"That's not what football is about." Cameron Devlin doesn't need much prompting to recall the final day of the Scottish Premiership season — the tears on the bus back to Tynecastle, the Celtic fans streaming onto the pitch, the title that got away after 41 years of waiting.
Hearts travelled to Celtic Park needing a win or a draw to end Scottish football's Old Firm duopoly. They left with a 3-1 defeat, a stoppage-time killer goal, and images of grown men sobbing in their kits that circulated around the world. Devlin was one of them.
"It was horrible, to be honest," the Australian midfielder said at the Socceroos' pre-World Cup camp. "The last week, some of the decisions and stuff — it puts a bit of a sour taste on the ending to what was such a good season for such a special club."
A World Cup to wash it away
The 28-year-old, who turned a year older in camp on Sunday, at least has a distraction on the grandest possible scale. Devlin came off the bench in Australia's 1-1 warm-up draw with Switzerland — his first appearance under Tony Popovic — and is pushing for a role at the tournament proper. In Qatar he didn't get on the pitch, but he did get Messi's shirt after the Round of 16 exit. His teammates haven't let him forget it.
"Everyone kind of thinks that's what I do because I got obviously the big one," he laughed. Fair.
There's also the small matter of his contract running out this summer. The Scottish press has linked him with Championship clubs and MLS sides, but Devlin insists the noise isn't getting through. "This is the pinnacle for any sportsman," he said. "So focusing on someone else at the moment is probably not the right thing to do." His relationship with Hearts manager Derek McInnes remains strong — whether that means a return to Edinburgh or a new chapter depends on what happens in the coming weeks.
Iran land in Tijuana, Brazil lose Wesley
Iran's squad touched down in Tijuana at 5am on Sunday, greeted by about a dozen supporters and a convoy of heavily-armed Mexican and military police. The decision to base themselves across the border rather than in Tucson, Arizona — their original plan — came after rising geopolitical tensions between Iran and the United States. Around 15 delegation officials, including federation president Mehdi Taj, were denied US visas entirely. Taj previously served in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, designated a terrorist organisation by Washington.
For a group-stage draw that puts Iran against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt, the off-field chaos is a genuine concern. Disrupted preparation rarely produces deep tournament runs — and Iran have never advanced from the group stage at a World Cup.
Brazil, meanwhile, lost full-back Wesley to a muscle injury in his left adductor during Saturday's 2-1 friendly win over Egypt. He was replaced in the squad by Atalanta midfielder Ederson, who last appeared for the Seleção in March 2025. It's an enforced reshuffle before their opener against Morocco next Saturday — not the kind of news Dorival Júnior wanted heading into a group that also includes Haiti and Scotland.
And in Harrison, New Jersey, Martin Odegaard rescued Norway with a 75th-minute equaliser against Morocco — sweeping home Oscar Bobb's low cross after the Atlas Lions had led through Brahim Diaz's early strike. Morocco looked sharp throughout and will fancy their chances of repeating their run to the semi-finals from four years ago. Norway, with Haaland relatively quiet, face Iraq on June 16 in their tournament opener. On this evidence, goals through midfield may be their most reliable route.
