List of All Articles with Tag 'a'

Gerardo 'Tata' Martino reacts to Lionel Messi's starring performance as Inter Miami beat FC Dallas in the Leagues Cup.

Watch live as supporters arrive at Stadium Australia for the Women’s World Cup last-16 match between co-hosts Australia and Denmark. All eyes will be on the Matildas, as all-time leading scorer Sam Kerr is set to make her first appearance of the tournament in Monday’s tie. The Chelsea forward did not play in Australia’s three group games because of a calf injury, but the side still finished top of their group with six points. They beat the Republic of Ireland 1-0 in their opening fixture, before losing 3-2 to Nigeria and beating Canada 4-0. Runners-up Nigeria are facing England in the last-16, a match which kicked off ahead of Australia vs Denmark. While Kerr and co are favourites heading into the match, the Danes are expected to provide a tough test. England scraped past them with a 1-0 victory in Group D, with Denmark beating China and Haiti to secure their place in the knockouts. Read More Australia vs Denmark LIVE: Latest Women’s World Cup updates England’s Niamh Charles has new level of respect for ‘machine’ Sam Kerr Australia thrash Canada to save Women’s World Cup dream from the jaws of a nightmare

Mohamed Salah’s agent has dismissed speculation linking the Liverpool forward with a move to Saudi Arabia as the 31-year-old “remains committed” to the club. A report in the Middle East claimed talks were taking place between the Egypt international’s representatives and Al-Ittihad over a deal said to be worth over £155million over two years to the player. Salah’s former team-mate Fabinho has already made the move to Al-Ittihad this summer in a £40m transfer. In that context the £60m fee being touted for Salah – who has scored 139 goals in 231 Premier League appearances – appeared to under-value a player who is only 12 months into a three-year deal which is the most lucrative contract in Liverpool’s history. And Salah’s representative insists the former Chelsea and Roma forward has no intention of leaving Anfield in any case. “If we considered leaving LFC this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer. Mohamed remains committed to LFC,” Salah’s agent Ramy Abbas posted on Twitter. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Mohamed Salah's agent has responded to rumours of interest from Saudi Arabia.

When US keeper Alyssa Naeher batted away Sweden's fifth penalty kick Sunday night, American fans watching at a bar in Sydney, Australia erupted in cheers. Their elation quickly turned to stunned silence when a review of the shot determined the ball had crossed the goal line, sending the US women's team crashing out of the World Cup.

The US women’s national team were eliminated from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup by Sweden in penalties, losing 5-4 in a controversial ending that saw goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher dramatically save the final strike before VAR ruled the ball crossed the line

