List of All Articles with Tag 'cma'

US Women’s National Team (USWNT) striker Alex Morgan, 34, is one of the biggest stars in women’s football, already an Olympic gold medallist and a two-time World Cup winner. The American is heading into her fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup and ranks in the top 10 in USWNT history in goals, assists and multi-goal games. Morgan first caught the eye a decade ago at the 2011 World Cup in Germany when she was the youngest player in the American squad but, undaunted by the international spotlight, scored in both the semi-final and final as the US finished runners-up to Japan. Since then, she has gone from strength to strength, shrugging off her old nickname of “Baby Horse” to be described as a “full-on stallion” by her international teammate Megan Rapinoe. Morgan has become an icon and an inspiration to young girls around the world and is also a New York Times Best-Selling author and film star, playing herself in Alex and Me (2018), even serving with the US State Department on a diplomatic mission to Tanzania in 2017. She has not entirely avoided controversy, however, having been kicked out of the Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World resort in Bay Lake, Florida, in October 2017 along with a group of friends said to be “highly impaired” and “verbally aggressive”, an incident for which she swiftly apologised. Morgan also raised eyebrows at the 2019 World Cup in France when she scored against England in the semi-final and celebrated with a tea-sipping celebration, appearing to mock her opposition, although she has since claimed the gesture was misunderstood. Born in the California suburb of Diamond Bar near San Dimas on 2 July 1989, Morgan was a multi-sport athlete known for her speed at high school and did not begin playing football exclusively until she was 14 and joined local club side Cypress Elite. She was soon playing for the Olympic Development Program’s regional and state teams as well, which she credits as integral to her development, and was called up to the US under-20 women’s team at 17, only for an anterior cruciate ligament injury to set back her progress. Morgan subsequently attended UC Berkeley, taking a degree in Political Economy while playing for the California Golden Bears from 2007 to 2010, finishing her college career with an impressive haul of 46 goals. Turning professional in 2011, the same year she announced her arrival at the World Cup, Morgan played for Western New York Flash, before moving to Seattle Sounders for a season, where she played with international teammates Hope Solo and Rapinoe, before being transferred again and spending two years with Portland Thorns FC. In 2015, she joined Orlando Pride in Florida, where she has been even since, barring short spells with Lyon in France in 2017 and Tottenham in England in 2020, where she made just four appearances but scored twice as she continued her return to match fitness after taking time away from the game to give birth to her first child, a daughter, Charlie Elena Carrasco, on 7 May 2020. She subsequently returned to Orlando Pride before signing for San Diego Wave in 2022, scoring an impressive 20 in 28 games so far. Her husband, Servando Carrasco, whom she met at university and married in 2014, is also a footballer, currently playing as a defensive midfielder for Fort Lauderdale FC. Morgan helped Team USA capture gold at the 2012 London Olympics highlighted by her goal in the semi-final win against Canada and subsequently picked up a bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Games, winning the 2015 and 2019 World Cups with the USWNT either side of those honours. Read More FIFA Women’s World Cup fixtures and full schedule Women’s football world rankings: Who could take No 1 at the World Cup? Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today Who is USWNT striker Alex Morgan? World Cup updates and final score from USWNT and Vietnam Rice makes Arsenal debut and Crawley hits Ashes ton – Thursday’s sporting social

As eye-watering as the Al Hilal offer to Paris Saint-Germain for Kylian Mbappe may be, it is itself not a blind bid. The Saudi Pro League club have for weeks been sounding out what it would actually take to bring him over. The Al Hilal president Fahad bin Nafel has been talking about the star to anyone who will listen - including in negotiations for other targets. The Mbappe camp have let a few conditions be known, but they are still considering everything. The 24-year-old himself is said to still be almost single-minded about joining Real Madrid next summer and countenancing nothing else, but there may be a few complications before then. That is the case with the entire transfer market right now, and this is finally a situation that brings the two major factors driving - or, really, halting - it together. One is Saudi Arabian money, which has caused everyone to rethink their plans. The other is the striker market, which currently has a lot of interlinked interests. The feeling is that one big deal will release everything, but the two biggest are log-jammed. It only adds to the intrigue that they are log-jammed for totally opposite reasons. Tottenham Hotspur do not want to sell Harry Kane. PSG are now desperate to sell Mbappe. The potential chain reaction, according to those working on many of the deals, goes like this. If PSG do sell Mbappe, they will go even bigger for Kane. “Whatever they were going to offer the player before, they’d double it,” in the words of one involved figure. Such a bid would almost certainly meet the £100m valuation that Daniel Levy is understood to see as a minimum to even consider a sale, but would also force a response from Bayern Munich. The German club are extremely confident they can get the player and that he wants to come, although one source quipped that “they have no experience of dealing with Daniel”. While PSG are among the few parties that believe the Qatari project can themselves get a deal for Kane done, the general feeling is he will not go there and has little interest, but that he would instead see Manchester United as a first priority. They are currently negotiating for Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund and pressing on with that. If it did come to a situation where Spurs were willing to sell Kane and openly negotiating