Chelsea signed teenage Netherlands defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax in a deal worth a reported £37 ...

Chelsea signed teenage Netherlands defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax in a deal worth a reported £37 million ($49 million) on Sunday.Hato, who has been capped six times, agreed a seven-year contract with the Premier League club.The 19-year-old is Chelsea's eighth signing since the end of last season as boss Enzo Maresca strengths his squad to cope with the duel demands of the Premier League and Champions League this term.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I'm very excited, I'm so happy to be here," said Hato, who can operate in central defence or at left-back."I thought a lot about my future and wanted to take the next step in my career. Chelsea is the best place for me to do that so I'm very happy."Hato joined Ajax's academy from hometown club Sparta Rotterdam in 2018 and signed his first professional contract aged 16 four years later.He scored four goals in 111 appearances for the Eredivisie giants, with his international debut coming as a substitute against Gibraltar in 2023.Club World Cup champions Chelsea begin their Premier League campaign at home to Crystal Palace on August 17.The Blues had signed Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Mamadou Sarr, Dario Essugo, Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez prior to landing Hato.

COBHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 03: New signing, Jorrel Hato poses for photos as he signs for Chelsea Football Club at Chelsea Training Ground on August 03, 2025 in Cobham, England.

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Chelsea sign young Dutch defender Hato from Ajax for reported £37M

Departing Tottenham captain Son Heung-min was in tears and his teammates threw him in the air on ...

Departing Tottenham captain Son Heung-min was in tears and his teammates threw him in the air on an emotional evening in his native South Korea on Sunday.Spurs drew 1-1 with Newcastle in a pre-season friendly in Seoul but that was secondary to the farewell for the 33-year-old attacker.There was also the sorry sight of James Maddison being stretchered off with what manager Thomas Frank said "was most likely a bad injury" to his knee.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>In what could have been his final game for the north Londoners, Son played 65 minutes but did not score at Seoul World Cup Stadium, a day after announcing his decision to leave Tottenham this summer after a decade.He left the pitch to a thunderous ovation from nearly 65,000 fans, hugging his teammates and even his opponents.The South Korea captain was caught offside twice in the early going, as his teammates tried to create opportunities for him, but he did not really assert himself on the match otherwise.Son was replaced in the 65th minute by Mohammed Kudus and he walked off in tears as thousands of fans chanted his name."I didn't think I was going to cry at first," Son said. "But after hearing a few words from my teammates, leaving the club I've spent so much time with felt really tough. "I felt really, really happy playing this match. Thanks to my fans, my teammates and also my opponents, I've had an unforgettable day."Son, who has been linked with LAFC in Major League Soccer, declined to reveal his next destination, saying: "Nothing has been finalised."Frank said he enjoyed the "unbelievable, beautiful scenes" Son had with players from both sides on his way off the pitch.Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said his players' reaction to the end of Son's night had not been planned."I think it was very instinctive from the players," Howe said."I think that speaks volumes for him as a person and him as a footballer that both teams recognise the way he's played the game."Brennan Johnson's right-footed strike opened the scoring for Tottenham in the fourth minute, and the Welsh forward paid homage to Son by mimicking the South Korean star's camera celebration.Harvey Barnes levelled in the 38th minute, beating Antonin Kinsky with a right-footed shot that went in off the post.

Teammates lift Tottenham Hotspur's captain Son Heung-min up in the air during celebrations to bid him farewell at the end of a friendly football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in Seoul on August 3, 2025. The 33-year-old South Korean striker said on August 2, that he will leave the club this summer after a decade in north London.

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Spurs captain Son in tears during potential farewell game in South Korea

Yashasvi Jaiswal has backed India to ruin England's quest for a record run-chase at the Oval as t...

Yashasvi Jaiswal has backed India to ruin England's quest for a record run-chase at the Oval as the tourists eye the win that would spare them a series defeat.Opener Jaiswal hit a superb 118 on Saturday to leave England needing 374 to stop India salvaging a 2-2 draw in a five-match campaign.India were dismissed for 396 in their second innings on the third day of the deciding Test.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>No side have made more to win in the fourth innings of a Test at the Oval than England's 263 against Australia in 1902.England were 50-1 at stumps, still requiring a further 324 runs to win, with Ben Duckett 34 not out after Mohammed Siraj bowled Zak Crawley with the last ball of the day.Jaiswal is convinced India can finish the job."Of course we are quite confident," he said. "We just need to focus on our process and keep bowling in the right areas."Jaiswal added: "We want some fun and some battles in the middle. That is why we enjoy Test cricket."If we are bowling on the line it will be amazing. There is always movement in the wicket and it is not easy to bat."India are in contention for a memorable victory largely thanks to Jaiswal's second hundred of the series following the left-hander's century in the first Test at Headingley.On a green-tinged pitch that proved tricky for both teams in the first innings, the 23-year-old took the attack to England with 14 fours and two sixes.'It's about how I fight'"I expect that in England you play on a wicket like this," said Jaiswal. "Mentally I was ready and knew what shots I would play. I was really enjoying it."It's very important. We need to keep pushing ourselves. It was our last innings here. I was trying to put pressure on the bowlers, to think positive and go for my shots."I wanted to do more. I wanted to make my innings bigger than that so I could have achieved something else. But it's ok. I was enjoying it."It's about how I fight. The mentality is about going out there to fight it out."However, England can take heart from recent history, with a pair of remarkable run chases to beat India over the last three years.The most England have made to win any Test in the fourth innings was their 378 against India at Edgbaston in 2022, while they also chased down 371 at Headingley in the opening match of this series.England pace bowler Josh Tongue, who took five wickets in India's second innings, believes his team are more than capable of another epic fourth-innings triumph. "I don't see why we can't chase down these runs," said Tongue. "How we play as a batting unit is very positive and very exciting. I don't see why we can't give it a go."

India's Yashasvi Jaiswal walks back to the pavilion after losing his wicket on day three of the fifth Test cricket match between England and India at The Oval in London on August 2, 2025.

