Scott Murray's Blog, page 152

Germany 4-1 Mexico: 2017 Confederations Cup semi-final – as it happened

Germany reach their first Confederations Cup final after a thoroughly entertaining end-to-end affair in Sochi

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Related: Leon Goretzka drives Germany past Mexico into Confederations Cup final

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And that’s that! Germany, who have made eight World Cup finals and six European Championship finals, reach their first Confederations Cup final! It’s not totally clear how they held Mexico to just the one goal - and an other-worldly strike that was too - but they did. And they were certainly worth four going forward. They deservedly take their place in the final, where they will be favourites against South American champions Chile. But Mexico did themselves proud tonight, even if that scoreline suggests otherwise. What a match that was! If we get games as half as good as this at next year’s World Cup, we’ll be doing pretty well.

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90 min +3: Hernandez has a low lash from distance, the ball only just evading Germany’s right-hand post. It took a deflection, too, so there’s a corner, which leads to Jimenez blasting a header straight at ter Stegen. What a wild finish!

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And in the first, Germany put to bed any idea of an improbable Mexican comeback. Mexico pile forward, but Werner counters at pace. The ball ends up at the feet of Can, on the edge of the D. He slides a pass towards Younis to his left. Younis threads a gorgeous diagonal shot past Ochoa and into the bottom right, and Germany are in the final for sure!

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90 min: It’s probably too little, too late, of course. But Fabian slips just as it looks he’s going to take possession of a long ball down the middle, Germany in the midst of a panic! It’s hacked clear. There will be three minutes of added time.

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Can, trying his luck seeing he’s already been booked, trips Marquez from behind in the midfield. The free kick’s tapped right to Fabian, who from 35 yards sends a hysterically swerving riser into the top right! Ter Stegen was at full stretch! That is astonishing!

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87 min: It’s not as though Mexico haven’t had their chances. The corner lands on the head of Marquez, ten yards out. But he can’t keep it on target, the ball sailing miles over the crossbar.

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86 min: Lozano launches a sortie down the right this time. He tears into space, and crosses at pace. Hernandez is waiting, willing to sidefoot home. But Ginter is there to hack the ball over the bar. Corner.

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84 min: Corner for Mexico down the right. Layun curls it with pace to the near post, where Marquez batters a header towards the top right. Surely that’s going in? Nope! Ter Stegen somehow parries it, and Ginter heads away. And it turns out there’s been a bit of pushing anyway, so the flag goes up. But ter Stegen wasn’t to know, and what a save that was!

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82 min: Layun races down the right and whips in yet another fine cross. Fabian and Rudiger clatter into each other. They both roll around in pain. Poor Fabian’s taken a proper whack upside the head. Rudiger, not so much. Another interpretative dance piece examining the concept of pain.

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81 min: The Germany captain Draxler is replaced by Younes.

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80 min: Brandt spins away from trouble in the middle of the park, romps upfield, one-twos with Werner to his right, and very nearly gets a shot away from the edge of the Mexico box. But he can’t quite get the ball under control. That would have been some introduction.

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79 min: Stindl is replaced by Brandt. Choppy waters for Mexico.

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77 min: Hernandez dribbles at pace down the right, and very nearly breaks clear of Ginter. But the German defender sticks out a telescopic leg and toes the ball away from Hernandez just as the striker looks like busting into the area. How have Mexico not scored today?

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75 min: Draxler diddles Layun down the left with an outrageous piece of skill, sending the ball one way and scooting past the other. He cuts inside, enters the area and ... well, it’d have been some goal, but the shot’s not up to much. Mexico go up the other end and nearly reduce the arrears to a couple, Lozano reaching the byline on the left and cutting back for Jimenez, who sends the ball twanging off the crossbar with a fine diving header from eight yards. Ter Stegen was beaten all ends up!

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74 min: Can very nearly breaks clear down the inside-left channel, but he doesn’t have the pace to work enough space to shoot.

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73 min: Rudiger goes down like a sack of spuds after being pushed lightly in the chest by Hernandez. The Mexico striker then demands the referee take a look at the TV replay system, presumably with some sort of punishment for poor acting in mind. Two grown men here. The referee, tired of it all, waves them both away.

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71 min: Emre Can has only been on the field for four minutes, and already he’s in the book. Rightly so, for standing on Marquez’s boot.

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70 min: With that in mind, Mexico suddenly pick up the speed. Hernandez sprays a pass wide right for Layun, who smashes a fine effort towards the top right from a tight angle. Ter Stegen parries round the post for a corner. From the set piece, the ball falls towards Alanis and Araujo on the edge of the six-yard box. They get in each other’s way, allowing Ginter to hook clear.

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69 min: Mexico stroke it around the middle awhile, but it’s far too late for patient probing.

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67 min: Fabian has another crack, this time from 20 yards. It sails wide right. And then a couple more changes: Mexico swap Jonathan dos Santos for Marquez, while Germany take off the two-goal hero Goretzka and send on Can.

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65 min: Draxler and Werner exchange passes down the left, both running at pace in the powerful style. They drift inside, flying in formation, and it looks like Draxler will work space to shoot from the edge of the box. Instead he falls over, and rather brazenly looks for a free kick. Nope! Germany come again, Henrichs hooking in from the right, the ball deflecting off Alanis and nearly dropping to Werner. Ochoa gathers.

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63 min: Fabian replaces Giovani dos Santos. And he very nearly makes an instant impact! Hernandez, to the right of the Germany D, slips a diagonal pass inside. It’s meant for Jimenez on the penalty spot, but rolls to Fabian on the left-hand corner of the six-yard box instead! It’s a tight angle, though, with ter Stegen in the road, and he lashes his shot into the side netting. A goal for Mexico now, and you never know.

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62 min: Werner very nearly outstrips Moreno for pace down the inside-right channel. Not quite, but the two came together, and if the ricochet had gone Werner’s way, it’d surely have been 4-0.

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61 min: That third goal has understandably taken the wind out of Mexico. Germany stream forward and win a corner. It comes to naught. But as things stand - with the Mexicans the only previous winners of this tournament still technically left standing - it looks as though we’ll have a new name on the trophy this year.

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This was a gorgeously simple team goal. Draxler, conducting in front of the D, slips a ball down the left channel for Hector, who hooks it into the middle, past the angle-narrowing Ochoa, for Werner to sweep into an empty net. A suspicion that Werner might have been offside when Draxler played the defence-splitting ball forward ... and he looks around towards the official sheepishly ... but he’s probably earned that decision after the recent non-penalty incident.

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57 min: Lozano shows for the first time, whipping a delightful dipping cross from the left towards Hernandez at the far post. It’s too far ahead of the striker, but only just. Good luck in guessing which team will score next.

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56 min: Germany take an awfully long time to get their set piece away. Eventually, an elaborately worked effort gives Draxler a little space just right of centre, 25 yards out. He looks to curl one into the bottom right with power, but the keeper’s always claiming that.

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54 min: Goretzka makes good down the middle and is clattered to the ground from behind by Jimenez, who is booked for his trouble. A free kick, the best part of 30 yards out.

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52 min: Werner is once again sent clear down the right by the excellent Henrichs. And once again he fails to convert. Though this time it’s not all his fault, and he’s got the right to feel a little aggrieved. While waiting for Ochoa to come off his line, the in-pursuit Moreno gives him a blatant shove in the back. It’s enough to confuse Werner into screwing a shot past the keeper and straight across the face of goal. That should have been a penalty.

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51 min: Mexico have started the second half in the manner they ended the first. In control. On a quick break, three on two, Hernandez should slip Jimenez clear down the right. But his pass outside forces Jimenez to slow down. Jimenez still gets a shot away, checking inside and pearling one from the right-hand edge of the D. But it’s straight at ter Stegen.

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50 min: ... Mexico nearly score. Giovani dos Santos fires a mid-height corner into the box. Jimenez flicks it on at the near post. Hernandez is too close to react, though; it smacks into his startled coupon and over the bar.

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49 min: Germany look a bit sleepy. The impressive Layun strides down the right wing and earns a corner. From which ...

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47 min: Mexico started the first half with some uncertain playing out from the back. This time Alanis plays a terrible ball inside for his keeper Ochoa, who bangs his clearance into a hard-pressing Werner. On another day, that would have ricocheted into the net. This time, Ochoa and Mexico get away with it.

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46 min: Moreno tries to get Lozano involved immediately, but his raking pass down the left evades both the substitute and Hernandez.

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We’re off again! Mexico have made one change, swapping Javier Aquino out on the left for Hirving Lozano. And they get the ball rolling for this second half.

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And more from our man Kieran Pender: “In many ways this encounter mirrors yesterday’s semi-final in Kazan: open, attacking, end-to-end football. The only difference is that Germany were clinical in front of goal in the first 10 minutes, while last night neither Chile nor Portugal could find the net during 120 minutes. Both back-lines in action this evening have failed to record a clean sheet at the tournament to date, and it looks like that trend will continue. Mexico were unlucky not to grab at least one goal in that half, and this game is far from over.”

