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Sports

The two huge issues England must solve before World Cup knockout rounds

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England remain en route – and not just in terms of a hard-fought first place that may yet take them through to the Azteca.

There’s also the way they toiled to confirm it. Thomas Tuchel’s side were again dependent on Jude Bellingham, a set-piece and a record-breaking Harry Kane. The captain became England’s record World Cup goalscorer, with an 11th that ultimately sealed a 2-0 win over Panama.

It isn’t so much football that people in the pub enjoy any more, mind, but one coming out of the more prosaic parts of coaching seminars – at least elevated by Bellingham’s ingenuity.

Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham ensured England came through a tricky encounter with Panama
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham ensured England came through a tricky encounter with Panama (Getty)

And if one increasing worry is how England have suddenly stopped creating space around the opposition area, they are offering up a lot around their own.

It gives Tuchel two huge issues to solve, now this World Cup finally gets serious. A last-32 tie against either Senegal or Democratic Republic of the Congo in Atlanta now awaits.

They’re going to have to do a lot of tactical work in between. This is suddenly a team that looks like it has gaps in many areas, especially defence and – for now – midfield. England missed Declan Rice against a resolute Panama. The links weren’t there, with Kane again marked out of the game until the first goal, and even Elliot Anderson more exposed.

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England endured a frustrating first half in New Jersey with Harry Kane dampened
England endured a frustrating first half in New Jersey with Harry Kane dampened (AP)

Panama were successfully finding openings at one end, and staying solid at the other.

This is of course why Tuchel felt the need to rest Rice in the first place: because they’re going to badly need him. He’s arguably less replaceable than Kane, and even now Reece James.

There is nevertheless one other theory about that approach, and even the concerns that came from this win. Tuchel’s idea increasingly looks like one built for the transitions that will be more apparent in games against the elite sides.

Hence how Kane is so central, and not just as a goalscorer, but also the way his raking balls are intended to release pace out wide. England may enjoy much more of that against sides who seek to control a match.

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Thomas Tuchel has been left with issues to solve
Thomas Tuchel has been left with issues to solve (Getty)

That might totally stand to reason given the one thing that is now always said is that the real test is how England do against the first proper team they play, but the toughest challenge for now might be getting that far.

Tuchel’s side have now toiled in two matches where they were expected to be in full command. And, yes, they had most of the control but couldn’t really embellish it or take it on with any combinations.

That was where the worry was. If Tuchel has talked enthusiastically about building an intense attack that gets people excited with forwards coming from everywhere, there was none of that here. By contrast, so many attacks broke down with the wrong pass or a bad option.

As early as the 15th second, Tuchel was berating his captain for arching one of those passes straight out of play.

Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford, back in the starting line-up, couldn’t properly link up with those around them. Rashford at least offered England the urgency they needed, and it was his runs that at least increased the intensity before Bellingham’s game-breaking goal.

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Jude Bellingham, red No 10, watches as his toe poke finds the net
Jude Bellingham, red No 10, watches as his toe poke finds the net (Reuters)

Before that, Bellingham himself had looked frustrated, and Morgan Rogers – in for Rice but playing as the 10 – actually couldn’t get into the game.

Ezri Konsa was again exposed.

A central issue, so to speak, might be the one at right-back. With Jarell Quansah in for Reece James, over Djed Spence, England just didn’t have any mobility. They were so flat.

So, they sought to curl in a set piece. On 62 minutes, Saka hit one of his corners, and there was Bellingham to finish. The surprise was that it wasn’t a header. Maybe it couldn’t be against this Panama defence.

Because, after a long period where Thomas Christiansen’s side looked so physically imposing at the back – and much stronger than England – they were suddenly undercut. There was almost an incongruity to how Bellingham deftly turned the ball in on the spin, after so many battles.

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It was the little touch of quality that was required. With Panama’s gameplan rumbled, Kane headed in Bellingham’s own cross moments later. Some momentum was back, even if it was never close to the feeling of that 15 minutes against Croatia.

Whether England can regain it may actually depend on the opposition they face.

Bellingham on the attack with Tomas Rodriguez in pursuit
Bellingham on the attack with Tomas Rodriguez in pursuit (Reuters)

Maybe that’s why the more leaden nature of these performances isn’t a worry.

Maybe that’s what it’s all building to.

But that’s if they get that far. Because, before then – and a prospective quarter-final against Brazil in Miami – it’s going to be more of this.

