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Deadspin | Tigers’ Tarik Skubal heating up heading into finale vs. Brewers     Apr 1, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images   The weather is getting warmer, and so is two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.  Including the postseason, Skubal racked up double-digit strikeouts in 12 starts last season.   The Detroit Tigers left-hander notched a season-high 10 strikeouts in Boston on Saturday during his last start, and he should have pristine weather conditions to employ his formidable arsenal against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon.  Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-70s during the series finale in Detroit. Skubal hasn’t required big strikeout totals to be effective. He’s given up just one run in four of his five starts this season.  Skubal (3-2, 2.08 ERA) limited the Red Sox to one run and four hits in six innings despite pitching in 45-degree weather. He cruised through the first four innings but got into jams in the fifth and sixth, which increased his pitch count and prevented him from going deeper into the game, which Detroit won 4-1.  “He rarely misses like he did (Saturday) where he fell behind multiple batters in a row,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “I just thought he was in battle-mode. It looked like he was in control. He was missing bats and using his whole arsenal, and he won some big at-bats. That was the key for him. He stayed mentally into the game and didn’t get too frustrated with a few big misses.”  A nasty change-up helped him increase his strikeout total.  “The change-up performed better (Saturday),” Skubal said. “But I still think there is room for improvement. I need to be able to throw it in the zone and out of the zone when I need to. I need to execute pitches out of the zone early in counts to where those aren’t six- and seven-pitch at-bats and end them in three to four pitches.”   Skubal, who has won his past two starts this season, has been dominant in two career outings against the Brewers, holding them to one run in 13 2/3 innings, with 19 strikeouts.  Right-hander Brandon Sproat (0-1, 6.88 ERA) will be his mound opponent on Thursday. He’s coming off his best outing of the season, as he held Toronto to one run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings a week ago in Milwaukee’s 2-1 victory.  “I think the biggest thing was keep the rhythm up,” Sproat said. “Just get the ball and go. Don’t think about anything else. Just attack, attack, attack, and I think we did a really good job of that (Thursday).”  Sproat, 25, still is looking for his first major league victory. He’s made eight appearances over the last two seasons, including six starts. Sproat, who has never faced the Tigers, got a mental boost in his last outing.  “Just that I’m capable,” he said. “Capable of going out there and making good pitches, getting a ground ball when needed. Giving it my all. That was the big word (Thursday). (Manager Pat Murphy) told me, ‘You’re more than capable,’ and hearing that from him is definitely a boost in confidence.”  The teams have split the first two games of the series. Detroit bounced back from a 12-4 drubbing on Tuesday with a 5-2 win on Wednesday. First baseman Spencer Torkelson, who hit 31 homers last season, broke through with his first long ball this season.   –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Tigers #Tarik #Skubal #heating #heading #finale #Brewers

Deadspin | Tigers’ Tarik Skubal heating up heading into finale vs. Brewers
Deadspin | Tigers’ Tarik Skubal heating up heading into finale vs. Brewers     Apr 1, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images   The weather is getting warmer, and so is two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.  Including the postseason, Skubal racked up double-digit strikeouts in 12 starts last season.   The Detroit Tigers left-hander notched a season-high 10 strikeouts in Boston on Saturday during his last start, and he should have pristine weather conditions to employ his formidable arsenal against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon.  Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-70s during the series finale in Detroit. Skubal hasn’t required big strikeout totals to be effective. He’s given up just one run in four of his five starts this season.  Skubal (3-2, 2.08 ERA) limited the Red Sox to one run and four hits in six innings despite pitching in 45-degree weather. He cruised through the first four innings but got into jams in the fifth and sixth, which increased his pitch count and prevented him from going deeper into the game, which Detroit won 4-1.  “He rarely misses like he did (Saturday) where he fell behind multiple batters in a row,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “I just thought he was in battle-mode. It looked like he was in control. He was missing bats and using his whole arsenal, and he won some big at-bats. That was the key for him. He stayed mentally into the game and didn’t get too frustrated with a few big misses.”  A nasty change-up helped him increase his strikeout total.  “The change-up performed better (Saturday),” Skubal said. “But I still think there is room for improvement. I need to be able to throw it in the zone and out of the zone when I need to. I need to execute pitches out of the zone early in counts to where those aren’t six- and seven-pitch at-bats and end them in three to four pitches.”   Skubal, who has won his past two starts this season, has been dominant in two career outings against the Brewers, holding them to one run in 13 2/3 innings, with 19 strikeouts.  Right-hander Brandon Sproat (0-1, 6.88 ERA) will be his mound opponent on Thursday. He’s coming off his best outing of the season, as he held Toronto to one run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings a week ago in Milwaukee’s 2-1 victory.  “I think the biggest thing was keep the rhythm up,” Sproat said. “Just get the ball and go. Don’t think about anything else. Just attack, attack, attack, and I think we did a really good job of that (Thursday).”  Sproat, 25, still is looking for his first major league victory. He’s made eight appearances over the last two seasons, including six starts. Sproat, who has never faced the Tigers, got a mental boost in his last outing.  “Just that I’m capable,” he said. “Capable of going out there and making good pitches, getting a ground ball when needed. Giving it my all. That was the big word (Thursday). (Manager Pat Murphy) told me, ‘You’re more than capable,’ and hearing that from him is definitely a boost in confidence.”  The teams have split the first two games of the series. Detroit bounced back from a 12-4 drubbing on Tuesday with a 5-2 win on Wednesday. First baseman Spencer Torkelson, who hit 31 homers last season, broke through with his first long ball this season.   –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Tigers #Tarik #Skubal #heating #heading #finale #BrewersApr 1, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The weather is getting warmer, and so is two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

