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When Spain and Argentina meet in Sunday's World Cup final, the thought of lifting the famous trophy will be the only thing on the players' minds.However, the result at New York New Jersey Stadium could prove significant beyond crowning the world champions - it could effectively decide who wins the 2026 Ballon d'Or.The era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo domination may be long gone, but in recent years there has still always been a clear favourite to scoop the prize.There are plenty of contenders, although history tells us it is difficult to take top spot without also winning the Champions League or a major international tournament in the same year.Could the World Cup final decide who will earn the award - perhaps swinging it the way of Lamine Yamal or Messi - or will the winner be someone else?In one of the tightest races in history, the decisive moment might not have happened yet.What next for England? How does Tuchel fix key problems for Euro 2028?Only four of the past 19 Ballon d'Or wins have gone to a player who did not triumph in the Uefa Champions League, World Cup, European Championship or Copa America in the same year.Messi accounts for three of those (2010, 2012, 2019) and Ronaldo the other (2013).Rightly or wrongly, that means the odds are stacked against Kane, Haaland, Mbappe, Michael Olise, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham.Ousmane Dembele took the 2025 prize after winning the Champions League with Paris St-Germain. A successful defence this year means Dembele and team-mate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are in the conversation.That takes us to the World Cup final, where two candidates go head to head.Messi, at 39, is looking win a record-extending ninth Ballon d'Or, while 19-year-old Lamine Yamal is hoping to better his second-place finish in 2025.We are now into what might be the fifth and surely final iteration of Messi, but somehow the Argentine genius is still producing extraordinary performances - almost as if it is 2011 and he is still conquering Europe with Pep Guardiola's Barcelona.While the level of opposition in Major League Soccer has to be considered when contextualising his prolific club stats for Inter Miami, Messi's World Cup exploits leave little doubt he is still among the very best.With eight goals and four assists, he has guided Argentina to a second successive World Cup final, and he narrowly leads the Golden Boot race, with one more assist than fellow eight-goal man Mbappe.Victory on Sunday would make Messi the first player in history to captain his nation to back-to-back World Cup triumphs.But Lamine Yamal might have something to say about that.While the teenage winger has not dazzled like he did when Spain won Euro 2024 - he has one goal and no assists in seven games - he has been a key part of a Spanish collective who have reached their first World Cup final since winning the 2010 edition.Lamine Yamal enjoyed another impressive season for Barcelona - 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 games - despite missing the final month of the campaign through injury.Barcelona won La Liga but fell in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, so Spain probably need to win the World Cup if he is to be named the world's best.Kane had a remarkable 2025-26 - the Englishman scored 61 goals in 51 games in all club competitions as Bayern Munich won a league and cup double.However, defeats in the semi-finals of the Champions League with his club and the World Cup with England could cost him."I could score 100 goals this season, but if I don't win the Champions League or the World Cup, I'm probably not going to win the Ballon d'Or," Kane said in November. "It's the same with any player. You have to be winning those major trophies."Kane's Bayern team-mate Olise enjoyed a superb second season in Bavaria, scoring 22 goals and setting up 31 more in 52 games.The 24-year-old carried that form into the World Cup and has provided more assists (five) than anyone else at the tournament, but he and his team-mates severely underwhelmed in a 2-0 semi-final defeat by Spain.France striker Kylian Mbappe has scored eight goals this summer after topping the scoring charts in both La Liga and the Champions League.He has been one of the most consistent goalscorers in world football for eight years now, but at 27, he has yet to win the Ballon d'Or.After a trophyless season with Real Madrid and World Cup heartache, that seems unlikely to change.Haaland won the Premier League Golden Boot for the third time in four seasons, but in terms of silverware he had to settle for an FA Cup and Carabao Cup double.Scoring seven goals in Norway's first World Cup in 28 years will only further cement his legendary status back home.Ballon d'Or holder Dembele won Ligue 1 and the Champions League for the second season in a row, but injuries limited his output.That said, an impressive World Cup showing - five goals and two assists - has given his chances a timely boost.PSG colleague Kvaratskhelia shone in the Champions League last season (10 goals and seven assists) but his nation, Georgia, did not qualify for the World Cup.Bellingham deserves a mention for dragging England to the World Cup semi-finals, but an injury-hit campaign and a lack of silverware realistically rules him out.Rice will be in the top-10 mix - the midfielder was key for an Arsenal team who won the Premier League and were a couple of penalty kicks away from becoming European champions.What information do we collect from this quiz?Related topicsFootballFIFA World Cup 2026More on this story'A true miracle of destiny' - Messi and Lamine Yamal's incredible first meetingSome England players disappointed at tactics as Tuchel questions team's DNAWhen the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport

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Spain’s streak started after a defeat in 2024 but Argentina are no slouches – they are on an unbeaten run of 14 matchesSpain look unstoppable. Their 2-0 victory over France meant that they have not lost a game in normal or extra time for 37 games, which Opta revealed has equalled the best such stretch by a European team. However, Spain did lose the final of the 2025 Nations League to Portugal on penalties.Their “unbeaten run” matches the efforts of Italy between October 2018 and September 2021, a streak which included Roberto Mancini’s side winning Euro 2020. Unlike Spain, Italy were truly unbeaten.No team from South America has ever gone as long without defeat. Brazil went 36 matches unbeaten between December 1993 and January 1996, winning a World Cup along the way, while Argentina equalled their great rivals from July 2019 to November 2022. The latter’s run might have been ended by a stunning loss to Saudi Arabia in Qatar, but recovering from that to become world champions was an emphatic response.For Spain to have reached this point is no surprise when you consider their history. They are responsible for six of the 11 instances of a European nation going unbeaten for at least 25 games. Five of these periods have occurred within the past 22 years, emphasising how dominant Spain have been for the last two decades.They can call upon players with even better records. Fabián Ruiz has represented his country 49 times without losing (shootouts notwithstanding). Despite the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder proving his elite ability in recent years, Ruiz has not played the most minutes in Spain’s current unbeaten stretch. He’s not even in the top five.The leading man has been Marc Cucurella, with Unai Simón, Aymeric Laporte, Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal completing the quintet upon which Luis de la Fuente has leant most heavily.The Spain manager has used 62 players in the 37 matches, which highlights the depth of talent his country has produced. Or perhaps it suggests a degree of indecisiveness on De la Fuente’s part. Hardly: of the 15 players who have made at least 20 appearances in the unbeaten run, 10 started the World Cup semi-final, four came on as substitutes and Martín Zubimendi was an option on the bench.It was a 1-0 loss to Colombia at the London Stadium in March 2024 that drew the start line for Spain’s current unbeaten run. The streak inevitably includes victories over Europe’s lesser lights in tournament qualifiers, but also 11 matches against Brazil, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal.Argentina are unbeaten for 14 matches and it’s worth noting they have won them all. They’ve also lost three times since Spain were last beaten, though. The weight of recent history remains firmly on the side of De la Fuente’s men.

