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The Tartan Army's wonderful takeover of Boston has been the story of the World Cup so far, but on the field it was Cape Verde's stunning draw against European champions Spain that sent shockwaves through the tournament.In their debut match at the World Cup, the Africans – ranked 67 in the world and with a population of less than 500,000 people – put in a heroic defensive display to thwart a star-studded Spanish side tipped by many to become world champions for a second time.Scotland know if they can mirror Cape Verde's result and take a point from Friday's Group C meeting with Morocco at the Boston Stadium, they will be all but guaranteed a passage into the knockout stages for the very first time at a major tournament.So what lessons can the Scots take from Cape Verde's remarkable display?Stag-do drag to World Cup - the rise of Scotland's other national anthemWhether head coach Steve Clarke retains that centre-back pairing or reintroduces the fit again Scott McKenna – he could switch to a back five and play them all – the entire Scottish defensive unit will need to show the ferocious desire to protect their goal that Cape Verde did so impressively against the Spanish."One of the big things Cape Verde work at, and the manager has talked about it, is the culture of the country itself and making sure that everybody buys into that. If you do that, everyone will work for each other," said former Scotland winger Pat Nevin after covering the match at Atlanta Stadium for BBC Radio 5 Live."Boy, what a sight of players working for each other we saw. They spent the vast majority of the game on their own 18-yard line, not all of it, and when they broke, they were brave and they broke in numbers."To do that and keep that level of concentration, you don't do that if you're a bunch of individuals, you only do that if you're a group, if you're a team, if you believe in each other. And it shone through."I watched Sidny Cabral start the game and thought, 'oh, my goodness, there's a disaster waiting to happen' because of the way he was tackling - but he got every one of them right."You look at Diney Borges, again, he looked like he was a kitten at the start of the game. By the end of the game, he was a lion."Former Scotland defender Willie Miller was similarly impressed with Cape Verde's defensive discipline and highlighted the concentration levels to shut Spain down, something Scotland will undoubtedly have to display against the attacking threats of Morocco."Cape Verde had the 4-5-1 formation, they defended deep, they closed the opposition down very quickly," said Miller, who played at the at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups."Sometimes you have to have a little bit of good fortune. The goalkeeper was in such good form as well and didn't look like he was going to lose anything but it's a long time to go with that formation."You tend to get mentally fatigued when you're doing most of your work without the ball and I think that could have been a problem - but it wasn't a problem for Cape Verde."They had organisation, the team spirit, the shape, a goalkeeper in fine form, restricting any space between your defence, midfield and forwards, and then just had that belief that they could get it over the line and get the draw. That's what we need against Morocco."While defensive organisation and resilience was the foundation of Cape Verde's performance, they still managed to retain some semblance of attacking threat on the counter-attack, especially late in the game, to relieve some of the pressure at the back.They might even have snatched a famous victory, with defender Borges going close with a late header and a couple of late counters threatening to catch Spain out as they poured forward looking for a winner.Scotland will need to give the Moroccan back-line something to think about if they are to avoid a dangerous pattern of being pinned in on the edge of their own box.Former Scotland winger Neil McCann believes the presence of Ben Gannon-Doak, a standout performer against Haiti, will be crucial in getting the Scots up the pitch."Ben Gannon-Doak is obviously a very big weapon for Scotland in terms of how he eliminates people in the wide area," McCann said."He's shown in his Scotland career already that he can play off the left, off the right, and standing people up and just going past them like they're not there."The one thing I want to see him work on is his final ball. Getting past people generally isn't a problem. It's what you do once you're in that position."It doesn't matter who he's playing against, whether it's [Denmark's Patrick] Dorgu, whether it's Achraf Hakimi against Morocco, I still think he'll create chances."Everything you need to know about the World Cup

