Rory Sutherland is hoping his surprise recall to the Scotland starting XV for Sunday’s must-win World Cup showdown with Tonga can help him in his “stressful” search for a new club.

The 31-year-old is in the unusual position of being deemed strong enough to start for the fifth highest-ranked team in the world at the global showpiece event but unable, so far, to land himself a contract for the campaign ahead.

After a short-term deal with Ulster last term was not extended, largely due to the impending arrival of South African looshead Steven Kitshoff at the Belfast club after the World Cup, Sutherland is intent on using his second start for Scotland in 19 months to showcase himself to any potential suitors.

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“It is a massive opportunity for me this week,” he said after being selected in place of Edinburgh’s Pierre Schoeman, who drops to the bench on Sunday.

“It is high stakes for me at the minute, but it’s about coping with that pressure day to day, and making sure I channel it into the right things, which means putting out a good performance this weekend.”

Asked if his uncertainty at club level was stressful, Sutherland said: “Absolutely. There is always a bit of pressure around that but like everything else – other adversities I’ve overcome during my career – you have to learn to park it, put it to the back of your mind, take things day by day, week by week, and focus on what is important in the here and now.

“For me, that’s playing against Tonga this weekend.”

Two years ago Sutherland was part of the British and Irish Lions squad after fighting back from a horrific groin injury that left him in a wheelchair, sidelined for 14 months, and facing the prospect of early retirement in his mid-20s.

His career resurgence veered somewhat off course, however, when he left Edinburgh to join Worcester after the 2021 Lions tour, only for the English Premiership club to suffer financial implosion last autumn. This left him in limbo before he fixed himself up with a temporary move to Ulster that at least allowed him a platform to secure his World Cup place.

Sutherland is still irked by what happened at Worcester as it has caused his family, who had settled well in England, so much upheaval over the past year.

“It’s been tough personally,” he said of the recent turbulence at club level. “It’s been hard on my family, my wife and my kids. What happened at Worcester was a horrible shame and it was very hard for all the players.

“To leave Worcester and go to Ireland, leaving the wife and kids behind, was a very tough decision for me to make but it’s worked out now. Those eight months were tough but I got the opportunity to go out there and play good rugby for a very good side and I really enjoyed it.

“I think that’s helped me maintain my rugby and stay at this level. It’s been a tough few months but we’re through the other side and we’re at the World Cup now so I’ll try and leave that behind and look forward.”

While Sutherland’s CV stands up to scrutiny, he believes the availability of players in the game is currently outweighing demand.

“Going back to Worcester and the likes of Wasps folding, it has flooded the market with players,” he said when asked why he feels no club has signed him yet.

“And me going to Ulster and then not being able to continue there (as the IRFU only allow one overseas player per position at each club) has not really helped.
“It also comes down to the salary cap because if people are not looking for a loose-head then they are not going to bring one in as an extra.

“We’re really hopeful that we’ll find a contract, but we’ll just have to sit tight and wait and hopefully something comes along.

Getting the chance to play at a World Cup is going a long way to offsetting Sutherland’s concerns about where his next pay cheque is coming from.

“It is something I have always wanted to do,” he said. “In 2015, when I first turned professional, (former Scotland head coach) Vern Cotter called me out for the latter stages of the World Cup, and I warmed up as 24th or 25th man but I missed out there, so I’m really happy and grateful to be here.”

 

Europe’s bid for an unprecedented third straight Solheim Cup victory got off to a nightmare start as they were whitewashed in the opening foursomes at Finca Cortesin.

Charley Hull and Emily Kristine Pedersen were an estimated eight over par for the front nine on their way to a 5&4 thrashing by Ally Ewing and Cheyenne Knight in the bottom match, which was so one-sided it finished first.

The rookie Swedish pairing of Linn Grant and Maja Stark, who had fought back from three down after three, then lost 2&1 to Lexi Thompson and Meghan Khang before Celine Boutier and Georgia Hall surrendered their unbeaten record to Danielle Kang and Andrea Lee.

