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Brazil full-back Wesley will have a fitness test to determine the severity of the injury that has put his participation in Scotland's World Cup group in jeopardy, head coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed. The 22-year-old Roma defender left the field in tears 15 minutes into Brazil's 2-1 win over Egypt in their final World Cup preparation match after feeling discomfort in his left groin. "Wesley is going to the medical department for a diagnosis," Ancelotti said. "He has tests tomorrow; he has a muscle problem and we have to wait for tomorrow's diagnosis. "I think he'll have time to recover and be with us at this World Cup. If not, we'll have to choose someone else. We have time to do that." Clarke has 'some decisions to make' - but what are they? Brazil start their Group C campaign against Morocco on Saturday in New York before facing Haiti in Philadelphia on 19 June and Scotland on 24 June in Miami. By the time Wesley's seventh Brazil appearance was cut short, the score was already 1-1 at the home of the Cleveland Browns NFL team. Ancelotti's side struck first after only seven minutes when Mohanad Lashin was caught in possession on the edge of his own penalty box by Bruno Guimaraes and the Newcastle United midfielder tucked a low finish past goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir. The lead only lasted four minutes as an underhit backpass by Paris St-Germain defender Marquinhos gifted possession to winger Mostafa Zico, who drilled a crisp finish into the bottom corner past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson. Brazil created the better chances thereafter and, shortly after a half-time break during which Ancelotti made eight changes, 19-year-old Real Madrid striker Endrick swept Raphinha's low cutback into the far corner. Egypt were more threatening after bringing on exiting Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, but Ancelotti was "satisfied" with another win to add to last weekend's 6-2 rout of Panama in Rio de Janeiro. "I think the team played well, played with intensity, with rhythm, with good organisation, a lot of intensity in the pressing," the Italian said. "This game gave me much more certainty for the debut against Morocco. We've reached this final week and I think the team is on the right track." Ancelotti revealed he already has "a clear idea" of his starting XI. Earlier, group opponents Scotland defeated Bolivia 4-0 in their final warm-up game, Haiti lost 2-1 to Peru, while Morocco end their preparations against Norway on Sunday evening. Everything you need to know about the World Cup

World Cup News

With a smile on his face, Steve Clarke rejoiced in his Bolivia post-match interview. "For once, I got everything I asked for - no injuries, a performance and a good result," the Scotland head coach told BBC Scotland. What he also got was a selection headache. As his sensational Scotland signed off their pre-tournament camp with a wonderful win and positive performance to ensure the feel-good factor is flowing, they also made certain that Clarke has a few tough calls to make. To a man in the first-half, they were sublime. An untroubled defence were still stable and commanding, while the magic midfield four were here, there and everywhere. Two strikers, three goals; that makes for good reading. "I've got some decisions to make," Clarke admitted after the superb win in the sweltering New Jersey heat. "The starting XI becomes a fixation, but this is a tournament for your finishing XI." BBC Sport Scotland focuses on that fixation and weighs in on Clarke's big calls. Scotland earn statement 4-0 win over Bolivia in World Cup warm-up Patient, precise, clinical - are Scotland ready to make World Cup mark? Angus Gunn was confirmed as Scotland's "number one" when the list was locked in earlier in the week, but does that mean the Nottingham Forest man starts between the sticks on Sunday? He had little to do on Saturday against Bolivia, bar one memorable save for the cameras. But he'll take those days at the office every time they're offered. While there was little else to go off, the only other thing was he was the only player to last the 90 minutes. Last Saturday, Heart of Midlothian veteran Craig Gordon appeared to receive a second career farewell at Hampden as he was replaced with Rangers' Liam Kelly after 77 minutes against Curacao. For much of those 77 minutes, though, the Hearts shotstopper had little to do other than pick the ball out of his own net, but he couldn't do much to prevent that. What the pair do have in common is a lack of minutes for their club this season. That's been well documented. However, there seems to be a feeling Gordon, who will be the oldest player at the World Cup at the age of 43, will get a chance to check off playing at a major tournament this summer after he brutally missed out on Euro 2024, despite struggling with a shoulder injury for the second half of the season. "Me being me, I was really happy with the defensive work they did, the way they dropped down, kept the team compact and didn't allow Bolivia to play through us," Clarke revealed. Although he was probably one of the only ones inside the nifty home of the