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2024 Copa America, Panama one step closer towards the last eight ahead of their next match v Bolivia on Monday after their 2-1 win Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta v the USA

by Sports Benches

USA’s chances of going into the Quarter-Finals of the 2024 Copa America are beginning to crumble now in Group C ahead of their next match v Uruguay (Tuesday morning at 10am AEST) after their 2-1 loss to Panama. That first attempted free-kick goal was unlucky when it went offside, although they did find the net first thanks to centre-forward Florian Balogin which was so far, so good.  However, Panama controlled the pitch for the majority where they went into half-time at 1-1 before they eventually found the winner in the 83rd minute off the back of a huge arm wrestle past the US defense towards the final attacking third. Now all Panama has to do is beat Bolivia this Sunday (also Tuesday morning 11am AEST here) if USA can’t win v Uruguay and they will be through in 2nd expecting to go up against either Colombia or Brazil from the top ranked Group D.

Unlucky from the US as a draw would at least be acceptable if it wasn’t for the VAR rejection for that early offside free-kick or another win would be nice, but shame they just couldn’t find a way to stop Panama from conceding into the net. The defense looked so poor including the keeper who should’ve saved the first Panama goal while they just couldn’t get more ball with limited opportunities to get the job done on target at the other end. Meanwhile, wonderful moment from Panama to take home with the win other than that nasty late tackle where one of them was given a straight red card. While that might be a huge blow ahead of their next game v Bolivia, they have won a few times against them before including their last meeting via a friendly match 2-1 in August last year. All in all, they showed excellent fight while dominating the opposition US territory for most of the match. They know where to find the net up close inside the box not once but twice and Panama were right on the money in order off the back of two clean powerful strikes before they closed out for the win. We all know how close they are last year in the CONCACAF Gold Cup through to the Final v Mexico 0-1, as long as USA lose to Uruguay, Panama is ready to go all the way by proving they are not afraid of going up against the best of South Americas after being the best of the North.

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Thoughts on Amazon Prime just picking up the Major League Cricket rights off Fox Cricket in Australia ahead of next weekend

by Sports Benches

The 2024 T20 World Cup might be coming to an end this weekend over in the West Indies, but there’s a bit of surprise earlier today that Amazon Prime in Australia has just picked up the rights to show the Major League Cricket T20 competition on top of the ICC events they’ve picked up that is set to begin on Saturday July 6 (Friday over in America) next weekend to Monday July 29 (Sunday US time). As said, they will have every game live & on-demand replays with mini-match highlights too. 

Fox Cricket via Foxtel and Kayo Sports aired the inaugural competition last year but it looks like retaining just the Australian home rights to all cricket here and not everything cricket is all that matters after they lost the ICC rights late last year – not long after Australia won their 6th title in the 50-Over World Cup Final v India. It costs so much $$$ to produce such a top-notch broadcast every match of the Aussie summer, even though the International interest here isn’t the same as it was once before. Hence, you can see why Nine is broadcasting the Tennis nowadays when they had enough of the game all those years ago while they’ve had poor commentary feedback during their final few years – especially after Tony and Richie passed away.

But they’re still sticking around for another couple of years until at least 2030/31 with the next tv rights contract set to begin later this year along with Seven who will now be able to stream matches online for free on 7Plus, having originally been restricted to TV-only coverage likewise with the AFL until next year when they took over long-time holders Nine back in 2018.

Going back to the Amazon Prime-MLC deal, good for them to add another league on their subscription streaming service where things began to feel like home outside of Fox Cricket when Australia isn’t playing at home. Yes, getting the rights to air the Australian away matches would have to be dealt with individual cricket boards like the Indian BCCI & New Zealand Cricket for example. But Fox Cricket still sees value within at least the other Top 3-5 nations, so don’t see them losing that easily any time soon. However, it’s possible for Amazon Prime to try and be the home of other Australian away cricket when the Aussies play against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland & Afghanistan. Fox doesn’t have a great history in recent times with these cricketing boards including other T20 tournaments, so can see Amazon coming in if Fox doesn’t want them and once the next IPL rights is up for grabs come 2027 there’s no doubt Amazon would want to make this happen as well.

