More than half a million ticketless fans from across Europe are expected to travel to Germany for Euro 2024, with FA chief executive Mark Bullingham calling on England supporters to be “a tribute to their country”.
Many of those estimated 500,000 fans will, of course, come from the United Kingdom, with England and Scotland in action at Euro 2024.
Steve Clarke’s Scotland side face hosts Germany in Friday night’s tournament opener in Munich, two days before England open their campaign against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen in a Group C fixture that has been deemed “high risk” by the German authorities.
Bullingham understands that categorisation, but says the FA has had no warnings there will be any trouble and believes the decision is more to do with the geography around the stadium, while he also has total faith in the German police.
“In 2006 [at the World Cup in Germany], our fans were the fans of the tournament,” he told Sky Sports News. “Over the last few years I think we’ve shown our fans have been great supporters of the team and behave well.
Image: FA chief executive Mark Bullingham wants England fans to be ‘tribute to their country’ at Euro 2024
“Obviously, you are going to have a big volume of people, so I think maybe that’s the factor that they do consider and we are expecting. I understand with that volume of people, they’ll be looking at that. But the reality is our plans are good.”
As for the match at the Veltins Arena, Bullingham has confirmed there will be no special protection for the players’ families at the ground.
“We always have support for the [players’] families in the stadium, but we’re not doing anything special for this game,” he said. “We’re looking forward to the game and think it’ll be a brilliant game.”
Image: Bullingham (right) says there will be no special protection for the England players’ families at Sunday’s Euro 2024 opener vs Serbia
Bullingham admits, though, there is an element of unpredictability about how England’s travelling fans may behave in Germany, with only small numbers having attended the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar respectively.
“It will be a lot of fans, and a lot of fans who haven’t travelled before,” he said. “Because if you think of the last couple of tournaments away, we’ve had less than 5,000 fans [travelling]. It’s a different dynamic. But our fans have been really good the last couple of years, and it’s a brilliant support for us, and we hope that continues.”
Even so, he has called on the England supporters to now get behind their team and do their country proud while in Germany this summer.
“Over the last few years, I think the fans have given absolutely brilliant support to us, particularly in the stadium,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of people going to come out here.
“The best thing that the fans can do to help us do well in this tournament is be a tribute to the country, and we want them to do that, reminding them that in 2006 we were the fans of the tournament and they were brilliant then.
“I think we have the environment to do that. I think the German police have proved that they’re really good at policing football tournaments, so there’s no reason why that shouldn’t be the case again.
“But really, the main message is get behind the team and support in the right way.”
Why has England vs Serbia been classified a high-risk fixture?
Analysis by Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:
“We need to keep things in perspective. League games, international games and games at tournaments, the local authorities always classify games at low risk, medium risk and high risk.
“This one has been classified as a high-risk game by the German authorities. That’s simply because of the reputation that England fans have historically had in the past and some Serbian supporters have also had.
A real boost for England manager Gareth Southgate as all 26 players of his squad train in Germany with injury doubts hanging over a number of players
“What we do know as a fact without hyping anything up or sensationalising the potential for there to be any trouble is that there will be around 40,000 England fans going to the game at Gelsenkirchen and around five and eight thousand Serbian fans.
“The German police have some intelligence suggesting there may be around 500 Serbians who are looking to cause some sort of problem at the game but the German police are saying they can handle it and have a comprehensive plan in store.
“There will be beer available in the stadium although I think there is talk the beer is going to be not as strong as the beer available at other grounds. It’s going to be a little bit weak, and also you can only order two pints at a time inside the stadium and you can’t drink it in your seats – just the concourse.
Sky Sports News’ chief reported Kaveh Solhekol takes a closer look at England’s opening Euro 2024 game opponents, Serbia
“But a lot of fans don’t actually like beer. I go to a lot of games, and I don’t drink beer at games. It’s not talked too much about the potential for there being problems.
“All the Serbian fans I’ve spoken to about this game are very excited and I’ve been told that the Premier League is incredibly popular in Serbia. They watch it every weekend. They all have their favourite teams and players and are really looking forward to this game on Sunday.”
FA funds police unit to catch those who abuse England players on social media
The FA, meanwhile, is to pay for a specialist police officer to investigate and prosecute anyone who racially abuses England players at the European Championships, which begin in Germany on Friday.
Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho were each targeted with online hate after they missed penalties in the final of the last Euros at Wembley in 2021, and the FA is determined that – even though it cannot prevent such abuse happening again at this tournament – it will have measures in place to try to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Bullingham told Sky Sports News: “In the past, what we’ve done is pull together all the data – effectively an evidence pack – to give to the police.
“This time we’ve gone a stage further, where we’re actually funding someone within the UK Football Policing Unit, so within the British police. We’re actually funding a unit which will then prosecute.
“What we don’t want to do is create a pack that we then give to the police….but then they don’t have the resource to actually take that forward. This is to make sure that….if there are instances of the vile abuse we have seen before, it gets prosecuted.”
Bullingham says the initial cost is expected to be around £25,000 – but that could be more, depending on how many incidents the police need to investigate. The FA has enough resource set aside to fund as many investigations as are necessary.
“It depends how many prosecutions there are. It is a cost per investigation,” Bullingham added.
Chief constable Mark Roberts, NPCC lead for football policing, said: “As with all international tournaments, we will have a team of officers based at the UK Football Policing Unit throughout Euro 2024 to investigate reports of offensive messages posted on social media.
“If these messages meet a criminal threshold, those people posting the comments will be prosecuted and subsequently dealt with by the courts.
“Investigating these reports takes a significant amount of policing time and resource, and we welcome the support from the FA in funding a portion of these costs. We will continue to work with our partners to help prevent and tackle the issue of online hate.”
