Category: Football

Chloe Kelly converted the decisive kick as England beat Spain 3-1 on penalties to lift the Women’s Euro 2025 trophy after Sunday’s game had finished 1-1 at the end of extra time.

This victory allowed the England women’s team to avenge their defeat in the World Cup final two years ago and retain their continental crown.

It looked as though Spain would repeat their victory over England in Sydney in 2023 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 quarter-finals and Italy in the semis of the Women’s Euro 2025, before finding a way to win.

Alessia Russo headed in their equaliser just before the hour mark, and no further goals meant a shoot-out in which Kelly, who once again had a huge impact off the bench, netted the winner.

“I was cool, I was composed. I knew I was going to hit the back of the net,” Kelly told the BBC of her penalty.

It was an agonising way to lose for Spain, but they failed to score three of their spot-kicks, with reigning Ballon d’Or Aitana Bonmati seeing her effort saved.

Sarina Wiegman’s England are therefore back-to-back European champions, three years after they defeated Germany in extra time at Wembley to win a first women’s major tournament.

“What a team. What a game. What drama. You dug deep when it mattered most, and you’ve made the nation proud. History makers,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was at the match, wrote on X.

Defeating Spain helps make up for the pain of losing the 2023 World Cup final, and England’s 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.

“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,” said Wiegman, whose team lost to France in their first match at the tournament.

“Losing your first game and becoming European champions is incredible,” she added.

Spain fell short in their quest to add a maiden European Championship title to the World Cup they won in Australia.

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La Roja dominated possession as expected, but ultimately paid the price for not killing the game against an England side who never know when they are beaten.

“I am in shock,” Bonmati told broadcaster TVE before apologising for falling from the spot. “Football is cruel. Everything seems bad right now, but I think we played the best football during the tournament.”

England, meanwhile, 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 equaliser denied Italy in the semi-finals, when Kelly netted the extra-time winner.

Wiegman took a gamble here on the fitness of Lauren James, which paid off, albeit not quite as planned. Having come off with an ankle injury against Italy, the Chelsea winger did not last until half-time and was replaced by Kelly.

By that point, Spain were in front, scoring when Ona Battle crossed from the right for Caldentey to head in.

They 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 this came when the game was still goalless, with Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll playing a careless short pass to Laia Aleixandri in her own area.

Lauren Hemp was alive to the opportunity and pounced, but Coll made the save.

Yet even at 1-0, England were still in the game, and they took their chance in the 57th minute when Kelly crossed from the left for Russo to level.

England, with more fans on their side in the crowd of 34,203, sensed yet another comeback win was on the cards, and it took Coll’s fingertips to keep out a Kelly effort midway.

The game continued into extra time, and from there to the gripping tension of penalties, in which Beth Mead’s first kick for England was saved after she was forced to retake.

Captain Leah Williamson also had her effort stopped by Coll, but Alex Greenwood and Niamh Charles both scored, while Patri Guijarro was the only successful taker for Spain before Kelly won it.

READ: India defy odds to salvage draw against England in Manchester Test

An Inter Miami team missing the suspended Lionel Messi missed the chance to gain ground on Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati after being held to a 0-0 draw in Major League Soccer on Saturday.

Messi and teammate Jordi Alba were both barred from playing the home game against Cincinnati after controversially withdrawing from this week’s MLS All-Star Game in Texas.

That meant Lionel Messi and Alba could only watch on from the sidelines in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday as Inter were frustrated by a well-organised Cincinnati team.

Miami were given a huge let off in the dying seconds of stoppage time, when Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson had a goal ruled out after harshly being adjudged to have fouled Inter’s Noah Allen as he leapt for a header.

The result leaves Miami seven points adrift of Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference standings.

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Miami, meanwhile, used the pre-game festivities to formally unveil new star signing Rodrigo De Paul, Messi’s World Cup-winning Argentina team-mate.

The 31-year-old midfielder, who joins the club from Spain’s Atletico Madrid, is expected to make his debut during Miami’s upcoming Leagues Cup campaign.

“What brings me to Inter Miami is the desire to compete, win titles, to write the pages in the club’s history,” De Paul said after his transfer was announced by the club late Friday.

“It’s a club that is shaping up to be great, to have a long history, so that many people follow this incredible team.”

Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said De Paul’s signing would bring “experience, passion and quality” to the Herons.

“Rodrigo is a player I’ve admired for many years,” Beckham said. “As a leader, he has brought so much to the teams he has played for — especially with his national team Argentina.

