Rangers have had an offer for Feyenoord striker Danilo swiftly turned down by the Dutch club, however Michael Beale remains keen, according to a report from The Daily Record.
What's the latest Rangers transfer news?
The Gers are in the latter stages of their negotiations for Brighton & Hove Albion's Abdallah Sima, with talks over a loan deal progressing well, although Alan Hutton believes Beale would much rather sign him on a permanent basis.
The former Rangers man does not expect the manager to bring too many players in on loan, and the manager has identified a number of other targets in attacking areas, who could be brought to Ibrox on a permanent basis.
Cremonese striker Cyriel Dessers is still being monitored by the Light Blues, having seen their previous approaches turned down earlier in the window, and Danilo also remains a potential option.
However, The Daily Record report the Gers have had a low-ball offer for the Feyenoord striker immediately turned down, with the bid falling way short of the Dutch side's asking price.
The Eredivisie champions expect to receive more than £5m for the striker, with the two clubs currently "miles apart", however there are indications that Rangers could return to the negotiating table.
Despite the knock back, the 24-year-old remains high on Beale's list of potential attacking targets, but Dessers remains the priority for the time being.
Which striker are Rangers signing?
Dessers is Rangers' top target at present, and it is clear to see why, given the Nigerian's goal-scoring record over the past few years, most notably scoring ten goals for Feyenoord en-route to the Europa Conference League final in 2022.
However, Danilo has also impressed for the Dutch side, having been hailed as their "best finisher" by former manager Erik ten Hag, and he netted ten league goals last season, the second-highest amount in the squad.
Danilo for Feyenoord
The Sao Paolo-born forward's qualities do not stop there, averaging 0.2 assists per 90 in the past year, placing him in the 87th percentile, when compared to his positional peers.
Having only recently turned 24, the £8k-per-week attacker is four years younger than Dessers, and he is already recording similar attacking numbers, with the latter netting nine goals during his last season in the Eredivisie.
At the moment, Rangers appear to be some way off Feyenoord's asking price, but if they are able to reach an agreement in the future, Danilo could be a solid addition to Beale's squad.
Aston Villa are in advanced talks to sign West Bromwich Albion midfielder Rico Richards, according to a recent report from Football Insider.
What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?
Despite having already completed the signing of Youri Tielemans, Villa are keen to bolster their midfield even further, and they have emerged as potential suitors for Villarreal's Alex Baena, who is said to be valued at €50m (£43m).
Leeds United's Tyler Adams is another option for the Villans following the Whites' relegation from the Premier League, however, the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion, Everton and Nottingham Forest have also enquired about his availability.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain reportedly "expects" to make the switch to Villa Park this summer after leaving Liverpool, and Unai Emery has now been presented with another opportunity to snap up a midfielder on a free transfer.
According to a report from Football Insider, Villa are in advanced talks to sign Richards, who will be available for free upon the expiration of his contract with West Brom at the end of this month.
Talks have progressed well and Emery's recruitment team are confident of securing a full agreement with the 19-year-old, who primarily plays in advanced midfield, but can also play on either wing and up front.
To begin with, the youngster could join the likes of Louie Barry and Aaron Ramsey in the under-21 setup at Villa Park.
Who is Rico Richards?
The starlet has come through the ranks at West Bromwich Albion, making a total of 52 appearances in the Premier League 2, during which time he has registered a respectable six goals and eight assists.
After impressing at youth level, the Englishman was handed one appearance in the Championship last season, though that ten-minute cameo is the only experience he has of first-team football.
As such, the midfielder is likely to be some way off competing for a starting place at Villa Park, but he has certainly caught the eye in the youth setup, being hailed as "splendid" by journalist Joe Chapman after a quality display against Arsenal.
Villa are now in the privileged position of being able to attract top-quality young players, and there is every indication the West Brom youngster is in that bracket, recording nine goal contributions in 19 Premier League 2 games last season.
Given that Richards is available on a free transfer, it is a very low-risk signing, and it is exciting news that a deal is edging closer to completion.
Tottenham Hotspur seem to be closing in on yet another fine addition to bolster Ange Postecoglou's team…
What's the latest on Micky van de Ven to Tottenham Hotspur?
That's according to The Mirror's John Cross, who took to his Twitter to detail an update on their pursuit of Micky van de Ven.
The Dutch defender has been linked with a north London switch for a few weeks now, but only yesterday was a breakthrough seemingly reached.
Writing on Twitter, the journalist detailed the specifics: "Tottenham are set to sign Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven in a £30m deal."
How good is Micky van de Ven?
