The Black Stars have not won the continental title since securing their fourth AFCON trophy in Libya in 1982.

Since then, Ghana have come close on several occasions, finishing runners-up in 1992, 2010 and 2015, while enduring a series of disappointing campaigns in their quest for a fifth continental crown.

With the 2027 AFCON approaching, Sibo believes the national team has a genuine chance of bringing the trophy back to Ghana and restoring the country’s status among Africa’s football powerhouses.

“It’s been ages, and now AFCON is coming. That’s a dream, and I want that dream to manifest,” the Real Oviedo midfielder told 3Sports.

The 28-year-old also backed Queiroz, praising the Portuguese coach’s leadership following Ghana’s encouraging performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Black Stars advanced beyond the group stage before exiting in the Round of 32.

Sibo believes the experienced tactician has the qualities needed to lead Ghana back to continental success.

“And I believe in the team. I believe in the coaching staff of Carlos Queiroz that he can let that dream happen for every Ghanaian that has been waiting for ages to see Ghana winning a cup. So that’s one thing that I’m looking for,” he said.

The Black Stars will now turn their attention to the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign after missing out on the 2025 finals in Morocco.

Ghana have been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia, with the qualification series scheduled to begin in September as Queiroz’s side begins its bid to secure a place at the continental tournament.

The 28-year-old, who impressed during his maiden FIFA World Cup appearance at the 2026 tournament, has shifted his focus to the 2027 AFCON as Ghana seeks to reclaim its place among Africa’s football giants.

Following a series of promising displays at the World Cup, where Ghana reached the Round of 32 under head coach Carlos Queiroz, Sibo believes the national team has the quality, experience and leadership needed to compete for continental honours.

The Real Oviedo midfielder, who played a key role throughout the tournament, said winning a major trophy for Ghana remains the dream that drives him.

“There’s always one thing that I want to feel in my heart. I want the nation to also feel it in their heart. It’s to win a cup for the nation,” Sibo said.

“I think it’s been ages since Ghana won a cup. It’s been ages, and now AFCON is coming. That’s a dream, and I want that dream to manifest,” he added.

Ghana last won the Africa Cup of Nations in Libya in 1982 and has endured more than four decades without continental success despite making several appearances in the finals and semi-finals during that period.

Sibo believes the confidence and lessons gained from the World Cup campaign can provide the foundation for a strong AFCON challenge, with the squad showing improved resilience and organisation under Queiroz.

The Black Stars will begin their qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in September after being drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia.

With qualification ahead, Sibo remains hopeful that Ghana can take another step towards ending one of the longest trophy droughts in the country’s football history.

Ghana made its fifth appearance at the global showpiece in North America and reached the knockout stage for the first time since the 2010 edition.

However, the Black Stars’ campaign ended in the Round of 32 after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia.

Reflecting on the team’s performance, Mr Adams said the players had little opportunity to develop a stronger understanding beyond the World Cup qualifying campaign.

“We were at the World Cup with players who did not have the opportunity to play together beyond the qualifiers,” the Buem Member of Parliament said.

Despite the challenges, Ghana began the tournament with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Panama before holding England to a disciplined goalless draw.

A 2-1 defeat to Croatia in their final group match saw the Black Stars finish third, a result that was enough to secure qualification to the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams.

Their World Cup journey, however, came to an end in the first knockout round after Colombia defeated the four-time African champions 1-0.

The Black Stars will now shift their focus to the qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ghana has been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia, with the qualifiers scheduled to begin in September.

The defending world champions produced a dramatic late comeback in Atlanta, scoring twice to defeat Thomas Tuchel’s side 2-1 and book a showdown with Spain in Sunday’s final.

After the final whistle, Argentina players held up a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates as “The Falklands are Argentine”.

The Falklands, a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, remain the subject of a sovereignty dispute between the UK and Argentina.

In a statement, a Fifa spokesperson said: “As is standard procedure, Fifa’s independent disciplinary committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the Fifa disciplinary code.”

Argentina’s football association were fined £20,000 by Fifa in 2014 for holding a banner with the same message before a friendly against Slovenia.

At the time, world football’s governing body said the gesture had breached rules on political action and team misconduct.

Downing Street has supported calls for Fifa to investigate, with the prime minister’s official spokesperson saying: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our commitment to the Falklands will never waver.”

Argentina’s President Javier Milei called the players’ action “understandable” and “valid”, according to media reports.

But he also made clear, in comments made to Radio El Observador, that “the things that happen on the pitch are not part of diplomacy”.

“Indeed, the Malvinas are Argentine, we are going to recover them, and we’re going to do it in the diplomatic field, by acting intelligently,” he said.

Argentina, ruled at the time by a military junta led by General Leopoldo Galtieri, invaded the islands, situated 300 miles off Argentina’s east coast, in 1982.

The conflict, which lasted for 74 days between April to June 1982, led to the deaths of 649 Argentine and 255 British servicemen. Three people from the islands also died.

In 2013, the people of the Falkland Islands voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory.

Of 1,517 votes cast in the two-day referendum – on a turnout of more than 90% – 1,513 were in favour, while just three votes were against.

What action could Argentina face?

Fifa usually take disciplinary action for general breaches of regulations by players or a country’s supporters in the weeks after a tournament, although this could be taken more seriously because it occurred in a World Cup match between the two countries.

There is no prospect of Argentina losing their place in the final.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has called for the Argentina players who were holding the banner to be suspended for Sunday’s final against Spain.

Davey referenced Uefa’s ban of Spain players Alvaro Morata and Rodri for one game after chanting “Gibraltar is Spanish” during their side’s Euro 2024 celebrations.

Gibraltar is an enclave at Spain’s southern tip that has been under British rule since the 18th century and Spain have long called for its return.

There is precedent for Fifa banning a player who has held up a banner with a similar political message.

After the 2012 Olympic Games bronze medal match, South Korea midfielder Park Jong-woo held a sign in Korean which read “Dokdo is our territory”.

More commonly known as Liancourt Rocks, Dokdo is a group of inlets administered by South Korea to which Japan holds a claim.

Park was charged by Fifa and a few months later handed a two-match suspension, meaning he sat out two World Cup qualifiers.

What has been the reaction to the banner?

The government of the Falkland Islands said it was “disappointed” about the banner and that they hope Fifa will “sanction all behaviour of this nature in line with its own rules”.

They also said “we do not wish to see politics being brought into sport”.

Milei was reported by Argentine broadcaster TN as saying that it was “perfectly valid and right that the players should want to express themselves and do so”.

However, he went on to say that this should not lead to “bad interpretations,” adding that “It’s a game of football, that’s how the team manager and the veterans [in Argentina of the 1982 Falklands War] understood it”.

Peter Kyle, the business and trade secretary, said it is “essential” that politics is kept out of the World Cup and called for Fifa to investigate.

“I’m really proud of our team, what they achieved, the professionalism they showed, but also the dignity that they showed,” said Kyle.

“And that was in real contrast to what we saw with the Argentine team last night. When it comes to the consequences for their actions, well, that’s for Fifa to do now. And I really do hope that Fifa do a proper investigation into it”.

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, echoed Kyle’s sentiments and said that Fifa “absolutely should investigate”.

The France centre-back has been dogged by a back issue for several weeks and carried the problem into the World Cup.

The issue appeared to be exacerbated during France’s semi-final loss to Spain when he was forced off after just 30 minutes.

Surgery is among the options that will be considered by the Gunners when he returns to London, though an operation would probably require a long-term lay-off to recover.

The 25-year-old made 50 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal last season, as they ended a 22-year wait to win the Premier League and reached the Champions League final.

Earlier in the World Cup, Saliba said: “I’ve had some minor niggles for several months.

“I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League.

“The World Cup comes round only once every four years, so you’ve got to grit your teeth.”

He missed France’s final group game against Norway before returning to Didier Deschamps’ side for the knockout stage.

France play England in the third-place play-off on Saturday (22:00 BST).

More countries taking part and more matches means more eyeballs on the action – as well as more opportunities to make money.

As the planet’s footballing stars create historic moments on the pitch, billions of dollars are being generated off it.

But not everyone is raking in the big bucks with financial winners and losers.

Fifa – winner

The amount of money world football’s governing body Fifa makes from the World Cup is astronomical. It generated a record $7.6bn (£5.6bn) from Qatar 2022 and is expected to top that in US, Canada and Mexico 2026, especially with the expanded 48-team tournament.

Marion Laboure, senior strategist at Deutsche Bank Research, says Fifa is “without question” the main winner with its revenues over the four-year cycle period approaching $13bn.

Fifa’s income comes from the sale of broadcasting, licensing and hospitality rights, sponsorship deals and ticket sales.

“Fifa also moved into the secondary market with its official resale marketplace, taking a 15% fee from both buyer and seller,” adds Laboure.

We should expect more of this in tournaments to come, with Fifa considering expanding the tournament yet again to 64 teams, which could include the likes of China and India – and the billions more viewers that come with it.

Getty Images

Fans – losers

While fans may have achieved lifelong dreams, financially speaking, this tournament has been tough.

The vast sums being forked out to pay for the tickets alone and criticism of Fifa’s dynamic pricing strategy, which raises prices when demand is high, have been well-documented.

Even US President Donald Trump admitted he “wouldn’t pay” when asked about the potential $1,000 ticket price for his country’s tournament opener against Paraguay.

Tickets for the final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium were officially offered at $32,970, while some resale tickets have been listed for more than $2m.

Fifa president Infantino defended ticket costs, arguing they were in line with other US sporting events.

Away from tickets, fans have also been squeezed through flights, food and accommodation.

One example that hit the headlines was the hike in New Jersey Transit train tickets. A 30-minute train journey to the MetLife Stadium rose to $150 for the tournament from the usual $12.90 for a return fare. A backlash led to prices being cut, but they still remained higher than normal.

Broadcasters and sponsors – winners

While broadcasters have had to shell out big bucks to televise the tournament, the viewing figures – and sponsors wanting their brands on show – mean they are also likely to make a killing in selling advertising slots.

Fifa brought in hydration breaks for this World Cup – a move Infantino said was “purely a sporting matter” with no additional revenue for the governing body.

However, the 90 seconds for players to get fluids on board has provided a new commercial opportunity for broadcasters and sponsors wanting to show off their brand, especially in the US, where American sports fans have been long used to games effectively being played around the ad breaks.

Fox Sports, who reportedly paid $485m for the US broadcast rights, introduced the hydration intervals as “sponsored by” a brand.

According to experts, an average 30-second World Cup advertising slot on Fox costs between $200,000 and $300,000. It reached as high as $750,000 during US matches the final stages.

It means hydration break ads could net $250m in the US alone, prompting speculation that they will be here to stay.

“The hydration breaks are pure advertising inventory. I’d be extremely surprised if they disappear. The expanded format will stay because scale is now Fifa’s business model,” says Laboure of Deutsche Bank Research.

Fans in the UK watching games on the BBC or ITV have been shielded from hydration break adverts due to the former not using any advertising and the latter being restricted by regulator rules on the amount of commercials used in a 60-minute period.

The official sponsors of the World Cup pay eye-watering sums to associate brands with the competition, but no doubt end up benefiting financially, with the likes of Adidas and Coca-Cola plastered everywhere.

The German sportswear brand has been locked in a battle with its arch-rival Nike, spending some £50m on their “backyard legends” ad featuring Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham and Lionel Messi.

However, some unofficial brands have benefited from Fifa trying to make sure fans see less of them, such as the Levi’s logo outside the Levi’s stadium in San Francisco being covered up.

David Beckham – winner

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Adidas’s main ad also features an AI version of Sir David Beckham – who, to be honest, might not have had time to attend filming in person.

The UK’s first billionaire sportsman has been in so many adverts from Home Depot to Bank of America, you could be forgiven for forgetting what brand he is actually representing.

Despite hanging up his boots more than a decade ago, Beckham continues to be the face of US soccer, with the American club he co-owns, Inter Miami, estimated to be Major League Soccer’s most valuable franchise at $1.45bn.

He may not have managed to win the World Cup on the pitch, but he’s arguably won the commercial game off it.

Host cities – losers

The 16 host cities across the US, Canada and Mexico have been welcoming an influx of fans and tourists boosting hospitality, hotels and local businesses.

But while the Scots drank Boston dry and have won the heart of the city and its people, experts say the long-term economic benefits are minimal.

Fifa estimated some $41bn would be added to the global economy, of which $17bn would boost the US economy alone, with 185,000 jobs created, mostly in hospitality and accommodation.

But Alexander Budzier, a fellow in management practice at Oxford University and chief executive of project management company Oxford Global Projects, says the long-term economic benefits of hosting such a big sporting event just do not materialise.

Host cities actually typically see a big drop in visitors, he says, as many seek to avoid the tournament chaos.

