Rangers kick out Diomande offer
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Is England vs Spain on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Euro 2025 final for free
England will get their shot at back-to-back European titles after clawing their way to the Euro 2025 final in Switzerland - and they will face familiar opponents on Sunday. Sarina Wiegman 's side produced another miraculous comeback in their last four clash against Italy, with Michelle Agyemang's 96th-minute equaliser saving the Lionesses from the brink of elimination. Chloe Kelly then tucked home her penalty rebound in the dying stages of extra time to book England's place in the final, where they will hope to emulate their Wembley heroics of Euro 2022. Kelly was the hero then, too, scoring the extra time winner in a 2-1 triumph over Germany. And England will take on Spain in a sensational rematch of the 2023 World Cup final after Aitana Bonmati's goal in extra time sent the world champions through to their first European final with a 1-0 victory over Germany in Zurich. Spain are looking to follow their World Cup triumph two years ago, where they beat England 1-0 in Sydney, with a first ever Euros title while the Lionesses will be out for revenge as they defend their title. Here's everything you need to know about the Euro 2025 final. When is the Euro 2025 final? The Euro 2025 final between England and Spain will take place on Sunday 27 July in at St Jakob Park, Basel. While kick-off times for the quarter-finals and semi-finals were 8pm, the final will start at 5pm BST (UK time). What TV channel is it on? Viewers will have a choice between BBC One and ITV 1, with both channels providing live coverage of the final. What is the England team news? Lauren James suffered an ankle injury during England's semi-final win against Italy and was forced off at half-time. The forward was later seen with ice on her ankle and Sarina Wiegman still ' does not know' is she will be available, but said James had returned to the training pitch and will be given as much time as possible to try and recover. If James is unable to feature in the final, Wiegman could decide to promote Chloe Kelly from the bench after her impact against Sweden and Italy. Or if Wiegman prefers to keep Kelly as an impact substitute, Beth Mead could come into the side. The England manager also suggested that Michelle Agyemang will keep to her own impact role, with Alessia Russo set to start up front. England could be unchanged elsewhere. Esme Morgan made her first major tournament start against Italy and is now likely to feature alongside Leah Williamson in defence, after the England captain recovered from her own ankle injury. Hannah Hampton has impressed in goal while Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood will continue as full-backs. England's midfield struggled to move the ball quickly enough against Italy but Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone are set to remain in place. Grace Clinton and Aggie Beever-Jones were used off the bench against Italy and will be among Wiegman's options again late in the game. England possible XI: Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Morgan, Greenwood; Walsh, Stanway; Mead, Toone, Hemp; Russo What is the Spain team news? Centre-back Laia Aleixandri should return in defence alongside Spain captain Irene Parades after serving a one-game suspension. Spain will field two Ballon d'Or winners in their midfield three, with Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas joined by the equally excellent Patri Guijarro in an all-Barcelona central unit. Cata Coll made a key double-save to rescue Spain at the end of normal time against Germany and will start in goal, with former Manchester United defender Ona Batlle and Olga Carmona - the scorer of Spain's goal in the 1-0 World Cup final win over England - as full-backs. Esther Gonzalez leads the golden boot standings with four goals so far and will remain Spain's No 9, with Claudia Pina - who scored both of Spain's goals in their 2-1 win over England in June - and Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey likely to join her in attack. Salma Paralluelo has struggled for form and fitness at the Euros but could have a say off the bench later on, while Athenea del Castillo has also made an impact off the bench throughout the tournament. Possible Spain XI: Coll; Batlle, Parades, Aleixandri, Carmona; Guijarro, Bonmati, Putellas; Caldentey, Gonzalez, Pina List of previous Euros winners 2022 - England (2-1 a.e.t vs Germany) 2017 - Netherlands (4-2 vs Denmark) 2013 - Germany (1-0 vs Norway) 2009 - Germany (6-2 vs England) 2005 - Germany (3-1 vs Norway) 2001 - Germany (1-0 g.g. vs Sweden) 1997 - Germany (2-0 vs Italy) 1995 - Germany (3-2 vs Sweden) 1993 - Norway (1-0 vs Italy) 1991 - Germany (3-1 a.e.t. vs Norway) 1989 - West Germany (4-1 vs Norway) 1987 - Norway (2-1 vs Sweden) 1984 - Sweden (1-1 vs England, 4-3 on penalties) Euro 2025 route to final
BBC News
10 minutes ago
- BBC News
'A different world' - Spain's transformation after World Cup fallout
The last time Spain played in the final of a major tournament, it was a watershed moment for the only did they win their first major women's trophy, but the players were about to find themselves at the centre of a sexism of celebrating their historic World Cup victory in 2023, when they defeated England 1-0, Spain's triumph was overshadowed by nearly two years later, La Roja are preparing to play the Lionesses once again in Sunday's Euro 2025 has unfolded in the meantime? And how different has this tournament been for Spain? How did we get here? Just as Spain were getting ready to lift the World Cup trophy, Luis Rubiales - the country's football federation president - kissed striker Jenni Hermoso on the was a kiss that Rubiales said was consensual, but Hermoso said was followed was a storm of criticism, widespread protests and a court case that found Rubiales guilty of sexual said the incident had "stained one of the happiest days" of her the immediate aftermath, 81 players - including all 23 World Cup winners - said they would not play for Spain again while Rubiales was in charge."It was a difficult period for the Spanish players," England midfielder Ella Toone said on Friday."What they did in the World Cup, for that [the Rubiales incident] then to be the main talking point, I think was really tough for them and was something they shouldn't have had to go through." The boycott only ended almost a month later when Spain's football association, the RFEF, promised "profound changes" following a lengthy meeting with players and government officials. 