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Half-time reading: While we’re on a Fifa-tournament tip...

Related: Ronaldo’s redemption: recalling the Brazil striker’s World Cup fairytale 15 years on | Amy Lawrence

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The four-time world champions are 45 minutes away from their first-ever Confederations Cup final. But the 1999 winners of this tournament are not done yet. Don’t leave us!

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45 min: Draxler brings down Herrera in the midfield. A chance for Mexico to load the box. Herrera floats a dismal effort into the mixer; Rudiger rises to clear. There will be one added minute; it looks like Germany will make it back to the dressing room with their two-goal lead in tact.

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43 min: A rare attack for Germany falls apart when Goretzka pointlessly runs the ball out of play in a good position down the right. To be fair, he’s got plenty of moral credit to fritter way tonight.

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42 min: The set piece leads to another set piece, which leads to nothing. But Germany could do with hearing the half-time whistle here, as Mexico seriously threaten to eat into their lead.

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40 min: The corner comes to naught, though Mexico are quickly coming back at Germany. Aquino, down the left, curls deep towards the far post. Hernandez and Jimenez are queuing up to convert from six yards. Ginter rather marvellously gets his eyebrows on the ball, deflecting a certain goal out for a corner.

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39 min: Hernandez whips one up over the wall and back down. It’s probably going over the bar, but ter Stegen takes no chances. He tips over for a corner.

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38 min: Mexico have done very well to get back into this game. Once again they string a few passes together in the German half. Giovani dos Santos sends a message to Rudy with a dropped shoulder, and he’s battered to the ground as he glides past. Free kick in a fairly central position, 25 yards out.

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36 min: Mexico really should be on the scoresheet. Giovani dos Santos, on the edge of the German D, returns the favour to Hernandez, dinking a pass down the left channel. Kimmich miskicks as he attempts to clear, and suddenly Hernandez is free in the box! All he’s got to do is lift the ball over the advancing ter Stegen. Easier said and done, of course, when ter Stegen is channelling his inner Peter Schmeichel. A fine star jump does enough to put Hernandez off; the striker overcooks his chip, which sails harmlessly over the bar.

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34 min: A simple ball rolled down the middle of the park, towards the German box. It looks like there’s no danger, but with his back to goal, Hernandez plays a clever little reverse dink down the right channel to release Giovani dos Santos. He’s one on one with ter Stegen, but his low drive is straight at the keeper, who hacks away with his feet. The ball breaks to Giovani’s brother Jonathan, who tries to steer a ball dropping near the penalty spot with his head. Bad choice.

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32 min: Draxler is caught snoozing 25 yards from his own goal, allowing Giovani dos Santos to steal away with the ball. He’s got time and space to shoot, on the edge of the D, so the subsequent low drag, miles to the right of the target, is something of a thundering disappointment.

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31 min: A period of possession for Mexico in Germany’s final third. A lot of forensic probing. Eventually Jimenez and Layun combine well to confuse Hector down the right. The low cross Layun delivers is extremely dangerous, but fortunately for Germany, Hernandez has dozily wandered offside.

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29 min: A slight lull, the first of the match. So here’s a quick word from the Guardian’s man in Sochi, Kieran Pender: “While venues at the Confederations Cup have generally been half-full at best, group stage crowds at Fisht Stadium in Sochi were particularly disappointing. Situated within an area used for the 2014 Winter Olympic, the stadium is almost 40 kilometres from Sochi itself, which even then only has a population of around 400,000. Tonight’s attendance is an improvement - perhaps 75% capacity - and the fans were in full voice prior to kick-off. Let’s hope they don’t bore too quickly - the Mexican wave has been making an appearance in the opening minutes of some matches. Although, given one of the participating teams, it would be apt...”

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27 min: Herrera sashays down the middle and lays off for Jimenez on the edge of the box. That’s the intention, anyway, but Hector closes the Mexican down just before he can shoot. Once again, though, there were gaps appearing in that German defence. This is not over.

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26 min: Mexico come back at Germany quickly, though, Jonathan dos Santos having a blast from 25 yards in a central position. It’s blocked pretty much at source. Draxler responds with a quick break down the Germany left, but he out-dribbles himself upon reaching the Mexico box. Then the Mexicans go back upfield themselves. Giovani dos Santos shovelling a cross in from the right, his brother Jonathan very nearly meeting it six yards out with a spectacular slide. This is a lot of end-to-end fun!

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24 min: Another deep cross from the right by the full back Layun forces Henrichs to sidefoot out for a corner near his own left-hand post. Calm defending of a dangerous ball. The corner is dealt with easily enough by Germany.

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22 min: Layun finds a bit of space down the right and curls one to the far post. Alanis strains every muscle in his neck, hoping to lunge forward and meet the ball, but the cross is just a wee bit too high. There is still hope for Mexico: Germany don’t look particularly strong at the back, like that’s breaking news in this tournament.

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21 min: Again Mexico respond to danger by going on the attack. Jimenez and Hernandez diddle their way down the right wing, but their intricate passing comes to an end on the edge of the German box. “Have the Germany fans started a Mexican wave?” wonders Peter Oh, a raised eyebrow trying to start one off.

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19 min: It should be 3-0. Henrichs, in a deep position on the right wing, rolls a simple pass down the wing to release Werner. He’s one on one with Ochoa, albeit facing a tight-ish angle. Still, he should probably draw the keeper and dink the ball over him and in, but elects to blast instead. The keeper is able to parry round the post, a fine save he should never have been allowed to make. The corner is met by the head of Kimmich, but it flies harmlessly over the bar.

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18 min: Kimmich slides a teasing pass down the centre and very nearly releases Stindl into the box. Aquino, tracking back, slides in to concede a corner out on the right. The set piece comes to absolutely nothing.

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16 min: This game is very open. Both sides are paying little more than lip service to keeping it tight at the back. This won’t end 2-0.

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14 min: Jonathan dos Santos wants to watch himself. He’s already clattered Stindl once; now he slides in again with studs showing. No contact, and dos Santos at least appears in control, so the referee isn’t too fussed. But after Mexico’s appalling start, it’d be no surprise if someone’s head goes.

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12 min: Mexico are looking dangerous down the flanks. Jimenez opens his legs and strides down the right and reaches the byline, but his hook back into the centre isn’t anywhere near a green shirt. The ball’s recycled by Mexico, and Alanis romps in from the left to have a dig from the best part of 30 yards. Nope! Ter Stegen saves that with one hand in his pocket.

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11 min: ... nowt. But it’s a start. Small acorns for the Little Pea and his colleagues.

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10 min: Mexico might as well go for it now. At least thats what they appear to have decided. Hernandez races down the right and loops a dangerous cross into the mixer. Germany have had trouble with these, this last couple of weeks. But Jimenez can’t quite get his nut on it. No matter. Mexico come again, this time down the left. Aquino whips a fine ball to the far post, forcing Henrichs to chest out for a corner. From which ...

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One minute and 49 seconds later, Goretzka makes it two. Werner picks the ball up in the middle with Mexico again light at the back. He drifts a little to the right, then slips a ball down the channel for Goretzka, who enters the area and clips a delicious finish over the advancing Ochoa and into the unguarded net! Mexico already have half an idea how Brazil felt three years ago.

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Mexico have fallen behind in every game so far in this tournament. And they’re behind again. This was so simple, as Germany broke quickly upfield. Henrichs romped down the right and fizzed a low pass inside for Goretzka on the edge of the D. Goretzka met the ball first time, carefully guiding a pass with the outside of his foot into the bottom left. What a lovely finish!

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5 min: A poor Herrera pass in the midfield is intercepted by Rudy, who quickly feeds Stindl with a pass forward. Stindl is clumsily hacked down from behind by Jonathan dos Santos. You’ve seen yellow cards for that; the clock and the referee’s patience is the Mexican’s friend here.

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4 min: It’s all a bit scrappy now, but Mexico have a chance to finally get their foot on the ball, and stroke it around the middle accordingly. A pleasant respite after that breezy German start.

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2 min: Mexico are being pinned back already by a German side very much on the front foot. Heavy metal pressing. Eventually the ball’s hoofed upfield in a panic, and the wise old (!) Hernandez purchases a cheap free kick in the midfield to ease the pressure.

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And we’re off! Germany get the ball rolling in the modern style, Draxler alone by the centre spot and hoicking it backwards. Then forwards. Mexico try to play it out from the back. Moreno is nearly caught out by Werner, buzzing around, and the ball clanks out for a goal kick. There’s a splash of red on the ball. Can’t quite make out the design. Perhaps it’s been sponsored by Chick-fil-A.

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The teams are out! The world champions are in their world-famous white shirts and black shorts; Mexico wear their traditional green tops and white strides. The mascots are dressed in yellow and red, on account of being sponsored by McDonald’s. The anthems are sung. Not with any particular fervour, it has to be said. Nerves, no doubt. We’ll be off in a minute.

