Best team, moments, matches and players of World Cup group stage

After 72 matches across three countries, 48 teams who qualified for the 2026 World Cup have been whittled down to 32. Records have been broken by some of the star players who have delivered on football's biggest stage, while new heroes have emerged. A group of BBC reporters in the United States, Canada and Mexico have picked their best teams, players, matches and moments from the group phase. Best team Ian Dennis, BBC Radio 5 Live France. I've seen all of their group games and they've made it three wins from three for the first time since they won the World Cup in 1998. They're still not perfect, so room to improve as they get stronger under a manager who has the experience to draw on, as Didier Deschamps seeks a third successive World Cup final. Phil McNulty, BBC Sport's chief football writer France. Just looking at their attack with Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele and what it can do when it clicks - and the strength of Didier Deschamps' squad as a whole - makes me think they will be very difficult to stop. There are other strong contenders, but they are the most dangerous team in the tournament. John Bennett, BBC World Service After a sloppy start against Senegal, France exploded into life when Michael Olise was moved into the number 10 position. Their front four is frightening (with Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola), Kylian Mbappe's the happiest I have ever seen him at a major tournament, William Saliba is one of the best defenders at the tournament, unsung Adrien Rabiot links things brilliantly and there is also so much strength in depth. I saw them live twice, in New Jersey and Philadelphia, and I would be stunned if they do not make it to the final. Alex Howell, BBC Sport's England reporter France look like they are going to take some stopping. They have the best front three of the tournament and their strength in depth means that they can rotate as the tournament goes on. Kylian Mbappe is already firing and now he's up and running he will be hard to stop. Liz Conway, BBC Sport journalist I said Spain from the start and I'm going to stick with them. We still haven't seen them hit top gear and we know they have far more potential to show, especially with key players Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams coming back from injury. This is a long tournament and their momentum will build. They could face France in the semi-final, which would be a huge test, but if they can come through that I think they can go all the way. Gary Rose, BBC Sport journalist Lionel Messi is grabbing the headlines and rightly so with his six goals from three games so far at this World Cup, but it would be unfair to say Argentina are all about him and him alone. Often a collection of brilliant individuals, this Argentina side looks more like an array of brilliant individuals who are playing as a team, and the result of that has been three wins, no goals conceded and five scored. They have hit the ground running at this World Cup and look like they will take some stopping. Neil Johnston, BBC Sport journalist I've seen both France and Brazil in the group stage and right now, if I was to pick one over the other, I'd opt for Les Bleus. They have hit the ground running, with Kylian Mbappe in impeccable form and Michael Olise at his teasing best....

Salah an injury doubt for Egypt's last-32 tie

Egypt captain Mohamed Salah is a doubt for Friday's World Cup last-32 tie against Australia after suffering a hamstring injury. The 34-year-old was substituted during Egypt's 1-1 draw with Iran and team doctor Mohamed Abou said Salah had complained of pain before scans later confirmed a hamstring strain. The statement from the Egyptian Football Association added that Salah has begun a treatment programme but made no suggestion as to whether the forward will be fit to play against Australia in Dallas on 3 July (19:00 BST). "I spoke with Salah and, God willing, the injury doesn't seem serious," Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said after the Iran match. "He assured me it would be fine, that it's not a serious injury." A hamstring problem kept former Liverpool star Salah out for three weeks from late April but he recovered to feature in the Reds' final two games of the season. Salah has scored once and provided two assists so far in this World Cup as Egypt qualified from Group G in second place....

What you need to know about England's opponents DR Congo

Get the lowdown on DR Congo, England's World Cup opponents in the round of 32. What can I expect from DR Congo? Fifty-two years after a chastening World Cup debut, DR Congo have earned redemption by qualifying for the knockout stages for the first time. Back in 1974, when known as Zaire, their three group defeats included a 9-0 hammering by Yugoslavia. They had not been to a World Cup since, until now, but head coach Sebastien Desabre has transformed a team who were in crisis when he took over nearly four years ago. He led them to fourth place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and has instilled discipline and tactical nous. A back five was trialled just before the World Cup and maintained for the first two games of the tournament, which included a draw with Portugal, before they switched to 4-4-2 to beat Uzbekistan. What are DR Congo's strengths? Defensive solidity has underpinned their improvement, as shown by 29 clean sheets in 57 games under Desabre. Since he took charge, DR Congo have never lost by more than a one-goal margin when able to call on Europe-based players. Swift counter-attacks utilise the prowess of strikers Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa at running in behind opposition defences. Mental resilience, often lacking in the past, was forged during a protracted qualifying campaign which included three play-off matches. And what about their weaknesses? DR Congo have seldom faced top-20 ranked sides in recent years, bar Senegal and Morocco – and they have a poor record against both. With the majority of the national team's regular starters struggling for playing time at their clubs in 2025-26, a lack of conditioning – and quality – is a concern....

Clarke steps down as Scotland boss after World Cup exit

Steve Clarke has resigned as head coach following Scotland's exit from the World Cup. The Scottish FA announced his departure in a statement just moments after Croatia's win over Ghana on Saturday, which sealed Scotland's fate. BBC Scotland has learned the players were told on Saturday with Clarke and the squad still at their Charlotte base. He had signed a new four-year deal only a month ago. The Scots defeated Haiti 1-0 in their opening Group C match in Boston, the same city where they then lost 1-0 to Morocco, before being beaten 3-0 by Brazil in Miami. It left them with only a faint chance of going through to the last 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams - but that hope was extinguished on Saturday, three days after the Brazil defeat. "The most emotional part of this goodbye is for my players, without whom we wouldn't have had any of the memories that we've accumulated from 2019 until now," said Clarke. "They deserve all the praise and adulation that they receive and it was truly an honour to be called their gaffer. "Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor." Clarke became Scotland head coach seven years ago, with the country having not reached a major finals since the World Cup in 1998. Under his stewardship, the Scots reached two European Championships before making it to this summer's World Cup. However, despite that qualification success, Scotland underwhelmed in all three tournaments, with the win against Haiti earlier this month the only win across the finals. Scotland went into Wednesday's game against Brazil well placed to be one of the best third-placed teams in the competition, only for defensive mistakes to undermine that bid. "While we are all disappointed to have exited the World Cup at the group stage, we must not lose sight of the undeniable progress made during Steve's seven years in charge," said Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell. "From starting as a pot four team in 2019 to topping our World Cup qualifying group, he has more than delivered on the remit to take Scotland back to a major tournament. "We thank Steve for his record-breaking contribution and know that when the disappointment of World Cup elimination subsides, the Scotland supporters will be thankful for the memories of marching with pride at major tournaments once again."...

England's first World Cup training session: What did we learn?

England arrived at their permanent World Cup base in Kansas City on Saturday and immediately got down to business. Shortly after dropping their bags off at the Inn at Meadowbrook Hotel in Prairie Village, where the team will stay for the duration of their stay in the United States, they made the 20-minute trip to their training centre at Swope Soccer Village for their first session since arriving in Missouri. The locals welcomed Thomas Tuchel's men into their community with open arms but also with a high security, the team escorted by a motorcade of protection. There was nothing however, to protect the players from the searing sun, with temperatures reaching around 31C, as the team were put through their paces. And this is what BBC Sport noticed from England's opening training session in Kansas City. BBC Sport reported on Friday that there was an emerging sense that the team that started against Costa Rica last week will be the side that Tuchel selects in the team's first game against Croatia on Wednesday - and there were further reasons to believe that may be the case in training on Saturday. For part of the session the 10 outfield players that started versus Costa Rica: Jude Bellingham, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Nico O'Reilly, Elliot Anderson, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Reece James trained away from the rest of the squad. Of course, it may simply have been a coincidence that the 10 were grouped together - but if you were looking for clues into how Tuchel's team may look in Dallas on Tuesday then reading something into that would be understandable. One obvious potential alteration to the team that beat Costa Rica would be Bukayo Saka for Madueke, but Tuchel's confirmation that the former requires managing through the tournament due to fitness concerns has raised questions over the Arsenal attacker's involvement. Saka trained away from what appeared to be the starting group and still did not look like he was moving freely....

