#the knockouts

Bramall Lane originally started out as a cricket ground and even hosted an Ashes Test. On Saturday, spectators at the old Sheffield stadium are set to see a cricket score once more. The merits of England playing the part-timers from Greece in the Rugby League World Cup divides opinion. Many fans feel it is a pointless mismatch that demeans what is…

Bahrain and Kuwait will battle for three points on the final matchday of the Arab Gulf Cup group stage on Friday (January 13). Both sides will slug it out for qualification from Group B. Bahrain currently lead the way at the summit, having garnered maximum points from two games played so far and needing just one point to progress to the knockouts.…

It's the final pay per view of 2022 in after one of the most memorable years in the 29 years of the company. This Saturday, UFC 282 will be headlined by Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev for the vacant light heavyweight title, as Jiri Prochazka decided to vacate the belt after his injury forced an end to his rematch with former belt holder,…

Qatar and Bahrain will face off against each other at Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium on the second matchday of the Arabian Gulf Cup on Tuesday (January 10). The two teams are Group B's top favourites, as evidenced by their performances on the opening matchday. Qatar beat Kuwait 2-0 to move to top spot and will hope to seal their qualification to the…

Saudi Arabia and Iraq will lock horns at the Basra International Stadium in Basra on Monday (January 9) in Group A of the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup. The Green Falcons won their opening game, beating Yemen 2-0. Sumayhan Al-Nabit opened the scoring in the 18th minute before Musab Al-Juwayr doubled their advantage from the spot 16 minutes later. It was…

Vaduz will welcome AZ Alkmaar to the Rheinpark Stadium on matchday five of the UEFA Europa Conference League on Thursday (October 27). The hosts are coming off a goalless draw at Wil in the Swiss Challenge League on Sunday. AZ, meanwhile, fell to a surprise 2-1 defeat at Excelsior in the Dutch Eredivisie. Siebe Horemans and Marouan Azarkan scored…

Predictions don't get a lot easier than this. The two teams have very different objectives heading into the Clausura season. Club America were top of the Apertura table with 38 points and expected to lift the title, but got knocked out by Toluca in the semifinals over two tight semi final legs. Queretaro were bottom of the Apertura table with just…

The Apertura ended with Pachuca defeating Toluca 8-2 on aggregate in the final. Necaxa and San Luis were never really in the running for the title. They finished in 12th and 13th place in the league, with only one point between them. It's always quite difficult to make predictions so early into a new season. Both sides will have had time to reflect…

There wasn't a lot between these two sides, which was reflected in how they were placed in the Apertura. Club León finished in 10th place, whereas Mazatlán disappointed by finishing in 14th place. There were only five points between the two sides, however, which would have stung a club of León's stature more than it might have affected Mazatlán.…

7pm: Cameroon v Brazil Both Teams To Score? No Under 2.5 Goals Richarlison to Score or Assist 7pm: Serbia v Switzerland Over 2.5 Goals Aleksandar Mitrovic to Score Anytime *A Multi-Match Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 24/1 with Paddy Power. All good things must come to an end and we've reached the culmination of the first round…

Of the 26 titles handed out over the course of the Heineken Champions Cup, 13 of them sit in the bottom half of this season's quarter-final draw. The last eight of this years competition is interestingly split. One one side of the draw you have Racing 92, Sale Sharks, La Rochelle and Montpellier - new money and new challengers. On the bottom half…

This is usually the time of the tournament where the picture becomes clearer and the wheat gets separated from the chaff. Not so much this time around. We're on Day 8 of the World Cup and the French are only ones to win the first two games and qualify for the knockout stage. I'm Mike Goodman and in today's Golazo Starting XI, we'll take a look at…

Five-time World Cup champions Brazil find themselves in the same group as Serbia and Switzerland once more, with Cameroon completing the lineup for Group G in Qatar Brazil find themselves in the same group as Serbia and Switzerland once For a second successive World Cup, Brazil find themselves matched up with Serbia and Switzerland as the trio,…

Barcelona will welcome Rosengard to the Camp Nou on matchday six of the UEFA Women's Champions League on Wednesday (December 21). The hosts are coming off an exhilarating 6-2 win at Benfica last week. Five players got on the scoresheet for the visitors, and Ana Secia scored an own goal, as the Blaugrana left Portugal with all three…

Holding back Mohamed Salah for the decisive penalty against the Ivory Coast was always going to be a dangerous strategy. Had his team-mates not converted their own spot-kicks, there was every chance his country would have bowed out without their talisman having an influence on the shootout at all. It could have backfired spectacularly, but it did…

France are aiming to seal an historic repeat, as Didier Deschamps' side look to retain their World Cup title at Qatar 2022. Les Bleus secured their second-ever World Cup triumph in Russia four years ago, 20 years on from their debut title on home turf in Paris back at France 1998. However, the challenge of keeping hold of the famous trophy has…

