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England are out of the World Cup after Argentina's dramatic comeback to beat them 2-1 in the semi-finals. Harry Kane and the team took the lead early in the second half in Atlanta, but could not hang on. As fans reel from the painful defeat, here are some tips for coping with the dashed hopes of a place in the final. Losing at football can cause more of a sting than in other sports, says Dr Martha Newson from the University of Greenwich. "Few people are going to cry and get upset about whoever loses Wimbledon," explains the behavioural scientist. "Football is different… we talk about the national team like it's us out there." For supporter Oli Portlock, an England loss feels like a "national funeral… a big grey cloud over the nation when England's been knocked out". The 27-year-old recalls the "absolute heartbreak" of England's defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley. "It certainly ruined the next week in work for me." Recognising the feeling of pain is an important step, says Dr David Crepaz-Keay from the Mental Health Foundation. But don't get too worried, he says, because the emotional dip "typically fades within a couple of hours". So if you feel like you are wallowing in misery, ride it out and tell yourself it's just part of the process. "For me, it's probably trying to reflect on all the great memories I've created throughout the tournament," says Oli, who followed England from his hometown of Preston to the US. Disappointed fans might lift their spirits by rewatching Harry Kane bring England back from the brink against DR Congo, or Jude Bellingham score twice in 98 seconds against Mexico to help clinch a spot in the quarter-finals. Or it might be memories of staying up that extra hour after severe storms prompted a 02:00 BST kick-off, or crowding into packed pubs during a record-breaking heatwave to catch the earlier games. Oli suggests listening to music that reminds you of the successes - Wonderwall for this year or Sweet Caroline for Euro 2020 - rather than focusing on the disappointment. England fan Jayne Howells, 54, agrees, and cautions against trying to find mistakes or ascribe blame in anger. "A lot of these players… they're going to be gutted as well. It's not about knocking them down, but saying they actually did really well. That's how you make a stronger team." Crepaz-Keay advises fans to "see the funny side where you can" and remember "the things that went well". 'The perfect football song': Why England fans and players love Wonderwall Instead, both he and Newson say sharing your disappointment is one of the best ways to get over the hurt. The best thing to dissipate that frustration, Crepaz-Keay says, is to "talk about it, rant about it" and get through it quickly, in the right way, with the right people. Supporter Oli agrees, saying "talking with mates down the pub" helps you to remember you're "on the same page" with the sting. "It does evoke disappointment," he admits, but it helps to "get it out of your system". If you find yourself reaching for the crisps or cookies, it is not all down to a lack of willpower. "We do find that fans consume more calories after a loss," Newson says, probably due to an unconscious "evolutionary" desire to protect yourself after losing. Everyone has different ways of coping, she says, but the important thing is to "trust your instincts" - and being with others, resting, and opening up tend to be the best options. "Getting outside and being active will help," advises Crepaz-Keay, even if that means walking and singing on your way home from a match to expend some energy. For Andy Taylor, 38, who followed England to both New York and Boston, getting back to his normal routine is what helps. He says it is the "day-to-day bits" - like walking the dog and going for a run, as well as reflecting on the positives - that help to boost his mood. His first tournament - Euro 1996, where Germany dashed England's hopes in a tense semi-final - was "devastating", but he could always look forward to another game. "England football will always be there," says Andy. "Even if we don't win, I've got amazing memories to cling to. We were there and I'll never get over that."

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Supporters who gathered in pubs, fan parks and homes across the South East said they had hoped this would be the year football finally came home. Sean Lombard, landlord of the Red Lion pub in Rusthall, Kent, turned his jazz bar into a watch party for customers. He said it had been a night of "shouts and screams, happiness and tears", but England were just "unlucky". He said: "It's been a good tournament for England." Matt Richards, who watched the game in Rusthall, said he was proud of the team. "I think we went a little bit too defensive, but as a whole, the boys throughout the whole tournament did enough," he said. "It's always sad to go out." "We are knocking at the door," he said. "I think we need that English spirit, that English fight going forward in the next competition, in order to win." At a fan park in Brighton, Elaine Connolly said the atmosphere was "amazing" after England scored first. But after the defeat, she felt the same as "everyone else in the UK, absolutely gutted". "It's been tough, it's a bitter pill to swallow," she said. "We've been here before, we get this far and it just kind of shuts down." Simon Cook and Terry Baker turned up believing England were going to win, but after watching the team defend a 1-0 lead before Argentina went on to score two late goals, they asked: "Why didn't we just attack?" Jamie Power, 19, at the Woking FC fan zone in Surrey, said he was "gutted" by the result. Like so many across the country, he wanted to experience what fans enjoyed when England won the World Cup final at Wembley 60 years ago. "As a young teenager, I wanted to live the life of what the 1966 people lived up to. Every year, we've got so close," he said. But he added: "You have to be fair to Argentina, they've played brilliantly. We need to learn from this." Another supporter watching the match at Woking, Ell Guidera, joked that the defeat would stay with him for some time. Laughing, he said: "For the rest of July and August, don't talk to me." He said he expected to recover when the football season started again. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook , external , X , external , and on Instagram , external and listen to BBC Radio Surrey on Sounds . Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk , external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Why England's loss to Argentina felt like most painful in 60 years of hurt SportPublished8 hours ago'Passive' and 'crumbled' - did Tuchel's defensive tactics cost England? SportPublished2 hours agoArgentina shatter England's World Cup dreams in semi-final SportPublished11 hours agoRelated internet linksFIFA World Cup 2026

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England fans have described their heartbreak after the Three Lions slipped to defeat in the World Cup semi final. Two late goals by holders Argentina saw Thomas Tuchel's side lose 2-1 in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday. Families who gathered at Brantham Leisure Centre in Suffolk to watch the action said they were "gutted" by the result. "It's the usual, I'm afraid. Sit back and they lose," said Clive Gore, 72, who watched the game with his son, Andy. Edie, who was among the children granted a late night, said: "I'm just devastated. "We were doing so well, then we just have to slip up in defence in the last couple of minutes." Amelia and Imogen both said they were inspired by England's progress in the US-hosted tournament. "It's sad, but they made it really far though," Imogen said. Amelia, who plays football locally with her friend, added: "I'm a bit disappointed, but they tried their best and that's all you can ask for." England were on course for their first men's World Cup final since 1966 after Anthony Gordon's 55th minute goal sparked jubilant scenes in Brantham and across the nation. However, goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez, who struck in injury time, ended the Three Lions' World Cup dream. "It's heartbreaking. I've been looking forward to it all year," one fan said. "We've done so well. New team, new manager, [it] just didn't come home in the end, but we're still supporting." Eleven-year-old Taylor, who watched with his friend Stanley, said despite the result, it was still a great night. He added: "A very fun experience to have, the joy, the fun, but the unlucky joy of not winning." Do you have a story suggestion for Suffolk? Contact us below. Contact formContact form Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds , Facebook , external , Instagram , external and X , external . England suffer World Cup semi-final heartbreak with loss to Argentina SportThe family rooting for England and Argentina 🎧 The Blue Hour - Young gives his thoughts on England

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Comments England were on the cusp of reaching their first men's World Cup final since 1966. They were 1-0 up against reigning world champions Argentina when the clock inside Atlanta Stadium ticked to 84 minutes - and then it all went horribly wrong. Enzo Fernandez equalised with a thumping strike in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez headed a 92nd-minute winner - both goals coming from assists by Lionel Messi. Just like that, England's World Cup dreams lay in ruins. They had worked so hard to take the lead through Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute - and then sat back and paid the price. The decision by England boss Thomas Tuchel to go defensive backfired spectacularly. Instead it is Argentina who go through to Sunday's showpiece against Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium (20:00 BST kick-off). But should England have gone for the kill when they went 1-0 up? They did not - and had just 12% of possession from going ahead to conceding the second goal. Tuchel only sent on forwards Marcus Rashford and Ivan Toney deep into stoppage time, while defenders Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn and Nico O'Reilly were introduced after the Three Lions took the lead. "We have crumbled," former England captain Wayne Rooney told BBC Sport. "It started from the manager and the decisions he made. It was too passive. "Against this team, the world champions, you will not get away with it. This has been the biggest test and we have failed it." So why did England sit back when in control against Argentina? And are Tuchel's second-half tactics to blame for England's failure to make the final? Tuchel retains FA backing despite England defeat 'Coaching catastrophe' - SuttonEngland have showed character at this World Cup, coming from behind to defeat both DR Congo at the last-32 stage and Norway in the quarter-finals. "The difference is hanging on against Norway or Mexico [in the last 16], they have not got the quality this Argentina team have got in terms of the ability on the ball and the ability they have to punish you," former England captain Alan Shearer told BBC Sport. "Tuchel played his cards very, very early and it has backfired." England looked to have taken full control of the semi-final against their old foes when Gordon put them ahead 10 minutes into the second half. England's fans celebrated wildly - but then the Three Lions opted to sit back and defend. "The fact that England got themselves in front and then basically handed Argentina the initiative... that was a coaching catastrophe from Thomas Tuchel," Chris Sutton, a Premier League winner with Blackburn in 1994-95, told BBC Radio 5 Live. "You can't expect to defend for 30 minutes against the quality Argentina had. "It's all on the coach where I am concerned. He made