10 Friday, June 26, 2020 Sports Australia and New Zealand chosen to host 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Sydney. Four groups will be based in each country during the first phase. Football Federation Aus- tralia chairman Chris Nikou said the tournament would be “groundbreaking in many ways” and that it would “un- lock the huge potential for growth in women’s football in the Asia-Pacific region”. Thursday’s vote came at a video-conference meeting of the members of the FIFA Sydney Opera House is lit in celebration of Australia and New Zealand’s joint bid to host the FIFA Council as football, and glob- Women’s World Cup 2023, in Sydney on Thursday. (AFP) al sport in general, struggles to get back on its feet in the midst of the coronavirus pan- demic. ‘Merit over politics’ as Women’s The Australia and New Zealand bid was given the World Cup heads Down Under highest score, of 4.1 out of five, in an evaluation by world AFP Ali Riley tweeted alongside a Australia and New Zealand -- football’s governing body FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura (left) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino pose next to the Women’s Wellington close-up selfie showing tears in tweeted “Let’s do this”. published earlier this month. World Cup Trophy after the announcement that Australia/New-Zealand are the winning hosts for the FIFA her eyes. New Zealand Prime Minis- It was followed by Japan, Women’s World Cup 2023 during a virtual FIFA Council Meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday. (AFP) Football lovers in Australia Australia’s women’s captain ter Jacinda Ardern promised on 3.9, but the Japanese bid and New Zealand offered rare Sam Kerr posted footage of her the ninth edition of the tourna- was withdrawn on Monday. AFP Korean proposal had already en’s World Cup. praise for FIFA’s transparency trademark tumbling backflip ment would be the best ever. For New Zealand, the suc- Lausanne fallen by the wayside. “It will be a historic tour- on Friday morning after the goal celebration, saying playing “It will be a historic tourna- cessful bid comes after the The joint bid received 22 nament of firsts that will cre- southern hemisphere neigh- in a home tournament was “a ment of firsts that will create a country already secured the Australia and New Zea- of the 35 valid votes cast by ate a profound and enduring bours were chosen to host the dream come true”. profound and enduring legacy rights to host the women’s land will host the 2023 FIFA Council members in the legacy for women’s football 2023 women’s World Cup. “We have seen great pro- for women’s football in the cricket and rugby World Cups women’s World Cup after first ballot.T he Colombian in the Asia-Pacific region and The decision, announced gress in the women’s game and Asia-Pacific region and beyond,” next year. the countries’ joint bid was Football Association obtained beyond,” Ardern said in a in the early hours of the morn- Australia-New Zealand will take she said in a statement. Australia are seventh chosen by FIFA on Thursday, 13 votes, which included the statement. ing in the newly anointed host the game to a whole new level,” The bid’s success creates in the FIFA women’s world with New Zealand’s Prime backing of UEFA president Australia’s women’s cap- nations, sparked emotional re- she said. a trifecta for New Zealand, rankings, but the Matildas Minister, Jacinda Ardern, Aleksander Ceferin and sev- tain Sam Kerr posted footage actions among sleep-deprived Socceroos great Tim Cahill which has already secured have never been beyond the promising “a historic tourna- eral European members. on Twitter of her trademark footballers and fans. said he was “lost for words”, rights to host the women’s quarter-finals at the World ment of firsts”. The 2023 tournament is tumbling backflip goal cele- “I will never forget this mo- while Hollywood star Russell cricket and rugby world cups Cup and lost on penalties to The overwhelming favour- set to be the first 32-team bration and declared: “We did ment,” New Zealand captain Crowe -- who has links to both next year. Norway in the last 16 last year. ites beat their only remaining women’s World Cup, up from it, we freaking did it”. New Zealand’s “Football rival Colombia after Japan the 24 nations who competed Her New Zealand counter- never forget this moment”. across 12 cities in July and Au- Seven cities in Australia Ferns” have never been beyond withdrew its own bid earlier at last year’s finals in France, part Ali Riley tweeted a close- The joint proposal by Aus- gust 2023, with the opening will host games, and five the group stage and in 2023 in the week. Brazil, Argen- won by the United States. up selfie, with tears in her tralia and New Zealand will match at Eden Park in Auck- in New Zealand. Two will be hoping to win a game at tina, South Africa and a joint It will be the ninth wom- eyes and the caption: “I will see games played in 13 venues land and the final in Sydney. stadiums will be used in the finals for the first time.

