You won’t find many matches with tighter odds in the World Cup group stage than what the bookies are serving up for Ecuador vs. Ivory Coast on Sunday night in Philadelphia.
Ecuador, a trendy dark horse selection in this 48-team field, is +140 to win the match on the three-way moneyline, the draw is at +180, and the Ivory Coast is +260 to nab the three points.
It is quite rare to see the draw priced under +200, but this match has all the makings of a rock fight, so it’s no wonder that early money pushed that price down.
World Cup: Ecuador vs. Ivory Coast odds, predictions
Ecuador is known for its dogged defensive personality and physical brand of soccer, but there is a lot more to this team than just a rugged South American style of play.
La Tri are coached by Sebastián Beccacece, a disciple of Marcelo Bielsa, and deploy a system that has all the Bielsa hallmarks. They will apply an all-action press high up the pitch and look to punish you in transition.
Ecuador has a tailor-made central midfielder for this style in Moises Caicedo. One of the best in the world at managing the middle of the park, Caicedo is a master at winning the ball, picking out a quick pass, and springing counterattacks before the opponent knows what hits them.
Pervis Estupinan and Enner Valencia of Ecuador. REUTERS
Caicedo won’t have it easy, however, as he’ll be dealing with Franck Kessie, who is a splendid central midfielder in his own right.
While Caicedo and Kessie are the proverbial straws that stir their respective drinks, they both have a strong supporting cast. Ecuador can cause trouble by outflanking you with Piero Hincapie, but they also have an experienced fox-in-the-box, with the ageless Enner Valencia.
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Les Elephants also have a wealth of attacking options, headlined by Nicolas Pépé, Amad Diallo, and Yan Diomandé. Those three, plus youngster Christ Inao, have the potential to overrun any defense, and they could enjoy the space that comes behind Ecuador’s high press.
The betting market seems convinced that this will be a slog, but there’s a lot of punch on these rosters, and Ecuador’s high press could create some ideal scoring conditions.
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
Smriti Mandhana hit 68 and Deepti Sharma took 5-10 as India opened their T20 World Cup campaign with a 64-run win over arch-rivals Pakistan in Group One.
Opener Mandhana was dropped twice in an innings where she blazed nine fours and two sixes to set up an India score of 170-6.
Pakistan started their reply well, reaching 52-1 at the end of the powerplay, but all-rounder Deepti Sharma took India’s first two wickets then returned to dismiss the final three batters as the ODI world champions bowled out their opponents for 106.
Captain Fatima Sana’s side lost their final seven wickets for 31 runs and were bowled out with three overs to spare, with leg-spinner Sree Charani also taking 3-21.
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur chose to bat having won the toss, but saw her side reduced to 18-2 inside four overs as Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues were caught for six and one respectively.
Mandhana dug her side out of trouble, but was dropped on 27 at mid-off with India on 44-2 and on 55 with her side approaching their hundred.
The 29-year-old built a 91-run partnership with Harmanpreet before finally being caught by Fatima at long-on.
Pakistan stalled India’s efforts for a number of overs, but Deepti and Richa Ghosh hit 38 off the last 12 balls to set a total that Pakistan could not challenge.
India follow Australia, who also won their opening game, in setting a marker in Group One, while Pakistan already face an uphill battle to qualify from a pool that also features South Africa.
One glaring indication of the case’s problems is that Rana’s new five-member legal team moved to drop it in state court last week and refile it in federal court, citing “new” evidence and federal statutes.
“It’s the same nature of the accusations and the same relief, which means that they’re likely forum-shopping,” Brenecki said.
Judge Dakota Ramseur — who Brenecki argues before regularly – is “so no-nonsense, no bulls–t” and has no patience for frivolous suits clogging the state court system, she said.
Brenecki added that Ramseur’s comment urging an out-of-court resolution in the case “was not a great sign for [Rana].
Rana accused JPMorgan executive director Lorna Hajdini of sexual harassment. Linkedin
“Translated into layman’s terms: this case is such nonsense, and it should not occupy the court’s docket,” Brenecki said.
