Nawe9ja

Paul Lawrence saw a young Sterling’s early promise and says forward is a role model for current pupils In the shadow of Wembley Stadium, where Raheem Sterling bolstered his national hero status on Tuesday, his former school football coach was emotional. “I can’t help but start to well up,” said Paul Lawrence, 61, a coach at Ark Elvin Academy in Wembley, where the Manchester City and England forward first revealed his star quality as a 10-year-old. “Last night I felt so excited. I watched it at home because I wanted to concentrate on it fully. Obviously, like any fan, I’m going to get carried away with the whole emotion of the game. But then the fact that Raheem scored again … That’s the third goal in four games. And to see England perform the way they did – it was amazing. A great, great game.” Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/30/im-so-proud-of-raheem-sterlings-old-coach-elated-by-england-success

Belgian and English defences stand firm in big tests, Spain’s rollercoaster rides on and Switzerland surpass all expectations Were presented with the toughest of tests in the last 16 in the shape of the reigning champions, Portugal, but won a surprisingly feisty encounter 1-0 thanks to Thorgan Hazard’s sumptuous strike. The veterans Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Thomas Vermaelen (combined age: 100 years) coped admirably with everything Portugal threw at them in the kind of game they may have lost a few years ago. “We had to show an incredible mentality,” Roberto Martínez said. “Everything was about being disciplined and tactically astute. That is what a winning team needs.” The injured Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard may miss out against Italy but Belgium feel they have a squad that can cope with that. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/30/euro-2020-power-rankings-belgium-and-england-on-the-up-for-last-eight

Savers' money will go to the government for environmental projects, but the interest to be paid remains unknown.

The Bank of England's departing chief economist warns that the risk of high inflation is "rising fast".

The firm and its chief financial officer are set to be charged with tax-related crimes, reports say.

Confusion over availability of tickets for Saturday’s Euro 2020 quarter-final against Ukraine English people living in Italy were left feeling frustrated, confused and disappointed as they scrambled to buy tickets for England’s Euro 2020 quarter-final match against Ukraine in Rome on Saturday, as Italian officials warned fans travelling from the UK to respect quarantine rules. Caught off-guard by England’s historic win over Germany on Tuesday night, many English fans in Italy initially searched for tickets online, only to be faced with what one described as a “slow and cumbersome” Uefa website or other sites selling tickets at extortionate prices. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/30/its-a-disgrace-english-fans-in-italy-scramble-for-tickets-for-rome-showdown

Portuguese left-back Tavares to join for initial €8m Belgian midfielder Lokonga close to initial €17.5m switch Arsenal have secured a deal to sign the left-back Nuno Tavares from Benfica for an initial €8m (£6.9m) and are close to buying the Anderlecht midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga. The club will finalise the purchase of Lokonga for an initial €17.5m provided agreement is reached over what percentage of any future sale would be due to Anderlecht. Lokonga and Tavares are 21 and have played for the Belgium and Portugal Under-21s respectively. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/30/arsenal-agree-to-sign-benfica-tavares-and-close-on-anderlecht-lokonga

Spaniard replaces Carlo Ancelotti on three-year contract Farhad Moshiri says controversial choice is ‘best man’ for job Rafael Benítez has been appointed as Everton’s manager on a three-year contract with the owner, Farhad Moshiri, insisting his controversial choice is “the best man” to deliver success. The 61-year-old former Liverpool manager faces a huge challenge to win over the Everton fanbase having described his new employers as “a small club” in 2007. But Everton, who claim to have conducted “a robust and wide-reaching recruitment process over the last three weeks which has included multiple interviews with several candidates”, maintain Benítez was the strongest candidate available. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/30/everton-confirm-rafael-benitez-appointment-as-new-manager

Ukraine had never previously made it beyond the group stage at a European Championship but lie in wait in the last eight for England England are through to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 after beating Germany 2-0 at Wembley. They now face Andriy Shevchenko’s Ukraine, who battled their way past Sweden in Glasgow , Artem Dovbyk scoring the winner in the 120th minute. This is how the teams compare. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/30/england-v-ukraine-where-the-euro-2020-quarter-final-will-be-won

Global sports platform Dazn signs four-year-deal with Uefa All games in first two seasons will be on new YouTube channel Uefa has signed a groundbreaking rights deal for the Women’s Champions League that will mean the competition is streamed live for free around the world for the next four years. The global sports platform Dazn has been awarded the newly centralised rights for the group stage onwards and has entered into a partnership with YouTube to ensure the competition will be freely available to watch around the world, excluding the Middle East, North Africa and China, where they have rights to clips and highlights, for the first time. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/30/uefa-signs-womens-champions-league-free-live-streaming-deal-with-dazn

Zambia striker’s transfer agreed subject to clearance Daka scored 27 goals in 28 league matches last season Patson Daka will complete his move to Leicester from Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday for about £23m, subject to Premier League and international clearance. The Zambia striker, who scored 68 times in 125 appearances for Salzburg, told Leicester’s website : “I’m so, so excited to join this great, historic club. It has been my dream and I’m so happy and looking forward to what’s coming next. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/30/patson-daka-to-seal-23m-leicester-move-from-rb-salzburg

Portugal footballer can command as much as $1.6m to endorse a product on social media Cristiano Ronaldo has shot to the top of Instagram’s annual rich list of celebrities who can charge the most for a sponsored post, with the footballer able to command as much as $1.6m (£1.2m) to endorse a product on social media. The Portugal captain, who rattled Euro 2020 sponsor Coca-Cola by removing its drinks from view at a post-match press conference , topped a list that includes the wrestler turned actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and the singer Ariana Grande. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jun/30/cristiano-ronaldo-shoots-to-top-of-instagram-rich-list

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! When the England team was leaked early on Tuesday afternoon to The Internet, The Fiver was (obviously) incensed. Three at the back?! THREE?! Or is it five? FIVE AT THE BACK? With two defensively-minded central midfielders? But we are Ingerland, on home turf, and it’s only the bloody Germans! Gareth Southgate, doesn’t know what he’s doing! Absolute muppet, mate! I once went to see [generic football team] play at Middlesbrough in 2007 and we absolutely battered them. He’s not cut out for this job, that’s for sure. La Liga winner Kieran Trippier at right wing-back?! SOUTHGATE OUT! Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/30/the-fiver-england-germany-euro-2020-gareth-southgate-possibly-the-greatest-tactical-mind-ever-to-survey-the-game

The founder of Homeserve says there aren't enough tradespeople EU workers leave and demand rises.

