Archive June 3, 2025

Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson has told her side to learn from painful lessons after likening their Nations League defeat by Italy to “a punch in the face”.

In their final fixture before this summer’s European Championships, Wales suffered their heaviest defeat under Wilkinson at the worst possible time.

But despite warning her side that “hard moments are coming”, Wilkinson insisted they will be better for the loss having taken heart from an improved second half showing.

Wales were four down at half-time as their defence crumbled in Swansea and Wilkinson said: “The first-half felt like a punch in the face.

“Games in this campaign have been really tight, but we haven’t had a heavy defeat like this – so that first half was important because who do we want to be?

Wilkinson’s side had been defensively impressive for most of their League A campaign, but before a summer in which they will face the Netherlands, France and England in their Euro 2025 group, the former Canada international said Wales were shown what happens when you “tune out”.

“Italy punished us for every mistake and we have to react faster,” Wilkinson said, who included herself and her coaching staff in accepting they needed to learn lessons.

“Hard moments are coming; this is a hard thing we’re about do, the Euros are going to be very difficult.

“We’re going to have to be at our best and what we have learned is any mistake will be punished.”

Wales rallied after the interval to give Wilkinson belief there will be no scarring heading towards Switzerland.

She added: “I told the players at the end we can’t say this was a good performance and what happened to us wasn’t good.

Wales’ fans in Swansea were lifted by a wonder goal from Jess Fishlock, a record-estending 47th goal in an unmatched 162 appearances for her country.

Striking home from 35 yards, Wilkinson repeated her appeal to fans to appreciate the 38-year-old while she still wears her country’s shirt.

Fishlock gained important match minutes off the bench after a recent injury lay-off, while Wilkinson will now wait for news on defenders Rhian Roberts (groin) and Mayzee Davies (knee) before naming her squad for Switzerland on 23 June.

But the Wales boss played down concern over goalkeeper Olivia Clark who left the field after a second blow to the head in as many games.

“She had a significant black eye from the Denmark game and we the did proper protocols for concussion, and we were positive she was in a good spot,” said Wilkinson.

Fran Kirby, an England attacking midfielder, has announced her immediate retirement from international football ahead of the European Championships.

Kirby claims in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport that she is leaving the “head held high” world of the world.

The Brighton player has played a significant role for England for more than ten years, scoring 19 goals in 77 games for the Lionesses.

Kirby was informed that she would not be selected for the Euros starting on July 2 but was included in Sarina Wiegman’s squad for the Uefa Nations League games against Portugal and Spain.

Kirby stated in her first interview that she had been considering it for more than a year that she had made the announcement of her retirement. This would be my final major tournament, I was anticipating.

After the Euros, Sarina informed me that the plan was to retire, but I’m not going to.

It simultaneously gave me a weight off my shoulders and a dagger to my heart. We both experienced emotional distress, but we both respected the words of each other.

Wiegman described Kirby as “an amazing player and an incredible person” and said she “loved” working with her after England lost to Spain 2-1.

Wiegman continued, “She made the squad without a doubt.” She has always been up for helping others, giving me orders, and giving me requests to play or perform.

Before England attempted to defend their Euros title, goalkeeper Mary Earps also retired from international football just days prior to the announcement.

After being defeated by Spain in Barcelona on Tuesday, Kirby, 31, is alleged to have informed her England team-mates about the decision.

In the 6-0 win over Portugal, she made her debut for England as a substitute. She was not selected for Spain’s matchday squad.

One of the country’s most recognizable female players is the former Chelsea player, who twice won the PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year.

Kirby is best remembered for her role in England’s historic Euro 2022 victory, which included seven Women’s Super League (WSL) titles and five Women’s FA Cup victories.

She scored twice in Wiegman’s side’s victory over Germany at Wembley, which gave England the lead in all six of their matches.

I didn’t feel any regret when I woke up in the morning after telling Sarina, “added Kirby.” I was confident that I had chosen the best course of action at that time.

It won’t shock me that this team was coming to an end because I’ve been with it for a long time.

Kirby, who started her career at Reading, led Brighton to a fifth-place finish in the WSL with seven goals in 17 games this year.

She said, “I’ve put everything in this and feel like I had a good year.”

Unfortunately, I’ve worked hard to make the Euros squad, but that’s not enough.

Kirby has endured injury-related illness and illness throughout her career, having struggled with fatigue ahead of Euro 2022, and missing the 2023 World Cup due to a knee injury that required surgery.

