Msheireb world cup

AMANDINE HENRY  has been recalled to France’s national side after an absence of two years.

The former Le Bleues skipper, 33, has been included in Herve Renard’s provisional squad before the start of the Women’s World Cup in July.

The midfielder’s inclusion follows her switch from Lyon to US top tier side Angel City this month after a 14-year spell at the club.

Following his squad announcement, Renard, 54, told reporters: “Having her (in the group) was one of my main intentions.

“With her little problem with Lyon, now resolved, we helped her along a lot so that she would be available for the preparation for the World Cup.”

Renard’s 26-strong squad currently includes five WSL aces with Aston Villa’s Kenza Dali, Chelsea defender Eve Perisset and West Ham forward Viviane Asseyi all named.

Manchester United’s Aissatou Tounkara and Estelle Cascarino have also been called up.

However Irons centre-back Hawa Cissoko misses out ten months after being included in the squad before last summer’s Euros.

And the team will be without the services of Paris-Saint Germain striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Lyon’s Delphine Cascarino due to thigh and ACL injuries.

Henry’s return comes nearly three years after the midfielder described the atmosphere under former gaffer Corinne Diacre during the 2019 World Cup as “total chaos”

The France star, who has won 12 top-flight titles and seven Champions League medals with her squad, was left out of Diacre’s squad before last year’s Euros.

The ex-France boss was fired in March after a number of players announced their intend to stand down from international duty.

National captain Wendi Renard, forward Kadidiatou Diani and Katoto were among the players who had temporarily stood  down.

In an interview with French outlet Telefoot Diani said it was important for team-mates to have “something new”.

France will begin their campaign to win the World Cup with a Group D opening fixture against Jamaica at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia on July 23.

It will see Renard’s side, currently ranked the fifth best in the world, play their first game in a major tournament under their new boss.

Henry’s return to the side comes ahead of France’s pre-World Cup friendly fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Australia on the 6th and 14th of July.

Their clash with the former could see Henry, who has 93 senior international caps, return to match action for France for the first time since December 2020.

ENGLAND manager Sarina Wiegman has named her 23-woman squad for this year’s World Cup.

Wiegman has made seven changes to last year’s European Championship winning squad.

The 2023 Women’s World Cup – which will take place in Australia and New Zealand – is set to kick off on July 20.

England’s first match, against Haiti, is scheduled for July 22.

The Lionesses are also set to face China and Denmark in the group stages.

Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton and Ellie Roebuck remain the 53-year-old’s preferred goalkeepers.

Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Alex Greenwood, Millie Bright and Lotte Wubben-Moy keep their respective places along with midfielders Kiera Walsh, Ella Toone and Georgia Stanway.

England’s attacking options include; Bethany England, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly – who claimed the WSL Golden Boot award at the weekend.

Daly, who started all six of England’s Euro 2022 games as a left-back, signed for Aston Villa last summer and enjoyed an impressive 2022-23 campaign in the No.9 role, scoring 22 times and equalling Vivianne Miedema’s record for the most goals scored in a single WSL season.

Lauren James is set to make her first appearance at a major tournament following her successful season with Chelsea, as is Esme Morgan, Niamh Charles, Katie Zelem, Laura Coombs and Katie Robinson.

Jordan Nobbs returns to the squad after missing out on Euro 2022 due to a knee injury.

England captain Leah Williamson was ruled out of the tournament in April after sustaining a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

She is set to pass the captain’s armband to vice skipper Bright.

Beth Mead – Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner and Player of the Tournament – has also missed out on a spot in the squad due to an ACL injury she sustained in November.

Earlier this month, the 28-year-old revealed that she was hopeful of earning a place in the squad despite missing a large chunk of the season.

She told Sky Sports: “The injury’s okay, I’m a good five months in and back on the pitch and kicking a ball again, feeling good, ahead of schedule. That’s all I can do that’s in my control right now.

“I wouldn’t say I’m confident [of going to the World Cup] because it’s out of my control, but I’m working hard to get as close to it as possible – but at the end of the day, it’s probably going to be Sarina’s decision.”

However, Wiegman believes the tournament comes too soon for the Arsenal star.

Chelsea midfielder Fran Kirby is also set to miss out on the tournament.

The 29-year-old was ruled out for a “significant” period earlier this month after it was revealed that she required knee surgery.

When naming her chosen squad, Wieman said: “I have huge belief in this squad and we’re very fortunate to be selecting a fantastic group of players to travel to Australia.

“We know we will face tough challenges from strong teams, and we will have to be competitive from the first match on 22 July. We will do

“It is important the players get some well-deserved time to rest and recover over the next few weeks before we start the final preparations to get them ready.

“We learned a lot of positive lessons about how to get the players fit, fresh and ready from the EURO last summer and we know what we have to do to make sure we hit the ground running in the right way when the tournament starts.”

