Erling Haaland and Norway continue their preparations for the World Cup with a clash against the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists

Croatia have proven themselves to be contenders at recent World Cups, finishing second and third in the last two tournaments.

However, despite sitting just outside the top 10 in FIFA’s rankings, they find themselves relatively unfancied – having been beaten by Belgium and Brazil in recent friendlies.

As they prepare for their World Cup opener against England, a game against Slovenia – who failed to qualify for the World Cup in the USA – could help build back some confidence.

Driving force Luka Modric will join an exclusive band of players – that includes the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – in playing at a fifth World Cup.

Here’s everything you need to know about watching Croatia v Slovenia.

What time is Croatia v Slovenia?

Croatia v Slovenia kicks off at 7.45pm BST on Sunday, June 7.

The match will be played at Gradski Stadion in Varazdin.

Is Croatia v Sloveniaon TV?

No. Unfortunately, the match is not being broadcast on TV in the UK.

Croatia v Slovenia

Fear not, because viewers can watch the match live on Amazon Prime Video.

All you need is a subscription with Amazon to watch on mobile devices, tablets, smart TVs and desktop computers.

There is a fee to watch though – it will cost you £2.99 on pay-per-view.

Quotes corner

Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic: “We have recorded some really fantastic results in recent years, something that would be deemed almost impossible for a small country like ours.

“But our willpower, our persistence and our overall quality have brought us two medals at the last two FIFA World Cups so the expectations for the upcoming tournament are also high.

“We want to get the best possible result, but at the same time, I do not want to create any pressure based on our previous results. We are going into this tournament with a lot of desire and a lot of expectations but what I want the most is for us to enjoy the tournament.

“Modric is still the main player for this team, the driving force for the national team, the player who keeps the team running,” Dalic admitted. “I think Luka Modric means a lot to this team, which he has already shown many times with his dedication, devotion, performances and behaviour.

“He is an utmost professional who performs his job at the highest possible level. Although he is 40 years old now, he is still extremely ambitious and is the main driving force behind this national team.”

“No Pay? No Way! was so physical, once you were on the train there was no stopping it,” she said. “This feels much more thoughtful than physical.”

Written by Rory Mullarkey and directed by James Macdonald, Even These Things spans three centuries and three moments in time in Manchester.

From the problems faced by an Irish emigrée recently arrived in the city to find grinding poverty and brutal conditions to the morning of the IRA bomb in 1996 to the present day, it is Manchester which is the lead character throughout.

Katherine Pearce (Jenny) in Even These Things at the Royal Exchange

“Manchester is so very present,” said Katherine, who plays a crucial role in two of the three acts. “The character of Manchester and its people is integral to the story.”

At the heart of the production is an amazing, daring and as audiences have found totally spellbinding second act which Katherine narrates with over 40 community performers taking to the stage.

It is set on the morning of June 15, 1996 as a city awakes little suspecting that a devastating event will literally shake it to its foundations.

“Initially you could be forgiven for thinking that rather like a drama class at school you would get people who weren’t taking it seriously but this has been quite the opposite,” she said. “Everybody is so focused, it really means something to them. If you turned round and said they they were all professional actors I would believe you.

“All the community performers have been so unflappable and so generous.”

Teams of around 40 performers alternate between shows, performing 44 individual vignettes looking at life in the city.

“There are some of them which are so funny I really have to concentrate to stop laughing as I’m narrating,” said Katherine. “It is a big logistical effort and it’s almost came together like a dance. They have been amazing and I trust them completely and they trust me too. What I really like is that as narrator my main focus is to spotlight them and show the amazing work they have done.”

For the first act, Elaine Cassidy is the sole character onstage and for the final act Katherine and Elaine join forces as two women meeting by chance in a Manchester park.

“It’s a bit like watching three plays in one, all with a different style but with a beautiful link to them,” said Katherine. “It will surprise audiences; it continues to surprise me every day.”

The fact that the production celebrates new writing is a particular delight for Katherine.

