England in the semi-finals and Manchester United's infamous five
On the podcast today; an extraordinary comeback from the Lionesses against Sweden that culminated in a hugely entertaining penalty shootout. Whatever 'proper English' means in the context of this team let's hope they can manage it for two more games.
Elsewhere, possibly the game of the tournament and certainly the best save so far as Germany beat France on penalties and there's some depressing and predictable online racism aimed at Jess Carter to discuss.
Plus, Manchester United's five-man bomb squad, concerns for Brentford and your questions answered.
Support the Guardian here.
You can also find Football Weekly on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
4 minutes ago
- Metro
Ian Wright names 'major favourite' for 2027 Women's World Cup after England win
Ian Wright picked out the USA as the biggest threat to England's hopes of winning the next World Cup after the Lionesses successfully defended their European Championship crown on Sunday evening. Sarina Wiegman's side were once again forced to come from behind after Mariona Caldentey broke the deadlock for Spain, the world champions, in the 25th minute of Sunday's nerve-shredding final in Basel. Just as they had done against Sweden and Italy previously, the Lionesses dug deep and found an equaliser, with Alessia Russo heading home Chloe Kelly's pinpoint cross to make it all square just before the hour-mark. The two teams could not be separated after extra-time and it was England who eventually prevailed after another dramatic shootout, with the contest ending 3-1 in favour of the holders. The Lionesses' latest triumph represents the first time in history that an English team have won a major tournament on foreign soil, three years on from the side's famous victory over Germany at Wembley. 'No, I can't believe it!' an emotional Wiegman told BBC Sport in the immediate aftermath of England's victory. 'We said we can win by any means and that's what we have shown again today. I am so proud of the team and the staff. It is incredible.' Asked if she was shocked to win the trophy for a second time on the trot, Wiegman replied: 'Yes, yes. 'I just can't believe it. I have a medal around my neck and we have a trophy. 'It has been the most chaotic tournament on the pitch – all the challenges we had on the pitch against our opponent. 'From the first game it was your first game and becoming European Champions is incredible. Football is chaos.' USA head coach Emma Hayes, who was on punditry duty for ITV, said she had greatly enjoyed watching England up close across the tournament and how they were being managed by Wiegman. And while the ex-Chelsea boss admitted she was looking forward to the 2027 World Cup, she was keen to stress that the USA's qualification was not a foregone conclusion. 'I'm an international manager and I get the opportunity to learn from two of the best teams in the world, not just in terms of how they play but also how they're being managed in all the things that come with tournament football,' Hayes said. 'I was English for 120 minutes, but these two to the right of me [Wright and Karen Carney] have abandoned me now that we're talking about 2027. 'Listen, I cannot wait for it but as we know, we have to qualify for these tournaments and the USA haven't qualified yet.' In response, legendary ex-England and Arsenal striker Wright insisted Hayes' USA side were the overwhelming favourites to lift the trophy in two years' time. 'They're the favourites, they're the ones to beat. They're so good, they're so good!' Wright said. 'If we get anywhere near them I'd be really happy because they're the ones, they're major favourites.' Despite their painful defeat, Wright is confident Spain will bounce back and be a 'problem' for opposition teams in 2027. 'You can't ignore France either, they seem to be really close,' Wright added. 'I don't know what's missing from them, but there's something missing from them. 'Spain as well, if you look from the forwards point of view, if they can get that centre-forward, because that's what they were missing today. 'If they can get that centre-forward to finish it off then Spain will be a problem. 'They need to do that in the next two years, they need to find that. It might be enough time, it might not. But if they do find that forward then Spain will be a problem.' Former England winger Karen Carney, meanwhile, feels Italy could be a dark horse for the World Cup after their 'exceptional' run to the semi-finals in Switzerland this summer. More Trending Asked if Italy could be in with a shot of the title, Carney replied: 'Yeah, I think they were exceptional. 'They're just developing, probably, a little too soon for them for this tournament. 'Every time there's a European Championship, there's a beacon and everyone is investing and getting better and stronger and every tournament we say that it's the most competitive. That's the levels. It keeps growing and growing and that's the way is should be. 2027 will be exceptional.' Are the USA the team to beat ahead of the World Cup? MORE: England warrior reveals she played whole of Euro 2025 with brutal injury MORE: Hannah Hampton was told she would never play football due to a serious eye condition MORE: Hannah Hampton reveals message Sarina Wiegman gave England players before shootout drama
The Independent
4 minutes ago
- The Independent
