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This video can not be played Impenetrable Room inspires Curacao to first World Cup point against Ecuador As Ecuador forward Enner Valencia raced through on Curacao's goal inside the opening three minutes, the outcome seemed inevitable. About 10 yards out and with just the keeper to beat, he looked certain to score. It would give Curacao a mountain to climb - and, as it did in the 7-1 defeat by Germany in their World Cup opener, could well set the tone for what was to come. But goalkeeper Eloy Room anticipated where Valencia's shot was headed, stooped low to his left and clawed the ball around the post. It was an improbable, barely believable save. And the tone was, indeed, set. By full-time, BBC Sport pundit and former Arsenal defender Martin Keown was joking a calculator might be needed to tot up the number of times Room had bailed his team out. Yet it was Ecuador who were left counting the cost of their missed chances as World Cup debutants Curacao celebrated their first-ever point in the tournament. Room, the 37-year-old Miami FC keeper, produced a remarkable and record-equalling performance, making 15 saves to keep his country level and eventually secure a goalless draw which will live long in the memory of the island nation. Since records began in 1966, no goalkeeper has made more stops in 90 minutes of World Cup action, according to Opta. Only Tim Howard has made as many in a single game but, unlike Room, he failed to keep a clean sheet after conceding twice in extra-time for the USA against Belgium in 2014. "Take a bow, Room," said Keown on BBC One after the 0-0 draw. "Absolutely magnificent. The number of saves, you were almost getting a calculator out at the end of the game to count them up. "It just became a shopping list of saves. His reactions were first class. He seemed destined to keep a clean sheet all night." It was a performance that inspired Room's country to their biggest-ever result. Eloy Room and Dick Advocaat celebrate a historic result for Curacao The fact Curacao are even in the competition has a lot to do with the Dutch-born goalkeeper – and the oldest member of their squad - as he made a crucial save in a 0-0 draw with Jamaica which secured their qualification in November. Patrick Kluivert was manager of the Blue Wave in 2015 and it was the former striker who called former Netherlands Under-21 international Room to convince him to play for the country where his father is from. Hailing from Nijmegen in the Netherlands, Room played the early part of his career in the Eredivisie. He made over 200 appearances across 10 years in the Dutch league including a title success with PSV and cup glory with Vitesse before moving to the USA and Columbus Crew in 2019. After winning the MLS Cup with Columbus Crew in 2020 and the save-of-the-season honour, Room briefly returned to Europe but ended up back in the US with Miami FC, who compete in the second tier. The goalkeeper, who loves to play padel and believes it helps improve his reflexes, may have made 15 saves in one World Cup match - but he did not make more than five in any one of his nine league games this season for Miami FC. The five-save match came in a 4-3 win over Louisville City at Miami FC's Pitbull Stadium, a 20,000-capacity venue which had just 713 fans in attendance that evening. But in front of 68,598 supporters at Kansas City Stadium, he wrote his name into World Cup history on football's biggest stage with a series of superb saves (from a total of 27 shots) and stopped Ecuador scoring despite an xG of 3.05. "I still have to process myself," Room said. "The match is full of emotions. I knew it was going to be a tough match. "The first save, the tone was put in place, also for the team. It gave me confidence and I grew, we all grew, this was a team effort. "We've been fighting, fighting up to the last minute. Earning a point this way for Curacao is absolutely great." This video can not be played Curacao keeper Room equals World Cup saves record Room's display also helped create history for the island nation in their first ever World Cup. There was delirium when they took an early lead against Germany in their opening game, but it would end in humiliation as the European giants eventually stuck seven past them. Curacao next had to face Ecuador, a country ranked more than 50 places higher than them in the world who were looking to respond following defeat by Ivory Coast. With a population of just 156,000 and a land mass smaller than the Isle of Man, Curacao is the smallest nation to ever compete in the World Cup. The Caribbean island exists as a self-governing entity within the Kingdom of Netherlands and Dutch royalty King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima were in the stands to watch Dick Advocaat's side pull off this unexpected draw. It is just the third time a team ranked 80th or lower in Fifa's world rankings have earned a point at a World Cup (Curacao were 82nd before this fixture). Hosts South Africa claimed four points in 2010 (ranked 83rd) while New Zealand were also 82nd before their draw with Iran this year. "This evening is all about Curacao and what they've done, what they've achieved and that will feel like a victory for them," said Keown. "It's a foothold in world football. They didn't come here to just make up the numbers - that is an outstanding result for them." Curacao now face Ivory Coast in their final Group E game and, with this point secured, if they were to pull off a huge shock and beat the African nation then they would be heading into the last 32. But whatever happens, this night will be forever remembered by the tiny island nation punching above its weight. This video can not be played 'Curacao should build me a statue' World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

This video can not be played Undav's double wins it late on for Germany It was not long ago that he was being publicly called out by manager Julian Nagelsmann - but Deniz Undav is proving himself a key player for Germany at the World Cup. Undav's double in the dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Ivory Coast again underlined his value, sending Die Mannschaft into the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time since their victorious 2014 campaign. With three goals and two assists, the striker has five goal involvements in two appearances off the bench - the joint-most by a substitute at a World Cup since 1966 (tying Cameroon's Roger Milla in 1990). But the 29-year-old's place in Germany's World Cup squad was far from certain after a public row with Nagelsmann following his last-gasp winner as a substitute against Ghana in March. Undav had spoken openly of his ambition to push for a starting role with Germany - only for the former RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich manager to respond by warning he was placing unnecessary pressure on himself with such comments. Nagelsmann suggested Undav would not have scored had he played from the start, before later revealing he had apologised to the forward. And Undav has since let his football do the talking - in emphatic fashion. So much so that he is now in serious contention for a starting spot at the World Cup, after taking his tally to nine goals in 11 international matches. "Yes, definitely," Nagelsmann said after Saturday's win, when asked whether Undav could start Germany's final group game against Ecuador on Thursday (21:00 BST). "I said before we can talk a lot about the different approaches. Why should I ruin his flow? He came in twice and got goals twice." It is only the latest chapter in a remarkable journey for a striker who has made a career of defying expectations. With his double against the Ivorians, Undav became the first German to score in his first two World Cup appearances since Miroslav Klose in 2002. That is elite company - but at one stage even taking part in a World Cup was a distant dream for Undav, who was rejected by Werder Bremen aged 14. At 17, he was earning £120 a week as a semi-professional in the German fourth tier while balancing his footballing career with eight-hour shifts at a factory. "When Werder told me at 14 that I didn't have a future with them because I was too small, it broke my heart," Undav said in an interview with Belgian outlet 7sur7. "But I did not abandon hope. I left the family home at 17 to sign for Havelse in the fourth division in Germany where I combined playing and training with working full-time, eight-hour days operating a laser machine in a factory. "I got up around 4am, went to the factory, then I went to training and got back home around 8pm... before doing it all again the next day. "I had to do that job for the money to live because I couldn't survive on the money from the football alone." Undav moved to Belgian second division side Union Saint-Gilloise in 2020, helping them earn promotion the following year and then scoring 25 goals in the top flight - which earned him a move to Brighton . But after only scoring five goals in 22 Premier League appearances in 2022-23 season, he was loaned out to Stuttgart who signed him permanently in 2024. Undav hit 19 Bundesliga goals in 2025-26 - finishing second behind Harry Kane in the top scoring list - to earn his World Cup spot. This video can not be played Undav scores twice as Germany fight back to beat Ivory Coast Nagelsmann has preferred Arsenal's Kai Havertz up front in Germany's wins against Curacao and Ivory Coast - but Undav has now made a strong case for a rethink. "When the game opens up he is great moving around," said the Germany boss. "I could say keep your flow and it's better you come in as the finisher. He really reached the highest point for the World Cup. "I could have him in the starting line-up. Every player would love to start, but I think he is happy as it is now because he played an important role and we are happy with his performance. "For Deniz it was clear, he gave us a lot in the last game when he was a sub. Deniz doesn't need to be prepared, he can jump in right away." In his last start for Germany, Undav scored twice and provided an assist in a 4-0 friendly win against Finland on 31 May. "It's a great feeling," said the Stuttgart forward after taking home the player-of-the-match award against the Ivorians. "I wanted to have it last time, it didn't work. Its wonderful, a fantastic feeling. For me to get the trophy is extraordinary, but the important thing is we won the game and go into the next round and see what happens." If he keeps up this form, more honours could be on the way - perhaps even the biggest prize of them all as Germany chase a fifth World Cup crown. World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

This video can not be played Clark digs deep on back nine to take six-shot lead US Open, round three leaderboard Leader: -7 W Clark (US); -1 S Scheffler (US), S Theegala (US), T Kim (Kor), S Stevens (US) Selected: Level X Schauffele (US); +1 T Fleetwood (Eng), C Morikawa (US), M Fitzpatrick (Eng); +2 A Fitzpatrick (Eng); +3 R McIlroy (NI), J Parry (Eng), A Rai (Eng); +4 J Rose (Eng), T Hatton (Eng); +7 R MacIntyre (Sco) In a third round that saw challengers rise but ultimately fall away, Wyndham Clark stood firm to position himself as the overwhelming favourite to win a second US Open title. Not only did the American fail to budge from the top of the pile, the 32-year-old extended his lead from four to six strokes as he looks to become the first wire-to-wire winner of the tournament since Martin Kaymer in 2014. Clark delivered a masterclass in scrambling at Shinnecock Hills before signing for a level-par 70 that gives him a commanding advantage heading into Sunday's final round. Sahith Theegala, Tom Kim and Sam Stevens are among a quartet at one under but ominously for Clark, so too is Scottie Scheffler, who arguably represents the biggest danger to him repeating his triumph at the Los Angeles Country Club, in 2023. A shot further back and all but out of contention are Americans Sam Burns and Xander Schauffele, while Collin Morikawa and England's Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick are at one over. But it is the presence of world number one Scheffler that will concern Clark the most, even if there has only been one occasion since the first Masters in 1934 that a six-shot lead has been overturned in the final round of a men's major championship - when Greg Norman faded and Nick Faldo claimed his third Masters title in 1996. "I feel good. I have got more and more comfortable every time I have got in these positions," said Clark. "Scottie is the best player in the world, and he's probably going to play really good. He always does, but it's nice to have a six-shot lead on him. "I'm just going to keep approaching it the same way. If I go through my process and hit the shots I know I can hit, I like my chances." US Open final round tee-times US Open round three as it happened - Clark finishes six clear of Scheffler as Fitzpatrick and McIlroy fade The biggest deficit that Scottie Scheffler has overcome in a final round to win previously is five strokes at the Players Championship in 2024 At the end of the delayed first round on Friday, Scheffler was joint 49th after opening with a two-over 72. On Sunday, he will be in the final pairing heading out alongside Clark. For all of Clark's heroics on Saturday, and there were plenty, including a magnificent eagle at the par-five 16th - the only three on that hole so far this week - and several audacious escapes to get up and down for par, it will be another matter entirely to see how his game stands up with the world's best player metaphorically breathing down his neck. A formidable opponent in any circumstances, Scheffler will not lack for motivation. On the day he celebrates his 30th birthday, he has an outside chance of winning a fifth major title and joining an exclusive club of six other players to have completed a career Grand Slam. Only Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy have won the full set of major titles but Scheffler put himself back into the conversation with a one-under 69 in the third round. "It would be special," said Scheffler. "This tournament means so much to me. All I can do is go out there and try and execute. I have an opportunity to go out there and have a great round and give myself a chance to win the tournament. "We've been battling hard for a few days and I did a good job of keeping myself in the tournament. I'll need a really nice round if I'm going to try and catch Wyndham." US Open 18-21 June Shinnecock Hills, New York Live text updates of all four rounds on BBC Sport website and app. Live radio commentary of rounds three and four on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sports Extra and BBC Sounds. Scheffler's score was deceptively good on a day when gusting winds reached 40mph and ensured that the greens became firmer and even more perilous. Only one other player, Argentina's Emiliano Grillo - who moved to level par for the championship after signing for a three-under 67 - broke the par score of 70. It was attritional. As US Opens often are. Ten players began the day under par. By the end, there were only five. The third-round scoring average was 73.61, the highest of the championship. It took one hour and 50 minutes for the first birdie to be registered, one of only two in 70 combined holes played by the field over the opening two hours. Scheffler's performance was all the more impressive given he bogeyed the first two holes and his resurgence arrived entirely on the harder back nine. A birdie on the 10th provided some impetus but his chip-in on the 14th followed by an outpouring of emotion signalled a shift in momentum. Further birdies at the 15th and 16th helped him play the final nine holes in 32 shots, matching the lowest score of the week. But Clark's lead was barely threatened. Unheralded American Stevens briefly got within two shots at four under par but he was one of several players whose challenge faded on the back nine. Rory McIlroy was another. The Northern Irishman had a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth, one of which was a sensational 66-foot putt, to get to two under but five bogeys in his closing nine holes derailed his title hopes. And Fitzpatrick's hopes of adding to his 2022 US Open triumph were all but sunk by a ruinous run of three successive bogeys to start his round. The normally unflappable Yorkshireman, playing in the final group with Clark, had started four back at three under but by the final hole his frustration was evident after he hacked out of deep rough and then overhit a chip. It led to a fifth bogey of the round as he finished eight off the pace. Those at one under know they need to shoot low on Sunday and hope Clark makes mistakes. Perhaps they will follow Fleetwood in taking inspiration from the last US Open held at this Long Island layout when the Englishman shot a 63 in 2018's final round as he came from six back to finish one behind champion Brooks Koepka. Fleetwood, who will start eight adrift said: "We'll see what conditions bring. It's nice when you have good memories of a place, isn't it? I have great shots to go off and good feelings, so you know, I can draw on that." But equally Clark knows that if he can emulate the only three players to have finished under par at a Shinnecock Hills US Open - Ray Floyd in winning in 1986, and champion Retief Goosen and runner-up Phil Mickelson in 2004 - then the title is likely his.

This video can not be played Messi, Mbappe and Vinicius Jr - the best World Cup goals from round one The 2026 World Cup has become the fastest edition of the tournament to hit 100 goals since 1958 - with the landmark reached in the 33rd game. Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo brought up the century with the Netherlands' third goal in a 5-1 win over Sweden on Saturday. It is the first time in 68 years it has taken 33 matches to reach triple figures. The only faster tournament was in Switzerland in 1954 - won by West Germany - when it took just 20 matches. "Probably the most compact and tactically tight game I've seen so far was Netherlands versus Japan - and even that had four goals," England's Euro 2022 winner Ellen White told BBC Sport. In the 2014 finals in Brazil, it took 36 games to reach 100, the same number as in 1982. It took 38 games at Argentina 1978 and the United States in 1994. This World Cup - co-hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada - is averaging 3.09 goals per game and is on course to surpass 300 goals. So why has it only taken 33 games to reach 100 goals? This video can not be played Quinones nets opening goal of 2026 World Cup Mexico's Julian Quinones opened the scoring in this World Cup in a 2-0 win over South Africa on 11 June. The goals have continued to fly in since that opening match in Mexico City. From Germany's 7-1 rout of debutants Curacao in Houston on 14 June to Canada's 6-0 hammering of Qatar in Vancouver four days later, there has been an avalanche of goals. One of the reasons for so many goals could be the Adidas 'Trionda' ball used in matches. It appears as though several goalkeepers have already been caught out by the flight of the ball. That was evident earlier this week when France captain Kylian Mbappe scored his second goal of the game - and longest of the tournament - by beating Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from 30 yards. It was one of five strikes from the first round of fixtures that were scored from more than 22 yards out. Two of those goals were scored by Sweden's Yasin Ayari against Tunisia - from 24.8 yards and 24.3 yards respectively. Goals from Australia's Connor Metcalfe (25.6 yards against Tunisia) and Ismael Saibari (24.7 yards against Brazil) make up the top five. Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart, speaking to BBC Sport, has suggested goalkeepers are struggling to get to grips with the ball. Hart noticed the ball rushing Jordan Pickford quicker than expected when Martin Baturina equalised for Croatia against England on 17 June. More than 10 goals have been scored from outside the penalty area, not to mention tap-ins after keepers have fumbled swerving shots. "There are one or two occasions where this football has not necessarily behaved as you would expect it to," former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who is working at the World Cup for BBC Sport, said. "It is something to keep an eye on." It isn't the first time World Cup balls have caused problems. During the 2010 tournament in South Africa, the 'Jabulani' became well known for its swerve, dip and drift, which was thought to have contributed to several long-range goals. At the time, England's David James was one of several players to criticise the ball, saying it would "allow extra goals" and "make some goalkeepers look daft". "The ball is dreadful," said James. "It's horrible, but it's horrible for everyone." By the end of that tournament, 26 out of the 145 goals scored were from outside the area. Goalless draws at this World Cup have been about as rare as Neymar making an appearance on the pitch for Brazil. Thirty-three games deep into the newly-expanded 104-match tournament, there has been just one. And what a memorable goalless draw it was for debutants Cape Verde who held 2010 world champions Spain in Atlanta on 15 June. The Blue Sharks are one of four nations making their debuts at the expanded 48-team World Cup along with Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan. While Cape Verde frustrated Spain, Curacao - the smallest nation ever, by size and population, to take part in the tournament - conceded seven against Germany in their opening game. "Of course, having more teams and lower-ranked sides has had an small impact in terms of quality," said former Brentford and Tottenham boss Thomas Frank. "But aside from a few matches, like Germany against Curacao where the game eventually got away from them, not that many sides have been blown away so far." Jordan, 68th in Fifa's rankings, , external opened their campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Austria, while Uzbekistan lost by the same scoreline to Colombia. Has the gap between games been a factor in so many goals being scored? Mexico, who kicked the whole things off on 11 June, had to wait a week before playing again against South Korea. Has that given the more powerful teams a chance to refresh and recharge before playing again? This World Cup (3.09 goals per games) is exceeding the scoring rate from Qatar four years (2.69 goals per game), with that tournament played in December to mitigate the soaring summer temperatures in the Middle East. So could the heat in North America be leading to physical struggles - and more goals? Of the tournament's 105 goals (after Germany's win over Ivory Coast), 30 have arrived between the 76th minute and full-time (28.6% - on pace to be the sixth-highest in history and the highest since 2014). There have also been a high number of costly errors leading to goals. Tunisia's Ellyes Skhiri lost possession in a dangerous area against Sweden, allowing Viktor Gyokeres to score. The North Africans committed six errors leading to shots in total, four of which resulted directly in goals, as Graham Potter's side ran out 5-1 winners in their opening game. Elsewhere, have hydration breaks - booed by fans at some games - allowed teams to reset and then go on and score? The mandatory three-minute breaks at all 104 games are meant to be used for players to take in liquids, but head coaches have used them to make tactical changes and issue fresh instructions to players. Brazil were trailing Morocco 1-0 in their opening game in New Jersey but were back on level terms within 10 minutes of the restart after a first-half drinks break. "You can tell the players what to do," said Switzerland boss Murat Yakin. "We are able to show them images. During three minutes we can talk to them, talk about substitutions, we can talk about changes." This video can not be played 'Magnificent' - Messi scores hat-trick to equal Klose scoring record Another factor behind the goal surge is that many of the big names have turned up and hit the ground running. Lionel Messi hit a hat-trick against Algeria, Kylian Mbappe fired a double against Senegal, while Vinicius Jr has scored in each of Brazil's two games. Erling Haaland, who won the 2025-26 Premier League Golden Boot for his 27 goals for Manchester City, also scored a double in Norway's 4-1 win against Iraq , as did England captain Harry Kane in the victory over Croatia . "We have seen so many times at either World Cups or Euros that top players have not been fully fit after a tough season, which is exactly what happened to Harry Kane two years ago at Euro 2024," added Frank. "But he and other key players like Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland are all flying and couldn't look fitter." Speaking to BBC Sport, former Manchester City defender Micah Richards said: "The forward players at this World Cup look so confident. "It's like they all believe they are going to score and everyone is backing themselves. It's become less about tactics and more about the feel-good factor of being at a World Cup." World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Ben Stokes' 95 for Durham was his highest score in any cricket for almost a year Pace bowler Josh Tongue admitted England have missed absent captain Ben Stokes as they head for a heavy defeat in the second Test against New Zealand. Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson have been made unavailable for the Test at The Oval pending an investigation into an incident in a London nightclub. But both have been permitted to play county cricket and Stokes struck 95 for Durham against Northamptonshire on Saturday. It is his highest score in any cricket since the century he made for England in the fourth Test against India last July. Before the nightclub episode, England head coach Brendon McCullum had backed 35-year-old Stokes to return to form with the bat. Speaking at the end of the fourth day of the second Test, Tongue said he was unaware of the score Stokes made for Durham. But when asked about Stokes' return to form, Tongue replied: "Stokesy is an unbelievable player. "I made my England debut when he was captain. I've got huge respect for Stokesy and it's always nice seeing him get some runs." This video can not be played Root drags England fight into final day against NZ Root drags England fight into final day against NZ Stokes hits 95 for Durham while England struggle Stokes' absence as a leader and all-rounder have been noticeable as England head for their third successive defeat in Tests at The Oval. Chasing a fanciful and world record target of 463, the home side closed Saturday on 182-5 and probably would have been beaten inside four days had it not been for stand-in captain Joe Root's unbeaten 75. Without Stokes to balance the team, England have been forced to pick Jordan Cox as a specialist batter at number seven and omitted spinner Shoaib Bashir. After Ollie Robinson missed the match with an injury and Jamie Smith also sat out on paternity leave, Root was left to lead an England team including three debutants and its fewest combined caps in 17 years. "Yeah, we've missed him," said Tongue of Stokes. "Obviously we've got a lot of leaders in our team as well. "Rooty stepping in as captain is an unbelievable player and an unbelievable leader as well. It's been good." Stokes and Atkinson broke England's midnight curfew celebrating the win over New Zealand in the first Test at Lord's. The pair were present when a member of security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player. Both Stokes and Atkinson have been spoken to as part of the investigations and could be available for the third Test at Trent Bridge, starting on Thursday, with Stokes in line to return as captain. This video can not be played Root drags England fight into final day against NZ Stokes could return as captain for third Test against NZ Durham bemused by Stokes doubts as England captain finds home comfort Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were made unavailable for England's defeat by New Zealand in the second Test Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson breached "contractual obligations" but were blameless for "violent conduct" in a London nightclub, according to an investigation. Captain Stokes and pace bowler Atkinson were made unavailable for England's second Test defeat by New Zealand pending an inquiry into events that unfolded when they were out celebrating victory in the first Test two weeks ago. They breached the team's midnight curfew and were present when a member of security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player. A disciplinary hearing by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) found Stokes and Atkinson to have "breached specific contractual obligations that require England players to at all times maintain the highest standards of conduct and act in the best interests of England cricket". Both men have been given a written a warning, with no further action added to their removal from the second Test. They have been named in the squad for the deciding Test at Trent Bridge, starting on Thursday, with Stokes restored as captain. A separate inquiry by the Cricket Regulator has found that Stokes and Atkinson have no further case to answer. The member of England's security staff was left bloodied and in need of medical attention when he was struck by Saracens player Totoa Avuaa. The ECB statement said Avuaa attacked both Atkinson and the security guard. "No blame should be attached to the players for violent conduct at the nightclub," said the ECB. "Stokes was not involved in the altercation and did not witness either incident. "The evidence the ECB has seen demonstrates that Atkinson was the victim of unprovoked attacks and did not retaliate on either occasion." Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

There is nothing like the wonder of your first World Cup - the misty-eyed nostalgia of youth, summers that seemed to last forever, the gargantuan stars you believed were immortal. In a blink of an eye those childhood heroes became a cut-to in the crowd - Ronaldo, the original, with Roberto Carlos and Kaka - greying legends in suits instead of swashbuckling boots. Still a twinkle in their eye. Aura with achy knees. Tournaments once so defined now blur into adulthood ambivalence, postcards plotted along the timeline of your life, the details growing grainy. That one you rushed home from school for, those barbecues with your mates, the one you watched in your first house. The summers ended - with a wink, a shootout or a "why didn't he square it?" The World Cup cycle seems to pedal round far quicker as an adult, yet something huge changed since Qatar four years ago - a tournament lived through a sleep-deprived haze in soft-play centres and binge-watching Bluey. But the past few weeks have brought an unexpected joy. Because, yes, there is nothing like your first World Cup, but there's also nothing like the first World Cup you enjoy with your kid. In the nick of time, our almost six-year-old has become head-over-heels obsessed with the beautiful game - marvelling at its greatest stars, hooked by a cast of new characters in vibrant kits, kidsplaining their celebrations to his parents. What a privilege to share those earliest footballing memories with him. We thought it might not happen, and that would be absolutely fine, because you can dress them up in Three Lions babygrows and joke about Project Mbappe, but falling in love with the sport has to come naturally - through knees grazed on the playground and a childhood intrigue that breeds between young mates. "Who's better, Messi or Ronaldo?!" The eternal question. Lionel Messi, at 38, stills resonates with kids in the playground Four years ago, any effort to watch a game together was met with the same stubborn toddler resistance as suggesting a midday nap. Suddenly, here we are, knee-deep in Panini swapsies, reeling off an all-star French attack, pointing out the flags and badges of all 48 nations. Shiny Brazil! Of course, the medium through which he is engaging with this World Cup is different from our childhood experiences, which in turn are different to our parents'. "Grandad saw Pele at Goodison Park?" Poignant for Grandad because he's an Evertonian, impressive for the little one because his favourite YouTuber - Chuffsters - pulled a 99-ranked Pele icon card. This isn't a bedtime-friendly World Cup for those this side of the pond - we've not yet stayed up late and there's no dashing into school early, class teacher wheeling out a chunky television to catch Senegal shock France. Instead, this World Cup is about climbing into our bed at first light with his little brother, listing yesterday's fixtures and predicting which star player is going to score - a thirst fulfilled through highlights packages. A hearty hit of goals before breakfast. Waking up last Wednesday was like Christmas morning. Every clip unwrapped the gift of another stunning display. Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, LIONEL MESSI GOT A HAT-TRICK! Because, despite being the same age as most of their parents, it's still Messi who resonates for today's kids - his shirt dotted across Sunday morning playing fields. But for all that's different, the core things stay the same. Filling out sticker books and writing on wallcharts, unboxing football figures - we've two Bradley Barcolas, if anyone needs? - hours spent pretending to be Harry Kane or Jude Bellingham in the garden, trying to recreate the tournament's greatest goals. This will be the summer we buy a new fence. It's seeing your heroes come alive on screen and falling in love with unexpected new ones. Where can you find a Vozinha shirt? To enjoy the game through the eyes of your kids is to see it in a different light. One of wonder and a million questions, those you haven't thought about for decades. An experience completely ignorant to the ills of modern football, to politics, ticket prices or hydration breaks. Just the pure magic of the game, an innocent curiosity to know more about it, the uncontrollable desire to 'Siuuuuu!' down supermarket shopping aisles. Football can be tribal and divisive but at its heart is a sport that unites, whether that's supporters from across the globe embracing each other in a Mexico City fan park or a dad and his young lads gathered around a sticker book in Manchester. Because the World Cup is a phenomenon that transcends generations. My grandpa died earlier in the tournament - his last interaction with the boys was to post some England stickers picked up with his weekly shop. The sadness of losing him sated by a small, thoughtful gesture - that will be how they remember him. Whether our young football anorak will remember the tournament too, who knows, and it doesn't really matter. Such is the glorious childhood gift of living in the moment, perhaps next week he'll have moved on to something else, maybe we'll be chasing Pokemon again. And we'll enjoy that together too. But right now, what a beautiful satisfaction it is to experience this World Cup through his wide-eyed wonder, to treasure this passion we share. So, here's to this summer. For me, this is the one that will last forever. Let us know how you are experiencing the World Cup Fastest World Cup to 100 goals in 68 years - are balls and breaks behind it? Meet the record-equalling keeper who helped Curacao make history Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the leading run-scorer in this year's IPL Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi struck a remarkable 11-ball 50 for India A, breaking the record for the fastest half-century in the history of List A 50-over cricket. The 15-year-old's latest remarkable feat came for India A against Sri Lanka A as he made 94 off 29 balls in a total of 377-9, a knock that included 10 fours and eight sixes. He faced just one dot ball in his fifty and hit five fours and five sixes from the other 10 balls to bring up the landmark. The previous fastest in 50-over cricket was Thisara Perera's 13-ball knock for the Sri Lankan Army in 2021, while the quickest internationally was 16 balls which was achieved by South Africa's AB de Villiers and West Indies' Matthew Forde. Sooryavanshi's knock came on the same day that he was not included in India's full squad for the upcoming one-day international series against England. He has been named in their T20 side for matches against both Ireland and England next month, when he could make his international debut after an incredible rise which has included being this year's leading run-scorer in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Virat Kohli could return to the ODI side if he passes a fitness test after a hamstring injury, while fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is also included but batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and all-rounder Hardik Pandya miss out. The first T20 v Ireland takes place on 26 June before the five-match series against England begins on 1 July, followed by three ODIs starting on 14 July. India ODI squad v England: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (subject to fitness clearance), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar. Is 15-year-old IPL wonderkid ready to play for India? Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

Jeremy Doku is ill and will miss Belgium's next game Winger Jeremy Doku has been criticised for saying he wants to leave Belgium's World Cup camp to be with his wife when she gives birth to their first child. Doku's wife Shireen is due to give birth during the second week of July and he intends to return home even if the Red Devils are still in the tournament, which would then be at the quarter-final stage. "It's my first child, so I ‌would ⁠definitely want to be there," the Manchester City forward, 24, told Reuters , external . "If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child. But I also ​know that football ​involves many ⁠other considerations. "I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We'll see what we ​can do." However, Doku's plan to leave the USA and return home has brought fierce criticism from L'Equipe channel presenter France Pierron, who labelled a father "completely useless" at the time of their child's birth. "The World Cup is an incredible joy," she said in a message posted to the Facebook page of French sports publication L'Equipe. "There are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your shoes. It might never happen again in your life. "You're living out a childhood dream, yet you're going to walk away from it all to attend the birth of your child - a disgusting moment, if you'll pardon the expression, where the dad is completely useless." Doku has received plenty of support online following Pierron's remarks - including from retired boxer Brahim Asloum, who won light-flyweight gold for France at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. "A baby is your entire life. A World Cup is over when it is over," he wrote. Later on Saturday, Pierron released a statement on her X page in a bid to explain her comments and apologise for any offence caused. "I was expressing a personal opinion, within the context of a contentious exchange," she said. "I understand that they may have shocked, hurt, or wounded some of you, and I am sorry for that. "My intention has never been to minimise the place or role of fathers with their partner and their child." Belgium confirmed on Saturday that Doku will miss their second World Cup group match against Iran (20:00 BST) because of illness. Rudi Garcia's side drew their opening game with Egypt 1-1. World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

There was an error New Zealand crash through England's lower batting order, taking the five wickets required for victory in the first hour of play on day five, with Matt Henry finishing with 11 wickets in the match, as the tourists secure a 253-run victory in the second Test at The Oval to level the series 1-1 with one match to play. READ MORE: Chaotic England fortnight ends with huge defeat Available to UK users only.

This video can not be played Hodgkinson forced to withdraw as Anning wins 400m title A tearful Keely Hodgkinson pulled out of the 400m final at the UK Athletics Championships moments before Sunday's race after feeling "a little twinge". The Olympic 800m champion has been competing over the shorter distance in a bid to improve her first-lap speed and challenge for the 800m world record this summer. After qualifying from Saturday's heats, the 24-year-old warmed up for the final in Birmingham but stepped out of her lane shortly before the finalists were put under starters' orders. Hodgkinson was emotional as she stood at the side of the track before making her way back inside the Alexander Stadium. BBC's commentary team later received a message from Hodgkinson's coach Jenny Meadows, saying she withdrew as she "felt a little twinge in her last strides before the race". Hodgkinson then added: "I wasn't feeling 100% standing on the start line, so I made the tough decision to step away and not race. I didn't want to risk anything this summer." Hodgkinson endured an injury-hit 2025 yet still managed to win bronze at the World Championships in September, with British team-mate Georgia Hunter Bell claiming silver. Her withdrawal on Sunday comes four weeks before the London Diamond League meeting, which she has earmarked for a tilt at a world record which has stood for 43 years. Amber Anning earned a reprieve after a false start in the 400m but the world indoor champion regrouped to retain her title, winning in a time of 50.16 seconds. Minutes before Hodgkinson's withdrawal, her friend and rival Georgia Hunter Bell retained her 800m title, leading throughout to win by a distance in one minute 55.93 seconds, breaking a championship record set by Kelly Holmes in 1995. This video can not be played 'Dominant display' - Hunter Bell wins 800m in record time The Alexander Stadium is also hosting the European Championships from 10-16 August and one of its stands has been named after Matthew Hudson-Smith for each event. The US-based Wolverhampton athlete became British champion for a sixth time as the 2024 Olympic 400m silver medallist won in 44.45secs. Ben Jefferies was a surprise second after smashing his personal best with 44.66, while reigning champion Charlie Dobson had to settle for third. After losing his 100m title on Saturday, Zharnel Hughes remained the British champion in his preferred 200m by running a championship record of 20.04 seconds to win from Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (20.35). "With the 100m, I'm still trying to get myself sharp for it," said Hughes. "I'm not 100% yet, so it's taking it's time. But I trust it and I know I will get better as the season progresses. "I look forward to the 200m because it's my favourite event and I like to put on a show for the fans. They came out in their huge numbers today to support us and I'm thoroughly grateful for it. "I wanted 19 [seconds] today but my body's feeling it, it's tired. But 19's definitely around the corner and I know for a fact it's going to come right here when the European Championships come around." This video can not be played Hughes wins 200m with championship record Amy Hunt retained her 100m title on Saturday and despite winning 200m silver at last year's World Championships, the national title continues to elude her. She and Success Eduan were level as they came off the turn, before 21-year-old Eduan charged down the home straight to win in a personal best of 22.43, with Hunt second in 22.64. Jake Wightman has won 1500m gold and silver at the World Championships and is finally a national champion too having claimed the 800m in 1:45.40. This video can not be played Wightman wins 800m title

There was an error Spain's Lamine Yamal scores the opening goal against Saudi Arabia in their Group H match in the 2026 World Cup. FOLLOW LIVE: Spain v Saudi Arabia Available to UK users only.

Lionel Messi has appeared at six World Cups, scoring 16 goals The 2026 World Cup may only be 10 days old but the tournament has already rewritten football history. Not wanting to be outdone by the other, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland all came out of the blocks firing in their respective nations' opening fixtures. And as the World Cup's biggest hitters prepare to make their second appearances at the first 48-team competition, records aplenty look ready to fall. From Argentina's Messi and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo extending their World Cup legacies to Mbappe becoming France's all-time leading scorer, BBC Sport takes a look at a list of the major records already broken or set to be. Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball for the best player at the 2022 World Cup Since 2014, Germany striker Miroslav Klose stood on his own with 16 World Cup goals. But Messi's stunning hat-trick in Argentina's opening 3-0 win over Algeria moved the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner level at the top of the all-time standings and poised to move out in front on his own. Messi required 27 games - three more than Klose - to hit 16 but the 2022 World Cup winner will not mind. Lurking close behind with 14 is France captain Mbappe, who is now the all-time leading scorer for France with 58 , and could well have the goals record in his sights himself. Kane is four further back - but surely it is too far for him this tournament? Next up for Messi and Co. in Group J are Austria. Are we about to witness a new record? Harry Kane has scored 81 goals in 115 games for England After watching Messi, Haaland and Mbappe all hit the back of the net, Kane reminded the footballing world what he could do in England's 4-2 win over Croatia on Wednesday. The Three Lions skipper netted twice in Dallas to move England top of Group L and draw level with Gary Lineker as their all-time leading scorer at World Cup finals on 10 goals. With Ghana to come on Tuesday night, Kane might not be level with Lineker for long. Wednesday's game also meant Kane became just the second England player - after Sir David Beckham in 1998, 2002 and 2006 - to score at three different World Cups. The Croatia match also marked Kane's 115th England appearance, moving him level with Beckham among the country's most-capped players. Kylian Mbappe won the World Cup with France in 2018 Sticking with Mbappe, is he going to become the first player to win multiple World Cup Golden Boots or will it be England skipper Kane? Mbappe struck eight times to win the Golden Boot in Qatar in 2022 but faces fierce competition to retain the accolade. Kane, also with records on his mind, won the prize in 2018 with six goals. Messi, Germany's Denis Undav and Canada's Jonathan David currently lead the way on three but Kane, Haaland and Mbappe are just a goal adrift. This could be a race for the ages. Cristiano Ronaldo has 143 goals in 229 caps for Portugal Ronaldo was bound to appear at some point. It may have been a lacklustre performance from him in Portugal's shock 1-1 draw with DR Congo but a record is always around the corner. In 2022, Ronaldo set the record for the most World Cups scored in at five - 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 - but Messi has already equalled that. But a goal for Ronaldo at the 2026 edition will make it a record six for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored eight times at the World Cup But a record did fall for Ronaldo in the opening game. Taking to the pitch in Houston, the Portuguese had joined Messi as the second man to play in six World Cup tournaments. In doing so, he also became the oldest outfield player to start at the World Cup - aged 41 years and 132 days. The record previously belonged to Canada's Atiba Hutchinson, at 39 years and 296 days when he started at the 2022 World Cup in a group match against Croatia. Erling Haaland made his World Cup debut in Norway's 4-1 win over Iraq Where records are falling, Haaland is always close by. The Norway striker needed just 20 touches to score twice in the 4-1 win over Iraq and become the first player to net a double for his nation at the World Cup. Haaland only needed one game to become Norway's joint all-time leading scorer at the World Cup - levelling with Kjetil Rekdal. He can move clear of Rekdal when taking on Senegal on Tuesday morning. Vozinha was left in tears at the end of Cape Verde's shock draw with Spain Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha became one of the stories of the tournament despite playing in a 0-0 draw. He made seven crucial saves to keep out European champions Spain in Cape Verde's World Cup debut - and also set some records himself. At 40 years and 12 days, he became the oldest player to appear in a nation's debut World Cup match, surpassing the record set by Curacao's Eloy Room. Vozinha also broke the World Cup record for being the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet on his finals debut. Didier Deschamps has won the World Cup as a player and manager of France France boss Didier Deschamps is one win away from equalling the record for most wins as a manager at the World Cup. Former West Germany manager Helmut Schon is at the top of the all-time list with 16 victories, and a win for France over Iraq will move Deschamps level. All being well for the Frenchman, he will set a new record of 17 in the final group game against Norway. What a way to end your time as France manager that would be. There was only one straight red card shown at the 2022 World Cup The record for the most red cards at a World Cup stands at 28, in 2006. In the 2026 competition, six reds have been brandished already. Three red cards were shown in Mexico's opening-game win over South Africa, before Bosnia-Herzegovina's Tarik Muharemovic and Qatar duo Assim Omer Madibo and Homam el Amin soon followed. This tally is more than the past two World Cups, where four red cards were shown in Qatar and Russia. There is still a way to go for this record, but there is an awful lot of football to come. Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Marizanne Kapp struck seven fours and four sixes in a 45-ball innings Women's T20 World Cup, Group 1, Manchester India 158-7 (20 overs): Verma 31 (15); Kapp 2-27, Ismail 2-28 South Africa 161-4 (19.1 overs): Kapp 81 (45); Charani 3-24 South Africa won by six wickets Scorecard , Table Marizanne Kapp struck a powerful unbeaten 81 as South Africa beat India by six wickets to keep their World Cup hopes alive. Having taken 2-27 with the ball, the all-rounder struck seven fours and four sixes in a 45-ball innings as the Proteas chased down a target of 159 with five balls to spare. Kapp joined Tazmin Brits at the crease at 25-2 in the final over of the powerplay and the pair began slowly, only reaching 59 at the halfway mark, before steadily beginning to accumulate. With their partnership three short of a century Brits departed for a 36-ball 40, caught in the deep off Shafali Verma, while Kapp survived a drop by Radha Yadav later in the over. She took advantage, hammering two sixes in Deepti Sharma's penultimate over, before Chloe Tyron edged a winning four off Nandni Sharma. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur - playing a record 200th T20 international - had chosen to bat and Shafali Verma got her side off to a strong start, striking three fours and a six in a 15-ball 31. Her innings helped India reach 59-2 at the end of the powerplay, but by that point both openers were back in the dugout, with Smriti Mandhana bowled having missed a scoop shot and Verma gloving a short ball behind. India were unable to press on from their platform, with none of their subsequent batters managing to outscore Shafali. Deepti threatened for a time, striking 29 from 21 deliveries, but both she and Richa Ghosh chipped tamely to short fine leg as India closed on 158-7. South Africa now join their opponents on four points, behind group leaders Australia on six. They have fixtures with Bangladesh and the Netherlands to play, while the result likely makes India's match against Australia at Lord's on 28 June crucial to the outcome of the group. Women's T20 World Cup top run-scorers & wicket-takers Relive South Africa beating India to boost semi-final hopes Having lost by 65 runs to Australia in their opening fixture, South Africa knew they had to beat India if they were to have any realistic hopes of taking one of two semi-final spots from group one. Kapp kept them in the mix in India's innings, bowling Mandhana as she attempted a scoop shot, after which she roared with delight, then removing dangerous lower-order batter Ghosh later in the innings. She came into bat with South Africa in a precarious position after leg-spinner Sree Charani took two wickets in three balls, grabbing a return catch off Laura Wolvaardt and then bowling Annerie Dercksen. The required run-rate swiftly climbed to more than 10 an over, but Kapp and Brits stuck together to build a platform from which they could accelerate. After Brits found the hands of Charani at deep square, Kapp responded with a flat six down the ground, but should have caught from the following ball when Radha shelled a chance running in from the rope at long-on. From there Kapp was in control, twice launching Deepti over the mid-wicket ropes to set-up Tyron's winning runs. "She is probably the biggest big-match player I've ever seen. I'm really glad she's on my team," captain Wolvaardt said of Kapp. "Whenever something is on the line or we're playing in a World Cup she finds a way. "She said she didn't feel great today so I hope she doesn't feel great every game! She just has that competitive nature and it brings out the best in her." India were slow to switch their plans when Kapp moved around the crease and hit behind square Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

There was an error Amber Anning takes the women's 400m title at the UK Athletics Championships with a new record time of 50.16, as an emotional Keely Hodgkinson withdraws from the final. WATCH LIVE: UK Athletics Championships Available to UK users only.

This video can not be played Cerundolo's best shots as he beats Paul in Queen's final Francisco Cerundolo secured the biggest title of his career as he produced a superb comeback to beat Tommy Paul in an enthralling men's singles final at Queen's. The Argentine had never won a title above ATP 250 level before and it looked as though his wait would continue when he went a set and a break down against Paul. But after three hours and two minutes on court - the longest final in Queen's history - and four missed championship points, a triumphant Cerundolo threw himself to the floor in celebration after a 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-3 victory. "It's not easy to speak right now," an emotional Cerundolo said. "I want to thank my mum and my dad, they arrived for the last two games." He then told BBC TV: "My dad has a phobia of planes. Since I was born, I never travelled with him and he never came to watch me in tournaments. "He watched me in Buenos Aires one time a year and at the Davis Cup. They just arrived and I just saw them when I went to celebrate." A fan favourite at the iconic Queen's Club this week, Cerundolo delighted the crowds in London with his fierce forehand winners and never-give-up mentality. Four of his five matches went to a decider as he spent 11 hours 33 minutes on court over the past six days. It is a second grass-court title for the 27-year-old, who also beat Paul in the final of Eastbourne in 2023. Paul, champion at Queen's in 2024, missed the opportunity to defend his title last year because of an abdominal injury and he looked downcast as Cerundolo celebrated the victory on Andy Murray Arena. "I want to congratulate Francisco and your team. We always seem to have unreal matches and today you were the better player so I am happy for you. Congrats," Paul said. Bouzkova beats Navarro to clinch Nottingham title Draper returns at Eastbourne - follow on the BBC Cerundolo won the coin toss and chose to receive - a decision that paid off as he broke Paul's serve in the very first game. But the Argentine tightened up as he tried to serve out the opener, and four successive unforced errors allowed Paul to break back for 5-5. The momentum stayed with Paul in the tie-break, with a delicate drop shot helping him to a mini-break before a Cerundolo double fault gifted him the set. In a tight second set, the players traded breaks and saved multiple break points each before Paul's level faltered and Cerundolo struck a decisive blow at 5-4 to force a decider. Cerundolo broke first in the third set, but his emotions threatened to boil over when he squandered a 40-0 lead on serve and Paul carved out two break-back points. The South American let out a huge cry of "vamos" as he clung on to hold, although he was left disgruntled after four championship points went by. But at the fifth time of asking, Cerundolo hammered home his 27th winner of the day to finally seal victory. "This is the biggest moment of my tennis career by far," he told BBC TV. "Coming from Argentina, winning my first ATP 500 tournament at Queen's - such a historic event. "I would never imagine lifting this trophy in my whole life and now I am the winner, so I am just super happy and proud of myself."

There was an error Watch the best shots from the men's singles final as Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo comes from a set down to beat Tommy Paul 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-3 to win the biggest title of his career at Queen's. WATCH MORE: Tennis Video Available to UK users only.

There was an error Georgia Hunter Bell wins the women's 800m title with a new championship record time of 1:55.93 at the UK Athletics Championships. WATCH LIVE: UK Athletics Championships Available to UK users only.

There was an error Jake Wightman wins the men's 800m title at the UK Athletics Championships in a time of 1:45.40 at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. WATCH LIVE: UK Athletics Championships Available to UK users only.

Steve Clarke is bidding to become the first manager to steer Scotland beyond the group stage of a major tournament After two World Cup outings, Scotland's hopes of progressing from Group C hang in the balance. They have three points after a 1-0 win over Haiti and a 1-0 reverse against Morocco. That tally could be enough should they avoid a heavy defeat against Brazil on Wednesday (23:00 BST), while a point would all but guarantee their place in the last 32. But what have we learned from the two outings in Boston before the Tartan Army descend on Miami? Scotland expects: What is behind McTominay's understated World Cup? Boston bounce sends Scotland to Miami with hope and no fear Referee told McGinn penalty denied as ball going out of play Che Adams managed just 11 touches against Morocco In the build-up to this tournament, head coach Steve Clarke deployed a 4-4-2 formation in friendlies against Curacao and Bolivia to great effect. Against admittedly poor opposition, Scotland scored eight goals across the two matches and looked confident before the World Cup. Clarke stuck with the same shape for the tournament opener against Haiti, but Scotland had fewer shots than their opponents and a lower expected goals (xG of 1.05 v 1.21). John McGinn's winning goal came via a deflection, and starting strikers Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams were on the periphery. Shankland dropped to the bench against Morocco as Clarke bolstered his midfield, but once again, Adams failed to get into the contest. Often an isolated figure up front, he failed to hold the ball up and get Scotland up the park, managing just 11 touches before being substituted for Lyndon Dykes on 71 minutes. Scotland finished the game with zero shots on target. It seems likely Clarke will go with the same system against Brazil, but there could be a personnel change with Dykes, Shankland, Ross Stewart and George Hirst competing with Adams to lead the line. Winger Ben Gannon-Doak, having impressed against Haiti, provided much-needed late dynamism off the bench as Clarke's side finished strongly against Morocco. Fellow wide player Findlay Curtis, 19, came off the bench late on against Haiti for his World Cup debut and also offers pace and trickery. Might he feature at some stage in midweek as Scotland look to relieve the pressure? Although Scotland have struggled to carve out meaningful opportunities in their two group matches, they have been largely solid in defence. One mistake against Morocco was punished as Ismael Saibari raced past Grant Hanley to score the game's only goal after just 70 seconds. However, from that point onwards, the Scots' back four limited their high-quality opposition to relatively few chances. Jack Hendry was superb, averting danger more than once with his pace and reading of the game. His block to deny Saibari a second was out of the top drawer. "Terrible start but the reaction to that was good," Clarke said after the game. "We had to dig in for five or 10 minutes just to get our feet in the game. "This group of players, this squad, have shown that [resilience] in abundance over the years." That resilience bodes well for Scotland's third group game, where another stout defensive display is of vital importance. It was widely expected Angus Gunn would be Scotland's number one for this tournament, but the 30-year-old's struggle for minutes with Nottingham Forest last season meant he was not a certainty. Having signed on a free transfer last summer after his Norwich City deal expired, Gunn made just one club appearance, playing 45 minutes off the bench in a 1-1 Premier League draw against Crystal Palace. However, Clarke stuck with Gunn ahead of Craig Gordon and Liam Kelly and has been justified in his selection to this point. A clean sheet against Haiti - despite one or two hairy moments - ensured a vital three points in the hunt for knockout football. He had no chance with Saibari's powerful strike in game two and kept Scotland in the contest with several fine stops, denying Achraf Hakimi, Bilal El Khannouss and Chemsdine Talbi. More of the same will be required come Wednesday night. Billy Gilmour was ruled out of the World Cup after injuring his knee in a pre-tournament friendly against Curacao Although Billy Gilmour is with the squad in the United States, Scotland have missed the Napoli man's calming influence in the heart of midfield. He sustained a knee injury in the friendly victory against Curacao and was ruled out of the World Cup, with Manchester United youngster Tyler Fletcher called up in his place. In both matches, Scotland have struggled to both keep possession and build attacks through midfield. One of Gilmour's strengths is his ability to take the ball off his centre-backs and progress the play. Against Haiti and Morocco, there has been plenty of keeping the ball at the back before going long towards Adams. Much has been made of Scott McTominay's subdued start to the tournament and how well Lewis Ferguson has applied himself, but neither are in the Gilmour mould. World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

This video can not be played Salah scores to help Egypt to first World Cup win Mohamed Salah's - and Egypt's - World Cup wait is finally over. The Egyptian King's match-winning second-half display against New Zealand helped the Pharaohs to their first-ever World Cup win, at their ninth attempt, and leaves them on the brink of qualifying for the last 32. Salah's 67th-minute goal gave Egypt the lead - after they recovered from a shock early New Zealand opener - before his corner was headed home by Trezeguet to seal the historic 3-1 win . Salah had made a slow start to the tournament, with an ineffectual display in their opening draw with Belgium followed up by a quiet opening half against the Kiwis. But, just when it looked like his own World Cup nightmares were about to continue, the 34-year-old became the latest superstar to make his mark on the tournament, following in the footsteps of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. After a forgettable World Cup campaign in 2018 and failure to qualify four years later in Qatar, Egypt's greatest player has finally had his moment on the biggest stage. And he will know a point against Iran will see his country through to the next round - and they may not even need that. Salah said: "It's a great achievement for all the players. It's a great win. It's a great vibe. The next game is very important." Mohamed Salah needs one goal to equal his country's scoring record Salah helps Egypt beat New Zealand to end 92-year wait for World Cup win Salah's club future remains uncertain after a forgettable final campaign at Liverpool, which saw him fall out with then manager Arne Slot before announcing he was leaving this summer. He has been linked with various clubs across the world but was determined to focus on his country's World Cup campaign first in a bid to put right the wrongs of the past. In 2018, Salah faced a race against time to make the World Cup because of injury and, despite making the squad, had to settle for a place on the bench in their opening defeat to Uruguay. His converted penalty was then merely a consolation in a 3-1 loss to hosts Russia before he missed a sitter as Egypt suffered a humiliating loss to Saudi Arabia. The fallout to that World Cup failure was huge, with Salah accusing Egypt's FA of disrupting preparations and reports he was close to quitting international football. Things didn't get better as four years later they failed to qualify for Qatar and - after 45 minutes on Sunday - it looked like Salah's World Cup misery was set to continue. Egypt manager Hossam Hassan even had to speak out before the match to deny any fall out with Salah - after substituting him during the draw with Belgium. But, just when it looked like the Iran match could be the last-chance saloon, Salah took matters into his hands to spark wild celebrations among Egypt fans across the world. Mo Salah: Never Give Up 10 December 2025 The story of Mo Salah’s unlikely rise to global stardom – how he defied the odds and never gave up on his challenging journey to the top. Salah may have been a superstar at Liverpool. He is on an even higher plane in Egypt. With every touch comes loud cheers from his country's fans, with huge pressure on his shoulders on every appearance. Sunday's goal was his 68th for his country in 118 appearances, leaving him just one shy of manager Hassan's all-time goal scoring record, and some will say it's his most important yet as Egypt finally ended a 92-year wait for a World Cup win. No player has been involved in more shots during a game at this World Cup than Salah was against New Zealand - having five shots himself and creating five more for others. Former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou told ITV: "If there was any doubt about Mo's impact on this team, you can still see it. "It will give them enormous belief. They had to deal with adversity and their big player stood up and that will give them big confidence. You need your big players to perform to progress." Former Jamaica winger Jobi McAnuff added: "Just when he was needed, Mo Salah stood up for his country." Salah has played for the senior national team for 14 years and his importance to Egypt is such that high-ranking government officials have been known to get involved when he has been injured. "I even had calls from Egypt's Minister of Health," recalls Dr Mohamed Aboud, the national team's medic, about the time Salah sustained a serious shoulder injury in Liverpool's defeat by Real Madrid in the 2018 Champions League final, leading to speculation he could miss the World Cup in Russia a few weeks later. But, despite helping Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2019-20 and 2024-25, the player has yet to lift a trophy for his country. The generation before Salah won three Africa Cup of Nations titles in a row between 2006 and 2010. Since then, there have been two defeats in finals, against Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal in the 2021 edition, which took place in early 2022. This World Cup win at least banishes one of Egypt's ghosts. World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

This video can not be played Cape Verde continue to surprise with entertaining Uruguay draw Cape Verde's World Cup campaign will go down in history - and they are now on the cusp of going a step further. They had already produced one of the biggest shocks of all time as they drew with Spain (who were 65 places higher in Fifa's world rankings) in their tournament debut. The Blue Sharks showed their class again on the game's biggest stage on Sunday by holding two-time winners Uruguay, and are in serious contention for a place in the knockouts. They were creative, entertaining and confident in their thrilling 2-2 draw , and also produced another dose of the steely determination that guided them to their shock result against Spain. The archipelago of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean, with a population of just under 525,000 according to the latest figures from the World Bank, have now held their own against two World Cup stalwarts. No heroics were needed from goalkeeper Vozinha - who rose from 40,000 Instagram followers before the game against Spain to move than 15 million - this time as they limited Uruguay to just two shots on target, but heroes were found at the other end of the pitch. "They will be checking their phones to see how many followers they have," said former Wales defender Ashley Wiliams on BBC One. Vozinha's mother was not able to attend the Spain match because of the high cost of obtaining a visa to enter the USA but she was present in Miami, and treated to an enthralling display. Helio Varela equalised for Cape Verde against Uruguay The 40-year-old keeper who inspired Cape Verde's historic debut The key stats as Cape Verde earn shock draw against Spain From the first minute, Cape Verde employed an attack-minded game - constantly attempting to get the ball up the pitch to cause Uruguay trouble. The South American heavyweights found themselves on the ropes in the face of Cape Verde's verve. Then came the history-making moment. Kevin Pina stepped up to take a 30-yard free-kick and Uruguay's wall opted to part as they jumped, letting his arrowed effort find a path through the middle and go past keeper Fernando Muslera. Back in the archipelago's capital of Praia, their first goal was met with jubilation. This video can not be played Cape Verde fan goes wild over first goal live on BBC News Written off by pundits going into their match against Uruguay - Williams and Benni McCarthy on BBC One both predicted they would lose - Cape Verde refused to follow the script. A gift led to the second goal which drew the scores level, but Helio Varela did well regardless to produce a deft touch to take the ball past the stranded Muslera before stroking it into the back of the net. After that, Cape Verde showed the defensive strength that made the difference against Spain to be able to hold on to a point. They made sure to combine it with their attacking threat, though, and continued to hunt for a way to snatch three points. It was a performance which led former South Africa striker McCarthy to say he has a "new lease of respect" for Cape Verde, and ex-Wales defender Williams to claim it was the "most entertaining" game he has covered at the World Cup so far. "They really came out to play," said McCarthy. "They were sensational. I thought they were brave. "The only thing that's needed is working on their final-third entry, that composure, working on those decisions in the final moment of the game. I think they've won a lot of people's hearts after this performance." One Cape Verde fan told BBC Sport at a fan park in the US that "everybody doubted us, everybody thought we weren't going to make it. We're here now". Such a reaction captures the feeling currently surrounding Cape Verde, who are fast becoming one of the best stories of this year's World Cup. This video can not be played Cape Verdean fan scenes! Drawing with Uruguay means Cape Verde are third in the Group H table, level with Sunday's opponents on two points. The new format in this expanded World Cup means Cape Verde have a fighting chance of making the knockouts on their tournament debut. They take on Saudi Arabia, who drew 1-1 with Uruguay and were thrashed 4-0 by Spain , on Saturday in their final group-stage game (01:00 BST). "I think this performance gets them a win against Saudi Arabia," McCarthy said on BBC One. Eight of the 12 best third-placed teams will qualify for the last 32, while the top two sides in each group progress automatically. Three points against Saudi Arabia will be enough for them to seal progression. Nigeria (74th in 1998) and Russia (70th in 2018) are the only teams to progress to the knockout stage previously who were ranked lower than Cape Verde currently are (63rd). On Cape Verde's confidence, Williams said: "They'll be going into the Saudi Arabia game with their tails up thinking 'we can qualify here'." Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former England forward Sue Smith summed up the debutants' display. "it was outstanding from Cape Verde yet again," she said. They managed 12 shots and had four efforts on target, two more than Uruguay. It was in the second half, as they fought back to level and then pushed for a winner, that the bulk of their opportunities came - with 10 of their shots coming after the break. "The story of this team keeps going," added Smith. Former Wales defender Williams said he thought Cape Verde's performance was "definitely worth a point" "Cape Verde were excellent," he added. "Even at the end, they wanted the win - and that's against Uruguay." The draw means they are the first debutants to go unbeaten across their first two World Cup games since Senegal in 2002. "The biggest thing for me is how much Cape Verde are enjoying themselves," said former Scotland forward James McFadden. "They are enjoying themselves so much. It's been a joy to watch." Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

It was in the foothills of the Dolomite mountains that a three-year-old Jannik Sinner took his first steps towards becoming the world's best player. It started on the ski slopes, where he was so good he later became a giant slalom runner-up in the junior national championships. Sinner also showed enormous promise on the football pitch with an instinctive ability to play with both feet. But tennis soon started to take over Sinner's life in the mountain village of Sexten, just a short hike from the Austrian border. It is a picturesque, peaceful place. Street signs are presented in both Italian and German, but the main language is a German dialect. Plates in restaurants regularly carry meat and dumplings, as if you were ordering from an Austrian or German menu. It may not look an obvious launchpad for the career of a future world number one - but, as the dome that stretches over a nearby indoor tennis courts proclaims, it is "where champions are born". Sinner's first coach was family friend Andreas Schönegger. Having given the infant Sinner an introduction to life on skis in his fourth winter, he was entrusted with tennis lessons the following summer. Sinner was a slight child - often the smallest in his group - but what he lacked in physical presence he more than made up for in talent. Family friend Andreas Schönegger "Everybody thinks when they see this guy on the court that to beat him is not a problem, but he had incredible technique from the beginning," Schönegger told BBC Sport. "The hair was long and red, similar to a girl. The first tournament he played, I remember the group asking me 'Andy, why today plays a girl with us?' "And I tell them - this is not a girl, it's a very, very strong boy!" Schönegger has a lot of praise for Sinner's parents. Father Hanspeter - also known as Johann - would sometimes work a 14-hour shift as a chef in the kitchens of a local ski lodge before heading to the courts to practise with his son. Not that Sinner was ever keen to leave early. Schönegger remembers him as a youngster who stayed on to practise his footwork and groundstrokes after the group lessons were over. When the time came to decide which sport to devote his abundant talent to, tennis won through – but the decision was not without a personal cost. At the age of just 13 and a half, Sinner left home, with his destination some 400 miles away. The renowned Piatti Tennis Centre is also in Italy, but in a town very different to Sexten. Bordighera is on the Italian Riviera, bracketed by the sea, with a beach and an exotic garden referenced by painter Claude Monet. There is no snow, no skiing, and very little German spoken. Founder Riccardo Piatti - who had already enjoyed great success with Milos Raonic and Ivan Ljubicic, and worked with a teenage Novak Djokovic - initially thought Sinner was too young for the move. But Sinner had made up his mind and, with his parents as advocates, Piatti relented. He decided Sinner should spend every fourth week back in the mountains - reconnecting with family, friends and schoolwork - but his prodigy soon decided he wanted to become a full-time student of the tennis academy. Sinner admits it was a tough transition. His Italian was limited, his English even more so, and he had very much been a part-time player until that point. "I never went to the gym before, never played more than a couple of times a week before, and then everything changed," Sinner told me at May's Italian Open. "I was struggling to get used to the new conditions for my body. "But it's been an amazing experience and I would do it again, because it makes me grow as a person." Sinner lived with a Croatian family to give him as normal a life as possible despite being so far from home. He has kept up contact with that family during his rise through the sport's ranks. Piatti remembers a strong personality and character with a good sense of humour, while coach Andrea Volpini - who travelled with Sinner in his early career - recalls more typical teenage traits. He remembers a sociable teenager who enjoyed "simple things" like football, ice cream and - when time allowed - a trip to the karting track. Volpini also visited Sinner's hometown with him. "I went to run with him high in the mountains. It was tough to follow him – he knew all the curves and the jumps, and it was not easy for me," Volpini recalls. "He spent a lot of time far away and then came back there [to] regenerate, find new energy to restart." Sinner also differed from many others of his generation in that he never played a junior Grand Slam. Piatti preferred to send him to play on the Futures tour, the lowest rung of men's professional tennis. "He was, by our opinion, ready to play them - not to win, but these tournaments gave more possibilities for him to work on his goals," Volpini explained. There were also some handy practice partners from time to time. Roger Federer was a visitor to the academy and on more than one occasion Sinner practised with Djokovic in Monte Carlo. "The first time you face these great players, maybe more important [are the] off-court moments, when you sit down and take a break," Volpini added. "We always push Jannik to ask a question. I remember one time in Monte Carlo when Novak told him some advice on his forehand – don't push but try to find a bit shorter corner." Sinner’s forehand is now one of his biggest weapons and is aided by a superb serve and Djokovic-like movement around the court. "My idea was that this guy is a player that can beat Novak because they were similar - the movement is very similar," Piatti added. "The idea was to hit the ball faster than the other one, especially to Djokovic." Sinner played his first professional tournament in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh as a 16-year-old in January 2018. He reached the second round, earning $258 (£192). "He was very, very skinny. It’s impossible to think in which way it is possible to work because the body was not ready," his former physiotherapist Claudio Zimaglia remembers. "When he started to work in the gym, it was tough. It is different from going to ski or play soccer for fun." The work paid off. By the end of the following year, Sinner was already good enough to reach the semi-finals of an ATP Tour event in Antwerp and to win - aged just 18 - the Next Gen ATP Finals that is contested by the best under-21 players of the year. Piatti could see he had all the ingredients for life at the top. "95% of his life is tennis. He thinks in tennis," Piatti said. "He lives his life, but he is thinking always about tennis, in which ways he can do better. "I think it is part of his character and also part of the people around him." Sinner split from Piatti after he had reached his second Grand Slam quarter-final at the 2022 Australian Open. He was a top-10 player, and the winner of five ATP Tour titles, but felt the time had come for a fresh perspective. Under Italy’s Simone Vagnozzi and the Australian Darren Cahill, Sinner has won four Grand Slam titles, risen to the top of the world rankings and developed a potentially era-defining rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz. But Cahill is quick to point out that the foundations of Sinner's success were laid in those early years. "I speak about his parents all the time – his grounded upbringing and the way he treats the people around him," Cahill said after Sinner's Wimbledon triumph in 2025. "He's a good man. He's a good, young fellow. Always has a smile on his face. The person that you see on the tennis court is not the same guy off the court. "He's a fun-loving guy who is joking around all the time that just loves the company of the people around him." Sinner’s bid to complete the career Grand Slam of all four major titles at the age of just 24 ran aground at the French Open in May, when a combination of illness, heat and fatigue contributed to a second-round defeat by Juan Manuel Cerundolo. But when he begins his Wimbledon title defence, the regulars at Bar da Marco in Innichen - the village where Sinner was born - will hope to have more to cheer about. About 50 square metres of grass was laid down outside the bar for last year's Wimbledon watch parties. Strawberries and white wine were on the menu, and - as has now become customary - one of the empty bottles was annotated and encased in a glass table to commemorate Sinner's latest success. "We show every match from the quarter-finals onwards to friends and guests," owner Marco Dapoz explained. "It's always quite full, and you have to check in advance that you can get a seat. "We drink water to start with and then often champagne or sparkling wine or beer so our guests can celebrate - even when he loses, we celebrate nonetheless." Innichen, and the neighbouring commune of Sexten where Sinner grew up, are full of images of their favourite son - including of the June day two years ago when he returned for a public celebration of his achievements. Sinner had just become world number one for the first time, bringing with him the trophy, along with the replica Norman Brookes Challenge Cup he had received for winning his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open that January, and the Davis Cup - which Italy had won for the first time in 47 years the previous November. The day was organised by mayor Thomas Summerer, who summed up what Sinner means to the region. "I always say he is incomparable as an athlete when we see everything he has won," Summerer said. "He speaks very often about his family, about his parents, about his environment - about things very many of us are preoccupied with. "When he is here, he is always asking after your parents, whether everyone is healthy and then wishes you all the best when he says goodbye. "In my experience, Jannik the person outstrips Jannik the athlete. It is his simple manner, his sincerity, his openness and his direct connection with people." Credits Written by Russell Fuller Subbed by John Skilbeck Edited by Amy Lofthouse Filming by David McDaid and Melissa Sharman Design by Scott McCall Images by Getty, the Piatti Tennis Centre and Andreas Schonegger Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have dominated men’s tennis in 2025. BBC Sport looks at the evolution of their growing rivalry – and where it could go next. Before Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam, he was simply Carlitos from Murcia. This is his story.

This video can not be played Clark beats Burns on closing holes of dramatic US Open US Open, final leaderboard Champion: -4 W Clark (US) Selected: -3 S Burns (US); -1 T Kim (Kor); Level S Scheffler (US); +1 T Hatton (Eng); +2 J Rose (Eng), A Rai (Eng), J Parry (Eng), T Fleetwood (Eng); +4 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); +5 A Fitzpatrick (Eng); +6 R McIlroy (NI); +7 R MacIntyre (Sco) Full leaderboard At times on Sunday at Shinnecock Hills it felt like becoming a case of if, and not when, Wyndham Clark would collect a second US Open title and the moment he has craved since smashing up a locker at last year's championship. Clark, imperious in building a six-shot lead over the first three days at this Long Island track, looked a shoo-in to win a second major. But he showed frailty early in round four, while some of the notoriously feisty New York fans were intent on letting their fellow American know he wasn't their favourite. It is unclear whether they had not forgotten Clark's injudicious outburst at Oakmont 12 months ago, or were simply hoping to watch his playing partner Scottie Scheffler become the seventh man to win the career Grand Slam of all four majors. But the jeers aimed towards Clark, as he stumbled to a one-shot victory over compatriot Sam Burns, made for uncomfortable viewing, with world number one Scheffler saying: "The crowd was tough. New Yorkers are tough people. "Sometimes it can get a little too much when balls are going off greens and you start hearing cheers. That felt a bit much to me. "It shows a lot about Wyndham, how he handled not only this golf course but the crowd as well and he is a well-deserving champion." Shinnecock Hills 'won the battle over me' - McIlroy Clark wins second US Open title - as it happened Yamashita denies Woad third LPGA title in play-off While many fans were against Clark, Scheffler sportingly acknowledged his playing partner's terrific approach to the 10th which led to a birdie Since the Masters was first played in 1934, only Greg Norman had let slip a six-shot 54-hole lead at a major, when Nick Faldo overturned the deficit to claim his third Green Jacket in 1996. But by the end of the seventh hole at Shinnecock Hills, it looked like Clark might add to that statistic. The 2023 champion was wobbling. His massive advantage had evaporated to a single stroke with Burns in hot pursuit. Crucially though, nobody was able to draw level with Clark. And while there were several more plot twists, it was only when he holed a stunning 25-foot birdie putt on the 16th that it felt like he would cross the finishing line as the first winner of the tournament since Martin Kaymer in 2014 to lead from the first round to the last. Even then there was drama. A three-putt bogey on the 17th left him needing to par the last, which he did after knocking a superb 52-foot birdie putt to within inches of the hole. "The first one was a breakthrough of knowing I can do it. This one was a lot of redemption," said Clark after winning his second major. "Last year was so tough, a terrible year. I left [last year's US Open at Oakmont] in a shambles. It's amazing what a year can do. I'm leaving here as a champion and I'm just so blessed." This victory will not fully atone for his infamous meltdown after missing the halfway cut a year ago when he received a ban from the Pennsylvania club until he underwent anger management therapy and paid for the repairs to the two lockers he damaged. And there were occasions on Sunday, when it appeared like his subsequent acts of contrition had not cut through to the galleries judging by their reactions to him. A huge number of fans vociferously celebrated Clark's bogey on the seventh, while others were reportedly ejected from the course because of their hostility towards him. It was far from the scenes Europe's players faced at nearby Bethpage Black during last September's Ryder Cup but Clark had noise to block out. "New York didn't really like me," Clark added. "I get it. Some of it is self-deserved. I did some unfortunate things last year that I really regret. I've been sorry multiple times and I'm still sorry. Hopefully I can win you guys over eventually. I get it. They were rooting for Scottie." While Clark may not be the most popular champion - given his past misdemeanours also include flinging his driver and breaking the clubhead off it during the 2025 US PGA Championship - he proved deserving of the 18-inch sterling silver winner's trophy and a hefty top prize of $4.5m (£3.9m). The 32-year-old will also undoubtedly concede that good fortune - namely the luck of the draw for the opening two rounds - also played a part in his success. Clark, who climbs from 34th to eighth in the world rankings, was able to capitalise better than his peers from playing his first round in the more benign conditions late on Thursday and second round early on Friday, as he followed his opening six-under 64 with a 69. On Saturday, his one-over 71 was anchored to a masterclass in scrambling and his proficiency on the greens, with only three players better than him - an improvement in his game that can be traced back to a change of putter at the Masters in April. After being criticised for "losing the course" at previous US Opens held at this revered layout, the United States Golf Association was adamant it would remain playable throughout the week and produced a final-round set-up to deliver an intriguing finale. Burns, who led after 54 holes in last year's championship, started seven shots back on Sunday but was unable to bridge the gap despite shooting a three-under 67, on a day when 17 players broke 70. With the field averaging 71.389 strokes on Sunday, it was the third-lowest final round scoring average in US Open history. Not that it helped four-time major champion Scheffler. His expected charge towards acquiring the full set of major titles never materialised, as he marked his 30th birthday by signing for a one-over 71 to end up four shots back alongside fellow Americans JT Poston and Keith Mitchell, the latter becoming the first player to shoot four rounds of level-par 70 at a US Open. South Korea's Tom Kim recorded his second best finish in a major at one under while England's Tyrrell Hatton ended in a tie for seventh at one over after a round that matched Burns' 67 and contained an eagle and four birdies. Hatton's fellow Englishmen, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, John Parry and recently crowned US PGA champion Aaron Rai, were all a stroke further adrift. Meanwhile, world number two Rory McIlroy conceded that the course had "won the battle over me" after finishing six over par. Masters champion McIlroy carded a final round of 73 as his challenge for a second US Open title fell away.

Steve Clarke and his squad are preparing for a potentially historic game In a World Cup where the boffins with their big brainy heads and their super computers are working overtime on who might play who in the last 32, there are other calculations worth conjuring with. As Steve Clarke's squad prepare to head for Miami to face Brazil on Wednesday, potentially the biggest day in the history of Scotland's national team, they travel having had no shot on target in their last game and a half and only two overall. Che Adams, the principal striker, has had three touches of the ball in the opposition box in 146 minutes. One goal has been scored - a double deflection less than half an hour into the opening game. Despite all their endeavour, all the heat they put on Morocco late on and a few big decisions that went against them, Scotland failed to register a shot on target on Friday, the first time that's happened to them on this stage since the 1986 World Cup. They wanted to be a bazooka, but so far they're positively popgun. Taking the last Euros into account, Scotland have had five shots on target in their last five tournament matches. Their three goals across those five contests have come from two deflected shots and one own goal. And yet, if the football data experts are to be believed, the chances of them progressing are high. The mad psychology is that win, lose, or draw, this might be the most glorious week in the long story of the national team, the moment they finally make it out of a group and into the nirvana of the knockout rounds. Scots 'won't go gung-ho', but Naismith believes they can 'get job done' Scotland trio not part of training group Miami heat could mean a repeat of 1982 against Brazil - Vickery A first-ever win over Brazil would do the job beautifully. Cue a Tartan Army carnival in Miami to wipe the floor with anything that's seen in Rio. A draw would spark the same merry chaos. The avoidance of defeat would need to be a hell of a Scotland performance, one that would merit a place in the last 32. Where the mentality gets interesting and, perhaps to some, complicated, is if Scotland lose by a goal or two, or even three, and still make it into the next round. They could be utterly brilliant and progress and they could be utterly unthreatening and progress. They could play to keep the score down, pack the midfield, hoof everything downfield and never venture a shot on Brazil's goal and still make it through. A strange kind of glory? Or, when you've lost out on goal difference so many times before, does it actually matter a damn? Is the bottom line everything? Does the end justify the means? Never mind the quality, just rejoice in the qualification? Would a win over Haiti followed by two defeats be acclaimed as a riotous success if it's enough to scrape into the knockouts as one of the best third-placed teams? A point, or three, against Brazil and nobody needs to contemplate such existential issues. A result and Miami won't know what hit it, but they'll love it. Clarke has been criticised in places for a supposed risk-averse approach against Morocco, a game that Scotland finished by having a forward line of Lyndon Dykes, Ross Stewart, Scott McTominay and Ben Gannon-Doak. If that was caution, it's hard to imagine what abandon looks like. Clarke can't please some people, that much is obvious. No matter what he does, there is a constituency of fans out there that will slam him, some for legitimate reasons based on the paucity of the last Euros, many others because they just don't like the guy. Calling on him to be gung-ho from the get-go against Morocco, or Brazil, is deeply flawed because that's exactly what those teams want Scotland to do. Clarke is trying to find a balance that sits somewhere between ambition and pragmatism and hasn't really found it yet, but he's trying. Everybody's an expert in telling him what to do. Steven Naismith, the assistant manager, spoke in Charlotte on Sunday about the fine line that Scotland had to walk against Morocco and will have to walk against Brazil, an infinitely more technically adept team with searing pace out wide and world-class finishers. Scotland can try to go toe-to-toe with them in the manner of a middleweight taking on a heavyweight. There's only going to be one winner there. This video can not be played 'No bother' - Jack Hendry on facing Neymar "If you look at Brazil in the last game [against Haiti] before half-time, it's 3-0," Naismith pointed out. "The game that's been on today [Spain led Saudi Arabia 3-0 after 24 minutes]... So there has to be a gameplan, but that doesn't mean we're sitting around in our 18-yard box for 90 minutes because taking into consideration the conditions and the opposition, it's impossible to do." The heat in Miami will be oppressive, considerably hotter than Boston. Expecting Scotland to 'go for it' like mad dogs in a meathouse betrays a serious lack of understanding of the weather here. "It's at moments in the game where we feel as if we're dominating, then we need to take risks and be ready," Naismith said. "But there's going to be hard moments where we need to set our shape and wait. "Some of their players have got similar traits to Morocco's forward players. We'll go and do what we need to do to get through the group. "That's ultimately what we're here to do. But we need to make sure we're solid because, as you've seen in some of the results, teams are ruthless when they get the opportunity. "I sat here last week and said, if we qualify out of the group, it's the first squad to do it. I think this squad deserves to do it. I think we've got the players to do it and I think we've got the manager to do it. "The magnitude of these games is definitely as [big] as any games [the players] have played in, but you know you can be punished at any one moment. You've got to be switched on." Naismith talked about Scotland getting into the final third and then making poor decisions, which is a quality thing and, despite the reputations of some of these Scotland players they went up against more accomplished operators last Friday in Boston and they'll be doing the same again on Wednesday in Miami. "When we've got possession, and we've got a good feel in the game that we're in control, we need to take risks to try and score," he said. "That's the bit that needs to change. "We don't need to go, 'if we lose 4-0, we've still got a chance of going through'. We need to take the chances, definitely, but I'd rather have a proper gameplan than just going, let's go for it." That's the essential weirdness of Scotland's situation. If they're trailing 1-0 late on, do they push, or do they settle? If they're trailing 2-0, do they commit more people forward or chase the game and run the risk of conceding more and taking themselves out of the tournament on goal difference in the process? These are dilemmas you hope they don't have to face. Dan Marino, the greatest Miami Dolphin, once said of a player's mindset: "You have to feel you're the best at what you do. You don't have to come out and say it. But you have to know it within yourself." Brazil will know it, that's for certain. Scotland need to believe it, too. A game of football, but also a fascinating and complex game of psychology. What a denouement to the group this promises to be. World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Serena Williams won the Wimbledon ladies' singles title in 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016 Serena Williams will make a surprise return to singles action at Wimbledon later this month after accepting a wildcard. The 44-year-old has been given the final spot in the women's main draw - filling a gap left following the initial announcement on Tuesday. Williams has played two doubles matches since making her competitive return earlier this month after a four-year absence. She has won the Wimbledon singles title seven times but remains one short of Margaret Court's long-standing women's record of 24 Grand Slam wins. Williams had already been given a wildcard to play alongside older sister Venus in the Wimbledon doubles. But asked earlier this month if she would consider a singles return at SW19, she said: "You think I'm ready for singles? I need to get to work." Williams has not won a singles match at Wimbledon since 2019, when she lost in the final to Romania's Simona Halep. She spent 319 weeks at the top of the world rankings and has won 73 singles titles on the WTA Tour during an illustrious career. She has also completed a career 'Golden Slam' in singles and doubles - winning all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold - and won every singles major at least three times. Williams will discover her first-round opponent when the draw takes place on Friday, with the tournament getting under way on Monday, 29 June. Williams rolls back the years on return at Queen's Williams sisters receive Wimbledon doubles wildcard Williams won her first Wimbledon singles title in 2002 - beating sister Venus in the final - and repeated the feat a year later. She won again in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016 - with her seventh triumph meaning she equalled Steffi Graf's Open era record of 22 major singles titles. After taking maternity leave in 2017, she reached the final on her next two Wimbledon appearances, but lost in straight sets to Angelique Kerber and Halep. Her 2021 campaign ended after just six games as she retired injured against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, and there were doubts she would return. Given a wildcard in 2022, she was two points from victory against Harmony Tan before being edged out in a final-set tie-break. Asked afterwards if that would be her final Wimbledon appearance, Williams said: "That's a question I can't answer. Who knows? Who knows where I'll pop up?" Williams has won 14 titles at Wimbledon, with six women's doubles and one mixed doubles among her tally. She also won Olympic singles and doubles gold on the same courts at the 2012 London Olympics. Williams has won 107 of her 123 singles matches on grass courts, and it is the surface she has the best record on with an 87% win-rate. Allow Instagram content? This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Meta’s Instagram cookie policy , external and privacy policy , external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’ . Williams played what was widely expected to be the final match of her career at the 2022 US Open before "evolving away" from the sport. But refusing to use the word 'retirement' always left the door ajar for a return. She said the main motivation for her comeback was the prospect of her two daughters seeing her play. Williams won the Australian Open while pregnant with eldest daughter Olympia and gave birth to her second child, Adira, in 2023. Her daughters watched from the stands as their mother won the first doubles match of her return at Queen's alongside Victoria Mboko. However, the pair had to withdraw from the tournament when Canadian teenager Mboko injured her knee in the singles. Former world number one Williams then entered the doubles in Berlin, where she lost alongside Czech Karolina Muchova in their first-round match on Tuesday. Afterwards, Williams remained coy when asked about the prospect of playing singles at Wimbledon, but returned to London the following day and started practising at SW19 on Thursday. After her second doubles match in Berlin last week, Williams said she felt more nimble, sturdy and speedy - and a practice session on Sunday persuaded her the time was right for a singles return. A singles comeback always seemed likely once she had committed herself to all the training, travelling and drug testing required of a professional athlete. That it has come so soon is more surprising. Even as a seven-time singles champion, it is bold to make your return at Wimbledon having not played a singles match for nearly four years. Williams' last Grand Slam title was nine years ago, and as an unranked player she could face one of the top seeds in the first round. Martina Navratilova may, perhaps, prove an inspiration. She won a Grand Slam doubles title a month shy of her 50th birthday, and a singles match at Wimbledon at the age of 47.

