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19 CommentsThere have already been plenty of shocks at this World Cup but one in particular caught almost everyone out.BBC Sport predictions expert Chris Sutton, AI and 99.65% of the users playing the BBC's new predictor game all expected European champions Spain to beat Cape Verde in their opening game in Group H ... and all of you were wrong.From more than 37,000 people who had a go at guessing the outcome of that match, only 61 correctly said it would end in a draw - another 67 went for a Cape Verde victory.We have seen a few correct predictions, however.Chris was right about the outcome of 12 of the 24 opening group games, AI managed 13 and those playing along were correct about 14.How will everyone fare in the second set of matches, including Scotland versus Morocco and England against Ghana?Chris is predicting the outcome of all 104 games at the World Cup, and he has also picked the order he thinks each of the 12 groups will finish in.AI's predictions have been generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat. We simply asked the tool to 'predict the results of the second round of World Cup group games'.The new BBC predictor game allows readers to pick a winner from every match, or go for a draw.Sutton's pre-tournament picks: South Korea (winners) and Mexico (runners-up). Czech Republic to finish third and South Africa fourth.I left it late to make my prediction for this game - I only made it just before it kicked off.I was at South Africa's game against Mexico and I was not very impressed. There was a lack of quality and a lack of attacking threat - after 16 years away from the World Cup, I expected a bit more 'oomph'.The Czech Republic sat back for long periods against South Korea but I can see them throwing more men forward this time.Both sides lost their opening games in Group A so they really need something here. I'm going for the Czechs to edge it.I was really impressed by Mexico when I saw them. I was expecting them to be quite dull and short of firepower but they created a lot and they were exciting to watch.It was quite an emotional moment to see Raul Jimenez get his first goal for the co-hosts at a World Cup but the Mexico player who really impressed me was Julian Quinones, who has been prolific in the Saudi Pro League.He played off the left and was a real threat, so South Korea will have to watch out for him.I can see this being tight, because South Korea are well organised and have their attacking strength too, but I am going to go for another Mexico win.Sutton's pre-tournament picks: Switzerland (winners) and Canada (runners-up). Bosnia-Herzegovina to finish third and Qatar fourth.Again, I left my prediction for this game to the last minute.This group is wide open after both opening matches ended level.Switzerland, in particular, will be disappointed to drop points so late against Qatar, especially because they had chances to wrap that game up, but I actually don't see them winning this either.Bosnia-Herzegovina are draw specialists - they have drawn their past six games - so I'm going for them to get another one here.We know Canada will play on the front foot with high intensity and go for it under boss Jesse Marsch, so this will be a fascinating clash of styles.Qatar surprised a few people with how well they played against the Swiss and their coach Julen Lopetegui will be happy to sit back again and look to hit Canada on the break.Canada created plenty of chances against Bosnia-Herzegovina and the co-hosts deserved something from that game.That was the first point Canada had picked up at a World Cup finals, and I think they will follow it up with their first win.Sutton's pre-tournament picks: Brazil (winners) and Scotland (runners-up). Morocco to finish third and Haiti fourth.A lot of people have had a lot to say about how Scotland played against Haiti, and it was not the kind of performance their boss Steve Clarke would have desired.In the end, though, it was all about the result and three points and they got that.This is a much sterner test and I am pretty sure Clarke will change tactics and either put an extra body in midfield or play with another centre-half.It will be interesting to see who he plays up top and whether he goes with Lawrence Shankland or Che Adams - I suspect he will go with Adams, because he has more variation to his play.Morocco are an excellent team who are strong physically and technically. They have many different ways to play.But I am going to go with my heart here, over my head. I am going to say Scotland will get a draw, which they may not even need to make the last 32.Without sounding negative, eight of the 12 third-placed teams will qualify, so Scotland just need to make sure they don't suffer an absolute hammering.Morocco are difficult opponents - I actually think they will be harder to play against than Brazil - but Clarke will have a plan and his side is resilient enough to get through this.Haiti were not as bad against Scotland as a lot of people expected them to be. They were well-organised and, arguably, should have got something out of the game.Brazil did not convince me at all against Morocco - it was not a very cohesive team performance from them, but it was moments of individual brilliance which got them a point.It might be the same here, but Brazil will definitely win. They have a brilliant