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The Knicks’starting lineup is finally at full strength.

OG Anunoby returned to the floor on Friday against the Jazz, his first game since injuring his hamstring on Nov. 14. The forward missed nine games just when he was putting up some of the best numbers of his career.

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But Anunoby picked up where he left off, scoring 11 points and assisting one in 23 minutes on Friday night. As with any game Anunoby plays, his impact goes far beyond the stat sheet. The first defensive possession for the Knicks, Anunoby forced a bad pass from Jazz forward Svi Mykhailiuk, one of many stops by the Knicks as they got off to a 23-0 start, the best in NBA history since play-by-play has been recorded (1997-98), en route to a 146-112 rout.

“I didn’t really notice it. We were just playing. Someone told us later,” Anunoby said. “I didn’t even notice they didn’t score; we were just getting stops and going. So felt pretty good just playing the way we try to play all the time.”

That good feeling extended to Anunoby’s health. He said he felt good after the game and that he missed playing with his teammates and playing for the fans. But he did not have a good time being unable to play. In those few weeks of missing action, Anunoby described his time recovering as “not fun” but still tried to help his teammates however he could.

“Just try to help in any way possible,” Anunoby said. “Be supportive, talk to my teammates, tell them what I’m seeing, and still help.”

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Part of that support is watching film and pointing out little things his teammates are not doing or what teams are doing to the Knicks and trying to get them to incorporate it.

Anunoby’s 23 minutes was good, but head coach Mike Brown was hoping to extend his forward even longer, but the score dictated he empty his bench. Brown did allow Anunoby to play with the reserves as the rest sat on the bench, watching for most of the fourth quarter.

“It was tough because you always wonder… you get a big lead, you donâ€t want anybody to get hurt. But we needed to get OG some game minutes to work on his conditioning,” Brown explained. “He looked good for the time he was out there. I would have loved to get him 25-26 minutes, but 22-23 worked good enough, especially with the way we had the lead tonight.”

Anunoby says he’ll need just a couple of game to feel like he’s in game shape, and he’ll definitely need his conditioning when the Knicks welcome a physical Magic team to the Garden on Sunday.

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The Knicks welcomed back OG Anunoby on Friday night after the wing missed three weeks with a hamstring injury, but the situation that he found himself returning to was not the one that he’d left. In his stead, Josh Hart had re-entered the starting lineup and recaptured his old magic while the Knicks had won six of their last eight games. When it was announced that Anunoby would be returning, there were plenty of questions surrounding who would start and how seamlessly the pieces would all fit together.

For one night, the answer was a resounding “Just right,” as the Knicks were challenged in a 146-112 win over the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden.

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Before Anunoby’s injury, the 28-year-old wing was thriving in new head coach Mike Brown’s system. Anunoby was averaging 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 47.6% from the field and 39.2% from beyond the arc. He was playing elite defense on the wing and, through 12 games, seemed on track to be selected to his first career All-Star game.

But not all of his teammates were enjoying as much success.

The beginning of the year had not been kind to Josh Hart. When the season began, there were a few questions surrounding the man who seemingly never left the floor under the previous head coach, Tom Thibodeau. With a new sheriff in town, it was announced that Mitchell Robinson would enter the starting lineup, pushing Karl-Anthony Towns to the power forward role and moving Josh Hart to the bench. Then, in training camp, Hart aggravated a nerve injury in the ring finger of his shooting hand, which causes his finger to swell and go numb, obviously impacting his shooting and ball-handling. Hart decided to delay surgery until after the season, but the results were not good early in the year.

In the first 10 games of the season, Hart averaged 8.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 0.8 steals in 23.8 minutes per night. He was shooting 44.4% from the field (33.3% from deep) with a 51% effective field goal rate. On top of his offensive struggles, he was posting an uncharacteristically poor 116.1 defensive rating and a 10.1 Player Impact Estimate, which is kind of like basketball’s version of WAR (Wins Above Replacement). He seemed frustrated by his performance and his role, and there was some worry that he might not fit into Mike Brownâ€s new system as well as he had under Thibodeau.

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Still, the Knicks were 7-3 in those games. Mitchell Robinson was proving to be perhaps the best offensive rebounder in the league, and the new offensive system that stressed ball movement and a drive-and-kick philosophy had led to strong starts for Anunoby and Bridges. It seemed like this was the way things would continue, until Anunoby hurt his hamstring just five minutes into an NBA Cup game against the Miami Heat on November 14th.

