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William tells England to 'hold their heads high' after loss

The Prince of Wales
[Getty Images]

The Prince of Wales has reacted to England's World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina, writing that he is "gutted" about the 2-1 loss to Argentina.

His statement shared by Kensington Palace read: "The fight and belief you have shown has inspired us all. The most complete England team in a tournament.

"Hold your heads high," he said, signing off as "W" which indicates it came directly from Prince William, patron of the Football Association.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also said he was "gutted" about England's defeat, but added: "The passion and energy they've shown representing the badge has made us all proud."

'We had the spirit': England fans on semi-final loss to Argentina

Argentina scored two late goals to secure their spot in the final against Spain in Atlanta, after England's Anthony Gordon netted a 55th-minute goal following a scoreless first half.

The Prince of Wales has expressed a strong passion for football, often seen cheering on Aston Villa FC.

"Thank you to everyone on and off the pitch, for an incredible tournament," his statement said.

The Royal Family joined in reacting to England's loss.

"Commiserations to Harry and the team," a post on its social media read, sharing a photo of England captain Harry Kane sombrely embracing Jude Bellingham.

The statement continued: "While you Three Lions may be licking your wounds today, you remain the pride of a nation – and will rise again."

Sir Keir's final address to the House of Commons as prime minister on Wednesday had also featured multiple references to the English side's nervous build-up to the knock-out match.

"Tonight wasn't the result we all hoped for," Sir Keir said in a statement after the full-time whistle was blown. "But this England team has given it their all."

'World Cup dream over' and 'Mahmood for chancellor'

"England's World Cup dream over" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph.
It is heartbreaking reading for England fans this morning as the loss to Argentina is covered across all the papers. "England's World Cup dream over" says the Daily Telegraph, after "Argentina scores two goals in seven minutes to shatter hopes of place in final". It adds: "[Harry] Kane's men snatch defeat from jaws of victory after taking lead in second half." [BBC]
"It's 60 years of hurt as brave Lions sunk by late Argie goals," reads the headline on the front page of the Sun.
"Wonderbawl", the Sun says in a nod to the Oasis dirge, featuring a compilation of devastated England players burying their heads in their hands. "It's 60 years of hurt as brave lions sunk by late Argie goals," the paper writes, as the England side fails to replicate their success at the 1966 World Cup at Wembley Stadium against West Germany. [BBC]
"Kaned by Messi: We're still proud of our Lions," reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Star.
"Kaned by Messi" is the Daily Star's recap of the semi-finals, embedding the captains Lionel Messi and Harry Kane in an awkward embrace on pitch. "We're still proud of our Lions", insists the paper. [BBC]
"Just out of reach" reads the headline on the front page of the Metro, showing England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford leaping to save a goal as the ball slips past his fingertips.
"Just out of reach" reads the headline on the front page of the Metro, showing England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford leaping, but failing, to "stop Enzo Fernandez's equaliser". [BBC]
"Shattered: England unable to hold on to lead as dream ends in tears," reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror.
"Shattered" is the Daily Mirror's verdict, showing a crouched, devastated Jude Bellingham. [BBC]
"Night our dream finally died," reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Mail.
"Night our dream finally died" is the Daily Mail's take. "Agony across the country as Harry Kane's Lions dumped out by... you know who," it says. [BBC]
"Agony as our wait goes on," reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Express.
"Agony as our wait goes on" reads the headline on the Daily Express, an anguished Harry Kane lying on the pitch visually capturing the mood. [BBC]
The headline on the front page of the Guardian reads: "Over and out".
"Over and out" the Guardian prints above despondent England fans watching the semi-final in public. Separately, the paper leads with a story about Reform UK leader Nigel Farage telling the party "he would need 'a million a year' to cover lost earnings if he stood for parliament in the 2024 general election", citing anonymous sources. It is said to have occurred "shortly before the undeclared gift was made by Christopher Harborne" in April 2024, referring to the Β£5m given to Farage by the tech billionaire. Both Farage and Harborne say there were no strings attached to the personal gift. [BBC]
"City relieved as Burnham poised to choose Mahmood as his chancellor," reads the headline on the front page of the Financial Times.
"Burnham poised to choose Mahmood as his chancellor" is the Financial Times' lead story, writing that Andy Burnham, who is expected to replace departing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday, is eyeing the current Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, for the top Treasury role. It cites "three people briefed on Andy Burnham's thinking", although the Labour MP's spokesperson officially declines to comment on "speculation". Focusing on the City's reaction, the paper says: "Markets responded positively to the prospect of a chancellor coming from the right of the Labour Party." [BBC]
"Burnham keeps wealth tax in play," reads the headline on the front page of the Times.
Continuing with Burnham's prospective plans as prime minister, the Times says he "has refused to rule out imposing a wealth tax and said people may have to pay 'a little more' because of the state of the public finances". [BBC]
"Care workers to get NHS-style annual pay rises" reads the headline on the front page of the i Paper.
"Care workers to get NHS-style annual pay rises" is the i Paper's top story below its World Cup coverage, reporting that the "new negotiating body includes unions and employees – and will determine pay". [BBC]
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Hand of God match was fan's first of 11 World Cups

