Million dollar defender Naomi Girma only European-based player to face Ireland as Emma Hayes rests USA stars
The first million dollar player in women's soccer, Chelsea defender Naomi Girma will be the only European-based player in the USA squad to face Ireland in two friendlies next week.
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RTÉ News
44 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Sheffield United replace Chris Wilder with Ruben Selles
Sheffield United have appointed Ruben Selles as their new manager after Chris Wilder expressed "great regret" over his departure from Bramall Lane. Selles was swiftly named as Wilder's successor on Wednesday evening, with the Spaniard signing a three-year deal at the Championship club. The 42-year-old former Southampton, Reading and Hull boss told the Blades website: "When we first heard about the possibility of coming here, it was a no-brainer for us to join a club with this kind of history and with a mission to move forward and try to be even more competitive. "This is a very powerful and ambitious project. It was very important at the start of the conversations that everyone is on the same page. "We need to embrace data and new technologies, but the most important thing is not to forget the football essence. "I think we are capable of delivering a good model and optimise our performance by using all the tools that we have. "Our identity is always very clear. We want to be aggressive, we want to make things happen. "So, the fans can expect a team which is not going to wait or be reactive, we will be proactive, we are going to go and try and be as competitive as we can in every single game. If we can do that then we'll give ourselves a very good chance of winning games." Wilder's departure had been expected over the last 24 hours following the club's end-of-season review into their failure to win promotion to the Premier League. Despite amassing 92 points, United finished third behind Leeds and Burnley and were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland in the play-off final at Wembley after taking the lead. The Blades described Wilder's departure as a "mutually agreed decision". The 57-year-old quickly released his own statement through the club's media platforms, saying he was "obviously disappointed" to be leaving Bramall Lane. Wilder said: "It is with great regret that my time at Sheffield United has come to an end. "I'd like to thank Stephen Bettis (chief executive) and Prince Abdullah (former owner) for bringing me back to the club and giving me the opportunity to rebuild the team and take this great club forward. "To the fans, I'm obviously disappointed to be leaving, particularly because we were so close to getting back to the Premier League. "I'm a Sheffielder through and through, I love this club and this city and that feeling will never change. "I depart with some cherished memories and feel proud to be talked about in the same manner that special Sheffield United managers are remembered – leading this team over 300 times will remain an incredible part of my life. This is a heartfelt thank you for all your support." American-based consortium COH Sports, who completed a takeover in December last year, had handed Wilder a new contract until the end of the 2027-28 season in January.
Extra.ie
an hour ago
- Extra.ie
Why Argentina feels like an early audition for Lions No12 jersey
Have the British and Irish Lions ever fielded a more imposing midfield? In Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu, Andy Farrell is rolling out a hard-running centre partnership which collectively tips the scales at around 32 stone. That's a lot of midfield muscle. Aki and Tuipulotu are the kind of operators which strike fear into opposition out-halves. The prospect of one of these powerhouses paying a visit down the No10 channel is daunting. Dealing with both is positively alarming. Bundee Aki. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan Shorn of his France-based frontliners, who are still on Top14 duty, Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi has named a youthful Lions side to face down the Lions at Aviva Stadium on Friday evening. Benetton out-half Tomas Albornoz, uncapped centre Justo Piccardo and Saracens centre Lucio Cinti are going to have a busy night in Dublin trying to contain this potent Lions midfield. But Contepomi will sense some opportunities, too. Yes, this Aki/Tuipulotu axis will pack a punch but it's also a combination which looks a bit one-paced. Sione Tuipulotu. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan Defensively, they could be exposed. Indeed, neither player – for all their undoubted talent – has looked entirely comfortable at outside centre in the past. Aki had a defensive nightmare in the No13 jersey for Ireland during the 2023 Six Nations when he and Stuart McCloskey struggled to contain a free-running Italian backline in Rome. The Connacht midfielder has always looked his gainline-busting best at inside centre. Ditto, the destructive Tuipulotu. Even his Glasgow head coach Franco Smith came to the same conclusion recently. Tuipulotu started at outside centre against Leinster in the URC quarter-final. But the Scotland skipper was shifted back to his customary position at No12 at the half-time break because he clearly wasn't having the same impact on the game. Bundee Aki tackling Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile It will be fascinating to see how this combination goes against this expirimental Pumas side. It's an imposing combination but it lacks balance. In truth, this feels like an early shoot-out for the inside centre spot ahead of the Test series. Tuipulotu, despite missing the entire Six Nations with injury, remains the favourite to start against the Wallabies. But Aki, who turned 35 in April, is in the shape of his life and has a tonne of credit in the bank with Farrell. On Fridy night, both players will have a chance to lay down an early marker. Because there is unlikely to be space in the starting XV for both, especially when Garry Ringrose and Huw Jones get up to speed. Lions head coach Andy Farrell. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Farrell's preference is for a midfield which combines power and panache. Go back through previous Lions tour and the starting centres always complimented each other. Whether it was Scott Gibbs and Jeremy Guscott or Brian O'Driscoll lining up alongside Rob Henderson or Jamie Roberts, there were the perfect balance of blunt force, fleet footwork, vision and deft skills. Tuipulotu would appear to have the edge in this midfield battle. The Glasgow centre can offer the same physical presence as his rival, but he has a bit of an edge when it comes to out and out pace. Aki, however, is a hugely underrated distributor and offers so much more than just a crash ball option. Both players are proven leaders in their environments, too. Bundee Aki. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan Both are set for big tours. But there is only going to be room for one behemoth in this Lions midfield. Then again, if they combine to devastating effect in this pre-tour runout and gel as a defensive pairing, then perhaps we might a trend being bucked in the coming weeks. Right now, it's expected that a combination of Aki or Tuipolotu and Jones or Ringrose will face down Joe Schmidt's side in the Test series. The Wallabies backline is laced with pace and the presence of superstar rugby league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will demand that that the Lions have pacy and experienced defender in the outside channels. The Lions midfield was one of many interesting selections made by Farrell and his backroom team on Wednesday. This was a matchday squad which went along expected lines. The late arrival of the Leinster frontliners and the likes of Bath out-half Finn Russell, who were tied up with URC and English Premiership finals last weekend, meant that the crew which pitched up at last week's warm weather training camp in the Algarve had the jump on selection. It's an English heavy starting line-up, with just three Irish starters – and three more on the bench – and a big opportunity to make an early impression on Farrell. Finlay Bealham wasn't even part of the original squad. Zander Fagerson's injury woe allowed the Connacht tighthead to make the cut. All eyes will be on Tadhg Furlong. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Bealham, who was born and raised in Canberra, needs to make of the most of this start. England's Will Stuart had a big season while Tadhg Furlong, if he can prove his fitness, is a shoo-in to start against Australia. All eyes will be on Furlong, who was last seen in a Leinster shirt in a URC league game against Glasgow on May 17. The Ireland tighthead has a Lions Royal Flush in his sights, as he targets nine consecutive starts spanning tours of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. But Furlong has been blighted by calf and hamstring injuries for the past two years. Farrell will be praying that the Wexford native has one more tour of duty left in him. Tadhg Beirne packs down with tour captain Maro Itoje in the second row. Many pundits and former players believe that his the lock combination will will start the opening Test in Brisbane on June 19. Tour captain Maro Itoje training with the Lions on Monday. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile Joe McCarthy, James Ryan and the underrated Scott Cummings will have something to say about that. The Munster captain will back himself. His role at the lineout will be vital. The backrow unit of Tom Curry, Jac Morgan and Ben Earl doesn't lack pace, breakdown impact or energy. It doest lack a bit of height, however. Itoje and Beirne will be heavily marked by this Pumas pack. Same goes for the midfield. This will certainly be Aki's last dance in a Lions jersey. He's primed for a massive battle with Tuipulotu and it begins in Ballsbridge.
The 42
2 hours ago
- The 42
Drogheda owners to cover €525,000 shortfall after European expulsion
DROGHEDA UNITED OWNERS Trivela Group have confirmed they will cover the shortfall of more than €500,000 in the club's budget after they were expelled from European competition this season due to multi-club rules. And co-chairman Ben Boycott has revealed that they have submitted documents to Louth County Council to pursue securing the land for our new stadium The League of Ireland club failed in their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to be reinstated to the UEFA Conference League on Monday. Boycott wrote a lengthy open letter on the club's website regarding the situation and said the process of implementing rule changes around multi-club ownership 'lacked consistency, clarity, and fairness.' Advertisement As detailed by The 42 yesterday, the FAI contacted Drogheda's owners last November regarding their participation in the UEFA Conference League as soon as they were notified of the firm's takeover of Danish side Silkeborg on 19 November last year. A UEFA Circular was sent to the FAI on 7 October – before Trivela bought 80% of Silkeborg – regarding the change of deadline – from June to March – for multi-club groups to adhere to the requirements to participate in the same competition. 'I believe that this very limited communication around a significant rule change created a meaningful blind spot. It appears that other MCO groups were proactively contacted by UEFA in December and January regarding these rule changes,' Boycott said. 'Further, it seems that some of those that were contacted and began taking steps before this deadline were then given time to implement structures after the deadline. We were not ever contacted directly, and Drogheda was not afforded that same flexibility. 'Regardless of how it happened – the reality is that larger and more resourced clubs had much more information and opportunity than DUFC did. That's a system that puts clubs and groups like ours at a disadvantage.' Looking to the remainder of this season, and beyond, Boycott insisted in the open letter that 'day-to-day operations are unaffected' by the loss of European prize money worth a minimum of €525,000, and provided an update on their plans to move to a new stadium. 'Let me be equally clear: this setback will not define Drogheda United's future. We care deeply about this club and this town, and we are committed to its long-term success. The club remains on sound footing. Trivela will cover the shortfall in revenue from missing Europe, and we are fully committed to seeing this project through. Day-to-day operations are unaffected. 'I will be meeting personally with our players and staff in the coming days, and I hope that we as a group can remain focused on the task at hand. Our FAI Cup title defence begins in July. And we have great potential to qualify for Europe again via the League of Ireland campaign. 'The future remains bright. We've now submitted documents to Louth County Council to pursue securing the land for our new stadium—one of the most significant steps in this club's history. That work continues, uninterrupted.'