Read the review: ‘A remarkable piece of theatre’

“I started my career mostly doing new writing and really loving it; being part of the process and questioning the motives and the characters and what’s said,” she said. “Since Covid theatres have been in survival mode and programme more classics. You can’t blame them for that as they need to get the audiences in but there has been a downturn in new writing which has been sad.

“For the last three years I’ve really just done Shakespeare so to come back to doing a new play here is really lovely.”

Having played at the Royal Exchange several times Katherine is well aware of the unique performance space.

“Growing up in Newton-le-Willows we had the most remarkable drama teacher who would take us to see things whenever we could,” she said. “So the Library Theatre and the Royal Exchange were where I saw theatre. I thought that all theatre was in the round from that.

“But I do find it very freeing and not restrictive at all; I feel very comfortable in the round; there’s something about it not mattering where you stand and people can see you that I really like.

“It also feels very intimate; everybody is getting a different performance from you and I find that really lovely actually not being able to control how everybody sees you.”

Katherine admits that she has fallen under the spell of Even These Things which she describes as ‘a love letter to Manchester’.

“It’s a celebration and a commemoration and an acknowledgement warts and all of the history of Manchester,” she said.

The play has been staged to mark the 30th anniversary of the bomb with the final performance 30 years to the day it exploded.

“You might think that when such a traumatic thing happens people wouldn’t want to talk about it or get into how it affected them,” said Katherine, “but that hasn’t been my experience. Every time I’ve said I’m doing a play partially about the IRA bomb in Manchester people want to talk, they remember where they were. I think that’s good, the best way to deal with traumatic events in your life is to talk about them.

“The whole play is a very human experience and also quite beautiful. I have found it be tremendously uplifting every single day, you go through the full range of emotions.”

Even These Things is at the Royal Exchange, Manchester, until Monday, June 15. Details from www.royalexchange.co.uk

PARIS (AP) — It all came rushing back to Alexander Zverev when he was lying on his back on the French Open’s center court, his hands covering his face, and sobbing on Sunday as he realized that he had — finally — become a Grand Slam champion.

It was the same court where he twisted his right ankle and crumpled to the ground, wailing in agony before being pushed off on a wheelchair during a semifinal match against Rafael Nadal in 2022.

The same court where he wasted a lead of two sets to one against Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 championship match.

“All the emotions came out, because this court is very, very special to me. It’s special in a very positive way, but also special on the negative way, because I had some of the toughest moments of my life here,” Zverev said.

“I was laying on this court with an injury that I didn’t know if I would ever come back from. I lost a Grand Slam final here, so all of those memories for me, they’re not wiped out. They’re still with me, but this one will beat all of them.”

After so many missed opportunities, Zverev is no longer one of the best players never to win a major title.

In his fourth major final, Zverev beat Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 for the French Open title.

It was a unique opportunity for Zverev without Jannik Sinner or Alcaraz across the net and the third-ranked German took full advantage on the red clay of Roland Garros.

When Cobolli missed an overhead on the second championship point after more than four hours of the five-set encounter, Zverev joined an elite group of players that captured their first major in their fourth final: Eight-time major champion Andre Agassi, 2001 Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanisevic and 2020 U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem.

Then when Zverev finally got his hands on the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy, he turned it upside down, held it between his legs and then hoisted it above his head with both arms as he let out a loud roar.

“This trophy for me is very important because if I would have lost this one, this self-belief would have gone down a lot,” Zverev said. “But now that I’ve won it, I feel like I can do it again.”

No Sinner or Alcaraz

Zverev had been an overwhelming favorite for the title ever since the top-ranked Sinner struggled in the first week’s heat wave and wasted a two set and 5-1 lead against Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round. A day later, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic was also eliminated.

Alcaraz, the two-time reigning champion, withdrew before the tournament with an injured right wrist.

Zverev also lost a lead of two sets to none in the 2020 U.S. Open final to Thiem and was beaten in straight sets by Sinner in the 2025 Australian Open final.

