How well do you know Law 8, concerning “Kick-off” in particular? Did you know that it’s a real goddamn stickler for the rules, but it’s also a bit of a mischievous statute? Here’s the particular part of the particular subsection I speak of:
1. Kick-off
Procedure
Former England, Chelsea and West Ham attacker Joe Cole has announced his retirement from football, bringing an end to a 20-year professional career that included three Premier League titles, two FA Cup triumphs and one banging goal against Sweden at the 2006 World Cup.
I can hear some of you claiming that you didn’t know the 37-year-old was still out here balling, but that’s a massive disservice to one of the cornerstones of Division II soccer in America, the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
There’s an old saying in sports that if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying. Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fàbregas is certainly trying, but is he cheating?
Fàbregas was a 64th-minute substitute against Everton on Sunday as the two teams battled to a scoreless draw. The point kept Chelsea unbeaten in its Premier League campaign but the fourth draw of the season (only Southampton has more) means the Blues are now four points off the pace of Manchester City and two behind Liverpool heading into the international break.
Women’s soccer is in the midst of an international break right now, which means, as some may be aware, yes, yes the USWNT is playing — but so are many others. One of these others is England, who scheduled a pair of friendlies against European competition as part of its World Cup preparations.
Sunday wasn’t Raheem Sterling’s greatest individual display as an attacker, but the 23-year-old again demonstrated why he’s such a vital part of Pep Guardiola’s side — and completely unmatched in his skill set within the England national team — by retaining possession in difficult areas and constantly pulling Manchester United’s well-organized, pressing defensive unit this way and that with his array of clever flicks, dribbles and one-touch passing.
Manchester City achieved what Juventus could not on Sunday, burying Manchester United when another Jose Mourinho smash and grab threatened. Sumptuous goals from David Silva and Sergio Aguero had given City a 2-0 lead, but a needless foul by Ederson on Romelu Lukaku allowed Anthony Martial to halve the deficit in the 58th minute.
Newcastle United has finally figured out how to win a match.
After going 10 matches without a win to start the Premier League campaign, the Magpies have done it twice in the last week to jump out of the relegation zone. And DeAndre Yedlin’s offense was vital to Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Saturday at St. James’ Park.
While Salomón Rondón will receive most of the plaudits for scoring both goals for the Magpies against Bournemouth, Yedlin was the spark to get the offense going.