England, Spain pursue history in women’s World cup final

Published

3 years ago

August 20, 2023

England, Spain pursue history in women’s World cup final

History will be made at the Women’s World Cup on Sunday when England and Spain clash in the final in Sydney with both bidding to win the tournament for the first time.

The game kicks off at 1000 GMT in front of an anticipated sell-out crowd of about 75,000 at Stadium Australia.

It will be the final act of a tournament full of shocks which began one month ago and started with 32 teams, making it the biggest Women’s World Cup ever.

Now they are down to the last two and it’s a final too close to call. Neither team has ever got this far before.

The two sides last met at the European Championship last summer, when hosts England squeezed into the semi-finals 2-1 in extra time and went on to lift the trophy.

Coach Sarina Wiegman and defender Millie Bright said they were attempting to think of this as just another game, but the skipper admitted there was no getting away from the enormity of the occasion.

British media has been full of references to 1966 — when the country won the men’s World Cup for the only time.

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“We know how passionate our nation is back home and how much they want us to win,” Bright said on Saturday.

“But for us there is a process, we have a game plan to execute and we need to play the game of our lives.”

Chelsea attacker Lauren James is back from a two-match ban for stamping on an opponent in the last-16 victory on penalties over Nigeria.

It would be a surprise, however, if Wiegman makes any changes to the side that impressively saw off Colombia 2-1 and then disposed of co-hosts Australia in the semi-final.

– ‘Next question’ –
Except against Nigeria, England have been mostly ruthless and machine-like in reaching the final, especially in silencing the home crowd in the 3-1 victory over Australia.

Spain are more slick and have often passed their opponents into submission, coupled with sparks of attacking flair.

England are unbeaten at the tournament, but a notable blip for Jorge Vilda’s side was their 4-0 drubbing to a Japan team which hit Spain at pace on the counterattack in the group phase.

Spain had never even won a knockout match at the World Cup until this edition and their exploits are even more impressive for the turmoil that threatened to torpedo their chances.

In September last year, 15 players — many of them from European powerhouse Barcelona — came out and said they no longer wanted to represent their country.

They had numerous complaints, but their chief issue was with Vilda — how strict he was, his lack of success, his tactics and his methods.

Three of the 15 mutineers returned for the World Cup and one of them, Barcelona midfield schemer Aitana Bonmati, has been among the best players at the tournament.

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Vilda has been asked repeatedly by reporters at the World Cup about the missing players and was once quizzed if the ones he brought to Australia and New Zealand even liked him.

On the eve of the final he appeared to have had enough of that line of questioning, replying: “Next question, please.”

He was more forthright about the spirit among his players, saying they were “united”.

“The training sessions, the games, everything that’s happened outside has been extraordinary,” he said.

“They will have memories for the rest of their lives.”

– ‘Sorry’ Prince William –
Spain’s Queen Letizia will be in attendance but Prince William — chairman of England’s Football Association — has faced criticism for staying at home.

“Lionesses I want to send you a huge good luck for tomorrow,” he said in a video with daughter Charlotte sitting next to him.

“We’re sorry we can’t be there in person but we’re so proud of everything you’ve achieved and the millions you’ve inspired here and around the world.”

Whoever wins, it will be a new name on the Women’s World Cup.

The United States, who had been chasing a third title in a row, went out on penalties in the last 16 to Sweden.

Norway, Germany and Japan are the only other nations to have lifted the trophy.

England, Spain pursue history in women’s World cup final

AFP

Ronaldo Hits 980th Career Goal as Al-Nassr Win After Portugal Fallout

Published

13 hours ago

October 10, 2026

Trends Admin

Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo Hits 980th Career Goal as Al-Nassr Win After Portugal Fallout

Cristiano Ronaldo has moved closer to the historic 1,000-goal milestone after scoring for Al-Nassr in their 3-0 victory over Al-Diriyah in the Saudi Pro League, following a controversial fallout with Portugal’s national team coach, Jorge Jesus.

