Florida State may want to leave the ACC, but the Seminoles will need another conference to have serious interest in them first.In the latest wave of conference realignment, Florida State could be looking to break its grant of rights deal with the ACC to pursue other ventures.Although Clemson...

After 16 days and a group stage that was full of twists and turns, the state of play at the Women’s World Cup remains largely as it was before the start of the tournament: there is no standout favourite. Despite the shock exits of Germany, Brazil, and Canada, the tournament remains open to a number of teams and the list of contenders grew as the group stage progressed. No one is ruling out anyone, though as ever when it comes to teams punching above their weight, the question at this point in the World Cup is how long they can sustain their momentum. One of the differences between this year’s last-16 to four years ago and previous tournaments is there are more games than usual at this stage where there is a clear underdog. That, of course, is a result of a group phase like no other in Australia and New Zealand and its string of high-profile shocks. South Africa-Netherlands, Nigeria-England, Morocco-France, and even Jamaica-Colombia, all carry the edge of potential surprises. England will be the side that either succumbs to it or who put their foot down and break the spell of the upsets deeper into the World Cup. Sarina Wiegman’s team can benefit from the draw landing in their favour, even though the lesson from the group stage is that no side in their section can be taken lightly. With Nigeria to play and one of Colombia and Jamaica to potentially follow, it couldn’t have worked out any better when the alternative in the knockouts was facing Australia and then one of France or Germany. But England’s growing optimism is also down to how they have improved their own chances. The Lionesses have been on a strange journey since winning the Euros, where injuries to key players took away a lot of the confidence becoming European champions gave them, only for much of it to return thanks to one performance against China where Wiegman produced a new formation and with it, created a new favourite all over again. England’s greatest strength, apart from Lauren James, is suddenly their unpredictability after Wiegman changed her plans and landed upon a formation that worked to not only exploit China but bring the best out of her remaining players, following the injury to Keira Walsh. What is encouraging for England is their performance against China was reminiscent of one of their displays during the Euros, even with a line-up that is completely different to the team that started throughout last summer. England are a ball-dominant side, only Spain had more possession and completed more passes during the group stage, yet they can also mix up their play through long balls, switches of play, and attack through a variety of angles. The formation change released those aspects of England’s play, while it also helped break an over-reliance on crossing from wide areas. The goals are also back; James has shown she can score from anywhere, but it was important that Alessia Russo, Rachel Daly, Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly all found the target before the knockouts as well. The draw appears stronger in the opposite half to the Lionesses, which is the reverse of how many thought it would play out pre-tournament. The emergence of Japan as a contender has contributed to that. The 2011 champions were considered to be a side in transition but have so far played the best football of the tournament. They have a clear tactical plan and Japan’s players are well drilled in the system they have chosen to play. Japan finished the group stage with the most goals and expected goals (xG) of any team at the tournament, but it’s about the only statistical category in which they do dominate. Japan aren’t near the top when it comes to passes, possession, or even shots. Everything is instead built on efficiency and maximising the quality of their goal-scoring opportunities. Japan’s shape, with wing-backs and two No 10s, has allowed this, while the outstanding service from Yui Hasegawa and Jun Endo feeds the players who have taken their chances. All of this could change the second Japan face a side who are able to counter their system. Japan’s 4-0 win over Spain was the statement result of the group stage, but it came as they produced the perfect game plan to exploit Spain’s high line and the space their possession-based style leaves in behind. That said, it was still a closer game than the scoreline suggested, with Japan taking their chances while absorbing all of their European opponents’ possession and pressure. Everything has gone right so far for Japan, but the high-pressure environment of a knockout game is a different test. Could Norway be the opponent to properly challenge them? It’s been a chaotic tournament for Hege Riise’s side and the staggering absence of any cohesion in their opening defeat to New Zealand and subsequent draw against Switzerland suggests they will struggle against an opposition that operates as smoothly as Japan. Japan, meanwhile, highlighted the pieces missing from Spain’s side that they ultimately could do without in the thrashings of Costa Rica and Zambia but were glaring absences in the 4-0 defeat. Defender Mapi Leon and goalkeeper Sandra Panos, two of the 15 players who made themselves unavailable for international selection last September as they criticised a lack of support from the Spanish Football Federation, are key parts of the high defensive line that has looked