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The Absence of Ben Stokes Josh Tongue admitted England have missed the influence of Ben Stokes after a day in which they crumbled to the brink of defeat in the second Test against New Zealand at the Oval. While they were doing so the team’s full-time captain, forced out of international duty for disciplinary reasons, was 250 miles north at Chester-le-Street, scoring a swashbuckling 95 for Durham in the County Championship. England's Struggles England ended the fourth day on 182 for five, a distant 281 from victory, after the tourists scored 362 in their second innings. The home side have worked this week under the interim captaincy of Joe Root, on whose back their slender hopes once again lie, after he became the second player in Test history to pass 14,000 career runs on his way to an unbeaten 75, Tongue on Stokes and Root “Yeah, we’ve missed him,” Tongue said of Stokes. “He’s an unbelievable player. Obviously I made my debut when he was captain, so I’ve got huge respect for Stokesy and it’s always nice seeing him get some runs as well. But obviously we’ve got a lot of leaders in our team. Rooty has stepped up as captain, he’s obviously an unbelievable player and an unbelievable leader.” The Impact of Stokes' Absence While admitting England have been weakened by Stokes’s absence, Tongue had nothing but praise for his stand-in, even if Root’s second stint in charge seems unlikely to be a successful one. It now appears likely to end after this Test, with the England & Wales Cricket Board’s investigation into the curfew breach that forced Stokes and Gus Atkinson out of it apparently close to a conclusion that will allow their return for the third game at Trent Bridge. New Zealand's Chances Though the Kiwis are on the verge of winning what would be only their third Test in this country in 18 attempts since the start of 2000, they will not allow any triumphalism to set in while England’s stand-in captain remains at the crease. “When you’ve got someone like Joe Root out there, his class and everything that comes with him, he’s going to be the big wicket,” Nicholls said. “It’s going to take a lot of effort. It’s Test cricket. It’s been four hard days and we’re expecting the same again tomorrow.”

The Rise of Michael Olise Michael Olisé is probably the best creative player in the world at the moment. He racked up 26 assists for Bayern Munich last season. It was his shift into a more central role that transformed France’s game against Senegal from drab slog to impressive victory. Olise's Unique Playing Style The confidence he always had at Crystal Palace has evolved at Bayern into a graceful fluency. In a hugely talented France side, Olise is the standout, the player who it feels might carry them to the World Cup. Yet he is something of an anomaly. A Shift in French Football's History It’s not just that he was born in White City, west London, and grew up loving cricket (his father was British-Nigerian and his mother French-Algerian), or even that, like his former Palace teammate Eberechi Eze, he spends much of his spare time playing chess. It’s that, unusually in this France side, he plays with a sense of freedom and joy. He has not yet submitted fully to Didier Deschamps’s tactical yoke, nor been curdled by his own celebrity. As such, Olise represents a key faultline in history of French football. French Football's Evolution At the 1982 World Cup, France were renowned for their carré magique, the magic square of Michel Platini, Jean Tigana, Alain Giresse and Bernard Genghini. They actually played as a midfield four only in the semi-final defeat by West Germany but Seville became a myth, an idea. France may have lost on penalties despite leading 3-1 in extra time, an agonising defeat in which Patrick Battiston was knocked unconscious by Toni Schumacher, but they had played with panache, and that was French football. The Future of French Football France have a four at this World Cup who could be similarly great. It’s easy to imagine the pundits of a couple of decades’ time leaning back with a warm chuckle, and shaking their heads as they remember Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Desiré Doué and Olisé, three great products of the French academy system and a bloke who started off at Hayes & Yeading, and got his big break playing for Reading (albeit he also had stints in the academies of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City). Imagine a team with that level of attacking talent all on the pitch at once. How could any defence ever have coped with them?

The Dutch DominationIt turns out Sweden do not have a monopoly on old fashioned centre-forward play. They were schooled in it here by Brian Brobbey, who was brought in by Ronald Koeman to give their attack a focal point and swiftly made his under-pressure manager resemble a genius. Brobbey scored twice in the opening 17 minutes to pave the way for a crushing win, proving impossible to handle with a cocktail of strength, touch and finishing.Flank Attack and Clinical FinishingThe Netherlands were equally impressive as a collective, devastating Sweden down the flanks and effectively ending the contest with two Cody Gakpo finishes soon after the break. Anthony Elanga briefly raised the temperature but Crysencio Summerville's excellent late goal added garnish and means Sweden must now be treated as an enigma.Sweden's Struggle in Front of GoalWhile Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak had made hay in the 5-1 win against Tunisia, neither could beat Bart Verbruggen here. A defeat of identical size piles pressure on Tuesday's meeting with Japan for Graham Potter, whose team could have scored more but allowed the Netherlands to carve them apart at will. Surely, in this most forgiving of formats, a team that began so emphatically cannot tumble out at the first hurdle.

