The St. Louis Blues acquired Brandon Carlo from the Toronto Maple Leafs during the NHL draft on Saturday, those teams’ latest steps to remake their rosters during an offseason of upheaval.

St. Louis sent the Nos. 73 and 76 picks to Toronto for the 29-year-old defenseman.

Carlo lasted just 88 games with the Leafs after they sent a first-round pick, a fourth-rounder and highly regarded forward prospect Fraser Minten to Boston for him at the deadline in March 2025. That was with the previous regime in charge, and general manager Brad Treliving was fired two months ago and replaced weeks later by John Chayka, and they only got to keep the pick this year because they won the lottery for the No. 1 overall pick.

This is the third trade of the week for the Blues, who are also in transition as GM-in-waiting Alexander Steen is set to take over for seasoned executive Doug Armstrong next week. Armstrong in his final days at the helm has been plenty busy.

On Tuesday, he traded Jordan Kyrou to Washington for fellow forward Connor McMichael, prospect Milton Gastrin and the No. 16 pick, accumulating a league-high four in the first round. On Friday night, he sent two of them to Anaheim for 23-year-old Mason McTavish, who is signed through 2031.

Carlo provides some dependable veteran stability on the right side on defense, especially if the Blues decide to trade Colton Parayko or Justin Faulk as part of their summer overhaul. He is going into the final year of his contract at a salary cap hit of just under $3.5 million.

“We’re excited (Carlo has) got his size and length, his ability to kill plays, his experience,” Armstrong told reporters in Centene, Missouri. “Getting stronger up front and having strong goaltending, we think we’re going to be more competitive than we were last year.”

Toronto used the third-round picks on Canadian winger Zach Olsen and Swedish defenseman Mans Gudmundsson.

Predators trade with Rangers to get Adam Edstrom

New Nashville president of hockey operations and GM Chris MacFarland spent his first few weeks on the job largely adding players he was familiar with from his time in Colorado. On Saturday, he added fresh blood from the East by acquiring big, Swedish winger Adam Edstrom in a trade with the New York Rangers.

The Predators sent the 148th pick in the draft (a fifth-rounder) and the rights to minor leaguer Massimo Rizzo to New York. The Rangers, who also traded Brett Berard to Montreal on Friday, are not expected to tender Rizzo a qualifying offer and would make him an unrestricted free agent.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

The devastation continued on Casualty tonight after an unexpected death on the BBC show.

BBC’s Casualty was plunged into chaos after a devastating death left two characters heartbroken.

*Warning – spoilers ahead.* It’s been a turbulent time in Holby ED lately after Dylan Keogh (William Beck) uncovered his colleague and friend Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) had been continuing a secret romance with his son and junior medic Matty Linlaker. After learning about a medical mistake made by Stevie, that was covered for by Matty, Dylan reported Stevie for sexual coercion.

Tonight’s instalment (June 27), saw Stevie’s future confirmed after she was told there would be no further investigation, but must undergo a period of guided practise under supervision. She was also unable to return to the resus ward for the time being.

Of course, tensions continue to grow between Stevie and Dylan, with Stevie being annoyed about the complaint and Dylan furious with the outcome.

However, the hospital was plunged into devastation after a heartbreaking death that could change everything for two favourite characters.

Viewers may remember that clinical lead Flynn has been determined to expose army commanding officer Colonel Jack Bard (Mark Womack), who he suspected of abusing and hazing his soldiers.

When Private Rory accompanied an injured soldier to the emergency department, he was quizzed by Flynn – but was stopped by Bard. But when Rory was admitted himself, Flynn’s suspicions only continued to grow.

Tonight’s instalment saw Rory discharged from the hospital as he revealed to Flynn he was “thinking about getting medically discharged” from the army. He added he needed “as much space between me and him and that place as possible”.

When asked about reporting Bard, a distressed Rory said: “Report him? He’s a Colonel.” But the two were interrupted with an emergency.

In later scenes, Rory finally agreed to report the abuse as he headed to see friend Kev who remains in a critical condition. The young soldier was on his way to visit his friend when he said he would report the Colonel if it was what Kev wanted.

But devastation soon occurred when the two arrived at Kev’s room when the alarms started to beep. In devastating scenes, Kevin died, leaving Rory heartbroken. He screamed: “You can’t be serious, that can’t be it, he’s only a teen he’s got his whole life, do something.”

