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Anna Magnusson sköt fullt – missade ändå OS-pallen — and more

Anna Magnusson sköt fullt – missade ändå OS-pallen

Fläckfritt skytte. Men det räckte inte för Anna Magnusson som snuvades på sin första individuella OS-medalj. Svenskan slutade fyra i masstarten.

Canada politician makes alcohol decision before Olympic hockey gold medal game

Canada has a chance at revenge against the United States to close out the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, and the men’s Olympic hockey tournament is the perfect way to end the event.

The Canadians always have massive expectations when it comes to their national sport. However, the added pressure of winning a Winter Olympics gold medal has mounted after the women’s hockey team lost to the U.S. this week.

Now, Canada politician Doug Ford has upped the ante for his Ontario province before the gold medal match. On Friday, Ford approved a special exception for Canadian to buy alcohol starting at 6 a.m. ET.

MORE: Team USA continues historic Winter Olympics run at Milan Cortina Games

This comes after the men’s Olympic hockey final is slated for 8:10 a.m. ET between the two North American foes. Both countries are hungry for the gold medal, especially following the drama in the women’s final.

“The entire country will be watching on Sunday morning as our men’s hockey team plays for Olympic gold. To help us all celebrate Team Canada, the province will be allowing bars and restaurants across the province to sell alcohol starting at 6:00 a.m. EST. Let’s all come together, support local businesses and cheer on Team Canada!” Ford shared with Canadians in a statement on social media.

Meanwhile, Canada has dealt with serious injuries heading into the gold medal game, including NHL legend Sidney Crosby. The Canadians still won their semifinal game, albeit in controversial fashion, without Crosby.

MORE: Wayne Gretzky maintaining patriotism to Canada

Connor McDavid greets Mikael Granlund in a men’s ice hockey game during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images

However, Team USA has hopes of winning its first Olympic hockey gold in the men’s event since the 1980 Lake Placid Games. The Americans have settled for silver medals in 2002 and 2010 with losses against Canada.

The U.S. has already set a record for the most gold medals won at a single Olympics, but Team USA can add to that total on Sunday.

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The post Canada politician makes alcohol decision before Olympic hockey gold medal game appeared first on The Big Lead.

FC Köln vs Hoffenheim: Bundesliga Match

The upcoming Bundesliga match between 1. FC Köln and 1899 Hoffenheim is set for February 21, 2026, with kickoff scheduled at 15:30 local time. The match will take place in Cologne as part of matchday 23 of the Bundesliga season.

Reporter Tim Wichmann will be providing live coverage of the game.

Pakistan vs New Zealand Super 8s T20 World Cup 2026: Venue stats, head-to-head, weather forecast

The contest could hinge on how effectively New Zealand’s middle order handles the craft and variation of Pakistan’s spin attack when the two teams meet in the opening Super Eight Group 2 clash of the T20 World Cup on Saturday.

So far in the tournament, the Kiwi batting unit has not quite found top gear. Openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen have led the charge with three half-centuries between them, but the middle order has struggled to provide consistent support. Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell have all shown flashes without stringing together impactful contributions.


Phillips and Ravindra have registered a fifty each, yet their overall returns remain modest. Ravindra, for instance, has scored 72 runs in four outings, with 59 of those coming in a single innings against Canada. Adding to their challenge is the fact that this will be New Zealand’s first match in Colombo in this edition of the tournament.

Pakistan, in contrast, have been based in the Sri Lankan port city since the start of the World Cup and have already featured in two matches at the Premadasa. Their bowlers — especially the spinners — understand the tempo and lengths required on a slow surface where patience often trumps aggression.

For New Zealand, it will be crucial that the middle order complements the Powerplay thrust provided by Allen and Seifert. A measured approach will be needed to either post or chase a total in the region of 180 on a pitch that demands calculated strokeplay.

Pakistan’s spin arsenal — Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan — gives them a clear advantage. However, they have their own concerns with the bat. Shadab, with 88 runs, is their second-highest scorer behind Sahibzada Farhan (220), the tournament’s leading run-getter.

Against a seasoned New Zealand outfit, Pakistan will require a stronger collective effort from their batting unit. The biggest concern for the team management remains Babar Azam, who has managed just 66 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 115.78. The former captain has struggled to adapt to the tempo demanded by modern T20 cricket.

Another failure could prompt Pakistan to consider Fakhar Zaman, who has yet to feature in the tournament. They are also weighing up the option of recalling left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, omitted for the must-win fixture against Namibia.

Afridi has claimed three wickets in three matches but at a costly economy rate of 11.22, underlining his difficulty in adjusting to slower conditions. His struggles serve as a warning for New Zealand’s pace-heavy attack.

Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy and James Neesham have all been somewhat expensive and may need to rethink their approach. Greater reliance on variations — knuckle balls, slower bouncers and leg cutters — could be key to unsettling Pakistan’s batters and easing the burden on the spin trio of Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, along with part-time options Ravindra and Phillips.

Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 World Cup 2026 match: Head-to-head record in T20Is


Total matches: 49

Pakistan won: 24

New Zealand won: 23

No Result: 2

Performance of both teams in their last 5 matches

Pakistan: W, W, W, L, W

New Zealand : L:, W, W, L, W

Pakistan vs New Zealand Super 8s T20 World Cup: R Premdasa stadium T20I record


Total matches: 51

No result: 1

Most wins by team

India – 12 wins

Sri Lanka – 10 wins

Australia – 7 wins

Pakistan – 6 wins

South Africa – 5 wins

Bangladesh – 5 wins

Zimbabwe – 3 wins

West Indies – 3 wins

New Zealand – 3 wins

England – 2 wins

Pakistan vs New Zealand Super 8s: Weather report


Beyond the on-field rivalry, the weather in Colombo threatens to have a major say in the outcome. Rain has been forecast both ahead of and during the contest, which is slated for a 7 PM local start. Showers are likely in the opening half of the evening, with temperatures ranging between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius and humidity levels climbing past 80 per cent.

There is no reserve day allocated for this Super 8 encounter. Should persistent rain force an abandonment, the teams will split points — a result that could significantly hurt their chances of progressing to the semi-finals.

Match officials will have an extra 90 minutes at their disposal in an effort to produce a result. However, if conditions do not allow even a five-over-a-side game, the fixture will be officially called off.

Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 World Cup 2026 match: Full squads


Squads:

Pakistan: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.

Pirates legend Bill Mazeroski passes away at age 89

Bill Mazeroski, the Hall of Fame second baseman who won eight Gold Glove awards for his steady work in the field and the hearts of countless Pittsburgh Pirates fans for his historic walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, has died at the age of 89.

Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said, “Maz was one of a kind, a true Pirates legend … His name will always be tied to the biggest home run in baseball history and the 1960 World Series championship, but I will remember him most for the person he was: humble, gracious and proud to be a pirate.”

Mazeroski died Friday, the Pirates said. No cause of death was given.

‘Defensive wizard’

Elected to the Hall by the Veterans Committee in 2001, he was, by some measures, no superstar. Mazeroski had the lowest batting average, on-base percentage and stolen base total of any second baseman in Cooperstown. He hit just .260 lifetime, with 138 homers and 27 stolen bases in 17 years, and had an on-base percentage of .299. He never batted .300, never approached 100 runs batted or 100 runs scored and only once finished in the top 10 for Most Valuable Player.

His best qualities were both tangible and beyond the box score. His Hall of Fame plaque praises him as a “defensive wizard” with “hard-nosed hustle” and a “quiet work ethic.” A 10-time All-Star, he turned a major league record 1,706 double plays, earning the nickname “No Hands” for how quickly he fielded grounders and relayed them. He led the National League nine times in assists for second basemen and has been cited by statistician Bill James as the game’s greatest defensive player at his position — by far.

“I think defence belongs in the Hall of Fame,” Mazeroski said, defensively, during his Hall of Fame induction speech. “Defence deserves as much credit as pitching and I’m proud to be going in as a defensive player.”

A home run for the ages

But his career’s signature moment took place in the batter’s box, as the square-jawed, tobacco-chewing Mazeroski, a coal miner’s son from West Virginia, lived out the dream of so many kids who thought of playing professional ball.

The Pirates had not reached the World Series since 1927, when they were swept by the New York Yankees, and again faced the Yankees in 1960. While New York was led by Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, Pittsburgh had few prominent names beyond a young Roberto Clemente. They relied on hitters ranging from shortstop Dick Groat to outfielder Bob Skinner, and the starting pitchers Vernon Law and Bob Friend. Mazeroski, who turned 24 that September, finished the season with a .273 average and usually batted eighth.

The series told one story in the runs column and another in wins and losses. The Yankees outscored the Pirates 55-27 and 38-3 in the three games they won. Mazeroski’s counterpart on New York, Bobby Richardson, drove in a record 12 runs and was named the series’ MVP — even though he was on the losing team. Whitey Ford shut out the Pirates twice, on his way to a then-record 33 2-3 straight scoreless World Series innings for the Yankees ace.

The Pirates’ first three wins weren’t nearly so spectacular, but they were wins — and Mazeroski helped. He hit a 2-run homer in the fourth inning off the Yankees’ Jim Coates in Game 1, a 6-4 Pirate victory, and a 2-run double in the second inning off Art Ditmar in Game 5, a 5-2 Pittsburgh win. In Game 7, he saved his big hit for the end.

