Latest news with #UEFAEuro2025
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Starmer Branded Cringe For 'Awkward' Long-Distance Video Call With Lionesses
UK PM Sir Keir Starmer mocked for his 'awkward' video call with the Lionesses. The UEFA Euro 2025 champions were hosted at 10 Downing Street, the residence of British PM, on Monday. However, missing from action was the Prime Minister himself during the celebratory reception. Busy with U.S. President Donald Trump, Starmer joined celebration virtually from Scotland. He congratulated the newly crowned football team and posted a video of the moment as well. But his virtual meet-up was met with mockery as netizens branded it cringe and 'more like AI'. Watch- Read More
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Women's Euro 2025 final: England stuns Spain in penalties to earn second-straight Euro title
England came into Sunday's UEFA Euro 2025 final looking for revenge — and they got it. Two years after losing to Spain in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, the Lionesses defeated Spain in penalties, 1(3) - 1(2), to take home back-to-back Euro titles. English keeper Hannah Hampton notched two outstanding saves to tee up the victory. But it was Chloe Kelly's decisive penalty kick that completed the Lionesses' title defense. In a frantic, exciting game, the two European powerhouses battled to control the pace and take the win. Spain struck first off a stunning sequence in the 25th minute, ending with a masterful header from Mariona Caldentey. La Roja's tactical strength was on display in this game, as the Spaniards were able to keep the ball moving through England's defense. But England, who has spent the entire tournament coming from behind, kept up the pressure in the second half. The Lionesses were rewarded with a goal in the 57th minute, as Alessia Russo's stellar header sent the ball into the corner of the goal. For the rest of the second half, both teams continued to hunt for a go-ahead goal, but the score held, sending the game into extra time. But in the end, it came down to the penalty kicks, as Chloe Kelly gave England the title once again.
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
From Rubiales, sexism and indifference, Spain face England for Euro glory
Who: England vs Spain What: UEFA Women's Euro 2025 final Where: St Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland When: Sunday, July 27, at 6pm (16:00 GMT) How to follow: We'll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 3pm (15:00 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream. If the women's football players of Spain have gone from nobodies to title contenders in less than a decade, it hasn't come easy. The national team has had to fight for better coaching, decent travel conditions, and modern training facilities. It paid off with a World Cup title in 2023, the Nations League crown last year, and they face England on Sunday in the European Championship final. 'It has been a constant with the national team that we have had to fight for acceptable work conditions that would allow us to play at our best,' former Spain defender Marta Torrejon said on Friday. Where did the rise of Spain's women begin? Torrejon lived through the lean years, the time when playing for her country felt like, in her words, a 'waste of time'. And she knows from talking with Barcelona teammates who still play for their country how much things have improved. Torrejon retired from international football after the 2019 World Cup as Spain's then most-capped player with 90 appearances. The 35-year-old has since helped Barcelona win three Champions League titles and a slew of other trophies. She also played a part in one of the revolts Spain's women have staged to demand more from the men who run the game. After the 2015 World Cup, Torrejon and other players successfully pushed for the removal of coach Ignacio Quereda, who had run the team for nearly three decades, for his poor preparation before the team's first appearance in the competition. Quereda was later accused by former players of verbal abuse, an allegation he denied. 'I enjoyed playing for the national team, but the preparation and attention to the player was minimum. It felt, to put it bluntly, like a waste of time,' Torrejon said. 'The level of practice and the level of physical training both plummeted compared to what we had [at Barcelona]. It was like taking a step back. 