Footage has emerged which appears to show a US journalist being kidnapped in Iraq.

The kidnapping occurred in Baghdad on Tuesday, according to Iraqi officials, who said efforts were now under way to locate the reporter and the perpetrators.

The journalist has been named as freelancer Shelly Kittleson by one of the publications she worked for.

Middle East crisis: Follow the latest

Here is everything we know about the incident so far.

What happened?

The kidnapping took place on 31 March on Saadoun Street in central Baghdad, before the perpetrators headed southwest towards Babil province.

Iraqi security officials said two cars had been involved.

An alert was subsequently circulated to all checkpoints, leading to a pursuit during which one of the vehicles reportedly crashed near the town of al-Haswa.

The other car, carrying Ms Kittleson, fled the scene.

Footage appears to show a car pull up alongside Ms Kittleson as she stands on a street corner in central Baghdad.

She is approached by two men, one who gets out of the car and another who was walking alongside it.

There then appears to be a brief struggle as they bundle her into the back of a vehicle.

Moments later, the car speeds off.

Hussein Alawi, an adviser to Iraq’s prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, said Ms Kittleson had been wanting to enter the country via the al-Qaim crossing from Syria on 9 March but was turned back because she did not have a press work permit and because of security concerns due to “the escalation of the war and aerial projectiles over Iraqi airspace as a result of the war on Iran”.

She later entered the country after obtaining a single-entry 60-day visa to Iraq issued to allow foreign citizens stranded in neighbouring countries to “transit through Iraq to reach their home countries via available transport routes,” Mr Alawi said.

Following the incident, Iraq’s ministry said one suspect had been arrested and efforts were now underway to locate Ms Kittleson and the kidnappers.

It said security forces had launched an operation “acting on precise intelligence and through intensive field operations”.

It is not immediately clear if the kidnapping is related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Who is Shelly Kittleson?

According to her X profile, Ms Kittleson is an award-winning journalist of more than 15 years, reporting on the Middle East and contributing to outlets such as Politico, Foreign Policy magazine and the BBC World Service.

One of the outlets she contributed to, Al-Monitor, released a statement on Tuesday saying they were “deeply alarmed by the kidnapping”.

In a short statement, the publication said: “We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work.”

It went on to call for her “safe and immediate release”.

What has the US said?

In a statement, the US state department said it was aware of the incident and insisted “the Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans”.

It added that “due to privacy and other considerations, we have nothing further to share at this time”.

Assistant secretary Dylan Johnson wrote on social media that the state department had previously warned “this individual of threats against them” and said it would “continue to coordinate with the FBI to ensure their release as quickly as possible”.

Read more from Sky News:
French vote to ban teens from social media
Woods pleads not guilty to driving under influence

Mr Johnson, who blamed the Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah for the kidnapping, added: “Iraq remains at a Level 4 Travel Advisory and Americans are advised not to travel to Iraq for any reason and to leave Iraq now.”

The BBC Radio 2 host was taken off air suddenly leaving colleagues and fans shocked

Advertisement

Scott Mills has released a statement addressing the historic ‘allegation’ against him.

This is after The Mirror revealed he has been sacked by the BBC over sexual offences against a ‘teenage boy’.

The DJ was taken off air last week suddenly after hosting his last show on Tuesday, 24 March. Colleagues were reportedly shocked including fellow BBC Radio 2 host Jeremy Vine, who was “taken aback” by the news.

The Mirror reports the statement, released through his lawyers, read: “The recent announcement that I am no longer contracted to the BBC has led to the publication of rumour and speculation. In response to this the Metropolitan Police has made a statement, which I confirm relates to me.

“An allegation was made against me in 2016 of a historic sexual offence which was the subject of a police investigation in which I fully cooperated and responded to in 2018. As the police have stated, a file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined that the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges.

“Since the investigation related to an allegation that dates back nearly 30 years and the police investigation was closed 7 years ago, I hope that the public and the media will understand and respect my wish not to make any further public comment on this matter.

“I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who have reached out to me with kindness, my former colleagues, and my beloved listeners, who I greatly miss.”

The Mirror revealed that the former BBC Radio 1 and 2 DJ was questioned in 2018 over the historical allegations of serious sexual offences, but the investigation – which began in 2016 – was closed in 2019 after the CPS deemed there was insufficient evidence to bring charges. The allegations are reported to have happened between 1997 and 2000.

