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Motherwell midfielder Elliot Watt has received an immediate four-match suspension after admitting to charges related to post-match comments in the wake of May's defeat by Celtic.On X, Watt, 26, described the award of a late penalty as "the worst VAR decision in history".Kelechi Iheanacho converted after Sam Nicholson was ruled to have handled and the eventual Scottish Premiership winners secured a 3-2 win at Fir Park on 13 May.Watt, who opened the scoring against Celtic, was charged with breaching the Scottish FA's disciplinary rule 72, which says players should not "criticise" decisions made by officials or make comments that "impinge" on the character of a referee.Motherwell were charged with the same breach and have been fined £5,000 for a post they made after the game, which read: "As the world of football mocks our game, we simply have to draw a line in the sand and shift the focus."SFA head of refereeing Willie Collum, in his regular review of key incidents, stated the award of the spot-kick was the correct decision.Then-Hearts head coach Derek McInnes - whose team were pipped to the title on the final day - was also cited for calling the decision "disgusting". His hearing takes place on 22 July.In Motherwell's final game of last season, a 1-0 Premiership win at Hibernian, Watt was sent off after receiving two bookings and is therefore set to be banned for five domestic games.However, Watt will be available for Motherwell's upcoming Conference League fixtures, with Alfred Johansson's side facing Faroese side Havnar Boltfelag in the second qualifying round on 23 and 30 July.The midfielder, who was voted into the Premiership's PFA team of the year last season, has been the subject of reported transfer interest from the Turkish club Samsunspor.Celtic penalty right, Hearts wrongly denied - SFAVisit our Motherwell page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views

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Senior football correspondentPublished33 minutes agoArsenal have reached a verbal agreement with Club Brugge to sign attacker Christos Tzolis for 40m euros (£33.9m).The Gunners are yet to table a formal offer for the Greece international but that is viewed as a formality, while personal terms will not be an issue.Once Arsenal table their bid for Tzolis, the winger will have a medical before signing a long-term contract with the club.BBC Sport revealed on Tuesday that Arsenal had accelerated their interest in Tzolis, following the departure of Belgium international Leandro Trossard to Besiktas.Sporting director Andrea Berta has worked on the deal after his assistant Maurizio Micheli watched the 24-year-old play for Greece against Sweden last month.The move for Tzolis is separate to Arsenal's bid to sign at least one high-profile forward this summer.They retain a long-term interest in Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, who is the club's priority target, but Barcelona and Real Madrid are also interested in the Argentina international.Morgan Rogers is Arsenal's preferred option in their search for a versatile forward, with the club's efforts to sign the Aston Villa attacker set to accelerate once his participation at the World Cup with England is over.Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola is viewed as the alternative in the event of failing to reach an agreement with Aston Villa, who reportedly value Rogers at £130m.Latest Arsenal news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about Arsenal - what do you want to know?

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Guardian analysis finds 19% of games reached heat levels warranting delays, as Fifa defends its player safeguardsThe climate crisis has come for football.During this year’s World Cup, nearly one in five of the tournament’s 100-plus matches took place in levels of heat and humidity that a football players’ union has previously said should trigger delays or postponements, a Guardian analysis has found. An additional 23 matches were played in cities as they reached those heat levels, but in stadiums where conditions were mitigated by air conditioning.“The climate crisis is hitting the things we all need, like a stable climate, clean air and affordable food, as well as the things we love, like football and other sports,” Simon Stiell, executive secretary for the United Nations climate body, said in an emailed comment.Our analysis looked at conditions where the tournament’s 104 matches were either already played (102) or the forecasts for the two remaining matches.The findings are a sign of a broader challenge facing football as the planet warms. The climate crisis is making extreme heat more frequent and intense, raising new questions about whether the conditions in which major tournaments are played can remain safe for players and supporters.