ClickCease

Author: Harry Howes

Euro 2024 ultimate preview: Can England win it all?

Posted on by Harry Howes

The wait is over – today’s the day. 24 nations across Europe are gripped with football fever as Euro 2024 is about to kick off.

The first match takes place tonight, with hosts Germany taking on Scotland, and we’re then set for wall-to-wall football action for a month, with the final taking place on Sunday 14th July.

England will be desperate to be there as they look to heal the wounds of coming so close last time out. But it won’t be an easy ride, with plenty of competition looking to stop them in their tracks.

Can England end 58 years of hurt?

They’ve got a very good chance! While on paper many believe France have the best squad, England remain the bookies’ favourites. The Three Lions reached the final last time out as a penalty shootout defeat to Italy broke the nation’s hearts.

But since then, their key players have gone from strength to strength. Young stars from Euro 2021 like Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and Declan Rice have developed into world class talents. Meanwhile, England stalwarts like Harry Kane, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Jordan Pickford have retained their class.

Kane will be playing the tournament on home soil having enjoyed a stunning debut season at Bayern Munich, scoring 44 goals in all competitions as they reached the Champions League semi-final. Meanwhile, Bellingham took no time in finding his feet at Real Madrid. After dazzling at Borussia Dortmund for three years, the 20-year-old scored 23 times in a more advanced role as Real won La Liga and the Champions League.

Gareth Southgate has often been accused of picking his favourites and ignoring players in form but that couldn’t be further from the truth this time. He threw up a shock as Marcus Rashford was left out of the preliminary squad after a disappointing season for Manchester United. And then when the final squad was announced, Jack Grealish and James Maddison were notable omissions.

Their loss is the gain of others, as the likes of Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton, Anthony Gordon and Kobbie Mainoo have been rewarded for their spectacular club form in recent months. England now have a genuinely quality squad, with a balance of formidable world beaters, reliable stars and exciting wildcards.

They’ll have every confidence of going all the way – the only question mark will be whether Southgate adopts a bold attitude when it comes to his team selection. He’s been guilty of a negative set up in the past but when you have a side packed with quality, you need to be on the front foot and controlling games, which certainly wasn’t the case in England’s final friendly against Iceland.

But with their opening game just a few days away, football fans up and down the country are starting to get excited and if you listen carefully, you can hear the faint sounds of ‘It’s coming home’ starting to build momentum.

England’s group games

●    England v Serbia – Sunday 16th June, 8pm
●    England v Denmark – Thursday 20th June, 5pm
●    England v Slovenia – Tuesday 25th June, 8pm

Who are England’s main challengers?

It goes without saying that France are among the biggest threats. Long gone are the days when the French would collapse at international tournaments and crash out in the group stages. Their exciting young squad won the World Cup in 2018 before reaching the final again in Qatar 18 months ago, where they couldn’t quite beat Lionel Messi’s Argentina.

Yet despite their strengths, they’re not invincible and they were shocked at the last Euros when neighbours Switzerland held them to a 3-3 draw before knocking them out on penalties.

In any case, Didier Deschamps boasts an incredible array of talent with a winning mentality. Kylian Mbappe is among the clear favourites to claim the Golden Boot (if he can shake off his illness) and as well as his young teammates, he’ll also be backed up by the experience of Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann, who both seem to age like a fine wine.

Elsewhere, Germany may not be the formidable side they were 10 years ago when they won the World Cup in Brazil. However, they’ll fancy their chances at winning on home soil in what would be their first Euros triumph since 1996.

They’ve entered a new era under Julian Nagelsmann and they’re looking to the future, with exciting youngsters like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz ready to take the mantle from old guard Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos and Manuel Neuer, who are surely entering their final tournament for Germany.

Euro 2024 may also be the final time we see Cristiano Ronaldo grace this competition. The 39-year-old helped his side to glory in France eight years ago and he’ll be desperate to go out with another piece of silverware. The Portuguese squad is littered with notable attacking stars, including Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Diogo Jota and Joao Felix, while veteran defender Pepe is still holding firm at the back.

Meanwhile, Spain will also be looking to challenge. Their days of winning tournaments before they’ve even started are in the past, but they still boast a strong squad. However, these competitions often throw up a shock with a big nation going out in the groups and Spain find themselves in the traditional ‘group of death’ alongside Croatia and Italy.

Who are the dark horses?

It seems bizarre that the holders of the trophy can be considered outsiders but Italy aren’t particularly fancied to retain their crown. They went all the way last time out, beating England on penalties in the final. However, their squad lacks the ‘X factor’ it once had, with no standout star like Ronaldo, Mbappe or Kane that can win them a game out of nowhere. Saying that, they always seem to find a way to grind out a route to the latter stages.

Elsewhere, Croatia and Belgium will always pose a threat, with talismen Luka Modric and Romelu Lukaku regular stars in this competition. The Netherlands will fancy their chances with Virgil van Dijk at the back and although Memphis Depay struggled at Manchester United all those years ago, he always shows up for his country.

Finally, Denmark are a genuine overlooked outsider. They reached the semi-finals four years ago, narrowly losing 2-1 to England in extra-time after taking the lead at Wembley. Their squad is full of recognisable Premier League talent and we’ll truly see what they’re made of when they face England in the group stage.

Everything you need to know about Royal Ascot 2024

Posted on by Harry Howes

With just a week to go until Royal Ascot 2024, the anticipation is building in Berkshire. Once again, all eyes will be on the iconic horse racing event as the best horses and best-dressed punters all come together for a quintessentially British racing festival.

Saddle up for five days of top-class racing and expect to see plenty of fascinators and top hats on show, and if you’re lucky, maybe a royal or two. As ever, Engage will be providing exclusive hospitality packages, offering you the chance to enjoy the racing action from the best seats in the house. Enquire today to book your place.

