Latest news with #KeiraWalsh
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Euro 2025: England team guide – what can we expect from the defending champions?
This England team head into the tournament with the kind of pedigree they have never had previously: reigning European champions and 2023 World Cup finalists. On their day, the Lionesses have the talent, know-how and experience to beat any European side, but their form has been patchy to say the least. Gone is the time when England went on an unbeaten 30-game streak and were a relentless winning machine — but they have proved they can get results in tournament football. Who is the manager? Sarina Wiegman has been in charge of England since September 2021 and signed a contract extension in January 2024, keeping her with the Lionesses until after the 2027 World Cup. Advertisement Known for her directness and honesty with players, the former Netherlands international makes decisions based on what is best for the team. After triumphs with the Netherlands in 2017 and England in 2022, she could become the first manager, in the men's and women's games, to win three Euros titles in a row. How do they play? Wiegman normally uses a 4-2-3-1 out of possession and then, in possession, pushes her box-to-box midfielder up the field to form a 4-3-3. In England's third group game of the 2023 World Cup, however, she showed her flexibility by going to a 3-4-1-2 after Keira Walsh's injury and even maintained that formation on the midfielder's return as England made it to the final. Who are their three most influential players? Walsh and Georgia Stanway are the heart of England's midfield. Walsh is the lynchpin connecting defence and attack and Stanway is the engine. Should they miss a game, England's level would surely drop significantly given the lack of backup options. Advertisement Lauren James brings a sense of unpredictability and her mere presence can trouble opponents. Her two-footedness makes her a versatile option for Wiegman as she can pop up in pockets across the front line. England have depth in the No 10 (attacking midfield) role and in wide areas but no one can replicate James' talent. What is their biggest strength? England field a very strong starting XI with some of the best players in the world. They have leaders on the pitch and a coaching staff off it who have been there and done it. They know what it takes to win. What weakness might other teams be able to exploit? When England start slowly, a habit of late, they make life very difficult for themselves and struggle to get into a rhythm. Their substitutes have been having less impact than at Euro 2022, preventing them from killing the game. Any notable absentees? Millie Bright, Mary Earps and Fran Kirby are all missing for different reasons. Bright, the captain at the 2023 World Cup, withdrew from selection as she was unable to 'give 100 per cent mentally or physically', while Earps and Kirby have retired from international football. Neither would likely have made the starting XI, but the trio leave a notable void in the dressing room, especially in leadership and experience. What is their strongest starting XI? How have they performed over the past 12 months? Great Britain failed to qualify for the 2024 Olympics and a summer off for England's players was seen by some as a blessing in disguise. But they have struggled to string together consecutive convincing performances. Advertisement They have been making errors and losing control of games, including in the 4-3 defeat against Germany in the autumn at Wembley, and away to Belgium in April, when they lost 3-2. That said, they have kept clean sheets against the world's best, with a 0-0 draw against the United States in November and a 1-0 win over reigning world champions Spain in February. Their most fluid performance came at the end of May, when they beat Portugal 6-0. But they could not back up those levels against Spain a few days later, losing 2-1 in early June. What are they expected to achieve at these Euros? England will want another trophy but with such a mixed bag of recent results, it is uncertain which version of this team is going to turn up. Advertisement They do not have the luxury of easing themselves in with a straightforward fixture — they kick off their tournament against France, then face the Netherlands. There is a realistic possibility they do not make the knockout stages. Did you know? England assistant Arjan Veurink will leave the Lionesses to become the Netherlands head coach after the Euros, returning to his homeland. Going the other way, Netherlands assistants Janneke Bijl and Arvid Smit will join Wiegman in England. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. England, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Euro 2025: England team guide – what can we expect from the defending champions?
This England team head into the tournament with the kind of pedigree they have never had previously: reigning European champions and 2023 World Cup finalists. On their day, the Lionesses have the talent, know-how and experience to beat any European side, but their form has been patchy to say the least. Gone is the time when England went on an unbeaten 30-game streak and were a relentless winning machine — but they have proved they can get results in tournament football. Sarina Wiegman has been in charge of England since September 2021 and signed a contract extension in January 2024, keeping her with the Lionesses until after the 2027 World Cup. Known for her directness and honesty with players, the former Netherlands international makes decisions based on what is best for the team. After triumphs with the Netherlands in 2017 and England in 2022, she could become the first manager, in the men's and women's games, to win three Euros titles in a row. Wiegman normally uses a 4-2-3-1 out of possession and then, in possession, pushes her box-to-box midfielder up the field to form a 4-3-3. In England's third group game of the 2023 World Cup, however, she showed her flexibility by going to a 3-4-1-2 after Keira Walsh's injury and even maintained that formation on the midfielder's return as England made it to the final. Walsh and Georgia Stanway are the heart of England's midfield. Walsh is the lynchpin connecting defence and attack and Stanway is the engine. Should they miss a game, England's level would surely drop significantly given the lack of backup options. Lauren James brings a sense of unpredictability and her mere presence can trouble opponents. Her two-footedness makes her a versatile option for Wiegman as she can pop up in pockets across the front line. England have depth in the No 10 (attacking midfield) role and in wide areas but no one can replicate James' talent. England field a very strong starting XI with some of the best players in the world. They have leaders on the pitch and a coaching staff off it who have been there and done it. They know what it takes to win. When England start slowly, a habit of late, they make life very difficult for themselves and struggle to get into a rhythm. Their substitutes have been having less impact than at Euro 2022, preventing them from killing the game. Millie Bright, Mary Earps and Fran Kirby are all missing for different reasons. Bright, the captain at the 2023 World Cup, withdrew from selection as she was unable to 'give 100 per cent mentally or physically', while Earps and Kirby have retired from international football. Neither would likely have made the starting XI, but the trio leave a notable void in the dressing room, especially in leadership and experience. Great Britain failed to qualify for the 2024 Olympics and a summer off for England's players was seen by some as a blessing in disguise. But they have struggled to string together consecutive convincing performances. They have been making errors and losing control of games, including in the 4-3 defeat against Germany in the autumn at Wembley, and away to Belgium in April, when they lost 3-2. That said, they have kept clean sheets against the world's best, with a 0-0 draw against the United States in November and a 1-0 win over reigning world champions Spain in February. Their most fluid performance came at the end of May, when they beat Portugal 6-0. But they could not back up those levels against Spain a few days later, losing 2-1 in early June. England will want another trophy but with such a mixed bag of recent results, it is uncertain which version of this team is going to turn up. They do not have the luxury of easing themselves in with a straightforward fixture — they kick off their tournament against France, then face the Netherlands. There is a realistic possibility they do not make the knockout stages. England assistant Arjan Veurink will leave the Lionesses to become the Netherlands head coach after the Euros, returning to his homeland. Going the other way, Netherlands assistants Janneke Bijl and Arvid Smit will join Wiegman in England.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Beney shirt number revealed
Iman Beney will wear the number 24 shirt during her time at Manchester City. The Swiss international has become our second signing of the summer following the arrival of defender Jade Rose. An exciting 18-year-old capable of playing in multiple attacking positions, Beney joins the Blues having been named in the Swiss Super League's Team of the Year after helping BSC Young Boys Frauen win the title for the first time since 2011. Advertisement And after making the switch to City, Iman will become only the second player in our professional women's history to wear the number 24 shirt. WATCH: Beney: City is the best place for me The first owner of the shirt was midfielder Keira Walsh, who wore 24 throughout her career at the Club from 2014-2022. Walsh made 211 appearances during that time, behind Steph Houghton in the all-time rankings, winning every available domestic honour at the Joie Stadium in the process. Her departure for Barcelona in the summer of 2022 had left the shirt vacant for three seasons, with Beney now ready to take it on ahead of beginning her City career. Iman's shirt will be available to purchase soon, with an update on and our official app to be provided when it's available.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blackburn Rovers women's team relegated after owners opt against required funding
Blackburn Rovers' women's team have been relegated from Women's Super League 2 (English football's second tier) after the club decided against meeting the league's requirements on facilities, player welfare and staffing. The Lancashire club was given until Monday to state its intention to the Women's Super League Football (WSL Football) — the organisation in charge of running the top two divisions of English women's football) — to finance their women's team's licensing criteria and retain their tier-two status. Advertisement Rovers finished second from bottom in the Championship, rebranded as WSL2 for the 2025-26 season, ahead of relegated Sheffield United. A meeting with members of the club's hierarchy took place on Monday May 12 and players and staff were left in limbo since being informed of the situation last Tuesday, May 13. Many within the team were said to be 'devastated' by the unfolding situation. But on Tuesday, they were informed by the club that no financing would be provided. Regulations for the women's pyramid state that any club which withdraws from a league can only re‑enter at least two tiers lower. Precedent was set when Reading were relegated to the fifth tier of English football ahead of the 2024-25 season after financial uncertainty and the collapse of an 11th-hour takeover bid. Advertisement Compliance and development reviews are standard across the top two tiers and carried out ahead of each new season. Every club is asked by the league to comply with the participation agreement. Blackburn's demotion follows on from controversy last summer, during which it was reported their women's team's playing budget was constrained to just £100,000 for next season, with their players, who are all semi-professional, receiving salaries of £9,000. The decision to cut the playing budget incurred fierce criticism. Blackburn have significant pedigree in the women's game with a strong academy set-up. The club have produced England internationals and Euro 2022 champions Keira Walsh, Ella Toone and Georgia Stanway. Blackburn's men's team finished seventh in the Championship in the most recent season, narrowly missing out on the playoffs. Advertisement For the 2023-24 financial year, the club reported a profit of £3.3million. However, without the club-record sale (around £22million including add-ons) of midfielder Adam Wharton to Premier League side Crystal Palace, the figure would have been a £17.2m loss which is similar to 12 months prior. Blackburn defender Niamh Murphy wrote on social media last week about the possibility of relegation: 'I have been a Blackburn player for three seasons and the only consistency there has been is the lack of financial support from the club. 'Whilst this season may not look successful to others, we have once again avoided relegation despite having the smallest budget. This is a huge success and a credit to the women's players and staff. 'This group has worked relentlessly hard all season for so little reward. We all earn less than a liveable wage, with many players having to live away from home whilst also having to work other jobs to survive, and this is what we get in return.' This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Blackburn Rovers, Sports Business, Championship, UK Women's Football 2025 The Athletic Media Company
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chelsea 3-0 Manchester United: Women's FA Cup final player ratings
Chelsea Hannah Hampton Calm when called upon but she was rarely tested by Manchester United. Did well when one-on-one with Terland. 6/10 Lucy Bronze Showed great energy down the right flank, caused problems offensively and typified Chelsea's physical superiority. 7 Nathalie Björn Beaten in the air by Terland for one of Manchester United's best chances, in an otherwise reliable performance. 6 Millie Bright Typically solid and dependable, if not spectacular. Now the mainstay of Chelsea's decade-long spell of dominance. 6 Naomi Girma Possibly her best Chelsea performance so far. Showed superb anticipation and positional awareness. Had too much pace for Terland. 8 Related: Chelsea win Women's FA Cup as Baltimore's double sinks Manchester United Advertisement Niamh Charles Played some smart football and was positionally astute which perhaps more enabled space for others to shine rather than herself. 6 Aggie Beever-Jones Could have done better with a couple of chances but her movement was good and, aged 21, she'll get more Wembley chances. 5 Keira Walsh Fairly quiet by her own high standards but the maturity of her tactically-influential performance should not be underestimated. 6 Erin Cuthbert Battled impressively, showing typical grit and desire that summed up how Chelsea have completed an unbeaten domestic campaign. 7 Sandy Baltimore Player of the match. Took her goals well and produced an exquisite cross for Macario's goal. Classy player. 9 Mayra Ramírez A fairly forgettable final for the Colombia forward but her work rate was a marked improvement on the semi-final against Barcelona. 5 Substitutes: Catarina Macario (Ramírez, 62) Lively. Strong impact late in the game and popped up with a fine header for the second goal; 8. Wieke Kaptein (Beever-Jones, 75) Showed plenty of good touches to help contribute to Chelsea's late flurry of chances; 6. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Bronze, 90+4) 5. Guro Reiten 5 (Baltimore, 90+4) 5. Sjoeke Nüsken (Cuthbert, 90+4) 5. Manchester United Phallon Tullis-Joyce Made three good first-half saves but her attempt at mind games with Baltimore for the penalty did not work. 5 Aoife Mannion She did well at the back but, in attack, Manchester United missed Jayde Riviere more dangerous crosses. 6 Maya Le Tissier Made a rare mistake early on but recovered to later make two strong blocks. 6 Millie Turner Withdrawn at half-time because of an injury after playing relatively well in the first 45 minutes, but United needed to make a tactical change at the break anyway. 6 Gabby George Almost scored an own goal but also produced two excellent blocks at important moments. 6 Grace Clinton We never really saw the best of the England midfielder. Booked for foul on Cuthbert. Still only 22 – her time will come. 5 Dominique Janssen Spurned a huge chance over the bar. Struggled late on after being switched to centre-back as Chelsea got on top. 4 Hinata Miyazawa Showed some really nice touches of control but ultimately was outmuscled by Cuthbert, as Baltimore bossed the midfield battle. 5 Related: Chelsea 3-0 Manchester United: Women's FA Cup final – as it happened Advertisement Celin Bizet Gave away the penalty with a slack foul on Cuthbert and was not quite able to reproduce her good league form in attack. 4 Elisabeth Terland Headed a golden chance straight at Hampton. Worked hard but just lacked a bit of quality on the day. 5 Leah Galton Defensively strong, making two vital blocks including one on Ramírez, worked tirelessly, but never really had a chance to shine in the final third. 7 Substitutes: Ella Toone (Turner, ht) Fired a half-volley straight at the keeper but overall didn't have the impact she will have dreamed of. In hindsight, probably should have started; 6. Melvine Malard (Mannion, 70) Never really had a chance to get into the game as the play became stretched; 5. Anna Sandberg (George, 76) Had a tough time as Chelsea continually broke forward in the closing stages; 5. Lisa Naalsund (Miyazawa, 81) Came on too late to have much of an influence, as her teammates tired; 5. Rachel Williams (Bizet, 81) It felt like her introduction was United's last throw of the dice but instead Chelsea created all the late chances; 5.
