INDIANAPOLIS – Kyle Busch continued his domination of the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by winning the pole for Saturday afternoon’s Indiana 250.

Busch won the pole Saturday afternoon with a fast lap of 168.397 mph in the Combos Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. It was Busch’s fifth pole in seven Xfinity Series races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the most in series history for this event.

It was also his 67th pole in 352 NASCAR Xfinity Series races and his second pole and seventh top-10 start in 2019.

Brandon Jones, Busch’s teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, will start second after a lap at 168.083 mph in the No. 19 First Foundation Toyota. It’s Jones 17th top-10 start this year and his first in four races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Rounding out the top three was another Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Christopher Bell, at 167.317 mph in the Rheem/Parker Hannifin Toyota.

Tyler Reddick was fourth at 166.208 mph, with rookie John Hunter Nemechek rounding out the top-five at 166.187 mph. He was also the fastest rookie.

The Indiana 250 starts at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on NBCSN.

Indiana 250 Starting Lineup

1. Kyle Busch
2. Brandon Jones
3. Christopher Bell
4. Tyler Reddick
5. John Hunter Nemechek
6. Austin Cindric
7. Justin Haley
8. Justin Allgaier
9. Chase Briscoe
10. Ryan Sieg
11. Cole Custer
12. Jeb Burton
13. Noah Gragson
14. Austin Dillon
15. Michael Annett
16. Gray Gaulding
17. Austin Hill
18. Jeremy Clements
19. Josh Williams
20. Ronnie Bassett Jr.
21. B.J. McLeod
22. Stefan Parson
23. Josh Bilicki
24. J.J. Yeley
25. David Starr
26. Ray Black Jr.
27. Matt Mills
28. Tommy Joe Martins
29. Joey Gase
30. Stephen Leicht
31. Brandon Brown
32. Garrett Smithley
33. Morgan Shepherd
34. Landon Cassill
35. Vinnie Miller
36. Chad Finchum
37. Mike Harmon
38. Kyle Weatherman

INDIANAPOLIS – Paul Menard, the 2011 Big Machine Vodka 400 winner, was the fastest driver in Saturday afternoon’s final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Menard ran a lap at 185.079 mph around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the No. 21 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford for the Wood Brothers.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was second in the No. 17 Fastenal Ford for Roush Fenway Racing. His lap speed was 184.151 mph was followed by the lap set by Southern 500 winner Erik Jones, who lapped the track at 183.550 mph in his No. 20 Toyota.

Chris Buescher’s No. 37 Kroger Chevrolet was fourth at 183.385 mph, followed by Matt DiBenedetto’s Horizon Transport Toyota at 183.050 mph.

The only incident during the practice came just as session came to an end. Denny Hamlin’s Toyota blew a tire in turn four, sending his car into the outside wall. The No. 11 sustained major damage, forcing Joe Gibbs Racing to pull out a backup car for Hamlin.

“It was big for sure. It was the last corner and I think the red flag had been out for a minute or so,” Hamlin explained. “We had just got into turn one when the red went out and we were going to finish our lap. It just blew a right-front. We hadn’t seen any wear issues so we might have run something over or whatever. Definitely got my attention.”

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and four-time Brickyard 400 winner Jimmie Johnson, who is 18 points below the cut line and essentially has to win to get into the playoffs, was 17th fastest in final practice at 181.470 mph in the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet.

The next time the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series cars hit the track will be for Sunday’s qualifications at 10:30 a.m., followed by the 26th running of Big Machine Vodka 400 at 2 p.m.

Watford have appointed former boss Quique Sanchez Flores within minutes of announcing the sacking of head coach Javi Gracia.

Garcia has left the club after a poor start to the Premier League season with the side bottom of the table.

Watford's only point so far this season came in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle last weekend, following defeats against Brighton, Everton, and West Ham.

Sanchez Flores returns to Vicarage Road having lead the club to a midtable finish during the 2015-16 Premier League season, as well as reaching the semifinal of the FA Cup. The 54-year-old Spanish coach left at the end of the season after a poor run of form in his final months in charge.