Royal Ascot race schedule

Tuesday 18th June

As ever, Royal Ascot will kick off with The Queen Anne Stakes, with Frankie Dettori’s old pal Inspiral the favourite, while Charyn and Facteur Cheval are expected to challenge.

2:30pm – The Queen Anne Stakes
3:05pm – The Coventry Stakes
3:45pm – The King Charles III Stakes
4:25pm – The St James’s Palace Stakes
5:05pm – The Ascot Stakes
5:40pm – The Wolferton Stakes
6:15pm – The Copper Horse Stakes

Wednesday 19th June

Day two sees the festival’s most expensive race take place with The Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Auguste Rodin is the likely favourite but will face competition from White Birch.

2:30pm – The Queen Mary Stakes
3:05pm – The Queen’s Vase
3:45pm – The Duke of Cambridge Stakes
4:25pm – The Prince of Wales’s Stakes
5:05pm – The Royal Hunt Cup
5:40pm – The Kensington Palace Stakes
6:15pm – The Windsor Castle Stakes

Thursday 20th June

Kyprios is the odds-on favourite to reclaim his crown in The Gold Cup after winning back in 2022. Last year’s victor Courage Mon Ami has been forced to pull out through injury.

2:30pm – The Norfolk Stakes
3:05pm – The King George V Stakes
3:45pm – The Ribblesdale Stakes
4:25pm – The Gold Cup
5:05pm – The Britannia Stakes
5:40pm – The Hampton Court Stakes
6:15pm – The Buckingham Palace Stakes

Friday 21st June

Inspiral won The Coronation Stakes two years ago and now Opera Singer and Fallen Angel are looking to do so on the penultimate day of the festival.

2:30pm – The Albany Stakes
3:05pm – The Commonwealth Cup
3:45pm – The Coronation Stakes
4:25pm – The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes
5:05pm – The Sandringham Stakes
5:40pm – The King Edward VII Stakes
6:15pm – The Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes

Saturday 22nd June

Kinross has edged ahead in the betting of The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, well ahead of Art Power who came out on top when the pair met in the British Champion Sprint Stakes.

2:30pm – The Chesham Stakes
3:05pm – The Hardwicke Stakes
3:45pm – The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
4:25pm – The Jersey Stakes
5:05pm – The Wokingham Stakes
5:40pm – The Golden Gates Stakes
6:15pm – The Queen Alexandra Stakes

Royal Ascot dress code

It goes without saying that Royal Ascot is a classy affair and all attendees are expected to dress to impress. But depending on where you’re spending the day, there are different rules, so make sure you’re dressed appropriately for your enclosure.

Queen Anne Enclosure

Gentlemen: A suit jacket or blazer with a full length trouser or chino must be worn, as well as a collared shirt, socks and either a necktie, bow tie or cravat. Again, trainers, denim, leggings and shorts are not allowed.

Ladies: As above – sheer or strapless dresses and tops are not allowed and midriffs must be covered.

Ladies Day dress code

Traditionally, day three of Royal Ascot is Ladies Day, which gives the wonderful women attending the chance to go all out. There’s no official dress code for Ladies Day, although guests often use it as a chance to make a statement with extravagant hats, dazzling jewellery and dresses that stand out.

Royal Ascot

How to get to Ascot racecourse

If you’re travelling by train, Ascot station is just a seven minute walk from the racecourse, with directions clearly signposted. The train journey from London Waterloo takes under an hour, while Ascot is also served by frequent trains from Reading and Guildford.

For those driving from the north, the midlands and London, leave the M4 at junction 6 and follow the A332 Windsor bypass to Ascot. If you’re coming from the west, south or east, head towards Bracknell and follow the signs to Ascot. Parking can be booked online in advance.

The exciting state of Heavyweight Boxing

Posted on by Harry Howes

Heavyweight boxing is back!

Heavyweight boxing is back! For the first time in what feels like forever, the heavyweight division is in full flow, with genuine contenders left, right and centre, as well as countless potential match-ups.

With the likes of Oleksander Usyk, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua already preparing for their next fights, we’ve taken a look at the current state of the heavyweight boxing scene.

Christmas could come early for Fury

Fury finally surrendered his unbeaten record last month as he was beaten by Usyk in their heavyweight bout. But the British fighter could be getting an early Christmas present after sealing a rematch later this year.

The pair will meet again on Saturday 21st December in Riyadh, with Fury desperate to prove a point after he claimed he should have been given the win a few weeks ago. Usyk maintained his winning run by beating Fury in a split decision, with the judges scoring in the Ukrainian’s favour after he achieved a knockdown in the ninth.

The win meant Usyk is now the first ever undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in the new four-belt era, as well as being the first to claim the title in 24 years. The 37-year-old adds Fury to a list of defeated opponents that features Joshua and Daniel Dubois.

But he’ll have to do it all again in December after Fury activated the rematch clause, meaning all of the belts will be going on the line again – unless the IBF have their way. Their rules state that champions cannot take part in rematches when a title defence is due.

As a result, Usyk may be stripped of the IBF belt before the fight with Fury, meaning the rematch would no longer be an undisputed bout. Usyk has appealed the decision but it remains to be seen whether he’ll be successful.

Joshua to fight Dubois for the title?

With four consecutive wins under his belt, Joshua is booked in for his next fight at Wembley in September, although it’s yet to be confirmed who he’ll face. Talks are reportedly underway with Dubois after AJ watched him beat Filip Hrgovic at the weekend.