with rival clubs, however, United would have to consider acting. It is even believed that the Old Trafford hierarchy would be prepared to set aside separate funds for the England international, such is the value of the signing. The thinking within the market, meanwhile, is that nothing else happens until the Kane decision is made. After that, if PSG do not get him, they will press ahead for Randal Kolo Muani or Dusan Vlahovic. If Vlahovic goes, Juventus will finally make a concrete move for Romelu Lukaku, who himself has an offer from Al Hilal. Which brings us full circle. There may now be another layer with Mbappe. PSG have been sounding out most of Europe’s major clubs, with the response so far mixed. Manchester United are currently not interested this summer, and do not expect that to change. Barcelona and Chelsea have at least explored the possibility. The latter might appeal to Mbappe, especially due to a good relationship with Mauricio Pochettino, but it is understood that his first preference in the Premier League would actually be Arsenal. That is down to reasons like the romance of Thierry Henry's history there, as well as the idea of making history himself and delivering a first title in 20 years. As one figure close to the player’s camp said amid the flurry of activity on Friday, “if ever there was a window for that, it’s now”. Mikel Arteta is another who doesn’t have that kind of budget, though, as he now needs to make sales to bring in another midfielder and potentially a right-back. It is one of the ironies of Mbappe’s situation, and another sign of the direction the game is headed. The 24-year-old is so good, and his horizons as a footballer so vast, that he actually has very limited options. There are only about three or four clubs that could afford him. Lionel Messi found the same in 2021 and this summer. Long gone are the days when an upwardly mobile side in Serie A or La Liga might offer an exciting possibility, as was the case with even Ronaldo before the turn of the millennium. As it is, most major clubs are reluctant to move for other reasons beyond the budget. They think Mbappe only wants the traditional kingpins of European football: Real Madrid. Both the Spanish club and the player are currently willing to hold their nerve. That has increased pressure on PSG but numerous sources insist there is even more to it than just seeing such an asset go for free next summer, and to a club they have an increasingly tense relationship with. There is constant talk of a “loyalty bonus”, with Mbappe set to earn £35m if he is still at Parc des Princes on 31 July. This would of course bring further Financial Fair Play costs for PSG, and that for a player of immense value they will get no money for anyway. Spurs may similarly see their megastar walk away for nothing and have so far come at it from the opposite perspective, although there are murmurs that is changing. Monday brought reports that club owner Joe Lewis has told Levy to sell if Kane will not sign a new deal. The industry view has long been this by far makes the most sense, especially as the club will have to adjust for a future without the striker sooner rather than later. A new tactical approach under Ange Postecoglou even offers something different. For now, everyone is monitoring what everyone else does, without making a decisive move. That’s the nature of the market. A further aspect is that there are almost as many political complications within the Saudi Pro League as there are with the two main summer sagas. While Al Hilal are giddy at the prospect of signing Mbappe, that excitement is not shared within the wider division and not just for reasons of competition. Most of that is due to this idea that the player could do a year in the Saudi Pro League before decamping to the Bernabeu. It is not as neat a compromise for everyone as is being claimed - before you even get to the idea of such a footballer playing in a developing division for a season. One argument put forward is that for all the immediate focus Mbappe would bring, it could actually be damaging to the reputation of the competition if he were to just leave so quickly. The point of the wider project is to build for the long term and gradually create a luxurious but sustainable home for those outside the Premier League. The state does not want it to be somewhere where players are just parked. An immediate departure for Madrid could also create a precedent where the higher-profile players arriving this summer could demand clauses allowing them to leave if Champions League clubs come in. Most of all, though, an immediate Mbappe departure would leave a vacuum. The league would suddenly feel that bit more hollow again, with a move to Madrid instead confirming football’s supposed natural order. The offer still stands, though. For now, it’s only adding to the stand-still in the wider market. Read More World-record bid made for Kylian Mbappe as PSG exit looms PSG attempting to hijack Bayern Munich’s bid to sign Harry Kane Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe plan revealed after PSG declare intent to sell forward

With the transfer window well underway, Manchester United have made two moves with the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea and Andre Onana from Inter, with more certain to follow. Erik ten Hag is somewhat restrained by the fact the club takeover is dragging on, but additions will be made with a No.9, a new central midfielder and potentially a defensive addition all reported to be on the wishlist in the next two months. To generate the necessary funds, player sales are required, but offers for players such as Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire have so far been limited. United finished in the top four and reached two cup finals last season, a big improvement on their competitiveness in previous campaigns - but more is still required to challenge at the very top. Here’s the latest news and updates concerning any transfers to and from Old Trafford: Rasmus Hojlund United remain seeking a new No.9 to fit Ten Hag’s plan, though little movement has been achieved. Both Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen have long been linked with the club, but it appears the desire and ability to acquire either of these two quality strikers has rapidly diminished within the