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World Cup playoff news, Scotland reaction and WSL buildup – matchday live | Football
Key events
Fans returned to Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium for its long-awaited reopening on Saturday, embracing the pre-World Cup atmosphere despite tight security, protests across the capital and a fatal accident inside the venue.
Supporters streamed into the revamped venue for the first time in nearly two years for Mexico’s friendly against Portugal, hoping to get a taste of the kind of atmosphere which will envelop the country during soccer’s global showpiece.
Mexico will co-host the World Cup with the United States and Canada, and are set to open the tournament against South Africa at the stadium on June 11.
“We came from Puebla and we’re really excited to see the stadium and start feeling that World Cup atmosphere,” said Mexican fan Mariluly Cuesta, adding that the experience had been very well organised despite the heavier security presence.
Road closures and a large security operation made for a long walk to reach the gates, but many said the measures were expected for an event of this scale.
“We walked about a kilometre, but it felt very safe the whole way,” said Luis Camarena, a 40-year-old businessman who attended with his family. “We’re just happy to be here with the kids to watch the national team.”
While many had hoped to see Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, his absence did little to dampen the mood.
“We would have loved to see him, especially for the children, but we came for the spectacle,” Camarena added. “This way, everyone is fully behind Mexico.“
Not everyone shared the celebratory mood. Protesters staged a demonstration on a major highway near the stadium, turning it into a makeshift football pitch to highlight what they said were shortages of housing, water, transport and electricity in the area.
Inside the stadium, the festive atmosphere was overshadowed by a fatal incident shortly before kickoff, when a man died after falling from a box seat area, according to local authorities.Reuters
Michael Yokhin has been speaking to those at one of Europe’s biggest surprise packages this season, FC Thun. They are set to win the Swiss league, blowing away more elaborate opponents on their way to glory.
There were a couple of big games in the WSL yesterday.
Tom Garry saw City pummel United in the Manchester derby.
Sophie Downey witnessed an Alessio Russo hat-trick as Arsenal game out on top against Tottenham in north London.
There is plenty of WSL action later in the day.
We will kick-off with Chelsea v Aston Villa at noon, with Daniel Harris on blogging duties.
At the same time, West Ham face the London City Lionesses, before Leicester host Brighton at 3pm.
There was a bit of squad turnover at the England camp yesterday. Some will miss Tuesday’s game through injury, while Thomas Tuchel has packed a few more off.
This what you’ve all woken up for … what latest offerings. I’ve had dozens of emails asking what I’ve been up to recently, so here we are. Reading all this should take up through to lunch.
Yesterday I ticked off a new ground for me, travelling to watch what is starting to feel like the end of Harrogate Town’s time in the Football League. Never have I seen such a blunt side in the final third.
Six players out on loan in Europe doing well …
With the clocks going forward, it was even more enjoyable to take my family to the airport at 3.45am BST today. If there is any reason to read this blog on a relatively quiet Sunday, it is to see at what time I start hallucinating.
Jonathan Wilson has been taking a look at how the helter skelter nature of the Premier League has made all the players ruddy tired.
John Stones’ fitness record is pretty dreadful but Thomas Tuchel is eager to give him every chance to make his final 26-man squad for the World Cup. David Hytner takes a look at the England head coach’s admiration for the Manchester City defender.
Losing at home to Japan is the the best preparation for the Scotland’s World Cup escapades but it’s good to get these things out the way. Ewan Murray was at Hampden Park.
Preamble
A warm welcome to one and all. I hope everyone has enjoyed the clocks moving forward an hour, just so we get to the top soccer chat as early as possible. We will be having a look at what is coming today and plenty of international stuff to boot.
Scotland lost a friendly against Japan yesterday, while England had a squad refresh, which should keep us all interested.
There was also a fun Saturday in the EFL, which is well worth chatting about if you have any hottakes on Football League matters.
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'I was naive,' says minister who quit over Labour Together claims
Josh Simons resigned after facing claims a think tank he used to run commissioned a report into journalists’ backgrounds.
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One in five UK hospitality businesses fear collapse as costs surge | Hospitality industry
One in five hospitality businesses fear collapse in the next 12 months, according to an industry-wide survey that comes days before rises in tax and employment costs kick in.
