Former international striker Alan Shearer believes England can win the World Cup following their heroic victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium.
The national side overcame high altitude, a hostile atmosphere, and being reduced to 10 men to secure a monumental knockout stage win.
Prior to the match, the 55-year-old pundit admits he did not view Thomas Tuchel’s squad as genuine contenders for the trophy.
“I didn’t truly believe England could win this World Cup – but I’ve changed my mind, and I think everyone else has too.”
Drawing parallels with Euro 96
The legendary Newcastle United forward drew strong comparisons between the current setup and his own experiences at the European Championships three decades ago.
During that home tournament, a famous 4-1 thrashing of the Netherlands gave the entire nation immense belief before an eventual semi-final exit.
Shearer feels the current generation will be experiencing that exact same unstoppable feeling following their resilience in North America.
“In my experience as a fan, player or pundit, whenever England have done well at a tournament, there’s always a performance like that from us somewhere that lifts everyone.”
Praise for Thomas Tuchel and his squad
While established stars like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham delivered crucial goals once again, the collective effort stood out most.
The BBC pundit described the resilient display against the host nation as the best team performance by the national side in his lifetime.
Substitutions made by the German manager played a crucial role in maintaining control and seeing out the result.
“Every single player who stepped on that pitch at the Azteca played their part, and Thomas Tuchel did too with his substitutions and how well they worked.”
Unmatched team spirit
Beyond the tactical execution on the pitch, the immense camaraderie within the camp has heavily impressed onlookers.
Post-match celebrations highlighted this deep unity, with defender John Stones faking an injury before dancing with his team-mates in the dressing room.
Even the usually focused head coach was taken in by the prank, showcasing a relaxed and unified atmosphere behind the scenes.
“I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed togetherness or team spirit like that – to get a result in such a tough scenario.”
Arsenal have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Illan Meslier from Leeds United as Mikel Arteta begins reshaping his squad for the upcoming season.
The 26-year-old becomes the first fresh arrival at Emirates Stadium this summer, following the club’s recent decision to make Piero Hincapie’s defensive loan spell permanent.
The Frenchman is expected to compete for crucial minutes alongside established shot-stoppers David Raya and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
This wealth of goalkeeping depth will allow highly-rated prospect Tommy Setford to temporarily depart on loan in search of regular first-team football.
A proven track record
Meslier departs Elland Road after an extended seven-year spell where he became a familiar and reliable fixture between the posts.
During his tenure with the West Yorkshire side, the goalkeeper amassed 215 appearances across all competitions while recording 70 clean sheets.
He will wear the number 30 shirt for the North London club as they prepare for a demanding domestic and European campaign.
Targeting major silverware
“I’m extremely happy. It’s a great day for me because I have just joined the champions,” Meslier said upon his arrival.
“For me, Arsenal is the biggest club in England.”
“I cannot wait to show the love that I’ve got for this badge, and I cannot wait to win trophies with this team, because this is a club that needs to lift trophies again and again.”
Former Romania and CFR Cluj midfielder Gabriel Muresan has died at the age of 44 after drowning in a lake near the town where he served as mayor.
Local media reported on Thursday that the former international lost his life in an accident near Apold.
The Romanian Football Federation confirmed the passing of the midfielder, who earned nine caps for his country between 2007 and 2011.
Domestic success and European nights
During a highly successful playing career, the 44-year-old enjoyed his most prominent spell in Transylvania with CFR Cluj.
He captained the club during a golden era, securing three Romanian league titles in 2008, 2010 and 2012.
The ex-Cluj star also lifted three domestic cups during a six-season stay at the club.
His domestic triumphs earned him the opportunity to compete at the highest level of European football.
He featured in three Champions League group-stage campaigns, testing himself against elite opposition such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Roma.
International career and move into politics
On the international stage, his appearances for the national team included high-profile World Cup and European Championship qualifying fixtures.
He also earned international caps in matches against footballing heavyweights France and Brazil.
Following his retirement from professional sport in 2017, the former player transitioned into local politics.
He was elected as the mayor of Apold in 2020, where the local public authority described him as a devoted servant to their community.