manager in Carlo Ancelotti, who is adaptable and always seems to find a way to win.Haiti coach Sebastien Migne was Rigobert Song's assistant when Cameroon upset Brazil at the 2022 World Cup but I don't see him repeating that result.Sutton's pre-tournament picks: Turkey (winners) and Paraguay (runners-up). United States to finish third and Australia fourth.The USA were really impressive with the way they took Paraguay apart in their first game.Australia will be a tougher test, though. They started with a really good win too, over Turkey, when they defended well and were dangerous on the counter-attack.So the USA won't have things all their own way, but I still think the attacking prowess of the co-hosts will shine through and they will continue their good start.San Francisco / Saturday, 20 June / 04:00Turkey have got some amazing technicians in their team, but they could not find a way past Australia. That defeat was a really disappointing result for them.They always seem to go into big tournaments with high expectations because of the talent in their squad, but they never quite deliver.I wonder if the same will happen here. Paraguay will be even more defensive-minded and won't give much away, but maybe the shackles will come off them a little bit after they were outplayed by the USA.Sutton's pre-tournament picks: Germany (winners) and Ecuador (runners-up). Ivory Coast to finish third and Curacao fourth.I was at Germany's emphatic win over Curacao and really enjoyed watching Jamal Musiala - he is an outstanding footballer.Florian Wirtz played exceptionally well in the first half too and Liverpool fans are probably asking where that performance has been all season.My worry about Germany is the way they play with the full-backs so high up the pitch. They are so keen to get overloads that they leave the centre-halves exposed, and they looked vulnerable.That makes me think Ivory Coast will get some chances here, and Amad Diallo and Yan Diomande will be dangerous. I think they will score, but I still expect Germany to win.Ecuador hit the woodwork three times before losing to Amad's last-gasp goal for the Ivory Coast, but they will definitely find the net this time.I love the story of how this Curacao team came together and, considering they are such a small nation, they gave a really good account of themselves in the first half against Germany.It did not last, though, and they tired as the game went on. I don't see them holding out against Ecuador either.Sutton's pre-tournament picks: Japan (winners) and Netherlands (runners-up). Tunisia to finish third and Sweden fourth.This is developing into a really good group and it already looks like I am wrong about how it is going to finish.I am at this game and can't wait. There are so many players we know well from the Premier League going up against each other - Virgil van Dijk and Jan Paul van Hecke for the Dutch against Swedish strikers Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak, for example.It is hard to call, too. Sweden made such hard work of qualifying for this World Cup, so it felt odd that they went out and battered Tunisia in their first game.The Dutch, who went with Donyell Malen up top against Japan, led twice in that game but were pegged back on each occasion. This time, I think they will get over the line.What are the Tunisian FA expecting after sacking Sabri Lamouchi this week and bringing in Herve Renard?We are in the middle of a tournament so what can the new guy change in a couple of days, seriously? That decision is absolute nonsense.Japan deserved their draw against the Dutch in the end and we know what a good team they are. They have got some very talented players and they are well organised too.Sutton's pre-tournament picks: Belgium (winners) and Egypt (runners-up). New Zealand to finish third and Iran fourth.Iran played well against New Zealand and deserved their draw but, from watching that game, I think they will struggle to contain Belgium - I just don't see them being able to handle Jeremy Doku.Romelu Lukaku came on to rescue a draw for Belgium against Egypt but they played some good football and we know they have got players who can hurt teams. I'd be surprised if they don't win this comfortably.New Zealand's Motherwell midfielder Elijah Just showed what a good player he is against Iran - he is so effective in tight areas.And of course I was delighted that 'The Woodchopper', Chris Wood, made both his goals. What an impact he had.I don't see New Zealand getting anything here, however. Egypt's counter-attack was very effective against Belgium, with Omar Marmoush and Mohamed Salah flying forward.New Zealand centre-half Michael Boxall is 37 and really lacks pace. I think he might be exposed.Sutton's pre-tournament picks: Spain (winners) and Uruguay (runners-up). Saudi Arabia to finish third and Cape Verde fourth.Some people will be writing off Spain's hopes of winning this World Cup after they were held by Cape Verde but doing that is absolutely ridiculous.Saudi Arabia faced 28 shots from Uruguay in their first game and while they defended well to get a draw and clearly don't mind not having the ball, I don't see them shutting Spain out too.Spain are under pressure now, and this is a must-win game for them ... but I think they will win it.They have got 'Bigfoot' - Real Sociedad striker Mikel Oyarzabal - up front. If he gets his big toe on a