Sports
Jamie Carragher Named His All-Time World Cup 11
Renowned pundit and former England defender Jamie Carragher once named his greatest World Cup XI, with the strict condition that he could only select one player from each country. He was put to the test back in 2022, and although the latest tournament had yet to take place, the Liverpudlian still made some eyebrow-raising omissions.
While the 48-year-old would have been none the wiser that Lionel Messi was just weeks – if not days – away from almost single-handedly guiding Argentina to continental glory, Carragher chose to snub both him and long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo when selecting his final team, opting for other Argentine and Portuguese stars instead.
The Three Lions, Germany and France are all represented in some form, as are five-time winners Brazil. But as readers discover throughout the Sun’s piece, several other huge names are left out along the way.
Goalkeeper and Defenders
There are four players in Carragher’s final selection that have never won the World Cup, placing them in a rare category of the greatest to have never tasted football’s most prestigious prize. The first of that trio is found between the sticks, with Denmark legend Peter Schmeichel ,who only played at one tournament – reaching the quarter finals in 1998.
In front of him is a back four of titans. 1998 winner Lilian Thuram playing on the right, 1974 champion Franz Beckenbauer partnering 1966 victor Bobby Moore in the heart of defence, and 1994 runner-up Paolo Maldini – perhaps the greatest defender of all time – tidying things up on the left flank.
Beckenbauer is one of just three men to win the World Cup as a player and as a manager – the supreme defender leading West Germany from the dugout in 1990.
Midfielders
To fit every player into his team, Carragher opted to deploy Pele in an attacking midfield role. The Brazilian remains the only player to have won three World Cups, while also being the tournament’s youngest winner and goalscorer. Many still regard him as the greatest World Cup player of all time, with images of him lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy forever etched into football folklore.
Behind him sit two passing maestros capable of orchestrating almost any team, such was the quality of their playmaking during their respective primes. Spain’s Xavi – the ultimate tempo-setter and a World Cup winner in 2010 – takes one of the midfield spots.
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Alongside him is his former El Clasico rival, Luka Modric, a World Cup finalist with Croatia in 2018. The ex-Real Madrid star is the only active player in Carragher’s XI, as he prepares to captain his nation this summer at the age of 40.
Forwards
The Portuguese representative is forward Eusebio, who leads the line in a 4-2-3-1 formation for Carragher. The ‘Black Panther’ scored all nine of his World Cup goals as he led his country to the semi-finals in 1966, including four in the stunning comeback win over North Korea – when Portugal won 5-3 from 3-0 down inside 25 minutes.
From Argentina, operating on the right, is none other than Diego Maradona, who led his nation to glory in 1986 – thanks in part to his famous double against England, which included the most controversial goal ever in the shape of the “Hand of God”. But to rate the former Napoli maverick without considering his crazy side would be an injustice.
To complete a fearsome front three is flying Dutchman Johan Cruyff, who played the game like an art form and then taught it in a way where his philosophy is still used today. He led the Netherlands to the final in 1974 with his beautiful brand of total football, but the Oranje fell short by losing to West Germany in the final. See the full team below:
Sports
Tottenham Eyeing Evan Ndicka as Van Hecke Bid Rejected
Tottenham have had a busy start to the summer transfer window, and their early business doesn’t look like stopping any time soon.
The Lilywhites have already confirmed the signing of left-back Andy Robertson from Liverpool and are expected to announce the capture of centre-back Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth imminently, with both deals free transfers.
Spurs desperately need a strong summer after narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League last season and back-to-back 17th place finishes in the English top-flight.
Reinforcements in defence appears to be the priority for Roberto De Zerbi at this moment in time, and the Italian is reportedly seeking another defender after the additions of Robertson and Senesi.
Brighton CEO Confirms Tottenham Have Made Second Bid for Jan Paul Van Hecke
Tottenham are pushing for the defender.
Tottenham in the race for Roma defender
According to Transferfeed, Tottenham are showing interest in Roma defender Evan Ndicka, alongside Inter Milan and Marseille, after an impressive season in Serie A. Additionally, the centre-back is reportedly being valued at around 35 million euros (£30.2m).
The six-foot-four defender played 42 times for Roma last term as Gian Piero Gasperini’s team finished third in the Italian top-flight, qualifying for the Champions League.
Following his arrival in Italy from Frankfurt in 2023, Ndicka has become one of the best centre-backs in Serie A, earning praise from former bosses Jose Mourinho and Claudio Ranieri, with the latter labelling the Frenchman as a “warrior”.
It is no surprise that De Zerbi has been quick to bring in two experienced defenders this early into the summer after Tottenham’s woeful defensive record last season. Only the three relegated clubs conceded more goals in the Premier League than their 57.
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England World Cup Quiz
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Tottenham Need Ndicka
In Ndicka, Spurs would be signing a defender whose stock is continuously rising, but is still “underrated” according to European football expert Andy Brassell.
There is no doubt that, should the price tag prove to be in the region of 35 million euros, Tottenham would be able to afford the Frenchman. However, the lack of European football could hold them back in their pursuit.
Both Inter and Marseille are also reportedly showing interest in the 26-year-old and will be competing in the Champions League and Europa League respectively next campaign, while Spurs won’t have European football to offer. Roma will also play in Europe’s elite competition.
Tottenham need further additions in defence but they may have to look elsewhere if Ndicka’s priority is to continue competing in European competition next season.
Sports
Pep Guardiola Called Phil Foden a ‘Diamond’ Before World Cup Snub
Across his career, Pep Guardiola has worked with some brilliant players. The likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Robert Lewandowski, Philipp Lahm, Sergio Aguero, and Kevin De Bruyne all spring to mind.
