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Rhyl Journal
17 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Sarina Wiegman hopes impact of England's Euros win reverberates around the world
Three summers ago, it would have been impossible to imagine a goal more significant than the one scored by substitute Chloe Kelly in extra-time at Wembley to fire England to their first major trophy. But Kelly came through again when it counted most, emphatically netting the winning penalty in Basel as England completed their third-consecutive comeback victory to defend that title with a 3-1 penalties triumph over world champions Spain. 'I hope it will boost the women's game even more, not only in England, but beyond,' said Wiegman, who secured a personal hat-trick of European trophies after leading the Netherlands to glory in 2017, followed by the Lionesses' back-to-back wins. 'How I've experienced this tournament is that the level went up again, the intensity of the games went through the roof. That's what we've seen. 'We've seen it in the games, but also in the data we have. I think this tournament broke every record again and that's great, and I hope that that will boost the women's game everywhere. 'I don't really know what to expect now in England, I think it will boost again.' The Switzerland edition set a new record for the highest-attended women's Euros with 657,291 fans through the gates – indeed, one of the criticisms of the host selection during this tournament was that the women's game had perhaps already outgrown its privision of stadia. The final was the most-watched television moment of 2025 across all UK TV broadcasters, drawing a peak live audience of 12.2 million. Wiegman said she was 'very much looking forward' to celebrating their achievement – a first trophy for a senior England football side on foreign soil – on Tuesday back in London, where an open-top bus parade and celebration in front of Buckingham Palace are planned. After booking their place in Sunday's final, where England avenged their loss to Spain in the 2023 World Cup showdown, Wiegman said she felt like she was in a film. It's a good morning to wake up as EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS! 🙌 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 And she and could still scarcely believe the ending they wrote in Basel, exclaiming: 'How can this happen? But it happened!' Kelly netted the extra-time winner against Italy in the semi-final, while it took another shootout against Sweden in the quarter-finals to book their place in the last four – after 19-year-old major-tournament debutant Michelle Agyemang scored vital equalisers from off the bench in both contests. Arsenal forward Mariona Caldentey's 25th-minute opener on Sunday ensured England would need to script a threequel to their incredible series of comebacks. Alessia Russo drew the sides level after the break, ultimately forcing the shootout when the 1-1 stalemate remained intact after extra-time. Two saves by player-of-the-match Hannah Hampton and Salma Paralluelo's miss set the stage for Kelly, who picked out the top left and underlined her name in England's history books. It was, admitted Wiegman, 'the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played'. Wiegman's players have praised their manager's pitch-perfect speeches throughout this campaign. On Sunday, she revealed: 'Right before we went on the pitch, I just said – I can't use all the words I said, I think – but the main message was 'enjoy it'. 'We've got so far now in this tournament, I think we created something again together. These are the moments you dream of, some couldn't even dream of because it wasn't possible when they were little kids. 'So go out there, enjoy it and play your very best game.'
The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
Ben Stokes' handshake row is a distraction – this England decision will decide India series
Even the conversation, Ben Stokes said, was 'ridiculous'. Injury substitutes, he argued, should not be a part of cricket. About 20 minutes earlier, the India coach Gautam Gambhir had provided the opposite answer. 'Imagine if you have to play with 10 men against 11, how unfortunate that would be?' he said after Rishabh Pant broke his foot. 'You stick me in an MRI scan and you'd get someone else in right away,' countered Stokes, with his ample experience of playing through the pain barrier. Pant will not play when these sides, after the briefest of pauses, reconvene at The Oval on Thursday. Stokes, following the furore surrounding his offer to shake hands before Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja reached centuries, is left pondering a different kind of substitutes, whether due to injury or fear of it, ineffectiveness or exhaustion, but at the start, not mid-match. England responded to the draw at Old Trafford by adding Jamie Overton to the squad, just as Stokes had said that they would veer from their usual policy of naming the team two days early. In different ways, there are reasons to wonder if any of their fast bowlers can fulfil the same role in the fifth Test. Stokes will play, almost regardless of medical advice. He didn't bowl on Saturday, was troubled by his bicep on Sunday and yet still produced the day's most menacing spell. Jasprit Bumrah is the world's top-ranked bowler but Stokes is the series' leading wicket-taker. Given the astonishing exploits, and longevity, of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, the threat Jofra Archer and Mark Wood posed at their best and Chris Woakes' record at home, it is a moot point if Stokes has ever been definitively England's best bowler. Now, at 34 and 115 Tests into his career, he is. But that reflects, too, on the rest of the attack. There is a case of changing each of the seamers. All four Tests have gone deep into the fifth day. The compressed nature of this series means these teams have played for 20 days since 20 June, with five more to come. It is a test of powers of resilience, but also strength in depth. Whether or not England have psychological scars from 143 overs in the field at Old Trafford, and only two wickets in the last 142 of them, they could be fatigued. Woakes and Brydon Carse have played all four Tests. Archer has played the last two, after just one first-class game since May 2021. It would seem a risk to then play him in three successive matches. It would also bring the question of whether they come with diminishing returns after five wickets at Lord's and four more expensive ones at Old Trafford. For Woakes, the series has brought 10 wickets at 52; for Carse, nine at 60. The 36-year-old may have bowled better than the figures suggested, particularly in the last two Tests, but not dramatically better. Carse went wicketless at Old Trafford: banging the ball in too