creaky at the best of times under head coach Jorge Vilda. The way Japan took it apart despite having so little possession could impact Spain’s confidence in their system, although Switzerland, their opponents in the last-16, do not carry the same pace or individual threats on the counter-attack. In the same half of the draw, the USA may be having their own crisis of confidence, given the sense that their reign as two-time champions is drawing to a close and a fan base that is close to meltdown back home. Having narrowly avoided a group stage exit against Portugal, coach Vlatko Andonovski has drawn much of the heat for the USA’s insipid performances. The debate off the pitch over what has gone wrong has been fierce, yet the team’s displays have so far lacked any of that same emotion. Andonovski’s side showed some glaring flaws against the Netherlands and Portugal, with no control in midfield and no sense of how to press or create chances, After finishing runner-up in Group E, the USA will face a Sweden side who are organised, defensively sound, and confident at keeping the ball – essentially everything the USA are not. Along with Japan, Sweden have been one of the most efficient teams in front of goal at the World Cup, but a key difference is much of their threat has come from set-pieces and the deliveries from Jonna Andersson, with Amanda Ilestedt a frequent target at the front post, leading to three goals already. Sweden thrashed the USA 3-0 when they met in the group stages of the Olympics two years ago: a repeat would be a hugely humbling way for the defending champion’s dominant run at the World Cup to end, albeit an inevitable one given their run so far. Meanwhile, South Africa, Jamaica and Morocco are all looking to extend theirs, having already broken new ground at the World Cup. South Africa and Nigeria, who have reached the quarter-finals before but will be underdogs against England in the last 16, are naturally more dependent on scoring goals than keeping them out; South Africa have been inspired by their brilliant forwards Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia, who have acted decisively to be central to their big moments, while Nigeria’s inspiration is led by Asisat Oshoala. South Africa, in particular, appear to have a good match-up with the Netherlands, who build play slowly from the back and have defenders who could be susceptible to the counter-attack. Jamaica’s historic progress has been built on a resilient defence that is yet to concede a goal at the World Cup. Lorne Donaldson’s side have needed to be secure as they do not create many chances, even if they have a striker in Khadija Shaw who is clinical when they arrive. That Colombia go into their tie as favourites to win is interesting, after shocking Germany and topping Group H. While they have an absolute star in Linda Caicedo, Colombia’s best results have come when they have been able to be the underdog. Both of their wins, against Germany and South Korea, also came from Colombia outperforming their xG, with Caicedo’s brilliance helping to explain that. Although they were already through when they played Morocco, Colombia’s display in the 1-0 defeat was hardly convincing. Morocco, through so unexpectedly at Germany’s expense, despite losing 6-0 to them in their opening fixture, may have exceeded their ceiling. France have struggled a bit for rhythm, but that is a fixture where they should be able to play in a manner that suits them. Australia may await in the quarter-finals, but the big question around the co-hosts remains the fitness of Sam Kerr. Ironically, it comes after the Matildas found a system that worked without Kerr in the 4-0 destruction of Canada, but the return of their captain and star striker could even elevate that and give Australia a fresh boost for the knockout stages. They could be the team with momentum behind them should Kerr return to inspire the hosts all over again. Denmark are dangerous opposition in the last 16: their defensive, counter-attacking system is unlikely to win them the World Cup but it is enough to pull off a shock. It’s what has defined the World Cup already and now the stage is set for plenty more. Read More Women’s World Cup LIVE: Latest news and updates as England prepare for last-16 clash with Nigeria Mary Earps insists fearless England ready to avoid World Cup banana skin Sarina Wiegman: The Lionesses’s all-conquering coach in profile How the Women’s World Cup delivered its greatest ever group stage — against all the odds Mary Earps insists fearless England ready to avoid World Cup banana skin Women’s World Cup LIVE: Latest news and updates as England prepare for last-16 Zambia Women’s coach accused of rubbing player’s chest at World Cup

England boss Gareth Southgate says he understands the criticism Jordan Henderson has received for joining Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq but feels the midfielder’s beliefs have not changed. Henderson’s move to the fast-growing Saudi Pro League came under scrutiny due to his long-time support for the LGBT+ community and the Premier League’s Rainbow Laces campaign. Homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death in Saudi Arabia, while the state stands accused of a host of other abuses including placing harsh restrictions on women’s rights and the right to political protest. Pride in Football, a network of LGBT+ fan groups, said the England midfielder had “lost the respect of so many people who valued and trusted” him but Southgate says it is not a black and white matter. “It’s not for me to judge any individual whether they’re in football or in any other industry,” Southgate