Who 'didn't show enough' against Albania? How England's players rated

The Thomas Tuchel era is officially under way, but who impressed most in his first game as England head coach against Albania? BBC Sport football news reporter Alex Howell rates how the players performed in Friday's World Cup qualifier - and you can see how BBC Sport readers rated them at the bottom of the page too. Starting XI Jordan Pickford: Barely had a save to make. His distribution was good as always. 6 Kyle Walker: Picked as right-back in a four-man defence and gave England width in attack. His experience helped a backline with two debutants. One key interception but hard to judge defensively as he didn't have much to deal with. 6 Ezri Konsa: Very tidy at the back, dealt with the few Albania attacks when called upon and continues to excel at international level. A positive first start under the new manager ahead of the 2026 World Cup. 7 Dan Burn: A first England start caps a dream couple of weeks for the Newcastle defender. Overall he was solid and made a couple of key blocks. A couple of nervy moments and a slight misunderstanding with Pickford after blocking a shot in the first half, but dealt with the danger afterwards. A threat from set-pieces and hit the bar with a header. 6 Myles Lewis-Skelly: A full England debut caps an amazing breakthrough season for the Arsenal defender. He was tasked, like he is for his club, with stepping into midfield but also ran on the outside at times too. His goal means the 18-year-old is the youngest player to score on his senior England debut. 8 Declan Rice: The deepest of the midfielders and again not really tested defensively. Gave the ball to the attackers and kept play moving. A clever pass set up Kane's goal. 7 Curtis Jones: Just a third start for Jones but showed, in flashes, why he has been a key part of Liverpool's midfield this season. Linked the play well and looked to get into the box when he could. A quiet second half before being replaced in the 74th minute. 6 Phil Foden: A quiet performance from the Manchester City man playing in his unfavoured position on the right wing. Undoubted talent but he found it hard against an Albania side that defended deep and he didn't show enough. 5 Jude Bellingham: A superb pass for Lewis-Skelly's opener. He looked to make things happen with passes or by dribbling past players to get through Albania's low block. 7 Marcus Rashford: Linked well with Bellingham on the left and looked to beat his full-back when the opportunity came. He also pressed well which is something Tuchel wanted him to show. Subbed after a quiet second half. 6 Harry Kane: The instruction to press and stay high up the pitch was clear, a big difference from the Kane that England saw at the Euros last summer. An excellent touch and finish for his trademark goal showed why he is still captain and first choice number nine. 7...

Nawaz hits Pakistan's fastest T20 ton in win over NZ

Hassan Nawaz blazed Pakistan's fastest T20 century as his side raced to a nine-wicket victory over New Zealand in Auckland. Chasing a challenging 205, the opener smashed an unbeaten 105 from 45 deliveries to take his side to victory in the third T20 and keep the five-match series alive. The 22-year-old, who was playing in just his third international and made ducks in his first two appearances, reached the landmark in 44 balls. He put on 74 with Mohammad Haris (41 off 20) for the opening wicket, with the partnership ended when Haris was caught behind off Jacob Duffy. Nawaz pushed on after the powerplay, bringing up his half-century off 26 balls with a six. Batting alongside captain Salman Agha (51 off 31), Nawaz closed out with consecutive fours to first reach his century, and then end the game with four overs to spare. Pakistan's fastest century was scored by Shahid Afridi, in 37 balls against Sri Lanka in a one-day international in 1996. New Zealand would have had high hopes of winning the series at the earliest opportunity after Michael Chapman struck 94 from 44 deliveries. However Michael Bracewell (31 off 18) was the only other home batter to pass 20, with Haris Rauf taking 3-29 after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl. The hosts lead the series 2-1 going into Sunday's fourth match at Mount Maunganui. It was a chastening day for New Zealand fans, who had earlier watched the women's side fall to an eight-wicket defeat by Australia at Eden Park....

'Hurdles' in PGA-LIV deal - but Trump 'bolstering' talks

The PGA Tour says "some hurdles remain" in the protracted negotiations with LIV Golf to reunify the sport - although Donald Trump's intervention has "significantly bolstered" the talks. Discussions have been ongoing since June 2023 when the PGA Tour and DP World Tour agreed a shock merger with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which funds LIV. The two sides met at the White House last month following the intervention of US President Trump, who is a keen golfer with business interests in the sport. But, speaking before this week's Players Championship, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan could not provide an answer about when a deal might be struck. "We're doing everything we can to bring the two sides together," Monahan said. "That said, we will not do so in a way that diminishes the strength of our platform or the very real momentum we have with our fans and partners." The PGA Tour, represented by Monahan, player director Adam Scott and 15-time major winner Tiger Woods, held "constructive" talks with LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and President Trump on 21 February. Monahan said the involvement of President Trump - who owns several golf resorts around the world - had made a truce "very real". However, no deadline has been set for the saga to be resolved, he said. "While we have removed some hurdles, others remain," Monahan added in a news conference at Sawgrass, where the PGA's flagship event starts on Thursday. "But like our fans, we still share the same sense of urgency to get to a resolution. "Our team is fully committed to reunification."...