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Algeria have made Lawrence their home for the tournament - and the city has been taken over by national flags."When we found out that Algeria was coming here in February, we started preparations to make sure they knew they were going to be welcome," said Ruth DeWitt - director of community relations at the city's tourism bureau, Explore Lawrence."And Lawrence has just rolled out the red carpet for the team in so many different ways."We are so happy that they chose Lawrence as their base camp. We've never had anything like this here before so we are just thrilled that they're here."Before the team arrived, the city - which has a population of about 100,000 - held 'Soccer 101' classes teaching locals the rules of football along with lessons about Algeria and fan culture.The players were welcomed by hundreds of fans as they pulled into the city, with even more filling Rock Chalk Park for the team's community training session, when players interacted with local children.And with Algerian communities based just outside of Kansas City in neighbouring Missouri - about 40 miles from Lawrence - there are visitors travelling to the region daily hoping to get a glimpse of their heroes.Alongside her regular work in the town, DeWitt has taken Algerian supporter Wassini Souarit, who lives in Minneapolis, into her home for the duration of the tournament."I think it's part of who Lawrence is to begin with," she said. "But then there were so many challenges for Algerians to travel here and we just adopted them as our home team."And of course we're rooting for the USA, but we're rooting for Algeria just as much because we are so happy that they chose Lawrence as their base camp."That's exactly what the World Cup is about. That's what people told us the World Cup is about. And so you sort of think that 'that's right', but until you experience it for yourself, you have absolutely no idea how powerful that connection really is."Algeria tops can be seen all around Lawrence as the team prepare for their first match - against holders Argentina at Kansas City Stadium, home of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, on Tuesday (02:00 BST Wednesday).But there have also been supporter gatherings at Union station in Kansas City, while earthworks artist Stan Herd has created an installation at the University of Kansas Campus too.The art piece, which is a huge version of the Algeria flag, can be seen in its entirety from the roof of the campus."We are so excited - a town of 100,000, to welcome these amazing people from Algeria," said Herd."So we're having people, restaurant owners are cooking halal. This town is really embracing for ourselves as much as for our visitors, but this is a very welcoming town."I think it's a pretty welcoming state, but we're beginning to love football more than [American] football."With people from around the world coming to the US - and specifically Lawrence - for the first time, the 76-year-old believes the tournament has brought people together."I do think that that's the case [that] a lot of people, through an effort like this, make common cause with their neighbours that they may have passed by for years," he said."And now that we're all on the same team now trying to show and present ourselves in the best way we can. We are very welcoming community."We see this is a very great opportunity to show how Kansans welcome the world."The night the Tartan Army took over iconic Fenway ParkThe 40-year-old keeper who inspired Cape Verde's historic debutPlay BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game

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Former USMNT players have disparaged AustraliaAustralia and US face each other on FridayFormer US players, perhaps caught up in the swell of confidence brought about by the team’s 4-1 romp over Paraguay in their World Cup opener, have fired barbs at Australia, their next opponents. The Socceroos have fired back. And current US players are having none of it.“All this talk is just nonsense to me,” US winger Tim Weah told the media on Tuesday, seconds after rolling his eyes and giving an incredulous look when told about comments from US pundits describing Friday’s match as a “layup,” or that the Australian team itself is “average.”“When you look at the Australian team, they’re a young team that has a lot of fight, a lot of grit, and a lot of hunger, just like us,” Weah said. “We respect them in the same way that we respect any other opponent. I think it’s going to be a lovely game. I don’t know what the media is trying to do, but we’re not really focused on that.”The comments have come most directly from three former USMNT players. After the draw placed the US in Group D with Australia, Turkey and Paraguay, former US striker Landon Donovan called Australia coach Tony Popovic “smug,” adding “you can get back on the Qantas airplane and head back home, pal.”Fox Sports commentator and US World Cup veteran Alexi Lalas said Australia are “an average team by any measure, and certainly not a great team.” CBS Sports pundit Mike Grella, in comments that most inflamed the Socceroos, called Friday’s match a “layup” for the US.Australia’s players have taken note. “I mean, I’ve seen all the US stuff, and I’m just sick of it, to be honest I just am,” Metcalfe said this month. “Like all this talk – it’s just – let’s just wait for the game, whatever happens, happens.”Tyler Adams attempted to act as a peacemaker on Tuesday.“I don’t think any commentary helps anybody,” the US midfielder said. “It’s not going to be a layup. If anything, it’s going to be one of the most difficult games we play.”The US got a measure of what a match against Australia will be like in 2025, in a fiery 2-1 win in Colorado. That match, ostensibly a friendly, was notable for scuffles between the two sides – an experience that US players say has given them a preview of what’s to come.“That game in Colorado was fun,” said Weah, who started and went 64 minutes in that game. “It was aggressive, and I think from that game in Colorado we’ve changed a lot, and we’ve got a bit more aggressive as well … I’m someone who respects Australia a lot.”

