#republic of Ireland women’s national team

[museszm]

A quick one whilst I contemplate whether I should get the Ian Wright shirt. Also I smudged her face :(

[wtfjd95]

Between the English & the Irish I don't know who to root for but until the quarter finals I can root for both surely? Both of them are in my DNA.

It's Kickoff for Republic of Ireland vs Australia time now.

Let's Go Ireland!!!!!!

[sunshine-theseus]

Apple and Chocolate Muffins | Katie McCabe x Reader

Words: 1.9k Summary: owning a café apparently brings you the girl of your dreams Warnings: fluff

Having your own little book café on a corner of a small street in St Albans, London, brings you things you’d never expect.

I’d first bought the place from an older lady, Ms Nelson, who sold antiques. She’d decided she wanted to spend whatever time she had left travelling. She tried to simply give it to me, but I couldn’t accept and ended up paying her half of what was listed.

She likes to send me post cards whenever she’s about to leave a place. I put the most recent on display on the counter and the rest go in an antique memento box she gifted me before she left.

Ms Nelson also introduced me to my best friend Juniper, one of her old workers who helps run the place now.

“3 years here and you still refuse to tell me what your special recipe is. Whyyy?” Juniper’s favourite item, was my special apple and chocolate muffins. It was an item I refused to take off no matter how many times we changed the menu.

“They wouldn’t be a secret then would they June?”

“But I’m your best friend. And I need these in my life daily.”

“I literally make an extra 3, every night, just for you.”

The ringing of the bell on the door stops her from retaliating, and I approach the counter while June finally makes an order for Mr Byrne, one of our regulars.

“Welcome to the Inkwell Café! What can I get you?” I look at the customer, but my breath gets caught in my throat.

It’s like the Gods just sent down and angel to derail my day. Her eyes were a greyish blue and her skin was sun kissed, freckles scattering her cheeks. And her arms… well fuck me.

“Hello?��� I hadn’t even realised I’d stopped paying attention until she waves a hand in front of my face.

“S- sorry could you repeat that?” I let out a nervous chuckle, but she just smiles a magnificent smile.

She starts listing off an order and I momentarily get caught off by her Irish accent, but I manage to take down the 3 different drinks. I’m about to tell her the total when she stops me again.

“Oh! And can I get one of those apple and chocolate muffins? Jonas is going to kill me, but I hear they’re worth it.” I give her a confused look.

“My friend Steph, she comes here once a month as a treat and raves about it at training.” Training?

“Oh! Well, here’s an extra one for her! For free of course. What’s the name for the order?”

“Katie”

“It will be ready soon.” I flash a smile before going to make the coffees.

June comes out of nowhere.

“Why is Katie fucking McCabe in here?” she whispers into my ear.

“Who?”

“Katie McCabe. One of the best Arsenal players ever? Captain for the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Football team? How do you not know her? I talk about Arsenal all the time. They literally train right down the road.” I stare blankly back at her.

“How did she even find us? You don’t casually find this café on your way to work.”

“She said her friend Steph comes here, told her about it.”

“Steph Cately!? I’ve never seen Steph Cately walk through those doors.”

“…Who? And you do tend to not pay attention.” Juniper just groans and I finish making the coffees.

“Katie!” as I give her the drinks, her hand brushes against my own. Tingles run up my arm, but I bid her adieu with a small smile and wave.

~~~~~

Katie begins coming in every Tuesday and Friday, and we slowly get to know each other while Juniper freaks out in the corner. Or sometimes Katie liked to just sit and read in a corner for whatever time she had before she left for training. Either way it was nice.

She loved telling me about her younger sister Lauryn who was on her way to joining Katie on their senior national team, and her crazy encounters on the pitch during games. I tell her about how and why I decided to open a book café and retell the stories Ms Nelson sends me. I also desperately try to repress all my feelings for the Irish angel that blessed my shop every week.

I also find out who Steph is. A very nice Australian woman, who does in fact come in once a month for the Apple and Chocolate muffin. I get to know her a bit too, but she usually grabs her muffin and something for her fiancée and leaves.

The first time Katie misses a Tuesday is 4 months after her first visit. I’m disappointed but don’t think much of it until she doesn’t show up on Friday, or either day the week following. That’s when I decide to visit their training ground, obviously dragging June along to do any talking, to see if I can figure out what happened.

I don’t think about how weird it is until Juniper pulls me out of the car in front of their training centre at 9am on Friday after hurriedly closing the café. And a promise for a free coffee to everyone we had to kick out.

“June this was stupid, this is something you do, not me. Why didn’t you talk me out of it.”

“I’m about to meet the whole Arsenal team just because your huge crush failed to come for her regular coffee a few times.”

“But like it is weird she just stopped coming so abruptly, right? Like we were getting along.”

“I mean sure, but you didn’t freak out like this when Mickie stopped coming. And it took us another six months to find out she’d moved to fucking Glasgow.”

“We should leave shouldn’t we.”

I turn around to head back to the car right as we’re about to enter the reception but come face to face with a slightly shorter brunette. One I’ve seen the face of in some recent team photo Katie had shown me, but was otherwise completely unfamiliar.

“Are you trying to get in? The door can be a little tricky sometimes.” How many Australians did they have here?

“Oh no-“

“Yes! We’re friends of Katie; Y/n and Juniper, and we haven’t seen her in a few weeks. We were hoping to catch her.”

“Oh! I think she’s shown us a picture of you actually! She talks about you both quite a bit. I’m Kyra by the way.”

“I know.”

“Nice to meet you.” I talk over Juniper and hold out a hand for Kyra to shake.

“Well, I’m not quite sure why she hasn’t come to see you, but I can bring you back to the locker room, you’ll just need to fill some forms out probably.” She’s already leading us to the front desk before I can deny her offer.

 Not 5 minutes later Kyra is happily dragging us to the locker room, and I can see Juniper skipping next to me, clearly excited.

“Dude you’ve gotta calm down.” I whisper to her.

“More like you need to stop being so uptight. Kyra Cooney-Cross is literally leading us to the whole Arsenal women’s team.”

“McCaaaabe! Someone’s here to see yoouuu.” Kyra calls out as soon as she opens the door.

“It’s not my bloody mum again is it? I swear she decides to come surprise me far too often.”

I peak out from behind Kyra and give a small wave.

“Hiii” I say meekly as Juniper jumps into talking to her favourite players.

“What are you doing here?” Katie gives me a quick hug.

“Well, you kinda stopped showing up and I just wanted to make sure everything was okay.”

“Oh, y- yeah. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. I just, I started getting feelings for you and freaked out and thought that cutting you off would help.”

“Y- you like me?”

“Yeah. Like a lot. I obviously totally understand you don’t like me back.” She lets out a sigh and looks at her boots.

“Shh shoosh shut up.” I place my fingers under her chin and tilt her head up.

It was hard to escape the doom of falling in love with Katie McCabe. Her eyes were the perfect shade of blue, her lips the softest of pinks, her freckles like the stars. She had the kindest of hearts and the most beautiful laugh. A creation made by Aphrodite herself.

“I really like you too.” And her lips are softer than you could imagine as she presses her’s hard against my own.

We’re broken apart by an array of whistles and shouts from Juniper and Katie’s teammates and I hide my flushed face in her neck.

“I can’t believe we finally get to meet the girl Katie hasn’t shut up about for like 4 months.” Alessia Russo, one player I am familiar with, comments from across the room.

“You talk about me?” I poke her in the side.

“Y/n you can’t talk you literally don’t shut up about Katie. ‘Oh my god she’s sooo funny and pretty.’”

“Bro what the fuck? That was a secret you were meant to take to your grave.” Juniper simply shrugs.

“As much as I want to stay and tease you about how much you talk about me, and kiss you, we do unfortunately have training.” Katie pouts as she hugs me.

“Oh! Before I forget. I brought you an apple and chocolate muffin.” I pull the baked good from my bag and hand it to her.

“Fuuuck yees! You are literally the best person ever. I need to know your recipe so bad.”

“Mmmm maybe I could teach you how to make them. Tonight, at the café?”

“I’VE BEEN ASKING FOR THAT RECIPE FOR 3 FUCKING YEARS AND YOU’RE GOING TO JUST HAND IT OVER TO HER?” Juniper’s outburst makes the room erupt in giggles.

“How about for your birthday?” She nods solemnly and begins to say goodbye to the other girls as they begin to head out to the pitch for training.

I turn back to Katie.

“I’ll see you tonight…” She leans up and kisses me one more time.

“Girlfriend.” She leaves before I can reply, and I’m left to giggle as Juniper drives us back to the café, to reluctantly reopen for the rest of the day.