Thornaby FC are set to appoint a new board and reinstate their women’s teams which were controversially axed.
The Teesside club are also set to appoint a new chief executive officer – Middlesbrough-based businesswoman Alison McGee.
The decision to scrap the women’s section of the club had threatened to leave more than a hundred women and girls, some aged as young as seven, without a team.
Along with McGee, other fresh faces will be joining the board.
High-profile figures had criticised the move, including Lioness Beth Mead, who described the decision as “disgusting”.
Aston Villa defender Maz Pacheco wrote on X: “This has blown my mind… How can you just remove a whole women’s and girls section of your club???”
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen expressed “outrage” at the decision, which he attributed to a “1970s mindset”.
Image: Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson had spoken out against the original decision
Former Paralympian, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, also weighed in, saying: “Women’s sport has come so far and although I understand that running a club brings its own pressures and it is difficult, frankly women and girls deserve more.”
The six board members who voted to scrap the teams have stepped down, including former chief executive Trevor Wing.
Club chair Gary Morris voted against the decision.
Chelsea and Newcastle have approached Crystal Palace about signing Michael Olise.
Chelsea are aware of the interest from other clubs but hold a long-term interest in the forward and are keen to make him one of Enzo Maresca’s first signings.
Olise’s current Palace deal runs until 2027 after he signed a new four-year contract last summer although he has a release clause thought to be in the region of £60m.
The 22-year-old joined Palace in 2021 from Reading and has scored 16 goals and produced 25 assists in all competitions.
Olise scored 10 goals in 19 appearances last season, his best return despite missing 18 games due to injury, flourishing under new boss Oliver Glasner.
Speaking on Monday Night Football in May, Jamie Carragher said Crystal Palace’s attacking duo Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise have the quality to play for any team in the Premier League.
His total of 11 assists in the 2022-23 season was the fourth-most in the Premier League.
Olise was named in the France U23 preliminary squad for this summer’s Olympic Games by head coach Thierry Henry and featured in Thursday’s launch of Crystal Palace’s new kit for the 2024/25 season.
The winger’s younger brother, Richard Olise, is a full-back who is already on the books at Chelsea.
‘Chelsea make first move but other clubs interested’
Sky Sports News’ chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:
“Chelsea have made an approach at a pretty high level I’m told, club-to-club, to sign him from Crystal place. Chelsea are realistic about their prospects of trying to do a deal. Lots of other clubs are interested in signing him as well.
“Newcastle, for instance, are interested in signing him. If they sell Miguel Almiron, they have identified Olise as a perfect player to bring in.
“Olise has also been linked with clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool but Chelsea have a long-standing interest in him. He used to play in their academy when he was about 14.
“They tried to sign him last summer as well but he ended up signing a new four-year contract at Crystal Palace. If the money is right Crystal Palace, I sense, would be willing to let him go.
“Chelsea are very, very interested. They have made the first move, but they have lots of competition from other clubs.”
When does the summer transfer window open and close?
The 2024 summer transfer window in the Premier League officially opens on Friday June 14 – the same day that Euro 2024 starts.
The window will close on August 30 at 11pm UK time.
The Premier League has brought forward Deadline Day to link up with the other major leagues in Europe. The closing dates were set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.
Strikers are expected to be in high-demand this summer, with Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Man Utd and Tottenham all on the lookout.
Sky Sports News understands there could be up to 13 clubs in the market for a centre-forward this summer.
Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Everton, Ipswich, Leicester, Southampton, West Ham and Wolves are also considering varying profiles of strikers.
Image: Joshua Zirkzee, Victor Osimhen, Jonathan David have been linked with summer moves
Some clubs have already got theirs, such as Brentford and their £30m January signing Igor Thiago, while we have seen one Premier League target – Benjamin Sesko – decide to stay at his club RB Leipzig already. The window opens on Friday.
In the coming market, there appears to be a few tiers to what is on offer at centre-forward, depending on their quality and market value; from the top strikers in the world such as Victor Osimhen – worth at least £100m to Napoli – to potential bargains such as Serhou Guirassy, who has a release clause of little more than £15m.
Here, Sky Sports takes a look at 15 of the best strikers out there in 2024 – some very much available, others near-impossible to get – and uses Wyscout data to showcase their potential for the Premier League.
The affordable bracket
Serhou Guirassy
A look at some of Serhou Guirassy’s best goals in the Bundesliga
Every team in the Premier League watched Guirassy last season as he spearheaded Stuttgart’s successful league campaign, which saw them earn Champions League qualification.
Sky Sports News mentioned him with the likes of Manchester United, West Ham, Fulham and Nottingham Forest during the January transfer window – but he stayed and finished the season on 28 goals in 28 Bundesliga games, the second-most in Europe’s top-five leagues behind only Harry Kane.
Inevitably, the Guinea international is on the list again at every club this summer, mainly due to his relatively cheap release clause, which leaves Stuttgart very exposed to losing him.
However, Champions League football helps them in their bid to keep him, at least from clubs outside European competition next term, although some of the interested clubs could blow them out of the water on wages, especially in England.
In a Bundesliga with a number of top strikers, Guirassy ranks third behind only Kane and Lois Openda in Wyscout‘s ranking system, which incorporates all of a player’s data over the course of a season. He has got a lot about him; great movement, good feet, and knows where the goal is.
Belgium is usually a cheaper market for Premier League clubs to shop in and has an increasing number of exciting young players, Denkey being one who is banging in goals in the Jupiler League for fun.
There is yet to emerge a firm Premier League suitor for him, but he is undoubtedly one that the majority of clubs have been watching considering his strong data set. According to Wyscout‘s rankings, he is the best striker in Belgium currently.
