Latest news with #Under-19s
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
England boss Sarina Wiegman must make crucial Euro 2025 final decision after clear message
England manager Sarina Wiegman faces a number of questions ahead of the European Championship final on Sunday, with the main one being what to do with Michelle Agyemang More than half of Michelle Agyemang's senior minutes for England have come in extra-time, but the teenage sensation has given Sarina Wiegman plenty to chew on. Wiegman has a starting XI to pick for Sunday's Euro 2025 final, and Agyemang couldn't have done much more to make her case. After scoring on her Lionesses debut earlier in the year, Agyemang was the wildcard in the senior squad for the Euros. She was eligible to join up with the Under-19s for their own Euros campaign, but the idea of her being anywere other than the senior squad hardly bears thinking about. Against France, we saw glimpses of why the 19-year-old is in Switzerland this summer. She caused chaos in her five minutes on the pitch, playing her part as Keira Walsh halved the deficit and coming close to an equaliser herself. The best was yet to come, though. Agyemang came off the bench to equalise in the quarter-final against Sweden before England prevailed on penalties, and kept the coolest head of everyone in Stade de Geneve on Tuesday night to pull England back from the brink against Italy. 'She feels inevitable right now,' Leah Williamson said of her team-mate. 'I think she's quality. I think what she brings, she's a nightmare to play against. 'I'm glad she's my teammate at club and country. She deserves her flowers. I hope she gets them. hope she enjoys tonight, and then I hope she's ready to go at the weekend.' The big question now is whether Agyemang starts on Sunday. By throwing her in from the start, you lose the game-changing ability from the bench, but after the late drama of the quarters and semis it might be time for England to try the novel concept of leading in a knockout game for more than a couple of minutes. No matter who you speak to in the England squad, you'll get the same answer when it comes to Agyemang. 'I'm so proud of her, she's such an incredible human being and she deserves these moments,' Esme Morgan - another player to make a major tournament debut in Switzerland - said of her team-mate. Wiegman has spoken about Agyemang's bright future, but for now it's hard to look beyond her present. 'She has something special,' the England boss said. 'She's only 19 years old, she's very mature, she knows exactly what she has to do. When you talk about little things that she picks up straight away, because she's not only in the 18-yard box very dangerous but when we have to go to her as a target player, she keeps the ball really well too. 'Even when you saw her shot hit the crossbar, that was not just a shot, she was aiming for it. If she continues like this she has a very bright future' England's hand could yet be forced by the fitness of certain players. Lauren James was forced off injured at the break against Italy, while Lauren Hemp has put a huge number of minutes in her legs after only recently recovering from a long-term injury. Agyemang's performances have come with England chasing the game, with Wiegman going all-out and throwing extra attacking players into the fold. It may be that a two-up-top approach ends up being the best bet from the start on Sunday, in which case it's hard to look past the Lionesses' new superstar-in-waiting. Wiegman has made it clear with her selections that she doesn't like changing a winning formula, with nine players starting every single game of the tournament so far. After Agyemang's performance on Tuesday, though, the manager might have been left with no choice. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Edinburgh Reporter
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Darren McGregor grateful to still be at Hibs
Darren McGregor is 'grateful' to still be at Hibs, 10-years after joining his boyhood heroes. The former Hibs defender, and current Under-19s Head Coach, reached 10 years with the Club this summer and was granted a testimonial for his excellent service to the Club. He watched on at Easter Road Stadium with his family and friends as Hibs went down 2-0 in a competitive encounter to Bolton Wanderers. 'I am really, really grateful,' he told HibsTV. 'I came here as a fan at the age of 29 and I've been lucky enough to stay here for 10 years. 'I've been a player, a mentor and a coach. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to be at a club I've been a supporter of since I was a kid. 'And I'm grateful to still be here trying to influence the next generation and try and get as many younger lads into the First Team as possible.' Daz, who was initially intending to play in match, was able to walk out with the match ball alongside his family, as well as speak on the pitch at half-time alongside a number of fellow Hibs heroes. On a special day for the 2016 Scottish Cup winner, McGregor insisted all that mattered was his family enjoying the occasion and making memories for the years ahead. 