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      How World Cup 2026 will work with 104 matches, six games a day and 48 teams in biggest tournament ever

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      SO that’s a wrap on the smallest World Cup in living memory — now we can all get ready for the biggest.Doha’s soaring skyscrapers, sparkling stadiums and gleaming Metro stations are now football’s past.
      Lionel Messi led Argentina to the 2022 World CupCredit: Getty
      Here’s a look at how the logistics of the 2026 World Cup will work
      For all the talk of new frontiers and “bringing people together”, the truth is that Fifa are absolutely delighted to be saying goodbye to Qatar, the controversy and criticism.
      Even before the suitcases were packed, thoughts were turning to the next incarnation of the event that does unite the world in passion.
      A World Cup in three countries, not one city. In 16 venues, split across four time zones and thousands of miles — rather than the distance between Selhurst Park and Kenilworth Road.
      With 48 teams, as opposed to the 32 that has been the norm since 1998. More from Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Even, for the first time, a guaranteed slot for Oceania.
      READ MORE ON LIONEL MESSI
      And, almost certainly, a record 104 MATCHES and 33 days as well.
      It will be 12 groups of four but the real issues are over the next stage.
      The easiest way would be the top two in each group, plus the eight best third-place teams, reaching the final 32 and eight games, instead of seven, required to win.
      There are some arguments, though, that the best eight group winners should automatically go to the last 16, with the other four group winners plus the eight runners-up, playing off to join them.
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      That would mean 96 games not 104 — still the biggest World Cup by far, with only 64 matches in Qatar — but also cause issues.
      Teams drawn in a “soft” opening group who won all three matches easily would be rewarded for the luck of the draw, while it would also change the concept that all sides must play the same number of games to win the biggest prize in football.
      Another option is to split the 24 competing teams into two halves, with the “winner” of the two sections meeting in the final.
      That would mean the top two joined by the four best third-place sides in their half — more sensible if the tournament is split into geographical “east” and “west” sections — even if they were not in the top eight third-place teams overall.
      But the other factor that will be very different is the number of games each day in the group phase.
      Qatar was condensed to 29 days, with four matches each day in the opening stage.
      But the big European clubs will put huge pressure on Fifa to prevent an expanding tournament lasting any longer than 33 days maximum.
      The solution is obvious — up to six games each day in the opening round although that is more possible in 2026 than in any other potential venue for the future.
      Christian Pulisic’s USA are joint hosts with Canada and MexicoCredit: Getty
      Alphonso Davies will have a shot at World Cup redemption in 2026Credit: Getty
      East Coast cities like New York and Boston are five hours behind the UK, while Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco are a further three hours behind.
      One scenario would see the first match of the day starting in, perhaps, Toronto at noon local time, which is 5pm in the UK.
      Matches could then start every 2½ hours in Atlanta, Houston, Mexico City and Vancouver, with the last match in San Francisco beginning at 9.30pm local time — 5.30am at home. But there is still a problem for Fifa.
      Broadcasters for the major European nations will demand earlier kick-offs and the first three games of the day — but you cannot have Spain, Germany, England, France, Portugal and Holland all in the same half of the draw.
      Likewise, South American fans would prefer later, West Coast games.
      Fifa attempted to justify the choice of Qatar by pointing to the limited distances teams had to travel and pushing green credentials, sustainability and carbon offsetting.
      In 2026, driving between many of the cities is not feasible. Everyone will have to criss-cross Canada, Mexico and the States by plane.
      Read More on The Sun
      You try to get a train from New York to Boston, let alone Seattle.
      But that is for Gianni Infantino and Co to sort out. It won’t be easy. More

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      ‘Hypocrite’ Gary Neville’s ‘political’ rant over strikes at World Cup sparks hundreds of complaints to watchdog

