Republic of Ireland midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn believes footballers cannot shy away from the spotlight if they want to escalate the growth of the women’s game.
The 33-year-old is one of 23 women selected by manager Vera Pauw to represent the Republic in their first World Cup, a monumental moment that has drawn unprecedented attention to the team and individual players.
The full World Cup experience comes with corresponding changes off the pitch – more photo shoots and social media followers among them – a fact of life Littlejohn encouraged the players at this Australia and New Zealand-hosted tournament to embrace like England’s Lionesses after their Euro 2022 victory blasted them into their country’s consciousness.
Havin’ the craic |
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Graham Arnold believes his Australia side can deliver this World Cup s latest upset win when they face Lionel Messi s Argentina on Saturday.
There have been no shortage of shocks at this tournament, with the Socceroos Group D defeat of Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark among them.
That victory set up a last-16 tie against Argentina, who were themselves on the wrong end of a surprise result when they lost their opening game to Saudi Arabia.
Australia have enjoyed some success against La Albiceleste in the past, too. Coach Arnold was part of the only senior Socceroos team to beat Argentina back in 1988, although their Olympic team added another triumph last July.
I just think Argentina bring the best out of Australia, said Arnold on the eve of this latest m…
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Newcastle are set to welcome Manchester United to St James Park on Sunday afternoon in what should be an interesting eighth-round Premier League match.
Newcastle
Having parted ways with Rafa Benitez in controversial circumstances and replaced him with Steve Bruce this summer, Newcastle haven t exactly had a dream start under the new manager. After seven rounds, they sit second from the wrong end of the table, with only Watford below.
Although it s not really a disaster to lose to Arsenal or Liverpool, their run of games includes defeats to the freshly promoted Norwich City, and a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Leciester City last week. They did, on the other hand, manage to pull off a great surprise by beating Tottenham Hotspur …
While all eyes might have fallen on Allianz Field in the early hours of Sunday, Wayne Rooney could only mark his MLS return with a sluggish 2-0 loss away at Minnesota.
Although there might have been much excitement when it was announced that DC United s former attacking star would be taking permanent charge in Washington, the ex-England skipper faces a huge task.
Failing to ask any questions away at the Loons and still firmly in the midst of an MLS nightmare, a double from the red-hot Amanuel Reynoso on either side of the interval wrapped up all three points for Minnesota.
In a showdown between two sides battling it out at opposite ends of their respective Conferences, we have taken a look at the main talking points from Sunday s meeting in Saint Paul.
Who …
Lautaro Martinez s agent said he has had no discussions with Europe s biggest clubs about a transfer, though admitted the Inter star would relish the chance to play regularly with Lionel Messi.
Martinez s form for Inter has seen him linked to Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea, with the Argentinian having scored 16 times in 31 appearances across all competitions.
His list of admirers includes international colleague Messi, who called the 22-year-old spectacular , and his Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez.
Martinez s agent, Alberto Yaque, conceded linking up with Messi on a regular basis is something any player would want.
Who would not like to play with Messi? Yaque told Planeta 947.
Speaking of the games they played in the national team, he said…
England boss Gareth Southgate has summoned Jordan Henderson to bolster his midfield after losing shoulder injury victim Kalvin Phillips.
Manager Southgate is waiting to learn whether Phillips will be fit for World Cup duty after Manchester City decided their close-season recruit from Leeds United would need surgery.
It means Euro 2020 runners-up England may be without a key man for the Qatar 2022 finals, although they will be holding out hope Phillips can return and prove his fitness before the tournament.
He has become a Southgate favourite in a deep-lying midfield role, joining Declan Rice in shielding the defence.
For now, a familiar figure in Henderson returns to the fray, with the 32-year-old Liverpool captain boasting 69 caps and considerable big-to…
Newcastle United have reached an agreement with Bournemouth over a proposed move for Callum Wilson, according to Sky Sports.
The striker was an object of contest between the Magpies and Aston Villa, but after having a bid of their own rejected, Villa have now pulled out of the race and left the path clear for Newcastle, who are the player s preferred destination. This morning (Sunday), the club from the northeast submitted an offer of a £20 million package which the Cherries have accepted. They are now free to approach the player officially and discuss personal terms.
The 28-year-old has been with Bournemouth since 2014. His fine performances at club level earned him an England debut in 2018, and he has so far played four games for the Three Lions, finding the oppositi…
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said preparation for Sunday’s 3-0 home win against Nottingham Forest had been “the most difficult I’ve ever had in my life”.
Reds forward Luis Diaz did not feature in the Premier League clash at Anfield after reports that his parents had been kidnapped in Colombia and Klopp said the player had returned home to be with family members.
Liverpool confirmed an “ongoing situation involving the family of Luis Diaz” earlier on Sunday and Colombia’s president said Diaz’s mother “has been rescued” but his father remains missing.
Liverpool Football Club can confirm it is aware of an ongoing situation involving the family of Luis Diaz in Colombia.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
Klopp said: “The game preparation …
Jurgen Klopp says it will only be a matter of time before Darwin Nunez gets his first Liverpool goal at Anfield after the striker failed to find the net against Rangers.
Liverpool ran out comfortable 2-0 victors against Giovanni van Bronckhorst s side in the Champions League, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah on target.
Allan McGregor was forced into eight saves to keep the scoreline down, while Nunez had more shots than any Liverpool player in the match – finding the target with four of his attempts.
The former Benfica striker s six efforts were the most a Liverpool player has had without scoring in a Champions League group stage game since Sadio Mane against Salzburg in December 2019 (also six).
Despite just the sole strike to Nunez s name…
Carlos Corberan praised West Brom’s “maturity” as a hard-fought 1-0 win at Cardiff lifted them to third place in the Sky Bet Championship.
Jeremy Sarmiento’s stunning second-half strike gave Albion a fifth win in six games and seven from their last 10.
“It was total opposite win,” boss Corberan said comparing Albion’s success in the Welsh capital to their free-flowing victory over second-placed Ipswich on Saturday.
“This result was the consequence of the team competing with maturity when we couldn’t find the football we wanted to create.
“The first half was very difficult to impose our style, we couldn’t find more than four or five passes because we couldn’t link enough.
“It was very important for me not to be frustrated …