List of All Articles with Tag 'epgb sports'

Conor McGregor has said he is ‘interested’ in the prospect of tech titans Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk going head to head in a cage fight. Zuckerberg is the CEO of Meta, while Musk owns Twitter and runs Tesla and SpaceX, and the pair have gone back and forth on social media recently, expressing a desire to fight one another. Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn and UFC president Dana White have both admitted that they would happily stage such a bout, and McGregor has now weighed in on the matter. “I‘m interested,” the Irishman told the Daily Mail. “Are they gonna go ahead with it? Are they gonna make it happen? If it happens under the UFC banner, I’m with it. It has to happen under the UFC banner.” The former dual-weight UFC champion said, however, that he would not train either man for the fight. “I’m training for my own fight,” McGregor insisted, referencing his planned bout with Michael Chandler, which is still without a date, location or weight class. “I’m feeling really good, really good. I’m ready to fight,” added McGregor, 35, while his manager Audie Attar said of the Chandler fight: “Listen, you can’t rule this year out, but we’re definitely gearing up for a strong match-up with Michael Chandler.” McGregor last fought in July 2021, when he suffered a broken leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier. It is believed that McGregor vs Chandler will not take place in 2023, because the Irishman is still absent from the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s testing pool. In order to compete, athletes must have been in the pool for six months while returning zero positive test results and at least two negatives. However, it was suggested earlier this year that an exception could be made for McGregor. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More UFC London 2023 tickets: Where to buy ahead of Fight Night this weekend Why Fury vs Ngannou may tarnish the Gypsy King’s legacy forever UFC champion Jamahal Hill vacates title after suffering ankle injury UFC may help Conor McGregor by changing Ultimate Fighter format amid losing streak

The UFC returns to London’s O2 Arena this weekend, as Tom Aspinall fights Marcin Tybura in a heavyweight main event. Wigan’s Aspinall headlined back-to-back UFC London cards in 2022, winning the first of those but suffering a serious knee injury in the second. Aspinall, 30, has not fought since, but he will resume his bid for a title shot when he takes on Poland’s Tybura this weekend. While Aspinall’s record stands at 12-3, with all of his wins having come via finishes in the first two rounds, Tybura, 37, has a record of 24-7 and is seeking a third straight win. Here’s all you need to know. When is it? The prelims are set to begin at 5pm BST on Saturday 22 July (9am PT, 11am CT, 12pm ET), with the main card then due to begin at 8pm BST (12pm PT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET). How can I watch it? The card will air live on BT Sport in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass. Where can I buy tickets? AXS is the official ticket provider for UFC London. At the time of writing (Monday 17 July), there are still numerous seats available in the vast majority of sections of the O2 Arena. At the time of writing, the cheapest remaining tickets cost £101.25, are situated in the upper tier, and must be bought in pairs. Meanwhile, the most expensive tickets are in the front row, cost £1607.66, and have very limited availability. Odds Aspinall – 1/5; Tybura – 7/2 McCann – 7/20; Stoliarenko – 43/20 Via Betway. Full card (subject to change) Main card Tom Aspinall vs Marcin Tybura (heavyweight) Molly McCann vs Julija Stoliarenko (women’s flyweight) Nathaniel Wood vs Andre Fili (featherweight) Paul Craig vs Andre Muniz (middleweight) Jai Herbert vs Fares Ziam (lightweight) Lerone Murphy vs Josh Culibao (featherweight) Prelims Davey Grant vs Daniel Marcos (bantamweight) Danny Roberts vs Jonny Parsons (welterweight) Marc Diakiese vs Joel Alvarez (lightweight) Mick Parkin vs Jamal Pogues (heavyweight) Makhmud Muradov vs Bryan Barberena (middleweight) Ketlen Vieira vs Pannie Kianzad (women’s bantamweight) Chris Duncan vs Yanal Ashmouz (lightweight) Shauna Bannon vs Bruna Brasil (women’s strawweight) Jafel Filho vs Daniel Barez (flyweight) Read More Why Fury vs Ngannou may tarnish the Gypsy King’s legacy forever UFC champion Jamahal Hill vacates title after suffering ankle injury UFC schedule 2023: Every major fight happening this year When is the next UFC event? UFC schedule 2023: Every fight happening this year UFC champion vacates title after suffering ankle injury

Many in the Muhammad Ali business believe that the boxer never fully recovered from his comedy fight with a wrestler in Tokyo. It was the summer of 1976; Ali was the world heavyweight champion, and some men in Japan came up with a financial package for Ali to meet renowned wrestler, Antonio Inoki. It was scheduled for 15 rounds of three minutes, and it was for the ‘heavyweight martial arts championship of the world’ belt. Sound familiar? It was, trust me, not the joke you thought it was. For a start, it was meant to be a fix, a rigged encounter with blood, comedy, action and a classic wrestling twist. Ali got wind of the fix and refused to attend rehearsals. The plan was simple: Ali would beat Inoki senseless for six or seven rounds, the wrestler was prepared to cut himself with razor blades and then, because of all the blood, it would be stopped in Ali’s favour. At that point, with Ali’s hand raised and 20,000 Japanese fans howling, Inoki was meant to jump on Ali’s back and pin him. Glorious stuff – Ali rejected it. It came at a crucial time in Ali’s career. He had just stopped Richard Dunn in Munich to retain his heavyweight title; Dunn was dropped repeatedly, and they were the last knockdowns Ali ever scored. He fought seven more times, in six world title fights, but never dropped another man. He met men like Ken Norton, Leon Spinks, Larry Holmes and Earnie Shavers in that period; everybody in the Ali business came to regret each awful fight during that time. The hidden injuries from the Inoki farce added to the decline. The Inoki circus was conceived and sold as a safe way to make $6million and not get hurt; neither thing happened. At a ‘contract-signing’ event the night before, which was available to fans at a price, they agreed it would be winner-takes-all. Ali also had four suites and 31 rooms at the best hotel in Tokyo; this was not a joke. “I can’t let boxing down,” Ali said before the fight. “He’s not used to taking hard shots to the head. The moment I go upside his head, it’s over.” Ali’s assessment is true, but the rules were not made clear. Inoki dropped to his back and chased Ali for 15 rounds from that position on the canvas. In total, Ali threw six punches and connected twice; it was repetitive and dull, with Inoki on his back kicking out at Ali. At the end, it was declared a draw. There was no grandstand wrestling moment and there had certainly not been a single quality moment of boxing. Ali’s legs were cut, bleeding and damaged from Inoki’s hard wrestling boots and the dozens of kicks he had sustained. It was the eyelets on the boots that caused the superficial damage; the real damage was hidden as ruptured blood vessels formed. Ali was told to rest the leg and get it treated before leaving Tokyo, but he had commitments in Korea and Malaysia; when he got back to America, he was hospitalised with blood clots and muscle damage. His left leg remained damaged until the end of his boxing career. Ali finished with about $2.2m dollars for the event; Inoki had been guaranteed $2m, but was paid just a fraction of that total. In Tokyo, in that ring, nobody won. It would be funny if the martial arts championship of the world belt was found and given to Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia in October. That would be cool. Incidentally, the fight was being shown all over the world on closed-circuit screens. In New York, outdoors at Shea Stadium, it was part of the night when Chuck Wepner, the inspiration for Rocky, met Andre the Giant in a wrestling ring. The Ali and Inoki fight was shown on big screens. What a time to be a fan. Anyway, back in 1976, Ali limped on, fighting from memory for too many people and for far too long, and Inoki, well, he became a genuine mixed martial arts pioneer and icon. The big lad was in front of all curves. Inoki died last year and fought for the last time in 1998 when he was close to 60. The man who busted Ali’s legs was far more than just a novelty act on the wrestling circuit. Read More Why Fury vs Ngannou may tarnish the Gypsy King’s legacy forever ‘Nonsense’: Anthony Joshua reacts to Fury vs Ngannou fight announcement Francis Ngannou to earn more in Tyson Fury fight than entire UFC career, says rep Why Fury vs Ngannou may tarnish the Gypsy King’s legacy forever The Independent’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings Don’t be fooled by Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte’s calm reunion

Arsenal have completed the signing of Declan Rice from West Ham United for a club and British player record transfer fee. The Gunners will pay £100m for the England international, plus an additional £5m to come in bonuses. It also marks the biggest fee received by the Hammers for a single deal. Enzo Fernandez cost Chelsea £105.6m earlier this year in what will remain the most expensive signing for a British club, but Rice’s fee eclipses that of Jack Grealish last summer to make him the most expensive British player ever. Rice, aged 24, becomes the second major midfield arrival of the summer for Mikel Arteta’s side after the capture of Kai Havertz from Chelsea late in June and will wear No 41. It is expected that the new pair, along with captain Martin Odegaard, will form a new regular midfield trio for Arsenal, as they attempt to go one better than last season when they finished Premier League runners-up behind Manchester City. Rice was briefly linked with the champions, though they fell out of the running once the Emirates Stadium club raised their bid to record levels. He will now carry the burden of expectation at the Emirates heading into the new campaign, both due to the size of the fee to sign him and also because he’ll be operating at the base of a midfield which appears decidedly attack-heavy. The role could therefore also be a departure from the one that he operated in at West Ham, where he had more licence to roam forward as a ball-carrier. Having won 43 caps for England, Rice was already a key player under Gareth Southgate at international level and will now hope to elevate his game even further with a step up on the club stage His final match for the Hammers saw him lift the Europa Conference League trophy after defeating Fiorentina in the final. Rice had earlier penned an open letter to Hammers fans confirming his departure from the club for which he made 245 appearances. He said: “I want you to know how tough a decision it has been for me to leave an environment that I have loved and cherished so much. This club and its supporters will always be in my heart, and forever a part of who I am. “Ultimately, though, it has only ever been about my ambition to play at the very highest level of the game. “Playing on the opposite team to West Ham for the first time will be an unusual experience. I’m not sure yet exactly how I will feel, but I also know you will all understand and respect that my professional loyalties have to now lie with my new club.” Arsenal manager Arteta stated his excitement at the signing, saying: “We’re really happy that Declan is joining