
It's crunch time for England, where they finally have to really perform and produce the goods against Congo — or they won't be heading to the Azteca and an even more daunting task of challenging an exultant Mexico side on their home turf.
And later on, the other two Everton players left in the competition should be in action for Senegal when they face what could be quite a game against Belgium.
Wednesday 1 July 2026
17:00 England v Congo — BBC 1
21:00 Belgium v Senegal — ITV 1
01:00 USA v Bosnia-Herzegovina — BBC 1
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Reader Comments (215)
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2 Posted 01/07/2026 at 16:07:42
3 Posted 01/07/2026 at 16:26:10
The same Deeney who was a goal machine. Oh, wait.
Take no notice of him.
Hes an ex criminal spouting shite and jealousy.
4 Posted 01/07/2026 at 16:40:48
5 Posted 01/07/2026 at 16:42:14
6 Posted 01/07/2026 at 16:44:11
7 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:03:38
8 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:05:22
Sorry to hear that.
When did you get out?
9 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:06:59
10 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:09:26
UTFDRC
11 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:09:26
12 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:09:53
13 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:14:50
14 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:15:18
15 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:18:09
16 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:22:20
17 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:22:59
18 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:23:13
19 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:25:02
Everton to be docked points ?
20 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:27:46
Pickford cant be beaten that easily near post.
21 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:33:18
22 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:34:37
23 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:35:37
But my god how poor are England, but Tuchel is a tournament coach apparently.
24 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:38:01
25 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:38:25
26 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:43:14
27 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:45:12
28 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:45:17
29 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:46:17
Who's Brian Phelps?
30 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:46:29
31 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:47:20
32 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:48:02
33 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:48:26
34 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:48:40
35 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:48:40
36 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:51:38
Great entertainment
37 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:52:01
38 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:52:23
39 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:53:13
40 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:53:16
Good test for the totally biased punditry — and Paul Griffiths!
41 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:53:26
42 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:54:24
43 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:55:00
44 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:55:16
Flat, lacking ideas, defensively absolute frightening. Neither full back can defend and central pairing look suspect.
Imagine meeting France, wed be embarrassed.
45 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:55:46
46 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:58:58
47 Posted 01/07/2026 at 17:59:24
48 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:01:28
Half of his picks are just box ticking exercises and the exclusion of quality players like Foden, Palmer surprised me, Maguire too for me is a loss in defence.
How Henderson and Madueke made the squad who knows and Bellingham still doesn't show me why he gets the hype he does.
49 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:01:45
50 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:01:52
51 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:02:40
52 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:02:48
53 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:03:13
54 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:05:32
Why would our editor compare 'arry with a quarter back? Perhaps he means that 'arry got sacked.
55 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:05:40
Look it up.
His entry in Wikipedia is:
Brian Phelps (diver)
56 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:07:21
57 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:08:37
58 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:11:28
59 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:12:52
And a lousy shot from Rashford
60 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:14:03
61 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:14:10
Dont let your Everton bias get in the way in of what was a poor bit of goalkeeping,
I'm Pickfords biggest fan but that was poor from him.
Having said that fuck knows where Frank Spencer was.
To be honest unless England get a pen and they've tried that already, I cant see them scoring.
62 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:15:21
Interesting isn't it how darlings of the media here don't get the calls, that are so often, nailed on in EPL and the CL. Kane looked for the contact and dived, like a swan showing off. No nice refs or VAR officials in the WC ready to say oh that's Harry Kane it's a pen. Presently it's making EFCs back 4 look almost competent.
England Right Winger Mandueke. France winger Dembelle.
Bissaka looking ok tonight.
63 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:16:26
No disrespect meant to Congo but seriously, they aren't exactly a world heavyweight
64 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:17:48
Not sure kane needed to exaggerate it that much, as hed gave got the pen without the theatrics
65 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:18:11
66 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:19:29
67 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:19:43
68 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:19:46
69 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:20:02
Read my post @55.
70 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:21:58
Spence is having a 'mare at the back.
71 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:23:52
Tuchel subs, Same for the same. He must have read the Moyesiahs Tactic Memo.
Declan Rice just gave up then. Embarrasing.
72 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:26:57
MK, I will refrain from a riposte.
73 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:28:28
74 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:28:39
75 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:29:55
76 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:30:55
It's a pretty young team Andrew, unless you mean the goalie!
Watkins has to come on.
77 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:33:01
78 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:33:22
Good thing he didn't pick Garner
79 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:36:01
80 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:36:13
81 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:36:52
82 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:37:36
83 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:39:54
84 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:47:23
85 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:49:09
86 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:49:13
87 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:50:50
88 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:52:19
89 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:54:10
90 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:55:16
91 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:56:21
92 Posted 01/07/2026 at 18:59:00
93 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:00:33
94 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:01:36
That 2nd from Kane is ridiculous!!
