Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Poor old Micronesia.
The small federated states, made up of thousands of pacific islands, lost 30-0 in the opening game of their Olympic qualifying tournament to Tahiti.
Things can only get better, right? Wrong.
They followed that defeat with a 38-0 loss to Fiji, that would have been a world record except the game is Under-23 so doesn't count towards Fifa records.
Just a day later they were back on the pitch and hoping to improve in their final group game against Vanuatu.
Unfortunately it went even worse for the side, ending in a 46-0 thrashing, with Jean Kaltack scoring 16 goals in the win.
“It was boys against men,” said the Micronesia (pictured above in blue via Kevin Darling) coach, Stan Foster after the loss before adding that is was the first time on an eleven-a-side pitch for many of his players.
“It’s just so hard at this early stage – this is kindergarten for us,” he said. “We have to learn and to know that we go back we have to train harder and learn more skills.
“Most of these have never been out of their villages let alone onto another island. I took them to Guam the other day [and it was] the first time they’ve been on an elevator or an escalator. It’s been a huge step-up for these guys and they’ve just been overawed really.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments