Former Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger has been accused of racism by Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae, following the former’s comments on African football. Schweinsteiger appeared as a pundit analysing Germany’s World Cup clash with Ivory Coast, and called African football ‘unorthodox’.

Die Mannschaft crashed to a 2-1 defeat against Ecuador on Thursday, but were already through as group winners courtesy of wins over Ivory Coast and Curacao. Fae had not been made aware of Schweinsteiger’s comments following their clash with Germany, but it was brought up to him following their own win over Curacao.

Emerse Fae responds to Schweinsteiger: “We could call it racist”

Fae accused Schweinsteiger of perhaps seeking attention with his comments, and felt that they could be classed as racist.

“It is regrettable. We could call it racist. When I heard his comment, I was disappointed. I have no choice but to accept it,” he was quoted by Cadena Cope.

“I don’t agree with him. All I can do is show that we play not only physically but also tactically and technically. Schweinsteiger is a global star who may have faded from the spotlight and perhaps needs a bit of attention.”

What did Schweinsteiger say about African football?

In the build-up to Germany’s clash with Ivory Coast, Schweinsteiger appeared as a pitchside analyst, and was asked about their opponents’ style of play on Magenta.

He described it as “a bit African, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, and perhaps also a bit less constrained by tactics. We have to be prepared for it to be unpredictable,” he continued.

Certainly Schweinsteiger’s comments paint African football as less sophisticated, and less organised. The similarities with some of the descriptions of African people by former colonising powers clang uncomfortably in this day and age, and Fae’s response is entirely justified.

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Ousmane Dembele stole the show for France as he hit a hat-trick in tonight’s 4-1 World Cup 2026 win over Norway.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward hit all three of his goals in the opening half an hour, and Desire Doue added his side’s fourth in this one-sided victory.

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France were superb for much of the game, and Dembele in particular, with Les Bleus continuing to look like the major favourites for this World Cup, while Dembele may well be heading for a second Ballon d’Or in a row.

Here’s a look at our France player ratings from tonight’s big win over Norway…

France player ratings

Mike Maignan – 9/10 – Bailed out his defence on a few occasions, including with a fine penalty save in the second half.

Jules Kounde – 6/10 – Not the most convincing game from Jules Kounde or indeed most of the France defence as this heavily rotated Norway side had their moments throughout the game.

Maxence Lacroix – 6/10 – Linked as a top transfer target for Chelsea by L’Equipe and others, Maxence Lacroix had a solid but unspectacular game for France on Friday night.

Dayot Upamecano – 7/10 – One of the stronger French defenders on the night, it was a typically strong and assured display from Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano.

Theo Hernandez – 6/10 – Normally more of an attacking threat from left-back, we saw a slightly subdued performance from Theo Hernandez this evening.

Aurelien Tchouameni – 8/10 – Bossed the midfield, showing why Rio Ferdinand has urged his old club Manchester United to sign him from Real Madrid this summer.

Manu Kone – 7/10 – Not a guaranteed starter for France, but Manu Kone did himself no harm with an impressive performance tonight, albeit against an under-strength Norway side.

More Stories / Latest News

Hector Bellerin – ‘Non-straight players leave football because it isn’t a safe space’

Jun 26 2026, 22:58

Ivory Coast manager accuses Bastian Schweinsteiger of racism for comments on African football

Jun 26 2026, 22:38

France player ratings: Ousmane Dembele hits hat-trick in World Cup win vs Norway

Jun 26 2026, 22:16

Desire Doue – 8/10 – One of many exciting talents in this Les Bleus attack, Desire Doue was a threat throughout the game and added his team’s fourth with a well-taken header.

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? What a goal by Ousmane Dembele as he sealed his hat-trick for France against Norway!! ?? pic.twitter.com/u4BcJeZ8Bf

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) June 26, 2026

Ousmane Dembele – 10/10 – What a performance. What a player. Ousmane Dembele hit a hat-trick inside 32 minutes, and all three goals were of exceptional quality. If he carries on like this he’ll surely be leading France to the trophy.

Michael Olise – 6/10 – An uncharacteristically quiet game from Michael Olise, but admittedly not the most important one either.

Kylian Mbappe – 9/10 – No goals for Kylian Mbappe on this occasion, but two assists and a superb performance leading the line for France.

The post France player ratings: Ousmane Dembele hits hat-trick in World Cup win vs Norway appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal legend and former Genoa coach Patrick Vieira declared that Roma’s Manu Koné is ‘for me today the best midfielder in France.’

Les Bleus complete the group stage of the World Cup this evening against Norway at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).

He has 16 senior caps for France, but was left on the bench for the opening World Cup game against Senegal, then started the next two with Iraq and Norway.

Vieira has highest praise for Koné

“He had a really good season in Serie A with Roma. He came to the World Cup after a couple of injuries,” said Vieira on ITV Football in his role as a World Cup pundit.

“He is for me today the best midfielder in France. I’d put him ahead of Tchaouameni and Rabiot, because he has this mobility, he is aggressive, he is a ball-winner, and he has the technical ability to be part of the build-up, has the facility with the ball to break lines and move forward.”

When it was put to Vieira that some might call Koné a ‘water carrier,’ the former Arsenal star insisted there was far more to the Roma man’s game.

“I don’t really like that word, water carrier. He will win the ball, but he has something more than the others, as he can play forward. Sometimes Tchouameni can give you a little bit of frustration, too many passes sideways or backwards, but he’s got more passes going forward.”

“He is, today, the best midfielder in France”

Patrick Vieira lauds praise on Manu Koné before labelling Roy Keane a ‘water carrier’ pic.twitter.com/kb2IZcqvnD

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 26, 2026

The statistics back that up, because this season Koné contributed two goals and three assists for Roma in 29 Serie A appearances, helping them to secure third place.

The price-tag for Koné has soared in recent months and is now comfortably over €50m, especially if he continues to put in these splendid performances for France on the biggest stage of all at the World Cup.

While Inter had tried several times over the last year to sign Koné, it would now seem as if they have been priced out and Arsenal are the favourites for his signature.

Roma need to sell someone by June 30 to balance the books, and he would be one of the candidates for the exit at a huge profit, considering he cost €18m from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2024.

England will reportedly be without Reece James for at least two World Cup games due to the Chelsea right-back’s problems with a hamstring injury.

James is known for being quite injury-prone, and yet Thomas Tuchel still decided to leave Real Madrid star and former Liverpool hero Trent Alexander-Arnold out of his squad for this summer’s World Cup.

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According to the Guardian, England are now in real trouble as James is expected to miss at least two games, meaning he’ll be out of the final group stage clash against Panama and the first knockout tie.

