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Republic of Ireland midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn believes footballers cannot shy away from the spotlight if they want to escalate the growth of the women’s game. The 33-year-old is one of 23 women selected by manager Vera Pauw to represent the Republic in their first World Cup, a monumental moment that has drawn unprecedented attention to the team and individual players. The full World Cup experience comes with corresponding changes off the pitch – more photo shoots and social media followers among them – a fact of life Littlejohn encouraged the players at this Australia and New Zealand-hosted tournament to embrace like England’s Lionesses after their Euro 2022 victory blasted them into their country’s consciousness. Speaking at the Girls in Green’s team hotel in Brisbane, she said: “It’s full on. The other day we were doing pictures and I was shattered, and I kind of felt sorry for the camera guy because I was just dead tired. Hopefully the pictures look OK. “But look, this is it, we wanted to be here and now we’re going to need to embrace the change and manage all the way. I’m not a superstar so I think it’s going to be different for me but it could be different for the likes of Denise [O’Sullivan] and Katie [McCabe]. “Look at other teams. Like, you see the Lionesses, how their lives have probably changed massively. It’s probably been a big adjustment for some of them and I’m sure it’s not always easy. “I’m sure there’s moments where they’re like, ‘oh, leave me be’. Let me go and get a Nandos and leave me in peace please’. But look, that’s where the game’s going and we kind of need to embrace that and learn now to deal and manage situations.” The effects of England lifting the European trophy last July were keenly felt throughout the following 2022/23 domestic Women’s Super League (WSL) season, which according to a league report saw attendances up 173 per cent compared to the previous campaign. All but one of the WSL’s 12 sides broke a club or stadium record during a season that also set the three highest attendance records in the English top flight, including the league record 47,367 who turned out for the North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham at the Emirates. Littlejohn’s side are now just two sleeps away from their World Cup opener, when they will face Group B rivals and tournament co-hosts Australia in Sydney, and says “you know it’s on party mode back home”. It will be some time before the legacy of the World Cup in the Republic of Ireland crystallises, but ex-Aston Villa player Littlejohn is already starting to notice a shift. The native Glaswegian, who swapped allegiances through her Irish grandparents after representing Scotland at youth level, added jokingly: “It was the Euros last summer. Obviously deep down I’m gutted that England won. “I’m just about over it. It was great for the game there, the WSL. It’s only going in one direction and I think the change that they’ve made is massive, and now you can see the change that hopefully we can all make on this world stage. “It’s just exciting to see. You can even see that, round about the hotel, there’s a few young girls running about with Ireland tops on. I mean I would have never been taken anywhere to a different country to watch a game of football. “I don’t know how these people are getting to do it, but that’s amazing that there’s so many people tuning in and it’s a reality for people now. This can become a job for you. You can go and do this too if you want to do it.”

Xabi Alonso has confirmed he will still be in charge of Bayer Leverkusen next season. The former Liverpool midfielder had been linked to the vacant head coach role at Tottenham during the past month. Alonso has impressed in his first senior managerial position after he guided Leverkusen out of relegation trouble in the Bundesliga and into the Europa League semi-finals since his appointment in October. With Julian Nagelsmann no longer a contender for the role at Spurs and Burnley boss Vincent Kompany signing a new deal earlier this month, Alonso remained one of the bookkeepers’ favourites to replace Antonio Conte. But speaking at a press conference ahead of Thursday’s Europa League last-four second leg with Roma, Alonso said: “I’m happy here with the team and the club. “I’m not worried about my future.” Asked by a Bild reporter if that meant he would still be in charge of Leverkusen next season, Alonso replied: “That’s correct.”

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Liverpool have agreed a British record transfer fee in the region of £110million for Moises Caicedo as the Reds look to shore up their midfield on the eve of the new season. The 21-year-old has been on Chelsea’s radar and the Blues – who will take on Liverpool in both sides’ Premier League opener on Sunday – were thought of as front-runners to sign the Ecuador international. But Brighton have held firm in their valuation of a player who joined them for just £4m from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle two years ago and now the Reds are now poised to sweep in. The PA news agency understands Liverpool, who are aiming to reinforce their options in the middle of the park following the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho this summer, will pay upwards of the previous British record fee of £107m that Chelsea forked out for Enzo Fernandez in January. The fee for Caicedo dwarfs Liverpool’s own transfer record of £75m, which they paid Southampton for defender Virgil van Dijk in January 2018. Should Caicedo complete the move, he will be reunited with fellow midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, the Argentinian World Cup winner who left the Seagulls for Anfield in June. Liverpool have also signed Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig this summer after the departures of Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Ettifaq and Al-Ittihad respectively. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

