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France Urges Calm During World Cup Game against Morocco

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Quarter Final - France v Morocco - Fans gather in Boston, Massachusetts, US - July 8, 2026 Morocco fans light flares as they gather on Boston Common ahead of their game against France REUTERS/Brian Snyder
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Quarter Final - France v Morocco - Fans gather in Boston, Massachusetts, US - July 8, 2026 Morocco fans light flares as they gather on Boston Common ahead of their game against France REUTERS/Brian Snyder
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France Urges Calm During World Cup Game against Morocco

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Quarter Final - France v Morocco - Fans gather in Boston, Massachusetts, US - July 8, 2026 Morocco fans light flares as they gather on Boston Common ahead of their game against France REUTERS/Brian Snyder
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Quarter Final - France v Morocco - Fans gather in Boston, Massachusetts, US - July 8, 2026 Morocco fans light flares as they gather on Boston Common ahead of their game against France REUTERS/Brian Snyder

France has urged its football fans to be responsible as their team prepares to face African champions Morocco on Thursday in a World Cup quarter-final, after previous high-profile matches led to unrest.

Morocco won independence from France in 1956 and has a mostly settled relationship with the former colonial power, which is home to hundreds of thousands of Moroccans or French citizens of Moroccan descent.

Several members of Morocco's national team this year were born in France and play for French clubs.

Team captain Achraf Hakimi was born in Spain but plays for Paris Saint-Germain.

Celebrations were mostly peaceful when France beat Morocco in the 2022 World Cup semi-final.

But security forces are to be on alert around France during the game from 10:00 pm (20:00 GMT) on Thursday.

"I appeal to everyone's sense of responsibility. It has to remain a celebration," Sports Minister Marina Ferrari told the France Info broadcaster.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has said "no misconduct would be tolerated".

After the PSG beat Arsenal in the Champions League final in May, Paris police took 225 adults into custody, charging around half of them with offences including confronting the police and material damage, the city's top prosecutor said.

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Sports

Van Bommel Names First Belgium Squad with Eight Changes from World Cup

FILE - Mark van Bommel reacts during a Champions League group H soccer match between Porto and Antwerp at Estadio do Dragao in Porto, Portugal, Nov. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Miguel Pereira, File)
FILE - Mark van Bommel reacts during a Champions League group H soccer match between Porto and Antwerp at Estadio do Dragao in Porto, Portugal, Nov. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Miguel Pereira, File)
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Van Bommel Names First Belgium Squad with Eight Changes from World Cup

FILE - Mark van Bommel reacts during a Champions League group H soccer match between Porto and Antwerp at Estadio do Dragao in Porto, Portugal, Nov. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Miguel Pereira, File)
FILE - Mark van Bommel reacts during a Champions League group H soccer match between Porto and Antwerp at Estadio do Dragao in Porto, Portugal, Nov. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Miguel Pereira, File)

New Belgium coach ‌Mark van Bommel on Friday named his first squad for their four Nations League matches, retaining the core of the World Cup selection, said Reuters.

* Van Bommel, who has replaced Rudi Garcia, added eight players who did not take part in the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the US as he named a 28-man squad for matches against Italy, France (twice), and ‌Türkiye between September ‌25 and October 5.

* Belgium ‌must ⁠do without first-choice ⁠goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who asked to be excused from the Nations League campaign to regulate his playing time at the age of 34.

* Jeremy Doku, who was seen as a key player for the World Cup campaign ⁠but had a disappointing tournament, misses ‌out due to ‌injury, as does Amadou Onana.

* Attacker Alexis Saelemaekers and ‌veteran defender Thomas Meunier have been dropped ‌while Axel Witsel has retired from international football.

* The uncapped players in the squad include goalkeepers Jari De Busser, Mike Penders and Maarten Vandevoordt and ‌21-year-old fullback Kyriani Sabbe.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Jari De Busser (AZ Alkmaar), Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Mike ⁠Penders (Chelsea), ⁠Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig)

Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting Lisbon), Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton & Hove Albion), Koni De Winter (AC Milan), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Nathan Ngoy (Lille), Kyriani Sabbe, Joaquin Seys (both Club Brugge), Arthur Theate (Bologna)

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Mandela Keita (Parma), Romeo Lavia (Chelsea), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Youri Tielemans (Manchester United), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge)

Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Newcastle United), Malick Fofana (Sunderland), Mika Godts (Paris St Germain), Romelu Lukaku (Fenerbahce), Dodi Lukebakio (Benfica), Diego Moreira (AC Milan), Lois Openda (Olympique Lyonnais), Leandro Trossard (Besiktas).