Juve open four-point lead as Ramos free-kick sends Madrid back to top of La Liga Dortmund stick with Lazio end long winning run AFP SPANISH LEAGUE Madrid Favre as Points Tally (Top 8) Club MP W D L GF GA Pts coach DPA with Napoli last week. Sergio Ramos’ sensational Real Madrid 31 20 8 3 59 21 68 Rome “We were better physi- free-kick helped Real Madrid Barcelona 31 21 5 5 70 31 68 cally,” Juve coach Maurizio move back above Barcelona Atletico Madrid 31 14 13 4 39 22 55 Serie A front-runners Juven- Sarri said after the Bologna to the top of La Liga as they Sevilla 31 14 11 6 44 32 53 DPA Getafe 31 13 10 8 40 29 49 Berlin tus returned to action in dull win. “We played 70 minutes defeated Real Mallorca 2-0 on Villarreal 31 14 6 11 49 40 48 fashion after the coronavirus with intensity, with a good Wednesday. Real Sociedad 31 14 5 12 47 39 47 lockdown, but extended their pace and good momentum, Ramos brushed aside Ga- Valencia 30 12 10 8 41 43 46 Lucien Favre will remain lead thanks to a slip up from losing part of our brilliance reth Bale to take the shot and as Borussia Dortmund coach chasers Lazio, now sitting four only in the last 20 minutes. justified his claim with a curl- next season as the club once points adrift. The Turin cham- “In these days I told the boys ing strike into the top corner more straight-forward as- again tries to break the pions lead on 66 points when we should not be touched by after 19-year-old Vinicius signments during the run-in, stranglehold serial champi- they host troubled Lecce on Fri- (adverse) opinions.” Sarri, who Junior had put Madrid in even if they claimed a stun- ons Bayern Munich have on day, a day before Lazio welcome came under fire for the previ- front in the first half. ning victory over them in the Bundesliga title. Fiorentina in matchday 28. ous dull showings, has issues in Madrid’s victory at the October to put Zidane under “We will go into the new The title-holders won 2-0 at defence as full-backs Alex San- Alfredo di Stefano Stadium serious pressure. season with this constellation Bologna, while the Romans lost dro and Mattia De Sciglio are means they are level again on But his team have been and continue to push,” said 3-2 at Atalanta in mid-week, injured and Danilo suspended. points with Barcelona but sit transformed since then and sporting director Michael taking an early two-goal lead He could, however, wel- above their title rivals in the after Barcelona made hard Zorc confirmed to reporters only to suffer from a spectacular come back Gonzalo Higuain in table due to a superior head- work of beating Athletic Bil- on Thursday. “We have a good comeback, which ended a run of the attack manned by Cristiano to-head record. bao on Tuesday night, this basis of trust and will have 21 unbeaten games. Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala, who “There are seven finals was another win to suggest conversations at the right Most Juve players enjoyed were both on target in Bologna. left,” said Ramos. “There will the momentum is now with time.” Favre’s contract runs sufficient marks after two stut- Atalanta (54) are fourth, fill- be only one league in the year Madrid. to 2021 and he said it was “not tering scoreless showings in the ing the last Champions League of coronavirus and we want to Bale tested Manolo Reina the time” to talk about his fu- Italian Cup, which included a place while boasting the league’s win it for the fans.” with an early shot from dis- ture beyond then. loss on penalties in the final deadliest attack on 77 goals. Bale has been hardly used tance just after Karim Benze- The 62-year-old Swiss since La Liga resumed on ma was denied by Mallorca’s coach was criticized by many June 11 but Zinedine Zidane goalkeeper after being allowed following the 1-0 home de- continued his rotation policy to control at the back post. feat to Bayern after the coro- and handed the Welshman his Hazard freed