Arsenal and Liverpool chase Barcola - Sunday's gossip

Arsenal and Liverpool among Bradley Barcola suitors, Brighton reject Coventry's Carl Rushworth bid and Bayern Munich might beat Barcelona to Marcus Rashford. Paris St-Germain are not opposed to selling France forward Bradley Barcola, with Arsenal and Liverpool among the teams interested in the 23-year-old. (L'Equipe, in French - subscription required), external Brighton have rejected a reported £20m bid from Coventry City for 24-year-old English goalkeeper Carl Rushworth. (Sky Sports), external Bayern Munich are prepared to beat Barcelona to the signing of Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, 28. (Fichajes - in Spanish, external) Everton's 26-year-old Senegal midfielder Iliman Ndiaye can add Arsenal to his list of suitors, with the Gunners joining Manchester City and Manchester United in monitoring him. (Mail - subscription required), external Nottingham Forest have submitted a near-£25m bid for Arsenal midfielder Fabio Viera, 26, who had a successful loan at Hamburg last season. (Football Insider, external), external Forest may also add Inter Milan's Davide Frattesi to their midfield, with the 26-year-old out of favour at the San Siro. (Football Italia, external), external Atletico Madrid will turn to Paris St-Germain attacker Lee Kang-in, 25, to replace the departed Antoine Griezmann. (Fichajes - in Spanish, external), external Barcelona are interested in 18-year-old Australian defender Lucas Herrington, who is currently with Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids. (Goal, external), external Former Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, 37, and ex-Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka, 31, might move to MLS side Chicago Fire. (Yahoo Sports, external), external Roberto Mancini is ready for a second spell as the head coach of Italy, after leaving Qatari club Al-Sadd. (Fabrizio Romano, external)...

Shirts, stuffed lions & Lego - the stolen England items worth $18,000

England had $18,000 (£13,500) of property stolen in a theft from a vehicle that was carrying equipment, according to Jackson County's prosecution office. Two men, Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal, have been charged in connection with the incident, which happened as the vehicle was taking equipment from England's pre-tournament camp in Florida to Kansas City. Despite the incident the Football Association have been clear that nothing was taken that would impact their preparations for Wednesday's opener against Croatia (21:00 BST). Of the property taken, listed in court documents seen by BBC Sport, four pairs of football boots, one football, a pair of goalkeeper gloves and training kit were stolen. Three signed jerseys - valued at a total of $15,000 - were also listed as items taken. It is understood the majority of what was stolen has now been recovered. ...

The US sporting triumph that is overshadowing the World Cup

"We care way more about the Knicks than the World Cup right now." New York is witnessing a moment of sports history - and it has nothing to do with football. On Saturday night the New York Knicks clinched their first NBA championship in 53 years with a 4-1 series win over the San Antonio Spurs, and the long-awaited victory sent fans into a frenzy. Fewer than 10 miles away, Brazil faced Morocco in the sixth game of the football World Cup, but it was at Madison Square Garden where scenes were electric. Thousands of fans gathered - around the home of the Knicks that is often referred to as 'the mecca of basketball' - for an outdoor watch party, despite the game being played in Texas. Nearby bars were overflowing with anxious New Yorkers who hung on every shot and call during the incredibly close game five in the best-of-seven series. It is an interesting position for a city in the middle of co-hosting the World Cup. "People live and shed tears here for basketball," Knicks fan Raymond Yu told the BBC. "We care way more about the Knicks than the World Cup right now." While Americans were never considered the biggest football fans in the world, New York in particular - with its diverse communities - always had a stronger tie to the game. But the Knicks' win has overshadowed the World Cup for now. At the Molly Wee Pub, when a win seemed likely a young college student remarked to his friends: "Oh my god, I'm going to see the Knicks win the Finals. I can't believe it." Once it was official, he and everyone else in the bar rushed into the streets screaming at the top of their lungs and embracing complete strangers. The celebrations swelled and lasted well into the early hours of the morning, with people climbing light poles and setting off fireworks, while police on foot and even horseback tried to make sure the chaos was controlled. Among them was Matthew Sorbonne, who told BBC Sport what the win meant to him. "I watched them since I was a kid. This means everything to me. For 25 straight years they've been garbage. Finally we have a win," he said....

Martyn Kelly remembers wishing he had a stool to climb on like the rest of the kids in the ground to get a better view.

