Stingers repeat Paris water polo success against USA
With former skipper and three-time Olympian Zoe Arancini announcing her retirement, the Stingers opened the Tri Nations series in style.
Playing their first match at home since winning silver at the Paris Olympics, the Australians posted a thrilling win after the scores were locked at 8-8 at the end of regulation time.
In Paris the Stingers downed the three-time Olympic champions in the semi-finals in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after the scores were also 8-8 at fulltime.
After some huge saves in their latest shoot-out by goalkeepers Gabi Palm and Gen Longman, fellow Olympian Alice Williams slotted the winning goal.
Williams was everywhere, opening the scoring for Australia after converting a penalty, while she also found the back of the cage in the dying seconds of the first quarter to level the scores 2-2.
The Aussies added another two goals to their haul in the second quarter, courtesy of Abby Andrews and Olivia Mitchell.
In the third, a buzzer-beater goal from Dani Jackovich put the hosts back in it, trailing by one at the three-quarter time break.
Williams scored another in the fourth quarter, with Jakovich again nailing her shot in the final minutes to draw level at 8-8.
For proud veteran Bronte Halligan, it was a case of deja vu.
"An 8-8 score and then to go into penalties...the irony wasn't lost on me. Almost 12 months ago we had the exact same score in the semi-final against them at the Olympics," Halligan said.
"It was just a true dedication to the hard work the girls have put in all year and it was really exciting for our first official home game (this cycle) on home soil to come up with a big win in penalties."
Meanwhile, Arancini, who isn't playing in the series, confirmed her retirement from the international stage after a 16-year career.
Arancini made her debut for the Aussie Stingers in 2009 and went on to amass 330 international caps and played in the Rio, Tokyo and Paris Games.
Having achieved podium success at every major international competition in world water polo, Arancini said the timing felt right to step away.
"I've done this for 16 years now, and to finish on such an amazing note at Paris 2024 is pretty special," Arancini said.
"I'm ready for the next chapter of my life… I know it's the right decision because I'm happy, I'm content, and it's my choice.
"I'm immensely proud of what we've achieved, and I'm so excited for the next generation to step in."
The Australians next face Italy on Sunday in Perth as the teams gear up for the world aquatic championships in Singapore next month.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
2 minutes ago
- New York Times
Inside the Lionesses' Euro 2025 win: Wiegman's ‘new England' mantra, ‘hard' talks and… penalties
A rollercoaster would be Georgia Stanway's tattoo of choice to sum up Euro 2025. There have been highs — from equalisers in the dying seconds to multiple penalty shootout victories — and lows that included conceding in the second minute in the quarter-final, error-strewn play and nervous spot-kicks. Advertisement Ella Toone said the team nearly 'killed (Sarina Wiegman) twice this tournament'. Make that three times after England beat Spain 3-1 on penalties in Basel on Sunday to retain the trophy they won on home soil in 2022. One of the storylines of this European Championship for England has been their ability to fight back and save themselves, having made slow starts. They had to come from behind against Spain but they actually started the game better than at any other point in the tournament. Their tempo was high, they kept the ball well and defended astutely. In the first half Spain simply took their chances through a fantastically worked goal finished off by Mariona Caldentey. But in the second half Alessia Russo headed home Chloe Kelly's teasing delivery and England withstood the storm that followed. They stuck together. When it got to penalties, it seemed their luck had run out. Beth Mead was forced to retake her spot-kick and her second attempt was saved. But England and their goalkeeper Hannah Hampton held their nerve. Wiegman said in the previous knockout games she felt like she was having a heart attack on the touchline but she and her players remained poker-faced. Almost inevitably, given her impact off the bench at this tournament, it was Kelly whose penalty won it, defeating a Spain team which beat them in the 2023 World Cup final and which possesses some of the most talented players of their generation. The Lionesses' grit, determination and togetherness got them over the line. Finally, it was time for a moment of release for Wiegman, who joined her players in jubilant celebrations on the pitch after the final whistle. This is the story of their tournament. In February, Wiegman reframed England's approach to Euro 2025. They did not see it as a 'defence' of their