83 days to the World Cup: When Landon Donovan saved the USMNT, and gave the world a call to remember

The countdown to the2026 World Cupis on! Each day ahead of the tournament's return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world's biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year's global event.

The task was simple for the United States: win and advance. Lose and go home.

The final group game of the 2010 World Cup saw the U.S. taking on Algeria. After drawing with England and Slovenia in its opening two matches, the USMNT faced an Algeria side coming off its own tie with England.

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The match meant something to Algeria as well, as a victory by several goals would have allowed it to advance on goal differential over Slovenia. Both teams went hard for the win, combining for 41 shot attempts, 32 fouls and 14 shots on goal — 10 of those coming from the U.S.

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The final two shots on goal came via the U.S. Clint Dempsey's first attempt was denied, but the rebound was followed up by Landon Donovan. That led to television announcer Ian Darke to utter the now iconic call, "Go, go, USA!" as the entire team dog-piled Donovan in the corner in celebration.

"I think all commentaries are of the moment,"Darke told Fox Sports in 2022. "Sometimes when you hear it later on it sounds kind of biased. It felt like the right thing to say in that joyous moment for the USA."

The U.S. would exit the tournament in the Round of 16, losing 2-1 to Ghana after extra time.

Over a decade later, Donovan and Darke would be reunited as a broadcast pair as part of Fox's 2022 World Cup coverage.

"Having someone that iconic call a goal that meant so much to me is really special. It actually makes the goal even better than if it was somebody who was brand new and had never [been] heard of,"Donovan told World Soccer Talk. "So, I'm really proud that he was able to experience that too."

byAlpha World

in

March 20, 2026

83 days to the World Cup: When Landon Donovan saved the USMNT, and gave the world a call to remember

The countdown to the2026 World Cupis on! Each day ahead of the tournament's return to North America, Yahoo Sports wil...

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4 things to know for Friday’s March Madness action after a wild first day

Thefirst day of March Madnesswas chock full of upsets and quite a few nailbiters that make this tournament so great. And the best part? There's more coming on Friday.

Here are four things to look out for on the second day of the men's NCAA tournament and the first day of the women's NCAA tournament.

Miami (Ohio) looking to make a point

The RedHawkswent 31-0 in the regular seasonand then promptly lost their first game of the MAC tournament. Any Power 5 conference team with their record would have been a shoo-in for a berth in the round of 64 but their weak schedule relegated them to the First Four.

A victory over SMU puts them in the Big Dance now and they're eyeing Tennessee as their proving ground.

The first day of the tournament was all about mid-major teams beating Power 5 schools, making a point that mid-majors are not nearly as dead as some would have them believe. Perhaps High Point head coach Flynn Clayman said it best after his team upset Wisconsin, telling CBS: "Looks pretty obvious to me that high-majors need to play mid-majors early in the season. Because they said we didn't play nobody. We played somebody now."

Miami is definitely bringing that same energy to the tournament and it's looking to prove that its season wasn't the product of a weak schedule but instead proof of a team full of winners. They take on Tennessee at 4:25 p.m. ET.

Top seeds are on notice

Listen, Florida and Arizona are going to be a lot of people's picks to win the whole thing. They'll be expecting their games against Prairie View A&M and Long Island University, respectively, to go relatively smoothly as they get ready for tougher roads ahead.

But if the experience of Duke and Michigan on Thursday are any indication, the top teams will not be easing into the round of 32.

While Michigan eventually pulled away from Howard – they won 101-80 but led by only four at halftime – and Duke eventually got past Siena after trailing for much of the game, both of the No. 1 seeds that played on Thursday were tested.

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There are no real cakewalks in March and – as Thursday proved – upsets are always on the cards. The Gators and Wildcats better be locked in from the start.

Alabama takes the court without a star

The Crimson Tide seemed prime for a strong run in the tournament after a seasonfull of controversies. Instead they are now dealing with the loss of a top star after a shocking legal revelation.

Aden Holloway was arrestedon Monday, just after the Crimson Tide received a 4-seed in the Big Dance and a matchup with No. 13 Hofstra. He's accused of being in possession for more than two pounds of marijuana and he was immediately suspended by the team while the legal process plays out. He's facing up to 10 years in prison.

Holloway started 27 games for the Tide and averaged nearly 17 points per game and was their top shooter from beyond the arc.

It was a truly shocking development and one that tosses the Crimson Tide's tournament future into doubt. The CAA champion Hofstra Pride are another mid-major looking to make a big statement in the tournament and the Tide will have a lot of work to do to make up for Holloway's shooting prowess.

National title contenders get started

The women's tournament tips off and there are some top teams who are expecting to go all the way to the desert for the Final Four.

Texas, Michigan, LSU all get going on their quest to get to Phoenix. The Longhorns are especially considered to be one of the national title favorites and Michigan and LSU are both dark horses to go deep in the tourney.

