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This was a victory built on conviction — on a footballing philosophy that refused to bend, a collective identity that held firm across every minute of a gruelling tournament. When the final whistle sounded in extra time, Spain's latest generation had matched the legendary class of 2010, and the celebrations that followed were nothing short of euphoric. From the opening exchanges to the dying seconds of extra time, Spain were the only side that genuinely sought to win this World Cup final. Argentina's cautious approach condemned them long before Enzo Fernández received his marching orders near the end of regulation

For the England squad and their coaching staff, the World Cup semi-final against Argentina will be remembered as one of the most agonizing nights in recent English football history. A lead that seemed destined to carry them to a first final appearance since 1966 was snatched away in the dying minutes by a side that simply refused to accept defeat. The match unfolded as a contest of nerves and tactical discipline before erupting into chaos in its final stages. What began as a cautious, physical encounter ended with Argentina completing one of the tournament's most remarkable turnarounds — and England

Julian Alvarez delivered a stunning long-range strike in extra time to send Argentina into the 2026 World Cup semi-finals, where they will meet England following a turbulent quarter-final clash in Kansas City. The defending champions edged past a resilient Swiss side that had been reduced to ten men by a controversial VAR-assisted dismissal, with Lautaro Martinez sealing the result on the counter-attack in the closing stages. Switzerland, who had matched Argentina for much of the contest, were left to rue both the red card and a string of missed opportunities. Alvarez Strikes Late to Break Swiss Resistance With the scoreline

Jude Bellingham delivered the decisive moment once again as England overcame a resilient Norway side in a pulsating quarter-final, advancing to the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup with a hard-fought victory that required extra time to settle. Tuchel's Rallying Call and the Weight of Expectation Thomas Tuchel had delivered a clear message to his squad ahead of the contest: the knockout rounds were the moment to shed caution and embrace the occasion. He urged his players to attack the challenge without reservation, insisting that no regrets could be permitted against opponents that much of the country anticipated England would

Mikel Merino has done it once more — the ultimate impact substitute delivered another stunning late winner to propel Spain into the World Cup semi-finals. His 88th-minute strike against Belgium completed a remarkable comeback narrative, with the match turning on a costly goalkeeper injury that left the Belgians exposed at the crucial moment. The Supersub Strikes Again Merino entered the pitch at 85:32 with the scoreline locked at 1-1 and barely two minutes of regulation remaining. What followed defied rational explanation — Pau Cubarsí unleashed a shot that substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens could not hold, and Merino was perfectly positioned

Coach Rudi Garcia insists his side has gained "millions and millions" of new admirers following the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun's red card reversal, and that this unexpected wave of goodwill will fuel Belgium heading into their World Cup quarter-final against Spain. A Controversy That Became a Rallying Point The build-up to Belgium's last-16 encounter with the United States was dominated by an extraordinary off-pitch episode. After Balogun received a direct red card in the group stage against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Donald Trump publicly claimed to have contacted FIFA to have the punishment suspended. The governing body took the unprecedented step

Erling Haaland has injected a dose of psychological warfare into the build-up to Norway's World Cup quarter-final against England, scheduled for Saturday. The Manchester City striker argued that it is the Three Lions, not the Scandinavians, who must shoulder the burden of expectation heading into the clash. His comments came after a tournament run that has left the football world stunned. Seven Goals and a Statement of Intent Haaland has been in devastating form throughout the competition, netting seven times across four matches — a tally that includes a brace in the round-of-16 victory over Brazil. Norway are competing at

Kylian Mbappe netted his eighth goal of the tournament to propel France into the last four of the 2026 World Cup, as Didier Deschamps' side dispatched Morocco 2-0 in a commanding quarter-final display. The match, a repeat of the 2022 semi-final encounter that France also won by the same scoreline, confirmed the European giants' status as the competition's dominant force. Despite an early setback from the penalty spot, the French squad demonstrated the composure and quality that has made them the overwhelming favourites throughout the tournament. Mbappe Atones for Penalty Miss with Brilliant Finish The opening period brought both frustration

Few countries have transformed their footballing fortunes as dramatically as Morocco over the past few years, and insiders say the shift is no accident. Behind the scenes, a deliberate, top-down strategy is turning the Atlas Lions into genuine World Cup contenders, with royal backing, a sprawling scouting network, and a fresh generation of homegrown coaches all playing their part. Royal Backing Powers a Football Renaissance Welshman Neil Ward left his post as chief executive at the Football Association of Wales Trust in 2020 to become director of technical operations at the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. He was based in Rabat

Long before he became one of the most talked-about creative talents on the planet, Michael Olise was just a boy with a ball and a patch of grass in Hayes, west London. Should Olise go on to lift the World Cup with France, that same corner of a residential estate will forever carry a French flavour — the very spot where a seven-year-old first fell in love with the game alongside his brother, Richard. A Childhood Forged on a Hayes Estate The estate itself was unremarkable: modest houses, a stretch of concrete, and a small green space tucked between them.