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Kranti Gaud’s seven-wicket haul and a maiden Test century from Yastika Bhatia powered the Indian women’s team to a monumental 270-run win over England in the inaugural women’s Test at Lord’s. This historic feat at the Mecca of Cricket comes just two days after the Indian men’s team surrendered their T20I series in England, ahead of the upcoming ODIs starting Tuesday (Jul 14) at Edgbaston. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the visiting side etched their names into cricketing folklore with an absolute demolition of the hosts, heavily anchored by Smriti Mandhana’s brilliant twin fifties.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A day that goes down in the 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 📚<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> WIN the first-ever women&#39;s Test match at Lord&#39;s 🥳 Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/O1rEau8j8n">https://t.co/O1rEau8j8n</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ENGvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/4mhcx8kKej">pic.twitter.com/4mhcx8kKej</a>&mdash; BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) <a href="https://x.com/BCCIWomen/status/2076631504718102554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I never thought about it, but the day the match started, I wanted to get my name written on the Honours Board,” said medium-pacer Kranti Gaud, who won the Player of the Match award for her seven wickets across two innings, including a historic five-for in the first. “I feel very proud, as does my family. I wanted to thank everyone (my coaches and teammates) who has supported me.”&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/poor-team-selection-play-a-key-role-in-india-t20-series-defeats-against-ireland-and-england-1783872501879">The Tactless Tour: Strategic missteps and selection blunders cost India top T20I ranking</a> &nbsp;India batted first after losing the toss and scored 285 in the first innings. It looked like a below-par score on this Lord’s track; England’s diminished performance in their reply (170) highlighted India’s bowling strength. With a massive 115-run lead, the Indian women’s team rode on fifties from Mandhana (70) and Richa Ghosh (50*) and a brilliant yet historic maiden Test ton from Bhatia, who scored 113, including 14 fours, to give England a target of 457. &nbsp;The hosts never looked comfortable chasing this mammoth target, having been reduced to 34 for four at one stage and later 59 for five. In the final innings, two Indian seamers, Gaud and Sayali Satghare, alongside spinners, Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma, broke through England’s batting to dismiss them for 186 runs on day four.&nbsp; &nbsp;“God is a better writer, and he has written it pretty well. Our openers have been our strength - the way they batted in the first half, it was special to watch,” Harmanpreet Kaur said after the match. “I want to give credit to the support staff. This summer did not go the way it wanted, but we came back strongly in the Test match.” &nbsp;“On the first morning, we did not adapt to the conditions as well as we could have. Struggled to find our length, but once we did that, we were in the game. With the bat, we did not have enough partnerships.&nbsp; &nbsp;“So, fighting to get back into the game from there. Throughout the match, at different stages, we showed character,” England women’s team captain Nat Sciver-Brunt said.

Kranti Gaud’s 7-wicket haul and Yastika Bhatia’s maiden ton power India Women to a historic 270-run demolition of England in the inaugural Test at Lord’s.

Kranti Gaud’s seven-wicket haul and a maiden Test century from Yastika Bhatia powered the Indian women’s team to a monumental 270-run win over England in the inaugural women’s Test at Lord’s. This historic feat at the Mecca of Cricket comes just two days after the Indian men’s team surrendered their T20I series in England, ahead of the upcoming ODIs starting Tuesday (Jul 14) at Edgbaston. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the visiting side etched their names into cricketing folklore with an absolute demolition of the hosts, heavily anchored by Smriti Mandhana’s brilliant twin fifties.

Kranti Gaud’s 7-wicket haul and Yastika Bhatia’s maiden ton power India Women to a historic 270-run demolition of England in the inaugural Test at Lord’s.

IND W vs ENG W – India crush England by 270 runs to win inaugural Lord's women’s Test

Sports are no longer just 90-minute football games, three-hour-plus tennis matches, or marathon six-hour One-Day Cricket games played worldwide. Fandom goes far beyond the stadium now. Fans still watch live, but the content is now entirely at their disposal. Instead of just catching live action on a big TV screen, fans at work, in the office, or away from home watch their favourite sports on repeat on their mobile phones. Technology advancements have made the sports-watching experience simpler and just a click away.<h3>Bite-Sized vs Deep Dive</h3>Sports content consumption has changed, or rather, advanced massively over the years. While the live coverage and its highlight package still top the charts, the audience is now of two kinds – bite-sized and deep-dive, and so is the content production.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-s-next-big-move-gianni-infantino-opens-door-to-a-64-team-world-cup-everything-you-need-to-know-1783884678964">FIFA's next big move? Gianni Infantino opens door to a 64-team World Cup. Everything you need to know</a> &nbsp;While those behind the computer desks continue to produce written, graphic, or video content throughout the matches, keeping their viewers engaged and connected through digital journalism, a new type of content called bite-sized has also emerged. &nbsp;So, what is that? &nbsp;Gen Z and young millennials have figured out how to consume content in just 10 seconds through TikTok videos, Instagram and YouTube Shorts: match highlights, crucial moments, goals, the fall of wickets, and game-changing plays are all packed into a 10-to-15-second clip. Interestingly, the reach and clicks on such clips are higher than those of YouTube highlight packages. &nbsp;Considering today’s lifestyle, these bite-sized clips have done wonders for sports enthusiasts, helping them stay informed about their favourite teams. &nbsp;On the flip side, there is an audience, loyal and stubborn, who wants to watch everything -- the buildup, the pre-match interviews, data analysis, captain quotes and whatnot. For them, there is a deep-dive production, working on putting everything available on the table for the viewer's consumption. &nbsp;“Every organisation involved in sports media nowadays understands that producing both long-form content and short-form content is absolutely necessary to catch the attention of the viewers,” Mohak Arora, the Parimatch Sports analytics expert, told WION exclusively. &nbsp;“Long-form content like tactical analysis breakdowns, game-based podcasts, or documentary-style series is crucial in building long-term loyalty and delivering an enriching experience to the fans. &nbsp;“But to keep them hooked on day-to-day happenings of their favourite teams or to explore new sports, or to build a sports community, is possible only with bite-sized short-form content delivered round the clock,” he added.&nbsp;<h3>From memes to deep research and dialogue</h3>While meme trends work like an engine for the bite-sized audience, which relies on them all over the internet to grab information about their favourite sports, for those sitting patiently at home, deep research, dialogue and chat about the game to come does the perfect job. &nbsp;Sometimes expert analysis is all the viewer is seeking, and those travelling long distances or regularly commuting from work to home and vice versa usually consume this kind of content, which keeps them glued to the screen and, most importantly, informed. &nbsp;However, the generation growing up consuming its content entirely through the internet uses different modes, but what remains constant is how the content is produced and reaches each audience.

Discover how bite-sized clips and deep-dive analytics are rewriting the rules of modern sports media to capture both Gen Z scrollers and loyal fanbases.

Sports are no longer just 90-minute football games, three-hour-plus tennis matches, or marathon six-hour One-Day Cricket games played worldwide. Fandom goes far beyond the stadium now. Fans still watch live, but the content is now entirely at their disposal. Instead of just catching live action on a big TV screen, fans at work, in the office, or away from home watch their favourite sports on repeat on their mobile phones. Technology advancements have made the sports-watching experience simpler and just a click away. Bite-Sized vs Deep Dive Sports content consumption has changed, or rather, advanced massively over the years. While the live coverage and its highlight package still top the charts, the audience is now of two kinds – bite-sized and deep-dive, and so is the content production. Also read| FIFA's next big move? Gianni Infantino opens door to a 64-team World Cup. Everything you need to know While those behind the computer desks continue to produce written, graphic, or video content throughout the matches, keeping their viewers engaged and connected through digital journalism, a new type of content called bite-sized has also emerged. So, what is that? Gen Z and young millennials have figured out how to consume content in just 10 seconds through TikTok videos, Instagram and YouTube Shorts: match highlights, crucial moments, goals, the fall of wickets, and game-changing plays are all packed into a 10-to-15-second clip. Interestingly, the reach and clicks on such clips are higher than those of YouTube highlight packages. Considering today’s lifestyle, these bite-sized clips have done wonders for sports enthusiasts, helping them stay informed about their favourite teams. On the flip side, there is an audience, loyal and stubborn, who wants to watch everything -- the buildup, the pre-match interviews, data analysis, captain quotes and whatnot. For them, there is a deep-dive production, working on putting everything available on the table for the viewer's consumption. “Every organisation involved in sports media nowadays understands that producing both long-form content and short-form content is absolutely necessary to catch the attention of the viewers,” Mohak Arora, the Parimatch Sports analytics expert, told WION exclusively. “Long-form content like tactical analysis breakdowns, game-based podcasts, or documentary-style series is crucial in building long-term loyalty and delivering an enriching experience to the fans. “But to keep them hooked on day-to-day happenings of their favourite teams or to explore new sports, or to build a sports community, is possible only with bite-sized short-form content delivered round the clock,” he added. From memes to deep research and dialogue While meme trends work like an engine for the bite-sized audience, which relies on them all over the internet to grab information about their favourite sports, for those sitting patiently at home, deep research, dialogue and chat about the game to come does the perfect job. Sometimes expert analysis is all the viewer is seeking, and those travelling long distances or regularly commuting from work to home and vice versa usually consume this kind of content, which keeps them glued to the screen and, most importantly, informed. However, the generation growing up consuming its content entirely through the internet uses different modes, but what remains constant is how the content is produced and reaches each audience.

Discover how bite-sized clips and deep-dive analytics are rewriting the rules of modern sports media to capture both Gen Z scrollers and loyal fanbases.

Bite-Sized vs. Deep-Dive — The Modern Sports Media Playbook

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephan Fleming has parted way with the IPL franchise after 18 years in position. The announcement came on Monday (Jul 13). Fleming, the former New Zealand skipper, had joined CSK as a player in 2008 before taking over coach duties in 2009 onwards. He also stepped down from other Super Kings franchises - Texas Super Kings in the USA's Major League Cricket (MLC) and Jo'burg Super Kings in South Africa's SA20. Fleming stood down after Texas Super Kings finished last in MLC 2026.<h2>What is Fleming's record as CSK coach?</h2>Under Fleming, CSK became of the most successful IPL teams in the history - winning joint-most five titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023. They also won now defunct Champions League in 2010 and 2014. CSK, under Fleming, made it to playoffs a record 12 times and played the final 10 times. He forged one of the most successful captain-coach partnership with MS Dhoni who led CSK to all five titles.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-rahul-dravid-replace-brendon-mccullum-as-england-s-test-coach-here-s-what-the-report-says-1783908815397">Dravid to replace McCullum as England's Test coach? Here's what the report says</a>In the last three seasons though, CSK have not been up to the mark with their own level - finishing eighth in 2026 before finishing last in 2025.<h2>What Fleming said about stepping down?</h2>"Eighteen years is a lifetime in sport, and I leave with nothing but gratitude," Fleming said in a statement. "My time with Chennai Super Kings has been the privilege of my coaching career. I am proud of everything we have achieved. Together, we celebrated unforgettable victories, overcame difficult moments, and built memories that will stay with me forever. CSK will always be close to my heart, and I will be cheering the team on for years to come."<h2>How CSK responded about parting ways with Fleming?</h2>"Stephen Fleming has been the heartbeat of our coaching unit for almost the entire journey of this franchise," CSK owner Rupa Gurunath said. "For nearly two decades, he has helped shape our identity, vision, and pursuit of excellence. While our journey together on the field comes to a close, he will always remain an integral part of the team's legacy."

Under Fleming, CSK became of the most successful IPL teams in the history - winning joint-most five titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023. They also won now defunct Champions League in 2010 and 2014.

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephan Fleming has parted way with the IPL franchise after 18 years in position. The announcement came on Monday (Jul 13). Fleming, the former New Zealand skipper, had joined CSK as a player in 2008 before taking over coach duties in 2009 onwards. He also stepped down from other Super Kings franchises - Texas Super Kings in the USA's Major League Cricket (MLC) and Jo'burg Super Kings in South Africa's SA20. Fleming stood down after Texas Super Kings finished last in MLC 2026. What is Fleming's record as CSK coach? Under Fleming, CSK became of the most successful IPL teams in the history - winning joint-most five titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023. They also won now defunct Champions League in 2010 and 2014. CSK, under Fleming, made it to playoffs a record 12 times and played the final 10 times. He forged one of the most successful captain-coach partnership with MS Dhoni who led CSK to all five titles. Also Read - Dravid to replace McCullum as England's Test coach? Here's what the report says In the last three seasons though, CSK have not been up to the mark with their own level - finishing eighth in 2026 before finishing last in 2025. What Fleming said about stepping down? "Eighteen years is a lifetime in sport, and I leave with nothing but gratitude," Fleming said in a statement. "My time with Chennai Super Kings has been the privilege of my coaching career. I am proud of everything we have achieved. Together, we celebrated unforgettable victories, overcame difficult moments, and built memories that will stay with me forever. CSK will always be close to my heart, and I will be cheering the team on for years to come." How CSK responded about parting ways with Fleming? "Stephen Fleming has been the heartbeat of our coaching unit for almost the entire journey of this franchise," CSK owner Rupa Gurunath said. "For nearly two decades, he has helped shape our identity, vision, and pursuit of excellence. While our journey together on the field comes to a close, he will always remain an integral part of the team's legacy."

Under Fleming, CSK became of the most successful IPL teams in the history - winning joint-most five titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023. They also won now defunct Champions League in 2010 and 2014.

