That’s all from me, we are just over an hour away from actual football, so please let me divert you into the warm embrace of Scott Murray, who is helming our Australia v Egypy liveblog. Will the Socceroos cause an upset?
Thanks for reading, for your emails and your comments BTL. Until next time!
Paul MacInnes explains why France’s thrilling front four is built on the spirit Didier Deschamps has fostered.
Fulham have joined the race to sign Crysencio Summerville from West Ham. The winger is expected to move this summer and is attracting interest from a host of Premier League clubs.
Chelsea and Manchester United have been monitoring Summerville, who is likely to leave West Ham following their relegation from the Premier League, but it remains to be seen whether the Netherlands international earns a move to one of the top flight’s leading sides.
Sources have suggested a more realistic outcome could be that the firmest interest in the 24-year-old comes from an ambitious team from outside the elite. Fulham need to boost their wide options after losing Harry Wilson, who is poised to join Leeds on a free transfer, and have added Summerville to their shortlist. It is unclear if Fulham, who are expected to appoint Álvaro Arbeloa as their new manager, trigger an option to make Samuel Chukwueze’s loan from Milan permanent.
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Nathan Aké is set to leave Manchester City to join Fenerbahce in a deal worth at least £7m. The Turkish giants on Friday announced they had agreed a deal for the 31-year-old Netherlands defender, but it is understood City were surprised by the timing of that statement with the transfer not yet fully complete. Talks have been held over a deal which would see Fenerbahce pay an initial £7m fee, potentially rising to £8.5m with add-ons.
A Fenerbahce statement said: “Our club has reached an agreement with and signed a contract with Nathan Aké, a player for the Dutch national team. Aké, who has been playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will join our team at the Austrian training camp after his leave of absence.”
It would see the 31-year-old Aké end a six-year spell at the Etihad Stadium, during which he has won four Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and two Carabao Cups. He had one year remaining on his contract and struggled for regular playing time in Pep Guardiola’s final season, with only six of his 18 Premier League appearances coming from the start. PA Media
Our MBM for Australia v Egypt is now live, with the brilliant Scott Murray at the helm.
Ismaël Koné, the Canada and Sassuolo star who broke his leg during the 6-0 group-stage victory over Qatar, has written this letter in his own words, via the Players’ Tribune, about his injury and the start of his recovery.
One of the first things that went through my head when I was lying there on the field in Vancouver, my leg snapped and broken. I’m just thinking….. Not NOW. You know what I’m saying?? Like, I wasn’t worried about myself. No one has to worry about me. I’ll do my rehab, then I’ll come back better than I ever was. That much I knew before they put me on the stretcher. But the thing I couldn’t stop thinking about, it’s how disappointed I was not to get to help our team on the field anymore, while we’re on this mission together. Where Canada football has been coming and coming and coming and now it’s here. That’s when this happens?? Up 3–0, BC Place rocking, we’re 40 minutes to our first ever World Cup win??? And now I’m hearing the entire stadium go quiet, 50,000 fans……..
Man…..
I just felt like I was letting the whole country down. But then they were carrying me off — and it must have been magic. Because all the quiet in BC Place, suddenly it became warmth. And I swear it’s like for two full weeks that warmth has been carrying me … when I got out of surgery … and it was just this outpouring of support. From my family and friends, of course. From my teammates and coaches, of course. But the amount of messages I’m receiving just from people all across Canada, who are behind this team so they’re behind me, and wanting to make sure I’m OK … or the things I’m hearing now in person, when fans are seeing me on crutches at the games … obviously I knew there’d be support, but the level has kind of shocked me a bit. It’s moved me very deeply. And it’s made me feel like I’m a small part of something very special that’s happening right now.
So that’s why I wanted to write this letter. Not only to say thank you to everyone who’s had these supportive words for me, or kind thoughts. But even more than that I wanted to say thank you to everyone who’s believed in Canada football. Whether you’ve believed since the first World Cup appearance 40 years ago … or since the women’s team won Gold in 2021 … or maybe only since Stephen scored in stoppage time last weekend. It doesn’t matter since when. If you believe NOW, then you’re a part of this thing. And if you still don’t believe yet?? OK, well, tune in on Saturday. Big game for us, and I know my brothers are ready. Everyone is welcome — just grab a jersey.
