As France have cruised through this World Cup, their stellar attackers so empowered to play with freedom, one concern has been niggling away at Didier Deschamps. It’s why he’s actually asked journalists to point out their few flaws. Now, this week, that concern has finally become an outright problem.
What do France do with their two-man midfield when they face the three of Spain? A team that has swarmed everyone else may suddenly find themselves outnumbered in the key area.
Spain and France will battle for a place in the World Cup final (Getty)
A question that Deschamps’s staff have been asking themselves is whether to fully adapt for that, or continue to entrust the forwards to improve on a record of 16 goals in six games.
France have been in free-scoring form at this World Cup (Getty)
Spain, after all, are going to continue to do exactly what they do. They are the team with the most complete tactical idea at this World Cup, by an immense distance. An argument even pervades that this is one reason why Lamine Yamal hasn’t excelled in the manner of other stars, because he is in the one team closest to an elite club side. The deeper tactical integration means he has a more defined role, even if a lot of that ends up utterly exhausting his double markers. Most of them have had to go off early.
Given that, any Spanish adaptation is likely to be to move their possession shape back 20 metres so as not to expose their half to France’s searing pace.
That is the actual way they have accumulated this immense defensive record, of only one goal conceded. It’s of course complemented by the relentlessness of the counter-press. Spain win the ball back 11.57 seconds after losing it, on average, the quickest of all the quarter-finalists. It can be seen in the way they’re immediately snapping at the heels of opposition players, with an energy that roofed stadiums aid. Ultimately, though, Spain do their defending in forward areas. Hence that vast expanse in their own half, that Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele will be looking at greedily.
France’s forward line have exploited space superbly (Getty)
So, while this is obviously a match between the tournament’s best defence and best attack, the modern game means it is far from that simple; that it’s obviously not backline against forward line, in the way the description conjures. There’s so much more to it, and numerous tactical layers, illustrated by how Spain will have so more of their possession closer to the opposition goal. Deschamps is meanwhile more willing to release his attackers from much further back.
That is one of many dichotomies at play, that explain why this is best defensive record against best attacking record, without that necessarily being the defining contrast.
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Lamine Yamal has served a crucial role in Spain’s system (Getty)
Above all, of course, this is a derby between two neighbours with a long actual history and rich recent football history. Look at how Adrien Rabiot’s quotes about Yamal needing to “do more” from before the Euro 2024 semi-final have resurfaced.
That points to how the two have met a lot in the modern era, as both have become pioneers of talent production in very different ways.
In that last big meeting, the roles were almost reversed. Spain were viewed as the more freewheeling and fresh team, spearheaded by young talent. France looked worse than defensive, barely able to score, and it seemed a tournament too far for Deschamps already.
The two years since have shown how much can change between tournaments. Personnel have had a profound effect.
Spain and France clashed in the semi-finals of Euro 2025 (PA Wire)
Virtually all of Spain’s most electric attackers have had fitness issues, with Nico Williams only coming back now. They can’t stretch games in the same way, which has required a more compact structure. Many watching on would say it’s far too compact, as the “boring” debate has resurfaced.
France have enjoyed the opposite. They’ve had a flood of young talent come into the side since Euro 2024, to become the great entertainers.
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One of those talents has suddenly become one of the best five players in the world, in Michael Olise, while Desire Doue is among the best young stars in the world. Even some of those present in Germany are in completely different form. Bradley Barcola has gone from an impact sub to an effervescent attacker, Dembele is now a Ballon D’Or winner, while Mbappe looks liberated.
France have a strong array of talent but it is well utilised by Didier Deschamps (Reuters)
And, ever the pragmatist, Deschamps has just played to his strengths. He’s created the most anti-Deschamps team possible, at least going by his coaching history with the French team.
That is what has fostered the real dichotomy of the game, and a genuine philosophical duel.
Whereas almost everything Spain do with the ball is dictated by the team structure’s position on the pitch in relation to the ball – outside more licence to Yamal and Dani Olmo – Deschamps has afforded his attackers infinitely more individual interpretation.
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Rodri is the sort of player few other nations produce or possess (Getty)
The idea of an orchestra coming up against free jazz has rarely been as applicable.
That will naturally provoke a lot of debate about future influence on how the game is played and who should win. That, also, is far from so simple.
