• Harry Maguire’s place in the England squad has been under increasing scrutiny 
• Harry Kane could face him in the Champions League on Wednesday in Munich
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ 

By Dominic Hogan For Mailonline

Published: 09:17 EDT, 19 September 2023 | Updated: 09:31 EDT, 19 September 2023

In a clearing in a forest, a gravel path gives way to a square of tarmac that is about the size of a football pitch. It is all that is left of what was once the runway at Munich-Riem airport. It was from a point near there that the Busby Babes began their final journey on February 6th 1958.

There are two thick white lines running down the middle of the tarmac, the remnants of airport markings. But there is not much else to identify it. Even those lines are stained by tyre tracks, tell-tale signs of kids finding a hidden spot to spin cars in roaring circles, doing doughnuts after dark.

The echoes of the saddest moments in Manchester United’s history whisper at you as you stand there, gazing into the distance where the runway once led. ‘It’s now or never,’ Roger Byrne, United’s skipper, said as the British European Airways twin-engine Elizabethan sat there on the tarmac, preparing to make its third take-off attempt.

When Sir Bobby Charlton, the last living survivor of the disaster that killed eight Manchester United players, regained consciousness as he lay in the snow amid the plane’s wreckage at the other end of the runway, he saw Byrne still strapped in his seat and realised straight away that he was dead.

The old control tower, an ochre outlier beside the glass frontages of the shopping mall and the international congress centre that have been built on the old airfield, is the only other remnant of Munich-Riem. To stare up at it is to imagine the horror that gripped the people who occupied it that February evening and saw the Elizabethan ploughing through the snow.

It is still hard to reconcile the horrors of those moments 65 years ago with the everyday life that unfolds around the crash site now. In late afternoon on Monday, boys spilled out of primary school on their scooters and sang and laughed as they made their way home. One stopped briefly and reached up to pull fruit from the low-hanging branches of a quince tree.

It rained in squalls on Monday afternoon. At the crash site, a bouquet had been placed at the foot of the plinth that commemorates the 23 footballers, club staff and journalists, who died. The little square, which sits at the edge of a ploughed field, was renamed Manchesterplatz in honour of those who did not come home.

There was no one else there on Monday, Cars hurried past on a busy road but it is still a peaceful place. The plinth, and a display case filled with tributes to the ‘Flowers of Manchester’ sheltered from the rain beneath the kindly and noble boughs of four lime trees.

More will visit on Tuesday and more still on Wednesday, the day when the successors to Byrne and Charlton and Eddie Colman and Harry Gregg and David Pegg and Duncan Edwards and the rest of them take on Bayern Munich in their first match of this season’s Champions League group stage.

This is a place of pilgrimage for United fans, a place where you can still feel the soul of the club as well as the sorrow of what happened and the way the memory of those who died here drove United on to win the European Cup at Wembley ten years later.

Everyone whose family comes from Manchester has a story about the Babes and the crash and how it touched them. My mother’s family lived in Denstone Avenue in Urmston and, in the days before footballers lived behind the locked gates of mansions, Dennis Viollet and his family lived in a club-owned terraced house opposite them.

When the plane crashed, Viollet’s wife, Barbara, was desperate for news but the club had not provided them with a phone line. My grandmother and grandfather relayed what news they could. Finally, she was able to make a call from their house that told her Dennis had survived relatively unscathed.

My dad’s story was more straightforward. He rode his bike from Stockport up to Ringway Airport and waited by the side of the road to pay his respects as the coffins of the dead players were taken by car into Manchester city centre.

The modern United was built on the legend of Matt Busby, who was gravely injured in the crash, and of those brilliant young players who perished. They built the club that became the biggest in the world, and Sir Alex Ferguson nurtured it before things began to change so that now supporters wonder what has happened to their club’s soul.

