Thomas Tuchel has hit back at his critics after England secured a third-place finish at the World Cup, suggesting the fallout from their semi-final exit was disproportionately negative. The German tactician oversaw a wild 6-4 victory over France to claim the bronze medal but spent much of his post-match address defending the "next steps" of his project.
Kylian Mbappe has reached the summit of World Cup history, but the France captain is fully prepared to see his stay at the top lasting less than 24 hours. Despite surpassing Lionel Messi to become the competition's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals, the Real Madrid forward remains certain that his former PSG team-mate will have something to say in Sunday's final against Spain.
England at least managed to put a bit of shine on their World Cup campaign. The highly-entertaining, 6-4 win over France in Saturday's bronze-medal match didn't change the fact that they collapsed in the semi-final against Argentina three days earlier, but it did at least save a little bit of face.
Michael Olise made history on the grandest stage of all, but the Bayern Munich winger was left devastated following France’s chaotic 6-4 defeat to England in the World Cup bronze final. Despite eclipsing a long-standing record held by the legendary Pele, the 24-year-old was unable to find personal joy after a series of uncharacteristic misses in Miami.
Lionel Messi has sparked fresh speculation about his international future after releasing a powerful and emotional statement just hours before the 2026 World Cup final. The legendary forward, who has led Argentina to the brink of consecutive global titles, described the upcoming clash against Spain as part of a journey that has already secured its place in the history books.
Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo has officially concluded his 2026 World Cup journey without playing a single minute for England. Following his absence from the third-place play-off against France, manager Thomas Tuchel has provided a fresh update on the 21-year-old amid shocking claims the midfielder was urged to fake an injury to avoid the "nonsense" fixture.
The World Cup final is finally upon us, and Sunday's showdown between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey promises to be an absolutely enthralling encounter between the two best teams in the tournament - with the emphasis very much on 'teams'.
Bukayo Saka has voiced his frustration over a lack of playing time at the World Cup despite Inspiring England to a third-place finish with a sensational hat-trick against France. The Arsenal winger was surprisingly benched for the semi-final defeat against Argentina, a decision that has sparked intense debate over Thomas Tuchel's tactical choices.
Jude Bellingham has officially etched his name into the history books by becoming the first Englishman to ever score seven goals at a single World Cup tournament. The Real Madrid sensation reached the unprecedented milestone during a chaotic bronze-medal match against France, surpassing the previous benchmarks set by national icons.
The bronze-medal match tends to be one of the highest-scoring games of the tournament, and this one certainly didn't disappoint. England manager Thomas Tuchel called it a fixture “nobody wants to play in” earlier in the week, but that didn't appear to be the case as the Three Lions and France battled in the highest-scoring third-place match in World Cup history, with England edging a wild 6-4 win
New Croatia head coach Slaven Bilic has made Luka Modric his first priority in the role, revealing plans to speak with the veteran midfielder about his international future as he looks to convince the AC Milan captain to continue representing his country.
Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo missed England’s World Cup third-place play-off against France after picking up an injury. The 21-year-old will depart the Three Lions camp without having seen a single minute of competitive action during the tournament in North America.
Ipswich Town have taken a major step forward in their summer recruitment drive by securing a deal for Dutch goalkeeper Kayne van Oevelen. The Premier League newcomers have finalised terms with both the player and Volendam to bring the highly rated shot-stopper to Portman Road.
Manchester United's pre-season campaign got off to a controversial and frustrating start as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Wrexham in Helsinki. While much of the focus was on the debut of big-money signing Andrey Santos, the match ended in a chorus of boos directed at the officiating following a late penalty shout.
Chelsea have reached an agreement with Aston Villa to sign Morgan Rogers in a deal worth a staggering £117 million. The 23-year-old playmaker has opted for Stamford Bridge over Premier League rivals Arsenal after being enticed by the project under new head coach Xabi Alonso.
kylian Mbappe has paid an emotional tribute to Didier Deschamps ahead of his final match in charge of France, admitting the squad "failed" to give their long-serving manager the send-off he deserved after their World Cup elimination, as Les Bleus prepare for one last game together against England.
