Football⚽️

Clive Dickens, Optus Sport’s vice president of TV, content, and product development, said the A-Leagues need more help to truly thrive in Australia.

“The A-Leagues is a proven pathway for great young talent and our ongoing growth is crucial for the future of our national teams,” an APL spokesperson told Mumbrella.

“As we continue our growth trajectory, more support from government and commercial partners will help propel the game – which is the most participated sport in the country – even further.”

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Love the racism there in that article.

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The Matildas’ journey at the Paris 2024™ Olympic Games has come to an end. Despite their best efforts, the team has not progressed to the Quarter Finals.

This outcome is undoubtedly disappointing for the team, the fans, and the entire Australian football community. The team’s objective was to improve on the previous fourth-place finish at Tokyo 2020™, and while this Olympic campaign did not unfold as hoped, Football Australia remain immensely proud of the dedication and hard work displayed by the Matildas throughout the qualification period and the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.

Following the conclusion of the Matildas’ Olympic campaign, Head Coach Tony Gustavsson’s four-year contract with Football Australia has also come to an end by mutual agreement. Gustavsson addressed the players and staff following the final group stage match against the United States to farewell them and wish them every success with their futures.

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I’m not sure saying he was “sacked” is quite the right way to phrase it - his contract was up at the end of the Olympic campaign and the signs had been there for a while that the likelihood of him getting an extension may have been limited.

The Matildas’ Olympic performance really underscored for me how much of an aberration their WWC results were

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Football fans will remember Tony Gustavson’s tenure for launching the U23 program, but also failing to bring home any major trophy (including Asian Cup and World Cup) during his four years as coach.

I feel the Matildas need an experienced coach such as Sarina Wiegman to take the team to the next level.

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Yeah exactly, his contact just hasn’t been renewed.

Gustavsson

She’s not coming here. The full system needs a rebuild if we want to actually perform well.

Nah it’ll be remembered for that WC 4th place.

That’s what the general public and casual fans will remember Tony for. Keen football followers however will think otherwise.

I know from a football mind he’ll be remembered for shit football and bad management. Was just trying to be positive lol.

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And amidst all of this there is the situation with sidelined captain Sam Kerr, whose silence has been deafening during the Matildas’ Olympics tournament. Kerr is normally active and ever-present on social media but the superstar striker has not posted one piece of content about her teammates during the Olympics.

Kerr did share an Instagram story with footage of the Australian women’s water polo team that she captioned: “How gooooood @water polo aus." But the 30-year-old hasn’t mentioned the Matildas at all in what is a bizarre development considering she is the regular captain of the side.

The curious situation has only fuelled speculation that Kerr has had a falling out with Football Australia, with The Australian reporting that her relationship with the governing body is at an “all-time low”. The same report goes on to say that Kerr’s role as mentor for the Aussies while injured during last year’s World Cup may have been grossly under-appreciated, with her absence brutally felt at the Olympics in Paris.

The report said Kerr “took on an unofficial role of captain/coach” during their home World Cup and provided her teammates with “guidance when there was none coming from elsewhere”. It goes on to claim that many believed it was Kerr’s influence that ‘drove’ the Matildas to their historic fourth place finish at the World Cup.

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NPL state comps are working out well then

https://x.com/MelbKnights/status/1821854191247356141

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Ipswich said Thursday that the British musician has acquired a 1.4 per cent ownership stake, but will be a passive investor and not part of the club’s board of directors.

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Oh yeah real good clickbait Nine

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Whay do you mean @foxyrover, it’s a MAJOR news story, after all he’s acquired 1.4%! :crazy_face: :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

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Sydney FC has drawn Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Filipino champions Kaya FC-Iloilo and 2023-24 Hong Kong FA Cup winners Eastern in Group E of AFC Champions League Two.

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Jee I wonder what AFL club he’s now the owner of! :joy:

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The AFC World Cup qualifier will be played on Thursday night, November 14.

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UM, WHAT?! 🤯🤯🇧🇷

Yep, you read that right, Douglas Costa has reportedly signed for Sydney FC on a two-year deal in one of the biggest transfer coups in A-Leagues history.

The former Juventus and Bayern Munich man joins as a free agent, after last playing for Fluminese in… pic.twitter.com/N79fcH0Xxg

— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) August 25, 2024

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