Category: 6. Sports

  • Lucy Bronze embodies England’s fighting spirit with third consecutive major final

    Lucy Bronze embodies England’s fighting spirit with third consecutive major final

    The Chelsea FC star exemplified her role in the Lionesses with a gutsy performance in the quarter-final victory against Sweden.

    Bronze’s normal-time goal kickstarted the comeback in Zürich, going on to thump her spot kick home in the penalty shootout at a crucial moment in the evening. Her refusal to fold rubbed off on the rest of the Lionesses, who have gone on to reach a second straight EUROs final in Basel.

    “It’s hard to stay at the top in international football,” Bronze explained, “but this team just keeps fighting until the end. I feel like we don’t have anything to prove because we’ve been there, we’ve done it many, many times, and it’s just a fact that the game’s getting better and international football’s not as easy as it used to be.

    “Everybody’s fighting and everybody wants to win, and everybody feels like they can win. We’re just showing that we’ve got fighters in this team and that’s what you need in a tournament.”

    England take on Spain in the EURO 2025 final on Sunday at St. Jakob-Park, the biggest football stadium in Switzerland and home of Swiss men’s league champions FC Basel.

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  • England v India: Root becomes second-highest run scorer ever, fourth Test, day three – as it happened | England v India 2025

    England v India: Root becomes second-highest run scorer ever, fourth Test, day three – as it happened | England v India 2025

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  • Pep Guardiola delivered damning verdict about Arsenal’s signing Viktor Gyokeres

    Pep Guardiola has already given a damning verdict on Arsenal’s new signing Viktor Gyokeres and it speaks volumes about what fans should expect.

    Gyokeres is due to arrive in London on Friday to complete a £63.8m move from Sporting CP, ending Arsenal’s long wait for a proper striker.

    After signing for Sporting from Coventry for €20m (£17.5m) in 2023, the Swede went on to score an astonishing 97 goals in 102 games.

    While it has been clear earlier that he would leave this summer, it has developed into a saga.

    Although he has a €100m (£85m) release clause written into his contract, he believed he had a gentleman’s agreement to leave for €60m (£51 million), plus €10m (£8m) in add-ons.

    But Sporting CP President Frederico Varandas denied the existence of such an agreement.

    In response, Gyokeres did not report for pre-season training and told executives he would not play for the club again and he is now set to get his move to the Gunners.

    Viktor Gyokeres. Image: Eurasia Sport Images / Contributor via Getty

    Viktor Gyokeres. Image: Eurasia Sport Images / Contributor via Getty

    What did Pep Guardiola say?

    Guardiola has first hand evidence of what Gyokeres is capable of doing ahead against English teams.

    Back in November, Gyokeres scored a hat-trick as Sporting CP defeated Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League league phase.

    Guardiola said: ““We have Erling Haaland, the best striker in the world.

    “Gyokeres is a very important player for them but he has been with [Ruben] Amorim for a long time, you can see the patterns, the joy.”

    Guardiola’s words serve as a warning to Arsenal fans that their new striker may need to be given time to adapt.

    Given Arteta is an astute technician, it may not be a quick switch.

    Viktor Gyokeres. Image: Eurasia Sport Images / Contributor via Getty

    Viktor Gyokeres. Image: Eurasia Sport Images / Contributor via Getty

    What will Viktor Gyokeres offer Arsenal?

    Most importantly he should bring goals and lots of them.

    Although the Portuguese league is an easier division than the Premier League, Gyokeres has an incredible ability to score goals.

    He is a powerful athlete, combining pace and power, but it remains to be seen how that translates to the more physical Premier League.

    Importantly he brings a different type of option to Arsenal’s front line and Kai Havertz, who has been Arteta’s first choice striker.

    While the German is more comfortable dropping into midfield and linking play, Gyokeres is at his best on transition.

    He is also more of a poacher than Havertz, who is not renowned for his finishing ability.

    But if Arsenal want to see Gyokeres at his devastating best, then it is going to require some tactical tweaks from Arteta.

    If the coach gets it right, then they have one of Europe’s best strikers.

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  • England and Spain renew World Cup final duel, race for the Ballon D’Or & more

    England and Spain renew World Cup final duel, race for the Ballon D’Or & more

    González has been on fire with four goals in five appearances, while Putellas trails on three goals but with four assists, more than any player at the tournament. If players are tied, the golden boot is awarded to the player with more assists.

    UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 final – a key date for the Ballon D’Or battle?

