Outrageous

Sunday’s 2. Bundesliga encounter between promotion hopeful Stuttgart and relegation-threatened Osnabrück finished 0-0 at Mercedes-Benz Arena, and the home side had Osnabrück striker Benjamin Girth to thank for that.

In the 40th minute, Osnabrück mounted a beautiful attack down the right-hand side of the pitch. The flowing move included a scoop pass, a perfectly weighted and executed backheel flick and a no-nonsense square ball for Girth to tap into an empty net from 12 yards out.

But Girth somehow managed to steer his effort off the base of the post and wide.

Poland’s top flight of soccer has once again produced a moment of chaotic brilliance.

The Ekstraklasa isn’t abundantly discussed among fans — hell, a lot of people don’t even know Poland’s top flight is called the Ekstraklasa — but in Sunday’s match between league leader Legia Warsaw and Lech Poznan, the luckiest goal ever was scored. This goal deserves the eyes of all soccer fans.

It was a tense week in Minnesota. While the vast majority of our thoughts and actions were centered around peacefully protesting the death of George Floyd in police custody, it was impossible to shake the sense of apprehension that came with reports of arson, opportunistic looting, outside agitators (white supremacists? anarchists?) and suspicious unmarked vehicles tooling around town, all under the shadow of a global pandemic. 

The U.S. has been on edge this week since the death of George Floyd. The Minnesota man died while in police custody, with one officer charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter and three other officers having been fired, with possible charges pending.

Professional English freestyler Ewan Baggott has made his mark by performing skills in front of thousands and meeting some of the best in the game. His sick tricks are mesmerizing, but a recent video has surfaced on the internet that will make you virtually feel like you’re in pain. 

Everybody knows stepping on a Lego is almost as painful as stubbing your toe, but imagine playing a match barefoot on a field full of Legos. Who knows why they decided to torture themselves, but it did make for a pretty entertaining video and even some nutmegs.

You wouldn’t think wearing a mask would be that hard, but apparently it’s proven a difficult task for many during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Take, for instance, that Kentucky woman who went viral for wearing a mask with a hole cut in the middle. There’s no point in wearing a mask with a hole; you’re as exposed as a team playing without a goalkeeper. 

Premier League players resumed to small-sided training sessions this week in a bid to return to action by June. It was our first look at many of the league’s most popular players in about two months, the country having been on lockdown since football ground to a halt in mid-March. 

A few players emerged from self-isolation looking better than ever. For many, sadly, quarantine did not treat them or their heads kindly, chief among them Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

By now, everyone in America should have a mask or face covering of some sort. Whether it’s a bandana pulled over nose, a homemade cloth mask or a something you bought for 10 times a reasonable price off the internet, you need to be covering your face when you go out in public to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The sad reality of the pandemic world in which we live is that masks need to become ubiquitous to ensure public health and safety. In Alabama, American football coach Nick Saban scolded an elephant for not wearing a mask.

The return of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga was a triumph for football fans in Germany and around the world. One club that didn’t get to celebrate was Dynamo Dresden. The entire team was placed under quarantine after two players tested positive on May 9.

During the coronavirus pandemic, many people have had to turn to their pets for social interactions. Felines and dogs make great stay-at-home buddies for playing and taking snoozes together. 

Plenty of professional soccer players like Alex Morgan, Cristiano Ronaldo and Rose Lavelle all have pet dogs to keep them company. Players like Robin Van Persie, Kevin De Bruyne and Adrianna Franch are on team cats. Some players go for the bizarre with their pets.

Here is a list of soccer players with the craziest pets.