couple of crosses, Spain will be fine.Cape Verde defended unbelievably well to keep Spain out but can they back it up again with another clean sheet here? It would be incredible, but I don't see it happening.Uruguay will be disappointed they did not turn all their possession and all those chances against Saudi Arabia into a win but they will get more of both here, and take all three points.Sutton's pre-tournament picks: Senegal (winners) and France (runners-up). Norway to finish third and Iraq fourth.France took a while to get going against Senegal but they just oozed quality in the second half, and they were so good to watch.Iraq had a go against Norway and did not just sit back, but they were well beaten in the end.The score here just relies on how the French are feeling, really. They could score 10 if they really tried but they will probably just do enough - four first half goals and then take their foot off the gas.Senegal had a few chances against France and they will attack this time too, while Erling Haaland is an absolute monster of an athlete up front for Norway.You could make a case for either team to win it, but I actually fancy Senegal to edge it.Sutton's pre-tournament picks: Argentina (winners) and Austria (runners-up). Algeria to finish third and Jordan fourth.I am at this game for 5 Live and it is going to be fascinating to see how Ralf Rangnick's Austria deal with Lionel Messi and co.I actually think Austria can cause a bit of an upset here. They are grafters - they will work their socks off like they always do and they are in good form too.If it is a tight game then of course Argentina can look to Messi to provide more magic, like he did against Algeria, but I am backing Austria to cause the holders some problems too.This is an important tie for both sides after they lost their opening games.It was those moments from Messi which sank Algeria but otherwise they defended well. Now they have to show what they have got going forward, and I expect we will see more of Riyad Mahrez, who began on the bench against Argentina.Jordan battled well against Austria before conceding a couple of late goals but I don't think this game will be as close.Sutton's pre-tournament picks: Colombia (winners) and Portugal (runners-up). DR Congo to finish third and Uzbekistan fourth.I am at this game for Radio 5 Live too and let's just say I will be keeping a close eye on Cristiano Ronaldo.Portugal are such an interesting team. I covered them in their draw against DR Congo and they have the best midfielders in the tournament, but they also have Ronaldo up front.That used to be a huge positive, but now it is a problem.You would put Ronaldo up with the world's all-time greats when he was at his peak, but he is not the same player now.He killed Portugal against DR Congo and it was like they were playing with a man down.What I found staggering was that Portugal boss Roberto Martinez must have seen that - everyone else did - but did not take him off.Ronaldo was world class and was once one of the game's great goalscorers, but he cannot run or even move anymore.I want to make it clear I am not criticising the player Ronaldo was, not in any way, but I also think he just should not be playing for Portugal anymore.I don't see Martinez dropping Ronaldo for this game, though. His influence is far too great.I still think Portugal will beat Uzbekistan, who were very open against Colombia, because they have got superior footballers - but if they do win, it will be despite Ronaldo, not because of him.DR Congo started off against Portugal by defending really deep. They looked as if they feared Portugal, and they had probably seen them line up in the tunnel beforehand and thought 'these are amazing'.But in the second half they seemed to realise Portugal did not carry the threat they thought they would, and gave it a go. They played really well.Colombia are a talented team too and I don't think this is a straightforward prediction.I smell a draw but instead I am going with Luis Diaz to make the difference for Colombia again, like he did against Uzbekistan.Sutton's pre-tournament picks: England (winners) and Ghana (runners-up). Croatia to finish third and Panama fourth.I am not getting overly excited about England on the back of one game because I thought they would win this group, and win it comfortably.Let's get it right, they beat an aging Croatia team. There are a lot of players at this tournament who should be getting testimonials, not playing at a World Cup.It was still a great win by England and Harry Kane is a brilliant goalscorer - remember when he used to take corners for England? What was that about?Surprise, surprise, he scores from corners when he is there to get on the end of them - but not every team will leave him as much space to score as Croatia did.England will have too much for Ghana too, but this group is not the problem for Thomas Tuchel. The tests are going to come later in the tournament.There was lots to love against Croatia though, from Jude Bellingham to Tuchel's substitutions.I have got to say how much I enjoy watching Elliott Anderson. I get why Nottingham Forest have put such a big price tag on him, because he never seems to give the ball away.Let's just say Panama did not exactly go gung-ho against Ghana. They came for a point, and almost got one.Croatia are not the team they were, but they will still win this.