Although a relative unknown the 22-year-old has been a stalwart for Wolfsburg recently. In tempting this star from such a club, perhaps they will also mimic Manchester City's success when they acquired Kevin De Bruyne from the German outfit.
Having just won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League within one season, Pep Guardiola has once again written himself into the history books as a record-breaking manager who has completed a feat only done in England once before.
At the heart of that success was the Belgian creator, who has been an integral cog of the vast success earned at the Etihad in recent years.
Across all competitions last term he posted ten goals and a further 31 assists, adding even more silverware to his already sprawling cabinet. The 32-year-old has now won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five EFL Cups and that coveted European trophy too since moving.
It might seem unfathomable for anyone to match such success, but Postecoglou will surely have grand ambitions of forging a dynasty of his own in north London.
Van de Ven could mark the platform with which this success could be attained, as a defensive pillar with all the key attributes to hold down the Australian's back line for the next decade.
Last year in the Bundesliga, he would maintain a 6.85 average rating, upheld through his 88% pass accuracy, 70% dribble success rate, 1.4 tackles and 3.1 clearances per game, via Sofascore.
For comparison, the latter figure would have seen him rank as the third-best in that field within Spurs' squad, with his pass completion again making him joint third-best of those who have played more than five games.
kevin-de-bruyne-manchester-city
However, it is not merely his technical assets that would allow him to shine. His physical attributes make him something of an anomaly, as despite standing at 6 foot 4 he also boasts frightening speed.
Marcel Schäfer, Wolfsburg’s managing director for sport, sought to detail this: "Left foot, extreme speed, plays every second. Micky [has performed] consistently very well throughout the season. He’s a player with huge potential and this season in particular has shown incredible development, playing himself into the spotlight with his performances."
The future is bright for this young defender, and perhaps a move to England under a coach that would help skyrocket his career would only bolster the fine foundations of this future star.
If he is to have half the success De Bruyne has earned in Manchester since moving from Wolfsburg, he would still be considered a wild success in north London.
Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Roma defender Roger Ibanez, as Unai Emery bids to bolster his backline this summer.
Monchi has all but confirmed his first signing in his tenure at the club, with blockbuster centre-back Pau Torres set to join his former coach by trading La Liga for the Premier League.
Another central defender could follow suit, if rumours linking Ibanez to the Midlands are to be believed, in a move that could suggest a tantalising partnership to be heralded at Villa Park next season.
As reported by Corriere dello Sport – relayed by TEAMtalk – Villa are ‘ready to present’ an offer for the Brazilian, who has also gained interest from Tottenham.
Valued by his club between the €25m-€30m (£21m-26m) mark as per the report, the Villans could grab a bargain in a defensive remastering, with Roma reportedly allowing the 24-year-old to depart after signing Evan Ndicka from Eintracht Frankfurt.
How good is Roger Ibanez?
If speculation is to be believed, it’s difficult to comprehend how the Brazilian may be allowed to exit Roma so swiftly, with manager Jose Mourinho singing his praises just last season.
The ever-charismatic coach described the centre-back as being an “untouchable” figure in his side, following a string of strong performances in defence for I Giallorossi.
Praise from Mourinho is rare indeed, with his performances warranted by his numbers, averaging in the top five of Roma’s best-performing individuals in Serie A last campaign, registering an average match rating of 7.00, via Sofascore.
The Brazilian’s performances impressed beyond the walls of Rome, with FBref highlighting him as being in the top 3% of centre-backs in Europe in terms of interceptions, averaging a monstrous 2.19 per 90, to showcase his innate reading of the game.
Roger Ibanez Roma
For Villa, Emery could seal the signing of a second impressive central defender this summer, and a player that could be a perfect partner at the back for the inbound Torres.
The numbers accumulated by the duo over their respective league campaign’s tell a story that could imply that they could come together to provide Emery with the perfect concoction of defensive cover.
Lauded as being the “best defender in Serie A” last season by scout Antonio Mango, Ibanez won 63% of his total duels in the league, winning 5.7 duels per game for his side.
While Torres is an artful defender, the Spaniard excels in his progressive play, acting as one of the best in Europe in his position in terms of getting the ball out from the back, as shown through his 5.81 progressive passes per 90 in La Liga, via FBref.
Ibanez emerges as the more combative figure in central defence, with his average of 2.16 tackles and 2.19 interceptions to the Villarreal ace’s 1.27 tackles and 0.38 interceptions per 90, as per FBref comparisons.
The Spaniard, however, could add a calming fuel to Ibanez’s fire with his distribution away from danger, as suggested through his 2.24 progressive carries and 5.51 passes into the final third per 90 to the Brazilian’s 0.77 progressive carries and 2.29 final third passes.