    Teams will battle it out for national pride and glory, though in the individual realm, whoever is crowned European champions will certainly have an impact on the eventual victor of the Ballon D’Or Féminin.

    Spain’s Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí have both won the award for the best women’s player in the world twice, while Lucy Bronze and Beth Mead of England are former runners-up in the final results.

    The 2025 Ballon D’Or awards ceremony will take place in Paris on 22 September. Major trophies may be as crucial as individual performances in deciding the winner, leaving a lot resting on the outcome of the EURO 2025 final this Sunday.

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  • Pakistan hopes to kick off new era

    Pakistan hopes to kick off new era

    Abu Bakar Yasin and Srosh Khan

    BBC Newsbeat

    Getty Images The Pakistan women's team posing for a group photo. 10 of the women are in their football kit, which is a white top with black bottoms. The goalkeeper is wearing a light blue kit. Most of them are smiling and you can see them on the football pitch with the stadium in the background. Getty Images

    The Pakistan women’s team competed in the SAFF Women’s Championship 2024 in Nepal

    Ask one of the 255 million people in Pakistan to name their favourite sport, and most will say cricket.

    Not many will say football, and even fewer will say women’s football.

    But that’s all about to change, according to new Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Syed Mohsin Gilani.

    “We want to promote mass participation of girls in football,” he says.

    With the PFF previously suspended by governing body Fifa, the country’s national women’s team had been quiet on the world stage, playing only three games in the past two years.

    Now those hoping to drive the game forward in Pakistan have been looking further afield to find talented players to boost its profile, such as defender Layla Banaras.

    The former Birmingham City player tells BBC Newsbeat that Pakistan’s football setup “isn’t the best at the moment”.

    “But hopefully that’s going to change,” she says.

    Getty Images Layla in her Birmingham City football kit which is blue. She's looking at yellow colour ball that is head height. In the background you can see her fellow footballers. Getty Images

    Layla, 19, was at Birmingham City since the age of 8 and made her First Team debut against Huddersfield Town in 2023

    Layla made history when, aged 16, she became the first-ever South Asian woman to play for Birmingham City, something that she hopes can inspire others.

    “You don’t really see many players in the WSL [Women’s Super League] from a South Asian heritage,” she says.

    “I feel like I want to be the person that people can see and show others that you can play football.”

    Layla is currently a free agent after leaving the Blues at the end of last season, and recently made her debut for the Pakistan women’s national team.

    She played in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, where the side finished as runners-up.

    “Pakistan contacted me a couple years ago but I felt like it wasn’t the right time and I felt like this was the right time,” she says.

    “It was an amazing experience and I’d do it all over again.”

    She is half-Pakistani, so when it came to choosing between England or Pakistan she says “it wasn’t even a thought, I’m proud of where I’m from”.

    “It wasn’t really a debate,” she says.

    Getty Images Mariam is smiling with a banana in her hand. She has a navy winter jacket on. In the background you can see a football pitch.Getty Images

    Mariam left West Brom and is currently a free agent

    Joining the squad alongside her is 21-year-old Mariam Mahmood, a former West Bromwich player.

    “When they called me up, I was really happy,” she says.

    “To know they know about me from the other side of the world is crazy.”

    Mariam didn’t have the same experience as Layla from her extended family when she decided to pursue football.

    “They were just like: ‘Pakistani girls don’t play football, they don’t do sport and that it’s not a career path’.

    “But, you can’t let culture hold you back, you have to follow your heart,” she says.

    FIFA Syed Mohsin Gilani is on the left in a blue shirt and navy blazer. Infantino is on the right with a suit on and red shawl around his neck. Both of them are holding a football which is in the middle of them. It has blue and red wavy lines going through. In the back is a board with the word FIFA written on it.FIFA

    PFF president Syed Mohsin Gilani met Fifa president Gianni Infantino after several suspensions for Pakistan

    Layla and Mariam join four other diaspora players in the national side, and PFF present Syed Mohsin Gilani is happy to have them.

    “Anybody who’s eligible for Pakistan should play for Pakistan, it’s doesn’t matter where you live or where you’re from,” he tells Newsbeat.

    The battle now will be to focus on developing players at home.

    “We want to have more women’s football clubs and we are setting a functioning women’s football department in the federation,” says president Gilani.

    “We want to take it all over the country.”

    The federation also plans to launch new competitions aimed at women and girls, he says.

    Layla says the PFF will need to do a lot of work to raise awareness and get young girls into football.