And while there may be a spike in hiring, he argues it is typically only for lower-paid jobs in hospitality. “It creates jobs, but it does not create wealth,” he says.

Official figures show that hiring in US pubs, bars and restaurants ramped up ahead of the tournament in May, but the boom was short-lived.

The only “worthwhile” economic benefit, Budzier argues, is the regeneration projects that can be done, such as the redevelopment and housing built in Stratford in London following the 2012 Olympic Games.

But due to much of this World Cup using existing stadia, hotels, training complexes and travel infrastructure, “there won’t be any economic benefits from development”.

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Hotels – losers

The expected demand for hotel rooms did not materialise, with industry bodies reporting lower bookings in host cities this year than last.

The British Columbia Hotel Association says that while final booking figures are yet to be confirmed, June and July were “pacing well behind previous years”, despite Vancouver hosting seven of the games in Canada.

It says tournaments “do not create 40 straight days of sold-out hotels”, but rather lead to high-demand around specific dates.

For American hoteliers, the pre-tournament buzz also did not deliver.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) accused Fifa of block-booking too many rooms for its own use and creating false demand. Fifa has said it does not recognise the accusation.

Laboure of Deutsche Bank Research says the same thing happened in France in 1998 when demand did not meet expectations.

“By April, 80% of US hotel operators said bookings were tracking below their initial forecasts – two-thirds of New York hoteliers reported softer-than-expected bookings, and in Seattle nearly 80% did, with many calling the tournament a ‘non-event’,” she adds.

Betting companies – winners

The 2026 World Cup is on track to be the biggest gambling event of all time, with an estimated $50bn placed in bets – around $500m wagered per match, according to financial services firm Macquarie, which has interests in the gambling industry.

It says this is primarily down to the expansion in teams, meaning there will be more than 100 matches played, up from 64 in 2022.

Flutter Entertainment, which owns Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Bet, forecast the amount placed in bets would be double that of the previous tournament because of growth in the US and also Brazil.

Chad Beynon, an analyst at Macquarie, said in-play betting had taken over from the more traditional pre-match punt.

“Now it’s all about reacting to what you’re seeing on the field, adjusting your views. Whereas before it was kind of sit, watch, wait – you had to place your bet before the match,” he says.

Sports betting in the US is still a relatively new industry. Until 2018, betting on sports was only legal in Nevada, the home of Las Vegas, but a Supreme Court ruling paved the way for many states to legalise it.

However, there are still some states where it remains illegal, including California and Texas. In those areas there has been big engagement in prediction markets – a fast-growing, billion-dollar industry popular with young men – which are not classified as gambling, meaning they can be used to place bets on sport regardless of which state someone is in.

It is the second most valuable football jersey sold behind the Argentina shirt Diego Maradona wore when he scored the ‘Hand of God’ goal against England at the 1986 World Cup – which went for £7.1m in 2022.

Having received a total of 10 bids from more than five bidders, Pele’s shirt from the 1958 final is his most valuable item of memorabilia ever sold at auction.

This very shirt sold in 2004 for $105,600 (£70,505).

Pele scored twice against Sweden as a 17-year-old in the 1958 World Cup final to win the first of his three World Cups.

He still holds the record for the youngest player to score in a World Cup final.

“Today’s result is a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of one of the greatest footballers of all time,” said Brendan Hawkes, Sotheby’s head of sports strategy and development.

“This shirt is not only a lasting reminder of one of the most important moments in football history, but is principally connected to the very moment that catapulted Pele into a global sporting icon.”

Other items sold in ‘The Beautiful Game’ auction on Thursday included the captain’s armband worn by Maradona during the 1986 World Cup – including when he scored the ‘Hand of God’ goal against England – which sold for $512,000 (£380,000).

A shirt worn by Lionel Messi during Barcelona’s dramatic 6–1 comeback victory over Paris St-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League in 2017 sold for $217,600 (£161,482), while David Beckham’s shirt from his 50th England cap at the 2002 World Cup sold for $51,200 dollars (£37,996).

Image source: Sotheby’s The Beautiful Game Auction

Image caption: Pele scored in the 55th and 90th minute of the1958 World Cup final

Given Lionel Messi is now 39 and Lamine Yamal just 19, it is testament to the former’s relentless perseverance and the latter’s precocious talent that a match featuring both can take place at all, never mind in the sport’s greatest fixture.

But this is far from the first time the two have crossed paths.

That happened in 2007, when a 20-year-old Messi had recently become a regular starter for Barcelona, and Lamine Yamal was only five months old.

The meeting is documented in a series of photographs taken by Joan Monfort.

They resurfaced two years ago, when Lamine Yamal helped Spain win Euro 2024, as his father posted one online with the caption “The beginning of two legends”.

In the photos, a smiling Messi is cradling and bathing a tiny baby boy who would inexplicably follow so closely in his footballing footsteps.

“It is a true miracle of destiny”, Monfort tells BBC Sport.

“It is serendipity – when you find something extra special, so much bigger than you ever thought.

“If you wrote this in a film it would not seem possible.”

‘Messi had no idea what to do with a baby’

The photoshoot took place in the away dressing room at Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium.

Lamine Yamal’s family had won a competition to be there.

His parents, Morocco-born Mounir Nasraoui and Sheila Ebana from Equatorial Guinea, met after moving to Catalonia as children with their own families.

Lamine Yamal is their eldest child, and shortly after he was born, they entered a raffle run by Catalan newspaper Sport in conjunction with Barcelona shirt sponsor and international children’s charity Unicef.

Those selected at random would have professional photos taken of their baby with a Barcelona first-team player.

Lamine Yamal was among the winners, and on the day the family arrived, they were paired with Messi by chance.

Image source: Joan Monfort

Image caption: Lamine Yamal’s mother Sheila Ebana also took part in the photo shoot

“I had no idea it was Lamine in the photo until one my friends called me in 2024 and told me his father had posted it to Instagram,” Monfort explains.

“Messi is a really introverted guy, very timid and shy. He came into the dressing room and suddenly had to take these photos with a little baby – not even a kid, a proper baby and his face changed like he had no idea what to do!

“It is difficult for a young man, but Lamine was a very happy, smiley little baby. His mum Sheila helped us, she was a young girl and they were a very poor family, but they were very nice to work with.

“Messi was always a professional in these kinds of things and he adapted to the situation very quickly.”

Image source: Joan Monfort

Image caption: Messi still wore number 19 for Barcelona in 2007, only inheriting the number 10 shirt a year later when Ronaldinho left the club

‘I’ll never be able to repay my parents’

By his 19th birthday Messi had scored 11 career goals and won La Liga and the Uefa Champions League once each.

Having turned 19 on Monday, Lamine Yamal has already scored a whopping 56 goals and won La Liga three times and the Copa del Rey once, as well as Euro 2024.

Yamal is not actually the player’s surname, but the second of his two first names.

His full name is Lamine Yamal Naraoui Ebana, and he wears the former two on the back of his shirts for both Barcelona and Spain as an homage to two people who helped his family around the time of his birth.

It has been widely reported in Spanish media that Lamine Yamal’s father promised to name him after two friends who assisted the family financially, helping them to pay their bills at a time when money was tight.

Lamine is a common male first name in Arabic, which can be translated to English as honest or trustworthy, while Yamal is a variant of Jamal, meaning elegance or beauty.

He grew up in Rocafonda, a working-class neighbourhood in Mataro, 20 miles north of Barcelona.

The area was built in the 1960s to house migrants from other regions of Spain, and when they began to move to more well-off areas, migrants from other countries arrived in the 1990s.

Lamine Yamal has celebrated some of his goals by making a 3-0-4 gesture with his fingers, referring to Rocafonda’s postcode.

“What my mother has done, what my father has done, I couldn’t have done that for anyone who is not my child”, Yamal told El Pais in earlier in the tournament.

“If you don’t have money, it’s very hard to help your child play football. And my parents managed to make all that happen. It’s something I’ll never be able to repay them for.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: The famous photograph has been turned into a banner by Spain fans at Euro 2024 and the World Cup

‘My heart is breaking in two pieces’

For Monfort, a Catalan who supports Barcelona, an on-pitch meeting between the two is the perfect denouement to a story which began almost two decades ago.

“I think we are closing the cycle of their story,” Monfort, now 58, adds. “It is a happy end.

“I am a fan of Barcelona, and I think for Messi it’s perfect if he can finish his career winning the World Cup for the second time. I think he deserves it.

“And for Lamine he has a lot of time to win trophies like the World Cup. But Spain and Lamine are arriving in a good moment and if he wins it now, it would be worth more than his other titles.

“It is very difficult for me. My heart is breaking in two pieces.”

Image source:Getty Images

Image caption: Messi left Barcelona for Paris St-Germain in 2021, two years before the debut of a 15-year-old Yamal, who went on to inherit the number 10 shirt in 2025

Les Bleus and the Three Lions suffered respective defeats to Spain and Argentina, but this bronze medal match offers a chance at redemption. Here’s the breakdown as France and England battle for bronze in Miami.

Head-to-head

Matches played 32

France wins 10

England wins 17

Draws 5

France goals 41

England goals 72

France and England have met in 32 matches, with the Three Lions winning 17 matches compared to 10 for Les Bleus, while five games have been drawn. The teams’ most recent meeting was in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with France winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Aurelien Tchouameni and Olivier Giroud.

Players to watch

France – Kylian Mbappe

Tournament stats

– Appearances: 7

– Goals: 8

– Assists: 3

– Yellow/red cards: 1/0

Though this World Cup will end in disappointment for Mbappe (regardless of the result of this Third Place Playoff), he could yet win the Golden Boot and/or Golden Ball, given his outstanding performances. If he can rack up a few more goals and put in another strong showing, personal accolades could yet follow.

England – Anthony Gordon

Tournament stats

– Appearances: 6

– Goals: 1

– Assists: 4

– Yellow/red cards: 0/0

After his fine performances through the knockout rounds – including his goal against Argentina in the semifinal – Gordon has proven himself as a reliable and elite performer for England. He will hope to cap off a fine tournament with a strong showing in Miami on Saturday.

Key stats

14.6 – France have the highest xG (expected goals) at the World Cup, with 14.6 in their seven matches thus far.

7 – Despite scoring eight goals, Kylian Mbappe has also missed the most ‘big chances’ – seven – at the tournament.

6 – Both Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have scored six goals each – the first time that one team has two players on six or more goals in World Cup history.

26 – England have created 26 big chances at the World Cup, a number bettered only by France (27).

Tactical battle

In the third-place playoff, Didier Deschamps’ France will likely blend structure with attacking freedom, using a balanced, resilient system that becomes lethal once ahead, allowing stars like Mbappé to exploit space. With this his final game, expect controlled intensity and sharp transitions.

Thomas Tuchel’s England, however, are more methodical: built on structured possession, positional discipline and territorial control. Yet recent criticism of his over-cautious in-game management suggests a tension between control and risk.

The tactical battle hinges on whether Tuchel imposes control or Deschamps manipulates moments and punishes hesitation.

Broadcast details

Saturday 18 July

9PM: Third Place Playoff – France v England – LIVE on SuperSport World Cup Central

The 28-year-old was part of Ghana’s squad for the tournament in North America and featured in all the team’s matches. He emerged as one of the standout performers in Ghana’s goalless draw against England, delivering a disciplined midfield display as the Black Stars secured a valuable point against one of the tournament favourites.

Reflecting on the match, the Real Oviedo midfielder said playing in a defensive system required immense discipline, concentration and teamwork from the players to execute the tactical approach effectively.

“It takes much effort and sacrifice. Every player wants to touch the ball, and if you’re not touching the ball for some time, it affects your mentality. It takes great mental toughness, discipline, and dedication to defend from the first minute of a game to the final minutes,” Sibo told 3Sports.

He described the encounter against England as the best game he played at the World Cup, adding that it provided an opportunity for the team to prove its quality to both Ghanaians and the global football community.

“The England match is the best game I played at the World Cup,” he said.

“We showed Ghanaians that we are willing to give it our all for the nation,” he added.

Ghana’s World Cup campaign ended after the Black Stars were eliminated, and the team will now shift attention to preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin in September.

The four-time African champions have been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia.

Three weeks ago, you called Ghana boring. Some of you didn’t stop at boring; you called us the “anti-football team,” the “most boring team” at the entire World Cup, a Sunday league side that had stumbled onto the wrong stage.

You wrote that our own fans should be embarrassed for celebrating a 0-0 draw like it was a trophy.

You mocked Carlos Queiroz’s low block as the football equivalent of turning off the lights and hiding under the bed.

Last night, your own team tried to do exactly what you mocked us for. And it fell apart in seven minutes.

Let’s not pretend this is a small point. England went 1-0 up against Argentina in a World Cup semi-final, made a string of defensive substitutions to protect that lead, sat deeper, and invited the pressure you spent weeks telling us was cowardly to invite.

