Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid from Liverpool at season’s end is a done deal, according to multiple reports from the United Kingdom and Spain.
Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!
The defender has been tipped to trade Anfield for the Bernabeu on a free transfer at the end of his contract for some time, and it has been reported that the Spanish giants have secured the 26-year-old with a five-year offer worth more than £220,000 a week.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side view the England international as the long-term successor to 33-year-old Dani Carvajal, who is out with an ACL injury sustained in October, and he would join the likes of top English players David Beckham, Steve McManaman, who backed Alexander-Arnold to “be a superstar” in Madrid, Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate to represent Los Blancos.
Alexander-Arnold has been free to discuss terms with overseas clubs since January, and his impending move to Real would also reunite him with his friend and England teammate Jude Bellingham.
Real made an approach to Liverpool on New Year’s Eve to try sign Alexander-Arnold during the January transfer window, but the Premier League champions in waiting declined to cash the right-back in for reportedly around £20 million to boost their chances of a league crown.
That move was vindicated as Arne Slot’s side sits 12 points clear atop of the table with nine matches remaining, but will leave them without any profit on Alexander-Arnold as he can join Real for free like French superstar Kylian Mbappe did last year from PSG.
Alexander-Arnold is sidelined at present after injuring his ankle during the Reds’ Champions League exit at the hands of PSG and missing the League Cup final loss to Newcastle as a result.
He is tipped to return next month, in time for the crowning few weeks of the Premier League campaign and what is set to be a fitting farewell to his boyhood club.
Alexander-Arnold made his first team debut as an 18-year-old in 2016 after joining Liverpool’s academy as a six-year-old.
Many Reds fans on social media have been outraged however, calling for him to not be selected for the remainder of the season
Under esteemed manager Jurgen Kloop, Alexander-Arnold won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Club World Cup.
He is also one of three key Liverpool players out of contract at season’s end, with the futures of golden boot leader Mohamed Salah and star defender Virgil van Dijk still unclear.
Liverpool have declined to comment on the reports.
New Zealand reached the World Cup for only the third time with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia but lost in-form Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood to injury.
The All Whites join already qualified Japan and co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico at next year’s finals thanks to three second-half goals.
But the victory in Auckland in the final of Oceania qualifying came at a cost, with skipper Wood suffering what appeared to be a hip injury.
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
New Zealand’s Chris Wood goes down injured during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania qualifiers group final football match between New Zealand and New Caledonia at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland on March 24, 2025. (Photo by DAVID ROWLAND / AFP)Source: AFP
Soon after half time at Eden Park, Wood hurt himself swivelling for a shot and required treatment before hobbling off in the 54th minute.
“It’s not great for us losing our captain and our goalscorer. It was a difficult thing for the team but they came through so well,” said New Zealand’s English coach Darren Bazeley.
The hosts looked out of ideas after dominating the first half, but then up popped veteran defender Michael Boxall on 61 minutes to head home from a corner with his first goal for his country.
Five minutes later Wood’s replacement Kosta Barbarouses chipped the ball over advancing New Caledonia goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine.
Substitute Eli Just put gloss on the scoreline from close range with 10 minutes left.
New Caledonia’s unlikely World Cup hopes are not over and they will go into an intercontinental playoff.
Next year’s World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, meaning direct entry for the first time for the team that won the qualifying competition in Oceania.
The region’s top side previously had to go through an intercontinental playoff, with New Zealand falling at the final hurdle to Mexico, Costa Rica and Peru in recent editions.
New Zealand have been to the World Cup twice before, in 1982 and 2010, but are yet to win at the competition in six matches.
“Once the World Cup expanded we expected this of ourselves,” said Boxall. “It’s not about getting there, it’s about what we do when we get there.”
Chris Wood acknowledges the crowd after their victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania qualifiers group final football match between New Zealand and New Caledonia at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland on March 24, 2025. (Photo by DAVID ROWLAND / AFP)Source: AFP
Facing a side ranked 152 in the world, 63 places below them, hosts New Zealand immediately went on the front foot.
New Caledonia, a French Pacific territory of about 300,000 people which has never been to the World Cup, twice cleared off the line in quick succession after 20 minutes.
Wood, who is in the form of his life at Forest with 18 goals in the Premier League this season, had a chance in the 32nd minute but Nyikeine saved comfortably.
