Trends:
Latest News Links - Spain
Related Tags:
KIERAN GILL: Sitting in the Stamford Bridge directors' lounge‚ just Xabi Alonso and a few of the Chelsea-dedicated correspondents‚ the talk turned to setting standards after such a substandard season. 'I can't assess the things from the past because I was not here so it would be unfair‚' Alonso told us. 'But what we want is a team with the right mentality‚ the right hunger‚ the right standards and on a daily basis to build on them. That's important. 'I'm not a general‚ but I'm a good professional‚ and I know what it takes to be a good professional. Those are the standards we want for the whole building.'
RUNNING OUTTA TIME: Barcelona have made a move for Arsenal target Julian Alvarez - but maintain their offer is only valid for a limited amount of time
The Three Lions will face Argentina for the first time in 21 years when the two teams line up in Atlanta for a place in Sunday's final against either Spain or France. It will mark the second time in three World Cups that England have reached the semi-final stage and‚ after Saturday evening's scalp of Norway‚ Thomas Tuchel's men have been backed to knockout the reigning champions by a host of ex-players.
On one side of the draw‚ France and Spain‚ the stylists and the matadors‚ most people's pick for the best two teams of the tournament so far. In the other semi-final‚ two more sides who many see as mirrors of each other‚ two sides whose progress to the last four has been more about struggle than style. Thomas Tuchel talked candidly about England's search for their best form after the gritty victory over Norway in Miami on Saturday and‚ beyond all the freighted emotional and political baggage that will come with their clash in Atlanta on Wednesday‚ Argentina are enduring similar labours. They are led by the ageless wonder that is Lionel Messi‚ the joint top scorer in the tournament and the leading scorer in World Cup history‚ and that always has to be the starting point of any analysis of England's opponents.
MARK CLATTENBURG: England had scored their equaliser. The English fans at Miami Gardens were going crazy‚ celebrating Jude Bellingham's brilliant goal. But then I noticed Norway's goalkeeper Orjan Nyland was complaining to the referee‚ Clement Turpin of France. Then the half-time whistle was blown. Then the Norwegian bench was going wild with the fourth official‚ Alejandro Hernandez of Spain. Norway's manager Stale Solbakken was definitely not happy. FOX‚ who I am working for as a rules analyst at this World Cup‚ allowed me and the team to review why they were so upset. Then we saw it. That video clip. You've probably seen it on social media‚ too. The angle that shows the ball suddenly drop from the air. Hardly anyone knows the laws.
MIKE KEEGAN AND JACK GAUGHAN IN MIAMI: Thomas Tuchel and Jude Bellingham offered two very different assessments of the Three Lions' progression to the World Cup semi-final on a fraught night in Miami. The German branded his side 'lucky' after Bellingham's brace and help from both VAR and a spider camera cable saw them creep past Norway after extra-time. But the Real Madrid talisman‚ who now has six goals for the tournament‚ appeared to dismiss his head coach's comments‚ declaring simply 'whatever' before hailing England's ability to 'win dirty'.
MOST CLICKED LINKS
Last hour
Last 24 hours
TAGS
Aberdeen Alonso Amorim Andoni AndreySantos Argentina Arsenal Arteta AstonVilla BBC Barcelona Barcola Bellingham Bilić Bradley BrunoGuimarães Can Carrick Celtic ChampionsLeague Chelsea Croatia Deal Dieperink Digne Done Dybala EXCLUSIVE Early Ederson England Everton FA FIFA Fernández Fiorentina France Garnacho GilbertoSilva Guimarães Håland If Infantino Inter Iraola Italy Johan Juventus Ken Khalaili Koundé LIVE Lens Liverpool M.Richards MacAllister Maeda Maldini ManCity ManUtd Manzambi Mbappé Messi Milan Mora Mourinho Netherlands New Newcastle Norway Official PSG Palestra Pickford Police PremierLeague Rangers RealMadrid Referee Rice Rob Rodri Rogers Roma Romano Santos Sky Slot Spain Sports TV Tielemans Tottenham Transfer Tuchel U-turn WestHam WorldCup XabiAlonso Yamal


