National Teams

Assuming the USWNT finishes top of Group F later Thursday, as is expected, the Americans are going to face a tough path to the final, one that might include Spain, France and England. But what about the other side of the bracket?

While Germany is a big favorite, Die Nationalelf lost their best midfielder in Dzsenifer Marozsán to an injury. So who else might reach the final from that half of the bracket?

With a victory over New Zealand on Thursday afternoon, Cameroon would secure passage to the Round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup. They got there with the last kick of the match — Ajara Nchout’s improbable winner lifted her nation to a 2-1 victory after a calamitous 80th-minute own goal had threatened to ruin it all.  

You just can’t give Andres Guardado that much space. 

Canada may have one of its best squads in decades, but if it wants to compete for its first Gold Cup since 2000, the Canucks will have to defend better than they did early in the second half against Mexico.

What just happened?

That’s what we’re trying to process after Argentina’s insane comeback against Scotland on Wednesday in the final Group D match.

Scotland went ahead by three goals in the 69th minute and looked to be cruising to a third-place finish in Group D and a likely spot in the knockout rounds. Then Argentina scored three goals in the final 20 minutes, including a retaken penalty kick in the 94th minute to earn a 3-3 draw.

Luis Enrique has just announced that he will step down as manager of the Spanish national team for "family reasons." 

Enrique was coach of the Spanish national team for 11 months, replacing Fernando Hierro, who was fired after Spain performed poorly in the 2018 World Cup.

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When the USMNT failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Michael Bradley became a major target of vitriol from U.S. fans. The son of a former coach, Bradley has been booed across the country since that fateful night in Trinidad and Tobago in October of 2017. 

Bradley is too slow, too dumb, too useless, the critics say.

But the career Michael Bradley USMNT stats suggest he deserves more respect than he gets.

Yasmani López, who captained Cuba in a 7-0 loss to Mexico on Saturday, has defected, Cuba coach Raul Mederos has confirmed. 

Cuba was routed by El Tri in their Gold Cup opener at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and López did not travel with the team to Denver, where Cuba will play Martinique on Wednesday.

Australia is through to the Round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup as runner-up in Group C after dispatching a spirited Jamaica side 4-1 in Grenoble. All four goals were scored by Sam Kerr, who pulled level with the USWNT’s Alex Morgan in the race for the Golden Boot on five goals. The message to the critics rings louder than ever. 

There is a new World Cup goals king. 

Scratch that.

There’s a new World Cup goals queen.

Marta became the top scorer in the history of the World Cup — men’s or women’s — with a smashing penalty kick in the 74th minute against Italy, helping Brazil to a 1-0 win on Tuesday.

The Group C finale was chock full of exciting chances for both teams, but it took the greatest scorer in the history of the World Cup to break the deadlock.

Jamaica arrived at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup as heroes.