New York Red Bulls to vocalise how impressive his backline were, it certainly didn't go unnoticed. Full-backs Aaron Hickey and Andy Robertson are nailed down for starting berths, but there's been much discourse as to who will start in the centre of defence. It's often joked about how much Clarke trusts Grant Hanley, but once again the Hibernian 34-year-old didn't put a foot wrong. Of course, the calibre of opposition must be taken into account, but it wouldn't be the first time Scotland allowed a so-called lesser nation a few nibbles at goal. Alongside the man who gets Liam Kelly to shave his back - still not got that image out of mind - was the impressive Jack Hendry. Arguably the most accustomed to the sweltering conditions stateside due to playing in Saudi Arabia for the last three years, the Al Ettifaq defender commanded the backline, balled orders forward and kept - an albeit meek - Bolivia at bay. John Souttar and Scott McKenna started against Curacao, the latter getting caught under the ball for Tahith Chong's brilliant goal. Hanley appears to be guaranteed a goer in Boston, but who will be his buddy? It looks like Hendry has a hold of it. It's a section on defence that hasn't even mentioned Kieran Tierney. Remember when all we talked about was getting the Celtic man and Robertson in the same team? Changed days. To think that four-goal first-half performance didn't even involve John McGinn. A traditional 4-4-2 brought the best out of Scott McTominay, if that's even more possible. Although we all know the Napoli star's position was never in any doubt. Bologna's Lewis Ferguson, who captain Robertson said "turned into a man" , externalduring the qualification campaign, again showed his maturity and ability to dictate play in the middle of the park. Cultured, some might say. But, in truth, the first half was dominated by the work done down the wings by Bournemouth pair Ben Gannon-Doak and Ryan Christie. Long before he was even in the squad, Gannon-Doak excited supporters. He was the Billy Gilmour of the Euro 2024 team, picking up an injury before the squad jetted off to Germany. Since then, he's reminded everyone what they missed with his absence. The epitome of a Duracell Bunny, the 20-year-old dazzled on Saturday. At times, his end-product has been his downfall, but it wasn't of concern stateside. "Ben did himself the power of good today," Clarke acknowledged. "We know what he can give us." Clarke also knows what Christie can provide. In many positions. He was lively down the left, with an instinct to cut in and create. Many were crying out for Findlay Curtis to start, given his first international goal last weekend, but its hard to make a case for Christie not starting somewhere on Sunday. It's perhaps the biggest head-scratcher of them all for Clarke, but what a problem to have. It's a question that seems as old as time. Will Lawrence Shankland start for Scotland against Haiti? The striker just signed by Rangers can't have done any more, adding to his two goals against Curacao with the opener in an outstanding first 45 minutes against the Bolivians. He should've had another in the second half, missing the target from close range with his last act, but his good work before it - and for much of his superb Hearts season - has surely got his name on the teamsheet. Humble as ever, the 30-year-old didn't blow his own trumpet and dodged the suggestion he should be starting, simply replying: "I can be pleased with my work for the two games." That he can. So too partner Che Adams, who staked his claim to be in from the off. Outside his two goals, the Torino forward combined well with Shankland, despite their lack of minutes together. Both paid the other praise post-match, reflecting Clarke's view that "the two strikers complemented each other well". Lyndon Dykes was Shankland's pal for just under 30 minutes against Curacao, but it was enough for many to make their claim that this was the duo to go with. Now, it's up for debate again. A pile of decisions for Clarke to ponder at the squad's base camp in Charlotte, but what a position to be in. Everything you need to know about the World Cup

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Norway haven’t played at a World Cup since 1998, when they beat Brazil. Photograph: Vegard Grøtt/BILDBYRÅN/ShutterstockStåle Solbakken leads country to first major tournament in 26 years knowing that, with Erling Haaland up front, anything can happen This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June. Ståle Solbakken’s journey to becoming Norway manager arguably started at the 1998 World Cup when he sat as an unused substitute shouting suggestions to the coach, Egil Olsen, when Norway turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 victory against Brazil. Like his mentor Olsen, Solbakken has never been a naive or particularly romantic manager. He is a product of the northern European football school, where the result always holds the most weight. His style largely consists of tight zonal defending and aggressive attacking play focused on breaking through the lines – football that is as effective as possible. Norway usually use a 4-3-3 formation, but with significant flexibility. Antonio Nusa, a winger who loves to