Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has come out of international retirement to rejoin the Germany squad, as manager Julian Nagelsmann seeks to end the nation’s dismal run of World Cup failures.
The 38-year-old shot-stopper originally stepped away from national duty two years ago following a disappointing tournament in Qatar.
However, the German hierarchy has now turned to the Bayern Munich stalwart to provide crucial leadership and experience.
The four-time world champions are desperate to restore their formidable reputation as the ultimate tournament team.
Consecutive group-stage exits
Recent campaigns have severely dented the proud footballing heritage of the European heavyweights.
A humiliating elimination in Russia in 2018 abruptly ended their defence of the trophy they had won four years prior.
Disaster then struck again at the 2022 tournament following a shock opening defeat by Japan.
Consequently, the national side has not progressed beyond a World Cup group phase since lifting the trophy against Argentina in 2014.
Nagelsmann seeks defensive basics
Former managers Joachim Low and Hansi Flick both ultimately failed to halt this alarming decline.
Flick previously identified a lack of fundamental defensive solidity as the root cause of the team’s ongoing struggles.
Now, the current head coach hopes his returning custodian can reinstil a much-needed sense of confidence into a transitioning squad.
“He has many titles, he has an aura, a big name.”
Nagelsmann strongly believes those past exploits will prove inspirational to a new generation of players.
Fifa has banned players from approaching the touchline for tactical instructions during goalkeeper injuries as part of six new rule changes for the 2026 World Cup.
The International Football Association Board (Ifab) has forbidden the controversial practice to combat severe time-wasting.
Teams frequently exploit the so-called ‘tactical timeout’ when a goalkeeper strategically drops to the turf.
While medical staff treat the seemingly injured player, outfield teammates use the stoppage to receive urgent coaching advice.
Referees to enforce strict positioning
Officials will now mandate that players remain in their current positions or gather in the centre circle during these stoppages.
Fifa referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina confirmed the clampdown following a workshop with managers from all 48 participating nations.
The goalkeeper has the right to be injured, but the players do not have the right to leave the field of play to have a sort of timeout.
Pierluigi Collina
Tackling the time-wasting epidemic
The global governing body will not issue automatic yellow cards to players who mistakenly drift towards the dugouts.
Instead, match officials have been instructed to take a proactive approach to managing the technical areas.
Domestic competitions worldwide have increasingly struggled with this specific form of gamesmanship.
The National Women’s Soccer League in the United States successfully trialled similar preventative measures earlier this year.
Maintaining momentum and match flow
Critics argue the new directive only solves a fraction of the broader match management problem.
Shot-stoppers can still disrupt an opponent’s attacking momentum simply by sitting on the turf and requesting medical attention.
The upcoming tournament in North America will already feature mandated three-minute hydration breaks due to extreme summer temperatures.
It is quite weird that there really is only the referee, the physio and the goalkeeper on the field of play. All the other players leave the pitch, and it is not good.
Pierluigi Collina
Five additional law changes will be implemented alongside this ban to further accelerate the pace of international fixtures.
Alexander Zverev and 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva have captured the French Open singles titles to conclude a thrilling fortnight of tennis at Roland Garros.
Many pundits had forecast a predictable tournament in Paris due to ailing superstars and high-profile injury withdrawals.
Instead, the clay-court major delivered seismic shocks, compelling drama, and memorable fairytale runs.
Zverev capitalises on chaotic men’s draw
The men’s competition was blown wide open early on following the absence of injured Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
Top seed Jannik Sinner subsequently suffered a stunning second-round defeat to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
The Italian had been the heaviest favourite to triumph in Paris since 14-time champion Rafael Nadal.
A new Grand Slam champion was then guaranteed when 39-year-old Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the third round.
Germany’s Zverev ultimately navigated the tense, upset-riddled draw to secure his place among the game’s greats.
The powerful baseline player survived a fittingly stressful final to lift the coveted Coupe des Mousquetaires.
I had the best and worst moments of my life here.
Teenage sensation Andreeva fulfils her destiny
In the women’s draw, Russian prodigy Andreeva demonstrated remarkable maturity to secure her maiden major championship.
The youngster maintained exceptional composure during a politically charged semi-final victory over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.
She then held her nerve in the showpiece final despite facing a fiercely partisan crowd.
New generation announces arrival in Paris
A host of emerging stars also enjoyed remarkable breakthrough moments across the men’s tournament.
Czech 20-year-old Jakub Mensik reached his first major semi-final by showcasing a thunderous serve and elite athleticism.
Brazilian Joao Fonseca and Spanish talent Rafael Jodar both surged into the quarter-finals on the Parisian dirt.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Frenchman Moise Kouame delighted home supporters with his flamboyant style and fearless shot-making.