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CommentsEvery World Cup final, by its very nature, is iconic. It is a rare treat we get to enjoy every four years and this summer is only the 23rd edition of a men's tournament that has spanned the best part of a century.So how do you quantify the 'best' - is it goals, drama, superstars at their peak?Well, I have tried to take into account all of those aspects, as well as the showpieces that provided the most compelling storylines and delivered the most enduring legacies.So below are my top 10 World Cup finals - you can rank your own at the bottom of this page, too.Not the most dramatic standalone final but one dripping with gripping narrative.It was a summer that evolved into Ronaldo's redemption arc after the trauma he went through before Brazil's defeat by France in the final four years earlier, and the career-threatening injuries sustained in between World Cups.Ronaldo only played a handful of games for Inter Milan before the tournament but was at his goalscoring best to fire Brazil to the final, the number nine supported by Rivaldo and Ronaldinho with the explosive Roberto Carlos and Cafu flying down the flanks.Ronaldo's second-half double proved decisive as Brazil saw off Germany in the Yokohama showpiece - no-one in the stadium would have banked on the Selecao not winning another World Cup since.The image of Zinedine Zidane trudging past the pitchside World Cup trophy is legendary. Just not for the manner the Frenchman would wish.Zizou was enjoying a stellar tournament and had already Panenka'd Gianluigi Buffon in the final with a spot-kick that kissed the bar and wriggled just over the goalline before he was later dismissed in extra time.Marco Materazzi would prove the main protagonist in Berlin. Having fouled Florent Malouda for France's opener, the towering defender levelled with a thundering header from Andrea Pirlo's corner inside 20 minutes.The Inter Milan centre-back's most memorable contribution, though, was to get a reaction out of Zidane, the balding French playmaker landing a headbutt on the Italian's sternum.It was Zidane's last act as a player, having announced his decision to retire after the World Cup.Zidane walked, and Italy won on penalties. Materazzi, of course, scored his.'A true miracle of destiny' - Messi and Lamine Yamal's incredible first meetingThis was supposed to be the Netherlands' time, as Johan Cruyff and co dazzled throughout the tournament with their revolutionary Total Football approach.By the final, the Oranje were supremely confident, despite complaining local media were trying to unsettle them, with a story about a party thrown in their hotel appearing in the Bild newspaper under the headline: Cruyff, champagne, naked girls and a refreshing dip.An early goal at Munich's Olympiastadion only added to their swagger, leading before West Germany even touched the ball. Cruyff went on a mazy run and was brought down by Uli Hoeness; Johan Neeskens converted from the spot.Yet the hosts had other ideas. Paul Breitner responded from the spot and by half-time West Germany led through Gerd Muller. The Dutch were unable to recover.Four years later, without Cruyff, they reached the final again, only to be beaten by Argentina in extra time under a sky of Buenos Aires ticker tape.In the summer of 1954, no team was more fancied than Hungary's Magical Magyars with their swashbuckling superstars Sandor Kocsis, Nandor Hidegkuti and, of course, Ferenc Puskas.Hungary recorded a famous victory over England at Wembley the previous year and beat them 7-1 before the tournament. They were the Olympic champions and had not lost in more than 30 games - a spell stretching back five years.Furthermore, they had scored an average of 6.25 goals per game on their way to the final and thrashed the same West Germany side they would meet in the showpiece 8-3 in the group stages.Come the final, the Hungarians even raced into a 2-0 lead inside eight minutes at Wankdorf Stadium - Pukas and Zoltan Czibor on target - but West Germany were level 10 minutes later and somehow survived as the Golden Team hit the post, crossbar and had a number of efforts scrambled off the line.Instead, with six minutes remaining, Helmut Rahn scored a shock winner in a victory that would become known as The Miracle of Bern.This was very much Diego Maradona's tournament, even if for most of the final Lothar Matthaus attempted to stick to the diminutive Argentine like a sweat-drenched polyester jersey in the Azteca heat.Argentina opened up a two-goal lead, Jose Luis Brown scoring the opener and Jorge Valdano finishing a swift counter attack in the second half.The South Americans should have added to their advantage before the green-jerseyed West Germans mounted a comeback.Captain Karl-Heinz Rummenigge poked home in the 74th minute and substitute Rudi Voller levelled soon after from another corner.But, with six minutes remaining, a moment of Maradona magic settled the final - the forward's superb first-time half-volleyed through ball sent Jorge Burruchaga racing away to nab the winner. El Diego had his crown.Given France's modern World Cup prestige, it is hard to imagine a time when Les Bleus had never won the game's biggest prize. In 1998, however, when they hosted the tournament for the first time in 60 years, that was the case.France boasted a multicultural squad that represented a diverse nation, with second-generation Algerian immigrant Zinedine Zidane at its heart.As defender Lilian Thuram told me: "That all of these players from these different backgrounds could represent France and go on and win, that was a very powerful message to send out to society."While France's superstars dazzled on the pitch, the final is, however, remembered for pre-match hysteria surrounding the world's best player, Brazil striker Ronaldo.Ronaldo suffered a convulsion earlier in the day but was given the green light to start for Mario Zagallo's side. Yet he was nowhere near his best.France ran out comfortable 3-0 winners, Zidane netting twice and Emmanuel Petit grabbing a late third.Pele who? The teenager was already a superstar in Brazil, netting goals at an incredible rate and becoming his country's