'Lamine Yamal turns 18 and takes centre stage at Barcelona'

"Comparisons are odious," wrote Cervantes in Don Quijote. Nowhere is that more true than in football - a world fuelled by statistics, noise, and the endless urge to crown the next Lionel Messi. Lamine Yamal has heard it all before. When the question came - again - he didn't bite. "I don't compare myself with him," he said. "I don't want to compare myself with anyone, and even less with Messi. That's something I leave to you. "He is the best player in football's history. I am making my own way." So, what are we doing talking about Messi in a Lamine Yamal piece? It is just to create some context, because there are some stunning statistics. Lamine Yamal turns 18 on Sunday by which time he will have played 106 first-team games - 73 in La Liga, 23 in Europe, six in the Copa del Rey and four others. By the time Messi turned 18, despite having become - at 17 years, three months and 22 days - the youngest player to represent Barcelona in an official competition, he had played nine first-team games for the club. It's probably safe to assume that as long as he keeps scoring, creating and winning games and titles for both club and country, Lamine Yamal won't be that bothered what number he is carrying on the back of his shirt. Not that, of course, this has stopped him having a bit of fun on social media over the speculation that this season he will be wearing Barcelona's iconic number 10. He has posted pictures of himself one day with the number 19 shirt he currently wears - as a young Messi also did - followed by a homage to some previous wearers of the 10. The names read like a who's who of footballing royalty. Messi, of course, Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Romario, Hristo Stoichkov, Juan Roman Riquelme, Pep Guardiola and Laszlo Kubala. Speculation around Barcelona's number 10 shirt has followed him for months. Out of respect, he did not entertain conversations about it while Ansu Fati, the previous wearer, was still at the club, but he has since moved to Monaco. Barcelona have not announced anything officially although there has been a dramatic surge in sales of said shirt. Lamine Yamal is wondering what to do. Take the weight of the 10? Or keep 19 one more season - perhaps until he turns 19? Who is Lamine Yamal? There are a number of errors and misconceptions about the player, not least the fact that despite being discussed and written about endlessly, the majority of the media and fans continue to get his name wrong. His full name is Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana-Nasraoui. Like so many players in La Liga - think Xavi, Pedri, Joselu etc - he identifies on the pitch by his first name which is not just Lamine, nor is it just Yamal, it is Lamine Yamal. He was named after two men, Lamine and Yamal, who helped his parents (Equatorial Guinean Sheila Ebana and Moroccan Mounir Nasraoui) pay rent during a financially difficult period before his birth. By way of thanks, they made good on the promise to name their son in their honour. Much has been made of the forward's holidays, his off-pitch life, and the perceived risk of distraction. Apparently he is a teenager that enjoys himself. Go figure! More worrying is the quiet implications of that accusation. The reality is far less dramatic. He goes out, like most 17-year-olds, especially during holidays. He is very close to his family and enjoys time with friends (he visited Neymar in Brazil). He's a healthy, responsible teenager. He is teetotal and a practising Muslim who has spoken openly about his observance of Ramadan. And while there aren't photos of him training during summer mornings, that's largely because there's no public access. Behind the scenes, the work is still happening. He enjoys himself, there are fewer rules and obligations than during the season, but he doesn't switch off. There is balance. He is currently in China working with Adidas. Yes, that is the kind of work a footballer has to do....

Cazorla, 40, signs new Oviedo deal before La Liga return

Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla, 40, has signed a new one-year contract with boyhood club Real Oviedo as they prepare to return to the Spanish top flight. Cazorla who returned to the club 2023, played a key role last season as Oviedo won promotion to La Liga for the first time in 24 years. He scored the decisive goal in the La Liga 2 play-off semi-final tie against Almeria, coming off the bench to convert a free-kick and secure a 3-2 aggregate victory. The former Spain international then scored a penalty in the second leg of the final as they beat CD Mirandes in extra time. "With this renewal, Santi Cazorla, a symbol and emblem of Oviedo, proves that dreams, when pursued with the heart, come true," the Asturian club said. "Real Oviedo secures the leadership of a footballer who embodies the Club's values like few others, both on and off the field." Cazorla who turns 41 in December, scored five goals and registered five assists in 35 games last season. A two-time European champion with Spain, the midfielder spent six years at Arsenal and made 180 appearances before leaving in 2018. He suffered an Achilles injury in October 2016, going on to have 11 operations to cure the problem. One of the operations led to gangrene with doctors telling Cazorla he should be satisfied to walk again, never mind play....

Lionel Messi extended the Major League Soccer record for scoring multiple goals in successive games to five with another double as Inter Miami beat Nashville 2-1 on Saturday.

The Argentina forward scored in each half to draw level with Nashville's Sam Surridge at the top of the MLS scoring charts with 16 goals in 16 games. Messi has scored twice in each of those five games, starting with wins over Montreal and Columbus in May, before competing at the Club World Cup. The 38-year-old scored once in four games as Miami reached the Club World Cup last 16, before returning to the MLS with further doubles against Montreal, New England Revolution and now Nashville. He opened the scoring in Fort Lauderdale with a low free-kick that went through the Nashville wall after 17 minutes. Hany Mukhtar levelled for the visitors early in the second half, but Messi intercepted a loose pass from Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis to score what proved to be winner after 62 minutes. The victory keeps Miami in fifth place in the Eastern Conference but moves them to within five points of leaders of Philadelphia with three games in hand....

England and Wales prepare for Euro 2025 battle

England v Wales at Euro 2025 Venue: Arena St Gallen Date: Sunday 13 July, 20:00 BST Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds, and follow text updates on BBC Sport website and app A place in the Euro 2025 quarter-finals is up for grabs when defending champions England and tournament debutants Wales go head-to-head. It is their final match in Group D, and England will be heavy favourites when the two meet in St Gallen, Switzerland, at 20:00 BST on Sunday. England, 25 places higher than Wales in the world rankings, know victory will ensure their progression to the knockout stages. Wales hope to inflict an upset, but only victory by a large scoreline would give them a chance of reaching the last eight. 'It's now the most important game' Fans have been flooding into St Gallen ready for the match-up between the two home nations, with plenty of talk in the build-up about their historic sporting rivalry. England have never lost to Wales in 10 previous meetings between the pair, winning nine times and drawing once, the 0-0 stalemate coming in April 2018. The Lionesses have never been beaten by a home nation at a major tournament either. However, England defender Alex Greenwood said it would be just a "normal" game for her and she is not focused on the rivalry. "Personally, it's another game. It's now the most important game we want to play," said Greenwood. "That's how I look at it and that's how I treat it. For the fans and everyone around it I think it's brilliant. "The atmosphere is going to be great and something we can all look forward to. But from a personal perspective, it's another really important game." The Lionesses got off to a disappointing start in Switzerland with a 2-1 defeat by France, but bounced back to beat the Netherlands 4-0 on Wednesday. That win revived their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals and put their fate back in their own hands. The talk from the Welsh camp suggested all the pressure lies with England as a result - but that didn't seem to faze manager Sarina Wiegman. Asked if Wales were trying to play mind games, she said: "Maybe, I don't know. But we have our own preparations and we know also what's on the line. "We will try to do everything to win the game because we want to get through. There's always pressure on England but we have that from expectations. "I learned a little bit about the history and the rivalry. But again we focus on what we have to do and how we want to play, and find a way to win."...

Has this Club World Cup format been a success?

One of the most divisive football competitions created comes to an end on Sunday with the Club World Cup final between Paris St-Germain and Chelsea. Fifa president Gianni Infantino said on the eve of the final "we can say definitely that this Fifa Club World Cup has been a huge, huge, huge success". Previously an annual winter tournament for the six continental champions plus one host club, it now takes the format of the World Cup, although that too is being expanded from 2026 onwards. Thirty-two teams - some from every continent - will have played 63 games, including the final, in the US over a month. Critics have called it an Infantino vanity project and former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp referred to it as the "worst idea ever implemented in football". Issues have included sparse crowds for some group games, extreme weather and player fatigue - and what the knock-on effects could be. "It's been a big success. I've been everywhere and it's been a brilliant tournament to work on and to watch here," Michael Brown, who has been covering the games for broadcasters Dazn, told BBC Sport. BBC Sport looks at what the interest levels have been like and whether the tournament in this format can be considered a success or not....