A bit like with Guardiola, no one can come close to playing Spain’s positional game like Spain.
France’s approach can’t be anywhere near as devastating, or even that effective, without attackers of this astounding quality.
It is nevertheless natural that it’s the French who are the first to pose this specific ideological challenge in such a high-stakes game. Their model of talent production never adapted that Spanish-Dutch approach in the way that the Germans did, arguably giving them more variety of player – if also missing one archetype: the Rodri.
Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni are an industrious midfield pairing (AP)
And that is why the onus is on France to do more, despite doing so much more damage throughout this World Cup in attacking play.
You can already see the way the game will go. Spain are going to take control of possession, gradually moving up the pitch, as France seek to pounce on any break in play.
And, almost reflecting how this defensive record isn’t actually about defence, there is a sense that the Spanish backline hasn’t been properly pressured yet.
Deschamps just has to figure out how to put more even more stress on it, to get the midfield to funnel more of the play towards the attack despite Spain outnumbering them.
At the same time, Spain didn’t buckle when Charles De Ketelaere finally ended Unai Simon’s clean-sheet record. That can happen when a long record is finally broken, and there’s suddenly doubt again.
Unai Simon and Spain finally conceded against Belgium (Reuters)
They instead kept playing.
They’re going to have to do even more of it against France, if only to limit how much those attacking stars have the ball.
For all the billing, this is much more than attack against defence.
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And, in a purely tactical sense, it may end up meaning more than any modern World Cup game.
Derek Chisora has weighed in on the Joe Joyce retirement debate after seeing his countryman “quit” in round 11 of his clash with Artem Suslenkov.
The two heavyweights squared off in Moscow, Russia, last weekend, featuring on the undercard of Murat Gassiev’s successful WBA title defence against Peter Kadiru.
Put simply, it was seen as something of a crossroads fight, between a grizzled veteran and an unbeaten, 30-year-old fringe contender.
Even before those two setbacks, many were calling for the ‘Juggernaut’ to retire, especially after his devastating stoppage losses to Zhilei Zhang in 2023.
Speaking to Seconds Out after the contest, Chisora gave his interpretation of what could lie ahead for his fellow veteran.
“He just quit – that was it. He thought he had it in him when he was training, and then he said he was not fit. I’m like, ‘You were training, though?’
“You know when the fire goes out – when boxing retires you? This is what we talk about. Suddenly, you don’t have enough to stop these younger men.
“Boxing retired [Joyce] today.”
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Interestingly, Chisora was targeted as an opponent during the early stage of Joyce’s career, back when the Olympic silver medallist was more mobile and, in truth, less shop-worn.
Didier Deschamps has reiterated his view that La Roja remain the favourites to win the World Cup. Spain face France on Tuesday for the chance to add a second star to their shirt, having lifted the trophy only once before, in 2010. Meanwhile, Senegal’s Football Federation held its first press conference since the sacking of head coach Pape Thiaw, shedding new light on the tensions behind his departure.
Manchester City star Phil Foden was not taken with England to the World Cup and has not really been missed
Thomas Tuchel knew what he was doing when he took the big calls of leaving both Phil Foden and Cole Palmer out of his England squad for the World Cup. The coach is experienced enough to know that such decisions would be thrown back in his face the second his plans did not work out.
Aside from some stickiness around the Ghana and Panama matches though, there has been very little mention of either the Manchester City or Chelsea playmakers. England have forgotten about them as Jude Bellingham has risen to the fore to help lead the Three Lions into the last four of the World Cup.
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This could of course be more disappointment on top of not being picked to go. Everybody wants to feel like they’re missed when they are not there, and Premier League footballers are constantly rated and compared with each other as part of the sport.
In the case of Foden though, having a summer where he is forgotten could well be perfect for him. The 26-year-old has already had nearly a decade of his life where expectation and hype have followed him everywhere he has gone, and living up to that is gruelling and virtually impossible.
City thought they had got the player back to his best last season as he dazzled in the first half of the campaign. However, when his form disappeared around January there was nothing that anyone was able to do to reverse that and it cost him a place in the City team and his England spot for the World Cup.
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Even if he had been included by Tuchel, Foden would barely have played given his current form. After months of that experience at the Etihad without seeing enough improvement, a new environment and a full break from football looks the better option.
