England boss Sarina Wiegman has said she is “very worried” about the playing calendar after naming her squad for this month’s Women’s Nations League double-header. The Lionesses return to action, after their defeat in the World Cup final on August 20, by facing Scotland in Sunderland a week on Friday and the Netherlands in Utrecht four days later to open their campaign in the new competition. The Arsenal players in her squad – forward Alessia Russo and defender Lotte Wubben-Moy – took part in Champions League qualifying matches last Wednesday and Saturday. Wiegman, whose players started their pre-World Cup preparation camp on June 19, told a press conference on Wednesday when asked if she was concerned about the calendar and time off: “Yes, I am very worried. “I was worried before the World Cup, and we knew this was a very short turnaround. “It’s a bigger thing – we’re all talking about the calendar and we really have to get connected with FIFA, UEFA, the federations, and we have to make that better. “Of course the game is growing, which is really good. But it has to grow together and players need some rest too. “Next week they come in and some players only had six days off, which after such a high-level, high-pressure competition is not good for them. And that has been going on for a long time, because we have major tournaments in the summer all the time. So the urgency to solve it and make it better is really, really high. “The players will come in and we first have to see how they are physically, and we have to get them fresh, and do everything to do that. That’s going to be a challenge. “Of course you have the team and you want to perform at the highest level, and also you want players to be fresh. For me and my staff it’s balancing (the) two – is this player fit enough, fresh enough, to play the game? That’s balancing, it’s so intense, and players are not robots.” She added: “I’ve talked to coaches. I think everyone’s aware that we have to speak with each other and we can do a little better, and we all know it’s pretty complex. “But I think conversations are going on, and we just need to keep doing that and hopefully find better solutions than we had.” 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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Jude Bellingham has no hard feelings after being caught by a controversial challenge from Lisandro Martinez during a pre-season friendly between Real Madrid and Manchester United. The England midfielder squared up to the Argentine after being scythed down towards the end of the first half. Despite a shoving match, Bellingham insisted “the little tiff” will stay on the field and described his opponent as a “brilliant player”. “I came in at half-time, F-ing this, F-ing that. But when he came over and said all the best when he came off, I really respected it,” the 20-year-old explained. “He’s a great competitor, a great player.” Read More Declan Rice says he ‘feels at home’ at Arsenal as he explains reasons for transfer Watch: Ben Stokes reacts as Barbie song interrupts press conference Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney meets Man United boss Erik ten Hag

Tom Aspinall banished a ghost at the O2 Arena on Saturday, securing a statement victory at UFC London to make a triumphant return, one year after suffering a severe injury in the same building. In July 2022, Aspinall tore his MCL and stretched his ACL just 15 seconds into his main event with Curtis Blaydes, and almost exactly 365 days later, the Wigan heavyweight stopped Marcin Tybura in the first round to get back to winning ways. Aspinall, 30, hurt Tybura early with a head kick but resisted getting carried away, instead biding his time – briefly, at least – before dropping the Pole, 37, with a straight right hand. Aspinall then pounced with hammer fists, forcing the stoppage before climbing atop the cage to celebrate. “I wasn’t myself [last time], this is a whole new version of me,” Aspinall said in his post-fight interview. “I’m not gonna say that I’m back; I’m different. My mind’s different. I’m going all the way [to the belt]. “I’ll tell you exactly what I’m gonna do: I’m gonna go to Paris [in September], I’m gonna sit front row for Ciryl Gane vs Sergey Spivak, then I’m gonna beat the winner of that fight. Then I’m gonna beat [champion] Jon Jones.” The result put the crowd back in jubilant spirits, after “Meatball” Molly McCann suffered a submission loss in the co-main event. The Liverpudlian fan favourite tapped to an armbar in her flyweight contest with Julija Stoliarenko, on what was a night of mixed fortunes for British fighters. Full UFC London results (* denotes British fighter) Main card *Tom Aspinall def. Marcin Tybura via first-round TKO (punches, 1:13) Julija Stoliarenko def. *Molly McCann via first-round submission (armbar, 1:55) *Nathaniel Wood def. Andre Fili via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) *Paul Craig def. Andre Muniz via second-round TKO (punches and elbows, 4:40) Fares Ziam def. *Jai Herbert via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) *Lerone Murphy def. Josh Culibao via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27) Daniel Marcos def. *Davey Grant via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) Prelims Jonny Parsons def. *Danny Roberts via second-round TKO (punches, 4:57) Joel Alvarez def. *Marc Diakiese via second-round submission (head-arm choke, 4:26) *Mick Parkin def. Jamal Pogues via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Makhmud Muradov def. Bryan Barberena via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Ketlen Vieira def. Pannie Kianzad via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) *Chris Duncan def. Yanal Ashmouz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) Bruna Brasil def. Shauna Bannon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) Jafel Filho def. Daniel Barez via first-round submission (arm-triangle choke, 1:34) Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos.

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