West Ham reject £50m Kudus bid from Tottenham

West Ham have rejected a £50m offer from Tottenham for Mohammed Kudus. The Ghana international is open to a move away from the London Stadium and is prioritising a switch to a Champions League side. Spurs fit that bill after qualifying for the competition by winning the Europa League. Talks are ongoing, with West Ham open to letting the 24-year-old attacking player leave. Kudus, who joined West Ham in a £38m deal from Ajax in 2023, has an £85m release clause but Tottenham are looking to secure a deal under that figure. At least six top clubs have enquired about Kudus in recent weeks, according to well-placed sources. Chelsea are among the clubs with an interest in Kudus. West Ham may look to sell one of their top stars this summer with a view to reinvesting the recouped money into the squad ahead of manager Graham Potter's first full season in charge. Kudus, who still has three years to run on his contract, has 13 goals and nine assists in 65 Premier League appearances for the Hammers....

Is Pochettino delivering hope - or panic - to US?

Mauricio Pochettino's start to life as head coach of the United States men's national team has not been as convincing as he and the fans would have liked, but a promising run in this summer's Gold Cup might have begun to turn things around. A win against Mexico in Sunday's final would deliver a trophy and start the process of instilling some much-needed belief. It's a victory that Pochettino and his players need if they are to demonstrate that things are moving in the right direction before a World Cup on home soil next summer. By now, the US should have some clarity in their preparations for the 2026 tournament, but there remains an unfinished, rocky feel to the foundations they have been laying since Pochettino took over in September 2024. Questions were being asked of the former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris St-Germain boss following consecutive defeats by Panama and Canada in the Nations League finals, and Turkey and Switzerland in Gold Cup warm-up games. Though they were only friendlies, those last two losses had USMNT (United States Men's National Team) fans worried. These games, more so than those against regional opponents, are seen as the type of test they will face in the World Cup - and they failed both. With the big tournament less than a year away and only one more competitive game to play, it can be easy to slip into a last-minute panic. There has been a lack of consistency in both personnel and results. The squad appears unresolved, with the group of players called up differing for each camp, something that has mostly been beyond Pochettino's control. Fifty-five players have made appearances for the USA under the Argentine since he was appointed 10 months ago, making it difficult to build momentum and togetherness. Mixed results across those 15 matches have reflected this inconsistency and during this time, they are yet to claim victory against a team in the top 30 of Fifa's rankings....

Garcia form & Mbappe stunner give Alonso selection headache

Kylian Mbappe opened his Club World Cup account in style with a stunning overhead kick in Real Madrid's thrilling 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund - but the French star has his work cut out to displace one of the game's brightest young prospects from Los Blancos' starting line-up. Having missed the group stage with gastroenteritis, Mbappe came off the bench against Dortmund for his second appearance of the competition. He marked the occasion with an acrobatic stoppage-time finish from Arda Guler's delivery to restore Madrid's two-goal lead after Maximilian Beier had given the German side late hope. But Mbappe's team-mate Gonzalo Garcia, who had scored or assisted in every game prior to Saturday's quarter-final, continued his scintillating form with only 10 minutes on the clock when he met another Guler cross with a sweetly struck first-time volley. The 21-year-old is now level on four competition goals with Benfica's Angel di Maria and Al-Hilal's Marcos Leonardo, whose sides have been eliminated from the tournament. "I love the finish - he opens up his foot to put it in the far post, as opposed to putting it back to the near post," former England international Andros Townsend told DAZN. "It really is an expert finish. "The fact that at the last minute he has opened up his foot up, gave the goalkeeper no chance." Garcia's purple patch has given manager Xabi Alonso a welcome selection headache as Madrid turn their attention towards Wednesday's semi-final showdown with reigning European champions Paris St-Germain, who beat Bayern 2-0 in Atlanta earlier on Saturday....

