YOU can only hope Eberechi Eze and his England team-mates were not expecting an easy few days in Spain after an exhausting season.
Although it is only Andorra in a World Cup qualifier in Barcelona on Saturday, Thomas Tuchel put his players through an unusual but excruciating end-of-season fitness test as he prepares for baking-hot temperatures at next year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Although the weather was 26C here in Girona yesterday, it was far hotter inside the tent where Tuchel made his players take on a strength-sapping bike exercise.
And it came after they had swallowed a biometric tablet to allow the FA medics to get an accurate reading of how the players deal with extreme stress.
For Eze, his partying after winning the FA Cup final with Crystal Palace must have seemed like a long time ago.
The Eagles forward, 26, said: “After taking those tablets, you had to be on the bike for about 45 minutes and just had to keep going.
“They monitored your heart rate and they monitored your actual body temperature.
“It was quite difficult to do and 45 minutes is a long time on a bike.
“But it was something that was definitely helpful and it gave a bit of insight into myself and how I cope with those situations, which was interesting. It was the first time for me doing something like this.”
Chelsea forward Cole Palmer, 23, added: “It was tough. It was 36C inside the tents and we had to get to a certain watts or something on a bike and maintain it.”
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Ivan Toney knows all about heat as he plays in Saudi Arabia for Al-Ahli.
The striker, 29, said: “You can’t blast out running crazy for 90-plus minutes.
“It has to be tactical when you make the runs and these kind of things change your game a bit — but it is good.
“It’s different but I’m getting used to it now.
“You have to change your game a little bit and maybe you have to sit back for a bit or keep the ball for a bit.”
The team have certainly enjoyed themselves at this luxury golf resort outside Girona since they arrived, after watching the F1 in Barcelona on Sunday.
The Camiral Golf and Wellness Centre is set to stage the Ryder Cup in 2031.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was playing golf here at an event with Gianfranco Zola a few days ago, while the football centre used to be Girona’s training ground and Brighton and City have stayed here in pre-season.
England will remain on site until tomorrow afternoon before heading to Barcelona to prepare for the match at Espanyol’s stadium.
Tuchel’s team then play Senegal in a friendly at the City Ground in Nottingham on Tuesday.
Palace star Eze is certainly enjoying life with England. Scoring his first goal, on his tenth appearance in the 3-0 win over Latvia in March, was clearly a big deal.
It’s only when you speak to fans and you see what it means to them . . . that’s when you really understand how amazing it is.
Eberechi Eze on FA Cup joy
He said: “Yes, a special moment for me. I scored my first goal and that brought more confidence.
“I’d say it followed throughout the rest of the season, which was good for me and for Palace.”
When you mention that historic Cup final win for Palace against Manchester City, Eze just cannot stop smiling.
He said: “For me, the most special thing is when you speak to fans and you see the fans’ faces and you get to understand what it truly means to them.
“Of course, winning as a player is important — and being part of the first team to do it for Palace is definitely special.
“But it’s only when you speak to fans and you see what it means to them . . . that’s when you really understand how amazing it is.”
Yet will he still be at Palace next season? Spurs are one of several clubs interested in him.
Asked if he is thinking about his future, Eze gave little away.
He said: “At the moment, not so much.
“I feel like I’m here on camp with England and I’m trying to work here on camp with England.
“Those things will take care of themselves.”
THE thrills and spills of the summer transfer window are finally here – with some huge deals already in the pipeline.
Liam Delap has completed a £30m move from Ipswich to Chelsea.
Elsewhere, Liverpool are preparing to pay the full £126m asking price to capture Florian Wirtz as soon as possible.
In other news, Man City have agreed a deal to sign AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders for £46.3m.
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Follow ALL the latest news, moves and completed deals with our live blog below…
THIS Hollywood actor looked unrecognisable on set of his new sports biopic – but can you guess who he is?
The 51-year-old sported a black leather jacket, slicked back hair and three Super Bowl rings on the set of his new film.
This Oscar winning actor looked very different to his usual heartthrob looks while filming in Atlanta on Wednesday.
