Barcelona confirm departure of Sergino Dest on loan to PSV Eindhoven
Sergino Dest has joined PSV Eindhoven on loan from Barcelona.
1970-01-01 08:00
Travel Will Represent a $15.5 Trillion Economy by 2033
The crowds of travelers filling airports in many parts of the world this summer are a telltale sign
1970-01-01 08:00
Japan govt makes final plea to gain fisheries' understanding for Fukushima plant water release
Japanese government officials sought understanding from fisheries groups for the release of treated radioactive wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea and pledged to support their livelihoods throughout a process that will take decades
1970-01-01 08:00
Crest Nicholson Cuts Guidance as Mortgage Pain Persists
Crest Nicholson Holdings Plc cut its full-year outlook, saying trading conditions for the housing market worsened during the
1970-01-01 08:00
England’s impact will last far longer than pain of World Cup final defeat
There remains a space above England’s crest, where that star could have been. It was what Lucy Bronze had dreamt of, ever since the moment where she first played for her country and realised England’s men’s and women’s teams don’t share the same badge. The Lionesses had the chance to change that, the opportunity to add their first star, the moment to capture their 1966. But the wait will now go on. After a historic tournament where the Lionesses again made their mark back home and demonstrated the immense power of what they have created, Sarina Wiegman’s side were left with a devastatingly simple conclusion. As a first Women’s World Cup slipped out of reach, the deflating reality was that, on the day, Spain were just better. And as England’s World Cup came to a close, there was no disgrace in that – certainly not against a side as talented as Spain’s, even with their issues. At full time, as the Spanish players celebrated at one end of the pitch, head coach Jorge Vilda and his staff at the other, Wiegman and her team were a picture of unity in the centre. Even in that moment, they realised they had already managed to achieve something far greater. Wiegman told them they could still be proud, that they had given everything not just in the final but on their journey to reach it. The England manager reminded them of the challenges they had been forced to overcome and the togetherness they had shown to grow through the tournament, right until that final moment. There was pride, too, that the team had given its nation reason to love them even more. “We’re the Lionesses,” Georgia Stanway said afterwards, and that term of itself has become synonymous with their ability to inspire and transcend, to bring a country to a halt and take millions along with them. “We’re not done yet,” Stanway continued. “We’ll continue to break barriers, we’ll continue to push on." This isn’t a team who stands still. The Lionesses have created an identity and image that represents the immense change and progress, and whose performances at the World Cup will result in more. If the impact of last summer’s Euros win is anything to go by, then when the WSL returns there will be bigger attendances, more investment, more growth. Eventually, Mary Earps will get her shirt and when she does it will be another moment to symbolise the power of what the Lionesses have done. And, of course, winning the World Cup would have galvanised that further, but when a team and a manager have a purpose like the Lionesses do then it only becomes a step on the journey. “This group of players are so eager to be successful. We want to grab every moment to be better,” Wiegman said. The World Cup turned out to be the ultimate test of just that, an examination of England’s strength, not that it was ever in doubt. England won fans in a different way to last summer. From the dizzying buzz of the Euros, the Lionesses had to grind it out far away from home in Australia. Wiegman said she had “never faced so many problems” during the World Cup, an admission she made after the Lionesses scraped past Nigeria on penalties in the last-16. From the clarity and continuity of last summer’s Euros, England had anything but at the World Cup and at times were vulnerable to an early exit. Amid the shocks and unpredictability of the group stages, enough teams were succumbing to that particular theme of the World Cup to suggest that England could have quite easily become its latest victim. England’s players had set the bare minimum of the semi-finals yet the way the Lionesses played in their first two matches against Haiti and Denmark suggested even that was a stretch. Yet England managed to overturn it – they didn’t accept their fate and instead found something new, creating a new formation that breathed new life into their campaign. In the knockout stages, they showed resilience and mentality, and in the semi-finals against Australia