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Daily Mirror
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Florian Wirtz can't help but smile in training at moment that's caught on camera – 'Oh my'
New Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz has only played in a behind-closed-doors friendly, but the club's social media team have provided a glimpse of what he could bring to the team Florian Wirtz is already turning heads as he gears up for the new season following his record-breaking transfer to Liverpool. The Reds completed a deal worth up to £116million for the midfielder, who was hot property after his dazzling displays for Bayer Leverkusen. The signing of the Germany international for a potential British record fee signals Liverpool's ambition not only to defend their Premier League crown next season, but also to build for future success. Wirtz racked up 16 goals and 15 assists in 45 matches during his last season with Leverkusen, sparking excitement about how he could bolster Arne Slot's team. Wirtz did not feature in the team's first pre-season friendly against Preston North End, but he did get a run-out in a behind-closed-doors 5-0 victory over Stoke City, where he had a hand in two goals. While fans eagerly await Wirtz's Liverpool debut, the club's social media team shared footage of the 22-year-old wowing his new Liverpool team-mates during a training session on the team's pre-season tour. The video showed Wirtz participating in a training exercise, starting with the midfielder receiving a pass with his back to goal. He played the ball back before darting down the channel, seamlessly taking control of the return pass. As defenders closed him down and narrowed the angle, Wirtz coolly chipped the goalkeeper, eliciting cheers from his team-mates. An off-camera voice exclaimed, 'Oh my goodness,' in awe of Wirtz's finish. He casually returned to his position with a hint of a smile after showcasing his skills. Fellow new signing Jeremie Frimpong has already hinted at what his ex-Leverkusen colleague will add to the Liverpool team. "Just expect a winner. He's a very, very, very special player and for me, he's a very hard-working guy," Frimpong said to Sky Sports. "The league will love him – I haven't got to talk too much, just watch him! "Flo, he doesn't crumble under pressure – he likes pressure. He's a guy that likes pressure. I feel like when you're on the pitch you forget about everything, you just enjoy football, you just play and Flo is one of the guys who makes you enjoy football. "Just seeing how he plays. He's going to be perfect and he's playing with Liverpool players [too] – so he's going to be perfect. He's going to be fine." Echoing Frimpong's sentiments, Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has also praised Wirtz: "I think everyone knows Florian and also here in training he is a really good player: technical, really good vision," he said. "So I am really happy that he is here and I can't wait for the season to start also to play with him." Wirtz will hope to get some game time in the club's friendly with AC Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday. The Reds will then face J1 League side Yokohama F. Marinos next week. New signing Hugo Ekitike joined up with the Liverpool squad in Hong Kong earlier this week after his switch from Eintracht Frankfurt. Andy Robertson has discussed how the club's experienced players have taken responsibility for helping the new recruits, like Wirtz and Ekitike, settle in quickly. "When you look at the four older players or the leaders, with me, Ali [Becker], Virg [van Dijk] and Mo [Salah], then we take that upon ourselves to try to let them settle in as easy as possible, try to integrate them into the squad as quickly as possible," Robertson told "We take great pride in that. We were all young before, we've all needed help going into squads. We still help the young lads as much as we can. "When it is new players, helping them settle in – finding houses, even just getting them settled with their family, because we know how important that is – it's so important."
