Chloe Kelly has been praised for her actions after sending England through to the World Cup quarter-finals with a perfect penalty on Monday.The 25-year-old, who scored the winning goal for England in the Euro 2022 final against Germany and the winning spot-kick in the 2023 Women’s Finalissima against Brazil, showed nerves of steel once more at the end of a dramatic Round of 16 clash at the Brisbane Stadium.England were reduced to 10 when Lauren James received a needless red card for walking on the back of Michelle Alozie after a free-kick didn’t go her way.READ MORE:England’s Lauren James receives needless red card for moment of madness vs NigeriaThe deadlock remained unbroken after 120 minutes and the knockout round tie was subsequently decided on penalties.Georgia Stanway stepped up first and missed her spot-kick, but the midfielder was dealt a reprieve as Nigeria missed their next two penalties.Beth England, Rachel Daly and Alex Greenwood all converted from the spot, which left Kelly with the opportunity to fire England through to the last eight.The Manchester City forward took the opportunity with both hands, firing an unstoppable penalty into the top corner of the net past Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.

Caroline Graham Hansen has apologised for comments she made following Norway’s 0-0 draw against Switzerland in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.Yesterday, Hege Riise baffled women's football fans after she dropped Hansen, 28, from her starting line-up.Her Barcelona teammate Ingrid Engen, 25, and Manchester City’s Julie Blakstad, 21, were also left out of the team.Despite being lauded by many as ‘one of the best wingers in the world’, the Norwegian didn’t get her chance on the pitch until the second half when she came on to replace Amalie Vevle Eikeland.The game saw the Gresshoppene picking up their first point of the 2023 tournament, having lost 1-0 to New Zealand in their previous match.Despite the solitary point, Riise’s side is currently sitting dead last in Group A. And, as of now, it looks like Norway will not make it through to the Round of 16.

England ground out a 1-0 victory against Haiti in their opening match at the Women’s World Cup.A penalty from Georgia Stanway was the only goal in a chaotic match often interrupted by VAR.The Lionesses were first denied a penalty after Alessia Russo fouled an opposition player in the build-up, but they then had one awarded following Batcheba Louis’s handball in the box.Haiti goalkeeper Kerly Theus saved Stanway’s first attempt, but was judged to have stepped off her line early.A relieved Stanway buried her second spot kick, and her goal turned out to be the winner as England were repeatedly frustrated by Haiti.Teenage sensation Melchie Dumornay was a constant thorn in the side of the Lionesses, who had to rely heavily on the heroics of goalkeeper Mary Earps to keep a clean sheet.Boss Sarina Wiegman would have been relieved to hear the full-time whistle, but this quickly turned into confusion as it became apparent the referee had blown early.

The stage is set, the players are poised to perform, and the globe is ready to witness the ninth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup this month.The summer tournament is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand for the first time ever and the favourites - the United States Women’s National Team - will be hoping to bring home the goods again for a fifth time.GiveMeSport is looking back at 11 of the most iconic USWNT World Cup moments which helped shape women’s football and grow the beautiful game in the USA.Our picks include Megan Rapinoe’s best Bruce Springsteen impression, the tea sip celebration that wound up Piers Morgan, and the Brandi Chastain image that has gone down in sporting history.

James Trafford was the hero of the hour, saving a penalty in stoppage time as England beat Spain 1-0 to be crowned under-21 European Champions.The Young Lions led at halftime thanks to a Cole Palmer free kick which deflected in off of Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones.England's celebrations after the goal sparked a scuffle on the touchline. Substitutes got involved, and former Arsenal and Chelsea left back Ashley Cole was shown a red card.That then seemed to light a fire in Spain, who put England under significant pressure in the second half.They nearly got themselves back on level terms, but Abel Ruiz had a goal ruled out for offside.

England have suffered more than their fair share of World Cup heartache over the years.One of the Three Lions’ most gut-wrenching World Cup exits happened in 2006. They boasted a squad which, on paper at least, looked good enough to win the competition.This was England’s so-called ‘Golden Generation’, featuring a host of world-class stars including Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and a 20-year-old Wayne Rooney.However, Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side failed to get past the quarter-final stage after suffering a penalty shootout defeat to Portugal in Gelsenkirchen - a match memorable for a hugely controversial incident involving Rooney, Ricardo Carvalho and Cristiano Ronaldo.Rooney was sent off for a stamp on Carvalho. Ronaldo, in a bid to get the England striker punished, made it clear to referee Horacio Elizondo what had just happened.Rooney pushed Ronaldo - clearly shocked that his Manchester United teammate would turn on him like that - and was then shown the red card. Ronaldo then infamously winked towards the Portugal bench - which most England fans presumed meant ‘job done’.

After months of preparation, the FIFA Women’s World Cup returns this summer for what is sure to be a scintillating tournament.For the first time ever, Australia and New Zealand will play host as 32 teams such as England, Sweden and Nigeria all compete for world glory.Elsewhere, the US Women’s National Team are on the hunt for their third consecutive title, while the likes of Japan and Norway will be hoping to claim their second trophy.Before all eyes turn to the competition, we’re reminiscing on World Cup past and helping you get familiar with some of the greatest goals ever scored at the tournament.You’ll find the likes of Lucy Bronze, Chelsea’s Maren Mjelde and Marta on our list of best strikes, as well as former German midfielder Nia Künzer and USWNT hero Abby Wambach.

