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Back in South Africa, and arguably batting the best he has ever done, Kohli is still making adjustments to his game

Sidharth Monga04-Jan-20241:26

Manjrekar: Respect for ‘great man’ Kohli has grown immensely

Long after the dust is settled on his career and we are done celebrating his hundreds and his theatrics, we will someday sit and talk about Virat Kohli’s mini classics against great attacks in dodgy conditions.There is the 81 in the third innings in Vizag where he whipped proper shooters for fours through midwicket. The 45 against New Zealand on an Eden Gardens track with turn, seam and uneven bounce all available was especially pristine. Who can forget the flawless 74 before the 36 all out in Adelaide? That there are so many will reinforce the difficult conditions and attacks Kohli has faced throughout his career and yet maintained an average around 50 while being an absolute king in another format and an equivocal great in the third.Since Kohli’s debut, among the 18 batters who have scored 500 or more runs in Tests in South Africa, the toughest place to bat in this era, only three average more than Kohli’s 51.7: David Warner, AB de Villiers and Ben Stokes. One of them is an all-time great, although the other two are not nearly as versatile as Kohli. In matches that Kohli has played in South Africa, a more accurate gauge for the conditions he has played in, no batter has been nearly as successful as him.Related

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India collapse just like a W 0 W 0 W 0 0 W 0 W W

South Africa will always hold an emotional place in Kohli’s heart. This is where, in India’s first Test after Sachin Tendulkar, he batted at No. 4 and nearly scored twin centuries in Johannesburg in 2013-14, never to leave that spot, or the one in Indian hearts, again. This is where, on his next trip in 2017-18, the first big test of his ambition, he led a beleaguered side with a century and a half-century, and registered that one Test win that they needed to believe in themselves and start a magical cycle of away tours.South Africa it was where Kohli captained in his last Test, sledging, well, the broadcasters. South Africa took it his all, gave him a lot of it back, but eventually broke his heart.And yet, two years later, Kohli is back in South Africa, arguably batting the best he has ever done. Not only is he emotionally fresh once again, but he is also still working on his game. On this trip, he has batted differently to the previous South Africa tours. The stance is narrower, he is not itching to get on the off stump and outside, and he is not walking at the bowlers. He is less likely to play at balls that should be left alone.Also, he has taken away from the bowler that back-of-a-length ball that he was forced to play at without any rewards because he had committed too far forward. Now he is square-cutting them gloriously, a shot he had sacrificed in order to cut down the movement but one he has reintroduced at such a late stage in his career.Back in 2013, Virat Kohli nearly scored two centuries in Johannesburg•Associated PressIn a series that is a nightmare for the batters, Kohli is the only one who has got starts in all of his three innings. His lowest score has been 38. Nobody can approach perfection in these conditions, but Kohli has looked comfortable every time he has batted. It has never been more apparent than during his 46 on the first day in Cape Town on a day when 23 wickets fell. Of the 27 individual innings that started on the day, only four went past 20, and none past Kohli’s 46.This innings had all the certainty needed to succeed in these conditions: either don’t push at balls outside the line of your head or go hard if you do. He will be disappointed that when India’s collapse of 6 for 0 started – just when he had become a little loose to try to score more quickly – he edged one and was caught.Yet Kohli won’t let the dismissal bog him down. Something has been unlocked in him in the past year and a half. He is at peace with what happens. He appreciates the vagaries of the game and life perhaps more than he previously did. Apart from still looking for any small improvement he can make in his game, Kohli carries with him the confidence of having scored runs in his best format – the ODIs. During his worst period in international cricket, when Kohli went three years without a century, he played hardly any ODI cricket: nine in 2020, and three in 2021.Day two of the Cape Town Test could be Kohli’s last day of Test cricket in South Africa. India don’t go there again in this FTP, which ends in 2027, by which time he will be 39. As a team man, Kohli will hope he is not even needed to bat, and that India go on to draw the series without incident. With three second-innings wickets down, South Africa still need 36 runs to make India bat again. On a Test pitch unlike any seen in South Africa, it’s hard to predict which way the Test goes.However, even a small or a middling chase can prove to be tricky on this devilish pitch. There could yet be another Kohli mini classic in store for South Africa, who, in turn, will hope to break his heart again.