United camp. However, Rasmus Hojlund remains a consistent name in United’s transfer rumours. According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United will submit their first official bid for the striker next week, with the 20-year-old Hojlund eager to join. However, the clubs seem to be far apart when it comes to agreeing on a transfer fee. Hojlund’s club, Atalanta, reportedly valued the Danish striker at £86m, with United keen not to spend over £60m for the Dane. Sofyan Amrabat After his stellar performance at the World Cup in December last year, Sofyan Amrabat attracted interest from a host of top European clubs. This summer could now be the time that the Fiorentina midfielder makes his move with Manchester United one of the clubs keen to negotiate a deal for the Moroccan international. While a deal for Hojlund remains their priority, Fabrizio Romano reports that the Red Devils may look to make a move for Amrabat at some point in the window with the departure of Fred or Scott McTominay potentially funding the move which would cost around €30m. Dean Henderson Despite the departure of David de Gea, it would appear that Dean Henderson’s time at the Manchester club may be coming to an end after the arrival of Andre Onana earlier in the window. The goalkeeper spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest and according to Rudy Galetti, both clubs are in advanced negotiations which would see the 26-year-old return on a permanent basis. Forest are already closing in on another United player with a deal agreed for winger Antony Elanga but there is confidence that Henderson could soon follow with personal terms already agreed. Henderson played 18 games for Forest last year before a thigh injury in January saw him sidelined for the rest of the season. Eric Bailly The Ivorian centre-back has been at the club since 2016 but has seen his time ruined with injuries and a lack of form, starting just 20 games in his last three seasons. Bailly spent last year on loan at Marseille but, with one year left on his contract, looks set to leave the club. The 29-year-old was left out of United’s pre-season tour to the United States with Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth reporting that Bailly could be the latest player to make the move to Saudi Arabia. There is reported interest from two clubs with a deal likely to last three years and worth in the region of £20 million. Jack and Tyler Fletcher Sons of former Manchester United midfielder, Darren Fletcher, Jack and Tyler Fletcher could be the latest additions to the famous Manchester United academy. The twins currently play for rivals, Manchester City, but according to Fabrizio Romano, both clubs are closing in on a deal that would see the pair move across the city to join up with their father who has been Technical Director at the club since 2021. The fee, reported to be over £1m, would also be a UK record for a player under 16. Read More Tottenham transfer news: Harry Kane, Giovani Lo Celso, Conor Gallagher, Tosin Adarabioyo and more Liverpool transfer news: Romeo Lavia, Joshua Kimmich, Cheick Doucoure, Thiago and more Chelsea transfer news: Michael Olise, Marc Guehi, Moises Caicedo, Callum Hudson-Odoi and more

ADELAIDE (Reuters) -Ary Borges scored a hat-trick on her Women's World Cup debut to help Brazil thrash debutants Panama 4-0

Liverpool entered the 2022/23 campaign on the backs of heartbreak as they lost out on both the Champions League and Premier League on the last day of each competition. Liverpool began the season with high expectations but nothing seemed to go as planned as the club flamed out of the Champions League in the round of 16 to Real Madrid and found themselves finishing fifth in the Premier League en route to missing out on the Champions League for the first time since the 2015-2016 season. Klopp’s club entered the transfer window with a clear emphasis on bolstering their midfield, particularly considering the confirmed departures of James Milner, Fabio Carvalho, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as well as rumoured exits for Jordan Henderson and Fabinho. The club has been proactive in pursuing this objective, having already secured the signatures of two quality midfielders and surpassing the £100 million spending mark for the first time since 2018. Still, Liverpool may not be done yet, as they aim to potentially complete a midfield trio of signings, with the highly sought-after defensive midfielder Romeo Lavia being a potential addition. Here are the latest news and transfer updates around Anfield: Romeo Lavia Liverpool have entered the Romeo Lavia sweepstakes in a bid to bolster their already much-improved midfield. The Southampton player has attracted strong interest from London clubs Arsenal and Chelsea, but neither appear willing to secure the services of the 19-year-old. With Arsenal spending a record transfer fee on Declan Rice and Chelsea focusing on trying to sign Moises Caicedo, Liverpool appear to be the front-runner for Lavia’s services. The Daily Mail reports that the Saints have placed a price tag of approximately £50 million on the Belgian, who would be the ideal addition to complete a trio of midfielders set to join Anfield. Klopp entered this transfer window with the intention of revamping an aging and struggling midfield, and he has achieved precisely that. With the acquisitions of attack-minded midfielders Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for £35 million and recently-signed Hungarian Dominik Szoboszli for £60 million from RB Leipzig, Lavia would provide Liverpool with a defensively-minded midfielder to finalize an extremely talented group. Cheick Doucoure Another central midfielder that is generating interest from Liverpool is Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure. The 23-year-old midfielder joined the Eagles from French club, Lens, last season and enjoyed a superb first season in the Premier League, winning the club’s end-of-season Player of the Year award. According to The Evening Standard, the Mali international is one of the players on the Merseyside club’s shortlist to replace Jordan Henderson and Fabinho who both look set to complete moves to Saudi Arabia. A fee in the region of £50 million is set to be required by Crystal Palace, who is also said to be attracting interest from Paris