'Eighteen years is a lifetime': Head coach Stephan Fleming, Chennai Super Kings part ways after 10 finals and five titles

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has come down to its last week with only four teams remaining in the contention for the trophy. There are two semi-finals to be played to decide the teams of title showdown and one of those matches is England vs Argentina - one of the most fiercest rivalries in the World Cup history. The two sides have met five times in the World Cups so far with England leading the head-to-head record with 3-2. The upcoming showdown on Wednesday (Jul 15) in Atlanta promises to be a blockbuster given the history of two sides which have had multiple moments worthy of remembering.<h2>FIFA 1962: England 3-1 Argentina</h2>The first two sides met in the FIFA World Cup was in 1962 edition during the group stage in Rancagua, Chile. The match was pretty much a one-sided affair with Ron Flowers, Bobby Charlton and Jimmy Greaves scoring one goal each to help England advance. Engladn advanced to the next stage ahead of Argentina based on better goal difference but were beaten by eventualy champions Brazil in the quarter-final.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Live on Zee5

<h2>FIFA 1966 - England 1-0 Argentina</h2>The ill-tempered match was played at the iconic Wemble Stadium in London, UK with home side England coming out triumphant 1-0. The match had tempers flaring within half hour as Argentina captain Antonio Rattin was sent off after 33 minutes and committing two fouls in space of three minutes. Rattin refused to leave which led to the game being delayed for over eight minutes. England eventually held on to the lead to advance and win their only World Cup trophy till date.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-england-captain-harry-kane-sides-with-coach-tuchel-on-criticism-after-win-vs-n-1783917274483">FIFA 2026 | England captain Harry Kane sides with coach Tuchel on criticism after win vs Norway</a><h2>FIFA 1986 - Argentina 2-1 England</h2>The game played at Azteca in Mexico is remembered the most for Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal and another one which was surreal and spectacular as the South American side 2-1. The quarter-final loss meant England were out of the tournament and Argentina went on to win the World Cup by beating West Germany in the final.<h2>FIFA 1998 - Argentina 2-2 England (Argentina win 4-3 on penalties)</h2>David Beckham was red carded for his kick out at Argentina's Diego Simeone in the Round of 16 match. All four goals were scored before the half-time with Gabriel Batistuta scoring a penalty in 7th minute before Alan Shearer returning the favour in 11th minute. Michael Owen then gave England 2-1 lead in the 17th minute before Javier Zanetti levelled it the first half's injury time. England held on despite two red cards but lost on penalties. Argentina also didn't made far and lost to Netherlands in the next round.<h2>FIFA 2002 - England 1-0 Argentina</h2>The match will also be remembered for David Beckham but this time for leading his side to victory. Only one goal was scored in the match, courtesy Beckham and England won group-stage meeting played at Sapporo, Japan. England progressed to knockout stage and Argentina exited in the group-stage for the first and only time since 1962.<h2>Where to watch and live stream England vs Argentina FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final?</h2>England vs Argentina semi-final in FIFA World Cup 2026 will be aired LIVE across WION's sister company Zee5 app and website. (link: https://www.zee5.com/)

England vs Argentina - one of the most fiercest rivalries in the World Cup history. The two sides have met five times in the World Cups so far with England leading the head-to-head record with 3-2. The upcoming showdown on Wednesday (Jul 15) in Atlanta promises to be a blockbuster.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has come down to its last week with only four teams remaining in the contention for the trophy. There are two semi-finals to be played to decide the teams of title showdown and one of those matches is England vs Argentina - one of the most fiercest rivalries in the World Cup history. The two sides have met five times in the World Cups so far with England leading the head-to-head record with 3-2. The upcoming showdown on Wednesday (Jul 15) in Atlanta promises to be a blockbuster given the history of two sides which have had multiple moments worthy of remembering. FIFA 1962: England 3-1 Argentina The first two sides met in the FIFA World Cup was in 1962 edition during the group stage in Rancagua, Chile. The match was pretty much a one-sided affair with Ron Flowers, Bobby Charlton and Jimmy Greaves scoring one goal each to help England advance. Engladn advanced to the next stage ahead of Argentina based on better goal difference but were beaten by eventualy champions Brazil in the quarter-final.

England vs Argentina - one of the most fiercest rivalries in the World Cup history. The two sides have met five times in the World Cups so far with England leading the head-to-head record with 3-2. The upcoming showdown on Wednesday (Jul 15) in Atlanta promises to be a blockbuster.

FIFA 2026 | England 3-2 Argentina - How one of the most fiercest rivalries in World Cup developed over years

England captain Harry Kane has sided with coach Thomas Tuchel over his side's criticism after the 2-1 quarter-final win in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/fifa-2026">FIFA World Cup 2026</a> against Norway on Sunday (Jul 12). Tuchel had said that England were 'lucky' to win to which Jude Bellingham, who scored both the goals for England, replied with 'whatever.' Kane, however, sees the coach's criticism in positive light ahead of their all important semi-final against defending champions Argentina on Wednesday (Jul 15) at Atlanta Stadium.<h2>What Kane said about Tuchel's criticism of England's QF win?</h2>Kane, unlike Bellingham, decided to see things from Tuchel's prespective and said: "When he sees us train and sees the closeness and what we can do, especially with the ­players we have, the way we attack, our one‑on-ones and the skills … he just wants to see that version of us.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mistaken-identity-why-switzerland-s-breel-embolo-was-sent-off-against-argentina-fifa-var-rule-explained-1783889937939">FIFA WC 2026 controversy: Embolo red card, VAR decision leaves Switzerland angry</a>"He knows as much as anyone that it’s not as simple as that, we’re playing against good opposition and good teams. He’s trying to drag it out of us and we know ourselves we have another level that we can reach."

<h2>What had Tuchel said after England's win?</h2>Tuchel, in an interview after the match, had said that England made life 'very, very difficult' for themselves and were 'lucky' to win against Norway. "We found the way to get through to the last four, which is of course the most important thing. The analysing head of me still thinks we have to play better. It’s not a problem, but no disconnect for me and my team," he added later in a separate interview.<h2>How did Bellingham react to Tuchel's comments?</h2>Bellinghma, the reason England are in the semis, was not very happy about the comments and said: "Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those kind of conditions against Erling Haaland, [Martin] Odegaard, [Antonio] Nusa, [Alexander] Sorloth. That’s not an easy team to play against."<h2>Where to watch and live stream England's FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final?</h2>England's semi-final in FIFA World Cup 2026 will be aired LIVE across WION's sister company Zee5 app and website. (link: https://www.zee5.com/)

Kane, unlike Bellingham, decided to see things from Tuchel's prespective who called England ‘lucky’ to win 2-1 against Norway. The comments came after Bellingham, who scored both goals, dismissed the coach's views.

England captain Harry Kane has sided with coach Thomas Tuchel over his side's criticism after the 2-1 quarter-final win in FIFA World Cup 2026 against Norway on Sunday (Jul 12). Tuchel had said that England were 'lucky' to win to which Jude Bellingham, who scored both the goals for England, replied with 'whatever.' Kane, however, sees the coach's criticism in positive light ahead of their all important semi-final against defending champions Argentina on Wednesday (Jul 15) at Atlanta Stadium. What Kane said about Tuchel's criticism of England's QF win? Kane, unlike Bellingham, decided to see things from Tuchel's prespective and said: "When he sees us train and sees the closeness and what we can do, especially with the players we have, the way we attack, our one‑on-ones and the skills … he just wants to see that version of us. Also Read - FIFA WC 2026 controversy: Embolo red card, VAR decision leaves Switzerland angry "He knows as much as anyone that it’s not as simple as that, we’re playing against good opposition and good teams. He’s trying to drag it out of us and we know ourselves we have another level that we can reach."

Kane, unlike Bellingham, decided to see things from Tuchel's prespective who called England ‘lucky’ to win 2-1 against Norway. The comments came after Bellingham, who scored both goals, dismissed the coach's views.

FIFA 2026 | England captain Harry Kane sides with coach Tuchel on criticism after win vs Norway

Lamine Yamal is hoping to emulate Kylian Mbappe by winning the World Cup as a teenager, but first his Spain side will have to get the better of France and their superstar captain in Tuesday's semi-final.When Mbappe scored in France's win over Croatia in the deciding match of the 2018 tournament, he was just 19 years and 207 days old. He therefore became only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final after a 17-year-old Pele in 1958.Mbappe's love affair with the World Cup began then, while this is Yamal's first experience of the competition.He has already had his big breakthrough in a major tournament, however –- Yamal's stunning goal in the Euro 2024 semi-final against Mbappe's France helped Spain to a 2-1 victory.

That came four days before he turned 17. His birthday was the day before the final. Spain beat England, and Yamal was named young player of the tournament.This time his 19th birthday comes on the eve of the semi-final in Arlington.Such a young player with his best years to come. But he is clearly eager to leave a firm mark on this World Cup.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mistaken-identity-why-switzerland-s-breel-embolo-was-sent-off-against-argentina-fifa-var-rule-explained-1783889937939">'Mistaken identity': Why Switzerland's Breel Embolo was sent Off against Argentina — FIFA VAR rule explained</a>Perhaps too eager, having at one point been a doubt for the tournament after missing the end of the season with Barcelona due to a hamstring injury."I was afraid it might be serious and, above all, that even if it wasn't serious, I could suffer a setback and end up missing the World Cup," Yamal admitted in late May.<h2>Anxiety?</h2>After coming off the bench in Spain's opening 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, Yamal started against Saudi Arabia and scored before being replaced at half-time in a 4-0 victory.He has started every game since, without adding to that solitary goal -- that might be getting to him."I think Lamine needs to calm the anxiety he sometimes has because he wants to show how important a player he is for us," Spain captain Rodri said Sunday."Given he was able to show that level of maturity at that European Championship, when he is two years older you are not so impressed by what he is able to do," he added.With Yamal not as decisive, Spain have lacked the deadly verticality that made them so hard to stop at the Euros.France, meanwhile, have rediscovered a cutting edge that evaded them at the Euros, and have the most thrilling attack at this World Cup.Mbappe, now 27, is the talisman and seems intent on leaving a legacy as an all-time World Cup great.With eight goals here, he is level with Lionel Messi in the golden boot race and is one behind the Argentine's all-time World Cup record of 21 goals.<h2>Third straight final?</h2>Having won the trophy in 2018 and scored a hat-trick in the 2022 final, Mbappe has a third straight final in his sights.He can therefore match the achievement of the great Brazil full-back Cafu, who played in three in a row from 1994 to 2002. Pele and Diego Maradona each only graced two finals.His apparent obsession with the World Cup may explain why he missed a chunk of the second half of the season with Real Madrid. As he nursed injuries, some supporters questioned his commitment to their club."I know people talk about the stats. I watch the TV too. But my only focus is on helping the team and getting us back here on July 19," he said after beating Sweden in the last 32 at the MetLife Stadium, the venue for the final."I have won a World Cup and been a runner-up. This team has done neither of those things, but it is the team with the greatest potential," he added after defeating Morocco in the quarter-finals.Yamal and Mbappe are already icons in their home countries and beyond, two young men representing the modern face of multicultural Europe.Mbappe has the greater experience, has already won the World Cup and is confident speaking publicly in English –- those factors help make him one of the faces of this tournament in the US.The dazzling Yamal is still catching up off the field, but his record against Mbappe on the pitch is impressive.They have met frequently across the Clasico divide in the last two years -- so far Mbappe has eight defeats and just two wins in 10 games against Yamal with club and country.

When Mbappe scored in France's win over Croatia in the deciding match of the 2018 tournament, he was just 19 years and 207 days old. He therefore became only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final after a 17-ye

Lamine Yamal is hoping to emulate Kylian Mbappe by winning the World Cup as a teenager, but first his Spain side will have to get the better of France and their superstar captain in Tuesday's semi-final. When Mbappe scored in France's win over Croatia in the deciding match of the 2018 tournament, he was just 19 years and 207 days old. He therefore became only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final after a 17-year-old Pele in 1958. Mbappe's love affair with the World Cup began then, while this is Yamal's first experience of the competition. He has already had his big breakthrough in a major tournament, however –- Yamal's stunning goal in the Euro 2024 semi-final against Mbappe's France helped Spain to a 2-1 victory.

When Mbappe scored in France's win over Croatia in the deciding match of the 2018 tournament, he was just 19 years and 207 days old. He therefore became only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final after a 17-year-old Pele in 1958.

FIFA 2026 | Lamine Yamal aims to reprise Mbappe by winning World Cup as teenager

Indian batting great Rahul Dravid has emerged as one of the leading contenders to replace Brendon McCullum as England's Test coach after the New Zealander was removed from the role following the team's disappointing performances in the longest format. According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, Dravid is among several names being considered for the position, alongside former England coach Andy Flower and ex-England spinner Richard Dawson.&nbsp;McCullum's four-year spell as England's Test coach came to an end after the team's 1-2 home series defeat to New Zealand. The England and Wales Cricket Board decided that the time is right to make a change ahead of next year's Ashes series. McCullum will continue as England's head coach for the ODI and T20I teams.&nbsp;Dravid, 53, is regarded as a strong candidate because of his meticulous coaching style and extensive knowledge of the game. During his tenure with India, he guided the team to the 2024 T20 World Cup title and the 2023 World Test Championship final.However, the report suggested that Dravid may not be keen on taking up a full-time coaching assignment. "Dravid has no desire to coach full-time, but the England Test job would allow him extended periods at home and the chance to help keep alive his favourite format of the game. England, at the very least, should gauge his interest," according to the report.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/9-6-billion-openai-investor-vinod-khosla-buys-super-bowl-champion-seattle-seahawks-sets-new-nfl-franchise-record-who-is-he-1783894636789">$9.6 Billion! OpenAI investor Vinod Khosla buys Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, sets new NFL franchise record. Who is he?</a>&nbsp;Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower is also considered one of the frontrunners. Flower remains England's most successful modern-era coach, having led the side to three Ashes series victories and the no 1 Test ranking. He has also enjoyed notable success in franchise cricket, including back-to-back IPL titles with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.&nbsp;Richard Dawson, currently serving as Glamorgan's head coach, is another serious contender after earning praise for his tactical expertise and coaching achievements at both county and international levels. Other names linked with the vacancy include Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara, England Lions coach Andrew Flintoff, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson, and former Australia coach Justin Langer.

Rahul Dravid has emerged as a top contender to replace Brendon McCullum as England's Test coach. Reports say Dravid is on the ECB shortlist alongside Andy Flower, Richard Dawson, Kumar Sangakkara, Andrew Flintoff, Mike Hesson and Justin Langer

Indian batting great Rahul Dravid has emerged as one of the leading contenders to replace Brendon McCullum as England's Test coach after the New Zealander was removed from the role following the team's disappointing performances in the longest format. According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, Dravid is among several names being considered for the position, alongside former England coach Andy Flower and ex-England spinner Richard Dawson. McCullum's four-year spell as England's Test coach came to an end after the team's 1-2 home series defeat to New Zealand. The England and Wales Cricket Board decided that the time is right to make a change ahead of next year's Ashes series. McCullum will continue as England's head coach for the ODI and T20I teams. Dravid, 53, is regarded as a strong candidate because of his meticulous coaching style and extensive knowledge of the game. During his tenure with India, he guided the team to the 2024 T20 World Cup title and the 2023 World Test Championship final. However, the report suggested that Dravid may not be keen on taking up a full-time coaching assignment. "Dravid has no desire to coach full-time, but the England Test job would allow him extended periods at home and the chance to help keep alive his favourite format of the game. England, at the very least, should gauge his interest," according to the report. Also Read: $9.6 Billion! OpenAI investor Vinod Khosla buys Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, sets new NFL franchise record. Who is he? Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower is also considered one of the frontrunners. Flower remains England's most successful modern-era coach, having led the side to three Ashes series victories and the no 1 Test ranking. He has also enjoyed notable success in franchise cricket, including back-to-back IPL titles with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Richard Dawson, currently serving as Glamorgan's head coach, is another serious contender after earning praise for his tactical expertise and coaching achievements at both county and international levels. Other names linked with the vacancy include Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara, England Lions coach Andrew Flintoff, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson, and former Australia coach Justin Langer.