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Germany and Mexico last faced each other a dozen years ago to the day. That was at the 2005 staging of this very tournament. Playing off for third place, the teams drew 3-3 in normal time, Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Robert Huth each taking turns to give Germany the lead; Francisco Fonseca and Jared Borgetti (twice) pulling Mexico level each time. Michael Ballack eventually decided it in extra time. Who’d turn down another match like that this evening?

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Germany make four changes to the experimental version of their experimental team sent out against Cameroon. In come Jonas Hector, Benjamin Henrichs, Leon Goretzka and Lars Stindl; out go Niklas Sule, Emre Can, Marvin Plattenhardt and Kerem Demirbay.

Mexico must do without their suspended captain Andres Guardado. Also missing from the starting XI that faced Russia: Diego Reyes, Hirving Lozano and Carlos Vela. Stepping up: Raul Jimenez, Giovani dos Santos, Javier Aquino and Oswaldo Alanis.

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Germany: ter Stegen, Henrichs, Kimmich, Ginter, Rudiger, Hector, Rudy, Goretzka, Stindl, Draxler, Werner.
Subs: Trapp, Mustafi, Plattenhardt, Wagner, Demirbay, Can, Younes, Sule, Sane, Brandt, Demme, Leno.

Mexico: Ochoa, Araujo, Alanis, Moreno, Layun, Giovani dos Santos, Herrera, Jonathan dos Santos, Aquino, Jimenez, Javier Hernandez.
Subs: Cota Robles, Salcedo, Marquez, Diego Reyes, Fabian, Vela, Damm, Guardado, Peralta, Luis Reyes, Lozano, Talavera.

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It won’t be long before football does the decent thing, clearing the stage for cricket, tennis and golf. It is summer, after all. But before that, the 2017 Confederations Cup must reach its climax! And to be fair, this, the second semi-final between reigning world champions Germany and Concacaf Gold Cup holders Mexico, promises to be a doozy.

Both teams are unbeaten in this competition so far, with two wins and a draw apiece. Germany have seen off Australia and Cameroon, and drawn with finalists Chile. Mexico meanwhile have beaten New Zealand and hosts Russia, and scrambled a draw against Portugal.

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The Fiver | The Professionals and ersatz Simone Zaza tribute act Nani

In today’s Fiver: a Saxon student collective, bravery and non-league headlocks

The Fiver has been following every kick of the 2017 Confederations Cup. Factor in whoever drew the MBM short straw for Big Website each day, plus your average audience for ITV4, and that’s at least three people watching every match of Fifa’s 17th most prestigious tournament, either by choice, under duress, or as a result of drifting off midway through The Professionals after trying to keep up with Gordon Jackson’s whisky consumption and waking up with a dry mouth on 87 minutes. The viewing figures could have been even higher, who knows what yet. And hasn’t it been a blast, with some thoroughly exciting fare served up by Australia, Cameroon, Chile, a schoolboy XI from North Rhine-Westphalia, the cast of What We Do In The Shadows, the same old, same old from Concacaf, a jaded Him and 11 increasingly concerned locals. More please, Fifa!

Related: Claudio Bravo saves three penalties to send Chile to Confederations Cup final

Hey Look! Weird Uncle Fiver’s Canadian cousin is an airline pilot! @thefiver pic.twitter.com/a4Ks2ehJIL

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Stephen Hendry: ‘In a fight, it would be hard to get past Jimmy White’

The seven-time world snooker champion talks his poker face, his golf handicap, Alex Higgins, Neutral Milk Hotel and why he never felt sorry for the Whirlwind

Hello Stephen! Small Talk isn’t good at much, goodness knows, but we like to think we can read a face. You’re a big poker fan, we’re guessing? It’s written all over your coupon! Yeah I am. I began playing during the boom when online poker first started around 2001. I played a lot. Steve Davis got me into it. I saw him doing it on his laptop all the time. We used to have a little school at night. A few players got into it. That’s how I learned to play.

Are you any good? I’ve certainly improved, there’s no doubt about that. You get sick of handing over money! But I wouldn’t say I’m a expert by any stretch of imagination. It’s a bit like chess to me: I know what the pieces do, but playing it well is the hard thing. But I enjoy it, and my association with Poker Stars is great. I’m an ambassador for them, and get to play at these massive events like the Marbella Poker Festival. It’s cool.

Related: Elise Christie: 'It was easier to hide from stuff before social media'

Did I ever feel sorry for Jimmy White? No! If you haven’t got what it takes, then that’s your fault

Neal Foulds recommended Neutral Milk Hotel. It's an album that just gets to you

Related: Nick Skelton: 'I landed on my head and broke my neck' | Small Talk

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Scotland 2-2 England: World Cup 2018 qualifier – as it happened

Harry Kane grabbed an injury-time equaliser after Leigh Griffiths scored two sensational late free kicks.

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More reaction:

Related: Gordon Strachan’s battlers show art and graft before Scotland joy is cruelly curbed | Ewan Murray

Related: Gareth Southgate praises Kane while Gordon Strachan sees draw as a defeat

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Related: Harry Kane denies Scotland win over England in frantic final minutes

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Phew! That’s your lot. Scotland would have probably taken a draw at the start of the day; they’d have gladly taken one with 86 minutes on the clock. And they’ve ended up with one. But the manner of it will feel like a defeat. Poor Leigh Griffiths, whose two superlative free kicks looked like going into instant legend. They’ll remain unforgettable, of course, but that dramatic finale will be rather bittersweet for Scottish fans now. Scotland were so close to their first win over the auld enemy since 1999; their first at Hampden since 1985. And in more prosaic terms for Gordon Strachan’s side, that’s two precious World Cup points up in smoke. Still, that Harry Kane’s some player, huh? England’s long unbeaten record in qualification matches goes on!

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Well, no, not in the first instance. Dier hammers one towards the top right. Gordon parries. Scotland clear, and threaten to break upfield. But England reclaim possession. Sterling curls a cross in from the left. Kane ghosts in, contorts his body in mid air, and steers the ball past Gordon! What a saver from the England captain! And Hampden falls silent again.

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90 min +2: On the edge of the Scotland area, Smalling goes down under not much pressure from Martin. A free kick, just to the right of the D. England couldn’t, could they?

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90 min: Erm. Wow. There will be four added minutes. There were two minutes and 50 seconds between those two Griffiths pearlers, so anything could happen.

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This is sensational! Griffiths skelps this one into the top left! Up and over the wall again, Hart with no chance again! Stick your head out of the window. You’ll be able to hear Hampden from where you are. Wherever you are!

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88 min: And now another direct Scotland ball down the middle. Livermore bundles Martin over. It’s another free kick, in exactly the same spot! They couldn’t, could they?

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But it’s worth the wait! Griffiths whips the ball up and over the wall, and into the top right. Simple as that! Hart can’t get across quick enough. That was in all the way! Sheer brilliance by the Celtic striker! You’ll not see a better free kick than that. Hampden erupts. Hampden roars.

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86 min: The free kick takes a while.

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85 min: Scotland launch a high ball down the middle. Cahill battles first with Martin, then crumps a high foot upside Fraser’s noggin. A free kick, 30 yards out. Scotland need something special. Can Griffiths deliver?

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84 min: Raheem Sterling comes on for Dele Alli, who departs in the casual, professional, clock-bothering style.

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83 min: Tierney, out on the right, feeds Griffiths on the edge of the England box. Griffiths has a chance to turn and send a curler towards the top left; he gets the turn right but the curl all wrong.

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82 min: Lallana has a dig from 25 yards. It rolls in the style of a pea towards Gordon, who snaffles.

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81 min: Anya, who has been suffering from cramp, is replaced by Chris Martin. He came on to jeers against Slovenia before scoring the winner; a polite cheer greets him this time. Can he pull something out of the hat again?

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79 min: “You’re getting sacked in the morning.” The England fans serenading Gordon Strachan there.

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77 min: Armstrong busies himself 30 yards from the England goal. He manages to squirt the ball to Griffiths, just to the right of the D. Griffiths, his back to goal, swivels and sends a snap shot inches wide of the top right. Hart makes out like he had it covered all the way, but it would have been interesting had the ball been on target.

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76 min: The resulting free kick is met by Kane, 12 yards out, but there’s no danger in his header. Then Scotland, clearly rocked by falling behind, allow Oxlade-Chamberlain to tear it up down the right. He dinks a cross into the centre. Lallana should at least work Gordon, but his header, in a clear position ten yards out, flies harmlessly over the bar.

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74 min: Alli takes up possession out on the right. Brown, the head gone, comes clattering into him at speed and without regard for basic manners. It’s a clear booking. It should be his second yellow, and an early bath. But the referee is extremely lenient.

6.34pm BST

73 min: Scotland try to come straight back at England, Fraser zipping down the left and chipping a dangerous cross into the area. Cahill does very well to rise above everyone and bash a header clear.

