Liverpool and Arsenal are both ready to make a key concession in their pursuit of Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, according to reports.

The 18-year-old has been one of the breakout stars of World Cup 2026, starting five games as the Atlas Lions reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to France.

Arsenal and Liverpool are among several top European clubs eyeing Lille midfielder Bouaddi, with Manchester City also in the mix, but they may have to compromise if they want to complete a deal that could cost close to £100million.

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Liverpool and Arsenal ‘reluctantly’ agree to Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi demand

Bouaddi made his Morocco debut only last month after switching allegiance to the North African country in May, having represented many of France’s age-group teams up to Under-21 level.

Interest in the teenager has grown during an excellent World Cup but Lille want to keep him for one more season, with any deal this summer potentially involving a loan back to the French club for 2026/27.

Liverpool and Arsenal are huge admirers of Bouaddi and Football Insider reports that both clubs are ‘reluctantly’ prepared to accept that demand.

While the Reds, the Gunners and City are all keen to sign the youngster ahead of the new domestic campaign, they are willing to compromise if it means they can secure his services.

The report adds that Lille will demand close to £100m for a player who has made just seven senior international appearances, so agreeing to the season-long loan would reduce the short-term benefit of such a huge outlay.

However, it would also be a long-term investment for Liverpool and Arsenal - both of whom have already set their sights on the next generation of stars this summer.

The Premier League rivals have both reportedly shown interest in 17-year-old Mexico midfielder Gilberto Mora, while Arsenal were also in the running for Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga, who turns 17 today, although City appear to have hijacked the deal.

Bouaddi is further along in his development than both players, although he would cost considerably more.

The teenager first appeared for Lille three days after he turned 16 and made his Champions League debut on his 17th birthday.

He has long been monitored by some of Europe’s top clubs and the willingness of Liverpool and Arsenal to loan him back to Lille shows the regard in which he is held across the continent.

Liverpool are leading a group of Premier League clubs chasing Mexico wonderkid Gilberto Mora, according to reports.

The 17-year-old midfielder enjoyed a breakout World Cup 2026, starting three games as the co-hosts reached the last 16 before exiting to England.

Mora’s performances have increased the hype around the teenager, who plays for Liga MX side Tijuana, and Liverpool are among several European heavyweights showing an interest.

Liverpool ‘very keen’ on Gilberto Mora as Manchester United stance changes

Mora was the youngest player at this summer’s World Cup, while he became the sixth-youngest player in the tournament’s history when he appeared as a second-half substitute against South Africa in the opening game, aged 17 years and 240 days.

He went on to start Mexico’s final Group A match against Czechia, the last-32 win over Ecuador and the defeat by England.

Having faced several Premier League stars at the Azteca last weekend, Mora is attracting the attention of multiple top English clubs - with TEAMtalk reporting that Liverpool are ‘very keen’ on the rising star.

The report states that the Reds have already made contact with the youngster’s camp to ‘establish the conditions of a deal’ and to see if he would be open to joining Andoni Iraola's men.

TEAMtalk adds that it remains only an exploratory approach from Liverpool, who are looking to get ahead of several rivals at home and abroad who have also been monitoring Mora.

Arsenal have reportedly shown recent interest, while Manchester City and Chelsea are also in the running. TEAMtalk claims that Real Madrid are ‘long-term admirers’ and that Mora would view a move to Los Blancos as a ‘dream come true’, while La Liga rivals Barcelona have also sent scouts to watch him.

However, the report adds that Manchester United are unlikely to pursue Mora despite tracking him for the past six months, with the Red Devils keen to avoid a bidding war.

The midfielder has three years left on his contract with Tijuana and is already valued at €40million-plus (£34million), which could rise as clubs compete for his signature following his displays at the World Cup.

However, FIFA regulations state that Mora cannot join a foreign team until he turns 18 on October 14 this year, so any transfer cannot be finalised until that date.

The Liga MX season begins later this month, which means Mora will have plenty of opportunities to impress for Tijuana and further increase his value before any move to Europe materialises.

England's route to the World Cup final is beginning to take shape.

Thomas Tuchel could be the man who ends 60 years of hurt for England after reaching the World Cup's last eight after a memorable 3-2 win over Mexico.

The Three Lions made history by inflicting only a third defeat on their hosts at the Estadio Azteca, where they previously lost to Argentina in the 1986 quarter finals.

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England's World Cup final path mapped out

Tuchel's side defied the odds against a partisan home crowd as well as seeing out most of the second half with 10 men following Jarell Quansah's straight red card.

The Bayer Leverkusen defender was dismissed for violent conduct after a challenge on Jesus Gallardo in the 54th minute as the hosts pushed to overturn a 2-0 deficit.

England are unbeaten in all five of their World Cup encounters, drawing just once in their Group L campaign against Ghana before progressing to the knockout stage.

Norway lie in wait for their ninth World Cup quarter final appearance which will take place at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on 11 July with kick-off at 10pm UK time.

Should they overcome Erling Haaland and co, a second semi-final in eight years beckons which could see them lining up against Lionel Messi and Argentina.

The Vikings are set for their maiden quarter-final involvement after eliminating five-time world champions Brazil with a 2-1 win in Sunday's MetLife Stadium encounter.

The reigning holders face Egypt in Tuesday's last-16 tie, where the winner will be pitted against whoever progresses from Switzerland and Colombia's clash.

England's potential opponents in the 19 July showpiece at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium will offer no easy path to glory with six formidable nations still in contention on the other side of the draw.

The USA and Belgium are set to do battle in their last-16 tie early on Tuesday to earn a place in the quarter final against the winner of Portugal's clash with Spain.

Current tournament favourites France and Morocco are already through to a head-to-head meeting in the last eight, with the latter previously knocking out the Netherlands.

If England do go all the way for the first time since 1966, they will have to do it the hard way.

England delivered one of their greatest World Cup performances in one of the fabled tournament’s greatest games. The 8,000 England fans who trekked to the Azteca, making light of the cost and the rain, were rewarded. The millions who stayed up at home, deep into the night, had their loyalty repaid. Nobody was going to fall asleep in drama like this on the night that the Wonderwall that was England’s defence made the Azteca’s wall of noise fall silent.

This was the night when England lived up to their supporters’ beliefs. They showed their attacking class with Jude Bellingham immense. They then displayed their defensive defiance when Jarell Quansah was dismissed. It was a performance of guts that brought glory and a quarter-final against Norway in Miami on Saturday.

England had lions all over the pitch. Jordan Pickford kept relieving pressure by charging through traffic and punching clear. Anthony Gordon was tireless on the left, initially as a winger, then as a defensive midfielder. But the lion king was truly Bellingham. It’s madness that one of the finest footballing talents ever produced in England should have been doubted. He finished the game at centre-forward, Harry Kane having been subbed. He finished the game, closing down opponents, showing the team player he is.

It was England’s No 10 who exorcised the ghosts here, the painful memory of the Hand of God. As if the 40 years since England’s last visit to the Azteca hadn’t felt long enough, kick-off was delayed an hour after the thunderstorm protocol was activated. And then, after the storm over the Azteca, came the storm within, and it came, gloriously, from England, from Bellingham, lightning striking twice between the 36 and 38 minutes.

What a response. What a reason to wait up, to stay awake. Sweet dreams are made of this. School was worth being late for this. For the first goal, England hit on the counter smoothly. Mexico did not know what hit them as England charged down the right. Jordan Pickford launched the move, Declan Rice carried it on, and Bukayo Saka at last looked like the Arsenal starboy rather than the limping winger nursing an Achilles tendinitis problem.

Now there was a burst of pace and positivity, rather than the unconvincing player so far. He ran at Jesus Gallardo, perhaps remembering how the left-back had a nibble at his Achilles. Saka shaped to go inside, went out and dinked the ball across. Kane made the decoy run, creating space for Bellingham to throw himself into, eyes on the prize, his vision never straying from the ball’s flight. Bellingham’s diving header was perfect, too quick and firm for Raul Rangel.

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Mexico’s keeper was beaten again 80 seconds later. Elliot Anderson’s press coughed up the ball. Gordon and Bellingham seized the opportunity, working the ball right to Kane. England’s captain slid in, stretching out his right foot and transferring the ball at pace across the six-yard box. Bellingham timed his run, beating Erik Lira to the ball and sweeping it home. Mexico were stunned. This wasn’t in the script. For those back home, allowed to stay up, this was something to tell teacher whenever school was reached. This was certainly class. Because England were under pressure and stayed defiant. Pickford made two astonishing saves from Raul Jimenez headers, the first low to his left, the second a tip-over - either side of Bellingham’s goals.

England had to withstand predictable pressure and unbelievable noise. It blew down from the fans in the stands, booing every English touch, demanding retribution when Rice’s raised foot caught Luis Romo. The caution came, and fortunately his earlier booking against Ghana was wiped after the group stage. The 70,000+ home support greeted with a triumphant “ole” every promising move in green, and they were given hope when Julian Quinones slammed the ball in after a free-kick ricocheted off Ezri Konsa.

Mexico were in the mood, and only Bellingham’s determination and reflexes hooked the ball clear as Cesar Montes was about to score.

England couldn’t afford any mistakes. They had to keep their composure, because the home fans were screaming for everything, beseeching Alireza Faghani to sanction any infringement, however minor.

And certainly major. When Quansah went in hard and fast on Gallardo, he caught the ball but his right foot continued rising into the Mexican full-back. Faghani required VAR’s intervention to come to the right decision. Quansah walked.

Saka went to right-back, briefly before John Stones arrived at centre-back and Konsa switched to full-back. England breathed determination. When Kane challenged Edson Alvarez, the outstanding Gordon ran on and was brought down by Rangel. Kane made no mistake. 3-1 to 10-man England.

But England never make it easy for themselves. Kane, whose defensive work had been supreme, conceded a penalty for kicking through Brian Gutierrez’s foot. The substitute crumpled to the floor, Mexico appealed, play went on briefly, before VAR again intervened and rightly so. It was soft but still correct. Jimenez ran in, stuttered, and still generated the power to send his kick past Pickford. There was a degree of inevitability about Jimenez’s 46^th successful penalty out of 48.

Azteca shook again. Tuchel tweaked again. Dan Burn and Djed Spence came on for Anderson and Nico O’Reilly. England were now 5-3-1. Bellingham, Rice and Gordon shielded the defence, Burn made a powerful clearing header, so did Spence. Pickford came out and connected with vital punches. It was one of the great rearguard actions.

Tuchel twisted again. Kane off. Morgan Rogers on. More legs in attack. The clock ticked down. Then 11 additional minutes were shown. More Pickford punches. More Bellingham running. And then the final whistle, and the quarter-final berth. And then Bellingham named man of the match. Who else?

Rudi Garcia has slammed FIFA's decision to overturn Folarin Balogun's suspension.

Balogun will be free to face Belgium in the United States' World Cup round-of-16 showdown despite being initially ruled out of the game by his recent sending-off.

The Monaco forward was set to serve a one-game ban for being dismissed in his country's last-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina for a foul on Tarik Muharemovic.

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Rudi Garcia blasts FIFA for Folarin Balogun decision

However FIFA has triggered Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code which allows Balogun's immediate suspension to be held back for a 12-month period.

It means the 25-year-old will be free to play for Mauricio Pochettino's side in the Seattle showdown as well as for the remainder of their tournament involvement.

Only a similar infringement that led to Balogun's original suspension would see it reinstated before his probationary period is set to expire in 12 months' time.

The decision, reportedly taken after lobbying from US President Donald Trump. was met with condemnation by the Royal Belgian Football Association on Sunday.

Red Devils' head coach Garcia has now added his voice to the complaint ahead of the last-16 tie which will set up a quarter-final clash with either Portugal or Spain.

"I thought the World Cup was in July, not April. It’s now April Fools," said Garcia.

"We’re not defending the national team or the federation. We’re defending football."

FIFA's ruling was condemned across football with former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville lamenting the world governing body's U-turn.

"It absolutely stinks, let's be really clear," he told ITV.

"But what I would say is the thing that stinks the most is there should be a review process in place because I actually didn't think it was a red card and I think there should be a process which allows it to be overturned.

"But if there's no process for it to be overturned and then somehow FIFA, from nowhere, have just decided to basically let a player play and the rules are the same for everybody [else].

"I would be absolutely raging if I was Belgium and every other team in the tournament that's had a player sent off that might think it's a little bit hard done to. Are we surprised? No, no with this lot."

England are expected to make changes for their World Cup round-of-16 clash.

Thomas Tuchel is set to name an England team with three changes for their highly anticipated World Cup round-of-16 showdown with co-hosts Mexico on Monday.

Tuchel's side are hoping to exercise the ghosts of tournaments' past when they face the co-hosts at Mexico City Stadium, the scene of their 1986 quarter-final exit.

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England changes for Mexico showdown revealed

The German's line-up has been revealed ahead of the 1am UK time showdown against El Tri with the Three Lions expected to make three personnel changes.

Jarell Quansah is set to start again at right-back after the Bayer Leverkusen defender was forced to miss the round-of-32 win over DR Congo through injury.

Tottenham's Djed Spence covered Quansah's absence while midfielder Declan Rice deputised in the role during the closing stages at Atlanta Stadium.

Quansah, a central defender by trade, took on the mantle of England's right-back position after Reece James picked up a hamstring injury in the draw with Ghana.

The 23-year-old himself had to be withdrawn against Panama with an ankle problem but has recovered in time to earn a starting berth in his country's backline again.

Tuchel will also hand Anthony Gordon a return to the starting XI after overlooking the new Barcelona winger for successive matches against Panama and DR Congo.

Although he featured as a substitute in the latter, Gordon found himself dislodged from the left wing role as Marcus Rashford was deployed in the back-to-back games.

The former Newcastle and Everton man made up for his lost time by teeing up Harry Kane for both goals in the comeback over DR Congo that sealed a last-16 spot.

Bukayo Saka is also set to earn a recall to the XI in place of Arsenal teammate Noni Madueke as Tuchel favours a more dynamic approach for the 6pm local time clash.

England are aiming end Mexico's 10-game unbeaten World Cup run at Mexico City Stadium.

England have advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup having gone unbeaten against Croatia, Ghana, Panama and DR Congo.

The Three Lions' route to the Last 16 hasn't been without incident, going a goal down to DR Congo in the previous round before being rescued by a Harry Kane brace.

A number of England's key defensive players have also been in the treatment room during the tournament with Reece James currently out with a hamstring injury, and fellow right-back Tino Livramento missing the World Cup entirely.

Is Djed Spence injured for England?

Back-up option Jarell Quansah missed the Round of 32 fixture against DR Congo with an ankle problem and now it appears England's next best alternative will be absent for the game with Mexico this evening.

Djed Spence has reportedly picked up an injury in training that will keep him out of the fixture at Estadio Azteca. The Tottenham Hotspur full-back trained with the squad yesterday which is when the injury is understood to have been sustained.

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It leaves Tuchel with the unenviable task of deploying star midfielder Declan Rice at right-back, shuffling Ezri Konsa over to the right-hand side or recalling Quansah, who has returned to training in recent days.

The Three Lions' boss opted against calling up Real Madrid full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold for the tournament but has now faced repeated fitness and availability issues in the specific area of the pitch in which the ex-Liverpool defender operates.

England did use Rice at right-back for the latter stages of their 2-1 win against DR Congo and looked more secure defensively, however, this would remove him from his usual berth in the heart of midfield.

Tuchel's men must also contend with the high altitude of the Azteca Stadium, an arena which sits approximately 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) above sea level.

For comparison, Ben Nevis - the highest point in the United Kingdom - is 1,345 metres (4,413 feet) above sea level.

England have played at the Azteca before, famously in 1986 when Diego Maradona scored the 'Hand of God' goal to eliminate the Three Lions from the World Cup that year.

Earlier in that particular tournament, England had defeated Paraguay 3-0. The Three Lions' record at the Azteca is three defeats, two victories and a draw - the latter coming against this evening's opponents Mexico, in a 1969 friendly match.

The logical place to start this week is the England game, and it is clear they need to improve a lot if they want to go all the way in the tournament. They’ve played well in bits and pieces, and have done what they’ve had to do so far.

