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Thomas Tuchel has been brutally reminded that England “haven’t played anybody” yet as they prepare to discover their 2026 World Cup group stage opponents. Former Three Lions star Nigel Winterburn has, in an exclusive interview with GOAL, been discussing what success – and failure – looks like for a talented squad that is looking to shake their ‘nearly men’ tag.

Near misses: Can England end 60 years of hurt?

Sir Gareth Southgate guided England to a World Cup semi-final and back-to-back European Championship finals before walking away from the most demanding of roles in the summer of 2024. He came as close as anybody to delivering a first major honour for the Three Lions since 1966.

He did, however, ultimately fall short. Ex-Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich boss Tuchel is now charged with the task of getting England over the trophy-winning line. He oversaw a faultless eight-game run through World Cup qualification – with no goals being conceded along the way.

AdvertisementWorld Cup tests: England eased through qualification

The question now is: Can England deliver when it matters most? They have an abundance of talent at their disposal – from back to front – including the likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka. With that in mind, would anything less than global glory in the United States, Canada and Mexico be considered failure?

When that question was put to ex-Arsenal and England left-back Winterburn, he – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “I don’t think you could look at it like that. Our history of winning major tournaments, as a nation, is not great. I agree that we have a talented squad, we have some great depth, but we still need to prove ourselves against the real top opposition. The qualifiers that we have just been through – let’s not beat around the bush, we haven’t played anybody. We haven’t been under any pressure. I’d like to see us when we’re against teams like Spain – technically brilliant, keeping the ball, high quality players. How are we going to cope defensively with their movement? How are we then going to break down their structure with our movement of the ball? Will it be quick? Is it too slow?

“It won’t be a failure. A lot of people will be saying there are a lot of teams in tournaments that we should beat and when you get to the knockout stages, that’s when it’s going to be crucial. I think a lot of people will think that if we don’t get to the semi-finals, it would be a huge disappointment.”

Getty Images

Favourites tag: Are England serious World Cup contenders?

Tuchel is aware of the pressure that he operates under, with England’s men national team having gone 60 long years without cause for celebration. He has, however, been quick to point out that their recent record suggests that a standing as favourites should not be enjoyed.

The enigmatic German tactician has said: “We will arrive as underdogs in the World Cup because we haven't won it for decades, and we will play against teams who have repeatedly won it during that time, so we need to arrive as a team otherwise we have no chance.”

“If you've never won Wimbledon, you may be one of the favourites but you are not the favourite. You can go and if you come close, OK, you are within the pool, but you are not the favourite. It is just how it is.

“There is Brazil, there is Argentina, Spain, France and they just did it recently. It doesn't mean we have no chance and we know very well. First we will qualify and then we will know exactly why we go there.”

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Getty Images SportWorld Cup draw: Who will England face in the group stage?

England will, whether Tuchel likes it or not, be one of those expected to compete for the ultimate prize at FIFA’s flagship event next summer. They can call upon too many world-class operators not to be considered serious contenders.

The plan will be to establish early momentum, before any long-term targets are set, with the Three Lions set to discover their group stage opponents when the 2026 World Cup draw takes place at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on December 5.

Arsenal are now open to January offers for one Gunners star, with it being revealed Mikel Arteta will need to offload players and free up space in the squad.

The Gunners are well-stocked in the striker department, with Viktor Gyokeres adapting to life in the Premier League very well since making the move from Sporting CP in the summer transfer window, receiving high praise from Arteta after bagging a brace against Atletico Madrid.

The Spaniard said: “All of us [appreciate Gyokeres] because he makes us a much better team. I think we’ve become much more unpredictable,”

“He’s so physical, opens the spaces for everyone. The way he presses the ball, holds the ball, it’s just phenomenal.”

The 27-year-old, who bagged his fourth Premier League goal of the season against Burnley earlier this month, has certainly started well, while Kai Havertz is now closing in on a return from injury, having not been involved since the 1-0 win against Manchester United back in August.

Consequently, there may be little game time available for Arteta’s other striker, Garbiel Jesus, and there has now been a major update on his future at the Emirates Stadium…

Arsenal now open to January offers for Gabriel Jesus

According to a report from Spain, Arsenal are now open to offers for Jesus in the January transfer window, as they need to offload players and free up space in the squad, and the Brazilian is no longer a part of Arteta’s plans.

Persistent injuries have meant the 28-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium, and a return to Palmeiras could now be on the cards, with the Brazilian club willing to bring him back, potentially on a loan-to-buy deal.

The 64-time Brazil international has received high praise from Arteta in the past, with the manager saying back in September 2023: “He is a tremendous player, a really important player for us. He changed our world last season. You could all see that.”

That said, it is probably the correct decision to offload the centre-forward, given that he has been unable to put his injury problem in the rearview mirror, missing a number of games for club and country over the past few seasons.

