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France 24
14-07-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Spain the stars as Women's Euro 2025 heads into knockouts
The most talented squad at the tournament, Spain rattled in 14 goals, including four for leading scorer Esther Gonzalez, on their way to topping Group B and remain red-hot favourites to win their first European crown. Alexia Putellas has bolstered her claim for a third Ballon d'Or as the shining light of a Spain outfit which has sprinkled stardust over the competition. Barcelona star Putellas scored three goals and set up four more in Spain's three group games as she brought her sparkling club form to her national team. Putellas told AFP last week that she is "enjoying" the tournament after roaring back to her best form last season following an injury nightmare which began with an ACL tear just before the start of the last Euros three years ago. "It was a tough time, like any injury that any athlete has if it's serious. They leave you with those lessons and you savour every moment," said Putellas. "Maybe when you enter a cycle of competing, competing, competing, you don't stop to appreciate everything. But I'm enjoying every day here at the Euros." The stars seem to be aligning for Spain who also have current Ballon d'Or holder Aitana Bonmati fully match fit after she started her first match of the tournament in Friday's 3-1 win over Italy. Bonmati's chances of playing in Switzerland briefly looked in doubt when she was struck with a bout of viral meningitis days before Spain's opening group match against Portugal. But she recovered quickly enough to feature in the 5-0 hammering of the Portuguese and the following 6-2 beating of Belgium before making the starting XI for Italy. "She did a good job coming off a difficult situation, and she was really looking forward to starting some games," said Spain coach Montse Tome. Spain will also have a full week to prepare for their clash with their Swiss hosts, which will be played on Friday in front of a passionate crowd in Bern. England threat? However, for all that Spain are free-flowing and full of goalscoring dynamos, they can be got at, as shown in matches against Belgium and Italy who both created a series of opportunities against the high Spanish defensive line. Among the teams standing in Spain's way are England and Sweden, who face off in a blockbuster quarter-final which is also a replay of the Lionesses thumping last-four victory on their way to winning the last Euros. England and Sweden are both on the other side of the knockout draw from Spain, who will face one of Germany or dark horses France in the semi-finals if La Roja get past the Swiss. And the Swedes laid down a marker with Saturday's 3-1 win over Germany which sealed top spot in Group C, a sensational performance which suggested they could get revenge on England for defeat in 2022. But England coach Sarina Wiegman cut a confident figure after her team demolished Wales 6-1 on Sunday and is unconcerned about the path to the final. "I think that in tournaments, that it's really tricky to think 'we want to go that way (in the draw) because then we might have this and this'. If you start thinking like that, that's very tricky," she told reporters. "What you're trying to do is win every game and then see where you finish in the group and then you'll play who's against you or in front of you and that's what it is. If you want to be successful in the tournament, you should be able to win every single game." France, like England, scored 11 times in the group stage and with the hot form of Delphine Cascarino will be a handful for any team after winning Group D, the toughest in the tournament, with a perfect nine points.
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Nigeria vs Algeria Wafcon 2024 match preview
Di Super Falcons of Nigeria and di La vertes of Algeria go clash for di ongoing Women Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday. Di final Group B match go happun for di Larbi Zaouli stadium, Casablanca around 20: 00 (8:00pm) local time. While di Super Falcons of Nigeria don already qualify for di quarter-finals dem dey hope to beat Algeria to finish strong and top Group B. For di La vertes dey also hope to top di group if dem win di match against Nigeria. Nigeria get six points afta dem win Tunisia and Botswana while Algeria get four points afta dem beat Botswana and play goalless draw wit Tunisia. Tunisia get only one point while Botswana get zero point. Match facts Nigeria don reach di knockout stage of all di 13 Wafcon editions. Na di first time since 2014 dem dey start wit back to back wins. Dem neva lose any final group stage match for Wafcon. Chinwendu Ihezuo donscore for di two matches wen she come from bench. If Nigeria win dem go complete 100 percent group stage win record for di seventh time. Algeria don get 4 points from dis Wafcon, dia best return for a single edition. Dem don already qualify for di quarter-finals but if dem win dem go end as group winners. Dem don lose dia final group game for wach of di Wafon editions. Dem fit finish di group stage witout any lose for dis first time. Wetin di coaches tok Algeria Algeria Coach