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• Left in the dark: Hood vexed with TTFA's move to advertise women's Head coach position without communication

  Richard Hood is left peeved by the fact that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has advertised the senior women's Head coach position without any line of communication where his future with the programme is concerned.

  Hood, whose contract ended on June 30, said he received no word from the TTFA, who posted adverts seeking candidates to fill the Head coach positions for its women's team, as well as the Under-20 and Under-23 men's teams.

  For Hood, once a longstanding coach with Police FC in the Trinidad and Tobago Premier League, pointed out that the TTFA's move came as a surprise. This, as he recalled a recent discussion with TTFA president Kieron Edwards on the future of the women's game in mid-June, and so he thought things  "were heading in the right direction."

  "At this time, I'm not certain about anything," Hood told T&T Newsday.

  The tactician, who was appointed in 2023, believes he was making strides in the team's development, and as such, was looking forward to continuing with the rebuilding process with the programme.

  Despite losing 6-0 and 1-0 to Mexico in last year's Concacaf women's Gold Cup qualifying campaign, Hood's side rebounded from a 2-1 loss to Puerto Rico to hold the same opponents to a goalless stalemate.

  That, along with a positive display in the Caribbean Queen's invitational friendly tournament in Curacao, Hood felt was some semblance of improvement.

  "I was very comfortable with how we were going and I felt we were heading in the right direction. The team needed to rebuild and we were doing that," Hood shared.

   

  When asked if he would reapply for the job, Hood expressed uncertainty.

  "At the end of the day, I'll have to decide if it makes sense to go through this process again. I don't know if I will re-apply," he declared.

• Mbappe wants to write own script ahead of blockbuster Ronaldo clash

  Kylian Mbappe is determined to write his own script when he has the "honour" of facing Cristiano Ronaldo in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.

  France will take on Portugal for a place in the last four on Friday, having overcome Belgium 1-0 in the last 16 via a late Jan Vertonghen own goal.

  Portugal, meanwhile, beat Slovenia on penalties after Ronaldo missed a plethora of chances in a goalless draw, seeing an extra-time spot-kick saved by Jan Oblak.

  Ronaldo has had more shots (20) than any other player at Euro 2024, accumulating a total expected goals (xG) figure of 2.75 but failing to score.

  At each of his previous 10 major international tournaments (World Cup or European Championships), he got off the mark before the end of the group stage.

  The battle between Mbappe and Ronaldo is sure to turn heads on Friday, with the former also enduring a frustrating tournament, suffering a broken nose in Les Bleus' first group match and only scoring from the penalty spot against Poland on matchday three.

  Many have touted Mbappe as something of a successor to Ronaldo since he sealed his move to Real Madrid, but the France skipper is determined to be his own player.

  "It's an honour, everyone knows the admiration I have for him," Mbappe said of Ronaldo at Thursday's pre-match press conference.

  "We are always in touch. He will remain a legend of the game but we hope to beat him tomorrow.

  "Do I envy him? You have to know how to appreciate what he is and what he has been. He is a unique player, his CV speaks for itself. We have respect for him.

  "He's unique! There is only one like him. I just want to follow my passage. I hope that I will write a big page at Real but it will be different to his."

  France lost to Portugal on home soil in the Euro 2016 final, with Eder netting an extra-time winner as Ronaldo gave instructions from the sidelines after going off injured.

  Didier Deschamps refused to be drawn on whether the Selecao have regressed since then, saying: "They were strong. That was eight years ago but it was painful. 

  "I don't know if they are stronger or weaker, but we're in the quarter-finals. All the best teams are there. They are one of the best teams in Europe. It will be a great game."

  France are yet to score a goal from open play at this tournament, only netting via an Mbappe penalty and two own goals, leading to criticism from the media at home.

  Les Bleus' total of 67 shots has only been bettered by Spain (82), Portugal (73) and Germany (72), but they have underperformed their xG figures by a greater margin (-3.94, three goals from 6.94 xG) than any other side at the tournament.

  Asked about that criticism, Deschamps said: "That is a popular craze now. There are people who may not be happy but I have seen other people happy. 

  "It would be more exciting to win 5-4, for sure. The critics are there to do their job, they have always been part of my daily life. It doesn't stop me from living."

• Lara hoping for the best as Windies to face daunting English task in upcoming Test series

  West Indies battling legend and former Test captain Brian Lara is optimistic that the Caribbean side’s inexperienced battling line up can stand tall to the demands as much will be required of them in the Three-Test series against England, which bowls of next Wednesday.

  In fact, Lara pointed out that a technical and tactical approach will be integral to West Indies chances, especially given the strength of England’s line up, coupled with their aggressive approach and home conditions at Lord’s, which they will relish.

  With that in mind, Lara believes the best way to defend against the opponent’s strengths is to take an attacking approach in the field.

  “I think more important is how the bowlers and the captain handle it in the field because we have to stay positive. We have to stay aggressive in terms of having attacking fields, having players in attacking positions, because the way they (England) bat, England are going to have you pushing players out on the boundary – which is what they want,” Lara said during a recent interview with Sky Sports.

  “You push your deep cover back or your third man back, your deep backward square back, it creates opportunities for them to get singles – four, five singles an over is actually great scoring. We’ve got to be very technical and tactical in terms of how we approach this series,” he added.

  Unlike England, who has upped their game in Test cricket to what has been labelled ‘Bazball’ under Head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, West Indies has been quite the opposite.

  England’s alteration has resulted in them now playing an attractive brand of aggressive cricket, particularly with the bat.

  West Indies, on the other hand, have been more traditional, and Lara is of the view that the regional side should remain on the same path, instead of attempt to adopt England’s style of play.

  “I don’t think first of all, as a batting team, that (aggression) is our style, which actually is a little bit of a negative. If you’re going to come up against a side that’s scoring at five and six runs an over and you’re just going to score at 2.5, three runs an over, that in itself is asking for trouble,” Lara reasoned.

  “England is playing a style of cricket that is difficult to beat them, coming from behind. We’ve got to get them out cheaply in the first innings to stay in front of the game. If you get behind England – with the pace they play the game at – it’s impossible to get back into the game,” he noted.

  Despite the loss of Kemar Roach to a knee injury, Lara, 55, said he is more concerned about the batting.

  “I’m not worried too much about Kemar Roach missing out or the bowling attack. I think the bowling attack is pretty formidable,” he declared.

  “I think the batting is where the experience is lacking. They’re trying, the batters are trying, but it’s the fact that, how much experience have they had in English conditions. So I’m hoping we can pull through in that department,” Lara ended.