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Brazil midfielder Gomes joins from WolvesUnited sign young winger Thompson from SpursThe Brazil international João Gomes has joined Aston Villa in a £38m deal. The 25-year-old midfielder Gomes, who has 10 caps, ends a three-and-a-half-year spell at Wolves, for whom he made 130 appearances after signing from Flamengo.Gomes’s arrival at Villa follows the departure of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and comes with Morgan Rogers on the verge of a £117m move to Chelsea.The Wolves technical director, Matt Jackson, said: “João deserves everything he gets from the game. He’s the type of professional that coaches love and players love, so he will go on to be the outstanding player that we know he is.”Manchester United are monitoring Newcastle’s Lewis Hall and Fulham’s Antonee Robinson to potentially strengthen Michael Carrick’s options at left-back.The manager is intent on signing a third midfielder after the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Tielemans, and is also considering a move for a left-back to compete with Luke Shaw.Hall has impressed at Newcastle since being loaned from Chelsea for the 2023-24 season before signing for £28m plus £7m in add-ons. The 21-year-old has four England caps and was considered unfortunate not to be selected in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the World Cup. He is under contract until June 2029.Robinson, who signed for Fulham from Wigan for £2m in August 2020, was in Maurico Pochettino’s USA squad, making four appearances. Robinson will be 29 next month so is older than United’s preferred profile and his terms expire in June 2028.United have signed Tynan Thompson, an 18-year-old winger, from Tottenham for an initial fee of about £4m plus up to £4m in add-ons related to first-team achievement. Spurs have matching rights and a 15% sell-on clause.Thompson, who has played seven times for England’s under-18s, scored 13 goals and made six assists for Spurs at youth level last term, getting seven goals in seven Uefa Youth League games.Lisandro Martínez was forced out of Argentina’s 1-0 World Cup final loss to Spain on 41 minutes owing to an injury. United are yet to determine its severity.

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Close31Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni leaves his post-match news conference in tears when talking about his future after Sunday's World Cup final defeat by Spain.Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated topicsFootballFollow Footballclose panelYou are now following FootballUpdates from your Sport topics will appear in My Sport and in a collection on the Sport homepage.ArgentinaFollow Argentinaclose panelYou are now following ArgentinaUpdates from your Sport topics will appear in My Sport and in a collection on the Sport homepage.FIFA World Cup 2026Follow FIFA World Cup 2026

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In his latest column, Sky Sports' Paul Merson gives his reaction to Morgan Rogers' stunning £117m move to Chelsea.Rogers is set to become Britain's most-expensive footballer ever by leaving Aston Villa this summer. He is set to sign a six-year deal, with the option of another year, at Stamford Bridge.Read below for the Magic Man's thoughts in full about what this move means for Chelsea, Arsenal and Villa...It's a lot of money. Crazy money. Bringing Morgan Rogers in for £117m isn't what Chelsea needed.They've got Cole Palmer! They play in the same position! Rogers went to the World Cup instead of Palmer, because they play in the same position.Unless Chelsea go for the almighty and sell Enzo Fernandez - and swallow the pill for him, because he's not worth £100m - and then play Moises Caicedo at the base, then Rogers and Palmer both ahead of him.But Joao Pedro is also a No 10. So with Joao Pedro, Rogers and Palmer, Chelsea have bought an attacking midfielder when they already have two very good ones.Where's Palmer going to be? Stuck out on the right again? He's wasted in that position. And if Rogers is played out on the right - no disrespect, but there are a lot better right wingers than him out there.For