“The 2026 Fifa World Cup matches have introduced a true stress test of heat mitigation and preparedness,” said Joshua L DeVincenzo, an assistant director at Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness. “Fifa, spectators, stadium operators, and others … were tested firsthand on the disruptions and complications that extreme heat and weather can pose.”The findings come as a record-breaking heatwave scorches much of the United States, with more than 125 million Americans spanning from California to New England under dangerous heat alerts. Sunday’s final seems set to be played in conditions with a wet bulb globe temperature estimate of just under 26C (79F), with low humidity alleviating the effects of high air temperatures. However, another climate-fueled concern could plague attenders: Wildfire smoke is expected to continue to degrade air quality in the region, with New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani, warning of health impacts.Our analysis found that an estimated 20 matches were played in conditions with wet bulb globe temperatures (WBGT) that may have been at or over 28C (82F).Under those conditions, the players’ union Fifpro has argued, games should be delayed or postponed to protect footballers’ health. Other match attenders can also face risks, said DeVincenzo.“We learned from this World Cup that, in addition to player safety and health, important precautions must be considered for spectators, volunteers and stadium staff long before the day of the match,” he said.Fifpro declined to comment on the latest analysis, but previously told the Guardian: “The lesson for everyone in the industry is that with a warming planet, heat conditions will play a bigger part in tournament and league scheduling decisions in the future.”WBGT readings account for humidity, direct sunlight and wind to provide a more accurate measure of heat stress and the body’s ability to cool itself through sweating. At high enough levels of heat and humidity, sweat can no longer evaporate efficiently, preventing the body from cooling itself and leading to rapid overheating that can cause heat illness or even death.Official WBGT measurements require specialized equipment on site, but the Guardian compiled approximations based on air temperature and humidity data for the time and place of each match, with data from the open-source weather service Open-Meteo. Estimates were calculated using a formula created by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and used by institutions including the Canadian military.The hottest game played in a non-air-conditioned stadium was held on the Fourth of July in Philadelphia. During the France v Paraguay round of 16 match, temperatures at the city’s stadium reportedly reached 38C (100F), and WBGT during the game may have reached or exceeded 33.9C (93F), the Guardian’s analysis found.The hottest game overall was played when Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 on 22 June in Dallas, Texas. Though the game was played in one of the only three fully air-conditioned World Cup 2026 stadiums (the other two being in Houston, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia), the Dallas match still exposed those outside the venue to sweltering conditions. The asphalt outside the stadium, for instance, reportedly reached a sizzling and dangerous 50C (122F).“Spectator experiences created a secondary risk in the heat; factors such as long walking distances without cover, unshaded areas, sun-exposed seating in the stadium, and long wait times in heat-emitting spaces like parking lots put people at a much higher risk of heat stress and related injuries,” he said. “These experiences can be addressed ahead of future games by training volunteers to identify signs of heat stress and to know the appropriate actions to take when fans experience dizziness, fainting, or falls.”Every match played in three cities – Dallas, Houston and Miami – appears to have been contested in conditions that breached the 33.9C threshold. At the Miami, which does not have air conditioning, players, workers and spectators alike blistered under WGBT readings of approximately 32.5C (90.5F) during Norway’s match against England last weekend. Temperatures reached 33C (91.4F) with 65% humidity, and sweat poured off of every face in the venue.Record-breaking heat and humidity are set to blanket the midwestern and eastern US this week, potentially making conditions even more challenging for players and fans at some games. In the future, conditions could deteriorate even further.The 2030 World Cup, for instance, is set to be staged across Spain, Portugal and Morocco, each of which is already experiencing significantly more extreme heat due to the climate crisis. Four years later, Saudi Arabia is expected to host the 2034 tournament during the northern hemisphere winter, a scheduling shift designed to avoid summer temperatures that regularly climb above 40C (104F).