Rahul Dravid is among the leading contenders to replace Brendon McCullum as England's Test coach, though reports say he prefers not to coach full-time

Will Rahul Dravid replace Brendon McCullum as England's Test coach? Here's what the report says

Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor Vinod Khosla has made history after agreeing to buy the Seattle Seahawks for $9.6 billion, marking the most expensive controlling-stake purchase of an NFL franchise ever. The 71-year-old billionaire, along with his family, is set to take ownership of the reigning Super Bowl champions in a deal that surpasses the previous NFL record set when a group led by private-equity billionaire Joshua Harris purchased the Washington Commanders for $6 billion.&nbsp;Khosla’s latest move adds another remarkable chapter to a career defined by bold investments and technological innovation.When he co-founded Sun Microsystems, Khosla had little idea that the company would help transform modern computing. He later became a venture capitalist, completing major deals worth billions, and was among the earliest investors in OpenAI before artificial intelligence became a global phenomenon. The future ownership of the Seahawks had remained uncertain following the 2018 death of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who bought the team in 1997.&nbsp;After Allen’s passing, the franchise was managed through a trust controlled by his sister, Jody Allen, with instructions that the team would eventually be sold. However, that arrangement conflicted with NFL ownership rules, increasing pressure for a sale.The Seahawks attracted significant interest because NFL franchises rarely become available and continue to grow rapidly in value. Their status as Super Bowl champions further increased demand, with the team being put on the market shortly after winning the Lombardi Trophy. The franchise was also considered attractive among technology investors due to the limited number of NFL teams located on the West Coast.&nbsp;Confirming the deal, Khosla said, “We are honoured to be entrusted as the next stewards of the Seattle Seahawks. We look forward to building on the winning legacy Paul Allen created and to earning the trust of the Seahawks organization and fans everywhere," he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mistaken-identity-why-switzerland-s-breel-embolo-was-sent-off-against-argentina-fifa-var-rule-explained-1783889937939">'Mistaken identity': Why Switzerland's Breel Embolo was sent Off against Argentina — FIFA VAR rule explained</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Excited to be part of this great franchise. Also excited to see the money all go to a non-profit. No other comments till sale is final but more about us at <a href="https://t.co/TZClc4dwFd">https://t.co/TZClc4dwFd</a> <a href="https://t.co/OEko8fjKs1">https://t.co/OEko8fjKs1</a>&mdash; Vinod Khosla (@vkhosla) <a href="https://x.com/vkhosla/status/2076082658707452357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Who is Vinod Khosla?</h2>Born in India, Khosla moved to the United States in his 20s and earned a business degree from Stanford University. His entrepreneurial ambitions began early, including an attempt to launch a soy milk company before moving abroad. He later turned his success at Sun Microsystems into a highly influential investment career. Founded in 2004, Khosla Ventures has backed several companies that became household names, including DoorDash and Instacart.&nbsp;Long before artificial intelligence became mainstream, Khosla was investing heavily in the sector. His venture firm became OpenAI’s first investor after committing $50 million in 2019. Reflecting on his investment philosophy, Khosla previously said, “To do something exceptional, you have to do something out of the ordinary,” Khosla has said. “And that usually means risk.” Although the $9.6 billion Seahawks purchase represents a massive valuation, it aligns with the rising prices of major sports franchises. Minority stakes in NFL teams have previously reached valuations exceeding $10 billion.&nbsp;Khosla already had ties to the NFL, with his family becoming a minority owner in the San Francisco 49ers last year. Because the 49ers and Seahawks compete in the same division, that ownership stake will need to be sold following league approval of the Seahawks purchase. According to an NFL memo sent to teams, Khosla’s wife, Neeru Khosla, would become Seattle’s controlling owner once the transaction receives approval.&nbsp;Khosla celebrated the move on social media, writing, “Excited to be part of this great franchise.” The acquisition now awaits final approval from the NFL as Khosla prepares to become one of the league’s newest and most prominent owners.

Vinod Khosla has agreed to buy the Seattle Seahawks for a record $9.6 billion, the largest controlling-stake purchase in NFL history. Discover how the OpenAI investor and Sun Microsystems co-founder became the new owner of the Super Bowl champions

Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor Vinod Khosla has made history after agreeing to buy the Seattle Seahawks for $9.6 billion, marking the most expensive controlling-stake purchase of an NFL franchise ever. The 71-year-old billionaire, along with his family, is set to take ownership of the reigning Super Bowl champions in a deal that surpasses the previous NFL record set when a group led by private-equity billionaire Joshua Harris purchased the Washington Commanders for $6 billion. Khosla’s latest move adds another remarkable chapter to a career defined by bold investments and technological innovation. When he co-founded Sun Microsystems, Khosla had little idea that the company would help transform modern computing. He later became a venture capitalist, completing major deals worth billions, and was among the earliest investors in OpenAI before artificial intelligence became a global phenomenon. The future ownership of the Seahawks had remained uncertain following the 2018 death of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who bought the team in 1997. After Allen’s passing, the franchise was managed through a trust controlled by his sister, Jody Allen, with instructions that the team would eventually be sold. However, that arrangement conflicted with NFL ownership rules, increasing pressure for a sale. The Seahawks attracted significant interest because NFL franchises rarely become available and continue to grow rapidly in value. Their status as Super Bowl champions further increased demand, with the team being put on the market shortly after winning the Lombardi Trophy. The franchise was also considered attractive among technology investors due to the limited number of NFL teams located on the West Coast. Confirming the deal, Khosla said, “We are honoured to be entrusted as the next stewards of the Seattle Seahawks. We look forward to building on the winning legacy Paul Allen created and to earning the trust of the Seahawks organization and fans everywhere," he said. Also Read: 'Mistaken identity': Why Switzerland's Breel Embolo was sent Off against Argentina — FIFA VAR rule explained

Tech entrepreneur Vinod Khosla agrees to buy Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks for a record $9.6 billion, becoming the NFL’s biggest franchise buyer

$9.6 Billion! OpenAI investor Vinod Khosla buys Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, sets new NFL franchise record. Who is he?

Argentina’s FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal victory over Switzerland has become the latest match to trigger a major debate over VAR, refereeing decisions, and football’s laws. Lionel Messi’s Argentina secured a 3-1 win over Switzerland to reach the semifinals, but the match was overshadowed by a controversial red card involving Swiss striker Breel Embolo.&nbsp;Embolo was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for simulation, an offence that rarely results in a player being dismissed. Switzerland argued that the decision was harsh and that the dismissal changed the direction of the match in Argentina’s favour. However, the referee’s decision was made according to FIFA’s updated regulations. The confusion started when Leandro Paredes was initially shown a yellow card after the referee believed the Argentine midfielder had committed a foul during the incident. VAR later intervened and recommended an on-field review.&nbsp;After checking the footage, the referee determined that Embolo had simulated contact and withdrew Paredes’ booking. However, under the updated ‘mistaken identity’ rule, the yellow card could not simply disappear. Instead, the disciplinary action had to be transferred to the correct player, resulting in Embolo receiving the caution that eventually contributed to his sending-off.<h2>FIFA's 'Mistaken Identity' rule explained</h2>According to the latest IFAB regulations, a referee cannot cancel a yellow or red card in situations where the wrong player was initially punished. The sanction must remain and be applied to the correct player. The rule says, "When the referee shows a yellow or red card but has clearly penalised the wrong player of either team for the offence in question; the offence itself cannot be reviewed except in the context of mistaken identity."&nbsp;This was not the first time the regulation influenced a World Cup match. During an earlier group-stage game between the USA and Paraguay, American defender Tim Ream had his yellow card removed after VAR identified a dive by Miguel Almiron, who was then booked instead. However, the Argentina-Switzerland clash highlighted a major concern surrounding the rule.&nbsp;Switzerland had just fought back into the match after Dan Ndoye scored a stunning equaliser in the 67th minute. The European side appeared to have momentum before Embolo’s dismissal five minutes later changed the balance of the contest. Critics argue that the situation allowed VAR to intervene in a normal yellow-card incident by using the ‘mistaken identity’ loophole, despite VAR traditionally being designed to correct only ‘clear and obvious errors’. In this case, officials did not confuse player identities or mistake who committed the action. Instead, the initial decision was based on the referee being deceived by Embolo’s simulation.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-alexander-zverev-said-i-don-t-really-like-you-anymore-to-jannik-sinner-1783889107932">Why Alexander Zverev said 'I don’t really like you anymore' to world no 1 Jannik Sinner</a>

FIFA World Cup 2026

<h2>Switzerland furious over VAR decision</h2>Switzerland coach Murat Yakin strongly criticised the rule after his team's elimination, saying the decision unfairly affected the outcome. "We were punished because of a rule that in my opinion is completely unacceptable," Swiss coach Murat Yakin said. "It's very painful that we were eliminated that way. I don't think we deserve that today, and in my opinion, my boys are the real heroes. They put all their heart and their passion into their performance. I am very proud. They are very proud."&nbsp;Yakin also questioned the referee’s decision and said the controversial rule had damaged Switzerland’s chances. "The referee made the wrong decision," Yakin said. “It was, in my opinion, a harmless foul, if it even was a foul. I know they will protect their referee, but this rule destroyed our game today, and it's very painful, and to be eliminated in that way hurts a lot.” The incident has reignited debate over VAR’s role in football and whether the current rules allow technology to influence matches beyond its original purpose.

Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal, but Breel Embolo’s controversial red card and FIFA’s mistaken identity VAR rule sparked global debate. Read the full explanation, referee decision analysis, and Switzerland’s reaction

Argentina’s FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal victory over Switzerland has become the latest match to trigger a major debate over VAR, refereeing decisions, and football’s laws. Lionel Messi’s Argentina secured a 3-1 win over Switzerland to reach the semifinals, but the match was overshadowed by a controversial red card involving Swiss striker Breel Embolo. Embolo was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for simulation, an offence that rarely results in a player being dismissed. Switzerland argued that the decision was harsh and that the dismissal changed the direction of the match in Argentina’s favour. However, the referee’s decision was made according to FIFA’s updated regulations. The confusion started when Leandro Paredes was initially shown a yellow card after the referee believed the Argentine midfielder had committed a foul during the incident. VAR later intervened and recommended an on-field review. After checking the footage, the referee determined that Embolo had simulated contact and withdrew Paredes’ booking. However, under the updated ‘mistaken identity’ rule, the yellow card could not simply disappear. Instead, the disciplinary action had to be transferred to the correct player, resulting in Embolo receiving the caution that eventually contributed to his sending-off. FIFA's 'Mistaken Identity' rule explained According to the latest IFAB regulations, a referee cannot cancel a yellow or red card in situations where the wrong player was initially punished. The sanction must remain and be applied to the correct player. The rule says, "When the referee shows a yellow or red card but has clearly penalised the wrong player of either team for the offence in question; the offence itself cannot be reviewed except in the context of mistaken identity." This was not the first time the regulation influenced a World Cup match. During an earlier group-stage game between the USA and Paraguay, American defender Tim Ream had his yellow card removed after VAR identified a dive by Miguel Almiron, who was then booked instead. However, the Argentina-Switzerland clash highlighted a major concern surrounding the rule. Switzerland had just fought back into the match after Dan Ndoye scored a stunning equaliser in the 67th minute. The European side appeared to have momentum before Embolo’s dismissal five minutes later changed the balance of the contest. Critics argue that the situation allowed VAR to intervene in a normal yellow-card incident by using the ‘mistaken identity’ loophole, despite VAR traditionally being designed to correct only ‘clear and obvious errors’. In this case, officials did not confuse player identities or mistake who committed the action. Instead, the initial decision was based on the referee being deceived by Embolo’s simulation. Also Read: Why Alexander Zverev said 'I don’t really like you anymore' to world no 1 Jannik Sinner

Argentina's FIFA World Cup win over Switzerland sparks VAR controversy after Embolo's red card under FIFA's new mistaken identity rule

'Mistaken identity': Why Switzerland's Breel Embolo was sent Off against Argentina — FIFA VAR rule explained

Alexander Zverev brought laughter to Centre Court after delivering a hilarious post-match comment following his defeat to Jannik Sinner in the 2026 Wimbledon final on Sunday (July 12). Sinner secured his second consecutive Wimbledon championship with a hard-fought 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Zverev, overcoming the German after dropping the opening set of the match.&nbsp;During his post-match interview, Zverev joked about his difficult run against the Wimbledon champion, leaving thousands of fans inside Centre Court amused. “First of all, Jannik, I don’t really like you anymore,” he was quoted as saying. “I’ve lost to you nine times in a row.” Despite the playful remark, Zverev showed immense respect for the world no 1 and praised the Italian's performance after the final. “Congratulations to Jannik. He showed once again why he’s the best player in the world,” he added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2026-jannik-sinner-beats-alexander-zverev-to-clinch-second-consecutive-title-1783881351373">Wimbledon 2026: Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev to clinch second consecutive title</a><h2>Watch the video here</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">&quot;Jannik, I don&#39;t really like you anymore&quot; 😅 <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> <a href="https://t.co/FSo0JuDQh0">pic.twitter.com/FSo0JuDQh0</a>&mdash; Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) <a href="https://x.com/Wimbledon/status/2076385154155638920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Zverev started strongly and looked in control early in the contest, but his level gradually dipped as Sinner increased the pressure. The world no 1 eventually took charge and extended his dominance over his rival. The defeat highlighted Zverev's recent struggles against Sinner. While their overall head-to-head record stands at 10 wins for Sinner from 14 meetings, the Italian has been almost unstoppable in their recent clashes, winning their last nine encounters.&nbsp;The German's comments reflected the growing rivalry between the two players, with Zverev acknowledging Sinner's incredible consistency at the highest level. Zverev has already overcome one major hurdle in his career by winning his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open earlier this year. However, his next challenge will be finding a way to defeat Sinner again and eventually challenge him for the world no 1 ranking.

Alexander Zverev made Wimbledon fans laugh with a hilarious comment after losing to Jannik Sinner in the 2026 final. Read his viral quote, Sinner’s ninth straight win over Zverev, their rivalry, and the Italian’s latest Wimbledon triumph

Alexander Zverev brought laughter to Centre Court after delivering a hilarious post-match comment following his defeat to Jannik Sinner in the 2026 Wimbledon final on Sunday (July 12). Sinner secured his second consecutive Wimbledon championship with a hard-fought 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Zverev, overcoming the German after dropping the opening set of the match. During his post-match interview, Zverev joked about his difficult run against the Wimbledon champion, leaving thousands of fans inside Centre Court amused. “First of all, Jannik, I don’t really like you anymore,” he was quoted as saying. “I’ve lost to you nine times in a row.” Despite the playful remark, Zverev showed immense respect for the world no 1 and praised the Italian's performance after the final. “Congratulations to Jannik. He showed once again why he’s the best player in the world,” he added. Also Read: Wimbledon 2026: Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev to clinch second consecutive title Watch the video here

Alexander Zverev joked about losing nine straight matches to Jannik Sinner after the Wimbledon final, praising the champion’s incredible dominance

Why Alexander Zverev said 'I don’t really like you anymore' to world no 1 Jannik Sinner

FIFA will examine proposals to expand the men's FIFA World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament, with President Gianni Infantino insisting the competition should be accessible to nations from every region of the world. The proposal for a 64-team World Cup was first raised last year, and Infantino believes the success of the expanded 48-team format provides an opportunity to assess whether another increase is feasible.&nbsp;"That's definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," Infantino told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport when asked about the possibility of expanding the tournament. "When organising a World Cup, it's important to organize it for the whole world - not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. "You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it's getting higher and higher, all over the world. If you don't give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they'll lack the incentive to keep improving."&nbsp;Infantino described the first 48-team World Cup as a major success, highlighting the improved representation of African nations.“At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. That just goes to show how important it is to include all teams - to give them this opportunity to participate.” FIFA officially approved the expansion from 32 to 48 teams in 2017, with the new format debuting at the 2026 World Cup. An official proposal to increase the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams was submitted by South American football body CONMEBOL in April 2025. However, FIFA has yet to make a decision.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2026-jannik-sinner-beats-alexander-zverev-to-clinch-second-consecutive-title-1783881351373">Wimbledon 2026: Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev to clinch second consecutive title</a>&nbsp;The 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, while Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay will stage the opening matches as part of celebrations marking the tournament's centenary. Despite growing discussion around expansion, several influential football leaders have voiced their opposition. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has described the proposal as a ‘bad idea’, arguing it would negatively impact both the tournament and the qualification process.&nbsp;Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa also warned that any further expansion could create 'chaos'. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani questioned the proposal, saying it 'doesn't feel right' and warning it could damage ‘the broader football ecosystem’. Meanwhile, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House's World Cup Task Force, said the United States could consider bidding to host the 2038 World Cup and would be capable of staging a 64-team tournament if approved.&nbsp;FIFA has maintained that it is obligated to review any formal proposals submitted by council members and will continue consulting stakeholders before making a decision. The FIFA Council will ultimately decide whether to expand the competition, although there is currently no indication that a decision will be made in the immediate future.<h2>Expansion presents major hosting challenges</h2>Since taking office in 2016, Infantino has consistently supported expanding the World Cup. His original proposal called for increasing the tournament from 32 to 40 teams before FIFA ultimately approved the larger 48-team format, which debuted in 2026. Hosting an even larger competition presents significant logistical challenges.&nbsp;The 2026 World Cup is staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, while the 2030 edition will span across three continents. Questions also remain over whether Saudi Arabia, the planned host of the 2034 World Cup, could successfully stage a 64-team tournament featuring 128 matches.&nbsp;Supporters of expansion argue that it would allow nearly one-third of FIFA's 211 member associations to qualify for the World Cup, giving more nations the opportunity to compete on football's biggest stage. A larger tournament would also generate additional commercial revenue, increasing the financial distributions available to FIFA's member associations worldwide.

