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The defining image of Spain's World Cup win over Uruguay was not a celebration. It was not Spain's trademark tiki-taka or a Lamine Yamal rainbow flick. Instead, it was backup goalkeeper Sergio Rochet replacing Fernando Muslera at halftime after the veteran's costly error helped open the door for Alex Baena to send Spain top of their group.

Mexico topped their World Cup group, but not everyone boosted their standing. GOAL looks at who is rising under Javier Aguirre and who is slipping before the Round of 32.

England will be without Reece James for Saturday's World Cup group-stage clash with Panama after the Chelsea defender suffered a hamstring injury. James started matches against Croatia and Ghana but did not travel with the squad for the final group fixture. He is expected to miss England's next two matches in a significant blow for Thomas Tuchel.

GOAL breaks down which players helped and hurt their cases of contributing in the knockout rounds

Ousmane Dembele netted a sublime 32-minute hat-trick to blow Norway away and ensure France secured top spot in World Cup Group I with a 4-1 victory on Friday. The damage was done in the first half as the Ballon d'Or holder ran riot, ably assisted by Kylian Mbappe.

All three host nations have impressed at the 2026 World Cup, and there is reason to believe that deep runs could be on the cards this summer

U.S. Soccer has reportedly presented Mauricio Pochettino with a fresh contract that could see the manager stay in charge for the next four years. The deal was offered before the 2026 World Cup. Pochettino's current contract expires at the end of the tournament, and he has expressed a willingness to stay on under the right conditions.

Eric Djemba-Djemba has explained to GOAL why Bryan Mbeumo was Manchester United’s best signing of 2025-26, with the Cameroon international able to conquer the biggest challenge that any move to Old Trafford presents. The former Brentford forward enjoyed a productive debut campaign at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’, with value for money being found in a £71 million ($94m) transfer.

Legendary former Sunderland boss Peter Reid has admitted to GOAL that he did not give the Black Cats “a prayer” of securing European qualification at the end of their first season back in the Premier League, but he is now backing them to find more “ammo” in the summer transfer window. Regis Le Bris and his board are ready to spend again after upsetting the odds with a seventh-place finish.

Christian Pulisic is considered to have “bailed out” AC Milan at times, but Ruud Gullit has told GOAL why the Rossoneri’s appointment of Ruben Amorim could be “very dangerous” for the USMNT star and other proven performers. A Portuguese coach that was sacked by Manchester United in January has returned to management in Italy, but will he repeat the mistakes that were made at Old Trafford?

Declan Rice’s £105 million ($139m) switch to Arsenal is considered to have helped him step up “two or three levels”, with ex-England captain Terry Butcher telling GOAL why a big-money transfer helped a Three Lions star of the present to join the global elite. Rice is considered to sit inside that talent pool as a Premier League title winner, World Cup hopeful, Ballon d’Or contender and future skipper of his country.

Downs' midfield lynchpin is at the centre of intense transfer speculation as his performances on the world stage attract heavy interest from abroad. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup in full swing, the Bafana Bafana sensation has been linked with a lucrative move to the Middle East.

Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has singled out Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi as the primary threat ahead of their World Cup knockout showdown against Morocco. The Oranje camp is preparing for an incredibly intense battle in Mexico against the reigning African champions to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Manchester City have taken a massive step toward securing their midfield future by agreeing a staggering British record transfer fee for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson. The England international is set to become one of the highest earners at the Etihad as the club prepares for life after Pep Guardiola.

Chelsea winger Pedro Neto has been grabbing headlines for more than just his performances on the pitch at the 2026 World Cup. The Portugal international has found himself the subject of significant social media attention after being unofficially crowned the most handsome player at the tournament.

The Soweto giants have signalled their intentions for the 2026/27 Premier Soccer League season by confirming a triple swoop for some of the country's most exciting talents. The Buccaneers are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for domestic and continental dominance, securing the services of Neo Rapoo, Aphiwe Baliti, and Matome Mmolai to bolster the squad.

Nicolas Pepe rolled back the years with a magnificent individual performance to fire Ivory Coast into the World Cup knockout stage. The experienced attacker netted a historic brace against Curacao to ensure the Elephants progressed beyond the tournament's group stage for the first time in their footballing history.

Bafana Bafana legend has singled out Bucs forward for immense praise following South Africa’s historic 1-0 victory over South Korea. The Soweto giants' striker spearheaded the attack as Hugo Broos’ side secured their passage into the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup.

The Brazilian FA (CBF) has taken the extraordinary step of filing a formal complaint to FIFA following refereeing controversy in their World Cup clash with Scotland. Despite securing a 3-0 victory, the Selecao hierarchy are furious over a disallowed Vinicius Jr goal and are demanding that the match official never takes charge of their games again.

The 27-year-old has opened up on the mental resilience required to overcome his opening-match horror show at the 2026 World Cup. After a red card against El Tricolor threatened to derail his tournament, the midfielder returned to inspire South Africa to a historic victory over the Taegeuk Warriors.

Reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain have reopened formal negotiations with local government officials to purchase the iconic Parc des Princes. The ambitious French capital club aims to secure permanent ownership of the venue to facilitate a massive redevelopment project that will significantly increase the stadium's matchday capacity.

Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda expects newly appointed Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho to construct his entire tactical framework around Kylian Mbappe. The ex-France international believes the duo share an identical elite mindset focused completely on winning trophies and correcting the structural issues that plagued the club last season.

Austrian Bundesliga outfit SV Ried have moved quickly to spend some of the record transfer fee they received after selling the 24-year-old winger to Mamelodi Sundowns. The club have announced South African midfield starlet Jaedin Rhodes has officially secured a move to Europe following an impressive individual campaign in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

Real Madrid are weighing up an audacious transfer strategy that could see former academy star Nico Paz act as the key to unlocking a deal for Inter's Alessandro Bastoni. Jose Mourinho is desperate to bolster his defensive line at the Bernabeu, and a complex series of negotiations involving the Argentine midfielder may provide the perfect solution.

The Bayern Munich centre-back has offered a public apology following his emotional reaction to being substituted during the Taegeuk Warriors' 1-0 defeat to South Africa. The defender was seen visibly frustrated on the touchline as the Asians fell to a shock loss against Hugo Broos’ side in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

As the Pep Guardiola versus Sir Alex Ferguson debate rages on, Peter Shilton has told GOAL how legendary Nottingham Forest boss Brian Clough compares to iconic managers of the modern era. One of the most charismatic coaches to ever grace a dugout would have relished the opportunity to lock tactical horns with the likes of Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti.

Germany legend Lothar Matthaus has launched a scathing critique of Julian Nagelsmann's tactical setup following the national team's bitter World Cup setback against Ecuador. The iconic former captain vehemently argued that current skipper Joshua Kimmich is being severely restricted by his controversial deployment in the right-back role.

RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande has officially addressed the mounting speculation regarding his future as Liverpool step up their pursuit of the Ivorian starlet. The 19-year-old winger has become one of the most sought-after properties in world football following a breakout season in the Bundesliga and a series of dazzling performances at the World Cup.

Jurgen Klopp has delivered a scathing assessment of Germany's tactical approach following their unexpected 2-1 World Cup defeat against Ecuador. The former Liverpool manager warned that Die Mannschaft will not coast through the knockout rounds unless they dramatically alter their current playing style and psychological application.