Tom Rostance

Brendon McCullum has been removed as England’s Test coach but will continue leading the ODI and T20 sides after a period of declining results and Ben Stokes’ sudden retirement. McCullum expressed pride in the team’s achievements, while ECB chief Richard Gould credited him with revitalising the Test setup. England must now find both a new Test coach and captain ahead of the Pakistan series.

Senegal dismissed manager Pape Thiaw following their World Cup elimination after surrendering a 2–0 lead to Belgium and losing in extra time. Midfielder Pape Gueye publicly withdrew from international duty in protest, prompting the Senegal Football Federation to remove Thiaw. His tenure had already been overshadowed by a contentious Africa Cup of Nations final in which he ordered a team walk‑off, leading CAF to strip Senegal of the title. Senegal are now appealing the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport while preparing to rebuild ahead of their next competitive cycle.

Conor McGregor’s UFC return ended after 69 seconds when a knee injury led to a technical knockout win for Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. Holloway expressed frustration with the abrupt stoppage but signalled interest in a trilogy bout. McGregor’s defeat adds to a string of recent losses and follows significant controversies, including a civil judgment for rape and an 18‑month anti-doping suspension. The outcome raises renewed doubts about his future and the UFC’s reliance on his star power.

France advanced to their third consecutive World Cup semi-final with a 2-0 win over Morocco, driven by second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele. Didier Deschamps praised the team’s consistency as they maintained clean sheets through all knockout rounds. Morocco struggled without injured forward Ismael Saibari and produced limited attacking threat. With focus now shifting to a semi-final match against Spain or Belgium, France aims to push toward a third global title while Mbappe downplays concerns over a late ankle knock.

France advanced to the World Cup semi-finals by defeating Morocco 2-0 in Boston, overcoming an early missed penalty from Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé opened the scoring with a long‑range strike before assisting Ousmane Dembélé for the second moments later. France’s quality prevailed despite Morocco’s defensive setup, with Mbappé reaching eight tournament goals and closing in on all‑time World Cup scoring records. France now await Spain or Belgium in the semi‑finals.

Kylian Mbappé had a weak penalty saved by Yassine Bounou in the World Cup quarter-final in Boston, keeping France and Morocco level. Morocco extended their long unbeaten run while France sought another deep tournament run following recent successes.

France and Morocco announce their starting line-ups ahead of the 2026 World Cup quarter-final in Boston, with France making one change as Désiré Doué replaces Bradley Barcola and Morocco adjusting two positions due to injuries. France enter as tournament favourites while Morocco continue their historic, unbeaten run. Key players such as Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and Achraf Hakimi feature prominently, and match details include TV and streaming options along with historical and statistical context for both teams.

Jarell Quansah received a two‑match ban from FIFA following his red card against Mexico, ruling him out of England’s World Cup quarter‑final and potential semi‑final. With no appeal mechanism available, he will only be eligible again should England reach the final. FIFA also issued a separate disciplinary decision involving Folarin Balogun, prompting criticism from Brad Friedel. England continue to face right‑back selection issues as Thomas Tuchel awaits Reece James’ fitness.

Brentford signed 34-year-old striker Callum Wilson on a one-year deal following his departure from relegated West Ham, adding an experienced Premier League goalscorer to support forward Igor Thiago. Wilson, who has scored 95 Premier League goals and earned nine England caps, expressed enthusiasm about joining the club. Brentford begin their upcoming league campaign against Tottenham on August 22.

Germany enter their first World Cup knockout match since 2014 after mixed group-stage performances, relying heavily on creative talents Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz. Paraguay advance with strong defensive displays and aim to frustrate Germany with disciplined organization. Team news includes injuries for Germany and suspensions for Paraguay, while Manuel Neuer is set to break the German record for World Cup starts. Statistical context underscores Germany’s knockout pedigree and Paraguay’s struggle to score in past knockout rounds. A predicted 2-0 Germany win reflects expectations of German attacking strength and Paraguay’s limited threat.