It was the 25th title of Zverev’s career.

Cobolli’s 1st Slam final

The 14th-ranked Cobolli had never been past a Grand Slam quarterfinal until this week. He was attempting to become the first Italian man to raise the singles trophy at Roland Garros since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago.

Cobolli comes from the same tennis club in Rome as Panatta did and Panatta was asked by tournament organizers to present the trophy to celebrate the anniversary of his 1976 triumph.

The honors, however, went to Zverev.

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva won the women’s singles trophy on Saturday.

Zverev took control early on

The match was played in perfect conditions and Zverev’s game was almost flawless at the start as Cobolli appeared nervous.

A group of women in the stands held up letters to form Zverev’s nickname: “Sascha.”

Cobolli likes to stand way over near the corner of the court and hit big kick serves out wide into the ad court. Zverev knew what was coming and returned one such kick serve early in the first set with a backhand that he wrapped around the outside of the net post. Cobolli ended up winning the point, but it was a message from Zverev that he knew how to handle his opponent’s tactics.

The next time Zverev hit a wrap-around-the-net-post return, Cobolli couldn’t handle it and Zverev won the point.

Cobolli’s supporters in his box were all dressed in blue, the color of Italy’s national teams, and as Cobolli worked his way back into the match, there were chants of “Ole, Ole, Ole; Flavio, Flavio.”

Both players were treated by a trainer as the match wore on and Cobolli appeared to run out of energy in the fifth.

“He deserved it more than me at the end of the match,” Cobolli said, adding that he was slowed by cramps.

Zverev said his cramps “were more mental.

“I actually think that the cramp helped me in a way, that I let go, I kind of hit my shots a bit more and just let go,” he added.

Abuse allegations

Moments after Zverev’s previous Grand Slam final in Australia in 2025, a person in the stadium yelled out the names of two of his ex-girlfriends who accused him of physical abuse.

One case was resolved following an agreement between German prosecutors, lawyers for Zverev and his former partner. The ATP Tour investigated another case and concluded there was insufficient evidence.

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AP Sports Writers Samuel Petrequin and Jerome Pugmire contributed to this report.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said officers on patrol spotted the man trying to sell items they believed may have been stolen.

According to police, the suspect fled when he noticed officers approaching and ran onto the Ironman 70.3 route in an attempt to evade arrest.

However, officers quickly caught up with him, with PC Wilkinson detaining the man a short distance away.

A GMP spokesperson said online: “Upon spotting police, the male ran onto the Ironman 70.3 course but wasn’t quick enough to escape PC Wilkinson.

“It was a case of déjà vu from Ironman 2025 when the same male made off from officers onto the track and was detained by the same officer.”

Off-duty police officers who had travelled from Essex to take part in the Ironman event also assisted in stopping the suspect.

The man was arrested on suspicion of theft and handling stolen goods and remains in custody for questioning.

Police enquiries remain ongoing.

Elliott Wills, 13, from Cornwall is calling for more O negative and B negative blood donors after his life was saved by transfusions in October last year. The teenager has has rare blood disorder and requires regular transfusions, but lost seven litres of blood after a main artery burst following surgery in Bristol. His father Phil Wills, 53 was told to prepare for the worst, while his mother Gill could not travel due to health problems. Elliott spent three weeks in hospital but has since returned to school and playing football (Wills family/PA)

It also gives people a chance to see some of the most iconic Cambridge colleges

Cambridge is a beautiful city filled with historic buildings to admire, renowned for its university which makes it a popular tourist spot. Many tourists like to see the city from the comfort of a punt drifting along the river, but there’s a street where you can get some of the same views without splashing the cash.

This is Silver Street, which runs along the River Cam, named as such as it was occupied by silversmiths as early as 1798. It is also surrounded by iconic university buildings, including Queens College and St Catharine’s College.