Leona Maguire and Anna Nordqvist birdied the 16th and 17th to keep their match against Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz alive, but they were unable to birdie the par-five 18th as the visitors won a foursomes session 4-0 for the first time in the event’s history.

United States captain Stacy Lewis had seen her selections questioned after picking an out-of-form Thompson and leaving two-time major winner Lilia Vu and rising star Rose Zhang out, but was totally vindicated by the scoreline.

Lewis told Sky Sports: “You could not ask for much more. We knew those middle two matches were going to be tough and just saw a tonne of fight in our girls and fortunately we were on the right side of it.”

Asked about picking Thompson, Lewis added: “I had a feeling yesterday.

“She wasn’t in my line-up that I’ve had for a couple of weeks. The way the last four days have gone, just the way she seemed mentally I had a good feeling about it and Meghan’s been playing amazing the last month or so.

“I literally went to them with about three holes left in their practice round and said, ‘hey can you figure out some golf balls’ and fortunately they managed it and got the win.”

Former Europe captain Catriona Matthew, who led the side to victories in 2019 and 2021, admitted she was surprised by the outcome of the session.

“I don’t think anyone saw this coming,” Matthew said on Sky Sports. “I think it’s deflating for everyone. The Americans have done what they wanted to do, they’ve quietened the crowd.

“The Europeans just looked edgy this morning, we got off to a very poor start, were down in all the games, barely ever actually saw any blue on the board so I think this afternoon they’re going to have to go out there strong, try and get some blue on the board and get the crowd into this.”

Billy Vunipola quickly came to terms with the dangerous tackle that forced him to miss the start of the World Cup knowing that he was doing his “time for the crime”.

Vunipola received a two-match ban for a high challenge on Ireland’s Andrew Porter on August 19 and as a result sat out the final warm-up Test against Fiji and rout of Argentina that opened the tournament.

A week after delivering a 29-minute cameo on his comeback against Japan, he has been restored to the back row for the showdown with Chile in Lille.

The powerful number eight of Tongan heritage insists that having accepted his red card was warranted, he took comfort from rolling up his sleeves to contribute on the training field.

“There wasn’t much frustration there. I had to do my time for the crime I committed. It was just about getting my head down and helping the team,” Vunipola said.

“So once you get past that and you know you’re contributing to the team in a different way, you make peace with it.

“The worst part of not playing is having to do extra fitness! For me playing is huge. The more I can play, the better I am as a player. That’s a well-known fact for me personally, and from previous coaches.

“Hopefully I can go out there and play really well but until we get there, you don’t know.”

Vunipola’s ban was reduced from three to two matches after he completed World Rugby’s coaching intervention program, otherwise known as ‘tackle school’.

Defence coach Kevin Sinfield oversees rugby’s equivalent of the driving awareness course for England players and Vunipola insists it was a useful exercise.

In a quip at the number of red cards England have received for dangerous tackles – three in four Tests – Vunipola said: “Kev is very well rehearsed in running those tackle schools, which is probably not a good thing for me to say.

“For me it did feel a bit like sucking eggs, but it taught me a lot in terms of my technique.

“Kev is very good at his job so it only took us one time to do because when you do it you have to film it.

“I learned a lot about using my arms and the biggest thing was lowering my height. I’m such a big guy that I’m so used to using my body as a mechanism to stop someone rather than technically getting in the right position.

“It was good for me so hopefully you won’t be seeing any of that any more.”

When Steve Borthwick named his World Cup squad, Vunipola was present as the only specialist number eight but his absence has allowed Ben Earl and Ollie Chessum to shine in the position.

It sets-up a three-way shootout for the jersey against Samoa on October 7 when England will revert to their strongest XV having taking the opportunity to rotate against Chile, the lowest ranked opponents of Pool D.

Earl is currently in pole position after proving to be a revelation so far in the World Cup and its build-up and Vunipola has enjoyed watching his Saracens team-mate finally get the opportunity to shine in a red rose jersey.