The 33-year-old Wood then headed over the bar from a corner and at the half-time whistle, with the game unexpectedly level, the New Caledonia players mobbed Nyikeine.
Bazeley had seen enough and made two changes at the break, bringing on winger Just and defender Francis de Vries.
Despite losing talisman Wood, New Zealand’s pressure eventually paid off against a rapidly tiring New Caledonia to put the All Whites into the World Cup.
A Spanish court has found former football chief Luis Rubiales guilty of sexual assault over the forced kiss he gave star forward Jenni Hermoso and fined him, but acquitted him of the charge of coercion.
Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!
Prosecutors had sought a prison term of two-and-a-half years for Rubiales — one year for sexual assault and 18 months for coercion for having allegedly pressured the player to downplay the incident afterwards.
Judge Jose Manuel Fernandez-Prieto at Spain’s High Court found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault over the kiss and fined him 10,800 euros ($11,300), but spared him a prison sentence.
Rubiales was also banned from going within a 200-metre radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for a period of one year.
Kissing a woman on the mouth “is not the normal way of greeting people with whom one has no sentimental relationship,” the judge wrote in his ruling, saying Rubiales had violated Hermoso’s “sexual freedom” without her consent.
Rubiales’ lawyer Olga Tubau Martinez told AFP her client “has decided to appeal the ruling”.
Video footage of the scandal that rocked Spanish football shows then-Spanish federation chief Rubiales clasping Hermoso’s head at the 2023 Women’s World Cup medal ceremony in Sydney and kissing her on the lips before letting her go with two slaps on the back.
The global outcry over the kiss forced Rubiales to resign in disgrace and thrust the spotlight on the prevalence of macho culture and sexism in sport.
Luis Rubiales (R) next to Jennifer Hermoso (L) after winning the Women’s World Cup.Source: AFP
Hermoso, 34, said on the opening day of the trial on February 3 she felt “disrespected” after a non-consensual kiss that “should not happen in any social or work setting”.
Her teammates described under oath how she cried and felt “overwhelmed” following the incident, while her brother Rafael Hermoso said she came under pressure to downplay the affair to protect the federation chief.
But Rubiales, 47, told the court he was “totally sure” Hermoso consented to the kiss as she went up to receive her winner’s medal, which was broadcast live around the world, and denied putting pressure on her after the incident.
“She squeezed me very tightly under my armpits, she lifted me, and when I came down I asked her if I can give you a kiss, and she said ‘OK’. That’s what happened,” he said, describing it as “an act of affection”.
Rubiales conceded he “made a mistake” in the incident on the podium, saying he should have “been in a more institutional role”, but denied he had committed any offence.
Former president of the Spanish football federation Luis Rubiales outside court.Source: AFP
Rubiales’ defence team had argued that video images of Hermoso celebrating and drinking champagne with her teammates in the changing room shortly after the incident prove the player was not upset by the kiss, she added.
But prosecutor Marta Durantez Gil rejected this line of thought during her closing arguments in which she also said there was “no doubt” the kiss was “non-consensual”.
“How long are we going to keep demanding heroic behaviour from the victim of a sexual assault? Wasn’t she entitled to celebrate such a sporting triumph?” she asked.
The court acquitted the three other accused in the case, ex-women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda and two former federation officials, of the charge of coercion.
Jennifer Hermoso arrives at the court of San Fernando de Henares.Source: AFP
Equality Minister Ana Redondo welcomed the verdict, saying it demonstrated that “when there is no consent, there is aggression”.
Rubiales’ stance on the stand contrasted with the defiance he displayed when the scandal broke.
During an emergency federation meeting in August 2023, he played down the importance of the kiss and rebuffed calls for his resignation, railing against “false feminism”.
Rubiales resigned in September that year after football’s global governing body FIFA suspended him and Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged sexual assault. He had been federation chief since 2018.
Hermoso, the all-time top scorer for the Spain national women’s team who now plays for Mexican club Tigres, was not called up to the squad immediately after the World Cup.
New coach Montse Tome explained she wanted to protect the player and denied omitting her from the squad was a “punishment”.
Costly missed chances could come back to haunt the Socceroos, but Saudi Arabia felt equally aggrieved after they were denied an injury-time winner in a dramatic scoreless draw in Melbourne.
Australian hearts sank when Saudi substitute Sultan Al-Ghannam drove a low shot into the bottom left corner from distance with only seconds remaining, but amid jubilant celebrations, the goal was disallowed after it was deemed keeper Joe Gauci was interfered with by an offside player.
