Category: Sports News

Liam Rosenior is back in management after taking up the role at Paris FC.

Rosenior was available after being sacked by Chelsea in April, just over three months after signing a six-and-a-half-year deal at Stamford Bridge.

The 41-year-old Londoner has experience of working in France with Strasbourg, who are part of the same BlueCo family of clubs as Chelsea.

He took over at the State de la Meinau in July 2024 and made a strong impression by guiding the Alsace club to seventh place in Ligue 1 and a place in the Conference League.

Rosenior joins Paris FC after their first season back in the top flight following a 46-year absence. They are owned by the Arnault Family with Red Bull also holding a minority stake.

Antoine Arnault told the club’s official website: “My family and I are very happy to welcome Liam to our club and to see him return to the French championship. I have always been impressed by his philosophy of play and by what he built with his teams, often composed of young players. 

“In close collaboration with our sporting director Marco Neppe he will be able to shape our men’s team which resumes training in a few days. Many players have expressed their enthusiasm and we share it because it perfectly illustrates the project we want to put in place to sustainably keep Paris FC in Ligue 1 and to progress every year.”

Rosenior can bring a squad together around a clear vision – Paris FC chief Neppe

Neppe added: “Liam Rosenior brings together all the qualities we were looking for. He is a modern, demanding coach recognised for his ability to improve both players and the team. Beyond his tactical skills, we were particularly impressed by his management qualities and his ability to bring together a squad around a clear vision. I am convinced that he has all the qualities to succeed at Paris FC and I wish him every success in this new chapter of his career.“

Rosenior, who has penned a two-year deal with the option for a third, succeeds Antoine Kombouare, who led Paris to an 11th-placed finish in Ligue 1 last season.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been accused of “waddling around the field like a grandad” during Portugal’s World Cup defeat to Spain last night.

The 41-year-old was a peripheral figure as Roberto Martinez’s men went down 1-0 thanks to Mikel Merino’s injury-time strike in Dallas.

Martinez has been accused of indulging Ronaldo with many pundits believing new AC Milan signing Goncalo Ramos should have been given more of an opportunity.

Ramos did not get off the bench against Spain with Ronaldo playing the whole game, a decision that led to some stinging criticism from BBC pundit Chris Sutton.

Sutton, who was a key member of the Blackburn Rovers side that won the Premier League in 1995, said on commentary for Radio 5 Live: “He’s waddling around the field like a grandad, that’s why Portugal are out. Cristiano Ronaldo does nothing; he did nothing. What is Roberto Martinez doing? How can you pander to a player so much? Portugal are out because of Roberto Martinez.”

Sutton says Martinez had to be stronger over Ronaldo

Ronaldo made his 233rd appearance for Portugal last night and admitted after the game he would now go away and consider his international future.

And Sutton indicated he feels it is now Ramos’ time.

He added: “How did Goncalo Ramos not get on the pitch? It’s an absolute embarrassment from the manager, just pandering to his star player.

“He’s the most decorated player that Portugal have ever had but you’ve got to be stronger than that.”

Martinez, who yesterday confirmed he would leave his post after his side’s elimination, had nothing but praise for Ronaldo.

“He’s been an exemplary captain,” he said.

“I arrived with Portugal at a time with a lot of confusion and doubts about Cristiano, and he’s been a role model, not just with goals and assists, what he does in the box, his commitment, how he experiences football. He’s an example, we have to celebrate him.

“We’re talking about an icon in football. There aren’t many Cristiano Ronaldos. We have to be thankful for what he did at this World Cup, he wanted to win it, as a player, a captain, on a human level, we’ll all take it with us forever. An example as the human being who is behind the sportsman.”

47 – 🇵🇹 Gonçalo Ramos has the sixth-best minutes per goal ratio in FIFA World Cup history (150+ minutes played), scoring four goals in just 187 minutes – one every 47 minutes.

Unused. pic.twitter.com/cBqbShw66z

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 7, 2026

Martinez defends decision to keep Ronaldo on

Martinez also defended his decision to stick with Ronaldo and keep Ramos on the bench.

“When you’re a team and you need a goal you can’t take Cristiano Ronaldo off,” Martinez added. “He can play 90 minutes, no problem. He’s a presence, he opens space, a dead-ball situation, anything in the box, it would make no sense.

“In extra time it probably would have made sense to use Goncalo Ramos. We had to keep the structure, it wasn’t the case to take your top scorer off in the 90 minutes.”

