Zlatan Ibrahimovic has claimed Thomas Tuchel put his England team at a significant disadvantage in their World Cup quarter-final against Norway.

The Three Lions emerged victorious thanks to a Jude Bellingham brace, but needed extra time and perhaps some favourable VAR decisions to go their way in the process. However, Bellingham’s double was enough to secure a semi-final showdown with old foes Argentina.

The majority of Tuchel’s starting XI for that tie will be set in stone already, but there are still one or two positions up for grabs. Ibrahimovic has identified one man as a weak link, and it’s likely he wouldn’t recommend him as a starter on Wednesday.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Noticed England Star ‘Walking’

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England have had to deal with several injury issues over the course of the tournament. One of the players who has been in and out of the team due to fitness problems is Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka.

His replacement on the right flank has been clubmate Noni Madueke. The 24-year-old once again took his place in the starting XI against Norway but only lasted until half-time.

It’s no surprise as Madueke failed to make an impression, and Ibrahimovic was far from surprised. In comments that have since been widely spread on social media, the Swede didn’t hold back in his assessment.

Speaking on Fox Sports’ coverage, he claimed the Three Lions were essentially playing with 10 men, saying: “It [the hydration break] changed a little bit because Jude Bellingham has been the most active player for England.

“But I think they’re playing with one player less so far Madueke has been on the pitch, I have to say every time he gets the ball he makes the wrong decision, and he’s walking on the pitch.”

The last thing England need is someone ‘walking’, as Tuchel expressed his frustrations at the performance levels at full-time. The German was clearly on the same wavelength as Ibrahimovic when it came to Madueke’s display.

During the break, the ex-AC Milan hero said: “If I’m Tuchel, I change him because he’s done nothing this first 45.” That’s exactly what he did.

‘The cable’ having a better performance was a reference to the camera cable the ball allegedly struck in the build-up to England’s first goal. However, FIFA have since released a statement denying that this was the case.

Leeds United and Everton are said to be in a battle for holding midfielder as the summer transfer window begins to hot up. Both sides are hoping to build on the momentum of last season, with Leeds having stayed in the Premier League at the first time of asking, and without too much of a sweat.

Daniel Farke will be given money to spend this summer as the Whites look to become a Premier League mainstay, these days armed with a Red Bull budget.

As for Everton, they flirted with the European spots last summer, and after a season of progress under David Moyes, they will fully believe they can take the next step towards qualifying for Europe next season, but not without a few quality signings this summer.

Everton and Leeds battle for holding midfielder

According to Parma Live, Everton and Leeds are in a tussle for holding midfielder Mandela Keita, who has been heavily linked with a move away from the Serie A club this summer.

According to the report, Everton have asked for a ‘payment plan’ when contacting Parma, while Leeds are also said to have interest, and they have also been linked with Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki over recent weeks.

Elsewhere, Atalanta have also been linked, though they look as though they will now keep midfielder Ederson, who was all-set for a move to Manchester United only for the deal to be canceled by the Red Devils.

Parma are said to be asking for €30million (£25.5million) to sell Keita, who is under contract until 2029 having arrived from Royal Antwerp since 2024.

Keita a combative midfielder

At 24 years of age, Keita has plenty of potential still to reach, and in terms of style, he is a combative midfielder who plays with energy and offers serious defensive ability. He is also solid on the ball, able to keep possession and help with quick transitions. In his last three years, his pass success percentage has not dropped below 87% in any competition.

Back during his Royal Antwerp days, his former manager, Mark van Bommel said: “Mandela is an open guy, calm and modest. But he doesn’t shy away from anything or anyone on the pitch.”

Keita won a senior cap for Belgium back in 2023 but hasn’t been part of the international scene of late. It will be interesting to see if Leeds or Everton spend as much as £25.5million on Keita, given that would be a big statement from both sides, as shown by the reports of Everton asking for structured payments, although that is standard practice in the modern game, especially with the presence of Profit and Sustainability rules.

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

Conor McGregor has broken his silence folloing his 69-second loss to Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 on Saturday night.

The 37-year-old’s return to the Octagon after a five-year absence ended in bitterly disappointing fashion as the Irish superstar injured his right leg with the very first strike he threw in the fight.

‘The Notorious’ looked to make a fast start as he charged in for a jumping roundhouse kick. He didn’t find his target with the blow, but the way he landed on his right leg effectively ended the fight before it had really begun.

Following his injury, McGregor was unable to stay on his feet, slipping straight to the canvas on multiple occasions. To his credit, he kept trying to fight. Unfortunately, the extent of the damage he had sustained was too great and the referee swiftly called the fight off, awarding Holloway a TKO victory.

Conor was clearly crushed by the defeat as he left the Octagon without conducting a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. Footage later emerged of him looking on the verge of tears as he made his way out of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

‘Destroyed’ – Conor McGregor’s Tweet Following UFC 329 Injury

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas via Imagn Images

In the minutes following his defeat, a gutted McGregor took to Twitter to give fans a brutally honest glimpse into his mindset.

“My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. I had no injury / injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.”

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.