Kinghorn helps Toulouse win Top 14 final before joining Lions
Scotland's Blair Kinghorn sealed his second Top 14 title with Toulouse before he sets off to join the British and Irish Lions squad touring Australia.The 28-year-old started on the left wing at the Stade de France and played all 100 minutes in a thrilling final against Bordeaux Begles.Thomas Ramos kicked two extra-time penalties for a 39-33 success to seal a third successive crown for Toulouse - and a record-extending 24th overall.Star full-back Ramos slotted 24 points in an absorbing game in the sweltering Paris heat.Toulouse's tries came from Jack Willis (2) and Anthony Jelonch, with Damian Penaud, Matthieu Jalibert and Guido Petti touching down for Bordeaux.Scotland lock Jonny Gray featured as a very late replacement for the runners-up in an epic encounter.
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The Guardian
30 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Lauren James sparkles in cameo as Wiegman looks to answer questions over starting XI
You should never read too much into the final warm-up game before a major tournament, should you? Try telling that to any of the 25,088 fans at the King Power Stadium, as they were singing Sweet Caroline at full time, waving proudly their flags of St George and rejoicing in the seven goals that England had put past Jamaica. In such goalscoring form, glory will surely be England's again ... No, you should still never read too much into the final warm-up game. Just ask the England men's team of 2016 who, on the eve of the European Championship that year, managed a 1-0 victory against Portugal – one of those sides went on to win the tournament, while the other was knocked out by Iceland. The Lionesses have been good at tricking us all, too; in 2019 they endured a shock defeat against New Zealand in Brighton shortly before travelling to France for a Women's World Cup, where they defied that abject performance to go on a run to the semi‑finals. Similarly, they made us endure a goalless draw with Portugal at Stadium MK before they flew to Australia in 2023 but that did not stop the Lionesses progressing all the way to their first World Cup final. What this match certainly did offer, though, was a strong indication of Sarina Wiegman's preferred starting side, just six days before her team will meet France in their Group D opener in Zurich. Since England's squad announcement, eight of the starting personnel have felt relatively nailed on, if they could all stay fit, with three key question marks remaining. The first of those was around the No 10 position, with Ella Toone, Grace Clinton and Jess Park all bringing their own different qualities to the role. Sunday night proved to be Toone's chance and she took it in style, scoring twice inside the first half. She could have added a couple more, but her confidence-boosting double was timed perfectly and she will fly to Switzerland on Monday with an extra spring in her step. She is a player whom Wiegman has routinely trusted for the big occasions and those two words adequately describe the meeting with a hugely talented France side. The second question was: 'Who will start at left-back?', with Jess Carter and Niamh Charles both in contention. A significant clue was provided on Saturday when Carter was handed the pre‑match media responsibilities. The Gotham FC defender did indeed get the nod on a warm evening in the East Midlands, and she took her opportunity well. In the first half particularly, she combined nicely down the flank with Lauren Hemp, underlapping to good effect, as well as combining for one‑twos with Georgia Stanway and making strong bursts into the box to aid the attack. Carter's match fitness also looks strong, which is perhaps a byproduct of her being in the middle of her club season in the NWSL. The third question surrounded the right-sided forward role, a position where England are stacked with world-class options, with Beth Mead, Chloe Kelly and Lauren James all offering pedigree. James's return from a hamstring injury sustained in April meant she was only on the bench, with Wiegman saying on Saturday that she would manage James's minutes, but when the Chelsea forward was introduced in the second half her skill level immediately stood out. Jamaica defenders tried to stop her but there was little they could do as she toyed with her markers, skipped away from challenges and demonstrated her effortless ability to progress the ball up the pitch. Interestingly, though, she was doing so from a central, No 10 position after being brought on to replace Toone, while Mead played 90 minutes on the right and Kelly – who can also play anywhere across the forward line – was introduced on the left flank, when Hemp was given a rest. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion James flourished in the more central, free role, and dinked a perfect cross to the far post for Russo to score with 19 minutes remaining, in the middle of a Mexican wave that was circling around the stands. It was as if James had felt offended by the insinuation that this dynamic and free-flowing performance was not entertaining enough and so she served up something special. By the end of the game, as Mead tucked in the seventh, all of the players were oozing confidence, and perhaps the main takeaway there is that – whoever Wiegman picks – England's attacking options from the bench look dangerous enough to worry any of the 15 other defences that will be contesting this European Championship. Perhaps James's and Kelly's late cameos were enough to prove they should take on France from the start. Or perhaps not. You should never read too much into the final warm-up game.