Including the postseason, Skubal racked up double-digit strikeouts in 12 starts last season.

The Detroit Tigers left-hander notched a season-high 10 strikeouts in Boston on Saturday during his last start, and he should have pristine weather conditions to employ his formidable arsenal against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon.

Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-70s during the series finale in Detroit. Skubal hasn’t required big strikeout totals to be effective. He’s given up just one run in four of his five starts this season.

Skubal (3-2, 2.08 ERA) limited the Red Sox to one run and four hits in six innings despite pitching in 45-degree weather. He cruised through the first four innings but got into jams in the fifth and sixth, which increased his pitch count and prevented him from going deeper into the game, which Detroit won 4-1.

“He rarely misses like he did (Saturday) where he fell behind multiple batters in a row,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “I just thought he was in battle-mode. It looked like he was in control. He was missing bats and using his whole arsenal, and he won some big at-bats. That was the key for him. He stayed mentally into the game and didn’t get too frustrated with a few big misses.”

A nasty change-up helped him increase his strikeout total.


“The change-up performed better (Saturday),” Skubal said. “But I still think there is room for improvement. I need to be able to throw it in the zone and out of the zone when I need to. I need to execute pitches out of the zone early in counts to where those aren’t six- and seven-pitch at-bats and end them in three to four pitches.”

Skubal, who has won his past two starts this season, has been dominant in two career outings against the Brewers, holding them to one run in 13 2/3 innings, with 19 strikeouts.

Right-hander Brandon Sproat (0-1, 6.88 ERA) will be his mound opponent on Thursday. He’s coming off his best outing of the season, as he held Toronto to one run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings a week ago in Milwaukee’s 2-1 victory.

“I think the biggest thing was keep the rhythm up,” Sproat said. “Just get the ball and go. Don’t think about anything else. Just attack, attack, attack, and I think we did a really good job of that (Thursday).”

Sproat, 25, still is looking for his first major league victory. He’s made eight appearances over the last two seasons, including six starts. Sproat, who has never faced the Tigers, got a mental boost in his last outing.

“Just that I’m capable,” he said. “Capable of going out there and making good pitches, getting a ground ball when needed. Giving it my all. That was the big word (Thursday). (Manager Pat Murphy) told me, ‘You’re more than capable,’ and hearing that from him is definitely a boost in confidence.”

The teams have split the first two games of the series. Detroit bounced back from a 12-4 drubbing on Tuesday with a 5-2 win on Wednesday. First baseman Spencer Torkelson, who hit 31 homers last season, broke through with his first long ball this season.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Tigers #Tarik #Skubal #heating #heading #finale #Brewers

Apr 1, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The weather is getting warmer, and so is two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

Including the postseason, Skubal racked up double-digit strikeouts in 12 starts last season.

The Detroit Tigers left-hander notched a season-high 10 strikeouts in Boston on Saturday during his last start, and he should have pristine weather conditions to employ his formidable arsenal against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon.

Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-70s during the series finale in Detroit. Skubal hasn’t required big strikeout totals to be effective. He’s given up just one run in four of his five starts this season.

Skubal (3-2, 2.08 ERA) limited the Red Sox to one run and four hits in six innings despite pitching in 45-degree weather. He cruised through the first four innings but got into jams in the fifth and sixth, which increased his pitch count and prevented him from going deeper into the game, which Detroit won 4-1.

“He rarely misses like he did (Saturday) where he fell behind multiple batters in a row,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “I just thought he was in battle-mode. It looked like he was in control. He was missing bats and using his whole arsenal, and he won some big at-bats. That was the key for him. He stayed mentally into the game and didn’t get too frustrated with a few big misses.”

