Eight players leave England camp ahead of Japan friendly
England boss Thomas Tuchel will have no choice but to ring the changes ahead of their March 31 friendly with Japan at Wembley Stadium, after eight players left the camp on March 28 with a variety of health issues and injury concerns, Reuters reported.
Having drawn 1-1 with Uruguay in a friendly on March 27, the FA announced the departures on March 28 after several players picked up knocks and injuries, causing changes to the 35-man squad selected by Tuchel for the current international break.
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, Fikayo Tomori and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are among the departures, with defender John Stones returning to Manchester City after picking up an injury prior to the March 27 game, while Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) and Noni Madueke (Arsenal) were both injured in the friendly, according to Reuters.
Easy win for Belgium over US rings alarm bells for World Cup co-hosts
Belgium bounced back after going behind to register a runaway 5-2 win over the United States in their friendly international on Saturday in a result that will ring alarm bells for the World Cup co-hosts, Reuters reported.
Weston McKennie had the U.S ahead from a corner in the 39th minute but a rasping long-range shot from Belgian defender Zeno Debast saw the teams level at halftime.
Amadou Onana made it 2-1 eight minutes into the second half and six minutes later Charles De Ketelaere converted a penalty to extend the lead, according to Reuters.
Mexico draw 0-0 with Portugal in Azteca reopening friendly
Mexico and Portugal played out a 0-0 draw at the Estadio Azteca on Saturday in a friendly to mark the stadium's reopening ahead of the World Cup, Reuters reported.
Portugal's Joao Felix went close in the 14th minute before Goncalo Ramos struck the post midway through the first half.
The visitors continued to look the more dangerous side after the break, with Bruno Fernandes firing just wide, according to Reuters.
Sabalenka beats Gauff in Miami tennis final, completes 'Sunshine Double'
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka beat hometown favourite Coco Gauff 6-2 4-6 6-3 in the Miami Open final on Saturday to join an exclusive club by completing the coveted 'Sunshine Double'.
World number one Sabalenka, who reached the final without dropping a set, won 73% of her first-serve points and faced just two break points en route to victory in a rematch of the 2025 French Open final won by Gauff, Reuters reported.
Sabalenka is only the fifth woman to win the Indian Wells and Miami titles back-to-back, a feat known as the 'Sunshine Double' given the tournaments' respective locations in California and Florida.
