FIFA World Cup 2026: “They thought we’d turn up in tuxedos,” says Mba…

Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) [US], July 5 (ANI): France captain Kylian Mbappe said his side was ready for a physical contest against Paraguay and showed they could adapt to any style of play after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, according to Reuters.

Speaking after France booked their place in the quarterfinals, Mbappe said Les Bleus were well aware of the kind of challenge Paraguay would present.

“We knew what kind of match we were going to have," Mbappe said after the match, as quoted by Reuters. chincha.pl

The France skipper said his team was willing to embrace a physical contest if required and rejected the notion that Les Bleus would shy away from such battles.

“If we have to get our hands dirty, we can do that. We can play ugly football. They thought we would turn up in tuxedos, but we were there," he said.

Mbappe also backed France’s overall performance, insisting his side deserved the victory despite Paraguay’s combative approach.

“Even at that game, we were better than them. That’s their football — there is no right or wrong way to play the game. They tried to get at us that way, but we won," he added, as quoted by Reuters.

France booked a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16 at Lincoln Financial Field, thanks to Kylian Mbappe’s second-half penalty.

Despite dominating possession, Les Bleus found it difficult to break down Paraguay’s disciplined defence, with the South Americans frustrating Didier Deschamps’ side throughout the opening half.

The match became only the third FIFA World Cup knockout fixture since 1966 to reach halftime without a single shot on target, while tensions flared following a challenge on Mbappe that sparked a mass confrontation.

France finally broke the deadlock in the 66th minute after Desire Doue won a penalty, which Mbappe converted calmly. Paraguay pressed for an equaliser until the final whistle, but France held firm to secure victory and set up a quarterfinal clash with Morocco. (ANI)

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KRAFTON India announced the Rising Star Invitational, India’s first-ever BGMI invitational tournament built exclusively around players from the KRAFTON India Esports Rising Stars Programme. Running July 3 to 5, the three-day event will see 16 Rising Stars lead their own five-member squads in an INR 5 lakh prize pool competition. Since today is going to be last day, check out the full details of Rising Star Invitational 2026 Day 3 matches below.

Rising Star Invitational 2026 BGMI – Overview

The Rising Star Invitational is the competitive centrepiece of KRAFTON India’s Rising Stars Programme, which was expanded in 2026 with the announcement of its second cohort. The programme is KRAFTON India’s most structured investment in grassroots esports talent to date, designed to identify, develop and accelerate India’s next generation of professional BGMI players through dedicated coaching, competitive exposure and visibility on the national stage.

Rising Star Invitational 2026 Day 3 Overview

Each of the 16 Rising Stars captains their own named squad, drawing from a roster that blends emerging talent with some of the biggest names in Indian BGMI. Check out the current standings after day 2 matches below.

• Kratos (Krazy Kratos) – 137 Points
• Justy (Justy’s Jesters) – 121 Points
• SaumRaj (Solidarity SaumRaj) – 109 Points
• Hector (Hector Warriors) – 93 Points
• Wanted (Most Wanted) – 89 Points
• JatinOG (Jatin Hunters) – 83 Points
• Sam (Super Sam) – 77 Points
• NoobPari (Noobpari Clashers) – 71 Points
• Jasleen (Jasleen Titans) – 70 Points
• Knight (Knight Nightmare) – 69 Points
• Mernox (Mernox Reapers) – 67 Points
• SirZalai (Tahchapa Zalai) – 65 Points
• Evil (Evil Squad) – 62 Points
• Shiraj (Shiraj Sena) – 56 Points
• Levi (Levi’s Shoorveers) – 55 Points
• Hydro (Hydro Hydrogen) – 51 Points

Read More about BGMI

• BGMI A20 Royale Pass: Expected Release Date, Leaked Rewards, and Theme
• BGMI Rising Star Invitational 2026 Day 2 Points Table, And More
• Rising Star Invitational 2026 Day 2: Teams, Schedule, and Stream
• BGMI 4.5 Update Release Date (Expected), Collab, and More
• BGMI 4.5 Update Leaks Reveal Upcoming Themed Mode, Features, and More
• PUBG Mobile World Cup at EWC 2026: Dates, Teams, Format, and More

Rising Star Invitational 2026 BGMI – Day 3 Schedule

• Match 1 – Rondo
• Match 2 – Erangel
• Match 3 – Erangel
• Match 4 – Erangel
• Match 5 – Miramar
• Match 6 – Miramar

Where to watch day 3 matches

The post Rising Star Invitational 2026 Day 3 – Teams, Schedule, and Stream appeared first on Inside Sport India.

