Callum Mcavoy

Spain are crowned World Cup 2026 champions as Metro names the tournament’s best XI, highlighting standout performances from players including Vozinha, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella, Jude Bellingham, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe. The selections reflect decisive contributions, breakout talents, and key moments that shaped the competition across multiple nations.

Davor Suker criticises Thomas Tuchel for suggesting England and France do not want to play the World Cup Bronze match, urging respect for all competing nations and emphasising the long-term significance of finishing third. The game offers England players Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham a chance to compete for the Golden Boot, with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi also in contention.

Joe Hart urges Thomas Tuchel to rest fatigued England players, including Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane, for the World Cup Bronze match against France. He argues the game should provide opportunities for squad members who have played little, especially with Rice and Saka struggling for fitness. With several players still in contention for the Golden Boot, England prepare for the third-place play-off with all but the injured Jordan Henderson available.

Donald Trump criticised Thomas Tuchel’s tactics in England’s World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina, arguing Harry Kane was used too defensively. Tuchel dismissed the comments and defended his in‑game decisions, accepting responsibility for the defeat but maintaining he had no regrets about his choices under pressure.

Elijah Upson, the son of former England defender Matthew Upson, has left Tottenham after rejecting a professional deal and is set to join Arsenal, with the transfer to be announced soon. Several major clubs across England and Europe had shown interest, but Upson chose Arsenal after visiting their London Colney facilities and consulting with his family. Tottenham will receive compensation due to his age. Arsenal’s pursuit of centre‑backs continues as injuries to William Saliba prompt interest in Ezri Konsa, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Maxence Lacroix.

Crystal Palace have raised their valuation of defender Maxence Lacroix to at least £55 million as Chelsea prepare to pursue the France World Cup player after the tournament. The price reflects recent Premier League centre‑back transfers, including Tottenham’s £52 million deal for Jan Paul van Hecke. Lacroix, who has expressed interest in moving to Stamford Bridge, has been key to Palace’s recent trophy wins but could be replaced by Augsburg’s Chrislain Matsima. Chelsea are expected to reshuffle their defence, with Axel Disasi and Trevoh Chalobah available for transfer, while Chalobah is close to agreeing a move to Como despite a valuation gap between the clubs.

Spain forward Lamine Yamal missed training ahead of the World Cup final due to a hamstring issue, raising concerns over his availability, though reports suggest the absence was precautionary. Pedro Porro also sat out training for workload management. Both Spain and Argentina prepare for the final at MetLife Stadium, with attention on a potential matchup between rising talent Yamal and Lionel Messi, while Spain players express confidence ahead of the match.

Inter chairman Giuseppe Marotta criticised Marco Palestra for abandoning a verbal agreement to rejoin the club after Chelsea intervened with a higher offer. He attributed the outcome to the player’s change of heart and the influence of his agent, noting that Inter had already reached terms with Atalanta before Chelsea completed a £47m deal. New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso welcomed the signing, highlighting Palestra’s versatility and mentality ahead of the upcoming season.

Dutch referee Rob Dieperink died at age 38, months after being removed from World Cup VAR duties following an arrest in London on suspicion of sexual assault, a case later dropped due to lack of evidence. The KNVB confirmed his death and praised his professionalism, while Dieperink had previously expressed disappointment about losing his World Cup role despite full cooperation with investigators. He had recently continued officiating, including a pre-season match two days before his passing.

Manchester United are set to trigger Youri Tielemans’ £35 million release clause, advancing negotiations with Aston Villa and the player as they seek midfield reinforcements following recent departures and injuries. Tielemans, keen on the move, brings extensive Premier League experience and recent international success. His departure adds to Aston Villa’s challenges, with the club already facing midfield shortages due to Amadou Onana’s injury despite recently securing Johan Manzambi.

Senegal dismissed manager Pape Thiaw after a disappointing World Cup exit marked by three losses and a late collapse against Belgium. Key players Sadio Mane and Pape Gueye had expressed dissatisfaction, with Gueye calling for a change in leadership. The Senegalese Football Federation announced a full reorganisation and is reportedly targeting former Arsenal and France star Patrick Vieira as the next head coach. Vieira, born in Dakar and currently out of management, is considered a high‑profile candidate to lead the team’s future direction.

