FIFA World Cup 2026: Messi returns to MetLife Stadium seeking redempt…

New York [US], July 19 (ANI): A decade after one of the most heartbreaking moments of his illustrious career, Lionel Messi returns to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey with an opportunity to rewrite history as Argentina takes on Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on Sunday (local time).

For the Argentina captain, the title clash is more than a battle for football’s biggest prize. It is a return to the venue where he endured the agony of defeat in the 2016 Copa America Centenario final against Chile, a night that ended with a missed penalty, tears on the substitutes’ bench and a shock announcement that he was retiring from international football, reported Marca.

According to a report by Goal.com, the memories of that night continue to make MetLife Stadium one of the most emotionally significant venues in Messi’s career. Following Argentina’s penalty shootout defeat to Chile, an emotional Messi had declared, “It’s over for me with the national team; I’ve tried so hard." truewildgame.online

The announcement stunned the football world and sparked a nationwide campaign urging the then-29-year-old to reconsider. Among those pleading with Messi was a 15-year-old Enzo Fernandez, who posted an emotional message on social media that has resurfaced ahead of Sunday’s final.

“Do whatever you want, Lionel, but please think about staying. Stay to have fun, which is what these people have taken from you," wrote Fernandez in 2016.

BlogSameer Rizvi 90 Runs vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2026 - Delhi Capitals BreakoutSameer Rizvi's 90 Turns IPL 2026 Into His Coming-Out Party Sameer Rizvi's 90-run innings off 51 balls against Mumbai Indians on 8 April 2026 propelled Delhi Capitals to a crucia...Open →

Ten years later, Fernandez is no longer a fan writing to his idol but one of Argentina’s most influential midfielders, standing alongside Messi as Lionel Scaloni’s side chases a second successive World Cup crown.

Standing in Argentina’s way is a Spain side that has been the tournament’s standout defensive unit. Luis de la Fuente’s men have conceded just one goal throughout the competition, becoming the first team to keep six clean sheets in a single men’s World Cup.

After opening their campaign with a goalless draw against Cape Verde, Spain have reeled off six consecutive victories, eliminating Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France on their way to the final.

The European champions also carry a 37-match unbeaten run into the contest and are bidding to win only their second FIFA World Cup title after their triumph in 2010.

Argentina, meanwhile, has showcased remarkable resilience throughout the knockout stages. The defending champions have fought back from difficult situations repeatedly, including a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over England in the semifinals, where Enzo Fernandez equalised before Lautaro Martinez struck a stoppage-time winner.

Scaloni’s side have now won 14 consecutive matches, equalling the longest winning streak by a South American nation, and are aiming to become only the second team after Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup.

The two nations enter the final with an evenly balanced head-to-head record of six wins each and two draws. Their only previous World Cup meeting came in 1966, when Argentina emerged 2-1 winners, while Spain claimed a memorable 6-1 victory in their most recent encounter, an international friendly in 2018.

As football’s biggest prize awaits, the spotlight will inevitably remain on Messi. Nearly ten years after leaving MetLife Stadium in tears and questioning his international future, the Argentine captain has one final chance to transform the venue of his greatest heartbreak into the stage for another unforgettable chapter in his extraordinary career. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

IND vs ENG 2026 3rd ODI: Team India will look to complete a fourth successive ODI series win over England when they face off in the third and final match at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Sunday. But all eyes will be on former India captain Rohit Sharma amid rumours that Lord’s can be his final ODI and international match for Team India.

Rohit has turned out on 287 ODIs so far for India, becoming the 7th highest run-getter in ODI cricket on Thursday by surpassing Pakistan’s Inzamam-ul-Haq and now has 11757 runs at an average of 48.58 with 33 hundreds and 62 fifties. He has already retired from T20I cricket in 2024 and Test cricket in 2025.

He was one of only six Indian cricketers who turned up for a training session on pre-match day at Lord’s on Saturday along with Team India coaching staff, including head coach Gautam Gambhir. However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has firmly denied such rumours that Rohit is playing his final ODI game on Sunday.

“There are lot of speculations going on in media about Rohit Sharma’s future. I want to firmly assert that there has been no such discussion that Rohit will be playing his last match at Lord’s on Sunday,” Saikia said in a statement to the media.

“Rohit is a regular member of the Indian ODI team and he will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things. In other words, Lord’s ODI won’t be his last match,” Saikia added.

But the Indian opener has only managed to score 37 runs in the series against England with scores of 11 and 26 in the first two games. Virat Kohli found some form in the second ODI, which Indians lost by four wickets at Cardiff. Kohli scored an impressive 65 – his 132nd fifty-plus score in ODI cricket.

