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Arsenal Arsenal want to invest again in their first XI ahead of next season and, as champions, will target top quality that can improve on what they already have.Left wing and central midfield are the priorities – but there are other positions that could be strengthened depending on outgoings. Arsenal are on a drive to be financially sustainable, so there will need to be some sales to make sure the books are balanced.One of Arsenal's top targets over the last year has been Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez. He remains hugely admired at the Emirates, but Atletico have shown their determination to keep him by ridiculing attempts from Barcelona and Real Madrid. The player, if he does leave, prefers a move to Barca.So Arsenal will likely have to target someone else who can predominantly play on the left wing, and they have been stepping up interest in Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, although his future will not be determined until after the World Cup with England.Arsenal like Anthony Gordon but were content to see him go to Barcelona and, while an ideal target, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia is expected to remain at Paris Saint-Germain. Arsenal are understood to have watched his club-mate Bradley Barcola and Yan Diomande at RB Leipzig, as well as Eintracht Frankfurt's Jean-Matteo Bahoya. They are also one of the admirers of Bournemouth forward Junior Kroupi.In central midfield, Arsenal are in the mix for all the top players such as Sandro Tonali, Elliot Anderson - who is closing in on a move to Manchester City - Adam Wharton and others, although a clear first-choice target is unknown.Anything further is likely to be dependent on which members of the Arsenal squad have interest from elsewhere and indicate they may want to go for more games. However, the club might also look for a young defender who is versatile enough to cover a number of positions at the back, regardless of sales.Back in the Champions League, Aston Villa need to freshen their squad and add more numbers but are likely to have to sell a major name or two to stay in line with UEFA's financial rules.That person looks most likely to be Morgan Rogers. He has the highest value in the squad (at least £80m) and has serious interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.Goalkeeper Emi Martinez also has strong interest from Juventus, who are increasingly confident of getting him according to Sky in Italy, while Ollie Watkins is another player who will always have admirers ready to bid at the right price.Should Martinez leave, Villa will be in the market for a new first-choice goalkeeper, and they are among the clubs keen on James Trafford at Manchester City.Bournemouth stars Rayan, Alex Scott and Kroupi Junior are on the radar of some of Europe's top clubs, but all are considered not for sale.Rayan has an £86.6m (€100m) release clause that kicks in next summer. However, Kroupi - who is being monitored by Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Arsenal - does not.Scott is on the list at Manchester United, Liverpool and many other Premier League clubs, which Bournemouth are aware of - so they are in talks with him about extending his contract.As well as keeping these players, Bournemouth's focus is on signing a left-sided centre-back to replace Marcos Senesi, who has joined Tottenham on a free transfer, as well as a new striker.Bournemouth are also reviewing their goalkeeping options - with current work going into signing Lazio's Christos Mandas permanently following his loan.Then there is the situation around right-back Alex Jimenez. After his suspension by the club, it remains to be seen whether he has a long-term future on the south coast.Brentford are looking to freshen their squad in a variety of positions and have already signed the young centre-back Jannik Schuster from Red Bull Salzburg.Two positions that have proved elusive in the last few windows - left wing and central midfield - are now the priorities, and they have recently tried for winger Said El Mala at FC Koln.That reached an impasse after his family requested Brentford also sign his older brother, so the Bees are now looking at other targets. One of those is thought to be Feyenoord's Leo Sauer. Others they have tried for in the last 12 months are Max Beier at Dortmund and Omari Hutchinson, now at Nottingham Forest.Among the names in central midfield they like are Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney, PSV's Joey Veerman and Pape Matar Sarr at Spurs.In terms of outgoings, there remains uncertainty around Mathias Jansen and Rico Henry despite the option years in their contracts being taken up. There are discussions about long-term deals, but interest from elsewhere may test these situations.Fabio Carvalho, nearing full fitness after a long-term injury, also has interest from elsewhere - but Brentford expect him to have a big season. Centre-back Ethan Pinnock is more likely to go.The name on everyone's lips is Igor Thiago - but Brentford have no interest in selling him and they value him way over £100m. There is likely to be speculation, given he was the second-highest scoring striker in the Premier League last season behind Erling Haaland, but will anyone come in with that kind of money?Brighton are preparing to make some changes to their squad - amid interest in some of their best players - and have already signed exciting young winger Zadok Yohanna from AIK in Sweden.Other positions they want are right-back - Olympiakos' Costinha is a target, centre-backs - with Adam Webster leaving and Jan Paul van Hecke likely to follow - central midfield and striker.Van Hecke is the subject of talks over a move to Tottenham and, as those discussions progress, Brighton have made a £30m offer for Spurs defender Luka Vuskovic to replace him.Brighton may need to bring in two new centre-backs, and Charlie Cresswell of Toulouse is another top target, having tried to sign him in January.Carlos Baleba, meanwhile, has long been a target for Manchester United, among others, while a host of Champions League clubs want Matt O'Riley, including Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.One midfielder Brighton have previously tracked as a potential replacement for Baleba is Caleb Yirenkyi at FC Nordsjælland.Joel Veltman is the only other player out of contract, but talks are ongoing over a new deal, although Brighton will still look to add another right-back, Sky Sports News understands.Up front, the club still hope last season's striker signing Charalampos Kostoulas can come good but are open to the market for other ideas, with Danny Welbeck also not getting any younger.New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso believes Chelsea have a very strong squad that can be improved this summer - and the club want to add players with exceptional talent and character.There are likely to be fewer promising youngsters through the doors of Cobham, therefore, and more established names instead, with goalkeeper, centre-back, central midfield and new left-winger the main areas of concern.Chelsea are one of the clubs with serious interest in Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers along with Arsenal and Manchester United.In the goalkeeper department, they expect to put Mike Penders in first-team contention following his loan at Strasbourg but have been looking at others too, while in midfield, Sky Sports News understands Chelsea are admirers of Adam Wharton.The future of Enzo Fernandez may be pivotal to any bigger changes in midfield, with his name high on the list at Real Madrid. Fernandez is valued at more than £100m and Chelsea are not trying to sell the player. Contrary to reports, Manchester City are not looking to sign him.Chelsea have agreed the sale of Cucurella to Real Madrid which means they will likely have to sign a replacement, although Jorell Hato is in contention to take the starting left-back spot from the departing Spain full-back.With Emmanuel Emegha coming in from Strasbourg and Nicolas Jackson returning from his loan at Bayern Munich, there are doubts around the future of Liam Delap, with Chelsea having a surplus of strikers.Right-winger Geovany Quenda is set to arrive from Sporting CP following the deal Chelsea did last year, and manager Alonso will want to have a good look at all the players at his disposal before making final decisions.Coventry face a huge ask to try and stay in the Premier League after sealing promotion from the Championship as champions. Promoted clubs have spent north of £100m in recent seasons just attempting to give themselves a fighting chance.It remains to be seen whether the Sky Blues have that kind of money to throw at their survival bid and