'Copybook victory as Norris and McLaren come through chaos unscathed'

Lando Norris and McLaren delivered on their potential with a copybook victory in a demanding Australian Grand Prix in the most difficult of conditions to put their stamp on the start of the new season. Briton Norris described his win as "stressful but rewarding". The first adjective was justified by the conditions in a madcap, crash-strewn, incident-packed race where one small error can spell disaster - as it very nearly did for Norris himself at one point. The second adjective was a recognition of the fact that this was exactly the kind of race in which, last year, McLaren had proved less than perfect, and thrown away at least one potential victory, and perhaps another, too. But in Melbourne they were as perfect as it is possible to be in conditions such as these - even the renowned rain-master Max Verstappen slipped up at one point. And Norris and McLaren came through the chaos unscathed. The fine line between victory and defeat was underlined by an incident with 13 laps to go that defined the race. Norris was leading from team-mate Oscar Piastri and Verstappen as a heavy shower of rain approached the track. It hit as the leaders were negotiating the final corners on lap 44, with 13 to go. Both McLarens ran wide on to the gravel at the exit of Turn 12, and Australian Piastri then spun through Turn 13. Norris was able to continue without losing too much time, but Piastri ended up on the grass on the outside of Turn 12, where he sat with his wheels spinning helplessly for what seemed like an age as his hopes of victory at home evaporated before finally rejoining. He fought back to ninth by the end. Norris immediately pitted for treaded tyres. That decision won him the race, and demonstrated how far he and the team had come since last year - they had planned that they would pit as soon as it rained, and acted decisively on the plan. Verstappen stayed out and took the lead, but as the rain intensified he lost more time, and Norris resumed the lead when the Dutchman pitted himself two laps later....

Who starts for England in Tuchel's first game? Your team revealed

It's the question everyone is asking. Who will start for England against Albania on Friday in Thomas Tuchel's first game as Three Lions boss. We asked BBC Sport readers who they would select when the squad was announced on Thursday and the results are below. Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer did make the initial line-up but has been replaced after his withdrawal. Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was the most picked player, being chosen by 92% of people, with Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane the next most selected. Agree or disagree? You can still pick your team below....

IPL 2025: Format, England players & how to follow on BBC

The 2025 Indian Premier League - the world's biggest T20 franchise tournament - starts on Saturday, 22 March. The 18th edition of the competition features 10 teams battling for the title, currently held by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). There will be commentary on more than 35 matches, including the final on 25 May, available across BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website and app, as well as daily reports on the Franchise Cricket page. Here is everything you need to know. ...

Bath flying as Saints struggle - Premiership returns

It has been eight weeks since the last Premiership match as the league took a break for the Six Nations throughout February and part of March. The league returns on Friday with a weekend of derby games in round 12, as clubs face the first of seven matches to conclude the regular season. Bath lead the way looking to win their first title since 1996, with five clubs behind them separated by only eight points. Defending champions Northampton have endured a disappointing season but are not out of the running either. BBC Sport examines the state of play as the final third of the 2024-25 campaign begins....