told talkSPORT. “I don’t think he’s changing his view on what he believes in. So now we’re in a really complex world where, what are we saying, nobody should go to Newcastle? Should nobody work for companies that the Saudis own in London or should nobody buy oil from the Saudis? “I think it’s very complicated, I completely understand the argument of, you know, you’ve supported the LGBTQ community and I can understand why they would have a really strong view on it. “I think it’s so difficult to say, you know, is Henderson saying he doesn’t support that community anymore? Well no, he isn’t, but of course people are going to say his actions are the reverse of that.” Henderson will be making more money than he ever has before, with a reported £700,000 per week salary, but the standard of football in the league may affect whether his England career continues. Southgate revealed the 33-year-old sought assurances about the prospect of being overlooked if he were to move. The England boss added: “I spoke to him in the summer, the question he wanted to know was, ‘If I move here, are you going to automatically rule me out?’. “We would be stupid to do that. Why would we rule anyone out based on where they are playing? We have got to see how they are playing. “We have an idea of what that league will look like but we won’t know until we actually start to see the games. “If you asked me three months ago what that league would look like, I’d have a very different idea to what it is looking like as more and more players decide to go there. “Big-name players but not so many that are in the prime of their careers but not players past their sell-by date. “I think that whole project is fascinating for where it is going to head and what that might look like over the next few years. “But Henderson won’t be playing in the Premier League. He won’t play in the Champions League, which is the easiest assessment for the level he is playing at.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Iain Henderson backs Ireland wing Jacob Stockdale to fight for World Cup spot Ewan Ashman sets sights on Scotland starting spot at World Cup England hoping Tom Curry will feature in World Cup build-up despite ankle issue

Pep Guardiola has vowed to do everything in his power to make sure Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva stay at Manchester City as he concluded it would be very difficult and expensive to replace both. Walker, who only has one year left on his contract, has attracted the attention of Bayern Munich while Silva, a long-term target of Barcelona, has had an offer to join the Saudi Arabian Pro-League. But Guardiola, who has already lost Riyad Mahrez to Saudi Arabia and captain Ilkay Gundogan, believes it would cost a fortune to find successors to Walker and Silva. “They are so important players for us, we are going to do everything,” he said. “It’s not like Gundogan where he finished a contract. We want him to stay because he wants to stay because they want to stay. “We will do everything because to replace these two players is so difficult. We lost two incredible players for us in Ilkay and Riyad for us who were massively important for us in big important games with goals and assists. To lose Kyle and Bernardo would be so difficult, that is why we are going to do everything to keep them.” City have brought in Mateo Kovacic to take over from Gundogan in midfield and are close to completing a £77 million deal for defender Josko Gvardiol but Guardiola is conscious his transfer budget will be depleted if he has to get players of the calibre of Walker and Silva to take their places. “When we lose those players we have to go to the market for these players and they cost more than £50 million,” the City manager said. “We need that money to reimburse on other players to make the team as strong as possible to defend the crowns that we won and win games for our people.” Guardiola hopes the transfer to bring in the Croatia international Gvardiol from RB Leipzig will be completed on Friday or Saturday. “He’s doing a medical test, everyone knows he is here and hopefully we can finish the deal in the next hours,” he said. Guardiola has also brought Juanma Lillo back to the Etihad Stadium and explained: “Juanma is the best assistant you can find. You have to find people in the bad moments. Juanma, beyond his knowledge of football, is a massive human being.” City face Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday when Declan Rice is likely to make his Gunners debut. The former West Ham captain chose to join Arsenal rather than City in a £105 million deal. “All the best,” added Guardiola. “He’s a really important player. He’s a really nice guy and for the national team, is and will be important. Arsenal bought an incredible player.” Read More Pep Guardiola wants to keep ‘irreplaceable’ Kyle Walker at Manchester City Why Wrexham can’t bank on another Hollywood ending Chelsea confirm Axel Disasi signing to cure defensive woes Why Wrexham can’t bank on another Hollywood ending Chelsea confirm Axel Disasi signing to cure defensive woes Women’s World Cup LIVE: Latest news and updates as England prepare for last-16