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After Mauricio Pochettino’s passionate half-time speech last October, the USA shaped up and started on the path to a rematch against the Australians in SeattleHaji Wright’s finish was cool, but Mauricio Pochettino’s reaction was cooler. It was the 35th minute of the US men’s national team’s friendly against Australia last October, and the Coventry City striker had just equalized after Jordan Bos put the Socceroos up earlier in the half. Wright celebrated by walking calmly away, while his coach had a blank expression on the sideline.Pochettino’s mind may have been on Australia’s aggressive approach, including one challenge that forced Christian Pulisic out of the match midway through the first half. Or he may have been focused on his team’s reaction.“[Pochettino] wasn’t too happy with letting them punch us in a way, without punching back,” Wright said this week. The Argentinian made his feelings known in a passionate half-time speech, captured in part on a recent docuseries covering the team’s journey to the World Cup. The pep talk was forceful enough to have had an impact even on the players who did not hear it first-hand.“You could tell by the reaction of the guys,” said Brenden Aaronson, who was out on the field warming up to come on as a sub during the speech. The US matched Australia’s intensity in the second half, securing the first of three straight wins that sent them into 2026 with positive momentum.“Even though he’s Argentinian, he has that mindset of like, look, this is what we do, you know, and this is who we are, and this is what America’s about,” Sebastian Berhalter said. “We’re American, and we don’t take shit.”Now, almost exactly eight months after that last meeting between the teams, the US and Australia meet again on Friday on soccer’s grandest stage.The World Cup, of course, is a different beast than a friendly, no matter how intense the competition may have been. The US starting lineup is sure to look different – the only holdovers from that friendly in the World Cup opener against Paraguay were Weston McKennie in midfield, Chris Richards anchoring the backline, and Matt Freese in goal. Cristian Roldan assisted Wright on both goals in the friendly; it would be a surprise if either player starts on Friday, even with the game coming in Seattle, where Roldan is a favorite among the fans of his MLS team, the Sounders.Australia, meanwhile, saw just four changes between that friendly and last week’s win against Turkey. Leicester City center-back Harry Souttar captained the side after missing the friendly, Patrick Beach enjoyed a standout performance in goal after replacing longtime incumbent Mathew Ryan, Paul Okon-Engstler comes into midfield, and Mo Touré starts up top instead of Nick D’Agostino.The personnel that remain, though, highlight the areas the US may once again find dangerous. Nestory Irankunda, who knifed through the US defense on a few occasions last October, had a great start to his World Cup with a goal and a Man of the Match award in the win over Turkey. His pace on the counter was cited by multiple US players as a primary danger this week, along with Australia’s comfort without the ball. The Socceroos held just 30% of possession against Turkey, but were able to cause danger against the run of play consistently – a slightly different approach than the one they employed in October.“Speaking to the boys who played in October, they said the game against Turkey looked completely different than how they played them last camp,” Antonee Robinson said.“To me, it seems like they’re more fine tuned,” Wright said. “They looked really good defensively. They look really stable. They didn’t look like Turkey were able to really get behind them very much. That’ll be a challenge for us to break them down.”Midfielder Tyler Adams called the match “one of the most difficult games we’ll play,” adding that Australia are “combative,” “smart,” and “unbelievably tactically sound.”The challenge now, then, is for the US to match Australia’s aggression just as they did after half-time in the teams’ last meeting.“You could see that they were up for it, and they were putting in challenges, and I think that’s when Mauricio had the half-time rant,” said Berhalter, who was not a part of the team that day but noticed a striking similarity between the US and the Socceroos. “You like teams that have that brotherhood, you like teams that, when you go against them, you can see, they’re hungry and that they want to fight. It makes you, you know, raise your level that much more.”