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With the World Cup expanding to a massive 104 matches, navigating the "morass of endless football" can feel a bit overwhelming. Thankfully, the Guardian’s chief sports writer, Barney Ronay, has done the heavy lifting. He breaks down the group stage fixtures you absolutely cannot miss - from historic David v Goliath battles to high-stakes political showdowns. Continue reading...

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Chief football writer in DallasPublished28 minutes ago110 CommentsTino Livramento's departure from England's World Cup squad has exposed the gambles and potential weaknesses in head coach Thomas Tuchel's defensive selection.Livramento sustained a calf injury in training before Wednesday's opening World Cup group game against Croatia in Dallas (21:00 BST), with Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah called up as his replacement.Tuchel's initial picks in this crucial area already carried high risk given the injury problems of likely starters Reece James and John Stones last season, which Livramento's departure will bring under further scrutiny.And the choice of Chalobah, a central defender by trade, will once again fire up the debate about why Tuchel seems to have no intention of restoring Trent Alexander-Arnold to England duty.Livramento's latest injury should come as no surprise to Tuchel given the Newcastle full-back - who carried the appeal of being able to play on both flanks - missed most of the end of last season with a thigh problem and had also been absent with hamstring issues.It leaves England with three natural full-backs in James, Tottenham Hotspur's Djed Spence - another who can play on right and left - along with Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly, who can also play in midfield.Newcastle's Dan Burn can play at left-back, while Jarell Quansah and Ezri Konsa can play in the wide positions, but there would be serious worries about deploying any of them in unaccustomed roles against high-class forwards at a World Cup.As Tuchel's successor Sir Gareth Southgate found when he played Alexander-Arnold in midfield at Euro 2024, a major tournament is no time for experiments or square pegs in round holes.Replacing Livramento with Chalobah - in another example of Tuchel's apparent preference for tall, physical defenders - again suggests Konsa will be selected ahead of Marc Guehi against Croatia.Chalobah only has one senior England cap, in the 3-1 defeat to Senegal at the City Ground a year ago, so it is big vote of confidence from Tuchel in a 26-year-old who is inexperienced at this level.Stones, 32, remains England's classiest and most experienced defender as he goes into his sixth major tournament. Tuchel is a huge admirer of his quality.However, the centre-half has struggled with injuries - starting only five Premier League games last season. He left Manchester City at the end of last season.Chelsea captain James has struggled with regular hamstring injuries in recent years. He started only 20 league games last season.Stones and James are high-quality defenders, but Tuchel will have to keep his fingers crossed over their fitness and manage minutes in the searing conditions England will face.The Three Lions' defence is the least settled and most concerning area of the team. It will continue to be so.Tuchel's England deal includes performance clauseAlexander-Arnold's fate seemed sealed as far back as August when Tuchel left him out of England's squad for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.This was after Tuchel even opted to pick Alexander-Arnold's former Liverpool team-mate Curtis Jones, a central midfielder, ahead of him at right-back against Andorra in June.Tuchel has made his concerns over Alexander-Arnold's perceived defensive frailties clear, saying: "If he wants to have this impact in the English national team then he has to take the defensive part very, very seriously."Because when we are talking, especially about qualifying football, and then tournament football, the one defensive error, the one moment where you are not 100% awake, can be decisive. It can be the moment where you pack your suitcases and go home."Packing his suitcase early for a flight back to England is not on Tuchel's agenda - so one of the country's most naturally gifted footballers is overlooked again.Alexander-Arnold was not included in Tuchel's 35-man squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March, missing out again when the coach needed to seek reinforcements.Tuchel instead picked Arsenal's Ben White, who has not been a regular at club level and had been in self-imposed England exile since the Qatar World Cup in 2022.Alexander-Arnold did make Tuchel's provisional 55-man World Cup squad, although that could hardly be called a ringing endorsement.It is in sharp contrast to the faith placed in Alexander-Arnold by Lee Carsley, England's Under-21 coach who bridged the gap between Southgate's departure and Tuchel's appointment.Carsley even used Alexander-Arnold at left-back in a 3-1 Nations League win at Finland in October 2024, crowning his performance with a superb free-kick.Alexander-Arnold started four games out of six under Carsley but none of Tuchel's 14 - those facts speak for themselves.As a head coach who fixates on squad togetherness, was there a worry that having such a high-profile player on the margins might lead Alexander-Arnold to provide an unintentional distraction and focus of attention?Alexander-Arnold's latest rejection appears to be further evidence there is no way back for him with England as long as Tuchel is in charge.When Tuchel named his 26-player World Cup squad, he made his approach to selection crystal clear.The German said: "We are trying to select and build the best possible team, which is not necessarily to select the 26 most talented players. Teams win championships."If there is a nod to history, this was the exact mission statement from Sir Alf Ramsey before England won the 1966 World Cup.Tuchel has picked a talented squad, but also a pragmatic one he believes is physically equipped for the task ahead.That was bad news for Manchester United defender Luke Shaw and Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall, while Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly's renaissance came just too late to change Tuchel's mind.Manchester United veteran Harry Maguire broke ranks before the squad was officially named to reveal he had been left out and was "shocked and gutted".Tuchel, in fact, had stated after Maguire made an England return for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March that he was still fifth choice on his central defensive list.Disappointment for some meant joy for others. And Chalobah's call-up is easy enough to explain.The Chelsea man is a strong physical, aerial presence - right up Tuchel's street for a defender.This is why Aston Villa's Konsa is tipped to get the nod over Manchester City's Guehi against Croatia and goes a long way to explain the inclusion of the 6ft 7in Burn.The giant 34-year-old is unlikely to be a starter, but his physical presence could have a significant impact in the air at both ends, with set-pieces an important part of Tuchel's strategy.Conditions are expected to be gruelling in the USA, with the possibility England could also face co-hosts Mexico at altitude in Mexico City in the last 16.And it is clear Tuchel wants England to be just as ready physically as in the football context as they embark on their quest to win the World Cup.Everything you need to know about the World Cup

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Tottenham have agreed a deal with Brighton to sign defender Jan Paul van Hecke.The deal is believed to be around £52m and the player has expressed his desire to play under 'father figure' Roberto De Zerbi.The centre-back only wanted to join Tottenham.The Netherlands international defender has one year left on his contract at Brighton and worked at the south-coast club under De Zerbi between 2023-2024.

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England take on Croatia in their first game at World Cup 2026 and our betting expert Lewis Jones, aka Jones Knows, is backing the Three Lions to win by one goal and spies a Harry Kane fouls angle.For the best part of a decade, England have been hovering on the brink.A World Cup semi-final in Russia. Defeat in the final of Euro 2020. Heartbreak again in the showpiece match at Euro 2024. The progress has been undeniable, but so too has the nagging sense that this generation are still missing the final piece of the puzzle.That is why the FA have turned to a serial winner.Thomas Tuchel arrives with a CV stacked with major honours and a reputation for finding solutions when the pressure is at its highest. Tactical flexibility, knockout know-how and a ruthless edge are the qualities England hope can finally convert years of near-misses into silverware.The early signs have been encouraging. Qualification was completed with minimum fuss, eight wins from eight and not a single goal conceded along the way. Of course, sterner tests lie ahead, but England head into this World Cup carrying genuine expectation rather than hopeful optimism.World Cup 2026 fixture schedule - your day-by-day guideEngland are 4/6 for the win, with Croatia 4/1 and the draw 27/10.There is a temptation with tournament favourites to go hunting for statement victories. England supporters will be dreaming of a fast start under Tuchel and a performance that sends a message to the rest of the field.I'm not convinced that's how this one plays out.History tells us that when England and Croatia meet, fine margins tend to decide the outcome. Croatia's famous 2-1 victory in the 2018 World Cup semi-final required extra-time to separate the teams. Then came a goalless Nations League draw, followed by England edging the return fixture 2-1. Their meeting at Euro 2020 was also settled by just a single goal.These nations know each other well and neither has a habit of being blown away when the stakes are high.The same applies when looking at England's record in tournament openers. Of their last 18 opening matches at major tournaments, only two have been won or lost by more than a one-goal margin. That's a remarkable trend and speaks to the cautious nature of first assignments on the biggest stage.Tuchel is an elite tournament coach. He understands the importance of managing energy levels, avoiding unnecessary risks and