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Tag: England

  • How Spain pipped England to win 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

    How Spain pipped England to win 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

    The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup came to an end on Sunday morning with the Spain senior Women’s team emerging champions after defeating England  in Sydney, Australia.

    Olga Carmona‘s goal made the difference between the two teams and, although England rallied in the second half after Spain missed a penalty to double its lead, ultimately, the brave Lionesses could not find the back of the net.

    It could have been an even more comfortable win for Spain as England goalkeeper Mary Earps came up huge with several acrobatic saves throughout the match.

    Enroute to Final England won all its games while Spain lost 4-0 to Japan in the group stage but still found a way to reach the finals.

    Spain’s  road to Final.

    Spain defeated Costa Rica by 3-0 in the first group game, defeated Zambia in the second game by 5-0 before losing to Japan 4-0 in the last group stage.

    The spanish side defeated Switzerland by 5-1 in the second round before seeing off Netherlands 2-1 in the quarter final.

    Spain defeated Sweden 2-1 in the semi-finals to reach the final.

    Spain joins Germany as one of two nations in soccer history to win both a men’s and women’s World Cup.

  • BREAKING: England beat Australia to reach first Women’s World Cup final

    BREAKING: England beat Australia to reach first Women’s World Cup final

    England spoiled co-hosts Australia’s party by booking their place in the Women’s World Cup final for the first time on a historic evening in Sydney.

    Silencing a sell-out crowd at Stadium Australia, the Lionesses became the first English side since 1966 to reach the final on the world stage.

    It caps a sensational two years under manager Sarina Wiegman as England, crowned European champions for the first time last year on home soil, showed their superiority and know-how to see off an Australia side spurred on by a nation who have been inspired by the Matildas’ success.

    Ella Toone gave England the lead in the first half with a superb first-time strike which sailed into the top corner.

    The Lionesses controlled proceedings until the second half when Australia threw everything at them and star striker Sam Kerr – starting her first match of the tournament – struck a 25-yard stunner over goalkeeper Mary Earps’ head to make it 1-1.

    But England, as they so often do, found a way back into the game when Lauren Hemp pounced on a defensive error to restore their lead, before Alessia Russo made sure of victory late on to set up a final with Spain.

    BBC

  • I’m in Bayern to push my limits – Harry Kane

    I’m in Bayern to push my limits – Harry Kane

    England international, Harry Kane is delighted to now be a Bayern Munich player.

    The former Tottenham star signed for Bayern yesterday morning before making his debut in their German Super Cup defeat to RB Leipzig.

    At his media presentation today, Kane said: “I’ve always wanted to push my limits and improve, and see how far that can take me. Ultimately, I wanted to be playing at the highest level, to be playing in the Champions League, fighting for titles every year. Coming to Bayern, one of the biggest clubs in the world, gives me that opportunity.

    “It was a busy couple of days, a busy week. This is my first transfer; it was an up and down experience for sure but I’m happy to be here now. I wish Tottenham all the best, Daniel Levy all the best, but my focus is here now and trying to help this team.

    “I spent my whole career in England and the Premier League so it may take a bit of adapting to get used to a new league. I’m playing against different teams. As you saw yesterday with Leipzig, there are some great teams in this league and it is going to be a real challenge. I know people expect Bayern to win the league every year, but I think teams are improving and it is getting tougher.

    “For me it is about settling in, getting as comfortable as possible and understanding the different teams and how I need to adapt.”

    He added, “For me it is about trying to help the team as much as possible. Being a goalscorer, people are expecting me to do that.

    “I’ve only been here two days. I’m still getting to know the players but one of the reasons I joined is because we have amazing talent. If I get a good connection, I’ll score goals.”

  • FIFA Women’s World Cup: England send gallant Super Falcons packing

    FIFA Women’s World Cup: England send gallant Super Falcons packing

    The Three Lionesses of England survived a major scare to beat Nigeria 4-2 on penalties after match ended goalless after 120 minutes.

    Georgia Stanway and Desire Oparanozie sent their opening sides penalties wide of the post before Michelle Alozie also missed the target for Nigeria to leave England in control.

    Bethany England, Rachel Daly, Alex Greenwood and Chloe Kelly all converted their spot kicks in Brisbane as England survived the sending off of Lauren James in normal time to progress.

