Claudio Bravo’s heroics in net for Chile yesterday made for can’t-miss television as the reigning South American champions dumped out Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the Confederations Cup semifinals. The gravitational pull of international soccer was at the height of its attraction as evidenced by this operating room taking the time to watch the shootout.
The final of Florence’s Calcio Storico goes down tomorrow between the districts of Santa Maria Novella (the Reds) and Santo Spirito (the Whites), and the road to the championship, as you might’ve guessed, has been paved with blood, guts and fisticuffs. If you haven’t heard of Calcio Storico, here’s a quick introduction to the most hardcore sport outside of Razor Scooters.
A stellar 2017 season has come to a halt for young sensation Rose Lavelle. The Boston Breakers announced Thursday that she will be out four to six weeks due to a strained left hamstring. She picked up the injury during the USWNT’s recent trip overseas to take on Norway. Earlier in that trip, Lavelle scored the USA's only goal in a 1-0 victory against Sweden.
Chelsea attacker Eden Hazard has had his summer cut short via an ankle injury. The 26-year-old reported Real Madrid target twisted his ankle during Belgium training on Sunday, and scans revealed his ankle is broken.
No timetable has been given by Chelsea or Belgium for his return, but the speculation seems to be centered around whether Hazard will be fit for the start of the season in August.
On Thursday Olympique Lyonnais topped Paris Saint-Germain in the Women’s UEFA Champions League final. Lyon took home the trophy after eight rounds of penalty kicks, topping PSG 7-6. The win gave Lyon their second straight treble and saw them tie the record of most Champions League titles at four.
USWNT superstar striker Alex Morgan started up top for OL after putting in a wonderful debut season with the club. And, while she will gladly take the UEFA title in her first attempt, her night was marred by an injury in the 23rd minute.
Stockholm
(At The ZlatanBot Factory)
Scientist: sir, the unit has broken down. A failure of the knee joint, apparently
Boss guy: Goddammit the warranty just expired
Other scientist: well, at least this will give us a chance to improve the unit
Zlatan: I am right here, and I can hear you. I am Zlatan, and I am already as close to perfect as can possibly exist
Scientist: well at least the hearing module still works
Other scientist: and the confidence module
Zlatan: Everything works I am Zlatan
Marc Bartra, the only player with serious injuries after Borussia Dortmund's team bus was bombed before their Champions League match against Monaco last month, is back in training.
Bartra's injuries were to his right hand and arm, but he and the team are lucky things weren't worse.
Less than a week after suffering a torn ACL and possible damage to his PCL, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is scheduled to visit Dr. Freddie Fu at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Fu is well known for pioneering the double bundle technique to repair ACL tears, the method that most effectively restores natural knee movement patterns.