hello this is bbc news. the headlines. rescuers in thailand free all 12 boys and their coach who'd been trapped in a flooded cave in thailand for 17 days. there was a mix of celebration and relief as the boys were driven to hospital for health checks. theresa may urges party unity as her new cabinet meets following yesterday's resignations by two senior ministers. but this afternoon to conservative mps announced that they are quitting because of the opposition to the handling of brexit. charlie rowley — one of two people exposed to novichok in amesbury — regains consciousness, but remains in a critical conditon in hospital. earlier people in the local area we re earlier people in the local area were warned not to pick up containers that did not belong to

them. donald trump leaves washington to begin his extended visit to europe. the trip will include his first official visit to the uk since he became president. 100 aircraft for 100 years — the royal air force marks its centenary with a grand fly—past over central london. in a moment it will be time for sportsday but first a look at what else is coming up this evening on bbc news. as the football team resuced from a thai cave adjust to life after their ordeal, i'll talk to a trauma specialist about the challenges ahead. with the new report suggesting that ways to measure diversity amongst university applicants need to change, i will discuss that with my guest. and later, i'll talk to the former foreign secretary lord 0wen about the legacy of lord carrington — who has died at the age of 99. that's all ahead on bbc news.

now on bbc news it's time for sportsday. hello, i'm 0lly foster live in moscow, this is sportsday at the world cup. they are here and determined to make history in moscow. england won when away from the final. we're just looking to keep breaking those barriers down. it has really been an enjoyable journey and we want to keep it going. in the next few hours we will have our first finalist, france and belgium kick off soon in st petersburg. and i'm will perry with the rest of the day's sports headlines. the hundred million man — christino ronaldo joinsjuventus. i am john watson at wimbledon.

ina in a championship. sets serena williams surges on. her 11th wimbledon semifinal. evening. who d have thought, england still here in the final week of the world cup? history has been thrown at them at every turn here in russia, be it a first quarterfinal since 2006, now the first semi—final since 1990, emulating 1966 is the next target. first croatia. in the last couple of hours gareth southgate faced the world 5 media down there at the luzhniki stadium. the feel of this group of players

is very similar to the group of players we had then. but that team was a lot more experienced, in terms of its age and experience of big matches. but we approached this tournament in the same way. we were a group of guys having a lot of fun, enjoying ourfootball, learning and improving all the time and that is what these lads have done. we were never sure how far this team could go. we have made several pieces of history. the biggest win in the tournament for england, first knockout win for ten years, first quarterfinal win for longer. so we're just looking to keep quarterfinal win for longer. so we'rejust looking to keep breaking the barriers down. and we are going into semifinal but itjust seems like the next step along the journey. i'm joined now by our sports correspdondent natalie pirks,

who has been with the england team every step of the way. gareth southgate talking about breaking down barriers and the game tomorrow just another step in breaking down barriers and the game tomorrowjust another step in the journey but it has to be more complicated than that. when you listen to him and we asked the questions and every single step of the way it has just been about the next game but then, no thinking about the history, the weight on their shoulders. none of that. it is all simply about putting in their preparations, doing everything they've always done every step of away and just going to the next game and facing their next opponent. 17 of the squad will not even born the last time england reached a world semifinals over pressure and talk of writing their own history, we talk about that, we talk about those things and bad history but most players do not remember that.

things and bad history but most players do not remember thatm does not affect them. jordan pickford has said hejust does not affect them. jordan pickford has said he just does does not affect them. jordan pickford has said hejust does not remember it, it isjust pickford has said hejust does not remember it, it is just history. pickford has said hejust does not remember it, it isjust history. he is one of those who has raised the barand is one of those who has raised the bar and made is one of those who has raised the barand madea is one of those who has raised the bar and made a name for himself already but what they can achieve, they will be household names. already but what they can achieve, they will be household nameslj think they will be household names.” think ina they will be household names.” think in a way they already are household names because back home, we are in a bit of a double here but we're seeing the fans celebrating and we see them growing into men in front of our eyes. jordan pickford seems to grow an inch taller every time he plays for england and has pulled off some magnificent saves. i asked him the other day how he's dealing with the pressure and performing that way and he said it is just another game. and performing that way and he said it isjust another game. and he performing that way and he said it is just another game. and he thrives from that pressure and they are enjoying themselves, they like each other. jordan henderson said gareth southgate has brought unity to the tea m southgate has brought unity to the team and the fans have said he has

