Sports
The World Cup semi-finals are set!
The World Cup semifinals are set! With Croatia and Argentina clinching their spots on Friday, history was made on Saturday with Morocco beating Portugal to be the first African team to reach the final four. They’ll meet defending champions France, who outlasted England in the other quarterfinal match.
Be sure to check in with ESPN throughout the tournament as we bring you the latest from Qatar. Here’s what you might have missed from Saturday’s World Cup happenings, and a look ahead to next week’s action.
Morocco’s historic run sends Ronaldo, Portugal packing
What Morocco have done at this edition of the World Cup is nothing short of remarkable. Drawn in a group with Belgium and Croatia, and having changed their coach just months before the tournament, they were simply hoping for a run to the round of 16.
But the Atlas Lions have surpassed that, and then some. By beating Portugal 1-0 in what was Cristiano Ronaldo’s likely last World Cup, Morocco are now the first team from Africa to reach the tournament’s semifinals. And they’ve done it the hard way, with wins over heavyweights Belgium, Spain and Portugal.
Playing a defensive, countering style that has left those European sides befuddled, Morocco’s Cinderella run has embodied a fighting spirit. Which is fitting as Morocco coach Walid Regragui called his team “the Rocky Balboa of this World Cup.” And now, they’ll get defending champions France in next Wednesday’s semifinal — there is plenty of shared history between the two nations, so expect another memorable bout.
As for Ronaldo, he was again named to the bench for Portugal, came on early in the second half to equal FIFA’s official record for the most-capped international men’s player with 196, but even he couldn’t find one last great World Cup moment. If this is the last we see of one of history’s great players on this stage, then it was a very subdued way to bow out.
France bid England adieu as Kane
misses key penalty
With six minutes left in regulation and a chance to keep England’s World Cup hopes alive, star forward Harry Kane — one the world’s best penalty takers — was also on the verge of making Three Lions history. Instead, Kane sailed the ball from the spot over French keeper Hugo Lloris’ net. France held on and booked their semifinals place with a 2-1 win.
Kane had already scored one penalty earlier in the match, equalling Wayne Rooney’s all-time England goal-scoring record in the process, but when stepping up again to face his Tottenham Hotspur teammate Lloris, he uncharacteristically blazed his effort over the crossbar. It was only the fourth time he had missed for England from 21 attempts.
Bowing out to the title holders is nothing to be ashamed of, but this England side had the talent and tools to win it all in Qatar. It’s another major tournament without a trophy for England. When the 2026 World Cup rolls around in four years’ time, it will be 60 years since that 1966 triumph.
As for France, they will be the favorites of the final four. They’ll be on alert against Morocco on Wednesday, but this group of French attacking stars might be what finally breaks down the Atlas Lions’ defensive block. Aurelien Tchouameni’s powerful strike in the 17th minute gave France the lead, but Olivier Giroud scored what proved to be a decisive header in the 78th minute — served on a platter by Antoine Griezmann. Now France’s all-time leader in assists with 27, Griezmann has reinvented himself in Qatar as a makeshift midfielder in coach Didier Deschamps’ squad.
Kylian Mbappe couldn’t add to his tally of five goals, but he remains in the lead to win the Golden Boot. Even in a quiet evening against England, his teammates rose to the occasion and are moving forward.
(ESPN)
by Rex Clementine
India are closing in on a big win at SSC after Sri Lanka slumped to 229 for six at stumps on day four of the second Test having been forced to follow on yesterday.
Sri Lanka lead by just 16 runs with four wickets in hand and with three sessions remaining, the tourists will be looking to wrap up victory and complete a 2-0 series sweep. India won the first Test in Galle by 165 runs.
Sonal Dinusha, who batted superbly for a hundred in the first innings, was unbeaten on seven when rain brought play to a premature end. With Sri Lanka now into the tail, Dinusha has his work cut out. He has been the hosts’ standout performer in the series, having also made 100 and 84 in Galle.
