Author: Rowan Clarke

England head coach Thomas Tuchel has successfully pressured Fifa into changing its photographer positioning policy during national anthems at World Cup matches. Tuchel revealed after England’s 4-2 opening win over Croatia that a wall of photographers had completely blocked his view of his players during the pre-match ceremony. The German coach said the emotional occasion of his first World Cup game as a manager was significantly dampened by the problem at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. “I have to tell you something. I’m begging Fifa to change the position of the photographers in the national anthem, because I could not see…

England captain Harry Kane has drawn level with Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals, prompting the former striker to make a remarkable declaration about his successor. Kane, 32, netted twice as England opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia in Group L, played in Dallas. Lineker, 65, accumulated his 10 World Cup goals across the 1986 tournament in Mexico and Italia 90, a feat that stood as England’s benchmark for decades. Kane, now appearing at his third World Cup having previously featured in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, matched that…

Celtic have expressed their disappointment after confirmation that their Scottish Premiership title defence will begin on a Monday evening rather than at the weekend. The Scottish champions say they made “repeated representations” to the SPFL and Police Scotland in a bid to secure a weekend fixture for their opener. Both bodies told Celtic there was “no choice” but to schedule the game against Dundee for 3 August at 19:30 BST. Glasgow 2026 cycling events at the Sir Chris Hoy Arena, which sits next to Celtic Park, are scheduled across the weekend of 1 and 2 August. Calvin Harris will also…

Liverpool are set to complete the signing of Spanish winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna after triggering his 40 million euro release clause worth £34.5m. The 22-year-old underwent his medical in the United States on Wednesday, with Liverpool sending staff across the Atlantic to complete the formalities. Munoz is currently part of Spain’s World Cup squad, making the timing of the deal particularly notable given the ongoing tournament in the US. The Spaniard, who made his international debut in March, is expected to sign a six-year contract at Anfield, with the transfer fee paid across two instalments. He will become the…

France top the BBC Sport expert rankings after the first round of World Cup 2026 group stage fixtures, ahead of England and Argentina. A team of BBC Sport journalists watched every single opening game at the tournament to compile the definitive 48-team ranking list. France earned their place at the summit following a rampant second-half performance that saw them beat Senegal 3-1 in Group I. England sit second after a brilliant attacking display against Croatia, scoring four goals in a 4-2 victory, though slight defensive concerns were noted. Argentina are ranked third, with BBC Sport crediting the presence of Lionel…

England kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaign with an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas, but the match was not without its controversy. The jeers that rang around the Dallas Stadium were not aimed at players or referees, but instead directed at the tournament’s hydration breaks. Introduced to help players cope with the summer heat across North America, the breaks see play paused twice per game, once in each half, for three minutes at a time. While coaches have largely welcomed the addition, fans attending matches have been far less enthusiastic, uniting across national allegiances to voice their…

Cristiano Ronaldo failed to follow the lead of football’s other elite stars as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in Houston. The result was a sharp contrast to the previous day’s action, when three of the game’s greatest players delivered stunning individual performances at the 2026 World Cup. Kylian Mbappe scored twice against Senegal to become France’s all-time leading scorer, while Erling Haaland marked his World Cup debut with two goals against Iraq. Lionel Messi then went one better, netting a hat-trick for Argentina against Algeria to draw level with Miroslav Klose as the joint-leading goalscorer…

Fulham vice-chairman and director of football operations Tony Khan has confirmed the club have two candidates they “really like” as they search for a new manager. Marco Silva departed Craven Cottage earlier this month after five years in charge, joining Portuguese giants Benfica to replace Jose Mourinho. Mourinho himself has returned to Real Madrid, where he has been reappointed as head coach following his exit from Benfica. Khan addressed the ongoing manager search in an interview with FFCtv, revealing that several conversations have already taken place with prospective candidates. Speaking openly about the process, Khan said: “There have been a…

Hull City’s fairytale promotion back to the Premier League carries a significant financial sting, with the club facing a potential points deduction over a £6m overspend. The Tigers beat Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final at Wembley, a 1-0 victory that triggered guaranteed riches of around £200m in Premier League revenue. Despite that windfall, Hull must sell players before 1 July to bring their profit and sustainability figures within acceptable limits under English Football League rules. An overspend of around £6m on their PSR calculation could result in a six-point penalty, a serious handicap heading into their first top-flight campaign…

Danny Rohl has left Rangers after just eight months in charge, with the Ibrox club confirming news of his replacement “will follow in due course.” The 37-year-old German departs to take over as head coach at Red Bull Salzburg, returning to the Red Bull stable where his coaching career began. Hearts boss Derek McInnes is now widely expected to be appointed as Rohl’s successor, making Rangers ready to name a third manager in the space of 12 months. Rohl replaced Russell Martin in October and initially transformed the club’s fortunes, steering them into a three-way title fight during the first…