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edhayne · 8 months

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Tackling England Rugby’s Brand Challenge

It’s been well documented that a short-term obsession with making a quick buck is the enemy of building a truly great brand. With the Six Nations once again on the horizon, nowhere is this more evident in sport than the brand management of the England Men’s Rugby team.

Rugby Union in England is battling all kinds of issues on and of the field, including concerns around the life changing impact of head injuries, professional clubs going bust and the remarkable decision to punish serial club ‘winners’ Saracens for salary cap breaches with a fine and relegation, whilst allowing them to keep their illegally won trophies.

These issues have inevitably had a huge impact on the reputation and performance of the national side. However, in the interests of brevity, I want to focus on three other areas where England rugby has gone wrong in building a truly effective sports brand.

Let’s start with an easy one. Guess where England Men are playing all their home fixtures this season? Yup, once again our boys will strut their stuff at the upper middle-class concrete mecca that is Twickenham stadium. For over £100 a ticket, ‘fans’ can glug overpriced beer to their hearts content. It pays handsomely in the short-term for the Rugby Football Union (the national governing body for rugby union in England) because they own the stadium, but it’s hardly the actions of a business committed to promoting the game beyond its southeast heartland and public-school boy loyalists. Indeed, if you’re a believer in penetration over frequency, Twickenham on game day is the stuff of Professor Bryon Sharp nightmares.

Conversely over in France, the men’s team are playing fixtures in Marseille, Lille and Lyon, with the French rugby union using preparation of the Stade de France for the 2024 Olympics as an opportunity to play games away from Paris. Tickets are selling like Marie-Antoinette hot cakes, excitement for the tournament is building across the country and the matchday atmosphere will be far livelier. Meanwhile, in England, the great football cathedrals in the north will remain rugby free zones, which can only be to the detriment of the national side’s brand health and therefore longer-term commercial interests.

The latter point is perhaps why the quality of rugby related advertising has dwindled. In fact, I think you’d have to go back as far as 2015 when England hosted the World Cup to find something memorable. For that tournament, we were blessed with Samsung’s School of Rugby, a campaign that showed genuine audience empathy and understanding of the brand’s novice role in the game.

O2 also used to do some lovely creative work around the game and Guinness normally have something interesting to say. However, too many brands are now falling into the trap of badging vs. enhancing the spectacle, with 'Official Partners' plastering their logo all over Twickenham, but doing little else.

Whilst bigger production and media budgets might not be forthcoming, sponsors are missing a trick by not doing distinctive work around a tournament that’s the envy of the Southern Hemisphere rugby powerhouses. Furthermore, if you look at the creative output from the RFU’s perspective, they should be demanding more from their partners to grow the profile of the national side. A nice cheque in the post isn’t enough. An iconic Rooney ‘Messiah’ poster or Carlsberg ‘Old Lions’ equivalent should be the level of creative ambition.

These famous examples featuring top class players brings me to my final point. Netflix has just released their equivalent of Drive to Survive for last season’s Six Nations. Undoubtedly a coup for the sport, but no guarantee that the all-important second season will be commissioned. The RFU certainly aren’t helping matters because England have a policy where they won’t select any players plying their trade abroad. It’s been put in place to supposedly protect the quality of the domestic league (where three clubs have gone bust in two years incidentally) and ensure players are always available for training with the national side.

However, the reality is a team that runs the risk of not being made up of the country’s best players. If the same policy existed in football, prized assets Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham would be in the international wilderness. Just imagine the national outrage and damage to the Three Lions brand.

Put simply, creating artificial rules around selection seems incredibly short-sighted. If England want to build a strong brand and broaden their reach, they need to have their most valuable assets on display.

So, there you have it. Three big but addressable problems facing a brand that’s been complacent for too long. Of course, rugby union has some other complex issues to grapple with, but when you break down the challenges I’ve outlined, we’re actually just talking about the fundamentals of building an effective brand.

Sort them out, and we might start competing on and off the pitch with our Gallic friends again.

#six nations #rugby #england #sport #samsung

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andiessoccerblog · 1 year

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Group F Breakdown

Expected to move on: France, Brazil

Expected to exit in group stage: Jamaica, Panama

France

FIFA Ranking: 5

Reputation:

France is one of the rising European powerhouses, but they’ve never fully...risen. They can hang with the best, but they’ve never finished better than 4th place in a World Cup and 5th in the Olympics. Their style of play is very European--smooth and skilled--but they are also known for their vengeful fouls, especially against rival teams Germany and USA. The players mostly play together in the French league Division 1 Féminine, with about half the squad playing on the same team: Paris Saint-Germain, a total powerhouse in European and International Club football.

Player Pool:

Captain Wendie Renard is a 6’2” defender, who is known for headers at both ends of the pitch–she has 44 goals scored for France, despite her position at centerback. However, it was a question if she would even play in the World Cup, as she heavily protested the previous French coach Diacre. The only other player with more caps and goals than Renard is forward Eugenie Le Sommer, who will manage the offensive line, including Kadidiatou Diani, Viviane Asseyi, and Grace Geyoro.

2019 WWC performance:

France dominated group play in an impressive fashion, and plowed through a not-so-easy round of sixteen game against Brazil before being eliminated by the eventual champions, USA. They were unfortunate to come up against the USA as early in the knockout round as they did; many people believed it would come down to USA v FRA in the finals. As it was, the game against the USA was a very close match, and through the whole tournament, they showed they were one of the more dominant teams in the tournament. Wendie Renard, a defender, led the French team in goals and led the defense, but also scored an own goal that almost sank the French team.

Brazil

FIFA Ranking: 9

Reputation:

I will stand in front of the world and defend women's soccer as less theatrical than men's. However, Brazil makes that hard. They are dirty and aggressive players, but they go down like a toothpick at the gentlest touch. That's not to say they are not supremely talented, as many of them are, and they are one of the few countries where their women's team is as fearfully imposing as their men's. The ladies of Brazil can dance around their opponents, but also can shoot balls so hard they break wrists. They are known as a team that is consistently difficult to beat, and have successfully integrated talented young players with their more veteran standouts to maintain their high level of play.