That game proved to be a turning point for Hart. The 30-year-old was asked to play more minutes with Jalen Brunson already out with an ankle injury, and Anunoby leaving the game. But Hart responded, putting up a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Knicks won 140-132.

Over his next nine games, including that NBA Cup performance, Hart averaged 15.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.8 steals in 34.3 minutes per game. He shot 55.3% from the field (45% from deep) with a 65% effective field goal rate. His defensive rating also improved to 113.7, and his Player Impact Estimate was up to 14.6.

His performance did not go unnoticed as head coach Mike Brown blamed himself for Hartâ€s poor start: “Iâ€ll take the hit on that…The tough part was, even backing up further, [Hart] didnâ€t really play in the preseason; he didnâ€t even really practice in the preseason. So, for me, I was behind the eight ball and was really trying to figure out how to incorporate him with what weâ€re trying to do. It just took time, and he was extremely patient with the process…His sacrifice was unbelievable because when I took him out, he just sat. When I called his number, he went out and played. But more importantly, his belief in the process, even if he thought I was wrong, was awesome.â€

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That belief wasn’t only rewarded with improved performance but with a return to the starting lineup. Hart started the last five games coming into Friday’s contest, and Coach Brown credited his coaching staff with helping him adjust: “You know, I had reasons why I started the other way [with Hart coming off the bench],†explained Brown after Wednesdayâ€s win against the Hornets. “But my staff, I think all of them, were like, ‘Hey, these are the reasons why it would be better.†And the reality of it is, I just listened to my staff. I said, Okay, if Iâ€m the only one thinking that other way may be better at that time, then maybe Iâ€m wrong.â€

Given all of that, when Anunoby was cleared to play tonight, Coach Brown made the decision to start Hart alongside him, pushing Robinson to the bench and using the starting lineup that the Knicks had used for most of the 2024-25 season. While some of that could have been impacted by the fact that Robinson himself doesn’t seem to be 100% healthy, it was also a nod to how well Hart had been playing and how much he means to the team.

For one night, against a poor Jazz team, the new/old starting lineup worked. The Knicks led 23-0 to start the game and never looked back.

Neither Hart nor Anunoby was particularly impactful on the offensive end in that first quarter. Hart scored two points but grabbed three rebounds and dished out one assist, while Anunoby posted three points with no other stats. More importantly, the offense clearly flowed well, and both players were solid defensively. Anunoby would go on to finish with 11 points, one assist, and no rebounds in 23 rusty minutes. Still, he was back out on the court, and that’s what mattered most.

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“It felt good,” Anunoby said after the game about being back on the court. “Missed playing with my teammates. Missed the fans. I missed it, it was really fun playing.”

Hart finished with eight points, six rebounds, six assists, and a steal in 28 minutes. Most of the Knicks’ starters sat for the fourth quarter, with not a single starter playing in the final eight minutes of the game.

At the end of the day, it was one game against one of the weaker teams in the NBA, but it seems that the Knicks are preparing for life with both Hart and Anunoby in the starting five yet again. As a whole, that lineup was the eighth most effective five-man lineup, based on net rating, of any lineup the Knicks used for at least 60 minutes last season. There were only 12 qualified lineups. That lineup also had the third-worst defensive rating.

Yet, coming into Friday’s game, that same lineup had played 40 minutes together this season and had the fourth-highest net rating of the nine qualified Knicks lineups. It also had the fourth-best defensive rating.

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Perhaps in a new system, this five-man lineup could have new life. It seems like we’ll get a chance to find out.

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The former Dakota Kai is getting back into the ring.

Since her release from WWE back in May, Kai has been on a break from wrestling. That will be ending soon, though, with Pro Wrestling Eve announcing that Kai will be competing at its Wrestle Queendom VIII show on March 8, 2026. She is being billed as “Charlie” and is set to challenge AEW star Kris Statlander for the Eve International Championship.

Sunday 8th March 2026 | International Womenâ€s Day | Wrestle Queendom 8

Kris Statlander (c) Vs Charlie (fka Dakota Kai)
– EVE Imternation Championship

ðŸŽŸï¸ pic.twitter.com/SmQC5eVLAV

— Will Ospreay • ウィル・オスプレイ (@WillOspreay) December 5, 2025

Wrestle Kingdom VIII is happening on International Women’s Day in 2026. The show will be held in London, England at Indigo at The O2.