how they will do the work necessary to give Frank Lampard more than just a season in the top flight.Coventry are understood to be open to new players that can improve them in the majority of positions, but priorities currently are left-back, centre-back and the wings.Goalkepeer is another area that needs addressing, with last season's No 1, Carl Rushworth, returning to parent club Brighton after his loan. Coventry have seen a £20m bid for the Englishman knocked back.Reports have linked Coventry with Francisco Moura, a left-back at Porto, and Matheus Martins, a winger playing in Brazil.Crystal Palace can soon start to concentrate on strengthening their squad for a Europa League campaign, with Pierre Sage on the verge of becoming their new head coach.But equally important will be trying to keep some key players, notably Ismaila Sarr, Maxence Lacroix and the much sought-after Adam Wharton. He has been on the radars of all the big Premier League clubs and at least one is expected to bid this summer.Also in midfield, Palace want to try and convince Daichi Kamada to stay with the club following their Conference League triumph. Palace have also triggered an option in Jefferson Lerma's contract to keep him for one more season.But with a new head coach and so many games, there is real work to do to bolster the squad. Sage has been chosen in part due to his Lens team also playing a 3-4-2-1, so they are looking at signing another right wing-back, a centre-back, potentially two central midfielders and an attacking midfielder.Jean-Philippe Mateta's future is still uncertain after his January move to AC Milan broke down, and if another club meets their valuation for the 28-year-old, who is entering the final year of his deal, Palace are expected to go to the market for a replacement.Everton boss David Moyes has had a few positional priorities for a while. They have wanted to sign a right-back since long before last summer, while there is also a desire to upgrade their striker department.Those two positions remain high on the agenda, as does a new defensive midfielder, with Idrissa Gana Gueye out of contract. Although they would be open to keeping him, Everton have also been bidding for Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney.At least one offer has been made, but they face competition from clubs such as Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest - and, potentially, Spurs - for Hackney, who was Boro's player of the season.Then there is the interest in West Ham's Jarrod Bowen. Moyes was keen for the club to get him last summer and was prepared to pay £60m. Will they go in for him this summer following the Hammers' relegation?Everton were in for Liam Delap last summer before he joined Chelsea and now his future is uncertain they have looked into the possibility of a loan.At right-back, Everton had a four-man shortlist in January of Emile Holm, Brooke Norton-Cuffey, Zak El Ouadhi and Omar El Hilali. It remains to be seen which, if any, of these remain targets and who has been added. Arsenal's Ben White is deemed out of financial reach.Elsewhere, the club want another deal for Jack Grealish from Manchester City, another winger on top of that and potentially a backup goalkeeper and another left-back.Fulham's transfer business is up in the air somewhat, down to the fact that they need to find a new head coach to replace Marco Silva. Talks are progressing with former Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa.Getting a new coach over the line is the main objective at the moment, and Arbeloa, or whoever takes over, will have their own ideas on how the squad can be shaped.Fulham are in need of a refresh and there are some obvious holes that need filling regardless of who comes in. At least one striker is needed, with Raul Jimenez now a Wolves player and Rodrigo Muniz coming back from a long-term absence.Teenage forward Jonah Kusi-Asare spent last season on loan in west London from Bayern Munich without earning too many first-team minutes. According to Sky in Germany, Fulham want to negotiate a lower option price than the £10m that was initially agreed.They will also need at least one winger, with Samuel Chukwueze's loan from AC Milan coming to an end and Harry Wilson out of contract, and with interest from elsewhere.Fulham are also understood to be looking at adding to the right-back position.Hull City are expected to have the smallest budget in the Premier League, but they are looking to add more depth to their squad.The club will target quality, athleticism, and speed to help make them competitive in the Premier League next season.Every position is currently being assessed, but the aim is to supplement the strength of the current group rather than break up the squad that won promotion.Kieran McKenna's departure has been somewhat of a spanner in the works for Ipswich's summer window, but they still have ambitious plans after earning promotion back to the Premier League.Ipswich are willing to spend to stay in the top flight at the second time of asking under this ownership. As many as 10 new players could arrive as they look to bolster the squad.Irrespective of who replaces McKenna, Ipswich will be looking to bolster the squad in multiple positions all over the pitch to give the new head coach the best platform possible to avoid relegation.Ipswich are working hard to bring someone in within the next week to allow them to make headway with their summer recruitment, which will be crucial to their hopes of staying up.Leeds are facing a big summer window as they look to solidify their place in the Premier League. Daniel Farke wants to add more individual quality to a squad that has made a reputation for itself as being one of the toughest teams to come up against.Addressing the goalkeeper situation is a top priority. Talks continue with Karl Darlow, whose contract expires on July 1, but if he moves on, Leeds will potentially need to find a new No 1, with question marks about Lucas Perri after he was dropped.Leeds bid for Jorgen Strand Larsen in January but refused to match the £48m Crystal Palace paid Wolves. They may look to sign a striker again in this window. Relying on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, who both have patchy injury records, would be a gamble.Facundo Buonanotte is unlikely to return after his underwhelming six-month loan from Brighton, but signing a forward that can play as a No 10 and a winger has been on the agenda over the last two windows since before Leeds missed out on Harry Wilson on Deadline Day.Striker Joel Piroe and winger Wilfried Gnonto are both facing uncertain futures. Piroe chose to stay at Leeds in the previous window despite widespread interest in the Championship as well from Celtic, while Gnonto is wanted by Bundesliga club Freiburg.Leeds are thin on the left side of defence, with Gabriel Gudmundsson and Pascal Struijk the only natural options. Farke coped thanks to the adaptability of James Justin and he might look to add another defender with the same versatility this summer.Liverpool are planning to sign two wingers to replace Mohamed Salah with Yan Diomande considered the top target. There is a lot of competition for the 19-year-old, who is valued at more than £86m by RB Leipzig and currently at the World Cup with Ivory Coast.Diomande, who can play on both wings, possesses the versatility Liverpool are prioritising this summer as they seek to rebuild their forward line with players that can be adaptable, providing Andoni Iraola with more options than his predecessor in case injuries arise.Right-back is another pressing area for Liverpool, who lost Conor Bradley to a knee injury in January, because last summer's signing Jeremie Frimpong failed to make the position his own, while there is also uncertainty around Joe Gomez's future.Despite the departure of Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool do not consider signing a new centre-back to be a priority with the £60m arrival of Jeremy Jacquet and the return of teenager Giovanni Leoni, who has been out with an ACL injury since September.However, their lack of Premier League experience could see Liverpool revisit their stance later in the window. An option, like Gomez, who can play both right-back and centre-back, would solve a lot of Liverpool's problems at the back.Kostas Tsimikas' return from his loan at Roma could ease the urgency to bring in a left-back replacement for the departing Andy Robertson if he impresses. All players will have a clean slate under Iraola, which is potentially good news for Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott.Ryan Gravenberch's emergence as a No 6 in Arne Slot's first year put plans to bring in a holding midfielder further down the priority list at Liverpool but the team's performances in the season just gone have highlighted a need for reinforcements in that position.Manchester City still need to resolve the compensation for Enzo Maresca to become their head coach but have not let that stop them from making transfer moves this summer as they work on the mega-signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.Anderson could cost in the region of the £125m Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak last summer as Forest hold out for a British record transfer. City still have work to do once their top midfield target is signed with plans to add a striker and a right-back.City want to bring in another forward to support star striker Erling Haaland and have Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi on their list of targets. RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande is also liked, but there is a huge amount of competition for the 19-year-old.For the right-back position, City have been closely monitoring Feyenoord's Givairo Read to provide extra competition for makeshift defender Matheus Nunes. Newcastle's Tino Livramento is another full-back City have previously been interested in.Back-up goalkeeper James Trafford's future is uncertain after he had to settle for playing in the cup competitions last season following Gianluigi Donnarumma's arrival on Deadline Day. If Trafford does decide to look for a first-team role elsewhere, City will need a replacement.Manchester United are poised to sign midfielder Ederson from Atalanta once the World Cup is over after his late Brazil call-up shortly followed a deal being agreed at £38m. At least one more midfielder is expected as United look to replace the departing Casemiro.Elliot Anderson has admirers at Old Trafford but United are reluctant to get into a bidding war and Man City have already shown their willingness to go above £100m. A bid for West Ham's Mateus Fernandes is expected while Bournemouth's Alex Scott is also high on the list.If Manuel Ugarte leaves then there is a possibility for United to add a third midfielder. United hope the Uruguay international's performances at the World Cup will increase his value with Ugarte one of a few first team players they are expecting to move on this summer.Marcus Rashford's future will need to be resolved after Barcelona decided against triggering their £26m option to buy. The Spanish champions are open to another loan, but United are understood to be confident about finding a buyer for the winger.Joshua Zirkzee's potential exit could open the door to a versatile forward being signed after he played a peripheral role under both Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick last season. Benjamin Sesko is currently the only natural senior striker in the squad.United are also considering adding a left winger and are one of the many clubs with an interest in RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, while Everton's Iliman Ndiaye is another player they admire, although Patrick Dorgu is set to play in an attacking role moving forward.That could see United's left-back search take priority with Newcastle's Lewis Hall and Fulham's Antonee Robinson among the options being monitored as potential long-term successors to Luke Shaw, who is entering the final year of his contract.Newcastle are taking an entirely different approach this summer after missing out on European qualification. New sporting director Ross Wilson will be overseeing a complete rebuild alongside head coach Eddie Howe with a focus on bringing in younger players.There could be between six and 10 new arrivals, and it is expected that many of these signings will be from Europe because of the inflated prices for domestic players and Newcastle's need to be astute financially after dropping out of the Champions League.Newcastle's early move for Osasuna's 22-year-old winger Victor Munoz is a good example of the type of deals they will look to do. This is more akin to the transfer approach earlier in Howe's tenure when Newcastle brought in the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.It is hoped this summer will give Howe a chance to refresh the squad and build a new team. Newcastle want to add a striker and a left-winger and could sign a player for each position at the back, another goalkeeper after Ewen Jaouen's arrival, and a defensive midfielder.James Trafford was Newcastle's first-choice keeper target last summer and remains one of their top targets heading into this window after he fell down the pecking order at Man City following the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma on Deadline Day.Nottingham Forest want to sign two central midfielders this summer with many expecting Elliot Anderson to leave. If he does move on, with Man City his most likely destination, Forest will have plenty of cash to play with in the summer window.Forest may have to stomach Anderson leaving, but any offers for their other stars like Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Nikola Milenkovic are expected to be knocked back. Murillo has also just signed a new contract and is expected to stay at the City Ground.Much of Forest's business will be dependent on the potential sale of Anderson. Along with two central midfielders, they are prioritising the signing of a goalkeeper and a central defender to cover for the potential departures of John Victor and Morato.Goalkeepers Stefan Ortega and Angus Gunn are confirmed to be leaving upon the expiry of their contracts along with veteran defender Willy Boly and they are likely to be joined through the exit door by full-back Nicolo Savona this summer.If a suitable offer came in for Taiwo Awoniyi then Forest would look to bring in a replacement striker, and the same would be the case for attacking midfielder James McAtee, who has attracted plenty of interest since moving to the City Ground last summer.Sunderland's outstanding summer window a year ago, in which they spent more than £180m on 13 permanent signings, set Regis Le Bris' side up for an incredible campaign as they finished seventh on their Premier League return to qualify for the Europa League.It will be hard to replicate such a transformative window, but there is certainly work to be done for Sunderland this summer as they look to add depth to a squad that will now be playing three games a week for much of the season.Dan Neil, Dennis Cirkin, Bertrand Traore and Niall Huggins are leaving as free agents, while Sunderland say discussions are continuing over signing Luthsharel Geetruida permanently after their option to buy included in his loan from RB Leipzig expired.Sunderland may have to dip into the market for right-back and holding midfield cover in the event that they fail to agree a permanent deal for the versatile Netherlands international, with Le Bris set to rely on his squad even more next season.Defence is likely to be an area of focus regardless of Geetruida's future, while Traore's exit leaves Sunderland short on left-wing options and they are set to explore potential options in that position this summer.Tottenham have got to work early on rebuilding their squad for Roberto De Zerbi by signing centre-back Marcos Senesi on a free transfer, and Andy Robertson is set to join him. Spurs still want to add another defender and are pursuing Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke.Brighton have made a £30m bid for Spurs' teenager centre-back Luka Vuskovic. The 19-year-old, who established himself as one of Europe's top young defenders on loan at Hamburg, is keen to move to Brighton, but Spurs are unlikely to accept the current deal on the table.Improving the technical quality of the squad is a priority as Spurs look to create a group capable of playing in the style of De Zerbi, who will have the final say on all transfers this summer. Finding a central midfielder who can dictate play is a key part of the plan.Spurs have been searching for a winger to replace Heung-Min Son for a year but have so far been unsuccessful, failing with moves for Bryan Mbeumo and Antoine Semenyo. Man City's Savinho is one of the players on their list this summer.De Zerbi also wants to bring in another striker perhaps with the ability to play across the whole front line, to give him a variety of options in case Spurs' injury crisis does not let up next season.Spurs may also need to sign another goalkeeper if Guglielmo Vicario returns to Italy. Juventus have him on their list as they evaluate a potential transfer, while Inter were previously interested. Antonin Kinsky kept the No 1 spot for the run-in under De Zerbi.Do not rule out a permanent move for Joao Palhinha if Spurs can agree a fee with Bayern Munich after the set option price expired after the end of the season. Spurs face potential competition for his signature from Sporting.