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Lionel Messi's father is currently dealing with a "health-related situation", the family said in a statement on Thursday."At this time, he is under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favourably within the condition he is experiencing," the statement said.Messi was in tears after scoring his first goal in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria in their opening World Cup match earlier this week.Argentina's captain, 38, went on to complete a hat-trick, drawing level with Miroslav Klose at the top of the all-time World Cup goalscoring list."Why did I cry? It was something completely unrelated to football," Messi said after the match."I went through some difficult days, but I'm grateful to the entire delegation and my team-mates because they were always by my side, giving me a lot of strength to help me get through it."The family addressed the speculation around Jorge Messi's health following that opening game."In light of speculation that has circulated in recent hours, the family wishes to express its deep discomfort with the lack of sensitivity, respect, and discretion with which some people have treated what is strictly a private family matter."The family also wishes to clarify that only his closest relatives have real and accurate information regarding Jorge's condition. Therefore, any version, statement, or information that does not come directly from the family and its official channels should not be considered valid or truthful."The statement continued: "At times like these, we ask for responsibility, prudence, and humanity. A person's health and the peace of mind of those around them should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible media interest."We sincerely appreciate the expressions of affection, respect, and concern we have received, and we ask that Jorge's privacy, confidentiality, and intimacy - as well as that of his entire family - be respected throughout this process."Argentina's next group game is against Austria on Monday 22 June (18:00 BST), before their final group game against Jordan on Sunday 28 June (03:00 BST).Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameEverything you need to know about the World Cup

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After nine months of largely continuous joy for Hearts fans, the last month has been distinctly painful.On the pitch, the long-term Scottish Premiership leaders missed out in agonising fashion on their first league title in 66 years in the final minutes of the final day.The dust had barely settled on that controversial climax when, nine days later, captain and top scorer Lawrence Shankland left for Rangers after they activated a little-known clause in his contract to sign him for free.Now the head coach who steered them to their best campaign in decades has also headed to Ibrox.Derek McInnes was only at Tynecastle for 12 months, but such was his impact that Rangers decided their former midfielder was the man to succeed Danny Rohl after the German left for RB Salzburg.Where does the loss of their head coach and captain leave Hearts, just weeks on from being within minutes of becoming champions?Nearly man McInnes finally has Rangers job he really always wantedThe speed at which it all progressed suggests Hearts are unlikely to have been caught off guard.Indeed, former Tynecastle manager Craig Levein reckons part-owner Tony Bloom's revered analytics firm will already have replacements for the 54-year-old in mind."Jamestown don't just look at players, they look at managers as well, so I'm pretty sure they'll have already started," he told BBC Scotland.Jamestown being heavily involved in player recruitment was part of the deal McInnes had to accept when making the move from Kilmarnock last summer - and his successor will have to adapt similarly.It is a model many clubs now follow and is therefore unlikely to put off any candidates - although it could be argued only three of the 15 signings made since Bloom invested in Hearts have become starters.Levein, though, is certain being "the closest any non-Old Firm team has come to winning the league in 40 years" showed that "Hearts have been elevated by Tony Bloom's arrival".Former Hearts and Rangers centre-back Dave McPherson thinks losing McInnes and Scotland striker Shankland is "a massive blow".Beni Baningime has also left at the end of his contract and fellow central midfielder Cammy Devlin, currently at the World Cup with Australia, could do likewise as he weighs up offers from Hearts and other clubs.However, McPherson backs Hearts "to reinvent"."They're built in such a way that, if they do lose somebody, they've got things in the background to replace a player or a manager - so I've got every confidence in Hearts doing really, really well next year," he said.Former Hearts utility man Ryan McGowan is far from despondent either. He says Hearts fans "are right behind Jamestown and Tony Bloom" and that McInnes' exit "will not be the worst thing that will ever happen" for all parties."Derek McInnes did exceptionally well last season - he was 10 minutes away from being immortal - but I think he might be thinking 'am I going to do as well with Hearts next season?'," the Livingston defender said.Hearts, meanwhile, might have been happy to take the compensation for McInnes."Tony Bloom came out and said they want to win the league in 10 years - he was 10 minutes away from it," McGowan said."So he might be saying, 'OK, McInnes wants to go to Rangers, we trust what we