Sport

Women’s World Cup: Japan Humbles Spain 4-0 in Group C Final Clash.

Published

3 years ago

July 31, 2023

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Japan on Monday(today) humbled Spain at the Wellington Stadium 4-0 in the last Group C match to top the group and set up a Round of 16 against Norway on Saturday, 5th August 2023.

Spain could not introduce virus into the computerized Hi-Tech Japanese girls as fast and quick Japanese right winger, Hinata Miyazawa scored a brace to climb into the class of highest scorers at the tournament as she had banged a brace against Zambia in their first group game.

Hinata scored the first goal of the game when Captain Kumagi exchanged passes with Endo only to find Mynavi Sendai Attacker of Hinatu who though plays as a right winger scored with her left foot. Hinata came scoring the 3rd goal in the 40th through Ueki connect to complete her second brace at the tournament.

Riko Ueki who plays for Tokyo’s Verdy Beleze was found by Hinata and her shot at goal ripped a ricochet off the leg of a defender to climb the air far above the Spanish Goalkeeper’s reach in the 29th minute.

Already a record was created because Japan had never scored two goals against Spain in the first half of any of their meetings but Hinata peppered the Spanish girls with the 3rd goal before the break. (Pepper them is a social slang in Nigeria that means hurt them with your acts).

Substitute Mina Tanako scored the 4th goal for Japan through their rapid breakthroughs as she dribbled her way into the net in the 82nd minute after collecting a thorough pass. Tanako had scored against Zambia in the 5-0 drubbing.

Japan thus tops Group C winning all three matches scoring 11 goals with a clean sheet (no goal conceded); Spain is 2nd with two wins earning 6 points and a lose scoring 8 goals and conceding 4; Zambia is 3rd with a win and two loses earning 3 points, scoring 3 goals and conceding 11 goals while Costa Rica rocks the bottom of the table going out with Zambia as the team lost all their matches with no point, scored one goal and conceded 8.

Japan had qualified for Knock out stages in their last four outings and Spain is intheir 2nd Knockout round qualification. Japan lost their final group games at 7 of 8 world cup except the win against Ecuador 1-0 in 2015.

Spain has never lost to Japan at the world cup and has never topped their group in the competition.

Spain will meet Group A winners, Switzerland in the Round of 16 on Saturday 5th August at 0600 hours while Japan meets Group A runners-up Norway at 0900 hours still on Saturday 5th August.

Spain thrashed Costa Rica 3-0 and Zambia fell to Japan 0-5 in the group first round; Japan slammed Costa Rica 2-0 and Spain walloped Zambia 5-0 in the second round.

Zambia earned her first ever win of the tournament 3-1 over Costa Rica.

To determine the two teams that will move to the Round of 16 in Group B, Nigeria will meet Republic of Ireland at 1100 hours at the Suncorp Stadium while at the same time, hosts Australia will contest for survival against Canada at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium later today.

Tomorrow Tuesday 1st August, group E matches will be concluded at 0800 hours as Vietnam meets Netherlands at Forsyth Barr Stadium and Portugal try the Yankees of USA at Eden Park.

Group D matches will also be decided same tomorrow at 12 noon as the Lionesses of England tackles China at Hindmarsh Stadium and Haiti faces Denmark at NIB Stadium.

By Eniola Olatunji

Sport

Mourinho: Why R- Madrid Walked Away From Rodri

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3 weeks ago

August 19, 2026

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Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has opened up on the club’s failed attempt to sign Rodri, revealing that the Spain international’s doubts about moving to the Santiago Bernabéu eventually created uncertainty within the Madrid camp.

Rodri, regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his generation, had emerged as a major target for Real Madrid after an outstanding spell at Manchester City.

However, despite reportedly holding advanced discussions with the Spanish giants, the 30-year-old ultimately opted to join Real Madrid’s biggest domestic rivals, Barcelona.

Mourinho was particularly direct when asked why Real Madrid’s pursuit of Rodri ultimately collapsed.