Football News

Arsenal have agreed a deal with Club Brugge for winger Christos Tzolis, Sky Sports News understands.The fee is understood to be £34m, which is a record for the Belgian Pro League.Once Tzolis heard that the Premier League champions were interested, he only wanted Arsenal.Arsenal are one down in their forward line after selling Leandro Trossard to Besiktas in a £17m deal.The 24-year-old, formerly of Norwich City, scored 17 goals and added 23 assists in 36 league appearances last season.Stream the Premier League with no contract

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Birmingham City have signed French defender Jade Rastocle from Montpellier for an undisclosed fee.The 22-year-old centre-back joined Premiere Ligue side Montpellier in 2024 and made 42 appearances, scoring once.Birmingham won the WSL 2 title last season to end a five-year absence from the top flight."I'm very happy to be here. I can see the ambitions of the club, the city and I know it's a historic club," Rastocle said."For me it's an unbelievable and very big opportunity to play here."On Wednesday, Birmingham signed defender Millie Turner and midfielder Lisa Naalsund from Manchester United.Rastocle represented France at youth level and previously played for Reims."Jade is a young defender with excellent experience for her age. She has shown her quality over several seasons in one of Europe's strongest leagues," Blues head coach Amy Merricks added."We believe she'll fit our style of play really well, and we're looking forward to seeing her continue to develop with us."Find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed

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The UK government has said "the World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are," after Argentina players celebrated their victory over England by waving a banner in support of their country's territorial claim.Speaking after England's 2-1 semi-final defeat in Atlanta, Downing Street said Sir Keir Starmer wished both Argentina and Spain "well for the final, especially Spain".Argentina face the prospect of disciplinary action from Fifa. The banner held by some of their players read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas", which translates as "The Falklands are Argentine".The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean.Argentina face action over Falklands bannerAttributionSportPublished5 hours agoFalklands is a pressure point for the UK – and the US knows itA British military task force ejected Argentine forces, who had landed on the Falklands to stake a territorial claim.The 74-day conflict led to the deaths of 255 British military personnel, three islanders and 649 Argentine soldiers.The prime minister's official spokeswoman said: "Our position is unchanged, self-determination rests with the islanders and our commitment to the Falklands will never waver."She said any potential action against Argentina players who unveiled the banner was "a matter for Fifa", but echoed the view of the Business Secretary Peter Kyle that world football's governing body should investigate.In 2013, the people of the Falkland Islands voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory.Of 1,517 votes cast in the two-day referendum - on a turnout of more than 90% - 1,513 were in favour, while just three votes were against.Speaking in the House of Commons, Liberal Democrat MP Al Pinkerton condemned the "disgraceful scenes" in Atlanta and said "football was used as a platform to challenge the democratic right of Falkland Islanders to determine their own future".Replying for the government, Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty said it was a "real shame that people couldn't focus on the football".He told MPs: "We have absolutely no doubt about our sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and the surrounding maritime areas."The Falkland Islands are British, they remain British and they will continue to be British and Falkland Islanders want to be British and they have explained that many, many times. Let's get back to focusing on the football."England's World Cup dreams were shattered on Wednesday as Argentina scored two late goals.Anthony Gordon's opener had allowed England fans to dream of a first World Cup final since 1966, before Enzo Fernandez equalised and Lautaro Martinez won it for the holders in injury time.It marked the latest chapter of an intense World Cup rivalry between the two countries, which notably includes Diego Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" goal in a 2-1 victory for Argentina at the 1986 tournament in Mexico.Speaking after the match, Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes said the Falklands War was a "sad part of our history" and added the game "wasn't just a football match" for his nation.Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Argentina players who celebrated with the banner "must be barred from the final".He highlighted Spain players Alvaro Morata and Rodri being banned for one game by Uefa, the governing body of European football, after they chanted "Gibraltar is Spanish" during their side's Euro 2024 victory celebrations.The UK has had sovereignty over Gibraltar since 1713, although this is disputed by Spain, who claim the territory as their own.Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said: "The Falkland Islands are British. The Conservatives will always defend them."Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he was "disgusted" at the behaviour of some Argentinian players, adding: "The most important thing to do is build up the Royal Navy quickly."Argentina vice-president Victoria Villarruel posted on X after Wednesday's victory that "it wasn't just another match" alongside a video of what appeared to be Argentine soldiers."The Falklands are Argentine," Villarruel posted. "They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts."Argentina players also sang chants which referenced the Falklands and Argentina greats Maradona and Lionel Messi following their dramatic 3-2 win over Egypt in the last 16.Before the semi-final, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni had said he was "not going to mix" football and politics.He said: "It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn't much we can do about it, that's the reality."Things are happening elsewhere in the world, and we criticise the existence of war. We certainly remember those people, of course. But it is a football match - we shouldn't confuse the two."