Another lawyer, David Ring, said that while Rana’s reasons for swapping out state court for federal jurisdiction may be legitimate, he’s just as likely to be “trying his luck with a different judge in federal court.
“Rana could be in for a rude awakening if he filed a completely bogus lawsuit that destroyed an innocent person’s reputation,” Ring said. “Federal judges will not tolerate that type of misconduct.”
Brenecki added of the plaintiff’s camp, “I think the statements they make to the press, that there’s new evidence and the federal statutes — this is likely not the real reason” for the court switch.
“They’re just trying to get a new, fresh start in a new venue.”
JPMorgan and Hajdini’s lawyers leaving Civil Court in Manhattan on May 26, 2026. William Farrington for NY Post
But it could be even more of an uphill battle for Rana, experts said.
“Everything is under a microscope, every deadline is actually enforced on the day it is missed,” Brenecki said of federal court. “So, if you actually have a s–t case, then you shouldn’t be putting it in federal court.”
Follow the latest on the bizarre JPMorgan banker ‘sex slave’ allegations:
A judge or the defendants has to sign off on the venue swap since Rana initiated the state case.
And that brings yet another problem: The move will likely be met with demands for Rana to pay for defendant LornaHajdini’s and JPMorgan’s white-shoe lawyers for their dalliance in state court.
Rana seen with his parents Baruna Rana (center) and Chaitanya Rana. Facebook/Baruna Rana
Longtime employment lawyer Susan Crumiller, who specializes in sex abuse and workplace discrimination, said those bills could easily already be above six-figures.
A separate red flag involving the case occurred when Rana’s first lawyer, Daniel Kaiser, moved to ditch his client on the morning of a hearing designed to keep the plaintiff’s name anonymous — a request immediately denied by Judge Ramseur, experts said.
“The desperation to get out of that anonymity hearing, like trying to get it postponed the morning of the hearing … It’s hard not to infer a level of some sort of emotional desperation,” Crumiller said.
Rana’s former attorney Daniel Kaiser leaving court. Stephen Yang for NY Post
“One common thing that happens is new facts emerge that damage a client’s credibility, and you could think: Nobody’s going to believe our client, or even worse: I don’t believe my client anymore.”
Rana’s original lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court detailed claims that fellow banker Hajdini sexually and racially abused him — including with threats of retaliation unless he became her “sex slave.”
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Hajdini filed a blistering countersuit, claiming defamation and that Rana’s filing has ruined her life.
Experts said the court papers at the heart of the complaint were already setting off alarm bells.
Although the allegations “are highly specific,” Rana’s legal team has barely filed any evidence backing up their claims — including the supposed “substantial new evidence” cited last week, they said.
Crumiller said it was odd that all of the juicy details “allegedly happened verbally,” especially when so much of contemporary communications are by text and email.
“It gives pause if you don’t have similar allegations that it happens in writing, too,” she said.
That leaves a fundamental question unanswered for Crumiller: “How are you going to prove your case?”
“Keleigh didn’t want to be a part of it,” an insider told the Daily Mail in an interview published Sunday, referring to how Lively allegedly told her “It Ends With Us” co-star that she had “dragons” who “protect” and “fight” for her ahead of accusing him of sexual harassment.
Per the source, the wife of Miles Teller “couldn’t believe they were talking like that to each other.”
Keleigh Teller allegedly pulled away from Taylor Swift after learning that Blake Lively alluded to the hitmaker as her “dragon” amid her legal battle with Justin Baldoni. (Seen here: Swift and Teller at the 2024 Golden Globes.) CBS via Getty ImagesAn insider told the Daily Mail that Teller didn’t want a part in the drama. (Seen above: Swift and Lively in December 2023.) JosiahW / BACKGRID
Additionally, Lively, 38, allegedly “felt threatened” by Swift’s “closeness” with Keleigh after the duo, who met in 2014, started hanging out more when the Grammy winner, 36, started dating her now-fiancé, Travis Kelce, also 36, in 2023.
