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      in Soccer

      Inside Arsenal target Riccardo Calafiori’s rise, from career-threatening knee injury to being compared to Paolo Maldini

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      ARSENAL target Riccardo Calafiori was a knee injury away from never playing again.The Gunners have reportedly agreed personal terms with the Italy defender but are still working on negotiating a transfer fee with Bologna.Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori is keen on a move to ArsenalCredit: AFPA knee injury nearly saw Calafiori’s career end before it startedCredit: Instagram @richycalaThe defender, 22, is believed to be sold on Mikel Arteta’s project and is eager to make the move.Calafiori has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the past season and has been compared to AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini thanks to some swashbuckling displays.However, his career could have been over before it started when he suffered a serious knee injury that was compared to a motocross rider falling off his bike.He did not play for 347 days, following surgery by renowned orthopedic surgeon Freddie Fu.Read more Arsenal newsThe left centre-half – who could be joined in London by stunning partner Benedetta Boeme – was discarded by Jose Mourinho at Roma, before rebuilding his career at Basel and then Bologna.Battling back from adversityCalafiori was just 16 and had only just signed his first professional contract with Roma when he was told his career might be over.In a Uefa Youth League game against Viktoria Plzen, he was on the receiving end of a studs-up tackle by Vaclav Svoboda.His right knee swelled up three times the size of his left, and medical specialists were stunned by what they uncovered.Most read in FootballAstonishingly, all the ligaments had been ruptured, including the meniscus and articular capsule.”Something like this usually only happens in motocross – not in football,” a medial expert told the Corriere dello Sport.How Arsenal’s 180-page dossiers on transfer targets have led to outstanding recruitment”It’s an injury that happens only once every ten years.”News filtered through to the first team of the highly-rated youngster’s plight, with Edin Dzeko dedicating his goal in the Champions League clash with Plzen to Calafiori by raising his shirt in tribute.The day after, Calafiori vowed to fight for his career.He wrote on Instagram: “This time, no decisive match, no final to win… There is the most important battle of my life ahead of me, and I certainly cannot back down.”The time has come to put aside the boy, the, at times, little boy that I have been until now, and become a MAN.”A bad knee injury will keep me sidelined for a long period and will keep me away from the pitch, but the desire to come back STRONGER than before will increase every day.”For the umpteenth time I find myself faced with a very difficult challenge but, as always, I will win!!!”A horrific challenge in a Uefa Youth League game saw all of Calafiori’s knee ligaments rupturedCredit: Instagram @richycalaEdin Dzeko holds Calafiori’s jersey aloft after scoring for RomaDr Freddie Fu poses with former patient Zlatan IbrahimovicA trusted surgeonWhen he was a youth player, Calafiori’s talent stood out as head and shoulders above his peers.He was immediately snapped up by the late super-agent Mino Raiola.And Raiola booked his distraught client in to see American surgeon, Freddie Fu.Fu, who passed away in 2021, performed over 20,000 knee surgeries.A year before he operated on Calafiori, the Hong Kong doctor repaired Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s ruptured ACL.When Fu died, the Swedish icon shared a picture on Instagram of the pair together and captioned the photo: ‘Freddie Fu gave me a second chance in my career. I’m still on top just because of him. I owe him everything. Thank you Freddie Fu. Rest in peace.” The same could be said for Calafiori.Almost a year later…After 11 months on the sidelines, Calafiori returned to Roma’s Under-19 side at the start of 2019-20 season.In the August of that campaign, Calafiori finally got the opportunity to make his debut for Paulo Fonseca’s first team.In a game against Juventus, he won a penalty and had a goal disallowed. It was some statement by the teenager.By the 2020-2021 season, Calafiori had returned to Roma’s first team foldAn uninspiring loan with Genoa failed to convince Jose Mourinho to keep CalafioriBut Fonseca played down the hype.”Suddenly treating him like he’s the best in the world right now is not helpful for the player,” the Portuguese coach said.”But we trust he’ll have a great future.”However, that wasn’t to be at Roma. In the summer of 2021, Fonseca left the club and was replaced by Mourinho.An image of the Special One studying Calafiori in training circulated on social media.Clearly, he didn’t fancy him. Within three months, Calafiori was shipped out on loan to Genoa.Worse was to come.Rebuilding his careerLike Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi before him, Calafiori was supposed to become a legend at the club.An unimpressed Mourinho sanctioned a move to Basel at the end of the 2021-2022 season, which cost the Swiss giants just £2.2million.FC Basel gave Calafiori the chance of first team footballA starring role in the club’s Europa League Conference run sealed Calafiori’s return to Italyread more sport featuresDe Rossi, now head coach of Roma, recently admitted he still finds that decision to part ways “tough to stomach.”The move to Switzerland was crucial to Calafiori’s development.”I played a bit under Mourinho at Roma but I wanted to play more, so I went to Genoa and it didn’t go well,” he told reporters before the Euros.”There wasn’t space for me there either, so then I went to Basel.”I wasn’t too convinced, initially. I was almost obliged to go [to find first-team football]. But I immediately changed my mind. They had everything a young player needs to develop. I made 30 appearances for the first time, which helped me grow.”Calafiori was utilised in the centre back position for Basel, which peaked then Bologna boss Thiago Motta’s interest.Prodigal son returnsAfter just a season at Basel, Calafiori was back in Italy after Bologna paid just £3.4million to seal his return.A reported 50 per cent sell-on release clause was included in the deal, which is said to be holding up negotiations with the Gunners.Motta was convinced Calafiori could thrive in his favoured 4-3-3 formation, given his flexibility to play at left-back and at the heart of defence.He also wanted to give him licence to move into the middle of the pitch and charge forward, just like he did for Italy’s 98th minute equaliser against Croatia at Euro 2024 with an assist.The 2023-2024 season was a breakout campaign for Calafiori, as he helped Bologna to a fifth-placed finish and Champions League qualification.Arsenal have a tricky start to the seasonAt Bologna Calafiori enjoyed a breakout seasonCredit: GettyCalafiori was included in Italy’s Euros squad and had a decent tournamentCredit: GettyBenedetta and Calafiori are regularly seen together on social mediaCredit: InstagramTeam-mate Riccardo Orsolini compared him to Maldini – while Italian striking icon Fabrizio Ravanelli urged Pep Guardiola to sign him as a long-term replacement for John Stones.Arsenal appear to have stolen a march on their rivals, and will hope to unveil Calafiori, who will be bringing stunning girlfriend Benedetta with him to London, soon.READ MORE SUN STORIESShould they get the deal over the line, get ready for his swashbuckling runs from the back at the Emirates.Which would be quite impressive for a man who feared he may never run again. More