Harry Kane said it himself afterwards: once England went ahead, they just tried to hold on, and at that level, holding on isn’t enough.

Enzo Fernández equalised from distance. Lautaro Martínez headed in the winner in stoppage time. A lead became a heartbreak in the time it takes to make a cup of tea.

So, here’s the letter you’re really owed: if low block football was that easy, why did the Three Lions fail at it with a place in a World Cup final on the line?

Because it isn’t easy. It never was.

That’s the part your back pages conveniently skipped when Ghana held out against you for ninety minutes while you had close to 79% of the ball and precisely nothing to show for it.

You called that game a “shocker.” You called it “Queirozball,” said with a curled lip, as if a coach organising eleven players to defend as one unit was some kind of cheat code rather than a football philosophy with a Real Madrid CV and two Premier League titles behind it.

Rio Ferdinand, one of your own, had to step in and remind everyone that Queiroz sets his teams up to be hard to play against and well drilled, and that you have to respect a coach who gets exactly what he asked for out of his players.

That’s the part that gets lost when a low block is dismissed as “boring.”

A back four holding its shape for ninety minutes without a mistake, a goalkeeper making his first World Cup start and not being beaten once, a midfield pressing in unison rather than chasing shadows; none of that happens by accident.

It happens because eleven players trust the structure more than they trust the temptation to freelance.

It happens because a coach has drilled it into muscle memory so that under the white heat of a World Cup, with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka running at you, nobody switches off.

Ghana didn’t get lucky against England. Ghana got organised against England. There’s a difference, and it’s the difference between a discipline and a default.

England, by contrast, backed into a low block on the fly, under pressure, with twenty-odd minutes left and a semi-final unravelling.

That’s not a system. That’s an improvisation dressed up as a system, and Lionel Messi made you pay for the gap between the two.

Paul Merson said he was devastated watching it happen. Your own pundits pointed out this is the same tactical retreat that’s haunted England for a decade, going back to some of Gareth Southgate’s most cautious nights.

The pattern didn’t start with Ghana, and it certainly won’t end with us.

So no, we won’t be taking lectures on “anti-football” from a press box that just watched its own team get torn apart trying to do, for twenty-five minutes, what we did for ninety with a straight face.

If parking the bus is so easy, so lazy, so beneath the purists, why couldn’t England park it for the stretch that mattered most all tournament?

Here’s the truth, and it applies whether you’re Ghana holding a scoreless draw or England trying to protect a lead in Atlanta: low block football is one of the hardest disciplines in the sport.

It demands positional intelligence from every single player, communication that never drops, legs that keep running in the eighty-eighth minute exactly as they did in the eighth, and a manager willing to absorb the criticism that comes with prioritising the result over the aesthetic.

England had one bad half against Argentina, panicked into their own version of it, and it’s already being dissected as one of the worst tactical calls of the tournament, for all the wrong reasons.

Carlos Queiroz didn’t invent the low block. He’s just one of the few coaches left willing to trust it completely, in public, under exactly this kind of criticism.

Maybe next time before you reach for “boring,” ask yourselves why the team you were comparing us unfavourably to couldn’t survive doing it for even one half.

We’ll be watching the final from home. You should be watching your own dressing room.

Yours, unbothered,

A Ghanaian who was taught that discipline isn’t a personality flaw.

The writer, Joshua Tigo, is a Ghanaian journalist who works for the Adom Brands of the Multimedia Group Limited.

Email: Joshua.tigo@myjoyonline.com

Opare described the current state of Ghanaian football as a “joke,” expressing frustration over what he believes is inadequate investment in grassroots development and youth structures.

Speaking on TV3, the former Real Madrid defender said football authorities must rethink their approach to developing young talents if Ghana wants to produce quality players for the senior national team.

“I think we are playing a lot. It’s a joke. And when I say things like this, it really makes me angry to talk about it. And when you speak, they say you talk too much. But this is the truth. I’m telling them the Federation needs to do better,” he said.

Opare criticised the focus on what he described as excessive fixtures while developmental competitions and youth football programmes receive limited attention and resources.

The former Ghana U-20 World Cup winner stressed that rebuilding the Black Stars must begin with stronger investment in grassroots football, particularly Colts football, which has historically produced some of Ghana’s top talents.

“They need to encourage the Colts teams. They need to push the money there. They need to make sure that these young ones get the facilities for them to improve,” he stated.

According to Opare, the Ghana Football Association must provide the necessary financial support and infrastructure to help young players develop their abilities.

He warned that failure to strengthen the foundation of Ghanaian football could affect the future of the Black Stars due to a lack of quality players emerging from the domestic system.

“Otherwise, the Black Stars is going to keep on suffering, struggling for years to come because we are not going to get the product to supply. And that’s the truth,” he added.

His comments come after Ghana’s recent FIFA World Cup campaign ended at the Round of 32 stage following a narrow defeat to Colombia.

The Black Stars will now shift their focus to preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin in September.

Queiroz was appointed in April on a short-term contract following the dismissal of Otto Addo in March, taking charge of the team just weeks before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Despite the limited preparation period, the 73-year-old guided Ghana to the knockout stage of the tournament in North America, marking the Black Stars’ first appearance in the World Cup knockout rounds since the 2010 edition in South Africa.

However, uncertainty has surrounded Queiroz’s future following Ghana’s elimination from the competition.

Speaking in an interview with TV3, Mr Adams praised the former Real Madrid manager’s influence on the team and argued that he deserves the opportunity to continue his work.

“We should give Carlos Queiroz the opportunity to stay a bit longer. He has proven that a coach matters,” Mr Adams said.

Ghana began their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama before holding England to a goalless draw.

The Black Stars suffered a 2-1 defeat to Croatia in their final Group L match but advanced to the Round of 32 after finishing among the tournament’s best third-placed teams.

Their World Cup journey came to an end after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the knockout stage.

With the tournament concluded, the Black Stars will now shift their focus to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where Ghana have been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia.

The qualification campaign is scheduled to begin in September.

Speculation about the Portuguese coach’s future intensified after a social media post from the 73-year-old was widely interpreted as a farewell message following Ghana’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

However, Queiroz later clarified in a viral video interview that the post was not an announcement of his resignation but rather a message of appreciation to the Ghana Football Association and the country’s football authorities for giving him the opportunity to lead the national team.

Speaking in an interview with Asempa FM, Oduro Sarfo insisted that Queiroz remains the head coach of the Black Stars and continues to be in charge of the team.

He dismissed the reports as speculation, adding that there has been no official communication from the coach or the GFA regarding any decision to end his tenure.

“Carlos Queiroz has not resigned. He is still the head coach of the Black Stars,” Oduro Sarfo stated.

According to the GFA Executive Council member, Queiroz initially signed a short-term contract after replacing Otto Addo in April ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but his tenure with the senior national team has not come to an end.

Queiroz made an immediate impact, leading Ghana to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup for the first time since the 2010 tournament.

The Black Stars began their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama before holding England to a goalless draw in their second Group L fixture.

Although Ghana suffered a 2-1 defeat to Croatia in their final group game, they progressed to the Round of 32 as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.

Ghana’s World Cup journey eventually ended with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia, with Jhon Arias scoring the only goal of the match.

Despite the speculation surrounding his future, the latest comments from Oduro Sarfo indicate that Queiroz remains at the helm of the Black Stars as discussions over his long-term future continue.

Ninety minutes—or perhaps 120—separate Spain and Argentina from immortality. Every pass, every tackle, every tactical adjustment will carry the weight of history. On Sunday, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will not simply crown a champion; it will answer a question that has been building for a month: which team truly defined this tournament?

For Spain, the final is the culmination of a football revolution completed.

When Luis de la Fuente took charge, many believed Spain could return to the technical brilliance that made them world champions in 2010. Few imagined the transformation would happen so quickly. This Spanish side has evolved beyond the endless possession that once defined La Roja. It presses with aggression, attacks with purpose and defends with remarkable organisation. The passing remains beautiful, but it is now accompanied by verticality, athleticism and a ruthless edge.

Their victories over Portugal, Belgium and France were not just wins; they were statements. Spain have looked like the tournament’s most balanced side, equally capable of controlling possession or surviving difficult moments without losing their identity.

Argentina’s journey has been different.

Champions are rarely remembered for perfect performances. They are remembered for finding solutions when games become chaotic. Argentina have done exactly that.

Every knockout match has demanded resilience. Every challenge has required emotional control. Against England in the semi-final, they showed once again why tournament football often rewards mentality as much as talent. They absorbed pressure, remained patient and struck when opportunities appeared.

That ability to suffer has become Argentina’s greatest strength.

The tactical battle promises to be fascinating.

Spain will want the ball. That is non-negotiable. Their midfield is the engine of everything they do, circulating possession until defensive lines begin to crack. Argentina know that chasing shadows for 90 minutes is a dangerous game. Instead, they are likely to remain compact, forcing Spain into wider areas before launching quick, direct counter-attacks.

The final could ultimately be decided not by spectacular attacking play, but by who wins the midfield.

World Cup finals often become chess matches disguised as football matches. Space disappears. Time feels shorter. Mistakes become fatal. Coaches spend years preparing teams for these moments, yet the decisive moment often comes from an unexpected source—a substitute, a set piece, a defensive error or a moment of individual brilliance.

History offers little comfort.

Spain have reached only one previous World Cup final, winning it in Johannesburg in 2010. Argentina, by contrast, carry the experience and expectation of a nation that has lived through triumph and heartbreak on football’s biggest stage. Their history gives them confidence, but it also adds pressure.

Pressure, however, is unavoidable.

For Spain, victory would confirm the arrival of a new golden generation capable of dominating international football for years to come.

For Argentina, lifting the trophy again would reinforce their status as one of football’s enduring powers and prove that their culture of winning extends beyond one era or one iconic player.

These are the nights players dream about as children.

The stadium will be filled with noise, colour and expectation, but once the referee blows the whistle, all of it fades into a series of tiny decisions: whether to press or retreat, pass or shoot, gamble or wait.

That is what makes World Cup finals different.

They are rarely won by the team with the better highlights. They are won by the team that manages the moment.

On Sunday night, Spain will attempt to complete their footballing renaissance. Argentina will attempt to write another unforgettable chapter in their rich World Cup history.

Only one team will leave with the trophy.

The other will leave with football’s cruellest memory—knowing they stood one match away from immortality.

Defending champions Argentina produced a dramatic late comeback in Atlanta to earn a 2-1 win against Thomas Tuchel’s side, setting up a final against Spain on Sunday.

It was a second World Cup semi-final defeat in eight years for England and Bayern Munich striker Kane following a 2-1 defeat by Croatia in 2018.

While Kane praised Argentina’s 39-year-old inspirational captain Lionel Messi, the 32-year-old former Tottenham striker is unsure if he will be representing England in four years’ time.

“It’s too early to talk about that. For me, it’s about taking it year by year and how I feel,” said Kane.

“The national team is my pride and joy, it’s what I love to do most.

“Four years is a long way away and I’m 33 in the summer, but as you see with Leo [Messi], he’s still performing at the highest level [at 39].

“I never want to put a limit on these things. For now, it’s about processing another tough loss.”

Kane has scored six goals at this World Cup and with a third-place match to come he could still win the Golden Boot – although both Messi, who had assists for both Argentina goals against England, and France’s Kylian Mbappe are on eight.

England went ahead in the 55th minute of Wednesday’s game when Anthony Gordon finished from Morgan Rogers’ cross.

But late goals from Enzo Fernandez and – in the second minute of injury time – Lautaro Martinez meant the Three Lions missed out on their first men’s World Cup final appearance since 1966.

“There’s not much to say – everyone is gutted,” added Kane.

“When you’re so close, 10 minutes away, and it slips out of your hands like that, obviously the lads are devastated.

“We did so well for 60 minutes. We scored and deserved to be ahead, then we struggled to keep the ball, struggled to put pressure on the ball, and it allowed them to create more momentum and chances in the final third.

“We’re going to have to find out how we can improve in those situations. It’s been probably the missing piece now for probably the past four or five tournaments.”

England must now prepare for Saturday’s third-place play-off against France (22:00 BST), which will be live on the BBC.

Familiar story for devastated England

England have now lost in the semi-finals in two of the past three men’s World Cups, and were beaten in the European Championship finals in 2021 and 2024.

Central defender Dan Burn, who was roared on to the field as a second-half substitute when England were still ahead, summed up the feelings of the beaten players.

“Gutted,” said the Newcastle defender. “Absolutely gutted.

“We nailed the gameplan pretty well. To go 1-0 up… then we got too passive, conceded too many crosses and too many chances.

“When you’re playing a team of that quality, it is going to cost you. This will haunt me for a long time, I think.”