The Metropolitan Police said that the teenage boy at the centre of the investigation was under 16. On Wednesday April 1, The Mirror revealed that the BBC was forced to terminate Mills’ contract after receiving compelling new information.

Bosses were left with “no choice” after being passed fresh details about the Radio 2 star’s alleged conduct. The BBC has since confirmed they knew of information relating to the police investigation.

They pledged that they were “doing more work to understand the detail of what was known by the BBC at this time.” In the last week, Mills was removed from top broadcasting role while the BBC assessed the information, and was then told his contract was terminated at the weekend.

The BBC have since claimed they knew about the investigation into Mills in 2017, the corporation admitted, but “acted decisively” after receiving “new information” in the weeks prior to his sacking.

A BBC spokesperson said: “Scott Mills had a long career across the BBC, he was hugely popular and we know the news this week has come as a shock and surprise to many. We also recognise there’s been much speculation in the media and online since Monday.

“We hope people understand that there is a limit to what we can say because we have to be mindful of the rights of those involved. What we can confirm is that in recent weeks, we obtained new information relating to Scott and we spoke directly with him.

“As a result, the BBC acted decisively in line with our culture and values, and terminated his contracts on Friday March 27.”

The BBC added: “Separately, we can confirm the BBC was made aware in 2017 of the existence of an ongoing police investigation, which was subsequently closed in 2019 with no arrest or charge being made. We are doing more work to understand the detail of what was known by the BBC at this time.”

Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives… To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simply click here.

With the average price of a gallon of gas topping $4 nationally, some federal and state officials have talked of temporarily reducing motor fuel taxes to provide relief to motorists.

So far, Georgia and Utah are the only states to suspend all or part of their gas taxes as the war in Iran has pushed fuel prices higher. Others are considering it. But there are a variety of reasons that policymakers may not relax gas taxes, including concerns about government finances, doubts about the action’s effectiveness and uncertainty about how long the war will last.

Here’s a look, by the numbers, at the debate:

2 states

The two states to suspend gas taxes this year took significantly different approaches. Georgia’s 60-day suspension of its 33-cent-a-gallon gas tax took effect once Republican Gov Brian Kemp signed it into law on March 20, making it the first state to act since the war started. Three days later, Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a law temporarily trimming 6 cents off the state’s 38-cent-a-gallon fuel tax. But the six-month reduction won’t begin until July 1.

38 cents

Retail gas stations have charged consumers an average of 38 cents per gallon above wholesale prices over the past five years, according to Jeff Lenard, a spokesperson for the National Association of Convenience Stores. Their profits after expenses often are less than half that, he said. Meanwhile, the daily price for a barrel of oil has swung dramatically during the war with Iran — sometimes by the equivalent of around 40 cents a gallon, Lenard said.

Why do those numbers matter? They highlight the complexity of setting gas prices. When a gas tax is suspended, motorists may not see an equivalent reduction in retail prices. That’s made Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hesitant to repeat a gas tax suspension he approved when prices last spiked in 2022.

“Our ability to influence the fuel prices are really marginal at best,” DeSantis said in March, adding: “I don’t think the consumer really felt relief.”

61 cents

California charges a nationally high gas tax of 61 cents per gallon, with additional fees on top of that. The tax contributes to California’s highest-in-the-nation gas prices, which averaged $5.89 a gallon on Wednesday, according to AAA. Several Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates have called for suspending the gas tax. But the proposal hasn’t gained traction in the Democratic-led Legislature, where some are concerned about how to make up for the lost revenue.

$100 million

Republicans in Maryland pushed for a 30-day gas-tax suspension. But their attempts were rejected by the Democratic-led General Assembly. A spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Wes Moore said a one-month suspension could have blown a $100 million hole in the state’s transportation budget even as officials already were cutting spending and shifting money to make up for a projected shortfall in the state’s overall budget.

A better approach would be to end the war, said Moore spokesperson Ammar Moussa, adding: “The best way to bring prices down is to address the source of the pain.”

Since the war began on Feb. 28, Trump has repeatedly has said it could be over soon while also threatening to widen the conflict.

$330 million

Whether states have the money to make up for lost fuel taxes is a pivotal question. Georgia is dipping into its surplus. In Connecticut, Democratic state Senate leaders have suggested that Gov. Ned Lamont could tap into the roughly $330 million remaining in an emergency fund meant to respond to federal government actions to help offset a proposed one-month suspension of the state’s 25-cent-a-gallon gas tax.

