Latest news with #penalties
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Chloe Kelly responds to England Euro's semi-final penalty pressure
Lioness Chloe Kelly has responded to the pressure she faces when it comes to taking England 's penalties at Euro 2025. The England forward, who scored the 119th minute winner in the semi-final against Italy on Tuesday (22 July), despite having her penalty saved, told ITV Sport: 'I just try my best, that penalty was not supposed to go like that.' Speaking more about the penalty, Kelly said: 'I was confident, but the keeper had done her homework. 'We get to the drawing board and keep practising those penalties.' England will now face Germany or Spain in the Euro 2025 final on Sunday.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How cancer survivor Ann-Katrin Berger rescued Germany with the save of Euro 2025
The header from Janina Minge looped horribly for Germany, taking on a sort of vicious arc that could only come from a bad accident, or a cruel twist of fate. Ann-Katrin Berger had already taken a couple of paces off her line in anticipation of Selma Bacha's in-swinging cross, then made another two quick steps forward as she decided she was going to try and collect it. When Minge leapt, sending the ball back towards goal, Berger seemed stranded out of position, the goalkeeper's left foot touching the six-yard line. It's a goal, it has to be. Germany are a player down and hanging on for penalties, but this is the first time since their early red card that those in white have stopped. They stand frozen to the spot as if momentarily accepting their fate. Berger, though, is still alive to the moment. If there is anyone who knows anything about refusing to accept the hand that life has dealt, it is the 34-year-old goalkeeper, who has spun around and taken huge strides while France's players are raising their arms in celebration. Perhaps the secret to how Berger reacts so instinctively is the message written in ink on her neck, the symbols of her tattoo spelling out the phrase 'all we have is now'. Berger's tattoo covers up the scars left behind by her treatment for thyroid cancer. First diagnosed in 2017, Berger learned that her cancer had returned during the last European Championships in 2022 and as Germany reached the final. After four years of living cancer-free, she faced another fight. But Berger recovered and then returned for the second time to play at the highest level. An unused substitute and back-up to Merle Frohms at Euro 2022, Berger is now Germany's No 1 after making her tournament debut at the age of 34. 'I feel like I'm not really an emotional person, but I'm glad that I'm here and I'm glad that I have the teammates I have,' she said. 'What happened here makes me proud to be here. Whatever happened in 2022, I'm looking forward now to the future. Now I live my best life and I'm in the semi-final.' To get there, Berger had to first reach Minge's backward header. She scrambled back, then, while tracking the flight of the ball over the top of her right shoulder, threw herself towards the line with her left arm fully outstretched. As Berger then started to fall towards the ground, she found enough power in her left arm to claw the ball off the line and away from danger. It was the save of the tournament and it kept Germany level as they survived to reach the penalty shootout. It would have been fair enough for Berger to feel invincible at this point, which is rather how Germany played penalties. 'I knew she would save them,' said Sjoeke Nusken. Berger first saved Amel Majri's effort, diving to her left and landing on the shoulder that had already taken a heavy blow when she rescued Germany in extra time. Then, at 3-3 and sudden death, Berger stepped up to take Germany's fifth penalty, two nights after Sweden's goalkeeper Jennifer Falk had missed from the same position against England. This time, Berger barely blinked as she found the corner. 'I think credit should go to the team, not me,' Berger said. 'Because maybe it was the decisive moment in the penalty shootout, but everyone here should talk about the performance of the team, because that was amazing and incredible.' Strapped to Berger's water bottle was a cheat sheet with the penalty records of France's likely takers. However, tellingly, Berger admitted afterwards that she did not look at it. She was living at the moment, epitomising Germany's resistance, and her second save of the shootout to deny France's Alice Sombath sent them through to the semi-finals.
