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The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
England are living a ‘fantasy' at Euro 2025 – now they must get real
As the giddy talk in Geneva inevitably turned to endings, and comparisons with movies, match-winner Chloe Kelly described it as a 'fantasy'. That might well refer to the improbability of England somehow winning despite performing so badly, even though that's obviously not what the forward meant. Sarina Wiegman and her squad naturally don't want to get into such critical discussion right now, and for good reason. There's another historic final appearance to celebrate right now. There's also going to be a lot of analysis to come before Sunday, and a lot of preparation. They're needed. England are right now so much less than the sum of their parts, but have crucial greater qualities. There is a rare resolve there. 'The team never gives up,' Wiegman said. Her hero, Kelly, went further. An old phrase was reworked, which might be even more relevant if it is Germany rather than Spain in Sunday's final. 'You can never write the English off.' That somehow could be said even later against Italy, as the European champions this time left it to the final 90 seconds of stoppage time. Italy manager Andrea Soncin lamented how his team were one minute from the final. They even celebrated Kelly's mis-hit corner just before Michelle Agyemang's equaliser. This isn't an accident, or coincidence. There is an obvious spirit in this group, that is as visible in moments like the entire squad rallying around Jess Carter as it is in late equalisers. One also leads to the other, and there's a multiplying effect. The more crucial late goals you score, the more you think there's always another there. It might even be time to rework another old phrase, that was famously used about Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United. This England don't lose games. They just run out of time. Except, time can catch up with them another way, and it's where there's always another side to late goals. That doesn't refer to the anguish teams like Italy suffer, either. Do it a few times, and they're a sign of resolve. Do it a lot, and they're a sign of weakness. If you keep needing such moments, something is wrong in your team. That does lead to another interpretation of what happened in Geneva on Wednesday, that won't necessarily be popular amid the euphoria of victory. This one possibly wasn't a show of resolve. It was really just a team that had vastly superior individuals to Italy, with that higher quality eventually manifesting. It didn't really matter when. It just would. The gap was too good, reflecting how fortunate they were to face such a limited side in the semi-final. In fact, there's even an argument that the lateness of the game contributed to that, making the ending inevitable in another way. Italy had vastly overperformed to get this far, and just didn't have the experience or nous to see this out. They made some baffling decisions in the latter stages, although that was also because they didn't really have the legs to see it out either. They were naturally exhausted. The injury to star forward Cristiana Girelli only made it worse. All of that could be sensed in some extra-time counter-attacks. Italy would suddenly have an opening to put a runner through, but it was like they didn't want to commit. They were afraid of leaving themselves open, and possibly knew they wouldn't have the legs to get back either. That's what extra-time in such absorbing knockouts does. England have much more experience of such games, even if they were reliant on Agyemang's freshness. Except, in the final, they are not going to be playing a team as limited as Italy. It's a different test, where it instantly becomes much more dangerous to depend on another rescue act. That's where the flaws that warrant so many late goals can eventually catch up with you. It really depends on what wins out, your weaknesses or your spirit – unless you solve the problems in the first place. Wiegman laughed as she said it 'wasn't the plan' to keep going behind in such games, but she needs to get serious about one. While such spirit is immensely valuable in a tournament, tournaments also have a tendency to eventually see you hit your own limits; the point at which you can't go past. Wiegman badly needs to change the limitations of this team, especially given the talents of her players. It is such a bizarre thing. We are talking about one of the great coaches of the women's game, her outstanding quality illustrated by her very record of reaching a fifth consecutive final. And yet in these Euros it is like she just hasn't been able to solve England's core flaws, which is their very starting line-up. The 75th-minute subs have worked so far, and the swell around their introduction can cause further doubts for opposition. That's another side of those late goals. At the same time, superior opposition sides can get wise to that. Kelly is still correct. England have lived a fantasy so far. They just need to get realistic about what next. Maybe the best ending for this is not, actually, another late show.
The Guardian
3 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Arsenal seal €73.5m Viktor Gyökeres deal after late-night breakthrough
Arsenal have finally reached agreement with Sporting for the transfer of Viktor Gyökeres in a deal worth up to €73.5m (£63.7m), having resolved the problematic issue of the €10m of add-ons to end a tortuous saga and Mikel Arteta's hunt for a No 9. The London club made the official breakthrough late on Tuesday, sending an updated offer to their Portuguese counterparts to satisfy them over the structure of the bonuses. Sporting have wanted the add-ons to be achievable, based on appearances, goals and assists by Gyökeres plus Champions League qualification, whereas Arsenal had wanted to include some more difficult ones. As the negotiations dragged at the end of last week, it is understood that Sporting felt €5m of Arsenal's proposed bonuses were achievable, €5m not so. One clause that was suggested related to Gyökeres winning the Ballon d'Or with Arsenal. The negotiations have been handled largely by the agents, with club-to-club contact at a minimum. Sporting are comfortable that the bonuses are achievable, allowing them to reflect on having effectively held out for what they wanted. Sporting had demanded €70m plus €10m in add-ons; an €80m euro package was the target, albeit it was less than the €100m release clause in Gyökeres's contract. They have got there with a basic fee of €63.5m and the agents having agreed to waive their 10% cut of that – a saving to Sporting of €6.35m. The positions on both sides had long been entrenched, Gyökeres determined to force the move to Arsenal, ignoring interest from elsewhere; Sporting digging in hard for their money. There has been conflict, Gyökeres refusing to report back for pre-season training with Sporting but, at last, Arteta can look forward to working with his man. It was always going to be a pivotal summer for Arsenal and Gyökeres is the latest step in a spending spree. Arteta and the sporting director, Andrea Berta, have overseen the arrivals of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martín Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard and Noni Madueke for a combined £118.5m. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Gyökeres was a sensation at Sporting, scoring 97 goals in 102 appearances. Having signed for £20.5m from Coventry in the summer of 2023, the 27-year-old helped Sporting to the league title in each of his seasons with them – plus the Portuguese Cup in the last one.
BBC News
3 minutes ago
- BBC News
'It's not a situation I like'
Leeds boss Daniel Farke has confirmed striker Mateo Joseph "would like to move" away from the 21-year-old has three years left on his current deal, but has not travelled on the Whites' pre-season tour of Germany and "prefers a move to Spain", according to made 39 appearances in the Championship last season, including 11 starts, and scored three goals."It was actually the plan to have him here [in Germany]," said Farke after his side beat SC Verl 4-1."With him the situation is quite clear. We really value and rate him - otherwise we wouldn't have played him, especially in the beginning of the last successful campaign ahead of a golden boot winner in Joel Piroe and an experienced striker like Patrick Bamford."Nevertheless, he came to me and asked for a new challenge and would like to move. He has also hinted that he prefers a move to Spain due to his Spanish roots. That was his call."Farke has said he "won't stand in the way" of a move for Joseph, but expressed his disappointment."We have invested a lot in him - time, money and backing," Farke added."He's on a long-term contract and we value him. This is for our key people and the board to decide the value. The truth is that no other club has met our expectations yet."Because of that, we expected him to train and travel with us. He mentioned that he didn't feel ready for the trip to Stockholm. I accepted this because he started later with training. The day after, he said he didn't feel ready to travel to play the friendlies here in Germany."It's not a situation I like. I've spoken honestly to him and strongly recommended him to be professional but he said he's not in a mental state to do this."What should I do? I can't call the police to drag him here on the training pitch. It was his decision."
