England's Lucy Bronze has lifted the lid on Sarina Wiegman's impeccable tactics from the Euro 2025 final win over Spain in July. The Lionesses came from a goal down to beat the World Cup holders on penalties in a dramatic match in Switzerland. Now, Chelsea ace Bronze has opened up on how Alessia Russo's all-important equaliser was planned to a tee by the boss.

• Bronze enhances England legend status

  The 33-year-old's glowing reputation improved further still after her starring role in the Lionesses' run to Euros glory this summer. She kick-started their fightback against Sweden with a goal in the quarter-finals of the competition, when they looked down and out, and scored the crucial spot-kick in the penalty shootout to send her side through.

  The former Barcelona player also used all of her experience, quality, and craft in the semi-final and final as England retained their Euros crown. Manager Wiegman once again collected the coach of the year award at this year's Ballon d'Or after winning another international trophy, and going by her tactical nous, something Bronze went into detail on, it is easy to see why.

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• Bronze explains England's Euro 2025 final equaliser

  She said on the podcast with Jill Scott and Karen Carney: "I loved the goal that we scored, and I didn't even touch the ball. If I'm a second six[with Keira Walsh], [Aitana] Bonmati and Alexia [Putellas] have to pick us up, and then Patri [Guijarro] has to pick up [Ella] Tooney and G[eorgia Stanway] because they don't pick up four very well. We watched it in other games that they leave Patri to run between them.

  "So I'm coming in, and Alexia thinks she's picked me up, so she doesn't have to pick up a midfielder behind her, then Bonmati is slow to Keira, Keira gets it, turns, and then Georgia's completely free because Patri's running between two players.

  "Georgia gets it, turns, Chloe [Kelly] crosses…and I was like, 'That was us!' I didn't touch the ball, but I just scored for England! That was literally what we were told to do, the tactics. That was my role. I did it so Keira and Georgia could play, and we scored – I couldn't believe it."

• Bronze shows her unreal grit for Lionesses

  After England won the Euros, defender Bronze revealed she had played the entire tournament with a fractured leg. 

  She said in late July: "I actually played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia, but no one knew. I just hurt my knee today on the other leg. That is why I got a lot of praise from the girls after the Sweden game because I have been in a lot of pain. But if that's what it takes to play for England, that's what I'll do – they know that. We inspire each other by playing through things like that, and it got us to the end, in the end."

  Wiegman was in awe of Bronze's "crazy mentality" after playing almost 600 minutes in the competition, with only Hannah Hampton, Keira Walsh, and Alex Greenwood on the pitch for longer. 

  She added: "She had some issues with her tibia so of course we tried to manage that. When you play 120 minutes you're not managing it are you? The whole team has a great mentality but she has a crazy mentality, it's unbelievable."

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  England return for Bronze may be out of reach

  The former Manchester City and Lyon full-back is yet to play for Chelsea this season due to injury, with the defending Women's Super League champions currently top of the table with three wins from three. 

  Incidentally, Blues manager Sonia Bompastor said on Bronze's condition earlier this month: "It's difficult for now to put a timeframe on Lucy's return, but she's doing well. She's in a good place mentally and physically, so hopefully she will come back soon. I think she's still some weeks away from a return on the pitch."

  The Lionesses are next in action for celebratory friendlies against Brazil and Australia on October 25 and 28, respectively. It may be a long shot for Bronze to be fit for then.

Aston Villa’s Premier League campaign gets underway on Saturday lunchtime, as they host Newcastle United at Villa Park. Unai Emery will be hoping for a positive start to the season against a side who have become a big rival in recent seasons, with the Magpies pipping the Villans to a Champions League spot.

It seems like just one new signing is all Villa will take into the game. Evann Guessand made the move to the West Midlands from OGC Nice for £30m, and aside from a backup goalkeeper and young centre-back Yasin Ozcan – who has since moved out on loan – they have been largely inactive this summer.

Yet, new rumours are swirling about more signings, and whilst they won’t be complete before the weekend, Emery will surely want them through the door soon.

Villa’s next targets

One of the names the Villans are linked with is Marco Asensio. The Spaniard, who was on loan at Villa Park last term, could return to the club in a deal worth just £13m this summer. However, it is not necessarily at an advanced stage.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to a report from Football Transfers, the Villans ‘have held talks’ with Premier League rivals Arsenal over the signing of versatile attacker Leandro Trossard. ‘Initial discussions’ took place earlier this week, with the power in Tossard’s hands ahead of a decision on his future.

Interestingly, Villa were keen on a move for the player in January, and whilst he was not for sale then, there is now a possibility of a move several months on.

As for a price for the forward, Arsenal could demand as much as £18m to sell him to their top-flight rivals.

Why Trossard would be a good signing

There is no doubt that adding an experienced player such as Trossard to the Villa squad would be a benefit to Emery. The Belgian is an established Premier League star who has had a huge impact in European football, too.

Last season, the 30-year-old had another important role to play for the Gunners, featuring 56 times across all competitions. He bagged ten goals and registered ten assists, with 16 of those goal involvements coming in the Premier League.

One of the standout features of Trossard’s game is his versatility. The Belgian forward can play right across the frontline, which Mikel Arteta relied on last term. He played on both flanks, as a number nine and as a second striker just off the centre-forward.

Even if Villa miss out on signing Asensio this summer, Emery might well find his new version of the Spaniard in Trossard. The former Real Madrid star played 21 times for the Villans last season, scoring eight times and assisting once.

One of the main similarities between him and Trossard is the versatility they offer. Last term, Asensio played on the right flank and as a number 10 for the Villans. He has also played on the left wing and even led the line at times in his career.

Their European pedigree is also impressive. Trossard has played far less in the Champions League than the four-time winner Asensio, with 23 appearances to his 73. However, with eight goal involvements and an average of one every 2.8 games, it is better than Asensio’s goal or assist every 3.6 games. The Spaniard has 20 in total to his name.

The stats from last season’s Champions League campaign further highlight just how deadly the players are in Europe. For example, Trossard created 1.1 chances and completed 18.7 passes in the opposition half last each game last season, compared to Asensio’s 0.7 chances created and 19.4 passes in the opposition half per 90 minutes.

Trossard vs Asensio – 24/25 UCL stats
Stat (per 90)	Trossard	Asensio
Goals and assists	0.6	1.1
Chances created	1.1	0.7
Passes completed (oppo half)	18.7	19.4
Take-ons completed	1.4	0.4
Duels won	3.2	2.8
Ball recoveries	2.9	1.4
Stats via Squawka

Described as an attacking “wizard” by journalist Charlie Haffenden, Trossard would bring cutting-edge, versatility and European pedigree to the Villa team.

In that sense, he is certainly similar to Asensio, who may not return to Villa Park. He could well become Emery’s new version of the PSG star.

For just £18m, this could be a bargain for Villa as they look to add to the quality of their squad next season.

Guessand will love him: Aston Villa lead race to sign "incredible" £22m ace

The dynamic international could be perfect for Aston Villa and Guessand…

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 13, 2025

Daniel Levy has brought an end to his 25-year stay at Tottenham with the announcement of his resignation as executive chairman on Thursday – huge news which came completely out of nowhere.

Since taking over from Sir Alan Sugar in 2000, Levy oversaw the transformation of Spurs from a largely mid-table side in the late 1990s to one of the Premier League’s ‘big six’, but his running of the club was also marred by protests from supporters over a lack of success on the field.

The Lilywhites are now one of Europe’s most valuable clubs — boasting a state-of-the-art new stadium and training complex — with Tottenham also the ninth highest revenue-generating side in world football, according to the Deloitte Money League.

Real Madrid

£1.2 billion

Man City

£727 million

PSG

£700 million

Man United

£668 million

Bayern Munich

£664 million

FC Barcelona

£659.5 million

Arsenal

£621.5 million

Liverpool

£620 million

Tottenham Hotspur

£533 million

Chelsea

£474 million

via Deloitte Money League

Off the pitch, Levy’s work deserves high praise, but just two major trophies in two and a half decades frustrated the fanbase.

The 63-year-old’s perceived lack of squad investment during his tenure also attracted fierce criticism, but ENIC’s decision to part company represents a “new era” for the north Londoners.

In the aftermath of Levy’s shock exit, questions are being asked about why this has happened now and so suddenly.

BBC journalist Sami Mokbel and other reliable media sources are reporting that the decision to part ways was ultimately taken out of Levy’s hands, with ENIC effectively pushing him out of the door.

