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Italy on brink of Nations League quarters with win
Italy defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo scored twice in a 4-1 home win over Israel in the Nations League on Monday as Luciano Spalletti's side put one foot in the quarterfinals.
The win kept Italy top of League A Group Two with 10 points, one ahead of France who beat third-placed Belgium 2-1. Italy need at least one point from their two remaining group games to guarantee a place in the next round.
Striker Mateo Retegui broke the deadlock by firing a penalty into the top corner in the 41st minute while after the break Di Lorenzo headed the second from Giacomo Raspadori's free kick.
Mohammed Abu Fani pulled a goal back for Israel in the 66th direct from a corner before Federico Dimarco set up Davide Frattesi for Italy's third and Di Lorenzo sealed the win with a low shot from the edge of the box.
"They were good in terms of team attitude in the first half, we surprised them a few times with Di Lorenzo's ball to Retegui," Spalletti told a press conference.
"The spaces were narrow... but the fact that we were in front of the goalkeeper so many times is a sign that the boys played a great game."
There were snipers on the roof of the stadium and a heavy police presence throughout the city of Udine for the match as Israel played outside neutral Hungary for the first time this year due to the country's ongoing war with Hamas.
Udine was on high alert, with the game being played against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East which has spread to Lebanon after more than a year-long war in Gaza.
In the end, both the game -- and an earlier pro-Palestine demonstration -- passed without incident.
Italy dominated possession from the start but Israel managed a good chance early on through Oscar Gloukh, who struck just wide from the edge of the box before visiting goalkeeper Omri Glazer did well to block Retegui from close range.
Glazer showed off his skills again soon after, denying Retegui once more, before the striker eventually got his name on the scoresheet after Italy were awarded a penalty for Dor Peretz's foul on Sandro Tonali before the break.
Di Lorenzo doubled the lead for the hosts in the 54th minute, netting Giacomo Raspadori's free kick with a header that bounced in front of the goalkeeper and went inside the right post.
Israel pulled a goal back against the run of play, given after a VAR check.
But Italy only grew in confidence and Frattesi made it 3-1 in the 72nd minute with a low first-time finish, before Di Lorenzo wrapped up the points seven minutes later.
Since netting for Italy in September 2021 against Lithuania, Di Lorenzo has scored five goals for his country while defensive colleague Dimarco has three.
Israel, who were promoted to the top-tier League A in the previous edition, are bottom of the group standings without a point.
"You can see Spalletti's hand on this team and when they play like they did tonight it becomes really difficult for the opponents," said Israel coach Ran Ben Shimon.
Italy, who squandered a two-goal lead in a draw against the Belgians last week, next travel to face Domenico Tedesco's side again in November before their final home fixture against France.
Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this story.
Hope, grit, resolve: emotions overflow amid New Zealand's revival
Amelia, an icon not just for her all-round exploits but for her openness about mental health battles that have triggered winds of change within the system, had her arms aloft and eyes closed to soak in the moment before sister Jessica gave her a hug.
Izzy Gaze, among the youngest in the group and in her first World Cup, was so overjoyed she wasn't sure whether to run to the dugout first or to meet her family who were in the stands. For fast bowler Lea Tahuhu, it was a call, possibly back home to her partner, former New Zealand batter Amy Satterthwaite, who took a step back post her retirement to be there for their kids, one of them barely four months old.
For Georgia Plimmer, it meant so much that the first person she turned to was Devine. Plimmer had averaged 9.11 in her first 18 T20Is and was only marginally better - averaging 13.80 - in her first nine ODIs up until last November. Devine and New Zealand coach Ben Sawyer's backed her through this.
The belief's huge at the moment, so we will celebrate tonight and enjoy that and spend some quality time together as a group. But yeah, we know that the job's only half done now
Sophie Devine
Plimmer's recent performances - she hit her maiden T20I fifty on the tour of Australia just before the World Cup - have somewhat justified Devine's decision to bat lower down, not because she likes it, but because it's what New Zealand need looking at the future, especially when Devine and Bates retire.