turned it into england fc. and i think that is what we are seeing. and his humility as well, someone asked him about it being waistcoat wednesday and this new fashion craze. let's talk about croatia now, they came through another gruelling 120 minutes to knockout russia. the croatians have had a couple of extra days here because they flew straight from their quarterfinal. jordan henderson the england midfielder who has been fantastic here as well, in the starting 11, he spoke alongside gareth southgate today and asked about the threat of croatia particularly their captain lu ka modric should. i've played against luka modric a few times and he is a world—class player, one of the best i've played against. so hopefully he has a quiet night tomorrow but we will do our best to try and keep him quiet. but everyone else as well because the threat from different areas. we have been working in the

la st areas. we have been working in the last few days on what we need to do and hopefully we willjust go out and hopefully we willjust go out and implement that in the game. what and implement that in the game. what a player, the real madrid star. and outside even racket itch, almost unplayable together. england have to work out a way of playing them, they do have their weaknesses, perhaps in defence. they've come through a gruelling, bruising encounter with russia and they've played extra time twice on penalties in the last few days. as against denmark and then russia again. so potentially that could be in their legs, but they are a massive step up in terms of what england have faced so far. but who's to say they will not go out there and do it again. they have stepped

up and do it again. they have stepped up at every turn. and talking of when players have been worn, happy birthday to you. 0verlooking this wonderful city. must go. and saint petersburg not bad either. france and belgium kicking off very soon, 0ur reporterjohn bennett, is there, team news? well roberto martinez has thrown a curve ball. he has done it before and has done at this time, mousa dembele has come in. and he's going to play right wingback. and he is playing it would appear out of position. as for france, kylian

mbappe is to start despite not training with france yesterday. i've been listening to some of your reports today, we are in this european world cup now, missing the south americans. how has the french and belgians being raising the atmosphere? to be totally honest it does not feel like a world cup semifinal at the moment. i'vejust been out speaking to the fans, lots of neutrals here, not many belgian french fans, tickets still available before the game. so i think we're missing the south americans. i watched brazil and argentina here, a much better atmosphere. but i did find some belgian and french fans and let's hear from find some belgian and french fans and let's hearfrom them now about their special rivalry because of

course their neighbours. phil is going to win today? are you confident belgian will win? yes, we are a small country and since 1930 small country has been the winner and now it is our turn. what about friends? france's very strong, a very strong team and we had every chance to be in the final this year for the world cup. and surely this will be a world cup classic. belgian already has 1a goals, friends of mine. surely this game will not let us mine. surely this game will not let us down and will live up to the hype. goal then us down and will live up to the hype. goalthen on penalties it is! many thanks. plenty more to come

from moscow that later put up let's go back now to the bbc sports centre in salford where will perry is looking at the rest of the day's sport. the big story away from the world cup today is that cristiano ronaldo is on his way to juventus after they've agreed to pay real madrid a reported £105 million. 0ur sports reporter jo curriejoins me. jo, the end of an era, what a sensational nine years it's been for ronaldo at the bernabeau. bringing down the curtain on a remarkable real madrid career and he leaves with plenty of silverware for top four champions league trophies, top four champions league trophies, to la liga titles, and of course individually he has those five ballon d'or trophies. he leaves as that top goal—scorer. across nine yea rs of that top goal—scorer. across nine years of crap. he will go down as one of the greatest players they've ever had. and what about the timing to let him go, a big part in them winning the champions league for the fourth

year on the trot and we've all seen the form he was in at the world cup. he is not coming to the end, still very much at the top of his game, scoring both for goals of the world cup. but he will be 3a by the end of this season and the question i think real madrid would've asked is how much longer he can go on at that level. 33 is old for some players andi level. 33 is old for some players and i think they will ask how much more he has got to give. juventus looking at £92 million, a good time to cash out. they need to restructure their squad as well, they were the winners of the champions league again this season but they finished 17 points behind barcelona in lolita of the soap they are probably thinking now is the time to do it. — in la liga.