Joshua has previously been a two-time unified champion but he relinquished his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO titles when he lost to Usyk in September 2021. Since losing the rematch the following summer, Joshua has been back on form and has enjoyed four wins in a row over the last year.

Last time out he beat UFC star Francis Ngannou with a second-round knockout and he’s as hungry as ever as he awaits his next challenge. Dubois has sent warning shots to Joshua, insisting that he’s got what it takes to beat him.

And if the pair do meet in the autumn, it may well be for the IBF title. Dubois’ win over Hrgovic saw him become the interim IBF champion, meaning he’ll automatically take the belt should Usyk lose his appeal.

Dubois would be a tough test for AJ as he proved in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, stopping the previously unbeaten Hrgovic in the seventh round. The 26-year-old has won all but two of his professional fights, losing to fellow Brit Joe Joyce back in 2020 before failing in his quest to stop Usyk in Poland last summer.

Who are the other heavyweight contenders?

A few years ago, the heavyweight division felt a bit stale, with Fury, Joshua and Deontay Wilder the only contenders. Thankfully, the division is back to its best, with plenty of fighters waiting for their opportunity to prove themselves.

For Wilder, his stock has dropped after he was knocked out in the fifth round by Zhilei Zhang at the weekend. It was his fourth defeat in his last five fights, including two against Fury and a unanimous decision loss against Joseph Parker.

The American had previously been destined to fight Joshua but with such a poor recent record, it will take some comeback to get back to his previous standing. On the contrary, Zhang’s credentials have catapulted following the win over Wilder.

Despite being aged 41, the Chinese fighter is one of the more prominent contenders, although he did lose the interim WBO title to Parker earlier this year. Parker, who has not returned to the ring since beating Zhang in March, has also beaten Wilder in the last 12 months.

The New Zealander remains the WBO interim champion, meaning he could get the chance to take on Usyk. Parker has also long been destined for a rematch with Dillian Whyte, who beat him in London back in 2018. Whyte, meanwhile, had been hoping to face Joshua earlier this year, although rumours on that clash seem to have cooled.

Elsewhere, Joyce is set to face Derek Chisora next month, while Andy Ruiz Jr, who previously beat AJ, will go head-to-head with Jarrell Miller in August.

The biggest concerts to look forward to in June

Posted on by Harry Howes

With festival season just around the corner, music fans up and down the country are buying their tents and desperately praying it doesn’t rain. But if you fancy enjoying the world’s best artists without having to dig out your muddy wellies, we’ve got you covered.

There are plenty of exciting concerts to look forward to in June, including huge tours from the likes of Taylor Swift and Liam Gallgher. Luckily for you, we’ve put everything you need to know all here in one place.

Liam Gallagher

With this year marking the 30th anniversary of Oasis’ iconic debut album Definitely Maybe, fans had been crossing their fingers that the squabbling brothers might put their differences aside and finally reunite.

Sadly, that hasn’t happened. However, Liam Gallgher is offering the next best thing by putting on a Definitely Maybe tour, playing the best tracks from the record including ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’, ‘Live Forever’, ‘Supersonic’ and ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’.

The 51-year-old is doing 12 dates in June, including three in his home city of Manchester in the brand-new Co-op Live venue, as well as at the O2 in London. The tour kicked off in Sheffield earlier this week and Liam was reunited with Oasis guitarist Bonehead. He also sang Half the World Away for the first time ever, dedicating the track to brother Noel.

As well as his tour, Liam is one of the headliners for Reading and Leeds Festival later this summer alongside the likes of Blink-182, Lana Del Rey and Fred Again.

Thursday 6th June – O2 Arena, London
Friday 7th June – O2 Arena, London
Monday 10th June – O2 Arena, London
Saturday 15th June – Co-op Live, Manchester
Sunday 16th June – Co-op Live, Manchester
Wednesday 19th June – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Thursday 20th June – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Sunday 23rd June – 3Arena, Dublin
Monday 24th June – 3Arena, Dublin
Thursday 27th June – Co-op Live, Manchester

Capital Summertime Ball

One of the biggest days in the pop music calendar returns to Wembley this month. The Capital Summertime Ball is an annual tradition, giving fans a festival experience in a state-of-the-art venue.

This year, the stage will be graced by Raye, who has enjoyed a phenomenal breakthrough year. The 26-year-old made history at this year’s BRIT awards, winning a record six gongs from her seven nominations.

Meanwhile, the Sugababes, Becky Hill, Ella Henderson, David Guetta, Perrie Edwards, Aitch and plenty of others will also be performing. The hospitality areas at Wembley offer a unique, luxury experience. Enquire today to book your place for the Summertime Ball on Sunday 16th June.

American Express presents BST Hyde Park

It wouldn’t be a summer of music without British Summer Time in Hyde Park. The legendary event has seen countless stars perform over the years, including Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi and Take That.

This year, American superstar SZA will take to the stage on the same weekend that she’ll be performing at Glastonbury. Enjoy her biggest hits from the comfort of the hospitality areas on Saturday 29th June.

The following night, Sunday 30th June, sees Kings of Leon headline. They’ll be rocking out and wowing fans with classics including ‘Sex on Fire’ and ‘Use Somebody’, as well as tracks from their album Can We Please Have Fun, which came out earlier this year.

Later in the summer, Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Shania Twain, Stevie Nicks and Kylie Minogue will also perform at the event in Hyde Park.

Coldplay

Another band with huge world dates scheduled is Coldplay, who have been touring their latest album Music of the Spheres since last year. The four-piece have also left time in their schedule at the time of Glastonbury, so we may well see their names when the line-up is announced.

Coldplay are no strangers to the festival, having made the first of their six appearances in 1999. They’ve since headlined four times, taking to the Pyramid stage in 2002, 2005, 2011 and 2016.

