Miguel Vargas' sensational catch
Welcome to Full Time's big UEFA Women's Euro 2025 preview podcast. Hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan get you caught up on everything you need to know about the tournament. With the help of The Athletic's Megan Feringa, Cerys Jones, Ali Rampling and Charlotte Harpur the crew breaks down every group - from A to D - with expert analysis on the favorites, the contenders, the dark horses, the breakout stars, the narratives that need busting, and what could define this summer's action. Will England defend their title? Can Wales disrupt the 'group of death'? Are Spain truly way ahead of the chasing pack? Why is this Sweden's last dance?
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Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Enter Vicky Lopez, Spain's 18-year-old star-in-waiting
In the 81st minute, Aitana Bonmati waited between the two technical areas for the action on the pitch to stop so she could come on. Spain faced Portugal in their first Euro 2025 match without their Ballon d'Or winner in the starting line-up and minus one of their three key players in a well-established midfield alongside Patri Guijarro and Alexia Putellas. Advertisement Less than a week ago, the Catalan player was hospitalised with viral meningitis, and there were fears that she would not be able to participate in the tournament. Her appearance in the first match of the group stage had been practically ruled out, and there were doubts as to whether she would be fit for the second match against Belgium. 'We have to stop Aitana,' Spain head coach Montse Tome said as she urged caution at the pre-match press conference while announcing that the progress of Bonmati's recovery was positive. At that point, Bonmati had one thing on her mind: playing. And she achieved the feat of returning to action for 10 minutes in her team's opening 5-0 win against Portugal. Bonmati's absence from the start forced Tome to think of an alternative for the starting XI, and Vicky Lopez was her chosen replacement. As Lopez left the field when Bonmati came on in the 80th minute, Spain were already winning 4-0. But Lopez wanted to leave the field via the touchline instead of crossing the pitch to go to the bench, as is customary, so as not to waste time and allow her Barcelona team-mate to have more minutes of play. Advertisement She was applauded by her fans, and rightly so: the 18-year-old had a great game, scoring a goal in the seventh minute. And that was despite twisting her left ankle two training sessions before the match. Although it was only a slight injury, she still had to ice her ankle. Lopez played with the joy of her age but the calmness of a veteran. In the seventh minute, she took advantage of a cross from Mariona Caldentey to ghost in unmarked between the Portuguese defence, get the tip of her boot to the ball and make it 2-0. Of the five dribbles she attempted, she was successful in all of them. She made 46 successful passes out of 52, and won six of the eight duels she had. '(Vicky) is a player who has now had her opportunity; a young footballer with whom we need to be patient,' Tome said at the post-match press conference. 'We have a lot of confidence in her talent. We have given her playing time and she has done very well.' Advertisement Although she is the youngest player in Spain's squad, Lopez has been generating a lot of excitement for many years. Barcelona signed her in 2022 from Madrid CFF when she was only 16 to have her live at La Masia and play for Barca B. In fact, she is one of the first products of the women's team to live at La Masia, which has been open to women's football since 2021. It was there that she forged a friendship with Lamine Yamal, who has been seen several times at the Johan Cruyff Stadium this season watching Barcelona Femeni. Both were named Golden Girl and Golden Boy, respectively, in 2024. Perhaps it was from this friendship that Lopez, or Yamal, got the idea of playing 'dembow' songs before their matches. Dembow is a music genre with roots in the Caribbean, particularly popular in the Dominican Republic, which influenced reggaeton but has a faster rhythm — and when you see Lopez play, it looks like she's playing to that rhythm. 'Before the match, Patri (Guijarro) played me some dembow songs to motivate me,' Lopez told RTVE after the match. Advertisement Like Lamal, Lopez moves with agility and explosiveness and has superb dribbling skills. It was after witnessing her practice these skills on a beach in Benidorm that Madrid CFF signed her at the age of nine. She was the youngest player — both male and female — to make her Champions League debut at just 16 years and 148 days old. She was also the youngest player to make her debut for the Spanish national team. So young in fact that she is still studying, combining her football career with a degree in business administration and management. Lopez also has an ambitious and uninhibited way of speaking that is far removed from the prudence of players from older generations. While the Spanish players have wanted to avoid being labelled favourites in interviews or press conferences, Lopez sees it differently. 