A dated picture of football fans, showing Dubberley in the centre, smiling
Paul Dubberley, (centre) said the atmosphere in the Estadio Azteca in 1986 was "brilliant" [Paul Dubberley]

Forty years after watching Diego Maradona deploy the "Hand of God" from high in the Azteca stands, an England fan recalls the moment he saw history happen.

As England meet Argentina again in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, Paul Dubberley told the BBC about the first of his 11 World Cups - a journey that began with a Β£6 ticket.

"It was fantastic. The atmosphere in the stadium was brilliant. Being at the Azteca itself was kind of an experience", said the fan, from Walsall, West Midlands.

The 67-year-old described watching Peter Shilton chase after the referee in Mexico, but said England fans inside the stadium were unaware what had happened.

Dubberley travelled to Mexico City in 1986 for his first World Cup with a "ridiculously cheap" ticket to the Estadio Azteca, where the controversial goal helped Argentina to a 2-1 quarter-final victory.

He told BBC Radio WM: "In those days it was very cheap. You just bought the ticket at the ticket counter.

"We got a ticket for the final – some guy in an Arsenal shirt walked past us when we were going to buy a ticket for a game, and he said, 'If you go to that window, there you can get a ticket for the final.'

"We went round, four tickets to the final, about 10 quid each, and it was so much easier."

The lifelong supporter has now followed England at 11 World Cups, travelling to all three group matches in the United States this summer before returning to support the team for the quarter-final in Miami.

Three football fans posing with a packed out football stadium behind them at an England match
Dubberley, pictured centre, has followed England throughout 11 World Cups [Paul Dubberley]

Speaking about the historic moment, he said fans "couldn't tell what happened".

"We were kind of up in the gods ourselves a little bit. We didn't know he had handballed it in at that time.

"It was only later on when we kind of watched it back on the TV and saw the news that we found out what had gone on. There's no replays, no big screens, so it's a bit different.

"We lost, we were out anyway, but it just made it that much harder to swallow really."

Dubberley said the result was "disappointing", and he had felt angry at first.

He said: "There's nothing you can do about it, you have to move on and we were out but we managed to get tickets for the final so we still went and watched them in the final against West Germany.

"It's 40 years on, it's definitely time to get over it, really. I think to most people, it's a moment in history that people remember."

An told football ticket to the 1986 England game against Argentina
Dubberley said the tickets to the game were "ridiculously cheap" at the time [Paul Dubberley]

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Alternative venues to watch World Cup: bowling lanes, cafes and a beach

Three England supporters are smiling and celebrating while looking into the camera. This picture was taken in an event space, so there are lots of people celebrating with their friends.  Must people are wearing the Blue and White England football kit.
England will face Argentina in a tense World Cup semi-final [PA]

Thousands of football fans across the West are preparing to watch England vs Argentina in a tense World Cup semi-final later.

But for those looking for something different from pubs: stadiums, clubs, community venues and entertainment centres across the region are also opening their doors to supporters.

Below is a list of alternative venues to watch the game.

Bristol

Bristol has plenty of locations for fans wanting to watch the match outside of a pub setting.

Document at St Jude's on Pennywell Road is hosting a big screen event, with doors opening at 18:00 BST and closing at 23:00.

Meanwhile, nightclub Clock Factory on Union Street is showing the game on on an 16ft (4.8metres) screen.

Supporters can also make their way to Ashton Gate Stadium's fan zone, where the match will be shown on a large outdoor screen with DJs and food vendors. Fans have the choice of watching the game inside or outside the venue.

Wiltshire

Several community venues across Wiltshire are hosting screenings of the match.