While the famous Mathematical Bridge is part of Queens College, a walk along Silver Street will give visitors a prime view of this bridge. Silver Street also gives people access to punting businesses, one of the most popular and famous activities to do while in Cambridge.

The street also borders ‘The Backs’, where people can experience natural beauty within the built-up city. If people walk along Silver Street and across Silver Street Bridge, they will come to the Backs – which also give stunning views of King’s College. In 2013, the National Trust also recognised The Backs as one of the top 10 views in Britain.

It is known as the backs because it backs onto many of the major university colleges. If you want to experience the historic parts of Cambridge from a slightly different perspective, a walk down Silver Street may be worth it.

The pub’s bar can be found on a boat that used to carry cargo around Europe.

The city of Peterborough has a huge range of pubs to explore but if you are looking for somewhere a little different to visit this summer, you might enjoying having a beer on a boat. The Charters is found right on the River Nene and has its own boat with a bar and Pan Asian restaurant.

The Charters is described as being a “friendly-family” pub with the “largest beer garden in Peterborough“. For the summer, the beer garden has plenty of seating where you can soak up the sun next to the river with fairy lights as it gets dark.

As well as the beer garden, you can take a walk over to the bar that can be found on a boat. The converted floating Dutch barge was originally built in 1907 and was used on the rivers and canals in Holland, Belgium, and Germany to carry cargo.

The boat was brought over to Peterborough via the North Sea to be turned into a bar and restaurant before it was opened in 1991. The Charters is now a popular place for real ale lovers to visit with eight cask ales on tap and around 500 guest ales.

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After renovations, the pub now has a range of outdoor bars, a stage for live music, and a decking area that can be hired out for events. The pub holds a range of events including jazz nights, live bands, and pub quizzes meaning you should be able to find something that suits you.

There are also plenty of festivals throughout the year including the Charters Easter Beer Festival. For food lovers, there is also the International Food Festival and even a Portuguese Festival with live music, traditional street food, and drinks.

If you need something to soak up the alcohol, the Charters has plenty of food options. You can enjoy a burger and a beer for just £12.50 or you can choose from one of the many pizzas on menu.

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For people who want something a bit different, you can visit the Pan Asian restaurant named East that serves a range of rice and noodle dishes, as well as starters and wraps at lunchtime. Throughout the start of the week, you can grab a few small plates to have alongside a drink.

The Charters can be found at Town Bridge in Peterborough. The pub is open from 12pm to 11pm on Sundays to Thursdays and from 12pm to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Graham Platner is set to take questions from voters Sunday at a town hall-style event in Maine as the Democrat moves to stabilize his Senate campaign after new reports about his past treatment of women.

The evening event in Portland is taking place two days before a Democratic primary that is still seen as Platner’s to win, but which could provide clues as to whether enthusiasm for his iconoclastic candidacy has softened.

The New York Times on Thursday reported an ex-girlfriend’s allegations that Platner repeatedly grabbed her by the shoulders during arguments and once twisted her arm behind her back and locked her in a room. Platner has repeatedly called those allegations of violence untrue.

Other Platner ex-girlfriends interviewed by the Times described positive experiences, while some said he was volatile and insulting. That story came days after news reports revealing that Platner had exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women while married.

Despite the allegations, no major Democrats who had previously endorsed Platner have rescinded their support. Platner is running to oust Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.

Platner held a rally with California Rep. Ro Khanna in Bar Harbor on Friday, where he received a standing ovation and declared that Mainers “have my back.”

A combat veteran, Platner has repeatedly said that he struggled with alcohol and post traumatic stress disorder after his military service, but says he is a changed man.

The latest news has deepened some Democrats’ nervousness about Platner, who already faced scrutiny over online posts that were dismissive of sexual assault and a skull tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol. Platner has apologized for the posts and covered up the tattoo., saying he didn’t realize its significance when he got it.

Rahm Emanuel, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate who spent the weekend in neighboring New Hampshire, said the “jury is still out” on whether Platner can beat Collins.