    “It needs to be in schools, it needs to be in the local communities and there needs to be access to it,” she says.

    She also wants to see more girls from a South Asian Muslim background coming through “into the academies, into the systems and into Pakistan’s football team”.

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  • A reflective look back at how Paris 2024 transformed sustainability, culture, gender equality, and urban venues

    A reflective look back at how Paris 2024 transformed sustainability, culture, gender equality, and urban venues

    Sustainability goals reached for Paris 2024

    One of the key parts of the strategy for Paris 2024 was environmental strategy, as part of its commitment to Olympic Agenda 2020.

    Compared to the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games, Paris 2024’s carbon footprint was halved, taking into account all carbon emissions, direct and indirect, including spectator travel.

    The Games’ target was 1.75 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and the final reported figure was 1.59 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The average for both 2012 and 2016 was 3.5 million.

    This was achieved in large part by relying on existing or temporary infrastructure, with only the Olympic Aquatics Centre as well as the Olympic Village and Media Village being built specifically for Paris 2024. The Olympic Village has since been transformed into a fully accessible neighbourhood in Seine-Saint-Denis where 6,000 residents can live and will be opened at the end of August 2025.

    Paris 2024 had an environmentally friendly circular model, which saw the use of temporary infrastructure, furniture, uniforms, equipment, et cetera.

    Some 90 per cent of the items used for the Games, including sports equipment, uniforms, and other symbolic objects, were returned to partners and suppliers to be reused. The other 10 per cent were donated to sports clubs and associations or resold at auctions.

    In addition, 100 per cent of the energy used was from renewable sources.

    • Read more about Paris 2024’s sustainability report here.

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  • Why Xavi’s Application to Become Manager of Shock Team Was Rejected

    Why Xavi’s Application to Become Manager of Shock Team Was Rejected

    Former Barcelona central midfielder and boss Xavi Hernandez recently applied for the India National Team manager role – and the reason why the 45-year-old Spaniard was rejected by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has now been revealed.

    Ever since leaving his boyhood club in the summer of 2024, there have been murmurs of the midfielder-turned-boss returning to management. Manchester United, pre-Ruben Amorim, were among those interested in taking on his services in the dugout.

    Though, at the time of writing, Xavi – widely regarded as one of the best passers in the history of football – is still out of work. Reports have claimed that he has been busy submitting applications but, that said, India have rejected him… but why is that?

    2:55

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    Why Xavi’s Application to India National Team Was Rejected

    The ex-midfielder – alongside Harry Kewell – was among a long list of candidates

    AIFF’s technical committee, per The Times of India, were surprised – in fact, they were in utter disbelief – over the long list of candidates for the India coaching job. Stephen Constatine, Harry Kewell and Steve Kean were all reportedly keen.

    But the Barcelona legend, who racked up in excess of 700 appearances for the Spanish heavyweights, was marked in green – but why did he not get the call-up by AIFF? And no, it’s not because he left the contact number column blank.

    The idea of Xavi taking charge of the Indian men’s national team may sound far-fetched – but following the departure of Manolo Marquez earlier in July, his name popped up in conversations. “It’s correct that Xavi’s name was there,” AIFF team director Subrata Paul confirmed in the report. “The application was emailed to the AIFF.”

    However, according to The Times of India’s sources, their technical committee did not consider the ex-engine room operator for the final shortlist because he would be too much of a financial burden to the national team, a member of the technical committee revealed.

    “Even if Xavi was genuinely interested in Indian football and could be convinced to take up the job, we would need a lot of money.”

    Interestingly, in a recent interview with The Athletic, Xavi admitted that he “sometimes (follows) the Indian League because many Spanish coaches are there”. Sergio Lobera, Antonio Lopez, Josep Gombau and Juan Ferrando are just a few of those.

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    Xavi, before taking charge of Barcelona, managed Qatari outfit Al-Sadd between July 2019 and November 2021 after retiring from his playing career just before the turn of the decade. The transition from player to manager was seamless.

    But his most notable managerial spell, of course, was in his homeland for La Blaugrana. In the 2022/23 campaign, he led the footballing giants to a domestic double: they finished ten points ahead of Real Madrid in La Liga and beat their fierce rivals 3-1 in the final of the Supercopa de Espana.

