Preparations for France 2019 are stepping up and at least six teams can win it, England and Australia among themWith fewer than 100 days until the World Cup kicks off in Paris, preparations are in their final stages. This is a big week in women’s football, with international teams involved in the Algarve Cup, the Cyprus Cup and the SheBelieves Cup in the United States, where England are competing. These tournaments are key for building momentum and confidence, and for helping the coaches decide which 23 players will go to the World Cup.Phil Neville said before flying to the US that “the door is not shut on any player with ambitions of making the squad” but it’s certainly closing fast....
Luke Shaw played a blinder but can still improve, Eden Hazard remains central to Chelsea and Deulofeu is coming of ageLuke Shaw’s display at Old Trafford was his best for Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, according to the interim manager. To see Mohamed Salah replaced on 79 minutes was all the evidence required. Solskjær said: “[When] they take Mohamed Salah off you know Luke Shaw has played a good game.” The left-back was a blur of defensive obstinacy. Solskjær said Salah’s threat meant Shaw could not attack as much as desired and this is understandable given the forward’s quality. But the prevailing caveat regarding Shaw’s contribution in most games is that he does not create enough when roving forward....
Full-time officials for Women’s Super League and a fast-track pathway for female referees are among the ideasConsider these three incidents: the Chelsea midfielder Drew Spence cynically scything down Arsenal’s Kim Little, breaking one of Little’s legs, but picking up only a yellow card; David McNamara’s rock, paper, scissors debacle; and Phil Neville questioning two penalty shouts and a disallowed goal against Australia.This season the standard of refereeing in the women’s game has been under the microscope. Except now, with a fully professional top division and more televised coverage than ever, there are a lot more eyes peering through that microscope. Related: FFA get the right coach for Matildas job, the wrong way | Richard Parkin Related: Maturing W-League points to...
The 27-year-old is taking legal action to highlight the inequality between the men’s and women’s games“We are in an environment that excludes us daily and despises us. A large part of society believes that women are not capable of playing football and that we should not exercise our right to practise it.”Macarena Sánchez has had enough. The 27-year-old, who has a tattoo of the revolutionary Mexican Frida Kahlo emblazoned on her arm, is taking legal action against her club, UAI Urquiza, and the Argentinian Football Federation for not recognising her as a professional player. Related: Megan Rapinoe: ‘Maybe men should just take a few hundred years off’ Related: Nikita Parris fires Manchester City past Chelsea into Continental Cup final Continue...
Birmingham’s new manager Marta Tejedor gets off to a flying start at Chelsea while Arsenal’s Daniëlle van de Donk helps Vivianne Miedema break the WSL scoring recordMarta Tejedor’s first match in charge of Birmingham turned out to be a memorable one, as they came from behind to win 3-2 at Chelsea thanks to Ellen White’s stoppage-time goal. Tejedor has said that she hopes to make significant technical improvements to her players, whose success this season has been built on defensive solidity and tactical discipline.Wow! Welcome back @ellsbells89#FAWSL @BCFCwomen pic.twitter.com/uW0QcRWQxo Related: Aston Villa Ladies’ return to Villa Park earns widespread support Oh @erincuthbert_ #FAWSL @ChelseaFCW pic.twitter.com/RxrtuxObfEDouble header! @JillScottJS8 tees up @lilkeets #FAWSL @ManCityWomen pic.twitter.com/KfxQxwAzSQ Continue reading...