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‘Club legend’ played 351 times for Leeds, won 20 England caps He later managed Exeter, Birmingham and both Bristol clubs The former Leeds defender Terry Cooper has died at the age of 77. The left-back, who won 20 caps for England, played 351 times for the club between 1964 and 1975, scoring 11 times. One of those goals was the winning goal in the 1968 League Cup final against Arsenal and he played a key part in the club’s First Division title the following season. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/31/leeds-terry-cooper-former-england-defender-dies-aged-77

The former Real Madrid defender does not demand attention but his skill set is a perfect fit for the Premier League In the 10 years since Raphaël Varane joined Real Madrid, he hasn’t done much. Apart from win the Copa del Rey, three league titles and four European Cups. There’s the World Cup, too; 360 games at the biggest club of all, and 79 more for France. But that’s about it. In his first clásico , a Copa del Rey semi-final at the Camp Nou, he cleared one chance one off the line, stopped Lionel Messi taking another and scored a superb header; in the second leg he scored again, taking Madrid to the final . He was 19, and it was all downhill from there. Varane is 28 now, has racked up 18 winners’ medals, and has gone. Which tends to be about the time people realise what they’ve got. Varane’s departure has been a story followed closely for months – the first hint he might leave came more than a year ago – but its conclusion has passed relatively quietly. Perhaps the most striking p

A fragile defence and over-reliance on Ellen White for goals have been problems since Phil Neville’s tenure at the FA. Hege Riise did not have time to fix them before the Olympics Team GB were one minute and stoppage time away from an Olympic semi-final. When Australian midfielder Emily van Egmond scooped the ball from just inside the GB half onto the chest of an unmarked Sam Kerr, who, with all the time in the world, chested down, twisted and crashed home an equaliser, the wound may not have killed straight away but the soul-sapping effect of the last-gasp strike would prove fatal. It would be easy to point fingers. How did a defence consisting of Kerr’s Chelsea teammate Millie Bright and a crop of defenders that have attempted to contain her guile domestically (albeit with mixed results) leave the Women’s Super League’s most potent finisher alone in the middle of the box with seconds left on the clock? Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/

Lord Digby Jones accuses Alex Scott of spoiling Olympics coverage by dropping her ‘g’s The BBC presenter Alex Scott has said she is proud of her accent after she was criticised by a former minister who said she “needs elocution lessons” and “spoils” Olympics coverage. Lord Digby Jones, a crossbench peer who served as a trade minister under Gordon Brown, hit out at the former Arsenal and England footballer in tweets on Friday night, in which he also criticised Sky News political editor Beth Rigby. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2021/jul/31/bbc-alex-scott-proud-working-class-accent-digby-jones-elocution

The League One club looked in serious trouble but shrewd business in signing hungry talents hints at a brighter future A week after being sacked by West Brom in 2019, Darren Moore arrived at Kenya’s Giotto rubbish mountain. His dismissal had been both hurtful and highly controversial but it also created an opportunity for the suddenly unemployed football manager to visit the giant tip in Nakuru, meet the children who call it home and help the charity, Inspire Afrika, with a school building scheme. “It flipped me round and put everything in context,” said Moore. “Any worries about your life are quickly extinguished when you meet 50 or 60 children living in a rubbish heap with a school in the middle of it.” Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/jul/31/darren-moore-immersed-in-reviving-sheffield-wednesday-after-chaotic-relegation

Gesser, 16, had been due to play for Ajax Under-17s this season Dutch champions to hold minute’s silence at practice matches Ajax youth player Noah Gesser has died at the age of 16 following a car accident on Friday evening, the Dutch club have confirmed. The striker signed for Ajax in 2018 and had been due to be part of the Under-17s set up for the forthcoming campaign. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/31/ajax-youth-player-noah-gesser-dies-in-car-accident

Jonathan Morgan has made six new signings as his Championship title-winning side prepare for the big time Jonathan Morgan is proud to occupy the office in which Claudio Ranieri plotted Leicester City’s path to the Premier League title and, more recently, Brendan Rodgers navigated a route to FA Cup final glory. The manager of Leicester City Women could not be more delighted to have moved into the Belvoir Drive training ground which housed the club’s men side from 1964 until their recent relocation to a new, ultra-luxurious countryside base. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/31/leicester-city-women-ready-for-baptism-of-fire-in-wsl

Elon Musk reiterated on Friday that he doesn't want to be Space X or Tesla boss. What's going on?

From hospitality to road haulage, firms say they can't get staff. So are employees now calling the shots?

Sioban Moore escaped disaster by a whisker after receiving a fake email inviting her for a jab.

Monzo warned investors that the investigation could have a negative impact on the digital bank.

