Wembley

England ready to level up and embrace ‘calculated risks’, claims Tuchel

Head coach pleased ‘everyone bought in’ to new ideas Jarell Quansah says: ‘We can really dominate teams’ Thomas Tuchel believes England have unlocked a new level after moving forward with his tactical tweaks in the opening Nations League fixtures. The head coach wanted the players to retain their aggression, especially in the high press, to step on to the front foot and to harness the chaos often seen in the Premier League. But he has also tried to get them to play with greater freedom, to trust and follow their instincts more – while being alive to the need to cover for their teammates. The results have been positive. After losing to Spain at Wembley , England recorded three wins: two against Czechia either side of the 7-0 victory against Croatia in Rijeka. They have in essence guaranteed their progress into the quarter-finals of a competition regarded as a tune-up for Euro 2028, while putting a bit of distance between themselves and the heartbreaking World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina in July. Continue reading...

Oct 7, 2026 · byThe Guardian

All aboard the Tuchel train? England camp has clear winners and losers

While it’s full steam ahead for Alex Scott, Lewis Hall and Myles Lewis-Skelly, others look likely to be left behind Thomas Tuchel’s original idea had been for continuity. The England manager wanted to build on the positives from the World Cup and he was minded to stand by the vast majority of the players who had been a part of the journey to the semi-finals in north America over the summer. His squad for the four-match Nations League window and the beginning of a new international cycle would not be defined by radical change. What was it about the best-laid plans? As Tuchel prepared to name his group in mid-September, he knew that he would be without a clutch of World Cup players because of injury. He then lost another handful after the announcement. Fast forward to the Czechia game at Wembley on Tuesday night – the final one of the quartet – and, after further withdrawals, Tuchel could count only 12 players who were available to him during the World Cup. He knows the train moves quickly in football, stopping for nobody. That flexibility is a prerequisite in his line of work. This felt like something else. Continue reading...

Oct 7, 2026 · byThe Guardian

World Cup criticism still stings Tuchel despite Nations League positives

The Wembley crowd was in party mood and the fans sang Thomas Tuchel's name. Three straight wins without conceding, Harry Kane feted as England's greatest ever servant, a Nations League quarter-final all-but guaranteed.

Oct 7, 2026 · bySky Sports

Jude Bellingham hails 125-cap Harry Kane as England’s best-ever player

Captain scores twice in 3-0 win over Czechia Kane equals Peter Shilton’s appearance record Jude Bellingham called Harry Kane England’s best-ever player after the captain equalled Peter Shilton’s record of 125 caps during Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Czechia in the Nations League. Kane, who is only nine off a century of international goals after scoring twice in another fine display, was the star attraction as the Wembley crowd watched Thomas Tuchel’s side close on a spot in March’s quarter-finals. England’s record goalscorer showed why he is in the running for the Ballon d’Or and the way the Bayern Munich striker passed another milestone earned him rave reviews from Bellingham. Continue reading...

Oct 6, 2026 · byThe Guardian

King Kane marks milestone match with star display as England beat Czech Republic

Harry Kane marked his record-equalling 125th cap with a sensational display as he led England to a 3-0 win over Czech Republic at Wembley.

Oct 6, 2026 · bySky Sports

Czechia’s Santi Denia: ‘Anthony Gordon? What a player! He’s at the same level as Lamine Yamal’

After working with nearly all of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad in their formative years, the coach is also a huge fan of English football. He’s now pitting his wits against both At the end of a 2-0 defeat by England in Prague, the Czechia coach turned left, walked along the touchline, shook Thomas Tuchel’s hand and said something he thinks he had never said at full-time: “See you soon.” To which Tuchel said back: “See you soon.” Seven days later, via Oviedo and Rijeka respectively, they meet again, at Wembley. “Four matches in 11 days, no time to train, for anything; I haven’t heard a single national coach say they like the new setup,” Santi Denia says, but it’s not all bad and there’s a big smile too. This is the start of a new life, yet familiar faces await, warmth in every word. Very familiar faces. If Czechia’s opponents in this Nations League could not have been much worse, they could not have been much better either. In Oviedo, Denia’s team played his country, his players; in London, for the second time in a week, they play the nation he knows better than any other, more footballers he has seen grown up. Hello, again. Continue reading...