    James was sent off for a reckless stamp with four minutes of the 90 remaining, planting her studs on the back of Alozie. She was initially shown a yellow card but it was changed to a straight red after referee Melissa Borjas checked her pitch-side monitor on the recommendation of the VAR.

    Her dismissal left England facing spot-kicks to avoid another massive shock at the tournament, which had already seen former winners USA and Germany eliminated early, along with Brazil. James will miss the quarter-final against on Saturday.

    The result meant Super Falcons will return home why England will face either Jamaica and Colombia in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup.

    Yesterday the Super computer predicted a win for England in full time but the Super Falcons dragged the game to extra time before bowing out.

  • Nigeria vs England: Supercomputer predicts winner

    Nigeria vs England: Supercomputer predicts winner

    Super computer has predicted the outcome of the round of 16  match between Nigeria and England today in Brisbane.

    The Three Lionesses, who boast quarter-final appearances in 1995, 2007, and 2011, are flying high as Group D winners, eager to test their mettle against Nigeria, the Group B runners-up.

    The Super Falcons have remained undefeated after claiming an impressive victory over co-hosts Australia and draws against Olympic champions Canada and Ireland.

    But the Super computer has predicted that the Three Lionesses will beat Nigeria’s super Falcons to the quarter-final ticket today, Monday.

    The statistical giant has combined betting market odds and their in-house power rankings to forecast that England will beat Nigeria.

    It predicts a 79.65% probability of England’s triumph over the Super Falcons in the upcoming bout.

    Sarina Wiegman’s English squad has been hailed as the favourites to lift the 2023 World Cup trophy, bolstering their odds as the team to watch.

    On the other hand, Nigeria’s chances of claiming the title, while still existent, are pegged at a slim 0.49%.

     

  • FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Super Falcons plot sweet revenge on England

    FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Super Falcons plot sweet revenge on England

    On 10 June 1995, at the Karlstad City Stadium in Sweden, England’s Three Lionesses edged the Super Falcons of Nigeria 3-2 in one of the final group phase matches of the 2nd FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in that country.

    That year, as was the case at the inaugural edition of the competition in China four years earlier, there were only 12 finalists.

    The narrow loss, coupled with the eight-goal trashing by Norway and 3-3 draw with Canada earlier in the competition, saw the African champions exit the competition at group stage.

    On Monday, 7th August 2023, both teams will clash again, this time, at the biggest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup finals taking place in Australia and New Zealand (with 32 teams), and at the first knock-out round of the tournament.

    To reach this stage, England defeated Haiti and Denmark 1-0 each, before spanking China (1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup finalists) 6-1 on Tuesday.

    Although the Falcons pipped England 1-0 in a friendly in Norwich (England) on 23 July 2002 and then spanked the Three Lionesses 3-0 in another friendly in Reading (also in England) on 22 April 2004, the Nigerian girls feel they need to turn England back at the biggest stage, which is the World Cup.

    Adaku Okoroafor and Rita Nwadike netted for Nigeria that day in Sweden. In the friendly match in Norwich, rapid winger Patience Avre got the only goal, and in Reading two years later, a Perpetua Nkwocha brace followed a goal by Rita Nwadike as Nigeria pumped the Three Lionesses in front of their own fans.

    “The World Cup is the biggest stage and we just have to do it here,” assistant coach Ann Chiejine, who was in goal that evening in Karlstad, told thenff.com. Chiejine is one of Randy Waldrum’s assistants at the biggest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

    Attacking midfielder Toni Payne, said: “Anything can happen. We just have to go onto the pitch and do our best. We want to win and reach the next stage.”

    The stage is set at the Lang Park on Monday evening, from 5.30pm Australia time (8.30am Nigeria) for one of the most anticipated Round of 16 games at this global spectacle Down Under.

    The nine-time African champions are unbeaten in their last six international games, from beating Costa Rica at the Revelation Cup in Mexico in February, to defeating Haiti and New Zealand in a tournament in April in Turkey. At the World Cup, they have drawn with Canada and Republic of Ireland and beaten Australia’s Matildas.

    England have lost one of their last six games – a 0-2 defeat by Australia in April. They drew with Brazil in April, and with Portugal in July, but have won their three matches at the ongoing World Cup.

  • I was sent to Africa after sexually abused at age 6 – Dele Alli

    I was sent to Africa after sexually abused at age 6 – Dele Alli

    Former Tottenham star, Dele Alli has revealed he sent to Africa to learn discipline after the footballer was sexually abused when he was six years old.

