England boss Sarina Wiegman is awed by her World Cup hopefuls’ advocacy away from competition but readily recognises their performance on the pitch is what ultimately provides the platform.
Just days after winning their first major tournament at last summer’s home Euros, the Lionesses collectively released a letter to then-Conservative leadership candidates Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss with a host of demands including a school football provision for girls identical to that offered to boys.
Their campaign paid off in March when the government responded with a new package of measures designed to grant equal access to all school sport, backed by over £600million in funding over the next two academic years.
We see this as only the beginning.
An open lette…
Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe concedes his international career is probably over after he was left out of England s provisional squad for Euro 2016.
Former Tottenham star Defoe returned to the Premier League from Major League Soccer side Toronto FC to join Sunderland midway through last season and his 15 top-flight goals this term were a key factor in Sam Allardyce s men escaping relegation.
But England boss Roy Hodgson plumped for uncapped Manchester United teenager Rashford to complete the line-up of forwards in his initial 26-man group, alongside the expected picks of captain Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge.
In an interview with Sky Sports News, Defoe revealed Hodgson did not contact him over his prospects of selec
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Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace: Fernandes and Rashford stretch winning run as Casemiro sees re
Manchester United had Casemiro sent off but racked up a sixth consecutive Premier League home win as Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford scored in a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace.
Palace were on the back foot from the off in Saturday s game and fell behind to Fernandes typically cool penalty inside the opening 10 minutes, before Rashford added a second goal shortly after the hour.
Casemiro was then dismissed following a VAR review after he put his hands around Will Hughes neck during an altercation between both sets of players, and Jeffrey Schlupp set up a tense finale with a goal 14 minutes from full-time.
United held on, though, to move three points behind second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand – while Palace remain 12th, six points clear of…
Poland s influential Roman Catholic church is gearing up for the UEFA Euro-2012 football championships slated to be co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine, the Polish Episcopate confirmed Thursday.
It is the vocation of the church to accompany man everywhere, including sport, the physical dimension of which must have a spiritual dimension also, Father Edward Plen, a priest serving Poland s sports community, told AFP.
If we want these championships to make history, we must all react together. It is not just a matter of building stadiums and highways, but also of creating a great team, a big family of supporters, he said.
The church intends to create a network of young, competent English-speaking volunteers to help fans who will arrive in Poland for the Euro 2012 play-…
Both Arsenal and Liverpool are capable of pushing Manchester City close in what promises to be the most open Premier League title race in recent years.
That is the view of former Tottenham and England midfielder Darren Anderton, though he says Pep Guardiola s men are still the team to beat as they chase an unprecedented fourth successive English top-flight title.
Ahead of Saturday s Premier League fixtures, just two points separated leaders Arsenal and fourth-placed Aston Villa, with City and Liverpool nestled between that pair.
The 2015-16 season, when Leicester City stunned the football world by winning the title under Claudio Ranieri, is the only previous Premier League campaign to feature such a slender gap between first and fourth after 13 matchdays.
Diego Simeone acknowledged Atletico Madrid are still hurting from their early Champions League exit but vowed to battle with the same intensity to qualify for the Europa League.
Atleti failed to make the knockout stages of Europe s premier club competition for the first time in five years after a 2-2 home draw with Bayer Leverkusen last week, in which Yannick Carrasco missed a late penalty.
Simeone s side also trail LaLiga leaders Real Madrid by nine points, while they are winless in their past four Champions League games, their longest run since between December 2008 and December 2009.
Atleti failed to win in nine games in that period before the appointment of Simeone, who admitted he and his players are still reeling from their elimination ahead of Tuesday s cl…
Manchester United defender Raphael Varane believes his body has been “damaged” due to effects of continually heading the ball.
Varane says that he advises his seven-year-old son not to head the ball when he plays.
The 30-year-old also revealed that he finished a World Cup last-16 game for France against Nigeria in 2014 on “autopilot” after suffering concussion.
“Personally, I don’t know if I’ll live to be 100, but I do know that I’ve damaged my body,” Varane told L’Equipe.
“The dangers of headers need to be taught on all amateur football pitches and to young people.
“My seven-year-old son plays football, and I advise him not to head the ball. For me, that’s essential.
“Even if it doesn’t cause any immediate tr…
Lee Carsley made a winning start to his England tenure with a comfortable 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League, helped by two players who previously represented the hosts.
Both goals came in the first half on Saturday, with Declan Rice s powerful finish followed up by Jack Grealish s sweeping effort to hand England their first win in Dublin in over 60 years.
Jayson Molumby s early chance offered the visitors a warning, but Harry Kane headed over as Carsley s team swiftly took control.
The England captain, now one shy of his 100th Three Lions cap, was denied by Caoimhin Kelleher moments later inside the box after a fast break from an Ireland free-kick.
But England had the lead after 11 minutes. Having made three senior appearances fo…
Gregg Berhalter has said that the United States are ready for the Copa America following their 1-1 draw with Brazil on Wednesday.
Berhalter s side concluded their preparations for the tournament with an improved display in Florida, having lost 5-1 to Colombia three days prior.
Many feared the worst as Real Madrid s Rodrygo gave the visitors an early advantage, but Christian Pulisic s second half free-kick was enough to share the spoils, as Matt Turner made 11 saves in the contest, the most by a USA keeper since Tim Howard in the 2014 World Cup.
We asked for teamwork and intensity, Berhalter said. The way we framed it is two things that are totally in their control. It doesn t matter about the opponent, it doesn t matter about the field, the fans or anything.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not feature for Sweden at Euro 2020, head coach Janne Andersson has confirmed.
Ibrahimovic made a return to the national team in March, playing in World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Kosovo.
But a knee injury has ended his hopes of representing his country at the rescheduled European Championship, with Ibrahimovic ruled out after Milan confirmed a treatment plan that will take six weeks.
I spoke to Zlatan Ibrahimovic today, who unfortunately told me his injury will prevent his participation in the European Championship this summer,” said Andersson.
Of course, it is sad, especially for Zlatan, but for us too. I hope that he is back on the pitch again as soon as possible.
Idag har Zlatan meddelat Janne Andersson att…