Raducanu ends coaching trial with Platenik

Emma Raducanu's coaching trial with Vladimir Platenik is over after just two weeks. The British number two won her Miami Open first-round match against Japanese teenager Sayaka Ishii in straight sets on Wednesday. However, Platenik was absent from her coaching box, having flown to California two days before Raducanu's first-round defeat by Moyuka Uchijima in Indian Wells earlier this month. The two had been training together in the run-up to this week's tournament, but the brief trial ended on Tuesday. It was Raducanu's decision - the 22-year-old's representatives say she has the "utmost respect" for Platenik but the relationship "wasn't quite heading in the right direction". The 49-year-old recently gave an outspoken interview to the Slovak newspaper Dennik N, in which he suggested they had a tentative agreement to work together until May's French Open. Platenik, who has worked previously with Daria Kasatkina and Dominika Cibulkova, is highly rated as a coach. But one former player described him as a "freight train" - saying he was full of intensity and self-confidence, with a personality that was not always easy to handle. Raducanu did not seem affected on court as she beat Ishii 6-2 6-1 and will face the American eighth seed Emma Navarro in the second round on Friday. Jane O'Donoghue, a friend who has worked with Raducanu on an ad-hoc basis over the past couple of years, was in the coaching box alongside Colin Beecher - who runs the LTA's National Tennis Centre in London. Raducanu said in Indian Wells that Platenik was "very serious and very professional", but stressed it was too early to know how they would get on both on and off the court. They had some previous experience together, having worked for two weeks on a trial basis when Raducanu was 17. The 2021 US Open champion has been without a permanent coach since Nick Cavaday stood down for health reasons after January's Australian Open. Raducanu had previously worked with a wide range of coaches including Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson - who was in charge during her run to the title in New York - Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov and Sebastian Sachs....

How James became the 'main man' for Leeds and Wales

2026 World Cup qualifying: Wales v Kazakhstan Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Saturday, 22 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT Coverage: Watch on BBC One Wales, iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app, plus S4C via iPlayer. Text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app. Listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 Sport Extra. Eight games from winning promotion to the Premier League. Eight fixtures standing in-between Wales and the 2026 World Cup. Leeds United's Dan James knows he could about to have the year of his life. Fortunately for club and country, he is having the season of his life. Once widely criticised for lacking end product, he is now on track for a career-best tally of goals and assists in a single campaign. "Outstanding," Daniel Farke has said of someone who has become integral to Championship leaders Leeds' bid to return to the top-flight, a player happy to carry the weighty Elland Road expectations of success. Craig Bellamy will be hoping for just as much attacking influence on the international stage as Wales plot their path to north America. And James is not shying away from it. "I'm not a young player anymore," he says. "I want to try and be that main man." But, even for a player of electrifying pace, getting to that stage has taken some time....

Rangers embarrassed by 'shameful' banner after Uefa charges

Rangers have described the display by supporters of an anti-woke banner at their Europa League game against Fenerbahce - and which has led to a disciplinary charge from Uefa - as "shameful" and "embarrassing". The Scottish Premiership club also hit out at the throwing of objects on to the pitch, and the continued use of pyrotechnics, saying fans who carry out such acts are not welcome at their matches. While thanking most supporters for their recent backing during games against the Turkish side and Celtic, Rangers state, external it is "deeply saddening and frankly embarrassing that the club is now set to face significant sanctions for the actions of a very small minority". The banner displayed at Ibrox during Thursday's aggregate win over Fenerbahce stated: "Keep woke foreign ideologies out - defend Europe." ...

Scheffler happy form improving for Masters defence

World number one Scottie Scheffler is confident he is getting back to his best after a relatively slow start to the season as he prepares to defend his Masters title next month. Scheffler has not won a tournament so far in 2025 having won two at this stage last year - the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship. His defence of the latter this year did not go to plan as he finished tied for 20th, although his return to action this year was delayed by the injury he suffered while preparing Christmas dinner. The 28-year-old stabbed himself in the hand with the broken stem of a wine glass, external while using it to make ravioli. "I think it would be silly to say that it didn't set me back a little bit because I had to take a good amount of time off," he said. "I'm a right-handed golfer. So any sort of injury you have to that hand, especially a surgical one, is going to have some sort of effect. "But each day, my hand continues to improve. My body continues to get back to where it needs to be and I think my swing is coming around, as well. "So I'm definitely excited about the improvements that I'm making." Despite no wins yet, Scheffler's results have not been too bad with two top-10 finishes in his five events so far. Scheffler will look to claim back-to-back Masters titles when the major gets under way on 10 April, and he is happy with the improvements he is making as the tournament approaches. "The results this year have been decent," he added. "I feel like I'm really close to playing some really nice golf again. I've got another good week of prep here at home and I felt like we learned a lot last week at Sawgrass. "I'm definitely excited about the things that we kind of figured out when we were in Jacksonville."...

Edinburgh to stage start of Tour de France in 2027

The men's and women's Tour de France will both begin in Britain in 2027, with Edinburgh to host the men's Grand Depart. Scotland, Wales and England will put on a stage in each of the events, with route details and the Grand Depart for the Tour de France Femmes to be announced in the autumn. The men's version of the world's most famous cycling race has been partly staged in Britain four times before, in 1974, 1994, 2007 and 2014. This will be the first time both men's and women's events have come to the same nation outside France in the same year. Crowds at the roadside for the three English stages in 2014 were estimated at 4.8 million. Scotland hosted the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships in 2023 with around one million spectators turning out over 11 days of action. Organisers say the staging in Britain will "deliver long-lasting benefits for thousands of people by tackling inactivity, improving mental wellbeing, boosting economic growth and supporting communities to thrive". They add it will help "inspire a new generation of cycling fans and riders while boosting cycle tourism"....