It all comes down to one last game in Qatar - the holders France against Argentina in the 2022 Fifa World Cup final at the Lusail Stadium. With two of the world's best players in opposition on Sunday, it promises to be an exciting clash for the neutrals, but a nerve-wracking one for fans of the respective finalists. Lionel Scaloni's Argentina team…

For all the understandable pre-season excitement about a new-look Barcelona, Real Madrid showed on Sunday that they are still the team to beat in La Liga. A 3-1 victory in the first Clasico of the campaign was important not just for the three points it gave the champions, but for how it showed that Barcelona still have a way to go before they have…

Iran have not had much success at the World Cup. They first appeared at the tournament in 1978 but were knocked out in the first round after drawing one and losing two. They then had to wait two years before making it back to the competition, this time being knocked out of the group stage after picking up just one win, which happened to come…

England: Alex Hales, Jos Buttler (c/wk), Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Phil Salt, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood/Chris Jordan Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem…

Will it be Croatian redemption, a picture-perfect end for Lionel Messi and Argentina, a Moroccan miracle or back-to-back for Les Bleus? We're down to the final four at the Qatar World Cup and Sunday's final is already looming large. Here, Sportsmail's DAVID COVERDALE casts his eye over the semi-finalists to see how they all compare. ARGENTINA -…

2pts Melbourne Stars to win the Big Bash 13/2 (General) Despite the new, high-profile player draft which took place earlier in the year, the latest edition of the Big Bash League has already been hit hard by international call-ups, the SA20 and the ILT20 - though things should still be much better than the last two renewals which were badly…

Short-priced punt: Croatia to Win Value Play: Under 1.5 Goals Long Shot: Andrej Kramaric to Score First Wednesday 10am: Morocco v Croatia TV: ITV and RTE2 Morocco and Croatia get us underway on Wednesday in Group F and it's a game the former will probably have to get something out of if they're to make it to the knockouts. Croatia are a wily old…

Some of the best clubs in world rugby have had their chance to warm up and work out the kinks. Now, it's time for the real tests. The Heineken Champions Cup - Europe's top yearly club rugby competition - returns for another go-round this weekend with Round 1. Throughout the course of this year's schedule, FloRugby will provide a weekly look at the…

Bayern Munich and Barcelona do battle at the Allianz Arena in UEFA Women's Champions League action on Wednesday night. The Spanish side have been superb so far, and three points will all but secure a place in the knockout stage. Bayern will be out for revenge after their poor defeat at the Camp Nou two weeks back. However, this will be another…

Morocco will hope to show that their progress to the knockout phase of Qatar 2022 was no fluke when they take on Spain in the penultimate World Cup last-16 battle at Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, on Tuesday (3pm GMT kick-off). The Atlas Lions were surprise winners of Group F, given that 2018 runners-up Croatia and Belgium, ranked at No 2 in…

The World Cup Round of 16 proceeds on Monday with a tantalizing fixture between tournament favorites Brazil and Korea Republic. Kickoff at Stadium 974 in Doha is scheduled for 2:00 pm ET. The Brazilians finished top of Group G with six points from three games but did lose their last match in shocking fashion to Cameroon. The Koreans meanwhile were…

South Korea find their hopes of making the last 16 at the FIFA World Cup 2022 hanging by a thread, but the Taegeuk Warriors will still want to bow out on a high as they take on Portugal at the Education City Stadium in Ar-Rayyan, Qatar on Friday, December 2. Portugal have already sealed progress into the knockouts while South Korea need a win while…

As Friday's World Cup slate approaches, we're set to provide a Brazil vs. Cameroon prediction for the Group G clash. Brazil has won both group fixtures against Serbia and Switzerland to sit on six points and lead this group. As for Cameroon, they secured their first points of the tournament after playing to a thrilling 3-3 draw against Serbia last…

On Friday, Ghana and Uruguay will square off at the Al Janoub Stadium in the group H deciding 2022 FIFA World Cup encounter. Last time around, Ghana improved their chances of making it to the knockout stage with a stunning 3-2 victory over South Korea. In their world cup opener group H match against South Korea, Uruguay played to a scoreless draw,…

World Cup action continues on Friday with the final four games of the group stage, coming from groups G and H to decide who will advance to the knockout stages of the tournament. We have the full schedule for the day, as well as breakdowns and our best bet for each match. The DraftKings World Cup promo code will activate a bet $5, win $150 bonus.…

Morocco helped to turn Group F upside down with a win over Belgium. As they close out the group stage against Canada, our World Cup betting picks expect them to do enough to secure a spot in the Round of 16. The lone team already eliminated in Group F will try to play spoiler, as last-place Canada take on Morocco to complete their 2022 World…