We’ll figure out the rest later.
A further response to the idea of tournament co-hosts Canada having to play their knockout ties outside of their country. I can’t say I disagree with anything that Stooze has said below. It does seem that all hosts are not created equal, and will be interesting to see if the same thing happens in 2030, when the tournament is shared between Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. From what I can see there are 20 stadiums in total across those nations: 11 in Spain, six in Morocco and just three in Portugal.
That is not including the first three matches of the World Cup, which will be held in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay as part of the centenary celebrations to commemorate the first ever World Cup in 1930. Uruguay beat Argentina in the final that year, and Paraguay has apparently also been chosen because it is the home of Conmebol, the South American football confederation.
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Neymar unhappy with Brazil role but staying 'respectful', claims Ancelotti
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti said Neymar is unhappy he has had such a limited role at the World Cup but has handled the situation professionally and remains a positive influence within the squad.
The country’s all-time leading goalscorer has made just one substitute appearance at his fourth World Cup, playing the final 14 minutes of Brazil’s 3-0 win over Scotland in the group stage. Neymar, 34, is again likely to be on the bench for Sunday’s last-16 match against Norway at MetLife Stadium.
“He’s not satisfied, but he’s behaving very well. He’s training very well. Neymar is very respectful, kind, and loved by his teammates,” Ancelotti told Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo in an interview published on Friday. “He’s an important figure in the team because he has quality and he’s a very humble person. I’m very happy with him. And, obviously, he wants to play, like he always has.”
Neymar arrived at the tournament with a right calf injury. Ancelotti insisted that Neymar is now capable of playing a full match, easing doubts over the fitness of the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star.
“The important thing is that he can play. No one knows how long he will play. He has the experience to manage his minutes in the game and the tempo. When I see that the team needs him, I’ll put him on (the pitch),” said the Italian.
Brazil have never beaten Norway, drawing two and losing two of their four previous meetings. They have also not defeated a European side in a World Cup knockout match since winning the tournament in 2002.
“It’s always difficult, but we are confident we will play a good game,” Ancelotti said. “They are a very well-organised team defensively and their coach is doing a very good job in that area. We are prepared for anything that can happen. We may concede a goal, but we are prepared to react.” AFP
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The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has filed a complaint to the public prosecutor over racist messages posted in the wake of the country’s exit from the World Cup.
The Oranje’s defeat to Morocco in a penalty shoot-out on Monday sparked an outpouring of social media abuse directed notably at black Dutch players. The KNVB said it was transferring the messages to the public prosecutor’s office for further legal action.
“Unfortunately, it is never possible to be complete and to detect and arrest every racist reaction, but the KNVB wants to send a very clear signal,” the association said in a statement. “There are limits and there are consequences for those who violate those limits.”
The three-time finalists lost on penalties to Morocco in Monday’s round-of-32 match in the Mexican city of Monterrey following a 1-1 draw. The three players who missed a penalty, Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Crysencio Summerville, suffered “racist and discriminatory” abuse online following the match, according to the KNVB.
Prime Minister Rob Jetten told reporters earlier Friday that he expected the prosecutors to proceed with legal action to set an example.
What happened after the round-of-32 match was “of course completely unacceptable,” said Jetten. “One moment they are ’our boys’ and we don’t see their colour when they are wearing an orange shirt. Then when someone misses a penalty, vitriol pours out from every corner,” added the PM. AFP
On the issue of Canada being the only co-host nation having to play their knockout ties outside their country, Kimble Sutherland gets in touch via email:
The concerns that my fellow Canadian Chris Corrigan has raised about Canada having to play both its match outside of Canada do need some added context.
First, Canada could have had a home game if they had defeated Switzerland and won their group. They would have been playing Algeria last night in Vancouver, rather than the Swiss. Both the US and Mexico won their groups. I have not spent the time to investigate whether there was a possibility for Mexico or the US to play outside their country if they had finished second or third in their group.
Now that the Swiss won last night, where are they playing their next game? It is Vancouver.
Simply put, if Canada had taken care of business in the group stage, both of these games would have been in Vancouver.
