Amid the controversy over Senegal being stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title and Morocco being declared winners, the international debut of Issa Diop yesterday proved something of an irony as well as public relations coup.

The Fulham defender was born in France and played for the country at under-21 level but on Thursday had his application to switch nationality to Morocco approved by Fifa and was immediately drafted into the starting lineup for the 1-1 draw against Ecuador in Madrid.

Diop, whose father is Senegalese and mother from Morocco, had previously rejected overtures from both countries to play for them while holding out hope he might represent France. The 29-year-old said several times he wanted to play for Les Bleus but with no call-up from Didier Deschamps he has now taken up the opportunity to possibly play at the World Cup for Morocco.

“I was very happy to play in a team with a lot of good players, and I think I’ve made a good choice,” Diop said yesterday.

Diop had talks with Morocco’s new coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, and the Moroccan federation president, Fouzi Lekjaa. “They explained their vision to me and I was taken in with open arms by a cheerful group of players with a great atmosphere in the camp,” he said. Reuters

“Shout out for Non-League day today please Billy,” emails in Ian Sargeant. “Lots of small clubs doing great things with entrance fees to encourage people along.

“My game of choice National league South is Chesham v (the mighty) Tonbridge Angels. Discounted entry for any EPL/EFL season ticket holder. If you haven’t been to a non-league game before (why?) chances are you won’t be disappointed. Better views – better beer – real affinity with the players. I love it. Come on you Angels.”

Speaking of non-league, Ben Bloom has been speaking to those involved in teams on the Channel Islands and beyond:

The lower down the football pyramid you go, the more regionalised leagues tend to become. In a volunteer-led landscape, where players are either partly remunerated or entirely unpaid, it is impractical to expect teams to regularly traverse the country, which is what makes the football clubs of Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man so unusual. Despite the inconvenience of up to 200 miles and vast bodies of water separating them from opponents, all three clubs compete in English non-league football; pseudo-national teams effectively representing their crown dependencies against part-timers on a weekly basis, before retiring to the clubhouse for pie and chips.

Portugal face Mexico at the Azteca tonight. Roberto Martínez, who guided Belgium to the semi-finals in 2018, is tasked with delivering a first World Cup this summer.

Martínez has been telling Sid Lowe how, before he named his first Portugal squad, he went to visit all the 32 players involved, including you know who.

I asked why they were in the national team. How do we get into football? Who are our heroes? Mine was my dad, following the 78 and 82 World Cups. There’s always some figure there that explains why they like to kick a ball. I asked who their idols were.

On Cristiano Ronaldo, who is not involved tonight because of injury:

It’s so, so special, unique, to have a player who has given 21 years to the national team. Carlos Forbs [the Club Brugge and Portugal midfielder] was born in 2004, when Ronaldo was already in the national team, and when players who grew up watching him see what he gives every day, they follow.

When I visited Ronaldo, I wanted to know how he felt. Players over 30 start to think that maybe the international break is a moment to breathe, regenerate. But Ronaldo’s attitude is always: ‘I’m here for the national team, whatever you need.’

Japan’s manager, Hajime Moriyasu, says he is looking forward to facing “a team of World Cup standard” at Hampden.

Andy Robertson, especially, is a player who plays at the top level and also Scott McTominay. I remember his goal in the World Cup qualifier – an overhead kick which was brilliant. But it’s not just those two players, Scotland has many players I admire.

Scotland’s players will fight on a physical level. But most of the players we have selected this time are European [based]. They have experienced physicality before so I expect them to make the most of their strengths. I don’t want them to be scared to have contact but also, I would like them to make the best out of their speed and technique.

Japan, whose World Cup group includes the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden/Poland, travel south of the border to play England at Wembley on Tuesday.

Former Celtic man Shunsuke Nakamura has travelled to Glasgow with the Japan squad – we think in a broadcast role – and has been enjoying himself. Japan’s current squad includes familiar faces to Celtic supporters too.

tommycoss

28 March 2026 9:50am

Any sign of a Scotland Japan preview?

You ask and you shall receive …

Steve Clarke has been talking up the challenge of facing Japan at Hampden Park at 5pm (GMT) today before facing Côte d’Ivoire on Tuesday. Scotland’s World Cup preparations start here.

To play games against two top quality teams from different continents, they’ll bring their own challenge – the Japanese side in particular. A very interesting way of playing. I found them a really good team to watch in the preparation for the game, the way they play, the way they approach matches, so it will be tough game for us.

Clarke says his team selection “might raise an eyebrow a little bit”. Wrexham captain Dominic Hyam could make his first Scotland appearance for three years while Angun Gunn is expecting to start in goal. Hibs’ Ross McCrorie could get the nod at right-back.

We will look at one or two things that are different, maybe use one or two different personnel across the squad, but also to try to get positive results that we can continue to feel good about ourselves.

Women’s Super League: Three derbies kick off in England this afternoon. But is that too much for one day? Tom Garry, who is at Old Trafford for United v City later, asks that exact question in his preview:

It is anticipated that there could comfortably be more than 100,000 spectators across the 12 games in the top two divisions this weekend, but there remains an argument that staggering these derbies across the season may draw a greater cumulative focus.

Buildup to the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, for example, has felt somewhat low profile this time because there is a natural focus on the Manchester derby at Old Trafford given City are closing in on the title. In any normal weekend of the season, Everton v Liverpool should be the standout fixture of the round. Instead, it is only the third most interesting game on Saturday alone.

Let’s take a look at some other results from yesterday:

World Cup holders Argentina only squeezed past Mauritania at La Bombonera, although the African side’s goal was a stoppage-time consolation. Enzo ‘I’m not sure about my Chelsea future’ Fernández and Como’s Nico Paz were on the scoresheet. With Lionel Messi not coming on until half-time, Paz took his chance to shine with a converted free-kick.