It remains to be seen if this will be Kai’s first match back or if she will be taking more bookings before then. During a stream on her “charliegirl” Twitch channel this September, Kai said she missed wrestling and would be returning after taking some time away.

“I miss wrestling, you guys. Weâ€re going to get back into it,†she said. “Itâ€s just one of those things where itâ€s been nice to have a little bit of a break. Iâ€ve been doing it for a long time, longer than the last seven years I was with WWE, you know what I mean? So it is nice to take a step back… but I really do miss it.â€

Along with streaming on Twitch, Kai co-hosts a podcast with WWE’s Zelina Vega.

Pro Wrestling Eve is a UK-based women’s wrestling promotion that has existed since 2010. Will Ospreay is involved with helping the promotion behind the scenes.

Wrestle Queendom is Eve’s biggest event. The name of the show is a takeoff of NJPW’s annual Wrestle Kingdom spectacular.

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Joseph Currier

Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.

In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated’s wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.

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Senators head coach Travis Green told reporters on Friday that Pinto will not play Saturday against the St. Louis Blues.

Pinto suffered a lower-body injury in Thursday’s loss to the New York Rangers. Green said Friday that there is no timetable for his injury as he is still being evaluated.

Pinto left Thursday’s contest midway through the opening period after taking a hard hit into the boards by Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad.

The Senators centre was seen labouring while on his way to the bench before eventually exiting to the locker room and ultimately being ruled out.

He exited after just 5:07 of ice time.

Any long-term absence for Pinto will be a big blow to the Senators, as the 25-year-old has yet to miss a game this season and leads Ottawa in goals (12) and is fourth on the roster for points (18).

Green also said that centre Lars Eller will remain out on Saturday as he continues to recover from an undisclosed injury.

In some good news for Ottawa, Green said he expects defenceman Artem Zub to return to action on Saturday.

Zub did not play against the Rangers on Thursday due to a lower-body injury.

After the loss to the Rangers, Ottawa sits fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 13-10-4 record.

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In head-to-head fantasy basketball leagues, it all comes down to the weekend. You can have a comfortable lead in multiple categories or by a bunch of points, but if you donâ€t make the most of the weekend, you can walk out with a loss.

The Nets, Pacers, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Suns, Kings, Spurs and Wizards only play once this weekend. In order to maximize your opportunities, avoid those teams if youâ€re deciding between a few options.

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Absolute must-start: Josh Hart, New York Knicks

After starting the year as a reserve, Hart has earned his starting spot in New York. Even if OG Anunoby, who is questionable after missing nine games with a hamstring strain, returns to the lineup, Hart should remain a starter. His production over the last two weeks has been even better than what he put out last season.

New York plays Utah on Friday and Orlando on Sunday. The Jazz have been a good rebounding team over the course of the season, but that hasnâ€t held true over the last five games, where theyâ€ve allowed the sixth-most rebounds per game and have the seventh-worst defensive rebounding percentage, which should allow Hart to have a big night on the glass.

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Last season, the Magic played at the slowest pace in the league, but that number has improved this year, specifically in recent weeks. The bump in pace allows for more possessions to be played and more stats to be accumulated, which makes it a great matchup for Hart.

Guards

Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies

Wells has been on a heater lately. Over his last five games, he is averaging 19 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 3 triples per game while shooting 57.7% from deep. This weekend heâ€ll take on the Clippers and the Trail Blazers. L.A. has been worse, but neither team has defended the 3-point line well in recent weeks, providing Wells a great opportunity to stay hot.

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Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee Bucks

With Giannis Antetokounmpo set to miss 2-4 weeks with a calf strain, there will be plenty of usage available in Milwaukee. Both KPJ and Ryan Rollins should be strong fantasy assets, though with KPJ more available in Yahoo! leagues, weâ€re rolling with him on this list. Friday is a matchup with the 76ers, who are playing the second night of a back-to-back. Saturday is against Detroit. Neither is an ideal matchup, but KPJ (and Rollins) will have surpassed the need for a beneficial matchup. They are must-start players as long as Giannis is out.