The Royal British Legion Club in Salisbury is opening its doors to England supporters, while St Paul's Conservative WMC on Devizes Road is also showing the game.

The Haydon Wick Cafe will have the match on multiple big screens. The venue will also be serving freshly grilled food on their back BBQ.

Downton Football Club clubhouse is also hosting a screening for local fans wanting to cheer on the Lionesses together.

Somerset

In Bath Mediterranean-inspired summer pop-up space, Bath on the Beach, will be showing the semi-final on its outdoor screen. Located in Royal Victoria Park it transforms an area of the park into seaside space filled with deck chairs and beach games.

Cricket fans can swap the wickets for football nets at the Somerset County Cricket Club where supporters can watch the match from the pitch at the Cooper Associates County Ground.

Gloucestershire

The Sub Rooms, also known as the Subscription Rooms, will be showing the game in its historic, community-owned arts and entertainment venue located on George Street in the centre of Stroud. People attending will be able to enjoy music and street food at this venue.

Cheltenham Town Football Club is opening its EV charger Points Stadium fan zone for the semi-final.

Roxy Lanes Cheltenham is also screening the game, this venue describes itself as a massive three-story "booze and ball games"entertainment venue with bowling lanes.

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Rai still coming to terms with emotions of major

A man with a black polo shirt and white cap in front of a blurred black and white background
Rai said the US PGA win had been a 'dream come true' [Getty Images]

US PGA Champion Aaron Rai has said he is still coming to terms with his sporting win.

The golfer, from Wolverhampton, made history in May when he became the first Englishman to win the event in more than a century.

"It truly is a dream come true, kind of goes beyond what I would have ever expected in this game, what I'd hoped to achieve," he said.

Speaking to the BBC's golf correspondent Iain Carter ahead of The Open Championship, the 31-year-old said he had to balance the emotions of becoming a major winner with focusing on future competitions.

"To now almost be moving forward knowing what has happened is almost a new challenge in its own right," he said.

He said he wanted to "honour and value" US PGA win, but knew he could not let that distract him.

He needed to keep up the same work ethic and discipline, he added, but also said he was "trying to learn on the fly what that balance looks like".

His name has been mentioned as a potential winner of The Open, which has not been won by an Englishman on home soil since 1992.

The event, at Royal Birkdale, gets underway on 16 July.

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How India's Lord's win echoes the legacy of its pioneering women cricketers

India batter Yastika Bhatia celebrates her century during day three of the 1st Women's Rothesay Test Match between England and India at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 12, 2026 in London, England.
Yastika Bhatia celebrates her century during day three of the Test match at Lord's [Getty Images]

On Monday afternoon, India cricketer Sneh Rana delivered the ball at London's iconic Lord's cricket stadium, completing a journey for the Indian women's cricket team that has been half-a-century in the making.

The bandana-wearing off-spinner, who hails from a small town in northern India, floated one outside the off stump. England's Sophie Ecclestone, having just completed a flamboyant half-century, pressed forward, only for the ball to dip, grip and sneak between bat and pad into the stumps.

Rana blew a kiss skywards as her teammates rushed towards her in jubilation. England were all out for 186 on the fourth and final day, giving India a 270-run victory - the biggest by a visiting team against England in women's Tests and the fourth largest in the format's history.

The celebrations, however, were as much about the past as the present. Throughout the match, India's players repeatedly paid tribute to the pioneers who had laid the foundations of women's cricket in the country, insisting that this moment belonged to them too.

Fifty years after India played their first officially recognised women's international series, Harmanpreet Kaur's side had become the first Indian women's team to win a Test at Lord's.

The victory came 40 years after India's maiden women's Test tour of England in 1986 and extended their unbeaten Test record in the country to 10 matches - three wins and seven draws.

"Playing at Lord's is always special," Harmanpreet, now India's most successful Test captain with four victories compared to her predecessor Mithali Raj's three, told the host broadcaster after the match.

"I really want to thank the people who thought about bringing one Test match here. These kinds of matches bring a lot of happiness and excitement. Hopefully, we'll keep getting more Test matches and keep performing the way we are doing," she added.

India bowler Sayali Satghare celebrates the wicket of England batter Alice Capsey during day three of the 1st Women's Rothesay Test Match between England and India at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 12, 2026 in London, England.
India bowler Sayali Satghare celebrates the wicket of England batter Alice Capsey [Getty Images]

The 37-year-old was playing only the eighth Test of her 17-year-long international career, a reminder of the few opportunities her generation has had in the longest format.

