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This was an easy 6-0 victory for the USWNT, a near-perfect performance to end an imperfect, but hopeful, camp

After a loss and a win against Portugal, the U.S. women's national team played in a different stratosphere against New Zealand on Wednesday night. The first match against Portugal reminded the world what could happen when the USWNT aren't at their best.

This match, then, reminded the world of what could happen when the USWNT are in form – and that's a scary, scary sight.

Led by Emma Sears' first international hat-trick and Catarina Macario's fourth international brace, the USWNT crushed New Zealand, 6-0, in Kansas City on Wednesday night. Truth be told, it wasn't even that close. This was a wall-to-wall beatdown, one in which virtually every USWNT player on the field had a moment to be proud of.

Sears, of course, led them all, scoring the opening goal before adding two more in the second half to score her first professional hat-trick.

She was far from the only standout. Macario, too, scored in each half, running the show from up top. Rose Lavelle, who had more caps than the rest of the starting XI combined, scored a stunner just before halftime, having dominated in the prior 44 minutes on the field before coming off after the break.

Michelle Cooper, playing in her club stadium, had two assists, while Lindsey Heaps came off the bench to provide one of her own and Kennedy Wesley – the lone newcomer in camp, and 25th recipient of a first cap from coach Emma Hayes – played well in an electric environment.

“Honestly, I want to give a lot of credit to my teammates,” said Sears, who tripled her previous international goal output in one game. “Especially with that first goal, Michelle served it on a platter for me to tap it in. And yeah, the goals following, it was good to carry on that momentum throughout the game and ultimately get the win.”

Oh, and did we mention this was the least experienced team – cap-wise – that the USWNT has put on the field in the last 25 years? It was a near-perfect performance to end an imperfect, but hopeful, camp. The loss against Portugal certainly served as a wake-up call, and that carried on through to this third game of camp.

In that sense, it was the ending Hayes would have wanted as her young squad throttled New Zealand, marking the most goals the USWNT have scored since their new coach took over last year.

GOAL rates the USWNT's players from CPKC Stadium.

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defense

Claudia Dickey (7/10):

Wasn't threatened much in the first half, but had to make one big save to start the second. Would have liked to have been more active but, hey, that's how it goes sometimes as USWNT goalkeeper.

Lilly Reale (7/10):

Was very clean on the ball, which was really the assignment given how ball-dominant the USWNT were throughout.

Jordyn Bugg (6/10):

Didn't have to do much defensively, but she did ping the ball around well when she got it.

Kennedy Wesley (6/10):

The perfect game to get your USWNT debut in, particularly as a centerback. Had a giveaway or two, which is natural, and, on this occasion, it was fine because of the flow of the game.

Emily Sams (7/10):

Interesting to see her at fullback, even if she has played there at times on the club level. Didn't look too out of place, as she assisted Macario's goal.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Lily Yohannes (8/10):

Just so technically gifted, with her backheel leading to the first goal serving as a signature moment. If you've been watching the USWNT since she debuted, you'll know exactly what type of skillset she showed off as she ran the midfield.

Claire Hutton (6/10):

Was the most "defensive" of the three midfielders, although they didn't have to do much defending. Actually nearly got a goal of her own in the 25th minute, too.

Rose Lavelle (9/10):

A player that, when she's on, makes everyone on the team better. She did that on Wednesday while scoring a stunning goal of her own.

Getty ImagesAttack

Emma Sears (9/10):

Certainly capitalized on her chances as she added the third, fourth and fifth goals of her USWNT career. This was, obviously, her best performance yet as she routinely put herself in position to finish and then did just that three times.

Catarina Macario (9/10):

Scored two goals of her own and teed up Sears' first. More evidence of what the Chelsea star can offer from the striker position, even when Triple Espresso does return.

Michelle Cooper (8/10):

The only member of the attack not to get a goal, but she did set up two of them. A fantastic performance from Cooper, who ran circles around New Zealand's defense all night long.

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Lindsey Heaps (7/10):

After seeing Lavelle cook, came in and provided an assist of her own on Macario's second.

