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Norway Fails to Sweep Off Switzerland; Play Barren draw in Group A.

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Norway played herself into a clumsy corner as Switzerland forced the highly regarded team to a barren draw at the FMG Stadium, Waikato in the last of the second round matches of group A on Tuesday morning.

Norway is definitely firing on very low salvo and has a must win against Philippines or she would be out of reckoning.

Switzerland is top of Group A with 4 points, scoring 2 goals and yet to concede a goal. The team may need just a draw against New Zealand to qualify for the knock out stages. Hosts New Zealand are 2nd on the table and the entire country may have to declare a public holiday in their final group game to garner support that galvanizes goals to win.

Philippines may turn out to be king makers if the team can whip Norway in the way hosts New Zealand did. If Philippines now 3rd on the table also with 3 points, scoring one goal and conceding 2 wins, then she may have 6 points and top the group. Norway is uncomfortable at the bottom of the group with only a goalless draw and a defeat earning a point only. The group will depend on permutations and any mistake by any team will be costly.

Earlier today, Philippines sent terrible signals to hosts New Zealand with a lone goal victory in the first match of round 2. New Zealand had shocked Norway in the first group match 1-0 at Eden Park on the 20th July while Switzerland banged Philippines 2-0 on 21st July at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Norway and Switzerland met thrice. On 17th August 2005 Swiss won 2-0; on 11th November 2009 Norway won by a lone goal while on 12th October 2012 both teams played 1-1 draw.

Switzerland is making a second appearance at the party. Their first time out, The Swizz lost in the Round of 16 to hosts Canada in 2015 at Vancouver.

Norway has a better record in 8th appearances of 1991; 1995; 1999; 2003; 2007; 2011; 2015 and 2019 meaning the Norwegians appeared in every competition from 1991.

Norway was runners-up in 1991 when she beat Sweden 4-1 in the Semifinal and lost to USA 1-2 in the final. Norway won at Sweden 95 after pummeling Nigeria’s Super Falcon 8-0 in the group B games winning all matches to top the group where England was 2nd, Canada 3rd and Nigeria 4th. Norway piped USA 1-0 in the semifinal and lashed Germany 2-0 in the finals before a crowd of 17,158 fans in the match handled by Ref Ingrid Jonsson of Sweden.

In 1999, Norway lost to China 0-5 in the semifinal but lost the Bronze Medal to Brazil via penalty shootout after a goalless match 4-5. In 2007, in China, Norway lost to Germany 0-3 in the semifinal and again lost the Bronze medal 1-4 to USA.

The last group A games will be played simultaneously on 30th July between Switzerland and New Zealand at Forsyth Barr Stadium and between Norway and Philippines at Eden Park.

On Wednesday, 26th July Japan will meet Costa Rica in a group C second round match at 6000 hours at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Sane day 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.

By Eniola Olatunji

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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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Ronaldo , Messi Top Penalty Misses Ranking List

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According to the statistics in 2025/10/13, here are the top 7 players who miss most of the penalty.

 

Ranking of the number of missed penalties:
1. Cristiano Ronaldo: Missed 34 penalties, a total of 211 penalties taken, penalty kick success rate 83.8%

2. Lionel Messi: Missed 32 penalties, a total of 145 penalties taken, penalty kick success rate 77.9%

3. Neymar: Missed 22 times, a total of 113 penalties, penalty kick success rate 80.5%

4. Francesco Totti: Missed 20 times, a total of 106 main penalties, penalty kick success rate 81.1%

5. Ciro Immobile: Missed 19 penalties, a total of 105 penalty kicks taken, penalty kick success rate 81.9%

6. Zlatan Ibrahimović: Missed 17 penalties, a total of 104 penalty kicks taken, penalty kick success rate 83.6%

7. Ronaldinho: Missed 16 penalties, a total of 85 penalty kicks taken, penalty kick success rate 81.1%

Note: This data does not include penalty kicks missed in penalty shootouts

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Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been named Norwich City caretaker manager

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Wilshere will take charge of the Sky Bet Championship club following the sacking of Johannes Hoff Thorup.

Thorup’s number two, Glen Riddersholm has also left Carrow Road on Tuesday.

Wilshere, who was part of the coaching crew under Thorup will be assisted by Tony Roberts and Nick Stanley.

Norwich City have two games left in their Championship campaign.

Sporting director Ben Knapper said: “Whilst we made this appointment with a long-term focus and in line with our wider club strategy and direction, unfortunately recent results and performances have deemed it necessary for us make a change.

“I’d like to place on record our sincere thanks to Johannes and Glen. They are both fantastic people who worked tirelessly to help improve and move our football club forward.

“We all wish the two of them the best in the next stage of their respective careers.

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