Sports

Japan Exits The Women’s World Cup But Sees Progress In Young Squad

Published

9 months ago

2023-08-11

New Zealand’s AUCKLAND — Japan rebuilt after being booted out of the Olympics early on home turf two years prior by focusing on youth and recruiting a new coach.

The outcome? At the Women’s World Cup, Japan scored a tonne of goals.

The Nadeshiko scored 15 goals, the most of any side in the tournament, under the direction of coach Futoshi Ikeda. Hinata Miyazawa, a surprising young midfielder, tied the record set 2011 by Japanese veteran Homare Sawa by scoring five goals to lead the team.

However, it wasn’t enough to stop Sweden, who defeated Japan 2-1 in the tournament’s quarterfinal encounter on Friday night. Midfielder Jun Endo sobbed on the pitch for a considerable time as Sweden’s players celebrated after the final whistle.

Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani commented, “We knew we were going to play a very skilled and technical team.” We wanted them to have little time there because they perform best when constantly on the ball.

Sweden led 2-0 after two goals from Filippa Angeldal and Amanda Ilestedt in the first and second halves, respectively. After Honoka Hayashi’s goal in the 86th minute, Japan could not score.

Japan rebuilt after being booted out of the Olympics early on home turf two years prior by focusing on youth and recruiting a new coach.

Forward Mina Tanaka remarked, “There was a lot of time spent on defence and it was hard to find our own pace, and we weren’t able to have a good offence.”

Ikeda remarked that the group should be pleased with their achievements. The Japanese won all of their group games without giving up a goal. In the round of 16, they defeated Norway 3-1.

After all, the team from Japan had a young average age of just 24.9 years.

“I knew I was taking them to the World Cup since I became coach, and I, along with the players, have worked hard to this point,” he said. The players are now acting as a cohesive team and moving in the same direction. Each player can develop in the ecosystem we’ve designed.

In 2011, Japan defeated Sweden 3-1 in the semifinals before defeating the United States on penalties to win the World Cup. Because of the horrific earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan earlier that year, it was an emotional victory.

In 2015, Japan likewise advanced to the World Cup final but lost to the United States 5-2.

Japan selected Asako Takakura as coach before the 2019 World Cup, becoming the first woman to lead the team. However, the Nadeshiko lost to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.

Japan rebuilt after being booted out of the Olympics early on home turf two years prior by focusing on youth and recruiting a new coach.

Takakura was replaced by Ikeda, who led Japan to the 2018 Under-20 Women’s World Cup victory following Sweden’s 3-1 loss in the Tokyo Games. He supported the growth of several team members, notably Miyazawa.

The Nadeshiko will now focus on qualifying for the Paris Olympics next summer, according to Endo, a Nadeshiko player who currently represents Angel City of the National Women’s Soccer League in the United States.

We must raise the quality even. Further, she remarked.

Ikeda stated that the young players would gain insight from the defeat.

“They are feeling how challenging the world games are. They can participate in these games. Ikeda says they must apply this expertise to the Olympics and other preliminary competitions. “We want these younger players to strengthen the Nadeshiko team.”

SOURCE – (AP)

Sports

Seize The Gray Win the Preakness 2024, Mystik Dan Finished Second

Published

14 hours ago

2024-05-18

Geoff Thomas

Seize The Gray has won the Preakness 2024. Favorite and Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan finished second, halting his pursuit for the first Triple Crown since Justify in 2018, NBC Sports Reports.

Seize the Grey won the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on Saturday, defeating Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and six other horses. Seize the Grey led from start to finish, with Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in second place. Catching Freedom placed third.

D. Wayne Lukas, 88, becomes the oldest trainer in history to win a Triple Crown event. It marks his eighth Preakness victory in his career, tying Bob Baffert for second all-time. Lukas has won 15 Triple Crown races in his career.

Jaime Torres made a memorable Triple Crown debut with his triumph in Seize the Grey.

