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Jakub Mensik v Alexander Zverev: French Open 2026 men’s semi-finals – live | French Open 2026
Key events
Second set: Mensik* 5-7, 2-4 Zverev (*denotes next server)
Mensik, his face still betraying no emotion, holds to love. That’ll have felt good. But Zverev’s response won’t, as he sees Mensik’s love hold and matches it. The all-Italian affair between Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Arnaldi is coming up after this, with the match getting under way not before 7pm Paris time (6pm BST). At this rate Zverev will have showered, done his press and had some dinner by the time it begins.
Second set: Mensik* 5-7, 1-3 Zverev (*denotes next server)
Jim Courier, on the TNT Sports commentary, lists the other male players, along with Zverev, who lost their first three slam finals: Lendl, Agassi, Ivanisevic, Murray, Thiem and Ruud. Of those, Zverev and Ruud are still searching for that breakthrough. But Zverev’s looking in the form to change that as he backs up the break, from deuce. At the moment he’s in full control of this semi-final.
Zverev breaks: Mensik 5-7, 1-2 Zverev* (*denotes next server)
Zverev has Mensik on the ropes at 15-40. Mensik decides to deal with the break points just as he did in the first set, with a drop shot. This one appears to be more successful, as he gets back Zverev’s reply, but the problem is he becomes a sitting target at the net in the process, and Zverev zaps the ball back, and Mensik, with hardly any time to respond, can only frame the ball well wide! Zverev is roaring and at the moment he’s soaring into the final. Mensik, stoically, looks rather emotionless.
Second set: Mensik* 5-7, 1-1 Zverev (*denotes next server)
Zverev has still dropped only one set this tournament, and he did to Mensik in that first set what he did to the new Rafa on the block, Rafael Jodar, in the quarter-finals, coming out on top in the big moments. Speaking of which … last night I watched the Rafa documentary on Netflix, in which he reveals the extent of the chronic pain he was dealing with during his career. It got me thinking: has there ever been a sportsperson so willing to suffer for success, who’s fought so hard against their body while achieving so much? It’s astonishing he was able to win 14 French Open titles (it still seems ridiculous writing that number, even four years on from his last title in Paris) while playing in such pain for 13 of those. But anyway, I digress. A hold apiece from Mensik and Zverev, and this second set gets going with two holds.
Zverev wins the first set 7-5!
15-0, 30-0, 40-0. Three set points. Mensik provides some resistance, taking the next two points, but it ultimately proves to be futile, as Zverev seals the set from 40-30 with an ace down the T. A smart set from Zverev, who waited patiently for his chance, and seized it when it came.
Zverev breaks: Mensik 5-6 Zverev* (*denotes next server)
Mensik is wavering, and a couple of double faults get Zverev to 30-all. A huge point. Will it be break point – which if Zverev wins it, will leave him serving for the set – or game point? It’s break point, a first of the match for Zverev, as he batters a backhand winner that leaves Mensik rooted to the spot, looking as if he has feet of clay. Mensik decides this break point calls for a drop shot, of which he’s hit so many throughout this set, but Zverev is smart to it, zooms forward, whips the ball over … and Mensik nets!
First set: Mensik* 5-5 Zverev (*denotes next server)
Certainly not immediately, as Mensik secures a love hold, his first of this semi-final, which leaves Zverev serving to stay in the opening set. Which the second seed does with relative ease, landing a couple of aces, but he’s not looking quite as sharp from the baseline as he was a few games ago, it has to be said.
First set: Mensik* 4-4 Zverev (*denotes next server)
Zverev is serving with the new balls, but slides 15-30 down. He appears to be dealing with the slight scoreboard pressure, bossing the point, moving forward, dispatching a nice angled volley … but Mensik, improbably, pulls off a backhand pass down the line! Agassi and his son Jaden, who’s a baseball player having decided at a young age that tennis wasn’t for him (the idea of trying to emulate his dad’s success, along with his mum Steffi Graf’s, probably wasn’t too appealing), are applauding. It’s 15-40 and here are the first break points of the match, and for all the of the pressure Zverev has had on Mensik’s serve, these BPs are for Mensik. A good serve out wide, followed by a big forehand, and Zverev saves them both, before fending off a third too and holding! A big opportunity missed by Mensik – will that come back to haunt him?