dribble, tends to maintain width on the left, while full-back Julian Ryerson pushes up as a right winger, making it look more like a 3-5-2. This allows the strikers Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth to operate as close to goal as possible. Solbakken has also attempted a flatter 4-4-2 with varying success. The approach is pragmatic in the sense that Norway want to maximise their X-factor players. This is especially found in Haaland’s raw power, as well as the passing ability and vision of the captain, Martin Ødegaard. If space behind the opponent’s defence is available, Haaland will look to exploit it. Norway have significantly developed their style of play in the past year. During Euro 2024 qualification, ball-playing defenders were a scarcity in the squad but with the left-footed Torbjørn Heggem alongside Kristoffer Ajer, this area has been improved. It is likely Norway’s three games in the group stage will be vastly different. Expect them to try to dominate against Iraq, play smart and varied against Senegal, and sit deeper against France, relying heavily on counterattacks and set pieces. Ståle Solbakken was a player for Copenhagen in 2001 when he suffered a heart attack and collapsed during a training session. By the time the ambulance arrived, he had been clinically dead for seven minutes. He woke up in hospital, his football career over. In 24 of the 25 years since his forced retirement, he has been a manager, coaching clubs such as Wolves, Cologne and Copenhagen. In 2020, Solbakken, who won 58 caps for his country, took over the national team. After failing to qualify for the Euros two years ago, he took Norway to their first major tournament since Euro 2000. “I don’t think I’ll have any better nights than this in my life. It’s almost surreal,” Solbakken said after his team topped their qualifying group. Erling Haaland should prove a scary proposition for defenders at this World Cup. Going up against the Manchester City striker tests your physical and mental stamina. If you give him a time or space, you’ll probably be punished. For 92 years Jørgen Juve held the record for most goals for Norway. His tally of 33 seemed impossible to pass. None of Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Tore André Flo or John Carew came close. Then Haaland burst on to the scene, surpassing Juve at the age of 24 when he scored his 34th goal in his 36th appearance. Can a Haaland-inspired Norway shock the football world this summer? When you have Erling Braut Haaland up front, anything is possible. Antonio Nusa has idolised Neymar throughout his career and there are some similarities between the two. Like the Brazilian great, Christianity is very important to Nusa, while on the pitch the winger is able to elicit a gasp from supporters when he receives the ball and speeds forward. But unlike Neymar, Nusa has never courted controversy. “I always point to God when I score and when I come on to the pitch. I thank God that I can experience this,” he told the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten in 2023. Just before the World Cup, Nusa released his own book – a manual for children who dream of becoming top footballers. Not everyone who reads it will become a professional, of course, but if you follow Nusa’s advice, you will at least pick up tips on how to become a good person. The 21-year-old has been with RB Leipzig since 2024. Sander Berge provides vital balance for Norway behind their talented frontline. The Fulham midfielder offers composure on the ball plus an ability to cover space, which are crucial attributes for Solbakken’s side. His importance was evidenced before a crucial qualifier against Estonia in June 2025, when Berge became a father for the first time. Norway were preparing to play without him but the Norwegian federation intervened to pay for a private plane to take him to Tallinn. Norway won the game, and Berge was one of the best players on the pitch. At the time of writing he has only scored one international goal, and he rarely steals the headlines, but his value to the national team is almost immeasurable. You will hear the chant “Row! Row! Row!” from fans during Norway’s matches, as the supporters row in rhythm in the stands in reference to the Vikings who rowed across the Atlantic to the United States. Norway boast a lively group of supporters travelling to the US for their first World Cup since 1998. The Norwegian federation estimates the number of fans travelling to North America to be between 7,000 and 10,000 for the group stage. Don’t be surprised if you see hundreds of Viking helmets in the streets and the stands. “I believe very strongly that Norway controls who gets the Nobel peace prize. I have lost a lot of respect for Norway. I have ended eight wars.” That’s what Donald Trump said earlier this year. Fortunately for Trump, his good friend Gianni Infantino and Fifa created their own peace prize, with Trump announced as the surprise winner. The Norwegian football president, Lise Klaveness, was one of many who voiced their displeasure, saying: “We want to see this prize abolished. We do not believe that it is part of Fifa’s mandate to award such a prize.” Written by Simen Stamsø-Møller and Vegard Bjelland for TV 2 Norway.