Sanchez Flores replaces Gracia, 49, who joined Watford in 2018, guiding the team to the final of the FA Cup last season before ultimately losing 6-0 to Manchester City.

"Javi has represented Watford with great dignity and will always be deserving of our fullest respect for his achievements," Chairman and CEO Scott Duxbury said in a statement.

"Javi Gracia's staff will also be leaving the club, ahead of the imminent appointment of a new coaching team.

"Everyone at the Hornets wishes Javi and his staff all the very best for the future, and they will always be welcome visitors in the future at Vicarage Road."

Gremio president Romildo Bolzan Jr. has "beatable" Liverpool present a real opportunity for South American clubs to win the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup.

The Brazilian side are in the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores, where they will face Flamengo -- and the winners of that tie will take on either Boca Juniors or River Plate in the final.

- Everything you need to know about the FIFA Club World Cup

The winners of the Libertadores will go into the FIFA Club World Cup in December alongside all the continental champions. No non-European side has won the trophy since Corinthians beat Chelsea in 2012, but Bolzan Jr. said the South American teams will fancy their chances against Liverpool, who beat Tottenham 2-0 in the Champions League final.

"The favourites [for the FIFA Club World Cup] are always the European teams," he told Fox Sports. "I am certain Liverpool are less frightening that Real Madrid, who we faced [in 2017].

"Liverpool are a team that can be beaten. By us, by Flamengo, by Boca, by River. Real Madrid were a team of galacticos -- full of superstars.

"We lost 1-0 to Real Madrid in 2017. We could have taken the game to penalties and there, anything could have happened. Just like we did with Ajax in 1995, where we lost, and Hamburg in 1983 in extra time."

The 2019 FIFA Club World Cup will take place in Qatar from Dec. 11 to 21, with Real Madrid having won the last three editions.

England's serene progress towards Euro 2020 continued as captain Harry Kane grabbed a hat-trick in a 4-0 demolition of Bulgaria in Group A at Wembley on Saturday.

Kane opened the scoring after 24 minutes and struck home two penalties after the break as well as providing the assist for Raheem Sterling to get on the scoresheet.

- Euro 2020 qualifying: All you need to know

The Tottenham Hotspur striker's second hat-trick for his country took his tally to 25 goals from 40 appearances and put him ahead of 1966 World Cup final hero Geoff Hurst on the list of all-time England scorers.

Gareth Southgate's side have now scored 14 goals in their opening three Group A games and lead the table with nine points from Kosovo (8) who beat the Czech Republic 2-1 earlier on.

England host Kosovo for the first time on Tuesday when another victory will leave them looking virtually assured of reaching next year's tournament that culminates on home soil.

It was not a perfect display by England with Bulgaria having three good chances, one when the score was 0-0, but England proved far too strong as they left the visitors languishing at the bottom of the group with two points from five games.

"First half, we got caught on the counter a couple of times. We said at halftime we needed to try and come out and get an early goal and that's what we've done," Kane said.

"It's a good result we hope to take into Tuesday."

Bulgaria had never beaten England in 10 previous encounters, scoring only twice, and despite starting reasonably solidly and having the game's first chance through naturalised Brazilian Wanderson, they were the architects of their own downfall.

The expected home onslaught had failed to materialise in the opening quarter but England were gifted the lead.

Southgate would have been concerned by some slackness in his defence and Galin Ivanov wasted a great chance to head his side level when he was picked out by Ivelin Popov's cross.

Shortly after the break Wanderson was played in and his fierce effort from a tight angle was saved by Jordan Pickford.

Stung, England immediately counter-attacked and Marcus Rashford was sent clear and as he turned back inside in the area he was tripped by the sliding Nikolay Bodurov.

Kane dispatched the penalty with ease and six minutes later he teed up Sterling to score off his thigh from close range.

With the points in the bag England sent on Chelsea youngster Mason Mount for his debut while Jadon Sancho also got some game time as he replaced Sterling with 20 minutes left.

