Ben Stokes Mocks Report of ICC Move Against ECB

Former England captain Ben Stokes took a light-hearted jibe at reports that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had summoned the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over the release of video footage of his retirement speech.

The ECB released a video showing Stokes informing his team-mates of his decision to retire inside the dressing room.

According to a report in The Telegraph, the ICC has reportedly accused the ECB of breaching its anti-corruption rules. esporist.com

Reacting to the report on social media, Stokes wrote: “Sack him …”

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The viral video was shared on social media before the tea break even though play in the Test match was still underway.

Several reports claim the ICC has sent a letter to the ECB, raising concerns that publishing the dressing-room footage may have violated the Players’ and Match Officials’ Areas (PMOA) minimum standards, which are part of the governing body’s anti-corruption regulations.

Under Article 2.2.11, the use of fixed or temporary cameras, along with any other recording devices, inside team dressing rooms for the purpose of capturing or broadcasting video or audio is prohibited.

Stokes’ response suggested he was joking about the situation, seemingly implying that, having retired from international cricket, he was beyond the reach of any disciplinary action from the sport’s governing authorities.

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Miami [USA], July 10 (ANI): Norway forward Erling Haaland offered his fans a glimpse of the training session ahead of the team’s FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final clash against England, through a post on social media.

In an X post, Haaland posted multiple pictures of himself training ahead of the crucial clash on Saturday (local time).

“Quarter-final prep," Haaland wrote in the caption.

Quarter-final prep pic.twitter.com/Y3tVvCX9zE

— Erling Haaland (@Erling) July 9, 2026

During the match against Brazil, Haaland’s tally went to seven goals after a brace, making him the player with the joint-most goals in his debut World Cup since Poland’s Grzegorz Lato scored seven in 1974.

Norway booked their place in the quarter-finals after stunning five-time world champions Brazil with a 2-1 victory in the Round of 16, one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

A brilliant brace from Erling Haaland inspired the Norwegians to the famous win, setting up a blockbuster quarter-final clash against England.

Notably, Haaland is averaging a goal every 14 touches in the tournament, the lowest ratio of any player to score three or more goals in a single World Cup edition over the past 60 years.

Haaland has netted seven goals from just 18 shots at the 2026 World Cup, giving him a 39% conversion rate. This is the best finishing efficiency (with 15 or more shots) in a single World Cup since Gary Lineker in 1986, who scored six goals from 15 shots at a 40 per cent rate.

England, on the other hand, head into the quarter-final on the back of one of their most memorable away victories, with Jude Bellingham’s brace inspiring a dramatic 3-2 win over Mexico at the Azteca despite being reduced to 10 men.

History, however, slightly favours Norway, with England managing just two wins in their last seven meetings. The Three Lions’ struggles date back to a memorable 2-1 defeat in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in 1981. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

If you needed an indication of just how dominant France were in this World Cup quarter-final, consider this: Morocco did not register their first shot on target until the 83rd minute, when Azzedine Ounahi finally forced Mike Maignan into a save.

It was also a reminder that statistics can be misleading without context. Morocco enjoyed more possession, but offered about as much penetration as a rusty nail file. France, on the other hand, barely had to move out of second gear, yet whenever they did, they looked irresistible.

The contest was effectively over within six minutes just after the hour mark.

Mbappé’s opening goal was sublime. After Désiré Doué fed him the ball, he used Issa Diop, his former France Under-19 team-mate, as a screen before curling a superb finish into the far corner. Even Yassine Bounou, who has been exceptional throughout the tournament, had no chance of keeping it out.

Six minutes later, Mbappé turned provider. His pass released Ousmane Dembélé, who deserves enormous credit for his surging run and powerful finish that squeezed through Bono’s gloves into the net. Yet it was Mbappé’s clever run across the penalty area that dragged defenders out of position and created the space Dembélé exploited. Two goals in six minutes. Game over.

France will be slightly concerned by the ankle injury Mbappé appeared to sustain, but nothing about his demeanour on the bench suggested it was serious enough to jeopardise the rest of his World Cup.