Club insider Paul O’Keefe has also shared some intriguing bits of detail about the story.

ENIC plan "weakened" Daniel Levy's grip on Tottenham before resignation

Taking to X, Spurs in-the-know claims that ENIC’s plan to get properly involved — namely through Lewis’ kids Vivienne and Charlie — is said to have “weakened” Levy’s “vice-like grip” on Tottenham before he was forced out.

ENIC appear set for a more hands-on role in the wake of Levy’s departure, and in that sense, a new era certainly has begun at Tottenham.

Their controversial ownership hasn’t exactly been popular among Spurs supporters, but time will tell whether they manage to turn the tide when it comes to public perception.

For Levy, the ex-official and his family are still a beneficiary of ENIC, owning a near-30 per cent stake in the group, but his club involvement will now cease with immediate effect with no notice period (BBC).

Tottenham Hotspur are at the start of a new chapter, and Thomas Frank knows he must not only emulate his predecessor Ange Postecoglou in winning silverware at the Lilywhites helm but make significant gains in the Premier League too.

Last season’s Europa League champions juxtaposed their triumph with a dismal 17th-place finish in the league, and have thus completed a series of signings across the summer to compete in the Champions League and domestically too.

But while the likes of Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus add much to Tottenham’s attacking fluency, Frank remains eager to sign a centre-forward before the window slams shut.

Spurs in late bid for new striker

According to Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham have almost agreed personal terms with Randal Kolo Muani, who is being targeted on a loan deal with an option to buy.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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Kolo Muani, 26, had been expected to sign for Juventus this month before issues between Paris Saint-Germain and the Italians ground that one to a halt, thus opening the door for Spurs.

Tottenham previously went in for the France international in January, but Juventus one the race there. It’s understood he would cost in excess of £50m to take away from Paris on a permanent basis.

What Kolo Muani would bring to Spurs

Kolo Muani is not just a dangerous presence in the final third but a high-speed and mobile forward, recognised by Les Bleus teammate Kylian Mbappe for his “complete” qualities.

His half-season spent with Juventus led to ten goals and three assists across 22 games, ending what had turned out to be a miserable 18 months with PSG, leaving Eintracht Frankfurt for the Ligue 1 giants in September 2023 for a £76m fee.

But class is permanent, and his reliable nature and link-up ability at number nine suggests he could be Frank’s new version of Yoane Wissa, who is set to join Newcastle United from Brentford for £55m.

Having scored 19 goals in the Premier League last season, Wissa, 28, proved his worth and then some, and it must be exciting for Kolo Muani to consider how Frank could now raise the level of his own game.

Kolo Muani vs Wissa (past 365 days)

Stats (per 90)

Kolo Muani

Wissa

Goals scored

0.48

0.57

Assists

0.11

0.10

Shots taken

2.45

2.76

Touches (att pen)

6.28

4.95

Shot-creating actions

2.34

1.99

Pass completion

70.2%

75.5%

Progressive passes

1.49

2.05

Progressive carries

1.54

1.82

Successful take-ons

1.54

0.44

Ball recoveries

2.24

2.42

Tackles + interceptions

1.28

0.94

Data via FBref

Wissa might be a more clinical goalscorer at this point in time, but Kolo Muani has more variation to his game, and indeed demonstrated in Turin his potential to score clinically, bagging eight Serie A goals across only 13 matches.

Skilful and tenacious, the Frenchman would be a fantastic addition for the Londoners, who already have solid options in the final third, but perhaps need that extra something.

Wissa has developed into a clinical shooter under Howe’s wing, and given Kolo Muani has a higher bar already, there’s no telling how high he will soar if welcomed to the spearhead of an exciting Tottenham project.

