coming up in a few minutes. a bulletin of the days news. but before that, russia has dismissed the suggestion that he would be prepared to engage in talks with president putin. as long as the russian leader should he be willing to in the war in ukraine. precious is the west refusal to recognise new territory seized from ukraine makes peace talks harder and rejected the

west demand for russian forces to be put out of ukraine. asjessica parker now reports, russia illegally annexed for ukraine regions without controlling any of them just outside kyiv, signs of remembrance. rush is accused of killing hundreds of civilians during its occupation earlier this year. moscow has denied targeting civilians. the church of england's most senior cleric came to see the destruction for himself and other robust message for president putin. , ., , w putin. there will be no peace until we sto putin. there will be no peace until we step lying- _ putin. there will be no peace until we stop lying. you've _ putin. there will be no peace until we stop lying. you've got - putin. there will be no peace until we stop lying. you've got to - putin. there will be no peace until we stop lying. you've got to tell. we stop lying. you've got to tell the truth. however painful. there will never be a way forward built on lies. ~ . h, ., lies. meanwhile in the south and east, the fighting _ lies. meanwhile in the south and east, the fighting goes - lies. meanwhile in the south and east, the fighting goes on, - lies. meanwhile in the south and i east, the fighting goes on, ukraine taking the step of how many troops have died. up to 13,000, but this

cannot be verified by the bbc. the truth is we do not know how many people have died during this conflict, but this war continues to cost the lives and force tragedy and meanwhile, russia's repeated efforts to target ukraine's energy grid means daily life is also being affected forward from the front lines. across ukraine, the court is starting to bite at this bakery, they suddenly had a blackout for us to do business in the dark. it will make the situation in ukraine is very difficult. they work with or without light but if there is no power, then they cannot bake. so power, then they cannot bake. sr sometimes it means they cannot work at all. , ., ., , ., sometimes it means they cannot work atall., ., , at all. generators are popping up where they _ at all. generators are popping up where they are _ at all. generators are popping up where they are trained _ at all. generators are popping up where they are trained to - at all. generators are popping up where they are trained to freeze | where they are trained to freeze ukraine into submission. she is

stocked up on candles, water and food and for the potter outages bring fear but also defiance. . £31 bring fear but also defiance. . of course we are afraid, we are very afraid _ course we are afraid, we are very afraid of— course we are afraid, we are very afraid of this _ course we are afraid, we are very afraid of this winter. we agreed to -et afraid of this winter. we agreed to get through those difficult to use together in the main thing is that russia _ together in the main thing is that russia does not win. just together in the main thing is that russia does not win.— russia does not win. just one life amon: russia does not win. just one life among the _ russia does not win. just one life among the millions _ russia does not win. just one life among the millions touched - russia does not win. just one life among the millions touched by i russia does not win. just one life l among the millions touched by this war and everyone walking their own road and it's something you often hear is the steady determination to carry on. tellsjessica parker. several of ukraine's indices across europe have been sent parcels containing animals eyes, including the diplomatic mission in the spanish capital. targets connected to support of ukraine, including the

american embassy in madrid which is now cordoned off. blood—soaked packages are also addressed to ukrainian diplomatic in poland, croatia, italy and the czech republic. these incidents are a well—planned campaign of terror and intimidation. in the united states, the conspiracy theorist alex jones is filed for bankruptcy in a comes less than two months after courts ordered the far right podcast host to pay close to one half billion dollars in damages to the families whose children's died in a school mass shooting. following the filing, a lawyer representing the family said like every other cowardly move, alex jones is said like every other cowardly move, alexjones is made, this bankruptcy will not work. from washington, she has more. , ., , ., , has more. this man is made up the career of making _ has more. this man is made up the career of making very _ has more. this man is made up the career of making very paranoid - career of making very paranoid allegations against the us government and is very right wing,