The world's first official penalty shootout was not something he wanted obscured by other people's heads. On a warm evening on 5 August 1970 at Boothferry Park in Hull, a star-studded Manchester United reached the end of extra time level at 1-1 with second-tier Hull City in a cup match. Six weeks earlier, football's lawmakers had decided to end the days of the coin toss to decide winners in favour of five players from each team taking a kick from 11 yards out with just the keeper to beat. "Blimey," thought then 11-year-old Hull City fan Kelly. "It's George Best, one of the greatest players ever. He's going to take the first penalty in the world's first penalty shootout." That was something worth watching. No-one knew yet that this new method of deciding a tied football match would become a nerve-shredding experience some fans, players and managers can barely watch. Before this, cup or knockout matches that ended in draws were settled by replays, by drawing lots or tossing coins. At the 1968 European Championship, Italy went through to the final after a correct heads-or-tails guess following a 0-0 draw against the Soviet Union. The final against Yugoslavia then ended 1-1 and Italy eventually won 2-0 two days later when the sides reconvened for a replay. For those who were not fans of the existing ways to break a deadlock, the final straw came four months later. When Israel's captain pulled a piece of paper saying 'no' out of a big sombrero hat that determined his side had lost their 1968 Olympic quarter-final to Bulgaria after a 1-1 draw, some within his country's footballing governing body were furious. Israeli Football Association official Yosef Dagan said there must be a better way to decide these big moments – or at least one that was, theoretically, less to do with luck and more to do with skill. Dagan and Michael Almog – who went on to become Israel FA chief - developed the idea of a penalty shootout before writing an official proposal to Fifa in 1969. It was published in the governing body's official magazine. In the letter, Almog proposed "to stop this way of deciding the winner by drawing lots, an immoral and even cruel system for the losing team and not honourable for the winner". He called for it to be replaced by a shootout of five penalties for each side. If the teams were still level after that then it would continue until one side missed and the other scored. The suggestion was heavily debated before eventually being adopted by football's lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (Ifab), at its AGM in Inverness on 27 June 1970. Aside from drawing lots, tossing coins and replays, there had been other ways over the years to settle draws, including sharing titles or counting corners, and there had also been versions of penalty shootouts at some domestic and minor competitions. When BBC Sport asked Fifa to confirm whether the Watney Cup shootout was the first official penalty shootout, world football's governing body replied that is does not have "any records confirming or denying the claim". The National Football Museum does, though, refer to it as the first shootout in England. Various competitions, including the full rounds of the FA Cup until two seasons ago, still continued to use replays. It was not until 1990-91 that the FA Cup introduced penalties if teams were level after extra time in a replay. After that Ifab decision in 1970, it was not long before the first opportunity came to see a penalty shootout being used to decide a professional football match. Would the successor to the coin-toss be any less cruel? That evening in Hull at the Watney Cup - a pre-season cup competition - would provide some answers. "I couldn't believe it, my beloved Hull City were up against Georgie Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law. That's like having Messi, Ronaldo and Mbappe in the same team," Kelly recalled on the BBC's Sporting Witness programme. Former Hull City player Frankie Banks said: "It was a massive game, playing against Manchester United, who two years earlier had won the European Cup. "The atmosphere was electrifying. "The Man United players were our heroes. On paper we didn't stand a chance. We wanted to win, we wanted to prove to everybody that although they were the best side probably in the world we could go out and give them a game." And that is exactly what they did, taking the lead on 11 minutes through Chris Chilton before Law pulled one back for United in the 78th minute to send the game into extra time. As the clocked ticked down on the additional half-hour, players realised they were about to be part of something historic. "[Hull player-manager] Terry Neill obviously asked for volunteers and some of the lads were reluctant to step up and take the penalties and some were brave enough to step up and say 'I'll take one, I'll take one and I'll take one'," said Banks, who was not on the team sheet that day but was at the game. "Nobody wants to be the one that misses." And, in particular, no-one wants to be the first player ever to miss in a shootout. However, Best was happy to go down as the first player to score, sending his right-footed shot low into the left corner. For Hull City, Neill became the first player-manager to score in a shootout, helping keep the score level at 3-3. "It was still anybody's game and the noise was deafening," said Banks. But then, in a moment that countless big-name players to come would experience through the decades, Law saw his low shot saved by a diving Ian McKechnie. "For ever and ever, Law will go down as the first man to miss in a penalty shootout and McKechnie will go down as the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in a penalty shootout," said Banks. Ken Wagstaff then missed for Hull and so when Willie Morgan scored for United, Hull knew they had to convert their final kick. And that was when McKechnie became the first keeper to take a penalty in a shootout. "Please, not him," Kelly remembers thinking. "I couldn't believe it, my mum couldn't believe it, even Alex Stepney the Man United keeper couldn't believe it and actually asked him what he was doing up there. I had my head in my hands!" McKechnie stepped up and blasted a powerful strike... against the upper side of the crossbar. And with that, he became the first keeper to miss a penalty in a shootout. "I still maintain that Ian McKechnie was the right choice – he had a sweet left foot – and he had the guts to do it. I'd have put money on him to score," said Banks. "Missing that penalty stayed with Ian for the rest of his life." Of course, there have been many Laws and McKechnies since. In fact, statisticians say 24% of penalties in shootouts are missed. They have settled some of the biggest competitions, with the World Cup final going to penalties three times – in 1994, 2006 and 2022. The first major international title to be decided on penalties was the 1976 European Championship – with the winning kick the now infamous and audacious chip named after Antonin Panenka. Over the years, England's men have experienced plenty of misery in shootouts, losing seven times at major tournaments in that way. Two days ago, Wales' dreams of playing at this year's World Cup were ended by Bosnia-Herzegovina in the now all-too-familiar emotional rollercoaster of a penalty shootout. But before that night in Hull, no-one had known what to expect. Ten penalties later, they did. "Each kick was agony," said Kelly. And more than six decades later, that still stands....