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      in Motorsport

      Inside Ralf Schumacher’s remarkable life – from biggest regret over F1 rival brother Michael to fling with Katie Price

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      HIS older brother Michael is considered by many to be the greatest F1 driver of all time.But Ralf Schumacher, who is himself a six-time Grand Prix winner, was never one to live in the shadows of success – instead forging a remarkable life of his own, on and off the grid.Ralf Schumacher, then of Williams, is hugged by his brother Michael after winning the Canadian Grand Prix in 2001Credit: AFPRalf announced he was in a gay relationship in a moving post this weekCredit: instagram.com/ralfschumacher_rsc/He was previously married to Cora Schumacher, a former racing driver and Playboy modelCredit: AP:Associated PressThis week, the 49-year old announced that he is in a same-sex relationship, becoming just the second male F1 driver to publicly come out as a member of the LGTBQ+ community.On Sunday, he posted a touching photo of himself gazing at the sunset alongside another man on Instagram, with the caption: “The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything.”His new love is Frenchman Etienne, who was working as Ralf’s business manager when the pair fell in love.After the former Williams driver’s brave post, he was immediately greeted with an outpouring of love online, as many rushed to congratulate the pair. Read More on F1His close pal, actress Carmen Geiss, replied:  “After two years you can finally show your love to the world. I have known Ralf for more than 25 years and he has always been a great joy to me.”Married for 14 years to Cora Schumacher, a former racing driver and Playboy model, Ralf previously hit the headlines when his notorious fling with Katie Price allegedly sparked the breakdown of her engagement.Meanwhile, his close relationship with Michael, 55, was reportedly tested by tension between their wives, and rocked further by the German legend’s tragic skiing accident.Last year, Ralf lamented the 2013 incident, which has left his brother with severe brain injuries, with news of his health remaining a closely-guarded secret over the past decade.Most read in MotorsportRalf told German publication Bunte: “Unfortunately, sometimes life isn’t fair. We have to accept it.”When I see his children Gina-Maria and Mick, my heart smiles. If someone in the family is looking for my advice, I’m there. They go their own way.”Blackmail Plot Against Schumacher’s FamilyRalf’s car is launched in the air over Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello of Brazil in 2002Credit: EPARalf regrets never working on the same team as his brotherCredit: AP:Associated PressBetween 1997 and 2007, Ralf raced for Jordan, Williams and Toyota, winning six F1 races.However, his trophy cabinet paled in comparison to Michael, who won seven world titles during his time with Benetton (1994-1995) and Ferrari (2000-2004).While many might assume competing on the same grid led to tensions, Ralf – who retired in 2007 and now works as a pundit – insists their relationship was “very open”.He explained: “I knew what he was doing and he knew what I was doing. It was always good to be able to talk to somebody that you could trust.”In fact, earlier this year, Ralf admitted his one big regret was that he never got to share a Formula 1 team with his brother. “It would have been amazing, but on the other hand the problem was always… first of all there was never really an opportunity,” Ralf told the Formula for Success podcast.”And second, one of us would have always lost. I don’t know whether that would have been good from a marketing point of view or a relationship point of view between brothers.”Going back, it would have been amazing to share a season together.”Marriage to Playboy modelRalf and Cora were married for 14 yearsCredit: RexThe couple had an acrimonious divorce but are now on better termsCredit: AP:Associated PressAway from the paddock, Ralf was married to Cora-Caroline Brinkmann, a German model and TV personality, for 14 years. Cora has also competed in racing herself, including in two rounds of the 2018 GT4 Central European Cup. The pair tied the knot in 2001 and have a son, David, now 22, who has followed his father into a career in motorsports.When Ralf announced the news on Sunday, David commented: “I am very happy that you have finally found someone with whom you really feel that you feel very comfortable and secure…I am 100% behind you dad and wish you all the best and congratulations.”At the height of their fame, Ralf and Cora were considered one of the most high-profile couples in the motorsport world. But their marriage deteriorated in 2014, leading to disputes over the driver’s £84million fortune, their homes in Germany, Austria, and France, and their then 13-year-old son.I am a sincere, cosmopolitan woman. Not the sort who puts on an act or parades the fact that she is Mother TeresaCoraIn November that year, police were called to their house in Cologne after a neighbour said they heard “screams coming from inside the house”.Police superintendent Anton Hamchder confirmed the incident, adding: “The couple both accused each other of assaults.”There is an ongoing investigation in the context of domestic violence.”It was reported that Ralf put a block on Cora’s credit cards, which were paid for by him, and gave her an allowance of less than £8,000 a month.The bitter divorce was finally resolved with Cora receiving a £5million settlement and the family home at Bergheim.But the pair, who were once estranged, seem to have patched things up since then, with Ralf congratulating his ex-wife on joining the cast of the German version of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in January this year. Katie Price and Warren Furman, better known as Gladiators star AceCredit: PA:EntertainmentRalf has gone on to work as an F1 punditCredit: GettyHis son, David, pictured, has followed in his father’s stepsCredit: GettyCora was eventually dumped from the jungle after three days, however, because TV bosses were concerned she might reveal secrets about Michael’s health during a live show, German media reported.The stunning model is no stranger to controversy. In 2015, she caused a stir when she posed nude for the German Playboy magazine. Last July, the 47-year-old year old launched an OnlyFans account where she shares nude photos.Her celebrity lifestyle was also reported to have driven a wedge between the two brothers, due to her frosty relationship with Michael’s wife, Corrina. “Corinna and I have little contact,” she told a German magazine in the early Noughties.“We holiday in different places, we hardly phone, we live somewhere else. A pity really, as we both have children. But Corinna’s nature and mine are totally different.“I am a sincere, cosmopolitan woman. Not the sort who puts on an act or parades the fact that she is Mother Teresa. My sister-in-law is stuck with the label of being the ‘perfect’ wife in the ‘perfect’ world and that sort of thing.Katie Price flingBefore his marriage to Cora, Ralf’s flirty relationship with former glamour model Katie Price made headlines in 1998, reportedly leading to the end of her engagement to Warren Furman, better known as Gladiators star Ace. Warren, 51, was said to have become jealous when Katie, 46, began hanging out with the F1 ace and the couple called it quits.Katie – who used to go by the stage name Jordan – met Ralf at a shoot for Esquire, before he invited her to Germany.It is thought that things fell apart due to the language barrier, with their relationship only lasting a matter of weeks.Following Ralf’s announcement this week, pal Carmen revealed he has been in a relationship with French business partner, Etienne, for two years.She told Bild:  “The two are often together…never argue and are sensationally happy.”🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁 According to the German news outlet, Ralf continues to live in Salzburg while Etienne lives in Nice.Etienne is said to divide his time between Cape Town in South Africa and the French Riviera, which is just 30 minutes from the F1 Mecca of Monaco.Ralf is only the second male F1 driver known to be in a same-sex relationship.The first was Mike Beuttler, who raced in 29 Grand Prixs from 1971 to 1973, before disappearing from the public eye for over a decade.In 1998, he died of complications from AIDS in Los Angeles in 1988, aged just 48.READ MORE SUN STORIES”It is really interesting to look at Beuttler’s story now – it shows LGBT+ people have always been part of motorsport and they have been really successful,” Richard Morris, co-founder of Racing Pride, told the BBC.”It also reminds us of the challenges faced.” More

