ENGLAND clash with Greece in Thursday’s Nations League showdown at Wembley Stadium.

BoyleSports are marking the occasion with a tremendous offer for brand new customers with a whopping £30 in free bets plus an extra £10 casino bonus up for grabs!

Wait, there’s also a cracking price boost on offer with England to win the match, over 2.5 goals scored and Harry Kane first goalscorer now available at 5/1.

Find The Sun’s betting publishing principles here

BoyleSports offer and price boost

• England to win the match, over 2.5 goals scored and Harry Kane first goalscorer at 5/1 – CLAIM HERE

• New customers who stake £10 will receive £30 in free bets and an extra £10 casino bonus – CLAIM HERE

How to claim..

BoyleSports offer

1. Visit the BoyleSports website via your mobile HERE*
2. Register a new account — no Promo Code required
3. Deposit a minimum of £10 using Cards
4. Place a bet of £10 or more at odds of 1/1 or greater
5. Once that’s settled, BoyleSports will credit your account with £30 in free bets plus an extra £10 casino bonus

BoyleSports – Claim £30 in free bets and a £10 casino bonus HERE*

What’s the offer?

BoyleSports are offering brand new customers £30 in free bets plus an extra £10 casino bonus. New and existing customers can also back the following price enhancement.

• England to win the match, over 2.5 goals scored and Harry Kane first goalscorer at 5/1 – CLAIM HERE

How to claim?

Visit the BoyleSports website using your mobile HERE*

Register a new account, deposit a minimum of £10 and then stake at least a tenner on any BoyleSports market at odds of 1/1 or greater.

What happens next?

Once your bet has settled — win or lose — BoyleSports will credit your account with £30 in free bets, plus a further £10 casino bonus.

BoyleSports – Claim £30 in free bets and a £10 casino bonus HERE*

*New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. £30 in FREE Bets (FB) as £20 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. T&Cs apply. 18+. Prices subject to fluctuation & availability. 90mins only. Bet responsibly. T&Cs apply.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk

GMP are one of several organisations who regularly communicate with WSL clubs to ensure security at matches.

However, it is ultimately the clubs’ decision on whether they want to allow players to continue to sign autographs after matches.

Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor says it is “a difficult decision” for clubs to come to as they want to maintain the authenticity of the women’s game.

City have several high-profile players in their squad including England internationals Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp, as well as Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema and Japanese star Yui Hasegawa.

But having witnessed first-hand the growing crowds and pressure on players to make time for fans, Taylor supports City’s controlled signing sessions.

“We try to do it now in a more guided way. We have a specific amount of players. We do an alleyway, where it’s more controlled,” said Taylor.

“Sometimes after games, you [would] ask security guards and they would say ‘this is bonkers, we’re going to have an accident one day’. So you see it from both sides.”

Elsewhere, Tottenham are continuing to review the situation at their home ground Brisbane Road, while Arsenal are playing more games at the Emirates Stadium.

Spurs boss Robert Vilahamn said clubs “always need to check security for players” but insisted they have a “really good bond with fans” and they want to keep that.

There are mixed views among players.

England goalkeeper Mary Earps was one of the first to highlight the difficulty in keeping fans happy after receiving criticism for not signing an autograph in 2023.

Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze, who has played at Barcelona, Lyon and Manchester City in recent years, said the measures have been taken to keep the fans safe, as well as players.

“Not every stadium is ready for this volume of fans. The fans are used to having that reaction with players, which we love as well, but at the end of the day you can’t speak to every fan,” said Bronze.

“We still have those interactions. Although I might not be signing [autographs] I still get to see them and that’s what I enjoy.

“Signing a piece of paper is nice, I get that, but I know when I was a fan I went to watch [ex-England international] Rachel Yankey and thought, ‘Whoa, this is amazing’.

“I didn’t need the picture and signature to go with that.”

A sign of how good a person Root is, is how he settled back into the ranks once his great mate Ben Stokes took over the captaincy.

Even though it was clear he wanted to carry on as skipper after the West Indies series of 2022, Root doubled down on the style of play Stokes wanted to use. The message that sent to the dressing room would have been huge and one of the reasons the changeover of captaincy was so seamless.

Root has always had an ability to adapt and evolve. He is never satisfied and never stands still.

For everything which comes naturally to him, like the straight-bat punch off the back foot through backward point, there are other things he has had to work at in order to survive and excel, especially in foreign conditions: rotating the strike from spin off both front and back foot, becoming so selective about how and when he plays his sweeps (not to be confused with reverse scoops). It is not a stretch to say he is renowned as the best batter in the world in sub-continental conditions for visiting teams from outside of Asia.

Root has an insatiable hunger for runs. When he gets an opportunity to go big, he will rarely throw it away.

He had troubles early in his career converting fifties to hundreds. Those experiences have made him realise the opportunity to score centuries doesn’t just grow on trees. You can see the concentration and determination in his eyes when he is not willing to leave any runs out there.

In his first 97 Tests he scored 17 hundreds and 49 fifties. In the 49 Tests up to this series he scored 17 hundreds and 15 fifties. A quite remarkable conversion rate.

