Scotland manager Steve Clarke is targeting a historic place in the World Cup knockout stages as his side prepare to end a 28-year absence from the global stage against Haiti on Sunday.
The 62-year-old recently signed a new four-year contract after successfully guiding the national side to consecutive European Championships.
However, the former Chelsea defender admits he did not enjoy those previous campaigns.
“I’ve not really enjoyed the previous two tournaments if I’m being honest,” Clarke tells BBC Scotland.
Learning from previous tournament failures
The Ayrshireman feels the Covid-impacted Euro 2020 lacked a true tournament atmosphere due to reduced crowds and home fixtures.
He also acknowledges the squad fell short of their own high standards during their recent appearance in Germany.
“We let ourselves down. We didn’t play as well as we should have done and I probably didn’t make the decisions that I should have,” he added.
Now entering his third major finals at the helm, the veteran coach believes those harsh lessons have forged a more resilient group.
The immediate aim is to finally shatter the barrier that has traditionally prevented the Scots from advancing past the group stages.
Cautious optimism follows impressive warm-up form
A sensational qualification-clinching victory over Denmark last November initially secured their ticket to the showpiece event.
Moods temporarily dampened following underwhelming friendly defeats against Japan and Ivory Coast earlier this year.
However, recent dominant victories over Curacao and Bolivia have restored confidence among the travelling Tartan Army.
“What we’ve achieved up to now is great. Let’s see if we can achieve a little bit more,” says the head coach.
Embracing the ultimate footballing stage
Sunday’s 02:00 BST kick-off against the Caribbean nation marks a monumental milestone for Scottish football.
A significant portion of the current squad now boasts the vital experience of playing in multiple international competitions.
“Now we have to show that tournament experience in a tournament,” he says.
Despite the quiet confidence radiating through the camp, the management team remains acutely aware of the tactical challenges ahead.
For the man in the dugout, reaching this ultimate competition represents the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition.
“I wanted to go to a World Cup as a player. I didn’t manage to do that. It’s taken me 62 years to achieve what I wanted to achieve, so I’m going to try to enjoy it.”
Didier Deschamps will step down as manager of the French national team following the 2026 World Cup, bringing an end to a historic 14-year tenure in charge of Les Bleus.
The 55-year-old tactician has overseen 188 matches since taking the helm in 2012, restoring pride to a nation previously fractured by a mutinous 2010 campaign in South Africa.
If he successfully navigates the upcoming tournament in North America, he will fall just short of Joachim Low’s European record of 198 games managing Germany.
Chasing historical greatness
Victory in the New York final on 19 July 2026 would solidify his status as arguably the greatest international manager of the modern era.
The former Juventus midfielder has already joined Franz Beckenbauer in the exclusive club of individuals to win football’s ultimate prize as both captain and coach.
However, pressure is mounting with former teammate Zinedine Zidane having spent years patiently waiting to inherit the prestigious managerial role.
Balancing generational attacking talent
The outgoing boss possesses a formidable attacking arsenal, blending the elite pace of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele with emerging stars like Desire Doue and Michael Olise.
Despite this immense firepower, his pragmatic approach has sometimes drawn fierce criticism for failing to maximize the squad’s offensive potential.
During their run to the Euro 2024 semi-finals, the European heavyweights astonishingly failed to score a single goal from open play.
A legacy of tactical pragmatism
Defenders of his methods point to his masterful team-building, such as utilizing an unselfish Olivier Giroud during their victorious 2018 campaign in Russia.
That tactical tweak perfectly balanced the side, allowing his superstar forwards the freedom to dismantle opposition defences.
Now, as the curtain begins to fall on a defining era of international football, the ultimate puzzle remains whether he can bow out with a third consecutive global final.
Bayern Munich are in advanced talks to sign Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown, dealing a major blow to Arsenal’s summer transfer plans.
The Gunners had identified the Germany international as a key target to bolster their defensive options following their recent Premier League title success.
However, the Bundesliga champions have progressed rapidly in their pursuit of the highly-rated full-back.
Medical planned during World Cup
Negotiations between Bayern and Frankfurt have been widely reported as overwhelmingly positive.
