World champions Spain on Tuesday ruthlessly dispatched Switzerland 7-1 in the UEFA Women’s Nations League, while England’s hopes of progression were dented by Belgium.
Alexia Putellas grabbed a goal either side of halftime and an assist as the Spaniards put Switzerland to the sword in Zurich.
The match was the team’s first since FIFA on Monday announced that former Royal Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales had incurred a three-year ban for kissing Jenni Hermoso.
Photo: AFP
If the news had any effect on the players, it was soon forgotten as Oihane Hernandez gave them the lead after four minutes, which Putellas then added to seven minutes later.
The world champions piled the misery on the hosts after the break, adding five goals, Alayah Pilgrim grabbing a consolation strike for the Swiss.
COMPUTER GLITCH
Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati was present for the occasion despite picking up the Ballon d’Or on Monday in Paris, but defender Irene Paredes was kept from making her 100th appearance with the women’s national team because of a computer glitch.
Spain coach Montse Tome said after the match that a computer error had kept Paredes from being added to Spain’s official match squad.
“There was some kind of computer problem, I was told about it at the hotel,” Tome said. “I had to adapt to the situation and I went with the starting 11 that you saw.”
Spanish media said the Spanish soccer federation was not able to properly update the squad in UEFA’s official application. Instead, the squad from the previous match — in which Paredes was not included, because she was not fit — was in the system.
Spain sit five points clear of Sweden, who drew 1-1 with Italy, at the top of Group A4 with a maximum 12 points from four matches.
OTHER GAMES
Meanwhile, World Cup runners-up England slipped to a 3-2 defeat against Belgium in Leuven that puts their Nations League hopes in the balance. It was the first time that England have conceded three goals since Sarina Wiegman took over as coach in 2021.
Netherlands won 1-0 in Scotland, while France stumbled to a 0-0 home draw against Norway, but with 10 points they remain top of Group A2, three clear of second-placed Austria who beat Portugal 2-1.
Additional reporting by AP
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak. Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their