the changes. He was negative, so the question which I'm going to ask is 'how can you trust Thomas Tuchel to take this team forward?'" England have come undone against Argentina in the past. Who can forget Diego Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' goal at the 1986 World Cup or the 1998 World Cup defeat that burns so deep. England, however, have no-one but themselves to blame for Wednesday's loss. "Norway and Mexico panicked against England," former England goalkeeper Joe Hart told BBC Sport. "I didn't see one bit of panic from that Argentina side. I saw belief, I saw the realising they could free up the great man Lionel Messi in the pocket, and they were running all over England. "Gareth Southgate took a lot of criticism for the big moments with England, when they had the lead in big games and shut up shop. I don't see that anything has changed in that big moment out there." So what were the changes that frustrated England fans so much? Leading 1-0, many expected Tuchel to go for another goal - but instead the German made three defensive changes. He brought Konsa on for Gordon in the 72nd minute - switching to a back five - before bringing on further defensive reinforcements 10 minutes later in Burn and O'Reilly. Tuchel sent on forward Rashford and Toney in added time, but it proved too little too late. "I felt the changes we made at 1-0, that if Argentina scored we wouldn't make extra time," added Rooney. Former England defender Micah Richards told BBC Sport: "When England scored that first goal they should have gone for the second. "Yes, you respect their quality, but dropping deep allowed Argentina to get into their flow." Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, said Tuchel went too deep too soon, "I think he has got that wrong," added Robinson, who won 41 caps for England between 2003 and2007. "He has got a lot of decisions right, but I think trying to defend a lead against this team was a wrong choice." Even Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez admitted there was a change in momentum after the opening goal as England sat back and looked to defend. "Sometimes when you are winning, you have to go forward," added Martinez. "You can't change the gameplan. I think they did it and they sent on extra defenders." Tuchel, of course, has improved on England's showing at the 2022 World Cup, when they reached the quarter-finals before bowing out to France. But this England team is sprinkled with exceptional individual talent like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. England captain Kane, who will be approaching his 36th birthday at the next World Cup, suggested his side could have done more. "When we went 1-0 up we seemed to try and hold on, which at this level is not enough," said the England captain. "[I am] just gutted because we've worked so hard to be here and the lads have given every last bit of running, blood, sweat, tears. "We pressed them well, we put them under loads of pressure high up the pitch which then allowed us to win balls and control the game a bit better. "After the goal, whether it was them putting more men forward or us not being able to match them man for man, it was just wave after wave. "The lads were putting blocks in but, in the end, it just wasn't enough." What information do we collect from this quiz?'Tuchel got it wrong - he has to accept that'Asked in his post-match news conference if he made wrong decisions against Argentina, Tuchel defended himself and said: "No, I believe it's just the nature of the game. As soon as you lose you get criticised, it's just what it is. "In the moment, no regrets. The team gave everything and we were very, very close. "We played one of our better matches, maybe our best match in the circumstances. "The team was top, we couldn't get over the line. "I think we saw the mentality throughout the match and the strong group. We played the matches how they were, we played against strong teams in the group, travelled a lot of miles, played at altitude, we played with 10 men, we played in the heat and we overcame every obstacle. "We were very close today. It's not the moment to analyse the full tournament." Despite reaching the semi-finals, Tuchel's tactics and choices will be criticised for days to come after failing to make the final, despite taking the lead. "I love Thomas Tuchel," added former England defender Richards to BBC Sport. "I love how brave he is. Tonight, on the biggest stage, he got it wrong, and he has to accept that."

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Of the 22 teams to have won the World Cup, 19 of them had an average age between 26 and 28 when doing so. That will be welcome news to England, France and Spain, whose average ages of their starting 11s at this World Cup all fit that age bracket. If you listed the average starting ages of the 22 World Cup-winning teams of the past, the median average is 27 years and 57 days old. Should Argentina go on to win the tournament, they would do so as one of the oldest sides to become World Cup champions. The average starting age of their starting 11 against Switzerland was 30.5 years old, with their team consisting of five players aged 32 or older. Lionel Messi, 39, is among them. Across the whole tournament, the age of Argentina's starting 11 has an average of 29 years and 302 days, although the last two sides to take the field have had an average age above 30. Only one team has won the World Cup with an average age of 29 or older. That was Brazil in 1962, whose average age of their starting 11s throughout the tournament was 30 years and 204 days. Just two nations have won a World Cup with a tournament starting 11 average age below 26. Argentina in 1978 (25 years, 195 days) and France in 2018 (25 years, 326 days) are the two youngest average starting 11s to win a World Cup. Contact formContact formHow does England's squad compare to World Cup winning ages?Of England's squad in North America, just two are aged 27 years old. Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah is the closest to the median age of being a starting member of a World Cup-winning side. He will be 27 years and 14 days old on the day of the final, should England get there. However, Chalobah is yet to feature at the tournament. Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, who has started five of England's six matches so far, is 27-and-a-half, meaning he is the closest of England's regular players this summer to being at median World Cup-winning age. Jude Bellingham, Elliot Anderson, Jarell Quansah, Morgan Rogers and James Trafford are all aged 23. At the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, the quintet will have turned 27, meaning they are at prime World Cup-winning age. Of the 26-man squad, seven are aged between 26 and 28. That is the age that has produced 86.4% of World Cup average starting ages. Based on average ages of starting 11s at the 2026 World Cup so far, England have the youngest team of the four semi-finalists. They have averaged 26 years and 255 days old in their starting line-ups. Spain (26 years, 271 days), who play France in Tuesday's first semi-final, also have a median age below 27. France have the second-oldest squad of the remaining four, but are also close to prime age with an average age so far of 27 years and 194 days. This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

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When it comes to the World Cup it's not all about the numbers - the letters are important too! With the semi-finals on the horizon we think it's the perfect time for our A-Z quiz. Can you name the best performing nation at World Cups for each letter of the alphabet? And remember, we're after the name of the country that was being used at the time, which might be different to the present day. After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device. What information do we collect from this quiz?Related topicsFootballFIFA World Cup 2026Play more quizzesQuiz: Name every nation at the 2026 World Cup Which World Cup team are you? Take our quiz World Cup quiz: Name every player in England's squad World Cup quiz: Name every player in Scotland's squad

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England midfielder Jordan Henderson suffered a "really bad" wrist injury while celebrating his side's dramatic World Cup last-16 win over Mexico, manager Thomas Tuchel said. Henderson appeared to land awkwardly after falling from the advertising hoardings following England's 3-2 victory and was pictured leaving the pitch on a stretcher. The 36-year-old Brentford midfielder's World Cup has been limited to a six-minute appearance at the end of England's Group L win over Panama. "Jordan [Henderson] just fell over and injured his wrist. It looks really bad," said England manager Thomas Tuchel on BBC One after his side's win on Monday. "It's a quite serious injury and it doesn't fit to the evening that Jordan is now not with us. The doctor told me he is in hospital." England's next match is a quarter-final tie against Norway in Miami on Saturday 22:00 BST, which you can follow on BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website and App. Henderson is likely to join team-mate Reece James on the sideline who picked up a hamstring injury in England's opening match. Jarell Quansah is unavailable after receiving a straight red card in England's victory over Mexico in Mexico City. How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV Everything you need to know about the World Cup

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Senior football correspondent in Mexico CityPublished54 minutes ago12 Comments Thomas Tuchel has dismissed concerns over England's treatment in Mexico as they prepare to face the World Cup co-hosts - saying it had been "nicer than I expected" and that home fans were "friendly and respectful". Tuchel's side take on Mexico in a last-16 match that kicks off at 18:00 local time on Sunday (Monday 01:00 BST, live on BBC One, iPlayer and Radio 5 Live). On Saturday, the team were met with a mixture of cheers and jeers from fans as they left their hotel for training under enhanced security measures in Mexico City. Ecuador - beaten 2-0 by Mexico in the World Cup last 32 - lodged a noise complaint with Fifa after fans with loudspeakers, motorbikes and horns disrupted their sleep last week. As a result, members of Mexico's National Guard lined the entrance to England's hotel, while police officers in riot gear stood next to barriers on the road outside. "We had no issues tonight and I think Fifa took care of the situation," head coach Tuchel said. "We have security around the hotel so we expect a good night's sleep. "I don't want to talk about problems that don't exist yet. If they come, we will accept them. The best way to approach is to be relaxed and calm. "We have a six o'clock kick-off, so if we miss some hours of sleep we will have time to get some other hours in the late morning. "What I experienced until now was very respectful and emotional and very supportive to towards our teams so are very respectful towards everyone. We expect to be treated with respect and that was the case. "It was even nicer than I expected." Tuchel said he had felt the energy in Mexico City. "It just catches you straight away once you land here and saw the excitement and the emotions," he said. "This will be a proper World Cup match. We are in an iconic place, an iconic stadium and a massive knockout game. "It is a big stage and we feel it. It makes you sharper and brings the best out of you. It makes you feel alive." Another big talking point has been the altitude in Mexico City - with the Estadio Azteca 7,220ft (2,240m) above sea level. That means the Earth's barometric pressure is lower, making the air thinner and meaning less oxygen is taken into the bloodstream with each breath. This