Sports
FWWC: Spain dashes Sweden’s First World Cup Win with 2-1 Victory in the Semifinal.
Jinxed Sweden on Tuesday(today) lost the coveted semifinal encounter against Spain in the women’s world cup semifinal 2-1 within 10 minutes to the end of the match at the Eden Park Stadium in Auckland.

It was the fourth time Sweden was eliminated from the semifinal stage as the team fell in 1991, 2011, 2019 and now 2023 which is most unfortunate from any side at the world cup.
Barca’s left winger, Paralluelo Ayingono who scored against Netherlands, opened scoring for Spain in the 81st minute when Sweden failed to neatly clearly their lines and Paralluelo’s shot went through a cluster of legs.
Wolfsburg player, Rebecka Blomqvist who also scored against Argentina, was involved in a medley of headers from Asilani to Hurtig and then Blomqvist whose header brought the equalizer at the 88th minute.
Just a minute after, Real Madrid’s left back, Olga Carmona from a corner kick beat Goalkeeper Musovic in the 89th minute for the winner.
It was the first time in the women’s world cup history that we saw a first goal scored 10 minutes to full time and within the few minutes left for play, three goals were scored.
Sweden will meet the loser between England and Australia at the 3rd Place match at Eden Park Stadium on Saturday at 0900 hours to determine who makes the podium finish.
Spain will meet the winner for the England versus Australia match to know the new world cup champion on Sunday.
To get to the quarterfinals, Spain beat Costa Rica 3-0 on 21st July; refused Zambia freedom via 5-0 drubbing on 26th July and surprisingly lost to high tech, Japan 4-0 on 31st July. For the knockout stages, Spain hit Switzerland 5-1 in the round of 16. Spain is current highest team scorers with 13 goals in this tournament and has conceded 5 goals now. She defeated Netherlands 2-1 in the quarterfinal.
Spain on 16th February 1983 defeated Netherlands 1-0; but Ned won 2-1 on 16th November 1983; at the 2010 world cup played 11th July Spain won 1-0; the highest win for Netherlands against Spain was at the 2014 world cup played 3rd June with a 5-1 win; Ned was superior again on 31st March 2015 beating Spain 2-0 and on 11th November 2020 they played 1-1 draw.
The Spanish side had beaten Slovenia 17-0 at Palamos on 20th March 1994 but the country suffered heavy defeat from Sweden 0-8 on home ground at Ganalia, Spain on 2nd June 1996. The Spanish women are making their 3rd appearance at the world cup finals. Their best performance was getting into the Round of 16 at Canada 2019 where USA beat the country 2-1 at Reins on 24th June.
Sweden at the knockout stages had diffused the high tech Asian Tigresses, Japan 2-1 in the quarterfinals and dismissed USA 5-4 on penalties after a goalless full time in the round of 16. Earlier on 23rd July defeated South Africa 2-1 on 23rd July; pounded Italy 5-0on 29th July and also crashed Argentina 2-0 on 2nd August all in the group matches.
Sweden never won the trophy; they were runners-up at USA 2003 and lost to Germany 1-2 at extra time. Sweden won Bronze three times at China 1991; Germany 2011 and France 2019. She was at the quarterfinals twice at Sweden 1995 and USA 1999 but was also at the round of 16 at Canada 2015.
This is the first meeting of the two teams in any major competition as Sweden won 1-0 at the group stages of 1997 UEFA Women’s Championship. I have record of ten other meetings as Sweden on 16th July 1950 won 3-1; Spain ran away with a lone goal victory on 11th June 1978; while Sweden won 3-2 on 7th October 2006.
On 17th November 2007 Spain made it a 3-0 drubbing of Sweden just like it was on 10th June 2019 which were the highest wins for Spain; on 14th June 2008 Spain had clinched it 2-1; they played 1-1 on 15th October 2019 and scored a goalless draw on 14th June 2021; Sweden obtained victory 2-1 on 2nd September 2021 and it was Spain 1 Sweden 0 on 14th November 2021.
Spain is in their first semifinal in three appearances. Should Spain win, the nation will join the league of Elite squad that made it at the first getting to that position of final four like USA who made it once; Norway once; Netherlands twice and Germany twice.
Sweden is playing her 5th semifinal reaching the finals in 2003 but lost in 1991, 2011 and 2019. They could become the first team to lose four times at this stage of the competition.
If Spain wins, they will be the second team to have lost a group game before by 4+ at the world cup but still reach the final after Norway in 1991 that lost 0-4 against China.
Sweden would have been the first European nation to reach the multiple finals of the competition they made in 2003, the record of Norway 1991 and 1995 and Germany 1995, 2003 and 2007 notwithstanding.
This is Spain’s 4th world cup match against fellow European nations. She lost 0-1 to Germany at the group stage in 2019 but beat Switzerland 5-1 and Netherlands 2-1 at the knockout stages this year.
