The CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals second leg on Thursday morning for fans in India will bring Lionel Messi-led team Inter Mia against Mexican side Monterrey at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Mexico.
Inter Miami will try to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg when they play Monterrey for a spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals.
“Leo’s presence transcends any situation, people love football, and we knew something like this could happen,” Miami coach Gerardo Martino said. “This is what happens when you have the best player in the world.”
Hundreds of Mexican fans began gathering early Tuesday morning outside Miami’s team hotel in San Pedro Garza, a high-end neighborhood in Monterrey.
Arguably the biggest match this Tuesday is a London derby between rivals West Ham and Tottenham at the London Stadium.
Both teams are still in the fight for a spot in Europe next season, with Spurs eyeing a return to the Champions League for the first time under Ange Postecoglou.
The Hammers are hoping to secure their third Premier League double over Tottenham, having done so in the 1998-99 and 2013-14 campaigns.
Current Form
West Ham’s current form
Tottenham’s current form
Spurs have earned a huge 22 points from losing positions in 2023-24, which is three short of a club record in a Premier League season. They achieved the feat at the weekend again as they came back from behind to defeat Luton 2-1, with Heung-min Son scoring in the 86th minute.
Prior to Saturday, Tottenham suffered a surprising 3-0 away defeat at Fulham.
West Ham’s recent form has been up and down as they have won two out of their last five, with none of those wins coming in the last three.
Morale will certainly be downbeat after they surrendered a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 against Newcastle.
Team News
Alphonse Areola was taken off injured in the loss against Newcastle and he has been ruled out of this one with a groin problem, so Lukasz Fabianski will start in goal. Edson Alvarez remains unavailable due to suspension.
Fraser Forster, Ryan Sessegnon and Manor Solomon are the only Spurs absentees.
Scoreline Prediction
There has been inconsistency from both teams recently but Spurs should have enough to overcome a West Ham side in a likely high-scoring game.
The 54 goals they have conceded in the current campaign is only one fewer than they did in the whole of last season.
West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
For all of the analysis of the match as it happens live, check out our Preview and Live Update page for the game.
FAQs
What time does the match start? The match kicks off at 20:15 on the 2nd of April, 2024.
What was the score the last time West Ham played Tottenham? At the start of December, West Ham defeated Spurs 2-1 away thanks to goals from Jarrod Bowen and James Ward-Prowse.
What is West Ham’s next match? After Spurs, West Ham face Wolves.
What is Tottenham’s next match? After West Ham, Spurs face Nottingham Forest.
Who is West Ham’s top scorer? Jarrod Bowen has scored 15 Premier League goals this season.
Who is Tottenham’s top scorer? Heung-min Son has scored 15 Premier League goals this season.
Four-star Shreveport (La.) Captain Shreve safety Tre Fuller is back to health after suffering an injury that held him to playing just seven games as a junior. Fuller is back in the swing of things,…
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Gareth Southgate is hopeful that Chelsea right-back Reece James will have a chance to prove his fitness ahead of Euro 2024.
The England boss has refused to rule out James, who has remained out of action since sustaining a hamstring injury against Everton back in December.
After undergoing surgery, James is now in recovery but is yet to return to training with the Blues.
The race against time is now on for the 24-year-old, who hopes to earn his spot in the England squad and travel to Germany in June.
Despite his lack of game time, Southgate is eager to remain hopeful around James. When asked if he was out of contention for the tournament, Southgate said: “No, we don’t have an exact date for him coming back but we would hope he would have some games before the Euros.
Southgate will soon need to pick his squad for Euro 2024 / Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/GettyImages
“Could he play seven games in the Euros? His record over the last few years would suggest no. But is he a top level player who could provide something important, no question.
“So yeah again he is another one who the first step is get back into training, get back into the team and build that physical resistance as quickly as possible.”
James’ surgeon, Dr Lasse Lempainen, told The Telegraph that he would be back in shape before the European championship. However, club boss Mauricio Pochettino has been reluctant to put a date on his return.
With friendlies on the cards against both Brazil and Belgium, all eyes will now be on Southgate as he looks to cement his final choices ahead of the Euro 2024.
