Latest news with #Women'sChampionsLeague
The Star
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Arsenal success can spur Australia to continental title, says Catley
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Women's Champions League - Final - Arsenal v FC Barcelona - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - May 24, 2025 FC Barcelona's Ewa Pajor in action with Arsenal's Steph Catley REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo (Reuters) -Defender Steph Catley says her UEFA Women's Champions League title win with Arsenal last week will act as motivation to secure continental glory with Australia when the country hosts the Women's Asian Cup next year. Catley and compatriots Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross were part of the Arsenal squad that defeated Barcelona in Lisbon last Sunday, before flying to Melbourne to feature in the Matildas' 2-0 win over Argentina on Friday. The game was the first in a two-match series against the South Americans as the Australians continue preparations for the continent championship in March 2026, when they will attempt to win the Asian title for the first time in 16 years. "I think it just gives you a little taste of what's possible," Catley said of the Champions League success. "But to actually do it, it makes me think about my career and the things I really want to achieve, and winning silverware with the Matildas has always been top of my list. "So, definitely, it makes me hungry. I've got a taste of trophies and (winning the Asian Cup) would mean a lot to me if we were able to do that. "It's coming up now, it's very close so it's good for the three of us to have the taste of that and be able to lead that hunt for success for our team." The Australians last won the Women's Asian Cup in 2010 with a victory over North Korea and have since finished as runners-up in 2014 and 2018 before exiting the 2022 edition in the quarter-finals. And while the Matildas reached the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup on home soil in 2023, they were eliminated in the group phase of the Olympic Games last year, prompting coach Tony Gustavsson's departure. The Swede has not been replaced on a permanent basis, with Tom Sermanni filling the role in an interim capacity, but Catley is confident the team is moving in the right direction as the Australians continue to unearth new playing talent. "Maybe it hasn't been the most successful few years but we still believe we can achieve something special," said Catley. "You see a player like Charli (Grant) come in tonight and she looks like she's been in the team for a few years, and we're still finding gems like that. "I think coming into a major tournament, that's the most important thing that you can try to do, is have a bit of depth there and some competition." (Reporting by Michael Church; Editing by Tom Hogue)
The Advertiser
21 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Trophy taste makes Catley hungrier for Matildas success
Steph Catley has savoured the "taste of trophies" with her Champions League triumph and it's making her hungry to feast on silverware with the Matildas. Arsenal trio Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross are still living the dream after beating Barcelona 1-0 last week to claim the Women's Champions League title. Still on a high from the biggest moment of her career, Catley is daring to dream of Asian Cup glory with Australia next March after semi-finals berths in the 2021 Olympics and 2023 Women's World Cup. "It just gives you a little taste of what's possible," she said. "Being at a club like Arsenal, I always believed we were capable of doing it, but actually doing it's a whole other thing, and especially when you're coming up against a team like Barcelona, sometimes it feels quite far away. "But to actually do it, just makes me think in my career and think about the things that I really want to achieve, and winning silverware with the Matildas has always been top of my list. "So, yeah, definitely makes me hungry. I've got the taste of trophies. And that would mean a lot to me if we were able to do that. "So obviously it's coming up now, it's coming very close, but I think it's good for at least the three of us to have a taste of that and to be able to lead that success and that hunt for success for our team. Yeah, that'd be very nice." Catley, Foord and Cooney-Cross have relished the chance to sink in their momentous achievement back on home soil since arriving in Matildas camp on Wednesday night. "It's been a big few days, biggest of my life, my career, I would say," Catley, 31, said. "Something I've dreamed of my entire career, it's the pinnacle of football and being able to do it alongside my two Aussies, and just being part of Arsenal and being that club in England to do it again, it's very, very special. "Then to come back here and celebrate with the Tillies and all the girls has been really lovely." Arsenal players have partied hard and relished the fan reaction, including celebrating in front of thousands of people at their parade. "I don't think I've been surprised in the sense that it's the biggest prize in football, maybe other than a World Cup, which is pretty much on par," she said. "But I think some of it still takes your breath away. "Like the parade was so special. I expected a big crowd, because we obviously have an amazing supporter base, but I didn't expect it to be like that - they were just so loud and so into it, singing songs. "Just one of the best memories that I think I'll have for the rest of my life. "It's a massive high. I don't know that we've necessarily come down - like I think it'll stay with us for a long time," Interim coach Tom Sermanni was unwilling to risk the trio in Friday night's 2-0 win over Argentina in