Former striker Chris Sutton has strongly criticised Portugal manager Roberto Martinez ahead of their World Cup knockout match against Croatia, describing his continued reliance on Cristiano Ronaldo as completely embarrassing. Sutton believes Martinez is holding his talented squad back by pandering to Ronaldo and refusing to substitute him despite his declining impact on the pitch.
Noni Madueke has expressed his absolute bewilderment at anyone doubting Jude Bellingham, labelling the England superstar as a world-class talent after a stellar World Cup. The winger insists that the Real Madrid midfielder always delivers on the biggest stages, and his unplayable display against Panama was just business as usual for the Three Lions.
It hasn't always been pretty, but England have achieved their aim of winning their World Cup group to set up a favourable last-32 tie. They will face DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday after eventually seeing off Panama last time out, but form and fitness mean Thomas Tuchel's team selection is far from certain as the knockout stage gets underway.
Declan Rice has provided a positive update on his fitness as England prepare for their 2026 World Cup last-32 clash with DR Congo in Atlanta. The Arsenal midfielder was a notable absentee from the final group stage win over Panama, sparking fears that Thomas Tuchel could be without his midfield anchor for the start of the knockout rounds.
Lamine Yamal has confidently embraced the massive pressure of wearing the number 10 shirt for Barcelona and starring for Spain at the 2026 World Cup. The teenage sensation has also delivered a positive fitness update, confirming he is fully prepared to play 90 minutes in the upcoming knockout fixtures despite recent injury concerns and a cautious approach in the group stages.
Quite predictably, Erling Haaland was Norway's hero as his late goal secured a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast to send the Scandinavians through to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, setting up a showdown with Brazil. The Manchester City striker had been peripheral for long stretches but popped up to bobble home the winner with just four minutes left on the clock in Dallas, after Manchester United's Amad Diallo had hauled Les Elephants level.
Endrick has expressed his delight after helping Brazil reach the World Cup round of 16. Following early tournament frustration and viral memes about his lack of minutes, the forward thanked manager Carlo Ancelotti for his trust against Japan. After a successful loan at Lyon, Endrick is now eagerly anticipating a return to Real Madrid to start a fresh chapter.
England icon John Barnes has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo's attitude could derail Portugal in the World Cup knockout stages, describing the situation as an accident waiting to happen. In contrast, Barnes praised Lionel Messi, highlighting how the Argentina captain's humble nature unites his team-mates, unlike Ronaldo who creates tension when things do not go his way.
Michael Owen has sensationally labelled Harry Kane as England's greatest-ever striker, admitting he was wrong to previously doubt the forward's natural finishing ability. However, the former Three Lions star believes Kane made a significant tactical error by choosing to join Bayern Munich instead of chasing records in the Premier League.
Gabriel Magalhaes has praised the tactical setup at Arsenal for helping him provide a crucial assist for Casemiro during Brazil's dramatic World Cup round of 32 clash against Japan. The defender explained that his club's high defensive line gave him the confidence to push forward, setting up the vital equaliser before Gabriel Martinelli sealed their progression.
Jordan Pickford has sounded a defiant battle cry ahead of England's World Cup knockout campaign, claiming the squad is prepared to "go to war" for manager Thomas Tuchel. The Three Lions are looking to build on their group stage momentum as they prepare for a high-stakes last-32 encounter against DR Congo in North America.
The Netherlands are reeling from a historic World Cup disaster following their penalty shootout defeat to Morocco in the round of 32. Now, former Oranje star Ronald de Boer has predicted a massive overhaul for the national team, suggesting both captain Virgil van Dijk and manager Ronald Koeman are nearing the end of their international careers.
France manager Didier Deschamps has insisted he is not concerned by William Saliba's ongoing back injury ahead of their World Cup round of 32 clash against Sweden. The Arsenal defender admitted he is not playing at 100 per cent and has been forced to skip training sessions to manage the issue, but Deschamps believes the centre-back remains fully prepared to anchor Les Bleus' defence in New York.
Lionel Messi has proven he is a superhero on the pitch for decades, but the legendary Argentine has now taken things a step further by appearing alongside Tom Holland in a viral crossover. The Inter Miami star features in a hilarious new teaser for the upcoming Marvel blockbuster Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
The Netherlands have been dumped out of the 2026 World Cup in brutal fashion after a dramatic 3-2 penalty shootout defeat to Morocco following a 1-1 draw. Former Dutch international Pierre van Hooijdonk blasted Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Crysencio Summerville for their 'idiotic' penalty run-ups, admitting their high-stakes failures made him feel completely sick to his stomach.
Rafael van der Vaart has launched a blistering critique of Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong following the Netherlands' dramatic World Cup exit against Morocco. The former Oranje midfielder was left utterly baffled by Ronald Koeman's tactical decisions in Monterrey, arguing that the manager's system completely isolated and nullified De Jong.
Jude Bellingham has revealed he would love to play James Bond once his football career comes to an end. The England star, who has impressed at the 2026 World Cup, admitted he is a huge fan of the iconic spy franchise and even joked that he could one day land the starring role.
Dietmar Hamann launched a fierce attack on Julian Nagelsmann after Germany's shock 2026 World Cup exit, accusing the head coach of failing to build team unity and neglecting player scouting. The former Germany international also questioned the coach's commitment as pressure continues to grow on the national team boss.
Joshua Kimmich accepted full responsibility after Germany's World Cup campaign ended with a penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay in the last 32. The defender admitted his side never reached their best level during the tournament and insisted the players alone were to blame for another disappointing exit.
Mexico face Ecuador with a place in the World Cup Round of 16 on the line as Álvaro Fidalgo, Julián Quiñones and Gilberto Mora headline GOAL's five keys.
Germany crashed out of the World Cup after a penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay following a 1-1 draw after extra time. Julian Nagelsmann was left furious by the decision to disallow Jonathan Tah's extra-time goal, branding the VAR intervention a "scandal" before becoming frustrated during a post-match television interview.
Since lifting the 2014 World Cup, Germany have endured a nightmare run at the biggest football tournament on the planet. They embarrassingly exited the competition at the group stage in both 2018 and 2022, and while they made it into the knockouts this time around in 2026, they still failed to reach the last 16 after falling on penalties to Paraguay on a chastening Monday afternoon in Boston.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has pulled no punches in his assessment of Ronald Koeman following the Netherlands' dramatic World Cup elimination at the hands of Morocco. The legendary striker accused his former Ajax manager of completely betraying the nation's traditional footballing philosophy by adopting a defensive setup that ultimately backfired in Monterrey.
Jurgen Klinsmann has branded Germany's World Cup exit to Paraguay a "disgrace" and called for a complete review of the German Football Association (DFB). The former Germany striker believes everyone involved must accept responsibility after another disappointing international campaign.
Comprehensive match preview of Spain vs Austria at World Cup 2026. We talk tactics, team news and more ahead of this round of 32 clash at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has raised eyebrows by claiming the team's "gameplan worked" despite their dramatic World Cup round-of-32 exit against Morocco. The veteran defender played down criticism of his country's deeply conservative performance that ultimately backfired in a painful penalty shootout.
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