Author: Grace Johnson

Tuchel shows depth yet keeps key pieces untouchedThomas Tuchel introduced a wave of substitutes that showed England’s deep strength. He kept one cornerstone of his World Cup plans on the pitch. Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze came on after 65 minutes as Tuchel’s “finishers”. They helped secure the win against Serbia and extended England’s perfect qualification run. Eze confirmed the 2-0 victory with a spectacular strike. Bukayo Saka stayed on for the full match and showed again how vital he is. He scored a stunning opening goal that set England on their way. Saka thrives while others fight…

Thomas Tuchel believes Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane cannot all start for England under his current system. The national coach made it clear that balance and structure come before star names. Tuchel defines strict roles for his stars Real Madrid’s Bellingham and Manchester City’s Foden both returned to the squad for England’s World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. Tuchel explained that Bellingham competes with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers for the number 10 position. He added that he now sees Foden as “a mix between a number nine and a 10” rather than a winger. When asked if…

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has officially awarded its 17th franchise to Atlanta, owned by Arthur Blank and his AMB Sports & Entertainment group. The expansion marks a significant step in growing women’s professional soccer in the United States. The new franchise will strengthen Atlanta’s position as a key city in the sport and provide increased visibility for women’s soccer. Local fans can expect more opportunities to engage with professional-level matches, while the team will create jobs and community programs. Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons and a veteran sports executive, brings significant experience in professional sports management. His…

The NBA’s 2026 All-Star Game will air in a daytime slot on Sunday afternoon and be broadcast on NBC, ending its long-standing run on TNT. The league announced the move as part of broader All-Star Weekend changes, including a new game format featuring two U.S. teams versus one World team in a round-robin of four 12-minute games. Officials said the shift to NBC aims to reach a wider audience, leveraging the network’s national platform and expanding exposure for the league’s marquee event. The daytime schedule is expected to make the game more accessible to families and younger viewers. The move…

A legend returns to DublinIn July 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo landed in Dublin as the most talked-about footballer in the world. Sixteen years later, and even as he begins to discuss retirement, little has changed. Back then, the Portuguese superstar came to make his Real Madrid debut in the unlikely setting of Shamrock Rovers’ Tallaght Stadium. On Thursday, just eight miles across the city at Aviva Stadium, he will chase another milestone — qualification for his sixth and final World Cup, set for North America next summer. That debut in Real Madrid’s white shirt came months after his first of five…

Sunday began and ended in celebration for Pep Guardiola. The 54-year-old marked his 1,000th match as a manager with his 716th victory. His Manchester City side swept aside champions Liverpool in style at Etihad Stadium. As the final whistle blew, home fans sang “We’ve got Guardiola” to the tune of Glad All Over. Their chant echoed a sense of gratitude and belief. The foundations for another Premier League challenge are firmly in place. Last season, Guardiola and City looked drained. Injuries piled up after a record fourth consecutive league title. But the injection of new talent has revived both the…

Robert Lewandowski delivered a masterclass with a stunning hat-trick that kept Barcelona within three points of league leaders Real Madrid. The Polish forward opened the scoring in the ninth minute after a penalty awarded for Marcos Alonso’s handball on Fermin Lopez’s shot. Celta strike back fast Celta Vigo responded immediately. Just 22 seconds after Marcus Rashford’s missed one-on-one, Sergio Carreira finished off a lightning counter-attack to level the score. Rashford made amends in the 36th minute when his precise cross found Lewandowski, who volleyed in to restore Barcelona’s lead. First-half drama continues Celta refused to give up. Borja Iglesias curled…

Malo Gusto finally scored his first senior goal after 165 career appearances as Chelsea defeated managerless Wolves 3-0 to move up to second in the Premier League. The defender headed home in the 51st minute of his 98th match since joining the club in 2023. Joao Pedro doubled the lead, and Pedro Neto finished the scoring in a commanding display. Chelsea struggled to break down Wolves in the first half, and some supporters at Stamford Bridge even voiced their frustration at half-time. Despite dominating possession, the home side failed to create many clear chances. Wolves, temporarily led by academy coaches…

Pep Guardiola will manage his 1,000th career game when Manchester City host Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday. The Spanish coach admits he struggles to fully grasp the scale of his achievements. Since taking charge of Barcelona B in 2007, Guardiola has collected 715 victories across all competitions. He has won 12 top-flight titles with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City, and lifted three Champions League trophies. The 54-year-old has lost only 128 matches and claimed another 14 cup victories during his career. Asked if he tracks his total wins, Guardiola admitted the numbers are astonishing. He said he…

Jude Bellingham’s return to the England squad marks only the first phase of his reintegration under head coach Thomas Tuchel. England face Serbia at Wembley and then Albania, but qualification for next summer’s World Cup is already secured. For Bellingham, though, the pressure remains intense. Tuchel sent a strong message when he left Bellingham out of the last camp, despite the player’s wish to take part. England sealed qualification in Latvia without him, and Tuchel’s decision was deliberate. There will be no star system and no automatic recalls, not even for a 22-year-old who shines at Real Madrid. No special…