Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 23 June 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# We begin with soccer: Thirty-eight-year-old Lionel Messi has made history by becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history. He scored two goals as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in Dallas to secure their place in the knockout stages. Messi now has 18 World Cup goals, two clear of France’s Kylian Mbappé and Germany’s Miroslav Klose. In Philadelphia, France secured their place in the last 32 with a 3-0 victory over Iraq. In New Jersey, a brace from Erling Haaland secured Norway’s place in the knockout stage with a 3-2 victory over Senegal.

# Rugby: Siphosethu Mnebelele will captain the Junior Springboks at the Junior World Championship in Georgia after lock Riley Norton was included in the senior Bok squad for the Nations Championship. Norton was replaced by utility forward Thomas Beling, while winger Cheslin Jooste was drafted in place of Vusi Moyo, who was also promoted to senior service. Akahluwa Boqwana replaces winger Zekhethelo Siyaya, who was injured during Saturday’s match between South Africa A and Zimbabwe. Junior Bok coach Kevin Foote says Norton and Moyo thoroughly deserve their opportunities.

Staying with rugby: England coach Steve Borthwick has named five uncapped players, including South African-born centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg, in his 36-man squad for the inaugural Nations Championship. The 27-year-old will not be available for the opening Test against the Springboks on 4 July, as his three-year residency period only comes into effect after that date. Scrumhalf Alex Mitchell returns to the international side after injury. England will also face Fiji and Argentina. Borthwick says the squad is a good blend of experience and emerging talent.

# Cricket: The South African Under-19 women’s squad will tour Pakistan for the first time ever next month. Allrounder Mieke van Voorst was announced as captain of the squad of 15, including six players who clinched bronze for the country in the Patricia Kambarami Cup in Nigeria earlier this year. Five international matches will be played during the tour, all being day-night games in the city of Karachi. This will be used as preparation for next year’s Under-19 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and Nepal.

# And tennis: 2023 Wimbledon women’s singles champion, Marketa Vondrousova, has received a four-year ban for refusing an anti-doping test. The 26-year-old Czech was charged by the International Tennis Integrity Agency for failing to submit a sample when notified by a doping control official on 3 December last year. Vondrousova cited mental stress and fear when the testing agent rang her doorbell late at night without properly identifying himself. An independent tribunal found she provided no compelling justification for refusing a test. Her suspension will end on 21 June 2030.

Stay tuned for more news………….