Summary
The World Cup is set to kick off with Mexico facing South Africa, while England prepares for its final warm-up match against Costa Rica. England's coach, Thomas Tuchel, reveals that Bukayo Saka is managing an injury that may limit his playing time during the tournament. Tuchel emphasizes the importance of managing Saka's fitness as they finalize their lineup for the upcoming matches.
Argentina's Lionel Messi, who has been dealing with hamstring fatigue, made a brief appearance in a friendly against Iceland, scoring shortly after coming on as a substitute. Despite concerns about his fitness, expectations remain high for Messi as he aims to lead Argentina in the tournament. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo's final international appearance in Portugal could be on the horizon as the team prepares to face Nigeria in their last friendly before heading to North America.
Scotland's goalkeeper Craig Gordon expresses his excitement about participating in the World Cup, potentially becoming the oldest player to do so. He acknowledges the challenges ahead, particularly their opening match against Haiti, which is crucial for their chances of advancing in the tournament. Analysts caution Scotland to remain focused and not underestimate their opponents, highlighting Haiti's speed and counter-attacking capabilities.
Show Notes
Hayley McQueen brings you your bitesize guide to everything you need to know on the eve of the World Cup finals! Hear from England manager Thomas Tuchel who's revealed a fitness concern for Bukayo Saka. Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon tells us about his hopes of becoming the oldest player to take to the field at the tournament. And there's an update on how Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are preparing with Argentina and Portugal. - •For all the latest football news, head to www.skysports.com/football
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