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[ad_1] WELLINGTON: Rampant Spain issued a Women's World Cup warning on Friday with a 3-0 win over Costa Rica while Switzerland ensured there would be no fairytale debut for the Philippines. Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was meanwhile the hero for Nigeria by saving a penalty to earn them a 0-0 draw with Olympic champions Canada. Spain's build-up to the tournament in Australia and New Zealand was clouded by a simmering row involving a group of 15 players who refused to feature under coach Jorge Vilda. Three eventually returned to the squad for the World Cup and one of them, Aitana Bonmati, was on the scoresheet in Wellington as La Roja launched wave after wave of attacks at the overwhelmed Costa Rican defence. An own goal put Spain on their way and after Bonmati netted, Esther Gonzalez made it three in a ruthless six-minute first-half spell to kill off Costa Rica in double-quick time. In truth Spain should have won by many more -- Jennifer Hermoso fluffed a first-hal

[ad_1] MIAMI: Jamaica must put rows with their federation behind them and get star striker Khadija Shaw firing if they are to win a match at the Women's World Cup for the first time. The disputes, which became very public, emerged after frustration over a lack of friendly games in the build-up to the tournament that begins next week in Australia and New Zealand. The team did though go to a training camp in Amsterdam as they prepare for their second straight World Cup appearance and have received some late assistance from corporate backers. The Reggae Girlz made their tournament debut in France four years ago and, placed in a tough group, returned home after three defeats. The losses to Brazil, Italy and Australia, all with longer histories in the women's game and greater resources, were no disgrace and there are signs that the Caribbean team could do better this time despite the turbulence. Jamaica face Brazil, France and CONCACAF rivals Panama in another demandi

[ad_1] LOS ANGELES: Trinity Rodman has made her own name on the football pitch but she's taken something from her famous father's relentless approach that can be summed up in one word: "Hunting." It's part of what makes the 21-year-old forward, daughter of retired five-times NBA champion Dennis Rodman, one of the most rapidly rising stars of women's football. Now she is poised for a World Cup breakout in New Zealand and Australia as the United States chase an unprecedented third straight title. Rodman says it's her mother, Michelle Moyer, who shaped her values on and off the field. But even though contact with her father is sporadic, she has spotted something that was in his game that informs hers, even though their sports are different. "I watched my dad play a lot more than people really know," Rodman confided as the US team gathered in California before jetting out to New Zealand, where they arrived this week. "My brother li

[ad_1] The United States believes that young talent combined with the savvy of veterans such as Megan Rapinoe will make a lethal combination as they seek an unprecedented third straight Women's World Cup title. Coach Vlatko Andonovski named 14 World Cup newcomers in his 23-player squad for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, which kicks off on July 20. The holders and favourites still also have the likes of Rapinoe and Alex Morgan -- both headed for a fourth World Cup -- and Andonovski is doing nothing to dampen expectations. "I'm excited about the energy and the enthusiasm that the young players bring, the intensity and the drive as well," the 46-year-old said before their arrival this week in Auckland. "I think that will be one of our advantages." Injuries to captain Becky Sauerbrunn, striker Mallory Swanson and the talented Catarina Macario have been a blow to the Americans, but the stage is set for their youngsters to shine. They incl

[ad_1] MELBOURNE: Australia coach Tony Gustavsson said Thursday his team plan to use big home crowds as extra "fuel" to amplify their high-octane game as they look to stamp their mark on the Women's World Cup . The Matildas meet world number five France in Melbourne on Friday in their final warm-up game in front of a sell-out 50,000-strong crowd -- the largest ever on home soil for the women's team. The record won't last, with more than 80,000 expected for their clash with Ireland in Sydney on July 20 to open the month-long tournament they are co-hosting with New Zealand . Gustavsson said his side would fully harness the support of home fans. "I think we look at it as fuel and we look at it as belief," the Swedish coach said. "(The big crowds) are a source of strength that this team will embrace, and I think also use when we play this high-octane, pressing, attacking-minded game." Star defender Ellie Carpenter, who will have an in

