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As his preparations for Euro 2024 intensify — preparations that include trying to learn a bit of German — England manager Gareth Southgate discusses self-improvement, self-doubt and selfies…

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This Is Me: Gareth Southgate

Chesterfield have been promoted to the English Football League after their 3-0 victory over Boreham Wood secured the National League title.

Two goals from Jamie Grimes and one from Liam Mandeville secured the victory at the Technique Stadium.

They are 21 points ahead of second-placed Barnet and have won the league with five games left to play.

Chesterfield were relegated from the Football League for the first time in 97 years in 2018. They have played in the National League since then, finishing in the play-off positions for the last three seasons.

Chesterfield were defeated by Notts County in the National League play-off final last season, via a penalty shootout at Wembley.

Newcastle Women lost 2-1 to Hashtag United at Luton’s Kenilworth Road to miss out on the FA Women’s National League Cup.

This would have been Newcastle’s first cup trophy since the takeover, and comes amidst heavy investment from the new ownership in the women’s team.

Full match report below

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Newcastle Women lose FA Women’s National League Cup Final to Hashtag United

Sir Geoff Hurst is thinking about absent friends. He has been doing a lot of that lately. “You get to that age,” the 82-year-old says with a wistful tone, all too painfully aware that many people don’t.

We are talking about lives, legacies and the passing of time. About how “30 years of hurt”, the years of the England men’s national team winning nothing, referenced in the song Three Lions, is now coming up to six decades — and how, of the 11 men in the team that beat West Germany on English football’s greatest day, Hurst, the hat-trick hero in that 1966 World Cup final, is now the only survivor.

Full story below

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Sir Geoff Hurst, 1966’s last man standing

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner expressed his disappointment following his side's 3-1 defeat to rivals Manchester City as he also voiced frustration over Jess Park's opening goal not being ruled out for offside.

A brace from Park and a goal from Khadija Shaw earned City all three points at Etihad Stadium.

Park's opening goal should have been disallowed for offside due to Shaw's involvement in the build-up. However, in the absence of a video assistant referee, the goal was allowed to stand.

Skinner told BBC Radio 5 Live after the game: "When I look back at the first goal it is offside, then we are in the game.

"All of a sudden they get a corner and they get momentum at home. It is not a goal (Jess Park's opening goal) and it shouldn't have stood.

"We had chances before that which we would have taken on another day, we were making Khiara Keating work way more than what Mary Earps is having to work.

"When I watch it back, it is disappointing losing a game as big as this."

City are next in action against Liverpool on March 30 while United face Everton on March 31.

Full briefing available below

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Man City 3 Man United 1 – Are City title favourites? Can United feel aggrieved?

One of the issues with the modern England team, or maybe even with football in general, is that almost anything can become a battleground in the culture war.

In a world already dominated by symbols and gestures, it does not take much for people to turn things into a profound matter of identity, belonging; ‘us against them’.

But not many would have expected before this week that the launch of a new England home shirt would be weaponised in this way.

Jack Pitt-Brooke on the shirt that has everybody talking

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Nike, England, and a shirt-collar culture war that really shouldn’t have existed

England face Brazil in an international friendly at Wembley later today.

The likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Declan Rice going toe-to-toe with Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Lucas Paqueta.

Follow the Athletic's live coverage of the game here

Barcelona president Joan Laporta says that he believes Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix will stay at the club next season.

Defender Cancelo, 29, is on loan from Manchester City, while forward Joao Felix, 24, is on loan from Atletico Madrid.

Laporta thinks that the Portuguese duo will remain at Barca after their loan deals expire this summer.

He told Mundo Deportivo: “I think they will continue. I hope that Atletico Madrid don’t put any objection to Joao Felix continuing with us, and I don’t think City will either.

"We have an agent there who is working on the issue, Jorge Mendes, and he knows our intention to continue with the players. What I can’t tell you now, because it will depend a lot on the amounts, is whether we’re going to sign them or extend the loan.”