Right-back describes new deal to 2025 as ‘proud moment’ Advanced discussions with Alisson, who also wants to extend Trent Alexander-Arnold has signed a contract extension to 2025 at Liverpool, who are in advanced talks with the goalkeeper Alisson over following suit. Alexander-Arnold, who came through Liverpool’s academy, said he felt honoured to be offered a new deal and that agreeing to it was “a no-brainer”. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/30/liverpool-give-alexander-arnold-new-contract-and-in-talks-with-alisson

Kennedy and Kerr, who experienced heartbreak in Rio and goalscoring joy here, are giving the team a remarkable energy Alanna Kennedy watches the ball spin out for a corner and jogs gently upfield. Her captain and Matildas teammate, Sam Kerr, is already in the penalty area, bouncing around on her toes like coiled springs. Steph Catley, Australia’s deadliest set-piece taker at these Tokyo Olympics, takes three steps back from the corner flag and pauses. The box is a tangle of yellow and white. As Catley begins her run, so does Kerr, the gravity of the Chelsea striker’s reputation tugging three of Great Britain’s players towards the front post. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/30/matildas-embrace-never-say-die-spirit-to-keep-olympics-dream-alive

White is club’s third-most expensive signing of all time Arteta says ‘intelligent’ defender’s style ‘fits perfectly’ Arsenal have completed the signing of Ben White from Brighton in a £50m deal that makes him their third-most expensive arrival of all time. The 23-year-old centre-back had been one of Mikel Arteta’s top summer targets and his ability to pass out from defence, as well as stepping into midfield, was seen as a key component in speeding up Arsenal’s game in possession. Although he effectively replaces David Luiz, he is more than a decade younger and appears yet to reach his ceiling. He will take the No 4 shirt and has signed a five-year contract. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/30/arsenal-seal-50m-signing-ben-white-from-brighton

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! Fitba is back in earnest on Saturday and it’s always fascinating to see how teams have limbered up for the big kick-off. Full speed to Tynecastle, then, where Hearts return to the big time and face the Queen’s Celtic while riding the wave of back-to-back Skol Cup triumphs against Stirling Albion and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. So far, so normal. But what about the Queen’s Celtic? They’ve prepared in the fashion they know best: by tumbling out of Big Cup qualifiers against opponents who, historically, they would have expected to dismiss in relative comfort. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/30/the-fiver-scottish-fitba-is-back-baby

Striker says she is ‘heartbroken’ but proud of Team GB White insists players will bounce back from Australia defeat A crushed and tear-stained Ellen White said she “would have given up every single goal to win a gold medal”, after Team GB suffered a bruising 4-3 defeat by Australia in extra time of their Olympic semi-final. Team GB had come from behind to lead until an 89th-minute goal from the Chelsea striker Sam Kerr forced another 30 minutes. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/30/tearful-ellen-white-give-up-every-goal-for-olympic-gold-team-gb-australia

The tech giant rejects claims it has broken European Union data protection laws.

Olympic quarter-final: USA 2-2 Netherlands (US win 4-2 on pens) Americans had lost on penalties at same stage at 2016 Games USWNT will now face old rivals Canada in semi-final Megan Rapinoe converted the deciding penalty in a shootout and the United States advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s Olympic soccer tournament 4-2 following a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands on Friday. US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stopped Vivianne Miedema’s opening attempt in the shootout and then saved a another from Aniek Nouwen before Rapinoe put her penalty away. It was Naeher’s third penalty save of the match after she had stopped Lieke Martens’s effort in the 81st minute, which would have given the Dutch a 3-2 lead. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/30/usa-netherlands-olympic-soccer-quarter-finals-uswnt-alyssa-naeher

Quarter-final: Great Britain 3-4 Australia (aet) Ellen White hat-trick not enough to defeat Matildas The teenage substitute Mary Fowler and Chelsea striker Sam Kerr were the heroes as Australia earned a place in the Olympic semi-finals with a 4-3 defeat of Team GB in extra time. Manchester City’s Ellen White had scored twice to pull Team GB from behind against the Matildas, after the former Tottenham defender Alanna Kennedy had given them the lead, but an 89th minute goal from Kerr took the game beyond 90 minutes. Teagan Micah saved a Caroline Weir penalty moments before the 18-year-old Fowler put Australia ahead and Kerr sealed the victory, heading her fifth Games goal in from close range to sink Team GB – a third from White was not enough to turn the game. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/30/team-gb-australia-tokyo-olympics-quarter-final-match-report

Striker to have operation on long-standing shoulder injury Manchester United confirm surgery in coming days Marcus Rashford will have an operation to resolve his longstanding shoulder injury in the coming days and is set to miss the opening months of the season. The Manchester United forward played with the issue for much of last season and it is understood he wanted surgery straight after featuring for England at Euro 2020. But Ole Gunnar Solskjær said no firm decision had been made, the manager saying on Wednesday that it needed to be decided “what’s best for him and best for the club”. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/30/marcus-rashford-set-for-operation-that-will-keep-him-out-until-october

Steven Gerrard has elevated his team to a point where they could sell players and still be too good for the competition Celtic must rue the part they have played in the ludicrous modern-day promotion of pre-season friendlies. On the same weekend as West Ham swaggered to a 6-2 win at Celtic Park, Rangers defeated Real Madrid at Ibrox. In football terms, neither result is remotely relevant; these outcomes did, however, fuel the narrative of Glasgow’s green half being in disarray as those in blue seek to turn last season’s title win into a period of dominance. When the real stuff started, Midtjylland followed the trend set by Ferencvaros, Cluj and AEK Athens by bundling Celtic out of the Champions League at the qualifying stage. Less than a decade after reaching the last 16, Celtic are consistently unable to get into the same competition as Europe’s elite. One of Celtic’s key assets, Kristoffer Ajer, has reached the heady heights of the Premier League newcomers Brentford and another, Od

Data suggests all economies in the 19-country bloc expanded in the last three months.