Related He's a Kudus upgrade: Spurs make enquiry for "Dele-esque" £80m talent

Tottenham remain active in the transfer market as the window reaches the eleventh hour.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Sep 1, 2025

Harsh Dubey starred with bat and ball, while Karun Nair continued his glorious run from the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy as Vidarbha beat Tamil Nadu by 198 runs. Up next in the semi-finals are Mumbai, who they will host at home in Nagpur by virtue of progressing through to the knockouts as the team with most points in the group stages.Dubey, the season’s highest wicket-taker with 55 scalps coming into the game, added three more second-innings wickets on Tuesday, the fourth day of the quarter-finals, as Tamil Nadu were bowled out for 202 chasing 401. Long before he came on to bowl in the second innings, Dubey had already left his mark on the game, hitting two half-centuries, which also took him past the 400-run mark.Yet for all those efforts, it was Nair who was named player of the match for his 122 that set up the game for Vidarbha on the first day. Nair, who topped the charts with 779 runs, including five centuries, in the 50-over competition, put together a vital 98-run stand with Danish Malewar as Vidarbha recovered from 44 for 3. He then put on 105 with Dubey to help give impetus to their innings as they made 353.Related

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Tamil Nadu responded with a shaky start, slumping to 38 for 4 courtesy a fine opening spell from seamer Aditya Thakare who finished with a five-for. Andre Siddarth and Pradosh Ranjan Paul briefly revived the innings, hitting 65 and 48 respectively, but TN conceded ground as they were bowled out for just 225.Vidarbha’s top-order floundered in the second innings, but the cushion of a 128-run lead worked to their advantage. Yash Rathod hit a superb 112 and formed a bulk of their 272 in Dubey’s company; the two putting on 120 for the sixth wicket.TN had more than five sessions to score the runs they needed to pull off a miracle, but kept losing wickets in a heap. They were reduced to 45 for 5 at one stage when seamer Nachiket Bhute ran through the top order. Paul and Sonu Yadav hit fifties but they were simply delaying the inevitable. B Sai Sudharsan, who made a comeback from a surgery for sports hernia, managed just 7 and 2 in his two innings.Vidarbha have now won seven out of their eight games outright this season as they run into the defending champions Mumbai, who are fresh off a sensational win over Haryana in Kolkata.

Dean Huijsen’s father has described his son’s Juventus exit as a “dark day” and hit out at Thiago Motta for his “brutal” treatment of the defender. The 20-year-old was sold to Bournemouth for €15 million in 2024, before Real Madrid triggered his release clause this summer leaving Juve fans furious over the loss of one of their brightest academy products.

Juventus shock sale still causing backlash

Huijsen’s shock departure from Juventus continues to spark controversy. The highly rated centre-back, signed from Malaga at 16 and tipped to become one of the world’s best defenders, was sold to Bournemouth for just €15m (£13m/$16m) plus bonuses. Madrid then activated his release clause, paying €60m (£50m/$66m) to bring him to Spain, where he has already broken into Xabi Alonso’s first-team plans.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHuijsen’s father slams Motta’s ‘brutal’ treatment

In an interview with , Huijsen’s father and agent, Donald, revealed the family’s disbelief at the way Juventus handled the situation, saying: "It was a real shock. We couldn't believe it, we were shocked. It was bad, too bad. A dark day. Terrible. A bolt from the blue. But why? We wondered, unable to understand, the reasons for the forced separation."

He added: "Dean was wonderful in Turin, he speaks excellent Italian, he was appreciated and well-liked by everyone. From the staff to his teammates, from the entire Juventus world to the warehouseman. Giuntoli was categorical and Motta was brutal when they told him he would no longer be part of the project and that he had to leave, that he was no longer allowed to train with the first team."  

Juve’s loss is Madrid’s big gain

The Spaniard’s move has left Juventus fans and insiders bitter. Signed for just €470,000, he had already impressed in his Serie A debut against AC Milan under Massimiliano Allegri. But with Cristiano Giuntoli reshaping the squad under then new coach Motta, the defender was pushed out and sold cheaply to the Cherries. Los Blancos' swoop this summer has intensified criticism of Juve’s decision, especially as Huijsen has already shown flashes of quality at the Club World Cup.

It has been speculated that the sale had a role in Giuntoli's sacking at Juve, to which Huijsen said: "He and Motta aren't exactly among my best friends…"

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Huijsen at Real Madrid

After a shaky showing in Madrid’s 5-2 defeat to rivals Atletico, Huijsen will aim to bounce back when Alonso’s side face Kairat Almaty in the Champions League this week, before returning to La Liga action against Villarreal.