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Jaiswal confident India can spoil England bid for series-winning chase

Yashasvi Jaiswal made a sparkling hundred and Washington Sundar a blistering fifty before Mohamme...

Yashasvi Jaiswal made a sparkling hundred and Washington Sundar a blistering fifty before Mohammed Siraj struck with the last ball of Saturday's play to bolster India's hopes of a series-levelling win in the fifth and deciding Test against England at the Oval.India were dismissed for 396 in their second innings on the third day as they set England a target of 374 to win with just over two days' remaining.Fast bowler Siraj, ever-present in all five matches of a gruelling series, yorked Zak Crawley for 14 with just two balls left to spark joyous celebrations among the tourists.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>England were 50-1 at stumps, still requiring a further 324 runs to win, with Ben Duckett 34 not out.No side have made more to win in the fourth innings of a Test at the Oval than England's 263 in a one-wicket victory over Australia back in 1902.However, the most England have made to win any Test in the fourth innings was their 378 against India at Edgbaston in 2022, while they also chased down 371 at Headingley in the opening match of this series."It is a replay from Headingley," England fast bowler Josh Tongue, who took 5-125 on Saturday, told the BBC.He added: "It will be a great day of cricket tomorrow and a great day for us if we get the runs. It (the pitch) is doing a bit. A few balls tonight jumped off a good length but if you get through the first hour who knows?"Earlier, Jaiswal was out for 118, his second hundred of the series after the talented left-hander's ton at Headingley."I need to push, and I need to do well for my team," said Jaiswal. "I was constantly talking to myself and enjoying the pressure."The 23-year-old opener received superb support from Akash Deep in a third-wicket partnership of 107, the paceman belying his status as a nightwatchman with an accomplished 66 -- his maiden Test fifty.Ravindra Jadeja and Sundar, both fresh from hundreds in Manchester, each made 53, with Sundar launching a brutal assault after a depleted England took the new ball.A wayward home team, a bowler down after Chris Woakes suffered a shoulder injury diving in the field on Thursday, harmed their own cause by dropping six catches in the innings, with Jaiswal reprieved three times.India resumed Saturday on 75-2.Deep, dropped in the slips by Crawley off Tongue on 21, went to fifty when he pulled Gus Atkinson for his ninth four.But with India on the verge of batting through the morning session without losing a wicket, Deep fell to Jamie Overton.Gill falls shy of Gavaskar recordShubman Gill, who has enjoyed a remarkable first series as India captain, fell to the very first ball after lunch when lbw to Atkinson for 11.His exit left Gill just 20 runs adrift of Sunil Gavaskar's longstanding record for the most runs by an Indian cricketer in a Test series of 774, set against the West Indies in 1971.Gill compiled 754 runs at a superb average of 75, including four hundreds.Jaiswal's quick single off Atkinson saw the elated batsman to a 127-ball century, including 12 fours and two sixes.Jaiswal, dropped on 110 by Duckett at leg gully, was eventually dismissed when he ramped Tongue straight to deep backward point before Jadeja completed his fifth fifty of the series in 71 balls.England took the new ball as soon as possible, with India 342-7 off 80 overs and promptly tried to bounce out Sundar in what proved to be an expensive ploy.The left-hander responded with three superb sixes, including hoisting Tongue over fine leg and deep midwicket in the space of three balls.Sundar then smashed two fours and a soaring six over midwicket off three successive Atkinson deliveries to complete a brilliant 39-ball fifty before he was last man out.

India's Mohammed Siraj (left) celebrates taking the wicket of England's Zak Crawley on day three of the Fifth Rothesay Men's Test at the Kia Oval, London. Picture date: Saturday August 2, 2025.

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Siraj strikes after Jaiswal helps India set England daunting target

India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal's excellent hundred in the fifth and deciding Test at the Oval on S...

India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal's excellent hundred in the fifth and deciding Test at the Oval on Saturday left England needing to break a record that has stood for over a hundred years in their quest for a 3-1 series win.India, were 304-6 in their second innings -- an overall lead of 281 runs -- at tea on the third day in south London.No side have made more to win in the fourth innings of a Test at the Oval than England's 263 in a celebrated one-wicket victory over arch-rivals Australia way back in 1902.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Jaiswal was out shortly before tea for 118, his second hundred of the series after the 23-year-old left-hander's 101 in the first Test at Headingley. He received excellent support from Akash Deep in a third-wicket partnership of 107, with the paceman belying his status as a nightwatchman with an accomplished 66 -- the paceman's maiden Test fifty.Ravindra Jadeja, fresh from a hundred in the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford, was 26 not out, while Dhruv Jurel, in for injured wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, was 25 not out at tea.England, a bowler down after Chris Woakes suffered a shoulder injury diving in the field on Thursday, were too often wayward and further harmed their own cause by dropping six catches in the innings, with Jaiswal reprieved three times.India resumed on 75-2 after holding England to a first-innings total of 247, with pacemen Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj taking four wickets each after the tourists rested Jasprit Bumrah.Punched the airWoakes' absence increased the pressure on England's three remaining fast bowlers -- Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton.Deep had made 21 when he edged Tongue only for Zak Crawley, diving across to his left from third slip, to floor the two-handed catch.Atkinson had been the pick of the hosts' attack with 5-33 during India's first-innings 224. But Deep went to fifty when he pulled Atkinson for a ninth four in just 70 balls faced.The 28-year-old Deep, appearing in his 10th Test, punched the air in celebration before being embraced by Jaiswal.But just when it seemed India would bat through the morning session without losing a wicket, Deep got a leading edge to backward point as the recalled Overton took his first wicket of the match.India captain Shubman Gill came in needing just 31 more runs to surpass the outstanding Sunil Gavaskar's 54-year-old record for the most runs by an India cricketer in a Test series of 744 against the West Indies.But to the very first ball after lunch, Gill was lbw for 11 to Atkinson as he aimed across the line, with India now 189-4.Gill, however, had still enjoyed a remarkable debut series as India skipper, the 25-year-old leading from the front with 754 runs at a superb average of 75, including four hundreds.Jaiswal's quick single off Atkinson saw the elated batsman to a 127-ball century, including 12 fours and two sixes.England dropped a sixth catch when, having set a trap to have Jaiswal taken at leg gully, the batsman duly obliged, only for Ben Duckett to put him down off Overton.

