South African football news

Argentina's Lionel Messi says it is "crazy" to be facing Spain's Lamine Yamal in a World Cup final after being photographed with him as a baby.

• ARG
• SPA

Donald Trump criticised Thomas Tuchel for England’s semi-final loss I’m still getting my head around the 2007 photo of Lionel Messi, 19, bathing Lamine Yamal, four months, for a Unicef calendar shoot. Sid Lowe has done some digging to find out how it all came out … The photograph was taken around Christmas 2007. Spo…

• ARG
• ENG
• FRA
• NOR

Winger becomes key Celtic target, Aberdeen comings and goings and Motherwell agree deal to sell winger.

• CEL

European champions Spain will face World Cup holders and South American champions Argentina in the final. How do they compare? BBC Sport takes a look at the numbers.

• ARG
• SPA

Wayne Rooney rows down the Hudson River with fellow BBC pundits Joe Hart and Micah Richards.

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England head coach Thomas Tuchel defends his tactical decisions during the World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina in a tense news conference.

• ARG
• ENG

Spain defender Aymeric Laporte claims World Cup final opponents Argentina are a team that "likes to leave a mark on their opponents".

• ARG
• SPA

England manager Thomas Tuchel urges his players to end the World Cup strongly in an emotional address after their agonising semi-final defeat by Argentina.

• ARG
• ENG

The little maestro has hitherto lived in the shadow of Maradona who has for so long coloured the soul and defined the passion of football in Argentina It is time to consign Diego Maradona’s Hand of God to a museum piece. For 40 years that moment and Maradona’s unforgettable “goal of the century” coloured the soul an…

• ARG

Wildfires, transport issues and the appearance of the president could overshadow the final for a city that has embraced the tournament The thick smoke that has engulfed New York and much of the eastern seaboard over the past few days has drawn wry smiles in Dallas and Los Angeles, where locals will watch on with a s…

• JAP

Arsenal want Morgan Rogers, Mohamed Salah is set to join Besiktas, Manchester United are interested in Neco Williams, plus more.

• MUN
• ARS

Wayne Rooney thinks the Football Association should stick with Thomas Tuchel as England head coach unless a move for Pep Guardiola is possible.

• ENG

Atalanta midfielder Ederson extends his contract after a move to Manchester United collapses.

• MUN
• ATA

The boy in the baby bath has unbelievably become the successor to Messi at Barcelona and now, maybe, on the world stage too “Maybe Lionel Messi has picked up lots of babies, maybe it’s chance, but for those of us who have faith, who believe in something beyond, ‘chance’ is God’s pseudonym when he doesn’t want to sig…

• BAR

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert admits it has been "tough to read" judgement on his role in the scandal that saw the club kicked out of the Championship play-offs.

• IPS

Unai Emery makes his first summer signing by bringing in Johan Manzambi for a club record fee of just over £50m.

• ARG
• SPA

Craig Gordon has retired as a goalkeeping legend with Heart of Midlothian and Scotland, but what is his legacy and who can succeed him with the national team?

• SCO

Nigeria striker Kelechi Iheanacho turns down a new contract with Celtic and joins Bursaspor as former loanee Marcelo Saracchi admits defeat in his bid to return to the Scottish champions.

• CEL

BBC Sport's football expert Chris Sutton makes his prediction for Spain against Argentina in the World Cup final, and the bronze final between France and England.

• ARG
• ENG
• FRA
• SPA

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• FRA