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      GARY Neville’s World Cup rant sparked more than 440 complaints to media watchdog Ofcom.The pundit has come under fire after hijacking ITV’s coverage to compare the working conditions of strikers in the UK to migrant workers in scandal-hit Qatar.
      Gary Neville has come under fire for his political tirade in the lead up to Sunday’s World Cup finalCredit: ITV
      Harry Redknapp told Jeremy Kyle the rant was ‘ridiculous’Credit: TalkTV
      Ofcom has reportedly put ITV under pressure to explain the ex-England ace’s political tirade in the run-up to Sunday’s World Cup final.
      The regulator has said it is assessing Neville’s on-air statements “as a priority” as he potentially faces an investigation over whether he breached the broadcasting code.
      And ITV sources have warned bosses will be “reminding our sports presenters” to avoid politicising its coverage, reports DailyMail.
      Since the extraordinary rant, several other footballing pundits have hit out after feeling he crossed a line.
      READ MORE ON GARY NEVILLE
      Harry Redknapp dubbed the ex-Manchester United star a “hypocrite” and said his speech was “completely ridiculous”.
      He told TalkTV: “How can you compare what’s going on out there with what’s going on with train drivers and nurses.
      “We want to see nurses get more money, of course we do, they’re fantastic.
      “But you can’t compare the two situations. It’s completely ridiculous.”
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      And former-Three Lions player Danny Mills also slated the rant.
      Asked on GB News if Neville should have made the speech, he said: “I don’t think so.
      “You have a platform as a pundit, as a person on telly, you clearly have opinions, but there are people better read, better versed to understand all the situations in this.
      “We saw it at the start of the World Cup with the BBC not putting not showing the opening ceremony on the main channel. And then a bit of a monologue from Gary Lineker.
      “It’s OK to have opinions, but if you want to do that, do it on your own social media channels because I think you have more influence.
      “When you start getting into mixing politics right across the board, I think it’s very, very dangerous.”
      Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also waded into the debate as he told the pundit to stick to football.
      He told the Mail: “I think when most people are tuning in to watch Gary Neville they want to hear about the football and watch the football. They don’t want to discuss politics.”
      His official spokesman added that Neville’s comments were “clearly not legitimate or appropriate”.
      ‘ABSOLUTE PITTANCE’
      Neville has refused to apologise for the rant, where he attacked the UK government for “demonising” striking nurses.
      He slammed the World Cup host nation for its “abhorrent” treatment of workers, and said people should “detest poor accommodation and working conditions.”
      He continued: “We can never accept that in this region or any other region and it is just worth mentioning we’ve got a current government in our country that are demonising rail workers, ambulance workers and terrifyingly nurses.
      “We can’t have people being paid an absolute pittance to work, we can’t have people in accommodation that is unsavoury and disgusting. It shouldn’t happen here.
      “That shouldn’t happen here with the wealth that exists. 
      “But it shouldn’t happen with the nurses in our country either where our nurses are having to fight for an extra pound or two pounds.”
      Despite his lecture over workers rights, several former employees have hit out at working conditions in his hotel.
      Ex-staff at his Hotel Football in Manchester say they were “overworked and underappreciated”.
      In a scathing review on job site Indeed, one worker said: “If you love being overworked and underappreciated then you’ve found you calling.
      “Typically understaffed and overworked. Training is non existent.
      “Always work over my contracted hours and never get overtime pay, I was told to take time in lieu but that’s impossible when they are no staff to cover that.
      “Management only interested in turning a profit and don’t really care how they achieve this.
      “I wouldn’t recommend working here right now as I know for a fact that most of the key staff are looking to move on due to the conditions.”
      And while Neville hijacked ITV’s coverage to attack poor working conditions, another former hotel staffer blasted his business as “greedy”.
      “Senior management is more concerned about cutting costs rather than generating money, providing a good service and good working conditions,” they added.
      Read More on The Sun
      Following the backlash to his speech, an Ofcom spokesman said: “We are assessing this content as a priority and have asked ITV provide us with details about the broadcast to inform that work.”
      An ITV spokesman said: “Gary Neville was expressing his own personal views in the context of a discussion about the treatment of workers in Qatar within a live broadcast. His views are his own and were not endorsed by ITV.”
      Gary Neville has been slated as a ‘hypocrite’ for his World Cup political rant More

