Sports

️Updates from the final day’s play at Royal Birkdale ️ Official leaderboard | Mail Scott with your thoughts The final few games are running late, due to a rules brouhaha in an earlier match. So if you’ve been hammering away at refresh waiting for news of Tommy Fleetwood, here he comes now. The usual hubbub on the tee, then he takes his fairway wood, hits the ball, and twirls the club in satisfaction. Not exactly sure why, because his ball disappears into a thick clump of grass atop a bank to the left of the fairway. Some tension in the shoulders no doubt. Another birdie for Scottie Scheffler! He crashes his drive at 5 greenside, chips up to four feet, and rolls in the putt. No fuss. The defending champion is now -7, and if he continues like this, posts a number, and the late-starting leaders have to deal with the cranking up of both wind and pressure … well now, we’d have quite the Open. A long way to go yet. Continue reading...

The Guardian Sport • 5 hours ago

⚽ World Cup final starts at 3pm EST, 8pm BST, 5am AEST ⚽ Player guide | Golden Boot | Follow on TikTok | Mail us Watching England against France – though, of course, defensive intensity was lower – it was still noticeable how dangerous Saka and Marcus Rashford were on the counter. Had Tuchel sent them on against Argentina soon after England scored, Lionel Scaolini’s men would’ve had to respect it and might well have feared it, forced, at the very least, to leave defenders back to mark them, while their own team would’ve had out-balls and a serious threat, meaning when they cleared their lines, it wouldn’t have simply been to face yet another attack. It find it strange that, given his team struggled for control and also to break down tight defences, Tuchel didn’t give Mainoo a single second on the pitch – and seemed to have decided as much by the Panama game, when he brought on Henderson in preference. England desperately lacked midfield balance, control, poise and craft, a problem that eventually cost them – and is the main reason I’d have given them little chance of beating Spain had they made the final. Anderson and Rice are fine players, but given Bellingham is essential, I’d want only one, with the trio completed by a more technical and cerebral type – which needn’t be Mainoo, he was just the only one in the squad. Continue reading...

The Guardian Sport • 5 hours ago

Updates from Lord’s, play starting at 11am BST You can email Tim | And sign up for The Spin 5th over: England 37-0 (Duckett 17, Bethell 17) Bethell and Duckett swish and flick, six off the over. India getting twitchy for the breakthrough, fast outfield and it looks a decent track for Lord’s . 4th over: England 31-0 (Duckett 15, Bethell 14) A purr goes round HQ as Bethell plays a classy flash past point. The prowling Kohli can only nod in appreciation as it scorches the turf and whistles past him to the fence. Beaten! Prasidh finally gets one in the right area, angling into Bethell on a good length and then snakes away late, somehow missing the edge and the off bail. Keep it there son. Continue reading...

The Guardian Sport • 5 hours ago

Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli re-establishes a comfortable championship lead with victory in the Belgian Grand Prix while team-mate George Russell crashes out.

BBC Sport • 5 hours ago

Russell out on opening lap after clash with Hamilton Antonelli has 50-point lead on Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli won the Belgian Grand Prix for Mercedes with a cool, assured drive but his title rival and teammate George Russell was left distraught after his championship challenge suffered another serious blow when he was knocked out on the opening lap after a clash with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. Antonelli was in control at the front and delivered a commanding drive including coming back at Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who finished second, after the Monegasque driver had gained the lead through the pit stops. The win was assuredly deserved but the race was notable because of Russell’s retirement, for which the British driver took aim at his Mercedes team and what he sees as his car’s weakness. Continue reading...

The Guardian Sport • 5 hours ago

Tom Heaton is backing Manchester United team-mate Senne Lammens to emerge as a stronger character from his World Cup disappointment.

BBC Sport • 6 hours ago