Latest Sports Stories

Football News

It is more than two months since Viktor Gyokeres's 89th-minute goal sealed Sweden's extraordinary World Cup play-off victory over Poland at a delirious Strawberry Arena in Stockholm, but Graham Potter is still finding new ways to enjoy it."If you go to YouTube, you can watch the Swedish commentary. I didn't see it at the time but I looked at it a couple of months afterwards. Just the emotion in the voice. Then Viktor scores and it's like an out-of-body experience. I can only describe it as that."All our subs are just literally running on the pitch. There are 15 players on the pitch and I'm thinking, 'That's yellow cards, that's problems.' But, of course, it's a World Cup, so all the rules are out the window, you know? The feeling in the stadium was just incredible."Potter had never experienced jubilation like it. "The best night of my career." How did he celebrate? He smiles. "Got f****** p****d! You have to deal with the down times in football and then enjoy the times when it goes your way and you're maybe a bit lucky."The result is that Sweden, who finished bottom of their qualifying group, needing the lifeline of their Nations League performance to even take one of the four play-off spots, are now gearing up for only their second World Cup appearance since 2006.It is huge for the country. "From an economic perspective, from an aspirational perspective, for the kids," adds Potter, their head coach and now national hero, who, having only taken the job in October, is realising a childhood dream of his own."Obviously we know how times have changed, but my first football memory is '86, 11 years old, watching Diego Maradona rip football up. That's when I started to go, 'Wow, this is amazing.'"Back in those days, the World Cup was the only time you could see football on the telly, apart from maybe the FA Cup. As a kid, that's where I started. So, to get the chance to experience that and to work in that environment, it's a dream."Potter's last two club roles, with Chelsea and West Ham, ended unhappily. But he has extended his contract with Sweden to 2030 and, over the course of nearly an hour in his company in central London, it is clear he has been reinvigorated by his new position.It was of course in Sweden, during a spell in charge of Ostersunds, that his career took off. Pep Guardiola later described him as the best English manager. He might be crossing the Atlantic as England boss this summer had things worked out differently.But there is no doubting the authenticity of his feelings for Sweden. "Two of my kids were born in Sweden," he says. "I had seven unbelievable years there, memories that will stay with me for life. I've got an incredible amount to be grateful to the country for."For seven years it was my home. And now I'm working for the Swedish FA and I'm the head coach of the national team, so I feel very Swedish." He jokes that he looks Swedish too, although it doesn't help him avoid the attention of fans in the street. "I've got one of those faces that gets recognised, which is not a positive thing," he chuckles.He will sing their national anthem at the tournament and recalls the emotion of hearing it for the first time as head coach. "Really in the stomach. It's surprising. I think it's because you're aware that you're doing something for more than you. It's a bigger thing."The players and everybody connected with the team, if they weren't there, they would be supporting the team. That's the feeling you have. So, you can feel the intensity and the emotion is different, and I think that's what's beautiful about it."To be part of what we have achieved is amazing. It's so nice to have experienced that positivity through football because obviously recently I haven't had too much of that, so it's nice on a human level."As well as reopening his eyes to the beauty of football, the Sweden job is giving Potter a chance to rebuild his career. His sacking from West Ham in September, his second in two and a half years after Chelsea, was a low point which prompted introspection."Of course, you have to reflect on all these things that happen and try to put everything in perspective," he explains."But then sometimes in football, you just can't rationalise it, so you just go, 'OK, well, maybe it wasn't meant to be.'"And then you try to move on with your life. That's it really. The learnings you take, the learnings you have from these experiences, they're painful in a way because you have to go in."I won't share my learnings with you because it has f****** hurt me to get them, you know what I mean? And I think it should because that's how you improve. That's how you get better."There was a line that I heard: you've got to be prepared to face the bad stuff. The more you can prepare to face it, the more chance your life is better. That's how I see it."So, you could carry on like this all your life, and that's what it is, or you can accept things that are like, 'Oh, this could be tough' or 'this could be challenging'."And then maybe the flip side is that you get these beautiful moments. I will never forget that night in Stockholm."So, while there are some dark moments that of course you have to experience - and they're not very nice - there are some beautiful moments that you can't even describe."It helped, he adds, to throw himself into his new challenge quickly. Potter took the Sweden job, initially on a short-term deal, only a few weeks after his West Ham exit."Really, after West Ham, I could have done two things: I could have sat around and talked, done media, gone on TV and all that sort of stuff. Or I could go and work - and do something nice. It isn't nice if you don't win, so you have to win. Thankfully we did that."His focus now is on getting the maximum out of the group he has selected for the World Cup. Sweden face Tunisia in Monterrey in their opening game on June 15, then it's Netherlands in Houston on June 20 and Japan in Arlington on June 26.

