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Lukaku on the bench, Moreira overlooked: Garcia's attacking choices questioned ahead of World Cup
Four days after a victory in Croatia, Rudi Garcia's Belgium face Tunisia in Brussels in their second World Cup 2026 warm-up match. The attacking options chosen by the French manager are fueling controversy.
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Bernadette Chirac, the woman who adored Emmanuel Petit and made Jacques Chirac laugh
Bernadette Chirac, who died at 93, had a well-known affection for Emmanuel Petit, the goalscorer in the 1998 World Cup final. An anecdote that Jacques Chirac himself shared with the player during a reception at the Élysée.
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Injured in training, Balerdi ruled out of World Cup with Argentina
Selected by Lionel Scaloni for the 2026 World Cup, Olympique Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi suffered a training injury with the Argentine national team and will be sidelined for a month, according to an Argentine journalist close to the situation. His withdrawal is expected to be officially confirmed in the coming hours.
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Real Madrid's presidential election this weekend could decide Mateus Fernandes' future
Manchester United are monitoring Sunday's Real Madrid presidential election, which could determine whether Los Blancos enter the race for West Ham's £80m-rated Mateus Fernandes. Jose Mourinho is reported to want the 21-year-old Portugal international if Florentino Perez is re-elected.
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Man City's Maresca appointment delayed as Chelsea talks drag on past expected timeline
Manchester City have chosen Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola's successor but are yet to make a formal announcement, with negotiations to release him from Chelsea taking longer than anticipated. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has urged fans to be patient.
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Ex-Aston Villa midfielder Jota's wife ends marriage over alleged infidelity
Ajla Etemovic, wife of former Aston Villa and Birmingham City midfielder Jota, has announced the end of their 2024 marriage, alleging the retired Spanish footballer was unfaithful during their relationship.
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Real Madrid's £130m summer pledge could complicate Manchester United's midfield rebuild
Florentino Perez is expected to retain the Real Madrid presidency on Sunday, and his reported £130m transfer commitment could trigger a chain of moves that directly affects Manchester United's search for a Casemiro replacement.
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David Sullivan resigns as West Ham chair to fight 'serious historic allegations' about his private life
David Sullivan has stepped down as West Ham United joint-chair with immediate effect after 16 years, citing the impending publication of serious historic allegations unrelated to the club. His resignation comes just two weeks after the Hammers were relegated from the Premier League.
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Leão punches opponent and sees red as Portugal edge Chile in World Cup warmup
Rafael Leão was sent off for punching Chile defender Ivan Román just before halftime in Portugal's 2-1 friendly win in Lisbon on June 6, with Gonçalo Guedes and Bruno Fernandes scoring for the hosts.
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England fans rage at 'atrocious' picture quality during ITV's New Zealand friendly broadcast
Viewers watching England's pre-World Cup warm-up against New Zealand at Raymond James Stadium in Florida were left furious by what many described as unwatchably poor picture quality on ITV's coverage, with some comparing it to footage from the 1960s and 1980s.
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Kane goal gives England laboured win over New Zealand in World Cup warm-up
Harry Kane's goal secured England a narrow victory over New Zealand at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, as Thomas Tuchel's side began their 2026 World Cup preparations with a disjointed performance.
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Mbappe rejects Messi talent vs Ronaldo hard work narrative ahead of World Cup
Kylian Mbappe has pushed back on the idea that Lionel Messi succeeds on talent alone while Cristiano Ronaldo relies purely on hard work, calling it a view only someone who has never played football could hold.
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David Sullivan resigns as West Ham chairman after serious historic allegations emerge
West Ham United have confirmed that joint-chair David Sullivan has stepped down with immediate effect after being made aware of the impending publication of serious historic allegations, which he categorically denies. Sullivan says he intends to sue the BBC for libel.
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Panini launches 930-sticker World Cup 2026 collection as England prepare for tournament
Panini's official FIFA World Cup 2026 sticker collection spans 930 stickers across all 48 competing nations, including England stars Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Jordan Pickford, as the tournament approaches.
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Alvarez rules out Arsenal move with Atletico stay now the most likely outcome
Julian Alvarez has no interest in joining Arsenal despite the Gunners being described as the only realistic buyer this summer. The Argentina forward remains focused on a move to Barcelona, though that deal is at a standstill, making an Atletico Madrid stay the likeliest scenario.
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Iraola hails Slot's Champions League legacy as he takes charge at Liverpool
Andoni Iraola has been appointed Liverpool head coach on a two-year deal, succeeding Arne Slot following the club's fifth-place Premier League finish. The Spaniard has praised his predecessor for securing Champions League football and declared every current squad member a 'new signing'.
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Arsenal target Leao sent off for punching Chile player in Portugal World Cup warm-up
Rafael Leao was shown a straight red card for violent conduct after appearing to punch Chile's Ivan Roman during Portugal's final World Cup warm-up fixture. The AC Milan winger, heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, was dismissed following VAR intervention, with Roman also sent off.
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Mbappé reveals he has never rewatched 2022 World Cup final: 'It might awaken demons'
Kylian Mbappé has admitted he cannot bring himself to rewatch France's 2022 World Cup final defeat to Argentina, despite scoring a hat-trick in the 3-3 draw that ended in a 4-2 penalty shootout loss in Doha.
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Merino hails Yamal as world's best but warns Spain cannot rely on teenager alone
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has praised Lamine Yamal's growth since Euro 2024, calling the Barcelona winger probably the best player in the world right now — while stressing that Spain's World Cup hopes rest on collective strength, not one teenager.
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Jack Fletcher credits McTominay for settling him into Scotland's World Cup squad after Gilmour injury
Manchester United academy product Jack Fletcher, 19, has been called up to Scotland's World Cup squad as a late replacement for the injured Billy Gilmour, and has credited former Red Devils teammate Scott McTominay for helping him integrate into Steve Clarke's group.
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