youngest ever scorer, but the forward was not unleashed on the wider footballing world until the quarter-final stage at the 1958 World Cup after arriving in Sweden with a knee injury.He netted against Wales and then bagged a second-half hat-trick against France in the semi-finals, with his legend cemented in the final.Pele, the 17-year-old with number 10 etched on his makeshift blue shirt, scored twice in a 5-2 win - the highest-scoring World Cup final on record.His first remains one of the showpiece's all-time great goals, taking the ball on his chest and lofting it over a defender before volleying into the bottom corner.It was Brazil's first World Cup triumph, and Pele delivered on a promise he made to his father after the 'Maracanazo' in 1950, when Uruguay stunned Brazil in Rio."I remember seeing him sitting next to the radio, sobbing," Pele later told Fifa. "And he said to me, 'Brazil have lost the World Cup'."I remember jokingly saying to him, 'Don't cry, dad – I'll win the World Cup for you'."Sixty years of hurt later, this remains the Three Lions' crowning glory.Kenneth Wolstenholme's commentary lives on and Sir Geoff Hurst remains the only man to score a World Cup final hat-trick for the winning side.There was no lack of drama, either. England trailed to Helmut Haller's early opener yet then looked to have won it through goals from Hurst and Martin Peters - only for Wolfgang Weber to level in the 89th minute.Up stepped Hurst in extra time, crashing one in off the crossbar - to much controversy - before adding his third and England's fourth in the dying seconds."Some people are on the pitch..."How coach-on-pitch Messi undid England's tactics on the flyThe defining moment for arguably the game's greatest ever player.There was a narrative that Lionel Messi could not be considered in such terms without a World Cup to his name, both in the global consciousness but also in Argentina, where Diego Maradona's legacy loomed.But, four years ago, Messi and Argentina delivered in what must be the most dramatic final of all time.The South Americans were 2-0 up and seemingly cruising until Kylian Mbappe scored twice in a remarkable 90 seconds to take the final in Qatar to extra time.Messi grabbed his second goal, from the spot, to restore Argentina's lead, but Mbappe's third levelled things up with two minutes to go.Messi and Mbappe both converted from 12 yards in the shootout, but maverick stopper Emi Martinez - who also denied Randal Kolo Muani a last-gasp winner - proved the Argentine hero."We will never forget that game, I was so lucky to be here," beamed former Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta on the BBC.The party in Buenos Aires and beyond lasted for days.The magic and mystique of the Azteca. Vibrant canary yellow and savoy blue jerseys that cut through even the grainiest television footage. The world's most dominant football nations meeting for a chance to keep the Jules Rimet trophy.Brazil 1970 are still held as the pinnacle of footballing brilliance, the bar by which every Selecao side since has been measured - with Pele, of course, alongside Jairzinho, Tostao and Rivellino.In the Mexican sunshine, this was a crowning performance for the ages as Mario Zagallo's outfit dismantled an Azzurri side packed with their own stars in Gigi Riva, Sandro Mazzola and Giacinto Facchetti.Pele rose to head the opener before some Brazilian midfield showboating was punished by the Italians. But in the second half Brazil blew their European counterparts away.Gerson fired beyond gloveless Italy goalkeeper Enrico Albertosi, Jairzinho pounced on Pele's nod down, and Carlos Alberto capped perhaps the World Cup final's most complete performance with arguably its greatest goal. Beautiful.What information do we collect from this quiz?Related topicsFootballFIFA World Cup 2026England Men's Football TeamBrazilFranceArgentinaNetherlandsHungaryMore on this storyPele's 1958 World Cup final shirt sells for $4.9mTuchel did not deliver, but his time with England is not up - ShearerWhy England's loss to Argentina felt like most painful in 60 years of hurt

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Rodri came in for some criticism in Spain after they were held to a goalless draw by Cape Verde in their first game of the World Cup. There were accusations that he had moved the ball too slowly; that he was in some way responsible for the result.His manager made it clear he felt otherwise. "It seems incredibly insulting to me that people would say that about the best player in the world," said Luis de la Fuente. "Would people say that about others who are considered the best? I don't think they would dare."But because he's Spanish, we say things about our own that we wouldn't about others. Rodri is the best player in the world. Even at 50 per cent, he is better than most other midfielders. He brings clarity, vision, balance. Rodri is an inspiration for us."Five weeks and six straight wins later, it is easy to forget how this tournament began for Spain and their captain, whose performances on their run to the final have proved his manager right. If not the best in the world, then certainly the best in his position.He came into it on the back of a difficult season domestically following his return from the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in the previous campaign as setbacks hindered his efforts to recapture his best form. But it has all played out exactly as Pep Guardiola predicted for the 30-year-old in October."I said to him, and he maybe struggled to understand, it's not about six, seven, eight months out, then playing and being the Rodri of before. No. Do you know when Rodri will be good? At the World Cup with Spain. At the World Cup he will be the best Rodri."Spain's strength lies in the collective. Their semi-final victory against star-studded France highlighted the value of teamwork over individuals. But it certainly helps to have this version of Rodri bringing it all together in the centre of the pitch.Will Pau Cubarsi be one of best centre-backs in history?He heads into Sunday's final against Argentina having completed the most passes by any player at a World Cup on record, with 655. He