If the Saudi attacker was offside, it was by little more than a toe as the visitors remonstrated angrily and play halted for several minutes as the decision was checked by video referee.
The offside call was upheld, only for Australia to go down the other end and almost score via a stunning bicycle kick attempt from Riley McGree which missed right.
The biggest chance for the Socceroos to break the deadlock had come in the 84th minute, when substitute Brandon Borrello burst clear but opted to pass to McGree to his left instead of chipping the keeper.
A desperate sliding challenge from Saud Abdulhamid knocked the ball out of McGree’s path.
After starting slowly but taking control at the half-hour mark, the Socceroos lost key playmaker Ajdin Hrustic at halftime after he had appeared sore before the break.
His replacement Nishan Velupillay was the brightest spark in the second half, but suffered an ankle injury when he was brought down in a tangle of limbs in the penalty box in the 69th minute.
Melbourne-born Hrustic missed a golden opportunity to open the Socceroos’ account in the 45th minute when Aiden O’Neill boldly slid from behind to strip a Saudi defender of the ball and leave his teammate on his preferred left side on the edge of the box.
But Hrustic failed to connect with his shot and barely tested the keeper, before fellow local boy Jackson Irvine was left bitterly disappointed on the stroke of halftime when he moved in on the box but fired his shot just over the top-right hand corner.
The draw left the two sides on equal points midway through the third round of qualifying, with a win over Bahrain crucial for Australia to move towards the top-two finish required to book a World Cup berth by June next year.
Riley McGree of the Socceroos reacts during the Round 3 2026 FIFA World Cup AFC Asian Qualifier match between Australia Socceroos and Saudi Arabia at AAMI Park on November 14, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
PENALTY OVERTURNED
The opposition keeper sent off and a penalty in the first 15 minutes? Christmas almost came early for the Socceroos when Saudi gloveman Ahmed Alkassar was drawn into the path of Mitch Duke and the pair clashed heads in the 13th minute.
But despite the referee pointing to the spot after both players hit the deck, it was obvious upon the first replay that the collision had happened outside the box and the decision was swiftly downgraded.
Alkassar, who lay spread-eagled on his back, completely still, for two minutes after the collision, escaped with a yellow card and did not need to enter concussion protocols.
GAUCI’S GLOVES TO LOSE
Mathew Ryan retained the Socceroos captaincy leading into this window, but it would take a dramatic shift for him to remain in the role after Tony Popovic opted for Joe Gauci in goal for the third consecutive match.
Gauci, who has made only two cup appearances for Aston Villa so far this season, had two heart-in-mouth moments on the ball early on, but gained a confidence boost when he pulled off an impressive double save on the brink of halftime.
An eventual offside call erased most of the meaning of a dangerous counter-attack by Marwan Al-Sahafi, but Gauci did well in a one-on-one before getting back to his feet and parrying a follow-up shot to safety.
Joe Gauci of the Socceroos kicks the ball during the Round 3 2026 FIFA World Cup AFC Asian Qualifier match between Australia Socceroos and Saudi Arabia at AAMI Park on November 14, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
IN FULL VOICE
The size of Melbourne’s Saudi Arabian community is often underestimated, but there was no missing the Green Falcons’ active support despite organisers cramming them into a single corner at the river end of the stadium.
Driven by a significant international student population, the Saudi crew drummed, chanted and bounced to be easily the loudest bay in the venue, stripping away any home crowd advantage the Socceroos had been hoping to capitalise on.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has admitted professional footballers are “close” to striking as a result of their ever-increasing schedules.
Speaking ahead of his side’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan, their first in the revamped edition of the competition that’s taken the number of games from 125 to 189, the Spaniard revealed the possibility of a players strike was high.
“Yes, I think we are close to that,” he said.
Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!
Slater endorses Sermanni appointment | 00:49
“If it keeps this way we will have no other option. It is something that worries us.”
The 28-year-old played 50 games for club and country last season and could feature in as many as 77 games if both City and the Spanish national team progress deep in their respective competitions.
A particular point of contention related to world football’s increasingly bloated schedule is the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup, an expanded competition City are set to take part in next July.
Back in June, three of the biggest players unions in European football launched legal action against the game’s governing body, FIFA, in relation to the new Club World Cup.
