Alex Connor

Football Journalist

Explore a featured selection of my favourite topics within football

The Assist: FotMob's World Cup Newsletter •

Spain masterclass knocks out France

The result means that Spain are the first team in the competition’s history to keep six clean sheets at a single World Cup, while the 0.3 xG France accumulated against them is the lowest tally for a nation in a semi-final in the tournament since Sweden versus Brazil in 1994 (0.1). Oyarzabal doesn’t necessarily garner the headlines by default, given he isn’t the most skilful, powerful or eye-catching forward but you simply cannot argue with his output, and he will undoubtedly be one of the first...
The Assist: FotMob's World Cup Newsletter •

Super sub Mikel Merino does it again as Spain down Belgium

If Spain need a goal, Luis de la Fuente knows who to turn to. For the second knockout match running, Mikel Merino was introduced off the bench and found the decisive goal, with his late strike handing the European champions a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium in their quarter-final clash.Post-match, de la Fuente described the Arsenal man as “world class”, and it’s easy to see why – Merino’s physicality and attacking instinct provide Spain with a different dimension in the box. His productive for...
The Assist: FotMob's World Cup Newsletter •

Mbappé breaks Morocco's resistance

Kylian Mbappé’s uncharacteristic penalty miss in the first half - only his second failure from 16 spot kicks he’s taken for France - offered Morocco a lifeline. Still, the Real Madrid frontman wouldn’t afford Mohamed Ouahbi’s men the same mercy after the break, curling in a sumptuous effort right into the corner on the hour mark to deservedly give France the lead, moving him level with Lionel Messi on eight goals in the 2026 Golden Boot race.Just six minutes later, the result was put beyond any...
The Assist: FotMob's World Cup Newsletter •

England claim famous Azteca win and Norway beat the boys from Brazil

Neymar was in tears after the full-time whistle on what was his 15th and final World Cup appearance for Brazil, while Haaland led Norway’s already iconic Viking Row by banging the drum to dictate the celebration. Safe to say, it’s the greatest result in Norwegian football history, and with their formidable goal-scoring machine up top, anything is possible for the Scandinavians.Jarrel Quansah’s red card left England fans fearing the worst, but Harry Kane’s clinical penalty – his sixth goal of the...
The Assist: FotMob's World Cup Newsletter •

Argentina scrape through, Egypt and Colombia keep their dreams alive

Nevertheless, the Blue Sharks handed the reigning world champions their toughest test of the tournament so far in an epic battle as Argentina needed an 111th-minute own goal from Diney Borges to progress into the last 16.Once again, the minnows found another equaliser as Sidny Cabral curled in one of the goals of the tournament into the top corner. But Argentina’s blushes were spared when Cristian Romero’s header deflected off Borges, with the South Americans just about clinging onto the victory...
The Assist: FotMob's World Cup Newsletter •

Spain's dominance continues, Ronaldo scores for Portugal, and Switzerland progress

Much of the spotlight is rightfully on Yamine Lamal, who was dazzling at the SoFi Stadium, but Mikel Oyarzabal starred, with his two clinical first-time finishes - both from Marc Cucurella crosses - helping the reigning European champions to a well-deserved win. The Real Sociedad striker now has 17 goals in his last 16 starts for the national team, and his brace saw him become the first Spaniard to score more than once in a World Cup knockout fixture since Emilion Butragueno bagged four against...
The Assist: FotMob's World Cup Newsletter •

Co-hosts Canada march on as knockout stages start in earnest

However, after recovering from a hamstring injury, Canada’s most famous player strolled onto the pitch in the 75th minute, donned the captain’s armband, and instantly lifted the team’s attacking quality in what was his first appearance for his country since March 2025.Bombito hadn’t started a game for Canada for over a year and had to come off injured against Uzbekistan in a friendly just before the tournament, but commendably brushed off any worries regarding his sharpness, playing the full mat...
The Assist: FotMob's World Cup Newsletter •

England battle on, Messi scores again, and Algeria and Austria entertain

Thomas Tuchel’s side struggled for attacking invention in the first half until Bellingham’s instinctive close-range volley from Bukayo Saka’s corner opened the scoring just after the hour. It means that the Real Madrid midfielder is now the youngest England player on record to score and assist in a World Cup match (22 years 363 days).In a game with plenty of chances, it was a captivating fight for first place, and Colombia thought they had won it in second-half stoppage time, when Davinson Sánch...
The Assist: FotMob's World Cup Newsletter •

Scenes for Ecuador as the Round of 32 begins to take shape

Germany, who had already locked off top spot, swiftly went in front thanks to Leroy Sane’s composed finish, before Ecuador’s Nilson Angulo equalised with a powerful effort from outside the box. Needing three points, Sebastian Beccacece’s men pushed forward and eventually found a winner in the 77th minute through Gonzalo Plata’s close-range prod into the roof of the net. Despite only registering 39% possession, Ecuador accumulated a far higher xG (1.51 to Germany’s 0.65%) and played like a side i...
FotMob •