Having a player like Harry Kane is crucial, because you know that he can produce a moment of magic when the team is not playing at its best level.

Clinton was speaking on behalf of Freebets.com home to the best betting sites.

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As an out-and-out goalscorer, he’s one of the best players out there. The second goal in particular was absolutely fantastic, as he’s running away from goal and neither the goalkeepers nor the defenders expected a shot like that.

He's had to wrap his foot around the ball, and left the goalkeeper with no chance after firing the ball into the roof of the net.

Kane is England’s talisman, and they’ve probably got no chance of winning the World Cup without him.

It’s been clear to see the problems which England have had defensively, and it doesn’t help when you don’t have a settled back four. Thomas Tuchel would’ve wanted Reece James fit at right-back, and he’s gone with Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa as the two centre-backs, but started with John Stones alongside Konsa.

That right-back position has also been exposed, and that makes the decision not to include Trent Alexander-Arnold even harder to understand. I thought it was bonkers to bring in another centre-back in Trevoh Chalobah when Tino Livramento got injured. And no disrespect to Jarrell Quansah, but he’s nowhere near as good at right-back as Trent.

I feel that it was a mistake not to include him, but Tuchel will say he’s picked the right squad if England go all the way.

The focus is now on Mexico in what will be very difficult conditions, given the altitude. There are also plenty of threats in their team, and they blew Ecuador away in their last game.

Julian Quinones has been a very impressive player for them in this tournament, scored a fantastic goal in that game against Ecuador, and was the top scorer in the Saudi League last season.

He’s a threat down that left-hand side, while Raul Jimenez looks a threat again, and the youngster Gilberto Mora is a bright spark too.

There's a great togetherness in their team and home advantage will huge for them, especially given the passion from their fans.

I still think England can go there and beat them, without a shadow of doubt, but this will be their hardest test so far.

One team that has certainly impressed so far is France, who are absolutely cooking at the moment. Michael Olise has been the best player at the tournament in my opinion, even though Kylian Mbappe is getting all the goals.

Mbappe must love him, because Olise plays the ball to him every time. The combination between those two players is frightening. They're unquestionably the favourites to win the tournament.

There’s also plenty going on in terms of players and managers moving about in the Premier League, with Oliver Glasner about to join Nottingham Forest.

They’ve got more money and he’ll get more investment there in the squad, but it’s very harsh on Vitor Pereira.

He’s done a brilliant job there, but they’ve got a good replacement in Glasner. I thought he'd go to a bigger Premier League team or somewhere else in Europe.

I just hope he doesn’t try to pinch any Crystal Palace players! But it’s a good move for both Glasner and Forest.

Enzo Maresca’s appointment has now been confirmed at Manchester City, and I think Pep Guardiola might have had a big say in his replacement.

We all know the type of football his teams play, and the expectation will be that they can put the pressure on Arsenal next season. They’ve already brought in Elliot Anderson, and I don’t think their spending will stop there.

I’ll also be interested to see how Alvaro Arbeloa does at Fulham and he’ll have some big shoes to fill after the job Marco Silva did there. He was so close to getting them in Europe, and Arbeloa will hope to continue that fine work next season.

I have to finish by saying a few words about Tottenham, who are not messing around in the transfer market. I heard a few rumours last season which suggested they would go for it in the summer if they managed to avoid relegation.

Sandro Tonali is about to arrive for £100 million, which is a bit too much money in my opinion, while Mateus Fernandes has joined from West Ham for £85 million.

They've also strengthened the defence too, with Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Andy Robertson all arriving.

I just feel that they probably now need a centre-forward and a wide man. If they sign key players in those positions, then Tottenham could possibly push for the top four next season.

England's World Cup last 16 clash with Mexico will STAY at 1am UK time after a farcical few hours in which it was reported the game kick off at 7pm UK time.

The risks of weather disruption with thunderstorms and flooding likely led to suggestions from Mexican media the match could instead begin seven hours earlier at 12noon local time (7pm UK time).

FIFA had yet to confirm any change when the reports surfaced and both the Mexican FA and The Football Association were unaware of the potential timing changes.

Gary Neville hits out at FIFA amid potential Mexico-England change

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Thomas Tuchel and his squad took off from their Kansas City base for Mexico City not knowing if their last-16 showdown would be brought forward six hours or not.

But after backlash from both teams, it was determined that any such change inside 48 hours was logistically impossible at such short notice due to planning alongside police, military, both teams, officials and supporters.

An earlier kick-off time would have risked a detrimental impact on the Three Lions' plans due to the air quality in Mexico City being denser earlier during the day.

It was later confirmed that the game would kick off at 6pm local time (1am UK time) and not be moved.

When the news initially broke the Mexican coach Javier Aguirre was angry at the idea the game could be moved.

In an interview with Radio Formula, he raged: "It's a kick in the stomach. This changes everything.

"They informed me about it here, I don't agree, FIFA calls the shots and we have to swallow garlic and water."

Amid the confusion, former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville hit out at FIFA for the unprecedented situation just two days before the game.

"I would find it disruptive as a player. Conditions are huge for England in a tournament. We know that. We talk about heat a lot," he told ITV.

"Playing at 12pm in Mexico versus playing at 6pm is very, very different. So for the players, for our players, it's worse - let's be really clear. It's a sporting disadvantage to England.

"There's a sporting integrity issue here as well because I've never seen a League Two game moved. I've never seen a Sunday league game moved back. FIFA are just willy-nilly sort of making it up and moving a game, it just feels a little bit sort of strange.

"You can put fan safety at the heart of it but ultimately this is a stadium that's had these type of conditions before where they would have a procedure in place to be able to deal with that.

"We know there might be disruptions in games. My brother was managing Inter Miami a couple of years ago. I came to watch a game over here in the middle of the summer and it was disrupted for an hour.

"Everyone's used to that, they all go underneath [the stands] and get shelter. But to move a game two days out, I've never seen that at any level of football ever."

Mexico's last-32 tie with Ecuador was delayed due to an electrical storm while France's group stage encounter with Iraq was also held up for two hours by thunderstorms.

England scraped past DR Congo this evening with a 2-1 victory, led by a Herculean Harry Kane brace in the final 15 minutes.

To reward the Three Lions, they'll be heading to Mexico City, to play Mexico, in the most intimidating stadium at the 2026 World Cup.

As co-hosts, Javier Aguirre's men have rampaged through this edition, scoring eight, conceding zero, and winning all four; but have England ever beaten a host World Cup nation at their home edition ever before?

England have faced three World Cup hosts: 1990, 1982, and 1954

There is a three game sample size to look at when judging whether England have it in them to beat a World Cup host nation.

The most recent came in 1990, in a game that many would argue is of importance, while others would say is a 'dead rubber.'

That was against hosts Italy in the match to decide third place, in which England lost 2-1.

The drama came from the 70th-minute onwards, tied at 0-0: Roberto Baggio opened the scoring, David Platt equalised for the Three Lions, and Salvatore Schillaci won it with a penalty for Italy in the 86th.

The time prior was against host nation Spain in 1982, which ended slightly more favourably for England, a 0-0 draw.

The Three Lions were the dominant side, forcing captain Luis Arconada to make seven saves during the event.

However, if we go all the way back to 1954, England fans are able to locate a glimmer of hope.

Against host country Switzerland, England willed their way to a 2-0 win with goals from Jimmy Mullen and Dennis Willshaw.

Walter Winterbottom's men proved in 1954 that it is possible for England to beat the World Cup co-hosts, but just the once.

Thomas Tuchel's side will battle Mexico on July 5, hoping to be the first Three Lions side in over 70 years to beat a host nation.

Order the new issue with delivery included here – just select ‘July Issue 393’. Subscribe to FourFourTwo today and save! You’ll get 13 issues per year…

First a message from our editor, James Andrew:

The days of Jack Walker, Sir John Hall and Sir Jack Hayward making millions and investing them in their local football club are a distant memory. Nowadays, sovereign states and investment consortia control the top clubs.

Lower down the pyramid, it’s also changing, giving opportunities to people with no background in football, but who bring skills and expertise from their own worlds. Actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have probably been the most famous example in recent times, and have taken Wrexham from the National League to the Championship.

This March, internet personality, musician, boxer and entrepreneur KSI became a shareholder of National League South side Dagenham and Redbridge. He may have a social media reach of over 80 million, but what does KSI know about football and running a club?

FourFourTwo couldn’t turn down the chance to chat with him and find out, as we heard his ambitious plans for the east London side. KSI may not be the traditional FFT cover star, but he’s the new face of football – that’s why we’ve decided to put him on the front of this magazine.

He was a great sport when we met up with him, and he even agreed to dress up in half suit, half football kit as we recreated a famous photo of Bryan Robson at Middlesbrough in 1994. Enjoy the mag.

James

KSI: From his bedroom to the boardroom

Some fans didn’t know who KSI (real name Olajide Olatunji) was when he joined Dagenham in March, but the world famous YouTuber has big ambitions. In an era of celebrity investors, he tells FFT why he wants to take the club to the Premier League and how he intends to do it.

Football’s famous owners

Ron Burgundy, rappers, Messi vs Ronaldo… you don’t have to be famous to own a club, but it helps.

Harry Redknapp has his say on Snoop Dogg

The former Tottenham Hotspur boss first moved into the world of professional football six decades ago, and says club owners have changed drastically since.

The man behind England’s 1966 glory

Sir Alf Ramsey led England to the World Cup 60 years ago, but remains misunderstood. In spite of his middle-class image, the Three Lions boss overcame racism, poverty and war to become a legend.

Return of the Cosmos

Even Pele and Raul couldn’t keep the New York Cosmos from folding twice – FFT headed to the Big Apple to find out if the iconic club’s latest comeback will be different.

Fear and loathing in Vancouver

While one historic North American club is on the way back, Vancouver Whitecaps have been battling relocation to Las Vegas, despite playing a first ever MLS Cup final last year. FFT visited Canada to investigate their troubles…

Antonin Panenka tells his story

Half a century ago, Antonin Panenka dinked in a penalty to win Euro 76 for Czechoslovakia – in his words, he tells FFT how it changed his life, and of his pride that players still imitate him.

The Boy’s a Bit Special

We get the lowdown on a Lampardian talent and Greece’s answer to Ryan Cherki in this month’s scouting report.

Henry Winter meets Leah Williamson

The respected writer speaks to England’s two-time Euros-winning captain on life at Arsenal, and why a female boss could succeed in the men’s game.

From the Vault: the murder of Andres Escobar

A week after his USA 94 own goal, Andres Escobar was murdered. A decade later, FourFourTwo headed to the crime scene to meet those impacted by his death.

Michail Antonio answers YOUR questions

The former West Ham forward on cardboard cutout celebrations, his car crash and an acrimonious exit from the Hammers.

Around the grounds in the EFL, non-league and Scotland

Harrogate Town boss Simon Weaver talks about being the longest-serving manager in England’s top five tiers, and we find out about Kingstonian’s nomadic plight.

Exeter City’s best and worst include giving the world Ollie Watkins and a visit from Michael Jackson. Ambitious Brighton also reveal plans to build Europe’s first purpose-built stadium for a women’s team.

A ferry good game: We head to the Scottish island of Arran to discover the ups and downs of one of the UK’s most remote leagues.

The Mixer

Our latest merch round-up features Florian Wirtz channelling his inner Scouser, copious amounts of Puma’s next-generation foam and a cube of grass.

We spy a 1990s Southampton shirt in Classic Kit and plan out your Dortmund getaway with our Team Selection.

Upfront

Think you’re a football expert? Prove it by getting 100 per cent in our Ultimate Quiz. As the Premier League bids farewell to Pep Guardiola, TNT Sports’ Jules Breach pays tribute to the legendary Manchester City manager.

Danny Murphy selects the games that changed his life, and the FFT crew go to war over giving the National League an extra promotion spot in the latest Debate. We also sit down with musician Richard Hawley to discuss his passion for Sheffield Wednesday and Atdhe Nuhiu.

Former Manchester United man Lee Sharpe hails sporting geniuses and a fascinating scientist, while we explore some of the most bizarre half-time entertainment on offer, just in case FIFA need any suggestions for the World Cup final.

In the Players Lounge this month…

Tony Cascarino reveals Jack Charlton’s hatred of Coke, Lucas Radebe reflects on his time at Leeds and Alan Smith still struggles to wrap his head around replacing Gary Lineker at Euro 92.

Perfect XI

Ex-Aston Villa hotshot Juan Pablo Angel fills his team with Premier League and South American icons, Golden Balls included.

Thomas Tuchel's England staggered through a nightmare match against DR Congo earlier this evening, trailing 1-0 for most of the event.

In the end, the Three Lions prevailed through a Harry Kane brace, with a header in the 75th, then a thunderous right-footed strike into the roof of the net in the 86th.

Prior to that, Thomas Tuchel made a bizarre but brilliant position change with Declan Rice to right-back, but why?

Thomas Tuchel explains baffling but brilliant Declan Rice position change during England vs DR Congo, 2026 World Cup

In the 70th minute, the England boss substituted right-back Djed Spence for forward Eberechi Eze.

In doing so, Tuchel switched Rice from midfield to full-back, just five minutes before the Three Lions' turnaround.

Speaking to ITV on the process behind the position change, Tuchel said: "Anthony Barry had a brilliant idea... to put Declan there.

"To have his quality from the side, get more difficult crosses [to defend] in there. To give more support to Bukayo... a bit more connection.

"Full credit to my assistant coach," confessed the England manager, who then praised his team's "commitment" in coming back from behind during a World Cup game for the first time since 1966.

Gary Neville expanded on the Arsenal man's position change-up, as pundit for ITV during the post-match reaction.

The ex-England international and Manchester United man described how he was "crying out for it" in the second half vs DR Congo.

"He went to right-back for Arsenal in a game against West Ham a few months ago, and I thought it was the wrong decision from Mikel Arteta," said Neville.

"I was actually crying out for it in the second half, to put him [at right-back]... what it did was make that little triangle, combination [thrive]," he continued.

A tight-angled cross from Rice was latched onto by Anthony Gordon, who put it back in for Kane's first goal and equaliser.

England stuttered to a difficult victory this evening at the 2026 World Cup, facing off against DR Congo.

England were behind for the majority of the game, before Harry Kane put his head on the end of an Anthony Gordon cross in the 75th.

The Bayern Munich and Three Lions bagsman struck again, this time from a Gordon back-heel, with a thunderous finish in the 86th, so, which nation do England face next?

Who do England play next in the World Cup?

For England fans disappointed with tonight's performance, having came so close to a historic Round of 32 defeat, cover your eyes.

The Three Lions will face co-hosts Mexico next, in Mexico City, who are one of the strongest performing sides at the 2026 World Cup.

Despite having failed to reach a World Cup quarter-final since 1986, Mexico have a trick up their sleeve, and it's called the Azteca.

Beyond the home advantage, Javier Aguirre's men have been blistering at the tournament, winning all four of their games.

To make matters even more frightening, Mexico are yet to concede a single goal on the international stage, having won 2-0, 1-0, 3-0 and, against Ecuador in the Round of 32, 2-0.

To put that dominance into perspective, Mexico are the first team since Italy in 1990 to start the World Cup with four clean sheet victories.

That year, Italy made it to the semi-finals, losing to Argentina on penalties, before beating England 2-1 in the match for third place.

To compare, England have conceded three goals to Mexico's zero, and both sides have netted eight times at the tournament.

In their most recent clashes, the Three Lions conceded 0.8 xG and seven shots to DR Congo, compared to Ecuador's 0.75xG and also seven shots.

On paper, both sides stack up remarkably evenly, however, it might be wise for Thomas Tuchel's men to get some additional sleep in over the coming days, ahead of what will surely be a long night in Mexico City.

One man dragged England back from the brink. One man rescued Thomas Tuchel’s job. One man stopped England fans from going home, empty of heart and pocket. That man was Harry Kane.

They will need him at his best again at the Azteca against Mexico – at altitude. Kane and the England players left the field to a riotous rendition of “Wonderwall” and to sustained applause.

How the mood had changed. Because this was often a shambolic performance by England.

