“I feel sick to my stomach. Paul is gone and so too is a massive part of my heart.”

A grieving family have recalled how they spent their final hours with their much-loved brother playing his favourite music and talking to him in hospital before he passed after being hit by a drunk driver.

Paul Marshall, 70 died after he was hit by a van driven by John Taggart (36), of Torrens Link in North Belfast.

Taggart pleaded guilty to a charge of causing the death of by driving dangerously within the vicinity of Divis Street, Castle Street and Millfield junction in Belfast on Monday, September 2, 2024. He also admitted that on the same date, he was driving a Ford van with excess alcohol on his breath.

He will spend three years in jail followed by a similar period on supervised licence for what the Judge described as his “grotesque consumption of alcohol” which caused the fatal collision.

Family relatives, some of whom appeared in court for the sentencing hearing today (Friday), penned moving and poignant victim impact statements to the court.

Gerry Marshall wrote: “Paul was our big brother, and the horror of what happened to him led us to the Royal Victoria Hospital, where he was on a life support machine for six days.

“During those days, the family spoke to Paul, played his favourite music and we were then confronted with the enormity of telling us his life was unsustainable.”

He says he has struggled since and reflects on those moments, “with the loss of Paul, my big brother”.

“Paul kept himself very much to himself and had grown out of the despair of being a lifelong paranoid schizophrenic in his younger years and settling into his older years with a quiet solitude and contentment that has now been taken away from him.

“We miss and we love him so much.”

Deidre Trainor referred to her deceased brother as “kind, generous and gifted, who had a great sense of humour”.

She wrote: “He could fill the room with the warmth of his big smile”

Mrs Trainor said she experiences the “very serious sense of loss of Paul’s death” and when she passes where Paul died she pictures him “standing at the lights waiting to cross, his innocence, bothering nobody and happily going about his day.

“I feel sick to my stomach. Paul is gone and so too is a massive part of my heart.”

Another sister, Maria McShane, described Paul as “her big brother and the most kind and gentle person”.

“Losing Paul in such a wild way has left a large hole in my life that can never be filled. I treasure his memory,” she concluded.

Belfast Crown Court heard that at around 5.30 pm on September 2, 2024, he drove his work pharmaceutical van from Great Victoria Street and College Avenue northbound in the direction of Millfield.

As he approached the junction in the outside lane, Taggart was behind a Honda Civic car which then moved into the inside lane.

A prosecution barrister said that if Taggart had been “driving competently, the obvious response at that point is just to touch the brakes and to hold back so that the car can move in.”

Instead, Taggart “undertook the vehicle to get through and it’s that which led him to mount the traffic island” where Mr Marshall was standing.

The pensioner was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital where he passed away almost a week later from “catastrophic injuries” which included a serious fracture to his skull along with spine, rib, writs and toe fractures.

Passing the six year determinate custodial sentence, Judge Rafferty said: “Given the grotesque nature of his consumption of alcohol and him being a professional driver, the minimum period of disqualification is one of seven years. Take him into custody.”

As Mr Marshall’s family were leaving the court following the hearing, Judge Rafferty removed his wig and addressed them personally.

He said: “Can I say that you did Paul proud in the way that you wrote about him. I had a very, very vivid picture of Paul because of the way you wrote about him.

“All judges find these cases very difficult. We have to try to proportionate sentences against the dreadful loss that you have suffered. I wish today brings some degree of closure.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter .

Fire crews were called at 3.55pm today (July 3), to an incident on the A66 in Middlesbrough, near the South Bank roundabout.

Two fire engines remain in attendance as firefighters tackle the blaze, with thick black smoke seen billowing into the air.

Fire on the A66 in Middlesbrough (Image: SUPPLIED)

A spokesperson from Cleveland Fire Brigade said: “We were called on July 3 at 3.55pm to an incident on the A66.

“Two fire appliances in attendance from Grangetown and Middlesbrough.

 “The incident is ongoing.”

The cause for the fire is not yet known.

Cleveland Police have been contacted for more information.  

Ken Wheatley, from Crewe, sprang into action when he witnessed a car flip onto its roof on the southbound carriageway near Bedford at around 4am.

The collision involved a vehicle carrying a family of three.

Mr Wheatley, a grandfather of four who has worked for AO since 2022, said the scene could have ended in ‘fatalities’.

He said: “It was about four in the morning, and I was driving along when I saw a black car come tearing down past me on the outside lane.