media commentators who came out of obscurity of public access tv here in america to become this man who really indulges in these conspiracy theories and one of the theories that he has been promoting for a long time has to do with the sandy hook elementary school shooting that happened back in 2012, the worst mass school shooting in american history mainly kids were killed. he wrongfully claimed that this was all a government set up and that this was a hoax and that it was designed to curtail american peoples rights to curtail american peoples rights to own guns and that the families of the victims and presses actors and just denied the existence of these children and the families said that what he did, his behaviour led to years of harassment and death threats from conspiracy theorists, they took him to court to sue him and they won and he is meant to give them money. he has filed for

bankruptcy in which he basically said that his debt completely outdoes the exits to be that he has but it's worth outing that alex jones had in a deposition said yes the shootings did happen but have been filing for bankruptcy beforehand. what is happened today has not been a complete shock to the families but it is another blow to them. tonight at ten — the victims of the drugs gangs, who groom children. we have a special report. we hear from one woman who talks of her personal trauma — abused and manipulated at the age of 11. i had to do a lot of things that i didn't want to do to get out

of that situation alive. nicole's story is heartbreaking but just one of so many. a sixth child has died of a rare bacterial disease, amid a rise in the number of cases of scarlet fever. prince william meets president biden in boston, at the end of a royal trip overshadowed by controversy. we report from somalia, in the grip of its worst drought for a0 years. and yet more drama at the world cup, as south korea beat portugal. south korea. —— both teams go through to the last 16. switzerland and brazil and the knockouts getting the better of serbia as temperatures freight in the final group game.

of serbia — as tempers fray in their final group game. we start tonight with a special report from newcastle, and the story of a child, groomed and exploited by drugs gangs from the age of 11. an organisation that supports children involved with county lines, that's where youngsters travel up and down the country to deliver drugs, says a greater understanding of how gangs work, is needed. last night on news at ten, we heard about the huge rise in the number of children being recorded as trafficked and exploited by criminal gangs. well, now, we hear about the personal trauma of one victim. she's been telling her story, to our correspondent, jeremy cooke. i was actually only 11 at the time. i think it was just a case of getting in with the wrong people, the wrong group of friends, not having very many people to support you or talk to. it finds you — you don't find it. nicole is telling her own story.

difficult to hear but important to understand the abuse, the exploitation of children — our children — up and down the country. nicole was 11 years old. they offer you, like, £400 or £500. to anyone else, a grown—up that's on a working wage, that's nothing. to a little bairn who was sleeping on a mattress with no food unless they get fed off their friends, that's everything. so i took a lot of drugs from the area we are in, newcastle, to a lot of different places. 0n the trains and buses, any sort of transport that they didn't want to go on themselves, i would do. and i'd get paid at the end of it. however, more often than not, i would not get paid. every kind of exploitation. so naive, i didn't... it was yes, yes, yes, 0k. i literally had an address, a date, a time and a train ticket,

and that was me, gone, with a bag, do you know what i mean? someone met me with a bag, i took it and i'm gone and came back. i had to go very, very far. it was just past london. it was so hectic and at every train station i was getting off and i was going to the toilet to cry. it was so overwhelming. but no words could describe how horrible that was. and then when i got to the location i was supposed to be going, what was planned to happen didn't happen. and i had to do a lot of things that i didn't want to do to get out of that situation alive. if i hadn't have done what i was asked to do, which was sexual, physical, mental, then i don't think i would be here today, i don't think. i still to this day don't understand how an 11—year—old girl got on the trains unnoticed, not seen, not found, not asked why i wasn't at school,

not asked why i wasn't with a mum or dad or anything like that. which is a shame. and i think that is now what mostly affects me day to day, is why someone didn't step in and do what was necessary. i've seen people get kettled, like, with boiling water, i've seen people get stabbed because of the littlest disagreement over things, like £20. £20, people are getting hurt for. it's a dark world, violent and abusive. no one gets out without help. so with any new cases that i get, the first thing that i do is obviously i go out and meet them and i start to build that relationship up. these days, nicole has carly from edge north east. she's out there every day, helping vulnerable girls. it's about trying to keep eyes on them, to make sure that they're safe. for nicole, home life was chaotic, dysfunctional. the crucial intervention came five years ago, at school.