Felix has scored nine goals and provided five assists in 34 games this season. His contract with Atletico expires in the summer of 2029.

Cancelo, who has played at both right and left-back this season, has made 32 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals and providing four assists. His current deal at City expires in June 2027.

Barcelona are second in La Liga and eight points behind league leaders Real Madrid.

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Barcelona waiting for Xavi’s ‘final decision’ over leaving the club – Joan Laporta

Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi says he felt "very proud" to make his senior international debut during Spain's 1-0 defeat to Colombia on Friday.

The 17-year-old centre-back came on as a substitute in the 82nd minute, replacing Aymeric Laporte.

The teenager became the youngest-ever defender to represent the Spanish national team, breaking a record that was previously set by Sergio Ramos.

Cubarsi said, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo: “I am very proud of my debut since it was a dream I had since I was little.

"I appreciate the coach's trust and I try to make the most of it by giving my best. I always try to be myself and play calmly. It is always difficult to lose and I am hurt by the defeat."

A goal from Crystal Palace full-back Daniel Munoz secured the victory for Colombia at West Ham United's London Stadium.

Spain are next in action against Brazil on Tuesday.

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Barcelona’s La Masia magic as Pau Cubarsi leads Champions League win

“What’s Milan like?” Ruben Loftus-Cheek asked Fikayo Tomori. It was in an international window and when Tomori got the text from his old friend and team-mate, he thought Loftus-Cheek was planning a city break.

The anecdote they shared during pre-season in Los Angeles last summer was revealing for two reasons.

First, it showed the long-standing nature of AC Milan’s interest. Loftus-Cheek’s text to Tomori was sent “early” in the club game’s off-season. So early Tomori didn’t suspect a reunion was on the cards with a player with whom he came through Chelsea’s academy.

Second, the timing of their correspondence made it clear neither had been called up by England for their June matches against Malta and North Macedonia.

The 28-year-old has been in sparkling form for his club this season. Should this form be rewarded with an international call-up?

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Ruben Loftus-Cheek being overlooked for England does not make sense

Almost 13 minutes of a winding, self-reflective press conference had passed before Luis de la Fuente cut to the chase.

It was not a lack of desire, inexperience, experimentation — or any of the other life rings thrown by the media — that could explain a loss of control in the second half of Spain’s 1-0 defeat to Colombia. Rather, it all came down to a single opponent with the talent to flip a game on its head.

“James Rodriguez,” the Spanish head coach declared. “He was the one who made the difference.”

It has only been three years since this former Galactico graced the Premier League stage, but Rodriguez already feels like a name from a nebulous past.

More on the 32-year-old's stunning cameo against Spain below

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James Rodriguez remains Colombia’s inspiration despite waning club career

Social media having a big impact on football is nothing new. The past 10 to 15 years have, on the face of it at least, brought fans closer than ever to players and teams.

From the early days of Twitter and Wayne Rooney’s posts such as ‘Mr bean. Funny’, to the more recent and considered behind-the-scenes videos produced by clubs, we are given a window into a world that had previously remained behind closed doors.

But while a social media presence has long been important for clubs, how they operate in the digital space continues to evolve.

TikTok, in particular, has become a place where the usual rules do not seem to apply. Teams are bolder in the type of content they post, sometimes about opposing sides and their players.

Art de Roche explains how football clubs are utilising social media

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TikTok, a place where sports teams’ admins are playing a different game

Gareth Southgate says a cross of St George in any colours other than red and white is not a true cross of St George, but admitted that he was “a little bit lost” by the controversy over England’s new home shirt.

The new home kit, launched on Monday, features a cross on the back of the collar where the traditional red bars are replaced with purple, blue and navy.

This has led to days of criticism in which the new motif has been accused of being a political gesture. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have been among the voices to argue that the bars should be returned to red.

“My view is if it’s not white with a red cross it’s not the St George's flag,” Southgate said. “So whatever it is, it’s a quirky design feature which I guess a Banksy or a Reuben Dangoor might do.”

