Gustavsson: Long term investment needed for Australia to continue thriving

Sun, 20 Aug, 2023

Gustavsson: Long term investment needed for Australia to continue thriving

Brisbane: Head coach Tony Gustavsson said there must be long-term investment in Australian women's football, warning they were at a "crossroads moment" following their fourth-placed finish on Saturday at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.

There was to be no consolation prize for the co-hosts in front of nearly 50,000 in Brisbane as they were beaten 2-0 by Sweden in the third-place playoff.
 
But this was still the Matildas' best World Cup ever and they have captivated the nation and won legions of new fans.

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Australia denied grandstand finish by Sweden

Sat, 19 Aug, 2023

Australia denied grandstand finish by Sweden

Brisbane: Clinical Sweden repeated their third-placed finish from 2019 after they beat Australia 2-0 at Brisbane Stadium to win the bronze medal at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 on Saturday.

While it was a disappointing final outing in the tournament for Australia, it was still a hugely successful campaign for the Matildas, the fourth place still represents their best-ever finish at a FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Preview - Final: Spain v England

Sun, 20 Aug, 2023

Preview - Final: Spain v England

Sydney:  A FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 that has broken records on and off the pitch will reach a suitable climax on Sunday when England or Spain are crowned champions for the first time.

About 75,000 fans will pack Stadium Australia in Sydney for the final of a World Cup that began with 32 teams, compared to 24 four years ago, and saw many of the favourites fall early.

Playoffs: Ones to Watch

Fri, 18 Aug, 2023

Playoffs: Ones to Watch

Kuala Lumpur: The final cast for the AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 is set to be determined on Tuesday as 16 teams from across the continent get set to take part in the playoff round with eight spots in the continental competition up for grabs. 

The tournament is likely to see its most star-studded cast to date with global icons such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema – among many others – having made the move to the Saudi Pro League in recent months. 
 
With defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds and Ronaldo's Al Nassr among the sides competing in the final round of qualifiers, the-AFC.com has selected eight players to look out for.

New-look Al Nassr primed to go the distance

Fri, 18 Aug, 2023

New-look Al Nassr primed to go the distance

Riyadh: One of Saudi Arabia’s most successful clubs, Al Nassr are dreaming of a journey to rewrite their continental history starting on Tuesday when they take on Shabab Al Ahli in the AFC Champions League 2023-24™ playoff round.

Despite a rich tradition of success, talents and popularity as well as a golden period in the 1990s, Al Nassr took until 2011 to make their debut in the AFC Champions League.
 
The club had previously reached the final of the 1995 Asian Club Championship and won the now defunct Asian Cup Winners’ Cup and the Asian Super Cup in 1998, becoming Asia’s first representatives at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2000.

Remembering Shanghai Port’s star-studded era

Fri, 18 Aug, 2023

Remembering Shanghai Port’s star-studded era

Kuala Lumpur: The Saudi Pro League has attracted worldwide attention in recent months with global icons such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, among many others, signing for clubs in the Gulf nation as they get set to make their AFC Champions League™ debuts in the coming weeks. 

It’s not so long ago that it was the Chinese Super League drawing similar headlines as stars flocked to the East of the continent, with Guangzhou FC, Beijing FC and Jiangsu FC among those featuring big-name players. 
 
But it was perhaps Shanghai Port who had the most recognisable line-up, with Hulk and Oscar the poster boys of a side that thrilled for several years only to fall just short.
 
As the CSL side prepare to return to the AFC Champions League playoff round, where they face Thailand’s BG Pathum United on Tuesday, the-AFC.com recalls their star-studded era. 

Al Ittihad stay hot, Al Hilal held

Sun, 20 Aug, 2023

Al Ittihad stay hot, Al Hilal held

Riyadh: Al Ittihad made light work of Al Ta'ee as the defending champions made it two wins out of two in the 2023/24 Saudi Pro League on Saturday.

Al Hilal SFC, meanwhile, had to come from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw with Al Feiha while Abha edged Al Raed 1-0.