Football News

“Everything went fast,” says Yan Diomande. Indeed, it is extraordinary now to think that this time last year Diomande’s entire senior career amounted to half a dozen starts for Leganes at the back end of last season as they were relegated from LaLiga.He scored in two of those six games, against Espanyol and Valladolid. Even his team did not find the net in the other four. But the teenager did enough to persuade RB Leipzig to part with €20m to bring him to the Bundesliga. Once there, he has been a revelation.Thrilling to watch and impossible to defend, Diomande is lightning, full of unpredictable enterprise. He has the things that cannot be coached and by listening to the things that can he is getting better. The very biggest clubs want him. The rest cannot afford him."This year was amazing for me," he says, in conversation with a select group of reporters from around the world. "To play in the AFCON at 19, to qualify for the World Cup, to play in the Champions League, and I am on my way to the World Cup. I am just proud."The numbers provide the context to explain the hype. This season, his very first in the Bundesliga, remember, brought 12 goals and eight assists. But perhaps most notably, it delivered 118 successful dribbles, 50 more than any other player in the competition.Diomande traumatised defenders. He scored on his debut and added a hat-trick against Eintracht Frankfurt in December. A clear bargain within weeks, it was soon inevitable that he would become Leipzig's record sale. How did the rest of football miss him?The origin story of football's next superstar is unusual. Born in Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire, he was just a boy when he moved to the United States in search of opportunity. "Living alone, it isn't a problem because it went like this since I was young," he explains."I did not live with my family. I left my family." The experience has moulded him. He describes it as easy "to go to another place to fight and train hard" because that is what he has always done. "I can live alone forever," he reiterates. "It is not a problem for me."He downplays the difficulty of his new start in the States. "It was easy. It is really difficult in Africa. I know I was alone and it was difficult with the language, with the culture. But it was a great experience." He trained at a specialist athletic academy in Florida.There, his talent was apparent and he was subsequently touted around Europe, briefly living a nomadic existence. He had trials up in Scotland, with Premier League clubs Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth. Again, he regards all this as an adventure."I did not know what was going on," he says, laughing. "For me, it was just funny moving from club to club like this, to see players like [Michael] Olise and [Eberechi] Eze. That was a good experience." He recalls visiting Olympiakos too. "Then I signed for Leganes."It proved an ideal landing base in Europe, high profile enough to catch the eye but just far enough from the spotlight to keep learning. "Everyone knows that I want to fight every day. I want to win every day. I want to do everything for the team," he says.Heroes? "My idol before was Cristiano Ronaldo and I also like R9 but I am looking at a lot of players like Vini and [Kylian] Mbappe. I am trying to look at players who play the same position as me to try to take the good things and reproduce them on the pitch."Already, Diomande himself is a role model. "I am happy to hear that and I want to keep going. I am a human being. I can make mistakes. If you did not do a good game, you need to recognise it and work hard for the next. I did a lot of **** games in the season."Diomande's humility is endearing and almost every sentence sounds like motivation. "Sometimes it is good to have pressure. You have to give everything, every day, every minute, every second. Every day you need to improve something, even one per cent."Particularly impressive is his obvious gratitude to Leipzig for believing in him. "Nobody knew me before," he concedes, with rare self-awareness about his own status then. "To put up €20 million, it is a lot to buy a talent nobody knows. That was a big risk for them."There is no pretence about the financial impact of the move, either. It changed his life. "I know you cannot buy happiness with money but this is one part of happiness. I got money from Leipzig to help my family, to bring my family here, to take care of them."He hints at the support he and his family received. "I have a lot of things that came up and nobody knows. Only the club helped me with this." Asked to elaborate on the specifics, he adds: "I cannot explain, it is too much. We would need more time."But it is enough to explain what is driving him on. "I want to thank everyone at the club who gave me this amazing opportunity to be here. The only thing I can do for them to say thanks is give everything on the pitch and this is what I am trying to do every day."Diomande has matured in Germany. He has always had a work ethic, a determination to maximise his potential. But life in Germany has taught greater discipline. "First of all, in Germany, there is no life," he says. "The life here is only work. It is work, work and work."He concedes that it was different at Leganes "because in Spain it is a little bit relaxed" whereas his season in the Bundesliga has brought more demands, a more professional environment that will undoubtedly prepare him better for the next steps in his career."We have everything. We have a structure and the club helps us. It is easy to work." Even if there was the odd issue as he adjusted to German efficiency. Diomande had to get used to the requirement that he must turn up 90 minutes before training even begins."I got a lot of fines because I was coming in 'late'. Not five minutes before [training starts] but 30 or 40 minutes before and they would say you are late. Nobody wants to lose money for free like this so I have learned a lot from that discipline," he reveals.Diomande laughs at the thought but clearly appreciates that this schooling has been to his benefit - in Leipzig and potentially beyond. "It is going to be more easy for me if I go somewhere else where it is more relaxed to get that adaptation quickly," he adds.Diomande's immediate priority is a first appearance at the World Cup with Cote d'Ivoire. The nation failed to qualify for the previous two tournaments and was unable to make it beyond the group stage at three World Cups prior to that. But this is an opportunity."I want to help my country go as far as possible," says Diomande. The spotlight will be on the teenager, particularly the second group game when Cote d'Ivoire take on Germany in Toronto. "This question is coming all the time. I do not think only about Germany," he insists.Not even if he is up against Leipzig skipper David Raum? "He is my captain. Sometimes we do speak, 'I am going to kill you' or 'I am going to do this…' But we are still friends. It will be good to play against each other and change jerseys. It is going to be nice."Diomande is respectful and making the right noises about his future plans beyond the World Cup. "My contract is until 2030 so I have four more years." But everyone knows the deal at Leipzig. They help talent reach the top. That is where Diomande is heading.Asked where he sees himself in five years, he is initially cautious. "I am not going to say something crazy." But the truth is not so crazy, not really. "I want to be one of the best on the field," he adds. But I want to go slowly, step by step to reach what I want to do."Diomande might want to go slowly, but as he made clear at the outset, everything is happening fast where he is concerned. It has been an incredible journey already but the reality of his situation is clear. "It is not finished. We have a lot of things to achieve."

