Latest news with #EuroChampionship
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Hayden Hackney lifts lid on emotional final words from Man Utd legend Michael Carrick after Boro sacking ahead of Euros
HAYDEN HACKNEY admits it was bittersweet getting his European Championship call-up 24 hours after Middlesbrough mentor Michael Carrick was axed. He also revealed the encouraging final words his former boss had for him ahead of him flying out with the Young Lions to try and retain their Euro crown. 4 The 22-year-old Hackney, who SunSport exclusively revealed is being tracked by Tottenham, is in Slovakia preparing for England U21s' first group game against Czechia on Thursday. The midfielder has become one of the most-sought after players in the Championship after being handed a chance to blossom at his hometown club under Carrick. Hackney is chomping at the bit now to make his mark on the international stage after being selected by Lee Carsley - though he admitted that the news of the Manchester United legend's sacking soured it a little. He said: 'I found out Thursday I was in the squad and told my mum and dad and yeah I was buzzing. 'But also, yeah I was gutted about Michael Carrick to be honest. He's done loads for me. "He put his trust in me to play the majority of games and helped me so much with everything really. I can't thank him enough for that. 'I text him straight away wishing him all the best in the future and he replied wishing me good luck for going away with England. It was nice. 'It's probably the first manager that I've lost and I just wanted to thank him for everything. But now a new guy will come in, whoever that may be, and as a squad we'll go from there.' Hackney finds himself alongside some big names from huge clubs all across the Continent in the England set-up. But the shy-Teessider admitted that after Carsley initially helped him settle into the camp, he now feels that he belongs on this stage too. Hackney, who previously represented Scotland U21s before switching and making his Young Lions debut in 2023, said: 'Lee Carsley was welcoming when I first came in. "When I'm on a training ground, he gives me tips and he's just put his trust in me to go out there and play. 'Oviously, when I first came in, I didn't know what to expect but once the first session was out of the way, you get into it. It's really good. We're all good mates and really get on with each other. 'Now my main goal at this tournament is just to play really. Grasp the experience, take it all in and do as well as we can and obviously the main objective is to win it. 'That'd be unbelievable. Obviously there's a long way to go but if we could do that then it'd be special.' And he doesn't have to look far for much inspiration. Fellow Teessider, Boro man and big pal Dael Fry, 27, won both the U17 European Championship and U20 World Cup with England. Hackney added: 'Dael at Boro still speaks a lot about his time with England. He says how much he enjoyed the whole experience of it all, all the competitions and some of the players he played with have gone on to do some unbelievable stuff. 'He has just said how it's a great experience and to savour it.' England kick-off their Euro campaign against the Czech Republic on Thursday. They then face Slovenia three days later and finish the group stage against Germany on Wednesday 18 June with all of the Young Lions' matches being broadcast on Channel 4. 4
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Me and Alessia were texting all morning'
Ella Toone has described the moment England manager Sarina Wiegman called to tell her she had been included in the European Championship squad.
New York Times
6 days ago
- General
- New York Times
Who should Sarina Wiegman name in England's Euro 2025 squad?
It's almost exactly a month until England's first game against France at the European Championship this summer and we are finally a little more than 24 hours away from knowing who will make up the Lionesses' title-defence squad. Despite the surprising shake-up after Mary Earps retired from international football following the news that Hannah Hampton would get the No 1 role this summer, head coach Sarina Wiegman is still steadying the ship. Consistency is a crucial pillar for the Dutch coach, who isn't afraid of making tough decisions in tournaments, especially as another notable name, Fran Kirby, calls time on her international career after being told she'd be left off the squad as well. With the final UEFA Nations League match before Euro 2025 behind them, it's time for our writers to pick their squads before Thursday's announcement. While some clear themes are emerging, there are a few must-haves that spark debate around the edges… The biggest question mark is whether Millie Bright will return to the squad after withdrawing last week, citing mental and physical fatigue. Wiegman said on Tuesday evening that the situation remains the same and they will have to have 'that conversation' before Thursday's squad announcement. If Bright is available, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Maya Le Tissier drop out of the squad. However, the latter's substitute appearance for Lucy Bronze against Portugal suggests Wiegman sees her as a reliable backup option. Advertisement I would take Michelle Agyemang because the teenager is an unknown quantity who