Davion Mitchell, Miami Heat

Nobody has played faster than the Heat this season, but over the last five games, the Magic are one of two teams that have. Their showdown on Friday should be a fast-paced, high-scoring affair, which should allow Mitchell to have a big night. After that, they take on the Kings on Saturday. Theyâ€ve been one of the worst defensive teams in the league this year, so Mitchell could have another strong night, especially if the veterans struggle to keep up with how fast Miami plays.

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Forwards

Jaylon Tyson, Cleveland Cavaliers

As long as Tyson is starting, he should be rostered and streamed confidently. In 13 starts this year, Tyson is averaging 14.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.8 blocks and 2.6 triples per game. Matchups with the shorthanded Spurs and Warriors should allow Tyson to continue to play well. Both Darius Garland (toe) and Jarrett Allen (finger) have been ruled out against San Antonio already, so Tyson is locked in as a starter for at least one more game.

Peyton Watson, Denver Nuggets

Watson has been awesome as a fill-in starter with Christian Braun (ankle) sidelined. Denver will take on the Hawks, one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, and the Hornets, one of the worst defensive teams in the league, this weekend. Watson is averaging 15.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1 steal, 1.2 blocks and 1.7 triples in 11 games as a starter this season.

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Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers

Grant started the year as a reserve, but he has been starting for a few weeks now. The Blazers will take on the Pistons and Grizzlies this weekend, and while Detroit is in the bottom half of the league in 3-pointers allowed per game over their last 10 games, Memphis has allowed the third-most during that stretch. Grant should be able to have some strong nights.

Centers

Kelâ€el Ware, Miami Heat

Wareâ€s been at his best as a starter, but he has been able to have his fair share of good performances as a reserve. Orlandoâ€s fast pace should allow Ware to collect plenty of boards, and Sacramento has been the worst rebounding team in the league this season. Domantas Sabonis†continued absence will only make things easier.

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Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers

Aytonâ€s rebounding numbers have been down this year, but this weekend is a solid opportunity for him. The Celtics have been one of the worst defensive rebounding teams in the league over their last five games, which should allow Ayton to make an impact. Thatâ€s the Friday matchup, and on Sunday, theyâ€ll take on the 76ers. That means a matchup with either Andre Drummond or Joel Embiid, who hasnâ€t looked like his typical self. The 76ers have the third-worst rebounding percentage in the league over their last five games.

Jusuf Nurkic, Utah Jazz

Utahâ€s games against the Knicks and Thunder seem daunting, but Nurkic has been effective as a starter. He missed Thursdayâ€s game with a rib contusion, so this one is dependent on him being healthy and available. The matchup on Sunday is more favorable for Nurkic; without Isaiah Hartenstein, OKC has not been as effective on the glass. He should be fine against the Knicks if he plays, but Sundayâ€s outing is the opportunity for a big night.

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TNA Wrestling is moving to AMC, which is a big win for them. This may also see a former World Champion, and current shoo-in WWE Hall of Famer, make his return for a night.

TNAâ€s interest in bringing AJ Styles back to wrestle once again has gained new attention as the former company frontman is moving so much closer to his planned 2026 retirement. This could result in a big rating for TNA Wrestling as well, but itâ€s up to WWE to give him the green light.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that a WWE source indicated TNA would like Styles to wrestle for the promotion again, maybe on their first AMC show. This is a move that could help deliver a strong rating for them. It may also help reconnect Styles with a roster that includes longtime friend Frankie Kazarian as their current World Champion.

WWE allowed Styles to appear at Slammiversary on July 20 at UBS Arena but did not approve an in-ring return. This may be a different story, especially with the importance of TNA Wrestlingâ€s AMC debut.

AJ Styles has already confirmed that 2026 will be his final year as an active wrestler. He has repeated that he wants to retire before turning 50 and step away on his own terms. This may also come with a shaved head by the time he hangs up his boots.

The Phenomenal Oneâ€s retirement plans also include the possibility of a coaching or behind-the-scenes role with WWE after he stops wrestling. Styles has noted he is open to that path if both sides agree.

We will have to see what is in the future for TNA Wrestling and WWE as they continue their partnership. AJ Styles is certainly a man that TNA Wrestling would love to have the current WWE Tag Team Champion compete in their ring once again, as he was a crucial part of the companyâ€s early years. As a former two-time TNA World Champion, and three-time NWA World Champion that he held in TNA, it only makes sense to try very hard to make this match happen.