Players:

There is one player on Earth who has won the FIFA world player of the year five times, and it's not Lionel Messi. Keep an eye on Marta, a fantastic all around player in her fifth World Cup, who I would like more if she flopped less. If anyone can fill her shoes post-retirement, it is Debinha, a crafty midfielder with a killer shot. The aforementioned youngsters of the team, Bruninha (20), Geyse (24), and Kerolin (23), might start, but can also provide a spark off the bench after the veteran players have worn down opponents.

2019 WWC performance:

Not bad! They played strongly, and although there was a lot of individual brilliance and skill, they couldn't come together as a team in the most important moments. They made it through to the knockout round, but didn't progress past the first round, falling to host France.

Jamaica

FIFA Ranking: 43

Reputation:

After their first World Cup in 2019, Jamaica confidently qualified for their second by beating Haiti, Mexico, and Costa Rica to finish third behind the USA and Canada in the qualifying tournament. They have really been building on their 2019 experience, and have climbed ten points in the FIFA rankings since then. Many key players that were in college in the 2019 World Cup have graduated and joined professional teams in the USA, England, and France, gaining even more experience in top-level soccer.

Player Pool:

This team is made up of super talented college students, with one or two 30 year olds thrown in for good measure. Their qualifying run was made possible by their goalie, 19 year old Sydney Schneider, and scoring machine Khadija (Bunny) Shaw. Joining the team for this World Cup is Drew Spence, a midfielder who had made senior appearances for England, then took a period of mandatory leave from the international game so she could join the Jamaican side.

2019 WWC performance:

For their first World Cup, not a ton was expected of them. They gave it their all and got valuable experience to build on moving forward. They pretty much got run over in the group stage, ending with a three game goal differential of -11. Still, it gives the nation something to build on and be proud of.

Panama

FIFA Ranking: 52

Reputation:

This is the first World Cup for Las Canaleras (The Canal Girls), who finally qualified after narrowly losing a spot in the 2019 World Cup to Jamaica, their rival in this group. Panama hasn’t played many games against world-up level teams since the 2022 qualifications, but played Colombia in June just before the cup, earning one loss and one tie . With a very young team, it will be difficult for them to get out of the group stage. Teams like Panama are the exact reason why the World Cup expanded to 32 teams–so that more lower-ranked squads can get experience and make the game more competitive on the whole.

Player Pool:

Goalkeeper Yenith Bailey splashed onto the scene, winning Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper at the 2018 Concacaf tournament, only one year after she switched from a midfielder to goalkeeper. It has been six years since then, and other goalkeepers have joined the squad, but Bailey has the most experience. For goalscoring, Las Canaleras will look to midfielder Marta Cox, and Riley Tanner, a young offensive player that is the only woman playing professionally in the USA.

2019 WWC performance:

Did Not Qualify

#woso #uswnt #womens soccer #women's world cup #nwsl #world cup #wwc 2023 #jamaica wnt #frawnt #france #brawnt #brazil #marta #panama

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hardtchill · 2 years

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Ok well bringing the extra 3 players will at the very least give them fucking tournament experience which is unique and can help them grow. Look at Sam Mewis, she was an Olympic alternate in 2016 and made it her life goal to improve to the point where she makes the following Olympics. She grew, made the 2019 World Cup roster, fucking killed it there, and eventually made the next Olympic roster. And worst case scenario the 3 are there in case the 23 somehow goes through like 12 players due to injury. It’s unrealistic but not impossible. There are reasons why the Olympics allow alternates. Extending to 26 can still be beneficial to players, maybe just not in the ways we think

And no I still don’t care about tactical advantages because the women’s game is unfair to begin with. Until the game grows more in countries like the Philippines, Vietnam and Morocco (all of whom are in the 2023 World Cup, which is why I’m using them as examples), tournaments won’t be more fair like they typically are in the men’s game. Countries like England, Germany and the US have an advantage regardless of a 23 or 26 player roster. Of course dark horses exist, just look at Morocco in the men’s World Cup, but they’re a lot less common in the women’s game. A big team’s tactical advantage wouldn’t make a difference against a country whose original 23 player roster plays a level of football equivalent to that of a tier 4 women’s club due to the women’s game being so underdeveloped in their country. It would only make a significant (key word significant) difference against other big teams, in which case it comes down to the quality of the players chosen since the women’s game is more equally developed in those countries. It’s unfortunate the women’s game is like that but it is how it is. And we’ve already made significant improvements since the 2019 World Cup

Dude, what you're saying is that because advantages exist already we should just give up on fairness all together. Are you really not hearing how screwed up that is?

You cannot look at woso in which countries like the Netherlands, Sweden, Australia and Canada have done very well and then say dark horses hardly ever succeed. Woso is literally the sport in which dark horses have massive chances of succeeding. This rule would greatly benefit countries like Germany, England, US, France and Spain while screwing those mid tier teams who have good teams but no depth.

Your comparison with the Olympics is also completely useless seeing as roster size for the Olympics is only 18 which is why those back up spots exist. Even with the extension to 22 due to Covid the roster is smaller than the typical world cup roster. Pretending alternate spots are equal to additional spots also isn't helping making your argument look credible.

#ask #woso #and yes the countries i named are dark horses #don't be an idiot and pretend they are not #if you have a roster of 15 good players and 8 more who are basically there for show you're a dark horse #I also don't understand why you seem to pretend there is England level teams and Vietnam level teams and no in between #meanwhile that space in between is what has been most developed in the past 4 years

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reminiscingtonight · 7 months

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this happens when people who aren't familiar with the "football's world" suddenly get into it.

I'm not patronizing or claiming anything, but some sort of dynamics (mostly evolved in the last decade and now unbelievable looking from outside) are well known in this sport. some we accepted as fans, some we think are totally bullshit and needs to change.

let's talk about the Olympics and football. for men's teams is not really a main competition in most countries, for women's teams it's a major tournament. some federations give a shit about it, others send their u21 teams to play. also, Olympics regulations are completely different from World's Cup or Champions League regulations (please note, football is not the main event during Olympics), and has to answer different logics.

today's football is a total shit show because of all the money that runs around it. ten years ago, your team could have played their league with one/two national breaks based on the federation and major tournaments every two years (WC, Euro, Copa America, whatever else). now there's a "major" tournament every single year and an international break every three months. the last men's WC literally happened in the middle of the season for most European countries, that had to completely change the leagues schedule for three months or didn't even let the players rest for more than a week. it's not sostenible, it's bullshit and it's not even the point.

and women's football is a completely different world in the football world itself so.

we can discuss all we want that it's annoying that players got injured during international breaks (happens during games and practice and off seasons whatever wearing club or country jerseys), but it's absurd blaming this particular pre Olympics games/tournaments without blaming the entire system that's been fucked up for years and federations give close to zero shit because of money.

peace, out. sorry for the poem.

