It wasn’t as decisive as England would have liked, but the Three Lions clinched a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals with a scrappy 2-1 win over Norway in extra time on Saturday at Miami Stadium.

England coach Thomas Tuchel was satisfied with the result — why wouldn’t he be? He’s the first coach to lead England to a World Cup semifinals since 2018, and just fourth all-time. But Tuchel isn’t satisfied with the way his team played against Norway, even if he got the result he wanted.

“I didn’t talk about suffering. No, I never talked about suffering,” Tuchel said after the match. “The result is fantastic, we’re in the last four, but, not a performance.”

Tuchel made it clear that effort wasn’t the issue for his England squad. Rather, it was the team’s organization on the pitch.

“In every sense. The commitment is there, but it made life very difficult for us in the way we played, how we played, sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough,” Tuchel said.

“We were lucky today.”

Star Jude Bellingham seemed a bit taken aback at his coach’s comments. 

“Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those conditions,” Bellingham said. 

“It’s not an easy team to play against,” he added. “I think we’ve tried to create a positive environment, and we should continue that going into the final four. I can’t speak highly enough of the lads. You’re not going to win every game popping the ball and making a thousand passes. Sometimes you have to win dirty.” 

The issues in the past with England have been the perception that the players don’t want it bad enough. Tuchel doesn’t see that within his team, and not even in the performance against Norway.

“It’s a pure mentality thing, there was no mentality problem. You could bottle it up and sell it,” Tuchel said. “It’s the quality of our games. It’s nothing to do with mentality, it’s about quality, we need to play better.”

When asked about Bellingham specifically, who scored both of England’s goals against Norway, Tuchel praised the midfielder’s heroics.

“Enough said. He does it every single match. World Class,” Tuchel said.

England now move onto the semifinals to face the winner of Argentina vs. Switzerland on Wednesday at Atlanta Stadium. 

Source

The Three Lions roared on and off the pitch in England’s 2-1 win over Norway in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal match on Saturday. 

In an immediate post-game interview after the match, England coach Thomas Tuchel was asked about his team’s mentality and performance. Tuchel repeatedly defended the team’s mentality, but after a game he felt his team was lucky to escape, he insisted on England players improving their performance and execution if they want to advance.

“It’s a pure mentality thing, there was no mentality problem. You could bottle it up and sell it,” Tuchel said. “It’s the quality of our games. It’s nothing to do with mentality, it’s about quality, we need to play better.”

“The commitment is there,” Tuchel added, “but it made life very difficult for us in the way we played, how we played, sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough. We were lucky today.”

Jude Bellingham — who starred yet again for England with a brace and climbed closer in the Golden Boot race — was asked about his coach’s comments, and there seemed to be a bit more lost in translation with Tuchel’s comments being relayed to Bellingham. England’s star midfielder, who was clearly gassed after giving it his all in a hot and humid match in Miami, reacted in kind. 

“Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those conditions,” Bellingham said, before turning the attention to his teammates and what he thought was in fact a strong performance. 

“It’s not an easy team to play against,” Bellingham countered. “I think we’ve tried to create a positive environment, and we should continue that going into the final four. I can’t speak highly enough of the lads. You’re not going to win every game popping the ball and making a thousand passes. Sometimes you have to win dirty.” 

The England coach clarified his comments in his traditional post-game availability.

“I’m proud, and I’m happy,” Tuchel said. “But I’m also a football coach, and I also have demands.” 

Tuchel has been hard on Bellingham in the past, even going so far as dropping from the team at one point and not guaranteeing him a spot on the World Cup roster. Whatever the motivations, Bellingham has responded with some of the best play of his career during this tournament. The Real Madrid wunderkind has been inspired on both sides of the field, scoring brilliantly, and doing the dirty work on the defensive end. 

Spats happen between coaches and players, and the media has been as hard on Bellingham as his coach has, with comments on his demeanor, attitude or otherwise. Bellingham has continued to shine, and has the Three Lions two wins away from doing something no England team has done in 60 years. 

Whether a miscommunication, a motivational tactic or something else entirely, Tuchel and Bellingham likely will have to address their differing opinions regarding Saturday’s match before taking on defending World Cup champion Argentina. And they’ll need all the help they can get to stop Messi and company.

Norway vs England Extended Highlights 2026 FIFA World Cup™ | Quarterfinals

–>

Source

MIAMI STADIUM — England is headed to the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals for the second time in eight years.

On a sweltering Saturday in South Florida, where the temperature before kickoff at 5 p.m. local time hovered higher than 90 degrees, the Three Lions came back from a 1-0 deficit to eliminate upstart Norway and its superhero of a striker, Manchester City goal-machine Erling Haaland.

Two goals by English star Jude Bellingham — the second in the third minute of extra time — saw the Three Lions advance after Andreas Schjelderup opened the scoring against the run of play in the first half. 

Bellingham canceled out Schjelderup’s strike with a spectacular equalizer just before the intermission, then added the winner when Norwegian keeper Ørjan Nyland failed to corral the rebound from Morgan Rogers’ powerful shot.

“World-class,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said of Bellingham’s big night. “A world-class performance from a world-class player in big, big moments – crucial moments.”

Here are my four takeaways from England’s victory over Norway:

1. Jude Bellingham Was The Difference For England

(Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP via Getty Images) –>

Halfway through the additional 30 minutes played in Miami, a quick look at the stats told the story. Both sides had 10 shots. Both had directed half of them on-target. Both teams had a goal called back earlier in the game — the Three Lions because they were offside, Norway after the video assistant flagged a foul committed by Haaland just before what looked like a potential game-winner.

