Author: AFP

Reigning world champion Marc Marquez won on a Sunday for the first time this season as he held off young Spanish compatriot Pedro Acosta to take the Hungarian MotoGP.

Francesco Bagnaia finished a distant third while the top two in the standings, Aprilia pair Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin, crashed out on the first corner.

In a battle of the generations, 33-year-old Marquez, who also won Saturday’s sprint, and Acosta, 22, exchanged the lead a couple of times before the veteran pulled away in the closing laps.

Marquez beat Acosta by just over 1.343 seconds. It was the veteran’s 100th victory across all categories, and Ducati’s 100th win in the sport.

“I’m super happy,” said Marquez who rushed back after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder and a broken foot after a crash at the French Grand Prix in early May.

“The price was expensive, but happy to have another comeback.”

The 4.8km Balaton Park circuit, which hosted its first MotoGP last year, is narrow, twisty, and not conducive to overtaking. Most riders do not like it, but Marc Marquez feels right at home. Last year, the Spaniard swept the board taking pole position, sprint race, fastest lap, and overall victory.

An additional advantage for Marquez is that Balaton Park is one of the six circuits this season that run counter-clockwise. The Spaniard has always prefered left-hand corners but they was even more helpful this weekend because he was nursing his right shoulder.

“I don’t know if I’ll have chances like this again in the upcoming races. I wasn’t feeling great on Friday, but I made a good step forward on Saturday,” he said.

Bagnaia finished 11.632 seconds behind Marquez on a matching factory Ducati, a ride that Acosta, who is with KTM, is widely expected to take over next season.

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At the start, bikes tumbled like bowling pins going into at the first corner.

Martin, who is second in the standings, locked up coming out of the short starting straight, lost control and he, and his bike, flew into the tightly-bunched pack hitting Bezzecchi. Fermin Aldeguer of Ducati Gresini, Raul Fernandez of Trackhouse and Fabio di Giannantonio on a VR46 Ducati also went down.

Bagnaia said he saw Martin coming out of the corner of his eye.

“When I started to break, I just saw something arriving so fast, and it was Martin arriving at double speed.”

“Maybe he was too inside and locked the front, because the new tarmac on corner one was very slippery.”

Di Giannantonio remounted and collected four points as he trailed in 12th.

Marquez had sped off from pole position and was already clear of the chaos behind him. Only Acosta, who narrowly outpaced the wave of crashing bikes, was able to give chase and quickly closed and shot past.

By halfway, the leading pair had pulled six seconds clear of Bagnaia

Marquez overtook on lap 14 and held off 22-year-old Acosta’s instant counter-attack pulling clear before relaxing in the fnal lap.

“We tried everything, it was a really good battle, I hope that everyone at home in enjoyed it,” said Acosta who is still chasing his first MotoGP victory. “The pace was good. qualifying again was good. Back-to-back podiums, I’m quite happy.”

Ai Ogura on a Trackhouse was fourth and Luca Marini fifth for Honda.

Bezzcchi, Martin and Di Gianntonio stayed in the first three places in the standings. Acosta jumped to fourth and Marquez into fifth.

READ: Pakistan thump Afghanistan to reach four-nation tournament final

Debutant spinner Manav Suthar took three wickets to dent Afghanistan’s reply after India declared their innings on 564-8 in their one-off Test on Sunday.

Afghanistan were 113-5 at stumps on day two after Suthar had Afsar Zazai caught and bowled for three.

Rahmat Shah was unbeaten on 43, with Afghanistan still trailing India by 451 runs at New Chandigarh.

Afghanistan pace bowler Mohammad Saleem earlier took six wickets before India ended their first innings in the second session with Washington Sundar unbeaten on 52.

A fourth-wicket stand of 169 between captain Shubman Gill, who made 126, and Rishabh Pant (81) was the highlight of the Indian innings after the hosts resumed on 368-3.

Afghanistan started on a shaky note when left-arm spinner Suthar dismissed opener Abdul Malik for 16 with his fourth ball in Test cricket on the stroke of tea.

Pace bowler Prasidh Krishna dismissed Sediqullah Atal for 17 before 23-year-old Suthar had Rahmanullah Gurbaz caught at second slip for 12.

Shah then attempted to steady the innings with Hashmatullah Shahidi, who was trapped leg before by Krishna for 20.