Football world pays tribute
The European governing body Uefa released a statement on Thursday morning to express their sorrow over the sudden news.
On behalf of the European football community, we are saddened by the passing of former Romania international Gabriel Muresan at the age of 44. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to his family and all who knew him.
Uefa
The Romanian Football Federation also offered their sympathies to his loved ones following the incident.
The Romanian Football Federation sends its most sincere condolences to the family, friends and all those who knew Gabriel Muresan.
Romanian Football Federation
Xabi Alonso officially arrived at Cobham on Thursday to begin his tenure as Chelsea manager, taking charge of pre-season preparations after replacing Liam Rosenior.
The former Real Madrid boss was appointed in May but has only now stepped into his new role at the club’s training ground.
He was greeted by senior squad members who are not currently participating in the World Cup.
Rebuilding after a disappointing campaign
The Blues face a season without European football after finishing 10th last term during a turbulent campaign managed by Enzo Maresca, Rosenior and interim coach Calum McFarlane.
Despite only just arriving in west London, the Spaniard has already been instrumental in shaping the squad.
Full-back Marco Pelastra has been recruited, while the protracted arrival of Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP was formally completed on Wednesday.
However, attempts to reunite the new head coach with Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka have stalled. Chelsea saw a bid rejected for the Swiss international, who had been eager to return to London after previously playing for Arsenal.
World Cup absentees return for duty
Cole Palmer was among the notable names reporting back for training after controversially missing out on Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.
He was joined by compatriot Levi Colwill, who was also overlooked for the summer tournament despite delivering impressive performances following his recovery from a long-term anterior cruciate ligament injury.
A proven tactical pedigree
The highly-rated tactician built his managerial reputation on a fluid 3-4-2-1 system at Bayer Leverkusen.
He famously led the German outfit to a historic unbeaten domestic campaign and a maiden Bundesliga title during the 2023-24 season.
A subsequent spell at the Santiago Bernabeu yielded a Club World Cup semi-final appearance, though he departed in January following a Super Cup defeat by Barcelona.
The 2026 World Cup quarter-finals begin on Thursday as tournament favourites France take on Morocco in Foxborough, United States.
Just eight nations remain from the original 48-team field as the race to lift the prestigious trophy on 19 July intensifies.
Opta’s supercomputer has backed Les Bleus to win the tournament, but they face a stern test against an inspired North African side.
The compelling schedule also sees Spain clash with Belgium on Friday, before Norway meet England and Argentina play Switzerland over the weekend.
Mbappe leads lethal French attack
Kylian Mbappe has put a tumultuous club season with Real Madrid behind him by setting this global showpiece alight.
The electric forward has already registered seven goals in the competition, taking his overall tally to a staggering 19 goals in 19 World Cup appearances.
He is now directly competing with Lionel Messi for the all-time scoring record on football’s biggest stage.
However, the two-time champions possess far more than just one superstar, boasting a terrifying front four that includes Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele.
Emerging stars and suspension risks
Roma midfielder Manu Kone has been a revelation for the European giants, cementing his place as a modern, press-resistant enforcer.
The 25-year-old was relatively unknown before the tournament but has consistently caught the eye of elite scouts with his dominant midfield displays.
Despite their overall dominance, discipline could become an issue for Didier Deschamps’ squad as they chase further glory.
Both Olise and exciting young prospect Bradley Barcola are just one booking away from a potential semi-final suspension.
Morocco aim for another historic run
Standing in their way are a resilient Moroccan outfit who famously became the first African side to reach the semi-finals in 2022.
They have successfully backed up that historic performance with another deeply promising campaign across North America.
After holding Brazil to an exciting draw in their opening fixture, the Atlas Lions navigated past the Netherlands via a dramatic penalty shootout.
A routine victory over co-hosts Canada subsequently secured their rightful place among the final eight.
The White House has defended its handling of visa restrictions placed on Iran’s national football team during the recent World Cup, stating the squad’s late relocation to Mexico proved mutually beneficial.
The Iranian Football Federation relocated their primary base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana just before the prestigious tournament began.
This eleventh-hour switch was prompted by lingering uncertainty over whether players and support staff would secure the necessary paperwork to enter the United States.
