World update

Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023 bigger than rugby

Wellington: Politicians and players believe the Fifa Women’s World Cup will be the largest sporting event held in New Zealand.If last year’s tournament is anything to go by, it will certainly be bigger than the Rugby World Cup anyway. The Women’s World Cup reportedly drew a global audience of 1.12 billion people when it was held in France in 2019.

‘That is close to 150 million more than the Rugby World Cup in Japan two months later.

With the tournament expanding to include 32 teams in 2023, sports minister Grant Robertson said he believed the Women’s World Cup could be one of the largest events New Zealand will ever host.

New Zealand and Australia were confirmed as the co-hosts of the 2023 tournament on Friday after Fifa Council members voted 22-13 in their favour against Colombia. The 64 games will be split between the trans-Tasman countries, with the tournament opener and semifinal set to be played in NZ with the final at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium. The boss of one the country’s premier sporting venues described the Women’s World Cup as a “mega-event” and said it would rival both the Rugby World Cup and Cricket World Cup, which were staged here in 2011 and 2015.

“By New Zealand standards this is a mega-event,” Sky Stadium

CEO Shane Harmon said.Harmon played a key role when New Zealand hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2011, working as the general manager of marketing and communications.

He said the Fifa tournament was right up there with the largest sporting events the country has ever held.

“I believe it will rival any event that New Zealand has ever held including Rugby World Cup, Cricket World Cup and America’s Cup. The Government has pledged

$25 million towards the hosting of the Women’s World Cup but is forecasting an injection of approximately $100 million into the local economy from travelling supporters.

“If you compare it to the Rugby World Cup, there’s a bigger television audience,” Phil Twyford, the minister of economic development, said.

Former Football Fern Priscilla Duncan played at the Women’s World Cup in 2007 and worked at two other tournaments in a communications role with Fifa.She said it was a massive win for New Zealand and Australia to bring the global showcase down under.

-Stuff

Klopp: I don’t want a statue

London: Jurgen Klopp says he cannot be compared to ‘iconic figures’ such as Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley despite ending Liverpool’s 30-year title drought and insists: ‘I don’t want a statue!’

“They all got that when, I think, they were not here anymore,” Klopp said. “I want to live for 30 or 40 years so I am not interested in statues, for sure not in my lifetime.

“I am the manager of this team and we won the league so people see this as positive I can imagine. I am very positive about that as well, but you don’t have to compare me with these iconic figures. “I don’t know exactly how long

Bill Shankly was at the club but I know where he picked them from in the Second Division, then Bob already was the assistant and took over and won pretty much everything, Kenny Dalglish played for this club, became the manager, player-manager and was immediately successful as a manager which is incredible.

Evening Standard

- London Solskjaer: Harder for Man Utd to win trophies now

London: It is harder to win trophies now than during the glory days under Sir Alex Ferguson, says Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

United won 38 trophies - including 13 Premier League titles - in Ferguson’s 26-and-a-half years as manager.

However, they have won just three trophies in seven seasons since Ferguson retired in 2013.

“We’ve got to be honest enough to say it is more difficult now,” said Solskjaer.

This season’s Premier League title has been won by Liverpool, who became English champions for the first time in 30 years when nearest rivals Manchester City lost at Chelsea on Thursday.

Since Ferguson left, United have won the FA Cup in 2015-16, the Europa League in 2016-17 and the EFL Cup in 2017.

They are now aiming to reach the FA Cup semi-finals by beating Norwich at Carrow Road today. “We’ve always had challengers, whether it was Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool. But most of the time it was just one of them challenging us,” Solskjaer said.

“Finishing third wasn’t normal. Now there are at least four, maybe five teams that can win the league and the cups.

“For me, every time you see anyone else lift the trophy, it hurts. I reckon that’s the feeling for everyone associated with Manchester United.”.-BBC

Spors Vunivalu scores 3, Storm trio comfort Warriors

Sydney: Melbourne captain Cameron Smith, coach Craig Bellamy, and assistant Ryan Hoffman gave a stirring address to the Warriors on Friday night.

The Storm beat the Auckland side 50-6 at Kogarah with Fijian flyer Suliasi Vunivalu scoring a hattrick in a nine –try humiliation, a week after the Warriors sacked coach Stephen Kearney from his post.

The entire Warriors club agreed to uproot and move across the ditch during coronavirus lockdown in order to get the NRL competition back up and running.

Many of the players haven’t been able to see families and friends during that time.

In the vision captured by Fox League, Smith, Bellamy, and Hoffman can all be seen addressing the entire Warriors playing group and staff after the game.

Hoffman played for both clubs and now is on Bellamy’s coaching staff. “There are some former Storm players currently playing for the Warriors, as well as Ryan Hoffman is a former Warriors player as well,” Kevin Walters said.

“I think it’s great. I think everyone in the game feels for the Warriors, what they’re going through. “Sometimes a voice from another club, saying hang in there fellas we appreciate what you’re doing, could be the turning factor for the Warriors and where their season is heading.”

Many Warriors players were said to be shocked and saddened by the sudden axing of coach Kearney last week.

On Friday night they struggled to keep pace with the Storm.

Results: Panthers 20-12 Rabbitohs, Roosters 26-12 Dragons, Storm

50-6 Warriors.

- nrl.com