The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) together with Centre for Arts and Innovation, Tool Box and Credit Union Foundation Australia (CUFA), marked the successful conclusion of the UNDP Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme (EAP) with a Demonstration Day in Port Moresby, on Friday, 9 December 2022. Women entrepreneurs successfully participated in a 6-week business acceleration programme, aimed to enhance their skills and knowledge necessary to strengthen and refine their business ideas, models, planning, and execution. The women-owned and led MSMEs participating in the accelerator programme were then given the opportunity to give their culminating pitch at the end of the EAP. The women-owned and led MSMEs were given an opportunity to showcase the skills and knowledge they gained from the business accelerator course through a business idea presentation to a private sector evaluation panel. This panel was led by the CEO of CPL Group, Mr. Navin Raju and Marketing Manager of National Development Bank, Ms. Mataria Rupa Tau. “It is our hope that the women entrepreneurs will benefit from this multifaceted programme through education, mentorship, and networking opportunities that will help accelerate their business ideas and skills. This is an important initiative to improve and increase the economic empowerment opportunities for women entrepreneurs with skills including digital, financial, and business development to position them to grow and succeed” said Dirk Wagener, UNDP Resident Representative. UNDP Private Sector Partnerships Specialist, Dr. Ahmed Awil, in officially closing the programme said, “we are pleased to celebrate the endeavors and future success of these women as they continue their entrepreneurial journey. We acknowledge the hard work and the resilience of these women entrepreneurs, and we are pleased to continue supporting them.’’ The women entrepreneurs were all very excited in pitching their proposals and have said that following the EAP, they have either gained new customers, learnt to embrace digitalization and market their businesses better, or benefitted from increased revenues and profits, during the 6 weeks and put the theory learned to practice. UNDP was honored to present the top 3 women entrepreneurs with seed capital for their businesses of 10,000 Kina for the top prize to Phyomas Therapy, 6,000 Kina and 4,000 Kina respectively to the second and third runner ups, Margaret’s Kitchen Services Ltd and Jamali Decorations. All of the women entrepreneurs benefitted from the formalization of their businesses were also awarded with smaller seed capital injections. First prize winner Priscilla Mann of Phyomas Therapy, said at the end of the 6 weeks training, “before attending the EAP, I had no knowledge or training about financial literacy or digital marketing. I thought I was managing my business as best I could, but my finances were all over the place, my social marketing skills were lacking and I felt stuck, I knew I needed help and I am glad it came in the form of this EAP training which was a real blessing for me. “ CEO of CPL Group, Mr. Navin Raju closed the prize giving ceremony by congratulating all the women who competed at the UNDP EAP Demo Day, and reaffirmed CPL’s position as a strong supporter of PNG’s MSMEs and recognized the importance of empowering women. “There is a great amount of potential amongst the women here today. You have presented great business propositions and CPL looks forward to working with you in the coming future”. The Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme is part of the UNDP’s Rapid Finance Facility project and is focused on financial inclusion, access to finance and digital financial services for women entrepreneurs and women-owned and led MSMEs. The project has so far trained over 6,700 women entrepreneurs in financial literacy, and 4,000 women in business development and digital literacy skills.