Harry Kane rescues England, again

How often has Kane rescued England? This was arguably his greatest spell of football, two goals in 11 second-half minutes, in his 118 internationals representing the country he loves and playing the sport he adores. Kane’s response to England’s journey towards ignominy showcased all the strengths to his game: the movement, the placed, powerful header, the irresistible shot, the utter determination to turn the tide. He has now scored 84 goals for England and nobody would bet against him reaching the century.

His first, a header, brought joy and relief through the majority of the 68,239 present. It got better. It got louder. England were really going for it. Tuchel’s switches worked. He’d changed his wingers, Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon replacing the disappointing Noni Madueke and Marcus Rashford. He’d been truly adventurous in hooking the outclassed Djed Spence, sending on Eberechi Eze and pulling Declan Rice to right-back – from where he typically attacked until going down with cramp. Kane’s second, trademark Kane, saw him open space and drive England towards the round of 16. DR Congo had faded and now succumbed. The 41st ranked football country in the world were finally vanquished by the fourth best. But, my, England have to improve.

The first half carried echoes of Nice 2016. As nasty as that. It was the type of dispiriting performance and scoreline that puts a manager’s job at risk. England went in at the break to a smattering of boos and the memory of some wretched defending, some acrobatic shot-stopping by Lionel Mpasi and a deeply controversial VAR decision denying them a penalty. The Atlanta hosts sent out some cheerleaders at the break but not even Tuchel’s biggest cheerleaders could defend this. Right-back has been Tuchel’s blind spot this tournament, from overlooking the injury records of Reece James and Tino Livramento and ignoring Trent Alexander-Arnold, and having to field Djed Spence, who was immediately targeted by DR Congo.

All that early confidence, the swagger of the England fans marching in and turning the stand behind the DR Congo into a sea of red and white dissipated as the right side of Tuchel’s reassembled defence cracked after seven minutes. It was the switch from right to left that first caught England out. Culpability was spread around. Marc Guehi and especially Ezri Konsa were drawn across, leaving Spence exposed. He moved inside to mark Noah Sadiki, and the ball cleared the pair. Danger doubled for England. Brian Cipenga was free; he controlled the ball, and as Spence despairingly tried to recover and close him down, the Almeria attacker took aim. Jordan Pickford looked to guard the far post, taking a step to his left, expecting the more natural strike for an attacker in this position.

Cipenga simply took the shortest route to goal, targeting the near post, and Pickford couldn’t respond in time. It was poor from Pickford and will inevitably lead to a debate about his future, and whether James Trafford should be bedded in next season. The shock nature of the goal was matched by the spectacular nature of Cipenga’s celebration – airborne flip and forward roll. His first goal for his country deserved to be marked in such style. DR Congo’s subs thought so and invaded the field.

England fans still believed. When Jude Bellingham was booked for fouling Nathanael Mbuku, they continued to chant his name. He showed the positive side of his game, going close with a header pushed away by Mpasi. The keeper then came flying out for the ball as Kane threatened. England’s captain touched the ball past Mpasi, who followed through and made contact with Kane, sending him falling, a touch theatrically, to earth. The Jordanian referee Adham Makhadmeh waved play on, VAR concurred and Kane seethed.

England had chances before the break but DR Congo’s defending was outstanding. Aaron Wan-Bissaka cleared a shot off the line from Marcus Rashford, his old Manchester United team-mate. Kane was denied by Mpasi. But England could easily have fallen further behind. Wan-Bissaka’s cross clipped Nico O’Reilly, bypassed Guehi and was met by Yoane Wissa. Pickford was beaten but the post rescued England.

England were facing humiliation. Tuchel was facing the abrupt termination of his England tenure. His generous FA paymasters were facing awkward questions. England had to respond. Tuchel didn’t make his first changes until the hour. Saka arrived to huge cheers, replacing Madueke. Gordon sprinted on for Rashford. England now took control.

There was still time. There was still Kane. Rice suddenly crossed from the left, Gordon looked up, saw Kane and delivered. Kane at last eluded his marker, stepping away from Axel Tuanzebe, Bayern Munich beating Burnley. Kane judged his movement and his angle perfectly, although Mpasi lacked his earlier sharpness, and Kane’s header carried into the net. If that was well-received, the reaction to his second could have raised the roof. Bellingham was denied, Gordon recycled the ball, Kane created the space and smashed the ball in. The singing started, the celebrations intensified, but that defence needs work. On to Mexico City.

DR Congo's goalkeeper may have given England fans nightmares this evening, after a dominant performance between the sticks.

By the 60th minute, Lionel Mpasi Nzau had made four saves, but all important ones.

In addition, those four saves prevented an xG of 1.23, over 0.30 xG per shot, as he kept the Three Lions at bay.

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Who is DR Congo's goalkeeper, Lionel Mpasi Nzau?

Mpasi Nzau is a Ligue 1 shot-stopper, for Le Havre in French football's top-flight.

The Congolese goalkeeper is not a starter for his club side, however, he has displayed heroics when given the chance.

In February, Mpasi Nzau was substituted on at half-time in Le Havre's match against Toulouse.

In 45 minutes, he made five saves, four of which came from shots inside the box, and prevented an xG of 1.38.

As a result, Le Havre won the match 2-1, with two of those saves coming in the 93rd and 98th minute.

In Ligue 1 last season, Mpasi Nzau played just four games, but averaged 3.8 saves per match and prevented 2.34 goals.

For DR Congo, his best game of the tournament came in a 1-0 loss to Colombia, when the shot-stopper got his hand on eight attempts.

The goalkeeper was previously in Ligue 2 with Rodez FC for six seasons, between the years of 2019 and 2025.

Mpasi Nzau, who has never played club football outside of France, represented the French national team at U-17 level in 2011.

After being benched for all five matches at the U-17 FIFA World Cup, he was called up for DR Congo ten years later, during qualifying for the tournament in 2021.

Mpasi Nzau didn't make his first appearance for the national side until 2023, where he won Man of the Match in a 2-0 victory against Gabon, during Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.

Since then, he been the starting goalkeeper for Sebastien Desabre's side, featuring in every match for DR Congo at the 2026 World Cup.

England have so far cunningly avoided being eliminated from World Cup 2026 on penalties by not yet playing in a knock-out match.

The Group L winners will get their chance. Their round of 32 fixture against DR Congo is the first of what Thomas Tuchel will hope is many World Cup games to come for the Three Lions but every one of them will come with the risk of you-know-what.

England’s national scarring by penalty shootouts is the stuff of football legend but their performance on spot kicks was revolutionised under Gareth Southgate. They have won their most recent shootout in the World Cup, European Championship and Nations League, though the final of EURO 2020 was the most important of the last four and went the other way.

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Every England player’s penalty record

The table above includes every player in the England squad at World Cup 2026 who has taken a penalty. It includes only senior football (albeit with England Under-21 games counted too) and excludes club shootouts.

Shootouts with England at the senior level have been included. Mercifully, all of these players are unblemished by the ungolden era of England being genuinely terrible from 12 yards.

England’s shootout takers

England’s penalties are taken by Harry Kane, England’s long-time captain, record goalscorer and reliable penalty king. He has of coursed missed an important penalty or two but his career stats stack up very well indeed.

Kane has already scored from the spot at World Cup 2026 but it wasn’t without a heart-in-mouth moment. In the opening group stage fixture against Croatia, Kane’s penalty was initially saved by Dominik Livakovic.

The goalkeeper had stepped off his line, however, and Josko Gvardiol’s encroachment made sure a retake was required. Kane thumped it home.

Who will take penalties for England in the event of a penalty shootout?

If England do end up in a penalty shootout this summer, there’s actually relatively little experience of the situation in the squad. You can bet they’ll be well drilled regardless.

Kane will step up, of course, while England’s experienced takers and technicians will be called upon to complete the set. Marcus Rashford, Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka might find themselves conveniently on the pitch come shootout time.

Jude Bellingham will be expected to take responsibility for a penalty too. Anthony Gordon will be in the running if he’s on the pitch and Rashford, Eze or Saka are not.

The only person who really knows the running order is Tuchel himself, and we know the England manager has had penalties in mind for some time. The inclusion of Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney was, he suggested by way of an explanation, driven by data.

The former Brentford striker has an exceptional penalty record over a very substantial sample size.

FourFourTwo’s expected penalty shootout shortlist, in order:

1. Harry Kane
2. Marcus Rashford
3. Jude Bellingham
4. Declan Rice
5. Ivan Toney
6. Bukayo Saka
7. Elliot Anderson
8. Marc Guehi
9. Djed Spence
10. Nico O’Reilly

Goalkeepers

Who is England's best penalty saver?

Pickford will be in goal for any penalty shootout England find themselves in. There’s no chance Tuchel hooks him for a specialist late in extra time, not least because he has one particular iron-fisted World Cup save on his CV.

England’s number one has also saved 11 non-shootout penalties out of 69 in the entirety of his career, a save rate of around 15%.

Dean Henderson’s save percentage is a very impressive 35% thanks to 12 saves from 34 non-shootout penalties faced.

James Trafford has saved five penalties out of 16, conceding the only penalty he has faced in his young England career in the friendly against Uruguay in March.

Mario Gotze was horizontal when he connected with that ball. Night was about to fall; the setting sun balanced on the head of the Christ of the Redeemer, Rio's most famous icon – aside from perhaps Romario or Garrincha – resembling just another Brazilian on the beach. And yet this was a night won not with flair at all, but with hard work thawing German hearts: a country reunified in the 90s, re-energised in 2006, with a fourth star – a first as one nation, one Germany – stamped by a son of post-Cold War Bavaria.

Whatever the cliches may claim of Germany's sense of humour, you'd have been met with stony faces had you told anyone in white that night in the Maracana to wait at least 16 years to win another World Cup knockout fixture. Imagine telling them that night, Das Defining Deutsch side of its time – its Krooses, Lahms and Neuers, Jogi Low overseeing with his furrowed frown and haircut ripped from a Jungle Book vulture – that they would stand tall across the world for one night only. Success in Brazil. But no more.

In 2017, it seemed even less likely than three years prior. Low regenerated his warriors for the Confederations Cup, made Julian Draxler captain, blooding young talents in Timo Werner, Joshua Kimmich and Leroy Sane. They walked it. The future was distinctly German.

Yet a year later, Sane didn't even make the squad. He'd just come off the back of a 100-point season with Manchester City and was arguably the Premier League's most devastating talent at the time – arguably, too, the only player Die Mannschaft had capable of running beyond a full-back. He was shunned. Perhaps he didn't fit in with the system. He wouldn't be the last.

It felt like a stunning decision at the time. It looks even worse now. 2014's vintage won the biggest trophy of all with a group at the very top of their game, arguably the best manager of all time coaching the lion's share of them. Seven of Bayern Munich's spine were selected for the squad; four were competing opposite them at Jurgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund. Another four were picked from the cream of the Premier League. This was a side used to winning: they had reached a peak individually and as a group.

In 2018, it felt very different indeed. Another seven came from Bayern, but this time, only one from Dortmund. Bayern had won all four titles in the interim, the chasm ever-widening. RB Leipzig's Werner led the line, this his baptism with only the Confed Cup as a medal in the back pocket. Ozil had sat most of Arsene Wenger's final Arsenal season on the sidelines, while Reus returned, a secret weapon semi-firing; Kimmich, Brandt and Goretzka hadn't achieved much yet.

Fast-forward to 2026. Germany's titans of the last few years feel a world away from Rio. German football is alien to that landscape. Neuer is the last man standing from the team that defeated Messi, clinging onto top-level football at 40. Kai Havertz is adored by every manager he works with; Florian Wirtz has overcome injury hell to reach immortality. All three have had uneven seasons, one way or another; Gundogan and Kroos left for the sunset a while ago. And that's it, really. The rest are either prospects, potential or still-as-yet fully unrealised world-beaters.

Since 2014, only one team other than Bayern have won the Bundesliga: Wirtz played in that team, and no one else from Xabi Alonso's Invicibles made the cut, his Leverkusen legends made up of Nigerians, Spaniards, Dutchmen, and Swiss, among others. Four players come from Stuttgart, who won the Pokal in the last couple of years: they have fewer than 30 caps between them. It's not entirely unfair to suggest that the Dortmund quartet in this squad haven't achieved anything, really, at BVB: somewhere on that spectrum of equity, one may suggest they're simply waiting for a move to Bayern themselves.

Yep, Bayern broke the Bundesliga, and in turn, it broke the German national team. This was a one-and-a-half-team league, up until the point where Pep Guardiola came along. Yes, the Salatschussel often ended up in Bavaria – but perhaps the yo-yo counter-attacks and physicality gave this league the illusion of being competitive. But no more.

Pep inverted his full-backs to stem the transitions. Where he saw chaos, he replaced it with control. Since then, the title has belonged in Munich, and as a result, German football has suffered. Bayern themselves have even recognised it, moving away from purchasing the best of the Bundesliga – and getting beaten to it, on occasion – first by plundering the Eredivisie, then assembling a world-class front three from Premier League talents.

The very view of a German footballer has altered into something rather Spanish, too. Think of a German player, and you used to conjure a Klinsmann, a Neuville or a Matthaus: now, you think of Jamal Musiala, Kimmich or Wirtz. Neat, tidy, intelligent. Excellent in close spaces. Pass-happy, secure on the ball. Ironic, as Germany scored with a header against Paraguay, when the chips were firmly down.

That used to be what Germany were all about: yet the god-like chance creation of Ozil, the dynamism of Schweinsteiger, the battering ram of Podolski, the inevitability of Muller has deserted them. They've been overengineered, and Julian Nagelsmann has been left with a mood board squad. Great ideas on paper. Unicorn profiles. A metronome in midfield, Kimmich, who seemingly couldn't pick his way through a defence all month, while club-mate Michael Olise did it for fun for France. Security in possession with Wirtz, who was left recycling the ball with Musiala. The former has struggled at Liverpool; the latter is yet to explode consistently quite like teenage pal Bellingham on the biggest stages (there's still time). He's one of the best players in the world, sure, but not with a crowning moment in front of the world to his name yet.

Even Germany's strikers these days – Havertz and Woltemade – are target men with the brains of midfielders. It's simply a collection of footballers who looked useful in their respective academies: 20-odd players each with an interesting attribute, but none of them fully rounded as a player. Yet for all his detractors, trolls and critics, Havertz has been there and done that already, with two Champions League final goals. He showed that drive in North America. Where were his equals?

Germany aren't alone in post-Pep confusion, but they are taking it the hardest. Spain, too, haven't won a knockout game since lifting the trophy but have supplemented the tiki-taka that keeps letting them down with the brute force of Mikel Merino and directness of Nico Williams. Dean Huijsen is a beautiful footballer on paper, but the game's played on grass, and he's not won anything on there yet. England have brilliant technicians in Wharton, Foden and Trent, yet chose the mentality of Rogers, Bellingham and Rashford instead. France, too, have a one-team league, yet only really plundered Paris Saint-Germain's frontline for their spine, with Didier Deschamps looking to the Premier League and getting a few of the old band back together.

Nagelsmann, meanwhile, went for parts that fit together in theory. A left-footed centre-back here, a no.10 capable of wriggling out of a paper bag, there. An AI-generated XI without the hunger of a Schweinsteiger or the battle scars of Per Mertesacker to make this team a little uglier, angrier, grittier. Weaker on paper, but with blokes you'd actually seen run through brick walls for the flag.

Perhaps it says a lot that Denis Undav was arguably his best player all month – and yet he didn't have anywhere for him. Where Low made concessions for Muller to be a raumdeuter and Ozil to play on his unfavoured flank, Nagelsmann made concessions to bring back 40-year-old Neuer, seemingly, merely for the aura.

Of course, it had to happen on penalties. The nation's brot und butter to display its steely mentality, now, the loose cord in their parachute.

And in his post-match conference, Nagelsmann stressed how young this group was. They need patience, he suggested. He's right: Angelo Stiller, for one, is a talent; Nat Brown can hold his head high for his performances.

But that's half the story. That's not the crux of what lifted the ice in 2014. 12 years ago, iron sharpened iron. Where's the iron in this German side?

