Brian Glanville, influential football writer, dies aged 93
In seven decades of covering English football, Brian Glanville found no individual more mercurial than Sir Alf Ramsey, the World Cup-winning manager. 'Sometimes reporting on England was enjoyable, sometimes it was very depressing. He could be very spiky but I didn't get on badly with him. Everybody had difficulties at some point with Alf. When they turned against him, he told people that he didn't blame me because I had been consistent all along.'
Such was Glanville's standing. He brought a rigorous intellectual and analytical approach to his columns in The Sunday Times that was not matched in any other publication. His knowledge of the game, particularly as it was played in Italy, was considered unrivalled among journalists. He had a considerable capacity for work
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The Independent
27 minutes ago
- The Independent
England left battered and booed as Senegal expose the flaws Thomas Tuchel must fix
Managing England, as Thomas Tuchel is fast discovering, is harder than it may seem. A chastening week took a turn for the worse, culminating in the boos that followed his first defeat. It is a moot point whether losing to an accomplished Senegal side is actually a better result than only beating Andorra 1-0 but, a year from the World Cup, England looked anything but potential winners. It was a momentous occasion instead for Senegal: when Cheikh Sabaly scored the injury-time third goal, they celebrated becoming the first African team ever to beat England. They did not merely overcome them. They outclassed them. Outpassed, outrun and outwitted, England encountered opponents who were quicker of foot and mind, cleverer and more coherent. That can't all be attributed to Tuchel, in just the fourth game of his reign, but this was a snapshot of familiar England weaknesses. They lost their way after taking an early lead, lacked control in midfield and looked less than the sum of their parts. They were dismal and dreadful. Rarely a man to keep his emotions under wraps, Tuchel was visibly irritated. His quixotic moves compounded their difficulties. If friendlies offer a chance to experiment, if he needs to get to know his new charges, if there is an element of trial and error, some of the choices that backfired felt odd. Even the most successful arguably illustrated their problems. Dean Henderson was the first goalkeeper to concede in Tuchel's tenure, but a string of saves illustrated that England at least have a fine alternative to Jordan Pickford. His best stops came in the opening quarter of an hour, blocking Nicolas Jackson 's shot with his legs and parrying his Crystal Palace teammate Ismaila Sarr 's header. Yet he was overworked, his defence shambolic at times. Tuchel had argued that fielding an all- Chelsea centre-back pairing would help subdue Jackson. They did not, though the debutant Trevoh Chalobah made several timely interventions. 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In midfield, meanwhile, Conor Gallagher was particularly poor in possession. England's formation strayed dangerously close to a lumpen 4-4-2, making it easier for Senegal to outmanoeuvre them. The exception came when Harry Kane dropped deep; at times, he came so deep he materialised behind much of the midfield, doing his impression of a quarterback, an east London Andrea Pirlo, looking to release Gordon, who began with energy and intensity but faded. Kane had started his night in familiar terrain and fashion. Tuchel made 10 changes. One name stayed the same: Kane started and marked a fourth cap under Tuchel with a fourth goal in that time. A tap-in was testament to his predatory instincts, even if much of the credit belonged to Eberechi Eze, for winning the ball from Lamine Camara, and Gordon, whose shot was parried into Kane's path. A 107th cap took him past Sir Bobby Charlton; Kane now has as many goals as Charlton and Geoff Hurst combined. 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Scottish Sun
29 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Chelsea axe popular star, 25, from Club World Cup squad as fans say ‘we deserve to fail on all fronts'
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. Three others unwanted stars join the player OUT IN THE STICKS OUT IN THE STICKS Chelsea axe popular star, 25, from Club World Cup squad as fans say 'we deserve to fail on all fronts' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHELSEA have left out goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic from their Club World Cup squad - causing fans to fume. The Blues kick off their campaign in the expanded 32-team tournament on Monday against LA FC. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Chelsea have left out goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic from their Club World Cup squad Credit: Shutterstock Editorial And players had to be registered yesterday evening - causing clubs to scramble in time to sign new stars in time. Chelsea - who failed in bids for Mike Maignan and Jamie Gittens - left Petrovic out along with Raheem Sterling, Joao Felix and Axel Disasi. The 25-year-old stopper was signed from MLS outfit New England Revolution II in 2023 and spent last season on loan with sister side Strasbourg. But Chelsea now start the season with Robert Sanchez Filip Jorgensen and highly-rated 19-year-old Mike Penders. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL clash suspended World Cup qualifier suspended due to medical emergency in stands It leaves Petrovic's future in doubt - despite a good season on loan in France - with Monaco among those interested in signing him. One fan said: "This club is a sh** show. Bunch of f***ing stupid clowns running us. "If we sell Petrovic and keep Sanchez as no1 then we deserve to fail on all fronts." Another fumed: "We deserve failure." 3 Watch EVERY match of the Club World Cup 2025 live on DAZN CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Chelsea have always maintained they are happy with Sanchez and Jorgensen - despite both making errors in games last season. But with AC Milan's Maignan available at a cut-price due to his contract expiring next summer, the West Londoners launched a move to sign him. John Obi Mikel on wild Chelsea nights out in central London and his hilarious friendship with Salomon Kalou Chelsea's latest proposal was for a fee of around £12m after Maignan made his desire to move to Stamford Bridge clear, telling Milan he will not renew his deal. Chelsea opened talks after being alerted to the Frenchman's desire to leave, but refused to budge on their valuation. And Milan held out for close to £20m - meaning if a deal is to be struck it must come when the window re-opens on Monday.
The Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Sun
Chelsea axe popular star, 25, from Club World Cup squad as fans say ‘we deserve to fail on all fronts'
CHELSEA have left out goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic from their Club World Cup squad - causing fans to fume. The Blues kick off their campaign in the expanded 32-team tournament on Monday against LA FC. And players had to be registered yesterday evening - causing clubs to scramble in time to sign new stars in time. Chelsea - who failed in bids for Mike Maignan and Jamie Gittens - left Petrovic out along with Raheem Sterling, Joao Felix and Axel Disasi. The 25-year-old stopper was signed from MLS outfit New England Revolution II in 2023 and spent last season on loan with sister side Strasbourg. But Chelsea now start the season with Robert Sanchez Filip Jorgensen and highly-rated 19-year-old Mike Penders. It leaves Petrovic's future in doubt - despite a good season on loan in France - with Monaco among those interested in signing him. One fan said: "This club is a sh** show. Bunch of f***ing stupid clowns running us. "If we sell Petrovic and keep Sanchez as no1 then we deserve to fail on all fronts." Another fumed: "We deserve failure." Watch EVERY match of the Club World Cup 2025 live on DAZN Chelsea have always maintained they are happy with Sanchez and Jorgensen - despite both making errors in games last season. But with AC Milan's Maignan available at a cut-price due to his contract expiring next summer, the West Londoners launched a move to sign him. Chelsea's latest proposal was for a fee of around £12m after Maignan made his desire to move to Stamford Bridge clear, telling Milan he will not renew his deal. Chelsea opened talks after being alerted to the Frenchman's desire to leave, but refused to budge on their valuation. And Milan held out for close to £20m - meaning if a deal is to be struck it must come when the window re-opens on Monday. 3