“The fund was created precisely for situations like this: when federal actions create hardship for Connecticut families,” Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney and Majority Leader Bob Duff said in a statement.

A spokesman for the Democratic governor said Lamont is willing to work with lawmakers on “a smart and strategic pause to the state’s gas tax.”

$800 million

Gas taxes generally pay for building, expanding and repairing roads and bridges. Unless funds are shifted from elsewhere, suspending a gas tax means less money for transportation projects, including some that may already have been budgeted.

In South Carolina, the state gas tax provides about $800 million yearly, helping to fund nearly $7 billion of projects ranging from safety improvements on two-lane roads to a massive overhaul of interstate interchanges. Republican Gov. Henry McMaster worries that major projects would take longer and cost more if tax revenue were cut. He dismissed the suspension of gas taxes as a “sort of knee-jerk reaction.”

“We’d like them all to be lower and lower,” McMaster said, “but that’s one we should not take any money out of.”

___

Associated Press writers Jeffrey Collins, Susan Haigh and Brian Witte contributed to this report.

The ITV soap showed the events that caused Kim Tate to be poisoned at her dinner with the Dingles

Emmerdale has confirmed that it was Graham Foster behind Kim Tate’s dinner date poisoning this whole time.

As viewers will recall, Kim found herself in hospital after being poisoned during a dinner with the Dingles where her and Lydia hoped to build bridges between the two families.

While Kim suspected Joe Tate might have had something to do with it, viewers of the ITV soap now know that Graham was the one responsible for poisoning her after the bombshell dropped in tonight’s (Wednesday April 1) episode.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. And don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

While Kim remains unaware – believing her condition was simply an accidental overdose of her pain medication – the audience saw Graham make a mysterious phone call after tampering with her medicine cupboard. Referring to Kim as a “pain in the neck,” he suggested he would find another way to dispose of the problem after the “double dose” failed.

In her hospital bed, Kim was heard telling visitors Lydia and Chas, “This time, there was no enemy, no plotting, no poison plate. Just me moving too fast. So maybe – on this occasion I did do all this to myself…”

However, viewers saw that it was Graham’s gloves hands meddling with Kim’s medication as an act of revenge after overhearing Kim’s plans to kill him six years ago.

Andrew Scarborough explained: “Graham is clearly still incredibly angry that Kim tried to kill him six years ago. This resulted in him faking his own death to escape the hit she put out on him. He lost Rhona in this process, so he still hasn’t forgiven Kim for that.

“She took six years of his life away. That is why he just tried to kill her – for revenge. I am not convinced his whole heart was in it because their relationship is complicated. I think if his whole heart were in it, he would have actually made it happen.”

The actor returned earlier this year in an unexpected ending to Corriedale, with viewers having watched Graham die on-screen six years ago. However, he explained to ex Rhona Goskirk that he faked his death after he overheard Kim plotting to kill him.

He left behind a potential future of running off into the sunset with Rhona, and missed out on continuing to grow his bond with Joe, who he has always been a father figure to.

Since his return, Graham has been trying to reign Joe in after he’s been terrorising the village, and even though him and Kim share a rocky past, they also shared a moment of passion together.

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.

Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of Bayern Munich v Manchester United in the Women’s Champions League.

United head to the Allianz Arena tonight knowing they must overturn a 3-2 scoreline if they are to progress to the semi-finals of the competition for the first time in their history. 

Marc Skinner’s side were second best in the opening leg last week at Old Trafford against the German giants, who have won all five of their previous European home meetings with English sides. Pernille Harder’s double was cancelled out by Maya Le Tissier and Hanna Lundkvist, before substitute Momoko Tanikawa restored Bayern’s advantage with an 84th-minute winner.

Victory tonight would be huge for United, who will be desperate to end a patchy run of results which has seen them record one win in their last six matches in all competitions. 

They suffered consecutive defeats to Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round and League Cup final last month and were also comprehensively beaten 3-0 at Old Trafford last weekend in a one-sided Manchester derby. That result saw them drop to fourth in the Women’s Super League table and mathematically end their title hopes. 

Tonight at the Allianz Arena they will face another tough task against an in-form Bayern outfit who have not dropped points in Europe this season.

