World Cup 2026: England turn on the style; Fifa denies ticketless fans breached security – live
Key events 1h ago Preamble 4m ago 09.05 BST There was more than a touch of “jibbing in” for England’s opener, if eyewitness reports of
Key events 1h ago Preamble 4m ago 09.05 BST There was more than a touch of “jibbing in” for England’s opener, if eyewitness reports of lax security and ticket checks are to be believed. And why shouldn’t they be? Fifa has played down reports that ticketless England supporters were able to gain entry for the World Cup opener against Croatia after evading security checks at the Dallas Stadium. An unspecified number of fans without tickets are said to have made their way into the ground despite a huge security operation being put in place at the home of the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington. Officials said that snipers were in place inside the stadium, with the Arlington police department deploying “highly trained personnel and specialised resources” at the venue. But despite those measures and some fans having paid thousands of pounds for tickets, there were widespread reports of supporters without tickets gaining access. Fifa plays down reports that ticketless fans breached security at England World Cup game Read more Share Updated at 09.05 BST 16m ago 08.53 BST The England midfielder Jude Bellingham believes playing with a “chip on my shoulder” will bring the best out of him at the World Cup. Bellingham scored the vital third goal as Thomas Tuchel’s side opened their campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia in the Group L clash in Dallas. There were uncertainty surrounding Bellingham’s inclusion in Tuchel’s squad for the tournament in North America after missing the September and October camps through injury. That followed last summer’s international window which ended in Tuchel saying his mother found Bellingham’s behaviour “repulsive”, while his ability (or perceived lack thereof) to buy into Tuchel’s “brotherhood” has also come under scrutiny.
Bellingham was chosen ahead of his friend Morgan Rogers in the No 10 position, before switching to a deeper role, and made an early mark in the tournament. “For me personally, it was nice to put some of the noise aside and just show my country and my teammates how committed I am to help us try to win football matches,” he told BBC Sport. “It was a great team performance. Second half, we got things right, first half we got the intensity right, but not quite with the ball and second half we put it all together nicely. View image in fullscreen Bellingham scores England’s third goal against Croatia. Photograph: Simon M Bruty/Getty “To contribute, to help my team and help my country is one of the biggest honours and regardless of the noise outside, that honour doesn’t change for me at all. “It has been a tough season for me but I am feeling fresh and sharp and stronger. “I have got a little bit of a chip on my shoulder. That helps me a lot to find that focus early in the game and to find that intensity. “I know that it’s part of being a footballer and I don’t hold a grudge against anyone who says bad things about me because sometimes I do deserve it. “Today, it was nice to try to show people and remind people what I’m about.” PA Media Share Updated at 09.06 BST 19m ago 08.49 BST A fresh England line hot off the wires coming right up … Share Updated at 09.01 BST 31m ago 08.38 BST Jonathan Liew I fell asleep at some point during the Netherlands v Japan game.
It had been a hot and drowsy day by the shores of Lake Annecy, a square and heavy heat, where the sun and the driving and the food and the boxed wine gently squeeze all the life from your body, like air being pressed out of a juice carton. I remember Virgil van Dijk angling a header into the far corner, and when I came to it was 2-1, and everyone was heading to bed, drunk on tiredness, drunk on life, drunk on drink. Not all of my friends care for football in any case, and so the World Cup had become a kind of mood music, something to fill the silences in conversation. Through the long and meandering chat about home renovations and Andy Burnham, an indistinct French voice occasionally cut through from a different universe. Maeda. Gravenberch. The Low Countries tempted to attain the final for the first time since 2010. My French isn’t great. Someone prised open a bottle of Heineken. Bodies draped themselves over the couch, fingers scrolled through phones, the immaculate decadence of boredom. The World Cup viewed from afar is more like ambient noise – a far cry from working at it | Jonathan Liew Read more Share Updated at 08.42 BST 42m ago 08.27 BST Jacob Steinberg When Thomas Tuchel won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021 the success was built on unflinching defensive rigour and midfield discipline. Five years on, though, Tuchel’s England displayed neither of those qualities during a dreadful first half in Dallas. They kept losing the ball in dangerous areas, struggled to maintain their shape without the ball and were rocking when Croatia stung them with a second equaliser just before half-time.
The vibe could hardly have been less convincing. Anthony Barry, Tuchel’s No 2, let rip in an interview with ITV, accusing England of doing all the wrong things, of playing with “a nervous energy”, of making everything “confused and complicated” against opponents well versed in making their craft and experience in midfield count. Of course, England got away with it in the end, the response in the second half astonishing, Barry’s words no doubt delivered in even stronger terms by Tuchel in the dressing room. Yet while they won their opening game in Group L thanks to a moment of breathtaking power from Jude Bellingham and a late breakaway goal from Marcus Rashford, the overall display was far from good enough. England’s second-half forward surge against Croatia fails to mask defensive frailties | Jacob Steinberg Read more Share 43m ago 08.26 BST If you think everything in England’s garden is rosy after banging in four goals against Croatia, Jacob Steinberg has some news for you … Share 50m ago 08.18 BST “Let’s have it off,” one excited England fan told Sky Sports News outside the stadium after England’s victory. Doesn’t he mean “Let’s have it”? Share Updated at 08.18 BST 53m ago 08.16 BST I wish I could say I will be speaking from a position of authority on England’s win against Croatia, but I was on a plane, coming home from Spain. Therefore, your emails, in which you tell me what happened, and offer your first-class analysis, are going to be particularly important this morning. Get involved. Share
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