Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez admitted he’s been playing through pain in his right hand throughout the World Cup after avoiding a recommended operation in order to participate in the tournament. “No, it still hurts every day. I knew it was going to hurt a lot. I avoided surgery,” Martínez said on Friday. “All the specialists I consulted told me I had to have surgery or I wouldn’t be able…
Spain defender Aymeric Laporte has suggested that Argentina are prone to using “aggressive tactics” in games, ahead of the World Cup final on Sunday. Speaking to Spanish publication MARCA, Laporte was asked if he was worried about Argentina’s “aggression.” He said: “I’m not at all worried about aggression in football. If it’s tolerated and the referee does his job, I have no problem with it. It’s true that in recent…
John Stones truly felt England could win the World Cup and has yet to process the devastating semifinal loss to Argentina ahead of their bronze medal meeting with France. Thomas Tuchel’s side were within minutes of becoming the first English men’s team to reach the global showpiece since Sir Alf Ramsey’s heroes triumphed in 1966. But Enzo Fernández cancelled out Anthony Gordon’s second-half strike with five minutes to go on…
Wayne Rooney rowed down a river on Saturday morning after honouring a lost bet at the World Cup. Rooney had vowed to row down the River Mersey if Norway beat Brazil in the World Cup round of 16 — a cheeky quip about the ‘Viking Row’ which Erling Haaland and co. have made famous this summer. Norway caused an upset by eliminating the five-time World Cup winners and Rooney promised…
Wayne Rooney has said that England should stick with Thomas Tuchel — unless Pep Guardiola is available and willing to take on the job as manager. Tuchel has been under fire since England‘s World Cup exit to Argentina on Wednesday, a game which saw Anthony Gordon‘s opener wiped out by two late strikes from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez. The former Chelsea manager was criticised both for the side’s style…
Thomas Tuchel has said England must close a gap to the top nations after suggesting his side must learn to play better football under pressure at tournaments. England will contest the World Cup third-place match against France on Saturday after losing an agonising semifinal against Argentina, in which their inability to close the game out fell into a familiar pattern of past defeats where they led a big game only…
Argentina captain Lionel Messi called the photo of him bathing Lamine Yamal in 2007 “incredible,” praising the Spanish winger ahead of Sunday’s 2026 World Cup final. “That photo is incredible,” Messi said on Friday. “I took a picture with him when he was a baby… the fact that we’re both playing in the World Cup now is crazy.” The photo was taken as part of a charity calendar produced at…
NEW YORK — Spain reaching the FIFA World Cup final is still something of a novelty, given this is just the second time the country has gotten this far. Rodri sees it as the culmination of years building to this point. Winning the Nations League in 2023 and the European Championship in 2024 set the foundation for the success the team has achieved over the past several weeks. An even…
U.S. President Donald Trump has joined the growing criticism of Thomas Tuchel’s tactics in England‘s World Cup semifinal defeat to Argentina by questioning Harry Kane‘s second-half role. Sources have told ESPN that Tuchel retains the support of the Football Association and is expected to remain in charge through to Euro 2028 despite a backlash to the manner of England’s 2-1 defeat in Atlanta. England led 1-0 through Anthony Gordon‘s 55th-minute…