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  • Live performance of “Imagine” from the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony released on one-year anniversary of the Games

    Live performance of “Imagine” from the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony released on one-year anniversary of the Games

    At the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, Korean artists Ha Hyun-woo of Guckkasten, Ahn Ji-young of Bolbbalgan4, Jeon In-kwon of Deulgukhwa and soloist Lee Eun-mi each sang verses of the song; while global artists Angélique Kidjo, Alejandro Sanz, John Legend, Keith Urban and the Suginami Children’s Choir collaborated on a version for the Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony.

    Speaking just days before his death in 1980, Lennon himself made a reference to the song’s link to the values of Olympism, noting: “We’re not the first to say ‘Imagine No Countries’ or ‘Give Peace a Chance’, but we’re carrying that torch, like the Olympic torch, passing it hand to hand, to each other, to each country, to each generation. And that’s our job.”

    Speaking ahead of the song’s release, Patrick Stalder, Chief Ceremony Officer at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said: “Juliette Armanet and Sofiane Pamart’s powerful rendition on the River Seine for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was a breathtaking continuation of this tradition – poetic, emotional and visually iconic. As we prepare for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, we look forward to seeing how this timeless anthem will once again unite audiences and celebrate the shared values of peace, hope and solidarity at the heart of the Olympic Games.”

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  • Formula E becomes first sport certified by BSI’s Net Zero pathway

    Formula E becomes first sport certified by BSI’s Net Zero pathway

    Following an independent, rigorous and successful audit, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has officially achieved BSI’s (British Standards Institution) Net Zero Pathway certification since Season 9 (2022/23), confirming it has robust, science-based emissions reduction targets in place.

    READ MORE: How Formula E is leading the sustainability charge

    This is supported by a verified carbon footprint and a management system aligned with the ISO Net Zero Guidelines (IWA 42:2022), the globally recognised framework for credible net zero strategies.

    Raising the Bar for Climate Credibility in Sport

    Unlike many ‘net zero’ claims that rely heavily on offsets alone, the BSI Net Zero Pathway goes beyond generic carbon pledges by verifying that an organisation’s carbon footprint data, reduction plans and methodologies meet the highest international benchmarks.

    The standard also keeps the Championship ahead of tightening regulatory requirements like the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), ensuring sponsors, teams, partners and fans can trust the credibility of its climate and sustainability claims.

    The latest in BSI’s suite of standards prioritises real, measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions across operations and value chains. Certification is only awarded to organisations such as Formula E that demonstrate transparent, standards-based decarbonisation plans, annual audits, and verified progress toward short-, mid- and long-term targets.

    BSI is one of the world’s most respected independent standards organisations, helping shape, develop and assess best practice and gold-standard frameworks to ensure that claims like working towards ‘net zero’ emissions are credible, consistent and trusted worldwide.

    The BSI Pathway aligns with ISO 14064-1 (for greenhouse gas quantification and reporting) and the ISO Net Zero Guidelines (IWA 42), the first global guidelines defining what credible net zero means in practice.

    Together, these frameworks help organisations avoid the risks of greenwashing, meet growing investor, regulatory and consumer expectations, and demonstrate that climate commitments are backed by clear evidence, third-party scrutiny and meaningful reduction actions.

    A New Finish Line: Pathway to Net Zero

    The sport’s evolved commitment to credible net zero reflects these new and enhanced global standards, with a much heavier focus on a science-based carbon reduction process and pathway towards continually removing emissions, rather than a status or claim of ‘net zero’ that relies heavily on carbon offsets.

    Delivering Verified Climate Action

    • By joining the BSI Net Zero Pathway, Formula E has committed to: Cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% and Scope 3 emissions by 27.5% by 2030 (vs Season 5, 2018–19 baseline)
    • Prioritizing emissions reductions across operations, from maximising renewable electricity, smarter freight logistics and use of sustainable fuels, to waste reduction and sustainable food and fan experiences at every race
    • Achieving credible net zero emissions ideally by 2040 and no later than 2050, in line with the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework


    Julia Pallé, VP Sustainability at Formula E, said:
    “Since day one, Formula E has pushed the boundaries of what sport can stands for showing that elite motor racing and sustainability can thrive together. Recently, however, the goalposts have changed. Organisations have been making pledges, but without meaningful progress. Standards needed to reflect this, so that genuine carbon reduction is prioritised over lofty claims that are not backed up by credible, audited action.

    “Becoming the first sport certified on the BSI Net Zero Pathway demonstrates that our climate action isn’t just a promise – it’s a robust, science-backed and data-led strategy, verified by the world’s leading standards body.