Henry Winter’s World Cup Diary, Day 24

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Kansas City
The guy in the Weston McKennie shirt let out a loud boo, there were a few yelps of frustration around the tables, and the man in the USA 94 “I was there” shirt finished his beer and got up to go. As the final whistle sounded on USMNT’s World Cup dream with an emphatic defeat to Belgium in Seattle, the locals in the Kansas City bar got on with their lives. Defeat didn’t seem to hurt too badly.

Flying back from a rainy Mexico City to a hot, humid KC via change and brief acclimatisation in Dallas it felt like going into a different football world. Mexico is obsessed with football. Their loss to England was felt deeply by the Mexican people, right down into their soul, into the very marrow of their bones. A quick glance through just a few rows in one stand near where England celebrated brought images of a woman on her haunches in tears, another bereft fan being consoled and one fan just sitting there as if transfixed by the trauma of another failed World Cup campaign.

These people love football and this latest loss was devastating. Their wonderful sportsmanship in defeat, partying with the England fans as seen widely on social media, did not mask their heartache. Mexicans care desperately about El Tri.

The following night, back in my KC bar, the place emptied quickly at the confirmation of the US defeat. It was either it didn’t matter to them as much as the Mexicans or they simply didn’t want to be associated with the embarrassment. There was no inquest, just disappearing into the night. Maybe all the demeaning chaos of the Folarin Balogun reprieve fiasco tempered their enjoyment. This was just one snapshot of the response to defeat. It may have stung more elsewhere. But the US is still not yet an elite soccer country.

On the field, USMNT certainly looked like they are still learning the game. Shapeless in Seattle. Their defending was wretched and naïve against Belgium, a good team but hardly great. Mistake after mistake, poor concentration, slow reactions, terrible decision-making, keeper gong walkabout. “We need to learn,” Mauricio Pochettino said. His team briefly looked a real team earlier in the tournament, kicking off with wins over Paraguay and Australia. But against more significant opposition, the US couldn’t handle the Belgian press or the pressure. They are still a developing nation. MLS is still growing, the national team needs better talent ID, and during an evening out with a couple of people who work in the sport in the United States, they readily agreed that something has to be done about making coaching more accessible to more people, and less affluent communities. One of those in our group reflected that he pays $5,000 a year for his daughter’s coaching and club affiliation. Until this is subsidised, and the talent stream is broadened and deepened, the US will remain amongst the also-rans.

⚽ ⚽

Mexico City
It’s amazing the people you meet on the England beat. Waiting at the gate for the flight to Dallas and on to Kansas City, I met Chris Riggott, the former Derby County and Middlesbrough centre-back (where he partnered Gareth Southgate). He played 10 seasons in the Premier League and, even at 45, looks fit enough still to be involved. He settled in Nevada in 2013 and is now director of MLS NEXT at Albion SC Las Vegas, working on developing the next generation of American talent. Also at the cluster of gates was Gareth Ainsworth, the Gillingham coach back in pre-season training. He got a ticket behind the goal where England players celebrated and was still buzzing over the Azteca experience. I also encountered a typically lively David Bentley, scorer of the first goal at the new Wembley.

We chatted and afterwards a colleague kindly reminded me of a piece I wrote saying Sven-Goran Eriksson should build around David Bentley not David Beckham. Fortunately, Sven didn’t listen. Unfortunately, the internet never forgets.

⚽ ⚽

Talking of Sven, I was leaving the media shuttle bus back from Azteca and passed a celebrated Swedish reporter in the aisle. She was tapping out her despatch from Mexico City so I didn’t want to disturb her train – or carriage – of thought on England’s progress under Thomas Tuchel. “It all started with Sven,” I said as I passed. Eriksson’s legacy with England – three quarter-finals – has always been disputed. But one thing he always campaigned over, and took the clubs on over, was the need for a winter break. It is surely no coincidence that England’s best two players out here, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, both compete in leagues with a greater understanding of player welfare and workload and have a winter break.

Catch up on the rest of Henry Winter’s World Cup Diary here

Mikel Merino scored a 91st-minute winner as Spain beat neighbours Portugal 1-0 to end Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career and progress to the quarter-finals.

Portugal’s record goalscorer Ronaldo confirmed on Sunday that the 2026 World Cup will be his last, and the 2010 world champions dashed his hopes of signing off by winning the trophy as they left it late to produce a telling moment of attacking quality in a game in which it was surprisingly lacking.

Spain had the better of the first half and saw several opportunities to break the deadlock go begging, but it looked as if extra time would be required to seal their place in the last eight as the second half proved a largely uninspiring event.

