Wales eye Nations Cup third after loss to Uruguay
Wales' hopes of reaching the inaugural FIH Women's Nations Cup 2 final were dashed by Uruguay in Walcz, Poland.The South Americans came back from 1-0 down to secure their spot in Sunday's final.Wales will instead go on to face the loser of Saturday's second semi-final, France or hosts Poland (17:45 BST) for third place on Sunday. Uruquay will take on the winners.Anja Atkin struck first for Wales, in the second quarter but Manuela Vilar levelled and Teresa Viana ensured her side's win with a third quarter penalty stroke.
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The Guardian
39 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Elliot Anderson's penalty sees off Spain as England Under-21s reach Euros' last four
Lee Carsley said this week that achieving back-to-back European titles at under-21 level could help to enhance the reputation of British coaches, not to mention this group of young England players. An impressive quarter-final victory over pre-tournament favourites Spain intent on dishing out revenge will certainly not have done either any harm. Having struggled to reach the last eight with an inexperienced squad that is one of the youngest in Slovakia, goals from James McAtee and Harvey Elliott – both of whom have uncertain futures at their clubs – and a late penalty from Elliot Anderson sealed another triumph for Carsley over the same opponents England saw off in the 2023 final. With the Netherlands up next in Wednesday's semi-final in Bratislava, he is now two matches away from matching Dave Sexton's feat of winning this competition in 1982 and 1984. Spain have become regular opponents for England in the latter stages of various youth tournaments over recent years, although only their coach, Santi Denia, remained from their bad-tempered defeat in the final of this competition two years ago in Georgia when both sides had a member of the coaching staff and a player sent off. Denia has had to do without players such as Lamine Yamal – who will still be eligible for this tournament in 2029 – and Real Madrid's new signing Dean Huijsen, but has built a team around the Valencia playmaker Javi Guerra that sailed through the group stages. It seemed that England might be overwhelmed in the first two minutes when Diego López headed over from close range and the Italian referee, Simone Sozza, pointed to the spot after a powerful shot from López struck Charlie Cresswell on the arm. But the video assistant referee saw it differently and – to the Toulouse defender's relief as he pumped his fist in celebration – the penalty was overturned. That proved to be the wake-up call England needed. McAtee looks set to leave Manchester City this summer, having been allowed to play here rather than travel to the Club World Cup, and showed his eye for goal when he was quickest to react after Spain made a hash of clearing Alex Scott's corner. Jarell Quansah was the architect of the second after Birmingham's Jay Stansfield, leading the line as one of four changes from the defeat by Germany in midweek, forced a loose pass. The Liverpool defender is on the verge of joining Bayer Leverkusen for £30m, while Elliott's future at Anfield is also in question after the arrival of Florian Wirtz from the German club. But when Quansah strode forward and unleashed a shot that was not convincingly saved, Elliott was on hand to turn in the rebound. Suddenly England were rampant as Tino Livramento came close to extending their lead when he forced Alejandro Iturbe into a save at his near post. Spain looked dazed and were grateful to be handed a lifeline from the spot. Scott gave the ball away in a dangerous area and when Quansah tripped Alberto Moleiro, this time there was no debate as Guerra swept home the penalty. England looked determined to finish the job at the start of the second half. But Stansfield's touch let him down following another surging run from Quansah and his shot deflected over, with Cresswell heading the corner inches wide. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Anderson – a surprise omission for Liverpool's Tyler Morton having started all three group stage games – was brought on with Jonathan Rowe as Carsley rolled the dice. Denia also made two changes, with James Beadle forced into a double save to keep out Guerra. There were hearts in mouths when a cross from the right fizzed across the six-yard area but Cresswell came to England's rescue with an acrobatic clearance. Spain continued to press for an equaliser and Jack Hinshelwood could have settled Carsley's nerves had he directed a free header from Anderson's cross on target rather than over the crossbar. But when Jonathan Rowe was brought down by Iturbe in injury time, Anderson made no mistake with his penalty and even some unsavoury scenes at the final whistle when members of the Spain bench provoked a confrontation will not have dampened England's delight.