have to get the right manager in. We will get the players in that will be able to take Hearts to that next level'."Both Brighton & Hove Albion and Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium - the other clubs under Bloom's influence - have enjoyed continued success despite managerial changes.However, Hearts turned to McInnes after the first 'Jamestown era' appointment only lasted six months, with former Queens Park Rangers and Blackpool boss Neil Critchley being dismissed following a failure to finish in the top six.They must now decide whether to repeat the strategy of employing someone with knowledge of Scottish football, or gamble on an outsider.John McGlynn is the most obvious of those local candidates, having secured a sixth-place finish for Falkirk on their return to the top flight after leading them to two successive promotions.The 64-year-old spent 10 years at Tynecastle at the start of his coaching career and was caretaker twice before the first of two spells in charge of Raith Rovers.However, his return to financially-troubled Hearts in summer 2012 only lasted eight months as he was dismissed following disappointing league results, despite leading the side to the League Cup final.Steven Pressley is another former Hearts caretaker working in the Premiership. The 52-year-old ex-captain had a troubled start at Dundee last season but steered them away from relegation.McGowan, though, reckons "it will be an unknown that comes in".Whoever gets the job, Levein thinks he will have to match McInnes' ability to manage an "enormous" squad."What hasn't been spoken about is how Derek managed to keep the players together," he added. "That's one of the most difficult things to do - keep everyone happy - and he did it."There is no doubt McInnes was good for Hearts, but the relationship worked both ways.Player identification via Jamestown helped him build a side capable of challenging for the title and, as a result, further enhanced his reputation.He is now gone, so where do Hearts go from here?The club and its fans may feel battered and bruised, but in a matter of weeks, Hearts will be preparing for a Champions League qualifying campaign.There may yet be further changes. Devlin has still to decide whether his future lies in Edinburgh, while forward Claudio Braga's outstanding season is unlikely to have gone unnoticed elsewhere.Hearts' achievements last term attracted attention far beyond Scotland and, with Champions League football on offer, there is unlikely to be any shortage of interest in the vacant head coach position.McGlynn remains highly regarded by some within the club and is believed to have been a strong contender for the role 12 months ago.Several new signings will arrive for pre-season training and the dressing room will have a very different look and feel.Shankland, centre-back Frankie Kent, Baningime and veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon have all departed, while Devlin could yet follow.They are all influential figures, while centre-half Craig Halkett is unlikely to feature before Christmas after suffering another long-term injury.Whoever succeeds McInnes faces a significant challenge, with rebuilding confidence, belief and leadership within the squad among the immediate priorities.Last season's Hearts side set a benchmark for those who follow. Whether a new head coach and a reshaped squad can match - or even surpass - what was an extraordinary campaign is undoubtedly a difficult challenge.Contact formContact formRelated topicsFootballScottish FootballScottish PremiershipHeart of MidlothianMore on this storyVisit our Hearts page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views

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2 CommentsTottenham have completed the £52m signing of Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton.The 26-year-old, who had a year left on his contract with the Seagulls, has signed what Spurs have called a "long-term" deal.The transfer also contains a significant sell-on fee for Brighton should the defender be sold in the future."It's a huge honour to become a Spurs player and when you join such a big club, it's a dream come true," Van Hecke said.He will be joining forces with head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who he played under at Brighton following his move to the Amex Stadium from NAC Breda in 2020.The move also pairs him with international team-mate Micky van de Ven who he lined up alongside in the Netherlands' World Cup opener against Japan, plus fellow Dutchman Xavi Simons who is currently recovering from an ACL injury."I already have a really strong connection with the head coach, who I'm looking forward to working with again. Micky has also told me some great things about the club, so I can't wait to get started."Tottenham sporting director Johan Lange said the club had been tracking Van Hecke "for a number of years".Van Hecke made 131 appearances for the Seagulls and started 36 out of 38 Premier League games for Fabian Hurzeler's side last season as they finished eighth. That secured European qualification for only the second time in the club's history."Jan Paul is someone I know very well from our time together at Brighton, and I'm delighted to be working with him again," De Zerbi said."He is a strong, intelligent centre-back who is brave in possession and plays with personality. Those are important qualities for the way I want our team to set-up."Latest Tottenham news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about Tottenham - what do you want to know?

