Latest news with #EmmaHayes
Daily Mail
10 minutes ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Ian Wright declares 'I had to be here' as he makes ITV return for Lionesses Euro semi-final in his first women's game since Eni Aluko accused him of 'blocking' female pundits
Ian Wright issues a defiant statement as he made his return to Lioness punditry duty for their Euro semi-final against Italy following his heated row with Eni Aluko The Arsenal legend was not included in ITV 's original tournament coverage but took his place on the line-up set to be part of the broadcaster's punditry team on Tuesday night. The 61-year-old was be joined by former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, ex-England star Karen Carney and presenter Laura Woods as England prepared to take on Italy at the Stade de Geneve in a bid to reach a second consecutive Euro final. Despite not being involved in the tournament's coverage initially, Wright, a long-time supporter of the women's game, has covered Euro 2025 alongside ex-England captain Steph Houghton on his Crossways podcast. His involvement in the semi-final was the first time he has appeared as a pundit for the Lionesses since Eni Aluko accused him of 'blocking' opportunities for female presenters. But Wright is now back covering the England women's team, and made it clear he was always going to be. 'I was in the middle of the Asian see, taking it easy,' Wright began with a beaming smith across his face. 'Then England stumbled into the semis. 'I had to be here, I'm not missing England at this stage of the competition.' Presenter Laura Woods had initially said: 'I'm rather delighted to have our old friend Ian Wright back in the fold. A special man for a special occasion.' In April, Aluko said Wright needed to be aware of 'how much he's doing in the women's game,' and that his presence has made it tougher for female pundits trying to find a spot in the industry. 'I've worked with Ian a long time and, you know, I think he's a brilliant broadcaster, but I think he's aware of just how much he's doing in the women's game. I think he should be aware of that,' she told Radio Four's Women's Hour at the time. 'We need to be conscious and we need to make sure that women are not being blocked from having a pathway into broadcasting in the women's game.' Aluko, who made 105 appearances for the Lionesses in a 12-year international career, later apologised to Wright. But the former Arsenal and Crystal Palace striker said he couldn't accept her apology. 'I've got to say, I'm very disappointed about what Eni has said, she knows how I've helped her, supported her publicly, and I know the previous conversations she's had with me and my management,' he said. Last week, Aluko admitted she was wrong to suggest Wright has blocked opportunities for female pundits and that she respects his decision to refuse her public apology, while insisting she made efforts to make peace with him in private. In an interview with the Daily Mirror, she said: 'I think I could have done better in responding to the question I was asked, and just keeping it as a general issue. 'I've always been the person, to be honest, to hold my hands up and say: "Listen, I got that one wrong. That was, that was a mistake." If I had been on the other end, I would probably have felt the same. 'Apologies are acts of respect. Apologies are a show of humility. I did a lot to try to apologise to Ian privately. So when you're seeing a public apology, it's actually the last resort. But it was a public forum that I spoke about him on, and I felt a public apology was important. 'I respect that,' she said regarding his refusal to accept her apology. 'I respect how he feels. It's really about my apology. That's all I can do. Then, whenever the person's ready to have a conversation, I'm ready to have a conversation. But I respect if it's not the right time, I totally respect that.' In her Women's Hour interview in April, Aluko also said: 'The fact of the matter is, there is a limited amount of spaces available. If we had a situation where there was an equal opportunity in the men's game for broadcasters and coaches that there is in the women's game, it's a free for all. 'But that's not the case. I can't dominate the men's game in the way that, you know, you used Ian as an example.' When asked to clarify if she thinks it is wrong for Wright, 61, to be a figure at the forefront of coverage of women's football, Aluko added: 'I don't know about wrong, but I think we need to be conscious and we need to make sure that women are not being blocked from having a pathway into broadcasting in the women's game. 'It's still new, it's still growing. There's a finite amount of opportunities and I think that men need to be aware of that. 'Men need to be aware that, you know, you're in a growing sport, a growing sport for women, and we haven't always had these opportunities, and so it's about the awareness and supporting other women through that pathway.'