PNG face potentially two play-off matches in February for the tournament being held in New Zealand and Australia later in 2023. In a 20-year playing career Spencer Prior progressed from lower-tier Southern United to Norwich City, Leicester City, Derby County, Manchester City, and Cardiff City before finishing his career in Australia. He won the English League Cup with Leicester City in 1997 and other career highlights include playing in the Norwich side that defeated German giants Bayern Munich in Europe. Now based in Australia, Prior has been assistant coach to the Australian Matildas and head coach of the Thailand women's team. With assistant coach Nicola Williams he is overseeing the PNG squad and taking them through their paces, including during a three-week block in Sydney followed by more time in Port Moresby. The 22-strong squad is now back in Australia and is likely to be bolstered by at least two more players. Last month the team competed in a four-nations tournament in Canberra during which they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Fiji, then suffered a shock 3-0 reverse to Solomon Islands. Illness prevented them from tackling the Australian U-20 side in the scheduled final match. Asked about his observations of the team so far, Prior said they were "getting better". "That would be a pretty short assessment. When we saw them in Canberra it was quite a long way off of where they need to be, but they knew that. The thing was they hadn't kicked the ball in about ten weeks (since the Oceania Nations Cup in July) so you can't do that and then just rock up and expect to perform in a tournament. "So it kind of opened their eyes to where they actually were at, but having then had them for three weeks in Sydney we started to get them back to levels where they were before and getting them even further ahead. So we know that by the time we get to February we need them to be a in a much better place and we've got a new camp to give ourselves the best chance of that. The team plays The Philippines twice in games that will provide a good test, as their opponents have already qualified for the finals. "We know where we need to get. I'm not sure we are exactly where we wanna be but the forthcoming games against the Philippines will give us a good benchmark as to how we've progressed since the tournament in Canberra," he said. Prior wasn't going to dwell on the results in that mini tournament, pointing out that the team has since changed and he now has a full squad at his disposal. "Credit to Fiji and Solomon Islands for they way they performed in those games, but we didn't have the full team at that stage and hadn't had any preparation. So they came in cold. In a way though it was a good thing because it showed them where they were in terms of their level, and that wasn't acceptable for what they're looking for. "It was literally just after that tournament that we stepped in and started to make the changes we needed to make." The Englishman now has the task of getting his charges up to speed as a game against Panama looms in Auckland on February 17 in the first stage of the Intercontinental Playoffs for the 2023 Women's World Cup being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia. Win that tie and they face either Taiwan or Paraguay four days later for a place at the finals. This is effectively the biggest match PNG have played in women's football. Prior is aware of the importance, but admits they're behind the eight-ball. "Essentially, we're trying to do in three-and-a-half months what the other teams have spent three-and-a-half years preparing for. We know that we'll be up against it. "But anything can happen over two games of football just depending on how you set them up and how physically they're prepared for it. We've put a lot of focus particularly in the last block of training on their conditioning. We've got warm-up games and training matches before Christmas so we're exposing the girls to a different environment, and different ways of playing." As part of the motivation process, Prior took all the players on a tour of the stadium in Sydney in which they would play in if they manage to qualify for the finals. Having spent some considerable time with the players, Prior has gotten to know them far better as people and has found many positives from that time. "They're the most respectful group of players I think I have ever coached. They're wonderful humans off the pitch and it's going really well working with them. On the pitch we're challenging them every day and pushing them as hard as we can without breaking them physically or mentally. But we're just trying to push them beyond their comfort zone." The players will return to PNG from Sydney three days before Christmas and after the new year go through an intensive programme to get them ready for their finals tilt. "I'm confident and I'll back the team, and believe that what we're doing will give us the best chance to get past ... I don't want to say the two games because I don't want to look too far ahead, but certainly try to get that first one over the line." PNG play Panama on February 19 in Auckland and should they win that, play either Taiwan or Paraguay four days later for a place at the World Cup. Source:rnz.com

Chilean officials have put a safety warning in place after a volcano sent an eruptive column 6,000m (almost 20,000ft) into the sky. Lascar volcano, which sits in the Andes, rumbled into action on Saturday, triggering minor earth tremors. No damage in the surrounding area has so far been reported, but an initial green warning was raised to yellow. Chile's National Geology and Mining Service (Sernageomin) defines "yellow" as meaning a volcano is unstable. The classification also means experts are monitoring a site for minor explosions and appearances of smoke, according to Sernageomin. Residents of Talabre, Antofagasta, a small town less than 12km (7 miles) from the volcano, first noticed some activity at around midday. Despite the giant cloud of smoke that Lascar emitted - comprising volcanic ash and hot gases - no homes are thought to have been damaged. Authorities have set up a no-entry perimeter 5km from the volcano's crater. Lascar, in the north of the country, is 70km from San Pedro de Atacama, a popular tourist destination for trekking and visits to the Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth. Source: BBC

In Papua New Guinea, women and children experience some of the highest rates of violence in the world. Nationally, about 1.5 million people per year experience gender-based violence, with most perpetrators (81%) being husbands or partners, according to the PNG special parliamentary committee on GBV. More than half of the country’s women aged 15-49 have experienced violence, and a third have experienced sexual violence, according to the PNG Demographic and Health Survey (2016-2018). Notably, only about a third of survivors seek support, according to the PNG Demographic and Health Survey (2016-2018). As a survivor of family violence herself, ANGAU Memorial Provincial Hospital’s Family Support Centre (FSC) Nurse Manager, Sister Anastacia Wakon is passionate about supporting survivors of violence. Prior to the Family Support Centre, Sister Wakon worked with the hospital’s Emergency Department and directly treated survivors of family and sexual violence. She witnessed how the high influx at the Emergency Department meant they were unable to medically treat all patients for physical injuries and many were sent away. Initially Sister Wakon worked solo in the FSC, but over the years the workforce has grown, and she now leads a team of 13 women providing a comprehensive approach to addressing family and sexual violence. The team consists of eight nurses, two social workers, one community health worker, one data entry officer and a hygiene officer. The FSC staff provide physical and mental health support to survivors and assist with police investigations when required. Sister Wakon is grateful to have an improved Family Support Centre that enables her team to support twice the number of women.

