Some World Cup This For The Wolves Family
With England on their way home amid restored spirits and the final a few hours away, we reflect through gold and black eyes on a tournament that has provided endless thrills but also talking points of a much less welcome kind.
Here is a man-by-man guide on the fortunes of those from these parts who were involved.
Raul Jimenez: It’s now 123 Mexican caps and 44 goals for the re-signed Wolves striker, who featured in four of the co-hosts’ World Cup games and scored in two of them, as well as against Serbia in their final warm-up game. His tournament appearances, all of them starts, came in the clashes with South Africa, South Korea, Ecuador and England.
Sasa Kalajdzic: The injury-plagued striker, who has had lengthy loans to Eintracht Frankfurt and LASK Linz, went on in the 89th minute against Algeria and dramatically scored a minute later to salvage a 3-3 draw for Austria and qualification for the knockout phase. He previously played the first half against Jordan and went on in their 3-0 exit against Spain.
Ruben Neves: The former darling of Molineux would have liked more action over the last five weeks or so but had to be content with a start for Portugal against Colombia and an outing as substitute versus Croatia.
Pedro Neto: Fared better than his Saudi-based former Wolves team-mate by starting against DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia and Croatia. He also played the first 83 minutes of the last-gasp defeat to Spain.
Nelson Semedo: The ex-Wolves captain dealt only in cameos, going on from the bench three times – against DR Congo, at half-time against Uzbekistan and versus Croatia.
Vitinha: The PSG midfielder, who had a loan spell at Molineux in 2020-21, had a very similar appearance record to Neto, with starts against DR Congo, Croatia, Uzbekistan, Colombia and Spain.
Trincao: Remember him from his underwhelming spell in these parts? Now in Lisbon with Sporting after a spell at Barcelona, his only game-time was as a 63rd minute substitute against Uzbekistan.
Matteus Nunes: Had the briefest of on-field tournament experience – as an 89th minute substitute against Colombia.
Jose Sa and Guedes: Frustratingly remained unused on the bench throughout Portugal’s run to the last eight.
David Moller Wolfe: What a super month for a player who had to be patient for his Wolves first-team opportunities in 2025-26. Missed only one game in Norway’s historic run and was still going strong when they made their exit.
Jorgen Strand Larsson: It was all or nothing for the man who swapped Wolves for Crystal Palace in mid-season. He watched the majority of his side’s progress from the bench but played the full game in the 4-1 Group I defeat against France.
Stale Solbakken: The man at the helm (if rowing boats have a helm!) for Norway’s record-breaking run to the last eight. The way they captivated the global audience was another major feather in his cap.
Julen Lopetegui: His Qatar side opened with an encouraging draw against Switzerland but couldn’t maintain the pace and the last World Cup hosts went out by losing their two other group matches.
Darren Bazeley: Helped New Zealand put a welcome point on the board with an opening draw against Iran but subsequent defeats against both Egypt and Belgium brought the early exit that many had tipped them for.
Matheus Cunha: Was one of the stars of Brazil’s underwhelming campaign in America, Canada and Mexico as he scored twice in his country’s second group game against Haiti and then netted versus Scotland as well. The gifted striker also started the matches against Japan and Norway.
Ladislav Krejci: Participation in the Czech Republic’s three group matches took his tally of international caps into the 30s and he scored against South Korea in the first game. But the Wolves defender had little other satisfaction at the tournament as his country finished bottom of their section with only one point.
Rayan Ait-Nouri: He’s one of the stars of the Algeria team, so it’s no surprise the full-back Manchester City prised away from Wolves played in all four of their games in America, the final group fixture as a substitute.
Jhon Arias: The mid-season Palmeiras signing had a decent run to the last 16 with Colombia, for whom he netted the only goal against Ghana in the first knockout round. A defeat on penalties to Switzerland restricted his tourament to five games, all of them starts.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde: Started for Haiti in all three of their Group C games, against Scotland, Brazil and Morocco, and had an assist in one of those fixtures. But all three of them were lost and his and their journey ended there.
Emi Martinez: One of the star turns of Argentina’s successful World Cup defence to date (before tonight at least!). A tournament ever-present and a man who, in case some have forgotten, spent the 2015-16 season on loan at Molineux from Arsenal.
Hwang Hee-Chan: One of the longer-term Molineux survivors and a man who remains in favour with his country. Went on just before the hour in the defeat against Mexico, then started the final group game (against South Africa) but was taken off at half-time.
Emmanuel Agbadou: The Besiktas-based defender, who left Wolves in early February, started Ivory Coast’s games against Ecuador, Germany and Norway but his and their journey ended against the latter in the last 32.
Santiago Bueno: The Wolves central defender was in Uruguay’s World Cup squad but didn’t get off the substitutes’ bench and was unable to play a major part as his country were eliminated at the group stage, a point behind Cape Verde.
Tony Popovic: The tall defender slipped through Wolves’ hands after playing every game of their pre-season tour of Austria and Germany in 1996 and then in Andy Thompson’s testimonial against Chelsea. He went on to have an outstanding playing career elsewhere and did his flourishing reputation in coaching no harm by taking Australia to the last 32, in which they lost on penalties to Egypt.
Steve Kemp: Wolves’ former head of medical has been part of the analyst team for an England side who provided a thrilling send-off with their win over France last night.