New York Times
14 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Halfway to the 2027 World Cup, here's where the USWNT stands
Full Time Newsletter ⚽| This is The Athletic's weekly women's soccer newsletter. Sign up here to receive Full Time directly in your inbox. Why wait for 'Wicked' part two when you can tune into the 2025 European Championship in Switzerland to watch Germany's goalkeeper defy gravity and the odds? I'm Emily Olsen here with the whole crew — *Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba riff* welcome to Full Time! (And especially if you're new here!) Coming up: Exactly two years ago today, around the time that we launched this newsletter, the U.S. women's national team beat Vietnam 3-0 to open the 2023 World Cup. Sophia Wilson (then Smith) scored twice, followed by Lindsey Heaps (then Horan). It was the last time they'd capture a victory in the competition, before crashing out in the next round. Advertisement It's not just the players' last names that have changed since. Here's where we stand two years from the next one in Brazil: What's happened since? If you haven't paid attention to the USWNT since the last World Cup, brace yourself for some vertigo; very few aspects of this program will look like you last remembered. Since Sweden forward Lina Hurtig scored the penalty kick that goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (who is now retired) will always swear never crossed the line, Vlatko Andonovski resigned from his position as head coach, and then-assistant coach Twila Kilgore stepped into the interim role while U.S. Soccer scouted for a permanent replacement. Then, in November 2023, the Emma Hayes era began. The former Chelsea manager started her job as USWNT head coach in May 2024, two months before the Summer Olympics in France. That's where 'Triple Espresso' — the attacking trio of Mallory Swanson, Sophia Wilson and Trinity Rodman — entered the women's soccer lexicon and powered the USWNT to a gold medal. How much has changed since then? What's ahead? Despite being the competition's most successful competitor, with four World Cup titles, the U.S. isn't guaranteed a spot in the field. Over 30 Concacaf teams will contend for four guaranteed places at the 2027 Women's World Cup, with the U.S. and Canada as heavy favorites. These places will be earned at the 2026 Concacaf W Championship, an eight-team bracket which will be held in November 2026. (While there is a qualifying period for the W Championship, the U.S. is expected to bypass that gantlet as one of the region's two highest-ranked nations.) Last year, after the U.S. and Mexico withdrew their late joint bid to host the 2027 tournament, FIFA members threw their support behind Brazil, selecting it over a European proposal. The decision marked a historic milestone: For the first time, the biggest event in women's soccer will be staged in South America. The 1950 and 2014 men's World Cups drew millions to Brazil's white sand beaches and samba-charged streets, turning the country into a global soccer festival. The question now: Will the world return with the same passion for the women's game, 13 years later? Two years ago, I wrote that the U.S. looked toothless and lost during the group stage of the World Cup, but that everything going wrong in New Zealand was actually a symptom of the USWNT's larger problem, not the illness itself. Helpfully, Hayes came in from day one calling herself a 'heart surgeon in the middle of emergency surgery' as she tried to prepare the team for the 2024 Olympics. Speaking as someone on the ground for the last World Cup and the Olympics, the difference in mood around the team couldn't have been more stark. The pressure was still on, but the next generation was ready for it. Advertisement Now, the days of emergency surgery are behind the team, but the federation, the program and Hayes are still working on fixing all of those underlying issues. They've found investment via Michele Kang, owner of the Washington Spirit, among other clubs, who has invested millions to address pipelines for players, coaches and referees in the women's game. Hayes told me shortly after taking the USWNT job that if the team had won the 2023 tournament, she wouldn't have been interested. It was the project of taking over a team at one of its lowest points, and building again — building something new — that interested her. Gold medals in Paris can never be overlooked, but this project has always been about 2027. Call her Elphaba, because she defied gravity. Call her Ice because that's what's in her veins. Call her 'OMG DID YOU SEE THAT?!' Or you could just call her German goalie Ann-Katrin Berger, because that's now synonymous with putting up stone-cold performances in big moments. THAT incredible AKB save 🤯 #WEURO2025 — UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 19, 2025 Down a player and a goal in the first 15 minutes versus France on Saturday, hurting their already depleted backline, Germany could have easily been counted out. And yet they went into halftime tied, held on through extra time and sealed the deal in a penalty-kick shootout. And it was due in large part to Berger, the Gotham FC goalkeeper whose resume speaks for itself. Berger has also twice overcome thyroid cancer, including a recurrence during the 2022 Euro run where she was the backup keeper. 