Euro 2025: Spain's style vs. England's will to win sets up fascinating final
How they got to Basel on Sunday is a whole other story.
Spain has mostly cruised through its five games except for a late scare in a tense semifinal against Germany . England has trailed for long periods of three games and survived being on the brink of elimination in both knockout games.
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New York Times
a minute ago
- New York Times
Broncos' Bo Nix sharpening himself in training camp battles with Pat Surtain II
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The interesting thing about the NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year is that you can go long stretches without noticing him. Avoiding Pat Surtain II is generally wise quarterbacking business. So the Broncos' star cornerback can go most or all of a practice without having the ball thrown in his direction. Luckily for Surtain, Bo Nix covets a challenge, especially during a training camp in which he is trying to sharpen his skills heading into his highly anticipated second season. Nix has not been afraid to target Surtain in recent days, even after being burned by the ball-hawking corner. Advertisement On Friday, Surtain picked off a pass that was intended for Courtland Sutton, lurking in what coach Sean Payton called a 'blind area' and then surging from an underneath position to pick off a pass. During a simulated scrimmage Saturday, Surtain made a similar play when he read Nix rolling out on a bootleg and put himself into position to intercept a pass that sailed between a pair of receivers. It's the kind of locked-in anticipation Broncos head coach Sean Payton has come to expect from the league's top cornerback. 'He's one of those players where the ball kind of finds him,' the coach said of Surtain, who tied a career-high with four interceptions last season en route to becoming the first cornerback to win the league's top defensive honor since 2019. 'Part of that is his length and his ability to deflect the pass. He's a rare athlete.' Payton learned early after taking the Broncos' job in 2023 that Surtain, who played for Nick Saban at Alabama, could be challenged. So he shared an observation with the young cornerback. 'With Pat, and I talked to him about it, I said, 'Man, anytime we get one of these elite receivers, you're out there and it's clinic film. And then, periodically, there'll be a guy we don't even know catch a deep ball.' It's that mental focus of, each week, if it's not an elite receiver, it's still a capable receiver. So I think you began to see that discipline, regardless of who he was lined up over.' Nix, though, didn't shy away after being picked off by Surtain — twice. During a red-zone session later in the practice, Nix opted to target Sutton again in a one-on-one matchup with Surtain. Nix arched a perfect fade ball to the 6-foot-4 receiver, who was able to keep Surtain at bay with his body while he leaped up and snatched the ball for a touchdown. Advertisement Sutton and Surtain have relished their one-on-one matchups so far in camp, and the frequency has ramped up over the last week since Sutton jumped into more team reps in the wake of signing a four-year, $92 million contract extension. 'Court is my brother, so every time we come out here, we're looking to compete and get better,' Surtain said earlier in camp. 'You can just tell each and every year he's looking to get better himself, so I feel like we haven't even seen the best of him yet — even though he's been so great. I think sharpening each other's craft is going to make each other better each and every day, so I'm looking forward to those battles.' The structured scrimmage — the Broncos interspersed special team periods between six-play offensive segments at various parts of the field — featured a strong start by Nix. He maneuvered in the pocket to find Devaughn Vele on a crossing route for a big gain, hit Troy Franklin on an out route of about 15 yards in front of Surtain and then made a throw on the opposite sideline to Trent Sherfield to pick up a first down. The second set of plays was dominated by the defense. Dondrea Tillman shut down running back RJ Harvey near the line of scrimmage. Riley Moss blanketed Marvin Mims to force an incompletion. Zach Allen, who signed a four-year, $102 million extension Saturday, demonstrated his dominance when he pushed away All-Pro guard Quinn Meinerz with one hand and wrapped up Harvey with the other. Allen later had a would-be sack of Nix during a red-zone period. Nix followed with the touchdown to Sutton, and his backups had a couple of impressive scoring throws of their own. Jarrett Stidham fired a tight pass in the end zone to Franklin, who shook his defender with a crisp slant route. Third-string quarterback Sam Ehlinger had the throw of the day, hitting undrafted rookie Jerjuan Newton on a deep ball up the seam for a touchdown of about 50 yards. Advertisement The scrimmage ended a stretch of six straight days for the Broncos, will have Sunday off. • Allen after practice said he was still trying to process the fact that he had signed a life-changing extension. It wasn't something that was easy to envision five years ago. Midway through his second season — after missing most of his rookie year due to injury — Allen said he played 'the worst game of my life' for the Arizona Cardinals against the Los Angeles Rams. 'I was in the parking lot and I was talking to Charlie Bullen, one of our coaches, and I said, 'I'm going to get cut,'' Allen said Saturday. 'I came home and told my fiancée, Molly, 'You know what, I have a finance degree. We can move back East. I guess I'll be working in an office.' But, again, it's a testament to everyone in my life who has helped me get here. You just have to be gritty and take it day by day. It's never over. It's crazy to think we're here. It hasn't fully hit me yet.' Here to stay! ✍️ @TheZALLEN44 ✍️ — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 2, 2025 Both Payton and Allen praised the negotiation process, with both frequently using the word 'trust' to describe how the deal came together. Payton said he spoke with Allen in recent days, as an agreement was nearing, and said, 'Our ships can see each other on the horizon.' 'Periodically, there is a player that comes up (for an extension) where you say to yourself, 'If we're not willing to pay him, who are we paying?'' Payton said of Allen, who led all defensive players in the NFL last season with 37 quarterback hits, according to TruMedia. 'It's a credit to both sides with how it progressed.' • Moss has been having a consistently strong camp. He stuck to Mims on three long routes in the last two practices of the week and forced incompletions every time, including a pass breakup on a third-down play Saturday. Another standout on defense: second-year pass rusher Jonah Elliss, who had a quick sack of Stidham during the opening team drill for the second units. (Top photo of Bo Nix: Isaiah J. Downing / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Starmer hints Lionesses will be honoured after Euro 2025 triumph