Vinicius, navirus restart which all but first start since February 16. who took too long over his confirmed Dortmund would Yet an underwhelming Real Madrid’s Spanish defender Sergio Ramos celebrates after shot, but if that was the worst again come up short in the display is unlikely to push scoring against Mallorca at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in of Vinicius’ finishing, the best title race. Bale back into Zidane’s pre- Valdebebas, near Madrid, on Wednesday. (AFP) was to come soon after. Former Bayern boss Niko ferred eleven as Vinicius en- Dani Carvajal barged over Kovac and Ajax’s Erik ten hanced his case with another Dani Rodriguez, fairly in the Haag were reported to be lively, if erratic, performance. fender on Sunday by scoring a There was also time at the eyes of the referee, and Fede possible replacements. The Brazilian also hit the penalty against Real Sociedad. end for history to be made Valverde swept a long ball Favre’s Dortmund have crossbar in the first half. The only worry for Ma- as Mallorca’s Luka Romero forward to Luka Modric, who averaged 2.16 points per Ramos, though, stole the drid was that Eden Hazard became the youngest player waited before playing a cute game going into the final show with his brilliant free- was taken off shortly after ever to play in La Liga, aged 15 reverse ball to Vinicius. match of the season, at home kick, taking his personal tally the hour, raising doubts over years and 219 days. Bale stepped aside, al- to Hoffenheim on Saturday Atalanta’s Ukrainian midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi (centre) celebrates to a career-best eight goals for whether the Belgian is fully fit Mallorca, who remain lowing the youngster to lift a - a record better than the after scoring during the Italian Serie A match against Lazio at the the season, after he became La or completely confident in his 18th in the table, always superb finish over Reina and title-winning sides of Juer- Atleti Azzurri d’Italia stadium in Bergamo on Wednesday. (AFP) Liga’s highest ever scoring de- troublesome ankle. looked like one of Madrid’s into the net. gen Klopp.

Al Mohannadi’s Honey Cake wins Prix de la Tour Saint-Jacques at ParisLongchamp

Tribune News Network the bay filly was smartly a way and finish from Femina (IRE) (Siyouni x Honey Cake was a winner at Doha was keen in the early stages. Initially, Legerete) to win by a short head. Deauville as a two-year-old. She Peliser looked to try to settle her in Under Maxime Guyon was the had two starts earlier this year and In the colours of Khalid Rashid Al second, but she proved too free and runner-up for Wertheimer & Frere both were in Stakes races over a Mohannadi, Honey Cake (IRE) (Si- so he let her go on into the lead. and trainer C. Laffon-Parias. Ecu- mile where she was unable to find youni X Pink Anemone) netted the The Henri Alex Pantall-trained rie Normandie Pur Sang’s Racing a place. The drop back to 1,400m second win of her young career at Honey Cake set a smart pace and Glory (IRE) (Zebedee x Glorious today seemed to suit her. She is ParisLongchamp in the Prix de la once in the final straight, she came Adventure) was a further half-length from the family of Dohaa Dream Tour Saint-Jacques, a Class 2 race under pressure from Pelsier, pull- behind the two fillies of the leading (FR), the Prix Chaudenay (Gr2) over seven feet for three-year-olds ing clear of her rivals before they French sire Siyouni. The F. Chap- winner for Al Shaqab Racing. She Honey Cake (left) ridden by Olivier Pesleir crosses the finish line in the Prix on Thursday. had begun the chase. She stayed on pet-trained bay clot was ridden by was bought at the Arqana Breeze- de la Tour Saint-Jacques, a Class 2 race over seven feet for three-year-olds, In the hands of Olivier Pesleir, bravely and just held off a very strong Stephane Pasquier. up as a two-year-old. at ParisLongchamp. (Pic: SCOOPDYGA)