Wales head coach Gemma Grainger has announced a 26-player squad for the key FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Slovenia. Four points from the two matches will see Wales secure a play-off place, as they chase their first ever berth at a FIFA Women’s World Cup. Wales have a near full strength side, with Jess Fishlock and Charlie Estcourt returning after being rested for June’s friendly match against New Zealand, while Esther Morgan and Hannah Cain are absentees as they continue their recovery from long term injuries.
Wales first travel to Volos to face Greece on Friday 2 September (KO 18:00), before a final qualifier against Slovenia on Tuesday 6 September at the Cardiff City Stadium (KO 19:45). The match in Cardiff is already a record breaker with more than 8,500 tickets sold, beating the current attendance for a Wales Women’s home international match (5,455). Grainger and her side are hoping to welcome more than 10,000 to the ground as the noise of The Red Wall will play a key role in getting the side through to the play-offs. Continue reading ” REVEALED: WALES SQUAD FOR CRUCIAL FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS”
Slovenia international shot stopper Jan Oblak has extended his contract at Spanish La Liga side Atletico Madrid. The goalkeeper is said to have signed a new contract with the capital club until 2028. Atletico Madrid are yet to announce the contract extension, but journalist David Medina revealed that it’s a done deal. Medina writes for Spanish newspaper Marca.
Oblak, 29, had one year left on his previous Atletico Madrid contract before the Slovenian international agreed a five-year contract extension to take his time with the three-time European Cup/Champions League finalists to the end of the 2027/28 season. Continue reading “OBLAK EXTENDS ATLETICO MADRID CONTRACT”
Slovenia are no longer in the hunt for promotion from UEFA Nations League B to League A after they played out a 2-2 draw at home to Serbia in their latest game in Group B4. Slovenia and Serbia are in the same group in League B alongside leaders Norway and Sweden.
The Slovenians are yet to record a single win in four attempts as far as their Nations League campaign in Group B is concerned. It started with the 2-0 loss at home to Sweden with goals from Emil Forsberg (penalty) and DejanKulusevski either side of the half-time interval. Slovenia made it two losses from two games after the 4-1 defeat at the hands of Serbia who are going to the World Cup in Qatar. They are the only representative from the group at this year’s World Cup tournament on Qatari soil. Continue reading “SLOVENIA OUT OF NATIONS LEAGUE PROMOTION”
Immediate past Spanish La Liga champions Atletico Madrid have booked their place in the Champions League next season after beating Elche away from home in a league encounter played on Wednesday. Atletico Madrid were unable to defend the title they won last season, but they have recovered from a poor run just before the winter part of the season to seal a place in the top-four as far as La Liga football is concerned this season thereby securing their place in the Champions League in the new season.
Slovenia national team skipper Jan Oblak won the best player award in La Liga at the end of last season after playing a key role in delivering a first league title in seven years for Atletico Madrid. Just like what’s obtainable with the majority of his teammates from last season, Slovenia internationalOblakfailed to live up to the level shown last season. Oblak and his teammates dropped out of the title race even before the second half of the season. In the end, Atletico Madrid were replaced by city rivals Real Madrid. Continue reading “ATLETICO SEAL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOT”
Slovenia international Jan Oblak was in the Atletico Madrid goal during the Spanish La Liga Matchday 33 encounter with Granada on Wednesday night. The Slovenia national team skipper was able to keep a clean sheet as Spanish champions Atletico Madrid were forced to a goalless draw at home.
Oblak was been a regular in the Atletico Madrid team set to lose their status as Spanish La Liga champions to city rivals Real Madrid. The Slovenia international is the undisputed first choice goalkeeper at Atletico Madrid. He was named the best player in La Liga as Atletico Madrid won the league title last season, but has struggled to reach that height this season alongside his teammates. As things stand on the La Liga table, Atletico Madrid still gave a lot of work to do to qualify for the Champions League next season especially after the goalless draw with Granada on Wednesday ahead of the final five games of the season. Continue reading “OBLAKKEEPS CLEAN SHEET AGAINST GRANADA”
Slovenia will face two World Cup 2022 teams during the ongoing international break. The Slovenians will take on Croatia on Saturday afternoon in the first of their two international friendlies during this March international break before meeting World Cup 2022 hosts Qatarin the second international friendly next week Tuesday.
The two Slovenian opponents during the March international break are part of the 32-team cast for the World Cup tournament in Qatar later this year. Qatar were the first team to confirm their place at the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup as hosts, while Croatia qualified automatically as Group H winners in the first round of the European qualifiers. Ironically, Croatia and Slovenia were in the group together. Continue reading “SLOVENIA FACING CROATIA, QATAR FRIENDLIES”
First choice Inter Milan shot stopper Samir Handanovic will reportedly deputise for Cameroon star Andre Onana when he joins this summer. This is according to the latest reports emanating out of the Italian media.
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Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper Onana is expected to sign for Inter Milan on a free transfer in time for the start of next season. The Cameroonian has already passed all the necessary medicals for the free transfer move to go ahead. He is presently representing host nation Cameroon at the ongoing 2021 AFCON tournament. Onana is the first choice goalkeeper for Cameroon who are in the last eight of the tournament and will face debutants Gambia this weekend for a place in the semi-finals. Continue reading “HANDANOVIC TO DEPUTISE FOR ONANA”
Slovenia had known that they won’t be at next year’s World Cup tournament in Qatar since last month after they had an inferior record to the top two teams namely Russia and Croatia who reached the final of the last edition before they were beaten 4-2 by eventual winners France. Ironically, Russia were the hosts of that last edition three years ago. Russia and Croatia were both drawn in Group H of the European qualifiers alongside Slovenia, Slovakia, Malta and Cyprus. At the end of proceedings in the group, Croatia sealed automatic qualification as winners, while Russia will have to navigate their way to Qatar 2022 via the playoffs.
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At the top of the group, Russia were in pole position to take the sole automatic spot before they were beaten to it by the Croatians thanks to the slender 1-0 win recorded at the expense of the Russians. Fyodor Kudryashov scored an unfortunate own goal nine minutes from time as Croatia beat Russia 1-0 to usurp them at the summit of Group H and book their passage to next year’s World Cup tournament. Croatia finished at the top of the group with 23 points from ten games, while Russia had 21 points from ten games. Continue reading “SLOVENIA END QUALIFIERS WITH WIN”
Atletico Madrid shot stopper Jan Oblak is widely seen as the best goalkeeper in world football and the Slovenia goalkeeper will most likely have his work cut out when he faces Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah who’s at the peak of his powers at the moment. Slovenia national team skipper Oblak and his Egyptian counterpart Salah will face each other when Spanish La Liga champions Atletico Madrid play hosts to Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
While Slovenia shot stopper Oblak and his Atletico Madrid teammates were not in leagueaction over the weekend, Salah was netting a world class goal against Watford in the Premier League to add to the one that he scored in the 2-2 home draw with defending champions Manchester City in the same competition. Continue reading “CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: CAN OBLAK STOP SALAH?”
Slovenia are down to fourth place on the Group H standings after their latest World Cup 2022 qualifier, a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of hosts Croatia. The Slovenians missed out on the opportunity to close the gap on the top two teams in the group namely leaders Croatia and second-placed Russia.
The latest set of World Cup 2022 qualifiers in Group H started with Slovenia in third place and three points off the top two of Croatia and Russia. Slovakia, Cyprus and Malta are the other three teams in the group. Continue reading “GROUP H: SLOVENIA DROP TO FOURTH”