Luke Littler beats James Wade to win first World Matchplay crown in Blackpool
Luke Littler won his first World Matchplay crown as James Wade's remarkable run in Blackpool fell at the final hurdle. Littler claimed a hard-fought 18-13 victory at the Winter Gardens to become the fifth player to win the PDC Triple Crown – Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Luke Humphries having also won World Championship, Matchplay and Premier League titles. Wade was in his seventh Matchplay final 18 years on from his solitary success in 2007, which came six months after Littler was born. Littler's scoring power in a high-quality contest proved decisive – he hit 17 180s to Wade's six in averaging 107 – and set a new tournament record of 64 maximums, beating Adrian Lewis' previous best of 56. 'It means absolutely everything,' Littler told Sky Sports after winning the last four legs to hold the Phil Taylor Trophy aloft. 'I idolise Phil, he's come here 16 times and won it. Now my name is on this trophy – and I can say I've completed the Triple Crown. 'Since I started on the Tour and got my Tour card I've always said to myself, 'as long as I win one of every major I'll be happy.' 'I've only got a few left to tick off and I'll definitely chase the majors I haven't won yet.' Littler had to mount another comeback 24 hours after losing the first five legs of his semi-final to Northern Ireland's Josh Rock. Wade stormed into a 5-0 lead but did not have a single dart at a double in the second mini-session as Littler levelled in style. The 42-year-old left-hander produced an 11-darter in the next, but Littler responded by winning successive legs to lead for the first time at 7-6. Wade managed to keep in touch, helped by a bull finish in the 19th leg, and fought back from a double break down to cut the gap to just one at 14-13. But Littler pulled away and crossed the line in style with a 115 out shot (20-57-38), the biggest finish of the match. 'A little bit,' Littler said when asked if he had felt in control. 'Five-nil down once again, I said, 'I've been here before, what are you doing?' 'But I managed to pull it out of the bag and win the next five. I've shown I can come back from 5-0 or 7-3 down. 'I'm happy I can pull myself out of these scorelines, but I don't want to be 5-0 down again. 'James started to drop off a bit and I started to find my best darts.' By winning the title 18-year-old Littler became the youngest ever champion in Matchplay history, six years younger than Wade when he lifted the title.
The Independent
4 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sarina Wiegman details how England claimed glory at ‘chaotic and ridiculous' Euro 2025
England manager Sarina Wiegman hailed her team for coming through the 'most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played' after leading the Lionesses to Euro 2025 glory in Basel. England defeated world champions Spain on penalties to defend their European title as Hannah Hampton made crucial saves in the shootout and Chloe Kelly scored the decisive kick. The Lionesses led for just four minutes and 52 seconds during the knockout stages of the tournament, requiring comebacks and late goals to get over the line and become the first England team to win a major title on foreign soil. 'I must admit that I always think this is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played,' Wiegman said. 'But every time we could come back, because quarter-final, semi-final, and now, in the final, we came from behind [to win]. 'Of course, we have players that have talent and the togetherness of this team is really, really incredible. But also the belief that we can come back. The players say, 'We can win by any means.' We just never, ever give up.' Wiegman, who has now won three European championships in a row as a manager, added: 'I'm very happy. I actually can't believe it myself. How can this happen? But it happened. I'm so incredibly proud of the team and the staff. We're just going to party tonight.' Wiegman also praised Lucy Bronze after the defender revealed she had played through the entirety of Euro 2025 with a fractured tibia. Bronze, 33, is the oldest member of England's squad and started all six games during the tournament, including their dramatic penalty shootout win over Spain in the final. Bronze also defied injury to play a key part in England's quarter-final comeback over Sweden and was eventually forced off with a knee injury during extra time of the final. She could not walk on the pitch during England's celebrations in Basel, requiring a piggyback from goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse when the Lionesses ran towards their fans. 'I've played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia, but nobody kne,w and I've hurt my knee today,' Bronze told the BBC moments after the final whistle. 'Her mentality, the whole team has an incredible mentality, but she has a crazy mentality, it's unbelievable,' Wiegman said. England will celebrate their victory with a bus parade in London on Tuesday, and Wiegman said she hopes winning another trophy will help the growth of women's football. 'I hope it will boost the women's game even more, not only in England, but beyond,' Wiegman said. 'I think how I've experienced this tournament is that the level went up again. 'This tournament broke every record again, with the spectators, the views on television and that's great.'