Saint-Germain. Thiago Earlier in the window, Thiago became a prime target of interest from Saudi Arabia, with the Spaniard reportedly rejecting a lucrative offer from a team in the Saudi League, according to reports from The Athletic. The 32-year-old midfielder currently has one year left on his contract and intends to fulfil it at Anfield in the upcoming year. Despite this Fichajes is reporting that La Liga clubs, Real Sociedad and Sevilla, are still said to be monitoring the availability of the Spanish midfielder with Liverpool perhaps keen to cash in on the midfielder before his contract expires if they can bring in suitable replacements. Joshua Kimmich If Thiago was to leave Liverpool, one midfielder that Jurgen Klopp might have his eye on is the experienced German international, Joshua Kimmich. According to Fichajes, Liverpool are considering a bid for the Bayern Munich midfielder who has two years left on his deal. The 28-year-old has won 11 Bundesliga titles with the club and would provide plenty of experience at the heart of the Liverpool midfield, especially given the likely departures of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson. Liverpool might have to fend off interest from other clubs, though, with both Manchester United and Manchester City said to be considering a deal for Kimmich. Bradley Barcola With the departure of Roberto Firmio, there may well be a vacancy in Liverpool’s forward line. Jota, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez will all contend for the two other spots alongside Mohamed Salah but the Merseyside club are also said to be looking to the future and a replacement for their Egyptian superstar. According to journalist Jacque Talbot, that man could be French youngster Bradley Barcola. The 20-year-old, who plays for Lyon, scored five times last year and has attracted interest from Liverpool as well as Manchester City, who potentially see Barcola as a replacement for Riyad Mahrez who is set to move to Saudi Arabia. Read More Chelsea transfer news: Michael Olise, Marc Guehi, Moises Caicedo, Callum Hudson-Odoi and more Ange Postecoglou ‘not relaxed’ by uncertainty over Harry Kane’s Tottenham future Manchester United sign Andre Onana in £43m transfer from Inter Milan England’s Lotte Wubben-Moy begins Doodle Diary again – Friday’s sporting social Jordan Henderson risks tarnishing Liverpool legacy after career built on character Liverpool agree £12m deal to sell Jordan Henderson to Saudi club Al Ettifaq

France suffered a blow early in their Women’s World Cup campaign as they were held to a 0-0 draw by a battling Jamaica as the group stages continue in Australia and New Zealand. Les Bleues came into the tournament under new coach Herve Renard after Corrine Diacre’s controversial reign was brought to an end just four months before the tournament. But Renard could only watch as his side were stifled by the relentless pressing of the Reggae Girlz with Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Drew Spence leading the way for the underdogs in a deserved goalless draw, despite Shaw’s late red card for a second booking. The Netherlands, runners-up four year ago under Sarina Wiegman, earlier battled past World Cup debutants Portugal 1-0 in Group E thanks to Stefanie van der Gragt’s early header. The Dutch were defeated by the United States in the 2019 final, and will face the defending champions later in the group stage. The USA began their defence with a 3-0 win against Vietnam on Saturday. Elsewhere, England opened their Women’s World Cup campaign with a win but the Lionesses were pushed all the way by Haiti in what was a close contest in Brisbane. Georgia Stanway’s retaken penalty in the first half was enough to earn England a narrow victory, but goalkeeper Mary Earps had to make a big stop to protect their lead late on. Follow the latest World Cup scores, updates and news in today’s live blog Read More England survive Women’s World Cup scare — but Haiti highlight problems for Lionesses to solve Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today Women’s football world rankings: Who could take No 1 at the World Cup?

England have a precious first win in this World Cup but that very description is why they did not look like eventual winners of the tournament itself. That isn’t to say it will remain like this, but Sarina Wiegman has a lot of problems to solve, and a lot of work to do. Haiti at least more than set the tone for the latter. In something that has already developed into a bit of a pattern in these first few games, the supposed minnow deserved more than the 1-0 defeat they suffered through Georgia Stanway’s mercifully reordered penalty. Haiti’s brilliant young star, Melchie Dumornay, may well end up deserving a series of individual awards. She was by far the player of the match here, running the game. Haiti often gave England a runaround. The entire result ended up depending on Mary Earps standing her ground in a crucial final chance for Haiti. FOLLOW LIVE: England vs Haiti: Women’s World Cup latest scores and reaction after Lionesses secure victory The caveats to all of this shouldn’t be discounted, of course. The favourites have essentially been treating these group stages as a warm-up, even if they will not publicly say that. It could be seen in Wiegman’s line-up, which still had an element of testing a few positions and the manager not fully revealing her hand. On the other side, and this has played into that pattern, there’s been a will from some of the lower-ranked teams to seize the moment; to put it up the big nations. Haiti more than did that. This is a team and country that have gone through a tumultuous time, both in the political landscape of the nation and some of the controversies around the federation. It made it all the more impressive that the Haitian side did not look like one just making up the numbers. They instead looked like what they are: a side made up of a fair few players in the French league, not least Dumornay. They should now fancy their chances of getting through this group. England will have to really sharpen up to ensure they finish first, as expected. This was nothing like what was expected. And if it was a warm-up, it was furnace-hot. Really, it was a proper contest. The warning came as early as the first minute when England’s rustiness and Haiti’s readiness