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Germany’s Deniz Undav ‘happy’ in super-sub role at World Cup

Deniz Undav has three goals and two assists in 69 minutes at the World Cup, averaging a goal contribution every 13.8 minutes for a rate topping Lionel Messi (37.4), Kylian Mbappé (48.8) and Erling Haaland (51.2). And the 29-year-old striker still hasn’t earned a place in Germany‘s starting lineup. “If I weren’t happy, if I wasn’t content, I wouldn’t be here,” he said during a news conference Wednesday ahead of…

Craig Burley: Mediocre Scotland ‘don’t deserve’ to make World Cup knockouts

Craig Burley has said that Scotland “do not deserve to go through” to the knockout stages after they fell 3-0 to Brazil in Miami. Steve Clarke’s men came into this clash knowing that any sort of result would likely guarantee them a spot in the knockout stages, while a narrow defeat may also do the same. But Scotland were calamitous almost from the outset in defence, with Vinícius Júnior twice…

Scotland’s Clarke after Brazil loss: ‘Think we’re heading home’

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Scotland head coach Steve Clarke fears his team are heading home after they lost 3-0 to Brazil in Miami to leave their chances of making the World Cup knockouts hanging in the balance. Clarke’s side have three points from their three group stage matches. They opened with a 1-0 win over Haiti, but then lost 1-0 to Morocco and fell to Brazil on Wednesday as Vinícius…

Neymar comes off Brazil bench for first ’26 World Cup minutes

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Neymar came off the bench to make his first World Cup appearance at the 2026 World Cup for Brazil in their 3-0 Group C win over Scotland on Wednesday. Vinícius Júnior scored twice in the first half and Matheus Cunha added a second-half goal as Brazil clinched top spot ahead of Morocco, who beat eliminated Haiti in Wednesday’s other Group C match. Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti…

South Korea drop captain Son Heung-Min for World Cup decider

MONTERREY, Mexico — South Korea coach Hong Myung-Bo has made a shocking selection call by leaving captain Son Heung-Min out of their decisive Group A clash against South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday. Son is the biggest of three changes to the starting XI that lost 1-0 to Mexico last Thursday, and will be replaced as the Taegeuk Warriors’ spearhead by Oh Hyeon-Gyu, who scored the…

Vinícius Júnior leads Brazil rout of Scotland to top group

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Brazil secured top spot in Group C as Vinícius Júnior inspired them to a 3-0 win over Scotland, a result that leaves the Tartan Army’s hopes of making the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed sides hanging by a thread. On a night where Neymar played his first Brazil minutes in three years as a second-half substitute, this was a wonderful night for Carlo…

Pochettino won’t ‘risk’ United States players on yellows

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — United States manager Mauricio Pochettino said his four players on yellow cards won’t start Thursday’s match against Türkiye to avoid the possibility of being suspended for the round of 32 match on July 1. The USMNT has clinched the top spot in Group D, and with Türkiye having already been eliminated, the match will have no bearing on the final group standings. Therefore, the four players on…

Tottenham join Man United in Mateus Fernandes transfer race – sources

Tottenham are considering rivalling Manchester United to sign West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, sources have told ESPN. Spurs are pursuing an aggressive summer strategy to back head coach Roberto De Zerbi after narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League last season. Goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka became their fourth signing of the window on Wednesday — after Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson — and Tottenham also set to…

Lionel Messi gets World Cup birthday treat with Argentina squad

MEXICO CITY — Lionel Messi celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday during a World Cup that, at least for now, has brought him nothing but joy: Defending champions Argentina have already qualified for the knockout stage, and its captain has become the tournament’s career scoring leader. Messi marked the occasion alongside his teammates at Argentina’s training base in Kansas City, Missouri. This is his sixth World Cup and the fifth…

Ronald Koeman: Ryan Gravenberch delivering on his potential at this World Cup

Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has detailed the improvement in Ryan Gravenberch‘s game as he has developed into a key man for the Dutch at this World Cup. So far in this competition, Gravenberch ranks first on the team in assists (two, both against Japan) and second in ball recoveries. At a news conference before Thursday’s match against Tunisia, Koeman explained what has changed since the Liverpool midfielder spent the entire…