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Every player at this World Cup has their own story of how they made it to what Gianni Infantino calls the '104 Super Bowls' that will make up this tournament. But for Ben Waine, it all felt very far away when he was out of the Port Vale squad not so long ago."It has been a tough season. I'm not going to lie," he tells Sky Sports. "There was a good amount of time where I wasn't in the squad at all. It sucked in the moment but it was probably one of the best things to happen to me. I was really able to work on my game."Although Port Vale were relegated, the 25-year-old New Zealand forward turned things around on a personal level, scoring the winning goal against Sunderland in a memorable FA Cup tie in March. "It made a tough season a little bit more bearable," he explains.And the goal itself was the product of those hours that he put in. Waine credits the one-on-one sessions that he had with individual coach Simon Ireland. "Literally, every day we would work on one or two types of finish, just focusing on the technique," he says."It was about trying to find that composure, that finish that I could go to without thinking so it became instinct. It gave me real purpose. I knew what I was working towards. Even when things were not going well, I had that to work on. It made me relax a bit more."How did that help? "Because I was so desperate to do well, I was rushing actions in front of goal." And, while much of the work was on his shooting technique, the header that did for Sunderland came as a result of those sessions. He had pictured that goal."The second finishing drill we didn't do a huge amount of but I did a lot of visualising of it off the field as well. And the one goal that I actually pictured was that Sunderland goal, the kind of loopy header back across the goalkeeper. I had actually visualised it."It does not seem like one you would practise when you are just working on the technique of hitting the ball but that action of going across the goalkeeper is one we had worked on and it just became a bit more natural. It was really cool to see that come off."Waine, whose family are Newcastle supporters, memorably celebrated with an Alan Shearer goal salute in front of the travelling Sunderland fans. "It was just awesome. I had never seen the stadium like that before. It was absolutely bouncing," he recalls.It was one of eight goals that he scored for Port Vale, underlining the turnaround in his fortunes. "I kind of took it with both hands. It sounds silly but I actually enjoyed playing my football again." That reflects the fact that the move to England has not been easy.Waine left Wellington Phoenix to sign for Plymouth Argyle in January of 2023. The Devon club were in League One at the time and it was a big challenge to adapt his game to the demands of English football - a challenge that became harder once Plymouth went up."I knew the jump to League One would be big. Not technically, but in terms of intensity and physicality, the adjustment was massive. And then you get this amazing promotion and you are playing Championship football all of a sudden. It almost came too quickly."There were a couple of goals at Championship level, one coming against Leeds United at Elland Road. But he was loaned to Mansfield in search of more minutes and could not find them. "That just did not work out at all." Was he ever tempted to go home?"I promised myself that however hard it got I was not going to go back. That would have been the easy option. I stuck it out and have come out of it as a better player and a better person." And he now has his reward, going into a World Cup with real belief.Waine has played in two Olympic Games for New Zealand so he has experience of big international occasions. "France in the Velodrome was an awesome game to be a part of." But he knows the World Cup will be different. "It is going to be another level up."The All Whites have already had a taste of that in their preparation. Although Waine scored in a 4-1 win over Chile in March, there have been defeats to Colombia, Ecuador and Finland before recent losses to Haiti and England. They have felt the level rise."You have to realise that when we are stepping up and playing harder opposition, we cannot expect the results to be perfect. We have had to mentally adjust." For Waine, there could be a positional adjustment to make too if he is to see World Cup action.Although he describes himself as "a running nine" who likes to "press hard and get in behind the opposition" he knows Chris Wood is New Zealand's most celebrated player. Having experience of playing from the left at Port Vale could prove very helpful."At the start, I was a bit hesitant but I see it as a really positive thing. It just felt really natural. I am actually playing on the left, on the right and down the middle now. It adds another dynamic, which should help my case." Because there will be no ousting Wood.What has he learned from his country's record scorer? Patience is one trait that stands out. "As a striker, you can barely touch the ball all game but when that one chance comes, you had better take it. He has proven time and time again that he can do that."One chance. That is what Waine is hoping for now. "There is going to be that opportunity to be the hero. You just want that one moment." New Zealand face Iran first up before taking on Egypt and Belgium. They are not fancied but there are more daunting groups."My first thought was that we have actually got a chance here. Everyone sees us as underdogs but we want to take the opportunity that is in front of us. We want to get our first win on the world stage and we want to get out of the group for the first time ever."He is not optimistic about getting Mohamed Salah's shirt. "I am assuming there will be a few people pulling rank." But maybe he will get something more significant. A World Cup moment. Another Shearer celebration? "Maybe it will reappear," he says, laughing.The aim, as ever, is just to give himself the best chance of success. "To squeeze the most out of my potential." And after what he calls "a lot of ups and downs" he has given himself that chance to do something really special. "It just has to be taken really."

