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      Nick Cushing turns focus on WSL clash after Miedema’s Man City brace ends Chelsea’s unbeaten run

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      NICK CUSHING is ready to turn his attention to Manchester City’s WSL test against Chelsea after his side beat them in Europe last night. Vivianne Miedema’s brace sealed City’s 2-0 Champions League quarters first-leg victory, ending the Blues’ 31-game unbeaten run. Nick Cushing guided Manchester City to a hardfought win at Joie Stadium on their return to Champions League actionCredit: AFPTwo second-half goals for Vivianne Miedema sealed City’s quarter-final first leg victoryCredit: AlamyBrazil forward Kerolin impressed for City on her first European outing since joining the club in JanuaryCredit: AlamyThe Netherlands star’s second-half double enabled the Cityzens to avenge their League Cup final loss to Chelsea before their second-leg clash next Thursday at Stamford Bridge. Before then the rivals meet at the Etihad this Sunday at 2:30pm in the top tier. And Cushing is targeting his first match win in the top tier since his Man City return last week. His side are currently fourth in the WSL and 12 points behind leaders Chelsea after losing four of their 16 games this term. Read More Football StoriesThe interim Cityzens boss, who oversaw his first game at Joie Stadium since 2019, said: We wanted to win, we’ve won with a two-goal lead. “We can put that one away now and focus on the league game, because our league position isn’t where we want it and Sunday’s game becomes crucial. “After that we prepare for the Stamford Bridge (reverse Champions League) game. “We know any game against Chelsea is going to be incredibly difficult. Most read in Football”The confidence and belief comes from knowing that we can play whatever game is in front of us.”While striker Khadija Shaw and forward Aoba Fujino joining Lauren Hemp on the Cityzens’ crocked list, Cushing opted to start Miedema on the bench on Wednesday night. His side had three first-half shots on target including 19-year-old Lily Murphy’s low strike close to half-time which prompted a comfortable save from keeper Hannah Hampton. With visitors Chelsea content to soak up pressure, Cushing shuffled his deck bringing Miedema on in the second half.The WSL record scorer rewarded him with a 60th-minute shot into the roof of the net before a late strike with two minutes of normal time left. After the match Miedema said:  “I’m honestly happy that I could come on and help the team. Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor has backed her Blues to bounce back in their WSL duel with City at the Etihad on March 23Credit: Alamy”This is the standard that we need to set ourselves. It gives us a lot of confidence going into the next two games (against Chelsea).”It’s a really special (win). We’ve had a couple of special Champions League nights here this season. “We had the win over Barcelona as well, but this one feels really really good.” More

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      Croatia vs France: Get £50 in free bets for Nations League quarter final with Betfred

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      CROATIA and France go toe-to-toe in the first leg of their Nations League quarter final.And brand new Betfred customers can claim a fantastic £50 in free bets and bonuses when they sign-up and stake a tenner on the international encounter.Find The Sun’s betting publishing principles hereCroatia vs France: Get £50 free bets HERE*How to claim..Betfred welcome offerVisit the Betfred website HERE*Register an account using the Promo Code: BETFRED50Deposit £10 using a Debit CardPlace your first bet of £10 or more on any qualifying Sportsbook markets, at odds of Evens or greaterOnce that bet has settled, Betfred will credit your account with £50 in Free BetsBetfred: Get your £50 in free bets – Claim here*Croatia vs France: Get £50 free bets HERE*New to Betfred? Then you can claim this incredible offer.Simply visit the Betfred website using this link HERE* and register a new account using the Promo Code: BETFRED50Then you just need to deposit and stake £10 on any football market at odds of Evens or greater.When that first bet has settled — win or lose — Betfred will credit your account with the following free bets;3 x £10 to use on any Sportsbook Markets2 x £10 to use on Accumulators (4+ selections)Remember to gamble responsiblyA responsible gambler is someone who:Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – gamcare.org.ukGambleAware – GambleAware.orgRead our guide on responsible gambling practices. For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.*New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs apply. More

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      Italy vs Germany: Get £40 in free bets on the Nations League quarter final with BetMGM