    • 250 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Spain Euro 2024 star Lamine Yamal looks every inch the ‘dream teen’… but the biggest challenge is yet to come

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      I WAS having a conversation with my dad about Lamine Yamal the other day.We were remembering my own journey and a really good goal I scored when I was 15.Spain star Lamine Yamal has taken Euro 2024 by storm this summerCredit: RexBut Arsenal hero Jack Wilshere has a warning for Yamal ahead of the final with EnglandCredit: Darren FletcherBarcelona wonderkid Yamal has achieved a lot despite his young ageCredit: ReutersBut Wilshere knows everything about fast rises as a young talentCredit: YoutubeI was playing for the Arsenal reserves at Barnet’s ground, Underhill, against West Ham. I cut in and curled it into the top corner.That was almost the start of people recognising me. It went on YouTube and Arsene Wenger was there.But I said to my dad: “This kid Yamal is doing it in the semi-final of the European Championship.”I’ve never seen or heard anything like it. Yes, we speak about Wayne Rooney at Euro 2004. But he was 18 and already developed. This kid has just finished school!Read More on FootballThe only possible comparison is Pele, someone I never saw play but who became a superstar when he was still a teenager.The greatest players in the world are the ones who not only know how to produce those game-changing moments but when to produce them.Yamal seems to have that. The challenge for him — not now, because he is in great form and loving life — is can he sustain it?You need resilience. At the moment everyone is talking about him and  loving him. But there is going to come a time when he’s going to face adversity.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe needs courage, which he seems to have bundles of. Every time he takes the ball, he’s confident.I’ve seen him have bad moments but he still has the courage to get on the ball.Yamal destroys Rabiot on and off the pitch after France star sparked ’embarrassing’ feud with Spanish teen And he needs love for the game, which makes you constantly seek ways to get better.There will be moments when it’s tough for him. But all the superstars, like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, have been through those moments. It’s about how he responds.So far he is managing the pressure and expectation that has been put on him from a young age.I know a bit about what that’s like. I made my Arsenal debut at 16, played a few cup games, came on in the Premier League and then had six months on loan at Bolton.My real breakthrough season was 2010-11, when I established myself in the first team. Then Arsenal were drawn against Barcelona in the Champions League Last 16 and the first leg was an important game for me.All the way through my youth career and into the first team, I’d been good at stepping up and adapting to a new level of competition. But this was different — and I felt it.When Jack dominated BarcelonaIn the tunnel, I was standing next to players like Xavi and Andres Iniesta, midfielders I had been watching for years and even during that season, trying to learn from them.But the one who  stood out was Messi. He had a real calmness, an aura. You could feel the confidence coming off him.I didn’t touch the ball for the first ten  minutes. Nor did the rest of the Arsenal team.But then there was this moment where I went in for a challenge I had no right to win, got up with the ball and there were three players around me. I beat them and played the ball wide.I felt the whole energy in the crowd lift. I fed off that and I think the team did, too. We came back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 and I was man of the match.After the game, Samir Nasri said to me: “You’ve gone to another level now. Now you need to be consistent at that level.”Rising through the ranksPep Guardiola was Barcelona boss at the time and was asked about me after the game. He said I had played well but he had a number of players as good as me in his B team.I laugh about it now but at the time it annoyed me. I took it personally and used it as motivation.At the time I was a bit unusual for an English midfielder. I was a player who could receive and use the ball, a bit Spanish-like.But I also had a bit of personality. I wanted to win and I’d do whatever it took.We have more players like that in England now. That is a credit to the coaching in the academies and credit to the first-team managers who have put trust in players, like Arsene did in me.When we as youth coaches give young players to the first team, they are not  finished. Head coaches are the ones who complete their development.Will England finally end years of hurt and win a trophy?Credit: AlamyKobbie Mainoo comparisonEngland now have more players who are technically good but also characters and leaders.Kobbie Mainoo is the perfect example. How brave he is. How he understands the game. How we wants the ball.The starting point is making them really good at football so they trust their ability and have a big belief in what they do. Then it’s giving them the freedom and opportunity to go and express themselves.That’s what Mainoo and Yamal have had. And here they are, two teenagers facing each other in the biggest game of their lives.Kobbie Mainoo has proved himself worthy of becoming a regular starterCredit: GettyJack on RodriWHEN I think of Rodri, I love what he does in possession, how he keeps the ball and breaks lines, how he is always available if a player is under pressure.But as Declan Rice has said, the other side is that he is a monster. Out of possession, he gets around the pitch and wins duels.People used to say about me that I had English bite and Spanish technique, while some Spanish players might lack that bite in the tackle.Rodri has got it all. He  can do the possession stuff but he can also leave his foot in, be nasty, be horrible, win the ball.Rice is a little younger than him and producing very  consistent performances.They are at the top of  the Premier League. One week Rice might be ahead, the next it might be Rodri.Let’s hope it’s Rice who comes out on top on Sunday.Rodri could be the definition of the ‘complete midfielder’Credit: GettyJack on BellinghamDID people really expect Jude Bellingham to dominate every game?Some people probably did — and he certainly has the ability to do it.But he is still a 21-year-old kid and it was unrealistic for him to do that, game after game, after a long season.He has delivered big moments but we should also appreciate that what he gives us out of possession is exceptional. He’s always running, always there to make a block.Can he do more? I think  he can and, being the type  of person he is, he will know that. He will want more.But he will be happy with his contribution.Without him, England wouldn’t be here.We were dead, we were out, we were on a plane home in that Slovakia game.A moment of magic swung it our way and he was the  guy who did it.Jude Bellingham is one of the most-talked about youngsters in world footballCredit: GettyJack on how to winSPAIN will probably dominate the ball more than any team England have played against.We have to be careful with our press because they are masters of finding a free player and playing through you.I would love to see us press man for man and be aggressive. But we know Gareth Southgate probably won’t do that.Are we going to press high or only commit a certain number of players to the press and make sure we are secure if and when they do play through us? Or are we going to sit in a block and say: “Go on, have the ball”?England need to find a way to suffer yet still have moments of quality.Can we still hurt them? Yes. Can we still have spells of possession with this  shape? Yes.READ MORE SUN STORIESWe will have to be clinical, as well as keeping that same resilience and will to win.I see it being really tight and England maybe nicking it.England vs Spain recordEngland have played Spain 27 times in total – here is a look at every result…May 1929, Spain 4-3 England – International Friendly (L)December 1931, England 7-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)July 1950, Spain 1-0 England – World Cup (L)May 1955, Spain 1-1 England – International Friendly (D)November 1955, England 4-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)May 1960, Spain 3-0 England – International Friendly (L)October 1960, England 4-2 Spain – International Friendly (W)December 1965, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)May 1967, England 2-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)April 1968, England 1-0 Spain – European Championship (W)May 1968, Spain 1-2 England – European Championship (W)March 1980, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)June 1980, England 2-1 Spain – European Championship (W)March 1981, England 1-2 Spain – International Friendly (L)July 1982, Spain 0-0 England – World Cup (D)February 1987, Spain 2-4 England – International Friendly (W)September 1992, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)June 1996, England 0(4)-(2)0 Spain – European Championship (W)February 2001, England 3-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)November 2004, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)February 2007, England 0-1 Spain – International Friendly (L)February 2009, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)November 2011, England 1-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)November 2015, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)November 2016, England 2-2 Spain – International Friendly (D)September 2018, England 1-2 Spain – Nations League (L)October 2018, Spain 2-3 England – Nations League (W)Overall, England have won 14, drawn three and lost 10 matches against Spain. 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      in Soccer