USA face Netherlands in Women’s World Cup final rematch Games schedule | Results | Medal table | Full coverage Tweet Bryan at @BryanAGraham or email him 11.44am BST The winner of this quarter-final will advance to face either Canada or Brazil in the semi-finals on Monday in Kashima. That match just ended in a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes and is headed to penalties. 11.26am BST The Netherlands have made a roaring start to their first ever Olympics. They have already surpassed the Olympic tournament record with 21 total goals in a 10-3 win over Zambia, a 3-3 draw with Brazil and an 8-2 victory over China. The 21 goals are 12 more than any other team in the tournament. The previous single-tournament high was 16 goals, set by the United States during their run to gold at the 2012 Olympics in London. Seven different players have scored for the Dutch, led by star forward Vivianne Miedema , who has found the back of the net an Olympic-record eight times. She scored four goals aga

The Championship club’s manager on his low profile, growing up in Matt Busby’s home town and taking a job he had never craved “I was fortunate enough that I managed to get a management role fairly early.” The accidental football manager is not talking sporting jobs. Decades ago, he had a post that acquainted him with routes; just not, generally, to the helm of Championship clubs or a touchline date with Pep Guardiola this week. “I had a fantastic 19 years with the Royal Mail,” says Frankie McAvoy, now head coach of Preston. By his own admission, his reinvention has come as a happy surprise. “I thought I would always be in Royal Mail,” added the Scot. Not since Alan Johnson went from postman to home secretary, perhaps, has a career in the postal service taken such a left-field turn. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/30/preston-accidental-manager-frankie-mcavoy-royal-mail

Updates from the match at Ibaraki Kashima Stadium Kick-off time is 6pm local, 10am BST, 7pm AEST Games schedule | Results | Medal table | Full coverage Any thoughts? Email or tweet @emmavkemp 9.44am BST Don’t be fooled by the names on Team GB’s starting XI. Ellen White’s name is actually “Ellie” and Lucy Bronze is really “Linda”. It was good Eurosport had our backs the other day. Related: Team GB disappointed after television commentary gets players’ names wrong 9.40am BST I’m eager to hear your score predictions? For me it could be relatively even, perhaps decided by a moment of brilliance or a costly error. Related: ‘Tough mental preparation’ key to Team GB’s hopes against Australia Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2021/jul/30/team-gb-vs-australia-live-tokyo-olympics-football-quarter-final-matildas-w-v-great-britain-w-2020-olympic-games-womens-international-tournament-how-to-watch-knockout-stage-team-when-kic

IAG, which also owns Iberia, says it plans to run at 75% of its 2019 passenger capacity by the end of the year.

Didi shares surged by almost 50% in pre-market trade after a report that it planned to go private.

Zardes’ late goal lifts United States into 12th Gold Cup final US will face either Mexico or Canada in final on Sunday Gyasi Zardes scored in the 86th minute and the United States beat Qatar 1-0 on Thursday night to reach the final of the Concacaf Gold Cup. Zardes, one of the few first-line US players on a mostly junior varsity roster at the tournament, replaced Daryl Dike in the 63rd minute and combined with two other second-half subs, Nicholas Gioacchini and Eryk Williamson. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/29/usmnt-qatar-gold-cup-scores

Supermarket supplier Arla Foods says a lorry driver shortage has forced it to cut deliveries by up to 25%.

Disabled jobseekers have to overcome too many barriers, MPs say.

The number of vacant shops continues to rise after a year of lockdowns, the BRC says.

The dating app's policy is subject to manager approval and comes after the firm shut down for a week.

Decision on whether deal will happen expected in days Villa want to hold on to Grealish and have offered new deal Manchester City have stepped up their pursuit of Jack Grealish by opening negotiations with Aston Villa. The England playmaker is a key target for City, along with Tottenham’s Harry Kane, and a decision on whether a deal can be struck is expected within days. Villa are keen to hold on to Grealish and have offered the 25-year-old a new contract . They intend to stand firm and build their team around him but their resolve will be tested if Grealish tells his boyhood club he wants to leave and City come up with a satisfactory fee. The asking price would likely be at least £100m. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/29/manchester-city-open-jack-grealish-transfer-talks-with-aston-villa

Sevilla want at least €45m plus Zouma for France defender West Ham’s £20m valuation of Zouma falls about £10m short Sevilla have told Chelsea to increase their offer for Jules Koundé, and the deal could run into further complications after West Ham entered the race to sign Kurt Zouma from their London rivals. Chelsea have opened talks over a deal for Koundé and have proposed paying €35m (£30m) for the France centre-back and including Zouma on top of that. Sevilla are open to easing their financial problems by selling Koundé but are holding out for a bigger fee for the 22-year-old. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/29/chelsea-sevilla-pay-more-jules-kounde-west-ham-kurt-zouma

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! Never accuse The Fiver of failing to offer past England players their dues. Big Phil Neville last week , Plain Old John Terry this – and, to complete the hat-trick of 2000s stars who have otherwise been thoroughly upstaged this summer, we now offer you Wayne Rooney. Yes, it’s been a busy old time for Wazza, not least because he manages a club that can barely put out a team of senior players. Derby’s plight has been viewed as the consequence of half a decade’s hubris by some of their rivals, a view that is not without merit. But that’s not going to help their boss, who masterminded an impressive-looking 1-0 win over Real Betis on Wednesday with a side that – and here’s the crucial bit – was largely not actually his. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/29/the-fiver-wayne-rooney-derby

