Author: Rowan Clarke

Just 31 days separated Steve Clarke signing a new four-year deal and his sudden resignation as Scotland head coach. That whirlwind period began with optimism and ended in the early hours of Sunday morning with a bombshell announcement from North Carolina. Scotland’s World Cup campaign had already ended, confirmed when Croatia defeated Ghana 2-1 just before midnight UK time on 27 June. Just 32 minutes after that elimination was confirmed, Clarke formally resigned, bringing a dramatic and unexpected close to his Scotland tenure. Clarke had signed the new four-year deal on 28 May, saying it was important to “plan for…

England secured top spot in Group L with a win over Panama, but the performance raised serious questions about their ability to go deep in this World Cup. Thomas Tuchel insisted before the tournament that his side would grow with the occasion, a claim that will be severely tested in the knockout rounds ahead. England finished the group stage with two wins from three games, setting up a last-32 clash against DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday at 17:00 BST. “It was hard work,” Tuchel told BBC Sport. “We were ready for that. I said we so often get carried…

Scotland’s journey at the 2026 World Cup has come to an end after Croatia’s 2-1 victory over Ghana confirmed their elimination from the tournament. The result in Group L meant Steve Clarke’s side could no longer finish as one of the eight best third-placed teams required to reach the knockout stage. It is yet another group-stage exit for Scotland, a nation that has appeared at nine World Cups and four European Championships without ever advancing beyond the first phase. Scotland had begun their first World Cup in 28 years with a 1-0 victory over Haiti, the lowest-ranked team in Group…

Sunderland have made clear that experienced midfielder Granit Xhaka is not available for transfer after Chelsea entered talks with the player’s representatives over a potential move. The Switzerland international, aged 33, is contracted at the Stadium of Light until 2028 and was instrumental in helping Sunderland qualify for European football last season. Chelsea have made contact with Xhaka’s camp from Stamford Bridge, though sources inside Sunderland have yet to formally acknowledge those discussions. Xhaka is understood to be open to a reunion with former Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, having won the Bundesliga together at the German club in 2024.…

Scotland ended a 28-year World Cup absence under Steve Clarke but their hopes of reaching the knockout stages now rest on an almost impossibly slim set of results. The Scots were drawn into a brutal Group C alongside Brazil and Morocco, ranked fifth and sixth in the Fifa world rankings respectively, making them the only group featuring two top-10 nations. Scotland were widely expected to finish third in the group and did exactly that, with their sole victory coming against Haiti in the opening match. However, four of the 12 third-placed teams will be eliminated, and Scotland currently face an…

Panama arrive at their second World Cup already eliminated, but several players remain capable of causing England real problems on Saturday. Their 2018 campaign ended in three consecutive defeats, including a 6-1 hammering by England, and another loss would equal the longest 100% losing record in World Cup history. Panama’s squad is both the oldest and most-capped at this tournament, meaning pride is the only thing left to play for as they face Gareth Southgate’s successor’s side. Midfielder Adalberto ‘Coco’ Carrasquilla is arguably their most dangerous weapon, having been named Concacaf men’s player of the year in 2024, the first…

Manchester United are anxiously awaiting news on Manuel Ugarte after the midfielder was stretchered off during Uruguay’s 1-0 World Cup defeat by Spain in Guadalajara. The 25-year-old twisted awkwardly while attempting a tackle in the build-up to Spain’s winning goal, leaving those watching fearing the worst for the player’s immediate future. Ugarte was visibly distraught as he departed the pitch, heightening concerns that the injury could prove serious and require a significant period on the sidelines. United have said they will wait for Uruguay’s medical staff to provide a full assessment before determining the most appropriate next steps for the…

In a bar on East Flagler Street in downtown Miami, the World Cup pulsed through every corner of the room on a Friday night. Nations mingled, danced, and soaked up the atmosphere as the tournament’s drama played out across giant screens and smaller televisions dotted around the venue. But five Scots stood apart from the revelry, their eyes fixed on a game that carried the faintest flicker of their nation’s hopes. While the rest of the bar celebrated the occasion, this group of Scottish supporters drank studiously, scanning screens with a grim focus that set them apart from the crowd…

England have booked their place in the last 32 of the World Cup before their final Group Stage clash with Panama on Saturday. Thomas Tuchel’s side sit on four points from two matches, guaranteeing them at least one of the eight available third-place qualification spots. Uruguay’s defeat to Spain on Saturday was the key result that sealed England’s progression to the knockout rounds. The Three Lions opened the tournament with an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia before being held to a goalless draw by Ghana on Tuesday. Four other nations also sit on four points heading into the final round…

Cape Verde have become the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup, a stunning achievement for a country of just 525,000 people. The island nation, representing a group of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean, sealed their place in the last 32 after a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia in Group H. Players gathered on the pitch around a mobile phone to watch the final moments of Spain’s win over Uruguay, a result that confirmed Cape Verde as Group H runners-up. BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Rob Law described the scenes from Houston, saying…