BOSTON -- Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk has been medically cleared from a concussion and is likely to play in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, coach Bruce Cassidy said.

"He'll be a game-time decision," Cassidy said. "But looks like he'll go in."

Cassidy said rookie Connor Clifton would probably be bumped from the lineup if Grzelcyk goes in against the St. Louis Blues.

Grzelcyk has been sidelined since Game 2, when he was boarded by Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist, who served a one-game suspension for the play.

The Bruins were hopeful that Grzelcyk could return as soon as Game 5, but team doctors would not medically clear him from concussion protocol.

Grzelcyk, though, has been skating with the team for the past week in a maroon noncontact jersey.

Cassidy said he was not worried about Grzelcyk needing time to find his game because, with such a high-stakes situation, "adrenaline would probably get you through."

"One thing about Matt, if he does go in [after] missing some games, is he's been skating with us," Cassidy said. "It's not like he just jumped on the ice yesterday. He's been participating, albeit noncontact, so it's a little bit of a different animal there.

"But at this time of year, you're not getting a lot of contact in practice anyway. So he's just going to have to understand -- because he did obviously live the first game and a half or whatever it is in St. Louis -- that it is going to be physical. He's been there, he's been watching. He knows he has to get back in a hurry, make the decisions with it and take a hit to make a play. That's what's required. It usually is against this team."

Grzelcyk, 25, played in 66 regular-season games with the Bruins and 19 games this postseason. He has three goals and four assists while averaging 16:22 of ice time in the playoffs.

Manchester United have rejected the chance to talk to Real Madrid about the possibility of signing Gareth Bale, sources have told ESPN FC.

The Wales international is surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu following Zinedine Zidane's return as boss.

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United, along with a host of other top European clubs, have been sounded out as a possible destination but Real Madrid have been informed that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has other targets in mind.

The Norwegian is open to adding another forward to his squad despite having already signed Dan James from Swansea. Lille's Nicolas Pepe, Lyon's Moussa Dembele and Bournemouth's Ryan Fraser have all been discussed.

United have twice missed out on Bale in the past. He chose Tottenham when he left Southampton in 2007 and then opted for Real Madrid when he left White Hart Lane in 2013. He was also on former manager Jose Mourinho's wanted list in 2017.

He has long been a target for executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward but, at 29, it has been decided he no longer fits into United's transfer strategy during a summer window that has seen the club target young players with potential rather than established stars.

Bale, who has a contract at Real Madrid until 2022, has not ruled out staying at the club but he will find competition for places even more fierce next season after the Spanish giants signed Eden Hazard from Chelsea and Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt. His wages -- around £600,000-a-week -- will be a stumbling block for all but the wealthiest clubs in Europe if he leaves.

Sources have told ESPN FC Real Madrid are interested in signing United midfielder Paul Pogba and Woodward's refusal to enter into negotiations for Bale is a blow to their hopes of landing the France midfielder.

Pogba is open to a move to La Liga but United are under no pressure to sell with the 26-year-old under contract at Old Trafford until 2022.

Solskjaer is keen to build his new-look team around Pogba but will have to convince the World Cup winner that the club can match his ambition after missing out on a place in next season's Champions League.

United States men's team manager Gregg Berhalter said his goal for his players is to continue learning his style and tactics ahead of the Gold Cup.

"It's about competing. It's about our tactics, It's about the way we play. It's about going through this process and learning together, because tournaments are a learning process for a group. So it's about those three things," Berhalter said in an exclusive interview with ESPN FC.

"Then to me, it's ultimately about putting ourselves in a position to win. We know Mexico is a very good team, probably the favorites of the tournament. We know that's a good team. We know that Panama has an experienced team. We know it's not going to be easy. But it's going to be good for this group to dig and have to compete for something."