From Wednesday, many pub, restaurant and hotel companies face the prospect of a higher bill for business rates paid to their local authority, while an increase in minimum wage thresholds takes effect on the same day.
The impending cost crunch has left the sector facing a crisis in confidence and warning of multiple business failures unless the burden is “dramatically reduced”.
One in five of the survey respondents, who between them operate more than 20,000 venues, said their businesses were at risk of failing in the next 12 months.
Almost half (44%) were pessimistic, while 17% were operating at a loss and 2% believed their businesses were already unviable, according to data shared with the Guardian by sector analysts CGA by NIQ.
The mood is likely to have worsened since the survey was performed in February, after turmoil in the energy markets following the attacks on Iran by the US and Israel.
Surging oil and gas costs are likely to send energy bills soaring for businesses that aren’t on fixed-term contracts. The cost of ingredients, not to mention the extra strain on consumers’ wallets, presents further danger on top of the policy changes.
But the industry’s immediate focus is on the policy changes that come into effect on 1 April.
Survey respondents put increased employment costs at the top of their list of worries, followed by business rates and inflation in the cost of food and drink.
UKHospitality, which commissioned the survey alongside trade bodies from the pubs sector, said the increase in the national living wage and national minimum wage would result in an extra £1.4bn in costs for the sector.
The organisation said it could not provide an estimate of the overall cost of business rates changes, but it expected most of its members would pay more.
It believed the average hotel in England would pay £28,900 more this year (up 30%), while the average restaurant would face a 15% increase worth £1,800.
Both the wage and business rates increases are the result of measures announced in the chancellor Rachel Reeve’s budget in November.
After a backlash, relief schemes have been put in place to cap the level of increases, while pubs will get a 15% discount and a two-year freeze.
“Our local pubs, restaurants and hotels are finding it more and more difficult to make ends meet, and even more cost increases arriving this week will make that challenge even harder,” said UKHospitality, in a joint statement with the British Beer and Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping and Hospitality Ulster.
“Too many businesses are simply not making any money, and it’s because the sector’s cost burden is so high. The only result is lost jobs and business closures, which ultimately hurts communities and high streets.
“The business rates support for pubs was essential and welcome, but there are many policies undermining government’s objectives to grow the economy and get more people back into work.
“Hospitality can be a driving force of growth and jobs, but only if its costs of doing business are dramatically reduced. The sector wants to work with government to achieve that.”
UK News
Chelsea v Aston Villa: Women’s Super League – live | Women’s Super League
Key events
56 min Baltimore has gone to left-back and, as I type, she plays a low pass into the box which Kerr reaches ahead of Roebuck – though I don’t think it was for her – nicking it away and wearing the inevitable out-cleaning. That’s got to be a penalty … but no, the flag goes up for offside.
55 min Bronze leaves one on Hanson, a body to the midriff and perhaps the only time she’s got close to her all afternoon.
54 min Changes for Chelsea: Cuthbert for Girma and Baltimore for Kaptein.
53 min James finds Nusken then gets on her bike, racing down the left to receive the return, but her clipped low cross is cleared. Chelsea need to get her on the ball at every opportunity, because Villa can’t handle her.
51 min Buurman diddles Wilms once then twice – it’s almost cruel, the defender left scrabbling about on the grass – but her cut-back goes astray and Villa clear.
50 min Bronze heads away at the near post and, on the edge, Taylor misses her shot, then Wilms, who bagged three first-half assists, curls in a cross that has Hampton scrambling, the ball drifting past the far post, just.
49 min I’m not sure I’d want her at centre-forward, but would love to see what she can do as an attacking midfielder – her ability to beat players in the middle of the pitch and shoot from distance is an outrage. Meantime, though, Villa win a corner which Hampton punches behind for another, from under the bar.
48 min Again, Chelsea move the ball nicely, and I wonder if, in time, Lauren James will move to a central position – she’s kust too good to be restricted to the flank.
46 min This is the first time both sides have scored thrice in the first half of a WSL match; if Chelsea don’t win today, their almost non-existent chances of retaining their title will be mathematically over.
