The Football Briefing - The Football Briefing

World Cup

England arrived at the Azteca, and this time the chaos did not break them

There are wins that move a team through a tournament, and wins that change the mood around it. England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Azteca did both. Until now, Thomas Tuchel’s side had been effective rather than stirring. They had beaten Croatia, drawn with Ghana, seen

World Cup

Egypt hold their nerve as Cape Verde remind the World Cup why underdogs matter

There are World Cup nights that are remembered for the goals, and there are others that linger because of the strain visible on every face by the end. This was one of the latter. Egypt’s penalty shootout victory over Australia was not the cleanest knockout tie this tournament will

Premier League

Forest have rolled the dice again, but this time the gamble says more about ambition than panic

Nottingham Forest’s decision to part company with Vítor Pereira looks brutal because, on the surface, it contradicts the evidence of the previous four months. Pereira arrived in February as the fourth head coach of a season that already felt unmanageable. Forest were not looking for a philosopher then. They

World Cup

The World Cup Has Found Its Edge

The first expanded World Cup was always going to be judged harshly. Too many teams, too much travel, too much group-stage arithmetic, too much risk of dilution. Then the knockout phase arrived and the tournament found something sharper than format debate. It found jeopardy. France have looked like a

Premier League

Everton have signed Hayden Hackney for what their midfield has been missing

Everton’s signing of Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough feels less like a speculative Championship punt and more like a targeted attempt to change the texture of David Moyes’ midfield. The club have confirmed the arrival of the 24-year-old midfielder on a five-year contract, adding one of the

World Cup

Kane rescued England, but the Azteca will demand something different

Harry Kane rescued England from a night that was drifting towards something far more damaging. Now they have to stop themselves from inviting the same trouble on a louder, thinner and less forgiving stage. A 2-1 win over DR Congo sends Thomas Tuchel’s side into the last 16,

World Cup

France look like champions in waiting as Mbappé turns dominance into certainty

France did not so much beat Sweden as reduce the idea of a contest to something theoretical. There was a scoreline, a structure, a period before the first goal when Sweden could still pretend the game was within reach. By the end, the 3-0 felt almost modest. Kylian Mbappé

World Cup

Germany and Holland are out: shock exits, or were the signs already there?

For Germany and Holland, early World Cup exits always carry disbelief. These are not ordinary football nations. Their names sit heavily in the tournament’s history. Their shirts bring memories of finals, great players, tactical eras and teams that helped shape the modern game. So when both disappear before the

Premier League

Maresca takes the reins at Manchester City as Guardiola succession plan becomes public

Manchester City have confirmed Enzo Maresca as their new manager, ending one long-running rumour and opening the first chapter of the post-Pep Guardiola era. City have framed the appointment as both a new beginning and a return. Maresca has signed a three-year contract until the summer of

EFL

Burnley wanted a new direction. Now the managerial search is testing their judgement

Burnley’s search for a new manager was supposed to signal clarity. Instead, it has started to look like the first test of a club that decided it wanted a new direction before fully securing the person to lead it. Scott Parker’s departure was announced on 30 April. The

England

England have topped the group, but Tuchel’s side still look like a team searching for themselves

England have done what every serious World Cup contender sets out to do. They have won their group, avoided unnecessary drama and reached the knockout stage unbeaten. On paper, Thomas Tuchel’s side have done exactly what was required. Still, after three matches, there is a slightly unresolved feeling around

Premier League

Why Granit Xhaka to Chelsea suddenly makes more sense than it first appears

If Chelsea complete a deal for Granit Xhaka this summer, it would rank among the most unexpected transfers of the window. For the last three years, their recruitment has followed a clear philosophy: buy young, buy potential and develop elite talent. From Moisés Caicedo and Roméo Lavia to Cole Palmer,