Category: Football

Morocco coach Reynald Pedros said Tuesday his team reaching the Women’s World Cup last 16 was as impressive as the country’s men getting to the semi-finals of the Qatar World Cup.

Their run ended with a 4-0 loss to France in Adelaide but Morocco exceeded all expectations by getting to the knockout rounds at their debut Women’s World Cup.

“Being in a World Cup last 16 for Morocco is exceptional. It has been a remarkable adventure,” said Pedros, the former French international midfielder.

His team bounced back from losing 6-0 to Germany in their first game in Australia to beat South Korea and Colombia, both by a 1-0 scoreline, and advance to the knockout stage.

“We have been together as a team since the 12th of June, working for and preparing for this World Cup,” added Pedros, who became coach in 2020 and took the team to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations last year.

“I don’t think we could have imagined going into our last group game with a chance of getting to the last 16.

“I sincerely believe that getting to the last 16 with this team, for the first time, is the equivalent of the guys getting to the semi-finals.

“It is beyond fantastic. We only started building this team three years ago. There are so many things that make us proud even though we have been knocked out.”

Morocco’s men lost 2-0 to France in the semi-finals of the Qatar World Cup and ended up finishing fourth, the best performance by an African team at the tournament.

Pedros and his side will now regroup to try to qualify for next year’s Paris Olympics, with Morocco’s women never having featured at the Games before.

“I am going to congratulate and thank them because what they have given us in terms of emotions is quite incredible, and then we will get back down to work,” he said.

“We have the Olympic qualifiers to prepare for but we have gained experience from this.

“I am really, really proud to be coach of this team because we have fantastic players.”

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Colombia reached the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals for the first time and a clash with England after a 1-0 win over Jamaica on Tuesday, with France or Morocco poised to join them.

Skipper Catalina Usme scored the only goal of the game in Melbourne in the 51st minute, bringing the ball down expertly and bending it into the bottom corner.

It was the first time at the Women’s World Cup that Jamaica had conceded a goal.

It set a cagey game alight and sent the pumping pro-Colombian crowd into deafening delirium.

Fired up, Jamaica almost had an immediate reply with Jody Brown’s shot cleared off the line in a frantic goalmouth scramble.

Behind for the first time at the World Cup and facing the exit door, Jamaica abandoned their defensive posture and threw players forward frantically looking for the equaliser.

Drew Spence almost grabbed it with a header that spun just wide, but Colombia held on.

They will now play European champions England in Sydney on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals.

Jamaica bow out but made history of their own, winning a World Cup game for the first time with a 1-0 victory over Panama and holding heavily fancied Brazil and France to goalless draws.

But despite boasting the prolific Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw, Jamaica’s lack of goals proved to be their undoing — they scored just one all tournament, against Panama.

It was a victory, though, of sorts in the team’s wider battle with their federation — they hope their displays will mean more support in future from Jamaican football bosses.

“Now we’re a bit low because we didn’t want to end the tournament, but I’m proud of all my team-mates,” said Shaw.

“A lot of people didn’t think we were going to make it this far.

“It shows that if you believe and work hard, anything is possible.”

France, fifth in the FIFA world rankings, and Morocco kick off in Adelaide, with the winners facing Australia.

Morocco are appearing at their first Women’s World Cup and recovered from a 6-0 hammering by Germany to reach the last 16 with 1-0 wins over Colombia and South Korea.

Morocco are the lowest-ranked team left, 67 places below Herve Renard’s France.

But Renard, who managed the Moroccan men’s team for three years, is wary.

“Even when we have a kickabout with friends we want to win, and we are here to win and qualify for the next round,” said the Frenchman.

“The important thing is that we respect our opponents and the fact that this is a last-16 tie at a World Cup.

“Morocco are not here by chance. This is a match of the same calibre as our game against Brazil.”

France were held scoreless by Jamaica in their opening game before defeating Brazil 2-1 and Panama 6-3.

It will also be a special occasion for Renard’s opposite number and countryman Reynald Pedros.

The Morocco coach is a former French international.

“There will be just one French coach left in the quarter-finals,” Renard said.

“I hope it will be me.”

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Real Madrid begin life after Karim Benzema looking to wrest back the Spanish title from Barcelona as the La Liga season kicks off this weekend, seemingly content to play the waiting game for Kylian Mbappe.

