Republic of Ireland forward Amber Barrett hopes her side can draw on the Moroccan men’s example and defy their proudly-worn underdog status at the World Cup. In October, Barrett was the woman who booked the Girls in Green’s trip to Australia and a maiden global showpiece when she netted the deciding goal with her first touch in the Republic’s 1-0 play-off victory, stunning Scotland at Hampden Park. The FIFA world number 22-ranked Republic face a tough challenge in Group B, opening their campaign on Thursday at a sold-out Stadium Australia against 10th-placed co-hosts the Matildas before facing Olympic champions Canada, ranked seventh, six days later. Barrett said: “I went through the World Cup groups a couple of days ago and there’s not really any other group that you’re saying, ‘Oh, I’d love to be in that group’, because all of the groups are difficult. “At the end of the day you’re at a World Cup, and you’re playing against the 32 best teams in the world. They’ve all qualified for a World Cup. Ranking and all that goes out the window. “Looking back to the men’s World Cup, it showed, Morocco getting to a semi-final, who would have said that was going to happen pre-tournament? “I think at this stage, we’re just really, really going to enjoy every moment of it, and it’s football. Anything can happen.” In Qatar, Morocco surprisingly emerged top of a group that included 2018 finalists Croatia alongside Belgium and Canada. The Republic wrap up Group B against Nigeria (40th), the top African side in this ninth edition of the Women’s World Cup. Barrett, whose Milford, County Donegal hometown moved Thursday’s Mass to accommodate the Girls in Green’s 1100 BST kick-off time, imagines it will all truly hit when she is standing on the pitch for the national anthems. She said: “I think I’m probably going to be very emotional. I think that’s going to be something that really takes everybody. “We had a referee course a couple of weeks ago, and the referee from FIFA said that when you hear your national anthem for the first time in major tournaments, a World Cup, it’s very, very special. “I think when we’re standing there singing ‘Amhran na bhFiann’ (‘The Soldier’s Song’) I think that’s really going to be a moment where everyone’s just like, ‘We’re here and we’re ready to go’.” The 27-year-old is eager to create new history with her side in Australia, but admits her part in getting the Republic here is something that will long linger. She added: “It’s funny, now we look back and after the game we’ve said we have such a long time to wait until we go to a World Cup and now we’re days away. “I think it definitely took me a long time to come off that cloud nine, because I think everybody was just, not shocked, but it was just like you were numb for a few days after. “It was one of those moments that I will happily never, ever forget, but I hope it’s also now one of those that over the next few weeks we make more memories to relive.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live The numbers behind Australia’s decade of dominance as England draw Ashes Katie McCabe urges Republic of Ireland to harness spirit of underdog Down Under Football rumours: Leicester’s Harvey Barnes closing in on Newcastle move

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It was a Sunday night and a young couple were sitting together in a car at a park near Los Angeles. What happened next was something straight out of a horror movie – except this was real life. A gunman suddenly opened fire on the couple before pulling 19-year-old Andrea Vazquez from the car. Vazquez’s boyfriend escaped the gunfire but returned to the vehicle to find she had been kidnapped. After an intensive one-day search, the harrowing incident culminated in despair as Vazquez’s body was found in a field and a suspect – who has no known connection to the couple – was arrested for her murder. Heartbroken relatives described Vazquez as a “beautiful person” as they have been left struggling to understand what happened and why. Here’s everything we know so far about her abduction and death: A chilling abduction The horror unfolded just after midnight on Sunday 20 August when Vazquez and her boyfriend were sitting in a car at Penn Park in Whittier, police said. Her boyfriend told police that an armed suspect then approached their vehicle and “fired a weapon in their direction,” police said. Vazquez’s boyfriend fled the scene and when he returned he discovered blood near his car and his girlfriend missing. Vazquez has been kidnapped from the scene. Officers were alerted to a shooting and kidnapping incident located at the “parking stalls area” at 13950 Penn Street in Whittier. In a statement following her kidnapping, police said that Vazquez was last seen wearing a black long-sleeve crop top, khaki pants, and black low-top Converse shoes. “She has a tattoo of ‘Edlyn’ on the back of the neck, Aries constellation on the top of her right hand and a belly button piercing,” the statement read. Vasquez’s sister, Edlyn, with whom she lives in Los Angeles, put out a plea on Facebook for the public’s help in finding her. “My sister was shot and kidnapped at Penn Park,” she wrote. “Her last location shows Moreno Valley. We don’t know her condition. Please I am begging, if anyone has information, or the heart to share this, please please contact me and repost.” Another relative Emily Martinez told Fox News Digital that Vasquez’s phone last pinged in the Moreno Valley area. “We’re scared for her, but I’m hopeful, very hopeful that we’ll find her,” she said. “We just want to know she’s OK.” Tragic discovery Following the horror kidnapping, a huge search was launched to try to find the missing 19-year-old. That search ended in tragedy on Monday 21 August when, at around 11.50pm local time, authorities combing the area of Moreno Valley made a gruesome discovery. Police said that the teen’s body had been found in a vegetation field off Alessandro Boulevard and Merwin Street in Moreno Valley. It is currently unclear how she died or the nature of the scene where her body was found. The investigation remains ongoing but police said that it appears that the attack on Vazquez and her boyfriend was “randomly targeted”. The ‘random’ suspect On Tuesday 22 August, police announced an update on the case as a suspect was taken into custody. Detectives from the Whittier Police Department and the LADA Community Violence Reduction Team arrested Gabriel Esparza, a 20-year-old man and Whittier resident, in connection with the kidnapping and shooting of Vazquez. Mr Esparza was taken into custody at his workplace in the city of Lakewood and booked into the Whittier Police Department jail on charges of murder and kidnapping. He is being held without bail. During his arrest, officers recovered a weapon and Esparza’s White Toyota Tacoma truck – which are believed to have been used at the time of the shooting. “This relentless investigation and yesterday’s arrest were made possible by the dedication and commitment of our investigations division, with the assistance of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Downey Police Department, La Habra Police Department and the LADA Investigations Bureau Community Violence Reduction Team,” police said in a statement. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office on Wednesday 23 August. Suspect pleads not guilty in first court appearance Gabriel Sean Esparza, the 20-year-old son of a Los Angeles County fire captain, has been charged with multiple felonies including murder, kidnapping and attempted rape of 19-year-old Andrea Vazquez. Mr Esparza entered a not-guilty plea when he made his first court appearance for the brutal slaying on Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors have formally filed seven charges against the suspect, according to a criminal complaint submitted in Los Angeles Superior Court. These also include attempted murder, kidnapping to commit another crime, assault with intent to commit a felony, and two counts of attempted forcible rape. Tributes pour in Vasquez attended Fullerton College and was a fashion design student as well as an employee at a shopping mall in Cerritos. Ms Martinez told Fox News Digital before her body was found that the 19-year-old had also been working with her sister Edlyn, who is a lash artist. She described Vazquez as the “funniest person ever” and a “beautiful person” who was liked by everyone who met her. Read More Andrea Vazquez – latest: Gabriel Esparza arrested for murder after kidnapping teen on date with boyfriend Andrea Vazquez: California woman shot and kidnapped from boyfriend’s car found dead

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