Football world cup heads

LYON, France: Television audience records have been smashed, global media coverage has been unprecedented and the quality of football has won over many sceptics - now the women’s World Cup heads into its final week, the business end of the tournament.The United States, the defending champions and three-times World Cup winners, remain favourites to lift the trophy in Lyon on Sunday but first they must deal with a confident England side in Tuesday’s semi-final.In Wednesday’s game, European champions the Netherlands take on a Sweden side who are on a high after upsetting Olympic champions Germany in Saturday’s quarter-final.On Sunday, fans of all four teams began to arrive in Lyon, bringing their colour and bonhomie to the central French city.The Dutch turned Valenciennes orange on Saturday, while thousands of Americans had poured into Paris for Friday’s win over the hosts. England have had unprecedented levels of travelling support and Sweden’s status … [Read more...] about Points proven, World Cup heads into grand finale

Sport There is a good case for ranking Sam Kerr as Australia's best footballer, female or male, at the moment and the country's hopes of a first World Cup triumph in France in July rest in no small part upon the prolific striker's shoulders. 15 May 2019 11:55PM Bookmark SYDNEY: There is a good case for ranking Sam Kerr as Australia's best footballer, female or male, at the moment and the country's hopes of a first World Cup triumph in France in July rest in no small part upon the prolific striker's shoulders.No Australian player has come close to enjoying the 25-year-old's profile - with her 130,000 social media followers, Nike endorsement and other commercial deals - since Socceroos forward Tim Cahill hung up his boots.Great careers are not built on profile alone, however, and at her third World Cup, Kerr has a chance to truly cement her place among the game's best.Goals are the gold standard by which strikers are judged and Kerr, who made her debut for Australia as a … [Read more...] about Captain Kerr looks to get the Matildas waltzing at World Cup

REUTERS: Felix Sanchez has extended his contract as head coach of Qatar's national team through to the 2022 World Cup hosted by Qatar, the country's Football Association said on Monday.Spaniard Sanchez led the team to the Asian Cup title in the United Arab Emirates in January having been appointed to replace Jorge Fossati during the final stages of the country's failed attempt to qualify for the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.The Asian Cup win, when Qatar defeated Japan in the final in Abu Dhabi, was the country's first major trophy and was achieved with a squad that is expected to form the bulk of the side at the World Cup finals in three years' time.Sanchez, 43, has spent much of his coaching career in Qatar, working at the Aspire Academy before leading the nation to the Asian Under-19 title in 2014 and he has a long-standing relationship with many of the current squad.He retains the position despite speculation the QFA was on the hunt for a high-profile coach to lead the team into … [Read more...] about Football: Sanchez to lead Qatar to 2022 World Cup

Sport Felix Sanchez has extended his contract as head coach of Qatar's national team through to the 2022 World Cup hosted by Qatar, the country's Football Association said on Monday. 06 May 2019 08:45PM Bookmark REUTERS: Felix Sanchez has extended his contract as head coach of Qatar's national team through to the 2022 World Cup hosted by Qatar, the country's Football Association said on Monday.Spaniard Sanchez led the team to the Asian Cup title in the United Arab Emirates in January having been appointed to replace Jorge Fossati during the final stages of the country's failed attempt to qualify for the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.The Asian Cup win, when Qatar defeated Japan in the final in Abu Dhabi, was the country's first major trophy and was achieved with a squad that is expected to form the bulk of the side at the World Cup finals in three years' time.Sanchez, 43, has spent much of his coaching career in Qatar, working at the Aspire Academy before leading the nation … [Read more...] about Sanchez to lead Qatar to 2022 World Cup

PARIS: Five weeks before the women's World Cup kicks off in France, and there is a hive of activity high up in the Montparnasse Tower, one of the tallest buildings in Paris.It is here, on the 49th floor and with an unobstructed view over the French capital, that tournament organisers are working to put everything in place for a month - from Jun 7 to Jul 7 - where women's football will be in the spotlight like never before.And yet, the organisers admit that they have been caught out by the extent of the demand from foreign fans for tickets."We didn't see it coming," says Erwan Le Prevost, head of the local organising committee.While the opening match will be played at the Parc des Princes in Paris and both the semi-finals and the final will be staged in Lyon, in between matches will also be played in some of France's smaller provincial cities, from Nice on the Mediterranean coast to Valenciennes in the far north."We did not always choose big stadiums, because we … [Read more...] about Organisers taken aback by demand for women’s World Cup tickets