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iinsertblognamee · 8 months

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matildas; the world at our feet ft Y/N

summary ― clips from the docuseries

pairing ― sam kerr x arnold!reader

warning/s ― fluff, character injury, mentions of IVF, pregnancy

based off this request

[BLACK SCREEN: BADLY RECORDED AUDIO]

UNKNOWN MALE VOICE: We need to know if she is ready to play for the world cup. We can’t waste spots on someone who isn’t game ready, especially not after the hit she took a couple months back.

TONY GUSTAVSSON: I know she’ll be ready. I want her on my team - and help us win that world cup.

[SCREEN SLOWLY LIGHTS UP, FOCUSING ON Y/N SITTING ON KITCHEN STOOL]

Y/N ARNOLD: I know how much I want this, how much I want to be apart of the girls taking us to the world cup and I know i’ll do anything to get there.

[PICTURES OF Y/N KICKING A SOCCER BALL FROM HER MATCHES]

Y/N ARNOLD: As a young girl I knew I always wanted to play sport - I would watch men play at such high levels and wished that could be me.

[CUTTING BACK TO Y/N]

Y/N ARNOLD: And now that I’m here, I’m not going to let anything stop me.

…

[SAM AND Y/N’S HOUSE; SAM AND Y/N SITTING DOWN ON A COUCH, LAUGHING]

SAM KERR: It think one of the toughest things i’ve had to do so far is admit to Macca that I was dating her little sister (Y/N LAUGHS, THROWING HER HEAD BACK)

Y/N ARNOLD: That can’t be true! Mac isn’t that - (SAM GIVES HER A SHOCKED LOOK, Y/N LAUGHS AGAIN) - Okay, so she’s a little protective!

SAM KERR: She threaten to break my legs so I would never be able to score another goal again.

[SCENE CUTS TO MACKENZIE’S HOUSE; MACKENZIE, LOUGNING BACK ON A COUCH]

MACKENZIE ARNOLD: Yeah, told her she’d never be able to score another goal if she hurt my little sister.

(LOOKS STRAIGHT AT THE CAMERA, SHRUGGING HER SHOULDERS)

[SCENE CUTS BACK TO SAM AND Y/N]

Y/N ARNOLD: but you aren’t scared of her anymore are you? I mean she’s a lot better now

SAM KERR: Yeah, no. Macca and I are good now (LOOKS DIRECTLY AT CAMERA AND SHAKES HER HEAD, MOUTHING ‘NO, WE’RE NOT’)

…

[SAM AND Y/N’S HOUSE; Y/N STANDING AT HER KITCHEN BENCH, MAKING LUNCH]

Y/N ARNOLD: I think as important as this world cup is for us, it’s a million times more important for the fans and the future fans. Like my heart beats faster just thinking about all those little girls who are going to be at home watching us on screen and realise that this is a possibility for them.

…

[CLIPS OF THE MATILDAS TRAINING]

SAM KERR: I am so increbiley proud of the team we’ve become, you know. I feel like this is the team that’s gonna win it and in twenty years time i’ll know I was apart of the team that made history.

…

MONTHS TO THE WORLD CUP; 16

11th MARCH 2022

WEST HAM UNITED VS CHELSEA

[CLIPS OF THE STADIUM, CROWDS FILLING IN]

COMMENTATOR: The atmosphere inside this stadium is electric.

[CLIPS OF THE TWO TEAMS LINED UP ON THE FIELD]

Y/N ARNOLD: It’s really exciting getting to play these kind of games you know? Having my sister on field, even if it is for the opposite side.

[CLIPS OF THE GAME PLAYING]

Y/N ARNOLD: I don’t remember much of the game really but yeah.

[CLIP OF Y/N RUNNING FOR THE BALL IN THE AIR, HER AND AN OPPONENT JUMP IN THE AIR TO HIT THE BALL - A SECOND OPPONENT RUNNING AND JUMPING, HER BODY SLAMING INTO Y/N. Y/N HITS THE FLOOR - NOT MOVING]

COMMENTATOR: Something’s happened - Y/N Arnold has not gotten up after that brutal hit.

[CLIP ON Y/N LAYING ON THE GROUND, TEAMMATES FROM BOTH TEAMS RUNNING TOWARDS HER - SAM SHAKING HER]

COMMENTATOR: Y/N Arnold still down. This doesn’t look good.

[CLIP BACK ON Y/N, MEDICS TRYING TO ASSESS HER - STILL NOT RESPONSIVE, CLIP CHANGES TO THE CROWD, SHOWING FANS CRYING]

MACKENZIE ARNOLD: I think that was probably the scariest moment of my career.

[MACKENZIE’S HOUSE; MACKENZIE SITTING ON A COUCH]

MACKENZIE ARNOLD: I saw her go down, but you know growing up in our household you would always get up. And I remember watching my teammates walk off, so I turned my attention back to the ball.

[CLIP OF MACKENZIE RUNNING TOWARDS Y/N]

MACKENZIE ARNOLD: it probably wasn’t for another couple of seconds when I heard yelling did I look back and saw Y/N still on the ground.

[SAM AND Y/N’S HOUSE; SAM SITTING ON A COUCH]

SAM KERR: I remember her going down, and next thing I know Millie is running towards her with some of the other girls screaming at the ref. (pauses.) By the time I had gotten over there, she still hadn’t moved or woken up and my heart just stopped y’know?

[CLIPS OF Y/N SURROUNDED, MEDICS TRYING TO GET A REPOSNE]

MACKENZIE ARNOLD: She’s never been the one to stay down - and I think that was the scariest part. Like I know my sister and I know that she can come back from just about anything. But this - this was scary.

[SAM AND Y/N’S HOUSE; Y/N SITTING ON A COUCH, LOOKING PAST THE CAMERA]

Y/N ARNOLD: I’ve seen the clips, watched it over and over again. And like I know it’s me, I watch myself hit the ground but I just don’t remember any of it.

[CLIP OF MACKENZIE HOLDING Y/N’S HAND AS MEDIC CARRY HER OFF THE FIELD ON A STRETCHER, SAM HOLDING HER OTHER HAND]

Y/N ARNOLD: I had a grade three concussion, a dislocated shoulder and had split my eyebrow open, to which i needed to get stitches for.

[SAM AND Y/N’S HOUSE; SAM SITTING ON A COUCH]

SAM KERR: I still remember the second that final whistle blew, Mac and I were off that field and running towards the medic room. They were still doing examinations on her, and I still remember them asking Y/N for her full name and she couldn’t answer. That - I can’t even. (pauses.) I don’t ever want to go through that again.

[MACKENZIE’S HOUSE; MACKENZIE SITTING ON A COUCH, WIPING AWAY TEARS FROM HER EYES]

MACKENZIE ARNOLD: It was just so scary you know, (sniffling, as she shakes her head) the look on her face when Sam and I walked in that room - like she didn’t recognise who we were.

[SAM AND Y/N’S HOUSE; Y/N SITTING ON A COUCH]

Y/N ARNOLD: I honestly don’t remember much of what happened even a few days later, but I remember just thinking about the world cup and just believing that I’d lost my chance. There was no way I was ever going to be able to play again, not with these injuries.

…

[CLIP OF SAM AND Y/N PLAYING WITH Y/N’S NIECES]

Y/N ARNOLD: As a kid I always had two dreams, to become a famous athlete and to become a mother.

[PHOTOS OF YOUNG Y/N HOLDING BABY DOLLS]

Y/N ARNOLD: As my soccer got more serious, I kinda pushed the whole kids dream in the back of my mind y’know. It was like you could either be a soccer star or be a mother. You can’t have both.