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Luke Shaw says Manchester United must up their game and end Manchester City’s dominance after the pain of watching their rivals’ treble triumph. The 28-year-old left-back is now the longest-serving first-team player at Old Trafford following the summer exits of David De Gea and Phil Jones. The pair were the last remaining members of United’s title-winning 2012-13 squad, with City becoming the dominant force in England – never the mind the north-west – since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. That success sticks in the craw of everyone at Old Trafford and Shaw says Erik ten Hag’s improving side must kick on to halt their neighbours’ supremacy. Asked if City’s treble win gives United a little bit extra motivation to kick on next season, Shaw told the PA news agency: “Yeah, 100 per cent. “I don’t think there should be any more motivation anyway with them winning that or not, but of course it hurt a lot. A lot. “I think all of us as players we felt that, especially for me seeing them come to the England camp. It was really hard to take, to be honest. I think it's our time now to start putting a stamp on things and not letting it always be so easy for them Luke Shaw “Like I said, there has to be no more motivation than we have anyway, but we can’t accept that. We can’t let that happen again and I think we know that. “I think it’s our time now to start putting a stamp on things and not letting it always be so easy for them because, you know, in the past it’s looked like that. “Us as players now we can’t accept that anymore.” City have won five of the last six Premier League titles, with United unable to make a sustained challenge since winning their 20th crown a decade ago. Furthermore, the Red Devils, who lost the FA Cup final to Pep Guardiola’s men, have won just four major trophies in that period. “Of course it’s not enough,” said Shaw, who joined from Southampton in 2014. “I know that, we know that, the whole club knows that, I think. “To be successful we need to be challenging for every trophy and winning competitions. “We felt like we could have added another two competitions last season and I think we should have. “But I think that, especially the start of this pre-season, we spoke about it a lot. I think this is a big season for us. “We’ve already signed some very good players and hopefully there’s more additions to come to strengthen the squad. “Of course, we have to believe that we can win as many trophies as possible this season.” Shaw has been excited by Mason Mount and Andre Onana’s arrivals, with the impending acquisition of Rasmus Hojlund filling another key role. The left-back was not keen to talk about the 20-year-old Denmark striker as he has yet to complete his move from Atalanta, but the need for a frontman has been clear to the group. “I don’t really want to comment too much on that,” Shaw said. “I think obviously he’s not our player yet, so I won’t say too much. “But I think of course we’ve spoke, and I think the manager has and I think Bruno (Fernandes) did the other day, about how important is for us to get a striker. We know that. “Of course, we’ve got (Anthony) Martial, (Marcus) Rashford at the moment and (Jadon) Sancho, who can play there. “But an out and out striker is what we need and we’re desperate for one and I’m very sure that the club know that, the manager knows that and us players would love one to come, too.” Shaw is excited by United’s prospects heading into Ten Hag’s second campaign – a season he is confident will be “more successful” than the first. The England international is “sure we can be at the top of the table challenging” if they upgrade their away form after a year of improvements under the Dutchman. “I think the culture, of course, has changed,” Shaw said. “I think the attitude, the way we train, the intensity, the application that everyone brings in day in, day out. The manager demands that every single day. “Even when you’re at home he wants you to be at your best, to be honest. He wants you to be doing the right things, living the right way because football is our life. “It’s what we do day in, day out and we need to do everything we can to benefit, to get that maximum level and that’s what he demands.” Shaw has embraced that mindset and become a cornerstone at a club where he gone from boy to man during the last nine years. “I think definitely more grown up, more mature, definitely improved as a player,” the United defender added. “I feel like I’m still a bit young, so I’ve still got a bit more to give. “But I think for it to be successful, like I said, I think we need to start, and I need to start, winning more trophies here. “That’s what we have to demand this season is trophies and, for me, that’s all that matters right now.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Leigh Wood to face Josh Warrington in all-British world featherweight title bout Wrexham striker Paul Mullin to convalesce at co-owner Rob McElhenney’s home Referees must no longer turn blind eye to ‘unacceptable behaviour’ – Howard Webb