• Joanna Wietrzyk claims victory in first event of season in Hamburg

• Australian says pre-race that she is ‘truly so sorry’ for events in Beijing

The Australian athlete who sparked outrage when winning a Hyrox event in Beijing despite soiling herself during the race has returned in style with victory in the first event of the new season in Hamburg.

Joanna Wietrzyk won the endurance sports event in China last month but forfeited the points and soon faced a stinging public backlash as footage of her continuing through demanding exercises and using communal equipment with faecal matter running down her legs went viral on social media.

The Lions kick the last four goals of the decider to break the Dockers’ hearts and snatch a third straight flag at the MCG

Lachie Neale is one Brisbane player who should be arriving at the MCG with a huge smile on his face after the dual Brownlow medallist had a one-match ban overturned on appeal on Thursday night.

The former Dockers midfielder is thought to be playing his 186th and final game for the Lions today, with a move to the Magpies reportedly on the cards. But some of our From the Pocket subscribers were keen to question whether he should be playing at all today.

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The Socceroos have to settle for a draw as the five-time world champions score a last-gasp goal to cancel out Irankunda’s stunning free kick

Brazil might be looking to refresh their squad after their World Cup disappointment but there is still more than enough star power to light up any stage. Barcelona and Brazil forward Raphinha is one of the biggest stars of the lot, and will help lead the line against the Socceroos in Townsville. The No 9 spoke to Sid Lowe about embracing his new role as a leader of the team and the focal point of the attack.

What kind of leader [I am] depends on the moment. If I have to be slightly tougher, I can. But I prefer nicer moments, jokes. The last two years have been spectacular so I haven’t had to be the pesado [pain in the arse] often. I know that annoys people but someone has to do it sometimes.

Very honoured and proud to be in this position [playing Brazil]. I enjoyed it as a player thoroughly, enjoying it as a coach, and as I did at the World Cup and tonight, we have a huge challenge against one the world’s best.

We [Carlo Ancelotti] have caught up a few days ago in Brisbane. He’s just a fantastic man and obviously one of the world’s greatest managers. He’s done so much in his career and won so many titles I’m sure he doesn’t have enough room at home with all the trophies he’s won. So it’ll an honour and a pleasure to share the pitch with him.

⚽ Latest news in aftermath from dramatic day in Atlanta
⚽ Tuchel takes blame | Player guide | Golden Boot | Mail us

Thomas Tuchel had already shown this week he’s not someone who is prone to mere pleasantries after a game. The head coach shouldered the blame for England becoming too passive after taking the lead against Argentina, but at the same time said he had “no regrets”.

I don’t believe so much in an English thing and a curse or whatever. It’s repeating itself in different moments. It’s different coaches, different players, different situations.

What cost us today was that we were not active enough in any structure. I can understand these discussions are out there and of course a million coaches after the game know it better. You can discuss this with a million coaches. I have to make a decision on the pitch. It’s how I analyse the match and I take the responsibility.

Switzerland made light work of Algeria to book a last-16 spot with goals to Embolo and Ndoye amid a dazzling display from Manzambi

The smallest details can make a difference at the World Cup.

All eyes will be on Switzerland’s 20-year-old attacker Johan Manzambi against Algeria, with the emerging talent living up to the hype so far with three goals in the group stage. Only Kylian Mbappé and Thomas Müller have scored more at a World Cup under the age of 21 this century. The France and Germany greats of course went on to win the golden boot at previous World Cups – without wanting to pile more pressure on Manzambi, here is where he sits in this year’s race …

Colombia book their last-32 spot after edging out DR Congo with a goal to Daniel Muñoz in Guadalajara

Today’s other game was the Group I clash between England and Ghana. Thomas Tuchel’s team got a stern reality check from a dogged Ghanaian side who were happy to sit back and defend.

David Hytner was at Boston Stadium:

England’s idea was to maintain the momentum they had generated in the 4-2 win over Croatia in their opening Group L tie but there was no surge here. Only stodge. England laboured to create against an ultra-defensive Ghana team, their only pulse-quickening moments coming towards the very end.