Gabriel Jesus’ injury record by season

Games missed

2022-23

17

2023-24

17

2024-25 onwards

56

It has recently emerged that the £13.7m-a-year striker has returned to training after an extended period of time on the sidelines, which could be a boost for Arteta, given that the manager has been left light on options at times this season, with Gyokeres and Havertz suffering setbacks.

With Arsenal looking to compete on all fronts, faring well in the Champions League and through to the EFL Cup quarter-final, Jesus may still have a role to play in the short-term, but it would not be the end of the world if Arsenal sanction a January departure.

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ByEmilio Galantini Nov 14, 2025

Glasgow Rangers crashed out of the League Cup at Hampden Park on Sunday afternoon after they were beaten 3-1 by their city rivals.

Danny Rohl lost for the second time in four matches since his arrival at Ibrox, but it did take extra time for Celtic to eventually clinch their victory after a hard-fought 90 minutes.

The Gers had to dig in and fight for the majority of the match because they were sent down to ten men in the 38th minute when Thelo Aasgaard was given his marching orders.

How Thelo Aasgaard let Rangers down

The Norway international was in the team to provide creativity and flair in the left-sided central midfield position, but he had little impact on the match in his time on the pitch.

Aasgaard’s biggest contribution to the game was how his red card changed the match, as it meant that Celtic had an extra man advantage for the rest of the 90 minutes and extra time.

It was an unfortunate situation for the central midfielder, rather than a malicious challenge, as he caught Anthony Ralston whilst turning and attempting to control the ball.

Regardless, Aasgaard let his side down by putting his foot in that position to control the ball, which gave the referee a decision to make.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The former Luton Town man was far from the only underwhelming performer on the pitch for the Light Blues, though, as Youssef Chermiti was just as bad.

Why Danny Rohl should drop Youssef Chermiti

The Portugal U21 international had registered a goal and an assist in his last two outings in the Scottish Premiership for Rangers, per Sofascore, which earned him a place in the XI for this semi-final clash.

After his goal against Kilmarnock off the bench, Chermiti started in the 1-0 win over Hibernian earlier this week, but struggled outside of his assist for Danilo’s brilliant goal.

Minutes

77

Shots on target

0

Big chances created

0

Assists

1

Dribbles completed

0/2

Possession lost

14x

Duels won

8/19

As you can see in the table above, his all-round play left plenty to be desired, as he lost the majority of his duels and lost the ball 14 times without registering a single shot on target.

The Portuguese centre-forward was then just as bad as Aasgaard in the 3-1 loss to Celtic because he missed two huge opportunities to find the back of the net in the first half when the score was 0-0.

Mohamed Diomande played a perfect ball across to the striker, who was unmarked in the middle of the box, but his effort veered wide of the target when it seemed harder to miss. It was a miss that caused Premier Sports TV pundit Michael Stewart to describe him as “so poor” during their live coverage.

The summer signing from Everton then evaded his marker at the back post to attack a sublime free-kick delivery from James Tavernier, only to fail to find the target from two or three yards out.

Chermiti’s lack of composure in front of goal ultimately cost Rangers because they could have been one or two goals up with those chances, but, instead, they failed to take the lead, then they went down to ten men and one goal down.

It was a dismal showing from the £8m summer signing, whose performance was as poor as Aasgaard’s, and that is why Rohl should ruthlessly ditch him from the starting line-up.

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Nottingham Forest are now pursuing a January move for an “outstanding” British player, having monitored him closely over the past few weeks.

Forest looking to improve defence after Everton setback

Forest have certainly made progress since the arrival of Sean Dyche, now sitting two points clear of the Premier League relegation zone, and they have often looked solid from a defensive point of view, keeping four clean sheets in their last seven matches in all competitions.

The Tricky Trees aren’t in the clear just yet, however, being brought back down to earth with a 3-0 defeat against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium last time out, with Dyche critical of some aspects of his side’s performance, saying: “We were nowhere near it on the physical side. We had the ball in many places but the decisions went against us.”

The manager also added: “The players deserve a lot of credit, but they have to fight and play to their shape. We were well short of that.”

With Dyche perhaps looking to make his own mark on the squad he inherited, Nottingham Forest are now pursuing a January move for a new defender, namely Sassuolo’s Josh Doig, according to a report from Tuttomercatoweb (via Sport Witness).

However, the Italian side have no interest in sanctioning a departure this winter, as Doig is regarded as one of their most important players, so it may be difficult to tempt them into a sale.

The Scottish defender has been monitored closely over the past few weeks, but there are some doubts over whether the Tricky Trees need to bring in a new left-back, with Neco Williams and Oleksandr Zinchenko already on the books, and Botafogo’s Cuiabano set to return next month.

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"Outstanding" Doig impressing in the Serie A

Lauded as “outstanding” by coach Neil Critchley, the Scot has certainly impressed in the Serie A over the past year, ranking very highly across a range of defensive statistics, when compared to other full-backs.

