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European Championship semi-final: Cracker in Dortmund: Into the final in “Premier League style”?

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European Championship semi-final cracker in Dortmund: Into the final in “Premier League style”?

Meeting in the European Championship semi-final: England coach Gareth Southgate (l) and Oranje coach Ronald Koeman. Photo

© Martin Meissner/AP/dpa

Only two wins separate the Netherlands and England from their first major title in a long time. England are favourites on the pitch, but the Dutch will probably dominate in the city.

The atmosphere will be a European Championship highlight, but will the football be as well? In the explosive semi-final between the Netherlands and England, both nations will do everything in their power to keep their dream of winning their first major title in ages alive.

More than 100,000 fans from both countries are expected in Dortmund on Wednesday, transforming the football temple there into a deafening atmosphere in orange and white. However, their national teams have not necessarily earned the fact that they can hope for a European Championship final through great sporting skill.

The favored English team in particular rumbled through the tournament rather than dominating their opponents. The performances of the star ensemble with the highest market value of all the European Championship teams were sluggish and often uninspired. But the potential is huge – also and especially in attack. Whether it’s Bayern super striker Harry Kane, midfield leader Jude Bellingham or the two turbo dribblers Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden: they all actually stand for fast-paced football with guaranteed goals. And not just them.

Many players know each other very well

“I think we will see a Premier League style game,” said Dutch international and former Bundesliga professional Micky van de Ven, who now plays for Tottenham Hotspur. “The rhythm and level of the game will be high. Many players know each other from the Premier League.”

In fact, the duel for the European Championship final is something of a big class reunion. 31 players in both squads play in the Premier League. Others, such as the Dutch centre-forward Memphis Depay, have already played in what is probably the best football league in the world. The football of the two nations is also closely linked in other ways.

In Arne Slot, a Dutch coach will be training Liverpool FC next season as Jürgen Klopp’s successor. England defender Luke Shaw received a “cheeky message” from his Dutch coach at Manchester United, Erik ten Hag, before the semi-final. And national coach Ronald Koeman also has a special relationship with the upcoming opponent.

Koeman and his England story READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

When the Netherlands beat the Three Lions 3-1 in Düsseldorf on the way to the 1988 European Championship title, the now 61-year-old was there as a player. Five years later, he even scored a goal in the World Cup qualifiers, after only being shown a yellow card instead of a red card for a foul. The Netherlands won 2-0, while England missed out on the world tournament. Koeman has worked as a coach for Southampton FC and Everton FC. He is considered a pragmatist – just like his counterpart Gareth Southgate.

Both teams had to endure harsh criticism from home in this tournament. For many fans and observers, simply progressing is not enough. Some English supporters even threw beer mugs at Southgate and insulted him with obscene gestures.

“I can’t deny that it hurts when things get as personal as they have recently. I don’t think it’s normal to have beer thrown at you,” said the 53-year-old. “But we are in the third semi-final in four tournaments. We’re going to keep going and enjoy this journey.”

Shaw supports coach Southgate with clear words

In 2021, England lost to Italy in the European Championship final on penalties. This time, they are finally aiming for their second major title after their 1966 World Cup triumph in their own country. A kind of defiant solidarity could also help with this. The team is united against criticism from outside.

“We players love him. He’s exactly what we need. He allows us to be at our best on the field,” said left-back Shaw about Southgate. And Kane explained: “We’re in the semi-finals, so I think we’re doing pretty well. We really have this belief that we can do something special.”

They have that and the ability to come back after falling behind in common with their opponents. The partly weak performances in the preliminary round and in the first half of the quarter-final against Turkey did not dampen the Dutch team’s euphoria. “We can be proud that we have reached the semi-finals,” said Koeman. “Nobody expected that. But the mission is not over yet.”

“The Yellow Wall now belongs to us”

In an attempt to reach a major final for the first time since the 2010 World Cup, significantly more fans will be there on Wednesday (9 p.m./ARD/MagentaTV) than can fit in the stadium. Around 62,000 spectators are allowed to attend European Championship games in the Dortmund Arena. Up to 80,000 party-loving Dutch people are expected in the city and will probably perform their famous European Championship dance again, jumping from left to right. “The Yellow Wall now belongs to us,” was the headline in the Dutch newspaper “AD” with a view to the legendary south stand.

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NFL | The best was yet to come, and then no

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In February 2022, the Bengals missed the Super Bowl by three small points, but regardless, the future seemed bright in Cincinnati.


Posted at 1:13 a.m.

Updated at 7:00 a.m.

In any case, that’s what we, the most seasoned experts in American football, believed, capable of seeing the future each season, often in a very impressive way; for example, this column has been predicting since 1970 that the New York Jets are not going to win the Super Bowl, and that’s still exactly what happens.