(VAR also denied England a penalty attempt after Bellingham’s second that could’ve ended the contest there and then.)

Still, in a game billed as a battle between Haaland and Harry Kane — probably the best two pure scorers on the planet — Bellingham stole the show for the second England match running.

“It’s nice to have an impact and to help my team,” he said. 

After scoring twice in last weekend’s thrilling 3-2 win over co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca — known as Mexico City Stadium during the World Cup — Bellingham again came alive when his country needed him most.

–>

His first goal was a team play that he finished with a flash of individual brilliance, his second a clinic in anticipation and timing and execution.

In a match where the margins were razor-thin, he is the reason England is off to Atlanta for the World Cup semifinal, while Norway is going home.

“His mentality is what puts him on that level,” keeper Jordan Pickford said. 

2. Still, Hats Off To Erling Haaland And Norway

Never before had Norway made a World Cup quarterfinal. It hadn’t even qualified for the biggest event in sports this century before finally making it back this summer. Even then — and even with Haaland spearheading the attack and Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard running the show behind them — nobody expected much from the Drillos. Norway was ranked 32nd by FIFA in January. It was 31st when this World Cup kicked off exactly a month ago.

Yet on the field and off, the Norwegians were one of the best stories of this World Cup. Videos of their fans taking over Times Square and executing their choreographed “Viking Row” on escalators and New York City subways endeared them to locals there, and in Boston, in Dallas and here in Miami.

Norway beat Senegal and Ivory Coast and then eliminated five-time champions Brazil. And none of it was a fluke. It may have lost to England on Saturday, but it won the hearts of neutrals all over America and in countries in every corner of the globe. These Vikings and their incredible supporters can and will row back across the Atlantic with their heads held high. Even in defeat, on a quiet night that ended when he was subbed out in extra time, Haaland left his mark. 

“Everyone,” Pickford said, “Knows how good a player Earling is.” 

–>

3. Argentina Awaits For Kane & Co.

Tuchel’s squad had  wait a few hours to find out which opponent it’ll meet in Atlanta on Wednesday, with the Three Lions slated to face the winner of Saturday’s nightcap in Kansas City between Messi’s Albiceleste and Switzerland. 

Of course, it’s the defending champs. Despite being an ocean apart, Argentina and England have a long and storied rivalry on the global stage.

The Goal of The Century 🇦🇷 No. 2 in Best FIFA World Cup™

–>

Diego Maradona’s famous “Goal of the Century” slalom and infamous “Hand of God” strike in 1986 came in the same quarterfinal game vs. England. Argentina also knocked the Three Lions out in the quarters in 1998 following a red card by David Beckham. Four years later, Beckham — the current Inter Miami co-owner who was in the house on Saturday — scored a penalty that helped beat Argentina en route to La Albiceleste’s shocking group stage exit.

Tensions between the sides haven’t been limited to soccer, either, as the two countries fought a 74-day war in 1982 over the control of the Falkland Islands off Argentina’s coast.

Now, for the first time, they’ll play each other with a trip to the World Cup final at stake. 

4. Is This Finally England’s Year?

(Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images for Rexona)

–>

It’s been 60 years this month since the country that invented the sport won its only World Cup. It’s also the only final they’ve ever appeared in. The Three Lions have also never won a European Championship, although they were the losing finalists in 2021 (to Italy) and Spain (2024) at the last two Euros.

Now, under German manager Tuchel, they’ll play for the right to get back to the biggest title match there is.

It’s only England’s fourth trip to the semis ever. The last two didn’t go well; Croatia knocked the Three Lions out in 2018. Back in 1990, they lost to eventual champ West Germany on penalties.

Despite the English Premier League establishing itself as soccer’s top domestic circuit, that’s as close as the country’s national team has come in the last six decades. On Wednesday in Atlanta, we’ll see they can get one step closer to reaching the mountaintop – and to bringing  football home.

“Now it’s just about recovering,” Tuchel said. “The next three days are crucial, of course, to be ready. But this victory will help a lot.”

Norway vs England Highlights 2026 FIFA World Cup™ | Quarterfinals

–>

Source

In Driver’s Eye with James Hinchcliffe, the six-time INDYCAR winner will bring you inside the mind of a racer while breaking down the nuts and bolts of the sport for fans.

I’ve spent a lot of time in this column diving deep into how physically tough motorsports can be. But this sport is just as much, if not even more, a mental contest for drivers at 200 miles an hour.

The yips aren’t common. You don’t just forget how to drive a race car quickly. So when a driver experiences a dip in form, it sometimes can be the result of not being in the right place mentally.

In the same way, a golfer doesn’t forget how to swing, and a pitcher doesn’t forget how to throw. But sometimes, the space between your ears gets foggy, and it can affect your performance.

Just like any sport, INDYCAR drivers have to contend with mistakes in the moment. 

Pato O’Ward spins out in turn one at the start of INDYCAR’s 2026 Sonsio Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

–>

If you make a mistake and crash out of a race, you have plenty of time to digest what happened, learn from it and eventually move on. When you make a mistake but your race continues, that time isn’t a luxury you have.

And unlike hockey, when you can process a mistake over a shift change, or football, when you’re on the bench as the other side takes the field, racing offers no breaks — literal ones aside. So you have to be able to manage the situation in real time. At real speeds. 

Most drivers are perfectionists and are hyper-competitive. They don’t like making mistakes, and they don’t like losing. They get frustrated when either of those things happen. 

But when you make a mistake in a race, and you haven’t totaled your car and ruined your day, getting over it has to be instantaneous. If you can’t do that, it tends to snowball.

