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The craziest part of Team USA’s gold medal is that coach Mike Sullivan doesn’t get one originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Mike Sullivan put all the pieces together.

The head coach of Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics made it happen. He’s a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now, he coaches the New York Rangers.

But he has never achieved something like this.

On Sunday, Sullivan coached the United States to a gold medal.

MORE: Jack Hughes, not a miracle, just magic

Team USA beat Canada in overtime, 2-1. It’s the first men’s hockey gold medal for the United States since the Miracle On Ice team in 1980.

For all that Sullivan did, though, something shocking: He won’t get a gold medal.

Coaches don’t get medals. It’s just how it works at the Olympics.

It makes sense in individual sports. But in team sports? Many think it’s silly.

MORE: Team USA honors Johnny Gaudreau in special way after gold medal

There was already plenty of chatter around this when the Team USA women’s hockey team won the gold medal on Friday, also beating Canada 2-1 in overtime. Their great head coach, John Wroblewski, asked Hilary Knight afterward if he could see the all-time great’s medal.

Sullivan will have all the memories.

He won’t have a medal, though. That’s a little weird.

The head coach won’t complain for long. This will be indelibly etched in his mind forever, physical medal or not.

More Olympics news:

This U.S. luge star was parodied on SNLMikaela Shiffrin just broke the OlympicsMegan Keller’s childhood dreams culminate in a dream come trueU.S. women’s hockey star’s brothers go viral at OlympicsEileen Gu responds to hate only way she knows howA dog stole the show at the finish line of cross country skiing

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/craziest-part-team-usas-gold-163535148.html 

Player Ratings: Alexis Mac Allister scores late winner as Liverpool beat Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool: Player Ratings and Match Reaction

Liverpool left it late to secure a dramatic 1-0 win against Nottingham Forest, with Alexis Mac Allister striking in the 97th minute to settle a tense Premier League clash. Arne Slot’s side kept pushing until the final whistle and were rewarded deep into stoppage time, while Vitor Pereira’s Forest battled hard but could not hold on.

Played in front of 30,737 supporters at the City Ground, the contest felt cagey for long spells. Forest stayed organised, forcing Liverpool to circulate possession patiently. The breakthrough finally arrived in chaotic fashion, ensuring the visitors claimed three crucial points in the race for European qualification.

Key Moments From City Ground

The decisive goal came after sustained Liverpool pressure. Virgil van Dijk’s downward header forced a sharp save from Stefan Ortega, yet Mac Allister reacted quickest to bundle home the rebound. Earlier in stoppage time, the midfielder thought he had already scored, only for VAR to intervene after a handball.

Ortega had previously produced an excellent stop to deny Hugo Ekitike, and Forest defended resolutely, with Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic frequently stepping in to block attempts. Still, Liverpool’s persistence proved decisive as they pushed Forest deeper during the closing stages.

Photo: IMAGO

Tactical Notes and Player Impact

Slot’s Liverpool struggled to find rhythm in midfield, with Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones unable to fully control the tempo. Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo were largely kept quiet by Forest’s defensive shape, while Morgan Gibbs White and Callum Hudson Odoi looked lively whenever the hosts broke forward.

Forest attempted to exploit wide areas through Neco Williams and Ola Aina, yet clear chances remained limited. Pereira’s team showed discipline, though the late concession underlined how fine the margins can be in Premier League matches.

The victory moves Liverpool level on points with fourth placed Chelsea and Manchester United in fifth, adding further intrigue to the table as the season progresses.

Player Ratings

Nottingham Forest:Stefan Ortega 5Ola Aina 6Nikola Milenkovic 6Murillo 7Neco Williams 7Ibrahim Sangare 6Elliott Anderson 7Morgan Gibbs White 7Callum Hudson Odoi 7Omari Hutchinson 5Igor Jesus 5

Liverpool:Alisson Becker 5Dominik Szoboszlai 7Ibrahima Konate 6Virgil van Dijk 7Milos Kerkez 6Ryan Gravenberch 5Alexis Mac Allister 6Curtis Jones 5Mohamed Salah 5Hugo Ekitike 5Cody Gakpo 5

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/player-ratings-alexis-mac-allister-163500580.html 

Report: Inter Milan Open Preliminary Talks With Bayern Munich & Germany Midfielder As Contract Ticks Down

Inter Milan have begun preliminary talks over a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka, with the club’s hierarchy already making initial contact as they plan a significant midfield rebuild ahead of next season.

Goretzka will leave Bayern on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

Therefore making him an attractive option for a club that prides itself on smart recruitment.

Inter are well versed in the art of the zero-fee signing.