Arsenal could be about to face an injury crisis, as they look to defend a Premier League title for the first time ever.

Mathematically, the Gunners only clinched the 2025/26 title mere days before the final day of the campaign, after a gruelling season that saw them play 63 games in four competitions, reaching two finals and the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

All the while, Arsenal had serious injury concerns to juggle all season – which could well continue into next term, as Mikel Arteta looks to continue where his side left off.

Arsenal could be dogged by injury problems, as they look to defend their title

2024/25 was a nightmare season for Arteta, with his side stripped to the bare bones and half a dozen of his players requiring surgery, including Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.

In response, the club brought in eight new arrivals to London Colney last summer to cope with competing on four fronts. It worked: the added depth got Arsenal over the line in the league, but Arteta was still without the likes of Saka, Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino for swathes of the season, and others such as Eberechi Eze, William Saliba, Gabriel and Piero Hincapie all suffering injuries that kept them sidelined in big moments, too.

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With 16 Arsenal players initially called up to World Cup 2026 (before Timber dropped out), it doesn't look as if many Gunners are getting much of a summer off, either.

Timber started the Champions League but was ruled out of the Netherlands' tournament before it even began with the groin injury that sidelined him from March onwards, while Saka and Rice were both called up for England, and both have since confirmed that they have been managing injuries for the second half of the season. With both vital for club and country, there isn't much of an opportunity to rest them before the season kicks off again in August (especially if the Three Lions progress deep into the tournament).

Saliba has been a doubt throughout the World Cup due to a back issue, with France resting the defender against Norway: he, too, is likely to go far at the World Cup, while Hincapie will play a fifth game of the tournament against Mexico, after being cleared following a knock sustained against Germany for Ecuador.

Odegaard and Havertz have both returned to fitness to play in North America after a series of knocks that have stopped them from building consistent minutes; White, too, saw his run in the first team come to an end with a knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup.

While officially, Arsenal only have two players currently injured in Timber and White, there is a bigger worry at play for Arsenal.

Arsenal have played 52, 58 and 63 games in 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26, respectively, with less rotation and less squad churn than some of their rivals. The effect that this has had on some of the generals of those three years is apparent: White, for example, played through significant pain to cover for Jurrien Timber, lost to an ACL tear in 2023, while Saka set a club record for 83 consecutive appearances for Arsenal, without a significant back-up in his position until Noni Madueke was signed as his deputy.

In February 2025, Arteta described Havertz as a “genetic powerhouse”, claiming, “his robustness, his availability is unbelievable,” amid concerns of fixture congestion. Mere days later, the German suffered a hamstring tear – and he's not completed a string of 90-minute performances for his club since.

Arsenal have already made efforts to revamp their medical set-up

Earlier this month, Arsenal parted with their head of sports medicine, Dr Zafar Iqbal, in what appeared to be a move to address the spate of injury issues they have had over the last few seasons.

There may yet be half a dozen new signings, too. FourFourTwo understands that there could be new faces in defence, midfield and attack, as Arteta looks to refresh his squad once again.

But with Martin Zubimendi suffering from burnout at the end of the season, Saliba, Hincapie, Rice and Saka all potentially carrying injuries into the new season, Odegaard and Havertz still yet to return to their respective peaks, and both senior right-backs currently injured, Arsenal may travel to Coventry City on the opening night of the season with a selection dilemma.

France have looked ominously strong at the World Cup so far, powering past Norway, Senegal and Iraq to comfortably win what looked like a potentially tricky group.

They next face a Sweden side that shipped seven goals in their group, and the expectation is that Les Blues will progress to the last 16.

It seemed likely that France would face Germany, but instead they will come up against a defensively resilient Paraguay should they beat Sweden.

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How overlooked advantage could benefit France

In Qatar four years ago, Argentina played the majority of their matches at the Lusail Stadium, including the quarter-final, semi-final and final.

Lionel Messi and co. clearly felt increasingly comfortable at the arena, where winning became a habit.

France could well benefit from something similar, as they prepare to play at the New York New Jersey Stadium for the second time in their last 32 match.

Didier Deschamps’ side won their tournament opener against Senegal in New York, and could yet go to the stadium for the final on July 19th.

Familiarity with a stadium at a major tournament, where the environment is often one of the challenges, can only be a positive.

And it’s not just the New York New Jersey Stadium where France could get comfortable.

They also played at the Philadelphia Stadium in the group stage, beating Iraq 3-0 (after an interruption due to bad weather), and Boston Stadium where they dominated Norway 4-1.

If they beat Sweden, France will meet Paraguay in Philadelphia, ensuring that they stay on the USA’s East Coast. Make it to the final, and France will have played three of their eight games in New York/New Jersey.

While those fine margins could prove crucial in knockout football, the quality in France’s squad is likely to be a deciding factor too.

Kylian Mbappe has started the World Cup strongly, while Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise also look in formidable form.

Germany's record from the penalty spot in World Cups was the stuff of legend.

On the four occasions that Germany were taken down to a World Cup shootout, they won each occasion and missed just one of the 18 efforts taken during those events.

Such was their notoriety that Gary Lineker famously claimed 'football is a simple game where 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win'.

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World Cup history made by Germany exit

But that all changed on Monday evening as Julian Nagelsmann's side crashed out of the round-of-32 stage to Paraguay after a 4-3 defeat on penalties in Foxborough.

Die Mannschaft had to overturn a first-half deficit at Boston Stadium as Kai Havertz levelled before appearing to snatch an extra-time winner through Jonathan Tah.

However a VAR review saw the Bayern Munich defender's effort disallowed for a foul by Waldemar Anton on goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the build-up to the goal.

Tah later missed the decisive kick during sudden death after Havertz and Woltemade both spurned their efforts to make history for all the wrong reasons.

The shootout loss was not only Germany's first at a World Cup but remarkably only their second in a major tournament after the 1976 European Championship final.

That previous result memorably gave rise to the Panenka technique used by Antonin Paneka for what is now Czech Republic to beat German goalkeeper Sepp Maier.

Germany used to have a flawless record when it came to penalty shootouts at the FIFA World Cup.

They are widely considered the undisputed kings of the spot-kick, having won all four of their previous World Cups shootouts - until meeting Paraguay in Boston.

Out of 24 total penalties taken by German players in World Cup shootouts, they have scored 20.

German players were born to take pressure penalties

The only time a German player had failed to score in a World Cup shootout, before Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade and Jonathan Tah missed against Paraguay, was back in 1982, when Uli Stielike's shot was saved by France's Jean-Luc Ettori.

Between 1982 and 2026, Germany had converted every single penalty they had taken at the tournament.

While Germany have missed only a handful of times, their goalkeepers have also been incredibly efficient.

Out of the 24 penalties faced, opponents have only scored 14. German keepers have saved eight, and England's Chris Waddle famously blazed one over the bar in 1990. Paraguay's Antonio Sanabria also shot wide in 2026.

The streak began during the 1982 semi-finals with a 5–4 shootout victory over France following a 3–3 draw after extra time.

They secured their second shootout win four years later in the 1986 quarter-finals, defeating hosts Mexico 4–1 after the match ended goalless.

In the 1990 semi-finals, Germany overcame England 4–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw, before most recently extending their perfect record in the 2006 quarter-finals by defeating Argentina 4–2 after another 1–1 draw after extra time.

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Even in normal time (excluding shootouts), Germany’s efficiency from the penalty spot remains top tier, though not quite perfect.

In their World Cup history, Germany (including West Germany) have taken 14 in-game penalties, successfully converting 12 of them.

Manchester United's compensation figure, paid for by FIFA, has been revealed after one of their players was injured at the 2026 World Cup.

The Red Devils are in the process of conducting an expansive summer rebuild, coping with the departure of veteran player Casemiro and planning to ensure their upturn in form since Michael Carrick's appointment continues.

With the injury endured by one of Manchester United's players in North America this summer, the club is entitled to a hefty fee of compensation - but why, and just how much?

Manchester United compensation figure revealed after Manuel Ugarte injury at the 2026 World Cup

Manuel Ugarte was injured during Uruguay's defeat against Spain, in his nation's final game of the 2026 World Cup.

The Manchester United man suffered a horror knee injury after a tackle attempt during the clash, which ended 1-0 to Spain.

Ugarte was stretchered off the pitch, and Uruguay exited the tournament, but there is a small upside for Manchester United.

A situation so awful will have a silver lining, as FIFA will pay the fee of compensation required for the injury sustained.

In simple terms, this amount will be the salary he is contracted to receive from Manchester United, for the duration of his injury.

With Ugarte expected to be out for nine months, that figure would reach nearly £6 million for the Red Devils to enjoy, and potentially utilise in their summer transfer window budget.

This is possible through FIFA's Club Protection Programme, which was introduced to manage reluctancy from clubs to send their players off to duel on international stages, for the benefit of others.

The programme was described as a "landmark moment" in strengthening relationships between clubs and national associations.

The current version of the programme will run until the end of 2026, making Manchester United eligible for its financial benefits.

FIFA describes any serious injury as a "temporary total disablement" which brings the programme into play.

Due to the severity of Ugarte's lay-off, the Red Devils will therefore meet the necessary criteria to receive hefty compensation.

Additionally, the programme caps its salaries covered at £120,000 per week, which aligns perfectly with Ugarte's wages, sitting on Manchester United's books at that exact weekly figure.

Who else? Jude Bellingham came to England’s rescue again.

They lacked inspiration, precision and a finish until Bellingham intervened after just over an hour's laboured performance against opponents ranked 40th in the world and with a population of 4.5m - half that of London.

Bellingham scored one, a difficult finish under pressure, and created the other, a historic one for Harry Kane.

Jude Bellingham provides England spark once again

Bellingham is only 22, playing in his fourth major tournament, and comes under intense scrutiny. He takes it in his stride, and delivers. He was comfortably the best player on the pitch.

Thomas Tuchel withdrew Bellingham towards the end, protecting him for the round of 32 test in Atlanta, probably against Senegal. Bellingham still had the energy to run 70 yards to do his TV interview after the final whistle.

Down the other end, Bellingham’s team-mates were being serenaded with “Wonderwall” by their fans. Kane smiled at all the joyous faces. He and Bellingham are England’s most important players. Maybe? Definitely.

This was a reminder of the importance of Bellingham, the ridiculousness of some of the excessive criticism of him, and also the importance of the right delivery from the wide areas.

England’s first goal came from a corner, the second from a cross. Kane’s 11th World Cup goal was a well-taken header created by Bellingham. It took Kane to 11 World Cup goals, an England record, moving him clear of Gary Lineker.

England will need to match Bellingham’s levels. From the start he looked the right mix of fired up and focused. England fans sang about returning here on July 19. The final.

Given the quality of teams elsewhere in the tournament, England know they have to raise their game, certainly on the first-half evidence. Only Bellingham and Marcus Rashford impressed.

As it stood at the break, England were playing Portugal on Thursday in Toronto in the round of 32. Cristiano Ronaldo again? Gelsenkirchen revisited, twenty years on. Not the winker again? England had to shake things up.

For 45 minutes, Tuchel’s players were too ponderous to elude their opponents’ mid-block. Panama’s five-man defence looked to catch Tuchel’s attackers offside and were effective.

England were also vulnerable to the occasional counter. Marc Guehi twice, and Ezri Konsa, reacted smartly to close down threat emanating from Tomas Rodriguez, the point of their 5-4-1 formation.

The bright spark amidst the gloom in the scoreless opening 45 was Bellingham. Usually at 10, Bellingham adapted easily to the No 8 role in the absence of Declan Rice. Tuchel sensibly protected Rice, who was a booking away from suspension for the round of 32. Bellingham was quickly at home in this box-to-box role.

When Bellingham was 13, his coach at Birmingham City’s academy, Mike Dodds, told him he could play any midfield role, 4, 8 or 10. Bellingham proved adept at all of them, and so wore No 22. It added up. He showed his tackling abilities here as well as his passing, and linked up promisingly with Marcus Rashford on the left.

Not a lot was happening on the field and the camera strayed from the action to the stand, picking out some familiar football faces in the crowd. Not the usual Hollywood celebrities that the US broadcasters devour but the FA’s Dan Ashworth talking to Juan Mata, and David Dein sitting alongside Tyrone Mings. Quite the quartet.

England sloped off at the interval to a few boos. It was all so different to eight years ago in Nizhny Novgorod in Russia; Gareth Southgate’s side were 5-0 up then.

England finally took control just after the hour mark and inevitably it was Bellingham the catalyst. Bukayo Saka swept a corner over from the left and Bellingham was too clever and strong for the Jorge Gutierrez. The Real Madrid player snaked his left foot around the defender, connecting with the ball and sending it from seven yards past Orlando Mosquera.

Bellingham set off in celebration to the corner where England fans punched the air, partly in relief. No Ronaldo. Now they were heading to Atlanta to face probably Senegal, possibly DR Congo. Now they were seeing England play with more finish. And belief. Within five minutes, England were further clear.

Their fans could never relax, but here was a moment for exhaling deep. England were two up. Bellingham played the creator this time, taking his time, letting Kane make his move, before lifting the ball in left-footed. Kane wanted the ball more than Andres Andrade. He rose and steered his header powerfully home.

The half was not without cost. Jarell Quansah, deputising at right-back, got injured, and needed to depart after the first goal. His replacement, Djed Spence, now looks the last fit England right-back in the US. Oh, and Lee Dixon, who is on TV duty here.

Noni Madueke came on for Saka as Tuchel continued to ring the changes. Bellingham was replaced by Eberechi Eze, then Jordan Henderson arrived to play in his seventh tournament as Tuchel gave Anderson a breather.

Ollie Watkins sprinted on as Kane was withdrawn to prepare him for the knock-out rigours to come. With Bellingham in this form, England have a good chance of progressing further.

The only place to start this week is by looking back on England’s draw against Ghana, and I think people shouldn’t be too disappointed. You've got to credit Ghana, who made it so difficult. They defended for their lives, and their game-plan worked brilliantly. England tried to create chances, and you could see Thomas Tuchel getting frustrated with his left-hand side, playing Anthony Gordon and Djed Spence there.

I think he played Spence because of Ghana's pace on the counter-attack, which is where they could have caused problems. I don't think anyone should get too excited or disappointed by what happened though, because Spain drew their first game against Cape Verde, and Portugal were held by DR Congo. England started the tournament well against Croatia, and know they’ll still top the group if they beat Panama.

Clinton was speaking on behalf of Freebets.com.

Clinton Morrison: 'Don't get too excited or disappointed by England-Ghana draw'

Not every team they're going to play against is going to have a low block. The further you go in the competition, the less likely you’re going to be playing teams with that tactic. That’s unless you believe you're good enough to win on penalties. But when you're playing against the top nations, they'll come out and play, which is when you'll see England at their best.

I think we might see up to three changes for the Panama game tonight, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bukayo Saka start. He was very bright when he came on, while Marcus Rashford could be brought in on that left-hand side instead of Anthony Gordon.

But I can't really see many more changes beyond that. I thought about whether Tuchel would give Harry Kane a bit of a rest and start Ollie Watkins, but I can't see that happening.

Panama would also love to help take a scalp by beating England in the World Cup. But England can play with freedom too, because they're going to qualify from the group anyway. You just want to see a bit more threat in those attacking areas, like we saw against Croatia.

One player who’s certainly delivered at this tournament is Lionel Messi. I’ve always been a Messi man, if you’re asking me to compare him with Cristiano Ronaldo. I think they're both unbelievable players and I don't think we'll see another two like that for a very long time. I love Messi, I've always liked him. I just think he's an amazing player.

To see him break that World Cup goalscoring record was amazing. He could have had a hat-trick against Austria, had it not been for that missed penalty. As for Ronaldo, I wouldn’t say that there’s much in it.

While I prefer watching Messi, you cannot dismiss Ronaldo’s incredible achievements. I don't understand why he has doubters; it just makes me laugh. He's always going to play for Portugal. The fans go mad when he scores, and he's a phenomenon.

His first goal where it's whipped in by Joao Cancelo and he fires home at the near post, is a brilliant finish. It's such a hard skill, nine times out of 10 you lean back and don't hit the target, but he makes it look easy.