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CommentsHe was recruited on social media to play for a tiny island nation 3,000 miles from where he was born, and now a former Dublin bank worker looks set to face Spain at the World Cup.Roberto Lopes' story sounds so far fetched even Hollywood scriptwriters might consider it implausible."I was not enjoying the work," says the 33-year-old about his desk job as he reflects on a wild, inspirational journey, from being a white-collar worker in the Republic of Ireland to playing for Cape Verde at their first World Cup.The defender, nicknamed 'Pico', was a newly qualified mortgage adviser 10 years ago, playing part-time for Bohemians in the League of Ireland.Then, in 2017, Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers offered Lopes a chance to give up his day job and throw himself into a full-time football career.Lopes is expected to start for minnows Cape Verde when they face 2010 world champions Spain on Monday in Group H in Atlanta (17:00 BST kick-off).The former Republic of Ireland Under-19 player's first appearances for the Blue Sharks came in 2019.Rui Aguas, the team's coach at the time, made contact via business network LinkedIn when he discovered Lopes' father, Carlos, was from Cape Verde - a country made up of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa.Former Benfica striker Aguas' original message was written in Portuguese and Lopes, who still plays for Shamrock Rovers, unintentionally blanked him."I thought it was a spam message and I took no notice of it," he tells BBC Sport. "And then about nine months later, he messaged me back, saying, 'Hi Roberto, have you had a chance to consider what I said to you?'."I felt so rude for not having replied to him months earlier."I copied the message and put it into Google Translate and it basically said, 'We're looking at getting new players into the Cape Verde squad and would you be interested in declaring for Cape Verde?'."I was absolutely buzzing with that. I was like, 'Yep, 100% I'd love to be a part of the squad'."It has been a whirlwind few months for Lopes, a regular starter for the Blue Sharks over the past seven years.Days after helping Cape Verde qualify for the World Cup, he became a father for the first time after his wife, Leah, gave birth to son Diego."From when I was a young child, and I imagine every aspiring footballer when they were young, they wanted to play at the highest level possible and, for me, it doesn't go any further than the World Cup," adds Lopes."Being able to represent my family playing for the national team and being able to put our family name out there at one of the biggest sporting events in the world fills me with great pride."Cape Verde's appearance at the 2026 World Cup, where they will also face Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, looks set to provide one of the feel-good tales of the tournament, an underdog story for the ages.When Anselmo 'Jair' Ribeiro played for the Blue Sharks, they were ranked 182nd in the world and the prospect of them appearing at the tournament seemed unthinkable.Jair, who helped his country win the Amilcar Cabral Cup - a regional competition for countries in the west of Africa in 2000 - tells BBC Sport: "I used to tell people where I was from and they'd ask: 'Where's that?'"Back then the former midfielder and forward had to pay for his own plane tickets so he could play for Cape Verde, who are now 67th in the world rankings.It has been an astonishing rise for the country - home to around 525,000 people - who only joined Fifa in 1986.Since then they have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations four times, while they are about to become one of the smallest nations in terms of population to ever play at a World Cup.Indeed, some locals have likened the former Portuguese colony's participation as the biggest thing to happen since independence was gained on 5 July 1975.Although football is the number one sport, the Cape Verdean Football Federation has just seven full-time staff, while tickets for international home matches are sold in local bakeries and petrol stations."We've been building up to this moment for years," says Jair, now 51. "I think about my grandfather, my grandmother. I get so emotional talking about it because they aren't here to witness this historical moment for our country."At Thony's Barbershop in Dorchester, a vibrant and diverse neighbourhood a few minutes' drive from downtown Boston, an inflatable blue and white shark hangs from the ceiling.The Blue Sharks may appear small fry at this World Cup compared to heavyweights like Spain, but they are dreaming big in this part of Massachusetts after Fifa expanded the 32-team format to 48 for the finals co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.There are blue, white and red scarves on display and on one of the walls is a pennant that reads Federacao Cabo Verdiana de Futebol (Cape Verdean Football Federation)."My customers don't just come for a haircut - they come to talk," owner Antonio Alves tells BBC Sport."We're one big family. We have conversations about life, politics and sport."Since Cape Verde qualified back in October, there has only been one topic of conversation."It means everything that Cape Verde will be playing in the United States at the World Cup," adds Alves, who left his birth nation for America at the age of 18 before taking over his father's business.Cape Verdeans arrived in Massachusetts in waves of migration from the 1850s as whalers and seamen. The state is home to the largest Cape Verdean population in the United States, with estimates ranging from roughly 70,000 to over 90,000 residents.Alves regularly returns to his homeland to support the team and was in the 15,000-capacity national stadium in Praia, the capital, when the Blue Sharks beat Eswatini to book their place at the finals and leave fans shedding tears of joy."The rest of the world said, 'No chance, no way are Cape Verde getting this close'. But here we are," he says.Alves and his wife, Neuza, have helped fund tickets to allow children across Cape Verde to attend international matches in Praia."Every kid playing football in Cape Verde has a dream to become a professional player," he adds. "Every island you go, on every corner, you will find kids playing, some of them barefoot. They just want to play."Alves will be making the 1,000-mile journey from Boston to Atlanta for Cape Verde's historic first World Cup game, but the giant television in Thony's Barbershop will be showing the game live for the locals to watch."There will be free snacks, free drinks, you know, for people to come and enjoy," he says."This is the power of sport. There are a lot of people in this community who don't follow football, but they've been coming into the shop to ask questions."When's the game? Where's the game? Can I watch? Can I go? Can I come to the shop?"This is the power of sport, getting people together."Everything you need to know about the World Cup

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There are no two players more pivotal to the Manchester City-Liverpool rivalry that dominated the Premier League in the late 2010s and early 2020s than Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah.After years battling for supremacy in English football, the two meet, perhaps for one final time, as Belgium take on Egypt in the opening Group G contest of the 2026 World Cup on Monday evening.Both men will be 34 come kick-off, with Salah’s birthday coinciding with the game. The chances of either competing at another World Cup aren't impossible, but they are certainly slim.They may no longer be at their best, but Group G’s opener offers one final trip down memory lane as two of football’s greats look to write a last memorable chapter to their stories that bear some striking similarities.If anyone had told you what De Bruyne and Salah would become after their ill-fated spell at Chelsea, you'd probably laugh. The parallels of their struggles at Stamford Bridge are almost as mind-blowing as what they went on to achieve.Both were signed by Chelsea in January transfer windows just two years apart. De Bruyne would end up making just nine appearances, whereas Salah managed 10 more.As for the Belgian, then Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho claimed to have no regrets over letting him go despite admitting he did want to keep him. He also refuted any blame for selling Salah, having originally signed him in 2014.World Cup 2026 fixture schedule - your day-by-day guideWorld Cup 2026 dates, venues and expanded formatBoth were sent on loan to Werder Bremen and Fiorentina respectively, before securing permanent moves to the same country as Wolfsburg and Roma came calling.After settling in during their first seasons, they sprang to life during the second. Forty-four goal contributions in 56 games for De Bruyne. Thirty-three in 41 for Salah. Man City and Liverpool came calling and the rest was, quite literally, Premier League history.Not only did they go on to enjoy great collective success, winning multiple league titles, domestic cups and a Champions League apiece. They also stood out individually.Salah notched four Premier League golden boots. De Bruyne matched that feat in assists. The Egyptian broke the record for most goals in a single 38-game season (32 in 2017/18) before Erling Haaland took it. De Bruyne joined Thierry Henry with the most seasonal assists (20 in 2019/20) before Bruno Fernandes claimed it outright this past campaign.They left a year apart and their legacies in English football have been cemented. But who can come out on top in what could well be their final meeting?The Group G opener will be the 20th meeting between these two icons. Who leads the way? Despite City being more trophy-laden over their respective tenures, it is Salah who comes out on top.The Egyptian King has come out on top in 10 of their previous 19 fixtures, with De Bruyne winning just five. Only one of those came in an international game, where Egypt won 2-1 in a World Cup warm-up game four years ago.Ultimately, it matters little in the grand context of the tournament if De Bruyne can at least restore some parity in that department. But what are the goals for these two this summer?De Bruyne publicly said in 2022 that Belgium were 'too old' to win the World Cup. There are some newer faces at the heart of the Red Devils now, not least Jeremy Doku. However, the quality is still lacking from their 'golden generation' of 2018.As for Egypt, the record seven-time AFCON winners haven't found success with their most famous player at the heart of it. That will irk Salah, who may have the country's best World Cup finish in mind. They've only made it out of the group stages once, in 1934. To match the current best Round of 16 qualification would be a mighty fine achievement especially since they have to play an extra game to get there.When these two meet though, it won't truly be about any of that. It will be about two of the faces of modern Premier League football reigniting for one of the most respectful rivalries there is.Often when you have two top players from opposing teams that are at each other's throats, you expect animosity. Not between these two. They have only ever waxed lyrical about one another.When De Bruyne left Man City in 2025, Salah told Gary Neville: "I want to tell him congratulations for your career. He's done a phenomenal job at City, and he was great for the league."When the shoe was on the other foot, De Bruyne said of Salah: "I think he's unbelievable. Nobody expected it. To score that many goals."It's certainly not the level of animosity you'd have found from Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira. That's what makes it so easy to sit back and enjoy what could well be their final battle.Are they the same players? No. De Bruyne has suffered injuries and Salah just posted his worst return in a decade. But they are still capable of producing incredible moments. Salah did just break the record for most Premier League goal involvements at a single club after all.Maybe facing off against the other could be the source of inspiration to make a memorable start to their respective World Cup campaigns.