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England are suddenly built for games that they have to really battle to actually get to.

They stay en route, but it all looks more difficult to navigate than had been anticipated.

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Sophie Cunningham says players are ‘definitely targeting’ Caitlin Clark. What does the data say?

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Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has never been afraid to speak her mind, so it was only a matter of time before she commented on the latest controversy involving Caitlin Clark. Unsurprisingly, Cunningham has come to her teammate’s defense, saying that “the league and the refs do nothing to protect” Clark. 

Clark left the Fever’s loss to the Mercury on Wednesday with a back injury after being on the receiving end of what Indiana coach Stephanie White called “two cheap shots.” Clark will not play Saturday against the Los Angeles Sparks on CBS and Paramount+, and has been ruled out indefinitely. 

While a landing space foul on a 3-pointer appeared to be what jarred Clark’s back, the incident that has everyone talking happened a few possessions earlier. During a loose-ball scramble, Alyssa Thomas kneed Clark in the thigh and put her fist into Clark’s neck. No foul was called during the game, but the league later reviewed the situation and upgraded the play to a Flagrant 2 and suspended Thomas for one game — served Saturday against the Toronto Tempo — for “recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area” of Clark. 

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Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas suspended one game for putting fist into Caitlin Clark’s throat in win over Fever

Jack Maloney

Mercury's Alyssa Thomas suspended one game for putting fist into Caitlin Clark's throat in win over Fever
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Cunningham calls out the league and officials

On the latest episode of her podcast, “Show Me Something,” which was released Saturday, Cunningham gave her view on the situation. She explained why no one on the Fever reacted in the moment, then made strong accusations against both the league and the officials.   

“During real time last night, I did not see that happen,” Cunningham said. “None of our team saw it happen, because I promise you, if we would have seen that happen, we would have had [Clark’s] back. Unfortunately, this type of shit happens every single game to [Clark], and the league and the refs do absolutely nothing about it.”

“You see the videos of literally kneeing and cheap-shotting [Clark] in the throat,” Cunningham continued. “If [Thomas] did that to any of our teammates, we’d be pissed. But they are definitely targeting [Clark], and the league and the refs do nothing to protect her.”

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Cunningham has previously been fined for comments she’s made on her podcast — as well as a TikTok she made — and it would not be a surprise if the league dings her again here.

Do opponents actually ‘target’ Clark?

Do opponents set out to purposefully injure Clark? No. Do opponents try to use physicality to their advantage against Clark? Yes. As Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase notably said last season, “We know [Clark] doesn’t like physicality.” And sometimes, that approach goes too far. 

Despite missing the majority of her sophomore season, Clark has been on the receiving end of nine flagrant fouls since she entered the league in 2024, per Across the Timeline. That is the most toward any player in that time frame. Note: This includes both Flagrant 1 and Flagrant 2 fouls, preseason excluded. 

Most flagrant fouls received since 2024

Clark has received nine flagrant fouls in 72 career games, including the regular season and playoffs, or one every eight games. Here are some of the most notable incidents Clark has been involved in:

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  • Just 10 games into her career, Clark was hip-checked by Chennedy Carter, a play that was retroactively upgraded to a Flagrant 1
  • Later in her rookie season, Clark was run over in transition by Diamond DeShields, who was called for a Flagrant 1
  • Last season, Clark was shoved to the ground by Marina Mabrey, a play that was retroactively upgraded to a Flagrant 2
  • Then, on Wednesday, there was the incident with Thomas, which, again, was retroactively upgraded to a Flagrant 2

None of that includes the regular landing space fouls on Clark that arguably carry a higher risk of injury. In May, Clark left a preseason game against the Dallas Wings after being fouled by Alanna Smith on a play that was upgraded to a Flagrant 1. Too often for the Fever’s liking, however, such fouls are not upgraded. That was the case against the Washington Mystics earlier this season, when Clark was cleaned out in mid-air by Cassandre Prosper. And it was the case again on Wednesday against the Mercury, when she landed on Valeriane Ayayi’s foot and came up grabbing at her back. 

There are seven incidents highlighted above: four non-basketball plays and three landing space fouls from this season alone. Only two of them were called flagrant fouls in the moment, while three were retroactively upgraded, including two to Flagrant 2s and one suspension. 