The SEC champions are a favorite to go to the Final Four and largely have a clear path until a potential matchup with second-seeded Michigan in the Elite Eight. They play Missouri State at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Men's games scheduled for Friday

• No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara at 12:15 p.m. ET on Friday in St. Louis (CBS)

• No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron at 12:40 p.m. ET on Friday in Tampa, Florida (truTV)

• No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Long Island University at 1:35 p.m. ET on Friday in San Diego (TNT)

• No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 14 Wright State at 1:50 p.m. ET on Friday in Philadelphia (TBS)

• No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Tennessee State at 2:50 p.m. ET on Friday in St. Louis (CBS)

• No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra at 3:15 p.m. ET on Friday in Tampa (truTV)

• No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State at 4:10 p.m. ET on Friday in San Diego (TNT)

• No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio)at 4:25 p.m. ET Friday in Philadelphia (TBS).

• No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa 6:50 p.m. ET on Friday in Tampa (TNT)

• No. 5 St. John's vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa 7:10 p.m. ET on Friday in San Diego, California (CBS)

• No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 University of Central Florida 7:25 p.m. ET on Friday in Philadelphia (TBS)

• No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens at 7:35 p.m. ET on Friday in St. Louis (truTV)

• No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M at 9:25 p.m. ET Friday in Tampa (TNT).

• No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 California Baptist University 9:45 p.m. ET on Friday in San Diego (CBS)

• No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Furman 10 p.m. ET on Friday in Philadelphia (TBS)

• No. 7 Miami (Florida) vs. No. 10 Missouri 10:10 p.m. ET on Friday in St. Louis (truTV)

Women's games scheduled for Friday

• No. 3 Duke vs. No. 14 Charleston at 11:30 a.m. ET on ESPN2

• No. 3 TCU vs. No. 14 UC San Diego at noon ET on ESPN

• No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 9 Virginia Tech at 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2

• No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 11 Nebraska at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN

• No. 6 Washington vs. No. 11 South Dakota State at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPNEWS

• No. 5 Maryland vs. No. 12 Murray State at 3 p.m. ET on ESPNU

• No. 5 Ole Miss vs. No. 12 Gonzaga at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2

• No. 1 Texas vs. No. 16 Missouri State at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN

• No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 15 Holy Cross at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2

• No. 4 North Carolina vs. No. 13 Western Illinois at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPNEWS

• No. 2 LSU vs. No. 15 Jacksonville at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN

• No. 4 Minnesota vs. No. 13 Green Bay at 6 p.m. ET on ESPNU

• No. 5 Michigan State vs. No. 12 Colorado State at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNEWS

• No. 7 NC State vs. No. 10 Tennessee at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN

• No. 7 Texas Tech vs. No. 10 Villanova at 8:30 p.m. ET ESPNU

• No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Idaho at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN

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byAlpha World

in

March 20, 2026

4 things to know for Friday’s March Madness action after a wild first day

Thefirst day of March Madnesswas chock full of upsets and quite a few nailbiters that make this tournament so great. And ...

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Surfer, 39, Seriously Injured in Both Legs After Shark Attack off Calif. Coast

A surfer was attacked by a shark at Big River Beach in Mendocino Headlands State Park on Wednesday, March 18

NEED TO KNOW

• Off-duty lifeguards rescued the man and provided medical aid before he was taken to the hospital in Fort Bragg

• The beach was closed for 48 hours, as part of the department's protocol

A surfer in California is recovering from serious wounds sustained in a shark attack.

The man, who is reportedly 39 years old according toABC7 and local news outletKTVU FOX 2, was catching waves off the coast of Big River Beach in Mendocino Headlands State Park on Wednesday, March 18, when he suffered injuries to both legs.

He was bitten by the shark at 5.18 p.m. local time and was helped out of the water by three off-duty lifeguards, who also gave him medical attention, theCaliornia State Lifeguards said in a Instagram statementon Friday, March 20.

The wounded surfer was then transported for hospital care at Fort Bragg, the statement continued.

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"This incident highlights the importance of having ocean lifeguard programs and we thank our lifeguards for their quick, heroic actions," the Caliornia State Lifeguards added in the statement.

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"Lifeguards are an important part of the EMS and first-responder network along the rural northern California coastline. Although uncommon, shark bites are one of the many different types of emergencies our lifeguards are trained to respond to and treat," it continued.

"State Parks has posted signs at nearby beaches, notifying the public of a 48-hour beach closure as part of the department's protocol," the statement said, before adding that "sharks are an important part of the coastal ecosystem and that interactions between people and sharks are rare."

Several agencies, such as the Mendocino Volunteer Fire Department, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and Mendocino Coast paramedics, helped respond to the incident, per the Caliornia State Lifeguards.

The release added that the CDFW has collected evidence and is now leading an investigation into the attack.

California State Parks, Mendocino Volunteer Fire Department, CDFW and Mendocino Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team were contacted by PEOPLE but they did not immediately respond.

Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

in

March 20, 2026

Surfer, 39, Seriously Injured in Both Legs After Shark Attack off Calif. Coast

A surfer was attacked by a shark at Big River Beach in Mendocino Headlands State Park on Wednesday, March 18 NE...

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Iranian man arrested trying to enter Faslane nuclear base

An Iranian man has been arrested with a woman after trying to enter the Faslane naval base, home to the UK's nuclear-armed submarines.

