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Archive June 7, 2025

Spain, Portugal Final More Than Just Cristiano Vs Yamal, Says Ronaldo

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo acknowledged he was “another generation” to Spain starlet Lamine Yamal but said Sunday’s Nations League final was more than just a battle between the duo.

The final in Munich has been framed as a showdown between veteran Ronaldo, 40, one of the game’s biggest names, and 17-year-old Yamal, the most exciting young talent in world football.

Ronaldo scored the winner to send Portugal past Germany into the final and Yamal was named man-of-the-match after bagging a brace in Spain’s wild 5-4 semi-final win over France.

Ronaldo however said the focus on the two individuals was overblown, calling Spain “maybe the best national team in the world”.

“There are different generations, one is coming in and another is exiting the stage. If you want to see me as another generation, then that’s OK.

“When you talk about a clash between Cristiano and someone else, that’s not how it works. The media always try to hype things up, which is a normal thing, but it’s one team versus another team.”

“You’ve been talking about Lamine a lot and you’re right to do so because he’s very good,” Ronaldo told journalists, adding “but I’d like to talk about the team.

“They’ve got Nico Williams, great midfielders like Pedri and their coach (Luis) de la Fuente is very good, very strong, very disciplined.”

Portugal last beat their Iberian neighbours in a competitive fixture 21 years ago, in a match which Ronaldo started.

Like Yamal, Ronaldo burst onto the scene at a young age.

Aged just 18, Ronaldo impressed so much for boyhood side Sporting in a 3-1 win over Manchester United in a friendly in Lisbon that the English club decided to buy him, bringing him to Old Trafford less than a week later.

READ ALSO: Ballon d’Or Should Go To Champions League Winner — Ronaldo

 ‘Relaxed and in control’

Portugal’s forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the UEFA Nations League semi-final football match between Germany and Portugal in Munich, southern Germany on June 4, 2025. (Photo by Alexandra BEIER / AFP)

Like a young Ronaldo, Yamal has consistently impressed since bursting onto the scene, winning a league and cup double with Barcelona this season after lifting the Euro 2024 title in Germany last summer.

The Portuguese veteran asked media to allow the teenager to grow and improve without pressure, reminding them the Spanish star “with funny hair” was just “three years older than my son”.

“The kid has been doing very well, but what I ask is for you to let him grow, not put him under pressure. For the good of football, we need to let him grow in his own way and enjoy the talent he has.”

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said Yamal was “only 17, but very mature for his age. Well-prepared, intelligent — he lives life as if it’s all normal, and that’s what we want for him”.

De la Fuente said the national side were “trying to walk alongside (Yamal) in his education,” but added “you’d be surprised, shocked, how calm he is.

“He’s special. For some people, this would be a situation of maximum stress. But for him, he’s relaxed, he’s in control — he masters the situation.”

The coach also took time to praise Ronaldo, calling him “a legend in football and an example of the values I like: effort, work rate, sacrifice, getting better every day and never letting your guard down.

“Portugal are led by a footballer who will go down in history with an indelible legacy.”

Both Spain and Portugal have already won the Nations League. Spain are the current champions from their win in 2023, while Portugal won the inaugural tournament back in 2019.

Spain have won 16 and drawn two of their past 18 fixtures — and have not lost a competitive match since March 2023.

Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal told reporters his side “do not think we are better than anyone,” but “we trust ourselves 100 percent and know we can compete in every game.

“We’ve shown that over the years. Our level is very high.”

Leicester hold off Sale to reach Premiership final

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Gallagher Premiership play-off semi-final, Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Leicester

Leicester (13) 21

Tries: Radwan 2, Perese Pens: Pollard 2

Sale (3) 16

Leicester Tigers reached the Premiership final for the second time in four seasons as they edged Sale Sharks 21-16 in a pulsating play-off semi-final.

Handre Pollard and George Ford traded penalties before Adam Radwan’s double – including a sensational diving finish – put the dominant hosts 13-3 up at the break.

Pollard quickly matched Ford’s second penalty, but a Rob du Preez score from a slick move and another three points from Ford brought the Sharks level to tee up a grand finale.

Izaia Perese’s scorching run to the line with his first touch restored the Tigers’ lead with 13 minutes remaining and Michael Cheika’s men survived intense late pressure to preserve their unbeaten home play-off record.

Leicester will now chase a record-extending 12th league title at Twickenham next Saturday when they take on six-time champions Bath in the final.