The trio of unions – the English Professional Players Association (PFA), the Italian players’ union (AIC) and France’s Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionels – labelled the competition as a “tipping point.”
Their legal action argues the rights of football players are violated under EU laws as a result of the new-look Club World Cup, which they expect to add six weeks of additional work to a players’ schedule.
Such bloated schedules have been a point of contention within world football for several seasons now, with star players frequently succumbing to injuries suffered as a result of their relentless schedule.
Rodri, who is a frontrunner for this year’s Ballon D’or, stressed “someone has to take care of us because we are the main characters of this, let’s say, sport, or business, whatever you want to call it.”
The holding midfielder indicated that “between 40 and 50 is the amount of games in which a player can perform at the highest level.”
“After that you drop because it’s impossible to sustain the physical level,” he added.
“This year we are maybe going to go until 70 or maybe 80 (games). In my humble opinion, I think it is too much.
“Not everything is about money or marketing. It is about the quality of the show. In my opinion, when I am not tired I perform better.
“If people want to see better football we need to rest.”
Socceroos captain Mat Ryan says his “naive” team had to work “smarter” rather than harder against Indonesia in Jakarta on Tuesday night after a shock 1-0 FIFA World Cup qualifying loss to Bahrain at Robina Stadium.
Reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute on Thursday night when striker Kusini Yengi was sent off, the Socceroos suffered an even more crushing blow in the dying stages when an own goal from Harry Souttar secured the Bahrainis three points on the road to the 2026 World Cup.
“Defensively, the goal we conceded after the red card is not good enough but those things happen if you’re not doing the other things well enough and you put yourself in that scenario,” Ryan said.
“We were too naive in the way we played the game.
Watch an average of 3 games each week during the regular season, plus every game of the NFL Postseason including the Super Bowl, LIVE on ESPN with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
“I don’t think it’s a case of needing to work harder but needing to work smarter. We didn’t ask enough of the right questions in the right areas, and we gave the goalkeeper a pretty quiet night and didn’t test him and didn’t test the defence well enough in the final third.
“When you come up against this (type of) opposition, if you don’t get that first goal and they stay compact, they’ve got strengths and they’re hard to break down.
“We’ve got to show personality and character now to respond in the strongest possible way. It’s down to us now.”
Apart from a frustrating night in attack, the Socceroos also let the Bahrainis’ attempts to milk free kicks with theatrical reactions to tackles get the better of them.
“We’ve spoken many times about the challenges that this (type) of opposition brings us,” Ryan said.
“If you don’t get that early goal, the time wasting comes into it, the so-called acting, going to ground and the referee’s then put in a position where he needs to determine whether it’s diving or whether it’s a legitimate foul.
“We’ve got to deal with those situations better and more maturely as a team. We’ve got to not put ourselves in a situation where that becomes a factor.”
Mathew Ryan was exasperated during the loss to Bahrain. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold was quick to give “full credit” to Bahrain despite his frustration with the visitors’ “play-acting”.
“That was the lowest amount of minutes of football that I’ve seen, 46 minutes total the ball was in the park and getting played, but overall we’ve just got to pick ourselves up quickly,” Arnold said.
“We’ve got a quick turnaround to Indonesia, and we’ve got to make sure we learn from that and move on.
“There’s nine (Group C) games to go. We need to get over it quickly, bounce back quickly and show that good Aussie DNA way of backs to the wall and off we go.”
Kansas City recently got a glimpse of the excitement and challenges that come with hosting international soccer events, as it prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Over the past week, the city hosted two Copa America games at Children’s Mercy Park and GEHA Field atArrowhead Stadium, drawing soccer fans from around the globe.
While the matches showcased Kansas City’s potential as a World Cup host, several issues need addressing to ensure a seamless experience in 2026.
What Kansas City Needs to Improve Before Hosting the FIFA World Cup
Game Times: Avoiding the Heat
One of the biggest challenges during the Copa America games was the scheduling of match times. The Canada-Peru game at Children’s Mercy Park kicked off at 5 p.m., the hottest part of the day in late June. With the heat index soaring into triple digits, assistant referee Humberto Panjoj collapsed from the heat late in the first half. Players, including Canada defender Alistair Johnston, emphasized the need for later start times.
“It can’t be a 5 o’clock kickoff,” Johnston stated after Canada’s 1-0 victory. “It’s gotta be an 8 or 9 o’clock kickoff. Because honestly, it’s not even safe for the fans.”
