SPORTS HEADLINES

France and Morocco meet again at the World Cup, this time in the quarterfinals

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Connections run deep in the World Cup quarterfinal match between France and Morocco. France beat Morocco in the semifinals at the 2022 tournament in Qatar when the Atlas Lions became the first African team to make it that far. France is looking to remain on track to become only the third nation to play in the final of three consecutive World Cups. But it’s more than that. Six Moroccan players were born on French soil. The links also extend to club play, with France captain Kylian Mbappé and midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni both playing for Real Madrid alongside Morocco midfielder Brahim Diaz.

Raptors and Clippers put trade for Kawhi Leonard on hold, pending end of NBA investigation

Kawhi Leonard’s trade to the Toronto Raptors is on hold because of an NBA investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers. The league is examining whether the Clippers circumvented salary cap rules. The Raptors announced Thursday they will wait for the investigation’s outcome. The NBA’s probe began in September, focusing on a $28 million endorsement contract between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC. The Raptors and Clippers had agreed on a trade earlier this month. Leonard, a seven-time All-Star, is coming off his highest-scoring season. There is no timetable for the investigation’s conclusion.

Coco Gauff ‘panicked’ on match-point miss in drama-filled Wimbledon semifinal loss

LONDON (AP) — Karolina Muchova ended Coco Gauff’s run at Wimbledon in a drama-filled tiebreaker to reach the final. Gauff wasted a match point in the tiebreaker and so did Muchova before she finished it off to win 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (10). Muchova will meet Linda Noskova in all-Czech final on Saturday after Noskova beat Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-4, 6-4. The men’s semifinals on Friday feature top-ranked and defending champion Jannik Sinner against seven-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic and French Open champion Alexander Zverev against British wild card Arthur Fery.

US star Christian Pulisic fractured his leg in World Cup loss to Belgium

U.S. star Christian Pulisic fractured his right leg during the Americans’ World Cup loss to Belgium and will be sidelined for several weeks. Pulisic has a bone bruise and a microfracture of his tibia and fibula, according to the U.S. Soccer Federation. The diagnosis was made after an X-ray and MRI on Tuesday. He is expected to be able to resume training before AC Milan’s opener at Torino on Aug. 23. Pulisic hit a leg of Belgium captain Youri Tielemans while attempting a shot in the 52nd minute of Monday’s 4-1 round-of-16 loss at Seattle.

Ohio judge grants preliminary injunction for men’s, women’s hoops players suing NCAA for eligibility

CINCINNATI (AP) — An Ohio judge has granted a preliminary injunction for 24 men’s and women’s college basketball players suing the NCAA to be eligible, claiming the new age-based model unfairly shuts them out of further competition. Judge Christopher Wagner said Thursday the NCAA eligibility rules have been applied in an arbitrary and capricious manner. Wagner’s ruling allows the athletes in the lawsuit an opportunity to enter the transfer portal. He scheduled a conference for Aug. 4 to prepare for a trial. Downton has filed similar lawsuits against the NCAA on behalf of nearly 30 men’s and women’s basketball players.

St. Louis Cardinals OF Jordan Walker becomes 5th confirmed participant in Home Run Derby

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker will take part in the Home Run Derby in Philadelphia on Monday. The 24-year-old is the fifth player announced for the competition, joining Boston’s Willson Contreras, Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero and the New York Yankees’ Ben Rice. The other three participants haven’t been announced. Walker is a first-time All-Star who is in the middle of a breakout season and his 21 homers rank fifth in the National League. The 2020 first-round draft pick is batting .294, has an .889 OPS and leads the big leagues with 70 RBIs.

Anaheim Ducks keep Leo Carlsson, matching Flyers’ $90 million offer sheet for young center

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Anaheim Ducks have matched the Philadelphia Flyers’ offer sheet for center Leo Carlsson, keeping their rising star at an extraordinary cost. The 21-year-old Carlsson is now the NHL’s highest-paid player under the five-year, $90 million deal extended by the Flyers one week ago. Carlsson agreed to the offer sheet with the Flyers after a year of fruitless negotiations with Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek, whose hardline approach in contract negotiations with his young core backfired tremendously this time. Carlsson’s new contract is worth much more than anyone expected he would get as a restricted free agent.

Russia heads to sports court to overturn its ban from international track and field

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Russia’s track and field federation says it has gone to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn a World Athletics ruling suspending its athletes from international events due to the war in Ukraine. World Athletics has excluded all athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus from its international events since March 2022, days after Russian forces invaded Ukraine. It kept that suspension in place at a council meeting last week. Since then the International Olympic Committee has eased its restrictions on Russia ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games and recommended other sports bodies do the same.

LA uses World Cup to show off upgraded public transit and test plans to hold car-free Olympics

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles officials have urged fans to chose public transit over driving during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The host city’s eight matches have been an opportunity to show off the city’s metro system ahead of the 2028 Olympics, which officials have billed as a “no-car” event. Nearly 50,000 rides were taken on rail lines for a recent game and more than 30,000 rides on special shuttles LA Metro deployed for the event. Metro is building its own police force and hopes the games have attracted new riders and improved public perception.

England player Jarell Quansah suspended for two games at the World Cup

ATLANTA (AP) — England defender Jarell Quansah has been given a two-match suspension for his red card offense against Mexico in the World Cup round of 16. The penalty means Quansah will be ruled out of England’s quarterfinal match against Norway on Saturday and the semifinals if Thomas Tuchel’s team advances. Quansah was sent off in the second half of England’s 3-2 victory against Mexico on Sunday for a dangerous foul on Jesus Gallardo.