Archive for the ‘Knockout Game’ Category

Healy: Final is exactly where we wanted to be – The National

Australias plan for world domination is right on course, said Alyssa Healy as her 129 helped Australia toa157-run win over the West Indies in the ICC Womens Cricket World Cup 2022 semi-final.

Healy and Rachael Haynes put on 216 for the first wicket as Australia posted 305 for three, a record for a World Cup knockout game despite the match being shortened to 45 overs due to early rain.

The West Indies never looked like chasing the total down and ended on 148 for eight with Anisa Mohammed and Chinelle Henry unable to take the field due to injury and illness.

Healy said: It's a great thing, for our group to bein a one-day World Cup final, it's exactly where we wanted to be when we landed in New Zealand.

We knew we wanted to be in Christchurch on the 3rdof April, and we were going to do everything we possibly could to getthere,and I think we've played some unbelievable cricket throughout these last few weeks with everything that's been thrown at us as well.

Wellington'sa really interestingplace to play cricket, so it's been an enjoyable experience coming to the ground every day and different conditions being thrown at us.

I'm just really proud of this group and hopefully we can put it all together one more time on Sunday.

Australia had said they were missing a perfect game despite going unbeaten in the group stages, but Healy believes they found one to advance to their seventh one-day World Cup final.

She said: It's probably exactly what we've been searching for this whole World Cup, which was awesome.

I guess to be able to do it on the big stage and the pressure as a group was really pleasing andhopefullywe can do it once more on Sunday.

Healy shrugged off the tag ofbig-game player and was also unfazed to learn this was her first hundred in aWorld Cup.

But she took delight in helping her side into what will be her maiden fifty-over World Cup final with either England or SouthAfrica joiningthem tomorrow.

She added: I wasn't aware of that stat [maiden World Cup hundred], so it hasn't really been a source of frustration.

I've managed to find ways to get myself out through this World Cup that is probably more of a frustration.

For me today to be able to go on and just help the team get to a big total and build a really good score on what wasn't exactly the flattest wicket going around, it was doing a bit, so that was probably more pleasing than anything else.

For the West Indies, their remarkable run has come to an end the Maroon Warriors qualified for the knockout stages thanks to a defeat for India at the hands of South Africa in the final group game.

But their leading run-scorer and wicket-taker Hayley Matthews believes there are plenty of positives to be taken from their campaign in New Zealand.

She said: Obviously we would have liked to go further, but I think looking back on this team's journey, playing a series against South Africa last year, getting thrashed in that.

Even in terms of individual growth, we've seen so many of our players taking steps atbecoming better players and becoming more consistent and there's just so many positives that we can take from this tournament for us, which is really heartening to see.

Beating a team like New Zealand and then being able to beat a team like England right after these are things that we couldn't imagine doing a year ago.

It's just really,really goodto be a part of the growth that this team has had over the lastyearand I genuinely do think that if we continue moving in this direction it is only bigger things for us.

We speak about the advantages that some of the other teams would have over us like Australia or England, with their domestic structure and the amount of talent that theyhave topull from within their pools, and then you look at us competing against teams like that.

It just shows the fight and the heart that we really do have as a team.

For now, the West Indies will return home with their heads held high while Australia will head to Christchurch for the ICC Womens Cricket World Cup 2022 final on Sunday.

ICC Business Corporation FZ LLC 2022

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Jorginho joins 9 other big-name football stars to have never played at a World Cup – The Mirror

Chelsea midfielder Jorginho says Italy 's failure to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar will "haunt him for the rest of his life".

The European champions were sensationally knocked out of the tournament by North Macedonia in a qualifying play-off semi-final last Thursday. Aleksandar Trajkovski's superb late strike in Palermo stunned the Italians, who have failed to qualify for two consecutive World Cup finals. Italy haven't won a World Cup knockout game since winning the competition in 2006.

Their only victory at the finals since that triumph was their 2-1 win against England in 2014. Roy Hodgson 's team that day included Joe Hart, Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines. Jorginho, the reigning European Player of the Year, could be remembered as one of the greatest players never to feature in a World Cup. He made his Italy debut in 2016 - picking up 43 caps to date - and will be 34 when the next tournament starts in 2026.