Jose Barcala’s side head into the second leg on the back of a 2-0 victory over Bavarian rivals Nurnberg, which saw them equal the club record of 18 consecutive home wins in the Frauen-Bundesliga. The seven-time German champions, though, have come unstuck at this stage of the competition in recent seasons, having failed to progress from each of their last four European quarter-finals. 

The former socialist leader spoke at the Willie Maley Celtic Green And White Party in Newry on Saturday night where he spoke in front of an audience of 600 Celtic supporters

Advertisement

Police Scotland has received a complaint following comments made by Tommy Sheridan, in which he declared his support for “on the side of the IRA, Hamas, and Hezbollah” during a speech at an event in Northern Ireland.

The former socialist leader addressed the Willie Maley Celtic Green And White Party in Newry on Saturday night. Speaking to an audience of 600 Celtic fans, he also hosted a rapid-fire Q&A with ex-Hoops players Tommy Johnson, Joe Miller, Rab Douglas and Tosh McKinlay. This marked his fifth year speaking at the event, reports the Daily Record.

In his speech, the 62 year old labelled Israel and the US as “evil”, expressing his support for “on the side of the IRA, Hamas, and Hezbollah” due to their role in ‘doing the resistance’. He also stated his current alignment with Hamas and Hezbollah because “they are doing the resistance”. The IRA, Hamas and Hezbollah are all organisations proscribed under the UK Terrorism Act 2000.

A snippet of the speech uploaded to TikTok features Sheridan passionately stating: “What we have to do, is we have to choose a side. Whose side are we on? Are we on the side of those who are doing the oppressing or are we on the side of those who are doing the resistance?

“Brothers and sisters, we were on the side of the IRA because they were doing the resistance. We are on the side of Hamas in Palestine because they’re doing the resistance.

“We’re on the side of Hezbollah and Lebanon because they’re doing the resistance. And we’re on the side today of the Iranians and Yemen because they’re standing up against the twin pillars of evil in our society today – the United States of America and Israel.”

“They epitomise evil in our planet. When somebody says to me, ‘Tommy, whose side are you on?’ I say I am not on the side of those that murder children, that torture children, that steal the land that belongs to the Palestinians.”

He adds: “I’m on the side of those who resist repression and if that means you don’t vote for me, then tough f****** t****.”

In conversation with the Record, Mr Sheridan explained he was delivering a speech about taking sides in life “between those who resist repression and those who do the repressing,” and stood by his position on the terror organisations.

He said: “I refuse to accept the false narrative of the powerful in society who always cast those fighting for freedom and basic human rights as terrorists.

“Resisting tyranny and oppression is what the poor and dispossessed are forced to do. Hezbollah and Hamas were created by Israeli oppression and illegal invasions and occupations. I choose their side.

“I believe in a free Palestine. I believe in a united Ireland. I believe in an independent Scotland. Some will agree with me and some won’t. That’s life.”

Tommy is standing as the lead candidate on the Glasgow regional list for the Alliance to Liberate Scotland, which was established in February. His wife Gail is also standing as a candidate on the party’s Glasgow list.

This development follows news that the late Alex Salmond’s pro-independence Alba Party is set to dissolve and deregister after becoming financially unsustainable during a police investigation into suspected financial “irregularities”.

Sheridan had previously been amongst a group attempting to assume leadership and rescue Alba, but he confirms his future now lies squarely with Alliance.

Police Scotland stated: “A complaint has been received and is currently under assessment.”

Bosnia & Herzegovina made history, defeating Italy in a dramatic penalty shootout to secure their place in the 2026 World Cup.

Former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko led jubilant celebrations with the Bosnia & Herzegovina squad after they secured a dramatic World Cup qualification. The team triumphed over Italy in Zenica, winning 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

This marks Bosnia’s second-ever World Cup appearance, the first since Brazil 2014. Despite suffering a shoulder injury in the final seconds of extra time after being hacked down by Davide Frattesi and receiving treatment, Dzeko battled through the full 120 minutes but was unable to take part in the shootout.

He watched from the sidelines with his arm in a sling. Bosnia coach Sergej Barbarez said afterwards: I hope that it is not a great injury to Edin Dzeko and that he will be able to be with us at the World Cup because he does not have much time.”

READ MORE: Defiant Thomas Tuchel unwavering in World Cup belief despite underwhelming send-offREAD MORE: England superfan opens about selling house to fund 10th World Cup trip and early retirement

That didn’t stop the 40-year-old from partying through the night, dancing and singing in a bar. He later shared footage on Instagram, showing the squad enjoying their historic achievement.