As somebody who travelled from Ontario and spent thousands of dollars to see the Canada vs Qatar game in Vancouver and was very happy to have that experience, it it important to note that unless you live in the Greater Vancouver area, most Canadians would still be spending thousands of dollars to attend the games in Vancouver. Canada is a large country with a small population making travel expensive.
Hats off to all of the Guardian reporters and columnists for your coverage of the World Cup. I am thoroughly enjoying how comprehensive the coverage is and meeting the fix for us information junkies.
Hello everyone!
A lot of altitude chat going on at the moment, and with good reason. Here’s an explainer from the Guardian’s science correspondent, Nicola Davis, on how exactly the altitude in Mexico City will affect the players, the potential fallout for England and what can be done to counter-act the issues caused by the altitude.
With that, Michael Butler assumes the honour.
World Cup political bandwagon-jumping #2456
People getting ahead of themselves? It’s likely to happen at some point, right?
The Argentina coach, Lionel Scaloni, has been putting respect on the name of Cape Verde, ahead of tonight’s meeting in Miami.
“This is a team that hasn’t lost. They aren’t here by accident. We have to respect them, and that is what we will do.”
“We are calm because we earned our place here on merit and there is nothing to fear or worry too much about,” the Cape Verde coach Bubista said. “We know the importance of the match ahead. It is the match of our lives, but we are going to enjoy it and give our best. There is no other thought in our minds than trying to advance past this round.”
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All eyes on the Azteca, of course.
Tuchel was 12 years old at the time, watching from home in Germany. He did not feel it like an England fan and yet he felt it. “It was not only English people,” he says. “Even me. I didn’t have a connection to English football in those days but even I know this moment. I remember, of course, the World Cup of Maradona. The two goals against England. The one dribbling and the one … yeah, which would never stand these days.”
More detail on the “snickometer” that denied Croatia their late equaliser against Portugal, via the Sports Business Journal: “Since the 2022 World Cup, the Adidas game ball has contained a Kinexon sensor operating at 500 hertz, meaning it refreshes 500 times per second. Originally inserted to determine the precise moment of a pass for considering offsides calls, the IMU device — and inertial measurement unit, such as an accelerometer — can detect the slightest touch …
“This high-profile example of connected ball tech occurred mere hours after the NBA announced that it would be conducting further testing of similar technology during Summer League play this month.”
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Transfer news: Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has returned to Trabzonspor on a second season-long loan move.
Trabzonspor will cover Onana’s entire wages for the season, despite his wages increasing as a result of United’s qualification for the Champions League next term. The Turkish side will also pay an undisclosed loan fee which includes a number of achievable bonuses.
A statement from United said: “Everyone at United wishes Andre the best of luck for the campaign ahead.” His contract at Old Trafford runs until 2028
Chris Corrigan gets in touch: “On Saturday Canada will play its second match out of the country in a World Cup which we are co-hosting. Many of my friends have spent $1000s to travel 4000km to watch our team play in Houston, USA, in another country while Round of 16 matches between other countries are being played here at home.
“So while I appreciate that Mexico’s home field advantage against England is really a thing, spare the thought for our country having the best World Cup run in our history and having to play the rest of it in other countries far from our fans or the familiar surroundings of home.
“No other host country in World Cup history has had to play away. It’s a failure of our representatives at the highest level, including the Fifa VP who is being lauded as the man who brought the men’s World Cup to Canada.
“This was not an impossible problem to solve. And it has denied our country the same fervour and fever at host cities in the USA your writers have been documenting. To put 54,000 Canadian supporters into BC Place for Saturday’s match against Morocco would have generated an unprecedented atmosphere and an unforgettable sporting moment.
“I don’t hold a delusion that we will beat Morocco, but I lament that our amazing success in this tournament may well come to and end on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico rather than in the heart of the Salish Sea.”
Handy cut-out-and keep TV guide ro the final matches of “the 32”.
Fifty members of the European Parliament, from 13 countries, have urged Fifa’s ethics committee to investigate their president Gianni Infantino for awarding a ’peace prize’ to US President Donald Trump.
The MEPs signed a letter, supporting a complaint by British-based sports human rights lobbying group FairSquare in December.