Curtis Jones' current Liverpool deal expires in 2027 Liverpool have rejected a verbal offer of 25m euros (£21.7m) from Inter Milan for Curtis Jones. The offer is well short of the £35m which Liverpool value Jones at and they are unwilling to sanction a cut-price exit for the midfielder. Jones, 25, only has one year left on his current deal at Anfield and this is the second time Inter have come in for him this year. The Italian club were interested in his availability in January and proposed a loan with a view to a transfer but that was also turned down by Liverpool . This month, Piero Ausilio, Inter's sporting director, said: "Curtis Jones - we are paying attention to him. We didn't hide. We understand what the developments will be." Federico Chiesa went as far as telling Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport that Jones asked him what it is like to live in Italy. Homegrown talent Jones joined Liverpool 's academy aged nine before signing his first professional contract with the Reds in 2018. What's next for Jones as Inter Milan step up interest? Follow Liverpool on BBC Sounds Pre-match, post-match and topical Reds content Subscribe and listen for everything you love about Liverpool Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan views Ask about Liverpool - what do you want to know?

This video can not be played Highlights: NZ level series after Henry blows away England on day five At the end of an extraordinary fortnight, English cricket is dealing with the consequences of another controversy. Captain Ben Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson will face no further action following an incident that occurred in a London nightclub, and have returned to the squad for the third Test against New Zealand starting on Thursday at Trent Bridge. The fallout will hang over the decider in Nottingham, with England desperate for a series win following their awful Ashes tour. Stokes and Atkinson may have been cleared, but questions remain over the entire England set-up. Brendon McCullum was appointed England head coach in May 2022, a month after Ben Stokes was named England Test captain Captain Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum were all smiles after England won the first Test at Lord's, apparently on the same page after a bruising Ashes winter. In the run-up to the home summer, both men denied Australia had damaged their relationship. Assessing where they are after this episode is mainly done through the words of McCullum. The New Zealander has spoken and Stokes is yet to. Two days before the second Test, for which Stokes was absent, McCullum repeatedly spoke of his "worry" and "concern" for the all-rounder. However, when Stokes returned to play for his county, Durham chief executive Tim Bostock said he was "bemused" by McCullum's take. Two things can be true at the same time. McCullum said he has been in daily contact with Stokes, and could have been given cause for concern. Meanwhile, the 35-year-old could have felt relaxed with Durham, away from everything going on with England. Before the Test, McCullum would not be drawn on Stokes' future as a player or captain. He may have genuinely not known, and probably had a right to be frustrated it was Stokes, of all people, who had allowed himself to be caught up in a nightclub incident. Following a crushing defeat in the second Test, McCullum confirmed Stokes' return and said: "I anticipate we'll be able to work together really well in the week coming and I'm sure that both of us have that same vision for this cricket team." Stokes will speak to the media on Wednesday, while England train in Nottingham for the first time on Tuesday. There will be plenty of interested observers. Stokes' mistrust of those who were a "suit" was fostered in the aftermath of the incident outside a Bristol nightclub in 2017 that almost cost him his career. He felt let down by the hierarchy and made his feelings known after his starring role in the 2019 World Cup final. Stokes was asked for a selfie by "someone who wears a suit". His response is unprintable. Neither England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Richard Gould nor chair Richard Thompson have spoken publicly on this latest episode. The official message from the ECB is that Stokes was not asked to resign. However, speaking on the BBC's Today at the Test, former England captain Michael Vaughan said: "There were people briefing they did not want Ben Stokes to come back as England captain. He will know that." Ex-England skipper Alastair Cook added: "Where is the actual leadership? Why has McCullum had to deal with it? People who are making decisions are hiding away from the media." Stokes, one of the greatest to ever play for England, is in a strong position. English cricket could find another chair, chief executive, director of cricket or coach, but it will not find another Stokes. It would be a brave individual who tries to take him on. This video can not be played 'Some people don't want Stokes to return as England captain' - Vaughan A midnight curfew was enforced on the England team after the Ashes tour was dogged by off-field issues. When the ECB first released details of the Stokes-Atkinson episode, the governing body said the pair had breached the curfew. It was confirmed the curfew was still in place despite the completion of the first Test and the second being more than a week away. However, four days later, England director of cricket Rob Key revealed Atkinson did not know the curfew was in force, leading to the question of who knew what, and how the curfew was communicated. In the aftermath of the second Test, McCullum said there was an "ambiguity" over the terms of the curfew and that it had not been put in writing. The coach said standards would be "better documented". There are different ways to look at this. On one hand, has an England environment often accused of being sloppy once again overlooked the details? But do grown men - professional athletes - really need their bedtime to be put in writing? Plenty outside the team knew about the curfew, so how had the players managed to avoid hearing about it? After all that happened in Australia, should the players not be taking it upon themselves to quell talk of a drinking culture and act like high-performance sportsmen? The curfew remains in place for the third Test at Trent Bridge. Hugely. England had to make five changes for the second Test - admittedly not all because of Stokes' absence - and they could make at least another four for the third. Without Stokes, even a Stokes who has not been at his best with the bat, England lose their balance. At The Oval they had to pick Jordan Cox as an extra batter at number seven to protect a long tail, and their desire for four seamers meant spinner Shoaib Bashir was squeezed out. With Stokes, England have the required amount of batting and a rounded attack. From the team that played at The Oval, England will definitely omit James Rew and Sonny Baker, who are not in the squad, and probably Cox and Matthew Fisher. In would come Stokes, Atkinson, Bashir and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, returning after paternity leave. England could even make a fifth change if they decide not to risk Jofra Archer in back-to-back Tests, especially if Ollie Robinson is fit after a knee problem. One silver lining to Stokes' absence could be the time he spent in the middle for Durham. A 95 against Northamptonshire was his highest score in nearly a year. Eight years ago, Stokes' first Test after he was cleared of charges of affray over the Bristol incident was at Trent Bridge. He was booed by sections of the crowd. There will surely be no repeat this time around. Initial frustration over Stokes' involvement in the Rex Rooms episode appears to have given way to support for the skipper. Nottingham will be rocking when he comes out to bat. However, there is no escaping the impatience with England's results and the crisis-to-crisis reputation the game is struggling to shake. The management were backed after the Ashes thumping, but the demand was to turn things around quickly. There was the question as to what could happen to the hierarchy if England lose the series against New Zealand. Pressure for heads to roll would potentially be irresistible. We may only be a week or so from finding out. Second Test ratings: Which England players got 3/10? TMS podcast: Stokes will return as captain - McCullum Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

The World Cup, Olympics and Wimbledon finals are on the list of 'crown jewel' sporting events in the UK The government is proposing new legislation to prevent streaming and catch-up rights to some of the world's biggest sporting events - including the World Cup - being put behind a paywall for UK viewers. The current legislation covering the so-called 'crown jewels' was established in 1996, when just 4% of UK households had access to the internet. It does not prevent on-demand rights being sold to a streaming service such as Netflix or Discovery+, which would charge subscribers for watching at a time that suits them. The Olympics, the FA Cup final, the Grand National and Wimbledon finals are among the other listed events that will now have such digital rights added to the scope of the regime, as part of a media green paper being published this week. Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Due to the late night kick-offs, so many families are currently following the World Cup by catching up on-demand in the mornings. "With these changes we are protecting that for the future, ensuring streaming rights for the biggest sports events must be offered to our public service broadcasters. "This will not only help those broadcasters compete, it will make sure that people never miss out on the history-making sporting moments that bring us together as a nation, for free and however and whenever they choose to watch." In 2022, a report by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee , external recommended that the previous government "should review extending the protections currently offered under the listed events regime to digital and on-demand content". Ministers had also been under some pressure to add the Six Nations rugby championship to the 'crown jewels' events. However, the government has no plans to expand the list, and is said to believe that it currently strikes the right balance of ensuring many of the nation's biggest sporting moments are free-to-air, while protecting competition organisers' ability to raise income from the sale of broadcast rights.

Northampton's George Hendy (centre) celebrates one of his two tries in Saturday's Prem final The Prem Rugby play-offs are set be played at a neutral venue from the 2029-2030 season. The current format, which sees the top two teams in the regular season table getting home advantage in the semi-finals, has been in place since 2005. But league bosses say they have a vision of playing both the play-offs on consecutive days in one city, similar to the European finals weekend. It is thought Liverpool and Brighton are two of the cities under consideration at this early stage. This season's play-offs were a major success, with Northampton's Franklin's Gardens and the Rec in Bath hosting two epic contests in front of sold-out crowds. However, with both grounds having a modest capacity of about 15,000, Prem Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor believes there is an opportunity to grow the product on both a commercial and sporting level. France's Top 14 semi-finals have taken place this season at Marseille's Stade Velodrome, which has a capacity of more than 67,000. "The semi-finals that we have just had were awesome in terms of the rugby spectacle, and they're sell-out games with their home crowds," Massie-Taylor said. "But I think they would sell out larger venues and neutrals would go as well. This is about the long term. In the long term, it will be more valuable if you are playing in bigger stadia." Every moment ached with importance as Northampton win compelling final Can 'best Northampton team ever' become one of English rugby's greats? Club insiders have given the proposal a mixed reception when approached by the BBC, with some excited about the number of fans that could attend the play-off weekend in a big venue in a destination city. However, it is estimated clubs currently make between £600,000-£750,000 when hosting a play-off at their home ground, so the money generated from switching to a neutral venue would need to be significant to make it financially viable. There are also concerns the lack of home advantage might disincentivise clubs towards the back end of the season, especially if there is no tangible benefit for finishing first in the regular campaign compared with fourth. One option would be to incentivise teams to finish in the top two by awarding either prize money and/or a greater share of the play-off gates. As well as the commercial factors, another advantage of holding the play-offs in a host city would be the chance to take big league games to an underserved area of the country. "You have to mix up trying to open up new markets and with tried and tested fan bases," added Massie-Taylor. Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast

Marketa Vondrousova beat Ons Jabeur in the Wimbledon women's singles final three years ago Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has been banned for four years for refusing an anti-doping test last year. Vondrousova, 26, was charged by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after denying a doping control officer entry to her home to conduct the test in December 2025. The Czech player said in April she feared for her safety when the officer called and said they failed to follow "protocol". But a tribunal determined Vondrousova, who became the first unseeded player to win the Wimbledon women's singles title in 2023, provided "no compelling justification" for refusing a test. Vondrousova's suspension will end on 21 June 2030, but she has a right to appeal against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). Under anti-doping rules, the starting point for a sanction when a player refuses a test is the same as if they had tested positive. During the hearing, Vondrousova explained stress and poor mental health had affected her decision-making, in addition to her safety concerns. ITIA chief executive officer Karen Moorhouse said while the agency understands the testing process is "uncomfortable" and also acknowledges the additional burden it can carry for players competing, "it is essential to protect fair competition". Moorhouse added: "Safety and welfare of players and our testers is really important to us. Our testers are well-trained, professional, and the gender of our testing witness always matches the player. "They carry ID at all times, and players are able to verify their identity in other ways if they are ever unsure." Vondrousova, who is ranked 122 in the world, said she felt scared when the officer approached her door late at night without properly identifying themselves or following protocol, adding: "In that moment it was about feeling safe, not about avoiding anything." Live scores, results and order of play Williams is the greatest - but will she produce another great fight?

Tuchel was named England manager in October 2024 and took charge in January 2025 England's opening World Cup match - a 4-2 win over Croatia - was an intense 90 minutes that was a departure from the more measured approach fans had become used to under Gareth Southgate. Football is ultimately about results, of course, and Southgate turned England into an international team capable of making deep runs in tournaments - leading them to the final of the European Championship in both 2021 and 2024. But for many, style matters too. Here we take a closer look at the similarities and differences between the approaches of Southgate and his successor Thomas Tuchel. The most obvious change since Tuchel's appointment has been his willingness to leave star names out of the squad. At times during Euro 2024, Southgate's England had Phil Foden on the left wing, Cole Palmer in attacking midfield and Trent Alexander-Arnold in holding midfield. Tuchel left all three out of his World Cup squad. In simple terms, this can be explained as Tuchel taking a system-first approach while Southgate took a player-first approach. Tuchel decided on a clear system and a set of tactics he wanted to use, then looked at the players who could best carry out the roles he wanted - irrespective of name. It is one of the reasons Morgan Rogers - more suited to what Tuchel wants from his number 10 - was picked over Foden and Palmer. Southgate appeared to look at the best individuals he could select before trying to build a system around them, and at times was questioned for shoehorning players into roles they were not perfect fits for. That is partly why we saw changes to the starting XI and system mid-tournament under Southgate. Both approaches have proved successful throughout football and come with their own pros and cons. While Tuchel has created a system in which each player's role is clear, Southgate instead encouraged individuals to solve problems - reading the game as it happened. Including big names across the pitch therefore made sense, with their individual quality helping England produce game-changing moments. Think Jude Bellingham's bicycle kick against Slovakia, or the long-range finish from Cole Palmer against Spain. Bellingham did score an individually brilliant goal in last week's opener against Croatia, but it came on the back of a well-worked attacking routine England have developed over the course of Tuchel's reign. It's a move that, in theory, also works with Rogers in Bellingham's role. Without Alexander-Arnold's through-balls, Foden's long shots and Palmer's creativity, England's current squad has perhaps slightly less individual game-breaking quality - but Tuchel will hope those he has selected will combine to produce a greater collective performance. Looking at England's equaliser in the Euro 2024 final, the ability of individual players - profiled properly - to come up with solutions was clear. First, Bukayo Saka - from this one-against-two situation - was able to thread a pass into Jude Bellingham in the box The pass - slightly behind Bellingham - was laid off to Cole Palmer at the edge of the box through an impressive first-time pass while off balance And Palmer, who thrives on the edge of the box, curled the shot in for England's equaliser. Not an easy chance to convert 1 of 3 Tuchel's game model for England is built on a few core ideas. In November, assistant coach Anthony Barry told the Guardian , external the modern game needed a new approach. "There are emotional wins you can get as a coach in the first and final thirds - playing out from the back, pressing from the front," he said. "But in the middle area of the pitch, those 24 metres, we feel the game has become stuck, particularly in the Premier League. "Everybody has so much information now. They know how to set up - mid-blocks, deep blocks. We are really trying to focus on accelerating the game across those 24 metres." Watching the Croatia game back, that was easy to see. Pickford had 72 touches as Tuchel's men went backwards to entice Croatia to step out before playing forward quickly into the runners in behind. England passed the ball back to Jordan Pickford to entice Croatian pressure. Harry Kane dropped deep into the space vacated by Declan Rice. He moved over to the left and Jude Bellingham began to make a run into the space Kane vacated. On the ball, Kane turned to face play. Under no pressure and with time on the ball, he looked for a direct pass into England's runners - Bellingham, Anthony Gordon or Noni Madueke. We see Rice in a higher, left-sided position. 1 of 2 That game, in particular, highlighted two clear differences to the Southgate era. The first being the speed of play through the middle third. Southgate's sides, perhaps more traditionally, built up short - looking to progress the ball more slowly. They wanted to keep the ball, move up the pitch as a unit before - when pinning the opposition in their own third - trying to break down the low block. That worked particularly well against teams who conceded control and were reluctant to press high. But with football always developing, games towards the end of Southgate's reign featured England facing increasingly clever defensive tactics. We saw braver mid-blocks and, at times, teams pressing higher. This is in line with the rise in man-to-man pressure we've seen become more common in club football. The second difference was the manner in which the team looked to solve tactical dilemmas. For Tuchel, clever and more aggressive defensive tactics are countered through specific patterns and planned solutions. Against Croatia, as England passed the ball backwards, Declan Rice moved into a wide-left position vacating the centre of the pitch for Harry Kane to drop into alongside Elliot Anderson. Bellingham pushed forward into the last line. These movements were automatic but worked to undo Croatia's press. After bringing Croatia up the pitch, the moves ended with Kane or Anderson playing it long into Bellingham, Anthony Gordon or Noni Madueke. Coaches prescribe solutions for players, who are selected to execute those ideas. That is put in a simplistic way, but is the Tuchel way. Southgate, when faced with a similar mid-block shape, would rely on the players he'd selected to solve the problem in a more intuitive manner. This approach was harder for opponents to prepare for, with Alexander-Arnold and Kobbie Mainoo able to come up with different ways to progress the ball - but without specific direction, players could become stuck against well-prepared defences in an increasingly tactical sport. The rotation England used against Croatia, of course, won't be a surprise for their next opponents. This was a common situation England found themselves in under Southgate. By building up slowly, and moving up the pitch as a unit, they pushed teams close to their own goal before then trying to break them down By comparison, Tuchel's England have created attacking situations that look more like this. By using build-up to entice the opposition midfield and attack to step up the pitch, England have been encouraged to play quickly into attackers higher up, with fewer defenders between them and the goal - a more high-risk, high-reward tactic 1 of 2 In the coaching world, there is a maxim some believe in - that teams are built in the image of their coaches. Southgate was impressively able to steady the ship before pushing them extremely close to glory. He did so in a highly pragmatic manner. His sides didn't create end-to-end affairs as though it might have increased their chances of scoring, it would also have increased the likelihood of them turning the ball over and conceding. By reducing variance and keeping the game tight, eventually England's quality would shine through. Against top-level quality, their collective tactical ideas could appear undercooked. When they did go ahead, one critique was they would look to defend their lead rather than build it - just look at the Euro 2020 final as one example. Tuchel's appetite for risk is greater. England's substitutes against Croatia were like for like in profile rather than changing the dynamic or balance of the team. Yes, they looked more fragile than Southgate's side defensively. But it's a trade-off many fans will be willing to accept. Tactical analysis: England look exciting but how can they tighten up? Why Pochettino's fluid USA midfield is thriving

Noni Madueke has made 12 appearances for England When Noni Madueke was named in England's starting line-up for their World Cup opener against Croatia it was the latest moment in what has been a dramatic season for the Arsenal winger. Last summer Madueke completed a move to the Gunners from Chelsea for about £50m, but supporters started a petition against the signing with a #NoToMadueke hashtag being used across social media platforms. But just under 12 months later, the 24-year-old has become a Premier League winner, after helping Mikel Arteta's side to their first league title in 22 years, and is starting for Thomas Tuchel's England on the right wing. Madueke was one of England's standout players in the 4-2 win over Croatia and won the penalty which Harry Kane scored to give the Three Lions the lead. Madueke's Arsenal team-mate Bukayo Saka had been expected to be England's starting right winger at the World Cup but the 24-year-old is dealing with an Achilles issue he has been carrying since March. Saka and Madueke find themselves in the unusual situation of competing for game time at both club and country. Saka, who made his 50th appearance for England in the victory over Croatia, called the situation "unique", before adding "I don't really know how it works, but it works" when describing his relationship with Madueke. Tuchel not afraid to shout at players - Watkins All three England keepers played there - Carlisle's role in trio's rise When Tuchel named his England squad for the World Cup the German was full of praise for Madueke. The forward has put in consistently good performances for the Three Lions since Tuchel took charge and the manager said Madueke can be a "difference-maker" before highlighting his "one-on-one ability". Tuchel has made it clear he wants his England team to play in a style that replicates the physicality of the Premier League. And that thinking shaped the selection of his squad, with the 52-year-old picking a group of players who are physically robust and powerful runners. Tuchel has ensured that his gameplan is built around record goalscorer and captain Kane, with the Bayern Munich forward surrounded by wingers who like to run behind the defence to leave space for him to drop deep. That thinking worked out well with Madueke's four passes to Kane against Croatia the joint most in the England team, matched by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Anthony Gordon started on the opposite flank to Madueke and their energetic performances on the wings was one of the positives of the match for Tuchel's side. Kane is known for his passing range and when given space the striker attempted a couple of passes to release Madueke behind the Croatia defence. Madueke had five touches in the opposition box, completed his only dribble of the game and won the penalty to set England on their way. Round-of-32 fixtures as it stands Tuchel not afraid to shout at players - Watkins Despite fighting for game time, Madueke and Saka are close away from the pitch too with Saka calling his team-mate his "brother". Arsenal boss Arteta found ways to get both wingers on the pitch at the same time in 2025-26, which may be something Tuchel opts to do as the World Cup goes on. Madueke was utilised on the left wing by Arteta, while Saka also featured in the number 10 role as the Gunners lifted the title. Madueke made 43 appearances last season - scoring eight goals and registering four assists in all competitions - as Arsenal ended their trophy drought. However, Madueke only started 16 times in the league. Competing with Saka and a knee injury limited the number of times he was picked from the off. He provided a bright spark for Arsenal in the Champions League final when replacing Saka from the bench in their loss to Paris-St Germain on penalties last month. And he may have a similar role for his country, if England progress to the latter stages of the World Cup. Saka continues to recover from his Achilles issue and is not expected to start until the final Group L game against Panama in New Jersey on Saturday (22:00 BST). And with another start for Madueke likely against Ghana on Tuesday (21:00 BST), he has another chance to stake his claim that he is not just a back-up to Saka. The key differences between Tuchel and Southgate's England teams World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC

Iran have drawn their opening two games at the 2026 World Cup Iran left a message saying "may peace, respect and friendship prevail among all nations" following their World Cup group match against Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium. The handwritten note was left in their dressing room following a goalless draw in their second Group G game. Iran are competing at the World Cup while their country and the United States - who are co-hosts along with Canada and Mexico - are in negotiations to end their war. "From the ancient Persia of thousands of years ago to the civilised Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and steadfast," read the message, which was released by the Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI). "We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honour, and leave with dignity," the note continued. "Thank you Los Angeles for your hospitality. "And thank you to every Iranian who gave their heart, voice and soul for Iran throughout these 180 minutes. "May peace, respect and friendship prevail among all nations." The message also made reference to an attack on a girls' school in Minab, where at least 168 people were killed on the first day of the war. The handwritten note left by Iran in their dressing room following the game against Belgium Belgium show further signs of decline in draw with Iran White House in talks over Iran travel restrictions Iran played their opening match - a 2-2 draw with New Zealand - at Los Angeles Stadium, and will play their third and final group game against Egypt in Seattle on 27 June (04:00 BST). Their involvement in the World Cup has been plagued with uncertainty, linked to the war in the Middle East and related security concerns. Multiple "integral" members of their backroom staff were denied entry visas for the US while the FFIRI called on Fifa to "uphold the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations" after its allocation of tickets was revoked on the eve of the tournament. Iran subsequently switched their base for the World Cup from Arizona in the US to Tijuana in Mexico, and face strict travel restrictions during their campaign. They are allowed to fly into the US a day before they have a game and have to leave the country on the same day as the match, under the conditions of their visas. This led Iran to head coach Amir Ghalenoei saying they are the "most oppressed" team at the tournament following the draw with New Zealand. However, Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House's World Cup taskforce, says there are "discussions going on" about the timings for Iran's travel to and from their game against Egypt. Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Jeremy Doku moved to Manchester City from Rennes in 2023 for £55.4m Jeremy Doku has made it clear - family comes first. The Manchester City winger is due to become a father next month and says he wants to leave the Belgium camp to be at the birth, even if they are still at the World Cup. L'Equipe channel presenter France Pierron criticised him, saying a father is "completely useless" at the time of their child's birth, which she said was a "disgusting moment". In a statement, L'Equipe apologised and said Pierron's comments were "very far removed" from its values. The presenter also apologised, and reports in France said she would not present her show on Monday. The reaction in football - and elsewhere - was united. Doku played 86 minutes of Belgium's opening 1-1 draw with Egypt in Group G but missed their 0-0 draw against Iran because of illness. His wife Shireen is due to give birth during the second week of July, which could mean her husband missing a quarter-final if Belgium have progressed that far. "If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child," Doku, 24, told Reuters. "But I also ​know that football ​involves many ⁠other considerations. I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We'll see what we ​can do." England striker Ollie Watkins, who has two children, backed Doku. "I think someone labelled it disgusting and I think for a start that's not a way to label a birth," he said. "I've seen what my wife had to go through and that was quite smooth sailing but I know family members and friends that haven't had it that way. "It only happens once - welcoming your first child to the world - and it is a blessing. There's a lot of times where you're away from family and friends during the season and it's very difficult, so to miss that would be tough and I see where he's coming from." The Professional Footballers' Association said demands placed on players should not be at the expense of "fundamental family moments". "While every situation is different, we believe players should be supported in balancing their professional responsibilities with important life events," a PFA spokesperson said. "Supporting players as people, not just athletes, is an important part of creating a healthy professional working environment." The Fatherhood Institute, which supports men as hands-on fathers and caregivers, also backed Doku. "It makes me think of gladiators in the Colosseum," deputy chief executive Jeremy Davies told BBC Sport. "We want these men to be these heroic figures who exist for our entertainment. They get paid lots of money but there are some things that are worth a lot more." Fifa regulations state maternity leave for female footballers should be "a minimum period of 14 weeks' paid absence" - eight weeks of which must be after the birth. There is no specific stipulation on paternity leave, leaving those in the men's game to juggle their responsibilities. One club had a car on standby outside the ground for a player whose partner was soon due to give birth, while one manager at a top-flight European club did not travel to a match to be with his wife as she was about to have their second child. Instead of being in the dugout, he watched the game on TV and relayed instructions to his coaching staff. "I was on the earpiece to the bench and 10 minutes into the game she started getting labour pains," said the manager, who is now working in the Championship. "We were 2-1 up at half-time but she was getting more into labour. I rang the hospital to say we were going to come in, but had to stop because we got a penalty. "We scored, I knew we won the game, and we came right in. Our daughter was born two hours later. "It's less common with managers because they are typically older but the game doesn't stop... you need to win the next game." Doku would certainly not be the first player to put attending his child's birth before football. In 2018, Fabian Delph left England's World Cup camp in Russia to return to the UK for the birth of his daughter. David Silva, meanwhile, missed two Manchester City matches following the premature arrival of his son in 2018. And former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea was given extended leave during the Covid pandemic when his partner Edurne gave birth to their daughter in 2021. Others, though, have not been present. Just this weekend, Norway defender Leo Ostigard watched his son being born on FaceTime , external while at the World Cup. Ruben Neves had a similar experience in January 2021 - watching the birth of his third child on his phone from Wolves ' team bus after a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace . His wife had returned to Portugal as her doctor was there, but Neves' plans to join her were scuppered by travel restrictions because of the pandemic. When Roy Keane was Republic of Ireland assistant manager, he quipped Robbie Keane should be available to play in a match against Germany after the birth of his son "unless he's breastfeeding". Former Brentford and Tottenham boss Thomas Frank, who is a pundit for BBC Sport during the World Cup, has handled similar situations. "Football is the most important of not important things - so it is not important at a time like this," he said. "To see your wife or partner give birth is one of the biggest things you will experience, and I think it is so important also to be there. "It has always been a priority to tell my players that. I would say: 'It is up you - I recommend you be there.'" Frank said Doku heading home for his child's birth would be "the right thing to do", adding: "When he comes back, he will be absolutely on top of the world." Jamie Smith has 21 Test caps, having made his debut in 2024 Last week, cricketer Jamie Smith missed England's second Test defeat by New Zealand after the birth of his daughter. England's record wicket-taker Sir James Anderson flew back between Ashes Tests in Australia to be at the birth of his second child in 2010. Basketball player Anthony Edwards left at half-time of a game in 2024 so he could be there for the birth of his daughter. And British tennis great Sir Andy Murray said in 2016 he would leave the Australian Open early if his wife Kim went into labour. "I'd be way more disappointed winning the Australian Open and not being at the birth of the child," he said at the time. But darts player Rob Cross missed the birth of his third child in 2017 in order to qualify for the World Matchplay tournament.

Four goals have been disallowed on VAR review at the 2026 World Cup Complaining about the video assistant referee has become a sport all of its own in the Premier League. It has felt very different at the 2026 World Cup, where VAR has largely been pretty low key. So it may come as a surprise that there have been more regular VAR interventions than in the Premier League last season. Perception can be just as powerful as the facts, especially in the emotionally charged world of football. Games come thick and fast at a World Cup. No sooner has one incident happened, another match comes along to wash over it. In the Premier League, where supporters have a vested interest in every game, controversy does not fade away quite so quickly. So why does it feel so different at the World Cup? VAR at the World Cup has not been without its controversies. Think of the red card for South Africa's Themba Zwane for violent conduct in the opening game. Or the referee rejecting a penalty review after France's Kylian Mbappe appeared to be tripped by Senegal's Sadio Mane. But for the most part, there have not been too many talking points. It is often the way at major tournaments, as players take fewer risks compared to a 38-game league season. On average, there is one key match incident (red card, penalty claim etc) in a World Cup fixture. In the Premier League, it is three. That instantly creates the scope for more controversy at league level. We should expect refereeing to be the gold standard at the World Cup, too. After all, Fifa scoured the globe to select the creme de la creme, the 51 top referees and 30 best video match officials. Whisper it, but Pierluigi Collina, Fifa's head of referees, wants his officials to approach the tournament a bit like a Premier League game. Collina's ethos is that football is a contact sport, and not all contact is a foul. He wants to see free-flowing games at a higher tempo. You could pick that wording right out of the Premier League handbook. The stats back this up, too. Referees are blowing for far fewer fouls. The 2018 World Cup saw 27 fouls per game, while in Qatar four years ago it was 25. For this World Cup it is down to 21.7. In the Premier League last season it was 21.6. Collina has also reduced the number of cautions per game, with 2.4 well below any other competition or recent World Cup. If you change the way a game is being refereed, you must adapt video review too. Collina's desire to have a higher threshold for challenges on the field has a direct link to VAR. The Italian wants consistency of decision-making. If you let more tackles go on the field, you must have fewer VAR interventions. Both bars must move in unison. Take the penalty appeals for Scotland's John McGinn and Scott McTominay against Morocco. Claims for a spot-kick undeniably, but too soft for Collina's threshold. Against public perception, the Premier League has the lowest rate for VAR interventions in Europe at 0.29 per game. The high bar we hear about so much in England has made its way to the World Cup. In Qatar we saw 0.41 interventions per game, for this World Cup it is down to 0.33 - much closer to the Premier League interpretation. Compare that to the Champions League, which saw 0.47 interventions per match last season - almost one every other game. Then there are the subjective reviews, when a referee must go to the monitor. The World Cup (six reviews) and the Premier League (57) both trend the same at 0.15 subjective interventions per game. In the Champions League, it is more than double at 0.36 monitor visits per game. All the stats should point to other competitions having more intrusive video review. Lies, damned lies and statistics. How can the World Cup possibly have more VAR interventions than the Premier League when it feels like the opposite is true? There are a few reasons behind it. First and foremost, speed. Delay feeds doubt. Collina has a clear philosophy - he wants his VARs to make quick and decisive decisions. Errors should jump out, and video officials should not over-analyse. This has led to much shorter reviews on those subjective decisions like penalties and red cards. In the Premier League, there can be a tendency to procrastinate, to over-think by dwelling on replays. That can lead to long VAR reviews, including with its own version of semi-automated offside technology. Howard Webb, the Premier League's head of referees, has a similar ethos to Collina. But getting the same results across 380 games is more challenging. Fifa's enhanced semi-automated offside technology has helped too. The assistant referee gets an audio alert when a player is 10cm or more offside, so the delayed flag has largely been eradicated. It has removed many frustrating passages of play and cut the need for a VAR review on some disallowed goals. It has not been without a few issues, but the benefits of cutting delays have been obvious. Madueke's remarkable season - from petition to World Cup starter Does it matter if Scotland lose and still make history? One of World Cup's great stories - can Cape Verde become legends? One indirect reason should not be underestimated. At a World Cup, the in-game match pictures are delivered by the tournament organiser, and the broadcaster provides the commentary. Fifa, and Uefa, both have very clear policies. The incident might be replayed once, twice at most, while the VAR is looking at a possible red card or penalty. The viewer is only shown the VAR's screen if the referee is at the pitchside monitor. Now compare this to the Premier League, where Sky Sports' and TNT Sports' first responsibility is to analyse an incident, show it from every possible angle. Slow it down, speed it up, throw it to the pundit. Has there been a mistake or not? The commentators have a live feed from the VAR hub to both watch and listen to. They can pull back the curtain and switch to this at any time. It creates a completely different perspective on each potential incident. Tournament organisers want to present less controversy, rights holders want to showcase it. The Premier League must get frustrated that fans still believe VAR is worse in England even though the numbers are aligned with the World Cup. Two key lessons are clear. While accuracy is most important, speed is the greatest asset for the success of video review. And how it is portrayed can make a huge difference too. Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

I've loved the World Cup since I saw Denmark at Mexico '86 as a boy - my dad would record the matches overnight so I could watch them with my sister before school the next morning, a lot like kids today are still doing 40 years later! I can still enjoy it like a fan now, but of course I think like a manager when I am covering games as a pundit. While I still get excited by the emotion and the whole spectacle of the supporters who are following teams like Scotland, Norway and the Netherlands at this tournament, I see matches more analytically - what the tactical trends are and what different coaches are doing. I also love to see new players for myself. Even with all the data that is available about almost everyone, there are still some surprises out there. You might find someone who you've not heard of who is interesting - or, with someone you do know about, get a chance to watch them properly yourself for the first time. At this World Cup, for example, I've already done that with two Ivory Coast players. RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande is the talk of the town for everyone at the moment and we actually looked at him when I was at Brentford, when he played for Spanish side Leganes. He was always on our radar then so he is a player I have been aware of for a while, and of course I had seen him - but that was just a lot of clips maybe, or a few highlights from a downloaded game. That is how it is presented to you when you are scouting someone to sign them, unless it is a top priority and you would watch full games. Now, though, I have just watched him play a whole match against Germany, so I saw everything about him. I will hopefully see him again over two or three, or even more, matches in the coming weeks too. I could look up some clips or study his data any time, but now what he can do is stored in the hard disk in my head. As a coach, that is always how you prefer to remember players, and what they can bring. Yan Diomande (right) has been linked with Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich this summer The other Ivory Coast player I've seen and liked was not someone I knew myself before this World Cup, although of course the big clubs know everything about everyone so he will not be unknown to them. But I have seen Trabzonspor midfielder Christ Inao Oulai for myself now and, although his side ended up being beaten by Germany, I thought he made some really good actions. I liked the way he turned, and the way he played forward, and how mobile he was. Technically he was very strong. Again, you only get this kind of full impression of a player from seeing him with your own eyes. There's no other way of doing it. It was actually similar with watching the Germany players properly, too. Of course I know who they are but, because I've been working in the Premier League, I watch the Premier League all the time - that is what I am focused on to get updated on the players and teams there. After that, it is the Champions League. So I know them from there too, but I might only watch a big Bundesliga game, say Bayern Munich against Borussia Dortmund, because that's the way it is. I only saw a little bit more of Bayer Leverkusen last year because my friend Kasper Hjulmand was head coach there. I'd love to watch more games, and see more of these players, but it's just not possible. Even though I think about football 24/7, you only have so many hours each day. Christ Inao Oulai (right) is a 20-year-old midfielder who joined Turkish side Trabzonspor in August 2025 As a fan, Lionel Messi is still the player I love the most at this World Cup. He is the GOAT - the greatest of all time - and we all need to watch him while we can. When Argentina play Austria on Monday (18:00 BST) I have arranged to watch that game with my son, who is a huge Messi fan. He is 22 - so for his entire life that he has followed Messi, he has been the best in the world. We've been privileged to see him live several times but just to watch him together on TV this time will be special, because this is probably his last World Cup. As a manager, though, if you asked me who I would sign first out of the 1,428 players who are at this tournament, I'd have to remember that Messi is 38 now - even if he is still a genius. With my manager hat on, my answer to that question would be different. It would depend on what I want for my team, and who else I already had there, but I would probably still go for the midfielder who I think is the most unique in that position. I have always loved Pedri, of Spain and Barcelona, but right now that player would probably be Vitinha, of Portugal and Paris St-Germain - he has been exceptional this season. I don't know if I would say it was a privilege - because we had to try to stop him! - but I faced him twice with Spurs, in the Uefa Super Cup and the Champions League, and seeing him close... wow. Just wow. He was so good, especially in the second game we played against PSG, in Paris, when he scored two goals from outside the box. He is phenomenal and he is probably playing the best football he can right now. Vitinha, 26, has just won back-to-back Champions Leagues with Paris St-Germain The other player I would mention here is Michael Olise, of Bayern Munich and France. While I can dream of signing Vitinha or Pedri, with Olise I almost did. We came close to bringing him to Brentford from Reading before he joined Crystal Palace instead. I had a talk with him for Brentford and he wanted to come, but for whatever reason we could not make it happen. I have followed him closely since then and the way he has developed. There are other superstar players just for France, of course, but what I've always liked about Olise is that he works so hard for the team. Every player has got an ego, but it seems like he is on top of his. In France's first game against Senegal, I know Kylian Mbappe scored two goals but actually Olise for me was the man of the match. He was exceptional. Olise was running so hard - I love that in a player - and working hard too, so he was always involved, and then he can do things out of nothing with his left foot. He can shoot, he can cross and his range of passing is brilliant too. For Mbappe's first goal, his through-ball had to be absolutely inch-perfect, and weighted exactly right too. When you try to stop France, you have to try to stop four or five players, but there is always one player in every big team that is more influential than others - and I think Olise is that player for them. Maybe when this World Cup is gone, he will be remembered as the player of the tournament. There are going to be some surprises in the next few weeks, but for me that would not be one of them. Thomas Frank was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan This video can not be played Highlights: Mbappe stars as France beat Senegal Olivier Giroud on Mbappe & winning the World Cup Predict the winners and losers of World Cup 2026 Iliman Ndiaye: Senegal’s goal is to win World Cup 2026

This video can not be played Clark beats Burns on closing holes of dramatic US Open US Opens drive players to distraction because the intention is always to test temperament as much as technique. The latest championship, won by Wyndham Clark at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday, did exactly that. But this edition will be remembered for its less savoury side. It was a tournament that reflected our golfing times, where deteriorating standards of behaviour inside and outside the ropes took precedence. The course was brilliantly set up to traditional US Open standards. It demanded the full gamut of shots, punishing any that fell short of perfection, and delivered a thrilling final day as Clark limped home. The champion showed steely sporting character to win his second title, after also triumphing in 2023, but he attracted more jeers than cheers while holding off the plucky Sam Burns and world number one Scottie Scheffler. Clark blocks out New York jeers to win US Open title Shinnecock Hills 'won the battle over me' - McIlroy Niemann first to get two-shot penalty for throwing club One of the reasons for Clark's unpopularity was his furious demolishing of two ancient locker doors in the Oakmont clubhouse after missing the cut at last year's US Open. It was an act of uncontrolled vandalism that speaks to the sense of entitlement that many perceive has spread through the upper echelons of the men's game. Players have never had it so good. They are richer and more pampered than ever before, yet for all that wealth and influence they have never seemed more unattractively angry. Every broadcast seems populated with commentators being forced to say sorry for players' bad language and the fact that it is the broadcaster rather than the golfer doing the apologising sums up a lack of accountability. This worsening malaise has prompted the majors to introduce its new code of conduct which resulted last week in Joaquin Niemann becoming the first player to receive a two-stroke penalty for throwing his club, while running up a nine on the par-four sixth in his first round. That nine became an 11. The Chilean fought back brilliantly to make the cut and ultimately finish tied for seventh. He would have been third with a guaranteed Masters invitation without the penalty. The United States Golf Association (USGA) hit him where it hurts most by adversely affecting his scorecard rather than a bulging bank balance with a meaningless fine. Many will feel such firm action, in general terms, is long overdue. "I really like what's happening here," former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley told viewers of the Golf Channel. "We're in a game where we are seeing so much in favour of the players; so much entitlement, so much money going to the players, so much control. "The powers that be, the R&A and USGA, along with Augusta National, are making a very strong stance here about codes of conduct. "And about boundaries. And I think those boundaries have been stretched too far over the years. And its really good and refreshing to see those boundaries coming in." But Niemann's penalty sets a precedent that will be tough to fairly enforce because different players receive different levels of scrutiny. Potential punishments can influence leaderboards, cuts and careers. Next the spotlight will next fall on July's Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. R&A chief executive Mark Darbon told BBC Sport in April that he will be ready to impose shot penalties for bad behaviour. "You want passion from players, you want passion from spectators, but there's a fine line, and one of the amazing things about this sport are the values and integrity that underpin it," he said. "So we will watch that line very closely." Each group at The Open has an individual referee which should make it easier to enforce the code of conduct with consistency. The main tours, meanwhile, are still working out protocols that will be acceptable to their ultimate bosses - the players. Behaviour also needs careful management amid galleries of fans. Boorish individuals can repeatedly be heard yelling, at best, unfunny lines, and at worst abuse designed to influence an outcome. "Don't choke Wyndham," was the last thing Clark needed to hear as his six stroke lead was whittling away last Sunday. Yet such sentiments rang in his ears throughout the final day. Golf is played in an intimate arena, fans are privileged to share the stage. There is no escape for the players and it feels as though we are creeping towards a point where people could start yelling at the top of backswings to put off players while hitting. The proliferation of betting within the golf industry on both sides of the Atlantic does not help. And we saw the effects of partisan crowds at the Ryder Cup last autumn at Bethpage with abuse of European stars that was an absolute disgrace. Top level golf returned to Long Island last week and some members of the New York crowds again lived down to those depressingly deteriorating standards. And with The Open about to return to north-west England, it is worth remembering there were several individuals who behaved similarly as American Brian Harman won the 2023 Open at Hoylake when the championship was last in that region. Harman and Clark have plenty in common with what they endured among their finest hours on golf courses. Record crowds are expected at Birkdale and with high summer booze flowing, successfully policing them will be crucial. Last Sunday Clark and Burns, who came up just shy of a first major, produced a thrilling denouement played out on a great but maddening course. Despite the brilliance of the Shinnecock spectacle it also proved the sport has never been so angry or unruly. Those imposters have to be kept in check. Without its traditional civility, golf is much diminished.

Seven-time Wimbledon singles champion Serena Williams has been given a wildcard to make her comeback at the All England Club Every great fighter thinks they have one great fight left in them. That old adage is usually applied to boxers who come out of retirement for another swing - but it feels particularly relevant as 44-year-old Serena Williams makes the next step in her comeback to professional tennis. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion will return to the singles court at Wimbledon next week after a four-year absence from the sport she once dominated. In many eyes, the American superstar is the greatest player of all time - certainly in the women's game - and she clearly believes she has the ability to win matches again. But the reality is Williams has not played a competitive singles match since the 2022 US Open and launching her comeback at the All England Club is an ambitious move. Williams insists she does not "need to win" and rightly says she has "nothing to prove". The fire still burns in her belly, though. "Serena's mindset has always been to be the best and not settle for mediocrity," former world number one Lindsay Davenport, one of Williams' main rivals in the early 2000s, told BBC Sport. "I think we have to assume that she's coming back because she feels she's in a position where she can make an impact immediately in women's tennis." It was only a matter of time before Williams would be tempted back to singles action after making her return on the doubles court at Queen's. The US Open, which starts in late August, seemed a more obvious starting point. But, having played two doubles matches and practised intensely at Wimbledon over the past few days, Williams believes she is sharp and solid enough to return at the place where she won seven singles titles. A lot of athletes dream of rolling back the years but discover the reality of proving they can still compete - and not simply indulging in a nostalgia trip - is a different matter. Williams will also play with older sister Venus, 46, in the Wimbledon women's doubles, which the pair have already won six times Williams, who turns 45 in September, is the oldest player in the women's singles main draw by some margin - she has six years on Germany's Tatjana Maria, the oldest player with direct entry. Williams is an inspiration to millions across the world and her message of being able to "do anything at any age" is admirable. But there is no doubt that age is likely to be a barrier to her hopes of winning singles matches at Wimbledon, and two doubles matches does not feel like enough preparation to beat the world's very best. There is little comparison between singles and doubles in terms of athletic output. Williams' movement and stamina will come under severe examination by her more youthful opponents. The majority of the leading women's players are about 20 years younger than Williams, including 28-year-old world number one Aryna Sabalenka and reigning Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek, who is 25. "It doesn't get easy as you get older and grass is a tough surface to start on," Davenport said. "The ball goes very quick, very low and it's very physical - there is a lot of bending. "It's not going to be easy [but] if anyone could do it, certainly it could be her." Former world number one Kim Clijsters found out how hard a comeback is when she returned aged 36 in 2020, unable to win any of her five matches over the next 18 months. Three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber fared better in her 2024 comeback, but lost in the first round in all three of her major appearances. "It's easier to see on TV how the girls are playing and say 'OK I can still do it'," Kerber, who came back aged 36 after having a baby, told BBC Sport. "You know you can do it - especially Serena because she was the greatest. "But working every day, going to the practice courts, going to the gym, sweating, is what you have to do." Serena Williams to make singles comeback at Wimbledon Williams rolls back the years on return at Queen's How Serena's British hitting partner kept comeback secret Williams has not won a Grand Slam since the 2017 Australian Open, when she was 35. She has since given birth to two daughters - Olympia, now aged eight, and two-year-old Adira. After her first comeback in 2018, Williams reached four Grand Slam finals - twice at Wimbledon and twice at the US Open - but lost them all. Her past two Wimbledon appearances - in 2021 and 2022 - have ended in first-round defeats. What Williams has in her favour is one of the greatest technical talents ever seen - and an incomparable aura. Winning a 24th major to tie Margaret Court's all-time women's record seems out of reach, but Williams will have looked at the open nature of the WTA Tour and felt there are plenty of players she can still beat. The power and accuracy of her serve was particularly effective on the grass and she will be hoping her opening shot can earn her plenty of free points. Her odds of winning matches are certainly favourable at Wimbledon, especially if she faces a relatively inexperienced opponent who may get overawed by what is bound to be an electric occasion on Centre Court. World number nine Victoria Mboko played doubles with Williams at Queen's and was convinced the veteran is "ready to go". "She has such clean ball striking. She could take years off and once she steps on the court she could probably find her rhythm and timing again," said the 19-year-old Canadian. "I think that's really a god-given gift she has. I'm hitting with her and she's hitting pretty big." In her pomp, Williams was the embodiment of fitness and athleticism. Last year, she admitted she had used weight loss drugs in order to lift what she called the "stigma" around using such medication. Williams said she had struggled to lose weight she had gained during pregnancy - a common experience for many women - and returns to tennis looking lean. "We've all seen her. She looks in incredible shape and better shape than arguably when she left the sport," Davenport, who won three Grand Slam titles, said. "But we have got to be a little graceful in the time we give her until she hits her peak." Williams might not get anywhere near her best and she doesn't know how long this comeback will last. But one thing is certain: the woman who many consider to be the GOAT will go down swinging in pursuit of restoring former glory. The people and places that made Jannik Sinner Cerundolo's dad conquers fear of flying to watch son win Queen's

This video can not be played Mohamed Salah scores one goal and creates another as Egypt come from behind to beat New Zealand and secure their first-ever World Cup win. REPORT: New Zealand 1-3 Egypt Available to UK users only.

This video can not be played Scotland hopes on the brink following defeat against Brazil God bless the Tartan Army in all their beery magnificence. God bless them for their noise and colour and all-round cuddliness. God bless them for charming the good people of Boston and Miami and earning a full page feature in Wednesday's O Globo, Brazil's best-selling newspaper. They tried to lift their team in Miami but a forklift truck couldn't have got Scotland's challenge off the ground - not while they defended as they did early on, not while they only stirred and forced five saves from Alisson in the Brazil goal when they were already 3-0 down. 'Lacking competitiveness on the pitch, Scotland put on a show with their fans' went the O Globo headline. Well, the show stopped in Miami, Vinicius Jr bursting into the party, stopping the music and telling everybody to get to their beds. Brazil did what some thought was impossible - they silenced the Tartan Army, they sucked the energy out of people who have gallivanted around this country for weeks low on sleep, high on gargle and stratospheric on positivity. There were a few defiant cries, some shows of belligerence, but this thing was as good as done after seven minutes when Vini Jr scored his first and totally done when he scored his second before the break. Herds of rampaging wildebeest have looked less awe-inspiring as these fans have for weeks. On Wednesday, in the stifling humidity of Miami, Brazil rounded them up and ran them into a yellow wall. What do Scotland need to make World Cup knockouts? 'Think we're going home' - Clarke & McGinn rue Scotland mistakes Scotland's World Cup hopes on brink after 3-0 defeat by Brazil From early on, we were looking at the game, yes, but also working out the mad significance of it all. We turned elsewhere to see what all of this meant in the grand scheme of things. Before the games began on Wednesday, Scotland were sitting relatively pretty as second of the best third-placed teams in the tournament. Bosnia-Herzegovina's win over Qatar dropped Scotland to third. Brazil's dominance dropped them further. Down and down they went, their buffer all but removed, their obsession about results elsewhere in the coming days multiplying as they went. Back to Charlotte, North Carolina they'll go on Thursday; battered and dazed, uncertain of their future in this tournament, if they have one. As it stands, the predictor has them playing Mexico on Tuesday - a shot at redemption or another trip to a torture chamber? That might turn on its head, of course. Other teams in the coming days will have plenty to say about this yet. Scotland are sweating on a place in the last 32. That's the no-man's land they're living in now, frantically looking at the respective fates of Senegal and Ecuador, Curacao and Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and others. There was a certain inevitably about it. Until Bolivia earlier this month, Scotland have never beaten South American opposition, never beaten Brazil in 10 attempts going back 50 years. They rallied and created moments but it was too little, too late. The minute Vini Jr scored in the seventh minute those weather warnings that first looked a threat now looked like a relief. Seventy seconds last week against Morocco and seven minutes here in Miami. Where was that damned lightning? Where was the thunder and the respite? Scotland don't just concede goals, they create calamities - the sort of slapstick defending that a player such as Vini Jr is waiting to take advantage of. Scott McKenna will wake up in the dead of night for the rest of his days after this. He will remember the feeling of panic as he dawdled on the ball, he will see Rayan ransacking him in his sleep. Put your foot through it? No, delay and die. When it broke to Vini Jr the best efforts of Gunn in goal could not stop him. In his own moment of terror, Gunn acted like a man jumping out of a cupboard trying to spook somebody. The Brazilian just took it round him and tapped it home. For days the Scots would have worked on getting off to a solid start following their early concession against Morocco. All of that thinking drifted away in the Miami sky once Brazil hit the front. Giving gifts to Vini Jr would have been the beginning, the end and the in between of the things Scotland knew they couldn't do. It was his fourth World Cup goal. In that moment he became only the fifth Brazilian to score in all three group stage matches in a single World Cup - Jairzinho, Romario, Ronaldo and Rivaldo being the others. Immortals, all. He's well on his way to joining them in the pantheon of greats. The electrifying noise and colour of the pre-match now became solely samba and almost exclusively yellow. There was a second for Brazil - and for Vini Jnr - but VAR smiled on Scotland. The hydration break arrived and it wasn't liquid that the underdogs needed, it was oxygen, smelling salts, large brandies. And that lightning storm. On the resumption, for some brief moments they looked, well, OK. The bar is not high, but they settled. They won some corners, they had a few cracks from distance. Nothing that caused Brazil a scintilla of concern, but it was a breather, a break from the tormenting ways of Brazil's phenomenon on the left wing if nothing else. That crumb of optimism was swept away when Vini capitalised on a second outbreak of world-class dithering in front of their own goal. Andy Robertson gave it away in a hurry, Scotland lost the collision, Bruno Guimaraes dinked it to the back post, Gunn groped at air and Nathan Patterson lost Vini Jr. How could he miss him? One of the world's great talents and Patterson just let him peel away and head home. This video can not be played 'We gave it absolutely everything' Scotland spent 47 seconds in Brazil's final third in the opening half. When the half ended they still hadn't recorded a shot on target since John McGinn scored by way of a double deflection 28 minutes into the Haiti game. More than three hours without working an opposition goalkeeper. No team deserves to go anywhere but home when you're as impotent as that. Finally, Scotland, through Scott McTominay, got one on target but Alisson didn't have to shift his feet to stop it. Vini Jr was one-on-one with Gunn soon after but Gunn saved it. No matter. Guimaraes brushed Kenny McLean aside and teed-up Matheus Cunha for the third. They brought on Neymar with 14 minutes to go and Miami Stadium erupted as if a fourth goal had gone in. It's been two and a half years since Neymar wore the famous jersey - and what a cushy way to make his return. No pressure, job done. Brazil were going through as group winners no matter what he did. Adding some decoration on top was his only task. Scotland rallied and had chances, mostly from McTominay, all of them kept out. It was almost painful watching them; trying everything but delivering nothing, not even a consolation goal that might prove significant. Who knows? At the end, four Scotland men collapsed to the deck, from disappointment, from exhaustion. Playing in those conditions must have been savagely difficult. They were down, but are they out? Progressing after one deflected goal and two defeats would be the strangest kind of achievement in the history of the national team. The days ahead will tell us everything. For now, Brazil reign and confusion rules. World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

This video can not be played Scotland hopes on the brink following defeat against Brazil Scotland will have to wait until potentially the early hours of Sunday to find out if their World Cup campaign will continue, but midfielder John McGinn suspects that is "unlikely" and head coach Steve Clarke suspects they are "going home". Knowing a draw would almost certainly be enough to reach the last 32, Steve Clarke's side suffered a chastening 3-0 defeat by Brazil to finish third in Group C. The Scots have three points and a minus three goal difference and now must wait until the other groups have concluded before discovering if that will be enough to claim one of the eight best third-place team spots in the last 32. Opta put their hopes at 42% after the full-time whistle in Miami but the mood in the camp was despondent after the concession of three poor goals left the Scots in a precarious position. Vinicius Jr stops fun and leaves Scots down... but are they out? What do Scotland need to make World Cup knockouts? Scotland's World Cup hopes on brink after 3-0 defeat by Brazil First, Scott McKenna was caught on the ball by Bournemouth forward Rayan and Vinicius Jr skipped past Angus Gunn to score. Gunn and full-back Nathan Patterson were then caught under a Bruno Guimaraes cross as Vinicius Jr nodded in his and Brazil's second before half-time. And Manchester United's Mateus Cunha made it three after the break on a night where Scotland huffed and puffed, but were ultimately outclassed. "We lose poor goals at poor times against a team that can punish you with quality," McGinn told BBC Sport. "We had a few chances but we've got to wait now. "The lads are gutted, we fell short on quality but we gave it absolutely everything. The lads are empty now. It's unlikely [that we qualify] but we'll wait and see. "It's a bit raw at the minute but we appreciate the support of the fans, we know it's difficult to be there. Hopefully the journey is not over and if we have to go again, we will go again." This video can not be played 'We gave it absolutely everything' Steve Clarke has managed Scotland at three major tournaments Clarke was blunt when asked for his immediate reaction post-match. "We made it difficult for ourselves, that's it," he told BBC Sport. "We gave them the goals, we gave them the game they wanted. Disappointing." The 62-year-old - who signed a new deal with the national team until 2030 earlier this year - then gave a slightly more in-depth interview with a similar level of pessimism. "It was unbelievable the shift the players put in, the ones who played 90 minutes in that heat and humidity were outstanding, but we have to be better if we want to compete at this level," he said. "In the first four or five minutes we passed the ball well and then made a mistake. You cannot do that at this level because it puts you on the back foot and it becomes a long night. "For sure I think we're going home. "Only Scotland can get a winnable first game and then get number five and number six in the world." World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

There was an error Scotland's hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time are in significant peril with calamitous defending allowed Brazil to win 3-0 in Miami and finish top of Group C. MATCH REPORT: Scotland 0-3 Brazil Available to UK users only.

This video can not be played Scotland hopes on the brink following defeat against Brazil Reaching the last 32 of the World Cup is out of Scotland's hands after they suffered a 3-0 defeat by Brazil in their final group-stage game. Scotland fans will now be clinging on to hopes of progressing as one of the eight best third-placed sides. It means they may need to wait until Sunday to find out whether they will reach the knockouts for the first time. With a potentially agonising few days on the way, BBC Sport guides you through what to look out for and how Scotland could still make it. Vinicius Jr stops fun and leaves Scots down... but are they out? Scotland's World Cup hopes on brink after 3-0 defeat by Brazil What each team need to make World Cup knockouts By this point, you have probably heard a lot about how finishing third could still get you through. Of the 12 teams who finish third in their group, eight will progress. If teams in the third-place standings finish level on points, the rankings are then decided by goal difference. That means Scotland will need to hope that at least four do not manage to reach three points, or they do so with a worse goal difference than them. As it stands, there are five third-placed teams ranked below Scotland, and five who have the same number of points. Four of those five still have a game to play Losing 3-0 means Steve Clarke's men's goal difference took a blow, with them now sitting on -3. According to Opta, teams with three points and a -3 goal difference only have a 42% chance of making the last 32, while it's 63% for -2 and 84% for -1. In Group D , Australia and Paraguay are second and third respectively and meet in their final game. The losers would end the group with three points, while a draw would leave both sides on four. On we go to Group E . Ecuador and Curacao have one point apiece and play Germany and Ivory Coast respectively. Failure to win would mean whoever finishes third cannot better Scotland's tally of three points. In Group F , Scotland will be hoping second-placed Japan beat third-placed Sweden convincingly. A point for Sweden, though, would leave the third-placed finishers on at least four points. The key fixture in Group G as far as Scotland are concerned is Egypt v Iran. A win for Egypt will ensure the team finishing third will have fewer than three points. It is the same situation in Group H where Scotland fans will be rooting for Spain to beat Uruguay so the third-placed team can only finish on two points, while in Group I, a draw between Senegal and Iraq would mean the team in third will have just one point. In Group J , Austria and Algeria - second and third respectively on three points - meet in their final group game, so Scotland would not want that to end in a draw. DR Congo and Uzbekistan are vying for third place in Group K . A win for Uzbekistan would give them three points but, with a goal difference of -7, they would need a big win against DR Congo to move above Scotland in the standings. In Group L , a point or more for Croatia against Ghana could be bad news for Scotland as it would again leave the third-place finishers with four points. A big win for Ghana, and Panama not beating England, would be Scotland's ideal scenario from a mathematical point of view. World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

There was an error Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine score late goals for Morocco to deny Haiti their first-ever World Cup point in Atlanta. READ MORE: Morocco 4-2 Haiti Available to UK users only.

Ben Stokes On Wednesday morning, in temperatures hot enough to make a statue sweat, England were training at Trent Bridge. A speaker was placed near the square and American rock band Fall Out Boy formed part of the soundtrack. "Sugar, we're goin' down swinging'" might not have been an ideal choice given recent events in a London nightclub. Perhaps those lyrics reflect the mood in the camp after a fortnight that will live in English cricketing infamy. After all the talk of curfews, investigations and who is friends with who, England are once again in must-win territory. Level at 1-1 with New Zealand, without a series win in 18 months and owning only two victories in their past nine Tests. With the added context of everything that has been going on off the field, returning captain Ben Stokes said this is the "highest pressure" of his four years in charge. This video can not be played Stokes on relationship with head coach McCullum How many times can England drink in the last chance saloon? At 2-0 down in the home Ashes of 2023, this regime may have crumbled had England not won the third Test at Headingley. Surely someone would have carried the can if the away Ashes had been lost 5-0, a clean sweep avoided when England scraped a win in Melbourne. What if Sam Curran had not defended 10 runs in the final over against Nepal to avoid an all-timer of a shock at the T20 World Cup? Here we are again. It is not certain a loss in Nottingham will result with a head on a spike, though the noise that was deafening in the aftermath of the Ashes will be amplified again. How many defeats are too many? How much chaos is too much? When can a reset not be reset? Stokes was honest and almost emotional when he spoke on Wednesday, describing what he had been through in the past two weeks. If he looked flustered, he had just come from more than an hour batting in the nets. Some noticed the skipper only referred to his time as captain in the short term, with lots of mentions of "this week". He also said he loves being an England player and loves being captain, so it feels unlikely that a departure is imminent. Once again, Stokes was adamant there is no issue between him and head coach Brendon McCullum, echoing what McCullum said on Tuesday. Perhaps we must take that at face value. Both have said they are "good mates". But Stokes was not forthcoming when asked about the support he has or hasn't had from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). "It was a process that needed to be played out. The process has been played out," he said. At this point, it's important to stress the ECB have denied he was asked to resign the captaincy. When it was put to a senior source that someone wanted him out, the word used to rebuff the suggestion is unprintable. Neither ECB chief executive Richard Gould nor chairman Richard Thompson have spoken publicly, so have not answered questions on their stance. Besides, if Stokes leaves nightclubs before the curfew, his interaction with the board will be limited, so long as England start winning Test matches. And, if there was mitigation for the defeat in the second Test, there is no hiding place this week. England have their first-choice XI at Trent Bridge, and Stokes needs some of his big names to step up. At times, Jofra Archer looked electric at The Oval, and at others he looked short of match fitness. He needs to repay the slack that allowed him a full Indian Premier League stint. The same goes for Jacob Bethell, who has batted only 14 times in red-ball cricket in the past 18 months. Almost a third of Bethell's runs from his eight-Test career came in his breakthrough hundred in Sydney, a knock he cannot dine out on forever. Stokes went in to bat for Ben Duckett in the aftermath of the Noosa social media video, and now Stokes needs Duckett to bat for him – literally. The opener has not made a half-century in his past 14 Test innings. In terms of doing all they can to get the right results, England are certainly looking much more focused than they did in Australia. There has been an acceptance they were understaffed in the coaching department and the beefed-up backroom has improved training. Jamie Smith barely did a wicketkeeping drill in Australia, yet has been worked hard by Sarah Taylor, who on Tuesday was also teaching a throwing technique to Josh Tongue to help with his troublesome shoulder. Jeetan Patel has been able to give more attention to Shoaib Bashir and more coaches has meant more attention for batters in the nets. Trent Bridge has been kind to some of this England team. It is home for Duckett and Tongue, while Joe Root averages nearly 70 here. Almost a quarter of Bashir's 68 Test wickets have come in two matches in Nottingham. As for Stokes, this is where he sealed his only Ashes series triumph – the one-handed wonder catch off a stunned Stuart Broad in 2015. Trent Bridge is the spiritual home of Bazball, the win over New Zealand four years ago, with Stokes as the non-striker as Jonny Bairstow hit the ball further and further into the stands. This is also the ground where Stokes played his first Test after being cleared of affray in 2018. On that occasion, there were some boos. That feels unlikely this week. "The atmosphere is always mint," said Stokes. "I don't think it will be any different this week. "After everything has gone on in the past two weeks, yes, I appreciate the support, but also the team appreciates it. "Don't feel like you've only got to cheer bigger for me, make sure you cheer as big as you can for the other 10 players that are going out to play for the country as well because we'll all be busting a gut to get that series win." Going down swinging? We'll see. Stokes reveals 'highest pressure' of England captaincy McCullum confused by stories of rift as Stokes returns Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

This video can not be played England beat West Indies to secure semi-final place The T20 World Cup group stage is heading towards its crucial point. England have qualified and Australia are almost there but there is a battle on behind them. What else have we learned from the tournament so far as we head towards the semi-finals? What tactics are teams using and where are some weaknesses? BBC Sport digs into the CricViz data. More runs are being scored at this tournament than ever before. Five of the highest six team totals at a Women's T20 World Cup have been made over the past two weeks, with four scores of 200 or more. This has come, in part, through the increase in the number of boundaries with the tournament boundary percentage higher than any previous edition. The percentage of runs coming in boundaries is 52% for this tournament - a reflection of the increasing power in the women's game but also organisers' wish for good batting surfaces. In the 2024 tournament in the United Arab Emirates, when surfaces were slower and lower, that figure was down at 40%. Interestingly, three of the four highest successful chases have also come in this tournament. There had only been two in the nine editions of the tournament to this point but there have been three already in 2026. "The pressure of a chase isn't as daunting because there is more cricket being played," former England spinner Alex Hartley said. "World Cups are so often. "If you come to a World Cup and have chased a big score seven times, what is the difference doing it an eighth?" With four wins from four, Australia are on the brink of qualification although there is still a scenario in which they could be eliminated on Sunday should they lose to India. They still appear the team to beat. Their bowling, in particular, has been a cut above the rest. Australia, with no bowler in the top five wicket-takers' list but with seven different wicket-takers, have been the most economical side in every phase of the innings - the powerplay, middle overs and death. They have taken wickets consistently through the start and middle of the innings too. England have four wins from four and have made a promising start to the tournament but their economy in the powerplay is 7.29 - considerably more expensive than Australia's 5.95. With seamer Kim Garth at the top, spinners Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Alana King and Ash Gardner to follow, and Annabel Sutherland bowling at the death, Australia delivered an even split between the number of overs bowled by spinners and pacers in the tournament. In contrast, India have massively favoured spin, with only 29% of their overs bowled by quicks. The lack of success for their pace bowlers has been a significant problem so far with only two wickets coming in 15.1 overs of seam bowling with an economy rate 8.50. Group One rivals South Africa have gone the other way by giving 69% of their overs to the seamers - the most of any team. That has not been particularly successful either with their powerplay economy rate of 7.77 only better than Netherlands. This video can not be played Kemp and Gibson 'pummel' Scotland in England win While their powerplay bowling can improve, England's big strength at this tournament has been the way they are finishing an innings. Even with Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson failing to repeat their fireworks from Leeds on Wednesday , they are scoring at 11.88 runs per over at the death - comfortably the most of any team. When Kemp and Gibson failed against West Indies, Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone found boundaries to finish the innings. Taking into account only the last three overs, England have scored 146 in 57 balls. They have hit a boundary on 25 of those deliveries. A wider development has been the increase in invention shown by batters at this World Cup. There have already been more runs scored with the scoop shot this year (136) than the entirety of any of the previous editions - and batters are doing it with a significantly better strike-rate (219.35). Netherlands' Babette de Leede, West Indies' Shemaine Campbelle and Australia great Ellyse Perry have been the most successful exponents but this is not a trend skewed by one or two batters. More players are scooping than ever before and are doing it more successfully. There were only 67 runs scored with a scoop at the last T20 World Cup, 91 in 2023 and 55 in 2020. Batters are finding the boundary 44% of the time when playing the scoop or reverse scoop, with the majority going to fine leg England beat West Indies to secure semi-final place Sciver-Brunt targets semi-final return after positive scan

Two-time world champion Anthony Joshua has been promoted by Eddie Hearn ever since turning professional in 2013 Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are contractually committed to staging their all-British heavyweight fight in the UK, says Eddie Hearn - and any attempt to move it to the United States would need Joshua's team to agree new terms. The Matchroom promoter - who represents Joshua - said if his team did not agree to any potential new terms, the fight would still "100%" go ahead in the UK this year. Despite growing speculation Las Vegas could stage the contest, Hearn has had no formal request from Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh to move the bout outside the UK. "We've got a great relationship with Turki Alalshikh," Hearn told BBC Sport. "If he comes to me and says, I want to do the fight in America for this reason, we'll all be very disappointed because I don't think there's a person on the planet that doesn't think this fight should take place in the UK. "But he's paying the bill and the bill is extortionate. So you've got to find a way to make it work. So, if they want to change anything in the contract, we have to renegotiate the contract and start again." Hearn also rejected Dana White's claims that he would promote the event, saying Zuffa Boxing has no current role in the fight unless Joshua's side agrees to change the contract. Frank Warren, Fury's promoter, told BBC Sport earlier this week a meeting would soon take place between different promoters to determine the date and location of the contest. Hearn said he expects that meeting to happen next week but stressed the only thing that can stop the bout is Joshua losing to Kristian Prenga on 25 July or Fury being beaten in his own proposed interim fight, which is mooted to take place on 1 August. "I'm 100% confident it happens in 2026 unless someone gets beat," Hearn added. Joshua v Fury location still to be decided - Warren What is Zuffa Boxing and can it shake up the sport? Despite being past their peak, two-time world champions Joshua, 36, and Fury, 37, remain two of British boxing's biggest crossover stars of their era. The super-fight has been orchestrated by Alalshikh, with Joshua and Fury's teams dealing directly with the Saudis over their contracts. Hearn says neither Matchroom nor Warren's Queensberry can act as lead promoter because it would give one fighter's side an advantage over the other. UFC chief White, the president of Zuffa Boxing, has said he is central to staging the fight, saying he knows the date, location and that he would promote it. Fury was present at the UFC's White House show on 14 June and teased a "massive announcement" from White before revealing he would be promoted by Alalshikh. Warren later told BBC Sport that Queensberry would continue to promote Fury alongside Alalshikh. "The contract clearly states that Dana White and Zuffa Boxing, or anyone associated, cannot be the promoters of this event," Hearn said. "The only way Dana could have any involvement in the show is if we let him. And it's not really how I'm feeling at the moment." Hearn believes White's comments stemmed from Alalshikh asking him to explore the financial viability of staging the fight in Las Vegas, and that the UFC president then overstated his role in the event. Asked if he could change his stance on White's involvement, Hearn added: "Money changes a lot of things." Hearn and White have also built up a public rivalry since Zuffa Boxing entered the sport. White has signed Conor Benn, who was previously promoted by Matchroom. Alalshikh has suggested next week's meeting will include peace talks between the two, but Hearn feels his rivalry with White is "the best thing" that has happened in his career as a promoter. "I would be disappointed if Turki Alalshikh makes us find peace, because I want war," he added. Boxing schedule and results 2026 Watch every Born to Brawl episode Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

There was an error Thapelo Maseko's second-half goal gives South Africa a 1-0 win over South Korea in Monterrey, and sends them into the World Cup knockout phase. MATCH REPORT: South Africa 1-0 South Korea Available to UK users only.

There was an error Mexico score three second-half goals to eliminate the Czech Republic from the World Cup and end the group phase with maximum points. MATCH REPORT: Czech Republic 0-3 Mexico Available to UK users only.

