The big kick off is here, and, wouldn’t you know it, the stars have aligned in the perfect manner for fans wanting to do nothing but watch football all weekend.
It’s as if Premier League, Liga MX, MLS, Olympic, Bundesliga and La Liga representatives all got together and did this for us. Head to the store tonight, grab all the sustenance you need to survive Saturday and Sunday, and bunker down.
Football is back.
The Honduran under-23 side has achieved the previously unthinkable in advancing from Olympic group play over favorites Argentina and Algeria. On Wednesday, Honduras overcame alleged racism by Argentina to claim a vital draw against the South American giants.
Honduran striker Anthony Lozano gave his side the lead with a 75th minute penalty and celebrated by holding his finger to his lips.
After the match, he explained his actions: “I went to shut up an Argentine who made racist comments and I didn’t like it. That’s why I made the ‘silence’ [gesture] after the goal.
When Brazilian under-23 coach Rogerio Micale suggested that Neymar could one day quit the Brazilian national team due to a lack of respect, the parallels that could be drawn with Lionel Messi’s treatment and subsequent retirement from Argentina’s setup were almost too self-evident.
Newly appointed Argentina boss Edgardo Bauza has arrived in Barcelona in an attempt to bring Lionel Messi back into the international fold. The most important task facing Bauza over the coming months is to entreat the former Argentine captain to reconsider his early retirement.
Neymar and Brazil's men have been so bad in the Olympics that Neymar has reportedly been stripped of the Brazil captainship. Fortunately, Marta and Brazil's women are here to save the day, so much so that fans have started turning Neymar jerseys into Marta jerseys.
With a squad containing the likes of Neymar, Renato Augusto, Gabriel Jesus and Rafinha, it was understandable that a huge home crowd booed their own team off the pitch following a scoreless opening Olympic match against South Africa.
Brazil played the majority of the second half with a man advantage following Mothobi Mvala’s dismissal, but they could not find a way past South Africa despite registering 20 shots with seven of those on target.
Following Tata Martino's resignation after the Copa America Centenario, the Argentina National Team has a new manager: Edgardo Bauza.
Bauza comes to La Albiceleste from Sao Paulo, the same club the Mexico National Team lured their current manager, Juan Carlos Osorio, away from. Bauza, an Argentine, collected three caps for the team he now manages.
Bauza has been a manager for almost 20 years, collecting multiple Copa Libertadores trophies in that time.
When it rains, it pours. It's definitely pouring on Argentine soccer right now. First, the Copa America Centenario loss. Then, the loss of captain Lionel Messi. Now, a bunch of grown men acting like insufferable fools.
All hell broke loose after Bella Vista won Argentina’s Lega del Sur Apertura final against Tiro Federal. Kicks were aimed at faces, adults sprinted after one another and a couple of riot guards stood around with their shields lazily held at their sides.
Messi's family has informed Goal that the Argentinian star will not play in the next round of World Cup qualifiers for La Albiceleste after he retired from international duty following the 2016 Copa America Centenario.
Pro Evolution Soccer, Konami’s rival to the EA Sports FIFA franchise, will be celebrating its 16th edition this year, and PES 2017 looks set to give FIFA a run for its money.
After watching the official launch trailer, I can confirm that I close my eyes and see Andres Iniesta’s 3D photo scanned face. I’m equal parts impressed and horrified.