could disrupt opponents' backline. However, I doubt Wiegman will do that, as she already has two centre forwards in Alessia Russo and Aggie Beever-Jones, as well as Lauren Hemp, who can adapt when necessary. Laura Blindkilde Brown gets the nod following Kirby's abrupt retirement Tuesday night after Wiegman told her she was unlikely to make the squad. I would take Lauren James even if she has not played since April, and Wiegman seemed positive about her fitness after the 2-1 defeat to Spain. She brings a sense of unpredictability like no-one else and can make something happen out of nothing. James' presence alone is a concern to the opposition as she makes them think. Her two-footedness makes her a versatile option for Wiegman as she can pop up in pockets across the front line. England has depth in the No 10 role with Toone, Clinton or Park, but no one can replicate James' talent. Keira Walsh, the metronomic midfielder who makes things tick for England, is the other must-pick. Recently, we have seen teams mark her out of the game, nullifying her ball-playing skills. The problem for England is that there is no obvious replacement for her. Georgia Stanway could drop into the single pivot, likewise Leah Williamson could push up, but it is neither player's natural position. England without Walsh causes a reshuffling of the pack, which significantly depreciates their quality. Goalkeepers (3): Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Manchester City), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride) Defenders (7): Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Leah Williamson (Arsenal) Midfielders (6): Grace Clinton (Manchester United), Jess Park (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Chelsea) Forwards (7): Michelle Agyemang (Arsenal), Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Lauren James (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal) If UEFA expanded the squad capacity from 23 to 26, as they did with the men's tournament last summer, this conversation would become a lot less controversial. But I'll go for just 23 players (and maybe a bonus). At this point, the core of the squad picks itself. Thankfully, one of Wiegman's biggest nagging questions has already been resolved after goalkeeper Earps opted to hang up her gloves. Advertisement My biggest quandary is over Wubben-Moy. I feel the Arsenal defender has been unlucky not to feature more under Wiegman. She's one of England's best centre-backs, but injuries coupled with the versatility of Jess Carter, Esme Morgan and Le Tissier (who Wiegman sees more as a full-back) drop Wubben-Moy down the pecking order. She was drafted in to replace Bright after the Chelsea captain refrained from joining the most recent England camp, citing a need to 'value herself'. If Wubben-Moy is included, the list of defenders (including full-backs) stretches to nine and potentially means the exclusion of an extra attacker. That attacker for me is Agyemang. This isn't just because she scored 41 seconds into her international debut against Belgium (what a goal, by the way), but because of the context. The 19-year-old Arsenal striker was called in as an injury replacement for Alessia Russo. A post shared by Lionesses (@lionesses) England are very short of options behind Russo at No 9 and Agyemang clearly has something special. What better place for a young English talent to flaunt it than a major tournament? I've dithered over this decision for weeks, but I think Agyemang comes in before Wubben-Moy. Goalkeepers (3): Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating, Anna Moorhouse Defenders (8): Millie Bright, Leah Williamson, Jess Carter, Maya Le Tissier, Esme Morgan, Alex Greenwood, Lucy Bronze, Niamh Charles Midfielders (4): Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh, Grace Clinton, Ella Toone Forwards (8): Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp, Jess Park, Beth Mead, Lauren James, Aggie Beever-Jones, Michelle Agyemang Waiting in the wings (1): Lotte Wubben-Moy Realistically, there aren't many debates to be had about England's optimal squad. Wiegman always makes her intentions clear about the first XI (as Earps has found out) and she's determined for her backups to be 'good travellers' who are good for squad harmony rather than necessarily the best players (as Steph Houghton found out three years ago). Advertisement The real question is about the allocation of players in each position. Do you want eight defenders and two strikers, meaning two players for each position, or seven and three? Wiegman's willingness to play Lauren Hemp up top means you could consider her England's third striker and elect for eight defenders. However, I think Agyemang's instant impact on her debut against Belgium means she deserves inclusion, particularly as that goal came from a hopeful cross into the box, indicating she could be a useful Plan B (or C). I would have had Kirby in my squad, but since she has announced her international retirement, I'll take Missy Bo Kearns. England probably need another deep midfield option, even if she struggled in a tough debut appearance from the bench against Spain on Tuesday. I'd also go for Morgan over Le Tissier and Wubben-Moy, although there's really not much in it; these players probably won't play and I agree with Wiegman's stance of just selecting the