Paris Saint-Germain facing tumultuous transfer window in midfield

Paris Saint-Germain's summer transfer campaign has not even kicked off yet, but already the French champions are facing a potentially difficult off-season. Of coach Laurent Blanc's three regular starting midfielders, only one -- Blaise Matuidi -- looks certain to stay, while transfer speculation surrounds four other members of the capital club's midfield.

Marco Verratti is rapidly becoming the star attraction at the Parc des Princes, but Spanish reports have suggested that the pint-sized Italian wants to leave PSG for Real Madrid or Barcelona -- despite the Azzurri gem's agent calling the player "unsellable" just two months ago.

Verratti's midfield partner in crime, Thiago Motta, is another who has been linked with a move away from Paris this summer. However, the speculation surrounding the Italy international appears to have more substance to it than that concerning his younger compatriot.

Spanish media outlets have linked Motta with a return to Atletico Madrid, whom he played for during an injury-hit 2007-08 season, with the 32-year-old's agent Alessandro Canovi admitting to RMC Radio that talks over a new contract with PSG have broken down.

Despite the news about Motta's unhappiness at the club -- something that could ultimately create a regular starting role in Blanc's team for son Adrien -- Veronique Rabiot has taken the opportunity to bleat about her and her son's dissatisfaction at the club.

The 20-year-old's mother and agent revealed that she has requested a transfer and appears intent on making life difficult for the PSG hierarchy once again. This comes less than a year after an embarrassing saga at the start of last season that meant Rabiot was frozen out ofles Parisiens' first team until November because of the pair's refusal to sign a new contract as they tried to force a move.

Adrien Rabiot pushed for a move away from PSG a year ago, and he's at it again this year.

All of that adds to the situation that many expected long before the end of last season, which is that France international Yohan Cabaye needs to leave the French giants in order to salvage his chances of featuring in France's squad for the 2016 European Championship on home soil.

The 29-year-old has already admitted that he is open to a move away from PSG before the start of next term, and it does not seem as if anyone will stand in the former Lille and Newcastle United man's way.

Cabaye is the only player out of the quartet mentioned that the capital club would gladly allow to move on.

It is difficult to see the sales of Motta or Rabiot being sanctioned happily by the PSG hierarchy, despite their respective situations, while there is a greater chance of hell freezing over than Verratti's departure this summer. In reality, only one of Motta or Rabiot -- at best -- will leave the Parc des Princes before the start of next season, and the chances are that both will be forced to honour the remainder of their contracts.

Motta's desire to leave PSG is curious. The Italian is a regular in Blanc's starting XI and one of the club's "leaders" on the pitch. However, since the World Cup in Brazil last summer, there have been whispers about his unhappiness at the new contract negotiated for him by his agent that ties him to les Parisiens until 2016.

It appears that Motta's real problem lies in the fact that he feels he deserves more money and PSG, rightly, are not prepared to pay the Azzurristart any extra than they already do. Had this been the end of the 2013-14 season, when Motta was exceptional on the pitch as the club celebrated a Ligue 1 and Coupe de la Ligue double, then the midfielder probably would have been justifiably handed a new deal.

Thiago Motta is reportedly unhappy with his current contract, and is eager to secure a move away from the French capital.

However, the PSG No. 8 was not as influential last term and is not in the strongest of bargaining positions now. Motta was never likely to stay past 2016 anyway, so forcing the player to fulfil his final 12 months of contract before allowing him to leave for nothing would represent the best business decision for the French champions in these financial fair play-dictated times.

As for Rabiot, there are a growing number of fans who now want to see the talented youngster sold and the drama of his existence at the club finished for good. There is no doubting that the 20-year-old is an excellent prospect and as a homegrown player, he is of almost unique importance to PSG. However, there comes a time when enough is enough and the Adrien-Veronique double act is becoming extremely tiresome.

On top of that, the player appears to have learned nothing from being frozen out of the first-team picture while his new contract was thrashed out, as his exclusion from PSG's Coupe de France-winning squad after arriving late for the team's departure the day before the final last month demonstrated.

Motta's potential departure could pave the way for Rabiot to earn himself a regular spot in Blanc's starting XI, considering that the young Frenchman is ahead of elder compatriot Cabaye in the pecking order. There is no guarantee though that this will be enough for mother Veronique, who seems intent on forcing her son out of the club for reasons that are not necessarily football-related.

