RENTON, Wash. — The Belgian soccer federation congratulated Jérémy Doku on the birth of his son, Praise, on Monday, with a statement from the team adding the Manchester City winger would be back with the team in Seattle on Tuesday. Doku missed the team’s 0-0 Group G draw against Iran on Sunday because of a respiratory illness, but was cleared to fly back to London so he could be with…
Lawrence Shankland insists Scotland will ignore multiple permutations around possible qualification to go for the World Cup win against Brazil on Wednesday. A 1-0 Group C victory over Haiti followed by a 1-0 defeat by Morocco has guaranteed Steve Clarke’s side a third-place finish but with a first appearance in the knockout stage of the competition subject to several variables. Scotland are one point behind Morocco and Brazil but could…
Manchester City are close to announcing Enzo Maresca as their new manager after agreeing the framework of a compensation package with Chelsea, sources have told ESPN. Maresca could be unveiled as Pep Guardiola’s successor at the Etihad Stadium as early as this week with negotiations with Chelsea close to being concluded. City have been forced to delay their announcement after Chelsea demanded compensation despite sacking the Italian in January. Club…
Lionel Messi became the highest goalscorer in men’s World Cup history on Monday, moving up to 17 and breaking a tie with Germany legend Miroslav Klose in Argentina‘s Group J match against Austria. The Argentina captain has now scored in six consecutive World Cup games since 2022. Messi, after missing a penalty early on against Austria that briefly denied him the all-time record, struck home in the 39th minute to…
Manchester United have acquired “the majority” of land needed to build a proposed new 100,000-seater stadium, the club announced on Monday. United have secured 25 acres of land close to Old Trafford as they push on with plans to build the largest sporting arena in the UK. Club bosses expect the project to cost around £2 billion ($2.64bn), although specific details about proposed funding have not been released. “Today’s news…
Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck will miss the remainder of the World Cup after sustaining a medial ankle ligament injury. A statement released by the German Football Association (DFB) confirmed that the Borussia Dortmund centre-back will be sidelined for several months, after he came off injured in Germany’s 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast on Saturday. Schlotterbeck is set to remain with the squad in the United States. Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann…
England striker Ollie Watkins has defended Jérémy Doku over his decision to be present at the birth of his first child and leave Belgium’s World Cup base. Doku’s wife Shireen is due to give birth to the couple’s first son in early July, when Belgium could possibly play in the knockout stages of the World Cup. His decision to leave the United States, Mexico and Canada has been greeted with…
Marcus Rashford has called for unrelenting intensity that Ghana “can’t live with” as England look to book their place in the World Cup knockout stages with a game to spare. Thomas Tuchel’s men opened Group L with a thrilling 4-2 victory against Croatia in Dallas, where Harry Kane’s brace in a helter-skelter opening period was followed by a statement second-half display. Jude Bellingham scored moments after the restart as England…
Mohamed Salah has spoken of his pride at the chance “to make the people happy in Egypt” after his team beat New Zealand 3-1 to claim the nation’s first ever World Cup win. Egypt were a goal down at halftime but turned the match on its head in the second half, with Salah contributing a goal and an assist. “Well, it’s a great feeling for all of us,” he said…
Kylian Mbappé is hot on the heels of the player he calls “the best,” Lionel Messi, to become the top scorer in men’s World Cup history. Messi, 38, scored a hat trick against Algeria in Argentina‘s opener, a 3-0 win, to equal Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals. Mbappé, a former teammate of Messi at Paris Saint-Germain, has 14 goals after scoring twice for France in a 3-1…