MyRacehorse owns Seize the Grey, and it sells thoroughbred “micro-shares” to the general public. There are 2,570 shareholders in Seize the Grey, representing 42 of the 50 states.

Seize the Grey is the Preakness’ 18th victory from the seventh post since 1909. No other post has resulted in more than 14 winners.

If Seize the Grey competes, his next race will be the 156th Belmont Stakes on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Preakness 2024 Full Race

Sports

Dallas Stars Eliminate Avalanche 2-1 With Double Overtime Win

Published

15 hours ago

2024-05-18

Geoff Thomas

Dallas Stars Eliminate Avalanche 2-1 With OT Win

The Avalanche’s aspirations of returning to the Stanley Cup were dashed late Friday night when they lost 2-1 in double overtime against the Dallas Stars.

Former Avalanche player Matt Duchene scored the game-winning goal, allowing the Dallas Stars to advance to the Western Conference final.

Duchene, who began his professional career in Denver, grabbed a loose puck in front of the net and blasted it over a sprawled-out Alexandar Georgiev. Duchene raced down the ice and sank to his knees in celebration.

Dallas Stars will play either Edmonton Oilers or the Vancouver Cunucks next. The Dallas Stars are making their second straight trip to the conference finals, having fallen to eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas last season. The Stars won their sole Stanley Cup championship in 1999.

This was a series in which the road team won five of six games, with the Stars winning all three in Denver. The Avalanche were the best home team throughout the regular season, while the Stars had the best away record.

After winning the Stanley Cup two years earlier, the Avalanche finished the season 50-25-7.

Dallas Stars Avalanche Highlights

Sports

NFL Distances Itself From Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker’s Comments During Commencement Speech

Published

17 hours ago

2024-05-18

Kiara Grace

NEW YORK — The NFL has distanced itself from Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, stating that “his views are not those of the NFL as an organization.”

Butker spoke at the commencement ceremony at Benedictine College, a private Catholic liberal arts institution in Kansas, last week and claimed most of the graduating ladies were likely more enthused about getting married and having children.

AP- VOR News Image

NFL Distances Itself From Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker’s Comments During Commencement Speech

Butker also said that some Catholic officials were “pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America.”

“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” said Jonathan Beane, NFL senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, in a statement issued on Thursday. “His opinions do not represent the NFL as an organization. The NFL remains unwavering in its commitment to inclusion, which only strengthens our league.”

The three-time Super Bowl champion gave his about 20-minute speech Saturday at the school in Atchison, Kansas, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Kansas City. He earned a standing ovation from graduates and other attendees.

Butker, who has made his conservative Catholic convictions known, also criticized Pride Month, which is especially crucial for the LGBTQ+ rights movement, as well as President Joe Biden’s abortion stance.

“I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you,” Butker concluded.

The Nation – VOR News Image

NFL Distances Itself From Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker’s Comments During Commencement Speech

“Some of you may go on to have excellent jobs in the world, but I believe the bulk of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into the world. I can guarantee you that my lovely wife Isabelle would be the first to state that her life truly began when she began to live her vocation as a wife and mother,” he said.

Butker, 28, claimed his wife accepted “one of the most important titles of all.” Homemaker.”

Butker also chastised The Associated Press for emphasizing a move toward conservativism in some sectors of the church.

Butker also made an oblique allusion to Pride Month, referring to a “deadly sin sort of pride that has a month dedicated to it.” Butker also criticized Biden’s views, such as his rejection of the Supreme Court’s reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling and support for abortion rights, which are significant campaign topics in the 2024 presidential race.

Hollywood Reporter – VOR News Image

NFL Distances Itself From Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker’s Comments During Commencement Speech

The 2017 seventh-round pick from Georgia Tech has emerged as one of the NFL’s greatest kickers, breaking the Chiefs franchise record with a 62-yard field goal in 2022. Butker helped them win their first Super Bowl in 50 years in 2020, added a second Lombardi Trophy in 2023, and kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime against San Francisco in February.

SOURCE – (AP)