Sir Keir Starmer has suggested England's Lionesses will receive honours after their dramatic Euro 2025 victory, declaring: 'Recognition is coming.' The Lionesses became back-to-back European champions after beating Spain in a penalty shoot-out in Basel last Sunday – the first senior England side to lift a major trophy overseas. The Prime Minister praised the players for inspiring a generation, including his own daughter, and for representing 'decency, fairness and respect'. Among those tipped for recognition are Chloe Kelly, who scored the decisive penalty in the final, and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who saved two Spanish spot-kicks. Head coach Sarina Wiegman, who led England to the win, could be made an honorary dame. The Cabinet Office oversees the honours process and recipients are not confirmed until they are officially announced, but sporting heroes have often been rewarded. After the Lionesses' 2022 win, captain Leah Williamson was made an OBE, while Lucy Bronze, Beth Mead and Ellen White received MBEs. Sir Keir said the Lionesses' success was about 'more than football', citing their resilience in coming from behind against Sweden, Italy and Spain, and their stand against racist abuse during the tournament. Writing in The Sun on Sunday, he said: 'When the Lionesses put that England shirt on, they stand for what we stand for together: England, in all its glory, with our shared history and values. 'The pride, resilience and unity that define this team define the very best of who we are.' He added: 'What Sarina and our Lionesses have achieved is nothing short of remarkable. So recognition is coming – and it will be worthy of their historic success.' The Government, he said, was committed to delivering a legacy of 'equal access to all sport for girls and boys' in schools – a key demand from the squad after their 2022 triumph. 'The Lionesses have made an entire nation proud,' he said. 'We're determined to deliver a legacy they can be proud of too.'
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ricky Pearsall's journey from gunshot wound to 49ers' key receiver
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Ricky Pearsall's rookie season for the San Francisco 49ers never really got off the ground. Nagging injuries kept him out of almost all of training camp and then he was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt by a 17-year-old in San Francisco about a week before the start of the season Pearsall survived the shooting and made it back on the field for the final 11 games, but wasn't able to truly show why he was picked in the first round by the Niners. 'I just felt like I was behind the eight ball,' Pearsall said. 'I like to say that I rolled out of bed and started running routes because I damn near did. You can't really rehab a gunshot wound. So I basically rolled out of bed and started running routes in Week 7. ... From that Week 7 and on, that was my training camp. Those practices in between, before the games, that was my training camp, for me.' Pearsall made an immediate impact after getting back on the field and had a 46-yard TD catch in a Week 9 win at Tampa Bay. He then caught only two passes over the next five games as he struggled to become a consistent part of the offense. Pearsall thought he was still getting open during that stretch yet just didn't get the ball that way, but it isn't so simple in San Francisco's complex offense based so heavily on timing. Sometimes he would make an extra move to get off press coverage at the line or take an extra step to open down the field, but it was too late for quarterback Brock Purdy. 'We had a couple of those moments and there were times where he took it a little deeper and then broke open.' Purdy said. "He was like, 'dude I was open.' I said in the timing of the play, I needed it quicker. So, we had moments like that, and that's part of getting to the NFL. ... I think toward the end of the last season, you saw Ricky come out his shell, he was playing within our system and timing." That was evident in the final two games when Pearsall had 14 catches for 210 yards and two TDs in a confidence-building finish to an otherwise difficult rookie season. Pearsall's late-season surge provided a rare bright spot at the end of a disappointing six-win season for the 49ers. His role is much more important in 2025 with Deebo Samuel having been traded to Washington in the offseason and Brandon Aiyuk expected to miss the start of the season recovering from knee surgery. San Francisco has few proven options at receiver with free agent acquisition Demarcus Robinson facing a possible suspension for a DUI arrest. Last year's leading wideout Jauan Jennings' status also is unknown as he is currently sidelined by a calf injury. Pearsall has carried over that performance to training camp where he has been San Francisco's best receiver since he returned from a hamstring injury. 'To be honest, I'm approaching it the same exact way," Pearsall said. "Whether those guys are in the room or not, that's just how I look at myself. I just got to be able to step in that role. That's just how I look at it. I look at myself as being able to be a guy that goes out there and makes plays. Whether they're there or not, that's how I look at myself.' The aftermath of the shooting is something that Pearsall is still dealing with 11 months later even if physically he is healthy once again. He has expressed an interest in talking to the 17-year-old charged in his shooting, but is focused first on getting himself right. "Unfortunately, I revisit that every single night I go to bed,' he said. 'I kind of just carry that with me. Now it's not as much as avoiding it and whether or revisiting it or not revisiting it. It's more about how I deal with it and the light I put on it. It's more a positive light and things I can get out of that, to try to inspire other people. As far as my own personal stuff, I've been doing a better job dealing with it, myself.' ___ AP NFL:
