Connor Bedard has arrived at his first NHL training camp with the Chicago Blackhawks

For all that Erik ten Hag discussed refereeing decisions in public, he struck a different tone in the privacy of the Parken dressing room. “It will turn,” he told his Manchester United players. “One moment in the season it will turn in our favour." The assertiveness was at least striking, but it's hard to know whether that still has the same effect. If only his team were so sure of themselves. This is why it’s difficult to have much faith in what the Manchester United manager said in the aftermath of another farcical defeat, this time 4-3 to Copenhagen. Ten Hag argued that so many individual moments and decisions are going against his team but, even if that’s true, it doesn’t feel like that is the main factor in these miserable results. It is more how vulnerable United repeatedly look after those moments go against them. They are a team that plays under a huge weight - of history, of form, of expectation. It clearly feeds into a huge anxiety. They become a team that plays with fear. The problem with Ten Hag’s “one moment” is that it’s become evident that moment can be so quickly undone by what follows. It could even be argued that's repeatedly what's happened. They've arguably already had a series of such moments, from Rasmus Hojlund's goal against Galatasaray to Andre Onana's penalty save against Copenhagen and Bruno Fernandes' penalty strike in Parken. They were all squandered. Worse than squandered. Such reprieves were just followed by collapses that were all the more exquisite in their haplessness. That’s how United can somehow come up with new calamities that are different to the last. It is genuinely remarkable for a club this wealthy and this distinguished. There’s always some new farce around the corner. That plays into what is almost the most alarming prospect right now. In situations like this, the tendency is usually to survey the fixture list and see where you might pick up points. For United, though, any notionally forgiving game just raises the prospect for more punishment; more criticism. This match at Parken was the ninth defeat in 17, after all. It was also a case in point. Copenhagen are a well-run and smart club that are clearly overperforming but the vast gap in resources means it should still be the sort of game that allows United to settle, while setting them on the way to second place in the group. Worse, that was actually exactly what it was, in two separate spells. United were 2-0 up and cruising and then 3-2 up and comfortable. How it went from those situations to raucous Copenhagen celebrations… United’s capacity for calamity is now a direct inverse of their old ability to win out of nothing. It’s not quite a sense of inevitability in the same way but it is that constant possibility something can go badly wrong. Copenhagen, as their manager Jacob Neestrup virtually admitted, could smell it. They felt the opportunity. And, again, Ten Hag can fairly point to so many decisions going against him like that Marcus Rashford red card; like the offside in front of Andre Onana. It’s just that, rather than competently see out the game in the way a side as expensively assembled as United should, there was that knowledge that this was about to get interesting. Rather than any kind of control, chaos once more engulfed United. There are other reasons for this than just basic psychology. Ten Hag doesn’t have the team playing as he wants. There have been personnel issues, especially with injuries. But, even there, what of a relatively expensive signing like Raphael Varane? How could a player as accomplished as that produce a performance as bad as this? That late attempt at a pass said so much, while setting the tone for what followed. This game perhaps laid bare that Ten Hag simply wasn't picking him because he just wasn’t at the level. Instead, the Leicester City central defensive partnership from 2019 were chosen to start this crucial Champions League match. That isn’t intended as a slight on either Jonny Evans or Harry Maguire, it’s more just the starkness of what it states about United’s team building. All of this has already been discussed repeatedly over the past few weeks and there’s only so many times you can say the same things without being desensitised, but that’s also the entire point. Even amid all that, United find new ways to astound. As much as players have individual responsibility in all of this, you could forgive each and every one of them thinking what they have got involved with. Likewise Ten Hag, but then he was specifically chosen to turn all of this around; to be transformative. His team right now only seem to be transforming the semblance of competence into yet another collapse. So, a fixture as forgiving as Luton Town at home this weekend isn’t so much a chance to set things back on track but an afternoon fraught with risk. Likewise this Copenhagen match. Likewise a game the entire season could hinge on at Galatasaray. United’s consistent confusion has at least brought a form of clarity there. They know they need to avoid defeat to Galatasary to stay in the Champions League, and prevent a third group stage elimination in six campaigns in the competition. That is just more historical weight to go with that from this fixture in Istanbul. “Welcome to hell” was the infamous banner at that Champions League elimination 30 years ago. United are currently in a strange purgatory. Read More Erik ten Hag rages at ‘three tough decisions’ in Manchester United defeat Manchester United’s latest farce points to an early Champions League exit Copenhagen vs Man Utd LIVE: Champions League result and reaction Manchester United must pass Copenhagen test to stop their Champions League rot Manchester United receive devastating Casemiro injury update Eddie Howe makes no apologies for Newcastle’s no-nonsense approach to winning