The 41-year-old Portuguese forward scored his 980th career goal on Friday, October 9, 2026, as Al-Nassr returned to domestic action with a convincing victory in Riyadh.

Ronaldo’s goal came midway through the first half when Al-Diriyah goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah parried a long-range effort from Kingsley Coman. Ronaldo reacted quickly to the rebound and finished from close range to give Al-Nassr the lead.

The goal brought the five-time Ballon d’Or winner 20 goals away from his publicly stated target of scoring 1,000 goals in official matches, further extending a remarkable career spanning club and international football.

Al-Nassr doubled their advantage shortly before half-time when Samu Costa headed home from a corner delivered by João Félix. Coman subsequently added the third goal with 13 minutes remaining to seal the 3-0 victory.

The result kept Al-Nassr level on points with Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Qadsiah after eight rounds, although they remained behind on goal difference. Al-Qadsiah had earlier strengthened their position with a 5-0 victory over Al-Kholood.

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Ronaldo also received support from Al-Nassr supporters, who displayed banners celebrating his achievements before the match. The Portuguese Football Federation’s acknowledgement of his goal on social media also attracted attention against the backdrop of the recent controversy surrounding his national team involvement.

The club performance offered a positive response from Ronaldo after an international break dominated by reports of a disagreement with Jesus over his role in Portugal’s squad.

The dispute followed Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway, during which Ronaldo was not introduced despite warming up. He was subsequently informed that he would not start against Denmark.

In a statement reported by Reuters on October 6, Ronaldo alleged that Jesus had broken his word on two occasions. According to the forward, they had initially agreed that he would miss the two matches to manage his fitness, but the coach later indicated that he would play for 30 minutes against Norway.

Ronaldo said a subsequent meeting involving Jesus and Al-Nassr sporting director Simão Coutinho produced an understanding about how the coach would explain the situation publicly. He alleged that Jesus failed to follow the agreed explanation.

Jesus disputed Ronaldo’s account, denying that such an agreement had been made.

Ronaldo later apologised for leaving Portugal’s training camp and for failing to acknowledge supporters after the Norway match. He also accepted that the Portuguese Football Federation could impose disciplinary measures over his conduct.

Despite the disagreement, Ronaldo insisted that he had not retired from international football and remained willing to represent Portugal after serving any punishment that might be imposed.

Portugal’s coach and federation president Pedro Proença have indicated that the forward remains welcome in the national team setup. The federation has also described the episode as a misunderstanding to be resolved internally.

Ronaldo remains Portugal’s all-time leading scorer, with 146 goals in 234 international appearances. His next steps with the national team will depend on the resolution of the dispute and any disciplinary decision by the federation.

For now, his return to club action has put the focus back on his scoring record and Al-Nassr’s league campaign. With 980 career goals, Ronaldo continues his pursuit of the 1,000-goal landmark while uncertainty remains over the timing of his next Portugal appearance.

Ronaldo Hits 980th Career Goal as Al-Nassr Win After Portugal Fallout

Sports

Fury-Joshua Showdown Sells Out in 60 Minutes as 500,000 Fans Queue for Tickets

Published

1 day ago

October 9, 2026

Trends Admin

British heavyweight stars Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury

Fury-Joshua Showdown Sells Out in 60 Minutes as 500,000 Fans Queue for Tickets

More than 80,000 tickets for the highly anticipated Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua heavyweight boxing showdown reportedly sold out within 60 minutes, as more than 500,000 fans queued online to secure seats for the long-awaited clash between the two British boxing stars.

The extraordinary demand highlights the global interest in the proposed December 2026 contest, which is expected to bring together two of Britain’s most recognisable heavyweight fighters.

The bout is scheduled to take place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, with the event expected to attract a global audience. The reported ticket prices range from £88.50 to £13,128, including booking fees for the most expensive seats.

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The rapid sell-out means many prospective spectators were unable to secure tickets, despite joining the online queue. The reported figures also underline the commercial appeal of a fight that boxing fans have anticipated for years.