[SAM AND Y/N’S HOUSE; SAM AND Y/N SITTING DOWN ON A COUCH, Y/N LOOKING OVER AT SAM]

Y/N ARNOLD: After the whole injury drama, I had been benched for minimum three months. Appointment after appointment, I wasn’t allowed back to training - couldn’t drive myself anywhere and I just found myself at home looking at photos of babies and watching my nieces over facetimes. (SAM LOOKING OVER TO Y/N, SMILING)

SAM KERR: We had definitely talked about kids before, but soccer was always more important i think - and neither of us wanted to give it up just yet. (Y/N NODDING ALONG) but suddenly Y/N had a lot more time on her hands and after many conversations with ourselves, our families and our coaches. Researching IVF and you know all the options within that we decided to start our family.

[VIDEOS AND PICTURES OF Y/N PREGNANT; SOME INVOLVING SAM, FRIENDS AND FAMILY]

SAM KERR: It was such a surreal experience, watching the person you love bring in your child into the world. (SAM BRINGING Y/N’S HAND TO HER LIPS AND GIVING THEM A KISS)

Y/N ARNOLD: Having delilah was just so eye-opening I think for both of us. And the second they put her in my arms, my whole world had shifted.

[CLIPS OF SAM, Y/N AND BABY DELILAH]

SAM KERR: I couldn’t love anyone or anything as much as I love my two girls.

[SAM AND Y/N’S HOUSE; SAM SITTING DOWN ON A COACH, AS Y/N COMES IN THE FRAME - DELILAH IN HER ARMS]

SAM KERR: Hi my little baby (REACHING OUT TO TAKE DELILAH OUT OF Y/N’S HANDS AS Y/N SITS BACK DOWN NEXT TO SAM)

Y/N ARNOLD: (WATCHING SAM AND DELILAH INTERACT) I remember throughout the whole pregnancy I wanted to create a legacy for her, y’know? Something she could look up to and know that she could reach whatever dreams she wanted. I think that was my tipping point like this was the moment I realised I wanted to be back in the game. I want to play in the world cup. I want to win that world cup for her. (LOOKING ONCE MORE AT SAM BEFORE BACK TO THE CAMERA)

Y/N ARNOLD: That’s that exactly what I intend to do.

…

[TRAINING FIELD; MACKENZIE HOLDING DELILAH, AS ALANNA AND CAITLIN TICKLE HER]

MACKENZIE ARNOLD: Who’s your favourite D? (DELILAH GIGGLING) That’s right Aunty Mac’s is your favourite and I always will be (KISSING DELILAH ON THE CHEEK, DELILAH GIGGLING AGAIN)

SAM KERR: Who’s torturing my daughter? (SAM COMING INTO THE FRAME, ARMS OUT TO TAKE DELILAH OFF MACKENZIE) It’s okay baby, mama will save you! I’ll always save you. (KISSING HER ON THE CHEEK OVER AND OVER AGAIN)

[CAMERA SHIFTS TO ELLIE CARPENTER]

ELLIE CARPENTER: Our own little mascot!

…

[SAM AND Y/N’S HOUSE; Y/N SITTING DOWN ON A COUCH]

Y/N ARNOLD: So many of my dreams have come true in this journey, I joined the matildas, I got signed on to play for Chelsea. I met the love of my life. Married the love of my life and had our daughter. Like I just can’t believe how my life has turned out. If little Y/N could see us now.

VOICE FROM BEHIND THE CAMERA: What else do you want to achieve?

Y/N ARNOLD: I want to take that world cup trophy home.

#sam kerr x reader #sam kerr imagines #sam kerr imagine #woso imagine #woso imagines #woso x reader #request

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saiidahyunie · 4 months

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i don't understand but i love you

minatozaki sana x soccerplayer!reader (pt.0) ; fluff

synopsis: below the starry night and flashing lights, alone on an open field, nothing else mattered in the world as you listened to sana’s words.

wc: 1.8k

a/n: prequel to the sana soccer series; takes place a month before the academy exit trials.

—

it was late.

you don’t know how long you stayed on the field after practice to get some extra shots in on the open goal.

to your teammates, it was pure craziness, but to you, it was therapy. there was something that relaxed your mind when you’re by yourself and nobody’s watching you. it’s just you, the soccer balls, and the goal. you rolled another ball up for a shot as you took your usual steps back before belting the ball into the net, heaving out a dull sigh as you walked back to get another ball. same setup, but this time the ball clips the bar and out, groaning at the effort you put in only to come short with your attempt.

you walk backward, lining yourself up with a ball just in front of you, envisioning a curved run up and the potential trajectory of the ball to the goal, only to feel a shift in the air–a sixth sense as you stop all motions as you hear a small patch of footsteps on the field.

“i didn’t expect you to be here, especially this late.” you say out loud before turning around to see your best friend sana, approaching you with a rolled up blanket in her hand along with her small backpack.

“how did you know it was me?” she asks, “you couldn't hear me walking from far away!”

“sana, i know the sounds of regular shoes on a turf field. besides how did you know i was here?”

“well rin and daniel texted me about you staying for a bit longer after practice today. considering how long it’s been since they told me, i got a little worried.” sana replies, tilting her head at you as you scoffed at her reason.

“you shouldn’t be out her this late, even worse is that you came here alone.”

“i drove here.”

“you did?” you ask surprisingly, the corners of your lips curling up at her efforts to get to you.

sana nods at your question, “gotta put some use to my license somehow!” shrugging her shoulders as you facepalm at her, smiling underneath as you lightly laugh into your hand.

“how long has it been?”

sana check’s her phone for the time, “i know that practice ended at 6:30-6:45, and rin reached out to me an hour later. so-”

“it’s 9:50.” you say checking your phone, eyes widely opening at the observation. you weren’t planning on staying here for that long, but with the endless cycle of getting the balls, shooting, and repeating the routine, it was easy to get lost when you didn’t have a sense of time playing.

sana sets herself down on the grass, wrapping her blanket around her, fishing her bag for a small pack of chocolate chip cookies she brought inside as you roll a couple more balls over to shoot after.

“are you almost done?”

“yeah, i’ll take these and i’ll take a break again.” you answer as you got back to business, in a few moments you made three balls out of a possible seven in the goal. not good, but at the same time you’re fatigued so it was bound to happen sooner or later. you turn around to hear a cheer from sana as she held her phone recording your shots as you look down embarassed by your performance.

trudging over to sana, you sit yourself down next to her, draping the blanket over you as you shift next to her more, nearly leaning as she feeds you a chocolate chip cookie she cooked at home before coming here.

“good thing you brought the blanket here.” you say in between bites.

“it’s cold y/n, ever heard of it?”

you laugh at sana’s question as she continues to finish up the last pieces of cookies before setting her bag down off to the side, leaning her shoulder to join yours as you look up at the stars above.

even if the floodlights are illuminating the field you and sana were sitting on, the stars were always more captivating to look at, even the moon was in it’s full form that took up a decent portion of the night sky as sana looks over to you in wonder, trying to read your eyes that peer into your mind even if it was hard to tell for her.

“you’ve been practicing a lot recently, you wanna tell me why?” sana asks you as you look over to her before looking down and kicking your cleats together.

“remember at the end of summer when i said that there was this big tryout happening in thanksgiving break?”

sana nods, recalling the time you told her about this significant thing that you would be practicing for a month and a half prior to the actual thing.

“it’s the exit trials, and the top 10 highest ranking prospects that get assessed will get offers from professional soccer teams.”

“does it matter where?”