🎧 Listen to the latest 'Full Time Euros' podcast to relive the wild shootout. 📺 Euros: Semifinals England vs. Italy tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET (Fox) Germany vs. Spain on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET (Fox) Cristiana Girelli's brace in stoppage time pushed Italy through to the semifinals for the first time since 1997, where they will face defending champions England. The Lionesses will be entering the fixture in protest in support of defender Jess Carter, who said she has been subject to racial abuse all tournament long. The second semi is a must-watch as Gotham FC teammates Esther Gonzalez (Spain) and Berger (Germany) go head-to-head. Advertisement 📺 WAFCON: Semifinals Nigeria vs. South Africa at noon ET tomorrow (beIN Sports) Morocco vs. Ghana at noon ET tomorrow (beIN Sports) The Nigeria and South Africa fixture is a repeat of the 2018 championship match, with this semifinal clash further cementing the two sides' budding rivalry. The Super Falcons have a record nine championships, with Banyana Banyana eager to defend their 2022 crown. Then there's host nation Morocco, which will look to top Ghana in hopes of securing their return to the finals stage for a second year in a row. 📺 Copa America Femenina: Group stage Various times, watch on VIX and FS1 Thankfully, we still have two more weeks of South American football. As a growing number of players have called on their federations and Conmebol for better working conditions, they've managed to juggle protesting off the pitch with beautiful football on it. Watch Mayra Ramirez's banger for Colombia or Linda Caicedo's brace against Paraguay, as Las Cafeteras begin to settle in the competition after a rocky start. With the match schedule quite heavy, we thought it'd be nice to revisit some of our deeper reads. Twinning: Ever want to switch places with your sibling? These identical twins in England's top division have bamboozled rivals and their coaches alike with their similar skills and matching features. Teen sensations: Before, playing in college was one of the few paths to the pros for women. Now, more players are getting started before they even graduate high school, including 14-year-old star Mak Whitham. Just a feeling: NWSL partnered with podcaster Alex Cooper's Unwell brand earlier this year, but is the relationship an 'incredible platform' to grow the game or an existential risk? Broken-foot goals and building worlds: We still aren't over having to say goodbye to former USWNT star Tobin Heath's playing career, so you can find us reading Meg's recent interview with her again … and again. 📫 Love Full Time? These stories can also be found on Yahoo's women's sports hub, in partnership with The Athletic. Also, check out our other newsletters.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Abby Wambach on evolution of women's soccer, what's next for USWNT
Legendary USWNT forward Abby Wambach reflects on how much the women's game has grown since her 2015 retirement, and shares thoughts on head coach Emma Hayes as the team builds their roster for the 2027 World Cup. Abby Wambach on evolution of women's soccer, what's next for USWNT originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How The USWNT Dominated Canada
On Full Time, Jillian Sakovits and Tamerra Griffin analyze how the USWNT was able to dominate Canada so easily in a 3-0 win on Wednesday night at Audi Field. From Emma Hayes' big picture tactics, to Sam Coffey's ruthless goalscoring streak and the young full-backs who have been totally unfazed by the moment. PLUS: After that, you will hear the second half of Casey Stoney's feature interview with Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin that focuses on her experience playing for England in the 2000s and 2010s, and also looks ahead to Euro 2025. An honest and candid Stoney reflects on the intensity of playing at a major tournament and how this generation of Lionesses changed the game.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Italy set sights on bigger goals in Norway showdown at Women's Euro 2025
