What the back pages say: Pearce's pen pals book final place, Cotton blasts Lions, Tevez reveals why

27 June 2009 09:40
DAILY MAIL Stuart Pearce's youngsters dragged themselves into the European Under-21 Championship final last night after nearly throwing away their dream. Lion Hart: England keeper saves penalty then scores on but will miss final Also: The British Lions flew to Pretoria last night with former manager Fran Cotton fearing they have left it too late to save their series against the Springboks. You've blown in: Lions are under-prepared at altitude, says former manager Cotton THE SUN Carlos Tevez last night lifted the lid on why he quit Old Trafford - claiming he was forced out by the arrival of strike partner Dimitar Berbatov. Tevez: My United career died the day they signed Berbatov Also: Tottenham could be dragged into an explosive legal fight over the signing of Jermain Defoe from Portsmouth that might trigger an FA probe. DAILY MIRROR Judy Murray is quitting the Lawn Tennis Association - to start her own Britain's got tennis talent academy. Also: Joe 'Brave' Hart fired England into the Euro Under-21 final last night by saving and scoring in a penalty shootout. DAILY STAR The Queen is ready to watch Andy Murray crowned King of Wimbledon a week tomorrow. Also: Kaka has admitted Brazil are getting nervous about Fabio Capello's England even though they have just reached another major final. Capello's Lions scare me and could win the World Cup, insists Brazil's golden boy DAILY EXPRESS The Queen has cleared her appointments book for a visit to Wimbledon for the men's final on July 5 - and Andy Murray has promised to use his muscle power to book his own Royal Appointment with the king of Wimbledon, Roger Federer. THE TIMES Liverpool placed a £35million valuation on Xabi Alonso last night after the Spain midfield player said his goodbyes to some members of the club's staff. DAILY TELEGRAPH British and Irish Lions forward coach Warren Gatland lobbed a few verbal grenades at the Springboks in the final hours ahead of today's series-defining second Test against South Africa. THE GUARDIAN The Wimbledon Championships may be viewed as simply a part of the great British summer of sport, or regarded in splendid grass-court isolation, but for Andy Murray the quest is year-long, and the next nine days represent a genuine chance of him winning his first grand slam title. THE INDEPENDENT Ian McGeechan has never lost a second Test with the Lions - not as a player, not as a head coach - and to say the very least, now is not the time for him to start.

Source: Daily_Mail