[ad_1] MIAMI: When Haiti play England in Brisbane on their Women's World Cup debut this month it will mark the culmination of a long and arduous journey against adversity. While many teams in women's football fight for recognition and resources, the Haitians have had to overcome the additional challenges that have afflicted the Caribbean nation. Haiti is the Western Hemisphere's poorest country and for years been mired in a vicious cycle of chronic political, humanitarian, economic and health crises. Add in brutal gang violence, and the United Nations' top human rights official earlier this year described Haiti's multiple problems as a "living nightmare". Against such a backdrop, the team were forced to hold their training camps and home games in neighbouring Dominican Republic. And yet, amidst all this, Haiti beat Chile in a playoff in New Zealand in February to qualify for the World Cup for the first time. "We just put our head down a

[ad_1] LONDON: Tottenham's new manager Ange Postecoglou said on Monday he will meet with Harry Kane this week to outline his vision for the club after being given no assurances over the England striker's future amid interest from Bayern Munich. Bayern have reportedly had a £60 million ($76 million) bid for Kane rebuffed by Tottenham, with the German champions believed to be set to return with an improved offer. Kane will start pre-season training on Wednesday and former Celtic boss Postecoglou is keen to lay out his plans to Tottenham's record goalscorer. Grilled on the Kane situation when he held his first press conference since being hired in June, Postecoglou said: "I haven't had any assurances and I wouldn't expect any assurances. "That's just my nature. What I know right now is that Harry is part of this squad and he's looking forward to coming back to training and starting to work together." Kane has just one year left on

[ad_1] MIAMI: United States women's team star Megan Rapinoe announced on social media on Saturday that she would be retiring from football at the end of this season. "It is with a deep sense of peace & gratitude that I have decided this will be my final season playing this beautiful game," the 38-year-old posted. "I never could have imagined the ways in which soccer would shape and change my life forever," she added. The two-time World Cup winner, well known for her activism, is part of the USA squad for the upcoming women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Rapinoe plays in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) for Seattle-based OL Reign – their season concludes in November. The winger currently has 199 caps over a span of 17 years playing for her country and also won an Olympic gold medal in London in 2012. She was awarded the Best FIFA Women's Player in 2019 but her fame came as much for her espousal of causes and her

[ad_1] LONDON: New Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino underlined the challenges that engulfed Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling in the last season but said he will help the trio reach their full potential with the help of a customised training regime. Chelsea hired the 51-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris St Germain boss in May after finishing 12th in the Premier League following a tumultuous campaign, which saw Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard take charge at Stamford Bridge. "Different players arrived in different circumstances but of course now is an opportunity," Pochettino told Chelsea's website, outlining his plans for the team ahead of the pre-season. Chelsea begin their preparations for the new campaign in the United States with a game against National League champions Wrexham on July 19th. "I hope we can help them to achieve their best level, a higher level, and try to perform for Chelsea in the way tha

[ad_1] MIAMI: Lionel Messi's next club, Inter Miami , announced Friday it will hold a presentation event, called 'The Unveil', on July 16 at its home stadium. Argentine seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi said last month that he was moving to the Major League Soccer club after allowing his contract at Paris Saint-Germain to run out. "The major unveiling event will include exciting entertainment, speeches on the pitch and more," the club said in a press release, which did not mention Messi by name. Messi , who won the World Cup with Argentina in December, is expected to be joined at Miami by his former Barcelona teammate and ex-Spain international midfielder Sergio Busquets and the pair could be presented together. The club recently appointed former Barcelona and Argentina coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino to take charge of the team. Messi is expected to make his debut on July 21 against Mexican club Cruz Azul in the new Leagues Cup – a tourn

[ad_1] BARCELONA: In the wake of Pep Guardiola's stunning treble with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain turning to Luis Enrique, it is clear Spanish coaching is in vogue. The duo, both treble winners at Barcelona, are joined by plenty of compatriots at other top-flight sides on the continent. Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, Guardiola's former assistant, ran City close for the English title last season. With a different approach to the game, Unai Emery has pulled up trees with Aston Villa, Bournemouth sprang for the exciting Andoni Iraola, while Julen Lopetegui helped Wolves avoid the drop and Marseille appointed Marcelino Garcia Toral in June. Spanish coaches have been increasingly appealing since the country dominated world football between 2008 and 2012, La Roja winning European Championships in those years, as well as the 2010 World Cup. Nations League victory this summer, under Luis de la Fuente, who replaced Luis Enrique in December, is a further boost afte

