German youngsters outshine Cristiano Ronaldo’s son in the Algarve Cup final
Bayern Munich is slowly becoming a renowned factory for youth football players, redeeming itself after years without major breakthroughs. In fact, Bayern’s campus players were so good that they outperformed Cristiano Ronaldo’s son.
Tz reported that Cristiano Jr. came on after 70 minutes at the Algarve Cup final between the U-16 teams of Portugal and Germany. Although the Germans lost 3-1, the Bayern lads impressed despite the scoreline. The player sin question are Filip Pavic and Verdad Turbic. Here’s what the report said about these two players:
Filip Pavic: This campus talent sometimes captained the German U16 team. The center-back is a leader and a player with a strong mentality, very good in tackles and in the air for his age. He generally performs very consistently in matches. He is also good with the ball, which is why he even played in defensive midfield for the German national team. He is considered a top talent.
Verdad Turbic: The center forward scored three goals in the tournament, putting the German national team ahead against Portugal. He is two-footed and has a powerful shot. Despite his height, he is agile. His game intelligence is also outstanding.
Another player, Linus Güther, traded Bayern for Union Berlin and was said to be like a mini Florian Wirtz but with more pace.
The girls apparently cheered for Ronaldo Jr., but Bayern’s and Germany’s boys will do it better by winning that admiration. By the way when is it my time to get cheered on by the girls, eh?
AP source: Rams promote Nate Scheelhaase to offensive co-ordinator
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams are promoting assistant Nate Scheelhaase to offensive co-ordinator, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Friday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Rams haven’t made a full announcement of coach Sean McVay’s new staff for the upcoming season. Scheelhaase replaces Mike LaFleur, who became the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach this month.
The 35-year-old Scheelhaase became a rising star in NFL coaching circles last season. He interviewed for at least five head coaching vacancies in the past two months. He spent the previous two years as a top offensive assistant to McVay and LaFleur, receiving the title of pass game co-ordinator last season while the Rams went 14-6 and reached the NFC title game.
Although McVay calls Los Angeles’ plays and leads the design of their offence, Scheelhaase will be the Rams’ fifth offensive co-ordinator during McVay’s 10 seasons in charge. All four assistants who previously held that title have gone on to become head coaches, as did Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor.
All five of those former top Rams assistants — Matt LaFleur, Taylor, Kevin O’Connell, Liam Coen and Mike LaFleur — still hold those head coaching jobs. The number might have been even higher, but McVay spent two seasons without a designated offensive co-ordinator after Matt LaFleur’s departure.
The 35-year-old Scheelhaase is a former Illinois quarterback who was on Matt Campbell’s staff at Iowa State from 2018 to 2023, eventually becoming the Cyclones’ offensive co-ordinator in his final season and leading a dramatic improvement that caught McVay’s attention.
Among his responsibilities in Los Angeles, Scheelhaase was tasked with literally drawing the offensive plays taught to the Rams for each week’s game plan — a detail-oriented job previously held by several Rams assistants who went on to bigger things.
The Rams’ offence was the NFL’s best by many metrics last year, leading the league in scoring and total yards during the regular season with AP NFL MVP Matthew Stafford at the controls. Stafford has announced he is returning for an 18th NFL season. The Rams will be among the pre-season favourites to contend for a Super Bowl berth in their home SoFi Stadium in February 2027.
Michael Bidwill gets pressed on the absence of a Cardinals team president
Thursday's groundbreaking ceremony for a new Cardinals practice facility likely wasn't supposed to be contentious. It got that way, a little.
Via Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic, owner Michael Bidwill faced several questions about the fact that his franchise doesn't have a team president.
Asked why the team doesn't have a president, Bidwill said, "I am the team president."
Asked why the team doesn't have a president who is independent from ownership, Bidwill said, "I am the team president."
Asked whether that's the best way to operate the team, Bidwill said, "Next question."
Only seven NFL franchises don't have a president. The others are the Cowboys, Giants, Buccaneers, Bengals, Steelers, and Colts.
The Cardinals have a G.M., a COO, a CFO, a chief legal officer, and a chief people officer.
A team president would add an expensive line item to the budget. By doing the job himself, Bidwill avoids that expense. Which turns whatever the salary and benefits for the team president would be into additional profit.