England news

Former South Africa coach Philippe Troussier has made a bold claim regarding the potential of African football, suggesting that the continent is finally ready to reach the summit of the global game. As the ongoing global showpiece reaches its business end, the Frenchman believes the gap between Africa and the traditional powerhouses has narrowed significantly.

No sugar-coating. This Dutch fan explained exactly how rivals really view England, and it’s not what most England supporters want to hear.

Jude Bellingham had a pretty good excuse to cut his interview with ITV off slightly early. There he was, on the pitch in New Jersey, waxing lyrical about Harry Kane's impact for England when, in the background, voices started to swell up from one end of the stadium, signing 'Hey Jude' in unison.

England captain Harry Kane is set to commit his long-term future to Bayern Munich after deciding to reject interest from Barcelona. The prolific striker has informed the Catalan giants that he is settled in Germany and has no intention of seeking a move away from the Allianz Arena.

Just three games into the 2026 World Cup, England find themselves shorn of all three of their named options at right-back, making what was once an abundant area of the pitch for the Three Lions a real problem position at the worst possible time. Reece James, Tino Livramento and Jarell Quansah are all out injured, and Thomas Tuchel is now under significant scrutiny for some bizarre selection calls.

Former England internationals Gary Neville and Ian Wright have voiced their serious "concern" for Bukayo Saka’s physical condition as the Three Lions prepare for the business end of the 2026 World Cup. The Arsenal star has been managing a persistent injury that appears to be limiting his impact on the global stage.

Cole Palmer has been made aware of what he needs to do in order to become a “great player”, with Frank Leboeuf admitting to GOAL that the Chelsea star’s World Cup snub with England will feel like a “big slap in the face”. The enigmatic playmaker remains a match-winner at Stamford Bridge, but his numbers have dipped year on year after making a dazzling start to his spell in west London.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has called on Thomas Tuchel to make a ruthless selection call by dropping Declan Rice for England’s World Cup knockout campaign. The former midfielder believes the Three Lions must adopt a more aggressive tactical approach if they are to bridge the gap to tournament heavyweights like France and Argentina.

Peter Shilton has explained to GOAL how VAR would have changed the course of history had it been around in 1986, as there would have been no ‘Hand of God’, individual wonder goal or World Cup win for Diego Maradona. Argentina’s mercurial No.10 quite literally carried his nation to global glory single-handedly on Mexican soil, with his most memorable performance being delivered against England at the quarter-final stage.

It’s time for the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup, which means it’s time for penalty shootout drama. Generally, England have a terrible reputation when it comes to spot-kicks, winning just four of the 11 shootouts they’ve participated in. But the signs suggest the tide is turning, with three of those wins coming in their last four.

Barcelona have sensationaly reached out to the representatives of Harry Kane as they look to pull off one of the most ambitious transfers in recent memory. The Catalan giants are reportedly exploring a move for the England captain, who is currently starring at the World Cup, as they search for a long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski.

Frank Lampard is, after overseeing promotion into the Premier League at Coventry, being backed to become a contender for the England manager’s top. Ex-Three Lions captain Terry Butcher has told GOAL why he is hoping to see more home-grown coaches compete for that prestigious post, with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney not being ruled out of the equation just yet.

After Real Madrid wonderkid Endrick sparked a wave of viral memes for sitting on Brazil's bench, Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo is now the main subject. England boss Thomas Tuchel's decision to keep the 21-year-old out of his starting lineup at the 2026 World Cup has triggered internet jokes, making the midfielder a meme sensation.