Gerwyn Price felt 'head was going to blow off' during spicy Daryl Gurney clash
Price won the opening round match 10-7 in Blackpool on Monday night, continuing the fine form he has shown in recent weeks.
It was a tasty contest between the two, with Gurney mocking Price's trademark celebrations and the Iceman seemingly being much more reserved than normal in a bid to keep a lid on his emotions.
After the Welshman hit the winning double, it looked like it would all end in friendly fashion but Price gave a very aggressive handshake, which suggested all was not fine between the two.
Price did not give away much on his feelings on Gurney, but did say he was doing his best to remain calm throughout the game.
'I just felt like I needed to keep myself composed,' he said. 'I was forcing to not let my emotions get the best of me. Sometimes that's what happens, sometimes I try and control it.
'I think possibly that's what got me over the winning line, try to keep everything intact and let it go at the end.
'I know if it was five, six, seven years ago that game probably could have got away from me and slipped away. But I've learned to keep my emptions intact at key points where my head was going to blow off but I had to keep it in.'
Gurney's Northern Ireland World Cup teammate Josh Rock was also in action on Monday, brilliantly beating Ross Smith.
He said of the incident: 'I didn't think there was anything in it until Daryl saw the funny side of it and Gezzy didn't.'
Ahead of the match, Price had said that his relationship with the Northern Irishman is very good.
'I get on really well with Daryl, he's playing some good stuff,' said the former world champion. 'I get on really well with him and I think it'll be a really good game.'
The Iceman also seemed to make light of the clash on social media after the game, referencing his recent weight loss as he wrote on Instagram: 'Have to be careful these days I'm down to light cruiser weight.'
Price was very impressive, averaging 100.21 in the victory which set up a last 16 meeting with Chris Dobey.
Hollywood's 10-5 win over Ricardo Pietreczko was not so sparkling, with Dobey needing an average of just 90.95.
Rock was the star of Monday night as he secured a 10-5 victory with a 104.32 against Smith to book a meeting with Michael van Gerwen in the next round.
Tuesday July 227pmGian van Veen v Danny NoppertWessel Nijman v James WadeStephen Bunting v Gary Anderson
Jonny Clayton v Mike De Decker
Wednesday July 237pmAndrew Gilding v Dirk van DuijvenbodeChris Dobey v Gerwyn PriceLuke Littler v Jermaine Wattimena
Michael van Gerwen v Josh Rock
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BBC News
2 minutes ago
- BBC News
'We're not underdogs' - England seek redemption against Spain
England will be seeking redemption in Sunday's Euro 2025 final when they take on Spain in a repeat of the World Cup final two years Wiegman's side are in their third successive major final after winning Euro 2022 before Spain beat them to become world champions in is the first time Spain's women - who were knocked out in the quarter-finals in 2022 by England - have reached a European Championship captain Leah Williamson says they are aware of "what it means to the nation" and they will do everything they can to bring home the Lionesses are hoping to become the first team in the history of English football to win a major trophy on foreign soil when they line up in the final in Basel, Switzerland at 17:00 BST."The opportunity [on Sunday] and what's on offer is the best thing in football," said Williamson. "We wanted to be here until the end and have a chance to win the trophy. We don't carry the weight of it - but we're aware of it because it means the same to us. "We recognise the opportunity and we'll do everything we can to do it." Redemption for World Cup final defeat? Williamson was not part of England's defeat by Spain in the World Cup final because of an anterior cruciate ligament said it was an "awful" experience to watch the final and not being able to help."I know how tired you are when you get to that stage, and how much a tournament takes out of you - and to be completely useless, that probably bothered me the most," she added."But that feels like a really long time ago, which is probably a benefit to the whole squad. "Anybody would give anything to be a part of their team when they're going through moments like that. It was tough."It will be just the second time the same teams have met in back-to-back Women's World Cup or European Championship finals, after Germany faced Sweden in 2001 and have faced each other three times previously at the Euros, with England winning the last two meetings in 2017 and two nations also met in this year's Women's Nations League - England won 1-0 at Wembley in February before Spain beat them 2-1 in Barcelona in June."We've played each other a lot over the last couple of years. You always have learnings. They will have learned