England has reached the World Cup semi-finals and will face Argentina. BBC Sport experts shared their opinions on the best starting players for England’s next match, highlighting different choices based on players' form and fitness.
Key Facts
England beat Norway 2-1 to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
The semi-final match against Argentina will be shown live on BBC.
Experts suggest changes in the starting lineup, debating players like John Stones, Ezri Konsa, and Declan Rice.
Morgan Rogers is recommended by some experts as a new option on the right wing.
Injuries and players’ fitness, especially Declan Rice and Reece James, are important factors in selecting the team.
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are key players, but others are expected to contribute more goals.
Opinions vary on whether to keep the same back four or make adjustments.
Experts agree experience and current form will influence team selection for this crucial knockout game.
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The article offers the latest highlights, reactions, and previews about the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal match between Spain and France. The tournament is taking place in North America.
Key Facts
The article focuses on the Spain vs. France semifinal game.
It provides updates from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The World Cup is held in North America in 2026.
The content includes match highlights and expert reactions.
It previews what to expect in the upcoming semifinal match.
FIFA World Cup is a major international soccer tournament.
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Hector Valle, a former baseball catcher who played nine games with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1965, has died at age 85. He was the first person from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, to play in Major League Baseball and had a long career in professional baseball, including playing in Puerto Rico and Mexico.
Key Facts
Hector Valle played nine MLB games with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1965.
He was born in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, and was the first from his hometown to reach MLB.
Valle played in the minor leagues for several teams, including the New York Mets, Detroit Tigers, and Kansas City Royals farm teams.
He won a silver medal with Puerto Rico in the 1959 Pan American Games.
Valle played 22 seasons in the Puerto Rican Winter League, one of the longest careers in the league’s history.
He was known as a strong defensive catcher and caught two no-hitters for the Indios de Mayaguez team.
Valle was inducted into the Vega Baja Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
A statue of Hector Valle stands in front of Isidoro Garcia Park in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
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Just Fontaine scored a record 13 goals in the 1958 World Cup, the most by any player in a single tournament. He achieved this despite borrowing shoes and not being a first-choice starter, but he never received the official Golden Boot trophy. Fontaine’s record still stands today, and current top players are trying to match or beat it.
Key Facts
Just Fontaine scored 13 goals in the 1958 World Cup over six matches.
He borrowed boots from a teammate because he didn’t have shoes of his own for the first game.
Fontaine was not the first-choice player; he started after a teammate got injured.
He only had five games played for France before the tournament but became top scorer.
Fontaine did not get the Golden Boot; instead, he was given an air rifle as a prize.
Morocco, where Fontaine was born, was a French protectorate when he was born and became independent before the 1958 World Cup.
Current stars like Mbappe, Messi, Haaland, and Kane are approaching Fontaine’s record but have not surpassed it yet.
Fontaine played for French clubs Nice and Reims, winning several league titles and reaching a European Cup final.
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The FIFA World Cup has reached the semifinal stage, with four teams competing for a spot in the final on July 19. Argentina, the defending champions, and England are two of the teams still in the tournament, each with different strengths and challenges as they aim to advance.
Key Facts
The World Cup started with 48 countries competing for the trophy.
Only four teams remain in the semifinals as of now.
Argentina won the last World Cup and is trying to defend its title.
Argentina had tough matches, needing dramatic wins against teams like Egypt and Switzerland.
England made it to the semifinals for the fourth time in their history.
England has shown strong character but has not dominated their opponents in the tournament.
Jude Bellingham from England has scored six goals, close to the tournament's top scorers.
The semifinal matches are set for Tuesday and Wednesday, with the final scheduled for July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
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Jannik Sinner won the Wimbledon tennis title for the second year in a row by beating Alexander Zverev from Germany in four sets. This victory gave Sinner his fifth Grand Slam title and helped him keep his number one world ranking.
Key Facts
Jannik Sinner is 24 years old and from Italy.
He won Wimbledon in 2026, defending his previous year's title.
Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev in the final match.
The match lasted four sets.
This is Sinner's fifth Grand Slam title in his career.
Winning Wimbledon helped Sinner maintain his position as the top-ranked player in the world.
The article also briefly mentions Mathieu van der Poel winning a Tour de France stage and team updates for the World Cup, but the main focus is on tennis.
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The article offers a collection of top photos from Wimbledon 2026, highlighting players like Arthur Fery from Great Britain, Novak Djokovic, and Coco Gauff. The content is only available to viewers in the UK.
Key Facts
The article features the best photos from the Wimbledon 2026 tennis tournament.
Players shown include Arthur Fery, Novak Djokovic, and Coco Gauff.
Wimbledon is a major tennis event held annually in the UK.
The content is limited to viewers located in the United Kingdom.
It was published recently and is part of the tennis sports coverage.
The article encourages viewers to watch more tennis videos on BBC Sport.
Access to the full content may have an error or restriction outside the UK.
