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Search resuls for: "Leads Coverage Of Sport Across The Asia-Pacific. Still Reports On The Full Panoply Of Sport. Many Olympics World Cups World Championships Grand Slams Grands Prix"


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No team had ever recovered from a halftime deficit to win a World Cup final and the Springboks came out flying in the second half looking to drive home their advantage. It was the first try South Africa had conceded in four World Cup finals but Mo'unga missed the conversion from wide-out and the Springboks held on to the lead. Kolisi had by now returned to the fray after his card was not upgraded and South Africa brought their famed "bomb squad" off the bench to relieve fatigued forwards. South Africa winger Cheslin Kolbe was the fourth player to be yellow-carded seven minutes from time but New Zealand's Jordie Barrett struck the subsequent 48-metre penalty attempt wide of the posts. New Zealand had also been hoping to win a fourth World Cup and coach Ian Foster thought the way the cards for Cane and Kolisi played out had been a decisive factor.
Persons: Denis, Webb Ellis, Cyril Ramaphosa REUTERS, Gonzalo Fuentes, Cane, Beauden Barrett, NZ Handre Pollard, Sam Cane, Pieter, Steph du Toit, Handre, Siya Kolisi, Black Richie McCaw, Kolisi, Shannon Frizell, Flyhalf Pollard, Richie Mo'unga, Pollard, Cane clattered, Jesse Kriel, Mo'unga, Ardie Savea, New Zealand scrumhalf Aaron Smith, Mark Telea, Cheslin Kolbe, Zealand's Jordie Barrett, Ian Foster, it's, Nick Mulvenney, Ed Osmond Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, Stade de France, Saint, South, NZ, Zealand, Blacks, Springboks, New Zealand, All Blacks, Thomson Locations: Zealand, South Africa, France, Africa, South Africa PARIS, New Zealand, New
"For four years, we wrote a beautiful picture for French rugby, the players can be proud, coaches can be proud." "This doesn't take anything away from the South Africans, who beat us in the fight tonight, they played really well." Galthie, who is contracted until after the next World Cup in 2027, said he would continue as coach. "There is a French team that will continue to play, they will soon be playing the first match of the Six Nations in Marseille," he said. "What we've been through at this tournament is another chapter in the story of the French team."
Persons: Fabien Galthie, Galthie's, Antoine Dupont, scrumhalf, Ben O'Keeffe, Dupont, I'm, Eben Etzebeth's, Galthie, Nick Mulvenney, Ken Ferris Organizations: Springboks, rugby, Namibia, Six Nations, Thomson Locations: France, New Zealand, Africa, South Africa, French, Marseille
PARIS, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Andy Farrell concedes that Ireland have suffered from an inferiority complex in the past but believes his team are ready to embrace the challenge of being the best in the world. On Saturday, the top-ranked Irish face a major challenge to those ambitions in the World Cup quarter-finals when they take on three-times world champions New Zealand, long the benchmark for test rugby teams. Although Ireland could match the top tier record for winning streaks with an 18th straight victory on Saturday, Farrell conceded that Ireland's miserable record in World Cup knockouts might come into his players' heads at some stage. And when we do that, you're not on your own so you can get away from those types of thoughts." The former England dual code international said Ireland were learning to embrace even that element of being top dogs.
Persons: Andy Farrell, Farrell, Nick Mulvenney, Toby Davis Organizations: New Zealand, Ireland, All Blacks, Blacks, Thomson Locations: Ireland, England
"What's happened in the past is irrelevant, we're just trying to get better every week and so are they." "I don't think we're carrying much baggage, it's a one-off game and we've got to prepare for it." Farrell was able to name an unchanged starting team for the game with Mack Hansen and James Lowe both passed fit to play. Farrell said Ryan would probably be available for the semi-finals if Ireland managed to get past New Zealand. "That's what we're preparing for, the toughest game we've ever faced, and that we're going to be ready for it."