came together strikingly early. Millie Bright looked very much like she had barely played since March, as she passed an easy ball out of the back straight to Nerilia Mondesir. The danger came about 10 minutes later. Mondesir was again put through only to screw the ball wide, but the true threat here was the sensational Dumornay who put her through with a reverse pass. The entire Women’s World Cup was about to take note. Everyone could instantly see why Lyon secured her signing in January. Dumornay’s value has shot up. She was the best player on the pitch here, combining an energy and intelligence that ensured something looked like it was going to happen every time she was on the ball. This also reflected an issue with the game as a whole. England could get on the ball a lot themselves, with up to 71 per cent possession, but Haiti didn’t really allow them to control it. The personnel issues perhaps didn’t help. While Stanway and Keira Walsh attempted to set a pace in the middle, the latter was frequently marked, in a tactical move that looks like it’s going to be a challenge for the entire campaign, however long that is. It played its part in ensuring the midfield had nowhere to really move the ball with the wide players too isolated and Ella Toone regularly manoeuvred out of the game. England, not for the first time, had little recourse but to go more direct. This admittedly was the source of the essential game-breaking moment. With another ball in the air, Louis Batcheba inexplicably lifted both hands as if reaching for a line-out. Wrong sport, despite the setting, right decision. A penalty given, before another correct decision followed. Stanway struck her first penalty well but Kerly Theus did superbly to leap and force it wide. The issue was the advantage of having also stepped off her line. A retake was ordered and Stanway displayed supreme composure. The question in a moment of significant tension was whether she would go the same way. She instead went low, drilling the ball into the bottom corner. England were away, but not by much. If the expectation was that such a goal would finally kill Haiti’s enthusiasm, there wasn’t a bit of it. The back-and-forth over the penalty instead reflected how complicated the game continued to be for England. At only 1-0, there was always that unsettling feeling that one unfortunate – or, if Dumornay was involved, inspired – moment could change it all. The tension was visible in every break, every rushed clearance. It was never more acute than in the single most dramatic moment in open play, when Roseline Eloissaint suddenly broke through with less than 10 minutes remaining. She slightly snatched at her shot, though, allowing Earps to make a superb save that could yet be one of the most significant of England’s World Cup. The break was all the more concerning for Wiegman’s side, since it had come out of a period when Haiti tired. That was inevitable, but you couldn’t quite say that about another England goal. Wiegman did naturally change things a lot by bringing on Lauren James and Rachel Daly but it didn’t really change the mood of the game. That only came with the final whistle, and it was one of massive relief. Read More Sarina Wiegman admits unconvincing England lacked cutting edge in World Cup opener England underestimated Haiti in World Cup opener and revealed their Achilles heel Mary Earps is an England superstar – even if fans can’t buy her shirt Lucy Bronze: England’s legendary right-back in profile Alessia Russo: England’s attacking talent in profile Rachel Daly: England’s versatile goalscorer in profile

Erik ten Hag has said Harry Maguire can still force his way back into the Manchester United team, despite having the captaincy taken off him. “Harry is an important player, he stays an important player,” the United boss told reporters. Maguire was stripped of the club captaincy earlier this month. “Whilst I’m personally extremely disappointed, I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt,” he wrote on Twitter, after Ten Hag’s decision. The central defender made just eight Premier League starts last season, leading to ongoing speculation over his future at Old Trafford. Read More Lionesses have vital role in fight for women’s rights, high commissioner says Moment Messi subbed on for Inter Miami debut before scoring injury-time winner Moment Just Stop Oil activists stage protest at the British Open

With the Lionesses’ Euro 2022-winning captain Leah Williamson forced to miss out on the World Cup through injury, coach Sarina Wiegman has entrusted the responsibility for leading the team to experienced Chelsea centre back Millie Bright. Bright has been passed fit for England’s match against Haiti after recovering from knee surgery and the defender will lead the Lionesses in their Group D opener. Now 29, Bright grew up in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, overcoming infant pneumonia and asthma to enjoy a career as a top level athlete, although her first love was equestrianism, not football. Showing early promise when she did take to the field aged nine, she was soon scouted playing for Killamarsh Dynamos by Sheffield United and joined their academy before moving to Doncaster Rovers Belles aged 16 in 2009. Making her debut that same year and scoring on her first start, Bright spent a year on loan at Leeds Ladies before establishing herself at Doncaster, where she played with future Lionesses Mary Earps and Bethany England. In December 2014, she signed for Chelsea and has remained with the West London club ever since, picking up four Barclays Women’s Super League titles, three FA Women’s Cups and reaching the UEFA Champions League Final, scoring 14 times across 218 appearances. For England, she was an essential part of the side that reached the semi-finals of the last FIFA World Cup in France in 2019 and of last summer’s triumphant Euros team. She has represented her country, to date, 66 times and scored five international goals, striking up solid defensive partnerships with Williamson and Houghton during that time and posing a significant aerial threat from set plays. Read More How to watch England vs Haiti: TV channel and start time for Women’s World Cup opener Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today Women’s football world rankings: Who could take No 1 at the World Cup?