can lead to increased heart rate, shortness of breath, dehydration, and quicker and more intense fatigue. Tuchel said he had felt it since arriving on Saturday evening. "We feel it even if we don't train," he said. "I felt a slight headache through the day, for example. "I didn't sleep as well as the days before but nothing you cannot handle and that you cannot adapt. "The players felt it in the first minutes of the training session and the longer it went they could cope with it better. "It is just what it is. We cannot physically adapt, it is impossible. But we are here one day before to experience it at least. "It is not a coincidence Mexico starts their matches strong and aggressively as the first 15 to 20 minutes maybe the tougher. Once we overcome that, I think we are in a good place. "The players are kind of adapted - you know about the situation. We will take care of what we need to take care of. We need a strong performance and I feel we will have one." Why England won't fear Mexico or the Azteca - Shearer "Inside the bubble it was quite calm," Tuchel said. "The players were not aware there was a possible change of kick-off. "Just this example shows you to not lose your head - we cannot influence it. Three and a half hours later, you land in Mexico and the kick-off time stayed the same. It is not worth losing your head." "Altitude: it is what it is. Home crowd: it is what it is. We have the spirit, we have the commitment, we have the pure will and the glue in the team to overcome these things. We know what is coming. But that is the beauty of it." James doubtful for Mexico tie but Quansah fit again Why England won't fear Mexico or the Azteca - Shearer BBC offers 'Stay Up or Catch Up' for England v Mexico How to turn BBC Sport alerts on or off for England v Mexico

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2858 CommentsUpdated 4 July 2026 England are through to the last 16 of the World Cup after overcoming a scare to beat DR Congo in their first knockout fixture. The Three Lions were rescued by their captain Harry Kane, who scored twice in the last 15 minutes to secure a 2-1 win after Thomas Tuchel's side had gone a goal down. It means England are one step closer to reaching their third major tournament final of the decade. Monday, 6 July - 01:00 BST (live on BBC One and iPlayer, radio and online) England face a tough test in the last 16 as they have the daunting task of going to Mexico to play the tournament co-hosts at the Azteca Stadium. Mexico's competitive record at the iconic venue is 70 wins from 89 games, with 17 draws and only two defeats. They are also unbeaten in 10 World Cup games there. They have been in excellent form at this World Cup, too, with the tournament co-hosts having won all four games, scored eight goals and conceded none. Mexico are ranked ninth in the world and have not lost a competitive fixture since a 2-0 defeat by Honduras in the first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarter-final in November 2024 - a run of 13 unbeaten matches. They produced a high-energy and intense first half against Ecuador in their last-32 match, establishing a two-goal lead after just half an hour against a side that had not conceded more than one goal in any match in more than two years. The Azteca sits more than 7,000 feet above sea level, with that kind of altitude potentially causing shortness of breath, increased heart rate and fatigue for players who are not used to it. Five-time winners Brazil are in England's section of the draw and are potential quarter-final opponents. Vinicius Jr and Co topped Group C - knocking out Scotland in the process - but were unconvincing on the one occasion they were truly tested, drawing 1-1 with Morocco in their opening fixture. They needed an injury-time winner from Gabriel Martinelli to beat Japan 2-1 in the last 32, having earlier fallen behind. And Norway , who finished second behind France in Group I, have impressed in their first World Cup appearance since 1998. With Manchester City's Erling Haaland up front, they would pose a significant threat. He scored the late winner as Norway overcame Ivory Coast 2-1 on Tuesday in Dallas, taking him to five goals in three games in his first World Cup and 60 from 53 appearances for his country overall. If England reach this stage, they will be playing in Miami. We're getting a fair bit ahead now, but if England were to make it this far, they could face the defending champions. Perhaps the favourites to reach this stage would be Argentina , who won all three of their group games as Lionel Messi continued to deliver on the biggest stage of all in the month he turned 39, scoring five goals so far. They survived a huge scare in being taken to extra time by surprise package Cape Verde in the last 32, and will face Egypt in the next round. Also in this section of the draw are Colombia , who would face Argentina in the quarter-final if both nations win their next games. They topped their group, ahead of Portugal, having won two of their three matches. They face Switzerland in the last 16. The Swiss have grown into the tournament and won their first knockout game in 88 years in the round of 32. Reaching the semi-final would mean a return for England to Atlanta, where they beat DR Congo in their last-32 match. All 16 teams in the other half of the draw are potential World Cup final opponents for England. The strongest sides who England could not possibly face before the final include 2018 winners and 2022 runners-up France, 2010 victors Spain and 2022 semi-finalists Morocco. France and Morocco will meet in the quarter-finals if they overcome Paraguay and Canada respectively. Spain play Portugal in the last 16, with the winner playing USA or Belgium in the last eight. The final will be held in New Jersey in front of 82,500 fans. England sneak through - but who had a nightmare start? Player ratings United, free and brilliant - can anyone stop France masterclass?

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World Cup 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico has reached the knockout stage. Here are the forthcoming games and where you can watch and listen to them in the UK. During the tournament, 54 matches will be shown live on the BBC, including the final on 19 July, with 92 games on BBC Sounds and every single match covered on the BBC Sport website and app. Everything you need to know about the World Cup

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"I still talk to him," Ruben Neves says about Diogo Jota, his close friend and former Porto, Wolves and Portugal team-mate. It is a year since Jota, while a Liverpool player, died in a car accident in Spain, 11 days after marrying his long-term partner Rute Cardoso. His brother Andre Silva was also killed in the accident on 3 July 2025. "Few people know this," Neves, who is wearing Jota's number 21 national shirt at the World Cup, told Portuguese TV show, external Alta Definicao. "We have a WhatsApp group with Rute and Diogo, and it's still there, and we continue to talk there. "Whenever something special happens, I have the conversations archived on my WhatsApp so I can continue to send him messages." Jota, 28, was on his way back to Liverpool for pre-season when the car, a Lamborghini, left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle. He was making the journey to England by car and ferry as doctors had advised the forward, who celebrated winning the Premier League title two months earlier, against flying because he had undergone minor surgery. One year on from his passing, Portugal play Croatia in Toronto on Thursday evening (00:00 BST on Friday morning) for a place in the last 16 at the World Cup. It promises to be a highly emotional occasion for head coach Roberto Martinez, his players and staff, and the thousands of Portugal fans who have flooded into the Canadian city for the match. "Diogo is our sun and our light," says Martinez, who named Jota as an honorary 'plus-one' player when he announced his squad in May. "We want to win the World Cup for him." 'A symbol of hope & inspiration - Jota was a Portuguese hero' He became a symbol of hope and inspiration back home after going from his hometown club Gondomar to Pacos de Ferreira, then to Porto, Wolverhampton and finally Liverpool. Jota's path to stardom was highlighted as a rare case of an elite Portuguese footballer who never spent time at any of the big three academies - Benfica, Sporting and Porto. Just like at Liverpool though, his death has had a profound effect on the national team, for whom he scored 14 times in 49 appearances. As well as carrying the weight of expectation on their shoulders at this tournament, Portugal's players also carry the weight of grief for a team-mate who would have been among them this summer. While his ​absence has been felt deeply, Jota's memory lives on and his presence has been felt at this World Cup, from Houston to Miami. A black and white picture of Jota celebrating a goal for his country has been displayed on big screens as the Portuguese national anthem has rung out before matches. "Diogo was a player deeply loved by the Portuguese people," Miguel de Silva, the Portuguese-Canadian owner of the Amigos da Dundas sports bar, located in Toronto's Little Portugal neighbourhood, says. "I think what he brings to the Portuguese players will be something special. Just one more reason for them to win the match [against Croatia]." While fans have turned up for Portugal's matches wearing shirts with Jota's name on the back, players including captain Cristiano Ronaldo are wearing special wristbands during matches in tribute. The wristbands in Portugal's green and red colours are a gift from Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and carry the names of all squad members alongside that of Jota. "The story of the wristband ⁠is, when we went to meet with the prime minister, he offered us this wristband," says midfielder Vitinha. "They made ​sure that it was a wristband that we could wear on the pitch. It has all the specifics for us ​to be able to enter the pitch with it, with the name of all the players plus the special name of Diogo Jota." Vitinha appeared in the opening group game against DR Congo in Houston on 17 June, where Jota's parents Joaquim and Isabel were guests, and wiped away tears in the stands during an emotional tribute to their sons. "Representing Portugal at this tournament was a dream Diogo nurtured with everyone who loved him," Fifa president Gianni Infantino wrote on social media, external after meeting the couple. "While celebrating these moments of togetherness, we continue to keep Diogo and Andre in our thoughts." The funeral of Jota and his brother was held in Gondomar, on the outskirts of Porto, on 5 July 2025. Neves helped carry Jota's coffin into the church, just hours after competing with Al Hilal at the Club World Cup in the United States. The midfielder has since had a tattoo on his left calf of him embracing Jota, who is wearing his 'Diogo J' Portugal 21 shirt. "I and the entire national team team will do everything we can to keep Diogo here with us, on our team," Neves added. "The day after the news, for me, is the most difficult day of my life. The most important aspect for me to be able to play was wanting to play for Diogo first." While Liverpool have revealed images of the new permanent memorial, external at Anfield in tribute to Jota and his brother, Portugal unveiled a bronze tribute, external at their training centre close to Lisbon. Martinez says Jota's death "hurts beyond football" but his spirit is a driving force at the World Cup. Portugal have struggled to fire at the tournament, winning just one of their three group games. However, the 2016 European champions will book a last-16 showdown with Spain or Austria if they defeat Croatia. "Diogo's dream is still with us and he sets the standards, he sets the light for the direction of this group," adds former Belgium boss Martinez. "Every day is difficult. When we are training, there are always moments when Diogo comes back into our memory. "I think the anniversary is just a moment that makes this game [Croatia], Diogo Jota's game. "Diogo will always be with us." England were 15 minutes from humiliation - the issues Tuchel must solve