here you are, you're sitting in front of us now and something happened, something good happened, didn't it? so, thankfully, through a really, really good teacher that i had at school, literally gave me a lifeline. she offered me to start having showers at school, she offered to start paying for my meals outside of school. one day i had went in, and unfortunately i had just that day suffered a miscarriage. i'd think i'd just turned 13, my 13th birthday. and she had noticed. she took me straight to the hospital and i'd just had enough. i think i'd reached that breaking point of, 0k, i can trust this person and she needs to know that i'm not ok. you are a success story, which is great. in five years' time, if we were having a conversation, what would you like your life to look like then? i'd love to be working. have myself a house, family. do you know, typical stuff, just... another lovely human being to walk past that says hello on the street,

that doesn't turn away if you need help. there will be young people who might catch this on their phones, might see it on the telly, who are living scared right now. what would you say to those kids? i couldn't stress to people enough that they need to take that, it doesn't matter how scared you are. you are valid, your feelings are valid, you are never that stuck. if you are still living and breathing, you are never that stuck past the point of return. you can always end up at the better end of it. and i stand by that. glad i did get here because it breaks my heart, i think about the people who don't and who won't. you're a remarkable young woman, you really are. thank you. it's nice to know that, even if people don't take much from that other than they will be ok in the end, that's enough for me. jeremy, nicole's story is truly, truly heartbreaking. you and your

team have been investigating the abuse of children by drugs gangs for several months now. how big is this problem nationwide?— several months now. how big is this problem nationwide? well, there are far too many — problem nationwide? well, there are far too many nicoles, _ problem nationwide? well, there are far too many nicoles, clive. - problem nationwide? well, there are far too many nicoles, clive. what - far too many nicoles, clive. what we've learned is that county lines is a big and growing problem. hard numbers are hard to come by but according to the government was my own figures at least 2000 of our own children will be exploited, will be trafficked by county lines gangs this year alone and the real number is likely to be higher than that still, so ministers accept there is a problem. they also say there have been successes, something like 2900 of these county lines operations have been dismantled, disrupted, over the past three years i'm looking forward they are saying over the next three years there will be £145 million available for a further crackdown, but out here on the streets the youth workers we've been speaking to say they are desperate to get more people doing what they do, because they are desperate to

stop the sort of exploitation, the sort of abuse, that nicole has so bravely told us all about tonight full stop clive.— bravely told us all about tonight full stop clive. yeah, 0k, jeremy, many thanks _ full stop clive. yeah, 0k, jeremy, many thanks to — full stop clive. yeah, 0k, jeremy, many thanks to you _ full stop clive. yeah, 0k, jeremy, many thanks to you and _ full stop clive. yeah, 0k, jeremy, many thanks to you and your - full stop clive. yeah, 0k, jeremy, | many thanks to you and your team full stop clive. yeah, 0k, jeremy, - many thanks to you and your team and to nicole. for details of organisations that offer advice and support with exploitation and abuse, you can go online to bbc.co.uk/actionline. it's been revealed that six children under the age of ten have died since september in england and wales, after contracting a rare bacterial disease, known as invasive strep a. the uk health security agency confirmed the latest death was a child who attended a school in west london. officials have told the bbc there's also been a rise in the number of children contracting the bacterial disease scarlet fever, though they stress it can be treated quickly and successfully with antibiotics. 0ur health editor, hugh pym, is with me. yes, clive. people may have a clue

where macro few questions tonight about the latest health development. first, what is strep a? its full name is streptococcal, it spread by close contact and people may not know they have it. what are the symptoms? often they are mild, a sore throat or skin infection, easily treated if necessary with antibiotics. and how dangerous is it? well, strep a can cause scarlet fever, mostly affecting young children with flu—like symptoms and rashes like these. case numbers are higher than usual for this time of year but again, it's easily treated. but very rarely it can get more serious and cause an invasive infection. health officials have this advice for parents.