It's these stories, of hope, grit, resolve and an unwavering never-say-die spirit that remained intact all through their 10-match losing streak coming into the tournament, that came together at that huddle which Devine wanted everyone to join in.
It was an exhibition of a leadership trait Devine has imbibed on the long road towards building the future, while allowing her younger players an environment to flourish even if results were as abysmal as they were. Those results are now beginning to show.
Last year in South Africa, Devine sat through a press conference asking questions about New Zealand's decline and their inability to cross the group stages. Here in the UAE, the mood at the end of the group stage wasn't as sombre. There were tears; these were happy tears.
Devine was swelled with emotions of a "proud mum", not necessarily the "cool mum they want me to be," for defying expectations and trying conditions to make that step up when "no one expected us to be here."
In a way, the journey of 18 months hasn't just been a journey in team building but one of constant readjustment for Devine. A readjustment of methods, mindsets, mental make-up and also player-management - essentially an "all-in-one" role with support from the team management.
"When I stepped into the leadership and captaincy role I thought I could be everything to everyone and it's just not possible," she said. "And the great thing is with our leadership group is that we've got people that connect stronger with certain people and that's natural when you're in groups.
"So, for me to be able to lean on those people if I need them to check on someone or to have a conversation, to be able to lean on them if I feel like I'm not the best person to do that. That's probably been one of my biggest learnings, because I want to fix things and I want to help people and I want to make sure everyone's okay, but I'm also not that person for everyone."
This is where Devine underlined how important her core group has been, of which Bates and Amelia have been an integral part. "I feel really fortunate that I've got that support around me," she said. "It's not managing people, it's just relationships and caring about people.
"That's one of our greatest values in this White Ferns group; we speak a lot about caring for one another as people before cricketers and I hope that you can see that out there with the way that we celebrate one another's successes.
"We genuinely just love each other and love seeing each other succeed which makes it so much sweeter when you get results like you do tonight. The belief's huge at the moment, so we will celebrate tonight and enjoy that and spend some quality time together as a group. But yeah, we know that the job's only half done now."
Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
Sirianni apologizes for yelling at Eagles boo-birds
PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles coach Nick Sirianni apologized for his interaction with a group of fans at the end of Sunday's home game against the Cleveland Browns.
"I was trying to bring energy and enthusiasm yesterday, and I'm sorry and disappointed at how my energy was directed at the end of the game," he said during his videoconference with reporters Monday. "My energy should be all-in on coaching, motivating and celebrating with our guys. And I've got to have better wisdom and discernment of when to use that energy and that wasn't the time."
As the Eagles secured a 20-16 win over Cleveland, Sirianni was seen on camera yelling and gesturing toward fans in the section behind the team's sideline. At one point he put his finger up to his ear, seeming to suggest he had silenced their chirping with a victory.
Boos rained down for parts of the game as the offense sputtered at times and the talent-rich Eagles struggled to separate from the now 1-5 Browns. Though not overwhelming, there were some sections of the crowd that started "Fire Nick" chants during a couple of down moments for Philadelphia.
Sirianni, wearing a wry smile and offering a wink, said he was "just excited to get the win" in explaining his interaction with the fans postgame. He praised the crowd for being loud and inducing a couple of Cleveland false-start penalties.
But when asked about the jeering the Eagles received in their home stadium, Sirianni acknowledged they could do without the negativity.
"We thrive off the crowd when they cheer for us. That's all I'll say," Sirianni said Sunday. "We hear them when they boo. We don't necessarily like it. I don't think that's productive for anybody. But when they cheer for us and when we've got them rolling, we love it."
Sirianni has been a subject of criticism after last season's collapse, when an Eagles team that started 10-1 skidded to a 1-6 finish.
The on-field product this season has left something to be desired. The offense has been a point of frustration given the level of talent -- the group boasts one of the best offensive lines in football and features A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley at the skill positions -- versus the results to this point. Since scoring 34 points in the opener against the Green Bay Packers, the Eagles have averaged 18 points in the four games since.