At the pre-match press conference, she had reflected on what it meant to still be present for the occasion: "Maybe it's late but not too late. Still I'm playing and still getting this opportunity to be part of this historic day."

History was made in other ways too. The first women to earn places on Lord's famed Honours Boards were Indians.

On Saturday, 22-year-old seam bowler Kranti Gaud became the first woman on the bowling board after taking five for 37 in England's first innings. Gaud comes from Ghuwara, a small town in central India, and her mother once pawned her jewellery to buy one of her first cricket kits.

A day later, Yastika Bhatia, the left-handed batter from Vadodara, another small town in western India, followed. Her confident 113, the first international century of her career, made her the first woman to score a Test hundred at Lord's and placed her on the batting board.

Yet, in her own moment of history, Bhatia looked back at those who made it possible.

"I think they [the pioneers of women's cricket in India] have done an invaluable contribution because Test cricket is, like you said, [been going on for] 50 years," Yastika said at the post-play press conference.

"Their contribution has inspired us to take up cricket and to perform the way we are doing today, so their role is very crucial and they have laid the foundation," she said.

She added that the pioneers of women's cricket in India hadn't received the recognition they deserved.

"So we should now take a moment to thank them for their contribution and what they have done for Indian cricket, for world cricket, and inspired so many young cricketers," Bhatia said.

 Kranti Gaud of India celebrates after bowling Alice Capsey during day two of the 1st Women's Rothesay Test Match between England and India at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 11, 2026 in London, England.
Kranti Gaud celebrates after bowling Alice Capsey on day two of the match [Getty Images]

Together, Kranti and Yastika became the faces of a victory in which India found a different match-winner in almost every session.

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana set the tone with an attacking match tally of 153 runs, the highest of the game. Harmanpreet, Deepti and Richa Ghosh all made half-centuries, while seamer Sayali Satghare bowled with pace and the spin trio of Rana, Deepti and debutant N Sree Charani provided control.

The triumph arrived eight months after India lifted their maiden senior Women's ODI World Cup in Navi Mumbai and a fortnight after a wretched T20 World Cup campaign ended in a group-stage exit at Lord's.

Its significance, however, stretched much deeper into history. Organised women's cricket in India began through the enterprise of a man named Mahendra Kumar Sharma, the founding secretary of the Women's Cricket Association of India (WCAI), when the organisation was formed in 1973.

Sustained largely by volunteers with limited resources and immense conviction, the WCAI nurtured the first generations of Indian women cricketers.

Three years later, Shantha Rangaswamy of Bengaluru captained India in their first officially recognised international series, a six-Test contest against West Indies. The series began in Bengaluru and ended with India's maiden international victory in the third Test in Patna.

A decade later, India made their first tour of England, playing three Tests and three ODIs. Shubhangi Kulkarni captained the opening Test at Wetherby before Diana Edulji led the remaining two at Blackpool and Worcester.

Forty years on, Harmanpreet and her trailblazing band of sisters preserved India's unbeaten record.

 India captain Harmanpreet Kaur holds the trophy up after India won the 1st Women's Rothesay Test match against England at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 13, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Philip Brown/Getty Images)
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur holds the trophy up after India won the Test at Lord's [Getty Images]

Fittingly, the scorebook connected generations: Mandhana became only the second Indian woman after Sandhya Agarwal to score 70 or more in both innings of a Test, while Rana's fourth haul of four or more wickets in 10 Test innings drew her level with Neetu David, behind only Kulkarni and Jhulan Goswami.

Before the match, Harmanpreet had acknowledged the debt owed to those who came before.

"Our seniors have always supported us immensely. No matter how difficult the phases in our lives have been, they have always stood by us. It is because of their support that we have been able to grow so much over the years," she said.

Those words echoed as celebrations unfolded before unprecedented crowds.

A total of 37,846 spectators attended the match across four days, the highest cumulative attendance for a women's Test.

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar was at Lord's on the final day, exactly 24 years after helping India win the NatWest Series final at the same ground under Sourav Ganguly's captaincy. ICC chairman Jay Shah and several BCCI officials were also in attendance.

Yet, for all the prominent figures present, none of India's pioneers were at Lord's to witness it. Through Harmanpreet and Bhatia, however, they remained at the heart of the story.