The 2019 Gold Cup begins on Saturday as Mexico takes on Cuba and the U.S. kick off their campaign to defend their crown next Tuesday with a game against Guyana in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

After beginning his tenure as U.S. boss with a four-game unbeaten streak, Berhalter has dropped two straight games -- a 1-0 loss to fellow Gold Cup participants Jamaica and a 3-0 defeat to Venezuela.

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Their biggest rivals, Mexico, are going into the tournament having won four straight under former Atlanta United boss Gerardo "Tata" Martino, all wins in friendlies over South American sides.

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The Gold Cup is also the first time the U.S. will be playing competitive matches since being eliminated by Trinidad & Tobago at World Cup qualifying in November 2017.

Berhalter sees this new era as a clean slate for the program after failing to clinch a spot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

"I think what you have is a new opportunity. I think that guys understand that, listen, this is a new coach and it's a new opportunity for us to go in the direction that we want to go. I think that I don't see guys looking back in the past," Berhalter said. "One thing I will see is we're comfortable with what happened in the past. We're comfortable with making [seven straight World Cups].That's great history. That's our past also.

"I think when people talk about the past they get hung up with 2018, and that was a moment for us that wasn't great, but it was also a moment for us to learn. I think that's part of us, just as much as all those great triumphs are part of us also ...That's all part of who we are as a nation. It's important to embrace that. But if you're talking specifically about '17 and not qualifying, guys are ready to turn the page on that."

Berhalter took over in December after managing the Columbus Crew from 2013-2018. The former U.S. international defender played both in MLS and abroad with clubs in the Netherlands, England and Germany. He said MLS has significantly grown in the past five years.

"Think of the players [MLS has] sold in the last five years. Think of the young talents we've attracted to this league in the last five years," he said. "Think of the quality of players we have. My last year in the league [playing in 2011] think of the strikers in the league at the time. Now look at the strikers in the league. It's a different level. When you think about all the national team players we have, the younger talents we have, the transfer fees we're paying, but also the transfer fees that we're taking in is great. It was never like that."

United States women's national team forward Alex Morgan has said she is happy ignoring criticism of her team's celebrations during a record-breaking 13-0 victory over Thailand in their World Cup Group F opener on Tuesday, and that it would have been "disrespectful" not to have given their all for the full 90 minutes.

Morgan tied a tournament record with five goals in the lopsided win, while Samantha Mewis and Rose Lavelle each added a pair of goals for the United States, which broke the record for goals and margin of victory in a World Cup game.

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The criticism has been about the team's relentless attack in the second half. After taking a 3-0 lead into halftime, the U.S. scored 10 more times in the final 45 minutes, with the players celebrating goal after goal even after the result was no longer in doubt.

"I think it's disrespectful if we don't show up and give our best and play our game for 90 minutes," Morgan said in an exclusive interview with ESPN on Wednesday morning. "It's disrespectful to the Thai team. And I believe they wanted us to play them straight up.

"And for the celebrations, these are goals we have dreamt of our entire life. I mean, I'm going to celebrate Mal Pugh's goal. I'm going to celebrate Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle. This is their first World Cup and I'm so proud of them. And I couldn't have dreamt of scoring five goals in a World Cup. So it's incredible for us all and I'm happy just ignoring those comments."

What couldn't be ignored was Thailand's lack of resistance against the dominant Americans, who came into the tournament as favorites to retain their world title.

Thailand manager Nualphan Lamsam apologised to fans after the match.

"We met with one of the strongest opponent in the world, but I did not think we would lose this much," Lamsam said, adding that she, the coaching staff, and the players "would like to apologise to all our fans ... and thanks for all their support."

"We will do our best in the next two games," she said.

U.S. manager Jill Ellis defended her team's aggressive style of play in the second half.

"This is a world championship, so every team here has been fantastic to get to this point. And I think that to be respectful to opponents is to play hard against opponents. It's a tournament where goal differential is important," Ellis said.

"When you get a deluge of goals like that, it's a good feeling. It builds confidence."

Abby Wambach, a veteran of four World Cups and the leading goal scorer in U.S. women's soccer history with 184, also took no issue with the team's performance.

