In their final World Cup Pool C game, Ireland’s head coach Scott Bemand predicted that their victory would give them “real momentum” heading into the quarter-finals.
With just one game left, Bemand’s team advanced to the knockout stages of the competition by recording two bonus-point victories over Japan and Spain.
They now square off against World Cup winners New Zealand, who have won both of their previous matches and are vying for first place in Pool C.
“We need to keep the momentum going, and we need to compete with World Cup hopefuls to do that.” He told BBC Sport NI that New Zealand “has earned the right to refer to themselves as World Cup contenders” and that they want to cause some issues.
We think we have the results and performances needed, but timing those performances going into the quarter-finals is key, and getting that [New Zealand] game right is absolutely necessary, and it will give us some real momentum if we do well.
Ireland is squirming about Monaghan’s fitness as a co-captain.
Images courtesy of Getty
For the Sunday New Zealand game against New Zealand in Brighton, Bemand will hope to have co-captain Sam Monaghan and influential back-row Aoife Wafer back.
Wafer has missed both Pool C victories as she continues to recover from a knee injury while Monaghan went off injured against Spain.
Wafer has been training with the squad in England, but Bemand confirmed that Monaghan’s availability is still unknown.
“Sam picked up a bump, and of course we missed Sam,” Bemand said, “but there is a bigger picture that we need her deep in the competition.”
In a move that might make sense given their ongoing feud, Peter Andre has released a seven-word statement about how he chooses to raise his brood.
Peter Andre has shared a seven-word statement on how he chooses to parent his brood, in what could be a dig at ex-wife Katie Price as their feud continues(Image: Getty Images)
Peter Andre has explained that you “need to teach children how to swim” in an analogy about how to deal with children, in what’s seemingly a dig amid his feud with ex-wife Katie Price.
The former couple, who share kids Princess and Junior, have been at war with one another over recent months after Katie accused Peter and his management of keeping her away from their daughter Princess’s work ventures and claimed their kids lived in her home. While Peter, 52, responded with a statement to “set the record straight” where he alleged that their children have been in his care since 2018.
Now, onto his weekly New! Peter, a magazine columnist, discussed Stacey Dooley’s recent conversation with Lily Phillips, in which the adult star’s parents were distraught over her career choice. Peter stated in his New! that he had his own perspective on parenting and how he raised his children. “Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, a documentary with the adult content creator Lily Phillips, which included an emotional interview with Lily’s parents, has sparked a lot of discussion,” according to a magazine column.
Peter shares children Princess and Junior with his ex-wife Katie Price(Image: FilmMagic)
It’s simple to express your opinion on someone else’s behavior, but I find it difficult to do so if you don’t know them or have any knowledge of their motivations or experiences. Parenting is not simple. Your children are adults, and you can offer advice.
Peter continued: “But it’s so important to talk to your kids, especially with the world as it is today. It’s no good building a pool and telling them not to jump in – you need to teach them to swim.”
Alongside Princess and Junior, Peter shares three children with his wife Emily MacDonagh; Theo, Amelia and Arabella. Peter was married to showbiz legend Katie from 2005 until 2009, with the latter making a number of claims in her podcast, The Katie Price Show, about Peter last month.
Peter spoke about Stacey Dooley’s documentary surrounding adult star Lily Phillips(Image: u.co.uk)
However, Peter made an unexpected Instagram comment shortly after that statement: “For sixteen years, I have stayed silent in the face of repeated lies from my ex-wife and her family, out of respect for my children and loved ones. Staying silent has been incredibly frustrating. That is finished today.
I must set the record straight when I make the most recent remarks regarding my children’s welfare and living conditions. Junior and Princess were placed with me until they were adults in 2018 for well-known reasons and for their safety. The family courts formally imposed this arrangement on the family courts in 2019. Out of respect for my children, I’ve never made this public.
My ex-wife made false claims in court cases that were publicly documented in 2011 and 2015. She was ordered to apologize to me and my management and pay substantial damages and legal costs. Today, the same lies are being made.
Unfortunately, I haven’t yet addressed any of my lies or baseless accusations. In the upcoming months, those will now be addressed.
Continue reading the article.
In response, a Katie spokesperson told the Mirror that ” Kate is in a much better and clear headspace and is at peace with the situation, this was in the past and she doesn’t feel the need to make tit-for-tat comments,” but more importantly, she is handling this in the right way and her lawyers are now in charge of it. Kate will no longer be bullied and gaslighted like she was in the past…
Luxembourg vs. Northern Ireland: Fifa World Cup qualifier
Date: Thursday, September 4th, 2019 Kick-off: 19:45 BST
When Northern Ireland attempt to qualify for the 2026 World Cup against Luxembourg on Thursday, it will be their first qualifying match in almost two years because of the nature of the international football calendar.
The last time Michael O’Neill’s side faced such a fixture was in October 2023, when they defeated Denmark 2-0, which turned out to be a bit of an anomaly.