      Inside the incredible worlds of teen sensations Kobbie Mainoo and Lamine Yamal, as they go head to head for Euros glory

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      WHEN Cristiano Ronaldo made his Euros debut in 2004 neither Spaniard Lamine Yamal nor Englishman Kobbie Mainoo had been born.Tomorrow the two exciting teenagers will face each other in the final of Euro 2024 in Berlin.Stats show Mainoo has the best pass accuracy for a midfielder in the history of the European Championship, at 96 per cent – making him key to England’s hopesCredit: GettyEven before Lamine Yamal’s wonder goal for Spain in the semi-finals, Barcelona had already set a billion-euro price tag on the talented youngsterCredit: GettyBoth have set the football world alight with a string of dazzling displays for their countries. Here we take a look at the teens playing for kicks . . . KOBBIE MAINOO, 19ALL dressed in replica England shirts bearing the number 26, Kobbie Mainoo’s family beamed with pride after England’s semi-final victory.Just a year ago Mainoo still had not made a league start for his club side Manchester UnitedCredit: GettyAnd so they should — at the beginning of the Euros the 19-year-old central midfielder was not in manager Gareth Southgate’s starting XI.Yet, he is going to be key to England’s hopes of lifting the trophy for the first time tomorrow night having become the team’s most reliable passer.READ MORE ON ENGLAND V SPAINWaiting for debutStats from Opta show Mainoo has the best pass accuracy for a midfielder in the history of the European Championship, at 96 per cent.But just a year ago Mainoo still had not made a league start for his club side Manchester United.At the time, the most famous Mainoo was his half-brother Jordan Mainoo-Hames, who appeared on the ITV reality show Love Island.But in the past year, Mainoo made a name for himself by winning the FA Cup, scoring a wonder goal against United’s rivals Liverpool and getting called up by Southgate.Most read in Euro 2024After his debut for England in March, the manager said: “You cannot believe he has taken everything in his stride like he has.”Lamine Yamal explains cheeky message he did in Spain v France Euro 2024 match But even Mainoo could not contain his excitement on Wednesday after winning in Dortmund against the Dutch, joining his mum and dad in the crowd after the match.Like Spain’s Lamine Yamal, Mainoo’s talents were spotted at an early age.Born in Stockport, Gtr Manchester, in April 2005, he moved to the town’s Cheadle Hulme suburb.There he played for Cheadle and Gatley Junior Football Club aged four, before being scouted by Man United and Man City aged six.Steve Vare, his first coach at Cheadle and Gatley, told The Sun: “He came from a lovely family. I used to have regular chats with his dad.”A lifelong Red, young Kobbie opted for United.Normally, youth players join the scholarship scheme aged 13 or 14, but Mainoo came in at 11 years old.Injuries hampered his progression to the first team, but once Mainoo got over them he starred in manager Erik ten Hag’s starting line-up.His level-headed parents have made sure the youngster does not go off the rails.Mainoo said: “At home with the family I have around me, they very much keep me grounded and nothing changes at home.”Dad Felix, who is divorced from Kobbie’s mum Abena Herold, has guided much of his career.A young Kobbie relaxes in a Manchester United shirtCredit: https://www.instagram.com/kobbie/The star’s family and friends rush to support the talented teenCredit: GettyLives in £370k homeHe could not hide his pride when he saw a young United fan wearing a replica Mainoo shirt at Wembley Stadium before the FA Cup final. Felix asked the boy: “Is that your favourite player? He’s my son.”Mainoo lives with his dad in a £370,000 semi-detached home in Cheadle Hulme, despite earning £20,000 a week.He also spends time with his mum and sisters Ama and Efia. Mainoo is believed to be single and unlike his teammates was not sharing any kisses in the stands in Dortmund after the semi-final. Instead he is focusing on his football and keeping in touch with his old pals.I do know Kobbie is still in contact with his old school friends. He hasn’t lost sight of the fact he is very groundedSteve Vare, Kobbie’s first coach at Cheadle and GatleyCoach Steve added: “I do know Kobbie is still in contact with his old school friends. He hasn’t lost sight of the fact he is very grounded.”Fans will be grateful that Mainoo chose to play for the country of his birth, rather than that of his parents, who are originally from Ghana.The African nation tried to encourage him to join their team, but Mainoo said: “As a kid you always dream of playing for England.” Kobbie’s rise has been so rapid that he has not had time to take in his enormous progress. He said: “It happened quick. But I’ve been taking it day by day, game by game. And now we’re in the final.”That will all change if England defeat Spain in Berlin tomorrow night — after that he will be a hero forever.LAMINE YAMAL, 17EVEN before Lamine Yamal scored a wonder goal for Spain in the semi-finals, his club Barcelona had placed a billion-euro price tag on the youngster.Barcelona have been nurturing Yamal’s talents for more than a decade and he made his senior debut for the club aged just 15Credit: GettyThe winger was still 16 when he curled a shot into the top corner to knock out France on Tuesday.And he is celebrating his 17th birthday today by preparing to play in tomorrow night’s European Championship final against England.It is an incredible rise for the youngster, who was bathed as a baby by Argentina and Barcelona legend Lionel Messi for a charity calendar.The Spanish giants have been nurturing Yamal’s talents for more than a decade and he made his senior debut for the club aged 15 years, nine months and 16 days.A star is bornHe is so young that he has had to take exams online during the Euros. His dad Mounir Nasraoui is 35 — three years younger than Yamal’s Spanish team-mate Jesus Navas.Mounir’s Instagram account is filled with images of his son, including the one of Messi with the baby Yamal, with the caption: “The beginning of two legends.”But Yamal’s family have not had it easy. His parents used to share his grandmother’s apartment with Yamal, an uncle and four cousins in the city of Mataró on the outskirts of Barcelona.England will be hoping to undermine those Messi comparisons by restricting his goal-scoring opportunities in BerlinDad Mounir split from Yamal’s mum Sheila Ebana, who worked in a fast food outlet, when their son was three.His dad stayed in Mataro and his mum moved to the nearby city of Granollers. Yamal split his time between their homes.With Mounir having been born in Morocco and Sheila in Equatorial Guinea, they had faced hostility in Spain.Standing up to the bigotry got Mounir into trouble when he confronted activists from the anti-immigrant far-right party Vox earlier this year.He was fined £450 in June after allegedly getting into a scuffle with a group who were handing out leaflets in Mataró.But Yamal is a hero in the deprived part of Mataro, called Rocafonda, where he grew up — an area he celebrates when he scores.He draws the number 304 with his hand. They are the final three digits of the suburb’s postcode. Half the population there faces poverty.But for Yamal, it all started on the streets of that suburb.Yamal was bathed as a baby by Argentina and Barcelona legend Lionel Messi for a charity calendarCredit: APYamal pictured with his proud dad earlier in the Euros tournamentCredit: Instagram/hustle_hard_304In an interview with GQ magazine in Spain, Yamal said: “I was always there, I spent the whole day playing, and without picking up my mobile phone. I didn’t stop.“I arrived home dripping with sweat.” The teenager has become a symbol for diversity and he celebrates his African roots by displaying the flags of both Morocco and Equatorial Guinea on his boots.He said: “I’ve visited both countries. In the end my families are my roots. It’s something very important for me.”The contract he signed with Adidas to promote that footwear bought a new house for his grandmother.But even though Yamal is earning a reported £120,000 a month, he still lives at Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy. The club is trying its best to protect him, restricting interviews and disciplining him if he steps out of line.When he played for the national side’s under-17s, he and some team-mates reportedly made prank calls to the team’s psychologist in March 2023.As a result, Barcelona banned him for four games. But according to the Spanish Press, he has found time for romance and has been linked to Spanish influencer Alex Padilla.In the press one day they put you as the new Messi and the next day they say that you have to stop playingLamine YamalYamal’s skill has led many to call him the “new Messi”. But it is a title the youngster himself is wary of, given how many former prodigies have failed to live up to that lofty billing.Yamal said: “In the Press one day they put you as the new Messi and the next day they say that you have to stop playing.”Clearly, though, Barcelona sees him as Lionel’s heir.Yamal signed a three-year contract with them last year, the longest allowed for minors under Spanish law.There is an agreement that the deal will automatically renew until 2030.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut England will be hoping to undermine those Messi comparisons by restricting his goal-scoring opportunities in Berlin tomorrow night. More