He is also the fourth top-scorer with 31 goals and has the second-best xG rating (35.04) of all the strikers in this list. He is also second on this list for shots per 90 (3.52). He has speed and power going for him.
Jonathan David
Image: Jonathan David has been linked with a move to the Premier League this summer
With just a year left on his contract, Jonathan David is another seemingly affordable option for a Premier League club, and a good one after his exploits in the French league over the last few seasons.
He was behind only Kylian Mbappe for goals and assists among centre forwards in France last season, with 19 and four respectively. In 2022-23 season, he was top of the combined xG and xA metric for any striker across the top-five leagues, according to Wyscout’s data.
This season, David has the second-best xG (30.15) of the strikers in this list, hits more than half of his shots on target in all competitions and, again in Europe’s top-five leagues, David was second only to Jean Philippe-Mateta in terms of shot accuracy, with 60.5 per cent of his Ligue 1 shots hitting the mark.
France’s leading newspaper L’Equipe seem to be aware of the Premier League interest and have also mentioned Atletico Madrid. Further reports say Lille want €50m but with only a year left on his contract that seems optimistic.
Joshua Zirkzee
Could Manchester United be about to make a move for Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee?
Just called up to the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024, Manchester United and Arsenal are currently very interested in Zirkzee as AC Milan push to try and sign him from Serie A rivals Bologna.
Milan are confident of getting a deal done but almost a week has gone by since talks intensified and it is not there yet, which has seen United and Arsenal monitor things more closely this week. Bologna, meanwhile, really want him to stay for another year and are even willing to increase his wages.
Zirkzee stepped-up last season with 11 goals to help Bologna qualify for the Champions League.
He is a really attractive prospect on the market, because of his dynamic profile and relatively young age, with plenty of room for improvement, especially for a relatively modest fee. Juventus also like him a lot but need to sell a striker before they can go after another one.
Artem Dovbyk
Image: Artem Dovbyk has impressed at Girona this season
Ukraine international Dovbyk scored 24 goals in 36 LaLiga games last season as Girona – Manchester City’s sister club – finished in the Champions League places.
AC Milan have him on their list if the Zirkzee deal collapses, according to Sky in Italy, while reports in Spain have linked him with Atletico Madrid and Napoli. He is unlikely to be a player for City and their owners are unlikely to want to see him strengthen their rivals, so perhaps a move to the Premier League is unlikely.
Astoundingly, Dovbyk has the third-highest xG (23.87) in top-five leagues behind Haaland (29.04) and Kane (23.9), according to Wyscout data. He is a top attacker, no doubt.
Jhon Duran
Watch Chelsea target Jhon Duran’s best moments in the Premier League for Aston Villa
Club: Aston Villa Age: 20 Approximate market value: Unknown Contract expiry: 2028
Chelsea have been interested in Jhon Duran since January and he remains on their list of strikers as they re-work the squad for new manager Enzo Maresca.
He has played second fiddle to Ollie Watkins since his £18m arrival from Chicago Fire in 2022, but that is to be expected given Watkins’ outstanding form. Duran has nonetheless shown what he is capable of when he is on the pitch, scoring five goals mostly as a substitute. Some of those have been absolute spectacular, though.
Duran is undoubtedly a top up and coming striker who needs to player regularly to realise his potential and, given Watkins’ status at the club, that may have to be away from Villa Park.
His value has risen and he has a lot of time left on his contract but Duran’s price cannot have increased that much given his lack of playing time and recent move to England.
A little more pricey
Victor Boniface
Image: Victor Boniface has been in good form for Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen
The Nigeria goalscorer scored 19 goals as Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga. He would have scored more had he not missed a portion of the season through injury.
His valuation has therefore increased and, following Alonso’s decision to stay, it will be harder to prize players from his team. Leverkusen have a real chance to solidify their place at the top of the Bundesliga and go further in the Champions League next season.
Boniface has the best xG per 90 (0.71) of any player in this list, above Viktor Gyokeres (0.67) and Jonathan David (0.65), and the second-most shots per 90 (4.05) in Europe’s top-five leagues behind Kylian Mbappe.
Santiago Gimenez
Image: Santiago Gimenez is being looked at by Premier League clubs
The Mexican had a sterling season in the Eredivisie under Arne Slot, whose move to Liverpool has raised inevitable speculation that the striker could follow him to Anfield.
Gimenez was also spotted watching a Tottenham game this season and they are among the Premier League clubs who are on the lookout for a young striker they can develop.
He is highly rated by scouts and sporting directors at a number of Premier League clubs and his relative affordability makes him a likely proposition to come to England. However, the record that precedes him for players making the jump from the Eredivisie to the Premier League is not a great one and does create reservations among scouts.
Gimenez’s xG is good at 26.39 but he did not provided many assists over the past season. He very much leads the line, plays on the shoulder of the last defender and is devilish in the box, even with his head.
Dominic Solanke
Watch Dominic Solanke’s best goals in the Premier League
Dominic Solanke is understood to have a release clause that can be activated by only the ‘big six’ clubs, reportedly to the tune of £65m.
Andoni Iraola has helped develop him into a prolific Premier League goalscorer and that is what is attracting top clubs to his name again after it did not work out for him at Chelsea and Liverpool earlier in his career.
Inevitable speculation has been made linking him to Eddie Howe at Newcastle, given they worked together at Bournemouth, but Alexander Isak is clearly the first choice there. The top clubs looking at strikers appear to be after someone younger than 26 but if they do not get their first choices, could Solanke come into their sights?
According to Wyscout’s index based on performance data, Solanke was the fourth best-performing centre-forward in the Premier League last season, behind Ollie Watkins, Heung-Min Son and Jarrod Bowen. That’s quite something.
