Big day for me yesterday. The mayor of New York said the word “Mardy Collins,” and I bought $70 worth of bootleg t-shirts. I’m a little afraid to wash them; one is already starting to lose threads around the sleeves.

– Rodger Sherman

In 2022, the Portuguese national soccer team faced a dilemma. Fans in Portugal and across the world wanted them to play 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, but his play on the field was clearly holding them back. When he was finally benched in the first game of the knockout rounds, Portugal exploded for six goals, including a hat trick by his replacement, Gonçalo Ramos.

Four years later, Ronaldo is four years older and four years slower … but Portugal seems to think their big mistake last time was taking him off the field. The 41-year-old national hero played a full 90 against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and contributed approximately nothing in a shocking 1-1 draw. Actually, that’s being kind. “Nothing” implies he didn’t actively hurt Portugal’s chances; Thierry Henry broke down a sequence in which Ronaldo impeded a productive scoring opportunity for one of his teammates so that he could take an off-target shot.

Portugal has a legit chance of winning the World Cup, but their most famous player might be holding them back.

The World Cup has its first hometown hero: Guadalajara’s Raúl Rangel won a game for Mexico in Guadalajara with a miraculous double save while sitting on his butt.

Rangel was expected to be Mexico’s backup, but starter Luis Malagón got hurt in March. And Rangel plays for Chivas in the same stadium where he just became a national hero.

The game’s only goal was also scored by a Chivas player, Luis Romo, after a terrible mistake by South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, who crashed into a teammate and fumbled the ball directly to Romo. Honestly, I could do without the other 10 players on the field; I just like talking about goalkeepers.

It may, in fact, be coming home. England looked absolutely electric — they could’ve had six or seven. Croatia’s goalkeeper had the best performance I’ve ever seen by a guy who allowed four goals.

Canada finally gets its first win, running up the score on a not-ready-for-primetime Qatari team. Qatar had two players sent off with red cards. One of those came on a gruesome foul that snapped the leg of Canadian star Ismaël Koné.

Four nations are making their World Cup debuts, and three of them have scored an equalizing goal that got everybody excited and will be cherished for decades (even if they eventually lost). I had no idea Uzbekistan had such great hats!

Believe it or not, this one was 0-0 after 70 minutes. Switzerland and Canada can now guarantee each other a spot in the next round by tying their final match in group play, although winning the group makes a huge difference.

This match looked like a 0-0 draw until the 95th minute, when Ghana’s Caleb Yirenkyi scored the game-winner. Absolutely massive win for Ghana. In a group with England and Croatia, they might not get any more results, and the win could be the difference between making the Round of 32 with three points or going home with just one.

The Czechs ran afoul of that pesky rule about not hitting the ball with your hands. South Africa tied the match on an 83rd-minute penalty kick after a cross went directly into the arm of a Czech defender.

A beautiful five-word sentence: “Japanese Fella Trying Texas Barbecue.”

Great scene at the Men’s College World Series: Georgia’s Kolby Branch hit a home run in the last at-bat of his college career, allowing him to share the moment with his brother, Oklahoma’s Kyle Branch, as he rounded the bases:

Venus and Serena Williams will reunite for the doubles tournament at Wimbledon, in an unexpected twist to Serena’s unretirement. She initially intended to pair with Canada’s Victoria Mboko, but Mboko was injured in a singles tournament. Venus has been playing since last year — she made headlines for saying she needed to do it for the insurance coverage — but hasn’t been winning a lot. They’re longshots to win, considering that Venus and Serena are 46 and 44, respectively, and haven’t played together in years … but they are 14-time Grand Slam champions.

Has there ever been a draft in any sport where the top four picks were already gold medal winners? The PWHL Draft featured an absolutely loaded class, with Caroline Harvey going #1 overall to Vancouver, Abbey Murphy going #2 to Seattle, and Tessa Janecke and Laila Edwards kicking off the franchises in San Jose and Las Vegas at #3 and #4, respectively.

On Deck is written by Bradley Locker

Friday, 3 p.m. ET in Seattle (FOX/Telemundo/Peacock)

The first match in men’s World Cup history between two nations that correctly call the game “soccer.” Gonna be honest: Finding it a little bit hard to find reasons to hate Australia. Uhhhhh … Andrew Bogut? Spiders? All the times they beat us in swimming? I’m sure I’ll think of something. With both teams on three points, the winner of this one clinches the group (FIFA now uses head-to-head as a tiebreaker.) - RS

Friday, 6 p.m. ET in Foxboro (FOX/Telemundo/Peacock)

Scotland and its beer-inhaling fans are one of the best storylines of the tournament, and the team is doing its part on the pitch too: John McGinn helped the Scots claim their first tournament win in 36 years against Haiti. They could have a tough time against a Morocco squad that showed that its semifinal appearance in 2022 wasn’t a fluke with a draw against Brazil.

Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET in Philadelphia (FOX/Telemundo/Peacock)

Brazil couldn’t get the win despite a goal from Vinícius Júnior in their first match of group play. Neymar won’t be available for the team’s second showdown due to a calf injury, which looms quite large.

Friday, 11 p.m. ET in Santa Clara (FS1/Telemundo/Peacock)

Maybe the most high-leverage match of the tournament so far, pitting the third- and fourth-place teams in the USA’s group. Per The Athletic World Cup tracker, Turkey has an 85 percent chance of advancing with a win, with Paraguay at 88 percent. Both teams are in big trouble with a draw or loss. - RS

Saturday, 1 p.m. ET in Houston (FOX/Telemundo/Peacock)

Sweden’s offense exploded for five goals against Tunisia, showing no rust as four different players found the back of the net … but they might be a bit sluggish after going for a team meal at Hutchins BBQ the other day.

Saturday, 4 p.m. ET in Toronto (FOX/Telemundo/Peacock)

Germany put together a nearly flawless outing against Curaçao, winning 7-1 via two Kai Havertz goals as he extended his international tear. Believe it or not, victory over the Ivory Coast would propel the Germans into the knockout rounds for the first time since 2014.

Saturday, 8 p.m. ET in Kansas City (FS1/Telemundo/Peacock)

Another hugely important match between two teams on zero points … but Ecuador should be the heavy favorite.

Saturday, 7 p.m. ET in Omaha (ESPN)

North Carolina and Oklahoma wasted no time in the semifinals, sweeping their respective series to set up this best-of-three championship. The Tar Heels are seeking the first national title in program history after finishing as runners-up in 2006 and 2007. A Sooner title would be their first in 32 years.

Friday-Sunday on Long Island (Final round: NBC)

Play was abbreviated Thursday due to darkness, but the lights weren’t too bright for Wyndham Clark (-6), who shined above the rest. Clark is eyeing his second U.S. Open title in four years.

Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET in New York and 7:15 p.m. ET in Atlanta

It’s a potential Cy Young bump day as the Yankees’ Cam Schlittler and Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski take the hill for their respective squads. Both are young flamethrowers who rely on overpowering fastballs, pinpoint command and tremendous strikeout rates to eviscerate lineups. Misiorowski taking on Michael Harris II, Matt Olson and the thumping Braves will be particularly compelling.