~~~~~

The clock shows 6:13 and I begin to think Katie flaked, but right as I’m packing up the ingredients, the bell rings and in rushes a flushed, panting, Katie McCabe.

“I’m so… sorry! Caitlin could only… drop me… a few blocks away… so I had to… run.” She pants out.

“It’s ok.” I peck her on the cheek and take her coat, then offer her some water which she sculls down.

We spend hours baking and messing around. Mostly kissing.

~~~~~

Another 6 months pass before Katie and I decide to move in together in a small apartment down the street from the café.

She now helps me bake my apple and chocolate muffins once a week, insisting she has to always be in a simple cropped singlet after I had made a comment about how good her arms looked when she mixes the batter.

There was something so domestic about baking together that made it hard not to just scream to the world how much I loved the woman. Instead, I stick to wrapping my arms around her waist and whispering it in her ear, periodically kissing her while she cuts the apples or mixes whatever needs mixing.

I can’t wait to tell Ms Nelson her apple and chocolate muffins brought me the most beautiful girl in the world. She and her wife have been begging for a new post card.

[calciopics]

Women’s National Teams Nicknames

Albicelestes (Argentina)

The Matildas (Australia)

As Canarinhas (Brazil)

The Steel Roses (China)

Las Chicas Superpoderosas (Colombia)

Las Ticas (Costa Rica)

De rød-hvide (Denmark)

The Lionesses (England)

Les Bleues (France)

Die Nationalelf (Germany)

Les Grenadières (Haiti)

Le Azzurre (Italy)

Reggae Girlz (Jamaica)

Nadeshiko (Japan)

Taegeuk Nangja (Korea Republic)

Atlas Lionesses (Morocco)

Leeuwinnen (Netherlands)

Football Ferns (New Zealand)

Super Falcons (Nigeria)

Las Canaleras (Panama)

Filipinas (Philippines)

As Navegadoras (Portugal)

The Girls in Green (Republic of Ireland)

Banyana Banyana (South Africa)

Las soñadoras (Spain)

Blågult (Sweden)

Nati (Switzerland)

The Stars and Stripes (USA)

The Golden Girls (Vietnam)

 The She-polopolo (Zambia)

[cypher2]

2023 Women's World Cup records

In addition to breaking numerous worldwide social media and viewing records, the 2023 Women's World Cup set and broke a number of unique tournament records as well. The players and teams that participated in this WWC should all feel extremely proud for the history they have made. Their performances continue to show the world that these athletes are capable of so much more than they are ever fully recognized for.

First team from their nation to qualify for a men’s or women’s senior FIFA tournament: Vietnam WNT 8 nations had their debuts for first time appearing in a FIFA women’s World Cup: Haiti, Portugal, Zambia, Vietnam, The Philippines, Republic of Ireland, Morocco, and Panama. Canadian midfielder Quinn starts for Canada and becomes the first non-binary athlete to play at a FIFA World Cup.

Christine Sinclair (Canada) and Marta (Brazil) become the 3rd and 4th players in history to appear in 6 World Cup competitions men or women, with Homare Sawa (Japan) and Onome Zeno (Nigeria) being the other two. The player with the record for most world cup appearances in history remains Brazil’s Formiga, the only player to compete in 7 world cups (men or women).

Kristine Lilly still holds the record for most WC appearances by men or women with 30 games played - a record set and held since 2007. Followed by Formiga with 27 as of 2019 and Lionel Messi with 26 as of 2022. Brazil’s Marta still holds the all time leading record for most goals scored across all World Cup competitions with 17 goals in 23 appearances across 6 tournaments.

Zambia’s Lushomo Mweemba scores the fastest goal of this year’s tournament in group stage at 2min 11 sec, also marking Zambia’s first ever world cup goal in their debut. The fastest goal in a FIFA Women’s World Cup has stood for over 30 years - it remains the goal scored by Lena Videkull of Sweden, who scored after just 30 seconds against Japan in the inaugural 1991 tournament. Zambia’s Barbra Banda scores the 1000th goal in WWC history. Nouhaila Benzina of Morocco becomes the first Women’s World Cup player to wear a hijab.

Ary Borges of Brazil scores a hat trick in her WWC debut and the first hat trick of the tournament. First Caribbean nation to reach the round of 16 in WWC history - Jamaica First Arab nation to qualify for a WWC and reach the round of 16 in WWC history - Morocco Of the eight debutants, Morocco was the only one to advance to the round of 16. Two teams reached the round of 16 having conceded no goals so far in the tournament- Japan and Jamaica.

First time four African nations have been represented at a WWC with three of them qualifying for the knock out stage at this years competition - South Africa, Morocco, and Nigeria. 3 of the 4 African nations appearing in this year’s WWC all finished 2nd in their groups (Morocco, South Africa, and Nigeria). The US suffered its earliest elimination in WWC history, getting knocked out in the round of 16. The U.S. has never finished below 3rd place in all previous editions of the competition. Sweden’s Zećira Mušović sets a new record for most saves in any WWC 2023 game with 11 saves vs the US in the round of 16.

First manager to lead two different nations to a World Cup final (Netherlands and England)- Sarina Wiegman First goalkeeper to take and convert a PK in a WWC penalty shootout - Alyssa Naeher

Golden ball (best overall player of the tournament) - Aitana Bonmatí Silver ball - Jenni Hermoso Bronze ball - Amanda Ilestedt Golden boot (most goals scored in the tournament) - Hinata Miyazawa (5 goals) Silver boot - Kadidiatou Diani Bronze boot - Alexandra Popp Golden glove (best goalkeeper of the tournament) - Mary Earps

FIFA young player award (best player of the tournament under 21 years old) - Salma Paralluelo FIFA fair play award (team with best record of fair play during the tournament) - Japan Best mascot of the tournament (unofficial) - Waru Longest penalty shootout in World Cup history (20 penalties taken) - Australia vs France quarter final

The 2023 competition was hosted by Australia and New Zealand, making it the first edition to be held in the Southern Hemisphere, the first Women's World Cup to be hosted by two countries, and the first FIFA senior competition for either men or women to be held across two confederations (Asia and Oceanic).

First edition of the women’s tournament to feature an expansion to 32 teams and 64 matches, and largest women’s sporting event in history with 32 teams and 736 players. Only team to play all matches (group stage + knockout) undefeated with a 6-0-0 record - England All 4 previous winner nations (US, Germany, Norway, and Japan) were eliminated before the semifinal stage, marking the first time this has happened in the competition’s history.

For the first time in its 32 year and 9 tournament history, the WWC has a new champion (Spain) and new runner up (England) in 2023, with both nations never having made it to the final stage before. Only the 2nd nation in history to win both a men’s and women’s World Cup - Spain Top scoring country at the 2023 WWC - Spain with 18 goals First time a senior English football team has made it to a WC final in 6 decades - England WNT

First time advancing past quarterfinals in their WWC history and first host nation to advance to semifinals in 20 years - Australia placed 4th place for best in all 8 WWC competitions they’ve participated in and broke attendance records through all stages of the tournament, with an overall stadium attendance across all matches at 1.978 million. More than 1.5 million tickets were sold for the WWC, surpassing the entire tournament’s projected target in the first 5 days alone.

Two attendance records were broken for both host nations on day one of the WWC - largest crowd ever for a men’s or women’s football game in New Zealand (42,137) and largest crowd ever for a women’s football game in Australia (75,784).

