AP National Sports

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s shocking upset of Lionel Messi and Argentina suddenly put the Green Falcons in the international spotlight. Saudi Arabia has no big names like Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. The squad is instead full of domestic league players under a French coach that has

By The Associated Press No. 5 Southern California will face No. 13 Notre Dame on Saturday, the rivalry carrying high stakes for each of the storied programs. Having secured a place in the Pac-12 championship game, the Trojans are looking to stay in the College Football Playoff race and continue quarterback Caleb Williams’ push for

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Saudi Arabia defender Yasser Alshahrani has been flown home to be treated for facial injuries after an alarming collision with a teammate in the win over Argentina. The Saudi soccer federation says Alshahrani was medically evacuated from Doha and taken to National Guard Hospital in Riyadh. The 30-year-old player was injured

By CIARÁN FAHEY AP Sports Writer DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Germany’s players covered their mouths for their team photo before their opening World Cup match in an apparent rebuke of FIFA’s clampdown on plans to wear armbands to protest discrimination in host nation Qatar. The team lined up in the traditional formation before Wednesday’s game

By GERALD IMRAY AP Sports Writer AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — Morocco held 2018 finalist Croatia to a 0-0 draw at the World Cup on Wednesday in another strong performance by a team from an Arab country. Morocco’s promising performance came 24 hours after Saudi Arabia sparked the first World Cup in the Middle East

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Coach Paulo Bento acknowledged there are hazards for last season’s Premier League joint top scorer Son Heung-min when he takes the field wearing a mask in the Group H opener against Uruguay in the World Cup. Son is South Korea’s best player, but he fractured

By GERALD IMRAY AP Sports Writer AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — Morocco has held 2018 finalist Croatia to a 0-0 draw at the World Cup. Morocco managed to stifle Croatia captain Luka Modric, who won the best player award at the last World Cup when he led his country to the final before losing to

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Switzerland against Cameroon has the look of a must-win opportunity even as their opening game in a tough World Cup group. They have talent-packed Brazil and robust Serbia also in Group G. So taking three points in the early afternoon heat on Thursday shapes as

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer It was a rare week of happy returns in the NFL. After only one kick or punt was returned for a touchdown in the first 10 weeks of the season, two were taken back in memorable fashion on Sunday. Cordarrelle Patterson scored on a kickoff return for Atlanta

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis gave the World Cup a shout-out on Wednesday and prayed that the Qatar tournament may be an occasion for harmony and peace in the world. Francis is a life-long soccer fan and has long promoted sport as a way of promoting solidarity and fraternity. Speaking at the end of

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer Pep Guardiola has signed a new contract with Manchester City that will keep him at the Premier League club until 2025. The Catalan manager’s current deal was set to expire at the end of the season, but he has committed to a further two years at the Etihad Stadium.

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State will know before Saturday whether it needs to beat Kansas in the Sunflower Showdown to earn a rematch with unbeaten TCU in the Big 12 championship game. If Baylor can knock off Texas on Friday, the No. 15 Wildcats will have their spot

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Son Heung-min is likely to mask up as South Korea faces Uruguay in their Group H opener at the World Cup in Qatar. Son has scored 35 goals in 104 internationals but hasn’t played since Nov. 2 when he sustained a fracture around his left

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Senegal midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate is likely to miss the game against host Qatar at the World Cup because of a right hamstring injury. The Senegal team says Kouyate is “probably” out of Senegal’s second Group A game on Friday after MRI scans showed muscle swelling. It forces the African champion to

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo is suddenly in the shop window as he starts his fifth and probably final World Cup with Portugal. The 37-year-old forward is without a club after the cancellation of his contract with Manchester United as a result of his explosive interview criticizing manager

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Another one of France’s World Cup-winning team in 2018 is injured and has been ruled out of the title defense. Lucas Hernandez will also likely miss the rest of the season for Bayern Munich. Hernandez was the starting left-back four years ago and lasted just eight minutes of France’s opening game

By BOB FERRANTE Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The transfer portal has been kind to Florida State coach Mike Norvell. Florida’s Billy Napier should hope for similar success this offseason. The 16th-ranked Seminoles are likely to start seven transfers on offense when they host the rival Gators on Friday night. The list includes dynamic

By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer A look at Week 13 in the Southeastern Conference: GAME OF THE WEEK Auburn (5-6, 2-5) at No. 8 Alabama (9-2, 5-2, No. 8 CFP) . In a week filled with plenty of traditional rivals, the Iron Bowl stands out. There’s no trip to the Southeastern Conference title game