This week sees the resurrection of one of sports' greatest rivalries. Two neighbouring countries who have spent years locking horns in various elements across the world of sport will collide once again. With precious points in World Cup qualification up for grabs, the United States versus Mexico will be a can't miss encounter.
Jermaine Jones has provided the largest source of “bulletin board material” for Mexico’s locker room by launching a scathing assessment of Mexico’s Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez. While Jones says he wouldn’t label Chicharito a “dirty player”, he does believe that the Mexican striker's fondness for playing directly on the offside line makes him something of an annoyance to come up against.
The United States vs. Mexico is one of the footballing world’s biggest international rivalries. The games are always intense, and the two sides clearly do not like each other. They have played 66 times dating back to 1934, with Mexico holding the overall advantage with 34 victories, 14 draws and only 18 losses.
The United States kicks off the hexagonal round of FIFA World Cup qualifying with two of the most difficult matches they’ll face on the road to Russia. On Friday, the USA host Mexico at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Four days later, they face Costa Rica at the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica.
A quick refresher: USWNT star Megan Rapinoe chose to join other athletes in kneeling during "The Star-Spangled Banner". We first saw Rapinoe participate in the silent protest on September 15, 2016, and that was not the last of it. Various athletes are refusing to stand during the anthem to draw attention to racial injustice in this country.
The career trajectories of England’s Marcus Rashford and the USA’s Christian Pulisic have escalated quicker than Donald Trump’s various horrible statements.
Bob Bradley served Jurgen Klinsmann, who danced back, and now it's on.
Remember the South Park episode in which a dance troupe comes to town and serves the boys and then Stan's dad teaches him some line-dancing steps and the boys get served again but then Stan dances back and then it's on? That's what's happening between current USMNT manager Jurgen Klinsmann and former USMNT manager (and new Swansea manager) Bob Bradley.
Julian Green is yet to play a minute in the Bundesliga this season. His only appearance for the Bavarian giants was as a substitute in the DFB Pokal. For the USMNT, Green’s last start prior to this October call-up was back in 2014 — the same year he’d scored his lone, albeit unforgettable, USA goal.
Bob Bradley is quickly proving he can hang with the best managers in the Premier League, at least in terms of banter.
Bradley's first press conference as manager of Swansea City included a shot at his successor as USMNT manager, Jurgen Klinsmann.
Here's the excerpt everyone's talking about:
"From the day I got fired from the U.S., I've not said one thing publicly about that team. I don't appreciate the way it was done; I think they made a mistake," Bradley said.