East New Britain Governor Michael Marum is calling on a united effort from all stakeholders to rebuild Rabaul town, a potential tourist destination. The Governor made this call when paying a courtesy visit to the Rabaul Urban LLG office on Friday Dec 9. He was accompanied by ENB acting provincial administrator Levi Mano and deputy provincial administrator for Districts and LLGs Nicholas Larme. The team also did inspections on roads in Rabaul, port services and Queen’s Park. He commended the tireless efforts of longtime residents and government officers that have committed themselves over the years to Rabaul, down the road to recovery and confronting challenges of hardships as they went. However he stressed that for the once- famous town to improve especially with its roads, port handling of large cargo vessels and other vital services, there needs to be a collective approach to dealing these issues. He said discussions must commence with political leaders, stakeholders, private sector and the public to move the town forward so it is not seen only as an outstation. “Only if we work together we can achieve positive outcome. Let’s talk about fixing small things and then big things will fall in line,” he said. The Governor cited the successful revival of the iconic Queen’s Park in Rabaul which has allowed for a great platform for sportsmanship among youths, empowerment of youths and small SMEs. “We have to start somewhere or else we will be waiting forever,” he said. Rabaul town manager, Joshua Wowo acknowledged the visit by the Governor and the acting PA assuring them that though faced with challenges, officers will undertake efforts to build back Rabaul town through its services, as Rabaul town is the face of Rabaul district.

Sexual harassment on the street will be made a crime with jail sentences of up to two years, the government has said. Catcalling, following someone and blocking their path will be criminalized in England under plans backed by the Home Secretary. "Every woman should feel safe to walk our streets," Suella Braverman said. Sexual harassment is already illegal but it is hoped creating a new offence for street harassment will encourage more people to report it to police. "We are putting the needs of victims at the heart of our decision, which will mean the criminals who commit these acts face the consequences they deserve," Ms Braverman said. A survey by pollsters YouGov for the BBC, published in March, suggested two-thirds of women did not feel safe walking alone at night, at least some of the time. Females under 34 are most likely to be the target of sexual offences but the least likely to report them, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The Crown Prosecution Service, which decides whether to take cases to court, recently updated its advice to staff about street harassment. The new guidelines also cover offences like exposure, stalking and sexual assault. The murder of Sarah Everard, who was abducted and killed by a serving policeman while walking home in south London last year, has also increased concerns over women's safety and attitudes towards women. Six months later, primary school teacher Sabina Nessa, 28, was murdered in south London by a man she had never met. The government will now back legislation tabled by former business secretary Greg Clark. Mr Clark said the intention of the bill is "to reinforce a change in the culture that establishes that it is completely unacceptable to abuse women in the streets". During a debate in the House of Commons, Mr Clark said: "Public sexual harassment can affect men and boys, but we should be clear that it disproportionately affects women and girls." The backbencher's bill aims to criminalise: Deliberately walking closely behind someone as they walk home at night Making obscene or aggressive comments towards a person Making obscene or offensive gestures towards a person Obstructing a person's path Driving or riding a vehicle slowly near to a person making a journey As it stands, the bill will also introduce harsher sentences - increasing the maximum sentences from six months to two years. Campaigners have also called for wolf-whistling and staring intently to be criminalised. In July, then home secretary Priti Patel launched a consultation on making street harassment a specific crime. The Home Office has now concluded it should be introduced after "the significant majority" of respondents were in favour. Earlier this year, the Independent Government Adviser for Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, Nimco Ali claimed the government had blocked the legislation. Labour's shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, welcomed the government backing a new law. She said: "Any action to tackle the epidemic of violence against women and girls is welcome, but the government must now go further and faster." The Home Office - the government department in charge of policing - recently launched a campaign encouraging people to call out harassment. It's called Enough and you might have seen posters for it popping up on public transport over the past month or so. The adverts - mainly aimed at men - suggest ways for people to intervene if they see someone being harassed.   Source: BBC