Craig Ervine also starred with an unbeaten 69 as the hosts wrapped up the third ODI with 63 balls to spare

Ekanth18-Feb-2025Ben Curran beat his brothers Sam and Tom to become the first sibling in the family to score an international century. His unbeaten 118 helped Zimbabwe seal their first ODI series win since March 2023, their first against a Full Member team since August 2022, and their first against Ireland in nearly ten years.Curran came in on the back of low scores in the first two ODIs, but showed exactly why he’s rated so highly while leading Zimbabwe to their target of 241 with 63 balls to spare. As the Harare pitch eased out in the afternoon, he stroked his way to a 38-ball half-century – hitting nine of his 14 fours during that initial burst – before settling into a more relaxed pace as his captain Craig Ervine glided his way to an unbeaten 69 off 59 balls. Curran added an unbroken 122 with Ervine for the second wicket, having first put on a 124-run opening stand with Brian Bennett.It was a perfect day for the hosts from the time Ervine won the toss and elected to field. Ireland’s innings never got going despite fifties from Andy Balbirnie, Harry Tector, and Lorcan Tucker. Zimbabwe only used five bowlers, with Richard Ngarava and Trevor Gwandu, who picked up two wickets each, applying constant pressure across all phases of the innings.Curran played his shots fearlessly from ball one – his attempted flick off that ball flew away off the leading edge, but it didn’t discourage him from cutting the next ball for four. Mark Adair, who bowled that first over, was on the receiving end again in the fifth as Curran and Bennett hit him for three fours.There were middled pulls, edged slashes, and swipes down the ground as the openers hit Ireland’s bowlers off their lengths. Curran’s scooped four off Graham Hume in the eighth over was a highlight. From overs five to ten, Zimbabwe hit 12 fours while scoring 60 runs off 36 balls. They finished the first powerplay at 77 for 0 with Curran batting on 54.Curran and Brian Bennett put on a century opening stand•Zimbabwe CricketThe introduction of spin and a 30-minute rain interruption did not break the flow of the batters or affect the conditions. If anything, the pitch got even better for batting.Bennett fell to Hume, against the run of play, in the 20th over. He missed the flick, got hit on the pad, and was given out lbw despite height seeming to be an issue on replay. DRS is not available for the series, so Bennett had to walk.Ervine hit a four and a six within his first ten balls. The four was off a length ball from Hume that he directed through the slips with a tap on its head, and the six an effortless flick off Andy McBrine. The run flow was constant as Zimbabwe cruised to 151 for 1 in 25 overs.McBrine tried to buy wickets by bowling slower and fuller but that didn’t bring any reward as the game kept slipping away from Ireland, with Ervine chipping him over cover and flicking him over midwicket for successive fours in the 28th over. His flowing on-drive for six off Harry Tector in the 33rd was even better, and arguably the shot of the day. He brought up his fifty and Zimbabwe’s 200 soon after with a single to long-on.Meanwhile, Curran coasted towards his hundred. His 10th boundary came off his 40th ball, his 11th off his 65th – when he was on 66 – and his 12th off his 127th – with his score now 108*. He went from 80 to 100 via 18 singles and a two, and even played out a maiden on 99, before bringing up the maiden hundred off his 120th ball, much to his delight and that of his team-mates and the fans in attendance.In the end, the hosts rushed to victory in the 39th over to complete their first series win of this home summer.Andy Balbirnie was one of three half-centurions in Ireland’s innings•Zimbabwe CricketSent in to bat, Ireland started cautiously in the hope of seeing off the new ball under cloudy skies. Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava bowled Test-match lengths and challenged the outside edge regularly. Getting beaten by Muzarabani twice in the sixth over didn’t stop Paul Stirling from trying to take another chance off Ngarava in the seventh. He saw width and tried slashing the ball up and over but lobbed it straight to cover. Balbirnie, his partner, finished the first powerplay on 12 off 40 balls, with Ireland 26 for 1.Gwandu, who came on in the 12th over, began by overstepping and conceded seven off two attempts at his first legal ball, but beat Curtis Campher on the outside edge two balls later. In the next over, he beat Campher on the cut with extra bounce before rushing him on the pull to have him caught at midwicket.Tector joined Balbirnie in the 14th over with Ireland 42 for 2. They put on 86 for the third wicket, hitting four fours and two sixes along the way, but took 115 balls to do so. Balbirnie was dropped on 42 in the 29th over and reached fifty off 87 in the 31st. He brought up his first six with a slog-sweep off Wellington Masakadza, but fell next ball when he miscued the same shot to deep midwicket. It left Ireland 128 for 3 in the 33rd over with their run rate still under four.Sikandar Raza bowled quick and varied his lines and lengths in a ten-over spell without a break. He kept Tector quiet after Balbirnie’s dismissal as the batter looked for boundary options. Ngarava was the beneficiary of Tector’s attempts as he miscued a pull to midwicket the ball after reaching an 83-ball fifty.After Gwandu found extra bounce to nick off George Dockrell cheaply, Adair joined Tucker to put on 57 for the sixth wicket in 52 balls. Tucker’s fifty, which came off 44 balls, was the quickest of the innings. However, none of the last ten overs went for more than ten runs or more than one boundary.

