BRISBANE, Australia: England squeezed past Haiti 1-0 as they began their Women’s World Cup title bid in unconvincing fashion on Saturday, but holders the United States and former champions Japan were far more comfortable.
European champions England have been touted as the prime challengers to a United States team chasing an unprecedented third World Cup crown in a row.
But they will have to play far better than they did in front of nearly 45,000 spectators in Brisbane, where a youthful Haiti side making their World Cup debut could have snatched a point at the end.
A Georgia Stanway penalty in the first half put Sarina Wiegman’s side ahead, but despite having more of the ball and more shots, England had goalkeeper Mary Earps to thank for preserving their narrow lead.
She made a superb save with her left leg as the time ticked down after Roseline Eloissaint found herself all alone with only Earps to beat.
England, who have been embroiled in a dispute with the FA over bonuses in the lead-up to the tournament, are aiming to add a first World Cup crown to the European title they won at Wembley last year.
“We need more ruthlessness,” Wiegman said.
“We went very close a couple of times, and their defense was tough too, but we need to keep trying, keep working on it, starting tomorrow.”
Also in Group D, Denmark snatched a 1-0 win over China in Perth thanks to a 90th-minute goal from substitute Amalie Vangsgaard, who nipped in to prod home from close range.
In contrast to England’s labored performance, the United States and Japan were rampant against other supposed minnows.
The United States cruised to a 3-0 win over Vietnam — it should have been many more — before Japan crushed Zambia 5-0.
Sophia Smith was the star of the show for the US team at Eden Park in Auckland, scoring twice and setting up captain Lindsey Horan for the third in front of just over 41,000 fans.
The only sour note for Vlatko Andonovski’s side, which featured six World Cup debutants at kick-off, was their lack of finishing ability in front of goal.
They had 27 attempts to none for Vietnam and Alex Morgan missed a penalty.
“At the end, I just felt we needed to be a little bit better with the final shot,” said the coach.
“We created opportunities, we had a penalty kick, obviously enough to score a few more goals, but there are lots of positives from game one going into game two.”
Next up for the Americans, who brought veteran Megan Rapinoe off the bench for the last 30 minutes, are the Netherlands in a re-run of the 2019 final. The US won that game 2-0 to retain their title.
Japan are not seen as the threat they were in 2011, when they went on to lift the World Cup, but they were much too good for Zambia.
Zambia are the lowest-ranked team at the World Cup and they were on the back foot for long periods against a Japan team who looked like scoring every time they went forward.
Much like the US against Vietnam, the scoreline actually flattered the losers and Zambia could easily have lost by more in front of 16,111 spectators in the New Zealand city of Hamilton.
Hinata Miyazawa scored twice and Mina Tanaka, Jun Endo and Riko Ueki were also on the scoresheet as Japan joined Spain on three points in Group C.
Spain, another of the pre-tournament favorites, cruised to a 3-0 win over Costa Rica on Friday.
To cap a disastrous day for Zambia, goalkeeper Catherine Musonda was sent off at the death for a second yellow card and conceded a penalty, which Ueki slotted in at the second attempt.
“We’re not looking at excuses — we have just not played well this evening,” said Zambia’s coach Bruce Mwape.
Title contenders Sweden, France and the Netherlands all play on Sunday, with the Dutch facing Portugal before taking on the USA on Thursday.
Off the pitch, New Zealand’s squad was temporarily evacuated from its hotel in Auckland after a fire, the team said, but all players and staff were safe.
US and Japan make fast World Cup starts but England labor to victory
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US and Japan make fast World Cup starts but England labor to victory
- Denmark snatch a 1-0 win over China, thanks to a 90th-minute goal from Vangsgaard
Klopp to Roma could be a rumor created by amateur sleuths
- The rumor of his imminent arrival stems from a social media post
- Roma owner the Friedkin Group posted a video on Friday celebrating the capital club and its legacy
ROME: Roma fans have been driven into a frenzy by Italian media reports that Jürgen Klopp has agreed to be the team coach from next season.
However, the rumor of his imminent arrival stems from a social media post that some may be reading far too much into.