In an ideal world, PSG would like to sell Cabaye and use to proceeds to fund a new signing in attack, while keeping both Motta and Rabiot. However, if both continue to push for an unreasonable pay rise or a move away, there might come a point where the Ligue 1 champions cave in and let one of the two -- likely the elder -- leave.

Shocking confessions from the 'King of 419'

Report sent in by freelance Nigerian journalist, Ihechukwu Njoku about a fraudster who made some shocking confessions at the Synagogue church recently. Read below...

A Nigerian internet fraudster known as the ‘king of dating’ for his sophisticated tactics of online manipulation has given an eye-opening confession at a Lagos-based church. Samuel Johnson, an Edo State indigene, explained that his journey into advanced internet scamming began in The University of Port Harcourt after he joined the ‘Black-Axe’ cult. 

“I followed them into a very thick forest during the night of initiation,” the young man narrated. He was just 19 years old at the time. “We reached a place where there was a candle and a coffin encircled by 50 young men. They tortured us with canes until we started bleeding. They then cut my tongue on a razor blade and gave me something to drink.”

The quiet, intelligent student changed drastically from that day onward. “It was like I had two people living inside me,” he recalled. “I became very aggressive. I had this strength to want to steal and started stealing from people. I also started smoking and drinking excessively. Anytime I drank, it’s like I became stronger.”

A cult friend into online fraud, popularly known as 419, soon egged him into joining. However, for Samuel, there was a strange, spiritual element to his deceptive tricks.“There was a spirit inside me that kept teaching me. I was not just any fraudster; I learned it from meditating on it. It was inbuilt. Even if I walked into a room and money was kept there, I would know where to find it.”

Starting by procuring foreign sim-cards from UK and USA so as to deceive potential victims, Samuel specifically targeted wealthy foreign ladies in North America. “I had pictures and pre-recorded videos of a white man. There is software which will replay these videos on Skype. So, if I am Skyping with you, you will not see my present self – you would see this video on a webcam. I had about 20 different videos with the same white man and I had created stories behind each clip. When I showed my victims, they all believed it was real.”

Johnson explained Facebook was the easiest way to attract prospective ‘customers’ and he had fixed a fake profile using the same pictures in the doctored videos he owned. “I would tell them I was an engineer who worked and lived in London, that I am rich and wealthy. I wouldn’t tell them I’m not rich; it was the money I used to drag them towards me.”

Johnson explained how he used his boast of huge wealth to lull victims into a false sense of security. “Sometimes I would ask them to help me look for a property agent to buy a house. I would tell them I am ready to pay for the house as soon as I come. I would send them a fake e-ticket and tell them I would be arriving in two weeks. I even had a pre-recorded video of a 12 year old girl who I pretended was my daughter. I had this assistant who would help me in speaking like a small girl. There is no way you would see that video on Skype and not believe it is real. They buy into it immediately. That was how I was able to draw them to get money from them.”

To gain added confidence, Samuel would ensure an emotional attachment was fostered. “You make it look real. I would send them gifts – rings, champagne, credit cards to shop. We would have ‘phone sex’ to draw their attention even more – that is how they believed. Sometimes, I could be talking to 10 different women simultaneously and I never forgot their names.”

Once such naïve trust was established, extorting money was relatively easy, the former fraudster explained. “I would tell them to contact my bank. Once they give me their details, I would make a fake wire transfer. They would see the money moving into their account. When it stops, I would tell them that they have to contact the bank and pay the ‘cost of transfer’.”

The expert duper would even go to the extent of getting personal bank details of his foreign victims, and then call their bank pretending to be an owner of the account, change information and request for a huge loan.

Money flowed freely. “I could make $30,000, $80,000 - even $250,000 on a single victim. I was living in very luxurious and expensive hotels. I moved to Omole Phase One, Ikeja and lived in an apartment for which I paid N1.5m every year. I bought all my properties in one day. I was lavishing it. I would buy Hennessy every day. I had to drink. The thing is – I needed to alcohol in order for me to perform,” he recounted.

Johnson explained that his preferred victims were those who were high-ranking, intelligent professionals. “We preferred people who were educated – people that would say, ‘It is not possible for me to be scammed’. I attacked lawyers through Yellow Pages in USA. I would tell the lawyer that someone owes me money from Michigan and the person is living in Alaska. The person the lawyer would contact in Alaska would be me also. Once he talked to this ‘person’, I would say, ‘I really owe him money and I want to pay back $300,000’. I would send the lawyer a cheque and once I sent it, they would not find out from the bank if the cheque was real; they would just deposit it.”

