Sports Hot News on March 24 Evening: Vietnamese Volleyball Assistant Receives New Honor in Japan

Sports Hot News on March 24 Evening: Bich Thuy Receives Congratulations Video Posted by Japanese Club; Romario Criticizes Ancelotti for Not Including Neymar in Brazil Squad...

Bich Thuy Receives Honor in Japan

Vietnam's top assistant, Tran Thi Bich Thuy, recently made a historic mark by being voted as the POM for the first time in a Japanese national league match, helping Okayama Seagulls defeat Toray 3-1 on March 22. Although not the highest scorer in the match, Bich Thuy was honored as the POM (Player of the Match) due to her outstanding performance.

Recently, Okayama Seagulls Club shared a clip of Bich Thuy being congratulated by her teammates at Okayama Seagulls for winning the aforementioned award.

"Mira (Bich Thuy's nickname in Japan), first time receiving the POM award," Okayama Seagulls Club wrote. This is an honor for Bich Thuy as she ventures abroad for the first time in Japan.

The aforementioned victory helped Okayama Seagulls rank 12th on the standings, thereby affirming the role of Bich Thuy, Vietnam's number one volleyball assistant.

Romario Criticizes Ancelotti

Brazilian legend Romario strongly criticized coach Carlo Ancelotti after Neymar was excluded from the Brazil squad for March friendly matches, emphasizing that the Santos forward remains an indispensable player in preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

"Star players must play. The national team is for the best and most talented individuals. World Cup preparation lasts a month, enough time for an athlete to recover physically and technically, regain match rhythm, and build synergy with teammates," Romario stated.

"Everyone knows this, but it still needs to be reiterated: it's better to have a star like Neymar, even if not at 100%, than to call up any other player. Talent should not be wasted. And a coach can never lack that. I still hope to see Neymar prove on the pitch, in the Brazilian league, that he deserves to be in the final list and bring home the sixth World Cup title," Romario added.

Coach Tuchel Selects Hotel for England National Team

Prior to the 2026 World Cup, coach Thomas Tuchel selected The Inn at Meadowbrook in Kansas (USA) for the England team, a British-style hotel with 54 rooms, aiming to create a "home-like" feeling for the players. The price of this hotel is £200 per night.

Players will gather at St George's Park before friendly matches against Uruguay and Japan, then fly to Florida for pre-tournament training, and arrive in Kansas from June 12. The English Football Association plans to build a basketball court at the hotel and ensure a swimming pool for the team, with many golf courses nearby.

Tuchel emphasized that staying in a small hotel with windows that can be opened and private space makes players more comfortable compared to large hotels.

Although the World Cup starts on June 11, England's opening match against Croatia will take place six days later, with a short 460-mile flight to Dallas. Afterwards, the team will move to Boston and New York for group stage matches against Ghana and Panama on June 23 and 27.

Tuchel mentioned he wants to avoid continuous relocation between venues after each knockout match, to help players feel comfortable and avoid boredom during the tournament.

England will train at Swope Soccer Villa, owned by MLS club Sporting Kansas City.

World's Most Attractive Female Player Criticized

Alisha Lehmann, 27 years old, dubbed the "world's most attractive female player" with 16 million Instagram followers and 12 million on TikTok, is experiencing a difficult phase in her career. Two years ago, she left Aston Villa for Juventus with boyfriend Douglas Luiz, and in early 2026 played for Como in Italian Serie A.

This January, she returned to England, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with Leicester City in WSL, but the team is bottom of the table with 9 points after 17 matches and risks relegation to WSL 2 next season.

Under pressure and criticism for her lavish lifestyle on social media, Lehmann once felt sad, even begged her mother to quit football, but now she asserts: "I love life and am no longer affected." Off the pitch, she enjoys a luxurious life, owning a massive collection of supercars and is dating Love Island star Montel McKenzie.

French National Team Star Criticized for Attire When Joining Squad

French national team players recently gathered at Clairefontaine before heading to the USA for matches, creating their own "fashion week." Injury kept Jules Koundé absent, leaving the fashion stage to his teammates.

Michael Olise impressed with a unique black fur hat paired with large sunglasses, creating a distinctive style. Hugo Ekitike stood out with black leather pants, while Ibrahima Konaté wore a wide black hoodie, embodying a boxer style. Conversely, Kylian Mbappé maintained a simple style with a white T-shirt and classic jacket.

Overall, the players' fashion styles were not highly rated. The site 24minutes criticized Olise's pants as too sloppy. Meanwhile, Pierre Kalulu was praised for his outfit with moderate colors, black boots, wide-leg pants, combined with a cap creating a highlight.

Former Barcelona President Speaks About Messi

Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu dismissed claims that Lionel Messi interfered in transfer decisions or coach appointments during his final years at Camp Nou.

"People talk about Leo's power at Barca, but Messi did not decide contract signings or choose coaches; he had no special privileges. Outside football, Messi did not make any decisions," Bartomeu stated.

Regarding finances, Bartomeu argued that the €500 million loss in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons was a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, not a "bad legacy" from his tenure.

"It was not a terrible legacy. It was a legacy with good points and not-so-good points, but it was entirely dominated by Covid. At that time, Barca was a club with good financial and sporting standing, growing and generating revenue," he explained. "Covid caused a sharp drop in revenue, and during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, Barca incurred a €500 million loss, significantly impacting the club's finances."