But two substitutes combined to settle the tie in Spain’s favour as Ferran Torres’ reverse pass sent Merino through on goal, with the Arsenal man making no mistake with a cool finish to seal a first knockout win for Spain since their triumph in the 2010 final.

The reigning European champions will face either the United States or Belgium in the quarter-finals, with Ronaldo exiting the stage in meek fashion after a defeat that is also expected to spell the end of Roberto Martinez’s time as Portugal coach.

Spain leave it late to end Ronaldo’s World Cup career

Mikel Oyarzabal has four goals to his name in this tournament, and he wasted a gilt-edged chance for a fifth that would have given Spain a 10th-minute lead when he dragged wide after being played through on goal by Dani Olmo.

Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa performed heroics eight minutes later to keep out successive curling efforts from Lamine Yamal and Alex Baena, and Spain’s early onslaught faded thereafter.

There was frustration for Ronaldo late in the first half as he failed to get enough power on his shot after stretching to meet Joao Felix’s nod back across goal from a deep cross. Unai Simon was able to recover his position and make a comfortable save, but the Spain goalkeeper was helpless minutes later as Nuno Mendes cracked the crossbar with a deflected effort. 

Left-back Mendes, tasked with shackling Yamal, was forced off x minutes into the second half, though the Barcelona forward found little joy against his replacement Nelson Semedo as extra time appeared increasingly inevitable.

But Merino ensured there would be no need for an extra half hour as he kept his composure to make the most of Torres’ brilliant pass. 

That goal belatedly sparked Portugal into life, and Bernardo Silva should have levelled when he beat former Manchester City team-mate Rodri to a ball into the box, only to head over the bar from close range.

Portugal were handed one more opportunity to level with a free-kick in the eighth minute of stoppage time as the game stretched beyond the allocated six, but that delivery flashed by Ronaldo, whose chances of winning the one prize that has escaped him in his glittering career went with it.

The USA face Belgium in controversial circumstances in the World Cup last-16 tonight.

Both sides are looking to secure a spot in the quarter-finals, and the host nation looked set to do so without star striker Folarin Balogun until yesterday.

But incredibly, FIFA suspended the one-match suspension Balogun was set to serve in the latest knockout round.

Now, the USA will have a full-strength side, and can go toe-to-toe with the Red Devils.

Catch up with all the team news right here on 101GreatGoals.

USA team news

With Balogun free to play despite being sent off against Bosnia, Mauricio Pochettino names an unchanged XI from the one that started the 2-0 win in the round of 32.

USA starting XI: Freese; Freeman, Richards, Ream, A. Robinson; Adams, Tillman; Dest, McKennie, Pulisic; Balogun.

USA substitutes: Turner, Brady, Trusty, M. Robinson, Arfsten, McKenzie, Scally, Reyna, Berhalter, Pepi, Aaronson, Wright, Weah, Zendejas.

Belgium team news

Rudi Garcia makes four changes to the XI that started Belgium’s thrilling 3-2 win over Senegal.

Nathan Ngoy comes in for Arthur Teate at the heart of the defence, while Nicolas Raskin and Amadou Onana are handed starts in midfield.

There is also a start for Dodi Lukebakio, selected on the right ahead of Jeremy Doku, who drops out of the side along with Kevin De Bruyne and Hans Vanaken.

Belgium starting XI: Courtois; Castagne, Mechele, Ngoy, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Raskin, Onana; Lukebakio, De Ketelaere, Trossard.

Belgium substitutes: Lammens, Penders, Debast, Theate, Meunier, De Winter, Seys, Witsel, De Bruyne, Moreira, Vanaken, Saelemaekers, Lukaku, Doku, Fernandez-Pardo.

Where to watch USA vs Belgium: TV channel, online live stream

The match takes place on Monday, July 6 at Lumen Field in Seattle. Kick-off is at 01:00 BST early on Tuesday.

In the UK, World Cup 2026 matches are being shown live across BBC and ITV platforms, with live streaming available via BBC iPlayer and ITVX. This match will be broadcast on BBC 1.

USA vs Belgium stats

• USA are aiming to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002
• Folarin Balogun has scored three goals at World Cup 2026
• Christian Pulisic has been directly involved in multiple goals during the tournament
• Belgium are unbeaten at World Cup 2026, recording two draws and two wins
• The Red Devils have scored in all four of their matches at the tournament
• Belgium have won six of their previous seven meetings with USA
• The Red Devils defeated USA 5-2 in a friendly in March 2026
• Belgium have reached at least the quarter-finals in two of the last three World Cups they have qualified for
• Kevin De Bruyne has now featured in four different World Cup tournaments for Belgium

Prediction for USA vs Belgium

This has the potential to be one of the most entertaining ties of the round.