Marko Arnautovic sealed Austria’s victory over debutants Jordan with a goal from the penalty spot as his side returned to the World Cup in style

Supporters on both sides have descended on San Francisco with Jordan making their World Cup debut and Austria returning to the stage for the first time in 28 years.

It’s a comfortable 15C in San Francisco which should suit Austria more than Jordan ahead of a 9pm kick-off. The players have finished warming up and should be out with their game faces on shortly.

⚽️ Kick-off time: 6pm local/11am AEST/2am BST/9pm EDT
⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | Wallchart | Mail Martin

All Whites: 1 Max Crocombe (gk); 13 Liberato Cacace, 16 Finn Surman, 5 Michael Boxall, 2 Tim Payne; 6 Joe Bell, 8 Marko Stamenić; 11 Eli Just, 10 Sarpreet Singh, 20 Callum McCowatt; 9 Chris Wood (c).

Chris Wood will lead the line and the side into their third World Cup campaign. The XI is expected to settle into a more defensive 4-2-3-1 formation and rely on pace up front from Just, Singh and McCowatt. Crocombe is named goalkeeper ahead of Alex Paulsen.

• 22-year-old to join up with Socceroos training squad in Los Angeles

• Attacker turned down offer four years ago to play for country of birth

The Socceroos have been handed a huge boost on the eve of the World Cup with young attacker Cristian Volpato to join up with the training squad before a friendly against Mexico in Los Angeles.

The 22-year-old will make a shock switch of allegiance from Italy to Australia four years after turning down the opportunity to represent the country of his birth at the tournament in Qatar.

• Australian hits out at online trolls who have targeted her appearance

• Former prodigy to call time on professional career at end of 2026

Australia’s Destanee Aiava has announced her plans to retire from professional tennis in a scathing and expletive-laden statement on social media.

The 25-year-old hit out at a tennis culture she said was “racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn’t fit the mould”, as she revealed plans to call time on her playing career at the end of 2026.

England all out for 384 as Root century leads the way
Over-by-over updates from Sydney Cricket Ground
Live scorecard | The Ashes top 100 | Email Martin

47th over: England 223-3 (Root 78, Brook 83) Here comes England’s spectre. Brook pulls his first ball, splendidly stopped on the rope by Webster. Pancakes his fifth in a not altogether convincing way, but gets away with it.

46th over: England 217-3 (Root 77, Brook 79) With Brian Draper’s Jerusalem being sung by men in white T-shirts with a printed MCC tie, Root nicks his first ball from Scott Boland for four.

Australia are all out for 152 before skittling England for 110 and surviving a single second-innings over on a frenetic Boxing Day at the MCG

The players are out there. England go into a huddle, then disperse. And here comes the most significant element on the scene: Travis Head’s moustache.

“And merry Christmas to you!” says Gareth Wilson. “If I can gently disagree with Andrew Benton, what is most galling, and slightly puts your lovely stat on runs difference to bed, is that Australia have not been amazing. They haven’t needed to be. Sure – one Travis Head innings, one Alex Carey Test, and some good Starc, but none of those by themselves should have been enough to go 3-squat up.

”England have faced a historically poor Aussie team and STILL blown it. It’s depressing, but hey, 0-0 right?

Australia all out for 371; England fume over Snicko call
Ashes top 100 | Follow on Bluesky | Email Rob

The consensus is that today and tomorrow will be the best days to bat. England need to go huge, because they won’t fancy chasing too many against Nathan Lyon on day five.

“As the cliche has it, it’s a crucial first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh hour,” writes Gary Naylor. “Are Australia bringing 871 Test wickets into an already winning team or imbalancing their attack with a couple of rusty bowlers? Are England Bazball zealots or pragmatic pros? Did 2006 happen at all? Feels like the opening credits of an episode of Soap.”