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Thomas Tuchel says Bukayo Saka will be nursed through the next week of training but is unlikely to start for England until the final World Cup group game against Panama.Tuchel, alongside the FA medical team, is managing Saka's minutes as he continues to struggle with an Achilles injury which affected him for the last two months of Arsenal's Premier League-winning campaign.The 24-year-old said the problem is better than it was in March, but he only came off the bench in the 72nd minute of England's 4-2 win over Croatia on Monday, and Tuchel hinted he is unlikely to be risked from the start against Ghana on Tuesday."Bukayo is ready and will get more and more ready," Tuchel said after the win over Croatia. "Once we get to the last game in the group it is the moment. He was strong yesterday [Tuesday] in training in small spaces. It's just a matter of if the game is open and up and down."That means Saka's Arsenal team-mate Noni Madueke is likely to keep his place on the right wing. He received high praise for his World Cup debut performance against Croatia, winning the penalty which led to England's opening goal of the tournament, and creating several other good chances. For much of the first half, he was England's brightest attacking threat.Nevertheless, Tuchel admitted he has some difficult decisions to make about who should start on the wings against Ghana, having been particularly impressed by the impact off the bench from Saka and Marcus Rashford, who replaced Antony Gordon and scored England's fourth goal."Always," the head coach responded when asked if those performances had given him something to think about.World Cup 2026 fixture schedule and UK kick-off timesEngland's fixtures and routes to 2026 World Cup final"All four of them, the wingers. The level they are competing at was the highest level, especially in the last week. We had some 10-against-10s in training and some finishing patterns and attacking patterns and defensive patterns. Everybody is on in such a respectful way, and we had some difficult decisions to make."But they know that we will need them and the time will come where they will start, and the time will come where they can finish and be decisive from the bench, any time. It is now four more weeks. So in four weeks, you can swallow it and digest it and buy into it. We selected the group because we know they can do it."Tuchel promised he will encourage his players to go full throttle with attacking football for the rest of the World Cup.England played some of their most exciting football for years in the second half against Croatia in Dallas, and despite admitting he has some issues to address defensively, Tuchel wants his players to continue to be positive and play with energy and freedom.Asked whether England have now taken the 'handbrake off', the head coach replied: "That's exactly what the boys did in the second half. And that's what's needed to be done. Nobody can guarantee the outcome, but we can guarantee the effort."England had 22 shots against Croatia, half of them on target, and they had 36 touches in the box - more than double the number of their opponents. Tuchel felt England should have scored more.The players celebrated with supporters inside the Dallas Stadium after the final whistle to a rendition of Oasis' Wonderwall. Videos on social media showed Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham were particularly emotional as they sang along."It's good and it's rewarding and hopefully everyone enjoyed it," says Tuchel. "And it builds the connection [with supporters]."I had a thought in the second half - oh, the people in the pubs they will like this! I was sweating. But that's a good watch when we created and created, and went for it and won another ball, and another second ball, and another wave. Okay, come on. And that's why we watch in a pub all together on a big screen to get emotional, and hopefully we can transmit that."

