Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has revealed his unique psychological approach to facing Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, admitting he intentionally avoided mentioning Lionel Messi by name. The Pharaohs boss was determined to prevent his squad from becoming overwhelmed by the aura of the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.
England should have enough quality to overcome Argentina in their blockbuster World Cup semi-final, but only if they can successfully nullify the threat of Lionel Messi. Former Manchester United and Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre has warned Thomas Tuchel's side that the Inter Miami superstar is at his most dangerous when he appears to be doing the least, prowling the pitch in search of his next match-winning moment.
Former Aston Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor has boldly claimed that Jude Bellingham, rather than Declan Rice, is destined to succeed Harry Kane as the next England captain. Bellingham has been the standout performer at this summer's World Cup, leading his nation to the semi-finals, and his incredible leadership qualities on the pitch have convinced pundits of his future role.
Lionel Messi has redefined how to influence matches at the World Cup, staggering fans by walking for almost half of his time on the pitch. As Argentina prepare to face England in a highly anticipated semi-final, staggering statistics show exactly how the forward is adapting his game to dominate opponents and preserve his energy for the most crucial, game-changing moments.
Football fans are in for an unforgettable spectacle as the 2026 World Cup reaches its grand conclusion. An incredible lineup featuring Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, pop superstar Nicole Scherzinger, and renowned internet personality IShowSpeed will headline the closing ceremony ahead of the final match in New Jersey, promising an unprecedented blend of music, culture, and sporting drama.
Claude Makelele has hailed Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe as the modern-day successor to Ronaldo Nazario, tipping the Frenchman to secure the 2026 Ballon d'Or. The former Los Blancos midfielder believes Mbappe's impact on the world stage puts him in a category of his own among his peers.
Brazil's Olympic gold-winning coach Rogerio Micale has questioned Carlo Ancelotti's treatment of Neymar during the 2026 World Cup, comparing the forward to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite Neymar announcing his international retirement following a devastating exit against Norway, Micale insists the attacker should reconsider and aim for the 2030 tournament.
Frenkie de Jong has suffered a serious knee injury upon returning to Barcelona following the World Cup. The midfielder underwent initial medical checks on Monday, revealing an issue that has caused immense concern. He is now staring at a significant period on the treatment table, dealing a devastating blow to his team's preparations ahead of the upcoming season.
Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario has sent a public message to Neymar, urging the forward not to rush into international retirement following a devastating 2026 World Cup exit. The Santos star hinted that his time with the Selecao was over after a shock defeat in North America, but he has now been told to take a step back before making a final call.
FIFA has officially announced that American referee Ismail Elfath will officiate England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina. The 44-year-old experienced MLS official, widely regarded as a lucky charm for Lionel Messi, will oversee the blockbuster clash in Atlanta on Wednesday night as Thomas Tuchel aims to guide the Three Lions past the defending world champions.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has urged new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso to sign free agent John Stones, arguing the England defender would bring experience and leadership to a young squad. The former Blues striker believes Chelsea's lighter schedule next season could also help minimise concerns over Stones' injury record.
FIFA has been forced to make a rare exception to its strict tournament branding rules ahead of the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina. The governing body could not conceal the iconic Mercedes-Benz logo at Atlanta Stadium after engineering concerns made covering the landmark impossible.
Folarin Balogun has joined Klutch Sports following an impressive World Cup that boosted his profile on and off the pitch. The USMNT forward becomes the first footballer to sign directly with LeBron James' agency as he looks to build on his growing influence in the game.
Adrien Rabiot has firmly dismissed suggestions that France are engineering a specific tactical blueprint to neutralise Spain winger Lamine Yamal in their World Cup semi-final clash. The midfielder also addressed the lingering fallout from his previous criticism of the Barcelona prodigy, which famously backfired during their Euro 2024 encounter.
Manchester City are reportedly "pushing hard" to secure the signature of Lille's highly-rated midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi following his breakthrough performances at the World Cup. The Premier League giants are eager to bring the Morocco wonderkid straight to the Etihad Stadium as they look to bolster their midfield options for the upcoming campaign.
Nico O'Reilly is relishing the prospect of facing Lionel Messi when England meet Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals. The Manchester City youngster described the opportunity as "once-in-a-lifetime", while Jordan Pickford warned England must not become overly focused on stopping the Albiceleste captain alone.
Erling Haaland has amused football fans by bringing a bizarre $750 taxidermied raccoon back to Oslo following Norway's elimination from the 2026 World Cup. The prolific Manchester City striker showcased the unique souvenir, purchased from a famous Western store in Texas, as the national squad plane touched down back in Scandinavia.
England captain Harry Kane has accused the media of attempting to manufacture internal camp unrest ahead of their World Cup semi-final showdown against Argentina. The striker firmly maintained the squad remains entirely united despite Jude Bellingham's dismissive response to criticism from Thomas Tuchel about England's display in their quarter-final win over Norway.
And so we get to the real bit. England have had, in truth, quite a favourable run in the World Cup thus far. Mexico at the Azteca was a real test, but they are yet to face a team that is, objectively, better than them. Enter Argentina, the reigning champions and led by a certain Lionel Messi.
Lamine Yamal dismissed suggestions that numerology could influence Spain's World Cup semi-final against France, while taking a swipe at former Portugal boss Roberto Martinez. The teenage winger also insisted he feels no anxiety before the biggest match of his career and remains focused only on helping Spain reach the final.
Before the start of Lionel Messi's sixth World Cup, the common consensus was that he'd seen and done it all. After effectively completing football four years ago in Qatar, there was even a fear that there was no way he could, at 39 years of age, add to his legacy - only slightly sully it. Messi, though, has spent his entire career making a mockery out of conventional wisdom and has actually managed to solidify his status as the greatest player of all time by becoming the World Cup's all-time leading goal-scorer and assist-maker during Argentina's run to the semi-finals.
When Spain's starting line-up for last week's World Cup quarter-final against Belgium was revealed roughly an hour before kick-off, the name of Pedri was immediately conspicuous by its absence. The natural assumption among pundits and supporters was that he was carrying a niggle - which tells you everything you need to know about just how highly the Barcelona star is rated.
Didier Deschamps has confirmed Kylian Mbappe is fit to face Spain in France's World Cup semi-final despite concerns over an ankle problem. The France captain trained separately for part of Monday's session, but his boss insisted the modified workload was only part of his recovery plan ahead of the last-four clash.
Liverpool are set to benefit from a significant financial boost after reaching an agreement that clears the way for Arne Slot to become the new Netherlands head coach. The Dutchman, who left Anfield earlier this summer, is the primary candidate to succeed Ronald Koeman following the Oranje's latest transition.
Jules Kounde has dismissed any notion that Lamine Yamal's confident remarks ahead of Spain's World Cup semi-final against France have caused unease. The Euro 2024 champions and the 2022 World Cup runners-up are set to battle it out for a place in the final on Tuesday.
Erling Haaland has opened up on the emotional rollercoaster of Norway's World Cup campaign, describing the tournament as the best journey of his life despite a heartbreaking quarter-final exit to England. The Manchester City superstar insisted that the tournament has permanently changed both his country and his own outlook on the game.
John Terry has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of England's monumental World Cup semi-final clash against Argentina, claiming the Three Lions possess a superior squad to the reigning world champions. The former Chelsea captain believes Thomas Tuchel's side should have no reason to fear the South American giants despite the presence of an evergreen Lionel Messi.
Diego Luna spoke with GOAL about the pain of missing the World Cup, the difficult lessons he has learned, and why becoming a better player starts with changing his approach every day.
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