The letter, dated June 29 and released on Thursday night by FairSquare, said that Fifa’s code of ethics required Infantino “remain politically neutral”.
It quoted the NGO’s request that Fifa’s “ethics committee investigate whether the decisions to introduce an annual Fifa peace prize and then award the prize to President Trump were taken by the Fifa Council or by the bureau of the council or unilaterally by Mr Infantino himself”.
The MEPS added: “This complaint represents an opportunity for FIFA to prove its commitment to political neutrality, transparency, and accountability.” (AFP)
Alistair Harrison gets in touch: “Maybe I am missing something, but is there any reason for teams at this World Cup not to be based at a high-altitude training camp in the US? They would have the benefit of acclimation if they ended playing at the Azteca in the knock-out stages, as well as the benefit of increased red blood cell counts which is advantageous playing at any altitude.”
From memory, a few teams at Mexico 86 did their prelims in Colorado. Certainly, England did. There’s some good pics knocking around of Gary Lineker dressed up as a 1980s cop, with a 1980s cop car.
Transfer news: Tottenham are spending big this summer on midfielders but will not be re-signing Joao Palhinha, who was on loan from Bayern last season and played such a big role in Spurs playing up. He’s written a farewell message to Tottenham fans.
“Dear COYS, I am writing this message with heartfelt gratitude for all the kindness and support you have always shown me throughout my time at this special club.
“Representing Tottenham has had a profound impact on my life, not only professionally but also personally, and it is something I will carry with me forever. I always tried to repay, in the best way I could, all the affection, respect and trust you showed me, both on and off the pitch.
“As I have said before, what truly defines a great institution and a great football club is its supporters. Players, managers and directors come and go, but the fans remain. You are the ones who keep the flame of this club burning, season after season.
“I could not leave without expressing my special thanks to my teammates, the club’s directors, the fitness coaches, the entire medical staff, and especially my dear Alessandra Massimi. London gave me more than a professional career, it gave me two homes that I will always carry in my heart.
“With the utmost respect and gratitude, I say goodbye to all of you. Thank you so much COYS.”
He’d be a good signing for someone.
An interesting idea, though another German manager might be a tough sell, even if it Jürgen Klopp we’re talking about. The FA admitting they got the wrong man? Let’s see. Get the impression, too, that Kloppo rather likes being back home/skipping to the Balearics. Would our press corps stand for that?
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I am going to hand you back to the trusty typing hands of John Brewin. I will see you next week!
More news out of Germany, but this time it is transfer news. Bayern Munich on Friday announced defender Nathaniel Brown, who featured three times at the World Cup for Die Mannschaft, has joined the club from Eintracht Frankfurt on a deal running until 2031.
AFP quotes Brown saying of the move “I’ve always dreamed of playing for the biggest titles at the highest level; I set myself the highest goals and want to get the maximum out of myself every day.”
Police criticise decision to let pubs stay open until 5am for England match
Police leaders have criticised Downing Street’s decision to let pubs stay open until 5am on Monday for England’s World Cup match against Mexico, saying it will take officers “away from communities”.
Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for football policing, and Scott Green, the organisation’s lead for alcohol licensing, said the “late announcement” meant forces would have to adapt plans and would leave officers working extended hours.
Greene King said more than 600 of its pubs across England would be staying open to show the match and Marston’s said more than 400 of its venues would be open until late.
In a joint statement, the police chiefs said: “We recognise there will be significant public interest in England’s match on Monday morning and that many of the public will want to come together in pubs and licensed venues to enjoy the occasion. We also know from previous tournaments the knockout games sadly see an increase in violent incidents particularly in the night-time economy and an increase in domestic abuse. This is directly linked to alcohol consumption.
“The likely route for England progression has been known for a considerable time yet this late announcement leaves policing having to adapt our plans, seeing officers working extended shifts which in turn takes them away from communities.”
Keir Starmer announced on Thursday that pubs across England and Wales would be able to stay open late for the match, which kicks off at 1am on Monday and is due to run until at least 3am.
The revolving door at the DFB in Frankfurt must be in an awful spin this morning as sporting director Andreas Rettig is also on the way out, AP reports.