LMAO this is long

#gotta be honest I merely skimmed #Ace's anons

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thewiseaustralain · 8 months

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Another football rant

Why why the fuck are men and only men to quick to argue that mens and womens football soccer isn't equal like what the actual fuck

Because I actually had to explain to a man that yes, the women's game exists and contrary to his opinion most of the all time record holding players, are women

Like all time international goal scorer Christine Sinclair of Canada with 62 more goals than Ronaldo at 190 int goals

All time most capped player not Ronaldo It's K Lily with 354 int caps to Ronaldo's 205

Most Euro Club Championship wins tied between Wendie Renard and Eugénie Le Sommer with 8 yes 8 Women's Championship titles each the guy who's won the most who's name I can't remember has 6 titles

Fun fact I can't remember if it's caps or goals but Ronaldo only ranks ties 7th with a German player whose last name is Prinz I actually wrote the actual thing in another rant so if you want to know, read my other rants to figure out which one

And I'm pretty sure that the all time that's both mens and womens world cup goal scorer is Marta might want to check but I know she's the all time scorer in the womens world cup.

Also yeah like men are also like really likely to be whiny bitches when a woman wins an award over a man, just because he's like a man

Great example of this is when Mary Earps won the 2023 spoty award like in 2023 Mearps won two golden gloves like 2 minor international tournaments second place at that years world cup which she both won the Golden Glove and set records in an mbe a FIFA Best gk FIFA 11 and England player of the year and a whole other tonne of awards And yet some people Pierce Morgan and his disciples still thought she shouldn't have won that years spoty I personally think they're all jealous because Mearps is amazing because they're also jealous because that's the second time in two years that a Lioness has won the award

Another thing why is it men and only men that say it's not equal that is meant to be sarcastic so like put quotations around it for a win in women's and men's football earlier I had to read that apparently Sam Kerr the entire Tillies squad and Kristie Mewis aren't better than one slightly below average man U player just because the dipshit that said it is a sexist homophobic dipshit who believes that lesbians are worse at soccer when anyone that knows knows that the real goats of soccer are the lesbian icons of Marta Putteas Kerr Sinclair and Miedema both the singular and couple moving back on track how is one guy better than a team that has players at the best clubs in the world Real Madrid Chelsea man c Arsenal Olympic Lyonnais Paris Saint Germain, Wave fc just to name a few. And also one of the best current US midfielders in K Mewis as well like what deluded world do you live in mate

Anyway I am so drunk right now so like because this is speech to text I am gonna post this now and come back and edit it later and because I know me with my adhd could be a fuck load of time

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entrepreneurstreet · 1 year

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Dawn of New Sporting Era in United States of America -T-10 Cricket

In life, change is constant...

Excruciating slow and lengthy professional sports (NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS) have witnessed concerted effort to reduce time to keep fans engaged. Making a better TV for viewers with more action attracts the next generation of fans. Athlete and fans are spoiled with choices. And, the appetite for engaging sport aside from football, basketball, hockey, baseball and soccer brings the newest world sensation back to America: CRICKET! Cricket once a popular sport in America, began waning in 1908. Starting around 1905, the number of matches dropped and clubs began to close. Last match was played in 1913. International apathy caused an irreversible decline. Haverford College played as late as 1925 at a high standard. Today, Haverford College continues to play cricket.

Cricket is often compared to baseball. It is also a bat and ball game played between two teams. The batting team has two players on the field and bowling team has eleven players on a field. At the center of field there is a 22-yard pitch. Each end has three stumps and between the stumps are two bails, combined called wickets. Six legal balls are bowled in an over. Overs determine length of the game. Bowler delivers from one end of a cricket pitch to the batting player.

Over the years Cricket has introduced various formats. The five day Test match exist to test skills, character, stamina and temperament with unlimited overs. One Day International (ODI) has single inning each and 50 overs that lasts 7 hours on average. Year 2003 ooze the game of cricket, indelible introduction of a twenty overs format, called T20, and it revolutionized the sport. This 3 hour match entered India in 2008, and birthed Indian Premier League (IPL) having eight franchise teams and later adding two more. Post 2023 season the IPL T20 league is valued at $15.4 Billion USD. It has attracted far more audiences in short duration than any other sport in history. Year 2022, data reported 2.5 billion worldwide fan following.

In 2017, a fourth form of cricket was officially introduced and sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC). This 90 minute, Short and Sweet, T10 Cricket League also has a Masters League, the Indian Masters T10 (IMT10) and US Masters T10 (USMT10). Despite the Covid-19 pandemic this league has grew to whopping 341 million viewership in 2022, 2,561% increase. The league's economic impact is now being valued at USD $621.2 million. Cricket has witnessed fastest growth in comparison to any other sports and every formats has volume of followers. USMT10 league is for yesteryear‘s highly celebrated athletes.

Star studded squad brings renowned athletes, in which batters and bowlers use their mastered techniques that make this game exceptionally attractive for new and vetted fans. International Olympic Committee (IOC) intends to provision this short format cricket for Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) Olympics. The 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup is scheduled to be hosted by the United States and the West Indies in June 2024. It will be the first ICC World Cup tournament matches played in the United States.

National and international fans can catch this action-packed inaugural USMT10 matches kicking off on Friday, August 18, 2023, at the Broward County Cricket Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida. This region of America is designated as the "Venice of America." The 2023 inaugural season will be played in a round-robin format with the best performing teams competing in a playoff and final round to decide a champion to be crowned on Sunday, August 27, 2023, starting at 11 AM EST.