us. He is a player with tremendous ability, who has been performing at a high level in the Premier League and for England for a number of seasons now. Declan is bringing undoubted quality to the club and he is an exceptional talent who has the potential to be very successful here. “Declan has great experience in the Premier League at only 24 years old. He has captained a very good West Ham team and as we all saw, he recently lifted a European trophy. The responsibility and role he has taken on has been very impressive and we are really excited that he is joining us.” Read More How Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal compares with other big-money transfers Declan Rice leaves West Ham for record fee with Arsenal move imminent The eye-watering sums behind Declan Rice’s record transfer to Arsenal Arsenal complete signing of Ajax defender Jurrien Timber Frank Lampard reveals he wanted to sign Declan Rice when he was Chelsea boss Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber – this is Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal now

Declan Rice has become the most expensive British footballer in history with his long-awaited transfer from West Ham to Arsenal finally being completed. Rice was dropped from Chelsea’s academy aged 14 but he was picked up by West Ham where his determination and dedication shone through. He made his senior debut for the Hammers aged 18 before establishing himself as a key player in the team. After the retirement of Mark Noble last year, Rice was his natural successor as club captain, and finished his West Ham career lifting the club’s first piece of silverware since the 1980 FA Cup when they won the 2022/23 Europa Conference League. Now, after years of speculation, the energetic midfielder – who is a cornerstone of Gareth Southgate’s England team which reached the European Championship final in 2021 and World Cup quarter-finals last year – will make the step up to a club playing Champions League football when he joins Mikel Arteta’s Gunners. Here is a closer look at the eye-watering numbers involved. A record sum Arsenal are paying £105m for Rice to make the five-mile switch from the London Stadium to the Emirates Stadium, surpassing the £100m Manchester City paid Aston Villa for their captain Jack Grealish and setting a new record for a British player. And it will be narrowly short of the most expensive signing by a Premier League team, after Chelsea paid £105.6m for Argentina’s World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez in January. City played their part here, though: they fought for Rice’s signature and the ensuing bidding war forced Arsenal to come up with a huge, unrejectable offer. Clearly Arteta had made Rice his top priority to lead another title challenge this season, and after falling short to Pep Guardiola’s City in the league, he wasn’t going to be beaten in the transfer market too. That £105m fee is an initial £100m with a further £5m of potential add-ons, depending on Arsenal’s success during Rice’s stay at the club. A giant pay rise Rice will be getting a chunky bump in salary too. He was paid only £60,000 per week at West Ham, a generous annual salary for most but a small paycheque compared to many of his England peers, like Tottenham’s Harry Kane (£200,000 per week), Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford (£200,000), Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling (£350,000) and Grealish (£300,000). Rice turned down a new contract reportedly worth around £100,000 per week to stay at West Ham and is now set to earn £250,000 per week at Arsenal. That will see him vastly increase his annual salary from around £3m to £13m, and that is before endorsements and other earnings. He will be Arsenal’s second-highest earner behind only Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus (£265,000). Hourly rate Rice’s new £250,000-a-week salary works out at £36,000 per day, and £1,488 per hour. That’s not just during the working day but every hour round the clock, even when he’s asleep. And presumably, he sleeps well. Top earners For all Rice’s riches, he remains some way short of the best-paid Premier League stars. Manchester United’s Casemiro earns £350,000 per week, and even he is eclipsed by Manchester City’s star duo, Erling Haaland (£375,000) and top dog Kevin De Bruyne (£400,000). And yet De Bruyne seems thoroughly mistreated when you compare his pay packet to the three global superstars taking home far more. Kylian Mbappe is paid £1.6m per week by Paris Saint-Germain, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both take home around £3.5m each week, at Inter Miami and Al-Nassr respectively. Rice has some catching up to do. Read More Declan Rice signs for Arsenal in record £105m transfer deal How Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal compares with other big-money transfers Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber – this is Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal now How Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal compares with other big-money transfers Declan Rice confirms ‘tough’ West Ham departure with Arsenal move imminent Declan Rice leaves West Ham for record fee with Arsenal move imminent

