Liam Plunkett believes this England side are "a different animal" to their predecessors and "can beat anyone in the world" if they play well.

Plunkett made his international debut in 2005 and played his first World Cup match in 2007, but admits to have never previously been part of a side who he thought could win the tournament.

"For me, being involved in England squads of the past, I never expected to win a World Cup," Plunkett said. "We had amazing players but I never thought we'd win it. I played in teams where you didn't expect to win and the public didn't expect you to win.

"But with this squad the public sort of expect us to win games and series now. We've played well over the last four years, we've been ranked No. 1 and we're feeling in a good place. We've made cricket exciting again and we've got people watching it.

To him, Thursday's World Cup semi-final against Australia is the "biggest game of my career" and could prove "huge for English cricket." And while Plunkett has great respect for an Australian side he refers to as "a great team" filled with "great players," he feels the current England side offer far sterner opposition from previous World Cup campaigns.

"Australia are a great team," he said. "They have great players and they have experience. They've been there and done it before. But we're a different sort of animal compared to our last team. And we feel on our day if we play some good cricket we can beat anyone in the world.

"This journey we've been on with this group of boys now comes down to this semi-final. It would be nice to finish this four-year cycle by winning the World Cup. Playing for your country is massive and if you can go ahead and win this game and win the final, it's huge for English cricket. I don't think I'll play another World Cup, so individually I think it is the biggest game of my career."

Although Australia defeated England by 64 runs in the group stages of the tournament, Plunkett - who wasn't selected for that match - feels that result came at a time when the team "went into our shell a bit" after dwelling on previously disappointing results. Despite the much-improved performances against India and New Zealand, he still feels there is more to come from the side.

"We went away from [playing] our [style of] cricket," he said. "We like to be positive but not reckless and we went away from our positive brand of cricket and went into our shell a little bit. We know we're better than that. We want to attack in a positive way without being reckless and I think that's how we've been for the last however many years.

"When we have been beaten [in the past], we've not taken it lightly but we have put a line under it and gone on to the next game. But after getting beaten by Pakistan and Sri Lanka we dwelt on it a little bit rather than just forgetting about it and moving on. We can improve that by playing our positive brand of cricket.

"There was a point against New Zealand when we got held back in the middle overs and we thought we could have made 370. They're allowed to bowl well - which they did - but we feel we could have kicked on from there. We could have got 360-370 against both New Zealand and India."

The entire England squad reported fit for training on Tuesday. They tried to replicate the angle of a couple of Australia bowlers - Mitchell Starc, in particular - would pose. The batsmen were given a thorough work out against left-armers Donovan Miller (a coach on the Essex staff who has a powerful, left-arm throw and who has been with the England squad on and off throughout the tournament) and Ant Botha (another with a powerful left-arm throw who now coaches at Nottinghamshire).

As things stand, it appears England will be unchanged for Thursday's game, which means Plunkett is set to keep his place and Moeen Ali will again miss out.

Neymar will report to Paris Saint-Germain's preseason training on Monday, something the French club had been informed of weeks ago, according to the player's father and agent.

PSG announced they would take "appropriate action" against the Brazil forward after he failed to turn up for the first day of training on Monday, a move that Neymar Sr. laments.

- When does the transfer window close?

"We had commercial and institutional commitments [on Friday, Saturday] set," Neymar Sr. told Fox Sports Brasil. "For the past five years, [Neymar's] institute takes part in those.

"PSG, with the presence of president Nasser [Al-Khelaifi] included, took part in those events. I don't understand the reason for this arbitrariness. We are annoyed by this but PSG knew about this situation."

Instituto Neymar Jr. is a "non-profit civil society organisation dedicated to social causes and serving thousands of children, adolescents and their families," according to NR Sports, the company that manages the ex-Barcelona man's career and image rights.

PSG sporting director Leonardo said those dates "were not agreed with PSG" and added that Neymar would face the same consequences as "any other employee" for his unapproved absence.

Neymar has been strongly linked with former club Barcelona in recent months, and Leonardo said Neymar can leave the club this summer if the right offer comes along.

Meanwhile, sources at Barcelona have told ESPN FC that Leonardo's comments will not speed up any potential transfer. The club has already acknowledged publicly that Neymar wants to return, although president Josep Maria Bartomeu had said PSG did not want to sell the player.