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      ITALY host Germany in the first leg of their Nations League quarter final this Thursday.And bookmakers BetMGM are offering brand new customers a cool £40 in free bets when you register an account and stake a tenner on the mega match-up.Find The Sun’s betting publishing principles hereHow to claim..BetMGM £40 welcome bonusVisit the BetMGM website HERE*Select SPORTS OFFER on the websiteRegister a new account – No Promo Code necessaryOpt in for this promotion by depositing and placing at least £10 on football at odds of Evens or greaterOnce that’s settled – win or lose – your account will be credited with £40 in free betsItaly vs Germany: Get £40 in free bets — claim yours here*Not got a BetMGM account? No problem!This offer is just for you, and it’s incredibly easy to claim!Simply register a new account, deposit and stake a minimum of £10 on football at odds of Evens (1/1) or greater. This must be done within seven days of opening your account with the bookmaker.Once that’s settled – win or lose – your account will be credited with £40 in free bets!Italy vs Germany: Get £40 in free bets — claim yours here**BetMGM. New customers only. 7 days to place a qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1x £10 Free Bet on Football, 1x £10 Free Bet on Horse Racing, 2 x £10 Free Bet Builders. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.Remember to gamble responsiblyA responsible gambler is someone who:Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – gamcare.org.ukGambleAware – GambleAware.orgRead our guide on responsible gambling practices. For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. More

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      Chelsea’s Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo signings confirmed in unorthodox announcement as EXACT transfer fees revealed

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      THE exact transfer fee – including the costs of agents – that Chelsea will pay to sign Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo has been revealed.Selling club Sporting Lisbon announced the deals in a statement which also detailed how much the fees would come to.The exact fee Chelsea will pay to sign Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo has been revealedCredit: RexChelsea will pay up to £44m for 17-year-old QuendaCredit: GettyMeanwhile, Essugo will cost £18.7mCredit: GettyThis was a very different move to the way deals are typically announced with clubs often calling the fee “undisclosed”.The Portuguese giants revealed the double deal was worth just under £62.4m (€74.5million).Broken down for the two players, Chelsea have paid more than double the fee for Quenda than Essugo.The 17-year-old, one of Europe’s most sought after talents and previously linked with reuniting with Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, was reported as a shock move last week.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLChelsea will pay £42.6m up front for the winger, with a further £1.1m in potential add ons.However, the Blues will not see their new star in action until at least 2026 after an agreement was struck to leave the teen on loan in Lisbon.Meanwhile, the deal for Essugo, currently on loan at Las Palmas, has seen Chelsea pay a flat £18.7m (€22.27m).The defensive midfielder will remain on loan in Spain before linking up with Chelsea in the summer. Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford BridgeThat means he could make his debut for the club during the inaugural Club World Cup.The statement also added fees for intermediation services in the deals were worth £3.7m for the pair of them – £2.8m (€3.35m) for Quenda and £838,000 (€999,700).’This is a joke’ – Danny Drinkwater reveals moment he was told he had ONE HOUR to leave Chelsea More

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      Teenage footballer Guo Jiaxuan, 18, dies in hospital after suffering knee to head during friendly in Spain

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      A TEENAGE footballer has died in hospital after a clash with another player during a friendly match in Spain.Chinese player Guo Jiaxuan was knocked unconscious after receiving a knee to his face last month in Madrid during a training game against Spanish side RC Alcobendas, organised by the Beijing Football Association.Guo Jiaxuan has died after suffering a knee to the head in a matchCredit: Jam PressThe 18-year-old defender, declared brain dead while he was still in Spain after being rushed to a medical centre, was flown back to his homeland in an air ambulance on February 13 – a week after the freak accident.He was admitted to Pekin’s Tiantan Hospital the following day and had been kept on a life support machine.Yesterday his family were told his condition had worsened and he was subsequently officially declared dead.It was not immediately clear if his loved ones had managed to make it to hospital to say their goodbyes.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLGuo, who joined Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan aged 13 as a youth player, had previously represented the Chinese national team at under-17 level and had been invited to train with Bayern Munich in 2023.He became part of Bayern Munich’s World Squad, an international project by the German giants aimed at developing promising players from around the world.Guo’s brother revealed on social media after the February 6 clash that led to him being declared brain dead that he had suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage – a form of stroke caused by bleeding on the brain – in the accidental collision.His father had reportedly refused the doctor’s suggestion to turn off his son’s life support and perform an autopsy, and instead sought for him to be repatriated to China for further treatment.Most read in FootballRC Alcobendas had offered a message of support for Guo and his family while he was still in Spain, saying in a statement: “We want to express our deep concern for the player from the Beijing Football Association delegation who suffered an accident during the friendly match played this morning against our first team.“We send all our support to him, his family and his team at this difficult time. We sincerely wish you a speedy recovery.”The club has yet to comment following confirmation Guo has died in hospital. More

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      Liverpool vs Chelsea legends: CONFIRMED line-ups with Gerrard and Zola among stellar names for Anfield charity match

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      LIVERPOOL AND CHELSEA legends will clash at Anfield THIS WEEKEND for a charity match.Liverpool will host an enthralling legends charity match with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Gianfranco Zola among the stellar names in action.Liverpool hero Steven Gerrard will play in the matchChelsea icon Gianfranco Zola is going to be back in action for the BluesOld rivalries will be rekindled 20 years on from the astonishing 2004-05 season. That year was the memorable Champions League semi-final between these two teams, which ended in a 1-0 win for the Reds after Luis Garcia’s controversial ‘ghost goal’.Rafa Benitez’s team went on to win the competition that year, with the Spaniard back in the dugout for Liverpool on Saturday.Gerrard will also return to Anfield and is looking to roll back the years on Saturday.read more fooball newsThe midfield icon enjoyed a glistening career making over 700 appearances for the Reds, bagging 186 goals and winning nine major trophies.Fans will also be excited by the prospect of Gianfranco Zola starring.The Italian maestro is best remembered for his incredible close control and dribbling skills and helping transform Chelsea in the late 1990s.With Benitez in Liverpool’s dugout, Chelsea will also have a Champions League-winning manager guiding them.Most read in FootballClub legend Roberto Di Matteo was the man responsible for Chelsea’s first ever Champions League in 2012 and he takes charge of the legends again.One hundred per cent of the money raised from the charity fixture will support the LFC Foundation, Forever Reds, Chelsea Foundation and Chelsea Players’ Trust.Rafa Benitez won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005Credit: Getty – ContributorRoberto di Matteo took Chelsea all the way in Europe in 2012.Other players making an appearance for the sides include Robbie Keane, Jerzy Dudek, Dirk Kuyt, Ramires, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Florent Malouda and many more.Football fans are in for a treat and will not want to miss this one with all these phenomenal names taking part – it’s due to be a cracker of a game and a great event. What are the lineups?More names could well be announced but here are the current confirmed names:Liverpool legends:Jerzy DudekSander WesterveldFabio AurelioDjimi TraoreMartin SkrtelRagnar Klavan Mark GonzalezSteven GerrardJay SpearingDirk KuytDjibril CisseRobbie KeaneSami HyppiaDavid JamesBjorn Tore KvarmeGregory VignalMohamed SissokoIgor Biscan Florent Sinama PongolleNatasha DowieRafa Benitez (Manager)Chelsea legends:READ MORE SUN STORIESCarlo CudiciniGary Cahill RamiresJohn Obi MikelGianfranco Zola Loic Remy Florent MaloudaJesper GronkjaerJimmy Floyd HasselbankRyan BertrandKatie ChapmanRoberto Di Mateo (Manager)When is Liverpool vs Chelsea legends and how can I watch it?Liverpool Legends vs Chelsea Legends will take place at Anfield on Saturday, March 22.Kick-off is at 2pm.The game will be screened on LFCTV which is an additional subscription.The match can also be watched on the Chelsea app or Chelseafc.com, with fans paying a pay-per-view fee of £5.99.Alternatively, all the action will be live blogged by SunSport. More

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      Premier League clubs on red alert as cash-strapped Barcelona face losing TEN wonderkids on free transfers

