OTK Places Mizkif on Leave Following Sexual Assault 'Cover-up' Allegations
Following the dramatics of ItsSliker's recent gambling scam allegations on Twitch, streamer Mizkif has been suspended from OTK after accusations of sexual assau
1970-01-01 08:00
Yankees postseason odds are plummeting at the wrong time
Sure, the New York Yankees are not far out of a Wild Card berth based on the standings, but Fangraphs have hammered the final nail in the coffin.The New York Yankees 2023 season has been a rough watch, especially for fans. Sure, they had their fair share of injuries, but so does every other MLB ...
2023-08-16 02:19
Can Luciano Spalletti remake his Napoli recipe in charge of Italy?
Luciano Spalletti was supposed to be on his Tuscan farm now. Arguably, though, he should still be at Napoli, managing what had looked like Europe’s most unexpectedly entertaining side. Instead, he will be at Wembley on Tuesday, in charge of Italy, his appointment a consequence of a combination of factors from the personal to the political, the footballing to the financial. Or, in a different way, of two emails. One, triggering the extension in his Napoli contract without a pay rise, stemmed from club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, and instead prompted his resignation. A need for a sabbatical on his farm the cited reason; a breakdown in relationships more of a cause. The other, from Roberto Mancini’s camp a few months later, was his sudden resignation as Italy manager, the first to lead the Azzurri to a major title since Enzo Bearzot, trading the patriotism of leading his country for a reported £20m a year to take charge of Saudi Arabia instead. And so it will be Spalletti in England, his presence a product of the enduring pulling power of the Azzurri job. While elite club coaches often eschew the international game, three of the last four incumbents, including Antonio Conte, are Scudetto winners, whereas no England manager has won the Premier League or the old Division 1 since Don Revie. It comes after the greatest feat of a career in the dugout that dates back three decades. Spalletti became only the third manager to secure Napoli the Serie A title, and the first to do so without the benefit of Diego Maradona’s genius. The title was clinched in May: the footballing high came last autumn, amid a run of 13 consecutive wins in all competitions. There were 20 goals in the Champions League group stage: the 4-1 evisceration of Liverpool was, despite Manchester City’s spring demolitions of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, arguably the finest performance in the competition all season. Rewind a year and Napoli were arguably the best side in world football at the time. Which few predicted after the departures of Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne and Kalidou Koulibaly. If there was magic in Spalletti’s attacking side, there was also the element of the unknown, in the revelation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. What it was not, however, was a particularly Italian team: only three of the 14 players with the most appearances are even eligible for the Azzurri. Spalletti may name two of his former charges in his starting XI at Wembley, but while Giovanni Di Lorenzo captained Napoli, Giacomo Raspadori was only the understudy to the prolific Victor Osimhen. If Spalletti’s alchemy is illustrated by Napoli’s struggles under his successor Rudi Garcia – beaten three times already at home this season, they have lost to each of the best sides they have faced – it may be required by Italy. His inheritance is mixed. “Once we have played [England], then I will tell you what the potential is,” Spalletti said after Saturday’s 4-0 win over Malta. It is little more than a year since Italy were on a record run of 37 games unbeaten. It is only 28 months since the Azzurri won Euro 2020 at Wembley; in a rematch with England, perhaps only Gianluigi Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo and Nicolo Barella will start both games. Before England’s March win in Naples, Mancini lamented the Italian talent pool. “We are worse off than Southgate,” he said. It was a sign of the negativity enveloping him, an indication of the disenchantment that may have propelled him to the desert. He gave 57 players their debuts, casting around with ingenuity and impatience. He looked to the Oriundi, seeking to naturalise some from the Italian diaspora. Spalletti has dropped the Argentina-born forward Mateo Retegui; he has also omitted some of the stalwarts of the recent past, in Leonardo Bonucci, Marco Verratti and Jorginho, while recalling Giacomo Bonaventura who, at 34, is older than his fellow midfielders. He has five of Internazionale’s Champions League final starters and has given a debut to Tottenham’s in-form left-back Destiny Udogie. In other respects, however, it could be seen as an undistinguished squad, certainly compared to Italy’s past. Lose and, if Ukraine beat Malta, Italy will find themselves three points behind their rivals for second spot, with a game in hand but a de facto decider when they face Ukraine in Leverkusen in November. It could mean Italy miss three of four major tournaments after Euro 2016; the added curiosity being that they won the other one. In part, it reflects the tragedy of Mancini; unused as a hugely gifted forward in the 1990 World Cup, omitted in 1994 after falling out with Arrigo Sacchi, he had declared his ambition was to win the World Cup as Italy manager. Instead, they failed to qualify for the 2022 tournament; if he is at the 2026 version, it will be as the richly rewarded Saudi Arabia manager. There will be no Euro 2024 for him; there may be for Spalletti. A wizened, gnomic figure is scarcely the stereotype of an Italian manager: more attack-minded, more idealistic, for years the architect of sides who were stylish nearly men. But then so, too, were an Azzurri side who influenced him in his upbringing. At his unveiling, Spalletti said he would carry the giant Italy flag his mother sewed for him as an 11-year-old to celebrate the 1970 World Cup semi-final win against West Germany. It was an epic 4-3. More than half a century later, Spalletti has no Gigi Riva, Gianni Rivera or Sandro Mazzola, nor an Osimhen or a Kvaratskhelia, no world-class forward. But, for the second time in two seasons, he has the chance to use his principles and his capacity to generate something spectacular from seemingly unpromising ingredients to make history. Read More Wembley revenge to seal place at Euro 2024? – England v Italy talking points Gareth Southgate fired up as England face ‘revitalised’ Italy in crunch clash England fans may have turned on Jordan Henderson — but he still has Gareth Southgate England fans may have turned on Jordan Henderson — but he still has Gareth Southgate Belgium officials release details on suspected shooter of Sweden fans On this day in 2018: Shahid Khan withdraws £900m offer to buy Wembley from FA