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Let me know if you agree by ranking them yourself at the bottom of the list. It speaks volumes of the man that Messi is that he did not step away from international football in 2022 after winning the World Cup at the age of 35. Now 39, Messi is obliterating record after record at this tournament. No man has scored more goals in World Cup history than Messi's 19, to go with eight assists. He has now scored in seven consecutive World Cup games. In 2014, he won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player when Argentina lost in the final to Germany. He won it again in 2022, leading his country to their first World Cup title since 1986. This is his sixth time playing at the World Cup, with his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo the only other outfield player to do so. Messi's next game will be his 30th for Argentina at a World Cup, in a career spanning more than 200 international caps. It will feel odd at the 2030 World Cup when, in all likelihood, he will not be playing. On Saturday, Modric, at the age of 40 years and 291 days, became the oldest player to record a World Cup assist. "He plays as if he were 20 years old. He was incredible. He's our leader and our best player," said Petar Sucic, his Croatia team-mate. And you only have to look at how Croatia have fared in the past two World Cups to get an understanding of his legacy. In 2018, Croatia stunned everyone to reach the final, where they lost to France, and last time around, they came third - with Modric's display across 120 minutes as a 37-year-old against Brazil in the quarter-final, a clear standout. For a nation of just under four million people, Croatia's recent World Cup runs are nothing short of remarkable. Only five players have made more than Modric's 22 appearances across five World Cups. He made bow in 2006 and he is another player to have played more than 200 times for his country. The World Cup remains the one major trophy that has eluded Ronaldo. No man has more international caps (231) or goals (145) than the 41-year-old, who made his Portugal debut in 2003. In 2016, he led his country to success at the European Championships but this is his sixth time at the World Cup and he is yet to better the run to the last four in his first appearance in 2006. Nevertheless, a record of 10 goals in 25 World Cup appearances is impressive and so is him becoming the only man to score at six World Cups - even if Portugal's emphasis to play around him is a constant talking point. Ronaldo knows this is probably his last chance of winning the World Cup. "I'm back," he said, after scoring twice against Uzbekistan last week. Back, but for how long? It would be easy to judge Neuer on his performances in recent weeks, which have been far from convincing, but there is a reason why Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann asked him to come out of international retirement. The Bayern Munich keeper is one of the greatest of all time. Neuer, 40, won the World Cup with Germany in 2014 and the Golden Glove that summer. This is now his fifth World Cup and in that time, he has played for his country 23 times at the finals, since making his bow in 2010. A forgettable tournament this time round with Germany exiting in the last 32 may well tarnish Neuer's World Cup legacy but he will forever be remembered as a World Cup winner in 2014. The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Neymar at a World Cup is Brazil's campaign at home in 2014. The then 22-year-old took on the weight of a nation scoring four goals in five games, before his tournament came to a crushing end, when he broke a bone in his back during the quarter-final. Brazil were then mauled 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals. In 2018 and 2022, he scored twice in each of the tournaments, with Brazil exiting at the quarter-final stage. At 34, and against the odds given his injury problems since 2022, the chance remains to win a World Cup for his country and the tears that flowed from Neymar after his return for Brazil against Scotland spoke volumes. He may no longer be the main man but the boyhood dream is still a possibility for a player with eight goals and four assists in 14 World Cup games. De Bruyne was part of Belgium's Golden Generation that never truly delivered. A quarter-final exit in 2014 was followed by a semi-final defeat in 2018 before Belgium were knocked out of the group stage in 2022. Rudi Garcia's side take on Egypt in the last 32, knowing that a potential tie against the United States awaits. Now 35, De Bruyne is playing in his fourth World Cup and has scored in three of those, with four assists, in 16 appearances. It might come as a surprise that Van Dijk has only featured eight times for his country at a World Cup but the Netherlands did not qualify the 2018 tournament - the year when he moved to Liverpool. The Dutch were impressive in 2022, where they were knocked out on penalties by eventual winners Argentina in the quarter-finals. And in the space of three games this year, they had already scored as many goals as they did in five games in Qatar - although they had also conceded the same amount as in 2022 too. Van Dijk, the Netherlands skipper, opened his tournament with a goal but it ended with a penalty shootout defeat by Morocco in the last 32. At the age of 34 will this be Van Dijk's last World Cup appearance? When Egypt beat New Zealand to all but secure their place in the last 32, it was their first World Cup win since 1934 and Salah was integral to it with a second-half goal and assist. This is the 34-year-old's second time at the finals, with Egypt previously qualifying in 2018, to end a 38-year drought, before missing out in 2022. In Russia, a far-from-fit Salah scored twice but his nation lost all three of their group games. His overall World Cup tally is three goals and two assists in five games. Salah's Egypt face Australia on Friday for a place in the last 16 that could see the him come up against Messi. No South Korean player has scored more goals than Son (three) at World Cups or played more World Cup matches (13) than the 33-year-old. But this World Cup is already over for his country. The former Spurs player may get another go in four years time but he is no longer the force he once was, as shown by his group-stage displays, where he failed to score or get an assist. Son was dropped from the starting XI for the final group game. The South Korea captain has played in four World Cups and his highlight remains 2018, where he scored against Mexico and Germany but he and his countrymen have failed to come close to the standard set by the 2002 team that reached the semi-final on home soil. Before 2018, Senegal's solitary appearance at the World Cup was in 2002. With Mane they have qualified for the past three World Cups. The 34-year-old scored his only World Cup goal so far in 2018 but a knee injury kept him out of the 2022 tournament, when Senegal were eliminated in the last 16. That was after he scored the winning penalty against Egypt in a play-off to help his country qualify for the tournament in Qatar. Like Salah, it would be a stretch to see the former Liverpool player at the 2030 tournament. Senegal take on Belgium on Wednesday for a place in the last 16. What information do we collect from this quiz?Related topicsFIFA World Cup 2026FootballMore on this storyPlay BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game Everything you need to know about the World Cup