me, Rogers is a No 10. He's at his absolute best in open play. When the game gets broken up and he's running with the ball, he's very good at that.But he won't get that at Chelsea. At Stamford Bridge, opposition teams kick off and sit 10 behind the ball. There's no space.And Rogers has got to carry that price tag around with him. He will sit there and say: 'there is no pressure on me, I didn't pay that fee'. But it's a load of rubbish. Everybody will look at that when you don't do well.A lot of people were saying it was too much for Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo when they moved for £100m. But the biggest compliment I can give them is nobody ever mentions it. They were good signings. That's what Rogers has got to hope for.But he's got to make things happen, which is a harder position to be in than Rice and Caicedo were. In midfield, you can do this and that - but Rogers will be judged on scoring and creating goals. That's the hardest job in the world.I'm also sure that at the start of last season, he was atrocious for Aston Villa. I'm sure he was. Then he came good and then had a good second part of the season.He can't play like that at Chelsea. That is an absolute no-go, it's a different ball game when you go for that kind of money.This move tells me that Arsenal were telling Rogers that he would play left wing, and Chelsea have told him that he will play where he wants to play, which is the No 10 role.Because I have no idea how he goes to Chelsea instead of Arsenal if they're going to play in the same position.One team looks like they're going to win the Premier League again this year and have a good chance for the Champions League, and one team isn't even in Europe. Unless the money in the seven-year contract is mind-blowing.Arsenal will have to now go and get another left winger. They'll have to try and get Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola from PSG. There are not a lot of wingers around, but if you want to go top, top drawer and improve what you've got, then that's what they have to get.I cannot believe they sold Leandro Trossard by the way, I'm flabbergasted by it. They sold him for the price of a cup of tea!Trossard played in all the big games at the end of the season. Against the big teams, he played and he played for a reason. He's a very good footballer.He also doesn't come across as someone who stinks the place out or kicks up a fuss when he doesn't' play. He gets on with it, comes on and does his job. I just can't believe what I've seen in that transfer, I don't get it at all.You have to go out and buy again and buy again if you want to stay at the top. Arsenal need a few players - but they definitely need a left winger if they want to go up another level.I just cannot believe what has happened to Aston Villa in all this.They've just got into the Champions League, they've pulled up trees and won a European trophy. That's phenomenal for a club like Villa to do that in the same season.But all of a sudden, they've lost their two best players in Youri Tielemans and Rogers. They're Villa's two best players by a country mile. Their two most creative players have left.Tielemans was the midfielder who passed the ball, got them up the pitch, got a great range of vision and passing ability. Then Rogers took the ball up the pitch in broken-up play and made things happen.But those two have gone. If you were Unai Emery and asking who would you sell, Tielemans and Rogers would have been the last two.And if I was a Villa fan applying for a season ticket, I'd make sure those two players were there first. Because you want to be entertained. And they are entertaining.And I think Ezri Konsa could go as well. Arsenal might go for him, and Chelsea might buy him too. They need a centre-back.Johan Manzambi looks alright. But he's just alright. When you look at these players when they come in, you have to ask: who else is after them?It's the same with Arsenal signing Christos Tzolis. He might be a wonderkid, but they weren't batting elite clubs away to get him. Were Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man City, Man Utd and Liverpool after the likes of Tzolis and Manzambi?