britain's mark cavendish has missed out on claiming a first stage win at this year's tour de france. the manx missile threw his arm up in frustration as he was boxed in as the sprinters jostled towards the finish of the fourth stage in sarzeau. colombia's fernando gaviria who won the tour's opening stage claimed the victory. belgium's greg van avermaet retained the leaders yellowjersey, britain's geraint thomas remains third overall. new zealand are chasing 2112 to be the england women in the one—day international series. england leading the series. they won the toss. new zealand currently 92—9 after 30 overs. former england defender casey stoney has been busy building manchester united's first women's squad for 13 years, which will be announced this friday. their manager has been speaking to our football reporterjo currie about why now is the right time and how it can change the face of the women's game. having been here now and seem what

we are trying to grow it is not about running before we can walk, it is about doing things properly, growing the team, the infrastructure, making sure we get things right. and having been prescribed six weeks i know they do things properly. long term we want to be successful and that means champions league football. it has been six weeks of manic mileage for me, driving up and down the country. we've hand—picked the players we wanted. i know that they will be ambitious, ideally we would love to go ambitious, ideally we would love to 9° up ambitious, ideally we would love to go up in the first year but so many other teams want to do that and they're not going to roll over. the first question i had in thejob, is why now. the club did not feel they have the infrastructure to support the women's team but they wanted women's team to be completely ingrained in the club. it is what i trained about at seven years old, it

is now happening. i have not spoken yet to jose mourinho, is now happening. i have not spoken yet tojose mourinho, we will do things our way in the women's team but in line with the manchester united values and principles of play. we want to excite and entertain and make sure that fans wa nt to entertain and make sure that fans want to come back again. lets go to wimbledon now — where there has been a busy day in the women's drew with the singles quarter finals. many thanks on one has been another beautiful day here at the all england club. much cooler than it has been put up it was scorching in the first weeks of these championships. so many of the top seeds tumble about of the tournament. we saw a number of big names exit these championships. understandable but serena williams will be delighted that she's safely through to an 11th wimbledon semifinal as she came through over three sets against camila giorgi. she dropped the first set of these championships.

we've not seen the crowds too often this wimbledon fortnight but with the temperature is comparatively cooler on wednesday to players who would bring the heat. camila giorgi relies heavily on her serve but so does serena williams. smashing down the fastest serve the entire tournament, one way to go. unperturbed camila giorgi unleashed firepower of their own and took the first set of the tournament on the seven times champion. so how best to respond? here comes serena. serena says everyone she plays up their game against her and she also says it means that she has to keep raising her game and when she does that few players in the world can live with her. right back on it, she ta kes live with her. right back on it, she takes the second set. serena had the momentum and she could not stop that feeling, winning the decisive moments in the deciding set on the verge of 11 wimbledon semifinal. that is it. once again serena reigns

supreme on the centre court. this is only my fourth tournament back, i do not feel pressure, i do not feel i have to win this or lose this, i'm just here just to be here and prove i'm back. ifeelthat just here just to be here and prove i'm back. i feel that i'm just here just to be here and prove i'm back. ifeel that i'm back, just here just to be here and prove i'm back. ifeelthat i'm back, i still have a long way to go to be where i was. maybe not that far, just two more wins for the moment we have seen all too often on centre court. hugely impressive once again from serena williams considering it is just her first tournament since the birth of herfirst just her first tournament since the birth of her first child. joining her in the semifinals then is angelique kerber who beat daria kasatkina in straight sets today and jelena 0stapenko is also through after beating dominika cibulkova of slovakia. you may remember that she was not seeded after wimbledon decided to offer the seeding instead to serena williams. so the semifinal

line—up looking like this. serena williams up againstjulio burgos. — julia goerges. earlier i got the thoughts of a former british number one at croft who told me serena williams was given a work—out on centre court today. she was given a test. camila giorgi loves the grass, it is her favourite. test. camila giorgi loves the grass, it is herfavourite. she's test. camila giorgi loves the grass, it is her favourite. she's done the best on that in her career at this particular grandstand. and when she connects she is virtually unplayable and she sells at as high speed as serena williams. that surprises a lot of people. so she's someone you do not get much rhythm against and

it took serena some time to get going. but then her experience shone through and she raised her level and came through. another player who has been playing particular is angelique kerber, she reached the final back in 2016 when she lost to serena williams. they are potentially on course to meet again. i've watched a lot of her matches and i think she has been playing some fantastic tennis, she's a great absorber of pace and she is like a wall of steel at the back of the court. she is very deceptive as she does not come up very deceptive as she does not come up with these big swings and power hitting a huge serve but it is clever tennis and she was given a tough test today as well but held her nerve and came through. i have to say she's looking very tough. and of the two semifinals, we now know that are coming our way, who do you predict is going to go on to reach the final question might it is difficult to say that serena is not

going to come through her semifinal againstjulia goerges going to come through her semifinal against julia goerges because going to come through her semifinal againstjulia goerges because she brings enormous character and presents. the fact that she has won so many times centre court, seven times winning wimbledon and i think just her experience as she brings into this situation. a few nerves will be jangling around you feel with julia will be jangling around you feel withjulia goerges. but angelique kerber is getting better with every match and she also has experience. the thoughts there of annabel croft. no british interests unfortunately left in the singles. but there is one marry in action, jamie murray in the men's doubles alongside his partner bruno suarez. there are in action right now on centre court. good news, and they are ones set up

