Chelsea defender Reece James has eased England’s severe defensive crisis after he was seen sprinting during celebrations following their World Cup last-16 victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.
The Three Lions advanced to the quarter-finals courtesy of a Jude Bellingham brace and a Harry Kane penalty.
Thomas Tuchel’s side will now face Norway in Miami on Saturday night, but they entered the knockout stages facing a critical shortage of fit full-backs.
Defensive headache worsens
Jarell Quansah was rushed back into the starting lineup against the tournament co-hosts but was sent off early in the second half.
The central defender’s subsequent suspension compounds the issue, especially as deputy Djed Spence has struggled to impress on the international stage.
However, the sight of the Chelsea captain moving freely and leaping in front of travelling supporters provides a significant and timely boost.
Hamstring concerns lifting
The dynamic right-back had been entirely sidelined with a hamstring problem during the group-stage victories over Panama and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He also missed full squad training sessions in the build-up to the Mexico clash, relying instead on a tailored individual fitness programme.
It remains unclear if the experienced defender will be fully cleared to participate against the Scandinavians this weekend.
Waiting on medical clearance
Prior to the dramatic knockout tie, the national team manager admitted he was unsure if his injured star could feature.
“Reece can maybe make it onto the bench, but we need the last assessment from the doctors and the medical opinion [as to] whether this makes sense.”
Thomas Tuchel
England medical staff will closely monitor the London-born defender over the coming days before making a final decision on his match fitness.
Fifa has suspended a red card ban for United States striker Folarin Balogun ahead of Monday’s World Cup last-16 match against Belgium following a direct telephone call from President Donald Trump.
The unprecedented decision by world football’s governing body means the punishment is suspended rather than formally rescinded.
It makes the 25-year-old forward available for the crucial knockout tie in Seattle.
The Brooklyn-born attacker was dismissed during Wednesday’s round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina after a video review caught him planting his boot into Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle.
Pochettino welcomes ‘fair’ decision
United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino has warmly welcomed the ruling, despite acknowledging the controversial nature of political involvement.
The former Chelsea and Tottenham manager insisted his side had already suffered enough after playing with ten men for 35 minutes of their previous fixture.
I think everyone who really looked at the sport and trusts in ethics and integrity should celebrate that decision.
The Argentine tactician stated he was completely uninvolved in the appeal process, only discovering the outcome shortly before a team training session.
The 52-year-old manager was also quick to stress that political pressure should never dictate sporting regulations, despite benefiting from this exact scenario.
Belgium coach brands ruling an ‘April Fool’
The controversial reversal has not been well received in the Belgian camp ahead of their pivotal clash.
Belgium boss Rudi Garcia reportedly likened the unexpected ruling to a practical joke, describing it as feeling like “April Fool’s Day”.
While Pochettino expressed understanding for his opposite number’s frustration, he maintained that the outcome represented global sporting justice.
A crucial boost for American hopes
Having the former Arsenal youngster available provides a massive lift for a home side already dealing with high-profile injuries.
He has been his nation’s standout performer and top scorer at the tournament, stepping up brilliantly in the absence of injured talisman Christian Pulisic.
Despite the attacking reinforcement, Pochettino warned that their European opponents remain one of the finest sides in world football.
The Belgian heavyweights previously dismantled the North American outfit 5-2 in a warm-up fixture this past March.
However, backed by a famously vocal Seattle crowd acting as their 12th man, the hosts are determined to make history by advancing to the quarter-finals.
Carlos Queiroz has stepped down as head coach of the Ghana national team after just three months following their elimination from the World Cup by Colombia.
The 73-year-old took charge of the West African nation in April and guided them to a third-place finish in Group L.
However, his brief tenure was brought to an abrupt end after a narrow 1-0 defeat in the last 32 of the tournament.
A veteran of the international stage
The former Manchester United coach was overseeing his fifth consecutive World Cup campaign from the dugout.
The experienced Portuguese tactician had previously led Iran, Portugal, and Egypt at major international competitions before accepting the Ghanaian job.
His departure concludes a remarkably short stint with the Black Stars, who had hoped his vast tournament pedigree would inspire a deep knockout run.
Managerial casualties mount
The veteran manager was not the only high-profile casualty confirmed on Sunday as the global tournament progressed.
Jamal Sellami also parted ways with Jordan following a highly disappointing campaign for the Middle Eastern side.
That managerial change was triggered after a poor showing left them languishing in fourth place in Group J.
Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes missed a crucial opportunity to give his nation an early lead against Norway after his 14th-minute penalty was saved by Orjan Nyland in their World Cup last-16 tie at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
The Newcastle United playmaker stepped up confidently but was thwarted by an excellent diving stop from the agile Scandinavian goalkeeper.
Nyland anticipated the direction perfectly to keep the highly anticipated knockout fixture goalless during a frantic opening exchange.
High stakes in New Jersey
This dramatic spot-kick failure adds immediate tension to a demanding encounter for the five-time world champions.
Reaching the latter stages of the 2026 Fifa World Cup is viewed as the absolute minimum expectation for the South American giants.
However, a resolute Norwegian outfit has consistently proven difficult to break down during this expanded North American showpiece.
Searching for a breakthrough
The European side will view this crucial early let-off as a major psychological boost as they attempt to secure a historic tournament upset.
Both nations must now reset as they battle for a coveted place in the quarter-finals.