“There are six back rows vying for three places, so competition is always going to help push the team forward,” he said.

“The team has been doing really well with Ben Earl at eight. When we beat Argentina I was pumped – probably a little bit too pumped, as you probably all saw on the big screen!

“I was happy for the team. I’m happy as long as we are doing well. Like everyone else I want to play, but if I can contribute in any way I can, I’m happy to do that.”

Motherwell wing-back Stephen O’Donnell feels trust and clarity has been a major part of their success under Stuart Kettlewell.

O’Donnell is enjoying a new lease of life under Kettlewell having regained his place in the team towards the end of last season.

The Scotland international, capped 26 times by his country, went from being club captain under Graham Alexander to being ostracised by the same manager.

The signing of Paul McGinn and then emergence of Max Johnston ensured his spell on the sidelines continued beyond Alexander’s exit two games into last season, although he did make 28 appearances, 15 of them from the start.

But he has been ever-present this season and the team have only lost to St Mirren so far.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to face Rangers at Ibrox, the 31-year-old said: “It was nice to be involved straight away for pre-season. I came back fit, I know it’s a big season for myself, it’s been a difficult couple of seasons.

“I am delighted to be back in. The manager has shown a trust in players, if they do well for him, they will stay in. I must take from that that he is happy with how I’m doing.

“Collectively we are very organised and if you mix that with the quality we have got in the forward areas, you see some lovely combinations and we just look to continue that.

“It was disappointing at the weekend (against St Mirren), but I thought we showed some really good stuff. Frustrating that didn’t lead to a win.”

O’Donnell last played for Scotland in March 2022, but was soon banished from the first-team reckoning by Alexander, although the manager was the one who would soon be leaving.

“It’s just tough not playing,” he said. “Every player in the world has gone through spells of not playing and I went through it there, and at an age I was hoping I would be playing every week.

“Obviously your performances need to merit that but that’s what you are hoping for and it was frustrating, difficult, but that’s nothing new in football.

“I am thankful at the moment I am at the other side but that can change quickly, we have a lot of wing-backs this season. The important thing is trying to play and working hard.

“I am looking forward to the rest of the season with Motherwell and with the manager, he has been a revelation for me.”

Motherwell have not lost an away game in the league in seven months under Kettlewell.

“It’s simple, he gives us a job and trusts us to do a job, and fortunately in the games we have had we have delivered it,” O’Donnell said.

“Paul McGinn came out last week due to suspension, he has arguably been our best player since he signed for the club. Shane Blaney came in and it was pretty much seamless.

“That shows the togetherness, the organisation and clarity everyone has within the club. I think if you ask all of the boys, if they came in they would know exactly what’s expected of them.”

Motherwell could have a stronger squad for the Ibrox clash.

Kettlewell said: “We are hoping to have Conor Wilkinson and Pape Souare training and that might give us an option or two for our squad, but we will have to see over the next couple of days.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised opposite number Ange Postecoglou’s impact at Tottenham ahead of the north London derby on Sunday.

Postecoglou’s free-scoring Spurs have netted 13 times in five Premier League matches to make an unbeaten start to the top-flight campaign.

And Arteta admitted he is a fan of the Australian, who has positively changed the atmosphere at Spurs despite the summer departure of star striker Harry Kane.

“They have a new challenge, a new opportunity, they have a new manager who is doing really well and he’s managed to change the vibe around the club and with a different style too, so we need to be ourselves and produce the performance to beat them,” Arteta said.

“I really like him. I have players who had him before and they always speak really highly of him, which is not a coincidence because straight away he’s fitting in the right way and that’s the beauty of the league where there are top managers, competition and every game is very difficult.

“The recent year has been beautiful (against Tottenham – Arsenal won twice last season) and it’s about being with our supporters when we manage to win the game and the satisfaction that you give to everyone. It’s a special day for everybody and hopefully we can do that again.