'A different world' Speaking to BBC Sport last month, Amanda Gutierrez - the president of players' union Futpro - explained that the RFEF promised to improve the players' working conditions and provide equal access to the same resources the men's side have those changes been evident at Euro 2025? "It's a different world," Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague said. "The players are saying 'we only have to worry now about playing', so that's completely new."Spain's performances have certainly reflected that attitude as they defeated Portugal, Belgium and Italy by a combined score of 14-3 in the group Tome's side then saw off a stubborn Switzerland side in the quarter-finals, before scoring an extra-time winner against eight-time winners Germany to reach their first European Championship played 120 minutes in their semi-final and played a day later than England, but former midfielder Vicky Losada said their mental resilience will help them overcome their lack of recovery time."Knowing them, straight after the game against Germany they will be thinking about doing anything they can to be ready for this game," Losada told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily."They have 24 hours less to recover but the mental strength of the girls, because of their experience, because of all they have won, is massive."The players on the team are winners. For a lot of them, the only major tournament they are missing is the Euros. They know they have one opportunity."Sara Alcaraz Guiterrez, a reporter for national Spanish radio, said this is the first tournament since the 2023 World Cup where she hasn't had to "speak about the federation and what is happening inside"."The players are more relaxed because they know everyone in Spain is speaking just about the Euros. It's like 'finally'." 'Tome cannot do any better' Former coach Jorge Vilda may have delivered World Cup glory to Spain, but he will be remembered in a negative light by some for his role in their triumphant head coach, who was booed by some fans after the final, had survived a player revolt before the tournament and was viewed as one of Rubiales' closest his side on the touchline was Montse Tome, his assistant coach who became his successor a few weeks after the World Cup were concerns about her appointment, with many viewing it as a continuation of the previous regime, while she had no previous experience as a head Tome at the helm, Spain won the inaugural Women's Nations League in February 2024, but their fourth-place finish five months later at the Paris Olympics was deemed a their journey to the Euro final, and the unity within the squad, seem to have changed perceptions of the former Spain midfielder."She cannot do any better in terms of results," said Balague. "She's not friends with them [the players]. She's not supposed to be either. "You hear her talk and she makes a lot of sense. She's got a clear idea of how to maximize the potential."She's not a representative of the previous regime, but she was present. Even if that's in the back of the mind of anybody, you look around and it's a completely different place. So I don't think there is a lot of hard feelings about where she's been, because she's been quite fair." 'The players want to move on' Not only is Sunday's final in Basel an opportunity for Spain to win their first European crown, but it's also a chance to celebrate achieving a major trophy without a cloud of controversy hanging over them. "It's something external that happened at the time," Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas said."Now we're focused on giving our best to win this title. We're not thinking about celebrations or non-celebrations; we're only thinking about being prepared and doing well so that we can get closer to our goal."The culture within the Spanish camp also appears to have changed drastically from the World Cup in 2023, when they arrived in New Zealand with a divided squad amid a backdrop of unrest around then head coach Vilda."The things have changed," Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati added. "There's a very healthy and united group. We can see that on the pitch. We all agree on this."Spain's Euro 2025 squad includes 11 World-Cup winning players, although Hermoso was not selected by explained: "They want to move on, and it makes sense," "The players I've spoken to, they all have mixed feelings. They [Rubiales and the RFEF] took the celebrations away from them, but they changed our society and the way we think about women's football, and also women in society."They have advanced society. Nobody will give them a trophy for that."Former Lionesses forward Ellen White was part of Sarina Wiegman's side beaten by Spain in the 2023 World Cup final, but said this group of Spanish players deserve their moment in the spotlight."The controversy was so horrible. I felt for the whole team after the World Cup final," White told BBC Radio 5 Live. "They weren't able to celebrate and have that monumental moment."This final brings them the chance to create absolute history. Enjoy it, have nothing else to think about and if they were to win to just bask in the absolute joy of winning a tournament together as a group of individuals. And hopefully the whole of Spain will be celebrating what they have done."They deserve this. They have worked so hard and it would be an absolutely amazing moment for the whole team."
The Sun
10 minutes ago
- The Sun
Queen's Park Rangers launch surprise new kit with Celtic-style GREEN and white Hoops in homage to club's origins
WHO knew? They may have Rangers in the name but it turns out that London outfit Queen's Park Rangers used to play in Celtic-style green and white Hoops. 3 3 3 A full century has passed since QPR last wore green and white hoops, so what better time to dust it down for their newly released third kit. They wrote: "The R's will enter the season in style with the return of the green and white hoops - an alternative look rooted in tradition but refreshed for the present day. "A shirt that connects our rich past with our ambitions for the future." Club historian Chris Guy said: "This design marks an important milestone in celebrating our club's history. "The period between 1892 and 1926, during which these colours were worn, was an important chapter in our proud heritage." QPR boss Julian Stephan has a squad which boasts the likes of former Celtic star Karamoko Dembele and Liam Morrison. They recently beat Rangers to the signature of Kwame Poku while Moroccan star Ilias Chair is another key man. Asked why he chose the Loftus Road side over Russell Martin's men, Poku said: "I think speaking to the manager, and speaking to everyone here, the project they are building here excites me and I want to be part of taking QPR to the next level. "When I was speaking to Julien Stephan he was talking about where he sees me fitting in and where he thinks I can influence the game. "That's what really attracted me. "Being 23 turning 24, I'm not quite young anymore so I want to come in and make my mark from the jump."