With Rory ultimately deciding against reporting Colonel Bard, what will Flynn’s next move be? Viewers will need to continue watching to find out.

Casualty is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Emergency services were called to Fisherman’s Walk in Bournemouth where a man died after falling 100ft from a cliff

A man has died after falling 100ft from a cliff in Dorset, England.

Emergency crews raced to Fisherman’s Walk in Bournemouth yesterday following concerns about a man’s wellbeing.

Police officers began engaging with him, but he subsequently fell and was tragically declared dead at the scene, reports the Mirror.

Beachgoers who had gathered during the heatwave were reportedly left “screaming” after witnessing the man’s fatal fall onto the beach, according to the Dorset Echo.

One witness recalled: “I was on the beach directly opposite, getting myself organised and I looked up and saw movement.”

They described seeing the man at the top of the cliff just before he fell, calling the incident “terrifying” and “very, very sad”.

The man’s death is not being regarded as suspicious, however Dorset Police has referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

A Dorset Police spokesperson stated: “The man is yet to be formally identified. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for HM Coroner

“As police were already in attendance when the fall happened, a referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as is standard in incidents of this nature.”

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Locals say that “finding something unique on your travels is guaranteed”

An historic market town just a short drive away from Cambridgeshire has been named as one of the UK’s “destinations of the summer” this year by Expedia. The Suffolk town of Sudbury is most famous for its market, which dates all the way back to 1009.

Sudbury was also mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086 and the town still has the echoes of a silk industry that was woven into the fabric of the local community.

The market is held each Thursday and Saturday at Market Hill and the Old Market Place between 8am and 3pm. Locals say it’s a must-visit when in the area and shoppers can find an array of stalls at the award-winning market. They include the likes of Munro’s fishmonger, Sudbury Plants, and Coleman’s Butchers among others.

The independent businesses are not just restricted to the market though. The local council boastss that “over 70 per cent of the town centre shops and businesses” are independent. They say that this means “finding something unique on your travels is guaranteed”.

Among the stand-outs are Alvita’s Boutique for ladies’ clothing, jewellery, and accessories, and the traditional Clarke’s Bakery. Ray’s Retro is also worth checking out too.

There is plenty to do in and around Sudbury. There are even guided tours of the town which unveil tales of the area’s fascinating history from Saxon settlements and artistic inspiration, to peasant revolts and Sudbury Silk.

The Tourist Trail also suggest Belle Vue Park as a spot to relax with lawns and floral displays. The Grade II-listed Quay Theatre offers plenty of entertainment too.

Sudbury is around an hour’s drive from Cambridge, making it a great spot to consider for a day trip. Expedia also picked out Bishop’s Stortford, Reading, Nottinghamshire, and Scarborough as trending destinations.

Taylor Wimpey has issued an update on its Eden Gardens estate in Sedgefield, where homeowners have previously complained of being “left in limbo” while waiting for works to be completed.

The developer has said the majority of works at the site have now been finished, including works to the main roads and footpaths, as well as the installation of traffic calming ramps, white lining and signage.

The Taylor Wimpey Sedgefield estate (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

However, a small number of additional items requested by Durham County Council remain incomplete.

The Taylor Wimpey Sedgefield estate (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Taylor Wimpey said it is continuing to work with the council to carry out final works to kerbs and road surfaces on the development, which are needed to allow the council to adopt the roads on the estate.

Minor landscaping and bank regrading works to the drainage basins are also scheduled to take place in the coming months.

Once that work has been completed, an independent landscaping audit will be carried out to identify any remedial works required before the open spaces are handed over to the management company.

The Taylor Wimpey Sedgefield estate (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson said: “While the majority of works at our Eden Gardens development have been completed, a small number of additional items requested by the local authority remain outstanding.

“We are working to complete these works as soon as possible, and we would like to thank residents for their continued patience and understanding.”

The latest update follows previous concerns from residents at Eden Gardens, who said they had been left waiting for clarity over when the development would be fully completed.

Homeowners had raised issues with unfinished roads, incomplete footpaths and a lack of communication over timescales.

The Taylor Wimpey Sedgefield estate (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

One of the key concerns previously highlighted was a footpath connecting Eden Gardens to Eden Drive, which residents said had been used by delivery vans despite being intended for pedestrians.

At the time, one resident described “several near misses” while walking her dog and warned that the situation could lead to a serious accident.

