Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has vented his frustrations about his team’s training schedule ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain, implying that they have been put at an unfair disadvantage.

The South American nation secured their spot in football’s showpiece event by beating England in dramatic circumstances on Wednesday evening in Atlanta. Late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez cancelled out Anthony Gordon’s opener, sending the reigning champions to their seventh World Cup final.

Meanwhile, Spain booked their place in the showdown in New Jersey by seeing off France 24 hours before the clash at the Atlanta Stadium. A penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal and a neat finish from Pedro Porro were enough for La Roja to progress.

Argentina only arrived in the New York area late on Thursday night, and Scaloni feels this is already a significant setback for his side heading into the game at MetLife Stadium.

Lionel Scaloni Complains About Training Schedule Ahead of World Cup Final

REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Spain reportedly flew into New Jersey on Wednesday night, the day after their semi-final victory over France. Argentina’s encounter with England only concluded on Wednesday evening, and they had to wait over 24 hours before landing in the north-east of the United States.

La Albiceleste arrived around 11pm on Thursday night, before FIFA instructed them to train briefly in the sweltering heat on Friday afternoon in New York.

Speaking at his press conference on Friday evening, Scaloni addressed this schedule and how it clearly favours Spain, who were able to train in more favourable conditions and enjoy an additional day’s rest.

“We’re just now resting because we arrived last night around 11pm,” he said. “Today they forced us to train at a time we didn’t want.

“But with the press conference and everything, we had to do a strange, quick training session, and we hardly got to try anything out.

History Shows Spain Have Huge Advantage Over Argentina

REUTERS/Brian Snyder

While fans might feel Scaloni is looking for excuses before the final has even commenced, the Argentina boss might actually have a point.

The Athletic revealed last week that in 13 of the last 14 World Cups and European Championships, the team who played their semi-final first has emerged with the trophy.

Clearly, having an additional rest period and more time to prepare tactically for the opposition gives teams significant advantages in these tournaments. That said, there isn’t really a way around this.

Ultimately, unless the two semi-finals are played at the same time or within a few hours of each other, one team is always going to have an advantage. Being first is the luck of the draw, and it’s unavoidable.

However, Scaloni’s complaints towards FIFA were more concentrated on the scheduling of the press conference and the training session. The football organisation could have allowed Argentina to train in the evening when it was cooler, scheduling the press conference for the afternoon.

Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was approached during the Football Association’s search for England‘s next manager before Thomas Tuchel’s appointment, GiveMeSport understands.

However, sources have indicated the contact never developed into a formal process, with Solskjaer never becoming an official candidate for the role.

It is understood there was an approach as the FA explored multiple options during its search to replace Gareth Southgate.

While conversations took place, they never progressed significantly and Solskjaer was never viewed as being in the final stages of contention.

The FA Considered Solskjaer and Guardiola Appointments

via Reuters

The approach came during the same period that former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was also considered by the FA, before they made the decision to hire Tuchel..

The German was eventually appointed as England head coach after emerging as the FA’s preferred choice.

Although Solskjaer’s involvement ultimately proved brief, the contact highlights the extensive work carried out behind the scenes as the FA assessed a number of high-profile options before settling on Tuchel.

Solskjaer most recently managed Turkish side Besiktas, spending eight months in charge during 2025 before leaving the club.

The Norwegian had previously been out of management since leaving Manchester United in November 2021, but his name has continued to be linked with a number of roles since his departure from Old Trafford.

FA Have No Intention of Sacking Tuchel

Dylan Martinez via Reuters

The revelation comes as Tuchel’s future has inevitably come under scrutiny following England’s 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.

Despite the criticism surrounding England’s exit, GiveMeSport understands there is no intention from the FA to make a managerial change.

Sources have indicated that the plan remains for Tuchel to lead England into UEFA Euro 2028, with the World Cup defeat doing nothing to alter that position.

Tuchel himself reaffirmed his commitment following the loss, insisting he remains “100%” focused on the role while defending the tactical decisions that came under scrutiny after England surrendered a one-goal lead against the reigning world champions.

England face France in Saturday night’s World Cup third-place play-off in Miami before attention turns to the next chapter under Tuchel.

While the result offers the Three Lions the chance to secure their best World Cup finish since 1966, the FA’s backing of the German is understood to remain unchanged irrespective of the outcome.

For weeks, CM Punk‘s absence from WWE following Raw After WrestleMania 42 became one of the biggest unanswered questions.

With WWE offering no explanation for where The Second City Saint had gone, fans turned to speculation, attempting to connect the dots.

Punk had only recently relinquished the World Heavyweight Championship, falling to Roman Reigns in a gripping 34-minute spectacle at WrestleMania 42. The Tribal Chief seized his opportunity after the champion collapsed towards the end of the fight, just before delivering what would have been a match-winning GTS, before driving home two thunderous Spears in a space of seconds to bring Punk’s second reign, and 169-day tenure with the title, to an end.

The following day on Raw, Punk was confronted by the then-Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes before vanishing from the screen for nearly three months.

However, 78 days after his last appearance, Punk returned to the grand stage, defeating Sami Zayn on the 6th July to claim his third recognised Undisputed WWE Championship—placing him in the upper echelons of greats, as one of only 19 stars to have won the belt on three or more occasions.

The triumph carried even greater significance as it came in Rosemount, Illinois, the very same area in which he captured his first Undisputed WWE Championship 15 years prior.

Yet, despite his return to WWE, fans were still left searching for an explanation behind The Voice of the Voiceless’ disappearance.

CM Punk Explains His Recent Absence From WWE

Joe Camporeale via Imagn Images

Speaking to ESPN New York late last night, Punk finally revealed he stepped away to grieve the loss of several people close to him.

It marked the first time in the 47-year-old’s career that he had taken a break without requiring surgery or rehabilitation. Instead, his absence coincided with a period in which the star simply needed to focus on himself and allow the weight of his grief to wash over him.

“In my business, in this company, for me to be able to say that I had time off, and it wasn’t due to an injury or a surgery, is remarkable. It was the first time in my career I had time off without having to go get a surgery or be injured. I just hung out with my wife,” he explained.

Reflecting on that period, Punk admitted that work became both a distraction and a support system. Even so, there was only so much the organisation could do to help him process his emotions as he made the decision to step back.

“You know, I had a… I’m not going to say a rough year, suffering is relative. I was heavyweight champion over on Raw for quite some time, and during that entire time I was champion, I had at least three or four people who were very close to me pass away. And each time, I was at work the next day,” he continued.

“If you’re upset that I was mourning some dead friends, I think that’s a you problem,” he ended with.

What Next For CM Punk?

With SummerSlam looming on the horizon, Punk will place his championship on the line as his rivalry with Rhodes edges towards its defining chapter.

The two friends are set to collide for the first time in almost 18 years at the two-night spectacle, which will take place on the 1st and 2nd of August.

Before then, however, there remains the possibility of two more names forcing their way into the title picture.

Despite preparing to battle each other for the right to call themselves the Undisputed WWE Champions, Punk and Rhodes must first stand side-by-side later tonight at Saturday Night’s Main Event XLV, where they face Gunther and Zayn in a blockbuster tag-team showdown.

Should Gunther and Zayn emerge victorious, they will punch their ticket to SummerSlam, transforming the Undisputed WWE Championship match at SummerSlam into a Fatal Four-Way match.