Football

In the latest episode of the Football Weekly Extra podcast, host Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Lars Sivertsen, Mark Langdon, and Sid Lowe to discuss Liverpool's impressive 2-0 victory over Real Madrid, which keeps them at the top of the Champions League table. The panel highlights Arne Slot's remarkable start as Liverpool's manager, marking one of the best beginnings in the club's history. They also delve into the performance of Kylian Mbappé, questioning whether he is meeting the high expectations set for him. Listeners are encouraged to rate, review, and share the podcast on various platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast, and Stitcher. The conversation continues on social media, with fans invited to engage on Facebook and Twitter, or to reach out via email.

**Australia vs. Brazil: International Women’s Football Friendly – Live Updates** - The Matildas are set to host the Olympic runners-up at Suncorp Stadium. - Kick-off in Brisbane is scheduled for 8 PM local time / 9 PM AEDT. **Match Overview:** The match has officially begun at Suncorp Stadium! The Matildas have opted for a 3-4-3 formation, with wing-backs Carpenter and Catley pushing into the midfield right from the start. Meanwhile, Brazil is lining up in their traditional 4-3-3 formation. The national anthems have been performed, and Polkinghorne has won the toss. The captains are now giving their final instructions before the action kicks off. Stay tuned for live updates as the match progresses!

**Schooled Like Mourinho: Amorim’s Journey from Innovative Lisbon University** The rise of Portuguese coaches and players can be attributed, in part, to the strong connections between academia and the world of football. Ruben Amorim, a standout figure at the Faculty of Human Kinetics, has exemplified this trend. Prof. António Veloso, a former classmate of José Mourinho and the head of the high-performance football coaching course at the University of Lisbon-affiliated faculty, recalls his first encounter with Amorim. “I interviewed him for the course, and it was clear from the beginning that he was exceptional,” Veloso shares. Amorim excelled in his studies, particularly when tasked with writing essays on specialized topics, earning impressive results. He naturally took on a leadership role among his peers, with fellow students frequently seeking his insights during tactical drills on the pitch. Despite his talents, Veloso notes that Amorim remained humble throughout his academic journey. This blend of academic rigor and practical application is helping to shape the future of football in Portugal, with Amorim at the forefront of this evolution.

**Sports Quiz of the Week: A Rapid Rise, Record Losing Streak, and Social Media Feuds** Test your knowledge of the past week in sports, covering football, boxing, tennis, rugby, and more. This week has been filled with notable events, including a remarkable ascent in performance, a team facing an unprecedented losing streak, and some heated exchanges on social media. Challenge yourself to recall the key moments and stories that have made headlines in the world of sports over the last seven days. Whether you're a fan of football, boxing, tennis, or rugby, there's plenty to reflect on and discuss. Get ready to dive into the latest happenings and see how well you remember the exciting developments in the sports arena!

Vinícius Júnior, the Brazilian forward for Real Madrid, has emphasized the collective nature of the fight against racism, stating that it is a struggle that requires support from everyone. While he is committed to addressing the issue, he acknowledges that he cannot tackle the extensive challenges faced by Black individuals alone. Vinícius has been a prominent figure in the battle against racism in La Liga, having experienced abuse at over ten different Spanish stadiums. In March, he opened up about the emotional toll that years of racist insults have taken on him, revealing that the constant barrage of abuse has affected his passion for the game. He believes that progress is being made, but insists that more help is needed to combat the deep-rooted issues of racism that persist in society.

Céline Haidar, a 19-year-old Lebanon youth international football player, remains in an induced coma following an Israeli airstrike that occurred on Saturday. She was struck by shrapnel in Chiyah, located in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Haidar's condition has raised concerns as she is now one of several athletes affected by the ongoing military actions in both Gaza and Lebanon. Currently, she is receiving intensive care in the hospital, and her situation continues to be closely monitored.