“It must have just clipped the other car containing this family – it was completely upside down with all the lights off.

“If another vehicle had hit them at 50 to 60mph there could have been fatalities.

“But if there’s one thing about HGV drivers, it’s if we can help, we will help.”

Mr Wheatley and three other HGV drivers stopped their vehicles to block the motorway and prevent further danger.

They smashed the window to free the father, but didn’t realise others were inside until they heard a child crying.

Mr Wheatley said: “So, we made the decision to just get them out, because if my kids or grandkids were in there, I’d want someone to do the same.”

He then climbed onto the car to help extract the rest of the family. With a crowbar from his lorry, he prised open the door and retrieved their suitcases.

Mr Wheatley invited the family to take shelter in his cab until paramedics arrived.

Fortunately, none of the occupants sustained serious injuries.

Lynne Wood, director of service delivery at AO based in Bolton, said: “We always speak about being magic in the moments that matter, and Kenny’s heroic actions are a perfect example of this.

“We’re extremely proud of him.”

Mr Wheatley has been named employee of the month and rewarded with champagne, a gift voucher, a trophy, an extra holiday day, and a private parking spot for a month.

Nearly 3,000 people have been evacuated in southern France as out-of-control wildfires sweep through the country amid a record-breaking heatwave.

Terrified tourists could be seen running for their lives as an inferno ripped through a campsite in the town of Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, near the Spanish border.

The blaze destroying dozens of mobile homes before spreading to Canet-en-Roussillon with a luxury yacht going up in flames. The airport in nearby ​Perpignan was closed as two thousand firefighters battled several fires.  

It comes as more vicious fights broke out across a number of Lidl stores with shoppers going head-to-head to buy fans and air conditioners before temperatures are expected to reach 37C this weekend in a raging new heatwave.

The World Meteorological Organisation last week warned ‌that ⁠the record temperatures that baked Western Europe for over a week in late June would worsen the risk of wildfires, given the outlook for sustained high temperatures, very low humidity and dry vegetation. 

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu held a crisis meeting in Marseille and revealed that 8,700 hectares had burned in France so far ​this season, including 1,200 on Wednesday alone. 

France, the Netherlands and Belgium have already recorded 3,700 excess deaths from the June heatwave that sent temperatures soaring across Europe, with authorities warning that the numbers are preliminary and could rise. 

France’s weather office has warned that another spell of extreme heat ​could hit next week, prompting a surge of panicked shoppers to descend on stores in the hopes of grabbing air-con units in time. 

Have you been affected by the wildfires? Email Imogen.Garfinkel@dailymail.co.uk

Vicious fights have broken out across a number of French Lidl stores, as shoppers go head-to-head to buy fans and air conditioners before temperatures are expected to reach 37C this weekend

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The fire started at a campsite in the town of Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, near the Spanish border, destroying dozens of mobile homes before spreading to Canet-en-Roussillon on Thursday

In Canet-en-Roussillon, four helicopters were deployed to help tackle the ​blaze and three ​Canadair firefighting planes ⁠were on standby.

‘Our main concern is the industrial zone, where many industrial buildings are located. Some contain potentially polluting substances and ​flammable materials,’ Pierre Regnault de la Mothe, the top official in ​the Pyrenees-Orientales ⁠department, told reporters.

To the east, the fire in the Aude scorched some 900 hectares as winds reaching 70 kilometres per hour complicated the efforts of nearly 700 firefighters.

Nearly 3,000 people were evacuated, with half of them from three campsites in the affected area. 

In the north of Portugal, a forest fire raging for two days has injured four people, as the country battled a third day of intense heat.

A civil protection spokesman told AFP that more than 900 firefighters were battling the blaze that started Wednesday in Vouzela, Viseu district.

Three firefighters and a civilian had suffered burns, the spokesman added.

Hundreds of emergency services were also fighting three other fires in northern Portugal, where temperatures in some districts are predicted to reach 44C.

The government has ordered special measures including barring access to forests and restricting the use of some types of machinery in rural areas.

Carnage erupted in French supermarkets on Thursday after Lidl promised to put out 200,000 fans and air conditioners on its shelves, prompting customers to queue outside stores before dawn in preparation.

But from the moment the stores opened, hundreds flocked inside, with ferocious shoppers resorting to physical violence to secure the electronic devices.

Shocking videos circulating on social media show customers being crushed at the checkout, women yanking each other’s hair, and shoppers tackling rivals to the ground.

