There have been very few bright spots for Juventus this season. On the back of the club’s humiliation in the Champions League midweek, a host of injuries forced manager Massimiliano Allegri’s hand as he utilized many of his younger players against Lecce. His faith was rewarded by Nicolò Fagioli, who scored a stunning goal to give the Bianconeri a 1-0 win.
21-year-old Nicolò Fagioli delivering for Juve ☄️
To prepare you for the tournament, The18 has launched team-by-team previews for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Here’s the Argentina World Cup preview who'll play in Group C against Poland, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.
World Cup Appearances: 18th
Best Finish: Champions (1978, 1986)
BERLIN - The controversial VAR decision to rule out Harry Kane's stoppage-time winner against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday prevented Tottenham from progressing into the Champions League knockout stage as Group D winners with a match to spare.
Instead Antonio Conte's team now go into a final matchday with all four teams in the group, including Eintracht Frankfurt and Marseille, still in the running for a last 16 spot.
The MLS Cup Playoffs have never been set in stone. In the league’s 27 seasons, no fewer than four playoff formats have been used to varying degrees of success. The current system, which features a single elimination format with seven teams from each conference, is easy to understand and follow but could definitely use some improvement, at least according to MLS.
Few teams have attracted elite goalkeepers as Chelsea has. Between Petr Čech and Thibaut Courtois, Blues fans were spoiled with 15 years of world-class players between the sticks. But in the last five years, the club has struggled to find a consistent first-choice keeper.
To prepare you for the tournament, The18 has launched team-by-team previews for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. This is the preview for Group B's USMNT.
World Cup appearances: 11th
Best finish: 3rd (1930)
How they got here: The USMNT qualified directly as Concacaf's third-place finisher, behind Canada and Mexico and above Costa Rica on goal difference.
BARCELONA - Barcelona will be eager to show everyone that they are better than rivals Bayern Munich when the two teams face off in the Champions League on Wednesday, manager Xavi Hernández said.
Barcelona were beaten 2-0 by Bayern in last month's Group C fixture, a result that Xavi said was not a true reflection of the team's talent. But having won only one of their four matches in Europe this season, Xavi wants his team to show their true worth at Camp Nou on Wednesday.
To prepare you for the tournament, The18 has launched team-by-team previews for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. This is the preview for Group B's Wales.
World Cup appearances: Second
Best finish: Quarterfinals (1958)
When the final whistle sounds Saturday evening at Anfield following Leeds United's trip to Liverpool, there's a very real chance that Jesse Marsch could be out of a job if the Whites lose. Defeat would confirm a place in the relegation zone with over 30 percent of the Premier League season finished, and bottom three managers are typically dismissed around this period if they don't have the history of leading their club up from the Championship.
To prepare you for the tournament, The18 has launched team-by-team previews for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. This is the preview for Group B's Iran.
World Cup appearances: 6th
Best finish: Group stage (every time)
How they got here: Iran finished top of Group A, above South Korea, in AFC qualifying.
Coach: Carlos Queiroz (Portuguese)