James is a huge loss for England, having generally shone for the national team whenever he’s been called upon, and Tuchel used him for 90 minutes in each of the team’s first two games at this World Cup.

England will struggle to replace Reece James

It looked a real gamble not to call up Alexander-Arnold this summer, and it’s already backfired badly for Three Lions boss Tuchel.

England now face having to use Djed Spence, Jarrell Quansah, or Ezri Konsa at right-back for their upcoming games, and all three are a significant downgrade on James.

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More Stories / Latest News

Hector Bellerin – ‘Non-straight players leave football because it isn’t a safe space’

Jun 26 2026, 22:58

Ivory Coast manager accuses Bastian Schweinsteiger of racism for comments on African football

Jun 26 2026, 22:38

France player ratings: Ousmane Dembele hits hat-trick in World Cup win vs Norway

Jun 26 2026, 22:16

It will be interesting to see who Tuchel goes for, but it’s not going to be pretty if England have to take on big teams like France, Brazil, or Spain without a key player like James available.

Chelsea fans will also be nervous following this and will be hoping this doesn’t turn into another lengthy spell on the side-lines for James, who has missed so much playing time at Stamford Bridge in recent years with recurring fitness problems.

The post Report confirms how many World Cup games important England star will miss through injury appeared first on CaughtOffside.

In few countries does the spotlight shine quite as brightly on the national team as it does in Brazil, and while Davide Ancelotti will be more than conscious of how to handle the bright lights, it appears he has fallen foul of the Brazilian public. Images of his supposed reaction to Neymar Junior coming on during Brazil’s 3-0 win over Scotland have gone viral in Brazil.

Davide Ancelotti initially became Botafogo manager after he and his father left Real Madrid last summer, but a short stint ended after just six months. He would then return to his father’s staff for the World Cup, as part of the Canarinha.

Davide Ancelotti reaction to Neymar goes viral

The presence of Neymar at the World Cup has been a highly controversial topic in Brazil, with the Santos forward making an unlikely return to the squad for the first time under Carlo Ancelotti for the tournament. It cost Chelsea’s Joao Pedro his spot in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Neymar has been suffering from injuries so far though, and only during the 76th minute of their final group game against Scotland did he make his first appearance.

Filho do Ancelloti parecia não ter gostado da entrada do Neymar? pic.twitter.com/fXz201YVuf

— Pavão Misterious (@misteriouspavao) June 25, 2026

While he was receiving instructions before he came on, Davide Ancelotti was seen looking glum and shaking his head in Neymar’s direction.

Davide Ancelotti’s wife responds to abuse

Following the images, Davide Ancelotti’s family has come in for mass abuse online. Ana Galocha, Ancelotti’s wife, took to social media respond to it.

“You know that you are completely misinterpreting an image, in a way that bears no relation to reality, and that, because of this, I have been receiving countless insults since this morning? We are the first ones who want Brazil to win.”

Following the tournament, Carlo Ancelotti is due to continue with Brazil until the 2030 tournament, but Davide will take on his second job in senior management with Lille in France.

The post Davide Ancelotti’s wife hits back at abuse from Brazilians after Neymar images appeared first on CaughtOffside.

France forward Ousmane Dembele is on fire against Norway this evening, with the Paris Saint-Germain star scoring two superb solo goals as part of a first-half hat-trick.

Dembele, who won the Champions League with PSG for a second season in a row, must be on course for a second Ballon d’Or in a row as well, with this World Cup only likely to boost his credentials.

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The 29-year-old scored 20 goals in 40 games in all competitions for PSG in 2025/26, and he’s now proving a star player for the French national team, who will be arguably the favourites to go all the way in this year’s World Cup.

If Dembele keeps scoring goals like this, it’s certainly hard to see who can stop Les Bleus from being crowned world champions, or indeed who can prevent Dembele being named the best player in the world again…

Ousmane Dembele’s superb brace for France against Norway

First Dembele zig-zagged his way through the Norway defence before a clinical finish with his right foot to make it 1-0 in the 6th minute…

France are off the mark after just 6 minutes ??

Check out this strike from Ousmane Dembélé… pic.twitter.com/qmkgAinx3E

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 26, 2026

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Then Dembele reminded us all just how two-footed he is with a sublime long-range strike with his left…

Ousmane Dembélé doubles France's lead with this spectacular hit ??? pic.twitter.com/ZeTeaO4whG

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 26, 2026

Finally, he did the business again for a hat-trick inside just 32 minutes…

Just like that, Ousmane Dembélé completes the hat-trick ? pic.twitter.com/wEfHyagtOm

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 26, 2026

Norway managed to pull one back to make the game interesting again, but it’s also worth noting that they’ve rested a lot of their best players, including Erling Haaland, for tonight’s game.

That will undoubtedly make things easier for Dembele and the rest of the France team, who are pretty much at full strength.

More Stories / Latest News

Hector Bellerin – ‘Non-straight players leave football because it isn’t a safe space’

Jun 26 2026, 22:58

Ivory Coast manager accuses Bastian Schweinsteiger of racism for comments on African football

Jun 26 2026, 22:38

France player ratings: Ousmane Dembele hits hat-trick in World Cup win vs Norway

Jun 26 2026, 22:16

Still, take nothing away from the quality of Dembele, with the former Barcelona man continuing to show just how much of a game-changer he is on the biggest stage.

Even if Ligue 1 isn’t particularly competitive for PSG, Dembele scored eight goals in 13 games for his club in the Champions League this season, including in the final victory over Arsenal.

The post Video: Ousmane Dembele shows Ballon d’Or credentials with stunning World Cup hat-trick appeared first on CaughtOffside.

France start Serie A players Mike Maignan and Manu Koné, but Norway surprisingly rotate their squad for this clash at the top of their World Cup group, while Senegal face Iraq.

They both kick off at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST) and conclude Group I.

Going into the final game, both France and Norway have six points and have practically booked their place in the next phase, so this is a head-to-head for top spot.

Senegal are confident they can qualify as one of the best third-placed teams if they manage to get three points against Iraq.

Norway have surprisingly opted to rotate their starting XI, leaving the likes of Erling Haaland on the bench to begin with.

Genoa defender Leo Ostigard and Sassuolo’s Kristjan Thorstvedt get their chance.

Roma midfielder Kone gets his second consecutive start for France, along with Milan goalkeeper Maignan, but Adrien Rabiot is rested.

Les Bleus asked to wear black armbands, as coach Didier Deschamps has returned to France following the sad death of his mother, but it’s reported that FIFA refused the request.