• WSL club appoint 49-year-old Scot on three-year-deal • Booth led Glasgow City to six successive SWPL titles Women’s Super League side Birmingham City have appointed former Scotland international Scott Booth as their new manager. The 49–year-old has signed a three-year deal and joins after six years with Scottish Women’s Premier League champions Glasgow City. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/30/scott-booth-leaves-glasgow-city-to-take-birmingham-city-women-managers-job

Alex Baldock says the pandemic and working from home opened people's eyes to the value of tech.

Plus: loads of caps but no major tournaments, contact lens trouble and high-ranked teams eluding the home nations Mail us your questions or tweet @TheKnowledge_GU “I took my three-year-old to her first match on Saturday, Central Coast Mariners v Western United,” tweets Matthew Collins. “The Mariners have a tradition: after scoring a goal they fire a pyrotechnic cannon. My kid now assumes this happens at all grounds. Are there venues that do similar stunts?” Thanks to all of you who wrote in with answers to this one. Let’s start in the spiritual home of post-goal entertainment: the USA. “My MLS side, Chicago Fire, have set off fireworks after every home goal they score,” writes Tom Wendt. “For a few years, they set off what I can only describe as a ‘fire cannon’ with a flame flaring a good five metres high.” Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/30/the-knowledge-pyro-chainsaws-and-fireworks-post-goal-stunts-at-football-clu

All the latest news and reaction as quarter-finals are set The Fiver: sign up and get our free daily football email You can contact John by email , on Twitter or comment BTL 8.50am BST Jonathan Wilson went to Glasgow and back to write this report. Shevchenko is an astute coach and has clearly improved Ukraine. This is a better, more proactive side than the one that limped out of the last European Championship without scoring a goal. Related: Ukraine strike late in extra time against Sweden to set up England quarter-final 8.48am BST Not surprisingly, the German media has not taken defeat well, and the farewell to Jogi Löw is not especially fond. Related: ‘A downward spiral that began in 2016’: German media reacts to England’s win Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2021/jun/30/euro-2020-england-germany-reaction-quarter-final-news-live

ITV is winning the broadcasting battle but the other side has the top anchor and did well to cut out England v Germany hype “Still working from home then? Thanks for joining us for England versus Germany. Cue the montage.” Gary Lineker is no Des Lynam, but he’s still the best football anchor the British public have got. There is no cocked eyebrow or bristling moustache but Lineker’s introduction at Wembley on Tuesday was a nice nod to our peculiar working situations during the pandemic and Lynam’s famous opening quip before England’s mid‑afternoon kick-off at the 1998 World Cup: “Shouldn’t you be at work?” Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/30/bbc-gary-lineker-england-germany-euro-2020

Press criticises outgoing coach Joachim Löw for selection and tactics, tempered with praise for opponents’ ‘efficiency’ For England, Tuesday’s 2-0 win ended a 55-year jinx against a side it had repeatedly failed to edge past in the knock-out rounds of major tournaments. But for Germany, too, the defeat at Wembley marked the end of an era. “The Euros were meant to be a dignified send-off for national coach Joachim Löw”, said Boris Büchler in a comment for broadcaster ZDF. In his first 10 years in charge of Germany’s national team, Löw had taken his sides at least to the semi-final of every tournament they participated in. In 2014, he came home from Rio de Janeiro with the World Cup. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/30/a-downward-spiral-that-began-in-2016-german-media-reacts-to-englands-win

Dream result hailed as an escape from the nightmare of past defeats – and a glorious release from the pandemic England’s historic victory over Germany in Euro 2020 is the stuff of dreams for the front pages of Wednesday’s papers, with the win doubling as a release from a 55-year football nightmare and 18 months of a gruelling pandemic. Half of the Guardian’s front page is devoted to a euphoric image of the players celebrating Harry Kane’s goal sealing the 2-0 win, England’s first over Germany in a knockout tie since 1966. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/30/its-coming-rome-how-the-papers-covered-englands-euro-victory-over-germany

The cash injection comes after the British government and Bharti Global bailed out the company last year.

The call from an influential committee of MPs comes amid fears of fraud and error in Covid schemes.

Euro 2020 updates from the 5pm BST kick-off at Wembley The Fiver: sign up and get our free daily football email Get in touch! Email Barry or tweet @bglendenning 3.44pm BST Confirmed: Frank De Boer has left his post as manager of the Netherlands after tendering his resignation. ““I have decided not to continue as national coach,” he said in a statement. “The objective has not been achieved, that is clear.” 3.41pm BST The England Band: Arguably the most unpopular musical collective in the UK, the unloved and unwanted attention-seekers that are the England Band will be making their post-lockdown return to the international football arena this evening. It’s great news for those who love endlessly parped brass renditions of The Great Escape and Rule Britannia while trying to watch a football match, if such people actually exist. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2021/jun/29/england-v-germany-euro-2020-last-16-live-score-

The manager was hoping to repeat his feats as a player, but his tactics against Switzerland cost his team dearly By Eric Devin for Get French Football News And so it ends, not with a bang but with a whimper. France have been dispatched by a plucky and opportunistic Switzerland side, but also in large part by the frustrating tactics and selections of their manager. Didier Deschamps’ team had been the favourites to win this competition since the final whistle blew in the World Cup final in 2018. There have been some minor changes in personnel since that match, with Blaise Matuidi retiring from international duty and Samuel Umtiti being felled by injury. However, on the whole, his side looked more than primed to follow in the footsteps of the France teams of two decades ago, who won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship two years later. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/29/didier-deschamps-win-euro-2020-blew

PC Benjamin Monk convicted last week of manslaughter of ex-footballer after kicking his head while he lay on the ground The police officer who killed the former footballer Dalian Atkinson, kicking him in the head while he was down on the ground, has been jailed for eight years. PC Benjamin Monk was convicted last week of manslaughter after a jury found his use of a stun gun for 33 seconds and at least two kicks to Atkinson’s head killed him. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jun/29/police-officer-who-killed-dalian-atkinson-jailed-benjamin-monk

Executives visiting England from amber-list countries will not need to isolate if trip is a big economic benefit.