6.33pm BST

Gordon fails to deal with a simple Tierney backpass. Alli nearly steals the ball from him. Gordon is forced to hack out for a throw on the right in a panic. Following soon after, Oxlade-Chamberlain dribbles inside from the wing, enters the box, drops a shoulder and batters a shot goalwards through a thicket of players. Gordon may have been unsighted, but he lets the shot fly straight over him and into the net. Hampden falls quiet for the first time this afternoon.

6.30pm BST

69 min: A free kick for Scotland out on the right, and a chance for the hosts to load the box. Armstrong curls it in, but it’s easily cleared by Smalling. A rare chance to work Hart squandered.

6.29pm BST

67 min: Bertrand whips in a high cross from the left. Kane flashes a wonderful header towards the top right. Gordon is equal to it, a magnificent close-range parry, and the loose ball is mopped up.

6.28pm BST

66 min: And now Scotland make their second swap. Snodgrass, uncharacteristically quiet and out of sorts today, is replaced by debutant Ryan Fraser of Bournemouth. Liverpool fans may remember him with a shudder.

6.26pm BST

65 min: England respond to the Scottish upturn by making their first change. Rashford is hooked, Oxlade-Chamberlain taking his place.

6.25pm BST

63 min: Dier eases Griffiths to the floor in the midfield. It’s not much of a challenge, but the England midfielder has just been booked and therefore wants to watch himself. He’s already missing the Malta game as things stand.

6.24pm BST

61 min: Scotland continue to press forward, sensing that England aren’t the force they were in the first half. Anya loops a ball in from the right; it very nearly finds Robertson on the other side of the park. Not quite. Hampden responds, though; what a glorious noise.

6.22pm BST

60 min: Dier is booked for clattering into McArthur at the start of the move that led to the Armstrong shot. A good advantage played by the referee, then, who has had a very decent few minutes.

6.21pm BST

59 min: But Scotland are beginning to show in attack at long last. Griffiths romps down the right and sets up a colleague again with another roll inside. This time it’s Armstrong, who shapes a curler towards the top left. It’s not the worst effort, but it’s high and wide as well.

6.19pm BST

58 min: Scotland’s best chance of the match, as Griffiths dances in from the right and rolls a pass across the face of the box for Robertson, who has space and time. He looks for the top left, and gets it all wrong, hoicking the ball wide and high.

6.18pm BST

57 min: Lallana slides in late on McArthur, who wants the referee to flash yellow. Lallana gets away with it, having come in from the side. In other refereeing news, the Griffiths-Walker penalty thing looks like a great decision, Griffiths running into Walker rather than the other way around.

6.17pm BST

55 min: England go straight up the other end, Kane chasing a long 1980s hoof. Gordon comes out of his box, caring not a jot that his first-half walkabout nearly led to a goal. This time he opts to juggle the ball over Kane’s head. Success, but the sort of success that does nothing for Hampden’s collective blood pressure.

6.16pm BST

54 min: Armstrong slips Griffiths away down the inside-left channel. Griffiths enters the box, and goes to ground under a clumsy challenge from behind by Walker, who had got on the wrong side. The referee’s having none of it. Griffiths batters the ground in anger and impotent frustration. I’d need to see that one again. Who’d be a referee? Then again, the referee’s not trying to type, so cut your old MBM pal some slack, will you.

6.14pm BST

53 min: Rashford threatens to cause trouble with a power run down the middle, but is stopped in his tracks by a glorious slide tackle from Tierney. The young Celtic defender really is a top prospect.

6.12pm BST

51 min: The ball’s worked to Livermore, to the right of the D. He shoots. The ball takes a huge deflection off Robertson’s ankle, and clanks off the bottom of the right-hand post. There follows a game of pinball, but neither Kane nor Alli can get a shot on target in a crowded box from close range. The ball squirms out of play for a corner on the left. Gordon punches that one clear with purpose. Scotland were all over the shop there, but they’ve escaped.

6.11pm BST

50 min: Griffiths has a chance to set Scotland away on a break, but his ball wide to Robertson is loose, allowing Walker to nip in and earn a throw, which leads to a corner on the right. From which...

6.09pm BST

48 min: It’s another fast start by Scotland. Armstrong plays a cute reverse ball down the inside-left channel. He’d have released Robertson, too, had the full back read his intentions. Walker is able to guide the ball out of play for a goal kick, Robertson unable to make up the ground lost by his misreading of the situation. But very nearly a lovely move that would have split England open.

6.08pm BST

47 min: England stroke it around the back awhile, perhaps with the idea of silencing the crowd. Well, that hasn’t worked. Bedlam, bedlam, bedlam. Rashford is muscled out of it by Griffiths, whose ball forward is hooked clear by Cahill.

6.06pm BST

And we’re off again! Scotland make a change: James Morrison, who took a sore one on his ankle early on, is sacrificed for James McArthur. For England, it’s as you were. The Scots get the ball rolling for the second half. The atmosphere at Hampden is still belting.

5.51pm BST

Half-time reading: In lieu of significant action, a few blasts from the past.

Related: The Joy of Six: Scotland World Cup qualifiers | Scott Murray

5.49pm BST

And that’s that for the first half. England have been the better team, so Scotland will be happier with the scoreline. “Respect to all concerned, of course,” begins Charles Antaki, so you know what’s coming next, “but this is shaping up to be the expected not-very-good side being comfortably out-played by the slightly-better-but-still-no-world-beaters side, and without even the historical niggle of times past. Even the sunshine looks bland.”

5.48pm BST

45 min: Snodgrass tries to launch a Scotland break, turning neatly in the centre circle. He’s upended cynically by Livermore, who goes into the book.

5.47pm BST

43 min: Kane, just to the right of the Scottish box, pulls the ball across for Livermore, who shoots from 20 yards. Gordon has it covered, but makes a hash of trying to punch it clear, the ball pinging off the top of his fists and over the bar in a hysterical manner. That could have easily flown into the net. The corner comes to nothing.

5.45pm BST

42 min: That increasingly rare thing: a Scottish attack. Robertson makes good down the left, and his low cross is decent enough, but the in-rushing Snodgrass can’t get on the end of it. Cahill clears calmly.

5.44pm BST

40 min: Kane, tight on the left touchline, flicks a superb ball inside for Lallana, standing on the corner of the box. Lallana drops a shoulder to send Mulgrew off to the wrong fire, strides into the area, and lashes a fine shot towards the top left. Gordon tips it round the post, and the corner is cleared. So close to a glorious opening goal from England’s chief creative threat so far this afternoon.

5.42pm BST

38 min: Something of a lull, which Scotland will take. After a bright opening, they’ve been on the back foot for the larger proportion of this half.

5.41pm BST

36 min: Alli, on the edge of the Scotland D, slips Rashford in to his right. Rashford makes to shoot, but the very promising Tierney closes him down, then slides in to concede a corner before a cross from the byline can be dispatched. Or it would be, had Rashford not followed through after the tackle, clattering into the Celtic full-back in the reckless style. Not the best challenge, but it’s nothing more than a free kick for Scotland.

5.38pm BST

35 min: Walker jets along the right and then, from a deep position, nearly releases Alli with a sliderule pass down the channel. Not quite. But Scotland need to get their act together and quick. We’re approaching matter-of-time territory.

5.37pm BST

33 min: Lallana appears to be in the mood. He nips down the left, checks back, and very nearly finds the head of Alli at the far post with a looping cross. Just a little too much on it. Goal kick. England are in total charge; Scotland keep giving the ball back.

5.35pm BST

32 min: This is attack versus defence now. Bertrand glides in from the left and slips the ball to Lallana, who jigs about in the light-footed style for a second or two before flicking a pass further infield. Rashford is the intended recipient, but Berra steps in to save the day.

5.34pm BST

31 min: The corner leads to another. And at the second one, Smalling accidentally boots Mulgrew in the coupon. Ooyah! Totally accidental, but it allows Scotland to hammer clear at the dropped-ball restart. Mulgrew took one for the team there; Scotland were rocking a wee bit.

5.33pm BST

29 min: Gordon comes out of his area to head a long ball clear. But his header only falls to Kane, who dispatches it goalwards from 35 yards! Luckily for the keeper, away on walkabout, Robertson rushes back to head off the line. Rashford tries to zip the ball back into the bottom right from the edge of the box. Robertson deflects it out for a corner. From which...

5.32pm BST

28 min: Alli very nearly sashays his way clear, a glorious run down the inside right. He’s stopped in his tracks by Morrison and Mulgrew, and the ball is blootered clear. Probably a good thing that came to nothing, as there had been shades of handball when he initially took up possession.

5.29pm BST

26 min: Scotland can’t get a sniff right now. An awful lot of England probing going on. Walker threatens to break into the box down the right but loses control.

5.27pm BST

24 min: Walker bursts down the right and earns a corner off Tierney. Rashford takes a corner that eludes everyone. England are beginning to boss this game now.

