60 h. ago West Ham are a shambles – and Nuno shows little sign of being able to fix it | Jacob Steinberg

One point in four games and strange selections mean the Hammers are staring at the Championship unless something changes soonNuno Espírito Santo has made a dreadful start at West Ham. He has taken one point from four games in charge and is already in danger of losing mutinous supporters after naming ludicrous starting XIs during his shambolic defeats by Brentford and Leeds.Do it once and it could have been passed off as an experiment. No such luck here, though. There was bewilderment when Nuno played a right-back on the left, a left-back on the right, the ponderous duo of Tomas Soucek and Andrew Irving in midfield and Lucas Paquetá as a false 9 against Brentford. Nobody was surprised when West Ham, who were fortunate it finished 2-0, produced one of the worst performances by a Premier League team. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago New Zealand v England: second men’s T20 international – live

Match at Hagley Oval begins at 7.15am BSTCurran rises to England challenge after exileShare your thoughts with Rob via email2nd over: England 24-1 (Salt 20, Bethell 0) Duffy dug that wicket ball in short, which meant it hit high on the bat as Buttler came charging at him. Nicely bowled if he meant it.This Hagley Oval pitch looks better for batting than on Saturday. Salt climbs into a wide ball from Jacob Duffy, blasting it square on the off side for four, then top-edges a pull over the keeper’s head for another boundary. Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago On the plane or the sofa? How England’s 2026 World Cup squad is shaping up | Jacob Steinberg

More than half the 26 places appear to be locked down but big names are at risk with qualification secured and the tournament loomingFresh from breaking Gordon Banks’s record for consecutive England clean sheets, Jordan Pickford remains the undisputed pick in goal. A miserly defensive record is a positive for Thomas Tuchel, even if the shutouts have come against poor sides. John Stones, such an elegant centre-back, is back in the team and will start at the World Cup if he stays fit. But who will partner him? Tuchel likes Ezri Konsa, whose versatility also makes him an option at right-back, and Marc Guéhi. Big Dan Burn also looks established despite making his international debut in March. It is more uncertain at left-back but Reece James will play at right-back as long as his body does not let him down. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Bellingham must accept Tuchel’s collective structure or risk England exile | Jacob Steinberg

Manager learned at PSG to ignore star power in pursuit of a winning formula that prioritises brotherhoodThomas Tuchel once stood on the touchline at Anfield, watching in disbelief as his self-indulgent Paris Saint-Germain players refused to put in the hard yards against Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool. “Guys, what is this?” he said, but there was never going to be a reaction from individuals with too much power and not enough respect for the basic concepts of teamwork.Intensity? Tracking back? Not for us, thanks. Too many wanted to do their own thing and it ground Tuchel down in the end. The German is a coach who wants structure, identity, sacrifice and energy. At PSG, though, he saw how individualism can bring a dressing room down. How could Tuchel make his mark when he had players who would moan if a teammate looked at them the wrong way? Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago ‘Don’t collect talent’ – Thomas Tuchel sends warning to Jude Bellingham & Co about World Cup spots after shock snubs

THOMAS TUCHEL claims England will be underdogs at the World Cup finals. And the Three Lions manager, preparing for the friendly with Wales at Wembley, insisted he will not be “collecting talent” when picking his teams with Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish all controversially missing out on this squad. Tuchel, who will be...

Events

3 w. ago Tuchel insists England should embrace underdog status at 2026 World Cup

Tuchel: ‘I don’t see why we should burden ourselves’Head coach ‘not just collecting most talented players’Thomas Tuchel has said England would be underdogs at the World Cup and would be stronger if they did not allow themselves to become burdened by expectation.Tuchel, who delivered another warning to Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden by reiterating that he is not looking to collect talents, was adamant that his side would not be one of the favourites next summer. The German stressed that England, who have been losing finalists in two successive European Championships, should not get carried away given they have not won the men’s World Cup since 1966. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Piers Morgan issues grovelling apology to Alastair Cook over decade

Morgan engaged in a number of social media rants about former England cricket captain Cook during the Kevin Pietersen exile saga of the mid-2010s

Society

3 w. ago Club World Cup has left an injury trail that is damaging football. But will anyone listen? | Jacob Steinberg

Response to strained schedule has been more football than ever, and a danger that the best will have nothing left to give at the World CupCole Palmer and Ousmane Dembélé looked great when they were photographed sitting on Top of the Rock on the eve of the Club World Cup final but it is not being wise after the event to suggest that both might have been better off spending their summer lying on sunbeds.Top players struggling with fitness issues was foreseeable before the first edition of Fifa’s expanded tournament took place. “The worst idea ever,” was Jürgen Klopp’s take, citing concerns over the long-term impact of squeezing even more football into an ever expanding calendar. “Last year it was the Copa [América] and the European Championship, this year it’s the Club World Cup, next year it’s the World Cup. That means no recovery for the players involved.” Continue reading...

Events