Josh Doig’s key statistics	Average per 90 (past year)
Interceptions	1.53 (92nd percentile)
Blocks	1.53 (87th percentile)
Aerials won	1.62 (91st percentile)

Former Hibernian teammate Lewis Stevenson has also waxed lyrical about the Sassuolo star in the past, saying: “He has the potential to go to the top level. He is 6 foot 3, fast, strong. Even just looking at him with his top off – without meaning to sound creepy – he looks like Ronaldo, with that kind of physique. He just is an athlete.”

The Edinburgh-born defender has been a key player for the Italian side so far this season, making 13 Serie A appearances, and he earned his first cap for Scotland in a 4-0 victory against Liechtenstein in the summer.

That said, given that Dyche already has Williams and Zinchenko at his disposal, bringing in a new left-back shouldn’t be a priority this winter.

Eddie Howe has now reportedly told Newcastle United to go and sign a Serie A midfielder who Tyneside scouts have already watched in action.

Eddie Howe delivers Nick Pope verdict after Marseille mistake

It’s been one step forward and two steps back for Newcastle this season. The Magpies defeated Manchester City in an excellent display last weekend, before picking up where they left off to take the lead against Marseille. It looked as though they were finally back on track. But that’s when it all fell apart.

Nick Pope’s moment of madness allowed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to equalise from wide, before the former Arsenal man was at it again to score what proved to be the eventual winner for the French hosts.

It’s not the first time that Pope has come under fire in a Newcastle shirt this season, but Howe decided to back his shot-stopper in his post-match interview, saying: “I think it’s a concern when we concede goals, regardless of who’s at fault. I think we have to look at everything with a balanced head.

“He (Pope) saved us many times. He made some really good saves against Manchester City just two days ago. That’s the life of a goalkeeper. But I’ll certainly back him.”

With Aaron Ramsdale waiting in the wings, however, it remains to be seen just how many more chances Pope will receive. Up next, Newcastle travel to the Hill Dickinson stadium for the first time to face an Everton side who just defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford.

It’s a game that the Magpies will be desperate to win to at least make it back-to-back victories in the Premier League. Alas, it’s also one that may expose their lack of depth in midfield once again.

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It’s a fairly open secret that Howe’s targeting reinforcements in that area ahead of 2026 and reports are now claiming that he’s told the club to go and sign Serie A star Manu Kone.

Howe tells Newcastle to sign Manu Kone

According to Tuttomercatoweb, Howe has now told Newcastle to sign Kone after sending his scouts to watch the impressive AS Roma midfielder.

The midfielder would instantly add depth to the Magpies’ midfield, but Roma have already reportedly dealt those at St James’ Park a frustrating blow in pursuit of his signature. Unsurprisingly, Roma are keen to keep hold of Kone and have told Newcastle that he is not for sale in 2026.

Whether Newcastle test the waters despite Roma’s stance is the big question. Kone would certainly be worth the chase. The Frenchman was dubbed “composed” by Como scout Ben Mattinson ahead of arriving in Serie A in the summer and could yet be on his way to the Premier League.

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A year after his surgery to repair a hole in his heart, Yash Dhull has had a fruitful DPL campaign and is gung-ho about continuing his comeback

Daya Sagar25-Aug-2025An Under-19 World Cup trophy as captain. An IPL contract. Twin hundreds on Ranji Trophy debut. A century on Duleep Trophy debut. The big time just around the corner?Yash Dhull’s stocks had been rising steadily when, at 21, he came to know in June last year that he had a hole – of 17mm – in his heart. Dhull had to undergo surgery and had to rest for a month to recover. Age is on his side, so in August, he returned to action with the Delhi Premier League (DPL) but his body couldn’t cope with the strain. He had to withdraw from the tournament where he was leading the Central Delhi Kings side.A year later, Dhull is back in the DPL and is hoping to use it as a platform to return to the conversation as far as the BCCI and the IPL teams are concerned. This time, he has managed to make a mark.Related

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In six innings so far in DPL 2025, Dhull has smashed 364 runs at a strike rate of 172.51 and an average of 121.33 with the help of two centuries. His next assignment will be the Duleep Trophy, where he will turn out for North Zone from August 28 in Bengaluru.”It was around the same time last year, June-July, but I can’t remember properly because actually I don’t want to,” Dhull tells ESPNcricinfo about the low. “It was a really tough time. I didn’t want to get the surgery done because of the DPL and the domestic season, which was to follow, but the doctor said I had no option. I was on bed rest for one entire month after the surgery.”Then I gradually tried to train but my body couldn’t keep up. My blood pressure and heart rate would shoot up when I tried to run and I would be out of breath. The doctor told me anything could happen if blood pressure shot up, if I tried to overdo things. I was under heavy medication, which would make me drowsy. So I had to withdraw from the DPL and go back to my bed rest.”As his health improved, Dhull found he had a month-and-a-half to prepare for the 2024-25 domestic season. He had his family, the doctors and the coaches in his corner, but this time Dhull didn’t rush into things. He went one step at a time and at the Ranji Trophy – which was split in two phases – he played all seven games for Delhi, scoring 444 runs with two centuries at an average of 49.33.

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