A nasty change-up helped him increase his strikeout total.

“The change-up performed better (Saturday),” Skubal said. “But I still think there is room for improvement. I need to be able to throw it in the zone and out of the zone when I need to. I need to execute pitches out of the zone early in counts to where those aren’t six- and seven-pitch at-bats and end them in three to four pitches.”

Skubal, who has won his past two starts this season, has been dominant in two career outings against the Brewers, holding them to one run in 13 2/3 innings, with 19 strikeouts.

Right-hander Brandon Sproat (0-1, 6.88 ERA) will be his mound opponent on Thursday. He’s coming off his best outing of the season, as he held Toronto to one run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings a week ago in Milwaukee’s 2-1 victory.

“I think the biggest thing was keep the rhythm up,” Sproat said. “Just get the ball and go. Don’t think about anything else. Just attack, attack, attack, and I think we did a really good job of that (Thursday).”

Sproat, 25, still is looking for his first major league victory. He’s made eight appearances over the last two seasons, including six starts. Sproat, who has never faced the Tigers, got a mental boost in his last outing.

“Just that I’m capable,” he said. “Capable of going out there and making good pitches, getting a ground ball when needed. Giving it my all. That was the big word (Thursday). (Manager Pat Murphy) told me, ‘You’re more than capable,’ and hearing that from him is definitely a boost in confidence.”

The teams have split the first two games of the series. Detroit bounced back from a 12-4 drubbing on Tuesday with a 5-2 win on Wednesday. First baseman Spencer Torkelson, who hit 31 homers last season, broke through with his first long ball this season.

–Field Level Media

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Gennings Dunker will be one of your favorite NFL draft selections <div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">There are a number of players who are going to have their lives changed throughout the course of this weekend and the 2026 NFL Draft and as time goes on the fans of the teams who selected them will come to learn all about their new crop of players.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">There is a fanbase out there who is incredibly lucky as they are going to have Iowa’s Gennings Dunker on their team. Simply put, there is nobody like him in this year’s draft class.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Gennings took some time on the eve of the draft’s beginning to chat with SB Nation and noted that he cannot believe that this week is actually here. So much time, effort, energy, and sacrifice has gone into making Gennings an NFL player and soon enough he is going to have an NFL home.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Something else that Gennings has is a Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza by way of Casey’s. Gennings grew up visiting Casey’s regularly while growing up in Lena, Ill. and while at college in Iowa City, so this is a full-circle situation for him.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">When it comes to the NFL draft there are often players who have known all along that they were going to be a part of it and join the professional ranks of football. Some are destined for it at a young age.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Dunker is different in that respect. He said he is still floating just with knowing that he is going to make it to this level. He noted that he just assumed his life in football would be done after his time as a Hawkeye was complete.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Time will tell who ultimately gets to root for Gennings Dunker on Sundays a few months from now, but they would be best served to have a Casey’s Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza with Crispy Fries while they do so. That’s exactly what Gennings would want.</p></div> #Gennings #Dunker #favorite #NFL #draft #selections

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Mustafizur Rahman out of remaining PSL season after BCB withdraws NOC; Nahid Rana too ruled out <div id="content-body-70898903" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Pacer Mustafizur Rahman will not be available for the rest of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 season after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) withdrew his No Objection Certificate (NOC) due to injury concerns.</p><p>“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to inform that, following the conclusion of the 3rd ODI against New Zealand, the team’s medical staff has reviewed the condition of national team pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman,” the Body said on Thursday in a statement.</p><p><b>ALSO READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/bangladesh-vs-new-zealand-3rd-odi-highlights-series-win-ban-v-nz/article70897905.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bangladesh seals 2-1 ODI series win over New Zealand</a></b></p><p>“It has been decided that the player will undergo an immediate scan to further assess his condition, after which he will commence a rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the BCB Medical Team.”</p><p>“In this regard, the Board has withdrawn the No Objection Certificate (NOC) previously issued to Mustafizur. He will therefore not be available to participate in the remainder of PSL 2026,” it added.</p><p>Mustafizur was playing for Lahore Qalandars and he’d taken six wickets in five matches this season, while Peshawar Zalmi’s Nahid took seven wickets in four matches.</p><p>BCB also announced that fast bowler Nahid Rana will not be released for the PSL “to allow him adequate time to prepare for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan next month”.</p><p>Bangladesh on Thursday clinched a 2-1 ODI series win over New Zealand after securing a 55-run victory over the Kiwis in ‌the third one-day international in Chattogram.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 23, 2026</p></div> #Mustafizur #Rahman #remaining #PSL #season #BCB #withdraws #NOC #Nahid #Rana #ruled