The star was spotted strolling around the film set pulling an expression with his mouth open.
But have you worked out with A-lister this is?
It’s none other than Batman star Christian Bale.
The Hollywood star is currently shooting scenes for his new movie Madden.
He is starring alongside US megastar Nicolas Cage as they filmed the hotly-anticipated David O. Russell flick.
In costume, Christina bears a striking resemblance to his real life character – the late Al Davis, the Oakland Raiders team owner and manager – and sported a somewhat ruddy complexion.
While Nicolas was spotted in a blue and green fatsuit with long hair.
He plays Raiders head coach turned-iconic broadcaster John Madden.
Comedian John Mulaney stars as Trip Hawkins and British actress Sienna Miller as Al’s wife Carol Davis.
“The film follows Madden’s remarkable journey—from his Super Bowl-winning partnership with Al Davis and the Raiders, to creating Madden NFL, and becoming one of the most iconic voices in football history,” Amazon said in a press release.
NFL fans recently reacted to Christian and Nicholas’ shocking new looks in the upcoming movie.
“Wait, is this real?” one asked.
“Damn they actually look nothing like their actual selves,” another commented.
“That can’t be John Madden!” a third added.
Madden is directed by David O. Russell, who has been Oscar-nominated for hit movies like The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook.
Russell also wrote the script for the film, which is based on Madden’s personal journey from being an NFL coach to an iconic broadcasting career to the face of EA Sports’ Madden NFL video game franchises.
Madden died in December 2021 at the age of 85.
The longtime owner of the Raiders, Davis, is also featured in the movie.
The fiery personality was known for his motto, “Just, win baby.”
Davis died in October 2011 at the age of 82 due to congestive heart failure.
The movie Madden also stars comedian and actor John Mulaney as Electronic Sports founder Trip Hawkins.
Last April, it was revealed that Nicolas would be cast as Madden, while Christina was later confirmed to portray the role of Davis.
DAKOTA Johnson was ‘desperate’ for her and Chris Martin to work out and was often left in tears by their on/off romance, a source has claimed.
The actress, 35, and Coldplay singer, 48, were engaged for years after first being linked in 2017 but never made it official.
PEOPLE revealed on Wednesday that they have broken up again, with an insider saying, “It feels final this time.”
Dakota was last seen with Chris in Malibu just two weeks ago, and they were also seen holding hands in India during Coldplay’s recent tour in January.
But they have now called it quits and will be focusing on their respective careers.
A source told The U.S. Sun that the 13-year age gap and the topic of children had often caused problems.
“Dakota has been desperate for her and Chris to work out for years, and every time they broke up she was devastated and in tears,” they said.
“Even some of Dakota’s team would have to console her when they were apart and she could never move on.
“She really loves him and his children, and he deeply loves her, but things were just never lining up for them and it was very up and down.
“They really tried to work through their issues but the age gap was often a problem and she’d expressed that she may want children in the future, whereas Chris is kind of done with that part of his life but they discussed it.”
It’ll be hard for both of them to move on.”
A source told The U.S. Sun
They added that they had been “back and forth on issues for years” and tried to figure out a future.
“They made some beautiful memories as a family and it’ll be hard for both of them to move on after such a long relationship but they will do it,” they said.
It’s believed the pair now feel it’s time to start a new chapter but will remain on good terms amid the breakup.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Dakoke and Chris’s reps for comment.
Dakota is currently focused on her acting career as she is set to appear in the new rom-com The Materialists alongside Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans.
She spoke about relationships in an interview with the Los Angeles Times this week while promoting the upcoming movie.
Dakota said, “For a long time we’ve all been so quick to judge relationships or how they should happen, how they should exist in the world. When people should get married. Divorce is bad. All these things that actually, if you think about it, why is divorce bad?’ she said. ‘Why do people have to get married, or at a certain age or only once? Why? It doesn’t matter.”
Chris famously split from actress wife Gwyneth Paltrow in March 2014 after more than a decade of marriage.
He reportedly got engaged to Dakota some years ago and she called his kids her “step-children”.
Chris, shares daughter Apple, 21, and son Moses, 19, with his ex Gwyneth, 53.