Gallagher prefers Palace to Leeds or Newcastle Midfielder spent last season on loan at West Brom Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher is set to sign for Crystal Palace on a season’s loan after turning down interest from Leeds and Newcastle. The England Under-21 midfielder is yet to make a senior appearance for Chelsea and wants to continue his developmentafter spending last season on loan at West Brom. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/29/chelsea-midfielder-conor-gallagher-loan-crystal-palace

Team have ‘scratched surface of what we can do’ at Olympics Andonovski says sacrifices must be made to execute his plans Crystal Dunn believes the US women’s national team have only “scratched the surface” of what they can achieve at the Tokyo Olympics before a quarter-final against the Netherlands on Friday. The US uncharacteristically held back in their final game of Group G against Australia and a 0-0 draw ensured they finished second behind Sweden but meant they were goalless in two of three games. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/29/us-ready-to-soar-again-in-netherlands-quarter-final-crystal-dunn-olympics

The Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær says the club has showed its ambition by agreeing deals to sign Jadon Sancho and Raphaël Varane. Sancho has completed his move from Borussia Dortmund, while Varane should soon follow from Real Madrid subject to a medical.  'The club has showed its ambition with one of the most exciting forwards in world football and one of the most respected centre-backs in the world,' said Solskjær. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2021/jul/29/solskjaer-sancho-varane-manchester-united-ambition

Former Birmingham manager joins from Orlando Pride Skinner praised by club for ‘incredible drive and ambition’ Marc Skinner has been confirmed as the head coach of Manchester United Women on a two-year contract with the option for a further year. The 38-year-old, who has managed in the Women’s Super League with Birmingham, left Orlando Pride last week to take the job. He worked as the US club’s manager for two and a half years. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/29/marc-skinner-confirmed-as-manchester-united-women-head-coach

The world's largest economy grew by 6.5% in the second quarter but fell short of forecasts.

With a fortnight to go before the season kicks off, we’ve suggested a new signing for all 20 clubs in the league By Josh Wright for WhoScored Signing another midfielder should be at the top of Arsenal’s list of priorities. With Granit Xhaka expected to leave, Dani Ceballos and Martin Ødegaard both back at Real Madrid, and Matteo Guendouzi out on loan, Arsenal are short even after the arrival of teenager Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht . Manuel Locatelli looks set to stay in Italy , so Arsenal should be considering alternatives. Manchester City are keen to sell Bernardo Silva to fund their own transfers but offers from abroad are unlikely given the financial climate. Mikel Arteta should take advantage of his City connection and convince the versatile Silva to move south. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2021/jul/29/premier-league-transfer-target-club-summer-window

Manager Hege Riise has sought to instil resilience while also looking after players’ wellbeing at the Olympics Hege Riise spoke of the importance of managing the mental toll tournament football can take on players and described her whirlwind management of Team GB as a “privilege” as she readied her squad to face Australia in the quarter-finals of the Olympics. The former Norway midfielder – who won Olympic gold in 2000, the World Cup in 1995 and the Euros in 1993 and was an assistant coach with the US women’s national team from 2009 to 2012 – joined the England setup as a temporary assistant coach alongside the Canada international Rhian Wilkinson in January. With Phil Neville parting ways with the Football Association to become manager of Inter Miami shortly afterwards, Riise stepped up as interim England manager and then the FA turned to her to lead Team GB in Japan with Wilkinson as her No 2. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/footbal

Deal would include option to buy him next summer Lille centre-back Sven Botman among others being looked at West Ham are close to signing Alphonse Areola on loan with an option to buy the goalkeeper from Paris Saint-Germain next summer. David Moyes is keen to add competition for his No 1 goalkeeper, Lukasz Fabianski, and Areola, who is out of favour at PSG after the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma, has emerged as his top target. The 28-year-old has agreed personal terms and has travelled to London to undergo a medical. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/29/west-ham-close-to-signing-goalkeeper-alphonse-areola-on-loan-from-psg

References made to ‘Ellie White’ and ‘Abbie Miedema’ Eurosport commentary done by Olympic Broadcasting Services Team GB’s Kim Little and Rachel Daly described as “disappointing” the commentary that has seen players misnamed, as they prepared to play in Friday’s quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics. The errors came in a broadcast of the women’s football tournament on Eurosport, whose coverage has come in for widespread criticism. During Team GB’s game against Canada their top scorer Ellen White was called “Ellie White”, the Arsenal and Netherlands forward Vivianne Miedema was renamed “Abbie Miedema” and said to play in the “Women’s Soccer League” instead of the Women’s Super League, and the Scotland midfielder Little was described as having “140 caps for England”. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/29/team-gb-disappointed-after-television-commentary-gets-players-names-wrong-womens-football-olympics

‘I made a mistake,’ says Championship club’s manager Images appeared to show him asleep in room with young women Wayne Rooney has apologised to his family and Derby after images emerged on Sunday appearing to show the former England striker asleep in a hotel room surrounded by a group of young women. “I made a mistake,” Derby manager Rooney told Sky Sports after the Championship club’s friendly against Real Betis on Wednesday. “I went to a private party with two of my friends and from me, I’d like to apologise to my family and the club for the images which were going round and I want to move forward on this. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/29/wayne-rooney-apologises-to-family-and-derby-over-online-images

Advanz pushed up the price of thyroid tablet packs more than 10-fold, says the competition watchdog.

