Women’s World Cup 2023

ALESSIA RUSSO appeared to be in tears as the Lionesses waited for their plane home at Sydney Airport.The heartbroken star was subbed at half-time during the Women’s World Cup final defeat against Spain on Sunday morning.
Alessia Russo looked emotional at Sydney Airport following defeat in the Women’s World Cup finalCredit: Splash
She appeared to break down in tearsCredit: Splash
Alex Greenwood still had her bruise from the match on her eyeCredit: Splash
And Russo, 24, is still feeling the pain from the defeat a day later as she appeared to wipe tears away while in the departures lounge.
The Arsenal star was replaced at half-time by manager Sarina Wiegman with the Lionesses chasing a goal.
She and Rachel Daly, 31, made way for Lauren James and Chloe Kelly but the pair were unable to find an equaliser.
Olga Carmona scored the decisive goal to clinch the trophy for Jorge Vilda and La Roja.
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Russo finished the tournament as England’s joint-top scorer alongside James and Lauren Hemp with three goals.
Wiegman defended her decision to make the change after the game as she insisted that the team “gave everything”.

She said: “I have no regrets. I think we gave everything. The players gave everything.
“We tried different tactics. I also have to give credit to Spain.
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Sarina Wiegman defended her decision to sub RussoCredit: PA
“I think they were the team over the whole tournament who played the best football.”
She was not the only star of the team to appear emotional as the whole squad looked tired after the six-week tournament.
All 23 players, as well as Wiegman and her coaching staff, were seen together ahead of the long flight back to England.
Alex Greenwood also appeared with a bruised eye following her collision with Spain striker Salma Paralluelo during the match.
The Manchester City and England defender took a brutal knee to the head in the 80th minute of the final, but insisted on continuing until full-time.
Defensive duo Daly and Jess Carter looked down as they left England’s team hotel for the airport.
The team did still have an after-party and were joined by England’s staff and their family and friends.
They are now flying home from AustraliaCredit: Splash More

SPANISH FA chief Luis Rubiales has come under fire once more after footage emerged of him grabbing his crotch next to the Queen and her daughter.The football official had already been slammed for grabbing and kissing Spain’s Jenni Hermose on the lips following La Roja’s 1-0 victory over England in Sydney.
Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales seen grabbing crotch next to queen & teen daughter before shock kiss of World Cup starCredit: Twitter/@PabloEchenique
He would then proceed to grab the face of Jeni Hermose and kiss her on the lipsCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Speaking on Spanish TV, the World Cup winner later revealed that she “did not enjoy” the kiss.
And Rubiales has now landed himself in even more hot water after he was captured thrusting his groin area in the direction of the players.
The 45-year-old committed the act as he was celebrating Spain’s World Cup win following the final whistle.
The shocking moment happened as he was stood next to Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter Sofia.
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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.”
The Spanish FA chief has since responded to the criticism of the kiss and defended his actions on Radio Marca.
“The kiss with Jenni?”, he said. “There are idiots everywhere.
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“When two people have an insignificant show of affection, we cannot pay attention to idiocy. We are champions, and with that, I stay”.
Echenique, who is a member of hard-left wing party Podemos, also posted a photo of Rubiales up to further tricks.
Having already inappropriately kissed Hermose on the lips, he was then captured giving match winner Olga Carmona a peck on the cheek.
Echenique uploaded this photo to his Twitter feed, with the caption: “Here he is too with Olga Carmona.
“It seems this guy was drooling over and stalking the whole team”.
Inside the changing room following the game, Rubiales was filmed announcing a trip to Ibiza as a reward for the players.
He then joked in front of Hermose, having already kissed her, and her teammates: “In Ibiza we’ll be celebrating Jenni and Luis Rubiales’ wedding.”
During a live stream for fans, Hermose admitted she hadn’t liked the kiss but said it was a “mutually and totally spontaneous gesture”.
She then insisted: “The president and I have a great relationship.”
Rubiales, however, revealed his frustration at the claims made towards him when speaking with Spanish programme El Partizado.
“It’s a peak of two friends celebrating something”, he spat.
“We’re not here for bulls***. Me, with everything I’ve been through, more bulls*** and more a**holes, no.
“Let’s ignore it and enjoy the good stuff and don’t even tell me things about losers who can’t see (the positive). 
“It is a thing without evil. If there are fools, let them continue with their nonsense. There are more fools than windows. Let’s pay attention to those who are not fools. 
“It is something without evil and nonsense.”
Rubiales has previously hit the headlines for other controversy, having been accused of using federation funds to pay for a sex party in early 2020.
He was outed by his uncle, whom he sacked as chief of staff at the FA’s Madrid headquarters that same year.
Juan Rubiales claimed that his nephew organised the “private party” with “eight or 10 young girls” and made him pay for it with association funds.
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The allegations brought firm denials and an angry response from the Spanish FA.
Spanish politician Pablo Echenique claims Rubiales “was drooling over and stalking the whole team”Credit: Reuters
Rubiales celebrates Spain’s Women’s World Cup win with head coach Jorge VildaCredit: Getty
Rubiales has defended his actions by claiming “there are idiots everywhere”Credit: AP More