Neighbours on Eden Drive also raised concerns about people using a dividing fence between the older estate and Eden Gardens as a shortcut, with some reportedly climbing over it or lifting dogs and prams across instead of walking to the nearest footpath.

The issues at Eden Gardens formed part of a wider Northern Echo investigation into unfinished housing estates across County Durham and Darlington.

The investigation found residents across the region had moved into new-build developments only to face delays to roads, pavements, public open spaces and other key infrastructure.

Thomas Tuchel’s side are out to finish top of their group as they take on Panama in New Jersey

England face Panama in New Jersey on Saturday night as they look to finish their World Cup group stage run with a victory.

Thomas Tuchel’s side started their campaign with a convincing 4-2 win over Croatia, but celebrations then turned to frustration as they were held to a goalless draw by Ghana last time out. They will hope to end the group stage by getting back to winning ways, having thumped Panama 6-1 in their only previous meeting at the 2018 World Cup.

England have already had their place in the knockout stages confirmed ahead of tonight’s fixture at the MetLife Stadium (KO 10pm BST), with Uruguay’s defeat to Spain ensuring that the Three Lions will at least finish among the top eight third-placed teams in the group stage and cannot be eliminated regardless of the result in their match.

However, Tuchel’s men will be out to finish top of Group L, which they can do with a win over Panama or by at least matching Ghana’s result against Croatia.

Topping the group would hand England a last-32 tie in Atlanta on Wednesday against one of the tournament’s third-placed qualifiers.

As things stand, that opponent is now most likely to be Senegal rather than the previously expected match with Ecuador, although the final picture will not become fully clear until the remaining group stage fixtures have been completed.

In fact, if DR Congo beat Uzbekistan in Atlanta (KO 00:30pm BST), it will almost certainly be them who face England in the round of 32. As things stand, the only thing that would prevent that would be Portugal losing to Colombia, with a goal difference swing of seven between the teams – a scenario that would see England face Cristiano Ronaldo’s side instead.

If DR Congo draw or lose, England will most likely play Senegal – although two potential scenarios could change things.

If Ghana beat Croatia and Group L does not provide a best third-placed team AND the third-placed team in Group J qualifies, then England will play third in Group J.

That will be either Austria or Algeria, who face each other in their final group stage fixture. In the event of a draw in that game, England would play Algeria, but if the Algerians lose, England will play Senegal.

If England end up finishing second in their group, they will play the second-placed team in Group K, which is currently Portugal.

A defeat to Panama could see them finishing third in the group, meanwhile, and they would play the winners of Group K, which is currently Portugal.

Let’s put it simply – here’s a breakdown of England’s likely next opponents as things stand:

England top Group L – Senegal or DR Congo (likely), Austria or Algeria (less likely).

England finish second or third in Group L – Portugal or Colombia

England’s potential route to the final*

* Based on a Round of 32 clash with Senegal

Round of 32 – v Senegal (Weds, July 1 – Atlanta)

Round of 16 – v Mexico (Mon, July 6 – Mexico City)

Quarter-final – v Brazil (Sat, July 11 – Miami)

Semi-final – v Argentina (Weds, July 15 – Atlanta)

Final – v France (Sunday, July 19 – New Jersey)

These four criminals are now behind bars in Scotland after appearing in court this week.

An ex-SNP chief, a former boxing promoter and a footsoldier of a notorious gangster’s rival were among the criminals jailed over a catalogue of crimes in Scotland this week.

They were locked up for a combination of more than 17 years for crimes including embezzlement, organised crime, fraud and the supply of drugs.

Here are the worst criminals jailed in Scotland this week.

Ex-SNP chief Peter Murrell

Disgraced Peter Murrell was jailed for five years and three months after he embezzled more than £400,000 of SNP funds.

The estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon was handed a custodial sentence on Tuesday after thieving from his own party when he was their chief executive. Conman Murrell, who was SNP CEO for over two decades, was put behind bars after pleading guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.

Murrell’s theft was carried out over twelve years from 2010 to 2012. He used the stolen funds to buy luxury goods, cosmetics, cars and a motorhome.

Sentencing, Lord Young said: “Your actions involved a significant breach of trust to the organisation, which you led, and to the individual members and donors of that organisation. Because of your position of authority, you were able to circumvent the checks and balances that existed.