"For all that have issue with many goals: for some players this is there first World Cup goal, and they should be excited," Wambach tweeted. "Imagine it being you out there. This is your dream of playing and then scoring in a World Cup. Celebrate. Would you tell a men's team to not score or celebrate?"

The United States, which leads Group F on goal differential after the lopsided win, will next play Chile on Sunday in Paris.

Information from The Associated Press and Reuters was used in this report.

Yorkshire 58 for 1 trail Surrey 313 (Foakes 62, Stoneman 61, Smith 56, Patterson 5-81) by 255 runs

Barring the sort of collapses that would do credit to a hypersensitive drama queen this match will end in a draw on Thursday. The loss of the whole of the first day already meant that neither of these two fine teams was likely to force a win on a pitch lacking obvious devil but the rain which prevented any cricket being played after lunch on this third afternoon put the tin lid on the matter. Thursday's cricket will be a matter of bonus points, averages and professional pride.

Those latter considerations are not to be disdained. Will Fraine is playing his second Championship match for Yorkshire. In his first, against Essex last week, he made 39 and 0. A few wickets for Morne Morkel tomorrow will not make a whit of difference to his reputation but an unbeaten 70 or so against this Surrey attack tomorrow could make all the difference to Fraine's career. It would also offer Andrew Gale another option as he ponders team selection over the rest of the season. The Yorkshire opener was unbeaten on 17 when the umpires came off for bad light at one o'clock on Wednesday and heavy showers prevented the players returning. "The rain for Fraine ruled out a chance of gain," as Eliza Doolittle might have put it.

And it could be worse. As Guildford's weather organised itself into unrelieved gloom in the early afternoon, one's thoughts turned to the good burghers of Welbeck Colliery CC, whose first ever Championship match was confined to just Sunday's play. The June monsoon did for the rest of it. Six months planning for six hours' cricket. Thank you, and good night miners everywhere. The good folk who are organising next week's matches at York and Tunbridge Wells must have their manicured fingers and pedicured toes crossed.

Spectators at Woodbridge Road, meanwhile, were left to make the most of not too much. They had seen Steve Patterson collect the eighth five-wicket haul of his first-class career when Jordan Clark hoisted a skier to the safe hands of substitute fielder Matt Fisher at mid-on. Then they had watched as Adam Lyth hit four of the sweeter boundaries of the season in his innings of 30. That delight was ended when Will Jacks swooped to take a low catch in the gully off Rikki Clarke. Fifteen minutes later we were off for the day.

But yes, it could be very much worse. Perhaps 30 years ago in the not-so-golden age of three-day cricket these sides might have been tempted to concoct a result with the aid of a couple of declarations and an hour's nonsense.

The morning's play, you see, was properly contested, but as we watched the tussle for advantage in a match seemingly reduced to three full days some minds drifted back to the 1980s when all games were of that length and pitches were covered. If the wicket offered a fair contest between bat and ball, everything was fine. But all too often teams would contest the first two days or so before agreeing a target which rendered the fourth innings of the game a bastardised version of over-limit cricket, albeit one in which the draw was an option. To achieve this goal, runs were given away by non-bowlers to embarrassed batsmen. All too often the first session of the third day was reduced to a cheap slog which annoyed the statisticians, insulted the spectators and demeaned the players.

These matches belonged not to a golden era of a treasured memory but an age that at times was scarcely pewter. The gradual covering of pitches, which had begun in the 1970s, had both diminished the art of batting and sounded the passing bell for the three-day game; only when four-day cricket became the norm in 1993 did the wretched buffet bowling more or less disappear. You still see it occasionally towards the end of the season but generally the best team wins a four-day game of cricket.

This match, though, will not merit even 400 words in next year's Wisden. At 3.15 in the afternoon the scoreboard was turned off and half an hour later play was abandoned. The PA announcer told everyone in the ground the news, although the only folk he was informing were the players and media, who knew already. Then again, perhaps we should not be surprised by such surreal communications. After all, Lewis Carroll is buried in Guildford. Wonderland, indeed.

