Republic of Ireland face France in Grenoble on Tuesday, where a victory would secure automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup and complete a historic upset.

The Irish currently sit second in Group A2, trailing the group leaders by a single point heading into the final fixture.

Only the group winners will guarantee their place at the upcoming tournament in Brazil.

Manager Carla Ward has already seen her squad secure a seeded play-off spot for the autumn.

Defying the odds in Group A2

A victory would make the Girls in Green the first fourth-seeded team in League A to top a qualification group.

“No matter what happens this group can be incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far and it’s important we don’t lose sight of that,” said Ward.
“No pot four team stays in League A let alone wins three games and wins the group. We’ve written our own records and this would be the biggest one, no doubt about it.”

The campaign began poorly for the fourth seeds, who suffered consecutive 2-1 defeats against both Les Bleues and the Netherlands in March.

Momentum building ahead of showdown

However, consecutive victories over Poland in April revitalised their hopes of securing a top spot.

The team carried that positive momentum into June, displaying immense resilience to defeat the Dutch 3-2 in torrential rain at Cork on Friday.

That dramatic win set up Tuesday’s winner-takes-all clash against the French national side.

“Everyone called it the group of death but we saw it as an opportunity for this group to show what they’re about,” the Republic of Ireland manager added.

Thriving as massive underdogs

Ward acknowledges her team arrive as major outsiders against a heavily favoured home side boasting a star-studded squad.

With the hosts facing immense pressure to perform in front of their own fans, the visitors believe they can capitalise.

“I expect the French to come after us but I don’t think they will underestimate us, they were really respectful when we played them last time.”
“The pressure is off and I mean it when I say it, there is a real calm and a real focus on the game.”

Manchester City remain in advanced negotiations with Chelsea over a compensation package to appoint Enzo Maresca as the successor to Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola announced his departure on 22 May after a trophy-laden decade at Etihad Stadium.

The Premier League champions quickly identified his former assistant as the premier candidate to take the managerial reins.

Senior figures from both clubs are currently discussing the financial terms required to officially secure the 46-year-old.

Chelsea demand financial settlement

The London club believe they are entitled to a substantial fee following the manager’s departure from Stamford Bridge in January.

He was originally contracted to the Blues until 2029 and secured both the Club World Cup and Conference League during his tenure.

Executives in west London are exploring legal options to ensure a suitable payout is reached.

The timeline and exact valuation of this complex compensation package remain entirely unclear at this stage.

A familiar face in Manchester

The Italian tactician is already deeply acquainted with the setup at the reigning champions.

He served as an instrumental assistant during the historic Treble-winning campaign of 2022-23.

Prior to that first-team role, the former West Bromwich Albion and Juventus midfielder successfully managed the club’s elite development squad.

He subsequently departed for Leicester City, immediately guiding the Foxes to Premier League promotion in his solitary season in charge.

Fractured Stamford Bridge exit

The final months of his tenure in the capital were heavily marred by a deteriorating relationship with the ownership group.

Tensions reportedly arose over fundamental disagreements regarding transfer policy, medical staff decisions and team selections.

Despite these prominent behind-the-scenes issues, he remained highly popular among the playing squad.

Chelsea hierarchy figures feel his sudden exit severely destabilised the team, ultimately causing them to miss out on European qualification.

Midfield reinforcement targeted

In separate transfer activity, the Manchester club have seen an opening offer for Elliot Anderson rejected by Nottingham Forest.

The 23-year-old England international is viewed as the ideal replacement for departing captain Bernardo Silva.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is known to be a formidable negotiator and will not be swayed easily.

The East Midlands club are demanding a British record fee exceeding the £105m Arsenal paid for Declan Rice last year.

Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer will return to the US Open to play in a star-studded exhibition event on 25 August, days before his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The event, titled ‘Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York’, will take place at Flushing Meadows during the week prior to the main tournament.

The Swiss legend will be joined on court by former major champions Andy Roddick, John McEnroe and Andre Agassi.

The United States Tennis Association has confirmed further lineup announcements will be made closer to the date.

A historic return to Arthur Ashe Stadium

The beloved baseliner remains the only player to claim the New York major five consecutive times, dominating the hard courts between 2004 and 2008.