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ShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleNick WilsonYorkshireAs England's footballers look to end 60 years of hurt, a doctor from Sheffield is selling off his collection of 1966 World Cup memorabilia to raise funds for charity. Among the items is a framed set of autographs and photos of the victorious national team and their manager Sir Alf Ramsey. Current owner Dr John Heyes said proceeds from the sale would go to Weston Park Cancer Charity. He said he wanted to help the charity after the "brilliant" support his family received when his daughter, Jenny, was being treated for bowel cancer before her death in 2018 aged 35. Other items in the collection are the autographs of the West Germany side, famously beaten 4-2 in the final at Wembley in July 1966, as well as the signature of Gottfried Dienst, who allowed Geoff Hurst's controversial second goal. A matchday programme and a signed photo of BBC commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme - famous for his "They think it's all over ... it is now" quote - is also included. Explaining how he amassed the collection, Heyes said: "I wrote to Alf Ramsey at the time, and said could I have a photograph of the team and he wrote back personally, with his signature at the bottom and it sparked something in me to say let's try and see if I can get more autographs." Mick Allsop, who has been raising money for Weston Park Cancer Charity for 20 years, is helping to organise the sale. He said: "I've spoken to several people at different auction houses [about the collection] who said they've never seen anything like it. "Every pound we raise from these three frames [will go] to the charity." He added: "John gave me these frames towards the end of last year but we said let's save them until the 60th anniversary [of the 1966 World Cup] and hopefully, not tempting fate, England can do it again and, hopefully, on July the 19th we will have won the World Cup." The sale, which is being organised by the Weston Park Cancer Charity, runs until 19 July. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds , catch up with the latest episode of Look North

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Decades of conflict have scattered Iraqis around the globe and they will turn up at the World Cup from everywhere. Photograph: Daniel Becerril/ReutersGraham Arnold’s team have overcome adversity on and off the pitch, but may benefit from the pressure being off them in a tough group This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June A year ago, when Graham Arnold was appointed head coach, no one believed he could take Iraq to the World Cup. Morale was at an all-time low after losing 2-1 to Palestine, relinquishing the lead late on. The Lions of Mesopotamia had been on course to qualify from their group, but after picking up a point from two games Jesús Casas was sacked. In his first meeting, the Australian wrote the word “believe” on the board, asking players if they had faith they could qualify. The 62-year-old has deployed a 4-3-3 formation and lately a bold 4-4-2 with two out-and-out strikers. Players slowly bought in to what Arnold was trying to do, prioritising team discipline and working on changing the mindset, with the target being to reach the World Cup. The moment a whole nation began to believe was when Iraq were awarded a penalty via the video assistant referee in the final minute of stoppage time against the UAE in Basra in November. At 1-1, Iraq needed victory to advance to the Inter-Confederation playoff. It came down to the last kick. Iraq’s penalty taker, Amir Al-Ammari, had noticed the UAE’s goalkeeper often dived early and he waited until the last moment to make his decision, putting it to his right to score. Iraq were a game away from qualifying for their first World Cup in 40 years, with a final against Bolivia in Monterrey, their 21st qualifier, but things didn’t go smoothly. War broke out in the Middle East, with airspace closed and flights grounded. Unable to gather his squad, Arnold, stuck in a hotel in the UAE, demanded Fifa postpone the playoff, but the clouds cleared and after a 12-hour drive from Baghdad to Amman and a 17-hour flight to Mexico, Iraq reached their destination, 10 days before the game. “Do it for your families and make yourselves proud,” Arnold said. Iraq scored 10 minutes in, but Bolivia equalised to make it 1-1 at half-time before Aymen Hussein netted to secure the 48th and final spot at the World Cup. Arnold said: “The players went through a hell of a lot of stress and a lot of pressure on their shoulders from 46 million people in Iraq to qualify for a World Cup for the first time in 40 years. Every one of those games was heartbreak or survival.” Graham