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Sports Gazette •

My First World Cup: Diane Caldwell on Ireland's journey to their maiden major tournament

As the snow continues to fall and temperatures remain close to freezing at Reading’s Bearwood Park training ground, the weather seems more late winter than early spring on this particular mid-March morning. Diane Caldwell is used to the cold. The versatile Republic of Ireland international spent five seasons playing across Iceland and Norway as part of a career that has taken her from the east coast of Ireland to the state of New York before eventually bringing her to Berkshire last summer.
Sports Gazette •

My First World Cup: Colin Bell on travelling the world to reach the pinnacle of football

Despite spending the majority of the last 40 years away from his native Leicester, there are some aspects of travelling that Colin Bell is still getting used to. “You never know how long it is going to take,” he says jovially rather than through frustration. He then offers an unnecessary apology for being a few minutes late for this interview after travelling back to his Ilsan home following a few days in Seoul.
Sports Gazette •

My First World Cup: Dani Etienne on her family's football heritage and bringing joy to Haiti

Dani Etienne has always been ready for the eyes of the world to be on her. “When my brother and I were growing up playing soccer, my dad and my mom always envisioned us being spokespeople for our teams so they would interview us at home,” she explains after a day of classes in her final year at Fordham University has come to an end. “We did mock interviews all of the time, so I feel like I’m kind of a pro at knowing what I need to say.”
Sports Gazette •

My First World Cup: The forgotten story of the English teenagers at the Mexican Mundialito

Long before millions across the globe could watch, or football’s governing bodies would even put their names to the event, Women’s World Cups were a regular occurrence. Following the first unofficial World Cup in Italy in 1970, known as the Coppa del Mundo, a series of tournaments known as the Mundialito were staged over the next two decades before FIFA became involved and organised the first official Women’s World Cup in China in 1991.
Capital Football UK •

Sam Kerr offers England a reminder that the World Cup will be no walkover

With four trophies in the bag and an unbeaten run standing at 30 matches, Sarina Wiegman’s England had every right to feel full of themselves ahead of a meeting with World Cup hosts Australia. There was a well-earned swagger about them in the first half of their Finalissima victory against Brazil last week that only the best and most talented sides can pull off. They arrived in Brentford to the sort of fanfare reserved for imminent world champions.
Sports Gazette •

Katie Shanahan Q and A on spending the summer in the Lionesses' camp Down Under

Having represented her country at the highest level in hockey before turning her attention to journalism and working for broadcasters as high-profile as Sky, the BBC and ITV, Katie Shanahan has already enjoyed several careers rolled in to one. The Sports Gazette caught up with Katie just weeks after she had returned from covering England at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Sports Gazette •

My First World Cup: Marina Izidro on being the eyes of Brazil in Australia and New Zealand

When it comes to the World Cup, few countries experience the same pressure to deliver as Brazil. Despite a global image of carefree, free-flowing football, Joga Bonito and a philosophy of beauty over brutal efficiency, winning still matters more than anything. “In Brazil, some people are always expecting that you’re going to win,” explains Brazilian multimedia journalist Marina Izidro.
Capital Football UK •

Dons Women overcome The Gills to set up Charlton cup tie

AFC Wimbledon overcame Gillingham in the third round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup courtesy of a second-half strike from Ellie Dorey. The win sets up an all-London tie against Charlton Athletic in the next round, and continues the Dons’ hopes of adding to their storied history in this competition. Despite enjoying some promising spells of possession in the first half, a lack of incisiveness in attack meant the home side struggled to fashion opportunities to score.
Capital Football UK •

New signings provide safe FA Cup passage for Spurs Women

Tottenham provided evidence that smart January transfer business might rescue their stuttering season as they avoided a cup upset at the hands of London City Lionesses. First-half goals from recent acquisitions Beth England and Mana Iwabuchi set the WSL side on their way against the Championship leaders before a healthy number of their new team-mates threatened to get in on the act after the interval.
Capital Football UK •

Arsenal's Champions League hopes finally slip away in last-gasp Wolfsburg defeat

In the end it was a step too far. Another tactically intelligent and emotionally engaging display against one of Europe’s elite, but a step too far. A series of brilliant individual performances among a group of players decimated by injuries, but a step too far. An expectant sold out crowd at the Emirates willed them on until the very last moment, but it was just a step too far.
Sports Gazette •

My First World Cup: Ireland edge past Zambia in pre-tournament warm up

Katie McCabe gives in. She was always going to. The first selfie-hunter of the evening has spotted her sat amongst the other Republic of Ireland players not selected for this friendly against Zambia and pounced. There is a mesh cordon between McCabe and the punters who have sold out Tallaght Stadium for the first of two matches before Ireland travel to Australia to take part in their first Women’s World Cup, but it is the sort of thing that excitement can overlook.
Sports Gazette •

My First World Cup: Nouhaila Benzina makes history without playing

In a purely footballing sense, Nouhaila Benzina’s first experience of a World Cup was uneventful. She warmed up with her fellow substitutes pre-match. She watched from the bench as her Moroccan team-mates started well before falling to a 6-0 defeat to international heavyweights Germany in their first-ever World Cup match. And she left the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium without featuring in the game.
Sports Gazette •

My First World Cup: The Philippines announce themselves with first World Cup win, but it had been years in the making

Following the first round of group matches at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, none of the eight teams who were participating at football’s top table for the very first time had even scored a goal – let alone picked up a point. Whilst Zambia, Morocco and Panama had all suffered heavy defeats at the hands of established World Cup regulars, most of the newcomers had shown they belonged in their opening fixture.
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