So far, so good from Amazon Prime on wanting to be the home of World Cup and overseas cricket in Australia. They still have until 2027 to run through the current ICC deal and if Amazon Prime stay, it would be interesting to see which free-to-air partner they choose when a future Men’s T20 World Cup comes here again & New Zealand in October-November 2028.

Looking beyond Amazon Prime, Fox Cricket and Seven – you wonder why Nine isn’t doing much to add Cricket to their Stan Sport line up when they’ve been a Pay TV station (not like Foxtel on cable but subscription streaming-only service) of their own for the last few years. I see they have the annual Black Clash T20 charity match every January because it involves a mix of Rugby and Cricket legends because they’re the home of Rugby Union (Super Rugby, Wallabies and Club Rugby) here. 

But when it comes to trying to get the other Australian away cricket content like the ICC events, individual tours against a specific lower ranked Test nation and even the full England Cricket stuff other than retaining the Ashes Tests in England on Nine (2027 and 2031) that is specifically covered by the government, don’t think they would do it when the interest levels isn’t that good as said before compared to the 90s-early 00s & plus they also got the whole grand slam tennis on offer. 

Tennis matches can last the whole time nearly 100% uninterrupted except on the outside show courts with no roof than the usual cricket game being halted depending how long it takes before coming back once the rain stops & then the game can also finish off early than expected. Again, not worth the risk at this stage for Nine to try out cricket for its Stan Sport subscribers as retaining just the away Ashes only in England makes sense for the main channel for now. It has both the historical and competitive value in order to translate the investment they want to put out for their viewers and advertisers whereas the away and ICC events doesn’t do much even if it means putting most content behind a paywall with Australian games live and free on Nine when they take place on the other side of the world mostly between early evening to midnight and early-late morning except on rare occasions like the 2028 ICC T20 Men’s World Cup here and New Zealand for example.

And finally, well done to USA Cricket on a amazing tournament where they’ve got off to a great start v arch rivals Canada while shocking Pakistan along the way before Mother Nature v Ireland following a rained out draw gave them an extended run in the Super 8 and an automatic qualification for the next Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026 – even though things weren’t easy against the top sides like India from their Group A game including England, West Indies and South Africa (Proteas) throughout the 2nd round. I’m sure they will keep on growing with more cricketers from the top nations will want to come here to play their cricket in the US in the years to come alongside a core focus at homegrown talent at the same time ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, which is going to the sport’s comeback to the program since 1900 but via the T20 format.

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UEFA Euro 2024: Cenk Tosun’s last-minute winning goal puts Turkey into the Round of 16 following their 2-1 win v Czech Republic

by Sports Benches

After 36 matches, the 2024 UEFA European Football Championships across Germany is now moving onto the knockout stage beginning with the Round of 16 this weekend. We look back at the final group stage game in Group F between Czech Republic v Turkey as the first half was pretty quiet despite some Czech attacking dominance earlier on.The the Turkish did put one up ahead in the 51st minute by No.10 Hakan Calhaboglu before Czech finally found a way to level the scoreboard off Tomas Soucek sometime later where the game was almost bound to finish with a draw.  But at the end of the day however, it was substitute striker Cenk Tosun who saved the day with the win that broke the Czech hearts in the end 2-1 for Turkey.

So Turkey finished 2nd behind Portugal on equal six points but Portugal conceded the least goals of 3 compared to Turkey’s five. They are off to the Round of 16 nonetheless going into next Wednesday morning v Austria, if Turkey win they will either take on Switzerland or defending champs Italy in the last eight. Yeah, it was disappointing for the Czech to bow out without any wins – even though they were right in it every time they found the equaliser until they just couldn’t the job done other than the odd draw last week v Georgia. Leaving it so late isn’t the way to make the opposition hard to score – despite a good start to press on the counter-attack with hit and misses here and there as they finished last in Group F. Not even the poor discipline isn’t a good way to finish off early either with two red cards to Antonin Barak (20th min) & Tomas Chory (98th min).