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Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior WriterMar 4, 2024, 04:35 PM ET
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Jeff Legwold is a senior writer who covers the Denver Broncos and the NFL at ESPN. Jeff has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years, joining ESPN in 2013. He also assists with NFL draft coverage, including his annual top 100 prospects. Jeff has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999. He has attended every scouting combine since 1987.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos have, time and again, tried to find the answer to the question they still have at quarterback after the financially painful decision to release Russell Wilson on Monday after two seasons.
Since Peyton Manning hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl 50 on the way to retirement, the Broncos have seen every move they’ve made to replace him shatter postseason dreams into tiny pieces.
They’ve used a first-round pick — Paxton Lynch — they’ve used Day 2 picks (Brock Osweiler and Drew Lock) and they’ve used a late-round pick (Trevor Siemian). They’ve signed veteran free agents in the hope to squeeze out a little more, such as Case Keenum, Joe Flacco and Teddy Bridgewater.
They’ve had injury replacements in Brandon Allen, Jeff Driskel and Brett Rypien.
And they made the all-in, this-time-we-really-mean-it move to trade for Wilson. The Broncos bet draft picks — five in all, including two first-round and two second-round picks — and they bet cash in the five-year, $242.6 million contract.
They bet their salary cap health, their playbook and at least some of the future. And they lost.
Again.
Consider that Siemian, with 13 wins in his time as the Broncos starter, leads the group in that category.
The Broncos are on a list of only five NFL teams that have been to at least eight Super Bowls. Hall of Fame owner Pat Bowlen saw his team have more appearances in the title game than it had losing seasons over his three-decade run at the top of the league flowchart.
But the Broncos aren’t that team anymore. Instead, they have an eight-year streak of playoff misses — the team’s longest since it was a struggling AFL franchise.
They reside in the same division as the 28-year-old alpha that is Patrick Mahomes. The quarterback just led the Kansas City Chiefs to their fourth Super Bowl — and third win — in a five-year span with a largely draft-built starting lineup. Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa and the newly crowned Rookie of the Year in C.J. Stroud are leading teams in AFC.
In short, the notion that the Broncos are going to fix everything when they find a quarterback who is equal to or better than some, or all, of those passers seems like a dicey proposition at best and a path to folly at worst.
With their salary cap’s snug fit and limited capability to add free agents, their ability to find a quarterback in free agency who plays even to the level Wilson did when coach Sean Payton benched him is a maybe/maybe not bet at most.
Sure, not much gets done in the NFL without a guy behind center who can handle all facets of the job, including crunch time, meeting time, locker room time and prime time.
But the Broncos need a plan, a fit and some patience. Mahomes isn’t even to his prime playing years if he stays healthy, and the Broncos have changed coaches, playcallers, quarterbacks and directions as if it is dry cleaning.
They signed the likes of Wilson, Randy Gregory and Frank Clark and then shipped them out — dead money be damned — in two or fewer seasons.
The Broncos need to dig in, pick a lane and stay in it — at quarterback, in the draft and in free agency. And that’s not on Sean Payton, George Paton or even the next quarterback who opens a season behind center. It’s on owner/CEO Greg Penner.
As the Broncos evolve in the Walton-Penner group’s ownership it is Penner’s challenge to make sure the salary cap remains manageable, the draft is being used as it should be and that those who report to him have good answers. He has to make sure the new guys just don’t keep getting rid of the players the old guys had.
The Broncos have led the league in change over the past eight years. Changes at quarterback, changes on the depth chart, changes in coaching, changes at general manager and even the change in ownership.
And change almost always follows failure in the NFL, an annual rite of passage when the public demands heads roll following the inability to even sniff the postseason. But change hasn’t worked for the Broncos — at all.
The Broncos had two paths with Wilson. Make the blockbuster trade to sign him to the megadeal and commit to making it work for three to five years. Or simply not do the deal in the first place and take another fork in the road instead.
The Broncos did neither. They did the deal and didn’t commit to it. Because of change, because of impatience, because they don’t stick to anything these days.