Melbourne, but they are set to start in the rematch on Monday night in Canberra. "They should be fit and ready to go and I anticipate them starting on Monday," he said, before jokingly adding: "They've had their holiday. They've had a week." That came as news to Catley. "Okay, he hasn't told me that?" she laughed. "I mean, I feel good. Obviously we have had a big couple of days, and it's obviously a long way to travel, and we only travelled a few days ago. "But yeah, I'll be ready, and the girls will be ready. It's the end of the season, so it's not like we're unfit or not ready to play. We're definitely ready to play. "So it'd be nice to get back on the field again. I'm not a very good sub. I don't like sitting on the bench. I get a bit antsy, so I'm happy to play." Steph Catley has savoured the "taste of trophies" with her Champions League triumph and it's making her hungry to feast on silverware with the Matildas. Arsenal trio Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross are still living the dream after beating Barcelona 1-0 last week to claim the Women's Champions League title. Still on a high from the biggest moment of her career, Catley is daring to dream of Asian Cup glory with Australia next March after semi-finals berths in the 2021 Olympics and 2023 Women's World Cup. "It just gives you a little taste of what's possible," she said. "Being at a club like Arsenal, I always believed we were capable of doing it, but actually doing it's a whole other thing, and especially when you're coming up against a team like Barcelona, sometimes it feels quite far away. "But to actually do it, just makes me think in my career and think about the things that I really want to achieve, and winning silverware with the Matildas has always been top of my list. "So, yeah, definitely makes me hungry. I've got the taste of trophies. And that would mean a lot to me if we were able to do that. "So obviously it's coming up now, it's coming very close, but I think it's good for at least the three of us to have a taste of that and to be able to lead that success and that hunt for success for our team. Yeah, that'd be very nice." Catley, Foord and Cooney-Cross have relished the chance to sink in their momentous achievement back on home soil since arriving in Matildas camp on Wednesday night. "It's been a big few days, biggest of my life, my career, I would say," Catley, 31, said. "Something I've dreamed of my entire career, it's the pinnacle of football and being able to do it alongside my two Aussies, and just being part of Arsenal and being that club in England to do it again, it's very, very special. "Then to come back here and celebrate with the Tillies and all the girls has been really lovely." Arsenal players have partied hard and relished the fan reaction, including celebrating in front of thousands of people at their parade. "I don't think I've been surprised in the sense that it's the biggest prize in football, maybe other than a World Cup, which is pretty much on par," she said. "But I think some of it still takes your breath away. "Like the parade was so special. I expected a big crowd, because we obviously have an amazing supporter base, but I didn't expect it to be like that - they were just so loud and so into it, singing songs. "Just one of the best memories that I think I'll have for the rest of my life. "It's a massive high. I don't know that we've necessarily come down - like I think it'll stay with us for a long time," Interim coach Tom Sermanni was unwilling to risk the trio in Friday night's 2-0 win over Argentina in Melbourne, but they are set to start in the rematch on Monday night in Canberra. "They should be fit and ready to go and I anticipate them starting on Monday," he said, before jokingly adding: "They've had their holiday. They've had a week." That came as news to Catley. "Okay, he hasn't told me that?" she laughed. "I mean, I feel good. Obviously we have had a big couple of days, and it's obviously a long way to travel, and we only travelled a few days ago. "But yeah, I'll be ready, and the girls will be ready. It's the end of the season, so it's not like we're unfit or not ready to play. We're definitely ready to play. "So it'd be nice to get back on the field again. I'm not a very good sub. I don't like sitting on the bench. I get a bit antsy, so I'm happy to play." Steph Catley has savoured the "taste of trophies" with her Champions League triumph and it's making her hungry to feast on silverware with the Matildas. Arsenal trio Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross are still living the dream after beating Barcelona 1-0 last week to claim the Women's Champions League title. Still on a high from the biggest moment of her career, Catley is daring to dream of Asian Cup glory with Australia next March after semi-finals berths in the 2021 Olympics and 2023 Women's World Cup. "It just gives you a little taste of what's possible," she said. "Being at a club like Arsenal, I always believed we were capable of doing it, but actually doing it's a whole other thing, and especially when you're coming up against a team like Barcelona, sometimes it feels quite far away. "But to actually do it, just makes me think in my career and think about the things that I really want to achieve, and winning silverware with the Matildas has always been top of my list. "So, yeah, definitely makes me hungry. I've got the taste of trophies. And that would mean a lot to me if we were able to do that. "So obviously it's coming up now, it's coming very close, but I think it's good for at least the three of us to have a taste of that and to be able to lead that success and that hunt for success for our team. Yeah, that'd be very nice." Catley, Foord and Cooney-Cross have relished the chance to sink in their momentous achievement