Kane was also given a breather but not before he had earned and converted his second penalty in the 73rd minute after being hacked down by Bulgaria substitute Kristian Dimitrov.

Information from Reuters was used in this report.

United States midfielder Christian Pulisic said that the squad must stop playing afraid against rivals Mexico.

"We still play with fear against them, and that is what I can't really live with," Pulisic said after the USMNT's 3-0 loss to Mexico on Friday night. "That needs to change."

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez scored in the first half, Erick Gutierrez and Uriel Antuna had late goals four minutes apart in Mexico's win over the U.S. in the friendly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

"We have to go and play like we're good enough to be out there, be confident and play without thinking twice about it," Pulisic added. "That's how it needs to be, and that's just not where we're at right now."

- Davis: After loss, this U.S. squad still has a long way to go
- Mexico player ratings: 'Chicharito,' 'Tecatito' stellar in win
- U.S. player ratings: Pulisic poised among poor performances

The Americans, still trying to rebound from their failure to reach last year's World Cup, lost to Mexico by three goals for the first time since a 5-0 defeat in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup final. El Tri beat the U.S. 1-0 two months ago in the latest Gold Cup final and has won four of the last six meetings, with one draw.

"You guys are going to think I'm crazy, I'm happier about this game than I am about the Gold Cup final," U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said. "In the Gold Cup final, I felt like all we did was play the ball long and that was our only solution. And now at least we tried to play in the way that we're envisioning."

Berhalter used just five starters from the Gold Cup final and Mexico coach Gerardo "Tata" Martinez two as many of his regulars returned. Berhalter pointed to better possession and passing accuracy, but still the Americans were outshot 10-6 and Berhalter admitted the attack "kind of stalled" in the final third.

U.S. goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who played under Berhalter in Columbus, believes in the coach's build-from-the-back system.

"We're going to eat goals, but it's a process," Steffen said. "You could definitely see where we need to improve and come together more and really trust one another and be brave and just be fearless."

Morales hit a post in the 80th minute, and when the U.S. was awarded a penalty kick, Pulisic handed the ball to 19-year-old Joshua Sargent. The forward's 88th-minute attempt was stopped by Jonathan Orozco, who dived to his right.

"Christian felt very confident in myself," Sargent said. "I was unfortunate not to make that one, but it happens and I look forward to the next one."

Dest, an 18-year-old who has gained playing time for Ajax this season, started at left back and became the third American born in the 2000s to play for the national team after Tim Weah and Sargent.

"He lacked a little bit of aggressiveness going forward when Christian was coming inside. But overall pleased with his performance," Berhalter said.

Dest can switch to the Netherlands if he doesn't play a competitive match for the U.S. He had a curling 25-yard shot in the 14th minute that was punched away.

Jesus "Tecatito" Corona created the first goal when he dribbled past Pulisic, played the ball through the legs of Dest, then took a touch and made an open cross to an unmarked Hernandez. Chicharito's diving header from eight yards was his 52nd international goal.

"It was a great action from him," Dest said. "I don't think I played a bad game or something, but it was just that moment was crucial. I have to learn from it."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- In the lead-up to the United States vs. Mexico friendly Friday night at MetLife Stadium, the rhetoric from both sides was the same.

"I think right now, Mexico is slightly ahead of us, having beaten us in the last game and having performed well over the last few years," U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said.

"I think that as a general panorama, our players are competing in leagues that are better than the players in the United States national team and I also think that the Mexican league is above MLS, which means it's very probable that [Berhalter] is right and that from his position he sees the Mexican national team as a little bit better than the U.S. in a general context," El Tri boss Geraldo "Tata" Martino offered.

And it was true. Heading into the friendly, the U.S. had won only one of the past five matches against its opponent, which had reasserted its CONCACAF dominance with a 1-0 victory in July's Gold Cup final. While nothing that occurred during the 90-minute friendly at the Meadowlands was going to alter that narrative, the question was how much of the gap the Stars and Stripes had closed?

- Mexico player ratings: 'Chicharito,' 'Tecatito' stellar in win
- U.S. player ratings: Pulisic poised among poor performances

The answer: not as much as the American fanbase hoped.