“They have many qualities (despite Kane’s departure) so it’s a big change but they have adapted well to it.”

Goalkeeper David Raya has started ahead of Aaron Ramsdale in Arsenal’s last two games, against Everton and then PSV in the Champions League.

Arteta insisted he understands Ramsdale’s frustration of not starting and highlighted the competition for places which forced a change at number one.

“I understand (his frustration) and it’s very difficult for every player and I suffer and care about every player who’s not playing but this is the competition and this is my job as well to make decisions in the best possible way for the team,” Arteta added.

“He’s been very supportive and good around the place and that’s what I expect from every single player because when you’re on the field there is someone else who’s not so it works both ways. So far he’s been very good.

“It is hard and with other players it’s the same. Aaron (Ramsdale) is an exceptional character and has a charisma and aura around him and we all know that so I fully understand that (why he’s frustrated at being benched), we have to deal with that but I need to make a line-up to prepare for the game.

“I haven’t decided who will start.”

Arteta lauded captain Martin Odegaard after the midfielder signed a new long-term deal at the Emirates.

He said: “He’s got a really good balance (as a captain) and you notice him around the building because he always does the right things, he’s funny and likeable, committed and I’m really happy to have him as a captain.”

Wales co-captain and hooker Dewi Lake has missed out on a place in Wales’ matchday 23 for the Rugby World Cup clash against Australia on Sunday.

Head coach Warren Gatland has named the same team that defeated Fiji 12 days ago, with Ryan Elias starting at hooker in a side skippered by flanker Jac Morgan.

Elliot Dee provides cover for Elias on the bench, while lock Adam Beard will win his 50th cap as Wales target a victory that would secure an impressive fourth successive World Cup quarter-final appearance.

There is also a spot among the replacements for former England prop Henry Thomas, who is on course to make his Wales World Cup debut.

Morgan, wing Louis Rees-Zammit and number eight Taulupe Faletau are the only three players named who will have started all of Wales’ Pool C games so far.

Flanker Tommy Reffell, a late withdrawal due to a tight calf muscle before Wales faced Portugal last weekend, also misses out, with Taine Basham providing back-row bench cover.

Gregor Townsend admitted Scotland are effectively playing knockout rugby already as he challenged his side to kick-start their World Cup campaign with a much-needed victory over Tonga on Sunday.

After losing their opening match to world champions South Africa, the Scots know they will almost certainly require three wins from their remaining pool B matches against the Tongans, Romania and Ireland.

Bonus points are also likely to be a factor in deciding which sides progress to the quarter-finals from a section containing three of the world’s five highest-ranked teams.

Two weeks on from their demoralising 18-3 defeat in Marseille, Townsend has called on his team – who touched down in the south of France at the start of September with high hopes – to belatedly signal their arrival at the tournament by turning on the style against Tonga this weekend.

“We need to get our World Cup started,” he said on Friday morning. “You can get your World Cup started with your first game but also your first win. This is obviously a crucial game for us.

“It’s our knockout stage now. If we lose a game, we’re out the tournament, and every game now ahead of us we have to approach it with that mentality.”

Townsend has made four changes to the side that started against South Africa, with forwards Rory Sutherland and Scott Cummings replacing Pierre Schoeman and Grant Gilchrist and backs Kyle Steyn and Chris Harris taking over from Darcy Graham and Huw Jones.

Schoeman, Graham and Jones are on the bench alongside George Horne and Ewan Ashman, both of whom are back in the mix after missing out against South Africa due to concussion. Gilchrist drops out of the 23 altogether.

“We know this is a really important game for us so we’ve put out as strong a team as we can to win it,” said Townsend. “We feel the last 20 minutes are going to be important so to have players like Darcy Graham, Huw Jones and George Horne coming off the bench to give something different for the Tongan defence could be as important as the guys who get to start.”

Gloucester centre Harris – a member of the British and Irish Lions squad in 2021 – is preparing to make only his second start of 2023 after losing the number 13 jersey to the resurgent Jones since the start of the Six Nations.

