标签： Europe

A packed Monday of European club soccer delivered a series of dramatic results across Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s La Liga, headlined by Lazio securing a third consecutive league win that catapults the Rome-based side into a share of first place.

In the headline Serie A fixture, Lazio fought back from an early second-half deficit to defeat Udinese 2-1, extending their perfect start to the new season. Midfielder Davide Frattesi maintained his red-hot scoring streak, finding the net for the third straight match. After Jesper Karlstrom put Udinese ahead in the 49th minute, Frattesi slid to convert a low cross into the back of the net in the 75th minute to level the score. Just minutes after Frattesi was substituted off for debutant Albert Gudmundsson, the Icelandic international iced the win with a powerful header in stoppage time, two minutes before the final whistle. The three points lift Lazio to nine points from three opening matches, tying them with Roma and Inter Milan at the top of the table. Udinese stays in 10th place following the defeat.

In another Serie A clash, Cagliari earned a 1-0 home win over Lecce, with on-loan attacker Daniel Maldini (from Atalanta) scoring the only goal of the game. Maldini nodded home a first-half corner to give Cagliari an early lead, and despite dominating possession and creating multiple chances—including a second-half strike from Paul Mendy that hit the base of the post and a Maldini free kick that struck the woodwork—the club could not add to their lead, but held on for the full three points. The result lifts Cagliari into the top half of the Serie A standings, while Lecce drops to 14th.

Across the continent in La Liga, Real Sociedad pulled off a thrilling late 3-2 away victory over winless Elche, marking their first away league win since February. Job Ochieng got Sociedad off to a fast start, opening the scoring in just the 11th minute, and Yangel Herrera doubled their advantage 20 minutes later after a mistake from Elche’s goalkeeper. The game shifted dramatically in the 65th minute when Sociedad’s Jon Martin was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle, leaving the side down to 10 men. Elche capitalized quickly: on-loan forward Thomas Lemar pulled one back four minutes after the red card, and Fer Nino bundled home an equalizer nine minutes later to level the match at 2-2. Elche squandered multiple late chances to claim their first win of the season, and were punished in the 90th minute when Luka Sučić broke away to score the winning goal, securing all three points for Sociedad. Following the result, Sociedad sits ninth in the La Liga table with seven points from five matches, while Elche remains joint-bottom with just one point so far this season.

In the final Monday La Liga fixture, Getafe and Celta Vigo split points after a 1-1 draw. Uruguayan striker Martin Satriano put Getafe ahead early, pouncing on a loose ball in the six-yard box after Celta failed to clear a right-sided corner. Celta responded in the 57th minute, with Carl Starfelt heading home an equalizer from their own corner kick. Midway through the second half, Getafe defender Zaid Romero was sent off after picking up a second yellow card, reducing the hosts to 10 men. Despite pushing hard for a late winning goal, Celta could not find a breakthrough, extending their search for a first win of the campaign. Celta has only scored two goals in five league matches this season, and sits 16th in the table with four points, one point and one place behind Getafe who occupy 15th.

BERLIN – In a commanding turnaround performance following a shaky preliminary round matchup, the United States women’s national basketball team delivered a dominant 105-64 victory over the Czech Republic on Monday, powered by star forward Breanna Stewart’s all-around standout play. Stewart, a core leader for the American squad, notched 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists to anchor the win, a bounce-back effort after the team narrowly escaped with a 55-52 win over Italy a day prior – the Americans’ closest preliminary round finish in half a century. Stewart set the tempo from the opening tip, erasing any lingering concerns of a repeat slow start, and helped extend USA’s unprecedented unbeaten streak at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup to 33 consecutive games. The run stretches back to the team’s 2006 World Cup semifinal loss to Russia. Stewart got off to a blistering start, putting up 11 points in the first 10 minutes of play to push the U.S. to an early 29-15 advantage. That opening burst was a stark contrast to the team’s sluggish first half against Italy, where the Americans managed just 30 total points in the first two quarters. Napheesa Collier built on Stewart’s early momentum in the second quarter, scoring seven of her 12 total points in the frame to help the U.S. stretch its lead to 57-33 by halftime. The Czech side never mounted a serious challenge in the second half, as the American lead swelled to over 40 points at its peak. Stewart, who set her World Cup career scoring high of 23 points in a 2018 matchup against China, fell just short of that mark on Monday, having only played just over 16 minutes total. She sat out the entire fourth quarter, which also ended her shot at becoming just the second player in Women’s World Cup history to record a triple-double. The only player to achieve that milestone so far is the Czech Republic’s own Erika Dobrovicova, who notched the feat in a 1994 game against Spain. For the Czech Republic, Monday’s loss closed out a winless run in pool play at this year’s tournament. This year’s World Cup marks the Czechs’ first appearance at the event since 2014, and the team previously claimed a silver medal when it hosted the tournament in 2010. With the preliminary round now complete, the U.S. advances to the quarterfinal round, set to tip off on Thursday. Their opponent in the knockout round will be the winner of Tuesday’s pool play matchup between Hungary and Japan. A full slate of other preliminary round games took place across the tournament on Monday: China secured a win over Italy, Germany defeated Mali, Belgium earned a victory over Australia, Puerto Rico edged out Turkey, France handily beat Nigeria, Spain took down Japan, and Hungary picked up a narrow win over South Korea.

For generations, Formula 1 racing in Italy has been synonymous with the iconic Scuderia Ferrari — a legacy of homegrown pride and red-clad fan loyalty that has defined the sport at Monza for decades. But on a sunbaked race day that will go down in F1 history, that long-held association was broken, as 20-year-old Mercedes rising star Kimi Antonelli pulled off one of the most dramatic comeback victories the sport has ever seen, securing a win at his home grand prix that has cemented his place among Italy’s greatest athletic legends.

Starting the race all the way back in 19th position, Antonelli fought through the packed field over 53 laps to claim the checkered flag, marking the furthest starting position any driver has climbed to win an F1 grand prix in more than 40 years. Even more remarkably, he is the first Italian driver to win the Italian Grand Prix since Ludovico Scarfiotti took victory for Ferrari all the way back in 1966. To seal the win, Antonelli pulled off 22 overtakes, using blistering pace and precise car control to carve past competitors his team believed he would struggle to pass. His strong early race speed allowed Mercedes to execute a game-changing two-stop tire strategy that ultimately put him out in front, with the young Italian reaching the top position in less than 17 full laps. It stands as the most dramatic come-from-behind F1 victory since John Watson won the 1983 Long Beach Grand Prix starting from 22nd on the grid.

The day was one to forget for Ferrari, the sport’s beloved Italian powerhouse. Ferrari’s star driver Charles Leclerc was forced out of the race after a crash just five minutes after the green flag. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, whom Antonelli replaced at Mercedes this season, finished sixth, more than 20 seconds behind the young winner. In a striking twist that captured the magnitude of Antonelli’s achievement, even die-hard Ferrari fans abandoned their loyalty to cheer the homegrown winner. When Antonelli crowd-surfed across the thousands of fans that flooded the track for his podium celebration, most of the supporters holding him aloft were wearing the iconic red Ferrari caps that are a staple of Monza race day.

In a Monday editorial leading the sports coverage, Italy’s leading sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport called Antonelli’s win “one of the most memorable” feats in all of F1 history. The outlet noted that even the most loyal Ferrari tifosi embraced Antonelli, cheering him as loudly as they have cheered past Italian Grand Prix winners including Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, and Leclerc himself. Gazzetta also placed Antonelli among the ranks of Italy’s most iconic modern sports heroes, alongside skiing legend Alberto Tomba, cycling great Marco Pantani, motorcycle racing champion Valentino Rossi, and tennis star Jannik Sinner, describing the 20-year-old as “just a kid who lives next door” who has grown into a national sporting superhero.

True to his roots, Antonelli celebrated the historic win in unapologetically Italian fashion: he ate a plate of spaghetti right out of his winning trophy. For Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, the win was a full-circle moment for Antonelli, who made his F1 practice debut at Monza two years ago — a debut that ended after just 10 minutes when he was caught in a high-speed crash during first practice. “Then two years later, it’s the biggest glory, the biggest moment of his career that’s probably going to be one of his biggest moments overall in the future,” Wolff said after the race. “Even if he wins another 200 grands prix, that one will always remain special.” Wolff also praised Antonelli’s seamless chemistry with his car, echoing the sentiment of the team that nothing can stop a driver who is fully in sync with his machine: “There’s just no stopping when a driver and a car are one. There’s nothing that can stop them.”

Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’ trackside engineering director, highlighted just how impressive Antonelli’s performance was behind the wheel, noting “He carved past cars we thought he may struggle to pass.”

Antonelli’s historic win has also reshaped the landscape of this year’s driver’s championship, and could bring another celebration in front of his home fans before the season ends. He now holds a 66-point lead over his Mercedes teammate George Russell in the drivers’ standings with 10 races remaining on the 2025 calendar. Amid ongoing uncertainty over security conditions in the Middle East, the season finale is currently under consideration to be moved from the traditional Abu Dhabi circuit to Imola, a track located just a short drive from Antonelli’s hometown of Bologna.