The Mexico squad -- bolstered by the additions of Diego Reyes, Hector Herrera, Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, and Jesus "Tecatito" Corona who didn't appear in the Gold Cup -- dominated for long stretches, winning 3-0.

"As you can see, we still have a lot to work on," U.S. midfielder Christian Pulisic said after the match. "Things just never really went our way."

The biggest indication of the gap came on Mexico's first goal in the 21st minute. After an extensive period of possession that saw the visitors work the ball easily around the field, Corona nutmegged defender Sergino Dest -- who was making his USMNT debut -- then sent in a cross that Hernandez headed past Zack Steffen. It was a brilliant goal, the type of coordinated team tally that any coach would love.

Could the Americans score a goal like that? Maybe, eventually. The way Mexico's side-to-side movement unbalanced the U.S. bears a similarity with how Berhalter wants his team to play. The Americans aren't, however, there. The shape is improving, yet the ideas, passes, and vision come too slowly. Too often the U.S. players were forced to pass back to Steffen when trying to break Mexico's pressure.

"We kind of panicked, and those are things we have to adjust to in the heat of the situation because obviously Mexico is a very pressure-oriented team," right back Reggie Cannon said. "That's something we have to learn to work around. It's not easy task to play out of the back."

The breakouts were too slow, passes a yard or two off, runs mistimed, decisions slow. The mental part of the game isn't fast enough, either.

But, of course, this was a friendly. A meaningless game where the score wasn't as important as the progress. To hear Berhalter tell it, Friday night was a step in the right direction.

"Our focus was to keep trying to focus on making progress as group," Berhalter said in a postmatch news conference. "Being brave with the ball. Looking for holes. There were times when it was good. And times when it wasn't good."

On balance, there were more times when it wasn't good. Which isn't to say that it was never good. For the Americans, there's hope. There's always hope.

Part of the hope, as always, stems from the U.S. youth movement. For better or -- mostly against Mexico -- worse, regime change is on, with Berhalter trotting out a starting roster with an average age of 24 years, 150 days. Unlike the past, where the excitement was pinned on potential, these young Americans are already an accomplished bunch. Pulisic is showing well in the Premier League. The abilities of Weston McKennie and Steffen continue to develop in the Bundesliga, as does Joshua Sargent who joined as a second-half substitute. Dest, 18, is getting looks at Ajax. Cannon is getting better at FC Dallas.

While none had his best game against Mexico -- Pulisic, fouled a game-high four times, grew especially frustrated -- each showed something. In the 12th minute, Pulisic took on four defenders, dribbling into space then releasing a pass to a teammate. Minutes later, Dest ripped a curling shot from 25 yards that forced Jonathan Orozco to make the first decent save of the match. After the half, the entire team competed better and harder (at least until the subs came on, the flow of the game broke down, and Mexico piled on two more). Sargent drew a penalty kick off a great feed from Sebastian Lletget (and then had his subsequent attempt stuffed by Orozco).

These were the highlights. They were few and far between. It turned into a long evening against a superior opponent. But the U.S. didn't give up on what it was trying to do.

"That's actually the big point that people are failing to grasp: You can't abandon the concepts when things get hard because that way we won't improve," Cannon said. "In two years, we're going to be in the same spot. When things get tough like that, when you come in against a Mexico team that is pressing the heck out of you, you have to learn how to play out. Unfortunately, that's going to come with mistakes."

On the night, there were mistakes. Pick an adjective: Disorienting. Difficult. Discouraging.

And yet: "Of course there are frustrations when you lose 3-0," Pulisic said. "There's always frustrations. But we have a style of play that we are setting out that we're still trying to execute, and obviously today we didn't pull it off at all times, but in the mix of things there were a few good moments."

Berhalter agreed. "The build-up is continuing to be a process, and I think today we showed improvement," he said.

Before Friday night, Mexico was the best team in CONCACAF. After Friday, it still is better in every phase of the game. The U.S. remain in the rearview mirror. But fortunes can change. Objects can be closer than they appear.