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The Netherlands were runners-up at the 2019 Womens World Cup under Sarina Wiegman, the now-England manager who had guided her home nation to European Championship success on home soil two years earlier. Four years ago the Netherlands were, in truth, not entirely convincing in the group stage despite eventually winning all three games, and then squeezed through to the final with lots of late goals, including an extra-time winner against Sweden in the semi-final. They reached the second round in 2015, their first appearance at the World Cup.

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After dismissing Englishman Mark Parsons following a disappointing European Championship last summer, the Netherlands appointed Andries Jonker. Hes had an eclectic career, mainly in mens football, including stints as an assistant for Barcelona, coach of Bayern Munichs B team, a period in charge of Arsenals academy and a spell as Wolfsburg boss.

Jonker has used both 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3, and there was also an experiment with 3-5-2 in a friendly defeat to Germany in April. This group of players is probably best suited to 4-2-3-1.

Goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar was the unexpected star at last years Euros, having been capped only once before the tournament, replacing Sari van Veenendaal because of injury early on in the opener against Sweden and making several spectacular saves throughout the tournament.

Jill Roord is a good all-round midfielder, feisty but creative, and able to put her side in charge of matches, while Lieke Martens is a few years past her peak she was named the best player in the world by FIFA in 2017 but still capable of dribbling forward purposefully down their left flank.

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Vivianne Miedema is arguably the worlds best striker, but an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury last December rules her out. She is surely the single biggest loss for any side in this tournament.

An excellent midfield. Roord and Danielle van de Donk have looked revitalised since leaving Arsenal two years ago, shining for Wolfsburg and Lyon respectively (Roord recently moved again, returning to England with Manchester City). Damaris Egurrola plays the holding role well and Jackie Groenen brings further technical quality but will probably be a substitute.

Inevitably, its: how do they cope without Miedema? Replacement Lineth Beerensteyn is a completely different type of player whereas Miedema doesnt mind operating as a No 10 and likes coming deep towards the ball, Beerensteyn is a converted winger who loves sprinting into the channels. The game plan is going to be entirely different.

They finished top of Group C with few problems, although surprisingly dropped points against an otherwise-average Czech Republic side. In March, the Netherlands thrashed Poland but lost narrowly to Germany.

Group E pits the Netherlands against the side who defeated them in the 2019 World Cup final, USWNT. That game, in the second round of matches, will surely decide the winners of this group. The Dutch start with Portugal, while the final group game against Vietnam should be very simple. If they finish runners-up to the Americans, they could face Sweden in the round of 16.

Two matches in Dunedin and one in Wellington, before a trip over to Australia for a probable first knockout game, and then back to New Zealand again if they reach the quarter-finals. Dunedin will be by far the coldest host city in the tournament, so constantly shifting between different climates may be an issue.

Goals from various sources. Miedema cannot be adequately replaced but Martens has 59 international goals, Van de Donk 34, and three others have more than 20. They are capable of stepping up.

Sherida Spitse is now on an incredible 215 caps but, having spent her career in midfield, is more likely to be used in defence at this tournament.

(Top photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)

Read more:
Womens World Cup 2023: Netherlands team guide - The Athletic

This is another big match for the 'Caps, and another chance to lift a trophy.

Here's what you need to know about their newest foes.

The best team in the entire region.

That's not subjective, or hyperbole. Last month they were crowned Concacaf Champions League (now Concacaf Champions Cup) winners, claiming the title of best team in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

It was the same competition where the 'Caps made the quarterfinals this year, before being ousted by an LAFC team that many saw as the region's best team.

Not so fast. This Len team won both legs against LAFC in the final, ultimately taking the series 3-1 on aggregate.

Who are their key players?

Ecuadorian winger ngel Mena, now 35, is top 10 on Len's all-time scoring list with 73 goals since joining the club in 2019. For his country, he has made more than 45 appearances, including his most recent on June 20 alongside Pedro Vite, when the Whitecaps FC midfielder scored on his senior international debut.

Vctor Dvila is a force up front. The little Chilean has 33 goals since joining the club in 2021. For his country, the 25-year-old has made five appearances so far.