“The manner of the embezzlement, although not particularly sophisticated, included the fabrication of invoices, you gave false information to junior members of staff to input into the accounting system. All told, this is a calculated crime of dishonesty, and let me make it clear to you, one factor in the sentence which I impose today will be to act as a deterrent to any senior officials in other large organisations who might be tempted to abuse their position in the way that you did.”

Ex-boxing promoter

A former boxing promoter who was a trusted lieutenant in a gangland killer’s crime mob was jailed for six years earlier this week.

Mario Rea, 47, was a sidekick on the streets for Robert “Birdman” O’Hara, 48, while he was behind bars for the murder of a rival. It was found the dirty cash raked in from the major narcotics operation funded an illicit lifestyle for O’Hara’s partner and daughter.

Purchases were made on luxury flats, fast cars as well as designer clothes and watches. Rea was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday.

He earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of being involved in serious organised crime as well as another under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The court heard the gang was snared after a large-scale police probe in 2021. O’Hara was serving a life sentence at the time having been convicted in 2005 for the murder of Paul McDowall in Glasgow‘s Possilpark. The Operation Gadget investigation had initially focused on another crew member David “Murfy” Hough.

Police went on to seize a huge haul of class A drugs, firearms, grenades, ammunition and an industrial pill press that churned out hundreds of thousands of street Valium tablets. The court heard how O’Hara was raging at one stage as Rea – reportedly an enemy of the Lyons crime mob – had not paid the rent on his behalf.

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The killer stormed: “See if my family are papped out, there will be no talking. There will be no nothing, mate. We will be falling out over this.”

There was so much cash flooding in O’Hara wanted to buy a £225,000 Lamborghini Huracan. He also sent his partner 71 links on the Rightmove property site of houses in affluent areas ranging in value from £500,000 to £1m. These included a £525,000 flat in Glasgow’s Kelvinside and a £635,000 house in Aberfoyle, Stirlingshire.

Fraudster who flogged £4m in fake designer gear from Turkey

A fraudster who imported £4m of fake designer goods into Scotland from Turkey and the Far East was jailed for three years.

Ian Jones, 65, from Paisley, was sentenced to three years at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Wednesday, June 24. He was jailed after he earlier admitted 15 combined charges of selling counterfeit goods valued at £3,800,000.

Jones sold the illicit items at three industrial units across Glasgow and Lanarkshire between June 2021 and November 2022. His operation was unravelled by officers from Trading Standards when they conducted raids at all three addresses.

There, they uncovered hauls of fake designer clothes and bags with brands including Gucci, Prada, Stone Island, Dior and Canada Goose. The search of five rented Portacabins in Ibrox in June 2021 resulted, at the time, in the largest recovery of counterfeit goods of its kind in the United Kingdom.

It took officers two days to collate the goods, which weighed 30 tonnes. The court heard how Jones stored the goods at units in College Milton Industrial Estate, East Kilbride, and Righead Industrial Estate, Bellshill, as well as those in Glasgow.

The items were imported from Hong Kong, China and Turkey before being transported to Scotland from the East Midlands to Smith’s home address and then the industrial cabins. They were then sold directly to customers for cash using word of mouth. Jones will now be subject to confiscation action under Proceeds of Crime legislation to recover the cash he illegally gained.

Footsoldier for mobster rival of Jamie ‘Iceman’ Stevenson

A footsoldier for a mobster who is the rival of Jamie ‘Iceman‘ Stevenson was jailed for 40 months on Thursday.

Declan Price, 29, was caught with £300,000 of cocaine. He worked with drug kingpin Paul Easdon, 38, who was snared during a police probe which saw him kept under watch. Easdon and Price admitted to a charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Easdon, of Strathaven, is already serving six years behind bars. He was sentenced in October 2024 for his part in a huge drug trafficking operation. Easdon will appear to be sentenced for his latest matter next month.

The flash dealer had boasted how the cartel was making £4m-a-month from selling cocaine alone. Easdon was in the same criminal network as ex-Mr Scotland bodybuilder John Barry McDuff, jailed separately for seven years in 2024.

The pair had been caught after the law authorities smashed the EncroChat phone network used by scores of gangs. Easdon had used the nickname “glasgowceltic” to communicate with associates on it.

He is also understood to be a rival to Jamie Stevenson. The “Iceman” reportedly ordered firebomb attacks on a hair salon in Hamilton run by Easdon’s wife.

Laura Radcliffe, defending Price, told the sentencing that her client’s offending started amid a fall out with his uncle who was his employer. The advocate added: “He had temporary employment which did not work out and he was in a difficult financial position with debts accruing.