In the other match, Senegal include Como winger Assane Diao.

Norway vs. France

Norway: Selvik; Aursnes, Falchener, Ostigard, Bjorkan; Berg, Thorstvedt, Aagaard; Bobb, Strand Larsen, Schjelderup

France: Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Lacroix, Theo Hernandez; Tchouaméni, Koné; Dembélé, Olise, Doué; Mbappé

26-06-2026 20:00

Matchday 3

Gillette Stadium

Norway

France

Live

1 - 3

Norway

France

Starting lineups

13

Egil Selvik

Goalkeeper

15

Fredrik Björkan

Defender

25

Henrik Falchener

Defender

4

Leo Östigard

Defender

21

Andreas Schjelderup

Midfielder

14

Fredrik Aursnes

Midfielder

18

Kristian Thorstvedt

Midfielder

6

Patrick Berg

Midfielder

19

Thelo Aasgaard

Midfielder

11

Jörgen Strand Larsen

Attacker

22

Oscar Bobb

Attacker

16

Mike Maignan

Goalkeeper

4

Dayot Upamecano

Defender

5

Jules Koundé

Defender

26

Maxence Lacroix

Defender

19

Theo Hernández

Defender

8

Aurélien Tchouaméni

Midfielder

20

Désiré Doué

Midfielder

6

Manu Koné

Midfielder

11

Michael Olise

Midfielder

10

Kylian Mbappé

Attacker

7

Ousmane Dembélé

Attacker

Substitutes

2

Morten Thorsby

Midfielder

9

Erling Haaland

Attacker

8

Sander Berge

Midfielder

7

Alexander Sörloth

Attacker

23

Jens Petter Hauge

Attacker

10

Martin Ødegaard

Midfielder

3

Kristoffer Ajer

Defender

16

Marcus Pedersen

Defender

1

Ørjan Nyland

Goalkeeper

26

Julian Ryerson

Defender

20

Antonio Nusa

Attacker

5

David Möller Wolfe

Defender

24

Sondre Langås

Defender

17

Torbjørn Heggem

Defender

12

Sander Tangvik

Goalkeeper

14

Adrien Rabiot

Midfielder

13

N’Golo Kanté

Midfielder

15

Ibrahima Konaté

Defender

21

Lucas Hernández

Defender

24

Rayan Cherki

Attacker

17

William Saliba

Defender

2

Malo Gusto

Defender

12

Bradley Barcola

Attacker

25

Maghnes Akliouche

Midfielder

3

Lucas Digne

Defender

9

Marcus Thuram

Attacker

18

Warren Zaïre-Emery

Midfielder

1

Brice Samba

Goalkeeper

22

Jean-Philippe Mateta

Attacker

23

Robin Risser

Goalkeeper

Senegal vs. Iraq

Senegal: Diaw; Diatta, Seck, Niakhaté, Jakobs; I Gueye, L Camara, Diarra; I Mbaye, I Sarr, S Mané

Iraq: Basil; Sulaka, Putros, Hashem, Doski; Al Ammari; Qasem, Jasim, Iqbal, Bayesh; Alhamadi

26-06-2026 20:00

Matchday 3

BMO Field

Senegal

Iraq

Live

1 - 0

Player statistic

1st half

Habib Diarra (Assist: Abdoulaye Seck)		4'
		13'		Rebin Sulaka
Abdoulaye Seck		18'

Senegal

Iraq

Starting lineups

23

Mory Diaw

Goalkeeper

4

Abdoulaye Seck

Defender

14

Ismail Jakobs

Defender

19

Moussa Niakhaté

Defender

21

Habib Diarra

Midfielder

5

Idrissa Gueye

Midfielder

15

Krépin Diatta

Midfielder

8

Lamine Camara

Midfielder

20

Ibrahim Mbaye

Attacker

18

Ismaïla Sarr

Attacker

10

Sadio Mané

Attacker

22

Ahmed Basil Fadhil

Goalkeeper

5

Akam Hashem

Defender

6

Frans Dhia Putros

Defender

23

Merchas Doski

Defender

2

Rebin Sulaka

Defender

16

Amir Al-Ammari

Midfielder

14

Zidane Iqbal

Midfielder

11

Ahmed Qasem

Attacker

16'

9

Ali Al-Hamadi

Attacker

17

Ali Jasim

Attacker

8

Ibrahim Bayesh

Attacker

Substitutes

3

Kalidou Koulibaly

Defender

26

Pape Gueye

Midfielder

9

Bamba Dieng

Attacker

17

Pape Matar Sarr

Midfielder

6

Pathé Ciss

Midfielder

11

Nicolas Jackson

Attacker

13

Iliman Ndiaye

Attacker

24

Antoine Mendy

Defender

12

Cherif Ndiaye

Attacker

7

Assane Diao

Attacker

25

El Hadji Malick Diouf

Defender

1

Yehvann Diouf

Goalkeeper

2

Mamadou Sarr

Defender

22

Bara Sapoko Ndiaye

Midfielder

20

Aimar Sher

Midfielder

10

Mohanad Ali

Attacker

18

Aymen Hussein

Attacker

7

Youssef Amyn

Attacker

3

Hussein Ali

Defender

1

Fahad Talib

Goalkeeper

12

Jalal Hassan

Goalkeeper

21

Mustafa Saadoon

Defender

4

Zaid Tahseen

Defender

21

Marko Farji

Attacker

13

Ali Yousif

Attacker

19

Kevin Yakob

Midfielder

15

Zaid Ismail

Midfielder

15

Ahmed Maknzi

Defender

6

Manaf Younis

Defender

16'

There are some astonishing figures suggested for the Goncalo Ramos move to Milan from PSG, ranging from €65m to €75m, depending on the add-ons and bonuses.

In the early stages of the reporting this evening, it was simply noted that it would be in excess of €50m, which in itself makes it a club record transfer, beating the €49.4m paid for Rafael Leao.

How much are Milan paying for Goncalo Ramos?

The eventual cost is being mentioned at as much as €70m by Sky Sport Italia, Fabrizio Romano and Sportitalia.

Sky Sport Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio claims the total is €65m fixed fee, plus a further €5m in add-ons.

Ben Jacobs even goes so far as to suggest €75m plus €5m in bonuses.

Calciomercato had it closer to €55m plus €10m bonus, suggesting some of the add-ons are rather difficult to achieve, for example Champions League or Ballon d’Or victories.

It would be an extraordinary show of strength from RedBird chief Gerry Cardinale, who decided to completely revamp his club in the wake of their fifth-place finish in Serie A.

More details should emerge, as the situation is moving rapidly, but the clubs have shaken hands and are working on the final paperwork.