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      The kids of England’s Euro 96 team and what they do, from a singer-songwriter to a reality TV glamour girl

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      ENGLAND’s last great Euros team came in 1996, when the the country hosted the competition on our shores.The likes of Paul Gascoigne, Tony Adams, Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham and more made the semi-finals then.Bianca Gascoigne has become a reality TV darlingBianca is now a proud mother after all her modelling exploitsHer dad is Engand legend Paul GascoigneAnd despite a gallant effort against the Germans, it wasn’t to be as we succumbed to our once dreaded fear… penalties.Since then, many of those stars have had kids and their sons and daughters have now very much grown up.Fron a singer-songerwriter who dates a rugby star and lives in Paris to reality TV star who won Love Island, here’s what the Euros team of 1996 sons and daughters do now.Bianca GascoigneBianca, now 37, famously won Love Island in 2006 alongside Calum Best.Read more football newsShe memorably took on fellow glamour girl Danielle Lloyd in a celebrity Gladiators special.The reality TV darling has also auditioned on X Factor, and starred in Celebrity Big Brother.Last year, Bianca became a mother to son Blake with partner Arron Wright.Hollie ShearerGorgeous Hollie Shearer is the daughter of England legend and Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer.Most read in FootballShe is a singer and songwriter whose single ‘Leave Right Now’ on Spotify that been listened to over 1.4 million times.She dates rugby star Joe Marchant, and they live in Paris together.Watch Alan Shearer recreate iconic celebration after Watkins wins it for England vs Holland in Euro 2024 semi-final 29-year-old Hollie’s Instagram has a huge following, who are wowed by the incredible lifestyle she lives.Hollie Shearer is a singer-songwriter whose song has been listened to 1.4million timesHollie dates England rugby star Joe Marchant and they are based in ParisAlan Shearer poses with daughter Hollie when he collected his CBE in 2016Sophie WalkerWith two pin-up parents, ex-Spurs shotstopper Ian Walker and model Suzi Walker, Sophie was always destined to be blessed with looks.She followed in her mother’s footsteps by going down the beauty route.Sophie appeared in the Miss London competition in around 2017, although it is not known where she placed.In the past, she has also spoken about the difficulties of growing up with a famous father.Sophie Walker followed in the footsteps of her mum by becoming a modelSophie competed in the Miss London competition in 2017Chelsea PearceStuart Pearce’s daughter, Chelsea has represented her country – just like her dad.But she has chosen the route of equestrianism – where she has been massively successful.She famously won a silver medal in Eventing at the Pony European Championships.Chelsea regularly competes around the globe, most recently in Dubai in competitions.Chelsea Pearce is a big name in the world equestrian eventingFootballer Stuart Pearce poses with daughter Chelsea when he played for Man CityTom InceTom chose the most difficult route an off-spring of a footballer could choose… to become a footballer.It’s been a mixed bag for the winger, who now at 32 perhaps leaves his best years behind him.He was once a £10million signing by Stoke in 2018, where he played in the Premier League.Today, he stars in the Championship with Watford.Tom Ince, now 32, stars for WatfordPreviously, Tom played for dad Paul Ince at BlackpoolDan SeamanDad David was good with his hands, so it’s no surprise Dan Seaman is a pro golfer.He last appeared at the 2018 Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball North event.Now, he prefers to coach and has returned to work at the Leeds Golf Centre.”Dan is a specialist at club fitting making him as safe a pair of hands as his Dad (David Seaman) for you to be in,” previously announced when he joined their team in 2012.Dan Seaman, who is a golf pro, stands beside dad David who was a Euro 96 heroDan has appeared on several PGA Tour eventsread more sport featuresMia SouthgateBrilliant Mia, daughter of current England gaffer Gareth, showed athleticism runs in the family.She ran this year’s London Marathon back in April, where she raised over £8,000 for Bowel Cancer UK.She works for Mint Velvet, where she has a job in their social media team.Based in London, she has a separate Instagram page showing off her fashionista side.Mia Southgate recently ran the London Marathon for charityFashionista Mia has her own separate Instagram page for her favourite looksCharlie SheringhamCharlie, now 36, took a leaf out of dad Teddy’s book and became a footballer.He is without a club, after last playing for non-league Dartford from 2022-2024.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt’s a long way from his youth career days, when he bounced from Millwall, Tottenham and Ipswich Town.According to LinkedIn, he works as Head of Football for Forest School.Charlie Sheringham was last seen playing for non-league DartfordDad Teddy and Charlie pose together in 2011 as his son embarked on following in his footballing footstepsEngland football stars’ tattoosThe England squad are known for their love of body art and a lot of them are covered in tattoos. 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      Inside ‘quiet’ and ‘humble’ Ollie Watkins’ rise from sleepy Devon town with Motown singer mum to England super-sub

