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Watch: England's penalty kick vs. Netherlands draws controversy
Harry Kane struck an 18th-minute spot kick past Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to draw England level at 1-1 in Wednesday's Euro Tournament semifinal match. But the foul given by the video assistant referee (VAR) to award the penalty kick to England appeared questionable.
HARRY KANE MAKES THE PENALTY
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2024
England levels the score pic.twitter.com/OnTSUA9YtG
England's redemptive opportunity came after Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries appeared to put his boot spikes through Kane's foot as the English striker attempted a shot.
Fox Sports rules analyst Mark Clattenburg explained the reasoning behind the VAR decision on the broadcast.
PENALTY FOR ENGLAND
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2024
After review a penalty is awarded to England ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/xkmkgCq9fz
Ironically, on-field referee Felix Zwayer initially did not give the penalty. England striker Jude Bellingham was previously fined for criticizing Zwayer for still being a UEFA referee, due to his past suspension for match-fixing.
Former England player Jamie Carragher disagreed with Zwayer's decision, voicing his displeasure on X.
Never a penalty
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) July 10, 2024
England had fallen behind early due to Dutch forward Xavi Simons' stunning seventh-minute strike from just outside the box, past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, which put the Netherlands up 1-0.
MY GOODNESS XAVI SIMONS
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2024
Netherlands takes a 1-0 lead over England pic.twitter.com/1FW2Qr4zmv
The winner of this semifinal will advance to the Euro Tournament final against Spain on Sunday.
More must-reads:
- Euro 2024: Referee Felix Zwayer's appointment is curious, but England's ire is self-serving
- Harry Kane heaps praise on Saka for his performance against Switzerland
- The 'FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winners' quiz
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Point proven: Journalist insists one Liverpool ace 'shouldn’t be written off' after Bilbao showing
Browns reporter says rookie is 'not an NFL QB'
As of the first Monday of August, there was no indication that 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel or 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders had any real chance to emerge as the Cleveland Browns' Week 1 starting quarterback. During a Monday morning appearance on Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan, Browns reporter Daryl Ruiter offered quite a worrisome update regarding how Gabriel has looked during training camp practices. "He's not good," Ruiter said about Gabriel. "He's not an NFL quarterback. Not right now, and the fact that they keep running him out there for first-team reps...they're cramming this guy down our throats, and it's not good." Numerous NFL analysts viewed Gabriel as a third-day selection before the Browns made him the 94th overall pick of this year's draft. The perception up until Sanders was held out of Saturday's practice due to arm soreness was that he has been the team's fourth-choice option at the position behind Gabriel, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco. All signs are reportedly pointing to Flacco getting the start for Cleveland's Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. Gabriel is listed at 5-foot-11, but some who cover the team have expressed doubts about that measurement. It seems that a lack of desirable size for playing the position in the pros isn't all that's gone against Gabriel this summer. "It's not a height thing," Ruiter continued. "It's not personal. He's rolling out and can't hit guys who are wide open. He's not all that great, at times, in the warmup periods. ...He's just not a good quarterback." Ruiter said that he feels Gabriel "has no business being in contention to start a football game" for the Browns this season. "It's god awful when he's on the field," Ruiter added. Browns general manager Andrew Berry revealed in late July that he could stash all four active quarterbacks on the roster for at least Week 1. For an article published on Sunday night, Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand wrote that there's "zero chance" either Gabriel or Sanders will be cut this summer. Perhaps Gabriel will look better when he sees some action in Cleveland's preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8. That said, it sounds like fans should keep their expectations low for Gabriel's unofficial debut this coming Friday.