Other footage shows hordes of people stampeding through the aisles and speedily grabbing boxes, leaving the remaining shelves empty.

Shocking videos circulating on social media show customers being crushed at the checkout, women yanking each other’s hair, and shoppers tackling rivals to the ground

Carnage erupted in French supermarkets on Thursday after Lidl promised to put out 200,000 fans and air conditioners on its shelves, prompting customers to queue outside stores before dawn in preparation

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But from the moment the stores opened, hundreds flocked inside, with ferocious shoppers resorting to physical violence to secure the electronic devices

Despite the promise of plentiful devices, customers experienced a shortage of stock

At least 30,000 fans and air-con units were sold at Carrefour on June 22, according to CEO Alexandre Bompard, which is 1,000 times more than an average day

Local journalists said the police were forced to intervene as customers began brawling, doing anything in their power to secure the machines.

In the suburb of Nanterre, Hauts-de-Seine, more than a hundred people descended on a Lidl store, damaging the entrance door in the process.

According to information from BFMTV, only about ten shoppers ultimately managed to leave the scene successfully with a device, due to the outbreak of arguments.

Despite the promise of plentiful devices, customers experienced a shortage of stock.

In Saint-Germain-en-Laye in Yvelines, the shelves were apparently emptied in minutes, and there were no air conditioners, with only about 50 fans available for customers. 

Tension started early at 7.30am, by which time a long line had already emerged outside the shop.

Later, people physically fought one another for the last remaining boxes, prompting law enforcement to intervene amid the chaotic stampede. 

Those who arrived after 8.30am likely went home empty-handed, after queuing for hours.

‘It’s ridiculous, people have gone completely mad,’ Haissam, a resident of Carrières-sous-Poissy, told Le Parisien.

Walker, a taxi driver and resident of Éragny in Val-d’Oise, pointed a finger at the store: ‘Lidl knew perfectly well it would be chaos and they didn’t organise anything.’

A similar scene of carnage unfolded in Orgeval, also in the Yvelines department.

In Essonne, the shop in Saint-Germain-lès-Corbeil was stormed by customers, and nearly 200 vehicles blocked the surrounding area, particularly on the Francilienne highway.

The police were called to help restore control amid the mayhem. 

In Paris too, shoppers complained about being unable to purchase the fans and air-con units. 

‘I just came back from Lidl. One store in Paris received only one air conditioner, while another received nothing. At this rate, I estimate that the supply for the whole of Paris will probably not exceed one hundred units,’ wrote one disappointed person on X.

In the 14th arrondissement, ‘there were two air conditioners and more than 400 people. They used tear gas. Women fell,’ another customer claimed.

‘Nothing at Grèves in Colombes,’ one social media user wrote after failing to purchase a device.

‘Frankly, it looks like a scam,’ another concluded.

Smoke is seen as huge fire and flames engulfed yachts and campsites, with campers evacuated from the seaside resort of Canet-en-Roussillon

Flames from a wildfire burn through vegetation near Sainte-Valiere, Aude department, southern France, on July 2

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Fireguard aircraft of the civil security drops retardant over a wildfire in Pouzols-Minervois, southwestern of France

A wildfire rages near houses in Pouzols-Minervois, southwestern of France, on July 2

At one store in Rueil-Malmaison, ‘only one air conditioner’ was ‘grabbed’ by a woman ‘who had been there since 5am,’ said one despairing shopper.

‘All that for this,’ she wrote on X.

Others were critical of the way the crowds behaved, with one social media user comparing the public to ‘savages’.

Some emerged victorious from the chaotic scenes, however, with one proud shopper sharing a photograph of their purchase and writing: ‘I’ve won the holy battle of Lidl. A source of pride I’ll add to my CV.’

At least 30,000 fans and air-con units were sold at Carrefour on June 22, according to CEO Alexandre Bompard, which is 1,000 times more than an average day. 

In its first preliminary estimate, the national public health agency in France said deaths surged during the heatwave’s peak last week, which roasted most of the country with temperatures that soared in many places above 40C and also broke records for nighttime highs – an exhausting one-two punch for fatigued bodies.

Public Health France said there were more than 1,200 deaths last Wednesday, when France registered its hottest ever day, breaking a record that had been set just the previous day.

Deaths then increased to more than 1,400 on Thursday and another 1,400 on Friday, it said. 

