Sports
Spain try to live up to expectations against undeterred Austria
June 26, 2026; Guadalajara, Mexico; Spain’s Lamine Yamal in action with Uruguay’s Juan Manuel Sanabria. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Becerril-Reuters via Imagn Images Spain will try to win their first knockout match at a World Cup since capturing the 2010 title when they face an Austrian side that should be unmoved by high-quality European opposition.
Spain entered the tournament as one of the oddsmakers’ favorites after winning the 2024 European Championships. They carry a record 34-match unbeaten run in competitive fixtures into the knockout phase.
Even so, there is a sense that two of Spain’s three group stage performances failed to meet expectations. In their opener, they settled for a 0-0 draw against tournament debutants Cape Verde. In the finale, a mistake from Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was the difference in Spain’s 1-0 win to top the group.
In that context, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said it’s understandable his nation’s fans may be less than impressed.
“It would be strange if they didn’t make any demands from us,” de la Fuente said via an interpreter. “But we are very self-demanding. We like to compete. We are sportsmen and we love to improve day by day.”
The best news from that group finale for Spain may have been Lamine Yamal playing 76 minutes. That was the longest outing from the prodigious 18-year-old since he went the full 90 in the second leg of FC Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League semifinal defeat to Atletico Madrid in April.
Yamal suffered a hamstring tear in his next appearance on April 22, and has been eased back into national team action over the tournament — scoring the opener in Spain’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in their middle group game.
Meanwhile, de la Fuente said while winger Nico Williams will miss the match following a tackle suffered against Uruguay, he’s hopeful the new issue is minor and that the wide man could return if Spain progress.
Austria will be seeking their first knockout-phase victory in a major tournament after losing in the round of 16 in the 2020 and 2024 European Championships. Austria progressed to a second group phase in the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
Austria have proven capable of handling Europe’s most powerful sides during those Euro appearances, in 2020 finishing second in a group that included the Netherlands and Ukraine, and in 2024 topping a foursome that included the Netherlands and France.
They haven’t faced the Spaniards since a 2009 friendly. Their last win over them came way back in 1990 in another friendly fixture.
“Of course, we know that the Spanish are very secure on the ball and have outstanding individual players,” said Austria captain Florian Grillitsch via a translation. “I think we have to be a nuisance, counter them with our intensity and our pressing. We need to keep their forwards, their one-on-one players, in check as best we can and then wait for our opportunities.”
Manager Ralf Rangnick’s squad required a dramatic 3-3 draw with Algeria to reach the next phase, with Sasa Kalajdzic’s header in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time cancelling Riyad Mahrez’s go-ahead strike minutes earlier.
That followed a 2-0 loss to Lionel Messi and Argentina after opening the tournament with a 3-1 victory over Jordan.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Red Sox place LHP Connelly Early (elbow) on 15-day injured list
Jun 30, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Starter Boston Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early (71) throws in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Jaiden Tripi-Imagn Images The Boston Red Sox placed starting pitcher Connelly Early on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday because of left elbow inflammation.
In other moves, the Red Sox activated left-hander Jovani Moran (elbow inflammation) from the 15-day IL, recalled lefty Alec Gamboa from Triple-A Worcester and designated right-hander Tommy Kahnle for assignment.
Early, 24, pitched on Tuesday, scattering three hits and two walks with five strikeouts over four innings before exiting in an 8-1 home loss to the Washington Nationals while experiencing left shoulder soreness.
“It’s tough,” Early said. “I thought I was throwing the ball really well. I felt really good going into the game, so just a little unfortunate thing that happened there.”
The rookie is 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA, 34 walks and 93 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings. He was scheduled for an MRI exam on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury.
“Yeah, he comes out of the game. There’s soreness,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Wednesday. “He’s feeling better today, but it’s still a little sore. So with one more start remaining prior to the All-Star break — it’s not just the start right, it’s like, (are we really) going to have this guy go out in two days and throw a side? That’s not something we’re going to do with that kid.
“Connelly will tell you that he fought to not have it happen. But between that and having to use as much bullpen as we did and some of the moves we had to make to make sure we got arms, that’s an easy decision to make sure you take that out of his hands and do right by him.”
Early made his major league debut last September and is 8-7 with a 3.24 ERA, 38 walks and 122 strikeouts in 21 starts.
Boston selected Early in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Virginia.
Kahnle, 36, gave up four runs on four hits and one walk in one inning of Tuesday’s setback. He was 0-0 with an 8.00 ERA, six walks and five strikeouts in nine innings in his first season with Boston.
