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Deutsch“I’ve said to the physios” – Cole Palmer shares major fitness update
Cole Palmer has revealed he’s feeling the best he’s felt in “four of five months” following Chelsea’s win against Aston Villa.
The Blues ran out emphatic 4-1 winners at Villa Park, to move above Liverpool and back into fifth place as the race for Champions League football continues.
Chelsea responded brilliantly to going a goal down in the opening minutes with Joao Pedro scoring a hat-trick, and Palmer also getting on the scoresheet.
Cole Palmer shares fitness update
Palmer has struggled with a groin injury this season, which caused him to miss virtually the entire first half of the campaign.
Since returning in December he’s had some good moments, but things haven’t appeared quite right, and he didn’t have a good performance against Arsenal.
Palmer was back on the scoresheet against Villa. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
However, speaking before the big win, Palmer provided a fitness update, and revealed this is the best he’s felt in months.
“I still feel a bit away from being [the best Cole Palmer],” he said as quoted on X.com.
“I’ve said to the physios this week that this is the best I have felt in four or five months.
“I can do everything on the pitch now so it is just about finding my rhythm.”
Palmer has previously stated he’s yet to play a game fully fit this season, but put in an encouraging performance at Villa Park.
The England international now has five goals and an assist in his last league five games, and Chelsea will be hoping that form continues.
Joao Pedro delivers once again
Whilst Palmer is continuing to work on getting back to his best, Pedro has continued to go from strength to strength under Liam Rosenior.
The 24-year-old has now scored 14 league goals this season, and has eight in his last eight Premier League matches.
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“I’ve said to the physios” – Cole Palmer shares major fitness update
Pedro will likely be on the bench against Wrexham in the FA Cup on Saturday, but the Blues will need him at his brilliant best against PSG next week.
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
What channel is Japan vs. Chinese Taipei on? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch 2026 WBC baseball game
What channel is Japan vs. Chinese Taipei on? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch 2026 WBC baseball game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Japan's push for a second-straight World Baseball Classic title begins with a bout against Chinese Taipei on Friday morning.
Japan vanquished all comers en route to a famous WBC win in 2023. Shohei Ohtani showed out en route to the championship, claiming tournament MVP honors after posting a 1.345 OPS across 33 plate appearances and recording a 1.86 ERA in two starts. He famously whiffed Mike Trout to deliver another crown to Japan's collection, its third in its history.
Three years on, Japan looks as strong as ever. Ohtani headlines the Hirokazu Ibata-helmed side. He's not the only standout set to take the pitch in Japanese pinstripes. Japan boasts arguably the tournament's best rotation, with World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto slated to serve as the ace after Ohtani opted against pitching. Yusei Kikuchi, Tomoyuki Sugano and Hiroto Takahashi make up the rest of the four-man unit, making for an intimidating sight for opposition hitters.
Japan's lineup is similarly loaded, with Seiya Suzuki, Munetaka Murakami and Masataka Yoshida all expected to get some buzz.
Japan is the only side that has claimed back-to-back WBC titles, doing so in 2006 and 2009. Can Japan repeat the feat 17 years later? Only time will tell.
With that, here's the broadcasting information for Japan's first game of its WBC slate, a matchup with Chinese Taipei.
What channel is Japan vs. Chinese Taipei on?
- TV channel: FS1
- Live stream: Fubo
Japan and Chinese Taipei's matchup will air on FS1 in the U.S. Spanish speakers can follow along with the coverage on Fox Deportes, while cord-cutters can find the action on Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Japan vs. Chinese Taipei start time
- Date: Friday, March 6
- Time: 5 a.m. ET
First pitch from Japan and Chinese Taipei's clash will take place at 5 a.m. ET (7 p.m. local time). The game will be contested at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.
Japan vs. Chinese Taipei radio coverage
- Radio channel: SiriusXM
Those hoping to listen to Japan and Chinese Taipei's joust can do so on SiriusXM via channel.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
Japan WBC schedule 2026
Here's a look at Japan's slate during the pool stage.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Fri., March 6 | at Chinese Taipei | 5 a.m. |
| Sat., March 7 | vs. South Korea | 5 a.m. |
| Sun., March 8 | at Australia | 5 a.m. |
| Tues., March 9 | at Czechia | 5 a.m. |
Chinese Taipei WBC schedule 2026
Here's a look at Chinese Taipei's slate during the pool stage.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Thurs., March 5 | vs. Australia | — |
| Fri., March 6 | vs. Japan | 5 a.m. |
| Sat., March 7 | at Czechia | 10 p.m. |
| Sun., March 8 | at South Korea | 10 p.m. |
Iran v Australia: Women’s Asian Cup 2026 – live
Matildas lead 3-0 at half-time on the Gold Coast
Any thoughts? Get in touch with an email
It’s obviously going to case a shadow over tonight’s match so, as a reminder, The Guardian is bringing you live updates on the crisis in the Middle East.