England had produced resolute displays in the previous two rounds – beating Mexico 3-2 in the last 16 despite playing most of the second half with 10 men, then hanging on to defeat Norway 2-1 in the quarter-finals.

Asked why Tuchel’s side had been unable to continue that run against the holders, Burn said: “I don’t know.

“It is human nature [to be nervous] when you’re that close to doing something you haven’t done since ’66 and be in a final.

“Argentina have done that and got that confidence. The last few games we have been able to defend the box so well. We thought we could do that again, but we weren’t as tight in the box as we would have liked.”

Burn added: “I am still very proud of what we have done at this World Cup. I don’t think anyone really gave us a chance. We have done a lot of good, and honestly I thought we were going to do it.”

Like Kane, midfielder Jude Bellingham has also scored six goals for England at this tournament.

“The lads did everything they could over the course of the tournament – I can’t fault the effort and the fight,” said Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham.

“That’s the life of a footballer at this level. The more beautiful the journey, the more heartbreaking the end is. I’m really proud of all my team-mates – they put in a magnificent shift over the last few weeks.

“I wanted to be part of an England squad that finally did it and finally got it over the line. To be here telling the fans the same things they have heard for years and years, it’s really gutting.”

‘We invited too much pressure’

Despite the defeat, head coach Tuchel retains the backing of the Football Association and is expected to lead the team into Euro 2028.

But Tuchel said he was surprised his side were unable to see the game out, having got themselves ahead.

“We went 1-0 up, but it totally turned the momentum in their favour,” Tuchel told BBC Radio 5 Live. “They took all the risks after. They played totally free after that with all the risks and a lot of quality.

“They made offensive substitutions and suddenly had four players in the forward line and we couldn’t stop the crosses. We couldn’t stop the runners in the box.

“We were basically not physical enough. We couldn’t win duels and we couldn’t get hold of the ball. It was a total momentum shift from our goal.”

Tuchel said his players had given “everything” during the tournament.

“The conviction and the self-confidence after going 1-0 up was just not there,” he said.

“They [Argentina] played with a mindset of nothing to lose, took a lot of risks and we could not get the momentum back.”

England will co-host the European Championship in 2028, although they still have to qualify.

Asked if they were capable of winning a major tournament, Tuchel said: “Yes, of course we are, even if I have no proof of that at the moment.

“In big defeats it’s important to take them with respect, digest them, stick together, and second of all it’s about the reaction to it. Of course we feel very close and still Argentina showed the gap in the last half an hour.

“Unfortunately we were close and couldn’t push over the line. We wanted to push over the line and that’s our goal, and we are very, very disappointed and will try again.”

In the build-up to Argentina’s dramatic 2-1 World Cup semi-final win over England, former Manchester United full-back Neville described Romero and Martinez as “the best, worst centre-half pairing in the world”.

Both were booked in Wednesday’s feisty last-four match in Atlanta, but they also played a significant part in England being limited to only two shots on target as defending champions Argentina came from behind to win with late goals.

Romero and Martinez, who are both 28, have started all but one of Argentina’s World Cup games this summer, helping Lionel Scaloni’s side reach their second successive World Cup final.

“The only thing that I hope for is that when I retire, I am not that stupid. Hopefully I won’t criticise a player or anyone,” Tottenham defender Romero told DSports when he was asked about Neville’s punditry comments.

“Because at the end of the day, we are doing our best for our national team. Sometimes it goes right for us, sometimes badly, but we are just happy to be in a World Cup final again.

“I think we are making history, for us it is something really huge, and we feel the significance of this shirt like no-one else.”

Manchester United defender Martinez had his own say, explaining: “We’re used to people always talking about us. It seems like they like doing it, and we respond on the pitch, that’s it, always with respect.”

Romero and Martinez have helped Argentina keep two clean sheets in the six World Cup games when they have started together, with the team conceding six goals.

Neville, who won 85 caps for England and works for ITV and Sky, commented on the pair on the Overlap Podcast.

“They seem to give a goal away between them every single game,” said Neville.

“But you watch them, they are scoring goals, heading the ball, they’re literally everywhere – it’s incredible.

“I call them the best, worst centre-half pairing in the world. Because they absolutely at times can be unbelievable, but the next, it’s the sublime to the ridiculous.”

Argentina face Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final (20:00 BST) as they look to win the tournament for a fourth time, while England take on France in Saturday’s third-place match (22:00).

But in 2026, the final carries a unique distinction: for the first time in the modern FIFA Ranking era, the two highest-ranked teams in the world are facing each other in the World Cup final.

This is not just a final. It is a confirmation of football’s elite.

For years, the FIFA Rankings have measured consistency, performance and global strength, but the World Cup often tells a different story. The tournament has regularly produced surprises, with lower-ranked nations defeating favourites and rewriting history.

Previous finals have featured giants, but rarely have the No.1 and No.2 ranked nations arrived together on the biggest stage.

The battle of football’s best

This final represents a clash between two complete footballing machines.

Both teams have built their success on more than individual brilliance. They possess world-class talent, tactical identity and squads deep enough to survive the pressure of a seven-game tournament.

Their journey to the final has shown why they occupy the top positions in world football.

They have defeated elite opponents, handled difficult moments and demonstrated the mentality required to compete when every mistake can end a World Cup dream.

A victory for consistency

Reaching a World Cup final requires more than a golden generation. It requires structure.

The two finalists represent years of planning, investment and development. Their success reflects strong football systems, elite coaching and players who have been prepared for the highest level.

While the World Cup is famous for underdog stories, this final celebrates another side of the game — when excellence finally meets excellence.

A final for the history books

The beauty of football is that rankings mean nothing once the referee starts the match. The best team on paper still has to prove itself on the pitch.

That is why this final is so special.

It is a meeting of the world’s strongest teams, a battle between two nations that have reached the summit at the same time.

When the trophy is lifted, history will remember not only the winner, but the moment when football’s two best-ranked nations finally met in a World Cup final.

The kings of the rankings have reached the throne room. Now only one can rule.

He had finally won the World Cup, aged 35, in what he said was his last game in the tournament and – depending on your point of view – cemented his place as football’s greatest ever player.

Four years before that, aged 31, many – including those around him – felt he had played his final World Cup game and would end his career without winning it.

And here he is at 39, having helped take England to the cleaners and send Argentina to their second World Cup final in a row.

Messi’s two assists helped the South American side come from behind to win 2-1, taking him up to four assists at the 2026 World Cup – to go with his eight goals.

The joint top scorer and the second highest assister in the whole show.

Argentina will play Spain, the country where Messi has played most of his football with Barcelona, in Sunday’s final in New Jersey.

“He’s the best player in history, I don’t know what else he would have to do to prove that. The majority of Spaniards love him,” said his national team boss Lionel Scaloni.

BBC pundit Micah Richards said: “They have Lionel Messi. They have the ‘GOAT’. The greatest of all time.

“[It’s about] moments. We thought it could have been Jude Bellingham or Harry Kane, but this is why he is the king.”

How Messi destroyed English hopes

Former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain forward Messi had never played England in his career before – and Thomas Tuchel and every Three Lions fan will wish that was still the case.

The veteran showed a few quality touches in an attritional first half – playing more centrally – but it was after Anthony Gordon gave England a 55th-minute lead that Argentina came to life.

As Tuchel sent on more defenders and England sat back, Argentina had 88% possession for the following 37 minutes.

And Messi had a field day after moving out to the right wing.

“Getting Messi on the wing was the key for us,” said goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez afterwards.

He completed nine dribbles and assisted two goals against England – the first player on record (from 1966 onwards) to do so in a single World Cup knockout game.

The entire England team combined completed seven successful dribbles in Atlanta.

Messi had seven touches in the opposition box – the same as every English player added together. Ditto his four chances created.

He also put in a game-high nine crosses.

And by far the most important, he set up both of Argentina’s goals.

The first was from a corner routine when he found Enzo Fernandez, who slammed in an 85th-minute equaliser from outside the box.

And then he crossed for Lautaro Martinez to head in an injury-time winner.

Ex-England defender Richards said: “He walks around the pitch and then he comes alive when the ball comes to his feet.

“This genius comes into play and sometimes that is just the difference.”

Former England keeper Joe Hart added: “The guys went back to what they did against Mexico and Norway where they locked the door.

“What that did was free up Lionel Messi, who had the skeleton key – he absolutely ran the show for the last 15 minutes.”

England captain Kane added: “For large parts of the game we dealt with him really well, but as always with the most dangerous players in the world when they have the ball they can create something. He’s one of the best players ever for a reason.”

Can Messi win the Golden Boot?

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Lionel Messi is Argentina’s runaway international top scorer with 125 goals

This summer Messi became the all-time top scorer at World Cups with 21 goals (out of his 125 Argentina goals in total).

Fifteen of those 21 have come since his 35th birthday.

Eight have been at this tournament, passing the seven he scored in 2022 – which was just one short of Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race.

This time Messi and Mbappe are level on eight goals. Mbappe’s France play England on Saturday in the third-place play-off.

England’s Bellingham and Kane are on six goals each and not out of the picture.

If players finish level on goals, the tie-breaker is assists – with Messi on four to Mbappe’s three.

Messi could yet finish as the top assister at this summer’s World Cup too – sitting one goal behind France’s Michael Olise.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, speaking to the BBC, said: “He’s a little magician, he really is.

“He’s done it all tournament now. You look at the goals scored and the balls he’s put into England’s box.”

Will Messi ever slow down?

It is easy to forget Messi, then at Barcelona and aged 29, actually retired from international football in 2016.

He had lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and three Copa America finals.

Since reversing that decision he has won the Copa America twice.

When Messi – then of PSG – lifted the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, it felt as if the final piece of the jigsaw of his career was complete.

Many considered that the final thing missing from the argument over the best player ever – with many considering fellow World Cup winners Pele and Diego Maradona the greatest.

“I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is really very gratifying,” he said before the 2022 final.

“There are a lot of years from this year to the next one. I don’t think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant.”

And when he left Europe the next year to join Inter Miami in the MLS, it seemed like he was going to wind down.

Even during last year’s Fifa Club World Cup, which he played in, it was far from clear if he would be involved this summer.

But here he is, still seemingly unstoppable – even though his game has changed.

Before the England tie, he had walked 47% of the distance he covered in this tournament, the highest percentage of any outfield player.

Tactically he has reinvented himself at least five times, says Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, who wrote a biography on Messi.

Messi has now scored or assisted in 13 consecutive matches for Inter Miami and Argentina.

If he gets involved in a goal in Sunday’s final against Spain, it will equal his record set in 2011 of 14 in a row.

He will also become only the second player after Cafu to play in three World Cup finals.

Surely that will be his final World Cup game? After all, he turns 43 in 2030.

But maybe at this stage we need to stop presuming anything when it comes to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

A 2-1 defeat by Argentina on Wednesday meant England’s men missed out on a first World Cup final appearance since 1966.

Tuchel was criticised for his substitutions as England squandered a 1-0 lead late on, but he has the full backing of FA chief executive Mark Bullingham.

The German signed a two-year contract extension in February having been appointed in January 2025 on an 18-month mission to win the World Cup.

The 2028 European Championship finals are being hosted by England, Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, and it was said that Tuchel viewed leading the side into a home Euros as a rare opportunity.

England will face France in the bronze-medal match on Saturday (22:00 BST) – and victory will mean this is their best performance in a men’s World Cup since 1966.

“It is heartbreaking to be so close,” said Bullingham.

“The players and Thomas gave it everything today and the squad, coaches and staff could not have worked harder during the tournament.

“I would like to thank them all – and also give my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful fans here in the USA and at home.”

Despite the disappointment of losing in the semi-final, England’s progress will be viewed internally as a relative success.

Tuchel said at his post-match news conference in Atlanta: “We keep on going with the contract until the home Euros.

“I’m looking forward to that even though right now it’s difficult to look that far ahead.

“Of course, it’s a semi-final; a lot of big football nations are eliminated before the semi-final, so it is an achievement.

“No-one wants to hear that at the moment; me neither because we demand the most of ourselves. That’s just the nature of being competitive.”

The clock inside the magnificent Atlanta Stadium showed England were five minutes of normal time away from ending the wait for a men’s World Cup final that stretches back to 1966, when they lifted the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley.

England’s players and head coach Thomas Tuchel had immortality in their hands as they led through Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal.

Their grasp, however, was being loosened by catastrophic decision making from Tuchel that instigated wave after wave of Argentina attacks orchestrated by Lionel Messi.

One goal seemed inevitable – and it came from Enzo Fernandez in the 85th minute.

Then, with England on the ropes, they were floored by Lautaro Martinez’s injury-time header.

England could not come back, so a stunned football nation wakes up to another desperate near-miss from this nearly team.

Tuchel fails in England mission

Tuchel’s unique selling point when he succeeded Sir Gareth Southgate was the idea he would win matches his predecessor could not.

