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The NFL's international ambitions are taking a hit in London. Tickets to the October eighteenth Texans-Jaguars matchup at Wembley Stadium are moving slowly, and we mean slowly. Large blocks remain available across major ticket sites months after going on sale in late May, raising real questions about whether the league's overseas growth story is as strong as the shield wants you to believe.
Shifting to the Bernabeu, Florentino Pérez is back in the Real Madrid presidential chair after winning the club election, and now comes the hard part. Pérez made sweeping promises on the campaign trail about blockbuster moves and a new era of dominance. Madrid fans have heard this before, and the football world is watching closely to see whether the rhetoric translates into reality this summer.
And in international soccer, Pio Esposito is making a serious case for himself at the senior level. The Inter Milan striker came up clutch again for the Azzurri, scoring the decisive goal as Italy defeated Greece in their second friendly of the window. Esposito is developing a knack for big moments, and Italy's coaching staff has to be taking very careful notes.
That's your play-by-play. Sports Desk, back to the booth.
