Sport

AUNZ2023: England Pips Denmark 1-0 in Group D Eyes Knockout Stages.

Published

3 years ago

July 28, 2023

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The Lioness of England on Friday moved closer to the knockout stages when the team edged their European counterparts, Denmark in a group D match by an early goal at the Allianz Stadium.

21 year old Music goon and Chelsea player, Lauren James famous on social media with her music HER MUSIC BRINGS TO LIFE scored for the European Champions6th minute into the game from 20 yards thrusting the ball fantastically into the far corner after receiving a connect from R. Daly.

James and Daly incidentally were new introductions into the English team by Coach Sarina Wiegman whose strategies paralyzed the Danish team who could not fulfill their acts of scoring late goals against England. England may dance like the Super Falcons of Nigeria if China fails to beat Haiti in the next game.

Cover photo: pretty Lauren James.

England had beaten Haiti 1-0 and Denmark hit China by the same margin in the first round matches. We await China versus Haiti at noon today in the second match of round two. The 3rd round matches of Group D will be played simultaneously on Tuesday 1st August as China takes on England and Haiti plays Denmark.

England and Demark both European nations have met 18 times with England winning 9 matches, Denmark 6 and 3 draws. Let’s take some. On 16th November 2003 England lost 2-3; on 17th August 2005 Denmark thrashed England 4-1; on 9th February 2011 England won 2-1; on 5th March 2014 England won 1-0; It was a goalless draw on 8th September 2020 and Denmark piped England 1-0 on 9th October 2020. However this is their first meeting at the world cup final tournament stage

England was at the world cup six times and her best was a Bronze at Canada 2015 when she lost the semifinal 1-2 to Japan and beat France 1-0 in the 3rd place match. She had three quarterfinal appearances in Sweden 1995 when she was beaten by Germany 3-0; at China 2007 USA pounded England 3-0 and Germany came again while hosting in 2011 to beat England 4-3 on penalties when AET was 1-1.

The Red and White girls of Denmark are on their 5th appearance at the world cup. They made quarterfinal stages twice in 1991 at China when they were beaten by Germany 1-2 AET and at Sweden 95 when Norway slammed the team 3-1. Denmark was eliminated at the group stages twice.

Denmark has lost all three of their FIFA Women’s world cup games against European oppositions losing in 1991 1-2 to Norway; lost 1-2 to Germany in and again to Norway 1-3 in 1995

On Saturday 29th July Sweden will play the outstanding match of Group G second round against Italy 0830 hours at Wellington Regional Stadium. Two Group F matches will be decided. First France versus Brazil at Suncorp Stadium at 1100 hours and Panama will slug it out at 1330 hours with Jamaica 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