Van Graan criticises TV replay 'consistency' after Bath lose semi-final

Investec Champions Cup semi-final Bordeaux-Begles (24) 38 Tries: Gazzotti, Bielle-Biarrey, Lucu, Tameifuna, Matiu Cons: Lucu 5 Pen: Lucu Bath (12) 26 Tries: Muir 2, Hennessey, Carr-Smith Cons: Russell 3 Bath boss Johann van Graan called for more "consistency" with who supplies television match official footage after he felt foul play incidents were missed in his side's Investec Champions Cup semi-final loss to Bordeaux-Begles. The Prem champions were outplayed by Bordeaux on France's Atlantic coast in the English side's first top-tier European semi-final in 20 years, a point which Van Graan acknowledged post-match. Billed pre-game as the defending champions' organised chaos versus Bath's structured efficiency, Bordeaux's style prevailed as their visitors were eventually worn down by the game's relentless pace. Several key decisions did not help Bath's cause. French TV broadcasters have been criticised by some in the past for not showing replays of certain foul play incidents or decisions that may go against the home side. Asked if there is a problem with French broadcasters providing footage, Van Graan told BBC Sport: "Yes. All we want is consistency on both sides of the ball right through the competition. "I believe specifically that three carries from Alfie Barbeary made direct contact to the head. "I want to make clear that the better team won on the day, but I want to ask why certain things are not picked up when you play away from home in France." Had those three incidents been called in Bath's favour, it may not have ended up affecting the result, such was the excellence of Yannick Bru's side. At the sold-out 42,000-seater Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Metropole, the Champions Cup holders delivered a blistering first half with tries for Marko Gazzotti, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Maxime Lucu. The English side were always underdogs but went blow for blow for the opening half hour, wing Will Muir twice getting on the scoresheet. In a game of international quality the key match-ups were everywhere - Bielle-Biarrey v Henry Arundell, Matthieu Jalibert v Finn Russell - but it was young talent Louie Hennessey who got Bath's third try at the beginning of the second half. From there Bordeaux took over, with 23 stone-plus substitute Ben Tameifuna powering over the decisive try and Temo Matiu putting the result beyond the Prem side, despite Tom Carr-Smith's late consolation. Bath's wait for another trophy in this competition will stretch to 29 years, while Bordeaux earn the chance to go back-to-back against Leinster in three weeks' time. Van Graan added: "Three words [points I would like to make]. Congrats to UBB, they were the better side. Number two the officials were exceptionally good today. The main point I want to make is that from a consistency point of view that where every game is played that the TMO [television match official] gets access to all the footage he wants. "From my point of view, you want the match officials to know what they are looking at. Whatever decision a ref makes is the final call." Muir keeps Bath in the fight Bath will have craved a steady start but delivered anything but. Barbeary - one of five Champions Cup player of the year contenders - failed to catch the kick-off and within two minutes Damian Penaud made a searing outside break and Gazzotti barrelled over. Two superb kicks helped Bath get on to the scoreboard, as Russell's cross-field gained territory and Ben Spencer's chip to the wing found an unmarked Muir over the tryline. Roared on by the home crowd Bordeaux came again, kicking to the corner and then spreading the ball to the other wing for Bielle-Biarrey to dive in unopposed. Bath, though, had plenty of practice facing unstructured chaos in their superb quarter-final against Northampton, and stayed in the fight with a Hennessey break from midfield. Bordeaux lock Adam Coleman may well have been carded for a high shot on Barbeary, the first of the incidents Van Graan identified, but the television match official saw no clear head contact. The English side did not have to wait too long for another boost though, Arundell drawing defenders to allow Muir to blast through Maxime Lucu's tackle and produce a superb diving finish in the corner....