The Sun
42 minutes ago
- The Sun
Chaos as England's U21s Euros quarter-final win over Spain ends in mass brawl as Ashley Cole is forced to step in
CHAOS erupted at the final whistle as England beat Spain 3-1 to set up an Euro U21 semi-final against Holland. The holders will battle the Dutch in Bratislava on Wednesday for a place in the European Championship final. 6 6 6 6 6 6 James McAtee and Harvey Elliott showed the precision of a Spanish archer to take the lead in a lightning quick start before Eliot Anderson wrapped things up with a late penalty. Despite handing their much-fancied opponents a lifeline before the break, England held firm in Tranava to roar on. But the match ended in chaos as players from both sides clashed in a touchline fracas, with former Leeds man Charlie Cresswell at the centre of things. Tempers spilled over as unsettling scenes of shirt-grabbing and shoving took centre stage. And it even needed Chelsea legend and England coach Ashley Cole to step in and break up the ruckus amid fears of a red card for a Young Lion. Six members of Lee Carsley's army headed to the Stadion Antona Malatinskeho, where Big Sam Allardyce won his only game in charge of England in 2016, with happy memories. Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Jarell Quansah, Alex Scott, Samuel Iling-Junior and Ronnie Edwards were all returning to the scene of their 2022 Under-19 Euro triumph with England. And it proved to be a happy hunting ground once again as they refused to relinquish their grip on the trophy. Only Quansah and Scott out of them started here as Carsley rang the changes after Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Germany. In came Tino Livramento for Iling-Junior, Tyler Morton replaced Elliot Anderson in midfield, captain James McAtee took over from Ethan Nwaneri. The fourth, and biggest eyebrow raiser, was the inclusion of Birmingham City's Jay Stansfield over Jonathan Rowe as Carsley opted for a more traditional No9 in attack for the first time this tournament. Meanwhile, Leeds striker Mateo Joseph, whose father is cousins with ex-England star Emile Heskey, was the man tasked with leading the Spanish attack against the Three Lions. Though our boys had more than just him to worry. England u21s clash with Germany SUSPENDED as stadium plunged into semi-darkness and players taken off pitch In-demand Valencia midfield duo Javi Guerra and Diego Lopez and Las Palmas' Alberto Moleiro were the three matadors ordered to provide the magic for him. Lopez was straight into it, heading over before a minute had passed and then 30 seconds later his shot hit Charlie Cresswell's arm and the ref pointed to the spot. Fortunately, England survived as a VAR check led to the Italian official Simone Sozza overturning his decision. And Carsley's men roared back to turn a potential nightmare start into a dream one. Alex Scott's corner flicked off a defender's head and the Spaniards failed to deal with and allowed McAtee to pounce and drill home from eight yards. Moments later the Young Lions doubled their advantage when Quansah powered forward and thundered a strike towards goal. It was too much for Alejandro Iturbe, and Elliott reacted quickest to slot home after the keeper spilled it. Spain were stunned and struggled to threaten until they were gifted a way back into it. Scott's sloppiness allowed Moleiro to nick it, dart into the box before going down after colliding with Quansah's outstretched left leg. Guerra, after a lengthy delay, kept his cool to send James Beadle the wrong way to leave the game on a knife edge going into the break. England shot out the traps after the restart as Quansah found Omari Hutchinson on the edge of the box. The Ipswich winger's brilliant backheel set Stansfield free, but his strike was deflected over. Cresswell headed Elliot's corner into the side-netting but it was Beadle's heroics that kept their lead on the hour with a superb double save to deny Guerra. Spain were beginning to pile on the pressure as Cresswell threw his body in front of a stinger from Moleiro. But for all of their play and passing, they just could not find a way through as their hopes died right at the death when Beadle saved low down from Roberto Fernandez. Nottingham Forest ace Anderson then stepped up to the spot to fire home a penalty at the death, knocking the stuffing out of Spain for good. It was a display to make Sir Francis Drake proud. Now bring on the Dutch.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
'Boys saying they've never won for Wales hurts'