has helped Spain grind opponents down by circulating the ball, while also offering speed and incision when required.His total of 62 line-breaking passes in the final third is the most by any player at a World Cup since Toni Kroos hit the same number for Germany on their way to winning it in 2014. Only winger Alex Baena has created more chances among Spain players.At a tournament in which Spain have averaged 64 per cent possession, almost everything has travelled through him. Rodri has had roughly 20 per cent more touches and made roughly 20 per cent more passes than any player from any side."Every time you see him, he's always showing up for the ball," said the former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel on The Rest Is Football. "It doesn't matter whether he makes a mistake, he's always available."His willingness to take responsibility is part of his role as their leader and he has demonstrated his excellence off the ball as well as on it. His ability to read danger and put out fires has helped Spain restrict their opponents to a solitary goal in seven games.Rodri has made the second-most tackles at the tournament. He also ranks highly for possessions won in the middle and final thirds. France actually had a roughly even share of possession in Tuesday's semi-final but Rodri dominated all phases of play, winning 11 out of 15 duels, including four out of four aerials.All of it has been underpinned by a level of professionalism that has helped him navigate a challenging return from injury and play 627 minutes of a possible 630 at the tournament.Those who have worked with him say his unerring commitment to his preparation has been apparent since his youth."He stood out for his intelligence as a footballer, but also because he was also very clear about how a young player should behave," Paco Lopez, his coach in Villarreal's B team, told Sky Sports. "A lot of boys can get distracted, but he always understood what was required to become a professional."Rodri still has that knack for understanding what is required, on the pitch as well as off it. He effectively plays the role of a second coach, organising his team-mates in and out of possession and dictating the tempo as he has for Spain throughout the tournament.His return to top form comes at a time of some uncertainty around his future. Rodri only has a year remaining on his contract at Manchester City. In signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m, they appear to have secured a long-term successor.On the evidence of the last five weeks, though, and the performances that have put him and his country one more win away from lifting the World Cup, Rodri continues to set the standard.

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Jarrod Bowen has committed his future to West Ham despite their relegation from the Premier League.There were doubts over whether Bowen would stay at the club for their first season in the Championship since 2012, with midfielder Mateus Fernandes having already left for Tottenham in an £85m move and winger Crysencio Summerville wanted by Manchester United, among others.Bowen joined West Ham from Hull City in a £22m deal in January 2020 and signed a new seven-year contract in October 2023 - and he is determined to win promotion with West Ham back to the Premier League."The main motivation for me is staying and bringing this club back into the Premier League where we belong," the forward said."There is always going to be rumours and different things going on. For me, it was only right to speak when the time is right, in circumstances like this."It hurt everyone and it should hurt everyone. It was such a disappointing thing but it doesn't last forever."We flew out to Prague in the Czech Republic to meet with Daniel [Kretinsky] and Jiri [Svarc]. The ambition that I got from them in terms of the direction the club wants to move in interested me a lot."It didn't take a lot for me, as this club means a lot to me. I did an interview after the game, my vision is to get this club back into the Premier League."I have been here six and a half years, I transitioned from a boy in the Championship into a man and now captain of the club. It is a huge honour and I see myself in years to come as a die-hard West Ham fan."So I always think, what would they want as a fan if they got an opportunity to play on the pitch?"50,000 season ticket holders in the Championship is some feat. It goes to show the loyalty that they have for the club. They want to see their club back in the Premier League, we need everybody to be a part of that."It is about what we create as a group and what environment we create."When things are hard, we have to put an arm round each other, look at our mate in the eye and know that we're going to go again in three days' time after a game."There is going to be a different pressure on us now. The most important thing is a desire, an attitude and a winning mentality. We're looking forward to the first game already."We are moving in the right direction as a club. For me, I look in years and years to come, when I retire, what will bring me the most happiness? That is getting this club back in the Premier League."Bowen made 42 appearances last season, scoring 11 goals and providing 12 assists.He has scored 85 goals and provided 63 assists in 280 appearances for West Ham, including the winner in the club's 2023 Europa Conference League triumph over Fiorentina which secured their first major trophy in 43 years.The forward has won 22 caps and scored once for England since making his senior debut against Hungary in June 2022, but he was left out of Thomas Tuchel's squad for the 2026 World Cup.West Ham and Burnley will go head to head on the opening weekend of the new Championship season.The relegated Premier League duo will reunite their rivalry at Turf Moor on Sunday August 16, kick-off 4pm.Every Championship, League One and League Two team will be featured live on Sky more than 20 times in the 2026/27 season.The EFL is at the heart of Sky Sports+ coverage and will see over 1,000 games from 1,891 matches across the EFL, Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy broadcast live throughout the season.