FIFA will assess plans for a 64-team men's World Cup after the 2026 tournament. Read Gianni Infantino's comments, expansion proposal details, reactions from UEFA, AFC and Concacaf, and what it could mean for future FIFA World Cups

FIFA will examine proposals to expand the men's FIFA World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament, with President Gianni Infantino insisting the competition should be accessible to nations from every region of the world. The proposal for a 64-team World Cup was first raised last year, and Infantino believes the success of the expanded 48-team format provides an opportunity to assess whether another increase is feasible. "That's definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," Infantino told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport when asked about the possibility of expanding the tournament. "When organising a World Cup, it's important to organize it for the whole world - not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. "You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it's getting higher and higher, all over the world. If you don't give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they'll lack the incentive to keep improving." Infantino described the first 48-team World Cup as a major success, highlighting the improved representation of African nations. “At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. That just goes to show how important it is to include all teams - to give them this opportunity to participate.” FIFA officially approved the expansion from 32 to 48 teams in 2017, with the new format debuting at the 2026 World Cup. An official proposal to increase the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams was submitted by South American football body CONMEBOL in April 2025. However, FIFA has yet to make a decision. Also Read: Wimbledon 2026: Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev to clinch second consecutive title The 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, while Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay will stage the opening matches as part of celebrations marking the tournament's centenary. Despite growing discussion around expansion, several influential football leaders have voiced their opposition. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has described the proposal as a ‘bad idea’, arguing it would negatively impact both the tournament and the qualification process. Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa also warned that any further expansion could create 'chaos'. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani questioned the proposal, saying it 'doesn't feel right' and warning it could damage ‘the broader football ecosystem’. Meanwhile, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House's World Cup Task Force, said the United States could consider bidding to host the 2038 World Cup and would be capable of staging a 64-team tournament if approved. FIFA has maintained that it is obligated to review any formal proposals submitted by council members and will continue consulting stakeholders before making a decision. The FIFA Council will ultimately decide whether to expand the competition, although there is currently no indication that a decision will be made in the immediate future. Expansion presents major hosting challenges Since taking office in 2016, Infantino has consistently supported expanding the World Cup. His original proposal called for increasing the tournament from 32 to 40 teams before FIFA ultimately approved the larger 48-team format, which debuted in 2026. Hosting an even larger competition presents significant logistical challenges. The 2026 World Cup is staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, while the 2030 edition will span across three continents. Questions also remain over whether Saudi Arabia, the planned host of the 2034 World Cup, could successfully stage a 64-team tournament featuring 128 matches. Supporters of expansion argue that it would allow nearly one-third of FIFA's 211 member associations to qualify for the World Cup, giving more nations the opportunity to compete on football's biggest stage. A larger tournament would also generate additional commercial revenue, increasing the financial distributions available to FIFA's member associations worldwide.

FIFA will review a proposal to expand the men's World Cup to 64 teams after 2026 as President Gianni Infantino pushes for greater global inclusion

FIFA's next big move? Gianni Infantino opens door to a 64-team World Cup. Everything you need to know

Jannik Sinner delivered another masterclass on grass as he successfully defended his Wimbledon title with a hard-fought four-set victory over French Open champion Alexander Zverev in Sunday's men's singles final. The world no. 1 recovered after losing a tightly contested opening set in a match dominated by powerful serving, eventually wearing down Zverev to claim a 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 6-4 victory.&nbsp;The win earned the Italian his first Grand Slam title since lifting the Wimbledon trophy 12 months ago and marked the fifth major championship of his career. Sinner also celebrated his 100th match victory at Grand Slam tournaments, moving within two major titles of injured rival Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner's consistency proved decisive as he struck 58 winners while committing only 25 unforced errors during a gripping three-hour, 46-minute battle on Centre Court. He remained composed against a confident Zverev, who entered the final riding a 13-match Grand Slam winning streak.&nbsp;The victory also erased the disappointment of Sinner's shock French Open second-round defeat to Juan Manuel Cerundolo, where he squandered a two-set advantage. His toughest test at Wimbledon came in the opening round, when he battled back from behind to defeat Miomir Kecmanovic in five sets. From that point onward, Sinner cruised through the draw, once again proving himself a dominant force on grass.&nbsp;The 24-year-old now boasts an impressive 44-3 win-loss record this season after capturing his sixth title of the year. For Zverev, reaching the Wimbledon final represented a remarkable turnaround. Having never advanced beyond the quarter-finals in his previous nine appearances at the All England Club, the German arrived in London full of confidence after finally winning his maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.&nbsp;Although he became the first player in seven meetings to take the opening set off Sinner, Zverev was unable to halt his rival's dominance and has now lost 10 consecutive matches against the Italian. Despite the defeat, Zverev will rise above Carlos Alcaraz to world no. 2 in the ATP rankings on Monday. He was aiming to become the first German man since Michael Stich in 1991 to win the Wimbledon singles title.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-w-vs-eng-w-one-off-test-india-close-in-on-crushing-win-after-yastika-bhatia-s-record-breaking-century-at-lord-s-1783880690976">IND-W vs ENG-W, One-off Test: India close in on crushing win after Yastika Bhatia's record-breaking century at Lord's</a><h2>Zverev left frustrated</h2>A closely fought opening set featured only one break point, which Zverev successfully saved before edging the tie-break.The first 15 points of the breaker went with serve as both players saved set points before Zverev sealed it with a blistering forehand winner. The second set followed a similar pattern, with neither player creating a break opportunity before another tie-break. This time Sinner elevated his game, dominating the breaker to level the match.&nbsp;Zverev finally earned his first break point of the third set in the seventh game but slipped while chasing down a delicate Sinner drop shot. The German clutched his knee as Centre Court fell silent, with Sinner immediately crossing the net to check on his opponent before helping him back to his feet. The momentum shifted moments later as Sinner secured the decisive break when Zverev's serve finally cracked under pressure.&nbsp;Frustration boiled over for the German, who hurled his racket across the grass after sending a forehand long on break point following an exhausting rally that left Sinner sprawled on the court. Sinner then served out the set to love, finishing with an ace to move within one set of retaining his Wimbledon crown. Zverev fought hard to stay in the contest, but Sinner broke serve again for a 4-3 lead in the fourth set.&nbsp;The Italian calmly closed out the championship with a flawless service game, ending a dramatic final that featured two breathtaking rallies in the closing game. Sinner celebrated by collapsing to the grass after firing a forehand winner on his first championship point, sealing back-to-back Wimbledon titles and further cementing his status as the world's premier men's player.

Jannik Sinner successfully defended his Wimbledon title with a four-set victory over Alexander Zverev. Read the full match report, final score, highlights, key moments, and reaction from the Wimbledon men's singles final

Jannik Sinner delivered another masterclass on grass as he successfully defended his Wimbledon title with a hard-fought four-set victory over French Open champion Alexander Zverev in Sunday's men's singles final. The world no. 1 recovered after losing a tightly contested opening set in a match dominated by powerful serving, eventually wearing down Zverev to claim a 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 6-4 victory. The win earned the Italian his first Grand Slam title since lifting the Wimbledon trophy 12 months ago and marked the fifth major championship of his career. Sinner also celebrated his 100th match victory at Grand Slam tournaments, moving within two major titles of injured rival Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner's consistency proved decisive as he struck 58 winners while committing only 25 unforced errors during a gripping three-hour, 46-minute battle on Centre Court. He remained composed against a confident Zverev, who entered the final riding a 13-match Grand Slam winning streak. The victory also erased the disappointment of Sinner's shock French Open second-round defeat to Juan Manuel Cerundolo, where he squandered a two-set advantage. His toughest test at Wimbledon came in the opening round, when he battled back from behind to defeat Miomir Kecmanovic in five sets. From that point onward, Sinner cruised through the draw, once again proving himself a dominant force on grass. The 24-year-old now boasts an impressive 44-3 win-loss record this season after capturing his sixth title of the year. For Zverev, reaching the Wimbledon final represented a remarkable turnaround. Having never advanced beyond the quarter-finals in his previous nine appearances at the All England Club, the German arrived in London full of confidence after finally winning his maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros. Although he became the first player in seven meetings to take the opening set off Sinner, Zverev was unable to halt his rival's dominance and has now lost 10 consecutive matches against the Italian. Despite the defeat, Zverev will rise above Carlos Alcaraz to world no. 2 in the ATP rankings on Monday. He was aiming to become the first German man since Michael Stich in 1991 to win the Wimbledon singles title. Also Read: IND-W vs ENG-W, One-off Test: India close in on crushing win after Yastika Bhatia's record-breaking century at Lord's Zverev left frustrated A closely fought opening set featured only one break point, which Zverev successfully saved before edging the tie-break. The first 15 points of the breaker went with serve as both players saved set points before Zverev sealed it with a blistering forehand winner. The second set followed a similar pattern, with neither player creating a break opportunity before another tie-break. This time Sinner elevated his game, dominating the breaker to level the match. Zverev finally earned his first break point of the third set in the seventh game but slipped while chasing down a delicate Sinner drop shot. The German clutched his knee as Centre Court fell silent, with Sinner immediately crossing the net to check on his opponent before helping him back to his feet. The momentum shifted moments later as Sinner secured the decisive break when Zverev's serve finally cracked under pressure. Frustration boiled over for the German, who hurled his racket across the grass after sending a forehand long on break point following an exhausting rally that left Sinner sprawled on the court. Sinner then served out the set to love, finishing with an ace to move within one set of retaining his Wimbledon crown. Zverev fought hard to stay in the contest, but Sinner broke serve again for a 4-3 lead in the fourth set. The Italian calmly closed out the championship with a flawless service game, ending a dramatic final that featured two breathtaking rallies in the closing game. Sinner celebrated by collapsing to the grass after firing a forehand winner on his first championship point, sealing back-to-back Wimbledon titles and further cementing his status as the world's premier men's player.

World no 1 Jannik Sinner defended his Wimbledon title by defeating Alexander Zverev in four sets, showcasing resilience to claim another Grand Slam title

Wimbledon 2026: Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev to clinch second consecutive title

Yastika Bhatia etched her name into cricket history with a magnificent century, becoming the first woman to score a Test hundred at Lord's as India tightened their grip on the inaugural women's Test against England on Sunday (July 12). Her superb knock anchored India's second innings of 341/7 declared, leaving England with a daunting target of 457 runs. The highest successful fourth-innings chase in women's Test history remains Australia's 198 against England in Sydney in 2011, highlighting the enormity of the task facing the hosts.&nbsp;England's reply got off to a disastrous start as they slumped to 34/4 before Amy Jones produced a fighting unbeaten half-century to guide the home side to 130/6 at stumps, still requiring 327 more runs for victory. The contest will now extend into Monday's fourth and final day. There was no dream farewell for England veterans Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight. Beaumont, playing her final international match, was bowled for a golden duck by the impressive Kranti Gaud. The Indian players formed a guard of honour as Beaumont walked off the field.&nbsp;Knight, who revealed after Saturday's play that she too would retire from international cricket after this Test, managed only 13 before being caught at short leg off Gaud. She also received a guard of honour as she left the field. Earlier in the day, Bhatia survived an early scare when Lauren Bell beat her with the first delivery of the morning. The ball clipped the off stump but failed to dislodge the bails, giving the left-hander a crucial reprieve. The 25-year-old capitalised on that moment with a fluent display of strokeplay. She showed no signs of nerves in the 90s and reached her maiden international century in any format after lunch.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-w-vs-eng-w-india-s-yastika-bhatia-becomes-first-woman-to-score-test-century-at-lord-s-1783863271619">IND W vs ENG W: India's Yastika Bhatia becomes first woman to score Test century at Lord's</a>&nbsp;Bhatia moved to 99 with consecutive boundaries off Issy Wong before taking a quick single to complete her century from 145 balls, including 12 fours. She celebrated by punching the air as teammates applauded from the Lord's pavilion balcony.Her landmark innings placed her alongside Indian men's legends Vinoo Mankad, Dilip Vengsarkar, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid as Test centurions at Lord's.&nbsp;Bhatia's memorable innings ended on 113 when she was caught at extra cover attempting to loft Sophie Ecclestone. She received a standing ovation from the crowd and congratulations from England players as she left the field. Ecclestone later completed figures of 5/118 from 33.3 overs, becoming only the second woman to take a five-wicket haul in a Test at Lord's after Gaud's outstanding 5/37 in England's first innings. Richa Ghosh added further momentum for India with a brisk unbeaten 50, increasing England's troubles after their recent T20 World Cup final defeat to Australia at Lord's.&nbsp;Smriti Mandhana, who had impressed with 83 in the first innings and resumed on an unbeaten 69, added just one run before being caught down the leg side by Amy Jones. India now stand on the verge of a historic Test victory, with England needing an extraordinary effort on the final day to avoid defeat.