“Chris has done really well in training and I thought he played really well against Georgia (in the last warm-up match) when he came on,” said Townsend.

“There’s competition in every position and Sione (Tuipulotu) and Huw have been two of our best players in this calendar year.

“Chris will bring his own game, which is based on work-rate and his defence is always at a high level. We will have times where it will be tough for us defensively – especially in the wide channels – so having Chris in there can bring out his strengths.”

Another 2021 Lions squad member coming in from the fringes for Scotland this weekend is Sutherland, who will be making only his second international start in 19 months. The 31-year-old is currently without a club after a turbulent couple of years with Worcester and then Ulster.

“It’s been an interesting and challenging time for Rory with going down south and then the club that he joined going bust,” said Townsend. “He then did very well over in Ulster but I know it was a tough time for his family to make one move and then to come back to Scotland while he was over in Ulster.

“And he’s without a club just now. But I have to say, even with those challenges in the background on and off the field, Rory is the same person and he trains really well.

“He’s had other challenges with injuries and selection. He wasn’t in our 23 for the game against South Africa and he just applies himself so well in training.

“He’s obviously been competing with Pierre the last couple of seasons as well and Pierre has been playing really well for us but he’s now got an opportunity to start and it’s a great opportunity for him to go ‘right, this is what I can do from a starting perspective’.”

Julian Nagelsmann will lead hosts Germany into Euro 2024 next summer.

The German football federation (DFB) confirmed on Friday that the 36-year-old had been appointed to succeed Hansi Flick in charge of the Nationalmannschaft, with the contract running through to the end of the tournament next July.

Nagelsmann was most recently at German champions Bayern Munich, who sacked him in March and replaced him with former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.

Nagelsmann’s playing career was cut short at the age of 20 by injury and he moved into coaching, with his big break coming at Hoffenheim in 2015.

He moved on to RB Leipzig before joining Bayern in 2021.

The DFB said Nagelsmann had been its “unanimous choice” to replace Flick, who was sacked earlier this month with the national team having lost four of their last five matches, including a 4-1 defeat to Japan.

Nagelsmann said: “We have a European Championship in our own country and that’s something special – something that happens every few decades.

“I have a great desire to to take on this challenge. We will be a close-knit group next year.”

His first matches in charge will be against two of the 2026 World Cup co-hosts, the United States and Mexico, next month. They are also due to take on Austria in November.

David Haye expects Joe Joyce to come through his latest test with Zhilei Zhang, but has warned the British boxer could be frozen out of the heavyweight division if he loses again.

Joyce had been mandatory for Oleksandr Usyk’s WBO heavyweight belt before he lost for the first time in the pro ranks to China’s Zhang in April.

Referee Howard Foster called off the Copper Box Arena bout in the sixth round due to Joyce’s right eye being almost completely swollen over.

Joyce opted to immediately activate his rematch clause with Zhang and will try to win back his WBO interim heavyweight belt at Wembley Arena on Saturday but TNT pundit Haye echoed the sentiments of the Chinese powerhouse when he looked ahead to this contest.

Zhang promised to end Joyce’s career during Thursday press conference in London and ex-world heavyweight champion Haye admits it could be curtains for his compatriot if another L is added to the loss column.

“I believe Joe has enough to find a way to win if he boxes smart. If he doesn’t do that, he probably will get frozen out of the heavyweight division,” Haye told the PA news agency.

“What manager or promoter would want to risk their guy fighting Joe in a minor eliminator or in a 10-rounder. He would be too good for his own good.

“Look at his opponents, Joseph Parker, (Christian) Hammer, Lenroy Thomas, Carlos Takam; he has fought real live fighters who most people try to avoid. His record isn’t padded out with bums.

“He is a very world class fighter so young fighters coming through, he would be too much for them. No manager or promoter in their right mind would chuck their young fighter in with Joe if he loses this fight.