England goalkeeper Mary Earps hailed “mastermind” Sarina Wiegman whose system switch-up stirred the Lionesses to life and ensured they launched themselves into the World Cup’s knockout phase with a perfect record. Wiegman’s move from a 4-3-3 to a 3-5-2 formation in the absence of injured midfielder Keira Walsh inspired a 6-1 victory over China to conclude the group stage and set up a last-16 meeting with Nigeria in Brisbane. And there was more hopeful news for Lionesses fans on Friday morning after it was revealed Walsh stepped up her recovery from the knee injury she sustained against Denmark, and was following an individual programme whilst her 22 team-mates trained together at the Central Coast Stadium. Asked if the new system had been in the works for a while, Earps replied: “No, not really, I mean obviously Sarina is the mastermind behind all the tactics and the formations, so yes, we just do as we’re told, we get in formation, do our job to the best of our ability and it paid off for us.” The European champions, ranked fourth in the world, got off to a much nervier campaign than most expected after eking out a 1-0 win against Haiti, 49 places below them, while Lauren James’ first goal in a World Cup was the only scored by either side as England beat Denmark. Tuesday’s China encounter saw the Lionesses turn over a new leaf as the attack came alive with five different goalscorers, including a brace for Chelsea’s James. Earps agreed England were growing into the tournament, saying: “The proof is in the pudding. The proof is what happens come game day, and the most important thing is that we’ve won three out of three. “I know that maybe the results haven’t been as maybe people would have wanted, but we’re playing at a World Cup at the end of the day. “This is the creme de la creme, this is the top, so I think that we know what we’re capable of, we’re just focused on one game at a time and getting the job done. So yes, that’s what we did.” Whether Walsh will feature again in this World Cup is still up in the air, but in her absence, England and Wiegman have added unpredictability to their arsenal of weapons, unlocking the ability not just to dominate but also discombobulate their future opponents. Should the Lionesses get the job done against 40th-ranked Nigeria on Monday it will be one of Colombia or Jamaica in a Sydney quarter-final, a test England at least on paper look perfectly primed to pass. A place in the final four could see them face debutants Morocco, defying the odds ranked 72nd in the world, tournament co-hosts Australia or a formidable French side who sit only one place below them in FIFA’s rankings. Earps feels England are capable of beating them all. She added: “I don’t think we fear anyone in general anyway. I think our qualities have shown through in however many months and years we’ve been playing together, so I think we’re in a good spot. “As long as we’re keeping the wins on the board, then no complaints here.”

When Chloe Kelly scrambled home England’s winner against Germany in the Euro 2022 final last July, Sarina Wiegman achieved a feat only dreamed of since Sir Geoff Hurst’s stunning hat-trick against the same opponents at the same venue in 1966: she brought football home. Since succeeding Phil Neville as the Lionesses’s coach in September 2021, the Dutchwoman, 53, has barely put a foot wrong, winning 28 of her 35 games in charge, drawing just six and losing only once: a chastening 2-0 friendly defeat to Australia in Brentford in April that may actually have served as a timely reality check ahead of this summer’s Women’s World Cup in the Matildas’ backyard. It’s three out of three for her team in Australia and New Zealand so far, with the Lionesses’s putting two nervy 1-0 wins over Haiti and Denmark behind them with the 6-1 trouncing of China, which saw them top Group D in style and head into a round of 16 clash against Nigeria brimming with confidence. But while success might appear to come easily to Sarina Wiegman, matters were not always so straightforward. Born in The Hague on 26 October 1969, she played street football from a young age but, incredibly, had to pretend to be a boy in order to turn out for Wasserman side GSC ESDO at junior level. “When I started playing football as a six-year-old girl we weren’t allowed to play, so I played illegally,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast recently. “I had very short hair, looked a little bit maybe like a boy, my parents were really OK and I had a twin brother, so we just started to play and everyone said that’s OK. It wasn’t normal then and now it’s just normal, whether you’re a boy or a girl, you can play football and that’s just great. It was actually crazy before, that you couldn’t, but that’s just the way it is in development I guess.” Subsequently playing as a central midfielder for the women’s teams HSV Celeritas and KFC ‘71 in the 1980s, she made her debut for the Dutch national side in 1987 against Norway, aged 17, when the well-travelled future Rangers manager Dick Advocaat picked her for what would turn out to be his only game in charge. She would ultimately make 104 appearances for the Netherlands, becoming their first female centurion when she appeared against Denmark in 2001, prompting Louis van Gaal to pay his respects to her extraordinary accomplishment in an era in which the women’s game had been so badly neglected. Long before that moment, Wiegman’s performances at the 1988 FIFA Women’s Invitation Tournament in China had caught the eye of then-US women’s coach Anson Dorrance, who subsequently invited her to enrol at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to play for the North Carolina Tar Heels. She accepted, making 24 appearances in 1989 and scoring four times for a team that featured such future American greats as Mia Hamm. Three members of her current Lionesses squad – Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo and Lotte Wubben-Moy – would later follow in her footsteps and turn out for the Tar Heels. Returning to the Netherlands, Wiegman worked as a PE teacher at Segbroek College secondary school in her