By way of comparison, the pre-heatwave death rate in April and May was around 900 to 1,000 per day, it said.

The agency cautioned that its estimate of at least 1,000 additional deaths during those three sizzling days alone is expected to increase as more death certificates come in for people who died at home and in care facilities for older people, where most deaths are still not registered electronically.

‘Mortality will as a consequence be higher than these first figures,’ the agency said.

Scientists have said the heatwave, which began on June 20, was the worst recorded in Europe, and the blistering conditions have disrupted power generation, damaged infrastructure and overwhelmed healthcare systems.

‘Right now 150million people ​are living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling,’ World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X.

‘Driven by climate change and global warming, the phenomenon of the “once-in-a-generation” heatwave is now occurring nearly annually. We were warned,’ he ⁠wrote, adding that Europe’s homes, workplaces and schools were ill-equipped for extreme heat.

A firefighter operates near a French firefighters’ wildland fire engines ‘CCFM’ (Camion Citerne Forestier Moyen) as a fire hits in Pouzols-Minervois, southwestern France on July 2

This photo provided by the French fire brigade SDIS13 on Thursday July, 2, 2026, shows the wildfire near La Fare, southern France

The World Meteorological Organisation last week warned ‌that ⁠the record temperatures that baked Western Europe for over a week in late June would worsen the risk of wildfires

French Green party lawmakers announced plans to file a no-confidence motion against the government over its handling of the severe heatwave, ​as the country braces for a third possible bout of extreme temperatures ‌next week.

It was not immediately clear if the motion would be put forward this week or early next week.

When asked about the motion, government spokesman Maud Bregeon said on Wednesday: ‘Obviously, it’s going ​to be filed. It is a political manoeuvre.’

‘There is a government managing ​the crisis and there are political forces fueling the crisis by introducing ⁠the motion,’ Bregeon told reporters after a meeting of the French Cabinet.

The bid ​to topple Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s minority government is unlikely to succeed without the backing ​of other opposition parties, including the hard-Right National Rally or the Socialists. 

The Socialists have not supported any of the no-confidence motions filed against Lecornu since he took office last year.

Cyrielle Chatelain, ​who leads the Greens in the National Assembly, said on Tuesday the motion would ​be filed to protest the government’s ‘lack of preparedness not only for the heatwave we have ‌just ⁠experienced, but especially for the one that is coming’.

By HEIDI PARKER, US DEPUTY SHOWBUSINESS EDITOR

Published: 15:02 BST, 3 July 2026 | Updated: 16:52 BST, 3 July 2026

Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee‘s son, Dylan Jagger Lee, has wed his longtime girlfriend.

The 28-year-old model tied the knot with 25-year-old interior designer Paula Bruss.

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The nuptials took place in Saint-Tropez this week, according to a Friday report from Vogue.

In attendance were his parents Anderson and Lee, who divorced in 1998, and Dylan’s older brother Brandon Lee, 30.

The ceremony took place in a a wildflower garden in a private villa in Les Parcs.

‘The service was peaceful and sentimental,’ Dylan told the outlet. ‘Seeing my beautiful wife walking down the aisle and reciting my vows in the middle of the most beautiful wildflower garden was a dream come true.’

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Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s son, Dylan Jagger Lee, has wed Paula Bruss; seen in 2025

(L-R) Dylan, Anderson and Brandon Thomas Lee in 2022 in NYC

The bride wore a dress designed by Fernando Garcia for Oscar de la Renta, according to Vogue with Dylan dressed by Genuardi.

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Anderson told Vogue: ‘I’m so happy for Dylan and so excited to send him off into the wild world. Tears are catching me off guard at times — happy tears. But as Khalil Gibran says, “As parents, we are the bow from which life springs.”‘

Dylan shared, ‘Looking around and seeing everyone we love gathered together in one place was overwhelming in the best possible way. There was so much excitement and love in the air.’

Saint-Tropez is also where the Malibu-based lovebirds got engaged in July 2024. 

Anderson shared an Instagram post from France where she was makeup free while posing at a resort.

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This comes after Anderson was most recently linked to Liam Neeson, 73, her co-star in the Naked Gun movie reboot.

Romance rumors surrounding the pair intensified during the film’s promotional tour last summer after the two appeared affectionate during interviews and red carpet appearances.

Lee and Anderson attend the film premiere of Scary Movie 3 in LA in 2003

This comes after Anderson was most recently linked to Liam Neeson, 73, her co-star in the Naked Gun movie reboot. Seen in July 2025

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At the time, sources told Page Six Pamela and Liam were ‘figuring things out.’