Star-studded world wide cricket icons include - Aaron Finch, Abdul Rehman, Abhimanyu Mithun, Albie Morkel, Amila Aponso, Andries Gous, Angelo Perera, Anureet Singh, Ashley Nurse, Ben Dunk, Ben Laughlin, Bipul Sharma, Calvin Savage, Chamara Kapugedera, Chaturanga De Silva, Chris Barnwell, Chris Gayle, Cody Chetty, Corey Anderson, Craig Mcmillan, Dane Piedt, David Hussey, Denesh Ramdin, Devendra Bishoo, Dhammika Prasad, Dilshan Munaweera, Dwayne Smith, Elias Sunny, Fidel Edwards, Gautam Gambir, Grant Elliot, Hamilton Masakada, Hammad Azam, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Isuru Udana, Jacques Kallis, Jeevan Mendis, Jerome Taylor, Jesal Karia, Jesse Ryder, Johan Botha, Jonathan Carter, Junaid Siddique, Kamran Akmal, Kamrul Islam, Kevin O'Brien, Lendl Simmons, Liam Plunkett, Makhaya Ntini, Misbah Ul Haq, Mohammad Kaif, Mohammed Hafeez, Monty Panesar, Muhammad Irfan, Munaf Patel, Murali Vijay, Najaf Shah, Naman Ojha, Nasir Hossain, Neil Broom, Noor Ali Zadran, Nuwan Kulasekara, Parthiv Patel, Parvinder Awana, Paul Adams, Pawan Suyal, Peter Siddle, Phil Mustard, Praghyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar, R P Singh, Rahul Sharma, Rajesh Bishnoi, Ricardo Powell, Robin Uthappa, Robin Uthappa, Ross Taylor, Rusty Theron, S. Sreesanth, Shahid Afridi, Siddharth Trivedi, Sohail Khna, Stuart Binny, Sudeep Tyagi, Suresh Raina, T M Dilshan, Thissara Perera, Tim Ambrose, Umaid Asif, Umar Gul, Upul Tharanga, Vikas Tokas, William Perkins, Yusuf Pathan and Yuvraj Singh.

TV Broadcasting and digital streaming details: US & Canada - Willow TV, Bangladesh - T Sports, Caribbean - Sports Max, India - Jio Cinema & Sports 18, Pakistan - PTV & GEO TV, YouTube TV.

California Knights owner's share their excitement to be part of USMT10. Janak Patel, many call him the founding father of Cricket in America, he has been involved with every level of cricket in USA. He brings his long business aptitude to the league and the team. Rohit Batta, a young entrepreneur who has skillfully grown various businesses. If he is involved, he will make it successful, and his foresight was enough to convince others to participate in the cricket franchise. Rajat Rocky Batta, in 2013 he won the ZeeTV's Dance India Dance. As a young adult used his inherited business skills that rippled from father Rajesh Batta to start a RRB Dance studio. He brings his entertainment accolades to make cricket exciting. Nimesh Desai, as a managing partner brings his executive management experience where he led large teams to help customers with emerging technologies. Developing strategic goals, overseeing the day-to-day operations, communicating with others regarding goals, providing leadership and guidance are his acquired traits. This makes our collective team complete and we are thrilled to be a part of USMT10. Our vision is to inspire athletes and take part in another canvas of cricket. Masters league makes opportunity for young athletes to watch and learn from those who have made a successful career from cricket. American athletes will find a future to play anywhere around the world in this universal game of cricket. United States, is simply the greatest sports country in the world, so success of cricket in America is not IF, it is simply WHEN.

For More:

[email protected]

CONTACT +91-9354645130

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dan6085 · 1 year

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Here are 20 of the biggest upsets in sports history, along with some details on why they were so surprising:

1. Miracle on Ice (1980): The U.S. men's hockey team, made up of amateur and collegiate players, defeated the heavily-favored Soviet team in the semi-finals of the Winter Olympics. The victory was seen as a symbol of American resilience and patriotism during the Cold War.

2. Leicester City's Premier League Championship (2016): Leicester City, a small soccer club with 5,000-to-1 odds of winning the Premier League, shocked the world by taking home the title. Their improbable run captivated fans around the globe.

3. Buster Douglas defeats Mike Tyson (1990): In one of the biggest upsets in boxing history, James "Buster" Douglas knocked out the previously undefeated Mike Tyson in the tenth round of their heavyweight title fight.

4. Appalachian State defeats Michigan (2007): Appalachian State, a small college football program, stunned the Michigan Wolverines in Michigan Stadium. The Mountaineers became the first Division I-AA team to beat a ranked Division I-A team.

5. Rulon Gardner wins gold (2000): Rulon Gardner, an American wrestler, defeated the heavily-favored Russian Alexander Karelin in the Greco-Roman heavyweight final at the Sydney Olympics. Karelin had not lost a match in 13 years and was considered unbeatable.

6. The Miracle Mets (1969): The New York Mets, a newly-formed expansion team, won the World Series in their first playoff appearance. They defeated the heavily-favored Baltimore Orioles in five games.

7. Joe Namath's Guarantee (1969): New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath guaranteed victory over the heavily-favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. The Jets won 16-7, and Namath's guarantee became legendary.

8. Japan defeats South Africa (2015): In one of the biggest upsets in rugby history, Japan defeated South Africa in the opening round of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The Brave Blossoms had never won a World Cup match before.

9. The 1985 Villanova Wildcats: Villanova, an eighth-seeded college basketball team, defeated Georgetown in the NCAA championship game. The Wildcats shot an incredible 78.6% from the field in the game.

10. The 1980 Wimbledon Final: Bjorn Borg, who had won the previous four Wimbledon titles, was defeated by unheralded American John McEnroe in an epic five-set match.

11. The 2004 Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox became the first team in baseball history to come back from a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series. They went on to win the World Series, ending an 86-year championship drought.

12. The 1991 Minnesota Twins: The Twins, who finished last in their division the previous year, won the World Series. They defeated the heavily-favored Atlanta Braves in seven games.

13. The 1985 Chicago Bears: The Bears, led by their dominant defense, steamrolled their way to the Super Bowl. They defeated the New England Patriots 46-10, one of the most lopsided Super Bowl victories in history.

14. The 1999 U.S. Women's Soccer Team: The U.S. women's soccer team, led by Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain, won the World Cup in dramatic fashion. Chastain's game-winning penalty kick and subsequent celebration became iconic moments in sports history.

15. The 1992 Duke Blue Devils: Duke, a team that many experts believed was too small and too young to compete at the highest level, won the NCAA basketball championship. They defeated the heavily-favored Michigan Wolverines in the final.