Yastika Bhatia creates history with the first women's Test century at Lord's as India set England a massive 457-run target. Read the full match report, key moments, records, scorecard, and Day 3 highlights from the historic India vs England women's Test

Yastika Bhatia etched her name into cricket history with a magnificent century, becoming the first woman to score a Test hundred at Lord's as India tightened their grip on the inaugural women's Test against England on Sunday (July 12). Her superb knock anchored India's second innings of 341/7 declared, leaving England with a daunting target of 457 runs. The highest successful fourth-innings chase in women's Test history remains Australia's 198 against England in Sydney in 2011, highlighting the enormity of the task facing the hosts. England's reply got off to a disastrous start as they slumped to 34/4 before Amy Jones produced a fighting unbeaten half-century to guide the home side to 130/6 at stumps, still requiring 327 more runs for victory. The contest will now extend into Monday's fourth and final day. There was no dream farewell for England veterans Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight. Beaumont, playing her final international match, was bowled for a golden duck by the impressive Kranti Gaud. The Indian players formed a guard of honour as Beaumont walked off the field. Knight, who revealed after Saturday's play that she too would retire from international cricket after this Test, managed only 13 before being caught at short leg off Gaud. She also received a guard of honour as she left the field. Earlier in the day, Bhatia survived an early scare when Lauren Bell beat her with the first delivery of the morning. The ball clipped the off stump but failed to dislodge the bails, giving the left-hander a crucial reprieve. The 25-year-old capitalised on that moment with a fluent display of strokeplay. She showed no signs of nerves in the 90s and reached her maiden international century in any format after lunch. Also Read: IND W vs ENG W: India's Yastika Bhatia becomes first woman to score Test century at Lord's Bhatia moved to 99 with consecutive boundaries off Issy Wong before taking a quick single to complete her century from 145 balls, including 12 fours. She celebrated by punching the air as teammates applauded from the Lord's pavilion balcony. Her landmark innings placed her alongside Indian men's legends Vinoo Mankad, Dilip Vengsarkar, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid as Test centurions at Lord's. Bhatia's memorable innings ended on 113 when she was caught at extra cover attempting to loft Sophie Ecclestone. She received a standing ovation from the crowd and congratulations from England players as she left the field. Ecclestone later completed figures of 5/118 from 33.3 overs, becoming only the second woman to take a five-wicket haul in a Test at Lord's after Gaud's outstanding 5/37 in England's first innings. Richa Ghosh added further momentum for India with a brisk unbeaten 50, increasing England's troubles after their recent T20 World Cup final defeat to Australia at Lord's. Smriti Mandhana, who had impressed with 83 in the first innings and resumed on an unbeaten 69, added just one run before being caught down the leg side by Amy Jones. India now stand on the verge of a historic Test victory, with England needing an extraordinary effort on the final day to avoid defeat.

Yastika Bhatia became the first woman to score a Test century at the Lord's as India set England 457 and moved within touching distance of a massive win

IND-W vs ENG-W, One-off Test: India close in on crushing win after Yastika Bhatia's record-breaking century at Lord's

Teen batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has joined the likes of veteran Yuvraj Singh and his India teammates Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for the men’s Wimbledon final at the Centre Court on Sunday (Jul 12). Just a day after India lost the fifth and final T20I against England in Southampton, India’s T20I stars spent time watching Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev in the summit clash at the All-England Club. All were decked up in two-piece suits, with Vaibhav wearing a black suit and Abhishek and Yuvraj donning light and dusky brown suits, respectively.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Love-all at the Centre Court today 💗 <a href="https://x.com/Wimbledon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Wimbledon</a> <a href="https://t.co/h7kfYxCiLz">pic.twitter.com/h7kfYxCiLz</a>&mdash; Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) <a href="https://x.com/rajasthanroyals/status/2076335962297430476?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"I'm here to watch the final match and see what the experience is like, watching live and observing how players perform in the finals. It should be a great experience," Vaibhav said during an interview with Wimbledon.<h2>Vaibhav Picks his Tennis Idol</h2>At 15 years old, Vaibhav revealed Novak Djokovic as his idol in tennis. Expressing sheer inclination towards Djokovic, who suffered a straight-set defeat at the hands of Sinner in the semifinal, and former Clay Court King, Rafael Nadal, Vaibhav said, "I used to watch Nadal and Djokovic a lot. I really like Djokovic, but those were the two players I followed the most.” &nbsp;Upon being asked to choose a doubles partner, Vaibhav took no time in picking Abhishek. &nbsp;"I will go with Abhishek bhaiya. He is my opening partner in international cricket. I really enjoy batting with him a lot, so I will choose him as my doubles tennis partner as well,” he said.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/poor-team-selection-play-a-key-role-in-india-t20-series-defeats-against-ireland-and-england-1783872501879">The Tactless Tour: Strategic missteps and selection blunders cost India top T20I ranking</a> &nbsp;Abhishek Sharma, on the other hand, also shared his experience of watching a Wimbledon final. &nbsp;"It was actually one of my dreams to come to Wimbledon. And to be here on finals day makes it even more special. I am just going to enjoy the match and soak it all in. I always looked up to Rafael Nadal. He is a lefty like me, and one of the most successful left-handed players in tennis history. His work ethic, his attitude, and the way he dominated the sport for so many years – he is definitely someone I admire,” Abhishek said while speaking to JioStar.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The young Indian cricket sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi steps into the iconic world of Wimbledon! 🎾🏏 From soaking in the electric atmosphere of the Championships to sharing his thoughts on tennis, Vaibhav opens up in this exclusive interview.<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> 2026 | LIVE NOW on… <a href="https://t.co/LssvFh6eWI">pic.twitter.com/LssvFh6eWI</a>&mdash; Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://x.com/StarSportsIndia/status/2076340739408310746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, all three will now depart for India following the conclusion of the five-match T20I series, which India lost 0-4, with the first game getting washed out.&nbsp; &nbsp;The three-match ODI series gets underway on July 14 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Following a tough T20I series against England, Indian cricket stars Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, and Yuvraj Singh suited up for the men's Wimbledon final at Centre Court.

Teen batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has joined the likes of veteran Yuvraj Singh and his India teammates Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for the men’s Wimbledon final at the Centre Court on Sunday (Jul 12). Just a day after India lost the fifth and final T20I against England in Southampton, India’s T20I stars spent time watching Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev in the summit clash at the All-England Club. All were decked up in two-piece suits, with Vaibhav wearing a black suit and Abhishek and Yuvraj donning light and dusky brown suits, respectively.

Following a tough T20I series against England, Indian cricket stars Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, and Yuvraj Singh suited up for the men's Wimbledon final at Centre Court.

From Cricket to Tennis Court: Sooryavanshi joins Yuvraj, Abhishek for men’s Wimbledon final

Great captains aren’t those who win the most matches but those who make better decisions which change the course of the game. Captains like MS Dhoni, Suryakumar Yadav and even Rohit Sharma are known for that, and the newly appointed T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer would like to follow the same path. That, however, seems to be taking its time. Although his record as IPL captain reflects his captaincy credentials, Iyer’s shocking start to his India captaincy career puts him on the other side of the conversation, and team selection for most of the games on the UK tour compounded his misery.&nbsp;The team selection remained the biggest talking point of India’s horrendous T20I leg of the UK tour. Not only did they concede the two-match series to Ireland in a shocking result, but India also failed to put England under pressure and lost the five-match series. Be it the selection conundrum at the top or picking the right players at the death, the lack of clarity was exposed as India also surrendered its T20I ranking to England.<h2>The Opening Conundrum: Samson vs Sooryavanshi&nbsp;</h2>India started with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma in the first three T20Is, only to drop the keeper-batter after that and bring in uncapped teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Experts called it brave to bench Sanju for Sooryavanshi, with fans ruing the decision to sideline Samson. All would still have made sense had the management and the captain backed the attacking left-hander in all remaining games. But that did not happen, as Vaibhav was left out of the playing XI for the final T20I, with Samson replacing him.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-zimbabwe-t20i-series-2026-prince-yadav-ravi-bishnoi-named-injury-replacements-harshit-rana-varun-chakravarthy-1783866513094">India vs Zimbabwe T20I Series 2026: Prince Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi named injury replacements</a> &nbsp;Like Samson, who failed in the first three innings, Sooryavanshi struggled to make an impact, with 15 being his best score. Several experts even recommended playing both in the last two games by dropping under-fire Tilak Varma, which would have added firepower at the top. However, the management played only one of the two, with Samson failing to convert his start in the final game, which India lost by 59 runs, conceding the first T20I series to England.<h3>Lack of Clarity Hurts India</h3>Neither Samson nor Sooryavanshi felt at ease on the trip, with the selection axe hovering over both. Moreover, barring Abhishek and Iyer, India’s top performers with the bat, none of the batters took the onus. &nbsp;Another selection that restricted India’s free flow was Tilak Varma’s, which became the biggest talking point. Although Shivam Dube’s late blitz did help India post totals in a few matches, frequent changes in his batting position didn’t help India’s cause.<h3>Bowlers Lacked Zeal</h3>With no Jasprit Bumrah around, Arshdeep Singh led the pace attack, but it lacked zeal throughout the series. Injuries and inconsistency hurt India more, as bowlers never looked like picking up 10 wickets in an innings.&nbsp;Read More| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/death-of-bazball-england-sack-brendon-mccullum-as-test-coach-in-major-shake-up-ben-stokes-ecb-1783863570352">Death of Bazball: England sack Brendon McCullum as Test coach in major shake-up</a> &nbsp;Varun Chakravarthy and Harshit Rana suffered injuries midway through the series, and the captain lost trust in Ravi Bishnoi following his second T20I debacle.&nbsp; &nbsp;All such decisions left Iyer with no choice but to stick with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar among the spinners and newbies like Prince Yadav. Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep ran the whole show, but it was never enough.

Shreyas Iyer's stint as India's T20I captain got off to a turbulent start during a disastrous UK tour, marked by a shocking series loss to Ireland, a 0-4 sweep by England, and muddled team selections.

Great captains aren’t those who win the most matches but those who make better decisions which change the course of the game. Captains like MS Dhoni, Suryakumar Yadav and even Rohit Sharma are known for that, and the newly appointed T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer would like to follow the same path. That, however, seems to be taking its time. Although his record as IPL captain reflects his captaincy credentials, Iyer’s shocking start to his India captaincy career puts him on the other side of the conversation, and team selection for most of the games on the UK tour compounded his misery. The team selection remained the biggest talking point of India’s horrendous T20I leg of the UK tour. Not only did they concede the two-match series to Ireland in a shocking result, but India also failed to put England under pressure and lost the five-match series. Be it the selection conundrum at the top or picking the right players at the death, the lack of clarity was exposed as India also surrendered its T20I ranking to England. The Opening Conundrum: Samson vs Sooryavanshi India started with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma in the first three T20Is, only to drop the keeper-batter after that and bring in uncapped teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Experts called it brave to bench Sanju for Sooryavanshi, with fans ruing the decision to sideline Samson. All would still have made sense had the management and the captain backed the attacking left-hander in all remaining games. But that did not happen, as Vaibhav was left out of the playing XI for the final T20I, with Samson replacing him. Also read| India vs Zimbabwe T20I Series 2026: Prince Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi named injury replacements Like Samson, who failed in the first three innings, Sooryavanshi struggled to make an impact, with 15 being his best score. Several experts even recommended playing both in the last two games by dropping under-fire Tilak Varma, which would have added firepower at the top. However, the management played only one of the two, with Samson failing to convert his start in the final game, which India lost by 59 runs, conceding the first T20I series to England. Lack of Clarity Hurts India Neither Samson nor Sooryavanshi felt at ease on the trip, with the selection axe hovering over both. Moreover, barring Abhishek and Iyer, India’s top performers with the bat, none of the batters took the onus. Another selection that restricted India’s free flow was Tilak Varma’s, which became the biggest talking point. Although Shivam Dube’s late blitz did help India post totals in a few matches, frequent changes in his batting position didn’t help India’s cause. Bowlers Lacked Zeal With no Jasprit Bumrah around, Arshdeep Singh led the pace attack, but it lacked zeal throughout the series. Injuries and inconsistency hurt India more, as bowlers never looked like picking up 10 wickets in an innings. Read More| Death of Bazball: England sack Brendon McCullum as Test coach in major shake-up Varun Chakravarthy and Harshit Rana suffered injuries midway through the series, and the captain lost trust in Ravi Bishnoi following his second T20I debacle. All such decisions left Iyer with no choice but to stick with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar among the spinners and newbies like Prince Yadav. Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep ran the whole show, but it was never enough.

Shreyas Iyer's stint as India's T20I captain got off to a turbulent start during a disastrous UK tour, marked by a shocking series loss to Ireland, a 0-4 sweep by England, and muddled team selections.

The Tactless Tour: Strategic missteps and selection blunders cost India top T20I ranking

India has added seamer Prince Yadav and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi to the squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe as injury replacements. While Prince has replaced fast bowler Harshit Rana, who is ruled out of the ongoing England series with a hamstring injury, Bishnoi comes in for ace spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who missed the last two T20Is against England with a similar issue. Prince and Bishnoi, however, were not part of the original 15-man squad picked for the away series against Zimbabwe starting July 23.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Rana and Varun’s absence hurt India in the concluded T20I series, which they surrendered 0-4. Following a below-par showing against Ireland and England across seven contested T20Is, the action moves to the ODI series, where pace leader Jasprit Bumrah will be back. Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar and Prince are other fast-bowling options.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-w-vs-eng-w-india-s-yastika-bhatia-becomes-first-woman-to-score-test-century-at-lord-s-1783863271619">IND W vs ENG W: India's Yastika Bhatia becomes first woman to score Test century at Lord's</a> &nbsp;"Rana reported a sudden onset of discomfort in his right hamstring during the third T20I against England at Trent Bridge," a BCCI release detailing the nature of Rana and Varun's injuries said.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Subsequent scans revealed a Grade 1 hamstring injury. He has been ruled out of the forthcoming ODI series against England and will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) for further assessment and management. &nbsp;"Chakaravarthy also reported a sudden onset of discomfort in his left hamstring during the third T20I against England. An MRI scan subsequently revealed a Grade 2 hamstring injury. Based on specialist medical advice, he has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe. He will report to the BCCI COE for further management,” it further read. &nbsp;Bishnoi featured in two T20Is against England. Since India didn’t bowl in the series opener against England, as the game was called off due to rain after India’s innings, Bishnoi's only chance came in the second T20I at Old Trafford, where he conceded 60 runs in four overs, including three no-balls in his final over that turned the game on its head. &nbsp;Rana, on the other hand, picked up seven wickets in five games on this UK tour, picking four against Ireland in the two T20Is and three against England in as many outings. Varun, however, was at his worst, picking up just one wicket in three outings against England. The mystery spinner conceded over 10 runs per over against England.&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, India’s T20I squad for the Zimbabwe series would reach Harare by July 20, with VVS Laxman, the head of the CoE, taking charge as head coach along with assistant coaches Sunil Joshi and Hrishikesh Kanitkar. Regular head coach Gautam Gambhir and his coaching staff will be rested following a challenging UK tour.&nbsp;

India has named seamer Prince Yadav and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi as injury replacements for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe after Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy were ruled out during the England tour.