“no, it could be any team, europe, asia, even back home over here!” you reply with an optimistic tone in your voice. sana knew that this was your lifelong dream from the beginning and she just wanted to see you succeed in what you set out to do.

“it may be a long shot, but i’m going to give everything i got to get a spot in the top 10 ranks and who knows, maybe a team will sign me.” the words you were affirming yourself in carried so much practice and sacrifice for you to have a shot at this opportunity. it’s the sheer determination and drive that you lived by that and your parents understood so clearly.

“so what happens if you do get the high ranks?” she asks, inching closer to you with the blanket.

“well, if all goes well, i don’t know actually. we won’t know until after the trials are done and over with.” you respond hushed, clutching your shins as you return your gaze up to the stars.

sana keeps her stare locked on you as you continue to mind your business before a thought stirs in her head, she always had a thing for speaking her mind regardless of the repercussions that came with it. it didn’t matter who or what it was about, it just felt right for her to say in that moment.

“i think you’re letting yourself get ahead a bit.”

you quirk your head immediately at her statement, slightly confused at the point she was trying to make.

“what are you saying?”

“i’m saying that you’re worried about something that will happen even before its supposed to.” she starts, “i’ve seen you play and practice your ass off to get results in games. you’re afraid of the unknown because you’re so pent up of the different possibilities your mind is giving you. the negatives are outweighing the positives and it’s not like you to be nervous about things like these.”

“sana i-”

“y/n, you are one of the closest people that i care about deeply. i mean seriously, if it weren’t for you i wouldn’t be this invested about soccer in the first place.”

you scoff at her point, realizing that she was right as you leaned in slightly closer. the breeze kicked in more abruptly as you kept your eyes on sana.

“you’re right.” you say admittingly, “i’ve been a little too introspective about how i view my performances, let alone trying to strive for 100%.”

“100% is nice bar to set for yourself y/n, but the constant motiviation driving you is only gonna consume you from the inside out.”

there was something about sana that you grew fond of recently. again, you don’t know when or how this came about, but at some point either now or back then, she really reeled you in without even realizing it. everything about her was just raw and genuine. the appearance and how she looks was one thing, but the biggest selling point was the personality in how she acted when you had troubling times like these with your own mind.

the words that came out of her mouth were comforting, much more like a slap to the face bringing you back to reality as you and her both got up from the floor, realizing that it’s already past ten, and the lights beaming down on the field would be turning off in the next five minutes or so.

“thank you sana.” you say as you scrounge up the balls around you to eventually put back in the ball bag. “i don't think i've stressed that enough for you to say these things, it sets my mind at ease."

she turns around with the blanket draped over her shoulders, mimicking as if she was divine royalty right in front of you, beaming a smile that radiated such happiness and hope that could literally kill you on the spot, but you stood tall.

“no matter what happens in that trial, i want to be there for you every step of the way. remember that.”

when she said those words to you, your heart panged, cementing the encouragement and reminding you of who you’re doing it for. your parents had supported you, your teammates and coaches supported you, even your friends including sana to be the latest addition, was now backing your dream.

five minutes pass as you finish wrapping up putting the last of the ball bags into the container, you walk over to sana who had your training bag next to her leg, picking it up and shouldering it over you, as you and her walk to the car.

“did you take my car?”

“you got a ride from rin, so your mom gave me the spare key code for your car.”

“i cannot believe she let you drive my tesla.”

“it is nice to drive! handles well.”

you and her share a laugh together, a moment that has happened so many times and will continue to happen no matter how long that will be.

“before i forget.” you say, sana glancing over to you again as you flash your cute smile to her, “you were there from the beginning sana, which techincally makes you my first fan."

"but i thought dex would be the first since you've known him before i met-"

"dex doesn't count, you'll always be my first fan." sana freezes at your proclamation, starstuck that you gave her such a title as you kept your glare firmly on her.

“good to know that i’ll be the first!” she says brightly as you bring her in for a hug, one that’s filled with so much care and intimacy and beneath it was the brewing love you had for each other.

#twice x reader #kpop x reader #sana x reader #twice imagines #sana fluff #twice sana #minatozaki sana

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flwrshwr-chenji · 6 months

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Cheerleader -SJY-

Sim Jaeyun

Pairing: Soccer Player!JakexFem!Reader Genre: Fluff, Best Friends to Lovers, Soccer Player!Jake

Fic under cut 🫶🏾

As Jake’s best friend, you were obligated to attend every single soccer game. You always showed up clad in his jersey. You were his number-one cheerleader and he couldn’t ask for better support. You were always the loudest in the crowd when he scored a goal, and you only fueled his fire to play better.

Today was one of the biggest games of the season. Jake had been talking about this game for weeks. If they won, they were going to nationals. You had been hyping up your best friend for weeks, telling him he had this game in the bag. With your extra motivation, Jake walked into this game with all the confidence in the world.

You took your spot in the bleachers. While Jake was warming up, he looked over, scanning the crowd until his eyes met yours. A wide smile spread over his face as he gave you two huge thumbs up. Your smile matches his along with a thumbs up. You turn around to show off the ‘SIM 05’ splayed across the back of the jersey you’re wearing. You hear him let out a celebratory yell, turning back around to look at him again. “Jake Sim for the win!” You yell back at him, making him laugh before he runs off the continue his warm-ups.

Throughout the game you watched Jake intently, biting your lip anxiously at every goal he shot. You watched as the time counted down. Both teams were tied and Jake had the ball. Deciding to pull out your phone to record him, hoping he scored the winning goal. You sat on the edge of your seat as there were only a few seconds left on the clock. “C’mon Jake… You can do it.” You mumbled to yourself, watching him bob and weave through opponents with the ball tight between his feet.

The crowd erupted with screams as Jake scored the final goal just as the buzzer went off. You couldn’t help but scream along with the crowd as you pocketed your phone and made your way down the bleachers to the sidelines. You watched as Jake’s teammates cheered around him, thanking and congratulating him for sending them to nationals.

You stood jittery on the sideline, awaiting your turn to congratulate him. The moment you made eye contact with him you were in a full sprint in his direction. “You did it Jake!” You yelled, tackling him into a tight hug. He quickly secured his arms around your waist, spinning you around as you wrapped your legs around his torso. “I’m so proud of you Jake! I could kiss you!” You said without thinking, and before you could process what you’d just said, Jake’s lips were on yours. You quickly melted into him, your lip melding into his. You held his face as he placed you back onto your feet, your lips never disconnecting. He was the first to pull away, looking into your eyes with a dazed look.

You stared at each other for a moment before bursting into a fit of slightly embarrassed giggles. Soon a soft smirk settled on Jake’s face as he looked at you. “So since I won the game for us, will you be my girlfriend as my prize?” He said, a soft blush dusting his face. You bit back a smile, nodding. “Yeah, I guess I can do that for you.” You replied, cupping his face again and pulling him down for another kiss.

#kpop scenarios #kpop fluff #sim jaeyun #Jake sim #Enhypen fluff #enhypen x reader #Jake x reader #Enhypen smut #Jake smut #kpop smut #sim jaeyun smut #enha #en-#enhypen #park sunghoon #sunghoon x reader

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togrowoldinv · 10 months

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Mama Nat Masterlist

Hi everyone! I wanted to put my soft mama Nat fics in the same place, so here’s this masterlist.

Find my main masterlist, Natasha Romanoff Masterlist 1, and Natasha Romanoff Masterlist 2 here. Follow my library blog @togrowoldinvlibrary for fic updates!

I’m also going to include more information about the kiddos below all of the links. Happy reading!

A Few Chicks: Spending the perfect Saturday with Natasha and your kids

Clingy Ali: Your daughter wakes up sick and she clings to Natasha.