Goncalo Ramos already had his medical tests with the Portugal training camp in Florida, where he is participating in the World Cup.

Ben Jacobs has some Liverpool transfer news that will excite fans as he thinks they could step up their interest in Ayyoub Bouaddi after the World Cup 2026.

Speaking to The Redmen, Jacobs explained that top clubs have long been aware of Bouaddi as a “serious talent”, and he’s now showing how good he is at this summer’s World Cup with the Moroccan national team.

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Still, Liverpool are not alone in their pursuit of Bouaddi, with the likes of Arsenal and Real Madrid also mentioned by the journalist.

See below for details, though, as Jacobs made it clear that Liverpool are one of the teams in for the 18-year-old, in a deal that could advance after he’s done with the World Cup…

"This one could develop." ?@dan_clubbe asks @JacobsBen about the #LFC interest in Morocco star Ayyoub Bouaddi ??

Liverpool Transfer Update | Expert Insight

Available now on the Redmen Plus App ?? pic.twitter.com/sxCsCXsrxD

— The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) June 26, 2026

“There’s two clubs that are in to him from the Premier League, along with, for example, Real Madrid, who have looked, and PSG, and that’s Liverpool and Arsenal,” Jacobs said.

“This one could develop. Liverpool like the profile, he’s going to be one of the hottest properties in world football. It wouldn’t at all surprise me if Liverpool advanced this after the World Cup.”

He added: “The asking price at the moment is roughly €75-80m.”

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Where should Ayyoub Bouaddi move this summer?

It seems inevitable that Bouaddi is going to be on the move sooner or later, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up.

If it comes down to Liverpool or Arsenal, he’d surely do better to choose the latter right now after their Premier League title success in the season just gone.

More Stories / Latest News

Report confirms how many World Cup games important England star will miss through injury

Jun 26 2026, 21:19

Davide Ancelotti’s wife hits back at abuse from Brazilians after Neymar images

Jun 26 2026, 21:06

Video: Ousmane Dembele shows Ballon d’Or credentials with stunning World Cup hat-trick

Jun 26 2026, 20:37

Still, Arsenal also have a lot of competition for places in that area of the pitch, so Bouaddi might do better to choose Liverpool if he wants to play more regularly straight away.

The Reds look like they need to make some changes after a difficult season, with Bouaddi perhaps an upgrade on Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones.

The post Ben Jacobs tips Liverpool to “advance” for €75-80m “serious talent” after the World Cup appeared first on CaughtOffside.

More details are emerging on Milan’s over €50m done deal for Goncalo Ramos, as the Paris Saint-Germain striker held secret medical tests over two weeks ago.

It was reported by A Bola today that the first formal offer had been received by PSG, and within hours The Athletic followed by Calciomercato and many others noted the clubs had agreed a transfer.

The precise figures aren’t clear yet, but they are believed to reach €53-55m including various bonuses.

Goncalo Ramos move in the works for weeks

Sky Sport Italia note that not only did Goncalo Ramos already undergo his medical tests in Florida, where Portugal are training for the World Cup, but that it was done 15 days ago.

That was a precaution requested by Milan before going further down the path of the negotiations, so they wouldn’t get any unfortunate surprises.

Paris Saint-Germain paid €65m to buy him from Benfica in 2024 following an initial loan period, and he contributed to their second consecutive Champions League success with 12 goals and two assists in 45 competitive games this season.

However, the 25-year-old was eager for more regular playing time, as he was only in the starting XI for 15 of those matches, none of them in the Champions League.

Goncalo Ramos already agreed personal terms with Milan and is eager to work with new coach Ruben Amorim.

The Athletic claim that Milan have agreed a club record fee with Paris Saint-Germain for Goncalo Ramos at €55m including add-ons, and that he underwent his medical on World Cup duty with Portugal.

There had already been reports in A Bola and L’Equipe today that the first offer had been made by the Rossoneri for the striker, who was specifically requested by new coach Ruben Amorim.

They noted that it was around €40m and still below the asking price of €50m plus add-ons.

Goncalo Ramos to Milan imminently

According to Athletic reporter James Horncastle this evening, the clubs quickly managed to thrash out an agreement with the aid of agent Jorge Mendes.

The exact costs are unclear, but Calciomercato’s Milan transfer expert Daniele Longo puts it at €55m including the various bonuses and add-ons.

It is also reported that he underwent his medical tests while with the Portugal squad at the 2026 World Cup in Florida.

Atletico Madrid and others were also interested, but RedBird chief Gerry Cardinale used his rapport with Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi to get there first.

Goncalo Ramos turned 25 last week and PSG paid €65m to buy him from Benfica in 2024.

He scored 12 goals with two assists in 45 games for the Champions League winners this season, but was eager for more regular playing time.

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has hinted that he will play his strongest side available against Uruguay in their final group game, despite knowing that a point will be enough to qualify them as group winners. Their opponents know they must all but certainly win in order to make it through themselves.

La Roja come off a confidence boosting win over Saudi Arabia, with three goals in the opening quarter of the match. De la Fuente restored Pedro Porro, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena to the line-up in favour of Marcos Llorente, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres and Gavi. Less changes are expected this time round.

“The performance the other day doesn’t call for changes, but I am very happy with how the players who stepped in performed and with what I see in training. Whoever takes the field will do a good job. We’ll go over a few final details this afternoon, but I already know who is going to play,” he told Marca.

Baena and Valverde battle

If no changes are made, it will see Fede Valverde and Baena face each other on the same flank. The pair have an ongoing feud, with Valverde having punched Baena after a game two years ago.

“Baena and Fede are great professionals, but on the pitch, everyone defends their own,” responded de la Fuente on the prospect of the two facing off.

“Tomorrow will be a very demanding match for everyone. As for the physicality, football is what it is – it’s football. Everyone will stand their ground. It will be a high-intensity match.”

De la Fuente on Marcelo Bielsa

Not all is well within the Uruguay camp either, with Valverde one of the players who has reportedly confronted Bielsa on his approach. De la Fuente only had praise for his opposite number though.

“I have to tell you that I am a huge admirer of Bielsa. I have closely followed his career, and I spent five or six months watching his training sessions at Athletic. It is an honour to be able to play against him.”

“Marcelo has evolved, like everyone else. He got Athletic playing wonderfully well. He employed man-to-man marking all over the pitch… His tactical approach is based on knowing the players he coaches inside out; that is his greatest strength.”

Spain currently sit top of Group H on four points, trailed by Uruguay and Cape Verde on two points. Saudi Arabia sit last on a single point going into the final round of games.