Sam Coffey (6/10):

Even with the game out of reach, she still brought energy and presence, which was no surprise. Almost got a goal from distance, too.

Lo'eau LaBonta (6/10):

The crowd demanded that the Kanas City Current veteran play, and play she did, with LaBonta and Hayes having a laugh about it as she was introduced. A feel-good moment for a local hero, who got the reception she deserved in front of her fans.

Jaedyn Shaw (7/10):

Replaced Macario and, while she wasn't quite as dangerous, there wasn't a big drop off. That's a huge compliment to Shaw, who probably deserved a goal.

Yazmeen Ryan (5/10):

Had such a good chance one-on-one but put it just wide. Will definitely want that back, especially with the other attackers scoring for fun.

Eva Gaetino (N/A): 

Came on late to see the game out. A good moment for her, considering she wasn't originally part of this camp.

Emma Hayes (8/10):

Won the game by a wide margin, got some young players onto the field and sent the crowd home happy by playing LaBonta. Not much else she could have done to make this a feel-good night.

Fermin Lopez joked Real Madrid were not among the clubs trying to sign him in the summer as he admitted that he received more offers than just Chelsea's late bid. The midfielder insisted that leaving Barcelona was never an option, though, as he looks to become a crucial figure for Hansi Flick's side following another injury upset.

• Lopez rejected Chelsea bid as he stays at Barcelona

  The Blues reportedly tabled a €40 million (£37m/$50m) bid, including potential add-ons, in a bid to bolster their midfield before the transfer window closed. While the offer prompted Lopez to consider his options, he ultimately chose to remain at Camp Nou, prioritising continuity and development under Barca's management.

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• Getty Images
  

  Lopez confirms transfer offers amid Chelsea interest

  The midfielder made it clear that he had no intention of leaving the club he has supported since childhood. “I didn’t consider the offer and I don’t think they wanted to sell me either,” he said in an interview with He further admitted that he had received several approaches from elsewhere, adding: “I received some, yes, but I don’t think any came from Real Madrid.”

• Fermin staying loyal to Barcelona roots

  Lopez underlined his deep ties to Barcelona, stressing that playing for the club was always his dream. 

  “I’ve been a Barca fan all my life. Since I was a child. Everything comes from an uncle of my mother’s, Miri, who has always been a Barca fan,” he explained. His attachment to the club influenced his stance on transfer speculation, as neither he nor Barca saw a move away as realistic. Despite not yet being an undisputed starter, the academy graduate has already shown his ability to impact key matches, including a brace against Valencia earlier in the season.

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  Injury setback as PSG clash looms

  Lopez’s promising start to the season has been interrupted by injury, with the midfielder suffering a muscle issue in his left iliopsoas during Barca's recent 3-0 win over Getafe. He left the pitch in tears, sparking fears of a lengthy absence. Initial tests, however, confirmed a three-week recovery timeline. 

  “The problem is not major,” he clarified, insisting he will return soon. Unfortunately for Barca, the setback means he will miss the Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain, as well as upcoming La Liga fixtures against Oviedo and Real Sociedad.

  The injury to Lopez comes at a difficult moment for Barca, who are also without Gavi, sidelined after being forced to undergo knee surgery. While Fermin is expected back by late October, his absence will test Flick’s depth options in midfield. Chelsea’s interest has underlined Lopez’s rising reputation across Europe, but for now his focus remains on recovery and fighting for a bigger role at Camp Nou.

Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis was spotted at the Emirates watching Arsenal thump Nottingham Forest 3-0. Sudeikis attended the game alongside the co-writer and co-star of the hit Apple TV comedy Brendan Hunt, better known to viewers as Lasso's right-hand man Coach Beard. Both men are presumably in London working on season four of the show, which is expected to hit screens in 2026.

Sudeikis spotted at Emirates for Arsenal victory

Sudeikis was spotted sporting a flat cap and an Arsenal jacket, proudly showing off the club's old badge. The Hollywood star has previously suggested an affinity for the north London club, but has also hinted at his admiration for Manchester City after appearing alongside Pep Guardiola in a season 2 episode of the Apple TV hit.