“See our ability and not our disability and accept us into the community, accept us into the workforce and utilise us to the best in doing things in the workforce, community and in homes.” This was the main call of the People with disabilities (PWD) from the Disable People Organisation (DPO) in East New Britain. Making this call on behalf of the PWD Commander Barracks East New Britain Inspector Edward Gigi who is an amputee. They made this call on Tuesday during the International Disability Day (IDD) celebration hosted by the provincial Division of Community Development division at Kokopo market park. PWD guardians, parents, friends, health officers and the public gathered for the short program starting with a march from the Ralum police headquarter to the Kokopo public market. The PWD accompanied by special students as well participated in the special event with the theme, ‘remove barriers, make rights real’. The event aimed to promote injustice accessibility for people with special needs and those living with disabilities. Inspector Gigi shared that most of them have disability and are employed and try their best to work hard to show that they can perform but others are being turn down due to their disability. He said he is one that is fighting for the rights of the PLWDs to be recognised as there is no proper recognition and inclusive PLWDs to acknowledge their existence and involve them in program, development and the delivery of services. “We get looks, discrimination in the village or in the work place and people we talked to and approached or the authorities that we work for it is not easy for us.” “We are all covered under the constitution we are just the same as you able people and we all have challenges we will be put down and my encouraged to my fellow disabilities that we will not stop in participating in the development in the country,” said Inspector Gigi. Chairlady of the Disable People Organisation (DPO) Ellen Royal said that PWD have always been categorized as people who are vulnerable and are to be sympathized with. “Disability is not a new thing it has been here and is in the law before we gain independence so we are recognised and also have the right like any other normal people and we should not be treated unfairly and vulnerable or feel sorry for,” she said. Mrs Royal thanked the current provincial government for recognizing DPO adding that now they feel that they are part of the government because the provincial government is supporting them now since the shift from health division to the government. She appealed to the public to see PWDs as equal and stop stigmatizing them as they too have skills and talents but are hesitant to come to come out because of discrimination. Mrs Royal said the community and the family needed to identify the skills and talents of the PWDs and assist them so that they can excel. She gave an example that despite her disability of low vision she can do house cores like any normal mother does.

The Japan Development Institute (JDI) team of experts and the local consultants led by Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru arrived in Vanimo yesterday afternoon. They were received at the airport by Governor for Sandaun, Tony Wouwou and the members of the Sandaun Provincial Administration. The team is in the province as part of their familiarization visits to identify potential Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the country to help formulate Papua New Guinea’s SEZ Masterplan. Vanimo is one of the 18 identified potential SEZ location in the country. It is located at the border of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Indonesia. “Sandaun is an agriculture province; they grow palm oil, cocoa, coffee and and and of the biggest producers of timber too, however, the province has not tapped into the market opportunity on the other side (Indonesia) which has 273 million people with an economy that is growing consistently at over 5% per annum,” said Minister Maru. “Our government is working towards getting air services between our two countries as soon as possible, hence the building of the new terminal and extension of the runway to prepare the province for direct flights from Indonesia. However, we do not have a town water supply here in Vanimo, no international wharf, no international airport and no industrial park. These are critical enablers that will capacitate Vanimo to be a major border industrial town. The government had only agreed to start building the water supply system at the cost of K40 million. There is even no powerline to the border at Wutung; we need to do that quite quickly. This will allow much cheap and reliable electricity supplies from Indonesia,” said Minister Maru. Minister Maru, during the welcome dinner hosted by the Sandaun Provincial Administration urged the Sandaun Provincial Government to not wait for the National Government to deliver these essential services to the province. “You have to take ownership and fund some of these essential services, like getting the powerline down to Wutung. When I was the Minister for National Planning and Monitoring, I released funds to PNG Power Limited to get the powerlines to Wutung but they had not done that so do not wait for them; do it as part of your commitment. You also need to identify the land for the industrial park where all the factories will be located to produces goods to sell to Indonesia. We cannot have a situation where only Indonesia will have goods to sell to us, we must also produce and sell to them. You must have an international airport, an international wharf and also a land which will be the export processing zone. I want you (Sandaun Provincial Government) to have a clear vision of what you want to do and the Marape-Rosso Government is here to support Sandaun to become a major economic powerhouse in the country,” said Minister Maru. Meanwhile, the JDI expert team and the local consultants will visit some of the identified locations in the province today, including Wutung Border Post, Wharf Area, Market Area and the land proposed for Physical Development. “While here in Sandaun, this team of experts will look at the economic potential of the province and tell us what can be done so we can build our capacity to bring in investors and talk about development and trade. Their report will help us by showing us what we need to do, not only the provincial government but the national government as well. We will use their studies and report to tell the government that the province has the potential to trade if we have the identified services available. We have been talking a lot and now it is time to make it happen,” said Minister Maru. Minister Maru thanked Governor Wouwou and the Sandaun Provincial Administration for showing their interest and support, and for facilitating the team who will be travelling back to Port Moresby tomorrow to visit another identified potential SEZ location which is the Central Province Rice Zone.