Arnold is the first Australian to lead two countries to a World Cup, having guided his home nation to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar through the playoffs. When Arnold stood down as Socceroos coach two years ago, feeling he “couldn’t do any more for the country”, no one expected him to turn up as Iraq’s coach. The Lions of Mesopotamia are in a group of death, or the “group of excitement” as the coach prefers to call it, with France, Norway and Senegal. “I say let’s go for it,” Arnold said. “All the pressure is on France to win it, the pressure’s on Norway and Senegal to get through – the pressure is not on Iraq. When we’re there, we’ve got nothing to lose, so we’re going to play without fear, shock the world and enjoy it while we’re doing it.” The striker Aymen Hussein has gone from being compared to a motionless plank of wood, having his Sarutobi Sasuke ponytail mocked, facing ridicule from a political satirist, to scoring the goal that took Iraq to their first World Cup in 40 years. “It was a dream I’ve lived since childhood. The feelings of 46 million Iraqis were with me as we worked to achieve the dream we shared,” he said. It was testament to a man who lost his father and brother in the turmoil after the 2003 US-led invasion. He had faced a barrage of criticism and was seen as a laughing stock for his misses. In one game Iraq’s coach came on to the pitch to instruct him not to take a penalty. During the previous World Cup qualifying campaign, after a run of poor results, fans turned against the team, with the social media hashtag “This team doesn’t represent me”. Aymen was one of the players targeted, the forward confronting fans after one qualifier. But he turned things around. After scoring the winner in Monterrey, the striker was given a diplomatic passport, three 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe cars, a villa and an apartment, a 21-carat gold iPhone 17 Pro Max and a 200-square-metre plot of land. He is now among the top five all-time top Iraqi goalscorers and the highest-paid player in the Iraq Stars League at Al-Karma. There is online footage of a tiny Marko Farji with the ball at his feet going past players and scoring. Those were his early years, training on a field with his father in his home city, Grimstad in Norway, where, at five years old, he “fell in love” with the game and attracted attention from Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City. A trial at City followed, but the feedback was that he was not strong enough and needed to toughen up mentally and physically. Being only 11, it hit him hard. Now older (22), wiser, and stronger, the winger had his breakthrough season, scoring nine goals for Strømsgodset in Norway’s Eliteserien and earning a €1.3m move to Serie A’s Venezia. Italy’s 1994 and 1998 World Cup midfielder Demetrio Albertini was described as the player who made the great Milan team of the 90s tick and Amir Al-Ammari is similar in style and stature. Technically gifted, the Brøndby IF graduate took his time to find his natural role, for a long time seeing himself as a box-to-box midfielder. But the boy from Jönköping, where Abba’s Agnetha Fältskog also comes from, has matured into a metronomic modern No 6. His late, late penalty to ensure Iraq advanced to the playoff in Monterrey exorcised the demons of the 2023 Asian Cup round of 16 exit to Jordan, when his misplaced pass led to Iraq conceding the opening goal has constantly been at the back of his mind. Fans from Iraq will travel to Foxborough, Philadelphia and Toronto to watch the games. Iraqi Americans live across the US, with a large number in Michigan, California and Illinois, while there are also many in Canada, especially in Ontario. Decades of conflict have scattered Iraqis around the globe and they will turn up at the World Cup from everywhere. Like the team they are a representation of the country’s past, present and future. After 40 years Iraqis are just happy to be back and be part of the world football community once again. If fans begin to chant, “Who told you to play Toba [football]” at opposition fans it will certainly mean things are going well for Iraq on the pitch, a popular taunt more than a chant. People may also hear: “With spirit, with blood, we redeem you, Iraq”. A chant under Saddam Hussein, with the name of the former leader now replaced with Iraq. Written by Hassanin Mubarak. Visit his substack here.

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Close30Wales head coach Craig Bellamy believes England can win the World Cup this summer "if the conditions are kind" to Thomas Tuchel's side. England are in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama. Bellamy believes Spain will also be challenging for the trophy come the final on July 19.