Jos Buttler has given England a significant boost by reporting fit for training in Southampton, following a thigh injury sustained during last week's victory over Bangladesh.

Buttler did not keep wicket in Cardiff on Saturday - Jonny Bairstow took the gloves - after sustained heavy bruising after being hit by a delivery while batting. But he has recovered well and is all but certain to play in Friday's match against West Indies.

"He'll be fine," England coach, Trevor Bayliss, said. "He'll be back and able to practice fully. It was a bit precautionary the other day. He could have kept. We just weren't really sure if he would have been able to sprint after a high catch."

Moeen Ali was absent from Wednesday's session, however. He was at the bedside of his wife, Firuza, as she gave birth to their second child, a daughter named Haadiya. He is expected to re-join the squad in time for training on Thursday morning, and is likely to return to the team for Friday's game in place of one of the seamers. Bayliss hinted that the final place in the side would probably be between the new-ball bowler Chris Woakes or middle-overs seamer Liam Plunkett.

"Southampton is somewhere where we have played two spinners in the past," Bayliss said. "If Moeen does come back in - and we'll have to have a look at the wicket first - then it is one of the pace bowlers who misses out. It is a difficult decision: you've got one guy who bowls up front [Woakes] who can get the ball to move off the seam versus a guy [Plunkett] that is the leading wicket-taker through those middle overs over the last few years. It's a difficult decision and I can't tell you right at this moment who would miss out."

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The statistics would suggest Plunkett might have the better chance of retaining his place. He has been England's most economical bowler in the tournament to date - he is conceding just 4.86 runs per over on average - and has claimed three wickets at an average of 24.33. Woakes has been England's most expensive bowler - he is conceding 7.71 runs per over - and has claimed three wickets at a cost of 54 apiece. Woakes is the better batsman and fielder, however, and bowls in the first Powerplay, so the comparison is not entirely valid.

A glance at the pitch - which is nowhere near as green as the surface seen in the match against Bangladesh - suggests England will recall Moeen. The playing area in Southampton is also much larger than the one in Cardiff - it is probably the largest among international grounds in England and Wales - so there is less chance of mis-hits carrying over the boundary.

While Bayliss admitted to some concerns over the form of Adil Rashid, who came into the World Cup with a shoulder injury, he also expressed confidence in his anticipated contributions in the remainder of the tournament.

"I think what he needs is more bowling whether that is in the nets or in a match," Bayliss said. "He did have a niggle in his shoulder, but over this last couple of weeks he hasn't had anywhere near as much of a problem with it. I don't think the wickets have necessarily been an advantage to the spinners yet, but the further we go through the competition and maybe get a bit of drier weather and play on used pitches, he may come into his own."

England's training session was heavily curtailed by rain on Wednesday afternoon, though West Indies were able to train in the morning. Andre Russell was a noticeable absentee - he missed the match against South Africa due to his chronic knee problem - though the team management remain confident he will be fit for Friday. Evin Lewis, however, was able to return to training after recovering from a hand injury.

Christi Viljoen, the 31-year old Namibia allrounder, has been handed a four-match suspension for breaching ICC's Anti-Racism Code during the T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers in May.

Viljoen's sledges towards Uganda players on May 21 were deemed "inappropriate". He accepted the charges against him.

Section 2.1.1 of the code, which he breached, pertains to "engaging in any conduct (whether through the use of language, gestures or otherwise) which is likely to offend, insult, humiliate, intimidate, threaten, disparage or vilify any reasonable person in the position of a player, umpire, match referee or any other person (including a spectator) on the basis of their race, religion, culture, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin".

As per ICC's rehabilitation measures for those suspended under this code, Viljoen will have to undergo an education programme to "promote a better understanding and awareness of issues" directly relevant to the offence he has committed.