FC Supra du Quebec ready for historic Canadian Premier League debut

In September 2025, it was announced that Québec would welcome its first-ever CPL club ahead of the 2026 season. Supra was born, and they’ll make their much-awaited debut on Saturday 11th April, when they play Pacific FC in British Columbia. Supra have ripped up the script in North America and adopted LaLiga side Athletic Club’s ‘Cantera’ policy, a non-negotiable practice where only players born or trained in the Basque Country can be selected. Supra will apply this...
FotMob •

Hajduk Split’s journey against the odds

Disappointment and agonisingly fine margins have become a familiar tale for Hajduk. A previously successful force has become Croatia’s perennial bridesmaid. Since their previous league title win, Hajduk have finished either HNL runners-up or in third place a combined 14 times. In the last three campaigns, they’ve placed second once and third twice. In the 2023/24 season, Hajduk were top at the winter break, but lost four consecutive games in the spring, inclu...
Goalkeeper.com •

Nicolas Nerinckx: The importance of goalkeeper-team integration

“Act reliably for your teammates but act unpredictably for the opponent.”

Those are the words of Belgian goalkeeper coach Nicolas Nerinckx, currently plying his trade at Belgian second division side RWDM Brussels.

Following a youth playing career at Anderlecht as part of Belgium’s 93’ generation, alongside the likes of Romelu Lukaku, knee injuries and a strong passion for coaching promoted Nerinckx to end his playing career early and embark on a new journey as a coach.  In 2017, he returned to...
FotMob •

Ademola Lookman: Atletico Madrid’s new talisman, ready for a fresh challenge

Lookman’s career had temporarily stalled at Atalanta, as his relationship with the club deteriorated beyond the point of no return. The €35 million February move to the Spanish capital is the stepping stone for Lookman to elevate his career to the next level. Atleti’s shortcomings, weighed against the attacker’s quality and ambitions, make this an ideal marriage, from which both parties can massively benefit. Last Thursday, Lookman enjoyed a dreamy debut in the 5-0...
FotMob •

Kenan Yildiz: Juventus’ creative heartbeat, who is taking Italian football by storm

The silky playmaker was denied two first-half assists. Firstly, he teed up Khéphren Thuram, who crashed an effort against the post, before dribbling at the Napoli backline, attracting the attention of multiple defenders, and slipping in Francisco Conceição. Still, his teammate’s goal-bound effort was cleared off the line by Alessandro Buongiorno. 


Nevertheless, Yıldız would eventually receive his crowning moment. Deep into the second half, he doubled Juventus’ lead,...
Stratford Observer •

Stratford Town heritage book to be released after cub’s wartime origins unearthed

Notably, Connor discovered the fascinating wartime origins of the Bards and found the club acted as a means of escapism for soldiers returning home on leave and foreign prisoners of war.

Some of the people interviewed for the book include the children of club founder Paul Bartlett and 96-year-old Don Payne who played in matches for Stratford against Italian prisoners of war in Ettington.

And Connor revealed the idea to write the book initially came from a request for work experience.

Connor s...
Goalkeeper.com •

Laurie Walker on life lessons from a goalkeeping career across the English pyramid

For Laurie Walker, being a successful goalkeeper goes way beyond physical and technical attributes.

“If I can give anyone advice, it is to crack your mental side,” he says, speaking exclusively to Goalkeeper.com. “The struggles will be there, but the burning passion inside needs to be stronger. You need to be thick-skinned and understand that you will make mistakes and won’t be perfect. You may need to take a step back to move forward and set aside your ego.”

The 36-year-old plays for National...
Goalkeeper.com •

Mary Earps' legacy shouldn't be overshadowed by book controversy

In May 2025, Mary Earps dramatically announced her retirement from England duty, just five weeks before the Euros in Switzerland, sending deafening reverberations around the world of women’s football.

For the Lionesses, it marked the departure of an era-defining goalkeeper with 53 caps, who had been pivotal to the national team’s recent success. Earps played every minute of the 2022 Euros and was named in the team of the tournament, as England won the competition for the first time. In the 2023...
Goalkeeper.com •

Linus Kandolin: the importance of adaptability as a GK coach

Adaptability, selflessness, and the hunger to learn are the formula for Linus Kandolin’s rise to a Premier League coaching job. The 34-year-old has been a goalkeeper coach for the last decade at Ostersunds FK, IF Elfsborg, and West Ham United.

Speaking exclusively to Goalkeeper.com, the Swede’s “biggest advice” to youngsters sums up the mindset that has underpinned his success so far: “be humble and curious about finding new ways of helping goalkeepers improve. Work hard, because you can always...
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