THE Lionesses earned far less than the men for their World Cup efforts.England’s women lost a heartbreaking final to Spain in Sydney on Sunday.
England’s women reached the Women’s World Cup finalCredit: Getty
The Lionesses lost 1-0 to Spain to miss out on lifting the iconic trophyCredit: Getty
Olga Carmona’s goal on just before the half-hour mark proved the difference as Sarina Wiegman’s side fell just short of being crowned world champions.
Their amazing run to the final saw them pocket a £2.4million prize money pot for the FA from Fifa.
That £2.4m is likely to be split between the players and the FA – with the governing body historically giving 40 per cent to the squad in their previous tournaments for the men.
Should the same percentages be used for the women this time around, the 23 heroic Lionesses would get £41,700 each with £1.44m going back into the FA.
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And Fifa introduced a new personal player bonus scheme for this Women’s World Cup which means all the players take home an extra £153,000 each.
That would total £194,700 for the 23 women, nearly quadruple the £55,000 they earned for winning the Euros in 2022.

However, the figure could be changed if the Lionesses and the FA can reach an agreement over bonuses.
England pay their Three Lions and Lionesses £2,000 every time they represent the national team, with the men’s match fees given straight to charity.
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But the disparity in FA bonuses triggered a public statement from the Lionesses blasting the national governing body on the eve of the World Cup.
The row between the two parties was put on hold during the tournament in Australia and New Zealand – with Ian Wright slamming the FA as “embarrassing”.
But the players are determined to have their voices heard after their initial request for a £100,000 FA bonus should they win the World Cup was rejected by the FA – even though they agreed to pay their male counterparts an extra £500,000 if they had won Qatar 2022.
The men received £300,000 each for reaching the Euro 2020 final the year before – and would have got £460,000 per player had they won the shootout against Italy at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate’s men were dumped out in the quarter-finals at last year’s World Cup, losing 2-1 to France.
Fifa awarded England £17m in prize money for reaching the last eight.
And assuming the FA used the same 40:60 split, that would have seen the 26 players divide £6.8m between them for £261,500 each and the remaining £10.2m kept in-house.
That works out as approximately £66,800 more than the finalist women – with the vast majority of the Lionesses’ cash coming directly from Fifa and not from the FA.
England’s men pocketed £261,500 for their efforts in QatarCredit: Getty
England lost to France in the quater-finalsCredit: Getty More

THE Spanish national team posted a bizarre tweet in support of controversial head coach Jorge Vilda on Sunday, just moments after winning the Women’s World Cup.Spain clinched the title with a narrow 1-0 win over European champions England.
The Spanish national team have shown their support for VildaCredit: Getty
The controversial coach led La Roja to World Cup gloryCredit: PA
Olga Carmona scored the decisive goal as La Roja cruised to their first Women’s World Cup final win.
But the victory was somewhat marred by an ongoing feud behind the scenes.
Last September, 15 senior players – including Aitana Bonmati and Ona Batlle – all sent identical emails to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) addressing issues within the national team set-up.
They received public support from three other players – Irene Paredes, Jennifer Hermoso and two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas.
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Several stars wanted Vilda to resign and some accused him of creating a toxic atmosphere among the squad.
They were also very critical of the RFEF’s lack of professionalism.
Despite the claims and calls for Vilda to leave, the RFEF stood by the manager.
Many fans and players were left angered as a result, but the Spanish national team reiterated their support with a tweet after Sunday’s World Cup final.
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The tweet simply read: “Vilda in.”
Spain’s World Cup win was also overshadowed by the controversial actions of RFEF president Luis Rubiales.
While La Roja collected their winners’ medals after the match, Rubiales grabbed Jennifer Hermoso’s head before kissing her on the lips.
The midfielder later said: “Eh… yeah, I did not enjoy that.”
Rubiales then entered the dressing room to promise the entire squad a holiday to Ibiza – before declaring he will MARRY Hermoso there.
All 23 Spain players appeared to celebrate the win by themselves after full-time.
Vilda attempted to join in with the celebrations, but he was awkwardly snubbed by the entire team.
And he was booed while receiving his medal.
Meanhwile there was heartache for scorer Olga Carmona after she learned shortly after the game that her father had died. More