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England white-ball captain Harry Brook has urged his side to learn from Joe Root as they seek to complete a one-day international series win against top-ranked India.Root followed his unbeaten 76 in England's defeat in
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Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova said on Saturday she would miss next month's Canadian Open after undergoing minor surgery.The 29-year-old Czech lost to compatriot Linda Noskova 6-2 5-7 6-3 in the Wimbledon final earlier this month.It
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England's forward Bukayo Saka (centre) celebrates scoring his team's fifth goal with team-mates midfielder Jude Bellingham and defender Reece James during the World Cup third-place match against France at the Miami Stadium in Miami on
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England manager Thomas Tuchel and players wear their bronze medals as they pose for a picture on the podium during the ceremony after the World Cup third-place match against France at the Miami Stadium in
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France's head coach Didier Deschamps and France's forward Kylian Mbappe shake hands after losing the World Cup third-place match against England at the Miami Stadium in Miami on July 18, 2026. (AFP) Didier Deschamps took responsibility for France's "unacceptable" first-half collapse in a 6-4 defeat by England on Saturday as his extraordinary 14-year reign as national team coach ended in painful fashion.France trailed 4-0 at halftime in the World Cup third-place playoff before mounting a spirited recovery, but their late rally was not enough to prevent Deschamps' 185th and final match in charge from ending in a loss."It is a defeat, but we were 4-0 down. We produced an unacceptable first half," Deschamps told reporters."There was a reaction, with the things we know how to do well. We had two chances to make it 4-4, but we pushed forward a little more."That is what we know how to do, but we didn't do it. It is my fault because I must not have done what was needed in the first half."Deschamps said the performance after the break at least restored pride, though he admitted the sporting disappointment of France's tournament remained considerable after they had arrived in North America bidding to win a third world title."It would have been better to finish third," he said. "We came here with a lot of ambition. We managed to do quite a few positive things."We failed in our match against Spain and they knew how to perform against us. This is a group with footballing quality. There was enough talent to get results," Deschamps added."On a human level, it was a beautiful adventure. Eight weeks, it was beautiful." DOMINANT FORCEFrance's 2-0 semi-final defeat by Spain ended their hopes of reaching a third successive World Cup final before England inflicted another setback on the coach who had turned Les Bleus into one of world football's dominant forces."The disappointment is there on a sporting level," Deschamps said. "We had the opportunity to create emotions for tens of millions of French people. It is the World Cup, there is nothing more beautiful."The French Football Federation paid a glowing tribute to Deschamps, who leaves after 185 matches and 120 victories in charge."Didier Deschamps embodied high standards, rigour, a sense of the collective and love for the blue shirt," the FFF said in a statement."Under his leadership, for 14 years, the France team regained credibility, respect and affection while remaining at the highest level in the world."Deschamps led France to the 2018 World Cup title and 2021 Nations League crown as well as the Euro 2016 and 2022 World Cup finals.The FFF said his quarter-century of service to the national team, stretching from his years as captain to his time as coach, had left an "indelible mark"."Few will have given as much to the blue shirt, as a player and then as coach," it said.Deschamps captained France to their first World Cup triumph in 1998 and won the European Championship two years later before becoming only the third man to win the World Cup as both player and coach when Les Bleus triumphed in Russia in 2018.His final match provided none of the controlled, disciplined football that came to define much of his tenure, but the chaotic defeat did little to diminish a legacy that transformed France into one of the most consistent teams of the modern era."Thank you, Didier," the FFF said. Related Story
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Spain and Argentina will meet in today’s World Cup final in New Jersey, with organisers monitoring smoke from Canadian wildfires that has spread across parts of the United States. The match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford caps the biggest World Cup in history, with more than 80,000 spectators expected, including US President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.Lionel Messi’s Argentina are chasing a rare back-to-back title, while Spain are aiming for a second World Cup crown after their 2010 triumph. FIFA said it was keeping a close watch on air quality as smoke continued to affect visibility in several regions.Spain captain Rodri said he expects a “physical” contest and warned of possible provocations, adding that his side must be ready to adapt. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni urged fans to savour the chance to see Messi, now 39, lead the team in another final. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said the squad had been moved to tears by what they have achieved.The final will bring down the curtain on a tournament staged across the United States, Mexico and Canada. England and France will meet in Miami on Saturday to decide third place. Related Story