    He made the shocking revelation on Gary Neville’s YouTube channel The Overlap.

    “At six I was molested,” he said.

    Alli, who returned to Everton in April, opened up about his difficult childhood and how it pushed him to attend a rehab facility in the US.

    “I was sent to Africa to learn discipline and then I was sent back.

    “At seven I started smoking and then at eight I started selling drugs.

    “An older person told me they wouldn’t stop a kid on a bike so I’d ride around with my football and underneath I’d have drugs.

    “At 11 I was hung off a bridge by a guy from the next estate. A man.

    “By 12 I was adopted but from then it was like I was adopted by an amazing family.”

    Alli said he entered a rehab facility for six weeks in recent months for an addiction to sleeping tablets and excessive drinking.

    “It’s been going on for a long time without me realising it, I was doing [it] to numb the feelings I had – I didn’t realise I was doing it for that purpose,” he said.

    “It’s probably a problem not only I have, I think it’s going around more than people realise in football.

    “I’ve definitely abused them too much. It got really bad at some points and I didn’t understand how bad it was but I was never dealing with the root of the problem – when I was growing up the traumas I had, the feelings I had and I tried to deal with it all by myself,” he said.

    “I lost myself for a few years.”

  • I was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer – Diezani

    I was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer – Diezani

    Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has told an Abuja High Court that she has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2015.

    She stated this as her reason for leaving the country “in order to undertake a critical course of treatment, which consisted of two operations.”

    This was revealed in a writ of summons against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the attorney-general of the federation (AGF).

    Alison-Madueke is asking for damages of N100 billion “for the false, injurious, malicious and libelous publications.”

    She said the EFCC and AGF defamed her by claiming she is corrupt.

    According to Alison-Madueke, toward the end of the tenure of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, she was diagnosed with “the most aggressive form of breast cancer” which she identified as “Triple Negative Cancer.”

    She left for England on May 22, 2015 “in order to undertake a critical course of treatment, which consisted of two operations, eight months of intensive chemotherapy and five weeks of radiotherapy”.

    Since then, she said in the court papers, she has remained in England “undergoing medical care and treatment.”

  • Arsenal striker Balogun cleared to play for USA

    Arsenal striker Balogun cleared to play for USA

    Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun has committed his international future to the USA.

    Balogun, on-loan with Reims this season, is an England U21 international but also qualifies for the USA.

    And AP reports FIFA has accepted the player’s application and he can therefore turn out for the USA.

    Balogun, 21, is scheduled to return to Arsenal at the end of the season.

  • Prince Harry to attend King Charles III’s coronation without his family

    Prince Harry to attend King Charles III’s coronation without his family

    The royal guest list for King Charles III’s upcoming coronation will include Prince Harry.

    The Duke of Sussex is set to attend his father’s ceremony on May 6, while Meghan Markle will not make the trip overseas, a rep for the couple told E! News on April 12.

    According to the statement, the Duchess of Sussex will be staying in California with kids — Archie Harrison, 3 years, and Lilibet Diana, 22 months.

    Buckingham Palace also confirmed Harry’s attendance to the coronation, which falls on Archie’s 4th birthday.

    This update comes one month after a rep for Harry and Meghan confirmed that they had received “email correspondence” from the king’s office about the coronation.

    At the time, the couple’s spokesperson told the Associated Press, “An immediate decision on whether the Duke and Duchess will attend will not be disclosed by us at this time.” However, they have now come to a decision that just Harry will join his family at the coronation at London’s Westminster Abbey.

    During the service, which will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles will be formally crowned alongside Queen Consort Camilla. “The coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future,” the Palace previously said, “while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.”

    On April 4, more details were announced about the royal ceremony, including the role Prince William and Kate Middleton’s eldest son, Prince George, will play in the coronation.

    The 9-year-old will serve as one of the eight Pages of Honour that will walk the procession and carry the robes inside Westminster Abbey. Joining George in this duty will be Camilla’s grandchildren, Freddy Parker Bowles, Gus Lopes and Louis Lopes, along with her great-nephew Arthur Elliot.

    The royal family has also made sure that the late Queen Elizabeth II’s spirit is felt during the coronation proceedings, even featuring the lily of the valley — a favourite flower of the monarch — on the invitations.