Emery could fuse together two contrasting centre-backs in their approaches to the art of defending to create a firm partnership to protect the goal at Villa Park.
Leicester City ramped up their preparations for the new Championship campaign this week with the signing of Callum Doyle on loan from Manchester City, but new head coach Enzo Maresca appears to be on the lookout for even more recruits.
Who are Leicester City signing?
The Foxes have so far brought in Doyle, Conor Coady and Harry Winks since being relegated from the Premier League in May, just seven years on from winning the competition.
Coady and Winks arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur respectively for a combined fee of £17.5m, helping to offset the departures of James Maddison, Youri Tielemans and Caglar Soyuncu among others.
The Foxes have been tipped to bring in another centre-back to potentially partner Coady, and TEAMtalk suggests Leicester are one of seven teams keeping tabs on Middlesbrough's Paddy McNair.
Middlesbrough are supposedly open to offers for the Northern Ireland international, who is on wages of around £20,000 a week at the Riverside Stadium, according to Capology.
What position does Paddy McNair play in?
McNair has shown his versatility across the past six seasons in the Championship with Sunderland and for his current side, the past five of those with the latter, having played at centre-back in central midfield and at full-back.
Indeed, as per WhoScored, McNair was used 28 times in the heart of defence last season, twice on the right and seven times in central midfield, making him a very versatile option for Maresca should he arrive.
As Boro boss Michael Carrick pointed out last season when praising McNair's "terrific" displays, it is at centre-back he prefers playing.
The 28-year-old can be trusted to do a job wherever he is fielded, with veteran Neil Warnock hailing him as the best player he has managed, while predicting he would be playing "at the very top" again one day.
Everton defenderConor Coady
It has not quite worked out that way just yet, but McNair is still clearly a man in demand, with promoted Premier League trio Luton Town, Sheffield United and Burnley also said to be interested.
McNair is particularly strong when it comes to his ability to move the ball forward from the back. As per FBref, he ranks in the top 4% of centre-backs for progressive carries (1.69 per 90) across the eight divisions most alike the Championship, and he is among the top 2% for progressive passes received.
Where the former Manchester United player let himself down last season was in terms of clearances per 90 (2.61) and interceptions per 90 (0.80), placing him among the bottom 4% and bottom 7% of centre-backs respectively.
Looking at Coady's figures from last season on loan at Everton, he averaged 3.78 clearances per 90 in the Premier League – only four team-mates could better that – and 0.60 interceptions.
Should they be paired together, it is likely that McNair will be the one tasked with taking the ball forward in a flexible formation – Pep Guardiola protege, Maresca is in charge, after all – while Coady will be more of a pure defender.
Either way, it will be one of the more experienced centre-back partnerships in the Championship should Leicester pull off the deal, and one with plenty of promise.
Everton are just over three weeks away from their opening Premier League fixture against Fulham, and they have made a grand total of one signing this summer.
Ashley Young, albeit experienced, is 38 years old and hardly likely to get the revival started following a woeful couple of seasons in Merseyside.
The Toffees certainly need strengthening in almost all areas of the pitch and Sean Dyche will need to start securing some new arrivals in the next couple of weeks otherwise the pressure could start to build.
Having netted just 34 goals in 38 league matches last term, the need for a clinical centre-forward is obvious, yet their back line could also be bolstered, as they had the seventh-worst defensive total in the division, conceding 57 goals.
According to Tutto Juve (via Sport Witness), Everton are interested in signing young Belgian defender Koni de Winter this summer, and they have ‘inquired’ about his situation at Juventus.
How good is Koni de Winter?
The Goodison Park outfit face competition from French side Lille for the player as he looks set to undergo pre-season training at Juventus ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
The 21-year-old has a contract at the Serie A side until 2026, which means Dyche will have to stump up a decent fee in order to tempt them to sell and with Juventus holding the starlet in ‘high esteem’, any move could be tricky to work out.
That said, it would be a wise move should they complete a deal for the £10m-rated talent, as he could well be a dream replacement for James Tarkowski. Despite holding one of the worst defensive records in the division, the former Burnley defender emerged as one of their finest players during a terrible season.
FC Empoli defender Koni De Winter.
The 30-year-old ranked third across the squad for overall Sofascore rating, accurate passes per game (34.6) and interceptions per game (1.3) while he also made 5.2 clearances each match, good enough to rank him top of the pile, proving to be an impressive signing.
He won't be around forever, however, and Dyche will soon have to find an ideal replacement to the centre-back sooner rather than later. De Winter could be the ideal candidate.
He has already made two appearances for the Bianconeri, coming in the Champions League during the 2021/22 season, showing that they clearly value his talent, yet he ended up at Empoli on a loan deal last term.
