Angleterre : Declan Rice isolé après un virus, les Three Lions redout…

Quel timing cruel pour Declan Rice. À quelques heures du quart de finale entre l’Angleterre et la Norvège, prévu ce 11 juillet à 23h (heure française), le milieu de terrain des Three Lions pourrait finalement manquer cette rencontre capitale en raison d’un virus.

Les pépins semblent s’accumuler pour Declan Rice. Déjà gêné ces dernières semaines par des douleurs aux ischio-jambiers et au bas du dos, le joueur d’Arsenal a cette fois contracté un virus, selon les informations du Daily Mail. game-sweetbonanza.com

Par mesure de précaution, le milieu anglais a même été isolé du reste du groupe afin d’éviter toute propagation au sein de la sélection, à la veille d’un rendez-vous décisif. Conséquence directe : Rice a déjà manqué deux séances d’entraînement consécutives. Malgré tout, la Fédération anglaise reste optimiste et espère que la situation restera sous contrôle.

L’Angleterre décimée avant les quarts

Et les mauvaises nouvelles s’accumulent pour Thomas Tuchel. Déjà privée de Jarell Quansah, suspendu, et de Jordan Henderson, forfait après sa grave blessure au poignet contractée lors des célébrations face au Mexique, la sélection anglaise doit également composer avec les incertitudes autour de Reece James.

Si Declan Rice venait lui aussi à déclarer forfait, ce serait un énorme coup dur pour les Three Lions, qui perdraient l’un de leurs joueurs les plus importants dans l’entrejeu avant d’affronter une Norvège en pleine confiance.

À noter que le camp norvégien est lui aussi confronté à quelques soucis de santé, avec plusieurs joueurs touchés par un virus ces derniers jours. Reste désormais à savoir quelles seront les conséquences de ces absences au moment du coup d’envoi.

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France forward Ousmane Dembélé credited captain Kylian Mbappé for helping create the chance that led to his goal in their 2-0 FIFA World Cup quarter-final victory over Morocco.

Les Bleus booked their place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Morocco in the quarter-finals.

Goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé at Gillette Stadium fired Didier Deschamps’ side into the FIFA World Cup semi-finals.

Dembélé hailed Les Bleus’ focus and determination after booking their place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals.

“We’re very happy. We were really focused on this match.

“This is my third World Cup semi-final with the French team. It’s pure joy, pure pleasure.

“We’re going to stay focused on what’s coming next. Two or three minutes before my goal, Kylian [Mbappe] told me to stay central. He made a great run that opened up the path for me.

“I really wanted to get the shot on target and see it go in. I’m happy.”

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Ireland great Brian O’Driscoll believes Jacques Nienaber’s defensive system at Leinster continues to create problems for players when they return to the national side.

Ireland survived a major scare to edge the Wallabies 33-31 in last weekend’s Nations Championship clash in Sydney, conceding 24 first-half points before fighting back to claim victory.

O’Driscoll felt the visitors were fortunate not to fall even further behind, pointing to Hugo Keenan’s try-saving tackle on Joseph Suaalii as a pivotal moment.

“It’s a huge try-saving tackle from Hugo, another bad defensive error,” O’Driscoll said on Off The Ball.

AFRICA PICKS: Nations Championship Round 2 accumulator

The former Ireland captain has previously questioned whether Leinster players are finding it difficult to switch between Nienaber’s aggressive blitz system and Ireland’s defensive approach, and he believes the Wallabies exposed that disconnect.

“There’s definitely an issue with transferring one defensive system to another. It’s ingrained in these Leinster players, and actually it’s not just them,” he said.

“I saw [centre] Stuart McCloskey at one stage shooting out of the line and the big thing about the shooters coming out of the line is you have to stop the ball or force the players back inside, but Australia were getting the ball out the back, they were doing those little loop plays.

“They have big variety hitting the short runner after that and sometimes going out the back, so Ireland looked incredibly exposed.”

ALSO: Beirne relishing Ireland captaincy

O’Driscoll acknowledged the challenge facing players asked to switch systems between club and country.

“I have sympathy for these players because it is something which has been drilled and drilled over the course of the last few years, particularly at Leinster with Jacques Nienaber’s defence,” he said.

“When they have line speed off the line, they think whoever is outside them is going to shut it off as well and that actually hasn’t been happening because it’s a different system.”

BARNEY: Don’t rule out Rassie, Jacques reunion

Despite his concerns, O’Driscoll expects Ireland to tighten up defensively when they face Japan in Newcastle this Saturday.

“I will imagine it will be significantly better,” he said.

Photo: Matt King/Getty Images

The post BOD takes another dig at Nienaber’s defence appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Canan Moodie and Wilco Louw applaud Rassie Erasmus ahead of the two-time World Cup-winning Springbok boss’ latest milestone.

Erasmus is set to surpass Jake White’s record of 54 Tests as Bok head coach against Scotland at Loftus on Saturday.

MORE: Rassie to break Bok coach record

Big 100 coming up for coach Rassie #Springboks | #forevergreenforevergold pic.twitter.com/tEyKyre0YA

— Springboks (@Springboks) July 10, 2026

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images

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Hugo Broos has confirmed that he will step down as Bafana Bafana head coach, bringing an end to one of the most successful coaching spells in the national team’s history.

The announcement came during an interview with Belgian publication voetbalnieuws.be.

The 74-year-old Belgian leaves as the longest-serving head coach of Bafana Bafana, having taken charge in June 2021.

Broos says decision is final

“Will I continue as a coach after all? No, it is irreversible! If they need me for something else, perhaps in scouting, that is something else. But football is no longer going to be a part of my life 24 hours a day,” Broos told voetbalnieuws.be.

“I have already had a conversation with the chairman of the South African ‌Football ⁠Association. He would like to keep me, but in a different role, as an advisor or something like that. I will return at the end of July to say a final farewell. I am curious to see what he will ⁠propose to me.”

A successful Bafana Bafana tenure

During his five-year tenure, Broos transformed Bafana Bafana into a competitive force on the continental and global stage.

Under his guidance, South Africa qualified for two consecutive Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and secured a bronze medal at the 2023 edition in Ivory Coast.

Broos also guided Bafana Bafana to a historic milestone by leading the team to the FIFA World Cup knockout stages for the first time.

SAFA must find a new coach

His departure leaves the South African Football Association with the task of appointing a new head coach ahead of the upcoming AFCON qualifying campaign.

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has previously voiced his support for former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane as his preferred candidate to succeed Broos.

End of an era

Broos leaves behind a Bafana Bafana side that rediscovered belief, structure and competitiveness during his time in charge.

While his coaching chapter with the national team is ending, the possibility remains that SAFA could keep him involved in a different role.

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