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      SCREAMING with ecstasy, supersub Ollie Watkins said the world felt like it was in “slow motion” as he celebrated shooting England to the Euro 2024 final.Thrown into the Dortmund bear pit in the 81st minute, Ollie etched his name into English sporting history by firing the Three Lions to their first final on foreign soil.Ollie Watkins, pictured with his partner Ellie Alderson and his kids Marley and Amara, has had a phenomenal rise to the topWatkins scored a last minute winner against the Netherlands to secure England’s spot in the Euo 2024 finalCredit: GettyLater in the stands, the “quiet” lad brought up in a sleepy Devon market town, and who used to play for non-league Weston-super-Mare AFC, was greeted with a kiss by his partner Ellie Alderson before hugging his mum Delsi-May.Interior designer Ellie, mother of Ollie’s children Amara, two, and one-year-old Marley, later said online: “You got your moment and you took it. I’m so proud of you.”Many fans had been clamouring for the Aston Villa striker to get more game time as England progressed through the tournament.Not least of those was his mum Delsi-May, a soul and Motown singer also known by her stage name Ruby Washington.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSBefore the game against the Netherlands, Delsi-May said in a moment captured on TikTok that she hoped “they finally let my son come on the f***ing pitch”.Unlike many of his peers, Ollie, 28, wasn’t cosseted as a young player by one of the great clubs of the Premier League.Rewind nine years to the footballing backwater of Basingstoke, in Hampshire.It was a blustery March day at the Ark Cancer Charity Stadium for a National League South clash between Basingtoke and Weston-super-Mare AFC in the sixth tier of English football.Most read in Euro 2024With the teams locked at 1-1 and the game drifting towards full-time, the visitors asked their teenage striker to warm up.In the 80th minute, on jogged Ollie Watkins — on loan from Exeter City. But there would be no last minute heroics. RISE OF WATKINSInstead, it was Basingstoke who scored a 90th-minute winner.Ollie’s familiarity with the tough tackles and rough pitches of non-league football may help to explain why he has managed to remain humble and grounded.Mum Delsi-May said: “Oliver is a man of very few words.“We’ve got a family group chat, and he never brags or anything, we literally have to draw everything out of him. He’s so humble and I love that about him.“He’s quite nonchalant about the fact that he’s doing something he loves. He assumes it’s the norm, but it’s not. I’m immensely proud.”A mark of Ollie’s warm and generous character is his friendship with Woody Stokes.Woody, who has Down’s syndrome and autism, had waited more than 90 minutes for Ollie to sign an autograph when he was playing for Brentford.Since then, Ollie has welcomed the 11-year-old into his box at Villa Park and during lockdown drove to his home to deliver Easter eggs.Ollie said: “It’s more than just him being a fan. We’ve got a close little friendship. He is involved with a charity called Skylarks, so I support them too.”Rising star Ollie playing for his youth sideThe striker performing for Exeter City’s under 16’sCredit: BPMIt speaks volumes of a man who, despite the riches of the Premier League, has remained true to his upbringing. Born in December 1995 in Torquay, Devon, dad Steven and mum Delsi-May split when Ollie was a child.He was raised in the small market town of Newton Abbot, on the fringes of Dartmoor.Bringing up Ollie, his brothers Richie, Dale and Jordan, and sister Charlotte alone, Delsi-May often took the children to her shows.Ollie said: “I got taken along to her gigs with my brother when I was younger. She also used to work on cruise ships and that’s when she was away. My singing? I probably let the family down with that but one thing I got from mum, I think, was a very good music taste.“My grandad listened to Frank Sinatra, mum listened to Whitney Houston, the blues, soul, and I like that stuff.”Ollie had been rejected for a place at Exeter City’s academy aged nine but a year later he made the grade.It meant Delsi-May having to juggle her work with a 40-mile round trip for his football training.She said: “I had to bomb it over to school, bring them back, get them something to eat, get them in the car, bomb it over to Exeter during rush hour. Then I had to make sure I got back in time for me to get to work.”Ollie’s close friend Matt Jay, a fellow pupil at South Dartmoor Community College and Exeter City’s academy, recalls his old teammate failing to initially make the grade.Midfielder Matt, now at League Two Colchester United, said: “I joined Exeter at under-nines.“I think the story is that Ollie didn’t make it that year, but came back the next.“You could tell he had something, but people develop at different rates. Exeter’s academy was all about technical ability.“I’m not saying that Ollie wasn’t blessed with that, but he wasn’t the best player there, for sure.“He was very fast but he was a late developer.”Ollie in action for Weston-Super-MareCredit: BPMOllie eventually did progress through the ranks for Exeter, winning a professional contract, and making his league debut against Hartlepool United in 2014.But he was far from the finished article. When Ollie and Matt were 18, they were sent on loan to non-league Weston-super-Mare AFC on the Somerset coast.Matt, 28, said: “It was difficult. It was our first loan. We probably thought it was going to be a bit easier than it was.“We used to travel up Tuesday and Thursday evenings for training, get back way past midnight.“But that was all part of the learning experience. And I think that helped Ollie a lot to realise that you weren’t going to just walk into a first team.“You see Marcus Rashford or Phil Foden coming through so young at great clubs, and we all think we’re going to do that. But the reality is, it’s not that easy.“There are times where you wonder if you’re going to make it. A lot of it is about timing.”Back at Exeter, Ollie broke into the first team and began banging in the goals.In 2017, Brentford, then in the Championship, signed him for £1.8million.After 45 goals in 132 appearances he was bought by Aston Villa for a £33million fee.In the season just gone, he scored 19 Premier League goals, helping Villa qualify for the Champions League. England had come calling in March 2021 — and Delsi-May was cleaning her car when Ollie broke the news.She said: “I’m glad he did when I was in the car, because I let out the biggest scream. If I’d have let that out in the street, people would have said, ‘Find that woman a mental hospital!’ I still can’t believe it. I’m immensely proud.”Ollie scored with his first shot on target on his England debut in a 5-0 win over San Marino at Wembley.He told the High Performance podcast just how much it means to him to represent his country.He said: “It’s one of the best feelings and one that I relish. I love it when I go out there. I’m standing there and singing the national anthem and I’ve got goosebumps.“Representing your country is one of the biggest honours, especially where the squad is at the moment.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I feel like I can do more, I’ve got a lot to bring to the table. That’s my aim — to achieve something great with them.”For this unassuming lad from Newton Abbot, that golden opportunity may come in Berlin on Sunday.The England star’s family at the EurosCredit: Splash More