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* Spain held France without a shot on target until after the 80th minute* Lopetegui said Spain's collective positioning makes a high press hard to execute* He said Spain's goalkeeper and back four can turn pressure into attacking openings Julen Lopetegui knows what it is to see Argentina picked apart by Spain's passing carousel, but the former Spain manager says Sunday's World Cup final will be no nostalgic rerun of a friendly thrashing in Madrid.Lopetegui was in charge the last time Spain faced Argentina, a 6-1 win at the newly opened Metropolitano stadium in 2018, when Lionel Messi was absent and Spain produced the sort of midfield suffocation that can make opponents feel they are chasing shadows."It's a wonderful memory because I think we played a brilliant match against a great team like Argentina," Lopetegui said."We managed to close down the spaces in midfield, press high up the pitch, and the team put in a good performance. But these are two completely different matches. We're talking about a World Cup final, not a friendly." Spain arrive after a 2-0 semi-final win over France in which they reduced the tournament's most dangerous attack to a state of frustration and, until after the 80th minute, not a single shot on target. France players suggested they should have pressed Spain higher and harder. Lopetegui, who coached Qatar at this World Cup and was part of Spain's squad as a goalkeeper in 1994, said that plan looks tidier on a tactics board than it does when the ball starts fizzing through Spain's geometric triangles."The theory is very simple, but it's true that pressing a team like Spain isn't straightforward, primarily because of their collective ability to understand the game," he said."It's not a case of pressing one or two players; rather, you have to be able to press a great many potential ball recipients at the right moment, in the right space, at the right time and in the right decision-making situations."Then, he added, comes the other problem. Spain's players are not just part of a system, they are good enough to escape the trap on their own."There's their individual ability - in addition to their collective one - to get out of situations on their own that many players aren't capable of handling, in order to overcome that pressure and, naturally, weaken you," Lopetegui said.CALM BUILD-UPBoth finalists, he said, want the ball and both have players comfortable enough to shape the rhythm of a match. Yet Spain's calm build-up from the back gives them a particularly sharp edge."Against a team that wants to have the ball as much as Spain do, the opposition will naturally want to press them, but at the same time it's also an opportunity for Spain to find more space," he said."In football, the blanket covers your feet but sometimes leaves your head exposed, doesn't it?"Spain, Lopetegui said, have a back four and a goalkeeper capable of staying composed, restarting play cleanly and finding the pass that turns pressure into goals."That makes it much harder for the opposition to press and, conversely, helps you a great deal," he said, adding that Argentina also have plenty of players in midfield able to keep possession.For all the tactical chess, Lopetegui believes the final may come down to something less elegant but no less decisive: competitive nerve."For me, the main strength of both teams is that they are very competitive," he said. "When you push them to the limit, they usually respond well." AREGENTINA'S RESILIENCE He pointed to Argentina's resilience in knockout danger and Spain's faith in their positional game."Spain, who have been able to maintain their composure and calm, believing in their style of play, biding their time, and understanding that their superiority will sooner or later be reflected on the scoreboard," he said.Lopetegui expects Argentina to threaten with vertical runs from forwards and midfielders, especially from the second line, while Messi, now 39, has reinvented himself for the demands of a different era."He's gained other qualities, such as making his teammates play better and optimising his runs into the box," Lopetegui said. "This evolved version of Messi is a different player, and the national team perhaps plays differently to make the most of his strengths."Spain's threat, by contrast, is spread across the pitch."Spain is a team where I believe any player has the potential to take centre stage in the attacking phase," Lopetegui said, citing Pedro Porro's goals, Cucurella's runs, contributions from Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Merino, and Pau Cubarsi's shots."It's a team where it's not just the forwards who attack, but the whole team, just as the whole team defends."In other words, Argentina may try to pull the blanket one way. Spain will attempt to make sure something, somewhere, is left uncovered. Related Story