India has added seamer Prince Yadav and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi to the squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe as injury replacements. While Prince has replaced fast bowler Harshit Rana, who is ruled out of the ongoing England series with a hamstring injury, Bishnoi comes in for ace spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who missed the last two T20Is against England with a similar issue. Prince and Bishnoi, however, were not part of the original 15-man squad picked for the away series against Zimbabwe starting July 23. Meanwhile, Rana and Varun’s absence hurt India in the concluded T20I series, which they surrendered 0-4. Following a below-par showing against Ireland and England across seven contested T20Is, the action moves to the ODI series, where pace leader Jasprit Bumrah will be back. Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar and Prince are other fast-bowling options. Also read| IND W vs ENG W: India's Yastika Bhatia becomes first woman to score Test century at Lord's "Rana reported a sudden onset of discomfort in his right hamstring during the third T20I against England at Trent Bridge," a BCCI release detailing the nature of Rana and Varun's injuries said. "Subsequent scans revealed a Grade 1 hamstring injury. He has been ruled out of the forthcoming ODI series against England and will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) for further assessment and management. "Chakaravarthy also reported a sudden onset of discomfort in his left hamstring during the third T20I against England. An MRI scan subsequently revealed a Grade 2 hamstring injury. Based on specialist medical advice, he has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe. He will report to the BCCI COE for further management,” it further read. Bishnoi featured in two T20Is against England. Since India didn’t bowl in the series opener against England, as the game was called off due to rain after India’s innings, Bishnoi's only chance came in the second T20I at Old Trafford, where he conceded 60 runs in four overs, including three no-balls in his final over that turned the game on its head. Rana, on the other hand, picked up seven wickets in five games on this UK tour, picking four against Ireland in the two T20Is and three against England in as many outings. Varun, however, was at his worst, picking up just one wicket in three outings against England. The mystery spinner conceded over 10 runs per over against England. Meanwhile, India’s T20I squad for the Zimbabwe series would reach Harare by July 20, with VVS Laxman, the head of the CoE, taking charge as head coach along with assistant coaches Sunil Joshi and Hrishikesh Kanitkar. Regular head coach Gautam Gambhir and his coaching staff will be rested following a challenging UK tour.

India has named seamer Prince Yadav and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi as injury replacements for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe after Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy were ruled out during the England tour.

India vs Zimbabwe T20I Series 2026: Prince Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi named injury replacements

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia etched her name into the record books on Sunday (Jul 12), becoming the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s. The historic feat came on the third day of India’s ongoing four-day Test against England, with Bhatia reaching the milestone by taking Issy Wong for a single to register her maiden Test hundred.&nbsp;The landmark moment sparked an emotional celebration, as Bhatia acknowledged the applause by raising her bat and removing her helmet before bowing to the pitch and touching it with her forehead as a mark of respect.&nbsp;&nbsp;She also folded her hands in gratitude while her teammates applauded from the dressing-room balcony and dugout. Her innings also secured her a coveted place on the prestigious Lord’s honours board.&nbsp;Playing only her fourth Test for India, Bhatia brought up her century in 145 deliveries during the second innings. Her knock was defined by calmness, resilience and disciplined strokeplay, standing out on one of cricket’s most iconic grounds.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-senegal-sack-coach-pape-bouna-thiaw-after-disappointing-campaign-1783861166276">FIFA World Cup 2026: Senegal sack coach Pape Bouna Thiaw after disappointing campaign</a>&nbsp;The innings also created a new Indian record, as Bhatia now holds the highest score by an Indian batter in the third or fourth innings of a Women’s Test, eclipsing Sandhya Agarwal’s unbeaten 98 against New Zealand in Lucknow in 1985.&nbsp;Beyond the records, Bhatia’s century marks a significant milestone for Indian women’s cricket, combining individual excellence with a historic achievement at the Home of Cricket.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jos-buttler-surpasses-virat-kohli-to-become-third-highest-run-scorer-in-t20is-1783849338250">Jos Buttler surpasses Virat Kohli to become third-highest run-scorer in T20Is</a>&nbsp;Adding another layer to the accomplishment, Bhatia became only the second Indian left-handed batter, across both men’s and women’s cricket, to score a Test hundred at Lord’s.&nbsp;The only other Indian to achieve the feat is Sourav Ganguly, who scored a memorable 131 on his Test debut at the venue in 1996.

Yastika Bhatia scripted history by becoming the first woman cricketer to score a Test century at Lord's.

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia etched her name into the record books on Sunday (Jul 12), becoming the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s. The historic feat came on the third day of India’s ongoing four-day Test against England, with Bhatia reaching the milestone by taking Issy Wong for a single to register her maiden Test hundred. The landmark moment sparked an emotional celebration, as Bhatia acknowledged the applause by raising her bat and removing her helmet before bowing to the pitch and touching it with her forehead as a mark of respect. She also folded her hands in gratitude while her teammates applauded from the dressing-room balcony and dugout. Her innings also secured her a coveted place on the prestigious Lord’s honours board. Playing only her fourth Test for India, Bhatia brought up her century in 145 deliveries during the second innings. Her knock was defined by calmness, resilience and disciplined strokeplay, standing out on one of cricket’s most iconic grounds. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026: Senegal sack coach Pape Bouna Thiaw after disappointing campaign The innings also created a new Indian record, as Bhatia now holds the highest score by an Indian batter in the third or fourth innings of a Women’s Test, eclipsing Sandhya Agarwal’s unbeaten 98 against New Zealand in Lucknow in 1985. Beyond the records, Bhatia’s century marks a significant milestone for Indian women’s cricket, combining individual excellence with a historic achievement at the Home of Cricket. Also Read - Jos Buttler surpasses Virat Kohli to become third-highest run-scorer in T20Is Adding another layer to the accomplishment, Bhatia became only the second Indian left-handed batter, across both men’s and women’s cricket, to score a Test hundred at Lord’s. The only other Indian to achieve the feat is Sourav Ganguly, who scored a memorable 131 on his Test debut at the venue in 1996.

Yastika Bhatia scripted history by becoming the first woman cricketer to score a Test century at Lord's.

IND W vs ENG W: India's Yastika Bhatia becomes first woman to score Test century at Lord's

The infamous ‘Bazball’ has died with the sacking of Brendon McCullum as England men’s Test coach. The ECB shocked the cricket world with this major shake-up, leaving the England Test team without a captain and a coach as things stand. McCullum, however, will continue in his role as the white-ball coach.&nbsp;Barely three months after McCullum vowed to better England’s Test results after their disastrous 4-1 hammering Down Under in the winter Ashes, the ECB parted ways with him, putting an end to his almost four-year tenure. &nbsp;Speaking on the ECB’s decision, McCullum admitted being gutted about losing the job that he ‘absolutely loved’.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="Jos Buttler surpasses Virat Kohli to become third-highest run-scorer in T20Is">Jos Buttler surpasses Virat Kohli to become third-highest run-scorer in T20Is</a> &nbsp;"Of course, I'm gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision. My focus now is on giving everything I've got to the white-ball teams and helping England keep moving forward…I wish the Test team nothing but success,” McCullum said. &nbsp;Months after backing McCullum to evolve and learn from the mistakes he made during the disastrous Australian tour, Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, said, "Brendon breathed new life into 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." &nbsp;McCullum took charge as the England head coach in 2022, with Ben Stokes replacing Joe Root as the captain at the same time. The pair did wonders at the start, winning 10 of the first 11 Tests, but results began to deteriorate after that. Despite bringing an uncharacteristic and unprecedented attacking flair to their Test cricket, England faced heavy defeats in India and Australia, leading to Stokes’ shock retirement soon after. Although external factors and fallout with the ECB also led to Stokes’ exit,&nbsp;McCullum's departure surprised no one. &nbsp;As England’s Test coach, McCullum won 21 matches, drew twice and lost 20 Tests, with seven of those coming in England’s last nine matches. His tenure, however, started and ended against his home country, New Zealand, against whom he began his stint with a 3-0 win in England and concluded with a 1-2 loss in the latest outing. &nbsp;"I've absolutely loved coaching the Test side, and I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together," McCullum said. "There've been some unbelievable highs and a few tough days along the way, but that's all part of taking on a challenge like this. It's been a privilege and an honour, and I'm grateful. Grateful to the players, the staff and the fans who supported us on the journey. &nbsp;"I wish the Test team nothing but success. There's a hell of a lot of talent in that dressing room, and they're a special bunch of lads. I'll always be backing the boys, with a smile on my face, and hoping they keep taking the game on. I know they'll continue to make people proud,” McCullum said.

The "Bazball" era has come to a stunning end after the ECB sacked Brendon McCullum as England men's Test head coach following a string of poor red-ball results and a major structural shake-up.

The infamous ‘Bazball’ has died with the sacking of Brendon McCullum as England men’s Test coach. The ECB shocked the cricket world with this major shake-up, leaving the England Test team without a captain and a coach as things stand. McCullum, however, will continue in his role as the white-ball coach. Barely three months after McCullum vowed to better England’s Test results after their disastrous 4-1 hammering Down Under in the winter Ashes, the ECB parted ways with him, putting an end to his almost four-year tenure. Speaking on the ECB’s decision, McCullum admitted being gutted about losing the job that he ‘absolutely loved’. Also read| Jos Buttler surpasses Virat Kohli to become third-highest run-scorer in T20Is "Of course, I'm gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision. My focus now is on giving everything I've got to the white-ball teams and helping England keep moving forward…I wish the Test team nothing but success,” McCullum said. Months after backing McCullum to evolve and learn from the mistakes he made during the disastrous Australian tour, Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, said, "Brendon breathed new life into 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." McCullum took charge as the England head coach in 2022, with Ben Stokes replacing Joe Root as the captain at the same time. The pair did wonders at the start, winning 10 of the first 11 Tests, but results began to deteriorate after that. Despite bringing an uncharacteristic and unprecedented attacking flair to their Test cricket, England faced heavy defeats in India and Australia, leading to Stokes’ shock retirement soon after. Although external factors and fallout with the ECB also led to Stokes’ exit, McCullum's departure surprised no one. As England’s Test coach, McCullum won 21 matches, drew twice and lost 20 Tests, with seven of those coming in England’s last nine matches. His tenure, however, started and ended against his home country, New Zealand, against whom he began his stint with a 3-0 win in England and concluded with a 1-2 loss in the latest outing. "I've absolutely loved coaching the Test side, and I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together," McCullum said. "There've been some unbelievable highs and a few tough days along the way, but that's all part of taking on a challenge like this. It's been a privilege and an honour, and I'm grateful. Grateful to the players, the staff and the fans who supported us on the journey. "I wish the Test team nothing but success. There's a hell of a lot of talent in that dressing room, and they're a special bunch of lads. I'll always be backing the boys, with a smile on my face, and hoping they keep taking the game on. I know they'll continue to make people proud,” McCullum said.

The "Bazball" era has come to a stunning end after the ECB sacked Brendon McCullum as England men's Test head coach following a string of poor red-ball results and a major structural shake-up.

Death of Bazball: England sack Brendon McCullum as Test coach in major shake-up

Senegal has dismissed head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw after the team’s poor performance at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Lions of Teranga went into the tournament with high hopes after beating Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final in January. Many believed they could make a strong run for the World Cup title, instead, Senegal had a disappointing campaign, according to Reuters.&nbsp;&nbsp;They lost their first two group matches against France and Norway. In the round of 32, they were leading Belgium 2-0 with only five minutes left in normal time but conceded twice before losing 3-2 after extra time.&nbsp;Thiaw, 45, was also set to begin a five-match suspension in Sep during Senegal’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The ban followed his decision to lead his players off the field in protest after Morocco was awarded a penalty in January’s AFCON final in Rabat.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-painful-to-lose-that-way-switzerland-coach-slams-var-rule-after-qf-exit-to-argentina-1783842825362">FIFA 2026 | 'Painful to lose that way': Switzerland coach slams VAR rule after QF exit to Argentina</a>

Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 live on Zee5

Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-erling-haaland-breaks-down-after-norway-s-heartbreaking-exit-watch-1783841275086">FIFA 2026: Erling Haaland breaks down after Norway’s heartbreaking exit | WATCH</a>&nbsp;According to Reuters, citing French newspaper L’Equipe, former France midfielder and World Cup winner Patrick Vieira, who was born in Dakar, is one of the main contenders to replace Thiaw.&nbsp;The Senegalese Football Federation will hold a press conference on Monday and is expected to announce its next steps after Thiaw’s exit.

Patrick Vieira has reportedly emerged as the frontrunner to replace Pape Bouna Thiaw as Senegal's head coach.

Senegal has dismissed head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw after the team’s poor performance at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Lions of Teranga went into the tournament with high hopes after beating Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final in January. Many believed they could make a strong run for the World Cup title, instead, Senegal had a disappointing campaign, according to Reuters. They lost their first two group matches against France and Norway. In the round of 32, they were leading Belgium 2-0 with only five minutes left in normal time but conceded twice before losing 3-2 after extra time. Thiaw, 45, was also set to begin a five-match suspension in Sep during Senegal’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The ban followed his decision to lead his players off the field in protest after Morocco was awarded a penalty in January’s AFCON final in Rabat. Also Read - FIFA 2026 | 'Painful to lose that way': Switzerland coach slams VAR rule after QF exit to Argentina

Patrick Vieira has reportedly emerged as the frontrunner to replace Pape Bouna Thiaw as Senegal's head coach.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Senegal sack coach Pape Bouna Thiaw after disappointing campaign

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has played down the English threat at the 2026 World Cup semifinal in Atlanta by insisting that it is ‘just a football game’. Argentina made it to the last four after beating Switzerland 3-1 in their quarterfinal match on Sunday (Jul 11). Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister put the defending champions ahead with a header in the 10th minute, only for Dan Ndoye to equalise in the second half. The Kansas City Stadium erupted in joy after Julian Alvarez curled in a breathtaking golazo in the 112th minute as striker Lautaro Martínez added a cherry on the cake with a late goal to seal the win.&nbsp;Earlier, disaster struck for Switzerland in the second half, when Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card for simulation, reducing them to 10 men.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-we-knew-that-we-were-going-to-suffer-scaloni-after-argentina-edge-switzerland-to-reach-semis-1783848334331">FIFA 2026 | 'We knew that we were going to suffer': Scaloni after Argentina edge Switzerland to reach semis</a> &nbsp;Argentina will now turn their attention to England in the semifinal, which promises to be a pulsating encounter. &nbsp;However, despite the rich history between the two countries that extends beyond football, Scaloni decided to set all that aside and see this mouth-watering clash as just another game for Argentina. &nbsp;"Look, this is a football game," he said. "OK, so the message is this is a football game. That's what I can say. &nbsp;"It is a football game, and we will be playing against a very tough opponent. They have an excellent coach, and this is a football game, and that's all." &nbsp;This match against England comes 40 years after their famous quarterfinal at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, when Argentina secured a 2-1 win over the Three Lions. Diego Maradona scored a brace, including the infamous ‘Hand of God’ and another dazzling solo effort, considered one of the best.

Speaking ahead of the crucial semifinal, Scaloni said Argentina would have to improve after another tough test following gruelling 3-2 wins over Cape Verde and Egypt. &nbsp;"We won because of our ambition -- we didn't want it to go to penalties," he said. "It was more about the desire to win than the quality of play." &nbsp;"We are in the semifinals, a privileged position in football that we might take for granted, but it's not that easy. &nbsp;"We have every reason to be happy, satisfied, and excited. &nbsp;"Now we're going for everything we can, right to the end, with every last ounce of strength and every last drop of sweat. &nbsp;"If we pull it off, great. If not, we're going to give it our all. Let there be no doubt about that," he added.