“Everybody is holding their breath whether this is the start of something or the end of something,” he said. “If it’s the end, that’s one thing. If it’s the beginning of something and we’re not done, that’s another thing.”

Kurt Fedora, 62, a mental health worker from Buxton, said he attended Sunday’s event to hear Platner talk about working-class issues and fighting corruption. He said he’s unmoved by recent revelations about Platner’s history, and considers them a smear campaign by conservative opponents.

“Maybe there will be something to it, but they’re really reaching far to try to pin something on him. And it’s politics as usual,” Fedora said.

Others worried that Platner at times reminded them of President Donald Trump.

Debbi Conley, a 69-year-old retiree from Gorham, said she wanted to learn more about Platner even as she’s almost certain he’ll win on Tuesday, but she’s skeptical of him at the moment.

“I think people have been frustrated with Susan Collins, so they’re looking for alternatives,” Conley said. “My concerns with Graham Platner are that he’s talking about change, but sometimes it reminds me of the same talk that Trump had like ‘drain the swamp’.”

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Associated Press writer Steven Sloan contributed to this report from Warren, New Hampshire. Kruesi reported from Providence, Rhode Island.

Maintenance loans were paid out to 34,200 students in the last completed academic year

Student maintenance loans and grants in Northern Ireland are set to rise due to the rising cost of living. Higher Education maintenance grants and loans will increase by 2.7% for the 2026/27 academic year.

The Economy Minister announced a package of measures to support students with cost of living pressures. This includes the maximum support available through the Disabled Students’ Allowance rising by 10%.

Earlier this year, a 54% increase to the maximum Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan for the 2026/27 academic year was announced. In the last completed academic year (2024/25), maintenance loans were paid out to 34,200 students, amounting to £153.6 million.

For full time undergraduate Northern Ireland-domiciled students who live at home, the maximum maintenance loan support will rise from £6,300 to £6,471. For those living away from home, the maximum amount will rise from £8,132 to £8,352.

For students from Northern Ireland living in London, the maximum loan support available will rise from £11,391 to £11,699. Some students will also be eligible for maintenance grants on top of this maintenance loan support. The maximum will increase from £3,475 to £3,569.

Announcing the new uplift in loans and grants, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: “I fully recognise the financial pressures many students are facing and the importance of responding to these challenges, so I am taking further steps to support students with day-to-day living costs.

“For academic year 2026/27, maximum maintenance grants and loans are getting an inflationary uplift, increasing by 2.7%. This follows the significant 20% uplift to maximum maintenance loans introduced for 2025/26 which together are about helping students to stay in education and realise their potential.

“The maximum support available through the Disabled Students’ Allowance will also rise by 10%, from £25,000 to £27,500, providing additional help for those who need it to access and succeed in Higher Education.”

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The Minister continued: “I know many students work to support their studies. My Good Jobs Bill includes a range of measures which will be particularly beneficial to students in work. It will ensure tips, gratuities and service charges are passed on in full, and it will tackle the exploitative use of zero-hours contracts by offering those who regularly work set patterns the right to move to banded hours contracts.

“I am determined to make education more affordable and accessible. By increasing maintenance support, expanding postgraduate loan provision and strengthening protections for students in work through my Good Jobs Bill, I am taking practical action to help students with the cost of living, remain in education and progress into good jobs.”

The additional support for students has been welcomed by NUS-USI, which represents over 130,000 students and apprentices in Northern Ireland across higher and further education. However, they said there is more work to be done to support students.

NUS-USI President, Ben Friel said: “We welcome the Minister’s continued focus on student cost of living pressures, and any increase in maintenance support is a step in the right direction. Students have been clear that financial pressure is one of the biggest barriers to accessing and staying in education, so additional support does matter.

“However, this must be seen as one step rather than the final answer. Many students are still being forced to work long hours, rely on hardship funds or go without essentials, and the upcoming Higher Education Funding Review must look seriously at how maintenance support can better reflect the real cost of studying and living.”

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