Roma owner the Friedkin Group posted a video on Friday celebrating the capital club and their legacy.
The video included images of iconic Rome sites: Colosseum (Kolosseum in German), Lupa Capitolina, Olimpico, (St.) Peter’s and Pantheon in that order.
Someone pointed out the starting letters of those words — some in Italian, some in German, some omitting part of the name — spell Klopp. And it spiralled from there.
In the past two days, people on social media have been saying they have spotted former Liverpool coach Klopp, his agent and even his dog in Rome.
Italian newspaper La Stampa proclaimed that Klopp accepted Roma’s offer shortly after the Giallorossi’s final home match of the season on Sunday, when a packed Stadio Olimpico paid tribute to current coach Claudio Ranieri, who is set to depart at the end of the season.
Other media outlets picked up La Stampa’s story, but the same newspaper said on Tuesday that Roma have “categorically denied” the news.
Klopp, who is Red Bull’s head of global soccer, left Liverpool in 2024 after steering the team to seven major trophies over nearly nine years.
The Friedkin Group also owns Liverpool’s city rival, Everton.
‘I’m not a clown’: Spurs boss Postecoglou hits out ahead of Europa League final
- Postecoglou said he had not addressed his future with his players because it would not be “helpful“
- “I’ve said to the lads from day one, nothing is guaranteed in life, nothing is guaranteed in sport”
BILBAO, Spain: Ange Postecoglou angrily defended his managerial record ahead of Tottenham’s Europa League final against Manchester United after a disastrous Premier League season, stating: “I’m not a clown.”
Spurs face United in Bilbao on Wednesday with a chance to win their first trophy for 17 years, which would mean qualification for next season’s Champions League.
Postecoglou, whose side are 17th in the Premier League — a place below United — has been under mounting pressure over recent months as results have nosedived.
Many observers believe the Spurs manager could be out of a job regardless of the result at the San Mames stadium in northern Spain against Ruben Amorim’s fellow strugglers.
Postecoglou was asked at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday whether he was aware he was walking a fine line between infamy and history ahead of the match.
“That depends on your outlook but I’ll tell you one thing — irrespective of tomorrow, I’m not a clown, I never will be mate,” he said, directly addressing a reporter who had used the word in an article.
“It’s really disappointing that you use such terminology about a person who for 26 years, without any favors from anyone, who’s worked his way to being in a position where he’s leading out a club in a European major competition, for you to suggest that somehow us not being successful means that I’m a clown.”
The former Australia and Celtic boss said he had worked tirelessly to turn things around at Spurs, who have not won a trophy since 2008 and have not tasted European success since 1984.
“I’ve tried as hard as I can to stick to that process in getting the club to a position where they can challenge for trophies and at the same time, rejuvenate the squad and change the playing style,” he said.
“It has been a fair assignment with plenty of challenges along the way.
“With such a big game tomorrow, there is an opportunity to fulfil at least the main task I was given which was to bring trophies to the club.”
Postecoglou said he had not addressed his future with his players because it would not be “helpful.”
“I’ve said to the lads from day one, nothing is guaranteed in life, nothing is guaranteed in sport. You’ve just got to try and make sure you take every opportunity before you and that’s what I’ve done my whole career,” he added.
“I’ve been in this position before, where the big game was the last game I managed. It’s not unusual territory for me.”
He said: “My future is assured. I wouldn’t be the first person who changes jobs. We all change jobs. I’m sure you’ve had more than one job. My future is assured. I’ve got a beautiful family, I’ve got a great life.
“I’ll keep on winning trophies until I finish, wherever that is. Don’t worry about my future mate.”
But the 59-year-old feels he still has a job to do at Spurs, who finished fifth in the Premier League in his first season in charge, in 2023/24.
“I really feel like we’re building something and what a trophy does is hopefully accelerates that,” he said.
“So I still think there’s a lot of work to be done. That’s quite obvious with the challenges we’ve had this year, but also there’s been some growth that I’d like to see through.”
Postecoglou confirmed that Lucas Bergvall would not be fit to face United. James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are also out.
But Pape Matar Sarr is available after he was taken off in the 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa on Friday.
