Sports

Spain's historic FIFA Women's World Cup match on August 11 saw them advance to their first semi-finals thanks to Salma Paralluelo's extra-time goal against the Netherlands. Spain dominated early on with near-miss attempts, but the Dutch goalkeeper thwarted their efforts. A penalty decision was overturned via VAR, leading to Spain's Mariona Caldentey converting a penalty. Stefanie van der Gragt equalized for the Netherlands, sending the game to extra time. Despite missed chances, Paralluelo emerged as Spain's hero with the winning goal. The victory signifies Spain's rise in women's football, reaching their inaugural World Cup semi-final and promising an exciting showdown against Sweden.

England and Tottenham Hotspur captain Harry Kane has agreed a deal to move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in a big-money move. Kane leaves Tottenham as their all-time top goal-scorer and the second in the history of the Premier League, only behind legendary Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers striker Alan Shearer.

Shabnim Ismail became only the 2nd bowler to pick up a hat-trick in The Women's Hundred when she shone for Welsh Fire in a sensational last over against Birmingham Phoenix on August 10.

Despite being one of the finest wrist-spinners in limited-overs cricket in the recent past, Yuzvendra Chahal has not had the opportunity to play a World Cup game yet. He missed the bus in 2021 and did not get to play a game despite having been in the squad in 2022. In the lead-up to the 2023 World Cup, it seems likely that Chahal might miss out on the race for the spinner's slot.

India have uncertainty surrounding their batting unit in the lead-up to the ODI World Cup in 2023. Injuries to the likes of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have not helped the team's preparations. However, it seems the bowlers, especially the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, have to pay the price for India's batting frailties.

Off-spinner R Ashwin said overseas pundits often tend to put additional pressure on India by calling them perennial favourites at ICC events. Should India not embrace the favorite tag instead of having a negative outlook at it? Rohit Sharma and his men will head to the ODI World Cup at home as favourites.

Megan Rapinoe, a celebrated football star and one of the most successful US footballers in history, recently faced a wave of criticism following her missed penalty at the Women's World Cup 2023. The missed penalty was a significant event as it led to the USA women's national team's loss to Sweden in a penalty shootout, marking the end of its reign as Women's World Cup champions.

Bangladesh cricket has faced a lot of turmoil in the last few weeks. After Tamim Iqbal reversed his retirement call, he took the decision of stepping down as the national skipper in ODIs. With less than a month left for the Asia Cup, the Tigers have shortlisted three candidates, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz as candidates for ODI captaincy. Shakib was named as the T20I skipper last year after Mahmudullah was sacked from his position before the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup. Will Bangladesh go the same way even this time around?

The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup has been a tournament of surprises and upsets. As the competition progresses, it is clear that this year's championship will be etched in the annals of football history as one of the most unpredictable and thrilling tournaments ever. With only eight teams left in the title hunt, the world waits with bated breath to see who will emerge as the new champion.

The highly anticipated 2023-24 UEFA Champions League is set to captivate football enthusiasts after a thrilling summer of matches. As top clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Barcelona await the group stage draw on August 31, newer entrants like Newcastle United, Lens, and Union Berlin make their debut. The draw divides 32 qualified teams into eight groups of four, based on factors like prior achievements and club coefficients. The rules prevent same-country teams from being grouped. Manchester City lead Pot 1, while Pot 2 holds five past winners. The upcoming season promises excitement, starting from September 19 and culminating in the finals at Wembley Stadium on June 1.

As the 2023 ODI World Cup approaches, India's men's cricket team has been dealing with a muddled and perplexing build-up. The team's preparation has been marred by a lack of clarity regarding the starting XI, with the crucial No. 4 spot and other positions attracting unwanted attention. The team's decision to rest stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli during a three-match ODI series against the West Indies in July 2023 has added to the uncertainty.

As the 2023/24 Premier League campaign draws closer, expectations and anticipations are hitting fever pitch. ITGD Sports experts Rounaq Sehrawat and Alan Jose John make their predictions on potential title winners, top-four finishers, and the unfortunate teams who could potentially face the chaos of relegation.

The Leagues Cup match between Club América and Nashville SC on August 8, 2023, will be remembered for its thrilling gameplay, dramatic twists, and controversial decision that ultimately decided the outcome of the game. The match, held at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee, was a spectacle of contrasting styles, multiple lead changes, and a stunning last-minute equalizer by Nashville's debutant player Sam Surridge. However, it was the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervention that stole the limelight and sparked a heated debate.

Since winning their first One Day International Cricket World Cup in 1983, India has consistently shone on this prestigious platform. Seven players, in particular, have made an indelible impact over these years, etching a remarkable chapter in the history of Indian cricket.

The Paris Saint-Germain team is crumbling. A year ago they had an attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe. It is quite possible that they might have none going into the new season.

Cricket's unusual post-match awards range from electric blenders and rice cookers to snack hampers and even half-acre plots of land, as players receive one-of-a-kind recognition for their efforts on the pitch. These out-of-the-ordinary awards add a quirky twist to the traditional Man of the Match awards, demonstrating the diverse range of rewards available in the cricketing world.

SummerSlam 2023 saw Jimmy Uso's unexpected betrayal of his brother in the main event of the show during the Tribal Combat match. But have WWE shot themselves on their foot with this decision?

Australia have made two major calls ahead of the ODI and T20 World Cups, set to be played in 2023 and 2024. The former World Champions have named their 18-member preliminary ODI World Cup squad and have also named their team for South Africa T20Is. The big news is that Australia have dropped Marnus Labuschagne from the ODI World Cup squad, which comes as a major setback for the right-handed batter. In other more refreshing news, Mitchell Marsh has been named as the captain of the T20 side that will visit South Africa for a 3-match series.

Tamim Iqbal, on Thursday, August 3, stepped down as the skipper of the Bangladesh ODI team. The southpaw took the decision after an intense meeting with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Najmul Hasan Papon and Cricket Operations Chairman Jalal Yunus. Tamim was said to have taken the decision keeping in mind his workload ahead of the World Cup 2023, which is scheduled to take place from October 5 to November 19 on Indian soil.

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne has been surprisingly excluded from the 18-member preliminary squad for the 2023 World Cup. The decision comes after his recent struggles with form in ODIs. Despite featuring in 30 matches since his debut in 2020, Labuschagne's inconsistent batting raised concerns. In the three-match series against India, he managed only 43 runs in two games.