hometown before signing for Ter Leede in Sassenheim in 1994, whom she would play for until 2003, picking up two championships and a domestic cup along the way. After retiring as a player, she returned to Ter Leede as the club’s manager in 2006, leading them to a league and cup double in her debut season before joining ADO Den Haag for the inaugural Women’s Eredivisie. She would spend seven years with Den Haag, again winning the double in 2012 and another cup the following year (Wiegman’s husband Marten Glotzbach, incidentally, is the current manager of the ADO Den Haag’s men’s side). Wiegman would then serve the Dutch women’s team as assistant manager between 2015 and 2017, twice stepping in as interim boss during that period while also becoming the first woman to hold a coaching role with a men’s team when she joined Sparta Rotterdam as an assistant in 2016. That same year, she also became the first woman to complete her Uefa Pro coaching licence. Finally promoted to manager of the Netherlands women’s side in 2017, she quickly led them to Euros glory that summer and the World Cup final in France two years later, where they were unfortunate to come up against an imperious Megan Rapinoe-inspired USA Joining England as the Covid-19 pandemic subsided, her impact on these shores was just as immediate, with players like Mary Earps later speaking movingly about Wiegman’s positive influence on her game and personal life, the new manager arriving at a time when the goalkeeper was suffering a crisis of self-belief and seriously considering hanging up her gloves. Bringing clear communication and direct attacking football to the Lionesses, Wiegman enjoyed the ideal approach to last summer’s Euros with an emphatic 5-1 win over the Netherlands, the reigning champions and her own former side. Speaking after that game, Wiegman was characteristically disinclined to get carried away, commenting: “We stick to our strategy and plans, and whether we would lose or win now, we’re not going to all of a sudden sit, we call it, on a pink cloud. We stay grounded.” Despite losing her sister weeks before the Euros got underway, Wiegman refused to lose focus and England would go from strength to strength as the tournament progressed, thrashing Norway and Northern Ireland in Group A, finding a way past a tricky Spanish side in the quarters before trouncing Sweden 4-0 on the way to that historic showdown with Germany. “The world around us will be changed,” she reflected in the aftermath of that famous extra-time victory, without hyperbole. “It’s positive but we have to be aware of it too. But we’ve changed society. That’s what we want. It’s so much more than football. We want to win, but through football you can make little changes in society and that’s what we hoped for. This has done so much for the game and for women and society. In England, but also across the world. It’s so nice to see how enthusiastic everyone was, inside and outside the stadium.” While she benefitted from a settled first-team at the Euros and at times appeared reluctant to make changes, Wiegman has had her preparations for the World Cup disrupted by injuries, first to Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby and now Keira Walsh, having already lost Ellen White and Jill Scott to retirement. But, as usual, she has simply taken adversity in her stride and given opportunities to promising understudies like Lauren James and Katie Zelem, both of whom excelled against China. Can Wiegman’s England go one better this time than her Dutch side of four years ago? With Brazil, Germany and Canada already knocked out and the USA decidedly unconvincing and up against a free-scoring Sweden next, the dream has rarely looked closer to becoming a reality. Read More Women’s World Cup LIVE: Latest news and updates as England prepare for last-16 clash with Nigeria How the Women’s World Cup delivered its greatest ever group stage — against all the odds Wiegman hails England’s adaptability after tactics change sparks big win over China Watch England train ahead of Women’s World Cup last 16 clash with Nigeria Wiegman hails England’s adaptability after tactics change sparks big win over China Lauren James delighted to ‘carve out’ her name with superb displays at World Cup

Chelsea have signed France defender Axel Disasi from Monaco. The 25-year-old has signed a six-year deal at Stamford Bridge as the Blues moved quickly to cover the injury to Wesley Fofana. Disasi has played 130 times in Ligue 1 and was part of the France squad that were runners-up in last year’s World Cup. The centre-back told the club’s official website: “I am so happy to be here, at this big club. I am really proud to be able to be a part of this great family, and I hope to achieve very big things here. To win titles. “I will do everything I can to achieve those objectives. I am very ambitious. “It’s a club that has been very popular for French players because they have all done well here – (Frank) Leboeuf, (Marcel) Desailly, (Nicolas) Anelka, (N’Golo) Kante, (Olivier) Giroud. And the colour is blue like the national team! It’s good. “It’s a familiar club for French people, and I hope all the French players here now can join that line of great players.” Co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley added: “Axel has showcased his quality over several seasons in France and that has deservedly led to recognition on the international stage. “He is ready to take the next step in his career and we are delighted that will be with Chelsea. We welcome him to the club and look forward to him joining up with Mauricio Pochettino and his new team-mates in the days ahead.”