India's Yashasvi Jaiswal acknowledges the crowd as he walks off the field after being caught out on day three of the Fifth Rothesay Men's Test at the Kia Oval, London. Picture date: Saturday August 2, 2025.

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Jaiswal's hundred leaves England needing Oval-record chase to beat India

French prosecutors on Friday called for Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi to face trial for ...

French prosecutors on Friday called for Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi to face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023 which the Moroccan international denies.The Nanterre prosecutor's office told AFP that they had requested that the investigating judge refer the rape charge to a criminal court."It is now up to the investigating magistrate to make a decision within the framework of his order," the prosecutor's office told AFP in a statement.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Hakimi, 26, played a major role in PSG's run to their first Champions League title, the full-back scoring the opener in the 5-0 rout of Inter Milan in the final in May.Hakimi, who helped Morocco to their historic progress to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, was charged in March, 2023 with raping a 24-year-old woman.Hakimi allegedly paid for his accuser to travel to his home on February 25, 2023, in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt while his wife and children were away on holiday.The woman went to a police station following the encounter alleging rape and was questioned by police.Although the woman refused to make a formal accusation, prosecutors decided to press charges against the player.She told police at the time that she had met Hakimi in January 2023 on Instagram.On the night in question she said she had travelled to his house in a taxi paid for by Hakimi. She told police Hakimi had started kissing her and making non-consensual sexual advances, before raping her, a police source told AFP at the time.She said she managed to break free to text a friend who came to pick her up.<h3>'Attempted extortion'</h3>Contacted by AFP after Friday's development Hakimi's lawyer Fanny Colin described the call by prosecutors for a trial as "incomprehensible and senseless in light of the case's elements"."We, along with Achraf Hakimi, remain as calm as we were at the start of the proceedings."If these requisitions were to be followed, we would obviously pursue all avenues of appeal," she continued. According to Colin, her client had "been the target of an attempted extortion"."Nothing in this case suggests an attempted extortion," Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the woman, said."My client welcomes this news with immense relief," she told AFP."We will not tolerate any smear or destabilisation campaign, as is unfortunately still too often the case for women who have the courage to report the rape of which they are victims," she added.The son of a cleaning lady and a street vendor, both Moroccans who have lived in Spain since the 1980s, Hakimi was born in Getafe, a southern suburb of Madrid. Hakimi came through the youth system at Real Madrid before joining Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in 2018.He went on to make 73 appearances for the German club.He moved to Inter Milan in 2020 and then on to PSG in 2021 where he has established himself as an integral part of the team.In Qatar, Hakimi was a cornerstone of the Morocco team that became the first African or Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JULY 13: Achraf Hakimi #2 of Paris Saint-Germain before the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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Prosecutors call for PSG's Hakimi to face rape trial

Luis Diaz said former Liverpool teammate Florian Wirtz told him he would "enjoy" a move to Bayern...

Luis Diaz said former Liverpool teammate Florian Wirtz told him he would "enjoy" a move to Bayern Munich as the Colombian was unveiled by the Bundesliga champions on Thursday.The German giants reportedly paid a fee which could rise to 75 million euros ($86.5 million) for the 28-year-old, whose deal runs until 2029.Heavily linked with a move to Bayern, Wirtz left Bayer Leverkusen and signed with the Reds in June.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Diaz only had a few weeks with the German international at Liverpool but revealed Wirtz's advice encouraged him to move to the Bundesliga. "I spoke to Florian a few times and he told me that the Bundesliga is very intense, similar to the Premier League, that it was very physical, the stadiums are always full," Diaz said Thursday. "He said that I'd enjoy it. He wished me luck. I thank him for that".Diaz arrives as the third most expensive signing in Bayern's history, but said he was unconcerned about the pressure the price tag would bring. "I can't say if I'm worth 70 million. I just want to settle in here as quickly as possible. That's the most important thing," he said.The only two bigger transfer fees paid by Bayern were 95 million euros for England captain Harry Kane in 2023 and 80 million for French international Lucas Hernandez in 2019.Diaz won the Premier League, FA Cup and two League Cups during his three-and-a-half years at Anfield.The winger made 50 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool last season, scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists as Arne Slot's team clinched the English league title for a record-equalling 20th time.

MUNICH, GERMANY - JULY 31: (Editors Note: Image has been taken with a slow shutter speed) Luis Diaz of FC Bayern Muenchen runs during a training session at the Saebener Strasse training ground on July 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany.

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New Bayern signing Diaz: Wirtz recommended move to Bundesliga

West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of spot-fixing charges by an independent regul...

