For the first time since lifting the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, Germany have secured a place in the knockout stages of football’s biggest tournament.

 

Their dramatic extra-time victory over Ivory Coast not only guaranteed qualification but also ended a painful run of failures that had seen the four-time champions crash out in the group stage at both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

 

At the centre of the turnaround is Julian Nagelsmann, the youngest coach at the tournament and the man tasked with restoring Germany’s identity after years of inconsistency.

 

While many supporters celebrated the achievement, 38-year-old Nagelsmann was quick to underline that Germany’s ambitions extend far beyond merely surviving the group stage.

 
 

“Our target was never just to qualify for the next round,” Nagelsmann said. “The team has bigger goals and our focus remains on what comes next.”

 

Nagelsmann’s impact on the national team

 

Since taking charge in September 2023, Nagelsmann has steadily rebuilt confidence within the German squad. His tactical flexibility, trust in younger players and willingness to move away from established hierarchies have helped Germany rediscover the intensity that once made them one of international football’s most feared sides.

 

 

Against Ivory Coast, that resilience was on full display.

 

After falling behind to a first-half strike from Franck Kessie, Germany dominated possession, pushed the African side deeper into their own half and eventually found a way back. Substitute Deniz Undav emerged as the hero, scoring twice, including the decisive goal in extra time.

 

The comeback highlighted one of Nagelsmann’s biggest strengths: the depth he has cultivated throughout the squad. 

      Undav and Germany’s new generation step up

  Undav’s performance has intensified calls for the Stuttgart forward to earn a place in the starting lineup for Germany’s final group-stage match against Ecuador.

 

 

“Every player wants to start games, but what matters most is having an impact,” he said. “Deniz has been exceptional in the role he’s been given and he continues to make a difference whenever he enters the pitch.”

 

Undav is one of several players who have flourished under Nagelsmann. Alongside established stars such as Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz, Germany now possess a blend of youth and experience that appears capable of challenging the tournament’s leading contenders.

 

Their attacking football, combined with greater tactical balance, has offered supporters reasons to believe that Germany’s long-awaited revival may finally be taking shape.

 

 

For Germany, qualification represents an important psychological breakthrough. The memories of Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 have lingered over the national team for years, turning every World Cup group-stage match into a test of nerves.

 

Nagelsmann’s side have now cleared that hurdle.

 

Yet the German coach has made it clear that ending the knockout-stage drought is only the beginning. The real measure of progress will come in the rounds ahead, where Germany will attempt to prove that their resurgence is not merely a recovery from past failures but the start of another serious challenge for football’s biggest prize.

 

Point guard Courtney Vandersloot will make her long-awaited return after a yearlong recovery from a right ACL injury.

Unless she faces any unexpected hurdles, she’ll take the court when the Chicago Sky host the Portland Fire at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Friday, Jun. 25. The 5-foot-8 veteran told ESPN she was “excited and thankful” to complete her comeback that she couldn’t put it into words.  

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Vandersloot, 37, injured her knee in a loss to the Indiana Fever in early June 2025. She was listed as questionable on Chicago’s injury report on Thursday, June 25.

Drafted No. 3 overall by the Sky in 2011, Vandersloot played her first 12 seasons with the team and won her first WNBA championship in 2021. She signed with the Liberty as a free agent in 2023 and won her second league title in 2024.  

A free agent this offseason, Vandersloot returned to Chicago as part of a flurry of moves that saw the Sky trade star forward Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream before acquiring Skylar Diggins, Azurá Stevens, Rickea Jackson and Natasha Cloud.  

Jackson is out for the season with a torn ACL she sustained on May 17 against the Minnesota Lynx. She underwent reconstructive surgery earlier this month.  

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Vandersloot’s return comes at an opportune time for Chicago, which beat the Portland Fire on Wednesday night. It was their second win in the 13 games since Jackson’s injury.  

Chicago is currently near the bottom of the league standings at No. 13. The team sits above the Seattle Storm and Connecticut Sun, both have three wins each.  

Vandersloot made her return to 5-on-5 action in practice three weeks ago. At the time, she told reporters she felt like a return was near and that she was “recovering fast.”  

To make room for Vandersloot’s addition to the active roster, the Sky waived hardship contract signee Saylor Poffenbarger.  

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Courtney Vandersloot set to return for Chicago Sky vs Portland Fire

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As we count down to the first college football game of the 2026 season, we continue our new series: The records of each top CFB program in the West against all the others in the region.

Some schools have met many times over the years, while others are beginning new rivalries in the wake of recent realignment.

For each opponent in the table below, we provide the total games played, wins, losses, ties, winning percentage, first year played, and most recent contest.