Shrubsole said there was no place for Healy in their top five, while Nayar of UPW called it “unfortunate”

Sreshth Shah27-Nov-2025At the WPL 2026 auction, one of the biggest talking points was Australia’s Alyssa Healy going unsold. She was the first name drawn from the eight-player marquee list to start the auction in Delhi but received no bids.At that point, it was possible teams were holding off, prioritising other players and planning to revisit Healy later in the accelerated round. But when the re-run took place, no team listed her on their wishlist and, therefore, her name did not come up again.After the auction, Anya Shrubsole, assistant coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Abhishek Nayar, head coach of UP Warriorz (UPW), explained why they did not bid for Healy. Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Jonathan Batty said Healy was on their list, but squad “flexibility” took priority.”Alyssa Healy going unsold was surprising for different reasons,” Nayar said. “When you’re allowed only four overseas players [in the XI], your options are limited, and many teams prefer allrounders in their set-up. It’s a tough situation for someone of her stature.”Shrubsole said Healy did not fit RCB’s combination. “We have a very strong top order, and Georgia Voll gives us some offspin as well,” she said. “With Richa Ghosh [as a wicketkeeper-batter] in the top five, going for Healy didn’t make sense for us.”Healy entered the auction at a base price of INR 50 lakh after being released by UPW, who had signed her for INR 70 lakh for the first two seasons. A foot injury kept her out of last season. She has 428 runs in 17 WPL games at an average of 26.75 and a strike rate of 130.48. She is currently playing for Sydney Sixers in the WBBL and recently scored consecutive ODI World Cup hundreds against India and Bangladesh.While opening batters and potential captains were not in high demand, wicketkeepers surely were. Gujarat Giants (GG) had retained wicketkeeper Beth Mooney but also bought Yastika Bhatia (currently injured) for INR 50 lakh. DC bought South Africa’s Lizelle Lee and Taniya Bhatia for a combined INR 60 lakh. UPW opted for an inexperienced Shipra Giri as their lone keeper for INR 10 lakh. Mumbai Indians (MI) had retained G Kamalini and RCB had retained Richa.Other overseas players to go unsold included the England pair of Heather Knight and Alice Capsey, Australia’s trio of Alana King, Amanda Jade-Wellington and Darcie Brown, and Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu.Amelia Kerr was the highest-paid overseas player, signed by Mumbai Indians for INR 3 crore. She was followed by Sophie Devine (Gujarat Giants for INR 2 crore) and Meg Lanning (UP Warriorz for INR 1.90 crore).

Manchester United have now entered concrete talks to sign AIK Fotboll striker Kevin Filling, and a move could be possible in the January transfer window.

Man United have a reputation of bringing through young players, having named at least one academy graduate in every first-team squad since October 1937, and they have continued to rely on youngsters in the early stages of the new Premier League season.

Senne Lammens appears to have taken Altay Bayindir’s shirt and established himself as the new starting goalkeeper, with Ruben Amorim also regularly calling upon the likes of Leny Yoro, Amad Diallo and Benjamin Sesko.

Sesko’s arrival at the club was met with scepticism, given that on paper the Slovenian looked like another Rasmus Hojliund-type signing, considering he is just 22-years-old and arguably doesn’t have the experience to lead the line for a club like United.

However, after taking a while to get going, the striker has now started to prove his worth, picking up two goals and an assist in his last four matches, most recently setting up Bryan Mbeumo’s first goal in the 4-2 win against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Man Utd enter talks to sign Kevin Filling

According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on X, Man United are now in “concrete” negotiations to sign another young striker, entering talks to sign AIK Fotboll’s Filling, who is valued at around €3m (£2.6m).

The “talented” youngster could be on the move as early as this winter, suggesting the Red Devils could get a deal done in the January transfer window, but there may be competition for his signature, as some unnamed Bundesliga clubs also find the centre-forward “interesting”.

At just 16-years-old, the striker is very much one for the future, but he has already made a breakthrough at senior level with AIK Fotboll, chipping in with two Allsvenskan goals in seven appearances so far this season.

The young Swedish forward has also started to make an impression at international level, making three appearances for Sweden U18s, and he netted a brace in an international friendly against Wales U18s earlier this month.

Of course, at just 16-years-old, Filling is likely to be some way off first-team level at a club like Man United, so it would make sense if he was sent back on loan to his current club or perhaps a smaller English club to gain more experience.

However, at around just £2.6m, it is definitely a risk worth taking for Man United, who should definitely try to get a deal done this winter.

Manchester United are also showing interest in Bayern Munich star Harry Kane £86m striker who Harry Maguire called "world-class" now key target for Man Utd

A top striker has now emerged as one of the Red Devils’ main targets.