Further down the rankings, 24-year-old Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska provided hope with an unprecedented fairytale run.
Having never previously earned direct entry into a major, the unheralded competitor captivated audiences during an unforgettable fortnight.
Didier Deschamps will manage the French national team on home soil for the final time on Monday when they face Northern Ireland in Lille ahead of his post-World Cup departure.
The 57-year-old is concluding a remarkable 14-year tenure that includes lifting the 2018 World Cup trophy to replicate his 1998 triumph as team captain.
The upcoming friendly at the Decathlon Arena serves as a poignant send-off before the squad travels to the United States for the tournament.
Fans are expected to provide an emotional tribute to the former Juventus and Chelsea midfielder.
Focus remains on World Cup preparation
Despite the inevitable nostalgia, the outgoing head coach insists his primary focus remains firmly on preparing the squad for the finals.
Supporters previously honoured the World Cup-winning manager by holding up cardboard cut-outs of his face during Thursday’s surprise 2-1 defeat by the Ivory Coast in Nantes.
The veteran tactician expressed gratitude for the gesture but maintains that the collective squad is more important than his individual farewell.
“Ever since I came in to camp, there’s lots of things that I’ve done for the last time, so I’m not trying to think about all these things.”
“I’m not too sad, I’m not going to be happy about it. What’s important for me is beyond my personal case.”
Rabiot praises unifying leadership
AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot anticipates a highly charged atmosphere as the home crowd bids farewell to their long-serving leader.
The combative midfielder highlighted the manager’s unique ability to bring diverse personalities together over the past decade.
“I can imagine the state of mind of Didier after all this time spent with the French team.”
“We’re all human beings, we have compassion, we have emotions and everything that comes along with it.”
“The coach has done a great job with the French team and I hope that he will be celebrated, because he deserves it.”
Final preparations for USA
Les Bleus have been drawn into Group I for the upcoming World Cup where they will face Senegal, Iraq and an Erling Haaland-led Norway.
The coaching staff are eager to harness the positive energy from these domestic fixtures before embarking on their trans-Atlantic journey.
“These two matches in France before we leave for the US, being close to the supporters and lots of the people who are not able to go to the US, we’re trying to get as much energy, trying to get as much good vibes from the supporters as we can.”
Kick-off for the international friendly against Northern Ireland is at 20:10 BST, with live coverage beginning at 19:30 BST across BBC network platforms.
Jose Mourinho will return as Real Madrid head coach after Florentino Perez was re-elected as club president until 2030.
The 63-year-old signed a conditional three-year deal last month that hinged entirely on the incumbent retaining his leadership role at the Bernabeu.
Perez secured 65% of the vote to comfortably defeat renewable energy magnate Enrique Riquelme in the first contested presidential election in two decades.
A new era for Los Blancos
The 79-year-old president celebrated his victory by promising further investment and European glory to the supporters.
“We will continue working so that Real Madrid keeps winning titles, and we will fight until the end to achieve the 16th European Cup.”
He also confirmed the highly anticipated managerial change during his victory address.
“Proud to have the best players in the world, proud to welcome back one of the best coaches in the world, a Madridista like Jose Mourinho.”
To mark his new term in office, Perez has also pledged to make a club-record offer for an unnamed global superstar.
Rebuilding after a barren season
The Portuguese tactician steps away from his recent role at Benfica, having guided the Lisbon club to a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga.
He takes the reins from Alvaro Arbeloa, who had served as a short-term replacement following the departure of Xabi Alonso in January.
The returning manager faces a significant rebuilding project following a deeply disappointing 2025-26 campaign.
The Spanish giants finished the season without any major silverware and watched bitter rivals Barcelona seal the La Liga title with a decisive El Clasico victory.
Familiar surroundings for the returning boss
This will be the second managerial stint in the Spanish capital for the two-time Champions League winner.
During his previous tenure between 2010 and 2013, he successfully broke Barcelona’s domestic dominance to secure the La Liga crown.
He also lifted the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup before departing for a second stint in the Premier League.
Egyptian teenager Amina Orfi has become the youngest British Open women’s squash champion after breaking a 94-year-old record with a 3-1 victory over Nour ElSherbini in Birmingham.
The 18-year-old sensation recovered from a one-game deficit to defeat her compatriot 7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-8 at the Rep Theatre.
By lifting the prestigious trophy, she surpassed the longstanding milestone set by Susan Noel, who was 19 years and eight months old when she triumphed in 1932.
Historic month for the Egyptian prodigy
This monumental achievement follows her triumph over the same opponent last month to become the youngest women’s world champion.