Sirianni was by far the most demonstrative he has been on the sideline this season. He jawed with multiple Browns defensive backs, including corner Greg Newsome II, and grew animated with referees on multiple occasions.
Before Sunday, he had toned down his behavior, cognizant that going after the officials, in particular, can send the wrong message to his players.
Sirianni revealed that the return of his fiery demeanor was at the behest of some of his players, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, who encouraged Sirianni to be himself.
Asked about finding the happy medium, Sirianni said "you want to be passionate and have that energy" but it needs to be channeled in the right way and at the right time. Directing it toward the home fans after a win clearly didn't meet the mark, Sirianni said.
"We have the best fans in the world," he said Monday. "There's no place like this."
McCarthy: Cowboys 'relish' chance to bounce back
FRISCO, Texas -- A day after the most decisive home loss since 1988, Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy attempted to take a big picture view.
The Cowboys suffered the fourth largest home loss in franchise history in Sunday's 47-9 defeat against the Detroit Lions to fall to 3-3 overall. The decisiveness of the loss and how poorly the Cowboys played could be enough to affect the mental state of the team, but McCarthy still believes in the roster.
"At the end of the day if we totally don't believe it's about us, it'll always be about us and play to who we are, what we do, how we do it, then we're not going to get to where we want to go," McCarthy said. "And I believe we will. I think this is an opportunity that we relish. I know I relish it. And I think they do too.
"So this is a place that a lot of good can come out of it. Been here before. And I think this is a really good opportunity for our leadership. I think it's an excellent opportunity for our young guys to continue to play. It's an excellent opportunity for those guys to build off some of the things they have done well. Because this will pay forward. In my experience it always has. When you play young players this much and play this many different players this much, I think the long game definitely has a chance to be very bright."
This is the fourth time a McCarthy-coached team has started a season with a 3-3 record, and it's his first time with the Cowboys. The Green Bay Packers were 3-3 in 2010 when they ended up winning the Super Bowl. The 2012 Packers made it to the divisional round of the postseason, while the 2008 team missed the playoffs.
The Cowboys play the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 27 and could see the return of defensive end Micah Parsons (ankle), linebacker Eric Kendricks (shoulder) and cornerback DaRon Bland (foot).
McCarthy's Monday news conference was nearly two hours later than it was scheduled because meetings went longer than expected.
"When you have a chance to step back and really look at everything, I think it's important for all of us, it's part of the message to the team, I gave them a number of questions today as far as things to think about and make sure that they are reflecting, make sure they are looking in the mirror and just make sure you're filling in the blanks," McCarthy said. "Because why are we on this ebb and flow? Why do we perform seven days ago the way we performed at 1 o'clock in the morning [against the Pittsburgh Steelers] and then come home and perform the way we did? So those are the kinds of things we've got to work, focus on."
While this isn't the worst start to McCarthy's tenure with the Cowboys -- they were 2-4 in 2020, his first year, on the way to a 6-10 finish -- the 38-point margin was the largest defeat since he took over in Dallas. The previous worst was a 38-10 defeat against the Arizona Cardinals in 2020, but it marked the second double-digit loss at home in three games this season, having lost to the New Orleans Saints 44-16 in Week 16.
After the game, Jerry Jones was asked about a potential coaching change and the owner and general manager said he was not considering it. McCarthy, who has a 45-28 record and has taken the Cowboys to the playoffs the past three seasons, is in the final year of his contract.
"I think it's just part of the business," McCarthy said when asked how he tunes out the noise regarding his job security. "When people ask me about really anything with the team, part of working here, it's part of the business."
After the game, quarterback Dak Prescott backed McCarthy, which the coach appreciated.
"I think it shows how he feels and I think it speaks to our relationship," McCarthy said. "But yeah, I mean, support is a nice thing."
Bills RB Cook ruled out vs. Jets with toe injury
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is inactive for Monday night's game against the New York Jets with a toe injury suffered in last week's loss to the Houston Texans.