95 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:02:24
96 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:03:05
97 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:03:50
98 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:04:28
99 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:05:28
100 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:05:44
101 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:07:48
102 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:09:40
103 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:13:29
I saw the value of Anderson in that game, never stopped working in that midfield and looked like he could run for another ninety minutes, still not worth that huge fee but nevertheless he will be a good addition to that City squad.
104 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:16:54
105 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:20:30
106 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:24:31
He was forced through desperation to bring on the subs. having selected the wrong starting eleven which underperformed for the most part against one of the minnow teams
Kane is a class act and was there long before Tuchel came along so we know he is first on the team sheet.
They will need to show a big improvement on Monday in Mexico.
Hard to see France not winning it all.
107 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:28:39
108 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:30:32
The best thing about that game today was that it suddenly looks like football is finally becoming a mans game, once again🤞
109 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:31:48
England's defence is all over the place, fitth right back in Rice used in 4 games, Guehi and Konsa like scared kittens in the middle, baba OReilly as good as he is going forward, is naive in defence, especially when he is roaming forward!
Hate to say it but slabhead Maguire would have been a better option in central defence, TTA at RB and a more experienced left back should have gone too, Tuchel has fooked up his squad options, he will hardly use Henderson(Palmer FFS)Foden would have been a decent option from the bench, but defensively they look really poor, Mexico at home will be the end of the road Im afraid.
110 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:34:28
111 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:43:24
Congrats to England getting past the mighty democratic republic of Congo and making it as far as Canada in the tournament. And Happy Canada Day to all, any guitarists or music fans out there give a listen to our REAL national anthem and Red Shea ripping it up 🇨🇦
https://youtu.be/YoaEbp3o6LU?si=gjPN2MPJb7oi1pZU
112 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:46:49
Who saw that coming ?
113 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:54:21
People give the big Greek, a lot of stick. He goes through managers like he goes through gyros, but Id love to have a chairman, who wants to succeed like the Forest chairman does.
Whats fuck stability in Greek?
114 Posted 01/07/2026 at 19:58:16
Meanwhile back at the Texan ranch ....
115 Posted 01/07/2026 at 20:00:17
116 Posted 01/07/2026 at 20:04:20
117 Posted 01/07/2026 at 20:13:10
118 Posted 01/07/2026 at 20:13:15
119 Posted 01/07/2026 at 20:20:41
Cant he just accept it's only the big clubs that get success.
Instead of spending fortunes trying to break that "rule"
120 Posted 01/07/2026 at 20:21:59
Meanwhile Spurs sign Tonali today and three other lads yesterday, including Fernandes (another one was a contract extension to be fair).
And us: George possibly and (WIKI) 'Hayden Rhys Hackney (born 26 June 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Everton'.
I don't give a shit where Spuds ended up last season. It's now that matters. And the gulf between us and them in these transfer stakes is huge.
Do something to really impress us and make us dead happy Saints Daniel the Absent and Angus the Silent and that expensively assembled ace recruitment team.
121 Posted 01/07/2026 at 20:22:20
You can Ian.
Watch Everton, you will see it most weeks.
122 Posted 01/07/2026 at 20:33:05
123 Posted 01/07/2026 at 20:35:17
Touchel knows what he's doing and any team or country in the world would like a Harry Kane - he is some goal scorer.
In my opinion England will play better when playing teams that don't defend so much.
They are still in there, Mexico will be a super tough match in a stadium packed with their fanatical fans, and remember they have only lost twice in 89 odd games there - IF they can beat them it just gets tougher !
There is no doubt that a lot of this England team really need to up their game to have any chance of winning the trophy.
Fodin, Trent and Palmer would have made zero difference today.
124 Posted 01/07/2026 at 20:45:00
I think we will be well 2nd favs in Mexico at altitude and very hot, Mexico are also a top team.
Just looked at the betting :- to win the tie 4/7 England and 5/4 Mexico. I can't believe those odds, there's no way we are a 4/7 shot. The bookies know most English punters want to back England, hence the terrible price.
I wont be betting on the game, but at them odds I would have to back Mexico.
125 Posted 01/07/2026 at 20:52:51
His name is Arnold
126 Posted 01/07/2026 at 20:59:37
127 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:08:55
'Get down to Brewdog. ..... We're St. Helens from the Brewdog ....... We're the Brewdog boys we are .... '
Awful name.
128 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:08:56
129 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:16:00
130 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:24:38
131 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:26:35
132 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:29:46
133 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:31:15
134 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:35:10
Gotta think we're in 4 quarter territory no matter what the climate now
135 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:36:17
136 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:37:13
137 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:38:20
My life in the shrub of boasts. Fucker sure knows a thing or two about making money
138 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:44:03
Good Byrne/Eno work there Neil. How I remember buying Remain in Light and putting it on to play!!!! 'Take a look at these hands ....... '
139 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:48:07
Im not sure if this equivalent of four quarters will become part of the sport, moving forward, especially in winter time, but with there being very stringent new rules coming out for time wasting, then it might actually make sense?