Out here in Bavaria, with the memories of the boys who died, sometimes feels like as good a place to locate it as any. ‘We’ll Never Die,’ the words written on a scarf in the display case under the lime trees say and for all the sadness of this spot, there is something wonderfully uplifting about it, too.

As United prepare to play Bayern, reeling from scandal after scandal with Mason Greenwood, Antony and Jadon Sancho, struggling to come to terms with the manner of their defeat to Brighton at the weekend, starting to ask questions about Erik ten Hag, lost in anger at the dereliction wrought by the Glazers, this place stands for something else.

Sure, United will be desperate to win in the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening and others will be delighted if Harry Kane puts one over on the team that that had flirted with buying him in the past and should be regretting not doing so amid all the mediocrity they have injected into the side.

But what is left of the old airfield at Munich-Riem is not the place for such worries and fretting. There is a timelessness about this place that make rivalries seem petty and inconsequential. There is a Manchester City scarf among those in pride of place in the memorial display. There are pictures of players immortalised by what happened here.

The world of film has its picture of James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause as its version of a star who never got old. Football’s James Dean is Duncan Edwards, his chest puffed out, standing at the end of the line of United players before a European Cup tie against Red Star Belgrade, their last before the crash. For all of us who never saw him play, he will always be a 21-year-old hero, a player who could have been the greatest ever.

Edwards died at the Rechts der Isar Hospital in Munich 15 days after the crash and this month, the hospital’s in-house magazine published an interview with Elisabeth Weber, one of the nurses who treated the injured United players and Busby and became known as The Angels of Munich.

When Elisabeth spoke to the interviewer, the interviewer noted that she was wearing a United scarf with the words ‘Lest we Forget’ emblazoned on it. She, and others, were honoured by the Queen for the care they gave to United’s stricken team.

And so there will be rivalry when the clubs meet on Wednesday but there will be something deeper that is shared, too, something which is always shared when United visit this beautiful city whose name looms so large in its history.

‘Thank you to the wonderful citizens of Munich for 60 years of respect and compassion,’ a message from United fans reads at the crash site. Underneath the limes, there is a bench with a plaque on it, too. ‘To the Munich citizens in thanks,’ it says, from the ‘supporters of MUFC.’

By Sami Mokbel and Chris Wheeler for the Daily Mail

Published: 15:11 EDT, 14 September 2023 | Updated: 03:18 EDT, 15 September 2023

The label ‘Golden Generation’ has been a problematic one for England, coming to represent wistful feelings of what might have been rather than the ultimate compliment.

The Three Lions side between 2002 and 2006 under Sven-Goran Eriksson came to be known by that tag following a remark by FA chief executive Adam Crozier in 2001.

Rather than encourage an aura of invincibility, it instead burdened what was undeniably a hugely talented team that duly failed to get beyond the quarter-finals at two World Cups and one European Championship.

Eriksson had the likes of David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney at his disposal but his England teams never amounted to more than the sum of their parts.

Players who excelled for their clubs, scooping up all the major trophies, never experienced the same success with their country.

For better or worse, the current England team under Gareth Southgate has acquired the same moniker.

It was reiterated by a Scot, Graeme Souness, after Tuesday night’s 3-1 win at Hampden Park.

‘This is the golden generation,’ Souness said on Channel 4’s coverage. ‘Forget Frank [Lampard] and Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes, they’ve got strength and depth.

‘England are a really good team at the moment and I think they’re destined to get their hands on a trophy with this group of players.’

Southgate’s team have already come pretty close. They reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, then lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.

The hope now is that this current group peak at next summer’s Euros and end that long and painful wait since 1966 for a trophy.

We compare the two England ‘golden generations’ here.

GOALKEEPER

David James vs Jordan Pickford

James won 53 caps for England after emerging from the shadow of David Seaman, though he always had stiff competition from Paul Robinson.

He played predominantly for mid-ranking Premier League sides but was valued by England for his shot-stopping and long-throw distribution. He was susceptible to mistakes, though less so for his country.