The 21-year-old made 14 appearances across the whole season and won 59% of his aerial duels along with making 4.5 clearances and one tackle per game, with the youngster clearly showing glimpses of his defensive talents.
His former teammate at Juventus Leonardo Bonucci lavished praise upon the 6 foot 2 gem back in 2021 when he was just emerging from the academy, claiming that the defender “has no fear” and if given a chance in the Premier League, he could accelerate his development.
Of course, Dyche will be looking at signing seasoned campaigners who have the required experience to push Everton towards the top half of the table, yet taking a gamble on players such as De Winter, a player dubbed "strong" by Pavel Nedved, could pay off handsomely in the future.
Perhaps the most pressing concern for Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea is the lack of depth in midfield.
This year, the Blues have lost Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Mason Mount, leaving the club moderately light in the centre of the park.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Moises Caicedo has been long-winded and well-documented as they’re yet to reach an agreement for the 21-year-old. The west London outfit recently had a bid of £70m rejected by the Seagulls, but previous reports suggested that the Ecuadorian could cost up to £100m.
Brighton’s stance has probably been hardened by Declan Rice’s £105m move to Arsenal, with the south coast side feeling they can acquire a similar fee for one of their biggest talents.
This frustrating process may force Chelsea in a different direction – and Marco Verratti has been suggested as a possible target.
What’s the latest on Marco Verratti to Chelsea?
According to Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol, Chelsea are one of several European giants who are keen on signing Verratti.
He revealed there’s a chance that the 30-year-old will leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer. Although it is understood that the French club’s official position is that he’s not for sale, they may listen to offers that match their valuation, which is around £70m.
However, Atletico Madrid, Al-Hilal and Liverpool have also expressed interest in securing the Italian’s signature. Regarding the rumours around the Premier League sides, they are not confirmed and Solhekol believes it may just be intermediaries, agents, or representatives offering Verratti to Liverpool and Chelsea at this stage, as both clubs are in need of midfielders.
Nevertheless, given that the Reds are on the verge of losing Jordan Henderson and Fabinho – as well as the brazenly chaotic transfer dealings of the new Chelsea ownership – a move to either side could yet happen.
Would Marco Verratti be a good signing for Chelsea?
The 55-cap international has been an impeccable club servant for PSG, as in over a decade of service he has made over 400 appearances and won nine Ligue 1 titles.
His diminutive weaving stature and imperious technical elegance has helped him form a formidable reputation across the globe as one of the most talented midfielders.
This has been recognised by Pep Guardiola, who has emphatically underlined his praise for the 5 foot 5 magician, saying: “I’m in love with him. He is exceptional. Even under pressure, he manages to find those passes that allow the midfield to be free. He’s not a player for long passes but you can always count on him to build the game.”
His style of play has led to comparisons with Thiago Alcantara, as per FBref, as both relentlessly dictate the tempo of matches with their passing, intelligence and movement.
Premier League, Liverpool, Liverpool news, Liverpool latest news, Liverpool update, Liverpool team news, Liverpool analysis, Liverpool vs Arsenal, LFC team news, LFC news, LFC injury news, LFC update, Thiago Alcantara
This is mainly mirrored by their statistics on the ball as they average similar pass completion per 90 (92.6% vs 86.6%), progressive passes per 90 (9.81 vs 8.65), and successful take-ons per 90 (1.28 vs 1.33). Furthermore, these aforementioned figures place both men within the best 19% in Europe’s top five leagues among their positional peers for each of those metrics.
As well as this exemplary ball-playing competence, they also possess excellent and unexpected tenacity, ranking in the top 5% across the continent for tackles per 90.
Therefore, adding someone of this quality would be massive for Chelsea and would mean an exciting reunion with Pochettino.
There appears to have been another twist regarding the long-running saga involving Harry Kane, with recent reports suggesting that Manchester United are still potentially in the running for the Englishman's signature.
What's the latest on Kane to Tottenham?
According to journalist Samuel Luckhurst, the Red Devils remain in the background in the battle to land the 29-year-old, with Tottenham Hotspur seemingly ready to sell the prolific marksman this summer, rather than seeing him depart for nothing next year.
Writing on Twitter, the respected insider revealed: "Spurs owner Joe Lewis has issued Daniel Levy with an ultimatum to sell Harry Kane or tie him down on a new contract (unlikely). United circling on off-chance Spurs are suddenly receptive to selling him to a Premier League club."
In his attached piece for Manchester Evening News, Luckhurst went on to add that the England skipper remains Erik ten Hag's 'ideal striker target', albeit with United having turned to Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund as an alternative option of late due to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy's apparent 'reluctance to sell' to another Premier League club – a fact the former Ajax boss may be hoping will chance.