Inter Milan clinched their 21st Serie A title with a convincing 2-0 win over Parma.

Needing only a point to claim the Scudetto with three games to spare, Marcus Thuram and Henrikh Mkhitaryan struck the decisive goals in the success at San Siro. Inter, who last won the title in 2024, moved 12 points clear of defending champions Napoli. France forward Thuram opened the scoring in first-half added time, powering a right-footed finish into the corner past Parma keeper Zion Suzuki. Inter had to wait until the 80th minute for their second, with Lautaro Martinez sending the ball across the face of goal for his fellow substitute, 37-year-old Mkhitaryan, to slot home. Blue and gold ribbons littered the pitch at the end as Inter boss Cristian Chivu celebrated his first major prize as a coach, having won Serie A three times as a player with the club. He had told the media before the game that Inter wanted to "kill off" the Scudetto, external "as soon as possible". And they dominated against 12th-placed Parma, with five of their 12 shots on target, compared to the visiting side's none from four, 59% possession and three big chances. Inter have scored 19 goals in their past six matches and were favourites to be crowned champions, having won 26 of their 35 matches....

North Korean side to make rare trip to South Korea

A team of North Korean footballers will make a rare visit to South Korea later this month. North Korean side Naegohyang will cross the border to play Suwon in the Asian Women's Champions League semi-final on 20 May. Pyongyang has sent a list of 27 players and 12 staff who will make the visit. South Korea's Unification Ministry has confirmed the trip, which will be the first time athletes from the north have crossed the border since 2018. North Korea sent athletes to South Korea for the Pyeongchang Winter ?Olympics that year, as they formed a unified ice hockey team for the first time. The rare visit comes with South Korean ?President Lee Jae Myung seeking to improve ?strained ?ties with North Korea. Ties have in recent years deteriorated, with North Korea labelling South Korea its "most hostile state" and saying it would no longer seek reunification. The two Koreas are technically still at war since they did not sign a peace treaty when the Korean War ended in 1953. Naegohyang are playing in the Champions League for the first time, having beaten Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam 3-0 in the quarter final. The winner ?will face Melbourne City or Tokyo Verdy ?in the final, also to be played in Suwon, on 23 May....