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      Euro 2024 final stadium is steeped in twisted history and is home to English football’s most shameful episode

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      GARETH SOUTHGATE and his players will walk in the footsteps of sporting infamy on Sunday.And they also have the chance to wipe out the memories of English football’s most shameful episode by replacing it with glorious triumph.The Olympiastadion in Berlin is where the Euro 2024 final will take place between England and SpainCredit: GettyThe stadium is famous for Jesse Owens humiliating Adolf Hitler at the OlympicsCredit: Hulton Archive – GettyBut for many the venue is also famous for England’s most shameful episodeCredit: RexThe FA shamefully ordered the England team to perform a Nazi salute during a friendly in 1938Credit: Getty – ContributorThe stadium has a capacity of 110,000 fansCredit: RexFor many, the Olympiastadion will always be the place where Jesse Owens humiliated Adolf Hitler in his own backyard.But the 1936 Olympics WERE used by the Nazis as pure propaganda, as a statement about the supposed supremacy of the “Aryan race”.The ghosts of those Games still flit between the towers and the colosseum-style architecture.Fans walking in on Sunday will see the plinth where the Olympic cauldron was lit by Fritz Schilgen – handpicked by propagandist film-maker Leni Riefenstahl – still there, high in the stands above one goal.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd two years later, when the FA disgracefully ordered England’s players to raise their arm in the Nazi salute before beating Germany in a friendly, it seemed that the British state was implicitly accepting Hitler’s authority and power.The Three Lions have the opportunity to right that ancient wrong yet nothing can detract from the stadium’s place in the pantheon of sport’s darkest hours.Hitler, coming to power in 1933, two years after the Games had been awarded to Berlin, decided that the entire event had to be homage to his ideology and ambition.He stuck with the site in the Grunewald Forest, to the west of the city centre, that had initially been chosen for the 1916 Games that were cancelled following the outbreak of World War One.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHitler used the Olympics to promote the supposed supremacy of the ‘Aryan race’Credit: Getty – ContributorThe ghosts of those Games still flit between the towers and the colosseum-style architectureCredit: GettyBut from what was originally just a stadium, Hitler demanded more, a sports complex named the “Reichssportsfeld” with the stadium at its heart.The original architect Werner March and his brother Walter were re-engaged.England fans gush ‘my manager’ as incredible footage emerges of Southgate going wild after reaching Euro 2024 final However, the main design changes were under the direction of Albert Speer, the “architect of the Third Reich” who later became Reich Minister of Armaments and War Production and who was handed a 20-year jail sentence for war crimes and crimes against humanity at the Nuremberg Trials.Construction of the 330 acre site took just two years, with the stadium having a capacity of 110,000 fans, including a special stand for Hitler and the Nazi High Command.At the western end stood the 77m high Bell Tower, which gave a view of the entire city from the top and which contained the 9.6 tonne Olympic Bell, adorned with the Olympic Rings, an eagle, the year 1936, a depiction of the Brandenburg Gate and the motto “I call the youth of the world” between two swastikas.The design was deliberate. Hitler’s racial theories postulated that the “Master Race” were the natural inheritors of the Roman Empire.Echoing Rome’s most famous ancient monument leaned into that theory, while the Olympic Rings remain where they were hung between the two huge towers at the stadium site entrance.It was about power, grandeur, history and a warped and twisted view of all of them.Construction of the 330 acre site took just two yearsCredit: GettyIn the build-up to the Games, Hitler demanded that the IOC ban black Jewish athletes from taking partCredit: AP:Associated PressIn the build-up to the Games, Hitler demanded that the IOC ban black Jewish athletes from taking part.That was refused but fencer Helene Mayer, whose mother was Jewish, was the only Jew selected by the host country.The Opening Ceremony, devised and then filmed by Riefenstahl, was an exercise in pure propaganda, with Lithuania banned from taking part in the Games on the direct orders of the German government after the trials and convictions of two prominent local Nazi leaders.A number of countries, including Spain and Ireland, boycotted the Games, along with many Jewish athletes from other nations.When the Games commenced, Hitler was in situ to celebrate German victories as an endorsement of his regime, although he was only interested in shaking the hands of home winners.But those flawed claims of Aryan glory were to be blown apart by Owens, who back home in the Deep South was used to the deprivations caused by Segregation.England vs Spain recordEngland have played Spain 27 times in total – here is a look at every result…May 1929, Spain 4-3 England – International Friendly (L)December 1931, England 7-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)July 1950, Spain 1-0 England – World Cup (L)May 1955, Spain 1-1 England – International Friendly (D)November 1955, England 4-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)May 1960, Spain 3-0 England – International Friendly (L)October 1960, England 4-2 Spain – International Friendly (W)December 1965, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)May 1967, England 2-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)April 1968, England 1-0 Spain – European Championship (W)May 1968, Spain 1-2 England – European Championship (W)March 1980, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)June 1980, England 2-1 Spain – European Championship (W)March 1981, England 1-2 Spain – International Friendly (L)July 1982, Spain 0-0 England – World Cup (D)February 1987, Spain 2-4 England – International Friendly (W)September 1992, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)June 1996, England 0(4)-(2)0 Spain – European Championship (W)February 2001, England 3-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)November 2004, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)February 2007, England 0-1 Spain – International Friendly (L)February 2009, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)November 2011, England 1-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)November 2015, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)November 2016, England 2-2 Spain – International Friendly (D)September 2018, England 1-2 Spain – Nations League (L)October 2018, Spain 2-3 England – Nations League (W)Overall, England have won 14, drawn three and lost 10 matches against Spain.In the space of seven days, he won four gold medals, in the 100m, long jump, 200m and 4x100m relay.Hitler, outraged at seeing a black athlete conquer, left the stadium early to avoid the medals ceremony although he was reported to have “saluted” the victor.According to Speer: “The Fuhrer was deeply annoyed by the series of triumphs by Owens.“People whose antecedents come from the jungle were primitive, he said with a shrug.“Their physiques were stronger than civilised whites and hence they should be excluded from future Games.”Enough said. Sickening and a foreshadowing of what was to consume the entire planet within three years.Those flawed claims of Aryan glory were to be blown apart by OwensCredit: GettyIn the space of seven days, he won four gold medals, in the 100m, long jump, 200m and 4x100m relayCredit: GettyYet a year before Germany invaded Poland to start that war, on May 14 1938, English football succumbed to the worst of political cowardice.In the build-up to the game, with Neville Chamberlain having opted for Appeasement rather than instigating the inevitable conflict, the Foreign Office sent a letter to the FA reminding them of the “broader political implications”.The night before the match, the FA and Government agreed to tell the players to perform the Nazi salute when the National Anthem was played – with Hitler’s key lieutenant Joseph Goebbels among the 110,000 crowd.That was not passed on to the players until they were in the dressing room before kick-off.While FA secretary Stanley Rous – later to become Fifa President and be the strongest proponent of allowing Apartheid-era South Africa to remain a member – insisted the players had “no objections”, that was angrily dismissed by some of them.Wolves’ Stan Cullis refused to comply and was omitted from the team and Stanley Matthews claimed: “The dressing room erupted. All the players were livid and totally opposed.”Matthews said the “infamous picture” caused him shame through the rest of his life. England won 6-3.READ MORE SUN STORIESIn 1984, four years after his death, the main road leading up to the stadium was renamed Jesse-Owens-Allee in his honour.One stain slightly removed. On Sunday, Southgate and his players can partially erase another. More

