DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Al-Dawsari, Kerr take Asian confederation's Player of the Year awards
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Michael Church | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 31 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari has been named the Asian Football Confederation's Player of the Year with Chelsea and Australia forward Sam Kerr taking the women's title at the regional body's awards ceremony in Doha on Tuesday. Al-Dawsari, who scored Saudi Arabia's winner in their shock 2-1 victory over Argentina at the World Cup last year, took the men's award after also leading Al-Hilal to the final of the Asian Champions League and the Club World Cup. The awards were being held for the first time in four years as a result of the disruption caused to the game across the continent by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kerr, who on Monday had finished as runner-up in the Ballon d'Or vote in Paris, won her award for the second time having previously been named the confederation's best female player in 2017. Shui Qingxia claimed the honours in the women's coaching category after she led China to the Women's Asian Cup last February in India, the country's first continental title since 2006.

Persons: Salem, Dawsari, Sam Kerr, Qatar's Almoez Ali, Mathew Leckie of, Kerr, Aya Miyama, Homare Sawa, China's Zhang Linyang, Saki Kumagai, Japan's Hajime Moriyasu, Shui Qingxia, Michael Church, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Football, Chelsea, Saudi Arabia's, Asian Champions League, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Australia, Doha, Argentina, Al, Hilal, Saudi Arabia, Paris, China's, Japan, Germany, Spain, China, India

☆ Mexico game Souttar's chance to 'show world what he can do', says Arnold
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"My message to him is simple and that is this is your stage," said Arnold. "He's got to use that motivation to go out there and show everyone that's watching this game who Harry Souttar is and everyone will remember him from the World Cup. The game is the latest in a series of high profile friendlies for the Australians, who played World Cup winners Argentina in Beijing in June and are lined up to face England at Wembley in October. Arnold will be without Mathew Leckie after the Melbourne City forward was injured in training, ruling him out for at least six weeks. Reporting by Michael Church in Hong Kong, Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Graham Arnold, Harry Souttar, Souttar, Enzo Maresca, Cameron Burgess, Arnold, He's, he's, Mathew Leckie, it's, Michael Church, Michael Perry Organizations: Socceroos, Leicester City, Premier League, January's, Leicester, Argentina, England, Wembley, Melbourne City, Thomson Locations: Australia, Mexico, Dallas, Qatar, Leicester, Beijing, Melbourne, Hong Kong

☆ The US may have lost in the World Cup, but soccer is more popular than ever in America
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Harry Enten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +36 min

The Atlas Lions made history as the first African team to reach a World Cup semifinal. They made history as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. It was Morocco's first World Cup win since 1998 — and its third-ever at the tournament. Less spoken about is that they also rate better on television than the men do in the World Cup. We’ll just have to wait and see, though with the US, Canada and Mexico hosting the 2026 World Cup, soccer isn’t going away anytime soon.

☆ Croatia beats Japan on penalties to reach World Cup quarterfinals
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +28 min

CNN —Goalkeeper Dominik Livaković made himself a national hero as Croatia beat Japan on penalties 1-1 (3-1) to reach the World Cup quarterfinals. Marko Djurica/ReutersJapan’s heartbreakDespite its defeat, Japan can look back at an impressive World Cup campaign. They made history Thursday as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. Mbappé was one of the leading stars of the team's World Cup triumph four years ago. He also became just the third goalkeeper to save three penalties in a single World Cup shootout.

☆ Heartbroken Australia bow out with heads held high
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"I just hope that everyone back in Australia really respects what we've done," said coach Graham Arnold. Indefatigable running, cohesiveness and pure Aussie grit had earned them back-to-back victories at the World Cup finals for the first time, surpassing even the hallowed 'Golden Generation' side of 2006. They just scraped into the tournament via two playoffs and departed for Qatar with the lowest expectations of any of the six Australia squads who have embarked on World Cup finals campaigns since 1974. On an individual level, young players like central defender Harry Souttar and Goodwin have proved they can mix it with the best in the world. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ France reaches World Cup quarterfinals with 3-1 victory over Poland as Kylian Mbappé breaks Pelé’s record
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +30 min

CNN —France was made to work hard for its place in the World Cup quarterfinals, overcoming an improved Poland side 3-1 thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappé. That is Mbappé’s fifth goal of Qatar 2022 and already his ninth World Cup goal overall, breaking Pelé’s record of seven World Cup goals scored before the age of 24. They made history Thursday as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. Issei Kato/Reuters Kylian Mbappé scores his second goal on November 26, leading France to a 2-1 victory over Denmark. Mbappé was one of the leading stars of the team's World Cup triumph four years ago.

☆ USMNT’s youth and talent at Qatar 2022 bodes well for 2026 World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +31 min

The Netherlands knocked the USMNT out of the Qatar World Cup on Saturday. They made history Thursday as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. Frappert became the first woman to referee a men's World Cup match. It was Morocco's first World Cup win since 1998 — and its third-ever at the tournament. Qatar is the first Islamic country to host a World Cup.