We continue with Fresno State, which has played 547 games against regional foes, winning 288, losing 248, with 11 ties for a winning percentage of .538.

The Bulldogs have recorded the most wins (46), played the most games (88), and lost the most games (39) against San Jose State.

Here is a breakdown of Fresno State’s records vs. the region’s teams.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has previously been linked with a move away from Old Trafford but the Reds star has reportedly been clear over his future

Bruno Fernandes has reportedly told Manchester United teammates that he will stay at Old Trafford this summer. The Reds captain has previously been linked with a move away from M16.

The Manchester Evening News understands that Fernandes seriously considered a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal last year. His agent, Miguel Pinho, was in talks with the Middle Eastern club over a possible £100million transfer.

The Reds did not rule out his sale, but the Portugal international opted against a move after discussions with his family. Fernandes went on to enjoy the best season of his career at United.

The 31-year-old recorded 21 assists in the Premier League last term – breaking the all-time record in a single campaign set by Kevin de Bruyne and Thierry Henry.

And TalkSPORT claim that while Fernandes has not held any formal talks with the club over his future before the World Cup, he has already told teammates and those close to him that he intends to stay at United.

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Fernandes revealed in April his wife convinced him to stay. Speaking to the Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sport, he said: “I stayed because I thought I still had something that I can give back to the club.

“Obviously the Saudi situation, with the money… there was a lot. The good thing I have in my family is that my wife is pretty down to earth like me.

“We’re very aware that we don’t want to be the richest person in the world. We just want to be the ones that have achieved the dreams they had and live a good life with their kids and trying to be as successful as possible.

“The words of my wife were like, ‘have you achieved your dreams? Have you achieved everything you wanted?’

“And that small thing she said made me understand that she’s on the same page as me. Let’s keep trying and see where this takes me.”

Fernandes joined United in 2019 from Sporting and has since made 327 appearances, scoring 107 goals.

He registered his first goal contribution at the World Cup on Tuesday, teeing up Cristiano Ronaldo’s second in the 5-0 win over Uzbekistan.

Jun 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (61) pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The New York Yankees have controlled their rivalry with the Boston Red Sox this season but things could change when the teams open a four-game series at Fenway Park on Thursday night. New York is 4-1 against its most-hated foe this season.

Boston has scored just nine runs in the five games and five of them came in its lone victory. The Yankees are still without Aaron Judge so that counts as a bit of an equalizer for their American League East counterparts.

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado badly wanted out of St. Louis and now completes a four-game series against the visiting Cardinals. We will also check in on the National League East battle between the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals.

NEW YORK YANKEES AT BOSTON RED SOX

Judge has missed the past three-plus weeks with a fractured rib and isn’t expected back until August. The three-time AL MVP has hit 15 homers in 57 career games at Fenway Park so his absence will be felt. Ben Rice (22 homers, 53 RBIs) is thriving and had two hits in Wednesday’s 4-2 win over the Detroit Tigers after going hitless in three of the previous four games.

Paul Goldschmidt smacked two solo homers off Tigers ace Tarik Skubal and is looking like a younger version of himself. The 38-year-old is batting .346 with eight homers and 20 RBIs in June. Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early (6-5, 3.64 ERA) gave up three runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings of a 4-0 loss to New York on April 21.

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Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler (8-3, 1.71) is headed to the All-Star Game and he is 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA in two starts against Boston this season. Guys like Jarren Duran (1-for-11), Wilyer Abreu (1-for-8) and Willson Contreras (1-for-6) are due for success against Schlittler.

Red Sox money line, +143 (DraftKings)

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ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Next month’s three-game set in St. Louis is when the 35-year-old Arenado can expect the boo-birds but he’s not exactly having a successful June. He is 3-for-13 in the first three games of this series and batting just .173 with one homer for the month. That homer came on June 1.

Arenado hit 30 or more homers in the first two of his five seasons in St. Louis before the totals dropped to 26, 16 and 12. Cardinals right-hander Michael McGreevy (3-6, 3.35) has never previously faced the Diamondbacks, who won the past two games after losing the series opener.

Speaking of players who were once good, Arizona right-hander Zac Gallen (3-6, 6.10) has been regularly pounded this season and was torched for nine runs and 12 innings in four-plus innings against the Minnesota Twins in his last outing. Yes, the Arizona fans loudly booed him.

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Teams combine for over nine runs, -102 (DraftKings)

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PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez (9-3, 1.80) was the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award last season and he’s definitely in the mix again due to his strong first half. Sanchez has struck out 121 and walked just 20 and he’s a superb 7-1 with a 1.11 ERA over his last nine turns.