Only four victories, two of which came from San Marino and Lithuania, were recorded in the side’s previous 17 qualifiers.
If the team’s run of results over the course of two qualifying campaigns appeared to have signaled the end of a golden era for them, which included qualifying for Euro 2016 and reaching play-offs for the World Cup of 2018 and Euro 2020, then the point was brought home by the squad’s changing face over the course of the next 23 months.
Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas, Craig Cathcart, Jonny and Corry Evans, and Craig Cathcart have all left the football field since that final qualifying game.
A dynamic young core centered on Conor Bradley, Isaac Price, Shea Charles, and Trai Hume has taken the side’s place as they prepare to face both Germany and Slovakia as well as Luxembourg.
Manager Michael O’Neill said, “That game against Denmark probably marked the beginning of it.”
After a difficult campaign for 2024 that ended many players’ careers at international level, “it was quite a young team that played that night,” the young team said.
We’ve had to develop and grow a team over the past two years. Sometimes, when perhaps it was a little too early, we’ve maybe hired some young players, but we still thought it was the right course of action.
Any football situation benefits from stability, according to the statement.
Inpho
The idea that he would have to “grow a team” was probably not at the forefront of O’Neill’s mind when he left for the post in December 2022.
However, injury-related unavailability also caused Dallas and Davis to enter retirement earlier than they had anticipated, while other senior players also experienced unavailability.
The former Newcastle United midfielder has played well after being dealt the unwelcome hand.
There have been some harsh lessons learned when “a little early” exposes talented young players to the demands of international football, most notably a 5-1 defeat by Spain six weeks before La Roja won Euro 2024 and a 2-13 defeat to Sweden on the same night when Alexander Isak ran riot.
However, the most notable results from the past two years have been dramatic improvements in output, many of which were achieved through performances in accordance with O’Neill standards.
There is a sense that the new manager has always been the one constant during this transition.
O’Neill is gearing up for his fifth qualifying campaign as manager after an eight-year international playing career, having led the team 96 times in his two spells.
“Any football situation, whether it’s at a club or an international one, benefits from stability,” I believe. That’s an important thing, he said, “I believe.”
I had been in the position for eight years, according to the IFA, who I left with. Then, returning and committing myself to this five-year commitment creates stability.
Don’t take it for granted because it never arrives.
Images courtesy of Getty
Northern Ireland has had to wait to begin their campaign despite being drawn in a four-team group, where two intriguing, if vastly different, tests will be taking place.
The group’s lowest-ranked team will travel to Luxembourg on Thursday, returning to a ground where they lost a two-goal lead to draw in the Nations League game in November.
In Cologne, they will take on four-time World Cup winners Germany just three days later, a game that will serve as a benchmark for how far they have come since those difficult encounters with Spain and Sweden.
With only six games left, the margins are so slim that fans are frantically looking for flights and lodging when they get four points this week, compared to the previous three, who feel like the dream has come to an end before it even starts.
O’Neill rejects the idea, even though the squad’s age profile might suggest that this qualifying campaign comes one cycle too soon.
This will be the players’ first chance to qualify for a World Cup, said O’Neill for the majority of the players in this group.
You have to wait another four years before this opportunity comes along again, O’Neill said, so look, don’t take it for granted.
Our goal is to keep our company as close to the competition as possible.
In a contentious encounter where a faulty Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system caused controversy, Barcelona lost their first points in La Liga this season as Rayo Vallecano fought back to earn a 1-1 draw at home to the champions.
After Lamine Yamal’s 40th-minute penalty had given Barca an early lead, Rayo substitute Fran Perez snuck home a 67th-minute equaliser.
Due to the malfunctioning VAR, Pep Chavarria’s challenge on Yamal, which resulted in the award of the spot kick, could not be reviewed because the system was not in use at the time.
Yamal’s thigh was actually touched by Chavarria, but the penalty award could have been overturned based on investigation.
Both teams were informed of the malfunctioning system at kickoff, but Rayo’s vigorous protests over Mateo Busquets’ decision made sure the rest of the game at Vallecas Stadium was played in a gloomy setting.
Every subsequent decision that went against their side indignant home supporters sounded angry.
At the conclusion of a week in which the Barcelona suburbs claimed a place in the Conference League group phase on their return to Europe after 24 years, the goalkeeper Joan Garcia made several outstanding stops to deny and/or deny Rayo.
In the 12th minute, Garcia made a point-blank save to stop Andrei Ratiu, and he spectacularly blocked Isi Palazon’s attempts to score a breakaway goal and Jorge de Frutos’ breakaway.
In the final minute, substitute Sergio Camello had the opportunity to win the game for Rayo, but he miscued his shot with the mercy of the goal, allowing a grateful Garcia to quickly gather.
Soon after teenager Yamal’s penalty had given Barca an early lead, Daniel Olmo was guilty of missing a simple goal. Olmo’s crossbar strike soared over the top of the crossbar from close range, causing furious coach Hansi Flick to yell out in rage.
Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao are the only two clubs with a 100% record after three La Liga games, despite Real Madrid having won their opening two games. From their campaign openers, Rayo have four points.
Inigo Perez, the coach of Rayo Vallecano, speaks with the referee after Lamine Yamal’s 40th-minute penalty was deemed unfit for VAR to review.
After past Cristina Bucsa to reach the quarter-finals in New York, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka claimed that her 2025 challenge is not based solely on her success from the previous year’s US Open.
In Louis Armstrong Stadium, the 27-year-old Belarusian won 6-1, 6-4, in the match against the unseeded Spaniard without a break point.
Sabalenka defeated American Jessica Pegula in the final of her third Grand Slam singles victory overall, which she won in September last year.
She lost to Coco Gauff and Madison Keys in the finals of Roland Garros and the Australian Open, respectively, to not have won a major title this year.
When asked about the pressure of defending her title at Flushing Meadows, Sabalenka responded, “I play not to lose, I play to win.”
“I don’t care what transpired last year,” he said. It’s a big accomplishment, of course, and I’m happy I did it once, but the goal is to do it more often.
“I always go out with the best fighting spirit and just fight for my dream,” my mentality says.
Sabalenka wants to win the US Open women’s singles title for the first time since Serena Williams did it in 2014.
In 27 minutes, Sabalenka broke Bucsa, who was ranked 95th in the world, twice to win the first set.
Busca held steady in her opening two service matches of the second set, but Sabalenka won the fifth game, keeping her position as world number one until the tournament’s conclusion, by securing a consolation break in the fifth game.
Images courtesy of Getty
After defeating fellow Wimbledon champion Rybakina, Vondrousova defeated her to make it to the last-second Grand Slam quarter-final.
Czech left-hander Vondrousova has struggled with injuries and missed last year’s US Open due to shoulder surgery on the eve of the tournament. She won at the All England Club in 2023.
The 26-year-old out-served Rybakina, who is currently leading the WTA Tour in terms of ace count and first-serve percentage this year.
After falling to seventh seed Jasmine Paolini in the final round, Vondrousova twice broke Rybakina’s serve to put down 13 aces to her ninth-seeded opponent’s five.
It’s amazing to be standing here again, said Vindrousova, who is ranked 60th overall.
The Seattle Sounders defeated Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami 3-0 to reach the 2025 Leagues Cup final, and Alex Roldan scored from the penalty spot late in the second half and added an assist in the first half.
A melee involving several players from both teams occurred at the final whistle, which ended the match on Sunday. Luis Suarez, a Miami striker, appeared to be one of the players in the middle of the melee, and video cameras captured him spitting at a Seattle staff member after the game.
Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX jointly hold the Leagues Cup, which results in a disciplinary panel that is uncontracted from either league or continental federation. Although MLS might also be involved, it would likely be in charge of deciding whether to discipline the incident.
Seattle, which won its second Concacaf award and ninth all-time major trophy since MLS play began in 2009, scored Osaze De Rosario’s fourth goal of the tournament.
The Sounders’ victory in the 2022 Concacaf Champions League, which ends a string of 16 consecutive Mexican champions, is their first since they defeated Mexico’s Pumas UNAM in a two-leg victory.
In the final moments of a victory, Paul Rothrock scored the third, giving Seattle a first-round bye into the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.
After scoring the third goal against Inter Miami in the 89th minute at Lumens Field in Seattle, Sounders midfielder Paul Rothrock, center, celebrates with teammates, including left-footer Pedro De La Vega.
Miami lost their second League Cup title after winning the 2023 competition and their third major trophy since Messi’s arrival during the summer of the 2023 season.
If they fail to win the MLS Cup in 2025, the Herons will still be guaranteed a spot in the Concacaf next year. However, they will start in the first round.
Seattle held the lead in the opening minute and won admirably so in the 26th.
De Rosario met it with a decisive header after Jesus Ferreira played the opening ball out wide to Roldan on the right.
Suarez provided the link-up play for Miami, who wasted two excellent chances to equalize just before the break.
Suarez sent a spinning cutback pass to Messi, who arrived just above the six-yard box, but the Argentinian star fired over goalkeeper Andrew Thomas in the 50th minute.
Tadeo Allende then sent his strike wide of the right post as Thomas slammed off his line in the 60th minute, despite Suarez’s clever backheel.
Georgi Minoungou, a substitute for the Sounders, scored from the left of the field in the 82nd minute to make the cost of that. Yannick Bright was chasing back to defend when Minoungou made a cutback and was snuck into Bright’s sliding challenge.
A 69, 314-person crowd at Lumen Field, which is a Leagues Cup and club single-game attendance record, were pampered by Roldan’s coolly converted penalty that was past Oscar Ustari in the 84th minute to lift the lid on the match.
After the full-time whistle, a video camera on social media showed Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez, left [Lynne Sladky/AP Photo] spitting on a Sounders staffer.
