New Delhi, July 24 (IANS) Legendary Australia captain Steve Waugh believes Ireland’s 2-0 T20I series sweep over world champions India happening in June is a clear indicator of the untapped potential in European cricket and offers a massive boost to the upcoming inaugural season of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL).Waugh is a co-owner of the Amsterdam Flames franchise in the league, which begins on August 26. “Ireland whitewashing the T20 World Cup Champions, India, 2-0 is an amazing result …
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Imphal/Aizawl, July 19 (IANS) The governments of Manipur and Mizoram have declared a holiday for educational institutions on Monday to enable students to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, reflecting the immense popularity of football in the two Northeastern states, officials said on Sunday. Spain will take on Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at the New York–New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) in East Rutherford, the United States, on Sunday night (local time). The match will be t…
Shillong, July 19 (IANS) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Sunday announced that all schools and colleges across the state will remain closed on Monday to allow students to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 final without worrying about attending classes the following morning. In a video message posted on social media, Sangma said the state government had decided to declare a holiday for all educational institutions in recognition of Meghalaya’s deep-rooted passion for football.“The go…
New Delhi, July 19 (IANS) The FIFA World Cup has once again demonstrated football’s unmatched ability to unite billions across the globe, delivering unforgettable moments on and off the pitch. As the world gears up for the final between Argentina and Spain, the spotlight has also returned to a question that continues to haunt Indian football: why has a nation of more than 1.4 billion people still not qualified for the sport’s biggest event? For Shaji Prabhakaran, the answer is neither complicate…
New Delhi, July 19 (IANS) Former general secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Shaji Prabhakaran believes that India’s failure to qualify for a FIFA World Cup is not because of a lack of talent, population or potential, but because the country’s football ecosystem has not worked collectively and consistently enough towards that goal. Speaking exclusively to IANS about the reasons behind India’s prolonged absence from football’s biggest stage, Prabhakaran called for greater unity,…
Miami, July 18 (IANS) England head coach Thomas Tuchel has defended his tactical decisions following a World Cup semifinal exit, insisting that his side is on a long-term mission to “close the gap” with the world’s elite.Reflecting on the 2-1 defeat to Argentina, Tuchel responded to the criticism regarding England’s late-game passivity. “I view them in the same way – that we were too passive,” he said on Friday.However, the coach refused to apologize for switching to a back-five system. “I don’t…
New York, July 18 (IANS) Lionel Scaloni paid tribute to Lionel Messi ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final, urging fans to cherish what will likely be the Argentina captain’s last appearance on football’s biggest stage.Argentina will bid to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cup trophies since Brazil in 1962 when it meets Spain in the title decider in New Jersey.”He is pure history. He is a legend,” Scaloni was quoted by Xinhua as saying. “For him to reach a final at 39 years of age is …
New York, July 18 (IANS) Nearly two decades ago, Lionel Messi helped bathe a five-month-old baby at a charity calendar photo shoot in Barcelona. On Sunday, that baby faces him in a World Cup final.Argentina captain Messi reflected Friday on his unlikely first meeting with Spain forward Lamine Yamal, recalling the viral 2007 photo ahead of their first-ever meeting on a football pitch.”Honestly, that photo of us is crazy, because, well, that’s life, right? I was in that photo with him as a baby, a…
Mumbai, July 18 (IANS) Amitabh Bachchan, who is an ardent sports fan, has shared a few nuggets of wisdom about the upcoming FIFA World Cup final. The megastars says that while every player left in the tournament is a “superstar”, the ultimate winner will be decided by the tactical brilliance of the coaches. Amitabh took to his blog, where he shared his thoughts on Argentina’s bold substitution against England. He praised the risky yet decisive move, calling it a testament to fearless game manage…
New Delhi, July 16 (IANS) India captain and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu believes a possible expansion of the FIFA World Cup 2026 to 64 teams could improve India’s chances of reaching football’s biggest stage, but stressed that the national team’s immediate focus should remain on climbing the Asian rankings rather than getting carried away by speculation.FIFA president Gianni Infantino recently backed studying a proposal to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams. While the tournament is …