West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of spot-fixing charges by an independent regulatory commission, the club announced on Thursday.The Brazil international was charged with four alleged breaches of Football Association (FA) rules in relation to matches involving the Premier League side.It was alleged the 27-year-old directly sought to influence games by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the "improper purpose of affecting the betting market".<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The four charges against Paqueta related to a game against Leicester in November 2022 and matches against Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth in 2023.He was facing the prospect of a lifetime ban if found guilty.The Brazilian denied the charges and the independent regulatory commission found them not proven following a hearing. The FA said two charges against Paqueta, related to a failure to cooperate with its investigation, had been found proven.It said a commission would decide on an appropriate sanction for those proven breaches "at the earliest opportunity".The Brazilian, who joined West Ham in 2022, said in a club statement that he had always maintained his "innocence against these extremely serious accusations"."I can't say anything more at this time, but I would like to express how grateful I am to God and how eager I am to return to playing football with a smile on my face," he said."To my wife who never let go of my hand, to West Ham United, to the fans who always cheered me on, and to my family, friends and the legal team who have supported me."West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady said: "We are pleased Lucas has been cleared. He has maintained his innocence from the outset, and as a club we have resolutely stood by him and supported him throughout the process."Alastair Campbell, a partner at the law firm Level and the head of Paqueta's legal team, said: "Few cases carry the gravity of this one -- professionally, personally and emotionally for our client."Lucas has faced down immense pressure with remarkable strength and resilience."The FA said it was awaiting the written reasons from the independent commission in relation to its decision on the charges, and would not be commenting further until that time.Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali was given a suspended two-month ban in May last year over breaches of betting rules.It came as the Italian international was serving a 10-month ban handed down by the Italian authorities for betting offences.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JULY 26: Lucas Paquetá #10 of West Ham United warms up prior to the Premier League Summer Series game against Manchester United on July 26, 2025 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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West Ham's Paqueta cleared of betting charges

Pape Matar Sarr scored from the halfway line as Tottenham punished a shaky performance by Arsenal...

Pape Matar Sarr scored from the halfway line as Tottenham punished a shaky performance by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya to win the first north London derby staged outside the UK 1-0 on Thursday.Raya, who had already been caught in no-man's land twice as inswinging corners hit the post, was at fault again in the 45th minute when Sarr robbed Myles Lewis-Skelly just inside the Arsenal half.The Spurs midfielder looked up, saw Raya stranded way outside his penalty area and let fly to score in outrageous fashion from 50 yards out.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"It was fantastic, fantastic. Well taken," said new Tottenham manager Thomas Frank of the goal. "And all the credit to Papa. He's impressed me, I must admit he's been really good in the last four weeks."Nominally a pre-season "friendly", there was no love lost on the pitch between the bitter rivals.Tackles flew in and tempers frayed in a fiercely contested clash in front of a 49,975 sellout crowd under the roof in the air-conditioned Kai Tak Stadium.Sarr's screamer gave Frank the north London bragging rights, at least until the pair clash again in the Premier League on November 22 at the Emirates stadium."This was not a friendly," said Frank. "It felt like a competitive match. I think if you saw it, it was competitive and if you played it was very competitive."Arsenal started the stronger but it was Tottenham who hit the woodwork three times in a frantic first half and deserved their lead at the break. <h3>Energy and quality</h3>Arsenal laid siege to the Tottenham goal at the start of the second half, but Frank had his defence well-drilled and the Gunners found it hard to break through.Gabriel Martinelli did manage to find an opening on 58 minutes but shot wastefully over from 14 yards.Arsenal brought on new signing Martin Zubimendi, who almost scored with his first touch when his shot was deflected over the bar.A huge cheer went up when Son Heung-min was introduced by Tottenham in the 75th minute. It was followed by an even bigger ovation when new striker Viktor Gyokeres also came off the bench for his Arsenal debut with 13 minutes to go.The Swedish striker, sporting the number 14 shirt made famous by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, was signed for $67 million six days ago and has trained only twice with his new teammates.He made some darting runs as Arsenal pressed for a late equaliser, but only managed two touches. Defender Cristhian Mosquera also came on late for his first appearance and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was pleased with what he saw from his two newest recruits."Really happy, obviously, to have them here," Arteta told reporters. "They're going to add a lot of energy and quality."Tottenham now fly on to South Korea to face Newcastle United on Sunday while Arsenal head home after three Asian tour matches."Everything that I've seen in the last 10 days gives me a lot of encouragement," added Arteta, who took positives from the performance despite losing. "We are ahead of what I was expecting in many areas."

HONG KONG, CHINA - JULY 31: Pape Matar Sarr of Tottenham Hotspur (L) celebrates after scoring his goal with teammates during to the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Kai Tak Stadium, Kai Tak Sports Park on July 31, 2025 in Hong Kong, China.

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Spurs beat Arsenal with Sarr's long-distance lob in Hong Kong friendly

Ben Stokes is preparing himself for an "emotional" tribute to Graham Thorpe when the late former ...

Ben Stokes is preparing himself for an "emotional" tribute to Graham Thorpe when the late former England batsman is honoured during this week's fifth and deciding Test against India at the Oval.Thorpe took his own life on August 4, 2024, having batted depression and anxiety for several years, with police confirming he had died following an incident on a railway line near his home.The left-handed batsman, who spent his entire professional career in south London with Oval-based Surrey, scored 6,744 Test runs at an average of 44.66 in 100 matches from 1993 to 2005.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He later held various coaching positions, including a role as England's batting chief, where he worked with current players such as Test captain Stokes and Joe Root.A Day for Thorpey will be held on Friday, August 1 in support of mental health charity Mind on what would have been his 56th birthday."Thorpey's been a very influential character as a player and a coach in English cricket," Stokes told reporters at the Oval on Wednesday."A few of us in that dressing room spent a lot of time with him coming through the ranks and, as we got into the main (England) team Thorpey spent a lot of years around us."The all-rounder, who will miss the Oval finale because of a shoulder injury, added: "It's going to be a special day for all English fans, a special day for his family to see how much he meant to English cricket and how much he means to the current England dressing room."Coroner Jonathan Stevens recorded an official verdict of suicide at an inquest last week but said there had been "shortcomings in the care" provided to the retired cricketer in his final months.The fifth Test at the Oval starts on Thursday, with England 2-1 up in the series.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 02: England captain Ben Stokes wears a shirt in tribute to Graham Thorpe ahead of day one of the First LV= Insurance Test match between England and New Zealand at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 02, 2022 in London, England.

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Stokes braced for 'emotional' tribute to late England batsman Thorpe

England's Lionesses returned to a heroes' welcome on Monday, less than 24 hours after their drama...