5.26pm BST

22 min: Lallana turns on the jets, exchanging passes with Bertrand down the left and reaching the byline. He’s got the Scottish back line on the run! He flicks the ball into the middle. Gordon, having tried to close down the angle, is out of the game. All Kane has to do is flick it home from six yards! But he can’t sort his feet out, and Robertson is on hand to hoick clear. So close to the opening goal!

5.24pm BST

21 min: England continue to hog the ball. A lot of pantomime booing. This is a marvellous atmosphere, like that’s breaking news.

5.22pm BST

19 min: England are suddenly looking threatening. Alli nearly manufactures time and space on the edge of the Scottish D to shoot, but is closed down unceremoniously by Mulgrew.

5.21pm BST

18 min: England enjoy a period of prolonged possession for the first time in the match. Suddenly, Dier wedges a delicious chipped pass down the inside-right channel. Kane, just inside the Scotland box, brings it down, and flicks it inside, foxing Robertson. Here’s half a chance! He tries to scoop the ball across Gordon and into the top right, but gets way too much on it. Scotland breathe out. That was a lovely move, out of absolutely nothing.

5.19pm BST

16 min: There’s a lovely open feel to this game. England haven’t done much with the ball so far, though Rashford is buzzing around in the relentless style, offering his midfield options. Alli bangs a ball down the right, and the striker nearly gets onto it, but Robertson covers well to shepherd the ball out of play for a goal kick.

5.17pm BST

14 min: Scotland are playing three at the back. One of those men, Berra, allows a long ball to bounce and very nearly lets Rashford skitter free down the left. The big defender recovers in time and pokes the ball back to Gordon, who skelps clear.

5.15pm BST

12 min: Anya, out on the right, crosses slightly aimlessly, but Walker’s not sure of what’s going on and concedes another corner on the left. England make a meal of clearing the set piece, but manage it in the end. Scotland are in charge right now, in a good old-fashioned kind of way.

5.14pm BST

10 min: Robertson earns a corner down the left off Walker. Smalling is hassled and forced to concede another. Scotland do nothing with it. But they’ve started well, their high-tempo style pressing England back and forcing them into a few basic errors.

5.12pm BST

8 min: Lallana glides down the left and slips the ball inside for Rashford, who nearly manufactures space to shoot from the edge of the box, toes twinkling at speed. Not quite, but that was the first sign of England in attack. Scotland attempt a quick break, but Brown loses possession with an aimless hoof forward. It’s not been the best start for the Scotland captain.

5.10pm BST

6 min: More Scottish pressing, Anya forcing Bertrand into the concession of a corner. From the set piece, the ball’s rolled back to Griffiths, 20 yards out down the inside-right channel. He sends a low scuttler towards the bottom right. Hart is behind it all the way, and snaffles.

5.08pm BST

4 min: Bertrand is panicked by Snodgrass, just to the left of his own box. He’s forced into a hectic slice, the ball disappearing into the crowd. The resulting Scotland throw leads to nothing, but the home side aren’t giving the visitors an inch.

5.06pm BST

3 min: Brown comes straight through the back of Alli, who was going nowhere in the middle of the park. That’s a preposterous challenge, and the stupidest of bookings. Scotland’s main enforcer now has to play 88 minutes, his studs crumping into eggshells. Great news for England.

5.05pm BST

2 min: Walker leaves the boot on Morrison, a sore one on the Scotland man’s ankle. It’s accidental, though that doesn’t mean much to Morrison as he rolls about a bit.

5.04pm BST

England get the ball rolling! And immediately Griffiths charges down a Dier clearance. A sign that Scotland intend to get on the front foot and go for it. In truth, they’ve little option. The crowd enjoyed that one, anyway. This could be a lot of high-tempo fun.

5.02pm BST

But before kick-off, a minute of remembrance for the victims of the recent atrocities in Manchester and London. Glasgow observes an emotional, pin-drop silence; bittersweet perfection. And then the whistle blows, and Hampden roars. Here we go...

5.00pm BST

The teams are out! And a rare old roar rings around Hampden! They’re giving it laldie. Scotland are in their famous blue shirts with slightly less traditional Arsenal-style white sleeves. England are playing in second-choice red, a colour which has seen them right in the past. God Save the Queen goes down pretty much as you’d expect; the lone piper’s blast of Flower of Scotland is deemed a much more acceptable ditty. What an atmosphere! We’ll be off pretty soon. In the meantime, it’s only fair we give the last pre-match word to our regular Saturday afternoon contributor Simon McMahon. “I’ll cut to the chase. COME ON SCOTLAND!!!” And I’m sure he speaks for everyone. Eh y’what?

4.47pm BST

Gareth Southgate speaks! “We’re focusing on us, what we’re good at. We know the environment we’re coming into. We know the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition. We’re clear on how we want to play, and how to react in certain moments of the game to get the win. Harry Kane has super leadership qualities, a strong mentality. He wants to be one of the best players in the world and you can’t have too many players like that in your team.”

4.46pm BST

Gordon Strachan speaks! “This is a wonderful occasion, but I’ve not spoken too much about that. They’ll feel that atmosphere when they get out. I don’t think I can describe it to them until they get out there, they’ll have to discover that for themselves. The lads have made me feel confident that we can do something today and put in a performance. They will show that to the fans today.”

4.26pm BST

Some pre-match reading. Here’s our main man Daniel Taylor on the new England captain ...

Related: Harry Kane is ready to justify Gareth Southgate’s confidence and lead England

Related: Gordon Strachan dismisses speculation and insists Scotland can beat England | Ewan Murray

4.18pm BST

Gordon Strachan has made two changes to the Scotland side that scraped past Slovenia in the last qualifier. Christophe Berra and Ikechi Anya are in; Russell Martin and James Forrest drop to the bench. The fit-again Leigh Griffiths is up front. Scott Brown captains.

Harry Kane will lead out England for the first time. Marcus Rashford makes his second start, while West Bromwich Albion’s Jake Livermore is called into the midfield. Those aforementioned stars are three of five changes to the XI sent out against Lithuania last time round. Also stepping up: Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, John Stones, Raheem Sterling and Jermain Defoe drop to the bench; Michael Keane is out altogether.

3.58pm BST

Scotland: Gordon, Berra, Mulgrew, Robertson, Tierney, Brown, Armstrong, Anya, Snodgrass, Griffiths, Morrison.
Subs: Marshall, McArthur, Naismith, Bannan, Darren Fletcher, Forrest, Russell Martin, Chris Martin, Fraser, Cairney, Reynolds, Hamilton.

England: Hart, Walker, Cahill, Smalling, Bertrand, Rashford, Lallana, Dier, Alli, Livermore, Kane.
Subs: Forster, Trippier, Lingard, Gibson, Stones, Jones, Defoe, Sterling, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cresswell, Heaton, Butland.

2.24pm BST

So with the major leagues decided, the cups lifted, and the champions of Europe crowned, we’re all played out for the summer, right? Ah no, not quite. Just before we hit the run-out groove, there’s a bonus track, the Her Majesty to 2016-17’s Abbey Road: Scotland welcome the auld enemy England to Hampden Park for a crucial World Cup qualifier!

Well, it’s crucial for one of the teams at least. England are well clear at the top of Uefa Group F, a section they’re odds-on favourites to win. And no wonder: they haven’t lost a tournament qualification match for nearly eight years, for goodness sake! Top place should be a shoo-in, whatever happens today.

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The Fiver | Taking needlessly self-defeating behaviour to a whole new level

In today’s Fiver: Liverpool’s transfer clodhopping, Diego Costa and more

A shiny bronze pfennig for the thoughts of Jürgen Klopp. The man worked absolute wonders last season to earn Liverpool a place in the Big Cup qualifiers. Just think about it for a minute: a top-four finish, despite a defence featuring a goalkeeper who only finally learned how to punch the ball correctly this March, a teenage striking sensation gone to seed, and Dejan Lovren. Klopp’s reward for turning base metal into gold? The promise of some transfer money for a few upgrades. So he gave sporting director Michael Edwards a list with the names Mohamed Salah, Naby Keïta, Ryan Sessegnon and Virgil van Dijk on it. But on the way to the shops, Edwards dropped the list. Then on the way back, Edwards lost his yellow basket. A-tisket, a-tasket! Won’t someone help him find his basket? Was it green? No! Was it blue? No no no no! Just a little yellow basket.

Related: Liverpool drop interest in Virgil van Dijk after Southampton complaint

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Football transfer rumours: Chelsea to offer cash plus Matic for Bonucci?

Today’s rumours are feeling red

Wayne Rooney is on his way back to Everton. It’s the most romantic of stories, setting aside the bit about him swanning off for the more showy club down the road at the first opportunity, spending his golden years with them, and only coming back when said club don’t want him any more now he’s going bald and slowing up. Everton also might not be able to stump up the cash for the wages Rooney is demanding to return. It’s not exactly Mills & Boon, is it, never mind Jane Austen.

Related: Diego Costa: Antonio Conte has told me I am not wanted at Chelsea next season

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Football transfer rumours: Ivan Perisic to Manchester United or Chelsea?