The post Spain manager not expecting changes, gives take on Alex Baena-Fede Valverde battle appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Uruguay know they almost certainly need to win in order to make it through to the knockout stages of the World Cup against Spain, but they will have to do so in adversity. There has been talk of discontent in the Uruguay camp for some time with manager Marcelo Bielsa, and it has come to a head before their final group game.

Last year the iconic coach admitted in a press conference that he was ‘toxic’, following reports that he had fallen out with much of the dressing room in the Uruguay setup. Since, it has been confirmed that he will leave the celeste following the 2026 World Cup, but their opening two games have suggested not all is well in the camp.

Uruguay players revolt before Spain clash

According to reports in Uruguay, including from ESPN correspondent Jose Ramon Fernandez and radio station El Espectador (via Marca), various players have confronted Bielsa about his methods ahead of the Spain game. Two days before their decisive final group game in Guadalajara, Fede Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, Sergio Rochet and Manuel Ugarte all spoke to Bielsa about his plans.

TENSIÓN EN URUGUAY A HORAS DE ENFRENTAR A ESPAÑA.

Fede Valverde, Ugarte, Bentancur y Rochet habrían encarado a Bielsa por los entrenamientos y el planteamiento ante España. El DT respondió con una charla de 48 minutos en la que les recriminó que habían intentado sacarlo del… pic.twitter.com/FWiG195yic

— José Ramón Fernández (@joserra_espn) June 26, 2026

They told the manager that his methods were not to their liking, that the physical demands placed on the squad and that his approach with the players had to change. They blame his excessive demands on the injury crisis in the Uruguay camp, and did not agree with his approach against Spain. Bielsa has not backed down though, and has demanded that his side attack Spain.

Bielsa’s curious Uruguay spell

Things started off well for Bielsa with Uruguay, leading them to the top of the table in the first half of South American qualifying for the World Cup. That included impressive victories over Brazil and Argentina in Buenos Aires. Relationships appeared to break down after that though, and slipping to fourth, having won just two of their final seven games.

The post Marcelo Bielsa facing revolt in Uruguay camp ahead of crucial Spain game appeared first on CaughtOffside.

With reports of Arsenal interest, Roma midfielder Manu Koné is increasing his transfer value with France at the World Cup, breaking into the starting XI.

The 25-year-old had already been the subject of a strong push on the market from Inter, both last summer and again in January, but the Giallorossi held firm.

Now his value is set to sky-rocket above the current €50m, because reports in France note that he has really impressed for Les Bleus at the 2026 World Cup.

Koné raising profile at World Cup

It’s rumoured he is set to get his second consecutive start in midfield for this evening’s group game against Norway, which is a head-to-head for top spot.

This is a sign of the confidence that coach Didier Deschamps and his staff have for Koné, who has pushed his way past Aurelien Tchaouameni to start.

It is hardly new, as he started four of the six qualifying matches for the tournament too, and has impressed with his work-rate, positioning and ability to handle pressure.

Roma are hoping to keep hold of Koné after qualifying for the Champions League, but are also well aware of the strong interest from Arsenal, which would certainly tempt the player.

They paid €18m to sign him from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2024, so a sale for over €50m would bring a significant profit.

Are we back in 2013? Because five goals in two games is pretty ludicrous from a 39-year-old Lionel Messi, who leads the World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race.

The Argentine maestro hit a hat-trick in that win over Algeria in the first group game, before then hitting a brace in the second match as his country beat Austria.

Yes, that means Messi has scored all five of Argentina’s goals so far.

So, what next? The Inter Miami forward will no doubt be eyeing the World Cup trophy again after winning it back in 2022, but he could also bag himself the Golden Boot after putting himself in a strong position early on.

WC Picks at Stake will no doubt have some tempting odds for the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland now, and even if Messi’s fast start puts him ahead of them, there’s a long way to go yet.

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Who else is a main contender for the Golden Boot at this World Cup?

Here’s a look at the World Cup’s top scorers so far, and what it could mean for this summer’s race for the prestigious top scorer prize…

Cristiano Ronaldo only has two goals so far as he finally found the back of the net twice in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, but now that he’s got going you perhaps can’t rule him out either.

Still, the main man to watch in terms of competing with Messi will surely be France star Mbappe.

Even if Haaland is currently level with Mbappe on four goals, he’s surely less likely to progress as far in this tournament.

Perhaps the Manchester City striker’s fine form can inspire Norway on a surprise run, but France will likely be one of the big favourites to at least reach the final, so more games means more opportunities for Mbappe to add to his tally.

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Similarly, even if Canada’s Jonathan David has started well and has a fine scoring record throughout his club career, he’s surely going to struggle due to the fact that his national side are one of the weaker ones in this tournament.

It was Messi vs Mbappe in the World Cup final in 2022, and we could be about to see the same this summer. It’s surely also Messi or Mbappe for the Golden Boot.

The post Can anyone stop Lionel Messi running away with the World Cup Golden Boot? appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Reece James looks likely to miss England’s next World Cup 2026 game as Thomas Tuchel must surely now face serious scrutiny for leaving Trent Alexander-Arnold out of his squad.

It looks like England won’t risk James for the upcoming game against Panama, with the Chelsea right-back once again rocked by fitness issues that have plagued a large chunk of his Stamford Bridge career.

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According to the Telegraph, there’s mixed news for England as James probably won’t make it for their next game, but Declan Rice is waiting to be cleared to take part, so that sounds a little more positive.

Still, the issue at right-back means Tuchel is now likely to have to decide to play either Djed Spence, Jarrell Quansah, or Ezri Konsa in that position.

England will surely live to regret Thomas Tuchel’s Trent Alexander-Arnold snub

James is a fine player, but leaving Alexander-Arnold out of the World Cup squad looks like a huge mistake already.

Quite simply, if England end up having to take on any top teams in the knockout stages with any one of Spence, Quansah, or Konsa at right-back that’s a huge step down from what James offers.

Given that everyone knows the Chelsea defender’s poor injury record, it seems bizarre that Tuchel didn’t include Alexander-Arnold.

The former Liverpool man may not have quite had the best debut season for Real Madrid, but he remains someone with world class crossing delivery, and a superb range of passing.

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Even if the plan was to have James as first choice, there was surely still a role for Alexander-Arnold, who could have filled in in midfield if required.

England will probably be fine against a team like Panama, but it already looks like one of Tuchel’s biggest calls for this World Cup has majorly backfired.

The post Mixed injury news for England highlights absurdity of Thomas Tuchel’s surprise World Cup snub appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Curacao vs Ivory Coast kicks off this evening, with both sides’ future in the FIFA World Cup still very much hanging in the balance.