Chris Martin and co. were also due to perform in 2021 before the festival was cancelled. Instead, they appeared on the festival livestream event, alongside George Ezra, Kano, Wolf Alice and Damon Albarn.

Hampton Court Palace Festival

The open-air concert action continues at one of the most historical venues in London. The Hampton Court Palace Festival returns with a series of nine gigs throughout June.

Among the headliners are Tom Jones, Nile Rodgers and Chic and Sheryl Crow, as well as Paloma Faith, Jessie J and Eurovision star Sam Ryder.

Tuesday 11th June – Tom Jones
Wednesday 12th June – Nile Rodgers and CHIC
Thursday 13th June – Jack Savoretti
Friday 14th June – Sam Ryder
Saturday 15th June – Bjorn Again
Sunday 16th June – The Rest Is History Live Presents: The Tudors
Tuesday 18th June – Sheryl Crow
Wednesday 19th June – Deacon Blue
Thursday 20th June – Paloma Faith
Friday 21st June – Jessie J

Other concerts in June

There are plenty of other huge concerts taking place in June, including Foo Fighters, who will be performing at Emirates Old Trafford on 13th June. Meanwhile, P!INK will be heading to the capital for two consecutive gigs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 15th and 16th June.

Girls Aloud’s reunion tour heads to Birmingham on 18th June before the girl group do two nights on the trot at the O2. Meanwhile, Green Day have gigs in Manchester and at Wembley. Elsewhere, Pearl Jam will be heading to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium while fans of Gladys Knight can catch her at the Royal Albert Hall.

Check out our event diary to discover everything we have to offer in June and beyond.

ICON Legends – Jurgen Klopp – King of the Kop

Posted on by Harry Howes

While Anfield was full of beaming faces following their win over Wolves on the final day of the season, there was sadness in the air as Liverpool waved goodbye to a legend.

Jurgen Klopp called time on his nine-year spell at the club in which he won eight trophies, including the club’s first-ever Premier League title.

As a tribute, we felt it was only right to look back on his incredible career as we welcome Klopp as the latest inductee in our ICON Hall of Fame.

German beginnings

Klopp enjoyed a steady playing career in his native Germany, spending the majority of it with Mainz 05, where he scored 56 times in 346 appearances. Upon retiring in 2001, Klopp immediately became the club’s manager and he guided them to promotion back to the Bundesliga three years later.

Klopp eventually joined Borussia Dortmund in 2008 and it was at the iconic club where he really made his name as a manager. Within three years he secured the Bundesliga title, their first in nine years.

A year later he led Dortmund to their first-ever domestic double as they claimed a second successive title before thrashing Bayern Munich 5-2 in the German Cup final. The following season, Klopp’s side almost enjoyed a dream European campaign but, sadly for them, Bayern had their revenge.

The rivals met in the Champions League final at Wembley and the tie looked to be heading to extra-time but an 89th minute winner from Arjen Robben broke Dortmund hearts and sent the trophy back to Munich.

Klopp’s exploits at Dortmund earned him a reputation as one of the brightest managers in the world and with the honour of being their longest-serving gaffer in history, he called time on his time in Germany when Liverpool came calling in 2015.

Bringing trophies back to Anfield

When Klopp arrived at Anfield, Liverpool were in a bit of a state following the sacking of Brendan Rodgers. But the German didn’t take long to work his magic and he brought Champions League football back to the club with a fourth-placed finish in each of his first two full seasons.

That second campaign so nearly finished with European glory as Liverpool reached the Champions League final but it wasn’t to be as a sensational brace from Gareth Bale helped Real Madrid to a 3-1 win.

Yet rather than let it deflate him, Klopp inspired his side to come back even stronger in the 2018/19 season. Liverpool finished second in the Premier League that year with 97 points, the highest-ever tally recorded for a side that didn’t win the title.

And they bounced back in style in the Champions League, reaching their second successive final and beating Premier League rivals Tottenham 2-0 thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi. The win secured Liverpool their sixth European Cup and their first since their iconic comeback against AC Milan back in 2005.

Klopp continued to build a formidable squad and with a ruthless front three of Mohamed Salad, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino backed up by the imperious Virgil van Dijk in defence, they were unstoppable as Klopp finally delivered the Premier League title in 2019/20.

It was their first league win since 1990 and they did it in some style, finishing on a club-record 99 points, 18 points clear of second-placed City. Klopp’s phenomenal leadership earned him two consecutive FIFA Coach of the Year awards and he also twice won the Premier League Manager of the Season while at Liverpool.

Despite going close, Klopp couldn’t secure another title for Liverpool but he did guide them to the League Cup and FA Cup double two years ago. And not one to go out with a whimper, he ended his reign with silverware as Liverpool won this season’s EFL Cup with a 1-0 win over Chelsea back in February.

Leaving a legacy at Liverpool

While many may look at City winning four consecutive titles and scoff at Liverpool in comparison, it was Liverpool’s relentless competition that drove Pep Guardiola to his success.

At times, Liverpool pushed them all the way and at their peak, they arguably had City’s number, beating them in several key games, including the Champions League quarter-finals back in 2018. For a while, Liverpool’s high-pressing, energetic system was a thorn in Guardiola’s side and it was indicative of Klopp’s determination to strive to get the best out of his side at all times.

Liverpool are a club steeped in history and with iconic managers in their past including Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish, it seemed unthinkable that a manager could ever establish themselves in that company. Yet it’s no exaggeration that Klopp undoubtedly deserves a place on Liverpool’s managerial Mount Rushmore.