“It would be a long road back and a long road back you can’t afford at the age of 38.”

Haye felt it was “crazy” for Joyce to take the initial fight with Zhang (25-1-1, 20KOs) in the first place owing to the size and power of the 2008 Olympic silver medallist.

With Joyce (15-1, 14KOs) at the time one of the next in line to face Usyk, the gamble backfired with the Briton short of ideas against southpaw Zhang, but Haye is confident a better gameplan will be implemented this time.

“I definitely want to see big improvement in terms of the technical side of things going in against Zhang this time because he would need it moving up against some of the big names of the sports,” Haye admitted.

“Joe is an athletic man, he can do a standing backflip, he can do acrobatics, he is very explosive and dynamic. He does have quite good reflexes but for some reason in that last fight he chose not to use them and he come a cropper.

“On paper that was a crazy fight to take in terms of a fight before the big fight, the one that would give him the big pay check he hasn’t had.

“I respect the bravery of doing so because Zhang is a southpaw so if he fights a 6ft 6inch southpaw, it is good preparation for a 6ft 3inch southpaw in Usyk.

“Maybe if Joe had taken the fight against Usyk, he would have applied the same tactics of I’m the bigger man and I will walk through you, so maybe this has forced him to get a new game plan together.

“Move that head, come off the line, throw some punches from nice angles against a southpaw and work the body. That he could apply against Usyk, so fingers crossed Joe wins and not too much damage has been done.”

:: Watch Zhang v Joyce II live on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+ from 7:30pm on Saturday 23rd September. For more info visit: tntsports.co.uk/boxing

France captain Antoine Dupont’s Rugby World Cup campaign is in doubt after he sustained a facial fracture.

Dupont, 26, suffered the injury in France’s record 96-0 win against Namibia on Thursday following a clash of heads with Johan Deysel.

The Namibia centre’s yellow card for the collision in the 45th minute, with France leading 54-0, was upgraded to red following a review by the television match official.

The French Rugby Federation confirmed the extent of Dupont’s injury on Friday, but said it was uncertain how long the scrum-half will be unavailable for.

A tearful Dupont went to hospital in nearby Aix-en-Provence, and the French Rugby Federation said: “Specialised surgical advice was requested to assess how long he will be unavailable for.”

France’s final pool game is against Italy in Lyon on October 6, before a quarter-final – probably against Ireland or South Africa – the following weekend.

If Les Bleus reach the semi-finals, they take place in Paris on October 20 and 21.

Former world player of the year Dupont has been the star performer in a resurgent French team under the direction of head coach Fabien Galthie.

And while it is hoped he can return before the end of the tournament, there must also be doubts about his future participation as France target a first world title.

France attack coach Laurent Labit said on Friday: “We always have a hope that Antoine will continue the adventure with us.

“We will leave the time for two-three days to have the opinion of a specialist. It’s Antoine and the surgeon who will make the decision.

“For us, Antoine hasn’t finished the competition. We have three days in front of us. We hope to have good news after the three days.

“He is in hospital now. He will leave by the end of the morning.

“Antoine certainly imagined the worst before the first examinations. After the initial tests, Fabien (Galthie) went to see him.

“Today, we are just waiting for the appointment with the specialist to see what he can or can’t do, and when he can return to training. That is what Antoine is focusing on at the moment.

“Antoine stays with us. Everyone will be together. We will do as we have always done with short-term injuries in hoping that the opinion of the surgeon is positive for Antoine and us.

“The specialist will give the verdict and Antoine will make the decision. We will respect that.

“The specialist knows who Antoine Dupont is, what competition he is currently playing. It is not an average subject.”

Khris Middleton is not getting caught up in speculation surrounding team-mate Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is uncertain over his Milwaukee Bucks future.

Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA MVP, has recently cast doubt on whether he will be staying with the Bucks.

The 28-year-old has made it clear that he wants to win another championship, having helped the Bucks to glory in 2021.

But Middleton is staying focused on his preparations for the new season, instead of paying too much attention to the talk around the Bucks' star man.