"It still hurts when I think about it, because I do still think about it and it will haunt me for the rest of my life," Jorginho told Rai Sport. "Stepping up there twice and not being able to help your team and your country is something that I will carry with me forever, and it weighs on me. People say we need to lift our heads and carry on, but it's tough."

The 30-year-old went on to say: "It is difficult to explain what happened. It hurts so much. I'll be honest, I am still incredulous. I don't think we lacked creativity, as we always dominated matches and created so many chances. Unfortunately, we were unable to finish them off. We played good football, we won the European Championship last summer, but unfortunately in the last few games we made small errors and were unable to recover from them. They made the difference."

Here, Mirror Football takes a look at the careers of eight other iconic footballers never to star at the World Cup - including four Manchester United icons.

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To kick us off, Giggs may have more Premier League winners' medals than anyone else to have stepped foot on English soil - as well as four FA Cups, three League Cups and two European Cups to his name - but the Welshman's international career paled in comparison. Making a very commendable 64 appearances for his country across 16 years, even the ex-United winger's longevity in the game couldn't see him reach a World Cup.

To date, Wales have only qualified for the tournament once in their history, the 1958 edition in Sweden, in which they were knocked out by eventual winners Brazil at the quarter-final stage.

Same country, same outcome. Rush's club career made him one of British football's best, starring for Liverpool as the Reds triumphed to five league titles and two European cups in the 1980s. On the international stage, his 16-year stint saw him appear 73 times and bag 28 strikes throughout a frustrating period for his nation.

When boasting potentially their best team since 1958, qualification for Italia '90 became an impossible task when they were drawn into a qualifying group alongside Finland, European champions the Netherlands and world champions elect Germany. Even with Rush alongside Neville Southall and Mark Hughes, a 0-0 draw at home to the latter was as good as it got, finishing bottom.

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This is where it gets interesting. A hero for Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur among others, Ginola's paltry 17 caps for France seems peculiar - and for good reason. Ahead of the 1994 World Cup in the United States, Les Blues faced Bulgaria needing only a draw to secure their place.

The winger, then plying his trade for Paris Saint-Germain, mistakenly over-hit a cross towards Eric Cantona with the scores at 1-1 to the agony of French fans. What happened next? You guessed it: Bulgaria went up the other end and scored themselves. Manager Gerard Houllier laid the blame at Ginola for the defeat which led to the maestro leave his home country behind and come to England.

"I became Public Enemy number one," explained Ginola in his autobiography. "The man responsible for my execution was Gerard Houllier. It was something I can never forgive him for, as it was a cruel attempt to wreck my life and I have been paying the price ever since."

Speaking of that infamous match in Paris, 'Eric the King' never graced the world's greatest tournament despite his immeasurable impact on modern football. Cantona evidently didn't make USA '94 - even after scoring the opener against Bulgaria - and due to retirement, not only missed out on France hosting in 1998 but also being part of Aime Jacquet's side - Houllier's former assistant - who won the tournament.

And the Man United icon won't even be enjoying this year's World Cup from home, hitting out at FIFA's decision to award them with hosting privileges. "Personally, I will not watch it," Cantona told the Daily Mail. "It's only about money and the way they treated the people who built the stadiums, it's horrible. And thousands of people died. And yet we will celebrate this World Cup."

Arguably Africa's greatest ever player, Weah's lack of a World Cup appearance is understandable - Liberia are a minnow of the international game. Despite that, the 1995 Ballon d'Or winners' nation almost made it twice; first dreaming of Italy in 1990 as they advanced to the second group stage but stumbled when it mattered.

12 years later and they came even closer, although a 2-1 defeat at home to Ghana allowed Nigeria to take control of their group going into the final matchday. Weah attempted to inspire his compatriots, keeping their hopes alive by scoring the only goal as the Lone Stars beat Sierra Leone, but Nigeria scraped through by a point. Not to worry, though, he's now Liberia's president.

A tragic tale of what could've been on and off the pitch, Man Utd prodigy Edwards' death at the age of 21 in the Munich Air Disaster was the primary reason why the world were unable to enjoy his talents on the biggest stage of all. Labelled the best of the famous Busby Babes (just ask Sir Bobby Charlton), the all-action midfielder had already played for United 177 times, winning two league titles, three FA Youth Cups, an FA Cup runners-up medal and 18 England caps when he passed away in 1958.