Persons: Andy Farrell, Farrell, we're, Johnny Sexton, we've, Mack Hansen, James Lowe, Hansen, Lowe, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Jimmy O'Brien, Stuart McCloskey, Ryan, you've, We've, they've, Sexton, flyhalf, Hugo Keenan, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson, Doris, Josh van, Peter O'Mahony, Iain Henderson, Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, David Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Jimmy O’Brien, Nick Mulvenney, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Stade de France, & Irish Lions, All Blacks, Blacks, Lions, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Ireland
None was closer than the final of the 50-over World Cup against England four years ago, when New Zealand missed out on boundary countback after two Super Overs failed to separate the teams. The Black Caps accepted the Lord's defeat with admirable good grace, as they had far more emphatic losses to Australia in the 2015 title decider and the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup final. The New Zealand captain made a quite remarkable recovery to take his spot in the World Cup squad but only returned to batting in a warm-up victory over Pakistan on Friday. Williamson will not be available for the tournament opener, a rematch of the 2019 final against England in Ahmedabad next Thursday. The Black Caps have proved highly adept at tournament management in recent World Cups and Stead was unconcerned that they headed to India ranked sixth in the world.
Persons: Zealand's Kane Williamson, Andrew Couldridge, Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Williamson, Southee, Boult, Gary Stead, Kane, Stead, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Jimmy Neesham, Nick Mulvenney, Ed Osmond Organizations: New, England, New Zealand, Black Caps, Indian Premier League, World, Pakistan, Twenty20, India, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, New Zealand, Australia, India, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad
LYON, France, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Uruguay savoured their victory over Namibia on Wednesday all the more as they were well aware the opportunity to add another World Cup success might not come any time soon. Uruguay has only had three wins in the World Cup, the fourth win was really important. "Now we are going to enjoy the week and then play the best team in the world (New Zealand on Oct. 5). We don't know if we will have a chance to play in the World Cup again." Uruguay coach Esteban Meneses said his team had prepared to make history.
Persons: Andres Vilaseca, Vilaseca, Esteban Meneses, Julien Pretot, Ed Osmond 私 Organizations: Namibia, New Zealand, Italy, Super Rugby Americas, Uruguay's Penarol, Rugby Locations: LYON, France, Uruguay, Italy, Namibia, Zealand, South America
SAINT-ETIENNE, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Fullback Emiliano Boffelli scored 16 points in a man-of-the-match performance as Argentina got their World Cup campaign back on track with a hard fought 19-10 victory over a committed Samoa on Friday. That set up a frenetic finale but Nicolas Sanchez, coming off the bench to win his 99th cap for Argentina, lashed over a final penalty from just inside the Samoa half to make the game safe and deny Samoa a losing bonus point. "It's pretty tough to win a test match, especially against a team of the calibre of Argentina with 40% possession," said Samoa coach Seilala Mapusua. England lead Pool D with nine points from two games, four points ahead of Samoa, who beat Chile 43-10 in their opener, and third-placed Japan with Argentina in fourth place on four points. Argentina laid siege to the Samoan try line at the start of the second half and finally came away with some points when Boffelli kicked his third penalty in the 53rd minute.
Persons: ETIENNE, Emiliano Boffelli, Boffelli, Michael Cheika, Christian, Sama Malolo, Nicolas Sanchez, Seilala Mapusua, Duncan Paia'aua, Alai D'Angelo Leuila, Manu, Nick Mulvenney, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Pumas, Wallabies, Samoa, Chile, England, Thomson Locations: Argentina, Samoa, Argentine, England, Japan, Saint Etienne
"Fiji is the most important match of our Rugby World Cup campaign," coach Eddie Jones said in a news release. "It's another big opportunity for our young side to keep getting better and we'll be ready on Sunday." The experienced Nic White will instead partner flyhalf Carter Gordon at halfback with rookie Issak Fines-Leleiwasa set to win his second test cap from the bench. Hooker Jordan Uelese has also recovered from injury and will back up starting rake David Porecki from the bench. Ben Donaldson, man of the match against Georgia after being brought into the side primarily for his place-kicking, retains the fullback spot ahead of Andrew Kellaway.
Persons: James Slipper, Andrew Boyers, ETIENNE, George Gregan, Adam Ashley, Cooper, Taniela Tupou, Stade Geoffroy, Eddie Jones, Jones, Tate McDermott, Nic White, flyhalf Carter Gordon, Issak, Rob Valetini, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Lock Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Hooker Jordan Uelese, David Porecki, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway, Jordan Petaia, Carter Gordon, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Nick Frost, Angus Bell, Jordan Uelese, Blake Schoupp, Zane Nonggorr, Richie Arnold, Rob Leota, Lalakai Foketi, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Rugby Union, Wales, Evergreen Wallabies, Fiji, Georgia, Stade, Rugby World, Thomson Locations: Australia, Cardiff, Wales, Britain, Australian, Taniela, Fiji
Nicknamed the Tongan Thor, tighthead Tupou has been one of Australia's best performers this season and had a major impact on the 35-15 Pool C win over Georgia last weekend. Zane Nonggorr replaced Tupou for the last 10 minutes of the Georgia match in his fourth test and the other tighthead in the squad, Pone Faamausili, has also been struggling with a calf problem. Australian media reports said coach Eddie Jones was considering switching the experienced and versatile loosehead prop James Slipper to the other side of the front row for the Fiji match. The Wallabies, who snapped a five-match losing streak against the Georgians, could all but secure a spot in the quarter-finals with a win on Sunday. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Denis, Taniela Tupou, Stephanie Lecocq, Tongan Thor, tighthead Tupou, Zane Nonggorr, Tupou, Pone Faamausili, Eddie Jones, James Slipper, Jason Ryles, Nick Mulvenney, Ken Ferris Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, Georgia, Stade de France, Saint, Fiji, Sunday, Wallabies, Georgians, Thomson Locations: Australia, France, ETIENNE, Saint Etienne, Tongan, Georgia
SAINT-ETIENNE, Sept 14 (Reuters) - All Blacks loose forward Luke Jacobson is excited to see what he can bring to the party as starting blindside flanker against Namibia on Friday as New Zealand look to get their World Cup campaign back on track in Toulouse. Coach Ian Foster instead elected to bring Tupou Vaa'i, who normally plays lock, off the bench to play blindside and switched Dalton Papali'i to the openside flank in place of Cane. Jacobson did get a decent run off the bench as New Zealand chased the game in the second half but was relishing the chance to be on the pitch from the start this week. Like all of the New Zealand forwards, Jacobson will be desperate to stay on the right side of the referee after the All Blacks were heavily penalised against France. "(But) we know that we need to be winning to win this competition regardless, so I don't think a whole lot changes from now."
Persons: ETIENNE, Luke Jacobson, Jacobson, Sam Cane, Ian Foster, Tupou Vaa'i, Dalton Papali'i, Cane . Jacobson, I've, Foster, Ethan Blackdadder, Emoni Narawa, blindside Shannon Frizell, Nick Mulvenney, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Blacks, Namibia, New Zealand, France, All Blacks, Thomson Locations: Zealand, Toulouse, France, Namibia, Cane, New
"Certainly, we want to get into a fast-paced game that suits us the style that we love to play. I think it was 44 minutes during one of the (Bledisloe Cup games against Australia), so it's big difference." "At the weekend the ball was like soap so there's probably more kicking involved in that strategy," he added. The veteran hooker, though, warned that the All Blacks might have to accept that they would not get more than 40 minutes of ball-in-play at this World Cup, nor be able to rely on their opposition fading through fatigue. "At the World Cup, people turn up on the day and that pressure and that intent can do funny things to you," he said.
Persons: Denis, Stephanie Lecocq, Jordie Barrett, Greg Feek, Feek, Dane Coles, Coles, Ethan de Groot, Nick Mulvenney, Toby Davis Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, New Zealand, Stade de France, Saint, Haka, Rights, Blacks, Namibia, Australia, World Rugby, France, Thomson Locations: France, New, Rights LYON, Toulouse, Paris
So there's some really good things to take out of the week, (but) the biggest thing would be we gave away a few too many penalties. "Everyone's got to understand what we're trying to do and understand how the referees are refereeing. "What we've got to take from this game is the learnings but also keep believing because we did a lot of good things out here tonight." We're still All Blacks, we're still proud of who we are and what we are," he said. And we showed how dangerous we are on the break so that's what we'll be going for next week."