ByDominic Lund Oct 16, 2025

Cam Cannarella made his professional debut this week with the Miami Marlins Advanced A club the Beloit Sky Carp. Cannarella doubled twice in his first game with Beloit, but it was what he did in the field during his second game that made him go viral.

Beloit was playing the South Bend Cubs on Thursday when Rafael Morel, the brother of Tampa Bay Rays' utility player Christopher Morel, hit a fly ball to deep centerfield. Cannarella turned and ran towards the wall, making a Willie Mays-style over-the-head catch look way too easy for the second out of the inning.

If you're wondering why Cannarella didn't make a big deal about this catch, well, it's because he's done it before.

During the 2024 Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament he made a game-saving over-the-head catch in extra innings that also drew Willie Mays comparisons.

It's been quite a summer for Cannarella, who played his final college game on June 1st against the University of Kentucky. Miami took him with the No. 43 pick in the draft a month ago and he just signed his contract on July 28th.

Now he's hitting doubles and making spectacular catches in the minor leagues.

Bayern Munich have ruled themselves out of the Mohamed Salah transfer race, with his future at Liverpool hanging in the balance. After being left out on the bench by Arne Slot for the three successive Premier League games, the Egyptian winger went on an explosive rant to the press about his treatment as he even hinted he could exit Anfield in the January transfer window.

Is Salah staying at Liverpool?

Following his snub from the Liverpool starting line for the third consecutive Premier League match last weekend, Salah had an outburst in front of the media where he slammed the club and the manager and also cast doubt on his future at Anfield. The Egypt international said: "I can’t believe it, I’m very, very disappointed. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. I got a lot of promises in the summer and so far I am on the bench for three games, so I can’t say they keep their promises. 

"I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club. This club, I always support it. My kids will always support it. I love the club so much, I will always do. I called my mum yesterday – you guys didn’t know if I would start or not, but I knew. Yesterday I said to [my parents], ‘Come to the Brighton game.’ I don’t know if I am going to play or not but I am going to enjoy it. In my head, I’m going to enjoy that game because I don’t know what is going to happen now. I will be at Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go the Africa Cup [of Nations]. I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWill Bayern Munich sign Salah?

Following his public outburst, Salah has been tipped to move away from Anfield next month and several top clubs in Europe, including Bayern Munich, and the Saudi Pro League, have been linked with the winger.

Bayern chief Max Eberl, however, ruled out the possibility of the Liverpool star joining them as he told : "We have an outstanding talent in Lennart Karl. Putting someone ahead of him now makes absolutely no sense."

He added: "We've talked about the squad before – we have players coming back [from injury]. The transfers are coming from within. There are no plans to bring in any new players right now; the squad is homogeneous and balanced. A new player could also cause unrest because roles would shift."

Salah told he has the 'brains of a beetle'

Amid the conflict at Anfield, Slot found support from compatriot and Dutch legend Marco van Basten as the former striker slammed Salah for his behaviour. Van Basten told : "I'd say: the brains of a cockchafer. If you react like that… He did very well last year, but this season he's not good. He's just been bad these past few months. I always find Slot honest and straightforward. He doesn't shy away from a fight and ultimately doesn't say anything unwise. Salah, on the other hand, really started attacking the man and reacting incorrectly."

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AFPSlot's response to Salah's outburst

A day after Salah went public with his frustration over the lack of game time, Slot addressed the media to share his reaction, as he said: "I don't feel that my authority has been undermined. It's not the way I feel it. It's not about me, if my life is difficult, yes or no, that's not very important in a situation like this. It's if it is more difficult for the team and for the club. No one likes us to be in the situation we're in at the moment. First of all, it's difficult to see staff members who work so hard are affected by the situation we're in now. Mainly because of the results. I'm the manager, I have to pick a team so to a certain extent I'm important, but my focus is on the team and not on me." 

When asked if Salah would remain at Liverpool in the long term, Slot replied: "I have no clue. I cannot answer that question at this moment in time."

Following the news of Brendan Rodgers’ resignation, Celtic have reportedly added Robbie Keane to their shortlist of managerial candidates. The former Leeds United coach joins the likes of Ange Postecoglou as the Bhoys seek a new permanent boss.

It’s been a dramatic week for those at Celtic Park. First losing 3-1 and conceding an eight-point gap to surprise Scottish Premiership leaders Heart, those in Glasgow then received Rodgers’ shock resignation – sparking a managerial search and a brutal statement from majority shareholder Dermot Desmond.