title, not something to cling onto as holders but a 'new challenge', one which they called 'new England'. That phrase took on a new meaning when, in the weeks before departing for Switzerland, Millie Bright, Mary Earps and Fran Kirby — three influential players — withdrew from selection or retired. Wiegman had been proactive in telling the players where they stood in the pecking order, had held honest conversations with Bright and Earps and wanted them in the squad, but sources briefed on the matter — speaking anonymously to protect relationships — said they were not happy at the prospect of being on the bench. Earps said it was time to 'give the younger generation an opportunity to thrive', while Bright felt she was 'mentally and physically' at her limits and needed a break. Advertisement On Friday, Wiegman looked back on that period with her usual sense of pragmatism. 'Whether players are available or not, the result is the same as an injured or unavailable player,' she told reporters. 'You have to move on to what you want and who is ready to compete.' There was a risk the Dutch manager might become isolated given she lost three central figures but captain Leah Williamson quashed that sentiment before the opening game. 'She is a good person,' said Williamson. 'As a player you want to respect the person you play for, which we do.' In their opening 2-1 defeat against France, England played poorly. The biggest tactical takeaway was Wiegman starting Lauren James in the No 10 role, with Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead out wide. In the lead-up, England had been training using a few different systems, including that formation but with mixed success. Williamson described the one-versus-one defending against the French as 'cheap' and disagreed that the defence was disjointed, instead pointing to her team being too 'expansive' and failing to keep the ball. Jess Carter said there was more than one player who had 'a 'mare on the ball'. There were signs of vulnerability in the team and France had shown others the blueprint of how to beat England. But on the morning after that defeat, there was no finger-pointing and the players were supportive of one another. Later on that Sunday when they reviewed video clips in their team meeting, players and staff had hard, healthy and honest conversations. They spoke about football at times being a 'lonely place', in Stanway's words, and the importance of non-verbal communication such as eye contact. Lucy Bronze led the discussion about how England had lost their opening game to France at the 2015 World Cup. Players took a step back and remembered why they were here. Under Wiegman, the squad have previously spoken about their personal journeys but this year they delved even deeper. Some players' 'why' has changed. Williamson, for example, missed the 2023 World Cup through injury. When times are tough on the pitch, remembering where each other has come from helps connect the team. 'It's been important,' said Hemp. 'You know every single bit about someone to help you through everything.' The message was to stick together. GO DEEPER The making of a Lioness - as told by their parents: Extra jobs, bank loans and sleeping in meetings Former Lionesses, including Jill Scott and Toni Duggan, messaged Bronze to remind her of previous experiences. Although not always considered the most serious, Scott had several one-to-one conversations with Williamson, passing on words of wisdom. Indeed, the player WhatsApp group made for the Euro 2022 celebrations is still active. It is not a buzzing chat full of banter, rather Bright, Kirby and many others messaged to say 'good luck', 'well done' or 'we believe in you'. Advertisement 'When players have been part of a setup, especially those who aren't necessarily here, and for them to, for whatever reason, reinforce their belief in the team and want to be part of it, that speaks volumes of the group,' said Williamson. Come that Monday, Stanway was 'fed up of talking'. She spoke about being 'proper England' and the team returning to its roots. Before the must-win group game against the Netherlands, the mood was calm and confident. 'Everybody else (outside) was panic stations,' said Keira Walsh. 