Fifty years after India's women entered international cricket, a journey that began on modest grounds across the country had reached its defining moment with a historic Test victory at the Home of Cricket.

Annesha Ghosh is a freelance sports journalist, broadcaster and documentary producer.

Tributes paid as veteran sports journalist Jim Gracey dies

Tributes have been paid to "giant of sports journalism," Jim Gracey who has died aged 68.

Gracey, who was from Lurgan in County Armagh, worked for the newspaper The Belfast Telegraph for more than 40 years.

He joined The Belfast Telegraph in 1979 after working for the Lurgan Mail, and later became the sports editor of the paper and its sister paper, Sunday Life.

He retired in 2021.

He covered football on both the domestic stage in Northern Ireland and the international, and attended six World Cups in the course of his career.

He was also the director of the sports charity Mary Peters Trust, named after the Olympic gold medal-winning pentathlete Lady Mary Peters, who grew up in Northern Ireland.

Chief Sports Writer for the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life Steven Beacom described him as a "larger than life character and a giant of sports journalism".

"He was a man who broke huge stories, wrote the sharpest opinion pieces, interviewed stars with authority and empathy and was respected across the sporting spectrum in Northern Ireland and beyond," he added.

He also recalled Gracey's "great company," "big heart, generosity and all the fun that we had when we covered World Cup and European Championship tournaments together".

He was described as someone who gave young aspiring reporters a chance.

Such sad news about the passing of my pal Jim Gracey...a giant of journalism & a champion of Northern Ireland sport. He was also kind enough to give many young people a start in the industry and will be missed by all who knew him.
Condolences to Jim's wife Paula and his family. https://t.co/xzJi2ickxs

β€” Steven Beacom (@StevenBeacom5) July 12, 2026

Paul Ferguson, Head of Sport for Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life said Gracey was a "wonderful writer, headline composer and fiercely protective of his staff".

"Jim had a wonderful turn of phrase, made it his mission throughout his career to hold power to account, especially the 'suits' at the Irish FA, and was a master of uncovering emotive and fascinating details from his interviewee," he added.

He said he was a "proud son of Lurgan, football (Glenavon, Manchester United and Northern Ireland) and motorcycling were his passions," but he always made sure Northern Ireland success stories were celebrated in the paper.

He said that despite being at the helm of many sporting triumphs, it was the "human touch" that made him special.

Mervyn Whyte, the event director of the North West 200 knew the Lurgan man professionally and personally, describing him as a "great character and a great writer".

"I knew Jim for many years and he was always massively supportive of the North West 200.

"Over the years he wrote many great in-depth pieces about the North West 200. He had an in-depth knowledge of racing and especially the North West 200."

White said Gracey's death came as "major shock".

He said this year's North West 200 was the first time Gracey and his wife Paula had not been to the event "for a good number of years".

"He was a great friend to me and the North West 200," added Whyte.

West's big reaction to another England World Cup win

An England fan is standing up and sprawled her arms out wide among a sea of other England fans.
It was another big night for England fans across the West of England [PA Media]

Thousands of people across the West came together to watch England beat Norway on Saturday, celebrating jubilantly.

England won 2-1 thanks to two goals from Jude Bellingham, in response to conceding a goal by Andreas Schjelderup earlier in the game.

The win secured England's place in the semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday from 20:00 BST.

Here is how you all reacted to England taking a step closer to ending the 60-year wait for World Cup glory.

Bristol

Ryan and Freya Sedgman are looking at each other inside a church.
Ryan and Freya Sedgman decided to show the match at their wedding [BBC]

Newlyweds Ryan and Freya Sedgman decided to show the match at their reception on their wedding day, at The Mount Without.

"If you can't beat them, join them," Freya said.

"There's going to be guys sat in the corner watching on their phones, so why not show it on a bigger screen?"

Ryan said their big day was more than two years in the making, and never would have predicted England to play that night.

He said: "Initially, we didn't want it to take over the day.

"I'm a big football fan, and a lot of Freya's family are big football fans."

He added he was "a little bit surprised but very happy" when Freya approved showing the game.

Meanwhile, many thousands of fans attended The Prospect Building to watch the drama on a huge screen.

Here are some photos showing some of the best of the action.

England fans sit in shock, some with heads in hands and others with hands over their mouths.
[PA Media]
England fans on the edge of their seats watching the match on a big screen.
[PA Media]
England fans are jumping and celebrating.
[PA Media]

Gloucestershire

Now, take a look at this.

