Tromsdalen Uil · UEFA Europa Conference League · Goalkeeper · #1 · Canada · 35 yrs
Harry Maguire has revealed England boss Thomas Tuchel told him his World Cup dream was over on a FaceTime call. Maguire's omission from Tuchel's 26-man squad was one of the most contentious and led to a stinging rebuke from the Manchester United defender at the time as he said he was "shocked and gutted". Speaking on Gary Lineker's Rest is Football World Cup podcast, Maguire says he still believes he should have been picked – and revealed the method Tuchel chose to deliver the bad news.
FA opted for a city in which Thomas Tuchel’s side have no group games, but emphasised home comforts for playersThe first thing to say about England in Kansas City is that the locals seem genuinely delighted to have them here. The welcome for Thomas Tuchel and his players has been warm, coloured by the charm and friendliness of the midwest.Yet there is also a question that people have asked, particularly those who are connected to Argentina, the Netherlands and Algeria – the other World Cup nations who have chosen to base themselves in this area. Why are England here? Unlike the trio, they have no group matches at the city’s Arrowhead Stadium. Continue reading...
The list of former champions at the 2026 World Cup is missing player as Thomas Muller isn't competing for Germany. This competition makes heroes in every edition, but a player who made history with his team is not going to be at the 2026 World Cup, with Thomas Müller not representing Germany. The reason Müller is missing from the team is that the forward retired from Germany in 2024. His final match in the jersey in which he made history by lifting the trophy in 2014 was the Euro 2024 quarterfinal loss to Spain, played in front of their fans. While his experience could be a huge help for the young team that Germany currently has, Müller is already 36 years old. Leaving Bayern Munich for Vancouver Whitecaps also suggests the forward may no longer want to face the demands of the European level. Müller’s career with Germany A player who made an impact on a great generation from a young age naturally ends up with impressive numbers. Germany were dominant with players who were regular figures in the national team, and Müller was no exception. Müller lifted the trophy in 2014 (Clive Rose/Getty Images) It is not easy to enter the record books in a country like this, which makes Müller’s history even bigger, as he is the third player with the most appearances for Germany, with 131 matches, behind only Lothar Matthäus and Miroslav Klose. His name also appears high on the scoring list, even if he was not a pure goalscorer. Müller’s 45 goals put him sixth among Germany’s all-time top scorers, tied with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in a legendary list. Müller’s farewell The edition that saw the forward shine in 2014 included the 7-1 semifinal win over Brazil that set a precedent. Müller’s performance that year was not limited to being a role player. His contribution of five goals and three assists in such a powerful team remains hard to match, which made his farewell video even more emotional. Müller said: “When I made my first appearance for the German national team, I would never have dreamed of all this. Great victories and bitter defeats. Sometimes at rock bottom, only to stand up again. Competing against the best players in the world alongside fantastic teammates, with whom I experienced countless unforgettable moments.”
England’s squad arrived at Swope Soccer Village, their World Cup base, to find locals (and the local police) out in forceBefore Thomas Tuchel and his England players departed for the United States, there was talk about their World Cup training ground in Kansas City being too open. It was motivated, in part, by the Southampton spygate scandal. Would England’s rivals be able to steal a glance at them? Tuchel even said the Football Association would seek to erect protective fences.The nine-pitch facility at Swope Soccer Village is certainly sprawling but here’s the thing. Nobody is getting on site without going past the armed police officers at the entrance. There was a throwaway line from a steward on Saturday as England trained on the complex’s best pitch after flying in from Florida after their pre-tournament camp. “You guys see spying,” he said. “We see personal security.” The latter rather overrides the former. It was safe to say they have it covered. Continue reading...
‘High-handed and extremely unfair,’ government saysOfficial note of protest sent calling for a reviewGhana’s government has described Canada’s decision to deny Thomas Partey a visa for his country’s World Cup game against Panama on Wednesday as “high-handed and extremely unfair”.Ghana’s foreign ministry said it understood the decision to be based on pending criminal proceedings in Britain. The 32-year-old Partey, a former Arsenal midfielder who plays for Villarreal, faces allegations of rape and sexual assault in Britain. He has denied the charges. Continue reading...
