Latest news with #Cascarino
Gulf Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Cascarino shines in France's big win to eliminate Netherlands, top tough group
Inspired by Delphine Cascarino's stunning six-minute spell in the second half, France surged past the Netherlands 5-2 on Sunday to reach the quarter-finals of the Women's European Championship. France's third straight win ensured they won Group D, ahead of England. The French would have been eliminated by a three-goal loss and, when the Netherlands led 2-1 at one stage, rued a bad miss by Cascarino shooting over an unguarded goal. But the San Diego Wave winger responded with a devastating burst of running and shooting to settle the game. Cascarino said she had been 'really frustrated in the first half because I barely touched the ball. So I was determined to do much better in the second half.' First, Cascarino stole the ball from the Dutch at halfway and ran directly at the defense to set up Marie-Antoinette Katoto for a neat finish in the 61st. Cascarino was even better three minutes later, taking a high ball 50 meters (yards) from goal and dribbling directly at goal to unleash a rising shot from outside the penalty area. In the 67th, Cascarino scored with a well-placed shot when the ball came to her after Katoto's shot struck the inside of both posts. Sakina Karchaoui added a penalty in stoppage time. Describing Cascarino as a star, France coach Laurent Bonadei said: 'At some point you have to light the fire so she can show her full potential.' A nervous evening became a coronation for France as the top team in the toughest group at Euro 2025. France returns to Basel to face Germany on Saturday, with the winner on a path to play Spain in the semi-finals. Spain plays host nation Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Friday in Bern. Associated Press
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
England, France reach Women's Euro quarter-finals
Holders England reached the quarter-finals of Women's Euro 2025 on Sunday after thrashing Wales 6-1 and taking second place in Group D behind France, who won 5-2 in a thrilling match with the Netherlands. Georgia Stanway started England on their way from the penalty spot in the 13th minute and further goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo, Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones made sure of passage to the last eight. England will face Sweden in Zurich on Thursday, a repeat of the semi-final at the last Euros three years ago which the Lionesses won 4-0. But the Swedes look a tough proposition after topping Group C with a perfect nine points and swatting aside Germany on Saturday. "We just wanted to be confident and enjoy it and I think we obviously play better football when we do that. I think there was more flow to the game tonight, there was better connections," said midfielder Keira Walsh. "(Sweden are) going to be a really tough opposition but we're just going to keep trying to focus on what we're doing, keep being confident, playing good football." France meanwhile will take on Germany in Basel in the last quarter-final on Saturday, and are on the same side of the knockout draw as world champions Spain who face hosts Switzerland on Friday. The French finished the group stage three points ahead of England after making it three wins from three thanks to Delphine Cascarino's decisive double. San Diego Wave forward Cascarino has been excellent in Switzerland, and she made sure that France would top the group with the key goals in a superb comeback from a goal down. France, who opened the scoring through Sandie Toletti in the 22nd minute, trailed at the break to a Victoria Pelova strike and Selma Bacha's clumsy own goal. Cascarino stars But Marie-Antoinette Katoto levelled for France just after the hour and the match was done six minutes later thanks to Cascarino's fine finishes. First Cascarino lashed France back ahead with a sumptuous, dipping long-range strike, before rolling in the fourth after Sandy Baltimore watched her shot ricochet off both posts. Sakina Karchaoui completed the scoring from the penalty spot in stoppage time. "I'm having a good Euros, and it's a real pleasure to play in a major tournament. I'm pleased and I hope that we can go a long way," Cascarino told reporters. In St Gallen, England knew a win would be enough to seal a spot in the next round regardless of what happened in Basel, and once Stanway slotted home her penalty after being brought down by Carrie Jones there was no way back for Wales. Eight minutes later Toone doubled England's lead after Wales failed to clear and the Manchester United forward tapped home after her initial effort was blocked on the line by Lily Woodham. Toone then turned provider on the half-hour with a perfect searching cross for Hemp, before Russo rolled home from close range just before half-time to get off the mark for the tournament. Mead drilled home England's fifth in the 72nd minute, but Hannah Cain gave Wales fans something to cheer about by lashing a fine consolation goal past Hannah Hampton. And Beever-Jones completed the rout one minute from the end to send England through on a high.
