أصدر الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، قرارًا يقضي بفرض عقوبة إيقاف قيد اللاعبين على نادي الزمالك، وذلك على خلفية مخالفات مالية ونزاعات تعاقدية لم يتم البتّ فيها حتى الآن.

ووفقًا لما نُشر عبر الموقع الرسمي لـ “فيفا”، فإن نادي الزمالك أُدرج رسميًا ضمن قائمة الأندية الخاضعة لعقوبة الحظر من تسجيل اللاعبين الجدد، على أن يبدأ تنفيذ القرار اعتبارًا من 3 نوفمبر 2025، ويستمر حتى يتم رفع الإيقاف بشكل رسمي عقب تسوية الملفات المالية المعلقة.

ويشمل القرار الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي، ما يعني منعه من قيد أو تسجيل أي لاعب جديد سواء في البطولات المحلية داخل مصر أو في الانتقالات الدولية، وذلك طوال فترة العقوبة.

طالع أيضًا | بعد أنباء التفاوض مع الزمالك.. كارتيرون يوضح موقفه من الرحيل عن أم صلال

يُذكر أن الاتحاد الدولي يتخذ مثل هذه الإجراءات عادةً ضد الأندية التي تواجه شكاوى مالية من لاعبين أو مدربين سابقين، أو تلك التي أخلّت بالتزاماتها التعاقدية، ولم يوضح سبب عقوبة إيقاف نادي الزمالك في إعلانه عبر الموقع الرسمي.

ويتم رفع الحظر فقط بعد أن تُسدَّد المستحقات المالية أو تُسوّى النزاعات قانونيًا وفق لوائح الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم المعمول بها.

وتجدر الإشارة إلى أن الزمالك يستعد لمنافسات بطولة كأس السوبر المصري، ومن المقرر أن يلاقي نظيره بيراميدز يوم الخميس المُقبل الموافق 6 نوفمبر.

Vinicius Junior has addressed the events of an intense El Clasico on Sunday, which saw Real Madrid beat Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu. But the Brazilian himself stormed off when substituted, and was involved in a post-match brawl that was sparked by Los Blancos players Dani Carvajal and Thibaut Courtois angrily confronting Lamine Yamal.

• Vini Jr reacts to early substitution

  Vinicius Jr didn't react well to being withdrawn by coach Xabi Alonso with just under 20 minutes, plus stoppage time, left of the Clasico – being replaced by Rodrygo when it was all still to play for. Instead of taking a place on the bench with his team-mates, the furious 2024 Ballon d'Or runner-up exited altogether and made for the dressing room. Eventually, he did return to watch the rest of the contest unfold. When others went to confront Yamal over his pre-match jibes, Vinicius clashed with Alejandro Balde as pushing and shoving ensued between both sets of players. But the winger later sought to defend his actions, suggesting that "passion" and the heat of the moment were ultimately responsible for his lack of self-control.

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• Getty
  

  'This is how the Clasico is'

  Vinicius openly addressed Real Madrid fans in comments made afterwards. "I have a message to all Madridistas, especially those who came to Bernabeu and supported us passionately," he said. "This is how the Clasico is; there are many things happening on and off the pitch. We try to maintain balance, but that's not always possible. We didn't want to offend anyone, neither the young players nor the fans. We know that when we step onto the pitch, we have to play our role, and that's how it was today. Hala Madrid."

  During the game, Vinicius is alleged to have goaded Yamal, with whom he was sharing a side of the pitch, about Barcelona's limited creativity, supposedly asking the teenage superstar why so many of his passes were having to go backwards.

• Alonso defends Vini Jr's behaviour

  When unsurprisingly asked to respond to Vinicius Jr.'s actions, Alonso chose to focus on what the player had done well and showed understanding.

  "The only thing Vinicius was missing was a goal," he told reporters. "It's true that he came off the pitch when he was feeling best and I could have waited a bit to replace him, but I understood that we needed fresh players to maintain control. Vinicius wanted to stay on because he was feeling good.

