FOOTBALL SHORTS

÷ ENGLAND’S World Cup opponents Panama were thrashed 6-0 by Switzerland. Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka was one of six different Swiss scorers in Lucerne. England play their Group G opponents in Nizhny Novgorod on June 24.

RYAN GIGGS blocked Gareth Bale and the rest of the Wales squad playing golf in China due to injury concerns,

Sportsmail can reveal. Giggs told golf fanatic Bale to avoid physically demanding activities, aware of the strain that can be placed on the back when swinging a club.

UEFA will scrap the ‘cup-tied’ rule from all European competitions next season. It means players can play for two different clubs in the group stage and the knockout stage of the Champions League or Europa League.

ENGLAND Women have been boosted by the return of Steph Houghton and Jordan Nobbs for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Wales and BosniaHerzegovina.