Chloe Kelly: England’s most iconic goalscorer in profile
Chloe Kelly has already secured her place in English football history after coming off the bench in last summer’s Euro 2022 Final to stab home the winner in extra-time as Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses beat Germany 2-1, tearing off her shirt and whirling it maniacally in the air in one of the most instantly-iconic celebrations Wembley has ever seen. Kelly had almost missed the tournament with a knee injury but returned to triumph, her moment of euphoria as joyous and empowering a moment as any sport anywhere has ever produced. Since then, she was England’s top scorer in February’s Arnold Clark Cup and scored the winning penalty against Brazil to win the Finalissima, proving once again that she is a big game player of the very highest calibre. Women’s World Cup LIVE: Latest updates as England face Haiti Still only 25, the Londoner grew up in Hanwell, just a bus ride away from the national stadium, the youngest of seven siblings who credits her career to playing street football with her five brothers from a young age. Starting out at Queens Park Rangers, she was soon spotted by Arsenal and progressed through the Gunners’ youth ranks to make her senior debut against Watford at 17, scoring just 22 minutes into that match. In 2016, she was loaned out to Everton, who later made the signing permanent. She would score 16 times for the Toffees in 45 appearances before moving to Manchester City in 2020, where she has since netted another 16 in 48. At international level, she has worked her way up from under-17s to the senior squad, making her Lionesses debut versus Austria in November 2018 in a 3-0 win. With Beth Mead ruled out, Kelly will be competing with the likes of Lauren James for a starting place on the right-wing for England in Australia and New Zealand this month, where her directness again promises to terrify opposition defences. Read More How to watch England vs Haiti: TV channel and start time for Women’s World Cup opener Women’s football world rankings: Who could take No 1 at the World Cup? FIFA Women’s World Cup fixtures and full schedule
2023-07-22 18:18
Keira Walsh: England’s deep-lying playmaker in profile
Despite being a Manchester City fan so committed to the club that she had pet goldfish named Shaun Goater and Nicolas Anelka as a child, Keira Walsh was also a keen student of “tiki-taka”-era Barcelona growing up in Rochdale, admiring the total control demonstrated by Pep Guardiola’s sides through elegant possession football. These days, Pep is managing City and it is Walsh herself sitting at the heart of Barca’s midfield. She made that move last summer for a world record fee after starring for the Lionesses at Euro 2022, pulling the strings at the centre of the park like another of her idols, David Silva, always knowing precisely when to play the killer pass. Women’s World Cup LIVE: Latest updates as England face Haiti There was no finer example of this than the perfectly-weighted long ball she dinked into Ella Toone for England’s opener against Germany in the final, for which she was deservingly named player of the match. Another famed instance of Walsh’s artistry in action came at the SheBelieves Cup in Japan in 2019, when she played in Beth Mead with a pass that took out no fewer than eight separate opposition players in one move, a clip of which swiftly went viral. Her performances during the Euros inspired French journalist Julien Laurens to hail her as “the best player in the world”, an accolade that will place renewed pressure on her to stamp her authority on the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this summer. Walsh, now 26, abandoned youthful passions for badminton and cricket to commit to football, emerging from Blackburn Rovers’ youth system before transferring to her beloved City in 2014, where she made 118 appearances and became known to the club’s Oasis-besotted fans as “WonderWalsh” in tribute to her dependable presence. Former teammate Jill Scott, incidentally, has said her nickname among the Lionesses is “Sat Nav Foot” for the extraordinary precision of her passing. For England, Walsh has effortlessly succeeded Fara Williams in central midfield, having been handed the captain’s armband in just her seventh outing for the Lionesses, aged 21, and is no doubt the first name on Sarina Wiegman’s team sheet these days. Read More How to watch England vs Haiti: TV channel and start time for Women’s World Cup opener Women’s football world rankings: Who could take No 1 at the World Cup? FIFA Women’s World Cup fixtures and full schedule
2023-07-22 18:17