Former France international holds productive talks with club Palace confident of deal after Nuno and Favre setbacks Patrick Vieira looks set to take over as Crystal Palace manager after agreeing a deal to succeed Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park. The former France international – who has been out of work since being sacked by Ligue 1 side Nice in December – has held productive talks with the Palace co-chairman, Steve Parish, this week and is expected to be confirmed as the club’s new manager within the next 24 hours. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/29/crystal-palace-in-line-to-appoint-patrick-vieira-as-manager-after-agreeing-terms

Our cartoonist on the knockout stage so far, including Pepe’s Corinthian spirit, Bale’s disappearing act, Dutch horror and shocks Like what we do? Consider supporting our journalism Doing some shopping? Buy a Squires cartoon here Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2021/jun/29/david-squires-on-drama-and-chaos-at-the-business-end-of-euro-2020

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! It’s England v Germany! In the Euros! At Wembley! Bloody hell ! It’s going to be a thriller, isn’t it?! Well, um, let’s not get our hopes up too much, eh? With EN 2020 using up its quota of Madcap Drama Chips on Manic Monday there’s a feeling of late-90s indie plodders Embrace following Led Zeppelin on to the main stage at Glastonbury about this one. Not that it isn’t massive but England have yet to play one decent guitar solo in 270 minutes of football and Germany collectively picked their nose for 66 minutes against Hungary last time out before realising they were going to miss the bus to the last 16 if they didn’t shift das Hinterteil quick-style. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/29/the-euro-2020-fiver-smearing-oneself-in-the-scent-of-stuart-pearce

The brewery company could be in hot water as winners dispute the value of the "solid gold" beer cans.

The move comes eight years after the firm behind brands such as Makeup Revolution was founded.

People with prepayment meters should get priority for new, money-saving energy technology, charities say.

France are out of Euro 2020 after a thrilling game in Bucharest against Switzerland. A 3-3 draw on the night went all the way to penalties before Kylian Mbappé missed the decisive penalty. Speaking after the defeat, France manager Didier Deschamps said: 'Today really hurts and lots of sadness, there were many good things we did in the his match but not everything. If we think about this match too much it won't help us.'  ‘He is very affected by it’: Deschamps defends Mbappé as France crash out Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2021/jun/29/it-really-hurts-deschamps-defends-mbappe-as-france-fall-to-switzerland-video

Sir Keir Starmer says workers should be allowed to finish work early to watch England play Germany.

Brazilian agrees new deal with European Cup runners-up ‘There’s still places to improve and get those targets’ Fernandinho has signed a new 12-month contract that will extend his Manchester City career to nine years, with the captain stating “the job is not done yet”. The midfielder, who joined from Shakhtar Donetsk in June 2013 , was a second-half replacement in City’s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Chelsea last month . The club has yet to claim the trophy and his comments may refer to a desire to aid City do so. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/29/the-job-is-not-done-yet-fernandinho-extends-manchester-city-stay

Get all the latest news before Tuesday’s last-16 ties The Fiver: sign up and get our free daily football email Get in touch! Email Tom , tweet him here or post BTL 8.40am BST Some Copa América news: Lionel Messi marked becoming Argentina’s record appearance maker by scoring twice in a 4-1 win against Bolivia to set up a quarter-final against Ecuador. Elsewher Uruguay beat Paraguay 1-0 and will face Colombia in the last eight. Related: Lionel Messi scores twice as Argentina overrun Bolivia at Copa América 8.31am BST Anyway, moving on . To this evening’s inconveniently timed 5pm kick-off. Putting all hype and weight-of-history stuff to one side, this on paper has always looked the most intriguing of the eight second-round ties. England nominally favourites but their ability to find new gears still in doubt after their low-key group phase, against an unpredictable Germany side that have already gone through the full range of performance levels, for good and ill. They have inj

PSG striker misses crucial penalty in Euros loss to Switzerland Deschamps: ‘Kylian feels guilty, but he shouldn’t’ Didier Deschamps refused to blame Kylian Mbappé for the missed penalty that sent France to a stunning defeat against Switzerland on a dramatic night in Bucharest. Switzerland scored two late goals within the 90 minutes to send the game into extra-time, after which the PSG striker was the only man to miss in the shootout. Related: Switzerland’s Sommer saves Mbappé’s penalty to send France crashing out Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/28/nobody-can-be-annoyed-with-him-deschamps-defends-mbappe-as-france-crash-out

From Edgbaston to Euro 2020, modern supporters can participate: so long as it is in corporately pre-approved fashion For the second time in two years, Fortress Edgbaston was breached. This time, however, it was not Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon but a few hundred inebriated hedonists from Warwick University. “The behaviour of a small number of students after the match finished was disgraceful,” the Warwickshire chief executive, Stuart Cain, said following Birmingham Bears’ T20 Blast game last week. Cain confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that lifetime bans are being meted out for the monstrous crime of walking on to a cricket field upon which no match was taking place and milling around for upwards of five minutes. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2021/jun/29/sports-abhorrence-of-pitch-invaders-is-about-fan-control-not-player-safety

Prices rose 13.4% in the UK in the year to June and are close to record highs in relation to incomes.

SMMT is urging investment into charging points and battery factories to safeguard car industry jobs.

Captain sets new all-time appearance record for Argentina Convincing win sets up quarter-final against Ecuador Lionel Messi passed Javier Mascherano as Argentina’s most capped international on Monday and scored twice as they beat Bolivia 4-1 to set up a Copa América quarter-final against Ecuador. Messi was in fine form on his 148th appearance for Argentina and it was his sublime pass that set up Alejandro Gómez to volley home the opening goal after five minutes. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/29/lionel-messi-scores-twice-as-argentina-overrun-bolivia-at-copa-america

The city is worried about the more infectious Delta strain and ranks Britain as a 'high risk' country.

A small percentage of devices' cost should go into a fund for UK creators and performers, a group says.

A Home Affairs Committee report is calling for new laws to help protect shop workers from abuse.

A growing number of technology firms are aiming to help reduce the anxiety of new mums and dads.

I remember Germany’s wins in 1990 and 1996, but perhaps this time England will finally find their hero My first memories as a football fan are to do with England. I rooted for my national team in the semi-final duels in 1990 and 1996. Germany won both games on penalties and went on to win the titles. England could have won both times, too. I was impressed by the endless energy of Paul Gascoigne. He was the most dazzling but also tragic figure. In 1990, he was in tears after he received a second yellow card which would have suspended him for the final. In 1996, he was 20cm short of scoring the golden goal in extra time. He slipped past the ball at the far post, as Germany fans will remember for ever. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/jun/28/england-and-germany-are-both-works-in-progress-but-gareth-southgate-has-more-stability-euro-2020

The e-cigarette company will pay $40m (£29m) to North Carolina and will change its marketing in-state.