Football News

With 54 minutes on the clock, Ben Gannon-Doak let out a roar, clenched his fist and punched the air after shielding the ball out for a Scotland goal kick.The winger celebrated the moment like he'd just scored the winning goal at the World Cup. This was seen as Scotland's final, after all.The authentic, passionate outburst galvanised the Tartan Army spread throughout the Boston Stadium stands who were perhaps - and understandably - a little concerned at what was unfolding in their tournament opener against Haiti.He got it, though. The "wee man" got it. He got what it meant to the many travelling Scots in Massachusetts. He typified them.Scott McTominay had recovered from a stomach bug to start in Scotland's first men's World Cup game in 28 years. John McGinn - the eventual matchwinner - was given the nod from the off, too. Lawrence Shankland, the goal machine, led the line.And yet the show was stolen by a 20-year-old who wasn't even born when Scotland last featured on the biggest stage of all.Why Haiti v Scotland was antidote to the ills of world football'He's become Scots' chief creative force' - how the players ratedThe teenager never made the plane to Germany, though, as he was forced to pull out through injury. That's kind of been his story until now."The Euros probably came a bit too early, but I don't think I would have played if I was there," he told Sky Sports, external recently."I think if I did go and play, I wouldn't have given the best account of myself that I know that I could have done."There needn't be any such worries here.Electric and exciting on the international stage, the Bournemouth wideman showed the world why so many Scotland supporters were scunnered when he hirpled off against Denmark - after teeing up McTominay's overhead kick - in their final qualifier back in November.That injury - his third major one in as many years - left his hamstring "hanging on by a thread".Such spells on the sidelines have kept the eyes of the world at arm's length, but on his major finals debut he was in full focus.Being in the spotlight is not new to Gannon-Doak.At 16, he left Celtic for the bright lights of the Premier League with Liverpool.It was far from a seamless move south, though, with the boy from North Ayrshire discovering football can be a lonely place when injured and away from home.Brought up a Catholic, Gannon-Doak admits he "strayed away from it" for a while, before "hearing God call me, with an urge to get back into it"."I just felt God calling me," the 20-year-old revealed in a film for BBC Scotland's A View from the Terrace earlier this year."I realised I started to feel a bit better and stronger and started coping better with things, and I just thought, 'Oh, that's not a coincidence'. I think that's the way it happened for me."With God on his side, Gannon-Doak - who received a Bible from his gran - feels "strong and grounded" but it's something he practices in private."I'm praying before games, I read the Bible on my own - I won't really do that in the dressing room because there's a lot of different faiths in football."It's also just better to do it in private as you can really focus. A dressing room can be quite chaotic at times, but it's at the root of everything, including my football."Though he's "not praying for hat-tricks", many would have been asking the man above for a favour or two as Scotland eyed up their first World Cup win in 36 years.It was evident early doors against Haiti that if anything was going to happen, Gannon-Doak would be at the heart of it.Keeping it simple, when he received the ball down the right, he looked to attack. A sight that makes Scotland supporters rejoice, such has been its rarity in recent times.When McTominay skelped a post, it was on the end of another dazzling Gannon-Doak burst. He set up Che Adams shortly after for a shot that would be parried right in the path of McGinn, who was wheeling away in ecstasy seconds later as Scotland scored their first World Cup goal since 1998.For 83 minutes, Gannon-Doak was the youngest man to appear at a World Cup for Scotland. That's until his 19-year-old pal Findlay Curtis came on.The pair play in a care-free manner. They don't carry the years of missed qualifications or even the recent disappointments at the Euros. And it shows.Gannon-Doak departed with 15 minutes to go against the Haitians. A collective gulp was inhaled."He had a cracker tonight," former Scotland winger Pat Nevin said on BBC Sportsound."He's what you want a Scotland player to be," added ex-captain Scott Brown on BBC One.Like few others, Gannon-Doak gets the faithful going. Believing. Hoping.Like the rest of his generation, we've grown up believing 'it's the hope that kills you', but with this 20-year-old driving the team, it's difficult not to.Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Football News