In the modern era of hiring and firing, it almost seems unthinkable that a manager can stay and grow with a club in a way that we’ve rarely seen since Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson retired. Yet for the majority of football fans, Klopp and Liverpool are synonymous with each other.

While nothing would ever have diminished Klopp’s achievements, there’s a fitting romanticism about his reign not fizzling out. He was able to go out on his own terms, at the right time, and has left Liverpool in a strong place with Champions League football secured for next season. He says he’s taking a break for now and it remains to be seen whether he’ll be back managing at the top level. Whether it’s in the Premier League, somewhere else in Europe or with the German national team, there’s no doubt he still has the drive and ability to compete.

Arne Slot certainly has big shoes to fill and while Liverpool fans will be looking forward to the new era, there will always be a Klopp-shaped hole in their hearts. Liverpool have lost an icon and the Premier League has lost one of its greatest characters – he truly will go down as one of the greatest managers of all time.

Formula One: Leclerc and Norris chase Verstappen

Posted on by Harry Howes

The Formula One season is well underway now and while Max Verstappen is still sitting pretty at the top of the standings, he’s under more pressure than he’s been used to in recent years.

The reigning champion has won five of the opening eight races but he’s in unfamiliar territory of late, having failed to win two of the last three. Since our last update, we’ve had three races, with action taking place in Miami, Emilia Romagna and Monaco.

The top five remains the same but the order has shifted a bit, with wins for Charles Leclcerc and Lando Norris edging them up the standings.

F1 standings after eight races

PositionDriverTeamWinsPodiumsPoints
1Max VerstappenRed Bull56169
2Charles LeclercFerrari14138
3Lando NorrisMcLaren12113
4Carlos Sainz JrFerrari13108
5Sergio PerezRed Bull02107

Norris finally claims first Grand Prix victory

As the grid revved their engines on the Miami Grand Prix start line just over three weeks ago, it was unlikely that McLaren driver Norris could foresee the elation that would come his way a few hours later.

Having come close so many times before and bearing the unfortunate record for the most podium finishes without a win, he finally broke his hoodoo. Norris’ 16th podium finish saw him come top of the pile, winning in Miami and finishing 7.6 seconds clear of the imperious Verstappen.

It was his first Formula 1 victory in 110 attempts and a combination of skill and good timing helped him on his way. As McLaren chose to delay pitting Norris, the safety car was called in for a crash on lap 29. This allowed Norris to make a stop while the rest of the field were travelling at a reduced speed.

Taking advantage of the timely safety car, Norris returned to the track to extend his lead, fighting off the challenge of Verstappen to claim victory. It was only McLaren’s second win in the last 12 years, the last being Daniel Ricciardo at Monza in 2021.

Leclerc continued his strong start to the campaign to claim third, while the rest of the top five was familiar, with Perez and Sainz Jr recording respectable finishes.

Verstappen bounces back in Italy

The next stop on the F1 tour was Emilia Romagna, with the Grand Prix returning after being cancelled last year due to flooding from heavy rain. Having missed out in Miami two weeks before, Verstappen got back to winning ways – but only just.

The Red Bull superstar finished less than a second clear of second-placed Norris, who is enjoying a strong run of form. Verstappen is targeting a fourth consecutive F1 championship and he claimed his fifth win from the opening seven races of the season.

A late charge from Norris almost saw the Brit claim a remarkable second successive win but Verstappen held on. Meanwhile, Leclerc claimed third place again to climb to second in the standings with his third podium finish of 2024.

Leclerc takes advantage of rare Verstappen shocker

Formula One returned to Monaco over the weekend and there was barely a dry eye among the watching spectators as Leclerc raced home to win in his hometown. The Ferrari driver grew up in Monaco and dreamt of competing along the roads he walked on.

And in his first ever win on the iconic course, he continued his strong season by claiming his maiden victory of the campaign. Leclerc came second in the championship back in 2022 and he’s looking to win the title for the first time this time around.

The 26-year-old secured Ferrari’s second win of the season, finishing seven seconds clear of Australian driver Oscar Piastri. Sainz Jr made up the podium once again, while Norris and Russell completed the top five.

In a rare off day for Verstappen, he only managed to finish sixth, just ahead of Lewis Hamilton. His lead at the top of the standings is now 31 points and while there’s still a long way to go, this year is looking like it may well finish a lot closer than his dominance last time out.

What’s next?

As we edge towards the midway point of the season, the British Grand Prix is just around the corner. The famous race returns to Silverstone on Sunday 7th July and you can enjoy the action from the best seats in the house with Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages.

Before that, there are a few more races to look forward to first. Next up is Canada on Sunday 9th June, before we head back to Europe for races in Spain and Austria. Verstappen will be desperate to get back into form in the coming races but if recent results are anything to go by, it won’t be a surprise if Leclerc and Norris can pick up a few more wins in the near future.

Rafael Nadal targets one last dance at the French Open

Posted on by Harry Howes

Grand Slam fever is in full swing, with the French Open getting underway this week before being swiftly followed by Wimbledon. Novak Djokovic will be hoping one of those iconic tournaments will finally secure him the all-time Grand Slam record, but there will be plenty of competition standing in his way.

Carlos Alcaraz is the new kid on the block and he’ll be looking to continue his dramatic rise. Meanwhile, Roland Garros legend Rafael Nadal will be desperate to wave goodbye to the famous clay in style.

Whatever happens, this year’s French Open promises to be another spectacular event and you can watch every ball in style with Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages. Enquire today to enjoy the greatest players on the planet from the best seats in the house.

Nadal seeks romantic farewell

As Nadal prepares to say adios to the sport this year, he faces a battle to be fit for one last dance with an old flame. The Spaniard has dominated the French Open throughout his career en route to being crowned the ‘King of Clay’.