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Sanchez fanned seven Nationals in a no-decision on April 1 when he gave up one run, four hits and a season-worst four walks in 5 1/3 innings. Washington won the first game of the series but gave up 19 total runs in back-to-back losses the past two days. The Nationals were one strike away from winning Wednesday before Philadelphia’s Derek Hill hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth in a 5-4 victory.

Brandon Marsh is lighting up Washington by going 7-for-13 with two homers in the series. Marsh is 2-for-9 against Washington right-hander Cade Cavalli (4-4, 4.07), who has regularly handled Bryce Harper (1-for-9, three strikeouts).

Cristopher Sanchez to strike out seven or more batters, +111 (DraftKings)

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The 2026 World Cup group stage is winding down, and more spots in the Round of 32 will be locked up on Friday, June 26 with six more games across Groups G, H and I. The banner showdown will be between Norway and France, pitting stars Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe against one another as they battle for the Golden Boot as well as team glory.

With six games on the docket, there’s plenty of action for bettors to target for Friday’s matches. We’ve built a parlay for the day’s contests, with Norway vs. France as one of the legs, using odds from FanDuel and advice from SportsLine experts Jon Eimer, Brad Thomas and Martin Green. Anyone following their World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

World Cup parlay for Friday

• Norway-France Over 2.5 goals (-160)
• Cape Verde double chance vs. Saudi Arabia (-240)
• Uruguay-Spain Over 2.5 goals (-120)

FanDuel parlay price: +322

Norway-France Over 2.5 goals

I’m not going to stop anyone from backing more goals to get additional value, especially given how Haaland and Mbappe have been playing. However, I do think there will be a more concentrated effort against these two star forwards in this encounter. France’s back line has been solid in this World Cup, and Norway’s midfield is capable of locking down the pitch. That being said, there should still be enough fireworks in this game for the Over on 2.5 goals to hit.

Cape Verde double chance vs. Saudi Arabia

This Cape Verde team has been the best story of the World Cup, a positive result of expanding to 48 teams. They have not backed down from anyone and have two points thanks to draws against Spain and Uruguay. Saudi Arabia may have gotten lucky fending off 27 shots from Uruguay in a 1-1 draw, but they were overmatched against Spain. Cape Verde need all three points to ensure a Round of 32 berth, and a draw could put them in a precarious spot among the third-place teams. However, for this match, they are simply more invested than Saudi Arabia and have shown more determination.

Uruguay-Spain Over 2.5 goals

Spain looked out of sorts in the draw against Cape Verde but found their offensive mojo against Saudi Arabia. Uruguay had some big letdowns against Cape Verde as well, and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera will be wanting some redemption after effectively costing his team two points. Spain have more quality going forward, but Uruguay are also desperate for a win to move to the knockout round. I see goals here, and Spain can do enough on their own for this Over to connect.

India vs Ireland Live Score: India begin a new chapter in T20I cricket under captain Shreyas Iyer when they face an injury-hit Ireland in the first match of the two-game series at the Civil Service Cricket Ground in Stormont on Friday.

While the reigning T20 World Cup champions start as overwhelming favourites, much of the spotlight will be on teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is on the verge of making his international debut.

Will Sooryavanshi make his debut?

The 15-year-old has been one of the biggest talking points in world cricket after a sensational IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals. He followed it up with a blistering 94 off just 29 balls for India A in the tri-series final against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla.

A debut against Ireland would see Sooryavanshi become India’s youngest men’s international cricketer. However, fitting him into the playing XI is not straightforward.

India already have a settled top order. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson formed a successful opening pair during the T20 World Cup, while Ishan Kishan impressed at No. 3. The team management will have to decide whether to reshuffle a winning combination to accommodate the teenage prodigy.

A new era under Shreyas Iyer

The series also marks Iyer’s return to India’s T20I side for the first time since December 2023, and his first assignment as full-time captain after replacing Suryakumar Yadav.

Fresh from a successful IPL season as captain, Iyer will look to bring the same aggressive approach to the national side alongside head coach Gautam Gambhir. India are expected to field a power-packed middle order featuring Iyer, Kishan and vice-captain Tilak Varma.

Selection calls in the bowling attack

India also have decisions to make with the ball.

The management must decide whether to bring Harshit Rana straight back into the XI after his return to fitness or continue with recent performers Prince Yadav and Prasidh Krishna alongside pace spearhead Arshdeep Singh.

Ireland battling injury crisis

Ireland head into the series with several key players unavailable.