    “Our mission is simple: to continually reduce our impact on the environment, while supporting our ecosystem and the communities in which we race. This new standard enables us to race with pride and purpose, knowing that our scrutiny is of the highest level, is class-leading, transparent and can be trusted by all.”

    Matt Page, Senior Vice President, Assurance Services, EMEA, BSI, said: “We are at a critical point in our global journey toward net zero, and we all have a part to play. As the first motorsport to achieve Net Zero Pathway certification, Formula E is setting a new benchmark for the industry.

    “This isn’t just recognition of technical achievement; it’s a powerful signal that when sustainability is underpinned by trusted standards and independent assurance, it becomes more than a goal. It becomes a system for lasting, credible change.

    “Formula E has the opportunity to be not only inspirational on the track but also sustainable in the way it is delivered. Formula E deserves praise for setting an example, inspiring fans, driving real change, and creating a rich legacy that can encourage action across the wider sporting arena.”

    SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2025 Marvel Fantastic Four London E-Prix Rounds 15 & 16

    Free Practice 1: 16:00 local (15:00 UTC), Friday 25 July
    Free Practice 2: 10:00, (09:00 UTC) Saturday 26 July
    Qualifying: 12:20 (11:20 UTC), Saturday 26 July
    Round 13: 17:00 (16:00 UTC), Saturday 26 July

    Free Practice 3: 10:00, (09:00 UTC) Sunday 27 July
    Qualifying: 12:20 (11:20 UTC), Sunday 27 July
    Round 14: 17:00 (16:00 UTC), Sunday 27 July

    Find out more

    CALENDAR: Sync the dates and don’t miss a lap of Season 11

    WATCH: Find out where to watch every Formula E race via stream or on TV in your country

    TICKETS: Secure your grandstand seats and buy Formula E race tickets

    SCHEDULE: Here’s every race of the 2024/25 Formula E season

    HIGHLIGHTS: Catch up with every race from all 10 seasons of Formula E IN FULL

    PREDICTOR: Get involved, predict race results and win exclusive prizes

    HOSPITALITY: Experience Formula E and world class motorsport as a VIP

    FOLLOW: Download the Formula E App on iOS or Android

     

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  • Ikee Rikako zeroes in on LA28 post-leukemia diagnosis: “Not trying to beat myself from the past anymore”

    Ikee Rikako zeroes in on LA28 post-leukemia diagnosis: “Not trying to beat myself from the past anymore”

    Ikee Rikako: “My focus is on overcoming who I am today”

    Ikee will be 28 when LA rolls around. After beating leukemia and defying all odds to miraculously qualify for Tokyo 2020, she had high hopes for herself for Paris 2024 with a proper run-up to the Games.

    Things did not turn out the way Ikee had expected. In the only individual race of the meet, the 100m butterfly, her signature race, she didn’t make it past the semi-finals with the 12th fastest time overall.

    Despite the results, Ikee was proud she had qualified for a third successive Olympics because at one point, she was facing the darkest chapter of her life.

    Yet at the same time, Ikee was humbled by a hard dose of reality, the reality that she may no longer be the swimmer she once was prior to her illness, the version that swept to six titles at the 2018 Asian Games and was named MVP.

    “I’m not trying to beat myself from the past anymore,” she said. “The reality is, it’s all but impossible for me to do – so my focus is on overcoming who I am today.”

    “So I can’t sit here and say I’m that confident but I do always want to be a better version of who I am. I’d be super happy if I can record a new PB (at LA).

    “I was incredibly nervous in Paris. You know how some people say they feel like throwing up because they’re so nervous? That’s how I felt. It was suffocating, overwhelming.

    “I didn’t know what it was but pressure was all over me.”

    After Paris, Ikee tried taking it easy. But Ikee being Ikee, she soon found out taking it easy was not her thing. Ever the competitor, the fire in her belly catches too quickly.

    Then there was the inclusion of the 50m events for LA28. Ikee had always described herself as a sprinter and as fate would have it, her fourth and final Games just might be her best shot yet at an elusive Olympic medal.

    “I was taking it easy after the Olympics, thinking 2025 would be slow. But once I was back in the pool, I started to feel like I wanted to go all in again. I guess I just don’t know how to take it easy.

    “With the 50m races now in for Los Angeles, all the top swimmers will be eyeing it. I think the field will be deep and super competitive.

    “Both the 50m and 100m have always been important to me, but there have been few Japanese who have been competitive in the 50m. I’ve spent the last year or so working on my mind and body so that I can keep up with the best in the world at the distance.”

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