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      Lionel Messi named as BBC Sports Personality’s World Sport Star of the Year after guiding Argentina to World Cup triumph

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      LIONEL MESSI has been named BBC Sports Personality’s World Sport Star of the Year.The Argentina captain scored twice on Sunday as he finally got his hands on the World Cup trophy.
      Lionel Messi has been named as BBC Sports Personality’s World Sport Star of the YearCredit: Getty
      The Argentina captain lifted the World Cup for the first time on SundayCredit: Getty
      The 35-year-old superstar helped guide his national team past France on penalties.
      And the BBC announced they have dedicated the win by naming the diminutive genius as the world star of the year.
      The prize is awarded by a panel to the athlete who has “achieved the most notable sporting success” on the globe during that calendar year.
      The 2021 winner was Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore.
      READ MORE ON MESSI
      It is yet another trophy for Messi, who spoke about winning the World Cup after lifting it in Qatar.
      He said: “It’s everyone’s dream when they’re little.
      “I’ve been lucky enough to achieve everything and what I was missing, I found here.”
      The thrilling final ended with a penalty shootout victory over France, following a 3-3 draw.
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      And Messi and his team-mates jetted back to Buenos Aires with the golden orb.
      The playmaker posted a picture of himself holding the trophy on the plane to his Instagram on Monday afternoon.
      An over-the-moon Messi reacted to the historic victory on Instagram a few hours after the thrilling match.
      Along with a series of snaps of himself celebrating, he wrote: “CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!.
      “So many times I dreamed it, so much I wanted it that I still don’t fall, I can’t believe it…
      “Thank you so much to my family, to all who support me and also to all who believed in us.
      “We prove once again that Argentinians when we fight together and united we are able to achieve what we aim.
      “The merit is of this group, which is above individuals, is the strength of all fighting for the same dream that was also the one of all Argentinians…
      Read More on The Sun
      “We did it!!! LET’S GO ARGENTINA DAMN!!!!!
      “We’re seeing each other very soon.” More

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      Don’t buy the hype.. Lionel Messi being draped in Arabian robe reminded us how flawed Qatar World Cup really was