Saleem, 23, struck twice in the morning session and then dismissed Suthar for 28 after lunch to claim his first five-wicket haul in Tests.

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He consistently bowled at speeds above 140 km/h (86.9 mph) to impress in just his second Test.

Left-hander Sundar and Mohammed Siraj went on the attack to boost India’s total.

Siraj hammered debutant left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote for a four and two sixes in one over before he was bowled by Saleem.

Saleem earlier broke the stand between Gill and Pant when he had the Indian captain caught behind with a delivery that held its line.

Wicketkeeper Pant added 31 runs to his overnight score and was eyeing a century when he was caught at long-off while attempting a big hit off Shahidi.

Afghanistan made even harder work of it by repeatedly failing to review borderline decisions.

Gill had added just five runs to his overnight score of 103 when he was struck on the pads by pace bowler Azmatullah Omarzai.

Afghanistan did not ask for a review after Gill was given not out, but ball-tracking technology showed the delivery would have hit the leg stump.

Pant, on 54, also survived the next ball despite ball-tracking showing that Omarzai had caught a faint edge, with Afghanistan again deciding against a review.

READ: Five-star Atkinson seals England victory over New Zealand

Gus Atkinson took a five-wicket haul as England thrashed New Zealand by 115 runs to win the first Test at Lord’s on Sunday.

Surrey paceman Atkinson took 5-30 — his fourth five-wicket innings haul in three Tests at Lord’s — as England went 1-0 up in a three-match series.

But fellow seamer Ollie Robinson was named player-of-the-match after marking his first Test in over two years with seven wickets in the match — including a Test-best haul of 5-39, featuring a rare triple-wicket maiden, in New Zealand’s meagre first-innings 113.

England’s success also owed much to debutant opener Emilo Gay’s 57 in their second-innings 226.

On Sunday, Devon Conway (41) and Glenn Phillips (44 not out) kept England at bay with a seventh-wicket partnership of 53 — New Zealand’s highest of a low-scoring match.

England still only needed 19 overs to take the five wickets they required for victory as their first Test since a woeful 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia, ended in a comprehensive success.

New Zealand’s overnight 55-5 became 58-6 when Tom Blundell was lbw to fast bowler Josh Tongue.

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Left-handed opener Conway, who resumed on 19 not out, slashed Tongue through gully for four.

He should have been out next ball for 24 when Harry Brook dropped a two-handed chance above his head at second slip after the batter tried to uppercut Tongue.

New batter Phillips drilled Robinson through extra-cover for four on another overcast morning that favoured the fast bowlers, with stroke-play far from easy on a pitch of inconsistent bounce.

The aggressive Phillips thrashed a slightly wide Robinson delivery through the covers for four.

England captain Ben Stokes brought himself on but Phillips clipped his fifth ball through midwicket for four to bring up New Zealand’s hundred.

Stokes did break through when he squared up Conway with a good-length ball that took the edge, Jacob Bethell holding a fine low catch in the gully to end a gritty 91-ball innings.

New Zealand’s 111-7 was transformed into 116-8 when Atkinson had Nathan Smith caught behind.

And the Black Caps were nine wickets down and on the brink of defeat when Kyle Jamieson, who made 38 not out in the first innings, fell for six after clipping Atkinson to midwicket

Phillips defiantly pulled Tongue for six – one of eight boundaries in 52 balls faced.

But there was nothing he could do when Atkinson bowled last man Matt Henry for a duck to finish with innings figure of 5-30 in 11.3 overs.

The series now moves across London to the Oval, where the second Test starts on June 17.

READ: Australia players barred from entering Dhaka Golf Course

Harry Kane’s 79th international goal edged England to a 1-0 win over New Zealand in the FIFA World Cup 2026 warm-up as the Three Lions’ FIFA  got off to an underwhelming start in the Florida heat on Saturday.

Kane flicked in Djed Spence’s cross in first-half stoppage time as England laboured to victory against a side 81 places below them in the world rankings.

“We’re here for preparation more than the result,” said Kane after his 67th goal of the season for club and country. “It’s the best shape I’ve ever been in my career.

“I’m excited, can’t wait for it to get started.”

New Zealand were thrashed 4-0 by Haiti on Wednesday but Thomas Tuchel’s men found clear-cut chances far harder to come by in their first experience of the brutal conditions in the United States.