AdvertisementWatch the clip: Coach Lasso and Beard at the EmiratesMikel Arteta's side put on a show

Hunt and Sudeikis were treated to an outstanding display by Mikel Arteta's men, as they consigned former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglu to a chastening defeat in his first game as Forest boss. Martin Zubimendi bagged a brace, while Viktor Gyokeres bagged his third of the season. 

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Apple TVWhat we know about Ted Lasso Season 4

Production on season 4 of Ted Lasso started earlier this summer.  The story will pick up with Ted coaching a girl's team in his native Kansas City, with familiar fan favourites including Hunt as Coach Beard overseeing the fate of AFC Richmond. While there is no confirmed release date for the new season, it is expected to drop on Apple TV in 2026.

Matthew Potts has been announced as Ben Stokes’ replacement in the XI for England’s first Test against Sri Lanka, with Harry Brook stepping into the vice-captaincy role for the series to assist stand-in captain Ollie Pope.Potts, who earned the last of his six Test caps in the one-off Test against Ireland last summer, has been given the nod ahead of fellow quick Olly Stone and uncapped batter Jordan Cox after Stokes was ruled out of the rest of the summer with a hamstring injury sustained during the Men’s Hundred.Potts, 25, is a team-mate of Stokes for both Durham and Northern Superchargers, and will slot in at No. 9 for the fixture at Emirates Old Trafford, which begins on Wednesday. That means promotions up the order for Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson, who will bat from No. 6-8 respectively.While not quite an allrounder, Potts is a handy lower-order batter, as showcased by an unbeaten 149 against Warwickshire earlier this season, which was his maiden first-class century. Nevertheless, the selection adds to the peculiar nature of the XI, which also features Dan Lawrence as opener following Zak Crawley’s finger injury sustained during the last Test against West Indies.Matthew Potts is set to play his first Test since June 2023•Getty Images

Both Potts and Lawrence have had to bide their time. Potts’ debut summer in 2022 brought 20 wickets at 28.00 as he featured in the first five Tests of the Bazball era. But beyond a sole appearance against Ireland, he has been a spare body around the squad, including at the start of this summer against West Indies when he was superseded by Atkinson.For Lawrence, this will be a first Test cap in the new era, though he has still yet to play under Stokes. He has been a squad regular for the last 17 Test matches – a run which began at the start of 2023 against New Zealand – including the entirety of the India tour at the start of the year. Lawrence debuted against Sri Lanka in 2021, with the last of his 11 appearances coming at the end of the Caribbean tour in March 2022, which was Joe Root’s last as Test captain.Even within that small sample size, Lawrence has occupied every position between No.3 and 7 and will tick off the opening berth this week. While his early learnings at Essex came as an opener, particularly for their second team, only seven of the 27-year-old’s 203 first-class innings to date have been at the top of the order.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The most recent of those came as a pinch-hitter for new county Surrey against Somerset, finishing 54 not out from 34 balls. While the match situation was something of an anomaly, as Surrey made an ambitious dart at a target of 209 inside 19 overs, it is that kind of aggressive intent Lawrence is looking to channel in his new, temporary role.”I think my natural style is to try and be aggressive, always try to take the game on and score runs,” said Lawrence. “Not necessarily as quickly as possible, but try to take every opportunity. And that won’t change over the next few weeks. Throughout my whole career, I’ve played a certain brand of cricket and that has served me well so I’m just going to do the same thing.”I think it’s kind of the style of cricketer that Baz and Stokes are generally after, and my general way of going about it is to try and be quite aggressive. So I think I fit the mould more in that aspect.”I did actually start my first-class career as an opener and then I’ve gradually kind of moved up and down as I’ve gone along. But I’m only really focusing on trying to really enjoy the week. It shouldn’t be too much different from batting three or four.”England: 1 Dan Lawrence, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope (capt), 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jamie Smith (wk),7 Chris Woakes, 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Matthew Potts, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Shoaib Bashir

Clayton Kershaw has seen just about everything one possibly could on an MLB pitcher's mound throughout his 18 years in the show. But he may have experienced a career first during his outing on Thursday against the Rockies.

