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Key eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureMarc Guehi’s had an interesting week but Tuchel has every faith: “He is the main driver of Crystal Palace’s success, he is the captain and the leader and he played very impressively at the end of last season. He has continued like that in camp and he handles it [his transfer situation] with respect and with and with brilliant attitude.”ShareRuben Loftus-Cheek was given props, Tuchel having worked with him at Chelsea: “It was always a pleasure to work with him and I am very happy that I had the chance to call him up. He is a nice guy to be around, very friendly and very polite with a good sense of humour.“He is full of qualities and sometimes I don’t think he is aware how good he is and how good he can be but he fits in seamlessly because of his character and his quality and he competes for a place in central midfield and it is good to see that he is fit and not injured.”ShareTuchel has been speaking to the broadcast media:“We have had excellent training sessions, excellent energy, both on and off the pitch. The group worked very well and I am at the moment very, very positive.“Like I said, in sport it is not about what you have done yesterday but about what you do tomorrow to get better and so I expect a good training session from the players to be ready for tomorrow. We will face – in both matches – a deep block and a 5-4-1 for sure in the first match and it is the challenge to overcome that quickly and aggressively and play with more rhythm than we did in the first match [against Andorra].”Harry Kane will start.“There is no balance, the competition is on and it is World Cup season. We have a condensed camp and that means we will start with the team that we trust and the best team possible and we will manage the second game. We will not do it backwards.“We will not get caught up in experiments and everything that counts is today and tomorrow and then we will do our assessment after the match to see who is available.ShareJohn Stones ruled out for EnglandThe Manchester City defender has withdrawn from the England squad through injury.Thomas Tuchel said: “Unfortunately, John Stones just left. He came with minor issues, muscular issues, to camp and didn’t progress as we thought and hoped he would. So, he left camp this morning (Friday) because we will not take the risk. Everyone else is available.”Tuchel confirmed captain Harry Kane will lead the line for England as he names a strong line-up for the qualifier against Andorra.ShareJust like Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash, on Poland duty, has been speaking about Aston Villa’s PSR problems. At one point, he was headed for a return to Nottingham Forest.“The PSR and stuff, it’s frustrating because obviously the owners have got money that they want to spend and do what’s best for the club, and obviously we’ve got limits and we can’t do it,” Cash said.“But obviously we’ve had good success with the squad that we’ve got now in. So as players, you can’t really get too drawn into it. You just have to focus on your job. We’re the ones that are out there on the pitch. Our jobs as players, we get paid to perform on the pitch, and that’s all we can do. We’ve got a good, strong group. We’re very close together as a team. So it’s important to have that.ShareSome reaction to that Germany defeat to Slovakia. Their next World Cup qualifier is at home to Northern Ireland in Cologne on Sunday in Group A.“We have a chance to do things better in three days,” Joshua Kimmich said. “We have talked about the World Cup before this match but we first have to qualify. Because with performances such as this it won’t work with the qualification.”“I do believe that the players now feel what is needed (on Sunday). The entire team must carry that energy. If we are more energetic then we will have a better game on Sunday,” said Julian Nagelsmann.ShareLeander Schaerlaeckens pays warm tribute to Michael Bradley, former USMNT mainstay now on his coaching journey.ShareDid he walk or was he “eased aside”? We’re expecting plenty more fallout from the sudden departure from Tottenham of Daniel Levy.ShareThursday’s World Cup qualifiers. Great win for Northern Ireland, a rather difficult night for Germany and Newcastle’s new boy, Nick Woltemade.ShareIt’s time to go off to the England camp, and hear from Elliott Anderson.And Djed Spence.Ezri Konsa voices a familiar complaint.ShareSurely Messi plays at the World Cup. Or does he?
“Day by day, trying to feel good and above all, being honest with myself. When I feel good, I enjoy it, but when I don’t, honestly, I don’t have a good time, so I prefer not to be there if I don’t feel good. So we’ll see. I haven’t made a decision about the World Cup.”
ShareGood luck, Terry Dunn, the 54-year-old keeper. ShareUpdated at 10.15 BSTWomen’s transfer record broken againShareUpdated at 10.46 BSTOne of the WSL’s most heralded graduates, these days with Bayern Munich, Georgia Stanway, speaks to Don McRae.
“I had three weeks on crutches, six weeks in a brace, but as soon as I heard that I was going to need surgery I was asking: ‘Will I make the Euros?’ Nobody could really give me an answer. That was difficult but every day I said: ‘Whether you think it’s possible or not, I will make it.’
ShareThe biggest stories from the WSL deadline day here.ShareNot only that, but it’s the start of the WSL season, with a blockbuster as Chelsea v Manchester City.ShareMorning, we’ve kicked off the blog with some big news coming out of London Colney, and there will more reaction to follow on the other club in north London, as part of the buildup to a weekend of international football.ShareUpdated at 09.05 BSTRusso signs long-term Arsenal extension on eve of new seasonAlessia Russo has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal. On the eve of the club’s Women’s Super League opener against London City Lionesses at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners have confirmed that the 26-year-old has put pen to paper on a new deal – the length of which is undisclosed.Arsenal signed Russo from Manchester United in July 2023 after her contract expired, having failed with two bids in the preceding January. The forward, a European champion for club and country, has scored 36 goals in 72 games for Arsenal. She helped the team to a League Cup win in 2024 and a Champions League victory in May.Last season Russo jointly claimed the WSL’s Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw, with 12 goals, and was named the Football Writers’ Association’s women’s footballer of the year. After being named in the Professional Footballers’ Association and Uefa teams of the year, Russo has been shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or.“Arsenal feels like home,” said Russo. “This is such a special club and it has felt that way to me from the moment I joined two years ago. Playing for Arsenal is an honour and has pushed me to develop and grow as a player, and I feel empowered with this badge on my chest.”The manager, Renée Slegers, said: “As a striker, Alessia’s goals often take the spotlight – but she brings so much more to our group. She’s a selfless player, working so hard for the team, and she also contributes so much to our team culture.”Share
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