8 CommentsThere is always at least one team that defies the odds and emerges as the surprise package of a World Cup.Just ask Morocco, Russia, and Costa Rica, three nations who have all produced memorable runs deep into the knockout stages in recent years despite the modest expectations heading into the tournament.With the World Cup having expanded from 32 to 48 teams this time around, there appears to be more potential dark horses than ever before.But few nations look better equipped for a deep and unexpected run than Japan, whose blend of individual quality, recent form and all-round experience makes them one of the most intriguing outsiders in the competition.In 2022, the Samurai Blue defeated both Germany and Spain to top Group E and advance to the first knockout round.But it wasn't to be. Instead, Japan suffered familiar heartbreak as they were eliminated at the round-of-16 stage for the fourth time after a penalty shoot-out defeat by Croatia.Now, four years on, as they prepare for their opening game against the Netherlands on Sunday night (21:00 BST), there is a growing belief that this could the most successful of Japan's eight World Cup appearances.Sweden and Tunisia are the other teams in Group F, and Japan are currently unbeaten in their past nine matches against European opposition.Former Southampton defender Maya Yoshida believes the 26-man squad selected by manager Hajime Moriyasu is capable of reaching unprecedented territory in the United States, Canada and Mexico.Yoshida, 37, who captained Japan in 2022, has travelled with the squad to this tournament as a non-playing "support player" to provide leadership behind the sce"For me, reaching the quarter-finals - a stage we've never reached or even experienced before - is the main goal," Yoshida told BBC Sport. "Anything beyond that would be a bonus."It is not only Yoshida who has set the bar high for Japan.Earlier this year, Moriyasu said he had his sights set on leading Japan to World Cup glory this summer."My goal is for the team to be one of the best of the best," Moriyasu told World Soccer Magazine before the tournament. "We have raised our level little by little through our national team activity."For me the task is to bring out the best in the players. We do have a lot of injuries but we have also proven that we have the squad to produce our best regardless of who plays"It is little surprise the 57-year-old is so confident in the players at his disposal, which includes Daichi Kamada of Crystal Palace and Ao Tanaka of Leeds United.They helped Japan become the first non-host nation to secure their spot at this summer's finals after an almost perfect qualifying campaign."Nineteen of the 26 players in Qatar were at their first World Cup," added Moriyasu. "They become the core of our team for the Asian qualifiers this time around - and they have aimed high from the start."They have had winning the World Cup in their sights all of this time, and also maintained the mentality to keep improving towards that goal."But it is not only in Asia qualifying that Japan have impressed. Since their elimination at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, they have defeated two of Europe's highest-ranked teams - England and Germany - as well as Brazil.Yoshida believes Japan's ability to compete with some of Fifa's top-ranked nations is driven by the increasing number of players featuring regularly in Europe's top five leagues."Of course, now more players play in Europe, especially high level European competitions," said Yoshida, who was capped 127 times."At the beginning, I was at VVV Venlo, a bottom Dutch league team, which was very good for me to have a first step, but time has changed now. Japanese players' reputation is much higher."So now, [on a] daily basis or weekly basis, every player plays with or against World Cup level players."That experience is a huge difference. That's the main thing for me. But shouldn't forget that that road started by the older players like [Shunsuke] Nakamura, [Hidetoshi] Nakata, Shinji Ono."These guys are opening the door and our generation start to go and now the door is even wider."What information do we collect from this quiz?Who else could be a dark horse at the World Cup?Japan are not the only team capable of springing a surprise at this summer's World Cup.Alongside the Samurai Blue, Mexico, Ecuador, Turkey and South Korea have all been tipped as outsiders to watch over the next five weeks."I am not sure Ecuador will score enough goals with 36-year-old Enner Valencia leading their line but they are one of my picks, along with Japan," former England striker Chris Sutton told BBC Sport."I became a bit of a celebrity in Japan when I correctly backed them to beat Germany at the last World Cup, or at least I appeared on TV over there to talk about it anyway."They have got some excellent technical players and will be dangerous, whoever they play."Former Scotland international Rachel Corsie also highlighted Turkey as a team to watch."Turkey could be tricky for some, and I don't know if this is really a surprise but I think Japan could go beyond where their world ranking of 18 suggests," she said.Former England and Manchester City defender Stephen Houghton backed Moriyasu's side a emerge as one of the competition's dark horses."I really liked the way they played at Wembley," she said.Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameEverything you need to know about the World Cup