there are signs of dehydration, not feeding, _ there are signs of dehydration, not feeding, no— there are signs of dehydration, not feeding, no wet nappies, altered behaviour. — feeding, no wet nappies, altered behaviour, very sleepy, and if parents — behaviour, very sleepy, and if parents are concerned at all and there _ parents are concerned at all and there is— parents are concerned at all and there is anything that would make them _ there is anything that would make them he _ there is anything that would make them be aware that something is unusuai— them be aware that something is unusual with their child and parents know_ unusual with their child and parents know what— unusual with their child and parents know what is normal, that they would io know what is normal, that they would go and _ know what is normal, that they would go and seek— know what is normal, that they would go and seek medical attention. the number of go and seek medical attention. tia: number of deaths go and seek medical attention. tta: number of deaths is go and seek medical attention. "tta: number of deaths is a go and seek medical attention. t'ta: number of deaths is a bit go and seek medical attention. tta: number of deaths is a bit higher than usual at this stage, five in england since september. though in 2017 when there was a spike in cases, there were four over the same period. officials say there's no reason for concern, but they want parents to be aware of the symptoms, and if they're serious, seek medical help. the tesco boss, ken murphy, says the fastest rise in food prices for 45 years is forcing customers to change their shopping habits. in his first broadcast interview as chief executive, he says in the run up to christmas more people are buying earlier,

and moving from fresh produce to frozen. our business correspondent, emma simpson, has that story. it's christmas in the supermarket aisles, so what are shoppers up to? we're on the hunt for discounts. tesco's putting in new signs to make the yellow reduced stickers easier to find. looking for the deals, looking for the discounts. just making the money stretch. then there's this. not buying branded items. and cutting back. i'm usually one of those shoppers who just throws everything - into the trolley but i'm having to think twice now. _ you're definitely seeing all of those trade down. the boss of britain's biggest retailer says shopping habits are changing fast. you're actually seeing some trade down between the more expensive meats into white meats. you're seeing trading from eating out to eating meals in—house. but he also detects a determination to enjoy christmas too. they'll definitely spend a little less, but i think we will have a decent christmas. this is the time of year when people

usually like to splash the cash, but many are now on a budget like never before. for instance, tesco is selling double the number of frozen turkeys than they did before the pandemic. people are obviously worried about availability, but they're also looking for cheaper options, spreading the cost of christmas. but it's going to cost a bit more though. we've looked at some key staples across the main supermarkets. the average price of frozen turkey is up by 21% compared with last year. potatoes are even higher. brussels sprouts are up 7.5%. pork chipolatas have soared by more than 40%. tesco can't say when food inflation will peak. it's also the biggest private sector employer in the uk, so how worried is the boss about the times we're now in? it feels like we're definitely in times of turbulence, times of change. and that always creates uncertainty.

and ourjob is to make sure that the little basics feel consistent and reliable and affordable. and that's what we're really focused on. are you putting shareholders before shoppers? i think we think that shoppers, shareholders, suppliers, communities, all need to coexist. myjob is to manage the balance, to make sure that everybody who depends on tesco is looked after. it's the season for giving and their annual winter food donation drive is under way, but will shoppers be able to give like before, when they're watching every penny? emma simpson, bbc news. those of you planning to get away this christmas, are being warned of more travel disruption, with fresh strike action affecting the roads, and air travel from heathrow. staff at national highways, who operate and maintain england's