Johnson gained such a reputation for his scamming tricks that he began teaching others, even foreigners. “I had many boys that I was training. They called me the ‘king of dating’ because I always got what I wanted. Sometimes I would be invited to Benin or Lagos to teach fraud. I even trained grown men who were 40 to 45 years old. Some were not even black or Nigerian; some where white. They called themselves diplomats but carried fake money.”

With the words, ‘Money; power; respect’ tattooed on Samuels’ arm, it served as a constant reminder of his mission. “That was the law I lived under,” he explained.“Sometimes, if I had emotions towards the people I was defrauding, this tattoo would remind me of why I entered this business in the first place. I would say there was no mercy.”

Samuel said he had lost count of the people he had deceptively stolen money from online. “I derived pleasure in doing it. It made me feel strong – that I could make people do what I wanted them to do. I did not do this alone. I had bankers as friends who helped me out. In fact, the money I tipped them with would be more than their salary for the whole year.”

However, despite the flamboyance and lavish lifestyle, Samuel said his life was bereft of joy and the money was merely fleeting. “Whenever I got this money, it was like chaff before the wind – it would blow away. I never enjoyed it for one day. I would always fight and beat any girl I was dating. There was such anger, like there was someone living inside me. My life was upside down. I would always fear that I would be involved in an accident. If I was crossing the road, even if there was no car coming, I would run. I was living in isolation. I never came out during the day. Everything was troubling me. I never had peace. My heart was beating fast. I behaved like someone was chasing me whereas no one was chasing me.”

When a close friend and fellow fraudster was shot dead point-blank at the tender age of 23, Samuel was rudely jolted back to reality. His life was a mess. His dreams were dominated by violent attacks and sexual encounters. He needed help. When an evangelist came knocking at his door, Samuel knew it was the voice of God speaking – he needed Divine intervention to start afresh.

That night, Samuel had an unusual dream. A pastor he had only seen on a few occasions on television came with a message. “I saw TB Joshua in my dream. He told me to fast for three days,” he stated. Complying with the instruction in the Heavenly visitation, Samuel began nursing the desire to visit Joshua’s church in Lagos, The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN).

It was on the ‘prayer line’ at The SCOAN that Samuel experienced what he termed ‘deliverance’.  “When the man of God touched me, I immediately saw myself facing a judge. I felt something in between my chest starting to pop out. I then felt like something left me and before I knew it, I saw myself on the floor.” 

 After the prayer, Samuel testified that he has stopped smoking, drinking and has comipletely stopped his fraudulent activities. His advice is short but concise. “The only way you can achieve greatness is when you have Christ in your heart. Always watch and pray. Don’t just click on any link. Don’t just share your information with anyone. If they send you an email, saying they need your information to change something – don’t listen to them. Depend only on God.”

2015 polls: INEC abandoned its responsibility to candidates —Emerhor

UGHELLI—DELTA State All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in the 2015 general elections, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of abandoning its responsibilities to candidates who were cheated at the polls and by passing the burden to the candidates to prove their case at the tribunals.

Meanwhile, counsel to the APC in the case brought against the party and others before a Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba, has described the ruling as democracy in action.

Valentine Onojeghuo, while reacting to the ruling by Justice C. Olatoregun-Isola, said: “The judgment has put paid to the scheming by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and established the fact that we conducted our primaries in line with the provision of the Electoral Act and our candidates were validly nominated as candidates of the party during the primaries.”

Emerhor, said: “INEC ought not to have declared results that did not emanate from the card readers.”

Buhari reportedly cuts number of aides, journalists for foreign, local trips

President Buhari has reportedly reduced the number of journalists and aides that will accompany him on his foreign and local trips. President Buhari's directive was contained in a statement sent from his office to the relevant agencies. Under the new arrangement, two journalists, as against 4, will travel officially with the president.

SEE What Aminu Tambuwal Did In Hospital Late At Night

The Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal, appeared in Murtala Muhammed state hospital early at 2.00 am on Sunday. He wasn’t ill – but his visit made the hospital workers feel bad. 

