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The 12 best teams in world juniors history – Yahoo Canada Sports

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4 years ago

December 31, 2020

The Canadian Press

Darnold decision a dilemma as Jets enter crucial off-season

NEW YORK — Sam Darnold will head into this off-season as a question mark instead of the unquestioned face of the franchise.That makes for quite the dilemma for the New York Jets. And one that won’t be easily — or quickly — solved.Do the Jets take a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft in April? Do they trade Darnold for draft picks? Do they exercise Darnold’s fifth-year contract option? Do they simply keep Darnold and see how next season plays out?The next several months will be crucial for general manager Joe Douglas in shaping the team’s future — whether or not Darnold is a part of it.“I mean, I’m a Jet now,” Darnold said Thursday. “I know we all like to think of hypotheticals and what ifs, but I’m a Jet right now and I love being here, all the guys in the locker room. And I love going to work every single day here.”The 23-year-old quarterback was the No. 3 overall pick in 2018, but has not lived up to those lofty expectations. He knows it, too, but also thinks he’s got plenty more to accomplish.“I absolutely believe my best days are ahead,” Darnold insisted.The question is where he’ll spend those days.Jets fans had been dreaming of the possibility of drafting Clemson star Trevor Lawrence until New York ended a 13-game losing streak and won two in a row. With Jacksonville locked into the No. 1 spot, the Jets will surely do plenty of scouting on the likes of Ohio State’s Justin Fields and BYU’s Zach Wilson. Whether New York thinks either of those players — or another quarterback whose draft stock rises during the next several months — is a better option than Darnold remains to be seen.There’s also this: The fifth-year option on Darnold, which the Jets will have to exercise by early May, would cost the team around $25 million and will be fully guaranteed, per the collective bargaining agreement.Oh, and one other thing to consider: Douglas is not directly tied to Darnold. Then-GM Mike Maccagnan drafted him.Darnold has shown flashes throughout his three seasons, but has also been beset by inconsistent play, bad luck (mononucleosis last season), injuries (he hasn’t started more than 13 games) and questionable coaching. Adam Gase was hired last year to provide a perfect coach-QB pairing, but that never worked out.Instead, Darnold has regressed.“I think there’s been stretches where I haven’t played nearly as well as I should have,” Darnold said, “and I’ll be the first one to admit it.”Darnold, who was selected the winner of the team’s media good guy award by the Jets chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America, has always taken accountability. Gase, however, has also shouldered the blame, saying he failed in developing Darnold to the point where there would be no doubt about the Jets’ quarterback spot right now.“Do I think we need to get better in certain spots with him? Yeah, absolutely,” Gase said. “Do I think he’s been to the point where it’s all on him? I don’t.”Aside from play calling, Gase attributes some of the struggles to the merry-go-round of receivers, tight ends and running backs Darnold has had to play with.“It’s just about the consistency, but it’s also consistency with the guys around you,” Gase said. “When you’re a young player, you need to have a nucleus of core guys around you that you can grow with, that can help you develop as a player. And at the quarterback spot, if you don’t have that it’s really tough to make the strides you need to make.”Gase is expected to be fired after the season finale at New England. Darnold said he hasn’t discussed his future with Douglas or anyone else in the organization. His focus remains on finishing the season on a high note, and that would mean beating the Patriots for the first time in his short career. That would at least put a positive on what has been a year to forget for Darnold and the Jets.“I’ve had a couple of rough seasons in high school,” Darnold said, “but this has definitely been a tough season.”Darnold’s numbers are ugly: He has just eight touchdown passes and nine interceptions in 11 games, and his 72.3 quarterback rating is the lowest in the NFL. His 58.8% completion rate is also among the league’s worst.The glimmer of hope is his play the past three games: three TD passes and no turnovers — a career-best streak.“He played clean football,” offensive co-ordinator Dowell Loggains said. “I think that’s where Sam’s growth has come the last couple of weeks is he knows that — put the cape away. You don’t need to be Superman. Execute the offence and if it’s there, take it. And if not, then throw the ball away, run, check the ball down, do those things.”No, the Jets don’t need a superhero in the huddle. They need a consistent playmaking leader.And Darnold still might be that guy.“I think, without a doubt,” Loggains said, “that he’s a franchise quarterback.”NOTES: CB Bless Austin didn’t practice as a precaution after RB La’Mical Perine was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday. Five others who went through contact tracing — OL Chuma Edoga, DL John Franklin-Myers, CB Bryce Hall, LB Neville Hewitt and S Marcus Maye — returned to practice. … CB Javelin Guidry (knee) and WR Jeff Smith (shoulder) were limited.___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLDennis Waszak Jr., The Associated Press

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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