140 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:53:39
141 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:57:11
142 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:59:05
143 Posted 01/07/2026 at 21:59:33
144 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:00:57
145 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:02:45
146 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:05:40
Get the money up front Paul will fall for that
147 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:05:41
Here's Rom!
148 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:07:21
If it gets me the ticket it will be worth it Brendan.
149 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:08:27
150 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:11:32
151 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:13:33
152 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:15:09
153 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:18:47
154 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:32:54
155 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:40:45
156 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:49:35
157 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:50:11
158 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:50:27
159 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:51:42
160 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:57:18
"fuck stability" in Greek, you can say "γαμώ τη σταθερότητα" (pronounced: gah-MOH tee stah-theh-ROH-tee-tah).Here is the breakdown of the phrase:Γαμώ (Gamo): The incredibly versatile, all-purpose Greek verb for "fuck".Τη (ti): The feminine definite article ("the").Σταθερότητα (Statherotita): The Greek word for "stability"
161 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:59:22
162 Posted 01/07/2026 at 22:59:23
163 Posted 01/07/2026 at 23:21:44
164 Posted 01/07/2026 at 23:26:34
165 Posted 01/07/2026 at 23:27:10
166 Posted 01/07/2026 at 23:29:40
167 Posted 01/07/2026 at 23:38:12
https://www.tiktok.com/@bramleymooreblue/video/7657587132411743510
168 Posted 01/07/2026 at 23:38:14
169 Posted 01/07/2026 at 23:39:14
170 Posted 01/07/2026 at 23:40:17
171 Posted 01/07/2026 at 23:41:33
172 Posted 01/07/2026 at 23:44:14
Trouble at final whistle me thinks.
173 Posted 01/07/2026 at 23:48:19
Two great games. today
174 Posted 01/07/2026 at 23:49:01
175 Posted 01/07/2026 at 23:52:28
176 Posted 01/07/2026 at 23:54:48
177 Posted 01/07/2026 at 23:58:34
The 2026 version of Rom may be heavier and a bit slower than the one we enjoyed …. But hes still better than Beto/Barry.
178 Posted 01/07/2026 at 00:05:53
179 Posted 01/07/2026 at 00:06:29
On the Pickford ‘clanger, he will be disappointed but its definitely only a marginal mistake not an absolute fuck-up. If the attacker is under proper pressure from defender so his only option is to try to beat the keeper at the near post then keeper has odds stacked in his favour, but when attacker basically has all options open to him the keeper is trying to keep all his options open as well. Slightly too much weight shifted to left foot and hes a millisecond away from getting a proper hand on a very well struck and directed shot.
People forget that Pickfords main strength and the reason he gets the nod for England is the fact that hes much better than his rivals when passing the ball.
180 Posted 01/07/2026 at 00:08:11
181 Posted 01/07/2026 at 00:20:33
Not sure I would call it but there was enough there for the ref's interpretation imo.
182 Posted 01/07/2026 at 00:26:07
Clearly and obviously a very suspicious call.
183 Posted 01/07/2026 at 00:26:10
Senegal would have won on points and who knows how the penalties would have gone.
If the Yanks sneak past Bosnia-H they will play their first decent team this tourney in Belgium.
Got ya bandana on Dale?
184 Posted 01/07/2026 at 00:29:21
185 Posted 01/07/2026 at 00:30:16
186 Posted 01/07/2026 at 00:30:39
187 Posted 01/07/2026 at 00:31:36
188 Posted 01/07/2026 at 00:33:23
189 Posted 01/07/2026 at 00:34:28
190 Posted 01/07/2026 at 00:40:39
Sorry, but George if it happens and Hackney (an Everton player on WIKI) are 'nice' buys but they don't fill me with happy antiicipation for the new season.
Dear God, watching those two climb up the Empire State Building is hair-raising and gives me the willies. They got engaged when they reached the top apparently.
191 Posted 01/07/2026 at 00:57:13
While they have obviously improved, I still do not have a healthy love for my nation's football adventures. The 2002 team almost converted me but I didn't get there.
I would feel a bit guilty about it but no relegation in the MLS and that league being a cushy European senior player retirement destination gives me an out.
I discovered football with this club in '95 when I had to pay $20 for Setanta feeds at random English/irish bars around San Francisco. I owe the national gringos nothing.
192 Posted 01/07/2026 at 00:58:37
193 Posted 01/07/2026 at 01:02:16
Ta for the account of your personal journey and thoughts!
You sound like me when it comes to England. Take it or leave it. Win, OK interesting ...... Lose, what's the next game on the box?