Jamahal Hill has vacated the UFC light-heavyweight title after suffering an injury, which reportedly occurred during a basketball game between fighters. Hill, 32, won the vacant gold in January, outpointing Glover Teixeira in the veteran’s native Brazil, but the American has decided to relinquish the belt without having made a single title defence. “I have unfortunately suffered an injury,” Hill said on his YouTube channel on Thursday (13 July). “I’ve ruptured my Achilles’ [tendon]. It’s just one of those things that happens. “It’s a tough injury. It’s one that will require surgery and will require time and rehab and things for me to be out for a while.” Per MMA Fighting, Hill suffered the injury while playing a basketball game with fellow fighters before UFC 290 in Las Vegas last week. Explaining his decision to vacate the title rather than allow the UFC to proceed with crowning an interim champion, Hill referenced his own route to the belt. In 2022, an injured Jiri Prochazka relinquished the title within several months of winning it. Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev fought to a draw while competing for the vacant belt in December, and another title fight was organised just one month later – with Hill beating former champion Teixeira. “I was given an opportunity,” Hill said. “I was given a blessing that came at the misfortune of someone else. Jiri Prochazka was the champion, he suffered an injury, as these things happen. He gave up the belt and allowed for others to not hold [up] the division – to keep the division moving forward, to keep entertaining, to make sure the people had a champion. I’ll do the same. “Right now, the biggest thing is focusing on my recovery, focusing on getting back to 100 per cent. I need to take some time to focus on my health and make sure that I’m 100 per cent and I’m the fighter that everybody knows who I am, and who I’ve been since I’ve stepped into this. In order to do that, I need to focus on healing and getting ready and rehabbing.” Former champion Blachowicz is scheduled to fight ex-middleweight title holder Alex Pereira on 29 July, with some fans suspecting that the bout will now become a contest for the vacant light-heavyweight strap. However, many have called for Prochazka to face Ankalaev for the vacant title. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Why Fury vs Ngannou may tarnish the Gypsy King’s legacy forever Mark Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions amid rumours of Elon Musk fight UFC’s Josiah Harrell reacts as pre-fight test reveals brain disease

Amid a backdrop of mutiny and exile, it is a testament to the talent of this Spain team that La Roja remain one of the favourites for the World Cup despite a chaotic year under the management of Jorge Vilda. Spain looked on the brink of implosion in September when 15 players made themselves unavailable for selection, saying that the environment of the national team was having a negative impact on their mental health and emotional wellbeing. Nine months later, Vilda will still be able to name a formidable side at the World Cup. It comes after the star of the Spain team, the two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, returned from a year-long injury absence and three members of the protesting 15, Aitana Bonmati, Mariona Caldentey and Ona Batlle, ended their exile and made themselves available for selection. Whether the returning players have secured the changes they called for off the pitch remains unclear, but the fact the other 12 remain out, including key members of the team in Sandra Panos, Mapi Leon and Patri Guijarro, suggests there is still a long way to go. Throughout the turmoil, Vilda maintained the backing of the Spanish Football Federation but there will be significant pressure on his shoulders if Spain underperform again after their last-eight exit at the Euros. Since the last World Cup, Spain has become home to the new dominant force in women’s club football thanks to Barcelona and, with Putellas and Bonmati back, are leading the world in their development of technical players. They will certainly be expected to top a group that includes Japan, World Cup winners in 2011 and runners-up in 2015, and Costa Rica. Zambia, who will be making their first appearance at a World Cup, men’s or women’s, are an intriguing side to watch and have been mentioned as possible dark horses. An eye-catching warm-up win against Germany showed everyone how dangerous they could be, with forwards Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji tearing Germany apart on the counter-attack. Japan, who come into the World Cup in transition, could be vulnerable in Group C. Spain Group fixtures (all times BST) Friday 21 July: Spain vs Costa Rica (08:30, Wellington Regional Stadium) Wednesday 26 July: Spain vs Zambia (08:30, Eden Park) Monday 31 July: Japan vs Spain (08:00, Wellington Regional Stadium) Confirmed squad Goalkeepers: Cata Coll (Barcelona), Misa Rodriguez (Real Madrid), Enith Salon (Valencia) Defenders: Ivana Andres (Real Madrid), Ona Batlle (Manchester United), Olga Carmona (Real Madrid), Laia Codina (Barcelona), Rocio Galvez (Real Madrid), Oihane Hernandez (Athletic Club), Irene Paredes (Barcelona) Midfielders: Teresa Abelleira (Real Madrid), Aitana Bonmati (Barceona), Irene Guerrero (Levante), Jennifer Hermoso (Pachuca), Maria Perez (Barcelona), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona), Claudia Zornoza (Real Madrid) Forwards: Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona), Athenea del Castillo (Real Madrid), Esther Gonzalez (Real Madrid), Eva Navarro (Atletico Madrid), Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona), Alba Redondo (Levante) Key player Aitana Bonmati. When an ACL injury robbed two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas of the chance to play at the Euros last summer and then took away almost all of the following season, it handed her international and club team-mate Bonmati the opportunity to play further forward for Barcelona. How she took it. Arguably the best player in the world over the past year, the midfielder is technically flawless and has unlocked the ability to contribute even more goals and assists. Although Putellas is now back and will likely grab the attention, Bonmati deserves her own recognition. The coach Jorge Vilda is perhaps the most divisive head coach at the World Cup, and that’s not just among Spain’s pool of players. Vilda faced criticism for his team