Women’s World Cup 2023

ENGLAND fans praised the reaction of Mary Earps’ parents after a journalist awkwardly interviewed them without realising they were the mum and dad of the Lionesses star.Sarina Wiegman’s side suffered World Cup heartbreak on Sunday as they lost 1-0 to Spain in the final in Sydney.
Mary Earps’ parents did not let on that their daughter was the England keeperCredit: Copa90
They eventually told the interviewer when he outright asked themCredit: Copa90
Earps was one of England’s standout players at the World CupCredit: Rex
But England keeper Earps, 30, wrote her name into folklore with a superb late penalty save to keep her side in the game.
She then proceeded to hilariously scream “F*** off” after making the stop.
Prior to the game, Earps’ mum and dad were filmed on a train in their daughter’s kits.
And a journalist approached them with a microphone to ask them where they got the strips from – as they were famously not put on sale by Nike, before Earps sold out her own range of t-shirts.
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But he was unaware he was talking to the parents of the England and Manchester United No1.
This led to a brilliant exchange between the journalist and Earps’ family.
The interviewer opened by asking: “How did you get your hands on goalkeeper kits? It’s meant [to be] the hardest thing to get your hands on?”
Earps’ dad jokingly produced a puzzled look, before replying: “Google.”
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The journalist continued: “Why the goalkeeper kits, the both of you? Just big fans of goalkeepers?”
After Earps’ dad said yes, they were then asked: “Who’s your favourite goalkeeper?”
To which he replied: “Mary Earps.”
The journalist responded: “Not Mackenzie Arnold [Australia’s No1]?”
Before Earps’ dad brilliantly added: “She did well, yeah. Mary Earps is a bit more classy.”
The interviewer then began to twig their relationship with the keeper as he asked: “You’re not related to her, are you?”
Earps’ dad replied: “Yeah.”
They were then asked if they were player worn kits.
And the Lioness star’s mum replied that her jersey was worn in England’s first game.
The journalist then finished by asking: “How proud are you two?”
Before Earps’ dad joked: “We’ll tell you about 10 o’clock tonight.”
Reacting to the clip, one person said: “Love this. Mary Earps parents playing it cool when being interviewed by a journalist who didn’t seem to realise for quite a while…
“Her mum trying to keep a straight face has me giggling. 😄
“The likeness with her mother is uncanny!”
Another added: “When the dad says ‘Google’ with a straight face 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.”
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A third replied: “Love them. Love Mary.”
While a fourth responded: “Love this! What a tournament she had.” More

SPAIN’S controversial manager has been slammed once again after a video emerged of him touching a female staff member’s breast.Olga Carmona scored the winning goal in the Women’s World Cup final against England.
Jorge Vilda appeared to grab a coach’s breast during the Women’s World Cup finalCredit: Twitter
The manager was criticised for his behaviour after the winning the goalCredit: Twitter
Her low drive into the bottom corner proved to be the only goal of the game and saw Spain crowned world champions for the first time.
But footage of gaffer Jorge Vilda, 42, celebrating the goal has angered fans.
The national team boss was filmed turning to his backroom staff after the goal.
He initially placed his left hand on a female coach’s shoulder – but then inexplicably moved it and grabbed her breast for a few moments.
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Fans reacted furiously to the clip, which has been viewed more than 10million times on Twitter.
One said: “He should be banned. How can someone do this?”
Another wrote: “Jorge Vilda is one weird dude.”
A third added: “Why would he do that?”
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A fourth user commented: “I feel uncomfortable watching this.”
And a final person raged: “True disgrace! Absolutely disgusting!”
Despite leading them to glory, Vilda is very unpopular with many of the Spanish squad.
Last year, 15 Spain players walked out and boycotted the team after their Euro 2022 exit due to his management and until 2019, players were reportedly unable to lock their hotel doors at night until he had completed checks.
He was also accused of treating players like “children” and forcing them to reveal the contents of their bags at training.
Vilda tried to join in the celebrations on the pitch after full-time – but awkwardly and sheepishly danced on his own and was totally ignored by the stars before he retreated out of the huddle.
The coach was also booed by many fans in the stadium as he went to collect his medal on Sunday.
RUBIALES REPULSE
Vilda’s boss and the Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales also caused controversy with his behaviour at the final.
He grabbed his crotch in the VIP seats to celebrate and then kissed Jennifer Hermoso on the lips.
Midfielder Hermoso, who saw her penalty saved by Mary Earps in the Sydney final, complained “I did not enjoy that” as Rubiales was widely criticised.
However, he initially hit out at “idiots” claiming they misinterpreted the behaviour which he said was a “minor show of affection”.
But on Monday he finally made a grovelling U-turn and apologised.
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Rubiales also entered the Spanish women’s dressing room where he declared he would pay for a trip to Ibiza and vowed to marry Hermoso, 33.
Last year, the RFEF president – who publicly backed Vilda – was also said to have used federation funds to pay for “orgies” with young girls.
Vilda is deeply unpopular with the Spanish squadCredit: AFP
Luis Rubiales and Vilda caused controversy at the final in SydneyCredit: Getty More