When football turned to penalties to end 'cruel' system

Martyn Kelly remembers wishing he had a stool to climb on like the rest of the kids in the ground to get a better view. The world's first official penalty shootout was not something he wanted obscured by other people's heads. On a warm evening on 5 August 1970 at Boothferry Park in Hull, a star-studded Manchester United reached the end of extra time level at 1-1 with second-tier Hull City in a cup match. Six weeks earlier, football's lawmakers had decided to end the days of the coin toss to decide winners in favour of five players from each team taking a kick from 11 yards out with just the keeper to beat. "Blimey," thought then 11-year-old Hull City fan Kelly. "It's George Best, one of the greatest players ever. He's going to take the first penalty in the world's first penalty shootout." That was something worth watching. No-one knew yet that this new method of deciding a tied football match would become a nerve-shredding experience some fans, players and managers can barely watch. Before this, cup or knockout matches that ended in draws were settled by replays, by drawing lots or tossing coins. At the 1968 European Championship, Italy went through to the final after a correct heads-or-tails guess following a 0-0 draw against the Soviet Union. The final against Yugoslavia then ended 1-1 and Italy eventually won 2-0 two days later when the sides reconvened for a replay. For those who were not fans of the existing ways to break a deadlock, the final straw came four months later. When Israel's captain pulled a piece of paper saying 'no' out of a big sombrero hat that determined his side had lost their 1968 Olympic quarter-final to Bulgaria after a 1-1 draw, some within his country's footballing governing body were furious. Israeli Football Association official Yosef Dagan said there must be a better way to decide these big moments – or at least one that was, theoretically, less to do with luck and more to do with skill. Dagan and Michael Almog – who went on to become Israel FA chief - developed the idea of a penalty shootout before writing an official proposal to Fifa in 1969. It was published in the governing body's official magazine. In the letter, Almog proposed "to stop this way of deciding the winner by drawing lots, an immoral and even cruel system for the losing team and not honourable for the winner". He called for it to be replaced by a shootout of five penalties for each side. If the teams were still level after that then it would continue until one side missed and the other scored. The suggestion was heavily debated before eventually being adopted by football's lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (Ifab), at its AGM in Inverness on 27 June 1970. Aside from drawing lots, tossing coins and replays, there had been other ways over the years to settle draws, including sharing titles or counting corners, and there had also been versions of penalty shootouts at some domestic and minor competitions. When BBC Sport asked Fifa to confirm whether the Watney Cup shootout was the first official penalty shootout, world football's governing body replied that is does not have "any records confirming or denying the claim". The National Football Museum does, though, refer to it as the first shootout in England. Various competitions, including the full rounds of the FA Cup until two seasons ago, still continued to use replays. It was not until 1990-91 that the FA Cup introduced penalties if teams were level after extra time in a replay. After that Ifab decision in 1970, it was not long before the first opportunity came to see a penalty shootout being used to decide a professional football match. Would the successor to the coin-toss be any less cruel? That evening in Hull at the Watney Cup - a pre-season cup competition - would provide some answers. "I couldn't believe it, my beloved Hull City were up against Georgie Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law. That's like having Messi, Ronaldo and Mbappe in the same team," Kelly recalled on the BBC's Sporting Witness programme. Former Hull City player Frankie Banks said: "It was a massive game, playing against Manchester United, who two years earlier had won the European Cup. "The atmosphere was electrifying. "The Man United players were our heroes. On paper we didn't stand a chance. We wanted to win, we wanted to prove to everybody that although they were the best side probably in the world we could go out and give them a game." And that is exactly what they did, taking the lead on 11 minutes through Chris Chilton before Law pulled one back for United in the 78th minute to send the game into extra time. As the clocked ticked down on the additional half-hour, players realised they were about to be part of something historic. "[Hull player-manager] Terry Neill obviously asked for volunteers and some of the lads were reluctant to step up and take the penalties and some were brave enough to step up and say 'I'll take one, I'll take one and I'll take one'," said Banks, who was not on the team sheet that day but was at the game. "Nobody wants to be the one that misses." And, in particular, no-one wants to be the first player ever to miss in a shootout. However, Best was happy to go down as the first player to score, sending his right-footed shot low into the left corner. For Hull City, Neill became the first player-manager to score in a shootout, helping keep the score level at 3-3. "It was still anybody's game and the noise was deafening," said Banks. But then, in a moment that countless big-name players to come would experience through the decades, Law saw his low shot saved by a diving Ian McKechnie. "For ever and ever, Law will go down as the first man to miss in a penalty shootout and McKechnie will go down as the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in a penalty shootout," said Banks. Ken Wagstaff then missed for Hull and so when Willie Morgan scored for United, Hull knew they had to convert their final kick. And that was when McKechnie became the first keeper to take a penalty in a shootout. "Please, not him," Kelly remembers thinking. "I couldn't believe it, my mum couldn't believe it, even Alex Stepney the Man United keeper couldn't believe it and actually asked him what he was doing up there. I had my head in my hands!" McKechnie stepped up and blasted a powerful strike... against the upper side of the crossbar. And with that, he became the first keeper to miss a penalty in a shootout. "I still maintain that Ian McKechnie was the right choice – he had a sweet left foot – and he had the guts to do it. I'd have put money on him to score," said Banks. "Missing that penalty stayed with Ian for the rest of his life."...

Lakers star Doncic to miss rest of regular season

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic will miss the remainder of the regular NBA season with a hamstring injury. The Slovenian, 27, had played himself into contention for the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award during an outstanding March in which he became only the 10th player in history to score 600 points in a single month. But he will miss the final five regular season games after suffering a grade two strain of his left hamstring during Thursday's heavy loss to Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers have not provided a timetable for Doncic's return after he had a scan on Friday - just two weeks before the start of the NBA play-offs on 18 April. Doncic is the NBA's leading scorer this season with 2143 points for an unequalled average of 33.5 points per game. However, having been sidelined for four games with a left hamstring strain earlier in the season, and missing two games to return to Slovenia for the birth of his daughter in December, Doncic is set to fall short of the minimum games threshold required to qualify for the NBA's major end-of-season awards. Doncic, who is one appearance short of the 65 required, will apply for an "Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge", according to his agent Bill Duffy. "This season, Luka Doncic has performed at a historic level, leading the league in scoring, carrying the Lakers to third place in the Western Conference and placing himself in the middle of one of the most tightly contested MVP races in memory," Duffy told ESPN. "To ensure Luka's incredible accomplishments this season are rightly honoured and he can be considered for the league's end-of-season awards, we intend to apply for an 'Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge' to the 65-game rule." Doncic was named March's player of the month following 13 consecutive 30-point performances which helped the Lakers to 13 wins in 14 games prior to the defeat by Thunder....