The 63-year-old took over in September 2023 the position vacated by Oliver Bierhoff after Germany’s previous World Cup disappointment in 2022. Rettig was charged with overseeing all of Germany’s national sides, including the women’s teams, and their academies.
The DFB said Friday he will not be extending his contract “for personal reasons.”
Kane: 'I feel as good as I’ve ever felt' going into Mexico contest
England’s talismatic captain Harry Kane has been speaking to the Lion’s Den podcast, and PA have picked up the quotes. The former Leyton Orient loanee* said:
This season for me, 72 goals so far and hopefully a few more to go, is I think almost 20 more than I’ve ever reached in my career to date and I’ve had some pretty good seasons up until now.
I’ve had some good moments but in terms of how I feel right now, I think just from an overall package, I feel as good as I’ve ever felt going onto the pitch. No matter the situation, no matter what kind of chance I get, I feel like I can score goals. I just think there’s a mixture of everything coming together at the right time.
Going into major tournaments you need to have a little bit of luck to go your way, to physically be in the shape that you want to be and it’s not always easy when you come off the back of tough seasons and stuff. This year has been pleasing from that point of view. For me it’s just about the next one. I’m in a good space. I just want the next game to be there and it’s kind of a good thing the games are coming thick and fast now.
Kane’s 86th-minute strike against DR Congo took him to 72 goals for club and country in the 2025/26 campaign, a total which is second only to Lionel Messi’s 82-goal season in 2011/12.
[*18 appearances and 5 goals in 2011 for Leyton Orient]
Some great pictures out of Algiers where last night crowds gathered to watch Algeria’s World Cup exit at the hands of Switzerland.
They didn’t have those fire-flares at the actual ground, although World Cup security obviously slipped up and let someone in with a smoke-bomb in Vancouver itself.
Judging from his social media profile, Lars Sivertsen has a vastly superior beard to mine. He also knows a lot more about Norway and its football than I do, which makes it lucky for you that he got picked to write about their forthcoming clash with Brazil, and not me. You can read that here, where he argues Ståle Solbakken’s side have surpassed Norway’s previous golden generation as they prepare to meet a team they beat in 1998 …
Good afternoon/morning/evening and so on. Maybe someone with more time on their hands can work out whether this current run of tournaments is the greatest eclipse of Germany World Cup performances by England in my lifetime – a 4th place, a quarter-final and at minimum round of 16 for England while Germany have failed to get out of the group or fallen at the first hurdle. Let’s just not mention how many times they’ve won it this century, 4-1 in Bloemfontein, or any other unhelpful stat like that to ruin my premise.
Meantime my colleague Sid Lowe has written about Lamine Yamal, who is 36 years younger than me, and will probably still be representing Spain at World Cups long after I’m too old to live blog them …
That’s my Germany-heavy one hour stint on the blog completed. Time now to hand you over to Martin Belam.
Here’s Jacob Steinberg’s latest England piece from Kansas City. The Three Lions will have to box clever against Mexico.
The answer is Tuchel using the tactic that has so often disrupted his England: stifle Mexico with the dreaded low block. The worst way to approach this game would be allowing it to become chaotic. England cannot give Mexico space to run in behind. Mexico have pace on the flanks and would love to play against a high line.
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Here’s the official story on Jürgen Klopp being lined up as the next Germany boss following Julian Nagelsmann’s departure.
Some parting words from Julian Nagelsmann after he left his role as Germany coach.
The decision was anything but easy for me. My top priority has always been the success of the team. After such a bitter disappointment, it deserves the chance of a new beginning.
Nagelsmann also apologised to Germany’s fans for the early exit.
I am sorry and hurt from the bottom of my heart that we disappointed you and couldn’t give you any more football nights at this World Cup.
Klopp 'fundamentally willing' to take over as Germany coach
Jürgen Klopp to take over from Nagelsmann? It appears the wheels are in motion. Here’s the latest from AFP:
Klopp has told the German FA (DFB) he is “fundamentally willing” to take over as Germany coach after Nagelsmann handed in his resignation, the DFB confirmed on Friday. Nagelsmann, who had a contract until 2028, stepped down from the job on Friday, just four days after Germany’s disappointing last-32 exit to Paraguay.