His last competitive appearance at the final Grand Slam of the calendar year came during the 2019 season.

The former world number one expressed his excitement about stepping back onto the famous American court.

“So many unforgettable moments of my career happened in New York, and Arthur Ashe Stadium is a place that means a great deal to me.”
“I’ve missed being part of that atmosphere and feeling the incredible energy that the fans bring every year.”

Hall of Fame honours await

The upcoming exhibition serves as a precursor to a milestone week for the retired sporting icon.

Following his New York appearance, he will travel to Newport, Rhode Island, for his official enshrinement ceremony on 29 August.

Roddick, who won his solitary major title at the US Open in 2003, immediately preceded the era of dominance established by the Swiss maestro.

The Atlanta Hawks have secured the future of head coach Quin Snyder by agreeing a new multiyear contract extension following a strong finish to the NBA season.

This agreement marks a deliberate push for organisational stability by the Georgia-based franchise.

It follows a similar long-term commitment made to Onsi Saleh, who was recently promoted to president of basketball operations.

Navigating life after Trae Young

The veteran tactician has been at the helm in Atlanta since the 2022-23 campaign.

He navigated a turbulent period this year, notably trading four-time All-Star Trae Young to the Washington Wizards in early January.

Despite losing their franchise cornerstone, the reshaped roster featuring new arrivals CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert produced a furious late-season rally.

They secured victories in 19 of their final 24 regular-season fixtures to finish with a respectable 46-36 record.

Post-season impact and player development

That late surge earned the team a first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks.

Although they ultimately suffered a six-game elimination, they remain the only side to have beaten the Eastern Conference powerhouse during this postseason.

Beyond overall team success, the 57-year-old has demonstrated an exceptional ability to develop emerging talent.

He has made NBA history by coaching back-to-back Most Improved Player of the Year award winners.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels both claimed the prestigious individual accolade under his direct tutelage.

Julian Alvarez’s agent has denied that Real Madrid have made a £130m approach for the Atletico Madrid striker, amid reported transfer interest from Arsenal and Barcelona.

The Argentine forward has been heavily linked with a move away from the Metropolitano Stadium this summer following a 20-goal campaign last season.

Speculation intensified last week when Real Madrid president Florentino Perez stated he was preparing a blockbuster £130m offer for an unnamed player.

However, Fernando Hidalgo, who represents the former Manchester City attacker, has moved quickly to quash rumours of a cross-city switch.

“We have no information on the matter and no one has contacted us about it.”

Fernando Hidalgo told Mundo Deportivo

Simeone uncertain on striker’s future

Atletico manager Diego Simeone recently admitted he is unsure whether his leading goalscorer intends to remain with the club.

The 54-year-old coach acknowledged that the World Cup winner is fully in control of his own destiny ahead of the new season.

“This isn’t a question for me; it’s a question for Julian. He’s old enough to know what he’s going to do, and I imagine he’s already made his decision.”

Diego Simeone

Premier League and La Liga rivals circle

Arsenal are reportedly monitoring the situation closely following their recent defeat in the Champions League final.

Mikel Arteta’s side signed Victor Gyokeres last summer, but the Swedish international’s inconsistent form has left the Gunners searching for additional attacking firepower.

Barcelona are also in the market for a prolific frontman following the departure of veteran striker Robert Lewandowski.

The Catalan club’s financial constraints could complicate a deal, particularly after spending £70m to acquire Anthony Gordon.

Former Liverpool and Belgium striker Divock Origi has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 31.

The forward enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at Anfield after initially being signed by Brendan Rodgers in 2014.

He established a reputation as the ultimate big-game player during his eight years on Merseyside, despite often serving as an impact substitute.

During a distinguished career, the 31-year-old also represented Lille, Nottingham Forest and AC Milan, while earning 32 caps for his country.

Cult hero status at Anfield

The Belgian attacker etched his name into folklore with a series of crucial late goals under former manager Jurgen Klopp.

He was instrumental in securing European glory in 2019, scoring twice in a miraculous semi-final comeback against Barcelona before striking in the final against Tottenham.

Domestically, the towering striker was a constant thorn in the side of local rivals Everton.

