Sam Kerr named among women’s football elite

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Sam Kerr named among women’s football elite

London: Australia international Sam Kerr has been rewarded for a stellar 12 months by being named among the world’s top female footballers for 2019 following the announcement of the BBC’s Women’s Player of the Year.

Matildas star Kerr, who plays for Perth Glory and Chicago Red Stars, came a highly creditable third in the poll behind second-placed Pernille Harder and winner Ada Hegerberg who claimed her fourth UEFA Women’s Champions League title with Olympique Lyonnais last Saturday.

China PR ace Sun Wen to play key role with FIFA Technical Study Group

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

China PR ace Sun Wen to play key role with FIFA Technical Study Group

Paris: China PR legend Sun Wen has been named as part of FIFA’s Technical Study Group (TSG) for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup which is set to start on June 7 when host nation France take on Korea Republic.

The world governing body has assembled a select group of experts for its TSG, whose analysis of the 52 matches will comprise a detailed breakdown of the action on the pitch and the identification of potential trends for inclusion in the technical report that will be distributed after the competition.

Steel Roses can be world champions, Jia insists

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Steel Roses can be world champions, Jia insists

Beijing: Jia Xiuquan says there are no limits to what his China PR side can achieve at next month's 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France, revealing his belief that they are good enough to win the tournament for the first time.

Drawn alongside two-time winners Germany as well as South Africa and Spain, most observers do not consider the 16th-ranked Steel Roses among the top contenders, but head coach Jia believes there is no reason his charges can't add a global crown to their eight Asian titles.

Kumagai's Lyon champions of Europe again

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Kumagai's Lyon champions of Europe again

Budapest: Japan national team captain Saki Kumagai has claimed a fourth consecutive UEFA Women's Champions League title, after Olympique Lyonnais earned an emphatic 4-1 win against FC Barcelona in Saturday's final.

Lyon's victory completes a treble following domestic league and cup titles, and gives the French club a record-extending six European titles, all of which have come since 2011.

Asian Watch: Squads confirmed, Wang fights for fitness 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Asian Watch: Squads confirmed, Wang fights for fitness 

Kuala Lumpur: Three weeks remain until Korea Republic and France kick off the biggest tournament in the women's game, and Asia's five FIFA Women's World Cup representatives have had another eventful week on the road to the Finals.

In this week's Asian Watch; Australia and Korea Republic have announced their final squads, and a Paris-bound Thailand are close to the doing the same, while Asako Takakura has reflected on the importance of last April's AFC Women's Asian Cup triumph in Jordan.

Stars named in final Korea Republic squad

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Stars named in final Korea Republic squad

Paju: Korea Republic's biggest names survived the final cut as head coach Yoon Duk-yeo announced his squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 on Friday. 

Unsurprisingly, UK-based stars Ji So-yun and captain Cho So-hyun both feature in the 23-strong contingent, which also features 10 players from Korean domestic champions Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels.

West Ham United's Cho is Korea Republic's most capped international, while Chelsea's Ji - with 53 international goals - is the country's all-time top scorer.

Ante Milicic to remain as Matildas head coach for Tokyo 2020 campaign

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Ante Milicic to remain as Matildas head coach for Tokyo 2020 campaign

Sydney: Ante Milicic will remain as the head coach of the Matildas until the completion of Australia’s 2020 Summer Olympics campaign after a one-year contract extension was finalised on Friday.

Milicic, who took charge of Australia’s senior women’s national football team in February 2019 shortly before the inaugural Cup of Nations, will oversee Australia’s bid to qualify for Tokyo 2020 early next year, and, if successful, will guide the Matildas to the 12-nation tournament in Japan.

One of Milicic’s assistant coaches, Ivan Jolic, has also had his contract extended for the same period.