When Canada’s concluding moment does eventually arrive this summer, Stephen Eustaquio would be forgiven for not wanting to leave the bright sunshine of California. The Canadian midfielder, contracted to Porto, joined Los Angeles FC in February on a four-month loan deal, desperately hunting minutes on the pitch ahead of the World Cup. Now, the 29-year-old is the match-winner in his new home away from home, sending his country through to the last-16 with a dramatic stoppage-time strike.
It should be noted: this was not a classic, thrilling start to the knockout phase. A match between two group-stage runner-ups – in groups naturally weaker due to host nation participation – failed to fire for the vast majority, under this 70,000-seater greenhouse. To a wider point, what does that say for the World Cup’s knockout expansion? Perhaps it’s too early to judge, but this was certainly two teams who were afraid to lose the contest, rather than setting out to win. Food for thought, maybe, for Fifa president Gianni Infantino, an unsurprising spectator in the VIP area.
Yet the long-awaited introduction of Canada captain Alphonso Davies – a world-class performer on his day – made the difference here with 15 minutes to go. Suddenly, Jesse March’s side had more verve, more speed, more desire to be on the front foot. The gamble, given Davies’ precarious hamsting, paid off.
Alphonso Davies made a difference when he came on after 75 minutes (Reuters)
But it was Eustaquio, a tireless presence in the centre of the park and even more so after the ghastly broken leg suffered by teammate Ismael Kone 10 days ago, who found his range at the perfect time. Controlling deftly on the edge of the penalty area, the midfielder – from Ontario, the son of two Portuguese parents – struck low and hard with his right foot into the bottom corner. Jubilation for those in black, Canada’s away strip, and those patches of red in the stands.
Afterwards, exuberant head coach Marsch – forever a performer, whether it’s for the cameras or otherwise – gathered his players in a small circle. A Canadian flag was unfurled as the co-hosts celebrated their stay at this World Cup, extending for another week. Next, it will be the Netherlands or Morocco in Houston on Saturday; a decidedly tougher task awaits them.
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Unlike the certainty of the group-stage clashes, there was a peculiar sense of occasion on the walk into Inglewood this cloudy Sunday morning; for it was not Canadian or South African shirts dominating the precincts but, rather, Mexican and South Korean shirts. Mexico, of course, topped their group and will stay at their beloved Azteca Stadium. Korea, whose captain Son Heung-Min now plies his trade in Los Angeles, missed out on the knockouts after their shock loss to South Africa. Son’s club teammate, Eustaquio, would prove to be the hero.
Regardless of the multiculturalism watching on, they were not treated to a cracker from here. In fact, the most notable resonance throughout the 90 minutes was loud jeering when goalkeeper Ronwen Williams simply held onto the ball for multiple seconds, with South Africa showing no inclination to speed up play and Canada, the pre-match favourites, stubbornly refusing to break from their fixed shape.
The Canadians – the first co-host ever to play a World Cup match outside their own country – looked to be missing their home comforts for much of this tepid, uninspiring contest. Marsch’s side went closest in the first-half after a chaotic goalmouth scramble: South Africa’s Aubrey Modiba cleared off the line from Moise Bombito’s goalbound header before Williams saved well from Tajon Buchanan’s follow-up.
Aubrey Modiba cleared off the line for South Africa in the first-half (Reuters)
Eustaquio’s 92nd-minute strike decided the last-32 contest (Reuters)
The half ended with Marsch, lamentably, confronting Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro for failing to give a penalty after Richie Laryea went down in the box. Laryea was looking for it; the right call was made.
Regrettably, the second-half did not see a whole lot of improvement. On paper, this tie was the lowest quality and, truthfully, neither side did much to dispel that notion. Tani Oluwaseyi stormed into the box for Canada and was denied by Williams while, at the other end, South Africa’s Oswin Appollis had a long-range effort smartly saved. On the hour mark, a Mexican wave started in the stands – that’s when you really know proceedings on the pitch are poor.