For his career, Kahnle is 11-19 with 17 saves and a 3.70 ERA in 464 games (all in relief) with six different teams since 2014.
Moran, 29, is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA, 15 walks and 38 strikeouts in 33 innings over 21 games (three starts) this season. He is a career 3-5 with one save and a 3.94 ERA in 102 games (three starts) in parts of five seasons with the Minnesota Twins (2021-23) and Red Sox (2025-present).
Gamboa, a 29-year-old rookie, did not allow a hit, run or walk while recording three strikeouts against five batters in his two games after making his major league debut with Boston on May 5.
He was 2-3 with a 3.21 ERA, eight walks and 40 strikeouts in 42 innings over 13 games (six starts) at Worcester.
–Field Level Media
Sports
U.S. star Christian Pulisic in starting lineup vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 30, 2026; San Jose, California, U.S.; Christian Pulisic of the U.S. during training. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images American star Christian Pulisic, limited by a calf injury since the national team’s World Cup opener, is in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, Calif.
It marks Pulisic’s first start since the 4-1 victory over Paraguay in the USMNT’s group-stage opener on June 12, when he injured his left calf and did not play in the second half. He missed the 2-0 victory over Australia before returning to play 33 minutes as a reserve against Turkey on June 25.
“I felt great in the last game against Turkey,” Pulisic told reporters on Tuesday. “I’m feeling good this week, and I’m definitely ready to go for tomorrow.”
With 33 international goals and 21 assists in 88 matches, the 27-year-old Pulisic is the USMNT’s active scoring leader and one of their most important players. He led the USMNT with his playmaking skills as they opened a 3-0 halftime lead against Paraguay.
The United States won their first two World Cup matches before falling 3-2 against Turkey in their final Group D contest. Now comes a test against Bosnia and Herzegovina, who went 1-1-1 in Group B play and advanced as a third-place team.
The winner will advance to the round of 16 to meet Belgium — which edged Senegal 3-2 on Wednesday — on July 6 in Seattle.
The U.S. lineup for Wednesday also includes four players who didn’t play against Turkey — midfielder Tyler Adams, forward Folarin Balogun, center back Chris Richards and left back Antonee Robinson. Each had a yellow card earlier in the tournament and a second would have led to a suspension.
Midfielder Cristian Roldan (quad) and defender Mark McKenzie (foot) are the only U.S. players sidelined by injury.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mystics, Dream refreshed after much-needed break
Jun 6, 2026; College Park, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao (2) dribbles against Washington Mystics guard Georgia Amoore (8) at Gateway Center at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images It’s probably a good thing the Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics had a few days off. They both needed the recovery time.
They’ll be back in action when they meet Thursday night in Washington.
The Dream (12-7) are looking for a turnaround. They hadn’t lost back-to-back games this season until dropping three straight on their West Coast — with Saturday’s 105-90 loss at Seattle the most recent setback.
“It’s still early in the season, so these are the types of things you want to experience early so you can learn from them so when it gets to playoff time, it’s not too late,” said Dream guard Allisha Gray.
The Mystics (9-9) lost two in a row before Sunday’s 124-123 four-overtime survival against visiting Portland, which tied the WNBA record for most overtimes in a game.
“I’ve never experienced this,” Mystics coach Sydney Johnson said. “Love the resiliency. … I thought our Mystics were outstanding just in terms of never quitting. It’s easy to get discouraged. They didn’t.”
Four Washington players logged 47 or more minutes in the Portland game.
Despite the grueling nature of the Mystics’ most recent game, Johnson believes there will be long-term benefits for his players.
“You can put a lot in the memory bank and add to the experience that they’re having,” Johnson said. “That’s going to add to the film work and court sessions.”
Part of the growth for the Mystics might have been seen in Michaela Onyenwere, who has played 14 games in her first season with Washington. She scored 30 points in 49 minutes against Portland.
The Mystics might be short-handed after starting guard Georgia Amoore left Sunday’s game with a right knee ailment. She played only 12 minutes and is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game. Top scorer Sonia Citron (18.6 ppg), who poured in 32 points in 53 minutes against the Fire, also is questionable with a sore right knee.
Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard is coming off a 27-point outburst versus Seattle. Gray eclipsed the 4,500-point mark for her career in that game.
The Dream defeated visiting Washington 109-77 on June 6 with five players — led by Howard’s 19 points — scoring in double figures. The visit from the Dream marks the second game in a four-game homestand for Washington.
–Field Level Media
Red Sox place LHP Connelly Early (elbow) on 15-day injured list
U.S. star Christian Pulisic in starting lineup vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