Ivory Coast’s three points put them in a commanding position in second, with two points gap between themselves and Curacao and Ecuador.

Curacao, meanwhile, battled hard for a draw against Ecuador, meaning a shock victory over their opposition today would probably be enough for them to move second – barring any surprises from Ecuador against Germany.

There are no Serie A players in the Curacao lineup, but Atalanta’s Odilon Kossounou and Inter’s Ange-Yoan Bonny both start for the Ivory Coast.

Former Atalanta winger Amad Diallo also starts for the African side, as Roma’s Evan Ndicka continues to sit out through fitness related concerns.

Curacao vs Ivory Coast – Lineups

Curacao: Room; Gaari, Obispo, Brenet, Fonville, Floranus; Comencia, Bacuna; Bacuna, Chong, Locadia

Ivory Coast: Fofana; Doue, Kossounou, Diomande, Operi; Kessie, Sangare; Diomande, Pepe, Diallo; Bonny

Ecuador vs Germany is one of this evening’s two World Cup Group E deciders, with the European side already through into the next round and the South Americans with just a point to their name so far.

Ecuador have largely disappointed and are yet to score a single goal, losing 1-0 to Ivory Coast before a goalless draw with Curacao.

Germany, meanwhile, thumped Curacao 7-1 before a comeback 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast.

One Serie A stars lines up for Ecuador this evening, with Pervis Estupiñán of Milan having been benched, Venezia’s John Yeboah starts in the attack.

For the Germans, former Rossoneri defender Malick Thiaw sits on the bench, having been beaten to the eleven by Antonio Rüdiger.

Ecuador vs Germany – Lineups

Ecuador: Galindez; Hincapie, Ordonez, Pacho; Vite, Caicedo, Franco, Angulo; Yeboah, Valencia, Plata

Germany: Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Raum; Pavlovic, Nmecha, Musiala; Wirtz, Havertz, Sane

Rio Ferdinand has hit back at comments being attributed to him about Thomas Partey after Djed Spence appeared to snub him in the pre-match handshake this week.

Spence seemed to avoid shaking hands with Partey before England and Ghana played out a 0-0 draw in their World Cup 2026 Group L clash on Tuesday night.

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This comes amid Partey being charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault back in 2025, relating to incidents which allegedly took place between 2021 and 2022.

It seems a fake quote doing the rounds had Ferdinand hitting out at Spence for his judgement, as Partey has not yet been found guilty, though the pundit has since posted on X that these comments are fake…

Ferdinand has not commented on the incident any further, it would seem, so it’s not clear if these are in any way an accurate representation of what he thinks.

There is seemingly no record of Ferdinand saying this anywhere apart from social media quotes that do not mention an original source.

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Despite the very serious allegations against Partey, he continued to play for Arsenal until leaving the club in summer 2025, and he’s now on the books at La Liga club Villarreal.

What’s the latest on the Thomas Partey case?

Partey is due to have a further trial after previously pleading not guilty to the charges against him, as reported by the BBC.

The report adds that Partey “remains on bail during the legal proceedings, with the condition that he does not contact the alleged victims”.

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The Guardian have also reported on how Partey was not allowed into Canada for Ghana’s opening group game, though he did get a VISA to play against England in the US.

Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz has defended selecting the 33-year-old, saying: “Let events run their normal course, let the river flow and one day, when the river meets the ocean, we will find the truth.”

The post Rio Ferdinand hits out at “fake comments” about controversial England-Ghana incident appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Kerim Alajbegovic has been linked with potential Serie A moves to Atalanta and Roma, so he showed what he can do with a stunning goal for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup.

The teenager is not set to reach his 19^th birthday until September, but is already a sensation on the global football stage.

Alajbegovic stunner lights up World Cup

He dribbled past two Qatar players and then smashed a screamer into the net from well outside the penalty area, giving Bosnia and Herzegovina the lead in this evening’s Group B game.

Goal of the tournament contender?

Kerim Alajbegović fires Bosnia into the lead with this absolute beauty… pic.twitter.com/bv6mmbbIqK

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 24, 2026

Bayer Leverkusen allowed the player to flourish in their youth academy, then sent him to RB Salzburg, where he scored 13 goals with four assists in 44 competitive games this season.

The Germans activated their buy-back option for €8m, but Alajbegovic is not expected to remain, as he is reportedly eager for a Serie A move.

Roma would be his preferred choice, especially after qualifying for the Champions League, but Atalanta may well get there first with more funds at their disposal.

1 – Kerim Alajbegovic (18 Jahre, 276 Tage) ist der jüngste Spieler mit einem Tor von außerhalb des Strafraums bei einer FIFA-Weltmeisterschaft seit detaillierter Datenerfassung 1966.

Er löste damit Kylian Mbappé ab (19 Jahre, 207 Tage bei der WM 2018).

Furchtlos. pic.twitter.com/5FOC0XEnac

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) June 24, 2026

Sassuolo midfielder Ismael Kone insisted on being pitch side with his CANMNT teammates for tonight’s World Cup game against Switzerland, saluting fans from his wheelchair.

The player’s tournament was called to an abrupt and dramatic end during the 6-0 win over Qatar when he fractured his leg.

He was stretchered off and whisked straight to surgery to fuse the leg back together, and it remains to be seen how many months he will be out of action for.

Kone still participating in World Cup

However, Kone remained in good spirits and insisted on attending this evening’s final group game against Switzerland in Vancouver.

He was wheeled out in his chair and saluted the crowd before joining his Canada teammates on the touchline during the warm-up.

While Team Canada hits the field for warmups, Ismael Kone could be seen in a wheelchair saluting the fans.

LIVE UPDATES: https://t.co/UQuonJE3I6 pic.twitter.com/UgjOuhzZ6V

— CTV News (@CTVNews) June 24, 2026

The 24-year-old already has 42 senior caps for Canada, in which he scored four goals, and was hoping to make a real impression at this tournament co-hosted with the USA and Mexico.

There are several Serie A players involved in tonight’s World Cup games, as Group B will be decided with Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar and Switzerland vs. Canada.

They both kick off simultaneously at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST), but in two different countries.

This was set to be the group that Italy were going to be placed in, until losing the World Cup play-off on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

There are quite a few Serie A representatives in that squad, including Sead Kolasinac of Atalanta, Sassuolo’s Tarik Muharemovic, new Venezia signing Ivan Basic and ex-Roma, Inter and Fiorentina striker Edin Dzeko.