Ipswich midfielder Massimo Luongo believes the Sky Bet Championship new boys can take the division by storm thanks to a manager “setting the bar” for modern coaches. The Tractor Boys are back in the second tier for the first time in five seasons after they scored 101 goals to secure promotion from League One and travel to Sunderland this weekend. Former Manchester United coach Kieran McKenna is the man behind Ipswich’s revival and Luongo, currently nursing a minor groin strain, admitted the draw of working with the 37-year-old was the decisive factor in a return to Portman Road after a loan spell in 2012. Under the stewardship of McKenna, in his first senior managerial role, Ipswich entertained League One last season with a brand of attacking and possession-based football not usually associated with success in England’s lower-leagues. While Luongo is under no illusions about the Championship being a big step up, he is fully swept up in the excitement that has been present at the Suffolk outfit since McKenna’s arrival in the winter of 2021. He told the PA news agency: “We have a good blend of boys ready to make the jump up and boys prepared to do the normal business. It is definitely one with a lot of anticipation and we’re all excited. I am definitely excited. “It is definitely a step up, physically it is a step up. The difficult thing is how you compare because we dominated so many games in League One so physically they are not as demanding as games in the Championship. “Everyone has the typical Champ game references when you watch Championship football and it comes around a lot. “But I think with Ipswich, after Burnley last year, we will try to be the exception where you are not saying that. “We want to play out from the back, play good football, be entertaining, so it will be a challenge but the players we have got are all looking forward to it.” Australia international Luongo is delighted to be established at a club for the start of this season after enduring a difficult time last summer. Luongo had to wait until September to find a new club before he failed to make an appearance during his short stint at Middlesbrough and had largely “written off the season” when Ipswich registered their interest before January. The lure of being managed by ex-Tottenham Under-18s boss McKenna, after crossing paths at Spurs, helped the 30-year-old get over a largely disappointing 2022 to become a key figure for Ipswich and he netted in the 6-0 victory over Exeter that clinched promotion in April. “With Ipswich there was some history there, I enjoyed it last time and probably the manager was the biggest pull. I came across him a little bit at Tottenham and over my career he kept track of me. I had also heard a lot of good things,” Luongo said. “What is striking for me is his detail in how he wants to play. On the pitch, the detail is at a really, really high level, like the information we receive and the feedback we receive from the coaches. We want to play out from the back, play good football, be entertaining, so it will be a challenge but the players we have got are all looking forward to it. Ipswich midfielder Massimo Luongo “And the way he conducts himself. He is in early, watches every second of training and loves football, I feel like he watches every single game because he pulls out games like that. “His knowledge of modern football is really good and he is obsessed with football to be honest. That bleeds into the team and we can all see it. “You can tell he loves football, is obsessed with it and wants to improve as a coach and manager so you can imagine what he wants for us and demands from us. “I enjoy coming in every day, for sure. The coaching staff and him have definitely created an atmosphere where we are firstly humble. “We don’t leave any stone unturned, it doesn’t matter who we play against. Then when we win, stay humble and when we lose, don’t get too low. They have done a really good job of that. “The manager has mixed with good people at Man United, his background with where else he has learnt and stayed, so I think the football we are playing is probably setting the bar for modern day managers of what is required. “It is interesting because I have had a little spell of (Michael) Carrick and I can see the same with Kieran as well, so it is a good place to be.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Football rumours: Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku player swap bid hits snag On This Day in 2008 – Kevin Pietersen appointed England Test and one-day captain World Cup winning coach Jill Ellis blown away by ‘unpredictable’ tournament

For a team whose first three fixtures back in League Two are MK Dons, AFC Wimbledon, and Walsall, it feels somewhat out of kilter that three of their last pre-season games saw them face Chelsea, LA Galaxy and Manchester United. Such is the Wrexham way. Fresh off a nail-biting National League campaign, Las Vegas promotion party and sell-out Stateside pre-season tour, Wrexham fans and players, if only momentarily, might be brought back down to earth by the prospect of a 46-game slog as they look to pick up where they left off back in the Football League for the first time since 2008. Perhaps if this were a Hollywood script, Wrexham’s journey under owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney would continue unperturbed; the Welsh side coasting to League Two glory and continuing their march up the English football pyramid. But football isn’t always that straightforward. Ask Salford City. The Manchester club, owned by class of ‘92 teammates Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Phil Neville and David Beckham were the original celebrity-owned lower-league club and arrived in this very same league back in 2019 to similar fanfare. Four seasons and four managers later, they still remain. In their quartet of campaigns since promotion from the National League, their best finish has been last season, placing seventh before ultimately bowing out in the