That he would not be gripped by the caution Southgate was criticised for when losing the last two Euros finals to Italy and Spain, as well as the 2018 World Cup semi-final to Croatia.

The thinking was that Tuchel would drive England over the line, whereas Southgate supposedly retreated from it.

And yet, when it counted and the pressure was at its height, Tuchel produced the sort of tactical retreat – and loss – that would have seen Southgate pilloried.

Instead, it will now be Tuchel getting the criticism for that decision – and rightly so.

The Football Association went for a quick-fix appointment to succeed Southgate after Euro 2024, bringing in a proven winner whose sole mission was to win the 2026 World Cup, or put “a second star on the shirt” as Tuchel called it.

A semi-final can only rank as par, and, in the harshest light, a failure, because he was brought in to make sure England did not have any more hard-luck stories or disappointments.

And, as with Southgate, Tuchel has still not guided England to victory against a side there were not high expectations they would beat.

There will be recriminations about how Tuchel engineered England’s defeat mainly by his own hand, effectively repeating everything that brought Southgate so much criticism.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: England head coach Thomas Tuchel is expected to lead the team into Euro 2028

Once Gordon put England ahead in this latest stormy episode of an old and bitter rivalry, Tuchel decided on a rearguard action.

That had worked for England in their knockout wins over Mexico and Norway – but it would not against a Messi-inspired Argentina.

Tuchel replaced goalscorer Gordon with defender Ezri Konsa with 18 minutes left and switched to a back five. He then brought Nico O’Reilly and Dan Burn on for Declan Rice and Reece James.

It was clear almost instantly that Tuchel had called it badly. It did nothing but invite Argentine pressure and those late goals. This one was almost all on Tuchel.

If there was one statistic that brutally condemned his approach, it was that England only had 12% possession between taking the lead and Martinez’s winning goal nearly 40 minutes later.

Such was England’s sudden attacking need in the closing moments that Tuchel threw on Ivan Toney after 96 minutes – his first appearance of the tournament.

Toney’s “blink and you’ll miss it” cap also brought some of Tuchel’s selections under scrutiny. Was Toney simply picked for a penalty shootout that never came?

And the debate around Tuchel’s defensive picks, especially at right-back, will continue to rage.

Tuchel gambled on the injury-prone Reece James staying fit – but when the Chelsea defender was sidelined with a hamstring issue, right-back suddenly became a problem position.

The position turned into musical chairs between Jarell Quansah – injured against Panama then sent off against Mexico – Djed Spence and Ezri Konsa before James was back for the semi-final.

All this while Trent Alexander-Arnold watched from afar, his natural gifts ignored by Tuchel on the basis of defensive frailty.

And as the ashes are raked over, Tuchel’s decision to ignore the creativity of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden – easy to say with hindsight given both had poor seasons with Chelsea and Manchester City – and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White will be revisited.

Jordan Henderson, whose tournament ended in bizarre circumstances when he broke an arm amid the celebrations after the win against Mexico, was taken for his influence around the squad but was never going to be a serious on-field performer.

If Tuchel valued his professionalism and personality so much in this area, why not take Henderson on his backroom staff and open up a place for a younger, more creative player?

This was a desperate day for England – and Tuchel and his tactical approach.

A day when it could easily have been said, as the song goes: “Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.”

Was this England’s most painful loss?

England have suffered plenty of pain over the years, but as an observer covering a seventh World Cup, as well as those Euro final defeats, this felt like the worst.

This was not because it was against the old adversary Argentina, with all the history and iconic imagery that evokes, who created such obvious despair among England’s players and supporters.

It was because this will be forever a World Cup semi-final of “what ifs” against an Argentina side that has looked beatable all tournament, but who simply refuse to lose.

This was the World Cup semi-final, the latest big chance to challenge for the sport’s greatest prize in New Jersey on Sunday.

England were within minutes of crossing the barrier that has proved insurmountable for six decades, only to stumble again.

Gordon’s goal looked to have finally given England a measure of control in an occasionally brutal game – and even after they ceded control and possession, the finishing line was in sight until they finally crumbled.

Given the stage, this is a defeat that will be pored over more – and leave more regret – than any other.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: England suffered a second successive Euros final defeat under Sir Gareth Southgate in Berlin two years ago

What can England take away from World Cup?

England will always have that momentous, spine-tingling night at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, when they dug deep to beat co-hosts Mexico 3-2 in the last 16.

It was one of their great World Cup wins, when Jude Bellingham proved his world-class credentials and Tuchel’s changes and gameplan suggested he just might be the strategist to take England all the way.

Bellingham is joined in that elite class by captain Harry Kane, but the Bayern Munich striker will feel the pain of this exit more acutely than most because he will be 36 by the time the next World Cup comes around.

England have shown reserves of character to come from behind against DR Congo in the last 32 then Norway in the quarter-final, but the times when they truly flowed have been few and far between.

The manner of this crushing loss to Argentina will have England and their fans wondering if the major tournament curse will ever end.

The recovery will need to be quick with a Nations League fixture at home to World Cup finalists Spain – who beat the Three Lions in the Euro 2024 final – in September.

What next for Tuchel?

The FA and Tuchel’s relationship was initially just to the end of this World Cup, but in February he was handed an extension to take him through to Euro 2028.

It was a surprise and a heavy financial commitment by the FA, especially as they did not know how the World Cup would work out.

Tuchel’s tournament cannot be judged as a total success, but he has the FA’s backing to lead the team into the next Euros.

England will have to undergo an element of rebuilding, with the outstanding John Stones surely at the end of his international career. And will Tuchel keep faith with Marcus Rashford?

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is 32 so should continue, but potential successors need to be found.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Liverpool’s 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha is an England star of the future having made a big impression in the World Cup warm-up matches

Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson can be the midfield bedrock for years, while a fully-fit Bukayo Saka will be another huge asset.

Tuchel still has the talents of Foden, Palmer and Gibbs-White to consider, as well as Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, while Liverpool’s 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha showed what a glittering future he has in the World Cup warm-up games in Miami.

There is also the prodigious talent of Arsenal 16-year-old winger Max Dowman, another example of how England’s future can be bright.

For now, however, the pain of the loss to Argentina, and the manner of it, will take some getting over for England and Tuchel.

The defending world champions produced a dramatic late comeback in Atlanta, scoring twice to defeat Thomas Tuchel’s side 2-1 and book a showdown with Spain in Sunday’s final.

After the final whistle, Argentina players celebrated while holding a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates as “The Falklands are Argentine”.

The Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, remain the subject of a sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina.

The two nations went to war over the group of islands, situated 300 miles off Argentina’s east coast, from April to June 1982.

The 74-day conflict led to the deaths of 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen. Three people from the islands also died.

In 2014, Fifa fined the Argentine Football Association £20,000 after its players held up a banner with the same message before a friendly against Slovenia.

World football’s governing body said the gesture had breached rules on political action and team misconduct.

After Wednesday’s victory, Argentina vice-president Victoria Villarruel posted on X, writing “it wasn’t just another match” alongside a video of what appeared to be Argentine soldiers.

“The Falklands are Argentine,” Villarruel posted. “They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.”

In the build-up to the game, Villarruel had said the semi-final was “about putting the invaders in their place”.

Argentina players also sang chants which referenced the Falklands and Argentina greats Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi following their dramatic 3-2 win over Egypt in the last 16.

However, before the semi-final, manager Lionel Scaloni had said he was “not going to mix” football and politics.

“The reality is that this is a football match. I can’t mix things up, especially out of respect for what happened so many years ago,” Scaloni had said.

“It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn’t much we can do about it, that’s the reality.

“Things are happening elsewhere in the world, and we criticise the existence of war. We certainly remember those people, of course. But it is a football match – we shouldn’t confuse the two.”

The semi-final, which England lost to late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, was held under increased security measures because of the historical tensions between the two nations.

Thomas Tuchel’s men looked to be on course to end a 60-year wait to progress from a World Cup semi-final when Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock with a smart finish from Morgan Rogers’ cross on 55 minutes.

It sparked what had been a fiery and tense stalemate into a thrilling contest as Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to move up several gears and lay siege to the England goal.

Jordan Pickford made a superb save to deny Nico Gonzalez and Alexis Mac Allister hit the post with a header, before Enzo Fernandez took Messi’s pass and thundered a 25-yard leveller into the corner five minutes from time.

Messi then conjured up his second assist of the game in the second minute of stoppage time with a wonderful cross for Lautaro Martinez to head home after Mac Allister had again hit the woodwork.

La Albiceleste will now meet Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium. England will face France in the third-place final on Saturday.

In an official statement released on Wednesday, July 15, the Phobians described the reports circulating in the media and on social media as “false and without factual basis,” insisting that no official valuation has been placed on the Black Stars shot-stopper.

“Hearts of Oak has not placed any valuation on Benjamin Asare and has not authorised any individual or media outlet to communicate a transfer fee or asking price on its behalf,” the club stated.

The clarification comes amid growing speculation over Asare’s future after his standout displays for the Black Stars on the global stage, which have reportedly attracted interest from clubs outside Ghana.

While rejecting claims that a transfer fee has already been determined, Hearts of Oak acknowledged that they remain open to considering offers that are in the best interests of both the player and the club.

The club, however, stressed that no official valuation has been communicated and urged the public to treat any figures currently being circulated as mere speculation.

“Hearts of Oak remains a professionally run football club and is open to receiving and considering offers that serve the best interests of both the player and the club. However, no official valuation has been communicated at this time, and any figures currently in circulation are speculative,” the statement added.

The club also called on journalists, supporters, stakeholders and the general public to disregard unverified reports regarding Asare’s transfer value.

It further encouraged media organisations to verify information through the club’s official communication channels before publication.

Hearts of Oak concluded the statement by reaffirming their pride in Asare’s achievements with the Black Stars and pledged to continue supporting his development while safeguarding the integrity of the club’s operations.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign significantly raised Asare’s profile, with the goalkeeper emerging as one of Ghana’s standout performers, leading to widespread speculation over a potential move abroad during the current transfer window.

The experienced Portuguese coach, 73, replaced Otto Addo in April, only weeks before Ghana’s participation in the global tournament.

According to Mr Adams, the limited preparation period affected the team’s ability to fully benefit from Queiroz’s tactical approach, although the former Real Madrid manager still improved the Black Stars’ performances and produced results that surpassed many expectations.

Speaking in an interview with Joy News, the Minister reflected on Ghana’s challenging build-up to the World Cup, particularly the concerns raised by supporters following a disappointing run of results in pre-tournament friendly matches.

He said the team’s performances before Queiroz’s arrival created doubts about Ghana’s chances of competing effectively at the tournament.

“If you look at the losses that we were suffering in all our friendlies post the qualifications, you just couldn’t trust that everything would be fine. If you watch the strategy of the new coach Carlos, and you look at the friendlies that we had against Wales, our performance against Panama, our performance against England, and even against Croatia, you could see clearly that giving much more time, a lot more could have been done,” he said.

Mr Adams, however, noted a significant improvement in the team’s approach after Queiroz took charge, praising the coach’s tactical organisation, discipline and ability to make Ghana more competitive.

He cited Ghana’s friendly against Wales and their World Cup performances against Panama, England and Croatia as signs of the progress made under the Portuguese coach.

“I don’t think that the coach was bad. I believe that if we had given this coach the opportunity to handle almost all our friendlies, even post-qualification, we could have produced a much better result than we did,” he said.

The Minister added that expectations were low before the tournament, with many supporters doubting Ghana’s ability to make an impact.

“But all the same, Ghanaians didn’t expect us to do anything meaningful. They just thought that we were just going to play the three matches and not impress anybody,” he added.

Ghana began the 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama before holding former champions England to a goalless draw.

The Black Stars later lost 2-1 to Croatia in their final Group L match but progressed to the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams.

Their World Cup journey ended in the Round of 32 following a 1-0 defeat to Colombia, with Jhon Arias scoring the decisive goal.

Ghana will now shift focus to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where the Black Stars have been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia. The qualification campaign is expected to begin in September.

Ghana secured the hosting rights for the youth continental tournament as part of activities marking the country’s 70th Independence Anniversary celebrations.

However, concerns have been raised over the condition of some stadia earmarked for the competition, with calls for major renovations to bring them up to the required standards.

Speaking in an interview with TV3, Mr Adams stressed that upgrading the available facilities is critical to meeting the requirements of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The Buem Member of Parliament cautioned that failure to improve the infrastructure could put Ghana’s hosting status in jeopardy.

“Ghana has gotten the bid to host the U-20 African Championship next year, but we cannot host these events if we don’t upgrade some of our facilities,” he said.

The Minister’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about the state of Ghana’s sporting infrastructure, with authorities expected to commence rehabilitation works on key venues ahead of the tournament.