First set: Mensik 4-3 Zverev* (*denotes next server)
For Zverev, remember, this is an 11th grand slam semi-final and a fifth at Roland Garros; for Mensik this is a first. Zverev, who lost in the 2024 final having been two sets to one up against Carlos Alcaraz, in one of three major final defeats he’s endured, is pummelling Mensik’s backhand at 30-15, and it eventually breaks down under the pressure. 30-all. But a short, sharp point gets Mensik to 40-30. And he holds for his most comfortable service game so far.
First set: Mensik* 3-3 Zverev (*denotes next server)
Gasps as a dodgy bounce on the baseline catches Zverev unawares on the second point. But that’s as good as it gets for Mensik, who can’t make any further inroads on Zverev’s serve from 15-all. Zverev looks so calm is thinking very clearly out there; he’ll now hope he can convert all the pressure he’s had on Mensik’s serve into a break.
First set: Mensik 3-2 Zverev* (*denotes next server)
Zverev cracks another winner for 0-15, as Agassi, the 1999 champion, looks on approvingly. And Mensik coughs up his first double fault. 0-30. The Czech makes amends with an ace, and then a drop shot winner – already his seventh drop shot of the semi-final – restores parity at 30-all. Which develops into deuce, the third time Mensik has been taken this far on serve, and once again he slams the door on Zverev.
First set: Mensik* 2-2 Zverev (*denotes next server)
Pacy and punchy from Zverev on his backhand – which is one of the very best in the business – and it’s 30-0. Make that 40-0, with a textbook one-two attack. Now it’s his forehand that does the damage, as he rifles away a winner. The first love hold of this semi-final and Zverev is in the zone.
First set: Mensik 2-1 Zverev* (*denotes next server)
Zverev has been criticised in the past for playing too defensively in the biggest moments on the biggest stages, but he’s crunching the ball here and advances to 0-30 on Mensik’s serve. Mensik, with such soft hands for a man of his size, comes straight back with the next two points, and shows delicate touch at the net to bring up 40-30. For the third game in a row, they go to deuce, and Mensik’s cute drop shot brings up his advantage. And after a second deuce he holds.
First set: Mensik* 1-1 Zverev (*denotes next server)
Zverev looked slightly hesitant in the warm-up but the world No 3 shows great reflexes at the net to move 30-15 ahead. Mensik, wearing a white shirt and headband, black shorts, dumps a drop shot into the net as Zverev, clad all in black, extends his lead 40-15. But Mensik marmalises a backhand winner down the line and it’s deuce. Just as Mensik did at this stage in the previous game, Zverev steps it up, and takes the game with a nonchalant volley.
First set: Mensik 1-0 Zverev* (*denotes next server)
Talking of Mensik playing better against better players, he defeated Djokovic in three sets to win the Miami Open last year, his biggest title to date, and he also saw off Sinner in Doha this year. “I think Jakub is a player that was born for these types of matches, against big players in big stadiums,” his coach Tomas Josefus said in the build-up to this semi-final. And Mensik looks keen to prove the point as he glides to 40-15 on serve in the opening game … before stuttering as he’s pulled back to deuce … but he takes command from there, rounding things off with a dismissive volley. The 20-year-old is on the board.
Here’s the great Andre Agassi giving his thoughts: “They’re two guys with great backhands; I give them equal on the backhands. I give Zverev the advantage on serve, Mensik on the forehand. Mensik has nothing to lose and he plays better against better players. If Zverev is nervous and Mensik puts on some scoreboard pressure we may see some magic.”
Tik! Tok! Tik! Tok! They’re warming up. They’ve faced each other only once before, but it was just last month, on the clay in the Madrid last 16, with Zverev winning in three tight sets, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, after Mensik had led by a break in the decider.