16. The 1992 U.S. Men's Basketball Team: The "Dream Team," made up of NBA superstars like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, dominated the Olympic basketball tournament. They won each game by an average of 44 points.

17. The 2006 Miami Heat: The Heat, led by an aging Shaquille O'Neal and a young Dwyane Wade, defeated the heavily-favored Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. The Heat became the first team in NBA history to come back from a 2-0 deficit to win the championship.

18. The 1950 World Cup: The United States, a team made up mostly of amateurs and semi-professionals, defeated England 1-0 in one of the biggest upsets in soccer history. The game is known as the "Miracle on Grass."

19. The 2001 New England Patriots: The Patriots, led by quarterback Tom Brady, won the Super Bowl as heavy underdogs. They defeated the "Greatest Show on Turf" St. Louis Rams in one of the most thrilling Super Bowl games ever played.

20. The 2011 Dallas Mavericks: The Mavericks, a team that had been labeled as playoff chokers for years, won the NBA championship. They defeated the heavily-favored Miami Heat, led by LeBron James, in six games. Dirk Nowitzki was named Finals MVP.

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realtysoftgo · 2 years

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#Beat the boss 1 взлом

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hardtchill · 2 years

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I just screamed "thank you" when I read your take on Tobin being on the National team or not. It was when I started following woso that I saw that people think being on the national team is the highest achievement of a player especially in the US.

Being on the national team to represent your country is good but does not define the entirety of a player. There's a good amount of impressive players in men's football who don't represent their national teams or represented for a short period of time and are doing so well with their club teams as well as some few players in women's football.

So National team should not be the criteria for accessing a players Success.

Yup. There is also the simple fact that you need to fit in the team that already exists, the coach needs to not be a cunt and your country's NT needs investment for you to make big tournaments. Like, you can leave a club if the coach or system doesn't suit you, you can't just change nationalities every time that happens.

Is Christen not as good of a player as Morgan, Pinoe or Tobin because she mostly subbed during the 2015-2019 era? No of course not. If i remember correctly Kim Little only played in only 1 world cup and 0 European championships in her 14 year long career (she did play in two Olympic games for team GB). Does that make her less of a great player? No of course not.

There are plenty of world class players who never become absolute stars for their national teams and that's completely okay.

#ask #uswnt #christen press #kim little

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fifaworldcup2026tickets · 4 months

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Belgium FIFA World Cup: Belgium's Current Coach and best players for FIFA 2026

The Belgium national football team, representing Belgium in men's international football since their inaugural match in 1904, is overseen globally by FIFA and in Europe by UEFA, both of which were co-founded by the Royal Belgian Football Association. Belgium has experienced periods of consistent international presence from 1920 to 1938, 1982 to 2002, and from 2014 onwards, interspersed with less successful qualification attempts.

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The majority of Belgium's home games take place at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. The national team has competed in fourteen FIFA World Cups, six UEFA European Championships, and three Olympic football tournaments, notably winning the 1920 Summer Olympics. Belgium's notable achievements include victories over reigning world champions such as West Germany, Brazil, Argentina, and France between 1954 and 2002.

Belgium maintains fierce football rivalries with the Netherlands and France, having faced both teams almost annually from 1905 to 1967. Known as the Red Devils since 1906, their fan club is named "1895". During the career of forward Paul Van Himst, Belgium secured third place as hosts at UEFA Euro 1972.

The second golden era, under managers Marc Wilmots and later Roberto Martínez in the 2010s, saw Belgium reach the pinnacle of the FIFA World Ranking for the first time in November 2015 and finish third at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Notably, Belgium is the only national team to top the FIFA rankings without winning a World Cup or continental trophy, distinguishing them in the world of football.

Belgium National Football Team Captain: Kevin De Bruyne

Following Belgium's unexpected early departure from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Eden Hazard announced his retirement from international football. This pivotal moment also marked the end of Roberto Martinez's tenure as the team's coach. Stepping into the role of head coach, Domenico Tedesco faced the significant task of appointing a new leader for the Belgian squad.

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De Bruyne's appointment as captain is a testament to his remarkable skills, leadership qualities, and commitment to the national team. Known for his vision, creativity, and precision on the field, De Bruyne has been a pivotal figure in both his club and national teams. His ability to influence games and inspire his teammates makes him a natural choice to lead Belgium as they strive for success in upcoming tournaments.

Under Tedesco’s guidance, and with De Bruyne at the helm, Belgium aims to build on their past performances and achieve new heights. The combination of Tedesco's fresh strategic approach and De Bruyne's on-field leadership is expected to rejuvenate the team, providing a solid foundation for their future endeavors. The first, from the 1980s to the early 1990s, saw them as runners-up at UEFA Euro 1980 and fourth at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

As Belgium gears up for the Euro 2024 qualifiers, fans and pundits alike are eager to see how De Bruyne's captaincy will shape the team's performance. With his extensive experience and unwavering dedication, Kevin De Bruyne is poised to lead the Red Devils with distinction, steering them towards a promising future on the international stage.

Kevin De Bruyne: Belgium's Shining Star’s Player

Kevin De Bruyne stands out as one of the last superstars of Belgium's Golden Generation. While some may argue that the Golden Generation didn't fully meet expectations, De Bruyne's career has been nothing short of exceptional. Since his return to English football in 2015, following a transfer worth over £50 million. To Manchester City, De Bruyne has more than lived up to his potential.

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The Belgium midfielder has established himself as one of the Premier League's most iconic players of the past decade. His vision, passing accuracy, and ability to control the tempo game. Have made him a key player for both his club and the national team. De Bruyne's performances have consistently been of the highest standard, demonstrating his skill and determination on the field.

De Bruyne’s influence extends beyond his technical abilities; his leadership. And focus has been crucial in Manchester City's successes in recent years. Whether orchestrating attacks or scoring crucial goals, he has been at the heart of many memorable moments. His contributions have not only helped City clinch numerous titles. But also earned him individual accolades, reinforcing his status as one of football's elite.

Despite the pressure and high expectations, De Bruyne remains laser-focused and continues to perform at the top of his game. His journey from a promising talent to a footballing legend exemplifies hard work, dedication, and passion for the sport. As he continues to dazzle on the pitch, fans and critics alike recognize Kevin De Bruyne. As a true superstar, embodying the pinnacle of Belgian football excellence.