Cookie Monster: Morning snuggles with the family

Even Though I’m Leaving: Natasha says goodbye to your daughter before leaving for a mission

Family of Four: A couple of soft moments with Natasha and your daughter after the birth of your son

Gingerbread Houses: You and Natasha start a new holiday tradition with your kids

Golden Egg: Clint invites your family to the farm for an Easter celebration and egg hunt

Her Girls: Nat gets home from a mission and needs some healing snuggles.

Her Greatest Protector: Reader is married to Natasha and they have a daughter together. Your daughter wakes up sick and you’re out of town, but Natasha takes care of her.

Her Hero: When your daughter says she wants to be like Natasha when she grows up, Nat has a hard time believing that’s a good thing. You are there to assure her that it is.

In Her Arms: You’re Nat’s wife and get hurt on a mission that she wasn’t on. She worries about you with your kids and the team as she waits for you to get out of surgery.

In the Dark: When the power goes out, Natasha makes the most of it

Let the Record Show: You and Nat make an important decision about your careers

Like Otters Do: You and Nat celebrate your oldest daughter’s birthday with a day at the zoo.

Mother’s Day: You celebrate Mother’s Day with Natasha

My New Dream: Family movie night!

Safe & Sound: Natasha sings your daughter a lullaby

Snow Day: You and Natasha play with your kids in the snow.

So Loved: You come home from a trip and reunite with your family

Something to Cherish: Natasha always knows how to comfort her daughter.

Storms Rolling In: You have a family tradition when the weather outside gets messy

Stuffed Animal Emergency: When her daughter’s stuffed animal rips, Natasha comes to the rescue

Team Mom: You coach your daughter's softball team and Nat brings the team snacks.

The Best Day: Natasha takes the kids to the park.

The Best Medicine: Natasha comes home from a mission to find you sick with a cold and your daughter worried about you.

The Family Grows: You and Natasha have been fostering two children. You have an important conversation with the oldest one

The Godmother: You and Natasha ask Maria an important question

Through Her Eyes: While tucking your daughter in, Natasha overhears you telling the little girl about her mama’s hero ways

Valedictorian: Your daughter is the valedictorian of her class and the whole team and family watches her graduate

Walks Like a Duck: When you show up at home with ducks, Natasha tries to say you can’t keep them. With the help of the kids, you might just change her mind

Welcome Home: Natasha comes home from a mission to be with her family again

We’ll Have a Little Girl: You and Natasha find out some big news about your baby.

When Did She Grow Up?: You and Nat’s daughter has her first date.

Winning Goal: You and Natasha watch your son play soccer and fluff ensues

You Are My Gift: Natasha and the kids make you a Valentine’s Day breakfast.

Meet the children:

Alianovna Yelena (Ali): Ali is the oldest child. She loves basketball, spending time with Natasha, and is a great student. Ali is your concert buddy and you have so much fun together.

Ivan Steven: Ivan is the second oldest. He plays soccer, basketball, and golf. He loves spending time with Uncle Tony and wants to help protect the world from harm.

Jackson Philip (Jack): Jack is one of newest kids to the family. He was adopted by y’all along with his little sister. Jack plays soccer and basketball. He also spends a lot of time with his uncles, but Sam is his favorite.

Belle Ann: Belle is the second youngest kiddo. She loves princesses and her Aunt Yelena. She’s adopted as well. Belle loves to snuggle and can often be found in Natasha’s office anytime she’s working.

Taylor Rose: Taylor is another new addition to the family. She clings to her brother Jack, but she also warmed up to you quickly. Taylor loves dancing to music and wants to be a ballerina when she grows up.

#natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff #soft natasha romanoff #natasha romanoff fluff #natasha romanoff comfort

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retropopcult · 1 year

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RIP Pelé (October 23, 1940 – December 29, 2022)

Pelé (born Edson Arantes do Nascimento), the Brazilian soccer legend who won three World Cups and became the sport’s first global icon, has died at the age of 82 from complications related to colon cancer.

For more than 60 years, the name Pelé has been synonymous with soccer. He played in four World Cups and is the only player in history to win three, but his legacy stretched far beyond his trophy haul and remarkable goal-scoring record.

“I was born to play football, just like Beethoven was born to write music and Michelangelo was born to paint,” He once said.

Averaging almost a goal per game throughout his career, Pelé was adept at striking the ball with either foot in addition to anticipating his opponents' movements on the field. His dribbling skills were on a higher level, and the best and most experienced defenses were rarely able to stop him. In all, Pele's pro career totaled 1,280 goals (a Guinness world record) and he scored 77 goals for Brasil in World Cup games, also a record.

He won many titles with his Brazilian club, Santos FC, and is their all-time goals leader. He also represented Brasil in four World Cups starting at the age of 17, winning in 1958, 1962, and 1970. FIFA then dubbed him simply, “The Greatest”; Brazilians called him O Rei (”The King”).

After retiring from Brazilian (and International World Cup Play) soccer in 1974, he signed on with the New York Cosmos and wowed American fans for three years. Pelé finished his official playing career by leading the Cosmos to their second championship in 1977. He then enjoyed his international celebrity status, including a starring role in the film “Victory”, shown above.

#football #legend #Pele #bicycle kick #goal #gif #1981 #futbol #futsal #the beautiful game #Copa Libertadores #Intercontinental cup

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cartermagazine · 6 months

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Today In History

In 1940, in Tres Coracoes, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, generally known as Pelé, is born October 23, 1940.

After Brazil lost the 1950 World Cup final to Uruguay, a 9 or 10-year-old Pelé, made a promise to his devastated father. “I remember jokingly saying to him: ‘Don’t cry, dad — I’ll win the World Cup for you,” Pelé recalled to FIFA.com in 2014. Eight years in 1958 later, however, his so-called joke became a reality when he won the first of his record-breaking three World Cup titles.

Thus began Pelé’s storied career, and by the time he played his final professional game in 1977, he’d netted over 1,280 career goals as part of Brazil’s Santos Football Club and the New York Cosmos. Although he’s now widely considered to be the greatest soccer player of all time.

CARTER™️ Magazine

#carter magazine #historyandhiphop365 #wherehistoryandhiphopmeet #history #cartermagazine #today in history #staywoke #carter #blackhistory #blackhistorymonth #pele

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louisupdates · 22 days

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[Translated from Spanish]

Louis Tomlinson chose Argentina once again to enjoy the time before his show on May 18, nothing more and nothing less than at the Vélez Sarsfield Stadium in front of 40,000 people. His last visit to the country took place under the framework of his concert at the Movistar Arena, in mid-2022 with the presentation of his debut solo album Walls, so the fans wanted to be able to see it again and share some time with him.

To the good luck of those present last weekend at the Four Seasons hotel in Buenos Aires, Louis took some time to greet each and every one of them on the street, where minutes before he had spoken with various media about how he prepares for this great show, which in his own words "is a great leap in his career."

In this show, he will present his latest studio album, Faith In The Future, which has hits such as "Bigger Than Me", "Out Of My System" or "The Greatest" and which he presented in an exclusive listening at The Roxy Bar & Grill at the end of 2022.

You have already stepped on the field of Vélez, you even had the opportunity to score a couple of goals, how did you feel?

Very good to be honest, but I'm not going to lie to you, I think I injured my quadriceps, I'm not very fit these days (laughs). As a soccer fan it's beautiful to be able to play on a field in good condition, I was able to kick some penalties, score a couple of goals... It was a great day.

Especially in Argentina, a country so passionate about football, did you have the opportunity to know anything about our football culture?