In December, Pamela addressed the speculation directly and confirmed the pair had briefly dated after production on the comedy had ended.

She told People: ‘We were romantically involved for a short while but only after we finished filming.’

Pamela also said: ‘I’m sure we’ll always be in each other’s lives.’

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Liam, best known for films including Taken, Schindler’s List and Love Actually, starred opposite the blonde beauty in the reboot of the Naked Gun comedy franchise originally led by Leslie Nielsen.

The project, originally around a 34,500 stadium, has been beset by long-running disputes over the planning process and then funding

The GAA are planning for a redeveloped Casement Park to have a capacity of around 15,000.

The project has been beset by long-running disputes over the planning process and then funding.

Inflation increases have driven the project from its initial cost of £78.5m to an estimated £260m last year. Around £120m was jointly in place from the Stormont Executive, the Irish government and the GAA.

The UK government had pledged a further £50m but that is now in doubt amid serious budgetary issues in Westminster.

The Ulster Council held a meeting this week where a scaled-down version of the west Belfast venue was discussed.

The original plans were set for a 34,500 capacity stadium, fit to host provincial finals and other major games.

However, it’s believed that number is now closer to 15,000 as the GAA have been left with no other option.

That would satisfy Antrim GAA and some Ulster level provincial GAA games, but rule it out as a potential Ulster football final.

The stadium was in the running to host Euro 2028 games at one stage, before financial realities also closed that door.

Casement Park officially closed its doors for matches in June 2013. The final game hosted at the original stadium was an Antrim v Monaghan match during the 2013 Ulster Senior Football Championship.

The old Casement Park stadium had a maximum official capacity of roughly 31,000 to 34,500 prior to its closure. However, its historic record attendance reached an estimated 41,000 spectators during the Down v Armagh Ulster Final in 1961.

Demolition and enabling works were undertaken this year to satisfy a July 2026 planning permission expiry deadline.

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LONDON (AP) — A former Syrian air force colonel is unfit to stand trial in a landmark British case charging him with three counts of murder as crimes against humanity for attacks on civilians in 2011, a judge said Friday.

Not guilty pleas were entered on behalf of Salem al-Salem, 58, in the Central Criminal Court after prosecutors accepted medical findings that his rare neurological condition was too advanced for him to enter a plea or face trial.

Justice Bobbie Cheema-Grubb said al-Salem will face a trial of facts next year on murder and torture allegations but he won’t be required to appear in court. The trial will determine whether he committed the acts but cannot result in a conviction because of his condition.

Al-Salem is the first person in the U.K. charged with murder as a crime against humanity under the International Criminal Court Act of 2001. U.K. law allows British prosecutors to bring charges for some international offenses, including crimes against humanity and torture, regardless of where they were committed.

Prosecutors said al-Salem was part of a Syrian Air Force Intelligence group that suppressed demonstrations in the Damascus suburb of Jobar when the government carried out a bloody crackdown during the Arab Spring uprising against former President Bashar Assad’s authoritarian leadership.

Al-Salem “was tasked with quelling civilian protests against the regime and the defendant ordered officers under his command to shoot protesters and he himself shot protesters,” prosecutor Emilie Pottle said at a previous hearing. “The murders were part of a widespread and systemic attack against the civilian population.”

Al-Salem, who appeared by a video link with an oxygen mask over his face, has a progressive and fatal motor neuron disease that has left him paralyzed in all four limbs with cognitive impairment and limited ability to communicate, prosecutor Tom Little said.

“The motor neuron disease is now advanced. In addition, there is associated depression, apathy and cognitive impairment as well as severely restricted speech,” Little said in reading out one doctor’s report. “The defendant is monosyllabic and only really understandable to close family.”

The Louisiana Supreme Court on Friday halted the criminal case against state Attorney General Liz Murrill a day after she was indicted on accusations that she threatened the jobs of officials in New Orleans.

The state’s top court said the local court and special prosecutor in the case did not follow proper procedures in the process surrounding the indictment — including multiple local media reports that the court handcuffed and locked out a journalist attempting to report on the grand jury action.

Friday’s stay puts the case on hold, at least for now. Murrill, a Republican, said she intends to ask a court to dismiss the case, which shows a deep rift between Republican state officials and the Democrats who control the state’s most populous city.

