Here's your round-up of the latest World Cup headlines for Thursday, December 1.
Martin eases Allen concerns
Swansea City head coach Russell Martin insists Joe Allen did not suffer a fresh hamstring injury during Wales' World Cup defeat to England.
Allen was forced off during the 3-0 defeat to the Three Lions on Tuesday night, a result which sealed Wales' exit from the tournament, and the sight of him limping off will have clearly sparked concern for the Swans. The 32-year-old has been nursing a hamstring issue for most of the season, and was initially a huge doubt for the showpiece in Qatar. However, Martin has moved to easy any concerns that the midfielder may have further aggravated the problem.
READ MORE: 'We go again' - Gareth Bale adamant Wales career isn't over despite World Cup battering
"I watched him with immense pride and I am really pleased he came through it unscathed," Martin told the BBC. "He is fine. He is very tired - he probably played a bit longer than he would have liked to, we would have liked him to - but he has come through it and that's the big positive for us.
"He will come back to us next week, I think, really ready to kick on. He is very disappointed at how it ended, but I said to him 'you will look back on it with immense pride'.
"He has done something I was never able to do, played for his country at a World Cup - something millions and millions of people would dream of. Although Wales will be disappointed with how it went, to maintain perspective and to look back on it, I think what they have achieved as a group is incredible really. He has played such a big part in that."
Wales v England breaks BBC record
An average of 16.6million people tuned in to watch Wales' defeat to England on Tuesday night, with the game reaching a peak audience of 18.7m across BBC TV, iPlayer and online.
The numbers represent a tournament record for the broadcaster, with the game also shown in Welsh on S4C although those numbers weren't included in the overall figure.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the BBC said: "[The] BBC coverage of Wales v England was watched by a peak audience of 18.7 million across TV, iPlayer and BBC Sport online. This figure, which accounts for viewers across TV and other devices, is the biggest UK audience of the World Cup so far.
"This follows huge demand for World Cup matches on iPlayer throughout the tournament so far. Last week saw the full range of BBC programmes on iPlayer streamed a record 165m times, up +20% week on week, and breaking the previous high by 12m streams. Younger viewers came to iPlayer in record numbers too, with 6.3m BBC account holders under-35 watching BBC iPlayer last week – up +41% week on week, and beating the previous record of 5.0m."
White leaves England camp
Arsenal star Ben White has left the England squad to return home for the personal reasons. The 25-year-old currently has four caps for the Three Lions, but didn't make a single appearance out in Qatar, as England topped Group B.
Confirming the news, England said in a statement: "Ben White has left England’s training base in Al Wakrah and returned home for personal reasons. The Arsenal defender is not expected to return to the squad for the remainder of the tournament. We ask that the player’s privacy is respected at this moment in time."
Ash: Bale can bow out when he wants
Former Wales captain Ashley Williams says Gareth Bale has earned the right to call time on his international career on his own terms.
Bale has already insisted he has no intention of walking away from Wales, despite enduring a torrid World Cup campaign, and Williams hopes the 33-year-old will continue to play his part for his country.
"He's always given his all for Wales and it's not all been smooth for him," he said in a BBC column. "I've seen him play though injuries and nothing ever stopped him joining up with the squad, no matter where we were playing. If he decided he was retiring now, no-one could complain about his commitment or his contribution to the national cause.
"He led these boys to a World Cup so, whenever he wants to bow out, it is fine with me. He did mention the Euros are just around the corner so we might see him again. I hope so."
Meanwhile, in his player ratings for MailOnline, former Chelsea striker-turned-pundit Chris Sutton said Bale was anonymous against England. Handing him a mark of two out of 10, he wrote: "Sad to see what is likely to be Bale's final World Cup end in such anonymity. I can hardly remember him touching the ball! Replaced at half time by Johnson, seemingly after a knock. Not his night. "
READ MORE:
Gareth Bale hooked at half-time in Wales' crucial World Cup match with England
Who are in Wales' Euro 2024 qualifying group and when do they play next?
Wales 0-3 England live reaction as Rob Page's men crash out of World Cup
