The Briefing: Haaland's Golden Boot hunt, Man City's manager search and more

Haaland sets up glorious Golden Boot race

“So far, so good.” As understatements go, Erling Haaland’s was right up there.

The Manchester City striker posted the caption alongside a photo across his social media accounts after his two goals helped Norway edge past Senegal and secure their passage to the World Cup knockouts.

His tally now stands at four – doubling the previous record for most World Cup goals scored by a Norwegian, in only his first two games – and, after scoring twice against Iraq, has made him only the second player this century to score two or more goals in each of their first two World Cup games.

Harry Kane achieved the feat at the 2018 World Cup, scoring a double against Tunisia before netting a hat-trick versus Panama.

For the first time in 72 years, three or more players have scored four or more goals after two matches, setting up what looks to be the most compelling Golden Boot battle in World Cup history.

Argentina forward Lionel Messi leads the way with five goals, while Haaland sits joint-second alongside France’s Kylian Mbappe.

Haaland, however, has the best goal conversion and accuracy of the trio.

He has had 10 shots, with a 40 per cent goal conversion rate and 70 per cent shot accuracy. Messi has a 38 per cent conversion rate from 13 shots, striking 62 per cent on target. Mbappe has taken 12 shots – converting 33 per cent, with 58 per cent on target.

Man City close in on Guardiola replacement?

Haaland’s next Man City manager could be Enzo Maresca, with multiple reports indicating he is the leading contender.

Man City have been searching for a new head coach for the first time in a decade after Pep Guardiola stepped down at the end of the season.

BBC Sport, The Times and Sky Sports report that Man City are finalising details with Maresca, who left Chelsea in January.

Guardiola will be an extraordinarily tough act to follow. Six Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League and three FA Cups – among a haul of silverware – make him one of the most successful managers in English football history.

But Maresca knows the club well. He first joined Man City in 2020 as manager of the Elite Development Squad, winning Premier League 2 during his season in charge.

After leaving to become head coach at Italian side Parma, Maresca returned to Man City in 2022 and spent a season as Guardiola’s assistant manager – the year they won the Treble.

Following further head-coach spells at Leicester City, who he guided to promotion from the Championship, and at Chelsea, where he won the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Conference League, will he now return to Man City again?

Romero plays down injury concerns

The sight of Cristian Romero leaving the pitch with a knee injury in the 57th minute of the win against Austria will have alarmed both Tottenham Hotspur and Argentina fans.

The centre-back has been crucial for club and country: playing every match when Argentina won the last World Cup and captaining Spurs.

Romero missed the last six games of the domestic season with a knee injury but fought back to fitness to play at this summer’s World Cup.

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said after the match he was awaiting scan results before assessing the severity, but Romero played down fears when speaking to reporters.

“I knew this could happen to me,” Romero said. “I had a little issue there, I felt it again, but in three or four days I’ll be fine again, so that’s that. It’s nothing serious. Keep the head up and I'll come back stronger than before.”

Chalobah kept Tuchel waiting

Trevoh Chalobah could be forgiven for switching off while on holiday in New York after missing out on England’s World Cup squad.

The Chelsea defender made the 55-man shortlist but was cut from Thomas Tuchel’s final squad of 26.

He was so absorbed in sightseeing around Times Square that he didn’t check his phone until returning to his hotel room – only then discovering Tuchel had texted him two hours previously asking him to call.

“My heart just dropped,” Chalobah recalled.

When the centre-back rang back, he learned he had been called up to replace the injured Tino Livramento.

Chalobah immediately cut short his holiday and flew to Kansas to join the squad – and is now seeking a refund.

“I flew up to New York and was meant to go to Los Angeles after that but obviously had to cut it short when I got the message on Monday,” Chalobah said. “I am still trying to get my money back.”

Wright and Neville hail Diomande

Pundits Ian Wright and Gary Neville have been effusive in their praise of Liverpool target Yan Diomande.

Several reports – including from BBC Sport, The Athletic and Sky Sports – suggest Liverpool are interested in the teenage Ivory Coast winger.

Diomande was named Man of the Match in their opening World Cup win against Ecuador and followed it with a strong display in a narrow defeat against four-time world champions Germany.

Ivory Coast led for over an hour but eventually lost the match in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.

Speaking on punditry duty for ITV, former Crystal Palace and Arsenal forward Wright said he thought Germany full-back Joshua Kimmich looked “afraid” of Diomande.

Former Man Utd right-back Neville replied: “He's a 19-year-old kid – they've had 56 per cent of their attacks down that side, which is massive. And I've been there as an ageing right-back when you've got a young kid who's fearless, and it's not pleasant.”

Wright added: “He's definitely lived up to the hype. They've just taken over, and he, in particular, Diomande, has just gone to another level in the game, lived up to the hype. His pressing is brilliant, his taking on is brilliant; he's just absolutely tearing them to pieces.”

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