NCDC Active City Development Program ended 2022 with our last event on Peace and Reconciliation to commemorate World Human Rights Day. The annual Whitecember Walk with the theme “Dignity, Freedom & Justice for All” took place today, Sunday, 11th December 2022, from 5:30am to 8.30am at Ela Beach. Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is a milestone document which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, ethnicity, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. International days like this are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, mobilize political will and resources to address global problems and celebrate and reinforce the achievements of humanity. ACDP and our partners have embraced these days as a powerful advocacy tool. Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until death. They apply regardless of where you are from, what you believe or how you choose to live your life. “What is the meaning of Human Rights? It is about being responsible for your thoughts because thoughts become words and words become actions.” educated Ruth Kissam, Board Chair for Advancing PNG Women Leaders Network, in her Awareness Talk. About 150 city residents from all walks of life clad in peaceful white walked to show solidarity in standing up for human rights because all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. In this last Walk for Life event for the year, ACDP Management and Team would like to acknowledge and credit all those who attended today and throughout the year, especially Community Leaders; Julie Ambi – Tokarara, Lina Gerry – Morata, Sarah M - Murray Barracks, Geua K – Joycebay, Joenne Vau – Vadavada, Judy Bomai - Sevese Morea, Kathy Kiage - Kone Mountain, Elizabeth Viviso - Kaugernot and not forgetting all our communities from Amazing Port Moresby. Participants were also entertained by Vadavada Community Kids.

Three previous African sides had reached the quarter-finals of the competition - but could not take that step further. This time, it was different. Marvellous Morocco have lit up this World Cup - and their fans got their reward by witnessing their side becoming the first from their continent to reach the semi-finals. Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal were sent home, and the Atlas Lions go roaring on courtesy of Youssef En-Nesyri's first-half headed winner. [caption id="attachment_32234" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Ronaldo headed down the tunnel in tears after Portugal's World Cup quarter-final defeat by Morocco[/caption] "We are becoming a team everyone loves because we are showing what we can achieve," said victorious boss Walid Regragui. "If you show the passion, heart and belief, you can succeed and my players have shown that. It is not a miracle - those in Europe might say it is, but we have beaten Portugal, Spain, Belgium and drawn against Croatia without conceding. That is the result of hard work. "African and Arab teams work hard but we have made our people happy and proud. The whole continent is proud. When you watch Rocky Balboa, you want to support him and we are the Rocky of this World Cup." Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) had all fallen at the quarter-final hurdle but Morocco broke the glass ceiling to cause pandemonium at Al Thumama Stadium. Having whistled each touch of the ball from the Portuguese, the watching supporters' jeers turned to a cacophony of cheers as substitutes piled on to the pitch at full-time. "Seer, seer, (go, go)," chanted the fans. "Dima Maghrib (Forever Morocco)," screamed others. Boss Regragui, who has masterminded this run, was hoisted into the air by his players, who then sprinted towards their supporters behind the goal with arms aloft. Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "The noise in this stadium is incredible. I am trying to think of when such a shock as this has happened in the World Cup. "They deserve it, not only for the skill and effort but that noise just keeps on turning up." Morocco had become not just the first African side, but also the first Arab one from a country with a Muslim majority, to reach the last four of the biggest competition in world football. The team have displayed their Islamic beliefs, reciting passages of the Quran in their huddle before their success on penalties over Spain in the previous round. As they had done then too, players and staff bowed down for sujud (prostration) in front of their fans after victory over Portugal. Meanwhile, substitute Achraf Dari celebrated by draping himself in a Palestine flag, Paris St-Germain's Achraf Hakimi found his mum again to kiss her while ex-Southampton winger Sofiane Boufal danced with his mum. Regragui was one of the last to leave the pitch at the end, clearly emotional after such a significant victory. Source: BBC Sports

