English football defender on loan at Huddersfield Town from Chelsea
Chelsea have opened Xabi Alonso’s tenure with a 3-2 Premier League victory at Fulham. Joao Pedro opened early, Morgan Rogers scored on his Chelsea debut, Cole Palmer shone, but defensive errors from Robert Sanchez caused concern. Alonso emphasises a collective learning process as the team adapts to a fast, attacking system.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has named a 26-man World Cup squad that has omitted Manchester United defender Harry Maguire and several high-profile players including Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luke Shaw, while Ivan Toney and younger players have been selected; Tuchel has defended the choices as team-focused. (As of 28 May 2026.)
England has claimed third place after a dramatic 2-0 win over France in the bronze final, capping a tournament that saw changes under Thomas Tuchel and Mbappe's continued form. France finishes in semi-final defeat to Spain; England's best finish since 1966.