roads, will take part in a series of staggered strikes, starting on 16th december, right through untiljanuary 7th. and at heathrow, around 350 ground handlers employed by the private contractor, menzies, have announced dates when they'll walk out, in a dispute over pay. from friday december 16th, through the weekend, until sunday 18th. there'll also be more strikes on the railways, on 13th and 14th, and 16th and 17th december, as well as the 3rd and 4th, and 6th and 7th of january. our business correspondent marc ashdown is here. not the best of christmas presents for travellers — not the best of christmas presents for travellers this— not the best of christmas presents for travellers this christmas - for travellers this christmas season? _ for travellers this christmas season? ., . . for travellers this christmas season? ., ., ., , season? not at all, if you're trying to travel by _ season? not at all, if you're trying to travel by plane, _ season? not at all, if you're trying to travel by plane, train _ season? not at all, if you're trying to travel by plane, train or- to travel by plane, train or automobile yourjourney could be disrupted, the question is how badly? the union representing staff on the roads so there experiencing

wide issues but only a small number of workforces are involved and they are confident they can keep things moving. at heathrow the airport says this group of workers has been a strike before a few weeks ago and there were no cancellations and minor delays so they say passengers will not notice much at all at the union admits the two big carriers at heathrow, ba and virgin will not be affected at all. the heathrow, ba and virgin will not be affected at all.— affected at all. the rail stoppages, they continue. _ affected at all. the rail stoppages, they continue. are _ affected at all. the rail stoppages, they continue. are we _ affected at all. the rail stoppages, they continue. are we getting - affected at all. the rail stoppages, they continue. are we getting any| they continue. are we getting any closer to a resolution of that? that is the big one. _ closer to a resolution of that? “tngt is the big one, cautious progress is all i can really bring you. this dispute has been rumbling along sincejune and involves 40,000 rmt workers over pay, jobs and working conditions. but relations have been falling recently and today the general secretary of the union to clinch met with huw merriman. the unions villages the government who can step in and resolve this. huw merriman says he described today as an open and constructive conversation and mick lynch said he felt the tone of the dispute had

changed. let's not get carried away, there are still many difficult issues, many hurdles to clear, but we are told talks will continue over the weekend. aha, we are told talks will continue over the weekend-— the weekend. a bit of light at the end of that _ the weekend. a bit of light at the end of that railway _ the weekend. a bit of light at the end of that railway tunnel. - the weekend. a bit of light at the end of that railway tunnel. thankj end of that railway tunnel. thank you, marc ashdown. 0n the final day of his visit to america, prince william has been meeting president biden. and later tonight he'll present the earthshot prize, for environmental innovation. it comes after a trailer was released for a documentary on prince harry and meghan, which is expected to give their take on why they've stepped away from royal duties. 0ur royal correspondent daniela relph reports from boston. where is your topcoat? against a city skyline, a prince and a president. they've met three times before but this is the first time it has happened onjoe biden's home turf. they discussed what staff describe as shared priorities around climate change and mental health. earlier it was the kennedy family who hosted the prince at the

library. caroline kennedy, jfk's daughter and her children, showed him around the exhibits. this is a copy of the speech. jfk's moonshot speech pushing for ambition and urgency in space travel, and inspiration for prince william's earthshot prize. while her husband was with the kennedys the princess of wales was at harvard meeting experts who supported her work with families and young children. after much distraction this week, events were more straightforward today. i’m were more straightforward today. tn focusing on because they are here for this week which i think is so important for our children and for our future. important for our children and for ourfuture. i important for our children and for our future-— important for our children and for our future. ~ , . our future. i feel like they handled the race row _ our future. i feel like they handled the race row perfectly. _ our future. i feel like they handled the race row perfectly. but - our future. i feel like they handled the race row perfectly. but this - our future. i feel like they handled the race row perfectly. but this is| the race row perfectly. but this is the race row perfectly. but this is the centrepiece _ the race row perfectly. but this is the centrepiece of— the race row perfectly. but this is the centrepiece of the _ the race row perfectly. but this is the centrepiece of the couple's i the centrepiece of the couple's visits to america. the earthshot prize awards ceremony, green carpet for arrivals and sustainable outfits for arrivals and sustainable outfits for the guests. i’zre for arrivals and sustainable outfits for the guests.—