[ad_1] LONDON: France captain and defender Wendie Renard says her side "can achieve something great" this time at the Women's World Cup having not been effective enough in past tournaments. France will take part in their fifth Women's World Cup this month but they have been eliminated in the quarter-finals at the last two and their best result was fourth back in 2011. "We haven't got past the quarter-finals because we weren't quite effective enough at critical moments," Renard, 32, said in an interview on the FIFA website. "As long as everyone has the same vision and a willingness to pull in the same direction, then we can achieve something great." Herve Renard, 54, took over the job as France women's coach in March when former manager Corinne Diacre's position had become untenable after Wendie Renard said she would not play at the World Cup to preserve her mental health. Olympique Lyon's Renard, widely considered

[ad_1] MIAMI: Toothless Canada were held to a goalless draw by Guatemala in the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday, while group D rivals Guadeloupe sparkled in a 4-1 crushing of Cuba. The results leave Guadeloupe top of the group on four points, ahead of Guatemala on goal difference with Canada on two points and Cuba yet to register a point. John Herdman's Canada can still progress to the quarter-finals with a win against Cuba but it was another below-par performance. The energy-sapping heat in Houston could be blamed for a lacklustre opening 45 minutes, which saw few chances other than a Nathaniel Mendez drive which was well saved by Milan Borjan and at the other end a Junior Hoilett volley over the bar. The tempo was higher in the second half but chances remained scarce – Jacob Shaffelburg hesitated inside the box and his effort was blocked in the 75th minute with Zac McGraw blasting the follow-up high. Guatemala looked dangerous on the break in the latter stages and Est

[ad_1] MILAN: French international striker Marcus Thuram signed for Inter Milan on a free transfer on Saturday, the Serie A club announced. Son of 1998 World Cup winner Lilian Thuram, the 25-year-old signed a five-year deal with last season's Champions League finalists worth a reported 6.5 million euros ($7.1 million) a season. Inter secured his services on the back of his most successful season for Bundesliga side Borussia Moenchengladbach in which he scored 13 goals – he became a free agent at the end of the campaign. "Marcus Thuram signs for Inter," read a statement on the club's website. "The forward, who was born in 1997, joins the Nerazzurri following four seasons with Borussia Moenchengladbach." Thuram will play up front alongside Lautaro Martinez after picking the country of his birth rather than Paris Saint-Germain , replacing veteran Edin Dzeko who signed for Turkish giants Fenerbahce last week. He was born in Parma where his father

[ad_1] NICE: Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier will face trial in December as a result of an investigation into alleged discrimination, the Nice prosecutor said on Friday. The 56-year-old Galtier and his son John Valovic-Galtier – a player's agent – were taken in for questioning earlier in the day following an investigation launched in April, after claims the coach made racist and Islamophobic remarks about players when he coached Nice in the 2021/22 season. At a hearing on Friday, Galtier "denied the offences of which he could be accused", said the public prosecutor Xavier Bonhomme in a press release. Galtier will stand trial on December 15 before the Nice Criminal Court "on charges of moral harassment and discrimination on the grounds of actual or supposed membership or non-membership of a particular ethnic group, nation, alleged race or religion", the prosecutor said. The offences are punishable by three years' imprisonment and a 4

[ad_1] NEW YORK: Panama moved into the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 2-1 win over Martinique on Friday after Costa Rica and El Salvador produced a frantic but goalless draw. The Canalmen have six points from their opening two games in Group C with Martinique on three points and El Salvador and Costa Rica on a point each with a game remaining for all teams. Martinique, surprisingly, made eight changes from the team which had beaten El Salvador in their opening game and faced relentless pressure from Panama from the outset. A shot from Panama striker Jose Fajardo and an Eric Davis header brought Martinique keeper Theo De Percin into action early in the encounter at Red Bull Arena. It was a busy night for De Percin but the breakthrough finally came in the 57th minute when Panama's classy midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla found Davis on the left, and the latter's pinpoint cross was met with a bullet header from Fajardo. Michael Murillo then doubled th