Australia, Thailand suffer defeats in final warm-up matches

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Australia, Thailand suffer defeats in final warm-up matches

Kuala Lumpur: Australia and Thailand fell to defeats in their final 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France warm-up matches on Saturday.

Australia lost 3-0 to the Netherlands in Eindhoven while Thailand suffered a 6-1 defeat against Belgium in Leuven as both Asian sides enter the last phase of preparations for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France which kicks off on Friday.

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/thailand-belgium2.html

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/thailand-belgium1.html

Ri-Hyang-ok bids farewell at FIFA Women’s World Cup

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Ri-Hyang-ok bids farewell at FIFA Women’s World Cup

Kuala Lumpur: Ri Hyang-ok, from DPR Korea, is one of the 12 Asian referees and assistant referees selected to officiate in the FIFA Women’s World Cup which begins in France next week.

And for the former DPR Korea player and experienced referee, it will be her final bow from refereeing duties after officiating in her first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada in 2015.

Ri, who also represented her country as a player in two FIFA Women’s World Cup - in 1999 and 2003 - said: “As a player, I represented my country in two FIFA Women’s World Cup, but I didn’t qualify from the group stage. That’s why I decided to become a referee, so my dream is to officiate in the Finals."

Narrow defeats for China PR, Korea Republic in final dress rehearsals

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Narrow defeats for China PR, Korea Republic in final dress rehearsals

Creteil: China PR pushed host nation France before suffering a 2-1 defeat, while Korea Republic conceded late to fall to a 1-0 loss in Sweden as Asia’s FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 hopefuls continued their pre-tournament build-up on Friday.

FRANCE 2-1 CHINA PR

China PR gave France a scare but were unable to prevent the World Cup hosts from racking up their fifth successive win thanks to a second-half rocket from Kadidiatou Diani.

Diani’s strike – her sixth for France in 2019, and third in two matches following a brace against Thailand last weekend – cancelled out a fine goal scored by Wang Shanshan just moments earlier, after Valêrie Gauvin had given Corinne Diacre’s side a half-time lead.

Five young guns set to shine in France

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Five young guns set to shine in France

Kuala Lumpur: All five of Asia’s representatives at FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 have their share of top-level international experience, but a legion of a new stars are ready to leave their mark on the game’s biggest stage.

With one week until the Finals, the-AFC.com highlights five talented youngsters, all appearing in their first senior World Cup, to keep an eye on in France.

Takarada called up after injury ends Ueki’s hopes

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Takarada called up after injury ends Ueki’s hopes

Le Tonquet: Japan’s Riko Ueki has been ruled out of FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 contention after suffering an injury on the eve of the competition, with the 19-year-old replaced by fellow U-20 Women’s World Cup-winner Saori Takarada.

The NTV Beleza youngster reportedly suffered a knock to her right knee playing in a domestic league match on May 19, with the resulting injury unable to be sufficiently recuperated in time for the Finals.

Ueki is seen as a future star for Asako Takakura’s side, having scored the winning goal in their 2017 AFC U-19 Women’s Championship final victory over DPR Korea, before enjoying a breakout tournament at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where she scored five goals in six matches to help Japan to the title.

France 2019: How They Qualified

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

France 2019: How They Qualified

Kuala Lumpur: Asia’s FIFA Women’s World Cup-bound quintet are just days away from taking to the biggest stage in the women’s game, and all five them will arrive having earned their place on the world stage.

As the excitement for builds, the-AFC.com looks back to last year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Jordan, where the Continent’s top five survived the ruthless atmosphere of tournament football to stamp their passports to France 2019.

Asia’s France 2019 squads revealed

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Asia’s France 2019 squads revealed

Kuala Lumpur: The final squads for all 24 teams at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 were officially unveiled on Monday, marking one of the final milestones in the build-up to the tournament.

China PR and Thailand were among the Asian sides to have their playing lists confirmed on the final day, after Australia, Korea Republic and Japan had all finalised their squads earlier in May.