for the guests. i've had a few conversations _ for the guests. i've had a few conversations with _ for the guests. i've had a few conversations with prince - for the guests. i've had a few - conversations with prince william regarding the environment and regarding the environment and regarding climate change. we talked about earthshot at the bond premier and we just kept the conversation going. ijust applaud the enthusiasm behind everything he's done with this organisation. it's extraordinarily inspiring. tide extraordinarily inspiring. five -ro'ects extraordinarily inspiring. five prejects will _ extraordinarily inspiring. five projects will win _ extraordinarily inspiring. five projects will win £1 _ extraordinarily inspiring. five projects will win £1 million each for their innovative solution to the world's biggest environmental problems. and for the prince and princess of wales, they end this challenging few days on a positive, optimistic note. that ceremony is now under way and i think it will be a relief for the prince and princess of wales after a really tricky week. it has all been a reminder ofjust how difficult and exposing a time it is going to be for the royalfamily with harry exposing a time it is going to be for the royal family with harry and meghan's documentary series out

before christmas and after christmas it is the publication of prince harry's book. from the prince and princess of wales we are told they will try not to be distracted by other things and focus on their work, but it may not be that easy. studio: daniela relph, thank you, live in boston. in east africa, somalia is in the grip of its worst drought for 40 years, with the united nations warning that 500,000 children may die, unless more help arrives. the uk's development minister, andrew mitchell, has been visiting the worst affected area, and promised £14 million in humanitarian aid. climate change is a huge problem, bringing less rainfall. livestock are dying, along with the crops that feed whole communities. this central area is badly hit. the region in orange is in crisis, while the area in red, is facing emergency conditions. the central zone in dark red, is where famine is threatened. children are already dying, and medical centres are overwhelmed.

our diplomatic correspondent, james landale, has been travelling with andrew mitchell, to the town of dolow. this is what drought is bringing to somalia. growing camps of people forced to leave their homes in search of food after four rainy seasons failed. we have come to dolow in the west amid tight security, to protect us from islamist militants who control much of the country. here, on a rare visit, is a british minister, seeing for himself how uk money has helped girls from the camps get some education, and what more needs to be done. the challenges here are immense, quite apart from the disorder of conflict, it is the challenges caused by the drought, the fact that these people have moved away from where they used to live into these temporary camps. hamdi mohammed is one of those girls. 18 years old and very determined.

translation: sometimes i go to sleep hungry and sometimes i cannot buy - the books i need for school but i motivate myself. i tell myself that some day things will not be like this and in the future i will be an important person and help my people. there are already more than 130,000 internal refugees here, with hundreds more arriving every day, a scene replicated in towns across the country. this is not a normal. drought that we know. this is a real climate change crisis. - so what needs to be done? we have to make sure| that we are saving life. that we are averting the worst to come, in terms of famine. we have to make sure that - the children who are malnourished, who are 1.8 million, _ are rescued and they are not dying. andrew mitchell is promising more money for security

and humanitarian needs, but it is less than britain has given in the past. we have got to do two things here. we have got to beat back the terrorists, and we are, and the government of somalia has shown considerable gains in recent weeks on that, and we have got to address the effects of this drought both in the long term through climate change work and in the short—term, now, going to the aid of desperate people and saving lives. can the british government really make an impact in places like this, when its budget forforeign aid remains cut? it is probably not money that is the key issue here, it is coordination and making sure that everyone else steps up to the plate alongside britain to deliver for people here who, as i say, are in danger of dying in very large numbers if the international community does not react properly. a british minister coming here can make a difference. he can promise a bit more money. he can focus the attention of a world distracted by other crises. but can he stop the fighting? can he slow the climate

change that many believe is at the root of this problem? james landale, bbc news, in western somalia. let's take a look at some of the main other stories in the news today. the former chancellor and health secretary, sajid javid, says he will stand down as a conservative mp at the next general election. he said it was a decision he had "wrestled with for some time" — but that he would continue to support the government. labour are celebrating their by—election victory in chester. samantha dixon increased the party's majority to almost 11,000. it was the first electoral test for the conservatives since borisjohnson and liz truss were ousted as prime ministers. twitter has again suspended the account of the artist formerly known as kanye west. the social media platform's new boss, elon musk, says the rapper violated rules banning incitement to violence. west now calls himself ye. he had 30 million followers on twitter, before the latest suspension.