Harry Kane
The piece also notes that Kane – who was previously valued at more than £100m earlier in the window – is said to be demanding a salary of around £30m a year, ensuring it would prove a mammoth financial deal for the Old Trafford outfit.
Should Man United sign Kane?
For all the potential concerns there may be over financing a move for the long-serving Tottenhman man – with United having already spent over £100m on Mason Mount and Andre Onana – it is fair to say that Kane would be a dream option for Ten Hag and co.
While enjoying success at the Theatre of Dreams is never guaranteed for even the most high profile of players – with likes of Alexis Sanchez and Angel Di Maria prime examples of that – Kane's proven Premier League experience would surely raise the chances of him making a telling impact in Manchester.
Having finished behind only Erling Haaland in the scoring charts last season with 30 league goals, the £200k-per-week hitman now boasts an overall tally in the competition of 213 goals to date, with Alan Shearer's record total of 260 now firmly in sight.
Not only a "goalscoring machine" – according to Match of the Day host, Gary Lineker – the beauty of the 6 foot 2 ace is his all-round game, as he is arguably "one of the best passers in world football", according to pundit Jamie Carragher.
That playmaking ability has seen the Walthamstow native strike up a fine partnership with Spurs winger Heung-min Son at N17 in recent years, with the pair having combined for the most goal contributions between two players in Premier League history.
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.
The hope would be that Kane could replicate that impact alongside Marcus Rashford at Old Trafford, with the 25-year-old – who scored 30 goals last term in all competitions – mirroring Son in wreaking havoc down the left flank.
As per Ten Hag, there is "almost no better player in the world" than Rashford when running in behind and threatening the backline, with the United academy graduate regularly looking to hurt the opposition in that left channel, notably ranking in the top 13% among European forwards for progressive passes received as evidence of that trait.
To then have Kane – who ranks in the top 4% for progressive passes – dropping deep to play his compatriot through on goal would be a dream scenario, with Rashford potentially set to prove somewhat unplayable if supplied with such regular, quality service.
With the pair already familiar with each other due to their time in the Three Lions' set-up, a link-up at club level could be a match made in heaven.
West Bromwich Albion are reportedly close to signing Josh Maja on a free transfer.
What’s the latest West Brom transfer news?
It has been a relatively quiet summer so far ahead of Carlos Corebran’s first full season in charge at The Hawthorns. Attacking midfielder Jeremy Sarmiento has been the only arrival prior to the new Championship campaign, but there have been a number of departures.
Dara O'Shea has left to join newly-promoted Burnley, whereas Jake Livermore has signed for Watford on a free transfer. Tom Rogic was also let go and Karlan Grant and Zac Ashworth have joined Cardiff City and Bolton Wanderers on loan.
Corberan previously admitted that he wanted two players in every position by the end of the window, saying last month:
"If in the Championship you don't have 22 players and two players in every position, it's going to be difficult.
"The number of substitutes we can make is the same as last year – five – but we can now have two more players in the bench than last year. The squads with more good players are going to have some advantages. They'll have good players to cover all the needs of the games."
Further reinforcements in attack therefore are seemingly needed, with Daryl Dike currently injured leaving Brandon Thomas-Asante as the only fit striker, and it looks as if the manager will get his wish when it comes to a move for Maja.
According to The Express and Star, West Brom are close to signing Maja on a free transfer, with the player even undergoing a medical on Monday.
An announcement is thought to be imminent, with The Express and Star’s Lewis Cox taking to Twitter, describing it as a boost for the opening game of the new season on Saturday against Blackburn Rovers.
“Albion closing in on free transfer Josh Maja. Excitement at Hawthorns at netting long-term target, who Bordeaux wanted to keep and also had interest from Boro & Sheff Wed. Good goal return last term & only 24. Boost for Sat.”
Josh Maja
Who is Josh Maja?
Maja is 24 years of age and has previously been on the books of Sunderland and Bordeaux, with loan moves at Fulham and Stoke City also on his CV.
An out-and-out striker, the Nigeria international scored 46 goals in 142 appearances for Sunderland and Bordeaux, netting on five occasions in total during his time with Fulham and Stoke.
He has been praised by Jermain Defoe in the past, who played alongside the player at the Stadium of Light, describing Maja as a player with "electric pace".
“When he trained with the first team he showed such great awareness – he knew when to pass it, had a great touch – and although he’s not got electric pace, he’s two steps ahead of everyone which means he’s got an immediate advantage.
“The gift Josh has is rare and if he builds on it, the sky’s the limit.”