Sokoto state governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal got angry after wandering in the dark round the hospital for half an hour

Aminu Tambuwal’s late night visit to the Murtala Muhammed specialist hospital was highly unexpected for its personnel. At first they didn’t even pay any attention to the governor, wandering in the dark round the hospital while patients, unable to withstand the heat inside their wards, lied down outside of the building.

READ ALSO: Aribisala Explains Why Aminu Tambuwal Is A Traitor

This was confirmed by a statement, issued by governor’s spokesman, Imam Imam: “after going round the dark complex for thirty minutes to assess things for himself, Tambuwal was then recognized by a few of the staff on duty. Upon noticing his presence, the generator set was quickly powered on while the staff made attempts to hurry the patients into the rooms.”

READ ALSO: You’ll Not Believe How Much Speaker, House Of Reps, Aminu Tambuwal Gave This Newly Married Couple As Gift

Sokoto governor, shocked by the conditions at the hospital, spoke to the patients and wished them quick recovery. At the same time Aminu Tambuwal also added that state workers’ irresponsibility will not be tolerated by the state government and his unexpected visits to government agencies at odd hours will continue while anyone noticed neglecting his duties will be fired on the spot.

BOOM Party: Terry G, Dammy Krane Invades UniAbuja At The Tecno BOOM J7 Phone Party

Thursday 18th June 2015 is a day that will not easily be forgotten in UniAbuja. I’m not one of those who quickly jump on fancy slangs but I can tell you this about the BOOM party at UniAbuja, it was a blast!

This time it’s thank God is Thursday

It would have been your regular Thursday in campus; the sun stood bullish up in the sky and dry biting air reminded students there is still a fun life on the other side of Abuja and as you’ll expect, the inevitable mass migration of UniAbujites into the city to cool off (…ladies first). But thank goodness Tecno BOOM party brought the groove to campus, as all day the crew was on ground and with choreographic precision, blue carpets rolled out, Tecno branded tents morphed to live, branded banners, balloons and all the look and feel of a mega bash was berthed at UniAbuja.

The BOOM effect

Just when UniAbujites had adjusted their lens to get the picture unfolding before their eyes, the BOOM party crew unveiled the monster… (I saw some jaws drop, seriously)

It was a giant Boom box! Tecno Mobile was out to make a statement with the UniAbuja BOOM party and a statement it made as this monster of music, a giant BOOM box nestled on the floor to drive some chilling bass up the ears of UniAbuja party groov-ers.

The groove

At about 7:00pm the stage was set, the flood lights beamed down as groov-ers converged round the stage like school of dolphins corner sardines and in an instant the roar.

Performances from student artistes as well as dance choreographers surely warmed everyone up for what was yet to come. The sultry voice of Anee and the magic combination of the hands and violin of A-strings was but a tip of the iceberg.

Then Dammy Krane slipped unto the stage with such style after been introduced by MC Radical, you know his FaleeIa swagger, don’t you? I bet I saw one or two ladies go down with nervous breakdown.

Dammy had barely finished praying for everyone to buy a Bugatti while performing his Amin hit, when in almost quick succession, Terry G, a.k.a Akpako Master bounced unto the stage and the students went berserk.

Nack dem Akpako…

Terry G gingered the BOOM party swagger with pace and twisted flavor and UniAbujites settled into party mood echoing every song with hands in the air.

Loads of freebies and BOOM J7 Phones won

Some thrilling dance performance by students saw them cart away loads of amazing Tecno branded freebies including the one-of-its-kind BOOM J7 music phones. The student turnout was impressive as the party rolled into the night.

The BOOM party campaign is subtle launch of Tecno Mobile’s much talked about mobile entertainment device, the BOOM J7, to targeted youth market. The BOOM J7 is a legendary music phone with super cool smart functions, double power amplifier and noise cancellation technology embedded in its internal and headset speakers with superior sound production.

The BOOM is moving, next stop?

Thursday 18th June 2015 UniAbuja bubbled all night with BOOM party fever but the BOOM is not done yet. The giant BOOM box is moving and with it, head-banging music and the experience of a lifetime with superior sound production. Abuja has been conquered (…white flag raised), which city is going down next?

Mosquitoes Bite Foreign Woman To Death In Nigeria (Photos)

Turkish Airlines (THY) flight attendant Selda Durmaz has lost her life on Friday night in an Istanbul hospital as a result of a mosquito bite in Nigeria, while she was on duty.

