This is, without a doubt, the most attention a T3 (third coach) has ever received before a World Cup semifinal, but you can certainly understand why: Thierry Henry, the man who appeared in 123 matches for France while scoring 51 goals, is now tasked with educating the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens in the art of deconstructing Les Bleus.
Four members of the Thailand youth soccer team that’s been trapped in the Tham Luang caves have now been rescued, but eight boys remain along with their 25-year-old coach. But why was the soccer team in the cave to begin with, and how have they spent more than two weeks inside the sprawling complex?
It’s a mantra that’s gathered steam over the course of the 2018 World Cup, but what does it’s coming home mean? Beginning with Harry Kane’s last-ditch winner against Tunisia, gathering steam in the five-goal first half against Panama, working into a crescendo following the breaking of the dreaded penalty shootout curse against Colombia and reaching a fever pitch following a 2-0 win over world-beaters Sweden, football's now well and truly coming home.
Elon Musk recently announced a rescue mission in collaboration with the Thai government to end this Northern Thailand cave madness where a young team of 12 footballers and their coach are stuck in. Musk, the wannabe Bruce Wayne, was kind enough to send a group of SpaceX engineers to Thailand and they’ll be arriving Saturday, July 7, the Thai government has confirmed.
When Miguel Layún stepped on Neymar’s leg during their Round of 16 matchup, the Brazilian star immediately kicked out at the Mexican offender. Almost as quickly, Neymar pretended to writhe around in immense pain. The reason for this odd little dance on the ground is simple — Neymar is one of the many players on yellows heading into the World Cup quarterfinals.
Including Neymar, there are 32 players on yellows ahead of the quarterfinals. If any of them pick up another card on Friday or Saturday, they will be suspended for the semifinals.
Brazilian soccer players are like American basketball players — no matter where in the world there’s a professional soccer team, there’s likely to be a Brazilian playing for it. Brazil players salaries range from the lowest leagues to the highest-paid players in the world.
The best of the thousands of professional Brazilian soccer players make up the Seleção, and the 23 players chosen to represent Brazil’s World Cup team. All are well compensated by their professional clubs, but not all Brazil players salaries are created equally on the 2018 squad.
Lionel Messi is a synonym for the word prodigy. It is as though he came out of the womb with a soccer ball attached to his foot. He was first signed by Barcelona at the tender age of 13.
He seems to be equally prodigious when it comes to using his talents to find the one particular beautiful woman who is just perfect for him. There is such a woman; he has known her since age 8. Her name is Antonella Roccuzzo.
How fast is Kylian Mbappe? That was the question preying on everyone’s mind after the 19-year-old French phenom tore away from three Argentina players before threatening to do the same to Marcos Rojo, causing the defender to take him down in the box for an early penalty to France. Mbappe is frighteningly quick. He eats distances in the blink of an eye with his flowing stride, and he’s as capable of tearing off on a thundering run in the 90th minute as he is in the first. He’s non-stop.
Brazilian soccer players have often gone by one name for more than a century. In the 2018 World Cup, 15 of Brazil's 23 players typically are referred to by a single name. For most players, it means simply going by their first name, like Neymar, or a derivative of their first name, like Marquinhos (Marcos). The practice makes Brazil stand out from most national teams, and there are a few explanations for why Brazil soccer players have just one name.
The story of why is Seven Nation Army a soccer chant began, as most great stories do: in a bar, before a soccer match. But what makes Seven Nation Army such a unique force in soccer culture is not its small-time origin story or even its catchy riff — it’s the ability for people around the world, regardless of language or background, to meld as one in a unique chorus.