Karim Benzema, the reigning Ballon d’Or, swapped the Santiago Bernabeu for Saudi Arabia in June after 14 seasons in Madrid, where he is second on the club’s all-time goalscoring list with 354 — trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo.

In a bid to bridge the 10-point gap that separated them from Barcelona last season, Madrid splashed out 103 million euros ($112 million) on England international Jude Bellingham and swooped for Turkish prodigy Arda Guler.

But Mbappe, who has scored 212 goals in 260 games for Paris Saint-Germain, is the player they have long targeted.

After missing out on the France captain last year as he agreed a new deal to stay in Paris, Madrid again appear the likely destination for Mbappe, who is locked in a contract dispute with PSG.

Mbappe is training with PSG’s reserves and has been told he must sign a new contract if he wants to remain with the French champions this term.

PSG are thought to suspect that Kylian Mbappe has already struck a deal to join the Spanish giants for free in June 2024, but Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has been reluctant to broach the subject publicly.

Mbappe “is a player who is not at Madrid,” Ancelotti said last month. “To talk about players who are not here, it doesn’t seem right to me.”

While Madrid weigh up a late bid for the exiled Mbappe before this transfer window shuts, Vinicius Junior is set to become the focal point of the attack after inheriting the number seven shirt worn by Ronaldo, Raul and Emilio Butragueno.

Ancelotti plans to experiment with a system that exploits the attacking potential of Bellingham and Guler, with veteran striker also Joselu making a surprise return to his former club.

The 33-year-old journeyman, who played twice for Madrid in 2011, finished as the top-scoring Spaniard with 16 goals for Espanyol in the last La Liga season.

“For me, the squad has improved,” said Ancelotti. “We have lost a player who has been fundamental for years in Karim… a club legend. But we have a very young group that we are convinced will give us a lot of satisfaction.”

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has questioned whether he has enough depth for the upcoming season after a relatively quiet summer. That concern is even greater with the club unable as yet to register their new arrivals.

A year ago, the Catalan club’s board sold off various assets to raise enough money to comply with spending restrictions imposed on the club, but that didn’t stop them luring a raft of new signings including Robert Lewandowski.

Twelve months on, Barcelona have continued their recent policy of hiring experienced players at zero transfer cost, albeit fewer, bringing in Manchester City’s treble-winning captain Ilkay Gundogan.

They toyed with the idea of re-signing Lionel Messi, but the club’s perilous financial situation effectively ruled out a reunion and the Argentine instead moved to Inter Miami.

Centre-back Inigo Martinez has arrived from Athletic Bilbao, with Oriol Romeu returning to his boyhood club as what Barcelona hope will be a low-price replacement for Sergio Busquets.

The loss of the influential Busquets, who joined Messi and Jordi Alba in Miami this summer, is one of Xavi’s greatest worries.

“A player who has been so important for us, on and off the pitch… we have to find a very important player to replace Busquets,” Xavi said in May.

“We have to find this piece, if we want to compete well.”

French winger Ousmane Dembele is also poised to leave Barcelona after receiving an offer from PSG.

Atletico Madrid finished third last La Liga season, just a point behind their city rivals after a vastly improved second half, and hope a reinforced defence can strengthen their title prospects.

Cesar Azpilicueta signed from Chelsea, with Turkey’s Caglar Soyuncu arriving from Leicester and left-back Javi Galan moving from Celta Vigo.

Joao Felix, the club’s record signing in 2019, is not viewed as part of coach Diego Simeone’s plans following his return from an unsuccessful loan at Chelsea, and is expected to be offloaded.

Real Sociedad, who qualified for the Champions League, have brought in Portugal forward Andre Silva on loan following the retirement of Spain great David Silva after a serious knee injury suffered during pre-season.

Villarreal, fifth last term, are set for a rebuild after losing Nicolas Jackson and Pau Torres to the Premier League, and Samuel Chukwueze to AC Milan.

Granada are back in the top flight after securing promotion at the first attempt along with play-off winners Alaves, with Las Palmas returning after a five-year absence.

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The United States’ long reign as Women’s World Cup holders was brought to an end in the most dramatic fashion as they were dumped out on penalties by Sweden, who joined the Netherlands in reaching the quarter-finals on Sunday.