Kenny McLean savoured a special moment in his career after his last-gasp winner earned Scotland a crucial three Euro 2024 qualifying points from a 2-1 victory in Norway. McLean struck a composed 89th-minute finish with his right foot 10 minutes after coming off the bench and two minutes after Lyndon Dykes had cancelled out Erling Haaland’s 61st-minute opener from the penalty spot. Left midfielder McLean said: “It was pretty special, a really good moment for everyone involved and obviously for the fans that travelled – it was amazing, I can hear them outside now. “Obviously I have only had the San Marino goal previously so I am delighted to score such a meaningful goal. “I don’t know if I was too happy with Dykesy – setting me up on my right – but thankfully it worked. It doesn’t come out much but thankfully it paid off.” McLean was part of a triple change from manager Steve Clarke which also saw Billy Gilmour and Stuart Armstrong come on, after Liam Cooper had earlier replaced the fatigued Kieran Tierney. The Norwich player said: “The manager is constantly going about the squad, it’s a squad game and that’s what we are always about. “The majority of times we make four or five subs so everyone needs to be ready and thankfully the lads that came on were. “We have worked for the last couple of weeks together, we had the camp in Spain and worked hard throughout, so to get the rewards is excellent.” Dykes was delighted with his goal and assist after a challenging night up front on his own in temperatures of about 30 degrees at kick-off. The QPR striker said: “It was a tough game. They played well. We didn’t play as well as we wanted to play but I was waiting for that opportunity all night and I was just happy to see it go in. “It’s a hard position sometimes, it doesn’t always go your way. Balls were coming up to me, flying everywhere and they were probably getting the better of me. But I was trying to keep my head and wait for the opportunity. “I have to keep rolling on and hopefully when the chances come, they go in because the ball rolling in that goal was the slowest thing I have ever seen in my life and I was having a heart attack. I was just happy to see it go over the line. “And obviously when Kenny scored, it was the icing on the cake.” Scotland extended their lead at the top of Group A but face a quick turnaround before Tuesday’s visit of Georgia. McLean said: “It was a massive step for us in the group but we have a lot of work to do and we have a game in a few days. “We will enjoy this now but we need to go and recover. Nobody wants to hear it but that’s what we have to do.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Justin Thomas predicts shortest hole in modern US Open history could be ‘spicy’ Dejan Kulusevski’s loan spell at Tottenham turned into permanent deal Usman Khawaja’s first ton in England ‘a bit more emotional’ after crowd taunts

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Sarina Wiegman has a big decision to make as England face Spain in the Women’s World Cup final and the Lionesses look to win the game’s biggest prize for the first time. After successfully ending their run of semi-final defeats to beat hosts Australia in Sydney, Wiegman must decide whether she will bring star forward Lauren James back into her starting line-up for the final. James was sent off for stamping on an opponent in England’s last-16 win over Nigeria but has now served her two-match suspension is available to play in the final. England’s Ella Toone impressed with her performance against Australia and was also on the scoresheet as she scored the opening goal, so the Manchester United midfielder will be difficult to drop. But James was one of the players of the World Cup during the group stages, scoring three goals, and could be the difference for England as they look to win the World Cup for the first time. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the World Cup final and find latest tips for the game itself here. When is England vs Spain? The Women’s World Cup final will kick off at 11:00am BST on Sunday 20 August at Stadium Australia, Sydney. What TV channel is it on? The World Cup final will be shown by both the BBC and ITV. Coverage on BBC One starts at 10am, while ITV’s coverage begins at 10:15am. It will also be available to watch online, on both the BBC iPlayer and on ITV X. What is the England team news? England have no injury concerns and the return of Lauren James means Sarina Wiegman has all 23 players available for the final. Wiegman faces a decision on whether to bring in James from the start, but is likely to stick with the team that performed so impressively against Australia. Mary Earps is a contender for the tournament’s golden glove and will start behind England’s back three of Jess Carter, Millie Bright and Alex Greenwood, with Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly at wing-back. Should Ella Toone start, the midfielder will play alongside Kiera Walsh and Georgia Stanway, with James remaining an excellent option to have on the bench. England’s front two of Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp have struck up a deadly partnership and were both on target in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Chloe Kelly will be among the other attacking options on the bench. What is the Spain team news? Spain face a big decision of their own, with Salma Paralluelo scoring in both their quarter-final win against the Netherlands and in the semi-final win against Sweden after coming off the bench. Head coach Jorge Vilda may decide to keep the 19-year-old winger as an impact substitute, with Alexia Putellas set to remain in the starting line-up even though she is yet to come to life at the tournament. Predicted line-ups Spain: Coll; Batlle, Parades, Codina, Carmona; Teresa, Bonmati, Putellas; Caldentey, Hermoso, Redondo England: Earps; Carter, Bright, Greenwood; Bronze, Stanway, Walsh, Daly; Toone; Hemp, Russo Read More England stand on the brink of history — and a moment to change the game forever Ella Toone or Lauren James? Sarina Wiegman has already made the biggest decision of England’s World Cup Infighting and rebellion: How Spain overcame themselves to reach edge of Women’s World Cup glory Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today Sarina Wiegman thankful for ‘dream’ support as World Cup final set to unite country England vs Spain: Kick-off time and how to watch World Cup final on TV

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