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The Journal
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Journal
Italy edge Norway 2-1 to secure a place in Euro 2025 semi-finals
The 42 CRISTIANA GIRELLI SHOT Italy into the semi-finals of Women's Euro 2025 on Wednesday with a brace, including a last-gasp winner, in the Azzurre's historic 2-1 triumph over Norway. Italy will play one of the holders, England or Sweden, in the last four on Tuesday after Girelli headed home the decisive goal in the final minute in Geneva. The Italians hadn't reached the last four of the Euros since losing the final to Germany in 1997, and will be a tough nut to crack after seeing off Norway. Advertisement Ada Hegerberg, who also missed a penalty, netted for the Norwegians in the 66th minute after Girelli opened the scoring five minutes after half-time. Juventus forward Girelli, 35, has now scored 61 times for her country, with Wednesday's double probably the most important goals of her career. – © AFP 2025 Written by AFP and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The Journal
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Russia takes over more villages in Ukraine as it continues efforts to break through front line
RUSSIA HAS DECLARED it has taken over more villages in the west of Ukraine's Donetsk region, as its troops advance towards the neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk region. Moscow's offensive on Ukraine has been intensifying this summer with US-led negotiations so far yielding no results to end the fighting. Its invasion of Ukraine has lasted for more than three years, but Vladimir Putin's army has been increasing its long-range barrages with a concerted Russian effort to break through parts of the roughly 620-mile front line , where Ukrainian troops are under severe pressure. Russia's defence ministry said Russian troops had captured the village of Myrne, calling the village by its Soviet name 'Karl Marx'. Advertisement It lies close to the administrative border between the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions. The ministry claimed forces had moved 'deep into the enemy's defence' to take the village. Myrne was one of two villages Moscow claimed on Sunday. Russia has for months refused a ceasefire proposed by the United States and Kyiv. Moscow launched its full-scale offensive against Ukraine in February 2022. – © AFP2025
The Journal
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The Journal
Swiatek destroys Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 to win Wimbledon title in just 57 minutes
The 42 IGA SWIATEK DEMOLISHED Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 to win her first Wimbledon title and sixth Grand Slam on Saturday, proving emphatically that she has what it takes on grass. The Polish eighth seed, who has now won all six major finals in which she has competed, was in charge from the first point and wrapped up victory in just 57 minutes. The 24-year-old is Wimbledon's eighth consecutive first-time women's champion since Serena Williams won her seventh and final title at the All England Club in 2016. Swiatek, who reached the final of the grass-court tournament at Bad Homburg two weeks ago, has looked increasingly strong while the top seeds tumbled at the All England Club. She lost just one set in her run to the final. But US 13th seed Anisimova was expected to prove a stern test after ousting world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals. Anisimova made a nervous start in hot conditions on Centre Court. Advertisement She was broken in the first game, soon slipping 2-0 behind and the signs looked ominous. She appeared to have found her feet in her next service game but the tenacious Swiatek refused to give ground and recovered to move 3-0 ahead when Anisimova double-faulted. At 4-0 down Anisimova was facing a first-set wipe-out but she was powerless to halt the rampant Swiatek, who sealed the first set 6-0 in just 25 minutes. The American won just six points on her serve in the first set and committed 14 unforced errors. An increasingly desperate Anisimova could not stem the tide in the second set, double-faulting again in the third game to give her opponent game point and then netting a backhand. The crowd got behind her but to no avail as Swiatek kept up her level, serving out to win and celebrating before consoling her devastated opponent. – © AFP 2025 Written by AFP and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The Journal
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The Journal
Wimbledon line technology fails again as Taylor Fritz reaches semi-finals
WIMBLEDON'S UNDER-FIRE line technology system suffered another embarrassing malfunction during Taylor Fritz's quarter-final win over Karen Khachanov today. Swedish umpire Louise Azemar Engzell had to stop a point in the opening game of the fourth set on Court One when 'fault' was incorrectly called after a Fritz forehand landed well inside the baseline. The call of 'fault', rather than 'out', and positioning of the ball suggested the system was still tracking Fritz's serve as opposed to a rally and the point had to be replayed. Tournament organisers claimed the system had failed to reset because the ball from Fritz's first serve was still being retrieved when he started lining up his second. 'The player's service motion began while the BBG (ball boy or girl) was still crossing the net and therefore the system didn't recognise the start of the point,' an All England Club statement said. 'As such the chair umpire instructed the point be replayed.' Wimbledon chiefs said earlier this week that they were confident of avoiding further issues with the technology after a major error in Sonay Kartal's fourth-round defeat to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the women's draw. On that occasion, the new system failed to call out when a shot by Kartal landed well behind the baseline. A fully automated system has replaced human line judges at Wimbledon for the first time this year, in line with the Australian Open and the US Open. Advertisement But there have been a number of glitches and concerns raised by other players about the technology, including British stars Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper. The controversy did not stop Fritz reaching his first Wimbledon semi-final as the American won 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4). Khachanov was unhappy with the latest technological glitch and criticised the way the system has been used this year. 'Look, to be honest, I'm more for line umpires. Electronic line calls have to be very precise and no mistakes, but we've seen a couple. That's questionable why this is happening,' he said. 'Today I think there were a few calls. I don't know, very questionable if it's really touching the line or not. 'At the same time during one point, the machine call it just out during the rally. Sometimes it's scary to let machine do what they want, you know. 'What can I do? I can argue, and be angry on it or just continue playing. It's not in my power. It's already happened. I need to kind of accept it, and that's it.' Fritz will face the winner of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz's clash with Britain's Cameron Norrie in the last four. – © AFP 2025 Written by AFP and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The 42
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Germany on brink of reaching Euro quarter-finals after win over Denmark
LEA SCHUELLER FIRED Germany to the brink of the Women's Euro 2025 quarter-finals with the decisive goal in Tuesday's 2-1 win over Denmark. Bayern Munich striker Schueller rolled home a calm finish in the 66th minute in Basel as Germany came from behind to stay top of Group D, three points ahead of Sweden who face Poland later. Advertisement Germany will be guaranteed a spot in the last eight if Sweden avoid defeat in Lucerne but with six points from two matches Christian Wueck's team are through barring disaster. Sjoeke Nuesken drew Germany level from the penalty spot 10 minutes before Schueller's second goal in as many games, cancelling out Amalie Vangsgaard's rocket of an opener for the Danes. Germany could have already been in the lead at that point as Klara Buhl's fine strike was ruled out for Nuesken being offside and interfering with play. The eight-time European champions were frustrated again in the 40th minute when after being given a spot-kick for a Frederikke Thogersen handball, VAR determined the offence occurred just outside the penalty area. However VAR was in their favour when referee Catarina Campos was summoned to the pitch-side monitor and saw that Katrine Veje clumsily brought down Linda Dallmann and gave Nuesken her chance to equalise. From there Germany were uncontainable and Schueller popped up in the right place to stroll onto Jule Brand's easy pass and maintain Germany's perfect start to the tournament. – © AFP 2025
