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Eze hails impact of Tuchel, Arteta on his game

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Eze hails impact of Tuchel, Arteta on his game


LONDON — Eberechi Eze likened Thomas Tuchel and Mikel Arteta’s intensity levels and has hailed the impact they have had on his game.

The Arsenal forward came off the bench on Thursday to add gloss to England‘s win over Serbia with a sumptuous finish from just inside the box. It was Eze’s third goal for his country, and the second game in succession that he has scored in.

He has been a part of every England squad since Tuchel’s reign began in January and since his move to Arsenal in the summer, has become an influential member of Arteta’s side.

“Personally, I’ll just say the level of intensity of form and being steps ahead in the game, understanding the game differently,” Eze said, when asked what his two managers have added to his game.

“I feel that’s been to see things better and more clear … of course they’re going to make me a better player [from] the way I think, from way I operate.

“Both very intense, both very aware of the details, which is one of the most important things. It helps me.”

Given the depth of England’s squad, Eze has largely found himself restricted to a role from the bench. The competition for places is something he has come to embrace, and said his mentality doesn’t differ wheter he is a substitute or a starter.

“It’s honestly the same. [If] you’ve got a window of 30 minutes, you take it, it’s 90 minutes you take it. That’s my job. That’s my role. I want to come in and be as effective as I can and help the team to be be better,” he said.

When asked if he views his goal against Serbia as his big England moment, he said: “Not really. I feel like I’m just doing what I can every game. Whenever I get opportunity to score, to assist, to create. That’s what I’m trying to do and [am] enjoying that.

The competition for places is most intense in the middle of the pitch, with Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham battling for the No. 10 role. Despite his superstar status at Real Madrid, Bellingham was left on the bench against Serbia with Rogers getting the nod in the starting lineup.

The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder came on near the hour mark for a lively cameo, and played a role in Eze’s goal late on.

Who would win the 2026 World Cup if it kicked off today?
England offer glimpse of attack without Kane vs. Serbia

“You’ve got the depth of us as a team … England, at the moment, you’ve got to be playing well and Jude has been playing well for his club and it’s his first camp back since the summer and he has come on tonight and made a massive impact,” goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said.

“But I think we got credit of Morgan, I think the last few games he has stepped up. I think the manager put the trust in him even though got someone like Jude as well, Phil [Foden] on the bench.

“We’ve got a lot of options and it’s about being Team England, sticking together, having that togetherness which we’ve got and keep moving together.”



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Vinícius Jr. seals Real Madrid progress amid Benfica boos

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Vinícius Jr. seals Real Madrid progress amid Benfica boos


After being loudly booed, Vinícius Júnior danced again. This time in front of Real Madrid supporters while leading his team to the round of 16 of the Champions League, a week after accusing a Benfica opponent of racially insulting him.

The Brazilian scored in the 80th minute to clinch a 2-1 victory for the record 15-time European champions in the second leg of their playoff tie to progress 3-1 on aggregate.

Vinícius celebrated by dancing by the corner flag just like in the first leg — then in front of Benfica fans — which ignited a confrontation with the Portuguese team’s players and the accusation that Gianluca Prestianni called him a racist slur.

“I’m glad Vini dances and keeps dancing, that means he’s scoring goals,” said Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

“That’s our Vinícius,” added midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, who scored Madrid’s first goal in the 16th, a couple of minutes after Benfica had taken the lead through Rafa Silva.

Prestianni, who has denied racially insulting Vinícius and has been defended by Benfica, was provisionally suspended one match by UEFA and did not play Wednesday even though the Argentine traveled to the Spanish capital. UEFA earlier Wednesday rejected Benfica’s last-minute appeal against the provisional suspension.

Last week’s match was halted for nearly 10 minutes after the referee installed the anti-racism protocol following Vinícius’ complaint to him.

On Wednesday, Vinícius scored on a breakaway, calmly sending a low shot past the goalkeeper for his sixth goal in his past five matches for Madrid.

The more than 3,000 Benfica fans at the Bernabéu jeered nearly every time Vinícius touched the ball. They celebrated when he lost control of the ball early in the game. The Benfica supporters also booed emphatically when the name of the Brazilian player was announced in the starting lineup ahead of the match.

The boos gradually lost force as the match went on and Madrid took control of the game.

Vinícius also participated in the buildup of what would have been Madrid’s second goal, but it was disallowed for offside.

Before Wednesday’s match, Madrid fans displayed a banner saying “No To Racism.” A “respect” banner also was shown behind one of the goals at the Bernabéu.

Real Madrid said in a statement after the match it “urgently requested” the club’s disciplinary committee to open a procedure to expel a fan who was caught by television cameras performing a Nazi salute before the match.

Madrid said the supporter appeared to be part of its organized fan group behind one of the goals at the Bernabeu.

“This member was identified by the club’s security staff moments after appearing on the broadcast and was immediately expelled from the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium,” the club said. “Real Madrid condemns this type of gesture and expression that incites violence and hatred in sports and society.”

Madrid fans also jeered when Benfica central defender Nicolás Otamendi touched the ball. Otamendi, who is also Argentine, was one of the players that confronted Vinícius after the Brazilian’s celebration by the Benfica flag.

Also missing for Benfica was coach José Mourinho, the former Madrid coach who was sent off late in the first leg for complaining to the referee. Mourinho did not participate in the pregame news conference Tuesday and was expected to watch the match from the stands at the Bernabéu.