Accusing Rodgers of being “self-serving” and “divisive”, Desmond didn’t hold back. Whether the manager, himself, soon has his own say is now the big question.

In the meantime, the show must go on at Celtic, who have hired veteran manager Martin O’Neill on an interim basis. Keeping the seat warm, O’Neill will be expected to steady the ship as soon as the Old Firm derby against Rangers this week. The Bhoys meet their rivals in the Scottish League Cup semi-final.

The longer their search for a manager goes on, however, the more questions that will be asked at Celtic. So far, names such as Postecoglou and former Borussia Dortmund man Edin Terzic have both been mentioned, with the former a particularly strong candidate thanks to his previous experience in Glasgow.

The Australian could certainly do with a return to Scotland too, following a disastrous 39-day spell at Nottingham Forest. But he’s not the only one on Celtic’s shortlist, with Keane also among the reported options.

The change of style that Robbie Keane would bring to Celtic

As reported by journalist Ben Jacobs, Keane has now made the shortlist at Celtic as they search for their next manager.

The 45-year-old is currently in charge of Hungarian side Ferencvaros and has had previous experience at Maccabi Tel Aviv as well as in an assistant role at Ireland, Middlsbrough and Leeds United.

Some may question Keane’s experience, or more the lack of it, but his style of football is something to keep an eye on. The former Liverpool and Celtic attacker told reporters in 2020 that he likes to play energetic, pressing football, which could finally unlock the Bhoys’ free-scoring talents once again.

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Daizen Maeda would arguably benefit the most from the change in style from Rodgers’ slower, possession-based approach. The forward scored 33 goals in all competitions last season, before struggling with just three in 13 in the current campaign.

What’s more, the fact that O’Neill already knows Keane well from his playing days could help his case. The current interim boss once even praised his former forward as “terrific” during his time on the pitch.

Celtic linked with manager who nearly joined Rangers

The Colorado Rockies blanked the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, putting an end to an unbelievably bad streak.

Rockies fans haven't had much to cheer for in some time, but they can find some solace that their squad held an opponent to a zero for the first time in 221 games. They beat the Cardinals 6-0 for their second win in a row in a Wednesday afternoon rubber match thanks to six scoreless innings from starting pitcher Tanner Gordon. On the offensive side, they had a four-run second inning and never looked back.

According to ESPN, the Rockies are the only major league team since at least 1901 to go more than 200 games without a shutout win.

"I did not know that," Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer said on the wild streak postgame via ESPN. "That's a long time without a shutout. But I'm glad we shut them out today. That was good behind Gordon. Gordon did a fantastic job."

Colorado fired manager Bud Black in May after a brutal 7-33 start to the season following a 61-101 finish last year.

With the shutout, they moved to 26-76 on the year, which is the worst record across the MLB by 10 games. After taking the series from the Cardinals, the Rockies have won back-to-back series for the first time this year. It's all about the small victories, right?

There’s little glamour in the No.3’s methods, but the pay-off for his team is proving spectacular