Eli Manning, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, is among the 25 modern-era candidates for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Manning is well-known for his victories over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. He is joined on the shortlist by notable players such as prolific tight end Antonio Gates and dominant pass rusher Jared Allen. The Hall of Fame announced the semi-finalists on Wednesday, following a selection committee's decision to narrow down a list of 50 nominees put forth by a newly established screening committee. This year's list features six players in their first year of eligibility, along with ten players who were finalists in the previous year.

**Career We Go: A Look at Footballers Who Played Here, There, and Everywhere** From a challenging stint in Moldova to a frustrating experience in Houston, some footballers have had truly unique professional journeys. Rohan Ricketts began his career at Arsenal in 2001, but his path took him to more countries than many people visit in a lifetime. His career saw him play in Canada, Hungary, Moldova, Germany, Ireland, India, Ecuador, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh, all thanks to the creative efforts of his agent. Ricketts made just one appearance for the Gunners before enjoying a more significant three-season period at Tottenham Hotspur. His time in England included loan spells at Coventry City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Queens Park Rangers, followed by a permanent move to Barnsley, before he embarked on his globetrotting adventure. In 2011, Ricketts celebrated winning the Irish title with Shamrock Rovers, but his time at Dacia Chisinau in Moldova was far from pleasant, as he described it as “an absolute nightmare,” citing issues with unpaid wages. On a brighter note, he received a warm welcome when he came off the bench for Shamrock Rovers during a Europa League match against Tottenham in 2011. His journey continued with brief stints at Exeter City and Leatherhead, although he spent less than a month at Exeter before concluding his career with a spell at the lesser-known Canadian team Unionville-Milliken. Ricketts' career is a testament to the diverse paths some footballers take, showcasing the highs and lows of life in the beautiful game.

**Football Daily | San Marino Makes History and Achieves Nations League Vindication** As any seasoned Irish football fan can recall, Liechtenstein has a reputation for being a challenging destination. Back in June 1995, Jack Charlton led a Republic of Ireland team, ranked ninth in the world, to this small nation for a Euro 96 qualifier. They faced a squad of part-timers, which included a banker, a draughtsman, a wine grower, a mechanic, a builder, and, of course, a postman. The only professional player on the Liechtenstein team was Mario Frick. The match took place at the modest Sportpark-Eschen Mauren, which has a capacity of just 4,500. The stadium was packed, mostly with Irish fans who anticipated an easy victory. However, they were left stunned as the match ended in a scoreless draw, with Ireland failing to convert any of their 40 shots on goal against a team that was essentially a ski resort. The mention of the 90s BBC lunchtime quiz show "Turnabout" led me down a YouTube rabbit hole, searching for old episodes that coincided with my sixth form and university days. To my surprise, I stumbled upon a comment from two years ago stating, “Guardian Football Weekly has brought me here.” It made me wonder if we were recycling old content, which seems to align with a broader green initiative. This month has seen some bizarre occurrences: Donald Trump has been reelected, Gary Lineker is out of a job, Mike Tyson appears surprisingly calm, and Scotland is winning matches both at home and away, despite not being featured on television anymore. Is this a sign of a rift in the very fabric of the space-time continuum? In response to the "Memory Lane" segment from yesterday’s Football Daily, one reader humorously noted that the individual with the bass guitar might be emulating Hendrix by playing a right-handed bass left-handed, or perhaps the drinks at the Hilton were significantly stronger than what professional footballers are served today. This is just a glimpse of our daily football email, Football Daily. For the complete version, be sure to check out our subscription page and follow the instructions.

After spending five years in storage, a statue of Harry Kane has finally been unveiled, much to his delight. However, public reaction has been less enthusiastic, with many claiming that the statue fails to accurately represent the football star. Kane is not alone in facing criticism for an unflattering likeness; other football legends such as Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, and Mo Salah have also had their statues ridiculed. The unveiling of Kane's statue has sparked discussions about the challenges of capturing the essence of athletes in sculpture, with some observers humorously noting that the statue resembles someone's grandmother rather than the celebrated player. This trend of poorly received statues in the football world continues to raise eyebrows and provoke laughter among fans and critics alike.