Ivan Toney
Watch some of Ivan Toney’s finest moments in the Premier League
Club: Brentford Age: 28 Approximate market value: In the region of £70m Contract expiry: 2025
If not for his ban from football last season, Ivan Toney would undoubtedly already be at a top club. He was the coveted centre-forward, newly in the England setup, and of interest to Arsenal and Chelsea last year, but instead spent most of last season on the sidelines and was not quite the same player after he returned.
Sky Sports News understands Arsenal have turned their attentions away from Toney and Isak and towards a younger profile of striker they can develop, and Chelsea too seem to be looking at younger players like Duran.
In January, Toney’s valuation at Brentford was £100m and that has dropped somewhat, as he enters the final year of his contract at the West London club, and if he has an impactful Euros with England, interest will inevitably pick back up. He needs to show his best again.
Brentford have been preparing themselves to lose Toney this summer, signing £30m striker Igor Thiago from Club Brugge in Belgium, but they will not let Toney go on the cheap.
Lois Openda
Watch some of Lois Openda’s best moments in the Bundesliga this season
Although Openda’s £67.6m (€80m) release clause is not effective until 2025, it does give a guide as to his valuation. Why wouldn’t Leipzig argue he is worth that much now given the season he has had?
Twenty-four goals in 34 appearances in the Bundesliga and four in the Champions League has seen him form a formidable partnership with Benjamin Sesko, in a very exciting RB Leipzig team that has finished in the Champions League places in a very competitive division.
Openda is up there among the best performers for xG (22.98), goals-per90 (0.67), and shots per90 (3.37) – and he has, of course, been linked with all the top Premier League clubs over the last 12 months or so.
Very expensive indeed
Victor Osimhen
Image: Victor Osimhen would command a huge transfer fee if he were to move this summer
Only a handful of clubs in the world can afford to spend £100m on one player, which limits the market for players such as Victor Osimhen. With two years left on his contract, a move is more practical but Napoli will not let him go for less than his value.
That is surely a reason why the prolific goalscorer is still at Napoli despite speculation that he would move elsewhere nearly every season.
Every top club has been linked with him at one stage or another, including Chelsea, but at such a high price, there are only a handful of clubs worldwide that could spend that kind of money – and most have their centre-forwards.
Reports earlier this year claimed he was high on PSG’s wishlist to replace Mbappe, but Antonio Conte will be hoping he sticks around for his first season in charge at Napoli.
Viktor Gyokeres
Watch Viktor Gyokeres best goals in the Championship for Coventry in the 2022/23 season
The Sweden striker only signed for Sporting last summer from Coventry and is thought to have had a €100m release clause inserted into his contract.
He has found the step from Championship to the Portuguese top-flight and European competition a relative breeze, scoring 29 in 33 league games and five more in the Europa League, which is what has alerted clubs to want to bring him back to England.
It will be an expensive job though and only one or two clubs could afford to do it, making it unlikely, especially given the current PSR rules.
Gyokeres’ stats are really strong; he has the best xG (36.94) and xAssist (8.8) of any strikers in this list over the course of last season, according to Wyscout data.
Alexander Isak
Our pick of Alexander Isak’s best Premier League goals for Newcastle this season
There is no sign that Newcastle would consider selling their star striker – only speculation that he is of interest to top clubs, which is inevitable given his record and performances last season.
Again, only a handful of clubs in the world could afford Isak and the market is just not fluid enough at the moment for a credible bid to appear on the horizon.
According to Wyscout data, Isak has the best goal conversion rate (28.9 per cent) of any of the strikers in this list.
Ollie Watkins
Watch Ollie Watkins’s highlights in the Premier League this season
Club: Aston Villa Age: 28 Approximate market value: £100m+ Contract expiry: 2028
Again, Watkins is another player nigh-on untouchable at his club unless for a stratospheric bid, and those buyers are just not out there at the moment.
Watkins is central to Aston Villa’s push to join the elite clubs and he has been superb under Unai Emery last season, scoring 27 times in all competitions. Villa are also in the Champions League now, so the list of reasons to go elsewhere is shrunk.
According to Wyscout’s index based on performance data, Watkins was the best-performing centre-forward in the Premier League last season.
Lloyd Kelly has completed his move to Newcastle as a free agent.
The 25-year-old defender carried out his medical in London earlier this week and he has signed a five-year contract to become Eddie Howe’s first summer signing as a free agent with the option of a one-year extension.
Kelly’s contract at Bournemouth expires at the end of this month and moves to St James’ Park as a free agent.
Kelly becomes Eddie Howe’s first signing of the summer. They had been in talks with former Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo, but the defender chose to join Chelsea instead.
Kelly said: “It’s amazing to be coming here. I know how big the club is and how much it means to all the fans, and I just want to hit the ground running and get to work.
“It’s a big move for myself and the family – of course being down south is a bit different – but I think the city of Newcastle is amazing, with the contrast between city life and the countryside.
“It wasn’t a hard decision for me to come here. Working with the gaffer previously, I know what he wants from his players and how he wants his players to play, and I think with what I can bring it just makes sense. I just can’t wait to get started.”
Head coach Eddie Howe said: “I’m really pleased to have secured Lloyd’s signature. He’s a player who’s proven himself at Premier League level and I’m certain he’ll be a great addition as we prepare for the new season.
“Lloyd is a player I’ve admired since the early stages of his career. Alongside his undoubted defensive ability, he brings versatility and leadership qualities that I believe will make him a great fit within our squad and somebody our supporters will quickly take to.