Rainbow flags - a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, diversity, and social inclusion - will be flown inside the Seattle Stadium Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei says he will not address "things that do not exist" as his team prepares to play Egypt in the Pride Match in Seattle. Local organisers have designated the game as a Pride Match because it falls on the Friday before Pride Weekend, which celebrates diversity and the LGBTQ+ community. Drag performances and Pride watch parties are planned across the city while rainbow flags - a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, diversity, and social inclusion - will fly inside the stadium. Despite complaints from Iran and Egypt, countries where homosexuality is illegal, the event will still take place. Both teams say they are purely focused on football, with both coaches avoiding questions about gay pride at their news conferences before the match, which kicks off at 04:00 BST on Saturday. "We are here to play football, not for other things," Ghalenoei said. "As for things that are forbidden in our religion and do not exist, we do not want to talk about them. We only talk about the match, football and the beauty of the game." Across the street, Seattle host committee officials insisted that the timing of the Pride Match was not designed to provoke. Pride weekend had been planned before the draw paired Egypt and Iran, they told the BBC, adding that the answer to discomfort is curiosity rather than retreat. "We're thrilled," Hedda McLendon, from Seattle's World Cup organising committee, told the BBC after the city's 'Pride Match Day' press briefing. "It might not be how you want to live or how things are in your country but this is something that makes us unique and we want you to experience it and be curious." With a stunning view overlooking Seattle's football stadium, McLendon and other host committee officials repeatedly said it did not matter who was playing - that the match was scheduled before the teams were announced and they would celebrate the beauty of football and gay pride no matter what. Jess Fishlock is Wales' record goalscorer and has played for Seattle for 13 years "The match is about Seattle, not Egypt or Iran," says Wales football legend Jess Fishlock, who now lives in and plays for Seattle Reign FC and is part of the host committee. "Regardless of who is playing we would be the same. It's such an important part of Seattle's identity and culture." Fifa, football's governing body, says rainbow flags will be allowed inside the stadium - but adds that this is not a 'Fifa Pride Match,' simply another World Cup game taking place in a city marking Pride weekend. "The Fifa World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds. Fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome at matches and events," it said in a statement. "General statements of human rights, including rainbow flags and other flags representing sexual orientation and gender identity, are permitted under the Fifa World Cup 2026 stadium code of conduct and may be displayed inside stadiums provided they are used in a manner consistent with the code." Amani Abouammo and Ayman Almasri are selling Egyptian street food at a fan zone At a fan zone, we met Egyptian fans cheering on Mexico days before their team takes on Iran. For them gay pride was irrelevant. "Right now it's about two teams trying to get to the next round," Makarius Demian told us, adding that he supports gay rights. "Pride match or no Pride match, that's not what matters." Not far from the big screen, an Egyptian restaurant pop-up is getting ready for the match - and for fans craving a taste of home. 'Koshari' is a staple Egyptian dish; a mix of lentils, chickpeas, pasta, fried onions and garlic tomato sauce. Owners Ayman Almasri and Amani Abouammo shut their restaurant Koshari for the duration of the World Cup to open a pop-up version at the fan zone where they were serving up the vegan Egyptian street food. They say having Egypt and Iran play in a Pride match is awkward and rooted in cultural misunderstanding. "Here it is the culture. People are used to that," Abouammo said. "Back home, people are not used to it. It's this piece of confusion that each party cannot understand the other party." On the pitch, there is plenty at stake. Egypt come into this match with momentum after beating New Zealand, and with a real chance of winning Group G. Iran, meanwhile, arrive in a very different mood - their tournament already shaped by politics, travel restrictions and complaints about preparation time, even if they have been allowed to get to the host city earlier than in previous matches. As Egypt and Iran try to edge closer to the knockout stages, this match is about more than what happens on the pitch. It is also a glimpse of what happens when a World Cup lands in a city celebrating one set of values, while two of the teams taking part arrive carrying very different ones of their own. Football fans have been flocking to Seattle over the past two weeks Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

England are top of Group L on four points Start Marcus Rashford? Bring Nico O'Reilly and John Stones back in? Rest Declan Rice? It's decision time for Thomas Tuchel. The England head coach made two changes for Tuesday's second World Cup group game, with Djed Spence and Marc Guehi coming in for O'Reilly and Stones in a 0-0 draw with Ghana. But what will he do on Sunday against Panama? "I think Tuchel will change it up," former England forward Alan Shearer told BBC Sport. "Bukayo Saka and Rashford have definitely done enough when they have come on in both games to get a chance to start. "Another change I can see happening is at left-back, with O'Reilly coming back in for Spence." Do you agree with Shearer? Use our selector below to choose your Three Lions starting XI. Why it's time for Saka and Rashford - Shearer England's James and Rice to have fitness assessed World Cup fixtures and group standings

Serena Williams has not played at Wimbledon since 2022 American superstar Serena Williams will make her highly-anticipated singles comeback at Wimbledon against Australian world number 53 Maya Joint in the first round. Williams, who is a seven-time women's champion at the All England Club, has been given a wildcard to restart her singles career at the age of 44, having not played competitively since the US Open in 2022. Joint, 20, lost in the first round on her Wimbledon main-draw debut last year and has won just one of her past 14 matches. British number one Emma Raducanu, seeded 30th, is set to start against Croatia's Antonia Ruzic, but there are concerns over her fitness after she did not practise on Thursday because of a shin injury. Raducanu could face top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the third round - just as she did at Wimbledon last year. In the men's draw, Britain's Jack Draper has been handed a tough first-round match against American sixth seed Taylor Fritz. Draper is continuing his return after a catalogue of injury problems - with Andy Murray now in his coaching team - and has reached the Eastbourne semi-finals in his first tournament since April. Raducanu misses Wimbledon practice amid injury concern Three Britons reach Wimbledon through qualifying Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic starts his latest bid for a outright record 25th Grand Slam title against China's Wu Yibing. World number one Jannik Sinner, who has not played since his shock second-round exit at the French Open in May, starts against Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic as he bids to successfully defend his Wimbledon title. But the Italian's close rival Carlos Alcaraz is not playing in SW19 as he continues to recover from a wrist injury. Reigning women's champion Iga Swiatek will begin the defence of her title against American Taylor Townsend. During the 25-minute women's draw ceremony at the All England Club on Friday, the wait for the appearance of one name - and its placing - brought a sense of anticipation like none of the other 127. Williams popped up midway through the draw, in an intriguing section which also features Swiatek. Ever since 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams finally confirmed she was going to return to singles action, there was deep intrigue about what sort of challenge she would face. As a wildcard entry, Williams could have been drawn against one of the world's leading players - such as top seed Aryna Sabalenka or Swiatek - or a lower-ranked player outside of the top 100 who had to fight their way through qualifying. Instead, she drew 20-year-old Joint in a match which looks eminently winnable. Williams is the greatest - but will she produce another great fight? Williams is used to being the centre of attention wherever she goes and it will be no exception when she returns on Tuesday - presumably on Centre Court. If Williams comes through that match she could face 29th seed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines next, with the possibility of playing Swiatek in the third round. Williams has played two doubles matches since beginning her comeback earlier this month and will play alongside her older sister Venus, 46, in the Wimbledon event which they have won six times. As ever, there is a strong British contingent in the singles draws - helped by a sizeable number of wildcards handed out by the All England Club. Overall it feels like a tough draw for the home players, with Draper in particular left to curse his luck. In what will only be his second tournament back from injury, the 24-year-old left-hander would have been hoping for a gentler start than Fritz, who reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year. Draper has dropped outside of the top 100 but takes his place in the draw because he was still ranked inside it when the entry list closed six weeks before the Championships. Cameron Norrie, seeded 26th in the men's singles, is the highest-ranked Briton and leads the six players who have earned direct entry through their ranking. Norrie, who reached the semi-finals in 2022, starts against American qualifier Michael Zheng and could face Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the third round. Raducanu is the only other home seed after climbing into the top 32 with her run to the Queen's final earlier this month, but could face former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko - who plays Harriet Dart first - in the second round, with the spectre of Sabalenka looming large after that. Katie Boulter, Francesca Jones and Jan Choinski also secured their spots through ranking. Twelve Britons have been given wildcards - six men and six women - but one was not made available for Davis Cup stalwart Dan Evans, who is set to retire after the tournament. Instead, he was forced to go through qualifying but lost in the second round. Toby Samuel, one of the wildcards, has been handed another eye-catching start against French Open semi-finalist Jakub Mensik, having lost to Australian world number eight Alex de Minaur on his Grand Slam main-draw debut last month. Three players - Ollie Tarvet, Billy Harris and Max Basing - did qualify after winning three matches this week. It is the most home players to come through qualifying since 1999. Women's singles: Aryna Sabalenka [1] v Teodora Kostovic (Srb) Jessica Pegula [4] v Darja Vidmanova (Cze) Magda Linette (Pol) v Mirra Andreeva [5] Tamara Korpatsch (Ger) v Coco Gauff [7] Lois Boisson (Fra) v Elena Rybakina [2] Full women's singles draw , external Men's singles: Casper Ruud [11] (Nor) v Hubert Hurkacz (Pol) Marin Cilic (Cro) v Daniil Medvedev [8] Roberto Bautista Agut (Spa) v Joao Fonseca [24] (Bra) Stan Wawrinka [WC] (Swi) v Matteo Berrettini (Ita) Alexander Blockx (Bel) v Alexander Zverev [2] (Ger) Full men's singles draw , external Live scores, results and order of play Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

This video can not be played Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart answers your questions about the Trionda World Cup ball and and explains how it might be affecting goalkeepers at the tournament. READ MORE: Is the World Cup ball making it hard for goalkeepers? Available to UK users only.

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha was named man of the match in the goalless draw with Spain This 48-team World Cup has produced some intriguing match-ups and several impressive performances by lower-ranked sides against the world's top teams. Cape Verde, Curacao, Ghana and South Africa - ranked 64th, 81st, 65th and 54th respectively - have taken points from Spain (3rd), Ecuador (29th), England (4th) and South Korea (28th) so far. Are these early tournament surprises a matter of luck, or clever planning and execution? A deeper delve into what happened in the games that produced those unexpected results reveals a number of common patterns. Cape Verde's 0-0 draw against Spain was perhaps the biggest upset of the tournament so far and it was also perhaps the most tactically impressive. The third-smallest nation in World Cup history stifled Spain through their 4-5-1 defensive shape. Key to their success was the fact gaps between their midfield line and defensive line were very small. Against such a challenge, high-possession sides look to pass the ball backwards, hoping to entice the opposition to step up the pitch. When Spain passed it back, expecting the midfielders to engage and create space between them and the defenders, Cape Verde didn't take the bait, instead keeping their shape compact. The Spain defenders then carried the ball forward looking to trigger a reaction but the Cape Verde players, again, held their shape until late. Spain, as a result, found it difficult to find players inside the block. Their remaining solutions were therefore either around Cape Verde or over the top of them. Cape Verde ensured there was minimal space between their defensive and midfield lines. If a player was nearby, they applied pressure, but if Spain passed it backwards, they didn't venture forward in order to stay compact This exact pattern was seen in Ghana's defensive set-up against England too. England under Tuchel have placed an even greater emphasis on dropping deep to entice pressure before quickly attacking the space that opens up. Ghana prepared for this by setting up in a compact formation. Jordan Ayew took a position higher up the pitch to man mark Elliot Anderson but the rest of the side, like Cape Verde, set up in two lines just outside of their penalty areas, giving up no space between the lines. Here we see Ghana hold a similar shape - a vertically compact 4-5-1. They allow Guehi and Konsa to have uncontested possession, instead focusing on preventing more dangerous players from affecting the game from more dangerous positions Both sides' refusal to apply pressure when the opposition attempted to tease them out is best illustrated by a statistic that looks to quantify how intensely a team presses. 'PPDA' stands for 'opposition passes allowed per defensive action'. The higher the number, the less a team has been able to interrupt opposition spells of play. In Cape Verde's draw to Spain, their average PPDA was 51.2 to Spain's 5.9. In the first 15 minutes of Ghana's match against England, their PPDA was 62. Both underdog sides were passive and deliberately so. Interestingly, both Ghana and Cape Verde did increase the amount they pressed as the game went on. This could partly be explained by teams, such as Ghana, looking to take greater initiative and risk, hoping to snatch the game at the end. To understand why some underdogs have done well, it makes sense to analyse where others have, in contrast, been exploited. Saudi Arabia's loss to Spain best highlighted a key flaw seen across many sides who 'park the bus'. On the face of things, five defenders suggest a team should be better equipped to defend - but the opposite was true. Saudi Arabia in their back five lacked clarity and were drawn to the player on the ball too often. In their low block, their midfield four shifted towards the ball-side of the pitch more than they should have. This meant they failed to cover the width of the pitch. Recognising this, Spain switched the ball well, often from left to right. Saudi Arabia move towards the ball as a team. In yellow, it is clear that Saudi Arabia's left midfielder and left wing-back are positioned far from Spain's right full-back and winger if the ball is switched Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro found themselves in two-against-one situations against the Saudi Arabia wing-back and this overload led to Spain's third goal. The wide midfielder, drawn to the ball, struggled to get back across to apply pressure on to Porro when the ball was switched. The wing-back failed to step out to Porro too, knowing that if he did, Yamal would have been free. With time and space on the ball, Porro played a cross to the back post which was knocked into a more central position for Mikel Oyarzabal to tap in. Porro finds himself free with no Saudi Arabia player positioned to close him down quickly. His cross to the back-post leads to a Spain goal Sweden, ranked 36th and underdogs in their game against the eighth-ranked Netherlands, lost 5-1 because of the same defensive frailty. Having just three midfielders in their 5-3-2 shape gave them even less coverage of width in midfield, compared to Saudi Arabia's four-man midfield. The Netherlands used their right-winger to pin Sweden's left wing-back deep. As Sweden's midfield three moved towards the ball, Denzel Dumfries, from a deeper starting position, made good forward runs that were not picked up. Sweden failed to cope with this two-against-one situation and improved only when they moved to a 4-5-1 shape - as Cape Verde and Ghana did - later in the game. Here we see the flaws of Sweden's 5-3-2 shape. The midfield are unable to cover the width of the pitch, getting drawn to the ball. Malen pins the wing-back in-field and Dumfries is unmarked out wide And lastly, if teams are going to get results against strong opposition, they ideally need to pose their own threat on the ball. South Africa took 14 shots to South Korea's seven in their match while only having 31% of the ball. Their ability to get the ball up the pitch, in a more deliberate manner, rather than simply playing long from the goalkeeper was central to this. Underdogs that have done well have often played short from goal-kicks, drawing pressure from the bigger nations who are more inclined to press high, before chipping it into clusters of players in space. We have seen the likes of Cape Verde, Iraq, and South Africa all use short goal-kicks, interestingly positioning players far from one another. The idea is that by creating large distances between players, opponents who want to press man-for-man have to run big distances to close the opponent down. In the time that this takes, defenders can look to find midfielders and attackers in space. Here we see Cape Verde's brave but well-reasoned build-up play. They prioritise big distances, while looking to create numerical overloads. Spain's midfield four try to manage the two full-backs and four midfielders. Once Spain press, Cape Verde play it more directly - into attackers in space Playing out from the back while keeping big distances between players increases the risk of losing the ball in dangerous areas. South Africa, against Mexico, and Iraq, against Norway, conceded goals from these situations. They did however create numerous good chances too and better final actions could have swung the story of the game. Football is a sport of trade-offs and when South Korea pressed South Africa high, the Bafana Bafana stuck to their principles, playing it forward in a more precise manner. Once up the pitch, they attacked quickly and scored the goal that ensured they progressed into the next stage of the competition. In the build-up to South Africa's goal, numerous South Korea players find themselves high up the pitch, looking to win the ball back quickly. A clever dink forward, over South Korea's press, finds South Africa three against one. After some impressive combination play, they get up the pitch quickly to score the winner These examples highlight the increasing level of tactical quality nations possess, irrespective of their ranking. Even with players of a lesser quality, teams can pose real challenges when setting up in the right way, pulling in a collective direction. And even then, they probably need things to go their way. In this tournament, 40 year-old keeper Vozinha captured the hearts of many for his brilliant shot-stopping display against Spain. Curacao's keeper Eloy Room matched the World Cup record for most saves made in a game, at 15, to help his nation get their first point too. Tactics can help the smaller nations bridge the gap and play on their own terms but the aura of the World Cup appears to bring out of players a level of performance that they perhaps did not know they possessed. Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Afghanistan women's team met King Charles at Clarence House Afghanistan Women's cricket team has called on the International Cricket Council to give them a "clear answer" on what their future looks like. The players spoke to BBC Sport after the opening match of their tour of England, where they beat an MCC Foundation XI at Worsley Cricket Ground in High Wycombe. The victory was as significant as it was emotional. It was their first win as a team since fleeing Afghanistan five years ago after receiving death threats from the Taliban. The celebrations at the end of the match were a powerful reminder of how far this group of women have come. But despite the joy of victory, major questions remain over what lies ahead. Since settling in Australia, where they now live and train, the players have repeatedly called on the ICC to recognise them once again as an international team and commit to long-term funding. Batter Firooza Amiri says the uncertainty surrounding their future is "very worrying". "Where are we going to end up? What is the next step? We need a clear answer," she said. "We are fully committed to this team and we've put everything else aside to play cricket. But we also need the ICC to give us a clear answer. Are they going to support us?" Without official ICC recognition, the side are touring as the 'Afghan Refugee Women's Team' and are wearing a specially designed badge instead of Afghanistan's official crest. That, however, did little to diminish the significance of their victory. "The girls were screaming everywhere and crying as well," all-rounder Firooza Afghan said. "This match gives the girls confidence. When we play cricket, we're not just playing for ourselves. It's for Afghanistan and it's for the women and girls back in our country." The win capped a remarkable week for the players, who met King Charles on the eve of the match. "He was so nice to all of us," Afghan said. "He asked about our journey and that gave us the inspiration to play and win today." "He was such an amazing and kind man," Amiri added. "He was very interested in hearing about our journey. We shared our story with him and it was just beautiful." The team will play five matches during their stay in England and will also attend the Women's T20 World Cup final at Lord's. Clare Connor, Managing Director of England Women's Cricket at the England and Wales Cricket Board, played a key role in organising the tour. "The objectives of the tour were to provide some really good cricketing experiences, but also experiences that they will hopefully remember forever and that remind them cricket is a sport where they are still loved and cared for. "Meeting these amazing women, hearing their voices, their stories, and seeing their love for the game and for each other has been unbelievably special." The Afghan Refugee Women's team will play five matches in England The team's relationship with the ICC has been far from straightforward. Since escaping Afghanistan in 2021, the players have accused the governing body of ignoring them and failing in its duty of care. Meanwhile, the Afghanistan men's team has retained full ICC membership despite the country's inability to meet the membership requirement of supporting a women's national side. In April 2025, the ICC, together with the cricket boards of England, Australia and India, announced a joint programme to provide financial support for the players. The funding has enabled the squad to train in an elite performance environment over the past year, with two cricket sessions and two strength and conditioning sessions each week, alongside competitive matches. However, that programme comes to an end after the England tour and there is currently no plan in place for what follows. The future funding of the team will be discussed at the ICC's annual conference next month. Connor believes the global game must now find a lasting solution. "It is incumbent on the global community to work that out. "It's an answer we've got to find. The global cricket community really needs to come together and develop a sustainable plan for this group of players." Last month, football's governing body, Fifa, approved the return of the Afghan women's national football team to international competition. The cricketers now hope the ICC will follow suit. "They deserve to be playing as Afghanistan's national women's football team, and we deserve the same thing," Amiri said. "We're hoping that after all these matches and all the hard work we've put in, the ICC will see this team, recognise us, and finally give us what we deserve." Under the current oppressive Taliban regime, women in Afghanistan are banned from education, sport and work and they are not allowed to leave the house without a male guardian. The players say their fight for recognition on the world stage goes beyond cricket. They hope their story will also send a message of hope to the women and girls back home. "I just want to tell them that every shot and every wicket is for you. We play for your voice and we play for your freedom," Afghan said. King meets women's cricket team that is not allowed to exist Afghan refugee team's future to be discussed by ICC Afghanistan women's refugee team to tour England Afghanistan Women’s Refugee Team: What’s next? Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

There was an error Turkey come out on top in the last minute of an end-to-end 3-2 win over a second string USA side, in their final Group D match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. MATCH REPORT: Turkey 3-2 USA - Group D Available to UK users only.

There was an error Brian Brobbey scores for the second game in a row as Netherlands defeat Tunisia 3-1 to top Group F, setting up a match against Morocco in the last 32 at the World Cup. MATCH REPORT: Tunisia 1-3 Netherlands - Group F Available to UK users only.

There was an error Daizen Maeda's smart finish for Japan is cancelled out by Anthony Elanga's long-range strike as Sweden fight back to earn a 1-1 draw, ensuring both sides progress to the World Cup knockout stages. MATCH REPORT: Japan 1-1 Sweden - Group F Available to UK users only.

There was an error Goals from Nilson Angulo and Gonzalo Plata help Ecuador come from behind to beat Germany 2-1 and qualify for the World Cup knockout stages as one of the top eight third-placed teams. MATCH REPORT: Ecuador 2-1 Germany - Group E Available to UK users only.

There was an error Australia sealed their passage to the last 32 and Paraguay are almost certain to join them after they shared a drab draw in San Francisco which suited both sides. MATCH REPORT: Paraguay 0-0 Australia - Group D Available to UK users only.

How to be a good tennis parent By the time Ellie-Rose Griffiths was nine, she had left school to train full-time. That was when tennis stopped being just a game and became her life. The former top-ranked junior player would go on to compete alongside some of the top names in British tennis including Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu and Harriet Dart before stopping playing at 19 because she was burned out and not enjoying it any more. When the 27-year-old looks back now, it is not just the tennis she remembers. It is the pressure around it, and in particular one group of people she believes could deal with it better. Parents. Pushy parents are nothing new in a sport offering the potential of millions of pounds in prize money at the very top - at elite level there are well-documented incidents involving the dads of Jelena Dokic, Mary Pierce and Bernard Tomic to name a few. It all starts at junior level. "You see parents shouting at children all the time in tennis," says Griffiths, whose criticism is not for her own supportive parents but for what she has seen in the game. "There's a lack of understanding on how they should behave... on how they could help their child to blossom into the athlete that they should become." And it can get out of hand. "We've had situations here before where unfortunately we've had to call the police because the parents' behaviour is getting that far out of control," says Chris Johnson, head coach at Sutton Coldfield Tennis Club, where he has worked for 36 years. "They won't listen, they think they can get away with anything, they don't respect the referees, it can get a bit ugly." Both are clear that behaviour like that does not happen in isolation and that it is the environment tennis creates that makes parents behave this way. So, why is that and what needs to change? Tennis can be intense for parents. There is transport to arrange, coaching to fund, and a complicated player pathway to navigate. In some cases there's even private tutoring to arrange if their child has left mainstream school to focus on the sport. "You do get on a bit of a hamster wheel", says John from Derbyshire, whose 11-year-old son Harrison is a promising player. "It's 12 months of the year, indoor courts and outdoor courts." Children can start a form of tennis from the age of four on a modified court. The Lawn Tennis Association's (LTA) performance pathway for the most promising juniors supports players from the age of seven on their journey to potentially becoming a Grand Slam champion. Competitions are grouped according to age and start aged eight and under. And the ratings and rankings you get from doing them are one way to get noticed. So when does it start to get serious? "The minute they start playing their first competition," according to Johnson. Does he think that is right? "Absolutely not. "A lot of adults can't cope with the pressures of playing an individual sport and then they're expecting young children to be able to do so." Steve Whelan, a coach working in St Albans with nearly three decades of experience, agrees that the system places too much emphasis on winning at a young age. "It just creates this race to the bottom because parents are chasing ratings and rankings," he says. He tells parents: "These are not tennis players. They are kids who play tennis and there's a big difference." The LTA says it undertook a "comprehensive review" of its rating and ranking system in 2018 "specifically to address the issue of putting too much pressure on children at too young an age." Now players can't be ranked nationally against their peers until they reach the under-11 age group, with younger children from eight and up organised into competition based on recent form - a rating. When it comes to parental behaviour the LTA says like any sport "there are occasions when a small minority of parents do not uphold the standards of behaviour expected". The governing body will soon be launching a new initiative called Fair Play, to promote positive parent behaviour and support coaches. Ellie-Rose Griffiths is a former British junior number one For parents, the pressure is not only emotional. It can also be financial. "It just gets more and more: lessons, travel, flights, tournament fees..." one parent explains. Griffiths puts numbers on it. "If you want to play four hours a day with a coach... that's £1,000 a week... £4,000 a month... that's more than people's salaries," she says. The LTA says it "supports talented junior players through access to world-class coaching and facilities across our network of Regional Performance Development Centres". The governing body also offers grants to young players on its performance pathway who are facing financial barriers to training, travel or competition, through its foundation. But Griffiths says parents investing to bring their children to the next level can alter behaviour. "The financial support comes from the winning and the losing," she says. "If my child wins, I might get some more funding; if my child loses, we might not - so we don't want them to lose." Johnson recognises the shift. "They are almost expecting a return on their investment, and it shouldn't be like that." This video can not be played Being a tennis parent "A 10-year-old isn't expected to do a job, but it does become that," Griffiths says. It is a view echoed by Australian Todd Ley, who was once touted as the best junior player in the world and at 12 became the youngest athlete ever signed by global sports agency IMG before quitting the sport at 17. He trained at the Nick Bollettieri academy in Florida, where the Williams sisters, Andre Agassi and Maria Sharapova were among the famous names associated with the programme. Andy Murray and Juan Martin Del Potro were some of the junior players he measured himself against. Tennis quickly became all-consuming, says Ley, and "tennis went from enjoyment to employment". He ended up "hating" tennis and still does. His dad Max was his coach and manager. From Ley's perspective, tennis came first for his dad, and his son came second. "Realistically, it was tennis from, you know, breakfast to bedtime," says Ley, who has written about his experiences in Smashed: Tennis Prodigies, Parents and Parasites. "Very quickly, the child isn't looked at as a person. They are a commodity and a stock." Ley believes early success in tennis can create incentives that push families, coaches and systems towards doing more, earlier. "If you have very good results early then you're going to get a better ride and you're going to get better management companies, sponsors," he says. "Very early it becomes a contest about who can do more. "People forget completely that they're dealing with children." Todd Ley was the top 12-year-old tennis player in the world but quit at 17 Not everyone minds having pushy parents - or at least not in hindsight. Emma Raducanu has previously described hers as "so pushy" when she was younger. In an interview with the Times in 2024 she said: "I've seen some great people who I was playing with in the juniors who had way more lenient parents, who were like, 'It's OK if you lost', and those players don't play tennis any more, so I don't blame my parents for it." And former British number one Kyle Edmund says that while his parents were not pushy, they did push him to improve things like attitude and work ethic. He said he once told his dad he wanted to quit and his dad just said, "OK, let's just stop then". At that point Edmund realised he actually loved the game and wanted to work hard to succeed. "There's definitely times where you see almost like the parent wants it more, and that's when I think it becomes toxic," he told BBC Sport. "It's got to come from the son or daughter to really want to do it. "And I think the best way is when the parents provide an amazing support system to be there for them and encourage them to do better and want to have ambition." Britain's 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu has described her parents as 'pushy' For many parents, the shift happens gradually. Rob is watching his son in a group training session, quietly, from a distance. "Your child goes from going along on a Saturday morning to a fun session and before you know it everything's got very serious at a very young age," he says. "You started playing something because of the joy of playing it and that should be what it's all about. But within the system it can be easy to forget that." Ramesh, another parent, says he looks back on his older children's tennis journeys with regret and that he put too much emphasis on results. Now he tells his youngest son to "forget about the winning or losing". Griffiths doesn't criticise her own parents. She is clear her mother, a single parent bringing up three children, was central to everything she achieved. "My mum would admit she wasn't perfect," Griffiths says. "But there was no support there in place for her to know how to be the best tennis parent. "They're ultimately the second most important person in this journey." Liya Jacob has two sons who play tennis and says most parents are trying to do the right thing: "I'm a doctor, I'm a life coach, and I think I'm quite emotionally intelligent, but even I was finding myself, on occasion, slipping into unhelpful behaviours. "It's not that we've got bad parents out there. Parents don't have a framework to help them deal with the challenges of sports." Together with Griffiths and Johnson she set up an online course called Winning Parents, aimed at helping parents understand how they can support their children before, during and after matches. Dr Jacob says parents often fall into two patterns. "One is over-helping," she says. "So what I see a lot of parents do is over-coaching from the sidelines or interfering during matches. Another pattern is that people can get overly critical of their child. "Kids often describe dreading the car ride home after a poor performance, after poor results. Parents don't mean to create these environments but it can easily happen under pressure." The LTA says it offers "a range of resources to parents to educate and inform them about each stage of the pathway". Online they run the Parent Support Programme, developed by leading academic experts. It covers parents' roles at competitions, communication before, during and after matches, and managing the emotional demands of competition. Despite the challenges, Griffiths still has a love for the game. She says tennis gave her skills that have shaped her life beyond the sport, but believes parents need help to understand the power they hold. "I want parents to see that tennis is such an incredible avenue to develop your child's character if you do it in a supportive way," she says. "It can damage your child's character if you do it in the wrong way." Do you have a story to share?

Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe have both scored four goals at the 2026 World Cup Two of the greatest forwards in world football will go head-to-head at Boston Stadium on Friday, as France and Kylian Mbappe take on Norway and Erling Haaland. Both nations have won their opening two group-stage matches at the World Cup, helped by devastating displays from their star strikers. Mbappe and Haaland have each scored twice in both of their opening games, leaving them on four goals for the tournament. Lionel Messi leads the race for the Golden Boot with five. With top spot in Group I still up for grabs, both players are expected to start despite their teams having already secured qualification for the knockout stages. The match effectively serves as a playoff to determine who finishes first and, in theory, earns a more favourable path in the bracket. BBC Sport looks at how important each player is to his team before what promises to be a captivating World Cup contest. Although both are key players for their clubs, the importance of Mbappe and Haaland is elevated even further on the international stage. Since August 2022, France have won 69.8% of their matches with Mbappe in the side, compared with just 50% without him. Mbappe, France's all-time leading goalscorer, also helps make the team more productive in attack. During that period, Les Bleus have averaged 2.3 goals per game with him in the team, compared with 1.9 without him. Given Norway's comparatively limited depth, it is no surprise that Haaland is even more crucial to his nation. Since August 2022, Norway have won 64.5% of matches with Haaland in the team, compared with just 33.3% without him. This World Cup has shown that neither player is daunted by the pressure of a major tournament too. For all the focus on Messi, it feels only a matter of time before Mbappe reels him in at the top of the World Cup scoring charts. The Frenchman trails the 39-year-old by just two goals after scoring 16 times in 16 World Cup appearances. Crucially, Mbappe is 12 years younger than Messi and, while you would not completely rule out the Argentina legend returning in four years' time, this is likely to be his final World Cup. Haaland is playing in his first World Cup and has taken to the tournament like a Viking rower to water. He is the sixth player in World Cup history to score multiple goals in each of his first two appearances at the tournament and only the second to do so in the past 50 years, after Harry Kane for England in 2018. His recent form for Norway has been remarkable, too. He has scored in 12 consecutive competitive internationals, including an incredible 16 goals in his last six matches. On the international stage, Haaland has also been the more prolific scorer overall. Mbappe has an impressive 60 international goals in 100 games, but the Norway striker is just one behind on 59 despite having played only 52 matches for his country - 48 fewer than Mbappe. How do their games compare? Their respective heat maps from the tournament offer an insight into where they do most of their work on the pitch. Kylian Mbappe's heat map from the 2026 World Cup Erling Haaland's heat map from the 2026 World Cup In terms of attacking metrics for their clubs this season, Mbappe outperforms Haaland in shots, touches and chances created, although the City striker recorded more assists in 2025-26. There is also a significant difference in their dribbling numbers, something that has been evident this summer. At this World Cup, the Frenchman has attempted 14 dribbles across the first two matches, compared with just one from Haaland. Where Haaland has held the edge is in chance conversion. Across the past four club seasons in league matches, he has converted 23.43% of his shots, compared with Mbappe's 18.24%. This season, Mbappe narrowed the gap but was still slightly behind. Mbappe also comes up short of Haaland in terms of his defensive contribution. For Real Madrid this season, he ranked 1,481st out of all 1,483 players to have played a minimum of 900 minutes for combined defensive contributions in the top five leagues. Haaland and his team celebrate after their win over Senegal Their respective and comparable importance is neatly illustrated by their recent international goal involvements. Since August 2022, Mbappe has been involved in 44% of France's goals, contributing 33 goals and 17 assists. During the same period, Haaland has contributed 39 goals and four assists, accounting for 43.9% of Norway's goal involvements. France, of course, have loftier ambitions this summer and are among the favourites to win the tournament. Even Haaland himself has said he believes Les Bleus will beat Norway on Friday and go on to lift the trophy. Norway are capable of giving the French a bloody nose though, especially with the game's most dominant penalty-box predator in red-hot form. With Haaland, it would be foolish to put a lid on their ambitions. What each team need to reach World Cup knockouts The games that show the flaws in a 48-team World Cup

It takes 72 games to reduce the number of teams at the World Cup from 48 to 32 The World Cup has, so far, lacked an element of real jeopardy in the group stage. Granted, South Korea may disagree after a shock 1-0 defeat by South Africa on Wednesday sent Bafana Bafana into the knockout stage for the first time. But it is limited peril, because South Korea are still very likely to reach the last 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams. A record of three points and goal difference of -1 is probably going to be enough. But had the defeat by South Africa happened at the 2022 World Cup, when only the top two teams in each group qualified, South Korea would already be on the plane home. The addition of third-placed qualifiers is a necessary feature of this new format - to ensure we get 32 teams in the knockout rounds. But it has created additional scenarios in which teams can play for specific results to either qualify or, in effect, pick opponents. Two matches in particular this week are a real test of the format. The first of those games has already produced the convenient draw that should send both teams through. Expanding the World Cup to 48 teams always presented one obvious problem - it was an imperfect number for a tournament. With 32 teams, the maths was simple - eight groups of four teams, with the top two going through to a last 16, then quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final. By adding another 16 nations, Fifa had to find a way to get to a symmetrical knockout stage. There was no ideal solution - one which preserved the intensity of the previous format. The original plan was to create 16 groups of three teams. The two top in each would go through to the last 16. But there was an issue. Three-team groups meant individual fixtures - and those in the final match would know exactly what they needed to do to qualify. Nations could play for specific results to secure their passage to the knockout rounds. Fifa, after all, knew all about alleged collusion from the scandal at the 1982 World Cup . Back then, with groups of four, teams did not play their final group matches at the same time. West Germany faced Austria in the standalone last game. A slender win for the Germans would send both teams through at the expense of Algeria. The match finished 1-0 to West Germany. Algeria went out. Fifa changed the format so all final fixtures would be played simultaneously, but that would not have been possible with three-team groups. The climax to the group stage in Qatar was so exciting that Fifa had a rethink. It accepted there must be 12 four-team groups and two matches would be played at the same time to determine who would qualify. Except for one crucial difference - something that removed much of the jeopardy that made the last World Cup so gripping. Eight of the third-placed teams must go through for there to be 32 teams in the knockout rounds. It became harder to be knocked out than to progress. And one issue becomes clear with two matches this week. First up, Australia played Paraguay on Thursday. The teams were second and third in Group D and both on three points. Four points is almost certain to be enough to take one of the eight third-placed qualifying slots, so it created a situation in which the teams knew that a draw was helpful to both. The match finished 0-0. Australia are definitely through in second place and celebrated with their supporters at the final whistle. Paraguay played it low key but, barring a very unlikely set of results in the remaining groups, they will go through too. The next game of interest in this respect is Austria v Algeria in Group J (03:00 BST Sunday). Again, the two teams are second and third on three points. A point is very likely to send both teams through, while defeat is much more likely to send one home. Will we see another draw? After being impacted negatively in 1982, Algeria could be the beneficiaries in 2026. You could argue a game in Group F on Thursday fell into the same category, with Japan starting the match on four points and Sweden on three. That match also finished 1-1 to guarantee the Scandinavians would progress, but there was no real risk involved for Japan if they have lost. It is the same in Group L, too, with Ghana on four points and Croatia on three. There are many examples of teams playing out the final 10 minutes of a group game with no interest in attacking because they both know they are going through. It does not mean the two teams will just play for a point this week, of course, but it presents the opportunity. At Euro 2020 we had the same circumstances. Ukraine and Austria went into their last match in second and third respectively on three points, aware that four points would probably be enough to go through in third. But the teams did not play out a draw. Austria won 1-0 to move up to second, with Ukraine eventually squeezing through to the last 16. Ukraine were one goal better off than Finland, who lost their last fixture later the same day. The bookmakers are certainly taking no chances. For Australia-Paraguay and Austria-Algeria, the odds offered for a draw have been close to even money. Selling cars & air miles conundrum - what now for Tartan Army? What each team need to reach World Cup knockouts Have World Cup changes made final group stage games unfair? Teams could, of course, play for specific results before third-placed teams qualified. Take one incident at Euro 2004, which led to Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and Italian federation president Franco Carraro making accusations of match-fixing . If Sweden-Denmark was a draw and the teams scored at least twice, Italy would finish third because they scored fewer goals in matches between the three sides. Sweden equalised in the 89th minute. The final score? Sweden 2-2 Denmark . Uefa insisted there was nothing suspicious about the result. There is a further twist at this World Cup. The fixtures for the third-placed teams are determined by which groups provide the qualifiers. Play early, and you don't have an idea where you will go if you finish third. Play later, and you know what the path looks like. What does that mean in reality? The runners-up in Group J will play the winners of Group H - Spain are top of the table right now. But where will the third-placed team in Group J go? They could play the Group L winners, perhaps England, or Switzerland who finished top of Group B. Austria and Algeria will know what the last 32 looks like. They could be in a position where finishing third is more favourable than second. Rather than playing for a draw, Austria might feel they are better off losing and taking up that match. The weather may yet play a part too. If there are storms which cause a match to be paused , Fifa says the other game in the group will not be halted. So, one fixture might be suspended for a couple of hours due to lightning, and when the teams comes back out they know what they need to do to qualify. After Australia-Paraguay finished a draw, and with Austria-Algeria to come, there will probably be further questions about the wisdom of the format. This has been Fifa's choice. The expansion of the World Cup was part of the manifesto on which president Gianni Infantino was elected in 2016. Perhaps it will give Infantino a reason to restore the tournament to a perfect number. Not reducing to 32, but increasing to 64. Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Elliot Anderson scored for Forest in a 2-2 draw at Manchester City in March Manchester City have agreed a deal with Nottingham Forest to sign Elliot Anderson for a club record £116m. The England midfielder, 23, is set to have a medical before completing his move to Etihad Stadium. City sources insist the fee for Anderson is £116m, which would be a club record, with no bonuses attached. Other sources claim the deal is worth up to £130m, which would represent a British record fee, eclipsing the £125m Liverpool paid Newcastle for striker Alexander Isak last summer. Forest had been holding out for a higher fee for Anderson, rejecting two previous offers from City. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue and there was always a degree of confidence the deal would get done eventually, once City made a third bid. Forest are interested in Tottenham 's Lucas Bergvall, along with Davide Frattesi of Inter Milan, and are now expected to sign two midfielders this summer. Anderson is preparing for England's final Group L game against Panama at the World Cup on Saturday (22:00 BST) and told BBC Sport this week how he has pushed his club future to one side. "It's pretty easy really, I'm just focusing on the present, I'm blocking it all out," he said. "I've got a plan and it's to perform for England. I'm putting myself in the best position to cross the line and do that." Anderson joined Forest for £35m from Newcastle in 2024 and has made 88 appearances for the club, scoring four goals. He helped Forest finish seventh in the Premier League in 2024-25 and then 16th last season, when they also reached the Europa League semi-finals. Anderson's journey to England star and potential British record Anderson joined his boyhood club Newcastle at the age of eight and made his first-team debut in 2021. He went on to make 55 appearances before being sold to Forest, a deal effectively forced on the Magpies because they feared they were going to break profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and incur a points deduction. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe called the sale of Anderson "the most reluctant in my career". He was immediately a regular starter at Forest and helped them qualify for Europe in 2024-25 and, after being a Scotland youth international, he switched to England's under-21s in August 2024, before making his senior debut in September 2025. Anderson's influence at Forest grew during the 2025-26 season. He had the most touches in the Premier League (3,300), won possession the most times (306), won the most duels (297) and drew the most fouls (80). He also doubled his goal tally for the season from two to four, although his Premier League assists dropped from six to four.

Kylian Mbappe hovered surreptitiously in the shadows, only noticeable as the lights flickered off the beaming white number 10 on his broad royal blue back. Just a handful of yards away, Lamine Yamal scanned the scene. Scouring. Waiting. Four Colombians huddled together, discussing tactics, plotting their next move. And in the far corner, Erling Haaland, carrying a plate of chips, returned to Mrs Haaland amid the chaos and through the plumes spewing out of the smoke machine. It's Friday night. It's downtown Miami. It's party time. The bar in East Flagler Street pulsed with life and danced to the beat of the World Cup. A multitude of nations were represented in this local hostelry. Mingling. Chatting. Dancing. Absorbing. But not everyone. In the centre of the floor, five figures stood out from the crowd, marked by their own shiftiness and pre-occupation amid the chaos. A giant projector screen at the end of the room lit up with the moving image of Belgium against New Zealand in the World Cup, the big tie of the penultimate night of group games. As the music cranked up and the buckets of beer rattled with shards of ice, the five Scotsmen of the apocalypse drank studiously while looking the other way. On every second smaller television dotted around the bar, Egypt took on Iran, carrying the dreams of two nations. The group's gaze barely shifted as the game kicked off thousands of miles away. Scotland's World Cup hopes at 0.07% - these are results they need Is a former England striker right about reasons for Scottish football's ills? What do numbers tell us about Scotland's World Cup attacking intent? While Scotland head coach Steve Clarke had given up hope of his team escaping out of their World Cup group, this particular bunch of Scottish natives clearly had not. The Scots, crippled by a deadly combo of profligacy and self destruction, needed snookers. In fact, they needed snookers while playing blind-folded and without a cue ball. Even John Higgins, the Wizard of Wishaw, would struggle to get them out of this jam. To progress, Clarke's side need four fellow third-placed teams to finish on three points with a goal difference worse than -3, or with fewer points. Until Spain's victory earlier in the Miami night, every settled group had done the opposite. Now, with Egypt winning, it looked as though the Scots would require two from Saturday's three unsettled groups to come through for them. A monumentally tall order, but not an impossible one, given the punch of the air from the Scots in this bar as Mahmoud Saber turned in Egypt's opener. Nine minutes later, as a man in a Premier League top unsuccessfully attempted to charm a young lady a few feet away at the bar, Iran levelled, puncturing the mood at one particular table. The music seemed to get even louder as the game went on and the tension for the group of Scots increased. The room swayed and samba-danced to the pulse as the play raged on. In the corner, Lionel Messi was moving almost in slow motion, his arms methodically swinging against an imaginary tide. They say rhythm is a dancer. Leo was dancing to his own rhythm here. The apocalypse brothers remained unmoved as the game raged into the second half, Egypt retreating further as Mohamed Salah departed. Near the bar, a man with an obscure top passed around a World Cup trophy which barely registered with the kilted Scot and pals, their eyes fixed on the game beaming in from Seattle. Scotland have brought the party to the United States, and it was maybe this influence that prompted the DJ to whack on Freed From Desire. The lads barely flinched, only allowing themselves a brief flicker of enjoyment on the second chorus. It was quickly wiped out as Iran's push for a winner intensified, Mehdi Taremi scudding the bar, causing a visible gasp to emanate from the table below. The final seconds provided a private tartan torture chamber for this small clan engulfed by conviviality. Shoja Khalilzadeh found the net in the dying seconds for Iran. Heads were plunged into hands. Messi continued his slow-motion dancing. What? Offside? Another chance, perhaps? Alas, no. The game would trundle to a draw, leaving Scotland needing all three groups to go in their favour - a probability of 0.07% - for their World Cup party to continue. In this downtown Miami bar, the clock hit 01:00. Mbappe had left, the three Lamine Yamals had long since shot the crow. As the bar emptied and the big nations left, Scotland were left still standing. The irony was not lost. Moments later the apocalypse brothers wandered out into the hot and humid Florida night to continue what little time they have left of their World Cup party. It may be over very soon. World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

This video can not be played Muslera mistake gifts Spain win as 10-man Uruguay crash out 'in disgrace' In substituting a national team hero at half-time before delivering a brutally honest self-reflection, the end of Marcelo Bielsa's tenure as Uruguay manager felt rather fitting. A 1-0 defeat by Spain in Guadalajara condemned the two-time World Cup winners to a humiliating second successive group-stage exit, and neatly summed up Bielsa's struggles as head coach. Like he did after draws with Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde left Uruguay needing a positive result against the European champions, Bielsa blamed himself. "I am responsible for this disappointment," said the 70-year old, who before the tournament told reporters "I am toxic". "Obviously, I don't need to define this performance... if you ask me how my time [with the national team] will be remembered, it is a tenure that left nothing behind. "I leave nothing to Uruguayan football, because any contribution I might make to a country where I have worked for three years fails to take root if results aren't achieved." If nothing else, the lasting image of Bielsa's three-year spell may well be the half-time substitution of legendary goalkeeper Fernando Muslera after his mistake gave Spain the lead. The 40-year-old came out of international retirement in March at Bielsa's request, but became the first goalkeeper in history to make three mistakes leading to goals in a single World Cup. "Muslera decided to come off at half-time," said Bielsa, who also explained he withdrew captain Federico Valverde in the second half because he wanted to add a more physical presence to his attack. "The decision I took was not to undermine Muslera's confidence, but rather to maintain it." Muslera, a hero of Uruguay's run to the 2010 semi-finals, made his 137th and possibly final international appearance. Video vault and Leeds litter picking - inside the mind of Bielsa 'Not a model' - Bielsa refuses to engage with World Cup photoshoot At 70, Bielsa may be nearing the end of a colourful career at the top level. His work with Uruguay is hardly a convincing advert, and the performance crisis is clear. Yet, for all their struggles in this tournament, there have been flashes of a level above much of what they produced over the past two years. It had started so well. After the Qatar World Cup, Bielsa took over a team in need of generational change and, as with Chile before, inherited a group well suited to his dynamic, attacking style. Uruguay made an impressive start to South America's World Cup qualifiers - winning away to Argentina, beating Brazil and - after six rounds - scoring almost twice as many goals as any other side. Then came the 2024 Copa America. Uruguay began with a flurry of goals - and then hit a wall. Things have not been the same since. In November, they were thrashed 5-1 by the USA and his old protege Mauricio Pochettino, and when they snatched a draw against England at Wembley in March, they barely crossed halfway - unthinkable for a Bielsa side. This video can not be played Bielsa snaps during post-match interview So where has it all gone wrong? Part of the answer may lie beyond the coach's control. It is striking how many of Uruguay's players have failed to kick on at club level. Federico Valverde did not make an impact in the tournament, though he is now a star at Real Madrid. Others appear to have stalled or regressed - Rodrigo Bentancur, Manuel Ugarte, Facundo Pellistri and Darwin Nunez among them. Even so, Bielsa would have expected to get more from the resources at his disposal. Has his model become too predictable? His high-press, suffocating style was once revolutionary but is now firmly in the mainstream. Bielsa himself has shown doubts. Uruguay played no warm-up games before the World Cup, opting instead for intensive work on the training ground that produced a new system - Valverde wide right and two strikers. It failed, abandoned at half-time against Saudi Arabia, with a return to his familiar 4-3-3 bringing improvement. After the break, and again during the 2-2 draw against Cape Verde, Uruguay at least created chances - and without two moments of self-destruction would have been through to the last 32 with a match to spare. Yet tactics may not be the root cause. A more convincing explanation lies in personal relations. A month together during the 2024 Copa America appeared to strain the dressing room. Luis Suarez said as much when he retired from international football, using a news conference to criticise what he considered Bielsa's lack of warmth, his treatment of players and the tense atmosphere in camp. Notably, no-one in the squad moved to contradict Uruguay's all-time leading scorer. Luis Suarez was in the stands during Uruguay's 2-2 draw with Cape Verde Winger Agustin Canobbio, who was sent off late in the defeat by Spain, had earlier been involved a blazing row with Bielsa, saying the breaking point came when the coach criticised the way he was sitting. After the thrashing by the United States, Bielsa spoke openly about his own difficulties in relating to people, describing himself as a "toxic perfectionist". It raises the possibility that his familiar blend of aloof eccentricity is less effective with modern players, who often look for a stronger personal connection with their coach. Bielsa himself has reflected - in typically thoughtful fashion - that, for all the advances in sports science, enthusiasm matters more than preparation in getting a team to function as one. For whatever reason, over the past two years he has been unable to instil enough of that quality. He has, at times, also appeared out of step with the modern game. He criticised the tournament's hydration breaks - a classic piece of Bielsa-ese - saying they "interfere with the culturally constructed conception of interpreting football. They add nothing..." He also refused to take part in an official World Cup photoshoot. "I'm not a model," he said, after his picture was taken as he stared at the floor. Bielsa was always going to step down after this tournament, but that prospect failed to bring renewed energy to the dressing room. Uruguay, a nation whose impact on global football is oversized in relation to their modest 3.4 million population, will be back. When it comes to Bielsa, one of football's most compelling managerial careers may well be over. Why there's more to Spain than Lamine Yamal - Azpilicueta Why it's time for Saka and Rashford - Shearer Has VAR become a lottery at the World Cup? World Cup fixtures and group standings

Totoa Auvaa is a Samoan back row Jamie George has criticised his Saracens' team-mate Totoa Auvaa's "unacceptable" behaviour after the Samoan was involved in a nightclub incident with England cricket captain Ben Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson. Stand-in England rugby captain George , who has 110 caps, said the academy player is like "a rabbit in the headlights in London" and the 21-year-old "doesn't know right from wrong" but insisted he was a "good kid". Earlier this week, Saracens said forward Auvaa would not face any formal sanctions following their own investigation into the incident on 8 June. They said while the incident was "regrettable for all parties involved" the Prem Rugby club "remains supportive of the player". England cricket captain Stokes and bowler Atkinson breached their team's midnight curfew when they were out celebrating victory in the first Test earlier this month. They were present when a member of England's security staff was left bloodied and in need of medical attention when he was struck by Auvaa. "He's a young kid who has only left Samoa once," George, 35, was quoted as saying by The Times and The Telegraph. "He is immature. He is a rabbit in the headlights in London. He's a good kid, but he's got it wrong. There's no disputing that. But we need to make sure that we establish that sort of behaviour is unacceptable. "There's also a bit of me that thinks we've got to look after him because he doesn't know right from wrong at the minute. "We'll look after him. We will make sure that he's got role models around him." Stoke and Atkinson were made unavailable for England's second Test defeat pending an inquiry into events. A disciplinary hearing by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) found Stokes and Atkinson had breached "contractual obligations" but were blameless for "violent conduct" and the pair were given a written warning with no further action. A separate inquiry by the Cricket Regulator found there was no case to answer because of insufficient evidence. "No blame should be attached to the players for violent conduct at the nightclub," said the ECB. "Stokes was not involved in the altercation and did not witness either incident. "The evidence the ECB has seen demonstrates that Atkinson was the victim of unprovoked attacks and did not retaliate on either occasion." Saracens criticised the ECB for not involving them in the process. Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast

There was an error Shoja Khalilzadeh's goal is ruled out by VAR in added time to deny Iran automatic qualification for the last 32 - and they must now hope to go through as one of the best third-placed sides. Report: Egypt v Iran in Group G Available to UK users only.

England won their World Cup opener against Croatia but drew with Ghana England's place in the knockout stages of the World Cup has been confirmed before they face Panama in their final group game on Saturday. The Three Lions sit on four points after two games - meaning they are at least guaranteed one of the eight third-placed qualification spots. Four other teams sit on four points - Sweden, Ecuador, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Paraguay - with four groups, including England's still to wrap up. Uruguay's defeat by Spain on Saturday was the result that confirmed the Three Lions' place in the last 32. England made a winning start to the tournament by beating Croatia 4-2, before being held to a goalless draw by Ghana on Tuesday. Thomas Tuchel has already confirmed Reece James will miss the final group fixture through injury, while Declan Rice sat out of Thursday's training session. James, 26, suffered a hamstring issue in the goalless draw with Ghana on Tuesday. Rice, meanwhile, who left Boston Stadium on Tuesday with strapping on his left calf, was also absent from Thursday's session at England's training base in Kansas City. Tuchel defends full-back selection after James injury World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Cape Verde have reached the World Cup knockout stages on their debut appearance in the tournament Cape Verde have made history by becoming the smallest nation to reach the knockout stage at the World Cup. The prize for a side representing a group of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean will be to face defending champions Argentina in the last 32. Players huddled around a mobile phone on the pitch following their goalless draw with Saudi Arabia to watch the final moments of Spain's win over Uruguay - a result that confirmed Cape Verde finished as Group H runners-up. "Tears of pride and joy all around the stands," said BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Rob Law in Houston. "There was a beautiful moment where they were all huddled around waiting on their phones, waiting for the full-time whistle to go. "When it did, tears flowed on the pitch and in the stands as well. What a moment. The moment of the World Cup so far." That followed an incredible goalless draw in their opening game against Spain, where 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha was the hero, and a 2-2 draw with two-time World Cup winners Uruguay. "It's incredible what they are doing, it wasn't just one game against Spain, it is three games at the highest level," said Spain's former World Cup winner Juan Mata on ITV. How has a nation of just 525,000 inhabitants, who qualified ahead of five-time African champions Cameroon, made it this far? This video can not be played Cape Verde aims to capitalise on maiden World Cup appearance The main reason behind the Blue Sharks' success has been the decision by Cape Verde's football federation (FCF) to draw on players from the country's diaspora. There are strong links to the former colonial power Portugal, with a series of severe droughts last century prompting heavy emigration from the islands, while a seafaring tradition and involvement in the maritime trade mean there is a sizeable population with Cape Verdean roots in Rotterdam. Fourteen members of their 26-man World Cup squad were born abroad, with six of them hailing from the Dutch port city. One of that number, forward Dailon Livramento, who spent last season playing for Casa Pia in Portugal's Primeira Liga, scored the only goal in their vital qualifying win over Cameroon last September. "The FCF has made significant progress through passion, commitment and a clear technical plan," Josina Freitas Fortes, a member of Cape Verde's parliament, told BBC Sport Africa. "The results we are seeing are largely the product of years of consistent work, strong belief and people who have given their heart to the project." The recruitment of Dublin-born centre-back Roberto Lopes via business networking website LinkedIn in 2019 is a well-told story, while former Manchester United winger Bebe was part of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) squad after representing Portugal at under-21 level. "There is an inner confidence in this team that we are good enough to mix with the best teams in the world," Lopes said. "It's not something that's just been fabricated out of nothing. Since I've been involved, and before that, there's been an ongoing plan to get Cape Verde up at the big table with the big football nations of the world." Cape Verde have reached the World Cup knockout stages on their debut appearance in the tournament Much credit for Cape Verde's performances must go to coach Bubista, a former international himself who has been in charge since January 2020. A stable coaching set-up has allowed the 56-year-old former centre-back to build a compact and well-drilled side with an organised defence, technical midfielders and gifted forwards who upset Ghana and drew with Egypt during a run to the quarter-finals at Afcon 2023, having only made their tournament debut 10 years earlier. They may have had Vozinha to thank for the seven saves the veteran goalkeeper made in the goalless draw with Spain, but their discipline was underlined by the fact the Blue Sharks only conceded one foul against the 2010 champions - the fewest recorded by a team in a World Cup match since 1966. "We always train and play as one unit, so everything we did in the game was not our first time that we did it," defender Sidny Lopes Cabral told the BBC World Service. "For us, it's our game. This is how we play, this is who we are. "This is our personality as a team and as defenders." Cape Verde took a more attacking and expansive approach in their second Group H outing against Uruguay, but also demonstrated their steely resolve by grabbing a second-half equaliser. "More important than the result is to be able to show our identity as a team, our strength, our unity, and also our resilience," Bubista said. Bubista was recognised for his achievement in delivering World Cup qualification by being named the continent's coach of the year for 2025 by the Confederation of African Football. He has always believed that his side had the potential to mix it with the world's elite. "We have done really well considering how small our country is," he told BBC Sport Africa before the 2021 Afcon, when the Blue Sharks reached the last 16. "I think in the future we'll be at the World Cup." That bold prediction has come to pass, and now Bubista hopes Cape Verde's achievements at the expanded tournament can inspire other underdogs around the globe. "I believe that football belongs to everyone, or is for everyone," he said. Cape Verde head coach Bubista celebrates after his side's goalless draw with Saudi Arabia Cape Verde's reward will be to face Lionel Messi's Argentina in Miami in the last 32 on Friday. "To us, nothing is impossible," Bubista said at a news conference after the Saudi Arabia draw while draped in his country's flag. "From the very beginning, we've said that one of the purposes we had was to show our country to the rest of the world. "To be able to play Argentina and Messi in a phase like this is excellent for our country, regardless of the match itself." Midfielder Deroy Duarte, named man of the match against Saudi Arabia, said: "Honestly, it's mad. I feel like I'm in a dream. "First, let's celebrate. We're so happy. Let's hope all Cape Verdeans are happy too. From tomorrow, we'll focus on the next match. "It's against Argentina, isn't it? A tough match, but let's believe. Anything is possible." Former Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, Celtic and Australia boss Ange Postecoglou told ITV: "It's just a great story for what the World Cup is all about. "We often talk about how football touches every part of the globe and this is what it can do. "It just adds to their story. Playing against the reigning champions. What a great story it's been." Former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville added: "I think those sceptics who thought expanding the World Cup wasn't the right thing might be rethinking it watching these Cape Verde fans, because this is really special. "A country of 500,000 people getting to the knockout phase. We've seen Uruguay, one of the biggest countries, going out and then one of the smallest teams making it. What a moment for them." Why are World Cup underdogs doing so well? How are the TV picks decided for the World Cup's round of 32? Why has Trump stayed away from the World Cup? Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Thomas Tuchel coached Reece James at Chelsea England manager Thomas Tuchel has defended his full-back selection policy after confirming Reece James will miss Saturday's World Cup match against Panama. As revealed by BBC Sport this week, James was assessed by England medics following Tuesday's goalless draw against Ghana after complaining of a hamstring issue. Tuchel has since confirmed that the Chelsea right-back has not travelled to New Jersey from their Kansas City base for their final Group L game against Panama on Saturday (22:00 BST). He insists James has a chance of playing in England's last-32 match next week. However, BBC Sport understands that James is a significant doubt for the start of the knockout stages, with England now guaranteed a place even if they were to drop to third in their group. James' injury – and the calf issue that caused Tino Livramento to return home from the United States – has thrown into question Tuchel's decision to bring just three recognised full-backs to the World Cup. Djed Spence, James and Livramento were the only genuine full-backs selected. Nico O'Reilly, who played at left-back for Manchester City last season, is also in the squad – but he came through the ranks at Etihad Stadium as a midfielder. Dan Burn has also played at left-back but is recognised as a centre-back. Spence and central defenders Jarell Quansah and Ezri Konsa are Tuchel's alternative options at right-back. Nevertheless, Tuchel said: "Yes, I am [happy with my options at right-back]. I selected the team, so I'm very happy with everything with the characteristic of the players and strengths that they give us. "We would love to have every single key player, we would love to have them available, it's not available – we find solutions, it's what we do. It's a tournament, we move on." James and Livramento, in particular, have a chequered injury history and Tuchel's decision to take both to the World Cup is likely to be called into question. Tuchel, though, is confident James will play again in the World Cup. "It's a minor hamstring issue, he's not been able to train the last two days," confirmed Tuchel. "He's now on an accelerated rehabilitation program and we take it game by game, but we strongly believe that he will be available [during the tournament]." There was better news with regards to the availability of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, who Tuchel said would all be available to face Panama. Rice (calf) and Anderson (glute) missed training on Thursday – but returned on Friday. Tuchel confirmed Saka is ready to start after coming off the bench in the opening two matches because of a long-term Achilles tendinitis complaint. Start Rashford? Bring O'Reilly back? Pick your England XI to face Panama

This video can not be played Highlights: Stokes and Duckett lead England fightback on day two This time last year Ben Duckett had a legitimate claim to be the best multi-format opener in the world. The left-hander had just led England to victory in the first Test against India at Headingley with a majestic 149 in a canter to a target of 371. England had won the first of what they wanted to be a defining period of 10 Tests, and Duckett was at the forefront of their hopes of winning the series against India, then going on to regain the Ashes in Australia. Duckett would have to wait more than 12 months for his next Test century. In that time, England fell apart and the 31-year-old's career was almost derailed. An Ashes average of 20 formed part of a run of 14 Test innings without a half-century. The nadir of Duckett's trip to Australia was the footage that appeared online of him apparently drunk in Noosa, not knowing how to get to the team hotel and being asked if he needed an "Uber to the nets, bro". He was then benched for England's run to the T20 World Cup semi-finals in the spring. As the home summer began and an England reset got under way, Duckett's Test place was probably not in danger - he had more credit in the bank than opening partner Zak Crawley, who did carry the can. Duckett wanted to make sure. He pulled out of a stint with Delhi Capitals in what would have been his first taste of the Indian Premier League, probably ensuring he will never get to experience the world's biggest franchise tournament. Instead, he returned to county cricket with Nottinghamshire to make professionalism his priority. On a sweltering Friday back at his home ground, Duckett reaped the rewards with a swashbuckling century to keep England in their deciding third Test against New Zealand. "It wasn't loads of work on my game, I've tweaked a few things here and there, but I've certainly been doing a lot of fitness work since I got back from the winter," he said. Duckett & Stokes haul England back into third Test Duckett century sparks England fightback Maintaining - or not maintaining - his fitness has been a recurring theme in Duckett's career. As a youngster, he twice missed out on tours for failing to meet conditioning standards - once with England Under-19s in 2013, then a Northants pre-season trip in 2015. This time, with a Test career on the line, he has worked with England fitness coach Pete Sim and Nottinghamshire counterpart Zak Bess to lose "five or six" kilograms. Duckett added: "I started running, which was good! "I had a four-week block when I got back from the winter where I didn't necessarily hit many balls. "It's just really important now that I use that hard work that I've done and maintain it. "It's something I've really enjoyed and it's been great for my mental space and getting away from the game. I went to the gym, I ran a lot and a bit of weight came off." The early signs for Duckett were good. Three half-centuries in his first five innings for Notts this summer were followed by an unbeaten double century against Surrey. He still needed the international worm to turn. In the context of the snakepit pitch, scores of 19 and 33 in England's first-Test win over New Zealand at Lord's were useful, only to be followed by more misfortune in the loss at The Oval. On the second morning, Duckett dropped a simple and crucial catch off Kyle Jamieson as England surrendered the momentum. When he came to bat, he was in glorious touch for 36 before being run out by a never-there call from new opening partner Emilio Gay. At Trent Bridge, it could have been a similar story. In perfect batting conditions and with England replying to New Zealand's 438, Duckett made his intentions known with two driven fours off Nathan Smith's first over of the innings. Smith, though, would return to find Duckett's edge. Henry Nicholls should have pouched a simple catch at third slip. When the ball dropped to the turf, Duckett responded by punching the next delivery for four and did not look back. "I was chatting to [England fielding coach] Sarah Taylor," said Duckett. "We were making a bit of a joke about how I've got to get some luck eventually and that's how the game works. "I'm extremely thankful for Henry Nicholls for doing that to me. "It's been a really frustrating time, because I've not felt out of nick, I've just not got the runs that I really want. 'Mother Cricket' was there for me today. I got put down and made them pay for it." This video can not be played 'Very entertaining century' - best shots from Duckett's 113 Reprieved, Duckett was irresistible. He peppered the off-side boundary from the seamers and punished the wayward spin of Mitchell Santner with sweeps and whips through the leg side. With Jacob Bethell in tow, England's second-wicket partnership of 179 rattled along at a run a ball, taking advantage of the pitch, heat and rapid outfield. When Duckett turned Santner to mid-wicket for the single that took him to three figures, he clenched his fist, screamed in delight, saluting both the dressing room and his home crowd. "Everyone saw, with how I celebrated, how much it meant to me," he added. "I was actually quite emotional, obviously on my home ground and I haven't been scoring the runs I would have liked. "After being in the heat for a day and a half to go out there and score a hundred at this ground, it meant the world to me." Though Duckett was halted on 113 when he chopped on from a Smith delivery, he helped England to a position from where they can complete a remarkable turnaround. They will begin Saturday on 223-2, 215 runs behind. For England, a winter of discontent has bled into the heat of the summer. Two wins in nine on the field, trouble on adding to trouble off it. Now they have a chance of a much-needed series win that would perhaps inch them away from the trauma of Australia. But Duckett, who experienced it all with his own low moments, has already moved on and is looking to the future. "I put the winter to bed when I was playing county cricket for Notts and scoring runs," he revealed. "I'm not getting any younger, so I want to keep doing this and keep having days like this for as long as I possibly can." Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

Welcome to our Who am I? game. The rules are simple. Each day there's a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible. After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. Guess the answer after as few clues as possible to score more points. Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional. So take part and return for more tomorrow. Did you miss yesterday's quiz? Go back and try your luck here . Today's player and clues set by BBC Sport's Huzaifah Khan. After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device. All our Who Am I? quizzes in one place Quiz: Name every nation at the Fifa World Cup 2026 Can you name the 10 Lionesses with most England caps? World Cup quiz: Name these top nations' leading scorers Football quiz: Name every club in the Premier League and EFL Check out our Sports Quizzes page

There was an error Belgium defeat New Zealand 5-1 to qualify for the World Cup round of 32 as winners of Group G on goal difference. MATCH REPORT: New Zealand 1-5 Belgium - Group G Available to UK users only.

There was an error England lose three wickets for eleven runs as Joe Root, Jacob Bethell and Jamie Smith are dismissed early on day three of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. FOLLOW LIVE: Third Test: England vs New Zealand - day three Available to UK users only.

This video can not be played Egypt through after late drama denies Iran guaranteed knockout qualification Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei says his nation have been treated "unfairly" by the United States during the World Cup and called on Fifa to intervene in the future. Iran have been competing at the World Cup against the backdrop of the country's conflict with the United States and Israel. Their World Cup training base was switched from Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico before the tournament began, and they faced travel restrictions throughout. For their first two matches in Los Angeles, Iran's squad was only allowed to enter the United States the day before the match and had to leave again on the same day as the game, under the terms of their visas. Iran drew their final Group G match 1-1 with Egypt to leave their hopes of reaching the last 32 in the balance. Travel restrictions were eased for the game in Seattle , allowing them to arrive two days early, but they had to return to Tijuana after the match. Ghalenoei said: "To my players and the team, I want to say to them I'm proud of them. What these young people, these players have done, it should be written in history because the host country treated us very unfairly. "Despite all of these problems, we've been able to perform well and the world is proud of Iranians and our team. "I urge Fifa: don't let hosts treat players and teams the same way in future World Cups." Fifa president Gianni Infantino has previously commented that the organisation did well to ensure Iran could compete at the World Cup at all. "When people were saying it would be impossible for Iran to come to the World Cup, I promised them that they would come," Infantino said before the tournament began. "I don't know who else would have been able to ensure in these circumstances - which we could not influence - Iran could come and play." Infantino later visited the Iran dressing room after their opening draw with New Zealand . This video can not be played Iran denied guaranteed group stage qualification as injury-time goal chalked off Iran seemed to have secured an automatic spot in the knockout stage at the end of the Egypt match when Shoja Khalilzadeh slammed a loose ball into the net in stoppage time. Iran fans in ⁠the stadium celebrated but the goal was disallowed for offside after a video assistant referee (VAR) review. "I used to think that we were really a totally oppressed team, but after these three games, I have noticed that we also have bad luck as well," Ghalenoei added. Iran are sixth in the standings of third-placed sides with three groups still to finish - and the top eight progressing. Captain Mehdi Taremi called the tournament a "logistical disaster". He said: "How is it possible we always have to travel to Tijuana? We love the people of Mexico. We love Tijuana, it's so good, they are so humble people. We love them. "But as professional players, in a professional competition, it's not right." BBC Sport has contacted Fifa for comment. Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Panama are a better side than the one that lost 6-1 against England in the 2018 World Cup With four points from two games, England will hope to seal top spot in their World Cup group with victory on Saturday against Panama. The Central American side are a relatively unknown quantity, but they are an exciting team whose results do not paint a true picture of their performances in the tournament. Against both Ghana and Croatia, there were periods of the game when Panama looked the better team. But with arguably their best player Adalberto Carrasquilla injured, they have struggled to turn their impressive play into goals. So how might Thomas Christiansen, the former Leeds United manager, set his team up and what can the Three Lions do to pose problems for Fifa's 42nd-ranked nation? During their first two games, Panama have taken a dynamic approach depending on the phase of play the game is in. From opposition goal-kicks, Panama have stepped up to press aggressively in a 4-4-2 shape. If the opponents have quality on the ball and find themselves in possession higher up the pitch, Panama's high press falls into a mid-block, and they move from a 4-4-2 into a 5-3-2. Their focus is on making it hard for teams to play through them. As Croatia, in particular, grew into the game, Panama took an even more defensive approach. Their 5-3-2 became a 5-4-1, a shape they adopted with a deeper defensive line for large parts of the game. So what does this mean for England? This video can not be played Yirenkyi scores late winner for Ghana England are a side that will relish the prospect of playing a team that push up the pitch - if Panama do try to press. It was in the 93rd minute that Panama conceded against Ghana as they chased a winner. When they lost the ball in the final third, Panama pressed high but Ghana played into their forwards quickly and they capitalised on the space that opened up. After failing to win the ball back after a high counter-press, Panama found themselves in this situation - and it ultimately lead to them conceding the winner Against Croatia - and in the qualifying games - it was clear Thomas Tuchel's game model was similarly built upon teasing opponents out of a stubborn defensive shape. When Croatia did press England's defenders or deep midfielders, and space opened up between their attacking and defending units, Tuchel's side sought to find their own forwards quickly against fewer defenders. Against Ghana, England suffered because Carlos Queiroz's men offered an alternative blueprint that took away Tuchel's preferred conditions, instead sitting deep without applying forward pressure. This kept Ghana compact between attack and defence. Panama are an 'in-between' version of Ghana and Croatia defensively and may have more success if they adopt a style closer to that of the Africans against England. There are three ways for a team to create chances: by playing around an opponent; by playing through an opponent; or by playing over an opponent. By playing with four midfielders rather than five in their 5-4-1 shape, Panama will be unable to cover the width of the pitch as well as Ghana did with their five midfielders in a 4-5-1. This makes it easier for opposition defenders to find their full-backs or wide midfielders if they move the ball quickly from one side to the other. So, playing around Panama is likely to be England's best way to create chances. Croatia's only goal came from exploiting this, with Panama looking to protect the centre of the pitch. Croatia's centre-back finds the right-back Josip Stanisic outside the width of Panama's midfield The Croatia right-winger Marco Pasalic pulls wide, dragging the wing-back out with him. Stanisic passes it into his winger and makes an overlapping run A back-heel is played into the path of the full-back. These forward runs are hard to track for reactive defenders moving against their momentum The cross is played into the box and tapped into the net 1 of 4 England have tried to keep their wingers high and wide this tournament too, and doing so against a Panama back five would pull their wing-back out in the same way Croatia did. Against Ghana, England looked to play with two wide players, given how congested the middle of the pitch was. Tuchel was seen shouting at full-back Djed Spence from the touchline, encouraging him to pass it into Anthony Gordon before making a forward run to follow his pass, in a very similar way to Croatia's goal against Panama. This is something Tuchel will hope his players lean into in their third game. Guehi finds Spence wider than Ghana's midfield width. Ghana only have four across midfield here. Spence then plays it into Gordon who has pulled wide - dragging the full-back with him After playing the pass, Spence carries on his run before getting it back from Gordon after a clever back-heel. Rice attacks the space between Ghana full-back and centre-back 1 of 2 The gap that opened up between centre-back and wing-back when Croatia's winger pulled wide is also a potential area to exploit. It is easy to imagine a situation in which England pull a third player across to run between the wing-back and centre-back. Panama's defensive line, even in their 5-4-1, appears higher than Ghana's. This opens up the possibility of playing over them too. Ghana asked Thomas Partey to track Harry Kane to nullify his influence and paired that with giving up little space behind their defence. It will be interesting to see if Panama mimic this man-marking tactic. If Kane is allowed to roam, however, dropping him deep to play accurate passes into the space behind Panama's slightly higher line might also be a smart tactic. Here Modric pulls into a deep position and plays a long pass in behind Panama's defence. This is a situation we could see Harry Kane replicate for England When Panama find themselves on the ball, they showcase strong technical quality to play out of the opposition's immediate pressure. Midfielder Cristian Martinez stands out in this regard. One of England's biggest strengths this World Cup, however, has come from their counter-pressing - with even their biggest stars buying in to working hard, crowding around the ball and winning it back immediately after losing it. But if Panama can find short and quick combinations before they speed up play - either down the same wing or to the far-side winger with a switch - they could be dangerous. Their fast attacks generally conclude in crosses rather than central through-balls. Panama on the ball look good. They are willing to absorb pressure, playing neat small-space combinations, before looking to get it forward in a deliberate manner Once Panama escape the initial pressure, they attack quickly and down the wings, before playing crosses into the box. Finishing those crosses is a tougher task for them than creating the chance in the first place 1 of 2 If Panama stick to the version of their 5-4-1 shape we've seen so far, there are solutions England can look for as highlighted above. For that reason, it will be interesting to see if they adopt some of the tactics Ghana used so effectively. They do boast attacking threat of their own but have lacked the final action to finish these chances off regularly. And there is also the issue of Panama being unable to qualify for the next round, no matter what happens against England. They will, naturally, want to win irrespective of that fact - but without an incentive, how motivated they will be and how many changes the coach makes to his side will be factors in terms of their performance. Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

1 of 3 Chelsea close in on Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix, Newcastle United add Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha to their shortlist, while three Premier League clubs are chasing Uruguay left-back Maxi Araujo. Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix, 26, is expected to complete a move to Chelsea for about 55m euros (£47.4m) after playing for France at the World Cup. (L'Equipe - in French) Newcastle United have added Borussia Dortmund's Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha, 25, to their shortlist for this summer. (Mail) , external Arsenal have had a £55m offer for Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, 28, rejected by Newcastle . (ESPN) , external Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi wants Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, 23, to be his new starter in goal and Spurs are willing to sell Italy keeper Guglielmo Vicario, 29. (Teamtalk) , external Manchester United and Chelsea have joined Arsenal in the race to sign Uruguay left-back Maxi Araujo, 26, from Sporting . (Record - in Portuguese) , external Italy right-back Marco Palestra, 21, is set to complete his move from Atalanta to Chelsea after having a medical in London. (Football Italia) , external Marseille's Mason Greenwood wants to join Roma , rather than Fenerbahce or Al-Hilal , with the Italian club set to offer up to 50m euros (£43.1m) for the former England striker, 24. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian) , external AC Milan have agreed a club-record deal to sign Goncalo Ramos from Paris St-Germain and the Portugal striker, 25, has already undergone a medical. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian) , external MLS side Atlanta United has inquired about the availability of Atletico Madrid's Spain midfielder Koke, 34. (Marca - in Spanish) , external Ajax are interested in signing Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 34, from Barcelona . (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish) , external Arsenal keen on Guimaraes move - Friday's gossip Get the latest on your Premier League team All your football quizzes in one place Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

There was an error Iran have a goal ruled out for offside and hit the crossbar in the final moments of a thrilling 1-1 draw against Egypt in Seattle, leaving them hoping to secure qualification to the FIFA World Cup knockout stages by being one of the top eight third-placed teams. MATCH REPORT: Egypt 1-1 Iran - Group G Available to UK users only.

