Tag: France

2023 FIBA World Cup: Josh Giddey leads Australia to 78-74 exhibition win over France

Josh Giddey helped Australia finish the game on a 12-4 run in the final two minutes.

Sneaking from behind, Josh Giddey ripped the ball away from Rudy Gobert for the offensive board which quickly led to a Patty Mills 3.

This possession was one of several late-game highlights for Australia as they completed the double-digit comeback in a 78-74 exhibition win over France.

Trailing by four points with 2:22 remaining in regulation, Giddey checked back into the contest and led Australia to a 12-4 run to close out the surprising win. This was a surprising turnaround for the Boomers as it appeared France was going to run away from this game early on after building a 27-19 lead following the first quarter.

The four-point win marks Australia’s most impressive performance yet in their current slate of exhibitions in preparation for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. France is billed as an upper-echelon squad as their roster is filled with several high-end NBA players.

This was clearly on display in Japan during this friendly — Evan Fournier had 29 points on 11-of-14 shooting. Gobert had nine points and eight rebounds.

The Oklahoma City Thunder must’ve been excited to stay up for this exhibition. Giddey looked his best as he conducted the comeback win against one of the best World Cup teams. The passing continues to be crisp and the aggressiveness continues to rise, which has resulted in a high amount of free-throw trips.

In 27 minutes, Giddey finished with 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. He went 4-of-6 from the free-throw line.

Giddey’s Thunder teammate Jack White also looked solid in his best exhibition performance thus far. In 16 minutes off the bench, he finished with six points on 2-of-3 shooting and one rebound.

While this is just a friendly, it’s still extremely exciting to see Giddey handle himself like a pro in crunch time against one of the best World Cup teams throughout the tournament.

Let’s look at instant reactions and highlights about Australia’s four-point win.

2023 Women’s World Cup quarterfinal recap: Australia, England move on

On the final day of quarterfinals action of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Australia and England advanced.

The final eight of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup have been cut down to the final four, and the last two games of the quarterfinals took place early Saturday morning. Co-hosts Australia pulled out a thrilling win over France that was decided by a penalty shootout, and England just barely managed to scrape by Colombia.

But before we break down those games, here is your daily reminder that you can follow the entirety of the World Cup right here at Pro Soccer Wire! Make sure to check out the full TV/streaming schedule for the event and the rankings in this year’s race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s dive into the action.

The five most shocking results of the 2023 World Cup (so far)

The World Cup has already seen its share of stunners as we get ready for the quarterfinals

The knockout stage of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is officially underway, and the tournament is down to eight teams. It’s been a wild ride to get here thus far, with the two top teams (according to the world rankings) having already been eliminated – Germany in the group stage and the United States in the first round of knockouts.

Needless to say, this World Cup has enjoyed its fair share of shocking results, which always makes for great television. It’s always more fun to root for the underdog (unless you’re a fan of the team that’s expected to win).

So, as there are no games to recap today, let’s take a look at five of the most shocking results of the tournament thus far.

2023 Women’s World Cup Knockout Stage Day 4 Recap: France, Colombia advance

France and Colombia managed to avoid upsets on the final day of last-16 action

The fourth day of knockout stage games at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup was a bit more straightforward than the first three. There were no major upsets, and the teams that were supposed to win did so comfortably.

But before we get into the action, here is your daily reminder that you can follow the entirety of the World Cup right here at Pro Soccer Wire! Make sure to check out the full TV/streaming schedule, a power ranking of all 16 knockout stage teams, and the rankings in this year’s race for the Golden Boot.

Let’s see how the games played out.

World Cup knockout round power rankings: Evaluating all 16 teams

Evaluating the hopes of the 16 teams left at this World Cup

A World Cup group stage full of surprises has resulted in a truly intriguing set of 16 teams going through to the knockout rounds.

Some favorites have looked the part, but the list of big teams that have underachieved is significantly longer (it’s not just the U.S. women’s national team, folks). A couple of second-tier teams have stepped their game up, while some unheralded sides have shown that while no one was watching, they were making major strides.

The result is a round of 16 where it feels like nearly anything could happen. Could the USWNT join the likes of Germany, Brazil, and Canada in being out? What about the possibility of teams like Jamaica, Morocco, and South Africa getting to the quarterfinals?

It’s been completely unpredictable, so all of these things are distinctly possible. Still, Pro Soccer Wire tried to sort out the likelihood of any one team making a run to the final. Somewhere between their results in this tournament, past track record, and overall talent level, we’ve settled on a power rankings list that everyone everywhere will surely have no problems with.

2023 Women’s World Cup Day 14 Recap: South Africa and Jamaica make history

South Africa and Jamaica have reached the knockout stage of the Women’s World Cup for the first time

Day 14 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup marked the second-to-last day of the group stage, as the final pieces of the puzzle have begun to fall into place.

However, before we get into all the action from Day 14, here is your daily reminder that you can follow the entirety of the World Cup right here at Pro Soccer Wire! You can get the full TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and the rankings in this year’s race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s see how the games played out on Day 14.