best for the group dynamic. Morgan seems like the epitome of what you want in that respect. This assumes that Bright will be available. If not, it would make sense to go for Le Tissier, bearing in mind Wiegman's (slightly curious) history of using her as a stand-in right-back. Goalkeepers (3): Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating, Anna Moorhouse Defenders (7): Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Alex Greenwood, Niamh Charles, Millie Bright, Jess Carter, Esme Morgan Midfielders (6): Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Grace Clinton, Ella Toone, Jess Park, Missy Bo Kearns Forwards (7): Beth Mead, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, Aggie Beever-Jones, Michelle Agyemang Just to drive the point home, most of the squad picks itself considering the consistency of Wiegman's selections over the past year. One of the biggest debates is whether to gamble and take Lauren James given she is still recovering from a hamstring injury and may not be able to feature at the beginning of the tournament. There are few players I would make this concession for, but James is a game-changer and offers something unique. In a 23-player squad, I'm willing to risk it for the potential match-winning ability she could bring for the latter stages of the tournament. England are light in midfield, particularly in the No 4 and 8 roles. What happens if Walsh is unavailable is the conundrum no one wants to look directly in the eye. With the reliance on Walsh and with Georgia Stanway returning from a lengthy injury layoff, I've gone with bulking out the defensive options and potentially enabling Leah Williamson to step into midfield if needed — the England captain was initially listed as a midfielder at Euro 2022 and wore the No 8 shirt, having been deployed alongside Walsh in the build up to the tournament. Wiegman still seems to be figuring out her strongest back four and the majority of the players selected can play in multiple positions across the defence. Advertisement Aggie Beever-Jones and Michelle Agyemang get the nod ahead of Nikita Parris as the second and third-choice strikers behind Alessia Russo after impressive showings in recent Nations League outings. I've risked it and just named three out-and-out strikers, but that's four with Hemp (and five with Bright). Goalkeepers (3): Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating, Anna Moorhouse Defenders (8): Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan, Maya Le Tissier, Leah Williamson Midfielders (5): Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Grace Clinton, Ella Toone, Jess Park Forwards (7): Beth Mead, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, Aggie Beever-Jones, Michelle Agyemang
Irish Examiner
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Paul O'Donovan misses out as Ireland name squad for European Rowing Championship
Paul O'Donovan will miss the upcoming 2025 European Rowing Championships in order to concentrate on his medical studies. Ireland's journey to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles begins from May 29 to June 1 when their Senior Crews head to Plovdiv, Bulgaria for the Euro Championship. Included in the squad named on Tuesday afternoon are Paris Olympic medallists Daire Lynch, Philip Doyle and Fintan McCarthy. Lynch and Doyle won bronze in the men's double sculls at the 2024 Games but this time around Lynch will pair up with Ross Corrigan, while Doyle will be going into the men's quadruple sculls alongside Ronan Byrne, Adam Murphy, and Andrew Sheehan. McCarthy won the lightweight double sculls gold alongside O'Donovan last summer but on this occassion he will be joined in the boat by Konan Pazzaia, as his fellow Skibbereen Rowing Clubman focusses on exams. 'This marks the beginning of an exciting new cycle as we build towards Los Angeles 2028," said Dominic Casey, High Performance Lead Coach. "Our athletes returned refreshed and re-energised after a well-deserved break following the Paris campaign. Many are now balancing elite training with academic and professional commitments, which speaks to their dedication both on and off the water. "We're focused on laying strong foundations for the years ahead and supporting this group as they continue to grow, develop, and thrive in high performance rowing.' Rowing Ireland added: "We wish all our athletes and support staff the very best as they gear up for an exciting weekend of racing in Plovdiv." Rowing Ireland's Senior Crews for 2025 European Rowing Championships Men's pair: Daire Lynch (UCD Boat Club), Ross Corrigan (Portora Boat Club) Men's double sculls: Konan Pazzaia (Queen's University Belfast Boat Club), Fintan McCarthy (Skibbereen Rowing Club) Men's quadruple sculls: Philip Doyle (Belfast Boat Club), Ronan Byrne (Shandon Boat Club), Adam Murphy (UCC Rowing Club), Andrew Sheehan (UCC Rowing Club) Lightweight men's single sculls: Jake McCarthy (Skibbereen Rowing Club) Women's double sculls: Mags Cremen (UCC Rowing Club), Zoe Hyde (Tralee Rowing Club) Women's quadruple sculls: Alison Bergin (Fermoy Rowing Club), Aisling Hayes (Skibbereen Rowing Club), Natalie Long (Lee Valley Rowing Club), Claire Feerick (Neptune Rowing Club) Women's single sculls: Fiona Murtagh (University of Galway Boat Club) Lightweight Women's Single Sculls: Izzy Clements (Tara Rowing Club).