The U-20 AFCON will offer Ghana an opportunity to showcase its football development structures, but the country’s readiness will depend largely on its ability to provide facilities that meet CAF’s standards.

The much-anticipated encounter is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Stade El Abir Zaouli, with kick-off set for 4:00 pm.

The fixture comes as part of Ghana’s build-up to the continental tournament and will provide head coach and his technical team with another opportunity to assess the squad ahead of the challenges at WAFCON.

The Black Queens enter the game with renewed confidence after securing a 1-0 victory over Côte d’Ivoire in their opening pre-tournament friendly. Sharon Sampson scored the decisive goal in the 75th minute to hand Ghana a positive start to their preparations.

However, the clash against the Super Falcons is expected to present a tougher challenge, as both teams look to fine-tune their squads, improve team cohesion and build momentum ahead of Africa’s biggest women’s football competition.

The meeting also renews a historic rivalry between two of the continent’s most recognised women’s football nations, with Ghana and Nigeria aiming to record a morale-boosting result before the tournament begins.

The Black Queens, who claimed a bronze medal at the previous edition of the WAFCON, have been drawn in Group D for the 2026 tournament alongside Cape Verde, Cameroon and Mali.

Ghana’s campaign in North America ended in the Round of 32 after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia, with Jhon Arias scoring the decisive goal.

The Black Stars made a promising start to their fifth World Cup appearance, recording a 1-0 win over Panama before holding England to a goalless draw. However, a 2-1 defeat to Croatia in their final Group L match saw Ghana progress to the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams before their elimination by Colombia.

Speaking in an interview with Joy News, Mr Adams, who is also the Member of Parliament for Buem, said Ghana struggled to match the level of coordination and understanding displayed by some of the tournament’s strongest teams.

According to him, the gap was not only about individual quality but also preparation, continuity and familiarity among players.

He explained that several teams at the tournament benefited from having stable squads, with players who had spent years playing together under the same technical teams, enabling them to develop a better understanding of each other’s movements and playing styles.

“Where you are coming against teams that possibly have had the opportunity to prepare very well and to prepare with managements that have been with them for quite a longer time, a team that may have players that have played in the same club, maybe about four or five of them coming together and having played together for a very long time…” he said.

The Minister acknowledged that Ghana did not demonstrate the same level of chemistry on the pitch.

“Sometimes, when one player picks a ball and is moving, you can see two, three other players moving into the space that he can lob the ball into them for them to take advantage of; we didn’t seem to have that character,” he added.

Despite Ghana’s early exit, Mr Adams insisted that the team had positives to take from the tournament.

He highlighted the opening victory over Panama and Ghana’s disciplined performance against England, saying the Black Stars showed they could compete with one of the tournament favourites.

“When we came against England after winning against Panama, which also thought that if they were going to pick any three points in the group, it was going to be against Ghana, and we defeated them,” he said.

Mr Adams also maintained that Ghana was unlucky not to benefit from key officiating decisions during the goalless draw against England.

“Clearly, it was a game that many thought that Ghana was cheated. That we had a clear penalty that was not given us, and there was a situation that another player of the English class should have been shown a red card, which was not done,” he said.

Following their World Cup exit, the Black Stars will now focus on the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Ghana has been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia, with the qualification campaign scheduled to begin in September.

The draw was conducted on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at the headquarters of the West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone B in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The group sets up another eagerly anticipated clash between Ghana and Nigeria, renewing one of African football’s fiercest rivalries at youth level.

The Black Satellites will also have to navigate difficult encounters against Burkina Faso and Togo as they seek a place at the next U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

In Group A, hosts Côte d’Ivoire have been paired with Benin and Niger in what promises to be another closely contested section.

The WAFU B U-20 Championship will feature all seven member associations of the regional body, providing a platform for some of West Africa’s brightest young talents to showcase their abilities.

The competition also carries significant stakes, as it serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ghana, having already secured hosting rights for the continental tournament, will stage the championship in 2027.

Ghana advanced to the Round of 32 after beginning their Group L campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama before securing a goalless draw against England in a disciplined defensive display.

Speaking in an interview with Joy News, Mr Adams said the Black Stars matched one of the strongest teams in the competition despite facing challenges ahead of the tournament.

He explained that several participating countries entered the World Cup with advantages, including longer preparation periods, established technical teams and squads whose players had developed strong chemistry from playing together at club level.

“Where you are coming against teams that possibly have had opportunity to prepare very well and to prepare with managements that have been with them for quite a longer time, a team that may have players that have played in the same club, maybe about four or five of them coming together and having played together for a very long time…” he said.

The Minister acknowledged that Ghana lacked a similar level of cohesion, noting that the team was still building an understanding among players.

“Sometimes, when one player picks a ball and is moving, you can see two, three other players moving into the space that he can lob the ball into them for them to take advantage; we didn’t seem to have that character,” he added.

Despite those limitations, Mr Adams insisted that the Black Stars showed their quality throughout the tournament.

He recalled that Panama considered Ghana their best opportunity for securing points in the group but were defeated by the West Africans.

“When we came against England after winning against Panama, which also thought that if they were going to pick any three points in the group, it was going to be against Ghana, and we defeated them,” he said.

Mr Adams reserved special praise for Ghana’s performance against England, saying the Black Stars displayed discipline and organisation to frustrate one of the tournament favourites.

“We came against England, and we showed a certain class and blocked all their movement. Whether it was hurricane or sugar cane or whatever it was, we blocked all their movement,” he stated.

The Minister also backed concerns raised by some supporters that Ghana may have been denied key decisions during the match, including a possible penalty and a red card incident involving an England player.

“Clearly, it was a game that many thought that Ghana was cheated. That we had a clear penalty that was not given us, and there was a situation that another player of the English class should have been shown a red card, which was not done,” he said.

Ghana’s World Cup campaign ended after a 2-1 defeat to Croatia in their final group match, followed by a narrow 1-0 loss to Colombia in the Round of 32.

The Black Stars will now shift focus to qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, where they have been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia. The qualification campaign is scheduled to begin in September.

Otto Addo was dismissed despite guiding the Black Stars to qualification for the World Cup in North America. The decision followed a disappointing series of friendly results, leading the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to appoint Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz on a short-term contract just two months before the tournament.

Speaking in an interview, Mr Adams rejected suggestions that Addo should have remained in charge because of his role in securing Ghana’s qualification.

“No,” the Minister said when asked whether Ghana should have kept the former coach.

“If you look at the losses that we were suffering in all your friendlies post the qualifications. If you just couldn’t trust only in God, then it means we’re going to the World Cup trusting only in God. No, I don’t think so at all,” he said.

Mr Adams argued that Queiroz’s short tenure showed the team’s potential under a different tactical approach, despite the limited preparation time before the tournament.

“If you watch the strategy of the new coach, Carlos, and you look at our friendlies that we came against Wales, and our performance against Panama, and our performance against England, and even against Croatia, you could see clearly that given much more time, a lot more could have been,” he said.

The Minister highlighted Ghana’s defensive organisation under Queiroz as one of the key improvements during the World Cup campaign.

“It was simply defensive,” he said.

Responding to criticism that the Black Stars adopted an overly defensive approach, popularly described as “parking the bus,” Mr Adams maintained that the tactics were part of the team’s strategy.

“Well, it was also part of the game, and we were stringing passes,” he added.

Under Queiroz, Ghana began their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over Panama before holding England to a goalless draw. However, a 2-1 defeat to Croatia in their final group game saw the Black Stars finish third but qualify for the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams.

Ghana’s campaign ended at the knockout stage after a narrow 1-0 loss to Colombia.

The Black Stars will now shift focus to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where they have been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia. The qualification campaign is scheduled to begin in September.

Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham has scored six goals in six games for England, leaving him only two behind France’s Kylian Mbappe and Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot standings.

Erling Haaland, whose Norway side were eliminated by England in the quarter-finals, is on seven while Three Lions captain Harry Kane is level with Bellingham.

England play Messi’s Argentina on Wednesday in the second semi-final (20:00 BST). The match is live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app, and BBC Radio 5 Live.

“In terms of best in the world I think you’re looking at someone like Mbappe or Haaland,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

“Bellingham hasn’t quite hit those levels at Real Madrid this season, but he’s been the best player in the tournament for me.”

Bellingham, 23, has become a big-game player for England – with nine goals and three assists in World Cups and European Championships.

His Real Madrid team-mate Mbappe – with 12 – is the only European player to have scored more than nine goals in a major tournament before the age of 24.

Bellingham has averaged a goal or assist every 138 minutes at major tournaments for England, compared to one every 284 minutes in other international matches.

He scored in the group wins over Croatia and Panama at this World Cup, then twice against both Mexico and Norway in the knockout stage.

“With Jude, it’s all about energy, passion, desire, drive and that’s how he’s getting his rewards,” said Rooney.

“That’s very rare to have that. A lot of these top players rely on the ability and the technique to get their moments. Jude has desire and hunger and it’s so refreshing to see a player playing the toughest game but also doing it.

“That’s what fans want, especially the England fans. They want to see players running and working for the team and for the badge.

“He reminds me of me in terms of one minute you’re thinking, ‘this lad’s a genius’, and the next minute you’re thinking, ‘don’t go into that tackle, don’t get sent off’.

“It’s exactly how I was. But he’s obviously backing it up in the biggest tournament. There were doubters before but he’s put all that to bed.”

If Bellingham or Kane score against Argentina, they will become the top scorer in one major tournament for England.

Gary Lineker in 1986 and Kane in 2018 scored six goals – and both won the Golden Boot.

Kane and Bellingham have been crucial to England’s run to the last four, scoring 12 out of their 13 goals.

No team in history to have scored more than 10 times have been more reliant on two players’ goals in a single World Cup.

“If we win it, I still think it’s going to be Harry Kane to win us the tournament,” said Rooney.

He thinks Argentina’s centre-backs Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez will struggle with Bayern Munich striker Kane.

“If Harry Kane is on it they won’t be able to deal with him,” said Rooney. “He’s a nightmare for that type of defender.

“If he comes deep and they come with him and they feel a bit exposed it’s about the timing of pass and run in behind.

“If he’s on it he’ll destroy these centre-backs.”

The dreams of the 57-year-old, who won the World Cup as both a player (in 1998) and a manager (in 2018), winning it a third time are over after their 2-0 defeat by Spain in Tuesday’s first semi-final.

Having danced their way through the tournament with a series of impressive attacking displays, France managed just 10 shots all match in Dallas, their lowest total in the World Cup, with an expected goals of just 0.3 as they belied their pre-match tag of overwhelming favourites.

Former France midfielder Patrick Viera told ITV: “They haven’t shown up. I was expecting more. There was a big expectations for France to win the World Cup.

“France will all disappointed by the result and the performance. All our top players went missing. Collectively we were really bad.”

Mbappe appeared to criticise France’s tactics, adding: “We were three against two in midfield, and against Spain that’s hard.

“There was a lack of communication on the press. We should have done man-to-man press and forced them to run with us.

“When you don’t do what you have to do in a World Cup semi-final, you don’t win. Spain respected their gameplan and what the team usually does.

“They are better than us at controlling a game. We didn’t manage to do it. We were too sloppy technically. We could not hurt them when we could have.”

It will be zero consolation but Deschamps, in charge since 2012, set a record in Dallas for most World Cup games managed – 26.

He previously shared the mark of 25 with ex-West Germany boss Helmut Schon.

Deschamps confirmed in January 2025 that he would step down after this summer’s tournament and will mark his farewell game against the losers of England v Argentina in Miami on Saturday at 22:00 BST.

“It’s not time to talk about the future,” he said in his post-match news conference. “It is not important on a personal level whether I leave a competition in a semi-final or final.

“I am extremely happy. I am very proud of everything we’ve done to reach this stage and to win a World Cup – to take the French team to the highest level.

“I have been lucky as a player. I have enjoyed happy moments. Today is not such a moment. We must accept it without forgetting everything we experienced.”

‘He deserved to exit by the big door’

Deschamps is one of only three people to win the World Cup as a player and manager – alongside Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and West Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer.

His longevity as manager is also rare in the current era, having led the national team for 14 years.

He won 20 of his 26 World Cup games as France boss, only losing three times – including this defeat by Spain in Texas.

As a player or manager, he was involved in more than half of the games France won at World Cups – and the two times they lifted the trophy.

Only three teams before now have reached the quarter-finals at least in four successive tournaments.

They lost to Argentina on penalties in the 2022 final, coming desperately close to being only the third team to retain the World Cup.

More might have been expected from this side with joint tournament top scorer Kylian Mbappe, plus Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and rising star Michael Olise of Bayern Munich, in front of an established Spain defence and midfield.

“There was extra motivation for all the players at this World Cup to give Didier the ending he wanted, and deserved,” said former France striker and BBC pundit Olivier Giroud.