The goalkeeper was described as a ‘monster’ by the Spanish press and is having another fine major tournament Yes, it is that Robin Olsen. The goalkeeper who has failed to establish himself at Roma and been loaned out twice, the one who made only seven league appearances in eight months for Everton in 2020-21 and the one who was accused of taking “100 years” to react in a game against Atalanta. For Sweden, however, the 31-year-old seems like a transformed person. Clark Kent becomes Superman, especially at major tournaments. At Euro 2020 he has made some jaw-dropping saves against Spain, Slovakia and Poland, and was included in L’Équipe’s team of the tournament after the first round of games. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/28/robin-olsen-from-roma-reject-to-swedens-giant-at-euro-2020

Transfer to second-tier Dutch club Dordrecht transformed a player set to face England at Euro 2020, his coach there recalls On a Tuesday night in October 2013, Harry van den Ham went on a scouting mission. He was trying to get Dordrecht, an unfashionable club 10 miles outside Rotterdam, promoted but felt his side needed something extra in midfield to keep up the heat. The game pitted Vitesse Arnhem’s reserve team, Jong Vitesse, against Jong Top Oss and the missing piece quickly became apparent. “I watched him play and he had such drive, commitment, he gave everything in every duel,” he says of his first encounter with Robin Gosens. “I learned that he was German: he was a typical German player, and that’s what I needed in my team.” Gosens was 20 and could hardly have imagined that, seven and a half years later, he would be one of the star attractions in a Germany side preparing to face England at Wembley. It had been an unusual journey to Vitesse, who picked him up from tiny VfL Rhede

Live updates from the 5pm BST kick-off in Copenhagen The Fiver: sign up and get our free daily football email Get in touch: mail Niall here or tweet @niallmcveigh 3.34pm BST Here’s the pre-game thoughts of the Croatia coach, Zlatko Dalic . His preparations have been disrupted by Ivan Perisic’s positive Covid test, which rules him out. “It’s hard for Ivan but we have to adapt. Ivan will be our biggest fan and God willing, he will join us in seven or eight days. “We were shocked by Perisic’s positive result, but we have been living with the stress of this possibility for a month. We are used to it.” 3.31pm BST Pre-match reading: Sid Lowe chats with Aymeric Laporte , the France-born defender who has taken dual nationality in order to play for Spain. If he helps La Roja through today, their likely quarter-final opponents will be ... France. “Luis Enrique told me my playing style is his idea of football, that if I got nationality I might be in the squad,” Laporte says. “We talke

Cristiano Ronaldo has broken the Euros goalscoring record, but he’s played in five tournaments. Platini had five matches By Steven Pye for That 1980s Sports Blog When Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty against Hungary in Portugal’s opening match of Euro 2020 – which he celebrated in that typical understated way of his – he broke a record that had been held by Michel Platini, a man who played a big part in the organisation of Euro 2020. The less said about Platini’s time as a football administrator the better, but he was a tremendous player. Ronaldo’s goals have been spread across the last five Euros, but Platini only played in one finals. The France team that won Euro 84 was not just about Platini – he was one quarter of their formidable Carré Magique midfield alongside Jean Tigana, Alain Giresse and Luis Fernández – but he was the star of that tournament, scoring in all five of France’s matches on his way to lifting the Henri Delaunay trophy in Paris. Continue reading... from

Benjamin Monk previously found to have committed gross misconduct but kept job and was given stun gun The police officer convicted of the manslaughter of Dalian Atkinson had been previously found by a police disciplinary hearing to have committed gross misconduct but was allowed to remain an officer and given a stun gun, it has been revealed. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jun/28/dalian-atkinson-killing-officer-was-kept-on-despite-gross-misconduct

The carmaker is set to announce a major expansion of battery production in Sunderland.

Yet to concede at these Euros, if Gareth Southgate gets his team right, they could carve open a creaky German defence Joachim Löw’s side conceded five goals in their three group games , showing Gareth Southgate there are frailties to be exposed in the Germany defence. A change in formation could be key to England’s chances of success, as it would give Southgate the requisite weaponry to make the most of Germany’s vulnerability to the counter-attack. Germany flood numbers forward, attack with six and press aggressively so hitting them on the counter is a smart option. France, Portugal and Hungary made the most of the problems Löw’s defence have exhibited. Switching to a back three, which could become a five, being compact and hitting quickly on the break will be the best way to liberate England’s attackers. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/jun/28/england-germany-euro-2020-tactics

Defeat by the Czech Republic has led to calls for Frank de Boer to depart and criticism of the players, tactics and substitutions The newspapers and football websites in the Netherlands had a clear picture of where a glorious Sunday was heading. After Max Verstappen won the Styrian Grand Prix and Mathieu van der Poel took the Tour de France yellow jersey , it was time for the next Dutch Ms to shine. Memphis, Marten, Maarten, Matthijs, Malen and the other Dutch footballers “only” had to beat the Czech Republic. A stopover en route to a semi-final against England or Germany, it was considered in the Netherlands, after, in terms of result, the Oranje had rolled smoothly through the group stage. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/28/stars-did-not-deliver-netherlands-press-reacts-to-euro-2020-exit

Former Liverpool manager expected to take over at Everton Benítez faces widespread opposition among club’s fans A banner threatening Rafael Benítez if he joins Everton has been left near the former Liverpool manager’s family home, according to images on social media. A banner reading “We know where you live. Don’t sign” is understood to have been placed near the home Benítez shares with his wife and two daughters in Wirral. The 61-year-old’s family have lived in the area since his time with Liverpool. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/28/banner-near-benitez-home-as-everton-deal-looms-manager-we-know-where-you-live

He has won trophies in two spells with Swedish club Eidevall is 38 and began his coaching career at 23 Arsenal have appointed Jonas Eidevall as their manager. The 38-year-old joins from the Swedish club Rosengård, who reached the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League last season, and takes over from Joe Montemurro . “I feel honoured to be taking this role,” the Swede said. “Arsenal have a rich history, more successful than any other women’s team in England. I want to add to these honours. It’s super-important that we win, and we will be very ambitious about that, but it’s even more important that we live the values and defend the club badge on a day-to-day basis. I cannot wait to do that at Arsenal.” Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/28/arsenal-women-appoint-jonas-eidevall-rosengard-new-manager

UK travellers will have to quarantine for 14 days while Germany wants EU to step up restrictions.

The bakery chain says sales have continued to grow, while car dealership Lookers also enjoys strong trade.