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The votes are in and the contest is now over - you have decided that Archie Gemmill's solo effort against the Netherlands at the 1978 World Cup is Scotland's Most Iconic Goal. That stunning strike comfortably beat Scott McTominay's overhead kick against Denmark last November in the end in a battle of two belters, garnering more than 60% of the vote. And as excitement builds towards Scotland's long-awaited return to the men's World Cup finals, why not whet your appetite with a wee look at some of the best goals in the national team's storied history? The day Scotland shocked the world. Denis Law grabbing the opener as Scotland beat newly crowned world champions England 3-2 at Wembley. Joe Jordan with a famous headed winning goal that sent Scotland to the 1974 World Cup. In a match dubbed the Battle of Britain, Kenny Dalglish scored in the 87th minute to secure Scotland's World Cup qualification. Archie Gemmill's incredible solo goal put Scotland 3-1 up against the Netherlands at the 1978 World Cup. Cue the scenes as David Narey gives Scotland a shock lead against Brazil with this piledriver. A great turn and neat footwork as Kenny Dalglish produces another iconic Scotland moment – this time against Belgium. A left-foot strike into the top corner as Kenny Dalglish adds another memorable goal to his repertoire. Euro 96 heaven for Scotland as Ally McCoist seals victory against Switzerland at Villa Park. James McFadden's 30-yard strike stuns France in the Parc des Prince to seal a famous Scotland victory. Shaun Maloney finishes off a well-worked corner routine to seal a Euro 2016 qualifying victory at Celtic Park. Up steps Leigh Griffiths to send this wonder free-kick past England's Joe Hart at Hampden. Not content with one free-kick, Leigh Griffiths sends another past the flying Joe Hart to put Scotland ahead against England. A beauty of a curler from John McGinn as Scotland edge out Israel at Hampden. With World Cup qualification on the line, Scott McTominay's overhead kick wows the Hampden crowd. Cue the wild celebrations at Hampden as Kieran Tierney fires Scotland ahead and on the brink of World Cup qualification. Holding on to a 3-2 lead and with Denmark pushing for an equaliser, Kenny McLean goes for the impossible from the half way line to seal Scotland's place at the World Cup.

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The wait is nearly over. Six days before the start of the World Cup, the United States get one final chance to cut their teeth on elite opposition as Mauricio Pochettino’s side plays host to Germany before an expected capacity crowd at Soldier Field, the soon-to-be-former home of the NFL’s Chicago Bears. The Americans arrive with some momentum after last week’s entertaining 3-2 victory over Senegal in Charlotte, where goals from Sergiño Dest, Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun helped the USMNT quell a second-half fightback from Sadio Mané and co. Today’s challenge, at least on paper, stands to be more imposing. Germany, the four-time world champions sitting at 10th in Fifa rankings, provide the kind of measuring-stick opponent the United States are likely to encounter should they advance to the knockout stage later this month. The teams have met three times at the World Cup, most memorably in the Americans’ controversial 1-0 quarter-final defeat in 2002. (Try mentioning Torsten Frings to US supporters of a certain age.) Pochettino makes five changes from the Senegal win, with Matt Freese starting in goal alongside Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman, Miles Robinson and Balogun. Tim Ream captains the side, while Pulisic earns his 86th cap and enters within one goal of Eric Wynalda for fourth place on the USMNT’s all-time scoring table. The lineups are in. We should be under way in just about half an hour.

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Only four European nations conceded fewer goals than France in qualifying for the World Cup. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty ImagesKylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise have the attacking power to shred opponents but will Didier Deschamps let them off the leash? This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June. “It is a pain to watch, but it makes you win,” is perhaps the most succinct summary of France under Didier Deschamps. The words were Antoine Griezmann’s during Euro 2024 – a competition in which Les Bleus reached the semi-finals. However, goals were hard to come by and in the defeat against Spain Randal Kolo Muani became their only player to score from open play. The other three goals came from the penalty spot or own goals. Granted, this was France at their most conservative. The boundaries of Deschamps’s approach, it seems, were being tested. The metaphorical handbrake was released during France’s tour