Rob du Preez goes over for Sale's try as Tigers fly-half Handre Pollard collides with the postRex Features

In a high-energy, intensely physical start, played out in a raucous atmosphere, Pollard’s pinpoint penalty from the left touchline put the hosts ahead after Sharks infringed at the line-out.

Amid a fierce battle for supremacy up front, former Tigers fly-half Ford levelled following a hard-won scrum penalty, but that was as good as it got for Sale before half-time.

Radwan struck with virtually his first touch of the ball when Jack van Poortvliet’s switch of play and long pass gave the winger space to run into down the right flank before his dart back inside to the line took out three defenders.

However, the former Newcastle wing’s second finish was sensational.

Ollie Hassell-Collins and Ollie Chessum were both stopped just short before Radwan at full-stretch somehow gathered Pollard’s overhit crossfield kick in mid-air as he dived for the line.

The Tigers smothered the Sharks and wrestled control of the set-piece, but a huge defensive effort from Sale at least denied Leicester another try in first-half stoppage-time and limited the damage.

Arron Reed’s explosive burst and Raffi Quirke’s line break shortly after the restart signalled intent and Sale’s threat, the latter earning Ford a simple penalty for 13-6.

Izaia Perese scores Leicester's third try against SaleRex Features

Yet having been on the ropes for so long, the Sharks hit back with virtually their first visit to the Leicester line when a spell of pressure ended with Ford feeding du Preez’s run under the posts.

The crowd were on their feet to welcome long-time servants Cole and Youngs on to home turf one last time, but the momentum and energy seemed to be all with the visitors who levelled through Ford’s third penalty with 15 minutes left.

Yet it was another Tigers replacement, Perese, who stole the show almost instantly, hitting the line at full tilt just inside the Sale half and scorching away on a diagonal run to the left corner.

Chessum went close to sealing the match after Freddie Steward’s try-saving tackle on Du Preez and Emeka Ilione had made a crucial turnover in front of his own posts.

And in a frantic finale, the Tigers had to summon up one last huge defensive push in front of their own line to withstand a late, late Sale surge and ensure it would be them who made it to Twickenham next weekend.

Leicester: Steward, Radwan, Kata, Woodward, Hassell-Collins, Pollard, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Montoya, Hayes, Henderson, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell, Cracknell.

Replacements: Clare, Cronin, Cole, Rogerson, Ilione, Youngs, Volavola, Perese.

Sale: Carpenter, Roebuck, Robert du Preez, Ma’asi-White, Reed, Ford, Quirke; Rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Van Rhyn, Hill, Tom Curry, Ben Curry, Jean-Luc du Preez.

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Driver Unhurt As Darey Art Alade, Wife’s Car Catches Fire On Third Mainland Bridge

On Friday at around 4 p.m., a car belonging to Nigerian musician Darey Art Alade and his wife Deola was allegedly caught in flames on the Third Mainland Bridge.

Deola expressed gratitude that the car’s driver was unharmed when she shared videos of it on Instagram.

We’re incredibly appreciative that the driver made it out safely, she wrote. No lives were lost, and that is what really counts.

Videos posted on her page showed attempts to put an enormous fire out of the car’s engine before it started to burn fiercely.

Firefighters were present at the location where the flames were discovered later in footage. In the end, the vehicle was left to burn.

Iyabo Ojo Slams A Tanzanian Blogger For Commenting On Daughter, READ ALSO:

The burned-car incident is contained by firefighters. Instagram user Deola Alade deserves credit.

Deola used the incident to reflect on the importance of life and the fleeting nature of material possessions, encouraging everyone who experiences unanticipated losses to hold on to the hope of new beginnings.

Moments like these serve as reminders of how quickly life can change and how unimportant material things can become. We’re sharing this to show someone that things can be changed rather than show our sympathy. Lives cannot exist.

We hope this reminds you that “we can rebuild if you’re dealing with a sudden loss of any kind.” We can re-enter the momentum and find the willpower to advance. One step at a time, one breath, one prayer, “

She also praised God and those who came by the scene to offer their assistance.

We’re choosing to pray for protection, perspective, and the still-so-quiet strength to carry on. Jesus, I’m grateful. She thanked everyone who stopped by to help.

Gauff beats Sabalenka to claim French Open title for first time

Coco Gauff defeated top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, and 6-4 in the final of the French Open, marking Coco Gauff’s first French Open victory.

