With 11 days to go for the World Cup, Pakistan and South Africa played out a high-scoring thriller in Lahore. There were three centuries: Tazmin Brits posted her career-best 171 not out, Laura Wolvaardt brought up her ninth ODI hundred, and Sidra Amin hit 122. After over 90 overs and a rain break, South Africa won the match and took a 2-0 unassailable lead in the series with a match to spare.Chasing a revised target of 313 in 46 overs due to rain, Pakistan lost their first three wickets for 101, with Omaima Sohail making a brisk 43 and laying a solid platform. From there, Amin and Natalia Pervaiz stitched a momentum-changing 146-run stand off just 111 deliveries to lift Pakistan to a strong position. When Amin was cleaned up by Chloe Tryon, attempting to slog to the midwicket region, Pakistan needed 66 from 49 balls, with Pervaiz batting on 55 off 46. However, South Africa struck again, thanks to Tryon, and that shifted the momentum in their favour.Pakistan lost captain Fatima Sana, Natalia Pervaiz (73 off 60), and Diana Baig in a span of just nine balls, as South Africa seized control late in the chase. The hosts eventually folded for 287 in 44.4 overs, losing their final seven wickets for just 40 runs. Nadine de Klerk led the bowling effort with 3 for 45.South Africa posted 292 for 3 after being asked to bat first, but were sloppy in the field. Sidra Amin, who went on to register her sixth ODI hundred, was dropped several times during her innings.Earlier, Brits and Wolvaardt got off to a steady start and converted it to a 260-run opening stand. Brits was the aggressor in the stand and reached her sixth ODI ton a few overs before rain interrupted play. After 41 overs, South Africa were 238 for no loss, with Wolvaardt unbeaten on 95. Once play resumed and the contest was reduced to 46 overs per side, Wolvaardt reached her ninth hundred in ODIs, and South Africa added 54 runs in the last five overs. Brits, who scored 101 not out in the series opener, remained unbeaten on Friday, scoring 20 fours and four sixes.

Celtic manager target Kieran McKenna is now thought to be keen on leaving Ipswich Town to take over at Parkhead, and he is a frontrunner alongside one other boss.

What McKenna has said about Celtic job

The Ipswich Town boss has been linked with taking over from Brendan Rodgers in Glasgow, with the Hoops taking their time in regards to appointing their next permanent manager.

Martin O’Neill is currently doing a solid job in interim charge, defeating Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden Park at the beginning of November.

O’Neill’s first game in caretaker charge was a 4-0 win over Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership, and talking after that, McKenna was quizzed on a potential move to Parkhead. A Hoops supporter growing up, McKenna called Celtic “a really big football club” but was coy on any move north.

“It’s not something that I’ve followed greatly. I used to coach Martin’s nephew, which is my closest link to Martin O’Neill. Rory Fallon, who is a very good footballer and no other big links there. I think he got a good result last night.

“It’s a really big football club growing up. Again, we all have our affinities. I don’t think everyone has to go around and announce what they were. There are clubs that we support and clubs that we follow.

“But yeah, of course, it’s a really big football club. Again, we’re in a really busy, really important stage of the season, going into international next week with three big games.”

Celtic manager twist on Martin O'Neill after Desmond relationship revealed

Now, a new promising development has emerged over McKenna moving to Glasgow.

Kieran McKenna "wants the Celtic job"

Speaking to The Go Radio Football Show, relayed by 67 Hail Hail, journalist Mark Guidi claimed that McKenna “wants the Celtic job” and is a “clear front runner” for the vacancy alongside Bodo/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen, 57.

Guidi also hailed the work O’Neill has done so far in his short interim period.

McKenna’s Ipswich side currently sit 10th in the Championship with a game in hand, three points outside the playoffs.

McKenna’s Ipswich record

Games

187

Wins

87

Draws

50

Losses

50

Players used

81

Many would have expected the Tractor Boys to make an immediate return to the Premier League under the “sensational” McKenna after splashing the cash, but by the looks of things, a move to Celtic for the manager is a possibility.