“He deserved to exit by the big door. He did not quite manage that but he is still a great, for what he has already done in his 14 years.

“His record does the talking for him.”

Giroud, who won the 2018 World Cup under Deschamps, added: “He is like a second father for some players, like a second dad.

“For me it was not quite like that, but he gave me so many times his confidence, and I tried to repay him on the pitch.

“This makes us very close and because we won that World Cup, we are linked forever. I always call him coach.

“When you are in the national team, you don’t have much time to work on tactics and each manager has their philosophy.

“For Didier, his was more like ‘you are big players, I leave you some freedom on the pitch’. He gave some instructions too of course, to keep the balance, so you always knew where each player would be.

“The biggest thing he taught us was his desire, and his drive and ambition to be the absolute best and to win every single game. His competitive mindset was so clear.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Zinedine Zidane (centre) and Didier Deschamps (right) were team-mates for France and Juventus

‘Guy who will come in will find it hard’

Former France defender Gael Clichy, who played in the first year of Deschamps’ reign, praised him on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Deschamps, who has managed Monaco, Juventus and Marseille, replaced Laurent Blanc in 2012 after a poor run in tournaments as France had been eliminated in the group stage at the 2008 European Championships and the 2010 World Cup, with the squad refusing to train at the latter tournament because of a dispute with manager Raymond Domenech.

At Euro 2012 Laurent Blanc achieved a slight improvement by reaching the quarter-finals, only for France to be beaten by eventual champions Spain.

But the transformation under Deschamps has been considerable, maximising France’s regular supply of talent and creating a largely unified squad on his watch.

Deschamps has been unable to get over the line in the Euros but France made the final on home soil in 2016 and the semi-finals in 2024.

“His legacy was that he took a team that was below par and he managed to bring that team back up to the top,” said ex-Arsenal and Manchester City player Clichy, who manages third-tier Caen in France.

“This legacy of his really means we don’t have to talk about what he should or could have done.

“What he has done for French football as a player and a coach is fantastic. It is phenomenal.”

The favourite to replace Deschamps is former team-mate Zinedine Zidane.

ESPN reported in March that a verbal agreement was in place for Zidane to take over this summer.

The 54-year-old, who won the 1998 World Cup alongside Deschamps, won three Champions League trophies as manager of Real Madrid, his only managerial job.

He ended his second spell with the Spanish giants in 2021.

Clichy said: “The guy who will come in behind Deschamps will find it hard. It won’t be easy.”

The Turkish club state the transfer fee is 39m euros (£33.27m) but did previously advise it would be a total fee of 45m euros (£38.36m).

Greenwood finished joint-second behind Rennes’ Esteban Lepaul in the 2025-26 Ligue 1 golden boot standings with 16.

Fenerbahce’s presidential candidates Aziz Yildirim, who was elected, and Hakan Safi both made their interest known before the elections at the beginning of June.

“Hello Fenerbahce family, thank you so much for the support you have shown me. I am very happy to be here,” Greenwood said.

Greenwood, who scored 48 goals in 81 appearances in all competition for Marseille, joined the French side from Manchester United in a £26.6m deal in July 2024.

At the time, United said they had negotiated a “sizeable sell-on fee”, which is thought to be around 40%, for the academy product.

After an internal inquiry, United ruled out Greenwood returning to the club despite charges of attempted rape and assault against him being dropped in February 2023.

He subsequently joined Spanish outfit Getafe on loan for the 2023-24 season.

Fenerbahce finished second for the fifth successive season in the Turkish Super Lig and will play Poland’s Gornik Zabrze in the second qualifying round of the Champions League this month.

Balogun, 25, was dismissed for serious foul play against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the last 32 and should have received an automatic suspension.

However, Fifa’s disciplinary committee suspended his ban for a year – a decision that prompted widespread condemnation, particularly when it emerged US President Donald Trump and White House officials had lobbied football’s world governing body about the American’s sanction.

Balogun, who scored three goals at the World Cup, was able to start the USA’s last-16 defeat by Belgium – a decision European football’s governing body Uefa called “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”.

“My initial reaction was that I was happy to be back in the team but when I started to reflect, I knew it was going to start a lot of controversy and I could almost see within my team-mates a bit of nerves because it is something that is so unique,” Balogun told CBS.

“The closer we got to the game, I focused the best I could but it was difficult. The outside noise is hard to avoid.

“My team-mates are like my brothers, they gave me a lot of reassurance. There was nothing I could do or change.”

The decision to waive Balogun’s suspension came two days before the United States were beaten 4-1 by Belgium.

Balogun found out that he could feature in the game while on the team bus, which brought “screaming and shouting” among the squad.

Given the unlikely nature of avoiding an instant suspension for a straight red card, Balogun said he had not been involved in early preparations for the game.

“It was confusing as the team was practising without me in the team. I almost played a supporting role to keep the morale high,” the Monaco striker added.

“When we found out on the team bus, everyone was screaming and shouting. It was a pretty intense bus ride to the practice field.”

Despite the Belgium defeat, Balogun, who did not score in the game, does not feel it distracted Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

“It was about separating the emotion from the job at hand. We are all professionals,” he added.

“It was not something that was too difficult to separate once we got over the initial announcement that I would be back in the team.

“It was a difficult game against Belgium and that can overshadow whether we are focused or not, but from being inside the camp and set-up I know we had full concentration going into the game.”

The head of Fifa’s disciplinary committee refused to answer BBC questions about the decision-making process which led to Balogun avoiding a ban.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has previously denied having influence over disciplinary decisions.

England’s Jarell Quansah was similarly shown a red card in England’s 3-2 win over Mexico following a high challenge on Jesus Gallardo and the same committee ruled he should serve a two-match ban.

It was classed as serious foul play, meaning the Bayer Leverkusen player was handed an extra match on top of the automatic one-game suspension by Fifa.

The African country’s tourist board will replace Betano on the front of Villa’s shirts for the men’s, women’s and academy teams in a multi-year agreement.

The Premier League club have branded the move “the most important sponsorship deal in the history of the football club” but Felix Jakens, Amnesty International UK’s head of campaigns, has raised concerns.

Last month the Democratic Republic of Congo filed a case against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing its neighbour of breaching multiple international treaties.

DR Congo said Rwanda had dispatched forces and backed armed groups to carry out unlawful military operations on its territory following the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Rwanda has long-dismissed evidence that it backs rebel groups in the country, but UN experts and Western governments are among various parties who say Rwanda is supporting the M23, a major armed group in DR Congo’s east.

“It’s not new that Rwanda is using sportswashing to deflect attention from its terrible human rights record,” said Jakens, in a statement to BBC Sport.

“Aston Villa should be well aware that Rwanda is seeking to leverage this partnership to create positive PR. The country is prolific in arbitrary detention, torture and the repression of free speech – these are abuses at home.

“We are seeing bloodshed right before our eyes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda is playing a significant role in fuelling that conflict – both through its support to the M23 rebels and the direct actions of its military in Eastern Congo.

“Rwanda’s sportswashing needs to be called out, and we’d like Aston Villa and the Premier League to play their part in this.”

Villa needed to replace Bentano after Premier League clubs agreed to withdraw gambling sponsorship from the front of their matchday shirts by the end of last season.

President of business operations Francesco Calvo negotiated the deal, his first major one since replacing Chris Heck last year.

Calvo said in a club statement: “This is a very exciting partnership for Aston Villa and a symbol of the club’s continuing expansion and growth into international markets.

“There is a great range and depth of opportunities for collaboration, learning and innovation and we are looking forward to working with Visit Rwanda to deliver meaningful activations through tourism, investment and sporting development.”

Aston Villa have been contacted for further comment.

An 11-minute Super Bowl-style show, co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira and K-pop boy band BTS, will take place during the interval at New York New Jersey Stadium.

While sources within World Cup organisers Fifa suggest the break will be around 20 minutes, it is understood that one option is for the normal 15-minute half-time break and then the planned 11-minute show.

The laws of the game, governed by Ifab (the International Football Association Board), state that players are entitled to a half-time break “not exceeding 15 minutes”.

Half-time of last year’s Club World Cup final, also organised by Fifa and held in New Jersey, lasted a total of 24 minutes due to a performance featuring Coldplay, J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems and Emmanuel Kelly.

Justin Bieber was last week added to the bill for Sunday’s performance which, along with the headliners, also includes Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay, with singer Chris Martin having curated the show.

The World Cup final will kick-off at 15:00 local time (20:00 BST) and there will be a closing ceremony starting at 13:30 local time (18:30 BST).

Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and IShowSpeed are set to perform as part of the ceremony, with Jennifer Hudson to sing the United States’ national anthem.

Spain booked their place in the final by beating France 2-0 in the first semi-final in Dallas on Tuesday.

They will face either England or Argentina, who meet in Atlanta on Wednesday (20:00 BST).

United have met a release clause of £35m for the 29-year-old midfielder, who has just helped Belgium reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

Tielemans has spent the past three seasons with Villa, having initially moved to the Premier League to join Leicester City in 2019.

“It’s hard to describe just how proud I am to join Manchester United,” he said. “Signing for such a special club feels incredible.

“It is the culmination of years of dedication since I first fell in love with football.”

Tielemans will wear the number 18 shirt vacated by fellow midfielder Casemiro, who left Old Trafford when his contract expired at the end of the season.

A former team-mate of United’s current first-team coach Jonny Evans, Tielemans is noted for scoring Leicester’s winner against Chelsea in the 2021 FA Cup final and for Aston Villa in their Europa League final triumph over Freiburg in May.

He made his senior debut for Anderlecht aged 16 years and 82 days, and left for Monaco in 2017, just after his 20th birthday.

Despite still being in his 20s, Tielemans has already played 668 games for club and country, scoring 79 from 578 club appearances.

United’s director of football Jason Wilcox said: “Youri has consistently been one of the most outstanding midfielders in the Premier League throughout the past seven years.

“He has all of the technical qualities, as well as the ambition and mentality, to thrive at Manchester United.

“Youri’s consistency is exceptional, and he will add further composure, creativity and leadership to our squad.”

Last season, Tielemans suffered separate calf and ankle problems that restricted him to 35 appearances in all competitions for Villa, the lowest number in a campaign during his time in England.

He scored a memorable 89th-minute equaliser at the World Cup for Belgium against Senegal, and then converted an extra-time winner from the penalty spot for his 15th goal from 90 caps as they won 3-2.

But his tournament came to a premature end when he was injured in the warm-up before Belgium’s 2-1 quarter-final defeat by Spain.

Tielemans’ signing follows that of fellow midfielder Andrey Santos and goalkeeper Karl Darlow, while a move for Atalanta midfielder Ederson has been put on hold.

The Three Lions slayed the Vikings of Norway in the previous round thanks to Jude Bellingham’s brace, while La Albiceleste took down the stubborn Swiss – thanks in the main to a sensational strike from Julian Alvarez.

Here’s the breakdown as England and Argentina battle for a spot in Sunday night’s final.

Head-to-head

Matches played 14

England wins 6

Argentina wins 3

Draws 5

England goals 24

Argentina goals 19

England and Argentina have met in 14 matches, with the Three Lions claiming six wins compared to three for Argentina, while five games have been drawn.

Five of their matches have come in the World Cup, and include iconic clashes such as the 1986 Quarterfinal in which Diego Maradona scored both goals in a 2-1 win for Argentina, and the 1998 Round of 16 match in which David Beckham was sent off and the South Americans advanced on penalties.

The teams’ most recent match was a friendly in Geneva in 2005 which England won 3-2.

Players to watch

England – Jude Bellingham

Tournament stats

– Appearances: 6

– Goals: 6

– Assists: 1

– Yellow/red cards: 1/0

A brace of goals in the Quarterfinal against Norway underlined Bellingham’s importance to England. He is not just a goal scorer, but a talismanic figure whose composure, leadership and determination inspires his teammates to lift their games.

Argentina – Lionel Messi

Tournament stats

– Appearances: 6

– Goals: 8

– Assists: 2

– Yellow/red cards: 0/0

Lionel Messi has been brilliant for Argentina in this tournament, with 10 goal involvements (8 goals, 2 assists). He may have struggled to assert himself against Switzerland this past weekend, but oyu can bet he will be hungry to take on the English defence.

Key stats

– 6 – Both Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have scored 6 goals each for England at this World Cup.

– 3 – The 2026 World Cup is just the third time that the Three Lions have reached the semifinals of the tournament.

– 0 – Argentina have never lost a World Cup semifinal in four previous appearances in this round (1986, 1990, 2014 and 2022).

– 8 – Lionel Messi is the tournament’s co-leading scorer, having scored 8 times (level with France’s Kylian Mbappe).

Tactical battle

England and Argentina arrive in Atlanta with contrasting but equally dangerous identities. England under Thomas Tuchel are structured and adaptable, mixing controlled possession with mid-block pressing and rapid transitions, often funnelling attacks through Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane.