Knowing Neymar is available, though, will not change their plans this summer. They are exploring what sources have said is a "complicated but not impossible" move for the Brazilian, while also continuing their pursuit of Antoine Griezmann. A deal for the Atletico Madrid forward should be completed this week.

However, while Leonardo added there had been "superficial contact" with Barca, the French champions had not received any offers for the 27-year-old.

UOL Esporte reported that Neymar spoke to Leonardo, who presented his team project to the player. However, according to the Brazilian outlet, while Neymar praised the ideas of the new sporting director, he reiterated his wish to leave PSG this summer.

Neymar, who joined PSG in a world-record €222 million transfer from Barcelona in 2017, has three years left on his contract with the Ligue 1 giants.

He missed the Copa America, which his country hosted and won, because of an ankle ligament injury suffered during the team's preparations for the tournament.

John Daly has withdrawn from The Open three days after being told he can't ride in a cart.

The R&A announced Tuesday that Daly, who won The Open at St. Andrews in 1995, has withdrawn because of a medical condition. He was replaced at Royal Portrush by Kevin Streelman.

Daly cited the Americans with Disabilities Act in requesting -- and receiving -- a cart for the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black in May. Daly says he has osteoarthritis in his right knee, making it difficult to walk.

The R&A said it denied his request because it considers walking to be an integral part of the tournament.

LONDON -- Serena Williams says she sent an apology to Naomi Osaka for her behavior in last year's US Open final.

Williams, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals on Tuesday, said in a Harper's Bazaar magazine article that she wrote to Osaka after not being able to "find peace."

"I started seeing a therapist. I was searching for answers, and although I felt like I was making progress, I still wasn't ready to pick up a racket," Williams said. "Finally I realized that there was only one way for me to move forward. It was time for me to apologize to the person who deserved it the most."

Williams said she told the Japanese player she was a fan and that she was "truly sorry."

Osaka answered the message, Williams said.

"When Naomi's response came through, tears rolled down my face," she said.

Williams was given three code violations by chair umpire Carlos Ramos in the U.S. Open final, resulting in the loss of a game. The first came as a result of what Ramos deemed coaching from her box. The second was for smashing her racket, costing her a point. And the third came after she called Ramos "a thief."

WIMBLEDON, England -- Serena Williams was pushed to three sets on Centre Court before beating fellow American Alison Riske 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to reach her 12th Wimbledon semifinal.

Williams broke for a 5-3 lead in the third set when Riske double-faulted on the fourth break point of the game, and then served out the win with an ace. Williams said it makes the competitiveness of the field "super exciting."

"You want to come to see some tennis," she said. "I think, if anything, it speaks for the level of all players, the depth of the women's field. Everyone is playing incredibly tough."

Williams was down a break twice in the opening set but came back both times and broke again in the final game. But in the second set, Riske broke for a 5-4 lead before holding serve to even the match.

Riske converted all five break points she created, while Williams needed 16 opportunities to break six times.

"She was really so close to taking the win today," Williams said. "She was playing her heart out. She had nothing to lose and I realized I didn't either. I need to just do better."

Williams is seeking an eighth Wimbledon title and 24th Grand Slam victory, while Riske was playing her first quarterfinal at a major tournament. Williams was asked if she feels pressure as her career goes on.

"I definitely feel a lot more pressure as I got older. Now that I am past older, I feel a little bit less pressure," she said smiling. "I'm so serious. I definitely felt pressure, like not so much when I was younger, and then older, yes, yes, yes.

"Now it's like I've done everything I need to do. Like, I've had a great career, so I don't feel the pressure as much any more."

Williams was fined $10,000 for an incident on a practice court this week.

"I just threw my racquet," she said. "I got fined."

Williams was due back on Centre Court later Tuesday to play mixed doubles with Andy Murray.

Simona Halep reached the Wimbledon semifinals for the second time, beating Zhang Shuai 7-6 (4), 6-1.

Halep was broken in her first service game as Zhang raced to a 3-0 lead in the first set, and the Romanian faced four more break points at 4-1. But she eventually held serve in a game that featured six deuces, and then broke back to make it 4-3. In the tiebreaker, she converted her first set point with a forehand winner.

In the second set, Halep broke twice for a 5-1 lead and converted her second match point with a forehand at the net.

The 2018 French Open champion is looking for her second career Grand Slam title but had not reached the semifinals at the All England Club since 2014. She will next face either Elina Svitolina or Karolina Muchova.