Whatâ€s your take on AJ Styles wrestling again for TNA? Do you think that WWE should let him do more with TNA? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

December 5, 2025 10:42 am

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And, 12 years on, hereâ€s the second best World Cup draw – Alan Partridge and his signposts. “Shit, did you see that!â€

The goalie has got football pie all over his shirt.Share

This is a great clip – chaos at the 1982 World Cup draw. Features Jimmy Hill, Tony Gubba, boos from the crowd, perplexed looks from Graeme Souness, Alan Hansen and Pat Jennings, a lottery cage that stops spinning and a broken ball. Barry Davies is your commentator.

Wait for Jimmy Hillâ€s punchline at the end.Share

Another World Cup draw email. Steven Grundy writes: “As a Scot, I still cannot believe that we are going to the World Cup! I am still waiting for the Danes to score in the 95th minute. The best draw we could get would probably be Canada, Australia, and Curaco. So… I canâ€t wait for us to get smashed by France, Uruguay and Italy (still to qualify, obviously).â€

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An email from David Estherby. “Wow that Ciao mascot [09.58] has just sent a pile of memories flooding back. 1990 was my first World Cup (I was 7 so Mexico 86 was missed due to [probably] being more interested in destroying various parts of the house/my parents†mental health than watching football). the football was crap but I still think it was the best one in spectacle. Best mascot by a mile too. Lovely stuff.â€

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Letâ€s segue from Slot to a now former Liverpool player, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. The Brentford stopper has been speaking on the Ben Foster podcast, the Fozcast.

“[On how much of the Moneyball side of Brentford he sees] We see a little bit of it, with the goalkeeping coaches, where they are showing us our kicking, target areas, maybe the height of your call. When Iâ€m practising kicking, I can get live feedback from the iPad. Weâ€re using earphones in training – it might be a passing game, you put on big, noise-cancelling headphones. They play music or simulate crowd noise. Then youâ€ll do a passing drill. Itâ€s to take one of your senses away, so you have to scan a bit more. Theyâ€re pushing boundaries in that kind of stuff.â€

Caoimhin Kelleher on the Fozcast.Share

Slot was also asked about Alexander Isakâ€s lack of involvement in games. The stats show that the striker has averaged just 14 touches of the ball in the last three matches although he did score his first Premier League goal in the win over West Ham.

Slot likes his stats it seems. “No, itâ€s not ideal for me, but do you know how many he [Isak] had at Newcastle on average? Twenty-two. In this league, strikers donâ€t touch the ball that much but the few times they do touch it, itâ€s quite nice if they then finish it off. I have no clue what the stats of [Erling] Haaland are, but I wouldnâ€t be surprised – I have no clue – if he maybe doesnâ€t touch it 100 times a game, but he does score a lot. Itâ€s more important for them to touch the ball in the right time than to touch it so many times. We have to make sure, because thatâ€s a complete difference from Haaland and Alex that Haaland touches it much more in moments where it matters and there we have to improve. Thatâ€s clear and obvious – we and he as well.â€

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Updated at 05.48 EST

Slot: Liverpool aiming for ‘top four’ return

Arne Slot has been speaking ahead of Liverpoolâ€s trip to Leeds on Saturday evening. The Reds will hope to make it seven points out of nine after following up a 2-0 win at West Ham with a 1-1 home draw against Sunderland. In truth, nine points would have been the expectation from these three games although Slot is putting a positive spin on events.

“Four points out of two games is different from the last two home games weâ€ve played, in which we lost both and conceded seven goals [3-0 v Nottingham Forest and 4-1 v PSV].

“In the last two games, we were one deflection away from keeping two clean sheets. Thatâ€s a step forward if you compare it to seven goals conceded in two games. We did not concede from a set-piece, which is also important, and we got two results.

“There are positives to take, but of course we are still not where we want to be. Let that be obvious and clear. It is definitely our aim to come back to the top four because weâ€re obviously not happy with the position we are in at the moment.â€

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Updated at 06.20 EST

Back to domestic matters and last nightâ€s Premier League clash at Old Trafford. Despite looking absolutely woeful against Liverpool, West Ham managed to nick a point with a late equaliser against Manchester United. Ruben Amorim was pretty miffed itâ€s fair to say.

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Ashes news. Quick plug for our other live blog. It was looking a bit grim for England but then two quick wickets! What a catch by Will Jacks! Rob Smyth has the details.

