World Cup hosts Russia provided a five-star opening night performance in Moscow with a 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia. Keith Duggan was reporting from the Luzhniki Stadium where; "the national football team was supposed to be the weak link in Rossiya's football extravaganza but instead they whipped Moscow into a frenzy with five goals which nobody expected, including a strike from Denis Cheryshev that will, in time, become a familiar World Cup moment."
Today, Uruguay take on Egypt, with the latter's talisman Mohamed Salah set to play in the country's first World Cup match in 28 years despite his shoulder injury in Liverpool's Champions League final. While there's more at stake than points for Spain as their tournament kicks off this evening against Portugal, following the sacking of Real Madrid-bound manager Julen Lopetegui.
Dustin Johnson, the world number one, Scott Piercy, Russell Henley and Ian Poulter were the only players to shoot sub-par rounds on a tough opening day at the US Open when the wind swirled around the landscape. Shane Lowry struggled to 75 on 'worst greens I've seen in a long time', while Rory McIlroy (80), Tiger Woods (78) and Jordan Spieth (78) – also struggled.
In his column this morning Jackie Tyrrell is looking ahead to the weekend's final round of matches in the Munster hurling round-robin series, and the clash of Limerick and Clare in particular. Cian Lynch is snapping at Tony Kelly's heels he writes, explaining how the two players have taken a very different trajectory over the past two seasons; "Stop-start performances are now becoming a dangerous norm for Tony Kelly, who has to be careful that he doesn't become a cautionary tale for the likes of Cian Lynch to learn from."
Joe Schmidt has made eight changes to Ireland's starting line-up to face Australia this weekend - with the Test in Melbourne being a make or break one following last Saturday's 18-9 defeat. The return of Johnny Sexton is expected to be a major boost for Ireland - Schmidt explains why: "that instinctive nature, clarity of thought, ability to read the game and direct people around the pitch. All those aspects, and his leadership."
A defeat to Japan on Sunday in Beziers will see Ireland relegated from the Under-20 World Championship to the second tier Under-20 World Trophy tournament next season. John O'Sullivan reports on a team who have lost seven of their nine matches this season, and what's gone wrong; "Post tournament there'll be a need for introspection from an IRFU perspective, re-examining a system where Under-20 players are selected from provincial academies and sub academies, the absence of inter-provincials, and trying to guarantee a playing structure that offers high quality rugby without overloading young bodies. The injury profile is a little worrying."
Meanwhile Antoine Griezmann announced last night that he is staying with Atletico Madrid, after being heavily linked with a €100million move to Barcelona this summer.
