CHICAGO -- Mexico defender Carlos Salcedo isn't getting carried away with Mexico's traditional status as a regional giant ahead of Sunday's Gold Cup final against the United States.

Mexico scraped past Haiti 1-0 after extra time on Tuesday in the semifinal to set up a championship game against El Tri's bitter rival, but Salcedo doesn't believe there is any favorite on Sunday.

"In football, there aren't any giants anymore," he told media after the game against Haiti. "You have to play the games. History says we've won a lot of Gold Cups [seven], but that isn't going to help us win on Sunday. We can only show our quality by lifting the cup."

Mexico received some criticism for taking so long to put away a Haitian side ranked 101st in the world by FIFA, but the Tigres defender stressed taking a balanced approach is the best way to analyze the tournament so far.

"If you play well against Sweden and lose, there is criticism," Salcedo said. "In Mexico there is no middle ground. We aren't looking for the spotlight, we aren't looking for people to tell us what we are doing well or badly, the team has to give explanations to the coach. We are in a final and we're going to give it all to win."

Meanwhile, the former Eintracht Frankfurt player also has been linked with a move back to Europe this summer, but he isn't focused on his club future at present.

"I have to wait," he said. "I don't want to put my head in that situation. I want to wait. I haven't talked to my agent and that's one thing I have to do: sit down with my agent, go through everything and then I'll see.

"Right now I'm focused on national team and after that I'll focus on Tigres, which is my team right now."

Australia A went through the one-day leg of their tour unbeaten, but now things get really interesting with the red ball coming into focus and places in the Ashes squad to play for. They face Sussex and England Lions over the next couple of weeks before the selection showdown between two Australia teams in Southampton after which the squad will be confirmed. Here's what's up for grabs

Openers

There are two elements to this area: who is the first-choice to partner David Warner and whether Australia want to include a third opener in the squad or rely on Usman Khawaja to be back-up if needed. If there's only space from one then it's a three-way race between Marcus Harris, Joe Burns and Cameron Bancroft. Harris is leading the way after his promising performances against India and a prolific domestic season. Burns' chronic fatigue syndrome has set him back but he scored 180 last time out against Sri Lanka while Bancroft, who will continue playing for Durham, has made a timely return to the runs including a compelling duel with James Anderson in the latest round of County Championship matches. The selectors have previously talked about Matt Renshaw as well, but he scored just 118 runs in six innings for Kent earlier in the county season.

Locked in David Warner
In the mix Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns

Middle order

Kurtis Patterson should have a head start here after his maiden Test hundred against Sri Lanka. The decision around the other names could come down to how many positions the player needs to cover. Peter Handscomb, who has been called into the World Cup squad, the prolifically in-form Matthew Wade, and one-day gloveman Alex Carey could be back-up to Tim Paine; Marnus Labuschagne is an incumbent Test player and has churned out runs for Glamorgan, plus can provide some handy overs, while there may, again, been the debate about a seam-bowling allrounder. Then there's the Glenn Maxwell question. Does he have a Test future?

Locked in Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Tim Paine
In the mix Kurtis Patterson, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Peter Handscomb, Will Pucovski, Matthew Wade, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell

Pace bowlers

Who will join the big three now that Josh Hazlewood is fit again? It seems certain that James Pattinson will and be earmarked to provide a cutting edge at key times in the series. Five Tests will be too much for him and, perhaps, a number of the fast men so the reserves will be vital. Four years ago Australia made the mistake of not playing Peter Siddle before it was too late, but has his time now passed? Jackson Bird can make the Duke ball talk and can bowl long spells. The selectors would have loved to include Jhye Richardson but he is still recovering from the shoulder injury sustained in March that ruled him out of the World Cup and, as it stands, there are no plans for him to join the A squad which would appear to leave him an unlikely option. Chadd Sayers is also in the UK playing for Gloucestershire having replaced Dan Worrall who has been ruled out with a back injury.

Locked in Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson
In the mix Peter Siddle, Chris Tremain, Jackson Bird, Michael Neser, Chadd Sayers

Spinners

Being the second spinner in the squad behind Nathan Lyon would likely be a drinks-carrying role and the selectors could gamble on not picking cover although that risks the morning-of-the-game injury scenario. Jon Holland, the Victoria left-arm spinner, is with the A squad and played against Pakistan in the UAE last year. It's a worthwhile debate to have whether Holland or Steve O'Keefe is the next-best first-class spinner in Australia, but it seems like Holland or no one.

Locked in Nathan Lyon
In the mix Jon Holland

Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon watched the final 5½ innings of his team's 11-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates from the clubhouse Thursday after getting tossed following an exchange with those in the opposing dugout over their insistence on pitching up-and-in.

