Aaron Ramsdale backed his England and Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka to step up if he's called upon to take a penalty at the World Cup, despite having been subjected to racial abuse after his shootout miss in the European Championship final.
Saka and his England teammates Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were the targets of online abuse after they missed spot-kicks in a 3-2 shootout loss to Italy after the game ended 1-1 following extra time.
Since his miss in the final, Saka has scored three penalties for Arsenal in the Premier League, including goals from the spot in back-to-back games against Chelsea and United in April.
When asked if Saka would volunteer to take a penalty at the World Cup, Ramsdale told reporters, "absolutely".
"I think he's realised that it was something which happened which maybe had to happen for him," Ramsdale added.
"And he wouldn't shy away from that because of the type of person and what it is. So he knows the feeling now, and hopefully, the next time he steps up, he'll do what he does for Arsenal and put it in the back of the net."
England plays their Group B opener against Iran on Monday before facing the United States and Wales.
Formula One stewards handed Haas rookie driver Oliver Bearman a 10-place grid drop for his first home British Grand Prix for failing to comply with red warning flags in Saturday's final practice.
Seventh seed Mirra Andreeva outclassed American Hailey Baptiste 6-1 6-3 under the Court One roof to equal her best Wimbledon run by reaching the last 16 on Saturday.
Carrying a red floral wreath bearing his shirt number, Diogo Jota's Liverpool teammates joined relatives and residents in a small Portuguese town on Saturday for the funeral of the football star, who died with his brother in a car crash on Thursday.
An 83rd-minute Weverton own goal from a deflected Malo Gusto cross gave Chelsea a nervy 2-1 win over a spirited Palmeiras side in the Club World Cup quarter-finals on Friday.
Women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka fought off inspired home favourite Emma Raducanu in a cauldron-like Centre Court atmosphere to keep her Wimbledon quest on track but it was the end of the road for two other Grand Slam champions on Friday.
Under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “The Mother of the Nation”, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), the official theme for Emirati Women's Day 2025 has been approved as “Hand in Hand, We Celebrate 50 Years”.
The United Arab Emirates has expressed its solidarity with Italy, over an explosion at a petrol station in the capital, Rome, which resulted in several injuries.
The United Arab Emirates has brought its pioneering "Youth Dialogue" model to Brazil for the very first time as part of its broader participation in the BRICS Summit.