Cook was a limited participant in Saturday's practice, after not participating earlier in the week, and was listed with a questionable designation going into the game.
"It's getting better. Just improving every day," Cook said after Saturday's practice. "Trying to get it back stronger, and go out there and help the team, like I said, I'm just taking it day by day, treatment, see what, how I feel on Monday."
Without Cook available, the team has elevated rookie running back Frank Gore Jr. from the practice squad. This will be his first career game action. Running backs Ty Johnson and rookie Ray Davis are expected to take on a significant load in Cook's absence.
The Bills are looking avoid a three-game losing streak for the first time since 2018. While Cook is out along with defensive tackle Ed Oliver (hamstring), wide receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle), nickel cornerback Taron Johnson and defensive tackle Austin Johnson are all active after being designated as questionable. This will be Taron Johnson's first game since Week 1.
The Sacramento Kings are trading forward Jalen McDaniels, their 2031 second-round pick and cash considerations to the San Antonio Spurs, sources told ESPN on Monday.
The Spurs will waive McDaniels, sources said, and Sacramento now has roster flexibility for a potential move down the line. The Kings will receive a 2025 top-55 protected second-round pick via Chicago from the Spurs in the deal, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.
The Kings acquired McDaniels from the Toronto Raptors in June in exchange for Davion Mitchell, Sasha Vezenkov and a 2025 second-round pick via the Portland Trail Blazers.
McDaniels is in the second year of a two-year, $9.2 million deal he signed with the Raptors in the 2023 offseason.
McDaniels, 26, has averaged 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds over his five NBA seasons. He averaged 10.1 minutes and 3.4 points in 50 games for the Raptors last season.
Sources: Kings' Fox bypasses extension, eyes '25
Sacramento Kings star De'Aaron Fox is bypassing a three-year, $165 million maximum extension this year as he and his representative, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, position the All-Star point guard for a larger deal in the 2025 offseason, sources told ESPN on Monday.
Fox, slated to be a free agent in 2026, has been eligible to sign the three-year deal before the start of the regular season. By waiting for next summer, Fox would open up the possibility of a four-year, $229 million maximum extension with the Kings -- or a five-year, $345 million supermax deal should he be named to an All-NBA team.
Fox has made clear publicly and privately that he wants to be a significant part of the future in Sacramento. Kings owner Vivek Ranadive and franchise officials have worked closely with Fox and other key players on major decisions this offseason, including the acquisition of All-Star DeMar DeRozan.
Fox, 26, averaged a career-high 26.6 points last season and ranked second in total points in the fourth quarter, behind only new teammate DeRozan. Fox is set to make nearly $35 million this season and $37 million next season under his current deal.
The Kings open their regular season at home Oct. 24 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
LeBron has 'no idea' if he, Steph will pair up again
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- After facing off against one another for years in the NBA Finals, LeBron James and Stephen Curry teamed up for a common goal this summer -- winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics for Team USA. The question is, will they ever be teammates again?
"I have no idea," James said Monday.
The league's all-time leading scorer was asked about the all-time leader in 3-pointers ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers' and Golden State Warriors' two preseason games this week -- Tuesday in Las Vegas and Friday in San Francisco.
While James didn't pour cold water on the idea, the chances of them pairing together on an NBA court -- other than the All-Star Game -- are remote. In February, the 39-year-old James said he hoped to finish his career with the Lakers. Since then, both he and the organization further pledged their commitment to one another, with L.A. drafting James' son, Bronny James, and LeBron inking a two-year, $104 million contract extension.
The 36-year-old Curry, meanwhile, signed a one-year contract extension for $62.6 million in August that will keep him in Golden State through the 2026-27 season -- which will be his 18th in the league, all with the same franchise.
"I've always said I want to be a Warrior for life," Curry told Andscape in July. "At this stage in my career, I feel like that's possible."