For much of Saturday afternoon, the skies above Charlotte were a dirty shade of gray, the rain bucketing down, the wind blowing hard, thunder and lightning seen and heard every minute or so. If Steve Clarke was looking out of his hotel room, that's the biblical scene he would have taken in. In a sense, the ideal backdrop for a bombshell. Within minutes of Scotland being officially dumped out of the World Cup, the news of the head coach's departure dropped. Unlike the weather, there was no warning. The manner of his exit was typical of the man; low-key, no fuss, no interviews as yet, no need in his mind to explain his thoughts any more than he already has. The length and detail in his valedictory statement suggests this was in the pipeline for a day or two but there's no word on why he has taken this decision. And why so abruptly? Why not get back home, take a break and think about it? Snap judgements and emotional reactions are not Clarke traits, so why has he done this now? The players didn't know this was coming and neither did many of the Scottish FA board. A month ago these same people announced, with some fanfare, that Clarke was staying for four more years. Clarke steps down as Scotland boss 'Bye-bye, Scotland' - Clarke's leaving letter to Tartan Army New deal, new beginnings & a sudden exit - Clarke's Scotland timeline There's a constituency of football folk who didn't want him to continue and they kept things civil. There's another constituency that just don't like the man and never have. He incensed some Rangers fans when mocking them for sectarian singing when he was manager of Kilmarnock - he said they were stuck in the dark ages - and a chunk of them have neither forgotten nor forgiven. And now he's gone. His legacy is a really good one, but there is a sense of relief that there's going to be a new voice and fresh ideas now, as long as a good appointment is made, which is very far from a given. Seven years is an eternity. There is some pain for the Scottish FA that the manager they committed to for four more years only last month has now walked. For the Clarke critics - the balanced and the bonkers - there is an element of being careful what you wish for because there are no outstanding, and realistic, candidates out there. The denizens of Hampden are under significant pressure to get the right manager from a limited pool. Scotland have six Nations League games between September and November. This video can not be played Tartan Army react as Steve Clarke steps down as Scotland boss Clarke will be just a dot on the landscape by then, but he has been a significant force for Scotland for the longest time, a manager who took the team out of the wilderness but never to the promised land of knockout major championship football. That was his goal in American and he failed. Three major championships in seven years, though. A whole host of good times - amid plenty of bad. Scotland toiled at all three of those tournaments but they got there. People can scoff at that now, but they have short memories. Those qualifications brought many millions of pounds into the coffers of the Scottish FA. The nation had forgotten what it was like to reach that level before Clarke fetched-up. A desperate fatalism had taken root in the game. There was no hope, only cynicism. Two games before he took over, Scotland lost 3-0 against Kazakhstan. It was pathetic. In his first game in charge, a scratchy and late win against Cyprus, a crowd of 31,277 turned up at Hampden. Clarke quits Scotland immediately after World Cup exit Andy Burke, Pat Nevin and Tom English react to Clarke's departure 28/06/26 In subsequent home games, 32,432 turned up for the 2-1 loss to Russia, 25,524 were there to see Belgium win 4-0, 20,699 were at Hampden to see them beat San Marino and 19,515 were in attendance when they beat Kazakhstan. Clarke referred to this era in his farewell message. Bar a loyal band of Tartan Army members, there was total indifference. The peaks and troughs under Clarke were quite something. He was a manager with a capacity to bounce back. Scotland experienced a stratospheric high of back-to-back penalty shoot-out victories to qualify for the Covid-delayed Euros, then failed dismally when they got there. Clarke came again with a strong bid to reach the 2022 World Cup, winning six competitive matches in a row for the first time since 1930. They saw off Denmark along the way and earned themselves a home semi-final play-off against Ukraine - and flopped. They flopped again, 3-0 against the Republic of Ireland, in the Nations League that followed. These were times of danger for Clarke. The knives were out, but he went again in the qualifiers for Euro 2024. The campaign was riveting and Hampden was rocking like rarely before. They beat Spain at home and, memorably, did Norway at the death away from home. The night they beat Georgia in the Glasgow monsoon was one of the most memorable of the entire Clarke regime. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and all of that. To Germany for the Euros; another awful experience culminating with a 1-0 loss to Hungary. Clarke was negative and his team sank without trace. He reacted badly in the aftermath. That failure and the truculence that followed it cost him a lot of goodwill. He was in trouble again. The manager with multiple lives stirred once more. Better yo-yo than no-no. The Nations League campaign ended with a draw against Portugal and wins over Croatia and Poland. Things were cooking again. This video can not be played 'Disappointing' - Clarke's last interview as Scotland suffer defeat to Brazil And Lady Luck was shining on him. In qualifying for the World Cup, Scotland were dreadful against Greece at home and won, dreadful against Belarus at home and won again. Those were the performances that John McGinn called "jobby." They lost in Greece and would have been in the play-offs had it not been for Belarus getting a miraculous draw against Denmark in Copenhagen. They took advantage of that extraordinarily good break in the epic game of the ages against the Danes - one of the greatest nights in the history of the team. That was the bliss before the brick wall of America. Now comes the search for a manager to do what Clarke did, only do it better. The squad is pushing on, one of the oldest at this World Cup. Clarke's three goalkeepers in America had a combined age of 103. Lyndon Dykes and Lawrence Shankland are 30, with another five players soon to join them. John McGinn, Ryan Christie and Jack Hendry are 31, Andy Robertson is 32, Grant Hanley and Kenny McLean are 34. The new man has problems in goal and at centre-back. There is an absence of creative and dynamic central midfielders, a shortage of wingers with real pace and a serious problem in making chances for strikers who are forced to live off crumbs. Scotland came a long way under Clarke but the road to where they want to be stretches out for many miles. Another manager gets to navigate it now. He won't be short of backseat drivers. Send your views on the Scotland football team World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

This video can not be played England beat Panama to qualify for last 32 as Group L winners England head coach Thomas Tuchel insists the bigger the games, the bigger his side will get. He must hope he is right or their World Cup campaign will be a short one. First things first. And credit where it is due. England's win against Panama ensured phase one of this World Cup was mission accomplished, qualifying top of Group L to face DR Congo in the last 32 in Atlanta on Wednesday (17:00 BST). The serious business starts now after two wins from three group games - but it would be delusion to suggest England's progress into the knockout phase has been totally convincing, even though it was completed successfully. "It was hard work," Tuchel told BBC Sport. "We were ready for that. I said we so often get carried away with our expectations and what we demand of ourselves. "We demanded to win the group and this is the day we did this. I encouraged everyone to enjoy it and take it in. "We are at the World Cup. We won the group. I know our expectations. I know our dream. I know we can do better, but everyone who pushed and the players and staff deserves to go to the plane with a smile." There were not many smiles for the first frustrating portion of England's final group game, but they got there in the end. England, for the first hour, struggled as they did against Ghana to break down a Panama side ranked 42nd in the world, even offering the underdogs hope with another vulnerable defensive display. In the final reckoning, England were too good for Panama, but this was not a victory without concerns for Tuchel. Who could England face in last 32 after qualifying for next round? Who had the X-factor and who had a tough game? England player ratings Jude Bellingham's place in England's World Cup starting line-up was a point of debate before the tournament, under pressure from the outstanding form of his boyhood friend, Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers. Tuchel, correctly, decided he could not do without Bellingham's class and big tournament experience. He has been rewarded with a crucial goal in their opening World Cup win against Croatia then here, even more significantly, with a game-changing performance in New York New Jersey Stadium in the face of Panamanian defiance. Bellingham worked in tandem with Rogers as Tuchel rested Declan Rice, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury and was on a yellow card. The pair's attacking instincts occasionally left Elliot Anderson over-run and overworked as a single pivot, but Bellingham's brilliance made it work. Despite fairly obvious attempts by Panama to play on his combustible temperament, Bellingham was the inspiration by forcing home the first goal, then crossing for Harry Kane to head the second, making England's captain the country's leading World Cup finals scorer with 11, one ahead of Gary Lineker. Bellingham and Kane have now made decisive contributions to victories against Croatia and Panama. How England needed them here. Marcus Rashford, deservedly given his chance after two disappointing displays from Barcelona new boy Anthony Gordon, was England's brightest spark in the first half as he forced a save from Panama keeper Orlando Mosquera, headed narrowly over, then sent a free-kick just wide. But frustration was mounting until Bellingham's quality and industry paid off with England's opener, capping a man-of-the-match performance further embellished with his assist for Kane. If England are to win the World Cup, they will need Bellingham at his brilliant best. This display suggests he is in the mood to deliver. Tuchel raised eyebrows all-round when, discussing Reece James' latest hamstring injury, he said: "No-one saw that coming." In reality, plenty could have seen in coming for the 26-year-old, who only played 20 Premier League games last season and has a long history of hamstring problems. It brought further scrutiny on Tuchel's defensive selections for the World Cup - the sight of Jarell Quansah, a central defender by trade with first Liverpool and then Bayer Leverkusen, playing at right-back. This is a clear sign of disjointed selection. Quansah got the nod ahead of Djed Spence, but was then forced off injured in the second half before England went in front. Tuchel was left with Spence as last right-back standing, with James out and a medical bulletin awaited on Quansah. Tino Livramento's regular injury troubles meant he left England's squad before the tournament started. Once again, more than a penny could have been offered for the thoughts of Quansah's former Liverpool team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Real Madrid defender pushed into international exile by Tuchel, a natural and lavishly gifted right-back England's coach clearly has no use for. "We're yet to see whether he will regret those decisions," former England captain Alan Shearer said on BBC Radio 5 Live. "We will only know that when we go in against better opposition." Indeed, it's not just at full-back where Tuchel's problems have come. "The area of the pitch you want stability in is your goalkeeper and back four," former England captain Wayne Rooney told BBC Sport. "With the back four we haven't had that." This video can not be played Kane hails 'very versatile' Bellingham Tuchel started the World Cup with Ezri Konsa and John Stones as his favoured central defensive pairing against Croatia, but has switched to Konsa and Marc Guehi in the past two games. Stones only started five Premier League games last season before leaving Manchester City. Is he now out in the cold? Or is Tuchel saving this outstanding and classy operator for the knockout stages? Whatever Tuchel's reasoning, England's defence was vulnerable and too often exposed as they allowed Panama 13 attempts on target. They also saw a late consolation for Jose Fajardo narrowly ruled out for offside. Tuchel is now preparing for what he regards as "chapter three" of England's quest to win their first major men's trophy since the 1966 World Cup. "We wanted to win the group," he said. "There is no substitute for wins and we have that feeling again. Three days to prepare the match in Atlanta. The tournament starts new again. We had the first chapter in prep camp, the second chapter in the group, and the third chapter is coming." For all Tuchel's upbeat words, it was impossible to escape the ominous feeling – indeed inevitability – that if England defend with such uncertainty, and are pierced so regularly, by superior opposition and the world-class forwards they will hope to face by going deeper into the competition, punishment will be heavier and their World Cup hopes could disappear. The big plus for Tuchel, and the world-class shield that will act as protection against the sort of openings Panama created, will be the expected return of Declan Rice for the last 32. Bellingham and Rogers was the positive selection, ahead of the more conservative choice of Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo, but sometimes left England too open. Rice's presence alone will give Tuchel, as well as his England team-mates, reassurance. This is, perhaps, why Tuchel spoke with such confidence despite a mixed performance from England. This video can not be played Rashford on the game and his first start of this World Cup Marcus Rashford finally got his chance to press his claim ahead of Anthony Gordon and did enough to suggest Tuchel should keep faith with the Manchester United forward, who had a successful loan spell at Barcelona last season. Rashford was England's dangerman in the first half and also had opportunities after the break, although he was sometimes let down by a lack of support and some wayward finishing. "We tried and tried. Marcus was just unlucky," said Tuchel. "He is pushing and pushing like always. Every time I bring him on, he is super reliable. "Everyone is trying. I'm not upset with players who try. You need a bit of luck, you need momentum and we will get there." They were words that suggested Rashford will get another chance in Atlanta on Wednesday. World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Yoane Wissa has now scored three goals for DR Congo in this World Cup Get the lowdown on DR Congo, England's World Cup opponents in the round of 32. What can I expect from DR Congo? Fifty-two years after a chastening World Cup debut, DR Congo have earned redemption by qualifying for the knockout stages for the first time. Back in 1974, when known as Zaire, their three group defeats included a 9-0 hammering by Yugoslavia. They had not been to a World Cup since, until now, but head coach Sebastien Desabre has transformed a team who were in crisis when he took over nearly four years ago. He led them to fourth place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and has instilled discipline and tactical nous. A back five was trialled just before the World Cup and maintained for the first two games of the tournament, which included a draw with Portugal, before they switched to 4-4-2 to beat Uzbekistan. What are DR Congo's strengths? Defensive solidity has underpinned their improvement, as shown by 29 clean sheets in 57 games under Desabre. Since he took charge, DR Congo have never lost by more than a one-goal margin when able to call on Europe-based players. Swift counter-attacks utilise the prowess of strikers Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa at running in behind opposition defences. Mental resilience, often lacking in the past, was forged during a protracted qualifying campaign which included three play-off matches. And what about their weaknesses? DR Congo have seldom faced top-20 ranked sides in recent years, bar Senegal and Morocco – and they have a poor record against both. With the majority of the national team's regular starters struggling for playing time at their clubs in 2025-26, a lack of conditioning – and quality – is a concern. How might DR Congo line up? Which players should I look out for? Central defender Chancel Mbemba , 31, is the team's captain and most-capped player. He remains integral to his country despite two seasons as a peripheral figure with clubs in France. The former Newcastle player is out of contract with Lille this summer. Belgium-born Noah Sadiki has added dynamism to DR Congo's midfield since earning his first cap in September 2024, albeit he was a surprise omission from their first two World Cup games. The 21-year-old has been a £15m revelation for Sunderland with his energy, athleticism and ball-carrying ability. Yoane Wissa 's 2025-26 campaign never got going after joining Newcastle in a deal worth up to £55m. A serious knee injury delayed his debut and he only made eight starts in all competitions. However, the 29-year-old was the joint-top scoring African player in the World Cup group stage, with three goals. "We've got him back to his best," said coach Desabre. Cedric Bakambu , 35, is the oldest member of the squad but still one of the most effective. The striker scored four times in the World Cup qualifiers and is on the cusp of becoming the country's record goalscorer. Striker Cedric Bakambu has been part of the DR Congo side for more than a decade Who is DR Congo's head coach? This is Frenchman Sebastien Desabre's 11th coaching role in Africa. The 49-year-old has qualified DR Congo for successive Africa Cup of Nations, reaching the semi-finals in 2023, as well as the World Cup. He had previous success with Uganda. How did DR Congo get to the last 32? They earned the first World Cup point in their history by holding strongly-fancied Portugal to a 1-1 draw but then lost 1-0 to Colombia. That left DR Congo needing to beat Uzbekistan, which they duly did 3-1 to progress to the last 32 as one of the best third-placed teams. Where can I watch DR Congo? Their last-32 tie against England will be live on BBC One on Wednesday 1 July, with build-up from 16:00 BST. The match will also be covered live on BBC Radio 5 Live, the BBC Sport website and app. Give me a fact to impress my friends Superfan Michel Kuka Mboladinga, who went viral at the Africa Cup of Nations for his eye-catching patriotism during games, has been included in DR Congo's official World Cup delegation at the request of the players. Since 2013, Mboladinga has worn colourful suits and silently imitated a statue of revered revolutionary leader Patrice Lumumba, with one arm raised, for entire matches. Now give me some proper detail The Congolese proverb little by little, grow the bananas emphasises the virtues of patience and steady progress. But during the national football team's 52-year gap between World Cups – the joint-fourth longest of any nation – patience has been exhausted and progress stalled. Until now. There has been a determination to change the country's World Cup narrative after a 1974 debut that left them ripe for ridicule. Zaire, as DR Congo was then known, lost all three games - including 9-0 against Yugoslavia. Then came the infamous moment when right-back Mwepu Ilunga charged out of a defensive wall to boot the ball away as Brazil lined up a free-kick. Bemused onlookers were unaware it was an act of political protest. The players had learned their expected wages and bonuses wouldn't be paid – and Zaire President Mobutu then threatened them with exile if they lost by more than three goals against Brazil. By kicking the ball away, Ilunga had hoped to waste time and get sent off. He was only booked and Zaire lost 3-0; they were allowed home but President Mobutu cut their funding. Ever since, the 1968 and 1974 African champions have been kept on the game's periphery by a combination of conflict, corruption, poor football governance and a lack of facilities. Current head coach Desabre has brought in fresh talent from the vast Congolese diaspora - all but six of the World Cup squad were born in Europe - and the nation is now seeing the fruits of his endlessly patient nurturing. How have DR Congo done at previous World Cups? The central African nation has only played in the World Cup once before – in 1974, when the country was named Zaire. They lost all three group games without scoring, including 9-0 against Yugoslavia.

Iran missed out on a place in the last 32 of the World Cup on goal difference Heartbreak is to be expected at a World Cup. For every moment of glory, there is a hard-luck story, a nation left to bemoan their misfortune and the injustices that have led to their downfall. Yet few compare to the cruel manner that has brought Iran's tournament to an end in 2026. Facing unprecedented challenges even before a ball was kicked, Amir Ghalenoei's side had worked themselves into a position where a place in the last 32 was in their grasp - only for it to be snatched away from them at the last... not once but twice. Despite being unbeaten in the group stage, Iran came up agonisingly short and missed out on a place in the knockout stage on goal difference. But there was much more to it than that... This video can not be played Egypt through after late drama denies Iran guaranteed knockout qualification After draws against New Zealand and Belgium, Iran knew victory over Egypt in Seattle would put them through to the round of 32. They fell behind early but responded well and although Mehdi Taremi had a penalty saved, Ramin Rezaeian's smart finish from a tight angle drew Iran level. That was how it stayed until second-half injury time, when Shoja Khalilzadeh turned the ball home after after a goalmouth scramble. Exuberant celebrations followed, with Khalilzadeh removing his shirt - for which he was later booked - and posing for a photograph with a pair of sunglasses. However, joy soon turned to anguish as the goal was ruled out for offside. It was the tightest of calls, with Khalilzadeh's toe marginally ahead of the penultimate defender. It finished 1-1, meaning Iran would have to wait to discover if they would progress to the World Cup knockout phase for the first time. Iran still hold chance to progress while Egypt go through This video can not be played Iran denied guaranteed group stage qualification as injury-time goal chalked off This video can not be played Algeria and Austria both qualify for last 32 after dramatic added time goals Iran were made to wait until the final matches of the group stage to learn their fate. Algeria versus Austria was the crucial game - and a win for either side would suit Iran. An entertaining game looked set to end 2-2, thus eliminating Iran, only for Riyad Mahrez to burst clear and put Algeria ahead in the 93rd minute. With just moments to go, 'Team Melli' as the national side are known, were again on the brink of qualification. But the drama was not done there. Austria piled forward in search of an equaliser and found it through Sasa Kalajdzic's header with just seconds remaining. For the second time in 24 hours, Iran's delight was snatched from them at the very last moment. Senegal's superior goal difference meant they took the final spot of the third-placed teams, while Cape Verde, who like Iran drew all three group games, went through in second place in Group H. Austria grab 96th-minute equaliser against Algeria as both progress That Iran came as close as they did to progressing remarkable in itself given the unique hurdles they have had to overcome. Iran have been competing at the World Cup against the backdrop of the country's conflict with the United States and Israel . Their World Cup training base was switched from Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico before the tournament began, and they faced travel restrictions throughout. Iran were only permitted to enter the United States the day before their first two matches and had to leave again on the same day as the game, under the terms of their visas. Subsequently, Ghalenoei described his side as the "most oppressed" team at the tournament. He said the squad had been "robbed" of preparation time and given "less than half" the training window it needed, while other teams had enjoyed normal conditions. Those travel restrictions were eased for the game in Seattle , allowing them to arrive two days early, but they had to return to Tijuana after the match. After the match, Ghalenoei again expressed his frustration: "To my players and the team, I want to say to them I'm proud of them. "What these young people, these players have done, it should be written in history because the host country treated us very unfairly. "Despite all of these problems, we've been able to perform well and the world is proud of Iranians and our team. "I urge Fifa: don't let hosts treat players and teams the same way in future World Cups." We have been treated unfairly by USA - Iran Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

There was an error Goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane help England secure a 2-0 win over Panama, as Thomas Tuchel's side qualify for the World Cup last 32 as winners of Group L. MATCH REPORT: Panama 0-2 England - Group L Available to UK users only.

Emma Raducanu has twice reached the fourth round at Wimbledon Britain's Emma Raducanu will not play at Wimbledon after withdrawing on the eve of her home Grand Slam because of a stress fracture in her lower right leg. Raducanu, 23, announced the decision shortly after 22:00 BST on Sunday - about seven hours after telling journalists she planned to play. Raducanu, who was seeded 30th, was due to start her campaign on Monday against Croatia's Antonia Ruzic on Court One. "I've done everything possible to try to get to the start line but after a final scan tonight the niggle I've been managing has developed into a stress fracture," Raducanu said. "I've been medically advised to stop pushing through." Is amount of pre-Wimbledon injuries a worry? Old guard boosts Wimbledon in battle for centre stage How to follow Wimbledon on the BBC Fears about the British number one's fitness grew over the past week. Raducanu was spotted wearing a protective boot , external on Wednesday, then was unable to train on Thursday and Friday because of what is believed to be a shin problem. The 2021 US Open champion returned to the court on Saturday to test her fitness and, wearing strapping around her lower right leg, started with a gentle hour-long session with her team. But she then cut short another practice session with Russia's Anna Kalinskaya - when the pair played a set - with 10 minutes remaining. There were signs of improvement in her practice session on Sunday morning. Raducanu was slightly less tentative against hitting partner Alexis Canter - particularly when she pushed with her right leg on the forehand side - but it was not as rigorous a test of her movement as she got against Kalinskaya. Later on Sunday, Raducanu told the media she was willing to push herself and take more risk with the injury in order to step out at the All England Club. However, given the evidence of the previous few days, it felt Raducanu was trying to put a brave face on her dwindling hopes of playing. Later, when she announced she was not fit enough to play, Raducanu added: "Playing at Wimbledon, in front of a home crowd, means everything to me, so this is really difficult to process." This video can not be played Raducanu had been planning to play at Wimbledon despite injury To play or not to play? That was the question racing around Raducanu's mind all day on Sunday. Like any British player, Raducanu does not want to miss Wimbledon - and it is why she left making the decision to pull out until so late. However, she ultimately felt she had to listen to the advice from doctors. It is another bitter setback for Raducanu in a short career which has been blighted by a series of injury problems since her fairytale US Open victory in New York five years ago. Bone bruising on her right foot ended her 2025 season in October and also limited her work in the off-season. After reaching the Transylvanian Open final in February, she picked up a viral illness that meant she only played six matches from early February to the start of Queen's earlier this month. Raducanu's run to the Queen's final bred confidence and increased optimism she could have a successful Wimbledon, where she reached the fourth round in 2021 and 2024. But that positivity has quickly been drained by Raducanu's body letting her down again. While she did look relatively upbeat at Wimbledon given the circumstances, it is indisputable that this is another hugely frustrating moment for her. At the French Open last month, an emotional Raducanu admitted that maintaining a positive mindset can be difficult with the number of obstacles she has endured. Now, with the cycle of a step forward being followed by a setback continuing, she must again draw strength from adversity. "I have great people around me. I have amazing support from my team, from my family, from my friends. It means a lot," she said. "Being around positive people, around positive influences, it's always going to help through tough times." Live scores, results and order of play Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

This video can not be played 'There's so much people don't see' - Stokes on retirement decision Ben Stokes said retiring from international cricket is the "best thing" for him after he revealed England's final Test against New Zealand will be his last. The 35-year-old, one of the greatest cricketers to ever play for England, made the stunning announcement on the fourth day of the deciding Test at Trent Bridge. It means his international career will end on Monday after 15 years, 122 Tests, 114 one-day internationals and 43 T20s. "It might sound quite selfish but this decision is genuinely the best thing for me right now," Stokes told Sky Sports. "I hope it's the best thing for the team going forward but I also hope it's what will allow me to keep loving this game that has given me so much." The all-rounder denied the decision was made as a direct result of events in the past three weeks, when he was made unavailable for England's second Test against New Zealand following an incident in a London nightclub. Instead, he said he had been considering ending his career since England's 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, and had further thoughts of retiring during the first Test of the summer at Lord's. "The Lord's Test, for me, was something that brought back negative feelings about where I was in my career," he said. "I'd worked so hard since getting home [from Australia] to put things right, or at least that's what I thought I was doing. I put so much time and effort into doing that and I just burned myself out." However, Stokes did confirm the nightclub controversy "added" to thoughts of calling time. "There was a build-up to it, how things were during the whole week at Lord's and then another moment when I sat next to Joe Root in the dressing room," he said. "Obviously another scenario happened that added to it. It's never easy with me, is it? It was an unfortunate situation to be involved in over the past two weeks." This video can not be played 'This is remarkable' - Stokes gets guard of honour as he opens batting England set for series defeat in Stokes' last Test England will miss Stokes' winning persona - Vaughan This video can not be played 'I think he's had enough' - Is it the right time for Stokes to step away? When Stokes was away from the England team for the second Test, he played for Durham and said returning to his county rekindled a love for the game. He confirmed he will continue to play domestic cricket. "Being back at Durham, when I wasn't playing in the second Test, I found a new lease of life for the game, but unfortunately I just couldn't get that feeling back this week," said Stokes. "I'm very excited about the next part of what I get to do. Going back to playing for my boyhood club Durham, I'm comparing this week to that week - right now I am buzzing, but there have been moments this week that have been really tough and it just adds to everything and it makes it clear that I've made the right decision." Stokes said he made the retirement decision when he was putting on his pads to prepare to bat in England's first innings at Trent Bridge on Saturday. He told former captain Joe Root and vice-captain Harry Brook on Saturday evening, then revealed the news to the rest of the team on Sunday morning. "It's been an interesting four or five weeks, maybe six months in general," added Stokes. "There are all kinds of emotions when this day comes - relief, happiness, excitement, sadness. Everything that you go through. "It's the best thing that I've ever been asked to do, captaining England. It is the greatest honour to have on your shoulders but there is also another side to it that people don't see, only those closest to you see it. "My family, my wife, they see the bits where it does drain you and it does affect you negatively." Unconventional exit for an English great - Agnew England captain Ben Stokes announces retirement This video can not be played 'The show is over' - Stokes goes out swinging in his final Test innings Stokes has had to battle a number of severe injuries across his career, including a left-knee problem that restricted his bowling in 2023 and 2024. Later in 2024 he suffered two hamstring injuries, followed by a shoulder problem in the summer of 2025. He ended the Ashes with an adductor problem, then suffered a horrific broken cheek when struck by a ball while coaching the Durham academy. In 2021, Stokes also took a break from the game to prioritise his mental health. "Everyone says that moment [when you decide to retire] kicks you straight in the face and I thought it did a few weeks ago," said Stokes. "I guess you go through the whole process of speaking to people close to you, and the more you speak, the more spills out. "It's brutal what we do, physically and mentally. It's all getting a bit tiring these days, at 35 I feel like I have got to do so much physical work to keep doing what I'm doing out there." This video can not be played 'That's exactly why he's a great!' - Stokes' strikes with first ball after retirement announced Stokes's retirement was made public at 15:25 BST, while he was on the field and in the middle of a bowling spell. In keeping with a career full of memorable moments, Stokes took a wicket with the first he bowled after the announcement, sending Trent Bridge into raptures. In recounting his favourite times as an England player, he mentioned the 2015 Ashes, when he took a stunning catch off the bowling of Stuart Broad at Trent Bridge to help win the urn for the only time in his career. Stokes was also instrumental in England winning the 50-over World Cup in 2019, a performance he followed six weeks later with one of the all-time great knocks by an England batter to defeat Australia at Headingley. He also played a crucial hand in the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup, when England defeated Pakistan in Melbourne. "I'm pretty happy and content with everything I've managed to do," he said. "I'm an Ashes winner, I've won a 50-over World Cup, a T20 World Cup. "I've also had the opportunity to captain the team and play alongside some of the best players to have played the game. There's not too much I can complain about, really."

When five Wimbledon titles in one weekend changed British tennis It was July 2016. We had just been to the polls over Brexit. Leicester City were Premier League champions. England held the Ashes. And on the grass courts of Wimbledon, British tennis was at its peak. Home players had won a record five of that year's prizes at the All England Club – and few will forget Andy Murray kissing, hugging and lifting the golden men's singles trophy for a second time. Murray - now Sir Andy - will return to SW19 this week in the coaching box, working with Jack Draper, one of the many British players in this year's draw who were inspired by his exploits on that day. A decade on, we revisit the greatest weekend in British tennis through the eyes of those who were there. Three hours before Murray's final started on Centre Court fans packed into a small outside court to watch the very first wheelchair singles final. That court has just 276 seats but there were many more people peering over from the top of the neighbouring one as Gordon Reid took on Sweden's Paralympic champion Stefan Olsson. Reid, who had won the wheelchair doubles title with Alfie Hewett the previous day for the first of the 24 Grand Slam titles they have now won together, remembers there was "a real positivity and a real buzz around the British players that weekend". He'd had to move hotels the previous night because of a party next door. A sleepless night averted, he went on to win 6-1 6-4. The champagne flowed. Mainly all over him as his friends and family drenched him as he made his way to the media centre after the match. And there were soon more celebrations as Jordanne Whiley became the second Briton to win that day when she and Yui Kamiji won their third consecutive Wimbledon women's wheelchair doubles title. At this point Murray was in the early stages of his final on Centre Court. Gordon Reid has now won 30 Grand Slam titles This video can not be played 'Wimbledon champion again' - relive Murray's 2016 triumph Murray reckons his memory of some of his tennis matches and tournaments is getting a little hazy. Not this one, though. He's watched championship point "a few times" since. In an era where many of his Grand Slam title attempts had been thwarted by Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, he had found himself in the less familiar position of being favourite in a major final. Federer had been stunned by Milos Raonic in the semi-finals, while Djokovic had suffered a shock third-round defeat and Nadal was absent through injury. But on top of this or even regardless of this, Murray was in phenomenal form. He had dropped only two sets on his way to the final and had been runner-up at the two other Grand Slams so far that year, as well as winning Queen's and the Italian Open. He had also won Wimbledon three years earlier to finally take off the annual pressure to end a more-than-seven-decade-long wait for a British men's champion. In the face of all that, his opponent had no chance. By the time Murray got his first break in the opening set, Lewis Hamilton had just won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and there was never any question a fantastic weekend for the nation was not going to get even better. Murray duly delivered, winning 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2). Asked what his memories of the moment were, in typically understated fashion he remembers "hitting an approach shot with my forehand into Raonic's backhand and him missing the passing shot into the net". He doesn't mention the tears of joy he cried into his towel repeatedly, or the famous trophy he hugged so hard that he looked like he never wanted to let go – even in the ice bath later. And he didn't know then yet why he really, really needed to savour those moments. Murray sealed victory in two hours and 47 minutes By 2016, Centre Court was used to seeing Murray letting out his emotions Even Murray's usually impassive coach Ivan Lendl had cracked and had tears in his eyes along with the rest of Centre Court and the country at the magnitude of the achievement. "Feel good?" Sue Barker opened her on-court interview with the new champion. "Er, yeah" replied Murray in possibly the understatement of his life. He thanked his team and family before blundering into acknowledging the prime minister in the Royal Box. Cue boos for David Cameron, who had a couple of weeks earlier announced his plans to stand down in the aftermath of the Brexit vote. Murray defused the situation adeptly, declaring: "Playing at a Wimbledon final is tough and I certainly wouldn't want to be Prime Minister, it's a tough job." Cheers resumed before Murray headed on to the balcony of the Wimbledon pavilion to show off his trophy to the thousands of fans below, stopping to sign autographs and pose for selfies. Within hours, the then 29-year-old Murray was already looking to the future, saying he felt his best tennis was ahead of him. He was not entirely wrong. A few weeks later he became the first double Olympic singles champion and by the end of the year was world number one. But then in 2017 came the hip injury that required major surgery and ultimately denied him the chance of adding to those major titles despite the valiant efforts over the next seven years. Asked what he would now tell his 2016 self at Wimbledon, he replied: "Appreciate that moment for a long time because they're gone very quickly." Thankfully, having said that his 2013 triumph was more a relief than anything else, this victory was one he was determined to enjoy – and he stayed up all night to do just that. But more on that later, there was still one more British trophy to win… Having got his hands on the trophy for the second time, Murray did not want to let it go Heather Watson had been following Murray's match on the television screens in the locker room while trying to focus on preparations for her own chance at a piece of history. She remembers the day very clearly. "I woke up and I thought, 'Well, today's the day I win Wimbledon'. Like, there was no doubt in my mind, which in sports, you just don't feel that way usually," she said. And, partnered with Finland's Henri Kontinen, she did just that, becoming the first British woman to win a Grand Slam title since Jo Durie won the mixed doubles at the 1991 Australian Open. "All these years later, it's one of the best days of my life," said Watson. She still looks at the trophy every day, saying she'd even just polished it a couple of days ago because Wimbledon was approaching. It was the fifth trophy for British players that weekend and also the first time since 1937 that home players had won two of Wimbledon's five traditional trophies. This called for a huge party. Kontinen and Watson had never even played together before this tournament "It's sort of a whirlwind," Watson says of the moments after lifting the final trophy of the weekend. "You go straight into the locker room, shower, you've done your press, and there's a rack of ball gowns, shoes, bags, accessories, and you just pick your outfit… hair and make-up. "You then go straight to the ball … and that is an experience all in itself." Murray had said beforehand that there was no way he would be doing the traditional dance with the women's champion "unless I've had a few glasses of champagne". The evidence points to exactly this happening. Watson is certain she remembers him dancing with Serena Williams, and Murray himself revealed a few years later that he had been sick in a taxi on the way back from his night out. Hewett, who was 18 at the time and took his grandad with him to the ball, remembers being excited by the "fancy red carpet", while Reid says he shared a "cool moment" where Murray sought out his fellow Scot to congratulate him and invite him to the after-party. "Unfortunately our paths got lost when we were getting in the cars. Maybe [that was] better for the head the next day though," he laughed. Watson, though, carried on celebrating through the night with Murray. "I think we partied till 7am that night. And then we actually had to leave at 7am. I didn't even realise the time because I was having that much of a good time," she said. "Henri said to me, 'Heather, I've got to go. My flight's in an hour.' I was like, oh my God." While Murray is back as a coach this year, Serena Williams returns as a player The hangovers from the party have long been slept off but the after-effects of that golden weekend for British tennis are still being felt today. Murray went on to win another five tour titles that year, including the ATP Finals that secured the world number one spot and set a new standard for the next generation. While no-one has come close to emulating that since, there have been other successes over the past decade, including Emma Raducanu ending Britain's 44-year wait for a female Grand Slam singles champion with her 2021 US Open victory and a strengthening in depth within British tennis particularly in the men's game. In 2016 there were three men in the top 200 of the singles world rankings, which has grown to eight now. There has also been a huge upturn in doubles – in the 10 years before 2016 there had been only two Grand Slam doubles trophies won by Britons, while in the decade since there have been 20. Watson's title was one of three won by Britons that year, with Murray's brother Jamie winning the other two and also ending the year as doubles world number one. "Even though it's an individual sport, there's no doubt that having someone who does set the bar high helps and even just shows you what's possible," said former British number one Kyle Edmund. The influence of that great weekend of British success at Wimbledon is also being felt in wheelchair tennis, where a Court 17 final in front of a couple of hundred fans has grown to a Court One showpiece in front of thousands. The 'Murray effect' has been widely viewed as contributing to increases in participation at grassroots level, with the LTA last year reporting the highest ever figures for adult annual participation of 5.8 million and four million children playing tennis each year. British tennis' governing body has also stepped up its investment, including a £250m injection over the past decade into refurbishing public courts, raising the number of covered and floodlit courts and making it easier to book online. And, even though Murray has been retired for two years, his influence is still been felt on court, whether through his formal coaching of Jack Draper or his informal mentoring of up-and-coming players. "I feel like I can reach out to him. I played nine holes of golf with him in December and got to chat and ask him questions," British number eight Jack Pinnington Jones said. There are 21 British players in the main singles draws at Wimbledon this year, including for the first time since 1999 three who have progressed from qualifying, and it remains to be seen what that will bring. But 2016? Well, in the words of Hewett: "Wow, what a year." Additional reporting by Kate McKenna and Jonathan Jurejko

This video can not be played Canada into last 16 with late winner against South Africa Minutes after the final whistle was blown on Canada's historic World Cup victory against South Africa on Sunday, coach Jesse Marsch gathered his players and staff in a huge huddle and delivered some words of inspiration to them. "Canadian heroes," he called his team after they won a knockout game at the tournament for the first time to reach the last 16. "The future of the sport in this country is huge because of you." Marsch is known for grandiose comments - exaggerated and emotional statements delivered to provide maximum impact. But his words here ring true - the sport in the country is changing. "It is starting to become known as football now, not soccer," one fan told BBC Sport before the match. "Canada is becoming a football nation." That was the objective Marsch set out to achieve when he became Canada boss two years ago, a goal that at the time seemed highly unlikely for a country whose first love is widely regarded as ice hockey. Mexico hosted this World Cup's opener while the USA stages the final. Attention has been far greater on the two in the build-up, leaving Canada as something like the forgotten co-host. But Canada quietly went about its business, building interest and passion for the tournament and their national team from within. The country's captain, Alphonso Davies, is used to large, football-mad crowds playing for Bayern Munich and in the Champions League. However, he has noticed the change in Canada since the World Cup got under way, and said he cried at seeing so many fans clad in red and white in Toronto for their opening game against Bosnia-Herzegovina. "It was surreal because I've never seen so many Canadians at a football match before," he said before the win against South Africa. "It brought tears to my eyes." Derided by Leeds, snubbed by USA - but Marsch becoming Canada hero Thousands packed out fan zones in Canada to cheer on their national team It should not be played down just how impressive Canada's performance at this World Cup has been. Before this tournament their record was played six and lost six but they immediately picked up a historic point with a draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina. That was followed up by a first-ever World Cup win as they thrashed Qatar 6-0 to seal their place in the knockouts. A defeat by Switzerland denied them the opportunity to play their last-32 game in Canada but their fans travelled in huge numbers to cheer them on in Los Angeles. This was the first time in history a World Cup host had played a match outside their own country, but nevertheless it felt like they were the home team against South Africa - given their large and vocal support. Despite their opponents appearing determined to take the game to penalties from early on, the Canadians kept their cool before Stephen Eustaquio delivered the moment of quality to win it in stoppage time. "People will say it is performative to meet in the middle of the pitch," Marsch said of the big group huddle at full-time. "All I care about is our team and what we do together. "At full-time it is hard to be with your team as everyone is pulled in a million different directions with the media, and you don't really have time to take that moment unless you take it right there. "I wanted to be able to voice to them how important a moment this will prove to be for the sport in the country. "It is a shame we couldn't do it in Vancouver, in front of our fans, but nevertheless I think you saw the character of the team, the quality of the team, the mentality of the team and the togetherness of the team." This video can not be played 'You are Canadian heroes!' - Marsch to his players Next up for Canada will be a tricky test in the shape of either the Netherlands or Morocco. But whatever happens now, and regardless of how long Marsch is in charge of the national team, football in the country has arguably changed forever. "I remember going to Canada games in the 1990s with my father and the Canadian fans were in the minority in their home matches," said fan Harry before Sunday's game. "It is incredible to see how many fans have come down into the USA to watch us, hopefully that energy can help improve us back home." Another supporter, Sean, added: "Places like Toronto have always had that much more following for soccer but hopefully it expands now to some of the cities and provinces outside of the major hubs, where typically Canada can be more of a big hockey country." It won't be easy for Canada to continue their history-making run, with Morocco ranked sixth in the world and the Netherlands seventh. But belief can carry teams a long way and, given how Canada have surpassed expectations so far, it would be foolish to rule them out of causing an upset. "In general my goal in this tournament, apart from inspiring our nation, was to make a run [so] that we could get to see one of the giants of the world," Marsch added. "Given Morocco's last six years they are a modern giant and given the success of the Dutch team for what feels like centuries that is a traditional giant. "I feel like it is a free hit and we will go after it and do whatever we can to get a win." Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Cape Verde will take on Argentina after a remarkable run to the knockout rounds New format, new teams and fascinating storylines. But did the new World Cup group stage really work? Cape Verde achieved the unthinkable and qualified for the last 32 - knocking out Uruguay in the process. Gianni Infantino, the Fifa president, may well have been thinking 'I told you so' as Cape Verde were one of the countries to benefit from expanding the tournament to 48 teams. But away from the good news stories, there was no real jeopardy for the major nations. That was partly caused by the need to send third-placed teams through and Fifa deciding to use head to head as the first group stage tiebreaker. It meant four teams won their groups with a game to spare, and five were eliminated. With more goals than any tournament since Sweden 1958, can Fifa claim it has been a success? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and cast your vote below. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane trading blows in an electric race for the Golden Boot made plenty of headlines. That in itself was a gift for Fifa, with the world's most recognisable players all showing up and trying to outdo each other. But the World Cup is not just about the star names, certainly at the group stage. The colour and character of football from around the globe takes the focus. We did not get any shock defeats in meaningful games for the big teams, like Saudi Arabia beating eventual champions Argentina four years ago. But there were real stories. Cape Verde, an archipelagic country in the Atlantic Ocean, may not have come to the World Cup expecting to qualify for the knockout rounds. And they were written off by many before they got on the plane. After all, who could have imagined they would emerge from a group which included Uruguay and European champions Spain? That Cape Verde could take a point off Spain, and stop them scoring too, was remarkable. Not just that, they then drew 2-2 with Uruguay, too. The draw against Saudi Arabia in the final group game secured second placed in the group and a date with world champions Argentina in Miami on Friday. Ok, they might have been the only team to finish in the top two on three points, but they did what they needed to do. There could be no greater vindication of Infantino's plan. Cape Verde were the poster boys. Vozinha, their 40-year-old goalkeeper, is now a social media star thanks to his heroics against Spain. Starting the game with 50,000 followers on Instagram, that shot up to five million after full-time. At the latest count, he has 16.7m. And then his mother, who had been unable to attend the World Cup because of the high cost of obtaining a US visa, was able to fly in for the Uruguay game . It is a story which only the World Cup can create for a player like Vozinha, who has spent his career in Moldova, Cyprus, Slovakia and the Portuguese second division. Vozinha became a social media star after his performance against Spain The Caribbean island of Curacao, which became the smallest country ever to qualify, did not get through but they did claim a point against Ecuador. DR Congo's hard-fought 1–1 draw against Portugal helped them to emerge as one of the best third-placed teams. Haiti's Wilson Isidor produced a goal-of-the-tournament contender against Morocco, too. The expansion has allowed for other stories as well. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, Ivory Coast and South Africa all made it to the knockout rounds for the first time. Though, of course, it is now much easier to do it with generally weaker groups and more teams going through. The first knockout round, with 32 teams, is the size of the old World Cup format. But predictably, the tournament has so far been dominated by the European and South American nations. Not so predictably, African nations have been superb, with nine of their 10 teams getting through to the last 32. Cape Verde's story was one reason for Fifa to celebrate this new format, but it might mask under-performance elsewhere. Is there the depth to justify it? All but one of Concacaf's 20 points were scored by the three co-hosts. Curacao, Haiti and Panama, who benefitted from the extra places, scored three goals and conceded 21. But it was disastrous for Asia. Nine teams and three victories from 27 matches, earning just 0.67 points per game. Only Australia and Japan made it through the group stage. Asia had double the automatic places for this tournament, up from four to eight, plus Iraq qualified through the play-offs. If Africa proved the worth of this new format, Asia and Concacaf showed the opposite. Great stories do not make a tournament, they are only part of it. And there is no getting away from it. The group stage lacked any jeopardy for the major nations. Of the 12 top seeds, only co-hosts Canada and Portugal failed to top their group. That was partly caused by the expansion to 12 groups, meaning it was very difficult for there to be a group which would create any peril for a top nation. Barring the surprise elimination of Uruguay, it was essentially a 72-game exercise in chipping away 16 of the smaller countries to create a knockout competition. But this is about the format and not the teams themselves. That third-placed teams could qualify removed much of the risk. Even Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz, whose team went through in third, agreed and called the new format "vulgar and ordinary". Fifa also changed the first tiebreaker for teams level on points from goal difference to head to head. Rather than every country having something to play for on matchday three, nine were basically fulfilling a fixture - four guaranteed to top the group, and five eliminated. Had Fifa stuck with goal difference, every team would still have been in play. Then there was the lack of a real competitive edge. Ecuador's 2-1 win over Germany was one highlight, but would it have happened if Die Mannschaft had not already won the group? Not that Ecuador will care, nor should they. Even the headline-grabbing draws were mostly one-sided, cat-and-mouse games of attack versus defence. At the 2022 World Cup, only five group games were won by three or more goals. At this World Cup, it was 18 matches. It is why this tournament has the most goals per game, 2.99, for a group stage since the 32-team format began in 1998. The next highest was Brazil 2014 with 2.83. It is on track to have the highest goals-per-game rate since the 3.60 of the 1958 World Cup - but it is some way short of the incredible 5.38 of the whole 1954 tournament. That the game had nothing riding on it for Germany didn't matter to Ecuador, who qualified for the World Cup knockout rounds for only the second time Spare a thought for Scotland and South Korea. Two countries who finished on three points on Wednesday but had to wait around until Saturday evening before their elimination was confirmed. The unfairness of the third-place competition was fully laid bare, greatly weighted in favour of groups which finish later. Senegal, for instance, knew they had to go for goals against Iraq to get their goal difference into the positive. They took the final spot among the third-placed teams after a 5-0 win. It also allowed teams in second and third, on three points and at risk of elimination, to play out a draw and both go through. Australia and Paraguay did have attacking intent in their match but few were surprised when it finished as a 0-0 draw. Then Austria and Algeria drew 3-3 in the very last match to eliminate Iran. Both teams knew they were through with a draw and eliminated with a defeat. This was at least an end-to-end game for the most part, but no side had a shot after the 68th minute, following the hydration break That was until stoppage time, when Algeria took the lead only for Austria to level. There is not much you can do about it, teams cannot all play at the same time. But it did feel unjust that the luck of the group stage draw could have such an impact on the potential to qualify in third. The group stage has felt like a warm-up event for the real event, almost like its own standalone qualifying tournament. Now we are in to the knockout rounds. The World Cup really starts now. Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

This video can not be played Russell's weekend showed 'maturity and experience' Finally, George Russell has another victory to his name in 2026, and the relief in him was almost palpable. The Mercedes driver’s win in the Austrian Grand Prix was his first since the opening race of the season in Australia, nearly four months ago. In that time, he has seen team-mate Kimi Antonelli emerge as Formula 1's new superstar and win five races in a row to take control of the championship. Even Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari had won a race, and overtaken him in the points table, before Russell got back on the scoreboard. "It feels like a long time ago, to be honest," Russell said. "It's been a tough couple of months with some really tricky races, with races that felt like everything was going against me, then some races with some tough performances. "Obviously, I've got a really incredible team-mate next to me, who week in, week out is delivering some pretty spectacular performances. "So, for me, going into Canada, going into Barcelona from quite a low point, I needed a lot of resilience to be able to get back and deliver some strong performances. So, to get the last two poles, to get the win here this weekend, especially on a track which I don't think is so suited to me, I'm really, really proud." Russell holds nerve to seal victory in Austria Russell impresses and Verstappen bounces back - driver ratings George Russell has seven career victories in Formula 1 following his win in Austria Russell has been through the mill this season. Some bad luck in China and Japan after Australia helped pave the way for Antonelli to develop his winning momentum. Then Russell was off the pace in Miami as Antonelli fought McLaren's Lando Norris for another win. Russell took pole in Canada, and was leading but under intense pressure from Antonelli when his battery failed and he retired. Off the pace again in Monaco while Antonelli was supreme out front, Russell had more bad luck with the farrago over the incorrect pit-lane speeding penalties, which still has to work itself out, with McLaren and Red Bull taking the case to the FIA court of appeal . Pole in Spain followed for Russell, when he finally got some luck as Antonelli retired just after the Italian had passed him for second behind Hamilton. F1 drivers are super-human in many ways, but deep down they still have insecurities. And Russell has been happy to admit his own. And that he needed this win. "The tough races definitely test you psychologically," he said. "And these last two weekends for me have been vitally important to remind myself I can do it. "Single lap, race pace was very strong this weekend, and on a track that is probably not very well suited to my style. So, looking forward to heading to Silverstone next week, seeing all the home fans. I'm sure it's going to be great." Russell paid tribute to his team for helping him understand through careful analysis of the data where he needed to improve. But team principal Toto Wolff said there had been a psychological aspect to it as well. Early in qualifying, Wolff had got on the radio to Russell with a message. "George, just drive". This, Wolff revealed after the race, was a reference to the work behind the scenes that had been aimed at helping Russell re-centre himself amid a difficult first third of the season. Wolff said: "It's such a high-pressure environment that you have a young team-mate and that's your year, and then he's so strong, you have a DNF, you're falling behind. Like every top athlete, you can kind of get yourself in a spiral. "And that is not a spiral of negativity, it's more a spiral of overthinking. 'What can I do more? Where do I need to optimise?' And then sometimes you forget about the core essence, and this is just driving the car. "And this 'just drive' is something that we talk a lot about. It's just be in the moment of driving the car. Don't overthink too much about the strategy, what Kimi's doing. "Drive the car as fast as you can and look at the tyre temperatures and don't burn them. That's the only metrics you need to look at. And that's what I was trying to say." How Russell's quick thinking produced unexpected pole Russell has moved back up to second place in the drivers' championship after dropping to third following a P12 in Monaco earlier this month Russell's victory was founded on what happened at the end of that qualifying session. In fact, the destinies of the three drivers who ultimately contested victory were effectively decided as they intertwined at Turn Nine in the dying seconds of the final session on Saturday. Max Verstappen crashed, because of an aerodynamic problem at the rear of his car, Red Bull said. Antonelli mis-read the light boards beside the track and thought he had to back out of his lap for a double yellow flag. Russell read them right, and lifted only as much as he needed to. That, combined with the quality of the lap up until then, put him on pole, Antonelli and Verstappen fourth and fifth. Had each delivered to their potential, they probably would have lined up for the grand prix Russell-Antonelli-Verstappen, and been fighting from the beginning. Instead, Russell had some breathing space while Verstappen and Antonelli fought past the Ferraris, and that was enough. That's not to say the result would necessarily have been different. Mercedes calculated the pace of the top three finishers to be pretty much identical, the differential seen at the end as Verstappen closed on Russell while Antonelli closed on both simply caused by their different tyre life. But that's the what if. As it happened, Antonelli cost himself time and track position with a madcap first couple of laps in which he spent almost as much time off track as he did on it and dropped to fifth. Verstappen had to find a way past the Ferraris. Even then, the race turned on pit stops and strategy. The decisive point for Russell and Verstappen as they fought was the timing of the second pit stop. Verstappen had closed to within 1.3 seconds when Mercedes brought Russell in on lap 43. It was early, and Russell knew that the remaining 28 laps were a lot to ask of his tyres. But it banked track position and ensured Red Bull had to run Verstappen longer, to build a tyre offset to come back at Russell over the remaining laps. Had Red Bull got Verstappen in that lap, the positions would have been reversed, and likely Verstappen would have won. Likewise, Antonelli. He ran longer to both first and second stops. As luck would have it, had Mercedes waited one more lap before his first stop, he would have caught the virtual safety car that was called for Carlos Sainz's stricken Williams. And that would have likely made him the winner. Max Verstappen has been on the podium twice this season and is seventh in the drivers' standings The fact Verstappen and Red Bull were in the fight for victory was as big a story as Russell's win. Red Bull have been the fourth fastest car on balance this season, but a big upgrade for this race brought them into the fight at the front. Wolff believed this was as much to do with Verstappen himself as the revisions to the Red Bull car - after all, he has five victories around this track. "I think the biggest factor this weekend was Max, to be honest," he said. "For me, how it feels is like Max won every single race here that he's ever participated in, in whatever car. So Spielberg is one of his strong places." Hamilton, though, saw it another way, as a statement that Red Bull are back. "They made a huge step this weekend," Hamilton said. "They must have brought a 0.3-0.4secs upgrade. Three tenths was just from the weight that they dropped from the car, which is huge. "Considering they've been so close in some of the races, like Monaco, and they were nine kilos overweight. It's a good showing that they've got a good car, and that they just lost that weight. "And then they brought up lots of upgrades, so they're going to be a force to be reckoned with in the following races." Verstappen admitted Red Bull might have missed a trick with the second-stop timing, but said: "This was the first time I felt like actually I could fight for the win. "The first half of the race, we were more competitive, because for whatever reason in the second half, something felt off on the rear of the car, where everything was just extremely difficult, from bumps, kerbs, traction, it was just completely gone. "We still had a very good race, to be honest. It's been a pretty long road to be here and actually to sit here in the top three and have a real shot at it, that is already very positive."

There was an error Stephen Eustaquio scores a dramatic winner in the second minute of injury time as co-hosts Canada beat South Africa to move into the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time. MATCH REPORT: South Africa 0-1 Canada Available to UK users only.

This video can not be played Absolutely brilliant!' - Hunter Bell wins 1500m Great Britain's Georgia Hunter Bell stormed to her second Diamond League win of the year with a season's best time in the women's 1500m in Paris. The Olympic bronze medallist clocked three minutes 55.63 seconds to fight off a strong challenge from Ethiopia's Freweyni Hailu (3:55.92), while France's Agathe Guillemot (3:56.24) took third place. Hunter Bell, who claimed her first world title in Torun in March, also won the Rome leg of the Diamond League in 3:58.63 last month. The 32-year-old won the world 800m silver ahead of Keely Hodgkinson in Tokyo last year, but has since returned to the longer distance in which she claimed a remarkable Olympic bronze in 2024. And the latest win at Stade Charlety will further add to her momentum with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, starting in July, and the European Championships in Birmingham taking place the following month. GB's Ben Pattison, meanwhile, finished fourth in the men's 800m which was won by Canada's Marco Arop in 1:41.84 - the fastest run of the calendar year. Olympic silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith was also fourth in the men's 400m, behind Botswana's world champion Busang Collen Kebinatshipi with a meet record time of 43.54. The Paris event was held in an adapted format after local police asked for all sporting events to be cancelled because of the extreme heat. It only featured competitions involving professional athletes as all activities for athletics clubs and licensed members, as well as regional competitions, were cancelled. Armand Duplantis was beaten by Australia's Kurtis Marschall in Stockholm earlier this month Armand Duplantis returned to winning ways in the men's pole vault after his shock defeat in Stockholm earlier this month. The Swede cleared a meet record 6.13m to finish comfortably ahead of France's Baptiste Thierry, who took second place with a personal best 5.93m. The victory marked a swift return to form for Duplantis, who failed to win for the first time in 40 meets at his home Diamond League event on 7 June. However, the 26-year-old had three unsuccessful attempts to clear 6.32m and break his own world record of 6.31m set in Uppsala in March. Meanwhile, Switzerland's Audrey Werro ran the third fastest time ever to win the women's 800m ahead of Femke Broeders-Bol. Werro clocked 1:53.80 to add to her triumphs in Rabat and Stockholm - the latter success despite a personal best from GB's Olympic 800m champion Hodgkinson - and now has three of the nine fastest times in history. The 22-year-old has targeted the oldest-standing athletics world record of 1:53.28 for the outdoor 800m, set by Jarmila Kratochvilova of Czechoslovakia in 1983. Two-time world bronze medallist Trayvon Bromell upset his United States team-mate and reigning Olympic champion Noah Lyles to win the men's 100m in 9.91.

Ben Stokes has been England Test captain since 2022 Ben Stokes has always been his own man. He's been rebellious in the past. He's never been conventional. So his departure has not been conventional either. Everyone assumed he would lead England to the Ashes next year and that he would want to be an Ashes-winning captain. I wonder whether if he's watching it on TV next summer, his mind might just drift to what might have been. I don't know whether he might regret this decision to retire from international cricket during the third Test against New Zealand one day. We really don't know what's gone on over the last few days, or few weeks. We know he didn't give any answer to the question of whether he felt supported by the England and Wales Cricket Board over what had happened regarding the London nightclub incident. So whether he's going to say something about that when he gives his final news conference we will have to wait and see. There has been lots of talk about Stokes' future since he was made unavailable for the second Test at The Oval but I don't think anybody really, really thought he was going to give up as captain. I would think people are very surprised he chose to announce it in the middle of a game, with a series on the line - that's highly unusual. He's chosen himself to go, but he seemed to be the least likely to go. He's very strong willed and that's his decision. At the start of the series, if you looked at the positions of director of cricket Rob Key, head coach Brendon McCullum and Stokes, the one who looked the least vulnerable and most likely to remain in post was Ben Stokes. Will Key and McCullum stay on? The same doubts remain. This was supposed to have been a reset. They're supposed to have beaten New Zealand. There have been shenanigans off the field, discipline issues. The great reset hasn't really happened. Had things progressed more smoothly, then perhaps they might have won the series and you'd be looking more positively towards the future, but that hasn't happened. I don't think just because Stokes has gone that it takes the heat off anybody else. There are still question marks, particularly over Key's position, given it appears the details of the curfew were not made clear and that would be his job. Retirement the best thing for me - Stokes England set for series defeat in Stokes' last Test This video can not be played 'That's exactly why he's a great!' - Stokes' first ball delivered in retirement The way events transpired at Trent Bridge was hugely dramatic. For Stokes' retirement to be announced while he was bowling a spell, and to get a wicket with his first delivery after the news was made public was straight out of an Ian Botham-style script. It's just quite extraordinary, but that's the sort of cricketer he has been. We'll miss that where there was Stokes, there was hope. Whether it was batting or bowling or whatever he was doing. There was always a chance of victory with Stokes, because of the impossible or apparently impossible positions he's managed England in before. I'll miss so much about Stokes. The fact he's fit and bowling well all adds a bit to the mystery. The timing? You speak to former captains and they will all say that suddenly it hits you that it's time to go and you just don't want to do it anymore. Stokes' announcement was just very surprising and the timing of it has got people talking as to why he chose to do it with so much of the game still in the balance. This video can not be played 'There's so much people don't see' - Stokes on retirement decision While he was out there opening the batting, he created chaos among New Zealand's fielders. They were all over the place. He could never write off a situation. He only made 30 in his final innings but you could never write him off. We'll miss that feeling of optimism he always brought. Stokes goes down one of the greatest all-rounders of the English game. He had the most calculated head when batting and chasing that I've seen from anybody. The World Cup final and the Headingley Ashes Test in 2019, how he played those two innings, was absolutely remarkable. Stokes bowled brilliant spells and took amazing catches. But for me, his ability to control a chase as calmly as he did in those two iconic knocks is what I'll remember him for particularly. England captain Ben Stokes announces retirement England will miss Stokes' winning persona - Vaughan This video can not be played 'I can't believe it!' - Vaughan reacts to Stokes' retirement Stokes has only retired from international cricket, so what now? He says he will continue playing county cricket for Durham. He could play in The Hundred if he wants to. Bear in mind, he wasn't going to play in that because of England's Test commitments, but that's changed now. In the future, he could play in the Indian Premier League and other franchise cricket. That world is open to him. He doesn't strike me as someone who'll jump straight into coaching or join us in the commentary boxes. He's still got some years of playing if he can remain fit. Who replaces Stokes? That's a massive question. Harry Brook's off-the-field behaviour in New Zealand is the reason for the curfew. So although he is the Test vice-captain, he's a very uncomfortable choice for me at the moment. Maybe if he demonstrates maturity as white-ball captain in upcoming series against India, it would make it easier for the ECB to appoint him as Test skipper. But there'll be people who are uneasy with that choice. Jonathan Agnew was speaking to BBC Sport's Timothy Abraham. This video can not be played 'I think he's had enough' - is it the right time for Stokes to step away? Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

Walsh finished fourth in the 50m freestyle at the Paris Olympics American swimmer Gretchen Walsh has broken the women's 50m freestyle world record just nine days after her training partner Kate Douglass set the mark. Walsh clocked 23.55 seconds at the Sette Colli meeting in Rome on Sunday, beating Douglass' time from 19 June by 0.04 seconds. The pair train together at the University of Virginia. Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom, who held the world record before Douglass, finished second behind Walsh in 23.86. Walsh, 23, also holds the the 50m freestyle short-course world record as well as the 100m butterfly long-course mark. She won two relay gold medals and two silvers at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Welcome to our Who am I? game. The rules are simple. Each day there's a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible. After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. Guess the answer after as few clues as possible to score more points. Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional. So take part and return for more tomorrow. Today's player and clues set by BBC Sport's Huzaifah Khan. After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device. All our Who Am I? quizzes in one place Quiz: Name every nation at the Fifa World Cup 2026 Can you name the 10 Lionesses with most England caps? World Cup quiz: Name these top nations' leading scorers Football quiz: Name every club in the Premier League and EFL Check out our Sports Quizzes page

Sixteen of the 48 teams are heading home, but which of the sides left standing will survive all the way to the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium near New York City on 19 July? The hopes of another 16 nations will bite the dust after the first knockout round, which includes England against DR Congo and holders Argentina against surprise package Cape Verde. It was a different team who caused the biggest shock in the final set of group games, however. While BBC Sport's football expert Chris Sutton and AI still went for Cape Verde to lose against Saudi Arabia - from more than 50,000 users playing the BBC's new predictor game - 39% of you correctly went for a draw and 43% even backed the African side to win. Instead, it was Ecuador who caught almost everyone out this time. From more than 56,000 users predictions for that game, only 597 of you correctly backed them to beat Germany. Chris and AI were also wrong about that one but, overall, they both got 15/24 predictions right from that set of matches. Again, the users did better, with 17/24, and they still lead the way with 72 of this World Cup's 104 matches now completed. Chris has been right 41 times (57%), AI has a score of 43 (60%), but you lot are doing even better with 48 (67%). Before the tournament, Chris also picked the order he thought each of the 12 groups would finish in. He was right about seven of the winners, but only got all four teams in the correct order in three of the groups. AI's predictions have been generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat. We simply asked the tool to 'predict the results of the World Cup last-32 ties'. The new BBC predictor game allows readers to pick a winner from each knockout tie. PLAY WORLD CUP PREDICTOR HERE Los Angeles / 20:00 BST After watching South Africa at Estadio Azteca in the opening game of this tournament, I was absolutely shocked to see them finish second in Group A and make the last 32. I feel like they are here because South Korea took them too lightly in their final group game, which I understand in some respects, but I don't see Canada doing the same. Canada boss Jesse Marsch gets a bit of stick for some of his behaviour but his team have got something about them and I like the way they play. It is going to be hard for South Africa to deal with their intensity. Neither country had ever reached the knockout stage of a World Cup before, and this is a great opportunity for the co-hosts to go even further - I'll be shocked again if they don't. Sutton's prediction: 0-3 AI's prediction: 1-2 Houston / 18:00 BST I am covering this game for Radio 5 Live and I have a feeling there is going to be an upset here - although it would not count as an upset for me or my commentating colleague Ali Bruce-Ball. Japan are his dark horses for the tournament and it wouldn't be fair to him if I didn't go with him on this game. They beat Brazil for the first time when they played them in a friendly in Tokyo last October and I think they are going to beat them again here and knock them out. Whatever happens, it will be a fascinating match. Brazil could go on and win this World Cup and, if they do, it will be because of their manager, Carlo Ancelotti. He's a superb organiser, but I worry about them in the middle of the park, and I don't think they have got the legs to deal with Japan's rapid attacks. Sutton's prediction: 1-2 AI's prediction: 2-1 Boston / 21:30 BST Germany boss Julien Nagelsmann had earned the right to make changes for their defeat by Ecuador because they had already won their group. They will be back to full strength here and we know how this game will pan out - Paraguay will defend deep and it will be up to Germany to break them down. Sutton's prediction: 2-1 AI's prediction: 3-0 Monterrey / 02:00 BST This is a really good game because both teams will be thinking they can go really far, especially because whoever wins this tie plays either South Africa or Canada next. The Netherlands impressed me during the group stage - they were pretty solid at the back and were not short of firepower. But Morocco have got great quality right through their team and they will believe they can compete with any team in the tournament. Sutton's prediction: 1-3 AI's prediction: 1-2 Dallas / 18:00 BST I am at this game too, and it is a very tough one to call - although there will definitely be a few goals in it. Erling Haaland is chasing the Golden Boot and was one of the players Norway rested against France when they were already through from a tricky group. He will be hard to stop. But Ivory Coast carry a threat too, whoever they pick up front. It could turn out to be a thriller and it might take penalties to decide it. Sutton's prediction: 2-2 after extra time. Norway to win on penalties AI's prediction: 2-2 after extra time. Ivory Coast to win on penalties New York / 22:00 BST Sweden sat in against Japan to get the result they needed to get out of their group and I am sure they will stay deep again here to try to stay in the game. It won't work, though. At this moment in time, I can't see anyone stopping France with their firepower. Sutton's prediction: 4-0 AI's prediction: 2-0 Mexico City / 02:00 BST Everyone is talking about whether it will be England versus Mexico in the last 16, but Mexico have to get through this tie first - as do England against DR Congo. Yes, Mexico are at home again but the high altitude won't bother Ecuador - they play their home matches in Quito, which is even further above sea level. Ecuador don't concede a lot and will be full of confidence after beating Germany, but Mexico have had a great tournament so far and their feel-good factor - and their fans - should help see them through. Sutton's prediction: 1-0 AI's prediction: 1-2 after extra time. Atlanta / 17:00 BST This isn't going to be an easy game for England. DR Congo had less than 30% possession in their first two games in Group K, but in one of them they got the 0-0 draw with Portugal that ultimately helped send them through. I covered DR Congo's win over Uzbekistan in their last group game and their coach, Sebastien Desabre, switched to a 4-4-2, with two attacking wingers. He is known as 'The Florist' because he helps young players to blossom, and everything has come up roses for him again. They will return to a back five for this tie and do what they did against Portugal, which is counter-attack. Yoane Wissa has not had a great season for Newcastle but he will be dangerous and England will have to look out for Sunderland's Noah Sadiki too. This is a team that Thomas Tuchel shouldn't under-estimate, but I still think England will get through. Sutton's prediction: 2-1 AI's prediction: 3-1 Seattle / 21:00 BST I've not been impressed by Belgium, who squeaked their way to finish top of what was a pretty weak group. In contrast, Senegal were in a really tough group and caused France and Norway plenty of problems despite losing both games. I don't know if this counts as an upset but I am backing Senegal. They have certainly got enough goals in their team. Sutton's prediction: 1-3 AI's prediction: 2-1 San Francisco / 01:00 BST I don't think there is any way the USA don't win this, even if their star man Christian Pulisic might not be 100% fit. Mauricio Pochettino made a few changes in their final group game, which they lost to Turkey in a dramatic ending, but he already knew they had topped the group. Their 'A' team will be back for this one and I am expecting Pochettino's plan to come together and they should dismantle a pretty limited Bosnia side. Sutton's prediction: 3-0 AI's prediction: 2-0 Los Angeles / 20:00 BST Spain are another one of my tips for this tournament - I've got a few of them - and they are going to go deep into this World Cup. As well as Lamine Yamal they have got so many other talented players, and it is good to see old 'Bigfoot' - aka Mikel Oyarzabal - playing well up top. They have not really hit peak performance yet, but that might change here. Ralf Rangnick's all-action Austria side will try to press the way they always do, but Spain will just play around them. Sutton's prediction: 3-1 AI's prediction: 2-0 Toronto / 00:00 BST Cristiano Ronaldo is 41 but has played every minute for Portugal so far, which I think is embarrassing for Roberto Martinez. I've never known a manager to pander to a player as much as he does. Portugal have some incredible players but, as great as Ronaldo once was, they are being held back by having him permanently on the pitch as their centre-forward. But, while he is not the player he was, Croatia are ageing too and are not the team they once were either. This will be close but I see Portugal taking it in normal time. With me writing Ronaldo off, he will probably score the winner. Sutton's prediction: 1-0 AI's prediction: 2-1 Vancouver / 04:00 BST Algeria battled back brilliantly twice against Austria in their final group game to qualify, and almost won the game, but they face a mountain to climb to get past another alpine nation. Switzerland have never won a World Cup knockout game in eight attempts but that record ends here. Granit Xhaka is the heartbeat of their side and he will lead them into the last 16. Sutton's prediction: 2-0 AI's prediction: 2-1 Dallas / 19:00 BST I know everyone will be talking about Egypt's Mohamed Salah but I don't see him getting on the scoresheet here - or anyone else for that matter. Both teams love to defend and to play on the counter-attack, and neither of them will be opening up. This is going the distance. Sutton's prediction: 0-0 after extra time. Egypt to win on penalties. AI's prediction: 2-1 Miami / 23:00 BST What a story Cape Verde are. For such a small nation to make it out of their group is what the World Cup is about, and we now know just how good they are defensively. They have already shut out Spain, but I don't see them stopping Argentina, who are probably the most streetwise team in the tournament, and you cannot look past Lionel Messi having the final say. Sutton's prediction: 2-0 AI's prediction: 4-0 Kansas City / 02:30 BST I have been really impressed by Colombia, who work their socks off and are exciting going forward too. Ghana will try to keep them quiet the same way they kept England out, but Colombia will have too much attacking quality for them. Sutton's prediction: 2-0 AI's prediction: 1-0

Jude Bellingham's tactical adaptability has become key to Thomas Tuchel's style of play with this England team In June 2024, Jude Bellingham scored a dramatic overhead kick in the 95th minute against Slovakia to rescue England's hopes at the Euros. In the heat of the moment, he celebrated by screaming into the jubilant crowd. "Who else?" After England's 2-0 win against Panama , the 22 year-old's performance has a similar feel to it. Tuchel has been firm in stating his system and approach will largely look the same throughout the tournament but on Saturday we saw subtle tweaks, with injuries in the squad. Bellingham was central to maximising this system, papering over some of the cracks in the meantime. It was a tale of two halves for Bellingham who was deployed in a more box-to-box role in Declan Rice’s absence. In their first two games, England opted to build from the back with the two central defenders and Elliot Anderson in the centre of the pitch. Both full-backs took wider positions with Rice and Bellingham vacating the holding midfield areas for Harry Kane to drop in and join Anderson. This shape differed against Panama. Jarell Quansah came in at right-back for the injured Reece James and was asked to slot into a back three in possession - alongside Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa. Nico O'Reilly kept his roaming left-back role. Instead of Kane dropping deep, Bellingham was tasked with supporting Anderson at the base of midfield and England's shape on the ball loosely flipped between a 3-2-5 and a 3-1-6 depending on how Bellingham read the game. After the game, Tuchel confirmed his intentions, explaining that Bellingham "played as a 10 when we had the ball" and that he wanted "to have six players in the last line" - likely in an attempt to outnumber Panama's back five. Here is England's shape against Panama. In the first half, Bellingham played a deeper role before taking up more attacking positions in the second half to England's benefit. Under Tuchel's leadership, England have a few guiding principles: Entice pressure before speeding up play Look to play vertical passes for runners in behind Counter-press hard as a collective when you lose the ball Build-up primarily through the wide areas using triangles of the full-back, winger and attacking midfielder Maximise set-pieces Many of these principles are borrowed from the Premier League handbook of 2025-26. These were largely on show against Panama but this time England also looked to build-up play through the centre of the pitch too - with mixed results. It felt as if England were acknowledging that the wide players, that were so effective pre-tournament, were not enough in their current form. Paired with the injury to James, England needed an extra dimension and Bellingham's tactical nous and versatility came in clutch. Anderson played punchy passes forward whenever space between the lines opened up. With Kane, Morgan Rogers, O'Reilly and Bellingham all positioned centrally at points, England had central presence. By playing into these areas, Panama would converge on the ball, in turn opening up space out wide. But given this has been an area of the pitch England have not prioritised as much under Tuchel, introducing it mid-tournament without natural small-space players such as Phil Foden came with risks. Bellingham, a player who thrives in big space, adapted his game. When he received the ball in these areas under pressure, he found unorthodox ways to sweep play into the free players out wide. If the spaces between the lines were too congested, he did well to win fouls, rather than losing the ball. Anderson fizzes the ball into Bellingham who is pressed by four players. Instead of losing the ball, he uses his body to earn a foul here After receiving it between the lines here, although off balance, Bellingham manages to scoop the ball out to Bukayo Saka in space against a more centrally compact Panama defence At half-time, Tuchel's assistant Anthony Barry reflected on England's build-up play. "Our guys wanted to start the game fast. The stadium felt like a home game but all of this energy skewed our risk management," Barry said. "We had too many central ball losses and that opened up to counter-attacks against a dangerous team. "After 30 minutes, we got more control in the game. [In the second half] we'll reinforce [going] for verticality and more speed on the last line." During the opening 30 minutes, Bellingham's engine - primed by a season of fewer minutes in his legs relative to his Premier League counterparts - saved England on a number of occasions. Despite his superstar status, he made long and intense recovery runs before executing perfectly timed slide tackles to stop dangerously fast breaks. Immediately after turnovers, given England's riskier play, Bellingham and many of the forwards, converged around the ball, counter-pressing effectively - a common trend across the Three Lions' three games so far. England's ability to grow into the game, while coming to terms with some of these new tactical ideas that may help them in latter parts of the competition, were done on the back of Bellingham's fire-fighting. Knockouts are here - what is England's path to the final? What you need to know about England's opponents DR Congo England's willingness to counter-press and track backwards immediately after losing the ball has been clear. In yellow, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are the two players nearest the Panama attacker. Bellingham's run back and slide tackle prevent England allowing a dangerous counter-attack In the second half, we saw Bellingham the attacker, who made the difference for both goals. His performance made Barry's half-time statement about verticality and "more speed on the last line," appear prophetic. O'Reilly and Quansah, in their more central positions, compared to the wider positions of James and Djed Spence in the Ghana game, drew the left and right midfielders of Panama in field towards them. This opened up space for wide forwards Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford to receive the ball in a one-against-one situation. A common routine England used was in Rashford darting deep, to receive a pass directly from the defenders, with time and space on the ball. By dropping deep, he was able to find separation from the opposition wing-back who was drawn out of Panama's back-line, which momentarily opened up space "on the last line" for somebody with "speed" to attack, if Rashford played with "verticality". In the first half, this pattern occurred but it was Kane making the run in behind and, for all of his quality, he is not the speediest. Rashford instead opted to cross the ball but it was telling that Bellingham had his arm out, pointing into the space Kane ran into, directing his team-mate to look for that pass - the one that would be the source of both goals. After dropping deep, Rashford has time on the ball against a Panama back-line that has applied pressure. In yellow, Bellingham gestures to Rashford to pass it into the channel for the run of Kane Kane's diagonal run remains fairly central, and his relative lack of pace compared to Bellingham makes him less suited to exploiting this space. Looking up, Rashford instead sees the run of Rogers but the move comes to little 1 of 2 After the break, Bellingham's position was a lot more as a number 10 than a supporting midfielder to Anderson, which made making those diagonal runs into the space behind the pressing wing-back more viable. With Panama wanting to apply some forward pressure, making a run in behind against their momentum was incredibly effective. It was a run that was hard for the midfielders to react to and it dragged the centre-back of Panama out. The corner that broke the deadlock against Panama was won by Bellingham making this run before looking to trick the defender with stepovers. The assist for Kane, again, came from Bellingham's intelligence to read this space, physicality to run into it, and technical quality to make the cross. For England's second goal, Rashford drops even deeper, making the distance the wing-back has to cover greater. This opens up more space in behind and Bellingham from a higher starting position is able to exploit this Tuchel's system is purring. It might not be the easiest on the eye against strong defences but it feels catered to tournament football, providing England a base upon which they dominate the ball, while taking calculated risks. It is the completeness of Bellingham however, that has proved key in minimising any uncertainty when doing so - a feat more impressive considering that his starting XI place was the subject of much debate before the World Cup. 27 flights, 24 matches: How Fifa's president is jetting around World Cup Big names, dark horses and subplots - reasons to watch each last 32 tie

This video can not be played Austria score dramatic late equaliser against Algeria as both progress The 'Disgrace of Gijon' - an infamous match at the 1982 World Cup in Spain - has followed Austria and Algeria for 44 years. West Germany beat Austria 1-0 in a final group match that sent both sides through and eliminated Algeria. It became infamous because both teams appeared to go through the motions, knowing the result suited them both. Fast forward to the 2026 World Cup and Algeria and Austria met again in their final Group J encounter, knowing a draw would send them both through at the expense of Iran. A thrilling 3-3 draw on Sunday morning was the outcome, leaving Austria second in the group and Algeria as one of the best third-placed sides. But both sides have strongly denied this was a repeat of the 'Disgrace of Gijon' - even though conspiracy theorists argue the nature of the chaotic finish, which included two injury-time goals, felt scripted. Too good to be true? Or too good to be scripted? Austria opened the scoring through Marko Arnautovic in the 28th minute Rafik Belghali lashed the ball home to make it 1-1 in the 45th minute Marcel Sabitzer restored Austria's lead in the 55th minute Riyad Mahrez levelled again five minutes later The Algeria skipper then slotted home what looked to be a 93rd-minute winner - a goal that would have sent Austria out and Iran through, following their 1-1 draw with Egypt But with seconds remaining, Sasa Kalajdzic headed in a dramatic 96th-minute equaliser to make it 3-3 and send both sides into the knockout stage Many Iranian fans felt cheated by the outcome, calling on Fifa to investigate and highlighting several moments from the game on social media to argue their case. Football followers also discussed theories over how the events had unfolded. Austria's players were accused of "strolling around" until Algeria levelled. Some said "it was a disgrace", and "the most scripted match I've ever seen", while another fan called it "a scandal". The game had started in sedate fashion, with Arnautovic's goal just before the half-hour mark the first shot on target. Clips have since circulated showing both sides at 2-2 appearing to go through the motions rather than pushing for a winner. Following Mahrez's second goal, footage has also circulated of a confrontation between the two benches, with some claiming it showed frustration that the draw had been disrupted. A video also shows Algeria's Aissa Mandi cover his mouth and speak to Mahrez, who looked confused, with a fan tweeting that the forward was told his team would be playing against Spain in the last 32 if they won rather than Switzerland. Austria then forced a dramatic equaliser. Austria boss Ralf Rangnick said it was "mad" to suggest there was any agreement in place to engineer a scripted draw. He insisted the unpredictable final 15 minutes of the game in Kansas City clearly showed neither side was looking to repeat the 'Disgrace of Gijon'. "In this match, when you have a 3-3, nobody can assume that it was an agreement, especially after what we saw during the last 90 seconds," said Rangnick. "If, with three minutes to play, somebody had said this would happen, you would have told them they were mad. "I've been a coach for about 40 years and I don't even remember a match that had such a dramatic course and such an unexpected trajectory. "Most people anticipated a 0-0 or 1-1, and now it's 3-3. It's incredible - the dressing room is madness. If Alfred Hitchcock had written such a drama, I probably would have said he was completely mad." Algeria manager Vladimir Petkovic also dismissed talk of any arrangement. "I'm extremely happy that, at the end, it was football that won, that prevailed - 3-3 as a score says it all," he added. Austria face Spain in the last 32 in Los Angeles on Thursday, 2 July (20:00 BST), while Algeria take on Switzerland in Vancouver on Friday, 3 July (04:00 BST). Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Scotland players (from left) John Souttar, Grant Hanley, Lewis Ferguson and Andy Robertson leave the team hotel in Charlotte to head home It started with being piped on to the plane at Glasgow Airport. Four weeks later, Scotland's highly anticipated, emotionally charged, celebratory return to the men's World Cup after 28 years ends with the squad scuttling off on their separate ways and head coach Steve Clarke resigning after a sorry showing Stateside. Missing from their luggage will be the brazen optimism that was United States-bound. Clarke and his then-bullish squad set off ready to "take care of business" and become the first side to reach the knockout stages of a major tournament. It will be replaced by the baggage of regret. The tremendous travelling Tartan Army - which has ensured the Scots won't be forgotten at these finals - was floored by the heat and humidity of Florida. It wasn't ready for it. But the players were. In fact, they couldn't have been more prepared, protected and primed to perform. From world-class facilities and family time, to staying centrally in the cities and soaking up the atmosphere, all of the players' wishes were granted by the now departed Clarke and the Scottish FA. And yet here we are again, with shattered hopes, a heap of questions and silence from the Scotland camp. Clarke leaves strong Scotland legacy but exit brings sense of relief Scotland's ill-fated World Cup story finally at a sorry end What does next Scotland head coach look like as 'monster job' awaits? A lot can change in a month. When they landed in Fort Lauderdale - three days after Clarke signed a fresh four-year contract - the squad could hardly have been more vocal as they checked in at Inter Miami's $60m Florida Blue training centre. Lionel Messi, the 39-year-old Argentina captain, who continues to light up the international stage 20 years on from his tournament debut, green-lighted every detail of the top-dollar set-up. And, if it's good enough for the wee man... The SFA pulled in some favours to secure the lavish establishment - it was Sir Alex Ferguson who rang Inter Miami president and co-owner Sir David Beckham to get the deal over the line. When Clarke came for a chat pitchside - a sign of the "different" head coach at these finals - during their first proper training session under the scorching sun, he admitted it "cost a little bit more" than the SFA wanted to spend. And yet. "They have given us everything we've asked for," Clarke said. And they asked for a lot. Two days after the 1-0 win over Haiti - because the players had the day after the game off - assistant coach Steven Naismith spoke of the mountain of work put in pre-tournament after listening to the squad. "So much work was done in terms of what the players want, what they need, what they didn't like before," the former forward said. They wanted a longer camp before the tournament. Check. They wanted a period of acclimatising. Check. They wanted a bit of downtime. Check. How Scotland found their base camp for 'travelling' World Cup In Fort Lauderdale, that downtime was spent cycling in and around their luxurious beach hotel and playing a high-end golf course - the PGA National - before a thunderstorm cut the round short. The ballroom of the hotel was filled with enough kits, branded and unbranded garments to dress a small country - last 32-bound Cape Verde come to mind - while there were boxes upon boxes of boots, all of which had a World Cup logo on the heel and a Scotland flag on the side. That nearly seven tonnes of kit arriving in Miami a week before the squad was an early indicator of the preparation that had gone on. Some was shipped up to Boston for the opening game, some to New Jersey for the 4-0 friendly win over Bolivia - how long ago that feels - and there was plenty more at the team's base camp in Charlotte, North Carolina. From one world-class facility to another, the SFA pushed the boat out again to secure the 52,000 square foot Atrium Health Performance Park, which previously accommodated Real Madrid and Inter Milan. They more than made it their own, with more branding than Hampden and further top-range components, including a red-light therapy chamber and an altitude room. This video can not be played Day one behind the scenes in Charlotte The swiftly up-and-coming city of Charlotte was more what the players wanted after complaining about their remote base camp in Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the Euros two years ago. Here, the players could take a stroll - or scooter - around town and pop into places to catch other World Cup games, but it was in Boston and Miami where they really embraced the buzz they had craved. In the centre of both cities, after emphasising their desire to immerse themselves in the party the Tartan Army brought over, the squad were able to engage and enjoy the brilliance of Boston and the madness of Miami. Hundreds of selfies were taken as they spent more time pre and post match in the area with families and friends, who were also flown between camp and Boston before making the trip to Miami. Travelling on matchday -2 and the evening of matchday +1, the squad had time to rub shoulders with some of the best in the world, with France staying not too far away in Boston. John McGinn even managed to get his nephew pictures with Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, thanks to Aston Villa pal Lucas Digne. So the squad wanted a base camp in a city. Check. They wanted time in the matchday cities. Check. They wanted days off in city. Check. While his performances might have left a little to be desired - although he was far from alone in that - McGinn did deliver plenty off the pitch. The Villa captain was put up after each match to do at least two interviews. And he was also the first player to do the daily media conference in camp, having to bat away a question about Norway head coach Stale Solbakken branding Clarke "unprofessional". The squad took part in an open training session that morning, allowing kids from a local school a glimpse of them at work. Another sign of the new Clarke and the culture shift among the squad. Then, little cracks started to show. During the Morocco match, Scott McTominay and Jack Hendry were caught on camera having a bust-up during a hydration break. The latter laughed it off when it was his turn in the media spotlight in Charlotte, but the Napoli midfielder never did have his say on it. Outwith one short BBC interview at the start of camp, he was protected from the media. Even his injured club team-mate, Billy Gilmour - who flew across with his leg in a brace to join the squad and throw the ceremonial first pitch at a Miami Marlins baseball game - spoke to the media. The more things change, though, the more they stay the same. A completely different set-up to Euro 2024 - a tournament everyone said they'd learned so much from - with everything the players wanted has ended with the same outcome on the pitch. Big players failing to show in the big moments, even with the big treatment. Clarke - who didn't comment after his furious post-match media conference following defeat by Hungary in Stuttgart two summers ago - went one step further by resigning three days after the humbling by Brazil. At that point, Opta still had Scotland's chances of creating history at 42%, but Clarke conceded they were "going home" even at that stage. It was a poor percentage given the meticulous planning, expenses spared and fine-tuning details applied to this tournament. So, why hasn't it worked? Who knows when - or to whom - we'll next get to ask that question. World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

