Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué has penned a heart-felt message of gratitude to his teammate and club captain Carles Puyol who is to leave the club at the end of the season.

Spain captain Iker Casillas believes winning the European Championship this summer will be made all the more difficult as opponents will raise their game against the reigning champions and World Cup winners.

Li Yuqin, who was plucked from a girl’s school at age 15 to become the fourth wife of China’s last emperor, has died aged 73.