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      Lamine Yamal only started playing 11-a-side FOUR YEARS ago and was overshadowed by Oliver Skipp, now he’s Euro 2024 star

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      LAMINE YAMAL confirmed his status as football’s next superstar in Munich – but has only been playing 11-a-side games for four years.Spain’s incredible 16-year-old bent home the goal of the tournament so far against France as La Roja sealed the spot in the final.Yamal scored the goal of the tournament on TuesdayCredit: AlamyAnd announced himself as football’s next superstarCredit: APFans in Barcelona have long known just how good this little winger could be, but that one strike of his left boot was the birth of a global phenomenon.We have seen Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi vacate the stage and leave it to the likes of Kylian Mbappe. Here is another who could well be in that bracket before long – and he’s not even old enough to drive yet.It was not even that long ago that he was considered too young for proper football.READ MORE ON EURO 2024His first five years in Barcelona’s academy were spent playing seven-a-side football, up until the age of 12 in 2020 when he finally got a crack at 11-a-side games.Yamal’s story is baffling, brilliant and barely believable in equal measure.He is a boy born to a Moroccan father and a mother from Equatorial Guinea, who turns 17 tomorrow and was cradled by footballing royalty at just six months old.Staggering pictures of Yamal as a baby being held and bathed by Messi, taken for a Barcelona charity calendar 16 years ago, resurfaced this week.Most read in Euro 2024Yamal was held by Lionel Messi as a baby, leading some to joke that the Argentinian transferred his footballing powers to himCredit: APThey met again when Yamal was coming through Barcelona’s academyCredit: XYamal only started playing 11-a-side football four years agoCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHe did not restrict his brushes with greatness to Barcelona either, with footage of Yamal as an academy player walking as a mascot with Spain and Real Madrid icon Sergio Ramos at an El Clasico in 2016.There is a touch of fate about this gem, Spain’s “little MVP”, as teammate Nico Williams has dubbed him.Lamine Yamal explains cheeky message he did in Spain v France Euro 2024 match The two wingers have become close at their Donaueschingen base in southern Germany – where Yamal has been doing homework in his spare time and received exam results during the tournament.He passed, obviously.That feeling of destiny was not only evidenced in the fact that it was his goal which got Luis de la Fuente’s men back on course to the final – but that he had scored a near identical one against the same opposition, in a Euros semi-final, a year ago for Spain’s Under-17s.Arguably that one was an even sweeter finish, but nothing will ever compare to doing it on this stage, under this pressure at that age.Spain were a goal down and looking wobbly before that thunderbolt from a now famous left foot, one which has gone straight into the history books.The youngest ever goalscorer at the Euros, also becoming the youngest player to ever start a major semi-final – claiming that title from Pele.But it was not just this moment of magic everyone was delighted by. Yamal’s teammates and manager hailed his work off the ball, while he picked up a card early in extra time for a challenge on the far bulkier Theo Hernandez as France threatened to break.Yamal dummied past Adrien Rabiot before scoring his wondergoalCredit: GettyIt earned Yamal a yellow card and the affection of anyone watching who was not wearing blue. He left to a standing ovation a couple of minutes later.Rodri said: “I am very, very proud of him.“People will hold on to the goal, that sudden starring moment from a kid who is 16.”And you have to have enormous quality to be able to do that, and doing it in a semi-final speaks to the player he is, the incredible future he has.”Very few players can do that.“But I hold on to his defensive commitment, the support he gave teammates, how he closed off spaces, the oxygen he gave us.”How complete his game was, and I told him that personally. Chapeau.”That work rate and focus on the collective over the individual brilliance, moments which can be clipped up and shared, is something that was always noted by academy coaches at Barcelona, the club he joined aged seven.They were impressed by his humble approach on and off the pitch, something which showed around a clash with France’s established stars.Adrien Rabiot probably felt quite embarrassed as he boarded his plane back home from Germany.The France midfielder had tried to intimidate Yamal ahead of their semi-final clash.Rabiot had said: “To reach a final at the Euros, he needs to do more than he’s done up until now.”Was this good enough, then? Yamal responded with a goal for the ages and a man of the match performance.But that is not nearly the best of it, in creating the space for the goal the winger skipped past Rabiot and left him in a spin – powerless to stop this moment of history.Speaking down the camera lens on the pitch at full time, Yamal simply said: “Speak now, speak now.”The wonderkid shouted at the camera ‘speak now’ as he celebrated reaching the finalOliver Skipp stole the show against Yamal’s Barcelona in pre-seasonCredit: ReutersAsked to expand on that afterwards, he added: “The person I’m talking about will know who he is. I’m just happy about reaching the final.”Rabiot and the rest of us know exactly who he was talking about.READ MORE SUN STORIESA season which started with a pre-season game against Tottenham where Yamal excelled but was overshadowed by Oliver Skipp scoring a brace will end on the biggest stage European football has to offer on Sunday.From being outshone by Skipp to eclipsing Pele’s records is not a bad year’s work – just imagine what he will do when he grows up. More