South African football news

Decision vindicated. The Norway coach, Ståle Solbakken, had taken a major gamble in resting almost his entire side in the final group game against France, drawing stiff criticism, not least from those who had paid hundreds of dollars to witness a showdown between Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé. As Solbakken said,…

• FRA
• NOR

Jarell Quansah and Reece James miss training as England's right-back issues mount before their World Cup last-32 match against DR Congo on Wednesday.

• CON
• ENG

Spurs beat Manchester United to signing of midfielder Fernandes due to have medical before completing deal Tottenham are poised to break their transfer record after beating Manchester United to the signing of Mateus Fernandes for £85m. The Portugal international is heading for a new challenge after West Ham’s relega…

• MUN
• TOT
• POR
• WES

Tottenham agree a deal to sign West Ham's Mateus Fernandes as Manchester United pull out of the race for midfielder.

• MUN
• TOT
• WES

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard signs a new contract until 2029.

• COV

A team-mate tells an inquest Maddy Cusack was "anxious" about Jonathan Morgan joining Sheffield United.

• SHE

⚽️ Kick-off time: 12pm local/1pm EDT/6pm BST/3am AEST ⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Mail Scott Pre-match postbag. “This one is an interesting game. Ivory Coast are a team who when I looked at squad before the tournament, I was surprised at the number of good players they have and they’ve done well s…

• NOR

AC Milan sign Paris St-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos for a reported club record transfer fee of about £60m.

• POR
• PSG

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky signs a new, improved contract with the Premier League club.

• TOT

Iran were treated badly while two countries were debutants but Saudi Arabia and South Korea should have done better For a while, it looked as if Asia’s biggest World Cup result was on and Japan were going to beat Brazil. A team full of energy, skill and verve looked superior to the South Americans and were sending o…

• SAU
• KOR
• BRA
• JAP

Germany once scored 22 consecutive penalties in major tournament shootouts. They missed three as Paraguay won 4-3 from the spot Germany were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup on penalties, an outcome that feels unbelievable to anyone who has watched international football over the past 50 years. Paraguay beat them 4…

• PAR
• GER

Just a day after resigning as Newport County head coach, Christian Fuchs blows a kiss to a bowler after hitting him for six while making his cricket debut for Derbyshire village side Grindleford.

El Tri have made a habit of qualifying from the group stage and then falling at the first hurdle. They are hoping the memory of 1986 will help end the curse In Mexico, the phrase ya merito (“almost there”) is closely linked to the country’s men’s football team. In Mexican Spanish, it’s a colloquial, almost affection…

• MEX

From the hairstyles to the stadiums, the kits to the celebrations, we take a look at the changing face of the game. Tap on the images below to fade between the visuals It’s 32 years since Diego Maradona went berserk down the barrel of a TV camera after scoring for Argentina; since Bebeto rocked an imaginary baby to…

• ARG
• USA

As Germany again fail to progress at a World Cup BBC Sport looks at the fallout from their defeat by Paraguay and what happens next.

• PAR
• GER

Our cartoonist on the latest knockout drama as Jonathan Tah does a Chris Waddle and Casemiro has a brat summer Buy David’s cartoons | Some of his favourite works And his latest book, Chaos in the Box: get it now Continue reading...

• NET
• GER

Orlando Gill has become Paraguay's World Cup hero but was in football obscurity 18 months ago and had to sell his kit to support his family after the premature birth of his son.

• PAR

Why Didier Deschamps' changes to personnel and formation could propel 2022 runners-up France to go one better in this World Cup.

• FRA

Executive committee member says it was ‘very bad idea’ Caf says its aim is to make tournament world class A plan to expand the Africa Cup of Nations from 24 to 28 teams has been rejected, the Guardian has learned. The proposal had been made by the Confederation of African Football’s president, Patrice Motsepe, in Fe…

Bruno Guimaraes has been Newcastle United's leader, but Arsenal are lurking with intent and could soon try to prise him away. What happens next, and could he yet stay put?

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• ARS

Markwayne Mullin: ‘I might’ve sung a song or two’ Iran knocked out after three group-stage draws A top United States government official has said he is “so happy” that Iran are out of the World Cup. Iran’s participation in the finals was uncertain in the months leading up to the tournament after the US and Israel la…

• IRA