Zverev has spent four hours less on court at this French Open than Mensik, who’s played two five-setters – but Mensik has had two days off since his quarter-final win over Fonseca, he’s young and fit, so I’m not sure physicality will decide this. It’ll probably come down more to how they both handle the pressure, with Zverev, of course, sometimes struggling with self-belief in the biggest matches of his career. But, of course, he also has the freedom of knowing he’s not facing Sinner or Alcaraz.
Here they are, the 6ft 5in Mensik and 6ft 6in Zverev, giants both literally and metaphorically. Mensik arrives on court ahead of Zverev; the young Czech 26th seed will be hoping that’s a sign of things to come.
If you need to catch up on yesterday’s women’s semi-finals, Tumaini’s reports are here:
Preamble
Sinner. Alcaraz. Alcaraz. Sinner. Sinner. Alcaraz. Sinner. Alcaraz. Alcaraz … Zverev?
With Jannik Sinner evaporating in the second-round heat and Carlos Alcaraz exiting before the tournament had even started, Alexander Zverev has known for nine long days that he may never get a better chance to be the one who breaks Sincaraz’s duopoly of grand slam titles and finally make that step from the best male player to have not won a major – a label he must be absolutely sick of hearing – to slam champion.
So far Zverev has been playing with the freedom of a player who knows he doesn’t have to face his two tormentors, rather than the pressure of someone who’s expected to win. He’s dropped only one set en route to his 11th grand slam semi-final but, in truth, given the way the seeds have scattered, the 2024 runner-up hasn’t had to face a player of much note to get this far. While Jakub Mensik is raw and unproven at this stage of a slam, the 20-year-old Czech with the huge serve represents Zverev’s biggest challenge to date, having taken out Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev, before brilliantly neutralising the nuclear forehand of his fellow star in the making, Joao Fonseca, in the quarter-finals.
Zverev will hope all of his scars from grand slams past aren’t exposed by Mensik, who’s joined by two other semi-final debutants, Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Arnaldi, as they contest the first ever all-Italian men’s semi at a major – minus the most famous Italian of all. Arnaldi, the marathon man, has spent the most time on court in grand slam history to reach the last four, while Cobolli, a man of many superstitions, has been channelling his inner Rafa to break new ground, even using the 14-times champion’s favourite shower cubicle after every match. Sinner may be long gone, but this wildest and weirdest of French Opens could yet end with a bravissimo champion and Zverev being outshone by another Italian.
L’action commence: 14.30h à Paris/1.30pm BST. Allons-y!
A university campus safety officer was seriously injured in the attack in Guildford on Thursday.
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World Cup 2026 news; Newcastle’s £24m deal for Jaouen; PFA awards shortlists: football– live | Football
Key events
If you were reading earlier about England’s 6-1 win over Panama in the 2022 World Cup, there was a quiz question. Harry Kane got a hat-trick but I also asked which player scored an unlikely brace?
The answer: John Stones. Yes, really.
Thanks Luke. Player-guide session a little compromised due to a parcel delivered to the wrong door, a phone call about US Open golf shifts and a ham omelette that wouldn’t cook itself.
That’s the lot from me: David will be back from his marathon player-guide reading session imminently.
Craig McLeish has been given the St Mirren job on a permanent basis after he maintained their Scottish Premiership status.
“I want to thank Keith [Lasley, chief executive] and the board for giving me this opportunity and I’m ready to grasp it. I’m delighted that my vision aligned with the club’s and they feel I’m the best person to take us forward,” McLeish said.
“It feels like maybe the end of a cycle with where we were at. We’ve achieved a lot over this last period, and we have to now look at what we do and how we operate as a club.” PA Media
Fresh from Premier League title success, Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard wants to play a significant role for Belgium at the World Cup.
“I really can’t wait to get started,” he said on Friday, a day after belatedly joining up with his teammates after last Saturday’s Champions League final.