Bangkok Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- Bangkok Post
Rampant England and France reach Women's Euro 2025 quarter-finals
ST. GALLEN (SWITZERLAND) - Holders England reached the quarter-finals of Women's Euro 2025 on Sunday after thrashing Wales 6-1 and taking second place in Group D behind France, who won 5-2 in a thrilling match with the Netherlands. Georgia Stanway started England on their way from the penalty spot in the 13th minute and further goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo, Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones made sure of passage to the last eight. England will face Sweden in Zurich on Thursday, a repeat of the semi-final at the last Euros three years ago which the Lionesses won 4-0. But the Swedes look a tough proposition after topping Group C with a perfect nine points and swatting aside Germany on Saturday. "We just wanted to be confident and enjoy it and I think we obviously play better football when we do that. I think there was more flow to the game tonight, there was better connections," said midfielder Keira Walsh. "(Sweden are) going to be a really tough opposition but we're just going to keep trying to focus on what we're doing, keep being confident, playing good football." France meanwhile will take on Germany in Basel in the last quarter-final on Saturday, and are on the same side of the knockout draw as world champions Spain who face hosts Switzerland on Friday. The French finished the group stage three points ahead of England after making it three wins from three thanks to Delphine Cascarino's decisive double. San Diego Wave forward Cascarino has been excellent in Switzerland, and she made sure that France would top the group with the key goals in a superb comeback from a goal down. France, who opened the scoring through Sandie Toletti in the 22nd minute, trailed at the break to a Victoria Pelova strike and Selma Bacha's clumsy own goal. - Cascarino stars - But Marie-Antoinette Katoto levelled for France just after the hour and the match was done six minutes later thanks to Cascarino's fine finishes. First Cascarino lashed France back ahead with a sumptuous, dipping long-range strike, before rolling in the fourth after Sandy Baltimore watched her shot ricochet off both posts. Sakina Karchaoui completed the scoring from the penalty spot in stoppage time. "I'm having a good Euros, and it's a real pleasure to play in a major tournament. I'm pleased and I hope that we can go a long way," Cascarino told reporters. In St Gallen, England knew a win would be enough to seal a spot in the next round regardless of what happened in Basel, and once Stanway slotted home her penalty after being brought down by Carrie Jones there was no way back for Wales. Eight minutes later Toone doubled England's lead after Wales failed to clear and the Manchester United forward tapped home after her initial effort was blocked on the line by Lily Woodham. Toone then turned provider on the half-hour with a perfect searching cross for Hemp, before Russo rolled home from close range just before half-time to get off the mark for the tournament. Mead drilled home England's fifth in the 72nd minute, but Hannah Cain gave Wales fans something to cheer about by lashing a fine consolation goal past Hannah Hampton.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Half-time pep talk sparks Delphine Cascarino heroics as France storm back to beat Netherlands
Delphine Cascarino is embraced by her teammates after scoring one of her two goals in France's 5-2 Women's Euro 2025 Group D win over the Netherlands at St Jakob-Park in Basel on July 13. – France forward Delphine Cascarino turned up the heat when it mattered most, scoring twice and creating another goal as her side roared back from a 2-1 deficit to thrash Netherlands 5-2 on July 13 and book a Women's Euro quarter-final clash with Germany. France took an early lead through Sandie Toletti but found themselves trailing at half-time after conceding twice via Victoria Pelova and a Selma Bacha own goal at St Jakob-Park. Enter Cascarino, who delivered a second-half masterclass that propelled France to victory in Group D ahead of second-placed England, who demolished Wales 6-1 to also advance. 'She's a star, and at some point you have to light the fire, so she can show her full potential,' said France coach Laurent Bonadei. 'At half-time I told her she was able to do more and better, that went for the whole team too... I liked Delphine's reaction.' Cascarino took her coach at his word, setting up Marie-Antoinette Katoto to equalise in the 61st minute, and she then scored two quickfire goals herself to sink the Dutch and secure top spot in the group. Sakina Karchaoui rounded off the scoring with an added-time penalty. 'Laurent said we lacked aggression, and it was true. We were behind 2-1, we were making less effort in the defence, that was clear,' Cascarino told reporters. 'The Dutch were able to take advantage of our weakness, but we didn't let go. We showed aggression in the second half, and that really helped to get us over the line.' Dutch coach Andries Jonker added: 'We went through the wall today we gave it all today unfortunately we gave away the 2-2 and then something broke in the team, so I will not look at the end result – of course, it was disappointing.' France now face Germany in Basel on July 19, a prospect that does not faze the confident Cascarino, despite her team's past struggles against the Germans. 'When it comes to Germany, it's a very big nation,' she said. 'They won several trophies and they have already knocked out others, so we know it's going to be a great game, a big game and a difficult game. And we're going to try to find the cracks and to win the game.' Meanwhile, England will face Group C winners Sweden after hammering Wales via goals from Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo, Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones. Hannah Cain netted for the Welsh. Sweden, who lost to England in the semi-finals at Euro 2022, were barely challenged in this year's group stage, winning all three of their games by a combined score of 8-1. England finished second in their group, which means, provided they get past Sweden in the quarters, they will avoid world champions Spain in the semi-finals. England manager Sarina Wiegman played down the idea that England may have benefited by not winning the group. 'I think that in tournaments, that's really tricky to think, 'Oh, we want to go that way, because, then we might have this and this',' Wiegman said. 'If you start thinking like that, that's very tricky. You're trying to just win every game, and then see where you finish in the group, and then you play who's in front of you. 'If you want to be successful in the tournament, you should be able to win every single game. So that's how we approach it.' REUTERS