On the backline, William Tesillo leads the way. The Colombian international has made more than 150 appearances for the club since he arrived in 2018. On the international stage he has represented Colombia 30 times.

Have the 'Caps played a Mexican side before?

Yes, but only once before in official competition.

In 2017, the 'Caps made it all the way to the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions League, taking on the giants of the region and the highest spending club, Tigres UANL.

The 'Caps battled valiantly. After a 2-0 defeat in Mexico, the Blue & White scored inside the first five minutes at BC Place to cut it to 2-1. They had chances to tie it as well, but ultimately Tigres proved too strong and won the second leg 2-1, taking it 4-1 on aggregate.

The 'Caps will play their second Leagues Cup match on the road the following Saturday, July 29 at LA Galaxy.

The top two teams from their group will advance to the knockout rounds. If the 'Caps win the group, they will host their first knockout game back at BC Place on August 4.

Read the original post:
Who are Club Len? The best team in the region | Vancouver ... - Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Tears poured out of Danny Wolfs eyes following Israels dramatic 89-79 overtime defeat to France at the Under-20 FIBA European Championship in Heraklion on Sunday night. The Yale University product was inconsolable as he languished on the court following the final whistle.

His teammate Noam Yaacov came over and gave him a hug and some words of encouragement, but the big mans eyes continued to tear up as the drops were the size of an ocean that he had crossed less than two months ago to play for a country that he had only visited as an American Jew.

The 19-year-old was named to the Team of the Tournament along with Yaacov but even the personal awards could not cheer Wolf up to the point where he could crack a bit of a smile for the postgame ceremony and photos.

Wolf had been so close to having taken his adopted country of Israel to the promised land that would have given the young blue-and-white a third championship in the last four tournaments.

After tying up the game at 72-72 with just 11 seconds left in regulation, Wolf went to the line and had a chance to potentially put the game away and take the lead. However, as has happened many times to some of the greats that have ever played the game of basketball, his free throw came up short and the contest went to overtime where Les Bleus took care of an exhausted Israel and claimed the title.

It was heartbreaking, Yaacov explained following the game. Danny took that free throw miss to heart and I told him that without him we would have never been able to get to this point. We may not have won but we made history and I am very proud of that.

Stepping up to the line can be the loneliest place for any basketball player. Its just you and the hoop. One-on-one.

Wolf had done more than anyone could have ever asked of him or had expected him to do in this competition as he averaged a double-double in seven games, scoring 17.7 points while grabbing 12 rebounds a game. He had shot 76% from the line but in this game it had been a rough day at the office.

The charity stripe, as they call it, can be cruel.

It was for Wolf and for Israel.

But that in no way shape or form should take away from this teams accomplishment. This will make Wolf and the rest of the team stronger.

We gave a fight, Wolf said. We just couldnt keep up with them in overtime. I had a chance to win the game and I missed. Ill take that on with me. Were really disappointed because we really wanted to win the gold medal. I hope that one day it will happen. All in all, I am content with the result as no one thought it would be possible for us to take home a medal.

No one thought heading into the event that Israel would come home from Crete with a medal, let alone play toe-to-toe with arguably the most talented team in the tournament.

The expectations were low as other than Yaacov, the talent level was not that of prior teams that included the likes of Deni Avdija and Yam Madar, Yovel Zoosman and Tamir Blatt as well as Noam Dovrat and Gilad Levy.

This team had plenty of young players who had not played many minutes during the season leading up to the Euro and one star in Yaacov who the team would most likely rely on for putting the ball into the basket.

And yes there was one more unknown - Wolf who had just received Israeli citizenship and came from Yale where he played sparingly in his freshman year.

Sure, Wolf had height and talent, but none of the players or coaches had ever seen him up close and personal on the court of play.

Yaacov made Wolf feel at home right from the get-go off the floor and that translated into something incredible on it. Their basketball abilities clicked from Day 1 and after a win over Turkey in the opening game of the tournament everyone could see exactly what the pair could do.

However, up next was Italy and Belgium as Israel fell to both and all looked doomed as it readied to face powerhouse Spain.

The Spaniards had walked through the group stage with a perfect record and were ready to send the blue-and-white down to the relegation zone where it would play for classification that could potentially send it down to Division B.