With one of the tightest salary caps in the league, a thin depth chart with three of their own first-round picks and a four-year span during which they have picked in the top 45 three times, the Broncos are poised for a painful 2024.
And what they do from here, not only at quarterback, but with the depth chart around him, will determine whether they can recapture franchise glory. It could also determine whether they’ll be another lost soul staring into a glass at last call in remember-when mode, talking of past victories as they wonder, again, where it all went.
Florida is on the board in the class of 2025 at the offensive line position. On Sunday afternoon, news went public of Fort Valley (Ga.) Houston County offensive lineman Peyton Joseph’s commitment t…
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Through the first quarter and a half, it was the Wizards using their advantages against the Celtics. Without a true center, they were smaller but also faster on the floor. That turned into 36 transition points on the night; Boston only gives up 14 a game on average.
However, midway through the third quarter with the game tied 76-76, Sam Hauser and Al Horford replaced Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday. The substitution gave Boston that vaunted double big pairing with Horford and Kristaps Porzingis (and the 6’8 Jayson Tatum at the 3) and a height advantage across the front court. That effectively turned the tables on Washington by slowing down the game on defense and playing with more purpose on the other side of the ball.
“A good shot, I don’t care where it is on the floor. We take what the defense gives us and we’re taking advantage with what we think the other team’s weaknesses are. It doesn’t matter what kind of shot it is,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said after the game. In the end, the Celtics outscored the Wizards 62-42 in the paint by taking it to Washington’s weakest defenders.
“We joke about it a lot, but the point is to infiltrate the defense, take advantage of the weakness, take the best shot possible based on their coverages and our matchups.”
Just before this clips starts, Horford and Derrick White run a simple pick-and-roll. Tyus Jones switches on to Horford in the post, slips, and falls to the parquet. That kicks off a series of defensive scrambling on Washington’s part that ends with Porzingis with a wide open 3. Sure, the action starts with a big (Horford) taking advantage of a small (Jones) on the block, but it’s also the spacing and unselfish ball movement that ultimately generates a great shot on the perimeter.
A few possessions later, it’s a more traditional “me big, you small” mismatch. Horford runs in transition and recognizes the size advantage on Landry Shamet. He very deliberately runs to the block, calls for the ball, doesn’t react to the Shamet flop, and calmly puts in the layup.
Finally, with Porzingis gassed after playing the entire third quarter, he refuses the down screen from Sam Hauser and Hauser instead screens and gets Jordan Poole switched on to Tatum. Tatum does the rest and effortlessly drives past Poole for the dunk.
Tatum would finish the game with a team-high 35 points, but it was Porzingis’ 34 against his former team that really showed how his presence raises the team’s ceiling to potentially the rafters. Porzingis finished 2-for-4 from behind the arc, but importantly, he punished Washington in the paint and subsequently went to the line fourteen times and making all of his free throws.
“To be honest, now playing against them, Kuz was guarding me for a big part of the game, I don’t think he realized how much I was doing for them — all the tricks, all the drawing the fouls, little bit of grabs here and there. ‘You’re a dirty—.’ ‘Brother, you didn’t realize all the little things I was doing for you guys,’” Porzingis said.
He continued, “We always want to find the balance between ‘we want to attack this matchup’ or ‘we just want to play in the flow and see what happens.’ We have so much talent that each night, we could win differently. Even if we’re prepared to do something, something else opens up because they’re doing a counter to whatever we’re trying to do. It’s always reads throughout the game.”
Porzingis is a Celtic now and the opportunity to raise a banner isn’t lost on him. He’ll gladly trade a role as a team’s focal point and a chance to rep a franchise in the All-Star Game for a mid-season tan during the break and an opportunity to get his body ready for the postseason and raise Banner 18.
Spice Diana, Uganda’s famous R&B and Afrobeat artist, joins the 22Bet family as a Brand Ambassador on January 15.
Spice Diana launched her music career in 2014 with the song ‘Onsanula’ hitting the local charts. Since then, she has released numerous hits like ‘Do Me’, ‘Omulembe’, ‘Anti Kale’, and ‘I Miss You.’ Her music style can be described as a nice blend of R&B and Afrobeat.