The World Cup is taking shape - and I am happy to say the Brazil team is too. It looks like Carlo Ancelotti has found his best XI and we have improved and gained momentum and confidence with each game of the group stage. We are getting better at the right time and we have to be, because Japan will be a big challenge in the last 32. It feels like we are on track, and a big part of that is down to Matheus Cunha. He is the key to a lot of what we are doing so well. It is quite funny to be saying this because usually the Brazil public expects a classic number nine to be leading our attack, and Cunha is different to what the fans are normally looking for. He is more of a nine-and-a-half. Someone who can play like a nine, but also a 10 to link play and create for others. So he is not like Ronaldo, Adriano or Romario, some of our great strikers of the past 30 years, but because he can also score goals - he has three so far at this tournament - he is not a playmaker, either. Instead, he gives the team something that Brazil have maybe never had before, in terms of a centre-forward anyway. This video can not be played Cunha scores twice as Brazil beat Haiti In some ways, Cunha reminds me a lot of my old Liverpool team-mate Roberto Firmino in the way he is always dropping deep, and giving the defender marking him a doubt about what to do. If the defender follows him, it gives more space and freedom to Vinicius Jr and Rayan. If the defender leaves Cunha, then he has time to play between the lines, get on the ball and look for passes or shoot. Cunha seems very happy and comfortable with his role, including the defensive side of it when he starts the press or plays almost like a number six in front of the midfield, and it seems to be working for the team in terms of the balance it gives to our attack. Here, Cunha (highlighted by the star) is deep in his own half to help break up a Scotland attack and has just collected the ball from Brazil's right-back Danilo... ...Cunha (highlighted playing the pass, centre) then has space to burst forward to start an attack, carrying the ball into the Scotland half, and with Vinicius Jr and Rayan staying high up the pitch in front of him he has runners to feed and send through on goal It was very strange for Brazil to be going into a World Cup without knowing who our best number nine was. Even until the Scotland game, no-one knew who the first choice centre-forward would be. I don't think Ancelotti knew before the tournament either, because he tried Cunha, Igor Thiago, Endrick, Joao Pedro and Richarlison. Sometimes, though, injuries help a manager make decisions. You can almost stumble on to a combination that works well and this time maybe one has helped Brazil. Raphinha is an amazing player but he likes to move around a lot. In the first game, against Morocco, he played as 10 behind Thiago, and he can also play on either wing. But, when he injured his hamstring against Morocco, he was replaced by Rayan who is more of a player who will stay on the right. So, having Vini on one side and Rayan on the other gives even more space for Cunha in the areas he likes. He is on his own there a lot, and with his style of play, that suits him. Things can still change, of course. Thiago gives us something different, maybe if we are chasing the game or playing someone with more physicality. He can stay high up, fix himself on the centre-halves, and occupy that space. The important thing is that Ancelotti has options now and it will be interesting to see what he does next. Back home, though, more and more people are thinking Cunha is the answer and I just hope he continues like this. Yes, other teams will know about him now, and what he does - but he is such a clever player, he will still not be easy to stop. Cunha's touch map against Scotland shows 15 of his 38 touches (39%) were in his own half, a similar story to when he started their second game against Haiti and 14/41 (34%) were in his own half or the centre circle Everything I have talked about so far is down to the manager. The best thing about Ancelotti is that he is so adaptable. He has worked in so many leagues with so many clubs and different players and always won. Everyone talks about his man-management and how he gets the best out of people that way, but I think sometimes they forget that he is very good tactically too. One of the things I have noticed about Ancelotti's Brazil is that they are not worried about giving the ball to their opponent. We are not a team that needs to have 70% possession all the time. This video can not be played Scotland hopes on the brink following defeat against Brazil Sometimes, if you give the ball to the other team it becomes a problem for them. And, if you get in the right position and press at the right moment, and with the right intensity, you can punish them. That worked against Scotland, with the first goal and the second one which was - harshly - disallowed too, and it was not down to luck. We scored similar goals before the World Cup, in warm-up games against Panama and Egypt as well. Against Scotland we gave them the ball and we were sending their players where we wanted them to be. We did not have the ball but we had control and then, at the right time, we pressed. It was part of Ancelotti's plan to set a trap, and it worked. Everyone is obsessed with the identity of a team - for example, are you are a possession side and always attacking, or defensive and looking for breakaways? With Ancelotti, it is down to the opposition or the moment in the game. If you have got individuals who can adapt like we have, then why not adapt as a team? This is a new Brazil and I think we need to be different to our teams of the past. By that I don't mean we are sending people back, defending deep and not scoring, but this is the first World Cup where we don't have our full-backs really offensive and flying forward; you know, the way we usually see from Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Maicon, Marcelo or Dani Alves - the list goes on! Instead, with Douglas Santos and Roger Ibanez or Danilo, they are more conservative with their runs, but that is another reason Vini can stay higher up the pitch and be fresher when we attack. The back four looks really solid and the right balance is now there in midfield too. In the first game against Morocco, Casemiro was left very exposed on his own in the middle. He was criticised a lot by people afterwards but it was not his fault - it has never been his game to try to be everywhere making tackles and presses, and it definitely is not now he is 34. Since then, however, we have moved from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-3-3. So, if Bruno Guimaraes goes forward the way we want him to, Casemiro still has Lucas Paqueta alongside him. It means we have controlled that situation better against Haiti and Scotland and it will be especially important against Japan, who are a much more fluid and dangerous attacking side than both of those teams. So, there are lots of reasons to be positive - in defence, where we have only conceded one goal so far, and also in attack where we have scored seven - but in the end all that matters is that we keep on winning. That is what makes the Brazil public smile with the team and, at the moment, they are smiling. Before the first game there was anxiety and, afterwards, everyone was really worried. After three games, though, everyone is really excited. Lucas Leiva was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan. Olivier Giroud on Mbappe & winning the World Cup Iliman Ndiaye: Senegal’s goal is to win World Cup 2026 The World Cup is bigger than ever - and BBC Sport has an app to match Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game

Ugarte suffered the injury playing for Uruguay at the World Cup Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte says he suffered "the most serious injury a footballer can face" while playing at the World Cup for Uruguay. The club have confirmed that the 25-year-old suffered a knee ligament injury in Uruguay's defeat to Spain in Guadalajara on Friday. Ugarte twisted awkwardly as he tried to make a tackle in the build-up to Spain's winning goal and had to be taken off the pitch on a stretcher. He was assessed by Uruguay's medical staff on Saturday and will now travel to Manchester for further tests before United officials decide the best course of action. Numerous reports from Uruguay media claim Ugarte has suffered a cruciate ligament injury, which would rule him out for a number of months. And posting on Instagram on Sunday, Ugarte added weight to those claims. "Suffering the most serious injury a footballer can face in one of the most important matches in my country's history, and seeing it end this way without being able to stay on the pitch and support my team-mates until the final whistle, is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life," he said. But he has vowed to "be back stronger" from the setback. "Hitting rock bottom will make me stronger in every sense, and I truly believe that's the case here," he added. "Without a doubt, when life wants you to stop, it finds a way to let you know. "It's up to me to take the positives from this. "Success in life is about starting again every time you fall." United will wait for their own tests before accepting such a bleak scenario but privately the club are braced for the worst. "Manchester United can confirm that Manuel Ugarte has suffered a knee ligament injury whilst representing Uruguay in Friday's World Cup group-stage match against Spain," said the club. "Assessment of the injury is ongoing to determine the best course of treatment and the rehabilitation timescale. "Everyone wishes Manuel a successful recovery and we will be supporting him every step of the way." Ugarte had gone into the World Cup knowing he was likely to be in the shop window given United have prioritised revamping their midfield. The £50.8m arrival from Paris St-Germain in 2024 has not reached the heights anticipated during his time at Old Trafford and his last appearance was when he started the home Premier League defeat by Leeds on 13 April. It was widely anticipated he would move on this summer, either permanently or on loan. Now those plans are in doubt, with thoughts at United focused on the wellbeing of the player. United have prioritised strengthening their midfield this summer, with the expectation at least two or three new players would be added. The club have already agreed a £35m deal for Atalanta's Ederson. However, plans for the 26-year-old to have his medical before the start of pre-season training on 9 July had to be scrapped when Ederson earned a late call-up to the Brazil World Cup squad. Now the intention is for Ederson to undergo a medical once Brazil's campaign is over and then return to Carrington after the mandatory three-week rest period. United had been keen on Elliot Anderson but backed out of discussions when the immense cost, both transfer fee and wages, they would have to pay to get him out of Nottingham Forest became clear. Talks with West Ham over Portugal international Mateus Fernandes have yet to lead to an agreement over a fee, with Tottenham also keen on the former Southampton man. United also rate Bournemouth's Alex Scott, who was one of four players who travelled with England for their pre-World Cup training camp despite missing out on selection in Thomas Tuchel's squad, and they had a bid turned down last summer by Brighton for Cameroon international Carlos Baleba. It remains to be seen if a lengthy injury to Ugarte would affect the amount of money United have available to buy players. Follow Manchester United on BBC Sounds Pre-match, post-match and topical United content Subscribe and listen for everything you love about the Red Devils Latest Manchester United news, analysis and fan views Ask about Man Utd - what do you want to know?

Declan Rice won the Premier League title with Arsenal last season Declan Rice is expected to be available to start England's World Cup last-32 tie with DR Congo on Wednesday. The key midfielder was rested for the 2-0 win over Panama after taking a heavy blow to the calf in the goalless draw with Ghana last Tuesday. Rice, 27, was unable to complete the full training schedule before the win over Panama, although he did return in time for the team's final session before travelling to New Jersey. In Rice's absence, Thomas Tuchel started with a midfield of Elliot Anderson and Jude Bellingham. But the England manager is optimistic that the Arsenal midfielder will be available to return to the starting XI for the knockout match against DR Congo in Atlanta. England manager Tuchel's biggest injury concerns heading into the knockout rounds are Reece James and Jarell Quansah. Chelsea full-back James missed the win over Panama after sustaining a hamstring injury against Ghana. While Tuchel is not ruling out James for the DR Congo game, it is understood the right-back's return to action is likely to come later in the tournament. This video can not be played Quansah off injured in 'big blow' for England Tuchel worried about right-back situation Knockouts are here - what is England's path to the final? Job done - but England will not win World Cup unless they improve Similarly, Quansah, who deputised for James at right-back against Panama, is also a major doubt to play the last-32 tie due to an ankle injury . Quansah will be assessed by England medics over the next 48 hours, but Tuchel has already admitted it will be "very tight" for the Bayer Leverkusen player to prove his fitness in time for Wednesday. It leaves Tuchel with a huge dilemma at right-back, given James' and Quansah's injury issues and the fact Tino Livramento left the squad with a calf issue before England's tournament had even started. Djed Spence replaced Quansah against Panama and it appears likely he will line up against DR Congo should James and Quansah fail to prove their fitness, although Tuchel does have the option of playing centre-back Ezri Konsa at right-back. World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

England drew with Ghana but beat Croatia and Panama to top Group L with seven points England have qualified for the knockout stages of the World Cup by winning their group. The Three Lions weren't always in top form, but with seven points from three matches, did enough to finish ahead of Croatia in second, third-placed Ghana, and bottom side Panama. Now that the group stage has concluded, Thomas Tuchel's men know the path they must negotiate if they are to reach the final. If they manage it, it will be their third major tournament final of the decade. Wednesday, 1 July - 17:00 BST England's reward for progressing to the knockout rounds is a tie in Atlanta with DR Congo , who finished third in Group K after drawing with Portugal, losing to Colombia, and beating Uzbekistan. The Leopards are ranked 46th in the world, conceded only three goals in those three group-stage fixtures, and boast significant Premier League experience in Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa, West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Burnley centre-back Axel Tuanzebe and Sunderland left-back Arthur Masuaku. They became the first team from Sub-Saharan Africa to qualify for the World Cup in 1974, under their former name Zaire, and in their second finals appearance, are now competing in the knockout stages for the first time. They were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations by Algeria in the last 16 in January. DR Congo are one of nine African teams to reach the knockout stages, alongside Algeria, South Africa, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Cape Verde, Senegal and Ghana Monday, 6 July - 01:00 BST If England progress to the second knockout round, they could face co-hosts Mexico , one of only three teams to win all three of their group-stage fixtures. They have been helped by playing all three of their matches on home soil, and the early knockout rounds will be the same - both their last-32 tie with Ecuador and the potential last-16 game against England will take place in Mexico City's 87,500-capacity Estadio Azteca. Mexico are ranked ninth in the world and have not lost a competitive fixture since a 2-0 defeat by Honduras in the first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarter-final in November 2024 - a run of 12 matches unbeaten. Ecuador , meanwhile, finished third in Group E after securing a dramatic 2-1 win over Germany in the final round of matches. They haven't conceded more than one goal in any match in over two years, a run stretching 26 games. The Azteca sits more than 7,000 feet above sea level, with that kind of altitude potentially causing shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and fatigue for players who are not used to it. Mexico do not boast too many standout individuals, but demonstrated a resolute work ethic and strong self-belief in the group, scoring six goals and conceding none Saturday, 11 July - 22:00 BST Now, this is where things begin to look more difficult. Five-time winners Brazil are in England's section of the draw and are potential quarter-final opponents, but Carlo Ancelotti's men would first have to overcome Japan in the last 32. Vinicius Jr. and co topped Group C - knocking out Scotland in the process - but were unconvincing on the one occasion they were truly tested, drawing 1-1 with Morocco in their opening fixture. Japan , meanwhile, looked strong technically and tactically as they finished second behind the Netherlands in Group F, and have not lost in any of their past 16 matches, beating England 1-0 in a friendly at Wembley in March. The two other possible quarter-final opponents for England are Ivory Coast and Norway, who will face each other in the last 32. Ivory Coast have impressive attackers including RB Leipzig's teenage superstar Yan Diomande, Inter's Ange-Yoan Bonny and Manchester United winger Amad Diallo. They finished second behind Germany in the group stage. And Norway , who finished second behind France in Group I, have impressed in their first World Cup appearance since 1998. With Manchester City's Erling Haaland up front, they would pose a significant threat. If England reach this stage, they will be playing in Miami. Vinicius Jr scored four goals and assisted another in the group stage Wednesday, 15 July - 20:00 BST We're getting a fair bit ahead now, but if England were to make it this far, they could face the defending champions. Perhaps the favourites to reach this stage would be Argentina , who won all three of their group stage games as the talismanic Lionel Messi continued delivering on all the biggest stage of allin the month he turned 39, scoring five goals. Their first knockout round tie is against surprise package Cape Verde , before a last-16 match against whoever wins between Australia and Egypt . Also in this section of the draw are Colombia , who would face Argentina in the quarter-final if both nations win their first two knockout fixtures. They topped their group, ahead of Portugal, having won two of their three matches. Other perhaps less likely potential opponents in the final four include Switzerland , Algeria and Ghana , who are all in the same side of the draw as England. Reaching the semi-final would mean a return for England to Atlanta, where they will also play their last-32 match. Lionel Messi is now the top scorer in World Cup history, having surpassed the previous record set by former Germany forward Miroslav Klose by scoring in Argentina's win over Austria Sunday, 19 July - 20:00 BST All 16 teams in the other half of the draw are potential World Cup final opponents for England. The strongest sides who England could not possibly face before the final include 2018 winners and 2022 runners-up France , 2014 champions Germany and 2010 victors Spain . France and Germany will face each other at the last-16 stage if both win their opening knockout fixtures, while the Netherlands face a difficult last-32 tie against Morocco . Either of those two sides could face France or Germany in the last eight, with the winners then most likely to face Spain in the semi-finals. Spain will face Portugal in the last 16 if both win their first knockout ties - Spain face Austria , while Portugal will play Croatia . Also in the opposite half of the draw are Paraguay , Sweden , South Africa , Canada , USA , Bosnia-Herzegovina , Belgium and Senegal. The final will be held in New Jersey in front of 82,500 fans.

There was an error England's cricketers are heading for a series defeat after a chaotic fourth day at Trent Bridge in the third Test against New Zealand, where the home side closed on 103-4, needing 270 runs to win and avoid a series defeat in Ben Stokes' last in charge, following his shock announcement that he'll be retiring from international cricket after the match. MATCH REPORT: England set for series defeat in Stokes' last Test Available to UK users only.

This video can not be played Paraguay stun Germany on penalties to reach last 16 There was a time when Germany were expected to win football tournaments. Including their spell competing as West Germany, they have won the World Cup four times, losing in the final another four times, and they have won three of the six European Championship finals they have been in. But those days are over. The front page of Tuesday's Bild newspaper summed it up with a headline that translates as 'The next German football nightmare' after Germany's World Cup run came to an abrupt halt in the last 32, losing 4-3 on penalties to Paraguay after it had been 1-1 at the end of extra time. Since their most recent World Cup success in 2014, Germany have failed to make it out of the group stage twice and have now lost in the first knockout match they have faced in 2026. At the start of the competition, Paraguay were 41st in the Fifa world rankings, with Germany 10th. But that did not stop the South Americans handing Germany their first ever loss in a World Cup penalty shootout. This video can not be played 'Germany play one way - and it doesn't work anymore' In Boston, despite having 75% of the ball, Germany struggled to break down a well-organised, resilient but limited Paraguay side, who took a surprise lead through former Brighton and Ipswich man Julio Enciso. Arsenal's Kai Havertz equalised with a glancing header early in the second half before Jonathan Tah's header was controversially ruled out for a foul by a team-mate seconds earlier. But at least Germany had the safety net of penalties, and could fall back on a perfect 100% World Cup shootout record of played four, won four. Havertz went first and had his effort saved. Newcastle's Nick Woltemade also was denied by Gill and, despite being given a lifeline with two Paraguay failures, Tah then blasted his attempt over, before defender Jose Canale sealed Paraguay's victory. "When you exit the World Cup after you play Paraguay it is very bitter. It is very hurtful," said Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann. "This is the third elimination in a row, so we are not part of the first-class teams any more." 'A joke' - how a 'terrible' VAR disallowed goal cost Germany Inside Paraguay's tears of joy over their seismic World Cup shock Paraguay stun Germany on penalties to reach last 16 of World Cup Nagelsmann was appointed as Germany coach in September 2023 Nagelsmann, a Bundesliga winner in charge of Bayern Munich in 2022, took over the national team in 2023, but they only reached the quarter-finals of the 2024 Euros they hosted. Their World Cup campaign in North America started well, thrashing newcomers Curacao 7-1 and then coming from behind to defeat Ivory Coast 2-1. They lost 2-1 to Ecuador in their final group game - although they had already guaranteed top spot - but the manner of this loss to Paraguay leaves Nagelsmann fighting for his job, with plenty of calls already on social media for ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to replace him. "If you consider the whole tournament, the way we played, it is a deserved loss," former Germany defender Arne Friedrich said on BBC Radio 5 Live. "Nagelsmann has to face the consequences. It is very disappointing, but that is sport. I would definitely say the journey continues without Nagelsmann." Former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, speaking on BBC One, added: "It's hard to explain how Germany got into this tournament with so many problems. It's unacceptable. "It doesn't look good for Nagelsmann. In the last few months, he hasn't dealt with situations well. With the expanded World Cup format, to go out so early would be tough to take for any big nation." This video can not be played Relive thrilling penalty shootout between Germany and Paraguay Immediately after the game, Nagelsmann was repeatedly asked about his future and said he was "not someone who runs away" but admitted he would not be popular among the German supporters. "If we're going to do a survey today in Germany, people are not going to speak about me positively obviously," he added. "I did feel the support in the stadium. I don't think everyone in Germany will agree with me staying on and continuing as manager of the team. "I'd like to praise all the German fans who came to the stadium. I expected a totally different reaction from them but it was amazing and impressive the way they supported us, even after the defeat. "I'm not going to step back only because we are eliminated. If the DFB [German football association] want me to continue, I am going to continue. I know how the industry works and a lot of people now want me to leave. I want to continue if the German FA wants me to." Even before the Paraguay game, Nagelsmann was getting criticism, with Klopp - working for German television - unhappy with the performance against Ecuador, saying: "We chose the wrong methods on this pitch; we played the wrong kind of football against an aggressive opponent." But those lessons were not learned against a physical, dogged and determined Paraguay side that defended deep and in numbers and frustrated Germany. Paraguay now play either France or Sweden in the last 16 on Saturday, while Germany have to deal with another early exit. "If I want to be cynical and sarcastic, all we would have earned is a right to get absolutely destroyed by France," said German football journalist Raphael Honigstein on BBC Radio 5 Live. "You can get knocked out, but you can't get knocked out against Paraguay at this stage in this manner. That is why this is not going to be a defeat without repercussions and an aftermath. "If you look at the whole tournament, it just wasn't enough. Germany has been poor. "There were too many big calls not coming off for Julian Nagelsmann. It is going to be very hard for him to survive this. I think it will be over for him, I am afraid." Germany had only previously missed one penalty in a World Cup shootout - Uli Stielike having his spot-kick saved against France in 1982 - but against Paraguay, Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade had their attempts saved with Jonathan Tah shooting well over So what has happened to the Germany we have all been used to? Hitzlsperger told BBC Sport: "For a long time, player development in Germany has been all about passing, style of play and being tactically innovative but there's one element that maybe we didn't focus on enough, and that is having a bit of edge. "It doesn't mean we just launch long balls, win headers and win ugly – or go back to the days when we would get to the final and nobody kind of knew how, beyond the fact it was because we're Germany. "But at the same time, we've lost that aura that made teams fear us. Other teams respect us but they don't fear us any more. We're no longer as difficult to beat, and we lack the physical presence we once had." He continued: "For many years, Spain have been the team everyone wants to copy. It took many years but when we won the World Cup in 2014 we had great players but also a winning ethos. Now it seems we just focus on nice football. "We need to start addressing this at academy level. What is football all about? It's about winning, of course. This team wanted to win, but how do you win? By having an edge. "The best example is Argentina. They have that perfect combination of being a team who can be nasty to play against but at the same time they have players who can create something out of nothing. "Of course, we don't have a Lionel Messi and not every team can play like Argentina or France. But we should be closer to where those teams are." This video can not be played 'Terrible decision' - Germany have goal controversially disallowed by VAR Play BBC Sport's World Cup predictor game World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV

Markwayne Mullin was approved as Kristi Noem's successor in March The United States' head of homeland security said he "danced a happy dance" when Iran were eliminated from the World Cup. Iran missed out on qualifying from the group stage on goal difference after having a stoppage-time winner against Egypt disallowed for a marginal offside. Coach Amir Ghalenoei said his team were the "most oppressed" at the tournament amid the backdrop of the country's conflict with the US and Israel . Iran's training base was switched from Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico before the World Cup began and they faced travel restrictions throughout. Despite Saturday's 1-1 draw with Egypt, Iran still had a chance of qualifying as one of the eight best third-placed teams. But their elimination was confirmed when Algeria and Austria played out a dramatic 3-3 draw on Sunday. Speaking to reporters on Monday, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin said: "I'm just glad they're done, and they're not coming back. "I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas and said they could leave the US soil, and I might've sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance." He added: "There wasn't a single team that we had to spend more time dealing with than Iran." Iran were only permitted to enter the US the day before their first two matches and had to leave on the same day as the game, under the terms of their visas. Those restrictions were eased for their final group game in Seattle, allowing them to arrive two days early, but they again had to return to Tijuana after Saturday's match. Iran coach Ghalenoei said that the US, co-hosts of the World Cup with Canada and Mexico, had "treated us very unfairly" and that his squad had been given "less than half" the training window it needed to prepare. Iran captain Mehdi Taremi added: "This kind of tension undermines the joy of the World Cup. I felt the tension from the first moment we arrived." Political tension has undermined World Cup joy, says Iran striker Are Iran the unluckiest side in World Cup history? Play BBC Sport's World Cup predictor game World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV

Kobbie Mainoo is yet to play at this World Cup Former England captain Wayne Rooney says he would start Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo instead of Elliot Anderson in Wednesday's World Cup last-32 tie with DR Congo. Mainoo has not won a competitive cap for England since September 2024, having dropped out of the United team under former manager Ruben Amorim. However, under Michael Carrick the 21-year-old won his place back for United - then England - and played in his country's past four friendlies, though failed to make it off the bench in the group games. Anderson, who is close to joining Manchester City from Nottingham Forest for a club record £116m, started all three matches in Group L. Rooney, while discussing the midfield he would pick on The Wayne Rooney Show, said: "I'd go with Declan Rice sitting, and I'd go with Mainoo and Jude Bellingham. "Mainoo can give you a bit of both, but in tight areas, that's Mainoo's biggest strength - his feet in tight areas, and then he has got a little pass. "I think he's the only one who is capable of doing that in those tight areas." The game kicks off at 17:00 BST and is live on BBC One and BBC Radio 5 Live. Former England striker Emile Heskey, speaking on the show, said he was surprised Tuchel turned to 36-year-old Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson and not Mainoo for the closing stages of the 2-0 group win over Panama. "I was surprised Jordan Henderson was in the squad," said Heskey. "And to see out the game you bring on a 30-something-year-old and not a 20-something-year-old to do the same. "He probably has three more tournaments ahead of him and can grow into the tournament. I'm not sure how I'd feel as Kobbie Mainoo." Speaking about the Panama game, Rooney said: "Against a team with a low block you can play Bellingham deeper. He's a player with intensity, desire and drive. "Morgan Rogers is better suited with his back to goal than Bellingham. Against bigger teams you'll see Jude in that position." On Anderson's potential record move and performances for England, Heskey said: "You have to look past the price tag. The beating stick is always going to be the price tag." Rooney said: "He's a fantastic player. "I'm gutted Manchester United didn't get him but we've seen it when players go for big-money moves - like Kalvin Phillips and Jack Grealish to some extent - they [sometimes] don't fit in." Asked about Rice and Anderson playing as defensive midfielders, Rooney said: "In the Ghana game I don't think it was needed." EXPOSED: England's Biggest World Cup Problem How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Serena Williams won seven of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles at Wimbledon For Serena Williams, everything and nothing has changed on her return to Wimbledon. She is not the same woman who walked off Centre Court four years ago after a loss to Harmony Tan. Since evolving away and then back to tennis, she has had a second daughter, co-founded a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team and danced at the Super Bowl. Some of the faces that practise alongside her have changed. Even some of the grounds have changed, with Williams finding herself momentarily lost on her way to the media centre at Wimbledon. On Tuesday, the 44-year-old will play Maya Joint, 24 years her junior, in the third match on Centre Court - 1,396 days since she last played in the singles. No-one knows how it will go. But for the American great, just being on court is a success. "It's been a very easy retransition. I'm back in the house that I stayed in [for] several years," Williams told Clare Balding in an interview for BBC TV. "It's nothing too new, and at the same time it's everything new. Change is good. "Success [for me] is just walking out there. I never expected to be here. "Success is enjoying myself and sticking to my gameplan that my coach gives me, being disciplined - and that's what I'm trying to do." Defending champion Sinner survives five-set scare Stunned Norrie among 10 Britons to lose on day one The Williams sisters - who will team up again for the doubles here - are synonymous with Wimbledon. For a 19-year period, at least one Williams sister was in all but four singles finals at SW19. They won a combined 12 Wimbledon singles titles - seven for Serena and five for Venus - between 2000 and 2016. Elder sister Venus won it first. Little sister Serena won it more. When they combined they were dominant, winning six women's doubles titles together. When they faced one another it was absorbing - two players who knew each other's games inside out, from years spent on the practice courts in Compton, California. If you think of the Williams sisters you see them in the Wimbledon whites, moving around a grass court, two beautiful service motions, with athleticism, power, and touch at the net to boot. As Serena said - it is not every day Wimbledon holds a wildcard for someone. "I can name probably like a handful of people. I happened to be one of them," she said. "I thought, 'I should really take this opportunity'. Who knows if I'll ever make it here again? This could be it. "I was like, 'What's wrong with you, Serena? What are you thinking? Are you nuts?' I have this great opportunity to showcase what I do best." Will her age and all that comes with it - being half a step slower out of the corners of the court, having to conserve more energy the longer a match goes on - be too tough to overcome? Or will her aura, the sheer sense of simply just being Serena Williams, be enough to carry her through the opening round at least? David Quayle, Williams' British hitting partner who helped her prepare for her return in the doubles at Queen's earlier in June, says it is "hard sometimes not to feel a little bit nervous" around Williams. "It's a funny thing to see someone that you have watched their serve on TV for so many years, and then all of a sudden that serve is coming at you," he told BBC Sport in June. "You're fighting between admiring some of the shots and actually playing them. She's got that kind of aura. "I'm starting to getting a little bit more used to seeing her over the other side of the net, but every day is special." This video can not be played The nerves have come for Serena Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk practised with the American the week before the Championships and told BBC Sport she did not know what to expect. "I was a little nervous. I've never hit a ball with her, never practised, never played a match, so I didn't know what to expect," the 12th seed said. "She played really good. She still has an incredible serve. "She's very good on grass - I'm very excited to see her play." Greece's Maria Sakkari added: "I never had any doubt that the way she plays and her shot-making would be fine. "They were 'clean', as always. I believe she will win matches, especially on grass. "After that, it will come down to how much she can endure over longer periods. I think that will be her biggest challenge." Fellow great Novak Djokovic, who has remained a friend of Williams' away from the tour, said he had seen her in the gym "more than when she was at her prime". "It tells me that she really wants this to work out the best way possible," the 24-time Grand Slam champion said. "It's admirable, honestly, the effort she's putting in. I just hope that she will enjoy it because she really deserves it. "She created something historical, legendary in her career. She deserves every applause she's going to get." How to follow Wimbledon day two live on the BBC How 'gruelling' doping protocols almost put Williams off comeback

There was an error Four-time winners Germany are knocked out of the 2026 World Cup, losing to Paraguay 4-3 on penalties, following a 1-1 draw after extra time. MATCH REPORT: Germany 1-1 Paraguay Available to UK users only.

Matthieu Jalibert and Louis Bielle-Biarrey were part of the Bordeaux-Begles team that retained the Champions Cup title with victory over Leinster in this year's final in Bilbao Try-scoring bonus points in next season's Champions Cup pool stage will be awarded only to teams who cross at least three more times than their opponents – rather than for simply scoring four or more tries. The concept, which is used in France's Top 14, the southern hemisphere's Super Rugby and, from next season, will be implemented in England's second-tier Champ, aims to keep matches competitive for longer. It has been felt that losing teams could pick up a four-try bonus point too easily as opponents with a comfortable lead ease off in the final quarter. There will also be a change in qualification criteria for the last-16 stage. Previously the top four teams from each of the four six-strong pools would progress, with home advantage in the knockouts decided by a seeding based on group-stage records. From 2026-27, only three teams from each of the four pools will go through automatically, with the remaining four last-16 spots allocated on the basis of table points collected. With wins being the primary tie-breaker, it is now impossible for a repeat of last season's scenario, in which Leicester and Bulls, who finished fourth in their respective pools with just one win each, progressed at the expense of the Sharks, who won two but finished fifth in their group. The Champions Cup will begin in October next season, rather than December, in the hope of engaging fans earlier in the season. Despite organisers highlighting increased crowd numbers and digital interaction with fans, the Champions Cup's critics claim it has become unwieldy, with logistical difficulties posed by the involvement of South African sides, no round-robin pools in which all teams play each other, and variable quality among the 24 teams involved. South African sides are considering their future participation in European competition, but organisers are confident they will be in the 2026-27 edition at least. The possibility of the tournament being slimmed down to 16 clubs, and potentially being staged as a single block of fixtures towards the end of the season, has been suggested as a way of building its profile and prestige. , external However, any change would need universal approval from various stakeholders, with contracts locking in the current format until 2030. The draw for the 2026-27 pool stage will take place on Wednesday. Drones, specs and sensors - meet RFU's 'Q' behind gadgets for England's stars Magnificent Bordeaux thrash Leinster to retain Champions Cup Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast

George Russell set his pole position time in Austria shortly after Red Bull's Max Verstappen crashed into the barrier at Turn Nine Mercedes' George Russell took his second win of the season with victory from pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen recovered from a crash in the final part of qualifying to finish second at Red Bull's home race, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli in third. Russell's win moves him back up to second in the drivers' standings, 40 points behind team-mate Antonelli. BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson answers your latest questions before this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone. I think a pole position under a yellow flag sets a dangerous precedent, because it's clear that from now on, everyone will continue to push hard after a small slow down, or else their lap will be cancelled. I'd be curious to hear your opinion - Lorenzo George Russell's pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix, the foundation for his victory on Sunday, came about in controversial circumstances. According to the rules, Russell did nothing wrong. Marshals trackside initially waved a single yellow flag when Max Verstappen crashed at Turn Nine. Kimi Antonelli mis-read the light board as a double yellow, and backed out of his lap - the correct response for what he thought to be the case. Under a double yellow, drivers have to "slow down and be prepared to stop". But under a single yellow, a driver does not have to abandon their lap. They only have to not set a fastest time in the relevant section of the track. Russell complied with this, but the rest of his lap was fast enough to put him on pole anyway. The concern here is less the specifics of these rules, but whether the correct flag was shown in the circumstances. The answer to that has to be no. Verstappen crashed at the fastest corner on the track, which is taken at close to 140mph. Turn Nine is notoriously challenging, with its downhill entry, and an exit kerb that's easy to over-run. Both Verstappen and Antonelli questioned the decision to show only a single yellow at the time, when Verstappen's car was in the barrier at this corner as other drivers were seeking to set what would be their fastest laps of the weekend. Verstappen described it as "quite crazy". Antonelli said: "There was a car in the wall in a fast corner. I don't know why it didn't go double-yellow straight away, because it's a super-quick corner, and if you go off at the same time, it can end up very badly. That was a bit confusing. "For sure it's something that needs to be reviewed, especially when it happens in a high-speed corner. "If it's a slow-speed [corner], single yellow can be OK but fast corners should be double yellow straight away." To underline the point, within 20 seconds, race control upgraded the flag to a double yellow, but everyone had completed their laps by then. This video can not be played Russell's weekend showed 'maturity and experience' Just what went wrong with Ferrari in Austria, having qualified in second and third places but then finishing a distant fifth and eighth in the race, after winning in Spain? - Andrew Lewis Hamilton described the Austrian Grand Prix as "a reality check" for Ferrari, after he and Charles Leclerc limped to fifth and eighth places the race after the seven-time champion's impressive victory in Barcelona. Both Ferraris simply lacked pace and grip in Austria, and they were the only top team to do a three-stop strategy. The first thing to point out is that their grid positions were not representative. They ended up second and third only because Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli did not complete their final laps. Had they, the Ferraris would likely have been fourth and fifth. Hamilton revealed that there had been some disagreement between him and the team over strategy before the race. "This morning in the strategy meeting they said it's a two-stop, three-stop is four seconds slower," he said. "And last night and this morning they gave us that information. "But I was dead set it was a three for me. I thought the (tyre) deg was going to be super high. Particularly as the track temperature was the highest we've had it in a long, long time. It was a mid-50s to 60-degree track temperature. So I thought the deg was going to be massive for us. "So I wanted to start on the soft, but the team were nervous. And so we ended up, they pushed for us to start on the medium, which ultimately I think was sub-optimum. "I think we probably would have been around the same place. Maybe, just maybe I would have been able to pass out on the soft. Maybe I'd have got fourth." Team boss Frederic Vasseur said he thought Hamilton had been suckered into trying to stay with the Mercedes early in the race and paid the price. "Looking back, we were probably too focused on Mercedes," Vasseur said. "We pushed too hard in the opening laps with both cars and then perhaps reacted too aggressively with the strategy, trying to stay with them when, realistically, that wasn't our race." In the context of the season, it's Barcelona that seems the anomaly, not Austria, not withstanding the chassis upgrade introduced in Spain and the engine boost in Austria. Hamilton said: "We don't know why we were so competitive on Sunday in Barcelona. That's a very strong track for me. I chose a strategy that I thought, from experience, I knew that would work. With the deg that we had, it was like 2021. "But then today, I think we were hit more with reality, which is that we still do have a good car, but we are down compared to Mercedes, just in our pace. "They just are quicker. We still have to keep developing. It doesn't mean we can't close that gap. "That one win doesn't mean we're going to be beating them all the time. I think it's the opposite. We've got a lot of work to do. We still have to continue to add performance to the car, particularly in power, and that's where we're going to have to keep working at." Relief for Russell as 'vitally important' win 'reminds myself I can do it' Russell impresses and Verstappen bounces back - driver ratings With the driver market 'silly season' already in full swing, which drivers do you think might be switching teams for 2027? - Josh One of two things is going to happen in the driver market among the top teams this year. Either almost nothing at all, or chaos. The determining factor between these two extremes is Max Verstappen. If he wants to leave Red Bull, and can find somewhere to go, then quite a few drivers will probably end up moving. If he doesn't, little will change. On the face of it, most of the top teams have two drivers under contract. Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, but has a performance clause in his deal that the team will not satisfy, and which means he is theoretically free if he wants to be. But both Ferrari and McLaren drivers are under contract beyond the end of this season, and George Russell insists he is "100%" certain to stay at Mercedes, where Kimi Antonelli's future is secure. Verstappen, though, is Verstappen, and contractual blocks in F1 can always be resolved if the will is there. There is the question of Fernando Alonso's future, and whether he decides to stay or leave F1, but Aston Martin are not an especially enticing option in the context of this season, the presence of Adrian Newey notwithstanding. British Grand Prix 3-5 July Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and Sports Extra; live text updates on BBC Sport website and app Do Williams run the risk of losing one or both drivers given how far they have regressed since last year? - Martin Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon would be forgiven if they were pretty unhappy at Williams right now, although they have been very measured in their public comments this year so far. Both were sold a vision of the team that has simply not come to pass. Team principal James Vowles had been saying since he joined Williams at the start of 2023 that all the team's effort and focus was going into making 2026 the year they took a major step towards their aim of winning races again. Instead, after finishing fifth last year - something of a surprise to the team, who made no bones about the fact that they did not commit that many resources to 2025 because of their focus on this season - they have slumped in competitiveness this year. Williams lie eighth in the constructors' championship, but they are realistically only not ninth because of Audi's poor reliability record. On pure pace, the Williams is the ninth fastest car - 2.1 seconds off the pace, and nearly 0.4secs slower than the next car, the Haas. Only Aston Martin's woeful year is saving Williams' blushes right now. The car missed the first test, started the season more than 20kg overweight and lacks downforce in medium and high-speed corners. Vowles has talked about the complexity of this year's car testing the factory beyond its boundaries. Why wasn't the factory ready for that three years into his leadership? The argument is that the success of last year convinced Williams they could push their build start date later to enhance development, only to find that weaknesses previously unseen were exposed. Why is the car lacking so much performance? Apart from the weight, there has been no answer to that. Vowles says there are developments coming in the next couple of races, and more before and after the August break. He wants people to judge the team at the end of the season, not a third of the way into it. Still, in that context, Sainz and Albon would be forgiven for looking at their options. Both are free at the end of the season if they want to be, but where would they go? If no seats open up at a top team, is it worth switching to another midfield team? Joining Alpine, even if a seat is available? Go to Audi, which Sainz rejected at the end of 2024 in favour of Williams - a decision that looked smart last season; less so this? Their options are limited, so they may end up staying where they are. Not because they are especially impressed by where Williams are, even if the team insist progress is being made across the board, but because their options elsewhere are not that enticing. Send us your question for F1 correspondent Andrew Benson Is George Russell back on track? Austrian Grand Prix Review

This video can not be played Martinelli scores a stoppage-time winner to send Brazil through to last 16 Half-time in Houston and Brazil's players trudged off knowing what the mood would be back home. They were 45 minutes from another early World Cup exit - their swiftest since 1966 - and national humiliation. Japan had kept Brazil at arm's length in their last-32 tie, got themselves in front, and looked quite comfortable. For a team who had not come from behind to win a World Cup knockout game since 2002, things did not look good and, for those watching on, an upset was starting to look a realistic prospect. But we should have known better than to doubt Carlo Ancelotti. The Brazil coach is a serial winner. A record five Champions League wins as a manager, trophies in all five of Europe's major leagues. You name it, he's won it. At least at club level. But this is his first international job and the Italian is Brazil's first foreign coach at a World Cup, so surely even he was a little concerned after the first 45 minutes. "No. Not really. I was confident in our team," he said. Unflustered to the last. By that stage, of course, Ancelotti had masterminded Brazil's first comeback victory in a World Cup knockout game since beating Turkey in the semi-finals some 24 years ago. Crisis had been averted and a last-16 tie against either Ivory Coast or Norway awaits. But there is no doubt it required the 67-year-old keeping his cool to get them there. Last-gasp Martinelli strike edges Brazil past Japan Ancelotti has made a strong start to life as an international manager, winning nine of his first 15 games in charge of Brazil. But while he might not have felt it, the pressure was undeniably on as he walked back to the dressing room to deliver his half-time team talk. "It was [a scare for Brazil]," South American football expert Tim Vickery told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I would like to impress on you the size of the humiliation that this Brazil side were facing at half-time. "Brazil, for obvious reasons, they are traditionalist snobs. The idea of being knocked out, not in the quarter-final, but in the last 32 against a team from Asia. "Even if it is unfair - of all the teams that Brazil could face as group winners, Japan were the most dangerous to them - these players were facing a historic humiliation." While a number of Brazil players struggled in the first half, the only substitution Ancelotti made at the break was enforced as Endrick replaced the injured Lucas Paqueta. "Sometimes Ancelotti's greatest ability is to do nothing," Vickery added. "An oasis of calm in all the chaos around him - and it has paid off again." Ancelotti acknowledged that Brazil had "ran into some trouble" against a well-organised Japan side, but backed his players to get themselves out of their predicament. "Our team was out on the field. We were not lost like in the first half of Morocco," he said. This video can not be played Casemiro heads in Brazil's equaliser The personnel largely stayed the same but it was a different Brazil team in the second half. There was a purpose and intensity to their play that had been lacking in the first half and a number of tactical tweaks, mostly notably a willingness to get the ball into the box. Brazil put in 12 crosses in the first half but generally tried to break down a stubborn Japan backline with the intricate, short passing you might expect of the South American side. In the second, that was forgotten as they put 28 crosses into the box. Even taking into account six minutes of stoppage time, that is under two minutes per cross. With runners arriving on the blindside of the defenders at the back post, Japan struggled to cope and it was little surprise that Casemiro's equaliser came from this simple but effective ploy. "Changes at half-time by Carlo Ancelotti made the difference," former England full-back Stephen Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Japan couldn't deal with their balls into the box." Ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton added: "It is about finding a way. All the experience Brazil have, and enough in the tank to knock an excellent Japanese team out of the World Cup." There is a romanticism to the idea of Brazil as a side full of attacking flair, playing carefree football, and Ancelotti is not a coach who would want to stamp that out - but he is also aware that sometimes winning requires a different approach. "The only acceptable outcome is victory. Is a brand of football enough? We can never be content with what we are doing," he added. "Was it a step forward? This was the more complete game that we played. We had more trouble in the first half because Japan were coming in strongly. In the second half we overcame it. "I believe this is an evolution for sure. We struggled to find space at first but we are able to solve this problem very well." This video can not be played Martinelli scores late winner to send Brazil through Ultimately, for all that Ancelotti's changes made a difference, it was a Japan mistake and the composure of Bruno Guimaraes and Gabriel Martinelli that clinched victory for Brazil. A 95th-minute winner to keep their dreams of a sixth World Cup triumph alive. "We said before the World Cup, there is this aspect that football has its moments," Ancelotti said. "There is no 'not making mistakes' because nobody is perfect, but you have to overcome them and push forward. That's what the team did." Brazil were made to work, but overcoming these situations should only make them stronger - winning so dramatically will certainly give them momentum. Perhaps the overriding emotion at full-time, though, was relief. "Saving the nation" was the verdict of former Brazil midfielder Lucas Leiva, while Vickery spoke of them "climbing Everest the hard way". Ancelotti, though, was never concerned. He knows how to win and this was just one of many hurdles his side will have to overcome. "They are on to something under Ancelotti," Sutton added. "Crafty Carlo does it again. That is what he does." Play BBC Sport's World Cup predictor game World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV

There was an error Netherlands miss three spot kicks as Morocco come from behind to beat the Dutch on penalties in Monterrey to reach the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. MATCH REPORT: Netherlands 1-1 (2-3 pens) Morocco Available to UK users only.

This video can not be played 'Terrible decision' - Germany have goal controversially disallowed by VAR Germany thought their blushes had been spared when defender Jonathan Tah rose highest to head his side into a 2-1 lead in the 12th minute of extra time of their World Cup tie with Paraguay, only for the video assistant referee (VAR) to intervene. The unmarked Tah rose at the back post and powered a header across Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, but the effort was chalked off after what former England captain Alan Shearer called a "pathetic" incident seconds before. As the corner was swung in, Germany's Waldemar Anton was judged to have impeded Gill, as the goalkeeper fell to the turf before getting up and attempting to make the save from Tah's header. But after referee Jalal Jayed made his way over to the pitchside monitor at the recommendation of the VAR and ruled the goal out, Shearer said on BBC One the Paraguayan had "conned the referee". Shearer insisted: "I don't agree with that decision at all. The keeper falls to the ground on a slight touch and it's very soft. I thought it was a terrible decision. "You have to understand it is a contact sport, the goalkeeper has conned the referee and the VAR. The way he went down was pathetic." And after Paraguay triumphed 4-3 on penalties following the 1-1 draw, Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann was left fuming at the disallowed goal. He said: "In my opinion, this foul was not a real foul; it was actually a joke that his goal was disallowed." Nagelsmann was shown a yellow card for his protests as the effort was ruled out, while his future remains unclear. The end for Nagelsmann? Germany suffer their 'next football nightmare' Inside Paraguay's tears of joy over their seismic World Cup shock 45 minutes from Brazil 'humiliation' - but 'Crafty Carlo' does it again This video can not be played Paraguay stun Germany on penalties to reach last 16 Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, working for German television during the World Cup, likened Tah's disallowed goal to many which Premier League champions Arsenal had scored throughout the season. Klopp told MagentaTV: "If the goal is illegal, then Arsenal won't be English champions. They've scored 60% of their goals that way. "We [Germany] win the game when the ball goes in. So, of course, this is brutal." As the game restarted, former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann shared his views on the decision. "This is soft, in my opinion," Cann said on BBC One. "But judging by what we've seen in the tournament so far, it wouldn't surprise me if they do rule it out. "We've seen two or three goals ruled out for very small offences. This is hardly anything. "It's a small block on the goalkeeper, but for me, it's not enough. I suspect they will be ruling this out. We feel this should not be disallowed." Ex-Scotland winger Pat Nevin, in Boston for BBC Radio 5 Live, also believed the apparent foul was not clear enough to rule the goal out. He said: "It is mayhem around there. There is a block - has it affected the goalkeeper? It looks like it. "It is a subjective call. That is not clear." Sorry, this vote cannot be loaded. In order to vote you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Play BBC Sport's World Cup predictor game World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV

England head coach Thomas Tuchel still has questions to answer as they start the World Cup group stage against DR Congo in Atlanta England head coach Thomas Tuchel describes the World Cup knockout stage as "the third chapter" in a story he hopes will end in the glory of a historic triumph. Tuchel explained that phase one of his stated mission to bring the trophy to England for the first time since 1966 was the preparation training camp in Miami, followed by qualification for the last 32 by topping Group L. "Chapter Two" was satisfactory rather than gripping, with wins against Croatia and Panama either side of a dismal goalless draw with Ghana. England have now entered dangerous territory where one slip or one below-par performance can bring Tuchel's tale to a painful end. They face DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday (17:00 BST), live on BBC TV, with warning signs already posted to the bigger nations that this is becoming the World Cup of shocks. Tuchel's players will at least be spared this city's brutal heat and stifling humidity by the closed roof and temperature control inside the space-age $1.6bn (£1.2bn) Atlanta Stadium. England's World Cup quest has so far been a case of "job done" - but now it all goes on the line in the sudden-death environment of knockout games. Tuchel will stick to Southgate's penalty plan Bigger than Rumble in the Jungle? DR Congo bid for World Cup history This video can not be played Thomas Tuchel responds to criticism of recent performances Tuchel's team selections have been a mixture of tactical tinkering, working around injuries and managing minutes, as well as devising the formulas for England's progress. One key area stands out where England are vulnerable, where elite opponents will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing Tuchel's side. And that is in defence. "The area of the pitch you want stability in is your goalkeeper and back four," former England captain Wayne Rooney told BBC Sport. "With the back four we haven't had that." England's defensive frailty was flagged up before the tournament, especially the possibility of injuries to players such as Newcastle's Tino Livramento and Chelsea captain Reece James, who had both suffered regular problems. Livramento was ruled out even before the World Cup started, and while Tuchel expressed surprise about the hamstring injury James sustained against Croatia, few others were, given his history of such problems. It has left Tuchel's defensive selections exposed, especially at right-back, when James' deputy Jarell Quansah was injured against Panama, leaving England's resources even lighter. James and Quansah will both be missing against DR Congo, with Tuchel saying: "They are getting closer and closer. Jarell is a bit ahead of Reece, but the race is close." England right-backs Quansah and James miss training Reece James' hamstring injury has brought Tuchel's defensive selections under severe scrutiny Their injuries leave Djed Spence as the last right-back standing, although Tuchel could also switch centre-back Ezri Konsa to that position, opening up the possibility of a recall for John Stones. Jordan Pickford is the goalkeeping mainstay, but the defence is unsettled, Tuchel starting with Stones and Konsa in the 4-2 win against Croatia. He then switched to Konsa and Marc Guehi, with Stones dropping out. Tuchel has been left having to factor in 32-year-old Stones starting only five Premier League games before leaving Manchester City at the end of last season, while James only started 20 for Chelsea. The German's apparent fixation with a strategy of picking versatile defenders who can play on both flanks, along with central defenders who can fill in at full-back, has placed England in a tricky situation. If England face Brazil and Vinicius Jr in a potential quarter-final in Miami, this is surely a job for a specialist. Tuchel must hope he is not having to keep his fingers crossed while making those optimistic noises about James' fitness. Elsewhere, Tuchel must also decide whether to start Arsenal's Bukayo Saka against DR Congo. He was given his first start of the World Cup against Panama, lasting 63 minute while continuing to nurse an Achilles tendon problem. Speaking to the media in Atlanta, Tuchel said: "We know these are the moments where we have to find ways to win. We need to dig in and to play at the highest level." He added: "We are the favourites. We play against our own expectations. We expect to go further than the round of 32, so why should the public not expect that?" Tuchel must get every decision right from now on. As with England's players, the head coach cannot afford mistakes. How Tuchel is still searching for solutions out wide - Shearer Declan Rice's value was illustrated by England's defensive vulnerability to counter-attacks in the win against Panama Having qualified from the group stage with a game to spare, Tuchel wisely rested Declan Rice for the win against Panama, a common sense move with Arsenal's outstanding midfielder on a yellow card, while also dealing with injury concerns of his own. Rice has been managing a hamstring problem, and also took a kick on the calf against Ghana. England's display against Panama, where they conceded 13 shots to the underdogs and looked too open to counter-attacks, simply confirmed Rice now stands alongside captain Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham as a player who England simply cannot replace. Tuchel's selection of attack-minded pair Bellingham and Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers brought its rewards, but also left England exposed, leaving Elliot Anderson overworked and over-run in central midfield, through no fault of his own. More accomplished sides than Panama would have inflicted serious punishment. It only underlined Rice's importance. If England are to win the World Cup, they will need his quality in providing a defensive screen, creation going forward, game intelligence - and of course, his delivery from set pieces. Rice not only provides the platform to shield England's questionable defence. He contributes in attack. In short, he is irreplaceable. England, under the fiercely driven Tuchel, are highly unlikely to have their World Cup aspirations undermined by complacency. If there was the slightest danger, it has surely been removed by Germany's shock defeat by Paraguay on penalties, which has placed coach Julian Nagelsmann's position in peril, especially given the vast lobby for ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to succeed him. The Netherlands, with their posse of Premier League players, went the same way against talented Morocco, leading to coach Ronald Koeman's resignation less than 24 hours later. The size of the prize and the penalties for failure have been illustrated by the instant pressure engulfing Nagelsmann - and the departure of Dutch counterpart Koeman - after those losses. Tuchel is aware of the dangers, saying: "There is no percentage of over-confidence in our approach. The games in the round of 32 speak a very clear language. It is very narrow margins. "It actually makes me more calm than nervous." He added: "This is the nature of knockout football. Netherlands and Morocco could have been a quarter-final or semi-final, and Japan and Brazil could have been a quarter-final. "I think it can actually calm our minds. It just shows these are games of narrow margins. It can help us not to over-expect. "Teams are well prepared. It is difficult for any team to break another down." This is threatening to become a World Cup of shocks, with Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil only edging past Japan thanks to Gabriel Martinelli's stoppage-time winner. England and Tuchel must ensure they do not fall victims to another against DR Congo. World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

This video can not be played Mexico set up potential England last-16 tie after win over 10-man Ecuador "We have the chance to do the impossible." After Mexico brushed aside Ecuador to reach the last 16 of the World Cup, some of their celebrating fans already had an eye on their potential next opponents. England face a difficult test in their last-32 tie with DR Congo later on Wednesday but, should they overcome that, it will not get any easier. That is because next up would be a match with Mexico at the iconic Azteca Stadium - a mouthwatering fixture for many football fans, but a daunting one for England supporters. Mexico have never got beyond the quarter-finals of the World Cup, but their impressive displays at this tournament - four games, four wins, eight goals scored and no goals conceded - have their fans dreaming of what could be. "England have the Ballon d'Or favourite Harry Kane leading that team," one fan said. "You have players like Jude Bellingham, and it is scary, but with the momentum we have there is the chance to do the impossible." Based on their performances at this World Cup and their record at the Azteca, Mexico going far should not feel like an impossible target. Their competitive record at this stadium is 70 wins from 89 games, with 17 draws and only two defeats. They are also unbeaten in 10 World Cup games there. Admittedly, the opposition they have faced at the Azteca is not always of the highest quality but, nevertheless, it will be a daunting task for whoever faces them in the last 16. "The whole nation is behind them - we've seen the scenes," former Australia and Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said on ITV. "If it will be England going down to Mexico, it's going to be like stepping into a different World Cup for them." This video can not be played Jimenez's turbulent journey to the last 16 In many ways, the scene was set in the build-up to the game as lightning streaked across the sky on a rainy evening in Mexico, with the weather delaying kick-off by an hour. That seemed to suit Mexico, who came roaring out of the blocks immediately after the game got under way. Julian Quinones opened the scoring with a stunning strike before Raul Jimenez added a second, and the damage was ultimately done before the break. The full-time whistle prompted wild scenes of celebration - not just in Mexico but also cities like Los Angeles, which has a huge Mexican population and where fireworks greeted the final whistle. Thousands of Mexico fans had gathered at a watch party in the heart of downtown LA, and many spoke of their excitement and belief in this team. "This is by far the best performance we have seen from the Mexican team in a long time. It is a great year to be Mexican and a great year to see the World Cup," one fan told BBC World Service. "For them to even top the group was nowhere near the vicinity of thinking. This is happening right now." Another supporter said: "You've seen the energy of the players evolve through the tournament. "There are players now who were getting called out for making mistakes but are now playing amazing. It is great just to see this team and players like they are so connected." Mexico fans celebrated their goals against Ecuador all around Mexico and at watch parties around the world It is not just the arena that England or DR Congo would need to be wary of, but also Mexico's players. They will already be familiar with Wolves striker Jimenez, but Quinones has also been a star at this tournament. The 29-year-old striker, who plays for Al-Qadsiah in Saudia Arabia, scored the opener against Ecuador with a blistering strike that gave the goalkeeper no chance to take his tally at this World Cup to three goals in four games. Mexico also have one of the most exciting teenagers at this tournament in Gilberto Mora, who, at 17 years and 259 days, became the second-youngest player to start a World Cup knockout match, behind only Pele in 1958 (17 yrs, 239 days). Meanwhile, no-one has managed to break down a defence that has faced only six shots on target in four games. "Disciplined, skilled, tenacious - there are so many things we can say about Mexico," former Nigeria striker Efan Ekoku said on BBC Radio 5 Live. "When a home side is playing like that, it's so hard to stop. They are going to be so difficult to play against in the round of 16. It will be a daunting task. "That was one of the best performances that I've seen from a Mexico side in a while." Mexico fans will be feeling that this could well be the year they lift the World Cup for the first time, particularly after something that will have felt like a long-time curse has been broken. That is 'quinto partido' - Spanish for the fifth game. Mexico hosted the World Cup in 1970 and 1986 and reached the quarter-finals in both, but in every tournament after that up to 2018 they have been beaten in their fourth game. In 2022 they failed to get out of their group. Now they have secured that long-elusive fifth game at a World Cup - win that and their fans will truly start to believe that this side could become winners of the tournament. World Cup 2026 knockout path Tuchel will stick to Southgate's penalty plan Right-backs Quansah and James out of DR Congo game

This video can not be played Mbappe scores twice as France dominate Sweden It is not only their devastating finishing about which France's World Cup rivals should be concerned. The spirit and unity of this exceptionally talented Les Bleus team should also worry the remaining sides left in the tournament - and it was on full display during Tuesday's 3-0 dismantling of Sweden. After Kylian Mbappe's superbly crafted opening goal, France's all-time leading scorer ran straight towards his bench to embrace Didier Deschamps. The head coach was back in the dugout for the first time since returning from France to attend the funeral of his mother. It was a heartfelt moment. Mbappe and Deschamps were then joined by the rest of the team. A group hug followed. After an emotional few days, the smile was back on Deschamps' face as his side turned on the style in the baking New Jersey heat to book a last-16 tie with Paraguay in Philadelphia on Saturday, 4 July (22:00 BST). "This group is united and they delivered when I was not here [last week]," said Deschamps afterwards. "The team spirit of this group doesn't make you win matches. But I know if it's the other way round, you can lose games. The collective strength is above everything." Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni added: "We know the coach is going through a lot, we are trying to give everything to make him as happy as possible." Bradley Barcola made it 2-0 before Mbappe added his second to move level on six goals with Argentina's Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. "You cannot stop this kind of ability," former England striker Ian Wright told ITV Sport. "France are one of the most clear favourites I have ever seen in a World Cup tournament." Wright's former Arsenal team-mate Patrick Vieira, a World Cup winner with France in 1998, added: "They showed to everyone that they are the team to beat." He was not wrong. As well as Mbappe's outstanding finishing, Michael Olise chipped in with another couple of assists to take his tally to five for the tournament, as France became the first team to score three or more goals in five straight World Cup matches. It was a breathless display that left the 80,000 fans lucky to be inside the stadium asking: is anyone capable of stopping France's Class of 2026? Mbappe scores twice as France breeze past Sweden into last 16 Deschamps returns to France after death of his mother Mbappe v Haaland: Who is more important for their country? This video can not be played Mbappe celebrates goal with Deschamps Four years on from suffering penalty heartbreak against Argentina in the final in Qatar, Les Bleus look determined to make amends and go all the way this time. They missed a catalogue of chances against Sweden as they clocked up 25 attempts - their highest total in a single World Cup match since 1998. Yet France have still scored 13 times in four games in the United States and their individual statistics are on a different level. Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele has six goal involvements (four goals, two assists), Michael Olise has five assists and hit the post with an outrageous acrobatic attempt. But in Mbappe they have a player in his prime, at his sharpest, showing why he is one of the best finishers on the planet. Not only is he level in the race for the Golden Boot - awarded to the leading scorer at the tournament - the Real Madrid forward now has 18 World Cup goals, one behind Messi who has scored more than anyone else in the history of the competition. France's captain has scored two or more goals in seven different World Cup matches, three more than any other player. "What we saw from France was precision and devastation," former England full-back Gary Neville told ITV Sport. "That [front] four that started the game [Mbappe, Dembele, Olise and Barcola] - they will cause nightmares for every single defender in the tournament and I don't know how they stop that to be fair. "They are a level above. Brazil won in the last minute, Germany and the Netherlands have gone out. France are showing everyone else in this round how to do it. "The rest are looking at them thinking: 'That's the level we have got to get to'." Even Sweden boss Graham Potter admitted: "It's no disgrace to go out to this France team. "I haven't seen a better team." Olise started his footballing journey at Hayes & Yeading United at the age of six. Eighteen years on, the former Crystal Palace player is showing the world what an outstanding talent he is on the biggest stage of all. Born in Hammersmith to a Nigerian father and a French-Algerian mother, Olise is the first player to provide five or more assists at a single World Cup tournament since 1994. "Michael is playing top-notch football," added Deschamps. "He is a major influence within the squad and is the link between the strikers and the defence. "He is a bit of an introvert, but he is not an introvert on the pitch." This French team is setting records each time they play. Dembele and Mbappe have combined for six goals in the United States - four assists from Dembele to Mbappe, two from Mbappe to Dembele. That is more than any other duo on record since 1966 in the competition. "They just have a team in the forward areas that is riddled with superstars," former Scotland striker Ally McCoist told ITV Sport. "There is no other explanation for it. They are favourites, favourites don't always win, but they are favourites for a reason, and we saw that today." This video can not be played Great angle of Mbappe's second goal Should France make it five wins out of five and beat Paraguay, they will face the winners of the match between co-hosts Canada and Morocco in the quarter-finals at Boston Stadium on Thursday, 9 July (21:00 BST). Deschamps, however, is refusing to look too far ahead. "Please, slow down," he said when asked in his post-match news conference if his side could go all the way. "There is always room for improvement and things shouldn't be all gold. "We have reached the round of 16. Let's appreciate that. We know what is expected of us. "We did what we had to do despite the first 15 minutes being a bit timid. "We could have been a bit more efficient in the first half. We have reached the round of 16, but it's only the round of 16. We have to stay calm."

This video can not be played Williams edged by Joint in epic three‑setter on singles return Serena Williams walked out onto Wimbledon's Centre Court, closed her eyes, took a deep breath and smiled at the ovation that greeted her. Williams has consistently said she has nothing left to prove as she resumes the tennis career from which she evolved away in 2022. But no-one was sure what to expect on Tuesday evening when she faced Australia's Maya Joint in what was the 44-year-old's first singles match in four years. There would have been a moment of relief for Williams when she won her first point at SW19 for 1,462 days - a forced error from Joint in response to a huge return of serve from the American. The match ended in a 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 win for Joint, who started strongly, weathered a second-set dip, and regrouped impressively from a break down in the third. The competitive nature that propelled Williams to 23 Grand Slam titles means she will not be satisfied with the outcome. She has often said she hates losing more than she loves winning. And this was not vintage Williams. She played better as the match went on before fading in the third set. There were, however, glimpses of the player that dominated the WTA Tour for over two decades. "I was a bit cynical and very curious about what was going to happen in this match," former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash said on BBC Radio 5 Live. "What we saw is two people playing very good tennis and Maya being able to handle the pace of Serena. "Serena played an incredible level. If she wants to play this way and play some more tennis, she is going to be a real handful. "Serena played better now than she did at the end [of her career] four years ago." Poor Wimbledon performance prompts yet another British inquest Dimitrov makes winning return after tearful exit Tearful Swiatek overcomes scare on Wimbledon return This video can not be played Williams takes it all in on Wimbledon return Williams did not do a press conference after her match, opting to release a statement instead. She may have downplayed the importance of winning on her tennis comeback, but it soon became obvious she was feeling the pressure. Known for her heavy groundstrokes and devastating serve, neither shot seemed to find their mark in a tense opening first set in which she registered only five winners and two aces. "Something Williams' coaching team have been trying to point out to her is her breathing," former British number one Laura Robson said on BBC TV. "At times, especially in the first set, it looked like she wanted it so bad that she was almost forgetting to release into the shot." There were flashes of brilliance, with a number of serves clocking in excess of 120mph, but Williams' movement looked laboured and she often conceded points without even attempting to reach the ball. "There were some points that didn't have the conviction she has always naturally had. It looked like she was pulling back at times," Robson added. Williams - desperate to put up a fight - did improve considerably in the second set, forcing more errors from Joint's racquet, increasing her first serve percentage (63%) and more than tripling her winner count (17). And when it counted most, Williams upped the ante, using her booming serve to save a match point and force a deciding set. But fatigue soon took its toll as Williams struggled to keep up the pace as Joint fired 15 winners to the former world number one's four. "She was a little unlucky to come up against such a bright talent in Joint who lived up to it, and almost outplayed her at the back of the court and was so mentally strong," former British number one Annabel Croft said on BBC Radio 5 Live. This video can not be played 'The best of all time' - enjoy some trademark Williams shots Williams had been practising hard while preparing for her return, but there is no substitute for time on the match court - and ultimately she only played two doubles matches before her singles return. She will need more matches under her belt if she wants to win in singles, particularly if she plays on the hard courts against opponents who hit the ball flat and hard. Williams' movement was exposed by Joint, with the American finding herself either off balance or rooted to the spot as a winner went past her. The next major is the US Open - her home Slam, and the site of what was assumed to be her final singles appearance in 2022. Four years ago in New York, Williams beat then world number two Anett Kontaveit on an electric night on Arthur Ashe Stadium. All three of her matches drew packed, star-studded crowds - something few players can achieve. "If that is the level of your first match back, imagine if she plays a bit more," Croft added. "I guess the factor will be if her body can stand up to it and how is she going to feel tomorrow. "I'm looking at her today and thinking 'how on earth did we doubt that she wasn't sure if she was going to come back to playing singles?'"

This video can not be played Netherlands crumble in penalty shootout as Morocco reach last 16 Ronald Koeman has resigned as Netherlands manager after their World Cup exit. The news came as it emerged earlier on Tuesday that Dutch players who missed penalties were racially abused online. Koeman's side were knocked out by Morocco in a last-32 shootout after a 1-1 draw in Monterrey. Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Crysencio Summerville all missed their efforts and were subjected to discriminatory, racist and hateful comments on social media, said the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB). Koeman, 63, has stepped down from his second spell in charge of the national side and hinted that he may have ended his managerial career altogether. He said on Instagram , external : "Looking back on my career, I feel especially proud. I have worked with clubs and people that shaped me and gave me memories that I will cherish for a lifetime. "We all dreamed of a World Cup in which we would write history. That didn't work out. No-one is more disappointed about that than me. "The past years have made me realise again that there are more important things than football. Football has been my life, but health is priceless. When someone you love is fighting a tough battle, your perspective changes." Koeman's wife Bartina , external has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Meanwhile, the KNVB said it would seek criminal charges against anyone who had abused its players. "We find this appalling," the FA said. , external "Once a report is filed, legal staff assess whether the statement constitutes a punishable offence. This can lead to a formal complaint being lodged with the Public Prosecution Service, which may then initiate a criminal investigation." England's Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho suffered abuse after missing penalties in the European Championship final defeat by Italy in 2021. That led to two people being sentenced to prison and another receiving a suspended sentence. "Football brings together millions of different people, whereas discrimination does the exact opposite. It therefore runs counter to everything football stands for," added the KNVB. Koeman's contract was expiring anyway, but he feels it is a good time to step away. His wife is ill at the moment so he wants to spend time with her, which is a big part of it. He had two terms. He came in 2018 and was considered a real success. He brought in players like Frenkie de Jong and they were winning Nations League games against teams like France and Germany. They qualified for the Euros, which got postponed, and then he got the chance to manage Barcelona. When he came back as Netherlands manager, things have just been more difficult from the start. He just hasn't been able to convince. He has been considered by many as being too defensive. Against Morocco, he went with five defenders, which he hadn't played for a long time. That needed a real adjustment. That was remarkable - it was allowing Morocco to play. His second campaign never got going. They did draw with Spain twice in Nations League games and we saw they could play, but that is the biggest disappointment that we never got to that level again. After the game it was clear he would leave and that Holland would need a new start. World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Marcus Willis' remarkable Wimbledon 2016 run came to an end with a 6-0 6-3 6-4 defeat by seven-time champion Roger Federer Marcus Willis is not one for revelling in nostalgia. But given the 35-year-old Briton is best known for lobbing Roger Federer on Centre Court, he knows his 2016 Wimbledon exploits will follow him for the rest of his life. Ten years ago, Willis endeared himself to the nation with a heart-warming run from qualifying to a second-round tie against one of the greatest players of all time. While the world number 772 lost 6-0 6-3 6-4, he won the BBC's Shot of the Tournament for picking off Federer with a delicious shot, and ensured he would forever be a Wimbledon cult hero. "People say, did you enjoy every moment? No, I was playing a tennis match. It's not always fun," Willis, who begins his Wimbledon men's doubles campaign on Wednesday, told BBC Sport. "I'm very grateful for the chance to have been on Centre Court - that's wild - but I wanted to win on Centre Court. "It's strange looking back because it feels like another lifetime." Federer was a multi-millionaire icon. Willis had earned £220 that year and had to be persuaded by his girlfriend to keep playing professionally. Federer treated his body as a temple. Willis called himself 'Cartman' after the South Park character before cutting out booze and junk food. The Swiss superstar had the 'Fed Heads' supporting him. The British outsider had the 'Willbombers' in his corner. It was a contrasting and colourful match-up which led to Willis becoming a national icon - at least for a couple of weeks. This video can not be played Willis wins shot of the tournament at Wimbledon in 2016 Worlds collide as Willis meets Federer Poor Wimbledon performance prompts yet another British inquest From retirement fears to triumphant Wimbledon return for GB's Swan The morning after losing to Federer, an aching Willis limped to the shower at 4:30am to get ready for an interview on ITV's Good Morning Britain. More appearances on national television followed, plus countless interview requests. Then things slowed down. "It was life-changing in the short term. But you know how fickle everything is," Willis said. "You have your phone blowing up and loads of opportunities, then it moves on to someone else. "You have to ride with it, but you learn a lot. Looking back now, I'm a lot more closed off." Willis says his career will inevitably be defined by the Federer experience, but insists his life is not. And, given his extraordinary journey, it is easy to understand why. This season, Willis reached the Australian Open second round and French Open third round with Switzerland's Jakub Paul Willis almost left the sport a few months before he played 20-time major champion Federer. He did quit in 2018 due to injuries and the toll they were taking on his mental health. In 2020, he worked for his cousin's bricklaying business to earn money during the coronavirus pandemic. "That was nice, it was freeing. Some of the conversations are interesting," Willis recalled. "What I loved about it was how whenever the clock hits 12pm or 12:30pm, you're stopping for a tea and your lunch. It's religious. They stop on the dot. "It was an incredible experience. But you wouldn't want me trying to build your house, let's put it that way. I was just trying to earn some money and spend time with my cousin." A couple of years later, Willis was back on the court. He was playing exhibition events when a family friend offered to finance a professional comeback. "People say 'you're still good', but you know the reality of becoming a player," Willis said. "It's not just being good. It's having the money, it's staying injury-free, it's travelling the world, not seeing your kids grow up properly. That's what people don't understand sometimes. "I hadn't thought about it. I went home and saw my wife [Jenny] – she was more keen than I was at the time. "She said go and do it, you get one chance. And now here I am." Willis captured the imagination of Wimbledon fans in 2016, beating future top-10 players Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev in qualifying A decade on from facing Federer, Willis returns to the All England Club after a reinvention as a doubles player. On Wednesday, Willis and partner David Stevenson start their SW19 campaign against British former world number one Joe Salisbury and Uruguay's Ariel Behar. Willis, who is 64th in the world rankings, says he treats his profession more seriously than he ever has and wants to play as long as his body allows him. A more relaxed lifestyle off court helps him deal with the mental side of the sport. The father-of-four is constantly ferrying the kids - aged between seven and 13 - to endless activities including taekwondo, swimming and drumming, as well helping them figure out their homework. He has started his own podcast - called 'What You Talking About Willis?' in homage to 1980s American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes - and still tries to watch his beloved Liverpool as often as possible. "Since I came back into tennis, it's been less dramatic," Willis added. "I just try and improve and be the best tennis player, the best husband, the best dad I can. "It's very different to when I was playing singles back then against Federer, so in terms of its relevance now, I don't think about it too much. "But I guess that experience has probably helped shape who I am." Willis's run at Wimbledon in 2016 was his only appearance in the singles main draw Live scores, results and order of play Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

Moses Itauma has won all 14 of his professional fights, including 12 inside the distance Briton Moses Itauma has been ordered by the IBF to hold talks with Cuba's Frank Sanchez about fighting for the vacant heavyweight title. Last week Oleksandr Usyk relinquished his IBF, WBA 'super' and WBC belts. The IBF said that, "in accordance with IBF championship rules", it wants Sanchez, who is number one in their heavyweight rankings, to fight number three contender Itauma. It said they have until 29 July to reach an agreement. Itauma, 21, is scheduled to fight Croatia's Filip Hrgovic at London's O2 Arena on 29 August in what he has called his "toughest fight". He could pull out of the Hrgovic fight or agree to fight Sanchez after that bout. BBC Sport has contacted Itauma's promoter Queensberry for comment. Itauma claimed an impressive fifth-round stoppage over Jermaine Franklin in Manchester in March. Although the IBF wants to arrange a bout for the vacant title, the WBC upgraded interim champion Agit Kabayel to champion after Usyk gave up its belt. Two-time undisputed heavyweight champion Usyk, who was required to fight German Kabayel after he was granted an exemption to fight Rico Verhoeven in May, is now free to fight any opponent. This video can not be played Itauma's top five knockouts Usyk vacates belts but is not retiring Boxing schedule and results 2026

Alyssa Thomas (right) was part of the USA team that won gold at the Paris Olympics in 2024 Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas says she has received death threats and racist abuse following her one-game ban for an incident with Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark. Six-time All-Star Thomas appeared to knee point guard Clark in the groin and push a fist into her neck during a tussle for possession after Clark fell to the floor during the second quarter of Mecrury's 111-109 victory in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) on Thursday. No foul was called but Thomas was later suspended by the WNBA for "recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area". On Tuesday she said it was a "complete accident" and that Mercury players are "being painted as thugs". She criticised WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not doing more to protect players against abuse. Fever beat Mercury 88-77 two days earlier in a game marred by fouls and confrontations. 'Cheap shots' on Clark 'dangerous' – coach fumes with officiating "It's unfortunate that it's come to this over basketball," Thomas said. "A lot of us - myself included - didn't even know the play took place until after the game. "There's death threats out on us. It's really unacceptable. It's really something that needs to change in this league and I'm just really sick and tired of it. "People are sending racial slurs and all types of stuff. The hatred that we're experiencing over a play that, honestly, was a complete accident... "We still have yet to hear anything from Cathy. It's no surprise. You could see what's being said on social media. As usual she remains silent. "That's unfortunate when our lives our being threatened." In a statement, Engelbert said the WNBA "vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate" and the league's top priority is the safety and wellbeing of players. Thomas served her suspension on Saturday as Mercury beat the Toronto Tempo. Shortly after that incident with Thomas, Clark, who is one of the biggest women's basketball stars of all time, was fouled during a three-pointer which led to an awkward landing. She went off in the second half with a back injury and was ruled out for the rest of the game. The officials reviewed the play, but it was for a potential hostile act by Clark for hitting a defender in the face, rather than for a foul on her. After the game Fever head coach Stephanie White criticised referees for their "egregious" and "utterly disrespectful" officiating around Clark. Mercury and Fever meet again on 9 July in Phoenix.