getting points on the board. This isn't a manager who needs to chase headlines. He needs three points.A controlled, professional performance feels far more likely.Whether it's 1-0 or 2-1, the one-goal England victory angle appeals at a chunky 12/5 with Sky Bet. It aligns with the recent head-to-head history, England's long-standing tournament-opener trends and what we can expect from a Tuchel team looking to begin their World Cup campaign in efficient rather than explosive fashion.SCORE PREDICTION: England 2-1 Croatia | JONES KNOWS' BEST BET: England to win by one goal (12/5 with Sky Bet)Player-based betting angles can often be a goldmine in major tournaments, especially when the market hasn't quite caught up with emerging trends.Croatia's young centre-back Luka Vuskovic looks set for the toughest assignment of his international career when he comes up against Harry Kane. On paper, it has all the ingredients for a busy evening for the referee.Vuskovic's approach is aggressive and front-footed. That's generally a positive trait in a central defender but it can also lead to trouble against elite forwards who understand exactly how to use their body and draw contact. Across his four Croatia starts, Vuskovic has already committed nine fouls.Now he faces one of the smartest foul-winning forwards in international football.Kane's movement remains hugely underrated. He doesn't just threaten in the penalty area. His willingness to drop into midfield, receive under pressure and play with his back to goal constantly puts defenders in awkward situations.The England captain has built a strong record in this department at major tournaments, averaging 1.9 fouls won per 90 minutes across World Cups and European Championships. That's an excellent return for a striker and highlights how regularly defenders are dragged into making challenges they don't need to make.It only takes a couple of moments for this bet to land as they are mutually exclusive.

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There are some fixtures that need only the names of the teams to get us going and France v Senegal is one such, a meld of nostalgia, history and righteous indignation. “I think Senegal will win,” says Othmane Sonoko, former prime minister and speaker of the Senegalese parliament, “but in any case, whichever team wins, it is Africa that will have beaten Africa.”The teams, of course, met in the World Cup 2002 opener, a game which featured one of the great centre-forward displays from El-Hadji Diouf and one of the great celebrations following Papa Bouba Diop’s goal, which secured one of the great shocks. Nor did things improve for France thereafter, eliminated bottom of the group with one point and no goals, the worst-ever performance from a defending champion. The teams have not met since.But as Sonoko implies, they remain inextricably linked. France began colonising Senegal in 1659, it wasn’t until 1960 that independence was retaken, and it was less than a year ago that France gave up the last of its military bases. No country has more World Cup players born within its borders than France, who account for 98 of the 1248 – Netherlands are next with 67, then England with 49 – of which 10 are representing Senegal.And what a squad they’re part of, Senegal solid at the back, but a lot more interesting further forward. Lamine Camara is a dynamic midfielder who blends old school new, able to do a bit of everything but at warp speed and is, presumably, soon to arrive at a Premier League team near you; alongside him, Pape Matar Sarr is already there, and there are various excellent candidates to complete the trio, as well as 18-year-old Bara Sapoko Ndiaye of Bayern Munich, likely to be kept in reserve but a very serious talent. Then, up front, Sadio Mané and Ismaïla Sarr will presumably flank Nicolas Jackson, with Iliman Ndiaye and Ibrahim Mbaye ready to explode off the bench. If you’re gently whistling to yourself, fear not: so you should be.In 1863, when various bodies in England were trying to standardise the laws of the game, a dispute developed regarding the banning of “hacking”, deliberately kicking an opponent’s legs – a point on which Francis Maule Campbell of Blackheath Football club took a strong position. “You will do away with all the courage and pluck of the game,” he said, “and I will be bound to bring over a lot of Frenchmen who would beat you with a week’s practise.”Well, the 2026 iteration are more than able to take care of themselves should things become physical – just ask Fede Valverde – but boast perhaps the most ridiculous cadre of attackers ever seen. Whether Didier Deschamps can perm the best combination from those available – perhaps – then allow them to express themselves – almost definitely not – remains to be seen, but at any point, both of those aspects can be overriden by talent of intense and divergent brilliance.If there’s one thing the games we’ve seen so far have taught us, it’s that we’ve no idea from where our eternal moments are coming, just that they are. So it feels vaguely silly to be make a bold statement about this one, but the piquant ingredients make it the likeliest banger of the group stages, and decent barometer of where these exciting outfits are it. Chauette! On y va!

