LAWRENCE BOOTH: If England get Andy Flower as their new Test coach, they will find a man transformed from the days when Kevin Pietersen branded him the 'Mood Hoover'.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY MATT BARLOW: The last few months have been difficult for Xavi. 'There's been some not-so-good moments,' he admits.

France boss Didier Deschamps is predicting a "spectacular" semi-final when his exciting side take on Spain in a heavyweight World Cup showdown in Dallas.

Three Lions shotstopper has come up with heroics in high-profile shootouts before

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI AT ROYAL BIRKDALE: Joe Dean, who spent four years ferrying groceries until his golfing breakthrough, made into the major via the R&A's last-chance shootout.

He said: 'The French team has players from different backgrounds and origins, as does the country. We are a united group, a united team, and that's all that matters.'

The top stories and transfer rumours from Tuesday's newspapers...

Striker is recovering from an ankle problem and trained separately on Monday

The France boss also predicted a spectacular encounter when his side come up against La Roja on Tuesday night

Head coach has found a way to get the best out of his glittering attack and has a second World Cup in sightIt was a night when, as Didier Deschamps put it, the light went out by half-time. A remodelled France side had been comfortably beaten by Italy in their Nations League opener and a Parisian crowd made their feelings perfectly clear upon the conclusion. …

Only time will tell if the former Leverkusen manager will become yet another victim of the constant churn at Stamford BridgeIf Xabi Alonso arrived at Chelsea under any illusions about the expectations awaiting him, they were staring out from picture frames hung around Stamford Bridge’s Drake Suite. During his unveiling as Chelsea’s new manager, on either …

Head coach has no illusions as to the scale of the task and wants to start by reconnecting the team and supportersIt was Andoni Iraola’s humility that made the biggest impression at his unveiling as Liverpool’s new head coach on Monday. Without fanfare or bombast the 44-year-old promised not to change as a result of landing the biggest job of his …

Rice expected to overcome illness for semi-finalJordan Pickford: ‘We can’t focus solely on Messi’Declan Rice is set to overcome illness and retain his place for England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday.The Arsenal midfielder was substituted at half-time of England’s win over Norway in the quarter-final, with Thomas Tuchel …

KIERAN GILL: Sitting in the Stamford Bridge directors' lounge, just Xabi Alonso and a few of the Chelsea-dedicated correspondents, the talk turned to setting standards after such a poor season.

CRAIG HOPE IN KANSAS CITY: There was concern over the vice-captain's condition coming out of the 2-1 win over Norway on Saturday, after he was forced off at half-time.

The former Bournemouth boss was recruited to replace sacked Arne Slot at the end of last season and is under no illusion that he is walking into a tough job at a behemoth of a club.

As the pressure builds and we gear up for the final few days of play across the pond, let's take a look at the top players of the quarter-finals, according to Sofascore...

England suffered a 270-run defeat to India in the first women's Test match to be played at Lord's - here's how the players rated...

England will make a late decision on whether Declan Rice is fit to start Wednesday's World Cup semi-final against Argentina.