Football News

Cape Verde’s presence at this World Cup, where they take on favourites Spain in their opening game, is one of the fairy-tales of this tournament. But it has been coming. “I believe we can surprise people once again,” Telmo Arcanjo tells Sky Sports.Their attacking midfielder has a point. Cape Verde are far from the lowest-ranked nation at this World Cup. In fact, they are currently above a Ghana team that includes many familiar Premier League names. They finished well clear of Cameroon in qualifying.Those who have followed their adventures in the Africa Cup of Nations will know that they were quarter-finalists in their first appearance at the finals in 2013 and repeated the feat in early 2024. This tiny island nation has hit upon a formula for success."The secret is unity," Arcanjo explains. This is a group of players of different ages, who are based - and indeed were born - in various different countries. "But whenever we come together for the national team, we put the country above everything else."Cape Verde only joined FIFA in 1986 and did not actually compete in World Cup qualifying until the start of this century but with help from the diaspora, their true potential is being realised. One look at the make up of the squad highlights that.While a dozen of the group were born in Cape Verde, there are six Netherlands-born players, a trio from France and three more, Arcanjo included, from Portugal. Roberto 'Pico' Lopes was born in Ireland. Goalkeeper CJ dos Santos was born in Philadelphia.All their stories are different. For Pico, the Shamrock Rovers defender eligible through his father, discovering more about his heritage has been a journey in itself. For Arcanjo, it was always a significant element in his life. "It is part of who I am," he explains."I was born and raised in Europe, but I have always been very close to Cape Verdean culture through my family. Cape Verde means representing my roots, my history and the people who came before me. It is something I carry with great pride and responsibility."Indeed, while Arcanjo may have been born in Lisbon, his ties to Cape Verde are such that his older brother represented the country before he did. "My family has supported me through every stage of my career and has a very strong connection to Cape Verde."Is this for them as much as him? "Without a doubt. Being able to represent the country on a stage of this magnitude is something that belongs to them as well. It is a reward for all the sacrifices they made and for the support they have given me over the years."The sense of pride is palpable. "It means much more than football. Cape Verde is a small country, but it has a very strong identity and a huge diaspora spread across the world." Maybe it even means more to emigrant communities. A chance to give back."Being at a World Cup is an opportunity to show who we are, our culture, our history and the talent of our people," Arcanjo points out. "It is a source of national pride and something that brings Cape Verdeans together wherever they are living in the world."That was certainly evident given the scenes against Eswatini in October. With the prize of a World Cup in their sights, it was a tense day until they ran out 3-0 winners. "The emotion at the final whistle, when we realised that we had qualified," Arcanjo recalls."It was a moment that is difficult to put into words. We knew what it meant for the country and for everyone who believed in us. Seeing the joy of my teammates, the coaching staff and the supporters is something that will stay with me forever."Arcanjo is likely to start in one of the attacking positions in coach Bubista's 4-2-3-1 formation, after an impressive season with Vitoria Guimaraes in which they won the Taca da Liga with a dramatic victory over rivals Braga. "A special moment," he says."It was a very positive season. On a personal level, I see each season as an opportunity to keep improving and evolving. I grew as a player and, above all, as a person. We also managed to achieve something historic that will always be part of the club's history."But if it is history that Arcanjo is after, the prize for Cape Verde might be even sweeter. This is the biggest stage of them all and the draw pits them against European champions Spain in their opener before taking on two-time World Cup winners Uruguay."We know the quality Spain has and the challenge that lies ahead of us, but we also know what we are capable of when we are united and focused. Our goal is to compete at the highest level in every match and represent Cape Verde in the best possible way."The target? "To create more historic moments for our country. To show the world the quality that exists in our football," he says. "There has also been a lot of hard work, organisation and a constant belief that we could achieve something historic."

