��������

“I’ve been in football long enough to understand that for a player, the careers are short and they’ve got things that they want to achieve,” Burn said
“I’ve got nothing but good wishes for Alex”

LONDON: Newcastle defender Dan Burn insisted on Friday he feels “no animosity” toward Alexander Isak following the striker’s drawn-out move to Premier League rivals Liverpool.
Isak effectively went on strike in order to force a move through a move to the English champions, with a British record £125 million ($169 million) transfer finally completed on Monday’s deadline day of the summer window.
Newcastle fans turned on their one-time hero and while Burn was sympathetic toward their feelings, the Magpies center-half accepts the Sweden striker had to look after himself.
“I’ve been in football long enough to understand that for a player, the careers are short and they’ve got things that they want to achieve,” Burn said ahead of England’s World Cup qualifier with Andorra on Saturday. “So for me, happy that it’s over.
“Alex is a mate, so it was tough situation because you wanted him to be around and helping the team, but also understand for him, what he needs to do personally. So I’ve got nothing but good wishes for Alex.
“No animosity, I think as a Newcastle fan, and you know what Newcastle fans are like, we’re very protective of our club, and our city.”
He added: “You want players to be there who want to play for Newcastle, and naively you don’t want them to think that there’s anywhere else to go, apart from playing at Newcastle.
“So I understand why our fans are frustrated. But as I said, I think I’ve been in the game long enough now to understand what goes on.
“I wish Alex all the best, apart from when we play Liverpool.”

LONDON: England manager Thomas Tuchel is adamant there is “no curse” upon his side as he looks to end their near 60-year wait for a major international trophy.
England’s only previous major title came at the 1966 World Cup on home soil, defeating West Germany in the final.
England came close several times to ending the drought under Tuchel’s predecessor Gareth Southgate, losing successive European Championship finals, as well as reaching the 2018 World Cup semifinals and the last eight in 2022.
England’s women have enjoyed success under Sarina Wiegman, winning back-to-back Euros titles in 2022 and 2025, while the men’s Under-21 side are also double European champions after backing up their 2023 title with victory in Slovakia in June.
“Not at all,” Tuchel said when asked if he felt extra pressure due to the women’s and youth teams’ successes.
“If it is something, then it is a good omen and I was so happy for Sarina and (Under-21 coach) Lee (Carsley) because they made it and they made an extraordinary effort and a huge success with back-to-back victories...
“It is possible (to win a trophy with England), there is no curse on English teams and it is a good omen and we will do our very best to follow their example.”
England face Andorra on Saturday in qualifying for next year’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, before taking on Serbia in Belgrade on Tuesday.
“I get a lot of tips, that’s for sure, but always in a friendly manner,” former Chelsea boss Tuchel said of his interactions with England fans.
“Most of them just say, ‘Bring it home, Thomas’. That’s basically the task.”
Manchester City defender John Stones has withdrawn from the squad for the upcoming games with injury.
Stones has not added to his tally of 83 caps since last October.
“Unfortunately, John Stones just left,” Tuchel said. “He came with minor issues, muscular issues, to camp and didn’t progress as we thought and hoped he would.
“So, he left camp this morning (Friday) because we will not take the risk. Everyone else is available.”
Tuchel confirmed England captain Harry Kane will lead the side in the Andorra qualifier.
“Yes. He (Kane) starts. There is no balance, the competition is on and it is World Cup season,” he said.
England only beat Andorra, a lowly 174th in the FIFA world rankings, 1-0 when the teams met in their initial qualifier in June.
“We will face — in both matches — a deep block and a 5-4-1 for sure in the first match and it is the challenge to overcome that quickly and aggressively and play with more rhythm than we did in the first match (against Andorra),” said Tuchel.
Latvia and Albania are the other two sides in Group K of European qualifying, with the group winners booking a place at the World Cup.