In my newsletter today - FA fully behind Tuchel, with review to come - Spain also baffled by approach, as they were concerned about English pace - some players puzzled - Spain think FA didn't take key football details when studying approach in 2013 www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

As Spain have re-affirmed an idea, a debate has also returned - whether they are "boring" Such responses are always simply subjective, but they are more complex Look what happens when a team like France steps out www.the-independent.com/sport/footba...

Exclusive: Argentina stunned by England's tactics, esp refusal to use more pace They'd prepared at HT for Saka/Madueke coming on On realising Tuchel wasn't doing this, they went even more attacking, Lauturo on for Tagliafico Huge topic in dressing room www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

What is so mad is that England’s withdrawals, subs, subsequent interventions and entire approach REMOVED any jeopardy for Argentina, allowing them to set up camp in Messi’s best areas, without ANY threat of being countered Maybe change when not working? www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Video De La Fuente and Scaloni are coaches the FA wouldn’t even look at with their huge contracts But that’s RIGHT as their value comes from knowing their own cultures/systems That’s what FA should look at Internationals are - mercifully - different youtu.be/irfT36tnkHw?...

It wasn’t hindsight As England were retreating, even before Tuchel’s subs, coaches in the Premier League and Champions League were absolutely stunned by what Tuchel was doing www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

England lose a place in the World Cup final because Tuchel loses his bottle Messi doing little and you give him the space where he's most dangerous As one of the most famous pieces of American cinema ends: "We blew it. Good night, man" www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

New Copa Independent with @lawrenceostlere.bsky.social and Kieran Jackson Surprise at perceptions of Spain, and the predictions Big Argentina-England build-up youtu.be/c6JrZ-iGdeY?...

England have used last few days for a siege mentality Argentina are always in a siege mentality This is likely to be chaos www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Spain in final means a new landmark either way If England qualify, it’s the first time the Euros and World Cup have had same final in succession, after Euro 2024 If Argentina qualify, it’s first time the reigning European and South American champions meet in World Cup final

It isn't that France haven't turned up. It's that Spain basically rendered them irrelevant. Best performance of the tournament so far, by a distance. Just imposed their game on them. Deschamps also got it wrong, too. They knew two on three in midfield was a risk.

A piece on the history of Argentina-England Very few big World Cup fixtures are as charged, amid a complicated dynamic between the two countries www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Video on the unique - and complex - history of England-Argentina And why very few World Cup epics supersede it Maybe just Brazil-Argentina? But that happens every year youtu.be/lnwx6ncDXT8?...

Went to Atlanta's National Center for Civic and Human Rights - where they house the Dr King papers, and now an exhibition on football and human rights - and people/clubs who have made a difference Bohs feature www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihcX...

As England finally face Messi for the first time, it isn't the Messi most know from legacy - but it is one that knows a map of the pitch and when to use his energy better than ever Inside the mind of a genius: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

"If I was told you are going to win against England and lose the final against France, I sign it" www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

A piece on the history of Argentina-England Very few big World Cup fixtures are as charged, amid a complicated dynamic between the two countries www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

When John Strong landed on the Falklands in 1690, and commented on the game in a bleak landscape, the idea of it being the emotional centre of a global media event must have been... impossible www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

In terms of quality, epic scale, contrasts, storylines... this is the best semi-final line-up since 1990. And, depending on the games, maybe ever. It's exactly what Fifa would love - but that brings its own twist www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

France-Spain has naturally been billed as best defence and best attack But that is really a product of the true difference - different ideas on how play, and even develop talent Spain have 6s, France don't, but have other positions www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

One thing on Bellingham-Tuchel is that it feels needless, especially before an emotionally intense game Bellingham basically questioned Tuchel's playing career, which can be a sore point I do think it's fine, creative tension etc, but if they go out... www.the-independent.com/sport/footba...

Alvarez finally came alive at this World Cup, and it happened as Arsenal’s competition for him may be easing Aletico really don’t want to sell to Barca/Madrid PSG have cooled, as they don’t want to sell Barcola to Arsenal www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Two different perspectives on the game, and two different perspectives on that Bellingham comments point to creative tension frank-talking Tuchel has himself encouraged in their relationship But is this really the moment? I think it’s fine - but why? www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

In terms of quality, the specific pairings, the contrasts, the storylines, the histories... ... think this might be the best semi-final pairing in years. Ever? This World Cup hasn't had many heavyweight games, maybe only one up to now. Now it has megafixtures.

Bellingham somehow goes to higher levels and, amid the humidity of Miami, drives a stumbling England to the rarefied air of a fifth ever semi-final They have so many problems, amid so much confusion... but Bellingham offers solutions, and clarity www.the-independent.com/sport/footba...