Brendon McCullum was removed as England’s Test head coach after a difficult run of results, with the ECB confirming he will continue leading the White Ball teams. His departure follows Ben Stokes’ recent retirement and a series of Test losses, including failure to reclaim the Ashes. McCullum expressed pride in the team’s progress and pledged support for the players while focusing on his remaining coaching roles.

Jude Bellingham’s sharp response to Thomas Tuchel’s criticism of England’s win over Norway drew a rebuke from Frank Leboeuf, who argued the midfielder should avoid publicly commenting on his manager and warned it could risk his place for the semi-final against Argentina. Bellingham defended the team’s performance, stressing the difficulty of the match and the quality of Norway’s players. Gary Neville countered that the tension between Bellingham and Tuchel was energising the squad, describing the exchange as a display of strong personalities that could ultimately benefit England.

Gary Lineker praised Elliot Anderson’s strong performance against Norway but voiced concerns about his defensive discipline ahead of England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina. Micah Richards agreed, arguing Anderson is better suited to a more advanced midfield role and warning he could be exposed by stronger opposition. Despite England’s progression after a 2-1 extra‑time win, both pundits highlighted the need for tactical adjustments before facing Lionel Messi and Argentina.

Lisandro Martinez dismissed media criticism of refereeing decisions surrounding Argentina’s World Cup run, defending officials and accusing reporters of generating controversy. Argentina’s knockout-stage matches have sparked debate after a disallowed Egypt goal and past leniency toward Lionel Messi, prompting complaints from the Egyptian Football Association. Martinez emphasized the team’s focus on performance ahead of their quarter-final against Switzerland, praising their opponents’ physicality and style of play.

Ken Bates, former owner and chairman of Chelsea and later Leeds United, died at age 94 in Monaco. Chelsea FC announced his passing and issued a tribute recognizing his role in stabilizing the club during financial struggles and guiding it to trophy success, including the 1997 FA Cup. Bates sold Chelsea to Roman Abramovich in 2003 before moving to Leeds, where his tenure was marked by relegation and administration issues. The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust also highlighted his importance in securing the club’s long‑term future at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are preparing to sell Alejandro Garnacho after he failed to report for pre-season training, with his future not in Xabi Alonso’s plans following a disappointing first season. Roma have shown concrete interest, and Chelsea are seeking €50 million from foreign clubs or £45 million from Premier League sides. The winger, who moved from Manchester United less than a year ago, struggled for playing time and is now open to leaving amid continued squad changes at the club.

Clement Turpin will referee England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway, a decision noted due to Thomas Tuchel’s past strong criticism of Turpin’s officiating in a 2023 Champions League match. Turpin has officiated multiple matches at the current tournament and is considered experienced, though England’s manager has complained about refereeing standards. Several England players risk suspension with another booking ahead of a potential semi-final.

Arsenal are considering a move to re-sign former defender Konstantinos Mavropanos, who has attracted interest following strong performances at West Ham despite their relegation. Mikel Arteta is strengthening the squad after a title win and Champions League disappointment, having already added Illan Meslier and targeted further signings including Morgan Rogers and Bruno Guimaraes. A deal for Mavropanos appears unlikely due to existing defensive depth, though injuries to key centre-backs could prompt interest. West Ham may seek a significant fee as the player is under contract until 2028.

Nico O’Reilly dismissed Erling Haaland’s claim that England are clear favourites to beat Norway in their World Cup quarter-final as mind games. Haaland highlighted England’s strength despite Norway’s surprise run, driven by his seven goals in four matches. O’Reilly acknowledged Norway’s collective quality and stressed the importance of containing Haaland. England face defensive selection issues with suspensions, injuries and illness affecting several players, though some see an opportunity for Dan Burn to counter Haaland’s physical presence.

Chelsea are pursuing Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria but must pay his £21.5m release clause after their initial offer was rejected. With finances tight following UEFA sanctions and recent spending, the club may need further sales, including being open to offloading Alejandro Garnacho just a year after his £40m arrival. The search for defensive reinforcements continues as Xabi Alonso restructures the squad following multiple departures.

Arne Slot has begun talks with the KNVB to become the next Netherlands manager just weeks after being dismissed by Liverpool following a disappointing season. Despite winning the Premier League in his first year, heavy spending and poor performances led to his exit, while Ronald Koeman stepped down from the national team after the Netherlands’ early World Cup elimination. Slot is among several candidates, including Louis van Gaal, Erik ten Hag and Ruud van Nistelrooy, who are being considered to lead the Dutch side.