Midway through the third inning, Kershaw had a batter pinned with an 0-2 count when he went for the payoff pitch. While winding up to throw, however, something malfunctioned, and Kershaw ended up stuttering before spiking the ball into the ground not even halfway to the plate.

Kershaw typically has a pretty slow pitching motion, but he seemed to take a bit of extra time to get the ball out in this instance. Whatever hitch occurred was an awkward one, as he delivered maybe the worst pitch of his entire career.

The pitch was officially tracked as a 58 mph curveball, which of course, bounced on the grass in between the mound and the batters box. Ball one.

Kershaw ended up getting the strikeout on Ryan Ritter, though it certainly didn't look how he'd imagined it in his head. The 37-year-old improved to 8-2 on the season after throwing 5 2/3 innings with three strikeouts, three earned runs and one walk on the road in Colorado.

Australia seamer pleased with how he bounced back after wayward start to first Test

Andrew McGlashan02-Dec-20250:54

Clarke: Australia going to a venue where they play well

Even when Mitchell Starc blew England away with seven wickets during the first innings in Perth it did not go unnoticed that, in an attack missing Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, the visitors had taken Scott Boland for more than six an over.It came following pre-series debate about how they would look to take on Boland after largely dominating him in the two matches he played in the 2023 Ashes. However, the second day was a different story. Boland’s three-wicket burst after lunch – removing Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook in the space of 11 balls – turned the match on its head when England had been 105 runs ahead with nine wickets in hand.”It probably just proves to me that my good stuff, it doesn’t matter who it’s to, I think it feels like when I’m getting in the right areas it’s good enough to anyone,” Boland said ahead of the second Test at the Gabba. “I think that gives me a little bit of confidence that if I’m nailing my game… I’m good enough to compete with anyone.”Related

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Having overpitched too often in the first innings, Boland adjusted both his line and length in the second, hanging the ball wider, drawing Pope and Brook into drives away from their body. After the match, Andrew McDonald said the initial plans were partly to blame for the tactics Boland used with the new ball on the opening day.”I think Ronnie’s pretty nice to me there,” Boland said. “I just had one of those days where I just felt like I was over-pitching too much. Obviously, I wanted to start a little bit fuller than normal with the new ball, but I probably bowled seven or eight half-volleys and they all went for four. Some days half of them don’t and you think it’s [going] a little bit better.”I was pretty happy with how I bounced back in the second innings. I sort of went back to my natural length. Stuff that I know I’m really good at. I was obviously really disappointed with how I bowled in the first innings because generally I don’t bowl too many half-volleys.”On a pitch at the Gabba likely to have good pace and carry, if not perhaps to quite the level of Perth Stadium, Boland expects similar tactics to come into play. “I think we’ll get some good bounce here at the Gabba, which we usually do,” he said. “We went through what worked in Perth and what’s going to work here. It feels like a lot of the stuff is very similar.”Pope, who was tied down before losing patience and edging to Alex Carey, accepted there were things to learn but continued to see opportunity if Australia’s bowlers kept targeting a wider line.Scott Boland’s burst on day two in Perth helped swing the first Test•Getty Images

