TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 SPORTS US triumph caps truly global Women’s World Cup VANCOUVER: The United States returned for Lloyd to emerge as the flag bearer for a seeing Lloyd’s brilliance and dreaming that signs of improvement with Colombia Olympic silver medal a year later. to the pinnacle of women’s soccer with a 5- new generation. they too, might one day grace the biggest impressing many by reaching the last 16. The ‘Nadeshiko’ may well have to under- 2 crushing of Japan in Sunday’s Women’s On Sunday, 53,341 fans packed into BC stage in the women’s game and lead their France played some exhilarating football go a change of generation-and perhaps World Cup final at the end of a riveting tour- Place and millions more tuned in around nation to glory. before their quarter-final exit and the look at evolving their tactics further from nament that pushed the sport into new ter- the world to witness an American team While Lloyd fittingly became the symbol Netherlands are also catching up, while the short-passing approach that brought ritory. The Americans last triumphed in annihilate the defending champions by of this tournament, there have been plenty there are signs of African teams such as them so much success under coach Norio 1999 but women’s soccer is a vastly differ- storming to a 4-0 lead inside 16 minutes. of other players from other nations who will Nigeria and Cameroon closing the gap. Sasaki. But globally, all the signs point to ent sport than it was a decade-and-a-half The onslaught was a cue for the over- go home to discover they have become role “Women’s football is a global game now, continued growth for women’s soccer.In ago with new nations forging their way into whelmingly American crowd to start the models. we have seen that at this tournament,” Europe, big clubs from the men’s game- the elite amid an unprecedented level of party early with the Stars and Stripes able to England, which considers itself the tradi- England coach Mark Sampson said. “Who Bayern Munich, Paris St Germain and global interest. fly high and proud for the remaining 74 tional home of soccer, had been slow to would have thought that Colombia would Manchester City-are investing in their As Golden Ball winner Carli Lloyd minutes. warm to the women’s game but the success have produced the performances they have women’s teams and that trend is likely to demonstrated with her astonishing 16 While few doubt that the US deserve to of the Lionesses in securing third place, cat- produced? I have been to France and seen spread further. minute hat-trick in the final, including a be back on top outside the Olympic arena, apulted them to prominence at home and the size of their programme, the game is And while FIFA officials were booed by goal from the half-way line, the women’s where they have won the last three gold abroad. growing.” Television ratings have long been fans before the trophy ceremony, the cor- game is delivering a level of excitement and medals, the growth of the women’s game Australia, beaten by Japan in the quar- strong in North America but, even despite ruption-tainted global body’s women’s quality that was non-existent in the 1990s. should ensure they will take on a strong and ter-finals are growing an impressive late night kick-off times, countries such as development staff must deserve plenty of Prior to the final, all that was missing diverse field in France in 2019. women’s programme and hope to chal- France, Germany and England saw record credit for helping the game reach this stage. from the tournament in Canada was a star There was a time when women’s soccer lenge their Asian rivals for regional domi- numbers tuning in, measured no longer in Whoever takes over from outgoing presi- individual, a player who could symbolise was considered either ‘unladylike’ in socially nance. thousands but in millions. dent Sepp Blatter will have learned after the new status of women’s soccer. conservative circles or a pale imitation of The Matildas showed their growing For Japan, the final was a painful jolt this past month that they will be overseeing Once play had started in Vancouver, it the ‘real thing’ among many soccer fans. promise by beating Brazil in the second back down to earth after their triumph over a sport played, watched, coached and refer- took a little more than a quarter of an hour Now there will be girls around the world round but South America is also displaying the Americans in 2011 and their run to the eed by both genders equally. —Reuters Klinsmann warning as Gold Cup kicks off LOS ANGELES: Jurgen Klinsmann says the to the Netherlands in the last eight, are in United States will have to defend their Group B with El Salvador, Canada, and CONCACAF Gold Cup crown the hard way Jamaica. as the tournament kicks off today with the Coach Paulo Wanchope admitted that region’s governing body still reeling from ‘Los Ticos’ stunning World Cup performanc- the FIFA corruption scandal. es had increased expectations on his side. The USA, riding high after a thrilling “It will be a big challenge for us,” he said. World Cup campaign last year and recent “Everyone will now expect Costa Rica to friendly wins over Germany and the play great football and win against any Netherlands, start as favourites for the July team.” Mexico coach Miguel Herrera has 7-26 biennial tournament. meanwhile challenged his players to atone But Klinsmann has warned his players to for their dismal first round exit at the Copa expect a rough ride from opponents who America by wresting back the Gold Cup, are likely to defend in numbers, in contrast which it has dominated since its inception to the World Cup, where opponents were in 1991. “We have to accept the failure of more adventurous against a US side the Copa America and go to the Gold Cup regarded as underdogs. with the belief that we are going to win it,” “We are under the expectations of win- said Herrera, whose side face Guatemala, ning this tournament,” Klinsmann said. Trinidad & Tobago and Cuba in Group C. “Even if we know that teams like Honduras, Mexico’s preparations were dealt a ham- Costa Rica and Mexico all are very good mer blow last week after Manchester teams and can also beat us, you’ve got to United striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez be on top of things. “It’s not going to be an suffered a fractured collarbone which ruled open game like in a World Cup where you him out of the tournament. have the best teams in the world and they However Herrera’s attacking options just go at you. In most of our games in the have been strengthened by the return from Gold Cup, it’s going to be the opposite. self-imposed exile of Real Sociedad striker “They’re going to defend first of all and Carlos Vela, back in the fold after a three- then hope for a counter break or for a set year spat with Mexican football chiefs. piece to score against us.” While the identity of the side who will Klinsmann has named a strong squad ultimately lift the title in Philadelphia on for the tournament, drawing heavily on July 26 is anyone’s guess, there is also veterans of the World Cup in Brazil, as he uncertainty about who will present the tro- aims to forge a winning mentality. phy for CONCACAF, which has been rocked The Americans open their campaign by the US investigation into football cor- TURKEY: Manchester United’s former Portuguese midfielder Luis Nani (center) gestures as he arrives at the Sabiha Gokcen airport. — AP against Group A opponents Honduras in ruption. CONCACAF President Jefrrey Webb Dallas on Tuesday, with 2013 runners-up might normally be expected to do the hon- Panama playing Haiti in the day’s other ours-but he is currently languishing in a Nani joins Fenerbahce match, which is being played at the same prison cell in Switzerland fighting extradi- venue as part of a double-header. tion to the United States after being arrest- The biggest threat to American hopes is ed in Zurich on May 27. likely to emerge from traditional power- Influential Costa Rican official Eduardo from United for 6m euros houses Mexico and Costa Rica, two teams Li, who had been due to be elected to who also advanced to the knockout rounds FIFA’s executive-committee, was also arrest- ISTANBUL: Portuguese star Nani yesterday been agreed with a transfer fee of six million normal. Turkish press reports have said that van of the World Cup last year. ed during the Swiss swoop which later joined Fenerbahce from Manchester United for euros ($6.6 million/£4.25 million). “Agreement Persie had been encouraged to join Fenerbahce Costa Rica, who stunned Italy and widened to include a raid on CONCACAF’s six million euros as the Istanbul giants seek to has been reached with the player himself and the by its former Dutch stars Dirk Kuyt, who left last Uruguay in Brazil before losing on penalties offices in Miami. — AFP add a glittering array of foreign talent to their club,” Fenerbahce said in a statement. season after becoming a firm crowd favourite, ranks ahead of the new season, the Turkish club A signing ceremony and news conference will and Pierre van Hooijdonk.