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Friendlies

Friendlies news

England v IR Iran: Group B - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Tuchel tells White to 'clear the air' with England squad

Thomas Tuchel has handed Ben White a long-awaited England recall, ending the defender's self-imposed four-year international exile. The Arsenal star, who has not featured for the Three Lions since March 2022, returned to the fold following a late injury to Jarell Quansah. While Tuchel is eager to turn a new page, he has insisted that White must reconcile with squad members who witnessed his abrupt departure from the 2022 World Cup camp.

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Brazil's main men flop in dire friendly loss to ten-man France

Brazil's main men fell flat as the Selecao turned in an underwhelming performance against France in a forgettable 2-1 loss. The Selecao were poor at both ends of the pitch, and languid in between, and only really showed attacking intent when it was too late. A late goal from Bremer was rather flattering as Carlo Ancelotti's men were easily dealt with by Les Bleus, who played most of the second half with ten men.

England Training & Press Conference

Tuchel sends blunt 'pressure' warning to Palmer

Thomas Tuchel has issued a blunt "pressure" warning to Cole Palmer, warning the Chelsea superstar that his place in the England starting XI for the World Cup is far from guaranteed. The German coach insists that the playmaker must prove his worth in the international setup following an injury-hit campaign.

Real Madrid CF v Atletico de Madrid - LaLiga EA Sports

Tuchel tells Trent 'he just has to accept' England squad snub

Thomas Tuchel has delivered a blunt verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold's international future, insisting the Real Madrid defender "just has to accept" his latest exclusion from the England setup. Despite the former Chelsea boss admitting the decision could be viewed as "unfair", he has prioritised other defensive options for the upcoming World Cup preparation.

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Foden scores darts 180 on day Littler visits England squad

The England squad received a unique masterclass this week as double world champion Luke Littler visited St. George’s Park to host the 'Three Lions Darts Championship'. While Littler was expected to provide the fireworks, it was Manchester City’s Phil Foden who stole the show by landing a maximum 180 during the informal tournament.

Cagliari Calcio v SSC Napoli - Serie A

Napoli 'furious' as Lukaku refuses to return to training base

Romelu Lukaku has sparked a major rift at Napoli after reportedly refusing to return to the club's Castel Volturno training base. The veteran striker had recently withdrawn from international duty to focus on regaining full fitness, but has opted to stay in Belgium against the wishes of club officials and manager Antonio Conte.

England Training & Media Activity

Man Utd bench regular called up to England training by Tuchel

Manchester United youngster Ayden Heaven has been handed a surprise opportunity to impress Thomas Tuchel after being drafted into England senior training. The teenage defender was originally selected for the Under-20 squad but has now found himself rubbing shoulders with the nation's elite at St George's Park.

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Mbappe makes big Neymar World Cup claim

Kylian Mbappe has joined the growing debate surrounding Neymar’s international future, insisting that he cannot imagine a World Cup without the Brazilian superstar. As pressure mounts on Selecao boss Carlo Ancelotti to recall the veteran forward, Mbappe has backed his former team-mate to prove his fitness in time for the 2026 tournament.

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Is Neymar's World Cup dream already over?

Neymar found himself back in headlines across Europe last week after he was brought up as a topic of debate on The Overlap. Gary Neville introduced a new 'Unpopular Opinions' segment, and kicked it off with the following statement: "No Premier League player in history is better than a prime Neymar."

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Mbappe denies Madrid misdiagnosed knee injury

Kylian Mbappe has moved to silence the storm surrounding his fitness, categorically denying sensational claims that Real Madrid medical staff examined the wrong knee. The France captain addressed the media ahead of Les Bleus' friendly against Brazil, insisting that his relationship with the Spanish giants remains transparent despite a wave of reports alleging a "monumental mistake" in his diagnosis.

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Arsenal star Havertz explains his love for donkeys

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz has opened up on his unique passion for donkeys, describing them as "wonderful" animals while discussing his deep commitment to animal welfare. The 26-year-old, who has recently returned to the Germany national team fold, revealed that his affection for the creatures started at a very young age and remains a significant part of his life away from the pitch.

Trent Alexander-Arnold Thomas Tuchel England GFX

Will Trent ever play for England again after brutal Tuchel snub?

During an interview with Sky Sports in October 2024, Trent Alexander-Arnold was asked about his remaining career goals and whether he would rather win another Champions League, become Liverpool captain, lift a trophy with England or win the Ballon d'Or. The right-back went with the latter, the most unrealistic - and unimportant - option.

Belgium v Kazakhstan - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

Lukaku withdraws from Belgium squad

Romelu Lukaku has officially withdrawn from the upcoming Belgium squad for their international friendlies against the United States and Mexico. The experienced Napoli striker is recovering from a long-term hamstring injury and has chosen to stay in Italy to focus on regaining his full fitness ahead of this summer's highly anticipated World Cup tournament.