• The Canadian Press

    Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku ruled out of Ireland friendly due to groin issue

    BRUSSELS (AP) — Romelu Lukaku will miss Belgium's friendly in Ireland this weekend because of a groin problem. Lukaku missed a Europa League match last Thursday because of a recurring hip injury, then played 85 minutes on Sunday in Roma's 1-0 win against Sassuolo in Serie A. Belgium said on Tuesday that Lukaku was not fit to face Ireland “due to a slightly overloaded groin.” Belgium meets Ireland on Saturday in a warmup for the European Championship. It will then take on England next Tuesday. Lu

  • The Canadian Press

    Germany to play Ukraine, Greece in final warmup games for Euro 2024

    BERLIN (AP) — Germany will play Ukraine and Greece in its final warmup games before hosting the European Championship. The team will face Ukraine in Nuremberg on June 3, and four days later Greece, the 2004 European champion, in Mönchengladbach, the German soccer federation said on Tuesday. Both opponents need to get through playoffs to qualify for this summer’s tournament. Ukraine faces Bosnia-Herzegovina and Greece plays Kazakhstan in the playoff semifinals on Thursday. “We have to prepare for

  • The Canadian Press

    NBA teams on the defensive as scoring goes slightly down after All-Star break

    New Orleans forward Herbert Jones learned a long time ago the critical component to being an elite defensive stopper was keeping whoever you're guarding in front of you. It's that simple. It's that difficult, too. “You do the best you can,” Jones said. Contrary to popular belief, there HAS been some defense played in the NBA this season (it's just been tougher). It's been on display more following the All-Star break and on the heels of that record-setting 211-186 All-Star Game when all signs of

  • The Canadian Press

    Dodgers-Padres season opener is a triumphant homecoming for Korean star Kim

    SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is getting most of the attention as his Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres start the MLB this week in the first-ever regular season games in South Korea. But the two-game “Seoul Series” starting Wednesday is also a triumphant homecoming for the Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, who is coming off a dominant season and returning to a stadium he previously called home. Kim, who played for the Korea Baseball Organization’s Kiwoom Heroes for seven season