Brazil's opening match v Panama was simulcast live on TV Globo and SporTV, delivering a combined audience of 13.9 million viewers - higher than any audience in the territory during the 2007, 2011, and 2015 WWC. China v England produced the highest audience for a single match, reaching 53.9 million viewers, becoming the highest in any global market so far. 17.15 million people tuned into the Australia v England semifinal cumulatively across Channel 7, Optus Sport, venues, and live-sites, comprising approx 64% of the entire Australian population - the biggest television event not just in any sport in the country, but in Australia’s television history.

The record for highest single match attendance still remains the 1999 WWC final between the US and China with 90,185 in attendance - a number that hasn’t been reached since the men’s tournament at the 1994 WC final between Italy and Brazil at 94,194.

The largest 2023 attendances were at Stadium Australia in Sydney, which saw four capacity-crowd fixtures, including Australia's opening win over Republic of Ireland and the final between Spain and England. The crowd of 75,784 was a record home audience for a women's football match in Australia and the third largest individual crowd attendance in Women's World Cup history. Over 50% of all matches had near sell out or at stadium capacity with a total of 1,977,824 fans in attendance at the 64 games in total, setting a new record for highest overall attendance in Women’s World Cup history across all 9 editions of the tournament. Highest grossing Women’s World Cup in history with a revenue of over half a billion dollars ($570 million), surpassing the projected revenue estimate by $100 million.

[dragoneyes618]

Ireland’s relationship with Israel is simply incomprehensible.

While both Dublin and Jerusalem are democracies and share common historical experiences with British colonialism—the British Mandate in Palestine and the Irish struggle for independence—Ireland today is the most viciously anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian member of the European Union. Ireland leads the European nations in anti-Israel, pro-BDS campaigns. 

Sinn Féin, the political arm of the former terrorist Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), is now Dublin’s leading political party. The IRA received training supported by the Soviet Union in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley together with the Palestinian terrorists in the 1960s and 1970s. There exists a counterbalance to Dublin’s intensely pro-Palestinian sympathies; the Ulster Protestants in Northern Ireland, who are the most pro-Israel members of the British Parliament. Brian Kingston, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Northern Ireland and a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician, remarked in a recent interview: “The unionist community in Northern Ireland has a long-standing affinity and affiliation to the cause of Israel.”

The IRA played a role during World War II in supporting German Nazis. Although the government of Ireland was officially neutral, the IRA collaborated with the Nazi military intelligence. Adolf Hitler sent money, transmitters and spies to Ireland. Moreover, the IRA provided the Nazis with targeting information on British installations in Belfast. After Hitler committed suicide in April 1945, Ireland’s wartime leaders—President Douglas Hyde and Prime Minister Éamon de Valera—offered official condolences to the Nazi envoy in Dublin.

More recently, the Hezbollah terror group’s unprovoked attacks on Israeli communities in northern Israel, which began on Oct. 8, 2023—one day after the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel—did not stir Ireland’s peacekeepers in the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to try and stop the shelling attacks nor did they call to impose the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701. Passage of that resolution came in the wake of the summer 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, and called for the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon—in particular, Hezbollah’s disarmament. Resolution 1701 established that no armed forces, other than UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces, could be south of the Litani River in Lebanon. Yet Hezbollah remained.

The Israel Defense Forces, in response to Hezbollah’s attacks during the last year, have moved from an aerial campaign to ground operations in Southern Lebanon to clear out Hezbollah forces. Israel has requested that the Irish contingent and all of UNIFIL move out of harm’s way. Ireland’s deputy premier and minister for defense and foreign affairs, Micheál Martin, responded by saying that he “strongly condemns” the IDF targeting and firing on the UNIFIL positions. Israel has repeatedly stated that it has no quarrel with the Lebanese people and certainly not with any of the UNIFIL peacekeepers.

This new dispute regarding the Irish peacekeepers comes after Ireland, Norway and Spain unilaterally recognized Palestinian statehood in May, essentially rewarding the Palestinians for the massacre of 1,200 Israelis by Hamas and the kidnapping of 250 others as hostages on Oct. 7, 2023.

The tensions aren’t just in the political arena. Members of an Irish women’s basketball team refused to shake hands with their Israeli counterparts during a pregame meeting in February’s FIBA EuroLeague Women’s tournament. The Israeli team ended up defeating the Irish team, 87-57. The behavior of the Irish national team was the same as the Islamic Republic of Iran’s team and teams from Israel’s Arab enemies in other tournaments.

Ireland was the first member of the European Economic Community (EEC)—the precursor of the European Union—to declare in 1980 their support for Palestinian statehood. Additionally, Ireland didn’t establish diplomatic relations with Israel until 1975 and first opened its embassy in Tel Aviv in 1996, long after other Western European nations.

When Israel retaliated against missile attacks launched from Gaza by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in May 2021 during an 11-day conflict, the Irish government was the first E.U. state to condemn Israel, alleging the de facto “annexation of Palestinian land.” The issue propelling this condemnation was the decision by the Israeli Supreme Court affirming Jewish ownership of homes in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. It was an example of brazen Irish interference in an Israeli legal matter that had nothing to do with annexation.

Ireland has transformed from being an intensely Catholic state to an equally intense secular one. While the young Irish have moved away from their church, they are eagerly accommodating Islamists who seek to undermine and destroy the Judeo-Christian way of life. Ultimately, they will learn that Islamists seek to destroy their Irish culture as well.

The Catholic Church in Ireland had an antisemitic past but with Ireland becoming increasingly secular, the antisemitism of today is no longer of the religious variety. It has the marking of a leftist, ideologically driven hatred dressed as anti-colonialism. Dublin has adopted the Palestinian narrative without questioning or searching for the truth. Arab-Islamic colonialism is rarely if ever discussed, and Palestinian terrorism is largely excused. The fact that the Palestinians have rejected every opportunity for self-determination and statehood does not bother the Irish government. What the Palestinians want is the disappearance of Israel and the Jews. It seems that Dublin is OK with that.

Relations between Ireland and Israel have been strained for years and with Sinn Féin growing power in Dublin, the relationship isn’t likely to improve and may only get worse.

[brookston]

Holidays 7.25

Holidays

Act Like a Caveman Day

Antifascist Pasta Day (Italy)

Bayreuther Festspiele begins (Wagner festival; Germany) [thru 8.28]