Firdose Moonda01-Nov-2023It didn’t always look easy with Rassie van der Dussen. If he was not lunging forward, his 1.88 metre frame making it look ungainly to defend, he was pushing awkwardly, trying to come to terms with the line. It didn’t always look elegant – and it seldom does with van der Dussen – but it was definitely effective.Van der Dussen scored South Africa’s eighth century of the tournament, and 16th in ODIs this year, through a combination of patience and placement which perfectly demonstrated how he has moulded himself to his anchor role. He came in with nine balls remaining in the powerplay, after a brief but energetic knock from Temba Bavuma, and scored 21 off his first 33 balls. At the time, the talk was that South Africa were taking too long. That quietened when Quinton de Kock reached his fourth hundred of this World Cup. Van der Dussen then accumulated 112 off his next 85 balls to take South Africa within reach of 350, and went entirely silent after their 190-run win, but we’ll get to that.First, to van der Dussen, the number of runs he scored, the way he scored them and who he scored them off. After a watchful start, he ran 56 singles, four twos and the only three of the innings. He scored at a run a ball against Mitchell Santner (27 from 27), and took 33 runs off 22 balls from Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra. None of that was an accident. Every time South Africa have been put in to bat – five times in total – they’ve followed a similar template: caution upfront, rotation through the middle and a strong finish.In part, that’s a nod to the quality of the opposition attacks, and especially the quick bowling at this tournament, but it’s also a way of ensuring a line-up that only includes six specialist batters can save their power-hitters for when they can actually make an impact. Afterwards, that’s what van der Dussen confirmed.”We felt they bowled pretty well upfront,” van der Dussen said at the post-match press conference. “Tim Southee and Trent Boult are very experienced and they didn’t give us much and then with their finger spinners, Santner is a guy who has some of the best control in the world. The other two (Phillips and Ravindra), we knew we could put under pressure but also that they have been bowling well in the tournament so far. We had to fight through that period. But we know we don’t always have to be in fifth gear. We can play in third gear and then at the end up it a little bit.””That period” lasted as long as 35 overs, as South Africa’s run-rate hovered between 4.5 runs to 5.5 runs an over. Instead of chasing sixes and sevens an over, they saw it as a way of “finding the balance between being attacking and scoring runs and also setting the base up,” van der Dussen said. Hindsight tells us that it was more than enough but South Africa, and van der Dussen, would not have known that at the time. Instead it was de Kock who acted as the pace-setter. “He really guided me through my innings today. I was under pressure and asking him about a few options,” van der Dussen said.At one stage, he asked de Kock whether he should start to score quicker. De Kock’s advice was to wait for as long as possible. “I said, if you want me to make a play, tell me,” van der Dussen said, “but he said, ‘no, no, just extend it and just look at your options for the spin, keep playing straight, keep being really relentless if it’s in your area but if it’s not, respect it, because we know how these guys bowl and they’re very disciplined with the ball’.”Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen raised the pace as they batted longer•AFP/Getty ImagesIntermittently, van der Dussen was allowed to play his shots, especially the flick and the sweep, that he practices so often in the nets, and has brought out several times at this tournament. His best run-scoring options were, as de Kock suggested, down the ground and that is where he scored four of his five sixes, and 37 runs off 17 balls. In the end, his century came at a strike rate of 112.71, which is a decent pace for scoring big runs and a retort to an oft-mounted critique against his methods.There is a school of thought that van der Dussen scores too slowly and there is some statistical evidence to support that. Of the South African batters who have scored at least 500 ODI runs this year (and there are six of them), van der Dussen has the lowest strike-rate. But that also proves something far more important about the role he plays: he is the fulcrum around which the rest operate and he owns that.On the eve of the match van der Dussen was asked about doing the “dirty work” for South Africa and he explained how it’s meant he doesn’t have the flashy reputation of some of his team-mates, let alone their pay cheques.Related

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“Me, Quinny and Temba often joke about it, saying the reason (Heinrich) Klaasen and the other guys get millions at IPL is because they can come in and hit sixes at the back. But it’s a role that needs to be done, and from my side and other guys as well, we’re really happy to be doing it. In our team, there’s a sense of … what’s the word I’m looking for?”The word was probably “selflessness”, given what he said next. “It’s amazing to see what you can achieve when it doesn’t matter who gets the credit, or when you don’t care who gets the credit, for getting the win or getting over the line or putting in a good performance. There’s a real sense of that in our team. And if that’s going to help us win matches and win the World Cup, then I’ll be happy not to be thanked for that.”But he won’t mind a little recognition for an ODI batting average that sits close to 54, a record that makes him the third highest run-scorer in ODI cricket for South Africa in the current squad, the second-fastest South African to 2,000 ODI runs after Hashim Amla, and sixth overall. He also won’t mind the acknowledgement that he has scored a quarter of South Africa’s tournament hundreds so far, even though there is a player who has done double that.Next to de Kock’s fourth tournament hundred and amid the narrative of his impending ODI retirement, van der Dussen may not get the plaudits he deserves, but he should. Like de Kock, van der Dussen could also be playing in his last World Cup (he is 34 years old), although he hasn’t said as much. And much like de Kock, who told the broadcaster in the innings break that “as my career is coming to a finish, I just bat as much as I can,” van der Dussen seems to want to do the same.

“I feel such things [about Kohli making it to the 2027 World Cup] shouldn’t even be spoken about after the way he plays and performs,” Sitanshu Kotak says

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Dec-20252:15

Kotak: We don’t need to talk about Kohli’s future

Virat Kohli has the most centuries in ODI history, and yet, each time one sees him bat in the only format he is still active in internationally, thoughts turn to the 2027 World Cup. Kohli is 37 now. Will he still be playing two years on? For Sitanshu Kotak, India’s batting coach, “there’s no point talking about all this” and fans should stay in the moment.”I don’t know why we need to look at all this – he’s really batting well, and I don’t see any reason we need to talk about his future,” Kotak said after Kohli’s 135 from 120 balls took India to victory in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday.”Just the way he’s batting, it’s just brilliant. The way he’s performing, [and] his fitness – there are no questions about anything,” Kotak said. “I feel such things [the 2027 World Cup] shouldn’t even be spoken about after the way he plays and performs. That is something which is two years away. There’s no point talking about all this. For us, once the team arrives and we start practice, we just enjoy.”Related

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Vastly experienced players like Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who is a year older at 38, add value to the dressing room even otherwise, Kotak pointed out. And it’s not like they aren’t performing. Rohit’s last three innings in ODIs have been worth 73, 121* and 57.”Obviously, they do share their experience with others,” Kotak said. “I don’t think we’re talking anything about the 2027 World Cup. They are just brilliant, and they are performing. They are contributing to the team, which is a great thing for us.”Like Kohli, Rohit is also active only in ODIs internationally. That leaves both of them with very limited game time. But, despite that, for the second successive match, Kohli and Rohit showed good form while stitching together a match-winning century stand.After adding an unbeaten 168 against Australia in Sydney last month, they had a stand of 136 in the first ODI against South Africa. While Kohli followed 74* in Sydney with 135 in Ranchi, Rohit scored 57 at better than a-run-a-ball against South Africa after hitting 121* in a win over Australia.”They are such experienced players; it’s always great to have them,” Kotak said. “The way they bat – like today also, that partnership – it makes a huge difference. Obviously, they batted really well.”

England boss Thomas Tuchel has hinted that the glitz and glamour of the 2026 World Cup ceremony was rather unnecessary. The Three Lions eventually found out that they will face Croatia, Ghana, and Panama at next year's competition in North America. However, those watching the draw had to wait a long time to find out the results, something Tuchel believes they could have "done without".

'I don't need it'

On Friday, the football world discovered who will play who in the group stages of the World Cup, with England facing 2018 finalists Croatia first up in the tournament. For those tuning in, though, it took an eternity for the nations to actually be drawn in Washington D.C. Earlier on in the ceremony, United States President Donald Trump received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino designating it for a person who has "taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace" and "united people across the world". Trump was given a large gold trophy, a medal, and a certificate, while Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand was also heavily involved in the draw. Going by Tuchel's comments, he didn't appear to be a fan of the whole affair.

He told : "I do not, not like it but we could have done it like, without all of this. I don't need it. But of course, it's a huge stage and it's big entertainment. I was very well aware that it's not about the deep insight of football today."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportEngland face 'difficult' group

While England are favourites to win their group and progress to the knockout stages of the World Cup, many Three Lions fans have not forgotten Croatia dumping them out of the tournament at the semi-final stage in 2018. And former Chelsea boss Tuchel is certainly wary of their upcoming opponents, even though they beat them in Euro 2020.

"Difficult group, difficult opener. Difficult group with Croatia and Ghana, two regulars in World Cups and two proud and strong nations. Panama, I don't know much about Panama at the moment but we will find out about it before the tournament starts, of course," he said. "For me, I'm only experienced group football in Champions League formats and the way to approach it was to always give it the biggest respect and to put all the focus into winning the group. It always seems difficult like our group now but we are confident and we will be well prepared when we arrive.

"Nobody should be underestimated. Of course, Croatia is the standout, they're the highest ranked team from pot two that we got into out group but listen, Ghana is always full of talent and can always surprise and has a big history in World Cup football, and also Panama will try to make the most in their underdog role. No one can be underestimated, everyone deserves the fullest respect and we can show that."

Tuchel's preference…

On paper, Croatia is the most difficult side England face in the group stage, with their European rivals six places below the Three Lions in the world rankings in 10th. Incidentally, Panama are down in 30th, and Ghana sit in 72nd. While some nations may want to ease into the competition with an easier match, Tuchel had no preference. 

He said: "I had no preference because why would I worry? I cannot influence. The legends took the draw and this is what we get and what we have to deal with now. We know now our opponents, we know we will start late in the tournament if players are involved in European finals, hopefully. We didn't desire anything we just handled the situation as it is. You get a little more days before and then you get a condensed schedule later in the tournament. Everything comes with in upside and downside."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for England?

England are expected to face Croatia in their World Cup opener in Toronto, Canada, or Dallas, in the United States, on June 17. Before then, the Three Lions will have to confirm some friendly fixtures earlier on in 2026 to get them ready for the showpiece event.