I worked with a mental coach for years, and one of the big things we worked on together was how to get through these exact scenarios. 

Me, colliding on pit road with Takuma Sato and Hélio Castroneves during the 2017 Rainguard Water Sealers 600 at Texas Motor Speedway. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

–>

Usually, when a driver lets a single mistake fester, they make more. Driving angry can often make you drive slower. You start trying too hard to overcome the mistake, and it leads to more mistakes, which leads to driving harder, which leads to… well, you see where this is going.

Many drivers work with mental coaches to address this. They have different exercises that drivers can do to try and practice this skill. And it is a skill. And it certainly is not the type of work that can be accomplished in a day. It takes lots of time dedicated to this one mental aspect of the sport to master it.

One of the biggest challenges with making a mistake on track is the responsibility you feel towards the team. Every driver is acutely aware of the hours and hours that go into preparing and running a successful INDYCAR weekend. 

When you make a mistake that costs your team a result, you feel terrible for that group. But as we say all the time, racing is a team sport, and teams support each other. Usually, the most supportive group that you will face is your mechanics and engineers. They will throw their arms around you and say, “We’ll get ‘em next time.”

The fact of the matter is: every member of that team will make a mistake at some point, and you all have to lift each other up when that happens. 

For drivers, one of the challenges is that the mistakes are very public. They are on TV and easily identifiable. If a pit member drops a wheel nut on a stop, for example, that’s a mistake that’s noticed but more quickly looked over — and often the person isn’t identified. If an engineer makes a mistake on setup, people may never know.

So whether the mistake was big or small, public or hidden, the most important part for any member of that team is to learn from it, let it go, and move on to the next race, pit stop or lap.

David Malukas and Team Penske during a pit stop at the INDY 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course last weekend. (Photo by Michael L. Levitt/Lumen via Getty Images)

–>

SOUND LIKE AN INDYCAR EXPERT: SURVIVING THE HEAT

Having covered the pure physicality of INDYCAR racing, this past weekend at Mid-Ohio brought to the forefront another factor that can exponentially increase the toll on the body: the heat.

Mid-O was a stifling scene on Sunday, and an all-green race — no caution periods to even catch your breath for a few minutes — meant it was as hard a day as the drivers will likely face this year. Physical track, hot conditions, no cautions. And it can get up to 120, 130 degrees inside a cockpit.

Felix Rosenqvist last weekend at Mid-Ohio. (Travis Hinkle, Penske Entertainment)

–>

Knowing that we race in the Midwest in the summer, these hot and humid days have to be expected. So drivers will include an element of heat acclimation into their training. 

This can come in several different forms.

If a driver lives in a warm and humid climate — I am looking at all the Florida residents in the field! — then you can get outside and run or cycle to get your body acclimated to that sort of strain. 

If you live in milder climates, especially in the winter, that’s not an option, so you have to get creative. One way to do that is to bring your training to a hot climate.

It’s not uncommon to set up a bike trainer in a small room with a heater pumping and getting the temperature up into the 90s. Saunas work too. A long, steady ride in those conditions can make the body more comfortable for a two-hour race with four layers of Nomex — intense, flame-resistant fabric, essentially — in a tight cockpit.

Alexander Rossi prepares for qualifying for the inaugural INDYCAR 2026 Grand Prix of Arlington. (Photo by Reginald Mathalone/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

–>

But as we’ve said, this game is as mental as it is physical, and when the body starts to overheat, your cognitive abilities start to falter. 

To combat this, some training combines heat with cognitive drills. Bringing an iPad with a purpose-built program designed to test memory, reaction time, hand-eye coordination and more into a sauna after a big workout can partially simulate the conditions of late in a race on a hot day. 

I’ve done this before — it works!

There are things that drivers can do to survive the heat on race day too. 

Namely, hydration with a detailed plan that starts on a Thursday and is based on the projected weather on Sunday. Of course, there’s race day hydration too. Drivers have a small Camelback that holds about a liter of fluid, making it easily accessible behind the wheel.

Will Power puts on a cooling vest prior to INDYCAR’s 2025 XPEL Grand Prix at Road America.  (Photo by Geoff Miller/Lumen via Getty Images)

–>

And then there is the cool suit — a shirt with cooling coils running through it — which gets mixed reviews from drivers. The biggest concern with it being that if the system fails, as happened to Scott McLaughlin at Mid-Ohio, it actually makes you hotter. But some swear by it.

I personally used a cool suit on hotter days, but I was always afraid of it failing — which, luckily, never happened to me. 

At the end of the day, it’s a tough sport that is sometimes run in tough conditions, so you have to train to be prepared for anything.

1 FOR THE ROAD

In last week’s column, I talked of the impending move of one of the titans of the sport in Scott Dixon. Now, we know that he is, in fact, headed to McLaren, along with friend and former teammate Felix Rosenqvist to partner with Pato O’Ward.

This left open two very attractive rides at Chip Ganassi Racing and Meyer Shank Racing.

(Photo by Geoff Miller/Lumen via Getty Images)

–>

Christian Lundgaard — whose contract was not renewed to make way for Dixon — is clearly the hottest free agent on the market. He reminded the paddock that with a pole and second place on Sunday. But there are a few other names being thrown around that could make the next few weeks super fascinating from the silly season perspective.

Rinus VeeKay has been in great form in the one and a half seasons since being dropped from ECR and running with smaller teams. Those great results in under-resourced programs have certainly made some team owners perk up with interest. Also in the running is the young rookie Caio Collett, who has been impressing with his ability to regularly out pace veteran teammate Santino Ferrucci at AJ Foyt Racing.

