Norwich City

Norwich City midfielder Sam Field has high expectations for the Canaries in the 2026-27 Championship season as they look to build on last term's turnaround.

The side won 17 out of their 31 league games under boss Philippe Clement, rising from second bottom when he took over to finish just eight points off the play-offs.

But a win rate of 54% is still not quite enough for the Belgian head coach, Field says.

"If we had a couple more weeks [last season], we all know what would have been the likelihood so we want to build on that as quickly as possible," Field told BBC Radio Norfolk.

• Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

"This manager has an expectation to win every game so he won't be looking at top two, he wants to win 46 out of 46. It's such a good mindset to have."

Success requires hard work, though, and pre-season has demanded plenty from Clement's men.

"His teams are high intensity and that's what you want," Field added.

"You can't really argue with that when you're out-working teams and playing better than them.

"There's no complaints. You're too out of breath to complain to be honest."

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Norwich City will face a new challenge when the Championship season kicks off in August, according to boss Philippe Clement.

The Canaries went from second from bottom when the Belgian was appointed head coach in November to finish ninth in the table, winning 17 of his 31 league games in charge.

"It's a new challenge again, building a new squad, making transfers," he told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"We've done a lot in a short time so that's a positive, they can step into pre-season and aren't coming in August."

Norwich have signed defender Bruno Alves and winger Andre Brooks so far this summer, with Clement already working hard to shape his side for a promotion challenge after last season's strong finish.

"We have worked on basics, our way of playing. Everyone saw that growing last season but you need to go back on things to refresh it in people's minds," he added.

Norwich start the new Championship season at home to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, 15 August (KO 15:00 BST).

New Norwich City defender Bruno Alves impressed boss Philippe Clement after playing his first minutes for the Canaries in a pre-season friendly against Kings Lynn Town on Saturday.

The 20-year-old joined the Canaries on a season-long loan from Brazilian side Cruzeiro in June for his first taste of English football.

"What you saw today is somebody with a lot of football qualities, really calm on the ball, intelligent," Clement told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"We are really pleased with the way he adapts already in the first week.

"He looks a talented boy for the future and of course, it's going to take time to adapt to things, but he's showing the right mentality."

Norwich have made three signings this summer including forward Andre Brooks and a three-year contract for Sam Field from QPR, as well as a new deal for captain Kenny McLean.

"We did three transfers so it's a lot compared to other teams," Clement added.

"A lot of good work has been done already so we aren't going to do many transfers and I'm happy about that."

Image source, Getty Images

Seven English Football League players went out of the World Cup over the course of the weekend.

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez and West Ham defender Edson Alvarez were in the Mexico team which lost 3-2 to England in a thrilling last-16 contest at the Azteca Stadium in the early hours of Monday morning.

Jimenez netted three times for his nation at the tournament, including a 69th-minute penalty against the Three Lions, but will now return to Molineux to prepare for the Championship season after signing from Fulham this summer.

Southampton forward Cyle Larin and Norwich City midfielder Ali Ahmed both featured for Canada in their last-16 encounter with Morocco on Saturday, but could not prevent the co-hosts from suffering a 3-0 defeat.

Larin scored two goals in the group stages for Canada to help them progress to the knockouts for the first time in their history, while Middlesbrough defender Alfie Jones was also part of the squad but did not play.

Leicester City duo Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu played for Ghana in their 1-0 loss to Colombia in the last 32 on Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

Into the round of 16 we go at the World Cup and we still have some English Football League stars searching for international glory.

Here is where you can catch your players as we enter the next knock-out stage:

Saturday, 4 July

Alfie Jones, Middlesbrough - Canada v Morocco (18:00 BST)

Ali Ahmed, Norwich City - Canada v Morocco (18:00 BST)

Cyle Larin, Southampton - Canada v Morocco (18:00 BST)

Sunday, 5 July

Sondre Langas, Derby County - Brazil v Norway (21:00 BST)

Egil Selvik, Watford - Brazil v Norway (21:00 BST)

David Moller Wolfe, Wolves - Brazil v Norway (21:00 BST)

Monday, 6 July

Raul Jimenez, Wolves - Mexico v England (01:00 BST)

Jose Sa, Wolves - Portugal v Spain (20:00 BST)

Tuesday, 7 July

Zeki Amdouni, Burnley - Switzerland v Colombia (21:00 BST)

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville saw his shot saved during a dramatic penalty shootout against Morocco to knock the Netherlands out of the World Cup on Tuesday.