Inaugural champions England will face six-time winners Australia in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 final, seeking to preserve a remarkable record across every Women’s World Cup they have hosted at Lord’s on Sunday.

England’s campaign have stood out not just for six straight wins, but for the variety with which they have reached the title clash.

England arrive unbeaten, confident, and carrying an extraordinary home World Cup record.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], July 5 (ANI): The Sports Authority of India – Central Regional Centre (SAI CRC), Bhopal, observed the ‘Sundays on Cycle’ special edition under the theme “Community Fitness Ride" in collaboration with the Art of Living Foundation at the SAI CRC Bhopal campus.

The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 100 cyclists, including fitness enthusiasts, students, and members of the local community, according to a release.

The ride commenced from the SAI CRC Bhopal campus and promoted the message of adopting cycling as a sustainable, healthy, and environmentally friendly mode of transportation while encouraging citizens to embrace an active lifestyle.

Participants rode together with great enthusiasm, reflecting the spirit of community fitness and the vision of the Fit India Movement.

Representatives from the Art of Living Foundation also motivated participants to adopt healthy habits and emphasised the importance of physical activity, mindfulness, and community engagement in leading a balanced life.

The event concluded with a brief interaction session, refreshments, and a collective pledge by all participants to continue promoting cycling and regular physical activity in their daily lives.

Through initiatives like ‘Sundays on Cycle’, SAI CRC Bhopal continues to encourage public participation in fitness activities and foster a culture of health, wellness, and active living across the region. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

Think of the word 3D, and the first thing that comes to most people’s minds is watching a film with 3D glasses or a mathematical concept of three-dimensional space. In India, however, the 3D label has long been attached to a cricketer who recently retired from domestic cricket and the IPL. In his retirement note, he signed off as “Your 3D cricketer”.

A man of few words, Vijay Shankar brought his career to a close in some style. Rarely has a cricketer announced his retirement by embracing a nickname that, by his own admission, had once haunted him. That same 3D label followed the seam-bowling all-rounder throughout much of his international career.

After Shankar was dropped from the Indian team and struggled to find his way back, he became the target of relentless trolling on social media, with the 3D reference repeatedly used to mock him.

“It was there when I experienced all those things, but now, when I look back, it was a wonderful experience for me and it made me a better person,” Shankar told RevSportz. “I learnt to fight back, make a comeback and keep playing cricket, which is the most important thing for me, regardless of whatever happened on social media. I always felt there would be opportunities. Everyone feels I could’ve got another opportunity, but I am content with my career, representing India and doing well in the World Cup against Pakistan.”

It is pertinent to note that when Shankar was picked ahead of Ambati Rayudu for the 2019 World Cup, then chief selector MSK Prasad justified the decision by saying that Shankar brought “three dimensions” to the side. A frustrated Rayudu responded by tweeting: “Just ordered a new set of 3D glasses to watch the World Cup.”

At the time, many people sympathised with Rayudu. But it was Shankar who ultimately bore the brunt of criticism from a section of fans.

As beneficial as social media can be, it has repeatedly shown how toxic it can also become. It does not matter how much an individual tries to ignore it; the abuse leaves an impact in one way or another. After all, cricketers are human beings too.

Shankar fought through the trolling and has emerged a stronger person. Having closed one chapter of his career, the Tamil Nadu cricketer is now looking forward to the next, which begins with the Lanka Premier League—one of the fastest-growing T20 leagues in the world.

“After my retirement, the LPL is the first tournament coming up,” he said. “I just want to start by playing in the Lanka Premier League. With so many international players taking part, I think it will be a great learning experience for me. I’ve played a lot in the IPL, but going overseas to play franchise cricket will be a different experience.”

Shankar has made it clear that he will explore more opportunities in franchise cricket. He also has one eye on coaching in the future. And, given the way he expresses himself, he could well make a fine commentator. All in all, Vijay Shankar remains a true 3D asset.

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