Key events
Jonathan Wilson
World Cup games mean more. England have only ever played 79 games in the finals, which is to say, not much more than two Premier League seasons in the 76 years since they first entered. Those games draw huge audiences: more than 17 million in the UK watched Saturday’s win over Norway, even though it was after midnight by the time it finished. In most countries, World Cup matches are more discussed, more analysed, than any other in sport, perhaps any other cultural phenomenon. They are rare moments that bring vast numbers of people together, hoping, agonising, celebrating, commiserating. They become part of the culture.
A minute’s silence will be observed before the World Cup semi-final between France and Spain, in tribute to the victims of the Nice attack of July 14, 2016, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday.
The two sides meet on Tuesday in Dallas on the tenth anniversary of the attack which saw 86 people killed and more than 400 injured when a truck driver ploughed into crowds leaving a Bastille Day fireworks display in the southern French city.
“Before France-Spain, a minute of silence will be observed in tribute to the victims of the Nice attack, ten years after July 14, 2016,” Macron said in a post on X before going on to thank FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
“Thank you to the President of FIFA for responding to the request of France and of all French people who have mobilised. We will never forget.” AFP
Thanks Daniel. Let’s get through this together.
And that’s it from me for today. But here’s Will Unwin to take you through the next couple of hours; peace out.
Another blinding shot.
“On English fans behaving well in USA!USA!USA!” begins Hamid Zayouna. “American cops have guns. That might make people think twice.”
I’m not having that, how dare you. Their conduct was also impeccable in Russia and Qatar.
Emma Hayes has been, though – in mine – the best pundit on UK telly and by far. I remember the first time I heard her co-commentating on BBC radio and it being different; her ability to read a game, and explain it in an entertaining way is exceptional.
Not so relevant to our current World Cup, definitely germane to our next.
Argentina, meanwhile, will see vulnerability in England’s defence. I wonder if Lionel Scaloni might play an extra midfielder, to try and take away England’s advantage in that area, without losing any attacking threat – the change would be from 4-1-3-2 to 4-3-3.
England’s big advantage, I think, is in their midfield athleticism. I fear their lack of craft may continue being a problem – it is, I think, the principal reason, along with wingers who don’t really create, for the difficulty they’re having opening up defences, and why they’ve been so reliant on their two world-class players saving them. But against Argentina, they should be first to loose and second balls, and if they are, they’ve a really good chance.
No doubt he’lI make me look silly, but I wonder if Messi is tiring. England will try and make the game a physical one, their three nails 8s cluttering the space in which he likes to operate; if I was him (which I’m not ), I’d pull right as he did in the closing stages against Egypt, and attack the inside of whichever non-specialist left-back thomas Tuchel picks.
What a great shot this is.
Hodge, of course, got the assist for Maradona’s first goal in the game, improbably hooking the ball over hit shoulder – though he might legitimately have expected a big goalie allowed to use his hands not to get outjumped by a little lad trying to disguise he was deploying his.
Steve Hodge, the former Forest, Spurs and England midfielder, called his autobiography The Man With Maradona’s Shirt. I’ve just learned that it’s no longer in his possession as he sold it … for £7.1m. Decent pension.
Really looking forward to the semi finals. France vs Spain will be a high class affair, the best attack in international football vs one of the best defences. Interesting to see how free flowing french do against the superbly drilled and organised Spanish who also have the technical ability to pass through their press.
England vs Argentina will be a different affair. Two flawed teams but both with some absolutely brilliant players in them. There’s a whiff of history about the game given it is 40 years since the hand of god (and 60 years since 1966).
I do think that England should win, but it will depend a lot on the fitness of key players – both Rice and Saka looked well of their best vs Norway. We also need Pickford to not get in his own head again. Argentina are, of course, more than just Messi, but you do feel a lot will depend on whether he turns up or not. What is guaranteed is that it will be a feisty game and a nightmare for whoever is refereeing it!
France have also defended pretty well in this competition, which is actually the main reason I expect them to win. Spain lack a bit of edge in attack, and though Lamine Yamal can deliver it at any moment, the lack of trickery and speed, especially in behind, means they might struggle to create and score.
Looking forward to the game tomorrow, midfield is where France are weakest – relatively speaking of course. Rodri, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo have the skill and intelligence to pass around Adrian Rabiot, Manu Koné and Michael Olise, but it’s the Man City man who’ll need to orchestrate that.
I’ve just been reading Sid Lowe’s interview with Rodri. I don’t want to state it as fact, but I’m beginning to wonder if he’s back. I know the matches have been slower than in the league, but the control he’s exerting in them is very promising.
I thought England were crying out for him against Ghana, partly because of his own qualities and partly because he’s the only small-space player in a squad of big-space athletes.
When he was left on the bench then, I wondered, but when Jordan Henderson came on ahead of him against Panama, it was clear he’d not be getting on the pitch. They needed him again against Norway, though, their lack of midfield craft a major problem, but the idea of the three running 8s was, I imagine, conceived for matches like Argentina and, should England win that one, for whichever of France or Spain they’d meet in the final. But the balance is off, which is why we keep seeing the disjointed performances Tuchel seems to be blaming on the players.