England's Lionesses returned to a heroes' welcome on Monday, less than 24 hours after their dramatic penalty-shootout victory against world champions Spain in the Euro 2025 final.Chloe Kelly converted the decisive spot-kick in the Swiss city of Basel as Sarina Wiegman's team successfully defended the European women's crown they won at Wembley in 2022.Supporters, many of whom were dressed in England kits and holding flags, cheered as they waited outside Southend airport, about 40 miles (64 kilometres) east of London.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>In a post on X, the team shared a photo of the trophy draped in an England flag on a seat on the plane, which had "Home" painted in red letters on its side.The aircraft was welcomed with a water salute from two fire engines after landing. Captain Leah Williamson and manager Wiegman were the first off, with the skipper proudly holding the trophy.Among the waiting supporters were twins Poppy and Daisy Macdonald, 11, who were holding a sign asking for a photo with star striker Alessia Russo."We're so proud. They've won it two times in a row and they've worked so hard for it," said Poppy. "They've had a lot of injuries and setbacks but they've done really well."The Lionesses were whisked straight to 10 Downing Street, the working home of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer which was decked out in England flags.The team were hosted by Deputy Prime minister Angela Rayner and Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock while Starmer was in Scotland meeting US President Donald Trump.Rayner told the team they had "made us all so so proud"."Role models like you send such a powerful message, the Lionesses are a shining example of talent and excitement for women’s football," she said.An open-top bus parade will follow on Tuesday, culminating in a celebration in front of Buckingham Palace.Victory in Switzerland was sweet revenge for Wiegman's defending champions, who suffered bitter defeat against the same opponents in the World Cup final two years ago.<h3>Late drama</h3>Victory in Switzerland on Sunday capped a remarkable tournament packed with late drama for England.Wiegman's team were slow out of the blocks, losing their first match against France, before comfortable wins over the Netherlands and Wales in the group phase.They came back from 2-0 down against Sweden in the quarter-finals before winning on penalties, and sealed their spot in Sunday's final with a last-gasp extra-time win over Italy.The defending champions again fell behind against Spain on Sunday but Russo cancelled out Mariona Caldentey's first-half opener and the teams were still locked at 1-1 at the end of extra-time.Two penalty saves by player-of-the-match Hannah Hampton and Salma Paralluelo's miss set the stage for Kelly, who also scored the winner against Germany in the 2022 final.In total, the Lionesses led for fewer than five minutes across the entire Euros knockout stage."I must admit that this is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played," said Wiegman."The players say we can win by any means, and we just never, ever give up."The Dutch coach, who has now won three European Championship crowns in a row, having led the Netherlands to victory in 2017, said she hoped England's win would boost women's football across the globe."How I've experienced this tournament is that the level went up again, the intensity of the games went through the roof," she said. "That's what we've seen."We've seen it in the games, but also in the data we have. I think this tournament broke every record again and that's great, and I hope that that will boost the women's game everywhere."

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 28: Team Manager Sarina Wiegman holds the EURO 2025 trophy as England Women's National Football Team, the Lionesses, pose outside 10 Downing Street ahead of a reception to celebrate the defence of their European title in London, United Kingdom on July 28, 2025. The Lionesses defeated the World Champions Spain on penalties in the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 final in Basel last night with the celebrations to continue in London with an open top bus parade tomorrow.

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England celebrating Euro glory with Downing Street trip, bus parade

England captain Ben Stokes proclaimed "pain is just an emotion" as he insisted he will do everyth...

England captain Ben Stokes proclaimed "pain is just an emotion" as he insisted he will do everything in his power to feature as a fully-fledged all-rounder in next week's series decider with India.The fourth Test at Old Trafford, which ended in a draw on Sunday, was a personal triumph for Stokes as he became just the fourth England cricketer after Tony Greig, Ian Botham and Gus Atkinson to score a hundred and take five wickets in the same Test.Stokes, 34, is also now only the third man in Test history to have scored 7,000 runs and taken 200 wickets after West Indies' Garry Sobers and South Africa's Jacques Kallis.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>But the performance came at a cost for Stokes, whose career has been blighted by hamstring trouble, as he struggled with cramp and more general soreness.Meanwhile a bicep problem in his right arm emerged on Sunday's final day in Manchester.His latest injuries are perhaps unsurprising given a heavy workload that has seen lively fast-medium bowler Stokes already send down 140 overs -- the most he has bowled in any series.However, Stokes, the leading wicket-taker of the series with 17 at an average of 25.2, expects to take the field at the Oval on Thursday as England attempt to seal a 3-1 campaign triumph."Hopefully I will be alright going for the last one," he told reporters."It's just a workload sort of thing. We got a fair amount of overs and everything starts creeping up on you. I’ll keep trying, keep going and as I say to all the bowlers: pain is just an emotion."Stokes, who said "I've physically been better," added: "I'll always try to run through a brick wall for the team."I don't want to eat my words but the likelihood I won't play (at the Oval) is very unlikely."England seemed well set for victory at Old Trafford when India collapsed to none for two before eroding any bit of a 311-run deficit on first innings.But KL Rahul and India captain Shubman Gill kept England at bay with an excellent third-wicket partnership of 188.Stokes, who did not bowl on Saturday, had Rahul lbw for 90 during an eight-over spell on Sunday morning and England hopes were high when Jofra Archer finally removed Gill for 103 on the stroke of lunch.However, Joe Root's drop of Ravindra Jadeja from the next ball proved expensive, with the India all-rounder and Washington Sundar batting out the rest of the day as both left-handers made unbeaten hundreds."When the reality (hits) with where the game drifted towards, there is obviously going to be that comedown," said Stokes."You can get the vibe that we've thrown everything and not been able to get over the line, there is that sense of disappointment and almost heartbreak –- me being a captain, I was as well."But Stokes acknowledged it was also part of his role as skipper to raise England's morale, saying: "I've got to be that upbeat person as well."

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Ben Stokes of England walks off after being dismissed during Day Two of the 3rd Rothesay Test Match between England and India at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 11, 2025 in London, England.