Liverpool are closing in on a deal to sign highly rated Colombian teenager Samuel Martinez from Atletico Nacional. The Premier League giants have moved quickly to secure one of South America's most promising young talents for a bargain fee.
Chelsea have been informed that they will need to pay £55 million to prise Maxence Lacroix away from Crystal Palace this summer. The France international defender has emerged as a primary target for the Blues as they look to reshape their backline under the guidance of new manager Xabi Alonso.
Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a move for Leicester City defender Ben Nelson as Michael Carrick looks to bolster his backline ahead of the new campaign. The Red Devils have already been active in the market, but the club’s return to the Champions League has necessitated further reinforcements to ensure the squad can compete on multiple fronts.
Roma are stepping up their pursuit of elite wing talent as they prepare for a significant overhaul of their offensive ranks ahead of the new campaign. The Giallorossi have intensified their interest in Alejandro Garnacho and remain firmly in the race for Crysencio Summerville as they seek to build a side capable of competing at the highest level.
France head coach Didier Deschamps has delivered a blunt assessment ahead of his final game in charge, admitting that neither Les Bleus nor England have any real desire to compete in the World Cup third-place play-off. The showpiece event in Miami serves as a bittersweet farewell for the legendary manager following a painful semi-final exit at the hands of Spain.
Preparation for the biggest match in world football has been thrown into disarray after Spain were forced to cancel their final training session before Sunday's World Cup final. Luis de la Fuente’s side, along with their opponents Argentina, were hit by severe weather conditions in the New Jersey area that made outdoor work impossible.
Paul Pogba has made a long-awaited return to the pitch for Monaco, featuring in a pre-season friendly as he fights to save his career in the South of France. The World Cup winner has endured a nightmare spell at the Stade Louis II, but his appearance this weekend offers a glimmer of hope that he could yet play a role under new management.
Neil Warnock has accused Thomas Tuchel of overstepping the mark in his handling of Kobbie Mainoo at the World Cup, branding the England coach's public criticism of the Manchester United midfielder "totally unfair" ahead of Saturday's third-place play-off against France.
The political fallout from Argentina’s dramatic victory over England has reached the highest levels of government. While FIFA weighs up potential sanctions for a controversial banner, the White House has unexpectedly waded into the sovereignty dispute to defend the players' right to free speech. The incident has reignited old tensions between London and Buenos Aires on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
Croatia legend Davor Suker has launched a scathing attack on England manager Thomas Tuchel following the German's dismissive comments regarding the World Cup third-place play-off. The former Real Madrid striker accused the Three Lions boss of elitism after Tuchel suggested that neither England nor France had any interest in competing for a bronze medal.
The Ibrahimovic legacy is set to continue in the Netherlands after Maximilian Ibrahimovic finalised a permanent move away from AC Milan to join AZ. The young winger is returning to familiar territory in the Eredivisie following the conclusion of a developmental loan spell with Ajax's reserve side.
The ongoing recruitment drive at Old Trafford could soon yield a spectacular third midfield addition ahead of the demanding new campaign. Having already heavily invested in reshaping the engine room, decision-makers are well aware that a prime target remains entirely desperate to secure a dream move to the Theatre of Dreams this summer.
Thomas Tuchel is facing growing scrutiny after England's World Cup semi-final defeat, but former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison believes the German should remain in charge. Morrison insists Pep Guardiola would be the only manager worth replacing Tuchel for, while the FA continues to back its current head coach.
Aston Villa have completed the signing of Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg in a deal reportedly worth in excess of £50 million. The 20-year-old arrives after a breakthrough 2026 World Cup and is expected to play a key role in Unai Emery's plans following Youri Tielemans' departure.