The hosts will be without experienced names including Paul Stirling, Mark Adair and Josh Little due to injuries. Newly appointed T20I captain Lorcan Tucker will lead a depleted side, with uncapped bowlers Matthew Hollard and Jai Moondra earning maiden call-ups.

India’s dominant record

History is firmly in India’s favour. The Men in Blue have won all eight T20Is they have played against Ireland and last met them during the 2024 T20 World Cup.

India are also enjoying an excellent run in the format, having won 12 of their 14 T20Is this year. They will also be playing an international match at Stormont for the first time since 2007.

Match details

Match: India vs Ireland, 1st T20I

Date: Friday, June 26

Time: 6:00 PM IST

Venue: Civil Service Cricket Ground, Stormont, Belfast

Live telecast: Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD and Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD

Live streaming: SonyLiv website and app

Veteran commentator Andrew Castle said he was “upset” to learn that this would be his last broadcasting Wimbledon for the BBC.

Castle will be part of the broadcasting and commentary team for this year’s tournament, which begins on Monday, but announced he would step down entirely after this Championships rather than take a different role.

The BBC, which has recently renewed its free-to-air broadcast agreement with Wimbledon until 2033, is revamping its coverage of the tournament once again.

Castle told The Telegraph: “Am I upset? Yeah, I was upset, and I will stay that way this year, knowing it’s my last. But all good things come to an end.”

Castle said he would have preferred for his final Championships to be the 2027 edition, which will be the 150th year of Wimbledon. “It would have been my 25th year. But who’s bleating?”

He said he was told in person that he would not be lead commentator for the men’s final next year. He said: “I was told in person, in a very respectful way, and I was very grateful for that – because knowing what I know about TV, you can be walking down the street one moment and the next you’ve been nobbled.”

Ex-pro Castle, who was British No 1 in 1986, will commentate on his 23rd final in 24 years as part of the BBC team this summer. He had previously told The Telegraph: “They want me to stay on the team but I will depart with gratitude.”

Castle grew up in Taunton and won a tennis scholarship to nearby Millfield School, before moving to Florida and then to Wichita State University in Kansas.

He reached the third round of the US Open in 1987, his best result at a major in singles, and reached the mixed doubles final at the Australian Open in the same year.

After retiring as a player he moved into broadcasting, presenting on Sky and ITV’s breakfast programme GMTV, before joining the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage.

The BBC’s coverage has undergone several changes in the past few years, most notably the departure of veteran presenter Sue Barker in 2022. Barker said of Castle: “As a presenter, I always loved having Andrew in the studio, because he offered something a bit different. I’m sad that this news has come as a bit of a shock to him, but it feels that way for all of us, because we love what we do so much.”

FIFA says fans will be allowed to display rainbow flags at Friday’s World Cup match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, despite objections from both countries, where homosexuality is criminalized.

The Group G match falls during Seattle’s annual Pride weekend and was designated a “Pride Match” by the city’s local World Cup organizing committee long before December’s tournament draw paired the two Muslim-majority nations.

Following the draw, both football federations objected to the designation. Egypt’s Football Association said Pride-related activities conflicted with the country’s cultural and religious values.

According to The Athletic, Iran’s federation requested that “no ceremonies or promotional activities associated with this movement should be present inside the stadium.” Iran’s federation did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

FIFA confirmed Thursday that rainbow flags will be permitted inside Lumen Field, saying the World Cup is “an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds.”

“General statements of human rights, including rainbow flags and other flags representing sexual orientation and gender identity, are permitted … and may be displayed inside stadiums,” FIFA said.

At the same time, FIFA emphasized that the Pride celebrations are organized by Seattle’s local host committee rather than the governing body itself. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said earlier this year that while Pride events would coincide with the match, “that has nothing to do with the match itself.”

The issue has drawn attention because of the competing teams’ records on LGBTQ+ rights. In Iran, same-sex relations are illegal and men have faced execution on sodomy charges. Egypt has prosecuted LGBTQ+ people and cracked down on public displays of Pride, including the use of rainbow flags.

Seattle organizers say the match is an opportunity to showcase the city’s longstanding commitment to inclusion.

Patti Hearn, executive director of Seattle Pride, said the rainbow flag represents human rights and inclusivity.

“The rainbow flag or any of the Pride flags are just a symbol of inclusivity, of community, of love — and that really isn’t offensive,” Hearn told Reuters.

She acknowledged the objections from Egypt and Iran but said the event sends an important message.

“There are queer people everywhere,” she said. “If we can provide the opportunity for the world stage to see and experience what it feels like to be in a welcoming and inclusive place … I think that’s great.”

Bookda Gheisar, an Iranian American lesbian and diversity director at the Port of Seattle, said the moment carries deep personal significance.

