George Bush last week put out a call for new White House wordsmiths. Peggy Noonan, a veteran of the 1988 presidential race, has agreed to craft the president’s remarks for major campaign events. She came on board after stepping in at the last minute to rewrite the State of the Union Message. But Noonan, a Reagan speechwriter, doesn’t want to return to the White House full time. The president’s top advisers, particularly campaign chiefs Bob Teeter and Fred Malek, are now worried that Bush’s re-election effort could be hampered by his often uninspired rhetoric....

Argentina are clinging to their place in the tournament after a 3-0 defeat to Croatia left them with one point from their two matches and needing a win over the Super Eagles to stand a chance of qualifying for the last 16. Bielsa coached the Albiceleste from 1998 to 2004, winning 42 of his 68 games in charge, but failed to get out of the group stage at the 2002 World Cup....

Messi played no part in either of Argentina’s games during the international break due to a minor hamstring injury, sitting out a 2-0 defeat of Italy and a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Spain. Ter Stegen, meanwhile, was rested for Germany’s 1-0 loss to Brazil on Tuesday and the goalkeeper could miss the trip to Sevilla as a result of a knee problem. “We do not know too much about the physical condition of Messi and Ter Stegen,” Valverde said on Wednesday....

Now he begins his toughest challenge yet, at the helm of the Argentina national team as the Albiceleste restart their quest to make the cut for Russia 2018. All indications suggest he is preparing a similar shockwave built around three of the most promising forwards on the planet. Argentina 13-2 to beat Uruguay 1-0 The Argentina training base in Ezeiza has been a hive of activity this week. And while Sampaoli has chopped and changed his preferred XI in preparation for every eventuality when the nation step out in Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario for a crunch qualifier against Uruguay on Thursday, one thing seems certain: responsibility for breaking the famously mean Celeste backline will fall on Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala and Mauro Icardi, a new trident for a new generation....

Messi’s late penalty seals Barca win at Mestalla Iniesta was stretchered off in tears at Mestalla after he was caught by Enzo Perez and Barca revealed later that the midfielder had suffered a partial tear of his lateral collateral ligament. That means he is set for three to four months out and his pain was apparent as he left the pitch after 14 minutes. On the sidelines, coach Luis Enrique was furious with the challenge by Perez, even though the Argentine had intended no harm....

What’s happened to Thomas Muller? The Argentine forward netted with a stunning strike in Barca’s 2-1 semi-final first-leg win at the Estadio Vicente Calderon last Wednesday but he was also booked late in that match for a foul on Filipe Luis. Another yellow in Tuesday’s return fixture at Camp Nou would mean a suspension for the 29-year-old and if Barca - as is expected - were to advance to the final on May 27, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner would be unable to take part....

Aimar started playing as a teenager for Estudiantes de Rio Cuarto, located in Cordoba province and the hometown of the playmaker. Celta & Alaves play out Copa del Rey tie At the tender age of 16 he moved to Buenos Aires to join the River youth ranks, and went on to star in Spain and Portugal in a career that won him countless admirers across the world of football. One of those is none other than Lionel Messi, who has affirmed on more than one occasion that El Payaso was one of his idols growing up....

Lili Cantero has presented the mercurial Argentine with some personalised footwear which honours his achievements as a footballer and a family man. Among the moments to be captured within the design are Messi celebrating with Ronaldinho as a teenager and his iconic shirt-holding celebration during a Clasico clash with Real Madrid. Wife Antonella Roccuzzo and children Thiago and Mateo also feature in a remarkable gift which has been well received by the talismanic forward at Camp Nou....

Metastasis of breast cancer may not surface for many years after a person is first diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. Therefore, predicting the prognosis (the likely course of a disease) of metastatic breast cancer may require the medical team to look closely at factors such as the length time between initial diagnosis and metastasis, genetics, and more. Prognosis New breast cancer treatment is aimed at improving the survival rate and increasing the longevity of those who are diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer....