Be Adamant About Something Day

Community Day (Galicia, Spain)

CTNNB1 Awareness Day

A Day Out of Time (Last Day of the Year; Mayan, Galactic)

Ebernoe Horn Fair (Sussex, UK)

Feed the Country Ducks Day

Festival of Picaresque Animality

Health and Happiness with Hypnosis Day

International AfroLatinx, AfroCaribbean & Diaspora Women’s Day

International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners

International Red Show Day

International Sop Rapping Over Vocals Day

John Knill Day (Cornwall, UK) [Every 5 Years]

Jumatul Bidah (Bangladesh)

Jumat-ul-Wida (India)

Merry-Go-Round Day [also 5.17]

Mugwort Day (French Republic)

National African American Hepatitis C Action Day

National Campus Press Freedom Day (Philippines)

National Carousel Day

National Clay Day

National Day of Galicia (Spain)

National Hire a Veteran Day

National Houston Day

National Schizophrenia Awareness Day (UK)

National Video Game Team Day

Occupation Day (Puerto Rico)

Rain of Black Worms Day (Romania)

Red Shoe Day

Republic Day (Tunisia)

Rosiland Franklin Day

Santiago Apóstol (Spain)

Test-Tube Baby Day

Thread the Needle Day

Traditional Palestinian Dress Day

World Drowning Prevention Day (UN)

World Embryologist Day

World IVF Day

World Youth Days 2023 begins (Lisbon, Portugal; Roman Catholic; until 7.31) [Varies; @Every 3 Years]

Food & Drink Celebrations

Candles on a Cake Day

Culinarian’s Day

Frozen Fruit Freeze Day

Indie Beer Day (Australia)

National Hot Fudge Sundae Day

National Wine and Cheese Day

4th Tuesday in July

Waterton-Glacier Science & History Day [4th Tuesday]

Independence Days

Abode of Heaven (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Andany (Declared; 2017; Dissolved Sep. 2018) [unrecognized]

Commonwealth Constitution Day (Puerto Rico) 

Rathunis (Declared; 2011) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Anne (Eastern Christianity)

Christopher (Western Christianity)

Cucuphas (a.k.a. Cueufas, Cougat; Christian; Saint)

Feast of Formation of Saint Ann (Mother of the Virgin Mary; Byzantine Rite)

Furrinalia (Old Roman Goddess of Springs)

Glodesind (Christian; Saint)

Holbein (Positivist; Saint)

Hot Fudge Sundae Day (Pastafarian)

Ilyap'a Festival (Inca thunder god)

James the Great (Western Christianity)

John I Agnus (Christian; Saint)

Julian of Le Mans (Christian; Translation)

Magnerich of Trier (Christian; Saint)

Maxfield Parrish (Artology)

National Baha’i Day (Jamaica)

Nissen, Abbot of Mountgarret, Ireland (Christian; Saint)

Paul (Christian; Martyr)

Shylock Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Slippery Slim (Muppetism)

Thea and Valentina (Christian; Virgins)

Thomas Eakins (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

The Adventures of André & Wally B. (Pixar Cartoon; 1984)

Air Force One (Film; 1997)

Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (Film; 2008)

Armor Wars (Film; 2025)

Back in Black, by AC/DC (Album; 1980)

Batman: The Killing Joke (Animated Film; 2016)

Broken Quest (Animated tV Series; 2013)

Caddyshack (Film; 1980)

China Grove, by the Doobie Brothers (Song; 1973)

A Chorus Line (Broadway Musical; 1975)

Drinking Buddies (Film; 2013)

Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (WB MM Cartoon; 1953)

Fame, by David Bowie (Song; 1975)

First Lensman, by E.E. "Doc" Smith (Novel; 1950) [Lensman #2]

Good Burger (Film; 1997)

Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man (Film; 1962)

Justice League: Warworld (WB Animated Film; 2023)

Kill ‘Em All, by Metallica (Album; 1983)

Lara Croft Tom Raider: The Cradle of Life (Film; 2003)

Last Train to Clarksville, recorded by The Monks (Song; 1966)

Lego Scooby-Doo! Blowout Beach Bash (WB Animated Film; 2017)

Lucy (Film; 2014)

Maximum Overdrive (Film; 1986)

Paul’s Boutique, by The Beastie Boys (Album; 1989)

Porky’s Spring Planting (WB LT Cartoon; 1938)

Ruby Sparks (Film; 2012)

Seabiscuit (Film; 2003)

Step Brothers (Film; 2008)

The Tree’s Knees (WB LT Cartoon; 1931)

X-Files: I Want to Believe (Film; 2008)

Yes, by Yes (Album; 1969)

You Can’t Hurry Love, by The Supremes (Song; 1966)

Today’s Name Days

Jakob, Jakobus, Thea, Thomas, Valentina (Austria)

Ana, Yana (Bulgaria)

Beata, Jakov, Krsto, Valentina (Croatia)

Jakub (Czech Republic)

Jacobus (Denmark)

Jaagup, Jaak, Jaako, Jaap, Jako, Jakob, Jass (Estonia)

Jaakko, Jaakob, Jaakoppi, Jimi (Finland)

Jacques, Valentine (France)

Jakob, Valentine (Germany)

Anna (Greece)

Jakab, Kristóf (Hungary)

Cristoforo, Giacomo (Italy)

Jēkabs, Marika (Latvia)

Aušrinė, Jokūbas, Kristupas (Lithuania)

Jack, Jakob, Jim (Norway)

Jakub, Krzysztof, Nieznamir, Sławosz, Walentyna (Poland)

Jakub (Slovakia)

Jaime, Santiago (Spain)

Jakob (Sweden)

Jac, Jack, Jacki, Jackie, Jackson, Jacky, Jacques, Jimmie (Universal)

Coby, Colby, Diego, Israel, Jacob, Jacoby, Jack, Jackie, Jackson, Jaclyn, Jacqueline, Jacquelyn, Jacques, Jaime, Jake, Jakob, James, Jameson, Jamie, Jaquan, Jaqueline, Jaxon, Jaxson, Jim, Jimena, Jimmie, Jimmy, Kobe, Koby, Kolby, Santiago (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 206 of 2024; 159 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 30 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 16 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Ji-Wei), Day 8 (Jia-Shen)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 7 Av 5783

Islamic: 7 Muharram 1445

J Cal: 26 Lux; Fiveday [26 of 30]

Julian: 12 July 2023

Moon: 50%: 1st Quarter

Positivist: 10 Dante (8th Month) [Holbein]

Runic Half Month: Ur (Primal Strength) [Day 12 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 35 of 94)

Zodiac: Leo (Day 4 of 31)

[andiessoccerblog]

Group B Breakdown

Expected to move on: Australia, Canada

Expected to exit in group stage: Ireland, Nigeria

Australia

FIFA Ranking: 12

Reputation:

As a host country, Australia’s games sold out almost immediately, so they are guaranteed to have a huge support base. Australia have a ton of potential to work with and completely dominate Asia and Oceania, but they have to bring their game up to par with USA and top European teams. The Aussies are inconsistent–they have beat the best teams in the world, and lost to teams ranked beneath them. I expect they will make it out of the group stage, and then it’s a 50/50 odds on winning the next game.

Player Pool:

Australia currently has arguably the best striker in the world, Sam Kerr, who scored five goals in Australia’s four women’s World Cup games in 2019 and leads top England club Chelsea. Several Australian midfielders play in the USA, including Emily Van Egmond and Alex Chidiac, and others play in top leagues and top teams in England and Sweden.  Australia has good depth, as many of their non-headliners play in two leagues–one in the American/European summer, and the second in the Australian summer. 

2019 World Cup  performance:

They were supposed to soar, and I talked them up a ton, but they were completely caught off guard in their first game, leading to an unexpected (but not undeserved) loss to Italy. They had possibly the best game in the cup against Brazil, a wild 3-2 finish that left me on the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, they went up against a tough opponent, Norway, in the first round of group play and were eliminated, but only after penalty kicks. 

Republic of Ireland

FIFA Ranking: 23

Reputation:

This is the Irish  women’s team's first World Cup. They can find success against teams ranked below them and won’t make it easy for Canada and Australia to take the top two group spots.  Ireland’s path to the World Cup is credited in part to coach Vera Pauw, who joined Ireland after coaching professionally in the USA. Ireland also benefits from its proximity to England’s FAWSL, where several Irish players play on lower-level teams. 

Player Pool:

Captain Katie McCabe is a leading scorer and an absolute brick wall for Ireland and for the Arsenal team in England. Her fellow midfielder, Denise O’Sullivan, is captain of the American team North Carolina Courage. Ireland’s strength is in their central midfield with these two players, but against tough competition they will need to rely on veteran defenders Lousie Quinn and Niamh Fahey. 

2019 World Cup Performance:

Did not qualify

Nigeria

FIFA Ranking: 45

Reputation:

Nigeria is one of a few teams that has qualified for all 9 World Cups. Historically they have been as much of a powerhouse as a team from Africa can be. In all 13 African Women’s Championships, they have been champions eleven times, including in 2014, 2016, and 2018. However, in the 2022 AFWCON, they finished fourth, barely qualifying for the World Cup. 

Player Pool: 

Nigeria has two standout forwards, Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona) and Ifeoma Onumonu (Gotham FC), but not much other depth in their team. They will need a strong defense in the games in this group. They might have a slight advantage just on experience, as most of their players will have played in a World Cup before. 

2019 World Cup performance:

Nigeria had a rough draw in the group stage, playing Norway and France, but did succeed in making it past the group stage after a win over South Korea. Their first game in the round of 16 was against Germany, who dominated the game and sent Nigeria packing. 

Canada

FIFA Ranking: 6

Reputation:

Much like a moose, the Canadian Women’s National Team is fierce and strong, but mostly ignored until you come up against them in a fight. They are one of the most physical women’s teams in the world, and have a range of both young and veteran talent. The team has had inconsistent results: they hosted the2015 World Cup and were eliminated in the quarterfinals in a heartbreaking defeat to England, then struggled at the 2019 World Cup, then won the gold medal in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. The team has been fighting for equal pay and treatment, causing a distraction that could impact their performance. 

Player Pool:

Without a doubt, their most notable player is veteran Christine Sinclair, who holds the record for most international goals scored, male or female.  Jessie Fleming, who is only 24, will have almost a decade of experience under her belt when the World Cup starts, and is a starting midfielder for top club team Chelsea. Fleming and Jordyn Huitema (OL Reign) are two young players for Canada that are hitting their stride and building Canada’s future.

2019 World Cup  performance:

Canada finished second in the group, losing to the Netherlands, then to Sweden in the knockout round. After making it to the semifinals in 2015, it was a disappointing performance. With a new coach and an Olympic gold medal, hopefully 2019 was just a blip.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 2.15 (after 1945)

1945 – World War II: Third day of bombing in Dresden. 1946 – ENIAC, the first electronic general-purpose computer, is formally dedicated at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. 1949 – Gerald Lankester Harding and Roland de Vaux begin excavations at Cave 1 of the Qumran Caves, where they will eventually discover the first seven Dead Sea Scrolls. 1952 – King George VI of the United Kingdom is buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. 1954 – Canada and the United States agree to construct the Distant Early Warning Line, a system of radar stations in the far northern Arctic regions of Canada and Alaska. 1961 – Sabena Flight 548 crashes in Belgium, killing 73, including the entire United States figure skating team along with several of their coaches and family members. 1965 – The maple leaf is adopted as the flag of Canada, replacing the Canadian Red Ensign flag. 1970 – A Dominicana de Aviación McDonnell Douglas DC-9 crashes into the Caribbean Sea after takeoff from Las Américas International Airport, killing 102, including members of the Puerto Rico women's national volleyball team and lightweight boxer Carlos Cruz. 1971 – The decimalisation of the currencies of the United Kingdom and Ireland is completed on Decimal Day. 1972 – Sound recordings are granted U.S. federal copyright protection for the first time. 1972 – José María Velasco Ibarra, serving as President of Ecuador for the fifth time, is overthrown by the military for the fourth time. 1982 – The drilling rig Ocean Ranger sinks during a storm off the coast of Newfoundland, killing 84 workers. 1989 – Soviet–Afghan War: The Soviet Union officially announces that all of its troops have left Afghanistan. 1991 – The Visegrád Group, establishing cooperation to move toward free-market systems, is signed by the leaders of Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland. 1992 – Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer is sentenced in Milwaukee to 15 terms of life in prison. 1992 – Air Transport International Flight 805 crashes in Swanton, Ohio, near Toledo Express Airport, killing all four people on board. 1996 – At the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China, a Long March 3B rocket, carrying an Intelsat 708, veers off course and crashes into a rural village after liftoff, killing somewhere between six and 100 people. 1996 – The Embassy of the United States, Athens, is attacked by an antitank rocket, launched by the Revolutionary Organization 17 November. 2001 – The first draft of the complete human genome is published in Nature. 2003 – Protests against the Iraq war take place in over 600 cities worldwide. It is estimated that between eight million and 30 million people participate, making this the largest peace demonstration in history. 2010 – Two trains collide in the Halle train collision in Halle, Belgium, killing 19 and injuring 171 people. 2012 – Three hundred and sixty people die in a fire at a Honduran prison in the city of Comayagua. 2013 – A meteor explodes over Russia, injuring 1,500 people as a shock wave blows out windows and rocks buildings. This happens unexpectedly only hours before the expected closest ever approach of the larger and unrelated asteroid 2012 DA14. 2021 – Sixty people drown and hundreds are missing after a boat sinks on the Congo River near the village of Longola Ekoti, Mai-Ndombe Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

[ultimateblogfootball]

1, 8, 9, and 25 for the ‘Get to know me’ soccer thing :)

1. what team do you support?

Liverpool Fc, Real Madrid, Fc Bayern Munich men and womens, Chelsea women's, Sligo Rovers, and Celtic

8.what national team do you support?

Republic of Ireland wnt

9. what is your favourite kit design?

Adidas is my favourite kit ever

25. have you ever met any footballers?

One day in the future

[eventseeker789]

Marathons and Football Matches: Top Sporting Events To Keep An Eye Out For in Dublin

Dublin Marathon

The Dublin Marathon, an annual spectacle set against the enchanting backdrop of the Irish capital, is more than just a race. It's an experience that combines sport, history, and a touch of Irish magic.

Established in 1980, this event has grown from humble beginnings into one of the world's top marathons, attracting thousands of participants from all corners of the globe. What sets it apart isn't just the challenging 26.2-mile course, but the vibrant spirit of Dublin that engulfs the runners and spectators alike.

The race starts in the city center, with participants pounding the cobbled streets, passing iconic landmarks such as Trinity College, Christ Church Cathedral, and the River Liffey. Dublin's rich history breathes life into every step, making this marathon a unique cultural journey as well as a physical one.

But it's not just the historical surroundings that make the Dublin Marathon exceptional. The unwavering support of the Irish people creates an electrifying atmosphere. From the traditional folk bands playing on the streets to the countless locals lining the course with cheers and words of encouragement, the runners find themselves carried along by the infectious enthusiasm of the crowd.