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England’s football team has reached at least the semi-finals in four out of the last five major tournaments, marking an era of consistent success. This strong performance contrasts with many years of earlier disappointments, and the team now regularly competes as a top contender.
Key Facts
Ten years ago, England was knocked out early in major football tournaments.
Since Euro 2016, England has reached the semi-finals or better in four of five big tournaments.
Only Argentina and France have a better recent record in reaching final stages of major tournaments.
England recently won 2-1 in extra time against Norway and will face Argentina next.
England’s top players include Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, who have scored most of the team’s goals.
Historically, England rarely reached semi-finals, with long gaps of 22 years between deep runs.
England’s recent rise contrasts with past early exits and disappointing results.
The women’s team has also been very successful, winning two European Championships and finishing second in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
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The FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals feature the top four ranked teams in the world: France, Argentina, Spain, and England. These teams include star players like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, and Harry Kane, making this one of the strongest semifinal lineups in World Cup history.
Key Facts
The 2026 semifinals are the first time since 1992 that the top four FIFA-ranked teams all reached this stage.
France is ranked number one and has top players like Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.
Argentina, ranked second, is led by Lionel Messi, who helped them win the 2022 World Cup.
Spain is ranked third, with young talent Lamine Yamal returning from injury; they have a strong defensive record.
England is the lowest-ranked semifinal team but considered the second favorite to win, with key players Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.
The article compares this semifinal lineup to memorable past World Cups, such as 2018, 2014, and highlights the strength of current teams.
The 2018 final was between France and Argentina, with France winning their second title.
Spain recently won the Euro 2024 championship, showing their strong current form.
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An organization is creating many small soccer fields in new neighborhoods across the United States. This effort is growing because the World Cup has increased interest in soccer. One example is a school in New Jersey near MetLife Stadium, where the World Cup final will happen.
Key Facts
The World Cup has made more people in the U.S. interested in soccer.
A group is building hundreds of small soccer fields, called mini-pitches, across the country.
These mini-pitches bring soccer to neighborhoods that did not have many playing areas before.
One mini-pitch was built at a New Jersey school near MetLife Stadium.
MetLife Stadium will host the World Cup final.
The project helps children and communities play and enjoy soccer more easily.
The effort aims to grow soccer’s popularity in the United States.
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As the World Cup soccer tournament nears its final games, museums across the country are creating special exhibits about soccer. These exhibits aim to share interesting facts about the sport with visitors.
Key Facts
The World Cup is a major international soccer competition.
Many museums are using this event to attract visitors.
Special exhibits explain parts of soccer that people might not know.
These exhibits help fans learn more about the game.
Museums are participating in the excitement around the World Cup.
The effort is national, involving museums in different locations.
The goal is to engage both soccer fans and museum visitors.
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The American Heart Association is using the World Cup event to teach fans how to perform CPR, a life-saving technique. They aim to help more people learn this skill to save lives in emergencies.
Key Facts
The training is happening during the ongoing World Cup.
The American Heart Association is leading the effort.
CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a way to help someone whose heart has stopped.
The goal is to make CPR knowledge more common among the public.
Simple CPR training can improve chances of survival during emergencies.
The training sessions are designed for fans attending the World Cup.
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Football coaches taking the Football Association of Wales (FAW) Pro Licence course participate in military-style training exercises to develop leadership and teamwork skills. This intense two-day training includes handling simulated battlefield injuries and rescue missions, with participants including former and current professional players and coaches.
Key Facts
The FAW Pro Licence is the highest coaching qualification in football and is highly respected worldwide.
Coaches undergo military-style exercises, such as applying tourniquets, rescuing hostages, and handling ambush scenarios.
Participants come from diverse backgrounds, including former Arsenal player Aaron Ramsey and ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero.
Michael Bradley, a former US and Roma midfielder now coaching New York Red Bulls, praised the course's reputation.
Former Chelsea and France midfielder Florent Malouda and Wales international Will Vaulks also participated.
Chicago Red Stars assistant coach Ella Masar took part while 36 weeks pregnant and received support from the group.
The training includes strategic planning in a simulated war room environment, aiming to teach coaches to perform under stress.
The course is designed to push participants out of their comfort zones and improve leadership through challenging, realistic scenarios.
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The Dallas Wings beat the Chicago Sky 96-91 on July 12 during their fifth win in a row. Paige Bueckers, a top player for the Wings, scored 22 points and showed friendly competition with players on the Sky team.
Key Facts
Dallas Wings won 96-91 against Chicago Sky on July 12 at American Airlines Center.
This was the Wings’ fifth straight victory.
Paige Bueckers scored 22 points, with 7 shots made out of 15 attempts, and had 11 assists.
Bueckers was chosen as an All-Star starter for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game.
Bueckers and Natasha Cloud of the Sky exchanged friendly competitive words during the game.
The Wings have improved greatly from last season when they had one of the worst records.
The team added new players like Azzi Fudd and Jessica Shepard and hired a new coach, Jose Fernandez.
The Wings have a 16-8 record so far this season and will play the New York Liberty on July 16.