It would be easy to criticise Morocco for showing little ambition, but the truth is they were never given the opportunity. Adrien Rabiot delivered a midfield masterclass, using all his experience to control the tempo and outmanoeuvre Morocco’s energetic young midfield. If Rabiot provided the composure, Manu Kone supplied the attacking thrust from the middle of the park.

France should have been ahead before the first hydration break. Mbappé’s penalty was poorly struck and comfortably saved, but the lengthy VAR review that preceded it once again highlighted the need for a more efficient system.

Morocco appealed for a foul on Achraf Hakimi, but there was none. Doué clearly won the ball, Mbappé was comfortably onside, and Noussair Mazraoui’s challenge was an obvious foul. It was one of the most straightforward penalty decisions imaginable, yet the review took three minutes and 10 seconds. Mbappé had to wait almost a minute with the ball on the spot before taking the kick. On football’s biggest stage, there is simply no excuse for such delays.

Much of the praise will rightly go to France’s devastating attack, but their defensive display deserves equal recognition. Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba were commanding throughout. Morocco, who had previously stifled Brazil and dominated long spells against the Netherlands, barely created a meaningful chance.

Whether France face Spain or Belgium in Dallas in five days’ time, one thing is abundantly clear: this side will take some stopping.

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Boston [US], July 10 (ANI): France midfielder Adrien Rabiot took a swipe at Morocco after Les Bleus’ FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final victory, saying the team “had little to fear" from the opposition, who struggled to pose a threat in possession during the 2-0 win in Boston on Thursday (local time), as per the French news outlet L’Equipe.

Morocco managed just five shots compared to France’s 22, with only one effort on target, while Les Bleus registered eight shots on goal.

After the win, Rabiot said France were not overly threatened when Morocco had possession, but acknowledged that their talented players could still change the game at any moment, requiring constant focus.

“We felt that in the moments when we didn’t have the ball and we let them have it, they weren’t very dangerous. We had little to fear from this team. That’s the feeling we had on the pitch. It’s surprising. But they remain a team that can make the difference at any moment because they have extraordinary individual players. That’s why we always have to stay vigilant," L’Equipe quoted him as saying while speaking to beIN Sports.

Rabiot praised France’s focus, resilience and unity after the win, highlighting the team’s ability to stay composed despite missing a penalty in the first-half. He said reaching a third consecutive World Cup semi-final is a special achievement and credited the squad’s strong togetherness.

Notably, France won the 2018 World Cup, finished runners-up after losing to Argentina in the 2022 final, and have now reached another semi-final in the 2026 edition.

“We were very focused. And then, with the ball, we used it well. Even though we started badly with Bounou’s penalty save. But we stayed in it. That’s also where you see the team’s strength because we show determination and resilience too. We’re not taking it for granted at all in the locker room (the third consecutive World Cup semi-final). I can tell you we were very happy. There’s a lot of joy because we’ve been giving everything for several weeks. The group is exceptional. Everyone is united, and it’s magnificent," Rabiot said.

Coming to the match, France captain Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele scored in the second half to send France into the final four of the ongoing World Cup.

France survived periods of Moroccan pressure before their attacking quality proved decisive in the second half.

Morocco started with confidence and matched France’s intensity, keeping the French attack quiet during the opening stages. The Atlas Lions looked dangerous on the counter-attack, with Brahim Diaz and Achraf Hakimi providing attacking outlets, but they struggled to turn possession into clear-cut chances against a disciplined French defence.

France grew into the contest and created better openings before the interval. Mbappe came close to breaking the deadlock and also missed a penalty opportunity, leaving the score level at half-time.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 60th minute when Mbappe produced a brilliant finish from inside the box, curling the ball beyond Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou after a clever assist from Desire Doue to put France ahead.

The goal, Mbappe’s eighth of the tournament, draws him level with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.

France doubled their advantage in the 66th minute through Dembele, who fired at goal with his right foot from outside the box. Bounou got a hand but was unable to stop it.

This was Dembele’s fifth goal of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The goal gave Didier Deschamps’ side a valuable cushion in the closing stages.

Morocco continued to fight until the final whistle, but France’s experience and composure saw them protect their lead and secure a semi-final place. The result ended Morocco’s impressive run after another historic World Cup campaign, while France move one step closer to their title. The victory sets up France’s semi-final clash against either Spain or Belgium. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)