England managed to survive Sweden’s early threats to turn their semi-final into a comprehensive victorySports quiz aficionados will doubtless soon be asked what Edmonton, Enschede, Lyon and Sheffield have in common?The answer, obvious to all Lionesses fans, is that they hosted England’s four successive semi-finals in the past two World Cup and European Championship tournaments. Continue reading...
The Matildas pushed Sweden to their limits in the semi-final and expectation is rising after their extended run in TokyoTony Gustavsson bristles as he hunches over the post-match microphone. It was the same microphone behind which, 24 hours earlier, the Matildas head coach sat beaming while previewing Australia’s historic semi-final against Sweden. But now, after his side’s 1-0 defeat by the Rio silver medallists, it is a wonder the metal does not melt in the white-hot reactor of his voice.An Australian journalist asks the delicate question: did you tell the players they should be proud of what they have achieved here in Tokyo? Gustavsson stares, unblinking, as though offended by the journalist’s use of past tense. “I didn’t say they...