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      PREM clubs are on alert amid reports Barcelona could lose ten wonderkids on free transfers.The cash-strapped club are in still in a perilous financial situation and face another difficult transfer window.Hansi Flick could lose players he has earmarked for the first-teamCredit: GettyThey have been forced to let a number of key assets leave in recent years and have had to juggle the books to register signings like Dani Olmo in the last few months.But now Barcelona could be forced to let go up to ten academy stars, according to SPORT.That is how many players in La Masia are out of contract at the end of June.Barcelona are yet to offer them new deals and that may remain the case due to their lack of money.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe likes of Arnau Pradas, Hugo Alba and Jan Virgili are big academy talents and have been earmarked by Hansi Flick for promotion to the first-team.But if Barca fail to drum up cash they face losing all three – putting Prem clubs on high alert.One player who was of particular interest is Pau Cubarsí, but Barcelona managed to tie him down to a long-term deal last month after he turned 18.But striker Marc Guiu left for Chelsea last summer and other stars could follow suit.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBarcelona’s dire financial situation has not stopped them from identifying transfer targets however, with Alexander Isak and Liverpool’s Luis Diaz of interest.Despite their woes off the pitch, Flick has led Barca to the top of Laliga and to the Champions League quarter-final.Benfica fans furiously brawl with Barcelona stewards with limbs everywhere during Champions League KO More

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      ‘Like I’ve never seen before’ – Thomas Tuchel’s ‘aura’ blowing England stars away as new era begins

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      THOMAS TUCHEL has an “aura” unlike anything Morgan Rogers has seen in a manager.Aston Villa star Rogers revealed England’s new boss has laid down “some serious ideas” in his bid to win the 2026 World Cup.England boss Thomas Tuchel has an “aura” unlike anything Morgan Rogers has seen in a managerCredit: PAEngland manager Tuchel is determined to win the 2026 World CupCredit: PAAston Villa star Morgan Rogers praised new England boss TuchelCredit: GettyTuchel will kick off the Three Lions’ new era on Friday with a World Cup qualifier against Albania at a sold-out Wembley.Rogers is managed by Unai Emery at Villa and worked under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.But he said of Tuchel: “His aura is one I’ve not experienced before. Certain managers have different ways about them. It is hard to describe but he has such a level of confidence.“He has been so chilled and calm. But when it is time to work, it is time to work. That is the vibe I have got off him.Read More on Football“You know what he has done in the game and the respect he has got from managers and players he has worked with. You know he is coming in with some ­serious ideas.”Ex-Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss Tuchel, 51, laid out his plans to win next year’s World Cup at his first team meeting at St George’s Park.Rogers, who won two England caps under interim boss Lee Carsley, added: “That’s the only goal. He was very clear and transparent with what we need to improve. It was very straight-up, no cutting corners.“It’s definitely been taken on board and a first message to carry us on and lead us on through the camps.”Most read in FootballRogers and the Three Lions squad will prepare at Tottenham’s training ground on Thursday ahead of the Albania game, with a clash at home to Latvia following on Monday.The attacking midfielder, 22, discovered he was in the squad when waking up to a text early on Friday before training with Villa.Thomas Tuchel names his first England squad for upcoming match with Albania The human tuchENGLAND’S new boss Thomas Tuchel has announced his first squad – to mixed reaction.And he is fully prepared for Tuchel’s standards due to the high bar Emery sets.He said: “There’s never a moment’s rest. When you least expect it, Unai will catch you out, telling you about yourself.“I can think of the best games I’ve had and he’ll batter me for one little thing I did in the 20th minute. But once you understand why he’s doing it, you take it on board.”Inside FA’s thrilling chase for TuchelTHE FA’s path to securing Thomas Tuchel’s signature was not a straightforward one.They tried to lure Pep Guardiola from Manchester City over the summer.They even made contact with Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti after deciding to target trophy-laden foreign gaffers.The FA’s determination to go international was summed up by their decision NOT to interview Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.Initial talks with Tuchel saw him express a slight interest in replacing Gareth Southgate.But he was waiting to see what would happen at Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag’s future under the spotlight.Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe eventually decided to stick with Ten Hag – and that opened the door to the FA getting their man.Read the full story on England’s thrilling pursuit of Thomas Tuchel. More