The Bengals have never won anything, but their presence on the big stage two years ago suggested that, a bit like the Nordiques in 1990, the best was yet to come.

Well, no.

As of this hour, the Bengals are a dismal 1-4, and even then, their only win came against the Carolina Panthers, who are about as bad as they are.

The good news for the Bengals is that this “landing” is fairly easily explained: their defense is pretty awful. The less good news is that it is probably already too late to try to solve this problem.

In five games, the Bengals have allowed a total of 145 points, which gives a pretty staggering average of 29 points per game. No one else in the American Association looks this bad, and in the league as a whole, only the Carolina Panthers are even worse in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Bengals are wasting the best years of Joe Burrow, who turns 28 in December. He wouldn’t be the first quality quarterback to waste his talent in this uniform.

Is it necessary here to remember that in American football, as in life in general, there is never anything certain? This reality reminds us of this sublime quote from Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who once wrote that “supreme happiness is a hundred times sweeter to hope for than to obtain”.

Rousseau must have been a Bengals fan, obviously.

You are probably aware that the New York Jets fired their coachbut that’s not the worst. The worst part is that poor Robert Saleh would have been escorted to the door like a pauper by security agents.

PHOTO MIKE STOBE, ARCHIVES AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh

It’s undoubtedly one of the worst moments in the history of a club that collects the worst moments, from Mark Sanchez dropping a ball on his lineman’s pussy, to a visibly hot Joe Namath trying to to kiss a reporter live on TV (we’re going to move on to the naughty photo of Brett Favre because there are children here).

We can never repeat it enough: in football, as in life, everything starts from the top. The leaders of the Jets, who display a level of competence similar to that of the inventors of Pepsi Crystal, thus opted for the easy way, instead of realizing that their ground game is non-existent, and that their quarterback who hears voices in his head is finished.

In addition, barely installed, new coach Jeff Ulbrich decided to give control of the attack to assistant Todd Downing, who will call the plays from now on. This is not a detail because this task previously fell to offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, close and confidant of Aaron Rodgers.

It’s obvious that this is going to end very badly. As per usual.

Someone whispers in my ear that the inbox is overflowing again, so let’s get to it right away.

First, Luc Girouard from Sept-Îles sends us this timely little comment: “Would Prince Rodgers have plotted to kick Robert Saleh out in order to take his place? »

We all see what you did, Luc.

Then, there is a certain Nicolas B. from Laval who sent this: “Hi Richard. Great weekly column on football. Really entertaining. In addition, you allow my teenagers to read about football in French, which is still a challenge […] If you ever make a reference to my comment, my sports travel gang is buying me a beer on our next trip. »

You will demand a micro beer, Nicolas. Finally, there is Marco Campanozzi who can no longer hear about “mixing” and the right chair: “I can’t do it anymore!!! »

We are Marco.

It will be another great opportunity to lock yourself in front of the TV while pretending to do something constructive, because Sunday’s menu is particularly spicy.

Thus, Commanders in a state of grace will go to Baltimore to prove that they are serious, the Chargers will go to Denver in the hope of recovering after two defeats in a row, and the Cowboys will host the Lions, in a match that they can’t really let slip away, just to build something following the little miracle last Sunday night in Pittsburgh.

Don’t forget to check out the colors during halftime.

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A young badminton player realizes his deceased father’s dream

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Only 13 years old, badminton-player-honors-fathers-dream-at-nationals/” title=”13-year-old Saskatchewan badminton player honors father’s dream at nationals”>Gautham Sumesh is preparing to realize the dream of his father, who died six months ago: he will soon participate in the National Badminton Championship.

My father was really addicted to badmintonrecalls the Saskatchewan teenager. He really liked that I played.

Gautham Sumesh has been playing badminton since he was old enough to handle a racket. The first time he managed to beat his father, Sumesh Pulavathil, he was offered a drink to celebrate the event.

Sadly, Sumesh Pulavathil died in a road accident near Estevan last October.

Despite the tragedy, the teenager continues to carry his family’s dreams: Gautham Sumesh won the provincial championships this year and is preparing to participate in the National Championship in New Brunswick.

He would be really happyhe believes.

Dreaming of badminton

The young player’s parents left India in 2022 in the hope that their son would become a top badminton player.

: Gautham badminton”,”text”:”When we moved to Canada, we only had one thing in mind: Gautham badminton”}}”>When we moved to Canada, we only had one thing in mind: Gautham badmintonexplains the latter’s mother, Gayathri Ramdas. It is the foundation of our family life.

Her husband put everything in place to help his son play. He bought him shoes and racquets, in addition to devoting many hours to coaching him and other children.

