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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Why England and Spain's unique rivalry goes beyond the Euro 2025 final
At kick-off in the Euro 2025 final, England and Spain will be rivals. But before and after, many will be friends and allies, united by a common cause. Keira Walsh is determined to win on Sunday, to become a two-time European champion as part of the first-ever England team to defend a title at a major international tournament. But Walsh also wants Spain to enjoy their moment, to make up for what was lost. Spain will undoubtedly enjoy the occasion more if they beat England to add to their World Cup triumph, but Walsh was aware of the wider meaning. England's players were hurt after their World Cup final defeat to Spain in 2023; though what followed in Sydney was the greater injustice. Spain's victory was overshadowed by Luis Rubiales kissing Jenni Hermoso without her consent during their trophy celebrations. 'I don't think, for them, there was enough spotlight on how incredible they played and how incredible some of their players were,' Walsh said. 'It was all about the other stuff that had gone on.' Spain's stars lamented that there was not enough change in the country after winning the World Cup, now the focus is solely on them and the unique control they can bring to the pitch. 'They play incredible football and they deserve to be there,' said Walsh. 'As a human being I just want them to go out and just enjoy the game.' Walsh's two and a half years with Barcelona mean she has a deeper connection with several members of the Spain squad. When she felt homesick, the Spain captain Irene Parades would invite the midfielder to her family home for dinner. She grew close with many of their stars, such as Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey. But England stood as a collective with Spain after the World Cup final, even if they had not shared a dressing room or spent time as teammates. The Lionesses felt Spain were robbed of the boost they received by winning the Euros in 2022. There is respect and admiration on both sides, in understanding that their role as players is not just what happens on the pitch but in leaving the game in a better place from where they found it. England used their platform to call for social change after winning the Euros, while Spain have made sacrifices to fight for what they deserve. Patri Guijarro sat out of the last World Cup in protest of unequal treatment. Now Spain's players have seen improvements off the pitch, Guijarro is back and has been the best holding midfielder at the Euros. Sarina Wiegman has previously spoken of the relationship between England and Spain as an example of the 'special community' in the women's game, where both sides are aware of their higher purpose. After the Rubiales scandal, Spain took a stand with Se acabo, a #MeToo movement in Spanish football and beyond. Wiegman has similarly empowered England to use their voices, as seen during the Euros by the defiant response of the team following the racist abuse suffered by Jess Carter. England have supported Spain even as they have emerged as the dominant force and their battles on the pitch have grown. After the World Cup, Spain learnt their talent was not enough to stop what happened to them with Rubiales, but the changes within the Spanish Football Federation mean there is now nothing to hold them back from expressing their joyful, flowing passing. It is on the pitch and in their respective playing styles where there is the clearest contrast between Spain and England, who embraced 'proper England' for the first time in a rugged, disciplined 1-0 win at Wembley in February – the last time the world champions lost a match. The blueprint Arsenal used to dethrone Barcelona in May's Champions League final in Lisbon is one that England may need to replicate. Arsenal were organised off the ball and committed to frustrating the world's best players, while they took their chance when it came. There was also a bit of needle in the heat of the moment, with Chloe Kelly involved as she pushed Alexia Putellas off the ball. Barcelona's stars will also remember that pain, with Bonmati particularly devastated after the defeat. There will be many of the same players involved in Basel, with the links between England and Spain also illustrated by the success of Arsenal and Barcelona in growing the game domestically and across Europe. Arsenal and Barcelona have become the two best-supported women's teams in the world, and in Switzerland during Euro 2025 there have been as many 'Williamson' and 'Russo' or 'Aitana' and 'Alexia' club shirts as some national sides. There may as well be two other teams in the Euro 2025 final, to go along with England and Spain. Within that, there is also the connecting influence of Caldentey, who swapped Barcelona for Arsenal last summer and ended up taking the Champions League with her from Catalonia to north London. Caldentey's winning mentality, forged at Barcelona, influenced an Arsenal team who had consistently failed to win the biggest prizes. It was said Caldentey brought a 'contagious' mindset that 'moved the culture forward' - that feeling is still fresh in the England squad, through its sizable Arsenal contingent. Walsh and Lucy Bronze, meanwhile, can bring insight into the opposition after their time at Barcelona. When playing in midfield with Bonmati and Putellas, Walsh was expected to play short passes all the time, to the extent that she experienced something of a reverse culture shock when she returned to England and signed for Chelsea in January. She admitted she had 'lost' her ability to play long but it has returned at the Euros, where most of England's success has come when they have mixed it up and gone direct. The Lionesses are technical and can play too - but not like Spain, no one can. Instead, England have taken pride in their resilience throughout the Euros, in knowing they are never beaten. 'They can do the same,' Walsh said, after Spain also came through extra time in their semi-final to beat Germany. It is another reason for England to admire Spain, as well as another hurdle to overcome when they meet as rivals on Sunday.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Australian actor Rebel Wilson sued by production company behind her own film