"I just came here relaxed," Halep said. "I came here motivated to see how good I can be on grass. I'm happy on court. I think this helps me a lot."

Also Tuesday, Garbine Muguruza, the 2017 Wimbledon champion, has split with her coach of about four years, Sam Sumyk.

The champion at the All England Club in 2017 and French Open in 2016 wrote on Twitter that it was "the end of an Extraordinary ride. ... Beyond grateful for this last 4 years. Merci Sam."

Besides winning two major titles, Muguruza also rose to the No. 1 ranking in 2017. She is currently ranked 27th and lost in the first round at this year's Wimbledon tournament.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

This is the story you know:

Last summer as the Los Angeles Lakers built their team around new star LeBron James, they loaded up on ball handlers who were light on shooting ability and passed on adding reliable big men, assuming James would play more in that role. It was a plan, ratified by James, that included playing up-tempo and taking playmaking pressure off him as he moved into the later stage of his career.

It did not work. The Lakers couldn't shoot and the floor shrunk on James. They ended up going on a monthslong quest for big men. Point guards Lonzo Ball and Rajon Rondo got hurt. James took over the majority of the ballhandling anyway; he played the fastest pace of his career at age 34; and two months in, he suffered the worst injury of his career. The Lakers finished 37-45 and missed the playoffs.

Now, the Lakers want to write a new story. It goes like this:

James will be the primary playmaker -- as he has been on his teams for the past 16 seasons, planned or not -- with Rondo back as a probable backup making $7 million less. The roster now has a spate of 3-and-D players, with Danny Green, Avery Bradley and Jared Dudley joining a re-signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

A blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis, the return of Kyle Kuzma and the addition of DeMarcus Cousins will give the Lakers a dramatically more robust front line, with Davis there to share James' scoring and playmaking load.

Put James and Davis in a pick-and-roll, spread the floor with those shooters (who also will work hard at the other end) and let the magic happen. Throw in the possibility of adding a champion such as Andre Iguodala and another veteran role player along the way -- perhaps even another shooter such as Kyle Korver -- and the formula is there.

"There's no question this is a much stronger team that fits around LeBron better," said one league executive.

"They started backups a lot last season, and they had some guys on their bench that shouldn't have been in the league," said one scout. "If they stay healthy, they have a playoff lineup now."

"They added Anthony Davis; if they did nothing else, they were going to be way better," said another league executive.

So after last season's false start/bad luck experience, just how good are the Lakers? In a Western Conference in which a number of teams -- including their Staples Center co-tenant, the LA Clippers -- have loaded up, it's a fair question.

A key factor, scouts believe, will be health. Davis has a checkered injury history, though he has avoided major injury over the past three seasons. He played only 56 games last season, skipping numerous games in the second half of the season in a quasi-exile because of his trade demand. James played all 82 games in 2017-18 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but last season, he was derailed by a groin injury.

If either player suffers another significant injury, the margin for error could get narrow quickly. The depth of the West means that a bad 10-game stretch could be costly.

"Kuzma will need to prove he can be a reliable third scoring option," said a Western Conference scout, "because AD and LeBron will miss games and they have mostly specialists now. Kuzma is going to have to carry the load at times."

In surveying the league, the other issue rivals will be watching is how the Lakers handle early-season pressure. James is famous for his ability to deliver, but he also is known for making plans in July that get discarded by January; last season was just one in a long line of examples.

For everything he provides, James also frequently outsources duties that zap energy, such as guarding bigger players, guarding the opposition's primary scorers throughout the game or bringing the ball up the floor. Last season, by just about any measure, was the worst defensive season of James' career.

"AD is going to earn his money on defense," one scout said.

When the Lakers go with their most talented lineup, which likely will have James at point guard, it will create a defensive challenge. All of this can mean an extra burden on the coach to manage lineups and assignments, especially early in the season, when roles are still being defined and there's a search process for rhythm. Which means even with the influx of talent, new coach Frank Vogel might have his hands full while under a microscope.

James' first seasons with coaches haven't exactly gone well over the past decade. He and Erik Spoelstra grated on each other for a while with the Miami Heat; the David Blatt relationship in Cleveland was a complete failure almost from day one; and last year, a gulf quickly opened between James and Luke Walton. James even had issues with Mike Krzyzewski during their first summer together with Team USA back in 2006, before a bond developed.