In a statement, the DFB said discussions would begin with Klopp, the former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager, while thanking Nagelsmann for his almost three-year stint.
Klopp, who led Liverpool to Champions League and Premier League honours, is currently under contract as Red Bull’s head of global football, but Sky Germany reports he has a verbal agreement which would allow him to leave to take up the Germany job.
Nagelsmann’s resignation comes a day after the 38-year-old was called into a three-hour meeting at DFB headquarters in Frankfurt to discuss his future. German tabloid Bild reported the coach was offered a severance package of seven million euros ($8 million), roughly one year’s salary, to cut short his contract which was set to expire in 2028.
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This is Germany’s World Cup record since they lifted the trophy in Brazil 12 years ago. Es liest sich deprimierend (it reads depressingly).
2018 – Group stage exit
2022 – Group stage exit
2026 – Last 32 exit
Add in a round of 16 elimination at the 2020 Euros and getting knocked out in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Euros and it’s a far cry from the teams that once dominated the European and world stage.
The official line appears to be that Nagelsmann was asked to step down and agreed to go after talks with senior German officials. This is the statement from DFB President Bernd Neuendorf:
The German Football Association expressly thanks Julian Nagelsmann for his work since September 2023. He is characterised by a high level of commitment and extraordinary ambition. Julian Nagelsmann is also an extremely responsible and sincere person whom we all value.
Nagelsmann: Clearly the talks didn’t go too well and there was a change of heart. This was the now ex-Germany boss talking on the official DFB.de website a few days ago:
Will you consider your own position?
Nagelsmann: “I’m not someone who runs away. I’m ready to carry on if the association wants that. Even if there maybe wouldn’t be that many people pleased to see me continue. If that isn’t what they want, they have to tell me. But the three men involved (Bernd Neuendorf, Rudi Völler and Andreas Rettig) have character and won’t make a snap decision in passing. Everyone knows how I work as a coach and what I stand for. I know how football works. We’ve been producing tournaments like this for some time now. There are a few things that need to change fundamentally.”
Nagelsmann resigns as Germany boss
Julian Nagelsmann has resigned as Germany head coach following their disappointing World Cup campaign.
The four-time world champions suffered a shock defeat on penalties to Paraguay following a 1-1 draw in the last 32 which sent them crashing out of the tournament.
Former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has been closely linked with the job since Die Mannschaft’s exit and is “fundamentally willing” to take over as coach, the DFB confirmed on Friday. Klopp has been working as a pundit at the World Cup.
Said DFB president Bernd Neuendorf:
The German Football Association expressly thanks Julian Nagelsmann for his work since September 2023. He is characterised by a high level of commitment and extraordinary ambition. Julian Nagelsmann is also an extremely responsible and sincere person whom we all value.”
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Thanks John. Just reading various articles about altitude and also how to sleep when fireworks, loudspeakers, horns, revving motorbikes and Mexican thrash metal bands are cranked up to 11 outside your hotel room.
And with that, I shall hand over to David Tindall. Back later.
The Belgium coach, Rudi Garcia, has denied he was criticising African football when describing “those teams” who lose their tactical shape following his side’s improbable comeback victory over Senegal.
Garcia was flash-interviewed on television. He said: “We know those teams, they lose their tactical structure toward the end of the match. We also knew that at 2-0 (up) they would do everything to protect their goal, which in my opinion is a grave mistake. Remind me when we’re leading 2-0 not to do that.”
The 62-year-old Frenchman posted a message on Instagram stories on Thursday night to clarify his words and said they were in no way a criticism of African teams. “When I spoke of ‘those teams,’ I was referring to teams unaccustomed to managing a lead in high-level World Cup matches. My comments were by no means aimed at African teams.
“They could just as easily have applied to Asian, South American or European teams unfamiliar with that kind of pressure. As a less experienced coach myself, I learned the hard way that stopping play to defend a result at all costs is counterproductive.”
The theme of the weekend in England? Altitude. Or more properly, attitudes to altitude.
Have England gone too early into altitude? Or too late? The debate is raging on, and will not have its answer, if at all, until 3am – or later – on Monday morning. Excuses in early?