Fury and Joshua, both former heavyweight world champions, have been linked to a potential showdown for more than a decade. However, negotiations and repeated delays have prevented the two fighters from meeting in a professional bout.

The proposed encounter is expected to draw significant international attention, with Netflix reported to be the global broadcaster. Organisers have also indicated that the timing of the event is intended to accommodate audiences in different parts of the world.

The fight is expected to be one of the major boxing attractions of 2026, provided the announced arrangements proceed as planned. Its ticket demand has already generated considerable interest, even before the fighters enter the ring.

For boxing supporters, the contest represents an opportunity to see two heavyweight rivals finally face each other in a professional bout after years of speculation and anticipation.

Fury-Joshua Showdown Sells Out in 60 Minutes as 500,000 Fans Queue for Tickets

Sports

Ronaldo Breaks Silence on Portugal Row as Pelé, Maradona Comparison Sparks Meme Frenzy

Published

2 days ago

October 9, 2026

Trends Admin

Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo Breaks Silence on Portugal Row as Pelé, Maradona Comparison Sparks Meme Frenzy

Cristiano Ronaldo has sparked a wave of memes and heated debate among football fans after breaking his silence on his reported disagreement with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus, with a controversial reference to legends Pelé and Diego Maradona emerging as one of the most discussed aspects of the dispute.

The Al-Nassr forward’s statement sought to explain his departure from Portugal’s national team camp ahead of the side’s fixture against Denmark, following questions over his omission from the starting line-up in a previous match.

Ronaldo said the disagreement arose from an alleged agreement with Jesus concerning his playing time and the management of his fitness. He claimed the coach initially proposed that he sit out Portugal’s matches against Norway and Denmark but later indicated that he might feature against Norway.

According to Ronaldo, he warmed up during the match but was not introduced, despite expecting to play for a short period. He said the decision marked the beginning of a dispute over what both men had previously discussed.

Ronaldo further alleged that a subsequent meeting involving the coach and other officials produced an agreement on how the circumstances surrounding his omission would be explained publicly. He claimed that an eight-point statement was prepared to clarify his position and counter speculation about his attitude and commitment to the national team.

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The reported statement included a comparison between Ronaldo’s standing in football and that of Brazilian great Pelé and Argentine icon Diego Maradona. That reference became a major talking point online, with social media users sharing jokes and memes about the comparison, the length of Ronaldo’s statement and his reaction to being left on the bench.

However, the account of the private agreement came from Ronaldo, and the reported document should not be treated as an independently verified statement from Jesus.

The Portugal coach had pushed back against suggestions of a major crisis, maintaining that selection decisions applied to all players regardless of their reputation. His position left room for Ronaldo to return to the squad if he wished to continue representing his country.

Ronaldo also addressed his conduct following the match, apologising to supporters and teammates for his actions. He acknowledged that leaving the camp could have consequences and said any disciplinary decision should be left to the relevant football authorities.

Despite the controversy, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner ruled out retiring from international football. He said he remained committed to Portugal and would be available for selection, subject to his fitness, club performances and any suspension that might be imposed.

The incident has divided football fans. Some have defended Ronaldo’s demand for clarity over the reported agreement, while others have questioned his response to a coach’s selection decision. The Pelé and Maradona reference has further fuelled the discussion, turning a dispute over team selection into a wider debate about reputation, authority and expectations in elite football.

Ronaldo remains one of Portugal’s most recognisable sporting figures, and any disagreement involving the national team captain is likely to attract considerable attention. Whether the episode affects his relationship with Jesus will depend on how the two parties handle the dispute and whether the forward returns to the squad.

For now, the controversy continues to generate online reactions, with the reported agreement, Ronaldo’s explanation and the comparison with football’s legendary figures driving much of the discussion.

Ronaldo Breaks Silence on Portugal Row as Pelé, Maradona Comparison Sparks Meme Frenzy