Six state capitals have seen record prices for the third quarter in a row, the survey said.

In our final archive episode we wanted to bring you something a little different from our sister podcast The Audio Long Read . During the Euros, the Audio Long Read produced an excellent episode on the art of creating the perfect football pitch. In the UK, pitches used to look like quagmires, ice rinks or dustbowls, depending on the time of year. But as big money entered football, pristine pitches became crucial to the sport’s image – and groundskeepers became stars. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2021/jul/29/from-the-archive-the-pursuit-of-the-perfect-pitch-football-weekly-extra

Japan's SoftBank is selling the shares to cover losses in other investments, according to one report.

Manager hails ‘proven winner’ Varane and £73m winger Sancho Solskjær: ‘As a manager you can’t ask for more backing’ Ole Gunnar Solskjær believes Raphaël Varane and Jadon Sancho will make a “huge difference” for Manchester United. Having finished runners-up in last season’s Premier League and Europa League, the Old Trafford giants have made waves in the transfer market in an attempt to bring silverware back to the club. Sancho last week completed his £73m switch from Borussia Dortmund and United announced on Tuesday that a deal had been struck with Real Madrid for Varane , a longstanding target. The World Cup-winning French defender has agreed personal terms on a four-year deal with the option of another season, with the contract to be signed after he completes his medical following quarantine. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/28/ole-gunnar-solskjr-excited-by-manchester-uniteds-summer-signings

Combined revenue falls to £22bn, according to Deloitte Bundesliga overtakes La Liga as second most lucrative league The pandemic led to a rare decline in the financial firepower of European football during 2019-20, according to a report that charts how Covid-19 has affected the hierarchy of the continental game. The combined revenue of European clubs declined by £3.4bn to £22bn, according to the Deloitte Annual Review of Finance, with even the “Big Five” leagues – in England, Spain, German, France and Italy – feeling the pinch. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/29/european-football-clubs-revenue-declines-by-34bn-over-pandemic

Employers will have to contribute more to the job support scheme before it is phased out in September.

A pensioner caught up in an investment saga lost it all, prompting warnings to others.

The UK industry says the demand is there but it is "desperately trying to get back to full capacity".

The technology giant said on Wednesday that the third and fourth quarters would see advertising sales drop.

Quarantine for fully vaccinated arrivals from US and EU to UK ports also waived.

Author accused of repeating ‘lazy inaccuracies’ about businessman’s role in Russian politics and society Roman Abramovich’s lawyer said it was defamatory to describe the businessman as having “a corrupt relationship” with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and that he had acted “covertly at his direction” in key business deals such as the purchase of Chelsea football club. Speaking on the first morning of a preliminary hearing of a high court libel claim against a bestselling book about the modern Kremlin, Hugh Tomlinson QC said the 54-year-old billionaire did not “bring this claim lightly” and understood it could be characterised as “an attack on public interest journalism”. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/28/abramovich-was-not-directed-to-buy-chelsea-fc-by-putin-court-hears

Widespread vaccinations have helped boost the economy and employment, the US central bank says.

Central defender joins from Lyon on five-year contract Andersen spent last season on loan at Fulham Crystal Palace have signed the defender Joachim Andersen from Lyon. The Denmark international, who spent last season on loan with Fulham in the Premier League, has joined on a five-year deal. Andersen is Patrick Vieira’s fourth signing of the summer, after Michael Olise, Remi Matthews and Marc Guehi. He was part of the Denmark squad that reached the Euro 2020 semi-finals, coming on in their last three matches. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/28/crystal-palace-make-joachim-andersen-denmark-fourth-summer-signing

Defender has sights set on a place back in the Champions League and admits last season’s toils caused real lows around the squad Until the last possible moment, Rob Holding held out a sliver of hope that the most gruelling of years might yet be extended further. Anyone grasping for positives from Arsenal’s season might have cited his increasingly consistent, mature performances at the heart of their defence but they were not enough to earn a first senior England call-up for Euro 2020. “When the squads were being announced I had my eye on it,” he says. “You never know, so I was looking. It didn’t happen for me this time but that’s not going to deter me or make me feel it’s never going to.” Arsenal’s defensive record in 2020-21 was bettered only by Manchester City and Chelsea, although that was never going to offer much succour after a campaign of such barren reward. If it could not exactly be described as a breakthrough year for Holding, it was certainly a progression. He had never qu

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! The mavens of the internet have long since dismissed Ole Gunnar Solskjær as a Norwegian PE teacher who knows less about the game than your average journalist – really, Manchester United ought to have appointed [redacted] as manager with [redacted] as coach and [redacted] as his director of football. But for some inexplicable reason they’ve stuck with the man who brought Molde their first league title in 100 years of history, then turned United from a hilarious shower into a club that is once again attractive to some of the world’s best players. It’s an absolute mystery! Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/28/the-fiver-raphael-varane-manchester-united-football