play-off semi-finals. Ask Mansfield Town. The Stags will now enter their 11th straight year in the division after their promotion from the then-Conference League. After four unsuccessful promotion challenges in the last six seasons as one of the league’s bigger spenders, Nigel Clough’s side have become part of League Two’s furniture, last year missing out on a spot in the play-offs to Salford courtesy of goal difference. Ask Stockport County. Last season’s shiny new toy, having pipped Wrexham to promotion in 2021, Stockport were many people’s favourite to achieve back-to-back promotions with their National League record and stellar squad. However, a play-off final penalty-shootout defeat to underdogs Carlisle means that Dave Challinor’s side will again compete in the fourth tier this season. None of this is to suggest that Wrexham can’t achieve back-to-back promotions for the first time in the club’s history. They are clear favourites with the bookmakers to do just that after their record-breaking points tally (111) last season in the fifth tier. But even with four promotion spots on offer, rather than the two in the National League, history has shown that nothing can be taken for granted in a league full of clubs looking to move up the pyramid. In that sense, Parkinson can be grateful that Wrexham’s riches and big-spending in the past gifts him a squad full of League Two know-how with no better example than talisman and last year’s Player of the Season, Paul Mullin. Although a punctured lung, suffered in a pre-season friendly against Manchester United, will see the striker miss the start of the season, the 28-year-old will need no time to acclimatise to the division. It was in League Two, after all, that he first caught the eye of Wrexham having fired 32 goals in 46 games to guide Cambridge United to an unlikely promotion in 2021. His move back down the pyramid to Wrexham was an early sign of Reynolds and McElhenney’s pull and pockets. Then there is Ben Tozer and Jordan Tunnicliffe. Tozer captained Cheltenham out of League Two the very same season that Mullin burst onto the scene while Tunnifcliffe made it into the division’s team of the season that same year for his performances at Crawley. This year, Tozer will be reunited with fellow centre-back, Will Boyle – Wrexham’s lone signing so far this window – with whom he formed a sturdy partnership at Cheltenham. Add to that Eoghan O’Connell, signed last January from League One Charlton Athletic, and recent Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster, who has postponed a second retirement to sign a new contract, and it’s clear to see the enviable quality that the Welsh side have in defence. The creativity of fan-favourite and former Luton Town midfielder Elliot Lee, alongside the goalscoring prowess of Ollie Palmer, who joined for a club-record £300,000, is further evidence of why Wrexham went on to smash the record points tally last season. It is perhaps also why, other than Boyle, the club have not made any signings in the transfer window. There is money available, especially after new, lucrative shirt and stadium sponsorship deals with United Airlines and US coffee brand, Stok, but it also points to a squad that was ready to compete with League Two’s best long before they reached this point. They are by no means out on their own, though. Wrexham’s great title rivals in the National League, Notts County, look likely to challenge them again, especially after the coveted signing of veteran striker David McGoldrick who scored 22 goals for Derby County last year in League One. And there is also Stockport, last year’s Wembley losers, who have recruited Nick Powell from Stoke City, the 29-year-old returning to the league where he first caught the eye of Manchester United aged 18. Gillingham, fresh off their own US investment, and those teams relegated from League One last season – MK Dons, Morecambe, Accrington Stanley and Forest Green – could all contend as well in what promises to be one of the most intriguing and high-quality seasons the league has ever seen. Wrexham will continue to attract global eyeballs and bring renewed pride to their local community, that much is assured. On the pitch, though, nothing is guaranteed. As League Two has shown before, no amount of money or high-profile ownership is a guarantee of success. Wrexham will be wary of that and Parkinson will have his work cut out against any number of fancied promotion rivals but with a squad built for the level, the Welsh club and its owners will surely be dreaming of another Hollywood ending. 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Chelsea have signed France defender Axel Disasi from Monaco. The 25-year-old has signed a six-year deal at Stamford Bridge as the Blues moved quickly to cover the injury to Wesley Fofana. Disasi has played 130 times in Ligue 1 and was part of the France squad that were runners-up in last year’s World Cup. The centre-back told the club’s official website: “I am so happy to be here, at this big club. I am really proud to be able to be a part of this great family, and I hope to achieve very big things here. To win titles. “I will do everything I can to achieve those objectives. I am very ambitious. “It’s a club that has been very popular for French players because they have all done well here – (Frank) Leboeuf, (Marcel) Desailly, (Nicolas) Anelka, (N’Golo) Kante, (Olivier) Giroud. And the colour is blue like the national team! It’s good. “It’s a familiar club for French people, and I hope all the French players here now can join that line of great players.” Co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley added: “Axel has showcased his quality over several seasons in France and that has deservedly led to recognition on the international stage. “He is ready to take the next step in his career and we are delighted that will be with Chelsea. We welcome him to the club and look forward to him joining up with Mauricio Pochettino and his new team-mates in the days ahead.”