selections last summer as Spain finished runner-up to Germany in the group stages of the Euros and were then knocked out by England in the quarter-finals. He survived with his job, and did so again as players walked out on the team. He is theoretically under pressure again with Spain’s golden generation expected to compete for the title, but he also has the backing of the federation. World Cup history Spain are appearing in their third consecutive World Cup having only made their debut in 2015. Considered to be favourites before the Euros last summer, their last-16 exit to England was a disappointment and they also fell at the first hurdle in the knockout stages when they lost to eventual champions the USA four years ago. There is pressure on Spain to deliver this time. Japan Group fixtures (all times BST) Saturday 22 July: Zambia vs Japan (08:00, Waikato Stadium) Wednesday 26 July: Japan vs Costa Rica (06:00 local time, Dunedin Stadium) Monday 31 July: Japan vs Spain (08:00, Wellington Regional Stadium) One to watch Yui Hasegawa. Signed by Manchester City last summer to replace England’s Keira Walsh, the 26-year-old impressed with her class and composure on the ball and tenacity in midfield, finishing the season as one of the top performers in the Women’s Super League. Japan will rely on Hasegawa to set their tempo from the middle of the pitch. The coach Futoshi Ikeda took charge of Japan following the 2021 Olympics having guided the country to victory in the Under-20 World Cup in 2018. With Japan coming into the World Cup in translation and with one of the youngest squads at the tournament - with just one player over 30 - Ikeda is still trying to find the right balance in his team. What are their chances? Champions in 2011 and runners-up in 2015, recent history dictates that Japan will be expected to be contenders once again in Australia and New Zealand. But if the Nadeshiko underperformed in 2019, exiting in the last-16, that rather represents where Japan could reasonably expect to finish in 2023, as well. A four-game losing run between November and February to England, Spain, Brazil and the United States suggests they are much still a work in progress. Zambia Group fixtures (all times BST) Saturday 22 July: Zambia vs Japan (08:00, Waikato Stadium) Wednesday 26 July: Spain vs Zambia (08:30, Eden Park) Monday 31 July: Costa Rica vs Zambia (08:00 local time, Waikato Stadium) One to watch Barbra Banda made history at the 2021 Olympics when she became the first player to score back-to-back hat-tricks at the Games, but the Zambia striker was prevented from appearing in the Africa Cup of Nations the following year after her country said she had failed a gender eligibility test. The Zambian FA said four players, including Banda, had natural testosterone levels that exceeded tournament regulations. The 23-year-old returned to the national team last September, however, and Fifa has since confirmed that she is eligible for the World Cup. Banda is captain of the Zambia side and is key to their chances of making it out of the group, as her stunning two-goal display against Germany showed. The coach Under Bruce Mwape, Zambia were involved in a 10-3 defeat to the Netherlands, 4-4 draw with China and 1-0 loss to Brazil, so goals at both ends of the pitch could certainly be expected with the Copper Queens, but the manager remains extremely confident. “It won’t be easy, but it’s others thinking we’ll go there as underdogs,” he told Fifa. “As far as I’m concerned, we are going to compete.” What are their chances? This will be the first time Zambia have played at the World Cup, men’s or women’s, and harnessing their considerable attacking firepower will be key if they are to shock either Spain or Japan and reach the knockout stages. With their leader on the pitch Barbra Banda joined by Racheal Kundananji, who scored 25 goals in Spain’s top flight last season, they certainly have a chance, but the concern is whether they have what it takes defensively. Costa Rica Group fixtures (all times BST) Friday 21 July: Spain vs Costa Rica (08:30, Wellington Regional Stadium) Wednesday 26 July: Japan vs Costa Rica (06:00 local time, Dunedin Stadium) Monday 31 July: Costa Rica vs Zambia (08:00 local time, Waikato Stadium) Confirmed squad Goalkeepers: Priscila Tapia (Saprissa FF), Daniela Solera (Sporting FC), Genesis Perez (University of Central Florida) Defenders: Mariana Benavides (Saprissa FF), Maria Paula Elizondo (Saprissa FF), Valeria del Campo (Monterrey), Fabiola Villalobos (Alajuelense), Maria Paula Coto (Alajuelense), Gabriela Guillen (Alajuelense), Carol Sanchez (Sporting FC) Midfielders: Katherine Alvarado (Saprissa FF), Mariela Campos (Saprissa FF), Gloriana Villalobos (Saprissa FF), Emilie Valenciano (Libre), Melissa Herrera (Bordeaux), Cristin Granados (Sporting FC), Alexandra Pinell (Alajuelense), Raquel Rodriguez (Portland Thorns), Emilie Valenciano (LDA) Forwards: Catalina Estrada (Saprissa FF), Priscila Chinchilla (Libre), Carolina Venegas (Libre), Sofia Varela (Libre), Maria Paula Salas (Monterrey) Key player Raquel Rodriguez is Costa Rica’s record scorer with 55 goals, including the country’s first at a World Cup on their only previous appearance in 2015. The Portland Thorns midfielder, who has won over 100 caps for Costa Rica, has urged her team-mates to battle with passion and commitment as they look to claim a first-ever World Cup win. The coach Amelia Valverde took charge of Costa Rica before their previous World Cup appearance in 2015, and at the age of just 28. She remains in charge and has guided the country back to the World Cup thanks to a fourth-place finish at the 2022 Concacaf Championships. Valverde made the controversial call to leave the 37-year-old Shirley Cruz, Costa Rica’s greatest ever player and former captain, out of her squad for the World Cup. What are their chances? Costa Rica, who are ranked 37th in the world, have landed in a tough group and progress looks unlikely with Spain, Japan and Zambia all vying for qualification. Costa Rica went out in 2015 with draws to Spain and the Korea Republic and will look to make life difficult for their opponents in Group C. 