Summary

  • Redknapp refuses Gerrard's request to name names

  • English youngsters will always struggle - Hodgson

  • Lampard to captain England against Costa Rica

  • Portugal rescue a point against USA in last minute

  • GET INVOLVED: Which should come first - club or country?

  1. For your considerationpublished at 14:04 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    Here's a reminder of tonight's World Cup action:

    16:30-19:05 - Australia v Spain (ITV4 & BBC Radio 5 live)

    16:30-19:10 - Netherlands v Chile (ITV & BBC Radio 5 live)

    20:15-23:15 - Cameroon v Brazil (ITV & BBC Radio 5 live)

    20:30-23:05 - Croatia v Mexico (ITV4 & BBC Radio 5 live)

  2. Premier League return for Mario?published at 13:58 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    Italy striker Mario BalotelliImage source, Reuters

    AC Milan have not ruled out selling striker Mario Balotelli amid rumours he could return to the Premier League.

    The striker has been repeatedly linked with Arsenal and reports in Italy suggest Milan are open to the idea of selling the 23-year-old.

    Milan vice-president Barbara Berlusconi said: "I don't believe that someone can be irreplaceable."

  3. Get involved #bbcworldcuppublished at 13:54 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    Chris Devlin:, external International football just gets in the way of league football.

    Lauren Sasha:, external Country over club. There should be no question of that, ever.

    David Nyaga:, external England have to consider other players from "small clubs". The Dutch have picked De Guzman and Ron Vlaar, for instance,

  4. Taberez: Uruguay will handle pressurepublished at 13:49 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    Uruguay coach Oscar Taberez believes his team will handle the occasion in their crucial Group B fixture with Italy on Tuesday.

    The South Americans must win to book their place in the last 16 after beating England 2-1 last time out.

    Tabarez said: "I have a group who are used to resisting pressure and who react to it in a good way. The pressure was worse against England.

    "Italy have been world champions four times and we have a lot of respect for them. It will be a tough challenge for us but I believe we'll have our chances."

  5. Wish you were here?published at 13:44 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    BBC

    "Goooooooooooooool!" Get a masterclass in the art of Brazilian football commentary in this episode of Brazil's Soccer Cities from Brasilia, where the hosts entertain Cameroon in their final Group A fixture.

  6. Postpublished at 13:37 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    Dan Roan
    BBC Sport

    On Twitter:, external On our way to Maracana stadium for FIFA press conference at 2.30pm - lots of interest in what they have to say about Ghana allegations

  7. Buffon fears Italy failurepublished at 13:31 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon has warned his team-mates they must raise their game to avoid another World Cup "failure".

    The Italians' shock loss to Costa Rica in their last outing has left them needing a result from their final Group D game against Uruguay on Tuesday to reach the last 16.

    Goalkeeper Buffon, 36, said: "Now we have to send some positive signals and the only way to do that is to raise our game against Uruguay.

    "We need to show some strength and pride and come up with a win. We need cool heads but also to be highly motivated.

    "If we end up going out in the first round, it will be a failure."

  8. Redknapp refuses to name namespublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    Harry Redknapp has refused Steven Gerrard's demand to name and shame the stars the Premier League boss claims skipped England duty.

    England captain Gerrard believes anyone who dodges international duty is wrong and he called on Redknapp to name the players in question.

    But Redknapp told Sportsmail: "I understand Steven's concern but I don't want to get into naming names because it wouldn't be fair to the players. Every Premier League manager past and present knows what I'm talking about. Sadly this attitude is not unusual these days."

  9. Get involved #bbcworldcuppublished at 13:18 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    Thomas Dolfi:, external Your country always comes first over your club! No question! It's who you are, what you stand for.

    Michael Sneddon:, external Country over club any day.

    Phill Swaffer:, external They are supposed to be professional athletes - club or country, it doesn't matter. Man up and get on with your jobs!

  10. Postpublished at 13:17 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has accused Fifa of "playing tricks" with the fixture schedule at the World Cup.

    Hosts Brazil played before the Dutch in the first two games but are in action after them in the final group round, which Van Gaal claims is unfair.

    "Fifa plays these tricks. It's not a good thing," said Van Gaal whose team could face Brazil in the last 16. "It's not fair play. I think at a World Cup the host country always has an advantage."