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has revealed he was still coming to terms with his wife’s miscarriage as he was assaulted after Arsenal’s north London derby win at Tottenham last season. The 25-year-old had kept a clean sheet as the Gunners won at the home of their neighbours on 15 January to keep their Premier League title ambitions alive. As Ramsdale collected his water bottle from behind the goal, Spurs fan Joseph Watts leapt onto the advertising hoarding and aimed a boot at the his back. Watts was eventually given a four-year banning order having been charged with assault and throwing a missile onto the pitch. Speaking immediately after the game, Ramsdale told Sky Sports: “It’s a shame because it’s just a game of football at the end of the day. I think both sets of players tried to bring me away. Thankfully nothing actually happened too drastic. It’s a sour taste.” Now the England international has explained that he was already dealing with pain in his private life before the incident at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. “There are things that go on in our lives that the public has no idea about, and the past year has been an emotional rollercoaster for me and my family,” he wrote for The Players’ Tribune. “After the high of climbing to the top of the Premier League table and going off to my first World Cup, my wife and I found out that we were expecting our first child. “Mikel (Arteta) gave me a few extra days off after the World Cup, so we went on a brief holiday. It was genuinely the happiest time of our lives. And yeah ... there’s no easy way to say this, but I feel like it’s important that people know. “On the flight home, my wife had a miscarriage. “There’s really no way that I can describe the pain of that six-hour flight back to London, even now. I just want people out there to know that they’re not alone if they’re going through it themselves.” Arteta offered Ramsdale additional time off - “in the middle of the title race, with so much pressure on the club... for me, that’s a manager” - but he opted to play on. “Three days later, we were playing Spurs in the derby, and for me that was the only way to get my mind off things. Football has always been my escape. I told the manager I wanted to play,” he added. “It couldn’t have been a better night. We won 2-0 under the floodlights, and our away fans were going absolutely ballistic. If you watch the match back, you can see me beaming at the final kick of the ball. I went to get my water bottle behind the goal, and never in a million years would I ever think that I’d get kicked in the back by a Tottenham fan. “I’ve had some very spicy banter with fans all over the English leagues. I’ve been called everything you can imagine. But it’s never crossed the line like that. I remember when I got back to the dressing room, I couldn’t even celebrate because I got pulled out to give a police statement.” “You know, I almost felt bad for the bloke who had done it, because I thought to myself: If he only knew me as a person, and what I’m actually going through right now, there’s no way that he would’ve done that. If we bumped into each other one day and got chatting about football, we’d probably be mates.” Ramsdale, who is now expecting a baby with wife Georgina, also wrote about the challenges faced by his brother, who is gay, and wants to see football become a sport that is a “welcoming place for everyone”. “I want my brother, Ollie - or anyone of any sexuality, race or religion - to come to games without having to fear abuse,” he wrote. “And when we lift a trophy at the Emirates Stadium, I want my brother there with me.” The Gaygooners group of LGBT+ Arsenal fans welcomed the support of Ramsdale, who signed off his letter with “Love you, bro”. “We’re so very proud to have aaronramsdale98 as a true ally and for being so brave to talk about such important issues,” Gaygooners wrote on Twitter. “We can’t wait to be cheering you on this season Aaron!” Read More A new era for old empires? How a summer of rebuilding could change the Premier League How the Women’s World Cup delivered its greatest ever group stage — against all the odds Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus to miss start of season after knee surgery Erik ten Hag happy with display in Manchester United’s victory over Arsenal Manchester United seize on errors to beat Arsenal in New Jersey Women’s World Cup LIVE: Latest news and updates as England prepare for last-16

What the papers say Romelu Lukaku has reportedly agreed to personal terms in a move to Juventus this summer as Chelsea look to offload the striker and pick up a striker in a swap deal, the Star reports. Chelsea are eyeing Serbian Dusan Vlahovic. Juventus want more than just Lukaku as part of the deal, though, asking for an additional £35million for the 23-year-old. Manchester City and Chelsea are reportedly in the race to sign Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, but the Daily Mail says there is confusion with his release clause. Widespread changes could be on the cards under Tottenham’s new manager Ange Postecoglou, with the Evening Standard reporting Hugo Lloris, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Tanguy Ndombele and Bryan Gil are up for sale. The club are also interested in signing 19-year-old forward Alejo Veliz from Rosario Central, who is worth around £12million. West Ham’s pursuit of Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse may be coming to an end, according to the Guardian, with the club’s technical director against the move, despite manager David Moyes’ interest. Social media round-up Players to watch Harry Maguire: Everton now look like the favourites to sign the Manchester United defender, with Tottenham and West Ham also interested in the 30-year-old, Football Insider says. Tyler Adams: The Daily Mail says Aston Villa are open to activating the 24-year-old Leeds midfielder’s £25million release clause, with Chelsea also interested in his signature. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live