of the US in March as his side scored five goals in two games against Brazil and Colombia. During that trip, Deschamps said he wanted his team to be “less predictable and readable”, but would their defensive solidity be sacrificed for attacking flair? “At times, we’ve been a bit on the limit,” he said. That’s the devil on his shoulder talking. The defence remains the backbone; only four European nations conceded fewer goals than Les Bleus in qualifying, but there is now an array of attacking talent at Deschamps’s disposal, including the captain, Kylian Mbappé, the Ballon d’Or winner, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise. Defender Lucas Hernandez says France have “the best attack in the world” and when you look at the individuals it is hard to contest that claim. Moulding them into something coherent is the challenge for Deschamps and finding the correct formula has been difficult since Olivier Giroud’s retirement from international football in 2024. In the March friendlies, the balance seemed to have been struck, but whether the more expansive prototype will be used is the big question. Dider Deschamps has become the gold standard of international management. His conservatism and pragmatism have elicited replication, notably by Gareth Southgate when he was in charge of England. Despite taking France to back-to-back World Cup finals, as well as a Euros final during his 12-year tenure, his approach has regularly drawn criticism. “Watch something else, then,” was his response to such jibes. His success justifies his dogmatism and, given he will step away from Les Bleus this summer, he is not about to change tack now. Having previously had success with Monaco and Marseille, Deschamps is open to a return to club management. Kylian Mbappé leads an all-star cast and he remains the main man, as has been the case since he fired France to World Cup glory in 2018. Mbappé has evolved from an electrifying winger to a prolific goalscorer. Now operating as a No 9, France’s attack has been built around him – and for good reason given Mbappé is about to overtake Giroud as the country’s all-time goalscorer. Warren Zaïre-Emery is only 20, but has already experienced his fair share of ups and downs. He scored on his France debut at the age of 17 and was sold as the next big thing. Injuries and a subsequent loss of form meant he fell down the pecking order at PSG and demoted to the France Under-21s. He has bounced back spectacularly. Now a key member of arguably the best club midfield in world football, he seeks a more prominent role with Les Bleus, where he could even be a solution to Deschamps’s right-back problem, as he showed in the Champions League against Bayern Munich. Dayot Upamecano has added consistency and composure to his game in the past year. While William Saliba has come in for plaudits for his performances at Arsenal, and is also growing in stature for France, he is massively helped in the national team by Upamecano. The Bayern Munich centre-back, now 27 and in his prime, started all of the World Cup qualifiers bar a dead rubber against Azerbaijan and has kept Ibrahima Konaté on the fringes of the setup. As has been the case for many fans, pricing has been a deterrent for the French. Nonetheless, up to 1,000 supporters are expected at each match, with about 650 Irrésistibles Francais (IF) , Les Bleus’ biggest organised fan group, expected for the opener against Senegal. It is the IF who bring the noise in the stands, albeit their chants can be rather simplistic. “ Allez Les Bleus ” (“Go the Blues”), “ Qui ne saute pas n’est pas Français ” (“Those who don’t jump are not French”, which is accompanied by mass jumping) and La Marseillaise , the national anthem, will be on rotation at stadiums. There were four months between Donald Trump’s first election as president and that of Emmanuel Macron in France in 2017 and the pair initially enjoyed a strong relationship. Recently, however, that has teetered, notably due to disagreements over the war in Ukraine and, more recently, the war in Iran. Trump has criticised France’s reluctance to support the US in Iran and the criticism became personal when he singled out Macron’s wife, Brigitte. “[She] treats him extremely badly,” said Trump, referencing a video from last year in which Brigitte appeared to shove Emmanuel in the face. President Macron replied by saying that Trump’s comments were “neither elegant nor up to standard”.

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The New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani , briefly stepped away from City Hall to tackle the ultimate soccer challenge: predicting the entire World Cup bracket In the Guardian's exclusive interactive game. From shocking early exits to his definitive pick for the final, see how Mamdani maps out the world’s biggest tournament Bracketology: predict a path to World Cup victory Continue reading...