Barcelona set August target for matchday return to Camp Nou stadium
- Barcelona have played in the city’s Olympic Stadium for two years
- The original target was a November 2024 return to a partially finished venue
BARCELONA: Barcelona aim to return belatedly to their Camp Nou stadium after two years of reconstruction work for a preseason friendly on Aug. 10.
Club president Joan Laporta set the date for the traditional season-opening Joan Gamper Trophy game when he spoke in a television interview late Monday.
Barcelona have played in the city’s Olympic Stadium for two years — and won La Liga this season — during the massive overhaul to create a 105,000-capacity home that would be the biggest soccer stadium in Europe.
The original target was a November 2024 return to a partially finished venue, then Barcelona said in February they hoped to play games in Camp Nou before the end of this season with 60,000 spectators.
The February update also detailed plans to complete the project by adding a roof at the end of the 2025-26 season.
The Camp Nou is a potential candidate to stage the 2030 World Cup final which Spain will co-host with Portugal and Morocco. The more likely options are Real Madrid’s renovated Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and a 115,000-seat venue planned in Casablanca, Morocco.
Marseille president rules out move to sign Man City great De Bruyne
- Club president Pablo Longoria has ruled out a move for the 33-year-old playmaker
- Signing a player of such stature might prove disruptive
MARSEILLE: Kevin De Bruyne will be hot property when he leaves Manchester City and many clubs would love to sign him next season.
Marseille are not one of them.
Club president Pablo Longoria has ruled out a move for the 33-year-old playmaker because he thinks signing a player of such stature might prove disruptive.
“If we take a player with a much higher salary than the players we have in the squad today, who qualified us for the Champions League, it destroys all the balance, all the good things, the good dynamic the players built,” Longoria said. “It would be, on the part of a club, a total lack of respect for the players who helped us qualify for the Champions League.”
Marseille finished second in Ligue 1 behind champion Paris Saint-Germain and qualified directly for next season’s Champions League.
De Bruyne was set to make his final home appearance for City later Tuesday against Bournemouth after 10 trophy-laden years at the club. He is one of City’s greatest ever players and won 16 trophies with the club, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.
De Bruyne shares the record for the highest number of assists in a single Premier League season with 20, and scored more than 100 goals for City.
Ousted Brazil FA president Rodrigues drops appeal ahead of election
- The former president said his decision aims to ‘restore peace to Brazilian football and serenity to the official’s family life’
- A new election had already been scheduled for next Sunday by the CBF’s interim president, Fernando Sarney, one of the CBF’s vice presidents who requested Rodrigues’ removal
RIO DE JANEIRO/BRASILIA: The ousted president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) Ednaldo Rodrigues officially withdrew his appeal on Monday to remain in office following his removal by a Rio de Janeiro court last week.
In a statement submitted to Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court by Rodrigues’ legal team, the former president said his decision aims to “restore peace to Brazilian football and serenity to the official’s family life.”
A new election had already been scheduled for next Sunday by the CBF’s interim president, Fernando Sarney, one of the CBF’s vice presidents who requested Rodrigues’ removal.
Rodrigues confirmed through his lawyer that he will neither run for any position nor support any candidate in the upcoming vote.
“In relation to the new elections called by the intervener, he declares that he is not running for any office or supporting any candidate,” says the document signed by Rodrigues’ lawyer Gamil Foppel.
According to the document, Ednaldo “wishes success and good luck to those who will take over Brazilian football.”
The document also lists a number of Ednaldo’s “achievements” at the head of the CBF, including the hiring of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, who is expected to announce his first Brazil squad next week for their next World Cup qualifiers.
The CBF declined to comment.
Only one candidate successfully registered for Sunday’s election — Samir Xaud, president-elect of the Roraima Football Federation, a state with limited influence in Brazilian top-tier football.
To register as a candidate, the interested party must have the support of at least eight state federations and five clubs.
The move follows a court ruling that nullified an agreement which had enabled Rodrigues to secure re-election until 2030.
The agreement was deemed invalid by the Rio de Janeiro court due to the alleged forgery of former CBF president Antonio Carlos Nunes’ signature and concerns over his mental capacity.
