Latest news with #Zurich
The Sun
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
FA chief shares thoughts on Sarina Wiegman's England future ahead of Lionesses' Euros title defence
FA CHIEF Mark Bullingham expects Sarina Wiegman to carry on as England boss - even if her team endured a Euros group stage exit. And the Football Association's top exec thinks the women's game will continue to grow no matter where the Lionesses finish in the tournament. 4 4 4 Holders England are just seven days away from commencing the defence of the Euros title they won at Wembley three years ago. They will battle it out for knockout place with an in-form France who they play in Zurich, Switzerland on July 5 before duels with the Netherlands and Wales. Last January Wiegman, 55, extended her contract, which was due to expire after this summer's Euros, until after the 2027 World Cup. The Dutch coach is regarded as one of the most successful England managers having guided the team to Euros glory and their first ever World Cup final. On whether a group-stage exit would force the FA to consider her position, Bullingham said: "I don't see any scenario changing that. "We're delighted that Sarina's in place until 2027 On whether Wiegman's reign could go beyond the next Women's World Cup, he added: "We haven't looked beyond that time scale yet or engaged in those conversations. "We feel we have us locked into this tournament and the next and that feels very good for us. "That's not to say we wouldn't have a conversation at some point in the future but it's too early for that really." England's group D opener with France comes nine days after new research revealed a decrease in average broadcast audiences for Women's Super League games. A Women's Sport Trust study found the average UK broadcast audience for the WSL had declined by 35% year on year. However with England World Cup final clash with Spain being the most-watched women's sport event on TV in 2023, Bullingham believes the game will continue to grow and attract large audiences He said: "We see every international tournament as an opportunity to accelerate growth rather than it being a negative. "If you look at the last World Cup being in Australia - the challenge with the time zones made it difficult for teams in Europe to achieve really high figures. "But actually, we were still, despite that, achieving good figures so we're really confident that we'll achieve good figures this time around." 4 Plans to build a statue of England's Women's team are still ongoing according to the FA. The football authority entered into discussions about its design following the last Women's World Cup. The FA says it is "completely committed" to the project with the commissioning process currently at an advanced stage with an update likely to be provided after the summer.
Finextra
6 hours ago
- Business
- Finextra
Zurich expands Cowbell collaboration
Cowbell, a leading provider of cyber insurance for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and middle-market businesses, today announced a major expansion of its product portfolio to include a comprehensive multi-line insurance offering from Zurich North America (Zurich) within the United States. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. Building on its established success in Cyber and Technology Errors & Omissions (Tech E&O), Cowbell has collaborated with Zurich to offer Zurich Select Plus through the E&S distribution channel for small to medium-sized private businesses. Zurich Select Plus is a co-branded modular suite of four coverages: Directors & Officers (D&O), Employment Practices Liability (EPL), Crime, and Fiduciary insurance. With this launch, Cowbell now offers cyber, technology errors and omissions, and management liability coverage through both a fully integrated API and a proprietary agentic email automation platform. The move mirrors Cowbell's recent diversification in the UK, where it introduced professional indemnity insurance tailored for technology providers. Together, these initiatives reflect the company's vision to scale its tech-enabled platform globally and deliver intelligent insurance solutions to businesses wherever they operate. 'In cyber insurance, we've earned a reputation for underwriting discipline, broad distribution, and a user-friendly experience,' said Jack Kudale, Founder and CEO of Cowbell. 'Cyber remains one of the most complex risks facing businesses today. By leveraging our first-of-its-kind, vertically integrated, AI-powered platform and proprietary risk modeling, we've simplified the process, enabling faster, more streamlined transactions for our broker partners. Now, we've aligned with Zurich to bring innovation to additional lines of coverage, further advancing our mission to provide comprehensive, tech-forward insurance to the global SME and middle-market segment.' The launch of Zurich Select Plus follows Cowbell's announcement, nearly a year ago, that it had secured a $60 million Series C investment led by Zurich Insurance Group. 