Oct 5, 2026 · byThe Guardian

England on a high after historic Croatia rout; Republic of Ireland v Israel tensions build – matchday live

Latest news before Nations League fixtures Share your thoughts with John via email Spain continue to march on , with Lamine Yamal hitting his straps. Lamine Yamal had scored after 104 seconds at Wembley and 70 in Seville, as Spain defeated England and Croatia. And the silly thing was that here, his goal might have come even sooner. Fifteen seconds in, the first frisson of excitement went round this place as he chased down the goalkeeper and after just fifty-seven Oviedo almost exploded. But, running on to a Dani Olmo pass, Lamine Yamal calmly guided a shot past the goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky … and past the post. He would just have to wait until the sixth minute was up instead. Playing a quick one-two with Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal took possession on the top right corner of the area and curled another outrageous shot into the far corner, the ridiculous becoming routine. They had been playing five minutes 20 seconds, another stadium letting out a roar that spoke of delight but also a kind of disbelief. 320 seconds he had been out there, taking him to 494 seconds to score three. It is at the very least a confusing message. It seems to say: racism and children, this is a good combination. And given this seems to happen quite regularly, that racism is now a kind of children’s holiday event around here, football Christmas. And here’s your bonus bag of free tickets, brought to you by today’s matchday sponsor, racism. Continue reading...

Oct 4, 2026 · byThe Guardian

Arsenal shelve plans for major expansion of Emirates Stadium

Club opt for improvements in hospitality and retail An increase to 60,704 capacity had been considered Arsenal have shelved plans for a major expansion of the Emirates Stadium, opting for a programme of smaller improvements as the club’s owners review the Premier League champions’ wider operation. Arsenal set up a working group led by the chief executive, Richard Garlick, in 2024 to examine the feasibility of increasing the 60,704 capacity, with some reports they could temporarily hold home matches at Wembley. But the club has decided against major redevelopment and will concentrate on what it described as the “continued evolution” of their home since 2006. Continue reading...

Oct 2, 2026 · byThe Guardian

Building of the Pep supremacy is an era that will be defined by sham-ball

What Guardiola knew at City relates to the true nature of the club and more basic things like spectacle and human nature “Do you know the question that you are asking me? Today, do you honestly think it is my job to make this kind of question happen …” Cut to the long, painful pause. Chuck in a deep, shaming stare, eyes that have suddenly become death rays of betrayal and disgust and Pep Guardiola himself transformed from a man cheerfully toasting his own FA Cup final victory to a grizzled chief detective addressing a room full of convicted perverts. Guardiola had the wind entirely at his back at this point, sitting in the Wembley press room an hour after Manchester City’s 6-0 defeat of Watford in May 2019 . Success drowns out every other noise in football. To be good is also to be good , noble, virtuous. History is written by the domestic treble winners. Right up until the moment it isn’t. Continue reading...

Sep 30, 2026 · byThe Guardian

The part-timers who won three Wembley finals in a row

You probably knew Pep Guardiola's Manchester City won four League Cups on the bounce between 2018 and 2021 – but another side did the silverware hat-trick first.

Sep 30, 2026 · byBBC

Gordon and Kane fire England to Nations League victory against 10-man Czechia

Anybody can lose to Spain. But when England did so at Wembley on Saturday, it served to turn the temperature up on on this trip to Czechia, where England have form for finding it difficult. Remember the European championship qualifier here in 2019 when they lost 2-1? It was not easy at first. Thomas Tuchel shuffled his pack, making the surprise decision to start Jude Bellingham among the substitutes. It was all a little angsty and Czechia, for whom this is the start of a new era under the Spaniard Santi Denia after their World Cup wash-out, dared to dream about another upset. Continue reading...

Sep 29, 2026 · byThe Guardian

Czech Republic ready for Wembley 30 years after Euro '96

The Czech Republic are returning to Wembley for a Nations League game with England, just over 30 years after their Euro '96 heartbreak there.