Premier League club says fans will need to be fully vaccinated to attend games this season Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Football fans attending Chelsea FC’s home matches this season will have to provide proof of being fully vaccinated or show a negative Covid test, the club has announced. The requirement will come into force as soon as 4 August, with the checks in place for the men’s team’s friendly game against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/28/chelsea-fans-will-have-to-show-proof-of-covid-jabs-to-go-to-matches

Striker arrives after two seasons with West Ham ‘I’ve been impressed with the success the club has had’ Manchester United Women have signed the Scotland international Martha Thomas on a deal until the summer of 2023. Thomas spent the previous two seasons with West Ham and has also had a spell in France for Le Havre after spending her youth career in the US with Charlotte 49ers. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/28/manchester-united-sign-scotlands-martha-thomas-on-two-year-deal

Goalkeeper established at international level aged 21 Olympic squad confident going into Australia quarter-final Team GB’s goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck has said she needed to be “patient” to earn the No 1 shirt as an international, after conceding her first goal at the Olympics in Team GB’s 1-1 draw with Canada . In 2019 the Manchester City keeper was named as a 24th player in the 23-woman squad for the Women’s World Cup, a travelling player along for the experience. Two years later she is first choice for City, England and Team GB aged 21. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/28/ellie-roebuck-team-gb-no-1-patience-olympics

Quest 2 headset owners are urged to claim a free silicone cover to avoid skin issues.

Sheffield Forgemasters will see up to £400m of investment in the next decade, the government says.

Up to 10 higher-force training headers a week for professionals Guidance for adult amateurs is up to 10 training headers a week The amount of heading allowed by players in training across the adult game in English football is to be severely restricted from this season because of welfare concerns, under guidance agreed by the game’s main bodies. The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, Professional Footballers’ Association and League Managers Association issued recommendations on Wednesday amid fears that repeated heading may lead to dementia. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/28/major-heading-restrictions-agreed-for-english-football-at-all-levels-from-this-season

UK house prices still rose by 10.5% compared with a year ago, Nationwide building society says.

The Englishman on being national team coach in a country where boxing and basketball have traditionally ruled the roost Until Lionel Messi, Paulino Alcántara was the top scorer in Barcelona’s history with 357 goals. But until the advent of the internet, many had forgotten that “The Net Buster” had been born in the Philippines and inspired the Asian team to their biggest win, a 15-2 thrashing of Japan in Tokyo in 1917. Alcántata’s history is talked about more these days in Manila and the provinces but it is the future that is really starting to excite. It is not that surprising that his exploits were somewhat overlooked given the fact that the Philippines was an American colony at the time and that influence remains in a sporting sense. Basketball and boxing are still ahead of football but the beautiful game is catching up with a potential that is unparalleled in the region according to the national team’s English coach, Scott Cooper. “We can be competitive in Asia but we don’t know h

Aim is to make stadium Premier League’s 10th-biggest Plan also involves building hotel and residential space Leicester have announced plans to expand the King Power Stadium as part of ambitious designs to improve their home. The FA Cup holders will confirm plans next month before a public consultation, with the aim being to add 8,000 seats to the East Stand to take the capacity to 40,000. If the planning is successful, the stadium would become the 10th-largest among current Premier League sides. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/28/leicester-reveal-plans-to-increase-king-power-stadium-capacity-to-40000

British American Tobacco says its future lies in getting people to switch to nicotine alternatives.

Swindon car plant prepares to stop production on July 30 after 35 years of production.

Smaller food delivery services say they have been left in the dark over the new Covid daily testing plans.

Toy giant Mattel made the comments as it announced better than expected quarterly sales.

Consumers should not have to pay excessive prices to use public car charging, MPs say.

Senior cabinet ministers are due to discuss the move for arrivals to England in a meeting on Wednesday.

Technology firms are scrambling to add new features but will video calls improve.

Plus: missing two penalties in a shootout, more managers crossing derby divides and low-scoring Golden Boot winners Mail us your questions or tweet @TheKnowledge_GU “We all know of footballers who played cricket, but have any ever competed at the Olympics, ” asks Harvey Mayne, presumably meaning in other sports. Yes they have, Harvey – and in a variety of sports, too. We have already covered footballers at the Winter Olympics so we’re going to stick to the summer Games. Here’s Graeme Park with a former Welsh international you wouldn’t want to mess with competing in Japan on Wednesday. “I would nominate Lauren Price, who has earned international caps for Wales and won world kickboxing titles. She has already won a Commonwealth gold in boxing and is at Tokyo 2020 as the current No 1 middleweight boxer.” Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/27/which-footballers-have-competed-at-the-summer-olympics-in-other-sports-the-knowle

Silchester International says it is not inclined to support a £6.3bn deal for the supermarket chain.