Belgium possess outstanding experience and attacking quality, but their defensive vulnerabilities were exposed against Senegal, and they may struggle to cope with the intensity of a USA side playing in front of home support.

The Americans have looked well organised throughout the tournament and, with Balogun available again alongside Pulisic, they can edge a tight contest to reach the quarter-finals.

Prediction: USA 2-1 Belgium

The USA can move into the World Cup quarter-finals for just the second time when they face Belgium in Seattle tonight.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have impressed so far and go into the game as favourites despite Belgium having the greater tournament pedigree.

The Red Devils left it late to beat Senegal in the round of 32, coming from 2-0 down to win it in the final minute of extra-time thanks to Youri Tielemans’ dubious penalty.

The USA had a more straightforward route to this stage, beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 despite the 64th-minute dismissal of star striker Folarin Balogun.

Where to watch USA vs Belgium: TV channel, online live stream

The match takes place on Monday, July 6 at Lumen Field in Seattle. Kick-off is at 01:00 BST early on Tuesday.

In the UK, World Cup 2026 matches are being shown live across BBC and ITV platforms, with live streaming available via BBC iPlayer and ITVX. This match will be broadcast on BBC 1.

USA vs Belgium stats

• USA are aiming to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002
• Folarin Balogun has scored three goals at World Cup 2026
• Christian Pulisic has been directly involved in multiple goals during the tournament
• Belgium are unbeaten at World Cup 2026, recording two draws and two wins
• The Red Devils have scored in all four of their matches at the tournament
• Belgium have won six of their previous seven meetings with USA
• The Red Devils defeated USA 5-2 in a friendly in March 2026
• Belgium have reached at least the quarter-finals in two of the last three World Cups they have qualified for
• Kevin De Bruyne has now featured in four different World Cup tournaments for Belgium

United States crashed out of their home World Cup in the last 16 as Folarin Balogun proved a peripheral figure in a comfortable 4-1 Belgium win in Seattle.

Balogun, controversially sent off in the USA’s win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32, was cleared to play against Belgium, with FIFA suspending his automatic one-game ban by a year.

US president Donald Trump confirmed reports he had called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request for the incident to be reviewed. Infantino insisted the decision was made autonomously by the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

The decision has prompted a furious response from the wider football world and raised questions about political interference. The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” by the ruling, which it unsuccessfully appealed.

Despite coach Rudi Garcia leaving Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku on the bench, Belgium played like a team motivated by a sense of injustice, with USA talisman Balogun powerless as Rudi Garcia’s side dominated matters, taking the lead in the ninth minute with the first of two goals from Charles De Ketelaere.

Malik Tillman levelled with the USA’s first shot on goal in the 31st minute, only for De Ketelaare to head Belgium back into the lead two minutes later.

And there was no way back for Mauricio Pochettino’s men after a dreadful error from goalkeeper Matt Freese allowed Hans Vanaken to give Belgium a two-goal cushion, which was stretched to three late on when Romelu Lukaku pounced on another defensive mishap, ensuring his team progressed to a last-eight tie with Spain in emphatic fashion.

Having missed the chance to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2002, the focus for the USA — away from the drama surrounding Balogun — will switch to the future of Pochettino. Consistently linked with a return to the club football, there’s a distinct possibility a game to forget for the host nation may have been his last as their coach.

Belgium sail into Spain quarter-final

Timothy Castagne drew a fine save from Freese with a long-range curling effort in an early warning to the USA, one which they did not heed.

Belgium were soon rewarded for their early pressure as they made the most of the USA’s failure to clear their lines.

Nicolas Raskin played a low ball across the box to give De Ketelaere a tap-in from point-blank range.

Belgium suffered an injury setback as Amadou Onana, who was later seen on crutches, was forced off and replaced by Vanaken.

Vanaken was the unfortunate party as Tillman’s free-kick deflected off his head and beyond the helpless Thibaut Courtois to level matters against the run of play.

But parity was short-lived, De Ketelaere heading home his second from an excellent left-wing cross from Leandro Trossard to restore Belgium’s lead, which should have been doubled when Dodi Lukebakio headed wide with the goal at his mercy from Maxim De Cuyper’s free-kick delivery.