Durmaz flew with THY to Nigeria’s capital city of Lagos. When she returned back to Istanbul, she went to the hospital because of a persistent high fever.

Twice she was diagnosed with the flu, according to allegations, but the third hospital diagnosed her with malaria.

Durmaz was later given medical treatment in Istanbul at a private hospital, but she lost her life on Friday night at around 2 a.m

S.Africa denies it hatched plan to protect Sudan’s Bashir

South Africa’s government on Monday denied secretly plotting a safe exit from the country for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, despite an international arrest warrant on war crimes charges.

Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity over the conflict in Darfur, flew out of Pretoria last Monday despite a court order that barred his departure.

South Africa’s Sunday Times reported a secret meeting of top ministers that mapped a deal to protect Bashir. It alleged that Bashir was escorted from Johannesburg, where he attended an African Union summit, to his plane in Pretoria by President Jacob Zuma’s personal security detail.

But the authorities said no such meeting took place.

“Government categorically denies that there was a secret meeting held by the security cluster ministers,” government spokeswoman Phumla Williams said in a statement.

The government has come under fire from the ICC, rights groups, several other governments and by the opposition at home, over its failure to detain Bashir.

The High Court in Pretoria ordered the government to explain this week why it defied the order that barred Bashir from leaving.

Williams said the government is “expected to provide the court with a report that explains how President al-Bashir left the country”.

Meanwhile, parliament will on Tuesday debate the issues surrounding Bashir’s departure, the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party said Monday.

The DA will also ask South Africa’s ombudsman to investigate whether any public officials abused their powers to facilitate Bashir’s departure from the country.

“It’s clear that a number of individuals including the president, ministers … have abused their powers, firstly by ignoring the court order and secondly by ignoring the constitutional obligation to detain him,” DA spokesman Marius Redelinghuys told AFP.

Bashir has evaded justice since his indictment in 2009 for alleged serious abuses in the western Sudanese region of Darfur. The conflict began in 2003 when black insurgents rose up against his Arab-dominated government, protesting they were marginalised.

John Terry: Jose Mourinho MUST spend to avoid losing title to Arsenal, Man Utd or City

CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho must spend in the summer transfer window to retain the Premier League title next season, according to John Terry.

John Terry hopes to see summer signings at Chelsea

The Blues captain fully expects top-four rivals Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City to invest heavily ahead of next season's title race.

And the 34-year-old believes Chelsea cannot afford to stand still in the transfer market if they are to stay ahead of the chasing pack next season.

Mourinho has already revealed his plans to sign a midfielder, a defender and a midfielder during the summer window.

"To be top of the league the whole way through the season was an exceptional thing to do, but you can't of dwell on that," Terry said. 

We have to start concentrating on next season and try to improve

John Terry

"We have to start concentrating on next season and try to improve on that again. When you win the league, you know teams go and spend money to buy the best.

"Manchester City were a little way off this year and will strengthen.

"I feel Arsenal and Manchester United are going to be very strong as well.

"We all know once you win it, everyone wants to beat you the following year, (so) it will be even harder for us to win the league again."

Chelsea wonderkid Bertrand Traore granted work permit

CHELSEA have been granted a work permit for Burkina Faso teenager Bertrand Traore.

Bertrand Traore has been at Vitesse Arnhem for 18 months

Traore joined the Blues in January 2014, but has spent 18 months on loan at Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem where he scored 17 goals in all competitions last season.

Work permit regulations state the player's national team must be within the top 70 in the world rankings and the applicant must have played in over 75 per cent of their senior competitive matches when available over the previous two years.

New guidelines introduced by the FA in March meant the eligible ranked nations was reduced from the top 70 to the top 50 and there was also a change to appearance requirements depending on the status of the nation.

But Chelsea's application for a work permit was sent before Greg Dyke's new rules came into place and was successful, which now allows the 19-year-old striker to join up with the squad in pre-season training for their US tour.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho is said to rate Traore highly with Vitesse coach Peter Bosz saying: "Jose Mourinho is crazy about him. If the opportunity is there, they (Chelsea) prefer to take him back."

Traore's arrival will see him compete for a place with Diego Costa and Radamel Falcao, whose loan deal is set to be announced after his participation with Colombia in the Copa America is over.

Loic Remy is reportedly considering his future at the club which could open up a space for the Burkina Faso forward.

