Euro 2025: Netherlands ready to believe in miracles and win big against France to advance
The Dutch likely must beat an in-form France by three clear goals on Sunday to reach the quarterfinals, needing to make up ground after a 4-0 beating by England.
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Spain international emerges as shock Barcelona alternative to Marcus Rashford
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Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry 'a gift to our sport'
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They met for the first time in a major final at last month's French Open, with Alcaraz recovering from two sets and three championship points down to win an epic, before Sinner took this year's Wimbledon title. They are the first pair to contest the French Open and Wimbledon finals in the same year since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in 2008. There is little that separates the two in terms of the numbers. Sinner has won 20 titles to Alcaraz's 21. The Spaniard also has the edge in Grand Slams, with five to Sinner's four. Advertisement Alcaraz still leads the head-to-head 8-5 - but Sinner has now snapped a five-match losing streak against the world number two. The Italian has also halted Alcaraz's winning run at 24 matches. Their trajectories have been similar. Over the past two seasons, Sinner has won 99 of his 110 matches and lifted 10 titles. Alcaraz has won 102 of his 121 matches and won nine trophies. Sunday's final was the second time Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz had met at Wimbledon, with Sinner also winning their 2022 fourth-round encounter [Getty Images] The pair also have consistently high-quality matches. Only four of their 13 matches have been straight-set wins, and three of their five major meetings have gone the distance. Alcaraz has won all three of their five-set encounters. The first came at the 2022 US Open, an epic quarter-final that lasted five hours and 15 minutes and finished at almost 3am. Advertisement Both of their French Open meetings went the full five sets, with this year's final lasting a gruelling five hours and 29 minutes. 'I keep looking up to Carlos' - Sinner on Alcaraz Sinner is the less expressive of the pair on court, although he was noticeably fired up throughout the Wimbledon final, with shouts of "let's go!" and the occasional sharp word to his box. 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"I always say Andre Agassi saved men's tennis when he came back and these guys are saving men's tennis now." Former world number one John McEnroe said the pair reminded him of his own battles with Bjorn Borg - the 'Fire and Ice' rivalry that ended tied 7-7 - and that of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. "That's what makes it great. The way they behave out there is completely different but both are equally effective," McEnroe said on BBC TV. Advertisement Former Wimbledon doubles champion Todd Woodbridge agreed, adding: "They have the best parts of those players' games, and they have taken it to the next level." But Rod Laver, a four-time Wimbledon champion, perhaps summed it up best. "Their growing rivalry is a gift to our sport, and it's matched by the genuine respect they show for each other," he wrote. "Win or lose, they compete with joy, class, and sportsmanship. That's what makes champions."
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Cole Palmer carried Chelsea on his back to sweep PSG off the field and claim the title of World Champion. Monday's front pages sing of his feat. But there's more: the return of Lamine Yamal to training in Barcelona, after a well-spent summer, and the transfer market also find their place on the front pages. Advertisement Asensio, Konate, Mosquera, and Bardghij are some of the key names in the possible transfers section. Marca As Sport Mundo Deportivo Superdeporte Estadio Deportivo L'Equipe A Bola This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. 📸 Judit Cartiel - 2025 Getty Images
