Scotland centre-half Scott McKenna signs for Dinamo Zagreb after leaving Las Palmas.

Scotland’s domestic league has been dominated by Celtic and Rangers, but American investors see untapped potential A club that plays in red, white and blue was always ripe for American investment. The arrival of Andrew Cavenagh and the San Francisco 49ers as Rangers’ new owners has the potential to shake up a Scottish top division which has been won by Rangers’ fierce rivals, Celtic, in 13 of the last 14 seasons. It’s not just at the top, however, where American money is reshaping Scottish soccer. Six of the Scottish Premiership’s 12 clubs are now American-owned. The 49ers’ purchase of Rangers wasn’t even the only US takeover of a Scottish club this summer: Calvin Ford, the great-great-grandson of Henry Ford, completed a deal to buy Livingston. Scotland’s top division is now just one club away from having a majority of American owners. Continue reading...

Plus: most champions-in-waiting beaten en route to Champions League glory and the hottest English match on record Mail us with your questions and answers “Arsenal have signed a new keeper, Kepa,” noted John Marsden last week. “Are there any other examples of players with a name so similar to their position?” While we can’t find a player named Left Back, there is a former Anderlecht defender by the name of Mark De Man (which, admittedly, is an on-pitch instruction not a role). The Belgium international earned five caps for his country and retired in 2012 with a spell at third-division KSK Hasselt, having rejected the chance to make the move to Kilmarnock. “I have two children and my wife has a good job. I did not want to move to Scotland on my own,” said De Man. Continue reading...

Despite their group-stage exit, Nina Patalon’s side have made history and changed perceptions back home As Poland were on their way to a historic Euro 2025 win over Denmark the commentator on national TV encouraged people to visit the website of a Polish FA campaign called “Girls’ Team”, which is designed to help young girls find a team to train with. There was such a rush to the website the server broke down. That would have been unthinkable only a few months ago but the Polish team that played in their first Euros, scored their first goal and secured their first win at the tournament have changed the perception of women’s football in the country for ever. “One of the key goals was to leave the best possible impression and to get little girls interested in the sport,” said the coach, Nina Patalon, after the 3-2 win against Denmark. “That was our biggest responsibility at our first Euros.” Continue reading...

Luka Modric completes a move to AC Milan on a free transfer until June 2026 after 13 successful years at Real Madrid.

Today’s fluff is propelled by a fan Alejandro Garnacho wants to leave Manchester United but is not too eager on moving to the Saudi Premier League, even if it means teaming up with Cristiano Ronaldo. Al-Nassr approached the Argentina winger to suggest a change of scene and a massive wage but Garnacho wants to play in Europe. The same reportedly goes for his United colleague Marcus Rashford, with the England forward waiting for Barcelona to make a bid. One United winger finally getting to leave permanently is Jadon Sancho, who has joined Juventus for £17.3m, only £60m or so less than they paid for him four years ago. Continue reading...

Ballon d’Or winner becomes the latest veteran, after Kevin De Bruyne, to be pulled in by Italian game’s leisurely pace of life Luka Modric will turn 40 in September. He has played 930 games over the course of a career and has won seven league titles and six Champions Leagues. He even broke the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly to claim the Ballon d’Or after inspiring Croatia to the World Cup final in 2018. He rarely lasts a full 90 minutes these days, didn’t start a game during the Club World Cup and was spared the indignity of coming on for his Madrid farewell with the semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain long since lost. He could have retired five years ago and still been one of the most respected players in the history of the game but, his eyes on next summer’s World Cup, when his contract at Real Madrid expired Modric chose to join Milan. Continue reading...

Poland bow out of Euro 2025 after getting their first goals and points at a major tournament by beating winless Denmark 3-2 in Lucerne.

Poland restore their two-goal lead as Martyna Wiankowska fires home a wonderful strike to put her side 3-1 up against Denmark in their Euro 2025 Group C encounter in Lucerne.

Updates from the 8pm BST kick-off in Zurich Player guide | Wallchart | Tables | Mail Scott Sweden make five changes to their starting XI after the 3-0 win over Poland. Jonna Andersson, Magdalena Eriksson, Fridolina Rolfö, Hanna Bennison and Smilla Holmberg come in for Hanna Lundkvist, Amanda Nildén, Madelen Janogy, Amanda Ilestedt and Julia Zigiotti Olme. Germany make just the one change following their 2-1 victory over Denmark. Laura Freigang replaces Linda Dallmann in attack. Their stricken captain Giulia Gwinn, who suffered a medial ligament injury in Germany’s opening game with Poland, is named as a sub, for the purposes of support and vibes. Continue reading...

Group C clash to decide third and fourth places Get in touch: email Sarah about the game Andrée Jeglertz, Denmark coach, added from the Danish camp: It’s about winning. We have played two of the best teams in the world and we needed to play in a different way against them. Tomorrow we will get a little more space and a little more time on the ball. Hopefully, we can dominate the ball and play a different kind of game. I would like us to score a goal and make history. We have a positive attitude and I repeat once again this will also be a special match. I wouldn’t say that Denmark is an easier opponent than Germany and Sweden. The Danes are very versatile and we will have to adapt to them. I hope it will be a good match. Continue reading...

All the latest news and reaction from Switzerland Player guide | Wallchart | Tables | Mail Emillia If you’re in need of a little catchup on last night’s big game in Group B, I will point you in the direction of Louise Taylor’s report from the Wankdorf Stadium, where she saw a fabulous game between Spain and Italy: If that preamble felt a bit harsh on Poland and Denmark, who will play out the deadest of rubbers at the Swissporarena in Lucerne at the same time as the other Group C fixture tonight, I apologise. The downside of a 16-team tournament is that it can be brutal for teams who lose their opening two games to have to stick around knowing they have nothing to play for. That is all I really have to say about that, there’s a reason this game will only be on ITVX. Continue reading...

All the latest from Switzerland on a pivotal day Player guide | David Squires’ wallchart | Mail Dominic It’s a big day at Euro 2025, one that could see the home nations’ chances obliterated or, conversely, boosted with Group D coming to life. For clarity, England play the Netherlands at 5pm (BST) with Wales meeting France at 8pm and there is little room for mistake or manoeuvre after both the Lionesses and the Dragons lost their openers. What about last night? Well, Germany and Sweden took full control of Group C, the former coming from behind to secure a win over Denmark that wasn’t without controversy, while Sweden sealed a stylish 3-0 triumph over a poor Poland side. That’s Group C wrapped up, with Germany and Sweden simply competing for top spot when they play each other in the final round of group fixtures. Continue reading...

Sweden are purring and will fear nobody in the knockouts. This was a routine victory and, make no mistake, tougher tests lie ahead than the obstacle posed by a limited Poland. The underdogs could, and really should, have been put far out of sight before Lina Hurtig completed the scoring and the only quibble for Peter Gerhardsson may be that his players were not more clinical. Nonetheless they will top Group C if they avoid defeat against Germany and, with Stina Blackstenius and Kosovare Asllani opening their accounts either side of the break, have enough stars hitting form to sense opportunity knocking. Continue reading...