International Football
FRANCE BATTLE PAST BRAZIL IN FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
Hosts France have battled their way into the last eight of the FIFA World Cup following a 2-1 victory over Brazil after extra-time, joining England, who earlier had defeated Cameroon 3-0 in a fiery encounter.
Following a quiet opening 20 minutes at the Stade Océane in Le Havre, France appeared to have taken the lead when Valérie Gauvin beat Brazilian goalkeeper Barbara to the ball and sent her header spinning into the far corner.
Both players needed treatment after the clash, and it was decided that Gauvin had challenged unfairly for the ball, so the goal was ruled out by the video assistant referee (VAR).
Gauvin got her goal eventually though, six minutes after half-time, sliding in to convert from six yards out after brilliant work down the right wing by Kadidiatou Diani to beat Tamiers for pace and send in a low cross.
Brazil, uninspired up to this point, almost responded immediately, Cristiane seeing her looping header from a free kick brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by French goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi.
They did equalise soon after, however, Thaisa driving into the bottom corner left footed past Bouhaddi – although not before VAR once again intervened after Debinha, who put the initial cross in for the goal, was initially called offside.
Brazil appeared to have won the match with five minutes of normal time to go when Tamires calmly finished into the top corner, but she was correctly called offside.
So the match went to extra-time, where Brazil came close to a winner from open play when Debinha broke the offside trap and poked a shot past Bouhaddi, only for Griedge Mbock Bathy to make an outstanding last gasp block.
France found their winner in the 107th minute, captain Amandine Henry meeting an in-swinging free kick from the right and guiding it into the bottom corner.
France are set play the winner from Monday’s clash between Spain and the United States in the quarter-finals.
They are due to play each other at Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims.
Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
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Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.
The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”
When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.
Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.
He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.
-Reuters
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In a compelling twist of football destiny, Davide Ancelotti is stepping into his own spotlight as he begins his first head coaching role at Brazilian club Botafogo—just months after parting ways with his legendary father, Carlo Ancelotti, at Real Madrid.
The 35-year-old has been appointed as Botafogo’s new manager, the club announced on Tuesday, following the sacking of Renato Paiva. Davide, who has spent the last decade working alongside his father at some of Europe’s top clubs—including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid—has signed a one-year deal with the Rio-based team.
This marks a significant milestone for the younger Ancelotti, whose career has long been shaped by his father’s influence, but who now faces the challenge of carving his own identity on the touchline.
The move comes shortly after both father and son departed Real Madrid at the end of last season, with Carlo taking over the Brazilian national team. Now, in a poetic alignment, father and son find themselves on different paths within Brazilian football—one leading the Seleção, the other steering the fortunes of a storied domestic club.
Botafogo’s decision to appoint Davide follows a controversial parting with Paiva, who was dismissed just days after their exit from the Club World Cup. Though he oversaw a stunning win over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, a 1-0 extra-time loss to Palmeiras in the round of 16 proved to be his final act after just four months in charge.
As Davide Ancelotti begins this new chapter, all eyes will be on whether the son of one of football’s most decorated managers can step out from his father’s shadow—and perhaps, in time, build a legacy of his own.
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