“I’m excited to welcome another World Cup-winning player not just to Inter Miami, but also to MLS.”

READ: Shikhar Dhawan comments on India facing Pakistan in WCL 2025 semi-final

Liverpool are to create a permanent tribute to remember former player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva who died in a car crash earlier this month, the Premier League champions announced on Saturday.

Father of three Jota died alongside his brother on July 3, 11 days after marrying his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, after their car came off the road and burst into flames in northern Spain.

A large number of tributes in the shape of flowers, scarves, cards, and jerseys have been left at Anfield, which Liverpool said would form the basis for the permanent monument.

“The thousands of physical tributes outside Anfield have been gradually removed over the course of the last week and carefully separated and safely stored,” the club said in a statement.

“Floral tributes will then be composted and used in flower beds across all club sites, including Anfield, the AXA Training Centre, and AXA Melwood Training Centre.

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“The remaining artefacts will be recycled by a specialist company and used to help create a permanent memorial sculpture that will become a future focal point of remembrance at Anfield.”

The club also said that players will have a “Forever 20” emblem – referencing Jota’s now-retired shirt number printed on their shirts and stadium jackets for the season.

“When LFC’s new kits are launched on August 1, players will display their own tribute with a specially made ‘Forever 20’ emblem printed into their shirts and stadium jackets, which will remain in place for the season,” the statement added.

Liverpool paid tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva during their friendly at Preston a fortnight ago and will hold their main commemoration, which will feature a fan mosaic and a minute of silence, before they kick off the new season at home to Bournemouth on August 15.

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Arsenal on Thursday announced the signing of Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, taking their spending during the summer transfer window close to £140 million ($189 million).

The Spain under-21 international joins for an initial fee of around £13 million, with performance-related add-ons, and is understood to have agreed a five-year deal with an option of a further year.

The 21-year-old, Arsenal’s fifth signing in recent weeks, is set to provide cover for William Saliba and Gabriel at the heart of the Gunners’ defence, but can operate anywhere along the back line.

Mosquera, who played 41 times for Valencia last season, has joined Arsenal for their tour of Singapore and Hong Kong.

“It means a lot to me,” he told the club website. “There’s been a lot of hard work behind all of this.

“It’s an opportunity that came up and I couldn’t let it pass me by. I’m joining a historic, massive club. When you arrive here with your family, you really feel the greatness of this place.”

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Manager Mikel Arteta described Mosquera as “an intelligent player with good pace, who can play centrally and on both sides”.

Mosquera follows Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, and Noni Madueke in moving to the Emirates.

Gabriel and Myles Lewis-Skelly have also put pen to paper on new contracts in the off-season, with a long-term extension for teenager Ethan Nwaneri believed to be all but completed.

Arsenal remain hopeful of signing striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon, although it is not believed a deal, which could be worth as much as £65 million, is imminent.

The Gunners, who have finished as Premier League runners-up three times in a row, launch their 2025/26 campaign at Manchester United on August 17.

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French superstar Kylian Mbappe is set to don the iconic number 10 jersey at Real Madrid next season, replacing club legend Luka Modric, who has joined AC Milan, international media reported on Wednesday.

Mbappe had worn the No. 9 shirt during his debut campaign with Los Blancos, but will now switch to No. 10, the same number he wears for France.

The number was previously held by Modric, who ended his 13-year stint at the Bernabeu this summer.

Reports suggest that Kylian Mbappe had been eyeing the number 10 jersey from the beginning and was willing to wait another season had Modric extended his contract.

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The 25-year-old had a prolific debut season in Madrid following his high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in July 2024. He netted 44 goals across all competitions.

However, despite his individual brilliance, the season ended without silverware for the Spanish giants, finishing behind Barcelona in La Liga, crashing out in the Champions League quarterfinals to Arsenal, and falling to PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup semis.

Real Madrid also lost the Copa del Rey final to arch-rivals Barcelona on April 26.

READ: MLS chief tight-lipped on Lionel Messi ban after All-Star no-show

Major League Soccer (MLS) commissioner Don Garber refused to be drawn on whether the league planned to sanction Lionel Messi after the Inter Miami and Argentina superstar was a late withdrawal from Wednesday’s All-Star game.

Messi and Miami teammate Jordi Alba had both been due to start in Wednesday’s showpiece in Austin, where a combined MLS XI defeated a team representing Mexico’s Liga-MX 3-1.

However, news broke early Wednesday that Miami had informed MLS neither player would feature in the game, for reasons that were not immediately clear.