England begin their Women’s World Cup campaign against Haiti as the Lionesses look to follow up last summer’s Euros triumph with another major tournament victory. Sarina Wiegman’s side come into the World Cup as one of the favourites, despite losing stars Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby to injury, and are expected to get off to a winning start in Group D against debutants Haiti. With Williamson out, her centre-back partner Millie Bright will captain the side in Australia and the Lionesses have been boosted by the news that their stand-in skipper is fit to start. Haiti, who are ranked 53rd in the world, are joined by China and Denmark in Group D. England’s build-up to the World Cup has come amid a row with the Football Association over bonus payments and other commercial concerns, but the players have agreed to pause discussions during the tournament. Follow live updates as England take on Haiti at the Women’s World Cup. Read More How to watch England vs Haiti: TV channel and start time for Women’s World Cup opener Women’s football world rankings: Who could take No 1 at the World Cup? Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today

The battle for the Women’s World Cup is underway, but the contest for the best kit at the tournament has never been stronger. The biggest ever Women’s World Cup means there are more new shirts to dive into than ever before, while Nike and Adidas have taken their creative experimentation process to another level in Australia and New Zealand. Like in 2019, the Women’s World Cup features a host of unique designs - with Adidas unveiling a selection of nature-themed kits and Nike taking inspiration from various artistic movements. The results are wild. Here are the Women’s World Cup 2023 kits, ranked and rated from worst to best: China - away A rival to Liverpool’s disastrous 2014-15 away kit as football’s answer to Thunderbird 4. Yellow and red is a dangerous combination which, unless you are Partick Thistle, is very difficult to pull off. Switzerland - away Incredible: this isn’t just leaving your class project until the night before its due, but finishing it on the bus into school. If you need to spell out your country’s name on the front you’re probably not doing a great job of selling any sort of identity. South Korea - home South Korea’s big twist for the World Cup is a flash of vibrant pink on the sides. The question is why. Zambia - away Let’s be honest: it doesn’t look like a lot of effort has been put into this. It’s a reverse of the home shirt, which is at least decent, except the all-black side strip just looks like something has driven over it. Portugal - away Arguably, too much effort has been put into this. Over to Nike, as football meets “modern art”. Explanation: “The away kit features a vibrant colour scheme and bespoke pattern inspired by the country’s famous calçada Portuguesa design.” Ok, great, but it also looks like a two-year-old just been let loose with a paint brush, which may reveal my feelings about modern art. Vietnam - away What a remarkably strict collar this is from Vietnam - it would suit a midfield enforcer rather well. A disciplined kit lacking in vibes, aside from the faint swirly pattern in the background. Haiti - home and away A rogue entry from the good people of SaetaSports, who based their promotion of this Haiti kit around “armour”. It perhaps explains why they appear to be so tight. There are so minor tweaks to the away, but it follows the same design. The problem is neither look like real kits. USA - home Even the defending champions can’t escape another Nike dive into modern art! This time the final product is a statement featuring the “movement of abstract expressionism”. I’ll let Nike explain: “the home kit features a distinct drip-paint technique pattern, highlighting the energy of the women’s national team — though different, they are united”. Excellent chat, but again, a five-year-old has just been let loose with a bucket of paint and you won’t convince me otherwise. It’s a wild move from the four-time winners. Australia - away A training top at best, but Australia should only have to wear yellow at their own World Cup and, thankfully, their home kit is a beauty. Norway - away Clearly, Norway missed out on Nike’s funky away shirt list. This is bland, and the mismatch between the shoulder and sleeve trim isn’t working for me. China - home China have no interest in taking part in Nike’s experimental designs. The home is an obvious improvement, but neither will win awards. New Zealand - home New Zealand are called the Football Ferns, so it’s fairly obvious to see what is going on here. I like the ambition, but the spray paint pattern is faint, looks like it’s fading and doesn’t quite hit. It’s certainly no Canada home. Canada - away Incredibly plain, but the budget has been spent elsewhere (you’ll understand why when you get to what has been created for Canada’s home kit). Costa Rica - home The collar area features a clean trim but Adidas have left very little else to get excited about. Moving along. Panama - away It’s good to see Reebok making an appearance at the World Cup. It’s a shame they’ve brought this weird shoulder trim with them. Vietnam - home Vietnam will carry a bright, bold sheen into their first World Cup with this kit, which carries a much more relaxed vibe with the collar area loosened around the neck. It’s fine. Costa Rica - away Is this Costa Rica or a World XI kit from an old Fifa game? This is a smart kit, sure, but it’s not screaming Costa Rica to me - and I don’t think you can get away with gold trim with having only one appearance at the Women’s World Cup (2015: played three games, two draws, one defeat, no wins). Italy - away We begin the Adidas ‘nature’ series with Italy... and marble. “This Italy away jersey owes its eye-catching look to a rock that has permeated the region’s culture for millennia,” Adidas explain here. I’m not against it, but I’m not a fan either. When you’re designing football shirts from rocks you’ve probably gone a bit meta. Panama - home This looks like a little ‘early 2000s unlicensed soccer movie’. A big moment for hexagons. Denmark - home Welcome to the party, Hummel. Clearly, there were several texture designs on the table here, they couldn’t decide what to go for, so threw as many as they could onto the shoulders and sides. The background looks like a sketchbook and it’s all a bit too whacky. Denmark - away I will include Denmark away here as the approach just seems to be, ‘the same, but a bit less, and