SARINA WIEGMAN is being targeted by the Netherlands to become their next men’s national team manager.According to The Telegraph, Dutch football chiefs have privately said that Wiegman would make a list of candidates for the job.
Wiegman guided England to the final of this summer’s Women’s World Cup, the Lionesses best-ever performance at the tournament.
Despite losing to Spain on Sunday, the England boss has been hailed for her achievements since taking over the side.
After replacing Phil Neville in 2021, she won a maiden Euros last summer before this year’s run to the World Cup final.
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SPANISH FA chief Luis Rubiales has made a grovelling U-turn and finally apologised for kissing Jennifer Hermoso on the lips.The head of the RFEF inexplicably grabbed the Spanish Women’s World Cup winner and kissed her as she came up to collect her medal following the 1-0 win over England.
Luis Rubiales finally apologised for kissing Spain star Jennifer Hermoso
Midfielder Hermoso, who saw her penalty saved by Mary Earps in the Sydney final, complained “I did not enjoy that” as Rubiales was widely criticised.
However, he initially hit out at “idiots” claiming they misinterpreted the behaviour which he said was a “minor show of affection”.
Ex-Hamilton Academical defender Rubiales, 45, told radio Marca: “The kiss with Jenni? There are idiots everywhere.
“When two people have a minor show of affection, we can’t listen to idiocy.
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“We are champions and that’s what I’ll take.”
But now the football administrator has backed down and confessed his actions were wrong.
Rubiales said in a subsequent message on Spanish TV: “There is something I regret and it’s over something that happened between a female player and myself who enjoy a magnificent relationship, the same as I have with other women players.
“Certainly I made a mistake and I have to acknowledge that.
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“It was done without any ill intention in a moment of the highest exuberance.
“Here we saw it as natural and normal but outside it has caused a commotion.
“I have no choice but to apologise and to learn from this and take more care when representing the federation.”
Spain’s interim sports minister Miquel Iceta had earlier demanded Rubiales said sorry.
He said: “I think it is unacceptable to kiss a player on the lips to congratulate her.
“The first thing he has to do is to give explanations and make apologies, it is the logical and reasonable thing to do.”
In a strange RFEF statement on Sunday evening, they claimed Hermoso said she has a “great relationship” with the president and “his behaviour has been outstanding”.
Rubiales was also the centre of attention for his antics by entering the Spanish women’s team dressing room after the result and grabbing his crotch in the VIP seats.
While in the changing room he declared he would pay for a trip to Ibiza and vowed to marry Hermoso, 33.
Rubiales has also drawn anger for backing controversial manager Jorge Vilda.
The Spain boss reportedly banned players from locking their hotel rooms before midnight in 2019, as he wanted to carry out room checks.
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He was also accused of forcing players to reveal the contents of their bags at training and treating players like “children”.
Vilda, 42, has been continuously backed by Rubiales, who called him “world-class”, despite concerns from players over the culture within the Spain team.
Hermoso got her hands on the World Cup after beating England in the finalCredit: Getty
Rubiales was also slammed for his support of controversial manager Jorge VildaCredit: Getty More

SPANISH Football Association president Luis Rubiales has issued an apology after kissing player Jenni Hermoso following his country’s Women’s World Cup final win.It’s not the first time Rubiales has come under fire: last year, he was accused of using federation funds to pay for “orgies” with young girls.
He’s faced heavy backlash for the smooch he planted on HermosoCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
The president has come under fire yet againCredit: AFP or licensors
The chief initially defended his kiss with Hermoso and branded critics as “idiots”.
He spoke on radio Marca and said: “When two people have a minor show of affection, we can’t listen to idiocy.
“We are champions and that’s what I’ll take.”
After leading Spanish politicians called for his apology and resignation, Rubiales released a video address today admitting his mistake.
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He said: “I’ve no doubt made a mistake and I have to admit it. At a moment of maximum excitement, without any bad intention or bad faith, what happened happened in a very spontaneous manner, I repeat without bad faith on either side.”
Rubiales went on to say he didn’t “understand what occurred” because he saw it as “normal and natural”.
He continued: “Some people appear to have been upset and therefore I have to apologise.”
Spain’s Equality Minister Irene Montero referred to the act as “sexual violence”.
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General Secretary of Sport for the regional Catalan government Anna Caula has also called for his resignation.
Caula said: “In football things are still not equal, we still have a lot of work to do.
“It is up to a president of the Spanish FA to be scrupulous in the way he behaves himself.”
Hermoso admitted she hadn’t liked the kiss in a live online stream to fans from the dressing room.
In subsequent comments facilitated by Spain’s FA, the Madrid-born footballer who currently plays for Mexican side Pachuca, referred to the moment as a “mutually and totally spontaneous gesture”.
Footage of Rubiales grabbing his crotch and appearing to make an obscene gesture during his wild celebrations beside Spain’s Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter has also come under fire.
The video was uploaded by Spanish politician Pablo Echenique, who has slammed Rubiales for his behaviour.
He said: “As well as giving Jenni Hermoso a non-consensual kiss on the lips while he grabbed her head, an act that could represent the commission of a crime, Rubiales also celebrated Spain’s victory grabbing his testicles next to the queen and her daughter.”
Last year, Rubiales’ uncle was booted from his role as chief of staff at the FA Madrid headquarters after alleging his nephew organised a “private party” with “eight or 10 young girls” and made him pay for it with association funds.
It is understood that in his voluntary statement, he told of “a party in a private chalet” in the town of Salobrena in Granada province in early 2020.
His evidence to the corruption department was that the event was officially designated as a “work” event but that “it was not so”.
Instead, he claimed, the rental of the house was “solely for the enjoyment of Luis Rubiales and his closest advisors”, with the cost paid from FA funds.
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Juan Rubiales said: “A group of eight or 10 young girls was invited by the President’s friend and former player Nene.”
The federation dismissed the 2022 claims of “irregular and inappropriate behaviour at a work meeting with other department directors at which he was present.”
He hugged Hermoso tightly and planted a kiss on her lips following the victoryCredit: Rex
Rubiales was also seen grabbing his crotch at one pointCredit: Twitter/@PabloEchenique More