  "Franco [Mastantuono] wanted to carry on playing too. He said to me, 'Are you taking me off?' And I said, 'Yes'. Something similar happened with Vini. He wasn't very happy, but neither was Franco. It happens to everyone, but I'm very happy with Vinicius's performance. The schedule is demanding and we have to keep going."

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• AFP
  

  What comes next?

  The good work that went into beating Barcelona will be undone if Real Madrid don't also follow it up with another victory to further consolidate at the top of the table. Alonso's side put five points between themselves and the reigning champions and are now due to face Valencia next up on November 1. Anything less than three points from that game would be a shock, given that Los Che are struggling in the relegation zone so far this season.

  The greater test for Real Madrid will be the subsequent visit to Liverpool in the Champions League on November 4. That match has particular significance for Trent Alexander-Arnold as it means a swift reunion with the club he spent 20 years with until a split in June that saw some Liverpool fans accuse the England international of betraying his boyhood team.

  Alexander-Arnold has been in a race against time to be fit after suffering a hamstring injury just five minutes into an earlier Champions League clash with Marseille. Plenty of eyes will also be on Vinicius Junior to see how he handles the intensity of a famously hostile atmosphere at Anfield. It perhaps helps that Liverpool have been a dreadful run of form in recent weeks.

Newcastle United have finalised the appointment of Nottingham Forest technical director Ross Wilson, who has overseen the City Ground side’s meteoric rise to European football.

Familiar and on good terms with Eddie Howe, Wilson is the ultimate replacement to Paul Mitchell, who left his directorial post unceremoniously, less than one year after replacing Dan Ashworth.

Journalist Ben Jacobs said, “Newcastle have been keeping tabs on Wilson since he was at Rangers”, and it is regarded as a promising move for the Tyneside outfit.

Why Newcastle appointed Ross Wilson

Recognised for establishing deep-rooted and identifiable cultures, Wilson will cater to Howe’s managerial needs. His is the hand that wields ultimate power on the transfer front, but he will listen to the manager and make decisions in line with Howe’s wants and needs.

To put that another way, it highlights that Howe is the most influential person at St. James’ Park. This is something that wasn’t quite established with Ashworth and then Mitchell in the boardroom.

However, this certainly isn’t to say Wilson will be powerless. Moreover, his connections at Nottingham Forest suggest an already approachable relationship with the Tricky Trees could be strengthened, and that’s interesting when considering Howe’s recent comments about bringing Elliot Anderson back home at some stage.

However, Wilson’s arrival might also spell the end for one or two Newcastle first-teamers, and Nick Pope could be among those to receive the chop.

Why Wilson could boldly axe Newcastle hero

In the summer of 2022, Newcastle signed Pope from Burnley for about £10m following their relegation from the Premier League. He had stood against the tide of the drop for several years and was regarded as a good shot-stopper.

He has made 104 appearances for the club, conceding only 100 goals.

Over three years on, he’s still going between the sticks for the Toon, and Pope has recently been nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month after keeping two clean sheets and making five saves during the defeat against Arsenal.

In fact, the England international has shut up shop five times from seven fixtures all told, and United’s backline is once again the bedrock of Howe’s tactical vision.

Despite this, Wilson might be inclined to replace the 33-year-old, who Howe has previously described as “one of the best shot-stoppers” he has worked with.

25/26

79.2

6th

24/25

71.7

9th

23/24

72.4

7th

22/23

74.6

4th

Pope has been in fine fettle this season, but he’s never quite maintained the shot-saving skills to rival the best of the best. Moreover, his distribution leaves something to be desired, and since Howe employs such emphasis on Newcastle’s transitional play, this is something a new keeper could help advance, shaping a new chapter.

When Gabriel Magalhaes, contentiously still on the field, scored a last-minute winner for Arsenal the other week, questions were then asked of Pope and his lack of control in dealing with the inswing.