'For me, Spain will always be the favourite,' she said in an interview with Agencia EFE this week. 'If we have fun, they can't stop us.' Advertisement Lopez made that declaration with a defiant, mischievous and playful look — and her words are like a breath of fresh air that mirror the generational change already under way in Barcelona's men's team with Yamal the spearhead. Sources at the Barcelona Femeni, who wish to remain anonymous in order to maintain their working relationships, explained to that they see Lopez as a footballer that people will pay to go and see play at the stadium. They are aware that she is one of their greatest assets. Lopez is well-supported by those around her. She gets on particularly well with Salma Paralluelo, who acts as her big sister and with whom she also shares a room in the national team. In Pere Romeu's Barcelona team, as well as the Spanish national team, midfield positions are in high demand. With two Ballon d'Or winners in Putellas and Bonmati, and then Guijarro, Lopez will not have it as easy. Yet Lopez has got Spain off to the best possible start at the Euros. Advertisement Time will tell if she can challenge Bonmati or Putellas for a starting place, or if she can play alongside them in one of the attacking positions. For now, she has planted the seed and let those who haven't seen her play know that she has quality to spare. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Barcelona, Spain, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
Forbes
34 minutes ago
- Forbes
FC Barcelona And Brazil Legend Discusses Lamine Taking Number 10
FC Barcelona legend and former Ballon d'Or winner Rivaldo spoke about Lamine Yamal inheriting the ... More iconic number 10 shirt as is expected in the coming days. FC Barcelona legend and former Ballon d'Or winner Rivaldo spoke about Lamine Yamal inheriting the iconic number 10 shirt as is expected in the coming days. The heavy jersey has previously been worn by the likes of Lionel Messi, the Brazilian's World Cup-winning teammate Ronaldinho, Diego Maradona and even Rivaldo himself at Camp Nou. In 2021, however, when Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain, it was assigned to Ansu Fati who at the time became the Lamine of his era by smashing a number of youngest goalscorer and appearance maker records for club and country. Fati's trajectory has since been defined by injury setbacks, an unsuccessful loan at Brighton, and struggling to make his way into the first team plans of Xavi Hernandez ahead of the Catalans' successor Hansi Flick. With Fati once again trying this luck temporarily at AS Monaco, though, the 10 will finally be moved on with Lamine expected to inherit it via an announcement on his 18th birthday come July 13. Speaking to Betfair, Rivaldo gave his opinion on the matter and said that Lamine 'deserves it'. 'This number demands a lot of responsibility, but he has a lot of personality,' added Rivaldo, while also saying that the right winger 'has achieved at Barcelona and in the Spanish national team'. Despite being a teenager and the pressure that comes with wearing such a shirt, Rivaldo doesn't think it "will be a problem for him, because he plays with incredible calmness and he doesn't seem to be the age he is when you see him on the pitch. 'Yamal has the personality that is expected of a 25 or 26-year-old player,' Rivaldo further stated, which is the kind of compliment that is often thrown at the Euro 2024 champion. Speaking of that tournament, Lamine's close friend and teammate Nico Williams, who he set up for the opening goal in Spain's 2-1 final win over England, is being heavily linked to Barca. 'If the signing is confirmed, it will be very good. I think Barca's squad this season already had a lot of quality, but when a player of this level arrives, the chances of winning everything increase even more, especially the Champions League, which is Barcelona's big goal,' Rivaldo concluded. Nico arriving at FC Barcelona could complicate Raphinha's life If he is indeed signed from Athletic Club, Nico Williams could complicate life for Rivaldo's compatriot Raphinha at FC Barcelona given they both share the left wing. Simultaneously, however, 'Rapha' could be moved into a CAM role as Dani Olmo is the fasle number 9 gradually phasing out an aging Robert Lewandowski.
Associated Press
40 minutes ago
- Associated Press
American candidate Tim Mayer confirms he's running against FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem
WHITTLEBURY, England (AP) — American ex-Formula 1 race steward Tim Mayer confirmed his candidacy for the presidency of the sport's governing body on Friday, claiming that incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem has failed to deliver on promises of reform. Mayer said his bid was about 'restoring genuine democracy' inside the FIA after a centralization of power under Ben Sulayem. Mayer is the son of McLaren team co-founder Teddy Mayer. He has held senior roles in U.S. racing series and was a long-time F1 steward until last year. Ben Sulayem, elected to the post in 2021, has faced criticism over his management. In April, Robert Reid resigned as FIA deputy president for sport in protest against how the organization is run. ___ AP auto racing:
