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United States men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino and U.S. Soccer have had positive talks about a possible contract extension, sources have told ESPN. Pochettino’s contract with U.S. Soccer runs through the end of this World Cup and the former Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea manager has yet to say what his future plans are. Sources told ESPN that U.S. Soccer would like to retain the 54-year-old for another four-year…

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has said he is only focussing on beating Colombia in their final Group K game and not about their potential first opponent in the round of 32 Colombia won their opening two games to reach the knockouts and lead Group K, two points clear of second-placed Portugal heading into the encounter in Miami Gardens. The winners of Group K will face a third-placed side in the…

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Antoine Semenyo has urged his Ghana teammates to put more pressure on officials after the Black Stars didn’t get a VAR check for at least one incident that went against them in their draw with England on Tuesday. Ghana neutralised the Three Lions to move to four points — and the brink of the knockout stages — after a 0-0 draw in Foxborough, but the Black Stars…

Reece James missed training ahead of England’s final group game against Panama. The 26-year-old played the entirety of the 4-2 win against Croatia last week and Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Ghana, but per ESPN sources is dealing with a hamstring issue. James was conspicuous by his absence from England training on Friday and is not expected to be risked as Thomas Tuchel’s men attempt to wrap up top spot in…

Erling Haaland will start Norway’s World Cup Group I clash against Kylian Mbappé’s France on the substitutes’ bench with coach Stale Solbakken planning to rest ten players, sources have told ESPN. Haaland’s absence from the starting line-up will dent his chances of winning the Golden Boot with the Manchester City forward tied on four goals with France star Mbappé and one behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi. Norway face France with both…

In a bid to “bring a winning culture” back to the club, AC Milan named Massimo Calvelli as CEO, one day after sources told ESPN they rejected an approach from New York City FC for United States attacker Christian Pulisic. The 51-year-old Calvelli replaces Giorgio Furlani, who was fired by U.S. owner, RedBird Capital Partners, last month as it cleaned house after what it deemed “an unequivocal failure” of a…

Arsenal have had a £55 million ($73m) offer for Bruno Guimarães rejected by Newcastle United, sources have told ESPN Brasil. The Gunners have held preliminary discussions with the player’s representatives and been encouraged to believe a deal could be possible. Sources suggest Newcastle are currently insistent Guimarães is not for sale. Newcastle are hoping to tie Guimarães down to a new deal given his existing contract has two years left…

The 48-team format of the World Cup is proving to be quite the puzzle when working out the permutations of third-place qualifiers… Even for some of the players. Sweden‘s Anthony Elanga scored a glorious equaliser last night in a 1-1 draw with Japan to leave his side in third place of Group F and confirm Sweden’s spot in the last 32, but the Newcastle forward was not convinced it was…

Morgan Rogers says he and close friend Jude Bellingham could “100%” thrive alongside each other in the same England starting lineup. Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel has opted for Bellingham in the No. 10 role in his side’s first two group matches at the World Cup, having preferred Rogers in the same position for most of their warmup matches. While the debate over who should be given the responsibility as…

Ilkay Gündogan has said that Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Elliot Anderson will “make a great addition” to the Manchester City squad. City have reached an agreement with Forest to sign the midfielder for a fixed fee of £116 million ($153m), sources told ESPN on Thursday. Speaking to ESPN, Gündogan was asked whether he thought Anderson would be a perfect signing for his former club. “I think so,” the Galatasaray…