All parties involved are now increasingly optimistic that a final agreement will be reached shortly.
Contingency plans are already being established for a medical examination to take place in North America.
The lightning-fast defender is currently stationed there while representing his country at the World Cup.
Arsenal face defensive dilemma
Missing out on the Frankfurt star will force Mikel Arteta to rapidly reassess his recruitment strategy.
Sporting director Andrea Berta must now decide whether to pursue alternative left-back targets or shift focus entirely to the opposite flank.
The North London club have struggled extensively to manage recurring injury problems at right-back.
Ben White and Jurrien Timber have both endured significant spells on the sidelines over the past two seasons.
Arteta’s tactical shuffling
These persistent fitness issues have forced the Arsenal manager into several unconventional tactical adjustments.
Cristhian Mosquera has frequently been deployed out of position on the right side of the backline.
Arteta has even experimented with anchoring midfielder Declan Rice in the right-back role to navigate severe injury crises.
With a demanding campaign ahead, securing durable defensive reinforcements remains an urgent priority at Emirates Stadium.
Lionel Messi marked his return from injury with a penalty as Argentina defeated Iceland 3-0 in a World Cup warm-up match in Alabama.
The Inter Miami captain was introduced in the 70th minute to the delight of an 88,000-strong crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
He confidently converted from the spot shortly after his arrival to double the advantage for Lionel Scaloni’s side.
Ezequiel Barco had previously opened the scoring in the first half, while Thiago Almada added a third goal to seal a comprehensive victory.
Managing the captain’s fitness
The veteran forward has been carefully navigating a left hamstring issue ahead of the upcoming Fifa World Cup.
He recently exited a domestic fixture against the Philadelphia Union with muscle fatigue, forcing him to miss his national team’s previous friendly victory over Honduras.
However, the coaching staff have gradually integrated him back into group training to ensure his readiness for their tournament opener against Algeria on 16 June.
“We’re going to distribute the minutes of the players who will play tomorrow to try to avoid any mishaps.”
This was the cautious approach outlined by manager Scaloni prior to the fixture, ensuring his squad avoided unnecessary strain.
World Cup defence preparations
The penalty against Iceland represented the 911th career goal for the Argentine icon across both club and international football.
It also takes his phenomenal international tally to 117 goals for the South American nation.
The reigning world champions look to be in formidable form as they prepare to defend the global crown they famously secured in 2022.
The United States defeated Brazil 1-0 in a chaotic international friendly in Fortaleza on Tuesday night as the hosts remarkably received eight red cards.
The narrow victory provided a measure of revenge for Emma Hayes’ side after suffering a 3-1 defeat to the same opposition on Sunday.
Following a fiercely contested and scoreless opening period, the decisive moment arrived early in the second half.
A shot from Portland Thorns striker Sophia Wilson deflected off Isabela Chagas to force a match-winning own goal.
Disciplinary collapse in Fortaleza
However, the fixture will be remembered primarily for an astonishing breakdown in discipline from the home side.
Emotions boiled over in front of a passionate crowd at the Arena Castelão as the Brazilian head coach and several staff members were dismissed in the second half.
Forward Bia Zaneratto was also sent off as the hosts began to completely lose their composure.
Tarciane was subsequently shown a red card for elbowing the American goal creator, reducing the South Americans to nine players on the pitch.
Building toward next year’s World Cup
The disciplinary collapse continued even after the final whistle sounded.
Referee Paola Cebollada López dismissed two more players following the conclusion of the match, bringing the staggering total to eight.
The demanding physical encounter fulfilled the expectations of the American manager, who had stressed the need for greater toughness on the road against next summer’s Women’s World Cup hosts.
The four-time world champions will now enter a lengthy hiatus from international action.
They return to competitive play on 27 November when they face El Salvador in the Concacaf W Championship.
Real Madrid have agreed to pay Benfica £12.9m to reappoint Jose Mourinho as their head coach following the departure of Alvaro Arbeloa.
The Portuguese tactician’s return to the Santiago Bernabeu accelerated after Florentino Perez was re-elected as club president over the weekend.