Saints quarterback has 'convincing lead' in training camp battle
The New Orleans Saints' three-way quarterback competition is narrowing before the team's first preseason contest against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Per Ross Jackson of Louisiana Sports, second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler has looked the best at training camp this summer, going 83-of-114 passing (72.8 percent) for eight touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and four interceptions. Rattler is beating out rookie Tyler Shough. The second-round pick has completed just 62 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and three interceptions. 2023 fourth-round pick Jake Haener has completed 69.6 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and one Interception. Jackson believes first-year head coach Kellen Moore is priming Rattler as the favorite to start in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals. "Over the team’s 10 practices, these three young passers have seen their chance to earn the starting role to begin the season in a rotation of first-team reps," Jackson wrote. "But there are decisions the Saints have made in the process that indicate a favorite. "After looking over individual performance stats, practice rep distribution and the team’s treatment of each quarterback throughout the important and highly-productive scrimmages on camp day 10, it’s become clear that Rattler is comfortably in the lead, for now." Jackson thinks Rattler can fend off his "convincing lead" for the starting job if he plays competently against the Chargers on Sunday. Rattler feels like the safe choice for Moore over Shough and Haener, at least to start the regular season. He appeared in seven games and started in six in 2024. Rattler played inconsistently as a rookie, throwing four touchdowns to five interceptions. However, he's had time to develop. Given his numbers in training camp, Rattler appears to be the most polished quarterback before the regular season. Shough could eventually develop into the Saints' best option, but the rookie's completion percentage against friendly competition at camp is low before he even faces live action in the preseason.
Napheesa Collier Injury Update Adds Drama to Lynx’s Historic Victory
If you’re a Minnesota Lynx fan, your emotions are probably still doing somersaults. Sure, the Lynx just steamrolled the Las Vegas Aces 111-58, accomplishing the largest road win in WNBA history. But the team’s MVP frontrunner, Napheesa Collier, left the game limping, and no amount of points can distract from that gut punch. Collier’s departure came late in the third quarter with her team already leading by a colossal margin. She collided awkwardly with teammate Alanna Smith while jostling for a rebound, and down she went, landing uncomfortably on her right ankle. It was one of those moments that takes the air out of any arena, no matter the scoreline. Why Collier’s Injury Sends Chills Through the WNBA Collier was in peak form before the injury. Earlier in the quarter, her scoring kicked into high gear, bringing her total to 18 points, to go along with five assists, three rebounds, and two steals in just 26 minutes. The Lynx were cruising with a confidence that comes naturally when your franchise player elevates everyone around her. Which is exactly why her injury stings so much. This isn’t just any player. Collier leads the WNBA in points per game this season with 23.8 and has been the focal point of Minnesota’s stellar 24-5 record. Losing her for any length of time could shake up the entire league, not just the Lynx’s season. Cheryl Reeve Faces Tough Questions Head coach Cheryl Reeve didn’t escape post-game scrutiny, as reporters questioned why Collier was still on the court with such a huge lead. The Lynx were up by a staggering 43 points at the time. Reeve defended her decision, saying, “I didn’t think the game was over… these things happen.” She added, “I get it. People are going to rail on me… but we did what we think was right.” Love her or not (and Lynx fans mostly do), Reeve’s response hits at a deeper truth of pro sports. Coaches have to make a thousand judgment calls mid-game, and hindsight always paints the clearest picture. That said, having your star player laid out on the hardwood in a game that was, for all practical purposes, already locked up, is a moment you’d wish you could rewind. Some Sweet Among the Sour As chaotic as the injury drama was, the game itself was a textbook example of how to make dominance look easy. Kayla McBride was the showstopper, going 8-for-8 from three-point range in the first half, setting a new WNBA record. McBride’s 23 points led all scorers and were emblematic of a Lynx squad firing on all cylinders. Even with Collier’s setback, Minnesota’s victory margin wasn’t just historic; it was a statement. Their 53-point blowout dethroned a 1998 Houston Comets win for the largest road victory in league history. For fans looking for something to smile about amid the concern for Collier, that’s a decent silver lining. The WNBA Holds Its Breath Now the league waits. Collier is set to undergo testing and imaging in the coming days. Whether she travels with the team to their next game in Seattle or heads back to Minnesota for further evaluation remains unclear. Players and fans alike, however, are feeling the weight of uncertainty. Kayla McBride spoke for all of us when she said postgame, “You hate to see anybody go down, but especially your MVP.” The Bigger Picture for the Lynx This season, Collier hasn’t just been a player. She’s been a beacon, driving Minnesota from mere playoff contention to outright championship conversation. If her ankle injury sidelines her for longer than a game or two, the ripple effects will be seismic. For now, the Lynx have an MVP-sized gap to fill in Seattle. They’ll look to McBride and others to step up. But as Reeve so eloquently put it, “I can be both happy for our team and worry about Napheesa Collier at the same time.” Fans, It’s Time to Rally The WNBA has a knack for delivering brutal cliffhangers, and this is no exception. Every die-hard Lynx fan, and plenty of Collier admirers league-wide, are crossing their fingers for a quick recovery. What’s certain is this: Collier’s passion and work ethic have always set the tone for her team. Whether she’s on the court or cheering from the sidelines, you can bet her influence will resonate. For now, though, the Lynx’s postgame celebration is muted. Their historic milestone feels like a warm cup of coffee spilled before you can even take a sip. Here’s hoping Collier’s injury doesn’t turn this sweet season bitter.