Maja has only played against the Baggies once, where he produced an assist for Stoke in a 3-1 win after a brilliant run and pass, and by the looks of things, he’ll soon call The Hawthorns his home.
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup has now reached the knock-out stages.Since July 20th, 32 nations have been battling across Australia and New Zealand to fight for a place in the next stage of the prestigious tournament, and after a whirlwind group stage caused heartbreak for some, many dreams have come true for supporters across the world so far this summer.
Now the competition intensifies and there will be no room for error or second chances for the remaining nations in their search for glory – and every single player and coach will be aware of the fragility of their fate in the competition.
Here is Football FanCast’s guide to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, including the latest from our Lionesses' camp ahead of their last-16 tie against Nigeria on Monday morning.
Women’s World Cup: Fixtures and results so far
Group A:
New Zealand 1-0 Norway
20th July, 8am
BBC
Philippines 0-2 Switzerland
21st July, 6am
ITV
New Zealand 0-1 Philippines
25th July, 6.30am
ITV
Switzerland 0-0 Norway
25th July, 9am
ITV
Norway 6-0 Philippines
30th July, 8am
BBC
Switzerland 0-0 New Zealand
30th July, 8am
BBC
Group B:
Australia 1-0 Republic of Ireland
20th July, 11am
ITV
Nigeria 0-0 Canada
21st July, 3.30am
BBC
Canada 2-1 Republic of Ireland
26th July, 1pm
ITV
Australia 2-3 Nigeria
27th July, 11am
BBC
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Nigeria
31st July, 11am
BBC
Canada 0-4 Australia
31st July, 11am
BBC
Group C:
Spain 3-0 Costa Rica
21st July, 8.30am
BBC
Zambia 0-5 Japan
22nd July, 8am
BBC
Japan 2-0 Costa Rica
26th July, 6am
ITV
Spain 5-0 Zambia
26th July, 8.30am
BBC
Costa Rica 1-3 Zambia
31st July, 8am
ITV
Japan 4-0 Spain
31st July, 8am
ITV
Group D:
England 1-0 Haiti
22nd July, 10.30am
ITV
Denmark 1-0 China
22nd July, 1pm
BBC
England 1-0 Denmark
28th July, 9.30am
BBC
China 1-0 Haiti
28th July, 12pm
ITV
China 1-6 England
1st August, 12pm
ITV
Haiti 0-2 Denmark
1st August, 12pm
ITV
Group E:
United States 3-0 Vietnam
22nd July, 2am
BBC
Netherlands 1-0 Portugal
23rd July, 8.30am
BBC
United States 1-1 Netherlands
27th July, 2am
BBC
Portugal 2-0 Vietnam
27th July, 8.30am
ITV
Vietnam 0-7 Netherlands
1st August, 8am
ITV
Portugal 0-0 United States
1st August, 8am
ITV
Group F:
France 0-0 Jamaica
23rd July, 11am
ITV
Brazil 4-0 Panama
24th July, 12pm
ITV
France 2-1 Brazil
29th July, 11am
BBC
Panama 0-1 Jamaica
29th July, 1.30pm
ITV
Panama 3-6 France
2nd August, 11am
ITV
Jamaica 0-0 Brazil
2nd August, 11am
ITV
Group G:
Sweden 2-1 South Africa
23rd July, 6am
BBC
Italy 1-0 Argentina
24th July, 7am
ITV
Argentina 2-2 South Africa
28th July, 1am
ITV
Sweden 5-0 Italy
29th July, 8.30am
BBC
Argentina 0-2 Sweden
2nd August, 8am
BBC
South Africa 3-2 Italy
2nd August, 8am
BBC
Group H:
Germany 6-0 Morocco
24th July, 9.30am
ITV
Colombia 2-0 South Korea
25th July, 3am
BBC
South Korea 0-1 Morocco
30th July, 5.30am
BBC
Germany 1-2 Colombia
30th July, 10.30am
ITV
Morocco 1-0 Colombia
3rd August, 11am
BBC
South Korea 1-1 Germany
3rd August, 11am
BBC
Knockout stages:
Switzerland 1-5 Spain
5th August, 6am
BBC
Japan 3-1 Norway
5th August, 9am
ITV
Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
6th August, 3am
BBC
Sweden (5) 0-0 (4) United States
6th August, 10am
ITV
England (4) 0-0 (2) Nigeria
7th August, 8.30am
BBC
Australia 2-0 Denmark
7th August, 11.30am
BBC
Colombia 1-0 Jamaica
8th August, 9am
ITV
France 4-0 Morocco
8th August, 12pm
BBC
Spain v Netherlands
11th August, 2am
ITV
Japan v Sweden
11th August, 8.30am
BBC
Australia v France
12th August, 8am
ITV
England v Colombia
12th August, 11.30am
ITV
Who are the current tournament favourites?
england-womens-world-cup-2023
Whilst the United States are back-to-back reigning champions and ranked number one in the FIFA world rankings, they have now been toppled off the top spot as the favourites for the competition.