Pickford has been favoured by Southgate for his distribution and has been first-choice for much of his tenure. He made a crucial save from Carlos Bacca as England finally ended their penalty shoot-out hoodoo against Colombia in 2018.

Pickford was unbeatable during Euro 2020 until the semi-final, breaking a scoreless minutes record Gordon Banks held, and did his bit during the final shoot-out by saving two Italian spot-kicks.

Will face stiff competition for his place from Aaron Ramsdale if Everton continue to struggle.

RIGHT-BACK

Gary Neville vs Kyle Walker

Two Treble winners with their clubs. Sir Alex Ferguson believed Neville was the best English right-back of his generation and that is reflected in 85 caps over 12 years.

Never a speedy right-back in the modern mould, Neville nonetheless applied maximum effort and took his club understanding with David Beckham onto the international stage at a time when Manchester United were dominant.

Walker, who emulated Neville’s 1999 Treble with Manchester City last season, is rightly regarded as one of the world’s best in his role.

He proved his class by matching Kylian Mbappe stride-for-stride in last year’s World Cup quarter-final with France and he made the Euro 2020 team of the tournament.

Like Neville, a man for the big occasion.

CENTRE-BACK

Rio Ferdinand vs Harry Maguire

Ferdinand was undoubtedly one of the most accomplished centre-halves in world football and enjoyed widespread success with Man United.

That eluded him for England despite 81 caps, a good few as captain under Fabio Capello. It feels as though Ferdinand deserved more on the international stage to reflect his abilities.

Maguire divides opinion among fans like few others. He has been a pretty much automatic pick under Southgate, who trusts him and values his leadership despite shortcomings in his game.

Exceptional especially at Euro 2020, Maguire has rarely let England down but a shortage of club game time and high-profile errors mean his days could be numbered.

CENTRE-BACK

John Terry vs John Stones

Terry was a commanding leader for both Chelsea and England, his dedication to the Three Lions cause reflected when he left the pitch in tears after the penalty loss to Portugal in 2006.

Capello made Terry captain but they would clash at the 2010 World Cup and there was later controversy over the Anton Ferdinand racial abuse scandal as his international career ultimately lacked the lustre of his time with Chelsea.

Stones is admired for similar no-nonsense qualities and gives England backbone. But having worked under Pep Guardiola at Man City, his game now extends well beyond that.

It’s remarkable to see how he has been converted into a composed, ball-spraying midfielder though the muck and nettles of defending remains very much his England responsibility.

LEFT-BACK

Ashley Cole vs Luke Shaw

There was a considerable period when he was winning the Premier League first with Arsenal and then Chelsea that Cole was rightly regarded as the best left-back on the planet.

There wasn’t much doubt about his England spot for many years as he amassed 107 appearances and he certainly goes down as one of England’s best in the position ever.

Shaw may be sidelined at the moment with injury but he has pretty much made the left-back berth his own under Southgate having idolised Cole growing up.

He was especially good during the last Euros when his early goal against Italy in the final unfortunately proved to be a little, well, too early.

MIDFIELD

Steven Gerrard vs Declan Rice

Eriksson and Southgate play different systems so a direct midfield comparison isn’t really possible – but rough match-ups can be made.

If time travel is invented and Gerrard and Rice can play next to each other, England would surely boss every tournament they entered.

The former Liverpool man, another to captain England, won 114 caps despite Eriksson never really figuring out how to shoehorn him and Frank Lampard into the midfield.

Not only was Gerrard adept at breaking up opposition attacks, his energy invariably carried England on the attack too and he was capable of spectacular goals.

Hopefully Rice is only just getting started, which seems strange when he already has 45 England caps by the age of 24.

He’ll only become more and more important with his midfield work and will surely captain his country at some point.

MIDFIELD

Frank Lampard vs Jude Bellingham

Mr Box-to-Box Lampard was crucially important for England for over a decade as he racked up 106 caps and 29 goals. A succession of England coaches admired his drive, passing and shooting.