The 11th-hour snub has left Messi and Alba facing a one-game suspension from MLS. Under league rules, players selected for the All-Star game must participate unless they have a valid reason, such as an injury, not to do so.

Garber, however, was tight-lipped about a possible sanction for Messi following his controversial no-show, declining to say whether the league would proceed with issuing a ban against its biggest star, who could now miss Miami’s game against FC Cincinnati this weekend.

“Anything that’s going to happen as relates to next weekend, we’re not going to talk about today,” Garber told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s match.

“The game is not until this coming weekend, and we don’t need to answer that. We’re managing through this process as we speak.”

While Messi, 38, showed no sign of injury while scoring twice in Miami’s win over the New York Red Bulls last weekend, Garber did note that the Argentinian star has recently completed a punishing schedule of games.

Lionel Messi has played nine games in 35 days, four in the Club World Cup and five in domestic competitions, and played 90 minutes in each game.

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“Miami’s had a schedule that is unlike any other team,” Garber said. “Most of our teams had a 10-day break. Miami hasn’t. So we have to manage through that as a league.”

“At the same time, we do have rules. And we have to manage that as well. So we would have loved to have Leo here and to have every player that was selected here.”

Garber said the league should have been made aware earlier that Lionel Messi planned to skip Wednesday’s game.

“We should have known earlier,” Garber added. “We should have addressed it earlier. No doubt about that.”

Messi and Alba’s participation in the All-Star game had been under a cloud after Miami coach Javier Mascherano indicated at the weekend he wanted Messi and Alba to rest.

“The players are called up. I’d prefer they rest, but it’s not my decision,” Mascherano said.

“I know how important the All-Star Game is, and as far as I know, there’s no decision from the club — everything continues as normal.”

Lionel Messi joined MLS in 2023, just months after leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup.

The eight-time Ballon D’Or winner has had a transformative impact on the league since his arrival, boosting the global profile of MLS and sending ticket sales skyrocketing.

READ: Marcus Rashford joins Barcelona on loan from Manchester United

Spanish champions Barcelona loaned Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford on Wednesday with a future purchase option.

“Barcelona and Manchester United have reached a deal for the loan of the player Marcus Rashford until June 30, 2026,” announced the La Liga champions in a statement.

“The agreement also establishes an option to buy the English forward.”

Barcelona are paying around 75 percent of Rashford’s £325,000-a-week wage ($435,000) while he is at the club, with the player foregoing the rest, according to Spanish reports.

The 27-year-old England international was out of favour under Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim and spent the final months of the 2024/25 season on loan at Aston Villa.

Rashford, who made his United debut in 2015, became an outcast at Old Trafford, with Amorim publicly doubting his commitment and desire.

In May, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Marcus Rashford and Liverpool winger Luis Diaz were “fantastic players” amid transfer links to both, with the club keen to reinforce on the left flank.

Last season, the Catalans were irresistible in attack, winning a domestic treble, but had little in the way of back-up for key wingers Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.

Rashford could also offer cover for veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, who turns 37 in August.

Barcelona had hoped to sign Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams to play on the left wing, but the Spaniard signed a new deal at the San Mames.

Rashford, who came through Manchester United’s academy, last played for the Premier League club in December, scoring 138 goals in 426 appearances for the Red Devils.

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At Aston Villa, he managed four goals in 17 games before a hamstring injury cut his season short in April.

Rashford was criticised by former Manchester United great Teddy Sheringham after trying to make the Barcelona switch happen in recent weeks.

“From my perspective, if you go from Manchester United to Barcelona, that’s a step up that he hasn’t deserved,” Sheringham told SkyBet.

Manchester United plan to sign several more players this summer, including Antony, Jadon Sancho, and Alejandro Garnacho.

Barcelona had trouble registering signings last season with La Liga, including midfielder Dani Olmo, and, according to reports, may need to find ways to balance the books before registering Rashford and their first summer arrival, goalkeeper Joan Garcia.

Few British players have joined Barcelona since the 1980s, when Gary Lineker, Steve Archibald, and Mark Hughes all played for the club.

Current Bristol City midfielder Marcus McGuane signed for Barcelona’s reserve team in 2018, making one appearance for the first team as a substitute in the Catalan Super Cup before leaving in 2019 on loan to Telstar and eventually joining Nottingham Forest.

In the summer of 2019, Louie Barry moved to Barca’s youth academy from West Bromwich Albion but departed for Aston Villa in January 2020.