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ShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleSteven McKenzieBBC ScotlandThe World Cup is forecast to result in rare late night and early morning peaks in energy demand, according to the company that runs the UK's power network. Scotland's group matches will come during what are usually the quietest hours for electricity use - including a 02:00 kick-off. England's group games will be late night in terms of UK time, with the latest of them kicking off at 22:00. The National Energy System Operator (Neso) said each of Scotland and England's group games could see about 600MW more electricity being used nationally - the equivalent of the total electricity demand for Glasgow and Leeds combined. Millions of TVs - and kettles being boiled for a half-time caffeine boost - along with fridges being opened and closed as people get cold drinks and snacks would cause surges, said Neso. Neso's job is to make sure supply meets the UK's essential energy demands every day of the week. Analysts at its Electricity National Control Centre have been forecasting what could happen during the World Cup, which starts later this month. Scotland's first game, against Haiti on 14 June, kicks off at 02:00, followed by 23:00 starts against Morocco on 19 June and Brazil on 24 June. England's matches against Croatia on 17 June and Ghana on 23 June both kick off at 21:00, before taking on Panama on 27 June at 22:00. Both countries will play their group games in the US. Neso said England's opening match against Croatia would likely draw the biggest audience. It said energy demand could rise by as much as 800MW - higher than the 600MW spike during England's 1966 World Cup win. Neso said demand would be expected to increase even more the further England and Scotland go in the tournament, with the biggest games attracting the most viewers. The current record was set during England's 1990 semi-final against West Germany, when a missed penalty in the shootout was followed by a 2,800MW surge - the equivalent to more than a million kettles being switched on at once. Highest demand is expected to be at half-time and full-time, and Neso said its control room was ready to use technologies such as battery farms and pumped hydro storage schemes to keep the system balanced. And it said this year's World Cup was likely to be the "cleanest" with about 40–50% of the electricity used expected to come from renewables. Neso said it was a "big change" from USA 94 when TVs were largely powered by electricity from coal-fired power stations. Director of system operations, Craig Dyke, said engineers would be working "around the clock" to balance supply and demand. He said: "Whether you're cheering on the home nations, your sweepstake side, or for me - wishing Wales were there - this year's World Cup has more games than ever before, meaning we're likely to see a surge in electricity demand across the longer tournament. "While what happens on the pitch can always throw up surprises, watching this year's World Cup will almost certainly be powered by the cleanest electricity in history. Over the years, other TV moments have caused power surges. They include a 2001 episode of EastEnders when millions of viewers tuned in to watch the shooting of hardman Phil Mitchell.

World Cup News

Liam Kelly looks perplexed after being told he has been singled out by some team-mates as Scotland's "hype man". "Aye, that happens naturally when you don't play a lot of games," he jokes. "You need to bring something to the party." The 30-year-old, with three caps to his name, is World Cup-bound as Scotland's third-choice goalkeeper after playing three games for Rangers in the past season. An injury crisis would need to occur for his handful of international appearances to increase in the United States, but his underrated influence in the squad does not go unnoticed. "I don't do anything special," he tells BBC Scotland. "When the boys go into the game, I just want them to give it their full whack, know what I mean? "Don't disappoint the opposition by bringing half measures - just go for it." Discourse around squad selections can often get bogged down by people demanding that players who are playing and in form must be picked. But is there enough said about having a lad who will be relentless in bringing vibes to the group? "Liam's in there because he's a very good third goalkeeper," said head coach Steve Clarke. The Scotland boss adds: "He's good around the squad" - tick - "his character's good" - tick - "the players respect him" - tick - and "he works ever so hard in camp" - tick. Oh, and he apparently "shaves Grant Hanley's back", according to Kenny McLean. For the sake of Kelly - and our imaginations - we can all hope that is a joke. McLean also told BBC Scotland that Rangers' back-up goalkeeper is the "most positive guy you will meet". Perhaps the red-tinted sunglasses he wears at night to help replenish his melatonin have something to do with that. When Norwich midfielder McLean scored that goal against Denmark in November, Kelly was one of the first to empty the Scotland bench and lead the chasing pack. He shares a strong bond with the 34-year-old and other senior figures within the group, such as Andy Robertson. He sits beside the captain on international commutes. Nobody has a bad word to say about the former Motherwell player and optimism just always seems to be oozing out of him despite two seasons of limited minutes. Game time was not a problem at Fir Park, where Kelly was first choice for four years before moving back to Rangers, where he started his career as a young prospect. Long-time pal and former team-mate Andy Halliday played with him at both clubs. He remembers Kelly's impact in the Motherwell dressing room, controlling fines, organising days out and running a Traitors-like card game, which some of the Scotland squad got involved in during Sunday's long-haul flight to the US. "That's just his way of making sure everyone bonds together," Halliday tells BBC Scotland. At Rangers, his first impressions of the then teenage Kelly were his character standing out despite his age. "Typical Glasgow boy, gallus," he adds. The fact Kelly's three closest mates at Ibrox at that time - Halliday, Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller - were all of an older age told the former midfielder a lot about his personality. And Halliday is in no doubt that the goalkeeper's nature will be having a positive impact among the Scotland squad, even if time on the park will inevitably be restricted. "He's opinionated in a good way, whether he's playing or not," Halliday tells BBC Scotland. "Experienced players will go to Liam and have chats around the game. "Liam will accept himself his role won't involve many minutes on the pitch. A lot of it will involve what he can bring off the pitch." Everything you need to know about the World Cup