6 h. ago Relentless Chelsea see chance to test evolving squad at Club World Cup

Keeping up with the pace of change in Maresca’s squad is far from easy and their US trip will be more of the sameThis is the never-ending season but Chelsea show no sign of wanting to slow down. They intend to embrace Fifa’s newly revamped Club World Cup – a potential £97m prize pot for the eventual winners is quite the draw in an age of intense financial scrutiny, after all – and have travelled to the US knowing that the tournament gives them an opportunity to find out more about a squad that has evolved in the short space of time since Enzo Maresca’s side beat Real Betis in the Uefa Conference League final on 28 May.There has been little time to pause for breath before Chelsea get up and running in Group D by facing the Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC in Atlanta on Monday. Some players have had a 10-day break, others have been away on international duty and there has been no sign of anyone in the recruitment department taking a bit of annual leave. Continue reading...

Politics

34 h. ago Tottenham to make Mathys Tel move permanent with £30m transfer fee

French forward joined Spurs on loan in FebruaryThomas Frank looks to reunite with Brentford’s MbeumoTottenham are expected to seal the permanent signing of Mathys Tel for a fee of about €35m (£30m) in the next 48 hours. Spurs paid Bayern Munich a €10m loan fee to sign the forward for the second half of the Premier League season.The 20-year-old scored two goals in 13 league appearances, 11 of which were starts, but was an unused substitute for Spurs’ Europa League final triumph over Manchester United, which resulted in their first trophy for 17 years. Continue reading...

Economics

34 h. ago Scots 'gangland' double shooting accused named as Brit after Spanish bar bloodbath

Scots Eddie Lyons Junior and Ross Monaghan were shot dead at Monaghans Bar in Costa del Sol at around 11pm on May 31 after they watched the Champions League final

Events

59 h. ago Spurs’ Mikey Moore aiming for another European trophy with England Under

The winger was on the bench in Bilbao as Tottenham claimed the Europa League against Manchester United.

Politics

66 h. ago Thomas Frank is just what Tottenham need but will he be given time to prove it? | Jonathan Wilson

Manager is flexible but a slow starter with limited experience in Europe, and arrives as the love still lingers for former managerBrøndby appointed Thomas Frank as manager in June 2013 and did not win any of their first eight games of the 2013-14 season. Brentford appointed Frank as manager in October 2018 and lost eight of their following 10 games. So nobody should panic if Frank begins slowly at Tottenham.In reality, though, the first couple of months will be a major challenge for the Dane. These are not easy circumstances for anybody to take the Spurs job. Usually a manager takes over after a run of poor form, with fans and players ready for a change and a regression to the mean in the offing. Spurs have been on a run of poor form: one win in 12 league games over the final three months of the season, but in that time they also won the Europa League, which means everything is seen in a different light. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Paddy Power offer: Get 50/1 on Yanited to win Baller League final

Paddy Power is offering new customers the chance to get in on the Baller League final action

Sport

3 d. ago Chris Wilder 'set to be sacked' by Sheffield United ahead of crunch meeting

Sheffield United missed out on promotion to the Premier League after losing the Championship play-off final and could now be about to make a shock managerial change

Politics

4 d. ago Asia benefits from World Cup expansion as AFC qualification delivers thrills | John Duerden

There are concerns that quality at the 2026 tournament will be diluted but giving Asia more places has brought a new dimension to qualificationJeddah is more relaxed and laid-back than Riyadh. Tony Popovic should know. On Tuesday, for the second time in his coaching career, he left Saudi Arabia with a big prize, though back in 2014, it had been a far more fierce fight. Then, Western Sydney Wanderers went to the capital to defend their 1-0 first leg lead in the Asian Champions League final and, despite the best that Al Hilal could throw at them, held firm amid the storm for the most unlikely of trophy wins. This week, however, there was a five-goal cushion by the Red Sea, meaning there was only ever going to be one outcome: a seventh World Cup appearance. After successive playoff qualifications, to advance directly to North America is a welcome change and to do so with wins against Japan and Saudi Arabia is especially pleasing.It may have ended calmly, but this campaign has been a re...

Politics

4 d. ago Micky van de Ven gives honest verdict on Ange Postecoglou sacking

Postecoglou was sacked just 16 days after Tottenham’s triumph in the Europa League final

Politics

4 d. ago Football tourists help Manchester cement place among UK’s busiest airports

Northwest hub and London Heathrow saw passenger numbers soar for Europa League final in Bilbao between United and Spurs

Society

5 d. ago Alejandro Garnacho: Manchester United set lofty asking price for wantaway winger as top clubs circle

The Argentina international hinted he was ready for a move after being dropped for the Europa League final

Politics

5 d. ago ‘Ruben Amorim backed himself into a corner – but it’s not too late to reverse Man Utd mistake'

Ruben Amorim was appointed as Manchester United manager in November, but has struggled since, with the club finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final

Politics

6 d. ago ‘Play with a smile’: Tuchel challenges England to relax and hit top gear

Head coach thinks players ‘will rise to the occasion’Tuchel wants ‘more fluid’ and ‘more exciting’ footballThomas Tuchel has said England should not have an inferiority complex in relation to the world’s strongest teams but must start playing with a smile to realise their true potential.The England head coach said his side “have not clicked yet” and, as well as criticising the attitude against Andorra on Saturday, believes the performance was too rigid and too serious. England’s labours in Barcelona were put into sharper focus by the quality of Portugal and Spain in the Nations League final the following night. Tuchel, however, insists England are not inferior to those nations and will improve, beginning with the friendly against Senegal in Nottingham on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago 'I made Cristiano Ronaldo cry after his touchline message – but I'm a Premier League flop'

Cristiano Ronaldo helped Portugal win the Nations League final on Sunday, but former Swansea City striker Eder also admitted how he inspired his winning goal at Euro 2016

Politics

6 d. ago Alejandro Garnacho put straight as questions over Man Utd exit emerge

Alejandro Garnacho's future at Man United is in doubt after he was benched for the Europa League final and the Argentinian has now been given some stern advice by an England icon

Politics

6 d. ago Cristiano Ronaldo fires Lamine Yamal warning as Spain star snubs Portugal celebrations

Lamine Yamal has already won five trophies in his career aged 17 and is being tipped for superstardom, but tasted a rare defeat as Spain lost to Portugal in the Nations League final on Sunday night

Events

6 d. ago Cristiano Ronaldo shows true colours over injury nightmare and Roberto Martinez

Cristiano Ronaldo was forced off in the closing stages of Portugal's Nations League final win over Spain, with the forward admitting he was struggling with an injury that he suffered in the warm-up

Events

6 d. ago Police issue statement after fan falls from stand and dies during Nations League final

Portugal won the Nations League final against Spain on penalties, but the game has been overshadowed by the tragic death of a supporter, who had fallen from a stand just before both the shootout began

Sport

6 d. ago CR7 fanboys come for Ronaldo Ballon d'OR rival at Nations League Final as Bayern royalty ducks for cover

The incident happened at the Allianz Arena as fans goaded Franck Ribery after his online spat

Sport

6 d. ago Supporter dies in fall from stands during Nations League final

Medical personnel, stewards, and police immediately cordoned off the area as the game continued

Sport