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• Phil Neville joins Canada coaching staff

  Phil Neville has joined the coaching staff of the Canada national team just days after leaving his role with Inter Miami.

  The 46-year-old will join up as part of John Herdman’s technical team alongside Richard Shaw, and the two new additions will be part of Canada’s plans for their CONCACAF Nations League finals in Las Vegas.

  Neville was relieved of his duties with Inter Miami last week with the club sitting rock-bottom of the Eastern Conference in Major League Soccer, just days before Lionel Messi was announced as their new marquee signing.

  The former England Women boss will take a familiar role with another national team after leading the Lionesses to a fourth-place finish at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2019 SheBelieves Cup success.

  Canada reached just their second ever World Cup in 2022 and first since 1986 but exited the group stage, and now have the opportunity for their first trophy since 2000 when they play Panama in the semi-finals of the Nations League where the winners face the United States or Mexico for the trophy.

  Shaw will take up a similar position to Neville and his first as part of any national team having previously been involved at Watford, Millwall and Crystal Palace.

  Following the announcement, Canada boss Herman told their website: “Both Phil and Richard bring with them winning experience at the highest levels and have worked with some of the Premier League’s top managers during their careers.

  “They’ll work as positional and unit coaches with the aim of helping us to win our first trophy in over two decades.”

• Cory Hill withdraws from Wales World Cup squad to pursue club offer

  Cory Hill has become the latest player to withdraw from Wales’ preliminary World Cup training squad.

  The former Cardiff and Dragons lock, who had been playing in Japan, was recalled by Wales head coach Warren Gatland following two years out of Test rugby.

  But 31-year-old Hill has pulled out of the squad to pursue a club contract opportunity outside of Wales, the Welsh Rugby Union said.

  “I am gutted to be leaving the squad, but an opportunity has come up and I need to take it for my family,” Hill said.

  “Wishing the boys all the best at the World Cup, and I hope to be back in a Wales jersey in the future.”

  Gatland named a 54-man group last month for the tournament in France later this year.

  Lock Alun Wyn Jones, flanker Justin Tipuric and scrum-half Rhys Webb, who have 291 Wales caps between them, subsequently announced their retirements from international rugby.

  And Cardiff prop Rhys Carre was then released from the squad after he failed to meet individual performance targets.

  The PA news agency understands that Gatland has no plans to call up a replacement for Hill, whose new club want him available for them during the World Cup period in September and October.

  Hill made his Wales debut against Australia in 2016, while a 32nd and latest appearance came during the 2021 Six Nations against France.

  Gatland’s remaining second-row options in his squad are Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Dafydd Jenkins, Ben Carter, Rhys Davies, Teddy Williams and Christ Tshiunza.

• Erling Haaland on a mission to realise Champions League dream with Man City

  Erling Haaland is well aware he was brought to Manchester City to help them win the Champions League.

  City are just one victory away from claiming the prize they covet most but has eluded them time after time with several near misses in recent years.

  Haaland has been key to their latest charge to the final, where they face Inter Milan in Istanbul on Saturday, after a prolific first season at the Etihad Stadium.

  The Norwegian has plundered 52 goals in all competitions since City identified him as the potential final piece in their jigsaw last year and paid £51million to recruit him from Borussia Dortmund.

  “The Premier League, they won it two times in a row before I came here,” said Haaland. “So they know how to win the Premier League.

  “The only thing they miss now is the Champions League. You can think and read between the words and the lines – I have been coming here for a reason.”

  Haaland scored a record 36 Premier League goals as he helped City make it three titles in a row. They followed up that success by winning the FA Cup last weekend.

  Now City are bidding to join rivals Manchester United in the history books by becoming only the second side to win the treble.

  Doing so would see Haaland fulfil a long-held dream of winning the Champions League.

  “I have been dreaming and thinking of it my whole life,” said the 22-year-old. “It has been my dream as long as I can remember, so a long time.

  “Of course I have been thinking of this. There is one game left we have to perform at our best in. We have been doing it now for so many games in a row. It’s about keeping going.”

  Such is Haaland’s love of the Champions League, that he even used to play the competition’s theme music in his car during his younger days.

  “Yes, there is a video of me doing that,” he said. “You can search it up. It’s true.”

  Haaland feels his game has improved at City under the guidance of Pep Guardiola – someone he describes as a “detail freak” – but is convinced there is more to come.

  He said: “I am really enjoying every single day with him, with the intense Pep. I like it.

  “I am still young, I can improve a lot and I am at the perfect place to work with the best coach and players in the world.”