Tuchel named two entirely different sides for each half, but there was little to read into his team selection ahead of England’s opening game of the World Cup against Croatia on June 17.

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“The energy is right and the quality will come,” said Tuchel. “The better the opponent gets, the better we will get.”

Kane typically made the breakthrough from an in-swinging cross by Spence, who impressed at left-back.

Ivan Toney replaced Kane among the 11 changes made by Tuchel at the break.

Toney thought he had won a penalty only for New Zealand to be rescued by a marginal offside call against the Al Ahli striker.

England dominated possession but could not add to their lead with the Kiwis happy to keep the score down.

Despite not having won a major tournament for 60 years, England go into the World Cup among the favourites having reached at least the quarter-finals in their last four tournaments.

They also face Ghana and Panama in Group L.

New Zealand will face Iran, Belgium and Egypt in Group G.

READ: Argentina ease past Honduras in FIFA World Cup 2026 warm-up

Argentina eased to a 2-0 victory against a lacklustre Honduras in the reigning champions’ penultimate FIFA World Cup 2026 warm-up game in Texas on Saturday.

Lautaro Martinez and Giuliano Simeone scored the goals in a game dominated by Argentina in College Station.

Lionel Messi was on the bench but not used by coach Lionel Scaloni as he nurses the superstar back to fitness for the World Cup group games after he suffered a hamstring injury on May 24.

A lethargic game burst into life on 37 minutes when Nicolas Tagliafico was fouled in the penalty area by Cristopher Melendez and Inter Milan forward Martinez drove home the spot kick low to his left to make it 1-0 on 37 minutes.

The lively Martinez was the creator when Argentina doubled their lead on 54 minutes as his intelligent backheel set up Atletico Madrid’s Simeone to fire past Honduras goalkeeper Edrick Menjivar.

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In other highlights, Giovani Lo Celso hit the crossbar with a superb curling shot from outside the area in the first half and Tomas Aranda’s second-half attempt was well saved by the Honduras ‘keeper.

Honduras barely crossed the halfway line in the second half as Argentina exterted their dominance.

Scaloni said that despite playing some of his younger squad members, his team showed they have a solid identity as the defence of their crown approaches.

“Maybe it could have been done better, but as for the team’s hallmark, its identity, I think it remains intact, and that’s the most important thing. That’s what we’re looking for, in the end, not to break that identity,” he said.

Argentina face Iceland in their final friendly match in Auburn, Alabama on Tuesday before the three-time winners begin their World Cup group games against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City.

Scaloni has indicated that Messi could play a small part in one of the friendlies, meaning an appearance against Iceland is likely.

READ: Germany forward Lennart Karl ruled out of World Cup 2026

Teenage Germany forward Lennart Karl has been ruled out of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 after sustaining an injury in training, the German Football Federation (DFB) said on Friday.

“Lenny tore a muscle bundle today in the final training session and is ruled out because of this injury. Have a good recovery, we’re thinking of you,” the DFB said on Instagram.

Germany have called up RB Leipzig midfielder Assan Ouedraogo to replace the 18-year-old Bayern Munich player.

Head coach Julian Nagelsmann had said earlier in Chicago ahead of Saturday’s friendly against the United States that Karl’s injury “didn’t look good” and that he had been taken to the hospital for a scan.

The loss of Karl is a blow to Germany. He was one of the revelations of the Bundesliga season after making his top-flight debut this season, quickly establishing himself as part of Vincent Kompany’s league-winning side.

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He started his first match for Germany in Sunday’s 4-0 win over Finland, setting up a goal.

Nagelsmann also confirmed that veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer would not be fit in time to face the US, but hoped he would return for Germany’s first World Cup match against Curacao on June 14.

Neuer, 40, a World Cup winner in 2014, was surprisingly recalled for the tournament in May, almost two years after announcing his international retirement.

“At his age, he doesn’t need a warm-up phase,” Nagelsmann said. “He knows how to handle high-pressure situations. He’s on his way to peak fitness. However, we don’t want to take any risks tomorrow.”

READ: Argentina coach provides update on Messi fitness ahead of FIFA World Cup

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has provided a positive update on the fitness of their star player, Lionel Messi, ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 on Friday.

According to Scaloni, Messi has taken a step forward in his injury recovery and could play a few minutes in Argentina’s upcoming friendlies before their World Cup opener.