Football News

1 CommentsAs Thomas Tuchel's side countdown to their opening game against Croatia on 17 June (21:00 BST), BBC Sport pundits have chosen their starting XI for their first World Cup game in Dallas.Would you start Manchester City defensive duo, Marc Guehi and John Stones or would you pair one of those players with Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa?Jude Bellingham will wear the number 10 shirt for the World Cup, but will he have a starting shirt in the Three Lions' opening game?You can make your selection too and share it with friends.It is an easy pick, Jordan Pickford as the goalkeeper. I would start Reece James, if he is fully fit.I would go with John Stones instead of Ezri Konsa, even though Konsa has been really reliable. I just believe on the ball at international football Stones can dictate and if we need to keep the ball in a game, he is one that can certainly do that.Guehi starting is self-explanatory. He has been excellent for Crystal Palace and Manchester City this season. At left-back, Nico O'Reilly. I know Djed Spence started at their in the friendly against New Zealand, but if I had to pick one it would definitely be O'Reilly.Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice - pretty much what everyone expects. I like Anderson because he can also start attacks. I know he is in there to break up play, but when he plays the ball through the lines he plays it with really good quality.Rice, we all know why he starts. Jude Bellingham, I would start him ahead of Morgan Rogers in a number 10 position because he is a big game player. I think he is a genuine superstar. I think there is two genuine stars in him and Harry Kane.I would go with Marcus Rashford over Anthony Gordon, but I wouldn't mind putting Rogers there as well.Bukayo Saka speaks for himself and then Harry Kane is obviously upfront.I hate doing stuff like this... I have picked this XI as I think it is the most well-balanced team to set the tournament up.By no way, shape or form do I think that this squad will play every game. The squad has such an important role to play.I think it is a balanced team. You could change seven of those because the squad is so good.I love them all, and I want them all to do well.I think Jude Bellingham has shown in the past two warm-up games why he should start for England. It is so close between him and Morgan Rogers.I fully expect John Stones to play, but I would actually go with Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi at the back, but so many of the others pick themselves.Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Football News

The former Scotland defender, 40, is due to return to management for the first time since being sacked by Rangers in October.Leicester were keen on appointing Martin last summer before he joined Rangers.The Foxes went on to appoint Marti Cifuentes, who was sacked in January after six months in charge.Under interim boss Gary Rowett, Leicester dropped into League One, suffering back-to-back relegations after their Premier League demotion in 2024-25.They were docked six points for breaching English Football League financial rules.Martin lasted only 17 games at Rangers - he was sacked when they were eighth in the Scottish Premiership - and had a number of options this summer.Martin, who has also managed MK Dons and Swansea, led Southampton to the Premier League by winning the Championship play-offs in 2023-24.He will be Leicester's seventh manager in just over three years since the departure of Brendan Rogers in April 2023.