So, to make it more topical, why did Thomas Tuchel pick Kobbie Mainoo in his squad?
Not strictly World Cup-related, but an interesting move.
It’s taken Michael Carrick to do it, but finally, United have replaced Michael Carrick’s midfield passing, just the eight years after he retired. They now need legs and physicality urgently, but him and Andre Santos are terrific squad additions, and excellent competition to drive Kobbie Mainoo on.
I remember before England lost to Croatia in 2007, Bilic was laughing that the English newspapers said none of his players would get into the their team. “I have Modric,” he said. Indeed.
Thanks Martin and hi again everyone. They say never go back, but Bilic feels like a decent appointment for Croatia.
I will hand you back to Daniel Harris, and see you again tomorrow.
Slaven Bilić returns as head coach of Croatia
Slaven Bilić has been appointed as the new head coach of Croatia.
The 57-year-old previously led the team between 2006 and 2012 and his appointment comes following the departure of Zlatko Dalić in the aftermath of the team’s disappointing World Cup exit with a 2-1 defeat to Portugal in the last 32.
“I have the complete confidence in our players, and it is my responsibility to bring energy, ambition, and determination to ensure that Croatia remains among football’s elite,” Bilić said in a post on the Croatian Football Federation’s social media.
“I am genuinely happy to start this challenge and I feel fully prepared for it – as a more mature and experienced coach than in 2006, yet with the same motivation and desire to see Croatia stay powerful, bold, and successful.”
Bilić’s first task will be Uefa Nations League group matches this autumn, where Croatia are paired with England, Spain and Czechia.
This is grim. Norway forward Alexander Sørloth has received severe online abuse following the team’s World Cup quarter-final exit against England on Saturday, Reuters reports manager Ståle Solbakken said. The abuse started after Sørloth opted to shoot instead of passing to an unmarked Erling Haaland during a crucial two-on-one counter-attack while Norway were leading 1-0.
Sorloth’s partner, Lena Selnes, shared screenshots on Instagram revealing a barrage of hostile messages, including comments urging the striker to take his own life.
“It is tragic,” Solbakken told a press conference in Miami. “That is the world we live in. I tell the boys to stay away from social media, especially on days like this. There is nothing more to say about it other than it is completely devoid of sense on every possible level.”
Billy Munday has been at the controls of the Football Daily newsletter today. Here is the online version, and you should sign up for it via email.
AP reports Barcelona has reached a deal to sign Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi, according to club president Joan Laporta.
Police chief urges fans in England to live up to ‘exemplary’ crowds at World Cup
Chief Constable Mark Roberts of Cheshire Police, the UK’s football policing lead, said the conduct of England fans attending Saturday’s quarter-final victory over Norway in Miami was once again “exemplary”.
“The atmosphere during the game was passionate but friendly, with no animosity between fans at the end of the match,” PA reports he said. He went on to say:
It’s a real shame that the same cannot be said about the behaviour of fans back home here in the UK. Over Saturday evening, into the early hours of Sunday morning we had over 500 incidents reported, with more than 100 arrests across the country.
The vast majority of these incidents have been alcohol-related and along with the extended licensing hours, we have seen an increase in calls to premises with big screens that are attracting large numbers of fans.
This behaviour really is disappointing. Domestically this tournament is the worst one we have seen for number of incidents and arrests. If we can have 40,000 fans together in Miami with no trouble, then why can’t fans follow their exemplary behaviour and do the same back home?
England are in the semi-finals of the World Cup, the sun is shining and this should be a time for celebration and getting behind the team, not getting involved in fights and causing trouble for UK Policing which is already facing significant demand.
So ahead of Wednesday’s game I would urge fans back home to follow those leading by example in the US – enjoy the game and atmosphere, go out and have fun but do so without causing problems for yourselves and others.
Tom Garry
The former Tottenham Hotspur captain Bethany England has agreed to join the newly-promoted Women’s Super League side Crystal Palace, sources have told the Guardian.
It was confirmed at the end of April that England would leave Tottenham this summer when her contract expired, after she scored 32 league goals for the north Londoners across a three-and-a-half-year spell. The striker also helped them reach the 2024 Women’s FA Cup final.
Palace, who finished second in WSL2 last term to clinch an immediate return to the top flight, are understood to have pipped several domestic rivals to the 32-year-old’s signature.
PA is carrying some quotes from Liverpool’s new coach Andoni Iraola, in which he says ideally he would have liked more players to have come in to the club by now, and that he intended to immerse himself in Merseyside life.
The 44-year-old former Bournemouth boss said:
Everything that I’m going say now, it’s going to get the biggest scrutiny. You have to be very aware of the mistakes but I wouldn’t like also to be too careful.
I would like to act quite normal: I’m not going live in my bubble – just training ground, home. I would like also to go to the city, experience the city – I know some places, I would have to take some pictures. But it’s part also of the magic of being the Liverpool manager and I would like not to change too much.