they produced the performance of their campaign, a gutsy win in the back garden of a traditional sporting enemy, and the sort of performance that the nation back home could be proud of. The regret was they were unable to replicate it in the final, even though Wiegman insisted she had none from a final where Spain ultimately showed their class. It spared the grand inquest into England’s World Cup that would have inevitably followed a defeat to Nigeria in the last-16 or Colombia in the quarter-finals. Even without Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby, England showed where they stand in the power rankings to reach the final. Defeat there is not the end of anything, rather a continuation of a journey. As for what is next, the answer is invariably more football, yet more opportunities. England will need to perform well in the inaugural Women’s Nations League and reach the final in order to guarantee qualification to next summer’s Olympics in Paris, a competition Wiegman is determined to be at after a miserable experience with the Netherlands at the ‘Covid Games’ in Tokyo in 2021. Then it’s 2025, and the defence of the Euros. As England pick themselves to go again, it will be a priority for the FA that Wiegman is there for the next World Cup. Wiegman’s contract is until 2025 and while she has made it clear that she is happy with England and the support of the team, the Dutch coach will undoubtedly attract interest from elsewhere. The FA would be wise to act swiftly. Certainly, when Wiegman is paid an annual salary of £400,000 to Gareth Southgate’s £5m, it is clear where the FA could make a statement of how much they value Wiegman and the job she has done for English football and the exponential growth of the Lionesses. In the aftermath of another World Cup final defeat, after also losing at that point with the Netherlands in 2019, Wiegman admitted that thinking four years ahead was too far away. But the reality is some players may have already had their last opportunity, particularly Bronze. The right-back had reached the semi-finals in 2015 and 2019, then had the historic high of breaking the barrier and reaching England’s first World Cup final, only for it to be followed by the crushing low of losing the ball in the build-up to Olga Carmona’s goal. It’s the cold reality of World Cup finals, where the opportunity to be champions only comes along every four years. It is exactly why it is the game’s greatest stage and why defeat on it, of being so close but remaining so far away, is the most heartbreaking of all. For Bronze and England the chance to claim the World Cup was right there, and, while the Lionesses may bask in the seismic impact of their achievements back home, it is the thought of that missing star that will remain with them for at least another four years. Read More England suffer World Cup heartache as brilliant Spain show Lionesses what’s missing A change too far? England’s last roll of the dice comes up short How not to win a World Cup: Spain, Jorge Vilda and the story of a complicated victory How not to win a World Cup: Spain, Jorge Vilda and the story of a complicated victory The vital lesson England must take to ‘continue breaking barriers’ England players ‘heartbroken’ after World Cup final defeat to Spain
1970-01-01 08:00
Finnair Losing CEO to Elisa Adds to Challenges for Flag Carrier
Finnair Oyj is starting the search for a new leader after Chief Executive Officer Topi Manner announced his
1970-01-01 08:00
How do you choose the best sports bra for you? Experts explain what to look for
However big your boobs are, your sports bra could be holding you back from your fitness goals – if it’s uncomfortable, painful or doesn’t offer enough support. So, how can you find the perfect sports bra to help you feel and perform your best? “Finding the perfect sports bra is about enhancing performance and preventing common problems that athletes face,” says Juju Sheikh, founder of Cloud Nine Collective. “A well-designed sports bra can minimise bounce and provide the necessary support to keep you comfortable and focused on your game.” Consider size, support and impact Different-sized boobs will need varying degrees of support – but that’s not the only factor to consider when choosing a sport bra. Breast shape can also influence which bra is the best fit and style for you, as well as the impact level of the activities you’ll be doing. “Finding the right sports bra can be tricky and usually requires you to try a few different sizes and brands,” says Rebecca Carroll, a buyer for Runners Need. “The most important thing is ensuring that it fits you correctly, so that it offers enough comfort and support for your activity. “Sports bras offer three different levels of support: low, medium, and high impact. The type you need depends on your cup size and the type of exercise you