Germany's Emma Aicher skis to her 1st World Cup victory
German skier Emma Aicher won a World Cup downhill on Saturday for her first victory, one day after she earned the maiden podium result of her career, at the Kvitfjell ski resort in Ringebu, Norway.
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Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Poland coach resigns after dispute with star striker Robert Lewandowski
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The coach of Poland's national soccer team announced Thursday has resigned as head coach, days after a spat with star striker Robert Lewandowski. 'I have come to the conclusion that, given the current situation, the best decision for the good of the national team is my resignation from the position of head coach,' Michał Probierz said in a statement published by the Polish Football Association. Probierz stripped Barcelona striker Lewandowski of his position as team captain on the eve of a World Cup qualifier against Finland earlier this week, and named Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zieliński as the new captain. Lewandowski reacted by saying he would no longer play for the national team as long as Probierz remains head coach. Poland went on to suffer an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Finland, to put its qualifications hopes into jeopardy. The 36-year-old Lewandowski, who has played a record 158 games for his country and is the leading scorer with 85 goals, is arguably the most outstanding player in the history of Polish soccer. Lewandowski pulled out of last Friday's friendly over Moldova, citing tiredness from a La Liga title-winning season with Barcelona. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Probierz, who took over in September 2023 after the disappointing tenure of Fernando Santos, managed to secure qualification for the 2024 European Championship but has since struggled. The Polish Football Association's president, Cezary Kulesza, had summoned Probierz on Wednesday to discuss the matter. 'I give coaches a lot of freedom, but with that comes responsibility. I expect results, first and foremost,' Kulesza said. 'These were difficult days for the fans of the national team.' ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
5 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
LA sports celebrities anticipate World Cup's arrival, hope political climate has cooled by then
LOS ANGELES (AP) — When the 2026 World Cup begins across North America one year from this week, sports figures from across Los Angeles are hoping the global soccer community will find the U.S. both inspiring and welcoming. The Fox network marked the one-year milestone Wednesday night with a big party at its studio lot in Century City. Attendees included everyone from 'Ted Lasso' star Jason Sudeikis to luminaries from every corner of the sports world in the nation's second-largest metropolitan area, including Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. 'I remember when the World Cup was here in the '90s, and then obviously what our American women's team did to win the World Cup (in 1999),' Harbaugh said. 'So yeah, I love sports, I love competition, and I think it's going to be incredible for our state, our city, our country. The vibe is going to be incredible to just have everybody here. I'm looking for another explosion of soccer — football — in America.' The attendees all expressed excitement about the return of the world's premier soccer tournament to the U.S. while acknowledging the uncertainty of whether the nation's fraught political climate could present significant challenges to the teams, the World Cup organizers and even the network that will broadcast the tournament domestically. 'I'm hoping this game can bring people together,' said former LA Galaxy midfielder Cobi Jones, a three-time World Cup veteran and the U.S. men's career leader in appearances. 'That's what we really want. We're talking about the travel bans and all that, I'm hoping that FIFA can work together with our government to find a way that everyone can be here, everyone can enjoy this sport, because it's a cultural event that's happening here in a year. I expect everyone from around the world to be able to come here and enjoy it.' Los Angeles is in the midst of several days of protests against intensified immigration raids across the nation that could cause international fans to wonder whether they can travel to the tournament safely. President Donald Trump's latest expansive travel ban has raised questions about whether some soccer fans will be able to visit at all. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'I think it will get figured out,' Harbaugh said. 'To quote the late, great Tom Petty, most things I worry about don't end up happening anyway.' Jones also preached caution for U.S. fans already fretting about the dismal state of their national team. Coach Mauricio Pochettino's squad is on its first four-game losing streak since 2007 after getting thrashed 4-0 by Switzerland on Tuesday in its final tune-up for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. 'We don't panic right now,' Jones said. 'Talk to me when we're a month out. I've seen from experience that with a year out from the World Cup, the team is going to completely change (in the interim). So for me, it's all about a general sense of whether they can come together as a team, because it's not about the individuals. We've seen it so many times.' ___ AP soccer:
Calgary Herald
12 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
How much will the World Cup cost Vancouver? We still don't know, one year out
Article content The countdown is on for both the World Cup, and the release of the final financial projections of just how much it will cost. Article content Wednesday afternoon at Terry Fox Plaza outside of B.C. Place, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani and a host of other dignitaries took part in the unveiling of a giant digital clock that is ticking down to the start of the 2026 World Cup. An energetic, upbeat event where local youth teams playing a seven-a-side game — while being coached by Canada soccer veterans Tosaint Ricketts and Christine Sinclair — set what the organizers hoped was an energetic and positive tone. Article content Article content Article content But the clock is also ticking on the region's patience to find out just how much taxpayers will be paying to host the massive sporting event, one that is on par with the Olympic Games in terms of global reach and prestige. Mayor Sim called it the 'equivalent of 30 to 40 Super Bowls.' Article content The cost of the event has doubled from the initial numbers; the last report had the price tag for the province between $483 million and $581 million, with the City of Vancouver expected to pay at least $230M. Article content 'We'll have a full costing of where we're at in terms of cost, in terms of revenue, closer to the end of June, and we'll share it publicly at that point. We're just finishing up a couple of the accounting things,' said Spencer Chandra Herbert, B.C.'s Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. Article content Article content Toronto has been more forthcoming with their numbers, saying it will fall $40M short in its already ballooning $380M budget for their portion of the event. Vancouver has yet to address the updated financials publicly. Article content Article content 'Look, we're bound by confidentiality agreements,' said Mayor Sim. 'That's just part of the process. What I can tell you is, we've had great lenses on it. This is actually a great event where the city, the residents of the City of Vancouver and the region and the province and the country will benefit. Article content Article content 'Let's put this in perspective. There are cities around the planet that would absolutely love this opportunity. We have this opportunity in the City of Vancouver. We're making sure it's held from a fiscally responsible perspective. And we're super excited to have this opportunity.' Article content Vancouver will host seven games of the 2026 World Cup at B.C. Place, with Toronto getting six. Canada will play two games in Vancouver, and should Les Rouges advance out of their round robin group, would potentially play in the two knockout round games at B.C. Place.