He also shared photos from the packed streets of Sarajevo, where the Bosnia squad celebrated atop a rooftop bus surrounded by thousands of fans.

Despite being unable to take a penalty for his country, the striker said it felt like destiny.

“I keep saying it must have been fate, for it to happen in the last second of the match, and then for me not to be able to take a penalty,” he said.

“Someone else stepped up instead of me, scored, and in the end we won. Who knows, maybe if I had taken it, I wouldn’t have scored, so it all feels like it comes from above.”

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football’s Facebook page

On his arm injury, Dzeko added: “We’re all relieved about the arm, it’s not the worst case scenario. Most likely it won’t need surgery.

“So I hope that in maybe a month, month and a half, I should be back.”

Bosnia moved into Group B, where they will face Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in the tournament across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Various Prices

England Official Store

Buy Now on England Official Store

England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL

Meanwhile, Italy failed to return to the World Cup and have become the first former champions to miss back‑to‑back tournaments, having failed to qualify for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.

Two drunk teenagers ‘left a trail of destruction’ in a hotel reception which was so severe they have been banned from every pub, bar and nightclub in the whole of the UK.

Kera McKeown and Larisa Sumovskaja, both 19, trashed the Trouville Hotel in Bournemouth, Dorset, in April last year despite not even being guests.

The pair were caught on camera with ringleader McKeown seen holding a vodka bottle in one hand and her high heels in the other, which she used to bash at the door of a back office.

Receptionist Signe Ivane has asked them to leave but locked herself inside the office to escape the girls, who had also brought friend Jasmine Orchard.

The three started shouting and McKeown threatened Ms Ivane with the vodka bottle in her hand, saying ‘I will punch you up’.

McKeown also spat at Ms Ivane and threw things two vases of flowers, a computer screen and even a phone which hit a male receptionist on the head.

Sumovskaja picked up a fire extinguisher because she ‘thought it would be funny to spray someone with it’. She didn’t use it but McKeown then threw it at the staff.

District judge Orla Austin called their behaviour ‘disgraceful’ as she told them they narrowly avoided going to prison.

She issued them with an order banning them from all pubs, bars, nightclubs and hotels in the country for six months unless they have to go in one for work.

She told them: ‘I recognise your social life is going to be significantly curtailed but that’s the punishment so don’t take any chances.’

The attack came just five weeks after Sumovskaja and Orchard attacked three nightclub staff after they were kicked out for being too drunk.

Two months before the same pair lashed out a taxi driver before running off without paying. They were later caught after boasting about it and sharing the police appeal on social media.

Tara Olney, prosecuting, told the court the hotel had suffered ‘reputational harm’ as well as the physical criminal damage. T

The owners estimated the cost, including clean up and ‘damage control’, at about £4,000.

They said they had to issue refunds to appease guests who had witnessed the crime, a negative review left by one guest after the incident had cost them future bookings and the two receptionists involved missed several days off work due to emotional distress.

Staff morale was also affected as the violent outburst raised concerns about workplace safety.

McKeown and Sumovskaja, from Bournemouth, admitted criminal damage and affray.

Judge Austin said: ‘What happened here was frankly disgraceful. You made a complete nuisance of yourselves and became aggressive when you were asked to leave.

‘It’s very clear from the footage it was very distressing to the staff. It is a custodial offence but I am just persuaded to suspend it. It is the last chance I will give you so I need you both to understand.

‘You are both in quite a serious situation now – no more trouble whatsoever because if there is you leave me with no other option but to send you to prison.’

James Diamond, representing McKeown, said: ‘This is her first time before the court. She has mental health conditions and neurodiversity. Alcohol had influenced her behaviour, along with being young and foolish.

‘She found it very traumatising being in the police station overnight – she was only 18 at the time.

‘She has expressed her deep regret and remorse for her actions, she’s not proud of what she has done.’

Mark Hensleigh, representing Lumovskaja, said: ‘This lady is very young, these offences occurred over a year ago. She didn’t do very well at school, she has mental health issues, she is very vulnerable.

‘This cycle of offending has come to an end with what happened at the hotel. She has turned a corner and the cycle has been broken. She has got the opportunity for a job, she’s not going to trouble the court again.’

