SI:CYMI | Someone Knock Out Those Cocky Frenchmen Already

Plus, the latest on LeBron Watch.

Kristen Wong Morning! This is Kristen Wong from Sports Illustrated. Can we collectively as a nation agree to just hate France? They beat Morocco in the quarterfinals, handily. They can score in countless ways, boast ridiculous depth and pretty much look unbeatable right now. Boo the French! Also on a related note, our World Cup-watching days are numbered, and I really don’t know what I’m going to do with my time afterward. I plan to speak to my therapist about it and hopefully get some workable solutions for the seasonal depression. In the meantime, let’s newsletter. Forward this to your friend who delusionally believes LeBron James is joining [insert team here].   Recommended by  The headlines … IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect THE FAULT IN OUR STARS: Coco Gauff was eliminated from Wimbledon in heartbreaking fashion during her women’s singles semifinal loss against Karolina Muchova. Gauff had the chance to win the match during a third-set tiebreaker but screwed up on a failed drop shot. … Spurs play-by-play announcer Jacob Tobey was reportedly fired after an alleged affair with a sister of a San Antonio player. Yeesh. … Hold up. The Clippers-Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard trade isn’t official yet. The NBA is still digging into the trees.  BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: Beliebers, this one’s for you. Justin Bieber will be part of the star-studded musical lineup for the World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium on July 19th. According to our pop culture resident Brigid Kennedy, there’s only one song he should sing. … Erling Haaland has won a lot of casual soccer fans over with his superhuman goalscoring abilities—and his luscious locks. … Have you heard? Travis Kelce got married to the one and only Taylor Swift. He’s also still doing podcasts, because he’s a strong, independent man with a successful career. … SI’s Mike Kadlick spoke to Bills quarterback Josh Allen about how fatherhood has shifted his perspective, but his goal of winning a Super Bowl remains the same. BRON WATCH: We are officially on LeBron Watch this summer. Our NBA team wrote up their expert predictions on where the superstar could land in free agency. … Steph Curry toyed with the idea of linking up with Bron on the Warriors, emphasis on “toyed.” … Everyone wants a piece of The King. Here are the best (and worst) pitches we’ve heard so far. SI GRAB BAG: The 2026 Scottish Open is off and running, with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm finding varying success on the greens in the opening round. … Here is our ranking of the top 10 cornerbacks in the NFL, starting with Falcons’ A.J. Terrell Jr. … Already craving more NBA after the Knicks’ chip? Watch these hotly anticipated games during the league’s annual Summer League extravaganza in Vegas. … The NCAA’s new eligibility rules have already invited a successful legal challenge. … Deion Sanders is not in the game. Here’s why the Colorado coach wasn’t featured in EA Sports’ College Football 27. … Test your baseball knowledge with this quiz: Can you name every MLB All-Star Game starting pitcher since 2000? Join Verducci's View Newsletter MLB insights and analysis delivered by Tom Verducci, offering a mix of expert commentary, inside angles and thoughtful perspectives on baseball’s biggest storylines. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE   Recommended by  Feed refresher … Screengrab/@SkyNews Here’s what caught our attention online yesterday … I WILL NOT ROW: Storytime. I had the privilege of watching Brazil vs. Norway at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, and my most memorable highlight by far was participating in a spontaneous fan-led Viking Row before the game. One unhappy Norway fan has gone viral for refusing to do the Row during the World Cup, and he rather bluntly explained why. “I just find it really stupid. That’s the thing I thought when they came up with it, that it was stupid and annoying and I didn’t want to do it,” Norway supporter Emil Lappen told reporters. Live a little, man! NOT A FAN, FANDUEL: In the latest Black Mirror-esque episode in sports, FanDuel apparently sent a personalized video message from Phillies star Bryce Harper to a customer with a gambling addiction. The customer had lost $1.5 million in wagered bets but seemingly got the VIP treatment from the sportsbook as a possible reward for his loyalty. Get the print edition of Sports Illustrated delivered to your door. Click to subscribe! 📺 What we’re watching this weekend ... WNBA:  Sunday, July 12 Fever @ Aces—9 p.m. ET; NBC/Peacock Caitlin Clark is managing a back injury but could make it onto the court for what should be a high-octane matchup against the defending champs. Wimbledon: Friday, July 10 Men’s singles semifinals No. 3 Alexander Zverev vs. Arthur Féry—8:30 a.m. ET; ESPN No. 1 Jannik Sinner vs. No. 7 Novak Djokovic—10:10 a.m. ET; ESPN (The final is on Sunday) The 23-year-old Féry became just the second wild card to make the men’s semifinals at Wimbledon. Will his fairytale run end against Zverev? And of course, Sinner vs. Djokovic is must-see tennis cinema.  Saturday, July 11 Women’s singles final No. 10 Karolina Muchova vs. No. 9 Linda Noskova—TBD; ESPN Buckle up for an all-Czech final as Muchova, who defeated American Coco Gauff in the semifinal, takes on compatriot Noskova, who defeated Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk. Whoever wins the women’s singles title will be the 10th different champion in the last 10 years, and the third Czech champion in the last four years (Barbora Krejcikova won in 2024, Marketa Vondrousova in 2023). World Cup: Friday, July 10  Spain @ Belgium—3 p.m. ET; FOX/Telemundo Saturday, July 11  Norway @ England—5 p.m. ET; FOX/Telemundo Argentina @ Switzerland—9 p.m. ET; FOX/Telemundo The World Cup has been a European masterclass so far (R.I.P. African teams who can’t close out games and Mexico). Spain vs. Belgium should be an excellent tactical matchup between two well-rounded teams, with La Roja having the advantage on defense but Belgium boasting more incisive playmakers in Leandro Troussard and Jeremy Doku. Lamine Yamal has been lackluster thus far and needs to step up (and stop whining about fouls that are never going to get called).  The Saturday matches are going to be absolute bangers. Erling Haaland is set to face former Borussia Dortmund teammate Jude Bellingham on the other side of the pitch, and you’ve probably seen the TikTok edits by now. If not, what are you even doing on the internet? Lionel Messi is bringing his magic and mayhem to a quarterfinal showdown against the Swiss, who arguably pose as a more favorable opponent than Argentina’s rivals Colombia but should not be underestimated. Just look back at those Cape Verde and Egypt rollercoaster rides…  That’s a wrap for today. See ya Monday! Join SI The Post-Up A weekly spotlight on the biggest stories and in-depth reporting of women’s basketball—from compelling athlete features to sharp commentary on the latest news and scores. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE   Recommended by  We may receive compensation for some links to products and services included in this email. 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