After the Lionesses' heroics at Euro 2022 last year, the 2023 Women's World Cup can’t come soon enough. Confidence is sky-high, momentum is building and head coach Sarina Wiegman has named a star-studded squad full of talented players.Last year's draw for the Women's World Cup revealed England would play in Group D, alongside Denmark, China PR and qualifying play-off winners Haiti.Wiegman’s side will no doubt be favourites to top the group, but how could the rest of the draw shape up for the Lionesses? We’ve mapped out England’s potential route to the final, including who they are most likely to face and where the games will be held.

England’s 4-0 win on Friday night saw them cruise past Malta in their Euro 2024 qualifier, but there was one player in particular who stole all the headlines.Prior to the game, there was a lot of buzz surrounding the positioning of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who started the game in an outright midfield spot alongside Declan Rice and Jordan Henderson.Donning the iconic #10 jersey, the Liverpool right-back had a performance which caught the eyes of pundits and fans everywhere, leading him to win the game’s Player of the Match.

Gareth Southgate has sent a warning to Jack Grealish ahead of England’s international fixtures.The 27-year-old became a hot topic in the media this week after wildly celebrating Manchester City’s treble.All of City’s players indulged after beating Inter Milan in the Champions League final, with the English club lifting the trophy for the first time in their history.A second-half effort from midfielder Rodri was enough for them to get their hands on the silverware.Following the final whistle, footage emerged over the next few days of City’s players celebrating their achievements this season.Grealish was at the heart of it all, with the former Aston Villa man initially going viral after leading chants the morning after City’s success.Pictures then emerged of the forward and his teammates in Ibiza, and a report from The Sun revealed that Grealish had been offered a wheelchair by airport staff because he was struggling to stand.

For over 30 years, the Women’s World Cup has been delivering iconic moments, whether its unforgettable goals, shock victories, and even controversial celebrations.The ninth edition of the contest swings around this summer, and we can expect a plethora of fresh faces and veterans alike to write their names in the history books.This year, the Women's World Cup is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand for the first time ever.Countries such as Panama, Morocco and Zambia are all set to make their debuts, while the US Women’s National Team are gearing up to make their ninth appearance.

An iconic World Cup moment that women’s football super fans will never forget – Kelly Smith scoring a brace and kissing her boots after keeping England’s competition dreams alive.After a 12-year absence from the Women’s World Cup, England qualified for the 2007 tournament and were eventually seeded into Group A.However, the China-based campaign began with a fizzle rather than a bang, as the squad were held to a 0-0 draw by reigning champions, Germany.Their second match of the group stage was against Japan, and the girls needed to pull out a win or at least find a draw against Nadeshiko.In the 55th minute, however, England went 1-0 down after Aya Miyama scored a sensational free kick.Luckily, with ten minutes left on the clock, Alex Scott expertly intercepted a Japanese ball and immediately passed to Karen Carney.With the vision, the midfielder pushed the ball onto Kelly Smith, who was surrounded by a swarm of blue shirts in the box.Despite being under pressure, the number 10 spun and pelted the ball into the back of the Japanese net.After levelling the playing field, she celebrated by taking off her left boot and planted a series of kisses on it.

Fancy heading to the event of the summer? Here's everything you need to know about how you can get Women’s World Cup tickets.Following the conclusion of the 2022/23 domestic season, all attention has now turned to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.The ninth edition of the tournament is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand for the first time, and a staggering 32 teams have qualified.This year's tournament sees the US Women’s National Team on the hunt for a fifth title, while Italy, Morocco and Vietnam are among the teams making their competition debuts.Despite being no strangers to the contest of champions, the England Lionesses have never made it past third place. Could the team – under the watchful eye of Sarina Wiegman – make history Down Under and bring the trophy home?Or, will they be pipped to the post by European giants Germany, Sweden or France?If you want in on the action, or know you’re going to feel some FOMO this summer, then you’ll need to get your hands on some match tickets.GiveMeSport is here to give you the lowdown on how you can snag a spot at the various stadiums, and support your women’s football team.

Sarina Wiegman has announced her 23-woman World Cup squad next week, but who is making it on the plane to Australia and New Zealand?The England Lionesses are poised and prepared to add another trophy to their cabinet under the watchful eye of Wiegman this summer.As European champions, the team go into the tournament among the favourites – but will they be able to rise to the challenge without their captain?Earlier this year, it was confirmed that golden girl Leah Williamson had ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and was thus ruled out of the World Cup.The Lionesses are also without other key members of the Euro 2022 winning squad for the summer tournament, such as Beth Mead and Fran Kirby.

