I understand your disappointment as a neutral Olympics fan  , but the qualification pathway that both ICC & IOC has agreed on is based on pure merit. In fact many other Olympic sports has world ranking system as the primary  means of qualification . This achieves 2 things, it rewards the best nations in that particular sports who have managed to perform at the highest level over a period of time rather than a one off playoff/qualifiers & secondly it ensures you get quality matches among the best teams in the world at the Olympic level. There is a reason world rankings are used as a parameter for qualification in multiple Olympic sports.  I am delighted for  & they qualified on merit albeit via penalty kicks, but how many Canadians (or the global audience)will be interested to watch a World cup opening match at home v  as compared to v . You will get your answer as to why ICC choose world rankings over  a random qualifier. 

Another new team announcement for  

Some of the highlights from this week    Adejah Hodge with a WL, PB, and NR of 22.10 in the women's 200m at the Spec Towns Invitational    That WL stood for about an hour, before  Cambrea Sturgis went 0.01 better in 22.09 at the Baylor Invitational, for a new PB.     Lachlan Kennedy with a PB of 9.96 in the men's 100m heats at the Australian National Championships   3:29:85 for Cameron Myers in the men's 1500m final as well   9.96 PB for 16 year old  Dillon Mitchell in the boy's 100m (2.8m/s) at the District 23-6A Championships

It would be great if  women Italy water polo returned to the top, where volleyball is now. These 2  teams + basketball and football and maybe softball, would be a nice to see for the women's team sports in LA in 2028.   https://www.instagram.com/p/DVs-BAdjPyd/?img_index=2

https://www.instagram.com/izachiappini   She's currently playing in Roma, but I see she's 171 cm height... She's a bit short, and that's a big problem for the Italian National Team. I also don't know if there's even any talk of her returning to the Italian National Team? She is 31, which is still an age to return to play in NT. The ITA has changed head coaches, so maybe there's still a chance for a her return? There's no one left from that 2019 team, except for Roberta Bianconi.

For me, it's nonsense –in the Italian National Team played with players from Hungary, Brazil, etc., although perhaps not at that particular time. Regarding the 2019-2021 period, it was a generational change after coach Fabio Conti times. The team was in crisis and didn't qualify for the 2021 Olympics. I don't remember what the atmosphere was like back then, but honestly, I don't remember that particular this Brazilian player in our squad. If there was a problem, it was more of a personal one. Many people from that squad are gone, but the crisis in the Italian team continues and is more of a structural one – the players are too weak physically. In my opinion, it would be advisable to naturalize someone strong to change the Italian team's power.

From what she said, it was more like intimidation and provocation from other players because she was naturalized and was stealing a spot from a "native" Italian, if we can put it that way.

What? Sexually?