Meanwhile, Turkey are through to the knockout stages for the first time in 16 years when they had a really good run last time up until the semi-finals by Germany 3-2. They really dominated the 2nd half where the Turkish found the net two times off the back of the Czech being tired who really want to hold this out without them picking up the win. Well, they’ve did it and what’s next for them is to try and go all in v Austria who topped Group D over France. If they can do that from start to finish, then Turkey will be in a good position to hopefully repeat their heroics past the QF by going one better if they do from Euro 2008.

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ANZ Premiership: Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic sensational to put themselves inside the Top 3 bubble after their 42-54 win over the Northern Mystics with four rounds to go

by Sports Benches

Another great game of Monday Night Netball to finish off Round 11 of the 2024 ANZ Premiership at The Trusts Arena in Auckland with another Northern Mystics-Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic contest. The first quarter was close enough by the two sides but it was the Magic who has been in cruise control for the majority before they got themselves out of here with a big win as well as the move to 3rd now on the ladder with four rounds to go. Magic led the Mystics by 12 points (18-30) going into half-time and nothing much has happened where Magic kept on scoring before they won also by 12 points (42-54).

Hard to see Mystics fall way out of reach despite a good start including winning the 4th quarter alone when Magic needed to slow things down but their poor passage of play, ill-discipline and using players in and out of the bench ultimately cost them the game as they now sit just outside the Top 3 in 4th. Magic will be up next against another Auckland side in the Northern Stars this Saturday afternoon at home while Mystics will travel to Christchurch on Sunday v the No.1 Mainland Tactix team.

Georgia Takarangi is the Magic defensive engine who can turn things around in an instant at goal defense every time the Mystics struggled to find some ground through to their own shooters. She never stopped grasping this time & time again so Georgia give her mid-courters the chance to get things done at the other end & voila! her side has been exceptional from start to finish including a comfortable lead and win up front. Credit to her natural physical game where she was able to slide her way from out of nowhere & also up high through the poor Mystics passage of play on what has been a magical win tonight that moves them up to 3rd now on the ladder & hopefully play Finals this year with four regular weeks to go.

Then the well-traveled Claire O’Brien also had a terrific performance on her 50th national game at wing attack for the Magic. She is someone who benefited from her side’s brilliant back three defense and Ariana Cable-Dixon in the mid-court, having been an excellent feeder with the ball on hand to her front two shooters where goals were made there towards the inside circle. She’s happy to be here in Waikato after playing for so many clubs over the years but sure she will use the experience and setbacks to push her side towards a brilliant end to the 2024 season with a possible Finals run now possible.

And Filda Vui did the best she can to keep the Mystics ticking at goal assist. She has a brilliant eye both from a shooting and natural game standpoint even though she might not be the tallest up front, but is always an excellent team player where she knows what’s best to get the Mystics over the shooting net. But it’s unfortunate that the Mystics poor passage of play, plenty of ill-discipline and endless chopping and changing from the bench wasn’t her team’s night – not even the injury cloud hasn’t helped them that much despite seeing Grace Nweke back on-court as they now sit just outside the Top 3 Finals bubble in 4th.

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UEFA Euro 2024: Ricciardo Calafiori’s own goal gifted the Spaniards another win v Italy

by Sports Benches

Today’s back-to-back Week 2 matchday games in the UEFA Euro 2024 also might have been extremely quiet having witnessed Denmark equalising England to hold out a 1-1 draw in Group C but at least there was at least one winner out of this one between Spain v Italy in Group B. Now both teams might not have been able to find the net off the back of a few hit and misses as well as tremendous saves, but a costly mistake in the 55th minute that went to the other team’s own net by Italy have gifted Spain the win they need 1-0 thanks to centre-back Riccardo Calafiori. Spain are so far undefeated in their group with two wins on six points ahead of 2nd-placed Italy who is currently on three off the back of their 2-1 win the other day v Albania. Italy will need to be at their very best v Croatia (who drew with Albania 2-2 all earlier today) on Tuesday morning at 5am AEST and Spain on the other hand will look to close out Group B on a high v Albania also at the same time (5am AEST).