He netted six times in Merseyside derbies, including a dramatic 96th-minute winner at Anfield in 2018.

Reflecting on iconic moments

Speaking about his decision to step away from the sport, the Champions League winner admitted his memorable European nights stand out above the rest.

“Three goals come to mind: Barcelona, in the Champions League final, and the Everton derby in the 96th minute. Each one is iconic in its own way.”

Divock Origi

The former Reds forward acknowledged that the showpiece final in Madrid represented the pinnacle of his playing days.

“But if I had to choose one, I’d say the Barcelona goal. The emotion and the feeling of those three will stay with me forever.”

A glittering trophy haul

The frontman departs the game having secured a spectacular array of medals.

His honours list includes the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup.

Despite facing stiff competition for minutes throughout his career, his unique bond with the Anfield faithful remained unbreakable.

“Klopp holds a special place for me. We shared special moments and won the biggest trophies together.”

Norway manager Stale Solbakken has branded Scotland “unprofessional” after Steve Clarke’s side abruptly cancelled a planned training-ground friendly ahead of the World Cup in North Carolina.

The behind-closed-doors fixture was scheduled to take place on Monday as both nations ramp up their tournament preparations in the United States.

However, the Scottish camp called off the encounter at short notice, citing minor injuries within their squad.

Solbakken demands personal contact

The late decision provoked a furious reaction from the Scandinavian setup, who were left scrambling to adjust their training schedule.

Solbakken expressed intense frustration after his side played out a 1-1 draw against Morocco, who are coincidentally drawn in Scotland’s World Cup group.

“It was at least as surprising to me, and it is unprofessional of Scotland,” Solbakken told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

The Norwegian head coach was particularly aggrieved by the lack of direct communication from his opposite number.

“It is unprofessional that the coach has not called me, that they use the team manager and call and say it after we have finished training.”

Scotland cite injury caution

Norway’s backroom staff were equally scathing about the broken agreement.

Former Fulham defender Brede Hangeland, now serving as team manager for his country, labelled the late withdrawal as “embarrassing” and “weak”.

With both squads based just 90 miles apart in North Carolina, the logistical setup had been planned for many months.

Responding to the mounting criticism, the Scotland boss offered a brief defence of his cautious approach.

“It was just going to be a training game for an hour at our training ground,” Clarke told BBC Scotland.
“We picked up one or two niggles last week and decided it wasn’t worth the risk.”

Crucial tournament preparations

The dispute highlights the intense pressure international managers face to keep their squads fully fit on the eve of a major global tournament.

Clarke will be desperate to avoid any serious injuries to key personnel as the national team finalises tactical plans for a challenging group stage.

Scotland forward Claire Emslie has returned to international football just six months after the birth of her son as she targets the upcoming World Cup finals in Brazil.

The 32-year-old started in Melissa Andreatta’s side during their emphatic 6-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Israel in Budapest last Friday.

Now, the Los Angeles-based attacker is preparing to face Israel again on Tuesday as the national team aims to hold off Belgium and finish top of Group B4.

Her rapid return to the pitch completes a remarkable turnaround that began when her waters broke unexpectedly during a workout session.

A surprise arrival ahead of schedule

“Through my whole pregnancy, my club were brilliant,” Emslie told BBC Scotland.
“My body was able to do so much more than we expected and I could train right up to the day I gave birth.”

The Scottish international explained that she was exercising when her son Jamie decided to make a sudden appearance two weeks ahead of his late-December due date.

“My water broke in the gym. I was doing an exercise and as I stepped back, I felt it and I was like, ‘oh man, here we go’.”

Patience through physical rehabilitation

Following a Caesarean section, the experienced professional had to exercise patience before resuming elite-level physical activity.

“Three weeks later, I started with pelvic floor physio,” she added.
“My main recovery was getting my abs back together. Everything else was intact and it was just getting the abs back together and allowing my body time to recover.”

By mid-January, the versatile winger was already back in light training.

Returning to the global stage

She subsequently made her club comeback on Mother’s Day in the United States, stepping onto the pitch for Angel City on May 10.

Now fully integrated back into the national setup, she is laser-focused on securing qualification for the showcase tournament in South America.