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There were ugly scenes at the end of the World Cup final as Argentina’s Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina were seen throwing punches at Spain players after their 1-0 defeat.Paredes was then sent off after shoving Spain's Eric García by the throat and wrestling Gavi to the ground. He had already been booked during the match. The antics after the final whistle were quickly condemned by UK broadcasters, with the former England goalkeeper Joe Hart labelling Argentina’s behaviour 'disgusting' on the BBC and ITV's Gary Neville calling it 'a disgrace'

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Heart of Midlothian will meet Fenerbahce or Gornik Zabrze if they get past Sturm Graz in Champions League qualifying.Third-round ties are scheduled for 4/5 and 11/12 August.If Hearts lose to the Austrians, Benfica or St Gallen of Switzerland await in the Europa League.Like the Edinburgh club, Fenerbahce and Gornik Zabrze finished as runners-up last season in Turkey and Poland respectively.Hearts last took part in Champions League qualifying in 2006-07, losing out at the third qualifying round stage to AEK Athens.Rangers were seeded in the Europa League third qualifying round and were drawn against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok.Last term, Rangers started in Champions League qualifying and finished 32nd in the 36-team Europa League league phase after picking up just one win from eight games.Motherwell and Hibernian await news of their potential Conference League opponents.The Fir Park side take on Faroese outfit HB, with LNZ Cherkasy (UKR)/Gent (BEL), Besiktas (TUR)/FC Midtjylland (DEN), HJK Helsinki (FIN)/Coleraine (NIR), Twente (NED)/Ferencvaros (HUN) or RFS (Lat)/Vestri (ISL) waiting for the winners.Meanwhile, Hibs are up against Kosovan side FK Malisheva with their possible next-round opponents coming from NK Bravo (SVN)/KF Shkendija (MKD), FC Santa Coloma (AND)/SK Rapid (AUT), Rakow (POL)/Valetta (MLT), NK Rijeka (CRO)/Derry City (IRL) or FC Polissya (UKR)/FC Copenhagen (DEN).

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Aston Villa's midfield rebuild continues apace with the acquisition of Joao Gomes from Wolves. And while the Brazil international was caught up in the malaise at Molineux, there is every reason to believe that he can become a popular figure at Villa Park.It is a fantastic opportunity to play Champions League football for a player who deserved better than Premier League relegation. He was Wolves' players' player of the season, having picked up the supporters' version of the award in the previous year.His managers certainly seem to like him too. "He is a wonderful player," said the former Wolves head coach Rob Edwards earlier this year. "It has been hard for him because in a team that has struggled at times or if you've not got the results, it can be challenging."He’s here and he’s ours 🤝Aston Villa is delighted to announce the signing of João Gomes 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/ziKQ4IyX97Prior to that, Gary O'Neil had articulated why his team-mates appreciate the now 25-year-old midfielder's approach to his work. "He is desperate to be successful but you never get the feeling it is for himself," said O'Neil. "You get the feeling it is for the group."But what exactly will he bring to Aston Villa?Tackles. And lots of them. Over the past three Premier League seasons, Gomes has made 380 tackles, which is 83 more than any other player in the competition. Once dubbed 'The Pitbull' his combative style will have been noted even by opposition fans.During these three seasons, no Premier League player has recovered possession of the ball more times than Gomes. There must be an element of positional intelligence to this knack, but most obviously it is his strength and skilful use of his body to shield the ball.Winning it back was a key weapon for Wolves last season. Even in what was a desperately poor team, Gomes ranked among the top 10 players in the Premier League for expected goals created following his interceptions. His is a front-foot approach.Indeed, Gomes covers the ground well so that he is far from a traditional holding midfield player. He is someone happier going in search of the ball. He pressured the opposition 1646 times last season - more than any Aston Villa player under Unai Emery.He can be an impressive ball carrier too, averaging almost 20 carries per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season. Perhaps surprisingly, that is a lot more than Morgan Rogers and more than double that of Emi Buendia, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans.As such, one wonders whether this slightly chaotic style might be something that Emery seeks to hone rather than unleash. Having an aggressive and mobile presence in Villa's midfield will be welcomed but the Villa coach prefers control. Expect Gomes to mature.Other areas of his game will need to improve but there is a feeling that he is a player capable of doing so. For example, Gomes has rarely been praised for his passing range but he is a reliable distributor of the ball and there is time to develop in this regard.Genius Sports uses a combination of tracking data and event data to calculate how many passes Premier League players complete compared to the number that they might have been expected to complete given the difficulty of the passes attempted.Gomes is one of only half a dozen Premier League players to have outperformed their expected pass completion by four percentage points in each of the last three seasons. It is just a little indication that with better options around him, he could well flourish.There might be less optimism about Gomes' scoring record given that he found the net only once for Wolves last season. Ironically, that came in a man-of-the-match performance against Aston Villa when he scored the opener in a 2-0 win at Molineux.Speaking to Edwards after that game, it was a chance to ask him about Gomes. "I put a bit of pressure on him before the game when I spoke to him at the training ground before the match," he told Sky Sports. "I said I wanted more from him. He really stepped up."But it proved to be his final goal in a Wolves shirt, one of only seven in his 116 Premier League appearances to date. It had started with a bang, at least. Gomes came off the bench to score the winner for 10-man Wolves at Southampton on his debut for the club.Given that Tielemans, despite his Europa League final heroics, did not actually register a Premier League goal last season, and Villa's top scoring central midfielder in the competition was Ross Barkley with just three, it might not be the major priority for Emery.But if he wants a player coming into his peak years with a great attitude, someone humble off the pitch but with real personality on it, then Gomes looks a bargain. Expect the name of this tough-tackling midfielder to be sung on the Holte End very soon.

