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England vs Argentina semi-final to start on time despite Atlanta thunderstorm fears
Atlanta Stadium officials have confirmed England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina will kick off as scheduled at 8pm UK time on Wednesday, with the venue's retractable roof eliminating any weather-related delay risk.
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Mbappe falls short of Cafu's record as Spain end France's World Cup run in semi-finals
Kylian Mbappe missed the chance to become only the second player in history to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals after France were beaten by Spain in the semi-finals. Only Brazil legend Cafu, who played in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 finals, holds that distinction.
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Roma move could hand Manchester United £4.3m windfall from Garnacho sell-on clause
Chelsea are willing to listen to permanent offers for Alejandro Garnacho, valued at around £43m, with Roma emerging as serious suitors. A completed deal would trigger Manchester United's 10 per cent sell-on clause, netting the club approximately £4.3m.
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Manchester United eye cut-price Manu Koné deal to save £35m on Tchouaméni alternative
With Real Madrid unwilling to sell Aurélien Tchouaméni, Manchester United are turning their attention to Roma midfielder Manu Koné as a more affordable option to complete their midfield overhaul ahead of the 2026/27 season.
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L'Equipe hands three players a rating of two as French media savage World Cup semi-final exit
France's 2-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup semi-finals drew fierce criticism from the national press, with L'Equipe awarding two-out-of-ten ratings to Michael Olise, Lucas Digne and Ousmane Dembele, while Kylian Mbappe received a three.
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Fabian Ruiz definitively displaces Pedri from Spain's starting XI ahead of World Cup final
Starting in place of Pedri for the second consecutive time against France (2-0), Fabian Ruiz delivered a masterful performance in the semi-final and appears to have definitively secured his place as left-centre midfielder for the final on July 19.
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Cherki snaps at reporter over Digne penalty question after France's World Cup exit
Rayan Cherki showed visible frustration when asked about Lucas Digne's costly first-half foul on Lamine Yamal, as France were eliminated from the World Cup following a 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain.
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Argentina bans Falklands flags and symbols for England World Cup semi-final in Atlanta
Argentina's Minister of National Security Alejandra Monteoliva has confirmed that flags, clothing, or any items carrying Falklands-related political messages will be prohibited at the World Cup semi-final against England in Atlanta on Wednesday.
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Tielemans joins Manchester United for £35m, inheriting Casemiro's No.18 shirt
Manchester United have signed Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35 million, activating a release clause in the Belgian midfielder's contract. He will wear the No.18 shirt previously held by Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Paul Scholes.
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ITV confirms full World Cup final half-time show coverage as interval length raises Fifa rule concerns
ITV will broadcast the World Cup final's half-time show in full, featuring Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber. Questions remain over whether the performance could extend the interval from 15 minutes to as long as 25, potentially breaching Fifa regulations.
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Mikel John Obi blames Ronaldo fans for Argentina-FIFA conspiracy theories ahead of England semi-final
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has dismissed claims that FIFA are favouring Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, attributing the theories to Cristiano Ronaldo supporters on social media. England face Argentina in Wednesday's semi-final at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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Tuchel promises England have the grit to match 'emotional' Argentina in World Cup semi-final
Thomas Tuchel insists England are ready to match Argentina's intensity as the two rivals prepare for a World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, with the Three Lions chasing their first final appearance since 1966.
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Spanish media dream of Argentina final after Spain's semi-final win over France
Spain beat France to reach the World Cup final and will face either England or Argentina on Sunday. Spanish media figures and Lamine Yamal have made their preference clear: they want Argentina — and a showdown with Lionel Messi.
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Cherki slams France after defeat: "We beat ourselves"
Brought on in the final quarter-hour against Spain, Rayan Cherki made no attempt to hide his frustration in the mixed zone, criticizing both his playing time and the collective level displayed by the France team.
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Eliminated by Spain, France records its worst World Cup semi-final since 1966
Beaten 2-0 by Spain in the World Cup semi-final, the Blues generated just 0.3 expected goals — their lowest total in the competition since at least 1966, according to Opta.
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Argentina's VP brands England 'usurping pirates' on eve of World Cup semi-final
Victoria Villaruel, Argentina's vice president and daughter of a Falklands veteran, posted a fiery social media message calling England 'usurping pirates' ahead of Wednesday's World Cup semi-final in Georgia — directly contradicting manager Lionel Scaloni's plea to keep politics out of the match.
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13 new FIFA rules shaping England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina
FIFA introduced 13 rule changes for World Cup 2026, covering everything from hydration breaks and time-wasting measures to goalkeeper restrictions. England face Argentina in Wednesday's semi-final under the new regulations.
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Tuchel faces post-tournament FIFA sanctions over referee criticism ahead of England's World Cup semi-final
Thomas Tuchel risks FIFA sanctions after publicly lambasting referee Alireza Faghani following England's 3-2 round-of-16 win over Mexico. Sources say the governing body is devising a plan to act on referee criticism, with any punishment dependent on official match reports.
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Morientes credits Spain's academy system as La Roja reach 2026 World Cup final
Fernando Morientes says Spain's run to a second World Cup final in 16 years is built on deep investment in youth coaching and club academies, as Luis de la Fuente's side await England or Argentina on 19 July.
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Mbappe swears on live TV as France's World Cup dream ends in 2-0 defeat to Spain
Kylian Mbappe was visibly distraught after France's 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain at the World Cup, swearing during a post-match interview that had to be censored on air. Spain advance to Sunday's final, ending France's run at the tournament for the first time since 2014.
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