The movement he creates for the second goal is really good. People are critical of Ronaldo, but you can't be criticising him for what he's done in his career, in terms of the goals he's scored, what he's won, and the fact he’s delivering in the World Cup at the age of 41. Him and Messi are the two best to ever do it.

This World Cup as a whole will also be remembered for how the smaller nations have gained recognition, like Cape Verde, who have had such a memorable debut at the tournament. It’s great to see how they’ve been able to showcase themselves.

I'm glad that the expansion to 48 teams happened because they can compete on the biggest stage against the best players in the world. The emotional scenes from Cape Verde when they drew against Spain were brilliant, as it was when Curaçao got their first point against Ecuador.

I’ll finish this week with a few words about Luka Modrić, who is a fantastic footballer. He’s so good on the ball and makes things happen. It looked like age had caught up with him a bit against England, but you can never give someone like that with time and space on the ball. He just goes about his business with little fuss, and to reach 200 caps for Croatia is an incredible achievement.

France head coach Didier Deschamps, who led Les Bleus to a World Cup win in 2018 and a final loss in 2022, did not take his place in the technical area for his team’s last group stage fixture at World Cup 2026.

Deschamps, who also won the World Cup as France’s captain and is managing his last matches with the national team before his contract runs out at the end of the current tournament, returned to France this week to attend the funeral of his mother.

“At this incredibly painful time, we wish the head coach great strength and assure him of everyone's support,” read a statement from the French Football Federation (FFF) on Tuesday.

Who is Guy Stephan?

The Norwegian staff presented Deschamps’ understudy with flowers before the game at Gillette Stadium. They were handed by Stale Solbakken to Guy Stephan, Deschamps’ friend and long-time assistant head coach, who is in temporary charge of Les Bleus in Deschamps’ absence.

Stephan, 12 years Deschamps’ senior at 69 years old, was a striker for Guingamp, Rennes, Le Havre and Orleans between 1976 and 1985. His playing career ended at Caen in 1987, cut short by a car accident.

When Deschamps lifted the European Championship trophy in Rotterdam in 2000, Stephan was the assistant manager to Roger Lemerre. After previous spells in the top job at Annecy, Lyon and Bordeaux, he was hired by Senegal in the aftermath of their shock World Cup win over Les Bleus in 2002.

Stephan’s association with Deschamps restarted in 2009. The former France skipper had returned to management after earlier stints with Monaco and Juventus, joining former club Marseille after Eric Gerets moved to Saudi Arabia.

The pair stayed attached when Deschamps took the national team job, going on to reach two World Cup finals, winning one, and the final of the European Championship in 2016.

In all, Deschamps and Stephan have worked together as head coach and assistant for 17 years. It’s been a combination that allowed France to thrive after the shambolic display the travelling party made of itself in South Africa at World Cup 2010.

“We understand each other,” Stephan told The Athletic this week. “We don’t even need to speak anymore. A glance is enough when we’re out on the pitch or at a training session; if something needs changing or tweaking, we just look at each other and – boom – it’s as if we’d actually spoken.”

France were ruthless in the first half as Stephan led them against Norway in the Group I decider in Boston.

Ousmane Dembele scored a wonderful quick-fire hat-trick to give Les Bleus a 3-1 lead before half time.

Stephan’s son, Julien, has been the head coach of Championship club Queens Park Rangers for a year and a day, having had two previous spells at Rennes either side of a couple of years in charge of Strasbourg.

Scotland are officially out of the World Cup.

Steve Clarke's side knew their chances of making it through to the round of 32 were int the balance after their three-goal defeat to Brazil gave them less than a 50/50 chance of making it through.

Since then, practically everything has gone against them every step of the way to leave them with no hope of making it through.

Why Scotland are definitely out of the World Cup

The best eight of the third-placed sides from each group go through to the round of 32 alongside the top two sides from each group.

The remaining four third-placed sides are meanwhile eliminated from the competition alongside the sides who finished bottom of each group.

Ghana's defeat to Croatia on Saturday was the final nail in the coffin for Scotland.

That result meant that Ghana finished third with four points - and, crucially for Scotland, meant that at least eight other sides were guaranteed to finish above them on the ranking of third-placed sides.

For three of those sides, that came down to goal difference, which is used as the tie-breaker in that mini-league.

Senegal, Iran and South Korea all finished their groups with three points, like Scotland, but with a better goal difference.

Losing 3-0 to Brazil in their final group game was to blame, then - although it could yet transpire that they would have gone out even with a 1-0 defeat.

Even Iran and South Korea, with goal differences of 0 and -1 respectively, were on the brink going into the rest of Saturday evening's games.

A win for DR Congo and a draw between Algeria and Austria would mean two more groups would finish with their third-placed side on four points.

If that comes to pass, then in hindsight, only a draw against either Morocco or Brazil would have been good enough to have put Scotland through.

The team that loves to sing about a “Wonderwall” couldn’t break down a yellow wall.

The Boston Stadium DJ eschewed playing England’s celebratory Oasis song. There was nothing to celebrate. They got a point, but that was all they deserved against the well-organised Ghana midfield and defence. England’s high hopes were broken on a low block.

Ghana were so well prepared by Carlos Queiroz. They blocked and intercepted and headed clear, so frustrating England in the first half that Jude Bellingham left a foot in on Jerome Opoku. An angry Queiroz made his displeasure very clear to Bellingham. Queiroz’s players were busy high-fiving as the half closed, scoreless and largely chanceless. Ranked 65^th in the world, Ghana were thwarting the fourth best in the Fifa billing.

England could not break Ghana down in their second Group L match

As against Croatia, England again got off to a nervy start. Tuchel shuffled his back-four to try to bring some more security. He brought Marc Guehi in as the left-sided centre-back. Guehi was promptly beaten in the air by Jordan Ayew. Tuchel partly opted for the greater pace of Djed Spence at left-back against danger man Antoine Semenyo, who promptly started on the other flank. Inaki Williams was up against Spence. Semenyo’s diligent work on the left included tracking back and joining Gideon Mensah in doubling up on Noni Madueke.

England fans grew in exasperation at the team’s travails but were initially unperturbed. They’d gathered in huge number for hours in advance outside the home of the Patriots, paying up to $200 for parking, singing about drinking all the local beer, as if the Tartan Army had left any.

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They chanted about Thomas Partey, about the 'World In Motion', the years of hurt and their determination to reach the final.

The game provided little evidence or hope of living with elite teams like France, Argentina or Spain. England lacked some magic, someone to provide the imagination or technical finesse to open up Ghana. Only Bellingham looked to have the class and the edge.

There were moments of promise until the hydration break killed off any semblance of momentum. Reece James had a promising run, Declan Rice put a free-kick over, James hit a long switch to Anthony Gordon, but it was largely uninspiring and unthreatening.

With temperatures hardly nudging above 20C, and drizzle in the air, Fifa’s deeply unpopular hydration break – commercial break – arrived to widespread derision.

The frustration was exacerbated as the game had just been stopped for James and Ayew to be assessed for concussion and patched up. Tuchel did take the opportunity of the subsequent hydration break to urge England to play it “short, short” and then “switch” and flood forward, trying to beat the block.

Madueke did finally break free, lifting in a cross that Rice headed over. Harry Kane wriggled his way down the inside-right channel but a yellow blanket was thrown across him. Jonas Adjetey and Opuku were immense, clearing danger whether airborne or on the ground. England simply lacked a game-changer. Queiroz outthought Tuchel.

Anthony Barry, Tuchel’s assistant, spoke at the break of the need for “patience”. Tuchel stayed patient with his starting XI before finally sending on Bukayo Saka for the subdued Gordon and Nico O’Reilly for Spence. Ghana remained a threat on the counter and Bellingham did well to dispossess the flying Semenyo.

The lively Marvin Seneya had a shot blocked but worse almost befell England just before the second hydration break. Jordan Pickford raced out of his area, attempting to beat Prince Adu to the through ball. In a blur of limbs, the pair fell to earth. It looked a free-kick to Ghana and a yellow card for Pickford. But the Honduran referee, Said Martinez, erred on England’s side – to some surprise amongst neutrals and considerable anger amongst Ghanaians.

The unnecessary extra break drew more boos.

Tuchel changed again, sending on Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers for Elliot Anderson and Bellingham. Ghana were looking more of a threat on the counter. With 13 minutes remaining, Prince fell under a heavy challenge from Ezri Konsa, who was incredibly fortunate to escape without conceding a penalty and collecting a card. Konsa leapt in and his right boot cut across the Ghanaian's knee.

Marcus Rashford finally came on as the clock ticked down and England desperately fought for the win. Saka cut in from the right and his low, left-footed shot was parried by Benjamin Asare. O’Reilly’s header hit the bar, Kane fired over, but Ghana’s defenders deserved their point. England have work to do, and cannot now rest and rotate against Panama on Saturday.

England vs Ghana promised exactly what the Three Lions' faithful might have expected: complete and utter regression.

Too many times have England proven they have the capacity to play high-quality football at major international tournaments, before suddenly losing the plot entirely just a game later.

But was a draw against Ghana, after an abysmal performance during which England managed a measly three shots on target, enough to secure knockout football for the Three Lions?

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Are England through to the 2026 World Cup knockouts after draw vs Ghana?

The most honest of Three Lions fans, or perhaps the most angry, will confess that a draw was perhaps flattering tonight.

In fact, prior to Harry Kane's mystifying miss on the verge of stoppage time, it was Carlos Queiroz's side who came closest to breaking the deadlock.

Unfortunately for England, although, entirely deserved, they did not secure knockout football with this evening's draw.

That also extends to the remainder of the day, with Croatia taking on Panama at midnight British time.

No result in that game could possibly have the kind of positive effects that England were hoping tonight to create for themselves.

Win, lose or draw for either of the other two Group L sides tonight, England are still not guaranteed to progress to the knockouts.

However, England can still claim top spot with a win against Panama, provided that Ghana don't upset Croatia in the group's final game.

In the event that both Ghana and England win their respective face-offs, the top spot would be decided by a newly-introduced set of criteria.

What will sting for England, however, is that, using that set of criteria, a win vs Ghana would likely have been enough to secure the top position and have mathematically sealed progression.

For now, England will hit the training ground, with knockout football still to play for in their deciding Group L clash vs Panama.

England vs Ghana was very different to the Croatia game, wasn't it?

A drab defensive wall kept the Three Lions at bay in Foxborough, with Thomas Tuchel's men creating very little of note in 90 minutes.

So…. did anyone come out of this one looking like a hero?

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Jordan Pickford: 6

Virtually nothing to do in the first half except spray balls forward: we expected that though, right? Incredibly lucky to see a foul given his way after a collision with Prince Adu just before the drinks break (that could well have gone the other way).

Reece James: 6

Dictated play in the first half of the game with pinpoint precision, showing why Thomas Tuchel really doesn't need Trent Alexander-Arnold – but Antoine Semenyo toying with the Chelsea man just before half-time was a little worrying from a defensive perspective.

Ezri Konsa: 7

The Croatia game may have tested Konsa's confidence but the Aston Villa defender was a metronome in the first half, having more touches than the entire Ghanaian team. Marc Guehi is a more natural partner for him at centre-back, it certainly seems.

Oh, and incredibly lucky not to be red-carded for that mix-up with Adu that was flagged offside.

Marc Guehi: 6

Steady on the ball, quiet game otherwise. Konsa was involved in more of the defensive flashpoints, which were few and far between.

Lacked a bit of urgency.

Djed Spence (off '65): 6

Inverted from left-back more often than not in the first half: it took nearly an hour for him to combine with Anthony Gordon.

Elliot Anderson (off '72): 7

Took on a lot of responsibility in the first half, shielding the back four and allowing Declan Rice to bomb forward and join in the attack. Didn't do a lot more: maybe wasn't his kind of game, in fairness.

Declan Rice: 7

England's best player in the early stages. Had a sighter of a free-kick in the first quarter-of-an-hour that whistled over the bar, a shot blocked, a header over, and generally did Declan Rice things: winning the ball high up and galloping forward with it.

Restricted to affecting the game with set-pieces in the second half and wasn't as superhuman as usual in getting back to stop Ghana in the few transitions they had.

Noni Madueke: 6 (off '83)

Held the width well on the right and looked a bright spark in the first half, getting to the byline and looking a danger on that flank. As the game wore on though, the Arsenal man looked ever more frustrated by things not quite coming off for him and his decision-making noticeably dropped.

Looked absolutely fine on the left… but really, didn't create enough of note across the game.

Jude Bellingham (off '72): 6

Barely touched the ball in the first half – but three minutes into the second half, Bellingham put in an excellent tackle on Semenyo. It summed up his World Cup so far: you don't notice what he does for the most part, but he's vital to this machine.

It's maybe taken for granted how hard Bellingham works for this side, too: he ran 40 yards around 58 minutes just to overlap Gordon (because Spence was still in a defensive position).

Anthony Gordon (off '65): 5

Completely pocketed by the brilliant Marvin Senaya in the first half. Gordon was frustrating (and frustrated) at times, but was isolated for large parts of the game, and looked at his most dangerous when combining with team-mates.

Given the competition from Rashford on the left-wing, this will be seen as an opportunity missed for Gordon to show what he can do in that position. An average showing, all in all.

Harry Kane: 6

Virtually anonymous in the first half – but more down to the brilliance of Ghana's low block than anything else. Most of the country moan about him drifting too deep, but was he too static in waiting for the ball and not affecting play enough?

Should have won the game on 85 mintues, however, blasting the ball over, following O'Reilly hitting the bar. One of them days.

SUB: Bukayo Saka: 7 (on '65)

Showed in a couple of glimpses why he's the first-choice on the right-wing, having the best shot of the match and having the beating of his full-back. His fitness will be hugely important going forward.

SUB: Nico O'Reilly: 6 (on '65)

Hit the bar on 85 minutes with a header, showing exactly what he does at Manchester City. Didn't get much of an opperunity to show his worth tonight but could be key going forward in this tournament.

SUB: Morgan Rogers: 6 (on '72)

Struggled to find space. Had a couple of mazy runs with the ball but would have preferred a clear sight of goal outside the box… and just didn't get one.

SUB: Eberechi Eze: 6 (on '72)

Showed flashes of elegance on the ball but didn't really get much of a chance to dictate. Will want another chance against Panama.

SUB: Marcus Rashford: 6 (on '83)

Looked confident receiving the ball but didn't run into space, as he'd have liked (there wasn't much).

England take on Ghana tonight in their second game of Group L, and Thomas Tuchel has made a couple of changes to his starting XI.

After a convincing and thrilling win over Croatia last week, you would have been forgiven for thinking that Tuchel would not tinker with his team.

England can qualify for the knockouts if they beat Ghana, and it seems Tuchel wants something a little different in his line-up to get the job done.

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England starting XI announced for Ghana clash

Thomas Tuchel has shaken things up in his defensive line with two changes of personnel.

First, and probably not so surprising, is that John Stones has dropped out of the England XI to make way for his Manchester City team-mate Marc Guehi.

Stones has not played a lot of football this year, and is understandably lacking the match sharpness required to start a second game in a week – with Tuchel citing the “agility” of Guehi as a reason behind the choice.

Meanwhile, a more shocking decision from Tuchel is to pull Nico O'Reilly out of the line-up to be replaced by Djed Spence.

The Tottenham Hotspur man impressed when he came on against Croatia last week, exhibiting his immense speed and desire to get forward and threaten the opposition defence.

It is perhaps more a case of Spence forcing his way into the England starting XI rather than O'Reilly doing anything to lose his place.

The rest of the England line-up remains the same from that World Cup 2026 opener against Croatia.

Jordan Pickford starts in goal, while Reece James and Ezri Konsa join Guehi and Spence in defence.

A midfield trio of Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, and Jude Bellingham will play behind a front three of Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon out wide, with captain Harry Kane through the middle.

Norway’s return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence has been accompanied by the widespread adoption of a synchronised fan celebration known as the 'Viking Row.'

The demonstration has become the defining visual element of the team's campaign both inside and outside the stadiums.