Sweden face Japan in the last eight as the drama and shocks just kept coming at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand. The Netherlands beat South Africa 2-0 and meet Spain.

Their last-16 defeat after the game ended 0-0 after 120 minutes was the United States’ earliest exit in their Women’s World Cup history and leaves European champions England now the firm favourites.

“Just devastated, feels like a bad dream,” veteran striker Alex Morgan, for so many years one of the faces of the all-conquering Americans, told Fox Sports.

The USA have long been the dominant force in international women’s football: they have won the World Cup four times and were chasing an unprecedented third title in a row.

Vlatko Andonovski’s side were the better team against Sweden in Melbourne but they could not beat goalkeeper Zecira Musovic and then lost their nerve in the penalty shootout.

Megan Rapinoe, a two-time World Cup winner who was desperate to end her career with another title, missed her spot-kick before the Swedes sealed the deal 5-4 on sudden-death penalties.

Even then the end was excruciatingly tense. US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher thought she had saved Lina Hurtig’s kick but VAR ruled it had just crossed the line.

Cue belated pandemonium among the Sweden squad and tears for the Americans who, despite dominating large periods of the game, just never got going at this World Cup.

They were held 1-1 by the Netherlands in the group phase in a rerun of the 2019 final and likewise 0-0 by debutants Portugal, meaning they squeezed into the last 16.

“This team was a really special team, I just feel like everyone just got along really well,” added Morgan.

“It’s a tough one to swallow.”

Sweden next face a Japan team who have been the sensation of the tournament so far. The 2011 champions eased into the last eight with a 3-1 win over Norway on Saturday.

“We were facing a really tough opponent today and somehow we managed to get to the penalty shootout, where we showed a lot of courage,” said Musovic, who was named player of the match.

“I’m extremely proud of the girls that we could go there and win the game.

“It’s a huge win for us. I had a really good feeling before the game.”

England face Nigeria in Brisbane on Monday hoping to avoid another shock, before co-hosts Australia face Denmark in Sydney.

Earlier Sunday, the Netherlands secured their spot in the quarter-finals by ending South Africa’s historic run.

The Dutch, runners-up in 2019, suffered some anxious moments in front of 40,000 fans in Sydney and had goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar to thank for making several big saves in the first half.

Jill Roord scored after nine minutes to put the Dutch on their way against a team that sits 45 places below them in the world rankings and was featuring in the knockout rounds for the first time.

South Africa goalkeeper Kaylin Swart then made a mess of an innocuous Lineth Beerensteyn shot midway through the second half to gift the Dutch a second.

The African champions will be kicking themselves after having numerous chances in the opening 45 minutes, almost all of them falling to their livewire captain Thembi Kgatlana.

“Daphne saved us a few times and I was happy to lead 1-0 at half-time,” said Dutch coach Andries Jonker.

“We did much better in the second half and had much more control of the game.

“We deserved to score again and in the end deserved to win.”

His team will now return to New Zealand for Friday’s last-eight game in Wellington against Spain, who outclassed Switzerland 5-1 on Saturday.

South Africa coach Desiree Ellis was proud but felt her side should have won.

“We had a lot of chances, especially in the first half, to kill off the game,” she said.

“The chances we created should have put us out of sight.”

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Premier League and European champions Manchester City on Saturday completed the signing of Croatia centre-back Josko Gvardiol on a five-year deal from RB Leipzig.

No financial details were revealed but Pep Guardiola’s side are understood to have agreed a fee of 90 million euros ($99 million) for the Croatia international.

Gvardiol, 21, has impressed in his two seasons at Leipzig which he joined from Dynamo Zagreb in July 2021.

“I have always dreamed of one day playing in England and to be doing so now with Manchester City – after the season they have just had – is a real honour for me,” said Gvardiol of joining a team which won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League last year.

“Anyone who saw Manchester City play last season knows they are the best team in the world. To win the Treble says everything you need to know about the quality this team has.”

Gvardiol becomes Man City’s second signing ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, following fellow Croatian international Mateo Kovacic.

“To be joining City is something very special for me and my family,” continued Gvardiol.

