SPLIT, Croatia - Croatia clinched an automatic berth in next year's World Cup finals in dramatic fashion as a late Fyodor Kudryashov own goal gave them a 1-0 home win over Russia in their crunch Group D qualifier on Sunday.
Croatia, the 2018 World Cup runners-up, jumped above Russia to top the standings on 23 points from 10 games, one more than the second-placed Russians who will head into the March playoffs.
United States' Christian Pulisic was on target in Friday's 2-0 win over Mexico, but it was the message scrawled on his T-shirt that made headlines as the winger responded to a pre-match jibe from their North American arch rivals with one of his own.
Second-half substitute Pulisic headed home a cross within five minutes of coming on, while Weston McKennie scored another as a young U.S. team moved to the top of the World Cup qualifying CONCACAF standings.
When the USMNT and Mexico met on Nov. 12 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, it marked the 73rd clash between the two giants of the CONCACAF region. On Mar. 24 we’ll do it all again, adding another monumental World Cup qualifying chapter to a rivalry that really doesn’t need any pretense to get the blood boiling.
PARIS - Kylian Mbappé continued his meteoric rise on Saturday with another jaw-dropping performance as France qualified for next year's World Cup with an 8-0 demolition of Kazakhstan.
The Paris Saint-Germain striker became the first player to score four goals for France in a single game since Just Fontaine against Sweden at the 1958 World Cup.
Five weeks before his 23rd birthday, Mbappé has scored 23 international goals from 52 caps — bettering the marks of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the same age.
OSLO — Norway's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup finals in Qatar suffered a serious blow when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Latvia in their Group G clash on Saturday.
The single point earned leaves the Norwegians in third spot in the group on 18 points, behind second-placed Turkey on goal difference with Netherlands in the lead on 19 points. The Dutch can win the group by beating Montenegro later on Saturday.
Canada tested out its home-field advantage in Edmonton on Friday and it worked wonders. Over 48,000 fans packed into Commonwealth Stadium to watch Canada defeat Costa Rica 1-0. They also got a bonus show of a Canada streaker getting hit sticked into the advertisement board.
England defender Harry Maguire defended his goal celebration during Friday's World Cup qualifying victory over Albania which former players described as over the top and unnecessary following his poor performances for Manchester United.
England thrashed Albania 5-0 to all but qualify for the World Cup after Maguire opened the scoring with a ninth-minute header, celebrating with a knee slide while putting his fingers to his ears as if to shut out his critics.
Reece James to Harry Maguire!
The USMNT had an iconic 2-0 victory against Mexico Friday night with Christian Pulisic scoring the game’s opening goal. During Captain America’s celebration he revealed a message written on his undershirt that had fans asking: “What did Pulisic’s shirt say?”
Pulisic pulled out one of the most badass undershirt reveals since Mario Balotelli’s “Why always me?” shirt.
The history of Dos a Cero had a beautiful addition to the lore Friday night as the USMNT defeated Mexico 2-0 Friday night at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The same American stars that put Mexico to the sword five months prior in the Concacaf Nations League returned to finish what they started five months ago.
Three Harry Kane goals vs Albania likely has Tottenham fans royally pissed. Last season’s EPL Golden Boot winner only has one goal in 10 league appearances this season and has been underwhelming to say the least.
Barring a catastrophe of monumental proportion against San Marino, Kane and England locked up a spot at the 2022 World Cup with a 5-0 victory against Albania thanks to a Kane hat trick.
All five goals came in the first half with Harry Maguire grabbing the first in the ninth minute. Go get them slab head!
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