scored for the visitors to keep the scoreboard pressure firmly applied.

However, the European heavyweights were notably missing the tactical influence of absent star names Antoine Dupont and Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

The touring side thought they had seized the momentum in the second half when Fabien Brau-Boirie touched down, but the effort was ruled out for a prior knock-on by Max Spring.

Next fixtures in the tournament

This newly launched competition continues next weekend as the global rugby calendar enters its second round of pivotal fixtures.

The All Blacks will remain on home soil to host Italy, while a bruised French squad must travel across the Tasman Sea to face Australia.

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has fiercely defended his tactical approach ahead of his side’s World Cup last-16 tie against Norway on Sunday.

The Italian has faced intense scrutiny following the South American side’s unconvincing 2-1 comeback victory over Japan in Houston.

Critics on social media have labelled the team’s style as stale and dangerous, prompting an uncharacteristically sharp response from the heavily decorated coach.

The 65-year-old insisted that only one man in football history possesses the credentials to question his methodology.

Ferguson the only peer

During his time managing across Europe’s elite leagues, the former Real Madrid boss earned a reputation for maintaining a calm demeanour under intense pressure.

However, the manager appeared visibly frustrated when pressed about his ability to extract the best from a talented Seleção squad.

“I don’t know if I understand football or not, but no one can judge me on this,” Ancelotti stated.

“The only thing that’s certain is that I’ve prepared for over 1,400 matches.”

He pointed to his vast managerial career as definitive proof of his pedigree on the global stage.

“Only one person has prepared more matches than me: Alex Ferguson, who has prepared for over 2,000,” he added.

“I take advice from everyone, but the only one who could really be the right person to give me advice is Alex Ferguson.”

“I am one hundred per cent sure I am not a genius, but at the same time, I am one hundred per cent sure I am not a fool.”

Haaland threat and internal unrest

The five-time world champions must now prepare for a physical encounter against Stale Solbakken’s Norway in New York.

Their European opponents boast the formidable presence of Erling Haaland, who has already scored five goals in three tournament appearances.

The prolific striker netted a late winner against Ivory Coast to remain in close pursuit of Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot.

Despite acknowledging the Norwegian as one of the best players in the world, the Brazil boss insisted his tactical preparations are not solely focused on stopping one individual.

Neymar’s ongoing frustration

Alongside external criticism, the national team camp is currently managing the delicate situation surrounding their all-time record goalscorer.

Neymar is yet to start a match at this tournament after recently returning to full fitness.

The veteran forward missed almost three seasons of domestic football after suffering a series of severe injuries, including a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

While the coaching staff acknowledge the forward’s deep frustration over his restricted playing time, they maintain he has remained professional and avoided causing disruption behind the scenes.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Aroldis Chapman has become Major League Baseball’s all-time career leader in strikeouts by a reliever after reaching 1,364 during Friday’s 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.

The 38-year-old surpassed Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm, whose record had stood for more than half a century since his retirement in 1972.

The historic milestone was achieved when the veteran left-hander struck out Denzer Guzman with a 98.6 mph fastball.

It occurred during the Cuban-born pitcher’s 889th major league appearance across a remarkable 17-year career in the sport.

A milestone decades in the making

Wilhelm’s previous benchmark was established by a pioneer of relief pitching who primarily utilised a knuckleball to deceive hitters.

In stark contrast, the Boston closer has built his formidable reputation upon triple-digit fastballs that have consistently overwhelmed batters since his 2010 debut.

The record-breaking out also secured the 383rd career save for the former Cincinnati, Cubs, and Rangers star.

“I feel very happy, very proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish,” the eight-time All-Star said through an interpreter.

“I just feel very satisfied right now.”

Red Sox celebrate veteran’s achievement

Following the landmark strikeout, the milestone man briefly acknowledged the achievement on the mound before inducing a double-play grounder to escape a late jam.

His efforts preserved a deserved victory for rookie teammate Jake Bennett, who was making only his seventh appearance in the majors.

“It’s incredible to even just be a part of a team that it happens on,” Bennett noted after the game.

Boston interim manager Chad Tracy confirmed the clubhouse celebrated the historic night with a retrospective video highlighting the closer’s two World Series championships.

“What a career he’s had,” Tracy remarked.

“The cool thing is watching the video, and you’re seeing him at a young age throwing 102, and he’s still doing it.”

Record-breaking profile

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will sit out Saturday’s game against the San Diego Padres after exiting Friday’s 4-3 home victory with right biceps tightness.

The two-way standout experienced the discomfort while swinging the bat during the sixth inning of the divisional clash.

He had already thrown a season-high 110 pitches on the mound, recording nine strikeouts and allowing three runs over six innings.

Teoscar Hernandez later secured the comeback win for Los Angeles with a decisive seventh-inning grand slam, handing San Diego their seventh consecutive defeat.

Precautionary measure for dual-threat athlete

Manager Dave Roberts opted to use Miguel Rojas as a pinch-hitter for the Japanese international in the seventh inning to prevent further aggravation.

Speaking through an interpreter, the former MVP revealed he had successfully managed a similar biceps issue earlier in the campaign.

“It went away relatively quickly, so I expect that to happen again.”

Shohei Ohtani

Roberts echoed this optimism, noting the player’s history of quick recoveries while emphasising the immense physical demands placed upon a two-way player.

All-Star break schedule under review

Los Angeles had previously adjusted their starting rotation to align the phenom against divisional rivals before the mid-season All-Star break.

This adjustment already made it highly unlikely that Ohtani would pitch in the upcoming exhibition showcase due to the resulting short rest period.

Following Friday’s flare-up, the Dodgers hierarchy is now actively considering skipping his next scheduled start altogether to provide extra recovery time.

“Obviously we’re not going to make that decision right now, but anything should be on the table, certainly.”

Dave Roberts

The superstar was also seen applying an ice pack to his left knee following the game, though management confirmed this was merely routine maintenance.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has firmly dismissed speculation that he will announce his retirement from Formula 1 at this weekend’s British Grand Prix.

Rumours have recently intensified that the veteran driver could use his home race at Silverstone as a platform to end his illustrious career.

However, the British star has categorically denied these claims and insists his focus remains on his long-term future in the sport.

Pundits predict Silverstone farewell

Speculation regarding an impending departure gained momentum earlier this season following comments from the European motorsport media.

Dutch journalist Louis Dekker suggested that struggles with his current machinery might prompt a sudden exit for the most successful driver in grid history.

“I think Hamilton will announce his retirement at Silverstone and finish out the year,” Dekker stated on the NOS Formula One podcast.

Former grand prix winner Ralf Schumacher echoed these sentiments, predicting a dual exit for both the British driver and Aston Martin veteran Fernando Alonso.

“It’s time for both of them to step out of their cockpits at the end of the year and give young people a chance,” Schumacher told Sky Germany.

Planning for a long-term F1 future

Despite outside pressure, the record-breaking race winner remains steadfast in his commitment to the starting grid.

He is preparing to embark on a highly anticipated multi-year contract with Ferrari that extends through to the end of the 2027 season.

Addressing the media earlier this campaign, he delivered a resolute message regarding his career trajectory.

“I still plan to be here for quite some time. Everything is 100 per cent clear to me. I am still focused, still motivated, still love what I do with all my heart.”

The future Scuderia driver also took a thinly veiled swipe at his critics, noting that he is already planning for the next five years of his life in motorsport.

Returning to Northamptonshire this weekend, he will instead focus solely on adding to his unprecedented nine victories at the historic British circuit.