to the world cup in qatar, where there's been more drama, as south korea beat portugal, putting them through to the knockout stages for only the third time in their history. uruguay were denied a place in the dying seconds of their match. tears of delight and tears of despair. another day of world cup drama. luis suarez�*s uruguay began knowing they had to beat ghana to have any chance of qualifying, and at 2—0 up they were on course to go through. unless in their group's other match, south korea could find a late winner against the already qualified portugal. and in injury time, guess what? and south korea could have the goal that sends them into the last 16! now south korea were heading through, level on points with uruguay, but crucially with more goals. and as word reached uruguay and the now substituted suarez,

it was panic stations. they had to score — and how close they came. but after ten agonising minutes of stoppage time, it was all over. and the referee blows his whistle. despairfor suarez, one of football's most divisive figures, and fury among some of his uruguay team—mates, while south korea, who'd been watching nervously on their phones, erupted in euphoria. through to the last 16 in the most extraordinary and emotionalfashion. there was drama in the other games, too. the already qualified brazil beaten 1—0 by cameroon. scorer vincent aboubakar took his shirt off and was promptly sent off for a second yellow card. cameroon are out, though, and it's switzerland that go through after a 3—2 win over serbia. another chaotic day in this remarkable tournament. andy swiss, bbc news. the group stages of the competition are now over, and there have been

some extraordinary shocks, with belgium and germany failing to make it through. england will be hoping to prevent another upset when they take on senegal on sunday, as our sports editor dan roan reports. in a tournament full of surprises, last night the drama in doha was barely believable. belgium, ranked second in the world, crashed out, as their so—called golden generation failed again. they are dusting down the passports and going home. before four—time winners germany went the same way, eliminated on goal difference. germany are out. their fate sealed because of another thriller in group e. this controversial winner for unfancied japan, where it was ruled the ball had not fully crossed the line, sealed victory over another heavyweight, spain. tonight, fifa standing by the decision. one former england player says this first winter tournament is levelling the playing field. i think this world cup is proving that you can be an underdog and still get through. you can still be competitive even if you don't have the quality

that the other teams have. the timing, the heat, the humidity, all those things, it does — i think it gives a benefit to the teams who are well organised, superfit, super hungry. having been dumped out of the group stage the second world cup in a row, a chastened germany left town today, the inquest set to begin. translation: you can imagine that yesterday is a bitter _ disappointment for us. elimination from the i tournament hurts a lot. nevertheless, we must look ahead i and initiate an orderly procedurel on how to deal with the situation. with two of the traditional european powers already out of this world cup and some surprise qualifiers, there's a sense that this tournament is showing that the international footballing landscape is starting to shift a little, and now that the knockout phase of the competition is about to begin, nothing seems certain. england topped their group undefeated and will be favourites against senegal on sunday, but one of the teams says the shocks so far here serve as a warning.

we have already seen big upsets. we definitely don't want to be one of those teams that takes anything for granted, doesn't respect the opposition in whatever form, and i think that we've always done that, always shown teams respect no matter what form they're in, what players they have got, and will continue doing that. senegal have waited 20 years to play in the knockout phase of the world cup and the african champions are not lacking in motivation. we don't play only for senegal. we play for the continent and we know the reaction from outside. they will try to push us so as players we have to push and give our best. at this stage of the last world cup, england needed penalties to overcome colombia. four years on, they and their fans will be desperately hoping

for a less dramatic passage to the quarter—finals.