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An England fan who was so convinced the Three Lions would win the World Cup that he got a huge tattoo celebrating the "win" has decided to add the words "only joking" underneath.Sean Carrington got the foot-long £550 inking of the trophy with the words "England World Cup Winner 2026" written below it after the team beat DR Congo.But along with millions of other supporters he was left railing at another frustrating England exit after Wednesday night's late defeat against Argentina in the semi-final.The 36-year-old, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, said he had "no regrets" about having it done and was now considering how to have it amended.However, he admitted he was pleased he rowed back on his original plan - which was to get "It's Coming Home" emblazoned across his chest.Sean watched the match at Manchester's Depot Mayfield fanzone and said he was "buzzing" when England took the lead with Anthony Gordon's neat strike in the 55th minute."The atmosphere was crazy until the very end. But we sat back and gave it away," he said."It was depressing - it ended up so flat."Regarding his tattoo, he said: "I'll probably get 'only joking' added to it."He said the team at Holy Trinity Tattoo Studio in Standish talked him out of his original idea."That was more of a laugh but the World Cup trophy - in my heart I thought we'd do it," he said."I'd so love them to win it."He admitted he was a "bit of a joker" but added: "I've not done anything like this before".Sean, who has eight other tattoos, mainly the names of family members, said he was "impulsive" but has no plans for any more ill-advised inks.The roofer, who said he was "too tender" to go to work on Thursday morning, said he was shocked at how much attention his tattoo got."It went viral. I'm even on social media," he said.He earlier told the BBC how he got the idea for the tattoo when he was watching the tournament on holiday in Tenerife and was egged on by friends.But he had to wait until he returned before a studio could fit him in.Holy Trinity's manager Jamie Taylor said: "I was dubious at first and told him it was permanent and wouldn't wash off."He was adamant, though," she said.Jordan Stringfellow, who also works at the studio, said: "Sean has a great sense of humour and won't be bothered."He always knew it was a joke and a good craic."He wanted to get 'it's coming home' across his chest but I said that was taking it too far."The 34-year-old said Sean was not the first England fan to be premature with tattoos."It happened in the Euros.They got an England flag and 'it's coming home'," he said.Tell us which stories we should cover in Greater ManchesterContact formContact formMore on this storyFan has huge £550 tattoo declaring England World Cup winners

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Gary Neville says he will not "lump in" on the criticisms of Thomas Tuchel after England's World Cup exit to Argentina, adding that he never expected the team to win the tournament.The Three Lions boss has come under intense scrutiny for his tactics and substitutions in Atlanta, especially after Anthony Gordon had given England the lead early in the second half.The new Barcelona winger was taken off in the 72nd minute for Ezri Konsa as Tuchel's side continued to drop deeper under Argentinian pressure. Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez eventually scored twice to send the World Cup holders into Sunday's final against Spain.However, Neville had a more balanced approach than some to England's exit, and pointed to years of similar issues once again playing their part - including when he was a player.He told Sky Sports News: "A sobering night for England, but it's been a good tournament. Fans will be extremely disappointed but I never had us winning the tournament from the beginning."Maybe the optimists amongst us thought we were going to win, but I never felt we were. I thought getting to the semi-final is an incredible achievement."The reality of it is some of the same patterns emerged that have happened with England in tournaments gone by over the last 20 to 30 years.How Tuchel's changes spectacularly backfiredPundits and reporters criticise Tuchel's tactics in loss to ArgentinaTuchel vows to stay on as criticism of England's tactics mountsEngland player ratings: Spence shines but Bellingham, Rice and Kane fail to deliver"Tuchel chose to try and win the game in the same way he did with 10 men against Mexico, where we were resolute, resilient, tight, compact and got over the line."He tried to do the same thing in seeing the game out, but there was an avalanche of pressure with great crosses and we just got done by quality and the second goal is magnificent from [Lionel] Messi with the quality that he has."It's something England teams have been guilty of so often. I don't know how you change it. I went to eight tournaments as a player or coach - five of them we were knocked out on penalties. Many of them ended up sagging back on our own box very deep, not on the front foot. The very opposite of what English football is."All I can put it down to - and I've experienced what a lot of those England players did last night - is your legs get heavy, you start to come under pressure, protecting your lead, you think you can