“The recommendation is you either go 10 days before – which is too long for us – or last minute, which is not allowed [by Fifa],” the head coach said. “We have spoken to teams who do it and they say they travel very, very late on matchday if they cannot have time to adapt. [We must] find a mixture in between. It will stay as a disadvantage.”
Good to see England returning to what worked best.
Thomas Tuchel’s side attempted 35 crosses in open play against the DRC. Not since 1966 had they delivered as many in one match at a World Cup. Seven of their top-10 examples occurred under Alf Ramsey, with other instances in 1982 and 1998. It was a real throwback performance for cross volume.
Here’s the pod squad with some “snicko” reflections.
Fifa says tech confirms Croatia 'goal' could not stand
Fifa has confirmed that Croatia’s late “equaliser” against Portugal was correctly ruled out for offside due to technology housed inside the World Cup ball.
Ivan Perisic sent a ball into the box, which bounced off Renato Veiga and into the path of Mario Pasalic and his touch teed it up for Gvardiol who slid home. The goal stood on the field, and it appeared from TV replays that Croatia’s Igor Matanovic missed his header as he attempted to flick it on, which would have meant Pasalic was onside before setting up Gvardiol.
However, referee Espen Eskas was sent to the VAR monitor and Fifa’s technology inside the Adidas Trionda ball – similar to ‘Snicko’ – showed that Matanovic did get a slight touch which meant Pasalic was offside in the build-up.
When the ball was next to Matanovic, replays showed a graphic with a slight spike which suggests that he did touch it, ultimately putting an end to Croatia’s World Cup hopes and sending Portugal through to the last 16.
Three years after shocking the football world with a move to Major League Soccer, Messi’s status as a Miami everyman (at least as much as he can be) and his deity-like reputation for his country will collide on Friday night when Argentina faces Cape Verde at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. The match will be a homecoming for Messi, who arrived in the image-obsessed city in 2023 as just another megacelebrity and has since been welcomed wholeheartedly as something approaching a native son – undoubtedly the most at home he’s felt since his days in Barcelona.
Real Madrid DO NOT want to sign Enzo Fernandez
Comunicado Oficial:
In light of reports and statements that have appeared in recent days regarding alleged interest from Real Madrid C.F. in the player Enzo Fernández, the club wishes to state that it has not undertaken any action—whether direct or indirect—aimed at signing the aforementioned player, nor does it have any intention of pursuing such a move.
Real Madrid wishes to express its utmost respect for Enzo Fernández—a great footballer whose career and quality are widely recognized—as well as for Chelsea FC, a club with which it maintains an excellent institutional relationship. Precisely because of the respect due to an organization like Chelsea FC, and in adherence to the principles of institutional loyalty that have always guided Real Madrid’s conduct, the club deems it necessary to categorically refute these speculations, which are baseless and do not reflect reality.
Real Madrid regrets that, despite the clear facts and the absence of any action on the club’s part, reports continue to circulate that do not correspond to reality; such reports serve only to create confusion among fans and unnecessarily harm the organizations and individuals involved.
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I’d love to compare Macclesfield to the European champions.
See if you can beat my score of 14/15 here. It’s almost as if we have to keep up with sports news on the desk at the Guardian.
Georgia Stanway is back in the WSL, and has joined Arsenal.
Stanway left Bayern Munich at the end of the season and spent four years with the Frauen-Bundesliga side, winning eight trophies and featuring 128 times. She began her career with Blackburn before joining Manchester City in summer 2015, where she made 186 appearances and scored 67 goals in seven seasons, lifting one Women’s Super League title, three FA Cups and three League Cups.
Napoli appoint Allegri as coach
Napoli have officially hired Massimiliano Allegri as coach.
Antonio Conte confirmed he was leaving Napoli at the end of May. Milan fired Allegri following “an unequivocal failure” of a season, as their RedBird Capital Partners ownership labelled it. Allegri has signed a three-year contract at Napoli. Conte is expected to return to the Italy role he departed after Euro 2016.
This is what the World Cup can achieve, and is one argument for an expanded competition.
Ninety minutes of tension were followed by a night of ecstasy that lasted long past the 8am close of the festival as Cape Verdeans celebrated the nation’s 0-0 draw that saw them reach the knockouts of the World Cup. Now they face Argentina in Miami on Friday.