CONFIRMED: Arsenal and Liverpool target Luciano Vietto COMPLETES summer move

LUCIANO VIETTO has signed for Atletico Madrid, according to Villarreal's president.

Luciano Vietto has signed for Atletico

The 21-year-old Argentina striker, who was tracked by Arsenal and Liverpool, will be part of Diego Simeone's squad next season.

Villarreal president Fernando Roig said: "He (Vietto) has been sold to Atletico."

Atletico boss Simeone believes he is like the club's former striker David Villa.

“Tactically [Vietto’s] very clever and doesn’t need a goal to be a goalscorer,” he told TyC Sports.

“I see him very similar to David Villa, although with not so many goals, but still able to work hard for the team, play between the lines and link the midfield and attack.”

Chelsea youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek REVEALS how Jose Mourinho's blast will help him

CHELSEA youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek has revealed how he responded to Jose Mourinho's dressing down last month.

Ruben turned the other cheek to Jose's criticism

The England under-21 midfielder was substituted after 27 minutes during a friendly against Sydney FC in Thailand.

Loftus-Cheek made four appearances for the Blues last season making his first start against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on May 10.

And the 19-year-old admits Mourinho's rollocking in Thailand was just what he needed.

“I listened to what the manager said,” Loftus-Cheek said.

“I wasn’t at the level I need to do better and I need to do better if I want to play for Chelsea.

“For me that is a reminder that I have to work hard to get in the team.”

And Loftus-Cheek has now turned his attention to nailing down a regular place in Mourinho's squad next term.

“I will listen to him and learn from him every way I can,” he said. 

“I want to work really hard, but Chelsea is always hard to break into. But I believe in myself and if I work hard then hopefully things will go well.”

Thierry Henry: Unstoppable Mesut Ozil can help Arsenal win the Premier League

THIERRY HENRY has lavished praise on Mesut Ozil and believes greater consistency is the key to Arsenal winning the league.

After winning the World Cup with Germany, Ozil struggled when he returned to club duty and picked up a knee injury which ruled him out of action for three months. 

But the German star became a pivotal figure for the Gunners on his return to the side in January as they finished third and retained the FA Cup with a 4-0 win over Aston Villa last month.

And club legend Henry has described Ozil as "an amazing player", who on his day is difficult to stop when in full flow.

Henry told Arsenal Player: "Mesut is a very good player, we all know about his quality, we all know about what he has done in the game.

"He is a world champion, you have to respect that and his vision on the pitch is tremendous.

"He is an amazing player. When he is on song like he was in the FA Cup final, he is difficult to stop.

"When you have the likes of Giroud in the box, Alexis Sanchez running at people and Theo too, Mesut can see a pass and control the game in the same way that Santi does."

Mesut Ozil is vital to Arsenal's future success

After an indifferent start to last season, Arsenal finished 12 points behind champions Chelsea in the Premier League.

However Henry feels his former side has the quality to mount a title challenge if they are consistent throughout the season.

He added: "I keep on mentioning players, all that we are waiting on is the consistency in the league.

"I saw some of the players talking about that consistency, and I know they have the quality to do it."

Jesse Lingard: Victory over Sweden was a massive weight off our shoulders

JESSE LINGARD admits his match-winning goal to secure victory over Sweden last night has provided "massive relief" for his England Under 21 team-mates.

Jesse Lingard came off the bench to secure a vital win over Sweden for Gareth Southgate's side

The Manchester United winger came off the bench to score a fine 85th-minute volley to leave England's fate in their own hands.

Gareth Southgate's squad know a win against Italy in their final group game will guarantee a place in the semi-finals of the European Championships.

“It was just a massive relief for everyone in the camp,” Lingard said. 

“The team spirit and togetherness of our squad is really good and we are going into the Italy game fully focused.

“It is just a weight off our shoulders, now we can go and relax, see [our] families that are here.”

Lingard's focus now will be in preparation for Wednesday's game as he hopes to once again get on the scoresheet.

However, Lingard admitted team-mate Nathan Redmond was trying to claim some credit for his goal.

“We're fully-focused going onto the next game and that [Sweden] game is over now,” he added.

“To be fair, at first I was going to go in the box but Nathan Redmond said stay out of the box.

“I was free on the edge of the box, the ball has come to me and as soon as it came to me I knew to hit it.”

The 22-year-old struggled to feature for Louis van Gaal's side last season but did manage to get some much needed game time at Championship side Derby.