Norway, a team from the Nordic region, has been awarded the inaugural Women’s World Cup. Wales will look to cut that deficit to two points against Norway on April 14. Spain has already secured the group’s top spot with seven points, and Poland sits in third behind the Czech Republic. It has a chance to finish the month of March as group leaders after the game against bottom-place Azerbaijan on March 11.
AFC Ajax Women is 1st in the UEFA Women’s Champions League table
AFC Ajax Women sit in the top position in the table with a total of 0 points after a single match. They have a goal difference of 0% with 0 goals scored and 0 conceded. They are followed by ALG Spor Kulubu Women in second place with 0 points. RSC Anderlecht Women are third with 0 points.
In the UEFA Women’s Champions League, top women’s clubs compete against each other. The qualification process is based on UEFA country coefficients, which take into account the teams’ performance in the competitions since 2014-15. In the table, teams with a higher coefficient are in bold. Those teams that have won the competition are highlighted in yellow.
AFC Ajax Women is the top team in the UEFA Women’s Champions league. This team has won all 12 of its home European games, and they play Wigan in a semi-final on Thursday. The EHF Champions League Semi-final rematch gets the Match of the Week treatment, as AFC Ajax Women are the reigning champions.
Alexia Putellas is out of the Women’s European Championship
After a stellar two-year spell, Barcelona star Alexia Putellas is out of action at the Women’s European Championship after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury. It is difficult to judge the severity of such an injury, but a rupture can leave a player out of action for months. Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell was sidelined by a partial ACL tear last November but returned to action in late May. While her injury will certainly hamstring her chances, there’s no doubt that this injury will be a blow to the entire team, and that she will be sidelined for a long time.
This is a major blow for Spain as it means they have been missing one of their most important players. Putellas has a clear identity in their play and is often relied upon to take the ball in difficult areas. Her lack of presence in this area will leave the squad feeling vulnerable, but Christiansen feels that it’s a chance for one of her teammates to step up and prove herself.
Corinne Diacre’s managerial tenure has been plagued by tumult
Corinne Diacre’s management tenure has been marked by tumult and controversy. The French manager had a turbulent time leading her former club Clermont Foot to mid-table finishes in three seasons despite their limited budget. While many players admired her tactical skills and hard work, Diacre’s managerial style was controversial and she received criticism for the way she handled the team. She also suffered from the absence of two key players, Amandine Henry and Eugenie Le Sommer. While her relationship with her players was tumultuous, Diacre’s position as manager seemed secure – until she began to annoy and anger the players by making changes.
France have made several changes during Diacre’s managerial tenure. She has stripped long-time captain Renard of her armband and clashed with the Lyon contingent in her squad, and has left out Eugenii Le Sommer and Sarah Bouhaddi from her final squad. The French federation’s president, Jacques Rogge, has backed Diacre and urged her to stay in the role until the 2023 World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.