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Micah Richards has hit back at suggestions that Jude Bellingham’s place in the England starting XI should be under threat, labelling the Real Madrid midfielder a "genuine superstar." Despite Thomas Tuchel warning that no one is guaranteed a spot, the former Three Lions defender insists the 22-year-old remains the nation’s best player heading into the 2026 World Cup.

GOAL brings you everything you need to know about England vs Croatia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

It's so close we can almost taste it. The 2026 World Cup is now just a day away, with the best players on the planet descending on the United States, Mexico and Canada for what promises to be a superb summer of football. While some teams will solely harbour dreams of getting out of the groups, others know that anything other than a trophy parade in late-July will go down as failure. We're set, then, for five-and-a-half weeks of drama, filled with joy and heartbreak in equal measure.

England head coach Thomas Tuchel has provided a crucial fitness update on Bukayo Saka ahead of the final World Cup warm-up clash against Costa Rica. The winger missed the recent victory over New Zealand following a gruelling, title-winning campaign with Arsenal, prompting the national team staff to carefully manage his minutes to ensure he is fully prepared.