Author: Rowan Clarke

Scotland manager Steve Clarke is preparing to deliver the most significant team talk of his managerial career as game day finally arrives in the United States. After missing out on six consecutive World Cups, what once felt like an impossible dream is now a vivid and thrilling reality for Scotland’s players and supporters alike. More than 10,000 days have passed since Scotland last appeared at a World Cup, a span of time that has seen entire generations of fans grow up never witnessing their nation on football’s grandest stage. Clarke has kept his emotions carefully in check throughout the buildup,…

The United States silenced any doubters about their readiness to host the 2026 World Cup with a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Saturday. Three goals in a breathless first half were followed by a fourth from Gio Reyna in stoppage time, giving the hosts a perfect opening in Group D. The occasion itself was laden with spectacle, featuring a Katy Perry performance and Hollywood star Tom Cruise among the crowd watching thousands of fans draped in stars and stripes. Former USA goalkeeper Tony Meola, who appeared at three World Cups, believes this generation has genuinely arrived on the global…

Crystal Palace are on the verge of completing a deal to bring Lens manager Pierre Sage to Selhurst Park as their new head coach. The south London club are finalising a financial package that will accelerate the 47-year-old Frenchman’s departure from the French club to take charge in the Premier League. Sage becomes the leading candidate to replace Oliver Glasner, who departed Crystal Palace at the end of last season after a spell in charge. The Frenchman joined Lens just 12 months ago and has already delivered remarkable results during his short time in charge at the club. Sage led…

Scotland manager Steve Clarke has guided the national team to their first men’s World Cup since 1998, a moment captured vividly in a viral changing room video. Footage from the Hampden dressing room after the win over Denmark shows players and staff lining the walls, some standing on benches to catch a glimpse of Clarke speaking. Celebratory t-shirts were on and beers were in hand, yet the entire room fell silent the moment their head coach began to address them. Clarke was calm, measured, and visibly emotional as he laid out the significance of what Scotland had just achieved together…

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada and will miss his nation’s opening World Cup fixture against Panama in Toronto. FIFA confirmed the former Arsenal player, now at Spanish club Villarreal, was unable to travel from Ghana’s training base in Boston after his visa application was refused by the Canadian government. Partey, who is 32 years old, faces seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations made by four different women between 2020 and 2022. The midfielder has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is yet to stand trial, meaning he…

Scotland have spent decades searching for a reliable natural finisher, and Lawrence Shankland appears to have finally answered that long-standing call. Steven Naismith, now Steve Clarke’s assistant, recalls a telling moment from a friendly against the Netherlands in Amsterdam back in March 2024. Shankland, then Naismith’s player at Hearts, had scored 28 goals that season including a stunning run of 15 in 15 games, and was given the chance to start against the Dutch. “At one point, the ball breaks to him 20 yards out and rather than taking it out of his feet and finishing, he tries to reverse…

Manchester City have confirmed the signing of England forward Beth Mead on a free transfer, ending months of speculation about the 31-year-old’s future. Mead has put pen to paper on a three-year deal at the newly crowned Women’s Super League champions after her Arsenal contract expired in May. The forward brings a wealth of experience to City, having earned 81 caps for England across a distinguished international career. She was a key member of the Lionesses squad that won back-to-back European Championships in 2022 and 2025, cementing her status as one of the best players in the country. Mead also…

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup represents one of the most emotionally charged stories in international football this summer. At the centre of it all is Edin Dzeko, the 40-year-old striker who celebrated qualification against Italy while nursing his arm in a sling after the penalty shootout victory. It is the kind of image that perfectly encapsulates a man who has spent nearly two decades carrying the weight of an entire country on his shoulders. “His career is connected to the country’s own image – resilience, persistence and proving people wrong,” Bosnian journalist Sasa Ibrulj says of Dzeko. Dzeko…

England midfielder Jude Bellingham has stressed the importance of every squad member feeling valued as the Three Lions prepare for their World Cup opener. England begin their tournament against Croatia in Arlington, Texas next Wednesday, with the World Cup in North America already under way. The tournament got started on Thursday as hosts Mexico beat South Africa 2-0, with the USA and Canada also sharing hosting duties across the competition. Bellingham was part of the England side that reached the final of Euro 2024, where they were beaten by Spain in a disappointing conclusion to the tournament. The squad, managed…

Scotland are keeping a close eye on midfielder Scott McTominay ahead of their opening World Cup fixture on Saturday evening against Haiti. The Napoli star was absent from Thursday’s training session after suffering from an upset stomach in the build-up to the tournament opener. McTominay was part of the travelling party that made the journey from Scotland’s base camp in Charlotte to Boston. However, the 29-year-old did not board the team bus on arrival, instead making his own separate journey accompanied by a doctor as a precautionary measure. Steve Clarke’s side face Haiti on Saturday evening, with kick-off scheduled for…