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Everton appear to have accidentally revealed the identity of their next signing in a training clip posted to their official social media accounts. The video shows James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil competing in a head-to-head duel but it is the off-camera voices that can be heard that have attracted attention. While McNeil and Tarkowski jostle in a game of tag, a coach is in conversation with his colleague and appears to say “we’ve got Jonny Evans coming in”. Evans is a 35-year-old centre-back who captained relegated Leicester last season but his contract expired at the end of June. He would appear to fit the experienced profile of player that Toffees boss Sean Dyche is targeting, after signing 38-year-old Ashley Young from Aston Villa earlier this week. The video was initially posted on Everton’s Instagram and Facebook pages and although it was swiftly taken down from Instagram, Twitter user @ITalkEverton brilliantly spotted the revelation and downloaded the clip before reposting on his own page with the message “Listen closely... does anyone else hear “We’ve got Jonny Evans coming in” ??” As of writing, the video is still live on Everton’s Facebook reels. Some users were sceptical that the comment had been added as a voiceover but @ITalkEverton was adamant they hadn’t doctored the clip. Others applauded the detective work and Specsavers tweeted: “Ok you don’t need to come in for a hearing test for at least six months”. The clip has since been viewed on Twitter more than 2.7m times and the proof will be seen in the coming days if 102-cap Northern Ireland international Evans does indeed join Dyche’s Everton revolution. The Toffees narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League as they finished 17th, just one place and two points above the drop, while Evans’ Leicester side came 18th to drop into the Championship just seven years after they stunningly won the Premier League title in one of the greatest sporting shocks of all time. Read More Five powerful revelations from Dele Alli’s emotional interview Addicted players urged to contact PFA after Dele Alli’s ‘scary’ pill revelation ‘Powerful and brave’: Dele Alli praised for interview about abuse and addiction

Teofimo Lopez has made a U-turn on his early retirement, as the 25-year-old eyes a huge clash with Devin Haney. Lopez won the WBO super-lightweight title with a decision win over Josh Taylor in June, handing the Scot the first loss of his professional career. Lopez then claimed that he would be calling time on his boxing career, even informing the WBO that he was giving up his title. Now, however, the American has reversed that decision, telling the WBO that he will keep the gold. Lopez, who previously reigned as unified lightweight champion, is also targeting a bout with Haney, who is undisputed at lightweight. Lopez tweeted on Thursday (13 July): “Yo @Realdevinhaney , since you were so quick to jump in the mix for my WBO Championship belt! Let’s make the fight happen so the world can see who is about that action & no, you will not be on the A-side. I hold the King title of the division as well! So don’t run away!!” He continued: “Came out of retirement (I guess) because the next move was for Devin Haney to fight sorry-a** Arnold Barboza for my WBO championship title at 140lbs. F’ that. I’m tired of helping this kid be something that he is not. And that’s a real champion!” Twenty-four-year-old Haney, who retained his titles with a narrow decision win over Vasiliy Lomachenko in May, replied: “Let’s do it. [You] never retired in the first place.. let’s see if you really want the smoke. “I’m gonna b 140 champ regardless. U asked for 20 million last time my pops talked [to] u.” Lopez then responded to his unbeaten compatriot, writing: “What? 20 M’s? I didn’t even stat out the location of our fight let alone put a price on the fight. What you talking about man?! “Start losing weight and we’ll figure out the rest so we can give the fight fans a DREAM that will TAKEOVER the sport of BOXING!” Lopez, who also holds a decision win over Lomachenko, suffered the sole defeat of his professional career in 2021, when he was outpointed by George Kambosos Jr. With that loss, Lopez dropped the unified lightweight titles that he won from Lomachenko in 2020. Kambosos Jr then lost the belts to Haney via decision in 2022, and the Australian failed to regain them in a rematch later that year – again losing on points. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Why Fury vs Ngannou may tarnish the Gypsy King’s legacy forever Oleksandr Usyk recites poem and rap as Daniel Dubois vows to ‘unleash hell’ on champion Don’t be fooled by Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte’s calm reunion – this is a fight built on spite Josh Taylor plunged into the unknown as Teofimo Lopez earns redemptive win Why Fury vs Ngannou may tarnish the Gypsy King’s legacy forever Usyk recites poem and rap as Daniel Dubois vows to ‘unleash hell’ on champion