“He has plenty of Premier League experience already under his belt, yet Lloyd’s at an age where he can still develop. He has a lot of potential and I’m really looking forward to working with him again.”
Why Newcastle wanted Kelly
Sky Sports News reporter Mark McAdam:
“Newcastle are already getting busy in this summer’s transfer window and Eddie Howe is bringing in a player he has already signed before while at Bournemouth in the summer of 2019 from Bristol City.
“He’s a free transfer so that will help them financially. At 25, he is the perfect age. It’s a bit of a no-brainer as it’s someone Howe knows and the player has worked with him before.
“We know there was a lot of interest from Serie A with some big Italian clubs tracking him and one or two others in the Premier League monitoring his situation but Newcastle have won the race for his signature. He made 120 league starts across his five-year spell at Bournemouth and 23 Premier League appearances last season so he has plenty of top-flight experience.
“We know certain clubs are under really strict financial parameters in regards to PSR. He is versatile, he’s athletic, he’s 6ft 2in and he can play all across the back line.
“He’s a former Bournemouth captain which shows you a lot about his characteristics and his personality. He’s a leader and a really popular lad. He always trained hard there and gave everything for the football club.
“He wanted to join Newcastle as much as they wanted him so that will endear him to their supporters. I think he could potentially be a really good signing for them.”
The 2024 summer transfer window in the Premier League officially opens on Friday June 14 – the same day that Euro 2024 starts.
The window will close on August 30 at 11pm UK time.
The Premier League has brought forward Deadline Day to link up with the other major leagues in Europe. The closing dates were set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.
Partick Thistle’s Rachel Donaldson has won the Scottish Women’s Premier League goal of the season.
The midfielder’s strike in the first half of the Sky Sports Cup final against Rangers beat 17 other goals to claim the award.
Donaldson’s strike from around 30 yards at Tynecastle Park was selected by an SWPL panel of judges involved in the women’s game and was described by Sky Sports commentator Ian Crocker as an “absolute stunner” at the time.
Watch Rachel Donaldson’s strike in the Sky Sports Cup final that won the SWPL goal of the season award
Partick Thistle team-mate Rosie Slater was second after her goal in the Sky Sports Cup semi-final, while Hibernian’s Lia Tweedie’s goal in the Edinburgh derby was third.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Donaldson said: “It is a huge honour to win this award. It was a really special day – a huge occasion for the club – and one that we as players and the fans will look back fondly on despite the result.
“Clare Docherty made the space and when I got the ball my first instinct was to hit it but I couldn’t actually see it! Then I heard the cheer of the crowd and that was a great feeling.
“I joke that I try them all the time in training but none will be as special as that.
“For the club – as part-timers – to get to that final, be competitive and have fans who were unbelievable in the stands was such a fantastic experience.
“We are still building as a club and looking to progress each year, so hopefully we can take another step in that direction next season.”
Ovens claims SWPL 2 award
Watch Jodie Ovens’ strike that saw the Stirling University player win the SWPL 2 goal of the season prize
Stirling University’s Jodie Ovens won the SWPL 2 goal of the season – beating nine other nominations – after a curling long-range effort against Boroughmuir Thistle in March.
After winning the ball back for her side, the forward played a one-two with Carrie McGorm before unleashing a first-time shot that curled into the top corner as one of her two goals at Meadowbank that night to seal the win.
Hannah Cunningham’s acrobatic goal for Queen’s Park against Gartcairn was second, while Lucie Burns’ run and finish for Kilmarnock against Gartcairn in the first round of the Sky Sports Cup came third.
Ovens told Sky Sports: “I remember getting a call one night and it started with ‘congratulations’. I thought it was about the nomination, as I had seen that earlier, but then I found out I won it.
“I was really surprised due to the calibre of goals – there were 10 great goals, so I wasn’t expecting mine to come out on top – I was just pleased to be nominated.
“I didn’t really think about what I was doing at the time, I suppose I’m better when I don’t really think about it – I even did a stepover which I would never do!
“When it left my foot I just watched it go and then dip right at the end but I didn’t realise how well I hit it until I saw the replay.
“I was having a howler in that game until that point, so I’m glad I did score for the team! It is also always nice when those goals help win you the game too.”
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Scotland should not view their Euro 2024 opener against Germany as a “free hit” and can feed off any early-tournament nerves among the hosts to cause an upset, according to Chris Sutton.
The Scots get the competition up and running when they take on the hosts in Munich on Friday night, with Steve Clarke’s side also having to negotiate Switzerland and Hungary in Group A.
Scotland are the underdogs for the curtain-raiser, but Sutton believes there is no reason to fear the three-time European champions.
“What an opening game it’s going to be against Germany,” he told Sky Sports. “I flew over to Munich yesterday and I sense there isn’t a great level of expectation among the German public, which there normally is going into a major tournament.
Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour is hoping to start the Euro 2024 opener against Germany and go up against ‘one of the best midfielders in the game’ in Toni Kroos
“I think Scotland can view this as an opportunity and there are people out there thinking that this is a free hit for Scotland. I don’t view it that way.
“Under Steve Clarke, people will talk about their recent form in friendlies and they’ve won one out of their last nine games but they had some tricky fixtures in there and actually tested themselves.”
Scotland will be hell-bent on demonstrating they are not just in Germany to make up the numbers.
In their first and only previous meeting with the tournament hosts at a European Championship, the Germans ended Scotland’s hopes of Euro 92 progression with a 2-0 victory in Norrkoping.
Avenging that defeat will be in the back of the minds of those setting up camp in Munich, but manager Clarke must decide on a couple of selection conundrums, according to Sutton.