Sources saying there is currently no intention for any England-Norway match delay due to the heat www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

The humidity in Miami is absurd, with a heat advisory warning, and there is some potential this pitch temperature matches “the hottest World Cup game ever” - Ireland-Mexico, also in Florida Great as Miami is, could have picked 15 other venues? www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Video: England-Norway preview All added up, England should win - but quarter-finals like this don't always go according to the maths www.youtube.com/watch?v=g35w...

England’s scoring combination is something rare. Their best in tournaments: 2026 (5 games) - Kane 6, Bellingham 4 1966 (6) - Hurst 4, Charlton/Hunt 3 2004 (4) - Rooney 4, Lampard 3 1990 (7*) - Lineker 4, Platt 3 * third-place play-off www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Spain not brilliant there, and you could see the lack of form/fitness in attack (especially a surprisingly greedy and inefficient Yamal) but they got through it. Shades of the Paraguay game in 2010, which was much more on the edge for them.

Merino has better poaching instincts than a lot of modern strikers. Such a great end product player.

Heat and humidity are going to be a key factor in a game to be decided by firepower All added up, England should win - but World Cup quarter-finals don’t often work on such logic www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Haaland is a killer and the first big star England face But he also typifies the Norwegian national idea of idrettsglede - joy of sport He’s embraced the social meaning of this team, and is all the harder to stop A new Stoichkov Bulgaria? www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

In my newly award-winning newsletter - can Fifa ever change? - disappointment at England and other major counties in not publicly joining heave - feeling that FA aiming for 2038/2042 World Cup - some of US were "distracted" by Balogun case Sign up here www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Latest Copa Independent with @lawrenceostlere.bsky.social, Kieran Jackson and Rich Jolly Big England-Norway preview and… - France’s cruise control - how the QF is the usual separation point youtu.be/rrHRJfxm5Lk?...

I am doing a Q and A on Fifa and this World Cup today at 5pm UK Ask questions here: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

My newsletter, ‘Inside Football’, has won sports newsletter of the year A timely moment to sign up - here: www.the-independent.com/sport/footba... Thanks to subscribers!

As talk grows around refereeing decisions, the World Cup is actually "conditioned" in a wider way Rich European coaching dominating, six in QF again The irony is Fifa do good work in spreading revenue/standards - but that feeds into THE political issue www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

The World Cup has been box office, beyond cinema, with Argentina summing up the emotion But the Trump intervention is such an issue for Fifa as it has changed perceptions of even refereeing decisions www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Argentina seemed doomed, Messi again listless He instead changed pace, to transform another epic One of the great upsets instead becomes one of the great comebacks - even if Egypt will consider this one of the great injustices www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Messi is in tears here.

Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir is the son of the goalkeeper who played in 1990 - in the notorious "ashamed" Irish 0-0 draw. Ahmed Shobeir was booked for repeatedly time-wasting in that game, in a match seen as influential to the introduction of the back-pass rule.

Video: the Balogun case has done a few things - got people talking about Fifa issues again - since this affects the pitch, made average fan realise Fifa governance issues - as with ticket prices, ushered in a long-anticipated world of legal challenges youtu.be/heIiITdMBn8?...

England have had a few problems but, under Tuchel, they keep finding solutions They're not perfect but they are perseverant It would usually be said that'll count against elite sides but everyone - especially their side of the draw - has had same www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

At the altitude of the Azteca, England dig so deep They show immense resilience in an emotionally and physically testing circumstances, and also flaws... but does that actually matter amid the nature of this World Cup? www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

This is now Brazil's longest ever drought since they first won the World Cup in 1958, as it will stretch to 28 years. One semi-final in 24 years, too. A run of QF, QF, last 16 also their worst ever.

From speaking to a few legal people etc re Balogun, there's a consensus that: 10.5 is clear - cards are issued by the referee. They are not "disciplinary measures" so 12.7 should not apply The object of the FIFA disciplinary code it is to do with infringement of rules, not on-field offences...

Great piece from Kieran Jackson on the Balogun decision. You can think the original decision was wrong and still have concerns for what this says for process and precedent, not to mention confidence in refereeing decisions on the pitch www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

If all was normal, England should beat Mexico But almost nothing about this fixture is normal, right up to the energy around the city, the settings, the context, and a transformed Mexican team Tuchel is going to have to adapt his team www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

A love letter to the Azteca, a stadium that has seen more of the best football history than any other England have experienced problems but it's a privilege to play here For all the talk of altitude, this is an altar www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...