For many Millennials, the 2006 World Cup represents the zenith of football nostalgia. As teenagers with little meaningful responsibility, we spent that summer month locked into ESPN, agonizing over the United States’ failure, delighting in the majesty of Zinedine Zidane and watching the legendary adidas “José +10” commercial hundreds of times.
I still don’t understand how they got Der Kaiser out there.
José Mourinho was confident when he brought his Roma side to the Aspmyra Stadion for a UEFA Conference League match on Oct. 21. The Portuguese manager named a noticeably second-rate squad for the trip to the Arctic Circle to face reigning Eliteserien (Norwegian top-flight) champion FK Bodø/Glimt.
On Sunday in front of 65,000 faithful at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal — needing only a draw to qualify for the World Cup — threw it all away in the 90th minute by allowing Aleksandar Mitrović to convert a back post header that sent Serbia to Qatar instead.
LISBON - Serbia clinched an automatic berth in the 2022 World Cup finals after a 90th-minute header by halftime substitute Aleksandar Mitrović gave them a comeback 2-1 win over Portugal in their Group A qualifier on Sunday.
The result lifted Serbia into top spot on 20 points, three more than second-placed Portugal who only needed a draw to finish top on goal difference and qualify but will now head into the March playoffs.
SPLIT, Croatia - Croatia clinched an automatic berth in next year's World Cup finals in dramatic fashion as a late Fyodor Kudryashov own goal gave them a 1-0 home win over Russia in their crunch Group D qualifier on Sunday.
Croatia, the 2018 World Cup runners-up, jumped above Russia to top the standings on 23 points from 10 games, one more than the second-placed Russians who will head into the March playoffs.
PARIS - Kylian Mbappé continued his meteoric rise on Saturday with another jaw-dropping performance as France qualified for next year's World Cup with an 8-0 demolition of Kazakhstan.
The Paris Saint-Germain striker became the first player to score four goals for France in a single game since Just Fontaine against Sweden at the 1958 World Cup.
Five weeks before his 23rd birthday, Mbappé has scored 23 international goals from 52 caps — bettering the marks of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the same age.
OSLO — Norway's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup finals in Qatar suffered a serious blow when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Latvia in their Group G clash on Saturday.
The single point earned leaves the Norwegians in third spot in the group on 18 points, behind second-placed Turkey on goal difference with Netherlands in the lead on 19 points. The Dutch can win the group by beating Montenegro later on Saturday.
England defender Harry Maguire defended his goal celebration during Friday's World Cup qualifying victory over Albania which former players described as over the top and unnecessary following his poor performances for Manchester United.
England thrashed Albania 5-0 to all but qualify for the World Cup after Maguire opened the scoring with a ninth-minute header, celebrating with a knee slide while putting his fingers to his ears as if to shut out his critics.
Reece James to Harry Maguire!
LONDON — Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema grabbed a stoppage-time equalizer as the Women's Super League leaders salvaged a 1-1 draw at north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
Spurs had looked on course to hand Arsenal their first defeat of the season but were denied by Netherlands international Miedema, who towered above the defence to head home from a corner in the 92nd minute.
It just had to be…
¡Guau! Barcelona sorprendió hoy al anunciar a Dani Alves como el primer refuerzo de la era Xavi. El lateral brasileño de 38 años regresa al equipo culé después de cinco años y se integrará de manera inmediata a sus entrenamientos, aunque no podrá debutar hasta enero, cuando se abra el mercado de pases invernal.
@DaniAlvesD2 is coming back to Barça!