and ina good news, and they are ones set up and in a tie—break on the second as they look to book that place in the semifinals of the men's doubles. gerry murray also in action in the mixed doubles alongside victoria azarenka. now a lot of interest in the world cup as you can imagine he read wimbledon. we spoke to kyle edmund earlier this week and he alongside his swedish coach have been following the progress of their respective nations at the world cup. and a few more familiar and famous faces have been following the tournament. none more so than former wimbledon champion gordon denisovich who has been somewhat put out by the confidence but somebody english supporters have been showing. you might be surprised to learn where he

is going to be watching the game tomorrow. i hope we do not lose to the english because you are already in the final, coming home, ring the trophy, you are so arrogant that you're the best, the most beautiful full stop for sure you're coming home but without the trophy. where would you watch the match?” home but without the trophy. where would you watch the match? i hope it is not playing at the same time so i can go to the pub and just watch with the other english people and hopefully i'm going to be the last man standing and laughing. he is a brave man watching alongside english supporters in a pub somewhere in wimbledon. but we wonder if he will be laughing tomorrow night. he always speaks his mind. and what a player he was. we wonder how his croatian team will get on tomorrow

against england. exactly 2a hours a they will be walking out of the tunnel here behind me. can england emulate and reach their first world cup final since 1966? so england are looking to do something that they haven t done since 1966, norman hunter was in that squad, and he has been really impressed by gareth southgate s trust in such a young group of players. ido i do not think you can underestimate the achievement of the man, he went in and a few eyebrows were raised but what he did, he got rid of the old brigade as you say, he put all these kids in with a bit of flair, a bit of pace. might need a bit more experience but it is there, going that way. they can frighten anyone.

for me the goalkeeper has been outstanding. he has got better and better. and i thinkjohn stones, i think it was vital for us and you got that night maguire who scored a great goal. and ashley young. if you have natural ability that goes a long way. but we need that element of luck and if we get that on our side, no bad refereeing decisions, everything going our way, with the squad that is out there i think we definitely have a chance. norman hunter there who was part of the 1966 squad. so the truth will out tomorrow but for now we are going to learn who the first finalist here at the russia world cup will be. let's go live to st petersburg now. life pictures on bbc one. belgium singing their anthem, the french have

already signed their anthem and in a moment they will face each other for a place in the world cup final. a reminder of the team news, this underbelly in the belgian team. — mousa dembele. the french runners—up in 2006. but this belgian side so good. that match is over on bbc one but for now is sportsday, goodbye. good evening. it has been a fresher day for most of us and likely to stay quite breezy through the rest of this evening. but we do have more clout compared with yesterday and it

has been reducing some rain across the highlands of scotland. that continues overnight. not moving much for the north and west of scotland but it extends further south towards northern ireland. the humility is slightly lower than it has been but temperatures are getting to recover a bit like night—time. so for most of us tomorrow a lot of sunshine, still feeling quite fresh to start with and we lose the breeze gradually and start to increase the heat. so back to business as usual. i think tomorrow we have more cloud and rain in northern ireland, the west of scotland. some showers elsewhere but by and large dry and sunny and increasingly warm. then we pushed through the rest of the weekend temperatures start to rise again. another pleasant day for spectators and players at wimbledon. damage is around 23,20 4 degrees.

then high pressure still with us into thursday but starting to weaken a little. then with the heat and the sun it could be enough to spark some showers mostly in western areas and not for all of that coincides with the highest temperatures of the day. so mid—afternoon by the time we see temperatures rising again. high—pressure relinquishing its grip full stop and when these areas come they could be quite heavy. we expect temperatures to rise again as we go into friday repeating what we've already seen through this current hot spell. as for the weekend that he remains with us, about dry weather and increasing chance of a

shower. all eyes on exactly how roberto martinez is going to set up is belgian men, who are all in red, against france, all in blue. looks like chadli is going to play as an orthodox right back. that will be in a back four. france get the semifinal under way, kicking from left to right and here is kylian mbappe, the teenage sensation roaring into action and griezmann was arriving. kevin de bruyne with the clearance. when they first met in the world cup finals back in 1938, france scored in a0 seconds, and they nearly beat that. if we needed reminding about mbappe's case and effectiveness, we saw that in the early moments,

didn't we? danny, the belgian formation? looks like chadli