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
England's opponents STILL desperate to escape World Cup kiss-gate drama: 'Stained' Spain want to win Euros final to relive the moment sleazy FA chief Luis Rubiales 'stole' from them
When England line up against world champions Spain on Sunday, they'll do so not only for silverware – but against the backdrop of a story that has, in many ways, transcended football itself. The last time these two teams met in a major tournament final, the furore that followed – protests, boycotts and even a hunger strike – overshadowed the historic achievement of Spain's victory on the pitch. Where celebrations and street parties should have erupted, the country instead found itself gripped by national unrest and a #MeToo movement that shook the very foundations of Spanish society. From a footballing perspective, tensions had been building for months ahead of the 2023 World Cup final – most notably with the protest of 'Las 15', a group of players who made themselves unavailable for selection in September 2022. Their decision was a stand against poor player welfare, with particular focus on head coach Jorge Vilda and his management style. Among their concerns were his questionable tactical acumen and alleged controlling behaviour. Vilda was reportedly known to enter players' hotel rooms at night to talk, ask who they were meeting for coffee, and inspect their shopping bags. He was also widely viewed as a stooge of Luis Rubiales, the President of Spain's Football Federation. Despite the absence of 12 of the 15 players and the turmoil behind the scenes, Spain fought their way to the final and triumphed – beating England 1–0, despite Mary Earps ' penalty save. And then came the moment that set everything ablaze – when Rubiales kissed midfielder Jenni Hermoso as she made her way to the stage to lift the trophy alongside her team-mates. The fallout was seismic. Rubiales insisted the kiss was consensual; Hermoso said it was not. Initial reaction to the incident on the country's most popular late-night radio sports show, 'El Partidazo de la Cope', ranged from shrugging indifference to outright defence of Rubiales. 24 hours later, the programme's host, Juanma Castano, issued a solemn apology, saying he 'didn't consider the difference in power and it's true that it's a boss kissing an employee'. The world took sides – and so did Spain's players. 81 of them, including all 23 World Cup winners, announced they would not return to international duty while Rubiales remained in post. His mother went on hunger strike in support of her son. Within a month, the Federation yielded. Vilda was dismissed, and Rubiales eventually stepped down. Montse Tome, Vilda's assistant, was appointed head coach – the first woman to hold the role. Rubiales would later be found guilty of sexual assault, though acquitted of coercion. Netflix later released a documentary entitled 'It's All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football', and the story continued to dominate headlines, sparking a wider cultural movement. Now, almost two years on, Spain stand on the brink of another major final. But a sense of unresolved tension lingers – a tug-of-war between the desire to focus on football and the reality that the process of healing and rebuilding trust remains unfinished. Keira Walsh, England's midfielder and a former Barcelona player with close ties to many in the Spain squad, spoke candidly on Thursday: 'Experiencing what it was like in Spain, I think they probably could have had more,' she said. Now, Spain are in a tug-of-war between the desire to focus on football and the reality that the process of healing and rebuilding trust 'The way our league jumped after we won the Euros, if you compare it to Spain, it probably wasn't the same. They had just won the World Cup, and they could have had more support. 'After the game there was all the controversy, and I don't think there was enough spotlight on how incredibly they had played. It was all about everything else and as a professional that was difficult to see.' Tome has faced her own challenges – chief among them earning the trust of a squad that once viewed her as part of the old guard. Some of that mistrust stemmed from her public support of Rubiales, applauding him when he declared he was 'not going to step aside'. Notably absent from her Euros squad is Hermoso – the official line due to 'competition for places', though the decision has raised eyebrows. But there is a sense that the players want the focus to return to the pitch, rather than remain off it. After all, they boast one of the most formidable midfields in the women's game, led by Patri, Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas. Patri, who returned last year from a two-year exile alongside Claudia Pina after receiving assurances from the RFEF that changes would be made, has lit up this year's tournament – as has Pina. As former player and veteran journalist Sandra Riquelme put it: 'The price to pay has been very high, just ask Jenni Hermoso. But without justifying it, if it has served to bring about the biggest change in the history of Spanish football, then good has come of it.'
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Viktor Gyokeres finally gets his wish as Arsenal-bound striker boards private jet to London after going on strike at Sporting to seal £64m move
Viktor Gyokeres has boarded a flight to London after Arsenal reportedly reached total agreement for the transfer of the Sweden star. The Gunners had been in prolonged negotiations with Sporting Lisbon for the forward's transfer, and are now believed to have agreed a deal, with personal terms not an issue. Gyokeres' agency, HC Media, shared footage of Gyokeres boarding what appeared to be a private jet to make his way to the English capital to finalise the move. More to follow.