with a reverse colour scheme’. It has been marked accordingly. USA - away It feels like the USA’s away kit was an after-thought following on from the home. A dark blue and red combo peaks with the cuffs but is quite forgettable elsewhere. Netherlands - away Cool colours, but this is all a bit too wild. No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you, those splodges are actually lionesses, with the designers taking the team crest and “combining its shape with geometric modern patterns”. They are still splodges to me. Philippines - away The overall colour palette is refreshing and the shading of the stripes is interesting, but I fear this kit will be quite forgettable. England - home Struggles to even attempt to recapture the magic of last year’s home kit at the Euros, leaving it looking just a bit bland and missing something… Hopefully not an omen for England’s World Cup! Sweden - home Sweden go again with the home kit they wore at the Euros last summer, which on the inside was said to have instructions on how other teams could beat them. Whether that remains this year, after Sweden’s 4-0 defeat to England in the Euros semi-finals, is unclear - but what remains is a Sweden home kit that should look a lot more iconic than this. You’d think a Sweden kit would be hard to mess up, but then you’d think you wouldn’t but both crest and kit manufacturer slap bang in the middle, wouldn’t you. Spain - away Spain’s away kit “puts the nation’s colourful marine life front and centre” with a design “inspired by coral from the Mediterranean Sea”. Of all the nature themes Adidas have served up, this is one of the weaker efforts, probably because the “coral” is spilling over the sides rather than properly flourishing all over the shirt. The contrast of the blue and red is pleasing but the overall print doesn’t quite add up, for me. South Korea - away The colour blocking on the sides here is a clear improvement on the home and at least follows the traditional colours of the South Korea flag. A minor detail but a big improvement on the home. Norway - home Bold, strong colours and no messing around on the combinations this time from Norway. It’s not a disaster, but does it add a second star above the crest? Absolutely not. Colombia - home There are few thrills on this Colombia home kit (very much saved for the away) but it remains a classic combination. Nigeria - away Zoom into these squiggly patterns close enough and you’ll find a series of very intricate designs featuring traditional prints, each one different from the next. It’s a smart feature, but zoom out and those squiggles start to look like… squiggles. Or the groovy bug emoji. Brazil - away “Inspired by the Amazon”, Brazil have gone bright for this World Cup, like they are pitching a cartoon version of themselves. Leaves on the sleeves, but not quite packing a punch. Ireland - away I’ve been caught out here by Ireland changing their badge since the last time I saw an Irish football shirt. This badge now features a much more distinct three leaf clover, which makes sense, but does it come across just a bit clip-arty? Like the logo of an Irish pub that doesn’t quite know how to be Irish? Safe to say I preferred the old one. The thin hoops make this look very Celtic, which tells you Castore have delivered an Ireland away kit, because there really is no difference. Philippines - home It’s a shame better commercial images weren’t available, because this looks like the makings of a very tidy kit from the Philippines as they make their World Cup debut. From the colouring of the collar to the continuation of the red on the shoulders through to the pinstripes, there’s a lot to admire here. Germany - home The same as Germany’s men’s kit at the 2022 World Cup, except with two stars representing victories at the 2003 and 2007 Women’s World Cup. The black middle panel is so strong and imposing, perfect for a player like Lena Oberdrof. On the whole, Germany will hope it’s more fitting than it was when the men’s side crashed out at the group stages in Qatar. Zambia - home Much better from Zambia here. A rare kit at this World Cup that manages to be impactful while remaining fairly simple in its design. Zambia aren’t overdoing anything but the vertical stripes of red, black and orange in front of the dark green is a smart nod to the nation’s flag. Sweden - away Honestly I’m annoyed because this is so close to being perfect. “The new Sweden World Cup away kit stands out with a design inspired by Sweden’s glacial rivers,” says Adidas, but what’s really happened here is a classic, deep blue away shirt with perfect hints of yellow has been tarnished by some icy light blue blobs. I’m disappointed, but I’m keeping it high because I can see why it’s still nice. France - home Yes, for a France kit the blue here is far too light. But hold your anger, the “light blue and lilac hues” are a nod to the first France women’s teams of the 1920s. Still, you want a France kit that is deep, dark blue, like the tricolour. Switzerland - home Pinstripes from Puma! But not just pinstripes: pinstripes punctuated by spots, which gets a bit too much if you stare at it for too long. There’s a lot going on across the chest, too, while Puma feature their own refrence to nature with some subtle mountain gradients. Imagine what Adidas would have done. Brazil - home The tropical vibes continue for Brazil. I would like to see a stronger shade of yellow and green rather than these more playful tones - this is Brazil we are talking about. It’s fine, but it’s not a classic. Ireland - home Again, no messing about from Castore in delivering an ‘Ireland shirt’. Once more, I’m left wobbling by the new badge design (unlicensed ProEvo vibes), but there are some fine details elsewhere here. The colours of the pinstripes and the trim cuffs are tidy touches. Edges ahead of the away kit because it’s more green. Netherlands - home After the controversy of the men’s World Cup in Qatar, where the Netherlands appeared in a home kit that was not actually, eh, orange, this is a much-needed return to convention and form. It’s a bit plain, lacking any interesting details other than the bold crest, but at least the colour is right this time, and that’s enough for me. Spain - home Royal. Regal. Very Spain. Clean and crisp with a lovely trim around the collar. I’m pleasantly surprised that the lack of yellow stripes on the sleeves isn’t taking anything away. Argentina - home Another returning shirt from the men’s World Cup, except this time of course the familiar look of Lionel