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Captain says promotion would bring ‘the most happiness’He visited largest shareholder Daniel Křetínský in PragueJarrod Bowen has said he intends to remain with West Ham after the club’s relegation to the Championship. The forward has attracted interest from Premier League teams but has spelled out his desire to stay after a summer during which he travelled to Prague for talks with the largest shareholder, Daniel Křetínský.“I feel like we’re moving in the right direction as a club,” Bowen told West Ham’s media channels. “There’s a lot of thinking time over the summer and a lot of things that go in your head. But I look in years and years to come of when I retire, what’s going to bring me the most happiness. For me now that’s getting this club back into the Premier League.”Bowen has been at West Ham since January 2020, joining from Hull, which was the last time he played in the second tier. Any hope the 29-year-old has of getting back into the England coach Thomas Tuchel’s plans will surely be extinguished by staying at West Ham but the captain, who has a contract to 2030, said it was “a no-brainer for me to be here”. Aston Villa, Everton, Liverpool, United and Chelsea have been monitoring his situation.Bowen said of his discussions with Křetínský and Jiri Svarc, a board member: “I flew out to Prague in the Czech Republic to meet Daniel and Jiří and the ambition that I got from them, certainly in terms of the direction the cub wants to move in, it interests me a lot. It didn’t take a lot for me, because this club means a lot to me.”West Ham needed to raise money through sales after relegation and have received £85m from Tottenham for Matheus Fernandes. The winger Crysencio Summerville, who is on the radar of Manchester United among other clubs, is expected to leave, as are Aaron Wan‑Bissaka and Jean-Clair Todibo.

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124 CommentsLike many people, my prediction before this World Cup started was that England would not get further than the last four - but Thomas Tuchel was supposed to prove us all wrong.Tuchel was hired to win this tournament for England - he said so himself when he took charge of the Three Lions in January 2025.He was meant to make the difference in the biggest games, to get us past the semi-finals and get us over the line in finals, the times when we have fallen so agonisingly short in recent years.That did not happen in Wednesday's 2-1 defeat by Argentina. He got things wrong with the way we retreated after scoring and his substitutions did not help.It was extremely frustrating to watch, especially because I felt we had such a good chance of reaching our first World Cup final in 60 years.We expected more - I know I did - but just because Tuchel did not deliver does not mean his time should be up.Some England players disappointed at tactics as Tuchel questions team's DNAI don't think he is naive enough not to realise that what has happened at this tournament is going to increase the scrutiny on him going forward, and I don't believe any of the criticism he has faced will faze him either.Tuchel is experienced enough and has been successful enough to know how the game works - and because of that he will know his methods will now be questioned even more going forward.One of the reasons for that is because we never got to see the England performance that he promised us at this World Cup.The way Argentina were chasing the game in the final half-hour was meant to suit his team's playing style.We were up against really top-class opposition - they are world champions for a reason - and had heard lots of times that England would be better when teams like that opened up against us rather than played in the low block we often faced earlier in the tournament.Instead, Tuchel went very early with what has worked for him at this tournament in terms of going defensive, like we did with 10 men against Mexico or for the last few minutes against Norway - and that is what has cost us a place in the final.When you give that much possession away to a very good team for so long, and give that much freedom to the little genius Lionel Messi, then he is going to cause damage - and he did.Tuchel said straight after losing the semi-final that he did not regret his approach, but I know what it is like when I have been asked similar questions at the final whistle. Everything is very raw, whether you are a manager or a player, especially after a defeat that hurts as much as that one will.I would not read too much into what he said then, because my guess is he will reflect and look back on the game properly in the days to come.It will be better to speak to him in a few weeks' time to see what his opinions are, then wait for England's next games to see where he has learned and improved.The way England's run at this World Cup ended was desperately disappointing, but there are still plenty of positives for them to take away from the tournament.I've co-commentated on all of their games and my most memorable moment has to be their epic win over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in the last 16. It was the best game of the tournament, at the best stadium and with the best atmosphere.I don't think I've ever witnessed togetherness or team spirit like that before, either. That's why I described it as the best team performance I've seen from any England side in my lifetime, particularly away from home. It made me think anything was possible from this team.Overall, the players can be very proud of all their efforts because they got through lots of tough situations. When they did fall short, it was not for the want of trying either.What next from England? Well, Tuchel is going to lead pretty much the same group of players into next year's Euro qualifiers - but I'd expect three or four changes to his next squad, because this one lacked balance and it was not the one I would have chosen.One area of concern is the centre-forward position because Harry Kane turns 33 in a couple of weeks and I would ask where are our strikers who are screaming to replace him.But, overall, I don't look at the players Tuchel has available and think they are far away from what we will need.Whatever happens in Saturday's third-place play-off - which is a nonsense by the way - England will end this World Cup the same way they seem to finish every major tournament.By that, I mean they will look back with frustration, and look ahead with the same hope that things will be different next time.Tuchel should believe it too, because so much of Euro 2028 will be played on home soil and we saw how close we went when we last hosted matches in 2021, reaching the final - like we did two years ago.There I go again, though, dreaming of glory. That won't change until we finally get over the line - and all we really know for certain is we will be back to try again.Alan Shearer was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris BevanEffort, spirit and moments - but do England lack all-round quality?What next for England? How does Tuchel fix key problems for Euro 2028?60 years of hurt - England's World Cup wait in numbersKane unsure if he will play at next World Cup