get over the line by keeping a clean sheet and keeping the ball out of your net, rather than thinking more positively about how you can counter-attack and score the second goal."These are patterns that have emerged time and time again. All of us who have played for England are guilty of it, so the idea of me lumping in on Tuchel just isn't going to happen."I was just as big a part of the problem as the lads who played last night that sunk deep into our own box. It's something in our psyche, something we've done that puts pressure on ourselves and we've been knocked out of tournaments so many times in this way. It's not good enough."We haven't got enough technical ability to play through the middle third. The players at the other elite countries have the ability to keep the ball under possession in the highest pressure of matches. Then you add that little bit of stardust like Messi, you get over the line. We haven't been able to do that."It wasn't the greatest of nights for Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. They had quiet nights by their standards. That second goal could come from a little bit of magic, those difference makers. That's what you're looking for on a night like that."Gary Neville on Sky Sports News: "Once we started to get back into our own box, Messi spotted a little position out on that right side when we were quite narrow. Even at 5-4-1, we were so narrow. "It meant he pulled out on the right-hand side and took the game away from us on his own - that was the one frustration for me. It's easy to say 'go and mark Messi', but we should have flooded that area and never have tucked in. We should have left one or two players out on the pitch. "People talk about the negative substitutions and putting defenders on, but it was those defenders not attaching themselves to Messi that was a massive factor."While Sky Sports pundit Neville does not believe Tuchel should leave, he did point out some of the mistakes the German made and could reflect on ahead of the next major tournament in 2028.Neville added: "I don't think about his future. I think the pressure for his decision-making is legitimate, he tried to win it in a certain way."The majority will disagree with the way he approached that... He will get criticism because he was the big ticket manager to be the difference maker and gamechanger in the tight moments - the fine lines of international football where it's on penalties, or a substitution or the last five minutes of a World Cup semi-final."He was brought in to be the person who was able to deal with that and he hasn't got over the line, so he will come under pressure."But I never expected England to win this tournament. I didn't think they were good enough. They've been slightly fortunate that they've played some teams along the way as well that were favourable. So the first time they came up against a team who had elite experience of keeping the ball, they've fallen at that first fence of playing against an elite team."Ultimately, I don't believe we keep the ball in the biggest matches in the most important moments. It's been a fault of England for many years."And the squad Tuchel picked was a counter-attacking squad. He took out the technical players like Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Morgan Gibbs-White, Adam Wharton and he didn't play Kobbie Mainoo."Not to bring on Mainoo to try and get a grip of the game and not bring on Bukayo Saka or Marcus Rashford for some pace was a mistake. I think he'll regret that, but he'll know that and reflect on that himself."Neville caught the attention of Argentina and Tottenham defender Cristian Romero after Wednesday's game. He called the Sky Sports pundit 'stupid' for criticising his centre-back pairing with Lisandro Martinez, with the Sky Sports pundit having called them the 'best-worst centre-half pairing in the world'.Romero told DSports: "The only thing that I hope for is that when I retire, I am not that stupid. Hopefully I won't criticise a player or anyone."It was only fair for the former Manchester United full back to have his reply, and he told Sky Sports News: "Just to add extra words to what I said: they give goals away. They've conceded six goals in four knockout matches."Those two should hug Messi every single day because he's had to pull them out of the mire when they conceded two against Egypt, two against Cape Verde and one against England."But I did go onto say they are incredible, and their force of nature of how they go and win the game for their country - they go from the sublime to the ridiculous... they go and win every attacking header in the penalty box and sometimes in the defensive box."Romero played in a team last year who nearly got relegated in the Premier League and conceded 65 goals, so I think I know what I'm talking about when I watch a player."Romero is very talented, so is Lisandro Martinez, but they do make mistakes, lots of them and they have conceded goals."I just see a contradiction in games between them. He's relatively young, Romero, so he's not an experienced defender yet and he's had incredible achievements. He's won a World Cup. But without Lionel Messi last night and the last two tournaments... Argentina didn't win last night because of their centre-backs. They won because of arguably the greatest player of all time."