back on home soil since arriving in Matildas camp on Wednesday night. "It's been a big few days, biggest of my life, my career, I would say," Catley, 31, said. "Something I've dreamed of my entire career, it's the pinnacle of football and being able to do it alongside my two Aussies, and just being part of Arsenal and being that club in England to do it again, it's very, very special. "Then to come back here and celebrate with the Tillies and all the girls has been really lovely." Arsenal players have partied hard and relished the fan reaction, including celebrating in front of thousands of people at their parade. "I don't think I've been surprised in the sense that it's the biggest prize in football, maybe other than a World Cup, which is pretty much on par," she said. "But I think some of it still takes your breath away. "Like the parade was so special. I expected a big crowd, because we obviously have an amazing supporter base, but I didn't expect it to be like that - they were just so loud and so into it, singing songs. "Just one of the best memories that I think I'll have for the rest of my life. "It's a massive high. I don't know that we've necessarily come down - like I think it'll stay with us for a long time," Interim coach Tom Sermanni was unwilling to risk the trio in Friday night's 2-0 win over Argentina in Melbourne, but they are set to start in the rematch on Monday night in Canberra. "They should be fit and ready to go and I anticipate them starting on Monday," he said, before jokingly adding: "They've had their holiday. They've had a week." That came as news to Catley. "Okay, he hasn't told me that?" she laughed. "I mean, I feel good. Obviously we have had a big couple of days, and it's obviously a long way to travel, and we only travelled a few days ago. "But yeah, I'll be ready, and the girls will be ready. It's the end of the season, so it's not like we're unfit or not ready to play. We're definitely ready to play. "So it'd be nice to get back on the field again. I'm not a very good sub. I don't like sitting on the bench. I get a bit antsy, so I'm happy to play."
West Australian
21 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Trophy taste makes Catley hungrier for Matildas success
Steph Catley has savoured the "taste of trophies" with her Champions League triumph and it's making her hungry to feast on silverware with the Matildas. Arsenal trio Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross are still living the dream after beating Barcelona 1-0 last week to claim the Women's Champions League title. Still on a high from the biggest moment of her career, Catley is daring to dream of Asian Cup glory with Australia next March after semi-finals berths in the 2021 Olympics and 2023 Women's World Cup. "It just gives you a little taste of what's possible," she said. "Being at a club like Arsenal, I always believed we were capable of doing it, but actually doing it's a whole other thing, and especially when you're coming up against a team like Barcelona, sometimes it feels quite far away. "But to actually do it, just makes me think in my career and think about the things that I really want to achieve, and winning silverware with the Matildas has always been top of my list. "So, yeah, definitely makes me hungry. I've got the taste of trophies. And that would mean a lot to me if we were able to do that. "So obviously it's coming up now, it's coming very close, but I think it's good for at least the three of us to have a taste of that and to be able to lead that success and that hunt for success for our team. Yeah, that'd be very nice." Catley, Foord and Cooney-Cross have relished the chance to sink in their momentous achievement back on home soil since arriving in Matildas camp on Wednesday night. "It's been a big few days, biggest of my life, my career, I would say," Catley, 31, said. "Something I've dreamed of my entire career, it's the pinnacle of football and being able to do it alongside my two Aussies, and just being part of Arsenal and being that club in England to do it again, it's very, very special. "Then to come back here and celebrate with the Tillies and all the girls has been really lovely." Arsenal players have partied hard and relished the fan reaction, including celebrating in front of thousands of people at their parade. "I don't think I've been surprised in the sense that it's the biggest prize in football, maybe other than a World Cup, which is pretty much on par," she said. "But I think some of it still takes your breath away. "Like the parade was so special. I expected a big crowd, because we obviously have an amazing supporter base, but I didn't expect it to be like that - they were just so loud and so into it, singing songs. "Just one of the best memories that I think I'll have for the rest of my life. "It's a massive high. I don't know that we've necessarily come down - like I think it'll stay with us for a long time," Interim coach Tom Sermanni was unwilling to risk the trio in Friday night's 2-0 win over Argentina in Melbourne, but they are set to start in the rematch on Monday night in Canberra. "They should be fit and ready to go and I anticipate them starting on Monday," he said, before jokingly adding: "They've had their holiday. They've had a week." That came as news to Catley. "Okay, he hasn't told me that?" she laughed. "I mean, I feel good. Obviously we have had a big couple of days, and it's obviously a long way to travel, and we only travelled a few days ago. "But yeah, I'll be ready, and the girls will be ready. It's the end of the season, so it's not like we're unfit or not ready to play. We're definitely ready to play. "So it'd be nice to get back on the field again. I'm not a very good sub. I don't like sitting on the bench. I get a bit antsy, so I'm happy to play."