Persons: Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Whitelock, Everyone's, Fullback Barrett, Smith, France's Thomas Ramos, We've, we're, Ramos, Jasper Shine, Mike Harrison Organizations: New Zealand, Blacks, Thomson Locations: Zealand, France
Donaldson, a surprise selection brought into the side primarily for his place-kicking, added 15 points from the tee with three penalties and three conversions. "There is a real feeling this team could do something," Eddie Jones said after the first victory of his second reign as Australia coach. "We've got a young team, it's a great learning experience for them. Georgia never looked like adding another top tier victim to their tally after wins over Italy and Wales in the last 13 months but battled to the bitter end and scored tries through Luka Ivanishvili and Beka Gigashvili. Australia head south for their second Pool C match in St Etienne on Sunday against a dangerous Fiji side who recently beat England.
Persons: Australia's Ben Donaldson, Livewire, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jordan Petaia, Donaldson, Eddie Jones, We've, it's, Luka, Nawaqanitawase, Mirian Modebadze, flyhalf Luka Matkava, Davit Niniashvili, Taniela Tupou, flyhalf Carter Gordon, Akaki Tabutsadze, Gigashvili, Levan Maisashvili, Nick Mulvenney, Hugh Lawson, Ed Osmond Organizations: Georgia, Wallabies, Stade de France, Luka Ivanishvili, Blacks, Australia, Petaia, Georgians, flyhalf, Australians, Portugal, Sunday, England, Thomson Locations: Australia, Georgia, Italy, Wales, St Etienne, Fiji
Hot on the heels of a record test loss to world champions South Africa in their final warm-up, the All Blacks lost a perfect record in World Cup pool phase matches that went back to the first tournament in 1987. "Stats are stats and I understand all that, but in the past we've won all the pool games but not necessarily won the tournament, the goal is to win a tournament," Foster told reporters. "But we're not down in the sheds, we're just frustrated that we lost a game. "South Africa lost in 2019 the first game against us and went on to win the competition," he said. To win that we need to win the next three, and the way you do that is focus on the next one.
Persons: Ian Foster, we've, Foster, we're, Will Jordan, Sam Cane, Emoni Narawa, Ardie Savea, there's, Nick Mulvenney, Toby Davis Organizations: Blacks, South Africa, Thomson Locations: France, Namibia, Toulouse, Africa
PARIS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - New Zealand coach Ian Foster said the All Blacks had a point to prove in their World Cup opener against hosts France on Friday, a match he thought was unprecedented in terms of hype but which ultimately might not turn out to be hugely important. "Do we have a point to prove? Then we'll really assess after that to see where we're at, and how we progress in this tournament." "The All Blacks have learned over history, you just don't turn up at a World Cup and get what you want just by being here," he added. The All Blacks have never lost a World Cup pool match but Foster said it might not matter much in the greater scheme of the tournament if they were beaten on Friday.
Persons: Ian Foster, Foster, You've, you've, there's, haven't, We've, I've, we've, Nick Mulvenney, Toby Davis Organizations: Blacks, France, Twickenham, New Zealand, Stade de France, Zealand, South Africa, Springboks, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, South Africa
[1/11] Soccer Football - FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Final - Spain v England - Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia - August 20, 2023 Spain players celebrate with the trophy after winning the World Cup REUTERS/Carl Recine Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Spanish technique overcame English resilience as La Roja put aside months of turmoil and division to win their first major title with a 1-0 victory over England in a hardfought Women's World Cup final at Stadium Australia on Sunday. Vilda became only the second male coach to win a major women's tournament - the World Cup, the Olympics and the Euros - since 2000. The first Women's World Cup final not to feature either the United States or Germany started at quite a pace with England just about enjoying the upper hand in the battle of two first-time finalists. Spain took the lead in the 29th minute after England were dispossessed in midfield. "I think everyone has seen an incredible game, very open game, both teams who want to play football," said Wiegman, who was also the losing coach when in charge of her native Netherlands in the 2019 World Cup final.