Wing Josh Adams says it hurts that some of his Wales team-mates having not experienced an international national men's side are on a record 17-match Test losing sequence as they prepare for a two match tour of Japan in July. Wales have slipped to a new low of 12th place in the world rankings with the previous international win against Georgia in October contrast, Adams was part of a Wales side that won a record 14 games and reached number one in the world in August 2019."It hurts me when some boys say they've never won for Wales," said Adams."It's horrible when they say things like that because of the things I've experienced. "I didn't know how to lose at one stage for Wales. Even when we weren't playing well we managed to win." 'There will be a tipping point' Adams, 30, is confident Wales can halt the losing streak. "We probably have just got a little bit lost and are trying to find our way back now," said Adams."That'll come because the talent is there. I know I see it every day, these boys are as good as what we've had and are good enough to produce and win."It's just confidence is a huge thing."The British and Irish Lions wing says the desire and commitment is there to change Wales' fortunes."It is horrible to question that, although I know it can be questioned when you are looking in because of the results and magnitude of some of them," said Adams. "That hurts the playing group. They have lost and lost badly on occasions, but it doesn't affect the amount of effort that goes in. That can never be questioned. "There will be a tipping point. We all believe that and hope it will be this summer. "Adams says the squad have spoken about the situation they are in."It's something we have addressed because there is no point in not talking about things," said Adams."The more open and vulnerable we can make each other as players in speaking about different aspects of the game and life, the easier it becomes to talk about difficult things." Changes to Wales working week Former head coach Warren Gatland left in February during the Six Nations with his permanent successor yet to be is hoping Wales will benefit in Japan from the new-look coaching team that is led again by caretaker boss Matt Sherratt and includes backroom staff Danny Wilson, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Rhys Thomas and Leigh Halfpenny. "It has been brilliant and exactly what the squad needed with a new way of looking at the schedule," said Adams."Meeting times have changed, how we do weights and at what time. Everything feels new, which is a good thing because it has freshened things up."The addition of Danny and Gethin for the summer is brilliant." Return to Japan Adams has fond memories of Japan having been the World Cup's top try-scorer with seven when Wales reached the semi-finals in years on, he is only one of four survivors from that squad alongside Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith and Aaron an inexperienced squad heading to Japan, Adams is the most capped back with 61 Wales internationals, with only Test centurion Taulupe Faletau boasting more wing Adams is back fit after missing the final three Six Nations defeats because of a hamstring injury."I got back for the last six games of the season," said Adams. "That meant I had probably the longest consecutive run of matches I've had in at least a season and a half and I'm feeling good at the minute." Being pushed to the limit The new-look squad have spent the past few weeks attempting to acclimatise to the searing heat and humidity expected in Kitakyushu and coach Eddie Jones has stated he wants to run Wales around in matches that will be played in the have replicated the tactics sides adopted in the 2019 World Cup by training with wet balls to become used to the greasy conditions. They have also had intense gym sessions in a heat chamber at Wales' training base where temperatures are ramped up to 36 degrees and 87% has experienced previous brutal fitness sessions with Wales in Switzerland and Turkey and rates the latest conditions as some of the toughest he has experienced."Some boys were saying 'that's the hardest thing I've ever done' and it's got to be in the top three worst I've felt after a session," said Adams."It was really bad, genuine, because it's so stuffy."There's certain times and calories you've got to do, but you're all crammed in there, so it's uncomfortable when you're knackered."You want a bit of space just to breathe, but you can't because it's so hot and stuffy and everyone's rubbing against each other. You're trying to not agitate each other because it's so cramped."But the boys have managed pretty well, no one's tapped out yet, so we're doing alright." Replenishing fluids The gruelling conditions led to some players losing up to 5kg in one session. "We're weighing in before and after, we take one bottle of water which is rationed for the whole session," said Adams."Not because they want to be horrible, but it gives them a better gauge of how much fluids we lose and it's a considerable amount of weight. "There's a lot of fluid then you've got to drink to get your body back to some sort of base level."Adams says one of the worst parts is "cooling down as you let your body regulate the temperature"."They don't want us hopping in ice baths because you can't do that in the game," said Adams."It's trying to get your body to regulate this body temperature and back to normal."We have done these off-field conditioning sessions and then come straight down and got into some skills."It's trying to copy what the climate would be like out there as best we can and make it as comfortable as it can, so we're in a good space to cope with anything."
