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New Straits Times
19 hours ago
- New Straits Times
James to bolster England squad when they look to make history in Euro final against Spain
BASEL, Switzerland: England coach Sarina Wiegman expects to have winger Lauren James in her squad for today's Euro 2025 final against Spain, boosting her team's quest to build on the legacy they began by winning the continental title three years ago. James, who has 33 goals in nine games for England including a double in their 4-0 group stage victory over the Netherlands, had been doubtful after injuring her ankle in their 2-1 semi-final win over Italy. "We had 23 players on the pitch today, and everyone came through," Wiegman said at Saturday's pre-match press conference. "If everyone recovers well, then we have everyone fit for tomorrow." England defeated Germany 2-1 in extra time in the 2022 final at Wembley, and the beautiful thing about that moment, said captain Leah Williamson, is that the players know they will likely not experience "something like that again in terms of the change, the story and the journey." But it was the start of an excellent run for England, who were edged by Spain in their first appearance in a World Cup final in 2023, and now can become the first England football team to win a title on foreign soil. "You don't want to be a flash in the pan, a memory, and before 2022 we said it was the start of something so we're still trying to play our role in that," Williamson said. "It's a really privileged time to be part of this team. The opportunity to be the first this and that is a big motivator but more because we know what it does for women's football and continues the legacy that we've already started." Sunday's final at St Jakob-Park is expected to draw a record viewing audience in England, after the team's dramatic semi-final win over Italy in extra time gave British broadcaster ITV its biggest audience of the year. Williamson said she and her teammates are aware of what another Euro victory would mean. "We're very connected to what it means to the nation. As connected as we can be being away from home," she said. "The opportunity of (Sunday) and what's on offer is the best thing in football. We wanted to be here until the end and have the chance to fight for the trophy and you can't do that until the final. "We don't carry the weight of it and how much it means to people but we're aware of it because it means the same to us. We have a squad of excited, focused players." Williamson, who injured her ankle during England's quarter-final win over Sweden, was asked about playing through pain.
New Straits Times
21 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Spanish harmony to battle English resilience in Women's Euro final
BASEL, (Switzerland): Today's final of the Women's Euros in Basel pitches the two best European teams of the current generation against each other, as a unified Spain side bristling with technique and intelligence takes on an equally talented England side that never gives up. Both sides have overcome adversity on their way to the final, with Spain almost losing playmaker Aitana Bonmati to a pre-tournament meningitis scare, and Sarina Wiegman's England coming close to elimination twice in the knockout round, only for late heroics to see them through. "We need to be at our best to beat Spain. I think they need to be at their best to beat us, too," England captain Leah Williamson told a media conference on yesterday. "I think there's a lot of respect between the two teams, and I'd be hesitant to rule an underdog in this scenario." Both sides said that all 23 squad members were fit and available for selection today, setting the stage for what is expected to be an intriguing battle of skill, wit and nerves. Defending champions England may not have played particularly well in their five games so far, but they have displayed an uncanny ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the knockout stage, first with a shootout win over Sweden and then with a come-from-behind extra-time victory over Italy. "I know that we've left it late," Williamson admitted. "(That was) definitely not the plan, we'd really like to wrap things up a little earlier and a little easier if we could." Spain have also gotten off to several slow starts, but they have still run out convincing winners in their five games to date, eventually finding a way to break down their opponents. "We have a particular way of playing, of training, we are very confident. Even if we won the games, there are things always that we can correct, things we see on video that we practice, and that's our line of work," Spain captain Irene Paredes said. The Spain team for Sunday's final is a much more harmonious one than the one that took beat England 1-0 in the World Cup final in 2023, when several of the best Spanish players boycotted the tournament in a dispute with coaching staff and their federation. Though Spain won that game 1-0 to claim their first major title, Montse Tome's squad has given a much more unified impression in Switzerland, with none of the negativity that surrounded them at that World Cup. "(This tournament) shows the change we are making, and right now I believe that, for all their efforts, the squad deserves to win," Tome said. "When you are in the elite football world that's not always the case, but we will do everything to win the final tomorrow (today)." Spain's only defeat in their last 14 games came at the hands of Sarina Wiegman's side in the Nations League in February, and they will be slight favourites for today's decider, but Paredes said such labels make little difference when the game kicks off. "I think both teams deserve to be in the final. We wanted to be there, at the beginning of the tournament that was our objective, to play six games. We're on our way. Tomorrow is number six," she told reporters. "We don't like this idea of being favourites. We know what it takes to be here, what we have to suffer, and we have to be focused."
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Late NST sports writer's son hopes to be success story
KUALA LUMPUR: The father held the pen with panache; now the son wields the hockey stick with finesse. Jugjet Singh, the New Straits Times sports writer who died of cancer last year at the age of 55, would be proud of his son, Baljit Singh Randhawa. The influence of his sports writer father is writ large on Baljit, who aspires to be a national player. Jugjet, who covered the national hockey team, including their World Cup and Olympic campaigns, had dreams of his son wearing the Malaysia jersey one day. So, the hand that wrote, also became the hand that shaped Baljit's sport path. Jugjet would tell colleagues that he was sending his son for hockey training before covering national league matches. Baljit, who will turn 17 tomorrow (July 28), is the fourth and youngest son of Jugjet. "I took up hockey because of my father. He loved the sport so much and he wrote almost everyday about hockey. "My father was my inspiration. He always motivated me in studies and in hockey, "I want to fulfill my father's dream to represent Malaysia in the 2027 Junior World Cup. To achieve this, I have to train really hard and I am willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill my father's dreams." When Baljit was 10, Jugjet arranged for him to join the Happy Hockey programme at Aman Club under coach Gurmit Singh Cheema. "I got hooked on hockey and I thanked coach Gurmit for guiding me in training and motivating me. "Two years later, I trained under former Olympian Maninderjit Singh at the National Hockey Stadium. Maninderjit has given me a lot of encouragement on and off the field. "I slowly started making progress and I must thank Madam Veena Kaur, the manager of KL Sikh Sports and Recreation Club (KLSSRC) for allowing me to train and play for the club in Division Two of the Under-19 Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) in 2023. "It was my first break in hockey. I must also thank former national players Baljit Singh Charun and Kelvinder Singh for helping me in training and giving me a lot of great advice. They gave me tips to improve my game and mentality. "As I was still young and lacked experience, I did not get many chances to play for KLSSRC in the MJHL. But this year, I will start in their first 11 and I want to score goals. "I started as a midfielder, but coach Baljit switched my position as he believed I am better playing as a forward." Last year, forward Baljit played for Gombak in the District Sports School and scored two goals. He also represented Kuala Lumpur in the Gurdwara Cup and they won the boys' Under-18 title. "This year, I represented Selangor in the Gurdwara Cup and played in both the Under-18 and in the senior category. "To become a better player, I need to work on my confidence and fitness. I also have to be able to control the ball better and be fast in decision making. "After my SPM exam, my main goal is to win a place in the 2027 Junior World Cup. But I really need to train hard and improve on every aspect of the game," said Baljit. Coach Baljit Charun said Baljit is a dedicated player and has shown a lot of improvement since playing for KLSSRC in the junior league in 2023. "For this year's MJHL, he is a key player and we know he will give his best. He still has to work hard in training to be a consistent player. I know he will work hard to achieve his goals in hockey." Off the field, the cerebral Baljit wants to score too — plenty of As in his SPM. "I want to excel in studies and hockey," said Baljit, a Form Five student of SMK Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur.