The Leadership Question UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's political days may be numbered as he faces mounting pressure and challenges to his leadership. Challenges Facing Starmer Growing criticism from within his party Pressure to deliver on campaign promises Economic and social challenges facing the UK The Impact on UK Politics The uncertainty surrounding Starmer's leadership could have significant implications for UK politics, potentially leading to a shift in the balance of power within the country. The Future Outlook As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Starmer will navigate these challenges and whether he will be able to maintain his position as Prime Minister.

The Unlikely Anthem The World Cup has a way of bringing people together, and this year's tournament has seen a surprising anthem emerge: John Denver's 'Take Me Home, Country Roads.' The song, a classic American favorite, has been echoing through stadiums, with fans and players alike singing along in unison. The Event Details During a recent match between the US and Australia, the crowd at Lumen Field in Seattle erupted in a heartfelt rendition of 'Take Me Home, Country Roads.' The song's familiarity and nostalgic value have made it a staple at US games, with fans of all ages singing along. The reaction from fans, who sang along in unison, and players, who soaked in the moment, has driven home that it ought to be a staple at US games. The Data Analysis No specific data was provided in the article, but it's clear that the song's popularity is growing among US soccer fans. The article mentions that the song has been belted out by soccer fans around the world before, but its significance has grown in the context of the US team's efforts to inspire a new generation and unite fans. The Impact Analysis The song's message of unity and belonging has resonated with fans and players alike. As the article notes, 'The simplicity of Country Roads becomes quite clever, distilling that complex and cosmopolitan worldview to its briefest mission statement in unapologetic crescendo: Take me home to the place I belong.' This sense of belonging is particularly significant in the context of the US team's efforts to inspire a new generation and unite fans across diverse backgrounds. The Prediction As the World Cup continues, it's likely that 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' will remain a prominent anthem for the US team. The song's message of unity and belonging has struck a chord with fans and players, and its familiarity and nostalgic value have made it a staple at US games. Whether it will continue to be a defining feature of the tournament remains to be seen, but for now, it's clear that 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' has become an unlikely anthem for the World Cup.

Scotland’s 1‑0 defeat to Morocco at the 2026 World Cup left them on three points with goal difference reset to zero, putting their fate in their own hands as they prepare for a decisive match against Brazil.Morocco defeat resets Scotland’s group standingThe early goal by Ismael Saibari gave Morocco a two‑minute lead, but Scotland rallied in the second half and earned a 1‑0 win that erased the goal‑difference deficit created by the opening loss to Haiti. The result means Scotland are no longer staring at immediate elimination, but the group remains precarious.Points, goal difference and the math of qualificationAfter two games Scotland sit on 3 points (win vs Morocco, loss vs Haiti).Goal difference is now 0 (–1 vs Haiti, +1 vs Morocco).Brazil, already qualified, will face Scotland in the final group match; a draw guarantees Scotland a place in the last‑32.Other group scenarios (Bosnia‑Herzegovina beating Qatar, Australia vs Paraguay) could shift the points landscape, but Scotland’s own result remains decisive.The talent gap: why Scotland lack true game‑changersThe piece highlights that Scotland have scored only four goals in eight World Cup appearances under Steve Clarke, with two coming from deflections and one a consolation in a 5‑1 loss to Germany. Compared with nations of similar size, such as Norway, Scotland’s attacking pool is markedly weaker. Emerging talents like Ben Gannon‑Doak provide a glimpse of hope, but the overall squad averages close to 30 years of age, underscoring a reliance on veteran players rather than breakthrough stars.Brazil showdown: the make‑or‑break scenarioFacing a world‑class side, Scotland must balance defensive solidity with the need to seize any scoring opportunity. Clarke has emphasized a simple mantra: “win the game, or at least don’t lose it.” A draw would see Scotland advance on goal difference, while a loss would hand qualification to other group contenders.Building a sustainable pipeline of Scottish talentThe article argues that the long‑term solution lies in incentivising clubs to develop home‑grown players. With the transfer window set to bring in foreign talent, the Scottish Professional Football League and the Scottish Football Association must collaborate to raise standards and nurture the next generation, ensuring future World Cups are not dependent on a single “game‑changer.”