An official announcement is expected imminently after the Spanish giants confirmed Arbeloa had stepped down from his position on Tuesday evening.
Arbeloa departs the Bernabeu
Real Madrid CF and Alvaro Arbeloa have reached an agreement to end his time as first team coach.
Los Blancos issued a statement thanking the departing manager for his loyalty, commitment, and professionalism throughout his lengthy association with the club.
Real Madrid, which will always be his home, wishes Alvaro Arbeloa and his entire family the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.
Mourinho previously managed the La Liga heavyweights between 2010 and 2013, famously winning the domestic title in record-breaking fashion during his second season.
His impending arrival triggers a swift managerial shuffle in Lisbon, with former Fulham boss Marco Silva stepping into the immediate vacancy.
Silva secures Benfica switch
The reigning Portuguese champions confirmed the financial compensation package from Madrid via a formal regulatory statement on social media.
Benfica SAD has informed the CMVM that Real Madrid CF has formally expressed its intention to hire Jose Mourinho for the amount of 15 million euros, with the coach having given his agreement.
Silva has formally signed an initial two-year employment contract with the Eagles to replace the departing head coach.
This new agreement includes an option to extend the 46-year-old’s tenure at the Estadio da Luz until the end of the 2028-29 campaign.
The Republic of Ireland have secured a seeded play-off spot for next year’s World Cup in Brazil despite narrowly missing out on automatic qualification following a 1-0 defeat to France in Grenoble.
Carla Ward’s side finished third in a daunting League A qualifying group, registering three impressive victories over the course of the campaign.
The bottom seeds were widely tipped for immediate relegation but defied expectations to become the first promoted team to survive in the top tier.
Pride amid qualification heartbreak
The visitors pushed the group winners all the way at the Stade des Alpes before a fine strike from Melvine Malard settled the fiercely contested match.
Momentum briefly swung in the away side’s favour when Thiniba Samoura received a red card for bringing down Emily Murphy.
However, the Irish failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage, with Abbie Larkin missing a crucial opportunity to level the scoreline moments later.
Ward looks ahead to crucial autumn play-offs
Their third-place finish ensures the team will be a formidable seeded opponent when the play-off draw is conducted on 18 June.
The manager expressed a mixture of deep pride and frustration after her squad fell agonisingly short of an automatic tournament berth.
“I’m incredibly proud of this group and I said it to them there,” Ward told RTE.
“We’ve got a special, special group who work unbelievably hard.”
“France are a top, top side and the fact we are here disappointed tells you an awful lot about where we are.”
The former top-flight boss remains highly optimistic about their prospects, emphasizing the significant growth her players have shown throughout a grueling qualification schedule.
“We are in a really good place going into October and that has to be the focus,” she added.
Arsenal and Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber has been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup after failing to recover from a persistent groin injury.
The 24-year-old suffered the initial issue during a Premier League match against Everton in March and has struggled to regain full fitness.
Despite featuring for more than 50 minutes as a substitute in Arsenal’s recent Champions League final penalty shootout defeat by Paris St-Germain, he was deemed medically unfit for a gruelling international tournament.
Heartbreak for Dutch defender
The versatile full-back expressed his devastation on social media after missing out on a lifelong ambition to play on the global stage.
“Representing my country on the biggest stage is something I’ve always dreamed of, and it’s difficult to accept that injury has taken that opportunity away from me.”
The Dutch football federation confirmed the withdrawal in an official statement on Monday, noting that he could not participate in a medically responsible manner.
Geertruida steps in as replacement
Sunderland defender Lutscharel Geertruida has been called up to Ronald Koeman’s squad to fill the vacant defensive position.
The injured Arsenal man had been training with the national team at their pre-camp in New York ahead of upcoming group-stage fixtures against Japan, Sweden and Tunisia.
He will now depart the training camp following the Netherlands’ final warm-up match against Uzbekistan.
Family dream put on hold
This untimely absence means the London-based star will not be able to feature alongside his twin brother, Quinten.
The Marseille midfielder remains in the squad for the tournament across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Quinten will now fly the flag alone for the family on the world stage.