The Portuguese manager believes that representing Real Madrid requires an immediate commitment from a player, arguing that anyone who receives an offer from the club should already know their answer.

“Real Madrid cannot have players who think twice,” Mourinho said.

He explained the mentality he believes a player should have when allowed to join the Spanish giants.

He added, “You get the call and say: ‘When do you want me there?’”

Mourinho stressed that Real Madrid’s stature creates a different set of expectations for potential signings.

“Rodri is an extraordinary player, but Real Madrid is a different dimension,” he explained.

Mourinho also revealed that he had personally spoken with Rodri on several occasions during the process.

He added, “I personally spoke to Rodri a couple of times. Real Madrid made him an important proposal. But then… Rodri had doubts. His doubts created doubts in me about signing him.”

Sport

Transfer News: Chelsea Sets Price Tag For Argentina Star

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2 months ago

July 12, 2026

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Chelsea are prepared to sell their Argentine star and they have set a price tag.

Chelsea have placed a €50 million valuation on Alejandro Garnacho, with the Argentina international winger linked with a departure from Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the West London club have established a dual-pricing structure for the 22-year-old. If a Premier League rival expresses interest, Chelsea will demand a £45 million fee. However, the club are willing to accept a slightly lower figure of around €50 million (£42.6 million) from foreign clubs.

Garnacho is not in the plans of newly appointed manager Xabi Alonso. The winger failed to report for the first day of pre-season training, staying away to actively explore an exit strategy alongside his representatives.

The impending transfer concludes a 12-month tenure in West London. Garnacho originally joined Chelsea from Manchester United in the summer of 2025 for a reported €46.2 million (£39.4 million) fee. He signed a long-term contract tying him to the club until June 30, 2032.

Despite the financial investment, he never established himself in the starting lineup. During the 2025/26 season, he registered eight goals and four assists across 43 appearances in all competitions. His domestic output was poor, starting just 14 Premier League matches and three in the UEFA Champions League and scoring only one league goal throughout the campaign

International News

Iran squad travel to Turkey for friendlies, US visas

Published

4 months ago

May 18, 2026

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Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match and apply for visas to fly to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, Iranian media reported.

The team plan to participate in the tournament despite co-host Washington having launched a war against Iran with a massive wave of attacks alongside ally Israel on February 28.

The fighting has been on hold for weeks thanks to a ceasefire, but peace talks have failed to make a breakthrough and new drone attacks against Gulf countries at the weekend combined with threats from US President Donald Trump raising fears of a return to fighting.

The team “departed this morning for Antalya, Turkey to play its final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup,” the Tasnim news agency reported.

It said the squad consisted of 22 domestic-based players alongside their coaching staff.

On Saturday, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they would also be completing visa applications for the US while in Turkey.

– ‘Let ’em play’ –

Iran secured their spot at the World Cup in March 2025, but since then the United States has twice launched attacks on the country.

US officials have insisted that Iran is welcome at the tournament, while organiser FIFA has said it will go ahead as planned and rejected Iranian suggestions that their games be moved to co-hosts Mexico or Canada.

“I think let ’em play,” Trump said in late April.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any problem would not be with Iranian players but “some of the other people (they) would want to bring with them”, suggesting they may have ties to the Revolutionary Guards, which Washington has branded a terrorist organisation.

Last month, officials from Iran’s football federation abandoned a trip to the FIFA congress in Canada, saying they had been “insulted” by Canadian immigration officers.

One of their delegation, Mehdi Taj, is a former member of the Revolutionary Guards, which Canada has also designated a terror group.

The Iranian football team hope to play two friendlies in Antalya.

They have already confirmed one match, against The Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.

“No visas have been issued yet,” Taj, the head of Iran’s football federation, told Iranian media on Thursday.

On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the federation, describing it as constructive, as did Taj.

When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up their base camp in Tucson, Arizona.

The team, who are in Group G, are due to kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.

AFP