Oleksandr Usyk was the star of his press conference with Daniel Dubois on Thursday (13 July), reciting a poem and rap as he came face to face with his challenger in London. Uysk will defend the unified heavyweight titles against mandatory challenger Dubois on 26 August, when the pair clash in Wroclaw, Poland. Dubois, 25, is not the Briton that fans wanted to see take on Uysk, 36, but talks between the unbeaten Ukrainian and Tyson Fury fell through this spring. As a result, this match-up came about, as did Fury vs Francis Ngannou – which was announced on Tuesday (11 July). In any case, Dubois backed himself at Thursday’s press conference, saying: “One hundred per cent I’m ready, we’re ready to rumble. This is it, bring them titles back home, bring them belts. They’re coming with me, it’s my time. “Usyk’s been a great champion, [but] everything with a beginning has to end. I’ve got to outmanoeuvre him and everything. I’m younger, I’m stronger, I’ve got to unleash hell on this guy. “I’m different, you guys are gonna see it. The bookies can say whatever they want, it’s no pressure for me. I never listen to [the media] anyway. I’m gonna be on him, ready to take them belts away.” Meanwhile, Uysk recited a poem, which his promoter Alex Krassyuk said would take too long to translate, though Krassyuk did reveal that the passage was “about enemies who are going to be destroyed”. Yet Uysk (20-0, 13 knockouts) also paid respect to Dubois, saying: “I think really highly of my opponent. He’s a nice man, a nice guy, a nice athlete. He came to the position of mandatory, so he deserves it, but let’s stop talking; let’s see each other on 26 August.” When asked if he had a message for Dubois, Usyk simply said, “I am the message myself,” before launching into a rap after their face-off. The Ukrainian, an Olympic gold medalist, previously reigned as the only undisputed cruiserweight champion of the four-belt era. After moving up to heavyweight, he beat Anthony Joshua to win the unified titles, which he retained against “AJ” in their rematch last summer – again defeating the Briton on points. Meanwhile, Dubois last fought in December, stopping Kevin Lerena after recovering from three knockdowns, two of which were caused by a knee injury. Dubois (19-1, 18 KOs) has since had surgery to resolve the issue. Egis Klimas, Usyk’s manager, said: “We were introduced to Daniel Dubois as a killer. All that speed, all that power, he’s gonna come to knock Oleksandr Usyk out, as I understand it. First of all, to knock someone out, you need to touch them. Sometimes, it’s not easy for the big cat to catch the mouse.” Meanwhile, Dubois’s promoter Frank Warren added: “I look at it in a different way to everybody else. This is a test for Usyk against Daniel, fighting a young, hungry, up-and-coming fighter. He’s capable, he can punch, he can jab, he’s faster than people think. I genuinely believe that my man will win. This is gonna be a great fight, while it lasts.” Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Daniel Dubois believes he can cause upset against Oleksandr Usyk in Poland Why Fury vs Ngannou may tarnish the Gypsy King’s legacy forever ‘Nonsense’: Anthony Joshua reacts to Fury vs Ngannou fight announcement Why Fury vs Ngannou may tarnish the Gypsy King’s legacy forever Daniel Dubois believes he can cause upset against Oleksandr Usyk in Poland Anthony Joshua to face Dillian Whyte in rematch at The O2 on August 12

Even in a time of extortionate inflation in the United Kingdom, it was eye-catching when a Spanish man in north London agreed to pay £105m for Rice and £36m for Timber; Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, admittedly, and if the midfielder’s price ranks among the highest ever forked out by a Premier League club, the Dutch defender has the potential to look a relative bargain for Arsenal. But each, like Kai Havertz, is a testament to Mikel Arteta’s expensive ambition; to his relentless drive and his permanent restlessness, too. Arsenal’s summer spending will soon top £200m. Their outlay over last season’s two transfer windows came to around £170m, while the summer of 2021 amounted to about £150m in fees alone. None of which even makes Arsenal the biggest spenders in the capital, and if Chelsea still have the air of an anomaly, there is also a cost to competing with the Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Tottenham and now Newcastle. And as Arteta inherited a team in mid-table, he was starting from a low base; there was a greater need for rebuilding. Yet it is notable that Arteta’s reaction to a breakthrough season has been so dramatic. The exponential improvement of both the team – from 69 points in 2021-22 to 84, from 61 goals to 88 – and individuals, whether in Martin Odegaard’s transformation into a scorer, Ben White’s conversion into a right-back, William Saliba’s makeover from serial loanee to defensive mainstay or Bukayo Saka’s new status as one of the best players in the country, could have pointed to a model of continued evolution. Instead, there is more of a revolutionary feel to Arsenal’s summer. If 2021, with an investment in youth, seemed to set in place a plan for years, and 2022, with the purchases of the Manchester City pair of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus, looked another phase, the stakes seem raised again in 2023: taking on City for Rice, taking the Champions League final scorer Havertz from Chelsea. But a departure that could free up a place for either has both a footballing and a symbolic significance. Granit Xhaka was the last Arsene Wenger signing to remain pivotal; redemptive a season as the Swiss had, Rice and Havertz look upgrades. If Timber’s arrival ushers Rob Holding towards the exit, another link with the Wenger era will be gone. Should Kieran Tierney go, as is possible, there will be less of Unai Emery’s legacy left: Saliba signed under the current Aston Villa manager, but never played for him, while Gabriel Martinelli’s maiden Premier League start came under the caretaker Freddie Ljungberg, a couple of weeks before Arteta’s appointment. This is Arteta’s Arsenal now. He will not celebrate his fourth anniversary until December but the speed of change is reflected not just in the composition of the squad but in terms of who is actually on the pitch. Of the 14 footballers to play the most Premier League minutes for Arsenal last season, one (Xhaka) was bought