Matchday Live from The Valley
From a sweltering Valley, here’s Tom Garry:
"The players are taking a scheduled ‘hydration break’. That’s how hot it is here at The Valley. Halfway through the first half, the match itself has been poor. It’s exactly what you’d expect for a cagey play-off game in the heat. Very few chances, very little pace, very little creativity, but plenty of nerves."
Leicester are controlling possession at The Valley, holding over 60% of the ball and having taken two shots, though neither was on target.
This email from Kári Tulinius warms my heart.
"Though, at least Kari has an excuse for being useless at Fantasy. I actually tried to be good! I’ve been dead last in my fantasy football league for years now. The first time I participated I tried to take it seriously, but discovered that it affected my enjoyment of matches, because I was worrying about ‘my players’ getting points, instead of just appreciating the game. So now I pick a team based on some silly theme and don’t worry about it. My current side is entirely made up of players named John or an international variation thereof. João Pedro has been my star player, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Gianluigi Donnarumma doing well too. Or so I believe, anyway, I go weeks without looking at the Fantasy results, but I know my gang of Johns is dead last."
Just over five minutes into the WSL play-off, the score remains 0-0.
Updates will continue until 1pm. Alternatively, viewers can watch the game live on BBC .
The Joy of Six - Mohamed Salah at Liverpool
The Egyptian forward plays his final game for Liverpool today. Our writers have selected six key moments from his time in a Reds shirt.
Our correspondent Tom Garry reports from The Valley:
"The nerves, the tension and the stress will all be at high levels this lunchtime as Charlton and Leicester battle for a place in the WSL next season, in arguably the most consequential game in WSL history. For the first time, we have a play-off to decide a relegation/promotion spot, as Charlton - who finished third in WSL2 - host the WSL’s bottom side Leicester City. The Valley is baked in sunshine as these two out-of-form teams try to find an all-important victory. But both of them have arrived low on confidence and in dreadful form. Leicester have lost 11 league games in a row and are winless in 2026, while Charlton let a nine-point lead slip at the top of the WSL2 table and had really hoped to be automatic promotion winners, before a late-season slump saw them drop into this play-off game instead. They are expected a club-record crowd here at the Valley and ultimately one team will go home desperately disappointed."
Reader Opinions on Cristian Romero
A few readers have shared their views on the Romero story:
"Football is worse off for manufactured outrage like this Romero non-story. We’re only talking about it to keep the content machine spinning. Let the man recover in his home country. (As an Arsenal fan... I also would find it quite delicious if Spurs do go down in his absence on Sunday...)" says Jack Carr.
"It’s really bad! Im not a Spurs fan btw. And he’s captain! He’s totally shut the door in Spurs face. No fan of course actually thinks most of the players on their books are ultras... but they should actually at least act like fans. especially on that wage what the! Anyone who goes to work knows you gotta play the part. It’s one of the biggest Spurs games in history as well. De Zerbi is obviously keeping a lid on it but he must be like wtf!" adds AA BB.
Farewell to Bernardo Silva
Tomorrow is not just Pep Guardiola’s farewell; Manchester City will also say goodbye to Bernardo Silva, who will play his final match for the club against Aston Villa. Silva is known for his all-action style, contributing in many facets of the game.
Simon Hattenstone has penned a moving tribute to the Portuguese midfielder, describing him as a “time-travelling, shapeshifting superhero.”
WSL Play-off Team News
Leicester have opted for a five-at-the-back formation in a Christmas tree setup, with Finland’s Jutta Rantala orchestrating play from the number 10 position.
Charlton have chosen a classic English 4-4-2, with the club’s top scorer this season, Lucy Fitzgerald, leading the attack.
Leicester lineup: Keane; Ale, Thibaud, Kees, Jansson, Mayling; McCoughling, Rantala, Tierney; O’Brien, Cain.
Charlton lineup: Whitehouse; McAteer, Lobato, Skeels, Mason; Hutton, Bradley, Kenney, Muya, Fitzgerald, Bissell.
Tribute to Pep Guardiola
Ilkay Gündoğan shared a heartfelt tribute to Pep Guardiola on Instagram, calling him an “incredible human” and stating that “City will never be the same” without him.
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Romero’s Absence for Tottenham
Tottenham’s captain Cristian Romero has decided to miss the final game of the season. He will be in Argentina supporting Belgrano in a league playoff game against River Plate. The trip was approved by Tottenham’s medical team and supported by manager Roberto De Zerbi, though some fans may feel disappointed.
Reminder: The WSL play-off game is live on the BBC.
These teams have faced each other since May 2021, when Leicester won 4-0. The previous meeting was a 2-0 away win for Leicester.
First Ever WSL Play-off
Another significant game is scheduled today. At 12:30, Leicester, who finished bottom of the WSL table, will visit The Valley to face Charlton, runners-up in WSL2, in the inaugural WSL play-off game.
The WSL is expanding to 14 teams next season, up from 12, as part of a 10-year plan to grow the women’s game in England.