Today’s fluff would like to apologise for any inconvenience

Welcome to a special spring-bank-holiday edition of the Rumour Mill. Think of it in the same way you would another great British bank-holiday service, the rail replacement bus. It’s the same old journey, just even more tedious, long-winded and painful than usual. But we’ll get there in the end.

Related: Manchester City set to pay world record £34.9m for goalkeeper Ederson

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Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea: 2017 FA Cup final – as it happened

Arsenal were deserved winners of a gloriously entertaining final, as Arsene Wenger became the most successful FA Cup manager of all time.

10.26pm BST

Related: ‘No one gave us a chance here, and we responded,’ says Arséne Wenger

10.26pm BST

Related: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea: how the FA Cup final players rated

8.51pm BST

Here’s Daniel Taylor’s match report from Wembley:

Related: Aaron Ramsey fires Arsenal to FA Cup final win over 10-man Chelsea

7.47pm BST

Arsenal lift the 2017 FA Cup! The club captain Laurent Koscielny shares the honour with Per Mertesacker, who was outstanding today. He hadn’t started a game in 392 days, and then played like that. Astonishing! The ticker tape comes down on the parade, as everyone takes their turn in lifting the old pot. It’s just reward: they were all magnificent. Chelsea by contrast weren’t at the races, uncharacteristically outfoxed and outfought. Seems doubles aren’t so easy to land after all, and Antonio Conte still hasn’t won a final as manager. Still, their brilliant league season will keep them warm at night when today’s disappointment fades. But this is all about Arsenal, record 13-time winners of the cup, and Arsene Wenger: the greatest FA Cup manager of all time.

7.38pm BST

Arsene Wenger speaks! “It was an outstanding performance from the first minute onwards. This team has suffered, united, and responded. I said last week this team will win the championship with one or two good buys, and keep them together. They showed strength and we played spectacular football today to win the game. I am very proud [to win seven FA Cups] because you see the fight you need even to win one. I am proud of doing two things that have never been done: to win a championship without losing a game, and to win seven FA Cups. It is not easy, believe me.” And will he be here next season? “We have a board meeting on Tuesday, and all will be clear on Wednesday or Thursday.”

7.33pm BST

Aaron Ramsey, who can file today’s winner alongside the one he scored against Hull in 2014, speaks! “It’s been an up-and-down season, but to finish it with an FA Cup has to make it a successful one. I just love this competition. The boys deserve it, and I’m happy for the manger, I’m delighted. He’s been fantastic for me, fantastic for these players. Fair play to him, he’s changed the system and it’s paid off. So hopefully he’ll be here next season, because we owe him a lot.”

7.30pm BST

Wenger allows a huge grin to play across his face. After all the flak he’s taken this season, this is lovely to see. He’s warmly congratulated by Conte, sportsmanship in full effect. And then he’s embraced by his players, who were to a man beyond excellent today, and richly deserve their success. Chelsea - the brilliant English champions - simply weren’t allowed to strut their stuff today. Arsenal did a comprehensive number on them ... and now the famous old north London club stands as the most successful in the history of the oldest club competition in the world.

7.26pm BST

A simply wonderful final comes to an end! Arsenal win their 13th FA Cup, most deservedly so: they’ve been brilliant today. And that’s their manager’s seventh. That Arsene Wenger, he’s not half bad, huh?

7.25pm BST

90 min +3: The man-of-the-match Sanchez is replaced by Elneny.

7.24pm BST

90 min +2: Bellerin hammers a clearance up the right flank. Ozil throws another outrageous dummy to buy a load more time.

7.23pm BST

90 min +1: The free kick’s taken quickly. Ozil is found clear on the edge of the box! But he pauses before shooting, and Kante nicks the ball off him.

7.22pm BST

90 min +1: Sanchez dribbles down the left and purchases a cheap free kick off Batshuayi. Tick, tock, tick, tock.

7.22pm BST

90 min: Giroud takes down a high ball on the edge of the Chelsea box, and instantly turns it round the corner, down the right channel for Ramsey. He’s in, but his shot is not good. Chelsea will have four minutes to save themselves.

7.21pm BST

88 min: The corner comes to nothing. Batshuayi comes on for Costa.

7.20pm BST

87 min: And how did this stay out?!?! Ozil enters the Chelsea area from the right, sells Cahill an outrageous dummy, and free, eight yards out, hammers a low shot off the base of the right-hand post. The ball comes back off Courtois, and out for a corner. Wow!

7.18pm BST

86 min: Kante shoots from distance. Nope. Mertesacker looks to chest and clear, but he’s barged out of the road by Costa, who slaps hard goalwards. Ospina somehow parries, and the ball’s cleared. How was that not a goal?!

7.17pm BST

85 min: Bellerin backs himself in a footrace with Luiz, knocking the ball past the Chelsea defender and breezing into the box. He shoots low, hard, across Courtois and inches wide of the left-hand post. You wouldn’t bet too much money on this ending 2-1, would you.

7.14pm BST

83 min: Coquelin wastes no time in getting himself booked, after kicking the ball away after conceding a garden-variety free kick in the centre circle. This match has been gloriously bonkers.

7.13pm BST

82 min: Willian takes the set piece himself. Luiz races in at the near post, but can only plant his header well wide of the target. Arsenal make another change, removing Oxlade-Chamberlain and sending on Coquelin.

7.12pm BST

81 min: Willian skips down the right wing and passes a tiring Xhaka. The Arsenal man tugs the winger’s shirt, and goes in the book. This is a free kick that’s basically a corner.

7.11pm BST

Giroud’s first act is to latch onto a Sanchez pass down the left and chip it into the middle, where Ramsey sends a downward header into the bottom right! Arsenal, almost immediately, are back in front! What drama here, to borrow some BBC commentary from the 1979 five-minute final!

7.10pm BST

78 min: Arsenal respond by sending on Giroud for Welbeck.

7.09pm BST

Out of nothing! Chelsea ping it around awhile. Willian, dropping deep, pings the ball towards Costa, 12 yards out and level with the left-hand post. He taps it to his right, past Holding, and hooks a slow shot goalwards. It takes a nick off Mertesacker, but should still be saved by Ospina. But it squeaks into the bottom left! All in super-slow motion! Brilliant opportunism by Costa!

7.07pm BST

75 min: Chelsea are keeping busy and scurrying around quite a lot, but passes aren’t quite sticking in the final third. It’s been that sort of day for them. So far. “After Arsene introduces David Moyes, can he say ‘Wenger out’, drop the mic Obama style and stride off to the stadium speakers blasting Ennio Morricone?” wonders Andy Gordon.

7.06pm BST

74 min: Hazard makes good down the right and earns a corner. Cahill gets up to win a captain’s header, but only succeeds in skittling his pal Luiz and sending the ball high and wide.

7.04pm BST

73 min: Chelsea are a goal and a man down, and the clock is no longer their friend. Accordingly, Pedro is replaced by Willian.

7.03pm BST

71 min: Oxlade-Chamberlain reaches the byline out on the left. He can’t find the angle to shoot, so cuts back for Sanchez, whose effort is blocked. Arsenal come again, and this time Oxlade-Chamberlain blasts wildly over the bar from distance. Chelsea are reeling right now.

7.02pm BST

70 min: And there Chelsea were, pressing Arsenal back. Now Arsenal have a renewed spring in their step.

7.01pm BST

68 min: This is rank stupidity from Moses. He skitters inside from the right and into the Arsenal area. He drops a shoulder to pass Oxlade-Chamberlain, and should have a dig, but instead goes to ground under a non-existent challenge. For a second the Chelsea fans celebrate a penalty; then the Arsenal fans celebrate the fifth sending off in an FA Cup final, because that’s his second booking in 11 minutes. The champions are up against it now!

6.59pm BST

67 min: Chelsea begin to press Arsenal back, but to little effect. Here’s Matt Dony’s prediction: “An Arsenal victory, followed by Wenger taking the mic and announcing his retirement, and introducing David Moyes as ‘Your new manager.’” Neutrals: you’d pay good money, wouldn’t you.

6.57pm BST

65 min: Ramsey and Welbeck combine crisply down the left to cause Chelsea concern. Welbeck enters the area and rolls the ball across for Bellerin, romping in from the right. Bellerin looks to guide one into the bottom left, but his sidefoot is snaffled by Courtois. Chelsea stream upfield, Fabregas having a wild slash at the ball from the edge of the box. This continues to be an FA Cup final of free-flowing, open, devil-may-care attacking entertainment. How we’ve only had one goal is a mystery.

6.55pm BST

63 min: Some brilliance from Ozil out on the right. He scampers after a ball near the touchline, and sells Cahill a subtle dummy with a drop of the shoulder before he’s even taken up possession. Then he very nearly releases Welbeck down the middle with an outside-of-foot low curler. Just a bit too much juice on it.

