Monday means we are due for a quick review of the past seven days or so in the sporting world, as we usually do at this time of the week.
There was no shortage of options, with upsets all around the globe and many big headlines and stories being released. As you know, we have to limit the list to three moments, and we managed to get that done, starting with a trip to the SEC in college football.
Oklahoma Get Back To Back Ranked Wins
The Sooners have been fighting for their season after having somewhat of a blip through the mid-season and an injury to their quarterback’s hand that raised some questions about their playoff chances. After winning against a high-octane, ranked Tennessee side last weekend, I didn’t feel great about their chances heading into a matchup with an Alabama Crimson Tide team that was rolling through their schedule. The Tide were going to be at home at the famous Bryant-Denny Stadium, while also boasting what I would describe as the better coach and quarterback duo, which is generally a recipe for success.
However, that theory wasn’t looking too red hot when Ty Simpson, the signal caller for the Crimson Tide, threw what was likely his worst pass of the season, resulting in a pick-six and putting his team in a large hole.
From there, the game was fairly evenly matched with both teams going toe to toe. However, when the Tide had a chance at home to launch one last drive to win the game, they came up short, with the Sooners defence proving to be overwhelming under the brightest lights.
Oklahoma have now breathed new life into their playoff chances, while Alabama, who looked like they were going to stroll into the 12-team setup, will now need some serious urgency.
Thomas Tuchel Is Staking His Claim
The top job in England is no doubt the manager of their national football team, as it very much sits under the pressure cooker to perform year in and year out. In recent memory, Gareth Southgate had a divisive tenure at the top, where not many people fell in love with the way he played football, but the depth of tournaments he took the Three Lions to was something that had certainly been absent in recent decades.
With him stepping back after yet another elusive major tournament victory slipped between his side’s fingers at the 2024 Euros, the FA turned to a man familiar with English football and trophies in Thomas Tuchel.
The former Chelsea boss led his side to decent finishes in the Premier League while also winning the club’s second Champions League trophy. I believe his winning mindset and ability to take down more talented teams in knockout football was likely a huge reason for his appointment for the World Cup.
He has got off to a great start and is certainly putting any worries the English public had about his appointment to rest, as through his initial World Cup qualifying games his side has been nothing short of a wagon. They have won eight from eight games and scored 22 goals while conceding none. This isn’t just major history for the Three Lions but for European football, as no side since the turn of the century has had a perfect record while qualifying for a major tournament and keeping an overall clean sheet through that process.
South Africa First Test Win On Indian Soil In 15 Years
No matter how good a side is, generally speaking, playing test cricket in India is one of the hardest tasks in the world. The spin-friendly wickets, extreme heat, and the clear and obvious fact that they are one of the best teams in the world makes it a mountainous task to beat them on home soil.
South Africa were given that task over the past five days, and after only scoring 159 in their first dig, it seemed like a pipe dream to come away with a win in the series opener. This sentiment proved true as India were 109 for 3 in their first innings and seemingly cruising towards setting a decent lead. That idea diminished as India collapsed through their middle and lower order, managing only 189.
With the game somewhat in the balance, India seemed to have taken control with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja tearing apart South Africa for a second straight time and toppling them for only 153.
The stage was set for India to cruise home, needing 123 to win the series opener and no doubt having the talent to sleepwalk to that total. However, South Africa knowing how difficult the conditions were to bat in, would have felt they had a glimmer of hope. That glimmer turned into a genuine chance as wickets fell early and often for India, with Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer ripping through the heart of the Indian batting order and refusing to let up. With India 93 for 8 and only one wicket in hand, as Shubman Gill was out injured, Keshav Maharaj took the wicket of Mohammed Siraj to give South Africa their first test win on Indian soil in 15 years.
