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CANADIAN U-17S OUTCLASS FRANCE TO FINISH FIRST IN GROUP D

Canada's U-17 women beat France 2-1 to win Group D at the FIFA World Cup. A Melisa Kekic goal & a French own goal sealed the win, despite a late red card, setting up a round of 16 clash with a 3rd-place team.

Canadian U-17s Outclass France to Finish First in Group D
Canada Defeats France to Lead Group D - Photo Credit: (Handout/Canada Soccer/Canadian Press)

With their third consecutive victory in the FIFA Women's U-17 World Cup, Canada overcame France 2-1 on Saturday to finish first in Group D.

At the Football Academy Mohammed VI, Canada led 1-0 at the break thanks to a goal from Melisa Kekic. Oceane Moreau Tranchant, a French defender, let up an own goal in the second half.

The French made a late comeback in the 63rd minute, with Lea Morissaint cutting the deficit to 2-1.

The dismissal of replacement Reed Tingley in the 86th minute spoiled the Canadian victory. Referee Lara Lee of Australia gave a disbelieving Tingley, who had assisted Canada's second goal, a second yellow card for blocking a French player who attempted to take a throw-in.

In the 64th minute, Tingley, who had entered the game to begin the second half, received her first yellow card for a tackle from behind.

The Canadians, who had already defeated Samoa 6-0 and Nigeria 4-1, entered the match tied with France on points but ahead on goal differential (plus-nine as opposed to plus-three). Although both sides had already guaranteed their spots in the knockout stage, France needed to defeat Canada on Saturday in order to take their place at the top of the group.

At the 24-team event, which ends on November 8, the top two teams in each of the six groups, as well as the four best third-place finishers, move on to the round of 16.

Canada, runner-up in 2024 and champion in 2018 and 2022, avoided a round-of-16 matchup with Spain by winning the group. On Wednesday, Canada will play a third-place finisher from Group B, E, or F, while France (2-1-0) will play Spain (3-0-0).

In 2018, Canada placed fourth, which was their highest result at the tournament. The quarterfinals were reached in 2008, 2012, and 2014.

After the French failed to handle a corner, Kekic scored from close range to give Canada the lead in the fourteenth minute.

Stella Grondin nearly handcuffed Canadian goalie Khadijah Cisse with her shot in first-half injury time for France, but she squibbed off-target at the last second. Off the next corner, Moreau Tranchant had a chance but missed her shot.

During a counterattack in the 53rd minute, Tingley set up the eventual winning goal by throwing in a low cross that Moreau Tranchant, who was lunging, knocked into her own goal.

The French goal was the result of an error made by Cisse. With Cisse out of position, her careless clearing went directly to Luna Laboucarie, whose cross was headed into the open goal by Morissaint.

France got eight corners to Canada's one and outscored them 21–8 (7–5 in attempts on target). However, the clinical finishing was lacking.

France was given two cautions, while Canada was given five yellow cards.

Following the video review, two of those yellow cards were given in the first half: one to Grondin for yanking Kecic's hair and one to Canadian Naomi Lofthouse for a tackle from behind.

Coaches can request two video reviews per game through the video support system. The team keeps its request if the referee's review leads to a change in the initial decision.

Coach Jen Herst of Canada made six changes to her starting lineup as part of her ongoing roster rotation.

Canada participated in the seven before FIFA U-17 tournaments but was not included in the 2024 event. With the Dominican Republic serving as the tournament's host, CONCACAF only qualified two teams for the 2024 FIFA World Cup. Canada lost 2-1 to Mexico in the semifinal after extra time, finishing third in qualifying.

Under the leadership of interim coach Gary Moody, the young Canadians eliminated Nicaragua (5-0), Panama (2-0), and Puerto Rico (3-2) to top their CONCACAF qualifying group and earn a spot in the 2025 FIFA competition in April.

France qualified by making it to the quarterfinals of the 2025 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship, where they lost to the eventual champion, Dutch in a penalty shootout. France won the FIFA U-17 competition in 20102.

Spain has advanced to the FIFA U-17 final four and won twice, while defending champion North Korea has won the tournament three times and placed second once.

WHY DID CRISTIANO RONALDO CRY? LUKA MODRIC EXPOSES JOSE MOURINHO’S HARSHEST LECTURE

Luka Modric reveals Jose Mourinho once reduced Cristiano Ronaldo to tears at Real Madrid for failing to track back defensively.

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Modric and Balague confirm the 2013 Valencia clash that shattered Real’s locker room

Luka Modric says that Jose Mourinho once gave Cristiano Ronaldo such a harsh lecture that the guy was in tears.

Ronaldo, who's 40 now, played really well under Mourinho, who's 62. They were together at Real Madrid for three seasons, but apparently, they didn't always get along off the field.

Even though things got off to a slow start, the Portuguese superstar still managed to score 168 goals in 164 games while playing for Mourinho. He also helped Mourinho win three trophies in his first two seasons.

But get this: even with superstars like Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria on his team, Mourinho was still super critical of Ronaldo's effort on defense.

Modric, who Mourinho signed from Tottenham back in 2013, told a story about one argument that made Ronaldo cry. Apparently, it was because he didn't chase after his assigned player.

"I saw him make Cristiano Ronaldo cry in the locker room," Modric told Corriere della Sera, an Italian news outlet. Can you believe it? A guy who always gives it his all on the field, and he's getting yelled at because he didn't chase some defender.

