On John McGinn, a very Scottish star and a fitting player to score their first World Cup winner in 36 years: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

The World Cup might not be decided by who has the best player as much as by who has the least bad player on the pitch. On weak link theory and the World Cup: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Liverpool prepared to pay £86m for Yan Diomande as they look to complete a £120m double deal for wingers: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Anything Messi could do, Ronaldo couldn't do better. On his poor start to the World Cup and the familiar sense Ronaldo is holding Portugal back: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Lionel Messi now has a joint-record 16 World Cup goals. And when he turned 35, he only had six. On Messi and an international career that has peaked later on: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Kylian Mbappe can seem defined by World Cups more than club football, which makes him something of an anachronism. But with each goal, he is turning into Monsieur World Cup: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

On Luka Modric, England's old nemesis. And at 40, perhaps now a very old nemesis... www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Kylian Mbappe is past Pele and Just Fontaine for World Cup goals, past Olivier Giroud for France goals. Two high-class strikes came on a landmark occasion for him as Les Bleus showed their quality. On France 3-1 Senegal: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

No surprise that Trent Alexander-Arnold wasn't called up to replace Tino Livramento but it does mean he seems about England's seventh-best right-back. Despite being one of the world's best. That seems a mistake by Thomas Tuchel: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Gvardiol set to sign new deal with Manchester City: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

The biggest shock in a World Cup draw ever? Cape Verde held Spain in a game to show how much they need Yamal and Williams at their best. Spain have started tournaments poorly before. This need not be fatal, but did offer echoes of past problems: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Ruben Amorim would be very lucky to get the AC Milan job. But some of his failings with Manchester United may not bode well, unless he has changed. On Amorim and AC Milan: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Mohamed Salah and Kevin de Bruyne are set to face each other today, perhaps for the last night. On a duo who have been arguably the two best players in the Premier League in the last decade: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

On Virgil van Dijk. He didn't play in a World Cup until he was in his thirties. His second could be his last. But for club and country alike, he remains pivotal: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Scotland had waited 36 years for a World Cup win. But when it came, it was with the worry that it might not be enough and that goal difference could cost them again. On the two sides of a historic victory: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

For just the fifth time ever, and the first in 36 years, Scotland win a World Cup game. Not a great display but the Tartan Army made it a brilliant day. On Scotland 1-0 Haiti: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Carlo Ancelotti is the serial winner at club level. He has been a nearly man at World Cups. But he has a long affinity with Brazilians. On Ancelotti: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Scotland left the last two Euros knowing they could have done better. Now Andy Robertson says they must have no regrets when their World Cup ends: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Two-thirds of the goals in this World Cup have been scored by Wolves players.

On Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo. Is their greatest player now the greatest reason to think they won't win the World Cup? www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

On Canada, the forgotten hosts. But for a country who have never got a point in the World Cup, there is a chance to make history. And not by becoming the 51st state: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Thomas Tuchel's toughest decision seemed to be Gordon versus Rashford. With a goal and an assist against Costa Rica, it looks like Gordon is in pole position now. And Gordon has shown a fondness for penalty taking of late: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Everton ordered to pay Burnley £35m in compensation after the Clarets were relegated as Everton breached PSR. Everton surprised and angry and have already appealed. www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Didier Deschamps could go out as the greatest World Cup manager ever. Or he could be deemed the man holding France back. On Deschamps as he heads for his last World Cup - and perhaps a third final as a manager and a fourth in all: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Man Utd release Jadon Sancho as a £73m signing goes for nothing after just 83 games. Three signings who cost almost £150m are leaving as their contracts expire: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

On Edin Dzeko, back in the World Cup at 40. He admitted he didn't expect to still be playing at this age. Instead, a remarkable career has an unexpected late high after Bosnia qualified at Italy's expense. Dzeko's thoughts: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

On Scotland, finally back in the World Cup after 28 years away. Steve Clarke has excelled in qualifying for tournaments. Scotland have never qualified for the knockout stages of one, though. www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Germany were the ever-presents at the business end of World Cups until they had two group-stage exits. So what does 2026 bring? www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

One last World Cup? On the old guard, and the very old guard, who are in the US this summer in their mid-to-late thirties, or even their forties: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Liverpool appoint Andoni Iraola as head coach. Two-year deal, the only candidate they spoke to. Liverpool were attracted by his style of play, record of improving players and habit of overachieving relative to resources: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Pep Guardiola quit Manchester City 100 times, according to Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, who said he became Guardiola's psychiatrist: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Man City have first bid for Elliot Anderson rejected by Nottingham Forest: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Manchester City consider legal action as Real presidential candidate targets Haaland. City say he has no release clause: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Why Liverpool are going for Andoni Iraola. The job description felt written for him, Iraola improves players, overachieved as Liverpool underachieved last season and exploited some of their weaknesses - but Liverpool brings different demands: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Liverpool close in on Iraola as he verbally agrees to take the job: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Liverpool open talks with Andoni Iraola: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Liverpool look to open talks with Andoni Iraola this week. Sage and Hoeness also under consideration but Iraola is the frontrunner to replace Arne Slot: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Declan Rice pointed out that some teams wait years to win the Champions League. But some don't win it at all. Which camp will Arsenal fall into? www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Arsenal tried to defend their way to glory. They defended very well, but they attacked too little. They had one shot on target. On Arteta and his approach in the Champions League final: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Farewell to Arne Slot. On Slot's reign and Liverpool's change of heart to dismiss him. It wasn't all Slot's fault, but he leaves Liverpool with quite a few issues: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Andoni Iraola is a candidate for the Liverpool job after they sacked Arne Slot: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Ibrahima Konate's form this season has been mixed but his departure on a free transfer creates issues for Liverpool: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Ibrahima Konate set to leave Liverpool on a free transfer next month after contract talks break down: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

How Luis Enrique turned playing in Ligue Un into an advantage for PSG: they won the French title when the 11 players with most minutes didn't include Dembele, Doue, Joao Neves, Marquinhos, Hakimi or Mendes. www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Manchester United close in on a deal for Ederson as the Atalanta midfielder could become Carrick's first signing: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Tottenham avoided the drop but much needs to change. Some players have to go. They need certain types of signings. They need to start winning regularly again. On Roberto De Zerbi's task: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Crystal Palace had never won a major trophy in their history. Oliver Glasner may leave having won three and having taken a second club to European glory. On Glasner and Palace: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

On West Ham's relegation. Too often in recent years, they have bought the wrong players and appointed the wrong manager. On the host of bad decisions that took them into the Championship: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

On Liverpool's season. "Not what I would have loved us to achieve," said Arne Slot after they spent £450m to come fifth. On why and how it went wrong: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

A fond farewell for Mohamed Salah, who got a glorious assist and almost scored as Liverpool paid tribute to him and to Andy Robertson. Once again, Liverpool didn't win but they did qualify for the Champions League. On Salah's farewell & Liverpool 1-1 Brentford: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...