If there was a silver lining to the U.S. World Cup team losing to Lithuania, it's this: The Americans now truly know how painful it is to watch another national team line up against a nation that has won four consecutive Olympic gold medals and celebrate in its face.

As one might guess, they didn't enjoy that feeling.

The U.S. is assured of going to the Paris Olympics. That's good. It also has a quarterfinal game at the World Cup awaiting Tuesday. That's also good.

Thing is, the only celebrating in Manila on Sunday night was done by the guys in the other locker room.

Cristiano Ronaldo was named in Portugal's squad on Friday for upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg.

Everything had looked so easy for the U.S. at the Basketball World Cup. Points were coming in bunches, final scores were blowouts and stress wasn't a problem.

Until Friday.

There will be 14 winners of the Champions League, or the old European Cup, in the 32-team group stage draw Thursday after PSV Eindhoven advanced in the qualifying playoffs.

PSV, the European champion in 1988, beat Rangers 5-1 in their playoff second leg Wednesday to complete a 7-3 aggregate score.

Paris Saint-Germain defender Lucas Hernandez was called back Thursday to the France squad ahead of a European Championship qualifying match, nine months after a serious knee injury.

Hernandez, who joined PSG from Bayern Munich, was included in a 23-man list by France coach Didier Deschamps.

American NBA stars ripped world sprint king Noah Lyles on social media for comments saying he is offended when teams declare themselves "world champions" for winning an NBA crown.

U.S. sprint star Lyles won the 100- and 200-meter titles and helped the U.S. 4x100 relay capture gold at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

It was the Luka Doncic show again at the World Cup.

The first required step at the Basketball World Cup for the Americans is now complete. They're going to the tournament's second round.

An achievement, technically — but one barely worth acknowledging.

Lebanon lost its third Basketball World Cup game Tuesday.

Seven teams had already reached the knockout stage — defending champion Spain, the United States, Canada, Germany Latvia, Lithuania and Montenegro. Eight teams including Lebanon cannot advance.