BreakingNews.ie
36 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Ruthless PSG cruise past Inter Miami 4-0 to reach Club World Cup quarters
Joao Neves scored twice as Paris St Germain swept aside Lionel Messi's Inter Miami 4-0 at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday to secure their place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals with ruthless efficiency. The French side asserted their dominance within six minutes, with Neves moving unmarked to the far post to power home a precise header from a free kick. Advertisement Neves doubled their lead in the 39th minute after a flowing move as Bradley Barcola found Fabian Ruiz, whose exquisite cross was clinically converted by the Portuguese. Any hopes of a Miami comeback were extinguished in the first half as Messi and company barely got a look in, and their misery deepened further when Tomas Aviles turned Desire Doue's cross into his own net. Achraf Hakimi added the fourth, pouncing after his initial shot struck the crossbar, on the stroke of half-time. Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi (L) reacts during the Fifa Club World Cup round of 16 football match between France's Paris Saint-Germain and US side Inter Miami at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 29th, 2025. Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images "It was an almost perfect match, we created a lot of chances, and I'm happy yet I think we still need to improve, that's football," PSG coach Luis Enrique said. Advertisement Messi became more involved after the break and his header was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma following a quick counter-attack, while he struck the wall with a late free kick that brought the crowd to their feet in anticipation of a consolation goal that never materialised. "I'm very proud of my players. Today you could see the difference in class, but football has given us the chance to compete. This is probably the best team in the world with a great coach, but we took them on," Miami coach Javier Mascherano said. The Champions League winners march on to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winners of the clash between Flamengo and Bayern Munich.
Times
44 minutes ago
- Times
Sarina Wiegman's job is safe — even if England disappoint at Euros
Sarina Wiegman's position as England head coach is safe until 2027 regardless of the team's performance in this summer's European Championship, the FA chief executive has said. Giving his customary media briefing before a major tournament, Mark Bullingham said Wiegman's position was secure regardless of how England fare at Euro 2025 in Switzerland next month. This was one of many comments expressing how the FA considers Wiegman to be indispensable. Bullingham added Wiegman could stay beyond the expiration of her present contract in 2027, and he is unconcerned by her recruitment of two more Dutch assistants. Wiegman, 55, took charge in September 2021, guided the Lionesses to their first major title at Euro 2022, and reached the 2023 World Cup final. However, England's form has been inconsistent over the past two years and their difficult Euro 2025 group, which includes two fellow title contenders in France and the Netherlands, means an early exit is plausible. Yet Wiegman's position is not at risk. When asked whether failing to get out of their Euros group would force him to consider a change of head coach, Bullingham was unequivocal. 'We're delighted that Sarina's in place until 2027 and I don't see any scenario changing that,' he said. Although Wiegman's deal ends after the 2027 World Cup, Bullingham did not rule out a contract extension. In any case, succession planning has been minimal. 'We haven't started to look beyond 2027,' he said. 'We feel we're locked in for this tournament and the next, and that feels very good for now. That's not to say we wouldn't have a conversation in the future, but it's too early for that.' Wiegman's power was exemplified by last month's announcement that two Dutch coaches, Janneke Bijl and Arvid Smit, will join her staff as assistants after Euro 2025. The pair will arrive from the Netherlands team and replace another Dutch coach in Arjan Veurink, who is leaving to take charge of the Netherlands. Veurink has been Wiegman's No 2 for eight years, including her entire England tenure. Wiegman led the search for Veurink's replacement, and her choice of two figures from her homeland provoked questions about the FA's coaching pathway. Bullingham, though, was content to let Wiegman pick who she wanted. 'She did look quite broadly, but she had coaches she already knew and had good chemistry with, so it's quite natural for her to bring in those,' he said. 'Within the set-up, it's just three Dutch coaches, so we're not overly concerned. 'If you look at the longer-term pathway, it's positive for us that we do have some strong English coaches working in other countries. You've got Emma [Hayes] with the USA, Gemma [Grainger] with Norway.' Bullingham lauded Wiegman's achievements in his opening remarks. He called her 'the most successful coach in women's international football today' and cited how England were ranked eighth in the world since she took over, but have never sat lower than fifth since winning the Euros. Equally, he conceded that the fierce competition and tough group will make defending the Euros title difficult. 'As with every tournament we're aiming to win, but we know just how hard that is,' he said. 'We've come a long way since that magical summer of 2022, growing the women's game and the Lionesses are really well established under Sarina as one of the top teams in the world. But this is a new England team and we're looking forward and not back. We're under no illusions, we're in a tough group and it's going to be a tough tournament.' Bullingham defended the FA's level of financial support after Georgia Stanway, the England midfielder, said players would use their own money to help their families cope with Switzerland's high cost-of-living during the Euros. 'In a perfect world, everyone would be able to have their whole family at every game,' Bullingham said. 'Whether or not they can achieve that, I'm not sure, but we certainly make a significant contribution to them to help them get there.' There is a longlist of 33 stadiums for the 2035 World Cup, which will be hosted across the United Kingdom. At least six unbuilt venues — such as Manchester United and Birmingham City's new homes — could be added to proposals. 'We now need to get a list of about 20 that we submit for the bid, and then make sure we have the potential to include stadiums should they be built how we think they will be in the future,' Bullingham said. Plans to build a statue of the Euro 2022 team at Wembley remain in place. The commissioning process is advanced and the FA hopes to provide an update this summer.