As the race reaches its climax a sense of triumph and unity washes over the runners. For a brief moment, they're not just athletes; they're part of Dublin's tapestry, connected by the shared experience of conquering this challenging course.

The Irish Life Dublin Marathon 2023 will be taking place at Fitzwilliam Square on October 29 at 8:45.

UEFA Women’s Nations League: Ireland vs Albania 

The UEFA Women's Nations League is an exciting platform for nations to showcase their talent and competitive spirit. Among the captivating matchups in this competition, the clash between the Republic of Ireland and Albania promises to be a thrilling encounter that will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

The Republic of Ireland, with a rich footballing tradition, brings its indomitable spirit to the tournament. A team known for their resilience and teamwork, they have consistently shown that they are a force to be reckoned with. With a passionate fan base rallying behind them, they will undoubtedly aim to secure victory on home turf.

Albania, on the other hand, represents a nation that is steadily making its mark on the international women's football scene. They may not have the same pedigree as their opponents, but what they lack in experience, they make up for with enthusiasm, determination, and a hunger for success.

This fixture not only highlights the growing competitiveness in women's football but also the diverse cultures and stories that each team brings to the pitch. It's a collision of footballing traditions and a testament to the global reach of the sport. You can catch the UEFA Nations League - Republic of Ireland WNT v Albania on October 27, 2023 at 5:45p at Tallaght Stadium. Grab your tickets and head over there to watch this competitive sporting event.

Author Name Barkat Dhanji

[wtfjd95]

How the fuck have I just realised Katie McCabe and i are (will be by the time September is here) are the same damn age?

And I'm at least a year (maybe 2) older than Leah Williamson?!

[stevishabitat]

CHICAGO (August 31, 2023) – Julie Ertz, one of the greatest competitors in U.S. Women’s National Team history and one of a select group of players to win FIFA World Cups at the youth and senior levels, has officially announced her retirement from professional soccer.

Ertz played a major part in helping the USA win back-to-back FIFA Women��s World Cups, bursting onto the international scene in 2015 in Canada as a center back and then as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world in 2019 in France. She was off the field for 18 months following the Olympics in 2021 due to injuries and the birth of her son but made a comeback to play in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She was stellar in New Zealand and Australia, playing every minute of all four matches while marshaling a U.S. defense that allowed just two shots on goal over the four games.

Ertz is a two-time U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year (2017 and 2019) and is one of just five players to win both the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year (which she won in 2012) and the senior team award. She is the only player to win the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year and then win the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year twice.

“As an athlete you’re always singularly focused on the next goal, the next tournament and rarely do you get time to reflect on your career,” said Ertz. “However, over the past couple of months my heart has been filled with gratitude as I’ve thought about the amazing experiences soccer has given me. I’ve been blessed to meet and train with some of the best and most inspirational women I’ve ever been around, and I’ve experienced different cultures while traveling the world to compete at the highest level. I gave everything I had to the sport that I love. With that I can walk away with no regrets because while I gave soccer every ounce of myself, soccer gave me even more, and for that I’ll always be thankful.”

A two-time Olympian, Ertz came back from a serious knee injury to play in the delayed 2020 Olympics in Japan, gutting out a performance that saw her start five of the six games and play the second-most minutes on the team while helping the USA capture bronze.

Ertz took some time off the field after the Olympics, and then announced her pregnancy in April of 2022. She gave birth to her son, Madden, on Aug. 11, 2022.

Ertz, 31, debuted for the USWNT in 2013 and her U.S. National Team career spanned 10 years. In her 122 caps, the USA had a record of 100W-17D-5L. Ertz played in 17 World Cup matches, all of which were starts, in which the USA amassed 13 wins and four draws while keeping 11 clean sheets.

In 2012, as a center back, she captained the USA to the title at the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan and was awarded the bronze ball as the third best player in the tournament, a rare tribute for a defensive player. Her performance helped her earn the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year accolade.

Over her career, Ertz developed into a fan favorite with her dynamic style of play which featured crunching tackles, a dominant aerial presence and an impressive 20 goals – many off set plays -- while playing in the back or at defensive midfield. Ertz’s 20 goals came against 15 different opponents: three against New Zealand, two against Korea Republic, Brazil and Colombia, and one each against France, Republic of Ireland, Haiti, Canada, Jamaica, Chile, Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, Denmark, Japan.

A defender during her first four years on the U.S. National Team, she came off the bench against Brazil in the 2017 Tournament of Nations to play defensive midfielder – a position she played all season for her pro club and in the past in college and for the U.S. Youth National Teams – and scored the dramatic game-winner in the 89th minute of a 4-3 comeback victory. From there, she started the final seven games of the year at defensive mid, scoring five more goals, and played all but 67 minutes over those games. Her six goals almost equaled her total (8) from her first four years on the WNT and she played so well and was so dominant that she was named the 2017 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year.

In the first match of the 2020 SheBelieves Cup against England on March 5, she became the 40th U.S. Women’s National Team player to hit 100 caps.

At the club level, Ertz played the majority of her professional club career for the Chicago Red Stars, spanning almost 100 games from 2014-2021. The Red Stars selected her with the 3rd overall pick in the 2014 NWSL Draft. She would go on to be named the 2014 NWSL Rookie of the Year. She returned to the NWSL in 2023 with Angel City FC and played in seven matches before the World Cup, all starts, while scoring one goal. She will not return to Angel City for the remainder of the NWSL season.

Julie Beth Johnston was born in Phoenix, Arizona and grew up in Mesa, where she excelled as a youth player with Sereno SC, with whom she won nine state titles. She first became part of the U.S. National Teams program at the Under-14 level. She earned a scholarship to Santa Clara University, where she was a First-Team All-American and the West Coast Conference Player of the Year as a senior. She was also the WWC Freshman of the Year during her rookie campaign. She earned her first senior team cap in 2013 against Scotland and scored her first senior team goal at the Algarve Cup in Portugal in 2015 vs. France.

In 2017, she married NFL tight end Zach Ertz, who is currently with the Arizona Cardinals and was a Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles, catching the game-winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl LII.