“It’s trying to learn the lessons, and take some positives,” he said. “I think it is just about being really precise with how you go about it. They can hang it out wide but as soon as they do miss their lengths it is about trying to put them under pressure there as well.”I look back on that [second] innings and the dismissal, [and] it’s just being that bit more precise, going about it in the same way but having that little bit more [precision] in my game.”Boland, who averages 13.16 from four day-night Tests, also sees the short ball being a threat again with England unlikely to back down from a challenge despite the bigger boundaries on most Australian grounds. However, he did note that their lower order had briefly rallied in the second innings, with Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse added 50 in 36 balls, when the quicks banged in the ball in.”Definitely the ground size plays a big part in that,” Boland said. “Perth Stadium is really wide, really big pockets. And the ground is quite similar here. Same as the MCG and SCG. Adelaide’s probably the only one that’s a little bit different. I think that worked in our favour.”They [England] tried some bouncer plans which worked well at different times. I think sometimes when you do go to that bouncer plan, you can leak runs pretty quickly. I think we had them 6 for 80 [88] and then we sort of went into some full-on bouncer plans and leaked [runs] a little bit [but] we got some wickets. First innings, it worked really quick and then second things, they played a little bit better. So I think we’ll just be adjusting on the fly.”There has been intrigue this week around whether Cummins could make a late entrance for the Brisbane Test, as he ramps up his return to bowling, despite not being named in the squad although a return in Adelaide remains the likely outcome. “He looked in red-hot form the other night, as good as you’ll see [from] a fast bowler charging in in the nets,” Boland said.Meanwhile, Hazlewood is due to join the squad on Thursday to continue his return to bowling after being ruled out of the first two Tests with a hamstring injury. He is considered unlikely to be in contention until either Melbourne or Sydney.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl may still be wondering how his side were unable to see the game out for all three points after they found themselves 1-0 up against ten-man Braga on Thursday night.

The Light Blues are yet to win a match in the Europa League this season and they may not have a better opportunity than the one they had at Ibrox earlier this week.

Whilst Mohamed Diomande was sent off later in the match, the Gers allowed the Portuguese side to equalise whilst they had a man advantage, as Nasser Djiga’s wayward header caught James Tavernier out and allowed Gabriel Martinez to pounce.

The German head coach will be scratching his head and wondering what he could do to turn things around in Europe, as the Light Blues have lost four of their five matches, with two of those losses coming in his three games in the competition.

Attention, for now, will turn back to the Scottish Premiership as Rangers play host to Falkirk at Ibrox, after the reverse game at their stadium led to Russell Martin’s dismissal.

Rohl has won all four of his league games in charge of the club so far, but these league matches present an opportunity to try things out ahead of European games. For example, unleashing Oliver Antman in a new role.

Why Oliver Antman should be unleashed in a new role

You could hardly blame any supporters for getting a bit excited by the signing of the Finland international after he registered 17 assists in all competitions for Go Ahead Eagles in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore.

On top of that, Antman delivered two assists on his debut for the Gers against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League, crossing for Djeidi Gassama and winning a penalty for Cyriel Dessers to score.

Since that impressive debut, though, the Finnish forward has produced no goals and one assist in 18 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has failed to deliver consistent quality in the final third.

Per Transfermarkt, all 11 of his starts have been on the right flank. With this in mind, it may be time for Rohl to unleash the 24-year-old attacker in a new role in his Rangers career.

RW

69

9 + 13

CM

22

1 + 0

LW

21

5 + 3

CF

18

5 + 0

AM

8

0 + 0

RM

8

1 + 5

As you can see in the table above, Antman has played in other positions throughout his career, on the left and through the middle, which means that the Light Blues can, realistically, use him in other areas of the pitch.

With this in mind, Rohl should unleash the Finland international in a flexible number ten position, which would allow him to drift out to the left or the right when the situation demands.

This would allow him to provide creativity on both flanks and centrally, which could help to support the two wingers whilst also providing the centre-forward, in theory, with more creativity.

In order to make this positional change for Antman against Falkirk, though, the German head coach will have to ditch one of his starters from the 1-1 draw with Braga on Thursday night.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

With this in mind, Rohl should ruthlessly ditch Youssef Chermiti from the starting line-up after his dismal showing against Braga, which would allow Danilo or Bojan Miovski to lead the line up front, with the Finnish whiz in behind them in the number ten role.

Why Rangers should drop Youssef Chermiti

Rangers parted company with sporting director Kevin Thelwell at the start of the week, after just one transfer window at Ibrox, and his lasting legacy may be the signing of the Portuguese striker.