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
At the Euros, San Diego Wave's Delphine Cascarino is playing with ruthlessness for France
It began to look like France had bitten off more than they could chew in Basel, Switzerland. Entering the dressing room down 2-1 at halftime against the Netherlands in their final group game, they were facing defeat and the prospect of being drawn against Group C winners Sweden in the quarterfinals, a team that had routed 2022 finalists Germany 4-1 on Saturday. Advertisement France, who have yet to win a major international tournament, began their Euros campaign with a 2-1 victory over reigning champions England, put four past Wales with a rotated roster, and to top their group, needed only a draw against a Dutch side without the services of Vivianne Miedema. Yet, there they were, flailing from imprecise defending that invited a Victoria Pelova screamer and an own goal. But then came the second half and Delphine Cascarino. The San Diego Wave winger scored two goals in four minutes to secure a thumping 5-2 win and kept France top of their group for a Saturday encounter with Germany, leaving England to face the in-form Swedes. Cascarino, who missed the 2023 World Cup with an ACL injury, moved to Southern California last July to play for the Wave in the NWSL. The 28-year-old embodies the leagues and cultures that made her: her principled French flair is now edged with American grit, both forces swirling within the breezy confidence of a player who has spent a lot of time on the beaches of her mother's homeland of Guadeloupe. Advertisement Cascarino has scored two goals and provided two assists in three Euros games. She also leads the NWSL in assists with five as the Wave sit third in the table at the midseason break. There were glimmers of her brilliance, her spontaneity on the ball, early in the second half. She roofed a ball that dropped almost too easily to her feet near the penalty box in the 52nd minute, but by the 54th minute, she was gliding over the ball, her stepovers mesmeric. Dutch defender Kerstin Casparij blocked her shot, but Cascarino's guile earned France a corner kick. Seven minutes later, Cascarino plowed down a Dutch player in the middle of the park and sent the ball on its way to striker Marie Antoinette-Katoto, who did not waste the opportunity to equalize. Then those glimmers snapped into blinding focus. Advertisement 'Sometimes I don't know what to do, so I use my body and throw in a fake move,' she told in San Diego before the Euros began. 'It's a habit, and my body just does what it wants, and sometimes it works.' That could explain the beckoning hand to a teammate as though she wanted to pass them the ball, tricking defenders into the spaces she secretly wanted them to be as she galloped with a ball collected at midfield. She followed that with a stutter step as she saw off her last defender and cleared the path for a right-footed shot that rippled the side netting, putting France back in the lead. 'You play against Americans who are strong, Brazilians with flair, Spanish players who are so smart,' Cascarino said of the NWSL, noting Spain's Esther González and Midge Purce of Gotham FC, Trinity Rodman and compatriot Ouleymata Sarr of the Washington Spirit among her favourite players in the league. Cascarino is the only player on France's Euros roster whose club is not based in Europe, which required a tailored assessment of her game and consideration of her workload from new manager Laurent Bonadei. Her colleagues' seasons conclude in May and resume around September, while the NWSL preseason begins in January with a late-November championship. Advertisement 'I went to the U.S. in April,' Bonadei told reporters after the Netherlands match. 'I visited five clubs, watched three games, and I saw a good level of the championship. And it's a very good thing to have Delphine very fit.' It was he who encouraged Cascarino to stay with the Wave in February rather than join Les Bleues in Clairefontaine to train for a pair of Nations League matches against Norway and Iceland. Cascarino rejoined the national team in May, but a late yellow card in a match against Switzerland (her second in the Nations League) forced Bonadei's hand. 'I preferred to let her go back to her club, to have a good preparation, and to play,' he said. 'It's good to perform with the club, and have a high level of performance. We saw in the second half she's fit to perform, and to make the difference.' Advertisement Cascarino signed with the Wave last July from Lyon (now OL Lyonnes), dynastic league winners who've also won the Champions League eight times. The change, she says, has been a matter of frequency. 'In France, when you play for Lyon or PSG, you know you'll win the league or the Champions League. Here, every game is a fight,' she said. Ideally, the NWSL draws something new out of European players. Something louder, unapologetic, even a little arrogant. While Cascarino said her trickery is habitual, that her body just remembers, she also knows when to be direct. Against England, she pointed toward the space she wanted full-back Elisa De Almeida to place the ball to ensure she would not break stride driving to the byline. From there, as she's done many times in the NWSL, Cascarino sent a textured cross into the box that curled around English center back Leah Williamson and needed only a tap from Katoto. Advertisement With 11 goals scored by nine different players and four conceded in the group stage, France have been faultless so far in this competition. Cascarino, in particular, has been immaculate. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. San Diego Wave, NWSL, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