Get all the latest news before Monday’s last-16 ties France hoping for a grand statement from Mbappé Get in touch! Email Gregg or tweet @GreggBakowski 8.16am BST Good morning. So we now know we’ll have a mouthwatering quarter-final between Belgium and Italy under the lights in Munich on Friday night, with Czech Republic and Denmark making the long journey out to Baku for their last-eight tie on Saturday. Who will join them in the quarter-finals? Today, we have Croatia v Spain at 5pm in Copenhagen followed by France v Switzerland at 8pm in Bucharest. Spain finally found form with a 5-0 win in their final group game but it came against a shambolic Slovakia side. And their preparations for the match against Croatia have been overshadowed by the ongoing abuse of Alvaro Morata by some Spain fans which manager Luis Enrique has called “a crime” . Luka Modric was majestic against Scotland and will be their best hope of stitching together a team performance good enough to take his side

Joachim Löw persuaded Bayern Munich teenager which country to represent and is now under pressure to play him Germany are still Germany. Never count out Germany in a tournament. The cliches have tumbled from mouths and pens since it was confirmed that the three-time European champions would face England at Wembley on Tuesday, but they overlook the reality. Joachim Löw has the talent at his disposal to go deep into the competition, but it rarely felt through the wildly fluctuating three group matches as if there was the focus and discipline that forged an indelible image over decades. This Germany is anything but predictable. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/28/jamal-musiala-from-england-under-21-germany-beacon-of-hope-euro-2020

Saffery Champness's work for Sanjeev Gupta's financial backer is being probed by the FRC.

The financial watchdog has ruled that Binance cannot conduct any regulated activity in the UK.

The social media platform is banned but Jack Dorsey remains a hugely popular figure in the country.

Payments on VAT and loans kick in from next week but many companies cannot operate until 19 July.

It is the city's first 'black rainstorm' warning of 2021 with more than 70mm of rain forecast.

The disruption caused by the pandemic has raised fears of burnout, but workers are finding solutions.

A seven-second period during the grand final solidified a key name in Melbourne City’s impending dynasty Moments can define footballers. They can build them up or tear them down, earn a big contract or have one terminated, transform them into a mythic hero or the protagonist in a cautionary tale. Often, though, moments reinforce what we already know about a player. Marco Tilio’s talent had been evident throughout this A-League season, particularly in the second half when he became a regular starter. That was reconfirmed during the smallest sliver of play late in Melbourne City’s grand final win, about seven seconds somewhere between the 70th and 71st minute. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/28/marco-tilios-a-league-moment-of-magic-the-mark-of-a-sellable-star

Manager insists attacking players encouraged to take risks Tactical change is considered ahead of Germany clash Gareth Southgate has defended himself against suggestions that England have been too cautious at Euro 2020, insisting that he never tells his players not to attack. England, who reached the last 16 after topping their group in controlled fashion, were criticised after scoring twice in their first three games and their manager has faced calls to make more of the attacking talent at his disposal before facing Germany at Wembley on Tuesday. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/27/gareth-southgate-hits-back-at-accusations-of-england-caution

Grit, hunger, nerves of steel … none of it is evident in a side that lurched through its group. England must ignore the mythology Let’s try a quick thought exercise. Team A, ranked No 4 in the world, comfortably topped its group and is on a run of nine games without defeat, with a defence that has conceded just five goals in its last 17 matches. Team B, ranked No 12, scraped through its group with four points and wildly inconsistent performances, hasn’t kept a clean sheet in six games and lost 6-0 as recently as November . Team A is playing at home. Who do you think should start as favourites? Treat this game as a blind taste test, with the labels and the history and the emotional baggage stripped away, and England v Germany feels like a simple enough proposition. It’s by no means a foregone conclusion, but all things being equal England should probably win, especially with home advantage. But of course tournament football, especially at international level, is not played in a vacuum

Spain coach wants issue ‘dealt with in strongest possible way’ Striker has received online abuse and his family also targeted The Spain coach, Luis Enrique, has encouraged the police to take action against fans who have abused the striker Álvaro Morata and his family. Morata, who had already been subjected to disparaging chants in Spain’s final warm-up game before Euro 2020 and was whistled during their opening match against Sweden, was again singled out after he missed a penalty during their 5-0 win over Slovakia . At full time, as he waited to conduct a pitchside interview, some fans in the stands directed abuse at his wife and children, and offensive messages were sent to him on social media. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/27/luis-enrique-police-alvaro-morata-abuse

Live updates from the 8pm BST kick-off in Sevilla It may be now or never for Belgium’s world-beaters And you can email any thoughts on the match to Rob 6.15pm BST In a few hours’ time, either Belgium or Portugal will be out of Euro 2020. Gone. Next plane home. Forget it, it’s over. It feels too early for such a titanic clash, but that’s the delicious jeopardy you get at major tournaments – especially when some of the third-placed teams qualify. Exhibit A: 24 June 1990 . Like Brazil that day, Belgium could become collateral damage from the group of death. With a respectful nod to Croatia v Spain, this is the tie of the round – the team ranked no1 in the world against the reigning champions (and the world no5). Both teams are deluxe motley crews, if that isn’t an oxymoron; a slightly odd mixture of galacticos , geriatricos and Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielders. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2021/jun/27/belgium-v-po

Kai Havertz has said that he wants to be the player to dash England's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2020. The Chelsea midfielder said on Sunday, 'I believe it's my first match against England. I don't think you can call me the player that upset England yet. I hope I will be that player this Tuesday'. England face Germany at Wembley with the winner set to face either Ukraine or Sweden in the last eight Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2021/jun/27/kai-havertz-euro-2020-germany-to-upset-england-video-football

The striker has toiled hard and often sparkled in his side’s reshaped forward line but still awaits his first goal of Euro 2020 Anyone wondering how France’s attackers were getting along may have taken heart from a sequence during their training session on Saturday, held at Bucharest’s aptly-named Stadionul Arcul de Triumf. Kylian Mbappé received possession during a small-sided game, rolled his foot over the ball and then backheeled to Karim Benzema, who finished without fuss. “It’s for you, my brother,” Mbappé could be heard telling his teammate. “It’s for you.” It feels like time for France to click, even though they have hardly faltered so far. They topped a fiendish Group F and, in the absence of any horror stories, their front line is foremost among the points being nitpicked over. Benzema and Antoine Griezmann have both got off the mark but cohesion has been fitful and there is a sense Mbappé’s arrival at this competition is still to come. Continue reading... from Football |

Exclusive: over 2,000 abusive posts directed towards footballers during games, including scores of racist messages Analysis: why online abuse of England’s footballers is a problem for us all England’s footballers have been subjected to sustained abuse online during their matches at Euro 2020, an exclusive analysis by the Guardian can reveal. A study of Twitter messages directed at and naming the England team during the three group stage matches identified more than 2,000 abusive messages, including scores of racist posts. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/27/revealed-shocking-scale-twitter-abuse-targeting-england-euro-2020

