England Bruno Fernandes stands one assist away from matching the Premier League single-season record of 20. Carrick's redesign, set-piece mastery, and the debate that won't go away.
England 
Spain Barcelona's defensive line is the highest in Europe. It's also the most anxious.
47 days to kickoff
The stadiums are ready. The infrastructure is ready. The culture? Still catching up.
At 39, Lionel Messi faces the question every legend dreads: is this goodbye, or was it already?
With more slots and more talent than ever, African nations have a real shot at the semi-finals.
The expanded format changes everything. Here's the one idea every coach is converging on.
Italy 
France 
Germany Xabi Alonso has built something that doesn't resemble any other team in the Bundesliga.
Deep in the Bundesliga, Freiburg keeps producing talent that bigger clubs will come calling for.
A new coach, a new philosophy, and the same expectation: win everything.
How a mid-budget club built a squad that plays like it cost three times the price.