The ritual requires supporters in the stands to sit down, moving backward and forward in unison to a steady drumbeat, as if they were rowing a longboat. The motion is designed to mimic historic oarsmen, accompanied by a low, collective chant of 'Ro!' -which, if you can believe it, is the Norwegian word for row.

What is the origin of Norway's 'Viking Row' celebration?

The celebration is a recent development and not an ancient tradition, as many may have assumed.

It was first organised in 2025 by Ole Froystad, a coordinator within the national team's official supporters group, who sought to establish a uniform stadium identity ahead of the tournament.

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The celebration is timed to the track Vikingblod ('Viking Blood'), a song that recently reached No. 1 on the Spotify charts in Norway.

It is a display which has extended beyond matchdays and been adopted by fans in public spaces. It has been observed on public transport, escalators, and squares across host cities like Boston and New York, generating engagement on social media platforms.

National team players have now integrated the ritual into their post-match routine.

Following Norway's 3-2 group stage victory over Senegal at the New York New Jersey Stadium, a result that secured the team's progression to the knockout rounds, squad members, including captain Martin Odegaard and forward Erling Haaland, joined supporters by performing the rowing motion on the pitch.

Many of you may draw similarities between the 'Viking Row' and Iceland's 'Thunder Clap' at the 2016 European Championship. Something about those Scandinavians, eh.

Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Leicester City wonderkid Jeremy Monga, according to reports.

The winger made his Premier League debut last April aged just 15 and featured regularly for the Foxes in the Championship last season.

Monga’s performances have caught the eye despite Leicester’s double relegation, with Arsenal among a host of clubs across Europe who have reportedly been monitoring the 16-year-old.

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Jeremy Monga chooses Arsenal over Premier League rivals

Arsenal enjoyed their best season in a generation in 2025/26, as they won the Premier League for the first time since 2004 and reached the Champions League final, losing to Paris Saint-Germain.

However, manager Mikel Arteta is already planning for the future, with the Gunners chasing 17-year-old Georgian starlet Andria Bartishvili, in addition to Monga.

Arsenal faced intense competition to land the Leicester youngster but appear to have won the race, according to TEAMtalk, who claim that Monga has agreed to join the Premier League champions.

The report states that the two clubs are set to enter discussions over a compensation package for the teenager, with the final deal expected to cost between £10m and £15m.

TEAMtalk claims that Monga has opted to join Arsenal despite interest from several other big-hitters, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea all attempting to hijack the transfer.

The England Under-19 international does not turn 17 until July 10, when he is due to sign his first professional contract with Leicester, which is why compensation must be agreed.

The report adds that Monga wanted the Foxes to receive a significant financial boost in the event of his departure, as a result of the role the club played in his development.

Monga made seven substitute appearances in the Premier League towards the end of last season and has played 37 times for Leicester in total, scoring in a 2-1 defeat by Preston North End last August.

If he completes his move to Arsenal, he would join an exciting group of youngsters at the Emirates Stadium, including Max Dowman, 16, and 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Indeed, Monga and Dowman played together for England Under-19s on several occasions in the early part of last season, despite being aged just 16 and 15 respectively at the time.

As the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup nears its conclusion, the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) have positioned themselves strongly for a deep tournament run on home soil.

Following a pair of convincing victories, a clearer picture of the team's potential knockout route has emerged, fuelling optimism among American 'soccer' fans.

The USMNT opened their campaign with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium, establishing early control of Group D.

USMNT handed favourable route to World Cup semi-final

Mauricio Pochettino's squad followed that performance with a 2-0 win against Australia at Seattle Stadium.

Securing six points from their opening two matches has guaranteed advancement to the Round of 32 as group winners and generated a more bullish outlook regarding the team's ceiling this summer.

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The bracket configuration suggests the Americans have avoided several traditional footballing powerhouses in the initial knockout rounds.

The USMNT's projected path to the semi-finals shapes up as follows:

Round of 32: The USA are slated to face Bosnia and Herzegovina as it stands, who are expected to finish third in Group B.

Round of 16: A victory in the opening knockout game would move the USMNT into a fixture against either New Zealand or Czechia.

Quarter-Final: The competition intensifies in the final eight, where the winner of the previous round will face one of four potential sides: DR Congo, Ghana, Uruguay, or Austria.

While a potential quarter-final clash against a team like Uruguay or a disciplined Austria side would present a stern tactical test, the consensus indicates that the USMNT have landed on the more favourable side of the tournament bracket.

With two wins already secured and a clear, navigable path, Pochettino's men remain on track to meet, and potentially exceed, pre-tournament expectations of reaching the quarter-finals.

Cape Verde are in dreamland so far in World Cup 2026.

They kicked things off with a draw against former champions Spain, and managed to score their first two World Cup goals against Uruguay to bag another point.

It leaves them weighing up the possibility of knockout football, but who could they face?

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Who could Cape Verde face in the knockout rounds of World Cup 2026?

Thanks to goals from Kevin Pina and Helio Varela – plus the opening up of qualification for the best third-placed teams – the Blue Sharks have a good chance of going through to the next round.

But they look set to face some tough opposition.

According to the BBC’s tournament bracket predictor, as things stand, with Cape Verde in third, they’d be set to face Mexico.

That may seem a kind-ish draw for a knockout game, but it must not be forgotten that Mexico would be playing that match on home soil, in front of their own fans, at the incredible altitude of the Azteca.

However, it’s all very tight in Group H – Uruguay and Cape Verde are currently on the same points, and could feasibly swap round in the final group stage game.

Such a switch would currently see the small island nation face Lionel Messi’s Argentina, back at the Hard Rock Stadium where they drew with Uruguay.

While Mexico probably offers a marginally better chance of progressing, the opportunity to play against one of the game’s best-ever players would be very attractive.

Moreover, with their draw against Spain, the Blue Sharks have already shown they can face up to any side.

In the unlikely event that Cape Verde top the group – which would require Uruguay to beat Spain, and the Blue Sharks to beat Saudi Arabia by a larger margin – they could face off against Austria, as things stand.

With a final round of group stage fixtures to go, a lot could still change, but it’s not too early for Cape Verde to begin dreaming.

The logical place to start this week is England’s 4-2 win over Croatia. I thought they were outstanding in the second half, playing with a brilliant tempo. The first half was okay, but you could sense how disappointed assistant coach Anthony Barry was when he gave his half-time analysis to ITV.

They then responded perfectly in the second half, and could have won by an even greater margin. It's a good start from England, but the only worrying thing is conceding the two goals. Saying that, there’s still good quality in that Croatia team, and these things can happen.

Clinton was speaking on behalf of Freebets.com.

England looked a bit nervous at the start of the game, and I was surprised Marc Guéhi didn’t start, as I thought he's England's number one centre back. But Thomas Tuchel went with John Stones and Ezri Konsa instead. There will be better teams that will cause England more problems at the back, but they will also create other teams plenty of problems too, as shown when Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Morgan Rogers came off the bench on Wednesday.

One of the stand-out performers was Jude Bellingham. I loved his tenacity, will to win, and the way in which he tracked back and closing down attacks. It just makes me laugh how he gets a lot of bad press when he's just a person who wants to win at all costs. He's world class, and proved it once again.

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He kept Rogers out of the line-up, who is also a top player. But in big tournaments, you sometimes need to go with a bit more experience. Bellingham got the nod and thoroughly deserved it. There's no question now that Bellingham should be starting in that number 10 role. He turns up at big tournaments.

All of the tournament big hitters have played now, and we’ve already seen some cracking storylines develop. Spain drawing with Cape Verde was a huge surprise, but they didn’t have the likes of Lamine Yamal or Nico Williams playing. Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha was also fantastic, going from being a player nobody had heard of before, to becoming one of the stars of this World Cup so far.

Nearly all of the superstars have scored, but the only one who hasn't is Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal. Although, you have to give DR Congo a lot of credit for that. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi’s hat-trick was phenomenal and I thought that Argentina as a team were very convincing and really impressive.

Senegal made it difficult for France at the start, but Didier Deschamps’ side have some x-factor players. None more so than Kylian Mbappe after he scored two brilliant goals, and was arguably unlucky not to win a penalty too.

I don’t think Sadio Mané gets a touch on the ball. I was watching it live with my sons and I said straight away, ‘stonewall penalty.’ Mané's rushing back, and doesn't get any of it. They're trying to say Mbappé's left leg collides into Mané, but there's nowhere else he can put his back leg.

I thought it was a bad decision. And I don’t understand either of the two red cards for South Africa in their opening game against Mexico either.

Themba Zwane was penalised for swinging his arm, and then Yaya Sithole was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity after bringing down Brian Gutiérrez, but he wasn’t even through on goal and there were other defenders coming back across as well. But other than that, the refereeing has been good and we're not talking too much about it, which is nice.

The focus is now on the second round of group games and it’ll soon be time for England’s next game on Tuesday. I hope they play like they did in the second half throughout the whole match against Ghana.

I watched Ghana against Panama and thought they were lacking a lot of quality until Brandon Thomas-Asante came on to make an impact and set up the winner. Tuchel could go with the same team again, but he has a lot of options to change it around if he wants.

He could bring in Saka for Noni Madueke, or Rashford for Anthony Gordon. There was also a slight concern over Declan Rice, who appeared to go off with a little niggle, so we might see a change there too.

But you need to play your best team, as you only get one chance to top the group. It is so important to finish first and avoid playing one of the top teams sooner. If they play like they did in the second half against Croatia, they'll be too strong for Ghana, and against Panama in the last group game.

Scotland head into their final Group C game with work to do if they want to reach their first-ever World Cup knockout game.

They started the tournament well, with a John McGinn-inspired victory over newbies Haiti in their first game.

Sadly, their second outing did not go quite so well.

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Who do Scotland next play at World Cup 2026?

It took just 71 seconds for Morocco to take the lead against Steve Clarke’s men, posing an ominous sign for the rest of the game.

Thankfully, for goal difference purposes if nothing else, Scotland managed to stem the flow there, despite not being able to trouble the opposite goal – registering no shots on target.

It leaves the side with three points, and they could be in third place by the time the final whistle sounds in Brazil’s meeting with Haiti.

The Selecao are Scotland’s next game, in the final round of the group stage.

It’s scheduled for an 11pm kick-off, UK time, on Wednesday 24 June, and is set to be held at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

A win would guarantee their progression, but a draw or loss leaves them open to the third-place lottery.

They could still go through from there, but it would depend how the other third-place sides have fared.

Escaping the group would be a first for Scotland, having never made the knockout rounds.

They are competing in their first World Cup since 1998, where they drew one game and lost the other two, meaning they are already on course to leave with a better record.

Brazil drew with Morocco in their first game, but will be expected to beat Haiti before taking on Scotland, a game they’ll also be favourites for.

Morocco are one of the teams standing in Scotland’s way of knockout football in World Cup 2026.

It’d be the first time the Tartan Army have got out of their group in their World Cup history, and it’s a real possibility.

They kicked off against Morocco at 11pm UK time, with their opponents taking an early lead, but what do they need from the game to escape Group C?

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What do Scotland need to get out of Group C at World Cup 2026?

Scotland’s opening to the tournament has put them in a dream position to break their own competition record, despite the difficult start against the Atlas Lions.

They took three points from their first game, a slender 1-0 victory over Haiti thanks to Aston Villa man John McGinn.

With a maximum of nine points available, and after Morocco and Brazil drew in the first round of fixtures, it means a win in Foxborough would guarantee Steve Clarke’s side a place in the round of 32.

But, due to the nature of the table, and the chance for the third-place teams with the highest tallies to still progress, a draw here, regardless of the last result against Brazil, is likely to be enough.

However, they’ll want to perform as strongly as possible, and could even top the group with a win in their second outing.

That’d see them face the second team in Group F in the round of 32, currently on course to be one of Japan, Netherlands or Tunisia, with Sweden taking an early lead with their opening win.

A second-place finish would see Scotland face the winner of Group F, which could be Graham Potter’s side as things stand.

A loss for Scotland wouldn’t spell the end of their hopes, but if Brazil beat Haiti, as they are expected to do, and Morocco take three points, it would be touch and go for the Tartan Army, banking on what the rest of the third-place teams do.

The Selecao didn’t give the best account of themselves in their first match against Morocco, but with the firepower and defensive solidity they boast, Scotland won’t want to go into that final game relying on a result if they can help it.

That final game is set for an 11pm kick off, UK time, in Miami.

The music begins in Sankofa Square as hundreds surround a slowly approaching black truck. A half dozen drums beat in sync and sheet metal bells ring to the rhythm.

It’s Ghanaian Jama music, and the crowd, one half sporting bright yellow Ghana kits and the other in traditional kente cloth, sway and chant with it. Shouting starts the moment a man steps out of the car.

It’s Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, the king of Ghana’s Ashanti tribe. Shaded from the pounding heat, the Asantehene follows the music—and a sizable procession—towards a stage with a golden throne.

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The chanting peaks and then fades as the king takes his seat. Then, a Toronto Police Service car flies by, siren wailing, and the cacophony of the city’s traffic drowns out the noise. This is Canada, not Ghana.

But for one day, parts of the city felt like an African country. The Black Stars’ first World Cup match saw Ghanaians from across the world add to the masses already in Toronto. They came out in numbers to support the squad and were rewarded with a last-gasp victory.

FourFourTwo spent the matchday with Ghanaians across the city to find out what the Black Stars’ first-ever match in Toronto was like. The day began nearly ten hours before kickoff in the heart of Toronto at Sankofa Square. Hundreds packed into the quad for hours to greet the king, sing, dance, and celebrate the Black Stars' arrival.

The plaza was renamed in 2023 from Yonge-Dundas Square to distance the city from Henry Dundas (a historical Scottish politician) due to his controversial role in delaying the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Sankofa originates from a West African Twi word meaning "to go back and get it." The concept emphasises the importance of learning from the past to inform and improve the future.

“The Ghanaian population [in Toronto] is huge,” said Gabriel Odartei, former secretary of the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario. “We are really, really proud people. Whenever you see a Ghanaian, right away they try to speak our language, greet them, and things like that, because we're just proud to see each other.”

There are more than 20,000 Ghanaians in Toronto, and while there are differing tribes, languages, and cultures, football unites them all. “We're here, we are Ghanaians, we are one, we wear one jersey,” said Ghanaian-Canadian Kwebena Boateng. “I think that's the beauty of these things, there's no boundaries, especially in the Toronto area. One thing that unites us is the soccer, right? Soccer and songs.”

Well before a ball was kicked, those songs brought Ghanaians together. Across the city, as kickoff approached, another Jama session began in a park near the Toronto stadium. Odartei described Jama as an energy booster, and it did exactly that as the Ghanaians prepared to march towards the ground. Drums, whistles, and clapping accompanied the vocal ensemble before a lone trumpeter took centre stage.

The fans turned a park bench into a concert venue. Everyone was singing and dancing—from those familiar with Jama to people hearing it for the first time. Even journalists and photographers bobbed their heads to the infectious beat. The Jama continued as the swathe of yellow jerseys danced toward the stadium, flags flying in the air. They halted traffic en route, occasionally stopping to dance in the road.

As one set of fans entered the ground and settled into their seats, hundreds more gathered in the north of the city for a viewing party. Nothing but yellow shirts were visible as people packed into a wood-panelled barn, eyes glued to a projected screen. Rain began to fall as the game kicked off, and everyone squeezed tighter for shelter.

Fans in the stadium and barn were separated only by distance. Those watching from afar reacted like they were perched in the terraces, cheering when fans in yellow kits appeared on the screen and repeating their gestures. As the match began, the crowd ebbed and flowed with its momentum. There was rarely a moment of silence.

A cacophony of sharp inhales echoed out every time Black Stars goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi put his body on the line to keep the side level in the first half, alongside shouts of “who’s there?” when an early cross spilled to the top of the box, and no one collected it. Their opponents started out the stronger side, and shrieks rang out when Panama advanced towards goal.

The crowd came to life again as the second half kicked off, with many leaving their feet as Jonas Adjetey’s early header went towards the net. While Ghana improved on its first-half performance, neither side found the net as the game entered extra time. But the crowd never lost its fervour.

