20 h. 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

27 h. ago Four Play to return to London – with cast of West End stars revealed

Four Play to return to London – with cast of West End stars revealed  WhatsOnStage

Politics

44 h. ago Boots knocks 50% off ‘fantastic’ designer scent in time for Father’s Day

'My dad liked it so much I gave what was left to him and he wears all the time. So nice'

Politics

68 h. ago Robert Lewandowski left ‘betrayed and hurt’ by coach in Poland captaincy row

Veteran refuses to play ‘as long as coach remains’Coach Probierz: ‘In football, you can’t get offended’Robert Lewandowski has said that he has been left feeling “betrayed” and “very hurt” by the head coach of the Polish national team, Michal Probierz, after quitting the setup because of a row over losing the captaincy. The Barcelona striker was stripped of the armband on Sunday by Probierz, who has appointed the midfielder Piotr Zielinski as captain instead.Lewandowski then announced he was quitting the national team on social media, citing a “loss of trust in the coach”, refusing to return to play for his country “for as long as [the coach] remains in charge”. Probierz has been in charge of Poland since 2023, with Lewandowski leading the team at Euro 2024 last summer. “I hope I will still have another chance to play again for the best fans in the world,” the 36-year-old said. Continue reading...

Politics

69 h. ago Sweet reason why Princess Eugenie's wedding kept empty seat directly in front of Queen

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank married in a star-studded royal wedding in 2018, but many at the time were left baffled as to why there was a seat left empty at the front of the chapel

Politics

3 d. ago Robert Lewandowski refuses to play for Poland ‘as long as coach is in charge’

Veteran quits team after being stripped of captaincyRecord cap holder cites ‘loss of trust in coach’ ProbierzRobert Lewandowski has quit the Polish national team, saying he will not return to play for his country while the current manager remains in the role. Michal Probierz, who has been in charge of Poland since 2023, replaced Lewandowski as captain with Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski on Sunday.“Taking into account the circumstances and a loss of trust in the coach, I have decided to resign from playing for the Poland national team for as long as he remains in charge,” Lewandowski, 36, wrote on social media. “I hope I will still have another chance to play again for the best fans in the world.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago 'Wary' Emma Raducanu opens up on coping with her stalker ordeal as she returns to play in the UK for the first time since being left in tears in Dubai

The 2021 US Open champion pulled off one of the great underdog stories in the history of all sports when she won her maiden Grand Slam title as a qualifier in New York as a teenager.

Economics

3 d. ago Emma Raducanu 'wary' when going out after second terrifying stalker ordeal

Emma Raducanu has admitted she’s ‘wary’ when going out after her two terrifying stalker ordeals, with one ‘fixated’ creep following her to matches in Dubai

Events

3 d. ago Emma Raducanu reveals impact of stalker ordeal: ‘I’m wary when I go out’

The 22-year-old was left in tears after receiving repeated unwanted attention from a “fixated” man during a match in February

Economics

3 d. ago Rod Stewart, 80, is supported by pregnant daughter Kimberly, 45, and lookalike son Sean, 44, as he's seen for the first time since being left 'devastated' after cancelling SIX shows due to ill health

The Maggie May hitmaker, 80, was supported by daughter Kimberely, 45, and lookalike son Sean, 44, as they headed for dinner at swanky restaurant Matsuhisa.

Events

3 d. ago Love Island star begs bosses to bring back controversial challenge which upset Molly

Love Island 2025 is almost upon us and cast member Shakira Khan says it's time for the Twitter challenge to return six years after it left Molly-Mae Hague fuming

Politics

3 d. ago Heartache turns to hope as South Africa seek to shake ‘chokers’ tag in WTC final | Daniel Gallan

The Proteas choking when it matters most is a tale as old as the country itself as history again weighs heavy on their World Test Championship hopesA South African cricket fan’s standout World Cup catastrophe will depend on when they were born. Baby boomers cite the time, back in 1992, when Brian McMillan was left needing 22 runs off one ball after rain in Sydney washed away any hope of a chase. Millennials are forever haunted by Alan Donald’s dropped bat in that tied semi-final in 1999. Gen Zs must still be wondering how Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller failed to get over the line with 30 needed off as many balls in last year’s T20 final.The Proteas choking when it matters most is a tale as old as the country itself. Longer, in fact, if you consider that Nelson Mandela was elected president two years after this story began. And throughout it all, one antagonist has loomed largest. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago 9 of the most memorable events that brought the nation together during the 1980s

The 1980s were a difficult time for many in the UK as mass unemployment left millions of people struggling financially.

Politics

4 d. ago Love Island's Helena Ford confirms she's quit her job because of ITV show stint

EXCLUSIVE: Love Island 2025 beauty Helena Ford has revealed that she's left her cabin crew job ahead of her time in the ITV villa, where she'll be looking for love rather than luggage

Culture

4 d. ago England were dismal against minnows Andorra but it really doesn’t matter | Jonathan Wilson

Tuchel’s target is to win the World Cup and a scintillating performance would not have made lifting the prize in New Jersey any more likelyHow bad was it? Bad enough to be England’s worst result in seven games against Andorra. Bad enough for players used to operating at the highest of levels for the best clubs in the world to find themselves unable to weight simple passes or deliver crosses with precision. Bad enough that Andorra’s 37-year-old left-back Marc García nutmegged Noni Madueke in injury time. But, beyond the potential problems it may cause with goal difference, it doesn’t matter at all in terms of the main issue: the winning of the World Cup next summer.England could have played scintillating football and beaten Andorra 10-0 and it wouldn’t have made them any more likely to be lifting the prize in New Jersey next July. That’s not to excuse a dismal performance, just to say it’s irrelevant. The game was won, the box ticked, and Thomas Tuchel hopefully learned something fro...

Politics

4 d. ago Inside Holly Willoughby's future TV plans after she was left without a show for the first time in years

Holly Willoughby has had to rethink her future TV plans after being left without a show to present for the first time in years, but the star is still highly in demand. 

Culture

4 d. ago Holly Willoughby's plan unveiled as she's left without a show for first time in 21 years

Holly Willoughby has been an ITV staple for the last few decades but it looks like she won't be on our screens in the near future

Politics

5 d. ago BBC Death in Paradise star returns to beloved role and fans can't wait

Josephine Jobert and Ralf Little left Death in Paradise at the same time - and it was a bittersweet goodbye.

Events

6 d. ago Madeleine McCann search latest: Neighbour recalls ‘angry’ rows with suspect on third day of hunt for missing girl

Police have limited time left to find concrete evidence in Praia da Luz connecting suspect Christian Brueckner with Madeleine’s disappearance

Events

7 d. ago Madeleine McCann search latest: Neighbour recalls ‘angry’ rows with suspect as third day begins in hunt for missing girl

Police have limited time left to find concrete evidence in Praia da Luz connecting suspect Christian Brueckner with Madeleine’s disappearance

Events