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US golfer Sam Burns reacts on the 18th green on day three of the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale Golf Club near Southport in north-west England on July 18, 2026. (AFP) Sam Burns will take a two-shot lead into Sunday's final round of the British Open as Rory McIlroy launched a scathing attack on Bryson DeChambeau after his third round on Saturday.American Burns is one of three players to match the record low score at a major of 62 at Royal Birkdale over the past two days and backed up his historic second round with a 65 to move to 10 under par.Ryan Fox joined the 62 club with the best round of the day to get to eight under, alongside South Korea's Kim Si-woo.DeChambeau's two-shot penalty after his second round on Friday for "inadvertently improving" his lie as he addressed his second shot at the fifth hole could still prove crucial.The American was one under for the day to get to six under for the tournament and would likely have been in Sunday's final group but for the sanction.DeChambeau appeared to trample down long grass as he addressed his ball for a practice swing.After an animated discussion with a rules official at the site of the incident, Sky Sports reported DeChambeau had even threatened to withdraw from the tournament late on Friday.That resulted in a delay to tee times being issued for the third round.McIlroy's hopes of adding to his six majors look forlorn after a third round 69 left him at two under for the tournament.But the Northern Irishman was still the focus of attention after he did not hold back on DeChambeau's antics."I won't pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I'm not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it's performative. I think a lot of it's for attention," said the Masters champion."To hold the tournament hostage like that, and to have all of us, players, volunteers, everyone waiting on him to depart, I didn't feel like it was a great look."NEW DAD BOUNCE FOR BURNSBurns is yet to win a major, but finished just one shot behind Wyndham Clark at the US Open last month.The world number 18 was not even supposed to travel to England's north-west coast with his daughter due in the middle of July.But baby Belle arrived 11 days early and Burns was given the go-ahead by his wife to compete.Burns said becoming a dad eases the pressure and puts things into perspective ahead of a potentially career-defining round."Tomorrow all I can do is play my best and see where it puts me. Go out tomorrow and try to execute," he said."Ultimately whatever happens tomorrow it doesn't define who I am. That's a very freeing thing to know. I wish my family was here and counting down the minutes to get home and see them again."Fox and Kim are his closest challengers after the big names on the leaderboard failed to make a mark on moving day. ONLY FIVE ROUNDS OF 62There had only been five rounds of 62 in major history prior to this tournament, but there are now eight after New Zealander Fox joined Lucas Herbert and Burns."I think it's just the good weather conditions. The course is brilliant. It's obviously very firm and fast," said Fox on the reason for the spate of 62s."You feel like you can shoot a score in the morning and the greens are perfect, that if you do roll it well, you feel like you hole everything."American Ryan Gerard and Australia's Herbert are three off the lead at seven under.Roared on by huge local support, home favourite Tommy Fleetwood made his move to at one point close to within one shot of the lead.However, he dropped two shots in the final four holes to fall back to five under and give himself a mountain to climb to win his first major in his home town of Southport.Defending champion Scottie Scheffler was again let down by his putting in a level par 70, which left him down at four under alongside Jon Rahm and former champions Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele. Related Story
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup champions will secure the ultimate grand prize of $50 million. The stage is set at MetLife Stadium this Sunday, July 19, 2026, for a monumental FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. Beyond soccer immortality and the right to lift the iconic gold trophy, an astronomical financial reward awaits the team that emerges victorious. The nation that wins the final will secure the ultimate grand prize of $50 million, crowning them as the highest-earning team in the tournament. On the other hand, the side that falls just short as the runners-up will not leave empty-handed, walking away with a still-impressive $33 million consolation prize. This leaves a staggering $17 million difference riding entirely on the outcome of this single 90-minute showdown (or potential extra time and penalties). For Argentina, a victory would mean securing consecutive World Cup titles and the maximum payout. For Spain, it represents a chance to claim their second historic star and the top financial bounty. With $50 million on the line for the champions and $33 million for the second-place finisher, the financial stakes are just as massive as the sporting glory awaiting them on Sunday. Related Story
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FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger during the press conference ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final in New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US, on July 18, 2026.