Will these teams go for a known quantity in VeeKay, or risk the potential big upside of a promising rookie, or perhaps look to Europe or a sidelined veteran to fill the seats?

The only sure thing about INDYCAR for 2027 is that the driver lineup will look very different!

MORE DRIVER’S EYE:

Source

Like yesterday, Day 33 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a rest day, with no matches on the schedule. The field of four is set after England outlasted Norway in extra time and Argentina edged Switzerland to close out the quarterfinals. The semifinals begin Tuesday, when Kylian Mbappé and France meet Spain in Dallas, before Lionel Messi and Argentina face England on Wednesday in Atlanta. Both matches air on FOX, with every game streaming live and on demand on FOX One.

World Cup Schedule for Monday, July 13

There are no World Cup matches today. The tournament is on a scheduled rest day between the quarterfinals and the semifinals, which begin Tuesday. Here is the full semifinal schedule:

How to Watch France vs. Spain

• Time: 3 p.m. ET (Tuesday, July 14)
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
• Venue: Dallas Stadium, Dallas, TX

France won Group I while outscoring opponents 10-2, then beat Sweden 3-0 in the round of 32, edged Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16 and downed Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinals. Mbappe’s eight goals are tied with Messi for the Golden Boot Race lead and Michael Olise’s five assists pace all players. Spain has been the tournament’s stingiest team, winning Group H behind three clean sheets before shutting out Austria 3-0 and Portugal 1-0 in the knockout rounds and holding off Belgium 2-1 in the quarterfinals.

World Cup Related Stories

How to Watch England vs. Argentina

• Time: 3 p.m. ET (Wednesday, July 15)
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
• Venue: Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, GA

England won Group L unbeaten, then beat DR Congo 2-1 in the round of 32, outlasted Mexico 3-2 in the round of 16 and needed extra time to beat Norway 2-1 in the quarterfinals on Jude Bellingham’s brace. Captain Harry Kane and Bellingham each have six goals, among the tournament’s best. Argentina swept Group J, survived Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time, rallied past Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16 and beat Switzerland 3-1 in extra time in the quarterfinals, with Messi setting the World Cup’s all-time assists record along the way.

France vs Spain & England vs Argentina in the Semifinals, Alexi’s Power Rankings and More

Live State of the Union! Lalas & Mosse preview World Cup semis: England-Argentina & France-Spain.

Who Plays Today in the World Cup?

No teams are in action today. The next teams to play are the four semifinalists:

[–>
• France
• Spain
• England
• Argentina

World Cup Scores from Last Match Day

• England 2, Norway 1 (AET)
• Argentina 3, Switzerland 1 (AET)

How to Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup

All World Cup matches air on FOX and FS1, with every game streaming live and on demand on FOX One.

Source

Senegal fired its men’s football coach Pape Thiaw, according to a statement issued by the national federation on Sunday.

The Senegalese Football Federation added that Thiaw’s technical staff were also dismissed.

The decision followed Senegal’s elimination in the round of 32 at the ongoing World Cup.

“After an evaluation of the performance of the national team and its prospects, the Executive Committee believes that a change is necessary in the interest of Senegalese football,” the federation said.

Thiaw, 45, was appointed in 2024 and led the West African nation to a disputed continental title in Morocco earlier this year before the victory was overturned by the Confederation of African Football. Senegal has approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport about appealing the decision.

Senegal was eliminated from the World Cup by Belgium despite leading 2-0 with roughly five minutes of regulation time remaining. The team also came close to elimination in the group stage after losses to France and Norway.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Source

Rivalries in football often exist for singular reasons. It’s not that they’re simplistic, but rather, we understand why they are there. Like Liverpool’s rivalry with Everton or the Superclásico between Boca Juniors and River Plate, local derbies are disputed and contested based on a turf war that has placed them close together but in reality, ever so apart. They are neighbors who detest each other and nothing will ever change that. 

It’s different on the international stage, where impactful cultural and political moments in history create rivalries so fierce that it lives carries through generations. Take the Clásico del Pacífico between Chile and Peru, which stemmed from a war in the 1800s, as an example. As my father taught me at a very early age, Peruvians say the word “Chalaca” instead of “Chilena” to describe a bicycle kick, as Perú refuses to believe that a Spanish-born Chilean invented the acrobatic move, and credit it to Afro-Peruvians from a time that was never recorded. 

But I digress. My point is that rivalries in the beautiful game usually have a connecting tissue that lives on in the mindset of every supporter, where history and geography paint a picture of a fierce battle on the pitch. 

Nonetheless, there is one rivalry that is so deep it stands above others. It’s both delicate and purposeful, as it derives from war, social and cultural animosity from two continents and ways of life, but at the same time — but that also has given us some of the most memorable, dramatic moments in World Cup football. 

It is a rivalry made of thorns, rooted in years of rancor where stars also look to rise out of ferocious moments of action.

This is Argentina and England. A match like no other. 

After Argentina’s victory over Switzerland and England’s win over Norway, both will meet on Wednesday in Atlanta for what should be a majestic semifinal where the past meets present. The fact that, amazingly, this will also be Lionel Messi’s first ever encounter against the Three Lions is probably a secondary headline. 

This, after all, is a match of ghosts, originated in 1962 but one that grew in animosity as the years went by and four years later, in 1966, that’s when the fire was founded.