A rare summer off has been used by Foden to watch tennis at Wimbledon, F1 at Silverstone, and get plenty of fishing in – as well as a holiday with his family. Turning up at his local to watch England has been the closest he has come to the World Cup experience.
It remains unclear whether that can spark Foden back into form, but space and time away from the spotlight is something that he has barely known for the last decade. Being kept out of the conversations around England this summer can only have helped the playmaker to keep his mind clear.
The midfield man has of course kept his fitness up and will be one of the first through the doors of the City Football Academy next week to start training with Enzo Maresca. The world may then be talking about an historic win for England in the final, but Foden knows exactly the challenge he has to pass in this season.
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Away from the attention, from next week Foden can start showing what his rest has done for him as he looks to return to being one of City’s most important players.
MS Dhoni and Kriti Sanon at India vs England ODI (X)
The opening ODI between India and England at Edgbaston on Tuesday had plenty of star power off the field as former India captain MS Dhoni and Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon were spotted in the stands watching the match.
Kriti Sanon appearance at India vs England ODI
Kriti Sanon appearance at India vs England ODI
The celebrity duo caught the attention of fans and broadcasters during England’s innings, with visuals of Dhoni and Kriti quickly making the rounds on social media. Their appearance added to the buzz surrounding the series opener, which marked the return of several senior Indian players, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah. While the cameras frequently panned towards the VIP stands, the action on the field also kept spectators entertained. England, who opted to bat first after winning the toss, looked set for a below-par total after collapsing from 61 without loss to 107 for six under relentless pressure from India’s bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah, returning after a six-week workload management break, produced a superb spell despite finishing with figures of 1 for 31. The pace spearhead bowled 36 dot balls and consistently troubled England’s top order with his movement and bounce. Young left-arm seamer Gurnoor Brar claimed two wickets in the space of three deliveries, dismissing Jacob Bethell and Ben Duckett, while Prasidh Krishna removed Jos Buttler and Sam Curran to leave the hosts reeling. However, Joe Root and Liam Dawson mounted a spirited recovery with a 121-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Root struck a composed 76, while Dawson registered a career-best 68 to steer England towards a competitive total. India eventually broke the stand through Axar Patel, who ran through the lower order to finish with career-best ODI figures of 4 for 62. His late burst ensured England were bowled out for 258 after threatening to post a much bigger score. Even as the contest unfolded on the field, Dhoni and Kriti Sanon’s presence in the stands remained one of the biggest talking points among fans, adding a touch of glamour to the series opener at Edgbaston.
Brighton have completed the signing of Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham for an initial club record £46m.
The 19-year-old, who played against England at this summer’s World Cup, has agreed a five-year contract with the Seagulls, with an option for a further 12 months. Spurs could receive an additional £4m in add-on fees, taking the overall fee to £50m, and the deal includes a 20 per cent sell-on clause.
Vuskovic joined Tottenham from Hajduk Split in 2025 and spent last season on loan at German club Hamburg. The centre-back, who made no competitive appearances for Spurs, was eager for first-team football and favoured a permanent move over another loan.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler told his club’s website: “Luka has enjoyed a fantastic start to his career – it’s one we’ve followed closely. Last season he demonstrated he can play at a very high level and we want to help him build on that within our environment.
Hurzeler expressed his delight at signing Vuskovic (PA)
“There’s been a lot of external noise about Luka joining us, but he is still a young guy who will need time to adjust to the demands of playing for Brighton and the Premier League. We are confident that he will take this in his stride though.”
Vuskovic is Tottenham’s first major outgoing of the summer, following a number of high-profile signings made by the north London club.
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Tottenham spent £100m to sign Sandro Tonali from Newcastle, and also splashed out £85m on fellow midfielder Mateus Fernandes following West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League.
Meanwhile, the club also brought in Jan Paul van Vecke from Brighton earlier this month for £52m.
This follows Tottenham’s decision to sign a number of players on free transfers, including Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka.
Spurs are expected to continue adding to their squad, and have shown interest in Bournemouth youngster Eli Junior Kroupi.
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Brighton are also expected to bring in new players as they look to bolster their ranks ahead of their return to European football. The Seagulls will be playing in the Conference League next season after finishing eighth in the Premier League last term.
