data-mm-id=”_4r1vp87k5″>It takes a special kind of collapse to lose a game in which your quarterback throws nine touchdown passes, but somehow the Washington State Cougars pulled that off Saturday night in losing 67-63 to UCLA, and in so doing, falling victim to the third-largest comeback in NCAA FBS history. Mike Leach was candid after his team stepped off their home field last night: “We collapsed in every phase of the game: offense, defense and special teams. Every phase."You forgot one thing, Mike. Coaching.Yes, the Bruins deserve to celebrate their victory. It not only saved their season, it may have saved coach Chip Kelly's job, at least for the time being. But an even greater share of the credit for the result belongs to Mike Leach's squad for their hideous, hideous collapse. The offense fumbled four times and lost all four to the Bruins, including the decisive fumble by quarterback Anthony Gordon with a minute and a half to play. The Cougar defense seemingly forgot how to tackle or cover passes, and late in the third quarter, UCLA scored a frightening 28 points in just over four minutes. Leach himself seemed to feel the pinch around his neck. During a Washington State drive in the middle of that UCLA run, one of his coaching decisions may have tilted the game's momentum dramatically in the Bruins' favor for good.By then, UCLA had cut the lead to 49-31, and the game was still in Washington State's control. All the Cougars offense needed was one more score – even a field goal – to re-establish their dominance. The drive stalled with a fourth-and-4 at the UCLA 43, and Leach, having run out of patience, decided to go for it.But at the last second, Leach got cold feet and called a timeout, sending for the punt unit instead.What Leach would have done with that fourth-down call if he had gone for it is anyone's guess, but his decision to chicken out after he had already made the call to go for it sent a clear message to both sides that he had lost faith in his own team to get the job done – a moment of weakness that Chip Kelly and UCLA, much to their credit, pounced on. It was also a foolish decision on Leach's part, because it also meant entrusting the game to a defense that had just given up 14 points on two quick touchdown drives instead of taking a chance with a quarterback that had already thrown seven touchdown passes.Both Leach and Washington State paid the price for his lack of faith.
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Competition: Euro 2016
Market: Switzerland to qualify
Odds:
Switzerland haven’t had the best international week, suffering defeats to the Republic of Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina in friendlies, but are still looking forward to this summer’s European Championships after a promising qualifying campaign.
The prestigious international tournament doesn’t kick off until June, and the Swiss outfit still have a handful of friendlies to come to build up some momentum ahead of the Championship. A lack of goals in their last two games is somewhat of a worry, so they’re likely to use their remaining friendlies as an indicator of their performance levels.
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Cristiano Ronaldo s Portugal hiatus has come to an end after he was included in a 25-man squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Ukraine and Serbia.
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The Juventus forward was allowed to miss the international get-together in September, and that extended to matches in October and November, as he settled into life at his new club.
Portugal did not suffer without him, however, going undefeated as they recorded three wins in six matches, qualifying for the Nations League Finals in the process.
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The Championship s opening weekend features a Midlands showdown as Stoke City host Coventry City at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Stoke aim to break free from their run of midtable finishes, while Coventry will have their sights set on a long-awaited promotion to the Premier League after several near misses in recent years.
Stoke City
Since their relegation from the Premier League in 2018, Stoke City have experienced six consecutive seasons of bottom-half finishes in the Championship, leaving fans at the bet365 Stadium with little to cheer about. Facing a potential relegation battle early last season under Alex Neil, the club made a decisive managerial change in December by appointing Steven Schumacher, who had …
England boss Sarina Wiegman felt the Lionesses exhausted every effort to win their first Women’s World Cup final despite coming up just short with a 1-0 loss to Spain in Sydney.
The Dutch boss, who led England to their first major trophy at last summer’s European Championship, finds herself with a silver medal in two consecutive attempts after steering 2019 runners-up the Netherlands to the title-decider four years ago in France.
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Sarina Wiegman gives us her reaction to our defeat…
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Dani Carvajal will miss Euro 2016 after sustaining an injury in Saturday s Champions League final.
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Bellerin made his international debut in Sunday s 3-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina and will face competition from Cesar Azpilicueta and Juanfran for a starting spot in Vicente del Bosque s side.
Very proud day for me my family! Unbelievable feeling to get my first cap for ! Boyhood dream come true
— Héctor Bellerín (@HectorBellerin)
I m available to the coach for whatever is needed I m delighted with the experience, Bellerin, 21, told a news conference.
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Mick McCarthy remains confident his Republic of Ireland squad can book a place at Euro 2020 despite missing out on automatic qualification.
Ireland were held to a 1-1 draw in Monday s must-win qualifier against Denmark at the Aviva Stadium to finish third in Group D, three points behind their opponents.
Matt Doherty headed home five minutes from time to cancel out Martin Braithwaite s 73rd-minute opener, but McCarthy s men must settle for a play-off spot.
A one-legged semi-final and final will be played in March and McCarthy believes his side are in with a shot, provided they replicate their performance against Denmark.
FULL TIME | It ends in a draw, as Ireland move into March s Play-Offs
— FAIreland (@FAIreland)
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Coventry beat Exeter 3-1 in the play-off final with Doyle lifting the trophy at Wembley and the Sky Blues are now dreaming of a repeat in Saturday’s Championship play-off final against Luton.
Robins, who signed a new four-year deal this month, took them out of the fourth tier at the first attempt after returning 14 months earlier for a second spell and, even then, outlined his vision to Doyle.
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Moscow, St Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Saransk, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi and Ekaterinburg will all host matches during the tournament.
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Olivier Giroud has confirmed he will retire from international duty after Euro 2024.
Giroud is France s record goalscorer, having netted 57 goals in 131 appearances for Les Bleus.
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He s important for us and will continue to be, Kompany told DAZN. The team loves him. I only have players who want to play and accept the competition for places.
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