'Jota was with me' - Trent's tribute after Real Madrid win

Trent Alexander-Arnold says former Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota "was there with me" after helping Real Madrid reach the Club World Cup semi-finals. Alexander-Arnold and Jota spent five years together at Liverpool before the England full-back left for Madrid in June. Jota, aged 28, died in a car crash on Thursday along with his 25-year-old brother Andre Silva. Their joint funeral was held on Saturday in Portugal. Alexander-Arnold has been featuring for Real Madrid at the Club World Cup in the United States and assisted Fran Garcia's goal in their 3-2 win against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-final in New Jersey. He said the news of Jota's death had been "extremely difficult" to take in. "I had to try to perform for the team and help them win the game, no matter how difficult it was," Alexander-Arnold told DAZN after the game. "As hard as it was to do it, I had to push myself to focus on what my job and role was. I tried to do it as best as I could, but it was difficult and I am not going to lie about that. "[Jota] was one of my close friends - and I am sure that's what he would have wanted me to do. I'm sure we would have had a laugh and joke about the assist as well. He was there with me, I am sure." Alexander-Arnold said the Portuguese forward was "someone who lit up the room when he was in it". "I shared the dressing room with him for five years - amazing memories on and off the pitch," he added. "It goes without saying he will never be forgotten by anyone. He will live long in all our memories for the amazing man and the player he was." Alexander-Arnold said it had been "very emotional and heartwarming to see the footballing world come together to show their love and support for [Jota], his brother and their family". "I've been around him, his brother, his family, his amazing wife, his amazing parents and his amazing children. It's truly, truly heartbreaking to wake up to news like that," added the England international. "It's something you never expect." Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe was among the players who paid tribute to Jota on Saturday, with the France forward indicating number 20 after scoring an acrobatic late goal, in recognition of Jota's Liverpool shirt number. Frenchman Ousmane Dembele also paid a tribute to the Portuguese by copying his Fifa gaming celebration after sealing a 2-0 win for Paris St-Germain against Bayern Munich, which set up a last-four meeting with Real Madrid....

A win worth £9.6m - how much have Chelsea now made at Club World Cup?

Manchester City and Chelsea are already quids in from playing in the Fifa Club World Cup - and they could yet end up earning loads more. Some of their summer signings' transfer fees have even already been paid off. With near-empty stadiums, extreme weather conditions and poor pitches dominating the news agenda during the group stages of the competition, it is easy to overlook just how much money clubs are earning as the tournament goes on. Some teams pocketed tens of millions just for qualifying. BBC Sport looks at how much you can earn at the Club World Cup - and how much the English teams have made already. How does the prize money work? If Manchester City win the tournament they would land about £92m in total - but Chelsea would earn slightly less. The potential prize money was initially reported as £97m but the exchange rate between US dollars and British pounds has changed since then. Teams get a participation fee for playing, which for European teams varies depending on "sporting and commercial criteria". City's fee is the maximum of £27.9m. Chelsea are on the upper end of the scale but do not get quite as much, BBC Sport has been told. Both teams qualified for the tournament by winning the Champions League in the past four seasons. Teams from North America, Africa, Asia and Oceania get just under £7m, with South American clubs landing about £11m. The prize money rises depending how far you go (regardless of which continent you are from). In the group stages, wins are worth almost £1.5m, with about £750,000 for a draw Reaching the last 16 earns clubs £5.5m The quarter-finals are worth £9.6m A semi-final spot lands teams another £15.3m Reaching the final and losing is £21.9m Winning the competition is worth £29.2m The total prize pot Fifa has offered is $1bn (£730m), which is believed to be a record amount....

Messi mania turns Miami into America's soccer city - as big decisions loom

It is a Hollywood scriptwriter's dream - and a glorious reality for the tournament organisers. Lionel Messi will be pitted against his former club and the reigning European champions in the last 16 of the Club World Cup. Inter Miami against Paris St-Germain in Atlanta on Sunday is expected to attract one of the biggest crowds of the tournament so far, with the Messi factor a large reason. There was huge controversy about how Inter Miami and Messi entered the expanded new-look tournament. Fifa granted, in a one-off rule, a host-nation slot to a US club for this expanded 32-team edition. And instead of MLS Cup play-off winners LA Galaxy, they chose Inter Miami, who are the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield winners by virtue of having the best regular-season record. But, despite the pre-tournament scepticism, Inter's unbeaten run in the group matches puts them into the knockout stages on merit. Up next are Luis Enrique's PSG, currently regarded as the best football team on the planet, who will go head to head with most people's choice as the greatest player of all time. Messi's impact on Miami has been seismic, but what comes next for the 39-year-old eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, and will he be back on the big stage with Argentina to defend the World Cup next summer?...

