Author: James Brooks

Before every Spain game at this World Cup, one name has dominated the back of shirts worn by fans attending matches — Lamine Yamal. But it is Real Sociedad striker Mikel Oyarzabal who has arguably shone the brightest for the reigning European champions so far in the tournament. The 29-year-old scored twice as Spain beat Austria 3-0 in the last 32 at Los Angeles Stadium to secure their first knockout win in 16 years. That double extended his stunning run to 17 goals in his last 16 international starts, with four goals now scored at this World Cup alone. Spanish…

One year ago, Diogo Jota lost his life in a car accident in Spain, just 11 days after marrying his long-term partner Rute Cardoso. His brother Andre Silva was also killed in the tragedy on 3 July 2025, leaving Portugal and the football world in profound grief. Now, as Portugal prepare to face Croatia in Toronto on Thursday evening, the occasion carries an enormous emotional weight for everyone involved. Ruben Neves, who shared years of football with Jota at Porto, Wolves and with the national team, has spoken movingly about how he still maintains a connection with his late friend.…

Tottenham Hotspur are set to break their club-record transfer fee for the second time in a matter of days, pushing their summer spending to £237m. Their previous highest outlay across a single season was £235.8m in 2023-24, meaning this window already represents a landmark moment in the club’s history. Spurs completed a £52m move for Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton before signing Mateus Fernandes from relegated West Ham for a club-record £85m on Thursday. They have also agreed a deal with Newcastle for Sandro Tonali worth up to £100m, a signing that underlines their renewed ambition to compete at…

Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United for a club-record fee of £85m. The 21-year-old becomes the most expensive player in Spurs history, with the guaranteed fee containing no add-ons to the agreed price. Fernandes spent the past two seasons in the Premier League with Southampton and West Ham, though both clubs were relegated to the Championship during his time there. Despite the turbulence at club level, the Portuguese midfielder caught the eye of several top-flight sides, including Manchester United, who ultimately refused to match Spurs’ offer. Tottenham also saw off that competition…

England avoided one of their most embarrassing World Cup exits in recent memory, but the manner of their survival has raised serious concerns heading into the last 16. Harry Kane’s late brace rescued England against DR Congo, sparing Thomas Tuchel what could have been a career-ending defeat in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. A loss of that nature would have ranked alongside the infamous Euro 2016 last-16 exit to Iceland and the 1950 World Cup defeat to the United States as a national disgrace. Instead, England travel to Mexico City to face the co-hosts at the iconic…

Having beaten DR Congo 2-1 to reach the last 16, England now face one of the most physically brutal environments in world football when they take on Mexico. The Three Lions will play at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which sits 7,220 feet above sea level. It will be England’s first appearance at the ground since their controversial quarter-final defeat by Argentina at the 1986 World Cup. At that altitude, barometric pressure is lower, thinning the air and reducing the oxygen taken into the bloodstream with each breath a player takes. The effects on professional footballers can be…

Tottenham are set to pursue West Ham’s Dutch attacker Crysencio Summerville, 24, after already securing the signing of Portugal midfielder Mateus Fernandes from the relegated Hammers. Summerville impressed throughout his time at West Ham and represents another opportunity for Spurs to capitalise on the club’s relegation from the Premier League. Juventus are turning their attention to Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey as they search for reinforcements in attack this summer window. The 24-year-old Netherlands forward is being considered as an alternative to Randal Kolo Muani, the 27-year-old Frenchman currently at Paris St-Germain who remains Juventus’s primary target. Everton face a midfield…

This Birmingham City vs Leeds United timeline details more than two decades of meetings between the two clubs across multiple divisions The Birmingham City vs Leeds United timeline spans 29 competitive meetings between the clubs since 2002. Birmingham City hold a slight edge with 15 wins from those matches. Leeds United have won 11 times, and the sides have drawn on three occasions. Across the fixture, Birmingham have scored 41 goals while Leeds have scored 38. The two clubs met most recently in the FA Cup in February 2026, when the match finished level at 1-1 at St Andrew’s. That…

This Burnley vs Brentford F.C. timeline breaks down every meeting between the clubs, including their most recent Premier League clash The Burnley vs Brentford F.C. timeline covers seven competitive meetings between the two clubs since 2015. Burnley hold a narrow edge with four wins from those seven matches. Brentford have won three times, and the sides have never drawn in their head-to-head history. Burnley have scored 10 goals across the fixture, while Brentford have scored 11. The most recent meeting came in February 2026, when Brentford won 4-3 at Turf Moor in a high scoring Premier League contest. That result…

England’s World Cup last-32 clash with DR Congo was interrupted by two hydration breaks, and both were met with audible jeers from supporters inside the stadium. The boos reflected a wider negativity among fans towards the breaks, though some of that displeasure was also directed at England’s poor early performance on the night. Thomas Tuchel’s side fell behind in just the seventh minute and were struggling badly before the first break offered the German head coach a chance to reset. England had zero shots and zero touches inside the box before that opening interruption, a damning reflection of how little…