Euro 2020 last-16 updates from the 5pm BST game in Budapest The Fiver: sign up now and get our free daily football email And email any match thoughts to paul.doyle@theguardian.com 3.15pm BST Hello and welcome to a duel for the right to face Denmark in the quarter-finals . The Netherlands have won all three of their matches so far and have been great fun to watch, too, but then the same was said about Italy before Austria gave them a jolt yesterday. So let’s see how the Dutch do on their first trip outside Amsterdam – to Budapest, to be precise, where a full stadium will have plenty of Czech fans on hand to roar their team on to an upset. For inspiration , the underdogs can draw on the memory of 2004 and a true Euro classic , when the Czech Republic came from 2-0 down to beat the Netherlands 3-2 and advance to a quarter-final … against Denmark. The Czechs are a solid, energetic team who could threaten from set-pieces and, of course, through the sharpness of Patrik Schick. They ne

Gareth Bale will play on while young prospects like Ethan Ampadu and Rubin Colwill should continue to improve Hal Robson-Kanu’s timeless Cruyff turn allowed Wales to walk on air at the last European Championship but on Saturday, in the arena renamed in homage to the Dutchman, hopes of another run deep into the competition quickly evaporated . After Euro 2016, the players discussed making sure appearing at major tournaments became a more regular occurrence and, in that regard, advancing to the knockout stages represented another remarkable feat. Yet that a last-16 exit feels an opportunity missed is a marker of the strides they have made. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/27/tired-wales-down-in-the-dumps-but-can-find-optimism-for-2022-world-cup

Coach Kasper Hjulmand praised his two-goal star but every Danish player contributed to a fast, fluid flattening of Wales As the sound of jubilant Denmark fans’ songs faded into the night, two Kaspers were still giving flash interviews pitchside by each other about the 4-0 crushing of Wales at the Johan Cruyff Arena. They were Hjulmand, the classy coach, and Schmeichel, the warrior-goalkeeper. Yet the victory in Amsterdam was also the tale of a third Kasper – Dolberg whose two-goal performance of a lifetime capped a masterful team display that showed how pace, cohesion, strategy and momentum are enhancing the spirit fuelled by the desire to claim Euro 2020 for the recovering Christian Eriksen . Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/27/it-is-hard-to-believe-this-is-reality-denmark-and-dolberg-in-dreamland

The telecoms firm and satellite company explore ways of providing rural broadband in remote areas.

The NI secretary calls on the EU to show more flexibility in implementing the NI Protocol.

Manager is creative and inclusive but his tactics divide public opinion before Germany clash that could be legacy-defining There is something magical about Lord’s cricket ground and it is particularly striking when it lies empty, when the sense of history, beauty and grandness rises out of the stillness. Gareth Southgate wanted his England footballers to experience it, to drink in the aura and so he took them there for a walk-about on the immaculate outfield. The twist was that he did so on Tuesday morning, before the final Euro 2020 group tie against the Czech Republic that night. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/27/gareth-southgate-has-created-an-england-the-players-love-acid-test-germany-tactics

I married a German and quietly seethed through their triumphs – until my late mother in law showed me watching football need not be so fraught The story of my marriage through England v Germany football rivalry begins in 1990. I was living in Rio de Janeiro and throwing myself with wild abandon into the Brazilian way of celebrating the beautiful game. I watched that World Cup penalty shootout in an English pub in Ipanema and then went home to call the handsome German I’d met a year earlier, the tension of the match soon dissolving in good-humoured teasing on both sides. Little did I know then that those early flirty exchanges about our teams’ contrasting fortunes would give way to a far more sinister rivalry in years to follow – I am talking about me, not him. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/27/after-silent-fury-and-schadenfreude-theres-harmony-at-home-as-england-face-germany

Drugs firm to pay to settle claims it fuelled opioid painkiller addiction crisis in New York State.

Patriotic hubris and old footballing rivalries are harder to sustain in a world becoming more closely connected If Jamal Musiala gets to play at Wembley on Tuesday in the Euro 2020 knockout match between England and Germany, he might need to occasionally glance down to remind himself which shirt he is wearing. The wiry Bayern Munich midfielder, who played the crucial pass that set up Germany’s equaliser in a tetchy 2-2 draw against Hungary last Wednesday, has only made four appearances for his country’s senior side. But between 2016 and 2020, Musiala played 25 games for the national youth teams of Tuesday’s opponents, England . Aged 18, the Stuttgart-born holder of a British and a German passport is the youngest player to represent Germany since Uwe Seeler, the captain in the famous World Cup final defeat to England in 1966. Musiala is too young to have experienced how politics and sport have overlapped when the two sides met in the past: he wasn’t even born when pictures of Paul Gas

City reign 3-1 against 10-man Sky Blues at AAMI Park Nathaniel Atkinson named Joe Marston medallist Melbourne City have broken through for their first A-League championship, coming from behind to beat a 10-man Sydney FC 3-1 in the grand final. Sydney’s Kosta Barbarouses opened the scoring in the 21st minute, with the brilliant Nathaniel Atkinson responding two minutes later, before Luke Brattan’s 35th-minute red card turned the game in City’s favour at AAMI Park. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/27/melbourne-city-win-maiden-a-league-championship-with-grand-final-defeat-of-sydney-fc

Get the latest prior to Sunday’s last-16 clashes Can Belgium’s world-beaters win a major trophy? Email Daniel with your thoughts or tweet @unitedrewind 8.39am BST When Bale does walk away, Wales have a big problem. They’ve still got plenty of talent, but at international level at least, Bale is probably the best player in their history (though I didn’t see John Charles). Either way, over the last 10 years, he’s continually won them games, and replacing that is difficult if not impossible. Though if David Brooks gets fit enough to fulfil his potential, that’ll be something. 8.33am BST Post-match, Gary Bale was asked about his future and, understandably, wasn’t minded to discuss it in the aftermath of a miserable thrashing. Related: Gareth Bale walks out of interview when asked about Wales future Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2021/jun/27/euro-2020-buildup-to-netherlands-v-czech-republic-and-belgium-v-portugal-li

The former England players on ‘scraps’ in Spain and the planned golden goal celebration that never came to pass It is probably the greatest goal celebration that never happened. “It was one of those things when you are messing about and had kind of been mentioned in passing,” says Darren Anderton. “We all knew the new format of golden goal and we all thought: ‘Wouldn’t it be hilarious just to run off the pitch?’” Eighty seconds of extra time in the Euro 96 semi-final between England and Germany had elapsed when the Tottenham midfielder’s big moment arrived. Reaching Steve McManaman’s pass just before Andreas Köpke, Anderton watched in despair as the ball cannoned off the inside of a post and somehow ended in the goalkeeper’s arms. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/27/england-germany-memories-darren-anderton-terry-butcher