The debate raged during the Eriksson years over whether Lampard and Gerrard were compatible in England’s midfield but how could you possibly leave either out?

We’re saying the same about 20-year-old Bellingham now. He is going to have to carry the burden of English expectations for years to come, yet seems absolutely fearless.

His excellent start to life as a Real Madrid player continued in the win over Scotland and Bellingham really does have the world at his feet. The potential there is quite frightening.

MIDFIELD

Paul Scholes vs Phil Foden

The man even Zinedine Zidane described as in ‘a class of his own’, we can only wonder if England would have done better in 2006 had Scholes not retired form international football in 2004.

Although a tenacious tackler, outstanding passer and fine finisher, Scholes never felt the love on international duty that he did playing for Man United.

In terms of those offensive attributes, Foden represents the closest comparison in the present side. Like Scholes, the Man City man can spot passes beyond the vision of most.

Not an assured starter under Southgate by any means but the clamour is growing for him to be worked into the team somehow, ideally as a No 10.

RIGHT-SIDE

David Beckham vs Bukayo Saka

Two very different styles, of course, but comparable for the positions they occupy on the pitch.

Beckham really was the gold dust in that noughties England side, with his elegant crossing and deadly accurate free-kicks. Becks amassed 115 caps and captained the team 58 times.

Little wonder Saka sheepishly asked his idol for a selfie at the 2022 World Cup, though in reality Beckham will be worshipping Saka in the years ahead.

The Arsenal man, 22, offers so much to England’s attack with his genuine ability to beat defenders and carve out dangerous chances. Like with Bellingham, the potential seems endless.

Saka has also shown incredible mental resilience for someone so young to elevate his game after the sickening racist abuse he suffered after missing a penalty in the Euro final.

CENTRE FORWARD

Michael Owen vs Harry Kane

Bursting onto the England scene aged just 18, Owen proved a reliable goalscorer over the ensuing decade, with 40 in 89 games.

It’s a shame injuries prevented Owen from scoring a few more but he’ll be fondly remembered for his stunning solo goal against Argentina in 1998 and his hat-trick in the 5-1 win over Germany in 2001.

Kane has proved to be even more prolific. In fact he is the definition of prolific – and clinical. Already England’s all-time leading goalscorer, the £100m Bayern Munich man is only 30 and has plenty of time to establish an unassailable record.

The problem is, England are too reliant on Kane, who is head and shoulders above every other option as their No 1 centre forward. Light candles and say prayers now to ensure he stays fit for the Euros.

LEFT-SIDE

Wayne Rooney vs Marcus Rashford

Another generational talent who burst onto the scene at a young age, Rooney enjoyed an all-action England career consisting of many highs and lows.

His 53 goals in 120 outings looked set to be a long-standing record until Kane surpassed it in what seemed like next to no time.

Rooney was rightly regarded as one of the world’s best, unstoppable in full flight and capable of a wide variety of goals, including the spectacular.

Rashford also emerged as a precocious talent at 17 and remains important for Southgate even if competition for places is fierce.

Another who bounced back from opprobrium at Euro 2020 to discover some of his best form yet for club and country. A true match-winner when in full flow.

OTHER PLAYERS

England’s last ‘Golden Generation’ had a world class first XI but perhaps a lack of depth undermined them.

Sol Campbell, who won 73 England caps, could easily have been included in the comparisons above and was also among the very best.

Midfielders Owen Hargreaves and Joe Cole enjoyed their high points in an England shirt as well but back-up options were lacking in quite a few areas.

The 6ft 7in striker Peter Crouch claims an enviable scoring ratio of 22 goals in 42 England games.

Nowadays, there is arguably a slightly better depth to Southgate’s pool of talent.

In defence, the likes of Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James and Eric Dier are all more than accomplished.