'I am told that isn't the case now, and I am very glad to hear that.' Torrejon said she saw steps in the right direction under former Spain coach Jorge Vilda, who replaced Quereda, but felt there was still more untapped potential in the team when she retired. What was the Rubiales controversy for Spain? After Torrejon quit the team, some players announced in 2022 that they would no longer play for Vilda unless he ran a more professional operation. He was backed by the federation. Some players returned to play for him, and the team made history by winning the 2023 World Cup. The celebrations were overshadowed by the behaviour of then-federation President Luis Rubiales, who, without her consent, kissed a player on the lips during the awards ceremony in Sydney. Vilda supported Rubiales initially, and he was swept away with his boss when the players stood up to force change, from the removal of Rubiales to improving the travel conditions and handling of the team. Vilda is now coaching Morocco, which is playing Nigeria in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations final on Saturday. Torrejon said she had heard from Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes, stalwarts of Spain and Barcelona, that things are better since Rubiales and Vilda left. England wary Rubiales incident may fire Spain England's Ella Toone admits Spain may have extra motivation going into the final after their World Cup triumph two years ago was overshadowed by the events at the end of the game in Sydney. Spain beat England 1-0 in 2023 to win the Women's World Cup for the first time, with Olga Carmona scoring the only goal of the game. However, the headlines later were dominated by the forced kiss by Rubiales on player Jenni Hermoso. Rubiales was eventually fined 10,800 euros ($11,670) for sexual assault in February this year. 'It was a difficult period for the Spanish players and for what they did in the World Cup, for that to then be the main talking point, was really tough and something they shouldn't have had to go through,' Toone told reporters in Zurich on Friday. 'They should have celebrated what was an amazing tournament for them.' How did England reach the Euro 2025 final? England's place as a powerhouse of women's international football has long been established, but the last-four clash with Italy nearly provided an upset. Barbara Bonansea gave the Italians the lead, and only a 96th-minute equaliser by Michelle Agyemang forced the game to extra time. Chloe Kelly then left it late to settle the match with penalties looming. The English also had to come from behind to beat Sweden in their last-eight clash. How did Spain reach the Euro 2025 final? New coach Montse Tome has enhanced the training methods. Spain leads the way at the Euros for goals scored, ball possession, passing accuracy and clean sheets. In Spain's 1-0 semifinal win over Germany, Aitana Bonmati leaned on the team's analysts, who informed her that the opposing goalkeeper tended to leave her near post unprotected. The result was an exquisite winner from a tight angle. Torrejon said that sort of tactical insight from the staff was unthinkable a decade ago. How Barcelona played their part in Spain's rise Spain midfielder Patri Guijarro agrees with Torrejon that the sustained investment Barcelona has provided for the past decade in the women's game has boosted the national team. 'Each and every day, we work well in our clubs and I think that is reflected in the achievements of the clubs, but also in the national team,' Guijarro said at Spain's camp in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Friday. Guijarro also credits the professionalisation of Spain's women's league in 2021, which allowed players 'to dedicate ourselves fully to football'. Guijarro is one of 11 Barcelona players on Spain's 23-member squad. The Barcelona contingent includes Bonmati and Putellas, who have split the last four Ballon d'Or awards between them. Former Barcelona official Xavier Vilajoana oversaw the women's team and the club's training academy from 2015-2020. During that time, the club dramatically increased its funding for women's football and built a training programme for girls. Vilajoana said one critical decision was having the same coaches train the boys' and girls' teams. That way, the Barcelona style was instilled in all the kids, and that ball-possession, short-passing and pressure became fundamentals of the women's teams as well. 'Let's not fool ourselves, we spent many years in a very sexist society, and that was reflected in women's football. So clearly the change in the mentality of society has helped,' Vilajoana said. 'But I also believe that Barca's style of play has helped us see women players in the same way [as men].' In the background, Spain's strong feminist movement helped get the public behind the players as they made strides for equality and success. 'There were many of us players who gave it our all for the national team but weren't able to get this far,' Torrejon said. 'The one thing we knew is that we had talent. We just needed more support.' England team news Lauren James faces a race to be fit after picking up a knock in the semifinal against Italy. Beth Mead could take the attacker's place on the wing should James fail to recover. Esme Morgan was given her first start in tournament football alongside captain Leah Williamson in defence and is set to retain her place. Spain team news Laia Aleixandri returns from a one-match ban for yellow card accumulation in the tournament. The defender is set to immediately return to the backline. Athenea del Castillo is pushing Mariona Caldentey and Claudia Pina for a place on the flanks after a goal and an assist last up. Predicted England and Spain starting lineups England: Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Morgan, Greenwood; Stanway, Walsh, Toone; Kelly, Hemp, Russo Spain: Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Aleixandri, Carmona; Bonmati, Guijarro, Putellas; Caldentey, Pina, Gonzalez