He’s not getting any younger, and while Ramsdale is already in the ranks, on loan, James Trafford’s unfortunate situation over at Manchester City suggests he might be on the move once again down the line. Gianluigi Donnarumma is not so easily displaced, after all.

Pope, hailed as a “phenomenal goalkeeper” in the past by Shay Given, reaches the end of his £60k-per-week contract next summer, and renewing the ageing star’s terms might not be the best move. Wilson will assess the situation, for sure, and it’s quite possible he will opt for change.

Howe has found the next Saint-Maximin in "frightening" Newcastle star

Summer signing aims for Saint-Maximin’s flair with Newcastle’s need for consistency

ByWill Miller Oct 11, 2025

After another disappointing start to the season, Manchester United and INEOS have reportedly joined the race against Atletico Madrid to sign a La Liga defender.

Ratcliffe reiterates patience in Amorim project

Despite failing to win back-to-back Premier League games once in almost 12 months and struggling to take the Red Devils into European football, Ruben Amorim still has the backing of INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The minority owner has reiterated the need for patience, drawing comparisons with Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, who are now reaping the rewards for sticking with their man.

That suggests that even defeat against Sunderland would not have put Amorim’s job at risk and the former Sporting Club boss must now repay that faith.

The manager, himself, has remained just as stubborn in his decisions – refusing to change what many believe to be a broken system. He told reporters earlier this season: “So it’s not the system. It’s the small details, the way we play the game.

“And I understand what people think. ‘What would this team be in a different system?’ I don’t know. Maybe this team would win more games. But if we don’t change certain things, we are not going to win titles whether we change to 4-3-3 or 4-4-2.”

The task for INEOS in the face of Amorim’s stubborness is handing the United boss the reinforcements he needs to get his system going and that should make 2026 interesting. Reports are already suggesting that they could go for one La Liga star.

Man Utd join David Affengruber race

According to reports in Spain, Man United are now battling Atletico Madrid to sign David Affengruber. The Elche centre-back has become an unexpected star in Spain’s top flight so far this season, helping his side rise to as high as seventh. Now, INEOS are reportedly fans of his ability and have eyed a 2026 move to secure his signature.

Not just Zirkzee: Man Utd's £42m flop is now on borrowed time under Amorim

Manchester United’s lack of success in the transfer market has been highlighted by the failures of two players.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 9, 2025

The Man United owners could land a fairly cheap deal, too. Although Elche are set to demand over €25m (£22m) to sell their defender next year, their final price is unlikely to reach an absurd amount given their place in the football food chain.

Minutes

663

630

Progressive Passes

22

14

Ball Recoveries

49

23

Tackles Won

12

12

When compared to Matthijs de Ligt, Affengruber’s quality becomes even clearer. The 24-year-old has been excellent both in and out of possession this season and should represent a serious option for Man United if he continues his current form.

De Ligt, meanwhile, represents another big-money player who’s struggling to impress at Old Trafford and getting him back to his best form should be among Amorim’s top priorities.

MatériaMais Notícias

A 24ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro 2023 começa nesta segunda-feira (18), e a equipe de jornalistas do Lance! deixou os seus palpites sobre o resultados dos jogos, com destaque para os clássicos regionais entre Fluminense e Cruzeiro e Grêmio e Palmeiras. Confira as previsões!