Georgia Stanway: England’s Bundesliga superstar in profile
Georgia Stanway was one of England’s brightest stars at Euro 2022, her finest moment coming in the quarter-final against Spain when she blasted a long-range drive into the top corner early in extra-time to win the game and send the Lionesses roaring into the semis. Like international teammates Keira Walsh and Ella Toone, the girl from Barrow-in-Furness, now 24, progressed through the Blackburn Rovers youth set up before ending up at Manchester City, for whom she played 109 times between 2015 and 2022, scoring 39 goals and winning the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year award for the 2018/19 season. Like Walsh and Lucy Bronze, she has since left the Barclay’s Women’s Super League to test herself at one of the European superclubs – in their case Barcelona, in her’s Bayern Munich. Women’s World Cup LIVE: Latest updates as England face Haiti Winning the Frauen-Bundesliga in her debut season, the already reliably-cheery Stanway has since told The Guardian that the move has made her “so much more open”. “I went to a country where no one knew me and I could be whoever I wanted to be,” she said. “No one was going to judge me. I’ve developed so much. I was never the most sociable person but in a new environment I’ve wanted to go out for tea every night. In Germany, I’ve wanted to see people.” Stanway says the move to Bavaria has forced her to be more independent, seek help when necessary and emboldened her to become more of a leader on the pitch, although she admits that, like Walsh in Catalonia, she has struggled to learn the language. Read More How to watch England vs Haiti: TV channel and start time for Women’s World Cup opener Women’s football world rankings: Who could take No 1 at the World Cup? FIFA Women’s World Cup fixtures and full schedule
2023-07-22 18:15
Lotte Wubben-Moy: England’s socially conscious centre-back in profile
Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy was a squad player with England’s triumphant Euro 2022 side but will be ready to step up to the first team at the World Cup should Sarina Wiegman call upon her, with a number of high-profile defensive injury concerns making that increasingly likely. The Londoner, born to Dutch and English parents in Bow, has been with the Gunners since she was a child except for a stint in US college soccer with the North Carolina Tar Heels between 2017 and 2020, where her roommate was Alessia Russo, with whom she has just been reunited at club level. By enrolling at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the pair were following in the footsteps of fellow Lioness Lucy Bronze, but there time in North America was sadly curtailed by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, which at least enabled her to return to North London. Now 24, Wubben-Moy has played 66 times for the Gunners over the course of her two stints with the club since 2015, scoring five times and counting England colleagues Leah Williamson and Beth Mead among her illustrious teammates. She was also captain of England’s successful under-17s side between 2015 and 2017 and has since picked up 10 caps for the senior side, a total she will be hoping to add to in Australia and New Zealand. However, perhaps Wubben-Moy’s biggest contribution to the Lionesses came immediately after the Euros, and off the pitch. While the Lionesses have become an important voice in asking for better for women in sport, and for inclusion in general, Wubben-Moy has been at the forefront of it. A player who understands her role in society, was her idea to demand equal access to sport for girl’s in school after the Euros final, leading to £600m of funding being pledged by the Government. Wubben-Moy’s affinity for Arsenal and the local area is well known – and her new deal with the club includes a commitment to support upcoming local community projects. The centre-back also spoke out against the hosting of the Qatar World Cup due to the country’s laws on homosexuality. Wubben-Moy is in a relationship with the professional cyclist and former Giro d’Italia winner Tao Geoghegan Hart. Read More Keira Walsh: England’s deep-lying playmaker in profile Millie Bright: England women’s football captain in profile England women World Cup fixtures and route to the final
2023-07-22 17:59
Niamh Charles: England and Chelsea full-back in profile