But Elad Hasin put together a game plan that kept Spains offense at bay as Israel recorded a stunning victory in the Round of 16 knockout game. Next up was Germany and Belgium as Israel with some extra help from Ron Zipper and Yuval Levin disposed of them in short order in the quarterfinal and semifinal, respectively.

From there it was on to the championship game, but in order to beat France it had to be all hands on deck to help out the dynamic duo of Wolf and Yaacov - or as Wolfs personal trainer and coach Stacey Moragne put it, the Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray of the Under-20 Championship.

While Zipper and Levin tried their best to make it an even fight to go along with Yaacovs 31 points and Wolfs 17 point and 16 rebounds double-double, it was just not enough.

Expectations were exceeded but that will never be a substitute for Wolf and Yaacov who left it all out on the Heraklion arena floor.

Wolf and Yaccov are pros and leaders, Hasin said. They understand the game, they want to learn and make further strides. Wolf is just an incredible player and what he did was phenomenal. He cried as if he had been playing in the national team program for 15 years and Yaacov is playing as if he is 30 years old.

Im disappointed as we were so close, one possession, one free throw, but I am so proud. To come into this situation against a French team that won their games by so many points, these guys played for an entire country and gave it their all with a huge heart. We played against a great opponent, athletic and experienced.

Yaacov also spoke about the final result and the path that the team had gone on together.

This is really tough. We came so far and were so close, but I am so proud of the team. We did an incredible job and went on an amazing journey. Im so happy to be a part of this team. I believed in the path that we took and that we proved to everyone that we were able to do much more than what was expected from us.

As they say, next year is another year and both Yaacov and Wolf will be eligible to once again don the Israel jersey at the Under-20 European Championships. Up-and-coming guard Ban Saraf will also be available for the team and with that trio of players, the skys the limit. Zoosman took home the silver in 2017 and then won gold the following year so there is no reason to think that this current crop cant do the same.

While Yaacov will now head to the senior Israel National Team, as may Wolf who could get a last-minute invite, their summers could only be just beginning ahead of what could be pivotal years for both. The former will be playing for ASVEL Villeurbanne in the Euroleague and the latter with a prominent role in his sophomore year at Yale.

However, as Wolf said, he is looking at what he gained now to help him out as he continues to grow as a man and player. The trials and tribulations down the wire in this game will no doubt be experiences that he will take forward with him along with all of the incredible moments he was able to face.

Right now I am not concerned about my future, I did the best that I could and I hope that we can win the championship down the road. At this moment, I am focused on my career and this was an extraordinary experience for me that I wouldnt trade in for anything in the world.

Go here to see the original:
Israel's U20 basketball team looks ahead after silver medal - The Jerusalem Post

Modified May 19, 2023 19:18 IST

Former Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder Shane Watson was a bit baffled with the way RR lost their way in the second half of the tournament. Sanju Samson and Co. had a phase where they lost five out of six games and that has potentially proved to be the reason why they're almost out of the playoffs race.

RR also lost by a massive margin of 112 runs in their previous game and that might have certainly dented their confidence. Watson couldn't believe how the Royals lost form after being magnificent in the first 5-6 games of the tournament.

Speaking on 'The Grade Cricketer' podcast, here's what Shane Watson had to say about Rajasthan Royals' season:

Watson shed light on how RR might have tried to tinker with their playing XI, giving a bit too much importance to match-ups. He added:

While the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) look in great shape to make it to the IPL 2023 playoffs, Shane Watson feels their overdependence on star players, especially their top order, is something they could struggle with come the knockout game in Chennai.

On this, he stated:

RCB have a much better chance of qualifying for the playoffs after their massive win against the Royals and then against the Sunrisers Hyderabad as well.

Edited bySankalp Srivastava

Read more here:
"They just had all bases covered"- Shane Watson shocked with Rajasthan Royals' dip in form in IPL 2023 - Sportskeeda

Now comes the hard part for the New York Knicks.

The perennially lousy Knicks surprised the pro basketball world by routing the Cleveland Cavaliers in round one of the NBA playoffs and losing in a gritty six games to the Miami Heat in the second round. Now, to satisfy their ever-hopeful fans, the Knicks must take the next step and become an elite team.