He’s young, very fast and very exciting, and South Africa are hoping he does the groundwork in Cape Town for a long and successful career

Firdose Moonda02-Jan-2025Kwena Maphaka does not need to think of himself as being “on trial” when he becomes the youngest Test debutant for South Africa at Newlands on Friday. Maphaka will be 18 years and 270 days old at the time, not yet in possession of his final school results (which come out in about ten days’ time) and has just three first-class matches to his name.”We know what his talent is about,” Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s Test captain, said on the eve of the game against Pakistan.Those who watched the white-ball matches against Pakistan, where Maphaka reached speeds above 150kph, already know about some of it. Maphaka’s raw pace was on display when he hit Babar Azam on the glove in the third ODI and then rushed him into a pull shot off the next ball which Babar played to short midwicket. The match before that, his athletic instincts were on full display when he leapt up in his follow through to take a sharp catch to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan. He picked up 4 for 72 in that game.Related

• Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma centuries drive South Africa's day

• Secrets of Newlands pitch keep Pakistan guessing on team combination

• Maphaka makes things happen, and things are happening for him

• Deflated Pakistan look to set record straight in South Africa and level series

Those who watched the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year might have seen all this coming. On some of South Africa’s less lively pitches, Maphaka picked up 21 wickets at an eyepopping average of 9.71. South Africa lost in the semi-final but Maphaka’s haul was not overtaken and he was named Player of the Tournament.But there was one person who knew even before this year’s age-group tournament that Maphaka’s talent was extraordinary: South Africa’s Test coach Shukri Conrad. While working as national U-19 coach a couple of years ago, he remembers “seeing Kwena at the camp and I said to the selectors, ‘This kid’s going with us to the World Cup’. Everybody jumped up and said, ‘what are you talking about? He’s 15 years old’,” Conrad told ESPNcricinfo two days before the match. “I said to them that we might not reap the rewards at this World Cup but we’re definitely going to reap the rewards down the line.”Maphaka was part of the South Africa squad that travelled to the U-19 World Cup in the Caribbean in 2022. He played three matches and took seven wickets and also had the opportunity to be mentored by the man who would become South Africa’s Test coach a year later. Then, Conrad included Maphaka in a South Africa A squad that toured Sri Lanka in June 2023. Maphaka made his first-class debut on that trip, before he had even played a domestic red-ball match, under Conrad’s watch. So it’s hardly surprising that Conrad brought Maphaka into the squad as soon as he had the opportunity to: once his school examinations were over (which is the reason he did not go on the away Test tours) and there was a vacancy in the attack.

“He seems like he wants to be the man for the team. He has the characteristics to at least to fulfil his potential. And I guess for us it’s to support him and make him feel free to continue being the person that he is”Temba Bavuma on Kwena Maphaka

With Gerald Coetzee and Wiaan Mulder injured at Kingsmead, Maphaka was brought into the Test squad in the Sri Lanka series but did not play at St George’s Park. Dane Paterson, a slower bowler who moves the ball off the seam, was preferred. Paterson took seven wickets and retained his place for Boxing Day, where allrounder Corbin Bosch debuted. But now, with Mulder back in and carded to bat as high as No. 3, Bosch has dropped out and though Paterson is desperately unlucky to miss out after 13 wickets in his last two Tests, the circumstances are ideal for Maphaka to debut.”Kwena selection is on potential, more than anything. But obviously, he exudes talent and we wanted to go with an extra bit of pace as well,” Bavuma explained. “Unfortunately, a guy like Dane Paterson, who has been superb for us, misses out. So we’re quite excited for Kwena – also considering the fact that we’ve got a series on the line. We want to give an opportunity to a young guy, when there’s a consequence to it. Whatever happens from his point of view, from a performance point of view, it’ll put him in good stead.”On eve of the match, it sounded like he may even be entrusted with the new ball alongside Kagiso Rabada. “I’m sure he’ll be looking forward to running in with KG over the next five days,” Bavuma said. “We’re super excited for the young talent.”ESPNcricinfo LtdAs captain, Bavuma will look to balance giving Maphaka a licence to simply do his thing with ensuring that he learns as much as possible from the experience. The message is that there is no pressure on him, but there is the opportunity to lay the groundwork for a long and successful career.”With a guy like Kwena, you want to allow him to be as free as he can. You want to allow him to continue being the Kwena he is and to allow the exuberance of youth to come out,” Bavuma said. “More specifically with him, it’s a case of Kwena running and bowling as quickly as you can, allowing him to kind of just spread his wings. Obviously with him, he doesn’t have the foundation. A lot of us played first-class cricket, we were able to fail, come back and find a way. He’s just going to have to learn quite quickly but he has the talent that will make it a little bit easier for him. Also, he’s not on trial in this game. We know what his talent is about.”Though Bavuma has not played a red-ball game with Maphaka before, they have shared the international stage in two ODIs and have trained together. From what Bavuma has seen, Maphaka “seems to have a good understanding of his game, especially at his age; he is a strong competitor as well and you can see it in all the other things that we do, even playing soccer”.”He seems like he wants to be the man for the team,” Bavuma said. “He has the characteristics to at least to fulfil his potential. And I guess for us it’s to support him and make him feel free to continue being the person that he is.”

