
Argentina can play the same way with or without Lionel Messi: Lionel Scaloni
"The team is now in a moment where it can play in the same way with Leo (Messi) or without Leo, which used to be more complex in the past as we had to change some players," Scaloni told reporters ahead of the match in Buenos Aires."But now we don't have this necessity and the team works in the same way, that's good."Argentina will be facing Colombia next, who are in sixth spot in the South American World Cup qualifier standings and aiming to distance themselves from the rest. Colombia beat Argentina 2-1 in the reverse fixture in September and Scaloni is wary of the threat posed by them. advertisementThe Argentina boss expects it to be a good contest, especially playing in front of the home crowd. "It's a great team, and with great players, and it has a clear style that can put you in trouble," Scaloni said."We've analysed it, we've shown the players their strengths and what we want to take advantage of. It's going to be a nice game, especially because we play at home, so it's good for our people to see the players."Trending Reel

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India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Koneru Humpy sets up historic all-Indian Women's World Cup final vs Divya Deshmukh
Grandmaster Koneru Humpy advanced to the final of the FIDE Women's World Cup after defeating China's Lei Tingjie in a lengthy tiebreak in Georgia on Thursday, setting up an all-Indian final with Divya Deshmukh. With this result, both Humpy and Divya have secured places in the Women's Candidates Tournament scheduled for next will be generational battle in the FIDE Women's World Cup Final as 38-year-old Grandmaster Koneru faces teenage prodigy Divya, who won her maiden GM Norm earlier in the tournament, inching closer to becoming only the fourth-ever female Grandmaster from the World Champion Viswanathan Anand praised Humpy's performance, lauding the veteran's consistency in big-ticket tournaments in the recent past. 'The tiebreak between Humpy Koneru and Lei Tingjie ended in a duel of nerves given the huge stakes involved. Humpy managed to compose herself and come back into the match after the first setback and then won the last two games to go through. Incredible resilience and, after her World Rapid win as well as her shared first place in the Pune Grand Prix, a remarkable World Cup to get another Candidates spot.'"Indian fans can rejoice," Anand said, highlighting the enormity of the occasion. For the first time, two Indians will compete in the final of the Women's World Cup. The final will get underway on Saturday following a rest HUMPY FIGHTS IT OUTHumpy and Lei had drawn their two classical games earlier in the week, sending the match into rapid tiebreaks. The first set of rapid games, played with a time control of 15 minutes plus 10 seconds increment, also ended in a 1-1 stalemate. That led to a second set of games, with 10 minutes per player and the same the first of those games, Lei capitalised on an error in the middlegame to gain a pawn and convert her advantage into a win in the endgame. Despite the presence of opposite-coloured bishops, Humpy was unable to hold for a draw and found herself needing a win to stay in the responded with a composed and efficient performance in the return game. Playing with the white pieces, Humpy adopted a Queen's Pawn opening and maintained steady control throughout. Her positional superiority and technical endgame play allowed her to level the score and force another set of blitz third set, played at five minutes plus a three-second increment, saw Humpy in command. She won the first game convincingly with the white pieces, putting Lei under pressure from the opening and steadily building an advantage. In the reverse game, needing only a draw to progress, Humpy opted for the Italian Opening and gradually tightened her grip on the position. She went on to win the game, sealing her place in the final with a 2-0 result in the blitz this win, Humpy moves into her first Women's World Cup final. While she has held the World Rapid title and been part of multiple major team and individual triumphs, the World Cup has been one of the few titles missing from her Deshmukh, 18, will be her opponent in the final after beating Russia's Polina Shuvalova in her own semi-final. (WITH PTI Inputs)- Ends


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Stephen Curry opens up about friendship with Drake and reacts to Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us'
