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Kane hails World Cup ‘Wonderwall’ singalong as England highlight

KANSAS CITY, USA: Harry Kane says England's emotional "Wonderwall" singalong with fans after their opening World Cup win against Croatia was one of his top moments in the national shirt. Thomas Tuchel's side got off to a flying start in their first Group L game in Arlington, Texas, on Wednesday, with captain Kane scoring twice in an entertaining 4-2 win. England's victorious players celebrated in front of their supporters while 1995 Oasis hit "Wonderwall" blared out around the AT&T Stadium. "That was one of my favourite ever moments in an England shirt and especially at a major tournament," Kane said on England's Lions Den show. "I know it's just the first game, and we're not getting carried away, but just that emotional connection with the fans, we know how much it means to them. "I think they see how much it means to us. "We have that connection right now, but just that moment, singing 'Wonderwall' in the stadium, everyone knew the words, and that was a really special moment, I thought." Tuchel has spoken about building on the work of former boss Gareth Southgate to strengthen the connection between fans and his squad. England have come agonisingly close to breaking their 60-year major trophy drought at recent tournaments, twice reaching the European Championship finals. Kane is one of a handful of players who remain from the squad that reached the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia under Southgate. The skipper said he was enjoying the "freshness" of England's group. "There aren't many players from those early tournaments in this squad, so there's a freshness about it, where you can really see a hunger, a desire, and excitement from the players in the team, just to kind of be part of what could be obviously a

Kane double fires England World Cup bid as Ronaldo’s Portugal stumble

LOS ANGELES, United States: England launched their World Cup bid with a rollercoaster 4-2 win against Croatia on Wednesday as Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal stumbled to a draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo. In an enthralling Group L game at the Texas home of the Dallas Cowboys NFL team, Harry Kane scored twice before goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford made the game safe as England began their bid to end a 60-year wait for a major trophy. Kane got the ball rolling by slotting home a penalty at the second attempt after the referee ordered him to re-take it when Croatian ‘keeper Dominik Livakovic was adjudged to have been off his line. Croatia fought back and Martin Baturina brought them level after 36 minutes before unmarked Kane equalled Gary Lineker’s England record of 10 World Cup goals with a thumping header. But the English defensive frailties were on show when Petar Musa equalized for Croatia in first-half stoppage time. Only in the second half did England impose their will. Bellingham scored a classy goal after outrunning his defender before substitute Rashford took his time before slotting the ball into the net on 85 minutes. Kane revealed that England’s German coach Thomas Tuchel had told his players at half-time to throw caution to the wind. “The manager gave us a speech at half-time just to say, look, if we lose, we lose.

Kane scores twice as England beat Croatia to launch World Cup charge

ARLINGTON, United States: Harry Kane scored twice in the first half as England eventually saw off Croatia 4-2 to launch their World Cup title assault in Texas on Wednesday. Jude Bellingham, immediately after half-time, and substitute Marcus Rashford with five minutes to go ensured a winning start for Thomas Tuchel’s side after Croatia had fought back to level at 2-2. The prolific Kane twice put England ahead in the first half — one a retaken penalty — only for Martin Baturina and Petar Musa to hit back for 2018 runners-up Croatia. With both sides shaky at the back, the second half threatened another goal glut, Bellingham needing just two minutes to put England ahead again in front of a crowd of 70,000. England had numerous chances to extend their lead immediately after, but did not take them until Rashford popped up. The meeting was a repeat of the 2018 semifinal, which Croatia won 2-1 after extra-time, although England have since had the edge against one of the older squads at the tournament in North America. Thomas Tuchel’s side, bidding to deliver England a first major trophy since 1966, made a nervy start in front of a packed house at the impressive air-conditioned home of the Dallas Cowboys. Then the drama came. Croatia’s talismanic captain Luka Modric dangled out a leg and caught Noni Madueke in the box. Kane saw his unconvincing penalty saved by Dominik Livakovic, only for French referee Clement Turpin to order a retake after video replays deemed the stopper had come off his line. Turpin once sent off Tuchel in the Champions League and the referee taking charge of the game had been highlighted by English media this week.

England enter World Cup fray as Ronaldo makes history

LOS ANGELES: England begin their bid to end a 60-year wait for a trophy when they take on Croatia in their World Cup opener on Wednesday while Cristiano Ronaldo is set to play in a record-equalling sixth tournament. Portuguese great Ronaldo, 41, has a tough act to follow after his old nemesis Lionel Messi scored a spectacular hat-trick for Argentina on Tuesday to equal the all-time World Cup goalscoring record, making a mockery of his 38 years. Between them, Ronaldo and Messi have won the Ballon d'Or award for the world's best player 13 times. Ronaldo is expected to start against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston, captaining a richly talented Portugal squad that are trying to win football's biggest prize for the first time. One of that squad is pivotal midfielder Bernardo Silva, who signed for Real Madrid on a two-year deal on Wednesday, a month after his contract with Manchester City expired. England skipper Harry Kane, meanwhile, urged his England teammates to "go for it" and be "free in the mind" when they take on the beaten 2018 finalists Croatia in the vast AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kane's team are among the favourites for the World Cup after a string of near-misses at recent tournaments but history weighs heavy on a side who last won football's biggest prize on home soil in 1966. "For sure it's one of the best opportunities we will have as a team to win it," Kane said on Tuesday. "I think everyone is eager to just start well tomorrow and prove that we have the capabilities of going far in this tournament. "Ultimately, for me, the message is just to be free in the mind." In other games on Wednesday, Ghana face Panama in Toronto in England's Group L before first-time qualifiers Uzbekistan tackle