Farid Benstiti wey don dey coach di team since 2023 tok say " We want to come out strong to beat Nigeria so dat pipo go take us serious for di quarter-finals." Di former head coach of di PSG women's team, dey come wit plenti experience. Since im take ova di team, Algeria don shown signs of progress, among di tins im don achieve na to qualify for di 2024 Wafcon finals afta dem miss di ast two editions. Nigeria Nigeria Super Falcons coach, Justin Madugu tell tori pipo say wen teams go out to play for competitions pipo dey always come up wit different records but dat one no be our major worry for now. Di most important record na to win all your games and set di most important record at di end of di tournament. But na good tin say di team no dey concede goals, e show say we dey strong for defence. We need to work on areas wey we know say we need to do beta as we dey improve wit subsequent games." E dey expected say coach Justin Madugu fit field some first-timers wey fit help Nigeria Super Falcons sustain dia legacy for dis Wafcon 2024. Dis na Algeria sixth appearance for di tournament. Even though dem dey consistent to qualify evritime, dis Les Vertes still dey struggle to establish diasef as one of di biggest sides for di continent. Stats show say dem neva pass di group stage bifor, and dis fit be di first time dem go pass di group stage while dia opponent Nigeria na nine - time winners. We dey bring una live updates for here
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Four standout players from Spain's perfect start to Euro 2025
Spain's pursuit of a first women's European crown has got off to the perfect start in wins, nine points and 14 goals scored - they have swept past Portugal, Belgium and Italy with relative ease to top Group B and storm into the a Spanish side bursting with talent, which players have stood out? Alexia Putellas Having missed the Euros in 2022 after she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on the eve of the tournament, Alexia Putellas has been making up for lost time on the European Barcelona midfielder won back-to-back player-of-the-match awards thanks to stellar performances in the 5-0 victory over Portugal and the 6-2 win against Belgium, scoring three goals and assisting three more across the two added another two assists in the 3-1 win against Italy to equal the record for group-stage goal involvements by a single player - set three years ago by England's Beth only does Putellas rank first for direct goal involvements, but she's created more chances per 90 minutes (five) than any other player at Euro 2025."She is just impossible to defend against," former Scotland captain Rachel Corsie told BBC Sport."She is so good in possession, she's got so much awareness, she sort of looks like she's playing in slow motion but she's actually just so in control. "I think the only way to stop her is to limit the ball getting to her because once she has it, she's just so dangerous." Patri Guijarro Part of a trio made up of Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, who both are two-time Ballon d'Or winners, Patri's work at the base of Spain's - and Barcelona's - midfield often goes the 27-year-old "runs the show" according to Corsie, who added: "She's the one... you see she starts everything, she controls the tempo, she chooses when they settle the game down."Spain boss Montse Tome said she believes Patri is the "best player in her position"."It's not an easy position because it's not well recognised from the outside and I believe her personality, she is humble, she is a hard worker and this means Aitana [Bonmati], Alexia [Putellas], Vicky [Lopez], Mariona [Caldentey] and [Claudia] Pina play more freely and Patri is key for that."Asked about Tome's comments, Patri said: "I feel super happy and super proud knowing the coach said that about me."For the game model we have, midfielders have to participate because then everything flows and the team feels confident."As well as setting the pace and freeing up space for her team-mates, Patri proved she's got an eye for goal, with a drilled finish giving Spain the lead against Italy. Vicky Lopez At just 18, Vicky Lopez is already enjoying an impressive club career with Barcelona. Now she's making her mark for manager Tome choosing not to start Bonmati for Spain's first two games after her bout of viral meningitis, Lopez was picked as her La Roja's opener against Portugal, Lopez scored after eight minutes, had another effort saved and linked up superbly with Putellas and was afforded less time against Belgium as Bonmati came on at half-time, but even in 45 minutes Lopez made an impact - setting up Putellas for their opener and forcing a goalline clearance."She plays as if she had 10 years of experience," Putellas said about the teenager after the Portugal flare and fearlessness with the ball has caught the attention of fans and pundits, completing 5.1 dribbles per 90 minutes - second to only to Germany's Klara Buhl (6.2).Corsie said: "Her ability one v one, she's great left or right foot, really tricky and also has great awareness." Esther Gonzalez Esther Gonzalez may not be the best-known name in a Spanish team full of stars, but with 36 goals in 53 games for