England hit France 6-4 as Bellingham sets record, Spain face Argentina next
A light-hearted rundown of 2026 World Cup cult heroes, from Cape Verde keeper Vozinha and England’s Djed Spence to referee Iván Barton, plus news lines on Spain-Argentina final and England’s bronze.
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Opta model makes Spain slight favourites for the World Cup final vs Argentina: 45.1% in 90 minutes, 29.4% Argentina, 25.4% extra time. Spain beat France 2-0, Messi leads Argentina after 2-1 vs England.
Erling Haaland said he expected England to beat Norway before their World Cup quarter-final. He scored 7 in 5 overall but was kept out as England won after Andreas Schjelderup’s opener.
Tuchel references France’s pedigree, saying England must close a ‘slight gap’ to the top sides, after Saka’s World Cup hat-trick but reduced starts.
Messi reacts to a 2007 photo holding baby Lamine Yamal as Spain face Argentina in the World Cup final. Yamal, 19, chases a Euro-World Cup double while Messi vows to nullify his threat.
England beat France 6-4 in the World Cup third-place play-off. Rice, Konsa and Saka’s hat-trick put England 4-0 up, Mbappé hit two, Dembélé scored, then Bellingham sealed bronze. Deschamps departs.
World Cup fallout: Arsenal sweat on William Saliba’s back issue, monitor Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, and could sell Gabriel Martinelli after his Brazil role under Carlo Ancelotti.
Council of Europe urges FIFA to address integrity concerns over 2026 World Cup, citing suspended sanctions, referee authority, racist abuse and pervasive betting, and to build a stronger 2030 framework.
Despite 3rd place, England’s World Cup is framed as disappointment after a passive semi-final loss to Argentina under Tuchel, who was hired to clear historic knockout hurdles.
Didier Deschamps bids farewell after 14 years, praising a ‘wonderful adventure’. France lost the semi-final to Spain 2-0 and the third-place play-off 6-4 to England, but he backs a bright future.
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni considers two tweaks for the World Cup final, with Molina vs Montiel at right-back and a possible Rodrigo De Paul recall to face Spain’s midfield of Rodri and Fabián Ruiz.
FIFA’s Gianni Infantino and US President Donald Trump are set to present the World Cup trophy at MetLife after Spain vs Argentina, echoing the 2025 Club World Cup-style ceremony.
Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez says he feels ‘very calm’ before the World Cup final vs Spain, playing through a painful finger injury and praising Scaloni’s faith after his Qatar 2022 heroics.
City’s Khaldoon Al Mubarak and PSG’s Nasser Al-Khelaifi meet in New York ahead of the World Cup final, highlighting executive networking around the tournament during a key transfer window.
As Messi leads Argentina into the World Cup final vs Spain, past claims from Mbappé about succeeding him are revisited after France’s semi-final loss to La Roja.
Recalling England’s 1966 World Cup final, Alan Ball’s man-of-the-match display led Everton to sign him, a ‘lightning bolt’ moment per team-mate Colin Harvey.
Adidas floated giant replicas of the World Cup trophy and Trionda Final ball down the Hudson to promote the World Cup final at MetLife, creating a New York skyline photo spectacle.
Jude Bellingham set an England record with seven goals at a single World Cup, scoring late in the 6-4 third-place win over France. He also equals seven at a major tournament with Shearer and Kane.
