The Champions League trophy has landed in London and AFR Voice can proudly say it had a hand in the journey after UEFA kindly invited us to see the famous big-eared trophy travel through the capital. The curvaceous silverware was transported via tube, taxi and London bus on it's way to the home of English football for the glamour final.
Futbolita would like to wish all thethe powerful, amazing and inspiring ladies who are reading this a Happy International Women's Day!
England and Scotland are set to face off in the women's Cyprus Cup later today, which is generally seen as a showpiece tournament ahead of the Women's Euro 2013 in June.
USA goalkeeper Hope Solo has admitted that losing FIFA Women's Coach of the Year, Pia Sundhage, to Sweden, was a big blow to the team.
In a new interview with FIFA, the 31-year-old who picked up the Olympic gold medal with the USA women's team, said that it was initially difficult to work in a team of "individuals" but Sundhage successfully ironed out the differences and inspired the USA Women's teams to new heights.
Sweden's national coach and the 2012 FIFA World Coach Of The Year for Women's Football, Pia Sundhage, is back in her native country gearing up for this summer's Euro 2013. Sundhage praised the USA women's football culture, but did not shy away from asserting her aim to see the Swedish girls working harder at this year's tournament.
Fresh from her well-deserved Ballon d'Or win for FIFA Women's Player of the Year (umm, duh?!), USA captain Abby Wambach has spoken up about her former epic coach Pia Sundhage, who sang a Bob Dylan song after accepting her award for FIFA Best Coach on Monday.
Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan (seen above) and Hope Solo were the Futbolitas representin' at the FIFA Ballon d'Or last night. USA women's team captain Wambach also admitted that she was surprised to receive the award from her own teammate, Hope Solo, as she had expected Morgan to pick it up instead.
2012 was certainly an incredible year for former USA women's coach, Pia Sundhage. She won her second (consecutive) Olympic gold medal, which culminated in their win over Japan in the final (a perfect 'World Cup final revenge') and upon announcing her retirement, was granted a send-off fit for a queen.
Can two teams have a rivalry if they've never played before? Ask any of the more than 16,000 fans who attended Sunday's Portland Thorns match against the Seattle Reign, the NWSL's first foray into the deep-rooted Cascadia soccer rivalry, and the answer would likely be a resounding yes.
At first I was so excited about the newly advertised Hope Solo controversy, but then I clicked the Bleacher Report link and it all went to shit. Domestic violence and cops called--all the usual rock star rubbish.
Announced whenever (or yesterday, I think), here's FIFA's short shorts...uh, short LIST of women footballers for this year's big award: Camille Abily (France), Miho Fukumoto (Japan), Carli Lloyd (USA), Marta (Brazil), Aya Miyama (Japan), Alex Morgan (USA), Megan Rapinoe (USA), Homare Sawa (Japan), Christine Sinclair (Canada), Abby Wambach (USA).
The possession game was in sick favor of the North Koreans, who unleashed time and time again on the German keeper, and how she made so many saves, I don't know.
Je t'apprécie vraiment or Je t'aime? It doesn't matter, really.
The French side moves forward into the Women's World Cup finals, courtesy of two goals by Kadidiatou Diani and a short-sided Ghana squad, with power forward Jane Ayieyam sent off early in the second half, racking up two yellows in quick succession.
Predicting "friendly" to last about 5 minutes into the first game.
Yes! Here's the pool of players Neid assembled, with some kids from the U-20 squad added to the mix just for good measure (or, more accurately, to fill a few gaps):
Writing notes to the cute boy two rows...oh, wait...
"It's very important we have two teachers with us because we're missing a lot of school. They really do help us a lot, and if you're inclined to get it done, you can," Germany captain Sara Dabritz told FIFA.
This is Sara Daebritz. She scored, too, by the way.