For the 2026 World Cup, it’s crucial that FIFA schedules games during cooler parts of the day to ensure the safety of both players and fans.
Refereeing Standards: Ensuring Fair Play
The U.S. Men’s National Team’s 1-0 loss to Uruguay at Arrowhead Stadium highlighted the need for top-tier refereeing. Referee Kevin Ortega made an unusual decision by issuing a yellow card while allowing Uruguay to play on, confusing many fans and players. While the U.S. team wasn’t outright robbed, such officiating blunders must be avoided in the World Cup.
FIFA must ensure that only the best referees are assigned to World Cup matches, and that VAR (Video Assistant Referee) decisions are clear and accurate.
Broadcasting Issues: Enhancing Viewer Experience
Viewers tuning in to the U.S. game on Monday were initially frustrated by an awkward TV angle that hampered their viewing experience. Fox Sports broadcasters repeatedly explained that this was due to using a “world feed” from the South American Football Confederation, chosen to highlight advertising boards around the stadium. Fortunately, the issue was resolved by halftime, but such problems should be prevented in the future.
FIFA needs to guarantee that all matches are broadcast with optimal camera angles, ensuring that viewers worldwide can enjoy the game without distractions.
Fans and Future Expectations
Despite these hiccups, Kansas City showed its potential as a fantastic host city for international soccer events. Peruvian fans, among others, were seen outside team hotels, bringing vibrant energy to the city. The Kelce family, including Travis Kelce, who recently attended Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in London, mingled with fans, adding to the excitement.
As Kansas City prepares for the 2026 World Cup, addressing these key issues will be vital. With the right improvements, the city can ensure a memorable and enjoyable experience for soccer fans from around the world.
HOW $166M SUPERSTAR HAS REGRESSED TO ‘STUTTERING STOCK CAR’
Only England could go unbeaten and finish top of their group yet attract countless negative headlines.
Gareth Southgate’s side turned in three uninspiring performances against Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia as the travelling support let the team know of their frustrations.
One play who hasn’t lived up to expectations is talismanic midfielder Jude Bellingham.
After scoring the only goal in England’s victory over Serbia, Bellingham’s performance levels dropped considerably in the final two group games.
For example, he had 93 touches against Serbia but then had 63 and 69 against Denmark and Slovenia respectively.
His attacking intent dropped too, with just 17 forward passes made in the final two games compared to 18 in the opener against Serbia.
Most worryingly, he became increasingly unsuccessful in duels: he won 63 per cent against Serbia, followed by 38 per cent and 22 per cent in the following group games.
Perhaps the 104 domestic and international games Bellingham has played in the last two seasons has finally caught up.
Even former England international Gary Lineker noted Bellingham looked like he was running on fumes.
Bellingham’s performance levels have considerably dropped in England’s past two games. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“Having had a great opening game, he’s struggled since,” Lineker said on The Rest Is Football podcast.
“I think he chases lost causes a lot. Sometimes, you can see him sprinting.
“I understand why because he’s so determined to help the team but I think sometimes you’ve got to reserve your energy a little bit.
“But that’s experience. He’s only 20.”
Yes, Bellingham may be young, but he’s also played over 100 games for club and country in the past two seasons.
For someone so young and with such an all-action style of play, that is a lot of football and minutes accrued.
Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett described Bellingham as, right now, “more like a stuttering stock car than a finely-tuned Formula One race machine.”
Some have called Southgate to rest Real Madrid’s $AUD166 million man for the Round of 16 clash against Slovakia, which would be one bold call.
But, if it helps Bellingham recharge the batteries and allows him to perform like he did against Serbia rather than Denmark and Slovenia, it might be the spark that ignites England’s charge.
Does Southgate make the drastic call to rest Bellingham? (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
MAN UTD OWES EX-BOSS AN APOLOGY AMID DARK HORSE’S SURGE
Grouped alongside France and the Netherlands, many tipped Austria’s best chance of making the knockouts to be advancing as one of the four best third-placed teams.
Three games later and Ralf Rangnick’s side stunned just about everybody to finish first, as a 3-2 victory over the Dutch in the final group game secured top spot.
The victory vindicated Rangnick’s decision to turn down German giants Bayern Munich and also was the perfect middle finger to his many detractors from his time at Manchester United.
But what makes this Austrian team so successful?
Perhaps it comes from the Red Bull football group, which includes the likes of RB Leipzig in Germany and Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.