“I hope this political witch hunt is not a harbinger of things to come,” she said in a statement Friday, “but I fear that it is.”

The top court found flaws with the indictment

The 16-count indictment handed up Thursday by a New Orleans grand jury accused Murrill, the state’s first female attorney general, with intimidation and malfeasance.

The Supreme Court says there were deep flaws with the charges.

“This indictment appears to turn the law on its head and flows from what appear to be extraordinary procedural defects and improprieties,” the court said in a filing signed by Justice Jay McCallum, a Republican.

The court says there are likely conflicts of interest involving Laurie White, the special prosecutor and former state judge who brought the charges, including that she’s being defended by the attorney general’s office against a sexual harassment lawsuit.

McCallum’s explanation also notes that the law used in the intimidation charge against Murrill requires that threats be “unlawful or include a threat of bodily harm or death.”

The court also found the attorney general is likely to succeed in having the case dismissed and that she would suffer irreparable harm if it can move forward.

The case flows from a contested court system shake-up

The case is fallout from a major political battle in Louisiana.

The state this year abolished the job of the New Orleans criminal court clerk — merging it with another court clerk position. That action came months after Calvin Duncan, who spent decades in prison before his murder conviction was vacated, was elected to the criminal clerk office.

Murrill and other GOP officials have refused to acknowledge Duncan’s innocence, though he’s listed on the National Registry of Exonerations.

The court noted that Duncan was previously represented by White — which it called “a likely conflict of interest.”

Manchester United have work to do in the summer transfer window under Michael Carrick as they look towards a return to the Champions League next season

Manchester United face a crucial summer if Michael Carrick is to continue to improve the Reds. United have yet to complete any new signings, although a deal for Brazilian midfielder Ederson has been agreed with Atalanta.

One former Reds star, though, could provide a much-needed financial boost. Alejandro Garnacho has struggled since arriving at Stamford Bridge from Old Trafford last summer for £40million.

And United could be in line for an additional payday, having negotiated a 10 per cent sell-on clause as part of the deal, entitling them to a slice of any future transfer fee should Chelsea decide to move him on.

With that said, below is a look at the latest United headlines as well as a view on each one…

Garnacho ‘receives exit offer’

Garnacho has reportedly received an offer to leave Chelsea this summer. Journalist Alfredo Pedulla claims Italian Serie A side AS Roma are interested in the Argentine.

It is claimed that Roma’s qualification for the Champions League will allow them to pursue a permanent deal if they so wish.

And because Garnacho was an academy product – having joined United from Atletico Madrid for just £100,000 in 2020 – the initial £40m fee paid by Chelsea was recorded as pure profit under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). The same accounting benefit would apply to any sell-on income they receive down the line.

Isaac Seelochan of the Manchester Evening News says: “Garnacho has been a poor signing for Chelsea and one sale which United have got right. The potential of him moving again would be music to the Reds’ ears and another example of Chelsea’s chaotic transfer policy under Clearlake.”

United ‘keen on keeper’

United are reportedly keen on Welsh goalkeeper Karl Darlow. However, the Daily Mail say they want to sell Altay Bayindir first to give them more financial headroom.

It is claimed that Bayindir has interest from Besiktas, among others. The Turkish shot-stopper has struggled since joining the Reds from Fenerbahce in September 2023.

Isaac Seelochan of the Manchester Evening News says: “United will need another backup keeper this summer after Bayindir’s struggles. While Darlow would not fill anyone at Old Trafford with confidence, he at least has some Premier League experience.”

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Onana exit confirmed

United have agreed a straight loan with Trabzonspor for goalkeeper Andre Onana. The Cameroonian has no future at Old Trafford following Senne Lammens’ impressive debut campaign.

But he will return to Manchester in 2027 with one more year remaining on his United deal. Trabzonspor are set to cover the majority of his wages, with the Reds hopeful that agreed clauses will cover the remainder of his salary.

Isaac Seelochan of the Manchester Evening News says: “Onana has been a poor signing for United. The Reds would have been keen to see him leave on a permanent deal this summer, but they have done well to get the deal they have for him to at least leave on loan for another season.”

Thousands of Man United fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.

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Hello and welcome to Daily Mail Sport’s World Cup Breakfast from day 22 at the tournament – your one-stop shop for everything you’ve missed overnight in North America.

For all the latest news, viral moments and what to look out for, stay right here.

