Antonella Palmisano handed Italy the perfect start as hosts of the European athletics championships by winning the opening medal event, the 20km race walk, on Friday.Palmisano dominated the circuits of the Stadio dei Marmi, the warm-up stadium in Rome's Olympic complex surrounded by 60 four-metre (13ft) tall classical marble statues of athletes dating back to Italy's Fascist era under Benito Mussolini.
Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, Paris Sant=Germain defender Milan Skriniar and Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka form the backbone of Slovakia's final 26-man squad for Euro 2024 announced on Friday.Slovakia's Italian coach Francesco Calzona told reporters he had made the final decision on Friday morning as he trimmed a provisional 32-man squad to 26 names.
Former Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson has joined Stoke City on a three-year contract.