Video assistant referee Shaun Evans has denied "intentionally" making a hand gesture "to communicate a message, affiliation, game or belief of any kind" and claimed it was a "an involuntary, subconscious twitch" that he was "unaware" of.
Arsenal are set-piece masters, and no club supplied more players for England's World Cup squad than the Gunners - so it is understandable that Thomas Tuchel will look to play to the Premier League champions' strengths. Here in the United States, Mikel Arteta's dedication to perfecting Arsenal's routines is an approach England head coach Tuchel is looking to replicate. In a tournament environment, when the margins can be so small, Tuchel is keen to take a leaf out of the Arsenal playbook that he admires, and has impressed on his players the importance of exploiting dead-ball situations.
Full preview of Scotland for the 2026 World Cup, including squad breakdown, key players, and tactical analysis of their chances. After a 28-year absence, Scotland returns to the global stage for the 2026 tournament in North America. The national team has appeared in eight previous editions of the competition but has never advanced past the group stage. Now, this modern roster is eager to rewrite history. As one of the most intriguing FIFA World Cup 2026 teams, the squad has transformed from a gritty underdog into a tactically disciplined unit capable of challenging elite opponents. Armed with in-form stars like Scott McTominay and John McGinn, they combine relentless work rate with technical quality. As they prepare to navigate a challenging group, expectations are higher than ever for a historic run to the knockout rounds. Team profile CoachSteve ClarkeCaptainAndy RobertsonNicknameThe Tartan ArmyFIFA ranking43rdConfederationUEFAGroupCBest tournament resultGroup stageTournament appearances8Last appearance1998 How Scotland play Under Steve Clarke, the Scotland formation is built on a pragmatic and defensively robust foundation. The team typically utilizes a three-man backline, relying on structural discipline to frustrate opponents. However, their tactical evolution during the recent qualification cycle showcased a surprising attacking edge. Any comprehensive World Cup 2026 team preview must highlight how the team proved they could thrive in open play, averaging an impressive 2.2 goals per game in their group. This shift relies heavily on the attacking freedom granted to midfield runners. Players like McTominay provide a crucial goal-scoring threat from deep positions, changing the entire dynamic of the Scotland tactical analysis. Despite these improvements in the final third, underlying metrics highlight a glaring vulnerability in transition. When the wing-backs push high up the field to join the attack, the defensive trio is frequently left exposed to elite pace on the counter-attack. Steve Clarke: The coach behind Scotland Appointed in May 2019, Steve Clarke is now the longest-serving Scotland coach in history. He has overseen a highly successful era for the national team, ending a decades-long absence from major competitions by qualifying for back-to-back European Championships. Before taking the national team job, Clarke built a strong coaching resume. He served as an assistant during a trophy-laden spell at Chelsea and later managed West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. His philosophy centers on defensive solidity and collective effort, traits that have defined his international tenure. While he boasts a solid 43.4% win rate over 76 matches, his leadership and tactical adjustments will be the defining factor in whether this squad can finally secure a major finals victory. Key player: Scott McTominay Scott McTominay is the undeniable engine driving this modern Scottish side. The Napoli midfielder possesses the physical presence to dominate the center of the field, but his knack for scoring crucial goals elevates him to elite status. Since moving to Italy, he has flourished as an attacking threat. He netted 12 league goals during the 2024-25 season to help secure a domestic title, followed by another 10-goal campaign the next year. Unlike his previous club roles, he is granted the freedom to crash the penalty area and operate as a shadow striker. The Scotland 2026 World Cup squad relies heavily on his production to break down opposing defenses. Scotland key players must perform at their peak for the team to succeed, and McTominay is the most vital piece of the puzzle. If he is unavailable, the team’s primary route to goal completely disappears. Scotland’s road to the 2026 World Cup The Tartan Army defied expectations by finishing at the top of UEFA Group C, securing their first direct qualification to the global stage since 1998. They recorded four wins, one draw, and a single defeat during the campaign, scoring 13 go