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Steve Clarke says it was an easy decision to step down as Scotland head coach because he always planned to depart if they did not qualify for the knock-out stages. The 62-year-old told his players on Saturday night, at their hotel in Charlotte, that he was ending his seven-year reign after it was confirmed that the Scots had failed to get out of a group containing Brazil, Morocco and Haiti. The shock announcement came exactly a month after he signed a new four-year contract that would have incorporated Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup. A request from the BBC to interview Clarke was declined and, instead, the Scottish Football Association released its own on You Tube, external and the former head coach – heavily criticised in some quarters following back-to-back defeats by Morocco and Brazil – said he was leaving "just because that's the feel". Pampered, protected & primed - so why didn't Scotland players perform? "Signing the contract before [the World Cup] was a case of trying to give a little bit of comfort to the players knowing that we could continue the journey. "I always had in my head that, if we didn't come out of the group, which is something that we've tried to do across three tournaments now, I always had in my head that if that didn't happen then it was probably the right time to step away. "Obviously if we'd managed to get that extra point and got out of the group then I'd probably have stayed on and tried to do another tournament." Asked if it was an easy decision, a philosophical Clarke said: "In some respects it was easy because I already had in my head what I wanted to achieve as a head coach. I'd also ticked all the boxes. "I wanted to go to a major tournament with my country. I did that with the Euros. The first Euros [in 2021] was a little bit not the Euros because it was Covid affected. "The second Euros was great. The tournament didn't go as we wanted, but getting to Germany was fantastic. My lifelong ambition was to do a World Cup with my country. I've done that, so not a bad time to step aside." Clarke told his players of his decision at 19:00 local time on Saturday, immediately after Scotland's exit from the tournament was confirmed. "It's obviously an emotional moment when you tell your players that you're stepping away after such a journey together," he said. "I think seven or eight of them have been with me from the start, right the way through. It was very important to me that the players knew first, and obviously just before I went into the meeting I had to tell my captain [Andy Robertson] because I knew that he'd want to say a few words back to me." Despite the backlash to Scotland's group-stage performance, Clarke is adamant he had a "brilliant" World Cup experience. "I said I was going to enjoy it," he said. "Coming out for the Haiti game with the Scotland fans there in their thousands and my family in the stands was just the best moment. "The next two games were tough. We played difficult opponents. Morocco and Brazil, both of them can go really deep in the tournament and we competed with them, no matter what other people might say. We competed, both games were competitive. "We showed a lot of character and we played some good stuff. We didn't find the quality in the final third of the pitch, but I could maybe say that across the whole seven years we've always been chasing and trying to find that quality in the final third of the pitch - and I hope my successor manages to do that." Assessing his time in charge, a "100% proud" Clarke believes he achieved his goal "to change the mentality round the group" and give them belief that they can compete at the highest level. "We'll become part of Scottish folklore as we move forward," he predicted. "People will be talking about some of these matches, some of these occasions right into the next century. "Everybody keeps saying this core group's finished. They're not finished yet, because they can all make it for Euro 2028." Everything you need to know about the World Cup

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The prize money available at the 2026 World Cup is a record-breaking $871m (£662m). But in April they approved a further increase to the pot, by increasing the base participation prize and the preparation fee, bringing it to the new total. The prize money is split into performance-based rewards and non performance-based financial support. Contact formContact formPerformance-based prizesThe further teams progress in the tournament, the more they are rewarded financially. These payouts will form $703m of the $871m on offer in the prize pot, with the remaining $168m (£152m) being paid out among teams regardless of performance. The remaining money will be spread evenly across all participating teams in the form of: This means each team is guaranteed at least $12.5m for taking part in the tournament when combined with the minimum $10m qualification fee. Preparation money is to contribute towards costs such as training camps and travel for squads pre-tournament. This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

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England's World Cup campaign began with an impressive win over Croatia and a frustrating draw with Ghana. As the Three Lions prepare to take on Panama on Saturday (22:00 BST), we want to test your knowledge of the players who have made the most appearances for England at World Cups. After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device. What information do we collect from this quiz?Related topicsFootballFIFA World Cup 2026England Men's Football TeamPlay more quizzesQuiz: Name every nation at the 2026 World Cup Which World Cup team are you? Take our quiz World Cup quiz: Name every player in England's squad World Cup quiz: Name every player in Scotland's squad