The legal drama surrounding The Deb, Rebel Wilson's directorial debut, has made landfall in Australia, with one of the production companies behind the venture filing a lawsuit against Wilson in the New South Wales supreme court this week. UK-based AI Film, represented by Australian legal firm Giles George and high-profile barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC, accused the Pitch Perfect Australian actor of deliberately sabotaging the film's release, alleging threats and defamatory claims had caused the production company financial and reputational damage. The suit also claims the motive behind Wilson's actions was to devalue the production's worth and pressure AI Film and Australian company Dunburn Debutantes Commissioning Company (DDCC – the entity managing the film's rights and named as the second plaintiff in the lawsuit) into selling their stake to Wilson's company Camp Sugar. Originally conceived as a quirky musical comedy celebrating Australian culture, The Deb was co-produced by AI Film and Camp Sugar, with Wilson directing and starring. But the partnership fractured in mid-2024 when Wilson took to Instagram to accuse fellow producers Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden of alleged embezzlement, sexual misconduct and obstructing the film's release. The allegations, broadcast to Wilson's 11 million followers, were swiftly denied by the producers who began defamation proceedings against Wilson in the Los Angeles superior court last July. In November, the film's lead actor, Charlotte MacInnes, who Wilson claimed was the victim of the alleged sexual misconduct, filed a declaration in the US court stating that Wilson fabricated the claims, describing them as 'completely false and absurd'. The court subsequently threw out Wilson's bid to strike out the defamation suit, not accepting her lawyer's argument that under California's anti-Slapp laws, the accusations she had made against the producers of her The Deb constituted 'protected activity' and were a matter of public interest. That defamation case remains ongoing. After filing its lawsuit in the supreme court's equities division on Thursday, AI Film issued the following statement: 'These proceedings are regrettable but essential to ensure The Deb's timely release. It's a joyous, fun film, and we are sure that audiences are going to love it.' And MacInnes issued a second statement, saying: 'I love this film and I can't wait for it to be released … it would be wonderful if these proceedings can help make that happen.' Wilson's Californian legal team, Freedman Taitelman + Cooley, which is handling the defamation case, did not respond to the Guardian's request for comment. In its lawsuit filed this week, Giles George claims that on 5 January, Wilson's lawyer Bryan Freedman responded to correspondence by AI Film's legal team, saying that 'Wilson is currently in active discussions to outright purchase The Deb (the 'Film') and all associated rights and title'. The Freedman letter also threatened to 'pursue all claims and damages should Al Film or any agents acting on its behalf interfere with that business opportunity'. AI Film is alleging that Wilson's motivation behind her alleged undermining of distribution efforts, including making threats to seek an injunction against the film's release, was personal financial gain. AI Film's lawyers claim that on 6 June 2025, Wilson had a discussion with film distributor Kismet, who was bidding to secure the rights for the theatrical release of The Deb in Australia, during which she said words to the effect that she was supportive of Kismet as the Australian distributor of the film but while there was a legal case involving the film in the US she could not support the film's distribution and would seek an injunction if any attempts to distribute the film were made. Giles George alleges Wilson knew the legal proceedings in the US were not impeding the film's release, and knew the threat of injunction was against her and her company, Camp Sugar's, contractual obligations. But as evidence in Byran Freedman's correspondent to them in January, Wilson was delaying the film's release so that she could pursue the 'business opportunity' of buying all rights to the film outright. AI Film is seeking damages, a formal apology, corrective advertising and a permanent restraint on Wilson and her company making any further disparaging and incorrect claims relating to other companies and individuals involved in the making of The Deb, which have come to been know in legal circles as 'The Wilson Statements'.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Video game created to help young people's mental health
Game designers in Cornwall are part of a project to create a "serious" video game to help young people deal with adverse childhood experiences. The Ace of Hearts game deals with issues like bereavement, poverty and substance at the University of Falmouth worked with young people to design the game, which is part of a £35m UK-wide programme looking at the mental health of young of the developers said: "The main purpose of the game is to get people to talk about it afterwards." Ace of Hearts is part of a project called ATTUNE which is using varied arts-based methods, including gaming, to explore young people's experiences and understandings of mental health and the impact of negative 14, who attended a youth mental health event at Falmouth University, said: "I play Roblox and Minecraft with my friends and I play Fortnite with my dad."Some people have a negative view of gaming but that's old fashioned - older people haven't grown up with the games that we have - gaming is a really fun way of unwinding."I definitely think gaming can be used to help, especially when you meet new people. It can be easier to talk to them rather than professionals who you have to wait a long time for." Graham Smith is a software designer who works on the games development course at Falmouth said: "The main purpose of the game is to get people to talk about it afterwards."Mental health is a serious topic and anything you can do to help young people who are suffering is worth it."When you're dealing with mental health a lot of things can be triggering for a lot of people, so you have to be cautious and empathetic in how you deal with the topic."Technology is taking over and you have to go with the mediums that young people are using."It's not Call of Duty, we're here to make serious games with serious messages." 'Use every tool' Psychiatrist Prof Kamaldeep Bhui from Oxford University is one of the principal investigators on the ATTUNE said: "Half of mental illnesses have started by the age of 14 and three quarters by the age of 24 so it's vital we use every tool we can and games are something many young people feel safe using."Games can be a cause of harm or addiction for young people, but we also have to understand that it's a space where young people can be playful and a gaming platform is a place where some people don't feel alone." The ATTUNE project is part of the Adolescence, Mental Health and the Developing Mind Programme, funded by UK Research and Innovation and led by the Medical Research Council with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research programme runs until 2026 and will explore how mental health needs emerge in young people, what makes some more resilient or vulnerable than others, and how early intervention can help positive mental health and wellbeing.
