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South China Morning Post
28-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Ivankovic out. Chinese football bosses finally confirm sacking after World Cup failure
The Chinese Football Association has finally confirmed what everyone already knew, that head coach Branko Ivankovic had been fired after his side's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Advertisement In a statement released on its website, the CFA thanked Ivankovic and said Dejan Djurdjevic, who led China to the quarter-finals of the Under-20 Asian Cup in Shenzhen in February, would take over on a caretaker basis for next month's East Asian Championship in South Korea, which also includes Hong Kong and Japan. Ivankovic was removed from his post as a result of China finishing fifth in Group C of the continent's preliminaries for next year's 48-team finals, which will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States. 'The Chinese Football Association expresses gratitude to Mr Branko Ivankovic and his coaching staff for their dedicated efforts during their tenure with the men's national team and their contributions to Chinese football,' a CFA statement said. 'We wish Mr. Ivankovic all the best in his future work and life.' Losing to Indonesia in Jakarta was the end of China's World Cup dreams for another year. Photo: Xinhua The 71-year-old Croatian, who led Iran at the World Cup finals in Germany in 2006, was appointed China's coach in February 2024, replacing Aleksandar Jankovic. He steered the country into the third phase of Asia's World Cup qualifying.
Washington Post
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
'Uphill battle': Wales coach hikes mountain to announce squad for Women's Euros
Seeking to scale new heights at the Women's European Championship, Wales coach Rhian Wilkinson hiked to the summit of the principality's highest peak on Thursday to announce her squad for the tournament. Wilkinson, a Canadian whose mother was born in Wales, woke up early before embarking on the 3,560-foot (1,085-meter) ascent up Snowdon — or Yr Wyddfa, to give the mountain range's Welsh name.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Uphill battle': Wales coach hikes mountain to announce squad for Women's Euros
Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson, left, speaks during a squad announcement press conference at the summit of Yr Wyddfa in Snowdonia, Wales, Thursday June 19, 2025. (Nick Potts/PA via AP) Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson reacts during a squad announcement press conference at the summit of Yr Wyddfa in Snowdonia, Wales, Thursday June 19, 2025. (Nick Potts/PA via AP) Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson poses on the summit of Yr Wyddfa following a squad announcement press conference, in Snowdonia, Wales, Thursday June 19, 2025. (Nick Potts/PA via AP) Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson poses on the summit of Yr Wyddfa following a squad announcement press conference, in Snowdonia, Wales, Thursday June 19, 2025. (Nick Potts/PA via AP) Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson, left, speaks during a squad announcement press conference at the summit of Yr Wyddfa in Snowdonia, Wales, Thursday June 19, 2025. (Nick Potts/PA via AP) Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson reacts during a squad announcement press conference at the summit of Yr Wyddfa in Snowdonia, Wales, Thursday June 19, 2025. (Nick Potts/PA via AP) Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson poses on the summit of Yr Wyddfa following a squad announcement press conference, in Snowdonia, Wales, Thursday June 19, 2025. (Nick Potts/PA via AP) Seeking to scale new heights at the Women's European Championship, Wales coach Rhian Wilkinson hiked to the summit of the principality's highest peak on Thursday to announce her squad for the tournament. Wilkinson, a Canadian whose mother was born in Wales, woke up early before embarking on the 3,560-foot (1,085-meter) ascent up Snowdon — or Yr Wyddfa, to give the mountain range's Welsh name. Advertisement While she went on foot, the assembled media took a small train at 7 a.m. local time to get to the summit. Wilkinson has guided Wales to its first major soccer championship and has equated the feat to climbing a mountain. 'It was always going to be an uphill battle, one where we were going to have little setbacks,' Wilkinson said at a news conference atop Snowdon. "What is mountaineering? Exactly that — a challenge of steeper parts and flattening off. All these parallels you can make. 'So, we have used this mountain as an image throughout the campaign. And equally, as we move toward the Euros, we have started talking more about the summit, the Everest part of it. That something is impossible until it isn't. And we are there.' Advertisement Yr Wyddfa is close to Wilkinson's heart. She said her parents spent their honeymoon there, she hiked there as a kid and a ceremony was held there after the death of her father. Sophie Ingle, 33, was named in the squad despite being out since September with anterior cruciate ligament damage. She has 141 caps and led Wales 83 times from 2015-24 before stepping down as captain. ___ AP soccer:
CNA
08-06-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Italy soccer coach Spalletti to quit after defeat against Norway
MILAN : Luciano Spalletti said on Sunday he would leave his role as Italy's coach on Monday after the national soccer team plays against Moldova, following the shock loss against Norway, Italian media reported. Spalletti made the announcement at a press conference after Norway stunned Italy with a 3-0 win on Friday, handing the visitors a humiliating start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Italy defeat 'a punch in the face'
Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson has told her side to learn from painful lessons after likening their Nations League defeat by Italy to "a punch in the face".In their final fixture before this summer's European Championships, Wales suffered their heaviest defeat under Wilkinson at the worst possible despite warning her side that "hard moments are coming", Wilkinson insisted they will be better for the loss having taken heart from an improved second half were four down at half-time as their defence crumbled in Swansea and Wilkinson said: "The first-half felt like a punch in the face."Games in this campaign have been really tight, but we haven't had a heavy defeat like this – so that first half was important because who do we want to be?"That second-half is more indicative of the Welsh team we all know. We're going to look back on it as an important moment for us." Wilkinson's side had been defensively impressive for most of their League A campaign, but before a summer in which they will face the Netherlands, France and England in their Euro 2025 group, the former Canada international said Wales were shown what happens when you "tune out"."Italy punished us for every mistake and we have to react faster," Wilkinson said, who included herself and her coaching staff in accepting they needed to learn lessons. "Hard moments are coming; this is a hard thing we're about do, the Euros are going to be very difficult."We're going to have to be at our best and what we have learned is any mistake will be punished."Wales rallied after the interval to give Wilkinson belief there will be no scarring heading towards added: "I told the players at the end we can't say this was a good performance and what happened to us wasn't good."But you do get to choose how you react to adversity. Good teams turn into great teams with how you react. How we finished is something I can be happy and proud of." Fishlock provides 'magic moment' Wales' fans in Swansea were lifted by a wonder goal from Jess Fishlock, a record-estending 47th goal in an unmatched 162 appearances for her home from 35 yards, Wilkinson repeated her appeal to fans to appreciate the 38-year-old while she still wears her country's shirt."With magic moments like that, I hope the Welsh public is aware of the special talent they have and don't take it for granted," Wilkinson said. "Whenever she's on the field something's happening." No risk over goalkeeper Clark Fishlock gained important match minutes off the bench after a recent injury lay-off, while Wilkinson will now wait for news on defenders Rhian Roberts (groin) and Mayzee Davies (knee) before naming her squad for Switzerland on 23 the Wales boss played down concern over goalkeeper Olivia Clark who left the field after a second blow to the head in as many games."She had a significant black eye from the Denmark game and we the did proper protocols for concussion, and we were positive she was in a good spot," said Wilkinson. "But when you hit your head again, you don't take risks. Two head hits in a week is not good so we decided to pull her. She will be assessed appropriately."
