Opinion

Team-by-team guide: 2022 Wales World Cup preview

To prepare you for the tournament, The18 has launched team-by-team previews for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. This is the preview for Group B's Wales.

Wales World Cup 2022 Preview

World Cup appearances: Second 

Best finish: Quarterfinals (1958) 

Jesse Marsch leads the EPL ‘sack race’ — can he save his job against Liverpool?

When the final whistle sounds Saturday evening at Anfield following Leeds United's trip to Liverpool, there's a very real chance that Jesse Marsch could be out of a job if the Whites lose. Defeat would confirm a place in the relegation zone with over 30 percent of the Premier League season finished, and bottom three managers are typically dismissed around this period if they don't have the history of leading their club up from the Championship.

Team-by-team guide: 2022 Iran World Cup preview

To prepare you for the tournament, The18 has launched team-by-team previews for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. This is the preview for Group B's Iran.

Iran World Cup 2022 Preview

World Cup appearances: 6th 

Best finish: Group stage (every time) 

How they got here: Iran finished top of Group A, above South Korea, in AFC qualifying. 

Coach: Carlos Queiroz (Portuguese) 

Team-by-team guide: 2022 Spain World Cup preview

To prepare you for the tournament, The18 has launched team-by-team previews for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Here's the Spain World Cup 2022 preview. La Roja will play in Group E against Costa Rica, Germany and Japan.

Spain World Cup Preview 2022

World Cup appearances: 16th

Best finish: Champions (2010)  

Man United drops Cristiano Ronaldo from squad for Chelsea game after his early departure vs. Spurs

Cristiano Ronaldo was the hat trick hero when Manchester United last played Tottenham in March 2022. The two sides met again on Wednesday and Ronaldo made the headlines, but for all the wrong reasons. 

United had a dominant performance against Spurs with Fred and Bruno Fernandes scoring the goals in a 2-0 victory. What caught everyone’s attention was Ronaldo — who didn’t feature in Wednesday’s game — heading down the tunnel at Old Trafford in the 89th minute.

Karim Benzema, Alexia Putellas win Ballon d'Or awards for best players in the world

PARIS - Real Madrid's France forward Karim Benzema won the 2022 Ballon d'Or award for the best men's player in the world on Monday, while Barcelona's Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas won the women's award for a second time.

Benzema, who played a pivotal role in Real's run to the Champions League title last season, is the first French player to win the trophy since Zinedine Zidane in 1998 and the fifth after Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini and Jean-Pierre Papin.

The most underrated Premier League XI

How does one define an underrated player? Is it their performance in relation to their transfer value or their expectations from the fans? How do statistical expectations and statistical overperformance come into play?

Whatever metric you want to use, it comes down to this: underrated players don't get the credit they deserve. In the modern Premier League, where getting good value from players is paramount, these players are of the utmost importance.

Here's our list of Premier League players who've consistently been the most overlooked.

Team-by-team guide: 2022 Mexico World Cup preview

To prepare you for the tournament, The18 has launched team-by-team previews for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Here’s the Mexico World Cup preview. El Tri will play in Group C against Argentina, Poland and Saudi Arabia.

Mexico World Cup Preview 2022

World Cup appearances: 17th

Best binish: Quarterfinals (1970, 1986)

Latest FIFA rankings: USMNT anxiety reflected in fall from top 15

The final FIFA rankings before the 2022 World Cup were released Thursday, revealing a top five that's largely in line with what the odds makers have for the tournament in Qatar. 

Brazil rightfully holds the top spot and is seen as the favorite after turning its qualifying campaign into a program on Joga TV, while the Seleção's eternal rivals, Argentina, sit third riding a 35-match unbeaten streak.

Pages