“To have the chance to work with Pep Guardiola, too, will be amazing for me.

“I know I am not yet the finished article and I am sure my game will progress under the best coach in football.

“To be linking up with Mateo Kovacic will also be special. He’s a top footballer and I hope we can both help City achieve another successful season in 2023/24 and then beyond.”

Capped 21 times for Croatia, Gvardiol made 87 appearances across two seasons for Leipzig winning back-to-back German Cups.

He won two league titles with Zagreb before moving to the Bundesliga.

City will now have six senior central defenders, but Guardiola has insisted that was not a problem given the gruelling nature of the season.

“The season is so long, there is many, many games. It is absolutely not too many,” Guardiola told journalists ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield against Arsenal at Wembley.

“We are very happy to bring Josko to Manchester City,” said City director of football Txiki Begiristain.

“He is a player we have watched closely, and we feel he has a superb set of attributes.

“Top clubs all over Europe have been monitoring him, so to bring him here is great news for us.

“Josko has so many qualities – everything you want in a centre-half. He is fast, competitive, combative, strong in the air, impressive in possession of the ball, with strong self-belief and a good character. He is left-footed, too, which offers us good options at the back.

“He is still young but his progress in the game has been rapid. We feel confident his upward trajectory will continue here at City working with Pep and his staff.”

READ: Clinical Japan, slick Spain surge into Women’s World Cup quarters

Japan’s surprise title charge at the Women’s World Cup gathered pace with a clinical 3-1 win over Norway to reach the last eight while Spain thrashed Switzerland 5-1 on Saturday.

The 2011 champions Japan will face either holders the United States or Sweden in the quarter-finals and on this evidence they will take some stopping.

They have won all four games in Australia and New Zealand — including a 4-0 thumping of Spain — scoring 14 times and conceding only once.

Hinata Miyazawa is also quickly becoming one of the breakout stars of the Women’s World Cup which has been full of shocks.

The 23-year-old got the third nine minutes from time to seal Norway’s fate in front of 33,000 in Wellington.

She is now the tournament’s top scorer.

The teams went to the break level at 1-1, but Japan turned the screw on Norway in the second period through goals by Risa Shimizu and Miyazawa.

Norway threw everything at Japan late on but goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita stood firm and in injury time pulled off a breathtaking save from a close-range header, somehow clawing the ball back off the line.

Ominously for the rest of the teams, coach Futoshi Ikeda said Japan are becoming harder to beat as the Women’s World Cup progresses.

“The team is very positive, kept up the pace and I think we have become tougher than before,” he added.

Spain crushed Switzerland to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history and will face the Netherlands or South Africa next.

Aitana Bonmati played a starring role with a brace and two assists in front of 43,217 fans at Eden Park in Auckland, a record crowd for a football match in New Zealand.

Coach Jorge Vilda, who made five changes to his starting line-up including dropping reigning Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, said he had “the 23 best players in the world”.

“Aitana played very well today, she scored goals and was player of the match, but the rest of the team played very well too. We have 23 Ballons d’Or,” he said.

Barcelona’s Bonmati said the humbling by Japan in the group stage had been on their minds.

“When you lose like we did the other day it is a really big blow but to win 5-1 in a World Cup knockout tie, be through to the quarter-finals and make history, that shows we are a team,” said the midfielder.

“It was not easy after the other day but today we saw the character of the players and I hope we have a lot of days left here.”

Spain were simply a class above a Swiss side who had reached the last 16 without conceding a goal but whose exit means they have still never won a major tournament knockout game.

The United States, who have underwhelmed so far in their pursuit of an unprecedented third Women’s World Cup crown in a row, play Sweden on Sunday in Melbourne.

It pits the two top-ranked sides left in the tournament after world number two Germany’s shock early exit.

The top-ranked US won their last Women’s World Cup encounter 2-0 in 2019 on their way to the title, but world number three Sweden were 3-0 winners when they last met at the Tokyo Olympics.

United States coach Vlatko Andonovski admitted the underfire title-holders were lucky to still be in the tournament after some insipid displays.

They stumbled out of their group in second place with one win — against Vietnam — and nervy draws with the Netherlands and Portugal.

“The fact we are in, we are lucky, but we are moving on,” said Andonovski.