European U21 champions again - but who could make World Cup?

The triumphant England Under-21s were hidden by the tickertape as they lifted the Euro 2025 trophy. Now they must ensure they do not disappear again. As the blue and white confetti rained down from the Slovakian sky the Young Lions were wrapped up in their celebrations. They deserved to be. Jonathan Rowe's extra-time goal sealed successive European titles after Germany had fought back from 2-0 down in Bratislava. For many it was their last chance with the Under-21s, but, with a World Cup next summer, they have the opportunity to force their way into Thomas Tuchel's plans. Here, we assess who might progress to the full squad in time for next year's World Cup, and what the progress of those who went before them might tell us. Who are the standouts to make the World Cup? So, with a World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico less than 12 months away, who can make the step up? Of the Euro 2023 winners, James Trafford, Levi Colwill, Cole Palmer, Morgan Gibbs-White, Noni Madueke and Curtis Jones were named in Tuchel's squad for the games against Andorra and Senegal last month. Will we see such a progression from the class of 25? Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento is the obvious one to follow them after a good tournament and a fine season for the Magpies. He has played on the right for England this summer but could fill the problematic left-back role for Tuchel. Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly started in the 3-1 defeat by Senegal and Livramento - given his senior debut against the Republic of Ireland by Carsley last season - will be a standout option next summer should his form continue. He returned to the Under-21s this summer after discussions with Tuchel and Carsley, with the pair eager for the 22-year-old to use his experience to help lead the group. Harvey Elliott had the big moments in Slovakia to be named player of the tournament - the opening goal in the final, two match-winning strikes in the semi-final, scoring against Spain and England's opening goal of the tournament against the Czech Republic. Those big moments amplify his talent and only strengthen his and Liverpool's hand. The attacker could leave Anfield this summer in search of regular football, after only two Premier League starts in Liverpool's title success, which should push him closer to senior recognition. Anfield team-mate Jarell Quansah will be expecting more top-level minutes at Bayer Leverkusen, once his impending move from Liverpool is confirmed, after struggling for game time for the champions this season, and, at 33, Dan Burn's England career will not go on forever. Manchester City's James McAtee captained the U21s and excelled. But, like Elliott and Quansah, his future is uncertain with reports he could leave Etihad Stadium this summer. This highlights one of the conundrums facing the Premier League's academy products. Selling them on has become highly lucrative for clubs' balance sheets, as they go down as pure profit in the accounts because little or no transfer fee was paid for them in the first place. Will this affect their development, or will moves allow them to thrive like Palmer when he left Manchester City for Chelsea? Who else could be in the reckoning? Centre-back Charlie Cresswell impressed in Slovakia. The Toulouse defender was man of the match in the quarter-final win over Spain in Trnava. It follows a debut season in France during which the former Leeds centre-back was linked with Serie A side Como. Cresswell, son of former Preston and Sheffield United striker Richard, played 33 times as Toulouse finished 10th in Ligue 1 following last summer's move from Elland Road, having made only six starts for his boyhood club. Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, who has also played for Scotland Under-21s, was a machine in Slovakia having impressed at the City Ground. The dynamic and combative 22-year-old is now too old for the Young Lions and a repeat of his first season at Forest will make him hard to ignore. Much is also expected of Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri, although, at 18, he is the youngest in the group. The attacker started against Slovenia and Germany in the group stage - off the back of 37 appearances for the Gunners last season - but has time to develop. There are plenty of others to consider as well, with several missing from Carsley's squad. Liam Delap was named in the initial group for Slovakia but joined Chelsea and travelled to the Club World Cup. A strong season at Stamford Bridge - following his 12 goals for relegated Ipswich last season - will give Tuchel a strong option. Jamie Gittens, also at the Club World Cup with Borussia Dortmund, is close to a move to Chelsea and the former Manchester City youngster will be able to display his talents in the Premier League. Adam Wharton - missing the tournament as he recovered from concussion - went to Euro 2024 but never played, and the Crystal Palace midfielder will surely return to the senior squad next season. Jobe Bellingham's move to Dortmund from Sunderland will provide him a platform....