from us," said Wiegman. "Sunday is a new situation so hopefully we can exploit some of the weaknesses they have too. I just know that going into a final is already very, very special." Are England the underdogs? Spain have won each of their last 10 matches in all competitions, scoring 38 goals. They last enjoyed a longer winning run between March 2020 and November 2021, when they won 16 games world champions are the highest-ranked side in the competition and have not lost a game at Euro are ranked fifth in the world and lost their opening group game against needed a penalty shootout to overcome Sweden in the quarter-finals and scored a last-minute goal in extra time to beat Italy in the Williamson - who hopes to captain an England side to back-to-back European titles for the first time in their history - says there is no underdog, despite Spain being many people's pre-tournament favourites."We play a game against the world champions who continue to prove themselves over and over in the way they play," said Williamson. "They are fantastic footballing team and they are the best at what they do and we're very much aware of that. We think we're pretty good in areas as well. "We need to be at our best to beat Spain. I think they need to be at their best to beat us too. There is a lot of respect between the two teams. "I would be hesitant to say there's an underdog in this scenario. It's not an easy job. We will prepare ourselves as best we can for that challenge." Can undefeated Spain create history? Spain arrived in Switzerland as the pre-tournament favourites, with Opta predicting they had a 25% chance of winning the title."We don't like the idea of being favourites. We know what it takes to be here, what we suffered, we have to be focused," Spain captain Irene Paredes La Roja underlined their credentials as favourites further by storming past Portugal, Belgium and Italy by an aggregate score of saw off a spirited Switzerland side in the quarter-finals before moving past Germany thanks to an extra-time winner as they beat the eight-time European champions for the first time in their history."During the whole tournament we have been writing history," said Spain boss Montse Tome."Getting to semis and the final for the first time, beating Germany for the first time. We have been accomplishing objectives and that's the reason we're here."Spain could become the first European nation to lift the World Cup and the Euros at back-to-back tournaments since Germany won five in a row between 2001 and 2009."We are a team who don't see this game as a pressure but as an opportunity to continue writing history, do something big and to let people enjoy," Paredes only is it a chance for Spain to continue writing history, but winning would allow the players to celebrate properly - without the cloud of controversy that followed their World Cup win hanging over the group. Who are the key players to watch? Lauren James was a doubt this week after coming off at half-time in England's semi-final win against Italy with an ankle she was in full training on Saturday and Wiegman said all 23 players "came through" the Chelsea forward has scored two goals at the tournament and was a standout performer in the group winger Chloe Kelly has a goal and an assist in five substitute appearances, while teenager Michelle Agyemang has netted two goals when coming off the bench on three occasions. After being discharged from hospital just days before the Euros started after suffering from viral meningitis, Aitana Bonmati had to be patient to make her mark. But the Barcelona midfielder turned up when it mattered, scoring an extra-time winner against Germany to send Spain to their first Euro Barca midfielder Alexia Putellas, meanwhile, has been in top form since the beginning - scoring three goals and assisting another four, while she has also created more chances (18) than any other from Spain's pair of two-time Ballon d'Or winners, striker Esther Gonzalez is the tournament's top scorer with four goals in five games. What individual awards are up for grabs? Gonzalez is also hoping to win the Golden Boot as the tournament's top-scorer, with her biggest challenger her team-mate Putellas just a goal England player has netted more than two goals in the will also be competition for the Golden Ball, with several Spain players impressing including Putellas - while England's Lucy Bronze and Hannah Hampton have been standout Golden Glove for the most clean sheets is tied between Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll and Sweden's Jennifer have kept three clean sheets as a team but Adriana Nanclares started the 5-0 win over Portugal in the group stages so Coll will need to keep out England if she is to win the award England's Agyemang is one of the favourites to win the young player of the tournament award, with Spain's Vicky Lopez, Switzerland's Iman Beney and Norway's Signe Gaupset her main competition.