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Danny Murphy’s decision to start talking about his deceased cat will haunt the rest of his career while Christina Unkel’s referee analysis was no-nonsense and to the pointThe final may be Argentina v Spain, but ardent media watchers in the UK know that in broadcasting terms, a World Cup is always a domestic battle between the BBC and ITV. So who won on these important criteria?ITV deployed a stellar line-up, headed up by two stars in the professional curmudgeon Roy Keane and, at least while Australia were involved, the professional Ange, Ange Postecoglou. Jobi McAnuff was very effective and unlucky to get shunted mostly to late night games and the effervescent Ian Wright is always watchable. It even got over the early blunder of appearing to put honour-laden Emma Hayes in what was quickly dubbed the “tactical kitchen”.The BBC clearly hasn’t quite fathomed its post-Lineker roster, where he acted as host and a pundit who had been there and done that at a World Cup. You either love or loathe the energy of Micah Richards, but from the BBC ranks the former England No 1 Joe Hart was the one who stood out, with Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney often coming across as pedestrian as an England backline faced with an Argentina attack. Winner: ITVAn endless puzzle for armchair viewers is how commentators and former players can end up getting paid to talk through some of the biggest matches in the world, and somehow sound bored and slightly resentful about being there – call it the Mark Lawrenson syndrome. Jonathan Pearce (BBC) and Lee Dixon (ITV) were the usual guilty parties in that regard, with Ally McCoist’s relentless enthusiasm the polar opposite. In the end the BBC has the strongest lineup, with Guy Mowbray a lot easier on the ear than Sam Matterface. Winner: BBCPost-match interviews made headlines on both channels for very different reasons. Harry Kane losing his voice after England’s win at the Azteca against Mexico was one of the most unintentionally funny sporting interviews of all time for the BBC – and endlessly remixable. Gabriel Clarke’s actions after England quarter-final with Norway for ITV did not go down so well. His relaying of Tuchel’s criticism of the performance directly to Jude Bellingham appearing to reopen old wounds between the manager and his star player. Winner: BBCChristina Unkel’s contributions for ITV were head and shoulders above those Darren Cann made for the BBC. She was straightforward and no-nonsense, while he couched his views in so many caveats as to make them, sadly, almost pointless. Winner: ITVNeither offering was in the league of Nessun Dorma in 1990 or ITV’s unexpected Mexico 1986 banger, but Rascal Flatts’ Life is a Highway began to grate quite early in the tournament, leaving the BBC’s animated titles, with memorable scenes and figures from World Cup history recreated, looking and sounding vastly superior. Winner: BBCDanny Murphy’s inexplicable decision to start talking about his deceased cat called Bob who ran away in a Royal Mail van just because Norway had bought on a player called Oscar Bobb will haunt the rest of his career. “The game’s not that bad,” deadpanned the BBC’s Steve Bower in response. Winner: In a way, all of us. Except BobMuch was made in advance of the BBC’s decision not to head to the US, but instead use a digital studio to make it look like they were in front of landmarks from host cities. It was a very public cry of “we don’t have the money we used to”. ITV based themselves in New York for the duration, meaning their pundits were still far away from action in Mexico, Canada or the US west coast, but they looked more at home in the US. Ironically, as soon as the BBC did head for the US, England found themselves coming home. Winner: ITVITV deployed a stellar lineup, headed up by two stars in professional curmudgeon Roy Keane and at least while Australia were involved, “professional Ange”, Ange Postecoglou. Jobi McAnuff was very effective and unlucky to get shunted mostly to late night games and the effervescent Ian Wright is always watchable. They even got over the early blunder of appearing to put honour-laden Emma Hayes in what was quickly dubbed the “tactical kitchen”.The BBC clearly haven’t quite fathomed their post-Lineker roster, where he acted as host and a pundit who had been there and done that at a World Cup. You either love or loathe the energy of Micah Richards, but from the BBC ranks former England No 1 Joe Hart was the one who stood out, with Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney often coming across as pedestrian as an England backline faced with an Argentina attack. Winner: ITVAn endless puzzle for armchair viewers is how commentators and former players can end up getting paid to talk through some of the biggest matches in the world, and somehow sound bored and slightly resentful about being there – call it the Mark Lawrenson syndrome. Jonathan Pearce (BBC) and Lee Dixon (ITV) were the usual guilty parties in that regard, with Ally McCoist’s relentless enthusiasm the polar opposite. In the end the BBC has the strongest lineup, with Guy Mowbray a lot easier on the ear than Sam Matterface. Winner: BBCPost-match interviews made headlines on both channels for very different reasons. Harry Kane losing his voice after England’s win at the Azteca against Mexico was one of the most unintentionally funny sporting interviews of all time for the BBC – and endlessly remixable. Gabriel Clarke’s actions after England’s quarter-final with Norway for ITV did not go down so well. His relaying of Thomas Tuchel’s criticism of the performance directly to Jude Bellingham appeared to reopen old wounds between the manager and his star player. Winner: BBCChristina Unkel’s contributions for ITV were head and shoulders above those Darren Cann made for the BBC. She was straight-forward and no-nonsense, while he couched his views in so many caveats as to make them, sadly, almost pointless. Winner: ITVNeither offering were in the league of Nessun Dorma in 1990 or ITV’s unexpected Mexico 1986 banger, but Rascal Flatts’ Life is a Highway began to grate quite early in the tournament, leaving the BBC’s animated titles with iconic scenes and figures from World Cup history recreated looking and sounding vastly superior. Winner: BBCDanny Murphy’s inexplicable decision to start talking about his deceased cat called Bob who ran away in a Royal Mail van just because Norway had bought on a player called Oscar Bobb will haunt the rest of his career. “The game’s not that bad,” deadpanned the BBC’s Steve Bower in response. Winner: In a way, all of us. Except Bob