Well. Like me, you may have been preparing for the second edition of penalty shots in the U-17 Women's World Cup quarterfinal round (France put away Nigeria yesterday, courtesy of this Most Cruel Way to Lose a Game Ever), but no--Rebecca Knaack made certain there would be none of that, Knaack-ing one past the Brazilian keeper to ensure the Germans onward progression into the semis, where the North Koreans await (Canada cries again and again) their match next Tuesday, 9 October.
Aw, poor kids. Back we go to calling French Fries "Freedom" Fries.
Well, Team U.S.A., despite the approved length of their shorts, are likely already back in class at their respective high schools and colleges (friggin' overachievers), with a tie against North Korea this past Saturday not quite enough to move on in the tournament.
Because women's football has both. Thanks to all photographers for capturing beauty in all its moods. Email fasteronesblog [at] gmail.com if you'd like a photo credit and link.
The Women's Euro 2013 kicks off in July and there are already several mouthwatering clashes finalised for the tournament in Pia Sundhage's homeland of Sweden. The ticket launch was conducted last week and the competition will feature the stalwarts of European football including Sweden, Italy, Denmark, Finland (Group A); Germany, Norway, Netherlands, Iceland (Group B), France, England, Russia and Spain (Group C).
It was case of 'deja vu' for the U-17 German girls, when they were eliminated by North Korea in the U-17 Women's World Cup quarter-final match-up on Tuesday. Ironically, they were also eliminated by the same team in 2010 and they were unable to reverse their misfortunes. Ouch! The Ghanaians, who have never gone this far in the tournament so far, will be contesting Germany for a third place playoff.
The German girls have progressed to the semi-finals of the U-17 Women's World Cup after a goal from Rebecca Knaak in the 92nd minute knocked Brazil out of the tournament yesterday. Despite dominating much of the possession in the first half, Djenifer's goal in the 13th minute was not enough for the Selecao girls who were dealt a crushing blow when Germany went up 2-1 in the dying minutes of the game.
The group stages of the U-17 Women's World Cup in Azerbaijan took place yesterday and following a comfortable5-2 victory over Uruguay, the German mädchen have set up a quarter-final meeting with the Brazilian meninhas! Goals from Sara Daebritz, Rebecca Knaak, Ricarda Kiessling, Sharon Beck and a double from Yamila Badell sent the girls on their way.
Sunday's U-20 Women's World Cup Final clash has been set and after their
splendid semi-final wins yesterday, Germany and USA perennial
'elites' in the women's game will meet in the final. To celebrate their 3-0 win over Japan in Tokyo
last night, the German girls took off their socks and boots, went barefoot and did a lap of
honour for the supportive Japanese fans.
Title holders Germany are through to the next round of the U-20 Women's World Cup and boy, oh
boy, will they be facing an opponent worthy of the final match-up itself : Japan! The
German girls thrashed Norway 4-0 in Saitama, a squad that has been trying to replicate their 1995
Women's World Cup success for more than a decade.
The Norwegian girls made it to quarter-finals of the U-20 Women's World Cup
yesterday, cementing their position as the tournament's surprise package. Admittedly, they felt a
little dispirited after their opening defeat to South Korea last week, but fought hard in their 4-1
victory over the Argentinians yesterday.
It's Friday our Women's Football Day! This week, read on as the women's football elite trio of Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan and Marta dish out valuable and inspiring life advice to young women as part of the FIFA 'Live Your Goals' campaign. Vamos, chicas!
"Any young women out there that want to live their goals, I would personally tell them to challenge themselves and to do something that scares them every single day.
France's Camille Abily seen here with her football hero Zinedine Zidane (come on, you can't talk to a French footballer without actually mentioning Zizou!) has been nominated alongside nine other women for the prestigious FIFA Ballon d'Or award!
The list of the final three women will be announced on 29 November 2012 in São Paulo (Brazil) and given that the ladies' performances at the recent Olympics will play a huge role in this, you can expect the title to go to a USAWNT player.