'My kids can't quite remember me playing, I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing! 'But for them to see the pitch today, to have the strip with my name written on the front of it which is a wee memento for them. 'In years to come, they can always look back and say, 'My Dad got a testimonial at the Hibees'. That is the most important thing for me.' Plenty has changed at the Club since Daz's time as a player at Easter Road, but these changes are all for the better according to the man himself. 'The Club has came on leaps and bounds. You only need to look at the infrastructure. 'You look at the pitch, the stadium, the fan experience, the training ground – which massive investment is being put into, which is largely down to the Gordon family, who have been unbelievably kind and generous to Hibs – so hopefully we can get success, because ultimately that is what you want. 'You want to play European football, win cups and finish as high in the league as you can. I think with this squad, having seen it, there is two players for every position. 'We are definitely in a good place.' Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Hibs host Bolton Wanderers this afternoon in Darren McGregor's testimonial
Hibs host Bolton Wanderers this afternoon for a pre-season friendly at Easter Road Stadium in Darren McGregor's Testimonial match. The match will kick-off at 2pm and will commemorate McGregor's magnificent service to the Club as both a Scottish Cup-winning defender and as the head coach of the Under-19s side. While McGregor can sadly no longer play in the match, he will still meet supporters inside Easter Road Stadium, and in the hospitality suites, alongside walking out onto the pitch for an interview to thank the Hibs fans for their support. Bolton Wanderers will compete in the English third tier this upcoming season after finishing eighth last season, with a tough end to their 2024/25 league campaign seeing them place two spots outside the promotion play-off positions. Aaron Collins, the Wanderers' 2024/25 top scorer, has since departed for MK Dons, though the English club have brought in Sam Dalby, who Hibs fans will recognise from his loan spell at Dundee United last season. Steven Schumacher's first team squad have played three friendlies so far this summer, most recently defeating Barrow 1-0 just four days after defeating South African outfit Orlando Pirates 2-0 in Marbella, Spain. The last time the two sides met was in a pre-season friendly back in 2007! Steven Fletcher opened the scoring for the Hibees with David Murphy and Abdessalam Benjelloun also on target at Easter Road. Tickets are priced from £10 for adults and £5 for concessions. Please note, all 2025/26 Season Ticket Holders will receive a special discount for this fixture as part of their benefits package. Please note, tickets are only available in the West Stand for home supporters. Like this: Like Related
The National
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Messi, Mbappe & Neymar were my teammates - now I'm a Rangers player
Rangers' latest signing was part of the Paris Saint-Germain side with those global superstars in the team. The 21-year-old was bumped up from the Under-19s side to play in the first team, but he only managed to feature in one match. The winger today agreed a four-year deal with the option of an extra 12 months at Ibrox, moving for a fee in the region of £2.2m. Now, having joined from Sheffield Wednesday, he's lifted the lid on what it was like being up close and personal with three of football's most technically gifted players. "I started there when I was young, playing for the Under-19s," Gassama told Rangers TV. "My first professional game for Paris Saint-Germain was crazy. "They had lots of players like Messi, Mbappe and Neymar. It was crazy. "This was a good experience for me to train with them. "I learned lots from them, like when they go to the gym and to the pitch, they always give 100 percent. You have to show them that you'll do the same. "Training with them was like playing in a game." Gassama moved from Paris to Sheffield Wednesday two seasons ago. He scored seven goals in the Championship last term. Gassama added: "The last two years in Sheffield has given me good progression and experience in English football. "I had the chance to play more, and I took it."
Evening Standard
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Evening Standard
Arsenal FC begin process to appoint new U21s boss after Mehmet Ali joins Brentford backroom staff
Max Porter worked as an assistant to Ali last season and also took charge of the Under-19s during their UEFA Youth League games. Ken Gillard was also part of Ali's team and has previously worked with Arsenal's Under-23 side and as a loan coach.