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Technical class in the fiercest battles was again lacking at the World Cup but there is hope amid the soul-searchingThe post-match inquest into England’s elimination was almost over when Thomas Tuchel offered a revealing analysis of Argentina’s knack of instigating late comebacks at this World Cup.“In their culture, ball possession plays a crucial role. It starts from a young age,” he said. “That is in the DNA and it demands a lot of self-confidence – natural self‑confidence to always want the ball, to always be in the gaps, to always define yourself through the ball. I think that is a crucial thing: to show courage.”This time, it wasn’t meant as a dig at his own players. But after the latest example of England surrendering a lead that can be traced all the way back to the 2002 World Cup in Japan, when Michael Owen scored in the 23rd minute against Brazil before the team tried to defend for their lives and failed, there was no avoiding the underlying message.Despite the Football Association’s best efforts to produce players who are able to “intelligently dominate possession” as outlined when it launched its “England DNA philosophy” at St George’s Park back in December 2014, there is still a shortage of top-class central midfielders with the technical skills required to win a World Cup semi-final.Tuchel’s epitaph for this tournament will be the statistic that England had only 12% of possession between Anthony Gordon opening the scoring in the 55th minute and Lautaro Martínez’s winner in the second minute of stoppage time. Equally as damning is that, of the 39 passes they attempted in that period, 12 came from the goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, while only five took place in Argentina’s half.That indicates – as well as there being a lack of forward runners to put the pressure back on opponents that included a 38-year-old Nicolás Otamendi in defence for the last 20 minutes – that England were unable to play their way out of trouble when Argentina pressed high up the pitch and ended up giving the ball straight back.“England teams sense changing moments in the game both in and out of possession, reacting instinctively and intelligently,” reads the DNA philosophy that was devised by Dan Ashworth, who was the FA’s director of elite development in 2014. Ashworth returned to St George’s Park last May after his ill-fated spell as Manchester United’s sporting director. He had left the FA for Brighton in 2019 before moving to Newcastle three years later.His remit after returning last May in the newly created role of chief football officer to work alongside the technical director, John McDermott, was to oversee the regeneration of the National Football Centre as well as “building the long-term systems that underpin the FA’s performance ambitions”. In other words, find a way of playing without fear when it really comes to the crunch.“We felt them going backwards and backwards rather than going forward,” said the Argentina goalkeeper, Emiliano Martínez. “Sometimes when you are winning, you have to go forward anyway. You can’t change the gameplan.”While the academy system in England has become the envy of most countries given the resources at the disposal of Premier League clubs, it has still not found a way of producing technically gifted players who are capable of running games from midfield. But there have been signs that things may be starting to change.Elliot Anderson has emerged as an England first-choice over the past 12 months and Manchester City’s £116m summer signing is at the forefront of a new generation of midfielders who look capable of mixing it with the best at the European Championship in two years’ time on home soil.Manchester United supporters are still scratching their heads over Kobbie Mainoo’s lack of game time given his skill set was a key factor in their revival under Michael Carrick in the second half of last season. Mainoo’s inclusion alongside Jordan Henderson as the back-ups to Anderson and Declan Rice meant there was no place in the squad for either Bournemouth’s Alex Scott or Myles Lewis-Skelly of Arsenal.It could be argued that they were the two in-form midfielders in the country during the final month of the Premier League season, with Scott – who formed a winning partnership with Anderson at last summer’s European Under-21 Championship – standing out in Bournemouth’s win over Arsenal and draw with Manchester City that ended up defining the title race.Lewis-Skelly’s chances of being selected for the World Cup seemed remote when he lost his place as England’s first-choice left-back. Yet after returning as an all-action midfielder who kept Spain’s Martín Zubimendi out of the Arsenal team for the title run-in and excelled against Paris Saint‑Germain midfield in the Champions League final, the 19-year-old could have provided exactly what Tuchel described as a “natural self‑confidence to always want the ball”.Both look destined to play important roles for England, although whether that is the case with Mainoo or Adam Wharton will be intriguing to see.Like Anderson, Scott and Angel Gomes – the former United playmaker who was handed a shock call-up by Lee Carsley in 2024 – Wharton began his career as a No 10 before shifting to a deeper role. Tuchel does not seem to trust the Crystal Palace midfielder but he has the passing range and ability to unlock defences, not to mention a confidence and swagger on the ball that can’t be taught.As Ashworth and co contemplate another round of soul-searching, the answers to England’s prayers may already be here.

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West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen will stay at the club as they prepare for life in in the Championship.The 29-year-old England international was part of the side which suffered relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season, leaving his future in doubt.Bowen, who joined the Hammers from Hull City in 2020, has played 280 times for the club, scoring 85 goals, and has captained the side since 2024 following the departure of Kurt Zouma.He has 22 England caps but missed out on a place in Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad this summer.Latest West Ham news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about West Ham - what do you want to know?

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Africa sent its largest ever contingent to the 2026 Fifa World Cup, but while there were undoubtedly some great storylines, how successful was the tournament overall for the 10 teams who travelled?After nine nations made it into the knockout stage, Confederation of African Football (Caf) boss Patrice Motsepe said they had made the continent's 1.6 billion people proud.But only Morocco made it to the quarter-finals, while exiting after conceding late goals was a recurring fate which befell five sides - with Senegal and Egypt squandering two-goal leads as they crashed out in dramatic style.The Egyptians and DR Congo did at least register their first wins at a World Cup, while Cape Verde, Ivory Coast and South Africa joined them in getting past the group stage for the first time.With the World Cup returning to Africa in 2030, when Morocco co-hosts alongside Spain and Portugal, what can the continent's sides learn from the first 48-team tournament?Cape Verde were undeniably the story of the World Cup, with the debutants reaching the last 32 after draws against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.The Blue Sharks then came close to pulling off one of the all-time upsets against defending champions Argentina, fighting back from a goal down twice before losing 3-2 after extra time.Goalkeeper Vozinha became a viral sensation with each save, his followers on Instagram going from 50,000 to over 29 million by the end of the tournament. The 40-year-old's sudden fame even saw a newly-discovered species of sea slug named after him.Cape Verde's talent has been plain to see at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) over recent years, and defender Roberto 'Pico' Lopes says the islanders showed they are "more than capable" of competing with the world's elite."We've put ourselves on the map," Lopes told BBC Sport."We're a small nation but with big hearts and we showed what is possible - and if you believe, you can achieve."Farewell Cape Verde - the underdogs the World Cup will never forgetYet the Atlas Lions could not match their last four achievement from Qatar 2022 after France, as was the case four years