OVERNIGHT ACTION

Switzerland 2-0 Algeria

Switzerland won their first World Cup knockout game for a staggering 88 years. 

The 20-year-old Johan Manzambi again lit up a match in this tournament, with the Newcastle-linked rising star producing a sensational run to tee up Breel Embolo’s opening goal just 10 minutes in. 

They then landed the killer blow on Algeria 48 seconds after half-time when Nottingham Forest star Dan Ndoye took advantage of dreadful defending to slot home. Vladimir Petkovic then held their opponents at a distance to see out a thoroughly professional win. 

Switzerland will remain in Vancouver for the third successive game and face a winnable tie against either Colombia or Ghana in the last 16. 

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Portugal 2-1 Croatia

A forgettable first half was followed by a second 45 full of chaos, drama and heartbreak as Portugal progressed to the last 16.

Ivan Perisic put Croatia in front shortly after the restart before Cristiano Ronaldo – who was later substituted – finally scored his first World Cup knockout goal from the penalty spot following a VAR intervention.

It was far from the last involvement from the VAR, however. Goncalo Ramos netted a superb header in stoppage time but Croatia thought they had forced another 30 minutes as the clock struck 103 when Josko Gvardiol steered home at the back post, only for the referee to be sent to the monitor because of a possible offside.

Espen Eskas then confirmed Luka Modric and Co’s worst nightmare. Mario Pasalic was adjudged to have got a touch on the ball by the new ‘Snicko’ technology while in an offside position before Gvardiol’s finish and the goal was ruled out, breaking their hearts and sending Ronaldo’s men through to a crunch last-16 clash with Spain.

The Snickometer, more commonly used in sports like cricket, detects any motion or impact to judge contact on the Adidas Trionda ball which has a microchip that feeds information back to the VAR booth. FIFA have been using it since 2022.

READ LEWIS STEELE’S VERDICT HERE 

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The Snickometer in the ball was used to detect the faintest of touches by the Croatia player, meaning his team-mate was in an offside position so the late goal was ruled out by VAR 

VIEW FROM THE GROUND

The World Cup will be overtaken by celebrations for America’s 250th birthday this weekend. Here in Dallas, the FIFA flags on the Main Street lampposts are now dwarfed by those promoting a 250th anniversary Block Party, crash barriers for which are also already in place.

The World Cup does not suddenly become an irrelevance, though. Its timing is propitious at a time when the columnists and commentators are reflecting on exactly what the US is celebrating on this anniversary. Last Sunday’s New York Times opinion section cover story posed that very question – ‘What are we celebrating?’ – and the main piece, by Thomas L Friedman, argued that ‘brotherhood’ has been, or at least should be, the ultimate ambition of these United States. Bigger than wealth or cities or production or wealth.

It’s been so hard to discern that ambition under a Trump administration which has divided so many and sowed such discord among people and nations. It would be naive to make too many claims on a football competition, whose sustaining benefits can be short-lived, but this World Cup of many nations, continents, colours and people has brought the same spirit of unity and humanity that it always does. ‘With brotherhood, everything is possible. Without it, nothing good is sustainable,’ Friedman wrote. For these few brief weeks, the World Cup has reminded us of that.

By Ian Herbert 

The World Cup will be overtaken by celebrations for America’s 250th birthday this weekend

TEAM OF THE DAY

CELEBRITY WATCH

Hollywood superstars Penelope Cruz and her husband Javier Bardem would have been delighted with what they saw as they took in Spain’s victory over Austria in Los Angeles.

Cruz, 52, and Bardem, 57, were both born in Spain and were spotted looking rather happy with their nation’s performance while sitting in the VIP section of the SoFi Stadium.

The Oscar-winning duo, who married in 2010, may yet be smiling on July 19 with Spain among the favourites to lift the trophy – although they are on formidable France’s side of the draw.

PS: Did you know Bardem played for the Spanish national rugby team at a junior level throughout his youth.  

Hollywood couple Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem watched as Spain beat Austria in LA

VIRAL MOMENT OF THE DAY

Drake curse, what Drake curse? 

The 39-year-old Canadian musician and mogul was in the stands supporting Portugal in his home city of Toronto.

The teams Drake supports, has bet on or publicly backed have an uncanny knack of losing, no matter which sport he leans into. 

And with his flag planted firmly in the Cristiano Ronaldo corner, surrounded by friends in Portugal shirts, Roberto Martinez’s men would have been forgiven for feeling slightly uneasy.

