New Zealand's left-arm spinning all-rounder, Mitchell Santner, has not only excelled in his role as a player, but also as the captain of the Black Caps in the ongoing Champions Trophy. With seven wickets already in the tournament, Santner is tied for the second-highest wicket-taker as a captain in the tournament's history. In the upcoming final against India, Santner has the opportunity to not only break the world record but also lead his team to victory in an ICC final, a feat that very few Kiwi captains have achieved.
In an intense qualifying session for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, McLaren driver Lando Norris edged out Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli by 0.174 seconds to take pole position. This denied Antonelli his first ever pole position in F1, after he previously set a record as the youngest ever polesitter at the Miami Sprint. Antonelli will start in second place for the race, with Norris expected to be a strong contender for the win.
On a crucial day in the F1 title race, Lando Norris secured pole position in a dramatic qualifying session while his biggest challengers, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen, struggled. With a nine-point lead in the championship, Norris has a chance to increase his gap even more over fellow title contenders as Verstappen could only qualify in 16th due to pure pace for the first time in his career. With the possibility of a repeat of his amazing comeback win at Interlagos in 2024, Verstappen will have to put on another incredible performance to keep his title hopes alive.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen endured a shock Q1 exit during qualifying for the 2025 F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, marking his first time being knocked out in the first session in over four years. His teammate Yuki Tsunoda also failed to progress, highlighting Red Bull's struggles at the Interlagos circuit. Verstappen cited lack of grip and compromised setup as the reasons for his poor performance, with both drivers recording uncharacteristically slow lap times. This is the first time since 2006 that both Red Bull drivers have failed to make it past Q1.
In an intense match, Arsenal and Sunderland ended in a 2-2 draw after a late error from the Gunners. Despite putting up a strong fight, Arsenal couldn't hold on to their lead as Sunderland's Brian Brobbey scored an equalizer in extra time. Let's take a look at how each player performed on the pitch, with goalkeeper David Raya receiving a 7 for several stunning saves.
In a nail-biting sprint race at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Lando Norris solidified his hold on the Formula One World Championship with a win, extending his lead over teammate Oscar Piastri and rival Max Verstappen. The race was filled with twists and turns, including slippery conditions that caused Piastri to crash out and a late crash from Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto. Despite intense pressure from Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, Norris managed to secure his third sprint victory of the season and maintain his top spot in the standings.
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has been reminiscing about his former teammate, Bukayo Saka, ahead of their Premier League clash against Sunderland. The Swiss international, who played a key role in laying the foundations for the current Arsenal team, recalls being impressed by the then-15-year-old during a pre-season tour in the United States. Xhaka also credits Saka for helping him improve as a coach, highlighting the importance of having a strong academy in a team.
Max Verstappen experienced a tough race at Interlagos on Saturday, finishing fourth in the São Paulo Grand Prix Sprint and feeling like he was stuck in "no man's land" for most of the race. The Red Bull driver was unable to catch up to the leaders and could only cross the finish line 4.4 seconds behind race winner Lando Norris. He expressed his disappointment with the team's current form and hopes for improvements in the upcoming races. With this result, Verstappen remains third in the drivers' championship but trails 39 points behind Norris. However, he is determined to make a comeback in the next race after finding some solutions overnight.
Manchester United's injury woes continue to mount as Benjamin Sesko, their highly-touted summer signing, was taken off with a suspected knee injury in their dramatic 2-2 draw with Tottenham. Manager Ruben Amorim expressed concern over the injury, acknowledging the impact it may have on the team. He also discussed Sesko's struggles to adapt to the pressure and expectations at the club. As the team and fans await results of the tests, the question remains - how much of a blow will Sesko's injury be for the Red Devils?
In an uneventful match, Manchester United struggle to find their footing against a fired up Tottenham team. Despite a slow start by United, they manage to hold off their opponents and avoid defeat, proving that they may have finally turned a corner with their new coach, Amorim. Fans eagerly await to see if United can continue their solid performance in the coming games.
Matthijs de Ligt, defender for Manchester United, expressed his admiration for the team's "fire in the belly" after earning a draw against Tottenham Hotspur. De Ligt acknowledges the parallels to last week's match against Nottingham Forest, with both games ending in a 2-2 draw after a late equalizer for the opposition. While it wasn't a perfect performance, De Ligt believes the Reds were deserving of more and is pleased with the point earned from the tough match.