For the teams left in this World Cup, there were mixed feelings when the USA went out, and not just because of the emotions that remarkable penalty shoot-out produced. There is obviously a general excitement that the champions are out, theoretically opening up the whole tournament. A few players watching on, however, have confided that the US were “underwhelming”. Many would have liked the chance to take the champions on and beat them, asserting their standards. Such sentiments would no doubt have aggravated the Americans, if they were in any mood to look back on this worst ever performance by a team that were defending champions. One frustrated argument within the US camp has been that it has largely been about a ludicrous amount of missed chances, and a bit of bad luck. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher pointing to the line as she disputed Lina Hurtig’s ludicrously tight penalty seemed the most apt symbolism of this. It really did come down to the narrowest of gaps. But, in truth, only on the night. This World Cup failure is indeed the story of margins and gaps, but in how the rest of the women’s game has caught up with the US, as it now looks a little isolated in terms of coaching culture. There are big questions for the federation here, but they come amid far bigger themes, even if there is fair criticism for manager Vlatko Andonovksi. The truth is that great football eras almost never end with close calls or that last fighting pride. There is almost always something close to collapse, as history-making teams inevitably stay wedded to trusted methods and players. In this case, it was in persisting with previous greats like Alex Morgan, who could no longer apply the finishing she used to. That is also the point when a valuable experience can evolve into a certain “arrogance” and “complacency”, two words that have been used by sources with knowledge of the camp. The ultimate in this remains the Spanish men’s team in 2014, whose unprecedented run of three successive major trophies ended with two humiliating defeats to Netherlands and Chile. The US didn’t play that badly, and actually performed better in general play than they are now being given credit for. They are still just like that Spain, however, in being responsible for the World Cup’s worst ever performance by defending champions. None had ever gone out before the quarter-finals. The US themselves had never gone out before the semi-finals. That reflects the scale of the disappointment - but also how the world has changed. This is where the biggest questions for the federation come, as distilled in one of the primary themes of this World Cup. US soccer has long had issues as a “middle-class sport”, where basic participation costs a lot. While this has for a long time been such a weakness in the men’s game, though, it has led to one of the women’s team’s main strengths. They benefited from a level of training beyond most nations, that primarily gave the side conditioning advantages. The US could often just overpower opposition. As women’s football has moved to a different level in Europe, so has the training. Many nations now benefit from complete professionalism, eroding some of the USA’s most immediate advantages. This has laid bare something else: tactical and technical development. The US have very quickly looked more rudimentary than the better European sides in terms of team approach. A lot of this does come down to Andanovski. A fundamental truth remains that this US team would likely have gone much further, and probably won it again, under a better coach. Other than the irony of the better performance of the Sweden match, this seemed a classic case of a talented squad being made less than the sum of the parts. As ever in such eliminations, though, it is impossible not to wonder whether other factors influenced. Has the US suffered from all but one of their squad staying at home, and not playing in the Women’s Champions League? The women’s game is following the men’s in that regard in terms of where the wealth is going, which is overwhelming western Europe. That brings a concentration of playing and coaching talent that gradually brings a vitality. Is this what we are starting to see? Many around the US squad might reasonably point to Germany going out. It’s also true that the bigger nations have generally come here a little undercooked, gradually finding their feet as the tournament has gone on. Some of them just slipped before they could stand at their strongest. That happens in tournaments. Evolution in football only happens, however, if you face up to the realities of the game. The US may have to have a serious discussion about talent production, even allowing for the development of a star like Sophia Smith. Her rise does touch on that other crucial tension, between old and new. There has been growing talk of a camp that isn’t fully united. This itself isn’t new, mind. Carli Lloyd’s criticism only followed a pattern of this in US World Cups, that perhaps inevitably influenced a great history-making team. The very success of the side has also played into another issue here. It has been harder to drop players because they are not just great footballers but icons - in the truest sense of an overused word. That obviously isn’t to refer to the tedious and unfair culture war that surrounds a truly progressive team. Some of the usual voices were already being raised about Megan Rapinoe in the wake of her penalty miss, and they don’t even warrant naming. This is really about pure football terms. That status will affect tactical execution and decisions, even if it is subconscious. It is why these empires always end with some ignominy, far away from the standards and identity that used to define them. It becomes almost self-fulfilling, and full circle. Take the USA’s one victory at this World Cup, that almost cost them more than any other game. In 2019, the team were widely criticised for applying their winning identity to the full, and raucously celebrating all 13 goals against Thailand. This time, the opportunity was there to cut loose against Vietnam, but they couldn’t. It set a tone, and certainly set a pace. The Netherlands showed they were much more up to speed with a 7-0 as the US avoided a humiliating elimination to Portugal by the width of a post. Another small gap. It is the story of this World Cup for the deposed champions. This US team changed women's football. They are now feeling the effects of that. Read More USA’s dominant era ends on a night of chaos, confusion and heartbreak From Megan Rapinoe’s miss to VAR drama: How the USA and Sweden’s penalty shoot-out unfolded Women’s World Cup golden boot: Who’s leading the top-scorer standings? Who is Jess Carter? England defender in profile England vs Nigeria LIVE: Women’s World Cup 2023 score and latest updates Who are the BBC World Cup commentators? Full list of pundits

Monday's football transfer rumours include Mohamed Salah, Ansu Fati, Kylian Mbappe, Moises Caicedo & more.