That Jason Kidd, who has a previous relationship with James from when they were teammates on Team USA a decade ago, is on the Lakers' bench could only amplify the scrutiny.

"Frank is nonconfrontational, which may actually work well with that group long term," said one executive. "But it's a completely new team, and it may get choppy early; that could make it tougher."

In canvassing more than a dozen scouts and executives, the consensus is that the Lakers should surge up the standings to the high 40s or low 50s in wins and be in strong contention for home-court advantage in the first round of the postseason.

That's a true step forward, most seem to believe, in what will be a rebound season -- though maybe not what the Lakers were hoping for a week ago when they were trying to land Kawhi Leonard. Without Leonard, those scouts and executives don't see an immediate championship in this particular group's future.

"Had they gotten Kawhi, we'd all probably be playing for second," an executive said. "I'll never rule LeBron out, and I'm interested to watch him and AD play together. But a lot of things would have to fall in place for them to win it."

The Phoenix Suns have waived forward Kyle Korver, the team announced Monday, clearing the way for the veteran sharpshooter to become a free agent.

Korver -- whose expiring contract could be waived for the cost of $3.4 million -- will consider signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers once he clears waivers, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

European U18 champion Thomas Keen among team selections, but Max Burgin withdraws through injury

A 69-strong British team has been announced for the European U20 Championships in Borås, Sweden, later this month, with 40 further selections having been announced on Tuesday.

Following the first wave of team selections for the event, which takes place from July 18-21, European U18 3000m champion Thomas Keen and British age-16 100m hurdles record-holder Lucy-Jane Matthews are among those to have been added to the squad, with Keen dropping down to race the 1500m.

The team does not now feature British under-20 800m record-holder Max Burgin, however, as the 17-year-old, who ran 1:45.36 in Bedford last month, has withdrawn after sustaining an injury in training.

After breaking the world under-18 and British under-20 200m record in Mannheim, Amy Hunt has turned her attention from the 100m – the event in which she was originally selected – and will now compete in the 200m and the 4x100m in Borås.

Cassie-Ann Pemberton, Marcia Sey and Serena Vincent, who all finished fourth in the 100m, 100m hurdles and shot put respectively at last year’s European U18 Championships, are also included in the team.

Bayley Campbell, who was eighth at last year’s World U20 Championships, earns another British vest, while there are British debuts for 800m specialists Oliver Dustin and Finley McLear, who are ranked third and fourth in Europe respectively.

“The 69-strong team we have been able to name for the European U20 Championships encompasses a mass of world, European and British record-holders across a range of events and highlights the young up-and-coming talents we have at our disposal in athletics in Great Britain,” said team leader Trevor Painter.

“At these championships in Grossetto in 2017, the British team came away with 19 medals and many of that team have since transitioned onto the world stage at age-group and senior level.

“I hope that this championships will once again shine a light on some of the country’s best up and coming athletes and that it provides them with a stepping stone to even bigger things.”

Full British team for European U20 Championships

MEN
100m: Jeremiah Azu, Chad Miller, Tobi Ogunkanmi
200m: Joe Ferguson, Praise Olatoke
400m: Ethan Brown
800m: Oliver Dustin, Finley McLear, Ben Pattison
1500m: Thomas Keen, Joshua Lay
3000m: Max Heyden, Ben West, Joe Wigfield
5000m: Rory Leonard
110m hurdles: Jack Sumners, Josh Zeller
400m hurdles: Alastair Chalmers, Seamus Derbyshire
3000m steeplechase: Remi Adebiyi, Kristian Imroth
Long jump: Stephen MacKenzie, Alessandro Schenini
Shot put: Lewis Byng
Discus: James Tomlinson
Hammer: Bayley Campbell, Ben Hawkes
Decathlon: Joel McFarlane, Jack Turner
4x100m: Fraser Angus, Jeremiah Azu, Joe Ferguson, Chad Miller, Sagesse Nguie, Tobi Ogunkanmi, Praise Olatoke
4x400m: Ethan Brown, Alastair Chalmers, Lewis Davey, Callum Dodds, Michael Fagbenie, Ben Hawkes, Ben Pattison