It remains a possibility that Liverpool could sell Mohamed Salah at some stage, David James has told GOAL, despite the Egyptian superstar signing a new contract at Anfield. Those terms are intended to take the prolific forward through to the summer of 2027, but the odd question has been asked of his output this season and interest from the Saudi Pro League remains.

• Salah record: Total goals for Liverpool

  With that in mind, a transfer agreement in upcoming windows cannot be ruled out. Reigning Premier League champions will be hoping to see their four-time Golden Boot winner – who has netted 250 goals for the club – rediscover his spark during the 2025-26 campaign.

  If that proves to be the case, then there will be no need to consider a parting of ways. Big-spending teams in the Middle East could, however, test the Reds’ resolve, while Salah may decide that he does want to take on a new challenge after all – with there still plenty of football left in him at 33 years of age.

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• Getty
  

  Salah transfer: Could Liverpool sanction a sale?

  When former Liverpool goalkeeper James – speaking exclusively to GOAL via the home of football betting online – was asked if Salah could be sold, the ex-England international said: “Liverpool didn't have to sign Mo Salah and Mo Salah didn't have to sign for Liverpool. I mean, in the end, the deal that he signed would have been right for both parties. And I think if there came a time, and I know Liverpool aren't unique in this, but most of the reasoning behind signing players will be the numbers they're producing.

  “So you could envisage a situation where Mo's numbers aren't what Liverpool need. And if there were a potential suitor somewhere else, then I'm sure with conversation, because Mo does have a say in it, that Liverpool would be willing to let him go.

  “Under contract, I don't think I could see a situation where Mo's going to hang around just to get paid. I think there would be a situation where, through conversation because I know the dialogue with Liverpool is always really good, that the two parties would sit down and discuss the future.

  “However, if Mo starts doing what Liverpool would like him to do and Mo I'm sure would like to do and starts scoring loads of goals, then their hand could be forced by a potential suitor, because whatever club is interested, Saudi logically as they're the ones with the money, they may make an offer that Liverpool can't refuse.

  “I also think that Liverpool will have someone already lined up to replace Mo Salah. As I stand here looking at my signed Diogo Jota shirt, we now know with clarity the inevitable nature of life. I think Liverpool, more so than anyone currently, will be looking at that Diogo situation and saying, we have to have it. And that would just be, from a human level, logical, and from a business level, even more logical to have some kind of risk management with regards to replacing players.”

• Years left: Salah in same category as Ronaldo & Messi

  James added on Salah still looking to the future, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi showing what can be achieved in the longevity stakes: “Mo’s only 33. Cristiano Ronaldo, I know he's playing in Saudi, he's only been doing it for a few years, but the guy is 40, he's still scoring at international level.

  “Mo, it has been well-versed about how fit he is. People keep talking about losing pace, but I don't think he has from the numbers, that I’m told are the same as they were before. The one thing I would say is probably the defenders he's playing against are getting quicker. So it's not Mo, it's just the opposition. But at 33 years old, it's true that the guy's got another contract in him, easily.”