"I think it's kind of business as usual either way," Middleton told ESPN.

"It doesn't affect me personally. I don't think it affects us as a team. I think this is something he said almost every year he's come up in contract extension talks.

"We always want him back for sure. Let's be for sure and let everyone know that. We want this guy to come back because he's one of the best players in the world.

"He's one of the best players in franchise history. So when he says things like that, I think he just wants to challenge the team, the organisation, to keep putting us in a position to win championships."

Middleton believes Antetokounmpo's comments are about keeping the pressure on, for both himself and the team.

"But I think it's just something that he just wants to keep putting pressure on everybody. That's himself also," Middleton added.

"He's not just pointing a finger at everybody else saying, 'You guys have to do this for me'.

"I think he's putting that pressure on himself to be better, to come in and be great every year. So there's no pressure on, there's no added pressure when he says that to us as a team, or me as a person, that I have to be better."

The Bucks won their fifth straight division title last season, yet lost to the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs, resulting in the departure of head coach Mike Budenholzer.

France captain Antoine Dupont’s Rugby World Cup campaign is in doubt after he sustained a facial fracture.

Dupont, 26, suffered the injury in France’s record 96-0 win against Namibia on Thursday following a clash of heads with with Johan Deysel.

The Namibia centre’s yellow card for the collision in the 45th minute, with France leading 54-0, was upgraded to red following a review by the television match official.

The FFR confirmed the extent of Dupont’s injury on Friday, but said it was uncertain how long its star scrum-half will be unavailable for.

A statement from the FFR, quoted by Sky Sports News, read: “Antoine Dupont has suffered a maxillo-zygomatic fracture.

“A specialist surgical opinion has been requested to determine the exact length of the player’s unavailability. Antoine Dupont remains with the France squad.”

France, who have beaten New Zealand, Uruguay and Namibia so far, play Italy in their final pool match on October 6.

Les Bleus are set to face world number one side Ireland or defending champions South Africa in the quarter-finals on October 14/15.

Novak Djokovic is just one grand slam away from becoming the most decorated player in history and Feliciano Lopez believes "the numbers don't lie" when it comes to debating tennis' greatest.

Serbia's Djokovic equalled Margaret Court's record of 24 grand slam triumphs after defeating Daniil Medvedev in straight sets at the US Open earlier in September.

That made the world number one, aged 36 years and 111 days at the time, the oldest winner of the men's singles title at the US Open.

It was also Djokovic's third major crown of 2023, winning a trio of grand slams in a calendar year for the fourth time in his career,

Davis Cup tournament director Lopez, who had previously hailed Djokovic for featuring at the "unique" competition, suggested no one in history compares with the 36-year-old.

Asked by Stats Perform if Djokovic was the GOAT – greatest of all time – Lopez said: "According to the numbers, yes. The numbers don't lie.

"If you look at the stats, Novak is the best. So, I mean, what can I say?

"I think the numbers are very clear, not only by the fact that he's won 24 slams, but also there are other numbers and other statistics that clearly show he's the best player who ever played the sport.

"According to the numbers, I cannot say anything different."

Djokovic triumphed at the Australian Open, French Open and US Open, only missing out on a clean sweep of the majors after losing the Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz.

As for Djokovic's chances for more major success going forward, Lopez believes the sky is still the limit.

"It's very difficult to predict honestly, but as long as he's feeling physically strong I think it's clear that his will in the last three or four years is to keep winning grand slams," Lopez added.  

"If he is able to sustain his physical condition for the next two years, I can fairly say that he can win, I don't know, two, three or four, but it's very difficult to say one number because this year, for example, he could have won all four.

"He won in Australia, he won in Paris, he was very close to winning Wimbledon because of that second-set tie-break, and he just won the US Open.

"You ask me how many grand slams you think he will win in the future when he just won three of them in the same year!

"I don't know, maybe three or four more is fair to say, but it's very difficult to predict."