Nadal has won a record 14 titles at Roland Garros, eight more than Björn Borg, his next men’s challenger in the open era. And with this set to be his final appearance at his spiritual home, it would be fitting that he bowed out with a 15th win in Paris and his 23rd Grand Slam title.

But even before you consider the likes of Djokovic and Alcaraz, the main hurdle standing in Nadal’s way is his own fitness. He’s missed much of the last two years with persistent hip problems and he was forced to miss the Australian Open earlier this year.

The 37-year-old is one of the best to ever do it and it’s scary to imagine how much greater his legacy could have been had he not been blighted by injuries. Now in the twilight of his career, he’s ranked 276th in the world.

He reached the round of 16 at the recent Madrid Open, where he was beaten in straight sets by Jiri Lehecka before suffering a similar fate in just the second round at the Italian Open. But while he may have been holding back in those games, there’s no doubt he’ll leave everything on the court in Paris.

The form book will be ripped up if he wins his race to play and despite his recent form, injuries and lowly rank, you can bet your bottom dollar that the likes of Alcaraz and Djokovic are secretly hoping somebody else will deal with Nadal before they have to face him on the courts where he made his name.

Djokovic chases elusive record Grand Slam

Since winning the US Open back in September, Djokovic has had his eye on a record-breaking Grand Slam win that would make him the undisputed greatest player of all time.

The Serbian has won 24 major titles and is currently level at the top of the standings with women’s great Margaret Court. He could have edged ahead of the Australian legend by claiming the first slam of the year in Melbourne but he lost out to eventual winner Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals.

Djokovic will fancy his chances at finally clinching his long-awaited record in the coming weeks but he’ll have to do it at his least fruitful event. The 37-year-old has won just three of his 24 major titles in Paris, although two of them have come at the last three French Opens, including in 2023 where he beat Casper Ruud in straight sets.

Standing in his way will no doubt be Sinner, who looks set to help Alcaraz dominate tennis when Djokovic and Nadal hang up their rackets. The Italian’s win in Melbourne was his first Grand Slam and he’ll be confident of adding to it, although he has struggled in Paris, with a quarter-final defeat in 2020 his best ever finish.

Alcaraz remains the favourite to win the title, with the Spaniard hoping to follow in compatriot Nadal’s footsteps. The rising star stunned Djokovic in last year’s Wimbledon final to claim his second Grand Slam and with another year of experience under his belt, he’ll take some beating at Roland Garros.

Can Świątek be stopped?

World number one Iga Świątek is the clear favourite to win the women’s title and for good reason. The Polish star has won the competition three times since 2020, including last year when she saw off Karolína Muchová in the final.

Aged just 22, Świątek has already won four Grand Slam titles and she doesn’t look like slowing down. Since a disappointing third round defeat at the Australian Open in January, she’s gone on to win the Qatar Open, the Indian Wells Masters, the Madrid Open and the Italian Open.

The most recent of those wins came in Rome last week and she swept all before her, beating Coco Gauff in the semis before defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final. Those two are expected to be her nearest challengers but they’ll struggle to lay a glove on her on recent form.

Looking back on another thrilling Premier League season

Posted on by Harry Howes

There are three certainties in life: death, taxes and Manchester City winning the league. Another incredible Premier League season has come to a close, with City pipping Arsenal to claim yet another title.

As we start counting down the days until the next campaign starts (only 88 to go!), we’ve taken a look back at all the key moments that made the 2023/24 season so special.

Man City hold off Arsenal to claim record title

The title race went down to the final day but sadly for Arsenal, they needed something to happen that so very rarely does at this stage of the season – Manchester City to drop points.

And the north London side’s hopes were as good as over after just two minutes as Phil Foden fired City ahead against West Ham. The defending champions were imperious in the final few months of the campaign as they became the first team to ever win four successive Premier League titles. It was their sixth under Pep Guardiola and they could complete yet another double when they meet neighbours Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

For the second year in a row, Arsenal were second best but they improved this time around, only missing out by two points. Yet they’ll be confident of improving next season with their young talismen like Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba developing into genuine world class players in recent years.

The signings of Declan Rice, David Raya and Kai Havertz have undoubtedly made them stronger and a few shrewd additions in the summer could be the difference for Mikel Arteta’s side next year. But ultimately, to compete with City you can’t afford to take your foot off the gas and Arsenal will look at defeats to Fulham, West Ham and twice against Aston Villa as key turning points in their season.

The champions could argue they weren’t even at their brilliant best this season but their robotic ruthlessness shone through. Erling Haaland didn’t quite hit the heights of last season in terms of goals but he still blew the competition out of the water with 27 goals to claim the golden boot.

Meanwhile, Foden continued to show his brilliance and was rewarded with the Premier League Player of the Year award. England fans across the country will have their fingers firmly crossed that he can continue his form into the Euros.

With Arsenal likely to improve further and City looking as good as ever, it’s clear that these two will once again be the frontrunners in next season’s title race. But whether the Gunners can finally make up the ground is a different question.

Jurgen Klopp signs out with top-four finish

The title battle seemed to be a three-horse race for much of the season but a drop off from Liverpool in recent months saw them ultimately finish third. While Jurgen Klopp would have loved to have signed out with another Premier League trophy, he’ll be pleased to have secured Liverpool Champions League football having missed out a year ago.

The German has called time on his nine-year spell at Anfield in which he won eight trophies, including the 2019 Champions League. Klopp bid an emotional farewell to his home supporters on Sunday and went out on a high as Liverpool ended the season with a 2-0 win over Wolves.

With Arne Slot confirmed as his successor, next season will be an interesting one for Liverpool. The Dutchman has big shoes to fill and Liverpool fans will be forgiven for having reservations, particularly when you look at how Arsenal and Man United struggled in the wake of Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson’s departures.