Modric moved to Real Madrid in 2013 and only played under Mourinho for a year.

Modric, who played alongside Kaka and Mesut Ozil in the midfield after arriving for a big £33 million, didn't say which game the argument happened in.

Guillem Balague, a Spanish soccer journalist, wrote in Ronaldo's biography that Ronaldo and Mourinho almost fought after Mourinho yelled at him in the locker room following a 2-0 win against Valencia in January 2013.

Mourinho was mad because Ronaldo didn't seem willing to help out on defense during the game. And Ronaldo supposedly replied, After everything I've done for you, this is how you treat me? How dare you say that to me!

Later that season, which turned out to be Mourinho's last with the team, Ronaldo was constantly asked about Mourinho's future. "I don't care," he said once. What I care about is my own future and the club.

This was a big change from earlier that year, when Mourinho said before the 2012 Ballon d'Or race, If Messi is the best on the planet, Ronaldo is the best in the universe!

After Mourinho left Real Madrid, he went on Spanish TV to talk about what caused the problems between him and Ronaldo.

"I only had one problem with him," he said. It was simple. When a coach gives a player feedback on tactics, they are trying to help them get better, in my opinion. He didn't take it well because he probably thinks he knows everything, and the coach can't help him.

Mourinho also said that they didn't really have a relationship. But time seemed to fix things, as he later said that coaching Ronaldo was the best thing that ever happened in his career.

Ronaldo also seemed to warm up to Mourinho later on, even saying that he was the best coach he ever had, even better than Sir Alex Ferguson. "I'd put him at the top; I always say that," Ronaldo said.

Ronaldo scored 168 goals in 164 games while playing for Mourinho during their three years together.

Even though Modric didn't win any trophies in his first season at Madrid, he was so impressed by Mourinho that he repeated something Mourinho famously said about himself.

He's special, as a coach and as a person, Modric said. He was the one who wanted me at Real Madrid. I wouldn't have come without him. I'm sad I only had him for one season.

Modric spent 13 years at Real Madrid, mostly managed by Carlo Ancelotti. Now he's at AC Milan and managed by Massimiliano Allegri. But he says Mourinho is the toughest of the three.

He added, "Mourinho is really direct with the players, but he's honest." He treated Sergio Ramos and new players the same way. If he had something to say, he'd say it. Max is the same way. He tells you what's right and wrong to your face. Honesty is key.

Modric also shared his opinion on the never-ending debate of who's better, Lionel Messi or Ronaldo, but said he doesn't really like talking about it.

"I don't like that question," he said. They both defined an era. I'm closer to Cristiano because I played with him; he was my teammate at Madrid, and I can tell you he's not just a great player, he's an amazing person. People don't know it, but he has a big heart and is always ready to help others. He's just a simple, normal guy.

He added, "I don't know Messi personally, but I'm sure he's great too." As a player, he's incredible.

CELTIC FANS DEMAND BOARD SACK WILFRIED NANCY AFTER SHOCK MOTHERWELL DEFEAT TONIGHT

Wilfried Nancy dismisses sack talk after Celtic's 2-0 loss at Motherwell. With Rangers closing in, the Old Firm looms large.

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Wilfried Nancy’s future on the line after fifth loss in seven

After Celtic's fifth loss in seven games under his leadership, Wilfried Nancy brushed off ideas that Saturday's Old Firm game would decide his future.

Tuesday's match at Fir Park, called 'El Passico' due to both teams' open play styles, saw Motherwell outperform the Frenchman's team. Ibrahim Said and Elliot Watt scored on either side of halftime.

The 2-0 defeat, Celtic's 17th this year, meant Hearts stayed three points ahead in the league, while Rangers closed in, now just three points behind Nancy's squad after a 2-1 victory over St Mirren.

At the end of the game, visiting fans chanted for the board to be sacked, and some even demanded the manager's immediate dismissal. When asked if his first derby was a make-or-break moment, Nancy responded, No, not really. Every game matters to me and the team.

I'm not focused on my future. I'm focusing on what I'm doing now, what I need to do to help the team get better, and what we need to do as a team to improve. That's how I see it.

When asked if he understood the fans' deep worry about the lack of progress during his time, Nancy was indignant.

Progress? "There is progress," he insisted. But tonight, the situation and the opponent were tough.

This is a fact. Now, we need to figure out how to get better, and that's what we've been working on from the start. Tonight was rough. That's the truth.

When questioned about feeling the pressure after such a bad start as the champion's manager, Nancy added, As a manager, I don't want this, obviously.

Pressure doesn't change how I think. We know we have to perform well.

But right now, this is how it is. I knew it could be like this. We've had good games at times. Tonight was a hard one.

Regarding whether he was sure he could turn things around, Nancy said, Yes, I'm sure. I had to make some choices about the team tonight. I believe in what we're trying to do and where we're going. This was a hard game, difficult for us, but I think we'll improve.

Motherwell's manager, Jens Berthel Askou, praised his team, saying it was probably their best game of the season.

"We knew we'd probably need our best, most solid, and most complete performance, both with and without the ball, to win," he said.

We've had really big and good performances, but they haven't led to wins against Rangers or Celtic. So, that's what we got, and that's what we needed. It was amazing to see.

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