“Leo is doing well; he has already trained partly with the group, he’s no longer completely separated,” Scaloni said. “It’s possible he’ll play a few minutes in the friendlies. We’ll see whether that’s tomorrow’s game or the other one.”

Defending World Cup champions Argentina will take on Honduras in College Station, Texas, on Saturday and play Iceland on Tuesday in Auburn, Alabama.

“He’s much better, and that gives us peace of mind,” Scaloni said.

The medical staff of the Argentine national team has plenty of work, starting with their star Messi, who suffered a strain in his left hamstring in Inter Miami’s last match and was not expected to play against Honduras.

Scaloni also confirmed that goalkeeper Juan Musso, of Atletico Madrid, will start the game against Honduras at Kyle Field, given that his first-choice keeper, Emiliano Martinez, suffered a fracture in the ring finger of his right hand during the warm-up for the Europa League final.

Team medical staff has decided to hold him out of both friendlies, although Martinez should be available for the opener against Algeria.

Scaloni will also give minutes to debutant Santiago Beltran, the young River Plate goalkeeper called up for the friendlies.

In defense, right backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel are recovering from muscle tears, and the coaching staff has called up Agustin Giay and Nicolas Capaldo to replace them in the friendlies.

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Centre-back Cristian Romero is already training with the group after the knee sprain he suffered in April, although he comes in without match fitness.

Lionel Scaloni will have to decide whether to give him minutes or wait a few more days. Another case drawing scrutiny is that of Nicolas Paz, who is training separately after taking a heavy hit to his knee.

He has been ruled out for the Honduras game and will be cutting it close for the World Cup debut. Leandro Paredes and Julian Alvarez also arrived at Argentina’s camp in Kansas with physical issues.

Although they are improving, it is uncertain whether they will get any playing time in the warm-up matches.

“The situation is improving,” Scaloni said. “They’re fine, and we don’t want to risk them in these games, and the idea is surely that (the injured players) won’t take part in these friendlies.

“In this one (against Honduras), definitely not,” he added. “In the second, there might be a chance that one of them could play.”

Scaloni said the coming week will show “exactly where we stand.”

“For now everything is going quite well, and next week we’ll see,” he said.

Argentina are set to begin their World Cup campaign on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City.

READ: FIFA changes water bottle policy for World Cup after fan backlash

FIFA announced on Friday that it will permit fans to bring one “soft, plastic” disposable water bottle into World Cup 2026 venues, following an outcry over its ban on refillable bottles.

“All fans will be permitted to bring in one, soft, plastic 20 ounces (590ml), factory-sealed disposable water bottle into any FIFA World Cup 2026 match in the USA and Canada,” World Cup chief operating officer, Heimo Schirgi, said in a video posted on FIFA’s X account.

The announcement, which FIFA referred to as a “clarification” of its water bottle policy, followed two days after FIFA stated that refillable water bottles wouldn’t be permitted.

That was a change to their official stadium code of conduct that could force thirsty supporters to pay for bottled water.

FIFA justified the move on safety grounds, “to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees.

“Outside bottles are already prohibited at several of these venues for safety considerations, and FIFA is applying this consideration across its tournament stadiums,” FIFA said in a statement to AFP.

On Friday, FIFA said that those concerns remain valid.

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Schirgi said that “fans will not be permitted to bring in hard-sided, reusable water bottles due to safety and security reasons,” showing examples of bottles that will and won’t be allowed.

Forecasters have warned that fans could face health risks from extreme heat at open-air venues during the World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

A report published by the World Weather Attribution research group last month estimated that 26 of 104 games at the World Cup are likely to be played in conditions where the Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT) exceeds 26 degrees.

WBGT is a measure of heat stress on the human body, which combines temperature, humidity, wind and sunlight.

At last year’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, where fans complained of searing temperatures, supporters were also barred from bringing water bottles into venues.

FIFA has noted that misting stations, fans, hydration stations and cooling tents would be available in “the stadium footprint”.

Bottled water inside the venue will be sold at prices which “remain consistent with other events held at each stadium,” FIFA says.

READ: Lionel Messi among first 11 named to MLS All-Star squad

Inter Miami star Lionel Messi of Argentina was among the first 11 players named on Friday to the MLS squad for next month’s MLS All-Star Game at Charlotte, North Carolina.