'At the one-year mark of Zurich's investment in Cowbell, we are pleased to offer our industry-leading Zurich Select Plus product for D&O, EPL, Fiduciary, and Crime coverages. Through Cowbell's digital platform, the Zurich Cowbell collaboration and relationship can provide bindable quotes within seconds of receiving the required underwriting information,' said Kristof Terryn, CEO of Zurich North America. 'This growing alliance is just one of many ways Zurich is a transformative risk advisor and manager for businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises.' At the heart of this evolution is Cowbell's agentic email automation platform, representing a seismic shift in submission processing. Using large language model (LLM) agents, the platform automates submission workflows by extracting, enriching, and validating data from emails, attachments, and images. Cowbell's cyber, management, and professional liability programs are available to select agents and brokers in the United States.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cowbell integrates Zurich's multi-line insurance offering for SMEs
Cowbell, a provider of cyber insurance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has expanded its insurance portfolio in the US by including a multi-line insurance offering from Zurich North America. The new offering, Zurich Select Plus, is a suite of four coverages designed for small to medium-sized private businesses. The coverage includes directors and officers (D&O), employment practices liability (EPL), crime and fiduciary insurance. Cowbell said the collaboration builds on its established presence in the cyber and technology errors and omissions insurance market. Zurich Select Plus will be distributed through the excess and surplus (E&S) lines channel and is co-branded. Additionally, Cowbell now provides management liability coverage. Cowbell founder and CEO Jack Kudale said: 'By leveraging our first-of-its-kind, vertically integrated, AI-powered platform and proprietary risk modelling, we have simplified the process, enabling faster, more streamlined transactions for our broker partners. 'Now, we have aligned with Zurich to bring innovation to additional lines of coverage, further advancing our mission to provide comprehensive, tech-forward insurance to the global SME and middle-market segment.' The company employs both a fully integrated API and a proprietary agentic email automation platform to facilitate insurance processing. This latter platform uses large language model agents to automate the extraction and validation of data from submissions, including content from emails, attachments and images. Last year, Cowbell secured $60m (SFr47.84m) in Series C funding from Zurich Insurance Group. Zurich North America CEO Kristof Terryn stated: 'At the one-year mark of Zurich's investment in Cowbell, we are pleased to offer our industry-leading Zurich Select Plus product for D&O, EPL, fiduciary and crime coverages. 'Through Cowbell's digital platform, the Zurich Cowbell collaboration and relationship can provide bindable quotes within seconds of receiving the required underwriting information.' In April, Cowbell launched Prime One Tech in the UK, a professional indemnity and cyber insurance solution for technology companies with annual revenues of up to £1bn ($1.37bn). The product offers professional indemnity and cyber coverage with limits of up to £5m. Prime One Tech integrates the company's Prime One cyber programme, offering professional indemnity coverage for tech entities. "Cowbell integrates Zurich's multi-line insurance offering for SMEs " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘A bit like a new era': Lauren James on England's Euro 2025 ambitions
'I think it was in me from when I was young,' says Lauren James of the fierce competitive drive that has taken her from playing football with her brothers, Josh and Reece, in a park behind their house in Mortlake, south-west London, to England's opening match of Euro 2025 against France in Zurich on 5 July. The 23-year-old returns from injury as the most likely catalyst for England's hopes of remaining European champions because she has the skill and tenacity to be one of the tournament's standout players. 'It helped playing with my brothers all the time,' James says as she reflects on a footballing journey when her prodigious talent has blossomed with Chelsea and England while being tested by insidious abuse and racism. We need two interviews to get a little closer to the tangled heart of her story, but her natural reticence and reluctance to open up deserves respect. Lauren and Reece James are the first sister and brother to play international football for England and their free-flowing games in the rainy or sunlit park, with Josh and other boys from their neighbourhood, provided the bedrock for her career. She was always the only girl, fighting for the ball before dribbling away on mazy runs, dreaming she was Eden Hazard, while the older boys tried to stop her. A little smile crosses her face when I ask whether her fire was forged in those park games which were as joyous as they were tough. 