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Thomas Tuchel: ‘No cracks’ in Jude Bellingham relationship

Thomas Tuchel insists there are “no cracks” with Jude Bellingham and said the pair are closer than ever before despite the England star publicly hitting back at his manager. The pair’s relationship has been under the microscope since the German coach said last summer that his mother found some of Bellingham’s on-field antics “repulsive.” Tuchel apologised for that remark and Bellingham has sparkled under him this summer, taking his World…

Thomas Tuchel: England weighing man-marking plan for Lionel Messi

ATLANTA — England coach Thomas Tuchel said he has considered man-marking Lionel Messi in Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal against Argentina. Messi is the tournament’s joint-top scorer on eight goals along with Kylian Mbappé and will face England for the first time in his illustrious career at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The winner will take on Spain in Sunday’s final in East Rutherford, New Jersey. “I was thinking about this, if we…

De la Fuente hails ‘best team in the world’ after Spain sink France

ARLINGTON, Texas — Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said his team is “feeling unbeatable” after reaching the World Cup final with a 2-0 win over France. Mikel Oyarzabal‘s first-half penalty and a second goal from Pedro Perro after half-time earned Spain a well-deserved victory in their semifinal at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday. And afterwards, De la Fuente issued a warning to their opponents in the final — either Argentina…

Kylian Mbappé critical of tactics by sloppy France in loss

ARLINGTON, Texas — Kylian Mbappé seemed to question Didier Deschamps’ approach and tactics after France‘s 2-0 defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup semifinal on Tuesday. The result ended France’s quest to reach a third-straight World Cup final, with Mbappé held scoreless and finishing the tournament with eight goals — tied with Argentina‘s Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot lead. Spain midfield general Rodri was dynamic throughout the match…

Didier Deschamps: France weren’t good enough to beat Spain

ARLINGTON, Texas — France head coach Didier Deschamps said his team wasn’t technically sound enough in his team’s 2-0 loss to Spain in the FIFA World Cup semifinals. “To have any hope, we needed to be at our best,” he said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t.” Spain took the lead on an early penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal, then found an insurance goal from Pedro Porro, assisted by Dani Olmo, in the 58th…

Argentina inspired by Maradona for England World Cup semifinal

Argentina will draw inspiration from the peerless Diego Maradona as a new generation of stars attempt to get the better of England once again. Maradona scored both of Argentina’s goals in a famous 2-1 win over England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup, with his second a stunning solo effort from his own half that was later voted the FIFA World Cup’s “Goal of the Century.” His first…

Spain shut down France to advance to World Cup final

In the end, the third time was not a charm for France. Spain beat France 2-0 in their FIFA World Cup semifinal in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday to make it three wins in a row against their European heavyweight rival having beaten Les Bleus in the 2024 European Championship semifinals and the UEFA Nations League semifinals in 2025. A first-half penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal and an early second-half strike by…

New Napoli coach Allegri says Milan collapse ‘weighed on me’

Massimiliano Allegri is not looking for redemption at Napoli despite still being troubled by the end of his second spell in charge of AC Milan. Allegri was fired by Milan in May after what the club’s owners deemed “an unequivocal failure” of a season. The 58-year-old was hired by Napoli at the start of July on a three-year contract. Allegri’s Milan spent much of last season in the top two…

Manchester United sign midfielder Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa

Manchester United have announced the signing of midfielder Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa. Tielemans, who spent three years at Villa Park, was a key part of the team which won the Europa League last season but has made the move to Old Trafford after sources told ESPN that United triggered the £35 million ($47m) release clause in his contract. – Inside Man United’s summer rebuild, as Santos and Tielemans bolster…

Experience facing England’s Premier League stars may help in World Cup semifinal – Alexis Mac Allister

Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister said playing in the Premier League with Liverpool may be helpful when facing England in their World Cup semifinal meeting on Wednesday in Atlanta. La Albiceleste qualified to the semifinal after defeating Switzerland 3-1 in the World Cup quarterfinal with goals from Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez and Mac Allister. “We all want to play this game, we all want to reach the World Cup final.…