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Rob Page called the backing from his players “powerful” after Wales bounced back into Euro 2024 qualifying contention with a 2-0 victory in Latvia. A penalty from skipper Aaron Ramsey – his 100th career goal – and a delicious David Brooks chip deep into stoppage time put Wales within three points of a top-two place and lifted the pressure on under-fire manager Page. Group favourites Croatia’s 1-0 victory in Armenia was further good news for Wales, who had only won once in 13 games before arriving in Riga. Ramsey and others had backed Page during the build-up to a game many saw as pivotal in the manager’s tenure. Page said of the players’ support: “It feels good, it feels powerful, absolutely – that’s a massive compliment to myself from the players. “I’ve just said to them, even the lads that have not played, they all play a part. There are no bad eggs in that changing room. “Pressure doesn’t exist, it is created from outside influence. “We did our best as staff to try to not let that penetrate the bubble and keep as calm as possible. “We knew it was going to be a tough test for us after their heavy defeat. It wasn’t just about the win, I thought the performance was outstanding. “For the first 35 minutes of the first half, we were outstanding, kept the ball. We got the goal and then retreated a little bit, which we’ll address.” Wales had numerous chances to put the game beyond Latvia after Harry Wilson was bundled over in the box after 28 minutes and Ramsey converted from 12 yards. But none were taken until the sixth minute of stoppage time when Brooks, on for the injured Ramsey, accepted Wilson’s pass to slot home his first Wales goal since recovering from cancer last year. Page said: “The pressure came from the outside, understandably, but we never questioned it within the group. “We knew we had to give a positive reaction after the disappointment of June (Euro 2024 campaign defeats to Armenia and Turkey) and we absolutely have – and some. “A great performance against a very, very good (South) Korea team last week and followed it up with a completely different test against a very physical team that went back to front quite a bit. “We had to win first contacts and second balls. “And people like young Jordan James stepping in when we asked him to and developing the young players into this team. He was outstanding again.” Ramsey paid tribute to his replacement Brooks, who has had to be patient to return to the international stage after illness and injury. “It wasn’t easy, a lot of teams have come here and struggled,” Ramsey told S4C, while adding that he came off early in the second half as a precaution and will be fit for Cardiff’s South Wales derby against Swansea on Saturday. “To come here and win with two goals is fantastic, Brooksy as well, it’s good for us. “He’s so important for us and it’s nice for him to score. We’re just happy to have him back.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Freddie Steward: Kevin Sinfield ‘rocket’ inspired England heroics against Pumas Aaron Ramsey scores as Wales beat Latvia to keep their Euro 2024 hopes alive Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba provisionally suspended for anti-doping offence

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When the Dutch Grand Prix returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2021 – after a 36-year absence – organisers could frankly not have foreseen a future more favourable. A Dutch race reincarnated by-and-large due to a Dutch hero, timed exquisitely for his era of ultra-domination. To the extent that, now, anything other than a Max Verstappen triumph come Sunday would be as big a shock as Formula 1 has seen all season. Verstappen-mania in the Netherlands has long been at fever pitch, with the ‘Orange Army’ previously travelling across Europe to support the man born in Belgium but with Holland in his heart. But now Zandvoort, on the coast of the North Sea, sees thousands make the journey from Amsterdam and beyond to revel and rave in this electro-music, orange-clad razzmatazz amid the sand dunes. Verstappen, coasting to a third-straight F1 championship title this season with a 125-point lead with 10 races remaining, is on track to break more ground. Win on Sunday and he will equal Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive victories from 10 years ago, also set while at Red Bull. On Friday, fresh from a four-week break, he set down an ominous marker by going fastest in first practice – and only marginally sniffed out of first spot in practice two by his friend Lando Norris, a session delayed by a bizarre double-crash involving Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo. Formula 1’s return in the Netherlands this weekend feels all the more appropriate given the sheer levels Verstappen is reaching this season. The 25-year-old is on track to reach a half-century knock of victories by the time the year is out – he is currently on 45 with 10 to go – and powered by a Red Bull which is the standout car this year, nothing has stopped his ascent to near-perfection. Not even his team-mate Sergio Perez, armed with the same machinery, has proved a match for Verstappen. Since Azerbaijan in April, Verstappen has won eight races on the trot – 10 if you include sprints – and has been repeatedly unfazed on the occasions he has not started on pole, simply picking off his rivals with supreme ease when needed. Saturdays do offer the chasing pack a glimmer of hope, though. If there is any weakness in this Verstappen-Red Bull partnership, it is qualifying. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have claimed pole position this season, with Fernando Alonso a shave away in Monaco too. For Leclerc though, speaking to the media on Thursday, it mattered not an an iota. In fact, the pessimism made for a grim forecast for all non-Verstappen fans out there: two-and-a-half years of the current trajectory continuing. “They [Red Bull] have a really big margin,” the Ferrari driver said. “It’s going to be very, very difficult to catch them before the change of regulations [in 2026].” Lewis Hamilton was a tad more measured, but remained far from optimistic: “The fact is Red Bull are ahead and they have most likely started development on next year’s car a month before anybody else. It is very, very possible that Charles could be right.” Beyond the expectancy, even inevitability now, of a Verstappen victory on Sunday, there are always potential avenues for something different. Rain is forecast, intermittently, over the next two days which could bring some unpredictability. The last two races in Zandvoort have been close-run affairs, though ultimately Verstappen ended up on top of the podium. A non-Red Bull pole-sitter would certainly make at least the early stages intriguing. But the man who is on track to be one of the Netherlands’ biggest sporting stars ever does not feel any burden. “It doesn’t bring a weight on my shoulders of extra pressure,” he said on Thursday. “"It is just amazing to be here, see all of the fans and drive such an incredible track. “Hopefully it [the race] will continue for a while,” A third championship is simply a matter of when for Verstappen and Red Bull. Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin are in their own battle for second-place. The more pertinent question now, for the history-books, is can anybody stop them? And can they really complete an unprecedented perfect season? Read More Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo crash in Dutch Grand Prix practice Lewis Hamilton gives blunt response to Felipe Massa’s legal action over 2008 F1 title Charles Leclerc gives gloomy prediction on how quick Ferrari will catch Red Bull Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo crash in Dutch Grand Prix practice F1 Dutch Grand Prix: When is practice on Friday in Zandvoort? F1 Dutch Grand Prix LIVE: Practice updates and times as Formula 1 returns

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England head coach Sarina Wiegman and Spain boss Jorge Vilda will lead their teams into the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney on Sunday. Here, the PA news agency takes a closer look at the two coaches. Dutch courage brings England Euro joy Having guided her native Netherlands to success at Euro 2017 and then on into final of the 2019 World Cup, where they lost to the United States, Wiegman took over the Lionesses in September 2021. Wiegman – a former captain of the Dutch national team during her playing career and also having a spell as a PE teacher – went on to lead England to Euro 2022 glory on home soil with victory over Germany at Wembley last summer. The only defeat so far of Wiegman’s tenure came in a friendly against Australia at Brentford in April – and England fans will be hoping that impressive run is extended again on Sunday. Vilda steadies ship after player unrest Vilda had spells in the youth set-ups at both Real Madrid and Barcelona, but saw his dreams of a playing career cut short by two major knee injuries when he was 17. Having moved into a coaching role at CD Canillas in Madrid, Vilda held assistant roles with Spain’s Under-17s and Under-19s, enjoying success in their European Championship and World Cup campaigns. He was appointed senior head coach of the women’s national team in 2015, taking them into the Euro 2017 quarter-finals and also the World Cup, where they reached the last 16. Following Euro 2022, where La Roja were beaten by hosts England in the quarter-finals, a group of 15 players threatened to quit if Vilda remained in his position, claiming his regime was affecting their “health” and “emotional state”. He, though, was backed by the Spanish Football Federation, with the players subsequently frozen out of his squad, before some returned to the fold for the World Cup, including Aitana Bonmati, Ona Batlle and Mariona Caldentey. Same again for Lionesses? Wiegman named an unchanged side for the 3-1 semi-final win over against Australia. Her faith proved well-founded as England stepped up to the challenge of restricting the counter-attack threat of the Matildas, although there was little the well-drilled defence could do to prevent Sam Kerr crashing in a fine 25-yard equaliser. England had plenty of possession against Australia, particularly in the first half, and will certainly need to show similar bravery in their challenges against the Spaniards. Some ruthless finishing saw Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo all on the scoresheet on Tuesday – and more of the same will be needed in the final when clear chances are expected to be at a premium. Chelsea forward Lauren James will be available again following a two-game ban following her red card in the last-16 win over Nigeria, handing a potential selection headache for Wiegman. La Roja’s own ‘Total Football’ Vilda grew up steeped in Johan Cruyff’s football philosophy, with his father Angel having worked as the late Dutchman’s fitness trainer at Barcelona. Based around a 4-3-3 possession-based game, Vilda wants his team to play with a distinctly recognisable style. That belief never waivered as Spain bounced back from a 4-0 humbling by Group C winners Japan to thrash Switzerland 5-1 as they booked a place in the last eight, then went on to beat the Netherlands after extra-time before defeating Sweden in Auckland. England should expect to face high-tempo passing and movement as well as a relentless press in attack. Alexia Putellas, twice a Ballon d’Or winner, continues to be used sparingly in the tournament, having worked her way back from an ACL injury which ruled her out of Euro 2022. Teenager Salma Paralluelo came off the bench to open the scoring in the semi-final against Sweden and the 19-year-old will be out to prove herself the woman for the big occasion once more if given another opportunity by Vilda on Sunday. 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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