Glasgow battle past Bulls to reach quarter-finals

Champions Cup Glasgow Warriors (12) 25 Tries: Williamson, Dempsey, Schickerling, McDowall Cons: Lancaster Pens: Hastings Bulls (14) 21 Tries: Grobbelaar, Van Staden Cons: Kriel Pens: Pollard 3 Glasgow Warriors battled past Bulls to reach the Champions Cup quarter-finals in an attritional and thrilling scrap in the rain and wind at Scotstoun. Franco Smith's side will face Toulon at Scotstoun next Saturday in their first home quarter-final in this competition. Max Williamson and Jack Dempsey scored first-half tries, with Patrick Schickerling and Stafford McDowall also crossing for the hosts after the break. The visitors led 14-12 at half-time as a stiff breeze at their backs helped Bulls dominated territory, with Johan Grobbelaar scoring a try and Handre Pollard booting three penalties. When the sides turned around, Glasgow's greater ambition triumphed - just. Schickerling's try was pivotal, coming when the majority of Scotstoun thought they should have taken an easy three points from a penalty. Instead, they tapped and went. Risk was rewarded. Their fourth came soon after from McDowall. The Warriors were eight points ahead with eight minutes left, but Marco van Staden's converted score a few minutes from the end set up a dramatic end. The last act fell to Adam Hastings with a penalty as the clock was running out. He banged it over in front of the posts and a richly deserved four-point win was secured. Scotstoun wasn't hit by the worst excesses of Storm Dave, but it was hardly pleasant out there either. The wind swept, the rain hit and the game was a mighty battle. Bulls backed their way into the last 16, qualifying for the knockouts despite losing three of their group matches, conceding a half century to Northampton and 61 points to Bristol. They picked hybrid teams for those contests. Here, they were mob-handed with 14 Springboks in their party, an amount of grunt which they unleashed on their hosts from early on, their reward coming from Pollard's boot. The visitors were in Glasgow with a conservative gameplan, all power and phases and pressure. Glasgow tried to play, as is their custom. To say it was a clash of styles was putting it mildly. Glasgow did not have territory against the wind. They had a couple of decent moments just after the Pollard penalty - one of them ending when Matt Fagerson ran on to a pass in the Bulls 22 only for it go forward off his face, the other when they messed up a lineout. The third time was brilliant, though. Dan Lancaster slipped the brilliant McDowall into a gap and the centre, in the team ahead of Huw Jones, galloped away. Bulls scrambled but Glasgow were relentless. Matt Fagerson kept things moving, he linked with George Horne and even though he was tackled close to the posts - and clearly hurt - he popped it to Williamson who smashed over. Lancaster converted; 7-3 Glasgow. That soon became 8-7 to the South Africans when their muscle got its reward after multiple phases - hooker Grobbelaar going over in the corner. Pollard put his side back in the lead on the half-hour mark, but Glasgow responded quickly. They had lost Horne to injury by then, but their gamble in going for touch with a penalty rather than posts paid off. Dempsey got the score in the end. No conversion, but they were a point in front again. That didn't last. Pollard, from distance, kicked a third penalty just before the break. That was the good news for Bulls. The bad news was that they lost Kurt-Lee Arendse at half-time, not that this was a night for world-class wingers. With the benefit of the wind in their favour, Glasgow started to get on top. Their risky strategy of turning down shots at goal off Bulls' indiscretions and going for touch instead was a policy they never deviated from, even when it looked decidedly unwise. Early in the new half they had a kickable penalty, went for touch and lost the lineout. They had another on 55 minutes - even closer this time - but tapped it instead of kicking it. Now they executed, Shickerling barging his way over for another unconverted score. A three-point game in Glasgow's favour. McDowall's try in the 72nd minute looked like settling it, but back came the Bulls with that score from Van Staden. Scotstoun held its breath, but then Hastings, with the last kick, sent the place into raptures. Glasgow march on, in style and substance....