+Veja aqui a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

India U19 178 for 4 (Suryavanshi 48, Kundu 45*) beat England U19 174 (Flintoff 56, Mohammed 42) by six wicketsIndia’s 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored 48 from just 19 balls as India’s Under-19 side made short work of beating England in the first of five Youth ODIs at Hove.Suryavanshi, who became the youngest-ever century maker in men’s T20 when he hit 101 off 38 balls for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL earlier this year, made a startling debut to competitive cricket in England, putting on 71 in 7.3 overs with his captain, Ayush Mhatre as England were overwhelmed, losing by six wickets with 26 overs to spare.The young India side have made a memorable start to their tour of England. Three days earlier they had won another 50-over game, against a Young Lions Invitational XI at Loughborough, by 231 runs.Here, Suryavanshi was the star attraction, bludgeoning five sixes and three fours. Jack Home’s first over cost 21 runs as the left-hander top-edged his pull shot for six before driving over mid-on and pulling to cow corner for other sixes. But when slow left-armer Ralphie Albert came on Suryavanshi immediately skied to point.It was a different game after that, with India losing three more wickets before crossing the line, keeper Abhigyan Kundu leading the way with an unbeaten 45.England had been bowled out for a disappointing 174 in 42.2 overs, with only Rocky Flintoff (56) and Isaac Mohammed (42) reaching the 20 mark.There was a constant cloud cover and a green tinge to the pitch but it was India’s spinners, Mohamed Enaan and Kanishk Chouhan, who caused most problems, sharing five wickets and proving the most economical of the bowlers.England, who had chosen to bat, had started so positively, with Ben Dawkins and Isaac putting on an aggressive 39 for the fist wicket. The left-handed Isaac, one of two debutants in the team, along with French, was particularly exciting, pulling Henil Patel over square-leg for the first of his four sixes – there were also three fours in his 28-ball innings.The 17-year-old is related to England’s Moeen Ali and Worcestershire’s assistant head coach Kadeer Ali. He signed a three-year contract for Worcestershire from the Warwickshire Academy earlier this month.England lost their first wicket in the eighth over when Dawkins edged to first slip. But Isaac responded by striking Yudhajit Guha for successive sixes to bring up the 50 in the ninth over. Isaac then pulled Enaan over square-leg and out of the ground for another six. But three balls later he was caught at backward square-leg going for another big hit.Flintoff, the youngest player to score a century for the side, again looked in fine form. But his efforts were compromised by the constant fall of wickets at the other end. Ben Mayes looked in good touch when he drove through mid-on for four, but he was caught behind next ball to make it 80 for three and then captain Tom Rew was caught behind third ball.Flintoff, unsure whether to stick or twist, waited for some decent company but it didn’t arrive. Joe Moores and Albert fell cheaply to the off-spin of Chouhan and then Home was run out for five to make it 129 for seven. Flintoff was finally forced to hit out, and there were three sixes and three fours in his 90-ball innings before he was last out, going for another heave.