DW
6 days ago
- Sport
- DW
Euro 2025: Germany lose to Spain in semifinal – DW – 07/23/2025
After 115 minutes, Aitana Bonmati scored the winner to knock Germany out and put Spain in the final. Germany lost 1-0 after extra time to Spain in the UEFA Euro 2025 semifinal, as Christian Wück's side paid the price for missing a hatful of chances. Aiming to make their second straight Euro final, Germany pushed world champions Spain right to the limit but had their hearts broken by Spanish superstar Aitana Bonmati with five minutes left in extra time. After a poor clearance, Spain worked the ball quickly and Bonmati, spotting the near post open, squeezed the ball past Berger who had been expecting a cross. Christian Wück's side, who started the game with a depleted squad after injuries and suspensions, handled the expected Spanish ball control well for most of the game, and had a handful of chances to score. Giovanna Hoffmann missed in the first half, Klara Bühl missed a chance in both halves and Carlotta Wamser also couldn't find a way past Spain's goalkeeper Cata Coll in stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes. The longer the game went on and the more chances Germany missed, the more it felt like defending world champions Spain would find a goal. In extra time, both sides began to tire and just when penalties looked on the cards, Bonmati struck as Spain finally found a way past the otherwise excellent Ann-Katrin Berger. Spain will play England in the final on Sunday, July 27. The game is a rematch of the 2023 World Cup Final, which Spain won 1-0.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Cristiano Ronaldo's insane records that still stand alone
Cristiano Ronaldo's insane records that still stand alone (Image Via Insta) Cristiano Ronaldo is not just a football star, he is a living legend. Over the years, he has broken many records that no other male player has touched. Some are about goals, others about appearances, and some are about age. But what makes his records truly special is how long he has been breaking barriers. In this story, we explore all the top records that belong only to him. Every number here is confirmed and based on real-time facts as of July 2025. Cristiano Ronaldo becomes oldest goalscorer in Portuguese history Cristiano Ronaldo scored a goal against Spain in a UEFA Euro 2025 qualifier on June 8, 2025. At 40 years and 123 days, he is the oldest player to have ever scored for Portugal. Portugal won 2-1 in the match held in Lisbon. — goal (@goal) Cristiano Ronaldo has scored the most Champions League goals UEFA Champions League all-time goal leader Cristiano Ronaldo can boast of 140 goals in the tournament during his time. He started scoring for Manchester United in 2007 and has added to the tally over time at first with Real Madrid and then with Juventus. Cristiano Ronaldo leads FIFA club World Cup goal charts The most goals scored by any player in the FIFA Club World Cup is 7 by Ronaldo. These objectives arose between 2008 and 2017 while playing for Manchester United and Real Madrid. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Medical Mystery Solved: Dementia and Memory Loss Has Been Linked To This Common Thing. Memory Health Click Here Undo Also Read: Lionel Messi Fuels Saudi Arabia Rumors As Cristiano Ronaldo Fans Hope For Iconic Reunion Cristiano Ronaldo has scored the most goals in men's international football Official international games have seen him score 138 goals for Portugal. In 2020 he surpassed 100 goals, then in 2021 he broke Ali Daei's former mark of 109. Cristiano Ronaldo has the most official goals in football history Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 938 official goals in total, including club and country. This is the highest number ever recorded by any male football player. Cristiano Ronaldo has made the most international appearances With 221 caps (games played) for Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo has played more international matches than any male player in football history. Cristiano Ronaldo has the most assists in Champions League history Alongside goals, Ronaldo has also helped his teammates score. He has given 42 assists in the UEFA Champions League, more than anyone else. Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for most UEFA Champions League matches played Cristiano Ronaldo played 183 matches in the Champions League (2003-) more than any other male football player in the history of the tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo is the only male player to score in five World Cups Cristiano is the only male player to have scored in five separate FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022). No man has achieved this before in the history of football. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