ago, again got the better of the North Africans.The side's style of play has become more expansive since Mohamed Ouahbi took over from Walid Regragui, with 18-year-old midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi catching the eye."We have a young team who want to grow, who will continue to do so. We have talented players who will enable us to grow," said Ouahbi.'This oxygen is spreading' - inside Morocco's mission to become a powerhouseHis assertion was born out as DR Congo and the Ivorians both conceded winners in the 86th minute of their last-32 ties, while Canada scored in the second minute of added time to send South Africa home in the same round.Senegal (against Belgium in the last 32) and Egypt (against Argentina in the last 16) went from 2-0 up late on to 2-2 within the space of three and five minutes respectively. The Teranga Lions eventually lost to a 125th-minute penalty and the Pharaohs were eliminated by Enzo Fernandez's 92nd-minute header.With Algeria and the Ivorians also conceding injury-time goals when on the brink of famous results in the group stage, it begs the question: do African teams have a problem closing out games?"I wouldn't say it was a trend. I think it's just unlucky," Dr Nikita Rowley, a chartered psychologist and course director for sport and exercise psychology at Coventry University, told BBC Sport Africa."Every team is more susceptible to mistakes in the closing stages of a match. By that point players are experiencing both physical and cognitive fatigue."That cognitive fatigue can affect attention, decision making, communication and makes more lapses more likely. Emotions can be heightened and every action carries greater significance."The closer you get to something historic, the more psychologically demanding it can become."First Afcon, now World Cup - Senegal trapped in 'football hell'With all but Tunisia getting past the group stage, the hope is the continent's footballers will be better prepared next time."The reality is that the vast majority of the players in African national teams are not used to these high-stakes games," Gambian coach Mattar M'Boge, who works in talent identification for Fifa, told BBC Sport Africa."The Europeans and the South Americans have advantages because they're playing more games."The Nations League is coming (to Africa) but it's something that's been a success for [Europe] because they're having promotion and relegation. There's always something on the line."Within Africa, as we continue to grow, develop and gain experience, eventually we will have teams used to this collective responsibility."Tunisia were the big disappointment of the finals, sacking coach Sabri Lamouchi - who had only been hired in January - after a 5-1 defeat by Sweden in their Group F opener.They quickly installed Herve Renard but the two-time Afcon winner could not turn around their fortunes as they suffered a 4-0 reverse against Japan and a 3-1 loss at the hands of the Netherlands.There are questions for Ghana, too, despite making the knockout stage for the first time since 2010.The Black Stars did not have a shot on target as they exited against Colombia in the last 32 and registered just four on target in total across their four games as coach Carlos Queiroz prioritised defence.Only Iraq had fewer attempts than Ghana at the tournament.Despite the drama and achievements on the pitch, it must be remembered that this was a World Cup which shut out much of Africa.Supporters from Ivory Coast and Senegal were barred from receiving the type of visitor visa that US authorities recommended for travelling fans, while people from Algeria, Cape Verde and Tunisia were initially asked to pay a deposit of up to $15,000 (£11,000) to obtain a visa.The continent's top referee, Omar Artan, was also turned away five days before the finals began despite the Somalian claiming he held the right papers for entry. Uefa quickly appointed Artan to take charge of August's Super Cup between PSG and Aston Villa.After the success of the first 48-team edition, Fifa president Gianni Infantino has opened the door to a 64-team World Cup, which would mean even more spots for Africa.Despite a series of firsts being recorded this year, slow progress remains the order of the day for the continent's sides.Who is the African World Cup goalscorer older than Ronaldo and Messi?

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Manchester City reporterPublished43 minutes ago5 CommentsManchester City welcomed clubs to their training ground on Tuesday to showcase the talent on offer during the summer transfer window.The exhibition day centres largely around players available on loan - or possibly a permanent transfer - for those who likely fall into the gap between the first team and the under-23 side, known as the elite development squad.City have held such days for a number of years, where a short training session is put on in front of watching scouts, heads of recruitment and agents from Championship and other Football League clubs.It offers a unique opportunity by allowing teams to watch and gain an insight into potential signings, while players have the chance to display their credentials and begin preparing themselves for the pathway next season.A presentation was shown with data and analytics about each player, with conversations being held with staff in attendance afterwards, providing a fully-rounded view of what clubs will be acquiring.Man City's Lewis on faith, football and helping the homelessThough the list of players available is undisclosed publicly, Max Alleyne, Josh Wilson-Esbrand and Charlie Gray are some of the names that may have been involved.All three have made first-team debuts for City, while 20-year-old centre-back Alleyne and left-back Wilson-Esbrand, 23, have both spent time away on loan.Last season, full-back Issa Kabore was on a temporary deal at Championship Wrexham, while winger Emilio Lawrence enjoyed a successful spell at Luton Town where he scored in the EFL Trophy final victory over Stockport. Both players seemingly impressed the watching personnel.Playing for City is the dream, but for many, the reality is that they may have to walk away to forge a first-team career elsewhere.In those moments, it becomes the task of visiting scouts and staff to try and convince these young, ambitious players that their club offers the ideal next step to move forward.One senior figure from a Championship club described the day as being "definitely a worthwhile exercise" as they are keen to foster healthy working relationships with clubs that have the stature and size of City.It is felt that by sending representatives from their organisation, there is a display of courtesy in accepting City's invitation, signalling they are open to doing business and the desire to be "friends" with the top clubs in the country.The session featured "a number of good players" which club representatives would be interested in signing on loan, but the key consideration is whether any deal would be financially viable as many players are on sizable wages.City's first team players are scheduled to report for pre-season training on Monday as manager Enzo Maresca takes charge following the departure of Pep Guardiola.The squad head to Hong Kong and Seoul the following week for three friendly matches before the start of the new season.Some of Tuesday's players may be harbouring hopes of booking a seat on the plane to the Far East and still being around when the new campaign comes around.