Bellingham dragged England past Norway's better football in suffocating heat, which is admirable until you remember that individual brilliance doesn't win tournaments. • England scraped through because Rice's illness paranoia proved overblown and because Norway couldn't finish what they started, which is the only way England ever seem to win these days. • Pickford got beaten by a good strike but not a great one, and if that's the shape of his concentration for the next two games, Argentina will have him signing autographs by halftime. • Yamal spotting his brother on the big screen is genuinely lovely, which is exactly the kind of human moment we should be talking about instead of pretending Joe Cole's hot takes matter. • Cole reckons England will put Messi to bed like he's some exhausted toddler—nice sentiment, completely divorced from the fact that Argentina would probably beat this England side with ten men and a spare goalkeeper. Bellingham dragged England past Norway's better football in suffocating heat, which is admirable until you remember that individual brilliance doesn't win tournaments. • England scraped through because Rice's illness paranoia proved overblown and because Norway couldn't finish what they started, which is the only way England ever seem to win these days. • Pickford got beaten by a good strike but not a great one, and if that's the shape of his concentration for the next two games, Argentina will have him signing autographs by halftime. • Yamal spotting his brother on the big screen is genuinely lovely, which is exactly the kind of human moment we should be talking about instead of pretending Joe Cole's hot takes matter. • Cole reckons England will put Messi to bed like he's some exhausted toddler—nice sentiment, completely divorced from the fact that Argentina would probably beat this England side with ten men and a spare goalkeeper.

La Liga

Spain boss explains why he dropped Pedri for World Cup quarter-final vs Belgium

July 12, 2026 1 min read

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has explained why he dropped Barcelona midfielder Pedri to the bench for Friday’s World Cup quarter-final against Belgium. Pedri was a surprise absentee from the starting XI for the match, with PSG star Fabian…

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