Despite being a Manchester City fan so committed to the club that she had pet goldfish named Shaun Goater and Nicolas Anelka as a child, Keira Walsh was also a keen student of “tiki-taka”-era Barcelona growing up in Rochdale, admiring the total control demonstrated by Pep Guardiola’s sides through elegant possession football. These days, Pep is managing City and it is Walsh herself sitting at the heart of Barca’s midfield. She made that move last summer for a world record fee after starring for the Lionesses at Euro 2022, pulling the strings at the centre of the park like another of her idols, David Silva, always knowing precisely when to play the killer pass. There was no finer example of this than the perfectly-weighted long ball she dinked into Ella Toone for England’s opener against Germany in the final, for which she was deservingly named player of the match. Another famed instance of Walsh’s artistry in action came at the SheBelieves Cup in Japan in 2019, when she played in Beth Mead with a pass that took out no fewer than eight separate opposition players in one move, a clip of which swiftly went viral. Her performances during the Euros inspired French journalist Julien Laurens to hail her as “the best player in the world”, an accolade that will place renewed pressure on her to stamp her authority on the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this summer. However, a nasty-looking injury sustained in England’s second group game against Denmark saw her carried from the field on a stretcher, potentially bringing her tournament to a premature end. Walsh, now 26, abandoned youthful passions for badminton and cricket to commit to football, emerging from Blackburn Rovers’ youth system before transferring to her beloved City in 2014, where she made 118 appearances and became known to the club’s Oasis-besotted fans as “WonderWalsh” in tribute to her dependable presence. Former teammate Jill Scott, incidentally, has said her nickname among the Lionesses is “Sat Nav Foot” for the extraordinary precision of her passing. For England, Walsh has effortlessly succeeded Fara Williams in central midfield, having been handed the captain’s armband in just her seventh outing for the Lionesses, aged 21, and is no doubt the first name on Sarina Wiegman’s team sheet these days. Read More How to watch England vs Nigeria: TV channel and start time for Women’s World Cup fixture Who do England women play next? World Cup fixtures and route to the final Women’s football world rankings: Who could take No 1 at the World Cup?

Forward Alessia Russo cannot wait to kick off England’s World Cup final after years spent rehearsing the winning strike in her childhood garden. This is a monumental moment for Sarina Wiegman’s side, who until beating co-hosts Australia 3-1 in their semi-final had never finished higher than third place in a global showpiece. On Sunday night against Spain in Sydney they could become the first England team to bring football ‘home’ since Sir Alf Ramsey and his men lifted the trophy in 1966. Russo said: “Obviously this is the biggest game, the one you dream about and means the most. “I think it will hit when we’re in the tunnel and ready to walk out. It’s an incredible occasion, it’s been an unbelievable tournament and this is it. This is the moment we want to be in. We can’t wait. “Right now all I want to do is go out, put on a performance to be proud of and obviously to win. We started this tournament wanting to win seven games and this is the message. “This is the last one to go and we’re really locked in.” Maidstone-born Russo grew up watching her brothers play for the local boys’ side in East Farleigh, where she was too young to join in but would kick a ball around on the side of the pitch. Soon, however, the now 24-year-old was featuring for both the girls’ and boys’ teams at Bearsted FC, which meant both weekend days were often occupied with football, while Russo’s preferred school-night activity remained playing on a strip of grass at the end of her street. It would also not be wholly inaccurate to say Russo has already lifted a World Cup. In primary school, the summer Arsenal signing played in an inter-school ‘Mini World Cup’ and walked away with a shock victory – while representing her side’s assigned country of South Korea. Then there were the garden tournaments where, said Russo, “we had to score to stay in”. She added: “As a kid, growing up to think we’re playing in a World Cup in a couple of days is a special feeling. A real ‘pinch me’ moment.” Russo admits it has not quite hit her that, just under 13 months after England lifted their first major trophy at last summer’s European championships, they could be one win away from making more history. She said: “It’s been an incredible year but we’re always focused on what’s next. You never really kind of get to enjoy the moment. I’m sure I will when I get back and I’m old and grey. Right now it’s about what’s coming up and what’s there to achieve. “For players, obviously we’re all aware it’s a World Cup final and there’s that on the line, but as soon as you cross the line it’s just a normal game. It’s what we love to do. It’s 11 v 11 and we have to win. As soon as we step out on the pitch, we know our job and what we need to do. “We’re aware it’s a World Cup final but we’ll just play our game. “Everyone is excited but we’re very relaxed and chilled. It feels like a normal game to us which is great and shows the composure of the team. Camp has been great from the first game until now. It feels pretty similar, it’s another game we must win.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Warren Gatland impressed by competition for World Cup places in Wales squad Man United keen to sign Jonny Evans despite Harry Maguire’s transfer collapse James Ryan says Ireland’s clash with England ‘has never been a warm-up game’

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Donovan Mitchell got the best of Golden State and Draymond Green, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals on a night Green was ejected, and Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Warriors 118-110

Lioness Fran Kirby has been showing her support for her teammates from afar, as she celebrates the launch of a London pub dedicated exclusively to Women's World Cup coverage. The Queen’s Header, opened by JustEat, will allow football fans to watch the girls in action while tucking into delicious breakfasts delivered from LEON and The Breakfast Club. "It's massively important it gives people a safe space to be", Kirby says. "We need to create the same opportunities that young boys get whether that's being able to go to the park and play, or teams to play in." JustEat will also be pledging £50,000 investment to its Feed the Game fund - inspiring more young girls to get into football. The Queen's Header is open in Shoreditch until Friday 28 July. Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter

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Lando Norris wanted to turn the air blue following his accident with Lewis Hamilton at the Spanish Grand Prix – but stressed his compatriot did not do anything wrong. Norris started third after a fine performance in qualifying, but his race was over inside two corners when he drove into the back of Hamilton’s Mercedes. Norris was forced to pit for a new front wing, relegating him to the back of the field. The 23-year-old Briton eventually took the chequered flag in 17th place. Hamilton continued without damage, finishing runner-up to Max Verstappen. Asked what went through his mind following his first-lap prang, Norris said: “F***. Max [Verstappen] went off the track and a bit wide, so he had to bounce over the kerb at Turn 2. Everybody checked up and I was too close to Lewis to react and brake so it was just unlucky in my opinion, and a racing incident. “Lewis didn’t do anything wrong. I touched his wheel, nothing happened to him, maybe it made him quicker today.” Following a brief resurgence, McLaren are on something of a downward spiral. Norris has scored only a dozen points from the opening seven rounds, leaving him 11th in the standings. And the highly-rated Briton, who is under contract with McLaren until the end of 2025, painted a gloomy picture for the remainder of the campaign. “The pace was as expected as it was today which was bad,” he said. “I don’t think we expected anything else. “We were slow and we have been all year. Yesterday was a special day. Some of the good teams struggled and some of the worst teams did a better job. People made mistakes and we capitalised on that. “But we are clearly nowhere near as quick as the top-five teams so there is no point thinking about finishing in the points because we are not quick enough. “There are no new parts on the car. We had an upgrade in Baku and that was about it. It maybe brought us half-a-tenth to a tenth. “A lot of teams have brought upgrades to the last few races and we haven’t. We are not expecting anything more than we are doing and if we get in the points it is an amazing day but the expectation is that we won’t.” Read More Max Verstappen maintains dominance but Mercedes show their teeth at Spanish Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton accuses George Russell of ‘dangerous’ driving: ‘He just backed off’ ‘Best driver in the world’ needs more than just a Formula One title, claims rival championship boss Hamilton and Russell collide as Verstappen claims Spanish GP pole Max Verstappen sets the pace again but little to cheer for Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton toils in 12th as Max Verstappen and Red Bull dominate in Spain

Scotland sit top of Pool A going into tonight’s match against Spain and are on track to qualify for Euro 2024 having gained 15 points over five games. The United Kingdom and Ireland were officially awarded the tournament for 2028 on Tuesday, but Germany play host to the tournament next year, meaning a golden opportunity for the Tartan Army to feature at consecutive European Championships. Scotland are currently six points ahead of Spain, who have a game in hand, and still have Georgia and Norway to face in November to complete the Euro qualifiers. If Scotland draw or win against Spain, they will qualify for Euro 2024. However, they can also qualify with some help from the other Pool A match between Norway and Cyprus. If Norway lose or draw to beat Cyprus, then Scotland will also qualify regardless of their result against Spain. A brace from Scott McTominay saw Steve Clarke’s side storm to a 2-0 victory over Spain at Hampden Park in March. It was Spain manager Luis de la Fuente’s second game in charge. “I don’t see it as revenge,” he said as he previewed the second match against Scotland. “I see it as a game, we’ll fight to win and it’s a responsibility because we represent a country. “It’s not revenge, it’s another football game, a very important one, but a game. “The team gives me confidence, security, they are responsible, professional, add the talent the players have and I am very calm. “Of course we drew conclusions (after the defeat), the important one is that now we’re better than we were then, a better team than we were,” he added. If Scotland lose and fail to qualify this week, they will qualify with a win in their penultimate match next month against Georgia. If they draw that game, they will still qualify if Norway fail to beat Spain. If Scotland draw against Georgia and Norway defeat Spain, Scotland will still qualify even with a one-goal loss in their home match to Norway to finish off Group A, provided they have a superior goal difference in the group. Scotland currently have a +11 goal difference with Norway on -1. If Scotland lose to Spain and then also lose to Georgia, while Norway win back-to-back games against Cyprus and Spain, Scotland would be required to draw at home to Norway in the final match to qualify. Even if Scotland lose their final three matches, they could still qualify even after Norway win their final three matches, should Spain fail to win either of their final two matches against Cyprus and Georgia. If Spain only win one of those final two matches and also finish on 15 points with Scotland behind Norway, on 16 points in this scenario, then the head-to-head rule would apply against Spain, with Scotland currently holding a 2-0 advantage after their win at Hampden Park. "I think when we played them in March, so we’re probably just in a little bit of transition between the previous coach and the new coach," Scotland manager Clarke said. "They’d had a disappointing World Cup campaign so maybe we got them at a good time. We know we have to be very, very good to get a positive result,” he added ahead of the fixture in Seville. Read More Is Spain v Scotland on TV? Channel, start time and how to watch Euro 2024 qualifier online tonight How Scotland became the one team Rodri could not defeat Euro 2028: Will host nations get automatic qualification? How Scotland became the one team Rodri could not defeat Is Spain v Scotland on TV? Channel, start time and how to watch Euro 2024 qualifier Bukayo Saka ‘in contention’ for Arsenal vs Man City as Gareth Southgate reveals plan