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      WAS it the greatest World Cup final? Probably.Was it the greatest World Cup final storyline? Definitely.
      Messi was draped in a traditional Arabian bisht robe for the celebrationsCredit: Rex
      Infantino held on to the trophy for as long as possibleCredit: Rex
      But was Qatar 2022 the greatest World Cup of all time? Certainly not.
      During the build-up to Sunday’s epic it felt cartoonish and celebrity-obsessed to bill a team game as ‘Lionel Messi versus Kylian Mbappe’.
      But then, in a final seemingly scripted by Disney, it turned out that it really was Messi versus Mbappe, with the two Galacticos scoring five of the six goals.
      Messi finally lifted the World Cup at 35, and had an influence on Argentina’s campaign as significant as that of the late Diego Maradona in 1986.
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      And Mbappe became only the second player in history to score a World Cup final hat-trick, nicked the Golden Boot from Messi, yet still ended up a loser.
      The Frenchman, 24 today, ought to have been man of the match, because his ailing team, struggling with the effects of a virus, barely turned up for 80 minutes until his dramatic two-goal intervention forced extra-time.
      There has been a concerted effort from Fifa’s clown overlord Gianni Infantino and Qatari stooges to paint this tournament as the best ever — and a great final played into their hands.
      But just in case we were inclined to forget the corruption, human rights abuses and the sheer nonsense of holding a World Cup in a tiny nation with no footballing culture, a farcical trophy presentation reminded us that this last month had been deeply flawed.
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      Argentina won the World Cup in the most dramatic final
      Messi fell to his knees when victory was confirmed
      In a final piece of ‘sportswashing’, Messi was draped in a traditional Arabian bisht robe, tarnishing images of the trophy lift, the crowning glory of a magnificent career.
      But then Messi is paid by the Qataris, who own Paris Saint- Germain, and is also an ambassador for Saudi Arabia.
      However beautiful a footballer he may be, and however romantic the story of his World Cup triumph had seemed, this fella is raking in tens of millions from some ruthless people.
      And then there was Infantino, trying to hog the limelight and gatecrash Argentina’s celebrations.
      The man is a prized twit, a deranged attention-seeker in hock to oppressive dictators, a glove puppet for Vladimir Putin, the Emir of Qatar and the Saudis, whom he would love to host the 2030 World Cup.
      In purely footballing terms, this was one of the better World Cups.
      But anybody who went to Qatar will tell you that the overall  tournament experience was a sham.
      This became immediately apparent at the opening match when hapless Qatar — easily the worst host team in World Cup history — were well beaten by Ecuador in a largely silent stadium, which was half-empty soon after half-time as the locals gave up and went home.
      PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has promised to talk contracts with Messi following his national successCredit: Instagram
      Club teammate Mbappe came out on the losing side despite his hat-trick
      Only the South American and north African nations brought  significant support and so the atmosphere at most matches was thoroughly weird — stadiums  dominated by neutral tourists and Mexican Waves and Icelandic  thunderclaps.
      When Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped and Portugal hammered Switzerland 6-1, Ronaldo still received the night’s shrillest cheer when he arrived as a late sub — a far more rapturous ovation than that afforded to his replacement Goncalo Ramos, who scored a  brilliant hat-trick.
      And some of the World Cup’s best bits are now under threat from Fifa. The expansion of the event to 48 teams, from 2026, will make it bloated and lop-sided.
      Some of this tournament’s greatest drama arrived with the final group-stage matches, as two games ran concurrently and fortunes  fluctuated wildly.
      Germany were eliminated by a controversial Japanese winner against Spain and Uruguay’s  villains were dumped out by South Korea’s injury-time clincher against Portugal.
      Yet at the next World Cup, we face having  12 groups of four, which would allow some third-placed teams to progress, and not others, also affecting those group-stage climaxes.
      England had a good tournament and many of us initially felt that, if Harry Kane had scored his second penalty, rather than ballooning it, Gareth Southgate’s men might have won the World Cup.
      Yet while England possess some very good footballers, including some improving youngsters, they do not have a game-changing match-winner like Mbappe or Messi.
      Mbappe held his nerve from the spot to send the game to a shootout at the death
      Emiliano Martinez celebrated after saving Kingsley Coman’s penalty
      Mbappe would probably have  conjured a moment of brilliance to defeat England in extra-time. If not, Messi would probably have done so in the final.
      And that is to ignore Morocco, the first African World Cup semi-finalists — a huge achievement from an obdurate team, fired by fanatical support.
      There were shades of 1982 about Brazil, who provided outstanding individual brilliance.
      Tottenham’s Richarlison was a star but his team ultimately under-achieved by losing a quarter-final shootout to  Croatia — and what a stunning feat for that small nation to finish second and third at  consecutive World Cups.
      Argentina’s quarter-final victory over Holland was wild and wonderfully ill-tempered.
      While most of us wanted to see Argentina prevail in the final, for Messi’s sake, let us not forget their antics as they taunted the fallen Dutch after their shootout win.
      The refereeing was largely  excellent and unfussy in Qatar — final ref Szymon Marciniak in  particular — and VAR functioned unusually well.
      But let’s not allow Infantino to bask in the glory of a great final and attempt to normalise winter World Cups in the Middle East.
      Don’t let them tell you, either, that the absence of alcohol helped.
      There hasn’t been significant crowd violence at a World Cup since 1998.
      Infantino will be desperate to get the event to Saudi Arabia in 2030 — another disruptive mid-season  tournament in a dry country under a barbaric regime.
      If it happens, with the Saudis as outright hosts or in a weird joint bid with Egypt and Greece, Messi will surely be in Riyadh as a handsomely paid patsy.
      Read More on The Sun
      He is a wonderful footballer and on Sunday he illuminated a  wonderful football match.
      But let’s not pretend Messi is a saint and let’s not pretend that Qatar 2022 was a proper World Cup at all, let alone the greatest one. More