The USA improved after the half-time interval, but the home crowd was silenced three minutes before the hour mark as Freese was caught in possession outside of his area by De Ketelaere, with Vanaken pouncing as his long-range effort had the precision to find the empty net.

A late USA flurry saw Sebastian Berhalter go close before Balogun was denied at the near post by Courtois.

But in reality Belgium had little difficulty in seeing out a fully deserved victory, with gloss to the scoreline added as Lukaku powered into the bottom-right corner after Chris Richards had lost possession in his own area.

For the USA, it marked a desperately disappointing end to a tumultuous day. The fallout from the Balogun saga will rumble on, but a USA journey at this World Cup that at one stage promised even greater things will not.

Charles De Ketelaere scored a first-half double to give Belgium a 2-1 half-time lead as the United States struggled in their World Cup last-16 tie despite the controversial reprieve for Folarin Balogun.

Balogun, sent off in the USA’s win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32, was cleared to play in Seattle, with FIFA suspending his automatic one-game ban by a year.

US president Donald Trump on Monday confirmed reports he had called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request for the incident to be reviewed. Infantino insisted the decision was made autonomously by the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

The decision has prompted a furious response from the wider football world and raised questions about political interference. The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” by the ruling, which it unsuccessfully appealed.

Belgium began Monday’s game like a team motivated by the saga, with Timothy Castagne forcing Matt Freese into a fine early save with a curling long-range effort.

Rudi Garcia’s men continued to pile on the pressure and it told as they made the most of the USA’s failure to clear their lines.

Nicolas Raskin played a low ball across the box and De Ketelaere made no mistake in tapping home from point-blank range.

There was a setback for Belgium as Amadou Onana was forced off through injury and replaced by Hans Vanaken, who then played an unfortunate role in the USA drawing level in the 31st minute with their first shot of the match.

Malik Tillman’s free-kick deflected off the head of Vanaken, wrong-footing a helpless Thibaut Courtois, who was left with no chance.

But the USA were level for just two minutes, De Ketelaere heading home his second from an excellent left-wing cross from Leandro Trossard to restore Belgium’s lead, which should have been doubled when Dodi Lukebakio headed wide with the goal at his mercy from Maxim De Cuyper’s free-kick delivery.

Roberto Martinez has confirmed his resignation as Portugal coach following their last-16 exit at the World Cup.

Portugal produced an uninspiring performance as a 91st-minute Mikel Merino winner saw Spain beat their Iberian neighbours 1-0 and set up a quarter-final with the United States or Belgium.

Defeat for Portugal ended the World Cup career of Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old having been a largely peripheral figure in his final game on the biggest stage. Ronaldo announced on Sunday that his sixth World Cup would be his last.

And after failing to keep their hopes of a first world title alive, Portugal will now move forward without Martinez.

It had been expected Martinez would step down following the tournament in North America and speaking in his post-match press conference, Martinez said: “It’s the end of the cycle. It’s important to have a new voice, a new leader.

“I take with myself the memories, and hope that Portugal has good memories in the three and a half years I was head coach of the team. It was the experience of my life.

“It had not been decided previously [that I would leave after the tournament]. I came with the goal to win the World Cup, and because I did not win, it does not make sense to continue.”

Martinez took charge of Portugal in 2023 having failed to lead Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ to a major trophy in over six years with the Red Devils.

He did win silverware with Portugal, guiding them to glory in the UEFA Nations League last year as they beat Spain in the final.

Portugal’s defence of the Nations League starts in September, when they will begin a new era against Wales.

Kylian Mbappe has described a Paraguayan senator as “a despicable woman” in response to a social media post in which she made a series of racist comments about the France star.

Mbappe was the difference in France’s 1-0 win over Paraguay in the last 16 of the World Cup on Saturday. His second-half penalty sent France into the last eight in an ill-tempered clash in Philadelphia.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), senator Celeste Amarilla of Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party described Mbappe as a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to ⁠pass himself off as French” and as a “brute who had not learned to ​write”.

Mbappe hit back, writing on X: “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position.

“You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition.

“Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country.

“I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”

The French Football Federation (FFF) then announced its intention to file criminal charges against Amarilla.

“The racist remarks by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla targeting Kylian Mbappé are utterly abhorrent and unacceptable,” a FFF statement read.

“These remarks are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere. The FFF is reporting the matter to the ​public prosecutor’s office ‌with a ​view to legal ​proceedings.

“These remarks bring shame upon those who make them and those who disseminate them. The players of the French national team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted.”