The former Gers chief sanctioned an £8m deal to sign the forward from Everton, which made Chermiti the club’s most expensive signing in 25 years, since Tore Andre Flo’s £12m move to Glasgow.

That staggering outlay was made in spite of the fact that the 21-year-old striker failed to score in two seasons at Everton after Thelwell signed him for the Toffees from Sporting.

So far, Chermiti has delivered one goal and one assist in 14 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants this season, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has not lived up to his price tag yet.

The former Everton attacker’s performance against Braga was the latest in an unfortunately long line of underwhelming displays from the £8m summer signing.

Minutes

89

Sofascore

5.9

Shots

3

Shots on target

0

Pass accuracy

52%

Key passes

0

Duels won

6/15

As you can see in the table above, the Portuguese centre-forward failed to offer quality on the ball, as he was particularly poor with his passes, and also lost the majority of his physical duels.

After the match, reporter Jonny McFarlane posted that Chermiti is “mind-blowingly bad” and that the striker “offers nothing”, whilst describing him as a “galling signing”.

As harsh as that is, it is hard to disagree with the sentiment because of how poor the £8m attacker’s performances have been for the Light Blues, with one goal in 14 matches far from enough for the money spent on him.

Of course, Chermiti is not at fault for the transfer fee that Thelwell agreed to pay for him. He is a young player who is clearly trying his best and competing for the Gers, as evidenced by his 15 duels on Thursday night, but the quality is not there, on current evidence.

That is why Rohl must ruthlessly ditch him from the starting line-up for this clash with Falkirk at Ibrox, because he has not shown enough on the pitch to suggest that he should be playing week-in-week-out as the main number nine.

Dropping Chermiti will then provide the manager with an opportunity to unleash Antman in this new role, because Danilo can move into a number nine position or also be dropped for Miovski to start.

"Rotten" Thelwell signing is Rangers' biggest waste of time since Dowell

This summer signing by Kevin Thelwell has been as bad as the deal to bring Kieran Dowell to Rangers.

ByDan Emery Nov 26, 2025

Southampton were hit with a hammer blow on Saturday when they conceded in the 97th minute to lose to Millwall at The Den in their last Championship game of the month.

After fighting to make it 2-2 through Fin Azaz, the Saints defence fell asleep at a crucial moment to allow Tristan Crama to sneak in unmarked at the back post to score the winner.

It was a brutal way to lose a game of football, but it was also the first loss of Tonda Eckert’s time in interim charge, after four wins in his first four games in the dugout.

The latest on Tonda Eckert's future at Southampton

Football Insider recently reported that the German tactician is in the driving seat to land the role on a permanent basis, thanks to winning his first four matches in the Championship.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

The outlet claimed that the former U21s boss is the leading candidate to take the job from Sport Republic, ahead of more experienced managers who have been on the shortlist, including, but not limited to, Russell Martin.

However, Football Insider added that Eckert will still be given more time before a final decision is made, and that a permanent appointment is not imminent at this moment in time.

With this in mind, there is still time for Southampton to look elsewhere for their next manager, which is why they should push to hire Brendan Rodgers, who was linked with the role shortly after Will Still’s departure.

Why Southampton should hire Brendan Rodgers

Sport Republic, as they will, need to consider the short and long-term consequences with their next managerial appointment, because there are two elements at play.

In the short term, they need a manager, whether that is Eckert or someone else, who can guide the team up the table and into promotion contention to get back to the Premier League.

However, in the long term, the Saints need a boss who can then guide them to safety in the top-flight, because Martin was unable to do that after winning promotion with the club, which illustrates the importance of hiring a manager who can achieve both tasks.

Rodgers, once described as “world-class” by Gabby Agbonlahor, is a highly experienced Premier League manager who knows what it takes to be successful at that level, having managed Leicester, Liverpool, and Swansea in the top-flight.