Ahead of the knockout phases, England's strong performances in the group stage have seen them become the favourites among some bookmakers to win the competition this summer, whilst the United States are predicted to take home the runner-up medals at the tournament's final in Sydney at Stadium Australia on 20th August.
USWNT have struggled to display their dominance over their initial fixtures in New Zealand, with draws taken from their clashes with Portugal and the Netherlands leaving them second in their group.
Sarina Wiegman and the Lionesses may have the edge due to their consistency in the group stage with three consecutive victories over Denmark, Haiti and China, which has followed on from their success of becoming European champions last year.
England demonstrated their determination and quality during their 6-1 rout in their final group stage meeting with China – something that will send a message worth believing in for the supporters and a strong warning to their future opponents ahead.
In a column for BBC Sport, Ellen White previewed the Lionesses' next steps: "The knockout stage is all or nothing, and any mistake can be costly and mean you are going home.
"But Sarina will have a plan that she can alter depending on whether we go ahead or fall behind in games, and we have the toolbox to get over the line in games now, that perhaps we lacked before we saw out the Euros final against Germany."
Where can I watch England's matches on UK TV?
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The BBC are set to air England's round of 16 clash with Nigeria on Monday morning.Here are the exact times (GMT) and dates for England’s upcoming fixtures and their potential route to the final:Round of 16 fixtures:
England vs Nigeria (Monday 7th August, 8.30am; BBC)
Quarter-final fixtures:
QF4: England/Nigeria vs Colombia/Jamaica (Saturday 12th August, 11.30am; ITV)
Semi-final fixtures:
Winner of Quarter Final 1 v Winner of Quarter Final 2 (Tuesday 15th August, 8am; BBC) Winner of Quarter Final 3 v Winner of Quarter Final 4 (Wednesday 16th August, 11.30am; BBC)
Third Place play-off:
Loser of Semi-final 1 v Loser of Semi-final 2 (Saturday 19th August, 9am; ITV)
World Cup Final 2023:
Winner of Semi-final 1 v Winner of Semi-final 2 (Sunday 20th August, 11am; BBC & ITV) Who are the players to watch?
Lauren James (England) – As expected, the England star has been a standout performer under Wiegman so far this summer and has wasted no time in stealing the spotlight during her first major tournament.The Chelsea winger has been a real threat in front of goal throughout the group stage, with an absolute stunner scored against Denmark and FIVE goal involvements during the clash with China – including two exceptional goals of her own.In fact, no player in the entire tournament delivered more goal contributions than James in the group stage, with three goals and three assists already chalked up – an impressive feat for a player who has had to wait patiently for an opportunity on the prestigious international stage.
Linda Caicedo (Colombia) – Real Madrid's newly-signed star is no stranger to the spotlight after being named the Most Valuable Player at last year's Copa America, and she has now made herself a household name across the football world following her performances in the group stage of the World Cup.In their 2-0 win over South Korea, Colombia could rely on Caicedo to double their lead and comfortably kill the game, which spurred her on to cause chaos and a huge upset in a monumental victory over Germany, where she scored the goal that broke the deadlock to provide one of the most jaw-dropping moments of the tournament.The 2-1 victory led to Colombia finishing top of Group H and sent the Germans home prematurely – something nobody would have predicted at the beginning of their international campaign.Jill Roord (Netherlands) – After recently sealing a lucrative move to Manchester City, there were high expectations for Jill Roord to perform at the World Cup this summer, and she has not disappointed during the group stage.The talented midfielder is on course to be in contention for the tournament's Golden Boot, with three goals netted over the opening games of the tournament contributing heavily to the Dutch side's success in topping Group E ahead of the United States.Hinata Miyazawa (Japan) – No other woman at the World Cup this summer has scored more than Japan's talisman Hinata Miyazawa so far – with four goals tallied up during the group stage.The Nadeshiko put on an outstanding display to put Spain in their place over a stunning 4-0 victory in Group C last week, with Miyazawa exceptionally focused and tenacious in her delivery of a brace over the European giants, something she also achieved against Zambia.Tiernny Wiltshire (Jamaica) – After having to start a GoFundMe to fund their travel expenses to the World Cup this summer, the Reggae Girlz have shown huge heart, passion and desire throughout their opening games of the tournament – something that has paid off massively.Jamaica have progressed to the knockout stages of the competition without conceding a single goal so far, which is a credit to the presence of right-back Tiernny Wiltshire, who was a solid and crucial presence in the backline during their meetings in Group F – holding both France and Brazil to stalemates and sealing a 1-0 victory over Panama.