In 2018, she and Zach started the Ertz Family Foundation with a mission of empowering others by sharing faith, learning through sports and advancing education to build supportive communities, with the goals of transforming lives through faith, hope and love. Her work with the Foundation continues.

[ear-worthy]

Women's World Cup Soccer: Podcasts For Fans & Messi, Of Course

Like a good podcast, State Farm sponsors Women’s World Cup show

 It's definitely an unusual coupling with Brendan Hunt, who plays Coach Beard on ‘Ted Lasso,’ and Rebecca Lowe, presenter for NBC Sports, as they team up again to celebrate the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

They talk about all the superstars, the drama … and, of course, the Team USA women, who are hoping to secure their third World Cup win in a row. The U.S. team did advance to the knockout stage on Tuesday, August 1. After the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe is an Apple News Original podcast presented by State Farm®. Reportedly, listeners don't need collision or comprehensive in order to listen to the podcast.

After the defensive-minded and conservative approach the American team has taken in the group stage, perhaps the team needs a talk from Ted Lasso. BELIEVE.

*********************************************************

Attacking Third: A CBS Sports Soccer Podcast

One of the best soccer podcasts is from CBS Sports covering the NWSL, US Women's National Team and more. Attacking Third offers listeners insider analysis, commentary, preview, and recaps while tackling the biggest news stories from the soccer / football. Hosts Sandra Herrera and Lisa Roman welcome a rotating cast of guests from former and current players for interviews and analysis.

On a recent episode, Sandra Herrera and Lisa Carlin welcomed San Diego Wave and USWNT defender Naomi Girma, who is preparing for her first World Cup at just 23 years old and talks about everything from getting the call, telling her parents and packing. Girma dives into how she's planning on taking a bigger leadership role with the US.

In another episode, Sandra Herrera and Lisa Carlin discussed the breaking news out of the Republic of Ireland, with manager Vera Pauw being accused of misconduct during her time in the NWSL with Houston Dash in 2018.  Plus, they discussed the free agency period, which is in full swing in Europe, and the trade window is full in the NWSL. 

Of course, now the podcast discusses the Women's World Cup. 

Did you see that Columbia header with almost no time left to beat Germany?

*****************************************************

 The Messi Effect podcast debuts

The Messi Effect, takes you into the world of legendary soccer player Lionel Messi as he graces the shores of Miami and becomes the star attraction of Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS). But this podcast isn’t your typical soccer analysis; it’s a glamorous exploration of the magnetic allure and larger-than-life impact that Messi’s presence brings to the city of Miami and the league.

So far, Messi has scored three times in two MLS games. The Messi Effect delves deep into the glitz, glamour, and cultural phenomenon surrounding the iconic Argentinean maestro’s arrival in Miami. Listeners will be treated to behind-the-scenes stories of the larger-than-life parties, star-studded events, and the fashion-forward lifestyle that intertwines with Messi’s new life in Miami. This podcast is a celebration of Messi’s incredible journey, exploring the unique synergy that exists between a global sports superstar and the vibrant tapestry of Miami’s cosmopolitan lifestyle. From exploring the city’s pulsating nightlife to delving into the fusion of art, music, and soccer that defines Miami, The Messi Effect invites you to experience the magic beyond the stadium.

So place the Ronaldo versus Messi debates on hold, and listen to The Messi Effect. Who knows. Soon, there may be The Ronaldo Impact podcast.

[hardynwa]

Australian Embassy denied us visas, laments ANFASSC

The National President of the Authentic Nigeria Football and Allied Sports Supporters Club, Abayomi Ogunjimi, has lamented the club’s inability to support the Super Falcons at the ongoing 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, after they were denied travel visas by the Australian Embassy. Despite the visa setback, Ogunjimi praised the resilience of the Falcons, who secured a hard-fought victory over co-hosts Australia in their second group game. Despite being outnumbered in the stands, the nine-time African Champions emerged triumphant with a 3-2 victory in Brisbane on Thursday. Following the game’s conclusion, Ogunjimi held a press conference at the ANFASSC Secretariat in Surulere, Lagos. He expressed deep disappointment at the manner in which the supporters club was barred from attending the first two games, particularly the match against co-hosts Australia. He alleged that the Australian Embassy deliberately kept them away, despite the supporters’ club fulfilling all the necessary requirements by submitting the requested documents through the online portal provided by the host nation. “Their game plan is so obvious, the Australian Embassy are keeping us away intentionally, we would have been on ground to cheer our darling team to victory today (Thursday), but with or without us, our ladies stood tall and silenced their crowd. Football is not a do-or-die affair. We compete, we catch fun, we strive to thrive, but it’s sad that our entry documents have not been granted,” Ogunjimi said. While appreciating the Nigeria Football Federation’s efforts, Ogunjimi urged the country’s football body to do more to prevent such situations in the future. Nonetheless, Ogunjimi remains hopeful that the visa issue would be resolved before the Falcons’ last group game against the Republic of Ireland on Monday morning. He added that were still hoping to travel to Australia if the Australian Embassy finally granted them visas, but called on the NFF to help the club secure a refund of the money spent on match tickets for the group stage, if they were not granted the visas. “If the Australia Embassy can still have a change of mind and consider that we are patriotic supporters club members that have travelled far and wide and revisit our documents and issue our members travel visa, so that we can cheer our team to the level of the final, we will appreciate it. I think if they can achieve this type of result against the host nation without us, they can definitely get to the final if we are there. However, I think we deserve a refund, because we bought tickets for over 100 people,” Ogunjimi added. Read the full article

[aus-wnt]

When Tony Gustavsson began his tenure as the Matildas' head coach in January 2021, one of his first stated objectives was to get his players to "see the same picture".

"I'm one of those people that wants to control the controllables," he said in his first media conference.

"My experience [is] the better prepared you are, the more confident you are [and] the more you can simplify things for everyone to understand and see the same picture.

"Not simplifying in terms of neglecting important details, [but] simplifying in terms of creating a picture that everyone sees."

He was referring to a few different things: the new philosophies and systems he wanted to introduce, attempts to connect with players virtually amid lockdowns and border restrictions, and ultimately how to prepare the team for the Tokyo Olympics that, at that point, was only six months away.

A lot has happened since that media conference, now close to a year and a half ago. A different and more complicated picture has emerged.

Stripped back to its numbers, the picture is stark: The Matildas have played 24 games since Gustavsson took over, winning eight, drawing five and losing 11.

Of those losses, three came against opponents lower than Australia in the global rankings (Japan, the Republic of Ireland, and Korea) — three games which were decided by a single goal.