Kevin Sinfield has been part of England's staff since 2022 England will be ideally prepared for the unique challenge of playing at altitude against world champions South Africa on Saturday, says coach Sir Kevin Sinfield. The iconic Ellis Park in Johannesburg hosts England's Nations Championship opener against the Springboks, a venue nearly 6,000ft above sea level and a place where the visitors have not won since 1972. But having flown out to South Africa 10 days in advance of the game, the players will have had the ideal amount of time to adapt to the conditions, according to Sinfield. "The timescale we allowed here was supposed to be the optimal time for the average person to have adapted and adjusted to the altitude," he told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast. "This is just another challenge for the lads. Our performance team and medical team have tried to give us the best possible preparation for the timelines we have, and it's part of the challenge of Test rugby in South Africa." The lower air pressure at high altitude means fewer oxygen molecules enter the bloodstream. However, after five days on the ground in South Africa, Sinfield says he has already seen his own body adjust to the environment. "My blood oxygen level dropped as soon as we arrived, enough for my alarms to be going off on my watch and phone," he explained. "But I am very close to where I was originally." England's schedule this summer is a daunting one. After facing the Boks this weekend, they fly home to play Fiji in Liverpool before crossing the equator again for a clash with Argentina in Santiago del Estero. But for Sinfield the focus is solely on the task in hand this weekend, and he says the whole squad are desperate to be involved against the Boks. "I'd be very disappointed if any of our 36 lads didn't fancy it this weekend," he added. "Does it get any bigger? Does it get any bigger than this? "Our job as coaches is to make sure we reach our potential. We've got a wonderful squad, a wonderful group of players. "We're in a really challenging country in terms of rugby environment and the quality they have and the depth they have. What a great challenge for us." Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow became friends while playing at Leeds Rhinos Sinfield was awarded a knighthood in the King's Birthday Honours last month for his services to rugby league, rugby union and the motor neurone disease (MND) community. Inspired by his great friend and team-mate Rob Burrow, who died in 2024 after a five-year battle with MND, Sinfield is estimated to have raised more than £11m to aid research and support families affected by the condition. "I am massively overwhelmed, because I always go back to this is just about doing some running for a mate. And that's all it will ever be for me," he said. In September Sinfield will undertake his latest major endurance challenge to raise money and awareness for MND in the hope of eventually finding a cure. For '7 in 7: The Grand Finale' Sinfield run between Hull and Manchester, visiting all 12 English Super League grounds on the route. Starting at the end of September and finishing at the Grand Final on 3 October, he will run almost 28 miles each day. "I am in this for life," Sinfield added. "I made a commitment a number of years ago, and there is a legacy that we need to uphold for Rob and others we have lost on this journey. "I can't run forever, but I will continue to run as long as I can and continue to do it my own way." Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast

There was an error Mexico cruise into the last 16 of the World Cup with a comfortable victory over Ecuador in a weather-delayed contest at the Azteca Stadium. MATCH REPORT: Mexico 2-0 Ecuador Available to UK users only.

This video can not be played Kane scores late winner as England overcome DR Congo to reach last 16 England were 15 minutes from one of the most abject humiliations in their World Cup history until Harry Kane's late heroics helped them overcome DR Congo to face Mexico in the last 16. Kane scored twice to rescue England, as well as head coach Thomas Tuchel, who may not have survived a result that would have ranked alongside the last-16 defeat by Iceland at Euro 2016,and the loss to the United States at the 1950 World Cup, as a national embarrassment. Instead, England's World Cup dream lives on as they head to Mexico City, and into a nation alive with passion and football fever, to face the co-hosts in the iconic surrounding of Azteca Stadium. England's win, however, did not cover cracks exposed regularly in this campaign as well as obvious flaws in selection and performance. Genuine superstar Kane produces his biggest England moment Why did England struggle against DR Congo - and what can they learn? England head coach Thomas Tuchel has plenty of issues to resolve before they face Mexico in Mexico City in the World Cup last 16 Kane and Jude Bellingham have been England's standout performers at this World Cup, contributing goals and world-class inspiration. The pair were both on target in Group L wins against Croatia and Panama. They were England's leading lights against DR Congo. It would help England and Tuchel's cause if others could come to the party. As good as Kane and Bellingham are, there will come a day when they do not bail under-performing team-mates and their head coach out. Bellingham and Kane have been England's driving forces as they have reached the World Cup's last 16 Anthony Gordon had an outstanding impact off the bench with a part in both goals against DR Congo, but it was a frustrating day for Marcus Rashford and Noni Madueke, while Tuchel is still clearly wary of over-exerting Bukayo Saka as he manages an Achilles problem. Kane and Bellingham revel in responsibility as England's leaders, but it is about time others shared the burden around at this World Cup. If Tuchel does know his best team, he is hiding it well – and the amount of shuffling on the flanks and in defence suggests he does not. The right-back position is becoming a poisoned chalice, either because of injuries or loss of form. And the sight of Declan Rice, the glue that holds England together as a performer of the highest class in midfield, ending the win against DR Congo at right-back once again hinted at confusion. Tuchel has self-inflicted wounds because of his selection of two players with a history of injury problems in Tino Livramento and Reece James. Livramento did not even make the World Cup, while there is still no date for James' return from another hamstring injury. Jarell Quansah, a natural central defender for Liverpool then Bayer Leverkusen, played there against Panama but was injured and missed the victory over DR Congo, when Djed Spence played the first 70 minutes at right-back. Declan Rice ended up playing right-back against DR Congo, the latest player to take on England's problem position Ex-England captain Alan Shearer told BBC Sport after that win: "Defensively there were far too many holes in the back four, and when we did give chances away, they scored from their first one, should have scored with the Yoane Wissa one. "Putting Declan Rice to right-back worked because he was the one that got forward and played a part in the equaliser, so Tuchel has a decision to make. "If you asked me before the game I would have been very reluctant, but he can add a little bit of quality where we have lacked with the players we have picked up to now." Rice, however, surely offers too much in midfield, so right-back must be a non-starter. If he did actually end up there again it would be an admission by Tuchel that he got his squad horribly wrong. Asked whether Rice should play at right-back, ex-England defender Micah Richards said: "No, I wouldn't. I feel he can give too much in that central midfield area. If you're going into the Mexico game, which is going to be at altitude, you need his energy in midfield. "I would go with Ezri Konsa at right-back, and put John Stones alongside Marc Guehi. That is a better balance for the team." Stones has been left out after starting the win against Croatia. His experience could be invaluable in the Azteca hothouse, especially after Konsa and Guehi went missing for Brian Cipenga's goal. Former England captain Wayne Rooney added: "For me, there are big concerns. In particular, when England lose the ball they are so open. "Against a better team, I think we're in big trouble if we don't sort that out. We're so open in midfield." Throwing in the constant changing on the flanks, it all adds up to Tuchel still having serious questions about his first-choice side. The debate has raged over Tuchel's exclusion of natural creators such as Chelsea's Cole Palmer and Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden from his World Cup squad. It is easy to say in hindsight as they both had poor seasons at club level. Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White and Bournemouth's Alex Scott had bigger claims, but were also ignored. There is no doubt, however, that England have lacked creative force, especially in the goalless draw against Ghana. Brentford's Jordan Henderson, now 36, will only be used as a substitute. Once again the question should be asked - would his place have been better served taken by Gibbs-White or Scott? Or even Palmer or Foden? Foden was used as a false nine in the Wembley loss to Japan, but the experiment failed and effectively finished his World Cup hopes. If England go deeper into the World Cup they will need match-shifting moments. As flagged up before, they cannot - and should not - rely on Kane and Bellingham every time. The biggest pre-World Cup worry for England was how they would cope should any misfortune befall captain Kane. Tuchel went through the card, using Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dominic Solanke in the March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. Clearly unconvinced, he went with Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins after a fine end to the season, and Ivan Toney who is playing in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ahli. Toney was the big left-field pick, not figuring for the national side for a year following a three-minute appearance as a substitute when England lost a friendly against Senegal in June 2025, and yet suddenly parachuted back into the World Cup squad. Fortunately Kane is fit and firing – and then some – but has Tuchel really got full faith in Watkins and Toney? Ivan Toney was once again an unused substitute in England's win against DR Congo and has yet to play in the World Cup In England's four games so far, Toney has been nowhere to be seen, while Watkins got six minutes as a substitute in place of Kane with victory assured against Panama. When England needed a goal in the stalemate against Ghana, Toney and Watkins were ignored as Tuchel sent on Saka, Rashford, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers. When they were chasing the game against DR Congo, they once again remained seated. Tuchel said he had a time in mind for them to come on which, seeing as Kane's winner came four minutes from the end, was presumably very late. Tuchel will still be keeping his fingers crossed that Kane stays fit, especially with Toney and Watkins placed in cold storage. World Cup fixtures and group standings England into last 16 - what is their path to the final? England sneak through - but who had a nightmare start? Player ratings

Elliot Anderson will become Manchester City's record signing when he joins from Nottingham Forest Elliot Anderson will now become the most expensive British player in history as the midfielder's impending £116m move to Manchester City from Nottingham Forest shatters previous marks. City confirmed on Thursday they had reached an agreement with Forest to sign Anderson - the formalities of the transfer being completed after his participation at the World Cup concludes. In 1979, Forest broke the British transfer record to buy Trevor Francis from Birmingham, making him the first £1m player. On this occasion, they will be receiving a record transfer fee, with Anderson to eclipse the £105m Arsenal paid for Declan Rice three years ago. Since joining from Newcastle two years ago for £35m, Anderson has become a crucial player for Forest and has started every game for Thomas Tuchel at the World Cup. Having a historic tag around his neck carries its own unique pressures and expectations, so is he worth the huge fee? Transfer fees often reflect potential as much as proven quality. In Anderson's case, City appear to believe they have bought both. At 23, Anderson will arrive at Etihad Stadium as their record signing - beating the £100m City paid for Jack Grealish - having enjoyed a remarkable campaign for Forest, in which he quietly established himself as one of the Premier League's most complete central midfielders. While Forest finished 16th, Anderson's influence on their performances was extraordinary. No player in the Premier League recorded more touches than Anderson's 3,300 during the 2025-26 campaign. He also led the division for duels won (298), possessions won (306) and fouls won (80), underlining just how frequently he involved himself at both ends of the pitch. Those numbers paint the picture of a midfielder who is constantly in the game. He demands possession, regains it more often than anyone else and rarely allows the intensity of his performance to drop. His quality on the ball is equally striking. Among Premier League central midfielders, Anderson completed more passes (2,038) than anyone else and also led the position with 376 line-breaking passes. Rather than simply recycling possession, he consistently looked to eliminate opponents by playing through defensive lines and advancing Forest up the pitch. That blend of security and ambition is rare. The physical data is every bit as impressive. Anderson covered 411km across the Premier League season, second only to Everton 's James Garner, while his 1,895 high-intensity pressures ranked second among midfielders. He started 37 league matches and only failed to do so once, when Forest heavily rotated before a Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa at the start of May. Availability has become one of football's most valuable attributes. Anderson not only performs at a high level, he does so week after week. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of his campaign is the environment in which those numbers were produced. Forest - who went through four managers - spent much of the season playing transitional football rather than dominating possession, meaning Anderson was regularly asked to defend large spaces before quickly turning defence into attack. Despite those demands, he still finished among the league leaders for progressive passing while also topping multiple defensive categories. His attacking contribution should not be overlooked either. Anderson finished the Premier League season with four goals and four assists, while creating 54 chances, nine big chances and generating 4.8 expected assists. Within Forest's squad, no player created more chances or big chances. The statistics suggest City have not simply agreed to sign another technically-gifted midfielder, they are acquiring a player capable of influencing every phase of the game. Record transfer fees inevitably invite scrutiny. Yet Anderson's numbers explain why City are prepared to invest so heavily. Few midfielders combine elite ball-winning, relentless work rate, progressive passing and creative output in the way he does. The challenge now is translating those qualities into one of the world's most demanding teams. If Anderson can reproduce anything close to his Forest levels in a City side that expects to dominate possession every week, the record fee may soon look far less remarkable than it does today. Anderson's journey to England star and potential record signing Man City agree record fee with Forest for Anderson Elliot Anderson made his England debut in September 2025 and has 13 caps Three years ago, Real Madrid paid Borussia Dortmund £115m for Jude Bellingham, with City now putting Anderson on a par with his England team-mate. It smashes Forest's previous record sale when Anthony Elanga was transferred to Newcastle last summer for an initial £55m. Anderson moved to the City Ground from Newcastle in 2024, making 94 appearances, in all competitions, and scoring six goals. The outpouring of emotion after his mum Helen passed away in April and tributes paid showed how much he was valued and respected at Forest. He impressed staff with his commitment and regularly talked to coaches to discuss the best way to improve both himself and the team. His positional awareness also earned praise, though his work-rate and desire to cover as much ground as possible means he can often tire himself out. A demanding individual, on himself and his team-mates, Forest viewed Anderson as having the potential to become a complete player - something which he could now realise at the Etihad. He will leave a hole at the City Ground, one which Forest are looking to fill with potentially two players, a deep lying midfielder and a number eight. Inter Milan's Davide Frattesi remains an option for that role but the Italy international has other interest, including from Juventus and Roma. Tottenham 's Lucas Bergvall is also high on Forest's list, with the 20-year-old open to leaving Spurs after limited minutes, while he wants to play as a number six which suits Forest. Elliot Anderson helped Nottingham Forest to the Europa League semi-finals last season Anderson will become City's first major signing of the post-Pep Guardiola era with Enzo Maresca being officially confirmed as his replacement. Maresca left Chelsea on New Year's Day , departing less than six months after winning the Club World Cup, but City have reached a compensation agreement with the Blues to bring their former assistant back. It is a huge appointment following Guardiola's 10-year legacy of six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five Carabao Cups and a Champions League. Under Maresca, Chelsea 's midfield was built around aggressive ball recovery and winning possession high before playing forward quickly. Moises Caicedo was the defensive reference point while Enzo Fernandez pushed much higher rather than acting as a deep controller. Maresca's midfield is crucial when his teams do not have the ball, with Caicedo winning possession 315 times and 318 duels while playing for the ex-Leicester manager in the Premier League. Fernandez was more about possession with 3,569 touches, 2,306 successful passes while he also led the press for Maresca with 1,619 high-intensity pressures. Both were high in line-breaking passes (Fernandez with 313 and Caicedo on 382), something Anderson excelled at last season and will be expected to continue at City. Fernandez covered 554km and Caicedo 506km in the Premier League over 18 months under Maresca. Anderson covered 411km last season alone. Anderson's 3,300 touches last season comfortably beats Fernandez's 2,608 and Caicedo's 2,496, although the last five months were without Maresca. The Englishman is set to join as a replacement for departed captain Bernardo Silva, who was shifted to a more defensive role by Guardiola over the past couple of seasons. He is expected to partner Rodri in the middle of the park but with the Spain captain reportedly , external set to undergo surgery after the World Cup, Anderson may be paired with someone else entirely - City are understood to be interested in signing Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. In theory, City are gaining a player ready made for Maresca with Anderson poised to be the poster boy of their new era. Maresca to pay Chelsea compensation - but why? Why Maresca? What Man City fans can expect from Guardiola's successor

Gueye has played for Senegal at the 2022 and 2026 World Cups Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye says he will be "taking a break" from playing for his country while the current management is in charge. The 27-year-old's decision follows Senegal, who are managed by Pape Thiaw, letting a 2-0 lead slip as they were dramatically beaten by Belgium in their last-32 tie at the World Cup. Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr had deservedly put Senegal in front before late goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans sent the tie into extra time. Belgium were awarded a controversial penalty in the 125th minute and Tielemans scored from the spot to knock Senegal out. Gueye, who plays for La Liga side Villarreal in Spain, started the game but was replaced by Lamine Camara after 66 minutes. "I will come back to say a few words about the elimination... but I am announcing today that as long as this coaching staff is in place, I will be taking a break from the national team," Gueye, who has won 45 caps for Senegal and scored twice in their group-stage win over Iraq, said on social media. This video can not be played Tielemans scores late extra-time penalty to send Belgium into last 16 Thiaw has been in charge of Senegal since December 2024 and was at the heart of the controversy which resulted in his side being stripped of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title. Thiaw ushered his team off the field when Morocco who were awarded a stoppage-time penalty in the Afcon final in January. The players eventually returned after a delay of about 17 minutes before Brahim Diaz's penalty was saved and Gueye scored an extra-time winner. However, Morocco were declared the winners of the tournament in March when the Confederation of African Football (Caf) overturned the result of the final following Senegal's walk-off. Senegal have lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport and hope to regain the title. Latest ever winner, comeback and controversy - Senegal's remarkable exit Belgium come from 2-0 down to beat Senegal with last-gasp extra-time penalty World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Mickelson became the oldest man to win a major when claiming the 2021 US PGA Championship aged 50 Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson has disputed allegations of misconduct carried in an investigation by golf publication Skratch, with his representatives calling the piece an "anonymously sourced drive-by shooting". The Skratch investigation by journalist Alan Shipnuck alleged Mickelson was no longer welcome at three California golf clubs because of inappropriate behaviour towards women. It also included a claim by Ashley Perez, the former wife of PGA Tour player Pat Perez, that Mickelson showed her an explicit photograph of himself in 2015 and propositioned her. The Skratch investigation comes after Mickelson left a prestigious California golf club following allegations of inappropriate contact with a female employee which he denied. A statement from the 56-year-old's camp responding to the Skratch claims, and sent to the New York Post , external , said their version of events related to the Perez photograph missed key detail, suggesting a misunderstanding for which he later apologised. It added: "Mr Mickelson's willingness to apologise for his conduct should not be misconstrued as an admission of every allegation made against him." And on the claims he had been asked to leave golf clubs, it went on: "Mr Mickelson has never been expelled from a golf club. His membership has never been revoked by a golf club. Those decisions were his alone." Mickelson leaves San Diego club after allegations It also criticised Skratch's use of anonymous sources and questioned whether readers should have been reminded of the publication's historical links to the PGA Tour. Mickelson left the PGA Tour in 2022 to become one of the most high-profile signings to the Saudi-backed breakaway LIV Golf organisation. "Credibility is not earned by publishing the most provocative narrative," the statement said. "It is earned through transparency, verification, and a clear distinction between fact, inference, and speculation." However Skratch editor-in-chief Ben Boskovich said the publication "stands by its reporting". He told the Post that the golfer, his wife and his lawyer had been given the opportunity to respond before publication. Mickelson has played only one LIV tournament this year, in South Africa in March, missing the rest of their schedule to prioritise "a family health matter".

This video can not be played 'How good is that?' - GB qualifier Fery puts on a show to progress to third round Arthur Fery kept British hopes alive at Wimbledon as he fought back from a set down to beat Finland's Otto Virtanen and reach the third round, but Katie Swan's dream return to SW19 was ended by Madison Keys. Only four home players were left standing at the All England Club after the opening round, with 15 Britons falling at the first hurdle - the highest number since 1988. Fery became the first British man to reach the second round when he rallied from a set down to to beat Bosnia's Damir Dzumhur on Tuesday. And the 23-year-old wildcard continued his winning streak in similar style against Virtanen, battling back to seal a 5-7 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 6-3 victory on a packed-out court 18. "It's great to do it for the UK. Selfishly I am doing it for myself first - but I'm always behind the other players and wishing them success," Fery said. "So happy with how I managed to keep my emotions in check and keep going. So happy to reach the third round." Swiatek overpowers Pliskova to reach third round However, Swan - making her first appearance at Wimbledon in three years - was unable to join Fery in the third round as she fell to a 6-1 6-4 defeat by American Keys. Both Fery and Swan were watched on by Catherine, the Princess of Wales - a patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC). "I didn't know she was here. I probably would have been a bit more tight if I did," said Fery, who has reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time and is set to earn least £185,000 in prize money. Virtanen, the world number 140, caused the biggest shock of the men's draw so far on Tuesday when he knocked out fourth seed Ben Shelton in a five-set win. The Finn, who spent more than four hours on court against Shelton, won just four points on Fery's serve in the opening five games, but when he was presented with a first break point at 5-5, he capitalised on it before serving out the set. After suffering another nosebleed - a repeat of an issue he experienced against Dzumhur in the first round - Fery pulled himself level via a second-set tie-break and he did not offer Virtanen another break point before wrapping up the win. Fellow Britons Jacob Fearnley and Jan Choinski will hope to follow suit later on Thursday, when they take on Jaume Munar and Frances Tiafoe respectively. Fery, ranked 114th in the world, will next face another unseeded player in either Zizou Bergs of Belgium or Portugal's Jaime Faria. This video can not be played Wimbledon royalty - The Princess of Wales visits SW19 Swan enjoyed a "full-circle moment" on her return to Wimbledon when she moved past Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu to claim her first Grand Slam main-draw win since defeating the same opponent in 2018. But the 27-year-old was handed a difficult second-round draw in the form of 2025 Australian Open champion Keys. Fresh from winning her fourth grass-court title at Eastbourne last week, Keys dropped just one game in the first set - although the opener was much closer than the 6-1 scoreline suggested as Swan squandered four break points. The Briton, who considered retiring from tennis in 2024 because of a persistent back injury, had better luck in the second set and twice broke back, but Keys' quality prevailed despite having a partisan Court One crowd cheer against her. Live scores, results and order of play Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

Furbank will win only his 15th cap for England against South Africa at Ellis Park George Furbank will make his first England appearance in nearly two years in Saturday's Nations Championship opener against South Africa in Johannesburg. Furbank lines up in a back three with Cadan Murley and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, with Tommy Freeman partnering Seb Atkinson at centre. In the forwards, George Martin makes his first England start since the 2025 Six Nations, joining Alex Coles in the second row with Ollie Chessum on the blindside flank. Henry Pollock, who won back-to-back man-of-the-match awards as Northampton won the Prem title, is among the replacements. "Playing South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the great Tests in world rugby and an opportunity we're excited to embrace," said head coach Steve Borthwick. With regular captain Maro Itoje rested and not on the tour, Jamie George leads from hooker and is part of an experienced front row alongside props Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes. Ben Earl and Tom Curry make up the back row, with Jack van Poortvliet getting the nod at number nine alongside fly-half Fin Smith. England: Furbank; Feyi-Waboso, Freeman, Atkinson, Murley: F Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Heyes, Coles, Martin, Chessum, Curry, Earl Replacements : Cowan-Dickie, Obano, Opoku-Fordjour, Ewels, Pepper, Pollock, Mitchell, M Smith South Africa v England Nations Championship Saturday 4 July Ellis Park, Johannesburg Live on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, BBC Sport website and app, with accompanying live text commentary Furbank lifted the Prem title in his final match for boyhood club Northampton last month Furbank impressed at full-back throughout the course of 2024, but was hit by a succession of injuries since his last appearance against Japan in November of that year. However he returned to hit top form at the back end of the latest Prem season, leading Northampton to the league title before a summer switch to Harlequins. Meanwhile for Furbank's new club-mate Murley, Saturday represents an opportunity to take on the best team in the world, and some of the best individuals, with double World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe lining up on the opposite wing. "Cheslin Kolbe has probably been the standout winger since that 2019 World Cup to be honest," Murley told BBC Sport. "And he has actually been someone I have looked at a lot in terms of his aerial game because he's not the tallest and he's not the biggest. It will be a good challenge going up against him. "Playing the champs in their own back yard - it's a massive challenge but an exciting one. They are the team that have dominated world rugby for a long time." England can cope with altitude - Sinfield Springboks pick Libbok at 10 to face England Drones, specs and sensors - meet RFU's 'Q' behind gadgets for England's stars North v South - the battle for global supremacy is tighter than ever Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast

Iga Swiatek is only the third woman in the Open era to reach the third round at 26 consecutive Grand Slam events, after Martina Navratilova (35) and Conchita Martinez (30). Iga Swiatek continued her Wimbledon title defence by overpowering former finalist Karolina Pliskova in a commanding straight-set victory to reach the third round. The Polish world number three cried on court after battling to a three-set win over Taylor Townsend in her opening match on Tuesday, having found opening play on Centre Court as the reigning champion "really emotional". Far more relaxed on her return to action two days later, there was an entirely different feel to this performance as the 25-year-old made a blistering start against 2021 runner-up Pliskova. "I'm feeling more stable today - and that's good," Swiatek told the crowd after her 6-1 6-3 victory. "The first round was really emotional for sure, but today I felt like it was another day in the office and I needed to be ready, be in charge and make good decisions. "It is always better when you're able to think like that and it was a good day for me. I was consistent and I had a good level of focus, so I'm really happy with my performance." Swiatek, a six-time major winner, lost just one of the first 17 points in the match as she proceeded to dismantle the Czech, racing into a four-game lead. She struggled on serve in the fifth game, recording two double faults to allow Pliskova to retrieve one break back, but immediately reset to capture the first set in just 25 minutes after winning 26 of the 35 points played. Watch Wimbledon: GB's Swan beaten by Keys in straight sets, Swiatek through Fery reaches third round to keep British hopes alive Swiatek would continue to dominate what had appeared a potentially tricky second-round match-up against a former world number one, although the 34-year-old Pliskova remains on the comeback trail after missing most of the 2025 season recovering from ankle surgery. Pliskova managed a response in set two, breaking for a 2-0 lead as Swiatek's level once again dropped on serve - but the Czech was unable to consolidate, double-faulting on break point in the following game. Another costly double fault two games later gifted another break to Swiatek, who by that point had rediscovered her first-set level and completed victory in just 69 minutes by winning six of the final seven games. After 18-time major winner Martina Navratilova graded her performance an A+, Swiatek responded: "When legends like that say nice things about you, it means a lot. It is basically why you try to be the best tennis player possible, so that people appreciate it. "I don't know if it was an A+ because at times it was a tricky game. I felt like I played so many dirty shots in that final game especially, I wasn't able to control them that much. So maybe not A+, more like B, I would say." Victory extended Swiatek's record of not losing before the third round at a Grand Slam since the 2019 US Open, and she remains the only woman to have reached the third round at all 26 Grand Slam events held this decade. However, she lost at that stage of this year's French Open - the tournament where she had won four titles in the previous six years - and will now seek to avoid the same fate against Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines. Live scores, results and order of play Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

Santi Cazorla scored 29 goals in 180 appearances for Arsenal Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has retired from playing at the age of 41. The former Spain international won two FA Cups with the Gunners - scoring a free-kick against Hull City in 2014 - and won the Euros twice with his national side. His career was almost ended in 2016 after he contracted gangrene following an operation. But incredibly he recovered after 11 operations to play on, and ended his career with three years at boyhood club Oviedo. "Now that everything is ending, when the boots are being hung up, and the noise is turning into silence, everything fits together, because the ending wasn't just anywhere - I was at home," said Cazorla in a video on X. , external The club said they would like him to stay in any role or capacity that he chooses and "that makes him happy". "Cazorla decided to come back earning the minimum salary allowed by the league and donated all his image rights to the club," said Oviedo in a statement , external . "In return, he only asked that 10 per cent of the sales of his jersey be entirely dedicated to Real Oviedo's youth academy, to contribute to the growth of future generations." 11 operations & 668 days out – Villarreal's Cazorla on Arsenal, gangrene & magic tricks Latest Arsenal news, analysis and fan views Ask about Arsenal - what do you want to know?

There was an error British wildcard Arthur Fery reaches the third round of Wimbledon for the first time in his career, by defeating Otto Virtanen 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-3 on day four at Wimbledon. READ MORE: Fery reaches third round to keep British hopes alive Available to UK users only.

Finn Russell misses Scotland's Nations Championship opener in Argentina because of a calf injury Finn Russell will not feature in Scotland's opening Nations Championship match of the summer series but could feature against South Africa, says head coach Gregor Townsend, who welcomes back Jonny Gray. Fly-half Russell, 33, has not fully recovered from the calf injury that kept him out of the latter part of Bath's domestic campaign and was not considered for the match at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Cordoba on Saturday (20:10 BST). The Scots face the Springboks in Pretoria on 11 July then Fiji at Murrayfield on 18 July. Tom Jordan starts at 10 in Russell's absence, with Fergus Burke among the replacements. And Townsend said: "We're blessed with the 10s that we have on this tour. Tom's played all season, really, at 10. He's a Test match animal. He brings so much energy. He's able to bring his own game when he plays for Scotland. "Fergus Burke on the bench has probably been the form 10 in England over the last two months of the season. He's in great physical shape. He's full of confidence so we expect him to play a part at the weekend too." Gray returns against the Pumas, having missed this year's Six Nations, while fellow lock Scott Cummings, 29, and prop Pierre Schoeman, 32, will win their 50th caps. "Great for [Jonny Gray] to be back in the squad," said Townsend. "Since his move to Perpignan, he's played very well so his form's been rewarded with this opportunity. It's nice obviously nice that him and Scott Cummings are playing together. "Jonny was at Glasgow when Scott came through as an 18-year-old. It will be great to see them both back int he second row again." Air miles, altitude & Springboks - Scotland's arduous summer Uncapped duo Hiddleston & Stephen in Scotland squad All the Scottish rugby latest in one place The starting XV in Cordoba shows eight personnel changes to the team that finished the Six Nations with defeat to Ireland in Dublin in mid-March. Full-back Kyle Rowe, centre Rory Hutchinson, wing Jamie Dobie, fly-half Jordan, hooker George Turner, prop Elliot Millar-Mills and Cummings are the players joining Gray in coming in to the side. Kyle Steyn moves from left to right wing to accommodate Dobie. Prop Zander Fagerson and wing Darcy Graham, who started in Dublin, drop to the bench and fellow replacement Gregor Hiddleston could make his Scotland debut. Scotland have lost two of their past three meetings with Argentina, most recently last November when they blew a 21-0 lead to suffer a 33-24 defeat at Murrayfield. "We'll have to gel quickly," Townsend said. "It's our first game since we played in Dublin. We've got a lot of evidence in the Six Nations and November that when we get our game in place in attack and defence, we can cause problems to any team in world rugby and do more than that, convert opportunities. "I believe that our squad now is much deeper and we use that bench to continue what the starters are doing or actually raise the energy." Scotland: Rowe, Steyn, Hutchinson, Tuipulotu (capt), Dobie, Jordan, White; Schoeman, Ashman, Millar-Mills, Gray, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey. Replacements: Hiddleston, Sutherland, Z Fagerson, Samuel, Brown, Horne, Burke, Graham.

This video can not be played Late drama and VAR controversy as Croatia denied equaliser BBC commentator Steve Wilson called it "one of the biggest VAR decisions there has ever been". Trailing 2-1 to Portugal after a dramatic and chaotic second half, Croatia thought they had equalised when Josko Gvardiol tapped home from close range in the 13th minute of stoppage time. They celebrated wildly, while Cristiano Ronaldo, who had earlier scored his first ever World Cup knockout goal for his country, then been substituted, looked crestfallen on the bench. Extra time looked certain. Step forward the video assistant referee - Premier League official Jarred Gillett - as a goal check for offside was announced. The big question was: Had Croatia's Igor Matanovic flicked the ball on in the build-up? If his head had touched the ball, it was offside. If not, the goal would stand. Cue a tense wait as Norwegian referee Espen Eskas watched replay after replay, with TV pictures looking inconclusive. But a spike showed by Snickometer-style technology suggested a touch and the goal was ruled out. It was almost the last kick of the match. The decision sparked chaotic scenes as plastic bottles were thrown on to the pitch by furious Croatia fans as their World Cup dreams were ended in the cruellest fashion. For Croatia's 40-year-old legend Luka Modric it was surely the end of his World Cup career, while Ronaldo's journey continues - just hours after his sister said the tournament was his "last dance" , external . It was a match that had everything. From disallowed goals, a debated penalty, Ronaldo intrigue and VAR controversy, BBC Sport unpicks a remarkable 105 minutes of drama. This video can not be played Portugal through to last 16 after dramatic victory over Croatia Portugal beat Croatia in chaotic finish to reach last 16 So what exactly did happen in that dramatic finale? The Snickometer - or Snicko - is associated with cricket, but in recent years, football has adopted similar technology. The Trionda match ball, made by Adidas for this year's World Cup, has a microchip in it that can detect when the ball has been touched. It allows precise data, such as every individual touch of the ball with a boot or hand, to be immediately sent to the video assistant referee in real time. Similar technology was used at the 2022 World Cup and 2024 European Championship. Speaking at his post-match news conference, Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic refused to give detailed thoughts about his side being denied a last-gasp equaliser. "I will not comment much about it but I will say the refereeing was very bad," he said. "No fouls, no set-pieces on our side which should have been but that's no reason to talk about the defeat. It was very bad refereeing. "You were able to see to what extent emotions had been killed and, altogether all these decisions take you back and actually take the joy out of football. "VAR kills emotions, it kills everything within you. We have gone too far with VAR." Portugal boss Roberto Martinez was more forthcoming. "It's a shame one of the two teams had to lose," said the Spaniard. "But there is no bad decision or lucky decision. It was a clear moment. "The balls now have a chip and the sensor shows the ball was touched." At the time of the goal, former England defender Matt Upson, speaking to 5 Live, said it was hard to tell in real time whether Matanovic touched it. Upson said: "That surge of emotion of a last-second equaliser and then it's whisked away from you. Has he definitely touched that? "We're looking at a replay here. Can we guarantee he glances that? "The spin on the ball doesn't change, that's all I know. I don't think he touches that ball. That's the first angle I've seen of that and I'm not convinced he touches that ball at all." Having seen it again, Upson added at full-time: "From what I can see, I don't see any change in direction of the ball. "What the telling thing is, is the spin on the ball doesn't change and it looks like Matanovic has touched that ball but it's interesting that they're saying beyond any reasonable doubt he has. "I can't quite see that." Meanwhile, former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann messaged Mark Chapman, who was presenting BBC One's coverage of the game, to say: "He was offside when the ball was last played by a team-mate and the ball was deflected by the defender and not deliberately played, so the offside stands. "Snicko... that 100% proves that he touched it with the flick-on." The 'snicko' technology showed a touch on the ball in the build up to Croatia's disallowed equaliser Ronaldo has never won the World Cup and on a rollercoaster night of emotions in Toronto, must have thought his dream of lifting the famous trophy was about to end when Ivan Perisic put Croatia ahead after a disappointing first half. Portugal's captain then had a sublime equaliser ruled out by a tight offside call before making it 1-1 from the penalty spot - the first goal he has scored in the knockout stages of the World Cup in what is his sixth tournament. Ronaldo then looked gutted as he was substituted in the 81st minute of his 26th match at a World Cup. But that did not stop him running on to the pitch to celebrate when Goncalo Ramos put Portugal 2-1 ahead in the 94th minute before Croatia's disallowed goal. Ronaldo had played every minute of Portugal's campaign at this World Cup before this game - but now there will be more questions as to whether he should continue to start. Former England player Theo Walcott, speaking to BBC Sport, said it was the right decision in the end to take Ronaldo off. "Cristiano Ronaldo had his moment and we had this debate, thinking about taking him off just before he had the offside goal and I was like 'you can't take him off'," Walcott said. "I think it was the right decision in the end, it really was." This video can not be played 'Of course he scores' - Ronaldo levels for Portugal While Ronaldo lives to fight another day on the World Cup stage, it is the end of an era for Modric, who will be 44 when the next World Cup takes place in 2030. The midfielder has already hinted that he is approaching a defining moment with Croatia. Modric, who was making his 23rd World Cup appearance, was consoled by Ronaldo, his former Real Madrid team-mate, after the final whistle. "I know I have reached a certain phase in my career," Modric said recently. He had brought up his 200th appearance for the national team in Toronto on 24 June, when Croatia defeated Panama 1-0 in a group game. At the end of that game, Modric was lifted into the air by his team-mates to mark his reaching the incredible milestone. But there were no such celebrations this time for Modric, who made his Croatia debut in 2006. "It is very harsh for Croatia to go out like this, for Luka Modric, probably his last game in the World Cup," former Brazil midfielder Lucas Leiva told BBC Sport. "A legend of the game. I think he has shown for 20-odd years how good he is. You feel sad for him, but he has had a great career. "He took Croatia to the highest level in the World Cup. A great player." World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

This video can not be played Oyarzabal scores twice as Spain ease past Austria Before every Spain game at this World Cup, one name has dominated the back of the shirts worn by fans - Lamine Yamal. He was the focus of the cameras at Los Angeles Stadium too when he arrived for Thursday's last-32 tie against Austria - and again the centre of attention when the players came out on to the pitch. But the player who is perhaps not the biggest name in this Spain squad is the one who has so far shone the brightest - Mikel Oyarzabal. The 29-year-old Real Sociedad striker scored twice as the reigning European champions comfortably beat Austria 3-0 to secure a first knockout win in 16 years and progress to the last 16. "It's so clear that [Yamal] is the leader of the side, that everything that everybody does has to do with him," Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Mikel Oyarzabal is the invisible man, he has scored in every final he has ever played. "He is one of the most intelligent players we have and he is the other one who can be a match-winner." This video can not be played 'He's been really good' - Oyarzabal nets twice for Spain For much of an international career that began a decade ago at the age of 19, Oyarzabal has not enjoyed much of the limelight. He missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. But four years later - and before a World Cup debut - he was in the form of his life with 12 goals in 12 international appearances. The double against Austria extended that run to 17 in his last 16 starts, with four goals at this tournament. "His last two seasons, since he recovered, are the best of his career," added Balague. "Four goals in the World Cup - our most decisive player, no doubt." Spain memorably played without a recognised striker at Euro 2012, but Oyarzabal is now very much the focal point of their attacks with two excellent finishes against Austria. "Sometimes people are in doubt about Spain because of the centre-forward, but Oyarzabal is doing the job," former Spain defender Cesar Azpilicueta told BBC One. "A few years ago, Oyarzabal was playing a bit more on the right wing and he has transitioned more into the middle." Since the start of last year, the only European player with more international goals than Oyarzabal is Norway striker Erling Haaland with 22. He also became the first Spanish player to score twice in a World Cup knockout match since Emilio Butragueno against Denmark in the last 16 of the 1986 tournament. The statistics are impressive, but it is not to say he is overshadowed by Lamine Yamal, with the 18-year-old playing a key role in Oyarzabal being able to shine. The Barcelona forward's excellent ball control and dribbling skills clearly unsettles defences and pulled the Austrian defenders towards him to create more space for Oyarzabal. "When you have someone in your team like Lamine Yamal who attracts so much attention, you know you will get more space," said former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger. "Oyarzabal uses that space, gets the ball, and scores goals." Spain beat Austria for first World Cup knockout win since 2010 Oyarzabal is also that rare breed in modern football in that he has only ever played for one club all his career - Real Sociedad. He enjoyed his best scoring season with them last term with 15 league goals, coinciding with his impressive run of form for his country. Oyarzabal recently revealed his hunger to score goals began when he was a youngster playing a different sport. "I used to play hockey and I scored many goals," he said. "I always had this voice in my head, 'It doesn't matter if you missed one - there will be more'." "I could smell goals, and that voice was always in my head." Playing more centrally now clearly suits Oyarzabal and that desire to keep scoring goals. He added: "Players in other positions need to spend more time on the ball, or get more involved to feel they're performing well. But if you play higher up the pitch, and especially if you're a striker like myself, it all comes down to a few moments. "We often have to smell where the ball might drop or where you have to stand to have a chance at goal." Mikel Oyarzabal has scored four goals in four games so far at this World Cup Oyarzabal is not the only reason why Spain are serious contenders to follow up their Euro 2024 triumph with the World Cup trophy. They are currently on their second longest unbeaten run, with victory against Austria extending that to 34 games and they will equal their record run of 35 if they reach the quarter-finals. They started this tournament slowly with a surprise goalless draw with debutants Cape Verde, but have since got stronger and stronger. They have now scored eight times in four matches and conceded none. Next up is a mouth-watering tie against either Portugal or Croatia. "I think Spain have got more gears to go through," former England striker Dion Dublin said on BBC Radio 5 live. "They were comfortable playing in third or fourth gear against Austria because they knew the opposition didn't have anything to offer. "That's the key. When they are playing against France or Portugal, whoever it may be, they will just up their game again. "I think they have a lot more to offer which is a frightening thing for the rest of the teams in the competition." World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV Everything you need to know about the World Cup

This video can not be played 'How good is that?' - GB qualifier Fery puts on a show to progress to third round Arthur Fery grew up just a short walk away from Wimbledon but there is much more to his story than simply the confines of SW19. The British men's number three was born near Paris to his French parents before the family moved to Wimbledon when he was still in nappies. After coming through the Lawn Tennis Association system, the 23-year-old then moved to Stanford University in California to study for a degree in science, technology and society - and sharpen his game in a tennis scholarship. Now Fery is back on his doorstep and enjoying the biggest success of his career. The world number 114 is left carrying British hopes at the All England Club this year after becoming the sole home player to reach the third round of the singles. "I grew up coming to the tournament, watching the players and that definitely contributed to my development," Fery told BBC Sport. "I was trying to imitate players - like you do when you're a kid. Now I'm here winning matches. It's awesome." Fery's mother, Olivia, is a French former Fed Cup player, who used to work for the LTA as a business development manager, while father Loic is an asset manager who owns Ligue 1 football club Lorient. Many summer holidays were spent at the family's second home near La Rochelle on the west coast of France, while he also spent time with other relatives near Nice - an area packed with courts and academies - to hone his tennis talent. Fery briefly represented France when he was about 10 before starting to play for Britain shortly after. After that, he says, there was "no question" that he would go on to represent Britain in the professional ranks. "By that point, there was really no decision to make. I was living here, I was training at the National Tennis Centre. I was in the system here," he said. "I feel completely British now. Maybe 10 years ago if you'd asked me the question, it would be a bit different. Now I feel very British at heart." Swiatek and Rybakina dominate to reach third round Wimbledon success 'definitely possible this year' - Zverev Boulter and Watson among Britons to exit doubles Fery's progress has been limited by injuries - notably a bruised bone in his arm that is similar to the problem affecting Britain's former world number four Jack Draper. His breakthrough at the top level was also delayed by deciding to pursue his studies. As a teenager, Fery opted to go on a scholarship to Stanford - a prestigious institution that specialises in research - and delay his full-time transition to the ATP Tour. The American collegiate system is a popular route for British players, with Cameron Norrie and Jacob Fearnley also treading that path. As well as receiving what Fery described as a "world-class education", the nature of US college tennis - noise, trash-talking and team bonding - helped him prepare for the professional ranks. It also further stoked an inner fire which Fery says he inherits from his parents and often displays in his matches. At 5ft 9in tall (1.75m), Fery is shorter than many of his peers on the ATP Tour but what he lacks in stature is more than made up by heart and talent. The grass particularly often suits tall 'servebots', who are able to thump down aces and unreturnable first shots, but Fery has other tools to hurt his opponents. He has plenty of venom in his groundstrokes and his nimbleness around the court means he is able to spring forward to finish points with volleys at the net. "Tennis is a sport where I think everyone, of all heights, can thrive in a certain way," Fery said. "My returning is a strength, my movement, just general court craft." Fery had his name chanted and sung by the Wimbledon crowd, which included his parents, other family and lots of friends, after beating Otto Virtanen In a week where the performance of British tennis has again come under intense scrutiny, Fery reaching the last 32 of a Grand Slam for the first time has provided good news. He has even received a royal seal of approval. Catherine, the Princess of Wales - a patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) - watched his second-round match against Otto Virtanen. Her presence caused excitement among the crowd on the court and the fans in the grounds, but Fery did not find out until afterwards she was there. Fery says that might have been for the best, because it did not create any extra nerves, although he does not often come across as a player who feels the burden of expectation. On being Britain's last man standing, he said: "I wouldn't say it's pressure. If anything, it's a good thing for me personally. "Obviously for the Brits in general, it's not as good. We'd love to have as many Brits as possible in the third round. "But there's no pressure attached to it. I play for myself." Wimbledon Daily: Fery is the last Briton standing Live scores, results and order of play Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

This video can not be played Highlights: Superb England beat South Africa to set up World Cup final against Australia The 'F' word came up again and again in the review into England's Ashes hammering. The players knew it. Staff knew it. And after England dropped seven catches on day two of the Test in Melbourne, the whole world knew it. England's fielding had not cost them the series but it was a clear problem. They also put down six chances when exiting the T20 World Cup against West Indies the previous autumn. But Thursday's semi-final victory over South Africa at The Oval, with two fine Sophie Ecclestone catches and a perfect throw for a Danni Wyatt-Hodge run-out, was the clearest example yet of England's improvement. The secret? A sparkly disco jacket owned by the wife of the fielding coach… Nick Wilton (left) played 17 first-class games and 19 List A matches in his career The man tasked with improving England's fielding is long-standing coach Nick Wilton, the former Sussex wicketkeeper now dubbed DJ Wilton. His fielding 'disco nights' have become a feature of this World Cup. With the tunes blaring and while wearing his wife's jacket, Wilton has England's players charging around and taking high catches under the lights. Practice but fun practice. It has lifted England from those miserable days in Melbourne and Dubai. "We do pieces of fielding to each song and he pumps the music up to try and get us all hyped up," vice-captain Charlie Dean said. "I love the way he gets us really passionate about fielding so it is fun every time." This video can not be played Big breakthrough for England as Wolvaardt is caught early There is, of course, more to England's improvement than a coach dressing like an ABBA tribute act. As well as Ecclestone's catches - a leap at mid-on and a nerve-jangler as the ball dropped over her should at short fine leg - and Wyatt-Hodge's run-out, Charlie Dean also pulled off a direct hit dismissal in the win over New Zealand and Wyatt-Hodge took a superb catch in the tournament opener against Sri Lanka . Fitness and fielding were two of coach Charlotte Edwards' priorities when she took over after the Ashes defeat. The former captain, who sprinted on to the field to congratulate her players during the timeout after Ecclestone's first catch, has calmly quietened talk of the issue. In one of her previous roles at Southern Vipers, Edwards used an electric scooter to follow and observe her players during their fitness sessions and one of her first moves after becoming England coach was introducing minimum fitness standards. The new standards include a two-kilometre time trial, 30m two-way sprints (effectively shuttle runs), a test to assess explosiveness through a squat and a vertical leap, and another which gauges a player's maximum velocity. England posted clips from the gruelling sessions on their social media accounts at the start of the season. Videos of boat parties posted on players' own accounts are long gone under Edwards. Wilton has been given free rein to improve England's fielding. Without any international fixtures this winter, he was able to work with the players on their training camps in Oman, Stellenbosch and Pretoria. There were more training sessions in the early-season gatherings at Millfield and Repton schools and at England's cricket centre in Loughborough. "Progress happens with dedication over time and putting the work in," Dean said. "All our careers we put in the work but especially the last year." This video can not be played 'That is brilliant!' - Sinalo Jafta run out by Danni Wyatt-Hodge With the players buying in, there has also been a greater attention to detail. Dani Gibson, Freya Kemp and Linsey Smith – three fielders who often share the job of patrolling the boundary – practise their high catches or sprints to retrieve and return the ball. The powerful Gibson, one of England's quickest players across the ground, has repeatedly denied batters second runs with her quick work in this tournament – no more so than in the early stages against South Africa. Bowler Lauren Bell regularly attempts flying one-handed catches in training – the type of opportunities that come in her position of short fine leg. It is obvious but appears to be working. "Being that extra bit more detailed in what we are trying to do has put us in great stead," Dean said. And now there is one match remaining - Sunday's final against Australia. There would be no better opposition against whom to reinforce their improvement. "Lottie coming in after the Ashes when we were pretty poor, it is obviously something we wanted to work on as a team and we've had commitment from everyone to do that," captain Nat Sciver-Brunt said. "The plan from Lottie in how we do that has been executed by Nick, who encourages us to push ourselves as far as we can in the field and not put a ceiling on anything we do." The work - and the jacket - has got England this far. Can they continue it under the most intense pressure? Women's T20 World Cup final: England v Australia 5 July, 15:30 BST Lord's Ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app, which will also have live text commentary and video highlights. Sciver-Brunt leads superb England into World Cup final The making of Dean - England's serene stand-in skipper

England set up a meeting with Mexico after beating DR Congo in the round of 32 England are taking precautions before their arrival in Mexico to ensure boisterous locals intent on ruining the players' rest and sleep do not disrupt their preparations. Thomas Tuchel's side face Mexico in their World Cup last-16 tie on Sunday (01:00 BST Monday) in a match live on BBC One and iPlayer. The squad are due to arrive in Mexico City on Friday so will spend two nights before the game in the capital. Mexico's last-32 opponents Ecuador lodged a complaint to Fifa after their squad were deliberately kept awake by noisy Mexico supporters, who used loudspeakers, horns and motorcycles outside the team hotel late at night. The Ecuador team stayed in the Westin Hotel in Mexico City, and, while England want to keep their location undisclosed, there is a concern that the location will eventually be leaked on social media. With that in mind, England players and staff who have not brought their own sleeping devices, such as ear plugs or sleep bands, are to be offered natural sleep remedies or white noise audio machines to ensure sleep is not impacted. The arrival two days before the game is a change in schedule for England, who have been mostly landing in the host city the night before. However, Fifa rules at this stage of the tournament are that teams hold a part-open training session in the locality the day before the game. England had been holding that in Kansas, before flying to the US city where their game was taking place. However, England will now train in Mexico instead as result. Among the other challenges England will face is playing the game against Mexico in high altitude. Mexico City has an average elevation of approximately 2,240 metres above sea level, meaning there is less oxygen available. This can impact the performance of some players, especially when they are not acclimatised to the conditions. To that end, Mexico have played all four of their World Cup games so far at high altitude conditions, with three fixtures at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and the other in Guadalajara – which is on average 1,566 metres above sea level. Ideally, athletes competing at high altitude should spend a week or two living at that level in order to allow their body to acclimatise and generate more red blood cells. Tuchel has conceded his team will be at a disadvantage when England face Mexico this weekend. "The altitude will be a big disadvantage because we cannot physically adapt to it," said Tuchel. "And in four days, it's just impossible. More obstacles may come, but we are ready for that. "My understanding is that we cannot adapt to the altitude. That is just a huge advantage that Mexico will have. "It just takes too much time. We have only three days in between these matches. It's physically just not possible to adapt to the altitude, which is quite high. We knew that before. "This is just something with which we will have to deal with. And I think we showed the attitude that we are ready for that." World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV Everything you need to know about the World Cup

There was an error Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Goncalo Ramos after a chaotic second-half in Toronto to set up a last 16 tie with Iberian rivals Spain. READ MORE: Portugal 2-1 Croatia Available to UK users only.

There was an error Switzerland end their 88-year wait for a win in the knockout stage of a World Cup as they beat Algeria 2-0 in Vancouver. READ MORE: Switzerland 2-0 Algeria Available to UK users only.

British pair Julian Cash (left) and Lloyd Glasspool won the men's doubles at Wimbledon last year A group of leading doubles players have accused the men's ATP Tour of trying to "end doubles as a viable profession". In a meeting at Wimbledon on Tuesday, the tour proposed changes which could include halving the size of doubles draws from 2028. That would mean only 16 teams being able to compete at ATP 1000 events, and just eight at the smaller tournaments on tour. The percentage of prize money devoted to doubles players could fall from 20% to 10% - with the money redistributed to singles players. "Doubles isn't a carnival sideshow," the players said in a statement. "It is one of the most successful parts of tennis - integral to the amateur game - with the potential to do so much more. "Yet the impact of the ATP's proposals will be to diminish the sporting excellence that is professional doubles and turn off the pipeline of pro doubles players and the entire infrastructure that supports them. "Doubles is not an afterthought we fell into. It has always been part of this sport's identity, not a discount version of it." At the first Masters 1000 event of the year in Indian Wells, Jannik Sinner received $1.151m (£860,000) for winning the title. Guido Andreozzi and Manuel Guinard won $234,000 (£175,000) each for winning the doubles. The players argue the changes mean there would be no future for doubles players ranked outside the world's top 30. "Do the maths on what that means for anyone outside the top 30: it will be impossible to make a living," the statement continued. "This is not a minor adjustment. It is a plan to end doubles as a viable profession, dressed up as a cost-saving measure - and it is being pushed through with almost no transparency and almost no consultation with the players whose careers and livelihoods are on the line." Many within the sport believe a 20% share for doubles players is disproportionate to the interest in the event. The days of numerous ATP professionals playing both singles and doubles are long gone. There are now effectively two separate cohorts of players, which in turn puts greater strain on player facilities on site at tournaments. "We are assessing the doubles product, draw sizes and player compensation distribution with the aim of creating a more sustainable long-term model while maintaining doubles' important role on the tour," an ATP spokesperson said. "The review is also assessing whether changes to the doubles model could enable increased investment in early-round singles prize money, helping more players at the highest level to better meet the costs of competing on tour and build sustainable professional careers. "Any potential changes will be developed through close consultation with players, tournaments and the ATP board, with any decisions made in the best long-term interests of the sport and its consumers." This latest development comes while the world's leading singles players continue to call for a higher share of Grand Slam revenue to be dedicated to prize money - a separate issue to how the ATP Tour financially rewards its players. Earlier this week, players ended their boycott of Wimbledon media duties after "constructive meetings" with the All England Club. In addition to prize money, players want the Grand Slams to focus more of their revenue towards welfare benefits such as pensions and maternity leave. What do hand signals mean in Wimbledon doubles? Live scores, results and order of play Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

Lewis Hamilton has won his home grand prix at Silverstone a record nine times Lewis Hamilton says Silverstone will be "a completely different circuit" with this year's new cars. The British Grand Prix track is renowned as one of most demanding for drivers because of its sequence of challenging high-speed corners. But the lack of braking points means the cars will be energy starved this year, so will be running with not much more than half the engines' full power at key points of the track. Hamilton said: "The fact we have long straights, it's an unprecedented weekend in terms of the power deployment. All the drivers have been talking in the drivers' chat about how poor the power is going to be." The Ferrari driver said the cars will be recovering energy through Copse and Becketts, the two most challenging high-speed corners. Because batteries will run out before the end of some high-speed sections, the cars will be running with only the power from their internal combustion engines. The engines this year have a near 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power, with 350kW (470bhp) from electricity and a little over 400kW from the engine. Norris 'happy I have the pain of this year for the glory of last' How to follow British Grand Prix on the BBC What is the format for F1 sprint races in 2026? Hamilton said: "If you look at the speed traces, we start losing deployment going into Copse. Normally the engine is screaming going into there and you are holding on for dear life. This year most likely we will be downshifting from seventh to sixth to keep the revs higher. It will be a long straight from Nine (Copse) and (to) 10 (Maggotts) with no deployment. "Maggots and Becketts will not feel the same, because you have to lift and coast through there for a period of time. "So it's a completely different track. Maybe we will still get to enjoy it where you're not power-limited, but the best parts of the track are Copse and Becketts and Stowe and in those parts the power is just dropping. Hopefully they can rectify it for next year." He added that Ferrari's deficit to Mercedes could be "twice as big" as it was in the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend as a consequence of the nature of the track. A number of drivers made similar comments to Hamilton. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso said: "With no deployment at all, we cannot forget that this year we have significantly less power than last year and less power than F2. That is the case when you cut the deployment. So, yeah, (a) challenge." But Mercedes driver George Russell, the winner in Austria, said it could have a beneficial effect on the racing action. "We know we're going to have some tracks where the straight-line speeds are going to be far quicker than last year and some tracks are going to be more challenging," Russell said. "On the flip side, the racing could be quite interesting. And on those energy-starved tracks so far, Melbourne, especially with racing, was quite exciting. "And unless you watch the onboard, I don't think you're going to really know. You've got 600,000 fans here. I'd probably say 95% of them wouldn't notice it. And even hardcore fans from the outside, I don't think you'd really notice it. It's just when you watch the onboard, you listen to it, it doesn't sound great." Russell said that the problem was made worse by the decision of governing body the FIA not to allow straight-line mode - in which front and rear wings open to reduce drag and downforce - on the run from Turn One to Turn Three, and between Copse and Becketts. This was done for safety reasons. The decision could have been reversed at a meeting on Thursday morning but five of the 11 teams voted against. Russell said: "All the teams had to agree. There were five teams against, which I don't really know why. If anything, you'd say the Mercedes teams would be against because we should have the deployment advantage. But we were in favour because we just think it would be better. And I drove on the sim (simulator) with and without and it makes a huge difference." Some teams had concerns about safety at specific parts of the track where the straight mode could have been reinstated, sources have said. F1 has already taken decisions that will change the ratio of internal-combustion to electrical power over the next two seasons to alleviate this issue. Fans will get to see the Lego cars during the drivers' parade before Sunday's race The pre-race drivers' parade on Sunday will take place with all the drivers in individual cars made of Lego as part of a promotion. This follows a similar event in Miami last year, when team-mates shared a single car. This time each driver will have their own car, limited to 25km/h, made of 28,000 bricks. But Hamilton questioned whether he would take part in it. Off-microphone in the official drivers' news conference, he said to former team-mate Valtteri Bottas: "I'm not driving." Asked directly about it, he said: "It's the most dangerous part of the weekend. I let Charles (Leclerc) drive last year and it was hilarious watching everyone crashing into each other. I don't know whether or not I'll be in the Lego car this year." Pressed on it further, he said: "I'll take that offline." But a Ferrari spokesperson said: "Lewis will be taking part in the Lego 'race'." Red Bull's Max Verstappen was also critical. "I prefer to play with Lego at home with the kids. I prefer to stand on a truck with everyone together. That is more fun and it looks more professional," he said. "We are F1 drivers. We should not look like kids and clowns trying to ram into each other. That's not what F1 needs." Did Russell's pole set dangerous precedent? F1 Q&A

Portugal paid tribute to Diogo Jota after their World Cup win against Croatia Portugal paid a touching tribute to Diogo Jota at the end of their remarkable World Cup victory against Croatia. It is a year since Jota, while a Liverpool player, died in a car accident in Spain, 11 days after marrying his long-term partner Rute Cardoso. His brother Andre Silva was also killed in the accident on 3 July 2025. At the end of Portugal's drama-filled 2-1 win to set up a last-16 tie against Spain, Cristiano Ronaldo put on a special '21' shirt in Jota's memory before the squad came together with the shirt held aloft. Before the game, towards the end of Portugal's national anthem, Jota's picture appeared on the big screen in Toronto, and was greeted with a loud cheer from the supporters. Ronaldo also appeared emotional as the cameras focused on him, having played with Jota 32 times for their country. "Diogo is our sun and our light," said Portugal manager Roberto Martinez before the match, having named Jota as an honorary 'plus-one' player when he announced his squad in May. "We want to win the World Cup for him." Jota, 28, was on his way back to Liverpool for pre-season when the car, a Lamborghini, left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle. He was making the journey to England by car and ferry as doctors had advised the forward, who celebrated winning the Premier League title two months earlier, against flying because he had undergone minor surgery. "I still talk to him," Ruben Neves said about Jota, his close friend and former Porto, Wolves and Portugal team-mate, in the build-up to the match. "We have a WhatsApp group with Rute and Diogo, and it's still there, and we continue to talk there," he told Portuguese TV show , external Alta Definicao. "Whenever something special happens, I have the conversations archived on my WhatsApp so I can continue to send him messages." 'A symbol of hope & inspiration - Jota was a Portuguese hero' Humble, generous and a star - Jota left his mark on everyone he met "With you by our side, everything is possible. Thank you, Portugal!" Jota wrote on social media after they overcame Spain to win the Nations League in Stuttgart a month before his death. He became a symbol of hope and inspiration back home after going from his hometown club Gondomar to Pacos de Ferreira, then to Porto, Wolverhampton and finally Liverpool. Jota's path to stardom was highlighted as a rare case of an elite Portuguese footballer who never spent time at any of the big three academies - Benfica, Sporting and Porto. Just like at Liverpool though, his death has had a profound effect on the national team, for whom he scored 14 times in 49 appearances. As well as carrying the weight of expectation on their shoulders at this tournament, Portugal's players also carry the weight of grief for a team-mate who would have been among them this summer. While his ​absence has been felt deeply, Jota's memory lives on and his presence has been felt at this World Cup, from Houston to Miami, and now in Toronto. As happened on Thursday night, a black and white picture of Jota celebrating a goal for his country has been displayed on big screens before matches during the Portuguese national anthem. "Diogo was a player deeply loved by the Portuguese people," Miguel de Silva, the Portuguese-Canadian owner of the Amigos da Dundas sports bar, located in Toronto's Little Portugal neighbourhood, said. Jota's picture has appeared on the big screen at Portugal matches during the 2026 World Cup While fans have turned up for Portugal's matches wearing shirts with Jota's name on the back, players including captain Ronaldo are wearing special wristbands during matches in tribute. The wristbands in Portugal's green and red colours are a gift from Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and carry the names of all squad members alongside that of Jota. "The story of the wristband ⁠is, when we went to meet with the prime minister, he offered us this wristband," said midfielder Vitinha. "They made ​sure that it was a wristband that we could wear on the pitch. It has all the specifics for us ​to be able to enter the pitch with it, with the name of all the players plus the special name of Diogo Jota." Vitinha appeared in the opening group game against DR Congo in Houston on 17 June, where Jota's parents Joaquim and Isabel were guests, and wiped away tears in the stands during an emotional tribute to their sons. "Representing Portugal at this tournament was a dream Diogo nurtured with everyone who loved him," Fifa president Gianni Infantino wrote on social media , external after meeting the couple. "While celebrating these moments of togetherness, we continue to keep Diogo and Andre in our thoughts." This video can not be played Vitinha and Portugal stars set to wear wristbands in tribute to Jota The funeral of Jota and his brother was held in Gondomar, on the outskirts of Porto, on 5 July 2025. Neves helped carry Jota's coffin into the church, just hours after competing with Al Hilal at the Club World Cup in the United States. The midfielder has since had a tattoo on his left calf of him embracing Jota, who is wearing his 'Diogo J' Portugal 21 shirt. "I and the entire national team team will do everything we can to keep Diogo here with us, on our team," Neves added. "The day after the news, for me, is the most difficult day of my life. The most important aspect for me to be able to play was wanting to play for Diogo first." Neves has had a tattoo on his calf embracing his close friend While Liverpool have revealed images of the new permanent memorial , external at Anfield in tribute to Jota and his brother, Portugal unveiled a bronze tribute , external at their training centre close to Lisbon. Martinez says Jota's death "hurts beyond football" but his spirit is a driving force at the World Cup. Portugal have struggled to fire at the tournament, winning just one of their three group games. However, the 2016 European champions booked a last-16 spot by defeating Croatia. "Diogo's dream is still with us and he sets the standards, he sets the light for the direction of this group," added former Belgium boss Martinez. "Every day is difficult. When we are training, there are always moments when Diogo comes back into our memory. "I think the anniversary is just a moment that makes this game [Croatia], Diogo Jota's game. "Diogo will always be with us." England were 15 minutes from humiliation - the issues Tuchel must solve

I've heard a lot of talk about the difficult conditions England will face at the Azteca Stadium - but I don't think the players will be worried about any of that. Instead of having any fear about the different tests they face, they will just be thinking 'bring it on'. I know I would be. All the talk stops when they run out anyway, and if they play the game rather than the occasion then I think they will win. Yes, it's going to be tough, because of the altitude and the atmosphere and everything else. Co-hosts Mexico are at home and the crowd could be as much as 80% of their fans, which is very different to anything England have faced at this tournament so far. But as a player, these are the kind of games and moments you train and work so hard for all your life because to be going to such an iconic stadium and playing in a World Cup in front of a TV audience of millions, with a place in the quarter-finals as the prize, is what you dream of as a boy. I've wanted to go to the Azteca since I watched the 1986 World Cup on TV as a teenager and this is the first time England have been back since losing that epic quarter-final tie to Argentina. It's going to be an amazing spectacle as well as a unique test. I have followed England around the United States at this World Cup, and we have had the majority of fans at all four matches so far. Against DR Congo in Atlanta, around 75% of the crowd were supporting England, but this is going to feel very different and is another reason why it's such an incredible game to look forward to. I'll be there, co-commentating with Guy Mowbray, and am excited about it as much as the fans are. I bet the players are excited too. Yes, it's a challenge but I would say to them to embrace it and enjoy it - be positive and show us all what you can do. Mexico v England Monday, 6 July (01:00 BST) Azteca Stadium, Mexico City Watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app; listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds The confusion over the kick-off time just added to the noise around this game, but I don't understand how it could have been changed and brought forward earlier than the scheduled time. It was a silly idea because of the way it would have impacted the thousands of fans flying in from all over the world to watch it. It's been noisy enough in Mexico City anyway - I saw the reception England got when they arrived at their hotel on Friday, and we know Ecuador were kept awake by car horns and fireworks before their last-32 tie. I would not be surprised at all if we find out later that there was some disruption for England the night before their game too, from an alarm going off at their hotel or something similar. That's nothing new - it sometimes happens when you stay anywhere before a Premier League match as well. It's annoying but you have to accept it and get on with it. If it happens, I don't think it will faze the England players, and neither will Mexico's record at the Azteca. Again, I've heard a lot about that in the past few days, and how they have only lost two out of 89 competitive matches there since 1966. It's a run of results that deserves respect, but when you look at the list of teams they have played, then they have not exactly faced great opposition every time. It certainly does not make me think they are unbeatable and again, from a player's perspective, it is the kind of thing you are aware of and think, 'fine, we will embrace this challenge as well'. This video can not be played England squad booed as they arrive in Mexico James doubtful for Mexico tie but Quansah fit again This video can not be played Kane scores late winner as England overcome DR Congo to reach last 16 While I am expecting England to win, Thomas Tuchel has got a few decisions to make about his team. Whoever plays at right-back will have to deal with Julian Quinones, who is one of Mexico's dangermen with three goals at this World Cup so far. Tuchel might get more defensive stability there if he plays Djed Spence but, by doing that, England would probably lose a little bit going forward. It's an area to keep an eye on, whoever plays. The same applies on the wings, where he has continued to switch players around. On the left, my feeling is Anthony Gordon did enough when he came on against DR Congo to warrant a starting place this time, but I'm less certain whether Noni Madueke or Bukayo Saka will get the nod on the right. One area I would not change, however, is is in the centre of midfield. I would not even contemplate starting Declan Rice at right-back, which is where he ended the Congo game, because along with Elliot Anderson and Jude Bellingham he gives us such a nice balance in the middle. Whatever team Tuchel picks, though, we will have to start the game much quicker than we did against DR Congo. If we do start slowly, and go a goal down again, we are going to find it very difficult to come back. This video can not be played Argentina survive huge scare from Cape Verde to make last 16 The last 16 is the time when the tournament really gets going and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next. There's no doubt that the best story so far of this World Cup has been Cape Verde and what they did against Spain to claim a goalless draw and then Argentina. Ultimately, they were beaten by the defending champions, but the way they took the game to them was incredible, and the players can hold their heads up high in defeat. As for the best team, well that's still France. From what I've seen so far, nothing has changed my mind from when I picked them as winners before a ball was kicked. They are still the team to beat - I just hope England get through their half of the draw to have a go at them in the final. Similarly, I am sticking with Kylian Mbappe as my pick to win the race for the Golden Boot. It's incredible looking at the top of the list of goalscorers because every name you thought would be up there is on it. Mbappe still has to be favourite because France will probably go all the way and he will score most of their goals, but hopefully Harry Kane will give him a run for his money all the way to the final as well - starting with a couple more against Mexico. Alan Shearer was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan Olivier Giroud on Mbappe & winning the World Cup Iliman Ndiaye: Senegal’s goal is to win World Cup 2026 The World Cup is bigger than ever - and BBC Sport has an app to match Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game

This video can not be played 'Disgusting' Paraguay went 'way too far' against France "Paraguay's players were an absolute disgrace," former England goalkeeper Joe Hart told BBC One. "If they were on my team, I'd be dragging them off the pitch." After dismantling all before them at this World Cup, France had to find a new way to win to keep alive their dream of regaining the trophy they last lifted in 2018. Their 1-0 victory over Paraguay was hard earned. Paraguay had won over neutrals by causing a major shock in the last 32, knocking out Germany on penalties. But, in a bad-tempered match in the punishing Philadelphia heat, they showed their ugly side. Andres Cubas escaped a booking after clattering into Adrien Rabiot. Juan Jose Caceres kicked out at Kylian Mbappe, and that went unpunished too. Astonishingly, while Les Bleus players Manu Kone, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise were all cautioned, not one Paraguay player was booked. Not even when Gabriel Avalos dropped the elbow into the stomach of Dayot Upamecano when Paraguay were chasing the game. "It was embarrassing to see," former England defender Micah Richards told BBC One. "Paraguay are better than that. Defensively they were so good and they didn't need to get into these antics." France's victory secured a quarter-final date with Morocco at Boston Stadium on Thursday (21:00 BST kick-off). The decisive moment came with 20 minutes left when Diego Gomez had stuck out his leg to bring down Desire Doue. Referee Ilgiz Tantashev - whose overall performance was widely criticised for being too weak - reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor, and awarded a penalty. Even then, Paraguay's players crowded the Uzbek official in an attempt to delay the penalty kick, while Gustavo Velazquez tried to scuff the penalty spot before Mbappe scored his seventh goal of the tournament to go level with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. "There were some insults from the other bench we could have done without," said France boss Didier Deschamps in his news conference afterwards. Even after the full-time whistle, there was a scuffle as Velazquez attempted to confront France players. "Paraguay tried to wind up the France players, little shoves and nudges but not enough to get a yellow card," former Scotland winger Pat Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Every single dark art you can use." France overcome stubborn Paraguay to reach quarter-final In spotlight but shunning limelight - Olise's unique rise to top Gustavo Velazquez kicked the penalty spot to try to scuff it up before Kylian Mbappe's penalty Dayot Upamecano received an elbow in the ribs Matias Galarza put his hand in Jules Kounde's face Galarza went down when Michael Olise grabbed his shirt to get him booked Andres Cubas went through Adrien Rabiot with a poor tackle This video can not be played France overcome Paraguay to reach quarter-final Mbappe is now one behind Messi in the all-time list of World Cup goalscorers after taking his tally to 19 in 19 tournament games. Incredibly, since 2018, Mbappe has scored more goals in the knockout stages of the World Cup (11) than Brazil (10), England (10), Portugal (9) and Spain (4). It looked like being a frustrating game for France and their captain as they failed to register an attempt on target in the first half. The extreme heat had an impact, with this game going down as one of the hottest World Cup matches of all-time. The temperature at kick-off was recorded on the official page for the National Weather Service at 38.3C. The record for a World Cup game stands at 43C, when the Republic of Ireland played Mexico in Florida in 1994. Yet France still found a way to overcome the heat - and Paraguay's rough tactics. "We know how to play ugly football," Mabppe said afterwards. "They [Paraguay] thought we'd show up in tuxedos, but we were ready. Even at that game, we were better than them. "That's their style of football - there's no right or wrong way to play the game. They tried to beat us that way, but we won." Deschamps, who is now the first coach to secure 10 World Cup knockout victories, revealed he had instructed his players to shield Mbappe in the closing stages as Paraguay searched for a way back into the game. "I asked the two biggest lads to go and stand around Kylian at the end because they were going to chop him down," Deschamps added. "It wasn't easy. They use every trick in the book. It's not the kind of football that will bring people to the stadium, but they defended well. It is always difficult against these South American teams." Mbappe was targeted from the start but kept his cool and reacted to Paraguay's provocation by laughing off their tactics on the pitch. "I love how Mbappe has behaved in this game," added Hart. "The Paraguay players have come for him from minute one. When he was laughing at the players, he is allowed to be arrogant. "I would never want to play football that way. The referee didn't help in any circumstances. The fact that not one Paraguayan was booked inside the 90 minutes is astonishing." Thomas Hitzlsperger, the former Germany midfielder, told BBC One that he had "no respect" for Paraguay over the way they behaved. "If you are from Paraguay, you probably like the team - they are like warriors," he added. "If you are French or neutral, you can have no respect for them any more. This is not just disgraceful, this is even worse." France's Manchester City forward Rayan Cherki said that the Paraguay game showed the team can overcome provocation to win games. "We knew it was going to be a fiercely contested match," he added. "But it was important to us to play a game like this during the World Cup - to remind everyone that the French team can play beautiful football, but can also go to war." William Saliba said Les Bleus were ready for Paraguay after studying videos of their previous games. "They were going to come at us hard, commit fouls, and try to provoke us," added the defender, a Premier League winner with Arsenal. "We had to stay in the game, because if we started wasting energy, getting into arguments, and losing our focus, things wouldn't go well. "So, we stayed focused. It's not easy, but sometimes it feels good to win a tough match like this, because since the start of the tournament, we've been used to scoring three goals. "Today, it was a 1-0 win, but it's just as valuable." This video can not be played Paraguay best efforts don't stop Mbappe scoring penalty The 2026 World Cup has been characterised by refereeing that has tried to promote a free-flowing game. But it went wrong for Ilgiz Tantashev. Tantashev should have been fully aware of how Paraguay were likely to play - tough tackling and trying to limit France's ability to play freely. The Uzbek referee should have clamped down earlier, shown his authority and given the impression that the rough tactics would not be tolerated. See how Michael Oliver officiated in Saturday's earlier last-16 match between Canada and Morocco, producing six yellow cards before half-time. The game then calmed down, with only two shown in the second half. The opposite happened in Philadelphia. That the foul count was 13 to Paraguay and 11 to France does not tell a true story. The referee missed many more fouls by the South American team – both tactical and off the ball. Even more remarkably, not one Paraguay player was booked. But three from France were. France advance, thanks to the penalty awarded through VAR and not the referee. World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Thomas Tuchel's England will face Mexico in the World Cup last 16 on Monday at 01:00 BST (18:00 Sunday local time) Thomas Tuchel has dismissed concerns over England's treatment in Mexico as they prepare to face the World Cup co-hosts - saying it had been "nicer than I expected" and that home fans were "friendly and respectful". Tuchel's side take on Mexico in a last-16 match that kicks off at 18:00 local time on Sunday (Monday 01:00 BST, live on BBC One, iPlayer and Radio 5 Live). On Saturday, the team were met with a mixture of cheers and jeers from fans as they left their hotel for training under enhanced security measures in Mexico City. Ecuador - beaten 2-0 by Mexico in the World Cup last 32 - lodged a noise complaint with Fifa after fans with loudspeakers, motorbikes and horns disrupted their sleep last week. As a result, members of Mexico's National Guard lined the entrance to England's hotel, while police officers in riot gear stood next to barriers on the road outside. "We had no issues tonight and I think Fifa took care of the situation," head coach Tuchel said. "We have security around the hotel so we expect a good night's sleep. "I don't want to talk about problems that don't exist yet. If they come, we will accept them. The best way to approach is to be relaxed and calm. "We have a six o'clock kick-off, so if we miss some hours of sleep we will have time to get some other hours in the late morning. "What I experienced until now was very respectful and emotional and very supportive to towards our teams so are very respectful towards everyone. We expect to be treated with respect and that was the case. "It was even nicer than I expected." Tuchel said he had felt the energy in Mexico City. "It just catches you straight away once you land here and saw the excitement and the emotions," he said. "This will be a proper World Cup match. We are in an iconic place, an iconic stadium and a massive knockout game. "It is a big stage and we feel it. It makes you sharper and brings the best out of you. It makes you feel alive." Mexico v England Monday, 6 July (01:00 BST) Azteca Stadium, Mexico City Watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app; listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds Another big talking point has been the altitude in Mexico City - with the Estadio Azteca 7,220ft (2,240m) above sea level . That means the Earth's barometric pressure is lower, making the air thinner and meaning less oxygen is taken into the bloodstream with each breath. This can lead to increased heart rate, shortness of breath, dehydration, and quicker and more intense fatigue. Tuchel said he had felt it since arriving on Saturday evening. "We feel it even if we don't train," he said. "I felt a slight headache through the day, for example. "I didn't sleep as well as the days before but nothing you cannot handle and that you cannot adapt. "The players felt it in the first minutes of the training session and the longer it went they could cope with it better. "It is just what it is. We cannot physically adapt, it is impossible. But we are here one day before to experience it at least. "It is not a coincidence Mexico starts their matches strong and aggressively as the first 15 to 20 minutes maybe the tougher. Once we overcome that, I think we are in a good place. "The players are kind of adapted - you know about the situation. We will take care of what we need to take care of. We need a strong performance and I feel we will have one." Why England won't fear Mexico or the Azteca - Shearer James doubtful for Mexico tie but Quansah fit again Tuchel was asked about the kick-off chaos , with Fifa being set to move the game forward six hours to 12:00 local time (19:00 BST) before U-turning. "Inside the bubble it was quite calm," Tuchel said. "The players were not aware there was a possible change of kick-off. "Just this example shows you to not lose your head - we cannot influence it. Three and a half hours later, you land in Mexico and the kick-off time stayed the same. It is not worth losing your head." "Altitude: it is what it is. Home crowd: it is what it is. We have the spirit, we have the commitment, we have the pure will and the glue in the team to overcome these things. We know what is coming. But that is the beauty of it." This video can not be played England squad booed as they arrive in Mexico James doubtful for Mexico tie but Quansah fit again Lightning, hotel security and spying - issues England face in Mexico Five and a half hours that left England's World Cup tie in chaos Why England won't fear Mexico or the Azteca - Shearer 'You can't catch your breath' - how will Azteca altitude impact England? BBC offers 'Stay Up or Catch Up' for England v Mexico How to turn BBC Sport alerts on or off for England v Mexico

This video can not be played Morocco reach quarter-finals as co-hosts Canada knocked out Morocco are on another fairytale World Cup run - even if their latest win over Canada was less beauty and more beast. The north African side were not pretty in beating the 2026 co-hosts 3-0 in their round of 16 meeting in Houston. Morocco won despite having just five efforts on goal – the fewest by a team who won a World Cup knockout match on record – and the first half was the first in World Cup history with more yellow cards than shots. But Morocco came through, and as the cliché goes, the mark of a great team is that they know how to win ugly. And now we must regard Morocco as a great team, and a real contender to win this World Cup. They are not only unbeaten in this World Cup, but in their last 34 matches across all competitions. While that record does carry an asterisk as it includes the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal – a win rewarded retroactively to Morocco and being challenged in court – it is impressive nevertheless. Not since a 1-0 loss to Kenya in August 2025 in the African Nations Championship – a tournament solely for players in Africa's domestic leagues – have the Moroccan national team lost a match. And after the first 15 minutes in Texas, they never looked like losing this game. Canada had two early chances, with Moroccan keeper Bono saving from Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi, while the Atlas Lions did not have a touch in the opposition box for the first quarter of an hour for the second successive fixture. But once Morocco settled, they firmly took control of the game. As Canada manager Jesse Marsch said afterwards: "They were bending a little bit but they didn't break." Morocco's four World Cup knockout wins is as many as Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana and Egypt combined In a meeting of two sides currently blessed by golden generations of talent, it was the Moroccans who shone. For Canada, injured Alphonso Davies was helpless on the bench as Morocco neutralised Stephen Eustaquio's dangerous passing and squeezed star striker Jonathan David out of the game. Meanwhile, Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi, arguably the world's best right back, was a constant menace both on the ball and in the Canadian players' faces, while creative fulcrum Brahim Diaz claimed two assists. He now has four in World Cups – the most of any African player. "The first half was very intense," Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi told his post-match media conference. "There were a few adjustments to be made at half-time. We were never safe from pressure. "What matters is we didn't change our identity, we didn't change our game philosophy. There were lots of ideas being thrown around and we took the best one. "We are playing the World Cup which means there will be difficult moments. What matters is when we are not at our best, we have to be resilient. We have to remember who we are playing for and what we are playing for." It was more than enough to take Morocco to a second successive men's World Cup quarter-final, progressing through five matches as they did in Qatar. Morocco have now won four World Cup knockout matches - two in 2022, two in 2026 – which is as many as all other African nations combined. One more win, and they will have officially matched their showing at the 2022 World Cup, where they became the first African nation ever to reach the semi-finals. So Morocco are contenders, although there remains a feeling they have not been tested to their full capabilities yet. They impressed in drawing with Brazil in their opening game, before contrasting wins over Scotland and Haiti – the first a hard-fought slog following a goal inside two minutes, the latter a frenetic 4-2 against free-wheeling, already eliminated foes. In the round of 32, they were the better team against Netherlands but needed a stoppage-time header to avoid elimination. Then against Canada they were eventually comfortable, but it was not a high-quality win to assuage doubters ahead of a possible meeting with France in the last eight. Morocco will play their 2026 quarter-final in Boston at 21.00 BST on Thursday, 9 July "Morocco were just not at their very best, and there are tougher tests to come," said BBC 5 Live pundit Chris Sutton. "They surprised me with their lethargy at the start. I don't know whether there was a bit of arrogance in dismissing the Canada team. Something was amiss with their performance. "Morocco were never going to perform as badly in the second half. The longer the game went on, the stronger they became. "They are devastating on the counterattack. But if France get through and Morocco perform like they did in the first half against a team like France, they will be crushed." Yet there is no question that this Moroccan side have a better chance to become Africa's first ever world champions than any other side in history. Morocco's success is not overnight. The one thing underpinning the North Africans' success has been long-term investment backed by the country's King Mohammed VI. An academy and $65m (£48.7m) training complex, both bearing his name, opened in 2009 and 2019 respectively and have helped the Atlas Lions establish themselves as Africa's top-ranked side. "Everything that is happening right now in Moroccan football is thanks to Mohammed VI," Ouahbi said. "He has invested a lot in the last few years, especially this academy." After reaching three out of four World Cups between 1986 and 1998, Morocco went 20 years without qualifying. This investment turned around their fortunes and allowed them to recruit players from the diaspora abroad – like Hakimi and Diaz, both born in Spain. It has given Morocco a competitiveness and belief which has become the blueprint for other African and Arabic nations, and it gives them a different aura to four years ago. "It's not a surprise, we are no longer a surprise as of today," Ouahbi said. "When people talk about Morocco they talk about a real contender, a major footballing nation and it's a great source of pride. "It's only the beginning and I hope we can continue to have similar World Cup runs for many years. We want to keep going, we don't want to stop." While the run in Qatar was twinged with disbelief, their journey in North America has been infused with purpose. A football fairytale, this is not. World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Reece James has missed England's last two World Cup fixtures Reece James missed England's final training session before their World Cup last-16 tie against Mexico but Jarell Quansah is available for selection again. Right-back James has missed England's past two matches after suffering a hamstring injury in the closing stages of the goalless draw with Ghana. The Chelsea defender, 26, is yet to train fully with the squad since the injury and was the only absent player for Saturday's session in Mexico City. The Football Association told BBC Sport that James was following his own individual programme away from the training field. England boss Thomas Tuchel told the media on Saturday that James would need a late assessment before deciding if he was fit enough for the substitutes bench. There was positive news however with regards to Quansah, who has returned to full training and will be fit to face Mexico (Monday, 01:00 BST). Quansah, who can play at centre-back or full-back, suffered a hamstring injury in the draw with Panama, but his return to fitness eases Thomas Tuchel's concerns at right-back. Djed Spence was selected at right-back for the victory over DR Congo but midfielder Declan Rice finished the match in that position. The Arsenal midfielder has been carrying a hamstring issue but is set to be available for the tie at the Azteca stadium. BBC offers 'Stay Up or Catch Up' for England v Mexico Why England won't fear Mexico or the Azteca - Shearer World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV Everything you need to know about the World Cup

This video can not be played GB's Fery battles to beat Bergs in five-set thriller British wildcard Arthur Fery beat Zizou Bergs in a five-set thriller to reach the Wimbledon fourth round and keep home singles hopes alive - despite suffering three nosebleeds during the match. Wildcard Fery recovered twice from falling a set and a break down to come through 2-6 7-5 2-6 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-5) in front of a packed crowd on court 18. Fery was outside the world's top 100 at the start of the championships but played above his ranking to become sole home player to reach the singles third round. After fighting back to beat Bosnia's Damir Dzumhur and Finland's Otto Virtanen in his first two matches, it seemed as though Fery had finally run out of steam against Belgium's Bergs. But the 23-year-old held his nerve and then rallied to become the first male British wildcard to reach the Wimbledon fourth round since Andrew Foster in 1993. "No words for it, honestly," said Fery, who threw himself to the floor in celebration after a gruelling four hours and 39 minutes on court - the longest match of this year's tournament. "I don't know what is going on right now. It will take time to digest it." The victory will move him into the world's top 100 for the first time, while he is set to earn £300,000 in prize money for reaching the fourth round - where he will face Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria next. This video can not be played 'Amazing resilience!' Fery's incredible comeback Returning to court 18 - where he had beaten Virtanen in the second round - Fery endured a difficult start when he fell an early break down and suffered a nosebleed for the third match in a row. He received treatment on the issue on three separate occasions, with the final nosebleed arriving as he was serving to stay in the match at 5-4 down in the deciding set. "It is a problem I am going to address. It has happened before but it's not that common," Fery said. "It happened at times today when I didn't want to stop, when momentum was with me. "I know it annoying for the opponent. It gives me some extra time to rest sometimes." A player who is bleeding must receive treatment before play can continue, but they do not have to leave the court. There is no limit under Grand Slam rules on the number of treatments a player can receive. Eala wins 'for all the girls with ruffled socks and chubby cheeks' Injury ends Williams' Wimbledon comeback Defending champion Swiatek & Rybakina out in Wimbledon shocks Bergs outplayed Fery with a mix of vicious forehand winners and deft drop shots to claim the opening set. However, after dropping serve first in the second set, Fery finally found his rhythm and capitalised on the rising number of mistakes by the 6ft 1in Belgian. The momentum shifted midway through the third set as Bergs won six games in a row and raced to a 4-1 lead in the fourth. Backed by a raucous crowd, the French-born Briton dug deep to claw his way back and take the match to a deciding set and keep his dreams alive. Hopes dwindled as Bergs once again moved 4-1 up in the fifth set before Fery produced one final fightback to force a tie-break, which he sailed through as the crowd's belief carried him over the finish line. "With that support, it is unbelievable. I requested to play on this court and the club made it happen which was awesome," Fery said. "I was down for pretty much the whole match, managed to scramble back from two breaks and 4-1 in the fifth, and just tried to put up as much of a fight as I could." Fery is ranked 114th in the world In the mixed doubles on Saturday, Joe Salisbury combined with Canada's Leylah Fernandez to knock out fellow Briton Julian Cash and Dutch partner Demi Schuurs 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 victory. Britain's Neal Skupski and American partner Desirae Krawczyk, two-time winners of the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon, fought back to claim a 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 win over British duo Billy Harris and Freya Christie. British pair Jodie Burrage and David Stevenson were beaten 6-4 6-1 by Italian top seeds Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani, while Ben Jones and Maia Lumsden were the winners of an all-British clash against Joshua Paris and Eden Silva. In the women's doubles, Britain's Samantha Murray Sharan and Thailand's Lanlana Tararudee replaced Serena and Venus Williams following their withdrawal from the tournament, but fell to a 6-3 6-4 defeat by Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra. This video can not be played 'Simply remarkable' - GB's Fery through to last 16

There was an error World Cup favourites France book their quarter-final place thanks to Kylian Mbappe's second-half penalty, which proves enough to help them past a stubborn Paraguay side in Philadelphia. MATCH REPORT: Paraguay 0-1 France Available to UK users only.