Sumesh Pulavathil (front) was an avid badminton player. (Archive photo)

Photo: Provided by Gayathri Ramdas

Although the family was devastated by Sumesh Pulavathil’s death, there was never any question of the teenager quitting badminton. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Since the death of his father, Gautham Sumesh has undergone intensive training, particularly in preparation for the provincial competition which took place in April.

He remembers that no one knew him when he started competing provincially, but that changed after his victory at the provincial championship.

: “Hey, good job!” Everyone started talking to me and becoming friends with me”,”text”:”After I won, everyone said to me: “Hey, good job! “Everyone started talking to me and becoming friends with me”}}”>After I won, everyone said to me: “Hey, good job!” Everyone started talking to me and becoming friends with meexplained Gautham Sumesh.

A portrait of Sumesh Pulavathil (far left) and his family.

Photo: Provided by Gayathri Ramdas

Despite his son’s success in the championship, Gayathri Ramdas believes the victory was bittersweet due to his father’s absence.

Despite everything, she watched her son grow up and demonstrate the values ​​of sportsmanship and good play that she and her husband wanted to instill in him, as he harbored ambitions of becoming a professional badminton player.

I’m little by little catching up on all the dreams we had.

With information from Janani Whitfield

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Our Expert’s Pick of the Day: Bet on the Steelers and Lions

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Are you ready for two NFL betting suggestions for Week 6?

CHOICE #1

My first choice is the game between the Pittsburgh Raiders defeated Chargers in final play in overtime”>Steelers and the Las Vegas Raiders. In this game, I’m betting on the first half point spread in favor of the Steelers.

I like the Pittsburgh club’s chances in this matchup, but a three-point spread for the entire game doesn’t reassure me much. It’s hard to bet on a team that has averaged 18.4 points per game and is favored by three points in an away game. For this reason, I chose to bet on the lead in the first half.

The Raiders are a disaster. Wide receiver Davante Adams has asked to be traded, and there are rumors that some players are unhappy with their coach, Antonio Pierce. Maxx Crosby played through a sprained ankle last week, but the team will be without Christian Wilkins on Sunday. Additionally, three of their offensive linemen are currently questionable cases.

After surprising the NFL world by beating the Baltimore Ravens, the Raiders followed with a horrendous 36-22 loss at home to the weak Carolina Panthers. They then took advantage of DeShaun Watson’s largesse to win, before losing 34-18 to the Denver Broncos last week.

For me, it comes down to the fact that Pittsburgh’s defense is much better than Vegas’. The Steelers weren’t very impressive on offense against the Dallas Cowboys last week, but things will be easier against the Raiders.

The state of mind is probably much better on the Pittsburgh side. After starting the season 3-0, they lost their last two games, and I think they will get back to winning ways this week. They will start strong against a rusty Aidan O’Connell, who will make his first start in 2024.

CHOICE #2

We have a great NFC game taking place at the beautiful AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In this game, I am betting on the Detroit Lions.

Jared Goff lacks mobility, so he tends to struggle under pressure. When he has time to analyze the field, he dissects the defense.

Knowing this, who will put pressure on Goff in this matchup? The Cowboys will be without their two best quarterback hunters, Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. Even defensive end Marshawn Kneeland will not be in the game. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Linebacker Eric Kendricks made a big impact in his first month with his new team. However, he is hampered by calf and shoulder injuries, so he could be sidelined. It would be a big blow for this defense.

Meanwhile, Detroit’s offense is healthy, while their defense will have safety Brian Branch back.

I’ve read statistical reports that show that elite teams after their bye week tend to perform well. In other words, they really benefit from the extra time. Also, the away favorites after their bye week beat the point spread at a high rate.

The Lions meet both of those criteria, so I like our chances of winning this bet.

The little extra is the “revenge” factor. Do you remember last year’s meeting between these two teams? The Lions scored a touchdown with 23 seconds left and trailed by one point. Instead of attempting the extra point to send the game into overtime, they decided to attempt a two-point conversion.

Offensive lineman Taylor Decker caught a pass on what appeared to be the game-winning play, but he was ruled ineligible as a receiver. The video shows him talking to the referee before the play, so it looked like a bad call. Coach Dan Campbell still seems upset about the game, which should add some extra motivation.

I also think the Cowboys will play under pressure. After winning 16 straight home games, they lost their first two home games this season.

Detroit’s offense wasn’t in great shape through the first three games, averaging 18.7 points scored per game. But they ultimately exploded for 42 points against the Seattle Seahawks, so I think they’ll continue that momentum. I don’t think Dallas can stop them with all these missing pieces on defense.

Have a great and lucrative weekend, my sports bettor friends!

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