The Warriors inquired about trading for James leading up to the trade deadline last season, sources told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, however nothing materialized after Lakers governor Jeanie Buss directed Golden State to speak with James' longtime agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. So in all likelihood, James and Curry -- who played 22 Finals games against one another over a four-year span from 2015 to 2018 -- might only have that 11-0 run together with Team USA this summer to cherish as teammates.
"It was everything and more," James said. "I was super excited to be able to finally team up with him in a win-or-die type atmosphere. That's what it was, being a part of the Olympics. It was everything that I dreamed of and aspired to want to be a part of that team, along with Steph. Great memories. Something that I'll remember from my basketball career for the rest of my life, for sure."
The memories of James' triple-double and second-half defense on Nikola Jokic in the semifinals against Serbia and Curry's flurries of 3s to close out France in the title game are fresher than their clashes with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Warriors -- or even in subsequent years between L.A. and Golden State in the postseason.
"I understand what Steph has done for this game," James said. "I understand what he's done for his organization, what he's done for the community, people all over the world. Just by his approach to the game and how he is as a man. How he is as a family man. How he is as a husband, a dad, a son, all that stuff.
"So when you have that type of respect for somebody and then you get to be around them every day and you see the way they work and how they treat their craft, it's a pretty cool thing. You're able to just respect that and not take it for granted."
While James was happy to discuss Curry, he was less keen on answering a question about how training camp is going for Bronny -- specifically all the attention he has generated despite totaling just 2 points and 5 turnovers in 35 minutes in the preseason so far.
"You got to ask him," LeBron James said after practice Monday. "That's a grown man. Ask him how he's handling it. And then we go from there. But he's a grown man. He's a professional. He can handle all this pressure himself. But we know why -- good or bad why -- the attention is here."
Mets' Nimmo dealing with plantar fasciitis, will play
New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo intends to keep playing in the National League Championship Series, despite dealing with painful plantar fasciitis, he told The Athletic.
Nimmo told the outlet he has had the condition in his left foot since May, and it flared up again in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The pain is the worst when he runs, and he is less affected when at bat or playing defense, Nimmo said.
"I think when I really need it, I'm probably not 100 percent, but I can get going pretty good," he said of his ability to run. "But it's uncomfortable."
Nimmo said the injury needs time to heal -- time he doesn't have with the Mets down 1-0 in the best-of-seven series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. For now, stretching, painkillers and anti-inflammatories are getting him through.
And he plans to keep playing.
"It's the NLCS," he told The Athletic. "You do whatever you can in order to get out there and help in any way you can."
Nimmo, 31, was a key contributor for New York in the regular season, despite a .224 batting average. In 151 games, he hit 23 homers with 90 RBIs and 15 stolen bases -- both career highs.
In his ninth season with the Mets, he has appeared in 911 games and has a .261 average with 110 homers and 371 RBIs.
This postseason, he is hitting .241 (7-for-29) with one home run and four RBIs.
Dodgers' Kershaw to return in '25, 'give it a go'
LOS ANGELES -- Injured Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw plans to return for another season in 2025, he said Monday.
"I had some tough luck with my toe this year, but I want to make use of this surgery," Kershaw told Fox before Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets. "I don't want to have surgery and then shut it down. So I'm going to come back next year and give it a go. See how it goes.
"My shoulder and elbow, everything, my arm feels great."
The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner and former NL MVP will not appear for the Dodgers this postseason because of troublesome bone spurs in his left big toe. Kershaw, a 10-time All-Star, appeared in only seven games during the regular season, going 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA after undergoing shoulder surgery after the 2023 season.
The surgery delayed Kershaw's 2024 debut until July 25 and played a key role in his decision to return for an 18th season.
Kershaw, who turns 37 in March, ranks second on the Dodgers' all-time wins list with 212 and is the club's all-time leader with 2,968 strikeouts -- just 32 shy of 3,000.
His contract includes a player option for 2025 at a base value of $5 million and includes a number of incentives that, if achieved, could net Kershaw as much as an additional $20 million.