Bosnia are still looking for their first 2026 World Cup victory after a 1-1 draw with Canada and 4-1 defeat to Switzerland, where Muharemovic was sent off and is therefore suspended here along with Qatar’s Assim Madibo and Homam Al-Amin.

In the other match, both Canada and Switzerland have four points, so go head-to-head for top spot.

Juventus striker Jonathan David bagged a hat-trick in the 6-0 victory over Qatar, and starts again for the CANMNT.

However, the tournament is over for Sassuolo midfielder Ismael Kone, who fractured his leg in that match.

Inter defender Manuel Akanji, Bologna midfielder Remo Freuler and Pisa’s Michel Aebischer are all familiar faces, but Milan’s Ardon Jashari is on the bench.

World Cup Group B

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Vasilj; Radeljic, Katic, Malic, Kolasinac; Bakaktarevic, Sunjic, Basic, Alajbegovic; Demirovic, Dzeko

Qatar: Abunada; Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Laye, Sultan Albrake; Jassem Gaber, Fathy, Boudiaf; Hassan Alhaydos, Akram Afif, Edmilson Junior

24-06-2026 20:00

Matchday 3

Lumen Field

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Qatar

3 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Kerim Alajbegović (Assist: Ivan Basic)		29'
Mahmoud Abunada		34'
		42'		Hasan Al-Haydos (Assist: Edmílson Junior)

2nd half

		78'		Ahmed Fathi
Ermin Mahmic (Assist: Dennis Hadzikadunic)		80'
Ermin Mahmic		82'

Match statistic

55

Possession %

45

14

Total shots

9

5

Shots on target

3

4

Shots off target

6

5

Blocked shots

5

Corners

5

1

Offsides

3

9

Fouls

14

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Qatar

Starting lineups

1

Nikola Vasilj

Goalkeeper

24

Arjan Malic

Defender

46'

18

Nikola Katic

Defender

64'

5

Sead Kolasinac

Defender

21

Stjepan Radeljic

Defender

13

Ivan Basic

Midfielder

14

Ivan Sunjic

Midfielder

46'

11

Edin Dzeko

Attacker

64'

10

Ermedin Demirovic

Attacker

20

Esmir Bajraktarevic

Attacker

19

Kerim Alajbegović

Attacker

82'

1

Mahmoud Abunada

Goalkeeper

16

Boualem Khoukhi

Defender

2

Pedro Miguel

Defender

18

Sultan Al-Brake

Defender

20

Ahmed Fathi

Midfielder

79'

10

Hasan Al-Haydos

Midfielder

56'

4

Issa Laye

Midfielder

5

Jassem Gaber

Midfielder

46'

12

Karim Boudiaf

Midfielder

72'

11

Akram Afif

Attacker

8

Edmílson Junior

Attacker

79'

Substitutes

7

Amar Dedic

Defender

16

Amir Hadziahmetovic

Midfielder

9

Samed Bazdar

Attacker

23

Haris Tabakovic

Attacker

8

Armin Gigovic

Midfielder

2

Nihad Mujakic

Defender

22

Martin Zlomislic

Goalkeeper

12

Mladen Jurkas

Goalkeeper

25

Jovo Lukic

Attacker

6

Benjamin Tahirovic

Midfielder

46'

15

Amar Memic

Attacker

46'

3

Dennis Hadzikadunic

Defender

64'

25

Ermin Mahmic

Midfielder

64'

17

Dzenis Burnic

Midfielder

82'

9

Mohammed Muntari

Attacker

22

Meshaal Barsham

Goalkeeper

21

Salah Zakaria

Goalkeeper

3

Lucas Mendes

Defender

15

Yusuf Abdurisag

Attacker

24

Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid

Attacker

25

Al-Hashmi Al-Hussain

Defender

13

Ayoub Al-Oui

Defender

6

Abdulaziz Hatim

Midfielder

46'

17

Ahmed Al-Ganehi

Attacker

56'

19

Almoez Ali

Attacker

72'

7

Ahmed Alaaeldin

Attacker

79'

26

Mohamed Al-Mannai

Defender

79'

Switzerland vs. Canada

Switzerland: Kobel; Jacquez, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Manzambi, Sow, Vargas; Embolo

Canada: Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Choiniere, Saliba, Ahmed; Jonathan David, Larin

24-06-2026 20:00

Matchday 3

BC Place

Switzerland

Canada

2 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Granit Xhaka		32'
		32'		Cyle Larin

2nd half

Ruben Vargas (Assist: Johan Manzambi)		46'
Johan Manzambi (Assist: Breel Embolo)		57'
		76'		Promise David (Assist: Nathan-Dylan Saliba)
		87'		Liam Millar

Match statistic

55

Possession %

45

6

Total shots

13

4

Shots on target

7

1

Shots off target

3

1

Blocked shots

3

2

Corners

7

1

Offsides

3

19

Fouls

13

Switzerland

Canada

Starting lineups

1

Gregor Kobel

Goalkeeper

25

Luca Jaquez

Defender

75'

5

Manuel Akanji

Defender

4

Nico Elvedi

Defender

13

Ricardo Rodríguez

Defender

15

Djibril Sow

Midfielder

75'

10

Granit Xhaka

Midfielder

9

Johan Manzambi

Midfielder

85'

8

Remo Freuler

Midfielder

7

Breel Embolo

Attacker

85'

17

Ruben Vargas

Attacker

80'

16

Maxime Crépeau

Goalkeeper

2

Alistair Johnston

Defender

13

Derek Cornelius

Defender

4

Luc De Fougerolles

Defender

22

Richie Laryea

Defender

83'

20

Ali Ahmed

Midfielder

59'

6

Mathieu Choinière

Midfielder

59'

25

Nathan-Dylan Saliba

Midfielder

9

Cyle Larin

Attacker

59'

10

Jonathan David

Attacker

17

Tajon Buchanan

Attacker

75'

Substitutes

6

Denis Zakaria

Midfielder

12

Yvon Mvogo

Goalkeeper

18

Eray Cömert

Defender

19

Noah Okafor

Attacker

22

Fabian Rieder

Midfielder

23

Zeki Amdouni

Attacker

14

Ardon Jashari

Midfielder

24

Aurèle Amenda

Defender

21

Marvin Keller

Goalkeeper

2

Miro Muheim

Defender

20

Michel Aebischer

Midfielder

75'

3

Silvan Widmer

Defender

75'

11

Dan Ndoye

Attacker

80'

16

Christian Fassnacht

Midfielder

85'

26

Cedric Itten

Attacker

85'

19

Alphonso Davies

Defender

21

Jonathan Osorio

Midfielder

1

Dayne St. Clair

Goalkeeper

5

Joel Waterman

Defender

15

Moïse Bombito

Defender

3

Alfie Jones

Defender

18

Owen Goodman

Goalkeeper

23

Niko Sigur

Defender

26

Jayden Nelson

Attacker

7

Stephen Eustáquio

Midfielder

59'

11

Liam Millar

Attacker

59'

12

Tani Oluwaseyi

Attacker

59'

24

Promise David

Attacker

75'

14

Jacob Shaffelburg

Attacker

83'

After last night’s disappointing draw with Ghana, there’s more worrying World Cup news breaking for England today as Declan Rice and Reece James are reportedly fitness concerns for the Panama game.