Sports

Alexander-Arnold Returns to England Squad as Tuchel Makes 10 Changes from World Cup

Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold (L) in action against Elche's Lucas Cepeda (R) during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Elche and Real Madrid, in Elche, Spain, 15 September 2026. EPA/PABLO MIRANZO
Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold (L) in action against Elche's Lucas Cepeda (R) during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Elche and Real Madrid, in Elche, Spain, 15 September 2026. EPA/PABLO MIRANZO
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Alexander-Arnold Returns to England Squad as Tuchel Makes 10 Changes from World Cup

Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold (L) in action against Elche's Lucas Cepeda (R) during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Elche and Real Madrid, in Elche, Spain, 15 September 2026. EPA/PABLO MIRANZO
Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold (L) in action against Elche's Lucas Cepeda (R) during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Elche and Real Madrid, in Elche, Spain, 15 September 2026. EPA/PABLO MIRANZO

Trent Alexander-Arnold has the chance to prove a point after being recalled to the England squad, manager Thomas Tuchel said on Friday as he named his first selection since the World Cup.

England begin their Nations League campaign against world champions Spain at Wembley on September 26, the first of four matches they will play during the international break.

Real Madrid's Alexander-Arnold had not featured for England since June 2025 and returns after more than a year out of the international set-up, with Tuchel favoring other options at right back.

Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele ⁠and Bournemouth midfielder ⁠Alex Scott were also included in the squad and could make their England debuts. Scott trained with England before the World Cup but did not play in their warm-up friendlies.

Tuchel made 10 changes from the 26-man squad that travelled to the United States, Canada and Mexico. Cole Palmer ⁠and Lewis Hall return alongside Alexander-Arnold, while the experienced pair Jordan Henderson and John Stones miss out.

The German manager said that an improvement in Palmer's statistics and a positive start to the season from Alexander-Arnold were behind their return to the squad.

"I think Palmer has a point to prove. The same goes for Trent, he was never non-selectable for us. It's his chance to show it, to come to camp, to be the best version of himself," Tuchel ⁠told a ⁠press conference, according to Reuters.

Arsenal winger Noni Madueke was left out, with Tuchel selecting Liverpool's 18-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who will hope to earn his second England cap after making his debut in June against New Zealand.

After hosting Spain, England visit the Czech Republic and Croatia before playing the Czechs again at home. The remaining two fixtures of the group will be completed in November.

"The next match is against Spain, the reigning world champions, and we feel the gap is closing and we want to prove a point. The motivation cannot be higher," Tuchel added.

Sports

Kane Proud of Achievements, Not Giving Too Much Thought to Ballon d'Or

Munich's Harry Kane applauds after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SV Elversberg and FC Bayern Munich in Elversberg, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)
Munich's Harry Kane applauds after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SV Elversberg and FC Bayern Munich in Elversberg, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)
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Kane Proud of Achievements, Not Giving Too Much Thought to Ballon d'Or

Munich's Harry Kane applauds after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SV Elversberg and FC Bayern Munich in Elversberg, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)
Munich's Harry Kane applauds after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SV Elversberg and FC Bayern Munich in Elversberg, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)

Harry Kane described the 2025-26 campaign as the best season of his life after scoring 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England, and while his performances have made him a leading candidate for the Ballon d'Or he says he is not focused on individual awards.

No English player has won the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen in 2001 and Kane is up against tough competition ⁠with Lamine Yamal ⁠and Kylian Mbappe also in the running.

"I’ve never liked talking too much about myself. The only thing I’d say is that last season was incredible, both personally and for the team," Kane ⁠told Spanish outlet Marca in an interview published on Friday, according to Reuters.

"It was, by far, the best season of my life."

Kane said he was proud of his tally of 73 goals, which was the highest since Lionel Messi netted a record 82 times in 2011-12 but that it might not be enough to claim the mantle as the ⁠world's ⁠best player.

"I’m extremely proud of that ... but the Ballon d’Or isn't in my hands. It depends on the people who vote. As far as I’m concerned, last season is in the past.

"Now I’m focused on this one and I’m looking forward to seeing what else I can achieve."

The winner will be announced at the official awards ceremony on October 26.