Then, pandemonium. Five minutes into extra time, the building trembled as Brandon Thomas-Asante skipped past his defender towards goal, but it completely shook when Caleb Yirenkyi tapped the ball into the net. Hundreds left their feet in sync in pure ecstasy before deafening chants began as the Black Stars celebrated their go-ahead goal on the pitch.

The noise didn’t stop as the clock ticked on. Whistles, shrieks, and Jama music bounced from wall to wall as the elated onlookers waited for the match to end. As the referee blew his final whistle, fans turned their attention to what matters most—the community. People hugged, children danced, and strangers chatted while their countrymen at the Toronto Stadium circled the pitch in celebration.

“This is better than Christmas,” said Ebenezer Otang, the event organiser, after the match.

Emmanuel Quaye, director for external affairs for the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario, echoed Otang’s enthusiasm: “The Black Stars represent Ghana as a national team and for them to be on this world stage and showcase their talent and skills is a high accomplishment. It makes us proud as Ghanaians. With the chanting, with the singing of songs, with flying the flags it's all like one voice, one nation, and one spirit, all behind the Black Stars. They always shine brightest when they see that the nation, or even the diaspora, are behind them with these Jama songs.”

Whether they felt the energy from across the city can be debated, but the Black Stars delivered for the nation—and its diaspora—behind them. Before the match, Boateng, who came to Canada in 1997, said he believes Toronto is one of the best places to emigrate to. “Multiculturalism everywhere you go, everybody's welcome, and the opportunity that it gives coloured people,” he said. “Look at Sankofa Square, this is the center of the city and they name it after a Ghanaian name.”

From the square with the Ghanaian name to Toronto Stadium and across the city, the Black Stars’ arrival brought an already vibrant Ghanaian community to life. “What we showed you, what happened right here is exactly what the Ghanaian community is,” said Otang as bubbly fans left the viewing party in droves. “It’s jam-packed culture jerseys, supporting art, ball, and culture. That is the true definition of our Black Stars from Ghana.”

For England to be successful this summer, much will depend on the performances of their midfield general.

Declan Rice has developed into a key performer for the Three Lions over past tournaments and started strongly in England’s opening-game win against Croatia on Wednesday.

For former Arsenal man Ray Parlour, Rice’s emergence into one of the best midfielders in Europe is something he envisaged when he first heard his club had secured the former West Ham United skipper’s signature in the summer of 2024.

'Declan Rice is inspiring - he isn't afraid to do the rough stuff'

“I remember when he was going to sign, I was at my local pub, where Mark Noble also goes,” Parlour tells FourFourTwo on behalf of the Best Seat in the House campaign to rally support for independent pub landlords. “I was chatting to Mark and saying, ‘What’s happening then with Declan, is he going to sign?’ Because those two were good mates at West Ham and Mark said he’d heard he was. I was so pleased because I knew what a player he was.

“It’s not just on the football pitch either as Mark was talking about how good he was around the training ground – working hard, staying focused and supporting his team-mates. That's very important as well, because that's where you do your hard work, that's where you are every day. You're at the training ground and talking to people and trying to help people, and there's a lot of young players that look up to Declan.”

Parlour highlights Rice’s off-field influence as a key reason Arsenal secured the Premier League title last term.

“He's been sensational, really. He’s inspiring because he’s never afraid to do the rough stuff – the horrible work, despite all the talent he has. You've got to really dig in sometimes and you can sense he does that. Players around him will do that too, so he’s been an absolute inspiration for the Arsenal team.

“I think he's been a great lad to have in the dressing room, which is very important. He’s still a young lad too, so he's got plenty more years in front of him. He can do so much more for Arsenal and for England as well and we can be successful with a player like him in the side. He's a top player, and he's a top guy, which is as important as being a top player.”

Parlour is fronting the campaign to support local pubs across the UK.

“It's always very important, especially for people who move into a new area, you go to your local pub and you end up meeting people,” he says. “I just think the pub is especially valuable for football, during a big tournament.

“It’s the best place to watch a game. When you sit in front in your front room and a goal goes in, you never get that special moment connecting with strangers and coming together like you do down your local. If you can't get into the stadium, the pub is the next best place to watch a game, with all your friends. You can be disappointed with your friends when you, when you lose but it’s also really joyous when you win and sharing both experiences is what it's all about.

“I love meeting new people and it’s easy to do that in the pub. I think it's so important that local pubs stay in business, and it takes an effort from us all to ensure that. That’s why I’m supporting this campaign.”

Pub landlords are bracing for a quieter-than-usual summer, despite the football calendar. With rising costs already putting pressure on some of the capital's most beloved locals, the campaign is asking punters to nominate their favourite pub - with the most-supported winning a financial boost from one of the UK's biggest business insurance providers, Simply Business.

Canada midfielder Ismael Kone suffered a serious leg injury in their Group B match with Qatar, which saw opponent Assim Madibo shown a straight red card.

Players created a protective ring around the injured Kone on the pitch before he was stretchered from the field and tended to by medical personnel.

The 24-year-old Sassuolo midfielder was injured shortly after half-time with Canada already three goals to the good against a 10-man Qatar outfit.

Ismael Kone suffers major injury in Canada World Cup match

Julen Lopetegui's Qatar had already been reduced to 10 during the first half after a last-man challenge saw Homam Elamim sent for an early bath.

Madibo followed him, visibly affected by the injury Kone had sustained as a result of his challenge.

Canada forward Jonathan David was brought to tears as the Canucks huddled before resuming the game. There was a five-minute delay to proceedings whilst Kone was treated and stabilised on the pitch.

He was then wheeled away on a stretcher, using oxygen provided by emergency first responders, and waved to supporters present at BC Place in Vancouver.

The tackle, which initially saw Qatar player Madibo shown a yellow card, was deemed worth of an expulsion after review by the VAR team.

What had been a jubilant atmosphere in Vancouver, as Canada were en route to a first ever World Cup Finals victory, became a great deal more hushed due to the severity of Kone's injury.

It is expected the former Watford and Rennes man will miss the remainder of Canada's tournament.

England are one of the most prolific national teams when it comes to set-piece goals, but why is that?

In the opening game of the 2026 World Cup, we've already seen England bag two goals from set-pieces against Croatia.

Harry Kane's penalty (on the second attempt) and then a thumping header from a corner proved the value of a well-worked set-piece routine.

England's set-piece coaches

Like many teams at club and international level, England are indeed benefiting from a specific set-piece coach.

Thomas Tuchel gets his assistant manager, Anthony Barry to oversee a lot of the set-piece work for the Three Lions.

However, he's not the only one looking into that specific side of the tactical game. Tuchel also brought in Paul Quilter as a dedicated set-piece coach.

Quilter previously worked at Chelsea as an analyst between 2011-2025 (with a short spell at Aldershot Town thrown in for good measure).

It is there where Quilter met Tuchel and earned a reputation as a man he can trust with this big responsibility, so it's not surprising that he asked him to join him at international level.

Speaking to The Times, Tuchel acknowledged the work of Quilter and Barry, saying: "Full credit to my assistant coach and our set-piece coach."

In a press conference following his squad announcement for the tournament, he explained how set-pieces are a specific focus, adding: "We have specialists with us for all different scenarios.

"We always said we want to be a strong set-piece team so we have specialists for that."

All aboard the England rollercoaster. Probably only the famous nearby 'Six Flags Over Texas' theme park, home to the Rampaging Run ride, could rival England’s performance against Croatia for ups and down, thrills and spills. This was part attacking carnival, part defensive chaos from England.

A lover of American football, Harry Kane doubtless dreamed of one day finding the mark at the magnificent home of the Dallas Cowboys.

He scored twice, both from set-pieces, taking his England tally to 81 goals from 115 games. Few would now bet against Kane, 32, reaching a century of goals.

England's potential route to the World Cup final 2026

'Jude Bellingham produced a bravura display in England's World Cup opener'

Yet even Kane was eclipsed by a bravura display from Jude Bellingham. Whatever doubts that some observers have about his team-mindedness, Bellingham made a mockery of such doubts.

He made two important sliding tackles and few could have matched the brilliance of his goal. Luka Modric went over to congratulate his old Real Madrid team-mate. Even the Dallas DJ got in on the appreciation act, playing “Hey Jude”.

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Marcus Rashford, recently of Barcelona, added a fourth, reflecting England’s wealth of attacking options when replacing Anthony Gordon. But those with Three Lions on a shirt had their fans having kittens.

The first-half vulnerability was so unlike England. They let in as many goals in the first 45 minutes as in their preceding 21 games in all competitions. Jordan Pickford had kept eight clean sheets in the eight qualifiers. But even England’s 'Mr Reliable' looked uncertain before the break. Marc Guehi’s calm was missed, and Tuchel surely has to consider restoring the centre-back who has been England’s best defender over the past two years.

But this was a performance to savour, certainly the irrepressible attacking. Croatia immediately fell back into 5-4-1, inviting England on. Pickford pinged left-foot diagonals to Noni Madueke, whose pace was a constant threat to Croatia’s left flank. Josko Gvardiol and Ivan Perisic had to double up on Madueke. There was a welcome fearlessness to England in their attacks, a quality embodied by Madueke.

He won a penalty when Modric carelessly didn’t look, tried to clear but connected only with the onrushing Arsenal winger. It was a clear pen. And to think Arsenal fans had a petition – signed by 5,221 – to demand Arsenal not buy the then Chelsea player. Kane took responsibility for the kick. England’s captain had talked of the need for England to show a strong mentality to live with the expectation levels raised further by a huge number of England fans amongst the 70,389 crowd.

Kane needed his own nerves of steel after 12 minutes after he, strangely for him, put in a stutter in his run-up to a penalty and Dominik Livakovic saved. Sections of the Croatian media in the press box applauded. Briefly. Livakovic had strayed off his line, Clement Turpin ordered a re-take, and a reprieved Kane was gifted a second chance. He went the same way, to Livakovic’s left, but there was no stutter, only that familiar firm connection sending the ball flying in. England fans sang about being on their way to New York for the final.

Then came the loathed hydration break which started amidst boos from England fans and ended with chants of “what the f***ing hell was that?” Fears that it would damage England’s momentum were realised when Croatia equalised. Bellingham lost possession, Petar Sucic deceived John Stones, who dived in. England were opened up. Sucic laid the ball back to Martin Baturina, who swept it from the edge of the area past Pickford.

England hit back, inevitably via Kane, almost inevitably via another set-piece, this time a corner. Kane lurked on the edge of the area, bizarrely unmarked. Stones and Ezri Konsa occupied Croatian defenders but it was still strange that Kane was afforded so much room. As Declan Rice curled the corner out, Kane ran in, leaping between Luka Vuskovic and Petar Musa, and steering his header in. So simple. 81 in 115, and now level with Gary Lineker’s England record of 10 goals at World Cup finals.

Half-time beckoned. England’s defence never looked a safe haven. Chaos continued. England were far too slow to close Croatia down. Mario Pasalic dinked the ball in, Perisic directed his header across to Musar, who plays for local MLS side Dallas. Musar reacted too quickly for Reece James and stroked the ball past Pickford, again exposed, again unconvincing.

Tuchel hurried towards the tunnel. He had work to do, a situation to retrieve. Bellingham came to his aid two minutes after the restart. Elliot Anderson played his part, delivering the perfect ball to release Bellingham down the inside-right channel. Madueke also contributed, darting inside, a decoy run that worked. Bellingham tore into the space, proving too quick and strong for Pasalic. He looked up, saw where Livakovic and stroked the ball across the keeper and in. It wasn’t the cleanest of connections but it was firm and accurate and England were ahead again.

Seeking to refresh his attack, Tuchel made changes after 70 minutes, Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Morgan Rogers replacing Gordon, Madueke and Rice. It was bold from Tuchel. Bellingham dropped slightly deeper, almost alongside Anderson. Rogers played off Kane. Rashford applied the coup de grace, cutting inside Josip Stanisic and placing his shot past Livakovic. The rollercoaster rolled to a stop, leaving England fans breathless and joyful.

England goalscorer Jude Bellingham has responded to the “chip on his shoulder” after the Three Lions' 4-2 win over Croatia at World Cup 2026.

The midfielder netted the third for Thomas Tuchel's side after half-time, in a star performance for England in which he was one of his side's best players.

Here's everything Bellingham said to the BBC…

Everything Jude Bellingham told the BBC after England 4-2 Croatia

On the “noise” around his place in the England side…

It's good to kind of put some of the noise aside and just show my country and my teammates how committed I am to help us win football matches.

It was a great team performance in the second half. In the first half, we still got the intensity right, but we weren't quite there with the ball. In the second half, I think we put it all together nicely. To contribute and help my team and my country is one of the biggest honours, and regardless of the noise outside, that honour doesn't change for me at all.

On his goal…

Yeah, it was a good pass from Elliott [Anderson] that put me in a good position. I took it into the box and, yeah, it was a pretty normal goal really, except the pass was top level. I'm grateful to them for lifting me up into that position. Obviously, it's been a bit of a tougher season for me, but I feel fresh, sharp, and strong. I'm ready to give everything that I have, so it's nice to hear those kind of things.

On arriving whether he's arrived to camp with “added impetus”…

A little bit, yeah. I think I've got a bit of a chip on my shoulder, haven't I? And you play best when you're like that. I think that helps me a lot to find that focus early in the game and to find that intensity.

I know it's part of being a footballer. I don't begrudge or hold a grudge against anyone who says bad things about me because sometimes I do deserve it. Today, I think it was nice to try and show people and remind them what I'm about.

On England's second half…

I was speaking to [Harry Kane] after the game and I said that has to be our standard now; that has to be the minimum level. That second-half intensity and what we do with the ball has got to be the bare minimum we build from.

The first half you can kind of accept and write off because at least we were still intense and did some of the right things. But obviously, with a lot of lads making their World Cup debuts and stuff like that, it's a big stage. The second half is what we're really about.

Harry Kane shot England to technically a perfect start against Croatia in their Group L opener this evening.

The England bagsman fired his nation to a 1-0 lead at the 2026 World Cup, despite missing his initial attempt.

Kane's first spot kick was saved by Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, after an unusually tame attempt from the Englishman.

Harry Kane's penalty speed vs Croatia

The Bayern Munich man has converted all but one of his spot kick attempts for the German champions since joining in 2023.

The sole penalty miss arrived after the Bundesliga side were confirmed top-flight champions... and after the opposition defender tampered with the penalty spot.

Against Wolfsburg in early May, Kane failed to convert a 36th minute penalty, blazing his attempt off target.

In tonight's opener against Croatia, the England striker's initial failure gave way for a far more difficult follow-up than many realise.

While a spot kick is recorded as a chance worth roughly 0.79xG, a golden opportunity, that figure is believed to decrease when the same player takes a second penalty in the same game.

That is likely down to mental warfare, in the event of a miss or a goal at the first opportunity, the goalkeeper gets a read on his taker — regardless of the outcome — that he didn't have prior.

For Kane, that pressure created a remarkable ball speed that rendered his second attempt, and first goal of the game, virtually unsaveable.

According to Connected Ball Technology in the TRIONDA Official Match Ball, Kane’s penalty reached a whopping 121.9km/h.

The England bagsman converted again later, this time a header, to put his nation ahead for the second time in the game.

The Three Lions conceded once more, before goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford in the second half sealed victory for the national team in their Group L opener.

England have beaten Croatia in their World Cup 2026 opener.

And it was a bit more eventful than anyone would have liked: England took the lead three times but some sloppy defending in that first half allowed Croatia back into the game.

So who performed well and who left a little to be desired?

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Jordan Pickford: 7

Distribution was key in the early stages to helping the Three Lions beat Croatia's press. Got a hand on the Croatia goal but wasn't exactly to blame for Baturina's 120km worldie or his defenders losing Musa for the second equaliser. Two attacks, two goals in the first half, though? Not the first-half standards that Pickford has set in the last decade, regardless of how much he could have done.

The vital save in the second half to foil Marko Pasalic, however, is textbook Pickford.