READ: Arsenal off to winning pre-season start in Singapore

Arsenal kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 1–0 win over Italian giants AC Milan at the National Stadium in Singapore on Wednesday.

Manager Mikel Arteta started the match with several regulars, including Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Ben White.

Christian Norgaard, a new signing from Brentford, made his first appearance for the Gunners, while fellow arrivals Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martin Zubimendi started on the bench.

In front of more than 22,800 fans, Arsenal, who finished runner-up in the last three consecutive seasons in the English Premier League, looked the more lively of the two sides in the first half, dominating possession but failing to convert their chances.

Arteta then made six changes at the break, with Arrizabalaga and Zubimendi introduced to the Arsenal faithful.

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Their breakthrough came just seven minutes into the restart, as England international Bukayo Saka latched onto a cross from defender Jakub Kiwior and slotted the ball home into the far corner.

Saka, later named Man of the Match, made way for 15-year-old Max Dowman — a product of the club academy — who impressed with his confidence and flair.

Arsenal continued to press for a second goal, but Milan’s substitute goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani denied Mikel Merino’s header with a full-stretch save in the 75th minute.

He was called into action again seven minutes later, tipping Leandro Trossard’s close-range effort over the bar to keep the scoreline in Arsenal’s favour.

“I’m very happy with the attitude and the domination we had shown throughout the game. But there are always things to improve,” Arteta said at the post-match press conference.

“I have to find that cohesion within the players, and they have to continue to step up to the next level. But we are heading in a good direction.”

The Londoners next take on fellow Premier League side Newcastle on Sunday.

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KARACHI: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has appointed Nolberto Solano as the head coach and Jorge Castaneira as the assistant coach for Pakistan’s senior and under-23 national teams.

The decision was taken following a vote by the PFF Executive Committee in which seven of the thirteen members voted in favour of the appointment.

Notably, Nolberto Solano was a popular figure during his playing days for English football club Newcastle United, scoring 38 goals in 233 appearances.

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Following his retirement from a professional career, Solano has gained extensive experience. He has managed three clubs in his native Peru, while also playing a pivotal role in guiding the Peru national team to their first World Cup appearance in 34 years in 2018.

Additionally, Pakistan’s newly appointed football coach also played a crucial role in Peru’s fourth-place finish in the 2021 Copa America.

Alongside Solano, Jorge Castaneira is also vastly experienced with a formidable background in football conditioning and tactical development.

Castaneira, a former Argentine professional physical trainer, has worked with Venezuela’s national team during their 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign and has contributed to the success of clubs across South America and the Middle East.

The experienced duo will be part of the Pakistan football program for one year, aiming to enhance player performance in the short term and foster youth development in the long term.

Following the appointment, PFF Syed Mohsen Gilani hailed Nolberto Solano and Jorge Castañeira.

“Nolberto Solano is a big name in world football, while Jorge Castañeira brings top-level fitness training to our team. Together, they will help us build a strong and professional future for football in our country,” he said.

With Solano and Castañeira joining us, we will give our players better facilities”, Mohsen Gilani concluded.

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Liverpool have agreed to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike in a deal worth an initial £69 million ($92 million), according to reports on Monday.

The Premier League champions switched their focus to Ekitike following Newcastle’s refusal to sell Sweden striker Alexander Isak, who is valued at around £150 million by the Magpies.

Newcastle and Manchester United were also interested in Ekitike, but Liverpool look set to win the race for one of Europe’s hottest young stars.

It is believed the Reds have agreed to pay a potential further £10 million in add-ons to sign the 23-year-old Frenchman, whose overall price tag could reach £79 million.

Once the transfer is completed, Ekitike will link up with Arne Slot’s side on their pre-season tour of Asia.

Hugo Ekitike scored 22 goals in 48 games in all competitions for Frankfurt last season after joining the Bundesliga club from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

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He was an unused substitute during his side’s pre-season friendly against FSV Frankfurt on Saturday, with Eintracht boss Dino Toppmoller admitting Ekitike’s impending departure was “a bitter loss”.

Liverpool have an opening in their forward line after Diogo Jota’s recent death in a car crash in Spain.

The Reds are also believed to be willing to sell Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, while Colombia forward Luis Diaz has been the target of a rejected bid from Bayern Munich.

Liverpool have already splashed out £116 million on Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz, as well as signing defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth, respectively.

Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has also linked up with Arne Slot’s side since the end of last season after agreeing his move from Valencia in 2024.

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