Persons: Carl Recine, Roja, Captain Olga Carmona, Jorge Vilda, Aitana Bonmati, Teresa Abelleira, Mary Earps, Bonmati, Vilda, Sarina Wiegman, Millie Bright, Lauren Hemp, Salma Paralluelo, Alba Redondo's, Mariona Caldentey, The, Paralluelo, Wiegman, Lauren James, Alessia Russo, vociferously, Keira Walsh, Tori Penso, Earps, Jennifer Hermoso's, James, Cata Coll, Ona Batlle, Coll, Nick Mulvenney, Christian Radnedge, Adam Millington, Alasdair Pal, Fernando Kallas, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, England, REUTERS, Rights, Australia, Sunday, Olympics, Caldentey, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Spain, Australia, Sydney, Spanish, England, United States, Germany, Carmona, Earps, Netherlands, Madrid
SYDNEY, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Women's football will crown a first-time champion on Sunday when the ninth Women's World Cup concludes with England and Spain, both proud footballing nations, facing off in an intriguing final in Sydney. For all the excitement that accompanied Australia's run to the semi-finals and Japan's brilliance in the early rounds, the consensus is that England and Spain are worthy first-time finalists. "I think it's going to be a brilliant game," England captain Millie Bright enthused on Saturday. "This was a game we know were on top of, but it's the result that counts," said Spain coach Jorge Vilda. Our team has evolved, our team has grown in this World Cup and mentally we've taken a step up."
Persons: Australia's, Millie Bright, Aitana Bonmati, Salma Paralluelo, Lauren James, Lauren, England's standouts, Jorge Vilda, Sarina Wiegman, Wiegman, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: SYDNEY, Japan, England, Australia, Spain, Sweden, Thomson Locations: England, Spain, Sydney, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Germany, Norway, Japan, Nigeria, Brighton
"I think for us we live in the moment," the centre half told reporters at Stadium Australia. "And yes, it's a World Cup final but for us our mentality is it's another game. "We've got a game plan that we have to go out and execute but I think everyone knows how big this is. "It's not 2019, it's 2023 and I think England is in a very good place," she said. We just hope that we play our best game ever tomorrow and everyone is going to enjoy it."
Persons: Hannah Mckay, Millie Bright, Bright, We've, it's, Sarina Wiegman, Wiegman, It's, Lauren James, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, England, Australia, Rights, Stadium Australia, Nigeria, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Spain, Australia, Sydney, England, we've, Netherlands, United States
"But actually, this World Cup generated over 570 million U.S. dollars in revenues, and so we broke even. We didn't lose any money and we generated the second highest income of any sport, besides of course the men's World Cup, at a global stage." Not just equal pay in the World Cup, which is a slogan that comes up every now and then. "Equal pay in the World Cup, we are going in that direction already. England play Spain in the World Cup final in Sydney on Sunday to close the tournament.
Persons: Gianni Infantino, Infantino, let's, it's, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: SYDNEY, FIFA, FIFA Women's Football Convention, Thomson Locations: Swiss, Qatar, Australia, New Zealand, England, Spain, Sydney
[1/3] Jul 27, 2023; Wellington, NZL; United States midfielder Rose Lavelle (16) reacts with head coach Vlatko Andonovski during the second half in a group stage match for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup at Wellington Regional Stadium. Andonovski resigned as coach on Wednesday, multiple U.S. media outlets reported, following the four-times champions' early exit from the Women's World Cup this month. Andonovski faced sky-high expectations when he took over nearly four years ago, after Ellis had guided the team to back-to-back World Cup triumphs. But in terms of gender, what we know is that in the last however many major tournaments, I think women have done alright." Since 2000, all but one of the major women's football titles - the Women's World Cup, Women's Euros and the Olympics - have been won by teams coached by women.