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Jamie Carragher has admitted he 'isn't surprised' that Thomas Tuchel has called up Trevor Chalobah as Tino Livramento's World Cup replacement over Trent Alexander-Arnold.Livramento has been ruled out of the tournament on the eve of England's opening game against Croatia after sustaining a calf injury in training, with Chelsea defender Chalobah drafted in as his replacement despite not being a like for like swap.Alexander-Arnold was among several high-profile omissions from Tuchel's squad, having struggled to impress the German manager. Tuchel's reluctance to call upon him even in times of need has only reinforced doubts over his trust in the Real Madrid star.However, Carragher believes that Alexander-Arnold's supposed 'deficiencies' defensively have led to Tuchel turning to Chalobah as the replacement."We know Thomas Tuchel’s stance regarding Trent," he told Sky Sports. "When you look at some of the players in the squad it looks as though he’s picking centre-backs who can do a job at right-back rather than out and out right-backs. We know there’s the special qualities that Trent Alexander-Arnold has."That’s why Real Madrid wanted him. The reason why Liverpool supporters were so upset to lose him. The qualities Trent has, and maybe the deficiencies is maybe why Tuchel hasn’t picked him. He’s looking at the negatives instead of the positives."The way he wants to set his team up, maybe the strengths don’t get amplified as much in a Tuchel team as they do a Jurgen Klopp team. I wouldn’t say I’m overly surprised that he hasn’t gone for Trent.World Cup 2026 fixture schedule - your day-by-day guide"I said a few weeks ago that he’s picking team harmony, togetherness and spirit over quality and talent. I think this is another decision that proves that.”Carragher himself has experience of being called in as a last minute inclusion for a World Cup, having done so in 2010. The former Liverpool defender came out of international retirement after some persuasion from Fabio Capello as Rio Ferdinand and Ledley King picked up injuries ahead of the tournament.Carragher argued that Chalobah's circumstances differ from what they would have been had Harry Maguire earned a call-up, pointing to Maguire's extensive experience as the key factor.Maguire was the first player to announce he hadn't been called up to the initial squad, expressing his shock on social media. Speaking on The Rest of Football podcast, the 2021 European Championship finalist spoke on the conversation he had with Tuchel when he found out he wouldn't be part of the group."I thought I did enough to be in the squad," he said. "I thought I could have helped the lads out there. I thought I would still have had a part to play on the pitch, and off the pitch as well."He [Tuchel] FaceTimes everyone. It's quite an awkward call. Something got released in the media about half an hour before I got told that my place was in doubt. That was the most frustrating thing."It was a surprise at the time. I said straight away that it was a surprise. I was really disappointed. We had a few words. Look, I'm quite a big personality. I'm experienced. It was an honest conversation between us both."He [Tuchel] really said that he can't really give me an excuse."Carragher though believes Maguire's outspoken nature may have hurt his chances of being turned to after Livramento's injury."A right-back has gone out so I don’t think he was going to pick an out and out centre-back. That’s what Harry Maguire is," he added."I’m not saying Chalobah is a right-back, but if there was an emergency could he do a job there more than a typical centre-half like Maguire? I’d say probably, yes."Having seen Maguire’s comments over the last couple of days, that's understandable. Every player feels they could’ve made the difference. I’m sure the argument he put to Tuchel on FaceTime was the same every other player did.“When he talks about England tournaments and doing well after the last 10 or 12 years, there’s very few who knows about that better with how he was involved with Gareth Southgate."I always thought it was a bit of a long shot. He came into the squad late. Again I’m not massively surprised. Maybe his comments or his family comments may have been on the coaching staff’s mind. It was probably better to keep that to yourself. There was still another Premier League game. Someone could’ve gotten injured."Carragher also made some big choices in naming his starting XI for England's opening game against Croatia on Wednesday night.The big debate has been whether Jude Bellingham or Morgan Rogers will start as the number 10, and Carragher opted for the former to take centre stage."I don’t think there’s many people in the country that would say Morgan Rogers is a better player than Jude Bellingham. Rogers has been fantastic for Aston Villa but Bellingham is a superstar," he said.