Costa Rica produced a late smash and grab to beat Japan 1-0 on Sunday, giving themselves and Germany a potential route back into the World Cup in the process.
A listless contest that looked set to become the sixth stalemate of the tournament so far finally produced something of note when Keysher Fuller curled a shot into the top-left corner with nine minutes remaining.
Japan had largely been the better side, particularly in the second half, but Costa Rica took the lead with their first shot on target of the tournament.
The result leaves both teams on three points heading into the final games, with Germany now in with a chance of progressing to the knockout stage with a win against Costa Rica in their final game whatever their result against Spain later on Sunday.…
Along with USA leaving the tournament early on, a number of emerging nations made their mark in Australia and New Zealand with South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco and Jamacia all making the knock-out stages.
Morocco qualified through Group H at the expense of Germany, who had thumped the African outfit 6-0 at the start of the World Cup. The Moroccan players were crowded around a phone watching the final seconds of Germany’s draw with South Korea before erupting in celebration.
Their journey only lasted until the last-16 stage and it was the same for South Africa and Nigeria but never before had three African countries all made the knock-out phase. Meanwhile, Jamaica were able to send Brazil packing in the group stage. It helped to highlight the growing depth in the women’…
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup came to a close with Spain securing the top prize with a 1-0 win against England.
A month’s worth of action has seen a tournament packed with plenty of standout players from different countries.
Here, the PA news agency’s Reuben Rosso-Powell looks at five star players who have shone the brightest during the competition.
Linda Caicedo, Colombia
The 18-year-old had a breakout tournament and her two goals and an assist played an important role in Colombia advancing into the quarter-finals. Her stunning strike against Germany will no doubt be a contender for goal of the tournament.
Amanda Ilestedt
Centre-back Ilestedt has been an unlikely top scorer for her nation this summer having netted an impressive four goals from …
Aston Villa are lining up a January move for Besiktas winger Gokhan Tore, .
The twenty-three year old has impressed since moving to the Istanbul side, scoring fourteen goals in eighty-three appearances in all competitions.
Prior to his move to Turkey, Tore spent a season with Hamburg and then Rubin Kazan while he spent two years of his youth career in England with Chelsea.
During his time with the now Premier League champions, he was part of the squads that won the FA Youth Cup in 2010 and the Premier Reserve League a year later while internationally he has been capped twenty-two times for Turkey.
Villa signed a number of players in the summer, but currently sit in the relegation zone having taken just four points from their opening seven games.
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Robert Cornthwaite hopes Wednesday s friendly with Romania will serve as an audition for Australia s World Cup qualifier against Oman.
Australia coach Holger Osieck has named a largely European-based squad for the friendly in Malaga, including Fulham s Mark Schwarzer, Aston Villa s Brett Holman and Dinamo Moscow s Luke Wilkshire.
With captain Lucas Neill suspended for the clash with Oman in March, Chunnam Dragons linchpin Cornthwaite wants to establish himself as a suitable replacement alongside Sasa Ognenovski in the heart of defence.
There s a good opportunity for centre backs at the moment, he said.
Lucas has done a fantastic job, Sasa and Spira (Matthew Spiranovic) have been around a while as well, and there s a couple of young boys that are putti…
Neymar is alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as one of the world s best players and will be a star at the World Cup, according to former Brazil international Serginho.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward is recovering from foot surgery but hopeful of recovering in time for Brazil s opening match at Russia 2018 against Switzerland on June 17.
And Serginho, a Copa America winner and Confederations Cup finalist with Brazil in 1999, expects his compatriot to play a leading role in this year s finals.
I hope Neymar can come back at 100 per cent, the 46-year-old, speaking courtesy of Hublot, told Omnisport. He had a rather bad injury but he will be back in time.
He s among the best in the world alongside Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He will be one of …
John Terry will leave Chelsea at the end of the season, calling an end to his 22-year spell at Stamford Bridge, the club have confirmed.
The Blues captain has only made 10 appearances in all competitions in 2016-17 and has not featured in the Premier League since the 5-0 win over Everton on November 5.
Terry said he had not made a decision on his future away from the club, but feels it s the right time for him to end his trophy-laden Chelsea career.
In a statement released via Chelsea s official website, the former England captain said: There is so much to say and so many people to thank at this great football club. From coaches, team-mates and staff to the fans who have given me so much support down the years, I can t thank you enough. There will be opportuni…
Christian Eriksen s agent says the Danish midfielder is doing well and in good shape in light of Inter s statement permitting him to move clubs.
Eriksen collapsed during Denmark s European Championship opener against Finland in June after suffering a cardiac arrest with medics able to resuscitate him.
The 29-year-old midfielder has since been fitted with a pacemaker, which means he is unable to play in Serie A under competition rules.
Inter put out a statement on Thursday in their annual financial results which indicated they were looking to sell him to a club in another league where he may be permitted to play.
Although the current conditions of the player are not such as to allow the achievement of sporting fitness in Italy, the same could instead be a…
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Everton and Leicester City are set to stand against each other at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening in the quarterfinals of this season s Carabao Cup. It should be an interesting encounter, for several reasons.
Everton
The Toffees were in a very bad way during the last several weeks of Marco Silva s reign. Though a game against the team sitting top of the table while defending the Champions League crown is hardly the right yard-stick to measure a team against, the Merseyside Derby is always important and the way Everton were overrun by Liverpool at Anfield seems to have been the final nail in Silva s coffin.
It s been a different story since interim boss Duncan Ferguson took over, as the Blues first beat Chelsea at home and t…
Richard Arnold will take over as chief executive of Manchester United next month and Ed Woodward will leave the Premier League club on February 1.
Arnold, previously United s managing director, is to start his new role at the beginning of February.
Woodward was due to step down at the end of 2021, but the long-serving executive vice-chairman is now set to depart a month later.
Arnold said: I am honoured to have the chance to serve this great club and its fans. I am determined to return that honour in any way I can.
United executive co-chairman Joel Glazer said: I would like to thank Ed for his tireless work on behalf of Manchester United during his nine years as executive vice-chairman and 16 years with the club.
We are now looking forward to …