Totally, I saw the videos of the celebration of the World Cup, five million people... It was crazy. I love that, football is my other love after music. Having so many people who love the same thing as me makes me feel at home, it's very nice.

When you stepped on the grass, could you imagine how crowded it will be in your show?

It's something very difficult to imagine. You have the idea because you look at the place and you could have the image of what it will be like, but I really don't think you have the true feeling until you go on stage. It's a reaction that is always shocking to me, because although it's real, and you can have an image in your head of what it will look like, you can't imagine how it will feel to get there and go on stage with so many people. I'm excited to be able to feel it.

Did you prepare something special for our audience?

I think I'll probably be bringing... The setlist will be a little different... Maybe bring some of the old songs, make new covers... I would like the show to feel a little different from the last ones we did, so there will be some new additions.

You recently commented that Anitta was your favorite Brazilian singer. We are a little jealous.

It's fair, I get it, I get it. Give me a minute... Where is it? (Take a paper out of your pocket) I have a couple of names... Here I have it, look at this: WOS, Airbag, Cerati, do you see it? Are they okay? I have three here.

From the Movistar Arena two years ago, to this show in Vélez, what differences can you notice?

The truth is that I can't tell you... It seems that I made a very good record, and the jump is huge. It's something I don't know what to expect, because since I didn't know what my first show would be like, I wasn't very aware of what the evolution would be like from there. I feel very grateful to be able to be in these beautiful places, the stadiums, the arenas... I feel very lucky to be able to have the opportunity to do it again.

Throughout your career you have been present multiple times in both the Hot 100 and the Hot 100 Argentina, is it something that worries you when it comes to creating songs?

It's something I try not to be too worried about. I think that sometimes, when you try to create something for playlists, for radio or something similar, the panorama of the imagination changes because it becomes a more linear path. I was particularly enjoying writing a lot, regardless of the success that the track will have. A lot of what I do when I write is oriented to the live show, and later it is molded for the radio.

Are you working on something special for this year?

I wrote about four or five songs for the new album. By the end of this year, I think I'm going to start writing a lot more, with the intention of presenting a new album next year.

#billboard argentina #louis tomlinson #fitfwt24: buenos aires #louis press #louis interviews #6.4.2024

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leveloneandup · 10 months

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sandras_sports_shots BMO FIFA Women’s World Cup Gender Equity in Soccer Panel

Danielle Slaton Sonya Kunkel Christen Press Jill Ellis

Some of the facts shared in today’s discussion are:

“The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is forecast to reach 2 billion viewers world wide, which is a quarter of the global population.

We’ve seen a record breaking over 1 million tickets sold already in Australia and New Zealand with the tournament on track to be the most attended one in history.

According to Fox, advertising is selling faster than previous editions, 90% of it’s inventory is already sold a month out before the tournament.

FIFA prize money investment is three times greater compared to 2019 with the goal of equalizing pay between the Women’s and Men’s World Cup by 2026/2027.” - Danielle Slaton

#christen press #danielle slaton #jill ellis #gender equity panel #angel city fc #bay fc #wwc 2023

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usnatarchives · 1 year

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Play Like A Girl!

Women's Soccer in the United States ⚽⚽⚽

From its early days, the story of women's soccer is one of resilience, determination, and sheer love for the game.

The first recorded women's soccer match in the U.S. took place way back in 1922, featuring the Dick, Kerr's Ladies of England and a local amateur St. Louis team. While this historic match sparked interest, the sport didn't really take off until the 1970s.

A game-changer was the passing of Title IX in 1972, a federal law that said "no way" to sex-based discrimination in schools. This opened the door for more opportunities in sports, including women's soccer.

The first NCAA Women's Soccer Championship took place in 1982, further legitimizing the sport at the collegiate level.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) was formed in 1985, making their international debut at the Mundialito tournament in Italy that same year.

The team's success in the 1991 Women's World Cup, where they emerged as champions, marked a turning point in the popularity and recognition of women's soccer in the United States.

In 1999, the United States hosted the World Cup. The USWNT captured the hearts of fans everywhere with their nail-biting victory against China in a penalty shootout. Who can forget Brandi Chastain's iconic celebration after scoring the winning goal? That moment became a symbol of the growth and success of women's soccer–and women athletes–in the United States.

Fast forward to 2013, when the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) was created as the go-to professional league for women's soccer in the U.S. Today, the NWSL and USWNT continue to make waves in the sport, with the national team winning multiple Olympic gold medals and World Cup titles. So get out there, and Play Like a Girl!

Further Reading:

Title IX and Women’s Soccer in NARA’s Film Holdings

#Women's Soccer #USWNT #Soccer #Sports #Play Like A Girl #Women's Sports

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dutchforstrangers · 5 months

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I like you in a skirt - Taiora drabble

For @taioraweek 2023 Day 2

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

A/N: Here’s a drabble of a concept that has been sitting in my WIPs for what feels like ages. I’m exaggerating obviously, but it’s an idea that has stuck and now’s finally the time to give it a stage. Non-established Taiora, taking place in my "About all the times" universe [x][x].

Loosely ‘based’ on this fanart of Sora holding her school uniform skirt (and looking absolutely disgusted by it).

Summary: Middle school is approaching which means: school uniforms for both Taichi and Sora. Taichi has a hard time imagining Sora -the tomboy- in a skirt, but when he actually sees her...

Day 2: School days | Characters: Taichi Yagami (POV), Sora Takenouchi, Koushiro Izumi | Genre: Friendship | Rating: K | Wordcount: 732

“A skirt…”

“Don’t tell me you aren’t aware of the fact that girls do indeed have to wear skirts in middle and high school, Taichi-san.”

“Yeah, I’m aware. It’s just… I don’t think I can imagine her in a skirt.”

Taichi stared at the closed curtains of the fitting room their female friend was currently in. He had to admit that to some extent, he had liked the idea of seeing girls wearing skirts on a daily base soon. But after seeing the horror in her eyes, holding up the to her hideous thing, he was a tad more careful with what he liked.

He repeated her words in his mind like a broken record playing.

“I do not want to wear a skirt.”

The image of her holding up the thing between only her thumbs and index fingers, the other six fingers keeping a distance to the fabric as if it was the filthiest thing she had ever seen and held, remained stuck with those repeating words.

Sorry was what he felt for her. In fact, Taichi was so sorry he had been trying to come up with what he thought were solutions. To make her laugh, like he always tried. He should’ve known though he would never succeed, like he had not done yet.

“Maybe you can ask to wear trousers instead?”

“And being the only girl wearing trousers? No.”

“Or you could wear the trousers over the skirt.”

“That still makes me the only girl wearing trousers. It’s also one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard. So no.”

“Okay, theeeeen… the only option left is burning it and go to school in your underpants!”

“Ugh, I can’t with you!”

He would only make her more mad and annoyed with him.

Koushiro had looked at him like he had seen him looking at him a thousand times, scolding him for being stupid with only his eyes, shaking head and sighs.

In a way, however, Taichi had succeeded. Simply because giving her those rather crazy options made her step into the fitting room and close the curtains shut behind her. And she had not entered it solely to be rid of him, but probably to try the skirt on anyway.

She was stubborn like that and when it came to Taichi, she needed to prove her right of the skirt being awful. Little did she know he was never going to give her that right, even when he had a hard time imagining her wearing one.

She had been in his soccer team for as long as he could remember, always playing alongside the boys. Besides, she wasn’t just playing games as she was one of the few players who could actually score a goal. People would always describe her as the tomboy, the girl who was wearing the pants in every sense and meaning. But she wasn’t as tough as she looked most of the time, under that hard exterior hidden a gentle and caring young woman.