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
ATO reversed its own decision to bill former PM Paul Keating's company nearly $1m after three-year battle
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) wrote off almost $1 million in interest and penalties owed by one of Paul Keating's companies in 2015, in an abrupt about face after negotiations with the former prime minister and his financial advisers. This was unusual because for most taxpayers, formally challenging such a decision would require them to contest the matter in the Federal Court. In this case, the payment notice was cancelled after a negotiation, raising questions about the treatment of powerful people by Australia's chief revenue collection agency. It also raises questions about a lack of transparency in how the tax office conducts confidential settlements. Four Corners does not suggest any wrongdoing by Mr Keating or his advisers in seeking to have the debt cancelled. Four Corners first contacted Mr Keating two weeks ago to request an interview about how this settlement came about, but he declined. The interest and penalties bill was issued after the ATO discovered in 2012 that Mr Keating's company, Brenlex Pty Ltd, had not reported profits from an earlier share sale. This followed a 2010 agreement by Mr Keating to settle tax liabilities of more than $3 million involving another of his companies, Verenna Pty Ltd. At the time, Mr Keating was questioned about his other companies, including Brenlex, and his advisers confirmed it had paid a significant amount of tax relating to the sale of shares and was up to date with its tax liabilities. Mr Keating agreed he would ensure his tax affairs were in order henceforth. However, the ATO later discovered that Brenlex owed $446,000 in tax from the sale of shares years earlier in Lake Technology, an audio engineering company Mr Keating had advised. Brenlex agreed to pay the tax debt, but the ATO demanded more than $600,000 in interest and penalties which had accrued in the years since Mr Keating sold the shares. These are known as a general interest charge (GIC) and late lodgement penalties. Mr Keating's advisers fought to avoid the interest and penalties, asking the tax office to write them off entirely via an ATO rule known as a "Commissioner's discretion". The argument went back and forth through 2013 and 2014. By October 2014, the debt had grown to $904,000, at which point the ATO sent a formal notice to not waive the interest and penalties charge. "Your request has been fully considered and it has been decided that on this occasion the circumstances detailed do not warrant remission of the GIC," the notice said. "There is a clear acknowledgement that the Company should have accounted for the disposal of shares in the relevant financial years returns and did not." In April the next year, the ATO issued Brenlex a formal creditor's statutory demand to pay the debt within 21 days, which had now grown to $953,396. Mr Keating then became involved in the correspondence as part of efforts by his advisers to persuade the ATO to waive the bill because, they said, it was an honest mistake. Mr Keating's advisers told the tax office the former prime minister had mistakenly believed his company Brenlex had paid the tax. They argued he had "inadvertently failed to advise his directors" of the sale, despite filing a substantial shareholder notice reporting the disposal of the Lake Technology shares. Mr Keating's advisers argued "the lodgement and payment of the Company returns were overlooked" but the tax office said "This is not a valid justification". The ATO was told Mr Keating had truly, though incorrectly, believed that all tax matters with Brenlex were up to date. The tax office refused to alter its position. In July 2015, a last-ditch letter from Brenlex was sent to the ATO requesting a meeting. Ten days later, the tax office made a backflip. In a four-line email it wrote off the almost $1 million debt. "I am able to confirm that the GIC and Late Lodgement Penalties … have been remitted in full," the email said. "Consequently the balance of the account has been reduced to nil and the amount payable as stated in the Creditors Statutory Demand is no longer owed." The email gave no reason for the sudden change of heart. The ATO's reversal of its decision, having issued the October 2014 notice, was unusual. Just how unusual can be seen from a joint submission to a Senate committee this year by five accounting bodies. They said it was unfair that the only recourse available to taxpayers to challenge this kind of decision was an appeal to the Federal Court, which was a "lengthy and complex process that is out of reach of most taxpayers". They complained that these decisions were "not subject to an internal ATO review. The only recourse available to the taxpayer is to appeal the ATO's decision in the Federal Court". In a reminder published on its website last month, the ATO said: "Taxpayers should be aware that remission requests are carefully assessed to ensure a level playing field for those taxpayers who pay on time." These revelations come at a time when the ATO's handling of this issue is under review. The Tax Ombudsman is scrutinising the management of general interest charges, to ensure "decisions are fair and reasonable and are made consistently for taxpayers in like circumstances". Typically, the ATO does not comment on the tax affairs of specific taxpayers due to confidentiality obligations. It told Four Corners in a statement that "inadvertently overlooking" the need to pay tax was generally not valid grounds on which to cancel GIC. "However, there may be instances where GIC is remitted when a taxpayer inadvertently overlooks the requirement to lodge a form or make a payment, depending on the individual circumstances of the taxpayer," the ATO said.