Steph Houghton, Maya Le Tissier and Nikita Parris narrowly miss out on a spot in the squad.

Le Tissier has been named on the standby list along with Jess Park and goalkeeper Emily Ramsey.

Wiegman added: “It is always tough to leave some players out of the squad, but they know they could still be needed if we have any issues before we start the tournament. I am very happy that we have such a professional group.”

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) welcomed the decision of Fifa to hand out huge cash incentives for the Filipinas and other participants of next month’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Fifa announced Thursday that all 732 players, including those who will make the Filipinas squad for women’s football’s biggest showpiece, will each get at least $30,000 (P1.68 million) , part of a 300-percent increase from the total pot handed out in the 2019 edition.

“It’s actually good for the players,” PFF president Nonong Araneta told the Inquirer when asked about a story written by a wire service detailing Fifa’s announcement.

“At least all of the players will be receiving $30,000 each, whether you’ve qualified for the next round or not,” added Araneta.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino promised last March that a portion of the guaranteed money for the competition slated July 20 to Aug. 20 should be given to the players.

The incentives should be a huge motivation for members of the Filipinas vying for slots in the country’s maiden World Cup appearance.

Perhaps benefiting from Fifa’s decision are players who are currently unattached or are not with professional clubs overseas.

The PFF, meanwhile, stands to receive a minimum of $1.56 million (P87 million), the smallest figure that can be given to teams that made the group stage, according to a Reuters article.

Each member of the team that ends up winning the Women’s World Cup is going to receive $270,000 (P15.2 million).

LIVERPOOL legend Luis Garcia has trolled Chelsea fans over his own “ghost goal” following the goal line controversy seen at the World Cup.

Japan knocked out Germany with a 2-1 win over Spain after the ball went millimetres from crossing the byline before it was hooked back in for Ao Tanaka to score his nation’s winner.

Fierce debate followed online, with a number of people attempting to show why the ball had stayed in play .

And Garcia hopped on the bandwagon to troll Chelsea fans regarding his “ghost goal” against them.

Taking to Twitter, he quote tweeted a video explaining deceiving camera angles and said: “Hope there’s no more complaints from Chelsea supporters…”

Four minutes into a Champions League semi-final second leg against the Blues in 2005 Garcia prodded the ball towards goal.

Despite it being cleared off the line, a goal was awarded to the Reds which sent them to the final.

And the final would prove to be one of the most famous nights in Liverpool’s illustrious history as they sealed a stunning comeback against AC Milan in Istanbul.

Speaking to BT Sport in 2020 about the goal he said: “My reaction to the goal is straightforward.

“When they touch the ball, I wait for it to bounce and then I go to celebrate. I don’t wait around, I just run off to celebrate.

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“My reaction means I saw the ball going in. Nothing more to say, your honour.”

Garcia played for Liverpool for three years between 2004 and 2007.

He scored 30 goals and added 16 assists in 121 games while winning five trophies at Anfield.

Lionel Messi will certainly not be heading to the poor house when he joins Inter Miami – but Faiq Bolkiah makes him, and everybody else, look like he is.

From a football point of view, Messi stomps all over the former Leicester City player. The 35-year-old boasts seven Ballon d’Ors, the World Cup, the Copa America, four Champions Leagues, 10 La Liga titles, seven Spanish Super Cups, two Ligue One titles and three Club World Cups.

However, if the Argentine was to enter into an auction against Bolkiah, there will only be one winner. After-all, as the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, he has considerable pocket money.

While he made zero Premier League appearances – the same number Messi will finish his career with – the 25-year-old’s eye-watering $20billion net worth would certainly raise his spirits.

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Bolkiah may well be a free agent at this current moment. However, from a pure financial point of view, he could buy an entire football team and put himself up front if he fancied it.

Messi is obviously no slouch, particularly after earning a purported $41m per year at Paris Saint-Germain. His savvy business dealings coupled with some lucrative endorsements from the likes of Adidas drag his overall net worth to around $600m.

What is your reaction to Lionel Messi’s potential move to Inter Miami? Let us know in the comments section below

While it is still more than a King’s ransom, Bolkiah’s wealth eats Messi’s up 33 times over. However, the Barcelona legend’s purported deal with Inter Miami may help him bridge the gap on the 25-year-old.

The exact salary Messi will expect to earn is currently yet to be published. However, Spanish publication Sport understands he was offered a four year contract by David Beckham’s franchise, while further articles also suggested he may be offered a 35% stake in Inter Miami.

Messi was also linked to an emotional return to Barcelona as well as an eye-watering move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. The Middle Eastern giants were reportedly willing to offer a contract worth more than $1bn.

At times, they appeared to be the favourites, due to the fact he was already an ambassador for the kingdom, even breaking PSG club rules by visiting the country without his club’s permission.