South Africa dominated day three, setting Zimbabwe a daunting target of 537

Himanshu Agrawal30-Jun-2025By the second hour of the third day in Bulawayo, the outlook had turned bleak for Zimbabwe. South Africa’s third-wicket partnership between Wiaan Mulder and David Bedingham had grown to 72 at over five runs an over. Zimbabwe’s spearhead, Blessing Muzarabani, was off the field due to illness. The field placements were defensive and the home side looked out of answers.Then came a lucky breakthrough. Wellington Masakadza, brought back for the 33rd over, banged one in short to Bedingham, who should have dispatched it to the boundary. Instead, he mistimed the pull straight to midwicket and fell for a brisk 35. That dismissal triggered a slide, with South Africa losing 3 for 19 in five overs; the only passage of play in Zimbabwe’s favour.It was otherwise a day of South African dominance. Mulder, who had added 63 with Tony de Zorzi for the second wicket, had a partnership of 104 with Kyle Verreynne for the sixth. South Africa’s No. 3 made a career-best 147 at a strike rate of 71.35 and put the match out of Zimbabwe’s reach. They were set a target of 537, after South Africa were bowled out for 369 in their second innings, and ended the day at 32 for 1.Mulder, who started the day patiently, lost his partner de Zorzi when the left-hander edged Tanaka Chivanga to second slip for 31. But each time the bowlers strayed in line or pitched too full, Mulder tried to drive to the boundary. Those occasional fours, and Bedingham’s quick start, kept South Africa going. Mulder brought up his fifty with a huge six over midwicket off Masakadza in the 24th over, by which time South Africa’s lead had passed 250.Zimbabwe resorted to spin at that point for nine consecutive overs but couldn’t prevent Mulder and Bedingham from scoring 44 runs in that phase. Bedingham’s miscue eventually gave Zimbabwe a window, and Vincent Masekesa exploited the rough outside off to turn one sharply into first-innings centurion Lhuan-dre Pretorius, bowling him for 4. Masekesa struck again in the 38th over, dismissing Dewald Brevis for 3 when he attempted an ambitious hoick.Wellington Masakadza picked up four wickets•Zimbabwe CricketWith South Africa 155 for 5, Mulder capitalised on the hittable balls. He drove, flicked and glanced for three boundaries in the next two overs, and reached his second Test hundred in the 43rd over with another boundary. By lunch, South Africa were ahead by 352.Five overs into the second session, Mulder and Verreynne were scoring boundaries frequently as Masekesa and Chivanga lacked control. Zimbabwe’s energy and confidence dropped; although their spinners were getting turn, the two well-set batters were untroubled.The century partnership was eventually broken by a short ball, as Wessly Madhevere had Mulder caught at deep midwicket. Three balls later, Masakadza found just enough turn to induce Verreynne to edge to slip for 36. At 259 for 7 – just as when they were 155 for 5 – Zimbabwe hoped to end South Africa’s innings quickly. But it wasn’t to be.South Africa’s captain Keshav Maharaj and Corbin Bosch deepened Zimbabwe’s woes, extending the lead beyond 425 with a quick 92-run stand. Maharaj began cautiously with three dots, but from the 61st over, the pair added 47 runs in eight overs.With the lead nearly 500, Zimbabwe suffered another blow in the last over before tea. Muzarabani, eligible to bowl after making up for his time off the field, had Bosch caught at first slip off a no-ball. Maharaj got to a half-century off 64 balls in the 77th over, but in the next one, Masakadza bowled Bosch for 36 by turning one from the rough outside leg.Masakadza had his fourth wicket soon after, removing Maharaj, who missed one after skipping down the pitch. Muzarabani then cleaned up Kwena Maphaka to finally bring Zimbabwe’s ordeal to an end.Set a daunting target of 537 and with stumps approaching, openers Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Prince Masvaure adopted a defensive approach. Only eight runs were scored in the first seven overs, as Codi Yusuf and Mulder bowled with discipline. When the final over of the day began, Zimbabwe had reached 32, and 15 of those runs were extras. The second ball of that over turned out to be the last of the day, as Kaitano edged Bosch to second slip, giving South Africa their first breakthrough in their pursuit of victory.

Happy Hump Day!  It’s a great day for an entire day of major league baseball. 

If you want to get in on the action, I’ve found a couple of appealing plus-money strikeout props for you to consider: one for the afternoon and one for the evening slate. 

Let’s have some fun!  

MLB Best Bets TodayFramber Valdez under 4.5 K (+120) at San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants' low strikeout rate has me looking at the under on Framber's K-prop today. The Giants have a 21.3% K-rate this season, resulting in an average of eight strikeouts per game. That K-rate drops even further to 20% when they face lefties. 

Framber Valdez pitched a complete game in his last outing, punching out eight Los Angeles Angels.  That's likely why we're getting good plus-money today for this under, even though Framber's 63.9% ground ball rate is the highest among starters with 40+ innings pitched and he is striking out batters at just seven per nine innings. 

Framber is averaging five strikeouts per game this season, so this isn't without risk, but the payout is appealing. He has gone under this prop in five of 10 starts this season. 

Nick Pivetta over 5.5 K (+105) vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Am I wrong, or is Nick Pivetta consistently under-appreciated? 

Pivetta is striking batters out at nearly 11 per nine, and his walk rate is among the best in the league.   That strikeout rate is even better when he is pitching at Fenway.  Pivetta has a K-rate of 12.23 at home this year.  