Summerville had provided the assist for Cody Gakpo's opener in the 72nd minute, but Morocco equalised in the 91st to force extra time.

Both sides had missed two previous penalties before the 24-year-old stood up to take the fifth for the Dutch side; however Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou denied him, and Ismael Saibari then sealed the win for their opponents.

Burnley's Lyle Foster will also be heading home after South Africa succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Canada.

However, the win for the North American side does mean three English Football League players have made it through to the round of 16 in the World Cup.

Southampton striker Cyle Larin and Ali Ahmed of Norwich City both featured for Canada in the group stage but were unused substitutes for Sunday's knock-out match alongside Middlesbrough's Alfie Jones.

Canada next faces Morocco in Texas on Saturday at 18:00 BST.

Image source, Getty Images

We have reached the knock-out rounds of the World Cup but there are still plenty of players from the English Football League representing their country.

Here is where you can watch them in the round of 32:

Sunday, 28 June

• Lyle Foster, Burnley - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)

• Alfie Jones, Middlesbrough - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)

• Ali Ahmed, Norwich City - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)

• Cyle Larin, Southampton - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)

Tuesday, 30 June

• Crysencio Summerville, West Ham - Netherlands v Morocco (02:00 BST)

• Sondre Langas, Derby County - Ivory Coast v Norway (18:00 BST)

• Egil Selvik, Watford - Ivory Coast v Norway (18:00 BST)

• David Moller Wolfe, Wolves - Ivory Coast v Norway (18:00 BST)

• Hjalmar Ekdal, Burnley - France v Sweden (22:00 BST)

• Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, Derby County - France v Sweden (22:00 BST)

• Viktor Johansson, Stoke City - France v Sweden (22:00 BST)

Wednesday, 1 July

• Edson Alvarez, West Ham - Mexico v Ecuador (02:00 BST)

• Raul Jimenez, Wolves - Mexico v Ecuador (02:00 BST)

• Axel Tuanzebe, Burnley - England v DR Congo (17:00 BST)

• Edo Kayembe, Watford - England v DR Congo (17:00 BST)

• Aaron Wan-Bissaka, West Ham - England v DR Congo (17:00 BST)

• El-Hadji Malick Diouf, West Ham - Belgium v Senegal (21:00 BST)

Friday, 3 July

• Jose Sa, Wolves - Portugal v Croatia (00:00 BST)

• Zeki Amdouni, Burnley - Switzerland v Algeria (04:00 BST)

• Harry Souttar, Leicester City - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)

• Mohamed Toure, Norwich City - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)

• Cameron Burgess, Swansea City - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)

• Nestory Irankunda, Watford - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)

Saturday, 4 July

• Abdul Fatawu, Leicester City, Colombia v Ghana (02:30 BST)

Image source, Shutterstock

The versatility of forward Andre Brooks should make him a major asset for Norwich City, according to BBC Radio Sheffield sports reporter Andy Giddings.

Brooks, 22, joined the Canaries from Sheffield United on Thursday for an undisclosed fee, their second signing of the summer so far.

"Andre is a very good and emerging player who over the course of the past few years has really come into his own at Sheffield United," Giddings told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"He's played Premier League football in central midfield but has found a home on the right hand side of a three behind a central striker and he's done very well.

"He scores goals in patches, his general performances are by and large consistent, and such has been that consistency over the course of the past year or so that he's got some international football with the Jamaican national team too."

Giddings said United fans had been warned that one or two players might have to be sold, but Brooks' departure was a surprise.

"Whatever Norwich have paid for him it won't be enough, even though it probably is at the going market rate," Giddings added.

"He is a player that can play in multiple different roles in a team, it's not beyond him. (Norwich boss) Philippe Clement might privately have to get on Andre's heels a little bit but if he can put out there the type of player that Sheffield United fans have seen more often than not, I think he'll do well.

"If he plays on the right hand side, the partnership with the right-back will be key - he's a tireless runner without being rapid, so if the right-back at Norwich has a bit of pace to him, you could have a decent right hand side this year."

The EFL fixture list is out and we know you are bursting to know what you have got to look forward to, or dread, from your team this upcoming season.

Here are some key dates to put in your diary:

• 15 August 2026 - v West Bromwich Albion (H)

• 22 August 2026 - v Millwall (A)

• 26 December 2026 - v West Ham United (A)

• 1 January 2027 - v Lincoln City (H)

• 1 May 2027 - v QPR (A)

See Norwich City's full fixture list here.

