Football

22nd September

Argentina remain top of FIFA world rankings

(Reuters) – World champions Argentina strengthened their grip at the top of the FIFA world rankings in the latest list on Thursday, with the top five remaining unchanged after the international break. Argentina, who dethroned...

21st September

Spain’s women players to end boycott after federation commits to change

OLIVA, Spain (Reuters) -Spain’s World Cup winning-squad agreed to end their boycott of the national team on Wednesday after the country’s football federation (RFEF) said it would make “immediate and profound changes”, including reshuffling its top management. The decision was reached around 5 a.m. (0300 GMT) after more than seven hours of meetings at a...

Messi exits in first half of Inter Miami match

(Reuters) – Lionel Messi exited Inter Miami’s match against Toronto FC before halftime with an unspecified injury on Wednesday. The Argentinian took off the captain’s armband and handed it to DeAndre Yedlin before being replaced by Robert Taylor in the 37th minute with the score at 0-0. The 36-year-old missed Miami’s 5-2 loss at Atlanta...

Poland appoint Probierz as new coach

(Reuters) -Michal Probierz has replaced Fernando Santos as coach of Poland’s national team, the Polish Football Association (PZPN) said on Wednesday. Poland parted ways with Portuguese coach Santos last week following their 2-0 defeat in Albania, which left them struggling to qualify for Euro 2024. “Michal Probierz has been appointed selector of the Polish national...

Spain’s World Cup-winning players reach agreement to end boycott

OLIVA, Spain (Reuters) – Spain’s World Cup-winning women’s squad have agreed to end their boycott after the country’s football federation (RFEF) said it would make “immediate and profound changes” to its structure, the government and players’ union said early on Wednesday. The decision was reached around 5 a.m. after more than seven hours of meetings...

Goalkeeper Earps wins England Women’s Player of the Year

(Reuters) – Goalkeeper Mary Earps was voted England’s Women’s Player of the Year on Tuesday. The 30-year-old, who won FIFA’s Golden Glove award at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, finished ahead of Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood in the voting. Earps has 41 caps since making her senior debut in 2017...

Milan held to 0-0 home draw by Newcastle in Champions League opener

MILAN, Italy (Reuters) -AC Milan were held to a 0-0 draw at San Siro in a hard-fought contest by a Newcastle United side returning to the Champions League after a two-decade absence as the hosts spurned numerous opportunities in the Group F opener on Tuesday. Milan’s Portugal winger Rafael Leao, who has scored in his...

Spain’s World Cup-winning rebels report for training under sanctions threat

MADRID (Reuters) – Some of the rebel players from Spain’s World Cup-winning women’s squad who had threatened to boycott the national team in a push to stamp out sexism at the football federation (RFEF) on Tuesday reported for training under the threat of being sanctioned. Misa Rodriguez, Olga Carmona, Oihane Hernandez, Eva Navarro and Tere...

Arteta calls on Arsenal to make the most of Champions League return

(Reuters) – Arsenal deserve to be competing in the Champions League this season, manager Mikel Arteta said on Tuesday as he called on the Premier League club to make the most of their return to Europe’s top competition after a six-year absence. Arsenal, who are back in the Champions League for the first time since...

20th September

Manchester City favourites to win Champions League, says Ancelotti

MADRID (Reuters) – Real Madrid never consider themselves favourites to win the Champions League despite their rich history in the competition, manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday as he singled out holders Manchester City as the bookmakers’ pick. Madrid, who won a record-extending 14th European Cup in 2022 but lost to City in the semi-finals...

Sweden’s women’s team will support Spain players if they boycott match

(Reuters) – Sweden’s women’s team will support their Spain counterparts if they decide to boycott their Nations League fixture this week, midfielder Filippa Angeldahl said on Tuesday. After most of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad were called up on Monday the players said they would continue their boycott of the national team, though some reported for...

19th September

Pochettino understands Chelsea fans’ frustrations after poor start

(Reuters) – Mauricio Pochettino understands Chelsea fans’ frustrations with their poor start to the season but says his side have been hampered by injuries to more than a dozen players and that he will not change the way they are doing things. Chelsea’s poor form continued with a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth on Sunday, the...

18th September

Fijians outclass Vanuatu

The Digicel Fiji Junior Kula’s hammered Vanuatu 11-3 in their opening match of the Oceania Football Confederation. A hat-trick from midfielder Luse Ratulele and a brace each to forwards Sisilia Kuladina and Elesi Tabunase Fiji secure an emphatic win. Angeline Chua’s side possessed plenty of pace and it was evident from the outset as Fiji...

BOG 2023 | Lions roar … Labasa successfully defends title

The Extra Supermarket Labasa football side successfully defended the Rooster Chicken/ Scoops Premium Ice Cream Battle of the Giants title defeating Southern Forest Navua 2-1 in extra time in the final yesterday. Fans from both teams flocked to the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva in numbers and the two teams did not disappoint. After a...

Lions roar: Doidoi the hero

RUSIATE Doidoi was the hero for the EXTRA Supermarket Labasa side as his goal in extra-time saw his side beat Navua 2-1 in the Battle of the Giants soccer final yesterday. Playing in his first tournament for the northerners, Doidoi dedicated the goal to his family back home in Labasa. “I dedicate my goal to my...

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