Deadspin | Hawks F Mouhamed Gueye breaks foot during workout  Mar 21, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye (18) reacts after a basket against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
   Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye fractured his left foot during a workout on July 8, the team announced Wednesday.  Gueye, 23, underwent surgery Tuesday at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex in Atlanta to repair the fracture. He will be re-evaluated in three to four months, according to the Hawks, who start the preseason on Oct. 5 against the visiting Memphis Grizzlies.  Gueye played a career-high 77 games last regular season (eight starts) and averaged 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per game. He averaged 1.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 8.3 minutes as a reserve in six playoff games last season.   For his career, Gueye averages 4.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 15.4 minutes over 116 games (36 starts) since his rookie season of 2023-24.  The Charlotte Hornets selected Gueye in the second round (39th overall) of the 2023 NBA Draft out of Washington State. Six days later, he was part of a three-team trade involving the Boston Celtics that landed him in Atlanta.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Hawks #Mouhamed #Gueye #breaks #foot #workoutMar 21, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye (18) reacts after a basket against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye fractured his left foot during a workout on July 8, the team announced Wednesday.

Gueye, 23, underwent surgery Tuesday at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex in Atlanta to repair the fracture. He will be re-evaluated in three to four months, according to the Hawks, who start the preseason on Oct. 5 against the visiting Memphis Grizzlies.


Gueye played a career-high 77 games last regular season (eight starts) and averaged 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per game. He averaged 1.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 8.3 minutes as a reserve in six playoff games last season.

For his career, Gueye averages 4.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 15.4 minutes over 116 games (36 starts) since his rookie season of 2023-24.

The Charlotte Hornets selected Gueye in the second round (39th overall) of the 2023 NBA Draft out of Washington State. Six days later, he was part of a three-team trade involving the Boston Celtics that landed him in Atlanta.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Hawks #Mouhamed #Gueye #breaks #foot #workout">Deadspin | Hawks F Mouhamed Gueye breaks foot during workout  Mar 21, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye (18) reacts after a basket against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
   Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye fractured his left foot during a workout on July 8, the team announced Wednesday.  Gueye, 23, underwent surgery Tuesday at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex in Atlanta to repair the fracture. He will be re-evaluated in three to four months, according to the Hawks, who start the preseason on Oct. 5 against the visiting Memphis Grizzlies.  Gueye played a career-high 77 games last regular season (eight starts) and averaged 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per game. He averaged 1.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 8.3 minutes as a reserve in six playoff games last season.   For his career, Gueye averages 4.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 15.4 minutes over 116 games (36 starts) since his rookie season of 2023-24.  The Charlotte Hornets selected Gueye in the second round (39th overall) of the 2023 NBA Draft out of Washington State. Six days later, he was part of a three-team trade involving the Boston Celtics that landed him in Atlanta.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Hawks #Mouhamed #Gueye #breaks #foot #workout

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is in last days, and the main event for the entire month-plus of action is about to begin. The final between Spain and Argentina is set to take place on Sunday afternoon, with hundreds of millions of eyeballs glued to TV screens as we crown another champion of the world.

There’s no shortage of drama or emotion when it comes to Spain and Argentina. We have what is likely to be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, while Spain is looking to anoint Lamine Yamal as the next Messi for both Barcelona, and the national team. Let’s dive into what we think will happen in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

Mark Schofield: The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been dominated by superstars. Erling Haaland became a household name here in the United States thanks to a captivating blend of personality and skill. Kylian Mbappé continued his run at the record books with a dazzling string of performances. Jude Bellingham vaulted England deep into the knockout rounds with a legendary stretch of play. Lionel Messi is, well, Lionel Messi.

But through it all, even though Spain has a few premier talents on their roster, what makes La Roja dangerous is they look like the best team.

This is a side that yes, has Lamine Yamal but it is Mikel Oyarzabal leading the way in the goal chase, as the Real Sociedad forward who leads Spain in goals. Their buildup play has been masterful — a staple of Spanish teams year-after-year — but they have found the quality in the final third that was perhaps most evident on their second goal against France, this beauty off the foot of Pedro Porro following a lovely touch from Dani Olmo:

This is also a side that still has yet to concede a goal at the World Cup.

Now I know, Messi and Argentina look inevitable. The comeback against Egypt. The comeback against England. It feels like they are marching to yet another title, even if they have yet to play a perfect 90 minutes. If they do against Spain, they will be tough to beat.