Philadelphia is not a high K-rate team, striking out just 20.4% of the time vs. righties this year (eighth-best in MLB), but historically, Pivetta has struck out this Phillies lineup at a rate of 26.8%, according to Statcast. 

Pivetta has exceeded this prop in five of eight starts this season, including four of his last five.  I'll take the value and bet he gets to six today. 

After losing three of his first six Premier League games in charge of Manchester United this season, it’s no surprise that pressure is once again starting to mount on manager Ruben Amorim.

The 40-year-old could only lead the Red Devils to a 15th-place finish last time around, but he was handed the benefit of the doubt after taking the reins midway through the campaign.

However, the hierarchy backed him with over £200m worth of funds to strengthen his first-team squad, but so far, it appears that his attempts have been to no avail.

Questions have since started to be asked about his long-term future in the role, but it’s thought that the hierarchy aren’t yet planning a change of manager despite the recent poor form.

Despite such reports, rumours continue to swirl around Old Trafford, with numerous names constantly touted over a potential switch to take the reins in the near future.

The latest on United’s hunt for an Amorim replacement

Over the last couple of days, former England boss Gareth Southgate has been hugely linked with the role at United – not for the first time, after being touted for the position numerous times in recent years.

The 55-year-old would be a cheap option for the hierarchy, with no compensation fee needing to be paid, given he’s currently without a job after departing the Three Lions role in July last year.

However, he’s not the only manager currently in their sights, with Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner another huge target, according to Graeme Bailey.

The journalist confirmed in recent days that the Eagles are planning to tie the Austrian down to a new contract, but the Red Devils are looking to swoop and secure his services.

He also stated that the 51-year-old could be open to the switch after receiving a lack of funding at Selhurst Park, with the move to Old Trafford undoubtedly a huge jump in his managerial career.

Why United’s latest target would be the next Mourinho

José Mourinho was a manager who divided opinion during his time at United, but his ability to win trophies is something which simply can’t be understated.

The 62-year-old spent two and a half years in the role at Old Trafford, securing two trophies in the form of the Europa League and the EFL Cup – with both trophies coming in the 2016/17 campaign.

He also led the club to their joint-highest league standing since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, ending the 2017/18 season in 2nd place behind Manchester City.

His outspoken nature often drew discontent from the fanbase, subsequently leading to his departure from the Red Devils back in December 2018.

However, the hierarchy could appoint their next version of the manager should they appoint Glasner, with the Austrian possessing a lot of similarities to Mourinho.

In a surprising turn of events in 2024/25, the 51-year-old claimed the FA Cup by beating Manchester City in the final to secure their first-ever major trophy.

He also won the Community Shield against Liverpool back in August, matching the feat achieved by Mourinho at Chelsea before his own move to the Theatre of Dreams.

Oliver Glasner – PL stats
Statistics	Tally
Games managed	57
Wins	23
Draws	20
Losses	14
Goals scored	88
Goals conceded	68
Points won	89
Points per game	1.6
Win percentage	40.3%
Stats via Transfermarkt

Glasner, who’s been labelled “sensational” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, has also led the Eagles to an 18-game unbeaten run across all competitions – the longest of any side in England’s top-flight.

In his 72 outings in charge of the Eagles, he’s claimed victory in 35 of them, whilst only losing 15 times – further highlighting how impressive he’s been at Selhurst Park.

Such a record has seen him lose six fewer games than Amorim at United, that’s despite taking charge of 23 more outings than the 40-year-old at Old Trafford.

It remains unclear if Glasner himself would be open to making the move to Manchester, but it’s clear that the Austrian would be an unbelievable appointment should Amorim depart.

Given the failures felt since the current boss took charge nearly 12 months ago, it’s crucial that the board make a huge call on his future in the coming weeks, but the appointment is just as important, with Glasner needing to be the number one target.