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• AFP
  

  Decade at Anfield: Salah could reach 10 years of service

  Those terms are unlikely to come at Anfield, as Salah looks to complete a decade of loyal service on Merseyside by remaining in his current surroundings through to 2027, but there is no indication that he will be stopping any time soon and his asking price would remain high if Liverpool were to look at cashing in at some point across the next couple of transfer markets.

No play possible on third day out of four but draw enough to confirm runaway Foxes in top spot

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay18-Sep-2025Kent 17 for 0 drew with Leicestershire 459 for 7 dec (Patel 114, Cox 93, Masood 90, Hill 54)Leicestershire’s promotion as Division Two champions in the Rothesay County Championship was confirmed despite the final day of their clash with Kent going the same way as days one and three, abandoned without a ball bowled to consign the contest to a draw.Early morning rain topped up an already saturated outfield at the Uptonsteel County Ground, where umpires Hassan Adnan and Simon Widdup, mindful of their duty to minimise the risk of injury to players, determined after a number of inspections that there was no prospect of it drying out enough for play to resume.With Leicestershire taking a 25-point lead into the last two rounds of games, the 13 points they take for a draw in this match is enough to put them out of reach of second-placed Glamorgan, who took only nine from their drawn match in similar conditions 30 miles away at Derby.”We’ve been the best team in this division,” Alfonso Thomas, Leicestershire’s head coach, said. “We’ve been at the top of the table since the first game and I’m just glad that we saw the job through. It was tough going towards the end, with a few injuries and guys getting called up to England.”But it’s just fantastic to see a reward for the work that everybody’s put in – the backroom staff, ground staff, administrators, players, support staff. The whole club as a collective has really bought into it and that’s a testament to the players and the way they went about it throughout the season. To win six games and lose only one is a great effort.”We have a little genius in Rehan Ahmed. He can do things that nobody in this team can do. But then there’s the other guys that do the hard yards, bowling up the hill, bowling into the wind, the batters that have to go out and face a second new ball, or pad up as a nightwatcher. But at no point has anybody moaned about the job that they have to do. And all of those things add up.”Getting to where we are now, winning this title, has been a process. When I came here we were a bit soft-centred, and we had some players who probably weren’t good enough. But the changes you are trying to implement can’t happen overnight, so it was just baby steps.”The first thing we needed to do was become harder to beat and competitive over four days. To an extent we did that last season. We only won one game, but we only lost two. The next step was to try to win more games. And to do that we came up with simple plans, keeping things simple rather than trying to think outside the box. The guys bought into that and we have worked hard to make sure that the players we have brought in have had the right character and bought into it too.”Leicestershire, who will play Division One cricket next season for the first time since 2003, would have preferred their title-winning moment to have come on the field, to be followed by a trophy presentation in front of their own supporters. In fact, they will not get their hands on the silverware until the conclusion of their final fixture, against Northamptonshire away, which starts next Wednesday.Nonetheless, they did their best to create their own excitement, celebrating with champagne and fashioning a ‘Champions’ board from part of the boundary board, while cheered on by enthusiastic supporters.The only member of their team who might have felt a little frustrated not to get on the field was veteran seamer Chris Wright, who is retiring at the end of this season at the age of 40.Although his retirement has been marked by his team-mates off the field, the conditions denied him the chance of a send-off on the field in front of a home crowd. He also needs three more wickets to reach 600 in his career in first-class matches and is one away from 800 in all formats.Leicestershire’s season has finished in something of an anti-climax, with four of their last six matches ending in draws, this one being a third in a row in which the weather has been a major factor. Yet they have been short-priced favourites to emerge with the title since the end of May, having won five of their first seven matches to establish a commanding advantage.It is their second silverware in three seasons after lifting the Metro Bank One-Day Cup in 2023 but their first in the Championship since 1998 – two years before the competition adopted a two-division format – when they took their second County Championship pennant in three years, coached by the club’s current president, Jack Birkenshaw.Thomas added: “I have to give credit to Pete Handscomb, the captain. He’s not here today but he’s been a big driver of that. He’s made it easier for me as a coach because we both sing from the same hymn sheet.”I know we won a trophy two years ago, and that was important for the players to give them a reward for all their hard work, but this is playing consistent cricket over a period of time.”On a personal level I’m extremely proud. I won things as a player but I would probably go as far as to say it’s given me a lot more satisfaction to win as a coach than as a player. As a player, you only have to look after yourself whereas as a coach, you have to look after about 20 guys. You don’t have the power yourself to execute the things you are asking for, and that makes you vulnerable.”For Leicestershire, I would like to think that it’s the start of something really special. We’ve won two trophies in the last three years. That doesn’t just happen – and it certainly doesn’t just happen to Leicestershire.”