Jul 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) at bat during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
The American League and National League clash in the 96th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed or streamed on FOX.
The AL holds a slight 48-45-2 series advantage, although the NL has won two of the past three installments, including last season’s 7-6 victory at Truist Park in Atlanta. Philadelphia Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber, the runner-up in Monday’s Home Run Derby, was the MVP after leading the NL to a win in the first-ever “swing-off”, deciding a winner with a HR Derby, the equivalent of penalties in a World Cup matchup.
Schwarber will be in the starting lineup for the NL, batting leadoff and serving as the designated hitter. Teammate Brandon Marsh will start in right field, and he bats seventh for Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who leads the NL. And, on the bump, Phillies LHP Cristopher Sanchez gets the starting nod.
Sanchez is 7-1 with a 0.86 ERA across 73 IP in 11 home starts this season, posting a 0.93 WHIP, while surrendering just two home runs at his home park. That’s pretty impressive. However, Sanchez just started Saturday, so don’t expect him to get a ton of work.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider leads the American League, and he gives the ball to Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease for his first-ever All-Star appearance. He is the first Jays starter since 2009, when the late Roy Halladay was the starting pitcher. Oddly enough, Sanchez is the first Phillies starting pitcher since…Halladay, in 2011.
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As far as weather, temperatures are forecasted to still be at 90 degrees at first pitch, which is very hot for Philadelphia. A hot wind from 11-14 MPH will be blowing from the southwest, which means we’ll have a bit of a jet stream to the right-center field power alley.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the likes Houston Astros DH Yordan Alvarez, batting second, and Tampa Bay Rays 3B Junior Caminero, jump on Sanchez in the first. He isn’t likely to go far after working just three days ago. In fact, betting OVER 0.5 RUNS (-105) – FIRST INNING is a strong play. We have Cease, who gives up plenty of walks, which is not great, and Sanchez, who might not be at 100 percent rest.
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As far as the entire game, I like the NL (-140) to get the job done. The National League has won two of the past three meetings, and historically, the NL has won three straight meetings when Philadelphia has hosted, dating back to July 8, 1952 at Shibe Park.
For years, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s, it seemed that the pitching was overpowering in these games. However, since 2018 in Washington D.C., we’ve seen a total of 59 combined runs in the past seven mid-summer classics. That’s 8.4 runs per game (RPG) in the span, so the lean is to the OVER 8 (-105) for the total.
Lastly, if you’re trying to bet the MVP, that’s a crapshoot. It literally can be any late-innings hero. Last season, Schwarber was 0-for-2 in the game, but he won MVP thanks to the silly swing-off thing. Anyway, while he didn’t have a great Home Run Derby showing, BRYCE HARPER (+1300) – MVP could come on in the middle to late innings, making for a storybook finish.
Arsenal have agreed a transfer fee to sell Belgium forward Leandro Trossard to Beskitas.
The 31-year-old has been given permission to travel to Istanbul to undergo a medical.
Trossard, who is contracted until 2027 with the Gunners, joined the club from Brighton for £21m plus add-ons in January 2023.
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“Negotiations have commenced with professional football player Leandro Trossard and his club Arsenal regarding his permanent transfer,” the Turkish Super Lig side said in a statement.
He has scored 36 goals and registered 34 assists in 174 appearances at Arsenal, helping Mikel Arteta’s side win last season’s Premier League title.
Trossard was a key player last season for Arteta, starting in the Champions League final defeat by Paris St-Germain and 21 times in the league.
Belgium reached the quarter-finals of this summer’s World Cup, with Trossard starting all six games and scoring twice.
Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Rivers United have completed the signing of experienced left-back Imoh Obot from fellow top-flight club Abia Warriors ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Obot joins the Port Harcourt club as they strengthen their squad for the new campaign, which includes a return to the CAF Champions League.
The defender reunites with Rivers United head coach Finidi George, under whom he won the NPFL title during the 2022/23 season at Enyimba FC. His arrival is expected to provide experience, quality and depth to Rivers United’s defence as the club prepares to compete on both domestic and continental fronts.
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Imoh Obot in training with Rivers United
Before his move to Rivers United, Obot featured for Abia Warriors after leaving Enyimba, where he established himself as one of the league’s dependable defenders and helped the People’s Elephant secure a record ninth NPFL title in 2023.