England will meet hosts Australia in the second semifinal on Wednesday 16th August at 1100 hours.
Something unique is that we are expecting a new champion for the world as previous champions, four times winner USA; two times winner, won one time each have been exited in this tournament.
By Eniola Olatunji
International News
Barca Transfermarket Values: Raphinha, 8 Others Drop, 3 Players Rise
June 5th, Transfermarkt updated. The new market values of Barcelona players. Three players increased and nine decreased, with Raphinha dropping by 10 million to 70 million euros.
Increase (Euros)
Joan-Garcia increased by 5 million to 45 million
Eric-Garcia increased by 5 million to 40 million
Gerard-Martin increased by 10 million to 35 million
Decrease (Euros)
Raphinha decreased by 10 million to 70 million
Kounde decreased by 5 million to 60 million
Balde decreased by 5 million to 50 million
De Jong decreased by 10 million to 35 million
Casado decreased by 2 million to 18 million
Christensen decreased by 1 million to 8 million
Cancelo decreased by 1 million to 8 million
Lewandowski decreased by 1 million to 7 million
Szczesny decreased by 100,000 to 800,000
Unchanged (Euros)
Yamal 200 million
Pedri 150 million
Fermin 100 million
Cubarsi 80 million
Olmo 60 million
Ferran Torres 50 million
Rashford 40 million
Gavi 30 million
Bernal 30 million
Araujo 20 million
Bardghji 15 million
International News
Man City Threaten Legal Action Over Erling Haaland!
Man City are considering taking legal action after a Real Madrid presedential candidate said he would sign Erling Haaland, if elected.
What actually happened?
Real presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme, who faces current president Florentino Perez in Sunday’s vote, claimed on Spanish TV show El Hormiguero on Wednesday night that Haaland had a release clause and wants to move to the Bernabeu. He also held up a Real shirt with ‘Haaland 9’ on the back.
Riquelme, who also promised to sign Haaland’s City team-mate Rodri, said: “If I break my promises regarding either of these players, I’ve signed a guarantee where I’d pay 100 per cent of membership costs for next season.
“Haaland has a release clause, and he wants to come to Madrid.”
What was City’s response?
However, Manchester City have moved quickly to refute those claims, saying in a statement that there is “no chance” Haaland will be leaving the Etihad Stadium any time soon. The Premier League club also said they are considering legal action over the shirt stunt.
A City spokesperson said in a statement: “The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue.
“There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause to enable it.
“We are considering legal action for the use of our player image in this context.”
Haaland is under contract at the Etihad until the summer of 2034 and Haaland’s agent Rafaela Pimenta and his father Alfie Haaland laughed off suggestions the 25-year-old could soon be heading to the Spanish capital.
A joint-statement released in the early hours of Thursday morning said: “All very entertaining but not true. We wish all the best for both candidates in the Real Madrid elections.”
What was Perez’s response?
Meanwhile, current Real president Florentino Perez made his own election pledge on Wednesday night, seemingly confirming Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid as manager, if he wins next Sunday’s presidential election.
Perez posted a video on X in which Mourinho features in a Real shirt saying: “Yes”, while the only other words to accompany it say: “Meanwhile, on TV, they just keep talking and talking and talking. So much history to be made.”
The video was posted in response to Riquelme’s TV apperaance promoting his rival bid.
Perez has made no secret of his intention to name Mourinho as head coach should he win the vote and remain for an eighth term in the role, but his social media post appears to have made it official.
Mourinho is widely expected to agree a three-year-deal to return to the Bernabeu Stadium and replace Alvaro Arbeloa, who was appointed in January after Xabi Alonso’s departure.
Benfica have yet to confirm Mourinho’s departure, while speculation has been mounting that Marco Silva is being lined up as his successor after the Portuguese announced he will leave Fulham when his contract expires in June.
Real Madrid’s presidential election on Sunday will be decided by the club’s members. It is the first contested election since 2006 as club members will choose between incumbent Perez, 79, and businessman Riquelme, 37.
International News
Liverpool Legend Sir Dalglish Down With Cancer!
According to an official statement from Liverpool, Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish has been diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing treatment.
Sir Kenny Dalglish posted an update on social media today. The full text is as follows:
The news was leaked when I accidentally posted something due to a slip of the hand. I am currently receiving treatment for cancer. Although I am clumsy with my phone, the treatment is progressing well.
This matter was intended to be handled privately and not disclosed to the public, but I am not very good at using digital devices and accidentally leaked the news.
I never intended to make my illness public, and I urge all parties to respect my privacy and that of my family, and to refrain from disturbing us.
As always, I thank the medical staff, who not only took meticulous care of me but also consistently upheld the principle of confidentiality, diligently protected countless patients, and honored their profession.”
Liverpool officials stated: All staff at Liverpool Football Club will send their best wishes and support to Sir Kenny Dalglish and his family, now and in the future. The club also echoed his request, calling on the outside world to respect his privacy.
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