The Guardian

Midfielder says it is important the European champions have ‘humility’ after their disappointing draw against tournament debutants The mourning after isn’t always easy, Mikel Merino says – and yes that is mourning with a “u”. “No one died, it’s not a mourning exactly, but at times defeats can feel like that,” the Arsenal midfielder admitted and, although it wasn’t actually a defeat at all, this w…

⚽️ World Cup kick-off: 7pm local/12am BST/9am AEST ⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Mail Beau While you wait … You may be interested to learn that there’s another match in progress at the moment, and it’s quite a sight. Continue reading...

Bowler takes two key wickets on first day at the Oval Backdrop in run-up has had ‘negligible’ effect on squad Brendon McCullum has said that he believed the second Test crowd at the Oval were about to fall in love with Sonny Baker, and England’s head coach was right. The 23-year-old ­debutant, who is playing only his 14th first-class game, lit up an intriguing first day’s play . New Zealand finis…

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé are vying to become not just 2026 World Cup winners but also the greatest goalscorers in the history of the tournament. Here’s how they compare with others on the all-time list Golden Boot: World Cup 2026 top goalscorers Lionel Messi started his 2026 World Cup campaign with a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria . The trio of strikes gave him a career total of 16 Wor…

They came to see Cristiano Ronaldo, perhaps expecting feats to rival Lionel Messi’s remarkable display the night before. Ronaldo’s many followers in Houston did their best to summon a meaningful contribution from their idol but ultimately there were 16 players infinitely more deserving of acclaim. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) could have folded after falling behind to João Neves’s ea…

⚽️ Kick-off: 3pm local time/4pm EDT/9pm BST/6am AEST ⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Email Scott It’s day seven of the 2026 World Cup, and finally England are on their way. They are Tom’s 26. Hear the roar, of the red, white and … ah who remembers that cheesy old song anyway? Point is, after an interminable wait, England are at long last getting down to business. Whether they’d hav…

Juddmonte International the target for easy winner Victorious backed for Guineas after Queen Mary stroll There was no room for doubt after the Prince of Wales’s Stakes here on Wednesday, and no need either for any debate about team tactics or riding instructions. Ombudsman’s sweeping charge down the outside to beat Minnie Hauk and Daryz, the winners of the Oaks and Arc respectively last season, w…

US runner reportedly lost pulse in medical incident Organizer thanks EMS and safety professionals Simpson won bronze in 1500m at 2016 Olympics Jenny Simpson, a three-time Olympian and one of the most accomplished American female runners in history, was taken to hospital and is receiving treatment after collapsing at a track event on Tuesday in North Carolina. The organizer of the event, Sir Walte…

He is back in the groove as skipper, but callow nature of this team has forced a fresh approach as Stokes’s stand-in There was a moment, late on the first day at Lord’s , of the sort that makes captaincy instantly worthwhile: Ben Stokes chose to bring Emilio Gay in at short leg, Kane Williamson immediately edged the ball into his pad and thence into the air, and without even looking to see what h…

World No 1 has chance to join Rory McIlroy in exclusive club – but windswept course requires patience Shinnecock Hills is a study in restraint and attrition that has spent more than a century bringing the world’s finest golfers to heel. When the US Open returns here for a sixth time on Thursday, the current crop will once again face a rugged coastal masterpiece where calamity lurks around every c…

US House leader Jeffries says fees have been waived ‘No mother should miss the chance to watch their child’ Goalkeeper fueled shock goalless draw with Spain The mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha will be able to receive a visa to enter the United States and watch her son play at the World Cup after cost issues prevented her from attending their historic draw against Spain earlier this week, …

Röhl departs for RB Salzburg by mutual consent McInnes linked with move to Ibrox from Hearts Rangers have confirmed the departure of Danny Röhl to RB Salzburg by mutual agreement. Röhl, who replaced Russell Martin as head coach in October last year , will take charge of the Austrian Bundesliga side after a seven-figure compensation package was agreed between the clubs. The performance manager Sas…

Austria celebrated their long-awaited return to the World Cup with a 3-1 win over determined ⁠debutants Jordan, with substitute Marko Arnautovic the difference in a gritty, end-to-end Group J match. On a brisk night in the San Francisco Bay Area, ⁠Austria went ahead with ⁠a 21st minute ​thunderbolt from Romano Schmid before Jordan fought back after the break through Ali Olwan’s exquisite strike i…

NSW chief faces three weeks of questions over coaching, strategy and even his team talks after second-half surrender Laurie Daley grew up with seven sisters and one bathroom. He knows how to wait. But the NSW coach now has a tortuous three weeks in front of him after Queensland smashed his Origin dream yet again, detonating a six-try 36-point second half blitz to demolish NSW by 44-24 in Melbourn…

South Africa-born centre does not qualify until 8 July Cleared for selection because Vannes match is not a Test Benhard Janse van Rensburg is poised to make his England debut off the bench in Friday’s non-cap international against a France XV in Vannes. The South Africa-born centre does not qualify for England on residency grounds until 8 July but is able to be picked because the Stade de la Rabi…