'Yes and sometimes it's your only option because they're stronger and quicker than you so your only chance is to be better on the ball. They never went easy on me because they never wanted me to beat them. It was always hard against them.' James started playing seriously when she was 'five or six' and believes that those Mortlake days shaped her: 'I'd say so because being able to protect the ball obviously helped.' She was fortunate to come from a close-knit family with her parents, Nigel and Emma, pouring so much into their football-crazy children. Her dad is a gifted coach and more than two dozen players have become professional footballers after being guided by him at the Nigel James Elite Coaching academy in Wimbledon. His philosophy, evident in his daughter's play, is highlighted on his website: 'The Nigel James Elite Coaching programme is about pure ball mastery and delivery with panache, to ultimately create elite technicians of the game.' Emma, a nurse for the NHS, spent hours ferrying the kids to and from training and matches. Josh and Reece joined the academies at Fulham and Chelsea and Lauren would be taken to their sessions where, while kicking a ball around on the touchline, her startling gifts were noticed. She began training with Chelsea's under-10 girls' team when she was six and at 13 she was signed by Arsenal. As Reece remembered a few years ago: 'Me and Lauren played in a number of tournaments together in the same team. We won a lot of tournaments together and it was great playing with her.' James can recall only one tournament with Reece and one or two playing with Conor Gallagher and Jacob Maddox, both future professionals. She shrugs when I ask whether Gallagher, the Atlético Madrid midfielder who has won 21 caps for England, stood out. 'When everyone's young you don't really notice as much.' Did she face sexism? 'Not when I was younger. It was maybe there when I went to Arsenal and trained at the boys' academy. It took a few sessions because at first they were like: 'There's a girl with us.' But when they got to realise what I could do, they accepted me.' Her years at Arsenal were difficult and in 2023 Nigel spoke in detail to The Beautiful Game podcast: 'She was too good to train with the Arsenal girls when she first went in … so Pedro [Martínez Losa], the manager at the time, brought her in to train with the women. 'Your 14-year-old daughter is now training with women who are 35, 28, grown women. People would see this little girl. Some could take it and put their arm around her and some would say: 'You shouldn't be here. You should be at school.' 'There was a game [where] the manager let her take a penalty. The next day senior players didn't like it and they asked for her to be removed from the first-team squad and to go back into the academy. 'They came up with a solution that she train with the Arsenal academy boys … it was a big thing because it had never happened before – a girl training with the boys – and some parents didn't like it. But she was superb.' Our first interview is at Hanwell Town FC during a McDonald's Fun Football grassroots programme of free sessions for five to 11-year-olds. 'It's nice to see so many girls playing football on a big pitch,' James says. 'With this summer at the Euros, hopefully we can inspire more to play football.' Her presence, both as a brilliant footballer and a young mixed-race woman, clearly inspires the girls from diverse backgrounds who look up to her in Hanwell. But, in an empty dressing room after the session, I ask whether she had felt lonely as a girl playing first-team football with women: 'I wouldn't say lonely. We just didn't really have much in common … I was just burning to train.' Casey Stoney, who won 130 caps for England, played with James at Arsenal and had been floored by the teenager's technical ability and strength. In 2018, as Manchester United's manager, Stoney signed the 16-year-old. 'She took me to United and took care of me,' James says. 'It was difficult, at the start but I got used to it and in our first season we won the Championship [and promotion to the WSL]. I scored quite a few goals.' James scored 22 goals in 40 league games for United between 2018 and 2021, but her success was already shadowed by racism. In February 2021, she wrote a powerful article in the Daily Telegraph that began: 'I'm 19-years-old and I'm sitting here, writing about racist abuse. It is mad. All because of the colour of my skin. I'm proud of my skin, I love my skin colour. But when I saw the comments on my Instagram feed, it hurt.' She added: 'Racism doesn't just exist online, of course. It can be in the everyday things – even just going to the supermarket. There are times I've been to get my shopping and you get that feeling that people are intimidated by your presence. They'll move away, pull their children in closer or just look at you in a certain way. It's difficult to talk about.' It is even more difficult for James to discuss now because of the extreme racism she suffered online after she was sent off while playing for England against Nigeria in the 2023 World Cup. James had lit up the tournament in the group stages, but all her shimmering virtuosity was swamped by horrendous vitriol. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion James, understandably, refuses to discuss her World Cup dismissal. But I ask whether she found it difficult to speak out against racism at 19? 'Yeah, but it needed to happen.' Has that abuse lessened? 'No. I don't think it gets better … [but] you always live in hope.' James loves playing football, rather than doing interviews, but she still sees value in talking 'because it might help the next girl who's going to be in my position'. She also helps others from diverse backgrounds through her scholarship which in its first year has supported five young girls in London. In our second interview, I ask her what could be done to curb the abuse that she and so many other young women encounter. 'Have a break from social media because I don't think it will go away. Maybe it will die down a bit but, if it won't, then leave.' It seems wrong the victim should have to disappear. Surely we can all do more to put pressure on social media companies to sanction those who abuse others? 'You have those little things on apps where you can report this. But not much gets done. They should take the reports more seriously.' James can sweep aside the negativity through her imperious presence on the pitch. Despite an injury-affected season, her workrate and tracking back have improved dramatically and added a considerable new dimension to her game. Has Sonia Bompastor, who replaced Emma Hayes as manager before Chelsea's treble-winning campaign, been instrumental in this development? 'She's added more intensity to us. We have to press a lot more and use a different style of play. She's added more to my game when I don't have the ball.' Did James feel some trepidation when Hayes, who had been so influential, left Chelsea to take over the US national team? 'It was hard at first but I got used to it and now I'm cool. Emma left Sonia with a top team and she built that winning culture Chelsea are known for. But Sonia is one of the most competitive people I've come across. It's not just about football – whatever it is, she wants to beat you. That gets passed down in the dressing room and in training – always thinking about the next thing we can win.' James points out that Chelsea winning the WSL six times in a row 'is quite amazing' but the need to conquer Europe remains. A hamstring injury meant she missed Chelsea's humiliation against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final. 'I want to be playing, especially in the big games, so it was hard to watch. The 8-2 [aggregate score] makes it sound ridiculous, but we got chances. The difference is they put theirs away. We have just got to keep working and believing in ourselves.' How else has Bompastor improved James as a player? 'She's pushed me because she's quite demanding. She always wants more which helps you to be better.' Does she like being pushed? 'Yes,' James says instantly. She is equally clear when asked whether she targets individual awards such as the Ballon d'Or Féminin. 'For sure. You always want to help your team and help them win things, because that plays a part in you winning these individual trophies. That's certainly one of my aims … hopefully injuries and form help me to stay on track.' James always thought she would overcome her hamstring problem in time for the Euros. 'The moment you have doubts, you're putting stress on your body. You need the belief that you'll make it and be fit. I also looked at the timing and thought: 'Oh, it's still a while away.' That also gave me belief.' The Euros are close now and James's importance to England is accentuated by the surprise absence of the vastly experienced Millie Bright, Fran Kirby and Mary Earps. Did Bright, her Chelsea captain, tell James of her need to step away from the pressures of football? 'No, I had no clue. I think everyone is different. Sometimes people may be silent and no one knows what's going on.' James was a spectator when England beat Germany so memorably in the 2022 European final at Wembley. 'It's not really about defending a title because it's a completely different team,' she says of England's squad in Switzerland. 'This team's got a lot of youth in it and this will be some people's first big tournament.' She also describes 'a fresh start, a bit like a new era' and 'hungry girls wanting to do well'. Can England win the Euros? 'I hope so. We'll just take it game by game and hopefully have momentum and the belief of the fans and everyone in the country behind us.' There is just time to think once more of those Mortlake days and the blistering games she played with her brothers. Her parents will be in Switzerland to support her, but will Josh and Reece also be watching their little sister? She grins: 'I'd like to think so.' They could be in for a treat because, despite the adversity and personal challenges, James is emphatic when asked what she needs to do next to fulfil her potential: 'Keep improving, scoring, helping the team and winning competitions.'
