⚽ Keep it rolling | Sports Daily Newsletter

We’re approaching the point of the World Cup where things start to move fast.

By Sunday, the knockout round begins. And tonight (at 10 p.m.), the U.S. men’s national team will compete in its final match in Group D against Turkey.

We already know that the U.S. advanced to the round of 32 after its win over Australia, but we’re still awaiting its opponent for the July 1 showdown.

As for tonight, it’s anyone’s guess whom head coach Mauricio Pochettino will start. Right now, Christian Pulisic looks to return to the lineup — and it might be in his best interest after being sidelined. Is it worth the risk in a match that matters very little?

Let’s see how our soccer writers weigh this one.

The U.S. men’s team has never won all three of their group-stage games in a single World Cup. While, there’s still a long way to go beyond Thursday’s group stage finale, this could be a moment to stop and survey just how far the team has come, writes Jonathan Tannenwald.

— Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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A year ago, Labaron Philon Jr. delayed his draft night after originally declaring in 2025. The guard from Alabama then sat in the Barclays Center on Tuesday for longer than expected, as a projected lottery pick who slipped past that portion of the first round. However, landing with the Sixers was worth the wait.

And the national media is divided Philon — some are calling him the steal of the first round while others expressed concern on how he’ll fit with the team.

👀 Watching: Highlight moments from Jason Kelce’s sixth annual Sea Isle fundraiser, which had plenty of surprise appearances.

🤔 Wondering: What Zach and Julie Ertz said about the Eagles on ‘New Heights’ — that left the former tight end emotional.

📖 Reading: Twin pitchers Austin and Blake Havertine left their mark at Radnor. Now, they’re heading to different colleges.

🏀 Learning: About the 6-foot-10 freshman center who will play under Penn coach Fran McCaffery next season.

Joseph Woll and Simon Benoît met with the media on Zoom Wednesday and expressed excitement about being part of the organization. The two newest Flyers were traded from the Leafs for goalie Sam Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a third-round 2026 draft pick on June 16.

Benoît played with Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale for several seasons with the Anaheim Ducks. He’s expected to bring a physical defensive presence, while Woll is already forming a relationship with his new goalie partner, Dan Vladař.

And to get you ready for Friday’s NHL draft, here’s three defensemen who keep getting mentioned as an option for the Flyers at No. 21.

Kyle Schwarber was out of the Phillies lineup for the second consecutive game with tightness in his lower back. Don Mattingly said Schwarber was feeling better, but the interim manager wanted to be cautious and give him another day off.

Schwarber, though, helped start the Phillies’ rally on Wednesday when he entered the game in the ninth inning, drew a 10 pitch walk with two outs, and made way for Derek Hill’s go-ahead two-run homer for a 5-4 win over the Nationals.

Mike Gansey aced his first test as Sixers president on Tuesday night. He took the player he graded as the best talent. Of course, the real test is whether he’s right.

But, however Labaron Philon Jr. turns out, the Sixers did what a team in their position should be doing: Using the opportunity to draft a player they think will someday belong in a championship caliber rotation, writes columnist David Murphy.

After making the second round of the playoffs, how will the Flyers approach the NHL draft?

The Inquirer’s Jackie Spiegel will provide answers on that and more in an AMA tomorrow in the r/Flyers Subreddit!

We asked: Are you happy with the Sixers’ first-round pick? Why or why not? Among your responses:

Another Guard? We are well stacked with Maxey and VJ, which is why the Sixers shipped Jared McCain out to OKC (or was it a salary dump). If he is indeed a shooter, great! If not, the Sixers could have used a “Big” given the ongoing uncertainty around Embiid. — Bob C.

Thought they had 3 guards, but traded one to Oklahoma City. Do they have a clue?? — Bill M.

Just surprised that they went for a guard. I thought they would go for a big man to support our two guys who struggle every season with injuries etc. — Everett S.

Makes no matter if they would have drafted the second coming of Michael Jordon. Until they move Joel to his new home, their chances of winning any championship are nil. He’s a great part time player and that’s it! Not knowing if he’s playing in each and every game until he shows up in the locker room is just plain wrong. — Ronald R.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from David Murphy, Jonathan Tannenwald, Owen Hewitt, Kerith Gabriel, Rob Tornoe, Jackie Spiegel, Lochlahn March, Gina Mizell, Ariel Simpson, Joseph Santoliquito, Conor Smith, Mia Messina, and Ethan Kopelman.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

As always, thanks for reading. Have yourself a terrific Thursday, I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow to wrap up the week. — Bella