Updates from the premiership decider at AAMI Park Kick-off in Melbourne is 5:05pm AEST Any thoughts? Email or tweet @emmavkemp 8.46am BST Brattan is shown his second yellow for a late sliding challenge on Tilio that, quite frankly, would have been a straight red had he made contact. Referee Chris Beath is onto it straight away and City are protesting wildly. Beath reaches into his pocket and Brattan is fruitlessly remonstrating. As he leaves the field he is practically in tears. This is from a generally composes player, who perhaps let the moment get to him. The Sky Blues are down to 10 men. Oh my. 8.42am BST 34 mins Sydney attempt to build an attack, retreat and then recycle. But City are pressing, pressuring and winning the ball back. Here it’s Jamieson, who challenges Barbarouses and leaves the latter on his knees. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2021/jun/27/a-league-2021-grand-final-melbourne-city-vs-sydney-fc-

Newly qualified pilots are indebted and jobless as airlines reel from the pandemic, says the industry.

Winger’s self-isolation rules him out of Euro 2020 match All other Croatia players and staff tested negative Ivan Perisic has tested positive for Covid-19, the Croatian Football Federation announced on Saturday evening. The Internazionale winger scored in the 3-1 win over Scotland on Tuesday that secured a place in the last 16 as runners-up to England in Group D. The 32-year-old will now spend 10 days in self-isolation, and so will not be available for Monday’s match against Spain in Copenhagen. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/27/croatias-ivan-perisic-tests-positive-for-covid-and-will-miss-spain-tie

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning , Lars Sivertsen and Ed Aarons to discuss the first round of knockout games at Euro 2020. We also hear from Ben Fisher in Amsterdam and a sad Elis James in his living room. Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts , Soundcloud , Audioboom , Mixcloud , Acast and Stitcher , and join the conversation on Facebook , Twitter and email . Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning , Lars Sivertsen and Ed Aarons to discuss the first round of knockout games at Euro 2020. We also hear from Ben Fisher in Amsterdam and a sad Elis James in his living room. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2021/jun/27/danish-demolition-sees-wales-wave-goodbye-euro-2020-football-daily

Champions League and World Cup defeats still sting for defender with no fear before England’s last-16 showdown “I don’t want to swear,” John Stones says when the conversation turns to Manchester City’s defeat by Chelsea in the Champions League final last month. “At the end of the game it was probably one of the worst feelings I have had in football. Getting so far in something and then not succeeding is difficult. I spent a few days after having flashbacks and getting upset. “That was my first final I have not been successful in. But I learned a lot and next time hopefully it will turn out a different way.” Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/26/john-stones-germany-england-euro-2020

Agreement bolsters relationship with Uefa, says Bullingham FA yet to decide whether to bid for 2030 World Cup The Football Association’s chief executive, Mark Bullingham, has said keeping the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 at Wembley will help his organisation maintain a strong relationship with Uefa, potentially boosting England’s chances of hosting the 2030 World Cup. The UK government has reached an agreement with Uefa to allow more than 60,000 fans into Wembley for the three games after speculation the matches could be moved to Budapest. It is also expected that a controversial request from Uefa to waive quarantine rules for VIPs, sponsors and broadcast partners entering the UK will be granted. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/26/keeping-euro-2020-semis-and-final-at-wembley-boosts-world-cup-bid-says-fa

Wales knocked out of Euro 2020 4-0 by Denmark Manager Robert Page said questioning ‘insensitive’ Gareth Bale cast doubt on his Wales future by walking out of an interview when asked whether a last-16 European Championship defeat to Denmark would be his last international game. Bale has repeatedly avoided discussing his future, citing a reluctance to cause “chaos”, and last month twice declined to dispel speculation he would retire after this tournament. Robert Page, the interim Wales manager, said the line of questioning was “insensitive” and insisted his captain had done the right thing by cutting short the pitchside interview. “I know you were asked yesterday if this was going to be your last game for Wales and you said you wanted at least another one,” was as far as the BBC reporter got, referencing the pre-match press conference, before Bale rolled his eyes and walked off camera. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/

Wales captain started brightly but soon faded and was reduced to making cheap fouls as his country bowed out in despair If this proves Gareth Bale’s swansong for Wales there will surely be regrets regarding how he faded after a silky start. The 31-year-old threatened to initially prise Denmark open via the galloping runs that made his name. But no. Instead, Bale and Wales are out of the tournament on a night that belonged to Kasper Dolberg and a Danish team that, after Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest, are refusing to accept they cannot write the fairytale of a second continental championship at Euro 2020 in his honour. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/26/bale-goes-out-with-a-whimper-as-welsh-dragons-are-slain-by-the-danes

How to counter Joshua Kimmich and Robin Gosens is one of a string of conundrums the England manager must solve Nothing in football is ever straightforward. There are few rights and few wrongs; almost everything is contingent. But even within that context, England’s game against Germany on Tuesday is hard to pin down. There are few certainties for either side; rather this is two swarms of questions buzzing into each other. At least with Germany, there is relative certainty about the shape. Joachim Löw has vacillated between a back three and a back four since the World Cup debacle before finally settling on a 3-4-3, in which the real strength is the attacking prowess of the wing-backs, Joshua Kimmich and Robin Gosens. Other than replacing the injured Thomas Müller with Leroy Sané, Löw stuck with the same personnel for all three group games, so it seems reasonable to assume there will not be major changes. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/f

This was exactly the kind of party Denmark had mapped out. On an Amsterdam evening when the locals turned out to send their love to Christian Eriksen, another former Ajax prodigy propelled Denmark into the quarter-finals of the European Championship. Twenty-nine years to the day since Denmark won Euro 92 Kasper Dolberg scored twice, the first a delicious effort from outside the box, to help dispatch Wales with relative ease before Joakim Mæhle and Martin Braithwaite sealed victory late on. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/26/wales-denmark-euro-2020-match-report

The Dutch have found a rhythm in Frank de Boer’s 3-5-2 setup and are favourites to progress against the Czechs Frank de Boer has a clear image of what success at Euro 2020 will entail for the Netherlands. “There is only one thing we want to achieve and that is to swim in the canals of Amsterdam having won the final,” the head coach said on Saturday, putting cruise boat companies on early notice. “You don’t become a European champion easily but I think we have the quality to do it if everything fits into place.” High confidence, and party planning for July, does not mean De Boer and the Dutch are getting ahead of themselves before Sunday’s last-16 tie with the Czech Republic. He accepts there is work to do before the Netherlands’ re-emergence has title-winning substance, but belief is growing for good reason. “I look at how the team is working together and communicating together,” De Boer said. “It is great to see how the players are involved with me and my staff in talking about what