Football News

Against Paraguay, the Monaco striker provided the ruthless finishing the USMNT have often missed in recent yearsEven after they conceded an early goal on Friday, Paraguay kept affording the United States ample room up the channel. As the ball reached Malik Tillman and Weston McKennie in midfield, their disoriented opponents never quite seemed to know how to station themselves to stem the tide. The US’s off-ball movement further complicated those efforts, dizzying Paraguay’s defense before it could establish an ideal structure.“I just tried to run in behind,” McKennie said after the US had completed their 4-1 victory. “I think I realized early on that they were struggling to follow my deep runs. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. I keep trying to do it until they figure something out. I was able to find more space than usual, and it was fun. I really enjoyed to get on the ball as much as I did.”Throughout a remarkable first half, the heart of the park seemed fully in the co-hosts’ control. The spacing between Tyler Adams and the more advanced tandem of McKennie and Tillman seldom proved an issue as Paraguay struggled to position themselves in the passing lanes. In those rare moments, the US weren’t shy to recirculate, knowing the on-ball acumen of the defensive trio.Throughout the 2022 World Cup, the US at times resembled a club team, in part because of how effectively their midfield trio operated. In Qatar, Adams and McKennie were joined by Yunus Musah for an “MMA” engine room that kept the ball moving and shifted itself accordingly to be sturdy when defending. Musah’s club career has since stagnated and he was barely in contention for this summer’s World Cup, but Tillman’s progress and the emergence of others – such as Johnny Cardoso, Sebastian Berhalter, Tanner Tessmann and Aidan Morris – made Musah’s regression a non-issue for Mauricio Pochettino.While the personnel have changed, the dimensions of the field have not. The extra spaces McKennie scampered into on Friday weren’t due to some quirk concocted by this summer’s co-hosts. It’s an evolution of Pochettino’s design, built on the back of the progress of the US’s best players since Qatar.By the time the Copa América came around in 2024, the midfield seemed to be the only dependably functional facet of Gregg Berhalter’s USMNT. Teams could operate in a low-to-mid defensive block, allowing the US to advance into the attacking half where they’d quickly run out of ideas. It had become clear that the system was designed to funnel the attack through Christian Pulisic, and opponents planned accordingly.The one real boon to emerge from getting grouped at the Copa was the validation of Chris Richards’s bona fides. At that point, he had two seasons under his belt with Crystal Palace, but only became a regular starter along their backline after Oliver Glasner arrived in February 2024. Richards’s partnership with Tim Ream kept the US in games, but wasn’t enough to produce positive results against Panama and Uruguay.Richards has since evolved further. He’s become even more vital to Palace since Marc Guéhi’s departure, and logged the most minutes of any player in the club’s triumphant 2024-25 FA Cup campaign. He was similarly regular as the club captured the Uefa Conference League this past season.Richards has gained confidence from his success with Palace as well as his recovery from an ankle injury sustained late in the season, and he didn’t put a foot wrong against Paraguay. He set a World Cup record for passes with a 100% success rate (83), and worked with Adams to assess the Paraguayan structure before dishing off to Ream (to his left) or Alex Freeman (to his right) to begin the next advance upfield.“It felt good,” Richards told the Guardian in the mixed zone. “Honestly, I wasn’t second guessing myself. That was the main thing. Playing with pain’s OK as long as I’m not second-guessing myself.”Up the field was the US’s most vital newcomer of this World Cup cycle. Folarin Balogun’s commitment to the US – despite his eligibility for England and Nigeria – was a massive coup for a program that operated without a dependable striker from 2016 to 2023. Famous for his finesse, Balogun isn’t shy to outmuscle opponents and buy his teammates time to get into dangerous positions.Balogun’s upbringing in Arsenal’s academy has given him exceptional movement and excellent reading of the game. As McKennie and Tillman navigated the channels, Balogun could comfortably drift into the correct spots to get the service he needed, giving Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill plenty of practice at picking the ball out of his net.Without the gauntlet of Concacaf qualifying, and given the team’s inconsistency throughout Pochettino’s reign, there was understandable cause for concern that this group wasn’t ready for the World Cup. After several weeks refining their movement, the US were more than comfortable shunting the ball up and down their lines to keep control of the game. It didn’t take long for the fans at Los Angeles Stadium to break into the polite applause that accompanies savvy recirculation.Joining big clubs hasn’t always worked for this generation of US players. Musah’s move to Milan ultimately set back his development: he never settled into one role as the club changed coaches with regularity after his arrival in 2023. Gio Reyna’s struggles cost him precious refinement with Dortmund and Mönchengladbach.But right now, the US have the type of players they have often missed in the past. They have Richards, a defensive anchor who was vital to his club’s FA Cup and Conference League titles. And they have Balogun, a striker who, despite some dry spells, ranked fourth on Ligue 1’s goalscoring charts.Opponents have to contend with Balogun while still facing the threat of Pulisic, who led Milan in goals just a year ago and has been in rare form since the Senegal friendly at the end of May. Reyna provided a timely reminder of why the program remains so optimistic about him in spite of scarce usage at the club level. McKennie (Juventus) and Adams (Bournemouth) have established themselves as vital midfielders for Europa League qualifiers.Of course, plenty of other nations can go toe to toe with the US on talent. The US’s Group D rivals, Turkey, will arguably be the first such foe they face. The Turks have dazzling attackers who ply their trade at Real Madrid and Juventus, the brilliant Hakan Çalhanoğlu pulls the strings, and the tidy Merih Demiral is in defense. By the round of 16 the US will probably resume underdog status, and Belgium, France and Spain could fall in the same side of the bracket should the co-hosts top their group.But there’s time for the US to build a head of steam as they consider those obstacles. Fans should thank their stars for birthright citizenship – without it, the US would still be without Balogun, a striker who can stretch the field and make life easier for his teammates.

