Declan Rice is “up there” with the best midfielders that England have ever produced, Peter Reid has told GOAL, as the Arsenal talisman has joined a talent bracket that includes the likes of Steven Gerrard and Bryan Robson. That is a big billing, but the newly-crowned Premier League title winner will want to justify it when starring at the 2026 World Cup.
Luka Modric could be considered unique, given all that he has achieved, but Ivan Perisic has told GOAL that Croatia are capable of producing another Ballon d’Or winner in the future. The most decorated performer to emerge from that part of the world collected a prestigious Golden Ball in 2018. More “great talent” continues to drop off the production line, leaving hopes high when it comes to creating another member of the global elite.
Graham Potter has leapt to the defence of his star striking duo Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak, insisting that both players remain elite talents despite receiving mixed reviews in England. The Sweden head coach, who is preparing for a World Cup campaign after a dramatic qualification play-off, believes the external perception of his forwards doesn’t match the reality of their contributions.
Nike has unveiled its new "Rip the Script" campaign ahead of the 2026 World Cup, bringing together some of football's biggest names and global celebrities. Cole Palmer, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior headline the film, which promotes creativity and instinctive play while showcasing the brand's latest football innovations.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has conceded that winning the Ballon d'Or was never a personal childhood dream because he simply deemed the achievement impossible. The Spain international reflected on his historic individual triumph while tipping international team-mate Lamine Yamal to eventually claim football's ultimate individual accolade.
Harry Kane is just as important to the Three Lions as he is to Bayern Munich, both as captain and as a goalscorer. Nevertheless, he may get less playing time at the World Cup than expected.
Brazil forward Endrick has opened up about his testing spell at Real Madrid, revealing how Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold sustained him through regular phone calls. The teenage striker credited their unwavering support for rebuilding his confidence ahead of a transformative six-month loan spell with French outfit Lyon, even though he struggles to understand the pair.
Former England midfielder Nicky Butt has warned Jude Bellingham that manager Thomas Tuchel will ruthlessly ignore player reputations at the upcoming World Cup. Butt believes the Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers possesses the ultimate X-factor and could completely outshine established superstars like Bellingham and Harry Kane on the global stage.
Breel Embolo's World Cup travel uncertainty has finally come to an end after the Switzerland striker received approval to enter the United States. The 29-year-old missed the squad's departure to their training camp in San Diego earlier this week, but is now set to link up with his team-mates ahead of the tournament.
"Who else?!" Those were the words of Jude Bellingham as he careened away in celebration after his quite remarkable bicycle kick had drawn England level in the 95th minute of their Euro 2024 round-of-16 game against Slovakia. The Three Lions had been terrible up to that point, but Bellingham’s heroic moment had kept them alive, continuing a season where he had been the difference-maker for Real Madrid again and again.
GOAL sat down with Gio Reyna to discuss his reputation, his growth since Qatar and why this World Cup gives him the chance to change the story around him.
Jordan Pickford has declared himself ready to take a penalty for England if required at the World Cup. The Everton goalkeeper is balancing his goalkeeping duties with penalty practice as the Three Lions prepare for the tournament in the United States, where he hopes to play a decisive role at both ends of the pitch.
FIFA has sparked outrage among supporters after performing a last-minute U-turn on its stadium policy for the 2026 World Cup. Despite previous assurances that spectators would be allowed to carry water bottles into venues across North America, the governing body has now officially scrubbed those permissions from its code of conduct.
Tottenham have submitted an opening bid for Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke as Roberto De Zerbi looks to reunite with a player he helped develop on the south coast. The initial offer reportedly falls below Brighton's valuation, but talks remain ongoing as Spurs continue their summer defensive rebuild.
Netherlands suffered a disappointing defeat to Algeria in their World Cup warm-up, prompting a furious response from Ronald Koeman. The Oranje boss criticised his side's lack of aggression and discipline, while Donyell Malen came under scrutiny after missing several clear chances before the visitors struck a late winner.
Adam Hlozek of TSG Hoffenheim has been included in the Czech Republic's World Cup squad, despite logging just 37 minutes in the Bundesliga. His manager has now explained the reasoning behind the selection.
Legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly was never short of a good quote, but one of his best offered an insight as to how exactly a football team should be run: "A football team is like a piano - you need eight men to carry it and three who can play the damn thing." It’s a punchy line, and in modern-day international football, it rings painfully true.
Erling Haaland has openly embraced his reputation as the footballing equivalent of The Terminator. A few years ago, he even wished all of his followers on social media a 'Happy Haalandween' by sharing an image of himself portrayed as half-man and half-goal-scoring machine. However, to think of Haaland solely as a stone-cold killer in front of goal does a disservice to an emotional and colourful character who has never wanted anything but the best for his native Norway.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has expressed his complete surprise at the club's abrupt decision to sack manager Arne Slot following a highly disappointing campaign. The veteran defender revealed that the hierarchy did not consult him before parting ways with the Dutch tactician, learning about the sudden dismissal only after the news had leaked to the media on Saturday.
Alphonso Davies has opened up on the psychological toll of his recent injury setbacks as he faces a race against time to be fit for the start of the World Cup. The Bayern Munich star is currently managing a hamstring issue that has cast doubt over his involvement in Canada’s historic opening fixture.
France head coach Didier Deschamps has provided a major boost regarding the fitness of Arsenal defender William Saliba ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Despite suffering a back issue following a gruelling Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, the centre-back has avoided serious injury, though he faces a mental challenge to recover from the heart-breaking loss.
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