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Stokes ready to 'run through brick wall' to feature in India decider

Chloe Kelly converted the decisive kick as England beat Spain 3-1 on penalties to win the Women's...

Chloe Kelly converted the decisive kick as England beat Spain 3-1 on penalties to win the Women's Euro 2025 after Sunday's final had finished 1-1 at the end of extra time, allowing the Lionesses to avenge their defeat in the World Cup final of two years ago and retain their continental crown.It looked as though Spain would repeat their victory over England in Sydney two years ago as they dominated the game at St. Jakob-Park in Basel and led through Mariona Caldentey's first-half header.But England did not panic, having already trailed against both Sweden in the quarterfinals and Italy in the semis before finding a way to win.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Alessia Russo headed in their equalizer just before the hour mark, and no further goals meant a shootout in which Kelly - who once again had a huge impact off the bench - netted the winner.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
04:52 - <a href="https://twitter.com/Lionesses?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Lionesses</a> won <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EURO2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EURO2025</a> despite leading for just four minutes and 52 seconds in the entire knockout stages of the tournament (including stoppage time). Battlers. <a href="https://t.co/oAdXOMuQxb">pic.twitter.com/oAdXOMuQxb</a>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1949546705587749244?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>It was an agonizing way to lose for Spain, but they failed to score three of their spot-kicks, with reigning Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati seeing her effort saved.Sarina Wiegman's England are therefore back-to-back European champions, with this triumph coming three years after they defeated Germany in extra time at Wembley to win a first women's major tournament.Defeating Spain here helps make up for the agony of losing that World Cup final in 2023, and the victory also confirms Wiegman's place among the coaching greats.She has now won three consecutive European Championships, having led her native Netherlands to victory in 2017 before doing the same with England three years ago."I just can't believe it. I have a medal around my neck and we have a trophy," Wiegman told BBC One TV. "It has been the most chaotic tournament on the pitch - all the challenges we had on the pitch against our opponent. From the first game it was chaos. Losing your first game and becoming European champions is incredible. Football is chaos."She added: "We said we can win by any means and that's what we have shown again today. I am so proud of the team and the staff. It is incredible."Spain, meanwhile, fell short in their quest to add a maiden European Championship title to the World Cup they won in Australia.La Roja dominated possession as expected, but ultimately paid the price for not putting the game to bed against an England side who never know when they are beaten.Wiegman's team had been 2-0 down against Sweden in the last eight before scoring twice to force extra time as they eventually won on penalties.Then substitute Michelle Agyemang's 96th-minute equalizer denied Italy in the semifinals in Geneva, when Kelly netted the winner in extra time.England had ultimately not played well during much of their run to the final, but it did not matter.Wiegman had taken a gamble on the fitness of Lauren James which paid off, but not quite as planned - having come off with an ankle injury against Italy, the Chelsea winger did not last until halftime and was replaced by Kelly.By that point Spain were already in front, scoring when Bonmati and Athenea del Castillo combined to set up Ona Battle and her cross from the right was headed in by Caldentey.Montse Tome's Spain, with seven players from Barcelona in their starting lineup, had already been in control before that and it felt like England's best hope was for complacency from their opponents.The best example of that came with the game still goalless, when Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll played a careless short pass to Laia Aleixandri in her own area.Lauren Hemp was alive to the opportunity and pounced, but Coll reacted well to make the save.Yet even at 1-0 it felt like England were still in the game, and they took their chance when it came in the 57th minute when Kelly crossed from the left for her Arsenal teammate Russo to level the scores.England - with more fans on their side in the crowd of 34,203 - now sensed yet another comeback win was on the cards, and it took the fingertips of Coll to prevent a Kelly effort from finding the far corner midway through the second half.Agyemang then came on for Russo, hoping to once again play the role of super sub, while Salma Paralluelo was among those brought on for Spain.Paralluelo found herself in a promising position on several occasions as the game continued into extra time, and from there to the gripping tension of penalties.Beth Mead's first kick for England was saved after she was forced to retake, and captain Leah Williamson also had her effort stopped by Coll.However, Alex Greenwood and Niamh Charles both scored, while Patri Guijarro was the only successful taker for Spain before Kelly stepped up to win it.

England's players lift the trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 final football match between England and Spain at the St. Jakob-Park Stadium in Basel, on July 27, 2025.

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England beats Spain on penalties to defend title at Women's Euros

England and India drew the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Sunday after a fine rearguard action by...

England and India drew the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Sunday after a fine rearguard action by the tourists.India, who had been 0-2 in their second innings, finished on 425-4 in reply to England's first-innings 669, with skipper Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar all making hundreds before the teams shook hands after tea on the last day.England still lead this five-match series 2-1 ahead of next week's finale at the Oval.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>This match was a personal triumph for England captain Ben Stokes as he became just the fourth England cricketer to score a hundred and take five wickets in the same Test, his 141 on Saturday following a haul of 5-72 in India's first-innings 358.Stokes is now only the third cricketer in Test history to have both scored 7,000 Test runs and taken 200 wickets after outstanding West Indies all-rounder Garfield Sobers and South Africa's Jacques Kallis.But he appeared to be in pain while bowling Sunday, repeatedly clutching the top of his leg -- a worrying sign for England given the all-rounder's history of hamstring trouble.England's Joe Root, meanwhile, leapfrogged former Australia captain Ricky Ponting into second place in Test cricket's list of all-time leading run-scorers while making 150 -- his 38th hundred at this level.Brief scoresIndia 1st Innings 358 (S Sudharsan 61, Y Jaiswal 58, R Pant 54; B Stokes 5-72, J Archer 3-73)England 1st Innings 669 (J Root 150, B Stokes 141, B Duckett 94, Z Crawley 84; R Jadeja 4-143)India 2nd Innings 425-4 (R Jadeja 107 no, S Gill 103, W Sundar 101 no)Result: Match drawnSeries: England lead five-match series 2-1.