Scott McKenna says Scotland will do all the can to progress past the group stages of Euro 2024 as he looks to the Tartan Army to play their part
“We’ve learned from qualifying that Scotland are a really well-balanced team,” added the Sky Sports pundit. “There are areas of concern, of course.
“Scotland have a centre-back dilemma like England. Grant Hanley hasn’t played a lot of football at Norwich City this past season.
“But Clarke likes him and I suspect he will start. The other question mark is over who starts up front: Lawrence Shankland or Che Adams.
Ahead of their Euro 2024 opener, Paul Lambert and Billy Dodds reflect on Scotland’s last win against Germany 25 years ago
“I suspect Clarke will go with Adams, who is probably a better leader of the line but Shankland is a phenomenal finisher.”
“I’m looking forward to the game as Clarke and the players will view this as an opportunity and if Germany are slightly off it, I think they can get a positive result.
“If Germany are on form, at home, I can’t see how they don’t beat Scotland but you just never know.”
Much was made of Germany’s indifferent form last year.
John McGinn joins in some Bavarian dancing as Scotland arrive in Germany ahead of Euro 2024
Being a host nation means no qualification games and in 2023 they played 11 friendlies and won only three – against Peru, France and the United States – while losing six.
Amid that run, new boss Julian Nagelsmann took over in September and, since the turn of the year, Germany are unbeaten in four matches.
Wins against France and Netherlands preceded a goalless draw against Ukraine, which came before a victory over Greece last Friday.
The Scotland squad received a special send-off at Glasgow airport, as they departed for Euro 2024 in Germany
Even if performances have still been patchy, then they look to have found the way to get results just in time.
“Nagelsmann has come in quite late in the day and they had a couple of morale-boosting wins in March against the Netherlands and France. He’ll be hoping they can carry on that form.
“We’ve seen in recent years that Hungary can be a very awkward team and they’ve got some phenomenal players, led by Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai.
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke explains his decision to cut Craig Gordon and John Souttar from his final Euro 2024 squad and how they took the news
“The Swiss, albeit you feel they’re on the decline and have an ageing team, they’re still very capable. Clarke will have to make a decision on his midfield balance in those games.
“Will it be Billy Gilmour or Ryan Christie? Scott McTominay had a phenomenal qualifying campaign in terms of goals while John McGinn and Callum McGregor are both wonderful footballers.
“Scotland’s midfield stands up to most in this competition so it’ll come down to how brave they are on the ball, how are they going to get up the pitch and whether they can pray on a little bit of German hesitation if they’re not quite at it.”
Boyd: Fans will expect
Speaking on the Essential Euros podcast, Kris Boyd believes the Scotland squad will be under pressure and expected to produce results at Euro 2024
Sky Sports’ Kris Boyd:
“It’s been a long time coming. We’re looking forward to it, Steve Clarke has done an incredible job. I’m sure the boys will be ready.
“Whatever happens, the Tartan Army make the tournament. Everybody has travelled. They will be well behaved and have the banter that goes with the kilts.
“We have to go there with belief to get out the group – that would be success although it’s a difficult group. It’s going to be a great occasion on Friday night but the two games after that will be just as difficult. Hungary have been at the last three Euros and Switzerland qualify for every tournament. The other two nations have some big names and all this Germany on home soil.
Kris Boyd discusses how Scotland will approach their Euro 2024 opener against Germany and believes the team are not at the tournament to just make up the numbers
“We need to get away from Scotland just being happy to turn up. It’s a negative mindset. We have to go and enjoy it but Clarke won’t be speaking to the players like that. There’s a chance for Scotland to get out of this group.
“John McGinn is one goal behind Ally McCoist and level with Kenny Miller, so it’s an unbelievable achievement for a midfielder. Since Clarke has come in, McGinn’s levels have gone through the roof. Scott McTominay has been Scotland’s best player, even when playing for Manchester United he’s done well.
“It’s a fresh start for the players. These players are under pressure every week with their clubs. Andy Robertson, under pressure. Callum McGregor, under pressure. It will be the same for Scotland. The fans will expect.”
Who will Scotland face on Friday night?
Take a look at the best bits from Jamal Musiala’s 2023-2024 season with Bayern Munich
Germany are packed full of world-class players starting in goal with 38-year-old Manuel Neuer, albeit he recently made a high-profile blunder in Bayern Munich’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Real Madrid.
The defence can boast experience in Antonio Rudiger of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich.
Germany have also been boosted by the return of midfielder Toni Kroos after a long absence. The midfielder has 109 caps and will finish his football career after this tournament.
Captain Ilkay Gundogan of Barcelona and Leroy Sane of Bayern Munich both had spells at Manchester City while Pascal Gross is a team-mate of Billy Gilmour’s at Brighton.
Arsenal’s Kai Havertz scored in last week’s friendly win over Greece and evergreen 34-year-old forward Thomas Muller has a remarkable 45 goals in 129 caps.
Musiala: Scotland should be worried
Jamal Musiala insists Scotland should be worried about Germany if the hosts hit form straight away.
The 21-year-old Bayern Munich attacking midfielder, who represented both England and Germany at youth level, spoke about the challenge posed by the Scots in the Group A encounter.
He told www.dfb.de: “We are very variable, can change teams and always cause problems for the opponent.
“It is important that we focus on playing well ourselves, then Scotland will be more worried about us than we are about them.
“Since the last World Cup, I have made physical progress and improved my game as a whole. It is my goal to continue to develop from year to year.
“I like it best when I have the security of being protected by the defence and being able to move freely. I felt really comfortable in the last few international matches.”
Scotland’s record against Germany
On the face of it, Scotland’s record against the Germans is not too bad – winning four and drawing five of their 17 meetings.
However, Scotland have never beaten them in a competitive game.