2023-10-17 14:51
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: How an adopted 6-yr-old dwarf girl turned out to be a 22-year-old 'sociopath'
'We were all abused. I hate this. She tried to poison and kill my wife,' said Michael Barnett
2023-05-30 08:00
UFC champion Jamahal Hill vacates title after suffering ankle injury
Jamahal Hill has vacated the UFC light-heavyweight title after suffering an injury, which reportedly occurred during a basketball game between fighters. Hill, 32, won the vacant gold in January, outpointing Glover Teixeira in the veteran’s native Brazil, but the American has decided to relinquish the belt without having made a single title defence. “I have unfortunately suffered an injury,” Hill said on his YouTube channel on Thursday (13 July). “I’ve ruptured my Achilles’ [tendon]. It’s just one of those things that happens. “It’s a tough injury. It’s one that will require surgery and will require time and rehab and things for me to be out for a while.” Per MMA Fighting, Hill suffered the injury while playing a basketball game with fellow fighters before UFC 290 in Las Vegas last week. Explaining his decision to vacate the title rather than allow the UFC to proceed with crowning an interim champion, Hill referenced his own route to the belt. In 2022, an injured Jiri Prochazka relinquished the title within several months of winning it. Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev fought to a draw while competing for the vacant belt in December, and another title fight was organised just one month later – with Hill beating former champion Teixeira. “I was given an opportunity,” Hill said. “I was given a blessing that came at the misfortune of someone else. Jiri Prochazka was the champion, he suffered an injury, as these things happen. He gave up the belt and allowed for others to not hold [up] the division – to keep the division moving forward, to keep entertaining, to make sure the people had a champion. I’ll do the same. “Right now, the biggest thing is focusing on my recovery, focusing on getting back to 100 per cent. I need to take some time to focus on my health and make sure that I’m 100 per cent and I’m the fighter that everybody knows who I am, and who I’ve been since I’ve stepped into this. In order to do that, I need to focus on healing and getting ready and rehabbing.” Former champion Blachowicz is scheduled to fight ex-middleweight title holder Alex Pereira on 29 July, with some fans suspecting that the bout will now become a contest for the vacant light-heavyweight strap. However, many have called for Prochazka to face Ankalaev for the vacant title. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Why Fury vs Ngannou may tarnish the Gypsy King’s legacy forever Mark Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions amid rumours of Elon Musk fight UFC’s Josiah Harrell reacts as pre-fight test reveals brain disease
2023-07-14 20:03
Ukraine spy chief's wife undergoes treatment for suspected poisoning with heavy metals
A spokesperson for Ukraine's spy agency says the wife of Ukraine's intelligence chief has been diagnosed with heavy metals poisoning
2023-11-28 23:09
Give Your Eyes a Break: How to Choose the Right Blue Light Glasses
The more time we spend staring at screens, whether at the office or at home,
2023-07-13 19:45
Braves trade right-handers Kyle Wright and Nick Anderson to Royals
The Atlanta Braves have jettisoned two more arbitration-eligible players in two separate trades with Kansas City, sending right-handers Kyle Wright and Nick Anderson to the Royals
2023-11-18 10:51
No more survivors found after India train crash kills over 280, injures 900; Modi heads to site
Rescuers in India have found no more survivors in the overturned and mangled wreckage of two passenger trains that derailed, killing more than 280 people and injuring hundreds in one of the country’s deadliest rail crashes in decades
2023-06-03 18:22
At Jackson Hole, Post-Inflation Challenges Vex Central Bankers
The world’s top central bankers stressed the need to keep interest rates high until inflation is contained —
2023-08-28 04:07
Who is Sheila Agee? Mother charged after frantic texts reveal she helped son plan Florida Home Depot employee's murder
The Escambia County Sheriff's Office detained Keith Agee, 20, on Friday in connection to the fatal shooting of Brooklyn Sims, 18
2023-08-16 18:18
More villages evacuated as a large wildfire in northern Greece rages for the second day
Greek authorities have evacuated five more villages near the northeastern border with Turkey where a large summer wildfire is raging for a second day
2023-08-20 22:24
You Might Like...
Are airplane seats too small? Senators want the FAA to look again
Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund set for debut
Former Far-Right Leader Shot in Spain Amid Race for Premier
Hollywood studios race to avoid actors' strike at midnight
Bayern Munich pay full Kim Min-jae release clause to beat Man Utd to transfer
More states are requiring patients to give consent for medical students performing pelvic exams
Pep Guardiola puts Jurgen Klopp on pedestal as ‘by far’ his biggest career rival
EA SPORTS Madden NFL 24 Delivers Realism and Control on Every Play Through FieldSENSE and the Debut of SAPIEN Technology