Some archival Fantasy Football insights were found, which might have been helpful before struggling with the game.
Bruno Fernandes Named Player of the Season
Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United captain, has been voted Player of the Year this season. He has recorded 20 assists and scored eight goals, playing a central role in United’s resurgence under Michael Carrick, leading the club to third place and Champions League qualification.
Ethan Nwaneri to Join England Training Squad in US
England confirmed that Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri will travel to Florida with Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad as part of the Three Lions’ training group, which includes Alex Scott, Josh King, and Rio Ngumoha. Jason Steele will remain as the training goalkeeper throughout the tournament. This follows the announcement of England’s final 26-man squad on Friday.
Fantasy Football Final Reminder
Editors remind that today is the last day to adjust Fantasy Football teams. Despite this, I remain last in my group for the second consecutive season, owing to poor selections and injuries.
For those analyzing La Liga relegation battles, the final day features crucial matches: Girona vs Elche, Real Betis vs Levante, Getafe vs Osasuna, and Mallorca vs Real Oviedo. Girona must beat Elche to survive; Elche can stay up with a draw; Mallorca needs a win and favorable results; Levante and Osasuna can avoid relegation with specific outcomes.
Levante’s turnaround under Luís Castro has been notable, with 32 points from 20 games since December, the third-best in La Liga over that period.
Gavin Baxter writes: "Pars fan on the way to Glasgow just now wondering which way to think. Is it better to go out there and push? Or keep it close with the crushing inevitability that Celtic will get a penalty when they need one? Still, we live in hope. We should go for it. You’ve got to hold onto hope. We’d be nothing as sports fans without it. As for the strategy today, I reckon keeping things tight enough for a final push would be the way to go. But then, what do I know?"
Kevin Cassingham corrects a previous error, noting Arsenal are the reigning Women’s Champions League champions, not Barcelona.
La Liga Relegation Drama
Barcelona have secured the La Liga title and lead Real Madrid by 11 points entering the final matchday. However, the relegation battle is intense with Mallorca (19th, 39 points), Girona (18th, 40), Elche (17th, 42), Osasuna (16th, 42), and Levante (15th, 42) separated by only three points.
Girona face Elche, needing a win to survive; Elche require a draw. Levante and Osasuna can stay up by avoiding defeat against Betis and Getafe respectively. Mallorca must beat relegated Real Oviedo and rely on other results.
All matches kick off at 8pm UK time.
DRC Squad Ordered to Isolate After Ebola Outbreak
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s World Cup squad has been ordered to isolate for 21 days before entering the US due to an Ebola outbreak. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force, informed FIFA, the Congolese team, and Kinshasa’s government of the requirement to maintain a training bubble in Belgium until June 11th.
"We’ve been very clear to Congo that they should maintain the integrity of their bubble for 21 days before they can then come to Houston on June 11th," Giuliani told ESPN. "We’ve made it very clear to the Congo government as well, that they need to maintain that bubble or they risk not being able to travel to the United States. We cannot be any clearer. We want to make sure that there is nothing that’s going to come in or near our borders here on this."
Pep Guardiola Reflects on Joe Hart’s Departure
As Guardiola prepares to manage Manchester City for the final time against Aston Villa, he expressed regret over how he handled Joe Hart’s departure. After arriving in 2016, Guardiola loaned Hart to Torino and later signed Claudio Bravo and Ederson.
"I regret it from that time," Guardiola said in an interview with Sky Sports. "I feel I should have given him a proper opportunity to work under me and show what he could do. Managers make mistakes when making many decisions. With hindsight, I could have told Hart we would try to make it work together before making a change if necessary. I had not always been fair enough in the moment."
Women’s Champions League Final Preview
Aitana Bonmati, holder of the last three Ballon d’Or Féminin awards, has recently returned to Barcelona’s team and is being managed carefully. She made her comeback after five months out during the 4-2 win over Bayern Munich in the semi-final second leg on 3 May, coming on as a substitute in the 68th minute. She has not played a full 90 minutes since November and had limited minutes in the Copa de la Reina final. Pere Romeu stated she is "feeling better every day."
Comment from ‘TheVinyJunkie’: "Spygate at this point isn’t even a scandal, it’s a full documentary narrated by a man who’s had 6 espressos and misplaced his clipboard."
Women’s Champions League Final
The Women’s Champions League final features Barcelona and Lyon, their fourth meeting in seven years. Lyon won the first two finals in 2019 (4-1) and 2022 (3-1), while Barcelona claimed victory in 2024 (2-0).
Lyon have eight titles, including five consecutive wins from 2016 to 2020, but have not won since 2022. Barcelona won two consecutive titles before losing to Arsenal last year.
The match is characterized by a clash of styles, as noted by Suzanne Wrack. Additionally, the coaching subplot is notable: Jonatan Giráldez, Lyon’s coach, was part of Barcelona’s rise and managed them to their first three UWCL titles. His former assistant, Pere Romeu, now manages Barcelona, making this a master-apprentice final.