Telegraph
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Inside the Zurich grande dame hotel where the Lionesses will stay for Euro 2025
The UEFA Women's Euros will be held in Switzerland this year and England's champions are in for a treat as they defend their title. The Lionesses' den for the tournament will be the five-star grande dame of Zurich, the Dolder Grand. This turreted fairytale castle of a hotel, which opened in 1899 and has hosted iconic figures from Sophia Loren to Nelson Mandela, is all about luxury. The squad will find Lamborghinis and Bentleys in the car park rather than Fiats or Vauxhalls, while hallways are lined with valuable artworks. Guests will be wearing Hermès or Chanel and carrying the results of a day's shopping in Zurich's gilded streets. Two Norman Foster-designed wings made of steel and glass flank the hotel's belle époque old building, tastefully blending contemporary design with the likes of sweeping staircases and opulent chandeliers. All 175 rooms are large for Zurich and made for lounging. Most have south-facing balconies and offer views of the lake or forest, while even entry-level rooms have bathtubs. The players may well be hoping for a suite, as these come with their own saunas and whirlpool bathtubs, as well as butler service. This time, in short, England has stepped its hotel game up a gear. The four-star, more corporate Lensbury in Teddington was the Lionesses' base back in 2022, when England hosted the tournament. This certainly wasn't slumming it, but with off-season prices there starting at around £130 it isn't fair to compare it to the Dolder, whose comparative rate is £648. For the 2023 World Cup, business hotel brand the Crowne Plaza was chosen, in Terrigal, Australia. These clearly served as excellent bases, as the team reached the World Cup final in 2023 and beat Germany 2-1 in the Euros final in 2022. Perhaps it was these successes, and the subsequent surge in support, that has led to the decision to book a hotel befitting of this century's most successful England team. A group from the FA went to 23 different base-camp options before deciding the Dolder was the one. Manager Sarina Wiegman described finding the right 'home from home' as 'one of the most important elements for tournament football'. It's certainly a much more characterful choice than the utility-focused hotels often chosen as the accommodation for sports teams. And so, some 55 people, including players and staff, will be heading to the Dolder, deep in the forest on the Adlisberg mountain. Sitting high above Lake Zurich, many rooms have breathtaking views over the water towards the Glarner Alps, but as remote as this may sound, the players will only have a 20-minute drive to their training ground at Sportanlage Au. Plus, the squad can get into the city in around 10 minutes, if they have time for some sightseeing (I would suggest the Fifa Museum might be of interest). The hotel's gym and spa is the perfect place to recuperate after a tough game. Captain Leah Williamson and her teammates can choose between doing laps in the 25-metre indoor pool, or relaxing those muscles in the sauna or outdoor hot tub while enjoying views over the lake. Fellow guests may see them relaxing on one of the loungers on the terrace, or testing their mettle in the cold plunge pool. The hotel also offers forest bathing sessions and guided meditation (ideal for getting in the zone), as well as yoga, Pilates and even ballet lessons. If I can insist upon anything, though, it would be that the players treat themselves to a massage, which starts at £190 for 60 minutes. I came out feeling like I had just discovered what a massage should really feel like. The squad will be travelling with two chefs and a nutritionist, who will work with the hotel's catering team to create the breakfasts, lunches and dinners of champions. A pity not to be able to enjoy two-Michelin starred The Restaurant, while even the more casual Saltz may prove difficult to resist, with its hearty central European dishes such as Wiener schnitzel and potato gratin. Perhaps after the final. The choice of venue will also help meet UEFA's sustainability recommendations, which encourage squads to use low-emission transport rather than fly to the games. England's opening fixture against France on Saturday July 5 and the next one against the Netherlands on Wednesday July 9 will both be at Zurich's Stadion Letzigrund, while the last group stage match against Wales will be in neighbouring St Gallen, 50 miles away. The players could even use Switzerland's famously efficient train system if they make it to the final in Basel. The men's team failed on this count in 2024, when its choice of the beautiful but remote GolfResort Weimarer Land in central Germany meant they had to fly to many of their matches. The Dolder's manager described hosting the Lionesses as an 'honour' for the hotel, so they are sure to receive the warmest of welcomes and, as in the most recent World Cup, will have an area decorated in the colours of England. Let's hope the team does as well in this tournament as it did last time – if only to stay in the lap of luxury a little longer.
