International Football
France score fastest goal of Women’s Euro 2022 to knock Iceland out
France forward Melvine Malard scored the fastest goal of the Women’s Euro 2022 as Les Bleues drew 1-1 on Monday with Iceland, who became the first side ever to go out of the tournament despite remaining unbeaten.
Iceland, who previously drew 1-1 with Belgium and Italy, maintained their quarter-final chances until their last group game, but Belgium’s 1-0 win over the Italians secured them second spot in Group D on four points.
It took 43 seconds for Malard to put already-qualified France ahead with a low shot from the edge of the box, making it the quickest goal of this year’s tournament so far.
Having scored eight goals in the tournament so far, France have improved their best ever total in a Euro group stage by one strike.
The French dominated the opening stages of a game that was being contested in extreme heat, with Britain braced for hottest temperature on record this week.
But Iceland, who grew into the game as the first half wore on, came close to equalising in the 11th minute when Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir’s header bounced off the crossbar.
Forward Berglind Thorvaldsdottir wasted another great chance just before halftime after she received the ball from a corner kick but fired her effort over the bar despite being unmarked.
Iceland continued to give absolutely everything in the second period, as midfielder Agla Maria Albertsdottir and captain Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir also came close to scoring.
Corinne Diacre’s France, one of the tournament favourites, then saw two goals ruled out by VAR.
First it was Malard who thought she had bagged her second of the evening in the 68th minute but was ruled offside. Grace Geyoro netted 20 minutes later but the goal was disallowed for handball.
Iceland, who were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes, grabbed a consolation goal in the 12th minute of stoppage time through Dagny Brynjarsdottir, making history as the only team to ever go out of Euros despite not losing once.
‘FRANCE NEED TO BE MORE CLINICAL’
“I’m very disappointed that we didn’t go through but at the same time I’m extremely proud of the team,” Iceland defender Glodis Perla Viggosdottir said.
“I think we played very good game today, we are undefeated in the group. But unfortunately that wasn’t enough.”
The last-gasp goal by Iceland ended France’s 16-match winning run, leaving them one short of equalling their all-time record of 17 consecutive wins, set between August 2011 and July 2012.
“This evening I was able to give playing time to other players, and that went very well. We (also) have no new injuries… and that is important,” France coach Diacre said.
“We need to be more clinical. If we can take all our chances that would be much better. But what matters is creating chances, if you don’t do that you can’t score.”
France, who made a dream start to the tournament by thrashing Italy 5-1 and secured their place in the quarter-finals after their 2-1 win over Belgium, will face the Netherlands on Saturday.
-Reuters
Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
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Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.
The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”
When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.
Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.
He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.
-Reuters
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In a compelling twist of football destiny, Davide Ancelotti is stepping into his own spotlight as he begins his first head coaching role at Brazilian club Botafogo—just months after parting ways with his legendary father, Carlo Ancelotti, at Real Madrid.
The 35-year-old has been appointed as Botafogo’s new manager, the club announced on Tuesday, following the sacking of Renato Paiva. Davide, who has spent the last decade working alongside his father at some of Europe’s top clubs—including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid—has signed a one-year deal with the Rio-based team.
This marks a significant milestone for the younger Ancelotti, whose career has long been shaped by his father’s influence, but who now faces the challenge of carving his own identity on the touchline.
The move comes shortly after both father and son departed Real Madrid at the end of last season, with Carlo taking over the Brazilian national team. Now, in a poetic alignment, father and son find themselves on different paths within Brazilian football—one leading the Seleção, the other steering the fortunes of a storied domestic club.
Botafogo’s decision to appoint Davide follows a controversial parting with Paiva, who was dismissed just days after their exit from the Club World Cup. Though he oversaw a stunning win over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, a 1-0 extra-time loss to Palmeiras in the round of 16 proved to be his final act after just four months in charge.
As Davide Ancelotti begins this new chapter, all eyes will be on whether the son of one of football’s most decorated managers can step out from his father’s shadow—and perhaps, in time, build a legacy of his own.
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