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More World Cup draw content and Will Unwin has been looking at worst-case scenarios, the big misery guts. Then again, it would surely be massive fun for England to be grouped with Erling Haalandâ€s Norway.

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Hereâ€s England boss Thomas Tuchel talking about the prospect of being drawn against Scotland. Yes, such a group could happen.

“If it happens, it happens and we make the most of it. It will be a nice story. I have no wishes on opponents. I think if you wish for something and think you are superior, itâ€s close to arrogance and you donâ€t want to be arrogant. We want to respect everyone.â€

More Tuchel pre-draw quotes here.

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Youâ€ll see the current crop of World Cup mascots at the top of the page. Iâ€ll also list them below in case it changes. Anyways, this is a nice graphic. Personal favourites and the ones that have resonated are Willie (England 1966), Juanito (Mexico 1970), Naranjito (Spain 1982) and Ciao (Italy 1990).

Graphic of the different mascots at World Cups. Photograph: Keystone

The trio for 2026…

The official mascots of the 2026 World Cup: Maple the Moose of Canada, Zayu the Jaguar of Mexico, and Clutch the Bald Eagle of the United States. Photograph: Julio César Aguilar/AFP/Getty ImagesShare

The Village People are playing at the World Cup draw today. Yep, Iâ€ve even seen a full ‘Who are the Village People?†Explainer piece on another website. We wonâ€t go that far but I couldnâ€t help but wonder if any of the originals are performing. Turns out, founder Victor Willis – either the policeman or the naval officer – is still part of the line-up despite now being 74. Todayâ€s current Village People are now a six-piece and, according to Wiki, there have been 21 previous members. This reminds me of a time I stayed in an Airbnb in Liverpool and the owner told me she was married to a former member of Kool & The Gang. This was very exciting news until finding out that about 1 in 8 people had also been in the band.

The Village People. Victor is top middle. Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesShare

Our David Hytner is in Washington for the World Cup draw. And he has an important message in this analysis piece: amid all the hoopla, Fridayâ€s event must be all about firing the starting gun on footballâ€s biggest show.

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As in every World Cup, thereâ€ll be a clamour to coin a ‘Group of Deathâ€. In theory, we could have one for 2026 comprising Argentina, Morocco, Italy and Norway.

But, remember kids, never rule out the least chilling member of the quartet. How about 2014 when Costa Rica won a Group D featuring England, Italy and Uruguay. Lest we forget, Roy Hodgsonâ€s side were killed off after just two games.

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Itâ€s 188 days until World Cup 2026 but precisely zero days until the World Cup draw! Letâ€s start with the basics and this highly entertaining Explainer piece from Tom Lutz.

Before you go in depth, a quick note that the 12 groups for the World Cup will be formed by one team from each pot.

Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany.

Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia.

Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte dâ€Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa.

Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, four European playoff teams, two intercontinental playoff teams.

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Updated at 04.20 EST

Preamble

Itâ€s World Cup draw day! Beyond the overbloated nonsense and political posturing, this is still must-watch TV/radio/live blog as theoretical games we play on FIFA actually become wallchart reality. The whole shebang starts at around 5pm although itâ€ll be a while after that before any names are actually drawn.

Beyond that, just two days after the last one was completed, thereâ€s another round of Premier League matches. This is Matchweek 15 and yet the table still looks a bit weird and unsettled. As The Anfield Wrapâ€s Phil Blundell wrote on X: “Really funny how the Premier League season is basically everyone bar Wolves fans, Arsenal fans and City fans going ‘how are we below them?â€

Righty, while keeping one eye on the Ashes, keep the other one on here where weâ€ll have loads of team news, manager press conferences, World Cup draw buildup and much, much more!

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NASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler returned to competition Thursday for the first time in two months, and very little changed. Even with a bogey on the final hole, he had a 6-under 66 and was part of a five-way tie for the lead in the Hero World Challenge.

Scheffler was tied with U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, Sepp Straka, Wyndham Clark and Akshay Bhatia on a warm, breezy afternoon at Albany Golf Club.

The world’s No. 1 player wasn’t the only one who had taken plenty of time off. Straka also had not played since the Ryder Cup ended the last weekend in September.

The Hero World Challenge has a 20-man field, an end-of-the-year holiday event that top players often use as the first step toward getting ready for next year. Scheffler is coming off a six-win season that included two majors and nothing worse than a tie for eighth in his past 15 tournaments.

