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Brazil and France, ranked fifth and third in the world respectively, are gearing up for the FIFA World Cup with a high-profile friendly match in the United States on Thursday. The match at the Gillette Stadium near Boston, Massachusetts, marks the first meeting between the two teams in 11 years. The friendly comes as both teams finalize their preparations for the World Cup, with Brazil hoping to capitalize on the appointment of coach Carlo Ancelotti to boost their chances of winning a record-extending sixth World Cup title. Ancelotti's impact on the team will be closely watched, especially with key players like Vinicius Junior leading the charge. For France, the focus is on Kylian Mbappe, who has overcome a knee injury to return to action. Mbappe's fitness had been a concern, but he expressed confidence in his ability to contribute to the team during the international break. Brazil's form has been inconsistent, with six defeats in 18 World Cup qualifying games. However, Ancelotti's arrival has brought renewed optimism, and the team will look to build momentum ahead of the World Cup. Neymar's absence has been a significant talking point, with Ancelotti citing physical issues as the reason for the star player's exclusion from the squad. The match also provides an opportunity for younger players like Rayan, an uncapped 19-year-old, to make their mark. As both teams aim to peak at the right time for the World Cup, Thursday's friendly will offer valuable insights into their preparations and potential strategies.

Senegal has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to overturn the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip them of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and hand the trophy to Morocco. The appeal comes after CAF upheld a complaint by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, citing Senegal's infringement of tournament regulations when their players walked off the pitch in protest during the AFCON final on January 18. The final had ended 1-0 in extra time in favor of Senegal, but CAF declared the match a 3-0 defeat for Senegal, making Morocco the champions. The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) is now seeking to have the CAF decision overturned and be declared the winners of AFCON. The controversy began when Morocco was awarded a disputed penalty in injury time, leading to Senegalese players halting the game for nearly 20 minutes in protest. The penalty was saved, but Senegal eventually scored the winning goal in extra time. CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb stated that the arbitration proceedings would be conducted swiftly while ensuring a fair hearing for all parties involved. CAF president Patrice Motsepe has expressed support for the right of African countries to appeal to CAS, emphasizing that the continent's football governing body would respect the decision taken at the highest level. In related news, both Senegal and Morocco are set to play friendly matches as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup. Senegal will face Peru on Saturday, while Morocco will play Ecuador on Friday and Paraguay on March 31.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, a team once considered vulnerable, has surged ahead in the Western Conference with 12 wins in their last 13 games. Their recent performance has sparked discussions about their character and vibes, both on and off the court.At the heart of the Thunder's success is star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, known for his mechanically brilliant gameplay and deadly midrange jumper. This season, he's added a step-back three-pointer to his arsenal, producing more viscerally awesome moments than ever before. A notable example was his game-winning three-pointer against the Denver Nuggets on March 9, showcasing his clutch performance.Gilgeous-Alexander's personality, though sometimes quirky, has endeared him to fans. His love for fashion is evident in his game-day attire, from a mustard-colored leather suit to a fur coat. The Thunder's team dynamic is also characterized by their tendency to conduct on-court interviews in groups, showcasing their camaraderie.While some critics have labeled the Thunder as 'nerdy' and 'authentic,' these traits have become a breath of fresh air in the NBA. Their decision to decline a visit to the White House, citing a 'timing issue,' and their refusal to engage in certain political discussions, have also sparked conversation.Compared to other top NBA teams, the Thunder's quirks are a refreshing change. Unlike the Boston Celtics' reliance on three-pointers or Victor Wembanyama's sanctimonious views on the Spurs' playing style, the Thunder's approach is seen as more genuine. Even their defensive strategy, fueled by effort and creativity, as seen when Alex Caruso tried to block a shot with his shoe, has garnered admiration.As the Thunder continue to excel, their authenticity and team spirit are likely to win over more fans. Despite potential animosity from other teams, the Thunder's unique blend of personality and performance is set to make them a beloved team in the NBA.

Coco Gauff has reached the Miami Open final for the first time in her career with a convincing 6-1, 6-1 victory over Karolina Muchova. Despite Muchova's recent form, which included winning her first WTA 1000 title in Doha last month, Gauff's dominant performance was too much for her opponent.Gauff, only 22 years old, showcased her immense defensive skills, tracking down every ball and mixing up the pace and trajectory of her shots. This strategy left Muchova, known for her volleying skills, struggling to find her rhythm. Muchova's 0-5 record against Gauff continued, with Gauff taking full advantage of being on the winning side of this lopsided matchup.Earlier in the week, Gauff had expressed uncertainty about competing in Miami due to an arm injury. However, she opted to play and has since drawn on her mental strength to navigate through four three-set matches. Her recent wins against Belinda Bencic and Muchova have been particularly impressive, considering her remodelled serve and poor form this year.Gauff's next challenge will be to lift the trophy in the final on Saturday against the winner of the match between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, two of the best players in the world.

