Yosua Arya

Trent Alexander-Arnold has opened up on the demanding early days of Real Madrid’s pre-season, praising the intensity and sky-high standards of returning coach Jose Mourinho. The England defender revealed how he prepared over the summer and set out clear targets for the campaign ahead as the squad builds under the Portuguese at Valdebebas.

England led through Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute strike in the World Cup semi-final against Argentina, only for Thomas Tuchel’s subsequent defensive substitutions to leave the Albiceleste players privately stunned and free to chase a dramatic late victory. The decision to drop deeper and deeper rather than stretch the game with pace proved decisive, allowing Lionel Scaloni’s side to equalise through Enzo Fernandez in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez struck the winner in stoppage time.

Lionel Messi paid an emotional tribute to Diego Maradona after Argentina came from behind to beat England and reach the 2026 World Cup final. The captain said the victory was "a gift" for the late icon before turning his focus towards one more chance at football history.

Liverpool are close to tying Dominik Szoboszlai to a new long-term contract after reaching an outline agreement with the Hungary international. The midfielder, who has become one of the club's standout performers since arriving from RB Leipzig, is expected to remain a key figure under new head coach Andoni Iraola.

Barcelona are closing in on the signing of Karim Adeyemi after the Borussia Dortmund forward completed his medical in the city. The Germany international is expected to be officially unveiled once the remaining paperwork between the clubs is finalised, before joining Hansi Flick's squad for pre-season preparations.

Alan Shearer admitted Argentina were the better side after England's 2-1 semi-final defeat, insisting the Three Lions were fortunate to stay in the contest for so long. The former striker praised Lionel Scaloni's side for their composure, tactical adjustments and deserved comeback to reach the final.

Jude Bellingham has revealed what was said during his heated exchange with Lionel Messi in England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina. The midfielder insisted there was no bad blood between the pair and explained the conversation was simply part of the intensity of a high-stakes contest.

Chelsea deleted a social media post celebrating Enzo Fernandez's goal for Argentina after it sparked a furious reaction from supporters during England's World Cup semi-final defeat. The midfielder's equaliser helped Argentina come from behind to beat the Three Lions 2-1, prompting widespread criticism of the club's online message.

Lionel Messi and his Argentina team-mates were seen inspecting Jordan Pickford's water bottle after their dramatic World Cup semi-final win over England. The bottle, covered in penalty shoot-out notes, was passed around the squad after Argentina completed a late comeback to book their place in the final.

Lionel Messi admitted Argentina could not afford to lose to England in the World Cup semi-final, believing defeat would have sparked unfair criticism despite the team's recent success. The captain also hailed his side's resilience after they fought back to book a second consecutive place in the final.

Thomas Tuchel accepted responsibility for England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina after a tactical switch proved costly. Despite the setback, the England boss insisted he remains committed to leading the Three Lions through to the home European Championship after receiving backing from the FA.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has urged new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso to sign free agent John Stones, arguing the England defender would bring experience and leadership to a young squad. The former Blues striker believes Chelsea's lighter schedule next season could also help minimise concerns over Stones' injury record.

FIFA has been forced to make a rare exception to its strict tournament branding rules ahead of the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina. The governing body could not conceal the iconic Mercedes-Benz logo at Atlanta Stadium after engineering concerns made covering the landmark impossible.

Folarin Balogun has joined Klutch Sports following an impressive World Cup that boosted his profile on and off the pitch. The USMNT forward becomes the first footballer to sign directly with LeBron James' agency as he looks to build on his growing influence in the game.

Aston Villa have firmly dismissed speculation linking Emiliano Martinez with Juventus. Director of Professional Football Damian Vidagany insists the Argentina international remains central to Unai Emery's plans and says reports suggesting he could leave this summer do not reflect the club's position.

Nico O'Reilly is relishing the prospect of facing Lionel Messi when England meet Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals. The Manchester City youngster described the opportunity as "once-in-a-lifetime", while Jordan Pickford warned England must not become overly focused on stopping the Albiceleste captain alone.

Claude Makelele has revealed he urged Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to sign Michael Olise. The former Los Blancos midfielder also compared the Bayern Munich winger's ability to influence games to Lionel Messi, while insisting Olise should not be compared to Jude Bellingham.

Al-Nassr are reportedly dealing with a liquidity shortage that has delayed salary payments to members of the first-team squad and brought transfer activity to a standstill. The financial issues have emerged during pre-season, creating uncertainty as the Saudi champions prepare for the new campaign.