Latest from Almuraba
Yahoo
3 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bayern Club World Cup clash with PSG a 'perfect storm': Kompany
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany said his team's Club World Cup quarter-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday will be an enthralling encounter because of their similar "extreme" styles of play. Both Luis Enrique's PSG and Kompany's Bayern, champions of the French and German leagues respectively, like to dominate the ball, press high and play attacking football. Advertisement "You have teams who are able to make a lot of good use of the ball in nearly every game, against deep blocks, high presses, everything," Kompany told a news conference Friday. "That creates a sort of, what we've seen here a lot, thunderstorm, right? It's a perfect storm. These games are always interesting, and... I would pay to watch it." Bayern and PSG can rest easy on Saturday because of the roof at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta which means there will be no storm disruption, and Kompany said the match would be one to savour. "If I was a neutral, I would come to see this game, for sure," he said. "Both teams have quite 'extreme' principles, which is why it's usually an interesting game." Advertisement Despite the obvious strength of the Champions League winners, Kompany said there was no side he would rather face than the Parisians. "There's no reason to think that they're not going to be absolutely at their best tomorrow, but I think it's the type of challenge you like," he explained. "If I could pick one team to face, as a professional athlete, as a competitor, it's always the winners, and they are the winners, so we get a chance to play against them. "It's tough, it's the toughest game, maybe, but that's why we're here, so I wouldn't have it any other way." Advertisement - 'Completely over the top' - The Belgian coach also hailed his PSG counterpart Luis Enrique, who won the treble with the French side. In November PSG lost 1-0 against Bayern but Kompany said criticism of the Spaniard at the time was greatly overblown. "I could follow (his press conference) on one of the big screens and all the questions that were asked to him were completely over the top," said Kompany. "Really tough questions, big statements, everything is over, you failed in your job, you can do nothing -- all these big statements. "But I remember watching his team before we played them, most games they should have won 5-0 but somehow it was 1-1 or they lost, so it wasn't reflective of the spirit of the team... (or) of the dominance they had in every game." Advertisement Kompany said he was happy to see Luis Enrique's determination rewarded. "It's nice to see that in those moments consistency paid off for him, but most importantly that he was strong enough to continue," said the coach. "It's not a compliment I'm giving, it's just a fact... it's just interesting to do this (rematch) six months fast forward, and to see how much things can change." rbs/as
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB rumors: Cubs linked to Royals starter with 2.74 ERA
The post MLB rumors: Cubs linked to Royals starter with 2.74 ERA appeared first on ClutchPoints. The 2025 Major League Baseball trade deadline is less than one month away. The Chicago Cubs are one of many teams experts expect will aggressively shop for starting pitchers. Craig Counsell could get just that in the form of Kansas City Royals starter Seth Lugo. Lugo has one of the deepest pitching arsenals in the league and would be a big addition. Advertisement Counsell and Chicago have been surveying the league in preparation for the deadline. However, their starting rotation is their main concern. After losing Justin Steele for the season, the Cubs' rotation has been one starter short. According to North Side Baseball, Chicago and Kansas City have talked about players and their trade value, including Lugo. 'The Chicago Cubs and the Kansas City Royals had discussions this week about a trade that could send right-handed starter Seth Lugo to the North Siders, sources familiar with the negotiations said.' The trade could be a clean fit for both sides. 'Lugo certainly cuts the figure of a pitcher in whom the Cubs would have interest, and according to sources familiar with the Royals' thinking, the Chicago farm system contains multiple players in whom Kansas City has long had interest.' Advertisement After defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-5 on Saturday, Lugo is 5-5 with a 2.74 ERA. The ten-year pro is in the top 20 of MLB in ERA and WHIP among starting pitchers. Despite Cole Ragans missing many of his starts for the Royals this season, Lugo and Kris Bubic have propped up the team's pitching. Unfortunately, their team has not responded in the same way. At 39-46 before Tuesday night's game against the Seattle Mariners, Kansas City is in fourth place in the American League Central. The Royals have a lot of ground to make up in their division behind the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Guardians, and Minnesota Twins. If the front office decides that they can't make up the distance in the second half, they could sell at the deadline. Despite Rafael Devers' trade to San Francisco kicking the trade season off with a bang, nothing else major has happened. A trade sending Lugo to Chicago would definitely change how Counsell can approach the rest of the season. Bringing him in gives Shota Imanaga a reliable No. 2 to lean on in a playoff series. While the Cubs' offense has been electric, it might not be enough to get them past the Los Angeles Dodgers. The addition of Lugo changes things in a big way. With him, Chicago's odds would get a big boost. Related: Ex-35 home run hitter a free agent after Diamondbacks contract move Related: Diamondbacks fan dealt harsh punishment after interference controversy
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong shows off early 4th of July fireworks against Cardinals