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      Kylian Mbappe dejected as France squad arrive back in Paris after World Cup final heartbreak against Argentina

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      KYLIAN MBAPPE and Co returned to France following their World Cup final defeat to Argentina. And the squad understandably appeared to be in glum spirits after their efforts in a heroic comeback were undone in a dramatic shootout.
      Kylian Mbappe looked dejected after returning home following defeat in the World Cup finalCredit: Reuters
      Mbappe and Co were given a hero’s welcome as they returned to FranceCredit: Reuters
      The 23-year-old became just the second player to score a final hat-trickCredit: Reuters
      France stars exit their plane from QatarCredit: EPA
      The French lost 4-2 in a penalty shootout to ArgentinaCredit: Reuters
      Olivier Giroud was spotted with a Hawaiian-style necklaceCredit: Reuters
      Captain Hugo Lloris led the team as they arrived in ParisCredit: AFP
      Mbappe will now return to club side Paris Saint-GermainCredit: Reuters
      The French had found themselves 2-0 down until a late penalty boosted them into life.
      Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe netted a three-minute brace to drag the game into extra-time before becoming just the second player to ever score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.
      However, he was unable to do anymore as his nation lost out on penalties to Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
      And a day later Didier Deschamps’ unlucky Les Bleus arrived back home to a hero’s welcome.
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      Thousands gathered at Place de la Concorde in Paris to give well wishes to the beaten finalists.
      Had France won the Jules Rimet they would have become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups.
      France boss Deschamps would have also become the first manager ever to win it back-to-back.
      He appeared to be in a better mood than his compatriots as he was spotted smiling on the runway.
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      Airport staff also offered their condolences to the team.
      Olivier Giroud, who was an early substitute alongside Ousmane Dembele, donned a Hawaiian-style necklace in the colours of the French flag as he emerged from the plane.
      The players were then whisked away to the Hotel Crillon, where they waved to the crowd.
      And despite the large crowd of fans wanting to congratulate the team on their efforts, it did not lift the face of a gloomy-looking Mbappe.
      The 23-year-old waved to the crowd from the balcony alongside his team-mates, but retained a face like thunder – clearly still reeling from his performance which somehow yielded no reward.
      However, a number of French stars were on the end of disgusting racist abuse from vile trolls after the final.
      Kingsley Coman, Aurelien Tchouameni and Randal Kolo Muani were all subjected to sickening abuse after missing shots at crucial points of the game.
      Coman and Tchouameni both failed to net during the shootout, while Kolo Muani would have won the final were it not for a stunning last-minute save from Emiliano Martinez.
      It prompted Tchouameni and Kolo Muani to briefly disable their accounts before they eventually reactivated them – albeit with moderated comments.
      Thousands gathered at the Place de la Concorde for the arrival of the French teamCredit: AFP
      A frustrated-looking Mbappe waves to the crowd from the Hotel Crillon alongside team-matesCredit: Reuters
      Mbappe won the Golden Boot award after scoring eight timesCredit: Reuters More

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      Garry Neville’s strike rant during World Cup was completely ridiculous & hypocritical, Harry Redknapp tells TalkTV