Argentina, by contrast, are fluid and unpredictable, shifting between systems while building around a technically dominant midfield and Lionel Messi’s free role between the lines.

The key battle will be central control: if England’s double pivot can disrupt Argentina’s rhythm, they can spring forward quickly. But if Argentina dictate tempo and isolate England’s defence, Messi and their runners can exploit gaps decisively.

Broadcast details

Wednesday 15 July

7PM: Semifinal 2 – England v Argentina – LIVE on SuperSport World Cup Central

It was a scoreline which few would have seen coming against Didier Deschamps’ heavily-fancied side, who had previously swept aside every obstacle placed in their path.

However, once Mikel Oyarzabal fired Spain in front from the penalty spot, there only looked like being one winner.

France looked desperately off the pace in comparison, best epitomised when Lucas Digne showed no spatial awareness whatsoever when inadvertently lashing out on Lamine Yamal in the box.

The Real Sociedad forward made no mistake from the spot, as Les Bleus fell behind for the first time at these finals.

A bad first half would get worse when William Saliba was forced off injured with what looked like a back injury, and Maxence Lacroix entered the fray.

Pedro Porro would then inflict a devastating hammer blow on France’s World Cup hopes just two minutes shy of the hour mark with a fine finish following a neat one-two with Dani Olmo.

Lamine Yamal was then denied a third after a marginal offside call, with Deschamps’ team firmly on the ropes.

Les Bleus’ World Cup campaign ends with a whimper, but this was a superb display from a La Roja side that has largely gone under the radar up to this point.

The world will certainly be taking notice now, as Spain extended their unbeaten run in matches after 90 minutes to 37 games, equalling Italy’s record and setting up a clash with either Argentina or England in New Jersey on Sunday.

His comments come amid reports that the Ghana Football Association is considering extending the 73-year-old’s contract after he guided the Black Stars to the knockout stage of the tournament.

Queiroz, who previously coached Egypt and Colombia, was appointed on a short-term deal in April following the dismissal of Otto Addo in March.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Brew-Butler praised the veteran coach for the progress made by the national team despite having limited time to prepare.

“Although Carlos Queiroz did not have enough time to prepare the team, we still saw signs of improvement. I believe he deserves the chance to continue,” he said.

Brew-Butler said Queiroz had brought greater tactical organisation and discipline to the team and should be given more time to build on the progress made at the World Cup.

Although Ghana’s campaign ended in the Round of 32, both the GFA and the Ministry for Sports and Recreation are reportedly satisfied with the team’s performances and are considering offering Queiroz a contract extension.

If retained, Queiroz’s immediate focus will be the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which begin in September.

The Black Stars have been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia.

Queiroz was appointed as Ghana’s head coach ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup following the dismissal of Otto Addo in March.

Although the Ghana Football Association (GFA) never publicly disclosed the financial details of his short-term contract, speculation over his salary has persisted since his appointment.

Speaking in an interview with TV3, Mr Adams clarified the situation, insisting that the veteran coach’s monthly earnings are lower than previously reported.

“Carlos Queiroz earns $80,000 a month, not the $100,000 that had been speculated,” the Buem MP revealed.

The 73-year-old oversaw an encouraging World Cup campaign, guiding Ghana to the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time since the 2010 edition.

The Black Stars began their campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Panama before holding England to a goalless draw.

A 2-1 defeat to Croatia in their final Group C fixture saw Ghana finish third in the standings, but they still progressed to the Round of 32.

Ghana’s World Cup journey came to an end after a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the knockout stage.

Despite the elimination, Queiroz’s performance has reportedly impressed both the Ghana Football Association and the government, with the Portuguese coach expected to be offered a new two-year contract to remain in charge of the national team.

Attention will now shift to qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, where Ghana has been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia.

The qualifying campaign is scheduled to begin in September as the Black Stars aim to secure a return to Africa’s premier football tournament.

The partnership represents a significant investment in the women’s game and underscores the GFA’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the Women’s Premier League through strategic collaborations that enhance its competitiveness, visibility, and long-term sustainability.

Gold Fields assumes the role of headline sponsor following the conclusion of the successful partnership with Malta Guinness, providing renewed momentum for the continued progress of the league.

The Football Association extends its sincere appreciation to Gold Fields Ghana Limited for its confidence in the future of Ghana football and warmly welcomes the company to the Ghana football family.

Further details regarding the sponsorship package, the unveiling of the new Ghana Women’s Premier League identity, and implementation plans will be communicated in due course.

The experienced Portuguese tactician, who was appointed on a short-term contract ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is expected to sign a new two-year agreement in the coming days as Ghana seeks to maintain stability and continue its rebuilding project under his leadership.

The move follows a comprehensive assessment of the Black Stars’ World Cup campaign, with football authorities satisfied with the progress made under Queiroz despite Ghana’s elimination at the Round of 32 stage.

Although the team failed to advance further in the tournament, the GFA and the Sports Ministry believe the 73-year-old coach has brought improved discipline, tactical organisation and a clear playing philosophy to the national team during his brief tenure.

As part of the proposed deal, Queiroz’s immediate task will be to guide Ghana through the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Black Stars have been drawn in a qualifying group alongside Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia.

The former Portugal, Iran, Egypt, Colombia, Qatar and South Africa head coach will also be tasked with helping Ghana end its long wait for continental glory, with the country’s last AFCON title coming in 1982.

Queiroz’s extensive international experience and ability to manage high-pressure assignments are believed to have influenced the decision to retain him, as Ghana’s football authorities prioritise continuity in their bid to rebuild the national team.

If the agreement is finalised, the veteran coach will immediately begin preparations for the AFCON qualifiers while working on the long-term development of the Black Stars.

An official confirmation is expected soon, with the GFA and the Sports Ministry hopeful that Queiroz can guide Ghana back among Africa’s elite and help secure another major trophy for the four-time African champions.

Queiroz was appointed Ghana’s head coach in March following the dismissal of Otto Addo, taking charge of the team’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Although Ghana’s World Cup campaign ended with elimination in the knockout stage, the 73-year-old guided the Black Stars to reach the knockout phase for the first time since the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Following the exit, Queiroz sparked speculation about his future after a social media post was interpreted by some as a possible departure announcement. However, the former Real Madrid manager later clarified in an online interview that he had not resigned from his position.

With discussions ongoing over whether the Portuguese coach should continue, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe has backed his retention, arguing that continuity on the technical bench is crucial for Ghana’s rebuilding process.

Speaking to Graphic Sports, the Hearts of Oak board member suggested that Queiroz should initially be handed a short-term contract, with any extension dependent on his performance.

“I feel we should maintain him for a limited period,” he said, explaining that the coach should initially be offered a short-term contract, with any extension based on his performance.

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe believes Queiroz’s role should go beyond preparing the Black Stars for immediate competitions, insisting he must be given the responsibility of developing a younger and more competitive squad for the future.

“He should be made to know that he is going to train the boys from the scratch and make them very formidable,” he stated.

The former GFA president also raised concerns about the physical condition of some players in the national team, suggesting that inadequate preparation and inconsistent training have contributed to some of Ghana’s recent challenges.

He urged the technical team to focus on improving players’ fitness levels while scouting and nurturing emerging talents who can become key figures for the Black Stars in the coming years.

According to Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe, Ghana’s return to the top of African football will require patience, strategic planning and greater investment in youth development, including increased opportunities for locally based players.

He expressed optimism that with the right structures and support, the Black Stars can rebuild and compete strongly on the international stage again.

Following the conclusion of the World Cup campaign, Ghana will now shift focus to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where the Black Stars have been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia. The qualifiers are scheduled to begin in September.

The South African tactician joined Ghana’s technical team following the appointment of head coach Carlos Queiroz, who took charge after Otto Addo was relieved of his duties ahead of the global tournament.

Despite being part of Ghana’s World Cup campaign, De Sa disclosed that his agreement with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) was only valid for the duration of the competition.

Speaking in an interview with KickOff, the former goalkeeper confirmed that his contract will expire at the end of July.

“I was only contracted until the end of July, so that’s it,” De Sa said.

“My contract was just for the World Cup, and it ends on the 31st of July,” he added.

De Sa played a role in Ghana’s campaign at the tournament, where the Black Stars began with a narrow 1-0 victory over Panama before recording a goalless draw against England.

Ghana ended the group stage with a 2-1 defeat to Croatia, finishing third in Group L, but advanced to the knockout phase as one of the best third-placed teams.

However, their journey came to an end in the Round of 32 after a 1-0 loss to Colombia.

With the World Cup campaign concluded, Ghana will now turn their attention to preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Black Stars have been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia, with qualification matches scheduled to begin in September.

The club announced the appointment on Monday, entrusting the veteran tactician with the task of leading the side’s bid to secure an immediate return to the Ghana Premier League following relegation.

Logarusic replaces Frimpong Manso and arrives with more than 20 years of coaching experience, having managed clubs and national teams across Africa, Europe and Asia.

His wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge of Ghanaian football are expected to strengthen the club’s technical setup.

The Croatian is well acquainted with the Ghanaian game, having previously taken charge of King Faisal, Asante Kotoko and AshantiGold. His familiarity with the local football landscape is seen as a key asset as Nations FC seek to rebuild following last season’s relegation.

At the international level, Logarusic has also coached the national teams of Sudan and Zimbabwe, bringing extensive experience from both club and international football.

Nations FC believe the appointment underlines their commitment to building a competitive squad capable of challenging for promotion.

The club will be counting on Logarusic’s leadership and tactical expertise to spearhead their bid to return to the top flight at the first attempt.

The match will be played at the Stade Père Jégo in Casablanca, Morocco, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 GMT.

The encounter will be held behind closed doors as both nations step up their final preparations for the continental tournament.

The friendly provides Ghana head coach Kim Lars Björkegren with another valuable opportunity to assess his squad, strengthen team chemistry and fine-tune his tactical approach ahead of the competition.

The Black Queens have already begun an intensive training camp in Morocco as they build momentum for the tournament, and the clash against their West African rivals is expected to provide a stern test of the team’s readiness.

Ghana have been drawn in Group D of the 2026 WAFCON alongside Cameroon, Mali and Cape Verde.

The Black Queens will be aiming for a strong group-stage campaign as they seek to secure a place in the knockout stage.

The team, led by head coach Kim Lars Björkegren, will hold a pre-tournament training camp aimed at fine-tuning tactics, improving fitness levels and strengthening team cohesion ahead of the continental showpiece.

Eighteen players have so far reported to camp as the Black Queens begin the final phase of preparations for the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

The technical team, led by head coach Kim Lars Björkegren, has commenced intensive training sessions aimed at fine-tuning the squad ahead of the continental championship. The camp will focus on tactical adjustments, improving match fitness and strengthening team cohesion as Ghana prepares for the tournament.

The Ghanaian side arrived in high spirits and is expected to intensify preparations over the coming days as they seek to make a strong impact at this year’s competition.

The remaining invited players are expected to join the squad shortly, allowing the team to reach full strength before the official start of the tournament.

As part of their build-up, the Black Queens will face Côte d’Ivoire in an international friendly on Tuesday, July 14, providing the technical team with another opportunity to assess the squad and refine its approach.

Ghana has been drawn in Group D alongside Cape Verde, Mali and Cameroon, with the Black Queens aiming to secure one of the qualification spots for the knockout stage.

The Black Queens will be looking to make a successful return to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and mount a strong challenge for continental glory after booking their place at the tournament.

The team doctor was “trained as a gynaecologist”, and the issue was discovered late and had ​raised concern among players about the level of medical ​support available, federation chief Abdoulaye Fall told a press conference.

“Based ⁠on the feedback I received, the players were not sufficiently ​reassured about being supported by him,” Fall said. The federation sought additional ​medical expertise to reassure the squad, he added.

“We had to find convincing expertise so they could feel reassured, because health comes before everything,” said Fall.

The Senegalese ​Association of Sports Medicine rejected the allegations as “unfounded and defamatory” in ​a statement issued late on Monday.

It said the team doctor, Abderahmane Fediore, holds ‌a ⁠specialist diploma in sports medicine and sports biology from Cheikh Anta Diop University’s faculty of medicine.

He previously led the physiotherapy department at Fann Hospital and has worked as Senegal’s team doctor since 2017, including ​at three World ​Cups and five ⁠Africa Cup of Nations.

Senegal fired coach Pape Bouna Thiaw on Saturday, saying their results at the World ​Cup necessitated a change.

Senegal had hoped to be contenders ​at the ⁠World Cup, after beating Morocco in January’s Africa Cup of Nations final, but had a disappointing tournament.

They lost their opening two group games ⁠to ​France and Norway and let slip a ​2-0 lead with five minutes remaining against Belgium in the last 32 before going down ​3-2 in extra time.