For those close to Antonelli, this historic win was always meant to be. Born into a motorsport family — his father is a former racer and team owner, while his mother helped manage the family racing operation — Antonelli was scouted and signed to Mercedes’ junior development program by Wolff back in 2018. According to his mother Veronica, his path to F1 stardom was destiny from before he was even born. “When I was pregnant with him, where was I when I started to have contractions? At the movies watching *Cars* — a film that Kimi then must have watched 100 times as a kid,” she said. “He surprises even me with his maturity and his ability to learn. He’s still a kid but mentally he’s just so strong.”

Antonelli will next hit the track for the Spanish Grand Prix next weekend, as he continues his quest for a first world championship in his debut full F1 season.

Bernie Ecclestone, the 95-year-old British tycoon who steered Formula 1 for nearly four decades before Liberty Media’s 2017 takeover ousted him from leadership, has pushed back against reports claiming he was arrested at a Portuguese aerodrome over an undeclared shotgun.

The incident unfolded on Monday, when Ecclestone arrived at Cascais’ Tires Aerodrome after flying in from Switzerland. He was traveling to compete in a local clay pigeon shooting competition, bringing his shotgun along for the event. In a statement to the Press Association, Ecclestone clarified that he was only stopped and questioned by a team of four police officers and customs officials, not taken into custody.

According to Ecclestone, he had previously transported the shotgun from his home country of the United Kingdom to Switzerland without incident, and expected smooth entry into Portugal because airport authorities are familiar with him. He told reporters, “I went to see the police and said, ‘What can I do for you?’ And they said, ‘We would like some information on this gun you brought in.’” After roughly an hour of questioning, Ecclestone surrendered the firearm, as he lacked the required official documentation for legal import into Portugal. The former F1 boss also emphasized that Portuguese law enforcement acted politely and professionally throughout the interaction, noting they were “very helpful.”

This is not the first time Ecclestone has run into legal trouble related to firearms at an airport. Back in May 2022, he was arrested in Brazil after being found illegally carrying a firearm while boarding a private jet bound for Switzerland. He ultimately resolved that incident by paying a fine of 6,000 Brazilian reals, equivalent to roughly £1,000, to local authorities.

BERLIN – A historic three-point shooting display has cemented France’s place in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Women’s FIBA World Cup, after the European side posted a dominant 111-56 victory over Nigeria on Monday while shattering a tournament record set just three days prior.

The French squad drained 22 three-pointers throughout the matchup, surpassing the previous benchmark of 20 three-pointers Japan notched in its opening-round win against Mali earlier in the competition. The record-breaking shot came from Migna Toure, who sunk a corner three with 5:45 remaining in the fourth quarter to push France past the old record at 21. Following the game, Toure admitted she had no idea the team was nearing the historic mark when she stepped up to take the shot.

“I didn’t know we broke the record, to me it was just a corner 3,” Toure told reporters after the win.

Forward Gabby Williams led France’s historic shooting performance, converting six of her eight three-point attempts, while guard Marine Johannes added five threes of her own. As a team, France finished 22-for-40 from behind the three-point arc, an impressive 55% conversion rate that left opponents overwhelmed.

This red-hot form continues a strong run for France, which entered the World Cup fresh off a narrow one-point silver-medal loss to the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer. Through three preliminary round matches, France has won each contest by an average margin of 43 points, signaling the team is one of the most dominant contenders in the tournament.

Johannes attributed the team’s overwhelming success to a balanced approach on both ends of the court. “I think we are just happy about the way we are playing right now,” Johannes said. “We are shooting the ball and playing good defense so we can run the floor. I think we are pretty good when we push the ball.”

Williams echoed her teammate’s comments, noting that France’s unprecedented roster depth is its biggest competitive advantage in the condensed tournament schedule. “Our depth is definitely going to be our strength. Especially in this compact a tournament,” Williams said. “It’s physical, it’s tough. You know, it’s fatiguing. So if we can be able to just put someone on the court for five minutes, they give their all and our intensity never drops. That’s going to be our goal.”

With the preliminary round wrapped up, France now has several days of rest before its quarterfinal matchup. A win in the next round would see France advance to the tournament’s medal round for the first time in 73 years. The team’s best finish in FIBA Women’s World Cup history came back in 1953, when it claimed bronze under the tournament’s old round-robin format.

As the 2025 Solheim Cup prepares to kick off this Friday at Netherlands’ Bernardus Golf, all eyes are turning to Team Europe’s full roster of competitors, a mix of seasoned veterans with decades of team experience and exciting rookie prospects making their first appearance in one of women’s golf’s most prestigious team events. Below is an in-depth profile of every player set to represent the European side, broken down by career milestones, past Solheim Cup performance, and recent form heading into this year’s competition.