Kalvin Phillips, Jordan Henderson and Mason Mount have all been in Southgate’s favour in midfield.

Meanwhile in attack, England can turn to the likes of Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling and James Maddison, allowing the manager the luxury of rotation.

While the lack of a prolific understudy to Kane is worrying, Southgate can hardly complain about his options with younger talents like Marc Guehi coming in too.

MANAGER

Sven-Goran Eriksson vs Gareth Southgate

Eriksson was the first overseas manager of the England national team. Maybe that counted against him in the court of public opinion, or perhaps it was the tabloid front pages about his love life or his cool Swedish persona that came across as him being disinterested.

But Eriksson just wasn’t able to get the best out of an outrageously talented group of players, probably the best England had produced since 1966.

Quarter-finals were reached in 2002, 2004 and 2006 but England should have gone further.

Eriksson was hampered by often bitter club rivalries, which made it difficult to foster unity within the England camp.

In that regard, things couldn’t be more different under Southgate. He has transformed the culture with club differences left at the door. Players actively enjoy coming on England duty rather than regarding it as a chore they’d do anything to avoid.

While Southgate has been loyal to certain players – for better or worse – his team has continued to evolve with young talent given every opportunity.

England are now expected to reach the latter stages of tournaments but those big games only carry extra pressure and Southgate has been accused of freezing over in-game decision-making.

But his ‘Golden Generation’ have already exceeded the previous one in terms of tournament accomplishments and while some fans question whether Southgate will ever lead England to glory, he has certainly elevated standards.

VERDICT

Firstly, Souness is correct to call this a new ‘Golden Generation’ for England. The talent at Southgate’s disposal is phenomenal.

The off-field culture within the England camp is also so much better than it was for the previous golden boys, which should in theory make them better equipped to reach the business end of tournaments.

That has been borne out in recent ones but the big question is whether this team have already peaked with Euro 2024 on the horizon and England among the favourites.

There is a nice blend of youth and experience, though even some of the younger ones have already been scarred by tournament failure and emerged stronger.

Southgate likely has just one more shot now to deliver that long-awaited trophy – question marks do still remain about him and England’s defensive strength in the biggest games.

But England’s new ‘Golden Generation’ look better placed in so many ways to succeed where the previous one failed.

By Ryan Walker For Mailonline

Published: 13:30 EDT, 12 September 2023 | Updated: 15:03 EDT, 12 September 2023

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Mason Greenwood and England: it’s complicated. When it comes to his ability, opinions at St George’s Park are unanimous. He is the obvious heir to Harry Kane‘s No 9 shirt, a generational talent.

That scenario is a world away now, of course. Greenwood the footballer, superb. Greenwood the man, now that’s where things are problematic.

The forward’s journey through the England ranks was riddled with concerns over immaturity. There was always a feeling he required greater attention than other players.

In the autumn of 2021, head coach Gareth Southgate and technical director John McDermott booked an appointment to see Greenwood, members of his family and Manchester United officials amid plans to reintegrate him into the senior squad.

Southgate had moved on from his decision to send Greenwood home in shame following the Nations League win over Iceland in September 2020 after he and Phil Foden brought two women back to the team hotel.

The England boss realises young players make mistakes, but provided they show good intentions – which Greenwood is said to have done – then Southgate is keen to draw a line under any episode. Based on football alone then it was a no-brainer: Greenwood was back in. However, Southgate and McDermott left the meeting agreeing not to select him after all parties felt that was best.

Southgate and his staff pay careful attention to the characters they accept into the England camp. Will the player fit in? Will they disrupt the culture? How will they react if they aren’t playing? Similar conversations have been had over Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford in the past.

The meeting with Greenwood was, in part, used to gauge those factors – but also to present him with a plan to select him as a squad member rather than an automatic starter. The fact he wasn’t then selected is telling. The FA’s relationship with Greenwood’s camp, in particular father Andrew, is said to be awkward.