This video can not be played England outclassed by South Africa in Nations Championship A century or more ago, Englishmen travelled to South Africa hunting big game. Steve Borthwick's modern-day tourists came with the same aim. England were looking for a contest that gave a true measure of where they stand against the world's best. About five minutes into their 45-21 defeat by South Africa in Johannesburg they found it and found out. Thomas du Toit had already steamrollered over for one try by then. Jasper Wiese had swept past Alex Coles with a run bristling with evil intent. But it was the sight of loosehead prop Ox Nche stampeding through Ollie Chessum and Jamie George, with the England defence desperately, vainly backpedalling, that summed up a brutally chastening opening salvo. Cheslin Kolbe, who jagged off the same foot to ice Owen Farrell's ankles in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, danced in at the end of that attack. Kurt-Lee Arendse, the other scrum-capped hot-stepper in the Boks back three, followed shortly after to make it three South Africa tries in the first 11 minutes. Rugby Union Weekly: England blitzed and bossed by the Boks England outclassed by seven-try South Africa in Nations Championship Nations Championship fixtures & results England were shell-shocked. Never mind the gap, onlookers were marvelling at a sheer chasm in class between the two teams. And this was a Springbok side that many had expected to start slowly. South Africa's last meaningful match was in November. They have a lengthy injury list with the late withdrawal of captain Siya Kolisi and second row Eben Etzebeth, adding to the absence of star fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, forward mainstays Franco Mostert, Lood de Jager, RG Snyman, Kwagga Smith, Frans Malherbe and others. The Springboks didn't even get a chance to press their traditional scrum supremacy until the 21st minute. But none of it mattered. South Africa were too skilful individually, too connected as a collective for England to make an imprint. Ellis Genge and George Martin's try-scoring rumbles, which cut the Boks lead to three at half-time, raised false hopes of an England comeback before the break The Boks duly restored rugby's new world order after the break. "The second half was hardly a contest," said former England fly-half Paul Grayson on BBC Radio 5 Live. "England never got a foothold in the game and because of that their attack was bits and pieces. "South Africa smashed the door down, rarely played more than a couple of phases but squeezed the life out of England. They were uncomplicated and uncompromising." Perhaps no side could have matched the double reigning world champions in such brilliantly belligerent mood. But plenty will feel that England should have been closer to doing so. Opting for Marcus Smith, an excellent and versatile player, but not a specialist full-back, at 15 after the late withdrawal of George Furbank did not settle the backfield defence. Tommy Freeman, one of England's best players in the air, remained in his less accustomed outside centre role. Too often the Boks took to the air and returned with the ball, with the superb Damian Willemse ruling the skies. England had promised to play 'big', mixing physical bravery with tactical daring. It was there, but only in parts. All three England tries – with Henry Slade's excellent kamikaze angle into the heart of the Bok defence followed up by a smart mispass to Alex Coles to cross for their final score – showed that intent. One early passage with Fin Smith and Ben Earl combining well and Jack van Poortvliet finding his man with a one-handed offload round the back of tackler carved through the hosts. But the attacking ambition and accuracy wavered across the contest. Alex Coles crossed for England's third try, but they rarely looked like diverting the Springboks from victory The one constant across England's five-match losing streak though has been indiscipline. Their Six Nations campaign – a historic low in the tournament – came with a flush of cards. This time, Freeman and replacement Guy Pepper were dispatched to the sin-bin late on to leave England, gasping at 1,753m above sea level, down to 13 men for the final eight minutes. Even before that referee James Doleman had awarded a clutch of second-half penalties the hosts' way, with Tom Curry falling foul of a new emphasis on cleaning up the driving maul within a minute of the restart. Every one of the 13 penalties England conceded sapped their momentum, ceded territory and ratcheted up pressure. And England are not a good enough side to withstand it. The question now will be whether they are good enough to defeat Fiji and Argentina over the next two weekends. South Africa may have been the biggest game of England's summer, but these latter two fixtures are the more revealing tests. The Springboks are operating at the summit of the sport. When England descend from altitude, touch down back at Heathrow and face Fiji in Liverpool, they will need to show they can overcome those at a lower level. If not, and a losing streak of five games extends to six or seven, Borthwick knows that the Rugby Football Union will be asked once more whether they back their man to the World Cup. "England must beat Fiji next weekend because the storm clouds are gathering again," added Grayson. On its own, a defeat away to this South Africa - one of the all-time great teams – doesn't prompt that inquest. As those Englishman of old know, when you go big-game hunting, someone usually gets stuffed. All Blacks beat France in thrilling Nations Championship opener Ireland deny Wallabies after nail-biting finish Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast

Scotland enjoyed their highest score in 12 Test visits to Argentina Nations Championship Argentina (10) 38 Tries: Oviedo, Isgro, Rapetti, Cinti, Moyano Cons: Albornoz 5 Pens: Albornoz Scotland (19) 47 Tries: Tuipulotu, Schoeman, Hutchinson, Brown, Cummings, Hiddleston, Rowe Cons: Burke 3, Jordan 3 Scotland opened their Nations Championship campaign with an impressive seven-try win against Argentina in Cordoba. Scores from Pierre Schoeman, Sione Tuipulotu and Rory Hutchinson gave the visitors a 19-10 lead at the interval. Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings touched down in a whirlwind second half, with debutant Gregor Hiddleston and Kyle Rowe also crossing the whitewash. Two of Argentina's five tries came in the closing moments to earn the hosts a bonus point in a wide open encounter. Scotland visit South Africa next Saturday, with the world champions having enjoyed a 45-21 victory over England earlier in the day. Gregor Townsend's side were ruthless in attack, scoring with their first three visits to the 22, and the head coach will be delighted with a number of strong performances. Nations Championship: Scotland enjoy seven-try victory in Argentina England outclassed by seven-try South Africa in Nations Championship Hutchinson and Rowe were prominent as Scotland recovered from a slow start, during which Joaquin Oviedo sauntered through the middle of a maul to score. On 18 minutes, Hutchinson followed some neat footwork with a great pass to find his centre partner Tuipulotu on the touchline. The skipper touched down in the corner and Fergus Burke, on as a temporary replacement for fly-half Tom Jordan, banged over the extras. Rowe then broke free to send prop Schoeman plunging over from close range to mark his 50th cap in style. The Scotland centres were to the fore again when Tuipulotu ripped through the home defence like a meteor before the nimble Hutchinson finished off. A great one-handed take, along with an undetected nudge on Rowe, allowed Rodrigo Isgro to score early in the second half. It was a two-point game and the thoughts of nervous Scotland fans may have strayed to November's crushing defeat at Murrayfield when a 21-0 lead was surrendered. However, Scotland's decision-making was solid, as was their set-piece, and a cute back-of-the-hand pass from Ewan Ashman to Ben White from a line-out culminated in replacement lock Brown crunching over. Lock Scott Cummings was also making his 50th Scotland appearance and he too marked it with a try as a composed pass from White made the most of a three v two overload. Tomas Rapetti burrowed over to reduce the deficit, with a bloodied Jamie Dobie shown a yellow card for some illicit grappling. Scotland were 33-24 in front but a man down. Again, the visitors showed a clinical edge as replacement hooker Hiddleston peeled off a maul to make his first international match a memorable one. Joaquin Moro was sent to the sin-bin in the aftermath and Argentina's advantage in personnel was gone in a flash. The hosts, in their first outing of 2026 and missing some key men, were further flattened when Rowe burst away to get the score the full-back's efforts deserved. Nine incursions into the home 22, seven tries. A wonderful return. Lucio Cinti and Agustin Moyano reduced the deficit in the final throes, but, with the job well and truly done, Scotland may have been thinking of their next task against the mighty Springboks. Rory Hutchinson scored Scotland's third try and linked well with Sione Tuipulotu Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend told ITV: "We're really proud of the way the players played our game. "We took a while to get possession but once we got into our rhythm I thought we were tactically very smart. We won the games within the game and I felt our forward pack led very well. "We know how dangerous Argentina are, defensively we had to be in a good place and generally we were. "There were not-so-good moments at the beginning and end of the first half but our work off the ball, finishing off tries, was good. "We're flying overnight to South Africa, a big challenge against the number one team in the world. "We must have done a lot of things right today, we'll have to do better next week." Argentina: S Carreras; Isgro, Cinti, Sanchez-Valarolo, M Carreras; Albornoz, Garcia; Vivas, Montoya (capt), Delgado, Petti, Alemanno, Matera, Grondona, Oviedo. Replacements: Ruiz, Wenger, Rapetti, Molina, Moro, Moyano, Moroni, Delguy. Scotland: Rowe; Steyn, Hutchinson, Tuipulotu (capt), Dobie; Jordan, White; Schoeman, Ashman, Millar-Mills, Gray, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey. Replacements: Hiddleston, Sutherland, Z Fagerson, Samuel, Brown, Horne, Burke, Graham.

This video can not be played 'This is everything' - Eala emotional after making history Three years ago, Alexandra Eala was presented with her graduation diploma from the Rafael Nadal tennis academy by Iga Swiatek. The Pole was world number one and had just won her third French Open title. She told the players assembled in front of her that she hoped they "would give 100%" to whatever they did in the future. "I hope you will be tenacious," she said. , external "I hope no matter what you do in the future years, if you're going to do it the best way possible, I'm sure you'll have no regrets at the end." Eala took those words to heart. On Saturday, she produced a brave, crowd-enthralling performance on Wimbledon's Centre Court to stun defending champion Swiatek 7-6 (11-9) 6-2. With it, she became the first player from the Philippines to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam in the Open era. Asked what the victory meant, the 21-year-old replied: "I went to train every day after school with my ruffled socks, light-up shoes and chubby cheeks - to younger me this is everything. "It is incredible to have my countrymen cheering me on, knowing that we are all in this together. "This goes out to them, my family and all the girls with ruffled socks and chubby cheeks. It means the world." GB's Fery fights off Bergs and nosebleeds to reach fourth round Defending champion Swiatek & Rybakina out in Wimbledon shocks Injury ends Williams' Wimbledon comeback Eala played tennis as a youngster with her brother and grandfather, telling BBC TV she "still can't keep up" with her older brother, even now. She first rose to prominence in 2022, when she was on the cover of Vogue in her home country after becoming the first Filipina to win a junior Grand Slam title with her US Open triumph. She rose to wider notice after her 2025 Miami Open breakthrough - which ironically began with another victory over Swiatek. Aged 19 and ranked outside the top 100, Eala took out Grand Slam champions Swiatek, Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys to reach the semi-finals. Since then, she has reached the world's top 30, claimed two titles on the second-tier WTA 125 tournaments and finished runner-up at Eastbourne last year. In the build-up to this year's Wimbledon, she beat world number two Elena Rybakina and eighth-ranked Elina Svitolina in Berlin, and also teamed up with Venus Williams in doubles. Her success has meant her popularity sky-rocketed. Queues snake around the Grand Slam grounds when she is scheduled on an outside court, while viewing parties are held for her matches back home. That brings with it a pressure both good and bad. If Eala's wins are celebrated as a point of national pride in the Philippines, then her losses are also felt deeply. It was a situation that got on top of her at the Australian Open, where she was overwhelmed by the amount of people who simply queued to watch her practice. "I try to be as authentic as I can. I believe in being genuine," Eala said. "Although I'm very grateful and very welcoming of all the support that I get, me, my team and my family are the ones who have been putting in the hours. "We're the ones who are here at the courts 12 hours in a row. We're the ones who wake up early, who come back home late. "I think that work ethic is really what keeps me grounded." This video can not be played 21-year old Eala knocks out defending champion Swiatek Against Swiatek on Wimbledon's biggest court, she absorbed the pressure admirably. Roared on by a huge crowd on Henman Hill, Eala saved eight of the 11 break points she faced and hit 24 winners to 21 unforced errors to see off the six-time major champion. "The match started at 20:30 local time and everybody on social media was following the match and posting about Filipino pride," former Philippines tennis player Dyan Castillejo told Sportsworld on the BBC World Service. "I'm getting hundreds and thousands of texts from so many people. Everybody just wants to be a part of it. "Everybody felt that they were a part of it, every Filipino." Eala's visor is embroidered with the phrase 'kapag lumago, hindi na hihinto', which translates to 'once it grows, it cannot be stopped'. Written in her native Tagalog, it allows her to "carry parts of my culture with me on court". "I resonate with those words so much. More than being unstoppable, I think it refers to a dream and an aspiration to become unstoppable," Eala told BBC TV. "Ever since I was young, I've always been such a dreamer, so being able to live out my dreams and experience things like this only makes me more ambitious." "For me to be able to represent the Philippines in Wimbledon and in the biggest stages in the world, it means so much to me." Live scores, results and order of play Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

This video can not be played Belgium make light work of USA to set up quarter-final tie with Spain It all started with the usual razzmatazz that has come to be seen at United States' World Cup games - a boisterous and patriotic fanbase, fireworks, smoke flares and a military flyover. But the American dream of winning the tournament for the first time fizzled out in shambolic fashion in the early hours of Tuesday morning with a hugely disappointing defeat by Belgium. The US lost 4-1 - their heaviest defeat since 1990 - while the lively atmosphere that had been a feature of their previous games fell flat long before the final whistle, with Belgium's fourth goal prompting a stream of fans to leave the Seattle Stadium. This exit at the last-16 stage for the tournament co-hosts came at the end of a whirlwind couple of days, where headlines had been dominated by Fifa's controversial decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's red card from the previous game, allowing him to start this encounter. Their run to this stage had appeared to capture the attention of the nation but all that positivity appeared to take a hit by the Balogun saga, something not lost on the Belgians before the game. "It's great to have the world on our side against the United States," full-back Timothy Castagne said before the match. Balogun said he was not surprised the decision was "controversial". "I accepted the decision when I was given the red card, and then I also accepted the decision when I was told I could play," he said. "There's not too much else I can really say on the matter." Just how much did that impact the US team, and where did it ultimately go wrong for Mauricio Pochettino's side? Belgium boss Rudi Garcia spoke to Folarin Balogun after the match Scoreline aside, there was something different about this US performance. With Pochettino having successfully shed the underdog mentality, they played with an arrogant swagger earlier in the tournament, attacking teams in such an impressive fashion it had the fans believing their side could upset the odds at this tournament. "We're going to win the World Cup," one supporter predicted before the match, and his confidence was not alone among the supporters who had gathered outside the Seattle Stadium in the hours before kick-off. Many also took great delight in the fact their in-form striker Balogun had been cleared to play despite being shown a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic in the previous round. Fifa made the shock decision to suspend the automatic one-match ban for 12 months, leading to widespread criticism, including from Uefa, Belgium and England boss Thomas Tuchel. The issue went right to the top of US politics, with President Donald Trump saying on Monday that he had asked Fifa to review the decision because he "didn't think it was a foul". Balogun, who had scored three goals at the World Cup, started against Belgium but struggled to make an impact. Asked afterwards if he had been affected by being the focus of much of the attention in the build-up, US boss Pochettino said: "It didn't affect our performance. It's not an excuse. It wasn't our day. "But in a personal way, what is the point to insult or receive a lot of bad messages? "It's a rule for the federation to apply and to try [to overturn the ban]. My position was to train the team. If Balogun is available because Fifa allow for you to have the player, it's not a problem. "I feel disappointed with too many people. They put politics and manipulation, talk about ethics and integrity [first]. If we talk about the history of this game, I am disappointed in a personal way." Belgium boss Rudi Garcia revealed that Balogun approached him straight after the game. "It's not his fault, he's not the one to blame and that's what I told him," he said. Why European backlash over Trump intervention won't worry Infantino Red card system in disarray over Trump, Fifa and Balogun decision The attack wasn't the main issue for the US against Belgium though, with poor defending largely at fault for the heavy defeat. Charles De Ketelaere was not picked up in the box to tap in the opener, and then was allowed to get the better of two defenders to head in his side's second just moments after the USA had equalised. But the most calamitous goal was the third. De Ketelaere tackled hesitant US keeper Matt Freese, who had come out of his area to try to deal with the ball, and Hans Vanaken side-footed the ball into the bottom corner from outside the penalty area. That gave the Belgians a 3-1 lead and sapped the confidence out of the US fans, who started to leave in the final 10 minutes before Romelu Lukaku's injury-time strike prompted many more to head home. "There was no willingness to go for the ball," said one disappointed US supporter afterwards. "There was nothing there. There was no drive, football wasn't alive today." Another added: "The US had unforced errors all over. They didn't play their best game but Belgium played the way they needed to win that game. To silence the crowd like they did, they put themselves in a great spot to win." Pochettino accepted that his side simply were not good enough from the first whistle. "Everyone saw from the beginning that we did not connect with the game," he said. "We were never in the game, even when we scored the goal [to equalise], we conceded in the next action. It was really tough from the beginning." Mauricio Pochettino's contract as head coach of the US expires at the end of the World Cup After a bit of a flat build-up to the World Cup there is little doubt that Americans got fully behind it once the tournament got under way. Fan zones and bars across the United States were often packed, with the national team's jerseys seen everywhere. The run to the knockout matches and attacking style of football no doubt helped increase that interest, and now the question is what will happen next, as they followed fellow co-hosts Canada and Mexico in exiting the tournament at the last 16 stage. "This can't be a direct reflection of what we were trying to accomplish," US midfielder Tyler Adams said. "You have good days and bad days and this was a bad day. We didn't go as far as we'd like. But if we inspire a few kids on this journey then we have done something right." Some of those fans who spoke to BBC Sport immediately after the loss also felt that once the dust has settled on their side's display, the past few weeks will ultimately be viewed as a positive, although there's still a long way to go for them to be truly considered an established footballing country. "It is an amazing event we have put on and we are really excited for the future of soccer in the country," one supporter said. "Everyone has been talking about the World Cup in this country." Another added: "Long term we have a lot of catching up to do. There's a culture built around football and we're just not there yet." The other uncertainty is Pochettino's future. The former Tottenham boss' contract is due to expire at the end of the World Cup, and after the game he offered no further clues on what his future holds. "Now it's [time] to rest a little bit, to think, to have conversations and see what the decision is from the federation and from us," he said. "I am so happy we built a very good relationship, but now is not the moment. In the next weeks we can start to talk, if the federation wants to talk." World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV Everything you need to know about the World Cup

This video can not be played President Trump on Balogun red-card suspension Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin said his team felt a "sense of injustice" over United States striker Folarin Balogun's one-match ban being suspended by Fifa shortly before their World Cup last-16 match. Balogun, 25, appeared certain to miss the tie in Seattle after being shown a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic in the previous round. But on Sunday Fifa suspended the automatic one-match ban for 12 months, leading to widespread criticism, with Uefa, Belgium and England boss Thomas Tuchel among those speaking out against the ruling. On Monday US President Donald Trump said he asked Fifa to review Balogun's ban, which he said would have left a "big stain" on the tournament. But, despite the American's star striker being cleared to play and starting the match, Belgium convincingly beat the tournament co-hosts 4-1. "A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days,"said Belgium and Rangers midfielder Raskin. "There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field." Belgium captain Youri Tielemans insisted the affair had boosted his side. "We told ourselves we had to respond on the pitch. That's what we did," he said. After Belgium scored their fourth goal several of their players were pictured dancing in a style similar to the 'Trump dance' - where he rocks his hips and slowly pumps his arms - which gained notoriety during the 2024 US presidential campaign. The official Instagram account for the Belgium national team also appeared to mock the debacle, posting a picture of striker Romelu Lukaku cupping his ear with the caption "overturn this". Trump confirms he asked Fifa to review Balogun ban What is the 'Trump dance'? And where have we seen it in sport? US limp out of World Cup as Belgium reach quarter-finals Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia told reporters that Balogun "came to talk" after the game. "I really liked that," he said. "It's not his fault, he's not the one to blame and that's what I told him." Asked how the affair affected his team, Garcia said: "Regardless of the US starting line-up, what really mattered to us is our game plan. "The group is very mature. I told them what matters the most is us." This video can not be played Belgium make light work of USA to set up quarter-final tie with Spain On Sunday Trump said football's world governing body "made the right decision", adding it would have left a "big stain" on the tournament had the ban been implemented. Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said he had asked football's world governing body Fifa to review the decision because he "didn't think it was a foul". He confirmed he had spoken to Fifa president Gianni Infantino but said "all" he did was ask for a review and added he did not tell the Swiss he had to suspend Balogun's ban. Trump added: "I think it [the suspension] would have left a big stain. I can't tell them what to do. I don't believe they made the decision; I believe it was the commission that made the decision. And it was the right decision." Before the match the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) had said it was "astonished" by the move suspend Balogun's ban and had told the United States Soccer Federation it "contests the eligibility" of Balogun playing in the tie. The RBFA had appealed against the decision but a Fifa committee deemed Belgium were not an interested party as they were not involved in the original decision and were merely the United States' next opponents. England head coach Tuchel said the ruling set a dangerous precedent, while Uefa said intervening to effectively cancel a suspension at a tournament "crossed a red line". England defender Jarell Quansah was sent off in his side's dramatic 3-2 win over Mexico in the last 16. "Where to draw the line is the question that I ask," said Tuchel. "I have no answer to that." Of the 189 other red cards at the World Cup, only once has a player escaped a suspension. That was Brazil's Garrincha in 1962 - before automatic bans were in place. This video can not be played 'Sportsmanship in question' after decision to suspend Balogun red card World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV Everything you need to know about the World Cup

This video can not be played Spain into quarter-finals after Merino's late winner against Portugal One of football's great careers will finish without the biggest prize after Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup match for Portugal ended with a 1-0 last-16 defeat by Spain. He was in tears as his World Cup story ended in Dallas with Mikel Merino's injury-time winner sending their neighbours through. The 41-year-old five-time Ballon d'Or winner, five-time Champions League winner and Euro 2016 champion has scored a world-record 976 goals for his clubs and country. He has scored at a record six World Cups. But the closest he got to winning it was when Portugal reached the semi-finals in his first tournament in 2006. He had already announced this would be his final World Cup - but said afterwards "I will meet the family and take decisions with a calm head" when asked if he would keep playing for his country. Whether Portugal would have had a better chance of winning this World Cup without the pressure to start Al-Nassr's Ronaldo in each game will remain open to debate. However, there was no question for BBC pundit Chris Sutton, who was in Texas for BBC Radio 5 Live. "He's waddling around the field like a grandad, that's why Portugal are out," the former England striker said. "Cristiano Ronaldo does nothing; he did nothing. "What is Roberto Martinez doing? How can you pander to a player so much? "Portugal are out because of Roberto Martinez." Boss Martinez announced he was leaving the job after the final whistle and praised "football icon" Ronaldo. "We need to thank him for what he tried to do at this World Cup," Martinez said. "His dream was to win this World Cup, he did this with an amazing example. "He is a prime example of football and the human being that is behind that athlete." This video can not be played Ronaldo's full-time tears after Portugal World Cup exit World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV Everything you need to know about the World Cup Ronaldo only touched the ball 19 times in 90 minutes against Spain, with three shots and one chance created for a team-mate A major recurring theme at the past few major tournaments has been about whether Ronaldo should start. He has scored 146 goals for his country, a record in men's international football - but recently cynics have suggested he does not offer much else. And with fame and status that transcends the game, Martinez seemingly dared not drop him. But a team filled with some of the best defenders and midfielders in the world may have hoped to do better than make the last 16. Four of the squad helped Paris St-Germain win the past two Champions League titles - left-back Nuno Mendes, midfielders Vitinha and Joao Neves and striker Goncalo Ramos, who joined AC Milan this summer. Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes was the Premier League's player of the year. "How did Goncalo Ramos not get on the pitch?" asked Sutton. "It's an absolute embarrassment from the manager, just pandering to his star player. "He's the most decorated player that Portugal have ever had but you've got to be stronger than that." Ronaldo finished the tournament with three goals, a double against Uzbekistan and a penalty against Croatia. But despite 10 players scoring more goals, only four players at the 2026 World Cup had more shots than Ronaldo's 18. Ronaldo had the same amount of efforts as seven-goal joint top scorer Erling Haaland has currently had. He only created one chance for a team-mate in his five games by comparison. Some 366 players touched the ball more times than Ronaldo at the World Cup despite him playing all bar nine minutes of Portugal's five games. Martinez said: "When you need a goal you cannot take Cristiano off, at least in 90 minutes, he is physically capable - his presence, open space, dead-ball situations, we need his experience." This video can not be played Rivals: Messi v Ronaldo The popularity of former Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward Ronaldo and his long-term rival Lionel Messi have almost changed football fandom. Many regards themselves as fans of either Ronaldo or Barcelona legend and former PSG forward Messi - rather than just supporting a club. Their rivalry has been featured in a BBC iPlayer documentary this summer. Neither group of fans will ever back down on their opinion in the debate on which one of the players is the greatest footballer of all time - if either is that. But until 2022 the one thing held against both was that they had never won the World Cup - a trophy which the iconic Pele and Diego Maradona both lifted. Messi won it in 2022 with Argentina in Qatar - removing that obstacle. And now Ronaldo will retire having never won it. While both players are winding down their careers, with Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia and Messi in the United States with Inter Miami, there is no doubt Messi is still having the higher impact at this stage. He is the joint top scorer with seven goals - matching the amount he scored in 2022. Ronaldo has four goals across those tournaments. Ronaldo's former United team-mate Wayne Rooney said: "He is a genius, a superstar. What he has given to football and millions of people is something very rare. "He will be disappointed because he believed he could win this tournament. But time gets us all. It's a sad day for football." Ronaldo still holds one or two World Cup records thanks to his longevity. He is the only player to ever score in six World Cups and one of only two players to even feature in six, alongside Messi. His 11 goals sees him ninth on the all-time goals list - with Messi top on 20. But only one of those was in the knockout stages - a penalty in this year's last 32 against Croatia. Ronaldo was actually dropped to the bench in the last World Cup for the knockout stages - the first time since 2008 he had not begun a major tournament game - after falling out with then boss Fernando Santos. Ex-Blackburn forward Sutton continued: "Goncalo Ramos played in the last 16 at the last World Cup and scored a hat-trick when the manager did have a bit of courage to leave Ronaldo out. "We're four years further on, Ronaldo is four years older and look what's happened." Portugal fans who spoke to the BBC after the game were upset that this is the end of Ronaldo's World Cup story. One said: "One of my dreams was to watch Ronaldo live. I was happy to see him. He has meant a lot. "I'm really emotional. We were just not lucky this time. What Ronaldo has done has been beautiful. We don't have to cry, we have to laugh because we saw him." Former Swansea, Wigan and Everton boss Martinez managed Belgium from 2016 to 2022 and Portugal since 2023. The Spaniard took Belgium to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, where they lost to France, but then went out in the group stages of 2022. He did win the Nations League with Portugal last year but leaves after this World Cup exit. "I came to Portugal with the objective of winning the World Cup and because I haven't won it wouldn't make sense to continue," he said. "My contract ends today." Sutton continued: "His job was to try and win the World Cup and put the best team out for Portugal. "Has he done that? Absolutely not. "It's scandalous the way he has managed this team. "He made a mess of Belgium when they had an opportunity of really doing great things with that golden generation; they ended up Belgian buffoons. "Now Portugal, it was pathetic to see a manager act in that manner."

This video can not be played GB's Fery stuns Dimitrov in five-set battle to reach quarter-finals Just seven days ago, there was doom and gloom around the performances of British players at this year's Wimbledon. Only four of the 19 Britons in the men's and women's singles draws made it through the first round, while both Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper were missing with injury. Step forward, Arthur Fery. On Monday, Fery played the match of his life to come back and beat Grigor Dimitrov in five thrilling sets to reach the quarter-finals of his home major. Centre Court could not contain itself as Fery twice fought back from a break down in the fourth set to stun former world number three Dimitrov 7-5 3-6 4-6 6-4 7-6 (10-7) Fery is the first wildcard and first player outside the top 100 since Nick Kyrgios in 2014 to reach the Wimbledon last eight in the men's singles. Only once has a wildcard gone on to lift the Wimbledon trophy - and that was Goran Ivanisevic in his iconic 2001 title run. While there would still be three matches to go to match run - starting with Wednesday's quarter-final against Italian ninth seed Flavio Cobolli - Fery will be celebrating either way on Sunday, as it is his 24th birthday. "What I experienced today, I'm going to cherish for the rest of my life," Fery said. "Who knows, maybe I will never get to experience that ever again. It's the first time I'm playing on this stage. "That might be the first and last time - but hopefully not." GB's Fery beats Dimitrov in five-set thriller to extend historic run On 5 January, Fery retired injured in qualifying for a Challenger tournament in Canberra, on the lowest rung of the professional tour. Twenty-six weeks later, he stood on Centre Court as a Grand Slam quarter-finalist, arms aloft as he took in the cheers of more than 14,000 people. Fery has spent all week mounting comebacks. He lost the opening set in his first two matches before winning in four, and was two sets to one down against Belgium's Zizou Bergs in the third round. Despite Dimitrov being the veteran - with 61 Slam appearances to Fery's eight - it was the Briton who handled the occasion better. "If you look at the two players' careers, Dimitrov has always buckled at the big moments," former British number one Greg Rusedski said on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. "Fery stood tall, took advantage and said 'I'm going to find a way, I'm going to find a solution'. "He deserves everything he got here today." This video can not be played His life will change now - Henman & Murray on Fery's stunning win Fery grew up steeped in sport. His mother, Olivia, is a French former Fed Cup player who used to work for the LTA as a business development manager, while father Loic is an asset manager who owned Ligue 1 football club Lorient. Born in Paris, Fery's family moved to London when he was young and he grew up close to the All England Club. As a child, he would come to the championships and pick up tips from the players. After coming through the LTA system, Fery opted to go on a scholarship to Stanford University in California - a prestigious institution that specialises in research - and majored in science, technology and society. The American collegiate system is a popular route for British players and its tennis scene helped shaped Fery's competitive nature. Fery's early progress was limited by injuries, including bone bruising in his arm that left him experiencing "doubts and dark moments". "I remember being on the practice court with him and he could only hit 80 serves in a two-hour practice," Rusedski said. "For a two-set match, you have to hit at least 250 serves to be ready. He couldn't fulfill a full match in practice - his body and elbow wouldn't allow him." His Slam breakthrough came at Wimbledon last year when he beat 20th seed Alexei Popyrin for his first major win, before beating Cobolli at the Australian Open. But every player wants to make an impact at their home Slam - and now Fery has done just that. "His life no doubt will change right now," former British number one Tim Henman said on BBC TV. "To be a British player out on Centre Court and have that type of victory transforms his ranking going forward." This video can not be played GB's Fery stuns Dimitrov in fifth set tiebreak to reach quarter-finals From a financial perspective, reaching the last eight means Fery will win at least £480,000 in prize money - adding to the £628,960 he had amassed in career earnings prior to Wimbledon. Fery started the year as the world number 185. He will leave Wimbledon at worst 63rd in the rankings and will overtake Jan Choinski to become the new British number two. Such a jump in the rankings will help him qualify automatically for the main draw of future Grand Slams, rather than relying on wildcards or going through qualifying - as he has done for all five of his appearances at majors. "He's massively accelerated his career now," Jamie Murray, the former world number one in doubles, told BBC. "He's going to be at all the biggest tournaments in the world and it will be much easier for him to plan his schedule. "I think Challengers will be a thing of the past." Recent French Open finalist and ninth seed Cobolli will be a step up in class for Fery - but he has shown a never-say-die spirit all week that will be hard to overcome "This is a fairytale story. He is the real deal," Rusedski added. "Let's not forget that he beat Cobolli earlier this year. The fairytale could continue." Live scores, results and order of play Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

This video can not be played President Trump on Balogun red-card suspension Gianni Infantino has been Fifa president for 10 years. Next year, he is up for re-election. From the Fifa Peace Prize, to the vastly inflated ticket prices at the World Cup, to the Club World Cup, Infantino's tenure has been increasingly controversial. But could the unprecedented decision to cancel Folarin Balogun's red-card suspension for the United States' World Cup last-16 tie against Belgium be the tipping point? In a tournament they have co-hosted, Balogun has been the star man for the US, with three goals so far. Now, despite being sent off, he is available for their next game - even though World Cup rules don't allow appeals against red cards. On Monday, more than 24 hours after its initial decision, Fifa released an 871-word statement that shed little light on why it made the call. But someone else has. "I'm the one that got them to do it," said US President Donald Trump when asked if he had put in calls to Infantino. Trump said "all" he did was ask for a review. He said he did not tell Infantino to suspend Balogun's ban. But that such an intervention happened at all is a major concern across football. In the US, the narrative has been about unfairness. That Balogun should not miss another game. That being sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina and missing the rest of that game had been punishment enough. Those sentiments were echoed by Trump. Infantino rejected any suggestion there was political interference, insisting the disciplinary committee was independent. But perception is just as important. The decision has not benefited just any team. It has gone to the co-hosts. Led by Trump - a man who has stood side by side with Infantino and calls the Fifa president his friend. The suspension of the ban felt like a presidential pardon. "This is our sport, not theirs," said former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. "If Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino really sorted this out between themselves, it is madness; it calls everything into question." Could the fallout create pressure that will put Infantino's position in doubt? Gianni Infantino has been Fifa president since 2016 Fifa's statutes are clear about political interference. It is not permitted. Countries are regularly suspended from international football because of government involvement in national football associations. Pakistan, for instance, have been suspended three times in the space of eight years. When it comes to Infantino and Trump, are the rules different? The World Cup draw, during which Trump was bestowed with the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize , felt like the culmination of two years of Infantino fostering a close relationship with the US president. "You can always count, Mr President, on my support, on the support of the entire football community to help you make peace and make the world prosper all over the world," Infantino told Trump when presenting the award. Human rights campaign group FairSquare complained to Fifa's ethics committee in December that Infantino broke the governing body's rules on political neutrality in creating the prize. With no response, last month 50 MEPs wrote a new letter to the ethics committee , external demanding action. Like many situations with Fifa, there has been no response. Fast-forward to the tournament, and Trump has not been to a single World Cup match. But here he was, taking ownership of Balogun's situation. It was another example of football not doing the talking. We had seen it with Somali referee Omar Artan. Artan was denied access to the US by immigration officials, with Infantino accused of losing control of his own World Cup . Yet when he faced questions from the media last month - for the first time in over three years - his response was, at best, glib. "Just, you know, chill, relax," Infantino said of Artan's plight. Controversy has always felt just around the corner. That something was bubbling under the surface. And through it all, rarely have there been answers or transparency. Take Friday's five hours of limbo, when Fifa first decided to change the kick-off time of England's last-16 tie against Mexico, then did a U-turn, while pretending it didn't happen. The Balogun situation is out of the same playbook. A decision communicated without any reasoning. Football is just told it is happening, and it must accept it. FairSquare believes only 10 people were involved in the creation of the Fifa peace price and the decision was not taken by the Fifa Council If we were to list every recent football controversy, we would be here a long time. But let's take the unique allocation of the 2030 and 2034 World Cup finals two years ago, which often goes under the radar. It was decided the 2030 edition would be staged across three continents - Africa, Europe and South America. That meant the 2034 event had to go to Asia or Oceania. With no realistic competition, it effectively guaranteed Saudi Arabia - like Qatar, a country with questions about its human rights record - would host. Saudi Arabia and Fifa, under Infantino, had developed a close relationship . Norway's football federation abstained and argued the bidding process undermined "Fifa's reforms for good governance" and challenged "trust in Fifa". We could also reflect on the Club World Cup - what appears to be a largely unwanted summer tournament created by Fifa to stake a claim for a slice of the club game and its riches. Sergio Marchi - the president of players' global union Fifpro - said last year it had been created "without dialogue, sensitivity, and respect" . Then we have Balogun - a situation that allowed an unlikely source to take the moral high ground. "Football must never become a playground for political power," former Fifa president Sepp Blatter wrote on X. Blatter, remember, was forced to stand down as Fifa president after a corruption scandal - replaced by Infantino in 2016. Courting controversy and befriending Trump - Fifa's 'unlikely saviour' Red card system in disarray over Trump, Fifa and Balogun decision Trump confirms he asked Fifa to review Balogun ban Uefa laid down new battles lines on Tuesday, when voicing strong opposition to the Balogun decision. European football's governing body said Fifa had "crossed a red line" and described it as an "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision". But this was not the first time Uefa has crossed swords with Fifa. In May 2025, Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin led a group of European delegates in staging a walk-out during a break at the Fifa Congress . Infantino had been on a diplomatic tour of the Middle East alongside Trump and arrived two hours 17 minutes late. Uefa has looked to score political points during the World Cup, too. No sooner had Artan landed at home in Somalia last month than Uefa announced he had been invited to referee the Uefa Super Cup between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa on 12 August. And throughout this year, Uefa has been eager to point out how cheap Euro 2028 tickets are compared to the World Cup. It will not introduce hydration breaks, or red cards for players who cover their mouth. Infantino, remember, came from Uefa. For many years he was the man who presented the Champions League draws. He may not quite be persona non grata there these days - he gave a speech at the Uefa Congress in February - but there is clear friction. Taking all this into account, Infantino's position must surely be in doubt? On the contrary. Infantino is popular with many federations around the world - and a lot of that is down to Fifa's development of the game. Infantino's Fifa Forward programme has funded football projects across the globe, and he has created opportunities through the expanded World Cup. Sixteen extra nations now qualify - the vast majority from the confederations with less depth. Europe only got three of the additional spots. This World Cup has shown that, below the top level, Asia and Concacaf have a lot of work to do to be competitive. But Infantino has provided the dream, the hope that nations who never before could play at the World Cup might just get there. Like Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan. Despite all the criticism over the 48-team format, it gave Cape Verde the chance to live their dream. And it will allow less traditional football nations to grow their game and get stronger - and surely that is a positive for football around the world? The catch? Tournaments like the World Cup, and the huge ticket prices, pay for these projects. This year, Fifa is expected to bring in $9bn (£7.9bn) Uefa may oppose much of what Fifa and Infantino stand for, but European football is the rich man of the game. Largely, it can fund itself. The rest of the game depends on Infantino and the money Fifa generates. There are 211 countries within Fifa. Each gets a vote on the presidency, with 106 needed to win an election. Let's look at the maths. In April, Conmebol - the South American confederation - said its 10 countries would back Infantino. Three weeks later, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) confirmed unanimous backing from its 54 member associations. Shortly afterwards, the Asian Football Confederation's 47 nations followed suit. Infantino already has 111 votes. He cannot be beaten. Even if Uefa thought it could muster a candidate capable of mounting a challenge, the race is already run. Infantino was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023. It would take something truly remarkable for anyone to stand against him, let alone beat him in 2027. World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV Everything you need to know about the World Cup

There was an error Jelena Ostapenko and Marcelo Arevalo advance to the Wimbledon mixed doubles semi-finals in straight sets, but the victory is marred by a fiery post-match argument. A late time violation penalty left Laura Siegemund storming off the court upset, triggering a dispute between her partner Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Ostapenko over claims of persistent slow play. Watch coverage from every court on BBC iPlayer. Available to UK users only.

The man who invented a sport and played tennis with Willy Wonka The sign on the tennis courts read 'no bikes and no skateboards'. How does that work, wondered young American Brad Parks, when his front wheels were like a skateboard's and the back ones like a bike's, and he wanted to play tennis? And could he even get on to the court in the first place as he would need to dismantle his wheelchair to get through the gate? But he had invented a sport and would do whatever it took to play it. Parks was on a family picnic when he had his lightbulb moment 50 years ago. His relatives were playing tennis in a park in Indiana and 18-year-old Parks was watching in a wheelchair having been paralysed in a freestyle skiing accident in Utah a few months earlier. His dad called him over to join in. "So I started hitting tennis balls," Parks tells BBC Sport. "I was in literally a hospital wheelchair which is what they gave you back in 1976, so you couldn't really move very well but I could hit balls. And right then I decided 'I'm going to give it a shot.'" He didn't just mean in that moment. Eventually he was going to devise a whole new sport of wheelchair tennis, introduce it to the world and see it played at Grand Slams and Paralympics. But first, he needed to find some people to play with. Perhaps even a Hollywood actor (more on that later). Brad Parks became good friends with Gene Wilder (left) after playing tennis together In those days, basketball was the go-to sport for wheelchair users and had been suggested to Parks while he recuperated in hospital but he had other ideas. Before his spinal cord injury - sustained when he had over-rotated on a backflip and landed heavily on to packed snow at a freestyle skiing competition - the Californian had been wanting to improve his tennis and now he had even more reason to. "If I'm going to be in a wheelchair the rest of my life I've got to be the best that I could be and I want to still live my life, I didn't want people to feel sorry for me so I wanted to play," he says. "So I thought well, maybe I could play tennis and then I could play with my able-bodied friends so that was my first thought." After that picnic, Parks started playing tennis nearly every day with friends, family and opponents that his parents found him to play. None of them used wheelchairs. Everything changed when he went back for his next hospital check-up and met physiotherapist Jeff Minnebraker, who had also been exploring the possibilities of tennis in a wheelchair "Instantly we bonded because we figured we were the only two guys who were playing wheelchair tennis in the whole world," says Parks. They started experimenting with rules. Should the court be smaller, should the balls be different, should the net height change? Because they started out playing against able-bodied players, they played some early versions where the non-wheelchair player would only get one serve or have to serve underarm or have more court to cover. But by the time they had decided to hold their first wheelchair tennis event in 1977 in Irvine, California, they had settled on keeping it very simple. The only difference between tennis and wheelchair tennis would be that the ball could bounce twice – and this remains today. Parks won that inaugural event and dominated the nascent years of the sport, which were often played on sub-standard public courts, with dust and dirt preventing wheel-grip. There were no umpires and tournaments were run by people who worked in rehab: "They weren't tennis people so nobody even really knew the rules." Early tournaments were held on public courts where the dust and dirt would make it hard to stop the wheelchair from sliding There were also attitudes to overcome. There had been progress since the photograph on display at the Wimbledon Museum where disabled man George Cayley is shown suspended from a frame in a harness playing tennis 100 years earlier, but wheelchair players were nevertheless an unusual sight. "Nobody ever kicked me off, but I would get questioned a lot," Parks says. "I can remember many times going to a court, and whoever was in charge of that court would go, 'What's going on here?... Do the wheels damage the courts?'" Those in power could also be dismissive. Parks recalls feeling "discouraged and disappointed" after a National Wheelchair Basketball Association commissioner told him he was wasting his time because tennis was not a feasible wheelchair sport - and that he had even written a thesis on the subject. But Parks stuck with it, tirelessly promoting the sport via demos at hospitals, tennis clubs and even in car parks. Several years later the commissioner would ask to sit next to him at a lunch to apologise for being wrong and to ask for Parks' advice on how to get his sport integrated with the mainstream governing bodies in the way wheelchair tennis had by then succeeded in doing. While the rules were simple, equipment was not so straightforward. Minnebraker was a talented engineer and had made himself a lightweight aluminium wheelchair. It was much lighter and more mobile than hospital wheelchairs, which weighed 60lb and had side-guards and back handles that impeded a player's swing. Parks remembers asking to try it out. He felt like he was "floating around" in the borrowed chair. But what struck him even more was that when he looked at Minnebraker, now sitting in Parks' hospital chair, he saw a disabled man. "I never saw that before because he's in my chair … he's not in this [other chair]," he says. "That chair was incredible in comparison … I said 'will you make me a chair' and he said 'no, but I'll teach you to make a chair'." And so he did and the pair eventually went on to set up a company making them, although he remembers it taking time to convert others to move away from the "comfort blanket" of their old-style chairs. The wheelchair Brad Parks started off playing tennis in is very different to the ones used in wheelchair tennis today Progress in developing the sport was slow but sure. In 1980, Parks helped form the National Foundation of Wheelchair Tennis and a 10-tournament circuit was created. He also wrote a book - Tennis In A Wheelchair - to help players and coaches. Two years later, the first tournament outside the US was held in France. Parks remembers the exact moment when he realised they had created something special, saying he "got shivers and probably teared up" when he looked out from the clubhouse at the 12 courts filled with players in sports wheelchairs at a tournament in Michigan in 1985. "Everybody was dressed like a tennis player," he says. "Everybody had two racquets. Some of them had coaches. "I said to myself, 'This is wheelchair tennis. Wheelchair tennis is for real, and it's here to stay, and it's going to be something someday.' And it just dawned on me as I'm sitting there looking out at this. It was really a great feeling. It was really the beginning of the sport." It helped Parks that some famous faces were also raising the profile of his sport. One time he was playing at a private club in New York where on the neighbouring court Hollywood actors Gene Wilder and Sidney Poitier were filming a movie. They got chatting and agreed to play doubles, even if Wilder later revealed to Parks he'd been reluctant to play, telling him: "I'm going 'oh no, there goes my day at tennis, I've got to do this charity work'". But it was a competitive match and they swapped numbers and Parks ended up becoming good friends and playing regularly with Wilder, who is probably best remembered for his title role in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Top professional players of the time also got involved at exhibitions, with Parks teaming up with American Davis Cup-winning captain Dennis Ralston at one such event and in years to come the sport was also promoted by others such as Yannick Noah, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors and Martina Navratilova. Brad Parks and Dennis Ralston teamed up for doubles in an exhibition event In 1988, the International Wheelchair Tennis Federation (IWTF) was formed, with Parks becoming its first president, and the sport joined the Paralympics in 1992. Parks, who had previously won Paralympic gold in wheelchair racing, won the inaugural doubles with Randy Snow. In 1998, the IWTF was fully integrated into the International Tennis Federation, a first for a disability sport and a pivotal step for the sport's development, allowing it to thrive further as part of a fully inclusive governing body. Parks says he "would have held the sport back" if he had insisted on keeping control himself, which is what he thinks has happened in other disability sports. The first Grand Slam to hold a wheelchair event was the Australian Open in 2002 - where it was known as the Wheelchair Classic 8s - and by 2007 all four major tennis tournaments held them. Quad events began to be introduced and by 2019 were at all Grand Slams. These milestones were the culmination of Parks' tireless lobbying; the debt to him was formally acknowledged in 2010 when he became the first wheelchair athlete to be inducted into tennis' Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, the Brad Parks Award - the highest honour in wheelchair tennis - is awarded annually to an individual or organisation for outstanding contributions to the game. Parks, who had originally given himself a year to see if wheelchair tennis was feasible, is proud but modest about his own role 50 years on. "I was the head of the organisation, I was the first player to really play the game but it's hard for me to say Brad, you invented wheelchair tennis, but you know I was part of it," he said, pointing to others like Minnebraker. Today's players, though, do not hold back. "I think I'm in awe. Absolute awe," said Britain's 34-time Grand Slam champion Alfie Hewett. "It [wheelchair tennis] is not about accolades and the external things. It's actually just the life it's given me and the purpose that it's given me." And Gordon Reid, who has won 30 Grand Slam titles, added: "It's an incredible story and that little idea that he had 50 years ago has turned into a huge worldwide sport now. So yeah, [I'm] very thankful that he had that idea back in the day." So much has changed since the early days, not least the chairs which are much lighter and often feature a moulded seat that is more energy efficient for turning. And the sport continues to grow - the wheelchair event at Wimbledon, which begins on Tuesday, offers a prize pot of more than £1m, with the winners of the men's and women's singles earning £82,000. Its profile is also rising and the finals are now played on the 12,345-capacity Court One, compared to the 276-seat Court 17 that hosted the first wheelchair singles final 10 years ago. Parks says he is "very happy to see where we're at". "I'm jealous in a way but in a good way because I would have loved to have been able to play in [tournaments like Wimbledon]," he said. But that was never what his dream was about when he set out. "I just loved to hit tennis balls, and I wanted to share the feeling of hitting a tennis ball from a wheelchair," he said. "The thing that I feel really, really good about is that I really wanted other people to be tennis players. "I used to get disappointed when I thought that everybody was wheelchair basketball players. Tennis was not their main thing. And today I feel like tennis really stands on its own and they're tennis players. They just happen to be in a wheelchair." Live scores, results and order of play Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

There was an error Belgium ease past a defensively sloppy United States in a match shrouded in controversy surrounding the delayed suspension of co-hosts' striker Folarin Balogun. MATCH REPORT: US limp out of World Cup as Belgium reach quarter-finals Available to UK users only.

Kylian Mbappe scored two goals in fixtures against Senegal, Iraq and Sweden before his penalty against Paraguay France forward Kylian Mbappe has condemned a Paraguayan senator as "despicable" and unworthy of her position after she made a number of racist remarks mocking his origin and education. Celeste Amarilla, of Paraguay's Liberal Radical Party, posted her comments on X after her country's defeat by France in the last 16 of the World Cup. Mbappe responded , external : "Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. "You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition. "Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country. "I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world." The French football federation (FFF) has announced plans to file ⁠criminal charges, describing Amarilla's remarks as "utterly abhorrent and unacceptable". In a statement, the FFF said: "These remarks ​are criminal and reprehensible. ​They must be prosecuted here ​as elsewhere. The FFF is reporting the matter to the ​public prosecutor's office ‌with a ​view to legal ​proceedings. "These remarks bring shame upon those who make them and those who disseminate them. The players of the French national team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted." Mbappe scored a winning penalty in the second half of Saturday's tie, setting up a quarter-final against Morocco in Boston on Thursday. With seven goals, Mbappe is the joint top-scorer in this year's tournament, level with Argentina's Lionel Messi and Norway's Erling Haaland. Amarilla's comments follow those of former Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert, who said in the build-up to the match that his national side were facing "a squad from Africa". Those remarks also drew a response from FFF president Philippe Diallo, who called Chilavert a "disgrace". "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the racist remarks made by Jose Luis Chilavert against the French national team, which undermine the values of respect, fraternity, and diversity in our football," Diallo said. "If he was once a great goalkeeper, this man has now fallen into disgrace." World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Giannis Antetokounmpo had spent his entire NBA career at Milwaukee Bucks Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo has joined Miami Heat from the Milwaukee Bucks. The deal sees Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis move to Miami, with Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis heading in the other direction. Having been drafted by the Bucks in 2013, Antetokounmpo went on to win the NBA championship once in 2021. The 31-year-old last season criticised his side's management for not clearing him to play after suffering a left knee hyperextension. With his future uncertain, the Boston Celtics had also been linked with the Greek star. Heat president Pat Riley said it is "one of the great trades" in the history of the franchise, who have won three NBA titles, in 2006, 2012 and 2013. Speaking in April after the Bucks failed to reach the play-offs, Antetokounmpo said: "I feel like sometimes people just don't listen. "They listen to the sources. The main source is me. It is what it is." Elsewhere, the Philadelphia 76ers confirmed the acquisition of Jaylen Brown from Eastern Conference rivals the Boston Celtics, as well as the signing of free-agent guard Anfernee Simons. The 76ers traded for Brown in exchange for veteran forward Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.

This video can not be played Argentina complete extraordinary comeback to beat Egypt With 12 minutes of normal time remaining, Egypt stood on the cusp of their greatest ever World Cup result. The Pharaohs led Argentina, the reigning world champions, 2-0 in Atlanta Stadium. A quarter-final spot - their first - beckoned for the football-obsessed African country. Then it went wrong very quickly. Horribly wrong. When Cristian Romero reduced the deficit in the 79th minute, it was a case of Egypt digging in and getting over the line. But they looked panic-stricken when Argentina captain Lionel Messi - who else? - made it 2-2 four minutes later. Enzo Fernandez then completed a remarkable Argentina turnaround with a header in the second minute of stoppage-time to send their fans wild with delight. Egypt were down and out - and downright furious after the video assistant referee (VAR) ruled out a second goal by Mostafa Zico for a foul after midfielder Marwan Attia was penalised for slightly stepping on Lisandro Martinez at the start of the move, when they were leading 1-0. They were also adamant Mohamed Salah was fouled in Argentina's penalty area, seconds before the reigning champions broke for the winner. When French referee Francois Letexier signalled full-time, many of Egypt's players slumped to the floor in disbelief at what had just happened. In an explosive interview after the game, Egypt boss Hossam Hassan said his side had been "treated unfairly" and "suffered injustice". BBC Sport has approached Fifa for comment. "There have been a lot of things to be questioned on and off the pitch," added Hassan. "Negative aspects all around. It's just about credibility, lack of credibility with how things unfolded. "Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running. "The world champion received support at every level. There seem to be pressures from the Argentina side on this outcome." This match had everything - a penalty save, a disallowed goal, a red card as well as a thrilling comeback. BBC Sport unpicks a game that will go down in World Cup history for featuring a team who were two goals down so late on, but who went on to win without needing extra time. This video can not be played Did VAR make the right decision ruling out this Egypt goal? "We need to appear in a better way at the World Cup," Egypt head coach Hassan had said on the eve of the tournament as he addressed his nation's poor World Cup record. Egypt arrived in North America as World Cup underachievers, having come up short in their previous three appearances on the global stage, failing to win any of their seven matches. Having secured a first win by overcoming New Zealand in a group game in Vancouver on 22 June, the Pharaohs took the lead against the three-time world champions Argentina when Yasser Ibrahim headed home in the 15th-minute. In an incident-packed game, Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir produced a magnificent save to keep out Messi's penalty before the Pharaohs thought they had scored another only for it to be disallowed. Fernandez's late winner brought further anger as Egypt screamed for a penalty after a foul on Salah, and a member of the Pharaohs' backroom team on the bench was shown a red card. In addition, Egypt's head coach was booked for protesting after Argentina's winner when he crossed his arms in front of him, which is the Fifa-backed symbol for players and coaches to alert the referee of a racist incident. The Pharaohs boss did not refer to his gesture after the match. "We haven't seen respect or fair play," he said. "A penalty [for us] was ruled out, it was not even checked by the VAR and our second goal was remarkably, for whatever reason, disallowed. "We have all seen the shirt pulled back [by Alexis Mac Allister] and not even a VAR check. Life is unfair, normal life is unfair, so why is there no fairness in sports?" Egypt forward Zico, added: "The referee was really unfair. The injustice was clear. There's been an unfairness right from the start of the match." Tears of relief? Messi adds another incredible chapter to World Cup career Argentina complete extraordinary comeback to beat Egypt How World Cup schedule looks as quarter-finals take shape Only last week Pierluigi Collina, Fifa's head of referees, underlined a key criteria given to his officials. Referees have been told to allow normal football contact to increase the tempo of matches. This World Cup has seen 22.6 fouls per game, compared with 25 in 2022 and 27 in 2018. How does that feed into Egypt's disallowed goal? Attia had a very light tug on the shirt of Martinez and slightly stepped on his toe. But the VAR stepped in to say Zico's superb goal should be ruled out for a foul. Of course there is an argument that this can be a foul, but it would be inconsistent with how the tournament has been refereed. If you are letting these challenges go on the field, then you have to do the same with VAR. Remember Aleksandar Pavlovic's raised boot to the head of Ecuador's Pedro Vite's face? No VAR intervention for Leroy Sane's goal. Did the foul happen too far back in the move? The VAR will look at how the attacking phase begins, specifically how possession was won. As the challenge directly led to the goal it would be reviewable, even though it was 17 seconds back. What is more unfortunate for the officiating team is the potential foul on Salah in the build-up to Fernandez's dramatic winner. In the Argentina penalty area, Salah went down claiming he had been tripped by Julian Alvarez. Surely this should be reviewed by VAR too? It was similar to Attia's challenge - except for one crucial difference. Salah was in the penalty box, so the VAR is assessing a potential penalty - which has a higher threshold to a foul. Had Salah been outside the area, for consistency the VAR would have to get involved. As there's not enough for a spot-kick, Argentina's winner stands. This video can not be played 'Heartbreak for Egypt!' - Fernandez scores in extra time While Messi, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe have scored regularly at this tournament, Salah departs with just one goal to show for his efforts. That came in the win over New Zealand on 22 June. Against Argentina, Egypt's captain failed to register an attempt or a key pass. Salah will turn 38 when the 2030 World Cup takes place in Morocco, Portugal and Spain. While Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, and Croatia's Luka Modric, 40, have played their last games on the World Cup stage, it remains to be seen if Salah will be back with Egypt in four years' time. Meanwhile, Egypt's exit leaves Morocco as the last of Africa's 10 teams still standing at this tournament. Morocco made history four years ago by becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup. The Atlas Lions face France in the quarter-finals at Boston Stadium on Thursday (21:00 BST). Salah embraces his former Liverpool team-mate Alexis Mac Allister after full-time I'd just got off the phone with my nine-year-old nephew. "Misha, it's a disaster. We've been robbed!" he said in angry tears. My guess is there are similar conversations happening in homes and family WhatsApp groups wherever Egyptians like my family are watching tonight. Heartbreak doesn't even begin to cover it. This match took fans on an emotional rollercoaster - from hope, to belief, to outright elation... before anger and finally anguish. "As an American of Egyptian descent, I felt every minute of this," Sami Elmansoury, 41, told me. "Watching Egypt rise from their first ever World Cup win to going toe-to-toe with Argentina is something I'll never forget. "Nothing can dim what these players showed the world today. Their performance throughout this tournament will live on." And I think that's what many Egyptians are feeling tonight. Pride... alongside heartbreak. They didn't play like underdogs, they played like equals. This team has done something no Egypt side has managed before. They have lifted the spirits of a nation and a region. Their motto throughout this tournament has been 'Mekameleen', which means 'we'll keep going'. And they did. Tonight, the streets of Cairo, Alexandria and cities across Egypt will be quieter than fans had hoped. This World Cup may have ended in heartbreak, but it has also left Egyptians believing that this team belongs among football's biggest nations.