The second-ranked Gauff won the tension-heavy Saturday contest, earning her a second major trophy after the 2023 US Open, where she also defeated Sabalenka in the final set.

It was the second time in Paris in the past 30 years and the first time Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova in the top one-to-two final.

The 21-year-old American rested her forehand on the clay after Sabalenka sent a backhand wide on Gauff’s second match point. Three years after losing her first Roland-Garros final, Sabalenka celebrated with her entourage and gave Spike Lee a hug after greeting her on the net.

Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka compete in the women’s singles final, captured by Stephanie Lecocq (Reuters).

Sabalenka successfully held her first service game, sticking to her high-risk strategy.

In the third game, Gauff reacted by advancing her level, winning a fantastic rally that attracted enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience. After a heated exchange of drop shots, Gauff attempted to shoot between her legs before intercepting it before scoring the winner.

Gauff maintained a consistent baseline presence and earned a break point when Sabalenka double-faulted to give her a 2-1 lead. Sabalenka turned her head in frustration and yelled in frustration before regaining her composure, breaking again at 3-3.

Prince William given stark warning from ‘appalled’ David Attenborough on pressing issue

Prince William joined Sir David Attenborough for a chat about the importance of protecting the world’s oceans ahead of William giving a speech urging action in Monaco tomorrow

Sir David Attenborough has warned Prince William of the “unspeakably awful” damage to the ocean floor in a newly released film. The pair joined together in conversation to discuss the importance of protecting oceans in a video released to mark World Ocean’s Day tomorrow.

During the chat, which was filmed at the Royal Festival Hall after the premiere of Sir David’s new documentary, Oceans, William quizzes the 99-year-old naturalist about his experiences of exploring the ocean over his long life. And he issued a stark warning after the Prince of Wales asked him about the state of the oceans right now.

Prince William chats to Sir David Attenborough in a new film (Image: Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington Palace)

Sir David tells William: “The awful thing is, it is hidden from you and from me and most people. The thing that I was appalled by when I first saw the shots for this film is what we have done to the deep ocean floor, it is just unspeakably awful.

“I mean if you did anything remotely like it on land, everybody would be up in arms. If this film does anything, if it just shifts public awareness, it’ll be very important and I can only hope that people who see it will recognise that something must be done before we destroy this great treasure.”

However, the pair agree there is still reason to be optimistic about reversing the damage to our oceans, with Sir David adding documentaries like Oceans, which is released on streaming platforms today, can spread the message of the work that needs to be done to reverse the damage.

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The pair chatted during a meeting at the Royal Festival Hall last month
The pair chatted during a meeting at the Royal Festival Hall last month (Image: Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington Palace)

He told the prince: “What is heartening really is that we have the entree to people’s front rooms. Whole families sitting at home in comfort, can actually suddenly see this coming up. Films like this can expose something new.”

And William added: “It’s a really optimistic excitement sort of moment for the next generation to be able to be bigger explorers and find more data. The next 50 years will be incredible.”

Also in the chat, Sir David shows William an old aqua-lung diving helmet, putting it on his head, as William laughs: “Don’t put it on, you’ll never get it off, David.”

The documentary-maker also tells William about being one of the first people to be able to go diving after its invention saying: “That was the moment when suddenly you moved into a new world. You were flying among the fish, which was an extraordinary experience.”

Sir David showed the prince a very early version of a diving helmet
Sir David showed the prince a very early version of a diving helmet (Image: Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington Palace)

The release of the footage of the conversation comes as William travels to Monaco tomorrow to attend the Blue Economy and Finance Forum, where he will give a speech calling for action to save the oceans before it’s too late.

He is expected to say: “Halfway through this decisive decade, I call on all of you to think big in your actions. Let us act together with urgency and optimism while we still have the chance.”

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “There should be no doubt that this speech is the Prince of Wales calling for action to save our oceans now. The world is watching. This is him using his platform to call for more to be done sooner rather than later.”

William will be joined at the forum by French President Emmanuel Macron as well as Prince Albert of Monaco and Costa Rica’s President Chaves Robles, who will also make speeches about saving the world’s oceans.

Protecting the oceans has been one of the key focus areas for William’s Earthshot Prize Awards, which is handing out five £1million prizes over a decade for planet-saving solutions.

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Since the awards were established in 2021, finalists in the Revive Our Oceans category have collectively protected and restored over 20,000 square kilometres of ocean and saved, reduced, or recycled 2.5 million tonnes of water.