The source told the outlet that the “Gossip Girl” alum allegedly “tried to tear their friendship apart to be Taylor’s number one.”
Lively also allegedly became jealous when 2023 paparazzi photos showed Keleigh, 33, and Swift leaving the Electric Lady Studios in New York City.
An insider claimed that the actress was “not generally very welcoming of other people into the fold.”
Keleigh and Swift’s friendship, however, allegedly grew more strained when the internet personality dropped out of attending an awards show with the latter due to personal reasons.
According to the Daily Mail, the “Lover” songstress was “not empathetic” and the move resulted in an argument.
According to the source, Teller “couldn’t believe they were talking like that to each other.” (Seen here L-R: RIOTUSA, Ice Spice, Teller, Swift, Ashley Avignone and Lively at the 2024 Super Bowl.) Getty ImagesLively (seen above with the pop star in 2023) was also allegedly threatened by Teller and Swift’s friendship. GC Images
“Friends told Keleigh to protect her mental health; she needs to take space, but they were still in contact here and there,” the source said.
Keleigh allegedly still attempted to keep Swift close but allegedly didn’t feel like a priority, with a source claiming that the hitmaker didn’t reach out to Keleigh or Miles when they lost their home during the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.
“That was the nail in the coffin of the friendship,” one insider alleged, with another claiming that Swift was “exhausted” and “only in touch with very few people” after wrapping up two years of her record-breaking Eras Tour.
Feud rumors heightened when Keleigh, who would attend Kansas City Chiefs games with Swift, and Miles sat with fellow Philadelphia Eagles fans instead of the pop star when the team faced off against the Chiefs in the 2025 Super Bowl.
Miles, however, told People in an interview that he and Keleigh were eager to support their team, the Eagles, and “be in a sea of green.”
Per the outlet, Swift and Teller’s friendship became more strained when the latter dropped out of attending an awards show. (Seen here: Swift and Teller at the 2024 Golden Globes.) Golden Globes 2024 via Getty ImagesThe duo (seen here in 2023) was last publicly seen together in 2024. GC Images
Per the Daily Mail, Keleigh allegedly has hope to reconcile with Swift and is “heartbroken.” However, she allegedly refuses to attend the “Cruel Summer” singer’s forthcoming nuptials to Kelce to avoid looking “like a doormat.”
Reps for Swift, Kelce, and the Tellers weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.
However, the duo’s last public sighting was at the 2024 Super Bowl suite at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas when the Chiefs played against the San Francisco 49ers.
Reps for Teller and Swift (both seen above in October 2023) weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment. GC ImagesKeleigh (pictured middle) and her husband, Miles Teller (pictured far right), were also not invited to Swift’s forthcoming wedding. GC Images
Additionally, Keleigh, who used to actively share photos with Swift online, hasn’t posted a photo with the award winner since April 2024.
When previously asked if he was attending the wedding, Miles told Parade magazine, “I don’t know. That is gonna be — I imagine — one impressive wedding. But yeah, just very happy for them. I’ve known Trav for a while, too, and I think they’re having a blast. That’s the point.”
The Big Apple turned into one giant party after the Knicks took the NBA title from the hapless San Antonio Spurs, with one X clip showing an MTA bus driver donning a team cap while doing a celebratory dance in front of a jubilant crowd.
“Even the bus driver on duty decided to pull over & get JIGGY!” one X poster wrote. “New York Knicks have brought back the energy to this city. Hopefully he doesn’t lose his job.”
The modern-day Ralph Kramden was just one glimpse at the Knicks fever engulfing the Big Apple after the team’s 94-90 win in San Antonio to take the series in five games – for its first title in 53 years.
In Astoria, New York’s Bravest jumped into the action, blasting Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” – the city’s unofficial sports anthem – from their fire trucks to cheering bystanders.
Elsewhere, thousands of fans joined in to sing Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind.”