Police Scotland said a 34-year-old man and 31-year-old woman were arrested at HM Naval Base Clyde at about 17:00 on Thursday.

The woman's nationality is unknown, but it is understood she is not Iranian.

The Royal Navy said the suspects "unsuccessfully attempted" to enter the base, near Helensburgh in Argyll and Bute.

A spokesperson added: "As the matter is subject to an ongoing investigation, we will not comment further."

It is understood that the pair did not try to force their way into the base.

They asked if they could enter but were refused permission and were arrested shortly afterwards. Police Scotland said its inquiries were ongoing.

Faslane is the home of all the Royal Navy's nuclear submarines, including the Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines which carry Trident nuclear missiles.

The arrests come after the US and Israel launchedwide-ranging strikes on Iran, killing the country's supreme leader on 28 February.

Iran has responded by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf.

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Defence secretary John Healey said the UKwas reviewing its terror threat level. It remains at "substantial" meaning an attack is "likely".

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, said the UK had "stepped up protections for British bases and personnel to their highest level."

It was not clear whether he was referring only to bases in the Middle East and the Mediterranean or to all bases at home and abroad.

The Faslane base, which sits on the Gare Loch, has long beenthe focus of anti-war protestsfrom groups such as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).

A long-term peace camp has been based just outside the site since 1982.

The camp began as a protest against the Thatcher government's decision to purchase the Trident nuclear missile system but nearly 40 years later the camp is still there.

The community, composed of residents living in caravans and temporary structures, holds regular anti-nuclear demonstrations, vigils, and direct actions against nuclear weapons.

Faslane's four Vanguard submarines are the sole platforms for the UK's nuclear weapons and are due to be replaced by the new Dreadnought-class submarines after 2030.

It is also the home of Astute-class nuclear powered but conventionally armed attack submarines.

The UK's stock of nuclear warheads is based nearby at the Royal Naval Armaments Depot (RNAD) Coulport on nearby Loch Long.

The UK has operated continuous at-sea deterrence since 1969, with first Polaris and then Trident missiles stored on and launched from nuclear-powered submarines with the capacity to remain submerged at sea for months.

• Why are UK military bases being used in Iran conflict?

• More than 100 attend demo at Faslane nuclear base

• What is Trident and how does it work?

byAlpha World

in

March 20, 2026

Iranian man arrested trying to enter Faslane nuclear base

An Iranian man has been arrested with a woman after trying to enter the Faslane naval base, home to the UK's nucle...

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France takes 'appropriate measures' after sailor's jogging app exposes aircraft carrier's location

PARIS (AP) — France says it's taking "appropriate measures" after a naval officer's use of the Strava exercise app inadvertently enabled journalists to geolocate the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle that is inthe Mediterraneanto help protect French and allied assets and interests duringthe Iran war.

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The carrier'sdeployment this monthwas not a secret and its commander has even briefed journalists by video link from aboard the nuclear-powered 42,000-ton vessel.

Still, the French newspaper Le Monde caused a stir by using Strava to locate a naval officer who it said used the performance app during a morning jog on March 13, enabling reporters to then find the Charles de Gaulle in the Mediterranean usinga satellite imagetaken that same day.

The newspaper said Thursday that it believes the officer was either jogging on the carrier or one of its escort ships.

French military spokesman Col. Guillaume Vernet said the Strava usage reported by Le Monde "does not comply with the current guidelines. Appropriate measures are being taken by the command."

"In the course of their duties, sailors are regularly made aware of the security risks associated with connected devices, notably the use of social media in their private lives and the potential for geolocation through digital applications," Vernet told The Associated Press on Friday.

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"To prevent any disclosure of information relating to a vessel, different levels of restrictions on the use of connected devices are applied within the French navy. These levels of restriction are determined by the command, depending on the level of threat," he said.

French Rear Adm. Thibault Haudos de Possesse, commander of the aircraft carrier group, had briefed reporters in a video call from the Charles de Gaulle on the same day as the naval officer's morning jog.

The commander said that multiple warships, including French and allied-nation frigates, were escorting the carrier, carrying 20 Rafale fighter jets, two Hawkeye surveillance planes and three helicopters.

Le Monde said that divulging the carrier strike-group's location almost in real time on a public digital platform is dangerous as the Iran war rages. A drone attack on March 12 targeted a Kurdish military base in the Erbil region, killing French soldier Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion and wounding six others.

French President Emmanuel Macron this weekannounced the nameof France'snext nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which will be bigger than the Charles de Gaulle. The 10 billion-euro ($11.5 billion) France Libre ("Free France"), which is expected to enter service in 2038, will have a capacity for 30 Rafale fighter jets and 2,000 sailors.

The new vessel will have a displacement of about 80,000 tons and a length of 310 meters (1,017 feet), compared to 42,000 tons and 261 meters (856 feet) for the Charles de Gaulle.

byAlpha World

in

March 20, 2026

France takes 'appropriate measures' after sailor's jogging app exposes aircraft carrier's location

PARIS (AP) — France says it's taking "appropriate measures" after a naval officer's use of the Strava e...

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