Red Bull’s philosophy revolves around high-pressing, high-intensity football along with vertical attacks.
Guess who was the architect for Red Bull’s philosophy? Yep, you guessed it: Rangnick himself.
Nine players in Austria’s Euro squad have either spent time at a Red Bull club or remain at one, making it easier for Rangnick to implement his tactics.
Rangnick has transformed Austria. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Austrian skipper Marcel Sabitzer, who played over 170 games for RB Leipzig, believes the shift in approach under Rangnick has been transformative and exactly what the team needed to thrive.
“It’s been almost two years since the coach and his team joined us, and since then we’ve seen a clear development,” Sabitzer said after beating the Netherlands.
“We were a bit passive against the ball before and we’ve definitely changed that. We’re strong against the ball now. Everyone knows that if they lose the ball, they have to immediately switch over and go on the chase.
“That’s probably the biggest difference but with the ball, we have a very good man (Rangnick) there who always gives us good input and creates spaces where we want to play.”
Austria now face Turkey in the Round of 16 and either Romania or the Netherlands in the quarterfinal, meaning they are a strong chance of going as deep a the semi finals.
Given how Rangnick was hounded out of United, perhaps there are some at Old Trafford who owe him an apology.
Sabitzer has thrived in the Austrian team under Rangnick. (Photo by Ronny HARTMANN / AFP)Source: AFP
WORLD NO. 3’S EMBARRASSING TOURNEY FLOP … AGAIN
Belgium suffered a humiliating exit at the group stage of the 2022 World Cup and two years on, the vibes are not much better.
The Red Devils were dubbed heavy favourites to top Group E, which featured Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine.
However, Belgium ultimately scraped through to the knockout stage via goal difference and won just once (2-0 v Romania) as Romania, 47th in the FIFA rankings, took top spot.
It was a complete surprise given Belgium dominated in their qualifying group, winning six of eight games with 22 goals scored and just four conceded.
Belgian fans were furious after a disappointing goalless draw against Ukraine, with skipper Kevin De Bruyne escorting his team off the pitch after the final whistle after he initially went to applaud the supporters, only to be greeted with a chorus of boos.
“There is one minute left of the game, so you don’t want to take any risks,” De Bruyne said in defence of the team’s conservative tactics late in the game.
“I understand people want us to win but if we go for the corner, they win it back, then they score, then everyone will kill me.
“Sometimes you need to take certain risks and sometimes you need to be smart. Two minutes from the end you need to be smart, definitely.”
As a result of their weak group performance, they have now been pitted against tournament favourites France in the Round of 16.
Kevin De Bruyne did not want to acknowledge Belgium’s fans after the draw against Ukraine. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Despite the boos, De Bruyne called for the fans to get behind the team against the French.
“We just need [the fans], I don’t know what else to say,” De Bruyne said.
“We just need them, you know? We will need them against France like we needed them in the last three games.”
The scoreless draw against Ukraine also prompted criticism from England legend Wayne Rooney.
“Belgium were very poor,” Rooney told BBC.
“If that’s how they are moving forwards, then they have got no chance.”
Alan Shearer concurred with Rooney, branding Belgium “terrible”.
But if Belgium are to transform their fortunes, they desperately need star striker Romelu Lukaku to start burying his chances.
Per Opta, Lukaku has taken eight shots — the fourth-most of all players — with seven of those on target to register the third-highest xG (expected goals) figure of 1.67.
However, the hulking forward has failed to score once, with three potential goals ruled out via VAR.
It followed Lukaku’s performance against Croatia at the last World Cup where he registered an xG of 1.98 in the second half, a figure higher than Morocco’s xG for the entire group stage (1.35), but still failed to score.
Belgium desperately need Lukaku to find his scoring boots against France, otherwise it will be a disappointing early exit.
Lukaku has had countless chances but simply cannot score. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
HEAVYWEIGHT’S SURPRISE TACTICAL APPROACH PAYS DIVIDENDS
Yes, Spain were a pre-tournament favourite, but they weren’t the favourite.
But after the group stage, La Roja have cemented themselves as the team to beat.
Luis De La Fuente’s side was the only one to win all three group games, scoring five goals and conceding none.
What makes the feat even more impressive is that they were in the supposed group of death alongside Euro 2020 champions Italy and Croatia.