Former Republic of Ireland midfielder has been with Under-20s Cole will also continuing working at Chelsea’s academy The former Everton midfielder Lee Carsley has been appointed as the England Under-21s head coach, with Ashley Cole as his assistant. Carsley replaces Aidy Boothroyd, who left the role in April after five years when the team were knocked out of the European Under-21 championships. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/27/lee-carsley-appointed-england-under-21-manager-with-ashley-cole-as-assistant

‘It’s an honour to sign for a club like Arsenal,’ says 22-year-old Birmingham announce capture of Celtic forward Sarah Ewens Arsenal Women have continued their squad revamp with the capture of the Norway midfielder Frida Maanum, while Birmingham City Women have paid an undisclosed fee to sign the forward Sarah Ewens from Celtic and Leicester have secured Abbie McManus on a free. Maanum becomes Arsenal’s fourth signing this summer after deals to bring in Mana Iwabuchi from Aston Villa, Nikita Parris from Lyon and Simone Boye Sørensen from Bayern Munich. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/27/arsenal-women-sign-norway-midfielder-frida-maanum

The aggression that has made the US women’s team great is lacking at Tokyo 2020. But they have come back from slow starts before and prospered Perfection has long been the standard for the United States women’s soccer team, a burden embraced through the years. By that measure, the Americans were a shadow of themselves through the group stage of the Tokyo Olympics, losing their opener 3-0 to Sweden , and playing Australia to a dull, scoreless draw on Tuesday to advance to the knockout stage. A cliché more grounded in realism, however, is one which US players have recited at past major tournaments: the group stage is just about getting through, and the ‘second’ tournament begins in the knockouts. The Americans are at phase two now, as they always are, but their gold-medal aspirations look far less certain than they did a week ago. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/27/us-womens-national-soccer-team-uswnt-olympics-tokyo-202

Knight out with ankle injury for up to three months Manager took part in training because of player shortage Wayne Rooney has inadvertently further hampered Derby’s strained preparations for the new season after injuring one of his players during a recent training camp. The manager challenged Jason Knight during a practice game that left the Republic of Ireland midfielder with an ankle injury that could sideline him for up to three months. Rooney was taking part in a session at Pennyhill Park, the training base for England’s rugby union team, to make up the numbers after being left with only nine senior players, including two goalkeepers. Key players departed in the summer because of the uncertainty at the club, and the first-team coach Shay Given left after the expiry of his contract. Knight was among those to captain Derby last season and the 20-year-old academy graduate is considered one of the club’s best prospects. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://w

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! Like all people looking for a new job, Plain Old John Terry will be brushing up his CV to show he is the right man for the role after quitting Aston Villa to focus on becoming a manager in his own right . He will be making sure he gets his dates right, while pointing out his Excel and fire safety training will make him perfectly suited to manage a Championship football club. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/27/the-fiver-plain-old-john-terry

The centre-back has a release clause of €80m Frenchman keen to play Champions League football Chelsea have opened talks with Sevilla over the signing of Jules Koundé, having made the French centre-back their top defensive target this summer. Koundé is considered one of the best central defenders in La Liga and was part of the France squad for the European Championship this summer. The 22-year-old has a release clause of €80m (£68.4m) and is open to a move to England as he is keen to play in the Champions League next season. The two clubs have commenced negotiations, although Chelsea are not prepared to pay the release clause. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/27/chelsea-open-talks-with-sevilla-over-signing-of-france-defender-kounde

Olympics Group E: Canada 1-1 Team GB Deflected shot in 85th minute earns draw against Canada An 85th-minute strike from the Scotland forward Caroline Weir cancelled out Adriana Leon’s second-half goal for Canada and ensured Team GB topped Group E ahead of their opponents. It had looked as though Canada would inflict Team GB’s first defeat at the Olympics and leapfrog them in the table after Leon became the first player to breach the defence of Hege Riise’s side. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/27/canada-team-gb-olympics-match-report-womens-football

Economic prospects have diverged further due to differing access to Covid vaccines, the IMF says.

Belgium international moves to Qatar after six years Tottenham and Atalanta negotiating over Romero fee Tottenham have announced that Toby Alderweireld will leave after six years at the club, joining the Qatari side Al-Duhail, with Spurs hoping to sign a replacement centre-back in the next few days. The Premier League club have been in talks with Atalanta over Cristian Romero but at the moment the clubs are quite apart in their valuation of the Argentinian centre-back. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/27/toby-alderweireld-leaves-spurs-with-cristian-romero-possible-replacement

The supermarket chain is deploying the recruitment tactic amid a shortage in lorry drivers.

A plan is agreed to reduce aggressive debt collection, although charities still want statutory regulation.

About 1,000 Activision Blizzard staff sign a letter describing managers' response as insulting.

Olympics Group G: USA 0-0 Australia Australia could go through as one two best third-placed teams An uninspiring stalemate between the United States and Australia ensured the former progressed to the knockout stages and the latter will probably join them. With Sweden topping the group after a 2-0 win over New Zealand, the result means the two sides finish on four points but the US take second place with a superior goal difference. Provided Japan, China and Zambia do not all win on Tuesday, the Matildas will go through as one of two best third-placed teams. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/27/usa-australia-tokyo-olympics-match-report-womens-football

Some travel insurance policies will not cover cancellation costs for travellers told to self-isolate.

Bettinelli available on free transfer and would be third choice Chelsea also hunting for players in midfield and attack Chelsea are closing in on the signing of the goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli. The 29-year-old, a free agent after leaving Fulham, is expected to join the European champions on a two-year deal this week. Chelsea need a new third-choice goalkeeper after the departure of Willy Caballero last month and Bettinelli is poised to provide competition for Édouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/27/chelsea-close-to-signing-goalkeeper-marcus-bettinelli-after-he-leaves-fulham

Vanish-maker Reckitt says the end of social distancing has led to a focus on appearance.