The ongoing energy crisis in Britain has exposed the consequences of successive governments' reliance on short-term, vote-winning policies, leaving the country vulnerable to strategic coercion, particularly in the energy sector. Britain has significant potential in tidal stream energy, with about 50% of Europe's tidal resources available within its territorial waters. This energy source is predictable, inexhaustible, and can be operational within three years of consent, independent of global energy prices and weather variability. Despite its potential, government support for tidal stream energy remains a tiny fraction of that provided to offshore wind, well under 1%. With stronger support, its costs could fall to parity with wind within five years. Operational projects in Scotland have already generated more than 70 GWh, while costs are falling by around 17% a year. The constraint on tidal stream energy is not technical, but political short-termism. It is time for the government to act and provide stronger support for this industry. Additionally, the article suggests that rooftop solar and battery storage can be encouraged to provide more renewables without blighting the countryside. An obligation can be put on energy companies to encourage their customers to install solar, and customers can be encouraged to include battery storage with the solar panels. Over time, this can lead to grid-level storage hosted over the whole grid, providing resilience for the energy companies and a way for renewables to provide many of the UK's energy needs.

Legendary quarterback Tom Brady has disclosed that he explored the possibility of returning to the NFL as a player, but the league was not keen on the idea. In a recent interview with CNBC Sport, Brady revealed that he had inquired about a potential comeback, but the league's response was lukewarm.Brady's last NFL game was in January 2023, when his team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, lost to the Dallas Cowboys. Since then, he has transitioned into a new role as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and a television analyst for Fox. A spokesperson for the league noted that if Brady were to return to playing, he would need to divest his stake in the Raiders.“I actually have inquired [about a return to playing], and [the NFL] don’t like that idea very much,” Brady said. “We explored a lot of different things, and I’m very happily retired. Let me just say that, too.”Despite his interest in a potential comeback, Brady emphasized that he is content with his decision to retire. He recently participated in a televised flag football game, where he threw a touchdown pass to receiver Stefon Diggs and appeared to be in good football shape. However, Brady insisted that the game only reconfirmed his happiness with his retirement.As a minority owner of the Raiders, Brady described his role as having no formal job description. He expressed his enthusiasm for contributing to the team's success and bringing a winning culture to Las Vegas.Brady's commitment to winning is legendary, and his achievements in the NFL are unparalleled. He holds the record for most Super Bowl wins (7), career passing touchdowns (649), and passing yards (89,214).

The World Cup playoffs have reached a critical stage, with several high-stakes matches set to determine which European teams will qualify for the tournament. Gennaro Gattuso's Italy are facing a significant challenge against Northern Ireland, a team they have not beaten in a competitive match since 1983.Craig Bellamy's Wales are also in action, taking on Bosnia and Herzegovina in a match that promises to be closely contested. The winner of that tie will face either Poland or Albania in the playoff final.The Republic of Ireland, who reached the playoffs thanks to Troy Parrott's late winner in Hungary, have a tough match against the Czech Republic in Prague. The victor will play either Denmark or North Macedonia at home on Tuesday.Graham Potter's Sweden are another team in action, facing Ukraine in Valencia with the winner hosting Poland or Albania next week. If Sweden win both ties on penalties, they will become the first team to qualify for a World Cup without winning a single match since Hungary in 1954.These matches represent the final hurdle for several teams hoping to qualify for the World Cup, and the pressure is on for managers like Gattuso, Bellamy, and Potter to deliver results.

Liverpool FC has officially announced that Mohamed Salah will depart the club at the end of the season. The news was shared in a statement released on Tuesday, with the club citing Salah's desire to be transparent with the supporters about his future.In a video message on his social media accounts, Salah expressed his gratitude to the club, city, and fans, highlighting the significant impact Liverpool has had on his life. He described Liverpool as more than just a football club, but a passion, history, and spirit.During his time at Liverpool, Salah has achieved immense success, helping the team secure two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup, two League Cups, and an FA Community Shield. He has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances, making him the club's all-time third-highest goalscorer and winning the Premier League Golden Boot on four occasions.Salah joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017 and has since established himself as one of the best players in the club's history. His departure marks the end of an era for the Egyptian star, who has been an integral part of the team's success over the past few years.

Partridge Boswell's poem, 'The Gathering', has been crowned the winner of this year's National Poetry Competition, a prestigious award that attracted over 21,000 entries from poets across 113 countries. The poem delves into themes of language, love, and the struggle to make sense of global suffering, state violence, and war.Boswell's work is a reflection of his attempt to process the emotional burden of following distressing global events. He describes how he wrote elegies, parodies, and rants to cope with his discomfort and disbelief. The poem specifically addresses the challenge of maintaining language's potency in the face of the relentlessness of the news cycle and the difficulty of resisting false narratives.The judges praised 'The Gathering' for its ambition, emotional stakes, and philosophical perspicacity. They noted that the poem reflects on the tensions between personal grief and state violence, particularly in Gaza. The poem questions how to preserve the potency of language amid the overwhelming nature of global events.Boswell, who is also the author of the Fool for Poetry prize-winning chapbook Levis Corner House and the Grolier prize-winning collection Some Far Country, will receive £5,000 for his winning poem. His work, along with the runner-up and third-place poems, will be published in the spring 2026 issue of The Poetry Review.The National Poetry Competition, founded in 1978, has a history of recognizing talented poets. Past winners include Carol Ann Duffy, Sinéad Morrissey, James Berry, and Tony Harrison. This year's competition saw seven commended poets receive £500 each, while Damen O'Brien's poem Axe secured the runner-up position with a £3,000 prize.