Some 36,000 fans at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field, and many more tuning in on radio and television, agonized through one of the fall classic’s wildest and most emotional conclusions. The lead changed back and forth as Pittsburgh scored the game’s first four runs, only to fall behind as the Yankees rallied in the middle innings and went ahead 7-4 in the top of the eighth. Pittsburgh retook the lead with five runs in the bottom of the eighth, helped in part by a seeming double play grounder that took a bad hop and struck Yankees shortstop Tony Kubek in the throat. But the Yankees came right back and tied the score at 9 in the top of the ninth.

The bottom of the ninth has been relived, not always by choice, by the two teams and by generations of fans. The New York pitcher was Ralph Terry, a right-hander whom manager Casey Stengel had brought in during the previous inning and would later acknowledge that he had a tired arm. The right-handed hitting Mazeroski, who had grounded into a double play in his previous appearance, was up first.

Terry started with a fastball, called high for a ball. After conferring briefly with catcher Johnny Blanchard, who reminded him to keep his pitches down, he threw what Mazeroski would call a slider that didn’t slide. Mazeroski got under it and belted it to left, the ball rising and rising as it cleared the high, ivy-covered brick wall, with Yankees left fielder Yogi Berra circling under it, then turning away in defeat. The whole city seemed to erupt, as if all had swung the bat with him, as if he were every underdog who longed to beat the hated Yankees. Mazeroski dashed around the bases, grinning and waving his cap, joined by celebrants from the stands who had rushed on to the field and followed him to home plate, where his teammates embraced him.

“I was just looking to get on base,″ he told The New York Times in 1985. ″Nothing fancy, just looking for a fastball until he got a strike on me. I thought it would be off the wall, and I wanted to make third if the ball ricocheted away from Berra. But when I got around first and was digging for second, I saw the umpire waving circles above his head and I knew it was over.”

ESPN has called it the greatest home run in major league history. It was the first time a World Series had ended on a homer, leading to enduring waves of celebration and despair. Pirates followers memorized the date, Saturday, Oct. 13, 1960, and the local time of Mazeroski’s hit, 3:36 p.m. Forbes Field was torn down in the 1970s, but a decade later fans began gathering every Oct. 13 at the park’s lone remnant, the center field wall, and listened to the original broadcast.

Meanwhile, Mantle would sob on the plane ride home in 1960, insisting the better team had lost. Ford would for years remain angry at Stengel — fired five days after the Series — for using him in Games 3 and 6 and making him unavailable to start a third time. Singer Bing Crosby, a co-owner of the Pirates, was so afraid he’d jinx his team that he listened to the game with friends across the Atlantic Ocean, in Paris.

“We were in this beautiful apartment, listening on shortwave, and when it got close Bing opened a bottle of Scotch and was tapping it against the mantel,” his widow, Kathryn Crosby, told the Times in 2010. “When Mazeroski hit the home run, he tapped it hard; the Scotch flew into the fireplace and started a conflagration.”

A team player

Mazeroski was a Pirate for his entire time in the majors and was a team man off the field. His wife, Milene Nicholson, was a front office employee whom he met through Pittsburgh manager Danny Murtaugh. They were married in 1958, had two sons and remained together until her death in 2024.

William Stanley Mazeroski was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, during the Great Depression, grew up in eastern Ohio, and lived for a time in a one-room house without electricity or indoor plumbing. His father, Louis Mazeroski, had hoped himself to be a ballplayer and encouraged his son’s love for sports, even practicing with him by having Bill field tennis balls thrown against a brick wall.

Although a star in basketball and football, he favoured baseball and was good enough to be drafted by the Pirates at age 17 in 1954. Mazeroski was a shortstop for a team with numerous prospects at that position, and had switched to second by his rookie year, 1956. Even as a part-time player at the end of his career, he was a leader and steady presence on the 1971 team that featured Clemente and Willie Stargell and defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series.

After his final season, 1972, Mazeroski coached briefly for the Pirates and the Seattle Mariners and was an infield instructor for Pittsburgh during spring training. In 1987, the Pirates retired his uniform number, 9. The 50th anniversary of his Game 7 heroics was marked in 2010 by the unveiling — on Bill Mazeroski Way — of a 14-foot, 2,000-pound statue of one of Pittsburgh’s greatest everymen, rounding the bases, on top of the world.

In brief

Bill Mazeroski, Pirates Hall of Famer and 1960 World Series hero, dies at 89 Mazeroski is a baseball legend for his walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.

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