“He came into contact with those involved in the drug trade and the opportunity was made to him to make some money – he had not been involved in this before. This is something he will regret for the rest of his life and has had an effect on his family who are disappointed in him. He is disappointed that he finds himself before the court.”

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I AM not yet sure whether I support Andy Burnham, but I am keen on devolution.

By this I do not just mean combined authorities and directly-elected mayors, I mean innovative and surprising measures to share power and status more evenly across England.

It seems that this may become part of the Burnham agenda.

Now may be a time for York to think big. Boris Johnson, years ago, suggested moving the House of Lords to the city. Coming from him, this was never credible. But the idea itself had merit.

Why not move a drastically slimmed-down Lords to York, at least for the majority of its sessions ? Why not rename it the “Senate”, a Roman concept for what was once a Roman city?

Modernisation, especially when built on cultural roots, can bring positivity.

This, in turn, can act as a catalyst for economic and social renewal.

John Gemmell

Trentham Road,

Wem, Shropshire

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As tourists prepare to pack their suitcases for a summer trip, decisions about how to be a green holidaymaker increasingly involve how to move around the resort or city, as well as how to get there.

Walking and cycling are still regarded as the most sustainable ways to explore holiday destinations. They reduce emissions, improve health and wellbeing and allow visitors to engage more closely with local places.

Some popular holiday destinations make it much easier for tourists to walk, cycle or use public transport to get around, while in other places driving is the most obvious option, adding to congestion and overcrowded transport systems. Our past study indicates that what decisions tourist hubs make about design and transport can influence travellers’ transport choices on arrival.

What destinations can do

Many cities, including Paris, are investing in helping tourists and locals get around in an environmentally friendly way. The French capital has a €250 million (£216 million) programme to add more cycle lanes and paths. But simply expanding infrastructure is not enough. Visitors need transport systems that they can use easily and make them feel comfortable and safe.

Several other European cities are demonstrating how active travel can be successfully integrated into the visitor experience.

Copenhagen is often regarded as one of the world’s most cycle-friendly cities. But its success is not simply the result of having more cycle lanes. The Danish capital gives out cycling maps and detailed route information, aimed at tourists, showing distance, terrain, journey time and route difficulty. Visitors can also download maps and information about navigation around the city to their phones. This can make cycling feel more predictable and accessible, particularly for people unfamiliar with the city.

Utrecht, in the Netherlands, has routes across the city which give cyclists priority over cars. Its central station has the world’s largest indoor bike parking garage. The city has invested over €60 per person on its annual cycling budget and has more than 100,000 secure on-street cycle parking spots. These work for local residents as well as visitors.

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Coolcations: why people are heading away from the sun this summer

The Belgian city of Ghent has focused on creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment, cutting down the areas where cars can go, and encouraging walking and cycling between attractions. They now have nearly 20km of streets just for bicycles, connecting neighbourhoods and over 300km of off-road protected bike lanes.

What is common in all these cities is a recognition that active travel is not merely a mode of transport, but it is part of the overall visitor (and residential) experience.

Evidence suggests that shifting to active travel, including using a scooter or wheelchair, can significantly reduce emissions by up to 11%.

Dealing with the heat

However, hotter summers can put people off travelling on public transport, especially if it is not air conditioned, or involves long walks in the heat. According to the World Health Organization, heatwaves are becoming more frequent, intense and prolonged due to climate change. In EU countries, heatwaves led to tens of thousands of deaths in 2022. Extreme weather has caused substantial economic costs estimated at €560 billion between 1980 and 2021, highlighting the urgent need for more climate-resilient cities.

There is growing research showing that extreme heat discourages walking and cycling, particularly among older adults, families and visitors unfamiliar with a city.

However, research on climate adaptation suggests that adding new facilities is important as temperatures rise. These include shaded areas, drinking water, public toilets, seating areas and cool spaces. A cycle route may look attractive on a map, but if users cannot rest, rehydrate or escape extreme heat, intuitively they may choose other travel options instead.

Guidance from the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a group of 96 cities which work together on tackling climate change, highlights the importance of designing walking and cycling routes that are comfortable, inclusive and resilient to climate change. This includes wider pavements, green corridors, signposts and maps, and safe crossing places.