  11. Postpublished at 13:13 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    Gary Lineker
    BBC Sport

    Gary Lineker and Diego MaradonaImage source, @GaryLineker

    On Twitter:, external "28 years on from the 'hand of God' and the best goal ever, it was great to catch up with Diego Armando Maradona."

  12. 'English youngsters will always struggle'published at 13:09 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    England manager Roy Hodgson believes England's brightest young stars will always struggle to break into the top Premier League sides because of expensive foreign imports.

    "There's always going to be a problem. It's ridiculous to try to suggest there isn't," Hodgson said.

    "The players we're looking at who could be good enough to play for England at 18, 19, 20 years of age are quite often playing in the top five or six clubs. That's where the biggest stars are, and where the biggest money is and where the biggest chance of a blockage is in getting into the team."

  13. Get involved #bbcworldcuppublished at 13:05 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    Andy K:, external Playing for your club can get you a new house and a fancy car. Playing for your country can make you immortal.

    Jamie Powell:, external Players get to choose their club so they will come first for most. Can't choose your country - unless you're Diego Costa.

    Ian Ashworth:, external Every little boy dreams of captaining England before their club, including my two now. Country is still the pinnacle for me.

  14. FA 'withdraws bid to host Women's World Cup'published at 13:04 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    The Football Association has withdrawn its bid to host the 2019 Women's World Cup, according to The Times., external

    England were vying to host the tournament but The Times reports that relations with Fifa are so strained the FA believes it has no chance of being successful.

  15. Postpublished at 13:01 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    Belo HorizonteImage source, Phil McNulty

    BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty:, external Belo Horizonte. Last stop on England's World Cup journey. Not sure even pride can be salvaged in these circumstances.

  16. Lampard undecided over England futurepublished at 12:59 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    Frank Lampard will wait until he returns to England before he decides whether to end his international career.

    When Roy Hodgson announced Lampard would lead England in their final match against Costa Rica, many took it as a sign that this would be the midfielder's international swan song.

    "I don't know whether I will retire or not," the 36-year-old told BBC Radio Five Live. "I am going to get home and make a decision at that point because I have my own club future to sort out as well. This is not the time and place to make the decision."

  17. Chile seek to end 86 years of hurtpublished at 12:52 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    The match between the Netherlands and Chile will determine who finishes top and second in Group B.

    That carries huge significance as whoever finishes runners up will face the winner of Group A, most likely the hosts and tournament favourites Brazil.

    But there's not much history between these two teams to help us predict the outcome of this match, with the Netherlands winning their only previous encounter by the drawing of lots after a 2-2 draw during the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam.

    Chile versus Portugal at the 1928 OlympicsImage source, Getty Images
  18. Van Gaal gets Dutch dazzling again - Seedorfpublished at 12:47 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    Former World Cup semi-finalist Clarence Seedorf says it's the Netherlands' mentality which has impressed him the most during this World Cup.

    "The quality the Netherlands have up front has made a difference in their victories over Spain and Australia so far, but we have seen more talented Oranje teams than this one fail to last the distance at major tournaments before," says Seedorf in his latest BBC Sport column.

    "Talent alone is not going to stop that happening again - it is the players' mentality and how the squad works as a group that will see them through.

    "Under Luis van Gaal, this group seem to be tight and working for each other. Add in his strengths tactically, and that is a good basis for them to continue their good form in Brazil."

  19. Question of Sport teaserpublished at 12:40 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    Here's today teaser from the Question of Sport, external team: Which nine countries have scored at least three goals in a game so far at the World Cup in Brazil?

    We will reveal the answer later this afternoon so stay tuned.

  20. Vidal eyes Dutch scalppublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 23 June 2014

    A Chile fans poses with posters of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, left, and midfielder Arturo Vidal outside Arena de Sao PauloImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    A Chile fans poses with posters of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, left, and midfielder Arturo Vidal outside Arena de Sao Paulo

    Chile take on Netherlands in Sao Paulo at 17:00 BST to decide who finishes top of Group B.

    Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal fancies the South Americans' chances.

    Chile have beaten Spain and Australia so far and Vidal said: "If we play the way we did against Spain then I believe we can reach the final of the World Cup. I believe this is the best generation in the history of Chilean football and when we are together we are a very strong team."