Championship playoff drama awaits, Scottish Cup and WCL finals buildup – matchday live

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England will play Ghana, Panama and Croatia in the World Cup’s group stage.

We’re still waiting on the squads from Ghana and Panama, but Croatia have picked theirs with 40-year-old Luka Modric still the leading light.

Maybe this will be the year he finally gets tired.

Croatia’s WC squad:

Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Dominik Kotarski (Copenhagen), Ivor Pandur (Hull).

Defenders: Josko Gvardiol (Man City), Duje Caleta-Car (Real Sociedad), Josip Sutalo (Ajax), Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich), Marin Pongracic (Fiorentina), Martin Erlic (Midtjylland), Luka Vuskovic (Hamburg).

Midfielders: Luka Modric (AC Milan), Mateo Kovacic (Man City), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Luka Sucic (Real Sociedad), Martin Baturina (Como), Kristijan Jakic (Augsburg), Petar Sucic (Inter Milan), Nikola Moro (Bologna), Toni Fruk (Rijeka).

Forwards: Ivan Perisic (PSV Eindhoven), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marco Pasalic (Orlando City), Petar Musa (Dallas), Igor Matanovic (Freiburg).

Manager: Zlatko Dalic

I enjoyed this piece from Barry yesterday.

It’s all noise and bluster and guff, innit? I mean, not for the guys who missed our or were selected, but the outrage and hot takes really are a lot.

‘Hard to please’ is a mild way of putting it.

German Cup final

Harry Kane has a shot at more silverware as Bayern Munich take on VfB Stuttgart at 7pm in the German Cup final.

To get you in the mood, Andy Martin has written a delicious piece looking back at a remarkable upset when Bayer 05 Uerdingen beat holders Bayern 2-1.

It’s been dubbed the ‘Miracle of Berlin’ and Stuttgart fans will be hoping some of that magic rubs off on them this evening.

Premier League season ratings

How did your team perform over the course of the season?

Various fans have given their verdict. There are a couple of 10/10s, but one score of 0.

Do you agree with these?

How about some England chat now?

My ten cents, I think it’s a solid squad though I would have taken both Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw. The former as a result of his form and presence, and the latter because there aren’t many bonafide left backs in the group. Young Nico O’Reily has suddenly become the most important player after Harry Kane.

But, as Barney has pretty much said, Tuchel knows what he’s doing and won’t be bothered by the outside noise.

Of course, there’s heartbreak. This piece from Nadeem Badshah shines a light on that. But them’s the breaks, I suppose.

If league position and points accrued are the two key metrics in predicting a winner today, then Middlesbrough, who finished fifth and seven points above Hull, should take all the marbles.

But their last league meeting in Devcember 2025 ending with a 1-0 win for The Tigers. So, you never know.

This is Barca’s sixth consecutive Champions League final appearance. A remarkable, unprecedented run.

They’ve topped their league in Spain and beat Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to get here. Who would bet against them?

Well, Lyon aren’t the most dominant women’s team in the world for nothing. They knocked out defending champions Arsenal in the semis and came from behind to beat Wolfsburg in the quarters. This is their 12th appearance in the showpiece game.

As we’ve said already, there are some huge games on today.

Kicking things at 3pm is the Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Dunfermline. Celtic snatched a remarkable victory on the final day of the league season to break Hearts’ hearts and they’ll back themselves to bag another trophy this afternoon.

Half an hour into that one north of the border, a match I feel duty bound to call ‘the most expensive football game in the world’ gets underway as Hull and Middlesbrough vie for a place in the Premier League. Both will be itching for the opening whistle but one fears the spectre of ‘Spygate’ will loom over the festivities.

Then, the cherry on the icing on the cake, at 5pm, Lyon and Barcelona, two teams with contrasting styles, will compete for the Women’s Champions League. Barce could make it four titles in six years while Lyon will add a ninth star to their crest if they can get over the line.

How about a reminder - for those blinking into the weekend from a long slumber beneath a rock - of the England World Cup side.

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City)

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham), John Stones (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona on loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Last night's headlines

Here are a fe standout pieces from last night:

Barney backs Tuchel’s squad:

Pep Guardiola turns on the charm as he waves goodbye to a dynasty:

Spygate looms over Championship play-off:

We’re all set for an epic Champions League final:

Tuchel and Toney ‘clear the air’:

Speaking of spying, the FA want tighter security over in the US:

England’s forgotten men and their families reflect on what could have been:

Premier League talking points ahead of the final round:

Preamble

Good morning everyone! It’s the night after England’s World Cup squad was announced, the day before the final Premier League games of the season, and there are MASSIVE matches taking place in Wembley, Oslo and Hampden Park today.

So plenty to chat about.

I’ll be steering you through all of the headlines and talking points this morning. If you’ve got anything you want to add – from your hot takes to your cold facts – please get in touch.

And if you’re setting some reminders on your phone, here’s what’s taking place later on:

• Scottish Cup final: Celtic v Dunfermline @ Hampden Park @ 15:00

• Championship Play-off: Hull v Middlesbrough @ Wembley @ 15:30

• Women’s Champions League final: Barcelona v Lyon @ Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo @ 17:00