Americans watching bin Laden see a monster or a madman. But if he were simply that and nothing more, the “twilight war” ahead would be over quickly. Madmen, after all, generally don’t attract the kind of popularity that bin Laden enjoys–which he now hopes to use to even greater effect than his human bombs. There’s a method to his madness: to lure the United States into a prolonged conflict that could inflame the Islamic world....

The Metropolitan Division has placed a monopoly on the Stanley Cup. Specifically, this pertains to the Penguins and the Capitals, winners of the last three. Not since the late 1980s has the NHL’s ultimate prize remained within a single division three years in a row, when the Flames and Oilers combined for four Cups between 1986-90, let alone four. What’re the odds a Metro team keeps the Cup in house?...

The deal is worth $4.1 million, according to MLB Network, making Familia the team’s highest-paid reliever with just one full season of closing experience. MORE: The most controversial players in MLB history | Why isn’t Cam Newton playing baseball? Familia, 26, recorded 43 saves for the NL East champions in 2015 with a 1.85 ERA. Familia reportedly had filed at $4.8 million and the Mets countered at $3.3 million, pushing the settlement slightly beyond the midpoint toward Familia....

“I know the rules are the rules and I will accept my punishment, but I can honestly say I have no idea how a banned substance ended up in my system,” Mejia said in a statement. “I’m sorry to the Mets organization, my teammates and the fans, as well as my family.” MORE: Where’s the love for the regular season? | Red Sox beat Yankees in 19-inning marathon Mejia was currently on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 5, with posterior inflammation in his right elbow....

That’s pretty cool, right? The first! At this point, though, lots of you are probably asking, “Um, what in the heck is an NFT?” For starters, NFT stands for Non-Fungible Token. That didn’t help, did it? So I asked Walker: “The easiest way to explain this is like this: It’s digital art. It’s art that you can own and have for the rest of your life. It’s obviously not something you can get delivered or whatever....

The Mexico forward’s hot streak continued with a 38th-minute goal in West Ham’s 2-0 victory over Watford. He’s now scored in three of his last four Premier League matches and after showing good chemistry with Marko Arnautovic may finally find minutes despite other Hammers attackers being fit. He continues to score and now is demonstrating to manager David Moyes how he can work with other players on the field....

Goal’s Jon Arnold flies through the reasons this week and finds a bright spot: Check out the video above for the rundown. 

Andres Guardado has been a key part of Quique Setien’s Real Betis team this season, and this weekend was no different with “El Principito” going the full 90 minutes and setting up the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Malaga on Monday. The win marked the eighth consecutive match without defeat for Los Verdiblancos and locked up Europa League qualification for next season, Across town, Miguel Layun came on for Sevilla, but it was in a 2-1 defeat to Levante....

Mexico’s total confirmed COVID-19 deaths has been raised to 227,840 after previous deaths were reviewed by officials. “These deaths are not part of the recent epidemic activity. In the next few days, we will likely be seeing these adjustments not only in deaths but also in cases,” said Jose Luis Alomia, head of epidemiology for Mexico’s health ministry, according to Reuters. Many of the victims died at their homes after never even receiving a COVID-19 test because testing is not widely done in Mexico....

El Tri needed only a single Jonathan Dos Santos strike to secure continental glory when the teams met in the Gold Cup final in July, but it went two better on Friday. Sevilla striker Hernandez headed home during the first half and substitutes Erick Gutierrez and Uriel Antuna completed a thoroughly deserved victory with two goals in four second-half minutes. USA’s brightest spark, Christian Pulisic, passed up the chance to convert a late penalty, which young forward Joshua Sargent was unable to convert past Jonathan Orozco....

While Swiss investment bank UBS has estimated that Mexico’s economy could shrink by 7.6 percent in 2020, more than doubling a previous forecast, experts told Newsweek that number could grow if the Mexican government does not do more to address the economic impact of the pandemic. “There are a lot of different estimates out there about just how serious the recession could be in Mexico,” Christopher Wilson, the deputy director of the Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute, told Newsweek....