WOMEN
100m: Immanuela Aliu
200m: Georgina Adam, Amy Hunt, Hannah Kelly
400m: Amber Anning, Louise Evans
800m: Isabelle Boffey, Sarah Calvert, Keely Hodgkinson
1500m: Molly Canham, Erin Wallace
3000m: Saskia Millard, Eloise Walker
5000m: Grace Brock, Izzy Fry
100m hurdles: Lucy-Jane Matthews, Marcia Sey
400m hurdles: Marcey Winter
3000m steeplechase: Holly Page
Long jump: Holly Mills, Josie Oliarnyk
Shot put: Sarah Omoregie, Serena Vincent
Hammer: Charlotte Payne, Charlotte Williams
Heptathlon: Olivia Dobson, Holly Mills, Amaya Scott
4x100m: Georgina Adam, Immanuela Aliu, Amy Hunt, Hannah Kelly, Jazmine Moss, Cassie-Ann Pemberton
4x400m: Amber Anning, Nayanna Dubarry-Gay, Louise Evans, Hannah Foster, Natasha Harrison, Maisey Snaith

The Qatari capital is ready to host a memorable IAAF World Championships

Having played host to events such as the Asian Games, as well as football’s Gulf Cup and AFC Asian Cup, Doha is no stranger to staging high-profile sporting showpieces. Things are about to step up a level, however.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is on the horizon, but first comes this year’s IAAF World Athletics Championships which will turn a global gaze towards the Qatari capital.

Athletics is a regular fixture on the sporting calendar in this part of the world and the Diamond League meeting at the Khalifa Stadium – venue for the world championships – in May heralded the start of what has already been an eventful season.

A number of the big-name stars have whetted the appetite for what lies ahead and shown they mean business on the track and in the field this year.

Britain’s triple European champion Dina Asher-Smith has shown remarkable form, for example, while on the men’s sprinting side, Noah Lyles’ scorching 200m in Lausanne is still fresh in the memory.

Qatari stars Abderrahman Samba, the Diamond League winner who ran the quickest time for the 400m hurdles since 1992 (46.98) last year and started the year in fine form, as well as world champion high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim, will also be under the microscope in this season which has taken on an added dimension given its increased length due to Doha 2019 getting underway on September 27.

The mercury will be high at that time but the Khalifa Stadium has been transformed into an ultra-modern venue equipped with cutting-edge features such as air-conditioning technology, LED lighting and digital floodlights, providing optimal performance conditions for athletes and a great viewing experience for spectators.

Away from the stadium there is plenty for visitors to Doha to discover and take in.

From shopping at the bustling Souq Waqif, to desert adventures and stunning cultural experiences, the tourist options on offer are remarkably rich and varied.

With a world-class stage set, the world’s best athletes primed for competition and a city ready to welcome the world, this will be a championships to remember.

Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones has signed a new contract to keep him at Ospreys until June 2021.

The announcement ended months of speculation over the British and Irish Lion's future after the 2019 World Cup.

The 33-year-old lock remains contracted to Ospreys and the Welsh Rugby Union.

"It is the right decision for my career at this point in time, along with my personal ambitions on and off the field, my welfare and needs of my family," said Jones on social media.

"I'm grateful to have the opportunity to tell you directly, in particular to the Ospreys supporters and all those who have supported me during my career to date."

Jones made his debut for Ospreys in 2005 and has spent his entire senior career there, during which he has made 125 Wales appearances and nine for the Lions on tours in 2009, 2013 and 2017.

He had been linked with moves to Bath and Bristol, but will remain at Liberty Stadium "after serious consideration and taking stock of all options".

The British and Irish Lions will be touring South Africa in 2021, when Jones will be 35.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announced it was planning to scrap national dual contracts but this extension for the Wales captain appears to be an exception.

"This announcement is a huge boost for Welsh rugby," said WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips.

"I'm sure the news will delight Wales and Ospreys supporters alike as he continues to inspire the next generation.

"The extension allows the WRU and the Ospreys to continue working together with Alun Wyn to ensure he has the very best of environments to thrive in."

Ospreys head coach Allen Clarke said: "Alun Wyn is a man I have the upmost respect for. He is greatly admired not just because of what he's achieved and what he represents as a local boy playing for his home region and country, but importantly because of the ambition and level of performance he consistently displays.

"He's a tremendous individual and a winner with a deep hunger for the Ospreys to be successful on and off the field.

"Alun Wyn has spent his entire career with the Ospreys and I expect him to continue his legacy as a player, and well beyond his playing days."