World Cup holder France remains on course in its title defense after beating England 2-1 to reach the semifinals at Qatar 2022. Aurélien Tchouaméni gave France a first-half lead, his powerful shot setting the game ablaze at the Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday. England grew into the game and team captain Harry Kane emphatically converted from the penalty spot to draw the 2018 semifinalists level. The goal was his 53rd for his country, drawing him level with Wayne Rooney as England’s all-time top scorer. With just over 10 minutes remaining, Olivier Giroud’s header gave the reigning champion the lead once again, with Kane skying a late penalty as France was able to hold onto victory. France will face Morocco in the semifinals on Wednesday after it beat Portugal earlier in the day to become the first ever team from Africa to reach this stage of the World Cup. The French victory ensured Didier Deschamps’ team is the first defending champion to have progressed past the quarterfinals this century. Giroud called France’s performance “amazing.” “At the end of the game on our last chances, we knew how to be dangerous. I knew I was going to have another chance and Grizi gave me a great pass,” Giroud told the French Football Federation’s website, referring to Antoine Griezmann, who set up France’s winning goal with a superb cross. “Tonight, it was a great match, we know the talent of this young English generation, we made a very solid match, we tried to be powerful in our counterattacks.” A clash of titans It was a match between two out of the final four teams at the 2018 World Cup, with both nations seen as heavyweight contenders to win the Qatar 2022 title. And even in the early exchanges, the magnitude of the moment was evident, as the two teams tested each other out. The first real chance of the game came just after the 10-minute mark, when Giroud directed a cross straight into the grateful arms of Jordan Pickford in England’s goal. The breakthrough for the French wasn’t without controversy. England winger Bukayo Saka was left on the floor after a tackle from France defender Dayot Upamecano, although Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio turned away English protests claiming a foul. And, after a swift counterattack involving Kylian Mbappé, England was punished as a bullet of a strike from Tchouaméni – his first World Cup goal – from outside the box nestled in the bottom corner to give France the lead. Minutes later, England players were once again pleading with Sampaio for a decision in their favor after Upamecano and Kane tangled legs on the edge of the French penalty box. After a brief deliberation with the video assistant referee (VAR), those pleas were dismissed and the game continued. Chances were few and far between in the remainder of the first half, with Kane coming closest, his close-range shot saved by his Tottenham Hotspur teammate Hugo Lloris in the France goal. Immediately after the second half, England came out firing, with Jude Bellingham’s powerful effort from the edge of the box tipped over by Lloris. The pressure eventually told as Saka was fouled by Tchouaméni and the referee pointed to the penalty spot, giving England the perfect opportunity to draw level. Kane emphatically took advantage, powering the ball into the corner of the France goal, in doing so becoming England’s joint top scorer alongside former Manchester United forward Rooney. Almost immediately from the restart, France almost reclaimed the lead, but Adrien Rabiot’s first-time effort from the edge of the box was palmed away by Pickford. England looked the most likely to score, with a header from Harry Maguire glancing off the post as Gareth Southgate’s side turned up the pressure. Against the run of play, France retook the lead through its all-time top scorer, Giroud heading home his fourth goal of the tournament to give France the lead again with just over 10 minutes remaining. England had a golden chance to draw level for a second time after Theo Hernández was adjudged to have fouled Mason Mount, Sampaio awarding a second penalty after reviewing the incident with the help of VAR. This time, however, Kane blazed his effort over the bar. Despite consistent pressure, England was unable to find a late equalizer, with Marcus Rashford’s freekick in the game’s final moments landing on the roof of the net. And, as the referee’s final whistle went, the French players gathered in a celebratory huddle as Kane sank to his haunches in desperation. England manager Gareth Southgate said his team’s performance “deserved better” but “in the end goals are decisive.” “I said to the players I didn’t think they could given any more,” Southgate told ITV. “Fine margins have decided the game, the way we’ve progressed this tournament has been excellent. “France know they’ve been in a hell of a game. We win together and lose together. We’ve let a couple of goals in and missed a couple of chances. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the goals (Kane) has scored for us.” Asked after the final whistle if the defeat felt like England had a missed an opportunity to progress at Qatar 2022, England midfielder Jordan Henderson told ITV: “Probably yeah, because we felt really good, performances were really good. “The focus and the hunger was good every single day, but unfortunately, it wasn’t our night. You gotta give credit to France, they’re a good team, but I still felt it was there for us to win tonight.” Henderson added: “Straight after the game, it’s difficult to find the right words. I thought we gave everything in the game. “You know, disappointed to go one – nil down, but I thought the character and the mentality to keep going in the second half and find the equalizer … We gave everything and unfortunately it wasn’t our night.” Source: CNN

Brazil, the favorite to win this year’s World Cup, is out of Qatar 2022 after losing to Croatia on penalties 1-1 (4-2) in Friday’s dramatic quarterfinal. It had looked as though Neymar had won it for Brazil after he scored a stunning solo goal in extra-time – tying Pele’s international scoring record for the Seleção with his 77th goal – but Bruno Petković broke Brazilian hearts with a last-gasp equalizer to send the game to penalties. It was Croatia’s goalkeeper Dominik Livaković who was the hero yet again in the shootout, saving Rodrygo’s first effort before defender Marquinhos saw his attempt hit the post which sent Croatia through to the semifinals. Livaković also saved three penalties in his side’s victory against Japan in the previous round. “Definitely something special against the favorite,” Croatia defender Dejan Lovren told reporters after the match. “We said in the last half of the last 15 minutes, don’t stop believing. Everyone said that and we knew it. We knew we would come back no matter how hard it was in some moments.” It was dizzying end to another remarkable game in Qatar which took until extra-time to really get going. After it dazzling display against South Korea in the round of 16, Brazil was taken into the trenches by Croatia. The game was largely reduced to scrappy half chances and resolute defending as Livaković saved twice from Neymar to keep the scores level in the second half. With neither side able to find the breakthrough, the match went into extra-time which automatically favored Croatia. Another Croatia shock At the World Cup in 2018, Zlatko Dalić’s team won three knockout rounds after forcing the game into extra-time and it beat Japan on penalties in the previous round in Qatar. But it looked as though Neymar had upset that particular script when he produced arguably the moment of the tournament so far. The star attacker dropped deep to pick up the ball before splitting the Croatian defense with two bounce passes with teammates before firing his effort into the roof of the net. The goal sparked frenzied celebration inside the Education City Stadium with Neymar close to tears after seemingly inspiring his side into the semifinals. But football can be cruel and Croatia never gave up. In the 116th minute, Petković stunned Brazil by sweeping home the equalizer and forcing the game into penalties with his side’s first shot on target. Despite being captain and his team’s star player, Neymar did not take a penalty with Croatia – which has now won four World Cup shootouts – scoring all of its efforts before Brazil could even take its fifth. Croatia, the beaten finalists in 2018, will now face either Argentina or the Netherlands for a place in the World Cup final, while Brazil will be left to come to terms with another missed opportunity. Brazilian fans looked stunned at the full-time whistle while tears flowed from the players on the pitch. Another upset It’s already been a World Cup of upsets and this was another to add to the list. Brazil was the top-ranked team at the World Cup and possessed an incredible array of talent, with the likes of Neymar and Vinícius Jr. lighting up the tournament. But it faced a Croatia side which, despite not impressing so far in Qatar, knows how to win knockout matches. With a population of less than four million people, Croatia has overachieved in recent years and midfield maestro Luka Modrić has been at the heart of it. The 37-year-old was yet again at the center of Croatia’s performance against Brazil, pulling the strings in midfield and keeping his side ticking over against opponents with far more quality. “We are really special,” Lovren added. “We never surrendered. Never keeping our head down. We are a really a small country but today we showed that we are big.” Source: CNN