Italy forward Sofia Cantore in action during their 3-1 Euro 2025 Group B defeat by Spain at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern on July 11. – Italy are putting the euphoria of making the knockout stages of the Women's European Championship for the first time since 2013 to one side, aiming for even greater heights when they take on Norway in the quarter-finals in Geneva on July 16. The Italians lost their final Women's Euro 2025 Group B game to Spain, but managed to go through in second place – thanks to a 1-0 win over Belgium and a 1-1 draw with Portugal – to set up a meeting with the Norwegians, who won Group A with three wins out of three. 'The fact that we qualified in the quarter-finals gave us a lot of positive energy, (but) we immediately got back to work and we are preparing the game as we have prepared the others, taking care of every detail,' Italy forward Sofia Cantore said on July 14. 'Once you reach a small goal like this, you think about doing your best to reach another, so let's say there is maximum concentration for the next game. Beyond tactics, I think we should put in everything we have in our hearts.' After making it to the last four in six of the first seven Women's Euro, Italy have since struggled. But Emma Hayes, the former long-time Chelsea manager and current coach of the top-ranked United States, has called the Azzurre a team 'on the rise'. 'They (Norway) are a great team, they have very important personalities, and it will be important to be perfect tactically and then to hurt them where they will give us the space to hurt them,' Cantore said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Acute psychiatry services to be expanded across all healthcare clusters: MOH Singapore July BTO launch to have over 4,600 balance flats, 2 BTO projects with under than 3-year wait Singapore Baby died after mum took abortion pills and gave birth in toilet; coroner records an open verdict Life S'pore travel agency Beyond Expeditions criticised for planning, safety issues Business Tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter Kuok Hui Kwong appointed CEO of Shangri-La Asia Singapore Jail for drunk man who shoved stranger into Singapore River, causing him to drown Singapore 'Kpods broke our marriage, shattered our children': Woman on husband's vape addiction Singapore Asia-Pacific will need over 230k new pilots, 250k aircraft maintenance technicians by 2042: ICAO chief 'We have already shown during the whole competition... we have character as a team. It's important to show our character in these games, I think we have a lot of it and we'll show it,' she added. Italy coach Andrea Soncin, too, pointed to the team's character, saying there is a 'magical spirit' in his squad. He said: 'There's a magical spirit in this group, and the girls are mature – they know exactly how hard they fought in the past to earn their place, and how much we had to battle even to reach this small milestone.' 'We'll approach the next match the same way, because we want to keep chasing our dream. We know Norway well, and we believe we can keep moving forward by making the most of the resources we have – while also enjoying the moment,' he added. The last time the 13th-ranked Azzurre reached the last four was in 1997, when they finished runners-up to Germany. Norway are two-time champions and have reached the final six times, most recently in 2013, when they also lost to Germany in the final. But they have since slumped to 16th in the Fifa rankings after successive group-stage exits at the last two European Championships and a last-16 loss at the most recent World Cup in 2023. This despite having attacking players such as inaugural 2018 Ballon d'Or Feminin winner Ada Hegerberg, 2024 runner-up Caroline Graham Hansen as well as Frida Maanum and Guro Reiten. But a favourable group and a kind draw, which will see them avoid world champions Spain and an on-form France till the final, offer Norway a chance to improve on recent fortunes. Hegerberg and Graham Hansen, both 30, were youngsters during the 1-0 final loss to Germany in 2013. 'Me and Caro (Graham Hansen), we haven't talked a lot about that game when we were younger... But we talk about it today and we're like, damn it, we were one goal away from winning a Euro,' Hegerberg said on July 15. 'It was an incredible experience... Football has changed a lot, but, yeah, it's starting to become a long, long time ago , and we've experienced a whole deal after that .' Meanwhile, Switzerland's preparations for their quarter-final clash with Spain on July 18 were thrown into disarray when the team had to cancel a training session on July 15 due to sickness within the squad. Less than half an hour before the session was due to begin, the Swiss football association messaged media covering the team on WhatsApp to say that it had been cancelled. 'Today's planned training session has been postponed until tomorrow. The background: In the past few days, some players have felt the symptoms of a cold,' the message said. REUTERS