Perth Now
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Trophy taste makes Catley hungrier for Matildas success
Steph Catley has savoured the "taste of trophies" with her Champions League triumph and it's making her hungry to feast on silverware with the Matildas. Arsenal trio Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross are still living the dream after beating Barcelona 1-0 last week to claim the Women's Champions League title. Still on a high from the biggest moment of her career, Catley is daring to dream of Asian Cup glory with Australia next March after semi-finals berths in the 2021 Olympics and 2023 Women's World Cup. "It just gives you a little taste of what's possible," she said. "Being at a club like Arsenal, I always believed we were capable of doing it, but actually doing it's a whole other thing, and especially when you're coming up against a team like Barcelona, sometimes it feels quite far away. "But to actually do it, just makes me think in my career and think about the things that I really want to achieve, and winning silverware with the Matildas has always been top of my list. "So, yeah, definitely makes me hungry. I've got the taste of trophies. And that would mean a lot to me if we were able to do that. "So obviously it's coming up now, it's coming very close, but I think it's good for at least the three of us to have a taste of that and to be able to lead that success and that hunt for success for our team. Yeah, that'd be very nice." Catley, Foord and Cooney-Cross have relished the chance to sink in their momentous achievement back on home soil since arriving in Matildas camp on Wednesday night. "It's been a big few days, biggest of my life, my career, I would say," Catley, 31, said. "Something I've dreamed of my entire career, it's the pinnacle of football and being able to do it alongside my two Aussies, and just being part of Arsenal and being that club in England to do it again, it's very, very special. "Then to come back here and celebrate with the Tillies and all the girls has been really lovely." Arsenal players have partied hard and relished the fan reaction, including celebrating in front of thousands of people at their parade. "I don't think I've been surprised in the sense that it's the biggest prize in football, maybe other than a World Cup, which is pretty much on par," she said. "But I think some of it still takes your breath away. "Like the parade was so special. I expected a big crowd, because we obviously have an amazing supporter base, but I didn't expect it to be like that - they were just so loud and so into it, singing songs. "Just one of the best memories that I think I'll have for the rest of my life. "It's a massive high. I don't know that we've necessarily come down - like I think it'll stay with us for a long time," Interim coach Tom Sermanni was unwilling to risk the trio in Friday night's 2-0 win over Argentina in Melbourne, but they are set to start in the rematch on Monday night in Canberra. "They should be fit and ready to go and I anticipate them starting on Monday," he said, before jokingly adding: "They've had their holiday. They've had a week." That came as news to Catley. "Okay, he hasn't told me that?" she laughed. "I mean, I feel good. Obviously we have had a big couple of days, and it's obviously a long way to travel, and we only travelled a few days ago. "But yeah, I'll be ready, and the girls will be ready. It's the end of the season, so it's not like we're unfit or not ready to play. We're definitely ready to play. "So it'd be nice to get back on the field again. I'm not a very good sub. I don't like sitting on the bench. I get a bit antsy, so I'm happy to play."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tobin Heath on World Sevens Football: ‘We're going to continue to build and force innovation'
The inaugural World Sevens Football (W7F) tournament — a three-day, seven-a-side competition featuring eight of Europe's biggest clubs in Estoril, Portugal — was an overall success. With rolling substitutions and no offsides, the format allowed players to showcase their flair and creativity, while the smoke cannons and live music created a festival-like atmosphere that lit up social media. Advertisement More impressively, Bayern Munich walked away with $2.5 million after defeating Manchester United 2-1 in the final — more than what Arsenal earned for winning the Women's Champions League, and more than Chelsea received for their Women's Super League and FA Cup triumphs combined. On the latest episode of 'Full Time,' Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan were joined by two-time World Cup winner and United States women's national team legend Tobin Heath, who also serves as chair of the W7F advisory council, to discuss the tournament's future and what might come next. Griffin: Can you talk to us about what growth looks like for this tournament? I know there are plans to have multiple tournaments a year culminating in a sort of Champions of Champions tournament. But obviously, scheduling is a big behemoth of a challenge to tackle, so how do you imagine growth after such an explosive introduction? Advertisement Heath: It's funny because there's so much congestion in the calendar, it's just so ugly. We did step on a lot of toes and some people aren't happy about this, being the big traditional entities