There was physical courage, there were technical tweaks, and nothing really worked. But the final act showed not all was lost

Alagappan Muthu03-Jan-2025The old saying only mentions sticks and stones. Rishabh Pant might want it amended to include leather as well. He had a big red welt on his left arm where a back-of-a-length ball from Mitchell Starc had reared up off the Sydney pitch to strike him flush.Thanks to his heroics on his last Border-Gavaskar tour, this one began with a lot of focus on him. Even otherwise, with the pitches in Australia getting spicier and the new Kookaburra ball making life more difficult for the top order, the impact of players like Pant and Travis Head, coming down the order, always had the potential to change the course of Test matches.Related

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Great Scott Boland, the supersub calling the shots for Australia

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Boland leads the charge as Australia dominate on green pitch

The conversation around Pant began to shift, though. The risks that he takes to play those unorthodox shots had begun to catch up with him. His scoop in the first innings in Melbourne, where he was trying to pick out the gap at fine leg – he got hit on his body the first time he tried it and was caught at deep third the very next ball when he went for it again – came in for a lot of criticism. Being dismissed by a part-time bowler in the second innings, when India were trying to save the Test, took that discourse to a whole other level. There were other batters not doing their job as well but his wicket was singled out.With that as the backdrop, Pant walked in in Sydney and spent 98 balls being someone else. There were still glimpses of his disdain for that red ball. In the 43rd over, he helicoptered a cut shot. Those usually involve back and across movements. But he couldn’t be bothered. He just trusted his hand-eye coordination and then, at the point of contact, let his wrists go for a whirl, and the ball skipped away behind point. Under normal circumstances, that’s what a Pant highlights reel would be all about.An exchange with Steven Smith, caught on the stump mic, didn’t end well for Shubman Gill•Getty ImagesThese weren’t normal circumstances. His application had come under question. During optional training, reserve wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel had a long net, large parts of it right alongside Pant, and he looked quite good. It took a while for Pant to become a regular in India’s Test team – largely because his keeping needed to improve; his batting was already there – and since then he’s been among the first names on the sheet. Melbourne cast doubt over his temperament. Sydney almost became the scene of his redemption. He took so many body blows. Two back-to-back in the gut. Then another in the gut which left him winded enough he went down to the floor. One right on the side of the helmet, which looked awful. He tried to get out of the way but that bouncer just kept following him. Starc looked extremely concerned and wouldn’t leave Pant’s side until he got a nod of the head from the batter.”I think this is the first time I’ve gotten hit so much,” Pant said, “But you know in cricket you can’t plan anything, so everything happened for the first time for sure at some point of time in your career, but that was me today.”India were showing bravery. They were trying to correct their mistakes. Virat Kohli abandoned his open stance to be more side-on, which in theory would reduce the chances of him playing away from his body because his alignment was putting his front shoulder closer to balls outside off stump. They tried to rely on their defensive skills. Ravindra Jadeja tried to leave as many as he could. They tried to play the situation and ignore their natural instincts.As much as they did all this, though, they seemed to gain little. They still collapsed from 57 for 2 to 148 for 8. The only difference was, it was a slow-burn collapse spread out across 41 overs. It’s back to their bowlers to bail India out, and it is possible that they could. There are frailties in the Australian batting order and the pitch is offering plenty of help.It was edged and taken yet again for Virat Kohli•Getty Images”I feel it was a little tough pitch,” Pant said. He believed India’s 181 was not quite a par score but was close to it. “The ball was doing off the wicket quite a bit especially after the end of second session I would say.”India did expect batting to be difficult when they won the toss and chose to put a total on the board. What they didn’t expect was the consistency of movement and the extra bounce. It gave them zero breathers. When they tried to manufacture shots, it backfired.Shubman Gill wanted to make sure it was the last ball before lunch so he went down to do some gardening. Steven Smith at slip saw that and said, “This is bull****. Oi, let’s play”. Gill turned around and replied, “You take your time, Smithy, nobody says anything to you.” Then he faced up to Nathan Lyon and got caught by Smith at slip. Kohli’s side-on stance seemed to be helping until once again Scott Boland produced a ball that he nicked.India went to stumps in a rage. The penultimate ball of the day sparked a confrontation. Usman Khawaja asked Jasprit Bumrah to wait. Sam Konstas got involved with a couple of words from the non-strikers’ end. Bumrah didn’t like it. The two of them had to be separated by the umpires. The last ball of the day produced a wicket. Khawaja was out caught, and Bumrah whipped around and walked towards Konstas. He knew he couldn’t get in his face. He held his emotions in check and then vented them when Konstas walked off. Veins popping. India haven’t been a happy team on this tour. They’ve felt antagonised. They had come to Sydney damned for all that they did. Sydney damned them when they didn’t, too. That last ball wicket, though, felt powerful. All 11 players ran up to their captain bristling with life once more.

