More than any of the previous tournaments, the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand has leaned into including and showcasing the Indigenous cultures of both nations

Leigh Wood and Chris Billam-Smith enjoyed successful evenings against familiar foes on Saturday, winning world titles in their respective fights. Wood avenged a knockout loss to Mauricio Lara by outpointing the Mexican in Manchester, regaining the WBA featherweight title that he lost in the pair’s first clash. Meanwhile, Billam-Smith was a decision victor over former sparring partner Lawrence Okolie, winning the WBO cruiserweight title at the stadium that is home to his beloved AFC Bournemouth. Wood, 34, was fighting in his hometown of Nottingham when he lost the WBA featherweight belt to Lara in February, as the Mexican won with a controversial TKO in Round 7. However, Lara was stripped of the title on Friday (26 May) after failing to make weight for his rematch with Wood, who was the only fighter eligible to win the gold in Saturday’s main event. And Wood, who was leading his first fight with Lara at the time of the stoppage, got out ahead of the 25-year-old again in Manchester. This time, though, the Briton was able to stay composed throughout, earning a unanimous-decision win (118-109, 118-109, 116-111). Meanwhile, at Vitality Stadium – home to Premier League club Bournemouth – Billam-Smith won a scrappy majority decision against Okolie to claim his first world title. Billam-Smith, in front of a raucous home crowd, knocked down his ex-sparring partner three times, while Okolie also had two points docked for excessive holding. It all led to scorecards of 112-112, 116-107, 115-108 in favour of Billam-Smith. “The Gentleman” then dedicated the win to his mother, who is suffering from breast cancer, and his son, who turned one year old on Friday. Elsewhere, Michael Conlan did not have such a happy homecoming. The Northern Irishman, fighting in his hometown of Belfast, was stopped by Luis Alberto Lopez in the fifth round. Mexican Lopez dropped Conlan with a vicious uppercut, and the towel came in as Conlan struggled to find his bearings. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Mauricio Lara stripped of title before Leigh Wood rematch amid weigh-in drama Wood vs Lara LIVE: Latest boxing fight updates and results What time does Wood vs Lara start in UK and US this weekend?

Gareth Southgate says Harvey Barnes is a player England “like a lot” and Kieran Trippier praised Elliot Anderson’s potential amid talk of a possible tug-of-war with Scotland for the Newcastle duo. There is an increasing number of players that have been part of the English set-up that have gone on to represent another country, including Jamal Musiala and Wilfried Zaha. Angus Gunn was called up to the England senior squad by Southgate before switching allegiance to Tuesday’s opponents Scotland, who are now reportedly targeting Barnes. The 25-year-old has yet to add to the solitary senior England cap he won in 2020 but remains on the manager’s radar, as does Newcastle team-mate Anderson. The Whitley Bay-born 20-year-old spent two days with Scotland last week before withdrawing from the squad due to injury. “Both are very good players,” England boss Southgate said of the Newcastle pair in the bowels of Hampden Park ahead of Tuesday’s friendly. “In terms of Harvey, he’s obviously a player who has played for us. We have a lot of competition in that area of the pitch so he is a player we are always monitoring and he’s a player we like a lot. “With Elliot, I think he’s a player who has progressed really well. We’ve previously spoken with him, but of course he was named in the squad here so assumed that was that. “I thought he had an excellent pre-season with Newcastle as well. “You could see that evolution that he has got as a young player and the potential he has got. I know at Newcastle they rate him very highly. “I don’t know the answer to the ultimate question for either player, but there are going to be more and more of these sorts of situations. “There are so many players with dual or triple nationality now. “It is very complicated for every country and sometimes you can’t offer the player something as quickly as they like. “We have benefited from it and we have lost players because of it and I think that is always going to be the case, really.” The pair’s club team-mate was sat alongside Southgate in Glasgow, with right-back Trippier full of praise for homegrown Newcastle talent Anderson. “As the gaffer said before, in pre-season he’s been unbelievable,” Trippier said of a player who has represented both nations at youth level. “I think it was good for him last year to stay with us and not go out on loan again, to gain that experience. “He’s a young lad with great potential. Obviously we’ve had talks but, like Gareth said before, he went away with Scotland. “Ultimately that’s his decision. He’s a young lad with great potential so that decision is ultimately up to him.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Gareth Southgate: England over-experimenting in Scotland would be ‘ridiculous’ Reece Topley admits to World Cup trepidation after injury woes Dan Biggar: Wales took inspiration from England’s stirring win over Argentina

Aston Villa’s women’s team are “dreading” playing in the club’s new home shirt this weekend after players complained the kits were retaining sweat and creating a “wet look”. Villa’s men’s team have reported the issue to the club, saying that the design produced by kit manufacturer Castore makes the shirt “heavy” and “clingy”, according to the Daily Telegraph. The club’s claret and blue home shirts have noticeably been changing colour this season and players say they are uncomfortable while playing in them. Concerns have also been raised among the women’s team ahead of Sunday’s Women’s Super League opener against Manchester United, in a match that will be shown live on BBC Two. The BBC commentator Jacqui Oatley told Newsbeat: “Normally they’d absolutely relish those games and look forward to them. But they’re actually dreading it because they’re really conscious about how they’re going to look in this wet, clingy kit - for obvious reasons." Villa’s women’s team wore the kit in pre-season and although reports suggest no complaints were officially made at the time, Villa and Castore are now working to improve the kit’s design. Villa’s men’s team have worn the shirts twice this week, away at Chelsea on Sunday and at home to Everton on Wednesday, and on both occasions players were left looking soaked in sweat. Villa signed a contract with British company Castore, who have also produced kits for Newcastle, Wolves and Rangers this season, in 2022 and there were no issues with the design on last season’s kit. The Independent has approached Castore for comment Read More Aston Villa women ‘dreading’ WSL opener due to ‘wet kit’ design error Can United, City or Arsenal dethrone champions Chelsea? – WSL talking points Nicolas Jackson strike earns Chelsea much-needed cup victory over Brighton