The next statistical aim for Root is Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time Test run-scoring record of 15,921. Root is only 33 and at his current rate of scoring it would take him 38 Tests to overhaul The Little Master.

It is not inconceivable this feat could be completed within three years. Root has been bullish about not being close to satisfied at merely surpassing Cook, and that he has many more Test runs in his sights. It is a comforting thought for England fans.

Psychologically, he may consider a stack of runs in a successful away Ashes series win as the prize to top off a magnificent career.

In Australia, Root averages 35.68 with no hundreds. He has played in some horror shows of series Down Under and might be grateful to catch Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins well into their 30s down under next winter.

England’s greatest ever batter has two more peaks to conquer. He isn’t done yet.

NICKY HENDERSON will train the most expensive horse ever bought to go over the jumps.

This year’s German Derby hero Palladium was snapped up for €1.4million (£1.2m) at the sales in France on Saturday and the colt will join Henderson for a campaign over hurdles.

3

3

Advertisement

3

It is nearly TWICE the fee paid for the previous record-holder, Regent’s Stroll, who was bought by a syndicate including Sir Alex Ferguson for £660,000 in July and sent to 14-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

THE SUN RACING MEMBERS ENCLOSURE

The only place to get Templegate’s tips first – and at the best prices – is by joining Sun Racing’s brilliant Members Enclosure.

Sign up now for just £1* to be part of racing’s best winning team and get…

Advertisement

• Four free racing tickets, four times a year – worth £300
• Templegate’s daily tips at the BEST prices before anyone else
• Tomorrow’s copy of The Favourite at 9pm today
• Exclusive insights from Andrew Balding and Hayley Turner
• VIP competitions from Racing Breaks each month
• New customer offer with Coral

Become a member today for just £1*

*For the first month then £3 per month thereafter.

SIGN UP NOW

18+ Ts and Cs apply. First month membership £1, then £3 per month unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date. For more information contact help@thesun.co.uk

Sir Alex smashed his own world record with that purchase, having previously snapped up Caldwell Potter for a then-record £633,000 in February.

Palladium is the most talented Flat horse to have been bought to go over the sticks in years.

The three-year-old was trained by Henk Grewe in Cologne and was a surprise winner of the German Derby at Hamburg back in July, winning by a neck.

He was last of six on his most recent run in the Group 1 Preis von Europa last month before being flogged at the sales.

Hendo, 73, did not want to comment but said the horse, now owned by long-time ally Lady Bamford, wife of billionaire JCB boss Lord Bamford, had not yet arrived at Seven Barrows.

It looks like he currently could be the sort of horse to contest the Triumph Hurdle at March’s Cheltenham Festival if he takes to jumping.

Henderson, the six-time champion trainer, ended last season in great form, winning Grade 1s at Aintree and Sandown after a miserable run of form in February and March.

A bug affected a number of horses in his yard, most notably Constitution Hill, forcing him to withdraw most of his runners at last season’s Cheltenham Festival.

The unbeaten superstar is back in rude health this year, according to Henderson, and is all set to start his season in next month’s Fighting Fifth hurdle at Newcastle.

The Champion Hurdle will be his ultimate goal, where he looks like he could meet Willie Mullins’ pair Lossiemouth and State Man.

Henderson’s other superstar hurdler Sir Gino, who is unbeaten in four, was one of many who missed the Festival.

He returned for Aintree’s Grand National meeting in April where he won their Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle and could also be kept over hurdles.

FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

Against those two teams, who met last night at Stamford Bridge, you would once more expect Celtic to be in the unfamiliar position as the underdog, the team on the back foot.

Though that eventually transpired in Hamilton, the SWPL champions came flying out of the blocks, relishing the challenge in front of them.

But once the excitement of their new surroundings wore off, reality soon hit.

Twente – competing in the competition for the 10th time – were streetwise. They know what this competition demands. They rode out the early wave of Celtic’s energy then pounced and pinned them into their own defensive third. They toyed with the hosts at times.

“We are where we are but we need to get fitter, we need to control the ball when we have it, we need to be brave and play out from the pressure like we did in the first 15 minutes,” Sadiku added.

“The movement, the pace with and without the ball. When we defend that much, we need to be fitter so that when we have the ball, we can relax.

“We concede the first goal late in the half, does that have something to do with fatigue? The second goal, we concede late in the game, so could that have something to do with it?”

“We’ll learn from this and take confidence, because they should be confident.”

That confidence comes from a second-half rally. As they did in the first, Celtic came out quick and alert from the restart and created chances they should have made count.

But ultimately they didn’t, and Kayleigh van Dooren’s late goal ensured a Twente victory. A stage this grand is unforgiving, as Celtic discovered.

It is all a learning curve, though. This is unchartered territory for a side few – if any – thought would be dining at this table when Sadiku came in just 10 months ago. A point she is keen to reiterate.

“There are errors we need to fix,” the head coach added.

“I don’t know how much people are expecting from us to be in the top 16, what we’re doing right now is we’re going to fight. We’ll try to do everything to get as many points as possible.

“In January or in the summer, I don’t think anyone expected us to be where we are right now.

“It’s been a great experience, we’ll learn and I think we can really put in a better performance for our next game.”