يستعد فريق ريال مدريد لمواجهة قوية أمام أتلتيك بلباو مساء اليوم الأربعاء، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني “الليجا” لموسم 2025-2026.

ويحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على أتليتك بلباو بملعب “سان ماميس” في مباراة مقدمة من الجولة التاسعة عشر لليجا، ويتواجد الفريق في وصافة الترتيب بـ33 نقطة، خلف برشلونة المتصدر بـ37 نقطة بعد فوزه أمام أتلتيكو مدريد بنتيجة 3-1 أمس الثلاثاء.

ويستمر حديث الصحافة الإسبانية حول العلاقة بين تشابي ألونسو مدرب ريال مدريد ولاعبي فريقه، وظهر تقرير اليوم يوضح أن هناك توترًا جديدًا بين الطرفين.

وأشارت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية نقلاً عن برنامج ‘El Chiringuito’ الإسباني، إلى أن تشابي ألونسو قرر تغيير بعض خططه، بما في ذلك السفر يوم المباراة، لخوض مباريات الدوري التي يلعبها الفريق خارج أرضه.

اقرأ أيضًا | شنايدر: لاعب ريال مدريد سيتوج بالكرة الذهبية 100% الموسم المقبل

وقرر تشابي سفر الفريق في اليوم السابق لمواجهة أتلتيك بلباو، فبدلاً من السفر اليوم الأربعاء، سافر الفريق أمس الثلاثاء وبات ليلة في مدينة بلباو.

وذلك على الرغم من أن بلباو تبعد ساعة طيران فقط عن ريال مدريد، وهو ما أثار استياء لاعبي الفريق، ولم يُرض بعضهم.

ويرجع السبب إلى ازدحام جدول المباريات قبل عطلة عيد الميلاد، وكان بعض اللاعبين يفضلون قضاء يوم إضافي مع عائلاتهم، ويعتبرون قرار تشابي ألونسو غير ضروري.

The Tigers can feel good as they near the final month of the 2025 MLB season. After sweeping the Astros this week and winning eight of their last 10 games, they seem to have come out of the slump they hit midway through the year.

Detroit was one of the hottest teams at the start of the season, but cooled off toward the All-Star break when they lost four games going into the break followed by eight of their first nine games after the Midsummer Classic.

That slump naturally brought out concerns from Tigers fans who initially thought their team was on track to contend for their first World Series title in over 40 years. Those worries don't bother manager A.J. Hinch though.

"I think we should just thank them for being passionate enough to care," Hinch said, via 97.1 The Ticket.