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But this game needed Davies. Mere minutes after entering the 2026 World Cup fray for the first time, he’d carved out two opportunities with direct passes forward: first for Promise David, then for Jonathan David. Nonetheless, extra time did look a near-inevitability.
That was until minute 91. Eustaquio was decisive where others were wasteful. Back to basics, head over the ball, a low accurate strike into the corner with his right foot. He turned away and sprinted towards his ecstatic teammates who, by the time he reached them, had spilt over onto the pitch. Canada’s gamble paid off; Bafana Bafana can have no complaints. It was a dramatic finale to a laclustre game of football.
Alexis Green-Harding will become principal at Vale of York Academy, in Clifton, in September.
Mr Green-Harding previously worked at Archbishop Holgate’s CE School, in Badger Hill, where he served as head and deputy head of the school.
Mr Green-Harding said it is an “honour and a privilege to be joining Vale of York Academy as principal”.
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“I am really looking forward to getting to know the pupils, families, staff and wider community, and to working together to build on all that makes the academy special.
“Vale has a strong sense of community, where people are known, valued and supported, and that is something I am committed to protecting and strengthening.
“I am excited about what we can achieve together and ensuring that Vale continues to be a school we are all proud of.
“Most importantly, I want every student to feel happy, safe and successful here, and to leave fully prepared for their next steps.”
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Vale of York Academy is part of the Heartwood Learning Trust, formerly the Hope Sentamu Learning Trust, which also runs Manor CE Academy in Poppleton.
A trust spokesperson said Vale of York Academy has seen “steady improvements in their results in recent years and Mr Green-Harding is committed to continuing this upward trend”.
“He is keen to ensure that the school continues to focus on providing high quality teaching alongside strong pastoral support for students,” they added.
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Trust ‘excited about new chapter’ for school, says CEO
Helen Winn, CEO of the Heartwood Learning Trust, noted Vale of York Academy’s Ofsted inspection last year, which found it had maintained the standards of its previous ‘good’ rating, and said: “We are excited about the next chapter for Vale of York Academy and look forward to seeing the school continue to go from strength to strength under Mr Green-Harding’s leadership.”
She said the trust is “delighted to welcome Mr Green-Harding to Vale of York Academy”.
“He brings a wealth of leadership experience, a deep commitment to improving outcomes for young people and a genuine passion for creating school communities where every child can thrive.
“When Ofsted visited last year they noted that staff are proud to work at the school and that pupils develop positive relationships with staff. These comments reflect the strong culture that exists within the school and provide an excellent foundation for the future.”
Brazil squad: Alisson Becker, Ederson, Weverton, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Gleison Bremer, Leo Pereira, Roger Ibanez, Danilo, Alex Sandro, Douglas Santos, Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Ederson, Fabinho, Danilo, Lucas Paqueta, Vinicius Jr, Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Luiz Henrique, Gabriel Martinelli, Neymar, Endrick, Rayan, Igor Thiago
The farm shop was forced to remain closed for several hours after the break-in
A Cambridgeshire farm shop and café has been broken into. Cambridgeshire Police were called at about 8.30am on Sunday, June 28, with reports of a burglary at an address on Brockley Road, Elsworth.
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The incident happened at Frank’s Farm and a crime has been raised for business burglary. Paul Sanderson, one of the co-founders and directors at Frank’s Farm, said he heard about the break in via a phone call.
He arrived to find “two of the doors taken off their hinges” with “one of them completely destroyed” and “glass all over the floor of one of the units”.
He added: “We are going to have to replace both of the doors, the locks and it was obviously the knock on to the business yesterday because we were unable to open on time. We had lots of people coming down for breakfast and we just weren’t able to open because of the damage and the clear up.”
He said a lot of people were “disappointed” on Sunday (June 28) as they were unable to have their coffee and breakfast. Mr Sanderson emphasised that “it is just one of those business disruptions you just don’t need”.