6.53pm BST

61 min: A corner for Arsenal out on the right doesn’t lead to very much. But they come straight back at Chelsea, Oxlade-Chamberlain twisting down the left and nearly creating an opening. After a slow start to the second half, Arsenal are beginning to threaten again. Chelsea respond by replacing Matic with the former Arsenal captain Fabregas. His reception is mixed, much as you’d imagine.

6.50pm BST

59 min: Matic sprays a stunning diagonal pass towards Moses out on the right. Moses cuts inside and feeds Pedro, who tries to curl one into the bottom left. Ospina is rooted, and he’d have been beaten were the shot on target. But it’s wide left, and a goal kick. Arsenal make their way up the other end, and once again tease a booking out of Chelsea, Kante clipping Ramsey late and seeing yellow.

6.48pm BST

57 min: A right-wing probe by Azpilicueta causes a bit of trouble in the Arsenal box. It leads to a corner which comes to naught. Welbeck tries to break up the other end, and is hauled back by Moses out on the left wing. That’s a booking.

6.47pm BST

55 min: ... Arsenal break upfield with Chelsea light at the back. Bellerin is in acres down the right, and he’s got men in the middle. But the cross is dismal, and Courtois can gather ahead of Sanchez and Welbeck. Arsenal could easily have scored five or six goals so far. Nobody’s perfect, but they should certainly have scored more than one. Will they be made to pay for their failure to convert dominance into goals?

6.45pm BST

54 min: Costa has a yard on Holding as the two chase a long ball down the left. Holding clips the striker’s ankle, just to the side of the area, and is booked. A free kick in a very dangerous position. Hazard flicks the set piece towards the far post, where Luiz lurks. Mertesacker eyebrows out for a corner on the right. From which...

6.44pm BST

52 min: Chelsea look much sharper since the restart. Moses cuts in from the right and has a belt that’s dealt with well by Ospina. Then Costa bustles in from the same flank but is hounded out of it by Monreal, who wins a free kick for good measure. A good old-fashioned scrap, and Costa responds by grabbing the ball and thinking about lancing it into the crowd in a majestic fit of pique. He catches himself in time.

6.42pm BST

50 min: Hazard, on the right-hand corner of the Arsenal area, flicks the ball inside for Costa, who will surely latch onto it and fire home. But Mertesacker slides in brilliantly to intercept, and even wins the goal kick by deflecting the ball off the Chelsea striker. Mertesacker hasn’t started a game for 392 days!

6.40pm BST

49 min: Chelsea ping it around in a pretty fashion. They’ve clearly had a rocket from Conte. Kante shoots from 25 yards, a rising swerver that threatens to fox Ospina and find the top right. But the keeper claims well.

6.39pm BST

48 min: They’re on the front foot now, though. Pedro tears down the left with extreme prejudice. He drops a shoulder to glide inside, and looks to curl one into the bottom right. Mertesacker sticks out a peg to block. Good football all round.

6.38pm BST

47 min: Chelsea enjoy two minutes of sterile possession. They’re not exactly on the front foot, but it’s a statement of sorts after their strangely meek and obedient first-half performance.

6.36pm BST

And we’re off again! No changes. Welbeck gets the ball rolling for the second half.

6.23pm BST

Half-time entertainment: A perambulation down Memory Lane, anyone?

Related: Memory Lane: FA Cup finals – in pictures

Related: Memory Lane: FA Cup finals – in pictures

6.22pm BST

And that’s that for the first half. Arsenal have been magnificent, and should be more than one goal ahead. But they’re not, and this is perfectly poised. Chelsea aren’t going to take this lying down, are they? It’s going to be fun finding out!

6.20pm BST

45 min +2: Well over the bar. Sums up Chelsea’s performance so far.

6.20pm BST

45 min +1: There will be two added minutes tacked onto the end of this first half. And Monreal foolishly shoves Pedro in the back, just to the right of the D. A chance for Alonso to take a whack at goal.

6.19pm BST

45 min: Hazard and Costa nearly combine to open Arsenal up down the middle. Not quite. The ball pinballs around the box awhile, and for a second it looks as though Costa will pick up the pieces and get a shot in, but Ramsey closes him down well.

6.17pm BST

43 min: BREAKING NEWS: Ozil tracks back half the length of the pitch to make a tackle.

6.15pm BST

41 min: Oxlade-Chamberlain slides in on Moses, 30 yards from the Arsenal goal. A clumsy free kick to concede, and a chance for Chelsea to load the box. The champions do exactly that, but what was the point, because Costa is immediately penalised for some needless shoving. Does that exchange qualify as a lull? Only we’re nearly halfway through, and there’s been no lull.

6.13pm BST

39 min: Hazard embarks on a baroque ramble down the right, draws a couple of men, then flicks forward for Pedro, who takes one step into the Arsenal area and hoicks high over the bar. Snatched and panicky.

6.12pm BST

38 min: Chelsea do a bit of probing but they can’t find any gaps in this makeshift Arsenal defence. They have at least turned up the energy levels, so low in the early exchanges.

6.12pm BST

36 min: Bellerin slides a gorgeous ball down the right, and suddenly Sanchez is skittering towards the Chelsea area free! But he dribbles himself wide, and with Cahill over to cover, can’t get a shot away. He really should have done much better. Arsenal will be wondering how they’ve only scored one.

6.09pm BST

35 min: Hazard drops deep in an attempt to get things moving for Chelsea. His rolled ball down the middle very nearly releases Costa. Wembley is bubbling away; the 90,000 are enjoying this supreme entertainment.

6.08pm BST

33 min: ... and for a second, it looks as though Hazard is going to dance into the Arsenal box down the right. The excellent Monreal snuffs out the attack. Good luck in calling how this final is going to pan out, because it’s a free-flowing, open, wonderful mess, with both teams committed to madcap attack and to hell with the consequences. Magnificent!

6.06pm BST

32 min: A free kick sent into the Chelsea box from the left by Sanchez is only half cleared. Xhaka, on the right-hand edge of the D, volleys towards the bottom right. Courtois tips round the post, and deals with the resulting corner. He sets Chelsea away on the counter ...

6.05pm BST

30 min: Arsenal skedaddle up the other end, and suddenly Welbeck is set free down the left by Bellerin, finding himself free on the left-hand corner of the six-yard box! He clips the ball inside, in the hope of setting up Ramsay for a tap-in. Instead, it looks like squeezing into the corner, but Cahill once again clears off the line. This is absurd!

6.03pm BST

29 min: Pedro, deep on the right, sprays a wonderful diagonal pass towards Costa, who gets the run on Holding. He’s suddenly free in the box, albeit under a lot of pressure from Holding behind. And Ospina’s coming out to spread himself. The keeper deflects the eventual shot out for a corner on the left, and takes Costa’s boot upside his head for the trouble. Totally accidental. He’s up and about soon enough, and the corner comes to nothing.

6.01pm BST

27 min: Welbeck tries to break upfield when a Chelsea attack falls apart. Kante comes across to put a stop to his gallop with a cynical leg. The referee isn’t interested in booking the player of the year, but you’ve seen them given. Welbeck doesn’t look particularly pleased about the non-decision.

6.00pm BST

25 min: Matic tries to release Costa down he middle, but the pass isn’t up to much. Moses wins a throw deep down the Chelsea right. But the ball’s soon shuttled all the way back to Luiz on the halfway line. Chelsea still can’t quite find their rhythm.

5.57pm BST

24 min: Pedro comes through the back of Xhaka and is slightly fortunate to escape censure. To be fair, Arsenal don’t make very much of it.

5.57pm BST

22 min: Matic, with his long legs, makes like Ian Ormondroyd and dances down the middle with some ball-on-string skill. He flicks the ball down the left channel for Costa, but the striker can’t quite get his shot away. Mertesacker gets the credit for a fine tackle. A few signs that Chelsea are slowly coming to life, though.

5.55pm BST

21 min: Costa and Kante get busy in the Arsenal half, attempting to shift Chelsea up a couple of gears. Kante slips the ball wide to Moses, who’s in a lot of space, but the pass isn’t great. Moses has to put on the breaks, and Monreal is able to snuff out the danger.

5.53pm BST

19 min: The presence of Welbeck forces another Arsenal corner down the right. Welbeck rises to meet it, six yards out. He shoulders it towards the top left ... but it comes off the left-hand post. Ramsey, standing a yard out, is startled as the ball clanks off his chest, back onto the post instead of into the net, and out for a goal kick! Chelsea could very easily be three down already. This wasn’t what anybody expected. Arsenal have been as excellent as Chelsea have been poor.

5.51pm BST

17 min: Moses slips Pedro into space down the right, but Monreal quickly closes him down to block tackle. The danger is over. Arsenal are faster, stronger and harder right now. Chelsea need to get a wriggle on, and quick. Arsenal, meanwhile, want to make hay while the sun shines.