His only change was a new driver, and it performed to his standards. The rest of his game looked solid as ever. Scheffler had birdies on four of the six scoring holes — four par-5s and two reachable par-4s. His only lapse was a chip that ran across and over the 18th green.

“I did some good stuff,” Scheffler said. “I felt like I could have shot a good amount lower. There’s always a little bit of a rust. Once you get into competition, I don’t really think about that stuff.”

Scottie Scheffler shot a 6-under 66 on Thursday to finish in a five-way tie for the lead in the Hero World Challenge. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Bhatia and Straka played bogey-free. Clark, Scheffler and Spaun each reached 7 under at one point until dropping a shot late in the round. Clark was at 7 under going to the par-5 15th, but a poor tee shot led to bogey. Spaun bogeyed the 18th from a fairway bunker.

Clark and Bhatia each holed bunker shots for eagle on the reachable par-4 seventh.

All but four players broke par in the opening round, with newcomer Chris Gotterup at 74 and Robert MacIntyre at 73.

Jordan Spieth, who received a sponsor exemption, was playing for the first time since the FedEx St. Jude Championship to start the postseason and opened with a 72. He had been working on his game to rid of bad habits, but there was clear rust. Spieth ran off three straight birdies on the front nine, but none over the last 11 while struggling with his chipping and at times his putting.

And it probably didn’t help that he was alongside Scheffler, who is going after his third straight title in the Hero World Challenge. Dating to last year, Scheffler went 41 consecutive holes without a bogey until missing the 18th green and hitting his chip too hard.

A 43-year-old WWE star is set to return to programming with a new gimmick and a renewed push.

The latest edition of WWE RAW showcased a vignette in which Maxxine Dupri was seen training with a mystery figure. It was later revealed to be Natalya. The vignette also teased the welcome addition of Nattie and the ‘Lowkey Legend’ gimmick to RAW.

The gimmick has been used by the 43-year-old previously on the independent scene and gained a lot of traction among fans both in attendance and online. Now, the gimmick is coming to WWE, with new reports suggesting a renewed push for the star.

Natalya, 43, Will Return To WWE With New Gimmick

According to WrestleVotes, Natalya’s Lowkey Legend gimmick has gained significant traction among WWE’s management, and it will see her return to the company’s programming with the new gimmick and become a strong part of the women’s division.

Natalya, 43, has been one of the most well-respected stars of the women’s roster over the last few years. She is looked up to by talent both new and old, and it seems her renewed gimmick will give a new lease of life to her stint in the promotion. A legend also had the same opinion.

Natalyaâ€s work as the ‘Lowkey Legend†caught the attention of upper management, including how well it was being received by fans in-person and on social media.

The decision was then made to bring the character to WWE TV with hopes that Nattie will be a strong part of the womenâ€s… pic.twitter.com/pU4OaZ2yXO

— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) December 4, 2025

It remains to be seen how things pan out on the upcoming edition of RAW.

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A return to the ring is possible for Brie Bella, but it sounds like it would need to be with her sister Nikki by her side.

Brie recently said she “definitely” has one last run in her and left the door open as to whether it would happen in WWE or somewhere else. Her twin sister Nikki is currently back in WWE but, through this point, has not had Brie with her. It’s been a solo run for Nikki, who unsuccessfully challenged Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship at Survivor Series last weekend.

Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Bryan Danielson said his wife Brie is not interested in having her own singles run. She wants to team with Nikki if she comes back to wrestling.

“Only in certain contexts,” Danielson responded when asked if he thinks Brie would ever return. “She doesn’t want to come back and do like a singles run or anything like that. If she comes back, she would want to do it with [Nikki]. But I think there’s something in her, too, that — and I can appreciate this — because our kids see her as just a mom. ‘Just a mom,’ as if that isn’t the hardest job in the world. Part of her, I think, has a desire to have the kids see her in that light [as a wrestler].â€

Aside from an appearance in the 2022 Royal Rumble, Brie has not wrestled since 2018. She and Nikki were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame together as members of the class of 2020.

Brie stated earlier this year that she believes Danielson’s association with AEW has been a “roadblock” toward WWE bringing her back. Danielson wrapped up his full-time career in the ring with AEW in 2024 and remains with the promotion in a role that includes being part of the Dynamite commentary team.

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Joseph Currier

Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.

In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated’s wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.

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