☆ Japan vs. Croatia: Samurai Blue aiming to reach World Cup quarterfinals for first time
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +31 min

CNN —In a World Cup of surprises, Japan has played a leading role in headline-making shock results. Croatia is a team undefeated in nine of its last 10 World Cup matches. They made history Thursday as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. Frappert became the first woman to referee a men's World Cup match. It was Morocco's first World Cup win since 1998 — and its third-ever at the tournament.

☆ Australia in party mode as Socceroos reach World Cup knockouts
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Australia hailed Graham Arnold's new "golden generation" on Thursday and fans demanded a national holiday as the country celebrated the Socceroos' unlikely advance to the World Cup knockout phase. Hard work gets you places," Australian soccer pundit Adam Peacock wrote on the Herald Sun newspaper's website. Veteran winger Mathew Leckie's goal was declared Australia's best World Cup goal ever after he wrong-footed defender Joakim Maehle and fired low past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. Australians will dare to dream of a first World Cup quarter-final even with the might of Lionel Messi and Argentina in the way. "In fairness, Australia and Argentina have won the same amount of FIFA World Cups since 1987," local journalist Ned Balme tweeted.

☆ Advance Australia Fair - Leckie seals upset win over Denmark
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Manasi Pathak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Australia finished second with six points, level with group winners France after the world champions lost 1-0 to Tunisia. Denmark were bottom on one point with Tunisia third on four. They finally broke the deadlock at the hour mark as Leckie timed his run perfectly and sent the ball through Maehle's legs before beating Schmeichel. Australia defended strongly in the closing stages to secure consecutive victories at the World Cup for the first time. For Denmark, it was the end of a disappointing and frustrating campaign, in which they scored only one goal in three games.

☆ Australia stuns Denmark to reach World Cup knockout stages
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Australia stunned Denmark – a team ranked 28 places above the Socceroos in FIFA’s World Rankings – to reach the World Cup knockout stages thanks to a brilliant goal from Mathew Leckie that secured a 1-0 victory. A goalless draw between Australia and Denmark and a Tunisia win would have put the Carthage Eagles through to the knockout stages. Just four minutes later, with their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread, the Socceroos counter-attacked from their box and Riley McGree found Leckie on a well timed run. Denmark continued to press but Australia hung on in a tense finish to secure its spot in the round of 16 and win back-to-back World Cup matches for the first time in its history. Serhat Cagdas/Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesVictory over Tunisia on Saturday had given Australia an unlikely chance of progressing to the knockout stages and, despite its underwhelming start to the World Cup, Denmark could have also qualified in this winner-takes-all match.

☆ Argentina and Lionel Messi face crunch game against Poland
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Argentina was stunned by Saudi Arabia in its first game, before getting its campaign back on track with a 2-0 victory over Mexico in which Messi scored the opening goal. Argentina sits second on three points, a point behind Group C leader Poland, knowing a win in its final game against the Polish will assure its progression. Ariel Schalit/APNext up Argentina takes on Poland, and Robert Lewandowski, pictured celebrating scoring his team's second goal during the Group C match between Poland and Saudi Arabia. Andrej Isakovic/AFP/Getty ImagesArgentina faces a Poland team spearheaded by its own iconic striker, Robert Lewandowski, who scored his first World Cup goal last time out against Saudi Arabia. “We are still alive.”Mexico’s hopes are much slimmer, needing to beat Saudi Arabia by at least a three-goal margin, with Poland not losing to Argentina.

☆ Every World Cup 2022 squad announced: USMNT, Germany, Belgium and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

CNN —‘Tis the season for wall charts and fans gathering around to pick their starting teams for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. “It’s always difficult when a guy helps you get to the World Cup, he scores three goals in World Cup qualifying and isn’t going to be a part of the program. Again, it’s more about who we did add that we felt good about.”All but one of the 26 will be making their World Cup debut at this year’s tournament and, according to the USMNT, it will be the youngest team to qualify for the World Cup. Octavio Passos/Getty Images Europe/Getty ImagesGhanaManager: Otto AddoThe final squad has not been announced yet. READ: Meet Otto Addo, the coach responsible for guiding some of Europe’s brightest young talents (2021)—–PortugalManager: Fernando SantosThe final squad has not been announced yet.

☆ Factbox: List of squads for the 2022 World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Midfielders: Aaron Mooy (Celtic), Jackson Irvine (FC St. Pauli), Ajdin Hrustic (Hellas Verona), Cameron Devlin (Heart of Midlothian), Riley McGree (Middlesbrough), Keanu Baccus (St Mirren). Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras). Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Casemiro (Manchester United), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United). Midfielders: Thomas Delaney (Sevilla), Mathias Jensen (Brentford), Christian Eriksen (Manchester United), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham Hotspur). JAPANDefender Yuta Nakayama was called up but will miss the World Cup after suffering an Achilles injury.

Search resuls for: "Mathew Leckie"

14 mentions found