The Netherlands prepare to face Morocco in a World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match in Monterrey after an impressive but defensively inconsistent group stage. Morocco arrive in strong form after finishing behind Brazil in their group and featuring key talents such as Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari. Both teams are expected to field full-strength line-ups, with the Dutch recovering injured players and Morocco reverting to their main squad. Statistics highlight Morocco’s improved attacking output and the Netherlands’ mixed knockout record. A narrow 2-1 Morocco victory is predicted, citing defensive vulnerabilities in the Dutch side.

Brazil enter the World Cup knockout match against Japan in strong form, led by Vinicius Junior’s four tournament goals, while Japan look to build on October’s comeback win and their solid group-stage performance. Brazil expect Neymar on the bench and face uncertainty over Raphinha’s fitness, while Japan await clarity on Ko Itakura and Takefusa Kubo. Historical results favour Brazil despite recent setbacks in knockout rounds, and Japan seek their first-ever World Cup knockout victory. Brazil are predicted to win 2–1, with the match available on ITV, STV and ITVX.

Steve Clarke resigned as Scotland manager after the team was eliminated from the World Cup following Croatia’s win over Ghana. In an open letter, he reflected on his seven-year tenure, highlighting achievements such as ending Scotland’s long absence from major tournaments and praising both supporters and players. Scotland’s campaign ended with three points from a win over Haiti and losses to Morocco and Brazil, leaving them short of advancing to the Round of 32.

The expanded 48‑team World Cup produced a record 215 goals across 72 group‑stage matches, setting new scoring benchmarks before the knockout rounds. Only 17 games ended in draws as teams competed for places in the newly introduced Round of 32. Lionel Messi led the scoring with six goals in three games, approaching a historic tournament milestone. The full schedule for the last 32 was confirmed, featuring matchups including South Africa vs Canada, Brazil vs Japan, Germany vs Paraguay, England vs DR Congo, Spain vs Austria, and Argentina vs Cape Verde.

Austria and Algeria reached the World Cup knockout stage after a dramatic 3-3 draw marked by multiple lead changes and a chaotic stoppage-time finish. Late goals from Riyad Mahrez and Saša Kalajdžić determined the final standings, eliminating Iran. Coaches Vladimir Petkovic and Ralf Rangnick dismissed match-fixing speculation, highlighting the intensity of the finale. Austria advance to face Spain, while Algeria will meet Switzerland, setting up an emotional reunion for Petkovic with his former team.

Lionel Messi set a World Cup record by scoring in a seventh consecutive match and moved clear in the Golden Boot race with a sixth goal as Argentina beat Jordan 3-1. Coming off the bench, he sealed a dominant performance that also featured goals from Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martinez. Coach Lionel Scaloni praised the squad’s depth after heavy rotation, stressing confidence ahead of the Round of 32 match against Cape Verde, whom he described as a dangerous and well‑organized opponent. Golden Boot standings place Messi ahead of Mbappe, Dembele, Vinicius Jr and Haaland after the group stage.

Japan and Sweden advanced from World Cup Group F after a 1-1 draw in Dallas. Daizen Maeda finished a well‑constructed move to give Japan the lead before Anthony Elanga equalised with a powerful solo effort. Japan controlled much of the match and advanced to face Brazil, while Sweden secured progression in third place and expect to play France.

The Netherlands secured a 3–1 win over Tunisia to finish top of World Cup Group F and set up a last‑32 match against Morocco. An early own goal by Ellyes Skhiri and a strike from Brian Brobbey put the Dutch in control before Hazem Mastouri briefly reduced the deficit. Jan Paul van Hecke restored the two‑goal advantage with a second‑half header, ensuring Tunisia ended their campaign without a point while the Netherlands advanced confidently to the knockout stage.

The USA rotate heavily after securing top spot in their World Cup group, while already-eliminated Turkey also make multiple changes for their final match in Los Angeles. Updated starting lineups are confirmed for both teams, with details on where to watch the early‑morning UK broadcast and key historical match statistics.