46 min We go again…
Half-time reading:
HALF-TIME: Chelsea 3-3 Aston Villa
A fantastic half, Villa starting well and coming back well, with Chelsea dominating in between times. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
45+2 min Again, James hoves across the face of the box from left to centre, leathering a shot that Deslandes wears in the midriff before folding; it looks evil. She won’t mind, though, because without her intervention, that was 4-3.
45 min We’ll enjoy three additional minutes. This has been – and still is – one of the funnest halves I’ve seen this season.
44 min Pre-match, I wondered if Villa might get some joy out of Buurman, but it’s actually Bronze who’s been caught for two of their goals. She’s struggling with Hansen’s pace and movement – something she has in common with many WSL defenders.
43 min Since Villa’s second goal, Chelsea haven’t been able to take back the total control they had prior to it. I sense that, at half-time, Bompastor will be sharing some sentiments with them.
42 min Chelsea win a corner and Nusken returns; James sends another nasty delivery flat and into the middle, but Nusken can’t get the connection she’s after.
40 min Nusken treads on the ball and goes down, but is soon up and limping off; I think she’ll be OK to continue. That second Chelsea goal, by the way, is Girma’s first in the WSL; no wonder she was so eager to claim it.
38 min This game could finish with almost any score, and Arsenal will be watching it with interest. On the one hand, they’ll know that the way James is playing, their Champions League tie is far from over, but the way Chelsea are defending, they’ll fancy their chances of adding to the three goals they scored last week.
37 min The second Chelsea goal has been credited to Girma; I think that’s the correct call.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-3 Aston Villa (Hanson 35)
OH MY DAYS! Nightswonger does well down the left and when the ball comes into the middle, Wilms, now infield, bumps it off her thigh into Hanson’s path, and the finish is again deadly, swept inside the near post with very little backlift. That’s 12 league goals for the season now, and we might well be watching one of its best games.
35 min Now it’s Villa moving the ball as they seek an equaliser…
33 min You can only credit Villa, who started superbly, spent the next half-hour suffering, then found a way of hauling themselves back into the game. They’ve got some serious speed and precision on the counter – their two opportunities have been crafted and finished with a complete absence of ruth.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-2 Aston Villa (Hanson 32)
Now then! Again, Villa send it wide to Wilms, again her low cross is perfect, and this time, Hanson runs off Bronze to punch home a finish fro close range. What a game this is!
29 min Villa look shellshocked – these Chelsea goals have come far too easily but, on the other hand, pressure takes a toll.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-1 Aston Villa (James 27)
LAUREN JAMES, THOUGH, WHAT A PLAYER! She collects a big switch and immediately veers infield, away from Hanson before, from 20 yards, dragging a low, fizzing shot inside the near post. She’s enjoying herself, and if that continues, this’ll get messy.
26 min Lauren James, though, what a player. Everything she does looks so natural – I can’t think of many players who combine pace, power, skill, invention and intelligence, though of course her brother is another.
25 min Girma celebrated like she was sure she’d scored, and replays are inconclusive, but I think she imparts a fine glance. Chelsea have responded really well to going behind.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Aston Villa (Girma 23)
Chelsea hace been playing for this. Again, the corner goes short, James to Thompson, again a return-pass finds the maestro on the corner of the box, and this time, her delivery is poifect, curling in; Roebuck can’t move in case someone gets a touch and though Girma does, even if she hadn’t, the ball would still have gone in.
22 min Elsewhere, London City lead West Ham 1-0; back with our game, Thompson, who’s started the game well, wins Chelsea another corner.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa (Kerr 20)
It was coming. A pass into midfield and Nusken, allowed to turn far too easily, slides Kerr in behind. Running from centre to left, Roebuck assumes, with good reason, that the shot is going back across goal, so plants feet ready to dive, and when the effort is directed towards the near post, can’t react quickly enough to keep it out; all she can do is palm into the net.
19 min Chelsea are playing pretty well now; I very much doubt this match ends 0-1. Which isn’t to say Villa won’t win it, just that it’ll probably take another goal, at least.
18 min This time, James stick the corner into the box and Nusken’s up … but her header flashes wide.
17 min Lovely from James, slowing down Wilms then ducking inside, the defender with no option but to fall over. She then feeds Nusken inside her, Roebuck tipping the shot around the post.
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