Chalobah replaces injured England defender Livramento at World Cup

KANSAS: England defender Tino Livramento has been ruled out of the World Cup after suffering a calf injury and replaced by Trevoh Chalobah on the eve of the team’s opening match against Croatia. The Newcastle right-back, 23, sustained the injury during a training session at the team’s Kansas City base on Sunday. Chelsea center-back Chalobah, 26, who has one cap, will not join up with the squad until after Wednesday’s match in Arlington, Texas. “Trevoh Chalobah has been called into England’s 26-player squad at FIFA World Cup 2026 after injury sadly forced the withdrawal of Tino Livramento,” an England team statement said. “Arrangements are now being made for the Chelsea defender to make the journey to the team’s base camp in Kansas City, while the rest of the squad will head to Dallas, Texas for the Three Lions’ opening group fixture against Croatia on Wednesday. “Newcastle United defender Livramento picked up a calf injury in training on Sunday afternoon. “A subsequent scan and medical assessment on Monday unfortunately confirmed he could play no further part in England’s tournament.” Livramento, who has six caps, missed the final weeks of the Premier League season with a thigh injury. England’s other two opponents in Group L are Ghana and Panama.

Two men charged over England World Cup ‘heist’

Kansas City: Two men were charged Saturday over the theft of $18,000-worth of kit and equipment from the England team at the World Cup, a US prosecutor said. Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal each face one count of receiving stolen property, according to a statement from the office of Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson. The offense under Missouri law carries a prison sentence of up to seven years. The equipment was stolen from vehicles as it was transferred from England’s training camp in Florida to their World Cup base in Kansas City. Johnson’s office said in a statement that the stolen property is estimated to be worth about $18,000. “Jackson County will not tolerate any criminal activity that targets World Cup visitors, including the international teams that have traveled here to compete,” Johnson said. “We thank the Kansas City Police Department and our on-call attorneys for their quick work investigating this incident and filing charges immediately.” Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas praised the police and the prosecutor’s office “in resolving an investigation across several states, helping crime victims recover goods stolen in transit.” Earlier, England reserve goalkeeper Dean Henderson said he had his boots back after it was reported that most of the items had been recovered. “I got them back, so it’s all good,” the Crystal Palace goalkeeper said after England’s first training session at Swope Soccer Village. “I think they got everything back, so it’s all good.” Defender Dan Burn was relaxed about the episode. “Obviously it was to do with the police,” he said. “So I don’t know how much people know about it.

Kane hails England preparation as squad arrives at base camp

KANSAS CITY, USA: Harry Kane said England had enjoyed “great preparation” ahead of their World Cup campaign as the squad touched down in Kansas City — their base camp for the tournament. Thomas Tuchel’s men arrived in the Midwest on Saturday following a camp in Florida, where they played two friendly matches, against New Zealand and Costa Rica, winning both. They are one of the favorites to win the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States after coming close to winning silverware at recent major tournaments. England captain Kane said preparation for their opening match against Croatia next Wednesday in Arlington, Texas, had been “top drawer.” “The way we worked, the way we trained, the preparation for games, the way we played and also just the togetherness, the way we reconnected,” he said. “The relaxation away from it as well, the recovery part of it.

Women’s cricket showpiece can co-exist with football World Cup, says ICC chief

LONDON: International Cricket Council chief executive Sanjog Gupta, insists the Women’s T20 World Cup can “co-exist” with the football World Cup. England opened the cricket showpiece on home soil with an 87-run rout of Sri Lanka on Friday in front of 14,865 fans at Edgbaston. England’s female football and rugby teams enjoyed public acclaim for their success at the European Championships and Rugby World Cup in recent years. But their cricketing counterparts are going for glory at a time when the sporting landscape is being dominated by the men’s football World Cup in North America. Gupta says ticket sales for the three-week event reaching around 220,000 before a ball had been bowled, by far a tournament record, suggests the women’s event can hold public interest. “We genuinely see this event as a seminal moment for the sport,” Gupta said. “I think the World Cups can co-exist.

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Kane hails World Cup ‘Wonderwall’ singalong as England highlight

Kane double fires England World Cup bid as Ronaldo’s Portugal stumble

Kane scores twice as England beat Croatia to launch World Cup charge

England enter World Cup fray as Ronaldo makes history

Chalobah replaces injured England defender Livramento at World Cup

Two men charged over England World Cup ‘heist’

Kane hails England preparation as squad arrives at base camp

Women’s cricket showpiece can co-exist with football World Cup, says ICC chief