These February friendlies are always a bit of a wild card. Diluted squads, unusual locations and the determination not to get injured can often lend to a less than desirable match. Even with these issues, as a professional player, every time you put on that national team jersey, it’s an opportunity. With both teams fielding squads of mostly fringe players, El Tri were the only side to seize the chance and turn up in a one-sided affair.
The Canadian women’s national team had an impressive run at the 2016 Rio Olympics. After losing to eventual champions Germany 2-0 in the semifinals, Canada would go on to defeat the host nation Brazil in the bronze medal match, 2-1.
The result tied their best-ever Olympic performance, which was another bronze in 2012. As the nation’s player pool continues to grow with talent, the success of the last five years will be an encouragement to both young players and investors.
Cameroon defeated Egypt 2-1 on Sunday to clinch their fifth Africa Cup of Nations title, and they booked their ticket to Russia for the 2017 Confederations Cup in the process.
A rocking Stade d'Angondjé in Libreville, Gabon was witness to a dramatic and excellent final between a resurgent Egyptian side and a heavily unfavored Cameroon team that many had predicted to fail at this tournament.
Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny gave Egypt the lead in the 22nd minute with a thunderous finish at the near post.
It's done and dusted. Cameroon defeated Ghana 2-0 in the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals Thursday and will move on to the final against Egypt on Sunday.
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Egypt and Burkina Faso met Wednesday with a trip to the Africa Cup of Nations on the line, and the match was ultimately decided by Egypt's 44-year-old goalkeeper, Essam El-Hadary.
El-Hadary made several fine saves in open play (which ended 1-1) before saving Burkina Faso's final two penalties to win the shootout.
More than two years after the 2014 World Cup, the excess of $3 billion spent on building new stadiums and renovating existing ones across Brazil is looking more and more like an unmitigated disaster. With the government unable to pay teachers, medical personnel and pensions, the extreme costs of up keeping these gargantuan white elephants are rightly the last thing on the country's priority list.
China has big plans for 2017. The Chinese Football Association gathered in Beijing to go over financial details in hopes of transforming the country into a soccer powerhouse. President Xi Jinping is the country’s number one soccer fan and intends to have China perform in future World Cups, an achievement they've only managed once.
The Africa Cup of Nations is usually full of surprises, and the 2017 edition of the tournament has been no different. We’ve already seen the hosts, Gabon, eliminated, tournament favorites Algeria sent packing and defending champions the Ivory Coast knocked out during group play.
The Ivory Coast, which featured the talents of Salomon Kalou, Wilfried Zaha, Wilfried Bony, Max Gradel, Serge Aurier and Eric Bailly, were ultimately punished for a slow start to their AFCON tournament on Tuesday.