Centuries from Alex Carey and Jake Lehmann and a devastating spell from Nathan McAndrew have destroyed Queensland’s Sheffield Shield final hopes

AAP16-Mar-2025

Alex Carey made his third Sheffield Shield century of the season•Getty Images

Sheffield Shield leaders South Australia have shattered Queensland’s hopes of making the final, driving home their advantage at Karen Rolton Oval.After centuries to Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey and Jake Lehmann, the home side declared on Sunday at an imposing 614 for 7. Opening bowler Nathan McAndrew then tore through the Queensland top order to leave the visitors in tatters at 13 for 3.Henry Thornton claimed the key wicket of Test No.3 Marnus Labuschagne to compound the Bulls’ problems and at stumps on day two they were in deep trouble at 110 for 5.Queensland started the last round in second place, but New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria have the same number of wins and less than five points separate the four teams on the ladder. Barring a miracle over the next two days, Queensland appear out of title contention.SA resumed on Sunday at a healthy 359 for 4, with Carey and Lehmann at the crease. Carey posted his third Shield ton of the summer and Lehmann scored his second in as many innings to pile the pain onto Queensland.When Carey was dismissed for 104 from 100 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes, he and Lehmann had put on 175 for the fifth wicket. Carey would have been frustrated to fall to Labuschagne’s medium pace, chipping a catch to mid-off.Lehmann finished on 130 not out off 182 deliveries, with 14 fours, after combining with Ben Manenti (49) and McAndrew (41) to further bolster SA’s imposing first innings total.Already in dire straits, Queensland had the worst possible start to their innings when McAndrew trapped openers Lachie Hearne and Matt Renshaw lbw in his first over. He also removed Jake Clayton the same way from around the wicket to end the day with 3 for 36.With Labuschagne at the crease, Queensland still had faint hope of a counterattack. But Thornton (2-32) had him caught by Manenti at second slip for 23, before removing Ben McDermott (35) through a skied pull shot that was pouched by Carey.Jimmy Peirson and Michael Neser are the not-out batters, with the visitors still more than 500 runs behind with two days to play.

Lionel Messi made a bold claim when talking about the best player England have ever produced, naming a 114-cap star as the “greatest”, ahead of Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane and a storied list of strikers.

Messi continues to light up the global game

The great Argentine may now be 38 years of age but he’s continuing to perform remarkably well, standing the test of time compared to some of his peers.

He scored twice during Inter Miami’s recent 4-0 victory over Atalanta United in MLS, taking his tally across his last ten outings to nine goals and seven assists. He notably picked up a hat-trick of assists during their 4-1 win over New England Revolution at the beginning of October.

He also starred for Argentina in October’s international break. Although he did not score, Argentina defeated Puerto Rico 6-0.

The Inter Miami star is yet to decide whether he will go to the 2026 World Cup, but if he is able to do so, Argentina should be in a strong position to go all the way once again, having blitzed their way through qualification.

England, on the other hand, officially qualified for the tournament in America with a 5-0 win over Latvia. The Three Lions will be hoping 2026 is finally the year when football ‘comes home’, but talisman Harry Kane will need to be at his best.

England have a great recent record of producing top strikers, with Rooney scoring 53 goals in 120 international appearances, but Messi has suggested a different Liverpool-born player is the best-ever.

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ByTom Cunningham Sep 7, 2025

Speaking after Steven Gerrard’s retirement in 2016, Messi picked Gerrard as England’s greatest player of all time.