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Rarely has a team arrived at a World Cup carrying so much political baggage than Iran.Until this week, the host nation, the United States, had been at war with the country.The team has faced visa problems. They have had to relocate their base camp. And when they take to the pitch here in Los Angeles on Monday (Tuesday, 02:00 BST), they will do so under the gaze of one of the world's largest Iranian diasporas.An agreement to halt hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz was announced on Sunday. It may have eased fears of further escalation, but tensions remain high."This kind of tension undermines the joy of the World Cup," said striker Mehdi Taremi."I felt the tension from the first moment we arrived. The tension started even before we got here."After months of uncertainty, Iran moved their World Cup base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to the Mexican border city of Tijuana.The decision followed concerns over visas, security and the increasingly fraught political climate surrounding the team's participation.Iran's manager, Amir Ghalenoei, told the BBC the disruption had inevitably affected preparations."Without any doubt, this kind of behaviour has impacted the spirit of football," he said."Football is supposed to bring nations and cultures together. It is about bringing joy. These conditions have affected our focus, but I have tried to make sure the players concentrate on strategy and performance."He added that the team had arrived late and had little time to adjust."But I know how committed these players are to performing."Los Angeles is often nicknamed "Tehrangeles" - a fact that drew smiles from both player and manager when it was mentioned at the news conference.Many Iranian-Americans will be heading to SoFi Stadium on Monday where Iran will open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand.Many will not be there to cheer, but to protest.The decision has angered parts of the diaspora."You don't come to Los Angeles and tell us we can't fly the Lion and Sun flag," said activist Arezo Rashidian, who is helping organise demonstrations outside the stadium."This is the largest Iranian community outside Iran. Many of us came here after the revolution. We're opposing Fifa's ban and standing in solidarity with the people of Iran."Many members of the diaspora are hostile towards Iran's regime, and some see the squad as an extension of the Islamic Republic."It's unfortunate that the regime turns athletes into mouthpieces." said Rashidian. "We want athletes to remain athletes."Despite that, she and many others still plan to attend the match."We understand the pressure they're under," she said. "We'll carry our colours. We'll cheer for Iran - the country - held captive by the Islamic Republic."But while protesters prepare to make their voices heard outside the stadium, Iran's players say their focus remains on football."As players of the national team, we play for every single Iranian, whether in the diaspora or in Iran," Taremi said."In every country people have different opinions. We are here to unite people and bring joy. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We don't get involved in politics."But for Iran's team, keeping politics outside the stadium could prove difficult in a tournament where football has often felt like a sideshow for this squad."There is no winning for Iran's team," investigative football journalist Samindra Kunti said."Given the circumstances, the political pressure, the location of the matches and the diaspora in Los Angeles, they're under enormous pressure.""It's impossible to avoid the politics."Everything becomes a reminder of their situation."The players face pressure from home, pressure from the host nation and pressure from a diaspora determined to make its voice heard.Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameEverything you need to know about the World Cup

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Fenway Park, Boston. It is a humid Sunday night, about 21:00 local time, and things on the field are not going well.The Red Sox are trailing by three going into the seventh, in an all-too-familiar scenario this season for fans at baseball's iconic old lady."A few weeks ago, fans came to watch with bags over their heads, they were that disillusioned," one supporter explains from the seat behind.But then, piercing through east coast accents bellowing "cold beer" and "get your hot dogs" from the sellers patrolling the aisles and the chatter rattling around the rows from the old main stand, an instantly distinguishable song suddenly cranks through the speaker suspended above."Mister, your eyes are full of hesitation…"What was to follow will be remembered forever by all who were there to witness it in a mixture of intriguing bewilderment and unbridled joy.The last few days have been like no other in Boston. A Scotland invasion has swept across the city for this World Cup, a pilgrimage so many Scots never thought they would get to make. There are families here where multiple generations have never seen the likes.The Tartan Army has been incredibly well received everywhere, embraced like a long-lost relative at a family reunion.They were naturally in good spirits after their team's World Cup win against Haiti as they descended on Fenway in the summer sunshine for a 'Scottish Celebration' night as the Red Sox took on the Rangers.The evening is the brainchild of Travis Pollio, director of ticket strategy and promotions at the Sox. Standing at the corner of Jersey Street and Van Ness Street, he predicts about 4,000 Scots are expected, his voice barely audible over the pipe band firing up over his shoulder.A gaggle of kilted men soon make it even harder with an impromptu verse of 'Red Sox Tartan Army' at him from 10 yards away.It turns out to be a very modest estimate. Of the 32,000 souls shoehorned around the mystical playing field, it almost feels like you are at Hampden. That you could treble that 4,000 and not be overstating matters.Scotland fans are gifted special edition blue tartan Red Sox jerseys and there are probably more of those filtering into the ground than red and white ones.Tessie and Wally, the franchise's green monster mascots, appear in Highland dress near first base as the formalities began and the fans settled in.Proceedings kick off with a respectful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, before the Tartan Army gives an acapella blast of Flower of Scotland.As the Sox toil in the early innings, the Scots find their voice and charm. Across the aisle at the back of block eight, one newcomer from the other side of the Atlantic is being educated about innings, pitching counts and the intricacies of on-field actions.In return, the man in the baseball jersey is informed on matters such as John McGinn's 'Meatball' moniker and why people are singing about him. He nods politely.On the odd occasion where the home team manage to get someone back for a home run, the Scots - many of whom packed out the bleacher end at the far side of the ground - celebrate with fervour normally reserved for a Scott McTominay bicycle kick.It is a night of embracement and friendship, two groups of people hurled together by a love of sport. A clear camaraderie flows through the place, almost as much as the beer.A glimpse of the organist with a 'No Scotland, No Party' piece of paper propped up at his window flashes on the screen before his fingers merrily dance to the tune of Loch Lomond. At another stoppage, the Scotland fans in the stands go berserk when a young couple get engaged live on the huge screen. All very wholesome.Looming across from the grandstand is the Green Monster, an imposing 37-foot high left-field wall with a couple of rows of seating atop.One especially sweet swing of the bat sends the ball hurtling through the Boston sky like a heat-seeking missile, only to be plucked out of the air by a young child wearing a Scotland kit. A moment to cherish and a ball to plonk on the mantelpiece.Someone get that lad a pair of goalkeeper's gloves, please.Despite a spirited rally, the Red Sox lose 6-4. Although it was not a main priority from everyone in the ground."Class night, but what was the score? We thought it was 1-0," read a message from one Scotland fan.The Bostonians who drifted away into the darkness will naturally be disappointed at the defeat, but it will surely have been a loss cushioned by the unique presence of droves of singing and dancing Scotsmen, women and children who made their home their own and took their cause to their hearts.Sport can do special things. It's not all about the result - although it was on Saturday - it can be about bringing people together.On one summer's night in Massachusetts, it did that magically.