Belgium National Football Team Manager: Domenico Tedesco

Domenico Tedesco was removed as Belgium's manager in February 2023, succeeding Roberto Martinez. This appointment marked his first foray into international management, and he has had a promising start. Born in Italy and raised in Germany, Tedesco has brought a fresh perspective. To the Belgian national team, continuing to build on his previous successes.

Before taking charge of Belgium, Tedesco made a name for himself in club football. Most notably leading RB Leipzig to victory in the German Cup in 2022. His tactical penetration and ability to inspire players were key factors in that triumph. And he has carried those strengths into his new role with the Red Devils.

Under Tedesco’s leadership, Belgium has maintained an unbeaten record so far. His tenure has been categorized by a blend of discipline defense and dynamic attacking play. Energizing the team's performance and restoring confidence among the players and fans alike. Tedesco's approach has been well-receive, with his strategic planning and adaptability earning praise.

Tedesco's multicultural background and diverse footballing experiences have given him. A unique edge in managing an internationally renowned team like Belgium. As Tedesco continues to chief Belgium, the football world watches with keen attention. His initial success hints at a bright future for the Red Devils under his guidance. With his proven track record and innovative tactics, Domenico Tedesco is poise to make an important impact. On Belgian football, steering the team towards new heights in international competitions.

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calacuspr · 3 years

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This England team has shown us all what the power of sport really means

There have been a few times in recent years where the entire nation has appeared united and optimistic – and almost all of them have been connected to sport.

The World Cup in Italy in 1990, the EURO 96 in England and the London 2012 Olympic Games all come to mind as moments that will endure as epochs that transcend everything else going on in the world.

England has been particularly divided in recent years as the Leave and Remain factions argue; the challenges facing the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic; and the economic struggles that so many have encountered pretty much since the financial collapse a decade ago.

At Calacus, we work with organisations who see the value of sport to positively transform society and the England team has shown that throughout the build-up to EURO 2020 and beyond, they have brought the nation together in a way little else can.

Granted, it helped that England did so well, reaching the final of the tournament. It is hardly a new phenomenon that the squad is so multi-cultural, with players with family heritage from around the world.

While the aftermath of the defeat to Italy has shown the unpalatable side of society, the way in which the England manager and players have conducted themselves has been a masterclass in authentic communications.

STAY TRUE TO YOUR VALUES

Taking the knee has been part of football tradition in England for more than a year now, highlighting inequality and promoting diversity.

The England team have been criticised by many, with the Conservative MP for Ashfield, Lee Anderson, announcing that he would not watch “his beloved England team” while the players took the knee; Home Secretary Priti Patel suggesting that it was nothing more than “gesture politics.” and Prime Minister Boris Johnson refusing to criticise those who booed the team.

Given the racism that the likes of Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling and others have suffered, particularly from online trolls, it’s remarkable that politicians sought to condemn them and accuse the team of Marxist tendencies and BLM affiliation rather than a compassionate plea for solidarity and equality over division.

England defender Tyrone Mings said: “Everyone’s entitled to their opinions. The home secretary is one of many, many people who oppose us taking the knee or refuse to defend it . . . we [have tried] to educate and inform the minority who refuse to acknowledge why we take the knee and want to boo it.”

Notably, the boos faded as the EURO 2020 tournament progressed and the team got to the later stages and it speaks volumes that many of those politicians who criticised the team then tried to associate themselves with them through staged photography that fooled no one.

CELEBRATE INCLUSION

This England team are no strangers to speaking up for those who don’t have a voice.

Marcus Rashford has campaigned for an end to child hunger and has twice forced the government to make u-turns over free school meals.

Raheem Sterling, one of the stars of the tournament for England and who has been vilified himself by media and fans alike, has fought hard to call out bigotry in the fight against racism.

EURO 2020 started during Pride month and saw players wear rainbow laces and captains use rainbow armbands, despite some mixed messaging from UEFA.

When England played Germany in the round of 16, captain Harry Kane joined his counterpart Manuel Neuer in wearing a rainbow armband with England's official Twitter account saying: “@HKane will join @DFB_Team 's Manuel Neuer in wearing a rainbow captain’s armband for tomorrow’s game at @wembleystadium to mark the end of Pride month, as the #ThreeLions stand in allyship with LGBTQ+ communities around the world.”

Kane himself explained: “From our point of view, it is a show of solidarity with the German national team from all of us at the England national team to be united in trying to kick out all inequalities there are. We’re on a huge platform on a big stage so it is obviously a great opportunity to do so.”

Jordan Henderson has shown himself to be a captain on and off the field, supporting local charities during lockdown as well as leading his Liverpool team to success over recent years.

He is thought to be one of the main drivers behind the team planning to donate its EURO 2020 prize money to good causes.

Their donation – which could be in the millions – will be made to NHS charities now that the football tournament has concluded.

The team made a statement last May which said: “Following positive discussions with the FA, the England senior men's squad are pleased to confirm that a significant donation from their international match fees will be made to NHS Charities Together via the #PlayersTogether initiative.

“This contribution will be taken from a fund already set aside to support a variety of worthy causes using all match fees collated since September 2018.”

While England supporters still let themselves down by booing national anthems at times during the tournament, it shows the progress that this England team has prompted that Joe White, an England fan who co-chairs Gay Gooners, Arsenal’s LGBT+ supporters group, attended the England v Germany match at Wembley Stadium “in full makeup.”

They wore red lipstick, shimmery eyeshadow and mascara along with a rainbow flag and England flag painted on their face to complete the look.

They tweeted: “This is a really small and personal point but today was my first game at Wembley in full makeup and overtly queer (as opposed to just camp). Absolutely no issues from fans and some lovely chats.

“Despite being absolutely petrified pre game, really proud of our fans”

Henderson responded: “Hi Joe great to hear you enjoyed the game as you should. No one should be afraid to go and support their club or country because football is for everyone no matter what. Thanks for your support, enjoy the rest of the Euros.”

How refreshing that the LGBTQ+ community can now support the national team with no fear of abuse or intimidation and that the Three Lions Pride can display positive banners – understandably celebrating Henderson’s goal against Ukraine.