‘They thought there would be a lot of attention around him coming into the England squad – and if he wasn’t going to play then they were not sure if that was a good idea,’ said a source.

Yet even beyond that meeting, Southgate continued to contemplate an England future with Greenwood in it.

We also shouldn’t forget that Greenwood had been included in the provisional Euro 2020 squad before pulling out with an unspecified injury. There were suspicions about that injury at the time.

An initial World Cup 2022 squad planning meeting included him as a candidate who sources indicate was almost certain to go to Qatar. England were looking at selecting Greenwood for the March 2022 fixtures against Ivory Coast and Switzerland with a view to reintegrating him back into the fold.

His arrest in January of that year for attempted rape brought an abrupt end to those plans.

It was a blow to England who viewed Greenwood as the prime candidate to step in for Kane if he were to be injured. 

Southgate admires Greenwood’s speed of thought, the way he is so comfortable with popping up in different areas of the pitch. 

He believed he could play as a like-for-like replacement for Kane, but could also play wide on either flank. He is a creator of goals and a lethal finisher. He was special – and Southgate knew it.

Now, a return to international football is the least of Greenwood’s concerns. Finding a new club after United announced on Monday that they would be severing ties with their academy graduate is the priority. 

But if – and it’s a big if – Greenwood can get his playing career back on track while also proving he is rehabilitated, then he could have an international career ahead of him.

Whether that’s with England remains to be seen. There is an interest in him from Jamaica, for whom Greenwood is eligible. Despite having played a competitive fixture for England, FIFA rules allow the forward to switch to Jamaica from next month.

The FA’s talent identification staff do rigorous work around the retention of players who have dual nationalities.

When they got wind of Jamaica’s overtures in 2021, the FA sprang into action. They spoke to the family and other intermediaries to ascertain how serious Jamaica’s interest was and whether Greenwood was interested.

By the end of their enquiries, the FA were satisfied that Greenwood still wanted a career with England. The feeling was that the family were using Jamaica to earn him a more prominent place in Southgate’s plans.

But the fact he was recently photographed in a Reggae Boyz tracksuit has set tongues wagging again. Not that Southgate is likely to be influenced by any opportunity for Greenwood to switch allegiance.

It is not a decision Southgate will likely have to make, with the expectation that next summer’s Euros in Germany will be his last tournament in charge.

Southgate will probably say any conversation around selecting Greenwood is hypothetical when he is asked about the striker ahead of next month’s internationals. But the England boss is a principled man; the public mood will have registered.

But he is also a man who believes in rehabilitation and second chances. Foden, Harry Maguire and Ivan Toney have all felt his support in the eye of their own personal storms.

Whether Greenwood deserves to benefit from Southgate’s forgiving nature is an altogether different question.

Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales has apologised for kissing player Jenni Hermoso following his country’s Women’s World Cup final win over England in Australia.

The football chief had faced a wave of criticism and resignation calls after planting the unsolicited kiss on Jenni’s lips following the match.

In a video address today after leading politicians said he should quit or apologise, Rubiales admitted he had made a mistake.

He started the video by saying the Spanish team had achieved an ‘historic feat’ and it was one of the ‘happiest’ days for Spanish football.

But he added: ‘There is also something I regret and it’s over something that happened between a female player and myself who enjoy a magnificent relationship the same as I have with other women players.

‘I’ve no doubt made a mistake and I have to admit it.’

He continued: ‘At a moment of maximum excitement, without any bad intention or bad faith, what happened happened in a very spontaneous manner, I repeat without bad faith on either side.

‘We didn’t understand really what occurred afterwards because we saw it as something normal and natural but it has caused a controversy in some sectors and some people appear to have been upset and therefore I have to apologise.

‘Moreover I have to learn from this and understand that when someone presides an institution as important as the Spanish FA he has to take more care in events like ceremonies.’

