Author: Rowan Clarke

Argentina defended their status as 2022 World Cup champions with a comfortable 2-0 win over Honduras, though star man Lionel Messi was absent from the squad. The 38-year-old has not featured since being substituted with “muscle fatigue” in his left hamstring while playing for Inter Miami on 24 May. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni had said Messi was “doing well” but opted against risking the six-time Ballon d’Or winner in the match played in Texas. Lautaro Martinez converted a penalty and Giuliano Simeone added a second as Scaloni’s side cruised to victory without their talisman. Argentina face Iceland on 9 June…

On 20 August 2003, a narrow 1-0 win over Kazakhstan in the small northern Portuguese town of Chaves launched one of football’s most extraordinary international careers. The match was played in front of just 8,000 fans on a pitch so poor that the grass had to be painted to look presentable before kick-off. Nobody watching that night could have predicted that the teenage debutant would go on to appear at a record sixth World Cup in 2026, alongside Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa. Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, is the all-time leading scorer in international football with 143 goals…

Both England and Scotland picked up encouraging wins on American soil as the two nations continue their preparations for the World Cup. England’s victory was described as more of a training session than a competitive match, raising questions about how much Thomas Tuchel’s side truly learned from the outing. The heat in the United States remains a significant concern, with analysts discussing how long it will take both squads to properly adapt to the demanding conditions. Scotland, however, produced a more commanding performance, scoring four goals in the first half alone to put their opponents to the sword in impressive…

Scotland produced a patient, precise and clinical display to beat Bolivia 4-0 in sweltering conditions at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey. The temperature hit 32.7 degrees on the day, prompting an air quality alert from New Jersey’s department of environmental protection, classified as Code Orange. Bolivia were expected to handle the heat, given they play home fixtures in Tarija at 6,000 feet above sea level and in El Alto at 13,600 feet above sea level. They had beaten Chile last June and Brazil last September in El Alto, suggesting the thin air and extreme conditions hold no fear…

Wales manager Craig Bellamy has admitted his side must perform significantly better after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Romania in Bucharest. Goals from Florinel Coman and Adrian Rus sandwiched a David Brooks strike as Romania ran out winners at Stadionul Steaua. The result handed Gheorghe Hagi his first victory since being appointed as Romania head coach back in April. Wales extended their unwanted record of failing to win an away friendly since 2008, a run that continues to frustrate Bellamy. Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Wales boss did not attempt to disguise his frustration with the performance. “Disappointing,”…

Brighton have agreed a deal worth £21.5m to sign winger Zadok Yohanna from Swedish club AIK Stockholm. The 18-year-old Nigerian winger will join the Seagulls on a five-year contract once the summer transfer window officially opens on Monday, 15 June. Yohanna came through the Ikon Allah Football Academy in Nigeria before making the move to AIK Stockholm. The teenager made his debut for the Swedish club in August 2025 and has made a strong impression in his first season of senior football. Yohanna has contributed five goals and four assists in 18 appearances for AIK Stockholm, a return that has…

Ireland came away from Canada with a hard-fought 1-1 draw in an international friendly played at Saputo Stadium in Montreal. Chiedozie Ogbene was the hero for the Republic of Ireland, netting a second-half equaliser to cancel out Canada’s opener and secure a share of the spoils. The World Cup co-hosts had taken the lead through a Jake O’Brien own goal, with Stephen Eustaquio’s corner flicked on before the ball deflected off the Irish defender and into the net. Jesse Marsch’s Canada side looked comfortable heading into half-time, with O’Brien also making a vital block on Liam Millar to protect their…

West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has stepped down from his position as joint chairman and director with immediate effect following the emergence of serious allegations. The club confirmed it had “been made aware of the impending publication of serious historic allegations” linked to Sullivan, prompting his swift departure from the board. Sullivan has denied any “illegal conduct” and is leaving the club “in order to avoid disruption to the club while he addresses the matter privately.” West Ham were keen to stress that none of the allegations have any connection to the football club itself or its operations. Sullivan…

Scotland’s third-choice goalkeeper Liam Kelly has been identified by team-mates as the squad’s go-to “hype man” ahead of the World Cup in the United States. The 30-year-old holds three international caps and made just three appearances for Rangers in the past season, yet his influence within the national squad is described as genuinely significant. Kelly himself plays down his contributions with characteristic self-deprecation, joking that the role comes naturally when you are not playing much football. “Aye, that happens naturally when you don’t play a lot of games,” he said. “You need to bring something to the party.” His message…

England’s hopes at the 2026 World Cup rest almost entirely on the shoulders of one man, and that man is Harry Kane. The 32-year-old striker enters the tournament on the back of the finest season of his already remarkable career, having scored 64 goals in 56 games for Bayern Munich. Kane’s importance to Thomas Tuchel’s side was laid bare during March friendlies at Wembley, when England drew with Uruguay and lost to Japan in his absence. Former England striker Chris Sutton summed up that dependency bluntly, telling BBC Sport: “Harry Kane is so important that if he announced his international…