England captain Ben Stokes shakes hands with the Indian batsmen at the close of play during day five of the Fourth Rothesay Men's Test at the Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, UK. Picture date: Sunday July 27, 2025.

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England, India draw 4th Test as Gill leads tourists' resistance

Joe Root has insisted helping England win games rather than surpassing Sachin Tendulkar as Test c...

Joe Root has insisted helping England win games rather than surpassing Sachin Tendulkar as Test cricket's all-time leading run-scorer remains his primary motivation after moving into second place in the standings.Root leapfrogged three greats of the game during his magnificent 150 in the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford on Friday, overtaking Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis before going past former Australia captain Ricky Ponting.Now only Tendulkar, with a mammoth 15,921 Test runs, is ahead of Root, although Ponting is among those who believe the 34-year-old former England captain has time on his side to close the 2,512-run gap to the India great.   <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>But Root, who has compiled 21 hundreds since turning 30, is wary of the hype and wants attention turned to the fact England are pressing for a series-clinching win in Manchester at 2-1 up in the five-Test contest"It is easy to get caught up in this stuff but at the end of the day, you’re playing against India in one of the biggest series there is," Root told Sky Sports."It's not about you, it's about winning the game and getting your team in a position where you can follow through on that."Nevertheless, he added: "When you look at the names there on that list, they are all people that, as a kid, growing up, that's who I would try and be in the garden, on the street, on the driveway, at my local club."Even just to be mentioned in the (same) sentence as these guys is a bit of a pinch-yourself moment."Root said a period of reflection during Covid, when he was still England captain, prompted changes to his game that have helped the Yorkshireman amass 5,586 runs at a high average of 56.42 since the start of 2021."I actually went away during that period and asked can I get some footage off Sky and just look at modes of dismissal (to see) if there were any trends," he explained."One thing that I've done within that period is actually try and look at the game slightly differently."At the start of my career, a lot of it was based on my technique. Whereas in this second phase of things, it’s been more about managing risk and thinking how can I eliminate as many modes of dismissal as possible with the highest output?"It's very easy to get caught up, get too emotional, either get too hard on yourself or feel too sorry for yourself."

England's Joe Root bats on day four of the third cricket Test match between New Zealand and England at Seddon Park in Hamilton on December 17, 2024.

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Root has no interest in Tendulkar run-record hype

Former Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored as Premier League champions Liverpool were be...

Former Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored as Premier League champions Liverpool were beaten 4-2 by AC Milan on Saturday in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong. Liverpool, with record signing Florian Wirtz making his first start, dominated possession under the closed roof at Kai Tak Stadium but a shaky defence was punished for all four Milan goals.Rafael Leao opened the scoring for the Italian side on 10 minutes with Dominik Szoboszlai's superb strike equalising 16 minutes later to make it 1-1 at half-time <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>But Loftus-Cheek, six minutes after the break, and two goals from substitute Noah Okafor, either side of Cody Gakpo's late header, gave AC Milan the victory.Liverpool's Hong Kong fans vastly outnumbered those supporting AC Milan in the 49,704 sellout crowd. They paid a heartfelt tribute to Diogo Jota, who passed away earlier this month in a car crash.Flowers were laid by Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish in front of fans, who responded by holding up a mosaic spelling out "DJ20" in honour of Jota's number 20 shirt, which has been retired by the club.Leao, too, remembered his fellow Portuguese player Jota as he offered a silent prayer and formed the number 20 with his fingers after scoring the opener.Wirtz played 45 minutes and looked comfortable directing operations, showing hints of why Bayer Leverkusen were paid a reported British transfer record $150 million for the German playmaker. Other new Liverpool signings left-back Milos Kerkez and right-back Jeremie Frimpong both came on as substitutes at half-time.But Striker Hugo Ekitike, who was signed from Entracht Frankfurt for a reported $92 million, was not ready to take part, having only flown in to join his new teammates two days earlier.Liverpool started without a recognised central striker as Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, who have both been linked to move away from Anfield, were left out of the matchday squad.Liverpool will now fly to Japan to face Yokohama F-Marinos on Wednesday.Liverpool revealed earlier that full-back Joe Gomez had flown home for treatment on a minor Achilles problem.

HONG KONG, CHINA - JULY 26: Noah Okafor of AC Milan (C) celebrates after scoring his goal with Alexis Saelemaekers of AC Milan (L) and Rafael Leao of AC Milan (R) during the Liverpool FC v AC Milan Pre-Season Friendly match at Kai Tak Stadium on July 26, 2025 in Hong Kong, China.

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AC Milan capitalize on sloppy Liverpool defending in Hong Kong friendly

Former Italy captain Andrea Pirlo has been appointed as United FC coach, the Emirati second-tier ...

Former Italy captain Andrea Pirlo has been appointed as United FC coach, the Emirati second-tier club United FC announced on Friday.The ex-AC Milan and Juventus midfielder has signed a two-year deal with the club, also known as Dubai United, who play in the UAE First Division League, one tier below the country's Pro League.Pirlo, 46, a key player in Italy's 2006 World Cup triumph, has had spells in charge of Juve, Fatih Karagumruk in Turkey and most recently Sampdoria since retiring from playing in 2017. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"We are proud to welcome Andrea to the United FC family," United FC president Ilie Cebanu said."He embodies the values and ambitions of our club, and we believe he will be a key figure in taking us to the next level," he added.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 23: Andrea Pirlo of AC Milan looks on during the match between Spurs Legends and AC Milan Glorie at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 23, 2025 in London, England.

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Ex-Italy skipper Pirlo appointed boss of 2nd-tier Emirati club

Alexander Isak has reportedly told Newcastle he wants to explore a move away as the club confirme...