Unquestionably possessing the natural ability to single-handedly bring England glory over his career, Edwards sadly passed away 15 days after sustaining horrific injuries on the runway in Germany. Sports writer Frank Taylor, who survived the crash in Munich and recovered in the same hospital as Edwards, recounted his harrowing experience in his book, The Day A Team Died.

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"One of Duncans nearest and dearest friends told me: 'Maybe it was better this way. The doctors said, had he lived, he might have had to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Duncan couldn't have stood that. Now I can remember him as he was, the greatest thing that has happened in British football for years.'"

Like Weah, the size of country Best hailed from hampered him. Considered by many to be not only Man Utd but English football's best, the wing wizard was fairly dismissive of his international duties with Northern Ireland, describing the format as "recreational football."

However, Best should've guided his nation to the 1966 iteration, as the Green and White Army only had to beat Albania in their final qualifying game to set up a play-off with Switzerland. But the hosts, coming into the match off the back of losing their other five games and scoring only one goal, had other ideas and managed a draw, despite the "outstanding" brilliance of the United star on the night, allowing the part-time Swiss to progress.

The Northern Irish then went into 1970 qualifiers looking to make amends, with boss Billy Bingham confident that they'd do just that and reach Mexico. Starting with back-to-back victories over Turkey, a clash with the USSR on home soil was where it all went wrong, as Best missed a sitter and the 0-0 draw meant they had work to do in Moscow.

Unfortunately, their star man was injured, leaving the IFA furious that his club had risked him ahead of such a crucial encounter. The Red Devils were told that they "scandalously" broke an agreement to rest him, and unable to galvanise his side in Best's absence, Bingham led his team to a 2-0 loss.

For a man so good at football and who played for three different countries, it's rather baffling how Di Stefano didn't feature at a single World Cup. The Real Madrid icon turned out for his native Argentina, Colombia and Spain, and it was with the latter - having received a Spanish passport three years into his glittering career at the Santiago Bernabeu - that he came closest with.

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Although La Roja were drawn in an easy-looking qualifying group alongside Scotland and Switzerland, a trip to Hampden Park ahead of the 1958 World Cup would prove fatal, as Di Stefano couldn't prevent Spain from being smashed 4-2 in Glasgow. They did make it to the 1962 finals in Chile and the ageing star travelled, but was carrying an injury and didn't play a single minute.

At the centre of one of German football's great soap operas, Schuster's nickname, the Blonde Angel, is all you need to know about how revered the midfielder was. At 20, manager Jupp Derwall thrust him into the international game with West Germany for their second match of Euro 1980 and Schuster ripped rivals the Netherlands apart, helping Klaus Allofs net a hat-trick.

Join the debate! Who is the best player never to play in a World Cup? Comment your pick below.

As the Cologne ace went on to pick a European Championships winners' medal, many tipped Schuster to drive his nation on for years to come - but it didn't work out that way. Toying with a switch to the star-studded New York Cosmos in America, Schuster's transfer saga frustrated Derwall, who vowed never to pick him again if he made the move across the pond.

Reinstated once he joined Barcelona, further fallings out - such as with teammate Hansi Muller - saw him suspended once again by his boss ahead of the 1982 World Cup, and while it was expected Derwall would be recalled for the tournament, a serious knee injury ended his chances. Come 1986 when Franz Beckenbauer was in charge, Schuster was long gone from the international game, with his final cap coming two years earlier.

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Jorginho joins 9 other big-name football stars to have never played at a World Cup - The Mirror

What you need to know ahead of Magnolia vs Meralco Game 5 – Sports Interactive Network Philippines

MAGNOLIA and Meralco will fight it out one final time for a spot in the PBA Season 46 Governors Cup on Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Gametime is at 6 p.m. in the lone game of the night, with the winner going up against Barangay Ginebra in a best-of-seven contest.

Here are a couple of things you need to know heading into the knockout game.

Magnolia forced a do-or-die duel with a 94-73 win on Wednesday. The win ended a two-game skid in which Meralco won over Magnolia, both of which with six-point margin (81-75 in Game Two, 101-95 in Game Three).

The Hotshots outrebounded the Bolts, 57-40, numbers that Bolts head coach Norman Black couldnt stress enough during the postgame interview. With its rebounding edge, Magnolia also had more second chance points, 11-4, while also dominating the points in paint, 46-24.