“Everyone is starting the World Cup campaign full of enthusiasm, which is very positive. I’ve only been able to take part in one training session so far, so not much has stood out to me yet, but I can see that everyone is focused and ready to begin the World Cup.”
Asked if he is in his best form ever, Trossard added: “That’s always difficult to answer. But I’m certainly in very good form, and I hope to carry that into the World Cup.”
Winning the Premier League is also a positive for Belgium’s hopes, he said.
“It’s very good when players arrive here having won titles, but that doesn’t change your status. Not mine either but I will try to bring that experience into the national team.
“We’ve had a very good season with Arsenal. Of course, it’s disappointing how the Champions League ended. Penalty shootouts are a lottery, and it was stressful to experience it from the sidelines. But we’ve still had a fantastic season and we’re very proud of winning the English title.
“The title celebrations and the parade were fantastic. We were able to celebrate properly with the squad.“
As for his club future Trossard gave nothing away: “At the moment I am still an Arsenal player. We’ll see what happens in the summer,” he said.
Belgium have a friendly against Tunisia in Brussels on Saturday before Monday’s departure to the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US, where they begin their Group G campaign in Seattle, on June 15, against Egypt. Reuters
How is Sergiño Dest getting on for the USMNT?
I know it’s a question you’ve been pondering.
Jeff Rueter has all the relevant details here:
Ewan Murray
The summit of Scottish football provides a wonderful environment for those who value long-term career stops. Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the Scottish Professional Football League, arrived at the then Scottish Premier League in 2009. Ian Maxwell, bizarrely headhunted from relegation-bound Partick Thistle, has been the Scottish Football Association’s chief executive since 2018. Scot Gemmill’s tenure as the nation’s under-21 manager has lasted a decade despite underwhelming results.
Glass half-full or half-empty; either this is a domain that delivers admirable continuity or one in which no one makes sufficient progress to appeal to those in bigger ponds.
Against this backdrop, Steve Clarke’s four-year extension as Scotland manager is really no surprise. “It’s pretty staggering for anyone to say that giving him a new contract is a gamble,” said Maxwell. The Scottish FA’s president, Mike Mulraney, delivered standard bluster when assessing the deal. “I don’t need other people to vindicate my decision,” insisted Mulraney.
Next up on Friday’s football content smorgasbord: a piece from Ewan Murray on Steve Clarke, the Scotland head coach. (They’re in Group C with Haiti, Morocco and Brazil. Their first match is against Haiti on Sunday 14 June, at 2am UK time.)
And here, for good measure, is their team guide by Ewan Murray:
I’m not long for this blog but if you need to get something off your chest, email me.
Apropos of the current photo atop this blog, keep an eye out for Alexis Saelemaekers of Belgium. He’s shown some seriously classy touches during his loan spell at Roma.
Sweden are in Group F at the World Cup with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia. A tasty group and no mistake.
Don’t forget to check out our essential guide to each and every player at the tournament:
“I have had enough life experience to be able to put all these things into perspective,” Potter says. “I’m grateful for all the experiences I have had, pluses and minuses. In the end, you have to deal with what life throws at you. After West Ham I could have done two things. I could have sat around and done media. Or you can go and work.”
Coming up next, an excellent interview with the Sweden head coach, Graham Potter, by Jacob Steinberg …
David Hytner
“It was hot in ‘94,” thundered Alexi Lalas, the former USA defender turned Fox Sports analyst, who starred for his country when they were the sole World Cup hosts that year. “And guess what? It’s going to be hot again this time.”
Lalas’s booming address came last December at the draw in Washington DC for this summer’s tournament and, to digress slightly, it was difficult not to fixate on his sheer vocality. Lalas is loud and confident, outspoken and there was the moment when he considered England’s chances at the finals. Notoriously, they failed to qualify 32 years ago.
To sum up, Lalas made it plain that England were coming to his turf with the express intention of making off with the trophy, bringing it home and so on and he, for one, was absolutely not OK with that. What does he have against England? It was unclear. Anyway …
Coming up next, a dispatch from David Hytner, one of our reporters with England’s World Cup hopefuls in Tampa.