Ahead of the Euro 2013 in June, the Spanish women's team defeated Russia 2-1 in Murcia with goals from their star player, Verónica Boquete and Jennifer Hermoso. Of course, you're thinking "tiki taka?" and naturally, with a talented forward like Boquete, there are definitely signs of that!
USA were officially crowned champions of the U-20 Women's World Cup after a closely-fought 1-0
victory over defending champions Germany in Tokyo tonight. Ironically for the Germans,
Kealia Ohai's strike in the 44th minute was the first and only goal they
conceded at the tournament and despite a successful campaign so far, they weren't able to fight off
a hardworking USA side.
Congratulations to the French U-17 Women's Team for winning the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Azerbaijan today. After a nail-biting 1-1 draw with the North Korean girls, the match went into penalties and the French girls won it 7-6. Félicitations! France won four, drew two, and lost none of their six matches, a record which underlined their position as worthy winners of the tournament.
After a pulsating 0-0 draw last night, the French U-17 girls are through to the semi-finals of the tournament after beating Nigeria on penalties. Bravo, chicas! (well, it's really "les filles" but that's a little formal, no?)
Marion Romanelli scored the winning penalty for France and despite an onslaught of opportunities from the Nigerian camp throughout the game, the French girls maintained possession and controlled it.
The U-17 Women's World Cup kicked off in Azerbaijan over the weekend with a flurry of festivities including Jennifer Lopez's opening performance and many high-scoring matches. Shakira is set to close the tournament later this month, hopefully!
The Uruguayan girls (above) started their campaign on a dismal note with a 0-5 loss to Ghana, while fresh from their opening 0-5 loss to Japan, Brazil defeated Mexico 1-0, with a goal by Byanca in the 82nd minute (promptly celebrated with the heart sign!
Last summer, the arrival of the Olympic games in London meant an unprecedented spike in interest in the women's game in this country. Although Hope Powell's team couldn't get any further than the quarter-finals of the competition, crowds were healthy and there was considerable optimism that the interest might lead to increased interest in the FA Women's Super League (FAWSL) when it restarted at the end of April.
The national women's soccer league in the USA kicked off on Tuesday, with the participation of eight teams across the country from Seattle to Portland to Washington, New Jersey and Boston.
Sky Blue FC, captained by Christie Rampone defeated Western New York Flash 1-0 , as an own goal proved enough to separate the sides and propel Sky Blue to the top of the embryonic standings.
First and foremost los chicos, sorry for the lapse in posts! The Futbolita team is currently in Bahrain for an AFC Conference (not to bask in the Gulf sun, if that's what you're thinking) as part of our Women's Football research and (also) partly to look for Arabic coffee.
Womens' football has thankfully been elevated in recent years with the introduction of the WSL summer league, but it appears that Everton's Toni Duggan is doing her bit to keep stereotypical views at the forefront of our minds. The striker has promised to strip off in a bid to promote the game. "David Beckham has [.
In an exclusive interview with Futbolita, Arsenal ladies and England international, Ellen White, spoke to us about about life in women's football, being "one of the boys", her football idols, and winning more trophies than the Men's team.
The 23-year-old striker was part of the Arsenal squad that won the treble in 2011 (FA Women's Super League, FA Cup and Continental Cup) and has made over 25 appearances for England.
It's no secret here at Futbolita that we consider Brazil's Marta to be the greatest female footballer of all time. In the words of our great mates, "She's a legend!" and really, you haven't much of a case against a five-time Ballon D'or Champion!
In England, semi-professional footballer Daniel Ailey calls the treatment of his deafness "the same as racism."
In Italy, Inter Milan are fined €50,000 after their fans directed racist chants at Mario Balotelli. Balotelli was himself fined €10,000 for gesturing to those same fans.
Felicidades to the Spanish girls who have qualified for the Euro 2013 Championships for the very first time in 15 years! So you see, it isn't just the men who are out for world domination. With most players plying their trade in the Superliga (Spanish women's league) and back-to-back victories at the UEFA European Women's U-17 Championship, Spanish women's football is ON THE WAY too, chicas!