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Paul Lee finally made his presence felt in Game Four after scrambling to provide an impact for the Hotshots in the three previous matches. Lee had 17 points including back-to-back field goals late in the fourth that allowed Magnolia to grab the win.

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Mike Harris had his usual double-double numbers with 34 points and 18 rebounds. There were also other players who stepped up in Calvin Abueva (11 points, eight rebounds), Jio Jalalon (10 points, seven assists), and even Jackson Corpuz (nine points, five rebounds in 18 minutes). Mark Barroca (five points, six rebounds, six assists) was also steady.

Meralco is facing the prospect of playing without Chris Banchero in Game Five after he was hit in the chest area on Wednesday that forced him to miss the entire second half. Head coach Norman Black said Banchero is a gametime decision, and the warm-ups will determine if their top point guard will be able to play for the knockout game.

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So far, Allein Maliksi has had a relatively quiet playoff series, at least offensively, in contrast to his performance during the elimination round where he scored in double figures in all but just one game. Maliksi has shot 6-of-18 from threes, but has only scored in double figures once during the playoffs. The number of points of Maliksi, especially after Meralco scored the lowest points in the conference in Game Four, could be a key in the knockout game on Friday.

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University of Akron basketball turns the page to the John Groce era as Zips head to NCAAs – Akron Beacon Journal

WATCH: University of Akron F Enrique Freeman on his rise to tournament MVP

University of Akron forward Enrique Freeman was named Mid-American Conference Tournament MVP.

George M. Thomas, Akron Beacon Journal

About 300 people gathered at Rhodes Arena, a stark contrast to the large, energetic crowd that attended the NCAA "Selection Show" watch party in 2013.

That was the last time the University of Akron went to the NCAA Tournament. UA had reached the big dance for the third time in five years. Many supporters of the mens basketball program were devoted tocoach Keith Dambrot, who compiled a 413-209 record in 19 seasons before leaving for Duquesne in 2017.

Many still are.

But Sunday opened a new chapter in UA basketball. The Zips have officially turned the page to the coach John Groce era.

Those who follow them or used to follow them should as well.

With 13th-seeded UA (24-9) taking on fourth-seeded UCLA (25-7) at 9:50 p.m. Thursday in the East Regional in Portland, Oregon, Groce has proved in his five seasons that he is capable of carrying on the Zips winning tradition. That history also includes now-West Virginia University coach Bob Huggins 1984-89 stint and an NCAA trip in 1986.

Groce will lead his third different team to the NCAA Tournament. In four seasons at Ohio University, the Bobcats went twice, in 2010 and 2012, when they reached the Sweet 16. In five seasons at Illinois, the Fighting Illini appeared once, in his first year in 2013. Groce has a 4-3 record in the NCAAs, with victories over third-seeded Georgetown (2010), fourth-seeded Michigan (2012), No. 12 South Florida (2012), and No. 10 Colorado (2013).

Coaches are defined by the NCAA Tournament, and Groce is building a strong resume.

Back in the big dance: Akron men's basketball headed to NCAA Tournament's East Region to play UCLA in Portland

Groce also spent four seasons at Ohio State from 2005-08 under coach Thad Matta, now associate athletic director for basketball administration at Indiana University. During their time together, the Buckeyes reached the second round of the tournament in 2006 and played in the NCAA championship game the next season.

Thad hit me last night after the game, Groce said, referring to the Zips 75-55 victory over Kent State Saturday in the Mid-American Conference tournament championship. He said, You just keep doing what you do, win conference tournaments.

I had a pretty good mentor in Thad.

In the past few days, Groce has frequently mentioned Dambrot and the standard he set at UA, even as Groce twice beat Dambrots Zips in the MAC Tournament title game.

His banners up there. Hes been really good to me, especially after I left Ohio, a couple people I ended up hiring at Illinois were based strictly on his recommendation, Groce said. I had so much respect for him and his teams and how he coaches the game and still do.

"Part of the reason when it opened, I was so excited about the job was because of all the winning they have done and a lot of it was with him. He deserves a lot of credit for that. They had a lot of great players.

