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.
Thomas Tuchel is about to learn the true meaning of an England tournament post-mortem - something the country does best. The inquest is well underway, with widespread calls for the manager's head in the wake of Wednesday's bitterly disappointing World Cup semi-final exit at the hands of the holders Argentina, as a defensive shift backfired and Tuchel's side slumped to defeat in stoppage time, despite leading in the 85th minute.
Spain captain Rodri Hernandez has issued a rallying cry to his team-mates as La Roja prepare for their second-ever World Cup final. Despite a dominant tournament run, the Manchester City midfielder insists that the job is far from finished ahead of a heavyweight clash with Argentina in New Jersey.
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.
Thomas Tuchel has hit out at the World Cup third-place play-off, claiming that neither his England players nor their French counterparts have any desire to take part in the fixture. The Three Lions saw their dreams of a first final since 1966 crushed by Argentina in a dramatic semi-final, leaving them with one final, unwanted obligation in Miami.
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.
Jude Bellingham was seen striking Argentina's Valentin Barco following England's heartbreaking World Cup semi-final exit, but new footage has emerged suggesting the Real Madrid star was heavily provoked. While the initial TV broadcast caught the midfielder's physical reaction, fan-recorded video from the stands has shed light on the heated exchange that led to the confrontation in Atlanta.
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.
Cristian Romero has launched a scathing attack on Gary Neville after Argentina dump England out of the 2026 World Cup, labeling the pundit's pre-match comments as "stupid." The Tottenham defender and his partner Lisandro Martinez had the last laugh in Atlanta, securing a spot in the final against Spain while silencing their loudest critics.
Lionel Scaloni struggled to hold back his emotions after Argentina beat England 2-1 to book their place in the World Cup final. The head coach praised his players' character, unity and resilience, insisting their success is built on brotherhood rather than arrogance as they prepare to face Spain.
Harry Kane has refused to confirm if he has played his final World Cup match following England's heartbreaking semi-final exit at the hands of Lionel Messi and Argentina. The Three Lions captain cut a dejected figure in Atlanta as a late collapse saw Thomas Tuchel's side surrender a lead to the defending champions.
It was all going so, so well for around 80 minutes. England went toe-to-toe with Argentina, and had a just-about-deserved 1-0 lead over the defending champions. A first World Cup final in 1966 was in sight for the Three Lions. And then, due in large part to the decisions of manager Thomas Tuchel, it was snatched away.
Jude Bellingham cut a devastated figure in Atlanta as England's dreams of World Cup glory were extinguished by a late Argentina comeback. The Real Madrid superstar, who had carried the hopes of a nation throughout the tournament, was left questioning what more he could have done after the Three Lions fell at the penultimate hurdle.
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.
England icons Gary Lineker and Wayne Rooney have led a scathing backlash against Thomas Tuchel following the Three Lions' devastating World Cup semi-final exit at the hands of Argentina. The German manager's decision to retreat into a defensive shell backfired spectacularly as late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez turned a 1-0 lead into a 2-1 nightmare.
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.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has thrown his weight behind Zinedine Zidane to take the reins of the French national team following their exit from the World Cup. The legendary Swede believes the Bleus require a specific type of leadership to move forward after their 2-0 defeat to Spain in the semi-finals.
Christophe Dugarry has fiercely criticised Didier Deschamps and the France national team following their semi-final defeat to Spain. The former Barcelona forward expressed extreme frustration over the terrible performance, feeling utterly deceived by the team's lack of attacking threat and fighting spirit during the deeply disappointing 2026 World Cup exit.
Thomas Tuchel threw away England's best chance of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966 as the Three Lions allowed Argentina to come from behind to triumph 2-1 in Atlanta on Wednesday. Tuchel's team selection initially looked set to pay off, as surprise selection Morgan Rogers crossed for Anthony Gordon to break the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half.
Every time Lionel Messi got near the ball, the crowd in Atlanta held its breath. It wouldn't take much to feel the room shift during the first hour or so of Argentina's clash with England, just a brief moment where the Argentinian icon drifted into enough space to maybe, perhaps, do something. As the game wore on, those moments became more tense. Down a goal late, the moments where the air left the crowd were less about anticipating magic and more about a potential reality setting in.
The German Football Association has refused to sign a letter supporting the re-election of FIFA president Gianni Infantino. This decision highlights growing tensions between European football governing bodies and the global organisation, exacerbated by recent controversial disciplinary decisions and external political interventions during international tournaments.
Joe Hart has defended Jude Bellingham after the England midfielder appeared to hit back at manager Thomas Tuchel following the Three Lions' World Cup quarter-final victory. The former England goalkeeper suggested that the Real Madrid star was unfairly targeted by "naughty" questioning in the immediate aftermath of the win over Norway.
Barcelona have been left reeling after Frenkie de Jong returned to the club early with a severe knee injury that could sideline him for up to six months. The Catalan giants are reportedly furious with Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman and the Oranje medical staff, feeling they were misled regarding the player's physical condition during the recent international break.
Thierry Henry has admitted that Spain are vastly superior to France following their dominant 2-0 victory in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday. The former striker praised La Roja's possession-based system and long-term football identity, explaining exactly why Kylian Mbappe and his teammates struggled against their bitter rivals on the biggest stage.
FIFA's refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina has issued a firm rebuttal to Didier Deschamps after the France manager questioned the quality of officiating in their World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain. The Les Bleus boss was visibly frustrated following the 2-0 loss, suggesting that the standards in the crucial clash were not what he expected.
Nottingham Forest are closing in on a significant coup with the addition of experienced midfielder Xaver Schlager on a free transfer. The 28-year-old Austrian international is set to arrive at the City Ground to bolster a midfield that recently lost a key figure to a Premier League giant.
Luka Modric is reportedly ready to extend his stay at San Siro by committing to a new one-year contract with AC Milan. The veteran midfielder has rapidly weighed up his options following Croatia’s disappointing early departure from the 2026 World Cup just a few days ago.
Inter have emerged as shock suitors for Tottenham full-back Djed Spence as they look to defend their Serie A title. The England international is reportedly open to the move after revitalising his career in north London and on the international stage.
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