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He continued: “The team pulled together really well. We had a lot of support from those who weren’t [scheduled] to be on to say ‘can we come in and help?’ It was a case of everyone pulls together and we crack on for the customers.”
Mr Sanderson said he has supplied police with CCTV footage. Investigations are ongoing. The force has urged anyone with information to contact police online or via 101 quoting reference: 35/48397/26.
The new £250 million station is based next to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Commuters filled the station on Monday morning (June 29), as they headed for trains on the station’s first busy day.
Those travelling through the new station have shared their thoughts on the opening. Trudy Day said the opening has “taken its time” but it’s “been worth the wait”.
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She added: “It’s going to make my life so much easier and I’m sure it will be for others as well. It looks so busy already as well so clearly a lot of people needed it.
“I do find it crazy that Cambridge now has three stations, but it’s such a big city and looking at how many people are here, it’s clearly needed.”
Ashah Shashank, who lives in Trumpington, said the station is “easier to walk to”. He added: “It’s much closer. I would have liked it to open in January but it’s pretty good.
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“What this station does is it gives people an opportunity to go into the city and come back into this area. It’s great being next to the hospitals as well.”
Another person who lives in Trumpington, who wished to remain anonymous, said it also makes her commuting journey a “lot easier”. She said: “I don’t have to get the park and ride anymore, which takes a bit longer and they are not always on time. And then it takes longer to get the train from the city centre.”
The woman added that it’s easier as she can walk to the station from her home. “It would have been good for it to be open sooner, but I’m glad it’s opened,” she added.
Roberta, who asked to use only her first name, said the new station was “needed” and it’s “very helpful”. She added: “It’s good and the station is great. I think it’s good because it’s going to take people more central.”
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Cambridge South is expected to serve around 1.8 million passengers a year, with up to nine trains an hour travelling through the station. It is the first station under new public sector body Great British Railways.
The June temperature record that had stood since 1976 was repeatedly broken during last week’s heatwave, as exceptionally hot and humid conditions led the Met Office to issue a rare red warning for extreme heat for some areas – the first time it has issued such a warning for three days in a row.
England football legend David Beckham was in the Royal Box on Day One of Wimbledon along with his mother, Sandra, and the former England captain had a request for a certain celebrity
15:21, 29 Jun 2026Updated 15:21, 29 Jun 2026
It appears that even Sir David Beckham occasionally gets a little starstruck.
Because even English footballing royalty and one of the most well-known men on the planet sometimes can’t resist being a fanboy. And on the opening day of Wimbledon, while sitting in the Royal box alongside his mother, for Becks, that meant taking a selfie with Dame Mary Berry.
Both were in attendance at SW19 on the first day of the 2026 Championships to watch reigning champion Jannik Sinner in his opening round match.
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And looking dapper as ever in a sleek grey suit, 51 year-old Beckham was seen requesting a photo with the TV chef, famous for her role as a beloved judge on The Great British Bake Off.
Firstly he stood up to grab a picture of himself with his mother, Sandra. Then he requested a group picture with Berry and Deborah Jevans, the chair of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club.
Beckham, who presently manages his time in both the UK and USA, where he co-owns MLS club Inter Miami, is a regular attendee at the Wimbledon and was sitting front row in the Royal Box to watch Sinner open up his title defence against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic.
Alexander Armstrong, the TV star and former host of BBC show Pointless, actor Mark Rylance, and Katherine Jenkins were among the star-studded names in attendance on Monday, all sat in the row behind.
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And he wasn’t the only Beckham at SW19, with son Romeo also spotted within the grounds, with his girlfriend, Kim Turnbull. It seems the invite into the VIP seats hadn’t been extended to his second eldest son.
Celebrities from all fields are spotted in the prestigious box every year, but being a high-profile figure does not guarantee a seat. Guests must be invited by the former champion and chair, Jevans, who takes into account suggestions from the AELTC’s management committee, the Lawn Tennis Association, and other tennis bodies and prominent figures.
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A Royal Box invite also comes with plenty of rules to adhere to, including a strict dress code, with Lewis Hamilton famously falling foul of this back in 2015, when he was subsequently turned away from taking up a seat in the box.
Beckham and the Centre Court crowd welcomed top seed Sinner with a raucous reception as he made his way out. The Italian is the firm favourite this year with Carlos Alcaraz out due to a wrist injury.
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The former world no1 is taking two bites of the cherry after being handed spots in both the singles and doubles competitions.
Williams has seven Wimbledon singles titles to her name plus six in the doubles, and last won both a decade ago in 2016.
But she’s back to to sprinkle some stardust across SW19, and fans will not have to wait long to her in action.
Serena Williams will make her grand return to Wimbledon
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When is Serena Williams playing at Wimbledon?
Serena Williams was handed a wildcard to play the singles competition, and kicks off her tilt at the title against unseeded Australian Maya Joint.
The pair will face off on Tuesday, June 30, which is day two of the 2016 championships.
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No3 seed Iga Swiatek is first up, starting the defence of her Wimbledon crown against the unseeded Taylor Townsend. Jack Draper was then set to play no6 seed Taylor Fritz, but Williams and Joint will likely to moved up.
An estimated start time for Williams vs Joint is 2.30pm BST, but that is subject to change.
Venus Williams is also back at Wimbledon
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Serena Williams will also be in doubles action this week, as she reunited with sister Venus Williams.
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The pair won all six of their doubles titles together, and will return to SW19 on Thursday, July 2, which is day four of the 2026 championships.
Their opponents will be South American duo Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio, who are competing together in the main draw at Wimbledon for the first time.
A start time for the match is yet to be confirmed.
Comments made by the officer were found to be “derogatory and of a misogynistic nature”
A Cambridgeshire Police officer shared “intimate images” of a detained woman, a misconduct hearing heard. PC Josh Williams faced a misconduct hearing accused of sharing images of a detained female and making “derogatory” comments to another officer.
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PC Williams was accused of sharing messages and images, relating to a female who had been detained for criminal offences, to another officer without authority.
According to the hearing outcome, these images contained “intimate images of the detained female” and the comments made by PC Williams were “derogatory and of a misogynistic nature”. The hearing heard they were “unprofessional to say the least”.
Following an investigation, a summons was issued for two offences: misconduct in a public office and doing an act tending and intended to pervert the course of justice.
In May 2025, PC Williams entered a guilty plea in relation to misconduct in a public office. However, PC Williams entered a not guilty plea with regards to the allegation of perverting the course of justice. He was due to stand trial in June 2026.
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The accelerated hearing only related to the former offence to which a guilty plea had been entered. The actions of the officer were found to breach the professional standards in discreditable conduct.
The Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire Police concluded that PC Williams’ conduct was “so serious that dismissal would be justified”. He therefore found that the conduct amounted to gross misconduct.
PC Williams did not attend the hearing. His case centres on an investigation that stemmed from another case which led to him being investigated for misconduct in a public office.
The initial download of the detainee’s phone was authorised. However, the downloading and sharing of the specific images and comments that were not authorised.
There are more than 70 allotments in Livingston and plans for a third site, in Boghall, Bathgate are being developed.
The Good Life has never been more attractive to the green-fingered in West Lothian and demand for allotment space is growing.
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While the TV show is more than 50 years old the “grow your own” idea which first took root in the 1970s has bloomed.
There are more than 70 allotments in Livingston and plans for a third site, in Boghall, Bathgate are being developed.
The Council has continued to work with Bathgate Community Development Trust (BCDT) to develop an allotment site adjacent to Boghall Primary school. In the reporting period BCDT worked towards plans for an allotment of mixed plot sizes which could be managed by an independent allotment association.
BCDT are responsible for securing funding to enable the delivery of the new allotment. Funding from WLC was utilised for an initial ground investigation and report to ascertain the land was suitable for food growing. Currently BCDT is preparing to submit proposals for planning.
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A council officer told the meeting that plans for the Boghall allotment had been submitted to the council and if approved the allotments could be operational by early next year.
A 2015 Holyrood Act requires the council to promote community food growing and the council supports local groups identifying sites.
A meeting of the Environment and Sustainability PDSP heard that there are currently 74 allotments on council sites at Killandean and Deansmeadow in Livingston.
Both allotment sites on council-owned land are leased to independent associations and were established prior to the introduction of the Act. These associations have maintained and administered their own waiting lists since their inception.
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Killandean Community Allotment Association has 54 plots and reported 43 applicants on its waiting list. Turnover of plots remains limited.
Deansmeadow Allotments Association has reported to have 22 plots with 12 applicants on the waiting list.
Both groups are fully self-managing, with no direct involvement from the council in the day-to-day operation of sites or the administration of waiting lists. The council does not play a direct role in the development or construction of allotments.
The 2015 Community Empowerment Act requires local authorities to take reasonable steps to ensure that the number of applicants on waiting lists for Council-leased allotments does not exceed 50% of the total number of available plots.
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When the council receives requests for allotment plots, applicants are directed in the first instance to Killandean Community Allotment Association and Deansmeadow Allotments Association. Applications for individual plots may be made by one or more individuals jointly; however, each application is recorded as a single request for the purposes of calculating waiting list numbers.
The council itself currently holds one applicant on its waiting list. At present, there is no dedicated level of investment to support the construction or direct management of allotments, and the waiting list is maintained primarily to ensure compliance with legislative requirements.
Should either Killandean or Deansmeadow Allotments Associations have no applicants on their waiting lists and a plot becomes available, the council may assist in allocating a plot from its own waiting list.
The council can support the allocation of plots where new allotment sites are developed by independent community groups.
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The award celebrates the team’s outstanding work in making golf more accessible and creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities across North Lanarkshire.
Active NL’s Golf Team has been recognised on the national stage after winning Community Team of the Year at the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) Golf Awards.
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The award celebrates the team’s outstanding work in making golf more accessible and creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities across North Lanarkshire.
A special event was held at Lochview Golf Course to celebrate the achievement, bringing together staff, partners and volunteers who have helped make the programme such a success.
Over the past year, Active NL’s Golf Team has continued to grow participation across local communities while focusing on inclusion, development and creating positive experiences through sport.
The team has worked closely with ASN schools to introduce golf to pupils with a wide range of additional support needs, helping young people build confidence, develop skills and enjoy being active in a welcoming environment.
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Links with mainstream schools have also strengthened, with local pupils invited to access Lochview free of charge on Friday afternoons.
The initiative has helped introduce more young people to golf and has contributed positively within the local community.
Programmes designed specifically for women and girls continue to thrive, with 75 girls taking part in the popular Girls’ Hub programme last year.
More than 100 children also regularly attend Lochview Academy as they begin their journey in the sport.
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John Kelly, Golf Operations Manager with North Lanarkshire Council, said: “This recognition belongs to the whole team, our staff, coaches, volunteers, grounds team, partners and participants.
“What makes this especially rewarding is seeing the difference golf can make beyond the game itself. We’ve seen young people grow in confidence, families get involved together and people discover opportunities they may never have thought were available to them.”
Councillor Geraldine Woods, Convener of NLC’s Communities Committee, said: “This award is a fantastic achievement and a real reflection of the commitment and passion shown by everyone involved in delivering golf opportunities across North Lanarkshire.
“The team has created something that goes well beyond sport. They’ve opened doors for people, supported communities and made golf accessible and welcoming to more residents.”
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