England and Chelsea right-back Niamh Charles, now 24, began her career at an early age on the Wirral in Merseyside. Charles spent her youth at the West Kirby Wasps and excelled as the only female on the pitch, playing against boys up to the age of 14. “Playing in boys’ teams growing up was all I knew so I can’t really compare it to anything else but I loved it,” she has said. “Some of the things that I had to learn as the boys got older and stronger and some of the things I had to adapt and grow about my game have helped me now in terms of the physical side of football. I wouldn’t change playing for boys’ teams because I really liked it.” After that success at junior level, Charles became a member of Liverpool’s FC Academy youth setup and found herself climbing the ranks. She made her Women’s Super League debut at just 16 and appeared 59 times for Liverpool, scoring 11 goals, but left the club following their relegation and signing for Chelsea in 2020, where manager Emma Hayes has hailed her as “tenacious” and a “willing competitor”. She has since won back-to-back doubles with the Blues and started in the Champions League Final against Barcelona in 2021, aged just 21. She has also represented England at under-17, under-19 and under-20 levels. In 2018 at the Under-20s World Cup, Charles made an impression as she helped the young Lionesses win bronze. That same year, she was voted “Rising Star” at the North-West Football Awards. Her debut for the senior side came in a friendly against France in 2021 and she has since added six more caps, a total she will be seeking to increase further in Australia and New Zealand this summer. Read More Keira Walsh: England’s deep-lying playmaker in profile Millie Bright: England women’s football captain in profile England women World Cup fixtures and route to the final
2023-07-22 17:54
F1 Hungarian Grand Prix LIVE: Qualifying updates and FP3 lap times from Budapest
The Formula 1 paddock returns to Budapest this weekend for the Hungarian Grand Prix at the popular Hungaroring circuit. Max Verstappen is looking for a seventh grand prix victory in a row at a track where he won last year from 10th on the grid. The Dutchman is cruising to a third world championship this season, currently holding a 99-point to Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez in second. EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Daniel Ricciardo is back – and this time he wants to go out on top Yet the biggest talking point this weekend is Daniel Ricciardo’s return to the grid with AlphaTauri. The Australian, dropped by McLaren last year, replaces Nyck de Vries for the remainder of this season and starts at a track where he claimed his second F1 victory in 2014. Lando Norris will be hoping to back up his strong performance for McLaren at Silverstone two weeks ago, a race where Lewis Hamilton finished third for Mercedes. Hamilton is an eight-time winner in Hungary. On Friday, Charles Leclerc was quickest in second practice after Sergio Perez crashed in first practice. Follow live updates from the Hungarian GP with The Independent Read More Lewis Hamilton reacts to Nyck de Vries axing: ‘That’s how Red Bull work’ Daniel Ricciardo is back - and this time he wants to go out on top Nyck de Vries breaks silence after AlphaTauri exit
2023-07-22 17:53
Kylian Mbappe decides next move amid increasing Saudi Arabia interest
PSG are looking to sell Kylian Mbappe this transfer window and he is the subject of serious interest from the Saudi Pro League, but he has his heart set on a move to Real Madrid.
2023-07-22 17:25
UFC London 2023 card: Aspinall vs Tybura and all Fight Night bouts this weekend
The UFC is back in London this weekend, as heavyweights Tom Aspinall and Marcin Tybura clash in the main event at the O2 Arena. Aspinall is no stranger to a main event at the O2, having taken part in two in 2022. In the first, the Wigan fighter submitted Alexander Volkov in Round 1, but the latter saw Aspinall sustain a serious knee injury – just seconds into his clash with Curtis Blaydes. Aspinall, 30, has not fought since, but he returns to the Octagon on Saturday to face Poland’s Tybura, who is targeting a third straight win. In the co-main event, Liverpool’s Molly McCann takes on Julija Stoliarenko in a flyweight bout, as the British favourite aims to get back to winning ways. Here’s all you need to know. When is it? The prelims are set to begin at 5pm BST on Saturday 22 July (9am PT, 11am CT, 12pm ET), with the main card then due to begin at 8pm BST (12pm PT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET). How can I watch it? The card will air live on BT Sport in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass. Where can I buy tickets? AXS is the official ticket provider for UFC London. At the time of writing (Monday 17 July), there are still numerous seats available in the vast majority of sections