Unlucky from the Italians when you got Gianluigi Donnarumma stopping the always dominant Spanish ball play from slipping past his own net including some that went away out of goal, although he’s disappointed that his own defender accidentally kicked the ball right inside the net. Meanwhile, they had a few chances to try and get past the Spaniards whenever they had the ball but they were nowhere near inside the box to clearly take a real shot v the other team’s goalkeeper. Yes, defense is important but just need to get more ball right into the middle if Italy wants to defend their crown this time across Germany.

Looking at Spain and they’ve been always dominant in possession with balls flying into the centre that left the Italian defenses shaking at their own box. Okay, ending up with several hit and misses where Spain could’ve scored 1, 2 and 3 goals is something they need to work on having left without a goal of their own at all. Although some of the missed shot on goals might have came off weak every time Donnarumma was able to deflect the ball away from his in-goal, but the Spainards would be happy to take the win thanks to Calafiori’s own goal mistake. They got their Round of 16 place locked in against whichever one finishes 3rd from the other group of A, D, E or F; However, they just need to tone themselves a bit down when looking to get the job done inside the net on top of their excellent possession to dominate the Italians in the attacking third.

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Copa America 2024: Argentina def. Canada off the back of a strong 2nd half showing up front at Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium

by Sports Benches

The 2024 Copa America tournament has just started today with Argentina v Canada and yes, it’s been scrappy and quiet for the most part where there were a series of hit and misses that led into a scoreless 45 mins of play. But it’s still Argentina with the 2-0 win over the Canadians to kickstart Group A off the back of two 2nd half goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez. They will both be back for the 2nd week all on Tuesday where Canada take on Peru while Argentina v Chile.

Well played by the defending champs who turned things around well after the half-time break including some good use of the subs that helped gave them the 2nd goal that late to close out the match. Credit to the frontline being active all along to give the defenders a difficult time where Argentina eventually found a breakthrough. Yes, they gotta improve their first 45 when things couldn’t go their way despite having a lot of ball. But it’s better if they finish things knowing they can find the net at the right time rather than being a bit hesitant by just shooting for it and hope for the best. Meanwhile, Canada were relieved to get away from the Argentinian fast start earlier on while they made two early chances of their own to try and bag a goal. But not only they lack numbers to bring it home particularly when looking to go inside the box, their poor possession throughout the 2nd half was just too difficult to stop the Argentineans in the end. I know it’s not the easiest of starts but an unexpected lead with 1-2 early goals if Canada did score would’ve gave themselves up some confidence to try & shut them down.

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Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic def. Southern Steel to set up next Monday’s fight for 3rd in the ANZ Premiership v Northern Mystics

by Sports Benches

It was a fairly quiet game but close though tonight to finish off Week 10 of 15 between the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic v Southern Steel in the 2024 ANZ Premiership Netball season after two close games over the weekend. We saw the Mystics over the Stars in an all-Northern Auckland derby two days ago 51-49 and then the best of the best clash ended right through the wire yesterday with Mainland Tactix (1st) showing the Central Pulse (2nd) whose boss in the end at extra time 58-53.