Maddon appeared to take exception with Pittsburgh's Jordan Lyles pitching up and in to All-Star Javier Baez in the top of the fourth inning. After a 3-2 pitch just missed hitting Baez and fouled off the knob of his bat, Maddon had to be restrained by plate umpire Joe West while appearing to make his way toward the Pirates' dugout.

Following the game, Maddon said the Pirates have a reputation around baseball for throwing pitches up and in.

"I mean, pent up frustration is one thing, but when your guys keep getting thrown at their head that's another thing too," Maddon said. "It's an industry-wide concept that we know that they are into and I have it from really good sources."

Maddon walked onto the field pointing his finger in a direction where Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was standing. West and Kris Bryant, who was on deck, teamed up to hold Maddon back while Hurdle watched from just outside the Pittsburgh dugout.

Maddon said he wasn't directing his ire toward Hurdle but didn't identify his target.

"Well [West is] concerned that I am inciting something and I wasn't even yelling at Clinton," Maddon said. "I had direction."

Lyles didn't hit a batter in the game and Hurdle pointed out that he's hit just one batter all year.

"Nobody likes the ball up and in, so I can understand there is some angst involved," Hurdle said. "There's always going to be angst involved in the game of baseball. A manager is always going to try to protect his team and share his feelings."

Lyles shook off the criticism, pointing out going inside is part of his typical game plan.

"I throw a lot of heaters up at hitters' hands," Lyles said. "And then I think it was the foul ball, which created Joe to come out. But other than that, Baez said he was good. Everything was fine. Maybe he was trying to get the boys to get a little light up in them."

The inning following Maddon's ejection, Pirates reliever Clay Holmes hit Cubs third baseman David Bote in the head with the bases loaded -- a moment that didn't surprise Maddon given what was happening all series.

"It was getting way too out of control, culminating in David getting hit in the head," Maddon said. "I have no issues with pitching inside. I'm an advocate, but when you [throw] that many pitches, not just that tonight, but it's been that way somewhat during the entire series. They have their pitching philosophy which again I appreciate outside, I don't appreciate up and in. Neither do the rest of us, they just need to be careful."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who has won 27 singles titles on the WTA Tour, is writing a column for the BBC Sport website during the championships at the All England Club.

The 29-year-old Czech, who before this week had not played since pulling out of the French Open in May with an arm injury, beat France's Kristina Mladenovic 7-5 6-2 in the second round on Thursday.

I now have some better memories of Court One at Wimbledon.

Last year, I lost to Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the first round on that court and I didn't want the same thing to happen again.

I started off a bit tired and nervous against Kristina Mladenovic, maybe because of last year, but I was happy that I was able to turn the first set around and that I kept playing well after that.

I was also reminded of some nice memories on my way to the court when I saw some photos on the wall from when I won my first Wimbledon in 2011, which I had not noticed before.

It's taken me a while to get into the third round here again. I haven't been here since 2015, which was before my 'second career' - as I call the time after the attack. I will do my best in the next match against Magda Linette, and I am just so glad to still be in the draw.

It will be a difficult match against Magda, who I beat three years ago in Montreal, and I just need to be ready and healthy. I will have another day off on Friday, where I will go to the gym but definitely not hold the racquet.

Strawberries and (a little bit of) cream

I always stay in Wimbledon village every year. I love going to the restaurants there and the shops.

I love sushi and eat a lot of it during tournaments, and I really like Italian too. If I have time, I will sometimes go for a manicure or pedicure in the village.

I rent a house rather than stay in a hotel, and I always stay in a different one. It's very nice and relaxing there; it's like staying at home. Sometimes my team have barbecues at the house in the back garden.

I have been to see Big Ben and had a walk near the London Eye.

One of the main traditions I like to do when I am here is to have strawberries and cream. And yes, I'm allowed the cream! Just a little bit, of course.

I've also been following some of the other tennis results, like Coco Gauff. She is playing very well and it's great to see someone so young going deep into the tournament.

'Matches are my way of training'

I'm a player who doesn't really need too many practice sessions at Grand Slams, especially when I've had a really big injury to my forearm that meant I didn't know if I could play here at all.

It is a good way to do it. I've done it many times in the Grand Slams, where I have days off with no hitting - I am used to it. And so I will have another day off on Friday.

For me, it's just enough to play in a match. Matches are training enough - the longer they go on, the better it is since I haven't trained as much.

When the match gets longer, I play better.

Petra Kvitova was speaking to BBC Sport's Sonia Oxley at Wimbledon.

This story appears in the July issue of Sprint Car & Midget Magazine and can be viewed at www.sprintcarandmidget.com. This story requires a print subscription to Sprint Car & Midget Magazine or online subscription to www.sprintcarandmidget.com to read.

If your last name is Kinser and you live in the vicinity of Bloomington, Ind., chances are pretty good that you’ve been around sprint car racing. Such is the case for 26-year-old Jordan Kinser.

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