‘Tough and brave’ Fin Smith backed to star on first England start against France

Your support helps The Independent cover important stories, from reproductive rights to Big Tech to climate change, with investigative reporting and documentaries. Donations allow journalists to report on both sides of the story, providing trustworthy news accessible to all. Marcus Smith's move to full-back for England's match against France signals a strategic shake-up to maximize offensive options, pairing him with Fin Smith to bring out the best in both playmakers. Full Article

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim acknowledges that he is "fighting for his job" as the team is struggling, having lost seven Premier League games since November. Despite the lack of significant signings in the January transfer window, Amorim remains committed to his approach and is focused on improving the team through training and strategic player acquisitions. The departure of Marcus Rashford to Aston Villa has added to the team's attacking challenges, but Amorim is...

The Phoenix Suns are trading Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Cody Martin, Vasilije Micic, and a 2026 second-round pick. Nurkic, a 7-foot center, has been benched by the Suns and expressed frustration with coach Mike Budenholzer. Cody Martin, known for his defense, has one year left on his contract with Charlotte, while Micic, a Euroleague star, has a team option for next season. Full Article

The Yahoo Sports 2025 Fantasy Baseball Third Baseman Preview warns of potential traps beyond top players José Ramírez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., with concerns including Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s reliability, Rafael Devers' durability issues, and Austin Riley's bounce-back potential. Despite risks, third basemen like Isaac Paredes, Josh Jung, Max Muncy, and Matt Shaw offer value picks with breakout potential. The top-12 draft rankings for 2025 feature Ramírez, Guerrero Jr., Chisholm Jr., Devers, Riley, Manny Machado, Jordan...

The Independent relies on donations to support their investigative journalism on topics like reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech, providing unbiased reporting to Americans of all political leanings. In a one-day international match, England's below-par batting performance led to a loss against India, despite contributions from Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, and Jacob Bethell, with Shubman Gill's 87 guiding India to victory. India's spin bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja and Harshit Rana, troubled England's batters, while Varun...

The 2025 college softball season is set to begin with intriguing storylines, including the impact of transfers like NiJaree Canady at Texas Tech and adjustments to conference realignment. Experts Jenny Dalton-Hill, Amanda Scarborough, Michele Smith, and Madison Shipman discuss the challenges facing Oklahoma in their quest for a fifth-straight title, the emergence of standout freshmen and transfers like Addisen Fisher at UCLA and Ruby Meylan at Oklahoma State, and sleeper teams like Auburn with pitcher...