Newcastle agree £24.2m deal for goalkeeper Jaouen from Reims
Newcastle have agreed a £24.2m, four-year deal with Reims for the goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen. The 20-year-old stands at 6ft 6in, and attracted widespread interest from across Europe after 15 clean sheets in Ligue 2 last season. He has been tipped to become France’s first-choice keeper.
For the moment Jaouen will arrive on Tyneside as Eddie Howe’s second-choice goalkeeper. With Aaron Ramsdale having recently returned to Southampton after a season-long loan at St James’ Park, Nick Pope is Newcastle’s first choice.
Yet with Howe still seeking another senior goalkeeper – Manchester City’s James Trafford ranks high on his wishlist – Pope may depart this summer. Hull and Leeds are believed to be among those interested in signing the former England international.
In a summer of change in Newcastle’s goalkeeping departmentm Howe is also in the market for a third-choice keeper after John Ruddy’s departure.
Newcastle’s manager wants two top-class goalkeepers on his books and believes that Jaouen will be capable of challenging whoever becomes No1 at the start of next season for a starting place.
The football never, ever ends. Especially not in World Cup year. Fabio Grosso’s winning penalty for Italy in 2006 was one of the absolutely great World Cup moments … and here is some Grosso news from the land of the Azzurri:
Fabio Grosso has resigned as coach of Sassuolo, the Serie A club announced on Friday, with reports he will join Fiorentina.
“Sassuolo have reached an agreement to terminate the contracts of first-team coach Fabio Grosso and his staff,” the Serie A club said.
Grosso, 48, had been in charge of Sassuolo since July 2024 when the club were playing in Serie B. At the end of his first season, the 2006 World Cup winner led Sassuolo back to the top flight, and this season the club finished 11th in Serie A.
The Italian press have linked Grosso with Fiorentina who had a difficult 2025-26 season under Stefano Pioli and then Paolo Vanoli but nevertheless secured survival, finishing 15th.
For the first time in his career, Grosso, formerly a defender with Palermo, Inter Milan and Juventus, would be at the helm of one of the historic clubs in the Italian league.
His only previous experience at a top club was with French outfit Lyon and it lasted just three months, between September and November 2023.
He was sacked after seven matches with just one win and a particularly painful start when he was hit in the face and hospitalised following an attack on his team’s bus.
The Italian league is set for a coaching shake-up with in addition to Sassuolo and likely Fiorentina, Bologna, Napoli, Milan, and Lazio have changed manager or are about to change coaches.
Thanks David. Why not treat yourself, and aim for 200? Hi everyone.
While I head for some food and read another 173 of our 1,248 player guides, I’ll hand the blog to Luke McLaughlin.
Some emails have landed. A couple here:
Louise writes: “My compliments for the Bracketology. Already having a lot of fun with it with friends! Hope it will stay active in the coming weeks so we can adjust.”
Krish writes: “What are the chances of a USA – Iran knockout game and could you please pass on a request to David Squires to sketch Trump’s reaction should they lose that game?”
Using our online wizardry, I’ve worked out that if the USA win Group D and Iran finish second in Group G, they wouldn’t play each other until the final. If Iran finish third, it would be the semis.
Tom Garry
Manchester United have agreed to sign the Atletico Madrid defender Andrea Medina on a free transfer this summer, the Guardian understands. The 22-year-old is set to move to the English club when her contract expires at the end of June.
A versatile left-back who can also play at centre-back and as wing-back, Medina has been monitored by Manchester United for a long time and her arrival should add plenty of tactical flexibility for the Women’s Super League team.
The former Real Betis player has enjoyed extensive success with Spain’s youth international teams at tournaments, including helping them win the 2022 Under-20 World Cup, when she was a key part of the starting side.
She was named in the 25-player Spain senior squad for this month’s Women’s World Cup qualifiers, with Spain facing England on Friday, although she is not expected to feature against the Lionesses because she has not been handed a squad number in their final matchday 23.