Amorim upgrade: "Best coach in the PL" would now "love" to manage Man Utd

Manchester United may look to one manager to replace Ruben Amorim in the near future.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 2, 2025

Thomas Tuchel has reportedly decided to draft Jude Bellingham back into his England squad for the November internationals. The Real Madrid superstar was surprisingly left out of the Three Lions’ ranks in October after recovering from shoulder surgery and returning to action at club level. The expectation is that he will figure in 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.

Bellingham's last England appearance: Recovered from shoulder surgery

Eyebrows were raised when Tuchel chose to overlook Bellingham for fixtures that saw England book their tickets to next summer’s global gathering in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The German tactician stuck with those that performed admirably in September.

Tuchel claimed that Bellingham was left out as he was lacking “rhythm” after several weeks on the sidelines. The 22-year-old midfielder has not represented his country since June, with his international coach going on to reveal that his mother finds some of Bellingham’s on-field behaviour “repulsive”.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTuchel's England warning to 'most talented players'

Questions were asked of Bellingham’s character on the back of those comments, with Tuchel eager to establish squad harmony ahead of a bid for World Cup glory. He has said: “We are not collecting the most talented players, we are trying to build a team. Teams win trophies, no-one else.

“That’s how it is in international football. But the thing you are playing [back to me] is not what I am saying. You are playing the game that says: ‘He [Tuchel] is saying the others who aren’t in the team, you cannot build a team with them’. It’s not like this. We built a team with the players who were available and they did so well so we go again with them. Nobody said we can’t do the same with them. Or even better, or maybe the same level, with the others.

“For this moment we stick with our choice and the radical statement is that we don’t collect the most talented players. We collect the guys who have the glue and cohesion to be the best team. Because we need to arrive as the best team. We will arrive as underdogs at the World Cup because we haven’t won it for decades and we will play against teams who have repeatedly won it during that time. So we have to arrive as a team or we will have no chance.”

Ex-England star reacts to questions of Bellingham's character

reports that Bellingham will be given a chance to prove his worth when Tuchel names his latest England squad on Friday. He has been catching the eye for Real Madrid of late, netting three goals through his last four appearances, and will get the chance to add to his collection of 43 senior international caps.

Danny Murphy will be among those pleased to see Bellingham welcomed back into the fold, with the ex-England midfielder having told GOAL in the wake of October’s snub: “I find the narrative around his character and any problems a little bit strange because when I have watched England – I have watched them a lot at tournaments and watched him closely, he is, by far, the best character on the football pitch when England play, in terms of producing big moments, grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck, leaving everything out there.

“If you could have 11 Jude Bellinghams, you would win most tournaments. The element of not talking to the press or not doing interviews or the odd swear word or rant or a little bit of what some people would call arrogance, that is what creates the player on the pitch. They are just rumours because a lot of the feedback from the players – Jordan Henderson recently said how much he likes him and how great a character he is – I think some of it has been exaggerated.

“From a footballing perspective, we have a much better chance of winning the World Cup if he is in the team. I don’t mean just in the squad, I mean in the team. He is a phenomenal talent. We should be – as pundits, fans, press – building him up, applauding him and being thankful that we have got him, not trying to pull him down because he is the best one we have got. He is the game-changer in our side. He is the one that can make things happen. He’s just a phenomenal player.

“I don’t blame Tuchel for not bringing him back on this particular occasion because he has only played a few minutes for Real Madrid. I understand that and don’t see that as a drama. I don’t see that as a big statement. We are playing two games we should win comfortably – let him get on with his fitness, let him get on with building himself back up. I would be absolutely gobsmacked and amazed if he is, if fit, not in Tuchel’s first XI come the World Cup.”

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GettyEngland fixtures: World Cup qualification secured

England, who have already topped their World Cup qualification group after taking maximum points from six fixtures that have all delivered clean sheets, will be back in action on November 13 when playing host to Serbia. They will then travel to Albania three days later as their 2025 schedule is wrapped up.