Sven-Goran Eriksson has described the opportunity to finally manage Liverpool at Anfield as a “dream”.

The 76-year-old, who is suffering from terminal pancreatic cancer, revealed today that he had once held talks over becoming Liverpool’s manager but they did not lead anywhere.

Instead, Eriksson has accepted an invitation to take charge of LFC legends against Ajax on Saturday in a match which will raise funds for the LFC Foundation.

“It is like a dream,” Eriksson said. “I could never have dreamt about that but when I was a manager I always dreamt about Liverpool. It was close once, there were some discussions, many years ago. It never happened, but now it happens. When they asked me I thought it was a joke.”

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Sven-Goran Eriksson: Managing Liverpool at Anfield ‘like a dream’

Ipswich Town have announced a “significant investment” into the club from Bright Path Sports Partners, a private equity firm which raises and deploys Native American capital.

The investment of up to £105million will see the firm have a 40 per cent minority stake in the Championship side. ORG, the club’s majority shareholder headed by Ed Schwartz, will retain a controlling 50 per cent stake.

The remaining 10 per cent is owned by smaller investors, including the Three Lions fund.

More below

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Ipswich: Native American private equity firm secures 40 per cent stake in Championship club

Khadija Shaw is made for the big stage. She has presence, a big personality and an infectious, radiating smile.

That smile could get a little bigger this weekend as Manchester City host rivals Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.

The Jamaica international is one goal away from breaking Manchester City Women’s goalscoring record. She is tied on 67 goals with former City midfielder Georgia Stanway, a tally Shaw has reached in 81 appearances compared to Stanway’s 170.

She spoke to The Athletic's Women's Football correspondent Charlotte Harpur ahead of today's derby

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Khadija Shaw: My Game In My Words

A compensation agreement has been reached between UEFA and Liverpool fans injured ahead of the 2022 Champions League final in Paris.

Pogust Goodhead and Bingham Long, the law firms representing the Liverpool supporters, has confirmed a “full and final settlement” has been agreed following UEFA’s compensation offer.

The terms will “remain confidential” and UEFA states the settlement has been made “without any admission of liability”.

The legal action was launched in August 2022, with the firms acting on behalf of fans who had experienced physical and psychological harm at the final in Paris. The claims related to a breach of contract and negligence.

Full story below

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UEFA and Liverpool fans reach legal settlement over 2022 Champions League final

Gareth Southgate has pledged he will not speak to any interested club about taking over before this summer's European Championship, closing the door to speculation about him taking over at Manchester United this summer.

Southgate has been linked with replacing Erik Ten Hag at Old Trafford — which he described as "completely disrespectful" — but he said at his pre-match press conference on Friday evening that that he would "never entertain" speaking to anyone else while he was England manager.

“I think I’ve answered this every time I’ve sat with you,” Southgate said at the Tottenham training ground.

“My focus is the European Championship. If we did a contract here before then everybody would be saying: ‘Why are you signing a contract before a Euros where you’ve got to prove yourself?’

"I’m certainly not going to speak to anyone else, I never have, I’ve been eight years in the job and would never entertain speaking to anyone else while I’m in a job.”

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Gareth Southgate calls Manchester United links in Euro 2024 build-up ‘disrespectful’

Kylian Mbappe says he wants to represent France at the Paris Olympics but explained he does not have the final say in the matter.

The Athletic reported this month a number of stakeholders in French football have attempted to convince the Paris Saint-Germain forward to compete at this summer’s Games.

However, because the Olympics takes place outside an official window for international football, FIFA rules state clubs are not obliged to release players for the tournament.

“I’ve always had the same ambition. I’ve always said that the Games in Paris is special, and I wanted to be there,” Mbappe said. “I know also that it’s an event that doesn’t depend on me.

“Has my ambition changed? No. Is the final decision with the same person? Yes. But if I’m not allowed to, then I will do as I’m told. The decision is still up to one person and they haven’t told me yes or no."

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Kylian Mbappe says he wants to play at the Olympics: ‘The Games in Paris is special’