Not able to give 100 per cent – England's Millie Bright pulls out of Euros squad
The 31-year-old captained the Lionesses to their first World Cup final in 2023 in place of the injured Leah Williamson, but last week pulled out of Sarina Wiegman's squad for their final Nations League encounters to take an 'extended period of recovery'.
The Blues captain posted on Instagram: 'This is one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, but after careful thought and discussions with my team, I have decided to withdraw from selection for the England squad ahead of Euro 2025.
A post shared by Millie Bright OBE (@mbrighty04)
'Football has given me so much, and representing my country has always been my greatest honour. My pride and ego tells me to go, but I think the team and the fans deserve more. Right now I am not able to give 100 per cent mentally or physically.
'As much as I want to be out there running through back walls for England and fighting alongside my team-mates, stepping back is the right timing for my health, my future in the game, and most importantly the team.
'It wouldn't be fair for me to take the place and opportunity away from another player who is ready and able to give everything for the badge and country.
'I'll be supporting the team with everything I've got, and hoping this incredible group of players will do the nation proud. Thank you to my team-mates, coaches, and, most importantly, the fans for your unwavering support.
'It means the world to me.'
England boss Sarina Wiegman is expected to announce her Euros squad for Switzerland on Thursday afternoon.
We're all with you, Millie. ❤️🏴 pic.twitter.com/7luibI0R12
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 4, 2025
Current and former England team-mates offered their support in the comments section of Bright's post, including England and Arsenal forward Chloe Kelly, who wrote 'proud of you always', while Aston Villa striker Rachel Daly – who retired from international duty last summer – said: 'Couldn't be more proud. With you through EVERYTHING my girl.'
A message from the official Lionesses account read: 'We're all with you, Millie.'
Bright's withdrawal is the latest major announcement out of England camp following the shock international retirements of goalkeeper Mary Earps last Tuesday and forward Fran Kirby on Tuesday night, after the Lionesses were knocked out of the Nations League with a 2-1 group stage defeat to Spain.
All three started every game when England secured their first major silverware at the home Euros in 2022.
Both Wiegman and Williamson expressed their support for Bright's decision to rule herself out of the Nations League clashes ahead of those matches.
Wiegman said: 'She has to take care of herself, we are in conversations. We will stay in contact and I hope she feels better soon, but I don't know that yet at the moment.'
Williamson added: 'For anyone to speak out about mental health is a brave thing to do. It encourages other people to do the same so she is leading by example there.
'I've personally given Millie a bit of space. Naturally, any support she needs from the team we will be there to give it to her.'
Bright's Chelsea and England team-mate Lucy Bronze told a press conference on Monday: 'She's missed definitely in the sense of what she brings, both on and off the pitch.
'She's one of the leaders in the team, not just because she's the oldest, but just because of her experience, her attributes as a person.
'We've all spoke to Millie through the week… we just want to make sure that she's OK, both physically and mentally.'
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The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
Twenty years on, Ricky Hatton reflects on his signature victory
This week has marked twenty years since Kostya Tszyu and Ricky Hatton met for what was universally considered to be the light-welterweight championship of the world. The odds were against Hatton, 38-0 (29), even at home in the cauldron of the MEN Arena. The 'Hitman' had so far had a career without too many big names, and the assumption was that as Frank Warren's cash cow, the promoter was wisely managing his charge through sell-out fights that carried little-to-no risk. Before Tszyu, Hatton been defending his barely regarded World Boxing Union (WBU) title for four years. The run of opponents in that time had been uninspiring - Tony Pep, Jason Rowland, John Bailey – and the few recognisable names, such as Freddie Pendleton, came in with deeply flawed records (Pendleton was 47-25-5 when he faced Hatton in 2001). There had been struggles, too. Eamonn Magee had knocked down Hatton in the first round in 2002, before the pair went the twelve-round distance. Stephen Smith later that year found himself disqualified when his father pushed referee Mickey Vann after a Hatton elbow cut his son. And then Frank Warren made the Tszyu fight. Tszyu, 31-1 (25) at the time, had the most-feared right hand in boxing. His last fight, seven months before, had seen him deploy it to demolish Sharmba Mitchell in three rounds, knocking his opponent down four times. Tszyu had gone through Jesse James Leija, too, in 2003 and Ben Tackie in 2002. It was an era before the idea of 'going viral' had come into existence, but it seemed somehow that everyone knew that moment, in stopping Zab Judah in two rounds in 2001, that Tszyu had caused his opponent to do a dance like a man learning how to ice skate in the middle of an earthquake. Now, Tszyu was coming to Manchester. Even the Boxing News at the time predicted that the Australian-based Russian would eventually walk down and stop Hatton, probably in the eighth round. In 2025, Hatton reflected on the morning of the fight. As per his habit, he went to a local café in Hyde. 