However, new dawns can be exciting and they have the skeleton of a really strong squad. If Mohamed Salah fancies sticking around and they can add some new faces alongside their young talent, there’s no reason why they can’t challenge.

Liverpool will be joined in next season’s Champions League by Aston Villa, who were the surprise package as they secured fourth. The 1982 European Cup winners are back in the elite competition following a remarkable season that demonstrates the incredible job that Unai Emery has done since taking over 18 months ago.

As well as beating the teams they’d expect to throughout the season, they also proved they can compete with the big boys with a number of huge results, including doing the double over Arsenal and beating Man City, as well as smashing Brighton 6-1 early in the season.

With fourth place confirmed before the final day, there wasn’t a Villa fan in the away end at Selhurst Park on Sunday who cared that their campaign fizzled out with a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of in-form Crystal Palace.

Time will tell how they’ll cope with the addition of high-level European games – Newcastle certainly struggled this year – but it will be a test of how good the likes of Ollie Watkins and co. really are.

A mixed season for the rest of the big six

Tottenham started the season strongly under new boss Ange Postecoglu and their front-footed, aggressive style made them exciting to watch. For a while it looked as though they were going to be just fine without Harry Kane but their campaign petered out, with injuries and loss of form to key players a big factor.

They ultimately finished fifth, two points off a Champions League spot, and too much reliance on Son Heung-min for goals makes attacking reinforcements this summer a necessity if they want to break back into the top four.

Chelsea ended the season superbly, winning their last five games to finish sixth. Mauricio Pochettino took a while to get going in his first campaign at the helm and was regularly bailed out by Cole Palmer, who bagged a remarkable 22 Premier League goals in his maiden season at Stamford Bridge.

It’s impossible to predict how Chelsea will do each season but after years of mismanagement, they look like they may finally have a bit of structure. With a clever transfer window there’s every chance that they’ll be able to compete at the top of the table again.

It’s been a season to forget for Manchester United but an FA cup win on Saturday could give them some reason to be cheerful. Erik ten Hag appears to be a dead man walking and few expect him to still be in charge by the time next season starts.

A miserable eighth-placed finish sums up their dismal performances this campaign and they need a major squad shake up this summer, with plenty of deadwood to ship out. There could be exciting times on the horizon under the new ownership but it can’t be fixed overnight so things may get worse before they get better.

The three promoted clubs go down

There’s no clearer way of showing the gulf between the Premier league and the Championship than when the three promoted clubs go straight back down. The fact that Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton were comfortably relegated in a season where two clubs suffered points deductions is indicative of their woes.

The trio just weren’t good enough and although they enjoyed good moments, particularly Luton, their squads lacked the Premier League quality to survive. Everton and Nottingham Forest will count themselves lucky that they were deducted points in a season where it ultimately didn’t matter, as they may not have got off so lightly in a stronger season.

England face Pakistan in T20 World Cup warm-up series

Posted on by Harry Howes

If being World Cup holders didn’t add enough pressure, all eyes will be on England this summer as they look to put a disastrous 50-over World Cup campaign behind them.

Matthew Mott and Jos Buttler’s side looked toothless in India last autumn and will be looking to avoid embarrassment when the T20 edition commences next month. In preparation for the tournament, they’ll face Pakistan in a four-match series on home soil in what will be a rematch of the final that saw England become world champions in 2022.

England v Pakistan T20 series

●    Wednesday 22nd May – Headingley
●    Saturday 25th May – Edgbaston
●    Tuesday 28th May – Sophia Gardens
●    Thursday 30th May – Kia Oval

With the weather finally changing for the better, we’re set for four days of glorious cricket and you can enjoy the action from the best seats in the house with Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages. And if you’re in the mood for more cricket, there are plenty more opportunities to watch in style later in the year.

The four matches will give us a good indication of what to expect when the World Cup kicks off in June. The 15-man provisional squad has already been selected but with the official deadline not for another few weeks, England’s managing director Rob Key has stressed that there could still be changes.

Pakistan are also looking to build some momentum as they prepare for the World Cup. They performed slightly better than England in India last autumn despite losing to them, winning four of their matches, but they only finished fifth, narrowly missing out on a spot in the semi-finals.

Cricket Hospitality

Enquire Now

Archer returns but Stokes misses out

While England will be looking to knock themselves into form, one man will be using the warm-up games to prove his fitness. After more than a year in the wilderness due to a long-term elbow injury, Jofra Archer is set to make his return to the international stage.

The fast bowler was a key part of England’s 50-over World Cup win in 2019 but he missed out on the T20 format. Archer was also absent for last summer’s thrilling Ashes series with Australia and following England’s dismal showing on their last World Cup appearance, Buttler will be hoping the 29-year-old’s return can galvanise his side.

Elsewhere, Chris Jordan is also back in the squad after missing out on the winter tour to the West Indies. The bowler has been picked ahead of Chris Woakes, while Jamie Overton misses out with injury. Spin bowler Tom Hartley is also included, despite never playing for England in a T20 international.

At the top of the order, England look strong with the likes of Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Will Jacks all impressive with the bat in the IPL. For so long, England have relied on Ben Stokes to rescue them with some magic but somebody else will have to step up this time. The Test captain will not be on the plane having asked not to be considered as he recovers from a knee operation.

As England look to mix things up in an effort to avoid a repeat of what happened in India, one casualty is Dawid Malan. The experienced batsman struggled at the World Cup and misses out on the squad.

