Blackpool boss monitors Dalby
Blackpool boss Steve Bruce was at Tannadice on Saturday to watch Dundee United striker Sam Dalby, who will be a free agent when his Wrexham contract expires at the end of the season. (Daily Record), externalRead the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.
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Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Auckland coach readies part-time squad for Club World Cup's 'toughest group'
June 11 (Reuters) - Auckland City's players aren't full-time professionals and many have taken annual leave to compete in the Club World Cup where they face what coach Paul Posa calls "the toughest group". New Zealand's champions, who are fresh from winning the OFC Champions League, will face Bayern Munich, Benfica and Boca Juniors in Group C of the revamped tournament, which starts on Saturday, and Posa acknowledged their uphill battle. "It's quite possibly the toughest group we could have drawn," Posa, who guided them to fifth place in the old Club World Cup in 2009, told Reuters. "We have two traditional European powerhouses in Bayern Munich and Benfica and Boca Juniors, who are also capable of going all the way." "We have competed in many of the previous versions of the CWC competition which has given us a broad range of experience allowing us to punch above our weight in the past. Our goals are to be prepared, and compete, to the best of our ability," he added. Auckland enter the 32-team tournament months after claiming their 13th Oceania title and fourth in succession. Yet despite continental success, football remains a part-time commitment for the squad. "All of the players have other jobs alongside their football commitments," said Posa. "However, they have an extraordinary dedication to their football outside of their working hours. "Players have had to take annual leave from their jobs... Indeed some of the players were unable to take time to attend both the OFC Champions League competition and the Club World Cup." The mid-June to mid-July tournament timing means it falls during Auckland's season rather than after it, as the previous version of the competition did. "The challenge of having the CWC fall in the middle of the season has been ensuring that players are in top form at the right times - however I believe we're on track to achieve this," said Posa. Serving as caretaker coach for Albert Riera, who's away for family reasons, Posa previously managed Auckland from 2008-2010. During the 2009 Club World Cup, they defeated UAE's Shabab Al Ahli and DR Congo's TP Mazembe to finish fifth. The 63-year-old acknowledged how difficult it would be to repeat his 2009 success: "It's nice to dream we could be that competitive again - however, we're realistic about the challenge." While temporary, Posa has maintained Auckland's established playing style. "It has not been difficult to maintain a playing philosophy that has evolved at Auckland City over many years. Of course, every coach puts their own fingerprint on a team," he said. This stability underpins Auckland's continued success. "This comes down to building on experience gained in previous competitions and a consistent focus on being well organised and prepared, both on and off the pitch," Posa said. "The culture surrounding the team is such that they always want to win and motivating them is no problem at all."
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Trent Alexander Arnold's new shirt number at Real Madrid ahead of Club World Cup after controversial Liverpool exit
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been handed his new shirt number at Real Madrid ahead of the Club World Cup. The right back is in line to make his debut for the Spanish giants next Wednesday when they face Al-Hilal in their first group game after Real paid Liverpool £10m to release him from his contract early so he could play in the tournament. Alexander-Arnold wore the No 66 shirt at Liverpool, but this will not be an option at Real due to LaLiga rules stating that shirt numbers must fall between 1 and 25. It has now been confirmed that Alexander-Arnold will wear the No 12 shirt at his new club. The name on the back of his shirt will also change and now read 'Trent' rather than 'Alexander-Arnold'. The 26-year-old is due to be unveiled as a Madrid player on Thursday before the team jet off to the US to compete in the group stage where they are scheduled to face Al-Hilal, Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg. It will be Alexander-Arnold's first chance to impress new manager Xabi Alonso, with the Spaniard taking over from Carlo Ancelotti. 🚨🏴 OFFICIAL: Trent Alexander-Arnold will wear number 12 at Real Madrid. — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) June 11, 2025 🚨🏆 Real Madrid's squad list for the Club World Cup + official shirt numbers of the players. — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) June 11, 2025 Fans will be eager to see how Alexander-Arnold settles at Madrid following his controversial Liverpool exit. Alexander-Arnold opted to run down his contract to leave his boyhood club on a free transfer at the end of the season, leading to an angry response from some Liverpool fans. After announcing his decision to leave in early May, Alexander-Arnold was booed by his own supporters when he came off the bench during a 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Anfield. A number of his team-mates and Arne Slot leapt to his defence after that game as they asked fans to remember his previous years of service. The England international did not feature in Liverpool's next game - a 3-2 away defeat by Brighton - but did come on as a half-time substitute on the final day against Crystal Palace. On that occasion, he received a much better reception from supporters, and he was then cheered by most fans when he went up to collect his medal during the post-match presentation as Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy. Alexander-Arnold broke down in tears as he did a lap of honour to thank fans after the presentation, and he was seen crying again during Liverpool's open-top bus parade the following day. But he has never left Merseyside behind for a new life in the Spanish capital, and he is just days away from making his debut for Real in his No 12 jersey.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The last thing England should do is douse the fire in Jude Bellingham, writes DANNY MURPHY
Part of Jude Bellingham 's make-up is that he plays on the edge in every single game — be it a Champions League final or international friendly. Thomas Tuchel can suggest he becomes smarter in picking his fights but the last thing the England manager wants to do is douse the fire in Jude that has already led to so much success. Every sportsman has their own personality and you certainly wouldn't want to turn Bellingham into Roger Federer — it just wouldn't work. Seeing Bellingham frustrated with team-mates and officials reminds me of a young Wayne Rooney or Steven Gerrard. They also had incredibly high expectations of themselves, and everyone else, when they walked on to the pitch. At 21, he will learn there are moments when it's better to take things on the chin rather than give officials a decision to make. While I understand people would have been taken aback by his anger at having a goal disallowed against Senegal, I found it fascinating he cared so much when there was relatively little riding on the game. I believe it's that mentality that has made Bellingham a Champions League winner and the most important player in the England team. When he feels the world is against him, it improves his performances. Despite the loss of discipline at full time at the City Ground, we mustn't judge Bellingham too harshly — and lose what makes him special.
