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England World Cup 2026 Media Activity

Watkins defends Doku amid childbirth criticism

England striker Ollie Watkins has staunchly defended Jeremy Doku following widespread criticism over the Belgian winger's decision to leave the World Cup to attend the birth of his first child. Watkins hit back at viral comments labelling childbirth as a "disgusting moment", insisting that welcoming a firstborn is a blessing that transcends football.

Lionel Messi Harry Kane Kylian Mbappe 2026 World Cup

Golden Boot: Will Kane be watching Messi, Mbappe & Haaland?

Harry Kane lives for scoring goals, but will England’s record-shattering captain be keeping an eye on how the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are faring at the 2026 World Cup? Three Lions legend John Barnes has addressed that Golden Boot battle during an exclusive interview with GOAL, as individual ambition is blended with the collective pursuit of global glory.

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Saka back in England training as Tuchel manages fitness

Bukayo Saka has returned to full England training after concerns over the Achilles issue that affected the closing stages of his season with Arsenal. Thomas Tuchel remains cautious over the winger's workload, with England focused on keeping one of their key attacking players fit and ready for the latter stages of the World Cup.

Bukayo Saka England 2026

‘Biggest issue’ Saka faces at 2026 World Cup highlighted

The “biggest issue” facing Bukayo Saka has been highlighted by England legend John Barnes, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, as the Arsenal winger is told that “goal output” is not important at the 2026 World Cup. Fresh from a memorable Premier League title triumph at club level, a star turn at Emirates Stadium is facing plenty of challenges on the grandest of international stages.

Marc Guehi John Stones England GFX

Tuchel needs to drop struggling Stones & recall Guehi

England made a winning start to their World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, but the performance was a bit mixed, even if the dominant start of the second half will have sent fear through some of the Three Lions' main rivals for global glory. For the most part, Thomas Tuchel seemed to get his selection mostly right. Jude Bellingham more than justified his place in the team, while having Anthony Gordon start so that Marcus Rashford could provide an X-factor off the bench paid off.

Jude Bellingham Thomas Tuchel England 2026 World Cup

Bellingham backed to learn from ‘personality clash’ with Tuchel

Danny Mills has told GOAL that “some kind of personality clash” has taken place between Jude Bellingham and Thomas Tuchel, but the former is expected to learn from that as the latter makes it clear who is “the boss”. Real Madrid’s midfield ‘Galactico’ has been handed England’s No.10 shirt at the 2026 World Cup and started in that role for a tournament opener against Croatia.

Marcus Rashford England 2026 World Cup goal Croatia

Why Rashford needs to avoid World Cup transfer shop window

Marcus Rashford needs to avoid giving too much thought to a summer transfer and catching the eye in a World Cup shop window, John Barnes has told GOAL, with the Manchester United-owned forward being made aware of what England need from him. Barcelona appear to have passed on a permanent deal, while the 28-year-old is reluctant to be absorbed back into the fold at Old Trafford.

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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

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'That's his job isn't it? - Keane hits out at 'over the top' Tuchel praise

Roy Keane has firmly dismissed the glowing praise directed at Thomas Tuchel following England's dramatic 4-2 World Cup victory over Croatia in Group L. While several players lauded the manager for an inspiring half-time team talk that seemed to change the game, Keane insists Tuchel was merely fulfilling the basic requirements of his role and believes the reaction has been entirely blown out of proportion.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.