Sri Lanka resumed the day on 265 for eight, still needing 39 runs to avoid the follow on, but were bowled out for 290 and asked to bat again.
Although they lost both openers early, Kamindu Mendis and Pasindu Sooriyabandara gave Sri Lanka hope with a 115 run stand for the third wicket.
Sooriyabandara, who had made 80 in the first innings, once again played spin superbly, using clever footwork, while Mendis took on the fast bowlers.
But India had plenty of runs on the board and persisted with the short ball against Mendis, stationing three fielders on the boundary. Eventually, the plan paid off. Mendis took on Mohammed Siraj and perished for 55, with captain Shubman Gill running in from square leg to complete a fine catch.
That was the breakthrough India desperately wanted and the spinners quickly turned the screws. Three wickets fell for just nine runs as Sri Lanka surrendered the initiative and India regained control.
Sooriyabandara missed out on a well deserved hundred when he charged Manav Suthar. The left-arm spinner cleverly fired the ball wide, leaving the batter stranded as Rishabh Pant whipped off the bails in a flash. Sooriyabandara’s 92 came off 173 balls and contained ten fours and a six.
Having spent considerable time in the field, India’s bowlers were beginning to tire, evident from the number of loose deliveries they sent down. But Sri Lanka’s batters lacked the patience to drive home the advantage, with several throwing away their wickets just when the hosts appeared to be clawing their way back into the contest.
Sri Lanka Air Force emerged Overall Champions in both the Men’s and Women’s categories at the 14th Defence Services Badminton Championship concluded successfully on 21 August 2026 at the Sri Lanka Army Indoor Sports Complex, Panagoda.
The SLAF Men’s Team secured the Open Men’s Doubles and Men’s Team Championships, while the Women’s Team excelled by winning the Open Women’s Singles, Open Women’s Doubles and Women’s Team Championships.
In the Open Men’s Doubles, Leading Aircraftman Lochana De Silva and Aircraftman Achintha Imeshaqe secured the championship, while Aircraftwoman Praveena Wijesundara and Aircraftwoman Anurangi Masakorala claimed the Open Women’s Doubles title with Aircraftwoman Praveena Wijesundara winning the Open Women’s Singles Championship.
Major General Mohan Premaratne, President of the Sri Lanka Army Badminton Federation, was the Chief Guest at the awards ceremony while SLAF’s Director Sports Air Commodore Prabath Dissanayake, former Chairman Badminton Sri Lanka Air Force Air Commodore Poojana Gunathilake, Secretary Air Force Sports Council Group Captain Eranda Geeganage and Secretary Badminton Sri Lanka Air Force Wing Commander Thushara Wijeratne. were also present.
Malki Madara and Shashini Fernando shared nine wickets between them to help Sri Lanka Air Force Women beat Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Women by 169 runs and propel their team to the semi finals of the Major Club Womens Limited Over cricket tournament conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket.
In the game played at their home ground in Katunayake on Monday [24], Sri Lanka Air Force posted 276 runs for the loss of eight wickets with Ashani Kaushalya topping the score card with 57 runs off 81 balls with ten hits to the ropes.Sasini Alwis and Wethumya Wijesuriya captured three wickets each.
Chasing 277 to win Shashini Fernando captured five wickets while Malki Madara captured four wickets to restrict the Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Women to 107. Skipper Sanduni Nisansala scored 38 off 61 balls with four boundaries and a six.
Sri Lankan Air Force Women will meet Panadura Sports Club Women for the semi-final at the LRDC ground on Friday (28)
Scores:
Sri Lanka Air Force Women 276/8 in 50 overs [Ashani Kawshalya 57, Malsha Shehani 32, Savindi Cooray 34*; Sasini Alwis 2-48, Wethumya Wijesuriya 2-67]
Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Women 107/10 in 43.5 overs [Sanduni Nisansala 38; Malki Madara 4-14, Shashini Fernando 5-09]
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