Steel actually got away with a great start where they won first two quarters. Gotta say it was a big team effort to get things going rather than the attackers converting them into goals though despite staying ahead of the Magic a bit every time the Steel were able to add goals inside the net. Meanwhile, the Magic might have fired off poorly that gave the Steel the benefit of the doubt. Despite this, the Magic were never too far back to see them add up while they added goal after goal of their own top going into the break, 20-22. The nature pacing of this game might not have changed that much where there lots of scrambling defenses from both teams but at least there was a new leader with the Magic while the Steel couldn’t continue to capitalise and own up to their poor shooting conversions up front. The Magic got away by three points head of Steel after the 3rd quarter off the back of some subs and tactical tweaks before they were able to hang into top spot by seven points as the Steel’s poor front two display including its poor tactical decisions has 100% gifted the Magic another win, 48-41.

Ameliaranne Ekenasio is so crucial to the glue of this Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic side as goal attack. Yes, their first half might have been slow and steady but she was always the team’s go-to attack in the front two, who rubs around opposition defenders off the back of the Steel’s poor executions at the other end, particularly when the Magic managed to turn this around from a two-goal trail after half-time. That way, she knows where to find the net either for herself or her goal attacking team-mate when she’s in & around the circle. She will look to keep that recent winning form by closing into the Mystics for that Top 3 Finals circle next Monday & the Magic needs her so badly in order to make that perfect storm up front. Meanwhile, Erena Mikaere also kept a great eye on a struggling Steel front two as the team’s main goal keeper for the Magic. She’s got a physically robust Georgia Takarangi by her side while she’s got the experience and tall reach – such as the impressive read and direction to knock down a hesitant Steel shooting front two herself that led to a lot of ball going her team’s way with a decent comeback to hang in there for the win in the end. Gotta say she’s still got a lot to offer with a great sense of humour having tasted plenty of success in the past as unfinished business goes on by looking to upsurge the Mystics for 3rd next Monday.

And now the Steel attackers includign their starting front two won’t definitely get a shout after a poor attacking conversion display tonight but gotta say Renee Savai’linaea did the best she can possible to keep the Steel in check including her backline at wing defense. The way she communicated with her defenders and Kate Heffernan in the middle was so crucial to get the ball rolling right from the opening centre pass such along with excellent energy to disrupt the Magic as being tested defensively at times to feed these attacking chances at the other end. But as said, it’s just the shooters who let herself & the whole Steel team down where lots of hits and misses eventually forced the Magic’s hand unfortunately with yet another loss.

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2024 Australian Olympic Swimming Trials Day 6: The stage is set for the Dolphins Swim Team ahead of Paris after a few night qualification moments in Brisbane tonight

by Sports Benches

The sixth and final night of the 2024 Australian Olympic Swimming Trials finished off with a few more first time moments that punched their ticket to Paris while a few others had to miss out. Now the final Dolphins Swim Team Squad is all but set for lift-off to France ahead of their first swim in six weeks time where the next set of gold medal and world record moments will be made at the Paris La Defense Arena, which will have a built-in pool on top of a rugby pitch just for this one-off special event.

Great to see Shayna Jack win that Women’s 50m Freestyle Final sprint with Meg Harris joining her in 2nd and although Cate Campbell couldn’t get what she wanted in 5th, but she had an illustrious career in the pool though for half of her life since age 15 as wish we her all the best on life after the pool. The same can be said for Cody Simpson when he couldn’t make it to Olympics selection after Matt Temple dominated the 100m Butterfly Final. But glad he made the career switch to do what he loves that challenges him well physically and mentally after a great last decade singing songs & acting a bit on TV.

Meanwhile, we saw another few first time moments other than Jack as said with her previous doping ban – such as Brendan Smith (Kaylee McKeown’s boyfriend) and Will Petric (2nd) in the Men’s 400m Individual Medley, Jenna Forrester (2nd) in a similar women’s 400m IM Final event behind 17-year-old Ella Ramsay & Moesha Johnson (2nd & will also compete in the Women’s 10km open water race) in the Women’s 1500m Freestyle Final (last event of the program) behind Lani Pallister.