The Tigers not only have seemingly emerged from their slump, but regained their lead in the American League Central. Detroit holds a 9.5-game lead over the Royals and a 10.5-game lead over the Guardians, as well as the best record in the league. Hinch knows they can't slow down, but is glad to have the passion from Detroit as they head down the final stretch of the season.

"We’re still going to run the race, we still have a lot of games left, we’re still going to play our game, but I love the emotions that come with sports and respect them for loving us," said Hinch. "I don’t fault people for caring or being super passionate. That’s the kind of city that we want (to play in). But don’t forget to love on us a little bit when things are bad."

The Tigers have given reason for their fans to feel excited again, but they'll need to build off their momentum to keep them feeling confident as the postseason approaches.

MLB announced on Tuesday that Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras will be suspended for six games, and he will be fined an undisclosed amount for his actions against an umpire on Monday.

Contreras has elected to appeal the suspension and will play until the appeal is resolved.

The incident between Contreras and plate umpire Derek Thomas occurred in the seventh inning of Monday night's 7-6 St. Louis win over the Pirates. The first baseman didn't agree with a called third strike during an at-bat, prompting him to look at Thomas. The umpire then ejected Contreras from the game, which sparked a heated reaction from the Cardinals player. As he was pushed back by the Cardinals staff toward the dugout, Contreras tossed his bat toward the field as he continued to yell at Thomas, and the lumber hit one of his own coaches.

The scene didn't end there. Once Contreras returned to the dugout, an entire bucket of Hi-Chew was thrown onto the field, but i's unclear whether Contreras tossed the bucket of candy or not.

As of now, Contreras will compete in Tuesday night's game vs. the Pirates as he's appealing his suspension. Hopefully he can keep his temper under control during this game.

From Scott McTominay overhead kicks to Troy Parrott mania and the stuff of dreams for Curaçao and Haiti, the November international break has been one full of drama.

It has also provided a far clearer picture of what the 2026 World Cup may look like. All but six countries have now booked their places in North America, with the remaining spots to be determined by playoffs taking place in March 2026, which will see four additional European teams qualify.

Along with Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Italy are the biggest name in the European playoffs, with Poland, Denmark, Ukraine, Turkey and the Czech Republic among others being forced to take that route.

England World Cup Squad Tracker England 2026 World Cup Squad Tracker

Who is in line to make Thomas Tuchel’s 26-player squad?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 13, 2025

The remaining two places will come from the inter-confederation playoffs featuring Iraq, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jamaica, Suriname, Bolivia and New Caledonia.

The draw for the finals will take place in Washington on Friday, December 5 at midday local time (5pm UK time), but AI has jumped the gun and predicted every group including those teams yet to be officially decided.

Group A – USA, Denmark, Norway, Japan

According to the supercomputer, hosts USA will meet Denmark, Norway and Japan in the group stage. Having qualified automatically due to their host status, America will hope to advance into the knockouts in what would be an interesting group. A lot, of course, relies on whether Denmark can qualify through the playoffs.

The Danes lost late on against Scotland and were forced to settle for a place in the playoffs rather than automatic qualification. Japan, meanwhile, could be ones to watch after they lost just once in World Cup qualifying, and Norway could yet cause a few upsets thanks to Erling Haaland. In a well-balanced group, though, both USA and Denmark would be favourites to advance.

Group B – Mexico, Ecuador, South Africa, Iraq

Like USA, Mexico have had their 2026 place sealed ever since it was announced that they would host the World Cup and the supercomputer predicts that they’ll be handed a fairly routine group to match. Joined by Ecuador, South Africa and Iraq – who just kept their qualification hopes alive with a late victory over UAE – Mexico would be expected to advance in such a group.

Group C – Canada, Iran, Uzbekistan, Republic of Ireland

Canada, the final hosts of the tournament, will be joined in Group C by Iran, Uzbekistan and Ireland – who will need to qualify through the playoffs – according to the supercomputer.

Canada should feel confident if the AI prediction is right. They could top the group in front of their home crowd.

Group D – Argentina, Switzerland, Ivory Coast, Haiti

Can Argentina retain their crown on Lionel Messi’s likely last appearance on the big stage? That’s the question. They turned on the style at times in qualifying and will be expected to advance in a group with Switzerland, Ivory Coast and Haiti if the supercomputer’s prediction comes true.