England face their biggest test of the Women’s World Cup yet as the Lionesses take on Nigeria in the last-16 in Brisbane. It’s been a tournament of shocks and surprises so far and Sarina Wiegman’s side will be wary of becoming another, after the defending champions United States joined Germany, Canada and Brazil in exiting the competition on Sunday. But it means the tournament is opening up, with England among those who are looking like contenders in Australia and New Zealand. The Lionesses produced a brilliant performance to thrash China 6-1 last time out, so confidence is high among the camp. Nigeria are dangerous opposition: led by star striker Asisat Oshoala, the Super Falcons stunned Australia and held Canada on their way to qualifying for the knockout stages. Follow live updates from England vs Nigeria in Brisbane as the Lionesses look to reach the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals Read More Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today Lauren James: England’s new superstar taking World Cup by storm Women’s World Cup golden boot: Who’s leading the top-scorer standings?

Inter Miami player ratings from their dramatic 4-4 (5-3) triumph over FC Dallas in the round of 16 in the Leagues Cup.

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund reported a $15.6 billion comprehensive loss in 2022 after the value of its

England face their biggest test of the Women’s World Cup yet as the Lionesses take on Nigeria in the last-16 in Brisbane. It’s been a tournament of shocks and surprises so far and Sarina Wiegman’s side will be wary of becoming another, after the defending champions United States joined Germany, Canada and Brazil in exiting the competition on Sunday. But it means the tournament is opening up, with England among those who are looking like contenders in Australia and New Zealand. The Lionesses produced a brilliant performance to thrash China 6-1 last time out, so confidence is high among the camp. Follow LIVE: England vs Nigeria in Women’s World Cup last-16 as Keira Walsh starts Nigeria are dangerous opposition: led by star striker Asisat Oshoala, the Super Falcons stunned Australia and held Canada on their way to qualifying for the knockout stages. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of England vs Nigeria at the Women’s World Cup. When is England vs Nigeria? The match will kick off at 8:30am BST on Monday 7 August. What TV channel is it on? England’s first match of the knockout stages against Nigeria will be shown on BBC One, with coverage starting from 8am. The match will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer. What is the England team news? Keira Walsh has made a stunning return for England’s last-16 Women’s World Cup clash against Nigeria. Walsh was carried off on a stretcher late in the first half of the Lionesses’ 28 July victory over Denmark, with fears that the influential midfielder’s tournament could be over, but scans revealed her knee injury was not as serious as first suspected. And after taking part in full training over the weekend, Walsh is back in England’s starting line-up. She is the only change to Sarina Wiegman’s side from the team that thrashed China 6-1, replacing Katie Zelem in midfield. It means England keep their 3-5-2 formation, Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly start at full-back, either side of a back three of Jess Carter, Millie Bright and Alex Greenwood, with Mary Earps in goal. Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp started as a front two against China and keep their places after both finding the scoresheet in the 6-1 win, while Lauren James is the first name on the teamsheet after her stunning two-goal and three-assist display against China. Walsh partners Georgia Stanway in midfield, with the Bayern Munich star impressing in the number six position in Walsh’s absence. One thing Wiegman may consider is she has three players, Stanway, Hemp and Greenwood, who are on yellow cards and would miss the quarter-final if they pick up another and England make it there. Yellow cards are not wiped until after the last-16. Read More Sharpened England face a World Cup test with a different edge Millie Bright on England captaincy: ‘I don’t give the orders - everyone has a platform’ USA’s dominant era ends on a night of chaos, confusion and heartbreak England vs Nigeria LIVE: Women’s World Cup build-up and team news Sarina Wiegman reveals stunning Keira Walsh fitness update on eve of Nigeria clash Millie Bright: ‘I don’t give the orders - everyone has a platform’