Sep 29, 2026 · byBBC

Data shows England made inroads against Spain but they must be more clinical | Andrew Beasley

Thomas Tuchel’s side had 36 touches in the Spain penalty area at Wembley but were given a lesson in taking chances England dominated Spain to an extent very few teams have in recent years. Sadly for them, not in terms of goals . Nor possession. But ownership of the ball is less important than where on the pitch it occurs. Thomas Tuchel’s side had 36 touches in the visitors’ penalty area, a ridiculously high total when put in context of Spain’s last decade. They allowed just 9.5 touches per 90 minutes at the 2026 World Cup. The combined efforts of Belgium, France and Argentina registered 38 touches in the Spain box in the final three rounds of the tournament. Since available records began (at the start of Euro 2016), the most box touches a side has had against Spain was the 45 Germany had in the quarter-final of Euro 2024. However, that game went to extra time. France had 42 in normal time in the ridiculous Nations League semi-final they lost 5-4 last year, then come England, second best in regular time from a sample of 133 matches. Continue reading...

Sep 28, 2026 · byThe Guardian

James Trafford’s England dream burns with No 1 spot finally up for grabs again

The Leeds player was surprise starter against Spain but, after his solid display, Jordan Pickford’s grip may be loosening James Trafford looks genuinely affronted. The Leeds goalkeeper’s reaction borders on incredulity. Was it a season of frustration for him at Manchester City last time out, he is asked? A wasted year? “I won two trophies,” he says very simply and very firmly. Defiance is the stock in trade of a goalkeeper and Trafford has a nice line in it, on and off the pitch. Thrust into the England lineup against Spain at Wembley on Saturday for only his third cap, he performed well, particularly during the opening 35 minutes when the world champions threatened to run riot. Trafford made two excellent saves that kept England in contention, laying the groundwork for their surge into a 2-1 half-time lead. They ended up losing 3-2 in the Nations League opener after Harry Kane missed a 54th-minute penalty for 3-1. Continue reading...

Sep 27, 2026 · byThe Guardian

Thomas Tuchel says it would be ‘madness’ to rest England players despite longer window

I don’t take calls from Premier League managers, he says England play Czechia in Prague on Tuesday Thomas Tuchel says it would be “madness” to allow his England players or the clubs to pick and choose their matches during the elongated Nations League window as he promised to go full throttle for victory against Czechia in Prague on Tuesday. The manager did accept that Declan Rice needed to rest and could not be part of the squad in light of the Arsenal midfielder’s heavy workload across a number of seasons and well-documented fitness issues. Rice was at Wembley on Saturday to watch England lose 3-2 against Spain in their opening Nations League game. Continue reading...

Sep 27, 2026 · byThe Guardian

Spain return to action with hard-fought win at Wembley to extend streak

La Roja came back from 2-1 down at half-time to see off England for their Nations League opener on Saturday evening, extending their unbeaten run to 39 games. Substitutes Álex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal scored in the second half to turn the match around.

Sep 27, 2026 · byFrance 24

Gateshead’s fruitless trip south offers hint of Manchester City’s doomsday future

His team bottom of the National League, Lee Cattermole’s ‘bomb squad’ approach could well end with him departing Among many doomsday scenarios facing Manchester City is plunging down the football pyramid. Would that be so bad? Instead of yawning at the prospect of yet another meeting with Real Madrid or repeated Aviva train-hampered journeys to Wembley, how about the exoticism of away travel to Wealdstone? In the National League, City’s ownership may wish to know, there are no formal financial fair play or strict salary cap regulations. Wrexham, Notts County and Chesterfield have taken advantage of such lax constraints to regenerate. For City fans, Ruislip’s buzzy high street, full of nail bars, estate agents and a couple of homely pubs, would represent a welcome world away from Milan’s Via Monte Napoleone, as would the suburbia of Grosvenor Vale, Wealdstone’s home in the middle of a housing estate, which may jog memories of late-90s visits to Macclesfield and Lincoln. Simpler, happier times, perhaps. Continue reading...