Taichi recalled the times in the Digital World where she had a hard time accepting her Crest. In the end, there was nothing to accept, all she needed was the strength to look at herself in the mirror and see the girl she already but unknowingly was.

The skirt contained the same symbolism. It was the one thing she needed to finally see what feminine potential she was hiding inside.

And underneath those jeans she was always wearing.

He watched the curtain slowly open, revealing his friend dressed in the green colored school uniform. His eyes boldly scanned her from top to bottom, stopping at her skirt for a bit longer, his eyes unable to deny the long legs it was exposing.

A blush started to form on his cheeks.

“What do you guys think?” She asked sounding a bit insecure, her comfortable level low, but not as low and annoyed as it was before.

“I think it suits you better than how you pictured it, Sora-san,” Koushiro answered politely with a warm smile. It made Sora smile back shyly.

“I—erm…” Taichi started, trying to find the right words to say. Pity he could only come up with more stupid-sounding ones.

“I like you in a skirt.”

“Baka,” Sora said, unable to hide the red shade quickly appearing, fumbling with the skirt she was wearing like your typical shy school girl.

#taioraweek2023 #taioraweek #taiora #taichi yagami #sora takenouchi #digimon fanfiction #oc #taichi x sora #digimon #taichi #sora #tai x sora #tai kamiya #tai #koushiro izumi #koushiro #izzy izumi #izzy

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aus-wnt · 8 months

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Alanna Kennedy: ‘It was the hardest day of my footballing career’

As a female soccer player on a national team, there is no bigger stage than on a pitch at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. But after being sidelined by a concussion, Matildas star defender Alanna Kennedy could only watch last month’s semi-final from her hotel room. As she reflects on the team’s history-making run and looks ahead to charting the way forward for women’s sport in Australia, Kennedy tells Stellar, “For a lot of people, the Matildas are just arriving on the scene. It feels like the start of our journey”

The Matildas had two goals they wanted to achieve at last month’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. The first was to win the whole thing. The second was to inspire a generation.

The first one didn’t quite come off, even if they did manage an epic run to become the first Australian soccer team in history to make a World Cup semi-final. Once there, they couldn’t get past the might of England. As for the second? Regardless of claiming any silverware, they certainly managed that.

Matildas jerseys have outsold Socceroos jerseys, thousands of fans swarmed the team’s hotels and airports to show support and a record 11.15 million Australians tuned into the broadcast of that semi-final, making it the most-watched television program since the TV ratings system started in 2001.

In a cruel twist of fate, star defender Alanna Kennedy was one of them. Just hours before the game, Kennedy – who made her Matildas debut at 17 and has played more than 100 games for Australia – was ruled out of playing in the biggest game of her career because of a concussion she’d sustained in a head clash with French striker Eugénie Le Sommer days earlier. Her symptoms were so heightened that she couldn’t even make it to the game to watch from the sidelines.

“I’ve never watched the Matildas play on TV,” Kennedy tells Stellar, the emotion evident in her voice. “We saw from a distance the impact we were having and the amount of people who were getting behind us. As a player you want to be involved in those big games. If I’m being honest with you, it was the hardest day of my footballing career. I watched from the hotel room. I didn’t even make it to the stadium.”

Her disappointment aside, the 28-year-old – who also plays for Manchester City in England and had already overcome a horror year of injuries to make it into the World Cup squad – says she came away with a unique understanding of how thoroughly the team had managed to transform its standing with the Australian public.

“It was an interesting one, to watch the pre-game and see all the people flooding into fan zones to support us. To watch it through the lens of an Australian supporter was really cool. Outside of my hotel window I could see the fan zone. And watching the fans watch the game was surreal.”

A month on from the team’s fourth place finish at the tournament, Kennedy believes it’s still too soon to fully comprehend all the team has achieved. “I look back on it with a lot of happy memories but then you revisit the moments where we lost certain games or we came so close but just fell short. Right when the nation was getting behind us and we were creating history and ready to create more, we lost the last two games,” she says. “But I also feel relieved. It’s a long time to be in such a high-pressure environment, and there are just so many emotions that you go through from here on a day-to-day basis.”

As an experienced player, Kennedy is already well-known in soccer circles, but there has been a dramatic shift in those who now recognise her in the street. Walking through an airport recently, she was spotted by a woman with three children in tow who approached to ask for a photo. “I thought, OK, she’s going to ask for the kids to get in – but it was for her,” Kennedy says, laughing at the memory.

“It has been a real change in people wanting photos more regularly. It’s little boys as well, and I love that. The demographic is so broad. That’s what football is about. It’s the world game. It’s a very inclusive space.

A lot of players are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community and I think this tournament has also brought attention to that. There are so many things that are bigger than football.

So to be a part of that moment is something that I’ll be grateful for. I’ll never forget the experience that we had at this World Cup.”

However, alongside the added attention came some uncomfortable intrusions into the players’ personal lives. A fan’s “WoSo Chart” that detailed the hundreds of queer relationships in the pro soccer world went viral during the tournament. Some criticised it as an unnecessary invasion of privacy.

As for Kennedy, she just wants the attention to stay on her playing ability.

“It’s slightly different for someone who wants to share those things and that’s how they create their profile,” she points out. “But I think at the core for us is that we’re footballers first. That’s my passion. I like to express myself through fashion and my tattoos and jewellery, but for me, I have my circle of close friends and family and that’s so important to me. It’s hard when people delve into things that you’re not particularly willing to share. It’s important to protect our space so that we can focus on what’s really important, which is our football.”

Kennedy is doing just that, having spent a mere week in Australia post-tournament before flying to the UK to start training with Manchester City, where she plays alongside fellow Matildas star Mary Fowler. And she has nearly recovered from her concussion.

“My game heavily revolved around using my head. It’s probably one of my biggest strengths, my aerial ability. I’ve never experienced a concussion before [the World Cup] and for a couple of days I was unsure exactly what I was feeling. I was nauseous. I wasn’t myself,” she tells Stellar. “I’m pretty close to [feeling] normal now, if not back to normal, which I’m really grateful for because it’s not a nice feeling. No-one likes to feel distant from their normal selves.”

Kennedy is also eager to reunite with her teammates – or, as she calls them, “my best mates” – in October in Perth, where they hope to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. But they’re also looking beyond next year.

“For a lot of people, the Matildas are just arriving on the scene and it feels like the start of our journey; we’ve gained a lot of traction and fans and support, and hopefully that can continue moving forward for the Matildas and women’s sport. [But] our goal hasn’t changed from wanting to win a World Cup, wanting to win an Olympics,” she says, adding that the players have been working towards those goals for their entire careers. “We have so many goals and ambitions that we’re yet to fulfil and I think we have the potential to. Now we just have more people supporting us and on the journey with us.

“You can’t look past how much of an impact the team has had across the nation,” she adds. “I was disappointed with how my World Cup ended, but then I look back, and at one point I was working really hard to even be in the squad. It’s all about perspective. I’m just super proud.”

#alanna kennedy #manchester city women #mcwfc #matildas #auswnt

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alexbkrieger13 · 11 months

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These new FC Bayern stars only come in a double pack

The top soccer players Pernille Harder and Magdalena Eriksson are moving to Munich on July 1st. What connects the two privately and on the pitch.

On her first day on Grünwalder Strasse, Pernille Harder internalized what was faltering at FC Bayern Munich . She had hardly signed the new professional contract when the Danish record striker reminded the fans of the club's motto in Bavarian: "Mia san mia!" Interestingly, "mia" is short for "billion" in Danish. The FCB men's squad is worth almost a billion, but as is well known, it has often lacked the much-vaunted Munich feeling of togetherness.