ENCOURAGE TEAMWORK

England manager Gareth Southgate arguably had one of the most talented England squads in recent memory.

The team’s headquarters at St George’s Park became a centre of fun with photocalls featuring the likes of Bukayo Saka jumping into a pool on a flying unicorn inflatable and Ed Sheeran playing a special concert for the team not to mention a preview showing of Top Gun Maverick and call with its star Tom Cruise.

While early on, there was uproar among fans over players who had been left out of the starting XI or even the squad, with flair giving way to pragmatism, Southgate showed how much the team ethic mattered to him.

After the 4-0 victory over Ukraine, Southgate paid tribute to the members of his squad who had not featured much during the tournament.

He said: “I am thinking about the players who I had to leave out of the 23 because they have been such a massive part of what we’re doing. It is so difficult to keep a group of this size feeling valued and yet those guys have been phenomenal about how they have sacrificed themselves for the group.

"I feel the responsibility keenly. But it is these challenges that make us."

Not once during the tournament did any stories leak of disgruntled players, while the players reflected the afore-mentioned values by resisting well-trodden paths of nationalism that previous encounters with the likes of Germany may have engendered.

In fact, this England team have shown dignity in the face of criticism and the very definition of what it means to be a team – there are no egos, no vested interests.

Where once supporting England meant violence and xenophobia, this England team has inspired a new identity with a commitment to diversity, inclusion and a more tolerant society, which is a credit to them all.

SHOW REAL LEADERSHIP

It was quite telling when, during the celebrations following England’s win over Denmark, former international Gary Neville said: “The standard of the leaders in the past couple of years in this country has been poor but look at that man there... he’s everything a leader should be: respectful, humble, tells the truth, genuine. He’s fantastic, Gareth Southgate.”

Southgate has been humble, engaging, honest and resolute that he knew what he wanted to do and would not waver, even when senior politicians criticised some of the decisions made by him and his management team.

Ahead of the tournament, in an essay on patriotism, titled Dear England, Southgate linked football and national identity and underlined why the game means so much more than just sporting excellence.

“I have a responsibility to the wider community to use my voice, and so do the players. It’s their duty to continue to interact with the public on matters such as equality, inclusivity and racial injustice, while using the power of their voices to help put debates on the table, raise awareness and educate.

“On this island, we have a desire to protect our values and traditions – as we should – but that shouldn’t come at the expense of introspection and progress.”

Southgate has been calm and assured throughout his tenure, ensuring that he and the team are consistent in their focus, messaging and conduct. There have been no scandals, no drama and every press conference or media opportunity has been assured and engaging.

FACE ADVERSITY HEAD-ON

Losing on penalties is part of football, but it’s also something that England have encountered at a number of major tournaments.

The backlash after England’s defeat was brutal, with the three players who missed penalties, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka all targets of racist abuse.

Some MPs also used the defeat as an opportunity to tell players to keep out of politics, such as Andrew Rosindell, who tweeted: “We are all proud of our England team, who have had the support of the whole country over recent weeks, but please focus of football, not politics. If you win for England, you win for everyone!”

Home Secretary Priti Patel expressed her outrage at the racism, prompting Mings to again address her double standards.

He said: “You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens.”

Soon after the game, the mural in tribute to Rashford was vandalised, prompting hundreds of positive messages and fans voicing their support for the Manchester United forward.

Rashford tweeted: ““I’ve grown into a sport where I expected to read things written about myself. Whether it be the colour of my skin, where I grew up, or, most recently, how I decide to spend my time off the pitch.

“I dreamt of days like this. The messages I’ve received today have been positively overwhelming and seeing the response in Withington had me on the verge of tears. The communities that always wrapped their arms around me continue to hold me up.

“I’m Marcus Rashford, 23-year-old black man from Withington and Wythenshawe, South Manchester. If I have nothing else I have that. For all the kind messages thank you. I’ll be back stronger. We’ll be back stronger.”

CONCLUSION

The England team have shown without doubt the power of sport to unify – and while EURO 2020 is now over, we have the Olympic Games coming up where athletes will come together in the spirit of competition and camaraderie.

As Southgate put it: “The reality is that the result is just a small part of it. When England play, there’s much more at stake than that.

“It’s about how we conduct ourselves on and off the pitch, how we bring people together, how we inspire and unite, how we create memories that last beyond the 90 minutes. That last beyond the summer. That last forever.”

While the positivity has proved to be a brief moment in time, the England squad showed society how to empathise, respect and engage in a way that has been in short supply for so long.

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the-necessary-unnecessary · 3 years

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I think olympics can’t be a U23 tournament until women’s football is fully professional, which sadly will take a long time.

There is simply a too big of a drop in quality between the national team and U23 team in women’s football in general. Sure there are some great talents that is under 23, but most teams would be players who have had very little professional football education. For the men, at least most of the U23 are either fully professional, already on wages of millions, or at least comes from good academies, making the gap between junior and senior football much smaller than in women’s football.

And if we are going to use olympics at a scene to help women’s football grow, you need to have the best players there. For example swewnt gained over 50k followers on their instagram this tournament. A lot of people from all around the world but they really once again won the swedish people’s heart which will only benefit swedish football in the future. If it would have been U23 then sadly, most of the people would not have cared.

Even when swedish men U23 was at the olympics 2016 barely no one cared about them because no club released their players anyway because of the status of the men’s tournament (think the coach got like 50 no or something). Right now we can’t risk the status of olympics for the women, it is simply too important to gain every momentum they can

More very good points tbh!! An especially important one about Olympics being a platform for promotion of women's football in general. I often thought during the games about how much good it would have brought for Spanish futfem if they had competed and had a strong chance to win the thing (especially with the lack of medals spain acc got rip), so yeah it's the ideal stage for the growth of the game atm

#the asks #futfem #tokyo olympics

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miedemabc · 4 years

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Miedema Volkskrant interview

Interesting interview with Vivianne Miedema in the Dutch paper De Volkskrant, December 29th 2020.

She is the socially-minded top shooter among women's soccer players. Vivianne Miedema (24) has been an ambassador for War Child, which cares about the suffering of children in war zones, for a year now.