Defending his initial reaction in the wake of the controversy, when he branded the people who had criticised the kiss as ‘idiots’, and admitting he was saddened because it had tainted the historic Spanish victory, he continued: ‘Within the Spanish FA no-one lent the slightest importance to this but outside it seems they have.

‘I also want to apologise to those people because if people have been affected outside, they will no doubt have their reasons.’

Rubiales made his public apology as he faced resignation calls over his controversial post-Women’s World Cup celebrations which included giving player Jenni Hermoso an unwanted kiss on the lips.

The 45-year-old had been accused of committing ‘sexual violence’ overnight by Spain’s acting Equality Minister Irene Montero for the unsolicited smacker following the country’s 1-0 win against England.

He initially laughed it off as a ‘peck on the lips between two friends celebrating something’ even though 33-year-old Jenni admitted she hadn’t liked it in a post-match live online stream from the dressing room.

Footage subsequently emerged of Rubiales grabbing his crotch and appearing to make an obscene gesture during his wild celebrations in the stands beside Spain’s Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter.

This morning Anna Caula, General Secretary of Sport for the regional Catalan government, said he should resign.

She called the kiss he planted on Jenni Hermoso’s lips as a ‘harsh aggression’ and added: ‘We must be aware there are things that are not a price that we should have to pay.

‘In football things are still not equal, we still have a lot of work to do.

‘It is up to a president of the Spanish FA to be scrupulous in the way he behaves himself

‘The explanation for this kiss and the subsequent declarations that have been made justifying it means us normalising attitudes that are not acceptable.’

Marta Lois, parliamentary spokesperson for Spanish left-wing coalition party Sumar, said: ‘This type of sexist behaviour towards the Spanish player Jennifer Hermoso is intolerable.

‘Mr Rubiales must resign. It’s shocking.’

Colleague Ernest Urtasum insisted Rubiales should resign ‘tomorrow’ insisting: ‘The image he has shown the world is one of repugnant machoism. This cannot go unpunished.’

Spanish politician Pablo Echenique, a member of hard-left wing party Podemos, was among those who picked up on Rubiales’ crotch grab while the controversy surrounding his kiss was still raging.

He tweeted along video footage of the alleged obscene gesture: ‘As well as giving Jenni Hermoso a non-consensual kiss on the lips while he grabbed her head, an act that could represent the commission of a crime, Rubiales also celebrated Spain’s victory grabbing his testicles next to the queen and her daughter.’

He also posted a photo of the Spanish FA president planting a sloppy kiss on the left cheek of goalscorer Olga Carmona, who learnt after the match her father had died, and wrote on his Twitter feed: ‘Here he is too with Olga Carmona.

‘It seems this guy was drooling over and stalking the whole team.’

Rubiales has yet to comment on the claims he grabbed his private parts in front of Spain’s leading female royals.

He was filmed in the dressing room after yesterday’s World Cup final, announcing a trip to Ibiza for Spain’s winning women as a prize before joking in front of Jenni Hermoso and her teammates: ‘In Ibiza we’ll be celebrating Jenni and Luis Rubiales’ wedding.

Hermoso admitted she hadn’t liked the kiss in a live online stream to fans from the dressing room.

In subsequent comments facilitated by Spain’s FA, the Madrid-born footballer who currently plays for Mexican side Pachuca, referred to the moment as a ‘mutually and totally spontaneous gesture’ and insisted: ‘The president and I have a great relationship.’

STEPH HOUGHTON: Spain were so clever and completely suffocated England in the final… I know the girls will be devastated but now it’s time to capitalise on their success in the WSL

• Lionesses impact at home is a ‘big win’ for England, despite coming second
• England narrowly lost out in a 1-0 defeat to Spain, with goal from Olga Carmona
• Another big moment in women’s football has grown the sport to new heights 

By Steph Houghton for the Daily Mail

Published: 17:31 EDT, 20 August 2023 | Updated: 18:18 EDT, 20 August 2023

England vs Spain – the three key battles that could decide where the World Cup final will be won or lost

By Kathryn Batte For The Daily Mail

Published: 17:31 EDT, 18 August 2023 | Updated: 18:13 EDT, 18 August 2023

Prince William will not attend World Cup final to watch England‘s Lionesses face off against Spain, Kensington Palace has confirmed.

