All posts tagged: Striker

Former Australia striker Sarah Walsh optimistic of Indian women’s football team’s future | Football News

Former Australia striker Sarah Walsh optimistic of Indian women’s football team’s future | Football News

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Sarah Walsh, former Australia player and the current head of women’s football in her country, believes India is on the path to becoming a women’s football powerhouse within the next 10 years. Walsh was in conversation with Isa Guha and former women’s footballer and FIFA Council Member Moya Todd at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit at the Padukone Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence on Friday. Walsh, who represented Australia at the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, stressed how she saw tremendous potential for the Indian women’s football team’s growth on the global stage. Story continues below this ad “I am a little nervous about India in the future of football. I think they’re going to be a powerhouse in 10 years. If you look at world sport through the men’s sporting lens, the gap might be a lot bigger when you talk about football, but it is absolutely not in cricket. “In the women’s landscape, there are fewer years to correct. In football, the Indian women’s team are ranked 13 in Asia …

Former Australia striker Sarah Walsh on Women’s Football

Former Australia striker Sarah Walsh on Women’s Football

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Former Australian footballer Sarah Walsh has expressed optimism about the future of Indian women’s football, predicting that the team could become a powerhouse within the next decade. Speaking at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, Walsh, who is the Head of Women’s Football at Football Australia, highlighted India’s growing potential on the global stage. “I am a little nervous about India in the future of football. I think they’re going to be a powerhouse in 10 years,” Walsh stated. She pointed out that while the men’s football landscape has a bigger gap to bridge, the situation is different for women’s football, making rapid progress more achievable. Currently, India’s women’s team is ranked 67th in the world and 13th in Asia. However, Walsh emphasized that investment and infrastructure development—especially if India secures the 2036 Olympic Games bid—could significantly accelerate the sport’s growth. “If India gets the Olympics, then that’s a pathway. The infrastructure is there, and participation numbers will grow. Where that investment goes will determine how quickly India closes the gap in football,” she …

Cristiano Ronaldo says Kylian Mbappe is not a natural striker: ‘If I were at Real Madrid, I would teach …’ | Football News

Cristiano Ronaldo says Kylian Mbappe is not a natural striker: ‘If I were at Real Madrid, I would teach …’ | Football News

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Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has received backing and a piece of advice from club legend Cristiano Ronaldo as he continues to find his feet in the Spanish capital. After a free transfer switch from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, Mbappe has the chance to emulate his idol at the Santiago Bernabeu. Embracing a new position as the team’s no. 9 unlike his PSG days, Mbappe’s had a rocky start to his Madrid journey and Ronaldo has now come and urged the club and its fans to support the Frenchman in his journey. “I love him very much, and not only because of the story he had as a young man that he loved Cristiano Ronaldo very much and he was his idol,” Ronaldo said in an interview with El Chiringuito. Story continues below this ad “But I really see him as a crack [a star player] and he is going to give Real Madrid a lot of joy,” Ronaldo predicted. The Al-Nassr striker who will turn 40 on Wednesday said that the 26-year-old Mbappe is …

Neymar’s contract with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal terminated; Striker could join Santos again

Neymar’s contract with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal terminated; Striker could join Santos again

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Neymar is no longer a Al-Hilal player after the Brazil star and the Saudi Arabia club have agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent. Neymar joined the Saudi Arabia club from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023. Back then, the Saudi Pro League team had forked out 90 million euros ($94 million) to bring the Brazil striker to its team. Day Crespo, a spokeswoman for Neymar in Brazil, told The Associated Press that the player will comment on his future at a later date. Brazilian media has reported that the player and his father are interested in a six-month return to his boyhood club Santos, where he achieved national fame and his first caps for Brazil before he joined Barcelona in 2013. Neymar won six titles at Santos, including the Brazilian Cup in 2010 and the prestigious Copa Libertadores in 2011. Story continues after this ad The Brazilian’s stint with the Saudi Arabian club has been topsy-turvy. He picked up an ACL injury, the most serious of his career, while playing for Brazil football team …

Manchester City Break The Bank, Announce Egyptian Striker Omar Marmoush Signing

Manchester City Break The Bank, Announce Egyptian Striker Omar Marmoush Signing

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Manchester City have signed Egyptian striker Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt on a four-and-a-half-year deal which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2029, the Premier League side announced on Thursday. The 25-year-old is one of the most coveted young forwards operating in the European scene. He is also capable of being deployed on either attacking flank. An accomplished Egyptian international with 35 caps to his name to date, Marmoush made his professional bow back in his Egyptian homeland as a 17-year-old in 2016 with Wadi Degla. After amassing 17 appearances and two goals for Wadi, Marmoush subsequently made the move to Europe in 2017, joining VF Wolfsburg before then making a switch to Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2023. He enjoyed a superb debut season with the Bundesliga side, netting 17 goals from 41 appearances across all competitions. Omar has maintained that impressive impact so far across the 2024/25 campaign. Prior to joining City, Marmoush had accrued 20 goals from just 26 appearances for Frankfurt alongside 14 assists. …