'We still needed to win this game, whether we beat France or not. The objective did not change.' Williamson followed her usual matchday routine by playing the card game Monopoly Deal with Walsh, Toone, Russo and Beth Mead before taking a nap, while Bronze spent the morning doing a jigsaw with Michelle Agyemang and Maya Le Tissier. Wiegman showed her adaptability by switching Carter, who struggled against France's Delphine Cascarino, from left-back to centre-back. It made one think that had Bright, who has provided her thoughts throughout the tournament on her podcast DalyBrightness, been involved, she might have played at centre-back. Although the England manager said she had no regrets about her selection for the first game, she moved James out to the right wing, perhaps an admission that her plan had not worked. James' rocket got England off to the start they needed and at half-time the message was to be ruthless. The 4-0 win showed glimpses of how England can play. Wiegman said she found the scrutiny hard and was a little 'tense' before the game but repeated her mantra: stay within our bubble and block out the noise. The 6-1 win over Wales, featuring six different England goalscorers, brought the 'positive clicks' to the fore. When substitutes — or as Wiegman calls them 'finishers' — Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones scored, they ran to the bench and celebrated by clicking their fingers. While the starting XI were left in the dark, those in the dugout were all on the same page, having come up with the celebration before the game. Advertisement Le Tissier had created a separate WhatsApp group for the subs called 'the positive clicks' so that they could share photos of the celebration. Whereas a 'clique' could be perceived negatively, this 'click' was anything but. Toone and Russo were the substitute game-changers at Euro 2022 but there has been a role reversal this time. Russo only scored twice at this tournament but performed a similar role to former England No 9 Ellen White, who grafted and triggered the press three years ago before making way for the finishers. When it mattered in the final, she duly delivered. Those super subs — Agyemang, who had only played nine minutes of senior football before being selected for the Euros squad, and Kelly chief among them — and a never-say-die attitude proved vital in the knockout stages. England were fully aware of the threat Sweden posed in the quarter-finals but were still punished for their sloppiness in possession and at 2-0 down with 12 minutes remaining, the Lionesses looked to be heading home. There was a moment in the first half when Esme Morgan thought: 'I haven't packed anything.' Wiegman's changes, however, turned the game around. Kelly was pivotal and Agyemang clinical. Bronze carried the team on her shoulders, becoming a physio, striker and eventually the scorer of the penalty that sent England into the semis at the end of a farcical shootout. 'I'm just filled with this baseline confidence, I know that we can,' Williamson told the Lionesses' podcast. When the players look at each other, 'we know we've been to the places that we need to go to again'. It is formed on mutual respect built over time. 'What would you do if I told you we were all ready to kill each other?' joked Williamson during the tournament. A month in close proximity with the same people is tough, let alone being part of a team under intense pressure. But Wiegman's strength lies in building a strong culture among players, staff and their families. Advertisement 'Every single member of staff coming into this camp felt valued by her, knew exactly what their role was and how they could be part of an overall team,' said FA CEO Mark Bullingham. 'Stressing that everyone is in it together is critical.' 'The staff are always there, if you need extra nutrition, gym, if you're unsure about the tactics, the door is always open, just go and ask questions,' Stanway told the Lionesses' podcast. The FA created a home-away-from-home feel, including Lionesses-branded Yorkshire tea bags, at the five-star Dolder Grand hotel. It costs between £500 and £13,500 per night to stay there. Every player waxed lyrical about the facilities, especially from a performance perspective. Darts competitions, spike ball, table tennis, basketball trick shots, quizzes, days in the life of another player, watching football, Wimbledon and the cricket, woodland walks, sightseeing in Zurich, boat trips, coffee and pizza stops, lake swims and slides have entertained them, while Reggie the dog has offered the best hugs. Bronze loves spending time with the younger players because their enthusiasm rubs off on her. They just keep getting better and better 😂 👀 🏀 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 11, 2025 Every player was given a journal. Beever-Jones, the squad's de facto photographer, and Lotte Wubben-Moy, who brought her sourdough starter with her and gave it to chef Stuart to feed every day, have used it for their reflections. On one day the quote greeting them at their daily wellness session reminded them of the power of the team rather than individuals and there are no seating plans or fixed meal times. Williamson, who made a conscious effort to be more sociable during this tournament, brought her portable keyboard with her but was slightly discouraged by Agyemang's and Hampton's skills on the keys, while supporting Russo's brother Giorgio on Love Island was a way to decompress and dominated the breakfast table chatter. Walsh has leaned on former England international and Euro 