As he has spent the last decade in the Premier League as manager of Manchester City, the Catalan coach has also spent time with some fantastic British talent. For example – after the pair won six league titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and the League Cup on four occasions together – he dubbed Kyle Walker as ‘one of the greatest’ defenders of all time.
Just a matter of months ago, he called another Three Lions star an ‘incredible diamond’. Despite that glowing endorsement, that man in question has not been called up for the 2026 World Cup squad.
Guardiola Praised ‘Most Talented’ English Player
Phil Foden was one of the hottest prospects in the Man City academy when Guardiola took over, and the iconic manager quickly noticed that. Indeed, speaking in 2017, he said of the then-teenager: “Phil is the most, most, most talented player I have ever seen in my career as a manager. He has everything to become one of the best players.”
Fast-forward to December 2025, and Foden was pushing for a spot in the England squad amid a good run of form. He’d been featured in Tuchel’s team for November’s World Cup qualifying wins over Serbia and Albania, and Guardiola was singing the players’ praises.
He claimed he was ‘incredible’ and a ‘diamond’ after Foden stole headlines with a goal and an assist against Sunderland. Guardiola said:
“Phil is incredible. He is scoring a lot of goals. He came to me after the game and said he didn’t feel well today and look what happened how he runs, in behind, regain the ball.
“When he is in this momentum and this mood, he is a gift and a diamond. He is top.”
At the time, Foden had scored five goals in his last three games and it looked as though he would be on his way to the World Cup that summer. However, the rest of the season did not go to plan.
Non-Football Reason Thomas Tuchel Dropped Foden & Palmer From England World Cup Squad
Phil Foden and Cole Palmer were both overlooked by Thomas Tuchel.
Foden Failed to Land a Spot in England’s 2026 World Cup Squad
Speaking less than a month earlier in November, Guardiola urged Foden to prove he is good enough for England’s 2026 World Cup squad. He said: “England is so lucky to have a mountain of good players – so in this position, there are a lot, and that’s why Phil has to push himself to be better and better.
“He has to say: ‘OK, I’m going to show how good I am.’ Thomas knows perfectly how good Phil is and I’m sure he will do the best for your country.”
But after that flurry of form in the winter, Foden’s levels dropped off. He didn’t score a single goal for the club in the entirety of 2026, and picked up just three assists in that time as well, as City lost out on the league title to rivals Arsenal.
Such poor form meant few were surprised when Tuchel snubbed the 26-year-old from his England squad. Indeed, Foden has not added to his 49 England caps (four goals and 10 assists) since he failed to impress in two March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, which England drew and then lost.
There is no doubt that Foden and Guardiola enjoyed many brilliant years together, with the midfielder instrumental to some of those six Premier League titles. However, his form over the past few seasons has been worrying.
With the Catalan coach now leaving the Etihad, it will be interesting to see what becomes of one of his most talented former players.
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Sports
Nurse Reveals Heartbreaking Details of WWE Legend’s Final Hours
Newly released police documents have laid bare the final moments of WWE icon Hulk Hogan, with home health care workers revealing the wrestling star was in ‘rough’ shape in the days leading up to his death. The legendary Superstar passed away last July at the age of 71.
While the news came as a shock to the wrestling world, those in close contact with the real-life Terry Bollea knew the truth about his health struggles.
To the world, he was the indestructible face of Hulkamania and Bollea never wanted that to change. Though he was fighting multiple health issues, ‘The Hulkster’ never spoke publicly about them, preferring that people remember the superhero larger than life, not the frail man whose health was in constant crisis.
The sad reality of the final hours of Hogan’s life were revealed in a comprehensive 72-page investigative brief compiled by the Clearwater Police Department.
Hulk Hogan’s Secret Health Battles Confirmed in New Report
The report noted that Hogan was battling a number of serious health problems, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia and atrial fibrillation. The grappler’s wellbeing had declined to such a point that he was frequently checked in on by a nursing team.
On the final day of his life, nurses observed that the former WWE champion, who had been renowned for his verbal abilities in his prime, was “a little mumbly” when he first woke up.
However, Hogan was able to get up and eat a light breakfast of yoghurt and fresh berries while speaking with his care team. Shortly after the meal, Hulk’s occupational therapist, Justin McCamey, went to check on the Hall of Famer’s vital signs to find that he had stopped breathing.
The quiet of the Clearwater neighbourhood in which Hogan resided was soon broken by the sound of emergency sirens as paramedics went into action responding to a high priority cardiac arrest dispatch. Despite the desperate, aggressive intervention of first responders on scene, standard resuscitation protocols failed. The cultural phenomenon that defined a whole era of professional wrestling was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a local medical facility.
Nurse Makes Tragic Admission About Hulk Hogan’s Passing
In a particularly sad passage of the report, it was revealed that the care team around Hogan weren’t shocked by his passing.
“He’s in bad shape,” McCamey told a responding officer in the frantic moments after the emergency call. Reflecting the quiet inevitability of the wrestling titan’s declining health in his final months, she stated:
“We knew it was going to be happening.”
Confirming that no foul play was suspected of contributing to Hogan’s passing, investigators confirmed that the Superstar had passed away as a result of natural causes, following a cardiac arrest.
“Following an exhaustive review of the statements, medical records, surveillance footage from within the residence, and a visual inspection of Mr. Bollea’s body, there has been no evidence to indicate the death of Terry Bollea was anything other than natural,” investigators wrote.
The report concluded: “Through the course of the investigation, there has been no evidence to indicate any criminal wrongdoing related to his death.”
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