National Teams

Dominoes Already Falling For Italy After World Cup Failure

This is the official end of an era for the Italy national team. After a 0-0 draw with Sweden on Monday, combined with a 1-0 defeat on Friday, Italy will not be at the 2018 World Cup, ending a run of 14 straight World Cup appearances. The dominoes are already falling in the aftermath of the Azzurri failing to qualify.

Mexico Gives European Rivals Food For Thought Following 1-0 Defeat Of Poland

We know — as evidenced by their march through CONCACAF World Cup qualifying and a solid showing at the 2017 Confederations Cup — that this Mexico side is capable of making a splash at next summer’s World Cup, but just what should we expect from the world’s 16th-ranked side? Based on the evidence of their November friendlies on European soil, a lot.

Italy Fails To Score, Will Miss The World Cup For The First Time Since 1958

If misery does indeed love company, Americans are going to love this: Italy has failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958. After a 1-0 home win on Friday, Sweden held Italy to a 0-0 draw in Milan to defeat the Italians in their UEFA World Cup qualifying playoff on Monday.

Switzerland Through To World Cup With Awful Penalty Call Overshadowing Achievement

In the end, the only moment that separated Switzerland and Northern Ireland in their World Cup qualifying playoff was a dubious penalty call awarded to the Swiss in Belfast. Sunday’s return leg at St Jakob-Park in Basel ended in a 0-0 draw with the Irish again looking extremely limited going forward, but Switzerland were entirely wasteful as well, particularly forward Haris Seferovic.

The Bizarre Story Behind The Last Time Italy Missed The World Cup, 60 Years Ago

Following a 1-0 defeat to Sweden on Friday, Italy is on the brink of failing to qualify for the World Cup for just the second time in the national team’s history. Italy must rebound in the return leg on Monday in Milan if the Azzurri want to reach a 19th World Cup. 

Hirving Lozano Gives Mexico Fans Reason For World Cup Optimism

Ladies and gentlemen, Hirving Lozano is legit. We can say that without qualifiers. Against one of the best national teams in the world, Belgium, Lozano looked like a star, bagging a brace.

Both goals were good, too!

England's Ruben Loftus-Cheek Humiliates Germans With Double Nutmeg

Germany and England don’t always see eye to eye on the football pitch after decades of contentious football matches. But even with all their history, that Ruben Loftus-Cheek double nutmeg was just nasty. 

Italian Apocalypse Looms Following Shock First Leg Defeat To Sweden

Sweden registered a famous 1-0 victory over Italy in their World Cup qualifying playoff first leg in Stockholm thanks to a deflected effort from substitute Jakob Johansson. The return leg is on Monday in Milan with Italy’s hopes of a 19th World Cup appearance in serious jeopardy. 

Johansson’s 61st minute strike was vital, but Sweden’s ability to successfully keep Italy off the scoresheet was just as big. An away goal in Milan would almost certainly be enough to send Sweden through, and this Swedish side has enough talent to go toe-to-toe with the four-time world champions.

The Own Goal That Helped Send Senegal To The World Cup Was Properly Stupid

Senegal qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia by beating South Africa 2-0 in a World Cup qualification replay on Friday. For the second goal, South Africa capitulated in perhaps the most painful way possible: the shambolic own goal.

Watch Marcelo’s Wild Screamer Against Japan

Many of us are not fans of international friendlies. One often gets the feeling that the soccer world stops spinning in order for some meaningless and frequently boring matches to take place.

However, there are times when friendlies feature some impressive plays, skills and goals.

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