England vs. Argentina at the 1966 World Cup. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

–>

It was the last and only time England won the World Cup. The hosts came out victorious against Argentina in the quarterfinal, but it was a match of complete physicality where Argentina’s captain Antonio Rattín (sadly passed away this month at the age of 89) was sent off in the first half for two offenses in the space of three minutes. This match was so fierce that England manager Alf Ramsey decided to call the opponents “animals” and did not want his players to swap shirts at the end of the match.

 It was also a fixture that essentially introduced the yellow and red cards, knowing too well something had to be done to tone down the heat.

A rivalry rooted in animosity when the 1966 match turned sour. (Photo by S&G/PA Images via Getty Images)

–>

Good luck with that. 

At the 1986 World Cup in México came the arrival of the legendary Diego Maradona, but most notably, this was now a quarterfinal between both sides that followed the Falklands War — something so deeply impactful to both sides, but for Argentina — this was the fall of a military government, which prompted a new democracy in 1983. A relationship made out of war, something more impactful and catastrophic than anything we could ever imagine now played the role of protagonist. 

Diego Maradona had an iconic game against England. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

–>

As a result, the match in 1986 brought with it the eternal memory of the Hand of God, where in the 51st minute, still scoreless, the 5-foot-5 Maradona beat out England’s stopper Peter Shilton and used his hand to punch the ball out of Shilton’s reach and into the net. Despite aggressive complaints from England, the goal stood, which proceeded for Maradona to score a second goal four minutes later, which is one of the greatest works of art you will ever see on the pitch.  

Maradona and Argentina would end up winning the World Cup and the star would later in life acknowledge that it was an intentional handball but most importantly, it wasn’t just a goal he celebrated — but a piece of symbolic revenge over the fallen soldiers from the Falklands. This would only make him an even bigger icon and hero to Argentinians, and a despised rival in England. 

After this moment of history at the World Cup, it’s fair to say that something remained imprinted with both nations. This was now a rivalry that goes beyond football. It was a matter of life and death. Perhaps it means different things to each other, but the cauldron of fire continued to grow and that’s when — 12 years later — David Beckham entered the narrative. 

David Beckham has played a part in the Argentina-England rivalry. (Photo by Tony Marshall/EMPICS via Getty Images)

–>

In 1998, at the World Cup in France, the golden boy of England and the Three Lions faced Argentina in the round of 16. I remember this match so vividly. I was at boarding school and my friends and I escaped to a local pub and watched it, hiding behind the pack of adults screaming at the television as Beckham kicked-out at Diego Simeone after a clash and was consequently sent off in the 48th minute. It was a moment of madness, beautifully performed by Simeone, crushing the hearts of England fans who had already seen an 18-year-old Michael Owen score one of the greatest goals in English football history. But that was before the red card. 

A Hero and a Villain Born on the Same Night 🦁 No. 46 in Best FIFA World Cup™ Moments

–>

We can only remember the post-mortem and how it vilified Beckham and placed a dent in the evolution of England as it lost on penalties. For Argentina? Once again, it was revenge. Redemption. Historical atonement.

But four years later in Japan, in the group stage at the 2002 World Cup, Beckham would get his sense of salvation after a scored penalty, which consequently came as a result of a foul by Mauricio Pochettino on the aforementioned Owen. Beckham sealed the spot kick and the Three Lions would secure the victory. A win in the round of 16 against Denmark would follow, before eventually losing to Ronaldinho’s audacious free-kick and Brazil’s magical team in the quarterfinal stage. 

David Beckham played against Argentina in two World Cup editions. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

–>

And so here we are. 24 years later. The rivalry returns at the grandest of stages, and, despite the fact that many young people don’t even have a memory of this conflict, it is fair to say they will know by Wednesday. 

Argentina fans — and the team — have resuscitated their call to arms in a song as La Cuarta Estrella (“The Fourth Star”) has become synonymous with this team. The song states: 

Por Malvinas, por El Diego (“For the Falkland Islands, for Diego”),
Por la última de Leo (“For Leo’s last one”),
Argentina quiero verte bicampeón (“Argentina, I want to see you back-to-back champion”).

There might be an argument to be made about the fact that this rivalry means more for Argentina than England. For the losses and the pain, the makeup thread of the country and what history has done — or rather undone — to them. And there’s the team itself, who carries emotion on its sleeve and kills it itself for victory. 

But I think this England side is also equally charged. Full of fire and venom. It is a team that has already faced incredible hostility and extreme conditions. From defeating Mexico at the Azteca to enduring hot and humid conditions in Miami against Erling Haaland’s Norway. So they understand the challenge. They know the assignment and the stakes of the moment. Most importantly, they are aware of Argentina that despite showing a few vulnerabilities during this World Cup, is still the defending champion for a reason.

–>

Lionel Scaloni is attempting to quiet down the fixture and historical connotations of the rivalry, but he knows too well that this won’t happen.  

Then there’s Messi himself, who is ready to face England at international level for the first time ever. The greatest player the game has ever seen, carrying his country on his shoulders, with Diego Maradona, Rattín and other gone heroes watching from above. As he keeps delivering in this last dance, now comes the biggest, most emotionally charged battle of all: a match against England. 

It does not escape me to remember that he is also facing his Inter Miami boss as David Beckham will be watching from the stands. 

Prior to the match, I am sure they will wish each other well and remember the similarities both nations share. It’s the same commonalities mutually loved by Argentina and England. From Oasis to The Beatles, the warmth of loyalty in football itself and the appreciation for beauty and battle in the game. The shared respect is as potent as the historical enmities that have brought us here in the first place.

But know this. On Wednesday, in Atlanta, when both stare at each other on the pitch, and prepare to fight for every ball, every tackle and every effort towards victory, Argentina and England will remind us why football is so much more valuable than highlights on social media, or glamorous shots of celebrities attending a fixture at the luxury of a suite. 