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni brushed aside the historic rivalry with England, calling their upcoming World Cup semi-final "just another game" after a grueling 3-1 quarter-final win over Switzerland.

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has played down the English threat at the 2026 World Cup semifinal in Atlanta by insisting that it is ‘just a football game’. Argentina made it to the last four after beating Switzerland 3-1 in their quarterfinal match on Sunday (Jul 11). Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister put the defending champions ahead with a header in the 10th minute, only for Dan Ndoye to equalise in the second half. The Kansas City Stadium erupted in joy after Julian Alvarez curled in a breathtaking golazo in the 112th minute as striker Lautaro Martínez added a cherry on the cake with a late goal to seal the win. Earlier, disaster struck for Switzerland in the second half, when Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card for simulation, reducing them to 10 men. Also read| FIFA 2026 | 'We knew that we were going to suffer': Scaloni after Argentina edge Switzerland to reach semis Argentina will now turn their attention to England in the semifinal, which promises to be a pulsating encounter. However, despite the rich history between the two countries that extends beyond football, Scaloni decided to set all that aside and see this mouth-watering clash as just another game for Argentina. "Look, this is a football game," he said. "OK, so the message is this is a football game. That's what I can say. "It is a football game, and we will be playing against a very tough opponent. They have an excellent coach, and this is a football game, and that's all." This match against England comes 40 years after their famous quarterfinal at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, when Argentina secured a 2-1 win over the Three Lions. Diego Maradona scored a brace, including the infamous ‘Hand of God’ and another dazzling solo effort, considered one of the best.

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni brushed aside the historic rivalry with England, calling their upcoming World Cup semi-final "just another game" after a grueling 3-1 quarter-final win over Switzerland.

Scaloni insists England semifinal is ‘just another game’ following late Swiss showdown

Former MMA champion Conor McGregor lost via TKO to Max Holloway after only 69 seconds in his return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) after a five-year hiatus. A right knee injury forced referee Mike Beltran to stop the contest held at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on Saturday (Jul 12). Ireland's McGregor, 37, fell to the mat three times in the first minute.&nbsp;McGregor jumped and smashed a roundhouse kick at Holloway in the opening seconds, but hurt his knee upon planting his foot. He crumpled twice more and grabbed at his right knee, prompting Beltran to end the bout.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Max Holloway defeats Conor McGregor by TKO in Round 1<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/UFC329?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC329</a> <a href="https://t.co/52BnFWgeh2">pic.twitter.com/52BnFWgeh2</a>&mdash; UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://x.com/ufc/status/2076151063372234914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"What can I say? I had him weak in the knees, I guess," Holloway said. "So much hype. We've got to run it back one more time. For it to end like this sucks."&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-do-england-fans-sing-wonderwall-the-story-behind-the-new-football-anthem-1783848712234">Why do England fans sing Wonderwall? The story behind the new football anthem</a> &nbsp;Holloway, however, hoped that his opponent’s injury was "not too crazy". &nbsp;McGregor, who walked out of the octagon without comment, later said on X, "My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. I had no injury / injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight." &nbsp;"This came out of nowhere," he added. "I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. I had no injury / injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.&mdash; Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) <a href="https://x.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/2076177561793835073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Holloway added that he knew McGregor was in trouble when he backed off. &nbsp;"I could tell. His whole demeanour changed. He said, 'Fight! Fight!" added Holloway. &nbsp;This bout, which McGregor called "the comeback of all comebacks in sports history", was a rematch of a 2013 featherweight fight, which the Irishman won by unanimous decision.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I was so sharp and so ready for this fight I cannot believe what has happened. The talk of me being off while walking in to the fight is nonsense. I was calm, ready, and confident. I am in shock what has taken place. The devil is literally staring at me right in front of my face…&mdash; Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) <a href="https://x.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/2076237618287878548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He hasn’t fought inside an Octagon since breaking his leg in a 2021 defeat to Dustin Poirier of the US.<h3>The UFC's Ultimate Box-Office Draw</h3>McGregor, who was the first UFC fighter to hold two titles simultaneously at different weights in 2016, remained the company’s most marketable star before that injury derailed his rising career.&nbsp; &nbsp;At his peak, McGregor reportedly earned more than $100 million for losing to Floyd Mayweather in a boxing superfight in 2017. His last win, however, was a 40-second triumph over American Donald Cerrone in January 2020.

Conor McGregor's highly anticipated UFC return ended in immediate heartbreak at UFC 329, losing via a shock 69-second TKO to Max Holloway after suffering a severe right knee injury in the opening seconds.

Former MMA champion Conor McGregor lost via TKO to Max Holloway after only 69 seconds in his return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) after a five-year hiatus. A right knee injury forced referee Mike Beltran to stop the contest held at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on Saturday (Jul 12). Ireland's McGregor, 37, fell to the mat three times in the first minute. McGregor jumped and smashed a roundhouse kick at Holloway in the opening seconds, but hurt his knee upon planting his foot. He crumpled twice more and grabbed at his right knee, prompting Beltran to end the bout.

Conor McGregor's highly anticipated UFC return ended in immediate heartbreak at UFC 329, losing via a shock 69-second TKO to Max Holloway after suffering a severe right knee injury in the opening seconds.

69 Seconds of Hell: Conor McGregor 'destroyed' by injury in shock UFC return

England wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler produced a sensational innings of 131 off just 64 balls in the fifth and final T20I against India at The Rose Bowl, Southampton on Saturday (Jul 11). Opening the batting, Buttler’s explosive knock featured 12 boundaries and eight sixes, helping England post a commanding total. The innings also marked a major milestone for Buttler as he took his T20I career tally to 4,212 runs, surpassing former India captain Virat Kohli to become the third-highest run-scorer in the format. Kohli finished his T20I career with 4,188 runs from 125 matches between 2010 and 2024, while Buttler reached the landmark in his 160th appearance for England.&nbsp;In the standings, Pakistan captain Babar Azam continues to lead the chart with 4,596 runs from 145 matches, while former India skipper Rohit Sharma sits second with 4,231 runs, amassed in 159 T20Is between 2007 and 2024.&nbsp;Buttler’s century also rewrote the record books by becoming the highest individual score against India in men’s T20Is. He eclipsed the previous record of 125 not out, set by West Indies opener Evin Lewis against India in Kingston on 9 Jul, 2017. Lewis had reached that unbeaten score from 62 deliveries, striking 12 fours and six sixes.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-do-england-fans-sing-wonderwall-the-story-behind-the-new-football-anthem-1783848712234">Why do England fans sing Wonderwall? The story behind the new football anthem</a><h3>England complete dominant series win</h3>Riding on Buttler’s magnificent 131 and an unbeaten 95 from captain Harry Brook, England piled up a daunting 257/3. While, India struggled to keep pace in the chase and were restricted to 201/8, with Sam Curran claiming three wickets and Adil Rashid picking up two.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-we-knew-that-we-were-going-to-suffer-scaloni-after-argentina-edge-switzerland-to-reach-semis-1783848334331">FIFA 2026 | 'We knew that...': Scaloni after Argentina edge Switzerland</a>&nbsp;The comprehensive victory sealed a 4-0 series triumph for England, marking India’s first-ever T20I series clean sweep against England. The result also lifted England to the top of the ICC T20I team rankings.&nbsp;For India, it was another disappointing outcome under newly appointed T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, who has now endured consecutive series defeats.<h3>Most runs in T20Is</h3>

<figure class="table"><table><thead><tr><th>Player</th><th>Country</th><th>Time Span</th><th>Matches</th><th>Runs</th><th>Best score</th><th>Average</th><th>Strike rate</th><th>100</th><th>50</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Babar Azam</td><td>Pakistan</td><td>2016-2026</td><td>145</td><td>4596</td><td>122</td><td>38.94</td><td>128.02</td><td>3</td><td>39</td></tr><tr><td>Rohit Sharma</td><td>India</td><td>2007-2024</td><td>159</td><td>4231</td><td>121*</td><td>32.05</td><td>140.89</td><td>5</td><td>32</td></tr><tr><td>Jos Buttler</td><td>England</td><td>2011-2026</td><td>160*</td><td>4212*</td><td>131</td><td>33.96</td><td>148.93</td><td>2</td><td>28</td></tr><tr><td>Virat Kohli</td><td>India</td><td>2010-2024</td><td>125</td><td>4188</td><td>122*</td><td>48.69</td><td>137.04</td><td>1</td><td>38</td></tr><tr><td>Paul Stirling</td><td>Ireland</td><td>2009-2026</td><td>163</td><td>3895</td><td>115*</td><td>26.31</td><td>134.35</td><td>1</td><td>24</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Virat Kohli scored 4,188 runs in 125 T20Is for India between 2010 and 2024, while Jos Buttler has now amassed 4,212 runs in 160 matches.

England wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler produced a sensational innings of 131 off just 64 balls in the fifth and final T20I against India at The Rose Bowl, Southampton on Saturday (Jul 11). Opening the batting, Buttler’s explosive knock featured 12 boundaries and eight sixes, helping England post a commanding total. The innings also marked a major milestone for Buttler as he took his T20I career tally to 4,212 runs, surpassing former India captain Virat Kohli to become the third-highest run-scorer in the format. Kohli finished his T20I career with 4,188 runs from 125 matches between 2010 and 2024, while Buttler reached the landmark in his 160th appearance for England. In the standings, Pakistan captain Babar Azam continues to lead the chart with 4,596 runs from 145 matches, while former India skipper Rohit Sharma sits second with 4,231 runs, amassed in 159 T20Is between 2007 and 2024. Buttler’s century also rewrote the record books by becoming the highest individual score against India in men’s T20Is. He eclipsed the previous record of 125 not out, set by West Indies opener Evin Lewis against India in Kingston on 9 Jul, 2017. Lewis had reached that unbeaten score from 62 deliveries, striking 12 fours and six sixes. Also Read - Why do England fans sing Wonderwall? The story behind the new football anthem England complete dominant series win Riding on Buttler’s magnificent 131 and an unbeaten 95 from captain Harry Brook, England piled up a daunting 257/3. While, India struggled to keep pace in the chase and were restricted to 201/8, with Sam Curran claiming three wickets and Adil Rashid picking up two. Also Read - FIFA 2026 | 'We knew that...': Scaloni after Argentina edge Switzerland The comprehensive victory sealed a 4-0 series triumph for England, marking India’s first-ever T20I series clean sweep against England. The result also lifted England to the top of the ICC T20I team rankings. For India, it was another disappointing outcome under newly appointed T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, who has now endured consecutive series defeats. Most runs in T20Is

Virat Kohli scored 4,188 runs in 125 T20Is for India between 2010 and 2024, while Jos Buttler has now amassed 4,212 runs in 160 matches.

Jos Buttler surpasses Virat Kohli to become third-highest run-scorer in T20Is

England's use of Oasis' iconic hit ‘Wonderwall’ at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has sparked a fresh wave of popularity for the song, with players, fans and even Noel Gallagher embracing the memorable post-match singalong. Since its release in 1995, ‘Wonderwall’ has remained one of the most recognisable songs in British music. However, Oasis' reunion tour, which started last summer, has given the classic track renewed momentum.&nbsp;Ahead of the FIFA World Cup, every participating countries were asked to submit a playlist of songs to be played before and after matches. England selected 'Wonderwall' alongside Neil Diamond's ‘Sweet Caroline’ and The Beatles' ‘Hey Jude’. Although ‘Sweet Caroline’ has become England's traditional celebration anthem in recent years, the emotional scenes following the victory over Croatia in Dallas may signal a shift toward ‘Wonderwall’ becoming the team's new soundtrack.&nbsp;The song's popularity has already surged following that memorable occasion. According to Spotify, streams of ‘Wonderwall’ increased by 50% in the UK after England's match against Croatia. With players including Jude Bellingham joining supporters in singing the anthem, the post-match celebration created a lasting memory for the squad. Harry Kane described the experience as one of the greatest moments of his England career while speaking on the Lions' Den podcast. "That was one of my favourite ever moments in an England shirt and especially at a major tournament. “I know it's just the first game and we're not getting carried away, but just that emotional connection with the fans. We know how much it means to them. We have that connection right now but just that moment, singing Wonderwall in the stadium. Everyone knew the words and that was a really special moment.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-england-s-equaliser-vs-norway-was-so-controversial-fifa-explains-camera-wire-incident-1783814866286">Why England's equaliser vs Norway was so controversial: FIFA explains camera wire incident</a>

<h2>See England fans singing Wonderwall song</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Take it away lads 🎶 <a href="https://t.co/utc8UVOaD9">pic.twitter.com/utc8UVOaD9</a>&mdash; England (@England) <a href="https://x.com/England/status/2076100820899140011?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/England?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#England</a> Wonderwall ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ <a href="https://t.co/xoHsk8RcwZ">pic.twitter.com/xoHsk8RcwZ</a>&mdash; Tony Menendez (@TonyMenendez21) <a href="https://x.com/TonyMenendez21/status/2076092832834638051?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">PORRA DE REMADA, QUE COISA LINDA A TORCIDA DA INGLATERRA CANTANDO WONDERWALL DO OASIS 🤩 <a href="https://t.co/zX1VArJZcu">pic.twitter.com/zX1VArJZcu</a>&mdash; POPTime (@poptime) <a href="https://x.com/poptime/status/2076093527314817217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford also highlighted the impact of the supporters. "We all thrive off it. And when they're coming out in full force like they are, I think it's only going to get better as well. "The next two games, I think we'll see a lot more numbers [of fans] coming over. We all love it. "We're all passionate people, and we know the England fans are passionate as well. It drives us."&nbsp;Midfielder Declan Rice echoed those sentiments in an interview with the BBC. "Being in Dallas, singing Wonderwall. There's nothing like that first time. "Just soaking all that up and seeing the England fans. Being a player at a major tournament for England just feels different. I can't explain it. "It's the biggest honour in football for me."&nbsp;Meanwhile, Oasis co-founder Noel Gallagher, despite previously saying that he supports Ireland because of his parents' heritage, welcomed England fans adopting the song. Speaking on talkSPORT, presenter Jason Cundy revealed a text message he received from Gallagher during a live broadcast. “He [Gallagher] said, ‘For your information, that song belongs to the people’, talking about Wonderwall, right?” "That moment at the end where Harry Kane was talking about a special moment for fans."&nbsp;“He said, 'I don't see it as my song. I thought it was a brilliant moment.” “Anything but Sweet Caroline,' block caps.” Gallagher's endorsement has further strengthened the song's connection with England supporters, adding another chapter to the enduring legacy of "Wonderwall" as it continues to unite football fans on the biggest stage.