During her career, Spice Diana has won several music trophies, such as Best Female Artist at the HiPipo Music Awards (2015), Best Video at the NTV Awards (2016), Female Artist of the Year at the Zzina Awards (2018, 2019), and Best Collaboration at the HiPip Music Awards (2019).
She has collaborated with Ugandan and international artists, including Ray G, Pallaso, and Jamaican Orisha Sound. One of her recent performances was in London in December 2023 at the Afro Amapiano Fest.
Spice Diana enjoys an iconic status on her home soil in Uganda. She is also well known as a successful R&B singer in neighboring countries, such as Kenya and Ethiopia. On Instagram only, she has around 1.8M followers.
At the 22Bet inaugural ceremony, she said: ‘I am proud to announce to you that I have been signed on as a Brand Ambassador for 22Bet Uganda.’ From now on, Diana, along with Khaligraph Jones, will not only delight you with their songs but also participate in important community events. Caring about local community development, we at 22Bet look forward to various charity and music projects with our Brand Ambassadors in 2024 and beyond!
In the world of online gaming, the intersection of sports fandom and casino entertainment is creating a unique and thrilling experience for enthusiasts. One such fusion that has gained immense popularity is the targeting of the “Book of Dead” slot game – with its special offerings of Book of Dead free spins – to draw in audiences from the passionate fanbase of the National Hockey League (NHL).
This unlikely pairing is proving to be a winning combination, offering hockey fans a new way to engage with their favorite sport and potentially make some good wins in the process.
About the Slot
The “Book of Dead” slot, developed by Play’n GO, has become a household name in the online casino world. Known for its captivating graphics, immersive gameplay and the potential for good winnings, it has attracted players from various backgrounds.
However, it’s the recent surge in popularity among NHL fans that has given this slot game a new dimension.
The Connection With the League
The connection between a slot game and a sports league may seem unconventional at first, but the Book of Dead’s theme lends itself well to the excitement and intensity of NHL matches. The game is set in ancient Egypt, following the adventures of an explorer searching for hidden treasures. This theme resonates with hockey enthusiasts who are used to the thrill of the game and the pursuit of victory.
What sets this fusion apart is the introduction of “Book of Dead Free Spins for NHL Fans.” Online casinos are now offering special promotions that cater specifically to hockey lovers, allowing them to enjoy their favorite slot game with added benefits. Free spins on the Book of Dead slot are being given away as part of these promotions, providing fans with an extra layer of excitement as they spin the reels in anticipation of uncovering hidden treasures.
The synergy between the slot game and NHL fandom goes beyond the thematic connection. The fast-paced nature of hockey mirrors the adrenaline rush experienced during a spin on the Book of Dead slot. Both activities demand quick thinking, strategic decision-making and a bit of luck to achieve a favorable outcome. For NHL fans who already relish the unpredictability of the game, trying their luck on the slot reels adds an extra layer of entertainment.
Immersive Experience
To make the experience even more immersive, some online casinos are incorporating hockey-themed elements into the Book of Dead slot interface. Players may find themselves surrounded by hockey jerseys, ice rinks and cheering crowds as they embark on their quest for wins. These additions enhance the connection between the slot game and the beloved sport, creating a seamless blend of casino entertainment and NHL enthusiasm.
The Wrap-Up
For hockey fans looking to take their love for the sport to the next level, the Book of Dead Free Spins promotions offer a golden opportunity. Not only can they revel in the excitement of spinning the reels, but they also stand a chance to win real prizes while celebrating their passion for the NHL. As this trend continues to gain momentum, the marriage of slots and sports fandom is likely to become a staple in the online gaming landscape, providing a thrilling experience for fans across the globe.
Mohamed Salah now has more Premier League Player of the Month awards than anyone else currently playing in the English top flight after his October 2023 win.
The Liverpool forward scooped the prize with the five goals he scored last month, with the Egypt international delivering excellent performances that fans have become so used to seeing.