England Injury Update: Rashford and Rice Back in Training Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice have given England a boost by training in advance of Tuesday’s game against Ghana, but Bukayo Saka looks likely to start on the bench again as he works his way back towards full fitness. Saka's Fitness Status Thomas Tuchel has revealed Saka is managing an achilles problem and is not ready to complete a full 90 minutes yet. The winger came off the bench when England opened their World Cup campaign against Croatia with a 4-2 win in Dallas on Wednesday, but he is still being treated with caution. Training Update Saka stayed indoors to work on an individual programme at England’s training base in Kansas City on Saturday, indicating that Noni Madueke will start again on the right when England face Ghana in Boston in their second game in Group L. England's Current Status England are top of their group after an impressive second half against Croatia, although they left Dallas with a couple of injury concerns. Rashford, who came on and scored the fourth goal, complained of a minor muscular problem and Rice went off in the 72nd minute after feeling discomfort in his lower back and upper hamstring. Positive Signs for England But there was good news for Tuchel when the team returned to training after being given a day off on Friday. Rashford, who is competing with Anthony Gordon for a place on the left flank, looked in good shape and Rice, the vice-captain and a crucial part of England’s midfield, also appeared to be moving freely as Tuchel ran his players through passing drills.

The Killing of Ahmed Wishah Ahmed Wishah, a cameraman for Al Jazeera, has been killed in an Israeli air strike that targeted a house in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. Al Jazeera strongly condemned the killing, calling it a "heinous crime" that constitutes a "new and flagrant violation of all international laws and norms." The Context of Journalist Casualties This incident is part of a larger and disturbing trend of targeting journalists in the conflict. According to figures from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 260 Palestinian journalists have been killed since Israel's war on Gaza began in October 2023. Wishah's brother, Mohammed, was also killed by Israeli shelling on April 8 this year. The Humanitarian Impact The Israeli attacks have had a devastating impact on civilians in Gaza. Gaza's health ministry reported that since Israel's war began, 73,018 people have been killed and 173,273 others have been wounded. In the recent escalation, Israeli attacks have killed 1,007 and injured 3,165 others since the ceasefire was announced in October. The Future Outlook The killing of Ahmed Wishah and the continued targeting of journalists raise serious concerns about the protection of civilians and the freedom of the press in conflict zones. The international community is likely to face increased pressure to hold parties accountable for these actions and to work towards a lasting resolution to the conflict.

Moving Day at the US Open 2026 saw Wyndham Clark surge to -7, while a host of former major champions failed to make the cut, reshaping the final‑day showdown at Shinnecock Hills.The Opening Rounds Set the Stage at Shinnecock HillsThe third round concluded with a wet bridge and challenging conditions that tested every contender. As the field narrowed, the tournament entered the decisive "Moving Day" where players jockey for position ahead of the final round.Leaderboard Snapshot: Clark’s Seven‑Shot Lead and the Pack Behind-7: Wyndham Clark-3: Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele, Sam Stevens, Tom Kim-2: Collin Morikawa-1: Justin Thomas, Harry Higgs, Sam Burns, Sahith TheegalaE: William Mouw, Ryder Cowan (a), Ryo Hisatsune, Gary Woodland, Akshay Bhatia, Keith Mitchell, Rory McIlroy, Maverick McNealy, Brian Harman, Scottie Scheffler, Alex FitzpatrickHigh‑Profile Misses Reshape the Tournament NarrativeA notable list of big‑name players failed to survive the cut, including:Bryson DeChambeauViktor HovlandRickie FowlerPatrick ReedHarris EnglishShane LowryJon RahmPatrick CantlayCameron SmithSi Woo KimMin Woo LeeSepp StrakaAdam ScottBrooks KoepkaPadraig HarringtonGraeme McDowelldefending champion JJ SpaunThe absence of these former champions opens the door for a new face to claim the title.What to Expect on the Final Day: Contenders and Course ChallengesWith Clark perched at -7, the pressure will shift to the tightly‑bunched leaders at -3 and -2. Players like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, who are still on the course, must navigate the notoriously tricky closing holes at Shinnecock Hills. Weather forecasts suggest continued breezy conditions, which could amplify scoring volatility.Analysts predict a battle for the lead in the final hour, with the potential for a dramatic swing if the leaders falter on the 16th‑18th holes. Expect a final‑round leaderboard that could see the top five within a single stroke, setting up a thrilling finish for the 2026 US Open.