England against Argentina is about love and hate, fallen heroes and newly discovered saviors. It is about the present but also the past, both eternally connected to the memories of pain and sacrifice. This is a fixture where you appreciate what you have, thanks to the guardians who brought you to this moment. But this is also a match of fierce competition, with the hope that you carry the identity of your nation at the tip of your heart, running through your veins and never forgetting that this rivalry can only exist because you have each other. 

EVERY Goal From Quarterfinals 2026 FIFA World Cup™

–> ]–>

Source

It appears that Neymar knows when to hold them and knows when to fold them.

The Brazilian soccer star took part in the 2026 World Series of Poker tournament in Las Vegas, which includes a $10,000 main event, with video circulating of his presence at the event on Saturday night. Neymar actually competed in the 2025 edition of the event, as well, reaching the final table.

With that said, Neymar didn’t have that Raymond Babbitt or Alan Garner in him this year, as he didn’t advance past Day 1 of the tournament.

Neymar’s participation in the yearly poker showdown comes in the wake of Brazil’s World Cup round-of-16 loss to Erling Haaland and Norway on July 5.

Brazil won Group C with a 2-1-0 record by playing Morocco to a 1-1 draw and defeating Haiti (3-0) and Scotland (3-0). They later defeated Japan in the round of 32 (2-1) before being eliminated by Norway in the round of 16 (2-1).

Neymar was subbed into action for Brazil in the 68th minute against Norway and would later score the country’s last goal of the tournament on a penalty kick in stoppage time. He only appeared in two games for Brazil in the World Cup, having entered the tournament with a right calf injury. Neymar came off the bench in both of the contests he played in.

The 2026 World Cup marked the fourth and final World Cup that the La Liga and Ligue 1 legend will play for Brazil (2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026); Neymar announced his retirement from international play on July 5. 

Neymar, who has a combined 457 goals and 262 assists as a professional, tallied nine goals in 15 career World Cup matches and 80 goals in 129 games overall for Brazil.

Outside international play, the 34-year-old Neymar has spent the last two seasons with Santos in Brazil’s Serie A. 

Source

England’s win over Norway didn’t come without post-match controversy for the Three Lions.

Star midfielder Jude Bellingham scored twice to give England a 2-1 win in extra time that sent them to the World Cup semifinals for the fourth time ever. After the match, during an on-field interview, head coach Thomas Tuchel pointed out that his team could have been much better.

“We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today,” Tuchel said in a post-match interview on FOX Sports. “The result is fantastic. We’re in the last four. It’s amazing, but not happy with the performance … in every sense.”

Bellingham, who scored both of England’s goals to bring his tally for the tournament up to six, seemed to disagree with his coach’s critique after England prevailed in the heat and humidity of South Florida, with temperatures reaching 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 Celsius) at the start of warmups.

“Well, whatever,” Bellingham said, shaking his head. “It’s difficult out there. It’s a tough shift. My thoughts and appreciation goes to the players out there who put in a great shift.”

“Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those conditions,” Bellingham said, mentioning the top talent of Norway, incuding Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Antonio Nusa, and Alexander Sørloth.

“I think it would probably catch you a little off-guard,” former World Cup defender Walk Zimmerman told us for the comments and Bellingham’s response. “That’s the kind of thing that would fly, I think, at the club level when you’re playing game in, game out. For a knockout tournament, I think the most important thing is that you can say we didn’t play well, then you immediately acknowledge, ‘We won, we’re moving on. We’re going to enjoy this today and look at what we can do better.’”

Former U.S. men’s national team coach and FOX Sports analyst Bob Bradley downplayed the impact of Tuchel’s comments, which struck a chord with Bellingham.

“I don’t think it’s anything,” Bradley said, calling the comments “postgame emotions.”

“Tuchel, like a lot of us, is never satisfied and always demanding,” Bradley told us. “Bellingham represents the players and the effort against a good team.”

Thierry Henry also seemed confused by the line of questioning from the interviewer in FOX’s postgame. 

“I didn’t understand the questions,” Henry said. “The guy is telling you it was all effort and mentality – and you’re asking about mentality. He was talkinga bout the technical aspect of the game. […] He wasn’t happy with the speed, he wasn’t happy about it. That’s why he changed stuff right away. You don’t even need to ask that question. If he’s changing stuff, it’s because he’s not happy with what’s on the field.” 

Tuchel clarified in his news conference that he was “proud and happy” with how his squad has overcome adversity, but added, “I’m also a football coach and I also have demands. … I think we can play faster. I think we can play more clinically.”

Bellingham added, “The game is split into loads of different facets. Some of it is technical, tactical. For me, the biggest one is psychological and how you can manage setbacks, how you can manage adversity. This team showed yet again that they can do it, and that’s a really valuable skill and trait to have.”

Former U.S. national team midfielder and FOX Sports analyst Sacha Kljestan believes the comments won’t affect England as it approaches a semifinal matchup with reigning champion Argentina.

“I don’t think it’s a very big deal,” Kljestan told us. “He was clearly exhausted after putting in a huge effort. Maybe after watching the game back, he will see that England was a little sloppy on the day.  He has a right to say what he said, and I don’t think it should be a big thing.”

“Ultimately, I think it’s a non-story, honestly,” Zimmerman added. “That’s going to be totally fine in the locker room. Neither of them are going to be thinking twice about it.”

Alexi Lalas appreciated Tuchel’s approach as well, noting that it’s more about perception than any sort of “bristling” between media and coach on the most recent episode of State Of The Union. 