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As the World Cup draws to a close, with Spain crowned champions for the second time in their history, Sky Sports writers reflect on a tournament that captured the world's attention - but also suffered its fair share of controversy.Spain are not crowned champions without Rodri's poise and control in midfield. If you don't believe me, watch the France semi-final back. A master at work. Across the tournament, he played over 100 more open-play passes than any other player. He only really had his Spanish team-mates for competition. Just all-round genius.Goal of the tournament - Julian Alvarez vs SwitzerlandJulian Alvarez's stunner for Argentina against Switzerland was a wonderful goal in its own right. The distance, the curl, the nestle top right. But to deliver such class in extra-time of a knockout game under such pressure and intensity makes it truly outstanding.Moment of the tournament - Messi hat-trick vs AlgeriaFew UK viewers would have watched this masterclass live because the game kicked off at ridiculous o'clock. But I did. And it was special, proving beyond doubt that he is the greatest. The beautiful game lit up by its most peerless pioneer. Absolutely worth the early alarm.Game of the tournament - Argentina 3-2 Cape VerdeObviously Mexico-England was absolute cinema. But for a point of difference, I've gone with Cape Verde running Argentina ragged. The lowest-ranked nation ever to qualify for the knockout stage pushing the reigning champions to the brink was gold.Lots of hype about Ayyoub Bouaddi, but I didn't see enough of him to win this category. I loved the contribution of Pau Cubarsi for Spain. At 19, he's already among the world's best in his position. So commanding and positionally intelligent for one so young, and of course he has the Spanish charm offensive in possession, too.Biggest disappointment - Balogun red card overturned This had to be addressed somewhere. A complete sham, making a mockery of the game and those who run it. Folarin Balogun's involvement in the USA's last-16 loss to Belgium won't be remembered for the football, but for political interference. They only succeeded in making themselves public enemy number one. What a way to tarnish an otherwise fantastic tournament.Laura HunterWe have been truly blessed as fans of this great game to witness one final hurrah from the greatest to ever do it.Goal of the tournament - Harry Kane vs DR CongoThis was Kane in a nutshell and identifies what makes him the elite goalscorer he is. All he needed was half a yard and bang. It has to rank higher due it being a winning goal, too.Moment of the tournament - Ecuador's win over GermanyFor sheer explosion of colour and vibrancy from the Yellow Wall, it had to be Ecuador's winning goal over the heavyweights of Germany to seal a place in the knockouts.Game of the tournament - Mexico 2-3 EnglandHaving been live blogging football matches for Sky Sports for over 10 years now, I thought I had seen it all. But England winning a knockout match at the Azteca to the backdrop of such carnage and adversity is up there with the best matches I've ever worked on.He became only the second 18-year-old to play for Morocco at a World Cup and produced some immaculate displays in central midfield showing a maturity beyond his years.Biggest disappointment - High-profile managersThomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, Marcelo Bielsa and Mauricio Pochettino all suffered shambolic exits from the competition with a failure to bring their day-to-day body of work to this type of format.Lewis JonesShowed exactly why he is the greatest to ever do it. He was instrumental in pushing Argentina all the way to another final, and they always have a chance when he is on the pitch.Goal of the tournament - Wilson Isidor vs Morocco The one that immediately came to mind. A brilliant hit from range that curled beautifully into the top corner. Highly recommend a watch if you've not seen it.Moment of the tournament - Cape Verde reach the round of 32A goalless draw with Saudi Arabia secured Cape Verde's spot in the round of 32, setting up a blockbuster tie with Argentina - which they were not far off winning. The