“These women are prisoners,” says Cyrus Jones, a human rights activist who will be attending the match. “Iranian security is up on their floor [of the hotel] at night. They can’t leave their rooms. They can’t use the public bathrooms. They’re monitored when they go for breakfast, when they get on the bus. They’re monitored in a way no other players from other teams are.
Continue reading...🚨 Laporta and Font in the running to lead Barça, Ciria misses out
The elections for the presidency of FC Barcelona will be a duel between two. After the validation of signatures, the Electoral Board of FC Barcelona officially announced the presidential candidates for the upcoming elections.
In the end, only former president Joan Laporta and the leader of the Nosaltres candidacy, Victor Font, will take part in the blaugrana elections.
Both candidates secured the necessary support to run on March 15, unlike Marc Ciria. The third contender in the race for the presidency submitted 2,844 signatures on Monday but did not reach the 2,337 valid ones required to run.
Laporta submitted 8,169 signatures on Monday (7,226 valid), while the leader of 'Nosaltres' handed in a total of 5,144 (4,440 approved).
The next step in the electoral process will be the start of the campaign for both candidates tomorrow, Friday, during a period that will last until March 13. The elections will take place two days later.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.
3 biggest takeaways for Sixers following much-needed win over Jazz
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers needed a win in the worst way as they played host to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. On the second night of a back-to-back following their 40-point blowout loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, the Sixers were down four starters, but pulled together for a 106-102 win over a pesky Jazz team.
Tyrese Maxey had 25 points and six assists for Philadelphia while Jabari Walker hopped off the bench and had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Quentin Grimes added 16 points and five rebounds, Adem Bona had 12 and five boards, Tyrese Martin had eight, and Dominick Barlow added seven points.
Here are the three biggest takeaways following the win:
Walker stepping up
After scoring 20 points in garbage time in Tuesday's loss to the Spurs, Walker received first quarter minutes against the Jazz and immediately went to work. He scored seven points in the opening quarter and had 15 points in the first half overall. He knocked down his first four 3-pointers and was able to make a big impact for this group. The Sixers probably don't win this game without his contributions when considering how well the Jazz did play in this game. Walker made a big difference and he did it on a day he described an unfortunate event he had to go through.
Walker explained:
When I saw that one go in, it was rattling around the rim, and I was like, ‘OK, yeah, this is my day today.’ I actually had an unfortunate event today. I just got a new car, and I was driving it for no less than 30 minutes, and I scratched it today, and talking about being in the zone and just wanting to get to the game and continue that, that was an unfortunate event for me. So, mentally, I'm walking in here like my brand new car I just got? I scratched it. So talking to somebody coming in, I told them the story. They're, like, it's gonna get better for you today. And I was like, Alright, OK, I'm in my zone right now. I'm in basketball world. So whatever happened before stays out. So, when I saw the first two go in, I was like, ‘OK, all right, this is a whole new world. I got a chance to redeem myself.’ So, I forgot about what happened earlier today.
I was backing up. I was excited. I was ready to get to the gym, and there was a pole behind me, and honestly, I haven't driven in a while. I've been Ubering everywhere, and Philly is very tight spaces, so it's a learning experience. I'll get it fixed.
Earning a much-needed win
Many will downplay this win. The Jazz are now 18-44 on the season with this loss and are now on a 7-game losing streak as they are in the midst of trying to tank and get the best pick in the upcoming June draft, but Utah plays hard on a nightly basis as coach Will Hardy has gotten them to play well every night. Combine that fact with Philadelphia also missing Joel Embiid, Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr., and VJ Edgecombe, and the fact that the Sixers entered this contest only half a game up on the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic for the No. 6 seed in the East, every win matters. Even if it is just the Utah Jazz.
"That’s a hell of a win considering all the guys out," coach Nick Nurse said after the win. "I think any win, this is what I'm talking about, we just got to figure out some way to pick them off. We don't care what they look like. Just pick off a win here and there. So, good job, I think, by a lot of guys stepping up and at least, I think, contributing in some way."
The other Tyrese makes a contribution
The Sixers received a big second half from Tyrese Martin in this one. With Utah hard-charging and taking a lead, the Sixers needed somebody to step up and knock down some shots with Tyrese Maxey resting on the bench. Martin knocked down two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and had eight points after halftime. It was good to see Martin be able to step in and knock down some big shots when considering his early struggles since signing in Philadelphia.
"Well, I mean, (expletive), I ain't make a jump shot since I've been here," Martin laughed after the win. "So, to see definitely one going, I was confident about the next one, for sure. So, they felt good, and we needed it in a timely manner and it went in. So, I was grateful for that."
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 3 biggest takeaways for Sixers following much-needed win over Jazz