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      HARRY Redknapp has called Gary Neville a “hypocrite” as he described his rant over strikes as “completely ridiculous”.The former Manchester United star has come under fire after launching into a political rant over the UK’s crippling strikes during ITV’s World Cup final coverage.
      Gary Neville has been blasted for comparing nurses striking in the UK to migrant workers in QatarCredit: ITV
      Harry Redknapp told Jeremy Kyle the rant was ‘ridiculous’Credit: TalkTV
      Ex-West Ham manager Redknapp on Monday night admitted he found Neville’s comments comparing nurses striking in the UK to migrant workers in Qatar as “completely ridiculous”.
      Speaking to Jeremy Kyle on TalkTV, Redknapp agreed it was “hypocritical” of Neville to make the comments after landing a huge payday to cover the World Cup in Qatar.
      Redknapp said: “How can you compare what’s going on out there with what’s going on with train drivers and nurses.
      “We want to see nurses get more money, of course we do, they’re fantastic.
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      “But you can’t compare the two situations. It’s completely ridiculous.”
      Thousands of migrant workers have reportedly died in the Qatari construction industry since the World Cup was awarded to them in 2010.
      Concerns were also raised over the rights of fans travelling to the event – especially LGBT+ individuals and women, who rights groups say Qatari laws discriminate against.
      But in the run-up to the Argentina vs France kickoff, Labour party member Neville, 47, likened the human rights disgraces in the Arab country to the strikes taking place in the UK.
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      It has sparked more than 440 complaints to media watchdog Ofcom.
      He said: “The working system of Kafala which obviously through football the conversation has started and it’s been removed here now in Qatar but it is abhorrent and we should detest low pay, we should detest poor accommodation and working conditions.
      “We can never accept that in this region or any other region and it is just worth mentioning we’ve got a current government in our country that are demonising rail workers, ambulance workers and terrifyingly nurses.
      “In our country we’ve got to look at workers’ rights but when football goes, we have to pick up on workers’ rights wherever it goes because people have got to be equal and treated equal.
      “We can’t have people being paid an absolute pittance to work, we can’t have people in accommodation that is unsavoury and disgusting. It shouldn’t happen here.
      “That shouldn’t happen here with the wealth that exists. 
      “But it shouldn’t happen with the nurses in our country either where our nurses are having to fight for an extra pound or two pounds.”
      Fans rushed to social media to blast his claims.
      One fumed: “Had to switch World Cup over earlier due to Gary Neville’s rant about the government.
      “A champagne socialist there to talk about the World Cup. Thinks he’s now a third-rate politician.”
      Another said: “Switched to BBC despite wanting to watch Keane. 
      “You have Neville being thick forgetting about the estimated 6500 migrant deaths equating that with strikes in UK”.
      The ex-football ace has since been blasted by some former staff at his Hotel Football in Manchester, who say they were “overworked and underappreciated”.
      In a scathing review on job site Indeed, one worker said: “If you love being overworked and underappreciated then you’ve found you calling.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Typically understaffed and overworked. Training is non existent.
      “Always work over my contracted hours and never get overtime pay, I was told to take time in lieu but that’s impossible when they are no staff to cover that.” More

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      Punter wins £240k after cashing out incredible seven-team acca moments before France lost World Cup final

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      A GAMBLING genius has won £240,000 – after cashing out his seven-team accumulator moments before France’s World Cup final defeat.American Daniel Forte had backed Les Bleus to lift the trophy as part of a £21 bet he placed in March.
      Argentina won the World Cup to scupper the Daniel Forte’s accaCredit: Getty
      But luckily he cashed out to ensure he won £240,000Credit: Getty
      Forte correctly forecast Manchester City would win the Premier League.
      He also tipped AC Milan to win Serie A, and Los Angeles FC to lift the MLS Cup.
      Other spot-on selections included Golden State Warriors to win the NBA finals, Colorado Avalanche to win Ice Hockey’s Stanley Cup and Kansas to win the NCAA basketball tournament.
      Forte stood to win $557,770 – £457,738 – if France completed the final leg of his acca with odds of 21,453-1.
      READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP
      But in an inspired decision, he opted to cash out for $283,583 – £240,000 – just hours before Didier Deschamps’ men lost on penalties to Argentina.
      Which is a result that would have left the Nevada-based punter with nothing.
      Forte said: “Thank God I cashed out.
      “I’d be leaving on a stretcher with a heart attack otherwise.
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      “There was a lot of thought and a lot of talking to my family.
      “We decided to take the £283K cashout, and change my life.”
      Forte had to make an emergency 700-mile drive from Las Vegas to Arizona to cash out in time – as his app with online sportsbook FanDuel did not work in Nevada. More