Meanwhile, the hometown heroes returned to town Sunday morning, flying into Westchester County Airport, where dozens of fans lined up for a celebratory motorcade.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said a victory parade is set for Manhattan on Thursday.
CHICAGO –– If you catch a shot of the LA Dodgers’ dugout on Sunday, don’t expect to see manager Dave Roberts on the top step.
Roberts is away from the team for Sunday’s series finale against the Chicago White Sox, having flown back to California on Saturday night to attend a college graduation ceremony for his daughter Elle the younger of his two children.
Bench coach Danny Lehmann will serve as interim manager for the day.
Manager Dave Roberts is set to attend a California college graduation ceremony for his daughter Elle. Getty Images
“This is my fourth and last one,” Roberts joked Saturday afternoon of his kids’ graduation ceremonies, with his daughter graduating from Stanford University this weekend.
“I’ve had two high school graduations, two college graduations … I can’t believe it. I shaved today to take away all the grays so I don’t look old. But I’m feeling a day older today.”
While there’s no turning back the clock, Roberts did note how he appreciates the way the culture of the sport has evolved over the years. Once upon a time, it would have been taboo for a manager to miss a game for such an occasion. Now, Roberts said he encourages his staff to be present for similar family celebrations.
Roberts is away from the Dodgers for Sunday’s series finale against the Chicago White Sox. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
“I think that’s one of the good things about the way the world has evolved, to where you do some things for mental health or your family and it’s not frowned upon that you care less about your job,” he said. “That should be applicable to everyone. It’s good to feel like I can go and I don’t feel like I’m being judged because I’m going to celebrate my daughter.”
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Roberts said he encourages his staff to be present for similar family celebrations. Matt Marton-Imagn Images
For the sake of travel logistics, it helped that the White Sox scheduled a late afternoon start time for Saturday’s game.
As soon as the last out was recorded, and the Dodgers slapped hands on the field after Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s near-perfect game and no-hitter, Roberts hustled back to his office, quickly got changed, and departed for the airport for a sentimental day off.
“You see it all around baseball,” he said. “People are doing things for their family, and paternity leave, things like that. It’s healthy.”
Miguel Rojas said he left Saturday’s game early after aggravating a lower right shin issue he has been dealing with the last couple days, but downplayed the issue as nothing too concerning.
During the seventh inning, Rojas exited after tweaking the injury while hopping out of the way of an inside pitch.
However, he described the decision as more of a precaution, not wanting to risk playing at less than 100% given Yamamoto’s push for a perfect game.
Rojas said he would be available off the bench Sunday.
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The city’s embattled child-welfare agency would have to cough up critical records to state probers so they could finally properly probe tragic cases involving kids, according to a newly passed Albany bill.
The tentative legislation, which Gov. Kathy Hochul has until the end of the year to approve or veto, would clear “significant” roadblocks to justice by allowing the state Department of Investigation access to previously withheld records from the Administration from Children’s Services.
“The state law has really prevented us from fully being able to provide the oversight that DOI provides to every other city agency,” DOI Commissioner Nadia Shihata told The Post in an interview
State Department of Investigation Commissioner Nadia Shihata said she hopes Gov. Kathy Hochul will sign a bill to provide crucial needed transparency when it comes to heinous crimes against children. Gabriella Bass for NY Post
The watchdog department said state laws, as well as “burdensome” delays from the state own Office of Children’s and Family Services, prevented it from conducting investigations into 17 of 18 child fatalities last year in which there was previous ACS involvement, according to a blistering report published last month.
ACS records are allowed to be withheld from investigators if they resulted in what the agency deemed “unfounded” at the time, a situation that the bill would change.
If DOI also wants to investigate potential sexual misconduct cases involving ACS caseworkers, it currently needs permission from OCFS to access those records.
“As of now, we often don’t get that information,” Shihata said.
Under the law, DOI would retain the same investigatory powers it has over other city agencies similar to that of district attorney offices.