Spain need a win in Mallorca to keep alive their chances of qualifying automatically for next summer’s World Cup, ahead of England, who would top the group is they avoid defeat.
What’s the world on the street, Johnny? Interesting read here as some of our correspondents share their first thoughts.
World-class footballers aren’t just created in a lab or given every possible privilege to reach the top. Germany’s Antonio Rüdiger grew up in Neukölln, Berlin, in a community largely made up of refugees, where his parents settled after fleeing civil war in Sierra Leone.
The Real Madrid defender has opened up about his upbringing after joining the “Gamechanging Team” of the UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) – a group of footballers with displacement backgrounds standing with refugees and challenging stereotypes. He tells his story to Sam Cunningham.
Thomas Tuchel won’t be able to field his first-choice XI against New Zealand on Saturday. That’s because his Arsenal contingent, including Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, will only join up with the squad next week following their Champions League exploits.
As for that likely starting XI for their World Cup opener against Croatia in Dallas on 17 June, the release of England’s squad numbers a few days ago surely dropped a few hints.
1/ Jordan Pickford
2/ Ezri Konsa
3/ Nico O’Reilly
4/ Declan Rice
5/ John Stones
6/ Marc Guehi
7/ Bukayo Saka
8/ Elliot Anderson
9/ Harry Kane
10/ Jude Bellingham
11/ Marcus Rashford
Rest of squad: 12 Tino Livramento, 13 Dean Henderson, 14 Jordan Henderson, 15 Dan Burn, 16 Kobbie Mainoo, 17 Morgan Rogers, 18 Anthony Gordon, 19 Ollie Watkins, 20 Noni Madueke, 21 Eberechi Eze, 22 Ivan Toney, 23 James Trafford, 24 Reece James, 25 Djed Spence, 26 Jarell Quansah
England play New Zealand at both cricket and football on Saturday. Well, that’s if the Lord’s Test lasts until then. Follow it here!
In Tampa on Saturday (4pm local time, 9pm UK), Thomas Tuchel’s men will hope they can cope with the heat and brush aside a New Zealand side that lost 4-0 to Haiti a few days ago. To be fair, the All Whites are better than that result suggests. Learn more about them here.
Results from last night’s pre-World Cup friendlies. Includes a shock defeat for France.
Spain 1-1 Iraq
France 1-2 Ivory Coast
Sweden 2-2 Greece
Panama 4-2 Dominican Republic
South Korea 1-0 El Salvador
Iran 2-0 Mali
A few notes. France took the lead through Rayan Cherki on the stroke of half-time but a late winner from Manchester United’s Amed Diallo condemned the French to their first defeat in 364 days.
Sweden conceded an injury-time equaliser against the Greeks but note this: much-derided Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres now has 20 goals in his 33 internationals after pulling the Swedes level.
Four goals for Panama. They also scored twice against Brazil last weekend although conceded six. Expect goals, mostly from England, when they take on Thomas Tuchel’s men in the final Group L group game on 27 June. England beat them 6-1 in the last World Cup, remember, with Harry Kane firing in a two-penalty hat-trick. Mythical prize if you can remember the Three Lions’ other goalscorers. One got an unlikely brace.
So, Spain open against Cape Verde. Come with us and get to know more about their Group H rivals, the Blue Sharks.
Spain are the narrow World Cup favourites ahead of France. So drawing 1-1 with Iraq last night in their final friendly before setting off for the finals was something of a surprise of first glance. Sid Lowe was at Estadio Riazor and explains that there’s nothing to panic about given that the Spanish fielded a team that will bare no resemblance to the one that starts their World Cup opener against Cape Verde on 15 June.
Bruno Fernandes certainly deserves his place on that PFA list. But will he still be at Old Trafford next season?
PFA awards shortlists revealed
The shortlists for the Men’s and Women’s PFA players’ awards have been revealed. Arsenal’s Premier League-winning trio of Declan Rice, Gabriel and David Raya all feature while Bunny Shaw and Yui Hasegawa have both been nominated for the Women’s Player of the Year award after helping Manchester City to title glory.