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After England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, Sky Sports looks at the big questions facing Thomas Tuchel and the Three Lions squad.Five minutes plus stoppage time away from a first World Cup final since 1966. You couldn't get much closer.But Thomas Tuchel is currently getting the flak for failing to see the game out from 1-0 up. His decision to go to a back five on 72 minutes proved pivotal. Argentina reacted to it by putting more forwards on. The flow for the rest of the game was set and it was too much for England to handle.Argentina had created little before that change of England mentality. Did Tuchel not trust his players to get over the line? Did he feel there were no more punches his team could land on Argentina, despite having Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham on the pitch?Tuchel says he did not expect England to go so deep - so some responsibility should also fall on his players. But what would have happened had England stayed with a back four? That's the burning question that will live long in the memory.Tuchel's desire to remain in the role after signing a contract with the FA in February suggests the German retains the full backing of his bosses, who remain determined that he will still be in charge in two years' time.But with France to come on Saturday's third-place play-off and Spain to visit Wembley in September, Tuchel and his big-game actions are being watched closely by the nation.Sam Blitz"They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament than having the hunger and excitement to win it."Those were Tuchel's words when assessing England's defeat to Spain in the European Championship final under Gareth Southgate. It was a sharp critique of a team that, in Tuchel's eyes, had played not to lose rather than to win.Tuchel's England would be different. More front-footed. More aggressive. More willing to seize the biggest moments instead of simply surviving them. At times, that vision looked real.Croatia were overwhelmed by an exhilarating spell after half-time in England's opening World Cup match. Mexico had no answer when Jude Bellingham burst into life, scoring twice in a matter of minutes as England played with purpose and conviction.There were flashes of a team capable of imposing themselves on elite opposition rather than reacting to them. Which is why what unfolded against Argentina feels so difficult to reconcile.England had the world champions exactly where they wanted them. Anthony Gordon's goal had put Tuchel's side 1-0 ahead and, more importantly, England still looked capable of carrying a threat. Argentina were chasing the game. England had momentum.Yet, Tuchel abandoned the back four and introduced a back five. It was a move designed to protect the lead, but it achieved the opposite.The change shifted the psychology of the contest. England retreated. Argentina advanced. The pressure became relentless. It is impossible to ignore the contradiction.The manager who criticised England for fearing defeat appeared, in the biggest moment of his reign, to coach exactly that emotion into his own team.Tuchel arrived promising courage over caution. He wanted England to dictate games, to make opponents uncomfortable and to embrace the biggest occasions without fear.Against Argentina, with a place in the final within touching distance, England stopped asking questions and started protecting what they had. Same old story.Lewis JonesThomas Tuchel picked a squad to take to the World Cup which few others would have chosen. No Trent Alexander-Arnold, no Harry Maguire, no Cole Palmer - two years after scoring in a European Championship final. But he was bold in his choices, speaking of "specialists" to take England all the way.That line had already struggled to hold before he started Djed Spence and Morgan Rogers out of position against Argentina owing to a dearth of other options available.Presumably Tuchel was aware of the injuries Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were carrying coming into the tournament. And if so, bringing Noni Madueke as his back-up right winger and leaving Adam Wharton, England's only other natural No 6, at home raises further questions.When Reece James suffered a hamstring injury against Ghana in the group stages Tuchel said "no-one could see it coming". Plenty did outside of the England camp, only adding to previous bafflement at taking Tino Livramento - who had missed more than 30 club games with injury last season - as his back-up.Tuchel's selections got England to a World Cup semi-final, but they looked run ragged in the Stateside heat from the last-16 onwards. The head coach and his camp were well aware of the pitfalls of playing in such conditions, so why did he not give himself more room to rotate by picking fit players, or solid back-ups in key positions?Ron Walker"It's coming home," the masses have been saying with vigour since the last-16 win over co-hosts Mexico, but did anyone really think it would be coming home before a ball was kicked? I mean, when was the last time England won a World Cup on a foreign soil? How about never.Yes, England snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against Argentina, but they made the South Americans look pretty ordinary in a historic first half hour where neither team mustered a shot - the first time that 's happened at a World Cup since records began.We also mustn't forget the level of the opposition England faced. We're talking about the reigning world champions, the mentality monsters, the team that features a living legend and an all-time great in Lionel Messi, the team that is ranked number one in the FIFA World Rankings - one who will now play European champions Spain, who are second in the world rankings.England are ranked fourth in the world, and despite losing to Argentina, they still have an opportunity to