Reece James: 6

Would have had his heart in his mouth around 15 minutes when he almost conceded a penalty, when trying to stop Musa from getting a shot off. Grew into the game in possession but completely lost Musa for the second, when he was drawn in by Mario Pasalic's run.

But James played well in midfield in the second half. Overall, a good performance if not sparkling.

John Stones: 6 (on, '86)

Hasn't played a lot this season but as the elder statesman of this back four, the veteran was as sure on the ball as you'd expect. Still, that composure didn't emanate through the backline in that first half.

One wonders how rusty he is, but Stones was pivotal in building play. Didn't do an awful lot wrong, even if he didn't shine as bright as he can.

Ezri Konsa: 5

Had his share of the blame for the second equaliser when Mario Pasalic ghosted beyond him and headed back to an unmarked Musa. A big lesson for the Aston Villa man in his first international tournament.

In the second half, he had less to do with England more on the front foot, and that's probably the way he'd like it. Was good on the ball throughout and helped England beat the press – but may be dropped for Guehi in England's next game.

Nico O'Reilly: 7

A fairly anonymous first-half in which he looked to drift in-field to get involved with the action. Missed an absolute sitter of a free header minutes after Bellingham's strike, which he would usually bury for Manchester City: did much better with his second, which was saved by a brilliant Livakovic.

Hard to be too harsh on a youngster making his first appearance at a major tournament against a very good Croatian side – and as the nerves wore off the second half, he was positionally very disciplined and confident on the ball.

Elliot Anderson: 7

Quiet in the first half but did a lot of dirty work off the ball to keep the Three Lions ticking over, especially in the second half when England took hold of the game a little more.

He certainly didn't have Rice hold his hand in that midfield, however, and when the Arsenal man went off, Anderson was calm and assured in the centre of the park with Bellingham, and then James, alongside him. A solid tournament debut.

Declan Rice: 7 (off, '69)

Potentially could have closed down Martin Baturina a little more for Croatia's equaliser, but delivered the all-important assist for Kane to grab England's second. You know what you're getting with Declan Rice by now, though: hard-running while others around him tire, otherworldly duel-winning and security on the ball.

Had a shot just after half-time saved by Livakovic, which displayed just what he offers in attack as well as defence. Hopefully his substitution was just to manage his workload and nothing too serious.

Noni Madueke: 7 (off, '69)

An absolute live-wire in the first half, finding himself isolated on the right wing and whipping in a couple of decent balls. It's clear that the Arsenal man isn't quite at his most confident, however, as a few times, he preferred to turn back to James rather than take on Gvardiol on the outside.

Overall though, a very competent replacement for Saka, and one of his better performances in 2026 for the winger, in what has been a tough second half of the season at Arsenal.

Jude Bellingham: 9 (off, '79)

England's best player, along with Kane. Started off the first half with a huge recovery with Petar Musa in on goal, around a quarter of an hour in, to save Reece James and deny Croatia a shot 10 yards out. Started the second with a striker's finish to restore the lead for the Three Lions.

With all the debate over whether he should start ahead of Rogers, Bellingham answered his doubters emphatically. Could have put England 2-0 up in the first half when he was inches away from connecting with a Madueke cross.

Anthony Gordon: 6 (off, '69)

Tracked back well in the first half, rotated well in possession to both hold the width and allow O'Reilly inside, and move inside himself to recycle possession – but wasn't much of an option as a runner beyond Kane. Had one meaningful shot, blocked by a Croatian defender. Will hope for another opportunity against Ghana.

Harry Kane: 9

Got a little lucky that Clement Turpin gave him a second bite of the cherry with the penalty – but on from there, was flawless. Had the composure to step up and smash the ball into the same corner – took cojones, that – then powered that header in for 2-0 when he was left unmarked.

Kane peppered the Croatian goal and was perhaps unlucky not to have a hat-trick before the hour mark. We were all worried he might drift too deep, but he managed to find the perfect balance between providing overloads in midfield and getting the finishing touches in the box. Complete centre-forward display.

SUB: Morgan Rogers: 6 (on, '69)

We knew he'd get on: he's one of Tuchel's favourites. Immediately got involved in the action with a probing run and almost created a chance for Saka. It's good to see that he can play with Bellingham (in the 10 minutes or so that they shared the pitch).

A quiet 25 minutes or so, but knitted play neatly and will be happy with what he showed Tuchel.

SUB: Bukayo Saka: 7 (on, '69)

Has he dropped less than a 7/10 for England in the last four years? Even with just 20 minutes to showcase himself tonight, the Premier League champion was diligent in getting back to help his full-back and confident enough to burst forward and assist Rashford.

He will start ahead of Madueke when he's fully fit: and this is why.

SUB: Marcus Rashford: 7 (on, '69)

Took his goal beautifully. He's a man for the big occasions and while Gordon is perhaps the better all-round option both going forwards and tracking back, you need someone of Rashford's calibre in those big moments.

He could well have made a case to start against Ghana.

SUB: Djed Spence: 7 (on, '79)

Had a wild burst forward shortly after coming on, only for Livakovic, again, to save Croatia from conceding a fourth – and was pivotal to Rashford's fourth goal. Could well form a nice cross-Seven Sisters partnership with Saka at this competition if he gets the chance to.

SUB: Marc Guehi: N/A (on, '86)

Didn't play long enough to get a rating; didn't have a moment of note. Which England will be pleased about.

England's World Cup campaign kicks off with a clash against Croatia, a familiar foe in recent years for the Three Lions.

When it comes to Group L at the World Cup 2026, it would be safe to say England and Croatia are the teams to watch.

It should make for an interesting affair when Thomas Tuchel's side take on Croatia in the group opener, then. But, over the years, which team has the edge?

England vs Croatia head-to-head record

Croatia may feel like regular opponents for England, but that's purely recency bias. In fact, the two nations have only played each other 11 times in their entire history.

Of those 11 games, England have the advantage with six wins overall, while Croatia have won just three. There have been two draws between the two teams.

Of the 11 meetings, four of them have come in the past eight years.

You'll all remember that World Cup semi-final between England and Croatia in 2018, where the latter ended up winning in extra time. Kieran Trippier gave Gareth Southgate's men the lead with a wicked free-kick, but the Croats stormed back and broke England hearts.

Since then, England have restored their dominance, though. A draw and a win in the Nations League double-header later in 2018 was followed by a 1-0 win for England at Euro 2020, with Raheem Sterling scoring the sole goal there.

Interestingly, Croatia were also at the heart of another miserable time for England. They defeated Steve McLaren's side twice in the qualifying stage for Euro 2008, a tournament the Three Lions famously missed out on.

Thankfully, England got revenge soon after, hammering Croatia 4-1 and 5-1 during World Cup 2010 qualification. Theo Walcott scored a hattrick in the first game, while Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard bagged a brace each in the return fixture.

It's sure to be a tight game between England and Croatia at the World Cup 2026, with it likely to be just one goal separating the two sides on the night.

If Tuchel gets his team selection and tactics right, he will not only get the competition off to a promising start for the Three Lions, but extend that unbeaten run against Croatia to four games.

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss the Black Stars’ first match of World Cup 2026 after being refused entry into Canada.

Partey had an application for a temporary resident visa refused on the basis that the application claimed that he had not committed a criminal offence, nor been arrested for, charged with or convicted of one.

An appeal against the decision was rejected on Tuesday, confirming that the 33-year-old would be unable to play for Ghana against Panama in their Group L opener at Toronto’s BMO Field on Wednesday.

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Thomas Partey has been banned from entering Canada

“An appeal against the decision to deny Ghana’s Thomas Partey a Canadian visa for the World Cup has failed – with court documents revealing the initial visa application did not disclose the criminal charges he faces in the UK,” reports Sky Sports.

“A letter addressed to Partey from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sent on May 25 set out concerns about whether his application had met the requirement to ‘answer truthfully’.

“The federal court, in its ruling on Tuesday dismissing the motion, noted that the response to that letter and Partey's affidavit to the court ‘fail to acknowledge, let alone explain why this material information was missing in his application’.”

Partey is awaiting trial in 2027. The former Arsenal midfielder denies seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault involving four different women. The alleged offences took place between 2020 and 2022, and the player has pleaded not guilty.

Arsenal have been criticised for continuing to play Partey until he left London for Villarreal when his contract expired last summer. The Ghana Football Association have been clear in their backing for the midfielder.

Carlos Quieroz, who succeeded Otto Addo as Ghana’s head coach when he was sacked in March, was no different when he was asked about concerns over Partey’s inclusion in the World Cup squad.

“If the player is here with me, my answer is clear,” said Queiroz. “This is not for me or you to make a judgement about. Let the events run their normal course; let the river flow and one day when the river meets the ocean we are going to find the truth.”

By selecting Partey, Queiroz has limited his squad for the first game to 25 players. Ghana will be back up to a full complement for their second and third group matches against England and Croatia.

Partey is already in the United States, where Ghana have set up their World Cup base, having had no similar issues entering the country.

The Black Stars will play at Gillette Stadium and Lincoln Financial Field in their last two Group L fixtures. If they finish second in the group, they will be back in Toronto in the round of 32.

It’s also possible that the third-placed team in the group progress to play in Vancouver in the round of 16.

According to BBC co-commentator Stephen Warnock during Iraq vs Norway, the introduction of mandatory three-minute hydration breaks at World Cup 2026 is to the detriment of the game.

Throughout the first week of the tournament, players have been able to take on fluids while absorbing tactical information from their managers too. That’s what half time is for, said Warnock, and hydration breaks should be 45-second affairs with drinks lined up on the opposite side of the pitch.

Whether or not that’s a viable solution, it’s reflective of a fundamental shift in how a half of football works. With managers able to get their players around them for such a length of time, concerns have been raised about the changing nature of momentum.

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How World Cup hydration breaks are killing momentum

There are a couple of ways to interpret the effect of the interruptions. A lengthy hydration break offers managers the kind of direct opportunity to affect a match they’d only otherwise get at half time, but the break itself can stifle the impetus and flow of a team.

It might be a result of one factor more than another, it might be a combination of the two, but the interruptions are very real. Data visualisations shared by analyst and journalist Yash Thakur on social media have demonstrated the extent to which momentum has flipped completely from one team to the other.

Thakur’s graphics revealed particularly stark shifts in attacking momentum in a sample of early group stage fixtures, notably more pronounced in the first half of matches than the second.

In Ivory Coast’s first match against Ecuador, they were on top – but ineffective – throughout the first ‘quarter’ before the first-half hydration break preceded a very clear shift in favour of Ecuador in terms of attacking actions.

Other examples included Japan seizing the initiative from the Netherlands after a shorter spell of Dutch dominance, and Morocco having a terrific spell immediately after the break against Brazil and scoring their equalising goal in the process.

Even Sweden’s 5-1 win over Tunisia supported the argument. Tunisia were just sneaking into the game at the very end of its first quarter and Sweden immediately regained the ascendancy after three minutes on the sidelines.

Sabri Lamouchi was sacked after that game and replaced as Tunisia manager by Herve Renard, the former boss of a whole host of national teams in Africa and beyond.

While there are arguments against the creeping reach of advertising and American-style quarters, the stated basis of the hydration break is sensible enough. Some of the matches at World Cup 2026 are being played in searing heat and unbearable humidity, and the need to take on fluids is obvious.

There’s logic in having it applied across the tournament regardless of conditions, too. It makes sense. It’s only fair that every match follows the same format.

But the unintended consequences of the timing, predictability and duration of the breaks are already becoming clear. Questions over whether such a fundamental change should have been allowed to happen by accident abound.

What do you think? Would you alter the way hydration breaks are administered? Let us know below…

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez is reportedly set to leave his post when his contract expires at the end of World Cup 2026.

Martinez is in charge of Portugal at a second major international tournament after leading them to the quarter-finals of the European Championship in Germany in 2024.

The former Belgium boss is managing at the World Cup for the third time but his departure is understood to be imminent amid suggestions that the Portuguese FA had struck an agreement with Jose Mourinho before he was offered the chance to return to Real Madrid.

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Martinez speculation mounts before Portugal’s World Cup 2026 opener

“Roberto Martinez is set to step down as Portugal’s manager at the end of the World Cup,” reported Sky Sports News on Tuesday, one day before Portugal begin their World Cup campaign against DR Congo at NRG Stadium.

With a host of records potentially waiting to be extended or broken by captain Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal will then face Uzbekistan, also in Houston, and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium.

In a statement issued to the media and reported by the Mirror, the Portuguese FA (FPF) said: “The FPF and Roberto Martinez are focused exclusively on the World Cup. The federation and the coach are aligned on this matter, as they have publicly stated.”

Martinez, now 52, had an extensive career in England, Scotland and Wales before making the move into the international game.

Formerly a player for Wigan Athletic, Motherwell, Walsall, Swansea City and Chester City, the Catalan cut his managerial teeth during successful spells in charge of Swansea and Wigan.

He was appointed as the successor to long-time Everton manager David Moyes in the summer of 2013 and spent the next three seasons at Goodison Park before taking over the Belgium national team in the aftermath of their European Championship exit at the hands of Wales in 2016.

After a decade in international football, Martinez might be tempted to capitalise on the end of his time at the Portuguese helm by backing himself once more to perform in the club game.

If their manager does depart next month, Portugal face a big challenge. 41-year-old Ronaldo is expected to step aside after the World Cup, leaving Martinez’s potential successor all the negatives and positives that might come with that.

Finding the right candidate to fulfil that brief could prove tougher than it sounds with Mourinho now off the table. Taking Portugal into 2028 without their most-capped player and record scorer will be interpreted as a blessing by some possible successors and a curse by others.

In the meantime, Martinez and Portugal have work to do. They reached the last eight in Qatar four years ago but Portugal haven’t made it as far as the semi-finals since 2006. Eusebio scored in their previous semi-final before that.

Tottenham Hotspur are close to finalising the signing of Brighton & Hove Albion’s Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke.

Van Hecke featured in the Netherlands’ first game of World Cup 2026, a dramatic 2-2 draw with Japan at AT&T Stadium, amid growing speculation about his future. After six seasons on the books at Brighton, the 26-year-old is reportedly on the cusp of joining Spurs.

According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the clubs have now agreed a fee of £52 million after Van Hecke ‘had shown no interest in extending his terms’ at the Amex Stadium.

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Jan Paul van Hecke bound for Spurs with fee agreed

An initial offer from the North London club was rebuffed but Van Hecke, whose contract expires next summer, will move to Spurs to reunite with former Seagulls manager Roberto De Zerbi.

The Italian steered Spurs to safety at the end of a dismal Premier League season and the club is now linked with a host of big-money statement signings as they seek to get back on track and back into Europe.

“Personal terms are not expected to be an issue for the centre-back, who is close to Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi having worked together at the south-coast club between 2022 and 2024,” reports Ornstein.

“A move would continue a busy start to the transfer window for Spurs, who have already signed centre-back Marcos Senesi and left-back Andy Robertson, following the expiration of their contracts at Bournemouth and Liverpool respectively.”

Van Hecke will be in action again when the Netherlands take on Sweden in their second match at NRG Stadium on Saturday.

Brighton are already working on a replacement for Van Hecke, with another World Cup defender understood to be very much in the frame.

19-year-old Luka Vuskovic is in the Croatia squad after a fine season in Germany with Hamburg, where he was on loan from Spurs after joining from Hajduk Split last summer, two years after agreeing to the move.

The teenager is reportedly a top target for Brighton but Ornstein has confirmed that a second offer worth £35 million has been rejected and the clubs coming to terms on Van Hecke is not linked to Vuskovic’s future.

It was reported on Tuesday that Spurs also want to sign Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United, though the Magpies’ £100 million price tag could be prohibitive.

In FourFourTwo’s opinion, acquiring Tonali this summer will be a stretch for Spurs, with that rumour believed to be driven by the player's agent, but the capture of Van Hecke is a forceful statement of intent in its own right.

Brighton will take the loss in stride. Former managers raiding their old club is nothing new for the Sussex club, who have seen a host of players and staff walk a well-trodden path to Chelsea in the last few years.

Selling well and identifying younger replacements is a huge part of the challenge for top Premier League clubs now. Brighton are demonstrably better at both than most.