Her Sunday success is even more remarkable given she endured the longest women’s match in tournament history just 24 hours earlier.
The rising star navigated a grueling 110-minute marathon to eliminate top seed and world number one Hania El Hammamy in Saturday’s semi-final.
“I feel very happy with these two results back-to-back after the world champs. I was very tired and it was a great match,” stated Orfi.
Coll capitalises on Asal fatigue for men’s title
In the men’s draw, New Zealand’s Paul Coll secured his third British Open crown with a commanding victory over Mostafa Asal.
The Egyptian world number one was physically depleted following an epic 115-minute semi-final clash against Peru’s Diego Elias.
That fatigue proved decisive as the top seed was forced to concede the final at the beginning of the fourth game.
“Mostafa had a brutal one yesterday, but I still had to get him today, make him hurt, pick up as much as possible and I’m very happy with that performance,” Coll said.
The triumph marked the 33rd PSA Tour title of the Kiwi’s illustrious professional career.
The global squash calendar now turns to the season-ending PSA Squash Tour Finals, taking place in Paris from 17 to 20 June.
Six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy has shared a positive update on his health as he prepares for a major charity bike ride in Glasgow this September despite living with terminal prostate cancer.
The 50-year-old Scot revealed in 2024 that his illness had spread to his bones, with medical professionals giving him a life expectancy of two to four years.
However, the former track cyclist refuses to let the stage four diagnosis define him or limit his daily activities.
Instead, the British sporting icon is channelling his energy into ‘Tour de 4’, an initiative designed to support those affected by the disease.
Focusing on the road ahead
“I’m doing fine, thanks. The Tour de 4 is the main focus for me the next few months.”
The legendary Olympian told the Press Association that the upcoming fundraising ride remains his primary driving force.
The event previously raised more than £3.1 million during its inaugural run, providing crucial backing for five major UK charities while challenging societal attitudes.
“It’s trying to demonstrate, rather than just talking about it, that all these people who are in a similar situation to me – living with stage four cancer – that there’s plenty of life left in us.”
The 11-time world champion admitted that the charity initiative has become a powerful motivator since receiving his terminal diagnosis.
Appreciating the small moments
He explained that setting future goals helps his family navigate the most challenging moments of his ongoing treatment.
“I guess for me and for my family, the thing that we’ve tried to do is to not look too far ahead and to still have plans for the future and still have goals and aims and things to look forward to.”
While the cycling legend remains optimistic that future advancements in artificial intelligence could accelerate new medical treatments, he is currently focused on staying grounded.
“Don’t forget to enjoy the moment and don’t forget to appreciate the present, because it passes you by very easily.”
He added that people often miss out on the simple joys of life by constantly looking ahead to the next big milestone.
Formula 1’s governing body has rated Red Bull as having the best power unit for the 2026 season, triggering engine upgrades for their rivals under a new development system.
The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) evaluated the pecking order of the sport’s five engine manufacturers as part of the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) scheme.
Every manufacturer apart from the Milton Keynes-based outfit will be permitted to improve their powertrains after performance findings were shared with the grid.
Mercedes and Ferrari handed development lifelines
Documents reveal that Mercedes are currently more than two per cent behind the benchmark set by the Austrian constructors.
The Silver Arrows will subsequently receive one upgrade allowance for this year and another for the 2027 campaign.
Ferrari, Audi and Honda are deemed to be trailing by over four per cent and will be granted two upgrade tokens across both seasons.
The verdict arrives as a notable triumph for Red Bull, who are producing their own bespoke engines for the very first time.
Hamilton acknowledges significant deficit
The findings have generated surprise in the paddock, particularly given that Mercedes have boasted the most competitive overall package across the opening six rounds.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton revealed that teams were formally notified of the ADUO results during the recent Monaco Grand Prix weekend.
“Red Bull have the most powerful engine, Mercedes second, and then we are behind,” the Ferrari driver stated.
“We’ve got now these tokens to try to develop and close the gap, but that’s like an eight-to-10-month project so it’s not something we can just do next week,” the British veteran added.
FIA insists system is not a magic bullet
The governing body has deliberately kept its measurement metrics secret to prevent manufacturers from manipulating their performance data to secure favourable allowances.
FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis emphasised that the ADUO framework functions strictly as a financial relief mechanism.
“A team or manufacturer will not suddenly get greater fuel flow rate or more or less ballast. It simply provides them with leeway to develop.”
The chief motorsport regulator clarified that manufacturers meeting the criteria still need to engineer a winning power unit.
“It’s not a magic bullet, or like the FIA is handing out brownie points to somebody who’s behind,” Tombazis concluded.