Men’s Players’ Player of the Year nominations
Rayan Cherki (Man City)
Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)
Erling Haaland (Man City)
Gabriel (Arsenal)
David Raya (Arsenal)
Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Women’s Players’ Player of the Year nominations
Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa)
Yui Hasegawa (Man City)
Lauren James (Chelsea)
Jess Park (Man Utd)
Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
Bunny Shaw (Man City)
England can qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup finals in Brazil tonight. The good news: all they have to do is avoid defeat. The bad news: they’re away to holders Spain. Tom Garry is in Mallorca to set the scene.
Time for a quick niche post. It comes courtesy of my colleague, Will Unwin.
“If you like a blast from the past, one person who was considered by Leicester for their manager’s role was the former Everton and Sunderland goalkeeper Thomas Myhre, and preliminary talks were held. The Norwegian is currently in charge of top-tier HamKam in his homeland.”
Here’s Jonathan Wilson with some tactical analysis of whether Liverpool and Andoni are a good fit. The conclusions are generally positive.
“Iraola’s style of play would seem a good fit for Liverpool. Bournemouth tend to be a good side to watch, their football progressive and dynamic, with none of the passivity that came to characterise Slot’s Liverpool at their worst. The 4-2-3-1 shape Iraola has tended to favour would seem to fit with at least some of Liverpool’s thinking over the past year. Florian Wirtz should thrive in the central creative role largely occupied by Eli Junior Kroupi this season. The full-backs are attacking, as Bournemouth’s have been; for Milos Kerkez, who recovered towards the end of the season after a difficult start at Liverpool, this will be a reunion with Iraola, a coach to whom he felt so well disposed at Bournemouth that he celebrated an assist against Tottenham by running to the technical area to acknowledge his role in the goal.”
Will Andoni Iraola prove a hit at Liverpool? The appointment seems to have gone down extremely well with Reds fans, especially this line from the new boss: “For me, football is about emotions. About passion.”
First up, here’s Andy Hunter’s story of the 43-year-old Spaniard putting pen to paper at Anfield.
Who will England have to beat to win their first World Cup on foreign soil? The Opta supercomputer crunches the numbers. Warning: the path is not easy.
Bracketology! In past World Cups, a pencil and eraser on a wallchart was the only option to work out England’s most likely stage of elimination. But humans evolve. And now we have this tremendous piece of technology: a clickable online bracket. If they top their groups, can Spain and France (the two favourites) meet in the final? Touch and drag to find out!
Next up, the wallchart. Yep, nick some blu tack off one of your kids’ wonkily-hung posters of a K-pop band and get this centre stage on the kitchen wall. Probably another one in the toilet. Elegantly designed and beautifully illustrated.
World Cup 2026: guide to all 1,248 players
There’s only one place to start. The World Cup 2026: guide to all 1,248 players is a remarkable piece of work. Doffed cap to my colleagues who worked so hard to get this ready. It’ll take you a while to wade through so let’s get going straight away. How best to digest? Up to you. For some reason, my first clicks were to see how old Luka Modric is and then get more on Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal because he’s going to win the Golden Boot.
Preamble
Good morning! Well, it’s now less than a week away! Six days and 11 hours to be precise before the World Cup kicks off with the Group A clash between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa. We’ve got an absurd amount of analysis to hit you with as the build-up continues and that includes news of last night’s friendlies. Oh, and if you love a wallchart and an online bracket to work out when England might play Spain, we have you covered there too.
Beyond that, Andoni Iraola is in at Liverpool while there’s one of the biggest match-ups in women’s international football this evening as England take on Spain. The Lionesses will qualify for the 2027 World Cup finals in Brazil if they avoid defeat. As for England’s men, we’ll have all the latest ahead of their friendly with Chris Woods’ New Zealand on Saturday night.
“You have to say that’s magnificent!”
Nerys Lloyd was sentenced to 10 years and six months for gross negligence manslaughter in April 2025.
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