That’s not to say it’s the most routine group, though. Ivory Coast have a strong team in their own right, boasting the likes of Amad Diallo, Simon Adingra and Evann Guessand. The same, meanwhile, can be said for Switzerland, who have the likes of Granit Xhaka to call on. Argentina should top the group, but then the fight for second place would be on, especially if Haiti cause any upsets.

Group E – Brazil, Croatia, Tunisia, New Zealand

Out of all the groups that the supercomputer has predicted, Group E stands out as the most routine so far. Both Brazil and Croatia would likely compete for top spot, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side favourites to come out on top, whilst Tunisia and New Zealand battle it out for third place.

There would still be room for some shocks, but the dominance of Brazil and Croatia would likely prove too strong. Ancelotti’s side will especially be one to watch, as they weigh-up whether to bring Neymar to the World Cup and others in pursuit of glory at long last.

Group F – Uruguay, Netherlands, Egypt, Jordan

If anyone was ever keen to see Darwin Nunez up against Virgil van Dijk then Group F will be the one for you, according to the AI prediction. It has predicted that Uruguay will square off against Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, Jordan and the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup.

On paper, it looks like a routine draw for the two favourites of the group to go through, but seven-time AFCON winners Egypt are not to be taken lightly as long as Salah is fit and firing.

Group G – Belgium, Italy, Senegal, Saudi Arabia

Despite the fact that they’ll need to go through the playoffs, the supercomputer has predicted that Italy will take part in their first World Cup in over 10 years. It would signal a huge sigh of relief around the country if that proved to be the case, but their recent form suggests that it could yet be a playoff to forget once again.

Meanwhile, if they do reach the World Cup, they may still face their demise. The computer has predicted that Italy will meet a brutal group including Belgium and Senegal, one of Africa’s strongest sides, while don’t ignore Saudi Arabia, who beat eventual champions Argentina at Qatar 2022.

Group H – England, Austria, Algeria, Curacao

The supercomputer has predicted that England will be drawn into a group with Austria, Algeria and the smallest-ever country by population to feature at a World Cup, Curacao.

It wouldn’t get much more routine for the Three Lions, who are looking to finally bring football home in the men’s game to follow in the footsteps of the successful Lionesses.

They couldn’t have asked for a better qualification process under Thomas Tuchel, either. England were untouchable going forward and going the other way. They’ve got the players and they’ve got a winning manager. Will this finally be the year?

Group I – France, Scotland, Ghana, Australia

It could be good news for Scotland. The computer believes they’ll be drawn with France, Australia and Ghana. It would be an ideal draw for Steve Clarke’s men, who just defeated Denmark in dramatic fashion to qualify.

The fact they’ve reached the World Cup is an achievement in itself, but they won’t just be there to take part. In a group with France, who are likely to top the group, Australia and Ghana, they should expect to compete for a place in the knockouts.

Group J – Spain, Morocco, Paraguay, Jamaica

Drawn in a group with Morocco, Paraguay and Jamaica, Spain will be expected to dominate and send an early statement at the World Cup. They already have the Euros under their belt and will now be gunning for World Cup glory.

They’re a country full of great footballing history and many are backing them, led by the talent of Lamine Yamal, to create even more.

Group K – Portugal, Colombia, Qatar, Cape Verde

Group K, according to the supercomputer, will be centred around Cristiano Ronaldo and what is likely to be his final chance to win the World Cup. He’s watched as Messi has lifted it in dramatic style and will now be desperate to get his own glory to truly cement his Portugal legacy.

In a group with Luis Diaz’s Colombia and underdogs Qatar and Cape Verde, Ronaldo will be expected to shine.

Group L – Germany, South Korea, Panama, Wales

Whilst Germany likely ease to top spot, South Korea could grab second place in Group L. Up against Panama and playoff contenders Wales, they could have a routine run at second, assuming Germany take control.

The 2014 World Cup winners should be desperate to improve on their recent record and reclaim their throne, although they may have to stifle a Welsh side boosted by scoring seven times in their final qualifying game.