The Matildas finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, though won just two of five games (and one in regular time) to get there.

They've scored 53 goals across this period and conceded 49.

Their longest winning streak – and the time frame in which they scored the most goals – came in the group stage of February's AFC Asian Cup, where they blew past three emerging nations — Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand — with an aggregate score of 24-1 before losing 1-0 to South Korea in the quarter-finals.

Aside from the 4-3 win against Great Britain in Tokyo, Australia under Gustavsson has not won a single game against European opposition — nations that have made up 10 of the 24 games the squad has played.

In that context – the 15 months since January 2021 – this picture of the Matildas is not a pretty one. Their recent 7-0 loss to Spain and Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Portugal have only added darker paint to the portrait.

With the Women's World Cup around the corner, it's understandable that fans and the media are becoming restless. There appears, on the surface, to have been no improvement in the side that many expect to make a deep run in the tournament they're co-hosting next year. Faith and patience in Gustavsson are beginning to fade.

However, just as there was following the Matildas' unexpected Asian Cup exit, there is another, bigger picture that must be brought into focus here: Australia's struggles against higher-ranked sides – particularly those from Europe – are nothing new.

Between 2011 and 2020, under the tenure of five different head coaches, the Matildas faced top 10 teams 42 times (accounting for roughly one-third of their overall opponents) with a win ratio of just 38 per cent.

And of the 21 games played against nations ranked in the top five in that period, Australia won just twice.

Comparatively, in the 15 months since Gustavsson took over, the Matildas have played higher-ranked opponents more often (13 of 24 games, or over half) and with a win ratio of 33 per cent.

Australia's recent games against Spain and Portugal fit into this longer trend. They are two parts of a larger picture that extends back over a decade.

Within that, too, there is the narrower picture of this particular June window:

Both Spain and Portugal were fine-tuning their squads to participate in next week's European Championships, while the Matildas had nothing immediate to prepare for

Australia's team was primarily made up of young, uncapped, and fringe players in the absence of senior stars

There remains an almost-insurmountable gap in the length and quality of the leagues from which most available players – in all three teams – were plucked

As Gustavsson said plainly following Australia's loss to Spain: "This is where we're at." And when understood in the context of their history, it is where they have always been.

This is the picture that Gustavsson sees. It is the picture that the players see. And after this recent friendly series, it is the picture that everyone else in Australian football now needs to see.

A game of perspectives

Indeed, these past two games have offered a microcosm of where the Matildas now sit internationally.

Seventh-ranked Spain, which hasn't lost a competitive match since 2019, showed the gulf that exists between Australia's second-string side and a fully professional, international outfit; a team filled with players from clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid, players who've won Champions Leagues, players who've won World Cups at youth level.

Spain represents the growing dominance of Europe in the women's game, the pinnacle of the sport for both club and country. As Gustavsson said following the loss: It was never a question that Spain would win, but simply by how much.

Portugal, meanwhile, has provided a different perspective on where Australia currently sits in the international pecking order. Wednesday's 1-1 draw against the 30th-ranked side showed the Matildas' second-string team can be competitive against an emerging European nation.

While Portugal dominated the game's opening half and missed a handful of major chances, Australia was able to adjust to the tempo, reconfigure its formation, and muscle its way back into the contest in the second.

On the balance of play, a draw – thanks to a debut goal from Princess Ibini-Isei and an 87th-minute equaliser by substitute Telma Encarnacao — seemed fair.

It also fit into the longer trend: The Matildas' only other two meetings against Portugal ended in a 2-1 loss and a 0-0 draw back in 2018 — two games where Australia had arguably stronger players to choose from including Sam Kerr, Lisa De Vanna, Alanna Kennedy, Chloe Logarzo, and Elise Kellond-Knight.

And so, here we are.

Despite the many caveats and contextualisations of this international window — the unavailability of the Matildas' strongest players, the underestimated power of a Euros-favoured Spain, the gulf that exists between Australia's domestic pathways and those of emerging European nations, the chasm between the Matildas' first and second-string players — the expectations of fans and the media continues to grow.

They have been magnified by the pressure of Australia co-hosting the biggest football tournament in the world with a team containing a handful of world-class individuals playing regularly at some of the game's best clubs.

But that, as we have seen, is only part of the picture. Because while Australia has players of the calibre of Kerr, Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Hayley Raso, and Kyah Simon, so too do most other nations that Australia has faced in the past 16 months, nations that they should also expect to face in a year's time.

The Matildas are, after all, just one star in a much larger galaxy of stars. The brightest of them have already accelerated away, emitting a light that began many years ago but which we are only now just starting to see.

This does not, of course, absolve Gustavsson of – in his own words – controlling what he can control. Valid questions have been asked of his player selections, his tactics, and his management of opportunities afforded by international windows.

But they must be balanced alongside the things he cannot control: the decades of underinvestment in Australia's youth national teams, the lagging behind of the A-League Women in providing full-time opportunities for emerging players, an uncoordinated domestic pyramid, and an increasingly unaffordable development pipeline, all of which have coalesced into where the Matildas now find themselves.

"This is an answer telling us where we are right now with [these] players and that pathway," Gustavsson said.

"That's an insight that tells us where we're at, and we need to keep investing to be fair to these players, to have a fair chance to jump from club land to international football, which is, right now, too big of a step for them.

"The Matildas is not a development platform. A senior national team should not work on developing players at the same time as trying to win games. The senior Matildas should be the tip of the iceberg.

"Sometimes a reality check – even if it hurts – can be healthy for the long-term.

"Short-term, it hurts for all of us, including us in and around the Matildas, fans, media, stakeholders, the federation.

"But in the long run, maybe that's exactly what we need to realise exactly where we're at and what we need to do.

"There's a difference between expectations and belief.

"I will never, ever stop believing in this team. But we also need to be fair on what we can expect and what time we can expect it."

What, then, do we make of all this?

Are the Matildas any better? Based on their past 16 months of results, no.

Are they any worse? In the context of their own history, not really. They are about where they have always been.

So where should they be, exactly? That will likely be the question that determines Gustavsson's fate, but it all depends on the picture you choose to see.