Gerrard without doubt among England's best-ever players

It is arguably a bold claim to suggest Gerrard is the Three Lions’ greatest-ever player, but he is certainly in the conversation, given the instrumental role the 114-cap star played in Liverpool competing for major honours until the mid 2010s.

Of course, it will probably haunt the 45-year-old that he never managed to win the Premier League title, but the former Liverpool captain certainly wasn’t unsuccessful, winning 11 trophies during his time with his boyhood club, including the FA Cup in 2006.

Most famously, the Whiston-born midfielder instigated the comeback in arguably the greatest final in Champions League history, with the Reds coming from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties in 2005.

Not only did the Liverpool legend always step up when required, scoring a number of crucial goals in finals, but he has also received praise for the impact he had on his teammates, with Gerard Houllier once saying: “He is a natural born leader, a very inspirational leader. He is somebody you want to follow.”

Durham 370 for 9 (Ackermann 116, Lees 52, O’Neill 4-74) vs NottinghamshireColin Ackermann posted the first century of the Rothesay County Championship season as Durham recovered to 370 for 9 on the opening day against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.Australian pace bowler Fergus O’Neill took 4 for 74 on his debut for the home side but it was Ackermann – celebrating his 34th birthday – who delivered the outstanding performance in the Nottingham sunshine as the visitors battled back from 171 for 5 after being asked to bat first.On what looked a good pitch, the South African-born allrounder enjoyed a moment of freakish good fortune on 80 when a ball from Lyndon James clipped his off stump only for the disturbed bail to drop back into its groove, but otherwise did not offer a chance until he was dismissed on 116, having hit 17 fours and a six.Alex Lees marked his first match as Durham’s club captain with a half-century, while Josh Tongue took two wickets on his much-delayed Nottinghamshire debut, although he looked nowhere near the form that catapulted him into England’s Test side in 2023. Graham Clark and George Drissell each made 45.O’Neill arrived at Trent Bridge in outstanding form after taking 38 wickets at 21.07 for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield and struck here in just his third over as Durham’s 20-year-old England prospect Ben McKinney nicked behind.O’Neill, 6ft 4ins but with a slingy action, backed up his maiden success in his next over, dismissing Emilio Gay in similar fashion, leaving the former Northamptonshire batter to reflect on an eight-ball duck.If O’Neill was the standout bowler in the opening session, the dismissal of Lees by Farhan Ahmed for 52 felt like an important breakthrough.Lees was dropped on 17 at first slip off Dillon Pennington and looked in the mood to make Nottinghamshire pay heavily, reaching 51 from 60 balls. But when Farhan, the 17-year-old offspinner, sat one up to tempt the left-hander to clear the short Bridgford Road boundary, his mistimed shot merely found the fielder at mid-on.After taking 25 wickets in five first-class matches in his debut season last year, Farhan has quickly overtaken Calvin Harrison and Liam Patterson-White as Nottinghamshire’s first-choice slow bowler. As the bowler who also dismissed Ackermann, caught at slip pushing at a ball that drifted away to find the outside edge, and maintaining impressive economy to boot, he justified his selection.With Ollie Robinson and Will Rhodes falling cheaply in the first hour of the middle session, Ackermann’s innings proved vital to keeping Durham’s innings from falling away.His moment of good luck apart, he rarely looked in any difficulty and after stands of 78 with Lees and 93 with Clark was furious with himself for not sticking around to cash in even more against an ageing ball.Robinson gave Tongue his maiden wicket as a Nottinghamshire bowler, edging to first slip, while Rhodes, making his debut for Durham after his winter move from Warwickshire, fell to an outstanding catch by Joe Clarke, one-handed low to his left, as O’Neill claimed a third.Clarke is covering behind the stumps for new signing Kyle Verreynne, who like Durham’s leading runscorer David Bedingham remains in South Africa as Western Province bid for domestic glory.Tongue, who joined Nottinghamshire from Worcestershire 20 months ago only to be out of action for the whole of that time with pectoral and then hamstring injuries, picked up a second wicket as a fine catch by second slip Freddie McCann accounted for Clark, before O’Neill removed Drissell to raise his tally to four.The 27-year-old Tongue is centrally contracted with England, whose plan was for he and Olly Stone essentially to alternate appearances in Nottinghamshire’s early championship rounds, although Stone is now himself sidelined following a knee operation and is not expected to return before August.