In tournament finals, Germany won the 1986 World Cup encounter 2-1 and recorded a 1-0 win at Euro 92.
Scotland’s last victory in the fixture was in 1999 when Don Hutchison, earning his second cap, scored the winner in a 1-0 friendly win in Bremen.
The most recent meeting between the sides was in September 2015 when Germany won 3-2 in a European Championship qualifier at Hampden.
Grant Hanley and James Forrest remain from the Scotland squad while Germany had Neuer, Kroos, Muller and Gundogan in their line-up. Muller scored twice and Gundogan got the winner.
Slovenia have had top-class football players before. Samir Handanovic and Jan Oblak come to mind. “But they were both goalkeepers,” Matej Orazem tells Sky Sports. “Goalkeepers can be stars but it is a completely different thing to have a striker.”
Benjamin Sesko is that striker. The 21-year-old RB Leipzig player has been attracting interest from the continent’s biggest clubs since he was in his mid-teens and will lead the line for Slovenia at Euro 2024. “I think that he is destined for greatness,” adds Orazem.
Orazem is the sporting director at NK Domzale, the club in Slovenia that took Sesko into their academy at the age of 15. The earliest memories of him were the whispers about a boy living nearby who had scored 50 goals in one season against much older players.
Watch all of Benjamin Sesko goals for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga so far
“We were quite quick after that. By the time that the media speculation began and bigger clubs noticed him, we already had an agreement. For anyone who went to see him, it was pretty obvious. He was pretty much a slam dunk at a very young age.”
Physically, Sesko stands out. He is now 6’5″ and was not much shorter then. There are stories about him kicking basketballs from out of the hoop. With a top speed of 35.47 kilometres per hour, he is also one of the fastest players in the Bundesliga. A true athlete.
“The physicality was the defining factor. He was amazing. With some young talents, you want them to play with the older guys but if they are not physically ready then you are a little more wary. With Beny, there was no doubt because of his physical presence.”
Sesko was in the U19 side at Domzale at the age of 16. “The only regret we have is not debuting him in the senior team as well.” The reason it did not happen is because soon after, at just 17, he was off to Red Bull Salzburg, ready for the next step on his journey.
Orazem believes Domzale played their part. “We are proud of every moment that he spent here. “I think it was very important. Our academy was the chance to be away from home in a known environment and begin to become accustomed to the unknown.”
Sesko’s choice of club was a shrewd one. There were more famous options but together with his family and agent Elvis Basanovic, it was the pathway that was the priority. Salzburg could offer quality coaching but also a clear route to the top end of the game.
Benjamin Sesko new deal with RB Leipzig will include a ‘gentleman’s agreement’
Initially, there was the opportunity to play senior football with second-tier side FC Liefering. From there, the link-up with Leipzig provided a natural progression to the Bundesliga at a club where everything from the tactics to the culture would be more familiar.
It helped too that Salzburg was only 180 miles north of Domzale. “It was not too much of a shock. He could see his family. It was a brilliant choice. There were options in Italy, Germany and England but it was a really good offer for everyone,” says Orazem.
“Salzburg was crucial in his development. Even though he was already a good player here, he learned a lot in Salzburg, progressing incredibly as a player and a person. Every move until now has been correct. Moving to Leipzig was not too big a step for him.”
Eighteen goals in his final season in Salzburg persuaded Leipzig that Sesko was ready for that step last summer. He started slowly. “He needed a little bit of time but showed everyone in the second half of the season.” Sesko finished up with another 18 goals in Germany.
Image: Benjamin Sesko boasted one of the best strike rates in the Bundesliga
Indeed, only Harry Kane and Serhou Guirassy could boast better strike rates in the Bundesliga. Leipzig’s counter-attacking style suited him with many of his chances coming after bursting clear with his pace but he was also a major threat from set-pieces.
Sesko’s skillset is rare. He instinctively wants to run at defences from deep with his great speed but he is also a player who has the physical capability of a target man. Only Kane scored more headed goals in the competition. Moreover, he can play.
“It is not just the physicality, it is the technical aspect.” It makes for an irresistible combination for the top clubs and helps to explain why Sesko was strongly linked with Arsenal, among others, before agreeing to extend his deal with Leipzig.
Image: Benjamin Sesko’s heat map and shot map in his debut Bundesliga season
That seems sensible after only one season. There is plenty of time if he stays fit and he has been diligent on that score. “He is very disciplined and that has prevented any injuries that, especially for bigger guys, can be problematic. He has been managed really well.”
In Domzale, his legacy is felt even if he never did make a senior appearance for the club. “It is difficult to find the next Sesko but he is inspiring the players in the academy – and not only them but the whole country at the moment. Everyone is in awe.”
There is the practical impact on the lives of those academy prospects at Domzale too. “Every time that he is transferred we will get solidarity contributions, which is of huge importance to us as a football club and has helped to build our academy,” adds Orazem.
“We had 20 beds, now we can have 28. We are developing our training camp with a second pitch coming soon. That would not happen if we were not making money. There are other transfers but his was by far the biggest. Hopefully, he moves again soon!”
Before that, there is the opportunity for Sesko to elevate his reputation once more with a strong showing at Euro 2024. Orazem plans to be in Germany with his family, having missed out on Slovenia’s only previous appearance in the tournament 24 years ago.
“My parents said they would take me to the next one. The next one never came.” It is here now. “We are really happy for him and happy for everyone in Slovenia. His quality gives us a lot of hope now. Perhaps there will be a possible World Cup in the future.”
We analyse the threat posed to England by Slovenia goalscorer Benjamin Sesko
Sesko has Slovenia dreaming. The country has Luka Doncic, the NBA basketball player. There is cyclist Tadej Pogacar. With Sesko, whose own father Ales had been a goalkeeper, it is different. This is someone capable of becoming one of the world’s best strikers.
