Dembele defends Kylian Mbappe amid growing criticism before World Cup
France forward Ousmane Dembele has come to the defence of captain Kylian Mbappe, arguing that criticism directed at the Real Madrid superstar has gone beyond reasonable limits ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mbappe has faced intense scrutiny in recent months following a mixed campaign at club level, with debates over his performances and […]
Toney hat-trick leads England’s big friendly win against Miami FC
Ivan Toney stole the spotlight with a hat-trick as England continued their World Cup preparations with a dominant 6-0 victory over Miami FC in a behind-closed-doors friendly. The match, played in Florida, saw Thomas Tuchel’s squad continue their preparations ahead of the tournament, with several players making a strong impression. According to reports, the fixture […]
West Ham United clarify David Sullivan ban communication process
West Ham United have issued a detailed statement addressing how information surrounding restrictions placed on David Sullivan was communicated within the club. The club say only a “very limited number” of staff were informed about safeguarding measures that restricted Sullivan’s access to the women’s and youth teams. The clarification follows reports earlier this week that […]
Former Chelsea’s Damien Duff joins Brentford as first-team assistant coach
Brentford have strengthened their coaching setup with the appointment of Damien Duff as first-team assistant coach. The former Republic of Ireland international will begin his new role later this month after leaving his position as manager of Shelbourne, where he spent more than three years in charge from November 2021 until June 2025. Duff, 47, […]
Celtic receive Scottish Professional Football League punishment after pitch invasion incidents
Celtic have been fined £10,000 ($13,000) and placed under suspended sanctions following pitch invasions by supporters during their final two league matches of the season. The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has also taken disciplinary action against Motherwell, Inverness, Hamilton and Stenhousemuir after a series of incidents last month. Despite the punishments, none of the […]
Japan lose captain Endo days before World Cup opener
Japan’s 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations have suffered a major setback after captain Wataru Endo withdrew from the squad just three days before their opening Group F match against the Netherlands. The Liverpool midfielder has also confirmed his immediate retirement from international football at the age of 33, bringing an end to a decade-long Samurai […]
Argentina return to FIFA world no.1 ahead of World Cup
Argentina have been confirmed as the new FIFA Men’s World No.1, reclaiming top spot in the updated rankings released on the opening day of the World Cup. Lionel Messi’s side climb back to the summit for the first time in 11 months, displacing France after a strong run of form leading into the tournament. France […]
Brentford’s Hickey ready to help Scotland stop teammate Igor Thiago
Aaron Hickey hopes his knowledge of Brentford teammate Igor Thiago can give Scotland an advantage when they face Brazil in their final World Cup Group C fixture. Scotland are currently preparing in Charlotte, North Carolina, ahead of their opening World Cup match against Haiti at Foxborough Stadium in Boston on Saturday. Steve Clarke’s side will […]
Former Scotland international Bell backs Craig Gordon for World Cup start
Former Scotland goalkeeper Cammy Bell believes Craig Gordon deserves the opportunity to start in Scotland’s World Cup opener against Haiti. The Hearts shot-stopper, who turns 43, has overcome a series of serious injuries throughout his career and has featured only sparingly at club level this season. Despite those challenges, Bell believes Gordon’s experience, determination and […]
Veteran manager O’Neill returns as Celtic boss
Celtic have officially confirmed the appointment of Martin O’Neill as manager on a one-year contract, with the club holding an option for a further season. The experienced coach returns after guiding Celtic through a remarkable spell that delivered another historic chapter in the club’s success story. O’Neill’s latest achievement came last season when he inspired […]