The post Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong shows off early 4th of July fireworks against Cardinals appeared first on ClutchPoints. Chicago Cubs rising star Pete Crow-Armstrong showed off early 4th of July fireworks on Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals. The outfielder is quickly making a name for himself and will represent the National League as the starting centerfielder in the 2025 All-Star Game in a few weeks. Advertisement On a 4th of July Friday game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field, Crow-Armstrong started the game off with a bang. Before he even stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the first inning, PCA made a spectacular diving catch to rob Masyn Winn of a hit. There is nobody quicker in the outfield. After a smooth first inning for Cubs' starter Colin Rea, the Cubs came to bat. Seiya Suzuki stepped up to the plate and smashed a home run with two out. Then PCA, came to the dish and followed with a longshot of his own. Crow-Armstrong provided an early fireworks show for the fans. However, PCA and the Cubs were not done. In the bottom of the second inning, Michael Busch and Carson Kelly both hit home runs as well against starting pitcher Miles Mikolas. The starting pitcher allowed four home runs before he could register four outs. Advertisement The fireworks kept happening in the 3rd inning. Crow-Armstrong homered yet again. In two at-bats in this game, PCA had two home runs in three innings and had a diving catch. What can't he do? Busch followed with another home run as well to make it 7-0 Cubs against the Red Birds in the 3rd inning. Crow-Armstrong now has 23 homers on the year. That puts him into a tie with James Wood for 7th place in the league. Nobody would have thought that would be possible for a guy his size, but he continues to showcase five tools when on the baseball diamond. Related: Cubs, Cardinals make completely opposite types of history Advertisement Related: Cubs' Jameson Taillon gets timeline after landing on IL
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michigan football surprisingly loses out on 4-star to Texas Tech
The post Michigan football surprisingly loses out on 4-star to Texas Tech appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Michigan football team has been on fire on the recruiting trail lately, but they did miss out on a recruit on Wednesday. A lot of people expected four-star safety Donovan Webb to commit to the Wolverines, but when he announced his decision, he picked Texas Tech. This is a big get for the Red Raiders, and while it's disappointing for head coach Sherrone Moore and Michigan, Texas Tech definitely needed this one more. Advertisement 'BREAKING: Four-Star Safety Donovan Webb has Committed to Texas Tech, he tells me for @rivals,' Hayes Fawcett said in a post. 'The 6'0 185 S from Frisco, TX chose the Red Raiders over Michigan, Kansas State, & Notre Dame.' Donovan Webb is a Texas native, so it makes sense that he wants to stay in-state. He had a message for Texas Tech football fans upon his commitment. 'West Texas, I'm home!' He said. Webb is a four-star recruit, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He is the #349 player in the 2026 recruiting class, #30 safety and the #46 player in the state of Texas. Webb currently attends Panther Creek High School in Frisco, TX. The Michigan football team recruited him hard, but it couldn't secure the commitment. Advertisement 'Ultra-productive safety prospect with three-phase playmaking experience,' Webb's scouting report reads. 'Possesses requisite physical traits for the back end of the defense, pushing 6 feet, 180-185 pounds with plus length. Volume tackler with passing game impact as well, as evidenced by consecutive 100-tackle seasons and nine INTs/19 breakups across soph-junior campaigns. Displays impressive athleticism as a return game threat (two TDs as a junior). Ball-hawking safety archetype who looks for the big play.' The Michigan football team was hoping to land a player with NFL potential, but instead, that's what Texas Tech is getting. 'Made significant speed marker improvements on the track in Spring 2025 that hopefully help to unlock more explosiveness on the gridiron,' the scouting report adds. 'Plays a hyper-competitive style. That showed across multiple days of top performers-worthy recognition at the 2025 Texas 7on7 Championships in June. Sometimes can get too over-aggressive and handsy in coverage. Lacks a full catalog of testing data for more athletic context, but promising junior track times help. Projects as a high-major safety with possible role versatility depending on down-and-distance situations. Arrow seems to point up entering senior season with the potential to become a multi-year starter with NFL Draft upside.' The good news for Michigan is that its 2026 recruiting class is in fantastic shape. The Wolverines currently have one of the top recruiting classes in the country, and more commitments are expected to roll in later this week. Sherrone Moore will likely sign another top-10 class this year. Related: LSU football makes pitch to NCAA for jersey advertisements Related: USC football way-too-early bold predictions for 2025 season
Reuters
7 minutes ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Too soon to say if Mbappe will start against Dortmund, Alonso says
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey, July 4 (Reuters) - It is too soon to say whether Kylian Mbappe will start in Real Madrid's Club World Cup quarter-final match against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, coach Xabi Alonso said, as the French forward continues his recovery from gastroenteritis. Mbappe made his tournament debut on Tuesday as Real Madrid edged Juventus 1-0 to reach the quarter-finals after missing all of the group stage. "He's getting better. He's been improving over the last three days," Alonso told reporters at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Friday. "Tomorrow morning we will be deciding if he will be part of the initial 11." Mbappe came off the bench as a substitute in the second half of the Spanish side's 1-0 win over Juventus in Miami on Tuesday, earning wild applause in a scene that underscored his global appeal at the U.S.-hosted tournament. Mbappe was briefly hospitalised early in the tournament, isolated from his teammates as he recovered. Alonso's team have leaned on Gonzalo Garcia to deputise in his absence, as the 21-year-old academy graduate has recorded three goals - including Tuesday's winner - and an assist in a breakout performance at the competition. "I think (Garcia and Mbappe) could complement each other and if it's something that is required, it's not something I'm going to turn a blind eye to," said Alonso. They face a Dortmund team in solid form on Saturday, after the German side held off a stirring second-half fightback from Monterrey 2-1 this week to book their spot in the final eight. "Dortmund is a very good team. As soon as (coach Niko Kovac) was at the helm, they were growing and developing and on the rise," said Alonso. "We are facing a tough opponent... It's gonna be tight tomorrow."