England legend Wayne Rooney has made his predictions for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and believes neither Argentina nor France will reach the final. The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on Thursday with Mexico’s 2-0 victory over South Africa. In the coming days, some of the tournament’s biggest contenders, including France and Argentina, will begin their campaigns. However, England legend Wayne Rooney does not believe either side will make it back to the final. During an interview with BBC Sport, a group of former soccer stars that included Alan Shearer and Olivier Giroud were asked for their predictions ahead of this summer’s FIFA tournament. Rooney was among them and made his stance on two of the leading contenders clear. “England and Spain will make the final,” said the former Manchester United striker, who appeared in three World Cups with the Three Lions. He then added his preferred outcome for the title match: “Hopefully England will win it.” Rooney’s prediction is backed by the recent form of Thomas Tuchel’s side, which have won all of their matches in the European qualifiers and arrive at North America 2026 with their key players in excellent form. “I’m going with Kane to get the Golden Boot,” Wayne added. Former England star Wayne Rooney. Rooney’s potential surprise teams at the 2026 World Cup In the same conversation, Wayne Rooney was asked which teams could emerge as surprise packages during the tournament. “Norway could do quite well,” he began, referring to the team led by Erling Haaland. He then added another contender: “I like Ecuador too.” In a separate interview with Daily Mail, Rooney answered a similar set of questions and expanded on several other predictions. For example, when asked about the tournament’s best goalkeeper, he named a Premier League star: “Maybe David Raya, if he plays.” That caveat is significant, as all indications suggest Unai Simon will start in goal for Spain. Rooney defines what would qualify as a flop at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finally, when asked which team could be the biggest disappointment of the World Cup, Wayne Rooney was cautious in his response. “It’s hard to flop, to be honest. Any of the big teams if they don’t go past the last 32, then I suppose that’s a flop,” he said. That assessment is tied to the tournament’s expanded format. In addition to the top two teams from each group, eight of the 12 third-place finishers will also advance to the knockout stages. The new structure increases every team’s chances of progressing, and combined with the addition of 16 more teams than in previous editions, it means several lower-ranked nations are now in the field. Those factors should allow the traditional powerhouses to reach the Round of 32 without major difficulty.
Given he recently distanced himself from a managerial role until the new season gets under way, I was surprised to see Thomas Frank installed as one of the early favourites for the vacant job at Ipswich. Prior to his difficult spell at Tottenham, the Dane did wonders at Brentford, and he knows how to get out of the Championship and STAY in the Premier League, which is something Kieran McKenna hasn't achieved yet in his career. Liam Rosenior was always going to be linked and I think he would be a sound appointment as well, despite it not working out for him at Chelsea.
There are worse ways to spend your 24th birthday than at your country's first World Cup base camp in 28 years, even if you can't tuck into any cake. Politely passing on the sugary gift from the Fifa broadcasters, Aaron Hickey admits it's a dream come true just to be here. Hickey managed just eight Premier League starts in 2025-26, but is a first pick for Scotland head coach Steve Clarke.
Ben Davies was due to become a free agent this summer, but his stay with Tottenham will stretch to 13 years after he signed a new contract. The post Davies signs new Spurs contract as Bissouma leaves on a free appeared first on SoccerNews.
Sunderland have announced their retained list for the 2026-27 Premier League season, with first team players Dan Neil, Dennis Cirkin, Bertrand Traore and Niall Huggins all being released. The Black Cats "remain in discussions" with Lutsharel Geertruida, who has spent the 2025-26 season on loan at the Stadium of Light from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig. After helping Sunderland gain promotion from League One, Neil captained the club back to the Premier League before joining Ipswich Town on loan in January.
Djed Spence will have to play the entire World Cup in a protective mask due to a "crazy challenge" from Liam Delap, which saw him sustain a broken jaw in Tottenham's penultimate Premier League game of the season. The full-back, who was named in Thomas Tuchel's 26-man England squad ahead of Newcastle United's Lewis Hall and Manchester United's Luke Shaw, revealed the injury will take three months to heal.
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