Vivianne Miedema is the top marksman in the English women's league with an average of one goal per game: 53 goals in 52 duels. The striker of Arsenal and Oranje is the face of the English league. These days in London they recognize her on the street. 'If I turn on the TV, there's a good chance I'll see myself within five minutes.' With a laugh: 'That's why the TV is off now. But I also enjoy it and I'm in a position to make women's soccer bigger. I take that opportunity.'

Miedema is a self-confident, young woman with self-mockery and ability to put things into perspective. 'We are also frustrated that no one can come to our matches, that I can't go home for Christmas, but that's all part of it. We have to set the right example.'

What is it, one time not going to Holland, compared to the situation of teammate Jennifer Beattie, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer? She had surgery and immediately said she wanted to play soccer again. 'We are supporting her as best we can.'

Miedema let the year 2020 come to mind. In the beginning, when corona had just broken out, you saw solidarity everywhere, fighting for a better world. Now it's more me me me again. It's just a difficult situation for everyone.'

Black Lives Matter While soccer lay dormant for a time, sport raised its voice against injustice. 'Black Lives Matter, for example, in which America and the United Kingdom are leading the way. We still kneel before games. Soccer is a great example where everything and everyone can come together. You see that in our team as well.'

She knows that men's soccer is more diverse. 'Women's soccer is several years behind. In youth leagues you see more and more mixed, dark teams. That development is positive. At Arsenal we don't have any dark-skinned players at the moment. Ten years ago it was unthinkable for many black families to allow their daughters to play soccer. In the next ten years that's going to change.'

A lot has changed since Miedema made her entrance into professional life as a girl. 'Nobody expected the growth of women's soccer to be so great. That also has to do with developments in the world, with women power. That movement is also helping us. At the same time, the level is rising, while we still have 100,000 steps to take. As for myself, I have an excellent income and can save easily. Girls in the Netherlands, and also in England, don't earn much yet and often have to do something on the side.

That is going to change, she thinks. It continues to grow, especially with three consecutive tournaments three years in a row: Olympic Games, European Championship and World Championship. That's great. Becoming more visible. Take the Champions League: the NOS broadcasted it for the first time via a live stream. Until recently it was nowhere to be seen. If that changes, it's easier for sponsors to get on board, to get recognition.'

Matches in the English league can be seen on the app FA Player, on BT, commercial TV, and sometimes on the BBC. 'We have world stars running around in the Dutch national team these days. That's inspiring for young girls. It's up to us routiniers to bring youngsters in and make them feel comfortable to be able to give as many players a good future as possible. I don't play soccer for money. I also pass that on to young girls. If you base your choices on that, you have forgotten who you are and what you are playing soccer for. Money should never be the driving force.'

Fit and hungry The 24-year-old Miedema remains fit and hungry, no matter how hypothermic she celebrates her goals. Six months without soccer, from March to September, has done her good, after all those double years with club soccer and internationals. With friend and teammate Lisa Evans, she took the car to Scotland, where Evans is from.

We spent four or five months there. Switching off from soccer for a while. I've never enjoyed exercises in the gym and running so much. That says it all. I play soccer because I like the game. Tactically I just want to be good enough that you don't have to run alone. But during the lockdown it was the only option, to not have to sit inside.

'Lisa was my pt, my personal trainer. We were super fit for the new season. In Scotland we had so much freedom. We went hiking, walking. Soccer, tennis, padel. For six months it was a normal human life.'

She started studying: for the Uefa B trainer's diploma, plus a master's in Football Business. That's the first time since she left for Germany as a 17-year-old to play soccer at Bayern. 'I never had the energy, the will and the time to study again. Now I do, and it's fun.'

Constantly broadening her horizons is one of her goals. For example, she has been an ambassador for War Child for a year now, which cares about the suffering of children in war zones. She already noticed during the World Cup in France (2019) that children were following her. I already loved War Child as a child. My mother was an assistant mother at school. Of course I could play a little sport. At every charity run it was up to me whether we raised enough money.

My mother made me aware of the fact that we in the Netherlands, I in any case, have a good position, and that in the rest of the world it is not so easy. During the World Cup I was in my bubble, but after that I saw pictures and movies. Sport is a distraction for many children, which allows them to eliminate suffering and have fun.'

She was previously with the Dutch national team in South Africa, where the team visited townships in Cape Town. 'When you see how much fun you can give children with sport, you want to do it as often as possible. I will never forget how two girls of about 9 years old ran up to me afterwards and wanted to hug me, as a thank you. That was so special, they didn't have to think about danger or violence. With War Child I hope to make a nice trip.

Gigantic response By necessity, in 2020 she was an ambassador who stayed inside. 'Online I was able to do a lot. Movies, videos with examples of exercises. I get a huge response from all over the world. Not only from children, also from parents, from people who like what I do. For me, recording a video like this is a small thing and I can make a lot of people happy with it. Stretching, moving, playing soccer, playing sports. And sometimes get to interact by putting everyone else to work.'Children also take initiatives by raising money. 'It's nice to see kids showing social agility, especially now that we have to keep today's youth somewhat in check and steer them in the right direction.'She laughs a little at that term, youth of today. 'If you are a part of something, you are all in it together. That's why I play soccer and I don't play tennis. Kids push each other to do the best they can for other kids.'Now the season is back in full swing. She is top marksman of all time in the English Premier League and was recently chosen again in Fifa's team of the year. European champion, second in the world. And then she still has a soccer life ahead of her. 'I would like to say that I will continue for another ten years, but you never know. I would prefer to stop at my peak.'Again with a laugh: 'I've broken quite a few records, so maybe I'm already at my peak. But I'm definitely not someone who wants to continue at the highest level if I can't take it anymore. I also hope that people around me will then say: Viv, it's not sitting out anymore, please, stop it.'Miedema bettered Nikita Parris' British goalscoring record in October, with the difference that her predecessor scored about one goal every two games, while Miedema needs one game for a goal. 'I can only run out, but above all I want to help the team. One hundred goals for the national team would be very nice.' She is on 70 and is the all-time record holder. Most of the goals I can still remember. They are all in my head.'

https://www.volkskrant.nl/sport/topschutter-vivianne-miedema-voetbal-niet-voor-het-geld-leer-ik-jonge-meiden~b27b2994/

#vivianne miedema #miedema #fawsl #arsenal wfc #arsenal women #woso #women's soccer #women's football #football

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