Monzanator

Looks like some politicians forced those comments back but let's be honest, there is no global wave of boycott coming. Ukraine played their hand and nobody will sacrifice their participation for any political gains because there are none to be gained. Moreover it's Ukraine who is reliant on outside help when it comes to military aid and this will still be the case in 2024. So they're in no position for an emotional blackmail when it comes to sport right now. Let's see if the looming war in Niger changes some of the details but I don't expect EU & USA to help the democracy over there whatsoever. If Wagner group gets involved, it's just another Russian hybrid war scenario where the military aid would be spend on other African countries planning to intervene and revoke the coup.

Day 1 in Cincinnati and we are on the second rain delay already. This tournament also looks to be a joke in the making. And it's a joined ATP/WTA event so the schedule will be a bigger problem.

Ukrainian sports minister came out and said Ukraine will be ready to participate in 2024 SOG even if Russians & Belarussians are there. No surprise. I said this few months ago when the topic first surfaced. Nobody is going to boycott the Games anymore, the 1980 and 1984 lessons have been learned. Boycotting the Games for political reasons has been proven to be worthless and only hurt the sporting legacy. https://english.nv.ua/life/ukraine-is-ready-to-participate-in-2024-olympics-even-if-russian-and-belarusian-athletes-are-admitte-50346149.html

WTA 1000 in Montreal has been a complete dumpster fire. Due to rain delays Liudmila Samsonova had to play SF and Final on the same day and has nothing for the latter winning only one game vs Jessica Pegula. Moreover Elena Rybakina picked up a shoulder injury and has blasted WTA leadership which is led by the Alpha Clown himself Steve Simon. This was probably the worst "big" tournament of the season and it doesn't have much competition for that award. https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/1801856/Elena-Rybakina-WTA-Canadian-US-Open

[hide] Knockout Stage August 5th - August 20th 2023 4 Nations, The Winners of each Semifinal will qualify for the Final. The Losers of each Semifinal will play the Third-Place Match. Semifinals Date & Time (GMT +10-12) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 August 15th 2023, h. 20:00 Spain 2 1 Sweden August 16th 2023, h. 20:00 Australia 0 1 England [/hide]

Kasatkina's matches usually turn into some lenghty shitfests and that's primarily because of her junk 2nd serve - pretty much the worst in Top 50 ranking. Meanwhile gets revenge over as Camila Osorio takes down Katie Boulter in Cincinnati Q1

So much for the "new Usain Bolt"

@heywoodu@LDOGThe situation has happened with one host tournaments and fewer teams as well, most notably during 1994 World Cup when Brazil & Sweden played in group stage and later the semi-finals.

wins 2-1 after extra time. Very much deserved but their striking has to improve if they want to reach the final. did nothing for 90 mins except a voided penalty call and the vd Gragt strike that forced extra time. Beerensteyn rallies is all they had and that was very predictable.

Spain back in the lead in extra time!

Van der Gragt goes all Miedema and scores in 91st minute

86 minutes and Pays Bas have their first shot on goal. Straight at the keeper

Clear handball from van der Gragt right at the box line but VAR still had to bail Frappart out. Caldentey scores the penalty off the post in 81st minute!

Stupid shove from Paredes in the box, Frappart gives the penalty but VAR calls her to check it and she takes it back. That looked like a clear shove though and Paredes got away with one.

Spain scores but it's offside on VAR. Netherlands ride their luck again...

Spain hit the post twice in three seconds. Redondo really should have scored there

Kamila Żuk suffered a fall in training and will be out several weeks with what looks like a cracked tibia.

If Poland only wins one combined medal in the hammer that will be quite a let down Worse still, that could be the only event where we actually win some medals

You come from a country where there isn't any national governing body to a large degree (the closest to being one is NCAA). Majority of most popular US sports are run by billionaire owners and most popular Olympic sports are focused on the so-called stars that pull the rest of the team & even the entire sport. The same way CFB football brings revenue for college volleyball, lacrosse or whatever other sports are played on campus. You clearly don't understand that in most countries even the most popular sports are short on funds and rely on government support. Poland's biggest athletics star of the last decade is Anita Włodarczyk and pictured below is her club stadium where she started - ruins dating to mid 60s. Could you imagine Oregon, USC or Ohio State producing world class athletes on such junkyards? Of course not but I don't blame you that you live in US sporting bubble and don't realize how much other countries are struggling with sports like athletics which is globally important but also dominated by a few selected countries that take majority of the shares.

Lauren James has been given a 2-match ban for red card so she will also miss the SF if England get there. Quarterfinals start tonight with Spain vs Netherlands being the first at 3:00 am CET (obviously this early since this is the USA group winner slot).

But those athletes could easily be banned by national committes if they refuse to represent their countries and I can't see how WA or any governing body would side with some individuals (no matter how successful they are) over national sporting bodies when it comes to global or continental championships.

Meanwhile in Carabao Cup - Bradford vs Accrington Stanley PSO...

@hckošiceI'm still shocked Slovakia doesn't try to follow through on the men's throwing events especially the hammer? It's the lowest hanging fruit since USA, Caribbean and Africa are non-factors almost by default for decades here.

There'a a plot twist in Adrianna Sułek missing the World Championships. Turns out she is pregnant

Wozniacki beat Birrell 6-2 6-2 so the score was more or less what would be expected before Wozniacki's 3.5 year retirement