Well, I guess today is a holiday. Bayer Leverkusen has declared today, July 14, as international Chicharito day. The Mexican forward has scored 39 goals in 76 appearances for the German club, and that should probably be celebrated. Why not today?
That face you make when you realize it's the 14th day of the 7th month...#InternationalChicharitoDay pic.twitter.com/wDQUK2A3ug
Meet United States youth international goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann.
Jonathan Klinsmann at the University of Cal. Photo: @CalMSoc | Twitter
It’s been 36 years since Holstein Kiel played in Germany’s second division, but promotion following the 2016-17 season will see them in 2. Bundesliga having been in the fourth division as recently as 2012-13.
To celebrate the achievement and their new partnership with Puma, the German sportswear company designed a beautiful away kit celebrating the city’s standing as one of the major maritime centers of Germany. Kiel is located on the Kieler Forde, an 11 mile long inlet formed during the Ice Age.
It is surprising that it took Boateng 7 years to get on the score sheet for the German national team but he got his first tally in a very important knockout game vs Slovakia. As a cross was rebounded out, Boateng came striding in to hit the ball straight on. It was a great connection that beat the Slovakian goalie bottom left. On to the quarter finals!! This isn't the only big moment Boateng has had for Germany this Euros. What can we expect against Italy next?
You know when you're ballin' with your mates and you execute the perfect pass, or a sweet dummy but they mess it up? That isn't what happened here and we thank our lucky stars for that. Moritz Leitner fed Shinji Kagawa a beautiful backheel and he Japanese international lofted a beautiful 18-yard chip past the Schalke goalkeeper. It was swaggy and it was smooth. Dortmund have a big Europa League match coming up this week in Anfield and are 7 points behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. It's going to be a tight finish for Thomas Tuchel's bunch.
Here at The18, we love all things Chicharito. Coming back from a successful international break where Mexico progressed to the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, he continued his Bundesliga success with his 15th goal of the season, a beautiful curling effort that put Bayer Leverkusen up 2 - 0.
The inaugural SheBelieves Cup final that featured the USWNT and Germany's women's national team lived up to the hype. With other powerhouse national teams like France and England, the SheBelieves Cup was a great success for all. Last night, Alex Morgan scored a goal very similar to one of the Neymar's best goals in recent years. Morgan took a bouncing long ball, flicked it over a defender and calmly volleyed it into net in front of a charging German keeper. The 34th minute equalizer was a thing of beauty and the USWNT would go on to win 2 - 1.
Leg 2 of the Europa League's last 32 teams happened today, and while there were some great goals and stories, Hakan Calhanoglu's goal for Bayern Leverkusen stood out during the day. His volley in the 87th minute was the nail in the coffin for Sporting Lisbon. With the 3 - 1 victory, Leverkusen advance on aggregate to the Round of 16 in Europa League.
Xabi Alonso, you 34-year-old dog you. So are you resorting to only scoring goals as far out as your age? Because this 30+ yard cracking volley is pure greatness. That touch to kill the clearance, and then the approach on the bouncing ball that resulted in the back of the net. Your greatness will never be forgotten and we at The18 thank you for giving us this gem of a goal. Keep being you Xabi.