Cross-border logistics and security measures
Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, insisted the international arrangements operated smoothly throughout the group stages.
The official revealed that housing the squad south of the border served a vital security purpose, ensuring no individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could enter America.
“I think what we tried to do here on the White House Task Force was apply common sense to making sure the athletes could have fair play on the pitch.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had previously confirmed her government agreed to host the Asian nation after American counterparts expressed reluctance to accommodate them.
Squad restrictions and management frustration
While all playing staff ultimately received their travel documents 10 days before their opening fixture, several key administrative figures were strictly denied entry.
Further compounding these logistical headaches, the team was only permitted to travel across the border one day prior to each of their scheduled matches.
These severe travel constraints prompted head coach Amir Ghalenoei to publicly declare his side as the most oppressed group at the finals.
Giuliani staunchly defended the travel arrangements and emphasized that logistical parity was consistently maintained for the Middle Eastern nation.
“It’s important to point out that the Iranians chose to go to Tijuana. We were happy with that choice.”
Tottenham Hotspur are preparing an offer for AC Milan forward Rafael Leao after the Portugal international reportedly agreed to join Roberto De Zerbi’s heavily reshaped squad.
The lightning-fast winger has publicly expressed his desire to leave the San Siro following a seven-year stint in Serie A.
According to Italian journalist Daniele Longo, the attacker is willing to wait for a transfer to north London this summer.
He remains eager to test himself in the English top flight despite emerging interest from Saudi Arabian clubs.
Major squad overhaul continues
Spurs are actively looking to bolster their frontline following a disappointing season-long loan spell for Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani.
De Zerbi has already overseen a massive recruitment drive following successive 17th-place finishes in the Premier League.
Six new arrivals have been confirmed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, including a stunning £185m double midfield swoop for Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali.
Experienced defensive reinforcements Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka have also joined the ongoing rebuild.
Targeting an elite attacking upgrade
Tottenham’s search for a left-sided forward initially led to links with Manchester City prospect Savinho.
However, the Brazilian wide-man managed just four goals and three assists across 36 appearances last season.
While the 22-year-old has time to develop, the Spurs hierarchy reportedly prefer an immediate, proven impact to elevate their attack.
The AC Milan talisman provides exactly that elite pedigree, boasting extensive experience in the Champions League alongside his trademark pace and trickery.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is considering a major tactical shift this summer as the club targets attacking reinforcements, including Julian Alvarez, to conquer Europe.
The Gunners will enter the upcoming season as English champions for the first time in 22 years.
However, their recent Champions League final defeat on penalties to Paris St-Germain highlighted a painful gulf in attacking class.
Sacrificing control for firepower
The north London club are now in the market for top-tier offensive talent, with Atletico Madrid striker Alvarez and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers reportedly on their radar.
Adding such individual brilliance would require the Spanish manager to relinquish some of the rigid tactical control he heavily favours.
It is a similar evolution to the one undertaken by his former mentor Pep Guardiola, who eventually signed Erling Haaland to secure European dominance for Manchester City.
The Gyokeres conundrum
Last summer, Viktor Gyokeres was brought in to provide that missing cutting edge after a prolific spell at Sporting Lisbon.
Despite scoring 21 times last season, the Swedish international found himself on the bench for the biggest matches.
In both the Budapest European final and the crucial domestic clash with Manchester City, Kai Havertz was preferred to lead the line.
While the German international offers exceptional link-up play, he lacks the ruthless goalscoring instinct of a traditional number nine.
Taking the next step
Following the heartbreaking loss to PSG, the Arsenal boss admitted that ruthless choices must be made in the transfer market.
“We’ll start to make some very important decisions, we want to reach another level.”
“We’re going to have to show that ambition because they are more than capable of doing it but it’s going to demand us to be very, very ambitious, very fast and very smart.”
Securing Alvarez would represent a massive statement of intent, though reports suggest the Argentine World Cup winner prefers a move to Barcelona.
If the English champions do land a marquee forward, their manager must fully commit to a new dynamic to ensure European glory finally arrives at the Emirates Stadium.