While in previous years these warm-up games would have been seen as just that, this time it’s different. England are a force in world cricket and they’ll be desperate to prove just that heading into the World Cup. Poor results against Pakistan may not mean anything in theory, but they could have disastrous consequences if they breed another embarrassing campaign.

Provisional England T20 squad

Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood.

When is the T20 World Cup?

The tournament in the West Indies and USA gets underway on Sunday 2nd June, with the American hosts taking on neighbours Canada in the opening fixture. England will also be facing local rivals in their first game and there will no doubt be plenty of sun cream in use as they face Scotland in Barbados.

Buttler and co. will also play Oman and Namibia in the group stage, as well as old rivals Australia, who won the 50-over World Cup last year. Meanwhile, Pakistan will face hosts USA, India, Canada and Ireland.

They’re targeting their second T20 World Cup win, having claimed the trophy in the competition’s second edition, beating Sri Lanka in the final at Lord’s back in 2009. They’ve lost twice in the final, including against England last time out.

Should England progress through their group, they’ll need to navigate their way through the Super 8s group, followed by the semi-finals. The final takes place on Saturday 29th June.

The early contenders for BBC Sports Personality of the Year

Posted on by Harry Howes

There’s still a lot of sport to be played between now and December, but we’re getting in early to take a look at the early contenders for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

The Lionesses have dominated the award in recent years, with Mary Earps claiming the gong in 2023, a year after England teammate Beth Mead was crowned the winner. This year, the men will be hoping to follow in their footsteps as they target a first trophy since 1966 at Euro 2024 in Germany.

As well as the EUROs, we’ve got the Olympics in Paris to look forward to, as well as plenty of exciting action across darts, cycling, boxing and more. Here’s who we think could be in with a chance of winning SPOTY in 2024.

Luke Littler

Only once in SPOTY history has a darts player been honoured, with Phil Taylor coming second to Tony McCoy in 2010. But there’s every chance we’ll have our first oche champion this year, with Littler the early favourite for the award.

Aged just 16 at the time, Littler stormed his way to the PDC World Darts Championship final, beating former world champions Christian Kist, Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross along the way.

He ultimately fell at the final hurdle as he was beaten by world number one Luke Humphries but his incredible rise has made him one of the most talked about sports stars of the year so far. His performances saw him picked for the 2024 Premier League Darts and he continues to shine as he looks to go one better and become the youngest ever world champion at the end of the year.

Russ Cook

While the award is generally reserved for professionals or Olympians, few could argue that Russ Cook’s achievements should go unnoticed. Otherwise known as the ‘Hardest Geezer’, Cook spent almost a year stomping across tarmac, through jungles and deserts, and overcoming life-threatening situations to become the first ever person to run the entire length of Africa.

The 27-year-old ran through 16 countries, starting in South Africa and crossing the finish line at the northern tip of Tunisia. He ran almost 10,000 miles, completing the equivalent of around 380 marathons in 352 days, while raising more than £1 million for charity. While it’s unlikely that Cook will be given the top gong, there’s every chance that his remarkable achievement will be honoured in some way at the event, which will be thoroughly deserved.

Jude Bellingham

Two of England’s finest footballers are both enjoying remarkable seasons on the continent and with the EUROs taking place this summer, success for England will likely see plenty of the squad in contention for the award.

If England are to do well, Bellingham and Harry Kane will inevitably be involved and it will cap off phenomenal seasons for both. Kane left Tottenham last summer and has enjoyed a fine first campaign at Bayern Munich, scoring 44 goals in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Bellingham’s debut season at Real Madrid has seen him net 22 goals to help his side win the La Liga title. The English duo met in the Champions League semi-finals, with Bellingham’s Madrid side coming out on top, which likely puts the midfielder ahead in the queue. Should Real go on to win the final against Borussia Dortmund, a strong England showing at the EUROs would go a long way to helping his SPOTY cause.

Olympic heroes

The Olympics heads to Paris this summer and there are plenty of Team GB hopefuls looking to make themselves a hero. Gold medalists tend to dominate the SPOTY award, with the likes of Andy Murray, Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy, Kelly Holmes and Steve Redgrave all winning it in Olympic years this century.

That could well happen again, with plenty of contenders. Katarina Johnson-Thompson is targeting gold in the heptathlon after coming out on top in last year’s World Championships. She finished third in SPOTY last year and is targeting her first Olympic medal in what will be her fourth games.

Meanwhile, swimmer Adam Peaty is expected to make a splash in the pool again after two golds and a silver in Tokyo three years ago that saw him also claim third in SPOTY. Keely Hodgkinson is targeting gold after securing silver in the 800 metres three years ago.

Elsewhere, Max Whitlock is looking to go out on a high. The gymnast is set to retire after the Paris Olympics and he’ll be desperate to add to his medal collection, having already claimed three golds and three bronzes across the previous three Olympics.

Mark Cavendish

Cycling superstar Cavendish was set to retire last year but after crashing out of the Tour de France, he’s back in pursuit of making history. The 38-year-old has won 34 Tour de France stages, the joint-highest of all time alongside Eddy Merckx.

Cavendish was hoping to clinch the record last year but he was forced to pull out after crashing during stage eight and breaking his collarbone. With the 111th Tour de France set to start in June, Cavendish will be a strong contender for SPOTY if he can win a stage to become the undisputed leader.

Other Contenders

Following Manchester City’s historic treble win, there’s every chance one of their many stars could make a claim for the award. And following a resurgence over the last few seasons, few could deny that John Stones is deserving of recognition.

Elsewhere, the likes of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Lewis Hamilton could come into the thinking if they end the year strongly. Plus, with the Rugby World Cup set to take place later this year, a strong tournament from England as mentioned, or even Wales or Scotland may see a contender or two emerge from their squads.

int(174)