Former England striker says her experience as an international footballer has shaped the way she approaches television punditry, arguing that criticism of players should remain fair, balanced and respectful.

White, England’s all-time leading goalscorer in women’s international football with 52 goals in 113 appearances, said her years representing the Lionesses continue to influence her perspective while analysing matches from the broadcast studio rather than the pitch.

Reflecting on England’s successful campaign at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 under coach , White said she remains emotionally invested in the national team and understands the pressure players face during major tournaments.

“I’m a nail-biter. I’m horrible to watch a match with,” White said, describing herself as fully invested whenever England plays. She added that her playing career allows her to appreciate the emotions experienced by footballers competing on the biggest stage.

White said that understanding those pressures has become central to her work as a television analyst. She believes former players have a responsibility to ensure criticism remains constructive and would stand by the same comments in direct conversations with the athletes involved.

“When you’ve lived it and breathed it and you know what that feels like, it’s about having that fine balance of ‘would you feel comfortable saying it to someone’s face?’ Whatever you’re saying in front of the camera or in punditry. And if you would, then you feel maybe OK in saying that out loud on live TV,” she said.

The 37-year-old made the remarks after being inducted into the Hall of Fame at the in Manchester, an honour recognising her contribution to English football and the growth of the women’s game.

Looking back on her international career, White said representing England always brought a strong emotional response.

“I got goosebumps, complete joy and felt very lucky every time I represented my country,” she said.

White described her Hall of Fame induction as both an honour and an opportunity to reflect on achievements that were difficult to fully appreciate while she was still playing.

“When you’re playing it’s hard to reflect but, since I’ve retired, it’s been so nice to look back. I feel like you don’t really comprehend it when you’re in the moment. To have seen two parts of the women’s game’s growth, at the start and now the trajectory, it’s really special,” she said.

The recognition also drew praise from , chief executive of the National Football Museum, who described White as one of the defining figures of the modern era of English football.

Desmond said White has continued to represent the sport with “warmth, intelligence and integrity” through her broadcasting career following retirement.

The National Football Museum established its Hall of Fame in 2002 before relaunching the programme in 2019 with a commitment to achieving equal representation of women and men in recognising the sport’s most influential figures.

Since retiring from professional football, White has become one of the prominent voices in football broadcasting, using her playing experience to provide insight into elite competition while advocating for measured and respectful analysis of current players.

England captain Harry Kane has shifted his focus to the team’s final group-stage match against Panama, emphasizing tournament progression over individual performances or concerns arising from a frustrating draw against Ghana.

As England prepare to face Panama in New Jersey, Kane is seeking to help secure top spot in the group while potentially reviving his pursuit of another World Cup Golden Boot. The striker carries positive memories of his previous meeting with Panama, having scored a hat-trick during England’s 6-1 victory at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

That performance proved decisive in Kane’s successful Golden Boot campaign, although the England captain acknowledged that not all of the goals reflected his finest work. Recalling the match, Kane noted that two goals came from penalties while the third arrived through an unusual deflection off his heel from a long-range effort by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

“A couple of pens and a lucky goal,” Kane said. “It wasn’t my most beautiful hat-trick. I’ll take that again on Saturday, for sure.”

The comments reflected Kane’s broader perspective on tournament football, where outcomes often outweigh aesthetics. England enter the Panama fixture in a strong position despite a disappointing 0-0 draw against Ghana that denied them an early guarantee of qualification for the knockout rounds.

The match against Ghana proved difficult for Thomas Tuchel’s side. Ghana adopted a compact and disciplined defensive structure, limiting England’s attacking space and restricting opportunities for their forwards. Kane, in particular, found himself closely marked throughout the contest, with Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey playing a significant role in reducing the striker’s influence.

For much of the game, Kane struggled to find space or receive possession in dangerous areas. His best opportunity arrived late in the match when the ball fell to him inside the penalty area following a rebound. The chance appeared favorable by his standards, but the striker sent his effort over the crossbar.

Despite the missed opportunity and the team’s inability to score, Kane sought to place the result within the broader context of England’s recent tournament experiences.

The captain pointed out that England have encountered similar challenges in second group matches during several major tournaments. He referenced draws against Scotland and Denmark at European Championships as well as the stalemate against the United States at the 2022 World Cup, all of which followed opening victories.

According to Kane, those experiences underline the importance of maintaining perspective during the early stages of a tournament rather than reacting emotionally to isolated setbacks.

“This is the fourth tournament in a row where the second game hasn’t gone as well as we would have liked,” he said. “But, ultimately, it’s four tournaments in a row where we pretty much qualified after two games so it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Kane emphasized the role of experienced players in maintaining calm within the squad, particularly for younger teammates experiencing the pressures of a World Cup for the first time.