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 10 Recap: France sneaks by Brazil

France got a late winner against Brazil in one of the marquee matchups of the group stage

On Day 10 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, things got interesting. From late winners to dominant blowouts, the three-game slate had it all. The day featured Sweden taking on Italy, France facing off against Brazil, and Panama playing Jamaica.

But before we get into all that, here is your daily reminder that you can get all of your World Cup content right here at Pro Soccer Wire! We have the full TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and the rankings in this year’s race for the Golden Boot.

Let’s see how the games played out on Day 10 of the event.

Planning a golf trip to Europe? You might have additional forms to fill out

Plan to play golf in Europe in 2024 or after? You might need to do more digital homework first.

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Planning a golf trip to Europe in 2024? You might need to fill out some new digital paperwork first, even if you’re a U.S. citizen used to traveling about the European Union visa-free.

The official travel site of the EU announced this week that starting in 2024, visitors from more than 60 countries that are visa-exempt will need to apply for entry to 30 countries through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). The applicable visas will not be physical paperwork, instead being digitally linked to a visitor’s passport.

Notably, the announced program for 2024 does not apply to the Republic of Ireland, probably the most-visited of EU countries for U.S. players on golf trips. (For anyone who was busy beating balls on the range for several years and missed it, popular golf destinations England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are no longer part of the EU and are not part of this new application process.)

U.S. nationals currently don’t need to fill out such an application, but that changes for any trips starting Jan. 1. The EU said ETIAS approval normally will take just a few minutes but can stretch out several days or longer, so it’s best to apply as early as possible to avoid any headaches or missed tee times.

Applications will be provided through an official website and app, and travelers will need to provide their passport information or another document to which visas can be affixed. The application process has not yet opened.

The processing fee is 7 euros, currently less than $8. Children under 18 years old and seniors over 70 can apply for free. Approval allows 90 days in the selected country over a 180-day period, and approval is good for three years or the expiration of the passport to which it is registered, whichever comes first. Parents and legal guardians can apply on behalf of children.

The program is similar to one the U.S. requires of many international visitors through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

ETIAS approval also will be required for citizens of Canada, Great Britain, Australia and dozens of other countries. For a complete list of countries whose citizens will need approval, click here for the official announcement, which includes several exemptions.

The counties that will require an ETIAS are listed below, as provided by the official travel site of the European Union:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 4 Recap: Jamaica earns shocking draw

Jamaica’s surprising draw against mighty France highlighed the fourth day of action

On Day 4 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, there was plenty to get excited about. From marquee matchups to surprising finishes, there was a lot of intrigue. In the opening match, Sweden took on South Africa. That was followed by Netherlands against Portugal, while France and Jamaica wrapped up the day.

But before we get into the games, here is a quick reminder that you can keep up with the entirety of the World Cup right here at Pro Soccer Wire. Make sure to check out the TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and a look at the race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s see how Day 4 went down.

Angel City signs France, Lyon midfielder Amandine Henry

Angel City just added a serial winner in Henry

Amandine Henry is coming back to the NWSL.

The longtime France midfielder has signed with Angel City, agreeing to a three-year deal (with an option for a fourth) shortly after leaving Lyon. She will be eligible to play for Angel City once the transfer window re-opens on June 28.

“I enjoyed my previous seasons in the NWSL because of the level of play, the dedication of the fans and great teammates, so I am excited to now be a part of Angel City,” Henry, who played for the Portland Thorns in 2016 and 2017, said in a team press release. “I can’t wait to be a part of a new team, help write history, and win with the club.”

“Amandine is a player who has competed at the highest and most competitive levels,” added Angel City GM Angela Hucles Mangano. “She has led for both her club and country. Her quality of football performance and commitment to the success of our team will make her an invaluable part of our roster.”

Henry has 93 caps for France and has amassed an unreal number of winner’s medals over the years. During two spells with Lyon, she was a part of 13 different Division 1 Féminine winners, adding in seven Champions League trophies and eight Coupe de France victories. With Portland, she won the 2016 NWSL Shield and the 2017 NWSL championship.

Henry addressed her departure from Lyon in a recent Instagram post, saying that Lyon had informed her they didn’t intend to give her much playing time amid some fairly significant roster upheaval.

Experience, quality in Angel City midfield

Angel City had received some critiques for a lack of proven midfield depth in 2022 and 2023, but have moved to address that with big names. First, they signed U.S. women’s national team star Julie Ertz in April, bringing her back to the game nearly two years after initially trading for her NWSL rights during their expansion build-up.

Adding Henry to the mix will immediately give them a formidable central midfield featuring two of the biggest names in the sport, but it won’t happen right away. With Ertz presumed to be on course for a USWNT World Cup spot, the duo probably won’t be paired up long enough to build cohesion until well after the World Cup.

Henry’s status with France is also a factor here. Former coach Corinne Diacre clashed repeatedly with Henry, but was driven out after a player revolt. Henry has been locked out for some time, but with new manager Hervé Renard working to repair bridges with many established veterans — and a shortage of proven defensive midfielders in the mix — the 33-year-old could be in line for a recall.

In any case, Henry’s short-term future with Angel City will see her join a team in need of some help. Freya Coombe’s side has won just once in their last 10 matches in all competitions, suffering some particularly tough results that include dropping points in stoppage time three different times and being routed by OL Reign.

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