194 Posted 02/07/2026 at 01:16:16
195 Posted 02/07/2026 at 01:29:47
196 Posted 02/07/2026 at 01:33:01
Left foot, with pace. No brainer
197 Posted 02/07/2026 at 01:44:56
198 Posted 02/07/2026 at 02:09:35
199 Posted 02/07/2026 at 02:17:56
200 Posted 02/07/2026 at 02:29:15
201 Posted 02/07/2026 at 02:48:22
202 Posted 02/07/2026 at 05:21:10
203 Posted 02/07/2026 at 09:08:59
Still very early days, but I still havent seen anything to suggest the Yanks cant win the tournament outright
204 Posted 02/07/2026 at 09:09:51
Digne was sold in December 21 - a full 2½ years later and you expect us to have kept Robinson until then?
205 Posted 02/07/2026 at 09:27:50
Now he has matured he is very good going forward but not so good defending, hes better than what weve got obviously but it doesnt bother me that hes no longer with us although we might have got a lot more money for him if he stayed but that was long ago and a certain fan reckons that Mykolenko is the best defensive left back in the premier league, or he did not so long ago.
206 Posted 02/07/2026 at 10:15:15
Coach skill - coach movement - because the one thing that American sportspeople have always seemed very adept at is athleticism, and these are, I believe, the three main ingredients needed to really succeed at the highest level.
207 Posted 02/07/2026 at 11:18:18
He was forced through desperation to bring on the subs. having selected the wrong starting eleven which underperformed for the most part against one of the minnow teams.
Kane is a class act and was there long before Tuchel came along so we know he is first on the team sheet.
They will need to show a big improvement on Monday in Mexico.
Hard to see France not winning it all.
208 Posted 02/07/2026 at 11:31:19
I find it quite ironic the most hated manager this club has ever had sold Digne to Villa because he criticized Benitez tactics, and he got dogs abuse from some fans on his return and we still haven't found anybody as good as him.
He is still playing well both for Villa who qualified for the Champions League and France who will probably win the World Cup. Just a pity more players didn't back him when he argued with Benitez and we still might have had one of the best left-backs in the Premier League.
209 Posted 02/07/2026 at 11:45:40
Benitez sold Digne because he was told to get rid of the high earners like Digne and James and he was given little to spend, Kenwright negotiated the buying of Patterson and God knows who wanted Mylolenko, maybe that deal was done by Usmanov.
Whether you liked Benitez or not, he was a proven very capable manager elsewhere but not here — like several other managers — but most probably given the least to spend.
210 Posted 02/07/2026 at 11:48:12
Too many passengers, they'll get knocked out Mexico unless they can turn around half the team performances. That's a fair ask after two unconvincing displays in the group.
211 Posted 02/07/2026 at 11:57:14
We need not retain the possession well enough, the offensive press didn't work as they outnumbered our attackers and the wingers were unwilling / unable to go on the outside. Elliot Anderson played like Darren Gibson for 70 minutes.
But in Kane, Bellingham and Rice they have 3 world class players -- the rest have to step up massively.
212 Posted 02/07/2026 at 12:38:37
I thought England played well after Congo scored but I think the conditions in Mexico will be a big handicap to us and for that reason I don't fancy us. If we could win we have a chance to reach the final, but you have to say France look very hard to beat.
I don't think it was a penalty given against Senegal, I'm not even sure it was in the box never mind a foul. I didn't get a good view of it but that was my first impression.
213 Posted 02/07/2026 at 13:04:35
Having said that, Senegal should be criticized heavily for poor game management and that is down to the coaching. With 4 minutes left, they were still wide open when all should have been behind the ball.
So many scorelines decided in the last 5 minutes of games should warn those still to play that you cannot relax until the final whistle is blown.
214 Posted 02/07/2026 at 15:33:59
It appears he or his agent got the word that some negotiation was going on with Barca about Digne; a left-back. Robinson suddenly left for Wigan. Digne's signing was announced a week or two later.
It's worked out for both of them, at their respective clubs. We have Mykolenko for another 2-3 years.
215 Posted 03/07/2026 at 19:56:24
if I had to describe in one word what Poch has brought to this USA team. I would use the word "Honesty" They have it in spades.
Cultured defenders will probably pass around their "press". BUT!!!!.. As Famous coach once told me. "When class goes to sleep, Honesty will prevail"
The "Seppo's" (as the Aussies call them) bring nothing new, but I cant wait until they are next up. They are so refreshing.
The Japanese have gone home. The Africans seem hellbent on shooting themselves in the foot. Football needs a new king.
I'm going all Yank. They're currently 25/1 - A pretty accurate reflection of their chances.
We all know how weird the Yanks are with their fascination of rounders and netball, but if they can win a couple more matches, football will absolutely explode,
USA. USA. USA...
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1 Posted 01/07/2026 at 15:04:55