Real Madrid are preparing a monumental £188m offer for Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, while Tottenham Hotspur explore a move for AC Milan forward Rafael Leao.
The Spanish giants are reportedly willing to offer up to 220m euros to secure the talented France international.
Such a blockbuster fee would make the former Crystal Palace attacker one of the most expensive signings in football history.
Olise has heavily impressed since swapping the Premier League for the Bundesliga last year.
Spurs seek attacking reinforcements
Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou’s side are actively looking to bolster their frontline ahead of the new campaign.
The north London club have identified AC Milan’s Portuguese star as a primary transfer target.
The 27-year-old is understood to be entirely open to a switch to the English capital.
Tottenham’s ambitious summer shortlist also remarkably includes Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo and Manchester City winger Savinho.
However, defensive departures are also expected at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Romanian centre-back Radu Dragusin is poised to join Fiorentina on an initial loan containing a £21.4m obligation to buy.
Premier League rivals plot moves
Arsenal and Liverpool remain in the frame to sign highly-rated Paris St-Germain attacker Bradley Barcola.
The 23-year-old Frenchman is currently facing an uncertain future at the Parc des Princes.
Elsewhere, Newcastle United have pinpointed Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller as the ideal candidate to strengthen their midfield.
Manchester United are also looking toward South America, with San Lorenzo goalkeeper Orlando Gill firmly on their radar.
European transfer market heats up
Championship side Hull City are targeting Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic as they build a squad for a Premier League return.
AC Milan are keen to reinforce their own defensive options by moving for Sporting centre-back Goncalo Inacio.
Finally, Chelsea academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah reportedly prefers a permanent transfer to Inter Milan this summer.
Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a £16.5m deal for defender Radu Dragusin to join Italian side Fiorentina following a lack of first-team opportunities.
The Romanian international will initially move on loan for a £1m fee, with an obligation to make the transfer permanent next year for a further £15.5m.
The Serie A club will also cover the centre-back’s wages in full for the duration of the initial loan period.
The 22-year-old requested a departure from north London this summer after struggling to secure regular minutes last season.
Falling down the pecking order
The lightning-fast defender had slipped further out of contention following a significant summer recruitment drive by manager Roberto De Zerbi.
Spurs have embarked on a major squad rebuild, bringing in fellow centre-backs Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke to compete with established starters Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.
This influx of defensive talent left the former Juventus prospect with little prospect of meaningful game time in the upcoming campaign.
The Florence-based club had previously attempted to secure his signature during the January transfer window but saw their approach rebuffed by the Premier League side.
Clearing out the squad
Dragusin’s impending exit marks the end of a two-and-a-half-year spell in the English capital.
He is expected to travel to Italy early next week to complete his medical examinations and finalise the paperwork.
His departure follows the £50m sale of Luka Vuskovic to Brighton as De Zerbi continues to trim his extensive squad ahead of the new season.
Tottenham have heavily backed their Italian manager in the market, sanctioning big-money moves for Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali alongside several defensive reinforcements.
Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup in North America will be his final international tournament for Portugal.
The 41-year-old Al Nassr striker ended mounting speculation over a potential appearance at the 2030 edition during a press conference on Sunday.
Speaking ahead of his nation’s crucial last-16 tie against Spain, the veteran forward acknowledged the impending conclusion of his global career.
“I want to enjoy it as much as possible, because it will be my last World Cup, yes. But I hope that tomorrow won’t be my last game in the World Cup,” he explained.
A record-breaking legacy on the global stage
The global icon made his senior international debut in 2003 and has since amassed an astonishing 146 goals in 232 appearances.
Those remarkable statistics firmly cement the Portuguese captain’s status as the highest goalscorer in the history of men’s international football.
Despite facing some early criticism following a slow start to the current tournament, the legendary attacker recently shattered yet another long-standing milestone.
Six tournaments and counting
Last month, he became the first male player to score in six different editions of global football’s most prestigious competition.
That historic achievement was secured when the talisman bagged a brace during a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in Group K.
Supporters worldwide will now be watching closely to see how far the seasoned international can lead his country during his farewell outing.
Liverpool have ended their interest in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton as new manager Andoni Iraola focuses on other transfer targets.
The Reds had been heavily linked with a £100m move for the England international during the current summer window.
However, the Merseyside club have now completely stepped back from negotiations with the Eagles.
Iraola reportedly feels the highly-rated midfield prospect does not fit his preferred tactical style of play.
Focus shifts to attacking reinforcements
The Anfield hierarchy are instead prioritising attacking additions before addressing their options in the middle of the park.
Finding a reliable replacement for Mohamed Salah remains the absolute primary objective for the Premier League outfit.
The prolific Egyptian forward, alongside Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate, departed on a free transfer at the end of last season.
Losing such phenomenal goalscoring production in the final third presents a significant rebuilding challenge for the new managerial regime.
Rebuilding after a fifth-place finish
Liverpool are aiming to significantly overhaul their squad following a disappointing fifth-place finish in the English top flight.
Victor Munoz has already arrived at the club after officials successfully hijacked Newcastle United’s proposed deal for the winger.
Despite this early business, further structural additions across the pitch are deemed essential for the upcoming campaign.
Efforts to secure Yan Diomande appear to have stalled, with the sought-after target now expected to join Paris St-Germain.
Meanwhile, the club have also reportedly held preliminary discussions regarding a potential move for PSG forward Bradley Barcola.