This video can not be played Djokovic beats Auger-Aliassime in five-set thriller to progress to semi-finals It is worth remembering that what you are watching is not normal. It is not normal that a 39-year-old should beat an opponent 14 years his junior in five sets in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam. It is not normal that after five hours and 15 minutes, he is still chasing down every single shot that is pounded towards his racquet. It is not normal that he is gliding and sliding and then charging around the baseline, running to the net to meet drop shots, and still sending down second serves at 122 mph. But then, this is Novak Djokovic. A 24-time Grand Slam champion, one major away from the all-time record. Arguably the greatest to ever do it. A man who thrives on proving the doubters and the critics wrong. Under the lights of Centre Court, an epic battle played out. It was a match so engrossing it delayed the BBC News at 10. A packed crowd lived every moment. They were first behind Auger-Aliassime, the underdog. Then it was Djokovic, the great, roared on after losing the third set. They were split by the fifth set, but as Djokovic pulled away in the tie-break, the fans chanted his name. They stood and screamed as one as Auger-Aliassime spooned a backhand long to confirm Djokovic's victory. "To be able to come out and play this level of tennis at that age... it's not normal. It's really not normal," Leon Smith, Britain's Davis Cup captain, said on BBC 5 Live. "I know he spent a lifetime on his body, but to do this, the amount of work that we don't see must be astonishing. "It is amazing. He deserves all the respect that he gets." This video can not be played 'One of the best matches i've been part of' - Djokovic An exhausted but delighted Djokovic said afterwards that he "won that match with a racquet and a lot of heart". It is a sentiment that sums up the latter half of his career. Djokovic's movement is still sublime, his shots still potent, but his body has not always held up. Against Auger-Aliassime, an innocuous slide to a backhand led to him tweaking his left calf and needing a medical timeout. His movement was hindered for the rest of the first set, particularly on serve, but he was helped on his way to taking the opener by a series of errors from the Canadian. But five hours later, Djokovic was still moving around the court as well as ever. "I've been watching this guy for 20 years and time and time again, in the biggest moments, he delivers," former British number one Tim Henman said on BBC TV. "This is the response we have all come to expect from Novak Djokovic." Moments like these are ones to be cherished. Djokovic is the last player standing from the 'Big Three' era. It has taken the retirements of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for some to realise how special Djokovic is, and how lucky tennis is to have him. Beyond Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz's generational rivalry, the ATP Tour struggles to have players challenging for the majors or to cut through and captivate the wider public. Djokovic is the one still taking it to the youngsters. He beat Sinner at the Australian Open in Melbourne and took a set off Alcaraz in the final. He has done what others cannot - beaten both players in recent years, despite them in theory having youth, power and speed on their side. Asked afterwards if he is surprised by his level, Djokovic said: "Yes and no. "I guess yes, at this stage that I'm still able to battle these young guys that have 15 years less than me, that I'm able to beat them at the tightest possible scoreline. "In a sense, it is really a nice surprise. But at the same time, I always have the highest expectations for myself. "I can be very self-critical, very hard on myself. But I try to enjoy the moments like this." What must Fery do to become Wimbledon semi-finalist? 'How?!' - Gauff battles into first Wimbledon semi-final Wimbledon Daily: Djokovic survives record-breaking quarter final The question now is how much will his efforts cost him against Sinner in the semi-finals. Last year, Djokovic fell late in his quarter-final and his movement was hindered for the rest of the tournament. Sinner, who had an elbow injury of his own, took advantage, and won in straight sets. Afterwards, Djokovic said the reality of age and injuries had "hit me right now, the last year and a half, like never before". He reached the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams last year, and had a niggle in each match. At this year's Australian Open, he benefited from a walkover and a mid-match retirement on his way to the semi-finals, where he beat Sinner. But the five-set match against Sinner caught up with Djokovic in the final against Alcaraz and he faded after a dominant first set. Djokovic will have two days to recover - but regardless, he has played the longest match of the tournament so far, while his opponent has not dropped a set in the past four rounds. "I don't know what tomorrow brings. I still want to go at least one more step further," Djokovic added. "But this was as good as a final for me. I gave it all that I had." This video can not be played Djokovic's 'glorious battle with time' continues as he reaches semi-final Live scores, results and order of play Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

This video can not be played Argentina complete extraordinary comeback to beat Egypt Lionel Messi stood in the centre of Atlanta Stadium in floods of tears, sobbing on the shoulders of his team-mates, after adding another remarkable World Cup victory to the story of his incredible career. Argentina's great sporting icon had been captured on the giant screens looking up in despair as the holders trailed Egypt 2-0 with less than 20 minutes left. At that point, any tears Messi may have shed would have been the same as those of his great contemporary Cristiano Ronaldo, who made an emotional farewell to the World Cup after Portugal's injury-time loss to Spain. Instead, this defiant Argentina decided that was simply not going to happen - scoring three goals in 14 minutes to turn the game around in one of the most remarkable comebacks the World Cup has ever seen. Messi may be 39 and doing much of his work at walking pace these days, but the magic has not been dimmed by the passing of the years. Messi watches. Messi waits. Messi conserves his energy for when it matters. The body may be slower but the brain remains razor sharp. The genius is permanent. And he proved it once more in the most dramatic fashion on another spine-tingling World Cup occasion, pulling Argentina up from the canvas just as Egypt were about to add to this tournament's list of shocks. Argentina complete extraordinary comeback to beat Egypt Egypt led through goals in each half from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico – the latter of whom had an earlier goal ruled by the video assistant referee for a foul at the other end of the pitch - and keeper Mostafa Shobeir was in inspired form. Messi even had a first-half penalty saved by Shobeir - the fourth of eight spot-kicks he has failed to score at a World Cup. Having missed against Austria, it also meant be became the only player - excluding shootouts - to fail to convert two penalties in a single World Cup. But there was still time for Messi to again produce moments that shape a game to pull Argentina away from a World Cup exit to scenes of joy similar to those seen when they won the tournament in Qatar almost four years ago. With only 11 minutes left, he crossed for Cristiano Romero to give Argentina hope with a header. Four minutes and 18 seconds later, Messi sent a left-footed shot flashing high past Shobeir and in off the bar. Egypt had given everything, finally succumbing to Enzo Fernandez's header in stoppage time for the most heartbreaking of exits. From the depths of despair, Messi was being tossed high into the air by his team-mates in front of Argentina's fans, who stayed in place long after the final whistle going through their full setlist of songs to a thudding drumbeat. This is why Messi's Argentina colleagues are willing to sacrifice themselves when it comes to the donkey work. They know the master is waiting to win World Cup games for them. This video can not be played Shobeir's 'brilliant save' denies Messi from the spot Would Messi have been lost to the World Cup forever had Argentina lost? He would be 43 - the oldest outfield player to play at a World Cup - if he carried on to the next, though the lure of games being played in his home country may have sustained him. Instead, Messi can look forward to a quarter-final here against either Switzerland or Colombia. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, watching in Atlanta for BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "That was incredible. Spectacular. Argentina were down and out. They were out of the tournament at one point. "Egypt are so frustrated with the refereeing decisions that have gone against them. They had a second goal disallowed before they got their second goal for an infringement that was almost on their own touchline. "Then Lionel Messi just stepped in and took over. Beautiful assist, great finish for his goal, and then the substitutions worked for Argentina." Argentina's recovery, and this was not simply the Messi show it should be said, also had implications for England who, when Egypt led, might just have believed it was a 'now or never' moment for reaching their first men's World Cup final since 1966. England's path to the final was shaping up as Norway in the quarter-finals, then Egypt, Switzerland or Colombia in the last four if they got through. Instead, there remains the shadow of Messi and Argentina as the potential obstacle should they overcome the dangerous Norwegians. And Messi, even in advancing years, casts a giant shadow over any opponents, as Egypt found to their cost. Messi became the first player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive knockout-phase games and now has eight goals in this one. It is the most by a player in the opening five games since West Germany's Gerd Muller scored 10 in Mexico in 1970. He has also contributed to 16 goals in his past nine World Cup games, with 13 goals and three assists. England's concern will be he still has the power to add more. And looks in the mood to do so. This video can not be played Fernandez scores 'the header of his career' Argentina also remain a significant force - a typical mixture of silk and steel with Messi as the talisman. Lionel Scaloni's side know that where there is Messi there is hope - but there is also an abundance of talent elsewhere, backed by an inherent hatred of defeat. Argentina, as champions do, find a way to win - as they did when they finally overcame Cape Verde 3-2 in the last 32. Having Messi also helps. This was the latest any country has ever been two goals down in a World Cup game and come back to win without needing extra time. Opta's win probability data gave Argentina only a 0.6% chance of winning at the time of Romero's goal. Amid plenty of competition, especially the drama and emotion of England's 3-2 win against Mexico at the Azteca, this may just have been the best game of the World Cup so far. And Messi's tears demonstrated that, even at 39, he is not immune to the emotions football can provoke. World Cup knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC

This video can not be played Highlights: India bowled out for 76 as they are thrashed by England in third T20 Third T20 international, Trent Bridge England 201-7 (20 overs): Salt 70 (44), Curran 41* (24), Buttler 36 (21); Prince 2-30 India 76 (11.4 overs): Tongue 4-28, Archer 3-29 England won by 125 runs, lead five-match series 2-0 Scorecard England inflicted a record defeat on India in the third T20 at Trent Bridge to give the home side a 2-0 lead with two matches in the series remaining. Pace bowlers Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue were sensational to ensure the world champions - including 15-year-old batting superstar Vaibhav Sooryavanshi - never got to grips with a chase of 202. Sooryavanshi was bounced out for 13 as part of Archer's 3-29, India reduced to 52-5 after five overs to effectively end the contest. Tongue, on his home ground, claimed 4-28. India were bowled out in only 11.4 overs for 76, their second-lowest all-out total in T20 cricket, while the margin of 125 runs is India's largest defeat in a T20 international. Phil Salt's 70 from 44 deliveries underpinned England's 201-7, Sam Curran providing late impetus with an unbeaten 41 off 24 balls. On a true pitch surrounded by short boundaries, the target looked around par, before Archer and Tongue ensured India would not get close. England cannot lose the series and would win it with victory in the fourth match in Bristol on Thursday. This video can not be played 'India are rocked again' - Archer removes Sooryavanshi It was thrilling stuff from England's new-ball bowlers, who both went over 90mph to produce the kind of hostility the hosts believed would bring success in Test cricket. The high-speed, short-pitched attack also leaves questions for the vaunted India top-order, who folded in the face of the sustained barrage. Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were all caught in the deep, square of the wicket, but the crucial moment was the fall of Sooryavanshi. In his second international, the left-hander sliced the second ball he faced, off Archer, for six over third man. With the noisy crowd falling silent every time he faced, Sooryavanshi clipped his next delivery, off Tongue, over mid-wicket for another six. But England had a plan to test him with the short ball. In Archer's next over, he served up a 90mph bouncer that Sooryavanshi gloved to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. Before the powerplay was over, Archer also had Tilak Varma edge behind, the first time India have lost five wickets in the powerplay of a men's T20 international. The rest was a procession. Adil Rashid took two wickets, fellow spinner Will Jacks one, while Tongue came back to record his best figures in any T20 in his second international appearance. There was a comedy moment when Arshdeep Singh skied Tongue for what seemed a simple catch, only for the ball to by left to each other by Curran and Buttler. It was the only thing England did wrong all evening. It took 70 deliveries for India to be dismissed, their shortest all-out innings in a T20. This video can not be played Best shots from Salt's 70 against India On a hot night in Nottingham, at a ground with a reputation for high scoring, England were asked to bat but struggled to find their rhythm. Buttler hinted at a return to form with 36 from 21 balls before he was yorked by Prince Yadav, the seamer replacing leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi. Prince also accounted for England skipper Harry Brook and, when Harshit Rana dismissed Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton in successive deliveries, the hosts were wobbling at 111-4 in the 11th. Salt, usually ultra-aggressive from the outset, had been frustrated by his inability to time the ball early in his innings. On one occasion, when he played missed, he yelled to the heavens in frustration, then celebrated when he toe-ended to third man for four. The opener had 17 from the first 19 balls he faced, then got going by pulling the leg-spin of Varun Chakravarthy for six. As England hit the accelerator, India became ragged - Shivam Dube had an awful time in the field. Salt and Curran added 47 off 26 balls for the fifth wicket until Salt sliced the left-arm spin of Axar Patel to backward point. Curran, a contender to replace the retired Ben Stokes in England's Test side, continued his fine series by adding another 35 off 17 balls with Will Jacks. Batting was all Curran was required to do. Such was England's dominance, the all-rounder's bowling was not needed. Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

Arthur Fery is only the sixth Briton to reach the Wimbledon men's quarter-finals in the Open era Who predicted British wildcard Arthur Fery would be a Wimbledon quarter-finalist this year? Not even the man himself. Fery, ranked 114th in the world, illustrated that when he explicitly mouthed his surprise after beating Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov in the last 16. Now the 23-year-old will aim to reach the semi-finals when he plays Italian ninth seed Flavio Cobolli on Wednesday. Cobolli, 24, was the runner-up at last month's French Open and, after becoming a Wimbledon quarter-finalist last year, has showed again he can excel on grass. "Arthur still starts as the underdog given the difference in ranking and top-level experience," said BBC Sport analyst Jamie Murray. "But he has proven to be a great grass-court player and poses a lot of different questions to opponents." Before the Centre Court contest, BBC Sport examines how Fery could beat Cobolli and become only the fifth British man to reach the Wimbledon last four since 1968. Much has been made of 5ft 9in Fery's stature, given he is shorter than most of his peers on the ATP Tour. While the Wimbledon grass often suits 'servebots' - tall players who send down flurries of aces and unreturnable first serves - Fery has needed to use other weapons. Fery's athleticism is one of his greatest strengths, enabling him to keep points alive and come forward at opportune times. "Arthur is one of the best at retrieving balls and staying in the points," said Dimitrov's coach Jamie Delgado. "When you're that height, your timing has to be really good - which Arthur's is. He can hit the ball at different heights and mix the pace well." Fery has won 127 of the 201 volleys which he has hit at this year's Wimbledon Fery's nimbleness means he is able to spring forward to finish points with volleys at the net. Fery has won 78% of serve and volley points, and 63% of points overall at the net - the second highest percentage in the men's draw. "That's been one of his biggest strengths this tournament," said seven-time major doubles champion Murray. "He's played over 200 points which finished at the net and won a very high percentage." How to follow Fery's Wimbledon quarter-final on the BBC Fery is ranked as the best mover among the men's quarter-finalists, just ahead of Cobolli and top seed Jannik Sinner. Once a promising footballer on the books of Roma, Cobolli uses his athleticism to move into position and unleash his heavy forehand. Murray thinks Fery needs to "crush and rush" Cobolli's second serve - return aggressively then move quickly to the net - so the world number 10 does not have time to settle on his next shot. "Returning serve and coming forward forces an opponent to come up with a passing shot straight off the return of serve," said Murray. "By implementing this strategy, it will neutralise Cobolli's ability to move around the court and steal points." Cobolli has enjoyed a career-best season after winning a third ATP Tour title, reaching his first major final and cracking the top 10. Dropping sets in his opening three rounds showed some vulnerability before he upped his level to sweep aside Australian fifth seed Alex de Minaur. "Arthur needs to put Cobolli under a lot of pressure and stop him using his forehand," said Alex Ward, an LTA men's national coach who has been helping Fery. "He can use his backhand down the line because Cobolli likes to use his forehand from the backhand corner quite a lot." Those who know Fery best describe someone who possesses an abundance of self-belief. Fighting back from a set behind in all four wins has only enhanced his confidence, while he also looked at ease emotionally on his Centre Court debut. Fery used the patriotic crowd to help energise him in the latter stages against Dimitrov and may look to the 15,000 home fans again for inspiration. "Arthur does not look afraid of any situation," said former British number one Kyle Edmund, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals in 2018. "You see the way he conducts himself and the way he walks - it is like he belongs there." Fery beat Cobolli 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 6-1 at this year's Australian Open Fery can take further belief from the fact he has already beaten Cobolli at a major this year. At the Australian Open in January, Fery won in straight sets on his overseas Slam debut - helped by Cobolli struggling because of a stomach issue. "Beating a top player boosts self-esteem and it is also important in the sense he knows what he can expect from an opponent like Cobolli," Fery's coach Jeroen Benard told BBC Sport. "They have played each in juniors, they have played each other this year, so he knows who he is. "But Cobolli knows who we are - and wants to take revenge." Fery grew up a short walk away from the All England Club and is enjoying the home comforts of staying with his family during the Championships. Benard says everything else has stayed the same in Fery's camp, with the team enjoying talking about football and music before getting down to business. Fery comes across as cool, calm and serious on court - and in his post-match interviews - but fellow British player Felix Gill described how his friend can be "silly" and "hilarious". "Every morning when he gets treated we're watching World Cup highlights and we talk about day to day stuff - it's nothing different than if we are playing a Challenger in Croatia," said Benard. "He's really good fun to be around. We joke a lot. "He's just a normal 23-year-old who happens to be very good at sport." 'The moments I still play for' - Djokovic wins five-set epic to set up Sinner semi-final Why do we see empty seats at Wimbledon's show courts? 'Hogwarts stuff' - best shots from day nine at Wimbledon Live scores, results and order of play

This video can not be played Gauff completes comeback over Pegula to reach first Wimbledon semi-final Coco Gauff surprised even herself by overcoming her recent grass-court struggles to reach a first Wimbledon semi-final with a battling victory over Jessica Pegula. Two-time Grand Slam singles champion Gauff had never previously gone beyond the fourth round at the All England Club and suffered a first-round exit last year. The American arrived at this year's championships having not won a singles match on a grass court since the third round of Wimbledon in 2024. However, she recovered from an error-strewn start against world number four Pegula to win 4-6 6-3 6-3. The 22-year-old is the youngest player to reach the semi-finals at all four Grand Slams since Maria Sharapova, who achieved that feat at the 2007 French Open. Gauff's past four matches have all gone to three sets but the seventh seed's fighting spirit and supreme athleticism has seen her through to the last four. "It feels really special considering the results I've had of late, especially on this surface," Gauff said. "I think I'm able to relax a bit because I just feel, regardless of how the rest of this tournament goes, I've found a breakthrough on grass. "I'm just proud of myself. Obviously I'm not satisfied - I want to go all the way." Gauff will face Karolina Muchova for a place in the final after the Czech 10th seed ended Naomi Osaka's impressive run in a high-quality contest. Muchova reached a first Wimbledon semi-final - having lost at this stage in 2019 and 2021 - with a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win over Japan's Osaka on Court One. This video can not be played 'Hogwarts stuff' - best shots from day nine at Wimbledon Gauff appeared visibly frustrated as she was hindered by four double faults and 17 unforced errors in the opening set. But as she has done all tournament, the seventh seed showed excellent fighting spirit to become the first woman to reach the singles semi-finals with four three-set wins for 30 years. When her victory was confirmed, Gauff turned to her team and asked "how?". "I'm confident in myself and the player that I am, but I know tennis. If I wasn't myself, I would [pick] her to win that game with the style she has on this surface," said Gauff, explaining that reaction. "But because I am me, I pick myself. I think it was just more so that reaction came from like a third-person point of view, rather than necessarily me in the moment. After an excellent opening set, Pegula was ultimately punished for failing to take her opportunities early in the second, having forced three break points in her opponent's first two games. The momentum flipped when Gauff capitalised on a poor game from Pegula, breaking to love and maintaining her composure to battle back from 0-30 down as she served out the set to level the match. The topsy-turvy nature of the contest continued in the final set, but it was Gauff who was able to raise her level when it mattered. The 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open champion offered an immediate response to take a 4-3 lead after Pegula had broken back, and celebrated victory on Pegula's serve with a first match point. The loss means Pegula's wait for a first Grand Slam singles title goes on - and she may be left to rue a missed opportunity. Sinner beats Struff to reach Wimbledon semi-finals The man who invented a sport and played tennis with Willy Wonka Osaka has been one of the stories of this year's championships, proving a showstopper both on and off the court. The 28-year-old four-time major winner stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a brilliant performance to reach the last eight and has dazzled crowds with her various walk-on outfits - including paying tribute to her nation's culture in a kimono . But that impressive run came to an end against Muchova, who raised her level to dominate the first-set tie-break before ending Osaka's resistance deep in the second set. Muchova was solid from the back of the court and made significantly fewer unforced errors (21) than her opponent (32) to edge a competitive match, defined by beautiful ball-striking as both players landed 24 winners. Live scores, results and order of play Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

There was an error Novak Djokovic defeats Felix Auger-Aliassime in the longest Wimbledon quarter-final in history at five hours and 15 minutes, to set up a meeting with Jannik Sinner in the final four at SW19. READ MORE: Djokovic wins five-set epic to set up Sinner semi-final Available to UK users only.

Dallas Cowboys football player Marshawn Kneeland was suffering from stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) when he died by suicide last year, scientists said. Researchers at Boston University's CTE Center made the diagnosis through a postmortem brain tissue analysis of the defensive lineman, who died aged 24. "Unfortunately, I was not surprised to find CTE in the brain of Mr Kneeland, because we have found this progressive brain disease in nearly half of the athletes we've studied who have died before the age of 30," said the centre's director, Dr Ann McKee. Stage 1 is the mildest of CTE's four stages, where headaches and loss of attention or concentration are common symptoms. In a statement, Kneeland's family said the diagnosis provided "important context" about some of the struggles he was facing. "We share this information to help people understand what NFL and other high-contact sport athletes might be struggling with," they said. "We continue to remember Marshawn with compassion for the person he was, rather than defining him by the final moments of his life." Kneeland died in November 2025, after a car chase with Texas State Troopers who said they tried to pull him over for a traffic violation. Police at the time said he crashed his car and then fled on foot. He was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the early morning hours. Kneeland was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round in 2024 and played 18 times for the team, including four starts. He started playing tackle football when he was 7 years old and was on Western Michigan University's team before joining the Cowboys as a defensive end. Research has shown that athletes such as footballers, rugby players and fighters like boxers have a significantly higher risk of developing CTE than the general population. CTE can only be diagnosed after death. The disease - which is caused by repeated blows to the head - has been found in the brains of dozens of former National Football League (NFL) players. In the first stage of the disease, some people also experience short-term memory problems, depression, aggressive tendencies, and executive function issues, according to the CTE Society, a nonprofit group. In later stages, those problems grow stronger, and others, such as mood swings and suicidal thoughts, emerge. In its final stage, a person can experience severe cognition issues and memory loss, as well as dementia, according to the CTE Society. Boston University's CTE Center said the cause of suicide is complex and a postmortem CTE diagnosis is not known to be a risk factor for suicide. But CTE researchers said the case showed not enough has been down to lower the risk of the disease for athletes. "Mr Kneeland played in the modern era of concussion protocols and better helmets, and yet he still developed CTE," said Dr Chris Nowinski, co-founder and CEO of the Concussion & CTE Foundation. "We have no reason to believe the current generation is at a lower risk of CTE than previous generations." What happens next after latest link between heading and brain disease? Court upholds $1bn ruling against NFL Brain disease 'hits 99% of NFL players'

Welcome to our Who am I? game. The rules are simple. Each day there's a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible. After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. Guess the answer after as few clues as possible to score more points. Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional. So take part and return for more tomorrow. Today's player and clues set by BBC Sport's Adam Millington. After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device. All our Who Am I? quizzes in one place Quiz: Name every nation at the Fifa World Cup 2026 Can you name the 10 Lionesses with most England caps? World Cup quiz: Name these top nations' leading scorers Football quiz: Name every club in the Premier League and EFL Check out our Sports Quizzes page

There was an error Gregor Kobel is Switzerland's penalty hero, after pulling off a stunning shootout save from Colombia's Cucho Hernandez to help set up a quarter-final clash with Argentina. MATCH REPORT: Switzerland 0-0 Colombia (4-3 pens) Available to UK users only.

Former England captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were involved in an incident in a London nightclub England men's players have been advised to avoid drinking alcohol on the day before and the day after matches, under new behaviour guidelines. A midnight curfew was introduced following an Ashes tour blighted by off-field problems, but ambiguities around the curfew were a factor in the nightclub controversy involving Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson . In the aftermath of that incident, England players were issued new guidance, as reported by the Telegraph , external . The updated policy confirms the midnight curfew is in place on every day of a series at home or on tour. It also recommends that no alcohol be consumed on the day immediately before, during or the day immediately after a match. If, for example, a Test runs the full five days, the recommendation extends to the following day. The head coach and director of cricket, in this instance Brendon McCullum and Rob Key respectively, have the discretion to relax the recommendations when they see fit. That way, the hierarchy can allow players the freedom to celebrate a win or keep with traditions such as an end-of-series drink with the opposition at the conclusion of an Ashes series. Players were allowed to drink immediately after the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, to mark Stokes' international retirement. The recommendations apply only to players, rather than staff. If players do choose to drink in the period before, during or after matches, it should not be in public. They have also been strongly discouraged from drinking in private, in order to aid preparation, recovery and professionalism. It has not been confirmed if the guidelines apply only to the England senior men's teams, or all England teams - including the senior women and pathway programmes. Regarding the curfew, there are periods when players would naturally leave the England camp, either because there is a long gap between matches or they have been released to their counties. It is unclear if the curfew would still apply. 'Conversation needed over cricket drinking culture' Stokes and drinking give England another headache Booze, beach, beaten - how England lost the Ashes The curfew was first introduced to the England men's white-ball teams in January for their tour of Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup that followed. It came after Harry Brook was punched by a nightclub bouncer in Wellington, with Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue present, and following Ben Duckett being filmed, apparently drunk, on England's mid-Ashes holiday in Noosa. In the build-up to the summer, Key confirmed the curfew remained in place. However, after England won the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's, Stokes and Atkinson were at a London nightclub into the early hours of the following day. They were present when a member of England security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player. Stokes and Atkinson were made unavailable for the second Test, pending an investigation into the incident. In the aftermath, Key said Atkinson was not aware that the curfew was in place. Key also suggested a total alcohol ban, which has not come to pass. Stokes and Atkinson were eventually cleared of violent conduct but were instead found to have breached "specific contractual obligations". As the pair were once again made available for the third Test, McCullum admitted to ambiguity over the terms of the curfew and said it would be clarified so players are left with no confusion over behavioural expectations. Now, in addition to the clarification over the terms of the curfew and the recommendations over when they should drink, players also must inform team management or security if they are out of the hotel after 22:00. Players also cannot appear under the influence of alcohol in public, or post on social media about alcohol-related activities. 'Sack him' - Stokes on potential retirement rule breach Stokes created moments and the moments are no more Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

Javier Aguirre has been replaced by Rafael Marquez as Mexico boss following the defeat by England England winger Anthony Gordon says being sworn at by Mexico boss Javier Aguirre in a viral moment of their World Cup match was "just a bit of fun" and a "compliment". During a first-half hydration break, Aguirre first spoke to midfielder Jude Bellingham before calling out to Gordon when they were both close to the touchline during England's dramatic 3-2 win in the last 16 at the Azteca Stadium. The 67-year-old then shouted an explicit remark to the forward before both of them laughed. "I remembered it," said Gordon, who moved from Newcastle United to Barcelona this summer. "It's just a bit of fun. "With all the heat and tension around the game, it was a bit of fun. "I'd just run the full-back down the line so it was a bit of a compliment from him. That's how I took it anyway." It was one of several funny moments from the match widely shared on social media including Harry Kane's post-match interview after losing his voice and England defender John Stones pretending he was injured. Bellingham scored twice to put England 2-0 up before Julian Quinones pulled a goal back for the World Cup co-hosts. Jarell Quansah was red-carded for England, who restored their two-goal advantage through a Kane penalty. Raul Jimenez put away a Mexico spot-kick to make it 3-2 before England held on during a tense finale to secure a quarter-final against Norway on Saturday, 11 July (22:00 BST). Aguirre, who has previously led Atletico Madrid, Mallorca and Espanyol over a 31-year managerial career, has since left his post and been replaced by Rafael Marquez. "He seemed like a good guy, he was talking to me and Jude throughout the game," Gordon added. "There was a lot of tension in the game so to speak to me and Jude, I quite liked it." This video can not be played England win thriller against Mexico to reach quarter-finals World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV Everything you need to know about the World Cup

This video can not be played France into semi-finals after comfortable win over Morocco World Cup winners in 1998 and 2018, France have created another special team and are favourites to win the 2026 competition. They showed just why they remain the team to beat this year with an impressive 2-0 victory over Morocco on Thursday to become the first nation into the semi-finals. France have also won the European Championship twice, but has Didier Deschamps, in his final tournament as manager, created the best ever Les Bleus team? If they lift the trophy on 19 July, they can justify that claim, with former midfielder Patrick Vieira, who played in the 3-0 final win over Brazil in 1998, saying this current crop were on the verge of greatness. Speaking on ITV Sport, Vieira said: "We're talking about a generation of players and when you look at the squad and the attacking players, it is maybe one of the best, because you have so many players - it is so unbelievable." 1 of 2 France's victory in Boston came with two goals in a six-minute spell in the second half, with Kylian Mbappe's opener quickly followed by a goal from Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembele. Those goals were the 15th and 16th France have scored in this tournament, more than any other team, although the other three quarter-finals are still to take place. Mbappe's goal, which came after he had a first-half penalty saved, was his eighth of the tournament – moving him level with Argentina's Lionel Messi as top scorer, although Mbappe is currently leading the race for Golden Boot because he has more assists than the Argentine. Dembele now has five goals in this tournament, and France are only the second side in the past 50 years to have two players score five or more goals at the same World Cup tournament, after Brazil in 2002 (Ronaldo eight, Rivaldo five). "France are the best, most skilful, most dangerous attacking team in the tournament," said former Scotland striker Pat Nevin on BBC Radio 5 Live. "They have more than one [threat]. They have two, three, four that are capable." Mbappe and Dembele send France into World Cup semi-finals Klopp reveals how Liverpool tried to sign Mbappe Guehi a doubt for Norway game with hamstring injury Deschamps has been manager of the French team since 2012 and has already said this will be his last tournament in charge. In those 14 years, France have won the 2018 World Cup and lost to Argentina in the 2022 final. Les Bleus also lost to Portugal in the final of the 2016 European Championship and were beaten 2-1 by Spain in the semi-finals of Euro 24. If Spain beat Belgium in their quarter-final on Friday (20:00 BST) they will face France in the last four in Dallas on Tuesday (20:00 BST). France began this tournament third in the world rankings, behind reigning holders Argentina in top spot and current European champions Spain in second. Spain started their campaign with a goalless draw against underdogs Cape Verde, although they have reached the quarter-finals without conceding a goal. Yet Vieira expects Deschamps to guide France to a third successive final. "Before the competition, we were all convinced that Spain would be in the semi-final or the quarter-final," added the former Arsenal captain. "I think France will not have any kind of issues playing against them. France are a better team today than they were four years ago, but I don't think Spain are a better team today than they were four years ago. "I don't see anybody stopping the French team going to the final." Before the game against Morocco, former England striker Ian Wright called Deschamps' side "one of the most clear favourites for a World Cup tournament I have ever seen". After a dominant victory in Boston, in which France had 22 attempts compared to only five from Morocco, who had their only shot on target in the 83rd minute, Wright remained impressed. "It is difficult to see the weakness," said Wright. "If Spain get through they have the quality to maybe pass through them and maybe the pace of Lamine Yamal to try and punish them, but France look imperious. Then you have got individual brilliance." As well as Mbappe and Dembele, France also have plenty of further attacking options in their squad, including Bayern Munich's Michael Olise, Paris St-Germain pair Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue, Manchester City's Rayan Cherki and Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. At the opposite end, France have now only conceded two goals in six games - late on in a 3-1 win over Senegal and once in the 4-1 victory over Norway, albeit a side that had rested most of their first 11 having already qualified for the knockout phases. "France have got more gears to go," said former Manchester United captain Roy Keane. "France were so much better in every aspect of the game, but it doesn't mean they cannot be beaten. "France are in a great place. You have your attacking players scoring goals and your individual players going past people. Any chance of beating France you have got to score the first goal. Even if they get the first goal, teams have to come at them, and they will pick you off for fun." France can now sit and watch the other three quarter-finals take place before they play another semi-final. Having beaten Senegal, Iraq, Norway, Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco, France have been flawless so far and are two wins away from becoming world champions for a third time. But Nevin warned them against complacency. "We have seen one or two weaknesses, glimmers, no more than that," said Nevin. "Sometimes when they have cruised to a win they do take their eye off the ball. "In reality, perhaps the only team that can stop them is themselves by not playing at their best." What's going on with penalties - is it time to end the stutter? Culture, consistency and Lamine Yamal - inside De la Fuente's Spain How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV This video can not be played Michael Olise: Origins

Marc Guehi has appeared in all five of England's games at the World Cup England defender Marc Guehi will be assessed on Friday to see if he is fit to play in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Norway. The centre-back has a slight hamstring injury following England's 3-2 victory over Mexico in the last 16 at the Azteca Stadium. Meanwhile, right-back Reece James returned to training as expected on Thursday and is in contention for the game, but Declan Rice did not train again because of a sickness bug. Initially it was hoped Guehi was carrying muscular fatigue and would be fit to face Norway. But it is understood the Manchester City defender has a hamstring strain. Guehi is desperate to prove his fitness and remains optimistic he can be involved. If he cannot train with the squad on Friday then there will be major doubt over his inclusion against Norway. The issue is not viewed as serious, but with seven-goal Erling Haaland to cope with, England head coach Thomas Tuchel can hardly afford to take fitness risks with defenders. Midfielder Rice is understood to have missed a second successive day of training because of a sickness bug. Rice had already been suffering with a neural issue affecting his hamstring and lower back, and it has been exacerbated by illness. England have taken steps to ensure the bug does not spread. In better news for Tuchel, first-choice right-back James returned to full training for the first time since sustaining a hamstring injury during the goalless draw with Ghana. James did not complete all of Thurday's session but is expected to be available to face Norway providing he feels no ill effects. James' return, in what has been England's problem position because of injury and suspension, will come as a welcome boost to Tuchel. BBC Sport reported on Monday that the Chelsea defender was expected to return to training and be in contention for Norway. On Thursday it was revealed that Jarell Quansah, who started at right-back against Mexico, had been banned for two games for his red card in the last-16 tie. Newcastle's Tino Livramento injured his calf before the tournament began, with Chelsea central defender Trevoh Chalobah, who can also play at full-back, being called up as his replacement. When you add in injuries and suspension, Djed Spence was potentially the only natural right-back available for Norway. Guehi's fitness is another headache. John Stones, Dan Burn and Chalobah are all available at centre-back should the Manchester City defender miss out. Aston Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa, who can cover at right-back, told BBC Sport about filling in there during the win over Mexico. "With the heat and everything and having to change positions, going to right wing-back with a man down, it's not easy," he said. "You have to tuck in and then, when the ball gets switched, you've got to run out and try and stop crosses. "And I think the first 10 minutes mentally was tough because I was feeling it a little bit, but I had to find a switch and overcome it." Konsa praised Stones who he said "kept pushing me". "He even asked to swap positions," Konsa added. "But I told him: 'No, don't worry, it's fine.' "So yeah, I had to find a switch. And thankfully I managed to find it just in time. "Super proud of the boys and what we managed to achieve that night. "I'll always play wherever the manager wants me to play. As long as I'm on that pitch and helping the team, I'm happy no matter where I'm playing." Quansah banned for two games after Mexico red card Norway's Haaland wants 'pressure' put on England 'It was good vibes in there' - Stones on viral prank World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Conor McGregor (left) beat Max Holloway by decision in 2013 Conor McGregor was welcomed back by fans as he ripped Max Holloway's glasses off in an intense face-off before the pair's rematch at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on Saturday. McGregor, 37, is set to return to the octagon for the first time since breaking his leg in defeat by Dustin Poirier in 2021. McGregor has been involved in a series of controversies since, including court cases and missed drugs tests, and critics have questioned whether he deserves the spotlight. McGregor was loudly cheered by fans inside the T-Mobile Arena, however, while American opponent Holloway, who lost to the Irishman in 2013, was booed. After a heated face-off where McGregor threw Holloway's glasses before the pair were separated by security, he hoisted two commemorative UFC titles draped in Irish colours into the air. The belts symbolised McGregor's record as the first simultaneous two-weight world champion in UFC history after his featherweight triumph in 2015 and his lightweight victory in 2016. "I'm excited to showcase what human grit, desire and dedication can do," said McGregor. "Despite the odds, we can overcome them, never be a victim of your circumstances, overcome them. I'm going to show the world you too can do the same." 'At the top for so long' - Holloway's UFC career in stats UFC 329: McGregor v Holloway 2 - all you need to know This video can not be played Up close and personal at a UFC face-off In November 2024, Nikita Hand, who accused McGregor of raping her, won her claim against him for damages for 'assault by rape' in a civil case. A jury found that McGregor assaulted Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018 and he was ordered to pay £206,000 plus damages. McGregor lost his civil jury appeal in July 2025 and Hand announced the following month her intention to sue him and two other people for damages, alleging they engaged in malicious abuse of court processes. Last year, McGregor also accepted an 18-month ban for violating the UFC's anti-doping policy after missing three drugs tests within a 12-month period in 2024. The ban, which was backdated to the third missed test in September 2024, concluded in March. Some commentators argue that support for McGregor within Ireland has dwindled, and although there were fans in Irish colours present, they were fewer in number and less vocal than at previous news conferences he has conducted. But UFC chiefs appear to believe McGregor will still draw eyes to the sport and make the promotion money without affecting the brand. When asked about the size of the fight between McGregor and Holloway, UFC president Dana White said it would draw, "the biggest gate in UFC history". McGregor is a former two-division champion McGregor rose to fame with his brash and witty personality captivating fans like no MMA fighter before him, and his charisma was on show as he sang Oasis' hit Wonderwall to fans. McGregor then jokingly asked Britain's Paddy Pimblett why he did not sing along with him. Pimblett is in the co-main event against France's Benoit Saint-Denis in his first fight since defeat by Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight belt in January. Pimblett was cheered and serenaded by fans, but said he felt the second-most popular fighter on stage, behind McGregor. "I'm not getting the biggest pop, big Conor McGregor's here, but it's nice to be getting the second biggest pop behind him, you know who the boy is," said Pimblett. "We're all having a good time, everyone is laughing, the crowd is having a good time, this is what the sport is about." Pimblett is fighting for the first time since defeat by Justin Gaethje in January McGregor has won just one fight in 10 years, but repeatedly claimed he would "destroy" Holloway, who is also a former UFC featherweight champion. Holloway, 34, regarded as one of the best UFC fighters of all time , engaged occasionally with McGregor but spent the majority of the interactions smiling to himself and shaking his head in amusement. "He's got two belts, I can't wait to take those two pretty belts off his hands," said Holloway. "He's doing all the right things, he's found God, got his family right here, I can't wait guys." In 2021, McGregor was the highest paid athlete in the world, earning just under £128m over 12 months, but he says he is returning to action "for the love of the game". "Honey I'm home. I put a bed in the gym, I lived in the gym literally," said McGregor. "No travel, no traffic, with a lot of young, hungry lions around me angling to be in my position. "So it's been a tremendous experience, a tremendous camp, here we go. Glory to God." MMA schedule and results 2026 Watch every Born to Brawl episode Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

When it comes to the World Cup it's not all about the numbers - the letters are important too! With the semi-finals on the horizon we think it's the perfect time for our A-Z quiz. Can you name the best performing nation at World Cups for each letter of the alphabet? And remember, we're after the name of the country that was being used at the time, which might be different to the present day. Good luck! After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device. Quiz: Name every nation at the 2026 World Cup Which World Cup team are you? Take our quiz World Cup quiz: Can you name every host? World Cup quiz: Name every player in England's squad World Cup quiz: Name every player in Scotland's squad All our Who Am I? quizzes in one place Check out our Sports Quizzes page

This video can not be played Who is Arthur Fery? - Meet GB's Wimbledon wildcard hoping to go all the way Arthur Fery's journey has come almost full circle. The Wimbledon semi-finalist first stepped on to a court aged four at the Westside Tennis Club, a little over a mile away from the All England Club. Almost 20 years later, Britain's newest breakout star has achieved the greatest results of his career on the courts he dreamed of playing on as a child. The 23-year-old wildcard grew up just a short walk from Centre Court, and he will return there on Friday at 13:30 BST to continue his fairytale run against second seed Alexander Zverev in the last four. Playing for a place in the Wimbledon final is uncharted territory for the world number 114 - and his story goes far beyond SW19. While the new British number one is not representing the country of his birth, there is no disputing where his talent was honed. Fery was born in Sevres, a chic neighbourhood just outside Paris, but the family moved to London before his first birthday. He comes from strong sporting stock and credits his French parents for helping shape his career. The tennis ability comes from mother Olivia, who played doubles at the 1991 French Open and competed in the Fed Cup. Father Loic is a financier by trade but he understands elite sport and the pressures felt by top-level athletes, having owned French Ligue 1 football club Lorient. "They're both extremely supportive with my career, not only now but over the past 10 to 11 years I've been playing sport," Fery told BBC Sport earlier this year. "It is important to recognise their help, not only now I'm having success, but also in the bad times." Good tennis IQ & inner belief - how Fery reached shock Wimbledon semi-final Wimbledon thought it had seen everything - then Fery arrived Sinner again stands between Djokovic and shot at history Arthur Fery moved to London before his first birthday Fery grew up in Wimbledon and played tennis at the nearby Westside club, where coach Alison Taylor was a family friend. Taylor, who is married to three-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Roger, gave the young Fery his first tennis lesson. "Arthur was incredibly athletic and gifted," she told BBC Radio 5 Live. "His footwork was exceptional. He could retrieve any ball and was very balanced. "He had amazing touch, he always like to do drop shots and rush the net. "You could see there was something special there." Those skills have been the cornerstone of Fery's run to the Wimbledon semi-finals. Fery still relies on his movement to defend and then surge forward when he transitions to attack. It is also how 5ft 9in Fery learned to punch above his weight. By the age of 10, Fery's technical ability had already marked him out as one of the country's most talented youngsters. He caught the eye of Craig Veal, a coach at the Sutton Tennis Academy, and began working with him alongside French former ATP player Benoit Foucher. The pair decided Fery would improve more playing against adults in the UK rather than travelling internationally to compete against his peers. "[We decided to] let him develop his game and his passion for it, rather than putting a load of pressure on him to get an international ranking," Veal told the i Paper. , external "When he was 16, he then got his junior ranking up very, very fast compared to a lot of his peers, because he was ready to play." Once Fery did start playing internationally, he won World Tennis Junior singles and doubles titles, and reached 12 in the world rankings. At the Slams, he never went past the third round in the boys' singles, but reached the semi-finals in the Australian Open and Wimbledon doubles. A smooth transition to the professional ranks was not guaranteed - so he had an alternative plan. Fery's only appearance in the Wimbledon boys' singles came in 2019 Aged 18, Fery decided to enrol at Stanford University in California - a prestigious institution that specialises in research - for a degree in science, technology and society. It provided an academic base for the studious Fery, but going there on a tennis scholarship meant he could improve his game. "I wasn't necessarily ready to go and play professional tournaments straight away," said Fery. "It gave me time to mature. I made great friends, still pursued academics and had great coaches." Brandon Coupe, who coached Fery during his three years at Stanford, says the Briton's desire to improve his mentality was striking. The American college game is known for being brasher and noisier than the professional ranks, with Fery showing he could thrive in a rambunctious atmosphere. "The kid has got ice in his veins. He is so calm under pressure," said Coupe. Fery became the first Stanford player to be ranked singles number one in the US collegiate system since doubles legend Bob Bryan Demonstrating his ability at the highest level has taken time - and not necessarily because of Fery's own doing. Fery has struggled with bone bruising in his arm - similar to the issue that has thwarted fellow Briton Jack Draper over the past year - and it led to "dark moments" for him. The soreness has reoccurred in recent times, most recently after he reached the second round at this year's Australian Open. Fery pledged to reinvest his £115,000 Melbourne winnings into his career and he has brought in a full-time physio and a biomechanics expert to change his serve. "The serve is helping cause less force through the bones and it's clearly working because he is not in pain anymore," said Fery's coach Jeroen Benard. "We have only been together a year but it has been a long journey already because of the injury. "I know how hard he works and everything coming together now, in his backyard at Wimbledon, is a dream." This video can not be played Who will win the pressure points? Zverev or Fery? 'The whole match was the tie-break' - how rollercoaster semi-final unfolded GB's Patten and Heliovaara reach Wimbledon final Live scores, results and order of play

There was an error Lauren Filer puts herself into the history books, by becoming the first bowler to take a wicket in the first women's Test at Lord's, as she removed Shafali Verma for 0 on the opening morning of the one-off Test. FOLLOW LIVE: England v India, T20 - Lord's Available to UK users only.

There was an error Kylian Mbappe scores his eighth goal of this World Cup to make up for an earlier penalty miss with Ousmane Dembele adding a second as France prove too good for Morocco and move into the semi-finals. MATCH REPORT: France 2-0 Morocco Available to UK users only.

There was an error Get a sneak peak into the whirlwind hours that followed for British wildcard Arthur Fery, after his historic victory over Flavio Cobolli to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals. READ MORE: Good tennis IQ & inner belief - how Fery reached shock Wimbledon semi-final Available to UK users only.

Hey Jude: Bellingham's return to England indispensability The Jude Bellingham Show. A World Cup body of work that, even by the Real Madrid midfielder's lofty standards, has been as mesmerising as we've seen in an England shirt in recent major tournaments. It seems ludicrous now to think that there was even a debate as to whether Bellingham would be in England's World Cup team at all. Bellingham has emerged as one of the stars of England's run to the World Cup quarter-finals - he's arguably been one of the best players of the tournament. Four goals plus an excellent assist for Harry Kane's goal in the 2-0 win over Panama has had England's supporters serenading the 23-year-old here in the USA. But Bellingham appears to be taking it all in his stride. Of course, he is used to the adulation. It is no surprise that Bellingham finds himself in the position he does today - his route to the top was predicted by those in the game when he burst on to the scene in 2019. Here, BBC Sport charts Bellingham's rise. Bellingham made his debut for hometown club Birmingham City aged 16 years and 38 days in August 2019. He became the Blues' youngest ever player, breaking club legend Trevor Francis' record set in 1970. A Premier League scouting report from that game suggests the midfielder's talent was quickly apparent, acknowledging his "great athleticism, long legs, graceful running and work-rate". But it was Bellingham's technical skills that really caught the scout's attention - his ability to carry the ball away from pressure and find space by getting between the lines or pulling wide. The report recommended the undisclosed Premier League club immediately sign Bellingham, loan him out and then bring him into their senior squad in 18 months' time. Within a year, Bellingham was on the move - not to the Premier League, but to Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £20.7m . Upon his departure, Birmingham retired Bellingham's number 22 shirt, with the teenager having played just 44 times for the club. But Birmingham City knew. Everyone in English football was starting to realise. Germany very quickly found out, too. Bellingham scored on his debut for Dortmund, bagging the second goal in a 5-0 win over Duisburg in the German Cup. 'He's just wonderful': The pride of Bellingham's home town England set for open-air Miami heat - but do Norway hold the edge? It wasn't long before Sir Gareth Southgate, then England manager, took notice. Bellingham, having played just 11 matches for Dortmund and still only 17, was fast-tracked into the senior national side, making his debut as a late substitute in a 3-0 win over Republic of Ireland in November 2020 . The clamour for Bellingham to become a regular for Southgate gained decibels with every brilliant display in Germany's domestic league. Yet Southgate restricted him to just three substitute appearances at the delayed Euro 2020, where England reached the final. On reflection, Southgate carefully managed Bellingham's early steps into international football. And Southgate's number two Steve Holland, according to well-placed sources, was a key figure behind Bellingham's transition into the squad, particularly regarding the defensive aspects of his game. But by the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Southgate and Holland could not hold Bellingham back any longer. Bellingham's headed opener in the 6-2 win over Iran was his first at senior international level. There have been nine more goals since. By Euro 2024, Bellingham was a key player for his country. With Bellingham's strong performances came a swagger - a trait that can divide opinion. At Euro 2024, Bellingham had been a Real Madrid player for almost a year - a Galactico who had scored 19 goals for his La Liga and Champions League-winning club. Every media outlet at the tournament wanted a piece of him. Bellingham was given leeway to skip tournament media duties, certainly with the English press, that other players had to undertake, all while filming his own multi-part documentary. It raised eyebrows. It also did not go unnoticed that immediately after the final whistle of England's loss against Spain at the Euro 2024 final Bellingham isolated himself away from the rest of squad. Yet his impact on the pitch was undeniable. His overhead kick equaliser during the dying seconds of England's last-16 win over Slovakia was one of the moments of the tournament. Bellingham's now iconic 'who else' celebration showcased his oozing self-confidence - but provided another example of the 'main character syndrome' that Southgate and some of the players had begun to notice. Fast-forward to today and Real Madrid have not won La Liga or the Champions League since 2023. Amid the off-the-field turmoil at the club , Bellingham has not been able to match the form or prolific goalscoring of that glorious first season. He's also had a few injuries, with shoulder surgery meaning he missed the start of the season. And clouds appeared around his England career. Thomas Tuchel, perhaps as a result of English being his second language, caused a media stir last summer when the new England head coach said his mother viewed some of Bellingham's on-field behaviour as "a bit repulsive". The comment created a lot of headlines - and did not go down well with those close to Bellingham. Tuchel later apologised , saying he "used the word unintentionally". Then in October, after being named England's player of the year, Bellingham was left out of Tuchel's squad. England had played well without him in September while he was recovering from injury, and he had only played one game for Real since he returned to action. "He is a special player, and for special players there can always be special rules," Tuchel said at the time. "But we decided to keep with the straightforward decision of inviting the same group. "Jude always deserves to be here. He wanted to be called up. We had a phone call." Reports in Spain offered an alternative scenario - that it was Bellingham who asked to be left out of the squad in order to focus on his fitness. Ultimately, it seemed like Bellingham was no longer first choice. Indeed, in June Tuchel said the midfielder had a fight on his hands to feature in England's starting line-up at the World Cup because he had "14 or 15 potential starters" in his squad. At that time, Bellingham had only appeared in half of the 14 matches since the German took over in January 2025: four starts and three appearances off the bench. The narrative was: 'should it be Rogers or Bellingham to start at number 10?' Football's best bromance: Why Bellingham and Haaland break the mould Where does Mexico win rank among England's best results? But from the World Cup warm-up matches against New Zealand and Costa Rice, things started to look different - with Bellingham impressing. In the first World Cup game against Croatia, Bellingham scored a fantastic solo goal to put England 3-2 ahead. And against Panama, when England were struggling for a breakthrough in the final group game, Bellingham scored the crucial goal to break the deadlock. While he was substituted in all three group games, Bellingham's form was strong. Against DR Congo in the last 32, he played an influential full-game. And then came Mexico. Two goals in an iconic victory - heralded as one of England's greatest away wins - cemented his resurgence. In five matches he has won three player of the match awards. These awards mean he has to do media interviews, where he has portrayed both maturity and humility, playing down his role and speaking up for the team's work ethic and togetherness, while praising his opponents - even offering one of his player awards to the other team. After the 'who else' celebration of 2024, this time he has said he'd rather assist than score. His change in tone tallies with his on-field performances. His work-rate is a driving force alongside his talent - remember his goal-saving challenge against Mexico. He has won praise for being adaptable, in particular in moving between a 10 and eight role at times, depending on the needs of the team, and is a key part of the England leadership group with Kane and others. It is not know exactly what happened with Tuchel and Bellingham. Was it all overblown or was there has been some level of the German asserting his leadership over the whole squad - perhaps recognising and managing that main character syndrome? But whatever the truth, Bellingham has looked happy, has played well and has been a key part of a squad that seems genuinely together. It is easy to forget, with all he has achieved, that Bellingham is only 23. He has had to mature in the brightest spotlight. Bellingham - and Kane - have been widely regarded as the indispensable superstars of the England team. And with a quarter-final against Norway on Saturday, there could be more goals to cement his greatness. This video can not be played Bellingham's goal-saving defending When the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV

The roof at the Hard Rock Stadium reduces the airflow and exacerbates the conditions England head into unknown territory at this World Cup when they face Norway in Miami on Saturday - playing in searing temperatures. The Three Lions have been largely shielded from excess heat in North America. Their schedule has included indoor matches in Dallas and Atlanta, and the three they have played outdoors - in Boston, New Jersey and Mexico City - have been in cooler, damper conditions. That changes on Saturday for their quarter-final tie (kick-off 22:00 BST), which could be played in conditions the global players' union considers too dangerous for the game to go ahead. Norway have played all but one of their matches outdoors - the exception being their last-32 victory over Ivory Coast in the air-conditioned Dallas Stadium. Their 2-1 victory over Brazil on Sunday was played outside while New Jersey was under a US National Weather Service (NWS) extreme heat warning. So who might be better prepared for the heat of Miami? Put simply, conditions in Miami will be hot and humid. While air temperatures are likely to sit about 33C (91F), once you add in the humidity, it will feel like about 41C (106F). The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the area on Saturday which warns that high temperatures and humidity may cause heat-related illnesses. It is advising people to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room and stay out of the sun. Alongside the high temperatures, there is a risk of thunderstorms, especially near the start of the match, and a possibility of showers. Otherwise, sunny spells are expected. In addition to how hot it will feel during the game, the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WGBT) will also sit around 29C to 32C. The WGBT is an index which combines air temperature, humidity and surface temperature readings and is used by global sporting bodies such as Fifa to help keep players safe. In its guidelines for playing in heat , external , players' union Fifpro says a WBGT above 28C should lead to the "delay or postponement of matches" until conditions are safer. However, there is no suggestion that the game will not take place. Check the forecast for Miami This video can not be played Will it be too hot to play? While two of England's group-stage matches were played in the hotter Texas and Georgia climates, they felt the benefit of air-conditioned stadiums, where the temperature is set to a comfortable 21C. The warmest the Three Lions have played in was 25C for the final group game against Panama, but that featured overcast skies. July is Mexico City's wettest month of the year, so when England headed to altitude last Sunday they would have felt at home - 18C and rain. The hot and humid weather in Miami will be a very different challenge. Norway's tournament opener against Iraq, meanwhile, was played under clear skies and in a temperature of 25C. There was rain and cloud during their games against Senegal and France, though they rested most of their first-choice players against Les Bleus. After being indoors against Ivory Coast, Norway experienced oppressive conditions in the victory over Brazil. The temperature in New Jersey hit 31C in the shade, but on the pitch the heat and humidity would have made it feel far hotter. England's initial base when arriving in the United States was, coincidentally, Florida. Thomas Tuchel and his team spent 10 days in the area, playing warm-up games against New Zealand in Tampa and Costa Rica in Orlando. The Three Lions then moved to their tournament facility in Kansas, where daily air temperatures are about 32-34C (90-93F). That should help England cope with the heat. Dr Lee Taylor from Loughborough University - a leading expert in elite athlete performance and the challenges of heat and altitude - told BBC Sport acclimatisation was crucial. "That is the gold-standard method to protect players' health and performance," said Taylor. "They've been getting those exposures into the players pretty consistently as they had two hot bases. "So we're fairly certain those players are acclimated. They haven't been able to really test that in a game environment, but we're not too concerned because we know they've acquired those physiological adaptations." Norway played their two warm-up matches against Sweden and Morocco in the cooler climes of Oslo and New Jersey respectively. They are based in Greensboro, North Carolina, where they experiencing similar temperatures to the England squad. "Norway have played four pretty warm games, and the one in New Jersey was particularly hot," Taylor said. "I'd probably rather have the scenario that England have evolved through, based on the fatigue the Norway players have acquired." England have used several methods of recovery at their training base in Kansas, including cooling tents Many outdoor World Cup stadiums are open, with no roof or canopy. The Hard Rock Stadium is different, and looks more like a traditional European football ground. That may keep the fans shielded from the elements but it prevents any breeze from reaching the pitch. "It's a humidity trap," Taylor said. "There is no free-flowing air. Sweating is king - it is the best way we can lose heat. We're highly efficient then. But in an environment that's got high humidity, with high water vapour pressure, there's nowhere for the sweat to go." Fifa has introduced climate-controlled benches, the provision of water and electrolyte drinks, ice, cold towels, fans, mist and shade. Another way of addressing the heat is by wearing phase-change ice vests - jackets with pockets for blocks of ice - before the match. During hydration breaks and at half-time, a large towel that has been immersed in ice-cold water is more effective. Whoever emerges victorious on Saturday must re-adapt for Wednesday's semi-final against Argentina or Switzerland. That game will be back indoors in Atlanta. How do England stop Norway - and Haaland? The wild hip-hop parties that started Tuchel's journey to England boss I've changed my mind, we might actually be able to win this thing - Shearer Matches at the Hard Rock Stadium come with a risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. After the first three fixtures, the Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue said it had received 38 heat-related calls at the stadium, with five requiring hospital treatment. It has been more marked at the Fan Fest in the city, with the of City of Miami reporting 79 heat-related calls in one day on 23 June. Fans have been urged to use shuttle stations, which have cooling sites, rather than walk all the way. "The biggest issues come in what is often referred to as the final mile," said Taylor. "This often has cordoning or protracted routes to manage crowd flow, and can be really difficult. "The advice is pretty simple: seek shade, stay hydrated, have a refillable bottle and a wide-brim hat." To underline what will await the teams, the two hottest games in the group stage were both in Miami. For Uruguay's 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia, the WBGT reached about 32.9C. This was surpassed by the 33C for Uruguay's 2-2 draw with Cape Verde six days later. During the last-32 fixture in New Jersey, with temperatures of 32.22C, France's players tried to keep cool under the on-field sprinklers. The warmest game of the tournament came last Saturday. Paraguay and France played their last 16-tie in Philadelphia at 37C. It felt closer to 44C thanks to the record-breaking heatwave that had developed across eastern states of the US. One of the hottest World Cup games ever was in 1994 in Orlando, Florida, when temperatures hit 110 F (43.33 C) as Republic of Ireland played Mexico. It will not quite be that warm in Miami on Saturday, but it still going to be testing for two countries from northern Europe. When the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV

Adams featured in all three group games for South Africa at the World Cup South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams has died at the age of 25, just weeks after featuring for his country at the World Cup. Adams featured in all three of South Africa's group games at the tournament, where they reached the knockout stages before losing to co-hosts Canada in the round of 32. "It is with profound shock and a heavy heart that I have learnt of the passing of Jayden Adams," South Africa's minister of sport, arts and culture Gayton McKenzie said, in a statement. "South African football has lost one of its brightest young talents, and our nation mourns alongside his family, his team-mates and the millions of supporters who watched him grow from a promising academy prospect into a full Bafana Bafana international." Police in South Africa said they had opened an investigation after the body of a 25-year-old man was found at a house in Schotschekloof, a suburb in central Cape Town, on Saturday morning. McKenzie added: "The cause of Jayden's passing has not yet been confirmed, and I wish to appeal to members of the media and the public to exercise restraint and compassion, and to refrain from speculation, while his family and Mamelodi Sundowns are given the space and privacy they need at this incredibly difficult time. "Any official information will be communicated by the appropriate parties in due course." Adams started in the 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic in Group A despite learning that his grandmother had passed away only hours before kick-off. The South African Football Players Union said it was "devastated by the untimely passing" of Adams who made his debut for his country in 2022. "Jayden had only recently represented South Africa at the 2026 World Cup, carrying the hopes of the nation with pride, courage and distinction. "His passing is an immeasurable loss to his family, team-mates, clubs, the football fraternity and the country at large. "South African football has lost a gifted player, a proud servant of the game and a young life that still had so much to offer." Adams started his career at Stellenbosch FC, before moving to Mamelodi Sundowns in January 2025, where he won league and African Champions League titles. He was part of the South Africa squad that reached the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals before being called up to Hugo Broos' squad for the World Cup, where the team made history in reaching the knockout stages of the competition for the first time. Follow your club with BBC Sport Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast Get football news sent straight to your phone

With Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova setting up an all-Czech women's final at Wimbledon, we've all been discussing what the secret to the country's success is. Noskova came on 6-love-6 - our BBC Radio 5 Live phone-in with John McEnroe - after her semi-final and joked it might be because there is something magic in Czech beer! That was music to John's ears - but once they stopped laughing she gave her real thoughts on why her nation has produced so much top talent. Either Noskova or Muchova will become the third Czech in four years to win the Wimbledon women's title, following Marketa Vondrousova in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova in 2024. Both Noskova and Muchova referenced Petra Kvitova, who won in 2011 and 2014, as an inspiration. Going back a little further, Jana Novotna and Jan Kodes also won at the All England Club, and Czech-born Martina Navratilova claimed nine singles titles while representing the United States. Noskova feels she can be successful because she's seen so many other players from her country win majors. So, in her words, she feels like, 'why not me?'. It breeds this innate belief. The Czech players think it's the norm of what their system is in terms of everyone having the opportunity to pick up a racquet, regardless of their financial background or upbringing. There are tennis players everywhere, with so many former pros - whether they were top 100 or Grand Slam champions - staying within the sport to pass on their knowledge. It means the Czechs have this incredible base of coaches, who know what it takes to reach the top. Now either Noskova or Muchova will become their latest Grand Slam champion - and it will be a fascinating match of contrasting styles. How to follow Wimbledon women's final on the BBC 6-love-6: John McEnroe meets Wimbledon finalist, Linda Noskova 'The whole match was the tie-break' - how rollercoaster semi-final unfolded Karolina Muchova lost to Iga Swiatek in three sets in the Roland Garros showpiece Muchova has already played in a Grand Slam final - at the French Open in 2023 - and drawing on that experience could be a key factor on Saturday. While she lost to Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros, she should be able to learn from what she could have handled better, particularly the emotions of what comes both before and during such a momentous occasion. I'm not the only fan of the sport to feel Muchova could have achieved so much more already in tennis, but her body has often let her down. The 29-year-old has suffered a number of serious injuries over the years, but her level continues to be so good when she is fit and able to play. Muchova is one of the most creative players on tour - playing with slice and craft - and I imagine she will add variety. But she is also a strong server and can hold her own in a fight for the baseline exchanges - like she did against Coco Gauff in the semi-finals. You could see Gauff ramp up the aggression in set two but, instead of retreating, Muchova managed to play even more shots inside the baseline in the third set. That was interesting to see unfold and it showed she's not going to back down against somebody trying to attack her. Muchova takes it right back to them - and it is likely she will need to do that against the big-hitting Noskova. Linda Noskova had not been beyond the quarter-finals in a Grand Slam before this Wimbledon Noskova has long been seen as a future star who could challenge for Grand Slam titles, having become the youngest player inside the top 100 in 2022. It has taken the 21-year-old a little time to find consistency at the Slams, but this fortnight she has shown she has a game which relies on pure power. When you stand next to Linda, she is actually taller than you would expect from seeing her on television, as she stands at 5ft 10in. She has a massive serve and a really heavy ball, which comes from the natural power through her long levers. She can also combine that with a lovely drop shot. She has a great touch and feel. But it's not only about the power - that drop shot she's got leaves opponents not knowing what's coming next. Madison Keys, who Noskova beat in the fourth round, explained that when Linda has a time on a ball, you don't know whether she's going to absolutely smack it - so you move back behind the baseline - or pull out a drop shot. You can't defend both. Against Muchova, Noskova will want to play on her terms and feel like she has control of the situation. Her serve is going to be key to allow her to do that. Noskova (left) and Muchova got to know each other when they teamed up for their nation at the Paris 2024 Olympics The other interesting element to the final is the fact the players know each other so well. While they have only played against each other once on the WTA Tour, Noskova and Muchova have practised together many times - including on Centre Court before their semi-final matches - and were doubles partners at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Because there are so many Czech players, I don't think this familiarity is something they'll be distracted by. It is not unusual for either of them to play someone from their country, but, of course, they will know each other's game inside out. And, because of that, each of them will have a really clear tactical approach of how to win. Regardless, I'm sure they'll put their friendship to one side and feel extremely proud that it's an all-Czech final. And whoever executes their gameplan the best will lift the trophy. May the best woman win! Naomi Broady was speaking to BBC Sport's Jonathan Jurejko at Wimbledon. This video can not be played How will the women's final be won? Can Wimbledon umpires take toilet breaks? 'Good but not good enough' for 'blessed and cursed' Djokovic Fery's Wimbledon run ended by Zverev in semi-finals

Bates spent 22 years at Chelsea Former Chelsea and Leeds United owner Ken Bates has died at the age of 94. Chelsea announced the death of Bates on Saturday, saying he "passed away peacefully in Monaco this morning surrounded by his wife and family". Bates bought Chelsea for £1 in 1982 when they were in the old Second Division, taking on debts of £1.5m, and set about turning around their fortunes. He eventually sold the club to Roman Abramovich in 2003 in a deal worth £140m when they were in the English top flight. The club were heavily in debt when Bates sold his shares. He stayed on as chairman at Stamford Bridge before stepping down in 2004. Chelsea said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that we share the news of the loss of Ken Bates, former owner and chairman of Chelsea Football Club. "The club sends our heartfelt condolences to Ken's wife Suzannah, the rest of his family and his friends. "Ken's determination to fight for Chelsea when times were tough, and drive the team on to winning trophies will never be forgotten." John Neal, John Hollins, Bobby Campbell, Ian Porterfield and David Webb served as managers under Bates before he appointed Glenn Hoddle, Ruud Gullit, Gianluca Vialli and Claudio Ranieri. It was under Gullit that Chelsea ended their 26-year wait for a major trophy when they won the FA Cup in 1997. The Blues also won the League Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup and the FA Cup again before Bates sold to Abramovich in 2003. The Chelsea Supporters' Trust said it was "deeply saddened" to learn of Bates' death. "Ken was one of the most significant figures in Chelsea Football Club's modern history," the Trust said. "Taking charge during one of the club's most difficult periods, he played a defining role in securing the club's future at Stamford Bridge and helping lay the foundations for the success that followed. "His impact on Chelsea will be remembered for generations, and his place in the club's history is assured." After failing in a bid to invest in Sheffield Wednesday, Bates was Leeds owner from January 2005 to December 2012. Leeds lost in the Championship play-off final in 2006 and a year later went into administration and were relegated to English football's third tier for the first time. Bates was part of a consortium that bought the club back from the administrators and Leeds returned to the Championship in 2010. Although Bates sold the club towards the end of 2012, he stayed on as chairman and then briefly honorary president before leaving Leeds in July 2013. Latest Chelsea news, analysis and fan views Ask about Chelsea - what do you want to know?

Gordon Reid (left) and Alfie Hewett won the first of their seven Wimbledon doubles titles together as a partnership in 2016 British pair Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid have won their seventh Wimbledon men's wheelchair doubles title as a partnership, fighting back from a set down on Court One to beat Argentina's Gustavo Fernandez and Japan's Tokito Oda 2-6 6-1 6-2. Fernandez and Oda broke Hewett and Reid in all four of their service games during the first set, but the Britons responded superbly by winning nine of the next 10 games. That run gave Hewett and Reid a 3-0 lead in the deciding set and they saw out victory in a high-quality final to clinch their 25th Grand Slam doubles title as a duo. Hewett, 28, and 34-year-old Reid also won the French Open in June, while Fernandez and Oda are holders of the other two Grand Slam titles - the US Open and the Australian Open. Hewett and Oda will meet again on Sunday in the men's wheelchair singles final. Oda is the top seed, defending champion and seeking a third singles crown at SW19, while second seed Hewett is aiming to add to his previous title victory in 2024. Not 'something in the beer' - why Czechs are dominating Wimbledon 'Good but not good enough' for 'blessed and cursed' Djokovic Wimbledon Daily: Zverev ends Fery's run as Sinner sails into the final Hewett and Reid won the first of their Wimbledon doubles titles together in 2016. Reid, who was also Wimbledon's first ever men's wheelchair singles champion that year, said: "It's a dream come true to be able to play at our home Grand Slam on a court like this, with a crowd like this. "We had to be at our best today and thanks to everyone for being part of that dream." Hewett added: "The first set was extremely difficult, these guys [Fernandez and Oda] played some of their best tennis. "When you're on a court like this and everyone wants you to win, it can be a bit soul-destroying when you lose that set. "It means the world. We've had so many finals here and 10 years ago we won our first one. Who would have thought that 10 years on, we'd be sat here with seven titles?" Live scores, results and order of play Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

There was an error India seamer Kranti Gaud takes five wickets in England's first innings to become the first woman to go on the Lord's Test honours board. FOLLOW LIVE: England v India Day Two Available to UK users only.

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford celebrates after his superb display in the win against Mexico at The Azteca. England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford enters the history books when he faces Norway in the World Cup quarter-final in Miami. The 32-year-old Everton keeper will become England's most capped player in the tournament when he makes his 18th World Cup appearance, eclipsing the previous record held by Peter Shilton. Following his magnificent individual display in England's 3-2 victory in the last 16 against Mexico in the Azteca, it is another sign of how Pickford has maintained unrivalled status as first choice before his 90th international appearance in his fifth major tournament. Pickford's record is outstanding for both club and country so, after his performance in Mexico City, is it time the Wearsider finally received the recognition his record deserves? How do England stop Norway - and Haaland? I've changed my mind, we might actually be able to win this thing - Shearer How Kane and Haaland compare - who would you pick? Pickford has been a model of consistency for Everton and England, as proved by his Premier League statistics. In the last two league seasons, Pickford's clean sheet record of 23 in the last two seasons is second only to David Raya, the keeper with Premier League champions Arsenal, who has 32. In his 89 England games, he has conceded 59 goals and kept 44 clean sheets while making, as measured by Opta statistics, only two errors that have led to goals. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson is one who believes Pickford's contribution has been undervalued. He told BBC Sport: "I think he has been under-appreciated for Everton and England when you look at the numbers he's posting, the games he is playing and the number of clean sheets he has. "He is only second behind David Raya in the last two seasons for clean sheets and they are playing for very different teams. "With England, you look at his experience, the way he has gone deep into tournaments. I always talk about competitive caps, but he has lots of tournament caps, which is so important." England head coach Thomas Tuchel congratulates Jordan Pickford after the win against Mexico. Robinson added: "I think he's matured as a person and a professional. I think he's worked on himself. He's an excellent shot-stopper, his distribution is second to none. "He's worked on his distribution. You can see his long distribution is superb, which England used as a weapon in Mexico - it led to one of the goals. I also think he's worked on his short distribution as well and I think he's evolved as a goalkeeper and a person. I really like what I see." Pickford, who made his England debut against Germany at Wembley in November 2017, has also made 14 appearances at the European Championships, where they have lost in the past two finals. England favourites to reach semis, says Norway boss England set for open-air Miami heat - but do Norway hold the edge? Artificial turf & coaching revolution - how Norway shaped golden generation Pickford has been England's first choice tournament keeper since the 2018 World Cup, where they lost in the semi-final to Croatia in Moscow. All challengers have been seen off to such an extent that Robinson says: "I think he's the first name on the team sheet. There is nobody else. "As a nation, we have again gone into a major tournament with a keeper who has racked up the caps, while others beneath him have only got a handful. "I checked the stats before this tournament, and out of the five goalkeepers who could have been picked alongside Jordan Pickford, they had 11 competitive games between them." When Thomas Tuchel was appointed England coach, there was a school of thought that he was unconvinced by Pickford but, as with predecessor Sir Gareth Southgate, he has been his undisputed number one. Pickford will eclipse Peter Shilton's England record of 17 World Cup appearances when he plays against Norway in the quarter-final in Miami. Robinson added: "There will always be an opinion, whether it was Peter Shilton, David Seaman, David James or myself when I was England's keeper. "Somebody has always got an opinion. You are there to be shot at. If it's not you in goal, everyone's got an opinion as to who they think it should be. I think the biggest credit you can give Jordan Pickford is that that noise isn't there. He's been that good. "There's nobody saying it shouldn't be him. The noise hasn't been there for a very long time because he is that well embedded. He's made the position his own and, including keepers like myself and David James, the talk around the position hasn't been this quiet since David Seaman was there. It's taken as read that Jordan Pickford plays." Pickford revelled in the pressure of the Azteca after Jarell Quansah was sent off against Mexico. Pickford made an uncertain start to the World Cup, at fault when he was beaten at his near post when DR Congo took the lead against England in Atlanta before captain Harry Kane's two late goals saw them through. In the pressure cooker of the Azteca, however, Pickford had his finest game for England, with two brilliant first-half saves from Mexico striker Raul Jimenez, followed by an outstanding display of penalty-area command in a frantic second period. "It was a very brave display of goalkeeping," said Robinson. "I really admired what he did out there in that second half and his two saves in the first half kept England in the game. They could have been out of it by half-time if it wasn't for him." Pickford won widespread praise for the way he took charge of his penalty area, taking the initiative by coming for crosses and corners on a regular basis as England, down to 10 men after Jarell Quansah was sent off early in the second half, came under siege. "He decided that he was going to stand up. He came for crosses, made decisions to go for balls, making life easier for his defenders because of how good he was. "The easiest thing as a goalkeeper is to stay on your line because you don't get criticised. If you stay on your line you can't make a mistake, but he showed maturity and bravery. "He showed the way his game has developed by coming off his line, making those decisions, making big bold calls. That's where you see how much he has evolved. "Jordan took it upon himself, punched the ball, caught the ball, made life easier for his defenders. "He doesn't mind what players are in front of him. It doesn't faze him. He's played with a different back four for most games, with the full-backs alternating and a change in central defence. "The players know him and trust him. I think there is a good relationship there." And Pickford's Mexico masterclass can bolster England's confidence as they try to overcome the dangerous Norwegians and master striker Erling Haaland, who demonstrated their threat by beating Brazil 2-0 in the last 16. "I think Jordan Pickford's confidence will be at an all-time high and the team's will be as well after their win against Mexico," added Robinson. "I questioned them on air when Thomas Tuchel went to a back five after 71 minutes. I was thinking I wasn't sure they would hang on, and that would have been a stick he would have been beaten with. "It did go right and Jordan Pickford was a big part of it going right." When the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport World Cup knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC

With their efforts at the World Cup, Norway look like a nation pulling in the same direction Norway - a country with a population almost the same size as Scotland - have become a football powerhouse at the World Cup and it's not just down to Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker, who has seven goals under his belt at the tournament, is the poster boy for the side along with Martin Odegaard, who captains both Arsenal and the national team. However, they are not the only successful products of the Norwegian youth system. Of their 26-man World Cup squad, 17 play in Europe's top four leagues - the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A. The majority were mentored in Norway's national youth football training system, the National Team School (NTS), which was established in 2013. The comparison with Scotland is not favourable to the latter . While both countries are similar in size, there is a growing gulf in football terms. Both nations spent 28 years away from the World Cup following the 1998 finals in France. But while Steve Clarke's men failed to get past the group stage in 2026, Norway will face England on Saturday in a quarter-final, having beaten the Ivory Coast and Brazil in the knockout phase . Hakon Grottland, head of player development at the Norwegian Football Federation, said we are now witnessing a result of more than two decades of planning to transform Norway - a country synonymous with winter sports - into a football nation. "When I started with the football federation in 2010, it was my dream that Norway could compete at the World Cup because we had too many years of talking about 1998," he told BBC Sport. Grottland attributed Norway's success to two main factors - an investment in artificial pitches in the period 2000-2010 and a coaching revolution ignited by the establishment of the NTS. Since 2000, Norway has invested in a huge number of artificial pitches. Between 2016 and 2025, 539 were built, with a further 586 being renovated , external . For a country that experiences harsh winters, this had a big impact. "Football in Norway went from a summer sport to a whole year-round sport," explained Grottland. "Back in my day, we had to play on horrible pitches in the winter, on ice and things like that." During the 1990s, Norway were synonymous with an effective but workmanlike style of defensive football. Playing on predictable surfaces has led to a more technical style of football - epitomised by their skipper Odegaard, 27. "It's partly about artificial pitches, but it's also about influences," added Grottland. "Everyone wanted something a little bit different. But now, this has gone too far because we don't create enough defenders." Norway is one of the world's richest countries thanks to its significant oil reserves, the largest in Europe after Russia. The strength of its economy, as measured per member of its population, is almost twice that of the UK and bigger than that of the US , external . However, one unique factor in the way Norway funds domestic sport is how the country uses revenue from gambling. Betting is strictly regulated and the main, state-owned operator Norsk Tipping donates 64% , external of its proceeds to sporting purposes, with the main distribution going towards facilities in the country. In 2026, Norsk Tipping generated more than 2bn Norwegian kroner (£152.7m) for sports facilities. Can Scotland learn from history-making Norway? How do England stop Norway - and Haaland? Alongside the development of artificial pitches, Grottland cited a "revolution" in the period 2010-2020, "where Norwegian football, the top clubs, the federations and the districts started to invest heavily in player development". After failing to qualify for Euro 2012, the Norwegian Football Federation established Landslagsskolen, known as the NTS, in 2013. Of the 15 players who played in Norway's 2-1 victory over Brazil, 14 had represented the national team at youth level and 11 of those were part of the NTS pathway from under-15 or under-16s. Grottland clarified the NTS was not an academy nor a centralised school, such as the famed Clairefontaine in France, but "a national development structure connecting grassroots clubs, districts, top clubs and the federation". "It's not like in other countries where the top clubs are working on talent development and the grassroots clubs are just having fun," he added. "In Norway, everyone's in it together." The importance of that grassroots system was acknowledged by the national team before the World Cup, when the squad posed for a team photograph wearing kits from their first clubs. In England, many promising talents are selected by Premier League academies at the age of eight, but children in Norway stay with their grassroots clubs until 12. "One important part of the philosophy is that we are not trying to close doors too early," said Grottland. He used Haaland, 25, as an example of why this philosophy has worked as he added: "He was part of national talent camps within the National Team School (NTS) structure from the age of 14, but at that time nobody thought he would become the best player in that age group." The one player Grottland was sure about from a young age was Odegaard, admitting the whole philosophy of the NTS was inspired by encountering him at 11. Having been coveted by Europe's leading clubs, the midfield prodigy signed for Real Madrid aged 16 for 4m euros (£3.4m). "In Norway, a talented player is a player who loves the game the most - a player who has ownership for his own development and who takes ownership for the team's development," added Grottland. "We don't measure ball handling and speed and things like that. We start with: 'does the player love this game?' "That was inspired by Odegaard - I've never seen anyone like him as a child." This video can not be played The Norway story - 28-year wait for the biggest party in history The most important lessons the NTS instils, said Grottland, are "safety, security and togetherness". "This is what we're seeing as a result at the World Cup. No one player is bigger than the team." For him, the Norwegian spirit is epitomised by the Viking row that's taken over Times Square and stadiums around this summer's World Cup - a clear example of a nation pulling in the same direction. "The rowing, it's about togetherness," he added. The question remains, though, whether the NTS can enrich Norway's domestic league. Only four of Stale Solbakken's squad play on home shores, with three of them representing Bodo/Glimt, whose fairytale Champions League run to the last 16 last season may hint at a better future. "One of our main goals in Norwegian football is to produce and sell players to the big leagues," said Grottland. "At the same time, the last couple of years, our own league developed. The two things work together." Norway manager Solbakken told BBC Sport: "We have players who are around 30 or older, we have players who are around 18 and 20 and then players who are in the middle who are peaking. "I don't know if it's a generation but it's hard work from the clubs, hard work from the federation." This video can not be played Haaland has advantage over Man City teammates This video can not be played What Haaland's home town did when Norway beat Brazil When the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV

Erling Haaland has scored 62 goals in 54 matches for Norway The last time Norway competed at a World Cup, Erling Haaland was not even born. Yet by helping his nation reach the quarter-finals of their first World Cup since 1998, Haaland has not just chalked off a personal milestone - he has completed a mission he has carried on his shoulders for years. Now England, the country of his birth, stand in his way. The hopes of the Scandinavian nation rested on the 25-year-old long before he scored 16 goals across eight matches in a dominant qualifying campaign, and then seven in four appearances at the tournament proper. This was the case even before he became the fearsome Manchester City striker he is today. Those hopes for Haaland can probably be traced back to when, in his early teens, his talent was spotted at Norwegian side Bryne and fast-tracked through their youth teams. That talent grew and promise intensified during a club career carefully crafted to suit Haaland, and now, having won everything to win in club football with City, he is fulfilling his destiny for the national team too. But things could have looked different. Born in Yorkshire, the forward was eligible to play for England. But affinity with his home country meant there was little chance of that happening, even if it meant the chances of winning something at international level - or even regularly reaching tournaments - were slim. Choosing Norway might have meant the career no superstar player wants - one that does not involve playing at a World Cup. Haaland avoided that fate and, after scoring twice to oust five-time winners Brazil in the last 16, will be looking to end England's hopes of a 1966 repeat when Norway face them in Miami on Saturday. But just what is it like being a global name from a nation with a population of just 5.5 million? And is it really just Haaland standing between England and the semi-finals? This video can not be played Haaland sends Norway into the quarter-finals as Brazil crash out When then England manager Gareth Southgate was asked in 2020 whether there was a chance Haaland might have played for the Three Lions, he shut it down quickly. "With players like him, they're quite clear where they want to play," Southgate said. "He feels that allegiance to the country that he's playing for now and you're always very respectful of that." Haaland was born in Leeds - where his father Alf-Inge was still based, having just left Leeds United for Manchester City - in 2000. The family moved to Bryne in Norway three years later following his father's retirement through injury. The young Haaland's talent was spotted early and he quickly moved through the youth teams at Bryne before signing for Molde in 2017, managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He helped turn Haaland into an attacking force and has often spoken highly of his former player, expressing regret that he could not sign him when he became manager at Manchester United. The young forward caught the eye during his time at Red Bull Salzburg before his spell at Borussia Dortmund - where he formed a close friendship with England's Jude Bellingham - really announced him on the world stage. His move to Manchester City came in 2022 - a transfer many felt had been inevitable given his father's history and his own love of English football. Yet even with his rapid ascension to stardom, Haaland continues to return to Norway frequently where he owns several properties. "Despite Haaland's global superstar status, he remains the exact same guy," Norwegian football journalist Andreas Korssund told BBC Sport. "He knows exactly where he comes from and regularly visits his small hometown in Rogaland. He is incredibly proud of his roots and always makes himself available to the Norwegian press when representing his country." Haaland has discussed his desire to run a farm in his home country when he retires and can frequently be spotted strolling around Oslo, where he owns an apartment. He has leaned into Norway's Viking history and is fiercely proud of representing his country, as illustrated by leading his team-mates in the Viking Row after beating Brazil. It is that affinity with his heritage that has also led to him sporting his full title of Braut Haaland on the back of his national shirt - Braut is his mother's maiden name and combining that with his father's name is a Norwegian tradition. "Haaland means everything to Norway," says Korssund. "He has become an unprecedented superstar in the world's biggest sport. For a nation of just over 5.5 million people to produce one of the absolute greatest footballers on the planet is immense." Haaland's Norway shirt bears the names of both his mother and father France cruise into semi-finals - could this be the best Les Bleus ever? Guehi a doubt for Norway game and Rice ill with bug Norway's Haaland says pressure is all on England When Haaland scored twice in Norway's 4-1 opening group match win against Iraq in Foxborough, he carried not only the weight of a nation but the combined mass of all the players who did not fulfill their World Cup dreams. Aside from reaching back-to-back tournaments in 1994 and 1998, Norway have endured long spells absent from major competition, last featuring at a showpiece tournament at Euro 2000. That means a long list of talented Norway players missed out - Morten Gamst Pedersen, John Carew, Brede Hangeland and John Arne Riise to name a few. But many view this current Norway team as the nation's golden generation and, while Haaland's statistics might suggest a one-man team, the reality is he is not the only reason they have qualified. Captain Martin Odegaard arrived in the United States fresh from winning the Premier League with Arsenal, and has impressed in midfield with three assists. The likes of Alexander Sorloth, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Oscar Bobb are also established top-level players, while Patrick Berg, Sander Berge and Antonio Nusa have been unexpected protagonists. "We look at this similarly to what happened with Belgium's golden generation a few years ago - a relatively small nation that simply bleeds football," said Korssund. Norway might have quality in their ranks, but nobody else transcends the sport like Haaland. His fame is approaching that of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - and Norway have never had a player like that. It is easy to imagine a different story. One where had Haaland joined the likes of George Best with Northern Ireland, Ryan Giggs for Wales or Ballon d'Or winner George Weah of Liberia in not featuring at a World Cup. Instead, Haaland ended his wait and is locked in a race for the Golden Boot along with fellow superstars Messi and Kylian Mbappe (eight) and Harry Kane (six). Haaland is sandwiched between on seven. After emulating his father's appearance at the 1994 World Cup, Haaland is hoping to fire Norway to previously unthinkable success. Towering at 6ft 5in tall, with long, flowing blond hair, Haaland has become one of the most recognisable players in football. His charisma has begun to shine through while at City, with his humour - which is at times very English - endearing him to fans. He films 'day in the life' videos for his YouTube channel, which has more than 2.4 million subscribers. A vlog of an impromptu shopping trip in Dallas to buy cowboy hats and boots hours after scoring a late winner against Ivory Coast in the last 32 amassed more than five million views in four days. He is also set to feature in animated film ViQueens as the voice of a Viking, named, of course, Haaland. But Haaland is not a standard Norwegian hero. "I think Erling is in some ways not a completely typical Norwegian," said Norwegian journalist Lars Sivertsen. "He's confident and can be a little bit brash. He knows his value and he knows his quality and he backs himself. "Scandinavia has a culture that's more about humility. Erling would complain if he was on the bench. So I think he is a little bit untypical of Norwegians. "That makes him an interesting hero for us, because there will be moments of backlash." But Haaland's stock is undeniable and with that comes all those other things associated with being a superstar - shirt sales, increased interest in the World Cup, and inspiring youngsters. "He is now just in a different strata of star than what we are used to from our sporting heroes," said Sivertsen. "But I think if you look across the country, there is just an extraordinary sense of pride that a player doing the things he does is from our country." *A version of this article was first published on 7 June 2026 This video can not be played Haaland leads Norway's celebrations What's going on with penalties - is it time to end the stutter? Culture, consistency and Lamine Yamal - inside De la Fuente's Spain World Cup fixtures and group standings