Just as close as the men, the women's team of the record champions also won their fifth title this year, but with significantly less noise. In the 2023/2024 season, the championship is again the declared goal of the women - and in 30-year-old Pernille Harder they have signed one of the best offensive players in the world. She doesn't come alone: Swedish defensive expert Magdalena Eriksson, Harder's partner, has also signed a professional contract with FC Bayern until 2026 . Both were previously on the pitch at Chelsea, winning the English Championship and the FA Women's Cup with the Blues.

Harder and Eriksson are used to playing together – privately since 2014, twice in the same team on the pitch: in 2016 they won the Swedish championship with Linköpings FC, in 2020 Harder followed her friend to London .

She knows the Bundesliga from her time at VfL Wolfsburg: Between 2017 and 2020, Harder shot the Wolves to the championship and the cup four times. When she moved to London, she was the most expensive soccer player in the world at a transfer fee of 330,000 euros. Both players are coming to Bayern Munich on a free transfer.

Leaving Chelsea was a tearful one, especially for Magdalena Eriksson. For four years she was captain of the blues. When she was presented with the framed jersey with the number 16 in the Kingsmeadow stadium with its 4,800 seats in mid-May, the 29-year-old lost her voice. "I love you guys," she said to the fans, "and I want to say thank you for everything." It's good that her friend was standing next to her at that moment, grabbing the microphone and completing the parting words. Since the time at Chelsea, the two have only been in a double pack. "It means a lot to me that we can move here together and stay together," said Harder in Munich , "we already had a long-distance relationship, we don't want that again."

Off the pitch, Harder and Eriksson campaign for LGBTIQ rights

The sporting director of the FCB women, Bianca Rech, is convinced that these two can "make the difference" in the Munich game. Harder and Eriksson are also "incredible personalities" off the pitch. Anyone who follows them on Instagram knows about their commitment to LGBTIQ rights. Incidentally, her beliefs flow into the posts, Eriksson wears them as a tattoo on his shoulder. "We are all human and we shouldn't judge anyone," it says in Swedish. Among her followers is world-famous British top model Cara Delevingne , herself a queer activist. In addition to the square, the boulevard has long since discovered the two, but the couple rarely gets involved in advertising deals and photo shoots:in pink tulle skirts and hoodies. They have been moderating the talk show “The Hangout” for Sky Sports since 2022. Soccer stars like Megan Rapinoe talk about their experiences as queer athletes.

In the Bundesliga, both also want to develop individually. "Seeing the German national team play at the European Championships last summer shows how the Bundesliga is developing"Harder says in the welcome video on Bayern's YouTube channel. "I'm excited to be back in the league." Her partner has no experience of the Bundesliga. In European football, however, she is a star and was nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 2021 and was voted into the Women's World Cup that same year, which she attributes to her hunger for wins: "One of my greatest talents as a footballer is that I've always had this urge to constantly improve", says Eriksson in the video. "Taking on a new challenge only makes me hungrier for success and for learning more." But she can also be modest: "Coming into a new football culture and a new team, that makes me humble."

#magdalena eriksson #pernille harder #fc bayern frauen #swewnt #denwnt #hardersson #magda article

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superbeans89 · 8 months

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It’s RWC eve, and with kickoff tomorrow at 8:15 PM UK time, some speculation is in order for the 9 people on tumblr who follow it.

For those who don’t know, rugby union is a sport not far removed from American football, based more on evasion than contact however. There are 15 players on each team, and the ultimate goal is to get the ball grounded in the other team’s try area - comparable to the end zone in NFL. Unlike NFL though, the ball can only be passed backwards in rugby (unless you’re kicking it), turning it into a whole different ball game, so to speak.

Should a team achieve this, they score 5 points, and can attempt a conversion - that’s kicking the ball from a tee between the upright posts - for an extra 2. Penalties can also be kicked for 3 points outside of try scoring situations, making for a strategic and slightly complicated scoring system, though yet again NFL fans won’t be unfamiliar with it. It’s worth noting that games have been won solely on penalty points though, so don’t underestimate them.

Now, for the teams:

As it’s still a developing sport, not even competing with the likes of soccer or cricket, there are only 20 participating teams in the RWC. There are several countries that have adopted it as their national sport however, including Wales, New Zealand, and many of the pacific islands.

Of the four pools, only two from each will advance to the quarter finals, while third placed in the pool will automatically qualify for the next tournament, giving teams plenty to play for, even if they aren’t going to win every game.

With that said, there are favourites and no hopers among those that have qualified;

The Favourites

🇫🇷 - France. As this year’s hosts, France are currently ranked 3rd in the world, and are notoriously unpredictable. Able to beat - or lose to - just about anyone, France have been the bridesmaids of the Rugby World Cup three times now. With flair, team depth and a home field advantage, they’re expected to go far, and should be guaranteed a place in the semifinals or better.

Which French team shows up may be revealed when they play New Zealand in the opening match.

🇮🇪 - Ireland. Ranked number one in the world, but with a poor record at World Cups, never getting past the quarterfinals, Ireland don’t thrive under the pressure of expectation, preferring to act as the underdog and surprise people instead.

Nevertheless, with a dedicated following, solid recent form, and trailblazing coach Andy Farrell, this could be the year they break that curse, though they’ll have to escape the Pool of Death first.

🇳🇿 - New Zealand. Historically the best rugby nation on the planet, New Zealand were near unmatched in this sport until recently, remaining at the top of the rankings for almost ten consecutive years. Their form has taken a dip recently, particularly after a record breaking loss to South Africa, but only time will tell whether the infamous All Blacks can bounce back, or if they were just hustling.

🇿🇦 - South Africa. As the current champs, alongside terrific form and team depth, the Springboks are expected to go far this year. While they are also stuck in the Pool of Death with Ireland and Scotland, they have a tremendous pedigree in the sport, matching New Zealand’s record three victories, despite featuring in two less World Cups. Thriving under pressure, the Springboks combine esteem and unconventional playstyles - you’ll hear the phrase ‘bomb squad’ used a lot when they’re playing - a lot of fans will see this World Cup as South Africa’s to lose.

The Dark Horses

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 - Scotland. Currently ranked 5th in the world, Scotland are in strong form and have surprising team depth for such a small rugby nation. Unpredictable and world beating on a good day (yet still waiting on that historic victory against the All Blacks), Scotland would be expected to do well this year… if they weren’t in the Group of Death alongside Ireland and South Africa. These are both teams Scotland can beat, but will they remain consistent for a full eighty minutes of play? That’s the main concern.

🇦🇷 - Argentina. Often forgotten as a rugby nation due to their soccer pedigree, Argentina are one of this tournament’s secret weapons. With solid form, growing momentum and a lucky placement in the pools however, los Pumas can probably reach the semifinals.

🇦🇺 - Australia. Famous rivals to the All Blacks, Australia’s form has fallen in recent years, but not to the point where they should be counted out. Almost causing a massive upset against New Zealand, leading them for most of the game on their own turf, when the Wallabies get it right they can be deadly, and they’ve won this tournament twice as well, so don’t write them off just yet.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 - England. Having won the RWC in 2003, not to mention inventing the sport, England have a rugby pedigree that can’t be denied. Their recent form has been poor however, recording several record losses, as well as a first ever loss to Fiji. While they should make it out of their pool - though this is largely because it’s the easiest pool by far - England won’t be expected to go much further, maybe scraping past the quarterfinals if they’re lucky.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 - Wales. Between funding issues and player retirement, Wales are a depleted side this World Cup. While inconsistent across previous tournaments, they have notched up some remarkable results in the past, and could do so again under legendary coach Warren Gatland. It’s far more likely that they’ll struggle however, and may not even make it out of the pool this year, with Fiji and Georgia looking strong.