UK Athletics denies Paralympian's manslaughter

UK Athletics (UKA) and its former head of sport have pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter following the death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei. Hayayei, 36, died on 11 July 2017 after a metal cage fell on him while he was training at Newham Leisure Centre in east London ahead of the World Para Athletics Championships. At a pre-trial hearing at the Old Bailey, the UKA denied a further charge of failing to ensure the safety of non-employees, while Keith Davies, 77, from east London, denied failing to take reasonable care for health and safety. According to the charges, the shot put cage that Hayayei was using was allegedly erected without its "base structure". ...

When Welsh rugby ruled: 20 years since 2005 Grand Slam

As Welsh rugby reflects on one of its darkest days, 19 March marks the 20th anniversary of surely one of its best. For Wales supporters, it was an 'I was there' moment. Some 74,376 of them were inside what was then the Millennium Stadium - many more claim to have been - and more than twice that figure were in Cardiff city centre to witness a piece of rugby history. It had been 27 years since Wales won a Six Nations Grand Slam and no-one expected that wait to end given they had finished last just two years earlier. But the rugby gods, a new Welsh coach and a swashbuckling team oozing confidence - personified by a certain player's silver boots and golden tan - combined to pull off the impossible dream. In the space of just seven weeks, they captured the nation's imagination. Heavens, even the sun came out on a celestial spring day for the finale against Brian O'Driscoll's Ireland. "I don't think there's ever been a game like that in the new stadium and I don't think it will ever be replicated again," said ex-number eight Ryan Jones. So as Welsh rugby reflects on a miserable Six Nations, which was rounded off by a thrashing by England, BBC Sport looks back two decades, to the day Wales returned as a force. Wales...

Henderson England recall a great move - Pickford

Jordan Henderson's England recall is a "great move" and the 34-year-old brings a "winning mentality" to the squad, says goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Ajax midfielder Henderson was called up for the first time since November 2023 when new manager Thomas Tuchel named him in his first England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. Henderson won the first of his 81 caps in 2010 under Fabio Capello, and Tuchel has said the former Liverpool skipper "embodies everything we try to build". Pickford knows Henderson well as they were both at Sunderland in the early stage of their careers, as well as being part of the England sides that reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, the Euro 2020 final and the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. And Pickford thinks the call-up of Henderson and Newcastle defender Dan Burn will help the squad as they prepare to try to win the World Cup in 2026. "We've been knocking on the door for a while now. We've been to two finals, a semi-final and a quarter final," the goalkeeper said. "It's about that next step now. We know what it takes to get there. It's about what it takes to lift the trophy, and that is what the manager has come in to do," Pickford said. "We have got Dan Burn's first call-up which is a great achievement for him. We have got Hendo with how many caps he has got. He has got that winning mentality, what he has won at Liverpool as a player and a captain. "To have those leaders around the place, the more leaders you have in the team I think the more success they will bring. "They will drive training standards, they will drive standards around the place and make it a better camp for everybody." Henderson joined Ajax in January 2024 after spending less than six months at Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League. He has made 38 appearances this season and Ajax are six points clear at the top of the Eredivisie. "His desire to want to win and what he has won and achieved is driven by himself," Pickford said. "He's a winner and a big leader. I think bringing Hendo back in is great for the squad. "He was vice-captain for numerous years. He didn't come to the last Euros but he was vice-captain in 2018 to Harry [Kane]. "I think someone like Hendo, it's great. Having leaders in your group, the teams that have won have always had that experience in the side as well. "I think it's a great move for us to have someone like him in the squad. What he has done, how he is still driven - whether he plays or not he is going to be the leader on the training pitch," Pickford added. England reached the final of Euro 2024 under previous manager Gareth Southgate where they lost to Spain, and Pickford says it is hard to know if Henderson could have helped England win their first men's trophy since 1966. "We got to a final and didn't win it," Pickford said. "Jords is a great lad and respected by all the players and the staff. "I don't think we will ever know if he was a miss as we got to the final. This manager has brought Hendo in and I know how much of a leader he is, and how respected he is, so I think it's only a good thing."...