FOOTBALL VIEWS

GROUP A THURSDAY: MEXICO V SOUTH AFRICA This was the opening game of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with the most memorable moment from that game being Siphiwe Tshabalala's rocket for the opening goal of the tournament along with his celebration. Mexico are back hosting another World Cup four years after they last hosted one in 1986 where they reached the Quarter Finals, the exact same stage they reached the other time they hosted it in 1970. The Mexicans have a good reco

Preview to Group L ENGLAND MANAGER: Thomas Tuchel FIFA RANKING: 4 WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 16 BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: Winners - 1966 After going close in each of the last four tournaments, is this the tournament where England finally end their 60 years of hurt? They'll be right among the favourites to win this tournament after going close in recent tournaments and having a 100% record in qualifying where they also kept a clean sheet in every game. They have a proven winner in ch

Preview to Group K PORTUGAL MANAGER: Roberto Martinez FIFA RANKING: 5 WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 8 BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: 3rd Place - 1966 The World Cup is the trophy that Portugal are missing from their cabinet and the one they're desperate to win after winning the Euros in 2016 and two Nations Leagues in 2019 and 2025 respectively. This might be their best chance to win it with the quality of squad they've got which is arguably the best squad they've ever had. One reason why th

Preivew to Group J ARGENTINA MANAGER: Lionel Scaloni FIFA RANKING: 3 WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 18 BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: Winners x3 - 1978, 1986 and 2022 Argentina are in the middle of arguably the greatest period in their history after winning their last three tournaments in the 2021 and 2024 Copa America's and the 2022 World Cup. By winning those tournaments, you have to say that they're the dominant force in international football but they're probably not getting as much reco

FRANCE MANAGER: Didier Deschamps FIFA RANKING: 1 WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 16 BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: Winners x2 - 1998 and 2018 This will be France's final tournament with Didier Deschamps as their manager and the players will be determined for him to go out on a high. He's guided them to the final at the last two World Cup's, winning the first and losing the second, and he'll want to go one better than they did four years ago so he can end his successful reign on a high. The Fr