In Sunday’s other last-16 encounter, the 2019 runners-up the Netherlands must avoid becoming the latest top team to go out at the hands of a lower-ranked opponent.

South Africa, 54th in the world, beat Italy 3-2 to grab a place in the knockouts and defeating the Dutch would be another major upset.

“Look, we’ve been underestimated so many times before,” South Africa’s coach Desiree Ellis said on the eve of the game.

“I think this group has shown that nothing can stand in their way.

“This group has shown that when the chips are down, they can stand up.”

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OSLO: Pakistan Street child football team continued its dominant run in the ongoing Norway Cup, and qualified for the final by winning their seventh consecutive game on Friday.

Green Shirts created history by reaching the final without a single loss in the tournament. They annihilated Norwegian club Bremnes 2-0 in the semi-final stage.

Pakistan started the game carrying the momentum from their Norway Cup quarter-final clash against Sandviken and scored an early goal in the first half courtesy of Abdul Wahab. The lead was further solidified by Abid Ali’s goal in the second half.

Before humbling Bremnes in the semifinals, green shirts destroyed Sandviken in the quarter-final.

They challenged their defence throughout the first half but failed to convert into a goal.

However, it was only a matter of time before Faisal Ahmed scored two defining goals in the second half to win the game for his team.

The national team showed remarkable progress and growth throughout the Norway Cup, as they scored 28 goals and conceded only two.

Pakistan Street child football team has rejuvenated Pakistanis living in Norway, as they celebrated their historic performance with them.

Pakistan’s Ambassador in Norway, Saadia Altaf Qazi, also appreciated the team’s remarkable run in the tournament during their meeting on August 1.

Pakistan Street child football team will take on Sola FK in the Norway Cup final today.

It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan qualified for the finals of the Norway Cup for the second time, after ending up as runners-up in Norway Cup 2015.

Pakistan team also finished runners-up in the Street Child World Cup in Doha last year. They remained undefeated in that tournament, until losing to the eventual champions Egypt in the final on penalties.

They were also runners-up in the Street Child World Cup 2018 in Russia (2018), whereas, in the 2014 edition they finished third after losing in the semi-finals.

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Faisal Ahmad’s twin goals powered the Pakistan Street child football team to the semi-finals of the ongoing Norway Cup as the national team defeated Swedish club Sandviken 2-0 in the quarter-final of the tournament.

Pakistan carried the momentum from their previous triumph against Trysil FK, where they won with a defining margin of 4-0. They challenged Sandviken’s defence throughout the first half but failed to convert it into a goal.

However, the Swedish club couldn’t stop them for too long as Faisal scored two defining goals in the second half to win for his team.

The national team continued their dominant form in the tournament, after crushing Trysil FK 4-0, Årvoll IL 2-1, and Oslo FK 11-1.

In the pre-quarterfinal, Pakistan dominated Trysil FK throughout the game and created chances from the first whistle. Pakistan’s Obaidullah scored 2 goals, while, Shamir Ali and Abdul Wahab scored one each in the first half to give the green shirts a match-winning lead.

Pakistan has been a dominant force throughout the tournament. In their second group fixture, they defeated Årvoll IL 2-1. This was the national team’s second consecutive victory.

Pakistan Street child football team will face Bremnes Club in the semifinals today.

In the last game against, Trysil FK Pakistan’s Obaidullah scored 2 goals, while, Shamir Ali and Abdul Wahab scored one each in the first half to give the green shirts a match-winning lead.

In the game prior to that, they defeated Årvoll IL 2-1, thanks to Abdul Wahab and Tufail Shinwari’s goals.

It should be noted that Pakistan has qualified for the semifinals of the Norway Cup for the third time, as Pakistan has secured the second position in Norway Cup 2015 and third in Norway Cup 2016.

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OSLO: Pakistan Street Child Football team on Thursday outclassed Trysil FK to storm into the quarter-finals of the ongoing Norway Cup.

The national street child football team defeated Norway’s Trysil FK by a convincing margin of 4-0 in the second leg of the tournament.

Pakistan dominated Trysil FK throughout the game and created chances from the first whistle. Pakistan’s Obaidullah scored 2 goals, while, Shamir Ali and Abdul Wahab scored one each in the first half to give the green shirts a match-winning lead.