Riyad Mahrez has retired from international football following Algeria’s exit.
“There were good times and difficult times as well, of course. That’s part of a career,” he said, “But representing Algeria has been a dream of mine ever since I was young, to play for my country. It’s been an immense honor and a great source of pride. It is the new generation’s turn to play.”
For the first time in the history of the tournament four goals were disallowed in the same game, with Croatia seeing three separate efforts chalked off, while Ronaldo also had a goal overturned. The final incident came in the very last seconds when Josko Gvardiol thought he had equalised in the 103rd minute of the match, only to be called offside. A snick-o-meter had detected the slightest of contacts between the ball and a teammate’s head as it crossed the box.
Nagelsmann to resign from Germany role, per Bild
Julian Nagelsmann is set to resign as Germany coach, according to reports in the newspaper, Bild.
It was reported on Friday the 38-year-old had agreed to leave following talks with senior German soccer officials, a three-hour “secret summit” on Thursday at the German Football Association (DFB) headquarters in Frankfurt.
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That pundit was Ange Postecoglou, and now, Asia’s No 1 team need him to not just talk the talk but walk the nation to the top level of the global game. The federation in Tokyo should do all they can to get his signature on a lengthy contract as he is going to be in demand this summer.
Some fine 1994 memories from Republic of Ireland’s adventures in Orlando.
The first game of Friday sees the Socceroos take on Egypt.
Australia coach Tony Popovic said his team will be prepared whether Salah is on the pitch or not.
“We have prepared for Salah playing, we’ve seen when he’s not on the pitch the players in those positions where he may play,” he said. “So we’ve prepared for both scenarios and we’ll see tomorrow.”
The other co-hosts, the daddy hosts, are falling in love with soccer, and their national team.
The game had an average of 24.429 million viewers on Fox, making it the most-watched English-language soccer broadcast in US history, the broadcaster said. The Fox telecast peaked at 31.883 million. Telemundo, which holds the Spanish language rights to World Cup broadcasts in the US, reported 9.1 million viewers over the total game window.
A weekend of buildup for Mexico v England, and Nick Ames is in Mexico City.
Nobody needs an excuse to pump Sunday’s occasion up. With the final whistle nearing in England’s win over the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the local television commentator reeled off the names of England’s players one by one. In a manner redolent of the Norwegian broadcaster Bjørge Lillelien, whose “Can you hear me Maggie Thatcher?” oration in 1981 is etched into folklore, the Mexican equivalent welcomed Harry Kane and company to the bubbling cauldron that awaits.
Spain looked ominous in beating Austria.
The group stage is something you have to do but the World Cup starts here, Lamine Yamal had insisted, and down on the Pacific that was how it played out. It wasn’t just that Spain defeated Austria to reach the last 16 against Portugal or Croatia, their first victory at the knockout stage since they were champions in 2010; it was that on an enjoyable sunny afternoon they were Spain again. Two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and another from Pedro Porro completed a 3-0 win that was as recognisably theirs as their coach had requested beforehand. “Almost perfect,” Luis de la Fuente called it afterwards.
The World Cup is a place to unearth stars, and the Swiss may just have one.
No wonder Newcastle United are working overtime to wrap up a deal for Johan Manzambi. The secret, if there was such a thing, is well and truly out when it comes to the 20-year-old Freiburg forward who destroyed the Algeria defence to tee up Breel Embolo for Switzerland’s opener in an ominously comfortable victory to reach the last 16.
What a game last night in Toronto. Farewell, Luka Modric. The Ronaldo show rolls on.
Ronaldo hung away from the melée until the penalty was confirmed, then began his march to the spot. He framed himself around the ball, he performed all the necessary rituals, he stepped up, sat Livaković down and converted. He ran to the corner as the ground exploded, performed his trademark celebration and the crowd ‘siuuuuued’ back to him.
Preamble
Good morning, football. Good afternoon and evening, too, wherever you are. Another day, another dollar, after a big overnight for the European teams. The last 32 continues its week of residency and the number of teams is dwindling as others’ hopes rise.
Join us for a day of news, previews and buildup.