'Not football' - Maresca questions Club World Cup hosts after 'joke' delay Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says the decision to suspend the Club World Cup last-16 tie with Benfica for two hours because of extreme weather was "a joke" and said the US is "probably not the right place to do the competition". "This is not football" was how the Italian described the situation after the 4-1 extra-time victory in a match that lasted four hours and 39 minutes in Charlotte and finished at 01:39 BST on Sunday. It was the sixth game of the tournament that has been suspended because of seasonal summer thunderstorms. Players, staff and supporters were immediately pulled indoors because of extreme weather, in this case because thunderstorms were detected within an eight-mile radius of the venue, in line with US safety regulations. The weather has been one of the Club World Cup talking points a year out from the US co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, with extreme heat also affecting games. "I think it's a joke, to be honest," said Maresca. "It's not football. It's completely something new; I struggle to understand. "I can understand if it's security reasons but if you suspend seven or eight games then it's probably not the right place to do the competition. "It's not normal to suspend the game. In a World Cup, how many games are suspended? Zero probably. In Europe how many games get suspended? Zero. "We've been here two weeks and they've already suspended six or seven games. There is some problems for me personally." What happened in the match? Here is how the game unfolded at the Bank of America Stadium: 09:00 BST: Kick-off 22:53: In the 85th minute the match is suspended with Chelsea leading 1-0 through Reece James' 64th-minute goal 00:47: Match restarts 00:54: VAR check for a Benfica penalty in the 92nd minute 00:57: Angel di Maria scores the penalty to equalise in the 95th minute 01:01: Full-time 01:39: End of extra time - Chelsea win after scoring three goals in extra time through Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, while Benfica youngster Gianluca Prestianni is sent off How Chelsea coped with the stoppage Chelsea players Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo were furious when pulled off the pitch - as was Maresca - having been on course to win with only five minutes of normal time remaining. After re-entering the operations and dressing room area, players took turns to cycle on exercise bikes to keep their muscles warm and did kick-ups to stay fresh. Maresca explained the mood and why it impacted performance, saying: "So two hours inside - people speak with the family outside [to check] if they were good with the security. People eating, laughing, talking on their mobiles. It was two hours. That's why I said it's not football. "For 85 minutes we were in control of the game. We didn't concede anything; we created chances enough to win the game. And then after the break the game changed completely." James added: "It was quite disruptive when you're in the flow of the game. Lots of substitutions - trying to get warm and stay warm. It was difficult and the climate was very hot and humid." A senior Chelsea official admitted to confusion and relief around the senior staff after the match. Defender Trevoh Chalobah saw the funny side, posting on social media: "Game started Saturday and ended Sunday." Is US in the summer suitable? This was the second longest stoppage of the tournament, with Benfica having had another two-hour stoppage delaying the start of their match against Auckland City. There have been six similar stoppages in five different cities, including Mamelodi Sundowns against Ulsan HD, which also happened in Orlando, because of heavy rain and storms. And there were long pauses in the second half of Palmeiras v Al-Ahly in New Jersey (40 minutes), Salzburg v Pachuca in Cincinnati (90 minutes) and Boca Juniors v Auckland City in Nashville (50 minutes). Chelsea are also one of many teams to fall victim to extreme heat. Maresca said it was "impossible" to conduct a normal training session at their previous base in Philadelphia. Some of the best stadiums in the US and Canada have roofs, like Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but many do not. Atlanta is the only ground selected with such a covered roof in the Club World Cup but further stadiums in Vancouver, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Toronto are covered for next summer's World Cup. However, that tournament has been expanded to 48 teams, meaning these events will likely happen next summer. Possible solutions could include moving the World Cup to winter months, as Qatar did in 2022, but severe cold is also an issue in parts of the US and Canada. Head of Fifa's technical study group Arsene Wenger addressed stoppages from its base in Miami. He said: "It's not ideal, I agree, because you want the flow of the game from the first to the last minute but, as well, when you organise a competition you have [to put] security first." Fifa also issued a statement at the time of the incident which read: "Due to adverse weather conditions in Charlotte, including the risk of lightning in the vicinity of Bank of America Stadium, the Fifa Club World Cup match between SL Benfica and Chelsea FC has been suspended. Fifa will follow the established safety protocols, and the match will resume as soon as it's safe to do so."...