It wont be easy. The Knicks will have to find a way to add a legitimate superstar to lead them out of the wilderness and on to a trip through the Canyon of Heroes.

On the bright side, the Knicks are a very young team with a substantial amount of upside potential. Many of the teams brightest lights are under 26 years of age, implying that they will continue to take giant steps as they gain more seasoning.

But that promise is overshadowed by a National Basketball Association fact of life: Teams dont win championships unless they have at least one superstar on their rosters. Most championship contenders have a Big Three, a trio of acknowledged all-stars led by one player who is a certified game-changer.

The Warriors have Stephen Curry, who set a record this post-season by scoring 50 points in a playoff game. The Celtics have Jayson Tatum, who scored 51 points in game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers and established a new high-water mark. The 76ers have the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, high-scoring Joel Embiid. The Denver Nuggets have the otherworldly Nikola Jokic. And the Los Angeles Lakers, of course, boast LeBron James, often referred to as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time), and the explosive Anthony Davis.

The Knicks have nobody have that caliber. Yes, Jalen Brunson had some sensational games, but he is, alas, not a one-man team.

Knicks fans have been salivating over unconfirmed reports that the Milwaukee Bucks two-time MVP, 28-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpoaka The Greek Freakis getting restless in Wisconsin and may want to transfer to a big-city team. Similar rumors that Portland Trailblazer all-star guard Damian Lillard may be willing to take his talents to Broadway.

Either one of those stars would make the Knicks a championship contender, overnight. The Knicks are currently a joyous, hard-working, unselfish team. But those admirable qualities can take the Knicks only so far, every spring. Right now, the Knicks are a virtual lock to win approximately 48 games and make the playoffs and get eliminated by a more powerful team in the first or second round of the playoffs.

NBA teams tend to add superstars either through free-agency signings or the pro draft. Only rarely does a player like the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar join a team through a trade. Think about it. Why would a team want to part with a generational player?

As long as they make the playoffs, the Knicks wont have access to the most promising draft choices because they will no longer be eligible for the lottery. Thats where the lowliest NBA teams routinely draft the best rookies.

The Knicks have also not had any success in luring superstars through free agency. When LeBron James was poised to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers through free agency in the summer of 2010, the Knicks dutifully made their pitch. But James rejected the Knicks and its owner James Dolan, preferring to take his talents, as he put it, to South Beach and the Miami Heat and Patrick Rilly which he led to two titles. James has since moved back to Cleveland and then on to Los Angeles, where he won a championship ring in each city and is in the western conference playoffs again this year after recently defeating the defending champion Warriors.

Knick fans are still furious that James toyed with them over a dozen years ago when he reached The Decision and went elsewhere after the Knicks cleared cap space to sign him.

But James is typical of NBA royalty. They prefer to play elsewhere. Maybe they are turned off by the specter of the suffocating New York media. Or the demanding fan base, Or the teams record of losing (the Knicks have not won an NBA championship since 1973 and havent even made the finals since 1999).

The Knicks will have to convince choice free agents that Madison Square Garden is an arena of fun and not a house of horrors for an NBA player who fears getting booed by a furious fan base.

And whoever they can land via trades or lure via free agency means they will have to shuffle some of their current lineup. Is Julius Randle who helped the Knicks to the number five seed in the East but slumped badly in the playoffs a building block or trade bait? And what about R. J. Barrett, who also played well in the regular season but after the game six loss to the Heat was unusually frank in the post game presser. I played terribly, he acknowledged of his play in the knockout game. He is also only 22 and remember Brunson, Barrett, Randle and late season pickup Josh Hart all played well when all were healthy. Same with sixth man Immanuel Quickly who struggled with injuries in the playoffs but was strong in season.

For the Knicks, the future is an open book. They can continue on this path and fall short of the promised land. Or, if the teams management can somehow bring on a superstar from another franchise, the Knicks can end years of frustration and join the elite of the NBA.

See the article here:
The pressure is on Knicks Ownership to Take a Crucial Next Step to ... - otdowntown.com