That was thousands of fans reacting to the win at Tetfest, a family festival in Tetbury.

Mark Wood, who founded Tetfest, said: "Where do I start? We had everything, the music, the people, and then we had the extra time. We got there in the end.

"Everybody behaved themselves. They've left the mess like they always do, but there we go."

He added he hopes to launch an outdoor event for the next game on Wednesday.

Speaking after the game, one fan said: "[It was] absolutely electric. I always knew they were going to win it."

Another said: "Unbelievable. They were always going to do it, they've got the mentality. It's coming home."

Somerset

Fans are standing in rows watching a screen in a large menu.
Many fans watched the match at the Cheese and Grain in Frome [BBC]

At the Cheese and Grain in Frome, so many people attended they hit capacity, according to the venue.

Rob Dahl, venue manager, said: "It's been crazy the support this World Cup has brought out.

"We've hit capacity for today's game which is wonderful.

"All of the games, including the Mexico game, had hundreds of fans screaming and shouting. It's been really nice to see.

"It's helped the bar, and we do get a higher than average bar spend per head when football is on.

"Because it's such a good atmosphere, it's positive people having a wonderful time."

A man is pictured wearing an England football jersey on a street.
Reece said England have a "better structure" [BBC]

Reece, from Frome and attended the watch-along at the venue, said: "[It was a] nice comfortable game.

"After the goal for Norway, a little bit of jitters, but Jude Bellingham carried us all the way.

"There's a better structure to this team than previous years, and Tuchel seems like a much more proactive manager than Southgate was."

Wiltshire

Crowds of people have their arms raised towards a screen, watching a football match.
Devizes Town FC held a watch-along [BBC]

It was good vibes at The Old Lane in Chippenham where many hugged each other and sang songs.

Helen, who watched the game at the pub, said: "It was fantastic, I'm so glad we won. I wasn't sure we were going to. Football's coming home."

Charlie, who also attended, said: "Incredible scenes. Cagey in parts but we'll take it next. Roll on Argentina, let's go."

People are singing and have their arms raised.
All smiles at The Old Lane pub in Chippenham after the game [BBC]

Additional reporting by Michael Cowan, Martin Evans and Jack Killah.

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'Bellingham is a genius' as fans celebrate England win

Football fans singing and pointing inside a large room with lots of England flags hung on the ceiling
At Stourbridge Football Club, fans sang Hey Jude in honour of Bellingham [BBC]

England fans in Stourbridge erupted in celebration as Jude Bellingham scored two winning goals at the England vs Norway World Cup quarter final in Miami.

Roars of jubilation could be heard at Stourbridge Football Club - where Bellingham started his career- on Saturday evening as football fans chanted 'Hey Jude' in the player's honour.

Fans at Stoke City Football Club could also be seen hugging and crying, with people throwing their drinks in the air the moment England were confirmed winners.

England now stand one win from their first men's World Cup final since 1966 and their third World Cup semi-final since they lifted the Jules Rimet trophy 60 years ago.

Fans warned Argentinian fans to "stay ready" as England prepares to play them in the semi-final on Wednesday.

Three thousands fans viewing the game a fan park in Birmingham displayed pure euphoria at Bellingham's two-goal display.

One fan told the BBC: "What an absolute genius that bloke is. We're absolutely buzzing. I feel like we've won it."

Others, who had predicted it a 2-1 win said they were confident that "it's coming home".

After the game on Saturday night, England captain Harry Kane said: "What a tough game, a difficult opponent, but we're over the moon.

"We had to dig deep, especially in the second half and extra time.

"When you've got someone like Jude who can change the game for us like he did again today, that's obviously a big factor. The boys' heart and desire got us over the line."

England will now face World Cup holders Argentina in Atlanta for a place in the final.

It's been 24 years - or six World Cups - since David Beckham's first-half penalty gave England a Group F victory over Argentina in 2002.

hundreds of football fans cheering happily inside a large room
England fans in Stoke-on-Trent cheered as England secured their win [BBC]

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Local Grand Master checks in for city's biggest chess match

A man with greying hair wearing a short-sleeved green shirt smiles as he sits behind a wooden chess board.
Gawain Maroroa Jones is a three-time British champion who lives in Sheffield [Simon Thake/BBC]

As Sheffield sporting venues go, it may not be as celebrated as the Crucible Theatre, Hillsborough or even Ponds Forge.