Messi’s winners. As a design, it’s timeless. South Africa - home Loving the energy. Full yellow is a lot, but Banyana Banyana can pull off this bold look. New Zealand - away This bright blue trim is stunning, “futuristic” according to Nike. Just look at those sleeves and the little hints of fern on the cuff. A striking shirt, while remaining subtle at the same time. Nicely done. Italy - home An Adidas Italy kit still takes some getting used to, but this is a lovely effort and is far more natural than Sweden’s previous attempt at a dark blue with its marble effect and gold trim. Pure Azzurri. Portugal - home Sometimes you’ve got to just play the hits: Nike, Portugal, striking red with a deep green trim - it’s a classic combination that works and evokes strong World Cup memories. And with Portugal making their debut at the Women’s World Cup, this was always the way to go. Japan - home A dazzling effort. There’s a lot going on here across the front, an adventurous texture of shading and patterns. Does it make sense? Probably not. Does it look good? For me, yes. South Africa - away Lovely from South Africa. While it may immediately remind you of the Springboks, this is classic. Green and gold is a timeless combination. France - away I’m a sucker for a clean, crisp France away shirt and this is ticking all the boxes. The design background design, if you’re interested, features “bespoke, hand-painted patterns” cut into hexagon shapes - the contrast with the sleeve cuffs adds a dimension as well. Argentina - away One of the maddest shirts at this World Cup, and that’s saying something. It’s about as unconventional as you can get: a completely new design and a totally new colour scheme for Argentina, inspired by the country’s colourful Quebrada de Humahuaca mountain range. Give that a quick Google and you’ll understand how this shirt came about. You have to applaud the invention. Nigeria - away True to form, Nigeria will bring another sizzling home kit to the World Cup, as Nike this time steer into “electric green”. Perhaps a tad plainer than previous tournaments, but this is another shirt that features a stunning sleeve cuff. A fine addition to Nigeria’s growing catalogue. Australia - home Beautiful. This swirly, marble-looking, pour pattern is exactly the bold and fearless attitude Australia will need if they are to win the World Cup on home soil. Overall a tremendous effort to make the yellow colour so deep - Sam Kerr will score goals in this, obviously, but Sam Kerr would also score goals in anything. Jamaica - away This isn’t just a reverse of the home kit, it’s so much more, retaining the feel of a Jamaica shirt while reimagining the colour scheme. The design feels high-end, classy, and as a pair to the home kit, it’s pretty much perfect. Canada - home I’m on my feet applauding this after being knocked off my seat by what Canada and Nike have produced here. The vision. England - away A stunner - capturing the essence of World Cup nostalgia and throwing it forward for the Lionesses to make new memories. No more notes - it’s just a thing of beauty. Jamaica - home An instant classic. What Adidas have created here is not just the quintessential Jamaica home kit, but a fashion item and piece of street wear without going over the top with its design. It’s a beauty. Colombia - away Stunning. Who knew a football kit could look like what Matthew McConaughey flew into at the end of Interstellar. I guess there was always a risk this kaleidoscopic design would be too much, but the way it seems to shimmer and move makes it an another instant classic. Japan - away Wow. This is… a masterpiece? Adidas and Japan knock it out of the park with an away shirt that combines the pink of the country’s iconic cherry blossom and the hue of a morning sunrise. The colour appears to shift and shine everywhere you look. Land of the rising sun indeed. Germany - away Just an unreal piece of work. Inspired by the country’s forests, this is majestic. The brilliance of these Adidas designs, when they hit, is that they represent a reimagining of what a football kit can look like, producing an item that is completely unique. This is the pick of the bunch. Our winner. Read More Women’s World Cup 2023 LIVE: Canada held to Nigeria draw before Spain begin tournament against Costa Rica How to watch England vs Haiti: TV channel and start time for Women’s World Cup opener How to watch every Women’s World Cup match on TV England women World Cup fixtures and route to the final FIFA Women’s World Cup fixtures and full schedule Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today

A pre-season friendly football match between Gateshead and local rivals Dunston was abandoned on Friday after masked men drove a hearse into the ground and abandoned it in the centre of the pitch. Several men drove the hearse and a second vehicle, a silver car, to the centre of the pitch at half-time during the match at Dunston’s UTS Stadium in Tyne and Wear. They drove the vehicles from the car park into the pitch and spun them around in circles, throwing leaflets from the cars’ windows. Two men wearing ski masks then exited the hearse and joined the second car, which was driven out of the stadium, breaking through a barrier. The hearse was left behind on the pitch. Amid the chaos that ensued the decision was made to evacuate fans from the stadium, and the match was abandoned with the score at 1-1. “Due to an incident on the pitch occurring shortly after half time, tonight’s match has been abandoned by the referee,” tweeted Gateshead FC, who play in the fifth tier of English football and only six days earlier faced Premier League side Newcastle United in front of a sold-out stadium of 7,200 spectators, losing 3-2. While no one is reported to have been injured or threatened during the incident, local police said they have launched an investigation, adding that those found to be involved “will be dealt with robustly”. Dunston FC also tweeted that the match had been abandoned “due to an incident at half-time.” “While inquiries are at an early stage, it is believed that those involved are known to each other and there was no wider risk to the public,” a police spokesperson said. With videos of the incident being circulated on social media, police encouraged the public not to speculate and share any footage with them to assist with the investigation. They have called for “anyone with information or footage capturing what happened” to contact Northumbria police or reach out to officers on duty in the area carrying out inquiries.