Sep 27, 2026 · byThe Guardian

Israel game goes ahead after Irish players’ vote; reaction to Spain’s win over England – matchday live

The latest football news, reaction and discussion Today’s fixtures | And you can mail matchday live Hello and welcome to matchday live. We’ll be bringing you all the reaction to England’s 3-2 defeat to Spain at Wembley , including the now common detractions about the defence and Thomas Tuchel’s in-game management. How much should we be reading into a pretty fun Nations League opener? Scotland were also in action in a fairly predictable goalless draw at Slovenia in Sebastien Pocognoli’s first game in charge. Today’s match between Israel and the Republic of Ireland in Hungary will go ahead after the Ireland team stopped short of a boycott. Their goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has refused to play in protest at Israel’s military action in Gaza. Wales are also back in action in Denmark after their opening defeat to Portugal. Continue reading...

Sep 27, 2026 · byThe Guardian

Meet the new 55 minute England collapse, not the same as the old 55 minute England collapse | Barney Ronay

Things started to go wrong against Spain at the same time they did against Argentina, but for very different reasons and with far more cause for optimism You could feel it inside the stadium, one of those moments where the air starts to shift, the birds fly backwards through the sky, and outside on Wembley Way an old man clutches his copy of the England Pathway Blueprint to his chest and cowers up at the moon. Welcome to the witching hour, 55 minutes in, when things just seem to happen to Thomas Tuchel’s England. Before this Nations League opener there was general agreement on the desirability of systems, pattern, repeatability. And you can’t say England aren’t consistent. Their last two significant matches, here and in Atlanta in July , have both involved going a goal ahead against the World Cup finalists, playing well and dominating parts of the game, right up until the 55-minute mark. Continue reading...

Sep 26, 2026 · byThe Guardian

Spain show their class as errors cost England in Nations League loss

Spain showed why they are the best national team in the world by emerging 3-2 winners in a thrilling, chaotic Nations League clash at Wembley, in which England's flaws undermined their exciting attacking play.

Sep 26, 2026 · bySky Sports

Soccer-World champions Spain punish England errors to win Nations League thriller at Wembley

England aim to win over Wembley and revive Wonderwall in Spain glamour fixture

Emotions of a Nations League match cannot pulse to the same levels as the World Cup but Tuchel needs to reconnect Thomas Tuchel has pictured the scene. It comes after the final whistle has blown on England’s Nations League opener against Spain on Saturday night, the first post-World Cup fixture for both teams, and it has Wembley swaying to the strains of Wonderwall. It is a moment of communion, a reconnection with the Oasis classic that was the soundtrack to England’s World Cup campaign, which delivered so much only to end in such disappointment. “Do I think it will happen tomorrow?” Tuchel said, when asked if Wonderwall would play again afterwards. “I think it will happen if we win.” Continue reading...

Sep 25, 2026 · byThe Guardian

Why Spain test is 'pivotal' for Tuchel's England project

England go again. After World Cup heartbreak this summer they kick-off their Nations League campaign against Spain on Saturday at Wembley.

Sep 25, 2026 · bySky Sports

De la Fuente: ‘What we did at the World Cup is not enough to keep us winning’

Spain have won back-to-back major tournaments, but there is still one more to go to match the feted 2008-2012 generation “I’m going to tell you a story,” Luis de la Fuente said. “As soon as the game finished on 19 July, before anyone had cooled down at all, just two or three minutes after the final, one of the players – and you’ll have to forgive me for not telling you which one, but it was one of those who has been with us for the longest time – came up to me and said: ‘ Mister , now what? What’s left to win?’ And I said: ‘Bloody hell, the game against England at Wembley on 26 September.’” It was a Friday afternoon at Las Rozas and Spain’s coach had just named his first squad since that day in New Jersey . It was a familiar one, full of history makers. Of the 26 from the World Cup, only four had been left out and there was an explanation for each: Marcos Llorente has announced his international retirement; Joan García is injured; Borja Iglesias, who always felt the likeliest to leave first, is not fully fit; and Gavi is suspended for Wembley, although he could have faced Croatia and Czechia. Continue reading...

Sep 25, 2026 · byThe Guardian