#hansi-flick

#hansi-flick

For much of the last year, Marcus Rashford looked like a player drifting further away from the level expected of him. Questions over his confidence, consistency and long-term future followed him through one of the toughest periods of his professional career. At one stage, even the possibility of missing out on the World Cup entirely felt realistic. That is why his inclusion in England national football team's final squad for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada carries far more emotional weight than a normal international call-up.

Barcelona Atletic forward Hamza Abdelkarim has been handed a call-up to the Egypt squad for World Cup 2026. The Barcelona Atletic forward only arrived in Catalunya in the winter transfer window and is now celebrating being included in the Pharoahs' roster for this summer's tournament. Abdelkarim will also become the first Egyptian Blaugrana to play at a World Cup.

It's not that Flick isn't an emotional coach, he's human after all. What he did so well was keeping his emotions in check, and channeling them into the moments that mattered. He has been a leader by example for his players. Flick means business, but he isn't loud about it. His actions do the talking, and as a result, he earned the respect of the dressing room, and over two years he never lost it.