of the O2 Arena. At the time of writing, the cheapest remaining tickets cost £101.25, are situated in the upper tier, and must be bought in pairs. Meanwhile, the most expensive tickets are in the front row, cost £1607.66, and have very limited availability. Odds Aspinall – 1/5; Tybura – 7/2 McCann – 7/20; Stoliarenko – 43/20 Via Betway. Full card (subject to change) Main card Tom Aspinall vs Marcin Tybura (heavyweight) Molly McCann vs Julija Stoliarenko (women’s flyweight) Nathaniel Wood vs Andre Fili (featherweight) Paul Craig vs Andre Muniz (middleweight) Jai Herbert vs Fares Ziam (lightweight) Lerone Murphy vs Josh Culibao (featherweight) Prelims Davey Grant vs Daniel Marcos (bantamweight) Danny Roberts vs Jonny Parsons (welterweight) Marc Diakiese vs Joel Alvarez (lightweight) Mick Parkin vs Jamal Pogues (heavyweight) Makhmud Muradov vs Bryan Barberena (middleweight) Ketlen Vieira vs Pannie Kianzad (women’s bantamweight) Chris Duncan vs Yanal Ashmouz (lightweight) Shauna Bannon vs Bruna Brasil (women’s strawweight) Jafel Filho vs Daniel Barez (flyweight) Read More Why Fury vs Ngannou may tarnish the Gypsy King’s legacy forever UFC champion Jamahal Hill vacates title after suffering ankle injury UFC schedule 2023: Every major fight happening this year What time does UFC London start in UK and US tonight? Where to buy UFC London tickets ahead of Aspinall vs Tybura tonight UFC London card in full as Tom Aspinall fights Marcin Tybura tonight
2023-07-22 17:24
Charting the Global Economy: China’s Recovery Loses Momentum
Sign up for the New Economy Daily newsletter, follow us @economics and subscribe to our podcast. China’s economy
2023-07-22 17:24
UFC London 2023 tickets: Where to buy ahead of Fight Night this weekend
The UFC returns to London’s O2 Arena this weekend, as Tom Aspinall fights Marcin Tybura in a heavyweight main event. Wigan’s Aspinall headlined back-to-back UFC London cards in 2022, winning the first of those but suffering a serious knee injury in the second. Aspinall, 30, has not fought since, but he will resume his bid for a title shot when he takes on Poland’s Tybura this weekend. While Aspinall’s record stands at 12-3, with all of his wins having come via finishes in the first two rounds, Tybura, 37, has a record of 24-7 and is seeking a third straight win. Here’s all you need to know. When is it? The prelims are set to begin at 5pm BST on Saturday 22 July (9am PT, 11am CT, 12pm ET), with the main card then due to begin at 8pm BST (12pm PT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET). How can I watch it? The card will air live on BT Sport in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass. Where can I buy tickets? AXS is the official ticket provider for UFC London. At the time of writing (Monday 17 July), there are still numerous seats available in the vast majority of sections of the O2 Arena. At the time of writing, the cheapest remaining tickets cost £101.25, are situated in the upper tier, and must be bought in pairs. Meanwhile, the most expensive tickets are in the front row, cost £1607.66, and have very limited availability. Odds Aspinall – 1/5; Tybura – 7/2 McCann – 7/20; Stoliarenko – 43/20 Via Betway. Full card (subject to change) Main card Tom Aspinall vs Marcin Tybura (heavyweight) Molly McCann vs Julija Stoliarenko (women’s flyweight) Nathaniel Wood vs Andre Fili (featherweight) Paul Craig vs Andre Muniz (middleweight) Jai Herbert vs Fares Ziam (lightweight) Lerone Murphy vs Josh Culibao (featherweight) Prelims Davey Grant vs Daniel Marcos (bantamweight) Danny Roberts vs Jonny Parsons (welterweight) Marc Diakiese vs Joel Alvarez (lightweight) Mick Parkin vs Jamal Pogues (heavyweight) Makhmud Muradov vs Bryan Barberena (middleweight) Ketlen Vieira vs Pannie Kianzad (women’s bantamweight) Chris Duncan vs Yanal Ashmouz (lightweight) Shauna Bannon vs Bruna Brasil (women’s strawweight) Jafel Filho vs Daniel Barez (flyweight) Read More Why Fury vs Ngannou may tarnish the Gypsy King’s legacy forever UFC champion Jamahal Hill vacates title after suffering ankle injury UFC schedule 2023: Every major fight happening this year What time does UFC London start in UK and US tonight? Where to buy UFC London tickets ahead of Aspinall vs Tybura tonight UFC London card in full as Tom Aspinall fights Marcin Tybura tonight
2023-07-22 17:22
Public pools are disappearing across America
"If the public pool isn't available and open, you don't swim."
2023-07-22 17:19
Malaysia Cancels Music Festival After Band Members Kiss on Stage
Malaysia called off a music festival in Kuala Lumpur after male members of a British indie band kissed
2023-07-22 16:50