Pakistan has been a dominant force throughout the tournament. In their second group fixture, they defeated Årvoll IL 2-1. This was the national team’s second consecutive victory.

Pakistan had a contrasting start to their second group fixture as Årvoll pulled ahead with an early strike in the first half. Green shirts kept creating chances but to no avail, until, Abdul Wahab struck one, just minutes before the halftime.

They didn’t slow down in the second half, and kept the momentum going as Tufail Shiwari scored the second and defining goal.

They did not give any chance to Årvoll IL to get back in the game and kept the lead intact until the final whistle.

Notably, Pakistan had a dominant start to their Norway Cup campaign as they blew away Frigg Oslo FK 11-1 by the scoreline of 11-1.

The national team pulled ahead just six minutes into the game thanks to a goal by Saud Ahmed. Abid Ali then doubled Pakistan’s advantage within a minute.

Saud and Abid then struck again respectively and put Pakistan in command with a 4-0 lead after just 15 minutes.

Scott McNol finally glimmered a ray of hope for the hosts when he pulled one back to reduce Pakistan’s lead to 4-1.

McNol’s goal, however, failed to change the fortune of the Frigg Oslo side as Pakistan struck twice in quick succession to go into the break with a 6-1 lead.

The Green Shirts put on an even more dominant show in the second half as they scored five more to their tally to finish at 11-1, the biggest margin of victory in the Norway Cup by now.

Pakistan street child football team will play its quarter-final match tomorrow.

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Jamaica ensured there would be no fairytale ending to Marta’s career as they strangled Brazil 0-0 to reach the last 16 on Wednesday and condemn the South Americans to their earliest exit since 1995 in the Women’s World Cup.

It was heartbreak for the legendary Brazilian attacker Marta, who at age 37 has said this sixth Women’s World Cup would be her last.

“Not even in my worst nightmares was it the World Cup I dreamed of,” she said, looking as shellshocked as she was upset.

But it was joy in Melbourne for a Jamaica team who are yet to concede at the tournament and are into the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.

Lorne Donaldson’s unbeaten side, who have defied rows with their federation to get this far, will most likely meet Colombia next after finishing second in the group behind France.

“This is one of the best days I’ve ever had in my life,” Donaldson said.

“To see a country like Jamaica be able to do this, it’s unbelievable.

“The girls are doing it for the country, the country should be proud.

“We had resilience, fight. We are going into a war and we need to be ready,” he added.

“And it was a war, and we stayed in the battle.”

Jamaica’s achievement, having lost all three games in their debut World Cup in 2019, is all the more remarkable considering the tensions behind the scenes.

Donaldson’s team has been in open dispute with their football federation over a lack of support, including issues over pay and poor planning in the build-up to the World Cup.

Goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer said their run at the Women’s World Cup will send a message to the bosses back home.

“We know we’ve got a point to prove and the better we do, the more pressure it creates.

“We hope they’re looking at us and taking us seriously now.”

Brazil had to win to be sure of going through, whereas Jamaica needed only to draw.

So it was little surprise that it was the South Americans who had the better of an attritional contest.

In front of a crowd of nearly 28,000, Brazil had much more of the ball and attempts at goal — Jamaica had none on target all game to Brazil’s five.

But for all that and with Marta starting, Jamaica were never really in serious trouble at any point in the game.

Jamaica, who held France 0-0 before getting their first-ever World Cup win with a 1-0 victory over Panama, were defending deep and in numbers.

Pia Sundhage’s Brazil, who have never won the World Cup, looked short of ideas as they went to the break goalless.

The second half was more of the same but Brazil were struggling to really create a golden chance.

Khadija Shaw, the prolific Manchester City striker and Jamaica’s undoubted star, was hardly seen as an attacking force.

Into the last 20 minutes and Jamaica showed few signs of buckling, as Brazil simply ran out of steam and ideas.

Marta said that many other teams in women’s football have simply caught up with eighth-ranked Brazil and the other sides at the top.

“We used to see teams that came to the World Cup and scored seven or eight goals, not any more,” she said.

“Women’s football has been growing and it is profitable.

“Marta ends here, there is no more World Cup for Marta.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have one more World Cup and very happy with what is happening with women’s football in the world.”

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