Punjab FC signs Greek striker Petros Giakoumakis

Punjab FC signs Greek striker Petros Giakoumakis

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Punjab FC has announced the signing of Greek forward Petros Giakoumakis for the remainder of the season. He last featured for the Greek second-division club Makedonikos. The forward has signed a 6-month contract until May. The 32-year-old Giakoumakis was born in Heraklion, Crete in Greece, and came up from the youth ranks of the local side Olympiakos Chersonissos. He started his professional career with the Greek Super Division club, PO Atsaleniou in 2011 where he spent three seasons. He signed for APO Levadiakos in the 2014 season and racked up 117 appearances for the club across five seasons. The forward has played his entire career in Greece except for a season on loan with Cyprus club Olympiakos Nicosia. Giakoumakis has represented Greek clubs Atromitos, Veria NPS, PAS Lamia, and Ionikos Nikeas in his career. Speaking about the signing, Technical Director of Punjab FC, Nikolaos Topoliatis said, “Petros fits the profile of the striker we were looking for the remainder of the season. He is an experienced campaigner and I hope that he can bring quality …

East Bengal signs Venezuelan striker Celis Sanchez

East Bengal signs Venezuelan striker Celis Sanchez

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Emami East Bengal FC has secured the services of Venezuelan national team forward Richard Enrique Celis Sanchez for the remainder of the current season. Celis last played for Venezuela’s first division team Academia Puerto Cabello in October 2024. A versatile attacker who can play as both left winger and centre-forward, Celis has represented several top-tier clubs in Venezuela such as Atletico Venezuela CF, Deportivo JBL, Caracas FC and Academia Puerto Cabello, besides Colombia’s Millonarios FC and Slovakia’s FK Senica. Celis has also represented the Venezuela national team in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and the Copa America in the past. Emami East Bengal FC Head Coach Oscar Bruzon said, “We expect Richard’s talent, skills, commitment and determination to embody East Bengal’s values. We hope he’ll make a significant impact as we strive together for immediate success.” The 28-year-old brings with him a wealth of experience, having scored crucial goals in over 250 top-tier club matches across domestic leagues and the Copa Libertadores. Celis played a pivotal role in helping Caracas win the Venezuelan Primera Division …

Big Blow For Wolves, Star Striker Matheus Cunha Handed Two-Match Ban

Big Blow For Wolves, Star Striker Matheus Cunha Handed Two-Match Ban

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File image of Matheus Cunha.© X (Twitter) Wolves forward Matheus Cunha was given a two-match ban on Tuesday after his clash with Ipswich backroom staff following his side’s damaging Premier League defeat. Cunha was seen confronting members of Ipswich’s security team in ugly scenes after the final whistle of Wolves’ 2-1 loss to their relegation rivals at Molineux on December 14. He was reported to have elbowed a member of the Ipswich staff before snatching the man’s glasses from his face. Cunha’s team-mate Rayan Ait-Nouri was sent off as tempers flared after Jack Taylor bagged Ipswich’s winner deep into stoppage-time. Cunha was charged by the Football Association and subsequently admitted the charge. An independent commission has suspended the Brazilian for Wolves’ next two matches and handed out an £80,000 ($100,000) fine. The FA said written reasons for the commission’s sanctioning decision would be published in due course. The 25-year-old will miss Wolves’ Premier League game with Nottingham Forest on Monday and the FA Cup third round trip to Bristol City. Cunha has arguably …

‘He won Premier League six times in seven years’: Erling Haaland backs Pep Guardiola after Manchester City’s loss against Aston Villa | Football News

‘He won Premier League six times in seven years’: Erling Haaland backs Pep Guardiola after Manchester City’s loss against Aston Villa | Football News

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After falling for the ninth time in 12 matches, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City further dent their chances of securing the Premier League title. But City’s striker Erling Haaland has backed the manager who has won the league for the team on six occasions in seven years. “He won the Premier League six times in seven years, so we will never forget that,” Haaland said, showing confidence in his manager. “He will find the solutions. He has been doing that every single year. We still believe in him, we have to work harder than ever right now.” Erling Haaland failed to perform up to his standards, not registering a single shot in their match against Aston Villa, and managing just one touch in the opposition box as they went down 2-1. Haaland also mentioned that there is work that needs to be done, and acknowledged his poor form recently. “We have to continue [working to put it right],” “The first [person] I’m looking at is myself, I haven’t been doing things good enough, I haven’t been …

Former Punjab FC striker Bakenga retires from professional football

Former Punjab FC striker Bakenga retires from professional football

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Norweigan striker Mushaga Bakenga announced his retirement from professional football effective immediately, on Friday. The announcement comes just a day after the striker parted ways with Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Punjab FC. Punjab FC yesterday said in a statement that “the club has parted way with striker Mushaga Bakenga by mutual consent.” He last played for the club in a substitute cameo in Punjab FC’s 2-4 defeat against East Bengal on 17th December, playing for 12 minutes. 🔸 Club Statement 🔸 Punjab FC and Mushaga Bakenga have mutually agreed to part ways. We thank Mushaga for his dedication and contributions during his time with The Shers. Wishing him success in his future endeavors. 🦁 Once a Sher, always a Sher. 🧡#PunjabDaJosh pic.twitter.com/b9y0TsMT3U — Punjab FC (@RGPunjabFC) December 19, 2024 He played for The Shers in 14 matches in the ISL and Durand Cup, scoring three goals and providing an assist during his short stint at the club. “The head has known this for a while, but now the body followed too!” said Bakenga, in …