Olympic champions Sion, Katzberg shine in Eugene field events
July 3 : Back-to-back Olympic women's discus champion Valarie Sion won her event with a best throw of 68.64 metres as the Prefontaine Classic got underway on Friday in Eugene, Oregon.
Sweden Sport News
VAR ‘taking joy’ from football says Croatia coach Dalic after loss
TORONTO: Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said VAR is taking “the joy out of football” after seeing his team have a stoppage time equalizer disallowed in their 2-1 World Cup defeat to Portugal on Thursday. Croatia’s players thought they had grabbed an incredible equalizer when Josko Gvardiol prodded the ball into the net in the 13th minute of stoppage time in Toronto. But VAR chalked off the goal after a chip embedded in the match ball detected that it had just brushed Croatia striker Igor Matanovic while Mario Pasalic was in an offside decision in the build-up. Asked afterwards if he felt technology and VAR decisions in football had gone too far, Dalic broadly agreed. “You were able to see to what extent emotions have been literally killed, and altogether these decisions take you back and actually take the joy out of football,” Dalic said in a press conference, according to a FIFA interpreter. “I’m not saying that sometimes VAR can’t be of help, but it kills the emotions, it kills everything within you, it kills what you are experiencing and it’s not easy to deal with all of this.” The “connected ball” chip technology used to rule out Gvardiol’s goal had already been deployed at this World Cup, during Sweden’s group game with Tunisia last month. On that occasion, Mattias Svanberg saw a goal ruled out for offside before VAR overturned the decision after determining the ball had taken a slight touch by team-mate Alexander Isak which had played him onside. Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said there was no debate around Croatia’s disallowed goal. “The message is very clear: The balls now they have a chip, and it’s very clear and that’s why the VAR intervened,” Martinez said. “There is no subjective opinion — the chip of the ball
France's fluent attack can profit against defensive Paraguay says Barcola
BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 2 : France are aware they will need to break through a compact defence when they meet Paraguay in their World Cup last-16 match on Saturday, but they can do it with their attacking trio enjoying their football at the tournament, France forward Bradley Barcola said on Thursday.
France wary of Paraguay revenge mission amid World Cup hype
NEW YORK, July 2 : France arrive in Philadelphia as the World Cup’s most feared attacking force, but Kylian Mbappe and coach Didier Deschamps have warned that acclaim, records and a seemingly clear path mean little if they fail to stay grounded against Paraguay in Saturday’s last-16 clash.
Eliminated but not alone: Mexico City cafe becomes haven for World Cup heartbreak
MEXICO CITY, July 2 : Amid the sea of green that washed over Mexico City after the country's World Cup victory over Ecuador on Tuesday, one shop defiantly hoisted the Ecuadorian flag and welcomed all the downtrodden fans of Mexico's opponents to a place of refuge.
Harry Kane rescues England from shock World Cup exit with two goals in 11 minutes against DR Congo
Melissa Ortiz, Sacha Kljestan and Brad Guzan react to France's 3-0 win over Sweden and Kylian Mbappé chasing Leo Messi for the All-Time World Cup Goal Scorer Title.
Potter's Sweden rebuild to continue after World Cup exit
VANCOUVER, July 1 : Sweden's World Cup came to an abrupt and inevitable end at the hands of Kylian Mbappe and a French side who are among the favourites to win the whole tournament, but after treading a rocky road to get to the finals, the path forward has become a little clearer for Graham Potter and his team.
France's fearsome attack enters debate over World Cup's greatest forward line
NEW YORK, July 1 : France's march into the World Cup last 16 has been built on an attacking force so relentless that comparisons with some of the greatest forward lines in football history are no longer sounding premature.