Bill Simmons adds new dimension to Micah Parsons-Jerry Jones drama with crazy conspiracy
The Dallas Cowboys’ ongoing stalemate with Micah Parsons has been front-page news, but Bill Simmons has another theory. Jerry Jones is a smart businessman, and because of that, the ongoing discourse with one of his greatest players seems odd to say the least. A man worth $15 billion would typically know that publicly frustrating your star players is not exactly the greatest way to do business. The feud has led many former players to chime in with their opinions, and it wouldn’t be the first time that Jones has waited until the final moment to sign one of his stars to an extension. Simmons believes Jerry Jones causes drama with his players on purpose, keeping the Cowboys front of the queue The Dallas Cowboys have typically been late to sign their stars in recent years, namely both Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Many are starting to notice a pattern, with Jerry Jones holding out on the players that matter the most, often getting dangerously close to the season starting before eventually committing to a new contract. In 2024, CeeDee Lamb had to wait until many other wide receivers had gotten their deals before he got his. Justin Jefferson had signed a four-year, $140 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings on June 3rd, while Amon-Ra St. Brown had agreed his deal with the Detroit Lions in late April. DJ Moore agreed his extension with the Chicago Bears on the final day of July, but CeeDee Lamb was forced to wait until August 26th, just a couple of weeks before Week 1 of the new season. Oddly enough, he still got his extension before Dak Prescott, who signed his four-year contract just hours before the first game of the season on September 8th. It wasn’t a small deal either, with Prescott signing his name to a $240 million deal the morning of the game. Now in 2025, history is repeating itself, with Micah Parsons being forced to wait for an extension while the likes of Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, TJ Watt and company have all signed theirs already. Bill Simmons has a theory about it all, as he suggested on the latest episode of his podcast, with guest Diana Russini. Simmons said: “There’s this Cowboys documentary coming out on Netflix, and it’s actually really good. I think it’s going to be a big deal, and it’s about the Jerry Jones’ ’90s Cowboys and the celebration of this really meaningful team…” “Part of me wonders does he (Jerry Jones) just do this sometimes with these holdouts just to get people talking about the Cowboys all month, when he knows how this is going to end? They’re not trading Micah Parsons, nobody’s doing that.” It’s a theory that has surfaced before, but one that would require Jerry Jones either playing with fire with his star players, or cutting them in on the scripted drama in order to make sure his team steals the headlines. The drama has really spiraled out of control in recent weeks, with Jerry Jones naming former star Dez Bryant as a player he once had a problem with. Suggestion that Micah Parsons is in on the drama as Jerry Jones continues late-extension trend If the theory is correct, you would have to imagine that Jones is letting his players know about his plan. CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott may have had their deals agreed in principle long before they were made official, which in a way would be smart business. As other teams sign their stars, their names fade from the headlines and TV shows, leaving only those with outstanding negotiations to be discussed. It seems a little suspect that in recent years, the Dallas Cowboys always seem to be one of those teams, with a star player waiting to get the deal he feels he deserves. Parsons could be in on the deal and may already have the figure agreed with Jones and the Cowboys. They can then gallivant around on social media and at press conferences as if there is an ongoing feud, coercing the fans into the drama before agreeing the contract at the final hour. Many believe Jones, the Cowboys, and Micah Parsons will have a deal agreed before the 2025 season begins, which would only play further into Simmons’ theory. If it’s true, it certainly works, but it isn’t a particularly positive way to portray the franchise.
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