She said, “Everyone knows the injuries I’ve sustained, and I’ve been keeping my body safe.”

It’s time to wrap up that chapter of my life, which I have been a part of since I was 21. I never wanted this day to occur, but I can’t tell you how happy I am that it did.

Being able to represent my country, which I had only dreamed about as a young girl, has been my greatest honor.

I’ve worked with some incredible managers, played in some incredible tournaments, and have uncannible memories.

My journey has had many ups and downs, failures, and successes. Despite what has been said and written about, I want you to know that I always put on the England badge.

I accepted my role and did what the team needed on every call. I desired a victory for England. I’ve always aided England in their victory.

I’m so happy that I was able to represent my country in front of you all, as my mother had a dream.

When my name is read out in a stadium, I will never, ever forget the noise. When I won the game-changing World Cup in 2015, which gave me the first choice, I participated in the WSL 2 tournament, and I did so to make memories last a lifetime.

One of the best experiences I could have ever had was watching women’s football and winning the Euros in 2022, where I started every game, was a dream come true.

Thank you all for welcoming me as a young Reading resident with a dream. I’m sure you all know that having that badge was the most prestigious honor.

Ahmedabad Indian Premier League Final

Royal Challengers Bengaluru 190-9 (20 overs): Kohli 43 (35), Arshdeep 3-40, Jamieson 3-48

Punjab Kings 184-7 (20 overs): Shashank 61* (30), Pandya 2-17

Bengaluru defeated Bengaluru by six runs to win.

With a six-run victory over Punjab Kings, Virat Kohli finally captured the Indian Premier League’s crown. Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by Bengaluru to claim their first title.

The 36-year-old India legend led RCB in scoring 43 from 20 overs in his team’s 190-9 victory over the only other team to play in each of the tournament.

Kings finished with 184-7, which was their first IPL title, despite also being hoping to win it.

Kohli remarked, “I never anticipated this day would come.” “I value this a lot. This team has given me every ounce of my energy. It’s amazing to finally win the IPL.

As the team’s numbers three to six posted scores in the mid-20s, England all-rounder Liam Livingstone hit 25 while Salt hit 16 from nine balls before being caught off Kyle Jamieson by Shreyas Iyer.

Andy Flower’s team struggled in the final over, with Arshdeep Singh taking three wickets in each of his final six balls to prevent RCB from passing 200.

In the 13th over of their reply, Kings lost captain Shreyas to one batter, caught by Jitesh Sharma off Romario Shepherd, to lose them 98-4.

Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh started rebuilding, but when Wadhera and Marcus Stoinis were caught together in three deliveries of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, their partnership was effectively over.

Shashank hammered 22 from Josh Hazlewood’s final four balls, bringing his team tantalisingly close with an unbeaten 61, after Josh Hazlewood needed 29 from the final over.

Kohli, who played his first IPL game for RCB in April 2008, has been waiting patiently.

He was then bowled for one at the age of 19, but he would later record 8, 661 runs, an average of 39.54, eight hundred and 63 half-centuries.

In addition to leading his team between 2013 and 2021, he also suffered defeat in his team’s three final appearances, losing to Deccan Chargers in 2009, Chennai Super Kings in 2011, and Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016.

Kohli later said, “This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team.”

“It’s been 18 years. I’ve spent my youth, my youth, and my experience with this team. Every season, I’ve made an effort to win, giving it everything.

As soon as the final ball was bowled, I was overcome with emotion.

Kohli has averaged over 50 in recent years, including 54.75 in this campaign, and has now won the IPL trophy after 267 matches.

After winning the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy, he has recently won his most impressive accomplishment in the past 12 months.

Because of the fact that my heart and soul are with Bangalore, Kohli continued, “This is much more special than winning it with anyone else.” This is the team I’m going to play for until the final day of the IPL, as I previously stated.

Flower, who took over RCB for the competition’s 2024 edition, has also had success with the title.

The Ashes-winning former England coach placed second this year behind Kings on net run-rate, finishing fourth in his first year, losing in the elimination match.

After winning the first qualifier match, Flower’s team beat Kings to advance to the final, before resuming the process five days later.

It also follows 2021 victories for the Pakistan Super League and 2022 victories for Trent Rockets and Multan Sultans.

The winners’ medals will also be given to England internationals Salt, Livingstone, and Jacob Bethell.

After returning home for international duty, Bethell was playing for England in the third ODI against the West Indies at the time of the match, taking both Salt and Livingstone for catches in the final.