Live updates from the 8pm BST kick-off at Wembley Follow Wales v Denmark live with Barry Glendenning Get in touch! Email scott.murray@theguardian.com 6.30pm BST Great news for Austria! When Das Team play knockout football at a major tournament, they do pretty darn well. They reached the semi-finals of the 1934 World Cup, got to the semis again in 1954, and, well, that’s it. But a trend’s a trend’s a trend, and you’ve got to take the positives when you can. Until last Monday, Austria hadn’t reached any knockout stage since. (They did get through the group stage at España 82, but that only qualified them for another group, with predictable consequences.) This, their first-ever appearance in the Euro knockouts, is uncharted territory for quite a few generations. A cause for celebration, were it not for the fact they’re facing Italy, who they haven’t beaten since 1960, losing ten of their subsequent 13 meetings with the Azzurri . Another trend, right there, and you can see why th

The recalled striker has been rejuvenated but the same cannot be said for other veterans in a creaking squad facing England For Thomas Müller and Mats Hummels, a climactic night in Gelsenkirchen two and a half years ago seemed an unhappy end. Germany were still struggling to kick their post-World Cup funk and the Netherlands had exacerbated things, scoring twice in the last five minutes to level a Nations League game. Hummels had not been quick enough out to Quincy Promes for the first goal; there was less he could do when Virgil van Dijk volleyed the equaliser. The faintly comical image at full time was of a stony-faced Müller, who had come on in the second half, reluctantly accepting a fist bump from Paule, the Nationalmannschaft ’s eagle-costumed mascot. Within weeks, Joachim Löw pulled the plug on his creaking stalwarts , describing 2019 as “the year of a new start for the national team. We want to give the team a new face.” Müller, Hummels and Jérôme Boateng were no longer to b

Live updates from the 5pm BST kick-off in Amsterdam Euro 2020 interactive: guides and ratings for every player Email Barry or tweet @bglendenning with your thoughts 3.33pm BST 3.33pm BST Related: Daniel James: ‘Every time I put on a Wales shirt, I know I have to perform’ Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2021/jun/26/wales-v-denmark-euro-2020-last-16-live

Mount and Chilwell cannot train with squad before Tuesday Gareth Southgate faces selection dilemma for last-16 game Mason Mount is confident he will be ready to start England’s last-16 tie against Germany, even though the midfielder and Ben Chilwell will not be allowed to rejoin their teammates until the day of the game. The Football Association had looked into whether Mount and Chilwell could take part in socially distanced outdoor training with Gareth Southgate’s squad during the buildup to Tuesday’s match against Germany at Wembley, only to find that the pair cannot leave their isolation until midnight on Monday. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/26/england-mason-mount-ready-to-start-against-germany-despite-isolation

Euro 2020 has brought the Portugal captain records, recognition and an exuberance not always evident at club level Not only has the player evolved but the goal celebration has, too. Cristiano Ronaldo’s double against France was a tribute act to himself, steering his side away from potential elimination in nerveless fashion with two timely goals in the third group match of Euro 2020, just as he had done in 2016 . As he matched Ali Daei’s international goalscoring record, which he will aim to surpass against Belgium on Sunday, he combined his two iconic celebrations – pointing to his chest and then the floor (“Stay calm, I’m here,” he used to mouth as he did it) and the more recent flying flourish, accompanied by a communal “Siiiii” from the stands. It was a self-referential nod to the span of a career chock-full of big moments, a bit like Elvis segueing Don’t Be Cruel into Suspicious Minds. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/

FA’s chief executive keen to extend manager’s contract Mark Bullingham: ‘Gareth has done a brilliant job’ Gareth Southgate has the “unwavering” support of the Football Association to continue as the England manager until the Qatar World Cup at the end of next year no matter how his team fare against Germany on Tuesday in the last 16 of Euro 2020. Southgate is under contract until the World Cup and the FA’s chief executive, Mark Bullingham, says he would like him to extend until the 2024 European Championship in Germany. Related: Raheem Sterling’s army of critics need to start showing him respect | Jacob Steinberg Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/25/gareth-southgate-england-world-cup-germany-euro-2020

Uefa claimed it would apply a new focus on concussion at the tournament but its approach has been met with criticism Euro 2020’s concussion controversy started with Benjamin Pavard. The France full-back said he had been “a little knocked out” after a collision with Germany’s Robin Gosens, but he played the remaining half an hour of his team’s 1-0 victory . Six days later and it was Christoph Baumgartner of Austria who received a blow to the head, went back on the pitch, scored a goal and was then substituted, his coach admitting the 21-year-old had been experiencing dizziness. Then, on Wednesday , in the final round of group matches, came the third incident: the France goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, in effect threw a straight right hand at Danilo’s jaw in mid-air. The Portuguese midfielder collapsed to the ground, his eyes spinning in his head, but was cleared to play on. At half-time, he, too, was withdrawn. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/

England midfielder confident he can overcome history ‘If my name is called I’m positive I can put the ball away’ It was an embarrassing fact Declan Rice would rather not have been brought up, although he probably knew it was coming as England prepare to face Germany on Tuesday. “Three different tournaments at Chelsea as a kid, three different chances to win it for our team and I missed all three … it doesn’t sound very good,” admitted the West Ham midfielder. Rice’s record in penalty shootouts may not inspire confidence ahead of the Euro 2020 showdown at Wembley, although he did score from the spot during the victory over Sheffield United in February before missing after just 124 seconds – the earliest in Premier League history – against West Brom in May. Yet the 22-year-old who is expected to start in central midfield at Wembley insisted he has learned from his experiences and is ready to step up if required to take a penalty against Joachim Löw’s side. Continue reading... fro

The pandemic caused the already decreasing number of apprentices to fall further, hairdressers say.

BBC panel set a sensitive standard early on and analysts ranging from Alex Scott to Robbie Savage have had a good Euro 2020 While it has fielded almost 6,500 complaints for the intrusive nature of its coverage of the successful attempts to resuscitate Christian Eriksen following his collapse during Denmark’s opening Euro 2020 match against Finland, on reflection the BBC’s coverage of what might have been a tragedy seemed touchingly deft. In its subsequent apology to those upset by images of the stricken player receiving medical attention, the national broadcaster pointed out it had no control over coverage provided by Uefa as host broadcaster and claimed it had taken its coverage off air “as quickly as possible” once the match had been suspended. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/jun/26/from-eriksen-trauma-to-hayess-insights-tv-pundits-rise-to-occasion