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is inching ever closer and we have all the details you need to know about the eagerly anticipated major women’s football tournament.This World Cup will be the ninth women’s edition in total and is scheduled to be held in Australia and New Zealand.It marks the first time FIFA has hosted a Women’s World Cup in two nations and the first time any major FIFA competition will be held between two confederations.In total, 32 teams will compete, with the tournament expanding from 24 teams to replicate the format of the men’s World Cup.The Lionesses will enter the competition as European champions, having stormed to victory on home soil at Euro 2022.Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Wonderkid Michelle Agyemang is the next women’s football player to watch after her sensational start at the UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship — but who is the Arsenal marvel?For many of the Young Lionesses, the 2023 U17s Championship in Estonia is their first taste of overseas tournament football.Head coach Natalie Henderson unfortunately didn’t travel with the group due to personal reasons, but under the watchful eye of Mo Marley, the youthful side have flourished.One young baller who has caught the eye of women’s football fans and looks as if she already has senior Lionesses’ squad potential is Agyemang.Could Sarina Wiegman be on the phone as we speak?Despite her age, the budding English talent already has a handful of senior Arsenal call-ups under her belt and even made her debut for the squad at just 16 years old.Agyemang, who joined the Gunners’ Academy back in 2013, regularly plays for the Arsenal Women under-21s youth squad and might just be the coolest cat in North London.To put it plainly — she’s good, and it looks as if the Gunners have the English equivalent of Sophia Smith or Alyssa Thompson on their hands.Now that’s not a bad position to be in, right?

"I have played with so many good players and won the Champions League at Bayern Munich but I can imagine David playing in the best teams in the world.”These were the words of Roque Santa Cruz speaking about his then Blackburn Rovers teammate David Bentley, who began his career at Arsenal, in March 2008.Bentley, 23 at the time, looked destined for bigger and better things and sealed a £15 million move to Tottenham several months later.But it was at Spurs where the talented winger, who earned a total of seven caps for England, began to lose his love for the sport.After the most infamous moment of his career (drenching manager Harry Redknapp with a large bucket of water on live television after Tottenham qualified for the Champions League), Bentley fell out of favour and eventually ended up playing on loan at Birmingham City, West Ham, Russian side FC Rostov and finally Blackburn before announcing his retirement in 2014 aged just 29.Speaking to The Athletic in 2020, Bentley said: “I played a lot that season (2009-10) but then, bucket over the head, and you watch — I barely played again.”

Lauren James is now regarded as one of the best young talents in English women’s football, and she is expected to play a major role at the upcoming Women’s World Cup.The Chelsea star has scored four times in 12 Women’s Super League matches this season, gliding past defenders before finding the back of the net. James has also broken into a talented Lionesses squad, making 10 appearances for England so far. She scored her first goal in a 4-0 victory against South Korea at this year’s Arnold Clark Cup.Described as a “cheat code” by England captain Leah Williamson, the 21-year-old James has the potential to become one of the best players in the world. While a number of hardcore football fans have backed James to make it at the top level of the sport for some time now, very few can say they identified her as a special talent more than five years ago. But Fara Williams, the most capped England player of all time, can claim exactly this. On an episode of the Boots, Balls & Bras podcast, Williams and fellow Lionesses legend Jill Scott remembered their first sighting of James.

The Lionesses have finally lost a match under manager Sarina Wiegman. Women’s World Cup hosts Australia defeated England 2-0 in wet and windy conditions at Brentford’s Community Stadium. Sam Kerr opened the scoring for Australia in the 32nd minute, pouncing on Leah Williamson’s header back to England goalkeeper Mary Earps to dink the ball into the goal.The Lionesses looked out of sorts for the remainder of the first half, but appeared to be hitting their stride in the second. They couldn’t capitalise on their domination of possession, however, and Australia scored on the counter-attack in the 67th minute. Kerr was involved again, sending in a cross from the right onto the head of Charlotte Grant. The ball took a big deflection off Williamson and wrong footed Earps to nestle in the back of the net. The Lionesses controlled possession for the rest of the match, but couldn’t find a way back into the match.

Alessia Russo’s contract with Manchester United is set to expire at the end of June, but the star striker is yet to sign a new one.Arsenal’s world-record bid for Russo in January showed just how in demand the 24-year-old is, but there is still uncertainty surrounding her future.She could well remain at Manchester United if the club win the Women’s Super League or at least qualify for the Champions League, but she could also be tempted to make a move to Arsenal, Chelsea or Lyon.Russo’s England and Manchester United teammate Ella Toone was asked about the situation in a press conference before the Lionesses take on Australia in a friendly match tomorrow.

Teddy Sheringham has revealed what Andy Cole said to him in a nightclub years after their playing careers had ended.Two of the greatest strikers of the Premier League era, Sheringham and Cole enjoyed huge success together at Manchester United for four seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s.Despite that, the pair had a fierce dislike for one another, with their animosity stemming back to an incident at the old Wembley in 1995.Cole felt “embarrassed” by Sheringham, who is five years his senior, after coming on as a substitute for his England debut against Uruguay.As Sheringham trudged off the pitch towards the dugout he appeared to blank the 24-year-old debutant.