Stephen Curry and Drake are good friends (Image via Instagram / @stephencurry30) NBA player Stephen Curry and singer Drake apparently 'go way back.' The pro golfer recently talked about it in an episode of 360 with Speedy. Throughout their careers, Mr. Curry and Drake have become friends. Now, during the same interview on Complex, Stephen Curry opened up about his friendship with the multiple Grammy Award winner. From courtside moments to music debates, Stephen Curry talks Drake, family ties, and viral tracks Both Stephen Curry and Drake are successful professionals. However, they have mutual respect and admiration for each other. During the viral interview, Mr. curry talked about the same. The interviewer asked: 'It seems like you and Drake are super cool every time I see your court side is love, and if I'm not mistaken, he has you tatted..' Adding that there's a family connection through his wife, Ayesha 's, cousin, he talked about his relationship with Drake and said: 'We got way back, though, and it's actually kind of a family game too, like one of our anxious cousins from Toronto. She's from Toronto and the whole deal, so we're all in the same boat…' After that, the NBA icon was asked if he had any honest feelings regarding Kendrick Lamar 's popular diss song Not Like Us, which is a Drake diss track. The interviewer then pointed out: 'I knew you were really rocking with Drake when, during the Olympics, I was like chilling and then like in the arena they're playing not like us… And you were like, yo, this is not the only song in America, like enough with this song. Is that why or when you just get sick of the song at that point?' Stephen Curry clarified: 'Oh, it was both. It was both. Like everywhere we went, that's all I heard. And the fact that they knew who I was with. So we can't do anything about what the DJ's playing. But I was like, I got sick of it at a certain point. And it was funny, the cameras called me because I was from the soul..' Ayesha Curry and Drake are related (Image via Instagram / @stephencurry30) For context, the May release of Not Like Us coincided with a conflict between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, in which the two rappers issued diss tracks aimed at one another. In the song, the singer allegedly accused Drake of s*xual misbehaviour and interest in teenagers. Stephen Curry's open thoughts about his long-standing friendship with Drake indicate a deeper familial and personal bond, beyond the spotlight. Their relationship, which is based on respect and a common past, has withstood public scrutiny and celebrity. Also read: Stephen Curry's wife Ayesha Curry celebrates Sweet July lip launch with tropical flavors and ice cream collab For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Gautam Gambhir hugged Rishabh Pant for playing 27 balls with fracture; India keeper refused help: 'Main kar lunga'
The legend of Rishabh Pant today expanded beyond imagination. Not because of his batting. Well, he has already reached that status despite spending just 7 years in Test cricket, but because of the heart he put on display on Day 2 of the 4th Test between India and England at Manchester's Old Trafford stadium. Pant cracked his right toe when a yorker from Chris Woakes hit him flush on his foot. As Pant was driven out in an ambulance, you knew his participation in the remainder of the Test match was going to be dicey. Rishabh Pant and Gautam Gambhir have fun in Manchester(AFP) Team India's worst nightmare came true around 12 PM on Thursday when sources confirmed to the BCCI that Pant has indeed picked up a fracture and is asked to rest for between 6 and 8 weeks, pretty much ruling him out of the series. The chances of Pant playing any part in the Manchester Test were as good as Mohammed Siraj hitting Jofra Archer for 6 sixes in an over. Exactly. Zero. But when the BCCI sent out a post on X saying, Pant can bat depending on the team's requirements, the first thing that came to mind was 'You've got to be kidding me'. Well, turns out the board wasn't. Pant indeed walked out to bat at the fall of Shardul Thakur and India's sixth wicket to one of the loudest cheers ever by an English crowd ever reserved for an Indian batter. Limping out to bat, Pant practically batted on one leg, completing his fifty and ensuring India breached 350 to eventually finish on 358. Also Read: 'You've handed Rishabh Pant's runs back to England', Nasser blasts Shubman Gill after England openers run riot During his stay at the crease, Pant smashed a six off Jofra Archer and a four against Ben Stokes. England, sensing blood, went for the jugular, darting more yorkers at Pant's injured toe, which the batter saw off carefully. In the end, a peach from Archer uprooted Pant's off-stump, sending it cartwheeling. Pant's innings was over, but his stature as a never-give-up cricketer had grown by leaps and bounds. Pant refuses teammates' help As Pant made his way back to the Old Trafford dressing room, a couple of his teammates, Akash Deep and Kuldeep Yadav, had sprinted near the boundary to help him. However, as they tried to assist Pant in climbing the change room stairs, Pant said a defiant 'No'. "Main kar lunga," (I'll do it myself), he could be heard saying. Pant gingerly, but more importantly, climbed the stairs all by himself. It took him time, but the moment he approached the dressing room, there they were, head coach Gautam Gambhir and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, offering Pant a big, warm hug. Pant had played 27 balls with a fractured foot. Cricket has seen several heroic knocks. Who can forget Graeme Smith walking out with a fractured arm, or Brett Lee bleeding after suffering a cut on his head against India during the 2011 World Cup quarterfinal? And hey, is there a better courageous effort ever seen in world cricket than Anil Kumble bowling with a broken jaw, sending down 14 consecutive overs and picking up the wicket of West Indies legend Brian Lara. Irrespective of the outcome of this match – Manchester Test at Old Trafford has, in all likelihood, cemented Pant as a bonafide legend.