The pair sparked dating rumors in 2017 after meeting through friends.
In January 2018, they stepped out in public together for the first time and were seen going for walks on the beach in Malibu.
Later that month, Dakota’s famous dad Don confirmed their romance and said, “She’s a big girl; she can handle herself.”
In September 2018, their whirlwind romance stepped up when they got matching tattoos.
Weeks later, TMZ falsely reported they were expecting a baby and Dakota said, “The only thing I’m pregnant with is a lot of really good ideas.”
In 2019, they split for the first time – but reunited just two months later.
The following year Chris gave Dakota the honor of directing his music video for Coldplay’s hit Cry Cry Cry.
Over the years, they were faced with further rumors of trouble in paradise.
In December 2021, Dakota spoke about life with Chris in an interview with Elle, saying, “We go out sometimes, but we both work so much that it’s nice to be at home and be cozy and private.”
In 2024, it was reported they had been secretly engaged for years but had split again.
They brushed off the rumors at the time by putting on a united front and their rep insisted, “They are happily together.”
Dakota spoke of her close relationship with Chris’s kids in an interview with Bustle.
She said, “I love those kids like my life depends on it. With all my heart.
“How do I feel about motherhood? I’m so open to that.
“I’ve gotten to this place where I really want to experience everything life has to offer.
“And especially being a woman, I’m like: ‘What a magical f***ing thing to do. What a crazy, magical, wild experience.
“If that’s meant to happen for me, I’m totally down for it.
“We’re not here for very long, so if I’m meant to be a mother, bring it on.”
Dakota also has the seal of approval from Gwyneth, who attended her 30th birthday party.
She said about Chris and Dakota, “I love her.
“I can see how it would seem weird because it’s sort of unconventional.
“But I think, in this case, just having passed through it iteratively, I just adore her.
“I always start to think of the —what else can you bring in, instead of being resistant to or being made insecure by?”
She explained, “It’s not like there’s a finish line: ‘Oh, we consciously uncoupled; we’re done.’
“It’s a lifelong commitment to constantly reinvent your relationship with your ex, which you do presumably because you have children together.
“I don’t see a reason to do it if you don’t have children together. Some people do.
“But I think we put all the hard work in at the beginning. I would say very rarely is it difficult now.”
OLYMPIAN Ryan Lochte’s wife is filing for divorce after seven years of marriage.
Swimming icon Lochte has been married to Kayla Rae Reid since 2018 after they started dating in 2016.
However, Reid revealed she had made the decision to end their marriage.
In an emotional Instagram statement, the 33-year-old said: “Earlier this year, I made the hard decision to end my marriage after deep prayer and reflection.
“I hold marriage in the highest regard, so this has been one of the most painful, revealing and challenging seasons of my life.
“I’ve been hesitant to share until I could do so from a place of healing — not from fresh, open wounds.
“Sometimes we face trials we didn’t choose or see coming.
“And in those moments, we’re forced to make the hardest decisions to protect our peace, our children and our future.
“I’ve come to understand that staying isn’t always the most loving decision someone can make. For me, leaving was an act of love — for those around me and myself.”
According to court records reported by People, Kayla filed for divorce on March 26.
The pair welcomed three children during their marriage; Caiden, seven, Liv, five and Georgia, 23 months.
Lochte has won 12 medals at the Olympics including six golds, three silver and three bronze.
His exploits have made him the second-most decorated male swimmer in Olympic history, behind team-mate Michael Phelps.
The 40-year-old released a statement of his own on the divorce.
He said: “I want to take a moment to acknowledge what Kayla shared.
“This past year has brought major changes for both of us as we’ve come to the difficult decision to end our marriage.
“I’m deeply grateful for the life we’ve built together and especially for the love we share for our three children.
“Although this decision hasn’t been easy, I believe it’s the right step toward peace and well-being for us both.
“I remain committed to healing, growth, and co-parenting with care and respect as we move forward separately.
“Thank you to our family and friends for your continued support – it truly means a lot as we begin this new chapter.”
Neither has revealed what the reason behind the divorce was.