Sports
German coach decries VAR call but says round of 32 exit 'not enough'
June 25, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.; Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann reacts after the match. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann slammed the referee’s decision to disallow Jonathan Tah’s apparent extra-time goal on Monday before his side eventually crashed out of the World Cup to Paraguay on penalties in the round of 32.
At the same time, he added it was unacceptable for a four-time World Cup champion to let the contest reach that point.
“Of course you could say we should have solved (Paraguay’s defense) differently, but it was a legitimate goal. It’s a complete joke that it was disallowed,” Nagelsmann said in his post-match press conference, via an interpretation.
“But in the end, to sum it up, if you’re eliminated in the first knockout round of such a big tournament with so many teams, it’s clearly not enough for German football.”
Germany’s downward trend has lasted far longer than Nagelsmann’s three-year tenure. And while his squad technically halted a stretch of two World Cups without reaching the knockout phase in the expanded 48-team format, the Germans still failed to make the last 16, as did the 2018 and 2022 sides.
Nagelsmann, 38, who broke through as a manager at TSG Hoffenheim a decade ago, recently saw his national-team contract extended through the 2028 European championship tournament. And despite the indignity of the result for a team with such heritage, he isn’t considering resignation.
“I’m not one to run away,” Nagelsmann said. “It’s not the first time. It’s been happening for a while now, that we’ve been delivering tournaments like this.
“There are certainly a few fundamental things that I don’t want to go into now, that one has to change in whatever situation. But I’m not one of those people who sits here and says, ‘I’m (resigning) just because we’ve been eliminated.’ Rather, if the DFB (German Football Association) wants me to continue, then I will continue.”
Tah appeared to head Germany in front in the 102nd minute when he reached Nathaniel Brown’s corner at the back post and powered it beyond goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
However, referee Jalal Jayed was summoned to the replay monitor by lead VAR Tatiana Guzman. After rewatching the play, he wiped off the goal, ruling Waldemar Anton fouled Gill to free up space for Tah’s header at the back post. Replays showed minimal contact between the two, though Anton did purposefully stand in front of Gill.
Tah would later miss well high on Germany’s sixth kick from the spot in a wild shootout, one where Paraguay failed twice to seal the event before Jose Canale converted after Tah’s miss. Germany’s Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade also had their penalties saved.
“I don’t blame the penalty taker,” Nagelsmann said, “because what’s important is that we have players who want to take the ball and shoot. Even great players have missed penalties, just like great players did today. In the end, taking a penalty is always just the tip of the iceberg.”
–Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Ducks sign newly acquired F A.J. Greer to 4-year deal
Apr 2, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) shoots the puck against the Boston Bruins during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Anaheim Ducks signed newly acquired forward A.J. Greer to a new four-year, $17 million deal on Tuesday, according to multiple media reports.
Greer, who just completed a two-year deal worth a total of $1.7 million with the Florida Panthers, was the return in Monday’s trade that sent Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas to Florida. The trade gave Anaheim the exclusive rights to reach a deal with Greer before Wednesday, when he would have become an unrestricted free agent.
The new contract reportedly includes a 10-team no-trade clause for Greer, who is coming off the most productive season of his career.
The 29-year-old’s 17 goals last season for the Panthers were comfortably a career high, as many as he had in the prior three seasons combined. He also set career highs in assists (15) and points (32) while averaging his most ice time per game in a full season (12:26).
Greer has 81 career points (36 goals, 45 assists) in 326 games over nine NHL seasons with the Colorado Avalanche (2016-19), New Jersey Devils (2020-22), Boston Bruins (2022-23), Calgary Flames (2023-24) and Panthers (2024-26).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Nolan McLean helps Mets blank Blue Jays
Jun 30, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Nolan McLean struck out seven in six scoreless innings Tuesday night and the visiting New York Mets defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0.
McLean (5-5) allowed five hits and two walks, while Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens provided support with solo home runs. Devin Williams pitched around a single in the ninth to earn his 12th save.