that think they own football and the idea of football. But then I take a step back and think, 'You go do it then. You go innovate women's football. You go bring investment into women's football.' Because these traditional competitions, where women's football has always taken a backseat to men's football and followed the exact same patterns, aren't helping women's football. The P&Ls of these clubs are not pretty, so if there's an opportunity to inject fuel and capital into women's football, in a new, innovative and fun way, that's positive. And let me tell you, the schedules are going to clear, just look at the prize pool we set. Bayern just went home from a three-day fun kickabout with more money in their pockets than Arsenal did winning the Champions League in an extremely stressful match, so I hope that the governing bodies and these landlords of football are taking note. Because ultimately nothing's stopping them from innovating and giving to women's football. But right now, it's just like we're stamping the women's side with a men's competition with way less money. That doesn't sound like innovation to me, and that's not prioritizing women's football. So for me, it's almost a provocation which we're going to continue to build, then hopefully it's going to force innovation. To get to what you said about what's next, what's next is more competitions. We want this to be a global event where you're seeing and meeting teams and players for the first time in a way like you've never seen before in global football. I left World Sevens with new favorite players and a better understanding. And I must say Bayern's team was just awesome by the way. Linehan: I really did not expect that from them (laughs). Advertisement Griffin: It surprised us all. I was like, 'Where is this personality coming from, and where was this there before?' It was the biggest surprise of the tournament. Heath: Exactly. The storytelling literally wrote itself, and I'm so in love with that team now. They are awesome, and I didn't even know that before. This is the part about women's football that is so beautiful, and we need to let them write their own stories. So I'm a new fan of football from the event, which is ridiculous because everybody knows I'm a soccer junkie and I'm watching everything already anyway. Linehan: You've mentioned how World Sevens could appeal to a new generation who maybe don't want to sit through a 90-minute football game, which is really interesting. You've also highlighted the tension between the traditional side of football and whatever World Sevens is and wants to be, as they throw things up against the wall and see what sticks. But how do you balance that tension and just stress the point of, 'Listen, we've got to find new audiences, focus on the next generation, and just go to them a little bit more.' Are you excited by that part of the work too? Tobin: Yeah, I'm really excited about it because I do think there is an increasing gap that's happening between the current generation and the current format of football. All things are meant to be innovated, and I'm not saying let's change 11s, but I think this can be complementary to 11s. What was really beneficial for me was that, coming off this tournament, I went immediately to watch the Champions League final. And no disrespect to the Champions League final because it's probably the greatest competition in global football, but the difference in the experience was night and day. You can't really see what's going on in the field. Being in the stadium, you're also really far from it, it's really long, and there are not as many actions. Advertisement Everyone also looked exhausted on the field, and the difference in energy was massive. People were on the ground just trying to catch their breath, and they were understandably exhausted because it's the end of the season. But the contrast between the two was so crazy that I really appreciated it, because it just showed how vastly different the two things are. But I must say I loved both of them, and I definitely loved Arsenal winning because it made it way more fun. Otherwise, I probably would just be saying that I liked my experience at World Sevens. But being there just showed me why this is needed, because the way that the Sevens worked is that it spoke to this current generation and how they're watching things. It was made for social media, and it was made to bring you on the field with these players. I want to produce it even better and differently next time. This was only the first iteration of it. But if you were there and you were on the field, it's almost like you were courtside at a basketball game. There are also way more ways to monetize it, way more interactions, and more personalization between you, the players and the teams. I got a crash course on Bayern and now they're my favorite team. I'm even thinking, 'If the German players can carry that vibe into the Euros, Germany could maybe even win it.' That's how tangible this felt. Everybody saw that the organic nature of this format was built for this age. This isn't anything we had to ask for, by the way, it just organically happened because of the player's experience and the new format. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. US Women's national team, Soccer, NWSL, UK Women's Football, Full Time Podcast 2025 The Athletic Media Company