Salah has slipped into that realm where less noise is made about his triumphs because he has been doing it for so long in the top flight. That said, he’s still caught the eye enough to bag his fifth POTM award since joining Liverpool.
In doing so, he has moved ahead of two Manchester United players in the all-time standings, with neither looking likely to pick up their fifth any time soon.
While Mohamed Salah still needs two more Premier League POTM awards to match all-time leaders Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane, he is certainly worthy of five and no one would begrudge him more in the future.
November 2017
Salah was unstoppable / James Baylis – AMA/GettyImages
Salah’s first POTM award came in November 2017, only five months after he joined the club from AS Roma.
It was a truly incredible month in which he started to prove so many people wrong. The Egyptian could not stop scoring and racked up seven goals in one month. He became the first ever Egyptian player to win the award, having found the net against West Ham, Southampton, Stoke City and Chelsea.
He beat players like Burnley’s Robbie Brady, Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling, and Man Utd’s Ashley Young to the prize.
February 2018
Salah was in full flow / Clive Brunskill/GettyImages
Everyone remembers just how frightening and unstoppable Mo Salah was during the 2017/18 season when Liverpool suddenly became one of the best teams in the Premier League again.
A few months after his first award, Salah’s four goals and two assists in the Premier League meant he secured his second POTM. Liverpool got two wins and a draw and started to look like a safe bet for a top-four spot.
“The players make it easier and the boss also makes it easier for me,” Salah said. “It’s nice to win it again especially because it’s the Player of the Month of the Premier League, so that’s something good. I say always try to help reach the three points and to be in a better position.”
March 2018
Salah made it back-to-back POTM wins / Chloe Knott – Danehouse/GettyImages
In the following month, Salah’s form did not slow down. If anything, it just increased and Liverpool were marching towards Champions League qualification again. Salah grabbed six goals in the month of March to make it successive awards.
A big part of his success was the four goals he scored in one game when Liverpool battered Watford 5-0 at Anfield. He also scored a really important winner at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace.
October 2021
Salah was the key to one of Liverpool’s best ever wins / Michael Regan/GettyImages
Incredibly, Salah then went three and a half years without winning the award, despite Liverpool remaining in and around the title race and the top four. The initial excitement around his form subsided and he was soon just a consistently really good player.
He got an incredible five goals and four assists October 2021, showing his creative spark on top of his clinical edge. The goals included a great solo effort against Manchester City for which he won Goal of the Month and a hat-trick in a 5-0 win away at Manchester United.
October 2023
Salah secures his fifth POTM award / MB Media/GettyImages
Exactly two years later, Salah bagged the award again.
Liverpool took seven points from a possible nine in October in the Premier League and in the only game they didn’t win – a 2-2 draw away at Brighton – Salah scored twice. He also netted a brace in the 2-0 win over Everton at Anfield before his October ended with a goal in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
It was a month that restored Liverpool’s place in the Premier League title race and with Salah getting so many of their goals, a huge part of that achievement can be attributed to him.
By winning his fifth POTM award, Salah has moved ahead of three current Premier League players. The Egyptian is now level with Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, while Steven Gerrard and Cristiano Ronaldo are one further up the road.
He has now moved ahead of Manchester United duo Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, neither of whom are showing the kind of form that suggests they will be changing that in the coming months.
He has also moved beyond Tottenham’s Son Heung-min. Son only got his fourth POTM award in September 2023 and has been playing really well this season, so he could feasibly join Salah on five soon. That being said, James Maddison’s injury could limit the number of chances he gets to score in the foreseeable future.
Rank
Player
POTM wins
1.
Sergio Aguero
7
1.
Harry Kane
7
3.
Steven Gerrard
6
3.
Cristiano Ronaldo
6
5.
Robin van Persie
5
5.
Wayne Rooney
5
5.
Mohamed Salah
5
7.
Dennis Bergkamp
4
7.
Bruno Fernandes
4
7.
Thierry Henry
4
7.
Frank Lampard
4
7.
Marcus Rashford
4
7.
Son Heung-min
4
7.
Paul Scholes
4
7.
Alan Shearer
4
7.
Jamie Vardy
4
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