Yosua Arya

Germany have suffered a major setback ahead of the World Cup knockout rounds after Nico Schlotterbeck was ruled out of the tournament with a serious ankle injury. The Borussia Dortmund defender sustained the problem against the Ivory Coast, forcing Julian Nagelsmann into a defensive reshuffle at a crucial stage of the competition.

Declan Rice has revealed he has been managing nerve pain in his hamstring since December while coping with a packed season for club and country. The England midfielder still impressed in a 4-2 win over Croatia, assisting Harry Kane, but sparked concern after limping off. He has also criticised the ‘crazy’ football calendar after playing 55 matches for Arsenal this season.

A Ghanaian witch doctor who previously claimed responsibility for an injury suffered by Cristiano Ronaldo during the 2014 World Cup has turned his attention to Harry Kane. Nana Kwaku Bonsam says he is working to stop England's captain from making an impact against Ghana, while Thomas Tuchel's squad remain focused on their World Cup ambitions.

Raphinha's family has strongly denied claims made by former Brazil international Vampeta that the Barcelona winger is dealing with financial and family problems. The retired midfielder suggested a move to Al-Hilal could help resolve the alleged issues, but the player's cousin publicly accused him of spreading false information.

Austria boss Ralf Rangnick has hailed Lamine Yamal as one of football’s brightest young talents after Spain’s emphatic 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia. The former Manchester United manager believes the Barcelona winger has the potential to reach a level comparable to Lionel Messi, provided he remains grounded and continues his development.

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.

Lionel Scaloni has emphasized the unity of his Argentina squad as they rally around captain Lionel Messi following a wave of misinformation regarding his family. The Inter Miami superstar has been the subject of shocking false reports during the 2026 World Cup, forcing both the manager and the Messi family to take a public stand.

Kylian Mbappe has brushed aside comparisons with football's biggest stars, insisting Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo remain the game's standout players. The France captain also played down talk of individual milestones, including his pursuit of the World Cup's all-time scoring record, as he focused on helping Les Bleus progress in the tournament.

Mohamed Salah starred as Egypt came from behind to beat New Zealand 3-1 in Vancouver and secure the nation's first-ever World Cup victory. The Liverpool forward scored once and provided an assist as the Pharaohs overturned an early deficit, moving to the top of Group G and boosting their hopes of reaching the knockout stages.

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.

Brazil icon Ronaldinho has completed a surprise move to Italian third-tier side Ravenna, more than a decade after his last professional appearance. While club officials initially suggested his role would be limited to marketing activities, they have since refused to rule out the possibility of the 46-year-old featuring on the pitch.

Tottenham have stepped up their interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton as they continue reshaping their squad under Roberto De Zerbi. The north London club view the England international as a key target, while reports linking Spurs with a move for Mason Greenwood have been dismissed.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has thrown his support behind the United States after their 2-0 win over Australia secured back-to-back World Cup victories for the first time since 1930. The former LA Galaxy striker believes Mauricio Pochettino's side have the momentum, confidence and home support needed to challenge for the biggest prize in football.

Arda Guler issued an emotional apology after Turkey's World Cup hopes were ended by a 1-0 defeat to Paraguay. The Real Madrid midfielder admitted the team had fallen well below expectations, with Turkey crashing out after failing to score in either of their opening two matches.

Former Chelsea and Newcastle United striker Demba Ba has been appointed as Le Havre's sporting director. The 41-year-old replaces Mathieu Bodmer and arrives after an impressive tenure in a similar role at Dunkerque. The French club hopes his experience on and off the pitch can help strengthen the club's long-term Ligue 1 project.

Marco Materazzi has taken a fresh swipe at former team-mate and long-time rival Zlatan Ibrahimovic, sarcastically branding him the “greatest Interista in history” amid AC Milan’s ongoing instability. The ex-Inter defender also revisited Ibrahimovic’s 2009 departure from Giuseppe Meazza, linking it to the Nerazzurri’s historic Treble-winning campaign.

Brazil secured their first win of the 2026 World Cup with a convincing 3-0 victory over Haiti, but concerns over Raphinha's fitness overshadowed the result. The Barcelona winger was forced off after suffering hamstring tightness, leaving Carlo Ancelotti awaiting further assessment. Meanwhile, there was better news elsewhere, with Neymar closing in on his return.

Turkey's World Cup campaign ended in dramatic fashion as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Paraguay despite dominating possession and peppering the opposition goal with 33 attempts. Former Newcastle United midfielder Miguel Almiron also made tournament history with a controversial red card, but Paraguay held firm to secure a result that ended Turkey's hopes.