by Wenger, two (Saliba and Martinelli) joined under Emery and two (Saka and Eddie Nketiah) were youth-team products who barely featured before Arteta took charge. The other nine – seven of the 11 with the most minutes plus the January recruits Leandro Trossard and Jorginho – were Arteta buys. Tierney ranked 15th, the oft-injured Takehiro Tomiyasu 16th and Holding 17th. So even factoring in the probability that another Hale End Academy graduate, Emile Smith Rowe, will feature more in the forthcoming campaign, along with another January addition, Jakub Kiwior, the division of labour is likely to be shifted still further towards Arteta’s arrivals. Eight of the probable first 11 could be his buys, along with perhaps 13 of the 18 most-used players. That preferred 11 could contain a couple of notable omissions: the speed of change may mean some Arteta flagship buys are sidelined. Thomas Partey looks likely to drop out of the strongest side; in defence, Tomiyasu was demoted last season, despite an encouraging debut year, and Timber’s signing will pose questions if the same fate awaits White, terrific as he was, or if the newcomer proves a back-up. Meanwhile, a comparison is instructive. Three and a half years into his mentor Pep Guardiola’s reign at City, a host of players bought under previous managers – David Silva, Fernandinho, Vincent Kompany, Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling – were still pivotal. Three and a half seasons into Jurgen Klopp’s time at Liverpool, so were survivors of previous regimes such as Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Roberto Firmino, while others – Dejan Lovren, Joe Gomez, Divock Origi, Adam Lallana – were still involved. But, three and a half years into Arteta’s time at Arsenal, it is very possible everyone who features regularly will either be his signings or those who only made minor contributions under his predecessors. It really will be his team. Read More Defender William Saliba commits to Arsenal with new long-term contract Granit Xhaka departs Arsenal on busy day at the Emirates It’s been a hell of a journey – Reiss Nelson wants to take Arsenal to next level

Everton have praised the “bravery” of Dele Alli after the midfielder revealed he was sexually abused as a child, with England captain Harry Kane and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker also supporting him. In an emotional interview, Alli told how he was “molested” as a six-year-old and was dealing drugs aged eight, while he also spoke about alcohol problems, sleeping pill addiction and addressing his mental health struggles by spending six weeks in a rehab clinic. The 27-year-old said he had contemplated hanging up his boots three years ago before leaving Tottenham for Everton in 2022. Alli made just 13 appearances before joining Besiktas on loan last season but is now back at Goodison Park. “The club has been supporting Dele in both his return to fitness and overcoming the personal challenges highlighted in his interview with The Overlap,” an Everton spokesperson said. “Everyone at Everton respects and applauds Dele’s bravery to speak about the difficulties he has faced, as well as seek the help required. “The physical and mental welfare of all our players is of paramount importance. The club takes very seriously its responsibility in protecting the confidentiality of players and staff. “Dele will not be conducting any further interviews in relation to his rehabilitation, and we ask that his privacy is respected while he continues his recuperation from injury and receives the full care and support needed for his physical and mental well-being.” Alli spoke out in an interview with Gary Neville on a special edition of The Overlap podcast in partnership with Sky Bet, which was released on Thursday morning. England skipper Kane, a former teammate of Alli’s at Spurs, retweeted a clip from the interview, posting: “Proud of @dele_official for speaking out and sharing his experience to try and help others.” Another former Spurs teammate, Son Heung-min, took to Instagram stories to deliver his support, posting pictures of the pair together along with the message: “Your brave words will help so many people. Proud of you mate” Lineker tweeted: “This is very powerful and brave. Good luck to you @dele_official.” The Professional Footballers’ Association also issued a statement on Twitter in response to Alli’s interview. “It’s incredibly brave of Dele to tell his story with such honesty in this important interview with @gnev2,” they wrote. “Hearing Dele speak with such openness will make a difference, and his desire to use his own experiences to act as an inspiration to others - inside and outside of football - is something he should be extremely proud of.” Neville himself commented on conducting the interview, claiming it was the “most emotional, difficult yet inspirational conversation I’ve ever had.” “I’m struggling to find the words to put with this post but please watch my most recent interview with Dele,” he wrote on Twitter. “It’s the most emotional, difficult yet inspirational conversation I’ve ever had in my life.” TV presenter Jake Humphrey praised the interview, saying: Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant chat with Dele Alli and @GNev2. These kinds of conversations putting empathy over opinion are so incredibly important. So many people are struggling but don’t feel able to speak. Dele will help them hugely.” Alli won 37 caps for England and the national team also tweeted their support: “Sending our love, @dele_official” Read More Dele Alli reveals childhood drug dealing, sexual abuse and sleeping pill addiction Dele Alli praises ‘best manager’ Pochettino for ‘caring about me as a person’ Dele Alli reveals childhood drug dealing, sexual abuse and sleeping pill addiction Sheffield United sign Anis Slimane from Danish club Brondby