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Tottenham have signed Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m.The Netherlands international defender had one year left on his contract at Brighton and played at the Seagulls under Roberto De Zerbi between 2023 and 2024.Brighton are making considerable profit on the 26-year-old, having signed him for £1.8m from NAC Breda in 2020. It is understood Brighton have also negotiated a 20 per cent sell-on clause.Van Hecke is Tottenham's third signing of the De Zerbi era, after Marco Sensi and Andy Robertson joined on free transfers.The club is determined to back De Zerbi in the market and have a strong interest in Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, while they also remain interested in Manchester City forward Savinho.This is total commitment in De Zerbi and you could also say a reward for keeping Spurs up. He has been given full control and has the final say on transfers.With Van Hecke, they are getting a defender who is comfortable on the ball, much like Marcos Senesi, and excels at taking opposition players out of the game.Yes, it's a big price. To put it simply, it's the player De Zerbi asked for.A lot of people will be wondering about Cristian Romero. On his day, he is one of the best defenders in the world. But, that's on his day. He is playing about 50 per cent of the time because of injuries and suspensions. There was plenty of speculation over whether he would watch his team in the final game of the season.If a big offer comes in for Romero, they will consider it. They key is whether they get a big offer.You don't need to be a rocket scientist to work out what Tottenham are trying to do in this transfer window: Roberto De Zerbi is looking for centre-backs who are better on the ball.In agreeing a deal for Van Hecke - having already secured the free transfer of Marcos Senesi - Spurs are looking for excellent ball progressors in the first phase of play.In Senesi and Van Hecke, De Zerbi is targeting two of the Premier League's best in this specific area. These were the top two players in the league last season for bypassing defenders by passing the ball.Quite simply, they are able to soak up pressure at the back and take opposition players out of the game by putting the ball through the lines.Under Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth, Senesi was used to a very direct, vertical style of play where he would punch the ball through the thirds quickly.Van Hecke, meanwhile, is accustomed to De Zerbi's intense style of play having played 50 matches under the Italian during their time together at Brighton.That work has been built on by Fabian Hurzeler. "It helps that the coach I had here before was De Zerbi because he integrated this style of play," Hurzeler said in 2024 when asked about his defenders playing out from the back in dangerous areas.Spurs getting two ball-playing defenders is a sign that this is something they feel they lack. The numbers back that up. Senesi and Van Hecke are a level above Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven in terms of passing ability.What will it mean for Spurs' current centre-halves?

World Cup News

Jorge Messi, 68, ‘recovering and progressing favourably’‘At times like these, we ask for responsibility,’ says familyLionel Messi’s father is undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness and his family asked the media for “humanity” on Thursday amid rumours about Jorge Messi’s health while his son competes at the World Cup. “Jorge is going through a health situation,” the Messi family said in a statement.The family did not specify the illness that the 68-year-old Jorge Messi is suffering from. “He is currently under medical observation, recovering and progressing favourably within his current condition,” the statement said.Messi said after Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria in the team’s opening World Cup match that he was going through a difficult personal situation. He did not elaborate.The family statement, released by Messi’s media office, came on the same day that reports of Jorge Messi’s death circulated in Argentina.“At times like these, we ask for responsibility, prudence and humanity,” the family said. “A person’s health and the peace of mind of their loved ones should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible media interest.”The statement said any further developments would be communicated by the family.

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Steve Clarke believes Scotland are often at their best when expectations are against them as they prepare for a World Cup showdown with Morocco.Scotland opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Haiti and know another positive result would leave them in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in their history.However, Clarke admits his side may be better suited to facing one of the tournament's strongest teams than they were when carrying the burden of expectation against Haiti."Sometimes the Scottish mentality is that we're a little more comfortable when we're the underdogs."We were the favourites against Haiti and we found that game difficult. This time we're not the favourites to win and sometimes Scotland prefer it that way."Morocco arrive having reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and Clarke believes the current side may be even stronger than the one that made history four years ago."Morocco reached the last four of the World Cup in Qatar. This Morocco side is every bit as good, if not better. They'll have aspirations of reaching the last four again. It's a big challenge for us."The Scotland boss has repeatedly stressed the quality of Mohamed Ouahbi's side and expects his players to be tested both in and out of possession."Any time you play a team that's inside the world's top 10, you know you're going to have to be good in what you do both without the ball and with the ball. We're under no illusion about the size of the task.Clarke also defended Scott McTominay following Scotland's opening win over Haiti, insisting the midfielder was not the only player to find the match difficult.McTominay played the full 90 minutes in the victory but Clarke felt Haiti's performance limited the impact of several Scotland players."The Haiti game was a struggle for many of our players, not just Scott McTominay," he said."Haiti controlled our midfield. You have to give credit to them. Sometimes you don't get the chance to bring your attributes to the game because of what the opposition do, and that might have been the case the other night."Despite that, Clarke has no concerns over the midfielder's mindset heading into Scotland's biggest game of the tournament so far."Scott's in a good place and ready to go again."