England's World Cup celebrations with Oasis' Wonderwall have sparked a Spotify streaming surge, inspired players including Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, and received Noel Gallagher's endorsement

England's use of Oasis' iconic hit ‘Wonderwall’ at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has sparked a fresh wave of popularity for the song, with players, fans and even Noel Gallagher embracing the memorable post-match singalong. Since its release in 1995, ‘Wonderwall’ has remained one of the most recognisable songs in British music. However, Oasis' reunion tour, which started last summer, has given the classic track renewed momentum. Ahead of the FIFA World Cup, every participating countries were asked to submit a playlist of songs to be played before and after matches. England selected 'Wonderwall' alongside Neil Diamond's ‘Sweet Caroline’ and The Beatles' ‘Hey Jude’. Although ‘Sweet Caroline’ has become England's traditional celebration anthem in recent years, the emotional scenes following the victory over Croatia in Dallas may signal a shift toward ‘Wonderwall’ becoming the team's new soundtrack. The song's popularity has already surged following that memorable occasion. According to Spotify, streams of ‘Wonderwall’ increased by 50% in the UK after England's match against Croatia. With players including Jude Bellingham joining supporters in singing the anthem, the post-match celebration created a lasting memory for the squad. Harry Kane described the experience as one of the greatest moments of his England career while speaking on the Lions' Den podcast. "That was one of my favourite ever moments in an England shirt and especially at a major tournament. “I know it's just the first game and we're not getting carried away, but just that emotional connection with the fans. We know how much it means to them. We have that connection right now but just that moment, singing Wonderwall in the stadium. Everyone knew the words and that was a really special moment.” Also Read: Why England's equaliser vs Norway was so controversial: FIFA explains camera wire incident

England's FIFA World Cup singalong of Oasis' ‘Wonderwall’ has boosted the song's popularity, earned Noel Gallagher's approval and united fans

Why do England fans sing Wonderwall? The story behind the new football anthem

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni praised his team’s fighting spirit after they beat Switzerland 3-1 in extra time to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals, according to Reuters. The defending champions faced a tough challenge from Switzerland before late goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez secured the win and booked a semi-final against England. After the match, Scaloni said his players have become used to handling difficult situations.&nbsp;"We knew that we were going to suffer, and this is part of our blood, this is part of our DNA, and this brings peace of mind," the coach said, as per Reuters.&nbsp;Argentina went ahead early when Alexis Mac Allister headed in Lionel Messi’s corner in the 10th minute. Switzerland responded well and equalised in the 67th minute through Dan Ndoye after putting Argentina under pressure for much of the second half.&nbsp;Argentina found it hard to control the game for long periods but took advantage after Switzerland were reduced to 10 players. Julian Alvarez scored a brilliant long-range goal in the 112th minute and Lautaro Martinez added another late goal to confirm Argentina’s place in the last four.&nbsp;Scaloni said the experience of winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar has helped his players stay calm and perform well in high-pressure knockout matches.&nbsp;"In Qatar, we were not that experienced, I myself included, and those kinds of situations were very difficult," he said. "However, now we are more experienced because we know what it feels like to be dominated by the opponent, to concede an equaliser, so today we kept our composure. The team knew how to remain calm and, of course, we will never give up," he added. The Argentine coach admitted Switzerland made life extremely difficult for his players. "It was a tough opponent," Scaloni said, according to Reuters. "It was very difficult for us to win the duels, to put more than five or six passes together." "They were very strong, and they made that struggle in the one versus one in different areas of the pitch. We suffered quite a lot," he said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-painful-to-lose-that-way-switzerland-coach-slams-var-rule-after-qf-exit-to-argentina-1783842825362">FIFA 2026 | 'Painful to lose that way': Switzerland coach slams VAR rule after QF exit to Argentina</a> Despite not producing their most fluent display, Scaloni praised the depth of his squad and the contribution of his substitutes. "We also have players on the bench who can turn the game on its head, and this is something very good," he said. "Ultimately, we always find the solutions."&nbsp;The 48-year-old also credited the team's unity for Argentina's consistent performances in major tournaments. "This is thanks to the players because they had to trust in the process," he said. “We are a collective side. We are together. We are very much united. And this is proof that football is complicated.”

Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-erling-haaland-breaks-down-after-norway-s-heartbreaking-exit-watch-1783841275086">FIFA 2026: Erling Haaland breaks down after Norway’s heartbreaking exit | WATCH</a>&nbsp;Scaloni also praised Mac Allister after the midfielder's opening goal from a Messi corner. "Alexis McAllister is one of the greatest. So all praise to him because he's been working very hard," Scaloni said. Argentina's victory secured a sixth semi-final appearance in their last six major tournaments, a feat Scaloni admitted filled him with pride. "I hadn't thought about it, but this is something to be very proud of," he said. Looking ahead to the semi-final, Scaloni reiterated that enduring difficult moments is often the price of success at the highest level. "When you reach a semi-final, you need to suffer. You need to go through it," Scaloni concluded. The defending champions will take on England in the semi-final clash on Friday (IST).&nbsp;&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni praised his team's resilience and composure after the defending champions beat Switzerland 3-1 in extra time to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals.

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni praised his team’s fighting spirit after they beat Switzerland 3-1 in extra time to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals, according to Reuters. The defending champions faced a tough challenge from Switzerland before late goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez secured the win and booked a semi-final against England. After the match, Scaloni said his players have become used to handling difficult situations. "We knew that we were going to suffer, and this is part of our blood, this is part of our DNA, and this brings peace of mind," the coach said, as per Reuters. Argentina went ahead early when Alexis Mac Allister headed in Lionel Messi’s corner in the 10th minute. Switzerland responded well and equalised in the 67th minute through Dan Ndoye after putting Argentina under pressure for much of the second half. Argentina found it hard to control the game for long periods but took advantage after Switzerland were reduced to 10 players. Julian Alvarez scored a brilliant long-range goal in the 112th minute and Lautaro Martinez added another late goal to confirm Argentina’s place in the last four. Scaloni said the experience of winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar has helped his players stay calm and perform well in high-pressure knockout matches. "In Qatar, we were not that experienced, I myself included, and those kinds of situations were very difficult," he said. "However, now we are more experienced because we know what it feels like to be dominated by the opponent, to concede an equaliser, so today we kept our composure. The team knew how to remain calm and, of course, we will never give up," he added. The Argentine coach admitted Switzerland made life extremely difficult for his players. "It was a tough opponent," Scaloni said, according to Reuters. "It was very difficult for us to win the duels, to put more than five or six passes together." "They were very strong, and they made that struggle in the one versus one in different areas of the pitch. We suffered quite a lot," he said. Also Read - FIFA 2026 | 'Painful to lose that way': Switzerland coach slams VAR rule after QF exit to Argentina Despite not producing their most fluent display, Scaloni praised the depth of his squad and the contribution of his substitutes. "We also have players on the bench who can turn the game on its head, and this is something very good," he said. "Ultimately, we always find the solutions." The 48-year-old also credited the team's unity for Argentina's consistent performances in major tournaments. "This is thanks to the players because they had to trust in the process," he said. “We are a collective side. We are together. We are very much united. And this is proof that football is complicated.”

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni praised his team's resilience and composure after the defending champions beat Switzerland 3-1 in extra time to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals.

FIFA 2026 | 'We knew that we were going to suffer': Scaloni after Argentina edge Switzerland to reach semis

Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin criticised the VAR process after his team’s FIFA World Cup 2026 journey ended with a 3-1 extra-time loss to defending champions Argentina. He said the decision to send off Breel Embolo changed the match and ruined Switzerland’s chances.&nbsp;&nbsp;During the match, Argentina took the lead early through Alexis Mac Allister, but Switzerland responded well, as Dan Ndoye scored in the 67th minute to make it 1-1. Just five minutes later, the match changed when Embolo received a second yellow card for simulation after a long VAR review.&nbsp;At first, the referee showed a yellow card to Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes. After checking VAR, the referee changed the decision, booked Embolo instead and Switzerland had to continue with only 10 players.&nbsp;"There was definitely no reason to award a yellow card," Yakin said. "It was a harmless situation. He should have let the play continue." "We were punished because of a rule that is unacceptable. I don't understand it. The fact that they intervened unnecessarily is extremely hurtful. It's a rule that has nothing to do with football. It destroyed our game today. We have to accept it, but it is painful to lose that way," he added.&nbsp;Even with 10 players, Switzerland held off Argentina until the later stages of extra time.&nbsp;Julian Alvarez scored from long range in the 112th minute to restore Argentina’s lead and Lautaro Martinez added another goal near the end to seal a 3-1 victory. The win sent Lionel Scaloni’s team into the semi-finals, where they will face England.&nbsp;Yakin felt Switzerland had gained control of the match before the controversial red card changed the outcome.&nbsp;"I would like to praise the entire team because we came back from a goal down against the world champions and we had the momentum," he said, according to Reuters. "We were dominating and controlling the match, and then we were punished because of a rule that is unacceptable. I don't understand it. My boys are the real heroes," said the Swiss coach.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-erling-haaland-breaks-down-after-norway-s-heartbreaking-exit-watch-1783841275086">FIFA World Cup 2026: Erling Haaland breaks down after Norway’s heartbreaking exit | WATCH</a> Midfielder Remo Freuler also questioned the decision, calling for an explanation from world football's governing body. "I'm very proud of the team. You could tell that we gave 100%," Freuler said. “I don't understand how VAR can make such a decision, and FIFA has to explain it to us.”

Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-whatever-bellingham-s-blunt-response-to-coach-tuchel-s-criticism-after-putting-england-into-semis-1783837190194">FIFA 2026 | Bellingham's not happy about coach Tuchel's criticism on England win</a> An emotional Embolo was left in tears after his dismissal and was consoled by teammates as he walked off the pitch. Yakin defended his striker, insisting he bore no responsibility for the defeat. "He was fouled many times, and he had a few very good moments in this game, but then he couldn't help the team any more," Yakin said. "I don't blame him. Obviously, he is shattered because he could not help the team. It was a refereeing mistake," he added. Although Switzerland fell short of a historic semi-final berth, Yakin took pride in a campaign that saw his side reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.&nbsp;&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin criticised the VAR protocol after his side's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign ended with a 3-1 extra-time defeat to defending champions Argentina.

Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin criticised the VAR process after his team’s FIFA World Cup 2026 journey ended with a 3-1 extra-time loss to defending champions Argentina. He said the decision to send off Breel Embolo changed the match and ruined Switzerland’s chances. During the match, Argentina took the lead early through Alexis Mac Allister, but Switzerland responded well, as Dan Ndoye scored in the 67th minute to make it 1-1. Just five minutes later, the match changed when Embolo received a second yellow card for simulation after a long VAR review. At first, the referee showed a yellow card to Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes. After checking VAR, the referee changed the decision, booked Embolo instead and Switzerland had to continue with only 10 players. "There was definitely no reason to award a yellow card," Yakin said. "It was a harmless situation. He should have let the play continue." "We were punished because of a rule that is unacceptable. I don't understand it. The fact that they intervened unnecessarily is extremely hurtful. It's a rule that has nothing to do with football. It destroyed our game today. We have to accept it, but it is painful to lose that way," he added. Even with 10 players, Switzerland held off Argentina until the later stages of extra time. Julian Alvarez scored from long range in the 112th minute to restore Argentina’s lead and Lautaro Martinez added another goal near the end to seal a 3-1 victory. The win sent Lionel Scaloni’s team into the semi-finals, where they will face England. Yakin felt Switzerland had gained control of the match before the controversial red card changed the outcome. "I would like to praise the entire team because we came back from a goal down against the world champions and we had the momentum," he said, according to Reuters. "We were dominating and controlling the match, and then we were punished because of a rule that is unacceptable. I don't understand it. My boys are the real heroes," said the Swiss coach. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026: Erling Haaland breaks down after Norway’s heartbreaking exit | WATCH Midfielder Remo Freuler also questioned the decision, calling for an explanation from world football's governing body. "I'm very proud of the team. You could tell that we gave 100%," Freuler said. “I don't understand how VAR can make such a decision, and FIFA has to explain it to us.”

Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin criticised the VAR protocol after his side's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign ended with a 3-1 extra-time defeat to defending champions Argentina.

FIFA 2026 | 'Painful to lose that way': Switzerland coach slams VAR rule after QF exit to Argentina

Erling Haaland’s impressive FIFA World Cup 2026 journey ended in disappointment on Sunday (IST) as England defeated Norway 2-1 after extra time to reach the semi-finals. Haaland, who had scored seven goals in his first four matches, failed to find the net for the first time in the tournament, as England’s defence did well to keep the Norwegian striker quiet throughout the game.&nbsp;The Manchester City forward found it difficult to make an impact in the hot and humid conditions in South Florida and was substituted with about 15 minutes left in extra time as Norway pushed for a late equaliser.&nbsp;“This has been an insane journey," Haaland said after the match.&nbsp;England secured the win through two goals from Jude Bellingham. The Real Madrid midfielder first cancelled out Andreas Schjelderup’s opening goal before scoring the winner in extra time.&nbsp;After the final whistle, Haaland shared a hug with his former Borussia Dortmund teammate Bellingham before slowly leaving the pitch, bringing his World Cup campaign to an emotional end.&nbsp;After the defeat, Haaland stood in disbelief with tears in his eyes as his World Cup dream came to an end.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-whatever-bellingham-s-blunt-response-to-coach-tuchel-s-criticism-after-putting-england-into-semis-1783837190194">FIFA 2026 | 'Whatever': Bellingham's blunt response to coach Tuchel's criticism after putting England into semis</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Ketika Haaland tersingkir, terus diputar lagu Wonderwall... Istirahat, lalu balik lagi ke Manchester, Erling! 🩵<a href="https://t.co/szbge9uqGO">pic.twitter.com/szbge9uqGO</a>&mdash; Manchester City Supporters Club Indonesia (@MCSCIndonesia) <a href="https://x.com/MCSCIndonesia/status/2076103817465377146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-argentina-survive-scare-from-10-man-switzerland-for-a-place-in-semi-final-1783829774936">FIFA 2026 | Argentina survive scare from 10-man Switzerland for a place in SF</a>&nbsp;Despite the loss, Haaland leaves the World Cup with his reputation stronger than ever. His seven goals were key to helping Norway reach the quarter-finals, their best World Cup performance in decades.&nbsp;England will now face Argentina in a highly anticipated semi-final.

Erling Haaland's World Cup dream came to an end as England edged Norway 2-1 after extra time to book their place in the next round.

Erling Haaland’s impressive FIFA World Cup 2026 journey ended in disappointment on Sunday (IST) as England defeated Norway 2-1 after extra time to reach the semi-finals. Haaland, who had scored seven goals in his first four matches, failed to find the net for the first time in the tournament, as England’s defence did well to keep the Norwegian striker quiet throughout the game. The Manchester City forward found it difficult to make an impact in the hot and humid conditions in South Florida and was substituted with about 15 minutes left in extra time as Norway pushed for a late equaliser. “This has been an insane journey," Haaland said after the match. England secured the win through two goals from Jude Bellingham. The Real Madrid midfielder first cancelled out Andreas Schjelderup’s opening goal before scoring the winner in extra time. After the final whistle, Haaland shared a hug with his former Borussia Dortmund teammate Bellingham before slowly leaving the pitch, bringing his World Cup campaign to an emotional end. After the defeat, Haaland stood in disbelief with tears in his eyes as his World Cup dream came to an end. Also Read - FIFA 2026 | 'Whatever': Bellingham's blunt response to coach Tuchel's criticism after putting England into semis

Erling Haaland's World Cup dream came to an end as England edged Norway 2-1 after extra time to book their place in the next round.

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FIFA 2026: Erling Haaland breaks down after Norway’s heartbreaking exit | WATCH