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Colombia lost to Switzerland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after a penalty shootout. Following the loss, Colombian player Jáminton Campaz received death threats, causing concerns about his safety and leading the Colombian football federation to condemn the threats.
Key Facts
Colombia played Switzerland in the World Cup Round of 16 on July 7 in Vancouver.
The match ended 0-0 after 90 minutes and extra time, going to penalties.
Switzerland won the penalty shootout 4-3.
Jáminton Campaz missed a key scoring chance and was later targeted with death threats.
The Colombian football federation publicly condemned the threats against Campaz.
Campaz feared for his safety and reportedly did not board a flight back to Colombia.
Campaz posted a message on Instagram asking for respect and expressing sadness over the loss.
The situation recalls the 1994 case of Colombian player Andrés Escobar, who was murdered after scoring an own goal at the World Cup.
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Cheryl Reeve became the winningest coach in WNBA history with her 380th win while coaching the Minnesota Lynx. The Lynx are doing well this season despite star player Napheesa Collier recovering from ankle surgeries, thanks to rookie Olivia Miles, who leads the team in points and assists.
Key Facts
Cheryl Reeve has been head coach of the Minnesota Lynx since 2010.
Reeve has won four WNBA titles and four Coach of the Year awards.
She became the WNBA’s winningest coach on July 8 with 380 regular-season wins.
The Lynx currently share the best record in the league at 17-6.
Napheesa Collier, a key player, is recovering from two ankle surgeries.
Rookie Olivia Miles was the second overall pick in the draft and leads the Lynx in scoring (18.7 points per game) and assists (5.6 per game).
Reeve emphasized that the team still centers around Napheesa Collier.
Collier is close to returning to play, likely after the All-Star break in July 2026.
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Stefon Diggs is still a free agent as NFL training camps approach. He said he can compete with any wide receiver and believes he is better than most No. 2 receivers on NFL teams. Diggs last played for the New England Patriots but left due to legal issues, and he now hopes to join another team.
Key Facts
Stefon Diggs has not signed with a team ahead of the new NFL season.
He played for the New England Patriots last season but left following off-field legal trouble.
Diggs says he is clear of any NFL disciplinary action related to his legal issues.
He had 85 catches for over 1,000 yards and four touchdowns last season.
Diggs has been a top wide receiver on previous teams like the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills.
The Patriots replaced Diggs by trading for star receiver A.J. Brown.
Diggs expects to be a No. 2 receiver on a new team but feels he is better than most No. 2s in the league.
Teams like the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, and Washington Commanders are potential destinations.
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The Miami Heat are considering signing former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook if LeBron James signs elsewhere during free agency. LeBron James may return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, join the Miami Heat, or sign with other teams like the Golden State Warriors or Philadelphia 76ers.
Key Facts
LeBron James left the Los Angeles Lakers after eight years and is currently a free agent.
LeBron might return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, join the Miami Heat, or sign with new teams like the Golden State Warriors or Philadelphia 76ers.
The Miami Heat could sign Russell Westbrook, a former NBA MVP, if LeBron does not join them.
Westbrook, 37, played 64 games last season for the Sacramento Kings, averaging 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Westbrook signed a one-year, $3.6 million veteran’s minimum contract last season.
Westbrook won the NBA MVP award in the 2016-17 season when he averaged a triple-double (points, rebounds, assists).
Westbrook is known for his energy and playmaking skills and could add veteran experience to the Heat roster.
If LeBron signs with the Heat, Westbrook likely will not sign with the team.
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Conor McGregor returned to UFC after five years but suffered a serious knee injury less than two minutes into his fight with Max Holloway. McGregor says he plans to come back and fight again despite the injury, which stopped the match early.
Key Facts
McGregor fought Max Holloway at UFC 329 after a five-year break.
The fight ended after 1 minute and 9 seconds because McGregor injured his right knee.
Referee Mike Beltran stopped the fight when McGregor couldn’t defend himself.
McGregor’s knee buckled during multiple kicks, causing the injury.
Fans and experts speculated the injury might be an ACL tear or a less serious ligament issue.
McGregor posted on social media that he was calm and ready before the injury and plans to return.
Some fighters suggested McGregor should retire, but he wants to finish his UFC contract with one fight left.
Possible future opponents include Max Holloway again or Michael Chandler, who was scheduled to fight McGregor previously.
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Ja Morant was traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Portland Trail Blazers. Morant has started enjoying outdoor activities like fishing and kayaking in Portland, describing the city as quiet and rainy.
Key Facts
Ja Morant was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers on June 29.
The Memphis Grizzlies received Jerami Grant and Kris Murray in return.
Morant was drafted No. 2 overall by the Grizzlies in 2019.
He won the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2020 and Most Improved Player in 2022.
Morant was a two-time All-Star from 2021 to 2023.
His last two seasons were affected by injuries and a 25-game suspension.
He has been exploring outdoor activities like fishing, walking, biking, and kayaking in Portland.
Morant mentioned he enjoys the quiet and rainy environment of Portland.
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