22/23 (Leicester)

28

19

21/22 (Leicester)

38

8th

20/21 (Leicester)

38

5th

19/20 (Leicester)

38

5th

18/19 (Leicester)

10

9th

15/16 (Liverpool)

8

10th

14/15 (Liverpool)

38

6th

13/14 (Liverpool)

38

2nd

12/13 (Liverpool)

38

7th

11/12 (Swansea)

38

11th

As you can see in the table above, the only season that Rodgers did not have his team competing for a top-half finish was when he was sacked with ten matches to go in the 2022/23 campaign.

His overall history in the division suggests that he has the managerial chops to keep the Saints in the Premier League if they earn promotion, whilst Eckert has no previous experience at that level and would go in as a novice in that respect, just as Martin did.

Meanwhile, Rodgers is also coming off a second stint with Celtic in Scotland, where, as shown in the graphic above, he won four trophies in two full seasons in Glasgow.

The Northern Irish boss won four Premiership titles in four full seasons with the Hoops over two spells with the club, per Transfermarkt, which shows that the experienced manager also knows how to coach a team to win matches on a consistent basis.

That is further backed up by the fact that he won the Championship play-offs to win promotion to the Premier League with Swansea in the 2010/11 campaign, before finishing 11th in the top-flight with the Welsh outfit.

Rodgers is, therefore, a manager who has a proven track record of being able to achieve what Southampton need in the short and long-term, whilst Eckert has made a strong start to life in the Championship but does not have a proven record, with no top-flight experience.

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The Saints are now edging closer to appointing a permanent manager.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 28, 2025

This is why Sport Republic should push to appoint Rodgers as their new permanent manager, if the former Hoops boss is willing to make the move, because he could be a big upgrade on Eckert with his reputation and proven coaching ability.

England have already booked their spot at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and USA, with Thomas Tuchel’s side looking impressive in the qualifying stages.

The Three Lions didn’t even concede a goal in the six wins that guaranteed their place on the biggest stage, and attention will soon turn to who will be on the plane looking to win England’s first World Cup since 1966.

England’s record at World Cups since 1966

1970

Quarter-finals

1974

Did not qualify

1978

Did not qualify

1982

Second group stage

1986

Quarter-finals

1990

Fourth place

1994

Did not qualify

1998

Round of 16

2002

Quarter-finals

2006

Quarter-finals

2010

Round of 16

2014

Group stage

2018

Fourth place

2022

Quarter-finals

While there are some stars who are guaranteed to be on the way to North America, such as captain Harry Kane, Tuchel still has a lot to think about between now and June.

Of course, a lot could change between now and the summer, however, here is Chat GPT’s prediction of who will make England’s 26-player squad in Canada, Mexico and USA.

Goalkeepers Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford

Providing he remains injury free, Jordan Pickford looks set to continue as England number one in 2026 for the ninth successive year.

Providing back up to the Everton star, according to ChatGPT, will be Crystal Palace’s Dean Henderson and Man City’s James Trafford.

Defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Myles Lewis-Skelly, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn

One of the big decisions Tuchel made early on was to drop Trent Alexander-Arnold, however, Chat GPT feels the Real Madrid right-back will win his place back in the 26.

Chelsea’s Reece James and Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly are the other full-back options, with John Stones, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa and Dan Burn at centre-back.

Tottenham’s Djed Spence had been a regular in Tuchel’s squad, however, there’s no place for the full-back in the 26.

Midfielders Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze

Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson have been a regular in Tuchel’s midfield and could be the partnership that begins the World Cup campaign, backed by Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

Further forward, Jude Bellingham has been tipped to return to the squad after being left out recently due to fitness issues.

Chelsea, Arsenal and Aston Villa stars Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers make up the seven man midfield selection, with no room for the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White or Jordan Henderson.

Forwards Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke

Interestingly, ChatGPT thinks Tuchel will go with just one out-and-out centre-forward in captain Harry Kane. Marcus Rashford could also play centrally if required and his ‘revival in form’ at Barcelona sees him included.

Meanwhile, Anthony Gordon’s ’growing importance’ under Tuchel sees him included, alongside Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke and Man City ace Phil Foden.

Notable exclusions from Chat GPT’s forward line include Jarrod Bowen and Ollie Watkins.