Is Keira Walsh injured?
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During the clash with Denmark, midfielder Keira Walsh fell to the ground clutching her knee, which led many to worry that she may have suffered an anterior crucial ligament injury – an injury that has stolen the dreams of playing in the World Cup this summer for many women footballers.However, after undergoing a scan, it showed that the damage was not as serious as what was once thought and Walsh has now returned to individual training after missing out on the victory over China earlier this week.Whilst her return to training is a huge boost for the Lionesses, there is huge doubt hanging over her availability for the meeting with Nigeria on Monday – and no guarantee, at the time of writing, that she will be available for any of the remaining games, no matter how far England progress.Walsh's plight has, however, presented an opportunity for Katie Zelem to prove her worth to Wiegman in the tournament, and she has not disappointed during her stint in the first team during the final game of the group stage against China.The Manchester United captain played a crucial role in the 6-1 thrashing, with an 88% passing accuracy, 88 touches, 100% long balls completed, four duels won and two tackles won, leading to high praise from her father and former Macclesfield Town goalkeeper Alan Zelem, who posted on social media:"@katiezelem you smashed it, proud of you."
Is Sam Kerr playing?
Host nation Australia boast some of the biggest world-class talents, with Lyon full-back Ellie Carpenter, Arsenal’s Caitlin Foord and Chelsea forward Sam Kerr.However, the latter – who is one of the hottest prospects at the Women's World Cup – has been unavailable for the entirety of the group stage so far due to a calf injury that saw her initially ruled out of their opening two matches.The host nation were hopeful that Kerr would return for the final group clash this week against Canada, but a 4-0 thrashing over their opponents meant that head coach Tony Gustavsson was free to leave the Blues striker on the bench, giving her more time to recover ahead of the knockout stages.The Matildas will face Denmark on Monday in their round of 16 clash, and new images of Kerr training on a bike in trainers were released on Friday ahead of a touch-and-go weekend for her and Australia, as they await the final decision on whether she will be fit to compete.Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold has spoken out following the images of Kerr undertaking an individual training regime, to reassure the Australian media and supporters:"The world has now seen what we can do."We always want Sam on the field, and she's a world-class striker, but we've shown now that we have the depth and we can play any combination up front that we can still score goals." "If she plays, she plays, if she doesn't, she doesn't. But we have our plan."
What is England’s path to the final?
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Should the Lionesses win their round-of-16 clash on Monday morning against Nigeria, they look to have a favourable run to the final owing to the exit of several highly-ranked opponents, including Germany and Canada.Like the men's team before them in 2022, Morocco's women are on an underdog journey of their own in 2023 after finishing second in Group H to steal a knockout spot from the Germans.Meanwhile, seventh-ranked Canada were also sent packing, leaving England the only top-ten nation on their side of the draw in Australia.Wiegman's squad will face either Jamaica or Colombia should they progress beyond their difficult clash with Nigeria, and due to both sides already putting on some outstanding displays in defence and attack, it will be no easy challenge for England either way.Hosts Australia and France are England's potential semi-final opponents, with underdogs Morocco and a rematch with Denmark the other possibilities in the final four.Current champions USA or Sweden are both still in contention to lock horns with England in the final should dreams come true for the Lionesses, but, of course, from what we have seen so far – absolutely nothing is set in stone or beyond the realm of possibility in this tournament.
Will England win?
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In true English fashion, the Lionesses have turned doubters into believers during their World Cup campaign in Australia so far – not allowing a slow start to derail them from delivering on the high expectations they have set after becoming European champions last summer.Wiegman and her talented squad completed their group stage challenge with a stunning performance against China that featured the passion, high energy, unrivalled quality and unwavering determination reminiscent of the success they have orchestrated over the last 12 months.The breakthrough of James has been nothing short of a miracle blessing for Wiegman's side – who were due a little luck after losing Fran Kirby, Leah Williamson and Beth Mead ahead of the trip to Australia – with the Chelsea talisman's standout performances lighting up the international stage and giving a real injection of hope for many who doubted.Indeed, the injury setback to instrumental midfield star Walsh has been a low point for England, however, the resilience shown by Zelem and the rest of the team to adapt has proven that the side are more than a set of individuals; instead a strong squad with invaluable connections and relationships throughout, all sharing the same common and ambitious goal of bringing the World Cup home.Although England have been labelled as favourites to win the tournament due to the United States' struggles and upsets for some of the biggest nations in the world, building momentum will be absolutely crucial when they come up against Nigeria on Monday.