Alexander Isak has reportedly told Newcastle he wants to explore a move away as the club confirmed he was not part of the squad travelling to Asia for preseason friendlies.The Daily Mail said Thursday that Newcastle bosses "are aware of Isak's wish to consider his options this summer."It came hours after the Saudi-owned Premier League club said the 25-year-old forward would miss the Asia tour "with a minor thigh injury."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Athletic reported that Isak requested not to be part of the tour.Isak's 23 Premier League goals last season made him one of the world's hottest properties and he has been linked with English champions Liverpool.The Mail said Liverpool were still interested in acquiring the Sweden international despite announcing the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike on Wednesday.Ekitike's arrival, for a reported initial fee of £69 million ($93 million), takes Liverpool's spending during the current transfer window to more than £250 million.Isak still has three years left on his contract at Newcastle, whom he joined in 2022 from Spanish side Real Sociedad.He was left out of Saturday's 4-0 defeat in a friendly at Celtic.But Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said at the time he was "confident" that Isak would stay at St James' Park, adding that he expected him to be part of the Asia tour."It's difficult for me to give 100 percent clarity on any player," he said. "I'd never sit here and do that because it's football and you never know what could happen."All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle. He loves the players that he plays with, the staff, the team."Newcastle face Arsenal in Singapore on Sunday before flying to South Korea, where they will play a K League all-star team and Tottenham.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Alexander Isak of Newcastle United reacts during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Everton FC at St James' Park on May 25, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

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Report: Liverpool on alert after Isak tells Newcastle he wants to leave

Aitana Bonmati netted the only goal of the game late in extra time as world champions Spain edged...

Aitana Bonmati netted the only goal of the game late in extra time as world champions Spain edged Germany 1-0 in their Women's Euro 2025 semi-final on Wednesday to set up a title decider this weekend against England.A tense game in Zurich was ticking down towards penalties when reigning Ballon d'Or Bonmati struck in the 113th minute, surprising the usually reliable German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger at her near post.It was not one of Barcelona star Bonmati's most influential performances, yet she still delivered when it mattered to keep Spain on course to win their first European Championship crown.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"We knew that the goalkeeper often leaves her near post open in these situations, so I didn't think twice. I didn't want the game to go to penalties," said a beaming Bonmati.They were also grateful to goalkeeper Cata Coll for some vital interventions, including a spectacular double save to deny Klara Buhl and Carlotta Wamser right at the end of normal time, as Germany were agonisingly eliminated.Spain will now face reigning European champions England on Sunday in Basel in what will be a repeat of the 2023 World Cup decider, when La Roja triumphed 1-0 in Sydney.If Montse Tome's side come out on top again, they will become the first nation to hold both the world and European titles at the same time since Germany almost 15 years ago.Spain had never beaten Germany before, and now they advance to their first ever Euro final, with the chance to cement their status as the leading force in international women's football."We have made history again today, getting to a first Euro final and beating Germany for the first time," said Bonmati."We are proud to be part of this generation of players, but this is not over yet. We can enjoy this and then tomorrow we need to start thinking about England."They should have been the fresher of the two sides here, having played their quarter-final against hosts Switzerland a day before Germany got the better of France on penalties after playing almost the whole game with 10 players.<h3>Tale of two goalkeepers</h3>Germany were also missing three of their starters from that match, with Kathrin Hendrich and Sjoeke Nusken suspended while right-back Sarai Linder was injured.Christian Wuck's team did unsurprisingly have the majority of the 22,432 crowd behind them at Zurich's Letzigrund Stadium, and they also had Berger in goal.A star of the win over France, she made a fine save to keep out a shot from Spain's Esther Gonzalez -- her teammate at Gotham FC in the United States -- just before the midway point in the first half, tipping the ball over for a corner.Spain captain Irene Paredes headed against the post from a Claudia Pina corner and Gonzalez was again denied by Berger before half-time.It was then Germany's turn to have the best chances in the second half, but Coll made a crucial block from Buhl just after the hour mark, and the Bayern Munich star also curled a free-kick just wide late on.Then came the stunning double save from Coll right at the end of the allotted four minutes of injury time, as the Barcelona goalkeeper kept out a deflected Buhl shot that was looping in and quickly got up to stop Wamser's follow-up.That was perhaps a sign that it would not be Germany's night, and they then saw defender Sophia Kleinherne come off in tears early in extra time after overstretching while trying to stop Salma Paralluelo going clean through on goal.Spain's winner then arrived in the 113th minute, as Bonmati let a ball from Athenea del Castillo run past her in the area before beating Berger at the goalkeeper's near post with a shot from a tight angle.There was still time for Coll to excel again, flying to her left to save from Lea Schuller as Spain held on.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JULY 23: Aitana Bonmati of Spain celebrates scoring her team's first goal with teammates during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Semi-Final match between Germany and Spain at Stadion Letzigrund on July 23, 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland.

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Bonmati sinks Germany in ET to send Spain into Euro 2025 final

Barcelona cancelled their pre-season friendly against Japanese side Vissel Kobe on Wednesday, cit...

Barcelona cancelled their pre-season friendly against Japanese side Vissel Kobe on Wednesday, citing "serious contractual breaches" by the tour promoter and suggested they may have to scrap upcoming fixtures in South Korea. The Catalan giants were set to play their first game in Kobe against the J-League team retired former Barca star Andres Iniesta also played for on Sunday."Barcelona announces that it has been obliged to suspend its participation in the game scheduled for next Sunday in Japan due to serious contractual breaches on behalf of the promotor," said Barca in a statement. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"Nevertheless, the club will consider readjusting the leg of the summer tour in South Korea, where two games are scheduled against FC Seoul (July 31) and Daegu FC (August 4), if certain conditions are met by the promoter. "If these conditions are met, then the club will travel to South Korea in the coming days. Barcelona regrets this incident and the impact it will have on the many, many Barca fans in Japan." The club had planned to face Italian side Como at their revamped Camp Nou stadium on August 10 for its reopening but after failing to obtain the adequate permits were forced to move the game to the Johan Cruyff stadium by their training ground.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 19: Raphinha of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta de Vigo at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 19, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.

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