But this past week a conference room on the second floor of the Hampton by Hilton Hotel on West Bar Green has played host to a contest dubbed the "strongest ever chess match" to take place in the city.

It involved two Grand Masters - the "local hero", three-time British champion and 2020 European Online Blitz Champion Gawain Maroroa Jones who lives "just up the road" in Hillsborough, and the reigning Polish champion, Szymon Gumularz.

Local organisers were very excited.

Chess players face off against each other across a number of square tables in a hotel room. The players shake hands across the table.
An international junior tournament has also been taking place in Sheffield across the week [Simon Thake/BBC]

Jonathan Arnott adjusts the knot on his thick blue tie.

It is 30C outside and this is a big deal for him. The chair of the Sheffield Chess Centre is the organiser of the event and he has made an effort.

"I wouldn't normally be in the suit for a chess event but this is elite," he smiles, wiping sweat from his brow.

"This is definitely the biggest match ever played in Sheffield," he says excitedly.

"We did have the British Championships in 2011, but this is the strongest match-play game ever played in Sheffield.

"It's huge for us, and it really does put Sheffield on the map when it comes to international chess."

This is a unique experience for the local Grand Master too.

"It is a bit strange taking the children to school and nursery in the morning and then coming to play just up the road," Jones says.

Now 38, Jones began playing chess at the age of four, competing in his first tournaments at six.

"I loved every kind of board game and they eventually taught me chess to shut me up but I got obsessed," he says.

He previously gained notoriety and featured on the front page of The Guardian newspaper when aged just nine, becoming the youngest player in the world ever to beat an International Master in an official tournament game.

Now Jones is going head-to-head in three different types of chess game.

His preferred format the "classical game", which can last five hours, forms the bulk of the competition.

There will also be a blitz game, sometimes referred to as "speed chess", and games of rapid chess which last over 10 minutes but less than 60 minutes.

A man with thinning hair stands in a hotel lobby in a grey suit and blue tie.
Jonathan Arnott is chair of the Sheffield Chess Centre [Simon Thake/BBC]

Jones admits to feeling a little "rusty" of late.

"I play a lot less than I used to. I've got young children so I'm staying home and looking after them," he says.

The match also acts as a warm-up for the upcoming Olympiad in September in Uzbekistan, a biennial international chess tournament, where Jones will be representing England.

As well as the head-to-head games between the two Grand Masters, the Sheffield hotel is also hosting an international junior tournament.

The rise in popularity of the game among young people is something that the Yorkshireman has had to reluctantly accept.

"I keep losing to younger and younger players," he laughs, adding: "I think they can play online basically 24 hours a day."

The "buzz" in the junior tournament is all around Supratit, a 12-year-old boy who is hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow Londoner Bodhana Sivanandan, who has gained worldwide recognition in the game over the last few years.

A young boy sits in front of a chess board with his arms folded. An older man, possibly his father, looks over his shoulder.
Up-and-coming chess star Supratit, 12, is chaperoned for the week by his father, Sudhir [Simon Thake]

Supratit is chaperoned for the week by his father Sudhir who works in finance.

He admits to spending a lot of time "pacing around hotel rooms with his laptop".

Being flexible around work has been a necessity as his son progresses in the game.

"All our leave is used on travelling to tournaments," he says.

"We've been to Georgia, Hungary, Germany, Norway... but we are always sitting in our hotel room waiting for his game to be over.

"If anyone asks us for holiday tips I tell them we know about airports and hotels but don't ask us about sightseeing."

The schoolboy, who practises 20 hours a week around his studies, manages to win enough games in Sheffield to gain his second norm.

In chess a player needs three norms to become a chess master.

Arnott is convinced he will be a "star of the future".

The chair of the Chess Centre, which has swelled to more than 80 members in recent years, is hoping to be in attendance at the Olympiad, albeit in a coaching capacity.

"I've been working with the Papua New Guinea national team," he says.

"I can't suddenly make them much better players but we go through potential moves and focus in detail on potential opponents."

Jones too is looking forward to competing in Asia in the autumn.

After narrowly losing to Gumularz in Sheffield, the former British champion says he is "feeling sharper".

"I think you can lose a bit of focus when you get older but I've still got ambitions," he says.

"I've won the British Championships a few times and I'd like to challenge and try and win it again and just see how it goes, hopefully as the children grow up a bit I can regain my focus on chess and just see what level I can get to."

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