South Wales Guardian
26 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Leah Williamson hopes England show they are no ‘flash in the pan' in Euros final
The Lionesses forever transformed women's football in England when they lifted their first major trophy at their home European Championship in 2022, and now hope to become the nation's first senior football side to win one away from home. Williamson is adamant everyone in camp is 'connected to what it means', but insisted the Lionesses remain unburdened by the weight of the nation's hopes. One day to go! 😤 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 26, 2025 'The landscape keeps changing and we're trying to change with it,' said Williamson, when asked what she hoped their legacy would be after this tournament. 'I think that's a really hard thing to do and I think that proves the investment and the quality of the game in England is continuing to rise. 'You don't just want to be sort of a flash in the pan, like a memory and I think that when we spoke before 2022, we said it was the start of something. 'And I think we're still trying to play our role in that as well. So being here and being on this stage, we know how powerful that is and I hope that just continues to grow. 'The respect for the women's game, the respect for women and women's sport in general continues, and we can try our best to continue to elevate that.' Williamson disagreed with England being branded as underdogs to Spain, who beat them in the 2023 World Cup final – England's first – and have played a flawless campaign so far. The Lionesses, in contrast, suffered an opening defeat to France and required back-to-back late comebacks in the knockouts. Sarina Wiegman's side, who beat Italy on Tuesday night, are coming into the contest with an statistically-favourable extra day's rest and hope to have a full squad at their disposal after Lauren James trained on Saturday morning. Williamson admitted she would never take England's Wembley triumph three summers ago for granted. But, she said: 'I think the beautiful thing about 2022 was that I'm not sure if any of us will ever be part of anything like that again, in terms of the change, in terms of the story, the journey, everything, but being away from home is special in a different way. 'You go out, you represent your country somewhere else and I think the weight of that is important to consider, because it sometimes adds a little extra.' England, Williamson insisted, were staying measured, even under considerable pressure to make more history. 'I think we're very connected to what it means to the nation,' Williamson added. 'In that sense, we are connected as we can be, being away from home. Basel, here we come 👋 #WEURO2025 final time. ⏱ — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 26, 2025 'I think the opportunity of tomorrow and what is on offer is the best thing in football. We came to the tournament, we wanted to be here, we wanted to be in it until the end and have a chance to fight for that trophy. 'You can't do that until you get in the final. I think we don't necessarily carry the weight of it, how much it means to people, but we're aware of it because it means the same to us. 'You have a squad of excited, focused players. We recognise the opportunity and we will do everything we can to take it.'
The Herald Scotland
31 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Leah Williamson hopes England show they are no ‘flash in the pan' in Euros final
Williamson is adamant everyone in camp is 'connected to what it means', but insisted the Lionesses remain unburdened by the weight of the nation's hopes. 'The landscape keeps changing and we're trying to change with it,' said Williamson, when asked what she hoped their legacy would be after this tournament. 'I think that's a really hard thing to do and I think that proves the investment and the quality of the game in England is continuing to rise. 'You don't just want to be sort of a flash in the pan, like a memory and I think that when we spoke before 2022, we said it was the start of something. 'And I think we're still trying to play our role in that as well. So being here and being on this stage, we know how powerful that is and I hope that just continues to grow. 'The respect for the women's game, the respect for women and women's sport in general continues, and we can try our best to continue to elevate that.' Williamson disagreed with England being branded as underdogs to Spain, who beat them in the 2023 World Cup final – England's first – and have played a flawless campaign so far. The Lionesses, in contrast, suffered an opening defeat to France and required back-to-back late comebacks in the knockouts. Sarina Wiegman's side, who beat Italy on Tuesday night, are coming into the contest with an statistically-favourable extra day's rest and hope to have a full squad at their disposal after Lauren James trained on Saturday morning. Williamson admitted she would never take England's Wembley triumph three summers ago for granted. England won their semi-final with Italy following a dramatic conclusion (Nick Potts/PA) But, she said: 'I think the beautiful thing about 2022 was that I'm not sure if any of us will ever be part of anything like that again, in terms of the change, in terms of the story, the journey, everything, but being away from home is special in a different way. 'You go out, you represent your country somewhere else and I think the weight of that is important to consider, because it sometimes adds a little extra.' England, Williamson insisted, were staying measured, even under considerable pressure to make more history. 'I think we're very connected to what it means to the nation,' Williamson added. 'In that sense, we are connected as we can be, being away from home. 'I think the opportunity of tomorrow and what is on offer is the best thing in football. We came to the tournament, we wanted to be here, we wanted to be in it until the end and have a chance to fight for that trophy. 'You can't do that until you get in the final. I think we don't necessarily carry the weight of it, how much it means to people, but we're aware of it because it means the same to us. 'You have a squad of excited, focused players. We recognise the opportunity and we will do everything we can to take it.'