celebrations were joyous and offered a timely reminder of why the World Cup is so special.Game of the tournament - Mexico 2-3 EnglandA game that had everything - intense build-up, history, weather delays, goals and drama. England's best overall performance and a game that will go down as one of the best ever at a World Cup.While he was well-known to Premier League fans, Anderson has cemented himself as a solid international midfielder. He was not perfect in every game, but showed his quality.A disaster from start to finish. From Marcelo Bielsa's refusal to look at the camera during pre-tournament media, to crashing out at the group stage with just two points from three games after draws against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia. It wasn't even enough to go through as one of the best third-place teams.Charlotte MarshJust the GOAT doing GOAT things. If this is the end for Messi on the international stage, what a final chapter.Goal of the tournament - Julian Alvarez vs SwitzerlandThe finish is one thing. The fact it came in the second half of extra-time where Alvarez's energy would've been spent is another. One word: unbelievable.Moment of the tournament - Messi's hat-trick vs AlgeriaThis has been a World Cup where all the big stars have shown up and showed out. Nothing epitomises that quite like Lionel Messi bagging a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina's opener. It set the tone for the tournament and began an incredible battle between him and Kylian Mbappe for the golden boot.Game of the tournament - Mexico 2-3 EnglandAll the odds were stacked against England. In a different era, the players would've collapsed under the pressure. Not in this era.This was a tournament where those at the twilight of their careers took centre stage. However, one man who ensured that people saw him as one for the future was Ayyoub Bouaddi. The teenager held down the midfield for a very competitive Morocco and put himself in the shop window with European giants circling.The hype around Neymar's return. Don Carlo Ancelotti at the helm. Yet Brazil looked like the furthest thing from Brazil throughout the tournament. Aside from a comfortable win over Scotland, they never looked like they had the balance in the squad right and they were made to pay.Callum BishopNo question, it has to be the GOAT. No player has played (34) or won (23) more World Cup games than him. No one has scored more goals than him (21) or scored in as many matches as him (16). His contributions against England were crucial. If this is to be his last World Cup, what a legacy he leaves.Goal of the tournament - Sidny Lopes Cabral vs ArgentinaIf World Cup debutants Cape Verde taking the reigning world champions to extra-time was not enough, Cabral produced a moment of magic that almost forced penalties. He cut in off the left, effortlessly dragged the ball past Alexis Mac Allister, tip-toed into the box and bent a beauty into the top-right corner.Moment of the tournament - Cape Verde reach knockoutsBubista's side were written off before the first ball had been kicked, but naysayers were soon forced to swallow their words. The Blue Sharks not only qualified for the knockout stages, but did so after holding both Spain and Uruguay. With spirit and heart in abundance, they shocked the world - and they will be back.Game of the tournament - Mexico 2-3 EnglandThere are a handful of contenders in this category, but England's win in the Azteca simply has to take it. All the talk beforehand was about whether the Three Lions could handle the altitude; they did that and then some.Last season's Europa League Young Player of the Year announced himself to the world with Switzerland's opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina just 166 seconds after his introduction. He added a second later on, a goal and an assist against Canada, then another assist against Algeria in the last 32. Injury prevented him playing again, but he left a lasting impression and will shine at Aston Villa.Biggest disappointment - Cristiano RonaldoHe would have wanted to go out with a bang, but the reality was far from that. Roberto Martinez persisted with his captain despite pressure to drop him given how ineffective he was on the whole. He did score three goals - two against Uzbekistan, one against Croatia - Messi's success will have irked him.Dan LongStill delivering at 39 years old. What else is there to say? The best ever.Goal of the tournament - Sidny Lopes Cabral vs ArgentinaNot only the goal of the tournament but the celebration too. Cape Verde's dream run hit new heights when Sidny Lopes Cabral curled a stunning equaliser into the top right corner during extra-time before ending up in the crowd celebrating with his loved ones.Moment of the tournament - Dan Burn blocking Raul Jimenez's overhead kickBig Dan Burn put his head in where it hurts to deliver a moment that will go down in English football history, not only blocking Raul Jimenez's audacious overhead kick, but sending the ball all the way into the Mexico half without bouncing.Game of the tournament - Mexico 2-3 EnglandAn absolute all-timer that lived up to its billing. The Azteca. The 2am kick-off. Jude Bellingham's 98-second double. Jarell Quansah's red card. Harry Kane's penalty. England's defensive grit. It had everything.Not starting the 20-year-old in the 1-1 draw against Qatar was the only misstep for Switzerland at their best-ever World Cup. Manzambi then scored twice against Bosnia-Herzegovina and added another plus two assists in two more matches. A real shame that injury cut short his tournament.Biggest disappointment - Tuchel's substitutions vs Argentina "They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament, in my observation, than having the excitement and hunger to win it," Thomas Tuchel said of England's Euro 2024 campaign. How ironic. Ezri Konsa coming for goalscorer Anthony Gordon in the 72nd minute showed just how little had changed under Tuchel.David RichardsonNothing more needs said. The greatest to ever do it.Goal of the tournament - Sidny Lopes Cabral vs ArgentinaThere's a few contenders for best strike but you're not giving this one to a Giovanni Reyna fourth against Paraguay. Cabral's finish was magnificent and so was the story around it. Cape Verde are everything the World Cup is about. So was the celebration.Moment of the tournament - Vozinha's interviewNot to make this a Cape Verde fan entry but a 40-year-old goalkeeper, who plays for a second-tier club in Portugal, crying in front of hundreds of millions of people and wishing his mum could've been there to watch him. In a world of miserable news, we need more of these moments.Game of the tournament - Mexico 2-3 EnglandIt had everything. The Azteca. Lightning delays. VAR controversy. A red card. Five goals. A historic win. And one heck of a defensive unit for those last 20 minutes.The 19-year-old looks like he's been sweeping up at the back for Spain for years. Worth remembering the semi-final win over France was only his 19th cap, and he had won only 12 before this tournament. His stats have ranked among the tournament's best despite his tender years both with and without the ball. A star of the present.The USA began the tournament without a huge amount of goodwill from elsewhere for a variety of reasons but slowly began to melt hearts around the globe with a likeable team coached by a likeable manager, playing good - and successful - football.After doubling their knockout wins it looked as though this could be their breakout tournament until Donald Trump's intervention on Folarin Balogun's red card, FIFA's capitulation and then their own collapse under the scrutiny to exit with a whimper against Belgium and any overseas goodwill evaporated, rightly or wrongly.Ron Walker

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Aston Villa have signed midfielder Joao Gomes from Wolves in a £38m deal.Villa will pay an initial fee of £34m plus £4m in potential add-ons for Gomes.The 25-year-old's arrival comes three days after Villa confirmed the club-record signing of fellow midfielder Johan Manzambi in a £59.5m deal.Villa are in the process of reshaping their midfield following the sale of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and the long-term injury to Amadou Onana.Unai Emery's side are also set to lose attacker Morgan Rogers this summer in a club-record £117m sale to Chelsea.

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Close00Spain manager Luis de la Fuente and his players react to winning their second World Cup title after beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final.Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated topicsFootballFollow Footballclose panelYou are now following FootballUpdates from your Sport topics will appear in My Sport and in a collection on the Sport homepage.SpainFollow Spainclose panelYou are now following SpainUpdates from your Sport topics will appear in My Sport and in a collection on the Sport homepage.FIFA World Cup 2026Follow FIFA World Cup 2026

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2 CommentsWhen Larne step out at Inver Park to face Red Star Belgrade in the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie on Tuesday, they will follow in the footsteps of another Irish League club who took on the decorated European giants in their pomp 35 years ago.Red Star began their defence of the European Cup they won the previous season by defeating then Irish League champions Portadown 8-0 on aggregate back in the autumn of 1991.The first leg, played in Szeged in Hungary rather than in Belgrade because of the deteriorating security situation in then Yugoslavia, saw Portadown lose 4-0.The second leg at Shamrock Park ended in the same scoreline.The European Cup preceded the Champions League as the continent's premier club competition and featured only the champions from the competing countries in an open draw.The Portadown team which celebrated back-to-back domestic league titles in 1990 and 1991 included long-serving goalkeeper Mickey Keenan, defender Philip Major, midfielders Martin Russell and Paul Doolin, plus renowned Scottish strike duo Stevie Cowan and Sandy Fraser.The central defensive partnership of Alfie Stewart and Brian Strain also played a key part in the success enjoyed by the Mid Ulster side, who were managed by legendary Irish League boss Ronnie McFall.Speaking to BBC Sport NI's Joel Bell, Stewart recalled discovering his club's opponents courtesy of a then popular television text service."Back in the day the only way of finding out who you were playing in the draw was to switch on to Ceefax and that was how I found out," he said."I almost fainted when I found out it was Red Star Belgrade, the European champions, but you quickly switch into excited mode as it's a chance in a million."To go to Yugoslavia as it was then before the break-up of the Balkan States, was something to look forward to."Red Star Belgrade tie 'free hit' for Larne - Haveron"Even though we were playing across the border, the Serbians had come across in great numbers and they were very loud and very hostile," he explained of the away leg in Hungary."It made the occasion a bit more difficult but it's always great walking out into an atmosphere like that as a footballer. Those are the nights that you dream of."When you stand beside these guys and they're 6'3'' or 6'4'', you were facing supreme athletes with sheer power and pace and it was a challenge."People have asked me over the years, what's it like when you play against those elite full-time players and it's simply this - they think quicker, they run quicker, they're stronger."You were apprehensive, but not afraid, because my attitude was to embrace it. You're in awe of them but you have a job to do and you don't want to let yourself down."The Ports defender felt a four-goal reverse against the best team in Europe represented a creditable outcome."We came out at the end of the night having lost 4-0 after conceding two late goals but we were extremely proud of how we performed on the night and met the challenge."Sinisa Mihajlovic went on from Red Star to play most of his career in Italy with Lazio and Sampdoria. He was something special and he scored two late free-kicks from outside the box."When you saw those free-kicks being taken from 30 yards out you probably thought that you were safe but this guy, he ended his career being recognised as one of the greatest dead ball specialists that the game had ever seen. He stood out."The second leg at Shamrock Park was a memorable occasion, with 1991 European Golden Boot winner Darko Pancev among the goalscorers for the illustrious visitors."There was great excitement. It was a tremendous night for the fans, a tremendous reward for their support," reflected Stewart."To have the European champions playing at Shamrock Park it is something that will never happen again, probably at any Irish League ground."Darko Pancev, who moved to AC Milan a year after, he was scoring goals for fun in the Yugoslav league and moved to Italy, which at that time was the place to be just as the Premier League is now. He was a fantastic striker."Current Irish League champions Larne will host Red Star in the first leg of their tie on Tuesday, 21 July (20:00 BST), with the second leg away from home on Wednesday, 29 July (19:00 BST).

