Soccer Aid 2024 recap: England beat World XI 6-3 after Joe Cole and Eden Hazard goals as £15m raised – The Mirror
Soccer Aid 2024: England and the World XI came together at Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening as former footballing stars and celebrities attempted to claim the trophy and raise money for charity
It's that time of year ladies and gentleman – Soccer Aid is here!
The 2024 edition took place at Chelsea 's Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
It was an exciting affair with some of football's biggest icons taking to the pitch. The game will also saw a number of former Chelsea heroes including Petr Cech, Eden Hazard and Frank Lampard making their returns. Mauricio Pochettino was also back.
It wasn't just the former footballing stars donning their boots. Some glittering celebrity names also impressed as England secured a 6-3 win and their first victory in six years.
While there was a a trophy up for grabs, there was also a huge focus on the charity aspect of the event. Soccer Aid has managed to raise an eye-watering £15m this time around, meaning it has broken the £100m barrier since 2006.
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That's all we've got time for this evening.
Thank you so much for joining us for Soccer Aid 2024.
It appears not everyone is happy. Boxer KSI, who organises his own annual charity football game, has shared his criticism of this evening's event.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote: "I’m very glad Soccer Aid raised a lot of money today. Always brings a smile to my face every year. However as football match, that was an awful and boring watch.
"It was literally ex pros just passing amongst themselves, dribbling past people and shooting from anywhere constantly lol. Would much rather it just be influencers and entertainers play. Would make the game a lot closer too and more enjoyable to watch as a viewer."
Robbie Williams can finally celebrate being a Soccer Aid champion…
What an evening that was and we've just heard that Soccer Aid has raised a stunning £15,049,590.
That means that it has finally broken the £100m barrier. Absolutely brilliant!
While we wait for England to finally hoist that trophy, make sure you take a look at the key moments from today's match.
See how England did it here
And England WIN Soccer Aid for the first time since 2018!
Celebrations begin after a brilliant evening of football. Stay tuned for the trophy lift!
And there we go… 5-3!
Maybe there's legs in this one yet. Wingrove fires the ball into the bottom corner to reduce the deficit to two.
They can't do it, can they?
Well, the World XI earn potentially a foothold back into the game.
A penalty is awarded. Hazard wanted it but it will be Billy Wingrove.
England FIVE!
Bartlett is at it again! He charges down Bellew, whose clearance smacks off the podcast star and rolls into the net.
Bellew wants handball but those protests have been turned down. Surely the trophy is England's now.
This is a worrying sign as Bolt appeared to pick up an injury as he attempted to stop Defoe.
Medical staff have treated him and the Jamaican goes off on a stretcher.
For the second year in a row, it's 4-2 but this time it's for England!
Defoe picks up the ball after Bolt crumples with what looks like an injury.
Was he ever going to miss? No chance.
And what an appearance from Bartlett as he puts England ahead!
The Diary of a CEO host runs in behind and fires through the legs of Tony Bellew!
3-2 to the Three Lions!
Boxing is his game but Eddie Hearn now turns his attention to football as he comes on at Stamford Bridge.
Bobby Brazier and Steven Bartlett have also been introduced.
Well we were potentially expecting Paddy McGuinness to throw a few in but he's just pulled out an heroic stop!
Usain Bolt is free in the area and looks sure to score but McGuinness sticks out an arm and keeps it out.
Brilliant!
After potentially one of the longest half-times in football history, we're now back in action.
Let's hope it's as entertaining as the first-half.
ITV were forced to apologise for some dicey language used by former Lioness Jill Scott after she missed a big chance.
Sam Matterface and Iain Sterling said: "I don't know if you noticed it, I certainly didn't but there may have been, just may have been, some rather industrial language that emanated from Jill Scott's mouth when she missed the chance [to score], if that was the case, we do apologise!"
On the topic of announcements, not everyone is happy.
Fans have been taking to social media with their complaints. One person wrote: "#SoccerAid Sad for any parents that would really love to donate but may be struggling right now, as it seems to Soccer aid that £1, £2, £3 is no good to them. Starting the pledge requests at £40, £30, 20 etc! on the advert seems so out of touch with reality. #donatewhatyoucan",
And the donations continue to roll in.
Soccer Aid has officially raised £6,407,623 this evening. What a fantastic total!
And remember we've got a couple of major changes at the break as the pro goalkeepers take their seats and the celebrities step in.
Paddy McGuinness and Tony Bellew are set to don the gloves. Let's see how they do.
Alessandro Del Piero still knows where the net is…
And the first 45 minutes of Soccer Aid 2024 comes to a close.
We sit at 2-2 after a very entertaining first-half at Stamford Bridge.
Stay tuned for some analysis and entertainment from West London.
We've had a number of glittering names come onto the pitch.
Mo Farah has been introduced for England, while Tommy Fury has been introduced for the Rest of the World.
We wonder how much this man is enjoying his time back at Stamford Bridge.
And England are level through Ellen White as the former Lioness becomes the first female goalscorer in Soccer Aid history.
Jack Wilshere waltzes into the penalty area, fools Cech with a brilliant bit of skill and pulls the ball back. White is there and taps home.
Level pegging once again.
Danny Dyer comes off for Tom Hiddlestone.
If that's not a typical Soccer Aid sub, I don't know what is…
Bolt really should have a first-half brace!
The Jamaican has hit the post and now rolled a fantastic effort just wide. He's proving tricky for Gary Cahill to handle.
And England's lead did not last very long at all! Alessandro Del Piero finds the net.
Bolt uses his pace to tee up the Italian, who fires a great right-footed effort into the top corner.
This is brilliant fun.
And that's exactly what the blue side of West London was waiting for as Eden Hazard finds the net!
The World XI win a free-kiock as Dyer takes down Bolt. Hazard steps up and curls the ball into the top corner!
That's what we call some celebrations.
And that should be 2-0 for England.
A gap through the heart of the World XI opens up for Tom Grennan.
Faced with a one-on-one with Petr Cech, he puts his low effort wide.
And that's what England wanted as they go 1-0 up through Joe Cole!
From a free-kick on the right, the ball breaks for the former midfielder who slots through Petr Cech's legs!
Robbie Williams flies down the touchline in celebration.
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