Florian Wirtz scored twice for Germany, including an 85th-minute winner, in their 4-3 thriller against Switzerland in Basel. His first goal was a peach, curling the ball past Gregor Kobel into the top corner from wide. Nottingham Forest’s Dan Ndoye opened the scoring for the Swiss.

Andyouwillknowme

28 March 2026 10:11am

Blimey, that Wirtz goal is absolutely ridiculous. He basically passes the ball right into the opposite top corner from a few yards outside the corner of the box. This may tell you about confidence to do that vs playing for Liverpool.

As mentioned, the Netherlands beat Norway 2-1, coming from behind to win thanks to goals from Virgil van Dijk and Tijjani Reijnders. “It is somewhat typically Dutch to think that when you play Norway, you have to beat them,” said coach Ronald Koeman afterwards. And Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice for Spain in their 3-0 win over Serbia. Osasuna’s Victor Muñoz also scored on his senior debut.

England’s Under-21s were almost dealt a humiliating defeat by Andorra with Rico Lewis only equalising from the spot in the 90th minute – it was 1-1 in European Championship qualifying.

“Hi Billy,” emails Dave Estherby. “I think England 1-1 Republic of Ireland Italia 90 would like a word (re “worst game ever”) but I totally get Barney’s point (8.40); if the Trade Descriptions Act was applied to last night’s “event” the FA would be bang in trouble, imagine paying actual money to watch that. And get me started on the navy shorts with red shirts...”

I’m afraid Italia 90 was around a decade before I was born but I’ll take your word for it. And I quite like the navy shorts – red shirts with, say, white shorts is too heavy with 1966 for my liking.

parkinglot

28 March 2026 9:08am

I was at Wembley. The booing of White seemed a bit performative really, just silly - ignore it.
Palmer was best, the defence was fairly solid, and lots of early World cup games will be tactical like this. We'll need good shape. It's a shame Foden isn't firing... he just needs to sharpen the angles and go on the attack.

All right, we’ll move on from the White booing. I can’t see it being an issue at the World Cup given who knows how many England supporters will actually travel due to the ticket prices and everything else. White might not go himself but he’s given himself a decent shot.

Speaking of the World Cup …

johnno64

28 March 2026 9:11am

Predictions for the World Cup?

England should make Q/F, but the additional 'Round of 32' has the potential to throw the proverbial spanner in the works - be it injuries, a sending-off, elimination (unlikely but not impossible). After that, it could be Mexico (in Mexico City!), Portugal, Spain, Argentina. World Cup pathways rarely work out as predicted though, as shown by Morocco in 2022.

Scotland - obviously need to take their chances as tournament football is invariably low scoring. The additional round of 32 presents an opportunity though, and after that, who knows?

Norway, after a stellar qualification performance, could emerge as surprise contenders for Q/Fs, but Odegaard needs to be fit for them.

Overall - Spain look very strong, have fantastic tournament know-how, will have huge support and look likely winners. But this is a very open World Cup. In 2018, I had a tenner on France at 6/1, pre tournament and was very confident, but think I'll wait this time.

Spain beat Serbia 3-0 last night (ominous) and Norway lost 2-1 in the Netherlands (no shame in that). Given they’ve got France and Senegal in their group, Norway could either go straight out or get some scalps under their belt early on.

johnny5eyes

28 March 2026 8:51am

Apart from Kane and Rice are there any potential England players in genuinely good form at the moment? None of the much vaunted number 10s or wide players seem to be.

Jordan Pickford has been excellent for Everton recently. The same with Nico O’Reilly at Manchester City. Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo have done well for United. It’s not all doom and gloom.

But it does seem like the forward players are struggling a bit. Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers … all below their usual standards at the moment. Bukayo Saka’s doing OK for Arsenal?

Plenty of England realism in the comment section:

Firtree

28 March 2026 8:42am

I watched France vs Brazil two days ago and France look imperious. If tuchel was hired for the sole purpose of winning a major trophy, and his team plays like they did yesterday, then when compared to France and co the only conclusion is - NOT A CHANCE.

foralltime

28 March 2026 8:44am

No surprise really, it’s how Arsenal City and Liverpool have played all season - slow sideways and backwards monotonous football with the odd tentative foray into the opposition box.

brimble

28 March 2026 8:28am

I just browsed the player rankings and was surprised, I hadn't even known several of them were on the pitch.

As with any England friendly, we are compelled to ask: What did we actually learn?

• That large parts of England supporters have not forgiven Ben White for something that happened four years ago?

• That picking a squad of 35 players and having 11 just watch in tracksuits from a plush suite is bad for team cohesion?

• That maybe modelling an international team on the set-piece-heavy Premier League is not going to cut it against even moderately good opposition?

• That Cole Palmer is still actually really good?

• That getting two yellow cards doesn’t necessarily mean you have to then get a red? Manuel Ugarte’s second booking was rescinded, according to the fourth official, after the referee, in full Graham Poll style, seemed to forget to give him a red.

• That Fernando Muslera, 39, still plays in goal for Uruguay? (This was his first cap in four years, to be fair)

“Arguably the worst football match ever played”

That’s how the ever-breezy Barney Ronay described the first 80 minutes of England 1-1 Uruguay at Wembley last night. Ben White scored, was booed and gave away the penalty that Fede Valverde equalised from.

This was un-football, non-sport, an activity that seemed to approach a point of nothingness, no action, no content. All of it soundtracked by the classic Wembley atmosphere, a reminder that there is no more profound silence than the silence of tens of thousands of people.

Read on!