But they need not have been worried, Drake was seen celebrating Ronaldo’s goal with his signature ‘where she at’ gesture in footage that went viral online after he was shown on the big screen and the Portuguese are safely through. 

Drake was seen celebrating Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal for Portugal against Croatia 

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Portugal boss Roberto Martinez finally heeded the cries and urges from fans by substituting Cristiano Ronaldo. Safe to say the 41-year-old star wasn’t exactly happy about the decision. 

Cristiano Ronaldo reacts to being taken off 10 minutes from time in Portugal’s win over Croatia

STAT OF THE DAY

Cristiano Ronaldo is no stranger to making history. The 41-year-old Portuguese superstar is already the all-time leading men’s international goalscorer, and became the first player to find the net at six World Cups during the tournament in north America.

Ronaldo is now also the oldest to ever feature and score in the World Cup knockout stages, at 41 years and 147 days, after starting the match against Croatia and finding the net from the spot.

According to his sister, Katia Aveiro, the Al-Nassr star is set to retire from international football after the tournament. He still has a chance to go out in style after Portugal’s dramatic win over Croatia.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player to feature in a World Cup knockout match

THREE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR TODAY

1. Will Egypt’s talisman Mo Salah be fit to face Australia?

Fans back in Egypt would have grimaced at the sight of the former Liverpool star being forced off with a hamstring injury in the draw with Iran.

Salah did not look comfortable as he sat with an ice pack on the bench and has been assessed in recent days. Reports in Egypt suggest he will start against Australia but his exact condition remains to be seen.

Egypt’s supporters, both at home and those who have travelled to north America, will be desperately hoping to see Salah line up for the anthems before kick-off. Without him, beating the plucky Aussies will be a whole lot harder. 

Egypt are sweating on the fitness of star man Mo Salah, who went off injured against Iran

2. The Cape Verde fairytale continues

Few stories have been as heartwarming as African minnows Cape Verde reaching the knockout stages against all the odds.

Cape Verde progressed from a group including European champions Spain and South American giants Uruguay but the tests don’t come tougher than Lionel Messi’s Argentina.

Bookies have priced Cape Verde as long as 16/1 to cause what would be one of the greatest World Cup upsets in history and continue their fairytale story. Unlikely, of course, but the reigning world champions should not take them lightly.

3. Messi mania in Miami

Hordes of fans follow Lionel Messi everywhere he goes but fewer places in the world can claim to love the Argentinian star as much as Miami.

Messi returns to the city where he plays his club football for the last-32 clash with Cape Verde, with Inter Miami owner David Beckham set to be among those in the stands to watch the 39-year-old.

Security has been beefed up and extra police laid on in anticipation of chaos in the city as people aim to get a glimpse of one of the greatest ever.

Miami is braced for Lionel Messi mania as the Argentinian star returns to the city where he plays his club football

TODAY’S GAMES

Australia vs Egypt (Dallas, BBC One, 7pm)

Both sides head into the match in Dallas targeting a first victory in the knockout stage of a World Cup.

The Socceroos have lacked an attacking threat in their performances so far, relying on defensive solidity and counter-attacks in finishing second in Group D.

Egypt went unbeaten in reaching the last 32 and will be confident of carrying on their historic run, even if Australia sit just two places below them in the FIFA world rankings. An intriguing contest awaits.

Prediction: Egypt win 

Argentina vs Cape Verde (Miami, ITV, 11pm)

The World Cup holders are huge favourites to progress but Cape Verde proved in the group stage that they can be a tough nut to crack.

Messi will not only be hoping to take his country a step closer to retaining their crown but he also has his eye on the Golden Boot – a prize, remarkably, that he has never won.

The Argentinian hero has six goals so far and sits joint-top of the standings with Kylian Mbappe, whose superb double in France’s win over Sweden moved him level with Messi, with Erling Haaland and Harry Kane one back on five.

Prediction: Argentina win

Colombia vs Ghana (Kansas City, ITV, 2:30am)

Hasn’t the first knockout round flown by? The final tie is another interesting encounter, pitting the South Americans – who topped their group ahead of Portugal – against the side that troubled England last week.

Colombia have grown into the tournament and will fancy their chances of reaching the last 16, with Switzerland lying in wait.

Ghana showed their resilience and fortitude in holding England to a draw and could frustrate Colombia, who will expect to remain on course for a tasty quarter-final with Argentina by beating the African side in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Prediction: Colombia win.