It’s also worth noting Spain’s 1-0 victory over Albania given De La Fuente made a whopping 10 changes to his line-up, emphasising how strong the team’s depth is.
Spain ended the group stage with the fourth-best xG figure (5.54) and with the second-most shots taken (37), highlighting their attacking brilliance.
One element of Spain’s play that is slightly surprising to neutral observers is that they haven’t dominated possession, which has often been a hallmark of previous teams.
SPAIN POSSESSION AT 2022 WORLD CUP
Spain 7-0 Costa Rica — Spain had 82 per cent possession
Spain 1-1 Germany — Spain had 65 per cent possession
Spain 1-2 Japan — Spain had 83 per cent possession
Spain 0-0 Morocco — Spain had 77 per cent possession
SPAIN POSSESSION AT EURO 2024
Spain 3-0 Croatia — Spain had 46 per cent possession
Spain 1-0 Italy — 58 per cent possession
Spain 1-0 Albania — 59 per cent possession
It’s a markedly different approach but, as Spain’s Euro 2024 results and attacking metrics have shown, it is an effective one.
Spain take on Georgia in the next round, with La Roja beating the world No. 74 7-1 and 3-1 in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Spain are in fine form. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP)Source: AFP
THINGS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED …
An unfortunate ending to Ukraine’s run who concluded Group E in fourth place.
Despite finishing on four points (enough to qualify in Group C), Ukraine’s frustrating draw to Belgium leaves them dumped from the competition.
Combined with the 1-1 result between Romania and Slovakia, Ukraine’s 3-0 loss in their first game may be looked back on with dismay.
The Golden Boot race has an unexpected leader in Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze.
With three goals thus far, the Georgian international’s efforts have led his nation to picking up a Round of 16 spot through 3rd place in Group F.
Own goals have been hogging the limelight of the tournament with a total of seven attempts into the wrong net in the group stages alone.
This isn’t a new trend to the tournament however, with 11 own goals coming in the previous tournament, eight of which came in the group stages.
Kusini Yengi further enhanced his claims for a permanent spot in the Socceroos’ starting team with a brace in Australia’s 5-0 disposal of Palestine in Perth on Tuesday night.
The 25-year-old Portsmouth striker scored twice in the first half at HBF Park, where the Socceroos completed the second-round of AFC qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup with a sixth successive win.
Yengi has now scored four goals in his past three matches for Australia as he stakes a genuine claim to be the Socceroos’ first-choice centre forward.
Joining him on the scoresheet in the comprehensive win were Adam Taggart, Martin Boyle and substitute Nestory Irankunda, who netted his first goal for the Socceroos in just his second appearance with a late penalty following a handball offence from Palestine defender Yaser Hamed.
It was part of a tough night for Hamed, who also gave away a spot kick in the first five minutes to give the Socceroos the early ascendancy.
However, it was a contentious decision from Saudi Arabian referee Khalid Al-Turais, with Palestine furious after he pointed to the penalty spot following a collision in the box between Hamed and Australian left-back Aziz Behich.
Irankunda celebrated his first Socceroos goal with a trademark backflip. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
With the VNR system not in operation, there was to be no reversing of the decision, with striker Yengi netting the spot kick.
The Australians doubled their lead in the 26th minute when Perth Glory marksman Taggart scored for the first time in Socceroos colours since 2019 with a clinical finish after being fed by Martin Boyle.
Taggart’s seventh goal in 20 Socceroos’ appearances was also the first time he had found the back of the net in an international on home soil.
The Socceroos put the game to bed late in the first half when Yengi scored his second of the night, but there were doubts over the goal, with Boyle, who again provided the assist, appearing to be offside in the build-up.
Yengi scored twice in the 5-0 rout over Palestine. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The rout continued in the second-half, with Boyle rewarded for his good performance with a 53rd-minute goal, scoring from close range after some unselfish play from Taggart, who rather than shoot from a good position, laid the ball into his grateful teammate’s path.
Bayern Munich-bound Irankunda provided the icing on the cake with his 87th-minute penalty, and celebrated with his customary backflips.
“It was a good result for the boys and a fantastic performance at home,” Perth product Taggart said.
“It means a lot to do it here in Perth. I couldn’t be happier.”
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold made eight changes to the side that start in last Thursday’s 2-0 win over Bangladesh, while Newcastle Jets striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos was given his first Socceroos cap off the bench.
“It’s (about) the depth that we’ve been creating,” Arnold said.