Twice in the last 25 games Clark has played in, the league has acknowledged after the fact that she was on the receiving end of contact that should have resulted in an ejection. Since Clark entered the league, there have only been four other Flagrant 2 fouls — one on Thomas in 2024, one on Cunningham, one on Janelle Salaun and one on Isabelle Harrison — and all four were assessed in the moment, leading to immediate ejections. 

Since Clark’s debut, she has taken more flagrant fouls than any other player, and the worst of the non-basketball contact she’s received has not been properly handled in the moment. 

That says more about the competency (or lack thereof) of the officials than a plot by opponents to hurt Clark or a conspiracy by the league, but it makes it easy to understand why Cunningham said the officials do “nothing to protect” Clark. And what White meant when she said after Wednesday’s game that Clark is “not called the same way everybody else is called.” 

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Survive the Apocalypse Outlaw class guide 

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Survive the Apocalypse is a survival experience in which you explore different locations of a vast map and collect items that’ll help you endure a zombie apocalypse. On June 27, 2026, this Roblox title released its New 5 Star Class update, which introduced a new limited-time class along with several bug fixes.

Outlaw is a new 5-star class that you can purchase by spending 1,000 Emeralds at the Classes shop. In this guide, we will discuss its stats and the fastest method of unlocking.


What is the Outlaw class in Survive the Apocalypse?

Purchasing the Outlaw class (Image via Roblox)Purchasing the Outlaw class (Image via Roblox)
Purchasing the Outlaw class (Image via Roblox)

Outlaw is a new 5-star tier class in Survive the Apocalypse that was introduced via the New 5 Star Class update on June 27, 2026. In the Classes shop, he appears as a rugged Wild West character wearing a brown cowboy hat, bandana face covering, leather jacket with ammo belts, utility pouches, dark pants, and black boots.

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To unlock the Outlaw class, you must visit the Classes shop, located in the game’s lobby, and spend 1,000 Emeralds. Once unlocked, you can equip this class to start each of your runs with a Heavy Revolver. Here are some stats possessed by this class:

  • Star: 5-star
  • Cost: 1,000 Emeralds
  • Starter tools: 1x Heavy Revolver and 60x Pistol Ammo
  • Level 1 skills: Headshot kills with non-auto guns grant 10% Reload Speed, +0.5 Walk Speed, and 5% Dodge Chance for Ss, stacking up to 10x
  • Level 2 skills: You can unlock this level by eliminating 1,000 zombies with a headshot. Bullets from non-auto guns bounce between enemies on penetration (Max three).
  • Level 3 skills: You can unlock this level by eliminating 5x Exterminators and 4,000 zombies with headshot. Quickdraw: Rapidly fire your revolver, automatically headshotting a zombie on your screen six times (15 CD).

How to get the Outlaw class in Survive the Apocalypse

Step 1: Earn Emeralds

For purchasing the Outlaw class, you’ll need to spend 1,000 Emeralds at the Classes shop. To earn them faster, you can follow these methods:

  • Complete Daily Quests: Every day, you’ll get the chance to complete three quests. Each of them can reward you with either 10x or 15x Emeralds.
  • Participate in different activities: You’ll get 1x Emerald for fixing a power plant, up to 8x Emeralds by repairing a Nuclear Reactor, 6x Emeralds for participating in a Military Base, and 3x Emeralds for completing a Raider Base.
  • Redeem codes: You can also redeem Survive the Apocalypse codes.

Step 2: Purchase the class

After collecting at least 1,000 Emeralds, head towards the Classes shop, available at the lobby. Interact with the NPC and search for the Outlaw class. Next, purchase the class by spending Emeralds.

Once unlocked, you can equip this class and use it during runs to unlock better perks and abilities


FAQs on Outlaw class in Survive the Apocalypse

How do you unlock the Outlaw class in Survive the Apocalypse?

You can unlock the Outlaw class by visiting the Classes shop in the lobby and purchasing it for 1,000 Emeralds.

What weapons does the Outlaw class start with?

The Outlaw class begins every run with 1x Heavy Revolver and 60x Pistol Ammo, giving you a strong early-game advantage against zombies.

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What does the Outlaw class’s Level 1 skill do?

At Level 1, headshot kills with non-automatic guns grant 10% Reload Speed, +0.5 Walk Speed, and 5% Dodge Chance for 5 seconds, with the buffs stacking up to 10 times.

How do you unlock the Outlaw class’s higher-level skills?

Level 2 requires 1,000 headshot zombie eliminations, while Level 3 requires 5 Exterminator kills and 4,000 headshot zombie eliminations using the class.