The MLS lineup, including at least five players competing in the FIFA World Cup 2026, will face a star-studded squad from the Mexican league on July 29.

The MLS “First XI” was chosen in a combined vote of players, fans and media and includes five players on World Cup rosters, Messi, South Korean Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC, Americans Tim Ream of Charlotte, Sebastian Berhalter of Vancouver and South African Mbekezeli Mbokazi of Chicago.

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Others in the first batch of MLS All-Stars include goalkeeper Brian Schwake of Nashville, defensive backs Anthony Markanich of Minnesota United and Honduran Andy Najar of Nashville, midfielders Zavier Gozo of Real Salt Lake and German Hany Mukhtar of Nashville, plus Belgian forward Hugo Cuypers of Chicago.

Mbokazi became the second South African selected to an MLS All-Star squad after Doctor Khumalo in 1996, while Son was the second South Korean named an MLS All-Star after national team coach and former Los Angeles Galaxy defender Hong Myung-bo in 2003.

The final MLS Lineup will also include 13 players chosen by MLS All-Star coach Dean Smith of host Charlotte and two chosen by MLS commissioner Don Garber.

READ: England seize advantage against New Zealand in Lord’s Test

LONDON: England were on top at the close of play against New Zealand on day two after Gus Atkinson’s double strike at the Lord’s Cricket Stadium. 

The visitors were reduced to 36-3 with 218 more runs required to win. Devon Conway remained not out on 12 while the night-watchman Will O’Rourke was the final wicket to fall.  Atkinson cleaned him up on a duck.

The Three Lions bowlers adopted an aggressive strategy, with captain Tom Latham dismissed on the third ball of the first over. It was Josh Tongue who took Kane Williamson in the 11th over, giving his team a strong position.

Earlier, Jamie Smith helped England recover from a middle-order collapse as they set New Zealand 254 to win the first Test at Lord’s on Friday.

England were dismissed for 226 in their second innings on the second day of a frenetic clash in north London.

New Zealand’s Nathan Smith took 6-70, the second five-wicket haul of the paceman’s six-match Test career.

But given New Zealand were dismissed for just 113 in the first innings, they need a vastly-improved batting effort to avoid falling 1-0 behind in the three-match series.

Debutant opener Emilio Gay was England’s top-scorer in their second innings with 57 and wicket-keeper Smith made 39.

Earlier, England lost four wickets for just one run as 126-2 quickly became 127-6 before Smith steadied the ship in the 150th Test at Lord’s — the most of any ground.

Smith received good support from Gus Atkinson during a seventh-wicket stand of 57.

But Atkinson gave his innings away on 14 when his miscued pull off Kyle Jamieson was caught by the towering fast bowler.

This is England’s first Test since a 4-1 series loss in Australia where they squandered several promising positions.

And it looked like they might be suffering a repeat of their Ashes debacle when Harry Brook, fresh from a first-innings fifty, and England captain Ben Stokes were both dismissed without scoring on Friday.

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There was little Jamie Smith could do when Nathan Smith bowled him with a delivery that kept low to end a 52-ball innings, including six fours.

England were 99-2 when Jacob Bethell was bowled by a Matt Henry delivery that kept low.

Gay, however, was still seeking to punish New Zealand for failing to review a rejected Henry lbw appeal when the Durham batter would have been out for 24.

Gay pressed on to an 84-ball fifty, including seven fours, before he was caught behind off Smith to leave England 126-3.

Brook was trapped in front by Will O’Rourke for a duck and Joe Root fell in similar fashion to Smith for eight.

Stokes was bowled by an excellent Smith delivery that angled in before clipping the top of the left-hander’s off stump.

Ollie Robinson made a useful 29 before he holed out off Nathan Smith to end the innings.

Earlier, Robinson celebrated a five-wicket haul on his return to England duty.

The Sussex pace bowler, playing his first Test in more than two years, produced a triple-wicket maiden on Thursday during a sensational return of 4-10 in six overs as New Zealand slumped to 61-6 at stumps.

He wrapped up the innings on Friday by bowling last man Henry for a duck to leave New Zealand 27 runs behind England’s first-innings 140 all out.

Robinson finished with his Test-best figures of 5-39 in 10.1 overs.

READ: Nepal among four teams to qualify for Asian Games 2026