Viljoen had an impressive tournament performance-wise, picking up nine wickets in three matches, apart from making 33 in a winning cause against Uganda.

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It's a well-known trope that English people always talk about the weather. But it dominated the discussion among Indians and New Zealanders ahead of what should be a highly-anticipated match between the only two undefeated sides remaining in the early stages of the World Cup.

After being confined to the Trent Bridge indoor nets for two days, New Zealand are keeping their selection cards close to their chest, likely to be influenced by how many overs they think might be played on Thursday. Repeated visits to the forecasting websites suggest there is anything from a 20 to 80% chance of rain at different stages. Make of that what you will.

"I said at the start of the tournament that luck is going to play a part," Ross Taylor said, speaking before New Zealand's final indoor training session. "With the weather, England is a beautiful place, but it's not famous for good weather. In saying that, there's still a long way to go in this tournament. I'm sure there's going to be rained out games that could affect us along the way. We found that in Taunton, and there have been times where forecasts have been wrong as well. Hopefully, tomorrow is one."

Taylor is no stranger to Trent Bridge after spending the 2018 season playing for Nottinghamshire. Stints at Sussex, Durham and this year at Middlesex means he is more familiar with the conditions than most.

"We had an outstanding summer last year, so there wasn't a lot of rained out games," Taylor said. "Traditionally, when you play here at county cricket, you play on either side. You don't normally play on the middle [pitch], which is the same for internationals.

"It [Trent Bridge] is a great place to play cricket. Traditionally, it can favour the batters at times, but I'm sure that bowlers will be going to have a little bit there. It [the pitch] has been under the covers for two or three days and hasn't seen the sun."

While New Zealand have a fully fit squad to choose from, at least one change has been forced on India, with Shikhar Dhawan's thumb injury keeping him out for at least two matches. That leaves India without a left-right combination at the top order. New Zealand, conversely, have a number of combinations upon which they could settle.

"I haven't been in the bowling meetings, but obviously Shikhar is a big loss to India," Taylor said. "He plays very well at the ICC tournaments and has a very good record over here. He and Rohit Sharma have a very good partnership, and I think they complement each other well because they're left and right-handed [batsmen respectively]. In terms of our line-up, I think we've had a similar balanced side for a long time, and when you do have a right-left hand combination, it does put pressure in different ways on the bowling opposition.

ALSO READ: Pant to join Indian squad as cover for Dhawan

"A lot of these grounds in the UK have a short boundary on one side, and if you've got two right-handers or two left-handers, you can't exploit it as much, where obviously having the right- and left-hand [combination], and the communication becomes very important to target those short boundaries.

"As we see, it's traditionally a short boundary here. If that is the case, then hopefully we can exploit it with the right-left-hander [combination], as I'm sure India and other teams that are playing here will try and do that."

A fresh pitch is being used for this match, one that is closer to the midpoint between the two square boundaries than either of the two pitches that have been used so far in the tournament, although the Fox Road boundary (68 metres) is still shorter than the Bridgford Road boundary (74 metres). If the match is shortened and the T20 tactics come into play, Taylor believes the pressure could be on Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal to contain New Zealand's power hitters.

"We've faced India a lot in recent times and had some success against them," Taylor said. "Obviously, two world-class spinners on their day... We'll have to wait and see what the wicket produces tomorrow.

"Some shorter boundaries, and sometimes that can play on the mind of the spinner, but as I said, with all the weather around and so much uncertainty, we'll just have to wait and see. And I'm sure the team that adapts the best will probably get the right result."

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov shot down the possibility of a Conor McGregor rematch at a news conference in London on Wednesday morning.

Nurmagomedov, who was promoting his upcoming fight with interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier, questioned why McGregor merited a second chance at the belt.

"The last three years he has only one victory and amateur boxing. How does he deserve a rematch?" Nurmagomedov asked. "He tapped. He begged me, 'Please don't kill me.' Now he's talking about a rematch?