“Tuchel’s response was as German as I’ve seen him in this moment, and I think it was by design,” Lalas said. “I think Thomas Tuchel recognizes that in order for this England team to get over this hump and do things we haven’t seen before, he has to treat not just the team but the extended team, the fanbase, in a different way. Because in that moment you’d expect Thomas Tuchel or most coaches to extoll the virtues of what they just say, ‘hey it’s a hard fought game.’ […] He’s zigging while everyone else is zagging. I’m here for it.”

On Bellingham’s comments, Lalas had more to say.

“I also love the fact that Jude Bellingham in this moment recognized that, ‘well that’s my coach saying this, but we are going to celebrate this and sing while you’re winning.'”

“This team is endearing,” Lalas added. 

Next up for England is a semifinal round matchup against Argentina on Wednesday, July 15 in Atlanta (3 p.m. ET on FOX and streaming on FOX One). It’s the latest in a long history between Argentina and England, one built on ghosts, thorns and legends.

“Thomas Tuchel can rain all day long on the parade,” Lalas continued. “And I think it’s done strategically, and I think it’s smart, but I also like the fact that there was pushback from his players that this was not easy.” 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

]–>

Source

This week’s All-Star festivities in Philadelphia will be a hometown showcase. 

The Phillies have two players — Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber — competing in the Home Run Derby on Monday. One day later, four more Phillies players — Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Brandon Marsh and Jhoan Duran — will be joining Schwarber and Harper at the All-Star Game.

On the American League side, it will also be a return home for Mike Trout, the native of Millville, New Jersey, whose 12th All-Star Game will hold a special meaning.

With All-Star week about to get going, here are 10 storylines to watch.

Cease And Sanchez Get The Starts

Rowan Kavner: There are two strong options for American League manager John Schneider. The Yankees’ Cam Schlittler leads AL pitchers in bWAR, ERA and WHIP, while Schneider’s Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease leads AL pitchers in fWAR, strikeouts, strikeout rate and opponents’ batting average. They’ve clearly been the top two pitchers in the AL.

Cease has thrown 15 consecutive scoreless innings in his last two starts, having allowed just four hits and four walks while striking out 20. He will start the game for the AL.

It’s a little more complicated in the National League.

Jacob Misiorowski would have been the obvious choice in the middle of a historically overpowering season. He leads all qualified MLB starters in ERA, strikeouts, WHIP and opponents’ batting average. Shane Bieber (in the shortened 2020 season) and Gerrit Cole (in 2019) are the only qualified starters who have ever logged a strikeout rate higher than Misiorowski’s (39.6%) over the course of a full season.

The only problem? Miz won’t be there. He has been replaced because he will be pitching on Sunday and unavailable for the All-Star Game. Paul Skenes might have made sense, but he will be facing off against Misiorowski on Sunday (and hasn’t had the first-half numbers of other top contenders).

NL manager Dave Roberts told me last week that being the hometown pitcher “has got to have some weight” as he mulls his decision. If he chooses to go with a Phillies pitcher, there are two options: Sánchez and Luzardo.

Sánchez would have been the clear choice until he coughed up nine runs in Kansas City on Monday. Despite that clunker, he gets the call.

Cristopher Sánchez has been stellar during the first half of the season for the Phillies. (Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) –>

Atlanta’s Chris Sale, Cincinnati’s Chase Burns and Roberts’ World Series star Yoshinobu Yamamoto had to have been among the other top considerations.

A Farewell To Justin Verlander

Deesha Thosar: This week’s All-Star week festivities will double as a farewell stage for Verlander, giving his peers and fans a chance to celebrate his remarkable career. After announcing that he will retire following the season, the future first-ballot Hall of Famer will take one final All-Star bow as one of the sport’s most accomplished pitchers. 

Verlander is a throwback from a generation of pitchers that played the game with different priorities, including pitching deep into games, emphasizing durability and wins, and defining a legacy through consistency and longevity. It’s fair to question whether we will ever see anyone like him take the mound again.

Justin Verlander is finishing his career with the team he started it with. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images) –>

Few careers can match Verlander’s resume. The 43-year-old is a 10-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, a two-time World Series champion, and the 2011 AL MVP. The right-hander has spent over two decades overpowering hitters, presiding as the active leader in strikeouts (3,554), wins (266), complete games (26), games started (556) and innings pitched (3,571.1). Whatever MLB has in the works to honor Verlander in Philly, it’s certain to be a fitting tribute to one of baseball’s all-time greats.

Hometown Stars In Home Run Derby

Kavner: In 2018, the Nationals’ Bryce Harper beat the Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber in the finals to win the Home Run Derby. Eight years later, now Phillies teammates, they’ll face off again in front of their hometown fans.

It’s the first time since that 2018 Derby that two teammates will compete. (That year, it was Schwarber and Cubs teammate Javier Báez). 

Harper has tabbed Dodgers third-base coach Dino Ebel, one of his World Baseball Classic Team USA coaches, as his Derby pitcher. Ebel threw to Schwarber during last year’s All-Star Game swing-off, helping Schwarber launch three home runs on three pitches to earn MVP honors.

Speaking Of That Swing-Off…

Thosar: Could another Home Run Derby-style swing-off decide the All-Star Game? After last year’s dramatic tiebreaker captivated fans, including Schwarber going a perfect 3-for-3 with three home runs, the possibility is back on the table in Philadelphia.

Under MLB’s All-Star rules, games tied after nine innings skip extra innings and move straight to a swing-off. Three manager-selected hitters from each league get three swings apiece, and the team that hits the most home runs after all rounds will claim the win. The format was introduced to avoid overworking pitchers while adding late-game drama.