“The challenge of that contradiction has been a struggle of my own personal life for 40 years,” Gheisar said. “I’m certainly not alone in that.”

Seattle officials stressed that Pride celebrations have been part of the city for decades and are not being created specifically for the tournament.

“The Pride celebration … has happened on this weekend for 50-plus years,” said Hedda McLendon of Seattle’s World Cup organizing committee. “It is going to happen this weekend, it is going to happen long after the World Cup.”

Ilona Lohrey, president and CEO of the Greater Seattle Business Association, called Seattle one of the country’s most inclusive cities.

“I think it gives us an opportunity to showcase who we are as a city, who we are as a people and how diversity makes us stronger,” she said.

Seattle Reign captain Jess Fishlock said the World Cup provides a unique opportunity to celebrate diversity.

“I don’t think there is a sport that has a global event that creates unity and diversity … quite like the World Cup,” she said.

Both teams have sought to keep attention on football rather than the Pride celebrations.

Before Iran’s pre-match news conference on Thursday, FIFA public relations executive Daniel Marin read a statement saying the Iranian delegation would answer only football-related questions. Coach Amir Ghalenoei later repeated that his team’s “entire focus” was on the match.

“We are here to play football. For nothing else,” he said.

Egypt took a similar approach, with team officials preventing players from answering Pride-related questions. Coach Hossam Hassan said, “We are all focused on football,” adding that his team respected “fair play and rules for everybody to abide by.”

Iran has also faced travel complications during the tournament due to U.S. restrictions tied to geopolitical tensions.

Several support staff members were initially unable to enter the United States, and the team had been required to fly in shortly before previous matches and return immediately afterward. Restrictions were eased ahead of the Seattle match, allowing Iran to arrive two days early.

With Egypt leading Group G and Iran chasing its first-ever knockout-stage appearance at a World Cup, Friday’s match is expected to draw global attention both for the action on the field and for the rainbow flags that FIFA says fans are free to display.

Elliot Anderson’s impending mega-money move to Manchester City will not impact the England midfielder’s focus on winning the World Cup, according to team-mate Jarell Quansah.

The 23-year-old has established himself as a key part of Thomas Tuchel’s side since making his debut last September and impressed on his major tournament bow as they overcame Croatia 4-2 in last week’s thriller.

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Anderson also started England’s 0-0 draw with Ghana and heads into Saturday’s Group L finale against Panama fresh from the life-changing news that City have struck a deal to sign him from Nottingham Forest.

The agreement is said to be worth £116m and a medical has reportedly been lined up for when the team arrives in the Tri-State Area, but Quansah does not expect his team-mate’s focus to waver.

“I see a player that’s fully focused on what he wants, and I think at the moment what he wants is to win a World Cup,” the England defender told talkSPORT. “That ultimately is the goal.

“Obviously I’m not in his head or whatnot, but I’m sure he is fully focused on winning the World Cup for England, and you can’t drift too far away from that and he knows that.

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“But he’s a proper focused young lad and he’ll go right to the top I think.”

Anderson has flourished since being moved to a deeper midfield role by England Under-21s boss Lee Carsley, who he played a starring role for in last summer’s European Championship triumph.

Quansah, another member of that victorious side, said: “I think he’s a very versatile player as well.

“This season he’s played a deeper role, played in a sort of a six and sometimes an eight, but he’s got probably everything you want as a midfielder, to be honest.

“I remember hearing about him at Bristol Rovers (when I went on loan there afterwards) and I think he was playing on the wing.

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“Knowing he can do that and what he does in training sessions as well, he’s got a lot of attributes that are really good for an England squad and exactly what the manager wants, which is good.”

Tuchel has some interesting decisions to make this weekend as he looks to balance protecting players with producing the performance needed to top Group L.

England are all but assured of a place in the round of 32 ahead of facing already-eliminated Panama but must equal or better Ghana’s result against Croatia to top the pool.

Star midfielder Declan Rice has been under assessment ahead of Saturday’s match having limped out of Gillette Stadium on Tuesday, while Reece James sounds a major doubt.

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A hamstring injury is said to have seen him miss training on Thursday and back-up Tino Livramento’s enforced departure opens the door to versatile Quansah stepping in at right-back.

“It will be cliche but it’s a dream come true, and there’s probably no better words to actually sum it up,” the Bayer Leverkusen defender said of his potential World Cup debut.

“Because when you’re younger, playing in the back garden, or whatever you’re doing, you always think about World Cups and the biggest stage of them all in my opinion.

“To be able to play with England it will be a massive, massive honour, and something I’m ready for, and something I’d look forward to.”

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