The former Nigeria home-based Super Eagles defender has already resumed training with his new teammates and is awaiting his official unveiling by the club.
Obot’s signing is regarded as a major boost for the Pride of Rivers as they continue their preparations for the 2026/27 season, with expectations high that his experience will strengthen the team’s push for success in the NPFL and CAF Champions League.
England are looking for a new Test coach. Brendon McCullum will stand down as England Men’s Test head coach but will continue to guide the white-ball teams, the ECB said in a statement on Sunday. The development comes close on the heels of Ben Stokes‘ retirement from international cricket following a nightclub brawl and a subsequent one-Test ban. Among the names doing the rounds is Andy Flower. Flower is a well-respected figure and is the coach of IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Flower’s colleague at RCB, Dinesh Karthik, believes Flower may not have the time to take up the England role.
“In all seriousness, I think he’ll be a great candidate,” Karthik said on Sky Sports.
“He definitely should be one of the names considered, but I would be very surprised if he took it, considering where England are and his packed schedule as well. He used to do a lot of leagues, and I’m sure that he didn’t have the time. I read an article which said that England would be happy to accommodate the IPL and then the rest of Test cricket, but with the schedule being the way it is, it’ll be very difficult. Like, when Jacob Bethell didn’t come in for the first Test, and Jofra Archer was not available, it kicked up a fuss, and there were plenty of people saying, ‘Why? How come one of the players is not there?’
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“With Andy Flower, who already has a pre-signed contract with RCB, which would mean that he would miss parts of those Tests, will it be okay for England in the preparation for the Ashes if they don’t have a coach for a Test match or two? I heard there’s a Test match against Bangladesh in May next year, and if Andy Flower is with RCB, that could be a challenge as well. Is he good? Definitely. He is probably one of the best in the world, if not the best. Will he have time? That’s the question. I would be very surprised if the answer is yes,” he said.
England will have a new Test team head coach when they face Pakistan in a three-match series, which is a part of the World Test Championship.
England lost the recent Test series against New Zealand 1-2 but thrashed India 4-0 in the just-concluded T20I series.
McCullum’s tenure as head coach will come to an end after four years in charge, having led the England team through one of its most exciting and progressive periods in Test history.
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ECB CEO Richard Gould said: “Brendon breathed new life into the England Men’s Test team during an exciting period which saw some amazing victories, and we’re grateful for all he has given to the role.
“We now believe that the time is right to make a change for the Test team as we target victory in the Ashes next summer.
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India seamer Gurnoor Brar held on to a crucial catch despite colliding with skipper Shubman Gill as the Men in Blue removed England’s Jos Buttler in the first ODI of the three-match series. The match is being played on Tuesday, July 14, at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
The wicket came off the very first ball of the 17th over. Prasidh Krishna bowled a good-length delivery on off stump, and Buttler looked to whip it across the leg side but could only manage a leading edge.
Charging in from mid-on, Brar converged with Gill, who came in from mid-off, as the two collided shoulder-to-shoulder. Despite the impact, Brar held on to the catch to send Buttler back for five off 14 balls.
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Watch the clip of the wicket below:
Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna struck again on the fourth ball of the same over, this time dismissing Sam Curran. The seamer bowled a length delivery slanting across the left-hander, who threw his hands at it and could only edge it through to Indian wicketkeeper KL Rahul. Curran departed for a duck off three balls, leaving England reeling at 80/5 after 16.4 overs.
India’s pace trio rocks England after a steady start
Opting to bat first, England made a steady start as openers Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell added 51 runs in the first 10 overs. The duo eventually stitched together a 61-run partnership off 74 balls before Gurnoor Brar broke the stand by dismissing Bethell for 14 off 31 balls in the 13th over. Brar struck again two deliveries later to remove Duckett, who scored 43 off 45 balls.
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India continued to build the pressure in the following over as Jasprit Bumrah dismissed England skipper Harry Brook for one off three balls. Prasidh Krishna then joined the party in the 17th over, removing Jos Buttler for five off 14 balls and Sam Curran for a three-ball duck.
At the time of writing, England were 104/5 after 21 overs, with Joe Root unbeaten on nine off 13 balls and Will Jacks on 19 off 17 balls.
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