Sports
The Bold England 11 Thomas Tuchel Needs to Name vs Mexico
Thomas Tuchel has plenty of decisions to make after England avoided a giant-killing to book their place in the last 16 of the World Cup against Mexico.
A Harry Kane brace saw the Three Lions come from behind to beat a tough DR Congo side who led for 75 minutes. While Tuchel’s men dug deep to turn the game around, their German coach won’t have liked the overall performance.
Several players disappointed and might be at risk of the chop ahead of a massive showdown with Mexico on Monday. Here is how Tuchel must set his side up for a dreaded trip to the Azteca.
Goalkeeper and Defence
England started slowly against the Congolese and were made to pay after Brian Cipenga gave the Africans an early shock. That largely came due to poor defending, and Jordan Pickford was easily beaten at his near post.
Pickford will undoubtedly remain Tuchel’s number one for the Mexico game, but the unconvincing Djed Spence cannot continue at right-back. Most of DR Congo’s threat came through Cipenga, who constantly gave Spence problems.
Once Tuchel decided to bring Spence off for Eberechi Eze and move Declan Rice into a makeshift right-back role, the Three Lions improved. In fact, that tactical switch led to both of Kane’s goals, with each move starting out on the right.
A lack of right-back options is a real issue for Tuchel and the solution may well be to start Rice in the position at the Azteca. His versatility allows him to still control games in a similar fashion to how Philipp Lahm did at right-back throughout his career with Germany.
Ezri Konsa looked nervy, and perhaps turning to John Stones for experience is the way forward. The Manchester City centre-back should partner Marc Guehi, while Nico O’Reilly deserves to keep his place at left-back.
Bringing Rice into the back four also gives the backline a leader who can ensure his teammates stay focused against a tricky Mexican attack. It’s a risky move but one that could pay off given the massive headache Tuchel has.
Midfield
Moving Rice means a slot opens up in midfield and that should go to Kobbie Mainoo, who earned a starting role during the knockout stages of Euro 2024. We were so open in midfield, and the Manchester United midfielder has the technical ability to help Elliot Anderson dominate proceedings in the middle of the park.
Jude Bellingham has silenced his critics and been one of England’s standout performers. The Real Madrid man will keep his place in the number 10 role where he is thriving.
While Tuchel could opt to use Bellingham as an eight and start Morgan Rogers in the 10, the Aston Villa man didn’t impress in the 2-0 win over Panama. Mainoo’s profile will suit the type of game expected against co-hosts Mexico, and he’s fresh having been given little game time.
Attack
Kane is undroppable, and if Tuchel’s men are going to win the tournament, he’ll be the one to fire them to glory. The main issue has been out on the wing with the manager constantly chopping and changing.
Noni Madueke endured a frustrating outing against DR Congo, and Bukayo Saka needs to start if he is fit enough. Another dilemma is on the left wing, as Marcus Rashford has performed better as an impact sub, but Anthony Gordon stepped up after coming off the bench in the win over DR Congo, providing both assists for Kane.
The England XI Tuchel Must Pick vs Mexico: Pickford; Rice, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly; Mainoo, Anderson, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Gordon
Sports
Done Deal: Newcastle Agree £43m Deal to Sign Bazoumana Traore

Newcastle United have agreed a £43m deal to sign Hoffenheim forward Bazoumana Traore this summer, according to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg.
Sports
Man Utd Leading Race to Sign £103m Star Felix Nmecha
Manchester United are leading the race alongside Man City to sign Borussia Dortmund star Felix Nmecha this summer, according to Sport BILD.
The Red Devils have had a difficult summer window so far, missing out on top targets Elliot Anderson to Man City and Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham Hotspur, although a deal to sign Atalanta star Ederson is expected to be completed after the World Cup.
But midfield remains a priority position to strengthen, and even more so following Manuel Ugarte’s serious knee injury, and the Germany international has now emerged as a potential target at Old Trafford.
Man Utd Lead Race for Felix Nmecha
Nmecha, who has been described by Julian Nagelsmann as ‘one of the best central midfielders in the world’, shone at the World Cup for Germany before they were surprisingly eliminated by Paraguay in the Round of 32 on penalties.
But the Borussia Dortmund star has attracted the attention of a number of top clubs with his performances, including Man Utd, after they missed out on deals for some of their top targets.
Man City, Newcastle United, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid are all understood to be alert to his situation, but it’s Man Utd who are considered to be ‘the main attractions’ for the central midfielder, who came through the academy at Man City, meaning he would count as ‘homegrown’ in the Premier League.
However, Dortmund are not under any pressure to sell the 25-year-old and have set a price of at least €120m (£103m) to allow him to depart the Bundesliga side.
It’s unclear if United would be willing to go so high, but Dortmund are understood to be very confident that Nmecha will be playing for them next season rather than at Old Trafford or anywhere else.
Nmecha Not a Big Money Signing
While Nmecha has impressed for both Dortmund and Germany in recent times, it’s clear that Dortmund are trying to cash in on the hype around him to get an inflated fee.
If Man Utd weren’t willing to pay the money needed to sign Anderson, who had been publicly earmarked as their top target for months, or Fernandes, who would have been considerably cheaper, then it’s hard to see how they justify paying that much for Nmecha.
While he has the skillset to excel and shine in United’s midfield, there are also several flaws in his game that would need hiding or helping, and the fee just simply isn’t anywhere near good value, making a deal highly unlikely to happen.
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Sports
Gary Neville Names Only Team That Can Stop France From Winning the 2026 World Cup
Gary Neville believes there is only one nation that are capable of stopping France at the 2026 World Cup, following Les Bleus’ ruthless 3-0 demolition of Sweden in the last 32.
Kylian Mbappe struck twice to take his tournament tally to six goals, with Bradley Barcola adding a third as Didier Deschamps’ side continued their imperious form in New Jersey.
France have now beaten Senegal, Iraq and Norway before dispatching Sweden with ease, and Neville only sees the 2022 finalists as the team to beat, but their kryptonite is tipped to come back and haunt them.
Neville Tips Argentina as the Only Side with the Mentality to Stop France
Speaking on ITV, Neville singled out Argentina’s experience and resilience as the key factors that could see them stand in France’s way, with the two sides potentially on a collision course later in the tournament.
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“The only team I can see stopping France right now, because of the mentality, is Argentina. Because of the nastiness and the horribleness and their experience.”
The former Manchester United defender did leave the door open for other nations to emerge as contenders, though admitted he’s yet to see enough: “Look, something may emerge. England, Spain, Portugal, we may see a step up. Let’s hope so,” he added. “There’s a long way to go but you look at them now thinking, you’ll have let yourselves down if you don’t win this. Because they’re so far ahead, at the moment, of where the other teams are in terms of level.”
Ian Wright Says Rivals Will Fear France More Than Each Other
Neville also praised France’s front four of Mbappe, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, warning defenders across the tournament will have nightmares trying to contain them.
“That four that started the game – they will cause nightmares for every single defender in the tournament and I don’t know how they stop that to be fair.”
Ian Wright echoed those sentiments, suggesting France’s upcoming opponents will be more concerned about facing Les Bleus than what they’d be over facing anyone else.
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“France in this form. They’ll be more worried about playing against France than they’d be worried about playing Spain or Portugal,” the Arsenal legend said. “It’s only if France have a total capitulation, which I can’t see, for them to [not] go on to win it. I can’t see what’s stopping them at the minute.”
France now turn their attention to Paraguay, who stunned Germany in the previous round on penalties, with the winner set to face Canada or Morocco in the quarter-finals.
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