But … consider Luis de la Fuente. The Spanish manager has just two losses during his tenure in charge. One was a loss to Portugal, on penalties, in the UEFA Nations League.

The other was a loss to Colombia in a friendly.

James Dator: There’s always a degree of emotion that comes into play when picking a game like this, but I have to put aside the romanticism of Argentina and just focus on what makes logical sense — which is the reality that Spain has been playing this tournament on an entirely other level.

If you went back in time to mid-June and said “Lamine Yamal won’t be that impactful in the World Cup” the consensus would widely be that Spain would get eliminated in either the Round of 16 or the quarter-finals. Instead, we’ve witnessed La Roja play a peerless game that has befuddled everyone they’ve played against thus far.

Look no further than what happened to France in the semi-finals. That was a team dripping with unbelievable scoring talent, and they were befuddled against the Spanish defense. I don’t buy that this was some mammoth collapse by France, as much as Spain had built an impenetrable wall that never lost its shape. Some of the best footballers in the world tried everything to generate chances, yet only managed to get four shots on target. If that’s all you can get with Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembélé, well, I don’t like the chances of anyone else.

Even with Lamal not making an impact, the ever-present counterattack threat of Lamal going off freezes teams from taking risks. This plays directly into Spain’s strategy, and they will choke you out with the long game. It gives me pause whether Argentina can push the pace through their wing play and get the soft opportunities in the box that they were given late in the game against England. This is an entirely different beast to face, and I think Spain can run them out of the park.

#World #Cup #Final #instant #prediction #Spain #Argentina">World Cup Final instant prediction for Spain vs. Argentina  The 2026 FIFA World Cup is in last days, and the main event for the entire month-plus of action is about to begin. The final between Spain and Argentina is set to take place on Sunday afternoon, with hundreds of millions of eyeballs glued to TV screens as we crown another champion of the world.There’s no shortage of drama or emotion when it comes to Spain and Argentina. We have what is likely to be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, while Spain is looking to anoint Lamine Yamal as the next Messi for both Barcelona, and the national team. Let’s dive into what we think will happen in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.Mark Schofield: The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been dominated by superstars. Erling Haaland became a household name here in the United States thanks to a captivating blend of personality and skill. Kylian Mbappé continued his run at the record books with a dazzling string of performances. Jude Bellingham vaulted England deep into the knockout rounds with a legendary stretch of play. Lionel Messi is, well, Lionel Messi.But through it all, even though Spain has a few premier talents on their roster, what makes La Roja dangerous is they look like the best team.This is a side that yes, has Lamine Yamal but it is Mikel Oyarzabal leading the way in the goal chase, as the Real Sociedad forward who leads Spain in goals. Their buildup play has been masterful — a staple of Spanish teams year-after-year — but they have found the quality in the final third that was perhaps most evident on their second goal against France, this beauty off the foot of Pedro Porro following a lovely touch from Dani Olmo:This is also a side that still has yet to concede a goal at the World Cup.Now I know, Messi and Argentina look inevitable. The comeback against Egypt. The comeback against England. It feels like they are marching to yet another title, even if they have yet to play a perfect 90 minutes. If they do against Spain, they will be tough to beat.But … consider Luis de la Fuente. The Spanish manager has just two losses during his tenure in charge. One was a loss to Portugal, on penalties, in the UEFA Nations League.The other was a loss to Colombia in a friendly.James Dator: There’s always a degree of emotion that comes into play when picking a game like this, but I have to put aside the romanticism of Argentina and just focus on what makes logical sense — which is the reality that Spain has been playing this tournament on an entirely other level.If you went back in time to mid-June and said “Lamine Yamal won’t be that impactful in the World Cup” the consensus would widely be that Spain would get eliminated in either the Round of 16 or the quarter-finals. Instead, we’ve witnessed La Roja play a peerless game that has befuddled everyone they’ve played against thus far.Look no further than what happened to France in the semi-finals. That was a team dripping with unbelievable scoring talent, and they were befuddled against the Spanish defense. I don’t buy that this was some mammoth collapse by France, as much as Spain had built an impenetrable wall that never lost its shape. Some of the best footballers in the world tried everything to generate chances, yet only managed to get four shots on target. If that’s all you can get with Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembélé, well, I don’t like the chances of anyone else.Even with Lamal not making an impact, the ever-present counterattack threat of Lamal going off freezes teams from taking risks. This plays directly into Spain’s strategy, and they will choke you out with the long game. It gives me pause whether Argentina can push the pace through their wing play and get the soft opportunities in the box that they were given late in the game against England. This is an entirely different beast to face, and I think Spain can run them out of the park.  #World #Cup #Final #instant #prediction #Spain #Argentina

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