So there we have it, we’ve now got our best Dolphins Swim Team assembled that is ready to send the message to the world’s best – the message is that we’re on and we are ready to smash both lots of gold medals and new world records too. Bonjour Paris, here we come that’s going to last the last first week’s Olympic sports schedule before the Athletics/Track and Field events take over to wrap things up and it all starts on Saturday July 27th 2024 – one day after the Opening Ceremony.

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UEFA Euro 2024: Hosts Germany unbelievably dominant up front after an outstanding start v Scotland 5-1 at Allianz Arena in Munich

by Sports Benches

The 2024 UEFA European Football Championships has just taken lift-off at Allianz Arena in Munich where the hosts Germany was simply too good for the Scottish 5-1. Germany had a fantastic team effort from start to finish off the back of two early first-half goals including a successful penalty that puts them way in front ahead of half-time 3-0. Nothing has changed at all going into the 2nd half where the hosts continued to hold on up front & although they might have accidentally gifted Scotland their own goal to them in the 87th minute after that free kick deflection went so wrong but the Germans did however with the 5th and final goal to wrap up their first night and round of Euros. Germany’s next match will be against Hungary on Thursday morning AEST time in Stuggart while Scotland will look to bounce back v Switzerland next Friday.

Lots of attacking play and possession there from the hosts whom the Scottish just couldn’t stop them at their own end with goals after goals on the board. The wings have worked well for them including a few changes off the bench where the reserve striker has put up such a good threat against the keeper with one second half goal being bagged as the game goes on. Yes, they might need to be careful when looking to put away things next time rather than an own goal which is something the Germans will be tested in the knockout stages but so far, so good to kickstart the Euros campaign on home soil. Meanwhile, Scotland didn’t get what they wanted when they were really struggling to stop Germany in its tracks where that first goal should’ve easily been put away from the net but it went inside the goal instead. They were the only ones who couldn’t make the most out of their attacking opportunities despite the rare goal being gifted by centre-defender Antonio Rudgier off the free-kick not long before full-time. However, it’s just wasn’t their night unfortunately with lots more work to do in Group A.

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2024 Australian Olympic Swimming Trials Day 5: Mollie O’Callaghan’s win in the Women’s 100m Freestyle sprint alongside a few first time Olympic qualifiers sums up Day 5 of 6

by Sports Benches

The second final night of the 2024 Australian Swimming Olympic Trials is full of competition, race wins and another few first-time Olympic qualifying moments all happening at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre. First of all, Joshua Yong had a great swim behind Zac Stubblety-Cook in the Men’s 200m breaststroke final. He’s had a really good week in this discipline having also finished 2nd from the opening night during the 50m sprint behind Sam Williamson, so congrats on his official ticket to Paris.

Same goes to 17-year-old Ella Ramsay who beat the experienced Jenna Strauch (she didn’t qualify in that category when she was a second off the qualifying time) in the last half distance by a comfortable margin of around two seconds in the women’s 200m breaststroke Finals meet. So great to see these swimmers to bounce back with a point to prove ahead of their first rodeos in Paris. Can’t promise what specific goals they should look to get over the line when you got heats and then the semi-finals to begin with, but it’s all about being at their best so they can go from there over the next 3-5 years by looking at Top 3 & then the gold at future events – such as the next Australian Swimming Champs, World Champs, Pan Pacifics and Olympics.

Yes, nothing much has happened to set the world alight over in the other men’s races. However, we did see a fantastic women’s 100m freestyle dash where Mollie O’Callaghan still held on with the win despite no new world record. Joining her on the trip to Paris are Shayna Jack – who will finally be on her way there for the first time – after she finished behind Mollie in 2nd off the back of her doping issues that forced her to sit out for a while (2019-21). Then you’ve got Meg Harris (3rd) joining in to back them up in the women’s relay team alongside Bronte Campbell as this is going to be her 4th straight Olympics campaign at age 32. How good is that as she’s not done racing in the pool just yet!! Five days done, one more to go before we wrap things up to finalise our best Dolphins Swim Team before they head off to Paris in the head up towards July 27.

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