“That’s where me and the experienced guys who have lived through this will be a calming influence on some of the other boys,” he said.

The striker described major tournaments as consisting of two distinct phases. In his view, the primary objective during the group stage is securing qualification while building chemistry, confidence and familiarity among players. Only after advancement is achieved does the tournament enter its decisive phase.

“We’re in a good place,” Kane said. “The tournament is always into two parts – the group stage and the knockout stage. The group stage is just about getting through, finding the rhythm, finding the players on the pitch and just getting them feeling that World Cup feeling. The knockout stage is then completely different.”

England manager attempted to alter the course of the Ghana match through a series of attacking substitutions during the closing stages. The introduction of provided additional energy, while was deployed in a more advanced midfield role. Tuchel also encouraged to push forward from left-back as England searched for a breakthrough.

The tactical changes nearly produced a winner. O’Reilly struck the woodwork with a header from a cross delivered by , creating the rebound that ultimately fell to Kane. The striker’s failure to convert represented one of the few clear chances England generated throughout the evening.

England were also fortunate to avoid conceding. A late challenge by defender on Ghana substitute Prince Kwabena Adu appeared to raise questions about a possible penalty, but officials allowed play to continue.

Adding an unusual subplot to the match, a Ghanaian spiritualist known as Nana Kwaku Bonsam claimed before the game that he intended to cast a spell preventing Kane from scoring. Following the goalless draw, Bonsam released a social media video saying he had “released” the striker and wished him success in future matches.

While the episode attracted attention online, Kane’s focus remains firmly on football matters. Having already scored twice in England’s opening victory over Croatia, the striker remains among the contenders in the race for the tournament’s leading scorer award.

More importantly for England, a victory against Panama would likely secure first place in the group and complete the initial objective of reaching the knockout rounds. For Kane, that remains the priority as England seek to build momentum before the tournament enters its decisive stage.

Ayyoub Bouaddi’s impressive display for Morocco against Brazil has drawn attention to the country’s emerging football talent, with the teenager praised for his composure, technical ability and maturity on an international stage.

Bouaddi, who helped Morocco secure an opening draw against Brazil, became one of the key figures of the match after completing 30 successful passes in the opposition half, the highest figure for his team. His performance was widely discussed online, alongside a photograph of him attending a Morocco match as a 10-year-old during the 2018 World Cup.

Morocco winger Chemsdine Talbi said Bouaddi’s contribution had been important for the team. He described the midfielder as a talented player who had joined the squad to make an impact.Born and raised in Creil in northern France, Bouaddi began his football journey with AFC Creil before joining Lille’s academy at the age of 13.

His development at club level quickly attracted attention, and he later became the youngest player to appear in a European club competition match during his debut in the Conference League.Beyond football, Bouaddi has maintained an academic focus.

He is studying mathematics and physics alongside his professional career, saying education helps him remain focused and mentally sharp.His background and approach have been highlighted as examples of the discipline behind his rapid rise. Before becoming a professional footballer, he won a public-speaking competition for players from professional academies in France at an event held at the Élysée Palace and attended by Brigitte Macron.

Morocco’s progress under coach Mohamed Ouahbi has also placed greater emphasis on young players. Ouahbi, who recently moved into senior management after leading Morocco’s Under-20 side to a World Cup title, has built a squad that includes several young midfielders.The midfield that finished the match against Brazil had an average age of 20.6 years.

Alongside Bouaddi, Roma midfielder Neil El Aynaoui and Strasbourg player Samir El Mourabet were among those who impressed against a more experienced Brazilian side.The performance raised questions about Brazil’s midfield transition. The partnership between Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães, which had been a key feature of Brazil’s recent teams, may not continue as the national side looks to balance experience with younger options.

Brazil introduced Fabinho in the second half, adding stability, but the midfielder is now in the later stages of his career. Brazil’s starting lineup had the highest average age for a match since 2006, increasing discussion about the team’s future direction.Vinícius Júnior rejected the idea that Brazil’s midfield simply needed younger players.

The forward said success would depend on adapting to the available squad and combining the strengths of experienced and younger footballers.He argued that experience remained important in major tournaments and that younger players also had responsibilities to contribute to the team’s ambitions.For Morocco, the emergence of players such as Bouaddi represents the continued development of a generation that has gained international attention.

The midfielder’s performance against Brazil has strengthened expectations around a team increasingly built around youth, technical ability and tactical confidence.Bouaddi’s rise from youth football in France to the international stage has become part of a broader story of Moroccan football’s growing depth, with young players increasingly competing alongside established names.