short, getting too little movement, his average for the series against left-handers is over 200. Which, unless Usman Khawaja, Travis Head and Alex Carey suddenly and inexplicably start batting right-handed, could be an impediment in the Ashes. So England's chances of recording their most prestigious series win under Stokes' captaincy could come down to a second-string bowling unit. Liam Dawson, the only spinner in the squad, was summoned only because Shoaib Bashir was injured; the 35-year-old was more economical than the off-spinner probably would have been at Old Trafford, but arguably produced fewer potentially wicket-taking deliveries. Dawson's 47-over marathon in India's second innings was Jack Leach-esque: lending control but lacking the magic ball. Overton's last outing was inauspicious, with figures of 14-0-81-0 for Surrey at Scarborough. Gus Atkinson was omitted by his county then, sent to play Second XI cricket, where he took 2-64 and 1-29 against their Somerset counterparts. He has an outstanding Test record but has barely played this summer, though his total of six County Championship wickets is still four more than Overton's tally. Josh Tongue showed he could mop up the tail at Headingley but is short of top-order victims. They could comprise the fast bowlers, unless England press the weary into action again. And if India, who face a decision of their own about Bumrah, who has played the three Tests that was supposed to be his limit for the summer, win at The Oval; when their next matches are against West Indies in October, who they should be able to beat without him. And they, unlike England, definitely do need to take 20 wickets at The Oval. They need to win; though a lesson of the Bazball era is that someone will, with draws so rare. For both teams, there is a legacy at stake. For Shubman Gill and his new-look team, it could be the start of something; for Stokes, India and then an Ashes away provide the chance for a defining achievement. The first could depend on whether it is better to trust a tiring attack that, in two cases, has found wickets elusive or back-ups, in two cases, with little first-class cricket of late. It could be a decision with considerable repercussions. It all gives England bigger problems than a row than Stokes' offer to shake hands earlier than India were willing to. Sundar and Jadeja wanted to reach the centuries their efforts merited, even if it involved doing so against Harry Brook's odd attempts at off-spin. Its significance lay largely in revealing England's frustration at their rearguard action. But they will be rather more frustrated if a series victory slips through their grasp.
The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
Newcastle United transfer news: Benjamin Sesko, Yoane Wissa, Randal Kolo Muani and more
Having ended their trophy drought with Carabao Cup success last season, Newcastle United now have work to do in the transfer market. With a return to the Champions League, the Magpies need to strengthen their squad to compete at the highest level. Boss Eddie Howe has made it known that he is looking to work fast this summer, seemingly not wanting to repeat the sort of saga that saw Marc Guehi remain at Crystal Palace despite strong interest last summer. The Saudi-backed club were without any major recruits over the past two seasons due to PSR rules, but started the summer with a big move for Anthony Elanga – with the Nottingham Forest winger joining in a deal worth £55m – and are set to make more notable additions as they continue a pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike. Here's everything you need to know about Newcastle United 's summer transfer plans: There are four key areas of improvement this summer. The first is up front, with the club seemingly hunting for another striker to join - or potentially replace - the prolific Alexander Isak. Despite the club being desperate to hold onto their talisman, the Swede is exploring other options and seemingly wants to join Liverpool. Newcastle needed reinforcements on the right flank too as they prepare to do battle in the Champions League, and with squad depth likely playing a key part in their recruitment plan this summer, the club sealed a deal for Elanga earlier this month. In midfield, the Magpies have plenty of options, with the likes of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes probably in no need of additional support. However, another central defender would be a major plus as the club returns to Europe's top club competition, with Guehi having been the notable target last summer. Finally, Newcastle have been linked to signing a new goalkeeper, which has become an apparent area that would benefit from improvement. Despite Nick Pope's class, his injury record has sometimes meant Howe is forced to contend with his his back-up. James Trafford appeared to top the list of targets, but the Burnley stopper now looks set for a return to Manchester City. Done deals Ins: Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest, £55m), Antonito Cordero (Malaga, free transfer) Outs: Lloyd Kelly (Juventus, £15m), Sean Longstaff (Leeds United, £12m) Jamal Lewis (out of contract), Callum Wilson (out of contract) Potential targets Benjamin Sesko, RB Leipzig As the club braces for a monster bid from Liverpool for wantaway Isak, Newcastle are eyeing up RB Leipzig frontman Benjamin Sesko as his potential replacement. The Slovenian striker was heavily touted with a move to Arsenal earlier in the window, but the German club held firm on his £70m price tag. After already being pipped to Hugo Ekitike by the Reds, a hefty cash windfall from the sale of Isak would no doubt provide them with the funds to complete the move. Yoane Wissa, Brentford Newcastle are also said to now be interested in Brentford's Yoane Wissa as they look to bolster their attacking options. The Congo international could be available for around £50m, with the Bees holding that valuation for their record goalscorer, who grabbed 20 goals in all competitions last season. However, as Newcastle begin to accept the reality that they may now be without their superstar striker, their interest in Wissa - who would be seen as more of a support act to Isak - is starting to cool. Randal Kolo Muani, PSG Reports have emerged that the Magpies could be interested in Randal Kolo Muani after their failed pursuit of Ekitike. They are said to want a striker whether or not Isak leaves, and the PSG man – who spent last season on loan at Juventus – could be a good cut-price option. Axel Disasi, Chelsea Reports from France continue to link Axel Disasi to Newcastle, as was the case during the January window. Chelsea signed the centre-back for around £38m and could be open to a sale, with the Frenchman having spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa.