do,” Carroll adds. “For those who have bigger busts, look for a sports bra which has supportive seams and underwire, to help maximise support and comfort.” Look at design features Sports bras come with a range of different design features too, which tend to correlate to the level of support they offer. This includes the fabrics, the straps, the cups, as well as how they do up/fasten or whether they’re an over-the-head crop top style. “I recommend looking for features like adjustable straps, underwire support, and breathable fabric,” says Sheikh. “Adjustable straps allow you to customise the fit according to your unique body shape and size. This ensures that the bra stays in place and provides the best support throughout your workout.” The way a bra does up will generally change how supportive it is. “Front zips can be a good thing,” says Martina Jurcova, product line manager for women’s apparel and accessories at ASICS. “They are certainly easier to put on and open again after a strenuous exercise. That said, they must have extremely secure closures and are not recommended for sports or exercises where the wearer is lying face down on an exercise mat.“Race backs are great, as they allow the maximums freedom of movement of the scapula [shoulder blade] and at the same time can give great support to the wearer,” Jurcova adds. “Dual clasp bras have the advantage that the wearer can decide for themselves if they like the feeling of a race back or not.” Match your bra with the activity Remember, the same sports bra may not be suitable for every activity. Even if you have a large bust, there are certain activities where you won’t want the restriction of a very high-impact bra. “Low-medium impact sports bras are good for activities like walking, yoga and strength training. They typically feature a cup-less design and restrict movement by compressing the bust tightly against the chest wall,” says Carroll. “However, for activities like running, you’re going to want a high-impact sports bra. These are made with a defined cup structure to encapsulate and provide high levels of support. Some high-impact bras will use a combination of both encapsulation and compression methods to maximise support.” Protect from chafe and blisters When doing an intense activity, perhaps running long distances or doing high-intensity interval training, it’s not unheard of for women to experience chafing or even blisters around the chest area. “To prevent chafing, you can apply petroleum jelly or chafe balms in areas susceptible to friction. This creates a barrier between your skin and clothing to reduce friction,” Carroll says. “Wearing well-fitting clothing, like your sports bra, will also have a big impact. Look for moisture-wicking materials,” she adds. “Generally, synthetic fabrics such as polyester and nylon can help draw the sweat away from your skin.”
1970-01-01 08:00
Football rumours: Manchester United consider move for Marco Verratti
What the papers say Manchester United are interested in Paris St Germain’s Marco Verratti to bolster the Devils’ midfield, the Mirror reports. Saudi Pro League team Al-Ahli are also reported to be interested in the 30-year-old alongside a number of European clubs. After losing their first two games of the Premier League season Everton are hoping they will land the signature of Scottish forward Che Adams. The 27-year-old could move to the club from Southampton for a fee worth around £15million, the Telegraph says. The Sun says Nottingham Forest are willing to pay the same amount for Brazilian Matheus Nascimento from Botafogo, but he may stay with the club with the goal to help them win the Brazilian Serie A. Social media round-up Players to watch Pablo Fornals: Sevilla are interested in signing the West Ham midfielder who is in the final year of his contract, according to Spanish outlet AS. Jeremy Doku: French outlet Foot Mercato says Rennes have rejected a bid from Manchester City for the 21-year-old.
1970-01-01 08:00
Russia, China look to advance agendas at BRICS summit of developing countries in South Africa
Russia and China will look to gain more political and economic ground in the developing world at a summit in South Africa this week
1970-01-01 08:00
More hearings begin soon for Summit's proposed CO2 pipeline. Where does the project stand?
More hearings this month and in September are set for Summit Carbon Solutions' proposed $5.5 billion, 2,000-mile pipeline network
1970-01-01 08:00
Malaysia’s Anwar Weighs Suing Goldman Sachs Over 1MDB, CNBC Reports
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he may consider a lawsuit against Goldman Sachs Group Inc. over its role
1970-01-01 08:00
California Braces for ‘Catastrophic’ Flooding From Hilary
California and the Southwest are girding for dangerous flooding as the former Hurricane Hilary brings heavy rain and
1970-01-01 08:00