Offensive video: MAC disciplines four Kent State players before tournament championship game

Among the former Zips who watched UA capture the MAC title Saturday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse were Romeo Travis,Dru Joyce III,and Jimmal Ball, along with players from the 1970s.

In the hours after earning the conferences automatic bid, Groce said he had not heard from Dambrot.

Not yet. Im actually going to reach out and call him, Groce said.

In March 2021, Groce received a contract extension through 2026 that raised his salary to $600,000 per year. He heads to Portland with a 94-58 record at UA, including a 24-7 record and a MAC regular-season title in 2019-20, when the conference tournament was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hes the ultimate ball coach, UA Director of Athletics Charles Guthrie said. The culture on his team is phenomenal. Ive had a chance to be around practice, go to the locker room wins and losses and he just stays even-keeled. Hes consistent and he preps very well. If you have a knockout game, you want him on your sideline.

"Im glad hes here at the University of Akron because hes a big-game coach.

Concentrating on logistics and preparation for the task at hand, along with his daughter Cate's seventh birthday, the thought of UA basketball turning the page on the past hadnt crossed Groces mind.

I dont know if I really look at it that way. I want to coach the best team or teams that have played at Akron, Groce said. I dont have any interest in another coach. I have great respect for the people that have coached here;[Huggins] and I have a good relationship.

Its an interesting question, turning the page, Ive never thought about that.

There is no need to pass the torch. Not even the circumstances of Dambrots departure can diminish his success and his impact on UA. But Guthrie, who took over on July 1, understands that some of the programs staunch followers havent embraced his successor.

Getting revenge: Akron upsets top-seeded Toledo, advances to final of MAC Tournament

Change is hard on a lot of folks. Theyre wait and see. When you pour your heart and soul into one individual or one program, when change happens you have to get used to it and embrace it, Guthrie said. I think the 2019-20 team probably would have won a couple games in the NCAA Tournament. I dont think this is coach Huggins, coach Dambrot versus John. I think weve been very fortunate at the University of Akron to have great basketball over the last 20 years.

When you look at college athletics, every era has a special coach, and I think were in a special era with coach John here now. Coach Dambrot had a special era, coach Huggins had a special era. Were fortunate at the University of Akron to have legendary coaches come through.Each era takes on its own life. Were embracing this new era and were going to enjoy it.

Perhaps at the next NCAA watch party, more of the UA faithful will embrace it with him.

Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.

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Ralf Rangnick says he loved what Antonio Conte said at full-time after Manchester Uniteds win over Tottenham – United In Focus – Manchester United FC…

Cristiano Ronaldo had Old Trafford rocking on Saturday night as he turned back the clock to score a match-winning hat-trick for Manchester United.

United star Paul Pogba praised the supporters for creating a positive atmosphere in a game United simply had to win.

The Old Trafford crowd know they have to do the same on Tuesday night when United host Atletico Madrid in a crucial Champions League knockout game.

Ralf Rangnick spoke about this in his press conference, and referenced post-game comments from Tottenham manager Antonio Conte which he enjoyed hearing, describing them as a huge compliment.

Speaking to the club website, Rangnick said: They play a very important role in getting behind the team, making it a very special atmosphere and I think the supporters are the ones that we can rely on, and on what kind of level and what kind of energy that happens is up to us.

I think Antonio Conte said after the game said that it was a very difficult atmosphere for them to play and I think this is probably one of the biggest compliments you can get, if the head coach of the opponents says that after the game.

Conte had spoken to Spurs TV after the game, commenting: Here at Old Trafford in this stadium and this atmosphere it is not easy. And we were good to do this, but then on the other hand I think we have to try and improve the experience and manage in the right way the part of the game.

Conte no doubt considers himself unlucky to have come up against an inspired Cristiano Ronaldo, and countless managers have felt this way too over the years.

One of these manages tonights opponents, with Diego Simeone on the wrong end of several Ronaldo masterclasses during his many matches against him.

United need Ronaldo at his best, his teammates, and the crowd tonight. The win at the weekend has given United a wave to ride, and an early goal for the home team could spark wild scenes and set up a crucial victory.

Dan is still wondering what would have happened if United had kept Juan Veron...

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Ralf Rangnick says he loved what Antonio Conte said at full-time after Manchester Uniteds win over Tottenham - United In Focus - Manchester United FC...