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.
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.
The surreal run of Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle almost came to an end in Quito on Wednesday. There’s still another leg to play in Medellin, but a loss at home would’ve almost certainly doomed del Valle. That wasn’t in the cards — the fairy tale added another chapter when Arturo Mina Meza snatched an 87th minute equalizer against Colombia’s Atletico Nacional.
The first leg draw means that del Valle need a win in regular time, extra time or penalties in Colombia to be crowned Copa Libertadores champions.
We are three weeks away from the opening ceremony of the Olympics and, as the date approaches, I can't help but wonder: does Neymar have more pressure to win than any other athlete competing this summer?
With all the turmoil that has surrounded these Olympics and the unrest in the host country, I feel there is nothing the citizens of Brazil would love more than to see their young superstar lead their nation's team to a gold medal in the sport that they hold so near and dear to their hearts.
To say things have been a bit rocky of late for one of the giants in world soccer would be a massive understatement. After three consecutive runner-up finishes at the World Cup and two Copa Americas, Argentina find themselves in a place where few international powerhouses have ever been. They can reach their ultimate goal, come near enough to touch it but they just can’t take the final step.
Hey there, it's time to check in with our friends at the Argentine Football Association.
Oh no.
The court of Catalonia has sentenced Lionel Messi and his father Jorge to 21 months in prison for evading more than €4 million in owed tax payments. However, since the sentence is less than two years and both of the accused have a clean criminal record, they’ll likely escape serving any time behind bars.
Sebastian ‘El Loco’ Abreu, who is 39 years old, began his pro career 22 years ago, in 1994. Abreu’s towering height initially had him practicing basketball until he was 18 years old. However, problems with coaches and an increased interest in football saw him dedicate himself to the world’s game.
Abreu was also extremely interested in journalism, once interviewing himself for a local newspaper.
Chile is the best team in all of the Americas, of that there is no doubt. What Chile have accomplished over the last year is nothing short of remarkable, but just how did they do it? How did they survive and thrive in the tumultuous CONMEBOL and best the likes of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, twice? The answers are management, teamwork and spirit. This generation of Chilean footballers embodies everything you would want in a team, and it all started with Marcelo Bielsa.
If Lionel Messi was trying to make a political statement when he announced his retirement from the Argentina National Team, he got the attention of the man in whose direction such things are usually pointed: Argentina President Mauricio Macri.
Macri tweeted yesterday that he hopes the to watch La Pulga play for La Albiceleste "for years to come."