World Cup News

In America, nobody sells football quite like David Beckham.During this World Cup, the former England captain has been impossible to miss.On the pitch, the tournament belongs to stars like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.Off the pitch, Sir David has become the face of the World Cup, fronting advertising campaigns for 11 brands ranging from McDonald's and Major League Soccer to Stella Artois, Home Depot and Bank of America.And if you haven't seen him during one of the many half-time commercial breaks, you've probably spotted him at the United States' opening match in Los Angeles, watching alongside his friend Tom Cruise.Just hours before that, Beckham had become the first professional footballer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with actor Cruise once again by his side."David speaks to so many different people. I think that's what's unique about him," said Stacy Jones, founder and CEO of the marketing agency Hollywood Branded."He brings in the female demographic because he is so sexy - but he appeals to men. He's an honest, good, authentic, down-to-earth type of individual. So you don't really get affronted by him."She felt Beckham had achieved something few celebrities manage, moving effortlessly between football, fashion, entertainment, business and the cult of celebrity.On Hermosa Beach, south of Los Angeles, hundreds of fans gathered to watch Spain reach the World Cup final at an event organised by LA Galaxy - the club Beckham joined in 2007 from Real Madrid.Ask fans what comes to mind when they hear the name David Beckham and the answers come quickly."David Beckham was a really good player for England, but he's doing too many commercials now," said one football fan.For Megan Hapeman, it's the recent McDonald's advert in which Beckham hopes to receive a cup featuring his own face.Her six-year-old son Oliver proudly told me he still has one."When I got it, I was pretty proud," he said. "Because Mommy liked it, I liked it too."That's exactly what brands are buying.Beckham transcends clubs, generations and even football itself.That broad appeal didn't happen by accident. It was built on Beckham's football legacy in America.He remains the player with the trademark free-kicks, part of Manchester United's Treble-winning side in 1999, England captain and one of Real Madrid's original Galácticos.Dan Courtemanche, Major League Soccer's executive vice-president and chief communications officer, admitted Beckham's influence on the game in America cannot be overstated."I always tell people he changed the fate of American soccer. Not once, but twice," he said.When Beckham signed for LA Galaxy 19 years ago, stadiums across Major League Soccer sold out before he had even played a competitive match.The league needed credibility and he gave it something even broader: mainstream celebrity.Sixteen years later, Beckham helped persuade Argentina icon Messi to choose Inter Miami over rival offers globally - another moment that transformed MLS, according to Courtemanche."Lionel Messi decided to make Major League Soccer his league of choice and Inter Miami his club of choice," he added. "Again, it took us to a whole other level."Tom Braun, LA Galaxy's president and chief operating officer, said Beckham's influence has stretched way beyond football."David's an iconic figure in our sport and our culture," he explained."He's built a business around his brand and continues to resonate with people."The evolution of the 51-year-old, who also played for AC Milan and Paris St-Germain before retiring in 2013, was perhaps best symbolised this summer on Hollywood Boulevard.When Beckham accepted his star on the Walk of Fame, he reflected he had never imagined "a working-class English footballer" would receive such an honour.The recognition celebrated not only the life of Beckham the footballer, but Beckham the cultural figure."David Beckham, to America, is the World Cup," Jones said.Having arrived in Los Angeles promising to grow the game, Beckham is still helping sell football to America.Only now, he's doing it not with a free-kick, but with a brand.When the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport

Football News

Boos descended from the stands as Donald Trump and the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, took to the field for the World Cup trophy ceremony at New York New Jersey ⁠stadium on Sunday. Spain beat defending champions Argentina 1-0 to win the title. After the US president presented Spain with the trophy, he attempted to stand with the team at the side of the podium as they celebrated, before Infantino quietly ushered him away. It was a repeat of last summer’s Club World Cup at the same stadium after Trump presented the trophy to champions Chelsea and tried to crash the celebrations, to the bemusement of the playersDonald Trump and Gianni Infantino booed before US president attempts to crash Spain celebrationsSpain win World Cup after Ferran Torres breaks 10-man Argentina’s resistance Continue reading...