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      England must stop being good losers.. they need a snarling Dennis Wise in there to wind up the opposition

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      OK England, now what are we going to do?Are we going to get to the next level and win Euro 2024 and mount a serious challenge for the World Cup in 2026?
      Tony Adams says England lost to France because the mentality was not rightCredit: Alamy
      Adams wants Gareth Southgate to get the Three Lions to ‘hate’ defeatCredit: Getty
      Right now we are top eight but we are not winning material. We have to alter the mindset.
      We have talented players who can match some of the very best but we have to change our mental approach.
      Argentina didn’t win the World Cup with the best team but boy did they have the right attitude.
      We have to believe we can beat the best. Don’t put ourselves down and think we are inferior.
      READ MORE ON ARSENAL
      France did us in the World Cup quarter-final because they knew how to do the job.
      Some England fans have been saying we were done by the worst refereeing in the tournament but I thought it was OK.
      That was an excuse for us not getting through.
      Kylian Mbappe may have scored a hat-trick in the final but I’m telling you that Bukayo Saka outshone him in our game.
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      We have the talent in the likes of Saka, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
      Of course, the task is not going to get easier. Mbappe will get better and thank God Lionel Messi’s played his last World Cup, which takes one problem out of the equation.
      But we’ve still got the likes of Portugal and Spain to worry about and the African nations are improving.
      Like a lot of countries we’re still lacking defensively. A good defensive coach would not go amiss.
      I don’t want to sound like a broken record but now that Gareth Southgate is staying, I repeat my advice that he should call on one or two old experienced heads for advice from time to time.
      He doesn’t have to make it public but it would help him.And, as I’ve said before, we have to stop being good losers. We have to absolutely hate defeat.
      I’m not interested in the fair play trophy which we won in Qatar with Harry Maguire getting our only yellow card.
      I’d like to see us get a bit ‘Dennis Wise’. Wisey used to shake opponents’ hands, scrape them with his nails and stamp on their foot as he did it.
      Harry Kane blazed a second penalty over the bar as England exited the tournamentCredit: PA
      Southgate was quickly on hand to console the likes of Jude BellinghamCredit: Getty
      Adams has called on England to get nasty like Dennis WiseCredit: Getty
      I don’t want us to be cuddling opponents in the tunnel and laughing and joking with them. I want us to hate them and to make it as uncomfortable as possible for them.
      We need an edge to move forward. We need more aggression.
      And I want to see us play with the type of swagger which says, “We are better than you”. It’s not arrogance, it’s confidence.
      We have the talent, it’s that mindset that’s missing. We have to believe we are every bit as good as the opposition if not better.
      I remember many years ago, Arsenal coach Don Howe sitting me and Martin Keown down and telling us Arsenal were too soft and that was why we hadn’t won the league title since 1971.
      He was sick of teams like Liverpool coming to Highbury and knowing they could roll us over.
      He told us we had to get nasty, become impossible to beat and make them really fear playing against us.
      They had to know they had been in a game. Reputations would mean nothing.
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      He said it might take a few years but eventually we would win things and he was right. We became ruthless. We decided it was our turn.
      If England adopt that type of attitude we might yet turn into winners. More