Madrid defender Raúl Asencio had to be carried off the field on a stretcher and taken to a local hospital for tests after a hard collision with teammate Eduardo Camavinga in the second half.

The central defender hit the ground hard and had to be attended to for a few minutes on the field. The medical staff immobilized him before taking him off the field.

Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa said Asencio apparently injured his neck but “it wasn’t serious.”

Madrid were already without France forward Kylian Mbappé, who missed Wednesday’s game with a knee injury.

“I hope it’s not serious, and he can come back in a few days or weeks,” Arbeloa said.

“Without Kylian, we need [Vini] even more. … He has to be our leader.”

ESPN’s Alex Kirkland and The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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T20 World Cup: India eliminate Zimbabwe to stay alive in semi-final race

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T20 World Cup: India eliminate Zimbabwe to stay alive in semi-final race


India’s Axar Patel celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Zimbabwe’s Tadiwanashe Marumani, caught out by Ishan Kishan in the ICC T20 World Cup Super Eight clash on February 26, 2025. — Reuters
  • India beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs in Super Eight clash.
  • Zimbabwe scored 184/6 while chasing 257-run target.
  • Hardik Pandya bags Player of the Match award.

Blistering fifties from Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya, complemented by a clinical bowling performance, steered India to a dominant 72-run triumph over Zimbabwe in their crucial Super Eights encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday.

The victory marked India’s first win in the Super Eights stage and kept them in contention to qualify for the semi-finals.

Furthermore, the outcome of the crucial Group 1 fixture also marked Zimbabwe’s exit, confirming South Africa’s qualification into the knockouts.

Consequently, India’s remaining Super Eights match, scheduled to be played against West Indies in Kolkata on Sunday, has now become a virtual quarter-final as both teams have two points in as many games.

Set to chase a daunting 257-run target, the Chevrons’ batting unit could accumulate 184/6 in their 20 overs despite Brian Bennett’s unbeaten half-century.

The right-handed opener waged a lone battle for Zimbabwe against the home side, top-scoring with 97 not out from just 59 deliveries, featuring eight fours and six sixes.

He also shared crucial partnerships with fellow opener Tadiwanashe Marumani and skipper Sikandar Raza, who remained the other notable run-getters for Zimbabwe, scoring 20 and 31, respectively.

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was the standout bowler for India as he took three wickets for 24 runs in his four overs, while Varun Chakravarthy, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel chipped in with one apiece.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza’s decision to field first backfired as his team’s bowling unit conceded 256/4 in their 20 overs.

The home side got off to a decent start to their innings as their new opening pair of Sanju Samson and Sharma put together 48 runs at a blazing pace until Blessing Muzarabani got rid of the former in the fourth over.

Samson, who played his second match of the tournament, made a 15-ball 24, laced with two sixes and a four.

Following his dismissal, Sharma was joined by in-form top-order batter Ishan Kishan in the middle, and the duo further strengthened India’s command by knitting a 72-run partnership.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza eventually broke the threatening partnership in the 11th over by dismissing Kishan, who walked back after scoring 38 off 24 deliveries with the help of four fours and a six.

Sharma was then involved in a brief 30-run partnership with captain Suryakumar Yadav until eventually falling victim to Tinotenda Maposa in the 13th over.

The left-handed opener, who registered ducks in each of his first three T20 World Cup 2026 matches, remained the top-scorer for India with a 30-ball 55, studded with four sixes and as many fours.

Yadav followed suit 11 balls later and walked back after a blazing 33-run cameo, which came off just 13 deliveries, and featured five boundaries, including three sixes.

Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya then ensured an equally dominant finish with the bat for India as they raised an unbeaten 84-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Pandya was the core aggressor of the quickfire stand and made an unbeaten 50 off just 23 deliveries, smashing four sixes and two fours.

Varma, on the other hand, was equally impressive, scoring a 16-ball 44 not out, comprising four sixes and three fours.

For Zimbabwe, Richard Ngarava, Maposa, Muzarabani and skipper Raza could pick up a wicket apiece.





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Third victim dies from injuries in Rhode Island rink shooting

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Third victim dies from injuries in Rhode Island rink shooting


PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A deadly shooting during a youth hockey game in Rhode Island last week claimed a third victim, a grandfather whose daughter and grandson were also killed in the attack, authorities said Wednesday.

Gerald Dorgan, who had been in critical condition, died from his injuries, according to Pawtucket police.

Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien said he was heartbroken that another person had died because of the shooting.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victim’s family, friends, and all those impacted by this tragic act of violence,” he said in a statement.

Dorgan’s daughter, Rhonda Dorgan, and grandson, Aidan Dorgan, were also killed in the shooting.

Police identified the shooter as Robert Dorgan, 56, who died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Dorgan also went by the names Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano, authorities said. Robert Dorgan’s ex-wife was Rhonda Dorgan and adult son was Aidan Dorgan.

Officials have said the shooter was specifically targeting family members.

Rhonda Dorgan’s mother, Linda Dorgan, and a family friend, Thomas Geruso, were wounded.

Law enforcement have credited several people who intervened and quickly stopped the attack. At least three bystanders were able to contain the shooter in the middle of the stands as the crowd fled and ran around them.



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