America’s relationship with soccer has more steps backwards and forwards than a salsa dance. Christian Pulisic bursts on to the scene in 2016. Yay! The U.S. fails to qualify for the World Cup. Yikes. The collective knowledge of the sport increases with star-studded preseason tours and the MLS’s continued growth. Woo! Famous American actor commits one of the most cringe-worthy soccer crimes possible and films it. Oh no…
It’s a commonly held belief in professional sports that visiting teams automatically have a disadvantage. They have to deal with rowdy crowds who often hate their guts, a dearth of supporters in the stadium, hotel living and sleeping, and the discomfort of planes and buses.
There are a lot of reasons as to why playing an away game is not ideal but just imagine having to play a road game that is 21,303 miles (for our non-American readers, I’ll spare you the mental math calculations and just tell you that’s a whopping 17,142km) round trip.
Last night, Bradley Wright-Phillips became the fastest player to reach 100 MLS goals after he scored what would prove to be the game-winner in just the second minute against DC United. It looks as if BWP had a feeling tonight just might be the night for his historic accomplishment. Take a look at what has to be the most brazen goal celebration in MLS history.
It looks like the Englishman took a page out of Zlatan’s book for this one. When you’ve been tearing up defenses in the way he has for five years, you deserve to pat yourself on the back like this.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made an appearance on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption with Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon on Tuesday, and the LA Galaxy forward was full of his usual bluster, saying, among other things, that he could help LeBron James lift the Los Angeles Lakers back to relevance by trying his hand at the “basket.”
If you’ve been keeping up with the latest transfer news, you will have heard of the Richarlison Everton deal, Watford’s Brazilian forward moving in a deal worth upwards of $65 million. That’s a lot of money for a guy who has spent one season in the Premier League, is only 21 and scored a measly five goals.
If you think $65 million is way too much for Richarlison, we’re inclined to agree. What on earth compels Everton to splash out so much money on this fella?
At this point, it’s hard to imagine Mo Salah being picked last for anything. He’s already a Liverpool hero having scored 43 goals in all competitions in his first season at Anfield. And, well, Egypt is so obsessed with him after he led the Pharoahs to their first World Cup in 28 years that schools have been renamed after him. If you want to win, if you need a clutch performance, Salah is probably your first choice.
France and Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Greizmann has made his love for America’s sports culture no secret. Let us remind you of last week, when he interrupted Paul Pogba’s post-World Cup interview to exclaim his love for Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Derrick Rose. Antoine Griezmann interrupted Pogba’s interview to say: “I love Derrick Rose.”
— Footy Jokes (@Footy_JokesOG) July 17, 2018
If anyone needs some rest and relaxation after the 2018 World Cup, it’s Neymar. The Brazilian was hacked down more times per match than any other player at the tournament. Fortunately for you, we here at The18 have exclusive footage of what a Neymar vacation probably looks like.
Admirers of beauty around the world felt a strong disturbance in the force on Saturday. The mere thought on an Olivier Giroud shaved head will do that.
Some folks are blessed with gorgeous faces, chiseled chins and beautiful hair. Others, like myself, would love to have just one of those traits. Giroud firmly falls into the former category, the Frenchman looking more like a model than a footballer.