The No Hopers

🇮🇹 - Italy. While their form has been good, and they’ve made great strides in recent years, Italy are grouped in with France and New Zealand, the latter of which they’ve never beaten. Short of a miracle, Italy won’t be making it out of their pool.

🇫🇯 - Fiji. Recording a famous win in Twickenham on their last warmup match, Fiji have form and momentum on their side, and will be aiming for the quarterfinals. They likely won’t get any further, but for a tiny island nation, Fiji punch well above their weight.

🇼🇸 - Samoa. Having upset traditionally stronger nations at previous World Cups, Samoa could surprise a few opponents this year too. Beating either England or Argentina for a qualifying place will be a tough ask, but never say never.

🇹🇴 - Tonga. Also in the Group of Death with Scotland, Ireland and South Africa, Tonga will be gunning for an upset. Their form has been strong, and they perform immensely well for an island of 100,000 people, but escaping the pool will probably be too much of an ask.

🇬🇪 - Georgia. Europe’s ‘other’ rugby nation dominates in the second tier of competitive play, and will hope to upset Wales in this World Cup, just like they did in Cardiff last year. With Fiji also vying for the same spot though, their rough and tumble playstyle may work against them in the long run, as fitness is definitely an issue for bulkier players.

🇯🇵 - Japan. After stunning South Africa 34-32 at RWC2015, and graduating from their pool by beating both Ireland and Scotland at RWC2019, Japan will hope to take advantage of their reputation as the wild card, and escape pools a second time. With England looking vulnerable it’s not impossible, but poor form and and equally hungry Samoa may hold them back.

‘We’re just happy to be here!’

🇺🇾 - Uruguay. South America’s second best rugby nation has grown massively in recent years. Ousting Canada from the qualification rounds, they’ve featured at plenty of World Cups, and even got a surprise win over Fiji last tournament. In a strong pool with France, New Zealand and Italy however, they’ll be fighting with Namibia for what will likely be their sole victory of the tournament.

🇳🇦 - Namibia. Similarly to Uruguay in many ways, Namibia are also the second best in their continent, behind the mighty Springboks. Also in the same group as Uruguay, they’ll be aiming for a single win, with no real hope of graduating from their pool.

🇷🇴 - Romania. A World Cup mainstay, The Oaks have been to all but one tournament, and even that absence was mired in controversy. Between lacklustre recent form and rampant funding issues however, Romania will be lucky to get a win in what’s by far the toughest pool.

🇵🇹 - Portugal. Another nation known more for their soccer, Portugal won’t be expecting much from their pool. If they get a win, they’ll be ecstatic. They qualified by the skin of their teeth, but they made it here. That’s reason enough to celebrate, and it’s only a short plane trip home.

🇨🇱 - Chile. Debuting at RWC2023, Chile qualified with a last gasp victory over the USA, and will likely end up bottom of their pool. Still, qualifying at all is a massive achievement for a nation with such a small following.

…and that’s everything. RWC2023 is considered the most open World Cup in the sport’s history, with as many as six or seven viable contenders. Whoever holds the Webb Ellis Cup aloft in a few weeks is up to debate, but it should be entertaining nonetheless. Game on!

#rwc 2023 #rugby union #international rugby #rugby world cup #france 2023

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blackswaneuroparedux · 1 year

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From my point of view, what's beautiful in the sport is that you don't need to know too much about tactics or anything to see. If you find something beautiful, you don't need to be an expert to know it. It's like ballet… The reason it was nicknamed 'ginga' was that normally, when we'd play against a European team…back then, the European teams were very tough and physical. They were big, and defensively solid... There were some in Brazil who thought we should make that our football culture. We would say, 'We want to dance. We want to ginga. Football is not about fighting to the death. You have to play beautifully.' And so we did, and that's the reason that Brazil created more of a show, more of a ballet… The ambition should always be to play an elegant game.

- Pelé (Edson Arantes do Nascimento)

Pelé was born on Oct. 23, 1940, his father was a professional soccer player in their native Brazil. Pelé — who was given his nickname by childhood friends because of the way he mispronounced his favourite soccer player goalkeeper Bilé - honed his craft playing futsal (or indoor soccer) in Bauru, the region within São Paulo, where Pelé grew up.

In 1956, at only the age of 15, Pelé tried out for the Santos FC professional club near São Paulo. He soon signed a contract with the team and made his professional debut on Sept. 7, 1956. In the Brazilian press, Pelé was instantly hailed as a star, with the forward leading the league in scoring as a 16-year-old in 1957. The following year, Pelé joined the Brazilian national team for the 1958 World Cup, delivering a performance that would make him a global star and earn him the nickname “O Rei,” or “The King.”

Pelé’s dominance continued through the Sixties as his Santos team won six championships in the Brazilian league over the course of that decade, while Brazil also won the World Cup in 1962 and 1970, with Pelé winning the Golden Ball for best player at the latter tournament. In his 19 seasons at Santos, spanning from 1956 to 1974 and roughly 660 games, Pelé scored a record-shattering 643 goals.

In 1975, Pelé helped ignite interest in “the Beautiful Game” - a phrase he in part popularised for the sport, inspired by his own majestic style of play — in the U.S., a country seemingly culturally impervious to soccer’s charms: The American team failed to even qualify for the World Cup between 1954 to 1986. Following nearly two decades at Santos and a brief retirement, Pelé signed with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League.

Pelé’s mere presence helped the Cosmos reach record attendances, and the sport itself gained public awareness otherwise unheard of stateside. He spent three years with the Cosmos, culminating in a Soccer Bowl championship with the Cosmos in 1977. That same year, Pelé played his final game as a pro as the Cosmos hosted his former longtime team, Santos, for an exhibition match at a sold-out Giants Stadium, with Pelé playing for both teams during the game. In the near half-century following his retirement, Pelé became one of soccer’s greatest ambassadors, continuing his push to keep the “Beautiful Game” on the forefront of the world stage. He starred in soccer-related movies — 1981’s Escape to Victory and 1986’s Hotshot — and teamed with Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes on the soundtrack to a 1977 documentary about his life. He received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth as well as every other possible soccer-related accolade, from the FIFA Order of Merit to the FIFA Player of the Century to a spot on TIme’s 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century list.

The debate over his status as the all-time No.1 is almost unresolvable, with Lionel Messi the only player to match him in Ballon d'Or awards, and the Argentine and Cristiano Ronaldo also leading him in the all-time goal race. But you can judge Pelé’s greatness by what his footballing peers - legendary players in their own time. “The best player ever? Pelé. (Lionel) Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are both great players with specific qualities, but Pelé was better.” said Alfredo Di Stefano, the late and great Argentine star for Real Madrid. Ferenc Puskas, the legendary Hungarian footballer disagreed, “The greatest player in history was Di Stefano. I refuse to classify Pelé as a player. He was above that.” For Franz Beckenbauer, he said of Pelé “He is the most complete player I ever saw.”Rarely do the Germans see eye to eye with the Dutch such is their footballing rivalry, but for the late great Johann Cruyff, “Pelé was the only footballer who surpassed the boundaries of logic.”.

Even Ronaldo, the only player on the same level as Lionel Messi in the modern game, put the debate to rest when he declared, “Pelé is the greatest player in football history, and there will only be one Pelé in the world.”

RIP King Pelé (1940-2022)

#pelé #footballer #football #brazil #soccer #athlete #icon

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