… Centre back William Saliba will be out for an extended period due to a back injury, while Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke look likely to miss the start of the campaign given their recent World Cup commitments. …
… Tuchel was forced into half-time changes, replacing the influential Declan Rice, who has been struggling with illness and injury, as well as Noni Madueke, sending on Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka. …
When Noni Madueke was named in England’s starting line-up for their World Cup opener against Croatia, it was the latest moment in what has been a dramatic season for the Arsenal winger. …
… The 32-year-old Kane, who arrived at the World Cup shouldering heavy expectations after a brilliant season at Bayern Munich, had opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 12th minute after Noni Madueke was brought down in the box by Croatia’s 40-year-old Luka Modric. …
… If Saka is limited, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford or Noni Madueke can change the shape of the front line, but none give the same right-side pattern. …
… Harry Kane put England ahead in 12 minutes with a twice-taken spot-kick after Luka Modric fouled Noni Madueke, Croatia keeper Dominik Livakovic saving his first attempt but penalised for encroaching off his goalline. …
… happy to take that gamble and it paid off I’d say, and I’m going to continue doing that – but like I said I’m feeling a lot better than I did in March and I’m ready to go, so I’m excited.” Saka is competing for a starting spot on the right wing with Arsenal team-mate Noni Madueke …
Dutch defender Jurrien Timber has left Arsenal's pre-season camp in Spain for a check-up on his long-standing groin injury; the BBC reports this is part of his rehabilitation timeline and not a fresh setback. Arsenal face multiple injury concerns ahead of the new season, with centre back William Saliba out due to a back injury and several other players likely to miss the start after their World Cup participation.
Dutch defender Jurrien Timber has left Arsenal's pre-season camp in Spain for a check-up on his long-standing groin injury; the BBC reports this is part of his rehabilitation timeline and not a fresh setback. Arsenal face multiple injury concerns ahead of the new season, with centre back William Saliba out due to a back injury and several other players likely to miss the start after their World Cup participation.
Jude Bellingham scored twice to inspire England to a comeback extra-time victory over Norway in the quarter-final in Miami, sending them into the last four where they will face either Argentina or Switzerland.
Ghana's Black Stars held England to a 0-0 draw in their second Group L match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, leaving both teams on four points with Ghana second in the group. The result brings Ghana closer to the Round of 32, with a Panama-Croatia draw on Tuesday guaranteeing their qualification.
Ghana and England, each with three points from their opening matches, meet in the second group game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Gillette Stadium; a win for either side could secure automatic progression to the knockout phase.
Noni Madueke, who faced a petition against his £50m move to Arsenal from Chelsea last summer, has become a Premier League winner and started for England in their World Cup opener against Croatia, where he won the penalty scored by Harry Kane in a 4-2 victory.
Harry Kane scored twice as England defeated Croatia 4-2 in a World Cup Group L match, with Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford also scoring. The victory came in a heavyweight clash at Dallas Stadium, with Croatia twice drawing level before England pulled away.
Thomas Tuchel confirmed that Bukayo Saka is managing an Achilles injury ahead of England's World Cup opener against Croatia on 17 June. Saka remains part of the squad but his workload may need to be controlled, raising questions about England's right-side attacking threat if his minutes are limited.
Harry Kane used a deliberate stuttered run-up in England's World Cup opener against Croatia, knowing it might draw goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic off his goalline; after his first penalty was saved, VAR ruled Livakovic had moved too early, and Kane scored on the retake.
England beat Croatia in a high-scoring match in Dallas, with Harry Kane scoring twice and Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford adding goals. The match was decided after England came from behind multiple times and ultimately secured a comfortable victory, though England showed defensive vulnerabilities throughout the match.
Bukayo Saka, carrying an Achilles injury since March, says he is "ready to go" for England's World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday, though manager Thomas Tuchel has indicated it is "very unlikely" Saka would "start and finish" all World Cup matches.
England manager Thomas Tuchel appears likely to field Jude Bellingham in the No 10 role for the World Cup opener against Croatia, based on the team's starting lineup in a 3-0 warm-up win over Costa Rica. Morgan Rogers is expected to be benched in favour of Bellingham for the tournament's start.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, 27, has been named England's vice-captain for the World Cup under manager Thomas Tuchel. Rice has earned 72 caps for England and recently helped Arsenal win the Premier League and reach the Champions League final.
Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott is poised to make his England debut in forthcoming World Cup preparation friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica in the United States. Scott is among five supplementary squad members who travelled to Florida ahead of the arrival of other players following European finals commitments.
England has announced its squad numbers for the World Cup, with Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham receiving the No 10 shirt, potentially signalling his role in the central attacking role ahead of Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel has advised World Cup players to spend their off-season holidays in United States time zones to help with acclimatisation. The squad will arrive in Florida on Monday for a pre-tournament camp, with matches against New Zealand and Costa Rica scheduled for 6 and 10 June, while England's training base in Kansas City, Missouri, is six hours behind UK time.
Arsenal lost to Paris St-Germain in a Champions League final penalty shootout, with Gabriel Magalhaes missing the decisive spot-kick, despite taking an early lead through Kai Havertz in Budapest. The defeat denied Mikel Arteta's side a league and European double after they lifted the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years.
Manager Mikel Arteta says Dutch right-back Jurrien Timber is fit to start Saturday's Champions League final against Paris St-Germain, having recovered from a groin injury sustained in March. Noni Madueke is also available for selection after a hamstring issue.