With the FIFA World Cup advancing into the round of 16, a Super Netball franchise announcing a new head coach and the Ashes having more controversy, there’s plenty to unpack in today’s sports news.

Brazil knocked out as Jamaica advance

After a 0-0 draw last night against Jamaica, Brazil has been knocked out of FIFA World Cup. This makes it the first time since 1995 Brazil failed to make it out of the group stages.

Jamaica completed a rare feat by only scoring one goal in the entire group stage to advance to the round of 16. The team kept clean sheets in every game in their difficult group including world number five France.

The Caribbean nation entered the tournament in severe financial struggles, with over $150,000 needing to be raised from fans due to inadequate fundraising from the country’s football federation.

The World Cup’s all-time goal scorer Marta made her first start for Brazil in the group stages, but it wasn’t enough for the South American powerhouse to advance.

As Brazil’s campaign comes to an end, it means Marta has played her last World Cup match as she announced her retirement prior to the start of the competition.

SEN announce first head coach of Super Netball franchise

The newly announced Sports Entertainment Network Super Netball franchise has announced former England international Tracey Neville as its first head coach.

Neville is highly decorated as both a coach and player, leading the England Roses to a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2018, while earning 81 caps for her country in her playing career.

She most recently was a part of the Adelaide Firebirds coaching staff as they won the 2023 premiership.

The Craig Hutchison owned team will be based out of Melbourne’s South-East, as they replace Collingwood who left the competition at the end of the 2023 season.

Neville is looking forward to building the new team while embracing a new challenge in her career.

“The opportunity to put myself forward for this role came unexpectedly but at the right time. There was no doubt as I went through the interview process the shared vision, mission and values of this company confirmed that this was a place where I wanted to be,” Neville said.

“The blueprint is yet to be written but whilst we are creating this, we get to be part of creating a new history and legacy that will continue into the future, this is what excites me the most and opens up new possibilities for staff, players and netball fans in Victoria.”

Ashes hit by slow over rates

England and Australia have been hit with heavy sanctions by the ICC for their slow over rates in the five test Ashes series.

England has been docked 19 World Test Championship points and have been fined a percentage of their match fees in four of the five tests.

Australia had it no easier, being docked 10 points and 50 per cent for their over rates in the fourth test in Manchester which was heavily rain affected.

Australian opening batsman Usman Khawaja took to social media to exclaim his disappointment.

“Don’t even get the chance to bowl in the second innings at Manchester due to 2 days of rain and ICC still issue fines and take 10 WTC points of us for slow over rates! That makes a lot of sense…” Khawaja said.

Giddey keen to kickstart new Boomers era

Oklahoma City Thunder star Josh Giddey has announced that he is ready to lead the Australian Boomers into a new golden generation.

The Boomers’ current leaders of Patty Mills, Joe Ingles and Matthew Dellavedova will be past the age of 36 by the time the Los Angeles Olympics come around in 2028.

When asked at the Pre-World Cup training camp in Cairns if he is ready to lead the team into the future, the six-foot-eight guard responded “definitely.”

“There are positions I’ve always wanted to be in – to be a key piece in the Boomers team,” Giddey said.

“I’ve grown up watching these guys on television for so many years, so now to be a part of the program is really exciting,” he said.

The current training camp squad of 18 will be cut down to 12 for the World Cup in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. Names include bronze medallists Jock Landale, Dante Exum, Matisse Thybulle and Josh Green.

It is likely that one of the ten NBA players present in Cairns will but cut from the team.

Para Swimming World Championships continue

Australia featured heavily on night three of the Para Swimming World Championships, winning two silver and three bronze medals.

They started the night strong with Jake Michel winning bronze in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB14 final with a time of 1:04.62. Paige Leonhardt (1:17.85) then backed him up in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB14 final with a bronze of her own.

Tim Hodge brought home the first silver of the night in the Men’s 50m Butterfly S9, finishing just under a minute at 59.74. Hodge won gold the day prior in the Men’s 200m Individual Medley SM9.

The Dolphins continued to collect medals well into the night as Emily Beecroft finished third in the Women’s 100m Butterfly S9 final. Finishing with a personal best of 1:08.66.

In the final event the Australians had of night three, Katja Dedekind (59.94) took silver in the Women’s 100m Freestyle S13.

Australia currently sits sixth on the medal tally after night three, with four golds, five silvers and six bronze.

Photo: By Travel Nomads available HERE and used under a Creative Commons licence. This image has not been modified.