'The abuse never stops' - Lionesses to avoid social media

England striker Alessia Russo says she prefers to stay off social media during major tournaments because of how "damaging" abuse can be. The 26-year-old was speaking about the issue alongside her Lionesses team-mates as they prepare for their European Championship defence in Switzerland next month. Their comments come after British tennis player Katie Boulter spoke to BBC Sport about abuse and death threats she has received online. Manchester United midfielder Grace Clinton, 22, says she will try to stay away from social media to avoid a "toxic environment", while Chelsea forward Lauren James said "the abuse never really stops". "I think every player might have a different story about that side of the game but it's definitely one that can be really damaging," said Arsenal forward Russo, 26. "I have faced it in the past and I think most players here have. When I was younger I probably got sucked into it more. "I read it more than I should have and listened to it more than I should have. The only opinions that matter are [those of] my team-mates, my coaches and my family. "In my first Euros I was on social media and I would have a look, have a scroll, and I got caught in a trap sometimes. "Going into the World Cup, I completely came off everything and I had people to run my Instagram. I just focused on the tournament. "It's personal preference and whatever works for the team. Staying away from it and staying focused as a team is what works for me."...

The 'two-metre Messi-Musiala' starring at U21 Euros

England Under-21s will come up against a tough challenge in their European Championship defence when they face Germany - and the tournament's top scorer Nick Woltemade - on Wednesday (20:00 BST). The 23-year-old Stuttgart forward, who is 6ft 6in (1.98m) and recently became a senior international, has scored four goals in two games in Slovakia. And he is being linked to many Premier League clubs after his breakthrough season in the Bundesliga. England will reach the quarter-finals if they avoid defeat by Germany, or if Slovenia do not beat the Czech Republic. "It wouldn't be optimal scouting if a club didn't have that [his scoring run] on their radar right now," Woltemade recently told Bild of Chelsea links., external "I'm not thinking about my future right now. I'm now with the under-21 national team, I'm having a lot of fun and I just scored three goals." Woltemade was even called a "two metre Messi-Musiala" by club captain Atakan Karazor in an interview in February., external He said: "He can control the ball, but at the same time he can also dribble like a 1.6 metre dribbler. He's a player who is two metres tall but he has technique like Messi." A summer to remember for Woltemade Woltemade has enjoyed a few landmark moments in the past month. On 24 May, he scored in the German Cup final as Stuttgart beat Arminia Bielefeld to win his first trophy. Then he started both Nations League games for Germany - against Portugal and France - for his first two senior caps. And now, days later, he is playing at the European Under-21 Championship as one of the tournament's oldest players. He netted a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Slovenia before scoring again, and assisting two, in the 4-2 win over the the Czech Republic. He will hope to continue that scoring run against Lee Carsley's England in Nitra. The Germans are already through to the knockout stages but England need a point to join them. Woltemade started his career with Werder Bremen, coming through their youth teams, but had only scored two goals in 51 games. He spent the 2022-23 season on loan in the third tier with Elversberg. But the striker rejected the offer of a new Bremen contract last summer before a free-transfer move to Stuttgart. His time there started slowly - and he was not named in their Champions League squad - but he has become a prolific goalscorer. He has bagged 17 goals in 33 games (22 starts) for the Bundesliga side - including in each of his past four matches. Woltemade was named newcomer of the season by the VDV, the German professional footballers' union, despite having already played 41 Bundesliga games for Bremen. That form has seen him most strongly linked to Chelsea - but also to Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, Brighton and West Ham - and some of the continent's top clubs too. Who else is scoring in the Euro U21s? Woltemade's current nearest rival for the tournament's golden boot is Newcastle's William Osula. The 21-year-old has netted three times in two games for Denmark, including a double in a 2-1 win over the Netherlands. Ukraine's Maksym Braharu - of Dynamo Kyiv - and Portugal's Geovany Quenda are the only two other players to net twice. Sporting winger Quenda, 18, will join Chelsea in a year's time in a £40m move....