Obviously I talked to the players, I talked to the staff, about the things that were not working very well and things that we think we can do differently. I have the advantage that probably players already know what we are going to demand in terms of style of play but we will have time to know each other.
Obviously we’ve signed two players already (centre-back Jeremy Jacquet and winger Victor Munoz) but we need more players, we know this. As a coach, selfishly, I want the players here from day one ready to train for pre-season but understand football doesn’t work like this. I know the club is working hard for those signings and I’m trying to help also.
I think football – and especially Liverpool – is about connecting: connecting with the people, connecting with our supporters. We have to be a team that works hard, intense, aggressive, vertical so everyone can be identified and everyone can feel comfortable supporting this team.
Mapi León has joined London City Lionesses on a three-year deal
Tom Garry
The Spain defender Mapi León has joined London City Lionesses on a three-year deal after completing a free transfer from Barcelona, joining her team-mate Alexia Putellas in moving to the Women’s Super League club.
The Guardian reported on 2 June that León was poised to move to the big-spending English team, who have also added the former England goalkeeper Mary Earps to their squad this summer.
León, 31, told the club’s website: “I played in Spain for many years and I felt now was the right time to move given the project. The English league is helping women’s football grow. I wanted to test myself in another country, another league, playing a different type of football.”
Sid Lowe is in Dallas, lucky chap, and he has been hanging out with Spain’s Rodri, who thinks his side can reach Sunday’s final despite the small matter of France being in their way. Here’s the interview …
Martin Belam
Hi everyone. Good to be back. I must confess to being a little under the weather today, which I blame Super Furry Animals for, as I had far too much of a good time at their Ally Pally gig yesterday, while bizarrely also watching my local Overground station burn down in the distance.
On a football front, Jamie Jackson has written up the earlier news that Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Youri Tielemans.
Martin Belam is primed for his stint. I shall be back for more fun later, do not worry.
I would suggest that Tielemans is a sensible signing for United. He is an excellent player and a good price, which will free up funds to target elsewhere. United are on the hunt for a left-back, while the winger situation is complicated because Marcus Rashford is set to return to the club, as no one wants to sign him permanently.
Jamie Jackson
Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa after their move for Atalanta midfielder Ederson stalled.
Jason Wilcox, United’s director of football, is in advanced talks with Villa regarding a financial package for Tielemans. The is thought to have a £35m release clause in his contract, which has two years remaining.
Tielemans has considerable Premier League experience having joined Leicester City in 2019 before moving to Villa four years later.
On a completely unrelated note … where I am in Manchester (or thereabouts) the whole place reeks of smoke thanks to wildfires. It is quite a surreal experience and has been going on for almost 24 hours.
Paul gets in touch to say: “It won’t happen, but 32 teams is plenty. There aren’t 48 good national teams, let alone 64. Yes it’s good for teams like Cape Verde to get a chance but this is supposed to be elite sport and having three weeks of the likes of North Korea v Jordan before any of the top teams play each other will get old pretty quickly.
“This will be heresy but I actually prefer watching the Euros to the World Cup as there is generally less of a spread in talent, although going from 16 teams to 24 has messed up the group stage there too.”
Krishnamoorthy emails: “Irangate, Refereegate, Cablegate, Egyptgate, the All-encompassing Giannigate!!!
“Not a single match seems free of a controversy or a conspiracy. Give me Hand of God any day.”
Give it a couple of days …
Who are you backing to win the Golden Boot?
Reece James is happy to have beaten the clock and recovered from his injury just as England enter the business stage of the World Cup.
The Chelsea captain returned as a second-half substitute in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Norway, having missed three games with a hamstring problem picked up in the second group fixture against Ghana.
James came on as a central midfielder before switching to his usual right-back position as two Jude Bellingham goals sent England through to a semi-final date with holders Argentina on Wednesday.
“It’s good to be back out there with the boys,” he told Lions Den. “Picking up an injury at a tournament is always a race against the clock. I applied myself and happy to be back out there.”
Despite not being at their best throughout the tournament, Thomas Tuchel’s side have found a way to get past each hurdle, but one of the biggest awaits in the next round.
England versus Argentina is a fixture rich in history, but James thinks they will be able to cope with the occasion. “It comes with experience. The higher stakes the game is, the more pressure,” he added. “We’ve been doing it for years, the fundamentals are the same, but the prize is slightly different.
“We’re in a bubble, trying to complete our mission. It’s hard to see the outside. We’re happy we’re making everyone at home proud. This is what dreams are made of. Everyone as a little boy dreamt of playing and winning a World Cup. We’re against one of the best nations in the semi-final.” PA Media
Rob Draper
Picking up the country when it is in a slump of self-doubt is perhaps within Andy Burnham’s reach. And football, close to Burnham’s heart, may provide the template. There have been several occasions in the past 20 years when English football has been in a state of anguish, but a nadir came in 2007, when Burnham made one of his most significant interventions to the national game. If England win the World Cup , expect the prime-minister-in-waiting to take at least a slice of the credit.
Some relevant content about the World Cup.