Judge Orla Austin gave them both a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months

They were both also ordered to pay compensation to the receptionists and the hotel for the damage totalling £350 each.

Sumovskaja was also ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation activity days and 12 mental health sessions.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Elderly woman stabbed to death on her front doorstep as knifeman threatens public

MORE: Driver accused over Derby car ramming is pictured after first court appearance

MORE: ‘Out of control’ woman hit neighbour with crutch after cutting down her wisteria

Ex-England and Chelsea star Joe Cole says he has a ‘sneaky feeling’ Manchester City will go all the way in this year’s FA Cup to lift the trophy for an eighth time.

City secured the first piece of silverware of the season courtesy of a Nico O’Reilly-inspired victory over Arsenal in last month’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

And while Pep Guardiola’s men were denied a place in the Champions League quarter-finals by Real Madrid, they remain in the mix in both the English top flight and in the FA Cup.

It would require a stunning nine-point swing in order for Guardiola to be crowned a Premier League champion for a seventh time in his illustrious City career.

But victory over Arsenal at the Etihad on April 19 may have some Arsenal fans fearing the worst after what has been a painful 22-year wait for the title, stretching back to Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles.

In the cup, meanwhile, City have been handed a tough quarter-final draw at home to eight-time winners Liverpool, a year after Erling Haaland and Co fell at the final hurdle at the hands of Crystal Palace.

Elsewhere, Arsenal and Southampton do battle at St Mary’s for a semi-final spot, while Chelsea play host to League One outfit Port Vale and West Ham entertain Leeds in an all-Premier League affair at the London Stadium.

Ahead of the weekend’s fixtures, Joe Hart, Glenn Hoddle and Cole sat down with TNT Sport’s Darren Fletcher to discuss their thoughts after a rollercoaster few months in English football’s most famous competition.

‘I’ve just got a sneaky feeling for Joe [Hart]’s mob [Manchester City],’ former Chelsea, Liverpool and West Ham winger Cole said.

In response, ex-England and Manchester City goalkeeper Hart said: ‘To add to that, the way Pep was reacting and with how invested he was… people think he’s got one toe out of Manchester City.

‘But there was no sign of that, was there? He was ready to scrap, he was fighting, he was living and breathing everything they were doing.’

Irrespective of which clubs make it to this year’s final, Cole is anticipating an ‘incredible’ showpiece at Wembley.

‘Nostalgia is a big thing in this current age,’ the ex-England international – who won two FA Cups with Chelsea – explained.

‘There’s always been people harping on about the good old days, but now, music, fashion and football, all three things go hand in hand and the FA Cup encompasses all three things.

‘I think there has been a big push back and this year’s FA Cup final, something incredible is going to happen, it has to.’

According to Hart, Palace’s historic victory over City last year will have ‘given hope to everyone’ of upsetting the odds and getting their hands on the trophy.

‘You look at the achievement of Palace last season, they beat Manchester City and, of course, I wanted Manchester City to win,’ the 2011 FA Cup winner said.

‘But it united them, gave them their medals and their flowers and that badge of honour that they had worked so hard for.

‘It was an incredible performance and that can only give hope to everyone left in the competition.’

Ex-England manager Hoddle agreed, adding: ‘That performance has given hope to everyone: if they can do it against the odds, against the very best, then we can do it.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: John Obi Mikel warns Chelsea that four star players could leave this summer

MORE: Wayne Bridge makes Declan Rice injury claim and sends title warning to Arsenal

MORE: Arsenal join Real Madrid in transfer race for £52m striker who impressed against Gabriel and Saliba

He failed to save any of the penalties while Italy’s Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed theirs.

“I cried because of the enormous sadness I’m feeling, along with the entire Azzurri team, of which I’m proud to be captain, and I know you, fans of our national team, are feeling it too,” Donnarumma added.

The Manchester City keeper, who was handed his senior debut in 2016 aged 17, is yet to play at a World Cup and will have to wait until he is at least 31 for his next opportunity.

He was 15 when Italy lost against Uruguay and exited the 2014 World Cup in the group stage.

He wrote it would take “a lot of strength, passion, and conviction” to restore his country “back where it deserves to be”.

The former Paris St-Germain and AC Milan keeper added: “Always believe; this is the driving force behind moving forward. Because life knows how to reward those who give their all, without holding back.

“And this is where we must start again. Together. Once again.”