Category: Sports

Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry, has picked two countries as his dark horses in the 2026 World Cup tournament.

Speaking on Fox Sports, Henry singled out Senegal and Norway as his dark horses.

Senegal and Norway are in Group I, alongside France and Iraq.

“You have to think about Senegal and Norway, who are my two dark horses in this competition,” Henry said.

“It’s going to be tough for Iraq. I do think that the three teams [Norway, Senegal and France] will go forward, so I’m looking forward to that one, and there is another one.”

Henry won the World Cup with France in 1998 during his playing days as a professional footballer.

World Cup 2026: Thierry Henry picks two countries as dark horses

Liverpool on Friday confirmed the departure of three coaches from the coaching staff.

They are Sipke Hulshoff, Ruben Peeters and Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Hulshoff is a first assistant coach and lead physical performance coach.

Peeters joined Liverpool as part of Arne Slot’s new backroom team following his arrival as head coach in the summer of 2024.

Van Bronckhorst, meanwhile, arrived at Liverpool last summer to take up a role as an assistant coach within Slot’s set-up.

However, the three coaches will now leave their posts following the announcement of Slot’s departure as head coach last month.

“Everybody at LFC thanks Sipke, Ruben and Gio for all their efforts and contributions to the club and wishes them the best for the future,” Liverpool’s statement partly read.

EPL: Three coaches leave Liverpool

Trabzonspor president, Ertugrul Dogan has revealed that goalkeeper Andre Onana is expected to join the club permanently from Manchester United.

Onana had spent the last season on loan at the Turkish Super Lig club from Man United.

The Cameroon returned to the Red Devils after his loan spell with Trabzonspor expires.

Speaking on the development, Dogan told Ajansspor, “I think Andre Onana will stay with the team, we have met his financial demands.

“The fans like him too, he is a decent bloke. I don’t think we will have any problems.

“I don’t think he will find the same level of interest in him anywhere else.

“So I think he will stay with the team.”

Meanwhile, in another development, Prince Cisse, the son of former Liverpool forward Djibril Cisse, has signed his first professional contract with the Reds.

The 17-year-old has been at Anfield since the pre-Academy phase and enjoyed a goalscoring debut for Rob Page’s U21s side during the 2025-26 campaign.

Cisse has made the transition from attacker to defender in the past few seasons and now predominantly plays as a centre-back.

Onana to leave Man Utd for new club as Liverpool confirm deal for Cisse

Former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has picked Spain winger Lamine Yamal to take home the Golden Ball at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This year’s tournament kicked off with co-hosts Mexico beating South Africa 2-0 on Thursday night.

The competition will run for over five weeks, before the champions are crowned on July 19.

Several top footballers are in the running for the prestigious Golden Ball award, given to the best player of the tournament.

Names like Lionel Messi (Argentina), Kylian Mbappe (France), Harry Kane (England), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), etc are seen as contenders.

“I have to go with Lamine Yamal,” Mikel Obi said.

“He’s just amazing. The way he plays, the confidence he plays with, everything he does is just superb. I think me and every football fan are looking forward to watching him again, and I think he will be great again.”

2026 World Cup: Mikel Obi reveals player to win Golden Ball award

Arsenal have stepped up their bid to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali.

According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is understood to see Tonali as vital squad depth with the Gunners expected to play around 60 games again next season.

However, Newcastle United’s lack of European football means Tonali could push to leave St James’ Park this summer.

Arsenal will have to battle Manchester United for the Italy international’s signature as the Red Devils are also keeping tabs on the player.

Meanwhile, in another development, Fulham star Antonee Robinson has been linked with a move to Manchester United this summer, The Sun reports.

Man United manager Michael Carrick is keen to bolster his options at left-back, with Luke Shaw his only option in that position at the moment.

This comes after the departure of Tyrell Malacia from Old Trafford.

The report added that Lewis Hall is another name on Man United’s radar, but Robinson could be a cheaper alternative for Carrick’s side.

Transfer: Arsenal step up bid for Tonali as Man Utd enter race for Robinson

One of the co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, Mexico opened the tournament with a dramatic 2-0 win over South Africa on Wednesday night.

The match was a repeat of the opening game of the 2010 edition, which ended 1-1.

However, this time around, the Mexicans took control of the match from the blast of the referee’s whistle.

And they were rewarded with the first goal within 10 minutes of play.

Julián Quiñones opened the scoring in the 9th minute, and Raúl Jiménez doubled the lead in the 67th minute.

The goals secured the victory for the co-hosts against a South African side that finished with nine men after two red cards.

Mexico also saw Cesar Montes sent off in stoppage them, but took all three points.

2026 World Cup: Mexico beat 9-man South Africa in opening game

Bayern Munich have handed Arsenal a major summer transfer blow in the battle to sign Eintracht Frankfurt star Nathaniel Brown.

According to Bild’s Head of Football Christian Falk, Brown’s proposed switch to Bayern is nearing completion and the defender is expected to join Vincent Kompany’s side for a fee of just under £56m, including bonuses.

This comes after the Bundesliga champions saw off competition from Arsenal to win the race for the fullback.

Brown has established himself as one of the brightest young talents in Germany.

The 22-year-old made the squad list to represent Germany at the World Cup.

Transfer: Bayern Munich hand Arsenal major blow

Former Arsenal star, Emmanuel Petit, has urged manager Mikel Arteta to keep Leandro Trossard beyond this summer transfer window.

Petit, however, urged Arteta to sell the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus, adding that he needs to sign two wingers and a striker.

“I think it’s easy to know what Arsenal are missing, for me it is wingers,” Petit told talkSPORT when speaking about the players that should leave Arteta’s side.

“For me, the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus. I don’t know about Viktor Gyokeres because he just came into the club.

“Leandro Trossard, I would keep him. But Noni Madueke, for me, isn’t good enough, I’m sorry to say that, but he must do much more than that to improve.”

Arteta told to keep Leandro Trossard, sell three other Arsenal players this summer

Real Madrid have confirmed that Jose Mourinho will officially become their new manager on July 13.

That is the date the Laliga club will begin their preseason preparations ahead of the 2026/2027 campaign.

Benfica will receive a €15m compensation fee for the 63-year-old.

“The Board of Directors of Real Madrid C.F., meeting today, Thursday, June 11, and chaired by Florentino Pérez, has agreed to appoint José Mourinho as first-team coach for the next three seasons, until June 30, 2029.

José Mourinho will join Real Madrid on July 13, the day preseason training begins,” Madrid’s statement read.

LaLiga: Real Madrid confirm date Mourinho will officially join club

Rangers are interested in signing Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu this summer, DAILY POST reports.

Alebiosu only joined Blackburn Rovers from Belgian Pro League outfit Kortrijk at the start of last season.

The Nigeria international was one of the top performers in the Sky Bet Championship during the 2025/26 campaign.

The 24-year-old contributed one goal and five assists in 41 league appearances for Rovers.

Rovers reportedly turned down an offer from Serie A club Genoa for the right-back in January.

They will, however, entertain offers between £3 million and £5 million for Alebiosu this time around, according to Sportsboom.

Rangers want him to replace their former defender, James Tavernier.

Transfer: Rangers line up move for Super Eagles defender