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Ashley Cole

Cole to be sacked! Ex-England star endures nightmare Serie B coaching start

Former Arsenal and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole is set to leave his role as head coach of Serie B side Cesena after managing just eight matches. Following a disastrous spell that saw the club miss out on the play-offs, the Englishman is expected to be sacked when his short-term contract expires at the end of the month, ending a miserable first managerial stint in Italy.

England v Croatia: Group L - FIFA World Cup 2026

Is Rice injured? England star reveals secret 'pain' battle

Declan Rice has revealed he has been playing through secret "neural pain" since December, but insists he is fully fit for England’s second World Cup group game against Ghana. The Arsenal midfielder was seen nursing his hamstring during the Three Lions' 4-2 victory over Croatia, sparking fears that Thomas Tuchel could be without one of his most vital assets.

Declan Rice England 2026 World Cup

‘Most annoying man’ responsible for Rice on corner duties

Arsenal's set-piece revolution shows the masterplan behind their dominance has now gone international. While the Gunners' prowess from dead-ball situations has been a hallmark of Mikel Arteta's tactical setup, it is the specific transformation of Declan Rice into a corner-kick specialist that is currently paying dividends for both club and country.

Bellingham's chip on shoulder

Jude's 'chip on his shoulder' bad news for England's rivals

Jude Bellingham took it all in after the full-time whistle had blown. He looked up at the stands, an impressive wall of England fans who had travelled 'across the pond' into the boiling metropolis of Dallas, and the supporters were singing. Oasis' 'Wonderwall' filled the air - helped by the acoustics at the indoor Dallas Stadium - and Bellingham allowed a brief smile to flicker across his lips. He had made the difference against Croatia, and he knew it.

World Cup Golden Boot GFX

World Cup 2026 Golden Boot standings: Messi & David lead

The 2026 World Cup is underway and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. There's a long road ahead as 48 nations battle for the top prize, but which star will take home the illustrious award? Here are GOAL's predicted candidates for the prize as we keep track of the tournament's most prolific stars

National Television Awards 2025 - Arrivals

Lineker joins ITV and jokingly takes over from Woods after BBC exit

Gary Lineker made a sensational return to free-to-air television on Saturday night, appearing on ITV's World Cup coverage just weeks after his high-profile departure from the BBC. The former England captain joined the rival broadcaster as a studio guest for the Group E showdown between Germany and Ivory Coast, appearing alongside host Laura Woods and even cheekily hijacking the broadcast.

FBL-ENG-WC-2026-TRAINING

Tuchel boost as Rashford and Rice fit but Saka benched

Thomas Tuchel’s England preparations have been handed a significant lift ahead of their second World Cup Group L fixture against Ghana. Both Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice have returned to full training in Kansas City, easing fears over potential injury absences following their opening victory over Croatia.

FBL-WC-2026-MATCH22-ENG-CRO

Kroos defends Bellingham amid criticism

Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has jumped to the defence of Jude Bellingham, hailing the Englishman as one of the most complete players in world football. The former Germany international spoke out following a wave of criticism directed at the midfielder during a challenging period at the Bernabeu.

England v Croatia: Group L - FIFA World Cup 2026

Tuchel hints Saka will remain on England bench

England manager Thomas Tuchel has indicated that winger Bukayo Saka is unlikely to start the upcoming World Cup encounter against Ghana. Despite making a goal-scoring impact from the bench during the opening victory over Croatia, the Arsenal attacker continues to have his minutes carefully managed due to an ongoing Achilles issue.

Nottingham Forest v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Semi Final

'Wow' - Keane blasts WAGs over personalised shirts

Roy Keane has criticised players' partners for wearing personalised shirts during the World Cup. The former Manchester United captain labelled the trend "ridiculous", while Ian Wright defended the gesture as a simple show of support for loved ones competing on football's biggest stage.

Harry Kane Olivier Giroud Lionel Messi 2026

Why Kane would ‘rather be Giroud’ than match Messi & Mbappe

Harry Kane will not be paying any attention to the 2026 World Cup exploits of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, Danny Mills has told GOAL, as England’s record goalscorer would “rather be Olivier Giroud”. The prolific Bayern Munich striker has already opened his account in North America, alongside several other household names, but will forever prioritise collective success over any individual accolades.

England v Croatia: Group L - FIFA World Cup 2026

Tuchel's England will be 'chasing shadows' without tactical change

Former midfielder Nicky Butt has warned Thomas Tuchel that England must adapt their tactical identity if they are to survive against elite opposition during the knockout stages of the World Cup. Despite an entertaining 4-2 opening victory over Croatia in Group L, the ex-international believes a relentless high-tempo approach will prove unsustainable.

Harry Maguire England 2026

England miss Maguire but reason for second snub explained

England are considered to miss Harry Maguire, amid defensive concerns at the 2026 World Cup, but Danny Mills has explained to GOAL why the Manchester United centre-half has been snubbed for a second time. He was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s initial 26-man squad and - despite leadership questions being asked - was overlooked again when Tino Livramentio withdrew through injury and a replacement needed to be found.

FBL-WC-2026-MATCH22-ENG-CRO

FIFA changes policy after Tuchel complaint

Thomas Tuchel has successfully persuaded FIFA to alter its pre-match media guidelines following a frustrating experience during his tournament debut in Texas. The England head coach complained that a dense wall of press photographers completely obstructed his view of the players during the national anthems, prompting football's governing body to launch an immediate tactical compromise.

World Cup Golden Ball GFX

World Cup Golden Ball Power Rankings: Messi in at No.1

The 2026 World Cup is underway as those still in contention fight it out for the universally coveted trophy. While the collective prize is the main objective for all competitors, some are already making their claim as the best player of the entire tournament. Lionel Messi is the current top candidate after a sublime hat-trick against Algeria, but the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise are hot on his tail after the first week.