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39 CommentsWhen Graham Potter strode out to Sweden training last week donning a Stetson, it was a bit of fun to get into the World Cup mood as they prepared for the tournament in Texas.Some might have quipped that the cowboy hat was fitting for a manager who was maybe drinking in last-chance saloon following back-to-back sackings in his previous jobs lasting a combined 15 months.But at Estadio Monterrey in Mexico, Potter's side showed they mean business in this competition after the fun at training from their head coach.A ruthless Sweden side stuck five past Tunisia as they tore their Group F rivals apart.For a manager who was dismissed by West Ham in September after failing at Chelsea before that, few would have expected him to be steering a nation to a winning start in the World Cup this summer."You never know, that's the truth," said Potter after the 5-1 win. "You never know how things are going to go. We were optimistic because we felt confident in the work."But until the game is played you don't know for sure. That's the beauty of sport. We are delighted with how we performed tonight and it's a great start for us."The five goals they scored against Tunisia was more than the four they scored in the entire group stage of their qualifying campaign - largely overseen by Potter's predecessor Jon Dahl Tomasson.It was under the Dane that Sweden's hopes of automatic World Cup qualification from their group became impossible.After his dismissal, Potter was appointed Sweden boss back in October but the damage was done and he could not stop them finishing bottom of the group behind Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia without a single victory in six games.However, they reached the play-off path courtesy of their Uefa Nations League ranking (34).That gave Potter the chance to help Sweden to the World Cup but also show those doubting his managerial credentials that he still has what it takes to deliver on the big stage.They beat Ukraine and Poland to get to this tournament in those play-offs and now, after this thrashing of Tunisia, they will be confident of progressing to the knockout stages.Isak and Gyokeres star as Sweden thrash TunisiaPotter's Zlatan texts, overcoming failure & finding joy in SwedenPotter had won just six of his 23 Premier League games in charge of the Hammers. It followed an unsuccessful stint at Chelsea where the job appeared too big for him after he had impressed at Brighton.The Solihull-born coach had become bristly with the media during his time in England in high-pressured jobs.But he seems refreshed and reborn in the Sweden role. He is back in the country he really cut his teeth as a manager, where he took Ostersunds FK from the fourth tier to the top flight, winning the domestic cup and leading them into their first European campaign.It is why, before the tournament, he spoke to BBC Sport, about how he feels Swedish."I feel very Swedish when I'm working," he said. "I even look a bit Swedish. Two of my children were born in Sweden. I had seven unforgettable years at Ostersunds, with memories that will stay with me for life."I came from the fourth tier of Swedish football, which is quite low, and worked my way up through the system to the Allsvenskan."You almost become Swedish in a coaching sense because of the experiences you have. I think it has definitely helped."Now I'm working for the Swedish FA as head coach of the national team, so I feel very Swedish."On his Instagram account, Potter has shared images of himself exploring the country's natural landscapes with his family, reading Nordic literature and taking part in cultural events.Yet he has obviously not just been busy being a tourist but has been working hard to prepare them for this and they could not have got off to a better start.The return to full fitness of Liverpool striker Alexander Isak is of course a major positive and how the £125m player linked up well with Arsenal frontman Viktor Gyokeres will be a joy for Potter to see.The pair both assisted each other for their goals which will delight their manager.That is an expensive yet, formidable attack for the country back on international football's biggest stage after missing out on the 2022 tournament in Qatar and they can give any nation problems if they're firing.Potter must blend the rest of the squad together and, given only Victor Lindelof has played in this competition before - goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfelt was an unused substitute in Russia in 2018 - they will need guidance if they are to beat the odds and go further than many are expecting them to.But given this format it means they are already well-placed to reach the last 32.Of course, there will be obviously tougher tests than Tunisia, who are ranked 56th in the world. That will come against Netherlands on Saturday (18:00 BST)."We just focus on what we can do, we focus on our performances," Potter added in his post-match press conference."It doesn't matter what people think from the outside or opinions."That's the beauty of the World Cup everyone has predictions and forecasts but we have to focus on our job and how we play as a team."We will meet another top team at the weekend who are one of the favourites for the competition."Sweden's two best performances in this tournament have been third-placed finishes.The first came in 1958 when another English man in George Raynor was their manager and the second was in 1994 when the competition was also staged in the USA.Good omens for Potter? It is certainly looking more positive for the cowboy hat-wearing manager.Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameEverything you need to know about the World Cup

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The rules are simple. Each day there's a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible.After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. But, if you get your answer in as few guesses as possible, you get more points.Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional.So, take part in quiz number one and return for more tomorrow.Today's player and clues are set by BBC Sport's Flora Snelson.After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.What information do we collect from this quiz?More 'Who am I?' quizzesWho am I? Guess World Cup star No 7Quiz: Name every nation at the 2026 World CupCan you name every player with 100 Premier League goals?Can you name the 10 Lionesses with most England caps?

