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Japan qualifies for Knockout Stages of world Women’s Tournament; Beat Costa Rica 2-0 in Group C.

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Japan on Wednesday at the Forsyth Barr Stadium crushed Costa Rica 2-0 in group C to be the first team to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament.

Two quick goals first from Drawa Reds of Japan and 29 year old Hikaru Naomoto, who took in the 25th minute advantage of a slip from Right Full back of Costa Rica, Maria Cuto to drive home a powerful shot that Goalkeeper Daniela Solera could not control.

Then 19 year old Aoba Fujino of WE League Club of Tokyo scored a montage goal in the 27th minute after selling dummies to (a football slang for dribbling) Costa Rica defenders and goalkeeper Solera was caught with only one foot on the ground.

The Japanese effort is the first successive clean slate (not conceding goals in a match) in nine appearances. Japan has 7 goals for and no goal against.

Costa Rica will now have to pray for a soccer miracle as Nigeria saw in Russia in 1989 tagged Darman Miracle where Nigeria came from 0-4 down to still win the match and the prayer is for Zambia to beat Spain in the next match at 0830 hours. If Spain wins, both Costa Rica and Zambia will go home.

Japan has comfortably propped herself up with 6 points from her two wins waiting for the Round of 16 matches.

I report a funny incident that could be described as a comedy of errors in the 15th minute when Naomoto tipped the ball in and goalkeeper Solera got her palm into it only for Shimizu and Fujino to fall over themselves in an attempt to score.

Costa Rica the lowest ranked team in this tournament played the same pattern, 3-4-3 with Japan whose 5-0 drubbing of Zambia is their second biggest win in the women’s finals having whipped Argentina 6-0 in 2003. It is awesome and a show of squad stability that Japan could be very impressive against Zambia despite only four chances at goal.

Japan and Costa Rica met once on 9th April 2017 with Japan victorious by 3-0.

In the last four matches of Japan before the competition, Japan defeated Canada 3-0 on 22nd February 2023; on 7th April 2023 Japan hacked Portugal 2-1; Japan lost 0-1 to Denmark on 11th April 2023 and on 14th July 2023 Japan thrashed Panama 5-0.

Costa Rica had on 29th June 2023 lost 0-4 to Venezuela; an unknown team called Centro Cante Sports slammed Costa Rica 2-1; on 3rd July 2023 Costa Rica bashed Haiti 2-0; Bayana Bayana of South Africa defeated the country 2-0 on 15th July 2023 and on 21st July 2023 and on 21st July 2023 at this world cup tournament, Spain humbled Costa Rica 3-0.

Japan with nickname Nadeshiko is making her 9th appearance and were champions in 2011 at Germany and Silver Medalists at Canada 2015.

Costa Rica is in their second appearances. The team has never gone beyond the group stage. The team has a stunning defeat record like Nigeria losing thrice by 0-8 to Brazil on 22nd June 2000; to USA at Louisville on25th June 2000 and again to USA at Pittsburgh USA on 16th August 2015.

Spain had spanked Costa Rica in the group opener 3-0 and is currently second on the table by goals aggregate. Zambia lost 0-5 to Japan in the second match of the group.

The second round matches of Group C will be on Wednesday 26th July when Spain will play Zambia and Japan will tackle Costa Rica. The last group matches will be played on Monday 31st July with Japan versus Spain and Costa Rica versus Zambia.

We are waiting for the following matches, at 0830 hours it will be the turn of Spain and Zambia also in the second round matches of Group C. Canada will slug it out with Ireland at 1300 hours at the NIB stadium in a group B second round match where Nigeria is to earn her first win.

On Thursday 27th July. USA will face a formidable side in Netherlands at Wellington Regional Stadium in group E at 0200 hours. Portugal in the same group will try the Vietnam War at 0830 hour at FMG Stadium, Waikato. Nigeria will battle for her first win against hosts Australia at the Suncorp Stadium in a group B match at 1100 hours.

By Eniola Olatunji

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International News

Iran squad travel to Turkey for friendlies, US visas

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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

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International News

Man U In Three Players Swap Deal As Club Forfeits Financial Boost

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AC Milan will consider three Manchester United players as part of a swap deal for Rafael Leao, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The outlet claim that United have already made contact with agents over a potential deal for Leao this summer, but their first choice target is Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers.

 

However, Leao could be an easier deal to do, with Milan now ready to listen to offers for the winger. The Italian side are reportedly asking for around €50 million (£43.3m) but their interest in three United players could possibly lead to a swap deal.

Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte and Marcus Rashford are all mentioned. All three players are expected to leave Old Trafford this summer.

Zirkzee has struggled to make an impact since his move from Bologna, while Rashford has spent the season on loan with Barcelona. The Spanish side have the option to make the move permanent for £26 million but they are looking less and less likely to trigger it.

United could therefore be looking for sale in the summer. Using him as part of a swap for Leao could be seen as a solution.

United have forfeited a financial boost from a friendly against RB Leipzig. Sky Germany report that as part of the agreement between the two sides over striker Benjamin Sesko, a friendly match must be played.

But instead of United financially benefitting from the game, Leipzig will instead receive all of the revenue. It’s reported that the game must be played within the ‘next few years’.

United completed a deal for Sesko last summer, paying a fee of around £66.3million. However, Sky Germany report that it is now set to rise to £74 million with add-ons.

It’s claimed that there will be around £3.5 million in bonuses for things such as appearances, goals and Champions League qualification.

In his first season with the club, Sesko has scored 11 times, in 31 appearances in all competitions. He scored what turned out to be the winning goal in Monday night’s win over Brentford.

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Sport

Barca Pissed As Yamal Caught In All Night Romp With Strange Model

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Recently, Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal has once again found himself embroiled in off-field controversy. Just days after the defeat in the Clásico, on Monday local time last week, he was photographed travelling to Milan with several friends.

 

According to renowned paparazzo Jordi Martín, Yamal attended a party with a prominent Italian model during his trip and spent the night with her – a woman who is not his current girlfriend. Rumours suggest Yamal had previously shared an ambiguous relationship with this model before he began dating his current partner.

During his stay in Milan, Yamal attended a party with a prominent model who was not his current girlfriend Nicki Nicole. It is understood that this model, Anna Gegnoso, is Italian and rumoured to have had a prior romantic connection with Yamal before his relationship with Nicki Nicole began.

According to the photographer, Yamal first attended the party with Anna that evening before the pair spent the night together at Milan’s Armani Hotel – an incident that would undoubtedly displease Nicki Nicole should it prove true. Furthermore, Yamal and his accompanying friends deliberately obstructed media personnel from capturing photographs and footage at the scene.

Jordi Martin further disclosed that this behaviour has provoked considerable displeasure among Barcelona’s club hierarchy. They have grown weary of Yamal’s lifestyle. Several weeks prior, whilst injured, he flew to Croatia for a holiday with Nicki Nicole, publicly sharing photos of their trip on social media – an act that already drew criticism.

This latest incident – reportedly flying to Milan for revelry within hours of the Clásico defeat – has only exacerbated the situation. Particularly given his lacklustre performance against Real Madrid, he now finds himself dominating headlines for off-field reasons.

These successive off-field incidents, coupled with his earlier controversial remarks about Real Madrid at an event, have increasingly raised concerns within Barcelona’s ranks. Club officials fear he is becoming increasingly overwhelmed by this “noise,” drifting away from his core focus on football

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