The Lionesses made history after beating Australia 3-1 today securing their place in England’s first World Cup Final since 1966. Ella Toone scored the opener for Sarina Wiegman‘s side before Sam Kerr netted a stunning equaliser midway through the second half to revive Australia’s hopes of reaching the final.

But Prince William, who is president of the Football Association, is set to watch the final on the television. 

No specific reason has been given for the decision, but attending the final would mean a lengthy flight to Australia for a short period of time. 

Following the match, The Prince of Wales praised the team. He wrote on Twitter: ‘What a phenomenal performance from the – on to the final! Commiserations to, you’ve played brilliantly and been fantastic co-hosts of this World Cup. W’

The royal is currently on a summer break and travelling across the world is something those in the public eye have previously been criticised for. 

Tackling climate change is listed as one of the prince’s priorities. 

Veteran royal journalist Phil Dampier has criticised the royal’s decision to miss out on Sunday’s final, which will be broadcast at 11am. 

On social media he wrote: ‘If Prince William as President of the FA isn’t going to the Women’s World Cup final we should be told why not. It’s a long way and Australia hasn’t had a visit by him or The King since Charles came to the throne. That’s the problem. If the final was in Europe he’d be there!’

The prince also sat out on last year’s men’s World Cup in Qatar, due to the controversies surrounding it. But it was reported that he ‘might’ have attended if they managed to reach the final. 

King Charles congratulated the squad. In his message, he said: ‘My wife and I join all our family in sending the mighty Lionesses our warmest congratulations on reaching the final of the World Cup, and in sharing our very best wishes for Sunday’s match.

‘While your victory may have cost the magnificent Matildas their chance for the greatest prize in the game, both teams have been an inspiration on and off the pitch – and, for that, both nations are united in pride, admiration and respect.’

Like Prince William, many fans will be opting to stay in England and enjoy the game at home or at a fanzone. 

The Lionesses have clearly captured the hearts and minds of a nation once again, as all three Boxpark fan zones in London sold out eight minutes after the final whistle.

A Boxpark spokesperson said that 2,500 tickets across their sites in Shoreditch, Wembley and Croydon sold out in under 10 minutes.

Ecstatic England fans have poured on to Twitter to celebrate the achievement, and several supporters used memes to wind up the tournament hosts following their World Cup exit. 

A fan zone at Boxpark Croydon turned into an impromptu dance floor on Wednesday as the Lionesses confirmed their place in the final, knocking out the host nation.

The only person who seemed to be sitting down when the final whistle was heard at the south London venue was a lone Australian at the front of the zone.

The team’s official Twitter account posted three images from behind the scenes in Sydney.

It was captioned ‘Good times never seemed so good!’ – lyrics from the Neil Diamond classic which has become something of a celebratory anthem for England in recent tournaments.

Boss Sarina Wiegman was clearly keen to keep a lid on celebrations, even telling defender Lucy Bronze to ‘stop jumping’ and to immediately begin preparations for Sunday’s showpiece final. 

Australian fans were left crying into their beers as goals for England from Toone, Hemp and Alessia Russo sealed victory and put the Lionesses 90 minutes away from lifting two major trophies in just under 13 months.

England will now take on Spain for the trophy this Sunday at 11am UK time, after they beat Sweden 2-1 yesterday to book their trip to the final. 

The match comes just over a year after England won Euro 2022 by beating Germany and is England’s first World Cup final since the men’s famous triumph back in 1966. 

Lionesses fans at the fan zones put children on their shoulders, danced on tables and sang football hits following the historic victory.