“He will be successful wherever he goes. If he stays healthy, he will do amazing things. This is not the last time we will be hearing about him, it is just one step along the way. There is a lot more to come. I think he will be a star that we have not seen in Slovenia before.”
The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s panel of three judges dismissed Lia Thomas’ request for arbitration with the World Aquatics governing body, in a ruling released on Wednesday; Thomas wished to overturn rules approved in 2022 that she felt were ‘invalid, unlawful and discriminatory’
Last Updated: 12/06/24 10:45pm
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas failed in her challenge against rules that stop her from competing in elite women’s races
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has failed in her challenge against rules that stop her from competing in elite women’s races.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s panel of three judges dismissed Thomas’ request for arbitration with the World Aquatics governing body, in a ruling released on Wednesday.
World Aquatics banned transgender women who have been through male puberty from competing in women’s races. It also created an ‘open’ category for which transgender athletes would be eligible.
Thomas had asked the sports court in Switzerland to overturn the rules approved in 2022 that she felt were ‘invalid, unlawful and discriminatory’.
Thomas swam for the University of Pennsylvania and won an NCAA title in meets that are outside the World Aquatics competitive system.
The world swim body argued to CAS that Thomas was not a member of its member federation USA Swimming when the legal case was started. She also had not competed in female events “for the purpose of qualification or selection” for World Aquatics competitions, such as the Olympics or world championships.
“The panel concludes that she lacks standing to challenge the policy and the operational requirements in the framework of the present proceeding,” the court said in its ruling.
In January the ruling said, USA Swimming granted her request for “self-identity verification” as part of its policy on athlete inclusion.
The judges said USA Swimming had no authority “to modify such scope of application” of the world governing body’s rules.
World Aquatics said it welcomed the CAS decision in a case “we believe is a major step forward in our efforts to protect women’s sport”.
“World Aquatics is dedicated to fostering an environment that promotes fairness, respect, and equal opportunities for athletes of all genders and we reaffirm this pledge,” the governing body based in Lausanne said in a statement.
Swimming’s policy on transgender athletes was followed by other top-tier Olympic sports, track and field, then cycling, in excluding from women’s events those who have potentially gained lasting physical advantages from male puberty.
The International Cycling Union noted last year “it is also impossible to rule out the possibility that biomechanical factors such as the shape and arrangement of the bones in their limbs may constitute a lasting advantage for female transgender athletes”.
Thomas was represented at CAS by Toronto-based Tyr, the legal firm that has represented two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya.
Semenya is excluded from running in her specialist 800m event due to World Athletics rules on athletes with differences in sex development who have elevated levels of testosterone.
Thomas’s lawyer, Carlos Sayao, did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the CAS decision. The CAS judges declined World Aquatics request for Thomas to pay its legal costs and other expenses incurred in the case.
The judging panel included two of the highest-profile CAS arbitrators: Thomas selected Richard McLaren, the Canadian investigator who helped prove the Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Olympics; and World Aquatics chose Ulrich Haas, a German law professor who helped judge cases involving Manchester City and Grand Slam tennis champion Simona Halep.
The CAS panel was chaired by a Paris-based Spanish arbitrator Carmen Nez-Lagos.
Brighton are close to finalising a deal to appoint 31-year-old St Pauli boss Fabian Hurzeler as their new head coach, according to Sky in Germany.
There has been progress in discussions over a compensation fee for Hurzeler, who would become the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history.
Brighton are ready to offer Hurzeler a three-year-deal to succeed Roberto De Zerbi after the Seagulls secured a work permit for the German.
Hurzeler guided St Pauli to promotion to the Bundesliga after winning last season’s Bundesliga 2 title.
Brighton have identified Hurzeler following their data-led analysis.
Sky Sports News reported last week that former Seagulls boss Graham Potter would not be returning for a second spell as head coach despite talks between him and the club.
The Englishman is now interesting Leicester with Potter on their shortlist to replace Enzo Maresca, who left the newly-promoted Premier League side to become Chelsea boss.
Why Brighton want to appoint 31-year-old Hurzeler
It is probably not the first time you have seen his age mentioned and it definitely will not be the last. That is to be expected considering the seven-year gap between Hurzeler and the next-youngest manager in the league, Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna.
Hurzeler had never been in charge of a first-team side until he took the St Pauli job in December 2022. With only 18 months of management under his belt, he may look like a fledgling in the game, but his coaching exploits began in his early 20s before his retirement at 23.
Read William Bitibiri’s feature on Brighton’s potential new boss here.
‘One of the hottest German coaches’
Brighton have targeted Hurzeler after the 31-year-old guided St Pauli to Bundesliga promotion
Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg:
“Hurzeler was a former professional footballer and only started his managerial career a few years ago. I would say he’s one of the hottest coaches in German football. Many German clubs are interested in him as well.
“On their way to promotion, St Pauli played sensational football. Hurzeler is a good character and a good guy. He’s a bit like Julian Nagelsmann – they’re both very modern, very confident, very brave. Hurzeler loves to attack, he wants to have the ball. He’s not a defensive coach.
“I can understand why Brighton have kept an eye on Hurzeler and I think they’ve got a good chance to sign him. Hurzeler is very ambitious and for sure, 31 years of age is very young, but he has nothing to lose.
“He has a great connection with the players, he’s a leading figure despite his age, and he was absolutely accepted around the club with the fans.
“For Hurzeler, he has to ask himself if it’s the right step for him right now, but from the way he manages the team and the way he wants to play football, he could be the perfect solution and a very brave solution for Brighton at this stage.”
