Sports
France manager Didier Deschamps addresses yellows
July 4, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.; France coach Didier Deschamps and Brice Samba celebrate after the match. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images PHILADELPHIA — After France survived a contentious round of 16 clash with a 1-0 victory over Paraguay, French manager Didier Deschamps tried to take the high road.
France somehow ended the match with all three bookings from Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev despite Paraguay being the team who sat deep and defended.
But that state of affairs was mostly understood and expected from Deschamps and his French charges on a sweltering afternoon that was the hottest match of this World Cup.
“I’ve seen a lot of things,” Deschamps said through an interpreter. “I have prepared the players. The players were expecting this game.
“I do not want to criticize Paraguay. Each team plays the way they want. But there were some insults from the other bench which I could have done without.”
Deschamps counted his charges lucky to escape the match without a red.
“The most important is by the end of the game that there were no disagreements and that we (did not) get another card. We got three yellow cards with a lot of fouls.
“I’m not saying that we did not make any fouls, but there were a lot from both teams.”
Manu Kone, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise were the booked players. Admirably, France goal-scorer Kylian Mbappe avoided joining them despite persistent Paraguayan provocation.
Asked whether it showed growth for France’s 27-year-old captain, Deschamps replied that Mbappe has always behaved maturely with his national team.
“There was a lot of media saying that he has evolved,” Deschamps said. “I don’t want to contradict myself, but Kylian has an image for you that is far from reality.
“I don’t want to lie. I’ve said from the first day that he had this spirit. He gave all the athletic efforts. He’s a great top-notch player on the pitch. But when he speaks, he speaks for the entire group.”
Until Mbappe’s 70th-minute penalty, earned by the excellent dribbling of substitute Desire Doue to incite Diego Gomez’s clumsy challenge, there remained a chance France would follow Germany out of the tournament at the hands of Paraguay, in the process ending Deschamps’ 14-year managerial tenure.
Deschamps, once again, insisted he never dwelled on it.
“I’m going to be clear. I will never think of that,” he said. “The only feeling that I have is to do everything for (the team) to work in the best way. The last game could have been four years ago or eight years ago. They could have told me, ‘You’ll go home.’ It’s like that.
“I have a positive philosophy. With my staff, we’re going to do everything to win. But we know this is football. Sometimes you lose. But you give it your all, then your head will be all right.”
–Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media
Sports
Denny Hamlin edges Kyle Larson for pole at Chicagoland
Jul 4, 2026; Joliet, Illinois, USA;NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) speaks to the media after winning the pole award for the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images JOLIET, Ill. — When it comes to oval tracks, Denny Hamlin has established himself firmly on the throne as king of qualifying.
In Saturday’s time trials at Chicagoland Speedway, Hamlin edged Kyle Larson by 0.001 seconds to claim the pole position for Sunday’s eero 400 (6 p.m. ET on TNT, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Hamlin sped around the 1.5-mile intermediate track in 30.296 seconds (178.241 mph). Larson, who ran later in the qualifying order, fell just short at 178.235 mph.
The Busch Light Pole Award was Hamlin’s fourth of the season, his first at Chicagoland (which hasn’t hosted a NASCAR national series race since 2019) and the 52nd of his career, breaking a tie with Ryan Newman for ninth all-time.
Hamlin, the 2015 Chicagoland winner, won poles at the previous two oval tracks on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, Michigan International Speedway and Pocono Raceway. He is the only driver to win poles at both Chicagoland Speedway and the Chicago Street Course (2023).
“I’m the Chicago master — what can I say?” Hamlin quipped.
In fact, Hamlin considered himself lucky to win his third straight oval-track pole, having gotten the benefit of favorable cloud conditions.
“I don’t want to continue to underplay it, but we got very fortunate,” said Hamlin, who leads the series standings by one point over Tyler Reddick. “The last 12 cars had full sun — 100 percent sun. The last few had 90 percent, but I think that was the deciding factor.”
“We saw that, right after I went, the track definitely got hotter, and it seemed like the corner speeds of those guys started to slow down. I think if there was one more car behind Ty Gibbs (the final qualifier), they definitely would have beaten us, because it went full shade.
“We got fortunate there, but they (Hamlin’s No. 11 team) did a real good job overnight with my car (whose balance wasn’t ideal during Friday’s practice).”
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford drivers Chris Buescher (178.153 mph) and Brad Keselowski (178.089 mph) qualified third and fourth, respectively. With two victories at Chicagoland, Keselowski is the only driver in the field for Sunday’s race with multiple wins at the track.
Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe claimed the respective fifth through seventh starting positions. Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott and William Byron completed the top 10, which consisted of four JGR Toyotas, three Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets, two RFK Fords and one 23XI Racing Toyota (Wallace).
The No. 2 and top remaining seed in the NASCAR Cup Series In-Season Challenge, Hamlin faces Erik Jones in Sunday’s second round. Jones qualified 22nd.
In battles between teammates, Larson faces Byron, while Gibbs takes on Briscoe.
Hamlin, however, will have his eye on Larson.
“In my personal opinion,” Hamlin said, “Kyle Larson is the best driver at this race track, so he’s going to be someone I have to contend with, and I’m sure all the Hendrick cars are.”
Michael McDowell’s No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet failed inspection three times and must start from the rear of the field under penalty. McDowell will have to serve a pass-through on the opening lap.
–Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service
Sports
Riley Greene HR backs Jack Flaherty as Tigers blank Rangers
Jul 4, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene (31) hits a two run home run against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Riley Greene blasted a two-run homer to support a strong outing by Jack Flaherty as the visiting Detroit Tigers blanked the Texas Rangers 3-0 on Saturday.
Flaherty scattered three hits and didn’t issue a walk while striking out five in 5 2/3 innings. Flaherty (2-8) has pitched 10 2/3 scoreless innings since coming off the injured list.
Keider Montero didn’t give up a hit and walked one over three innings while notching his first career save. Montero has pitched 12 scoreless innings in his last three outings.
Ben Malgeri drove in the other run as the Tigers improved to 4-1 during their six-game road trip. The teams will play the rubber game of the three-game series on Sunday.
Texas starter Cal Quantrill (3-1) gave up three runs (two earned) and three hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out two. Benjamin Peoples tossed two scoreless innings in his major league debut for the Rangers, who had won seven of their last eight.
The Rangers were shut out for the first time since June 6. The teams were coming off a rare Friday off due to a nearby FIFA World Cup match.
Detroit scored a pair of two-out runs in the first. Kerry Carpenter singled to center before Greene pulled a 2-2 cutter from Quantrill down the right field line that stayed inside the foul pole. Greene’s homer was his 12th this season.
The Tigers made it 3-0 in the second. Colt Keith led off with a single. Left fielder Alejandro Osuna made an error on a fly ball hit by Zach McKinstry, putting both runners in scoring position. Malgeri’s grounder knocked in Keith. Detroit loaded the bases but Carpenter flied out to center, stranding the runners.
Flaherty was removed after Josh Jung banged a two-out double to center in the sixth. Tyler Holton came on and retired Brandon Nimmo on a grounder.
Detroit threatened in the ninth. McKinstry smacked a one-out single and moved up on a groundout and a wild pitch. Chris Martin then induced James Outman to pop out.
–Field Level Media
Sports
No. 2 Alexander Zverev through to 4th round at Wimbledon
Germany’s Alexander Zverev in action against the United States’ Marcos Giron at Wimbledon on July 4, 2026. Alexander Zverev is showing no hangover effects after capturing his first Grand Slam event.
The French Open champion, who typically struggles on the grass at Wimbledon, reached the fourth round with a convincing 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over Marcos Giron on Saturday at the All England Club.
The German served brilliantly, smashing 17 aces to only three double faults and won 54-of-70 first-serve points.
After a routine first set, neither player flinched in the second, leading to a tiebreaker. Zverev sprinted to a 6-2 lead in the breaker, but Giron held off three set points before succumbing on the No. 2 seed’s forehand volley winner.
“He (Giron) is somebody who plays fantastic on grass and he shows it every time he steps out on the surface,” Zverev said. “He has won tour-level events on the surface, I knew that I had to be 100% ready from the first point onwards and I am very happy to be through in straight sets.”
Zverev has never been past the fourth round in London. To do so, he will have to take out No. 13 seed Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic, who edged Spain’s Jaume Munar, 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Lehecka blasted 52 winners in the four-set win and staved off six of Munar’s eight break-point opportunities.
Zverev is 1-1 versus Lehecka, but the two have not played since 2023.
No. 6 seed Taylor Fritz started slowly before notching a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. Both players hit 39 winners.
Fritz will face No. 10 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in the fourth round. Bublik had a stunning 48-12 edge in aces while producing a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (11), 4-6, 6-3 victory over No. 17 Frances Tiafoe. Bublik had 83 winners against 50 unforced errors and saved nine set points before winning the third set.
“We had a great battle,” Bublik said. “This match will stay with me forever.”
Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov had 46 winners against 25 unforced errors while registering a 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3 over Matteo Berrettini of Italy. Berrettini had 49 winners and 43 unforced errors.
Dimitrov will face Brit wild card Arthur Fery, who outlasted Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 2-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5). This marks the first time the London-born Fery has reached the round of 16 at a major and he also has cracked the Top 100 in the live rankings, now sitting at No. 91.
“It’s a really special moment. I can’t really fully process it yet,” Fery said. “When I’m playing this well and having these kind of results, it was only a matter of time till I broke the Top 100. It’s still a significant milestone. As I said, yeah, doing it here is incredibly special for me. It’s my home tournament. It’s where I grew up. So yeah, it’s very special.”
In another quadrant of the bracket, fifth-seeded Alex de Minaur outlasted Zachary Svajda 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 and No. 9 Flavio Cobolli of Italy rallied to knock off Russia’s Karen Khachanov 0-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2.
The Australian took advantage of Svajda’s second serve, winning 35 of 50 points and converting eight break points. He also was efficient at the net, winning 22 of 27 while moving forward in the two-hour, 40-minute match.
“I feel great. I’m happy to get through the first week. This is the first goal of the tournament, obviously,” said de Minaur. “It’s getting down to crunch time, I guess. I’m happy with the way I have been playing. The body is feeling great. I thought today was probably the best I moved around the court.”
Cobolli, the French Open runner-up to Zverev, won only nine points in the first set. But after splitting a pair of tiebreakers, he flipped the early script and recorded 22 winners versus only 10 unforced errors.
Cobolli has dropped both matches against de Minaur, but the two hard-hitting baseliners have not played since 2024.
–Field Level Media
Denny Hamlin edges Kyle Larson for pole at Chicagoland
Riley Greene HR backs Jack Flaherty as Tigers blank Rangers