The pair are key players for Thomas Tuchel’s side, and started both games of the World Cup campaign so far against Croatia and Ghana.

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However, the Telegraph are now reporting that the duo face fitness checks ahead of the Panama game.

Here’s what we know so far based on the report…

Declan Rice injury doesn’t look too serious

Rice couldn’t complete the 90 minutes against Croatia and also had some issues at the end of the 0-0 draw with Ghana.

The Telegraph state that the Arsenal midfielder left the stadium with strapping on his left calf, but it’s not thought to be anything particularly serious or long term.

It could, however, be an issue that requires late checks for Rice ahead of England’s final group game against Panama.

Reece James was uncomfortable against Ghana

The report is a bit vague on James’ fitness, with the Chelsea right-back said to have felt uncomfortable in the Ghana game.

Still, James was able to complete 90 minutes in both of England’s games so far, even if it’s perhaps sensible to be cautious with him due to his poor injury record over the years.

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The 26-year-old is an important player for England, with the Telegraph noting that Tuchel has also had him training in midfield as he could fill in for Rice in that position.

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Now, however, both players could be out for the Panama game, in a major blow for the Three Lions’ preparations in what looks a close group at the moment.

England have four points, putting them level with Ghana, while Croatia have three and Panama have zero.

The post World Cup injury blow for England as Arsenal & Chelsea stars face fitness checks appeared first on CaughtOffside.

There are suggestions Bologna are in negotiations with Glasgow Rangers for Nico Raskin, who is valued at €20m, with Lewis Ferguson potentially as part of an exchange.

According to teamTALK, initial talks have started between the two clubs with regards to Raskin.

Bologna targeting Raskin

The 25-year-old midfielder is currently participating in the 2026 World Cup as part of the Belgium squad, featuring in both their games so far.

He came to Rangers in January 2023 at a cost of just €1.5m from Standard Liege and then flourished, this term scoring seven goals with nine assists in 50 matches.

It is reported that the asking price now is around €20m, a significant investment for the Rossoblu and new coach Domenico Tedesco.

A potential solution to lower the cost would be to involve Scotland international Ferguson as part of an exchange, seeing as Rangers are reportedly eager on the midfielder.

However, Ferguson is captain of Bologna and not necessarily in a rush to leave the Stadio Dall’Ara, where he has been since leaving Aberdeen in 2022.

This would be more a proposal put forward by Rangers than the Italian club or Scottish player.

Jonathan David admits his World Cup form for Canada might be because they ‘have a different playing style’ to Juventus, but is adamant he wants to stay at the club.

The striker struggled badly in his first Serie A season after arriving as a free transfer from LOSC, albeit with at least €12.5m in various costs and commissions.

David struggled at Juventus

He scored eight goals with five assists in 46 competitive games for the Bianconeri, often seeming to look lost under first Igor Tudor and then Luciano Spalletti.

It was therefore shocking to see him score a hat-trick for Canada in their 6-0 World Cup victory over Qatar.

“I think when you play for your club or national team, it is going to be different, because these are two very different teams,” David told RSI Sport.

“Canada have a different playing style, so more or less everything changes.”

Having said that, he seems to have absolutely no intention of interrupting his experience in Turin, even if Juventus might be more eager to part with him and recoup some cash.

“I have a five-year contract, so as far as I am concerned, I will be staying here,” he replied when pressed on his future.

Even with Canada, David had scored in only one of his previous 10 games before that treble in a 6-0 thrashing of Qatar.

At Juve this season, he found the net in only eight matches out of 46 played.

Arsenal have been given some hugely positive transfer news on Morgan Rogers, with the World Cup 2026 hopefully not an issue in delaying the deal.

Rogers is a top target for the Gunners but is currently at the World Cup with England, though Ben Jacobs reports that manager Thomas Tuchel has no issues with his players undergoing medicals whilst on international duty.

Speaking to Latte Firm, Jacobs provided an update on Arsenal’s pursuit of Rogers, with some interesting information emerging about the Aston Villa star’s preferences.

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It seems Rogers is happy to play as either a winger or a number ten at his next club, with no strong preference either way, while Jacobs generally seems confident that the 23-year-old will be heading to the Emirates Stadium…

Ben Jacobs on Morgan Rogers to Arsenal transfer

“I do expect Arsenal to sign Morgan Rogers. He is Arsenal’s leading target for left-wing and/or #10,” Jacobs said.

“My information is that Rogers has zero preference as to whether he’s signed as a left-winger or a #10. Arsenal are expected to bid and this could move quickly.

“Remember Thomas Tuchel is perfectly happy for players to do medicals on England duty. That may be the case with Elliot Anderson and Manchester City. But Arsenal perhaps in less of a rush than Aston Villa.

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“Aston Villa, even with Champions League football, are looking for a major sale to balance their books. When Rogers extended last year, there was an understanding that he could leave this summer for a fee of £80m as a starting point.

“It’s not a release clause or gentleman’s understanding, but Villa had said they will not unduly stand in his way. I’m still told engagement will start at £80m, that’s not to say it’ll be the number that secures a transfer, but that is the beginning to start a conversation with Aston Villa. I think there’s a very strong chance this deal happens.”

World Cup won’t delay Morgan Rogers deal

Arsenal fans will also surely be pleased to hear that Rogers can have a medical even while he’s away at the World Cup.

The Premier League champions will no doubt want this major deal done as quickly as possible to avoid other clubs getting involved, with Rogers sure to be hot property after two outstanding seasons in a row at Villa Park.

The England international hit double figures for goals and assists again in the 2025/26 season, and it’s clear he could improve this Arsenal side in the one area they arguably struggled most in despite winning the title.

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Mikel Arteta’s men sometimes struggled in the final third, and someone like Rogers should be able to add a bit more spark, as well as more of a goal threat than the inconsistent Martin Odegaard.

If AFC can get this done, it will be just the kind of signing that could take this team to another level next season, with Arteta’s side only narrowly missing out on the Champions League when they again just lacked a little bit of attacking quality in the final defeat to PSG.

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