Inter Eye Bayern Star Goretzka But Salary Hurdle Remains

DORTMUND, GERMANY – MARCH 23: Leon Goretzka of Germany looks on prior to the UEFA Nations League Quarterfinal Leg Two match between Germany and Italy at Football Stadium Dortmund on March 23, 2025 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

At 31, the Germany international represents exactly the kind of experienced, physically imposing addition that new coach Cristian Chivu has been seeking.

The stumbling block remains his salary, which is understood to be substantial.

Inter would require Goretzka to accept a significant wage reduction before any deal could be agreed.

And, indeed, that negotiation will be central to whether the move happens.

The wider midfield picture at Inter is complex heading into the summer.

Mkhitaryan is expected to leave when his contract expires.

Meanwhile the futures of Calhanoglu and Frattesi remain uncertain.

Goretzka would help address the void, but he is far from the only name on the agenda.

Roma’s Manu Koné is described as one of Chivu’s primary targets, with Inter reportedly willing to spend around €50 million to secure the Frenchman.

Ismael Koné is also of interest as a longer-term investment.

Meanwhile, Aleksandar Stankovic’s arrival is described as close to confirmed.

The Serbian youngster is expected to join as understudy to Calhanoglu before developing into a key figure in his own right.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/report-inter-milan-open-preliminary-163500118.html 

Napoli anger at referee and VAR: ‘It’s absurd and embarrassing’

Napoli director Giovanni Manna lashed out at the ‘absurd, embarrassing’ decision to disallow a goal in their 2-1 defeat to Atalanta. ‘Why did VAR not intervene?’

The Partenopei were leading 1-0 in Bergamo with the Sam Beukema free header, but more importantly felt they had two huge opportunities to extend that advantage.

First a penalty was awarded for the Isak Hien coming together with Rasmus Hojlund only to be revoked by a VAR review, then the officials did not intervene when a soft foul was given against Hojlund on Hien to set up the Miguel Gutierrez goal.

Instead, Atalanta turned it all around in the final half-hour with headers from Mario Pasalic and Lazar Samardzic.

Napoli rage at ‘shameful’ refereeing

NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 10: Antonio Conte, SSC Napoli head coach, argues with referee Giovanni Ayroldi during the Coppa Italia match between SSC Napoli and Como 1907 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 10, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“It is impossible to comment on this. We have the penalty revoked, but after the restart the referee blows the whistle and there is no contact, no foul, there’s no VAR check, the goal is disallowed, it’s embarrassing?” Manna told DAZN Italia.

“Where is the foul? The VAR called him on the penalty, why not on this? It’s embarrassing! We try to be really nice and kind, we didn’t complain because incidents can balance themselves out. We had problems in Turin and Verona, we said nothing, but this is embarrassing.

“We are here challenging for a place in the Champions League and we see a goal disallowed over nothing.”

SASSUOLO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Referee Daniele Chiffi during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and FC Internazionale at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on February 08, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

The last week has seen so much controversy over the role of VAR, the protocol for when they can overturn or recommend a review to the referee, and these incidents will only add to those calls for the AIA to make big changes.

“There has to be a reflection, because every week a club ends up here protesting about decisions,” continued Manna.

“All we want is what is right, what is ours, but this is not right, and it is not football. It’s shameful, I have no more words.”

NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AS Roma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 15, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

The two incidents involving Hien and Hojlund were arguably very similar, in that not all contact is a penalty, but then how much of a ‘clear and obvious error’ does it need to be before VAR can step in?

“On the penalty, if the referee gives that and then they call him to say there’s not enough contact, then why did VAR not call him for the second one too?

“It is probably something that only Chiffi saw, there is no VAR check. It is absurd. Incredible. It’s already a tough season for us, we come to Bergamo in this condition, and we see a perfectly good goal disallowed. It’s paradoxical.”

The only suggestion for that ‘foul’ might be that Hojlund had hold of Hien’s arm under his elbow and pulled him down, but even then it seems unlikely the referee saw that.

Another option might be that the linesman recommended the foul to the referee on the touchline, but either way, the VAR check was extraordinarily fast before play resumed.

CREMONA, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giovanni Zini on December 28, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

“I assumed from the stands that the ball had gone out of play, because there’s nothing else there. If anything, Hien is hanging off Hojlund.

“If there’s nothing there, it’s not about being subjective or objective. We don’t like being made to look like idiots. We work hard, we struggle, and this is not acceptable.”

The fact remains that this result completely shakes up the fight for a Champions League spot, because Napoli are now only five points clear of Como and Atalanta in sixth and seventh, and risk being caught by Roma this evening in third.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/napoli-anger-referee-var-absurd-163500034.html