2022 winner Scott, who popped on the team bus after the games, made the midfielder cups of tea and took her out for dinner in the evenings after matchdays, most importantly talking about non-football matters. Wiegman has always understood the importance of downtime with family and friends and made sure ample time was spent with them. Advertisement Such strong bonds within the team have also formed among players' families and friends who have had to sit through torture watching this team. Although the players did not review the penalties back in full, the families and friends watched them on repeat, Bronze's brother Jorge was the driving force behind Saturday park runs in Dreilandergarten, Germany, while on Friday they all met for a pub crawl. One particularly motivational speech from Wiegman on the Saturday evening before the semi-final against Italy stood out to the players. Late that night the team held a meeting to discuss the best course of action in response to Carter being racially abused on social media. The squad rallied around their team-mate privately and publicly, as shown by their team and individual statements. 'Being vulnerable is probably one of the most important things because it brings the group so much closer together,' said Stanway. England looked tired against Italy and they failed to take their chances early on. It was a snapshot of the past year: lethargic, wayward passes, unforced errors and a flat team. Their midfield was too easy to transition against and not compact enough. It seemed those who had come back from injury, especially Hemp — who ran herself into the ground — and James, were rusty. Wiegman's general principle is only to call up players when they are featuring regularly for their clubs, but as she did with Bright at the 2023 World Cup, she started James, Hemp and Stanway from the off. They could not find their rhythm and were inconsistent. But somehow England clung on yet again. As long as the Lionesses were still in the game, they knew the players on the bench could have a huge impact. Late changes forced players into unfamiliar positions: Hemp at left-back, for example, and Mead in central midfield. Advertisement It all contributed to some of England's performances in this tournament being contrary to what Wiegman likes: control, organisation and error-free. But even though it may have looked chaotic at times, there was method in the madness. One of Wiegman's buzzwords is 'scenarios', though surely even she could not have predicted England's rollercoaster ride. Her planning, however, is months in the making, even if Bright and Earps surprised her with their decisions. Earps came to watch the Wales game before starting gruelling pre-season testing with Paris Saint-Germain. She had photos with Toone and Russo but did not have a moment with the whole squad. On Saturday, the day before the final, Wiegman reeled off England's squad announcement date, June 5, without hesitation. 'That is how the squad is built,' she said. 'On June 5, we figured out what player we might need in certain circumstances if we want to change things. We have spoken through all the scenarios. When we want to change, we can make a decision very quickly.' Although it may look chaotic on the outside, for Walsh, it did not feel like that. 'It is not by luck that Michelle (Agyemang) is in the box and scoring,' she said. 'It is not by luck that people are putting crosses in the box. It's thought out and purposeful and it is the absolute belief that no matter what minute of the game it is, we are going to win or get a result we need to take us to extra time. That is the resilience of this team as well.' That word, resilience, defines this team. There is an inner confidence, something intangible that cannot be explained. England played poorly in the knockouts, rode their luck and pulled off two great escapes. Remarkably, they led for only four minutes and 52 seconds in total after the group stage. But in the final, they were fearless and showed their whole is greater than the sum of their parts. Wiegman is the first manager to win three European Championships. It is no wonder Bullingham said: 'She is not for sale'. (Top photos: Getty Images; design: Dan Goldfarb)
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jack Conan reveals video from Katie Taylor inspired Lions before second Test win