make history in this tournament. England will take on most people's pre-tournament favourites France in the bronze medal match on Saturday.If they win Tuchel will do something no other men's England manager has done before by leading a side to third at a World Cup, which would represent England's best-ever performance at a World Cup on foreign soil. That's worth thinking about before people call for Tuchel's head.Dev TrehanTuchel constantly tweaked his backline - and did not name an unchanged defence in the entire tournament. Jarell Quansah, John Stones, Ezri Konsa, Nico O'Reilly and Djed Spence came in and out of the team.Injuries and suspension played its part in that decision-making, but there was never any defensive momentum right from the opening game against Croatia.England always felt open on the counter attack and big openings wasted by Yoane Wissa against DR Congo and Norway's Alexander Sorloth could have ended their tournament earlier.So when Enzo Fernandez struck from distance unchallenged and Lautaro Martinez headed home unmarked in the box, was anyone really surprised Argentina found a way through against this England backline?Spain have shown in this tournament how defensive solidity as a team underpins success, no matter how many matchwinners you have.Sam BlitzThe mentality of the English is something that has long come into question since 1966. That has been even more the case over the last decade. Croatia in 2018. Italy in 2021. Spain in 2024. Now Argentina in 2026. When the going gets tough, England get going.However, Tuchel insisted throughout the tournament it was not a question of mentality. He made that abundantly clear after the win over Norway. And I’m inclined to agree.In the past, you could argue that maybe England’s top players just didn’t know what it was like to win the big ones. Harry Kane was trophyless at Tottenham. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka had kept falling short with Arsenal. Truly, the only ones who had consistently got their hands on the big trophies in 2018 and 2021 were Kyle Walker and Phil Foden during Manchester City’s dominance. Neither of them were here this time.But that argument has largely changed. Jude Bellingham is a Champions League winner for the biggest club in the world. Kane has got his hands on two Bundesliga titles. The Arsenal contingent in the squad are now Premier League champions. Even the likes of Morgan Rogers and Ezri Konsa have tasted European glory with Aston Villa.These players have the mentality to win at the highest levels for their clubs. They are surrounded by others with the same mentality. Yes, the pressure of representing England is different, but the ability to take the same mindset you have from club to country isn’t. Or at least it shouldn’t be.Callum Bishop"It's too early to talk about that. For me, it's about taking it year by year and how I feel."Even Harry Kane doesn't know if this was his last World Cup. Not because of his ability, but because it is not a topic that has entered his thinking.At the age of 32, the England skipper was coming off the back of one of his best-ever seasons with Bayern - he scored 51 goals for his club in all competitions - and looked to be carrying that form into the World Cup, especially in the first four games.Against DR Congo especially, he dragged the Three Lions to victory - but the drop off after was clear, and Kane was clearly affected by the altitude of Mexico and the heat of Miami.He was anonymous against both Norway and Argentina, falling away at the worst possible time. That could perhaps be said of a few England players, but as captain and the Three Lions' main goal outlet, they were the games Kane needed to be at his best. It turned out to be a step too far.Some of the pre-tournament chat focused on what England would do if Kane was injured or wasn't scoring. Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon helped fill those shoes, but there is still not a clear answer - or Thomas Tuchel was somewhat lucky that he didn't need to solve it immediately, with other areas of the squad needing far more attention.But that takes nothing away from the fact that England would not have even reached the semi-finals without Kane's six goals. He remains the best striker the Three Lions have ever had.Kane is 33 in just under two weeks, and given the likes of Lionel Messi (39), Cristiano Ronaldo (41) and Mohamed Salah (34) all played at this World Cup, there's every chance Kane is included in 2030. He will likely want one more shot at immortality, and said himself: "The national team is my pride and joy, it's what I love to do most."There's every chance he starts too, with the current options less than convincing. Four years is a long time, but as it stands now, Kane's England career is far from over.Charlotte MarshKane will be approaching 35 when England embark on their next major tournament.He stands a good chance of still leading the line for the Three Lions but if his powers do start to wane, England will be faced with quite the predicament.Their current back-up options are Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney. Both of those players, who have played a total of 7 minutes in the World Cup, will be 32 at Euro 2028.Elsewhere, there is little to choose from. Liam Delap, Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were the other options in contention in the build-up to the World Cup.Combining all three of their goal tallies in the Premier League (18) last season amounts to just half of Kane's output in the Bundesliga (36).Kane is a generational talent and, quite simply, impossible to replace. When his England career eventually comes to an end, the void he leaves at the top of the pitch will be enormous.Patrick RoweIt's a familiar manner of exit for England with a familiar problem at the heart of it: England don't have midfield players who can control a football match.Or at least, they don't have any Tuchel was willing to select.What was the point of taking Kobbie Mainoo to this World Cup? He hasn't got on for a single minute.The 21-year-old - a starter in the Euro 2024 final, don't forget - played a key role in Man Utd's upturn in form in the second half of the Premier League season. Among midfield regulars, only Spain and Man City star Rodri had a better passing accuracy in the opposition half than Mainoo during that period.How England could have done with some of that composure in the final half an hour against Argentina, when they gave up possession and territory to try to hang on. Against Mexico, even with the caveat of having a man less, and against Norway, England were unable to get on the ball and keep it to ease the pressure on their backline.Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice were understandably first-choice for this tournament, but Tuchel turned to Reece James, Jordan Henderson, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers when replacements were required in the centre of the pitch ahead of Mainoo.If Mainoo isn't his man, then that's the coach's call. But unless Tuchel can find a solution in midfield to England's age-old problem, he'll go on getting the same outcomes.Peter Smith

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CloseKing Charles III has hinted at England's World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina as he poured a pint in a pub."Maybe it's a good day to drown a few sorrows," he said to laughter, while Queen Camilla smiled as she stood next to him.Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated topicsUK Royal FamilyFollow UK Royal Familyclose panelYou are now following UK Royal FamilyUpdates from your News topics will appear in My News and in a collection on the News homepage.King Charles IIIFollow King Charles III

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The son of England's 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles is predicting an "epidemic" of brain injuries among players who head footballs, especially women.John Stiles spoke after an inquest on Wednesday into the death of his father, Nobby Stiles - the 78-year-old ex-Man Utd and England midfielder - heard thousands of headers during his career had caused his chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).Senior Coroner Alison Mulch is writing a prevention of future deaths report after recording Stiles' cause of death in 2020 as Alzheimer's disease, contributed to by CTE.The Football Association (FA), which has been asked to comment, is phasing out all football heading up to under-11s this year.Stiles died with severe dementia in 2020 aged 78 and had headed a football about 140,000 times in his career, Stockport Coroners' Court heard during the inquest into his death, held on Wednesday.Neuropathology expert Dr Daniel Du Plessis told the court: "I'm quite convinced his heading the football that many times has caused his CTE [chronic traumatic encephalopathy]."John, who founded campaign group Football Families for Justice, said afterwards that women's football was "a particular concern" that "really needs to be addressed".He added: "Tragically the brain injuries epidemic will grow as so many more girls play football: women's brains are even more susceptible to damage from heading."However, he also said: "Anybody who heads the ball is very likely to get this disease and, for God's sake, we must do something about it now."He said a "proper fund" was needed for when ex-players go into a care home, adding funding form the Premier Leaguer and players union, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), was not "adequate".Six years ago, former Southampton and England player Sue Lopez, one of the pioneers of the women's game, revealed she had dementia and cited heading as the likely cause.Four other members of England's 1966 winning team died as a result of dementia-related illnesses - Sir Bobby Charlton and his brother Jack along with left back Ray Wilson and midfielder Martin Peters.Stiles, who was born in Collyhurst, Manchester in 1942, was capped 28 times by England and played nearly 400 times for Manchester United.He lived in Stretford, Greater Manchester, and died in a care home on 30 October 2020, having been left bed-bound by his dementia.His family has campaigned for football authorities to do more to help ex-players cope with injuries they claim were caused during their playing days.Wednesday's inquest into his death heard that Old Trafford used to have a ball that would hang down from the stand and the players were encouraged to head it.The coroner recorded the cause of Stiles' death as Alzheimer's disease with "high stage" CTE, and also said a condition known as "stage three limbic predominant age related TDP-43" had been a contributing factor, as well as cerebrovascular disease.The FA co-funded, with the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), a 2019 study that found footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative disease than age-matched members of the general population.The PFA, which has also been contacted, said previously it had set up several services to support players with dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.Tell us which stories we should cover in Greater ManchesterContact formContact formListen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, external, X, external, and Instagram, external. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.Headers caused Nobby Stiles' brain disease, coroner findsCoroner rules inquest needed into Nobby Stiles' deathNobby Stiles' son calls dementia group 'transformative'Meet the 25-year-old who's trying to stop footballers getting dementia'I think my dementia has been caused by heading' Video, 00:01:56'I think my dementia has been caused by heading'

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