Persons: Rose Lavelle, Vlatko Andonovski, Jenna Watson, Jill Ellis, Andonovski, Ellis, There's, Sarina Wiegman, they're, it's, Nick Mulvenney, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: FIFA, Wellington Regional, USA, Rights, Former United States women's, Tokyo, Australia, Spain, Thomson Locations: Wellington, NZL, United States, Sydney, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, England
SYDNEY, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Right back Lucy Bronze believes England's experience in winning a major final at last year's Euros could be crucial in Sunday's Women's World Cup title-decider against a Spain side she knows well. Bronze lost World Cup semi-finals with England in 2015 and 2019 but was a core member of the Lionesses team that beat Germany to win a first major title at the European Championship last year. "We're going up against a team I personally know very well," Bronze told reporters after the match. That's an experience that not only I have but many of these England players have ..."I'm excited," she added. "The strength of this team is we stick together, we've got an incredibly tight bond, we've got a tight-knit team," she said.
Persons: Lucy Bronze, Keira, Walsh, Lauren James, we've, Nick Mulvenney, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: SYDNEY, England, Germany, European, Spain, Nigeria, Australia, Thomson Locations: Spain, Barcelona, Sydney, Australia, England, it's
"I felt like there's no words to describe what we all feel right now. Getting to a World Cup final, it's every kid's dream. Because you want to win this obviously now we've got so far." "I feel like as a team, we've got such an inner belief or we're so confident as a group no matter what happens on the outside, no matter who we come up against every challenge we've managed to solve," Hemp added. "Every game we've managed to come out on top and I feel like this team is so special.
Persons: Lauren Hemp, We've, Ella Toone, Sam Kerr, Alessia Russo, we've, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: SYDNEY, Spain, Australia, Thomson Locations: England, Australia
SYDNEY, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Australia and England re-engage one of the oldest and fiercest rivalries in sport when they meet with a place in the Women's World Cup final on the line at a sold out Stadium Australia on Wednesday. While England boast the pedigree as twice World Cup semi-finalists and winners of the European title last year, Australia's plucky Matildas have captured the hearts of a nation usually invested in other sports. In Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman, they have one of the best coaches in the game and most of their players play for top clubs in highly competitive European leagues. Before Saturday's win, much of the narrative around Australia at the tournament focused on the injured calf of the one Matildas player everyone in the country knows, striker Sam Kerr. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Australia's, Mackenzie Arnold's, Cortnee Vine's, Sydney's, Sarina, Millie Bright, Keira Walsh, Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp, Saturday's, Sam Kerr, Kerr, Hayley Raso, Mary Fowler, Caitlin Foord, Wiegman, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: SYDNEY, Australia, Sports, England, Thomson Locations: Australia, England, France, Spain, Nigeria
Arnold was Player of the Match in Australia's quarter-final against France on Saturday, making a string of saves late in the game and stopping three penalties in a shootout victory that captured the hearts of the host nation. "I guess the last couple of days have been a pretty big whirlwind for me," she told reporters on Tuesday. Arnold also took a penalty in the shootout, pinging Australia's fifth attempt against the post when successfully converting it would have sent them into the semi-finals without the need for sudden death. Arnold, who has only recently taken over as first-choice keeper for the Matildas, said she would step up and take another spot-kick on Wednesday if called upon. "I am ready if I have to take one tomorrow, hopefully I don't," the 29-year-old added.
Persons: Mackenzie Arnold, Arnold, pinging, Tony Gustavsson, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: SYDNEY, England, France, Thomson Locations: Australia's
While fourth-ranked England were semi-finalists at the last two World Cups, and won the European Championship on home soil last year, 10th-ranked Australia have never previously been past the quarter-finals at a major global tournament. "If you look at rankings they're favourites, if you look at where their players play, they have starting players in top clubs in top leagues all over the world," Gustavsson told reporters on Tuesday. "So if you look at all that and you look at resources, financially, obviously they are massive favourites going into this game. Another sellout crowd of around the 75,000 mark is expected at Stadium Australia for Wednesday's match and most will be backing the home team. "You need to live in every single moment because that's how small the margins are in the semi-final or final."
Persons: Sam Kerr, Dan Peled, Tony Gustavsson, Gustavsson, Sam, Swede, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Brisbane, REUTERS, England, Australia, U.S, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Australia, France, Brisbane, SYDNEY, Sweden
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