5.50pm BST

15 min: Chelsea show their teeth for the first time, Hazard skating down the right and entering the box. He finds Costa in the middle. Costa’s shot from the penalty spot is blocked by Monreal. Arsenal go straight up the other end, Ozil sashaying into the area down the inside-right channel. He takes a heavy touch which sends him a little wide, but still manages to chip the ball over the spreadeagled Courtois. It’s going in, but there’s no pace on the chip, and Cahill can acrobatically backheel a clearance off the line. This is brilliant end-to-end entertainment!

5.48pm BST

14 min: Ozil drops deep, picks up possession, and slips a lovely ball down the middle of the park. Neither Sanchez nor Ramsey have their heads up, and the pass trundles harmlessly through. But Arsenal are soon coming back again at Chelsea, Sanchez having a crack from 25 yards. It’s not far from the top right, though had it not sailed over the bar, Courtois had it covered.

5.45pm BST

12 min: Chelsea are struggling to keep hold of possession. On the touchline, Antonio Conte is desperately trying to gee up his team. They’re a little sleepy, slow and second to most balls at the moment.

5.44pm BST

10 min: That early goal has energised Wembley, and Chelsea aren’t dealing with the vibes very well right now. Courtois, playing football in his own area, suddenly sees Welbeck closing towards him, and slips in panic. He springs up and shifts the ball towards Azpilicueta, just in time, and the danger is cleared. It’s fair to say this is set up perfectly for the neutral, the favourites behind and looking shaky ... though who’s neutral these days?

5.43pm BST

9 min: The first yellow card of the game goes to Ramsey, who is booked for a tug on Pedro as the Chelsea player dribbles through the centre of midfield.

5.41pm BST

7 min: Costa gets involved in a tangle with Holding down the Chelsea right. He’s earned a free kick, but for a second it looks as though things are going to kick off, Costa flinging a leg out just to see what happens. It all calms down. The free kick is swung into the box, Costa himself rising to head harmlessly over from 12 yards. This is a lively start, and then some!

5.40pm BST

Courtois claims the corner, but his throw out is reclaimed by Arsenal. The ball’s worked down the inside-left channel. Sanchez flicks it forward for Ramsey, but Luiz heads it back upfield. Sanchez beats Kante to the dropping ball, albeit with arms up. It pings into the area towards Ramsey, who is miles offside. Chelsea stop play, in the hope of the flag going up. Ramsey stops too, because Sanchez chases after the loose ball himself, flicks it across Courtois, and into the bottom right! The flag does indeed go up, but after the ref consults the linesman for a minute, the goal’s given! Early controversy all right.

5.37pm BST

3 min: Arsenal are getting a good feel of the ball early doors. Chelsea being made to scurry around after it, to no avail. Suddenly Sanchez bursts down the right. He’s eventually surrounded, but a cheeky backheel deflects off Azpilicueta and out for the first corner of the game.

5.36pm BST

2 min: A bit of nerve-settling possession for Arsenal in the middle of the park. Wembley is bouncing. A rare old noise pinging off the famous stadium’s walls.

5.35pm BST

A sudden roar snaps Wembley Stadium back into business mode ... and we’re off! Diego Costa gets the ball rolling. What an atmosphere. Within 15 seconds, Pedro has latched onto a long ball down the left and laid it off to Alonso, who sweeps it into the Arsenal box. Monreal heads clear purposefully. Then Arsenal go up the other end, the presence of Welbeck down the left forcing Cahill into a hurried clearance. Both teams are on the front foot immediately. The FA Cup final, right here!

5.32pm BST

Before kick-off, wreaths are laid in memory of the sweet souls lost in Manchester at the start of the week. Warm applause, then a minute’s silence, perfectly observed.

5.28pm BST

The players take to the pitch! Arsenal in their famous red shirts with white sleeves, Chelsea wearing their storied blue. It’s an aesthetic pleasure. The Duke of Cambridge, president of the FA and Aston Villa supporter, is introduced to the Arsenal XI by their captain for the day Per Mertesacker, then the Chelsea starters by Gary Cahill. A burst of the national anthem. And then the players are introduced to each other. Fair-play handshakes all round.

5.24pm BST

Kick-off is getting close now. Sol Campbell and Eddie Newton come onto the pitch to wave the cup to all four corners of Wembley, and pop it on a plinth. Then a rousing 90,000-voice rendition of the cup-final hymn Abide With Me. That famous old song was first heard ahead of the cup final in 1927, which wasn’t such a good year for Arsenal as fans of Cardiff City will confirm. The players will be out in a minute!

5.05pm BST

And now it’s the turn of Arsene Wenger, who will become the most successful manager in FA Cup history should he lift the trophy for the seventh time, beating the record he currently holds jointly with Aston Villa legend George Ramsay. “We have worked hard to get here, and we want to win the competition. Last night we lost Kieran Gibbs who went home sick, so the decision to name the team was not so difficult as we do not have too many defenders left. I believe that 99 percent of the Arsenal fans are fantastic people who stand behind the team, and you want to play for them.” That last, fairly pointed, line was in response to a follow-up question about his interview with the BBC’s Football Focus earlier today, in which he said: “The lack of respect has been for me a disgrace, and I will never accept that. There is a difference between being criticised and being treated in a way in which human beings don’t deserve to be treated.” Whatever the outcome today, the post-match press conferences will be worth a listen, I’ll be bound.

4.55pm BST

Antonio Conte, yet to win a major final in his managerial career, speaks! “I think in this type of game it is very difficult to tell if there is a favourite. For the motivation, Arsenal could have something more than us. But we have been working very hard on our mentality. I am sure my players want to do this. It is very important to keep our concentration, because when you win the league in this way, the possibility to be a bit relaxed is there. This week we have worked on this aspect. This is my first final in England and I am enjoying it. There is a lot of excitement, but also concentration because we are here to win.”

4.47pm BST

Arsenal have a few defensive issues, it’s fair to say. It’s the first time their back three of Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker and Nacho Monreal have ever started together. Mertesacker has played just 37 minutes worth of football in the past 13 months; this is his first start in 392 days. David Ospina gets in ahead of Petr Cech, as is the usual way of things in the cups when he’s fit. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returns from a hamstring problem to hold the fort out on the left.

No great issues for Chelsea, nor are there any major surprises. Nemanja Matic gets the nod over Cesc Fabregas, while Pedro is preferred to Willian. This will be the seventh final John Terry has been involved in, and the third where he starts on the bench. Since you ask: he captained Chelsea in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012, got on late in 2002, and watched the whole thing in 2000. There’s nothing much left for him to experience, except possibly coming on in the 88th minute and being carried off on 89 in a sedan chair.

4.33pm BST

Arsenal: Ospina, Holding, Mertesacker, Monreal, Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez, Ozil, Welbeck.
Subs: Lucas Perez, Giroud, Walcott, Iwobi, Cech, Coquelin, Elneny.

Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso, Pedro, Costa, Hazard.
Subs: Begovic, Fabregas, Zouma, Ake, Willian, Batshuayi, Terry.

12.12pm BST

Is there anything better in this world than a sunny Wembley on FA Cup final day? Well, possibly. But you’d be an awful churl to insist upon making the argument. English football’s signature occasion is oft-derided these days ... but only by fools who long ago let the love drain from their heart and don’t know what they’re missing. It still has a little life in it yet. What a gorgeous day.

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The Fiver | The relative wastelands of the Chinese Super League, MLS, or Everton

In today’s Fiver: José Mourinho, Wayne Rooney, Nasty Leeds and more

José Mourinho is a busted flush. A spent force. Past it, jiggered, old hat. It’s an argument The Fiver heard all last season and for the best part of this one. To be fair, we fully bought into that analysis, having failed to be wholly convinced by the manner in which his Manchester United side somehow shipped three good goals to Claude Puel’s Southampton Nil in the Tin Pot final back in February. But upon waking after a prolonged period of non-rapid eye movement induced at 8.46pm CEST on Wednesday night, we discovered that United have added Big Cup Qualification (© BT Sport), the tournament formerly known as Big Vase, to their seasonal swag bag. And by winning Big Cup Qup, José has not only inspired United to a pretty darn successful season all told, which was his job, but he’s also seriously got under the skin of his doubters, which to him will be of much greater import. You know exactly what fuels him, you’ve got to admire his genius.

Related: Wayne Rooney: ‘I’ve made my mind up on my future and have lots of offers’

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Football transfer rumours: Manchester United chasing Bayern Munich duo?

Today’s tittle-tattle is set for a long summer

Job done for Manchester United, then. And having become only the second English club to complete a clean sweep of the major European prizes, they’ll make like the first, Chelsea, and embark on a serious summer spending spree. Admittedly they’d have done this whatever the result last night, but after doing a comprehensive number on Ajax, they’ve earned the right to spoil themselves a little, huh.

The president of Atlético Madrid has gone on the radio to insist that Antoine Griezmann hasn’t asked for a move, and in any case nobody in their right mind would stump up the striker’s £85m release clause. United chief executive Ed Woodward stifles a yawn, licks the side of his thumb, and begins the big count. One, two, three...

Related: Jermain Defoe set for return to Bournemouth on £20m three-year deal

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