FIFA World Cup (Men's)

The U.S. Qualified For The U-20 Men’s World Cup With Some Ridiculous Golazos

The U.S. will be at the U-20 Men’s World Cup. Alex Mendez and Uly Llanez made sure of that on Friday night.

The USMNT is currently playing in the Concacaf U-20 Championship in Bradenton, Florida. After crushing it in the first group stage — five wins with 39 goals for and two against — the U.S. needed just one more win in the second group stage to ensure one of four Concacaf spots at the 2019 U-20 World Cup. 

They got that win in style, beating Costa Rica 4-0 thanks to a couple impressive goals from Mendez and Llanez.

What Has Happened To Icelandic Soccer?

In 2016, Iceland was the darling of the football world. Buoyed by bearded backers belting out their brilliant Viking chant, Iceland reached the quarterfinals of the European Championship, the country’s first-ever major international tournament. 

The following year, Iceland qualified for its first-ever World Cup, becoming the lowest-populated country to ever reach the tournament. Qualification coincided with Iceland peaking at No. 18 in FIFA’s rankings of international teams earlier this year, an astonishing climb after hitting the nadir of No. 131 just six years prior. 

Italy World Cup Winner Sentenced To 2 Years Prison, Cleared Of Mafia Ties

Vincenzo Iaquinta, a goal-scoring World Cup winner with Italy, was sentenced to two years in prison by an Italian court on Wednesday. Iaquinta was a striker for Juventus and Udinese, while also making 40 appearances for the Azzurri.

Iaquinta, 38, was convicted of illegally giving his father, Giuseppe, two revolvers. His father, who was under court-ordered restrictions from having access to firearms, was sentenced to 19 years in prison. Vincenzo Iaquinta said he was merely giving his father the guns for safekeeping as he moved to a different house. 

Wayne Rooney Quote

You can learn more from the lows than the highs. The highs are great but the lows make you really look at things in a different way and want to improve. Every player will have both in their careers and I have, but what you get is that experience which is so important to perform at your best.

One Year On From That Night In Trinidad, We Drink To Remember

Where were you when the bomb dropped? 

It was, on the whole, a riotous day on this planet of ours. Australia had necessitated extra time to get past Syria in the AFC playoff. Holland was officially bounced after failing to defeat Sweden by a margin of seven (although Arjen Robben tried his damnedest). 

Shortly after 7:30 pm ET, Lionel Messi’s hopes of even appearing at the 2018 World Cup appeared doomed after Romario Ibarra had given Ecuador a first-minute lead over a desperate Argentina side in Quito. 

What Has Changed In U.S. Soccer A Year After Trinidad And Tobago Loss?

One year ago, the U.S. men’s national team traveled to Cuova in Trinidad and Tobago on the final day of Concacaf World Cup qualifying. All the USMNT needed was a win or draw or at the very least have Mexico or Costa Rica get a win to keep its World Cup hopes alive.

None of it happened, and it was the darkest day in the history of the USMNT.  

It's The One-Year Anniversary Of The USMNT's Darkest Day — Let's Relive It

It has been exactly a year since the USMNT lost to Trinidad and Tobago in Cuova to be knocked out of the 2018 World Cup. It was the first time since 1986 the U.S. failed to reach a World Cup (men’s or women’s) and it sent shockwaves through the country.

Former Argentina Coach Jorge Sampaoli Breaks Silence On World Cup And Messi’s Performance

The World Cup was an absolute shit show for Argentine manager Jorge Sampaoli. Jettisoned into the job in May of 2017 as the savior of Argentina’s horrendous qualifying campaign, the former Sevilla boss managed to secure passage to Russia on the final match day (although Lionel Messi’s hat trick in Quito certainly helped).

However, with one armageddon avoided, the next promptly arrived — the finals themselves revealed what many had known about La Albiceleste since the cycle began: The beaten 2014 finalists weren’t very good anymore, apart from Messi.

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