The struggling teams have split the first two of a three-game series with the rubber match to be played Wednesday afternoon on Canada Day.
It was the second win in 11 games for the Mets. The Blue Jays are 2-7 with one game left on their 10-game homestand. The Mets are 1-1 to open a seven-game road trip.
Former Blue Jay Bo Bichette was 1-for-4 for the Mets and made some excellent defensive plays at third base.
Luis Urias had two singles and a walk for Toronto.
The Mets tested Kevin Gausman (4-7) in the fourth. Juan Soto led off with a walk and Bichette grounded a single to right. The runners advanced on a groundout. Gausman responded with two strikeouts to end the inning.
Toronto threatened against McLean with two outs in the bottom of the fourth when Daulton Varsho doubled to right and Urias walked. McLean got Yohendrick Pinango on a groundout to end the inning.
Alvarez opened the fifth by homering on a 1-2 fastball, a blast to center. The Mets left two runners on base in the inning after a single and a walk.
Gausman completed six innings. He allowed one run, five hits and two walks while striking out seven.
Torrens homered into the Mets’ bullpen in right field on Mason Fluharty’s 2-2 cutter with one out in the seventh.
New York’s Brooks Raley pitched a perfect seventh with two strikeouts and Luke Weaver also was perfect in the eighth for the Mets.
Toronto’s Tommy Nance pitched a clean eighth with two strikeouts before allowing A.J. Ewing’s single to open the ninth. Ewing reached second when Nance was charged with the error on a pickoff attempt. He took third on a groundout and Brett Baty hit a sacrifice fly to center.
Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was scratched because of back tightness.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Riley Greene homers twice as Tarik Skubal, Tigers shut down Yankees
Jun 30, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches against the New York Yankees during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Riley Greene belted a pair of homers in consecutive at-bats off Cam Schlittler, Tarik Skubal pitched six innings and combined with two relievers on a four-hitter as the visiting Detroit Tigers cruised to a 9-3 victory over the slumping New York Yankees on Tuesday night.
The Tigers have won four of their last five visits to Yankee Stadium and slugged five home runs against the Yankees for the first time since Aug. 30, 2018.
Kerry Carpenter started Detroit’s power barrage by hitting an 0-1 cutter off Schlittler (8-5) to right-center field. Rookie center fielder Spencer Jones attempted to make a leaping catch but the ball popped out of his glove and into the Yankees’ bullpen.
Greene followed by lifting a 2-2 sinker halfway up the second deck in right field. Spencer Torkelson capped a 10-pitch at-bat by hammering a 2-2 cutter into the left field seats for the Tigers’ third homer in the first inning.
Greene extended Detroit’s lead to 6-1 by hammering a 1-0 fastball over the right-center field fence.
It was Greene’s eighth career multi-homer game and his first since July 2 at Washington last season.
Skubal (4-4) allowed two runs (one earned) and one hit during his best start since returning from elbow surgery on June 13. He struck out nine, walked none and lowered his ERA to 3.15.
The left-hander also retired Paul Goldschmidt three times, inducing a pop-up, a strikeout, and a double play grounder that scored New York’s second run in the sixth. Goldschmidt entered Tuesday 7-for-13 with four homers off Skubal and homered twice off him last week in Detroit.
Ben Rice homered in the first but the Yankees lost their season-high sixth straight and for the ninth time in 11 games. New York was held to four hits, with two coming in the ninth inning.
Schlittler was tagged for a career-worst six runs on seven hits in four-plus innings. The 25-year-old right-hander struck out five, walked one and saw his ERA climb to 2.08.
Schlittler allowed four homers for the first time in his 32 career starts since debuting July 9, 2025. He had never allowed more than two homers in any start and had allowed six total this season before Tuesday.
Jacob Waguespack pitched two innings and Tyler Holton stranded two in the ninth.
–Field Level Media
Reports: Ducks sign newly acquired F A.J. Greer to 4-year deal
Nolan McLean helps Mets blank Blue Jays