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Chief football writer in DallasPublished1 hour ago36 CommentsLiverpool's new head coach Andoni Iraola will use the World Cup as a fact-finding mission on the players he has inherited, as well as scouting those he could add to refresh a squad that suffered in a miserable defence of their Premier League title.As he settles in after succeeding sacked Arne Slot, Spaniard Iraola will have had an intriguing day gathering intelligence as he had an interest in all games on day four of the tournament.So what will have caught Iraola's eye as he formulates his plot to revive Liverpool after arriving from Bournemouth?Florian Wirtz arrived at Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen last summer amid great fanfare in a then-British record £116m deal - but remained an enigma as he fell far short of expectations.Liverpool still have huge hopes for a gifted attacking player who has only just turned 23, which means one of Iraola's main tasks is to find a settled position for the German to release the talent he demonstrated before moving to Anfield.This is why Iraola will have been intrigued by what he saw from Wirtz in Germany's 7-1 win against Curacao in their opening World Cup game.The context must be that this was against a side ranked 82nd in the world, but in the colours of his country and in favourable conditions, Wirtz showed some golden touches.In his first campaign at Anfield, Wirtz too often appeared a square peg in a round hole, playing in behind the strikers as well on the flanks, but never flourishing.In Houston, Wirtz played on the left, perhaps giving Iraola food for thought, especially as Cody Gakpo had a poor season in that position. He created Germany's opening goal for Felix Nmecha with the sort of delicate touch and quick thinking that eluded him for much of last term.Wirtz had 39 touches in the final third, instrumental as Germany ran riot.Former England striker Chris Sutton, in Houston for BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "The mitigation must be that this was Curacao, but the Liverpool fans who watched the game, especially in the first half, would be wondering if it was the same Florian Wirtz who played for them last season."He looked happy in a German jersey, at ease and playing with freedom."Sutton added: "He was sharp off the left, drifting inside to play quick, incisive passes. He was creative and cunning. He looked unburdened. He was a real menace with Jamal Musiala."Iraola will hope to lift the weight off Wirtz's shoulders at Liverpool.Virgil van Dijk will remain one of the main pillars of Iraola's new Liverpool era. This impression was only confirmed by his performance for the Netherlands in their 2-2 draw with Japan in Dallas.The result was a disappointment for Ronald Koeman's side, who lost the lead twice, but Van Dijk was voted man of the matchVan Dijk, who will be 35 in July, scored a goal and was the main barrier of resistance in a Dutch defence that occasionally looked uncertain.He put the Netherlands ahead after 51 minutes with a precise header. Then, as Japan pressed late on, it was Van Dijk who almost saw out the win with a succession of towering headers.Ryan Gravenberch, who Iraola will hope to return to the majestic form he displayed as a holding midfielder when Liverpool won the Premier League in Slot's first season, was solid and created Van Dijk's opening goal with an inviting cross.In a statistical quirk, Gravenberch's delivery for Van Dijk is only the second ever World Cup goal scored and assisted by a Liverpool player, after Ian Callaghan set up Roger Hunt for England against France in 1966.Gravenberch also provided the assist for Crysencio Summerville's second goal for the Dutch.Iraola, however, may have wanted to see more from the third member of Liverpool's Dutch contingent as Cody Gakpo had a subdued match.Gakpo's game descended into predictability in Liverpool's struggles last season, too often resorting to simply cutting inside, a ploy easily detected by opponents as his form faded.He fell into similar traps against Japan, although Gakpo's cause was arguably not helped by coach Koeman's selection of Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven at left-back. A central defender by trade, Van de Ven offered little attacking assistance, allowing Japan to crowd Gakpo out.Gakpo also falls into the category of a player Iraola will hope to revive after a dramatic drop in standards last season.The task of filling the huge vacancy left by Mohamed Salah will be right at the top of Iraola's tasks when he settles behind his desk at Liverpool.RB Leipzig's 19-year-old Yan Diomande has been the name on the lips of many as the target to take the place of the 'Egyptian king'.Hs is one of Europe's hottest properties and showed exactly why Liverpool are being heavily touted - along with Champions League holders Paris St-Germain - as his next destination with a man-of-the-match performance rich in promise in Ivory Coast's 1-0 win against Ecuador.Diomande operated on the right flank in the first half, where he would play if he arrived at Liverpool to fill Salah's old role, then on the left after the break, creating five chances in total.He troubled Arsenal's Piero Hincapie in the opening 45 minutes with one electrifying run, leaving the Ecuador defender trailing to set up a chance for Nicolas Pepe. Diomande also showed power and sleight of foot to escape when Ecuador doubled up on him in an attempt to snuff out his threat.Diomande set up a second-half chance when Elye Wahi hit the woodwork, and his positive approach was reflected in 22 passes in the attacking third.There are, understandably at only 19, elements of rawness and wastefulness about Diomande's game, but there was enough evidence here to see why he will be on Liverpool's radar as they move to strengthen Iraola's new squad.And given Iraola's track record of moulding younger players at Bournemouth, such as 19-year-old Junior Kroupi and another teenager, Brazil forward Rayan, Diomande looks right up his street.Alexander Isak's record £125m move to Liverpool from Newcastle United became a nightmare of lost form and injuries in a disappointing campaign, with the Swede scoring only four goals in 22 appearances.The 26-year-old striker arrived short of fitness after a period of self-imposed exile on Tyneside, then broke his leg when scoring Liverpool's goal in a 2-1 win at Spurs in December.Iraola, therefore, will have been thrilled to see Isak showing scintillating form of old as he was instrumental as Sweden thrashed Tunisia 5-1 in Monterrey.Isak may have been the beneficiary of a goalkeeping error for his first-half goal, but the manner in which he ran at the Tunisian defence then showed the confidence to shoot will have heartened Iraola.He demonstrated strength and awareness to rob Tunisia captain Ellyes Skhiri and set up a goal for strike partner Viktor Gyokeres in the second half. It made Isak and Gyokeres only the second pair of Sweden team-mates to each record a goal and an assist in a World Cup match since 1966.Isak looked fit and in form, being named man of the match before going off in the closing seconds - and with fellow striker Hugo Ekitike out until next year with a Achilles tendon injury, Iraola will want Isak in peak condition next season.Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameEverything you need to know about the World Cup