Left-footed signing from Sevilla loves dribbling at opponents and has shown he can deal with physicality and adversity The way the story is told at Sevilla, the first time Bryan Gil turned up at the club’s training ground, one November evening when he was 11, they put him up against the biggest, strongest, hardest kid they could find. That would show how good he really was. Tall and blond, they called the kid The Russian , after Dolph Lundgren’s character in Rocky IV. His name actually was Iván too, and although he was Leiva not Drago, from Málaga rather than Siberia, he was an intimidating figure. Bryan took him apart. Sevilla’s academy director, Pablo Blanco, recalls the story, returning later with a team picture, the two boys by then on the same side. There’s something in the legend: The Russian is twice the size of the rest. “He wasn’t the fastest or the most agile,” Blanco admits. But then Bryan, a skinny kid a year below the others did this to everyone and still does. “He came

Updates from the crunch Group G game in Kashima Kick-off time is 5pm local, 6pm AEST, 4am ADT, 9am BST Any thoughts? Email or tweet @emmavkemp 8.36am BST The teams are in. STARTING XI for It's the final @TheMatildas Group G match against the United States! Kick off in 50 minutes. live and free on Seven and @7plus #TokyoTogether | #Football | #USAvAUS pic.twitter.com/MD9lzwplQd Your #USWNT Starting XI to close out the Group Stage! vs. coming up at 4am ET. Lineup notes ≫ https://t.co/ympfSDQFfJ pic.twitter.com/ETSfJgP886 8.32am BST Last week, when the United States opened their Olympic campaign with a shock 3-0 loss to Sweden, Donald Trump claimed the defeat was the result of the national team’s “wokeism”. It was a reference to the squad’s - in particular outspoken midfielder Megan Rapinoe - widely applauded stance on racial prejudice and discrimination which, he believed, causes one to become “warped” and “demented”. The former president may have still been

The value of New York-listed Chinese companies has plummeted after a series of crackdowns by Beijing.

The billionaire offers to pay $2bn in Nasa costs to be reconsidered for a key Moon lander contract.

Strong demand for houses will last into 2022 as buyers react to the pandemic, says property website Zoopla.

Footballer, who is campaigning to end child food poverty, says funds will go to FareShare Tens of thousands of pounds that were raised after Marcus Rashford’s mural was defaced will be donated to a food poverty charity in Greater Manchester. The artwork was vandalised hours after England’s European Championship final loss as Rashford and fellow players Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka suffered racist abuse online. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/26/money-raised-after-marcus-rashford-mural-defaced-to-go-to-food-charity-in-manchester

The electric carmaker's revenues nearly doubled in the three months to 30 June compared with last year.

Waste workers, prison staff and defence workers will be able to avoid isolation, the government says.

Strange mix of development competition and star vehicle leaves public unsure of what it is watching Nine years ago, I had a front-row seat at the Olympic Stadium in London for what would become known as Super Saturday. The ley lines of that evening are now firmly etched into the sporting lore of the UK: the triumphant last-lap surge of Jess Ennis, Mo Farah being physically roared over the line, that chirpy bloke who won the long jump. And yet my strongest and clearest memory of Super Saturday is none of these things. It came about half an hour after Farah crossed the line, with the stadium still wreathed in a shimmering glow somewhere between heat and love. At which point, a member of the crowd shouted out to nobody in particular that 150 miles away in Cardiff, Team GB had just lost to South Korea on penalties in the quarter-finals of the men’s football. As the news filtered around, everybody – from the crowd to the press box to the journalist from L’Equipe sitting next to me – spont

Defender could make comeback on Thursday Joe Gomez also close to ending long-term absence The Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk could make his return to action this week after nine months out with a serious knee injury. The Netherlands captain has been out since undergoing surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his right leg after a clash with Everton’s Jordan Pickford in October’s Merseyside derby. Van Dijk has sat out the first three training games at the club’s camp in Austria but is in line for a short cameo against Hertha Berlin on Thursday. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/26/virgil-van-dijk-set-to-return-for-liverpool-after-nine-months-out-with-injury

The government says it will monitor the proposed sale of Ultra Electronics to US equity-owned Cobham.

Defender won four Champions Leagues at Bernabéu Varane expected to become United’s third summer signing Manchester United are edging closer to signing the Real Madrid defender Raphaël Varane with the two clubs discussing the finer details of a deal that could cost the Premier League club €50m (£42.7m). Related: Solskjær now has his own Manchester United team but trophies must follow | Louise Taylor Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/26/manchester-united-in-final-negotiations-to-sign-raphael-varane-for-around-40m

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! You can imagine The Fiver’s reaction on Saturday when a blurry man in The Quaff and Barf said there was some important breaking news from Old Trafford. “Garçon, another refill!” we bellowed immediately. And that’s the last thing we remember. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/26/manchester-united-ole-gunnar-solskjaer-the-fiver-van-de-beek-mystery

Spurs pay Sevilla €25m for 20-year-old as part of deal Lamela spent eight years at the north London club Tottenham have signed Bryan Gil from Sevilla with Érik Lamela joining the Spanish club as part of the deal. Spurs will pay an additional €25m (£21.4m) for the 20-year-old winger. Gil’s contract runs until 2026. He will link up with his new teammates at the conclusion of the Olympics, where he is representing Spain. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/26/tottenham-sign-bryan-gil-from-sevilla-with-lamela-going-the-other-way