'I went in,' he said, 'and they had all of the newspapers there, the Daily Mirror, the Daily Mail and The Sun. I picked them up as I'm having my breakfast and I think The Sun had me to get beaten inside two rounds, the Mirror had me not going past six rounds and that it would be over in three rounds by the Daily Mail.' It is hard to describe now, but the atmosphere was something different when Hatton used to fight at the MEN Arena. The sound of the crowd was a character in itself, an aural waterfall that seemed to come down from the rafters of the builders and then explode, spreading along the floor and through the arena. Hatton came out that night to 'Blue Moon' as he always did. He looked nervous on his walk to the ring. Tszyu came second, his friend Russell Crowe – just a few months before the release of Cinderella Man – was ringside. He may have been the only friend Tszyu had in the building. The crowd saw Tszyu, and there was little respect for him. Not like years later, when Marco Antonio Barrera did the same walk to face Amir Khan and people understood then – like they did not with Tszyu – that they were in the presence of greatness. Hatton found something deeper within himself that night, a disregard for everything bad that could happen, a willingness to gamble on something larger than a fight, and he pushed and punched and rough-housed Tszyu. Eventually, the pair went back to their corners at the end of the tenth round. It was hard to see at the time, but it is there when you look at it with fresh eyes. There is a momentary shake of the head from Tszyu in his corner, moments before it cuts to a replay of the round before, where he elects to stay on his stool. The fight is over. If Hatton peaked that night in Manchester, there were still big nights to follow, even if nothing ever lived up to it. Hatton split with Frank Warren, which meant he had to go to Sheffield to face Carlos Maussa five months later. He went to the US after that to face Luis Collazo and Juan Urango in decisions before stopping the ghost of Jose Luis Castillo in four. It was after that that Floyd Mayweather knocked Hatton out, stopping him in ten in what had been a bad night from the start. There was a bit of a comeback after that, beginning with beating Juan Lazcano in front of 55,000 people at the City of Manchester Stadium. Then there was Paulie Malignaggi, a stoppage in eleven rounds in Las Vegas, before Manny Pacquiao starched Hatton in two. And then three years later, there was the fight against Vyachelsav Senchenko that ended with the Hitman, the body puncher extraordinaire, on the floor from a blow to the ribs. Tszyu, meanwhile, retired on his stool, and then took that retirement with him from the ring. He never fought again. Eventually, he moved back to Russia from Australia from where he watched his son Tim begin a career. Hatton, too, has a son who became a professional boxer. Time moves on but in 2025, Hatton still remembers achieving the dream, probably more vividly than anything else in his career. 'I must have left the party at about 7am,' he said this week, 'and when I left, the sunshine was out, you could hear the birds tweeting and people were still singing 'there's only one Ricky Hatton' walking up Deansgate. For my dream win, if I could have written down on a piece of paper as to how I would've wanted it to happen, it couldn't have happened as good as it did.' All of the elements, he says, stacked up. 'My home time in Manchester,' he said, 'a packed arena with nobody expecting me to win and if I did win, it would be one of the best wins in a British boxing ring. And for it to be against a formidable punching machine like he was and to make him quit on his stool, was unbelievable.' Watch the very best boxing with a DAZN subscription DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
Telegraph
23 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Horse racing tips: Friday, June 6
On the eve of the Derby, there's not a bad warm-up act at Epsom this afternoon. It's Oaks day, also featuring the Coronation Cup, and the first six of the seven races on this top-quality card are being shown live on ITV1. Our in-house expert horse racing tipster is showing a big profit from his picks and has selections in each of the races at Epsom, including a NAP in the Coronation Cup. Ron Wood's selections: Odds provided by William Hill and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (max 5). If you already have a William Hill account and are looking for a new bookmaker to use for this week's racing, check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. 1.30 Epsom – Surrey Stakes (Listed, 7f) In an open Listed race to kick off the Epsom action, there may be more still to come from DIEGO VENTURA, who won at this level in France on his latest start. It's just two weeks until Royal Ascot. Find the best Royal Ascot free bets and betting offers 2.05 Epsom – Woodcote Stakes (Conditions, 6f) MAXIMIZED cost £720,000 after breezing in April and made a successful debut in a novice contest at Haydock last month. There's not a lot of form to go on in this two-year-old race, but the selection must have a fair chunk of ability and there seems a reasonable chance that he will prove best. 2.40 Epsom – Coronation Cup (Group 1, 1m 4f) Ancient Wisdom – Eighth in last year's Derby. Has conditions to suit but needs a clear career best. Bellum Justum – Seventh in last year's Derby. More needed than when winning a Group 2 contest at Newmarket on his latest start. Calandagan – Ran away with last year's Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes over this trip