A Manchester City representative joined a government-supported trade mission to India this week, even though the club had been found responsible for 114 violations of Premier League regulations. Bev Craig, who succeeded Andy Burnham as Manchester mayor, included a club representative in visits to Delhi and Mumbai arranged by business secretary Jonathan Reynolds, with northern […]
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Thomas Tuchel initially intended to maintain stability. The England head coach hoped to build on the encouraging aspects of the World Cup campaign and retain most of the players involved in the run to the semi-finals in North America. His selection for the four Nations League fixtures and the start of a new international chapter […]
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Once again, the spotlight was firmly on Harry Kane. Before kick-off, he watched footage of his first England goal during a television interview – a header against Lithuania in 2015, scored only 79 seconds after entering the field for his debut. By the end of the evening, he was discussing another two goals following an […]
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Anthony Barry understands that England are still searching for the final ingredient. The assistant coach has carefully reviewed the team’s performances and discussed every detail with Thomas Tuchel, even joking that the head coach is “doing my head in”. The central question remains: after the disappointment of losing in the World Cup semi-final, what must […]
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Thomas Tuchel maintained that England did not take any chances with Alex Scott’s fitness after the midfielder pulled out with a thigh problem, prompting concern from Bournemouth about how the situation was handled. Scott impressed in Saturday’s 7-0 Nations League victory over Croatia, but he will miss the remainder of the international window. The midfielder […]
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After Czechia’s 2-0 loss to England in Prague, their coach turned left, headed down the touchline, shook Thomas Tuchel’s hand and used a phrase he could not remember ever saying after a match: “See you soon.” Tuchel responded with the same words. Just seven days later, after separate trips through Oviedo and Rijeka, they are […]
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Act quickly and repair what is broken. Thomas Tuchel has enjoyed an encouraging week as he tackles the recurring challenge of shaping not only a successful England side, but one with a clear identity, while dealing with the constant and often contradictory pressures surrounding the national-team manager. None of this is unfamiliar. The position demands […]
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So, could England have another go at the World Cup? Is it possible to turn back the clock and erase what happened in Atlanta? Because this team finally appears ready. That enthusiasm may fade, however, if another match must be played in front of 6,000 excited children, whose collective noise in Rijeka reached levels few […]
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“I have never been convinced by the idea of returning,” Slaven Bilic once said while sitting in the lobby of a Canary Wharf hotel, dressed in a black Soundgarden T-shirt and dark jeans. Speaking with characteristic confidence, he moved effortlessly between subjects such as Sir Alex Ferguson’s memoir, classic Yugoslav films and Nikola Tesla’s decision […]
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From Anthony Gordon’s perspective, little has changed about who he is. He remains an ambitious and thoughtful player, constantly searching for ways to improve. Public opinion of him, particularly in the UK, is evolving, however, and his move to Barcelona has played a major part in that shift. The winger enjoyed an encouraging World Cup […]
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