England veteran Rachel Daly revealed she blocks out the frightening possibility of becoming a victim of the devastating injury crisis besetting women’s football and the World Cup. Midfielder Keira Walsh was stretchered off with a suspected knee injury in the first half of the Lionesses’ 1-0 group-stage victory over Denmark on Friday, later appearing on crutches and sparking concern she might join England’s Beth Mead and Leah Williamson on a long list of players ruled out of the 2023 tournament with the same anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that disproportionately affects women. There was no update on Walsh’s condition as of Saturday night in Sydney, three days before the Lionesses play China in Adelaide with a target of escaping Group D in top spot. Daly said: “I don’t think you can think about it, for me, those three letters scare the absolute you-know-what out of me. “Fingers, toes, everything crossed for Keira, but that’s football isn’t it, it’s tough, you have your highs and your lows and you just hope that everything is all right and she’ll be all right for the future. It’s a tough one but I hope she’s all right. “I think losing anyone is tough but a player with the ability of Keira is a tough one to lose. She’s such an integral part of the way we play and it’s tough, but that’s why Sarina’s built a squad, we’ve got depth, and [Laura Coombs] came on and did really well. So it’s obviously disappointing and heart-breaking for Keira but hopefully it’s nothing too serious.” England boss Sarina Wiegman did not make any changes to her starting XI during the Lionesses’ Euro 2022-winning campaign, but on Friday opted for two from England’s 1-0 tournament-opening win against Haiti. Women’s Super League (WSL) Golden Boot winner Daly, who was named as a forward for this tournament, returned to left-back where she started every game of the European Championships, while Chelsea’s Lauren James got the nod on the left wing in place of Lauren Hemp. It proved a prescient swap after Daly set up James’ first World Cup goal after six minutes against Denmark, that strike also ultimately enough to maintain England’s 100 per cent record and place them in prime position to finish top of Group D with a point against China. Daly said: “I say it all the time but it’s an honour to put on this shirt whenever I can. I’ll play in any position. It’s not the one I’ve been playing in regularly for my club but it’s something that’s still familiar. “I think I did all right, there’s tweaks I need to make on my game in that position but that’s OK, I learn from it, I’ll go and analyse it, I’ll fix it and move onto the next game. For me, it’s just getting onto the pitch, and doing what I can for the team.” The 31-year-old Aston Villa striker also heaped praise on James, a decade her junior, hotly touted as the future of this England squad and backed by Blues boss Emma Hayes to be a vital force for the Lionesses in their quest for a maiden World Cup. Daly said: “Yeah, LJ’s just a strength on her own, she’s phenomenal, and you saw what she can do, glimpses of what she can do. I can’t take any credit for anything she does, she’s just an unbelievable person and player.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Allan Saint-Maximin confirms Newcastle exit ahead of expected Saudi Arabia move Louise Quinn keen for Republic of Ireland to end World Cup on a high Nathan Ake extends Manchester City contract to 2027

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England Under-21s head coach Lee Carsley praised the spirit of his squad after goals from Jacob Ramsey and Emile Smith Rowe secured a 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic in their Euro 2023 opener. Chelsea forward Noni Madueke had signalled England’s intent early on when his effort came back off the crossbar. Although the Czech Republic also had chances, with Vasil Kusej spurning the best of them when clear through on goal, the Young Lions maintained their composure to make the breakthrough at the start of the second half through Aston Villa midfielder Ramsey. After Anthony Gordon saw a goal ruled out with 20 minutes left for Morgan Gibbs-White blocking a free-kick in the build-up, England continued on the front foot and were eventually rewarded during stoppage time when substitute Smith Rowe slotted home following a counter-attack. England reached the semi-finals of the tournament in 2017, but failed to make it out of the group stage in both 2019 and 2021. With holders Germany and Israel having played out a 1-1 draw in Kutaisi, Carsley’s side now find themselves in the driving seat for qualification from Group C. “I am really pleased to get the result,” Carsley said on UEFA.com. “The preparation has gone really well, but I didn’t want to jinx us before the game by saying that. “There is a brilliant spirit within the lads. We feel like we’re in a good place.” Carsley’s side next face Israel on Sunday before tackling Germany in Batumi on June 28. Arsenal midfielder Smith Rowe said: “We wanted to make a statement in the first game. “We knew the Czechs would be really strong, so we are really happy with the three points.” The Czech Republic will now regroup for their second game against Germany. “A match like this has to be the best motivation for the future despite our loss,” coach Jan Suchoparek said. “It is not the end of the tournament for us and I am sure we will fight in the next two matches even more.”

LSU forward Angel Reese went straight back to the Tigers’ starting lineup upon her return from a four-game absence