Not just for tourists

This approach can improve wellbeing, strengthen communities and enhance urban ecosystems. For example, street trees and various flora can provide shade and support biodiversity. Green corridors of trees along pathways can encourage walking and cycling, while also helping cities adapt to heatwaves. And shady public parks can also help improve visitor experiences and quality of life for residents in hot temperatures particularly.

In our research on the infrastructure work on Edinburgh, we found that cycling infrastructure and bicycle parking often become less well established beyond the city centre, particularly around popular destinations such as the city’s extinct volcano Arthur’s Seat. Although Edinburgh has made significant progress in promoting active travel, infrastructure gaps (such as being too far away from a bus route) can still discourage visitors from using public transport.

All of these challenges are even greater in cities such as Las Vegas or Dubai, where temperatures frequently exceed 40°C. In places with extreme temperatures, encouraging active travel (when safe to do so) among tourists or residents requires more than infrastructure alone. Cooling strategies, providing shade and rest areas are essential.

Tourists’ choices about how they travel are shaped by how destinations are designed as well as willingness and ability to choose different options. Incorporating active travel options can be an important part of city planning to tackle climate change, and benefit residents as well.

One of the cheeky Scots lads asked the ‘driver’: “Alright big man, what time you on ’till?”

Members of the Tartan Army have been left “buckled” after catching a driverless taxi around Miami.

The lads were left in stitches, dolling out Scottish patter to their “driver” while they made their way through the streets of the city in Southern Florida.

Filming their antics, the Scotland fans donned their strips as they got into the Waymo cab and asked “you busy the night?”.

The driverless car could be seen cruising through the streets and stopping to let pedestrians cross the road. The lads continued dishing out one liners to the empty driving seat, asking “Alright big man, what time you on ’till?”

The boys kept their windows down, as they blasted music and even had a singalong with a pedestrian who spotted their tartan strips.

Driverless taxis are commonplace in big US cities, and currently being tested in London – but Scottish ministers have yet to rule on whether they will permit them north of the border.

As they were dropped off at their destination, the lads shouted: “Thank you driver, bye driver!”, mimicking an iconic Scottish viral video.

Hundreds of Scots and Americans weighed in on the lads’ patter, with the video racking up almost 100,000 likes.

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One person wrote: “Not the bye driver!” Another said: “He wisnae very talkative.”

Another added: “I’m convinced the Scots are having way more fun than anyone else right now.” Another said: “Bonnie banter.”

The Tartan Army are clinging onto slim chances that we can still make World Cup history by progressing from a group for the first time. According to Opta, Scotland’s chances of progressing lie at just 0.07 per cent.

Steve Clark‘s team currently sit 10th in the 12-team third-place table, with only the top eight progressing to the last 32. While the journey for the Tartan Army in America may be over soon, Scots have been recalling the trip of a lifetime.

Gordon Mains, a 55-year-old engineering director from Bishopbriggs, told the Record: “We’ve had a brilliant time in Miami, though. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. We were lucky enough to get tickets to see us play at the Hard Rock Stadium. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible. It’s just a shame the match didn’t live up to the same standard.”

Nando Vastano, a 45-year-old who runs a holiday complex in Aviemore, was heading home on Thursday with his pal Jamie Rodgers, a 46-year-old funeral director from Kingussie.

He added: “The game itself was really disappointing. Yesterday, everything that could have possibly gone against us, went against us. We had all the games on in Little Havana and we’re asking ourselves, ‘Are we going to Mexico?’… No, we’re going home.

“We blew it ourselves but now the results have gone against us too, it’s over. But the trip has been absolutely magnificent. Memories for the rest of our life for sure.”

Jamie said: “It’s over now. We have no chance, I don’t think we deserve to go through anyway. It’s home time. We arrived on Monday night and haven’t stopped partying since then, so it’s probably a good thing!”

Scott Strachan, a 55-year-old chart surveyor, from Aberdeen, was enjoying a last cocktail with his son Scott Jnr, before the pair head home.

Scott Snr said: “Our trip has been amazing. Friendly people. But we’ve been out here in America for two and a half weeks so we are ready to go home now. We felt very deflated on the night and the results haven’t gone our way since. I think it’s almost impossible now, but we still live in hope.”

Scott Jnr, a 25-year-old quantity surveyor now living in Brisbane, said: “We’ve still had a really good time. We’ve been watching the other games, but to be honest we don’t deserve to go through. If we go through, we will probably get gubbed 3-0 in the next game. So there’s no hope anyway. It’s time to go home.”

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