"Tony Ferguson [is] on the line. People who have win streaks [are] on the line. But not the guy who don't win nothing the last three years. ... Right now I'm focused on Sept. 7."

Nurmagomedov and Poirier will fight for the unified title on that date in the main event of UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi. Poirier (25-5-1) has won four in a row, most recently a unanimous decision victory against featherweight champion Max Holloway -- who had moved up in weight -- at UFC 236 in April.

Nurmagomedov, of Dagestan, has not lost in 27 professional fights. He submitted McGregor at UFC 229 last October by fourth-round neck crank. After the fight, Nurmagomedov jumped out of the Octagon and into the crowd to fight a member of McGregor's team and a brawl ensued. Both fighters were fined and suspended. Nurmagomedov is eligible to return next month.

The winner of Nurmagomedov vs. Poirier is expected to face Ferguson, who is riding a 12-fight win streak. He defeated Donald Cerrone at UFC 238 this past weekend by second-round TKO. Nurmagomedov and Ferguson have been matched up together on multiple occasions, and each time the bout has fallen through.

"He deserves a title shot, in my opinion," Nurmagomedov said. "But when the UFC asked him to fight Max Holloway, he didn't take that fight. Right now, the problem is because of him. I don't know why he didn't take that fight. He took a regular fight with Cowboy [Cerrone]. I don't understand this.

"I don't want to underestimate my opponent, Dustin. He's a tough challenge for me and right now I don't want to think about other opponents."

United States women's national team forward Alex Morgan has said she is happy ignoring criticism of her team's celebrations during a record-breaking 13-0 victory over Thailand in their World Cup Group F opener on Tuesday, and that it would have been "disrespectful" not to have given their all for the full 90 minutes.

Morgan tied a tournament record with five goals in the lopsided win, while Samantha Mewis and Rose Lavelle each added a pair of goals for the United States, which broke the record for goals and margin of victory in a World Cup game.

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The criticism has been about the team's relentless attack in the second half. After taking a 3-0 lead into halftime, the U.S. scored 10 more times in the final 45 minutes, with the players celebrating goal after goal even after the result was no longer in doubt.

"I think it's disrespectful if we don't show up and give our best and play our game for 90 minutes," Morgan said in an exclusive interview with ESPN on Wednesday morning. "It's disrespectful to the Thai team. And I believe they wanted us to play them straight up.

"And for the celebrations, these are goals we have dreamt of our entire life. I mean, I'm going to celebrate Mal Pugh's goal. I'm going to celebrate Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle. This is their first World Cup and I'm so proud of them. And I couldn't have dreamt of scoring five goals in a World Cup. So it's incredible for us all and I'm happy just ignoring those comments."

What couldn't be ignored was Thailand's lack of resistance against the dominant Americans, who came into the tournament as favorites to retain their world title.

Thailand manager Nualphan Lamsam apologised to fans after the match.

"We met with one of the strongest opponent in the world, but I did not think we would lose this much," Lamsam said, adding that she, the coaching staff, and the players "would like to apologise to all our fans ... and thanks for all their support."

"We will do our best in the next two games," she said.

U.S. manager Jill Ellis defended her team's aggressive style of play in the second half.

"This is a world championship, so every team here has been fantastic to get to this point. And I think that to be respectful to opponents is to play hard against opponents. It's a tournament where goal differential is important," Ellis said.

"When you get a deluge of goals like that, it's a good feeling. It builds confidence."

Abby Wambach, a veteran of four World Cups and the leading goal scorer in U.S. women's soccer history with 184, also took no issue with the team's performance.

"For all that have issue with many goals: for some players this is there first World Cup goal, and they should be excited," Wambach tweeted. "Imagine it being you out there. This is your dream of playing and then scoring in a World Cup. Celebrate. Would you tell a men's team to not score or celebrate?"

The United States, which leads Group F on goal differential after the lopsided win, will next play Chile on Sunday in Paris.

Information from The Associated Press and Reuters was used in this report.