her country, she's a prolific the tournament's scoring charts with four goals, it took the 32-year-old just 87 seconds to open her account at the Euros with a terrific flicked volley against Portugal. She grabbed a second with a poacher's finish from close range, she demonstrated ruthlessness for her clinical strike against Belgium, while she was in the right place at the right time for a poked finish from close range against Italy. "One of the things I think she does most effectively is she's always on the back shoulder," Corsie said."She's so good at just creating an extra yard for herself by always trying to play off the shoulder, knowing that if the ball goes wide and then gets delivered into the box, she'll always have an extra yard on you."Gonzalez is averaging 2.3 goals every 90 minutes - more than any other player who has played over 100 minutes at Euro 2025."Esther is playing at an excellent level at all levels," Tome said of the Gotham FC striker."She has whatever what you may need from a tactical point of view because of her experience and with her energy. "
Daily Record
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Lombard Rally Festival returns to Craufurdland Castle this August
Visitors will be able to see cars ranging from ex-works cars from the 1960s through to early World Rally Championship cars. The Lombard Rally Festival returns to Craufurdland Castle this August for a bigger and better weekend of historic car action. Running for the second time, the Festival showcases classic cars and historic rally cars in a way not seen in Scotland before last year's event. The festival will take place on Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 at the Ayrshire estate. Organsiers are looking forward to bringing around 60 historic rally cars to be demonstrated on a specially constructed period-style rally stage. Visitors will be able to see cars ranging from ex-works cars from the 1960s, from the 1970s such as Ford Escorts, Vauxhall Chevettes, Hillman Avengers and Triumph TR7V8s, from the 1980s such Talbot Sunbeams, Opel Mantas, Ford Sierras, before moving onto the Group B era of Audi Quattros, Ford RS200 and MG Metro 6R4, through to early World Rally Championship cars. Event organiser Tim Nash said: "This year we are joined by rally champions, Dai Llewellin from Wales and Harald Demuth from Germany, who were both factory drivers for Audi in the legendary Quattro back in the 1980s. "From Finland we are bringing Harri Rovanpera, factory driver for Peugeot, Toyota and Seat and Harri Toivonen who was, like Dai Llewellin, a driver of the iconic MG Metro 6R4 in 1986. "Taking part in period cars at Craufurdland, the drivers will put on a great spectacle and be happy to talk to spectators and tell stories of their past successes." The Lombard Rally Festival series of events recalls a period when the Lombard RAC Rally was the largest attended sporting event in the UK. More people came out to watch over its November weekend than watched every football league match added together during the season. In addition to the Rally Car action, the event kicks off on Friday, August 22 with a meet and greet hosted by one of the event partners, Andrew Dodds Autocare in Ayr. On Saturday, August 23 a Scenic Tour will start in the morning from Balloch, on Loch Lomond, before finishing later in the afternoon at Craufurdland Castle, where people taking part in the Tour will be able to join spectators to see the Rally Cars in action. The Rally Cars will start running from 11.30am on Saturday. The traditional social will follow in the evening, with the featured drivers telling a few stories. On Sunday, August 24 the Rally Cars are joined by a static display of classic and sports cars in front of the Castle, with the Rally Car action again starting at 11.30am. The drivers are brought to Lombard Rally Festival Craufurdland Castle with the assistance of Nykku Air Conditioning, in addition other event partners are Hamilton Tarmac and as in 2024. Tickets are now available to buy here.
The Guardian
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Spain v Belgium: Women's Euro 2025
Update: Date: 2025-07-07T14:40:35.000Z Title: The last two times these two nations Content: played one another it was world champions Spain who came out on top. In February Spain beat them 3-2 and in May they came away with a 5-1 result. Update: Date: 2025-07-07T14:30:10.000Z Title: Preamble Content: Hello and welcome to the Group B match between favourites Spain and Belgium at Euro 2025. Spain put out an impressive performance against Portugal in their opener in a 5-0 win, while Belgium fell to a 1-0 defeat to Italy. It is possible for both Belgium and Portugal to be knocked out today. Belgium will be heading home if they lose this evening and Italy do not lose to Portugal, while Portugal will be out if they lose to Italy and Spain do not lose to Belgium. Spain, though, could book their spot in the knockout stage this evening if they beat Belgium and Portugal do not beat Italy. The permutations can be a bit bewildering at times but as the picture changes we shall update you on all eventulaities. The team news will be dropping soon so stay tuned before kick-off at 5pm BST.
