Key events
Trent Alexander-Arnold has paid tribute to his former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota, describing him as “someone who lit up a room”, PA Media reports.
Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, died following a car accident in Spain on Thursday. Alexander-Arnold, currently at the Club World Cup with Real Madrid, told DAZN: “Some things are bigger than the game. “It has been difficult but it’s been very emotional, very heartwarming to see the footballing world uniting and come together to show their love and support to him and his family, and obviously his brother as well.
“So although it’s been difficult, it’s also been a nice showing out from everyone, all clubs, all people, uniting and showing love and support for what must be a mind-blowingly hard time for the family.
“I’ve been in and around him and his brother, his family, his amazing wife, his parents, his amazing three children. It’s truly, truly heartbreaking to wake up to news like that. It’s something that you would never, ever expect.
“He was a very close friend, someone who lit up a room when he was in it. I shared the dressing room [with him] for five years [and have] amazing memories on and off the pitch with him. He will live long in all our memories for the amazing man and player he was.”
Sarina Wiegman has talked of England being “too sloppy” and playing too many short passes in the wrong areas, allowing France to press strongly. “Playing against France is totally different,” said the England head coach, “we had to be straight away at our very best or be punished and that’s what happened. At the same time we’ve got an opportunity to put it right.” Players have been equally frank. “We didn’t show up today,” said Jess Carter. “We’re all frustrated because we know we can give more. The only way is up …”
And we must I guess discuss the offside call that denied England the lead in the first half after Alesia Russo netted. “I’m unsure how that was given,” said Beth Mead, who was deemed fractionally offside after a VAR check. There really ought to be an “umpire’s call” style option for marginal decisions such as that.
Loth though I am to focus too much on the men’s Club World Cup, a quick recap on yesterday’s events, where Real Madrid held off Dortmund to win 3-2 in a crazy game that featured three injury-time goals, while PSG had two men sent off against Bayern Munich but still managed a 2-0 win over the German champions, who also lost Jamal Musiala to serious injury after a contentious challenge from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
PSG meet Real Madrid in the semis, while Chelsea face Fluminense in the other. Interestingly, Sky Sports News is reporting that tickets for the latter are going for a snip at $13 – pricing as it should be but an issue for those who bought tickets earlier at a higher rates. Partial compensation is being discussed.
Here’s your essential reading from yesterday’s action:
Suzy Wrack’s France v England report:
Nick Ames on what went wrong for the Lionesses:
And reaction from the players on ‘the ‘cheap’ defending that cost them:
Here’s Louise Taylor on a fine Dutch display against Wales:
Preamble
Greetings everyone and welcome to matchday five of the Euros. England and Wales will be waking up with headaches this morning after chastening defeats in their tournament openers yesterday. In a match between two teams whose pre-tournament run-ins were dominated by talk of who wasn’t in their squads as much as who was, France unmistakably looked better equipped and slicker last night against an England side who stirred too late. Was starting with the still-recovering Lauren James too much of a gamble? What should Sarina Wiegman do for the Netherlands game? All thoughts welcome.
And the Dutch will be tough opponents, as they demonstrated in their 3-0 steamrollering of Wales, who fought hard on their tournament debut in front of magnificent support in the stands and who had their moments in the first half but were always second best.
Meanwhile, later today we return to Group A, with Norway meeting Finland in Sion. Both won their opening games, with Finland perhaps doing so more convincingly though the talent in Norway’s ranks makes them favourites today. Later on the hosts, Switzerland, take on Iceland having been a tad unlucky to lose their opener. Anyway, stay tuned for the latest news, previews and reaction.
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