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Tournament team' Germany believe they can shock Spain
"We call it German mentality."That is how Germany's gritty quarter-final triumph against France was summed up on social played for more than 100 minutes with 10 players after Kathrin Hendrich was sent off and conceded a penalty for pulling Griege Mbock by her hair in the Christian Wuck's side remained resolute as they held off France to force extra time and then reached Wednesday's semi-final against Spain when goalkeeper Ann Katrin-Berger capped a heroic performance by saving Alice Sombath's German newspaper called it "the miracle of Basel", referencing the 1954 men's World Cup final when West Germany fought back from two goals down to upset heavy favourites Hungary - who were unbeaten in five years - in defender Rebecca Knaak said the performance was the "perfect example for passion and mental strength".Sophie Affeldt, a reporter for German television channel Sport1, added: "The team showed the typical German mentality that has perhaps been somewhat lost in recent years."But what is German mentality and how did their monumental display against France change perceptions about their title hopes? 'So many unusual situations' Before the tournament started, Wuck said: "I am convinced we will have a good competition but it also depends on luck and staying injury-free."Germany have had neither a lucky or injury-free time in 40 minutes into their opening game against Poland, their captain Giulia Gwinn left the field in tears after suffering a serious knee injury that has ruled her out for the rest of the Sweden, Gwinn's right-back replacement Carlotta Wamser was sent off in the 31st minute, receiving a straight red for a goalline block with her went on to lose 4-1, with Sweden topping Group C ahead of them."In the group stage of the tournament the mental strength of the German team was often called into question, especially after the defeat against Sweden," said Charlotte Bruch, a reporter for German newspaper Gwinn out and Wamser suspended for their game against France, Sarai Linder was moved from her normal left-back role to play on the right - but that too was short-lived as she was hauled off after just 20 minutes with an ankle injury."It says a lot about the team that we accepted every situation as they came along," Knaak said."There were so many different and unusual situations and we adapted, we accepted those situations and we supported each other." Has 'epic game' changed perceptions? Under the new leadership of Wuck - who took charge in October - and a new-look youthful squad, Germany arrived at Euro 2025 with modest experts Opta said they, along with France, had a 15% chance of winning the title, with Spain and England listed as the favourites."Germany weren't seen as a title favourite due to the fact the team is in a state of upheaval," Affeldt added."After the disappointing result at the World Cup in 2023, leading players such as Alexander Popp have retired from the national team and there are also some new faces now like Franziska Kett, Rebecca Knaak or Giovanna Hoffmann."Bruch explained there were also concerns over Germany's defence and an apparent over-reliance on flair players like Jule Brand and Klara Buhl. Affeldt said fans had "lost faith" after Germany's defeat against Sweden, with many thinking it confirmed their pre-tournament doubts."But it has now been rekindled," she said. "Now many people think that winning the title might be possible after all, even if there are teams with even better players."Bruch agrees there is more belief among Germany fans, adding: "The belief in winning the title has grown significantly due to the way Germany performed, with this sheer willpower and great fighting spirit."It showed that Christian Wuck's team has developed a certain resilience, never gives up and is capable of turning a game around." 'Germany are always Germany' Of course, Germany are not strangers to major tournament women's team are eight-time winners of the European Championship and have their name etched on two World Cup men's team have enjoyed similar glory, triumphing at four World Cups and three Euros."In Germany we always say the German team is a 'tournament team' - they tend to play themselves into a flow and get better and better, especially when it counts," Affeldt added: "I think many players in Germany grow up with a certain 'winning mentality'. The success of the national teams - both men's and women's - shapes their self-image."However, the country has not won a major tournament in either men's or women's football in more than 11 Spain head coach Montse Tome is under no allusions about Germany's mentality."Germany are always Germany," she said. "Eight European trophies and their essence is the same regardless of who is leading the team."
France 24
3 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
France football boss backs coach despite 'cruel' Women's Euros elimination
Les Bleues lost on penalties to a Germany side who played with 10 women for almost all of a gruelling encounter which finished 1-1 after extra-time. But for Diallo there's no question of sacking Bonadei. "After the Olympics, we put our faith in Laurent until the World Cup (in 2027) with the aim of helping this team make the transition from one generation to the next," said Diallo. "With 11 consecutive wins and a successful group stage (at the Euros), there are positive things to remember. But with a lot of humility, we have to get back to work, and that will be with Laurent Bonadei," he added. However, the federation president made no attempt to play down the heartbreak of failing to progress past the quarter-finals despite being a goal and a player up in normal time. Diallo described the loss to Germany as "a cruel disappointment", adding "everything had been put in place for this team to go much further in the tournament". "It's a real setback, the eighth time in the last nine major tournaments that France have been eliminated at the quarters," he added. "We're going to have to think with the coach and those in charge of women's football at the FFF about how we can work better." Bonadei did not include former captain Wendie Renard and vastly experienced forward Eugenie Le Sommer in his squad. In the group phase, France beat reigning champions England 2-1 in their opening match before thrashing Wales 4-1 and outclassing the Netherlands 5-2.