Jack Conan has revealed that an inspiring video from Irish boxing great Katie Taylor helped the British and Irish Lions find the resilience needed to close out their series against Australia. Taylor, an Olympic gold medal winner and current undisputed world super lightweight champion, sent the good luck message to Andy Farrell's squad in the build-up to Saturday's second Test at Melbourne Cricket Club. The 39-year-old's words on the ability to dig deep turned out to be prophetic as the Lions emerged 29-26 winners after fighting back from an 18-point deficit. 'The video was unbelievably poignant and powerful. It spoke about being prepared to win with skill, but also being ready to win by will,' said Ireland number eight Conan, who like Taylor hails from Bray in County Wicklow. 'That was something that was massively summed up in the game because we were not at our best at all. 'It's huge because she comes from the town I'm from. I'm incredibly proud of where I come from and I know Katie is as well. 'She's gone on to achieve incredible feats in the boxing world. To be such a superstar, incredibly humble and driven is something that we leant on as well because we knew that Australia are a hugely proud nation and they showed it in spades. 'Everyone loved it, even the English and the Scottish boys and the Welsh boy – it resonated with everyone. It was unbelievably poignant, it was class. It really hit home for us.' It took a beautifully-taken try by Hugo Keenan with 51 seconds remaining to separate the rivals in one of the greatest Lions matches ever played. Remarkably, Keenan's touchdown was the first time they led in the match. Conan admits that victory tastes all the sweeter for having been taken to the wire as Australia raised their game to a whole new level a week after starting the series with a whimper in Brisbane. 'We were not at our best by any measure, but physically the lads dug in unbelievably well,' he said. 'It was disappointing how we played, but we played for 80 minutes. Hugo getting over the line in the last minute was just unbelievable. 'It wasn't my best game. A lot of us weren't at the races at all, but we stuck in there. You can't fault the effort. I thought the defensive sets we put in, just whacking people and just staying in there, was unbelievable. 'It's something that will go down in history. They won't be writing the history books about how s*** we were, but they'll say that we won and that's all that matters. 'Everyone's over the moon. To be part of a Lions winning series team is incredibly special. The celebrations in the changing room wouldn't have been the same if we'd won by 20.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Gethin Jones suffering after witnessing 'absolute spectacle' while on break from BBC Morning Live
Welsh TV presenter Gethin Jones has admitted he's 'feeling a bit dusty' after what he described as an unforgettable night for Welsh sport, watching two huge wins unfold back-to-back. The BBC Morning Live star is currently in Melbourne, where he caught both the Wales Women's rugby victory over Australia and the British & Irish Lions' dramatic series-clinching win at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) - a night he dubbed an 'absolute spectacle'. Taking to Instagram, Gethin shared his excitement and also hinted at the celebrations that followed. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter READ MORE: Harry Redknapp's wife Sandra, 78, hospitalised READ MORE: John Torode gives update on marriage with Lisa Faulkner, admits 'changes' He wrote: 'What a night in Melbourne. Watching the women's @welshrugbyunion beat Australia… and then the absolute spectacle at the @mcg – @britishandirishlions clinch the series in dramatic fashion! 'Hats off them! (Wish I had) A bit dusty this morning!' Their win was partly down to Jac Morgan, who helped secure their dramatic win by clearing out Australia's Carlo Tizzano at the breakdown in the dying moments, allowing the team to retain possession and set up Hugo Keenan's match-winning try. You can read more about this here. Gethin is a passionate supporter of Welsh sport and often shares updates from matches, training camps, and major fixtures. But even by his own standards, Saturday night seemed like a night to remember, as Wales Women also stunned the Wallaroos in a nail biting game before the Lions sealed their series. Gethin shared a picture of himself in the crowd alongside some friends, as well as a selfie taken in a bar, with him and two others all beaming at the camera. It's been a busy week for the Welsh presenter, as he visited Cardiff just a few weeks ago to talk about his new role as the Chef de Mission for Team Wales ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Speaking about his latest venture, he said: 'To be trusted in this role is a huge responsibility and the focus I've seen in the last few months since I've come on board has been mind-blowing. 'Everyone striving for excellence from performance to organisational operations and everything in between has been amazing.' He continued: 'When I see someone achieve their very best performance, when it really matters under pressure, that's what inspires me. 'That will go with us into Glasgow, and of course as it has been the case for the last few cycles as well, what truly matters is how we hold ourselves.' You can read more about his thoughts taking on his new role, and how he is balancing everything here.