ACS records are allowed to be withheld from investigators if they resulted in an “unfounded” determination, something that would change if Hochul signs the bill into law. William Farrington/NY Post
One of the bill’s sponsors, state Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Queens), said he hasn’t heard anyone make a case as to why DOI should be prevented from reviewing how ACS workers handle a case or potential case, especially involving heartbreaking tragedies such as the death of a child.
“It’s actively preventing safety measures from being actively implemented,” Hevesi said of the current law. “I don’t think anybody can really argue this with a straight face.
“I don’t expect the governor to, either,” he added.
Shihata added, “We’ve not received any type of pushback publicly related to the passage of the bill, and so we’re really hopeful that the governor will sign it.”
The measure passed unanimously in the Assembly. State Sen. Mark Walczyk (R-Jefferson) was the lone vote against it in the upper chamber.
Hochul’s office declined to indicate her position on the legislation.
The governor’s office would not indicate her position on the legislation. Andrew Schwartz / SplashNews.com
“Protecting the health and safety of all New Yorkers, but especially vulnerable children, is the Governor’s top priority and she will review the legislation,” Hochul rep Nicolette Simmonds wrote in a statement to The Post.
Hevesi said ex-Mayor Eric Adams’ DOI initiated the push for the change and that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration has also been taking the issue “very seriously.
“The last [DOI] commissioner was aggressive, but this commissioner came out with a bang and said, ‘No, no, no, this isn’t cap. We need it right away,’ ” he said.
ACS representative Marisa Kaufman wrote in a statement to The Post, “ACS appreciates the important oversight role of the Department of Investigation, and we remain committed to holding individuals accountable in any instance of potential employee misconduct.
“ACS also remains committed to transparency and accountability in our operations, while safeguarding the confidentiality of the children, youth and families who we serve.”
The state Office of Children and Family Services did not return a Post request for comment Friday.
After leading his Knicks to an NBA championship and being crowned Finals MVP, Jalen Brunson has received yet another accolade: being called the “greatest Knick of all-time” by Kendrick Perkins.
The ESPN analyst and former NBA big man, who won a championship with the Celtics in 2008, has been a longtime fan of the Knicks guard and even coined his “Big Body Brunson” nickname.
And after the Knicks’ Game 5 clincher, Perkins took a moment to praise the 29-year-old superstar.
“This man has become the greatest Knick of all time. Yes, I said it,” Perkins said on SportsCenter, placing Brunson ahead of the likes of Patrick Ewing and Willis Reed.
Jalen Brunson was crowned NBA Finals MVP after his stunning performance in Game 5. Getty Images
“He will never spend another dime on another meal, another drink, I don’t know if he’s even gonna have to pay his mortgage in the city of New York.
“This is Mr. New York. He is the new Derek Jeter of this generation.”
Brunson averaged 32.6 points per game in the series, and saved his best performance for last as he scored 45 in San Antonio to will the Knicks to another comeback win.
While Brunson joined an exclusive list of Finals MVPs on Saturday, Perkins has been a longtime admirer of the former Maverick, who first joined New York on a four-year, $104 million deal.
The former Celtic sparred with ex-WNBA star Becky Hammon in 2023, when she declared that the Knicks did not have a “1A” dude and that Brunson was too small.
Kendrick Perkins was full of praise for Brunson after his legendary Game 5. ESPN
“They do have that dude,” Perkins fired back. “Jalen Brunson.”
Perkins was emphatically proven right throughout this postseason, and especially on Saturday night, and don’t expect his victory lap to end any time soon.
Special Envoy to the Shield of the Americas Kristi Noem bungled her geography when asked about Washington’s best friend in South America.
Noem, who is the US representative to a coalition of countries in the Western Hemisphere to combat drug cartels and other transnational criminal groups, listed El Salvador and Costa Rica.
“Well, we’ve worked so much with El Salvador and migration issues and third country agreements,” Noem replied to Newsmax’s Greta Van Susteren on Saturday. “But also Ecuador’s been fantastic; we did a joint operation with them with the Department of War against the cartels in their country.”