Football News

When Mikel Oyarzabal came off the bench to sweep home the winning goal for Spain against England in the final of Euro 2024, it was the ending. But maybe it was also the beginning for a new-look team that could follow it up at this summer’s World Cup.Alvaro Morata was Spain's captain in Germany two years ago but finds himself out of the squad after failing to score a single goal for Como in Serie A this past season. Oyarzabal has seized his chance, scoring 13 goals in his 16 caps since that evening in Berlin.A one-time winger at Real Sociedad, the 29-year-old forward has been reimagined in a central role and there are those who believe he could be one of the stars of the World Cup. "Oyarzabal will surprise a lot of people," Gaizka Mendieta tells Sky Sports.Mendieta, who played for Spain at the 2002 World Cup, knows that the eyes of the world will be elsewhere. "People will be thinking about Lamine Yamal, all the Barca guys. But Oyarzabal just won the cup with Real Sociedad and has improved his game a lot."Remarkably, he already ranks among the all-time top 10 goalscorers for the Spain men's national team, leapfrogging Alfredo Di Stefano with a brace against Serbia in March. His strike rate for Spain is better than Emiliano Butragueno, Raul and Fernando Torres."He used to play more in the wider areas," explains Mendieta. "Now he is playing more centrally and he is scoring goals in key games. The work ethic that he has is unbelievable. He is not a big name among the fans but I think he is a fantastic player."With Lamine Yamal in the squad, it is no wonder that the attention is elsewhere. Barcelona's boy wonder will turn 19 during the tournament and with former Ballon d'Or winner Rodri also in the squad, Spain are favourites to win the World Cup for a reason.But what really elevates them is the growing realisation that the once unsung heroes are also world class. As well as Oyarzabal, Fabian Ruiz is another who has stepped into the limelight by winning the Champions League back-to-back with Paris Saint-Germain.Fabian arguably outshone Rodri at Euro 2024, despite the Manchester City midfielder being named player of the tournament. Since his success with PSG, this late bloomer is finally getting the credit that he deserves. "I love everything about him," says Mendieta."For someone of his height, because he is a big guy, he is very dynamic too. The image of him that comes into my head with him is when he finds himself surrounded by players and he just spins around and away. He is very agile for someone of his size."He can score goals, he can play in different positions. He can play at the base of the midfield or he can play as a No 10. He is a fantastic player. Unluckily for him, the competition in midfield is tough but now his time has come and he is proving his value."A midfield trio of Fabian, Rodri and Pedri oozes class and means Luis de la Fuente has enough tactical flexibility to trouble the best of opponents. With Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal on the wings, Oyarzabal is unlikely to be short of service this summer.Spain are technically unbeaten in their last 31 competitive matches - the penalty shoot-out defeat to Portugal in the Nations League final last year not blemishing this record. "They have been very consistent in performances and results," says Mendieta.He talks of a team that has "a lot of confidence in the way they play, the way they do things" and a group that includes "very young players but a lot of character" as well. "If there is a crack somewhere then teams will expose it. But it is a very solid team."The doubts with Spain stem from this fear that the squad might not be arriving at this World Cup in optimum condition. Rodri, still the key figure in midfield, has had a stop-start season with City. Fabian himself is only now feeling his way back to full fitness.Lamine Yamal had an injury scare at the end of the season with Barcelona, while Williams has missed more matches than he has played this year for Athletic Club. Half the team. Half the team come into this with some minor concerns surrounding them."If we are at our best and we get the players at the level they should be then it is a very well-balanced team," says Mendieta. "But you can have injuries." The good news for Spain is that there is undoubtedly a depth to the squad that gives De La Fuente options.There is the Barcelona trio of Dani Olmo, Gavi and Ferran Torres who can come in. The Arsenal pair of Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino can contribute too. The lesson of Oyarzabal's intervention at Euro 2024 is that Spain always have someone ready to step up.