Pilgrim manifests Euro knockout destiny with Swiss goal
As her side clung on to a 1-0 lead, the 22-year-old came off the bench in the 78th minute on a wet, slippery night and, as the clock clicked past 90 minutes, she fired a deflected effort that gave the Swiss a 2-0 cushion that teed them up for a final-game showdown against Finland on Thursday, with a place in the last eight at stake.
"Actually, before I came in, I was manifesting a bit. I wanted to score this goal really bad, and I wanted to be a game-changer, and that was in my mind. So I just took the ball, went right, and shot to the shot," she told Reuters, still caught up in the joy of the moment.
"I was in my moment. Actually, I was just like, I don't know what I felt! I felt so many things in my body, and so much energy and emotions and the crowd. Of course, it was an amazing feeling."
Pilgrim's effort took a deflection that wrong-footed the Icelandic goalkeeper but the crowd still celebrated wildly, knowing that the three points give them an excellent chance to secure a spot in the last eight if they can manage at least a draw with the Finns.
With Norway top of Group A on six points and the Swiss second on three, ahead of Finland on goal difference, Pilgrim said she would likely take the same approach ahead of the decisive game with Finland.
"Manifesting is a good thing, and we're really looking forward to playing against Finland and get another win," she said. REUTERS
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore NUS College draws 10,000 applications for 400 places, showing strong liberal arts interest
Singapore MPs should not ask questions to 'clock numbers'; focus should be improving S'poreans' lives: Seah Kian Peng
Singapore Sequencing and standards: Indranee on role of Leader of the House
Singapore First BTO project in Sembawang North to be offered in July HDB launch
World Tariffs will kick in on Aug 1 barring trade deals: US Treasury Secretary
Singapore Woman on SMRT's 190 bus injured after bottle thrown at vehicle leaves hole in window
Asia Two women fatally stabbed at bar in Japan by man
Life Star Awards 2025: Christopher Lee wins big, including Special Achievement Award and Best Actor
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
38 minutes ago
- Straits Times
US coach Pochettino takes positives from Gold Cup despite defeat in final
Jul 6, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino speaks to the media after the match against Mexico during the 2025 Gold Cup Final at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images The United States came up short in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final on Sunday with a 2-1 loss to Mexico but will take valuable lessons from the tournament as they build towards next year's World Cup, coach Mauricio Pochettino said. The U.S. went ahead early in the game in Houston, Texas through Chris Richards's header but Mexico fought back through Raul Jimenez and Edson Alvarez to claim a 10th Gold Cup title. Pochettino told reporters that while it had been a painful night for his side the tournament had been excellent preparation for the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host with Mexico and Canada. "It was a massive lesson for us. It was an amazing tournament to realize in the way that we wanted to grow," he added. "This is the way that I think we are going to find the way to compete better and better, and be very competitive and be in the place that we wanted to be. "When you lose a trophy or you lose a game it's really, really painful. But the most important thing is to have our head up because I think the tournament was fantastic and we keep going, that is the way we want to build our journey into the World Cup." The U.S. reached the final despite missing several key players, with Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah controversially opting out while Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna and Tim Weah were unable to play due to Club World Cup obligations. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Construction starts on Cross Island Line Phase 2; 6 MRT stations in S'pore's west ready by 2032 Singapore New SkillsFuture requirements by April 2026 to mandate regular training for adult educators Singapore MPs should not ask questions to 'clock numbers'; focus should be improving S'poreans' lives: Seah Kian Peng Singapore Sequencing and standards: Indranee on role of Leader of the House Asia Australian Erin Patterson found guilty of all counts in mushroom murders case Singapore askST Jobs: Facing intrusive demands from your employer? Here's what you can do Singapore NUS College draws 10,000 applications for 400 places, showing strong liberal arts interest Singapore Life After... blazing biomedical research trail in S'pore: Renowned scientist breaks new ground at 59 However, Pochettino did not want to discuss the impact the absences had. "I think the roster that we build is the roster that deserved to be here, and I think now is not the point to talk about the player that should be here or not," he said. The U.S. will next host South Korea and Japan in friendly matches in September. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Novak Djokovic wary despite Wimbledon form, Jannik Sinner faces Grigor Dimitrov
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Novak Djokovic plays a forehand return to Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic during their third round match at Wimbledon. LONDON - Novak Djokovic and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner face their stiffest tests of the tournament on July 7 as they aim to take another step towards a blockbuster semi-final face-off at Wimbledon. Djokovic, who has a record 25th Gland Slam singles title in his sights, meets Australia's Alex de Minaur while Sinner faces the talented Grigor Dimitrov. Five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek is the main attraction in a wide-open side of the women's draw as she takes on Clara Tauson. 'Complete' De Minaur concerns Djokovic Djokovic was in supreme form as he demolished compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 to the delight of his seven-year-old daughter Tara, who enjoyed a post-match celebratory dance with her dad. But the seven-time champion is wary of the threat that lies ahead of him in the second week, even before potential meetings with Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who has beaten Djokovic in each of the past two finals. De Minaur was forced to pull out of a quarter-final meeting at Wimbledon with the Serb last year due to injury but gets another shot at glory against one of the sport's all-time greats. A two-time winner of grass court titles, the world No. 11 has dropped just one set on his way to the last 16. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Construction starts on Cross Island Line Phase 2; 6 MRT stations in S'pore's west ready by 2032 Singapore New SkillsFuture requirements by April 2026 to mandate regular training for adult educators Singapore MPs should not ask questions to 'clock numbers'; focus should be improving S'poreans' lives: Seah Kian Peng Singapore Sequencing and standards: Indranee on role of Leader of the House Asia Australian Erin Patterson found guilty of all counts in mushroom murders case Singapore askST Jobs: Facing intrusive demands from your employer? Here's what you can do Singapore NUS College draws 10,000 applications for 400 places, showing strong liberal arts interest Singapore Life After... blazing biomedical research trail in S'pore: Renowned scientist breaks new ground at 59 'He's playing the tennis of his life. He's definitely knocking on the door of the final stages of Grand Slams,' said Djokovic. 'You're not super excited to play Alex de Minaur on grass, that's for sure, because he's so quick and he's a complete player.' Dimitrov not stressed by dominant Sinner Jannik Sinner does not have the Wimbledon track record of Djokovic or Alcaraz, but the Italian has been the most dominant player in the men's draw in the opening week. The US Open and Australian Open champion has matched the men's Open Era record at Wimbledon for fewest games lost – 17 – in reaching the fourth round, set by Jan Kodes back in 1972. Sinner is also yet to lose his serve this year at the All England Club, not that his next opponent appears daunted by that prospect. Jannik Sinner plays a forehand return to Pedro Martinez during their third round match at Wimbledon. PHOTO: AFP 'We're in the second week of Wimbledon. Let's have fun,' said 34-year-old Dimitrov, who knows his days on the show courts at Grand Slams are numbered. The Bulgarian appeared destined to be a future Wimbledon champion when he made the semi-finals in 2014, but has never progressed beyond the fourth round since. 'Smooth' Swiatek finds feet on grass A rare defeat at the French Open has helped Swiatek finally feel at home on the grass as the former world No. 1 eyes just a second Wimbledon quarter-final on July 7. Aryna Sabalenka beat Swiatek in the semi-finals at Roland Garros after the Polish player won four titles there in five years, but a slightly earlier exit gave her more time to adjust to the grass. Swiatek reached her first grass-court final in Bad Homburg last week, after which she said there is 'some hope' for her on the surface. 'This year on grass I had some moments where I just felt comfortable and I didn't have to think much. It was just pretty smooth.' A flurry of early exits for all of the top six seeds other than Sabalenka also means Swiatek could make the final without having to play another top-10 player. AFP
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Wallaby Hooper named to face Lions for Brumbies
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SYDNEY - ACT Brumbies loose forward Tom Hooper has been named to face the British & Irish Lions in Canberra on Wednesday despite coming on as a replacement for the Wallabies against Fiji on Sunday. The 11-test flanker, who is leaving the Brumbies for England at the end of the season, will line up in a team missing several test players but including plenty of the side that made it to the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals this season. The Brumbies are expected to give the Lions their toughest match before the test series, especially given their track record against the tourists. The Lions needed a conversion from Matt Dawson deep into stoppage time to beat the Brumbies 30-28 on their 2001 tour and went down 14-12 the next time they visited Canberra Stadium 12 years later. Hooper is one of three Wallabies in the pack along with lock Cadeyrn Neville and hooker Lachlan Lonergan, while the back three of Andy Muirhead, Corey Toole and Ben O'Donnell have a mixture of guile, blinding pace and experience. Lonergan's brother Ryan captains the team from scrumhalf, while Hooper's sibling Lachie, also a loose forward, has been named on the bench for what could be his Brumbies debut. "It's been amazing to watch the growth of both Tom and Lachie over the past few years, and it's special that they may get the opportunity to play alongside each other in a Brumbies shirt on Wednesday night," said coach Stephen Larkham. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Construction starts on Cross Island Line Phase 2; 6 MRT stations in S'pore's west ready by 2032 Singapore New SkillsFuture requirements by April 2026 to mandate regular training for adult educators Singapore askST Jobs: Facing intrusive demands from your employer? Here's what you can do Singapore MPs should not ask questions to 'clock numbers'; focus should be improving S'poreans' lives: Seah Kian Peng Singapore Sequencing and standards: Indranee on role of Leader of the House Tech Hackathons produce scam simulation tool for education, platform identifying birds based on calls Singapore NUS College draws 10,000 applications for 400 places, showing strong liberal arts interest Singapore Life After... blazing biomedical research trail in S'pore: Renowned scientist breaks new ground at 59 "Not only that, but it's against a world-class team in the British & Irish Lions ... they'll be chomping at the bit to contribute positively to the team." Larkham was an assistant coach at the Brumbies in 2013 and Australia's flyhalf in the first two tests against the Lions in the 2001 series, which the Wallabies won 2-1. "The boys have been back in training for a couple of weeks and they are aware of how big an opportunity this is for them to take on the Lions," he added. "We're under no illusions of the challenge that lies ahead." Brumbies team: 15–Andy Muirhead, 14–Ben O'Donnell, 13–Ollie Sapsford, 12–David Feliuai, 11–Corey Toole, 10–Declan Meredith, 9–Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8–Tuaina Taii Tualima, 7–Rory Scott, 6–Tom Hooper, 5–Cadeyrn Neville, 4–Lachie Shaw, 3–Rhys van Nek, 2–Lachlan Lonergan, 1–Lington Ieli. Replacements: 16–Liam Bowron, 17–Cameron Orr, 18–Feao Fotuaika, 19–Lachie Hooper, 20–Luke Reimer, 21–Harrison Goddard, 22–Jack Debreczeni, 23–Hudson Creighton. REUTERS