“We work very well with Argentina; their economic policies line up with ours. Costa Rica’s been fantastic; they have a new president…she’s going to be a great leader for us as well.”
Kristi Noem cited several Central American countries when asked about the best friend of the US in South America. The Record/NEWSMAX
Of the four countries she listed, two — El Salvador and Costa Rica — are in Central America, not South America.
VAN SUSTEREN: Who is our best friend in South America at this point
KRISTI NOEM: We’ve worked so much with El Salvador … Costa Rica has been fantastic
The Shield of the Americas is a coalition of countries in the Western Hemisphere. Peter Hermes Furian – stock.adobe.com
Noem has served as US special envoy to the Shield of the Americas since March after being pushed out of her old post as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
President Trump had unveiled the new coalition that same month.
“I think it’s going to be stronger than NATO because it is bringing these countries into alignment with American values and American freedom,” Noem said of the nascent coalition.
She predicted that the Shield of the Americas will continue to grow over time and stressed how its members are closely aligned with the Trump administration.
Noem touted the coalition’s work to tackle issues such as gang violence and illegal immigration. She also explained that Haiti will be a top agenda item for the group.
Kristi Noem previously served as DHS secretary. The Record/NEWSMAX
“Haiti is an area that has been a lost cause for a very long time,” Noem contended. “We’ve got some gang suppression forces that we’re going to be working to get into that country.”
Noem’s appearance on Newsmax appears to be one of her first major TV outings since she was jettisoned from her old perch atop DHS.
The Department of Buildings has unveiled two proposed new sidewalk shed designs that would replace the monstrosities that blight an incredible 360 miles of sidewalks in the city.
They’re less blatantly offensive than the familiar, hulking steel-and-green wood eyesores. But no one should mistake them for a real solution to the scaffold scourge.
Images of the prototype sheds were shown last year, but real ones are set up for the first time on the sidewalk outside DOB headquarters at 280 Broadway. According to Leila Bozorg, deputy mayor for housing and planning, the new designs “will help New Yorkers see the sky while still protecting people safe [sic] from danger overhead.”
Former Mayor Eric Adams’ administration tweaked notorious Local Law 11, which requires sheds for facade repair and maintenance work on a scale that exists in no other city in the world. Steve Cuozzo
The sheds on view are two of six proposed designs under city review. To be sure, the so-called “rigid” and “flex” sheds designed by architectural firm Arup are less oppressive than the kind everyone hates — and better, too, than the Urban Umbrella type with their tall, white, columns that branch at the top like trees.
The designs by Arup and another firm, Practice for Architecture and Urbanism, are a modest step in the right direction (the DOB expects to finalize the plans later this year, subject to City Council approval). But light blue and yellow paint jobs and partly see-through roofs of artificial glass don’t come close to solving the underlying problem — notorious Local Law 11, which requires sheds for facade repair and maintenance work on a scale that exists in no other city in the world.
The 30-year-old law still stands, despite tweaks under former Mayor Eric Adams’ administration’s “Get Sheds Down” initiative. It slightly reduced the required frequency of periodic inspections and repairs — although final decisions at any particular building are still up to the DOB.
The city is reviewing six proposed sidewalk shed designs. Steve Cuozzo
Nor do the new rules touch the law’s most pernicious provision — that scaffolds must extend 20 feet in either direction beyond the actual job site, thus ruining businesses and entrances that aren’t part of the work.
For a look at how much better our streets would look with many fewer sheds, city planners should have a look at Chicago and Philadelphia — both of which have many old and very large buildings but hardly any sidewalk eyesores of the kind New Yorkers hate.
New York’s shed laws were enacted in the name of protecting passers-by from falling debris. Yet, somehow, hospitals in Chicago and Philadelphia are not overwhelmed by victims of such rare accidents. But neither city has laws which mainly were written to enrich scaffold rental companies — a scandal that’s Only in New York.