Comment from ‘greencorn’: "the cream rises to the top in the this weekend while crabs chat on the beach about the weather cracking their claws missiles are loaded women gather for brunch and their are vague notions of cricket again in the eyes of villagers i remember when Tom Huddlestone joined Hull from Spurs so with thoughts of the big man good luck Hull"
Spying on training or concerns about spying are not new. Marcelo Bielsa famously admitted to observing opponents and delivered a tactical lecture with slides, leading to a fine and tighter EFL rules. Sweden’s manager Janne Andersson apologized after a staff member attended a closed South Korea training session, which led to South Korea swapping shirt numbers in training as a counter-intelligence measure.
Herbert Chapman, Arsenal’s legendary 1930s manager, frequently employed 'spies' (scouts) to watch opponents, illustrating how blurred the lines can be.
Timeline of Spygate
For those unfamiliar, the Spygate scandal involves Southampton spying on Middlesbrough’s training sessions, including before their play-off semi-final. The EFL’s independent commission found a "contrived and determined" plan to gain advantage. Southampton manager Tonda Eckert accepted responsibility for authorizing the observations.
Consequences included Southampton’s expulsion from the play-offs, Middlesbrough’s reinstatement, and a four-point deduction for Southampton next season. The FA has launched its own investigation, potentially leading to individual charges.
The incident began when a Southampton staff member was caught near Middlesbrough’s Rockliffe Park training ground, with reports of filming, deleted footage, and changing clothes after being challenged.
England World Cup Group and Squad
England will face Ghana, Panama, and Croatia in the World Cup group stage. Croatia’s squad includes 40-year-old Luka Modric, with goalkeepers Dominik Livakovic, Dominik Kotarski, and Ivor Pandur; defenders Josko Gvardiol, Duje Caleta-Car, Josip Sutalo, Josip Stanisic, Marin Pongracic, Martin Erlic, and Luka Vuskovic; midfielders Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Mario Pasalic, Nikola Vlasic, Luka Sucic, Martin Baturina, Kristijan Jakic, Petar Sucic, Nikola Moro, and Toni Fruk; forwards Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric, Ante Budimir, Marco Pasalic, Petar Musa, and Igor Matanovic.
Barry commented on the squad selections, noting the abundance of noise and outrage, though acknowledging the impact on those selected or omitted.
German Cup Final
Harry Kane has a chance for more silverware as Bayern Munich face VfB Stuttgart in the German Cup final at 7pm. Andy Martin has written a retrospective on Bayer 05 Uerdingen’s remarkable 2-1 upset over Bayern, known as the ‘Miracle of Berlin.’ Stuttgart fans hope for a similar outcome tonight.
Premier League Season Ratings and England Squad Thoughts
Fans have rated their teams’ performances this season, with scores ranging from 0 to 10. Regarding England’s squad, the assessment is that it is solid, though some would have preferred Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw for their form and positional needs. Young Nico O’Reilly has emerged as a key player after Harry Kane.
Barney noted that the squad is unlikely to be affected by external noise. While there is heartbreak, it is part of the sport.
In the Championship, Middlesbrough finished fifth, seven points above Hull, suggesting they are favorites. However, their last league meeting in December 2025 ended with a 1-0 win for Hull, indicating unpredictability.
Barcelona are appearing in their sixth consecutive Champions League final, an unprecedented achievement. They topped La Liga and defeated Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to reach this stage. Lyon, with 12 final appearances and eight titles, remain formidable, having eliminated Arsenal and Wolfsburg in recent rounds.
Today’s Major Matches
At 3pm, the Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Dunfermline takes place at Hampden Park. Celtic secured a remarkable league victory on the final day and aim for another trophy.
At 3:30pm, Hull and Middlesbrough contest the Championship play-off final at Wembley, a match overshadowed by the Spygate controversy.
At 5pm, Lyon and Barcelona face off in the Women’s Champions League final at Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo. Barcelona seeks a fourth title in six years, while Lyon aims for a ninth.
England World Cup Squad Recap
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City).
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham), John Stones (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa).
Forwards: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, on loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
Last Night’s Headlines
- Pep Guardiola bids farewell to a successful era.
- Preparations underway for an epic Champions League final.
- Thomas Tuchel and Ivan Toney resolve differences.
- The FA calls for tighter security in the US.
- England’s overlooked players and their families reflect on missed opportunities.
- Premier League talking points ahead of the final round.
Good morning! Following England’s World Cup squad announcement and ahead of the final Premier League games, today features major matches in Wembley, Oslo, and Hampden Park. I will guide you through the headlines and talking points. Feel free to share your insights.
Schedule reminders:
- Scottish Cup final: Celtic vs Dunfermline at Hampden Park, 15:00
- Championship Play-off: Hull vs Middlesbrough at Wembley, 15:30
- Women’s Champions League final: Barcelona vs Lyon at Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, 17:00