After an unusually short nine-week Champions League group stage, we have learned which teams will be progressing to the knockouts. Those sides will find out their fate on Monday November 7 when the last-16 draw takes place at the European House of Football in Nyom, Switzerland. But it is not quite as simple as just drawing teams from pots. There…

A thrilling final weekend of Super Rugby Pacific left the Waratahs with an unexpected foe, and the Force missing out at the death as the quarterfinal match ups, times, days and venues were locked in. A shock loss by the Brumbies against Moana Pasifika meant they went from third to fourth, and avoiding the Tahs, who stayed sixth with their late loss…

When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced its intention to launch a six-team Women's Indian Premier League earlier this year, one aspect that got stakeholders excited was the creation of a new feeder line for talent to come through in the Indian ecosystem. One can't fault the expectation. Look at what Charlie Dean managed for…

CRISTIANO RONALDO could become the world's highest paid athlete after reportedly being offered a deal with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr. Ronaldo would make £173m-a-year, according to Marca, and that would put him on a wage that is double of rival Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, United are still said to be interested in PSV star Cody Gakpo, who is in fine…

CRISTIANO RONALDO is to become the world's highest paid athlete after reportedly agreeing a deal with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr. Ronaldo will make £173m-a-year, according to Marca, and that would put him on a wage that is double of rival Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, United are still said to be interested in PSV star Cody Gakpo, who is in fine form at…

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Tunisia have the difficult task of defeating defending champions France in their final group-stage fixture to make it to the knockouts of a FIFA World Cup finals for the first-ever time. The two teams will lock horns at the Education City Stadium on Wednesday. The north African nation has appeared in the FIFA World Cup finals in 1998, 2002, 2006,…

CHELSEA are reportedly leading the chase to sign RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol. The 21-year-old Croatia international, who can play left-back or centre-half, is currently on World Cup duty. Gvardiol, who has 14 caps, moved to Leipzig in 2020 but remained on loan with Dinamo Zagreb for another campaign. But he has since established himself in the…

Denmark, who were tipped as contenders to go far in the tournament, go into their final Group D game on Wednesday (3pm GMT kick-off) against Australia in the Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, needing a win to keep their World Cup dream alive. Kasper Hjulmand's side had a sluggish start to their campaign, a 0-0 stalemate with Tunisia, and then a 2-1…

Senegal and Ecuador both have the opportunity to progress into the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup 2022 when the two sides clash in their final Group A fixture at the Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan on Tuesday, November 29. Ecuador find themselves in the second spot on the table with four points from their first two games while Senegal…

As Tuesday's second Group B approaches, we're here to offer our England vs. Wales prediction at the FIFA World Cup. England, which arrives at this match on four points and atop the group, drew last time out against the United States. Their Matchday 3 opponent, Wales, fell 2-0 against Iran after conceding twice in an extended stoppage time. A -225…

Denmark are the superior side but that doesn't mean they'll jump out to an early lead. The Danes haven't scored before the half in either of their first two games. Find out if we think they'll break that mould or if the Aussies have a chance at the upset. Photo By - USA TODAY Sports Wednesday's World Cup action gives us the final games of Group D,…

South Korea battled hard in their goalless draw against two-time champions Uruguay and now will seek to build on that hard-earned point at the FIFA World Cup 2022 as they take on Ghana at the Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan on Monday, November 27. A win will give South Korea a major boost in their pursuit of a place in the knockouts while a…

Guillermo Ochoa produced yet another fine FIFA World Cup performance in Qatar, at the age of 37, he still comes alive on the biggest international stage of all. Mexico looked to be in trouble when Video Assistant Referee (VAR) awarded a penalty to Poland and the ever-reliable Robert Lewandowski stepped up. But Ochoa managed to prevent the FC…

The 2022 Qatar World Cup group stages see Morocco face Croatia and we can reveal how to watch this match and provide the latest team news. The two sides see themselves in Group F, alongside Belgium and Canada, so it is not an easy group to get out of. With this in mind, all four sides will be wanting to win their first game in order to pick up…

We preview the 2022 World Cup match between Netherlands and Ecuador, including our pre-match prediction for each team's second game in Group A. Ecuador believe they can hurt the Netherlands as they look to take a huge step towards the knockout rounds by springing another World Cup surprise. The South American side cruised to victory over hosts…

FC Zurich will welcome Olympique Lyon to the Wefox Arena on matchday three in the UEFA Women's Champions League on Thursday (November 24). The hosts have not been in action since a 3-0 home win over Aarau in the Swiss Women's Super League two weeks ago. All three goals came in the first half, with Fabienne Humm's brace coming either side of Kim…