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City defender Jose Cordoba was part of the starting XI for Panama in their game against Croatia on Wednesday but their 1-0 defeat means they exit the World Cup.

Croatia substitute Ante Budimir scored the only goal of the game early in the second half.

Panama next face England in their final game of the tournament.

The Three Lions currently sit at the top of Group L with four points following a goalless draw with Ghana on Tuesday, in which Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu came on as a substitute in the 66th minute.

Ghana will play Croatia in their final group game with both sides bidding to finish in top spot.

Both matches kick off on Saturday at 22:00 BST.

The EFL will reveal its fixture list for the 2026-27 season on Thursday.

Want to know who your team will face on opening day? The fixtures will be announced at 12:00 BST - but that is not all.

The draws for the group stage of the Vertu Trophy and the first round of the Carabao Cup will also take place.

So check back on 25 June to see who your team faces first, last and everything in between.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United's Tahith Chong helped earn Curacao their first point in a World Cup with a 0-0 draw against Ecuador on Sunday.

The midfielder played 76 minutes during the stalemate, while Middlesbrough winger Sontje Hansen was on the bench for the Caribbean side.

Curacao will next play Ivory Coast on Thursday (21:00 BST) for a chance to progress through the group stages with a first tournament win.

Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday's Yan Valery, Ben Slimane of Norwich City and Burnley's Hannibal Mejbri all started for Tunisia as they succumbed to a 4-0 defeat by Japan which saw them knocked out of the tournament.

Tunisia's last group match will be against the Netherlands on Friday at 00:00 BST.

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton striker Cyle Larin scored Canada's opening goal in a 6-0 win over Qatar to help his country to their first-ever victory at a World Cup.

Larin slotted home on the rebound from close range after 16 minutes to kickstart a comprehensive display by Canada in a game marred by a serious leg injury to midfielder Ismael Kone.

Norwich City midfielder Ali Ahmed also played 71 minutes before being replaced by Tani Oluwaseyi.

Les Rouges had lost all six of their group stage games at the previous two World Cups they appeared at - in 1986 and 2022.

But Canada earned their first point in the competition with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina on 12 June, in which Larin also scored, just one week after making his loan move from RCD Mallorca to St Mary's a permanent one.

And now their first victory means they sit top of group B - level on points with Switzerland, but three goals better off.

Canada's final group stage game is against Switzerland on Wednesday, 24 June.

A draw or win against the Swiss will guarantee Canada top spot, while they can still finish second even with a loss if neither Qatar or Bosnia-Herzegovina pick up three points from their fixture against each other.

But given Canada's head-to-head record against those two teams, their superior goal difference and the fact that the top eight third-place finishers will go through, a spot in the last 32 seems almost certain.

Image source, Shutterstock

Norwich City trio Kenny McLean, Anis Ben Slimane and Mohamed Toure were all in international action at the weekend as preparations for the World Cup ramp up.

McLean played 20 minutes for Scotland in their 4-0 win over Bolivia, Ben Slimane came on in the second half for Tunisia but could not prevent a 5-0 defeat by Belgium and Toure featured late on in Australia's 1-1 draw with Switzerland.

Canaries centre-back Jose Cordoba will also be at the tournament with Panama, as will Canada midfielder Ali Ahmed.

Here is a reminder of the groups the Norwich players are in and who they will face, so you can keep an eye out for them once the World Cup begins on 11 June:

• Ali Ahmed, Canada - Group B: Bosnia, Qatar and Switzerland

• Kenny McLean, Scotland - Group C: Brazil, Morocco and Haiti

• Mohamed Toure, Australia - Group D: USA, Paraguay and Turkey

• Anis Ben Slimane, Tunisia - Group F: Netherlands, Japan and Sweden

• Jose Cordoba, Panama - Group L: England, Croatia and Ghana

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City striker Mohamed Toure has been called up by Australia for this summer's World Cup.

The 22-year-old has been named in head coach Tony Popovic's 26-man squad as the Socceroos kick-off their campaign against Turkey on 14 June before facing tournament co-hosts USA and a final group game against Paraguay.

Toure played 80 minutes in Australia's 1-0 friendly defeat by Mexico at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena at the weekend.

After arriving from Danish club Randers in the winter transfer window, Toure scored 10 goals in 12 appearances in his first season for the Canaries.

His selection follows the news that Toure's Norwich team-mate, Ali Ahmed, was announced in the Canada squad for this summer's tournament on Saturday.