Celine Boutier, 32, of France, enters the tournament ranked 34th in the world with 11 global professional wins to her name, including the 2023 Evian Championship. Making her fourth Solheim Cup appearance, the French star holds a career team record of 7-6-1 across matches. Boutier has experienced both the highest highs and lowest lows of Solheim Cup competition: she went undefeated with a 4-0-0 record in her 2019 debut, but dropped all three of her matches during the 2023 event hosted in Spain. She earned a win on the LPGA Tour at the ShopRite LPGA earlier this year, carrying momentum into her fourth showing.

Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, 36, is one of Team Europe’s most experienced competitors, ranked 60th globally with 11 worldwide professional titles. Ciganda is tied with England’s Charley Hull for the most Solheim Cup appearances in Team Europe’s 2025 roster, marking her seventh trip to the team event with a career record of 12-11-1. Her most iconic Solheim Cup moment came on home soil in 2023, when she defeated American star Nelly Korda to lock in Europe’s retention of the cup.

At 27, Sweden’s Linn Grant holds the 61st spot in the global rankings with nine worldwide professional wins, though she has yet to claim a major championship title. Grant is making her third Solheim Cup appearance with a career team record of 3-6-0. The talented Swede has struggled with consistency throughout 2025, missing the cut in four of this year’s five major championships and finishing outside the top 60 in the remaining event. She dropped all four of her matches during the 2024 Solheim Cup, and will be looking to turn her form around at Bernardus Golf.

Germany’s Esther Henseleit, 27, enters the tournament as one of Europe’s top-ranked competitors at 20th in the world, with two global professional titles to her name. Henseleit is making her second Solheim Cup appearance, holding a 1-1-1 career record from her first showing. The German player has hit her stride in recent years, claiming a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and coming within a putt of winning the Women’s British Open, where she holed a dramatic 45-foot birdie putt to force a playoff before ultimately falling short.

Charley Hull, 30, of England, ranks eighth in the world with eight worldwide professional wins, and is tied for the most Solheim Cup appearances on Team Europe with her seventh showing this year. Hull boasts an impressive career team record of 15-9-3, widely regarded as the energetic heart of the European side and one of the most charismatic personalities in global women’s golf. Her signature aggressive playing style has consistently delivered results in Solheim Cup match play, and she is expected to be a key contributor for Europe in 2025.

Denmark’s Nanna Koertz Madsen, 31, ranks 68th globally with two professional wins, and is making her second Solheim Cup appearance, her first in five years. Madsen holds a 1-1-1 career record from her debut team appearance, but has not claimed a professional tournament win in four years heading into this year’s event.

Ireland’s Leona Maguire, 31, is ranked 78th in the world with three worldwide professional wins, making her third Solheim Cup appearance with an impressive career record of 8-3-1. Named Europe’s top match play competitor during the 2021 Solheim Cup, Maguire has struggled through a two-year winless slump, and only appeared in two matches during the 2023 tournament. She will be aiming to recapture her standout match play form in the Netherlands.

The 2025 Team Europe roster includes four first-time Solheim Cup competitors, headlined by 21-year-old French rookie Nastasia Nadaud. Ranked 89th globally with one professional win, Nadaud earned her spot after claiming victory at the Ladies European Tour season finale last year.

Another rookie, 23-year-old Spaniard Julia Lopez Ramirez, enters her first Solheim Cup ranked 93rd in the world with no professional wins to date. In just her second full season as a professional, Lopez Ramirez rose to the top of the women’s world amateur rankings in 2024 before leaving Mississippi State University to turn pro.

England’s Mimi Rhodes, 24, is the third rookie on Team Europe, ranked 105th globally with three professional titles. Rhodes earned promotion to the event after claiming three wins on the Ladies European Tour last season, though she has only notched two top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour in 2025 so far.

Sweden’s Maja Stark, 27, enters the tournament ranked 28th in the world with seven global professional wins, including the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open – the biggest win of her career to date. Stark held off American star Nelly Korda to claim the major title last year, which remains her most recent tournament win. Making her third Solheim Cup appearance, she holds a career team record of 3-3-2.

The final member of Team Europe’s 2025 roster is 22-year-old English rookie Lottie Woad, who has skyrocketed to seventh in the world rankings in just the early stages of her professional career. Woad notched an amateur win at the Women’s Irish Open followed by a professional victory at the Women’s Scottish Open, a dynamic start to her career that has led many golf analysts to predict she will compete like a seasoned veteran rather than a first-time Solheim Cup rookie in this week’s tournament.