at Royal Ascot. Runner-up in Group 1s on all three starts since, most recently in Dubai when the race didn't unfold to suit and he may not have been at peak fitness. The form horse. Continuous – Hasn't gone on from his 2023 St Leger success but has conditions to suit. Giavellotto – Won the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase over this distance in December. Given too much to do off a slow pace in Dubai most recently (behind Calandagan). Jan Brueghel – Won last year's St Leger at Doncaster and should build on his reappearance, when he was second over 1m 2f in a Group 3 race at the Curragh. You Got To Me – Fourth in the Oaks on this card last year and later won the Irish Oaks. Finished last behind Jan Brueghel in the St Leger on her final start in 2024. Sold for 4,800,000gns in December but remains with her original trainer. VERDICT – This is a good opportunity for CALANDAGAN (NAP) to gain a first Group 1 success. On his last three starts the races haven't unfolded to suit him, resulting in three runner-up finishes at this grade, yet has still been running to a high level. Giavellotto and Jan Brueghel are the next best. Selection: Calandagan @ 4/5 with William Hill 3.15 Epsom – Class 2 Handicap (1m 2f) The drop back into handicap company and the slow ground may help BOTANICAL take this. He wears cheekpieces for the first time as well. Last year, the five-year-old was runner-up in the John Smith's Cup, a big handicap at York, as well as a Listed race at Goodwood, form that gives him a leading claim. Selection: Botanical @ 7/2 with William Hill Go to site > 4.00 Epsom – The Oaks (Group 1, 1m 4f) Desert Flower – Unbeaten in five starts including two Group 1s over a mile at Newmarket, most recently the 1,000 Guineas – the season's first fillies' Classic – on her reappearance. Not a sure stayer. Elwateen – Has had just two starts, winning a 7f all-weather novice last year and finishing fourth behind Desert Flower in the 1,000 Guineas on her reappearance. Out of a 1m 2f Group 1 winner but this trip is an unknown. Giselle – Good two-year-old form, including a third place behind her stablemate Whirl over a mile at the Curragh. Defeated two ordinary rivals in taking the 1m 3½f Lingfield Oaks Trial on her seasonal reappearance, despite taking a keen hold and carrying her head a little awkwardly. A big, talented filly, she is still raw and Ryan Moore prefers Minnie Hauk, but this one could be best. Go Go Boots – Has more to do than when third behind Whirl over 1m 2f in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York. Minnie Hauk – The choice of Ryan Moore over two other runners for Aidan O'Brien, who has won this race 10 times. Moore has won this four times but was on the 'wrong' one in 2018 and 2021. Cost €1,850,000 as a yearling. Won the 1m 3½f Cheshire Oaks on her reappearance. That's relatively weak form, but she had been off for 200 days and is expected to improve. Qilin Queen – Has more to do than when narrowly winning a Listed race over 1m 2f at Newbury most recently, with Revoir a short head behind in second. Revoir – A relation of her trainer's 2008 Oaks winner Look Here. Still green when second by a short head to the race-fit Qilin Queen in a Listed race over 1m 2f at Newbury on her reappearance. Should progress past that rival and may contend for top honours. Wemightakedlongway – Improved to win a Group 3 race over 1m 2f on soft ground at Navan on her latest start, but she's not a sure stayer, even being by 2014 Derby winner Australia. Whirl – Had Giselle behind her when winning a Group 3 race over a mile at the Curragh last year and most recently trounced her rivals in the 1m 2f Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York. Not a sure stayer on pedigree and has been passed over by Ryan Moore, but she still needs taking seriously. VERDICT – The second fillies' Classic of the season. Desert Flower won the first one but steps up half a mile in trip and is not a sure stayer. Preference is for GISELLE, even if Ryan Moore prefers Minnie Hauk (both of them are daughters of the great Frankel). It's questionable whether the selection is professional enough for this, being a big, headstrong filly. But she has an engine and her dam was a really good type who favoured ease underfoot – and there's plenty of ease in the ground today. The second pick is another one Moore has passed over, Whirl. 4.35 Epsom – Class 2 Handicap (1m 1/2f) FLIGHT PLAN had dropped to a handy mark before cashing in with a success in a Thirsk handicap on his latest start and, even following a rise in the weights, he's still nicely treated. He was a Group 2 winner in 2023 and looks to be on the way back. 5.10 Epsom – Class 2 Handicap (7f) RHOSCOLYN (NB) won this last year, having finished sixth at Chester the weekend before. He comes in off the same prep and off the same handicap as 12 months ago, so his claims look fair. Selection: Rhoscolyn @ 3/1 with William Hill Today's racing (Flat unless stated) Thirsk 1.15-5.30 Epsom 1.30-5.10 Bangor (NH) 1.40-4.40 Fairyhouse 4.15-8.10 Clonmel (NH) 5.00-8.30 Bath 5.15-8.40 Goodwood 5.25-8.19 Doncaster 5.34-9.00 Ron Wood 2025 horse racing P/L Star ratings explained ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy ⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims ⭐⭐ - tentative choice ⭐ - minimum confidence If you want to find more odds and offers, take a look at our list of the best betting sites and free bets Check out our list of the best casino bonuses in the UK
The Sun
24 minutes ago
- The Sun
‘I want to suffer, I want to feel bad' – Pep Guardiola reveals he struggled to eat during Man City's horror season
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