There’s no way to predict another tie, but all the ingredients are there. There’s elite pitching, stacked lineups and every run will come at a premium, so another swing-off remains a real possibility. If it happens, who will be crowned the hero? Last year in Atlanta, after the NL and AL ended the ninth in a 6-6 tie, we got to see Brent Rooker vs. Kyle Stowers in round one, followed by Schwarber vs. Randy Arozarena in round two, and finally Jonathan Aranda vs. Pete Alonso in round three. The NL won the All-Star Game, 7-6, after the unprecedented swing-off.

Kyle Schwarber receives 2025 MLB All-Star Game MVP | MLB on FOX

–>

Check out Kyle Schwarber receive his Most Valuable Player trophy for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game.

Trout To Start In Hometown All-Star Game

Kavner: Trout’s 12th All-Star Game will be a particularly memorable one. 

Trout’s hometown of Millville, New Jersey, is less than 50 miles from Philadelphia, and the Angels superstar has thought about the possibility of playing in this All-Star Game since before the season began.

“It would be huge,” Trout told me two weeks ago, when he was still on the injured list with a hamstring strain. “It’d be special, for sure.”

Trout has returned from his hamstring strain — as he vowed to do — just in time. He’ll be starting in the outfield for an AL team that could use his pop with Aaron Judge injured.

Which AL Rookie Will Step Up?

Kavner: It’s a special year for rookie talent, and much of it will be on display on the American League roster. 

Munetaka Murakami returned from his hamstring injury just in time to be added to the American League roster after launching 20 homers in his first 57 big-league games. Kevin McGonigle is already one of the most valuable shortstops in the game at 21 years old. Cleveland has two AL Rookie of the Year contenders in the game in second baseman Travis Bazzana and pitcher Parker Messick. 

All of them have risen to the occasion in their first MLB season, and it will be fascinating to see who holds their own — or takes their game to another level — against the sport’s top competition.

Munetaka Murakami returned from the injured list just in time for the All-Star Game. (Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)

–>

MLB Continues To Showcase International Stars

Thosar: Is it the World Baseball Classic, or the All-Star Game? Just four months after another successful WBC, which ended with Venezuela beating the United States for its first-ever WBC title, the All-Star Game will continue to showcase baseball’s global reach.

From Latin America to Asia to the land down under, Philly’s Midsummer Classic will feature plenty of stars whose baseball journeys began in different countries.

There are 22 internationally born players earning spots on the All-Star rosters (33.8%), including 12 players in the NL and 10 in the AL. The list features players from Cuba (7); the Dominican Republic (5); Venezuela (4); Canada (2); Japan (2); Australia (1); and Curaçao (1). Guardians rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana, a native of Hornsby, Australia, will become just the fourth-ever native of Australia to make the All-Star Game, joining Grant Balfour (2013); Liam Hendriks (2019, 2021-22); and Dave Nilsson (1999). 

Diverse All-Star rosters represent the international talent pipeline that’s become essential to MLB’s grandest stages.

Will This Week Be The Showcase Of Junior Caminero?

Kavner: Caminero is one of the hottest hitters on the planet right now — he had 12 homers in his last 16 games entering the weekend before the break — and he’s out for revenge after falling just short of becoming the youngest player ever to win the Home Run Derby last year.

Would anyone be surprised if he won the Derby and then took home All-Star MVP honors? At just 23 years old, the AL starting third baseman is quickly ascending into one of the league’s most promising superstars.

The First-Time All-Stars To Watch

Thosar: Some have been there, done that (looking at you, Trout, Freddie Freeman, Chris Sale, Juan Soto, Matt Olson, et al.). And then, some will have no idea what to expect and will be taking in the All-Star week festivities with fresh eyes.

There is a record, eye-popping total of 29 players who will be making their All-Star Game debuts this year. Among that large group, there are several names worth keeping an eye on who could steal the show. 

Notable names making their first trip to the Midsummer Classic include Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease, Yankees first baseman Ben Rice and burgeoning star right-hander Schlitter, breakout Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker and local Phillies in Luzardo and outfielder Brandon Marsh rounding out the group of some of the game’s best players of the first half. 

“I don’t necessarily come into the season saying, ‘I really want to be on the All-Star team,’” Rice told me of whether it was his goal to be selected. “But you can only hope that if you do your best every day and stick to your process and the results follow, that maybe you’ll get the chance.”

Key Stars Will Be Absent. Who Will Capitalize?

Thosar: We’ve been spoiled over the years with so many household names regularly appearing at MLB’s annual All-Star Game festivities, but this year, the Midsummer Classic will be missing some of its biggest headliners.

Shohei Ohtani (left knee irritation), Judge (stress fracture in right rib), and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (elected not to play) are among the superstar absences, with aces Skenes and Misiorowski also unable to play in the All-Star Game because they’re both starting on Sunday. In addition, Byron Buxton is dealing with a right hip impingement, while Nick Kurtz will also miss the game due to a right thumb sprain.

Still, these absences create opportunity. With a handful of marquee names sidelined or unavailable, the spotlight shifts to first-time All-Stars and underrated talents who are all eager to make a name for themselves. Keep an eye on All-Star Game replacements like first baseman Willson Contreras and Murakami to make the most of their chances.

How to Watch the 2026 MLB All-Star Game

The 2026 MLB All-Star Game is Tuesday, July 14, with first pitch at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, live from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Watch the MLB All-Star Game on FOX One for live and on-demand streaming.

Source