India still hold the edge when it comes to head-to-head matches in ODI cricket against England with 62 wins as compared to 45 losses in 112 matches so far. But at Lord’s their last win came back in 2004. They have won 4 out of their 9 ODI matches at Lord’s – including the famous 1983 World Cup final. Indians also tied a match in a rain-hit game back in 2011.

London Calling #TeamIndia has arrived for the all-important series decider #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/TwpVIepLw1

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 18, 2026

Here are all the details about India vs England 2026 3rd ODI match…

When is India vs England 2026 3rd ODI match going to take place?

The India vs England 2026 3rd ODI match will start on Sunday, July 19.

Where is India vs England 2026 3rd ODI match going to take place?

The India vs England 2026 3rd ODI match will be held at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

What time will India vs England 2026 3rd ODI match start?

The India vs England 2026 3rd ODI match will begin at 330pm IST. The toss for the match will be held at 3pm.

Where can I watch India vs England 2026 3rd ODI match on TV in India?

The India vs England 2026 3rd ODI match will be available LIVE on TV on Sony Sports network channels in India.

How can I watch India vs England 2026 3rd ODI match in India?

The India vs England 2026 3rd ODI match will be available for livestreaming on SonyLiv and JioStar website and app in India.

India vs England 2026 3rd ODI match Predicted 11

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav/Harsh Dubey, Jasprit Bumrah, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna

England: Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer/Josh Tongue, Saqib Mahmood/Josh Tongue, Adil Rashid

France vs England FIFA World Cup 2026 3rd Place Playoff: Bukayo Saka’s brilliant hat-trick ensured that England managed to pip 2018 champions France 6-4 in a 10-goal thriller to bring home a bronze medal from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after the third place playoff match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday. It was England’s best-ever finish in a World Cup since winning the title 60 years back in 1966.

But it was France captain Kylian Mbappe who has now become the World record-holder for most World Cup goals with 22, surpassing Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who is currently on 21. But Messi will get the chance to regain that record when Argentina take on Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at the MetLife Stadium in New York, New Jersey, on Sunday.

Mbappe surpassed Messi’s record for World Cup goals, scoring twice in the second half as France made a sensational comeback after conceding 4 goals in the first half. The 27-year-old star has 22 goals in his career and 10 in this World Cup, two ahead of Messi now in the Golden Boot race. Mbappe had won the Golden in the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar four years back

It was the highest-scoring World Cup game since Hungary beat El Salvador 10-1 in 1982, and the 10 goals were the most ever in a third-place match in the tournament.

Saka scored for England in the 37th minute and in first-half stoppage time, then completed his hat-trick with a penalty in the 87th for his second career hat-trick with England. The Three Lions also got goals from Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa to build a 4-0 halftime lead, and they hung on against a relentless France attack.

“I hope that the players can be proud of that in some time. We are fiercely competitive, so we almost don’t allow ourselves to be proud of third place because 18 months ago we set the highest goal. We set the highest dream to chase, and we were very, very ambitious with our dream to make it to the final and win the World Cup. So it’s very, very painful if you miss out,” England coach Thomas Tuchel was quoted as saying by AP news agency.

Tuchel felt that England’s World Cup run was a success in spite of their collapse in the semifinals when they blew a 1-0 lead against defending champions Argentina and lost 2-1 when Messi assisted on two late goals.

The England coach said that Saturday’s result was the first step toward closing the gap with teams like Argentina and France. “This game will help us for sure. even if a part will never allow you to fully celebrate the bronze medal,” Tuchel said after the match

England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham capped the scoring in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time, his 7th goal of the tournament and the most in a World Cup by an England player ever. Captain Harry Kane scored six this year and in 2018, and Gary Lineker had six in 1986.

Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele also scored in the second half for France, which pulled within 4-3 on Mbappe’s second goal. “Leo scores all the time. Tomorrow he will score for sure. I just try to help my team every time to score. It’s certain that when you score so many goals in the World Cup, it elevates you to certain levels. I would have preferred not to be the top scorer in history and play in the match tomorrow,” Mbappe was quoted as saying by Fox Sports after the match.

India vs England 2026 3rd ODI: The iconic Lord’s cricket ground in London is set to host the series decided between India and England as they head into the third and final ODI match level at 1-1. But all focus has shifted to the fact whether former India captain and currently ODI opener Rohit Sharma will play his 288th and final match on Sunday.

A media report earlier this week went viral claiming that Rohit Sharma is out of BCCI selection committee’s plans for the foreseeable future leading up to the ICC ODI World Cup 2027 next year. This may prompt Rohit Sharma to announce his ODI and international retirement on Sunday as he has already quit the T20 format in 2024 and Test cricket in 2025.

But BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has completely denied these rumours and even Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel came out and spoke in support of Rohit Sharma.

“Batting up front, it is not easy. No doubt Rohit will work it out, he has done it in past, he is experienced and he just brings that calmness to the batting lineup. So, without a doubt, no worried and concerns at all with the way he is going about things,” Morkel said at the pre-match press conference at Lord’s on Saturday.

There is, however, a major injury concern in the Shubman Gill’s Indian team with all-rounder Washington Sundar ruled out of the final game due to leg injury suffered at Cardiff. Sundar notched up an unbeaten fifty in the first ODI win at Edgbaston and was involved in a century partnership with Axar Patel as well.

The BCCI have added left-arm spinner and Vidarbha all-rounder Harsh Dubey into the squad in place of Sundar. Dubey or chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav is all set to replace Sundar in the Playing 11 at Lord’s.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper KL Rahul is expected to return straight back into the squad after missing the second ODI due to illness. Rahul will be replacing Ishan Kishan in the line-up.

Harry Brook’s England, on the other hand, released Tom Banton and Liam Dawson from the squad to take part in T20 Blast Finals day on Saturday. The duo is unlikely to play at Lord’s in the third ODI.

Pacer Josh Tongue could come back into the side in place of either Jofra Archer or Saqib Mahmood in the final ODI match.

Locked in, but enjoying the moment #RohitSharma and #GautamGambhir share a laugh on the Lord’s balcony before India take the field for the series-deciding ODI. #ENGvIND 3rd ODI SUN, 19th JULY, 2:30 PM on JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/FUCQX0HxTa

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 18, 2026

India vs England 2026 3rd ODI match Predicted 11

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav/Harsh Dubey, Jasprit Bumrah, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna

England: Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer/Josh Tongue, Saqib Mahmood/Josh Tongue, Adil Rashid

Miami [US], July 19 (ANI): France’s outgoing coach Didier Deschamps minced no words and said they played a “disgraceful first-half" after his side suffered to a 6-4 loss to England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 bronze medal match in Miami on Saturday (local time).

England clinched the bronze medal after a thrilling, record-breaking 10-goal encounter at Miami Stadium, with the defeat marking a disappointing end to Deschamps’ 14-year tenure as France manager.

England took absolute control of the first half, leaving Les Bleus shell-shocked with an unprecedented 4-0 lead before the interval. Declan Rice opened the scoring just three minutes into the game, before defender Ezri Konsa doubled the advantage in the 18th minute. Bukayo Saka then took centre stage, netting twice in quick succession (37′, 45+1′) to mark the first time France has ever conceded four goals in a single half of World Cup football.

After the match, Deschamps admitted France’s first-half performance was “disgraceful" but praised the team’s fightback. He took responsibility for the defeat, saying they showed character after the break and had chances to level the game, though he regretted not finishing third.

“It’s a loss. We were down 4-0; we played a disgraceful first-half. We did show some fight, though, and there were things we did well. We had two chances to tie it up at 4-4, and after that, we pushed forward a little more… We did what we know how to do. It’s my fault; I must not have done what was needed in the first half… At least it looked like something, even if the loss hurts. Obviously, it would have been better to finish third," Deschamps said as quoted by the FIFA website.

France staged a stunning second-half comeback after trailing 4-0, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice and Bradley Barcola adding another to make it 4-3. Mbappe’s brace also saw him overtake Lionel Messi as the FIFA World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 22 goals. However, England regained control when Bukayo Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute. Ousmane Dembele scored late for France, but Jude Bellingham sealed England’s 6-4 victory in stoppage time.

Deschamps said France had a talented squad capable of achieving more and praised the team’s journey despite the disappointment. He highlighted the positive moments, the emotions shared with millions of French fans, and called his time with the team a wonderful experience.

“We came here with a lot of ambition. We managed to do quite a few positive things. We fell short in our match against Spain. It’s not all a total loss. We have a quality squad, young players who will continue to move up the ranks. We had the talent to keep achieving very good results. On a personal level, it’s been a truly wonderful journey with them. We spent eight weeks together since the start of our preparations. It was wonderful. The disappointment lies in the sporting aspect, but we had the opportunity to stir up emotions, and millions of French people were able to experience those emotions. It’s the World Cup–there’s nothing more beautiful than that," he said.

The loss marked the end of a brilliant 14-year journey of Deschamps as France manager. He took charge of France in 2012, guided the team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title and another final in 2022 before their 2026 campaign ended with a semi-final loss to Spain. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)