Rivalries

Carlo Ancelotti avoids calling Messi best in history: ‘I train the Ballon d'Or every day’

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said his team does not need winter signings as it is in good shape to resume the season in LaLiga, where they trail leaders Barcelona by two points.

The Italian coach considers that having healthy players, such as striker Karim Benzema, will be the key to face the schedule that awaits the Madrid side, who will be looking to defend their LaLiga, Spanish Super Cup and Champions League titles.

¡No toques al Maguito! El brutal empujón de Seba Cáceres a Nacho Rivero en el Clásico Joven

La noche del miércoles, América y Cruz Azul volvieron a cruzar sus caminos en un duelo que iba a definir al segundo finalista de la amistosa Copa por México. Una victoria ponía a Las Águilas en la definición por el título, mientras que a La Máquina le bastaba con un empate.

Considerando la rivalidad que existe entre ambos clubes, el partido fue reñido, de ida y vuelta, y dejó varias acciones para el recuerdo.

El resultado fue de 2-1 en favor de Cruz Azul y serán los cementeros quienes disputen la final ante Chivas, el próximo viernes 30 de diciembre.

PSG coach says no bad blood between Messi-Mbappé, but Emi Martínez is another story

After sending 11 players to the World Cup, Paris Saint-Germain's season resumes Wednesday with the Ligue 1 leaders needing to find motivation for a home match against 19th-place Strasbourg.

PSG manager Christophe Galtier gave his pre-match press conference Tuesday and outlined how many of the club's World Cup stars would be available for selection — including France's Kylian Mbappé, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi and Brazil's Neymar — but Argentina's Lionel Messi had been given extended leave until early January.

England v France preview: If there's one man capable of stopping Mbappé, it's Kyle Walker

DOHA - One of the most mouth-watering aspects of Saturday’s World Cup quarterfinal between England and France will be a head-to-head battle between Kylian Mbappé and Kyle Walker as the tournament’s most devastating forward faces its fastest defender.

Mbappé has been on fire in Qatar, scoring fabulous goals and playing with a freedom, zest and pure joy rarely seen at international level and particularly within the sometimes stultifying tension of a major tournament.

Messi and Argentina expect classic quarterfinal against old rivals Netherlands

AL RAYYAN, Qatar - Argentina captain Lionel Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni predicted a tough but beautiful encounter with the Netherlands when the sides meet in Friday's World Cup quarterfinal.

Argentina beat Australia 2-1 while the Netherlands defeated the United States 3-1 on Saturday to set up a tantalizing clash between two of the great teams of world football who famously met in the 1978 World Cup final which the South Americans won.

The18's USA vs. Netherlands prediction

The United States navigated group play admirably, going unbeaten and only conceding once, to advance to the World Cup Round of 16 with the Netherlands awaiting at Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. ET.

The USA vs. Netherlands odds clearly cast Gregg Berhalter's men as the underdogs. After 90 minutes, the Netherlands is 10/11 to win while the United States is at 10/3. The odds for requiring extra time are at 23/10. 

‘El Diablo’ Luis Suárez refuses to apologize for role in Ghana's 2010 exit ahead of rematch

AL RAYYAN, Qatar - Uruguay's Luis Suárez refused to apologize to Ghanaians on Thursday for his role 12 years ago in their biggest World Cup setback, arguing it wasn't his handball that denied Ghana a quarterfinal winner but their missed penalty that followed.

A win for Ghana against Uruguay in Friday's final Group H match could avenge their acrimonious defeat by the South Americans in 2010, when Suárez used his hand to block an extra-time winner for Ghana, who missed the resulting spot-kick and lost the penalty shootout that followed.

Netherlands need to show they're not all talk against USA in round of 16

DOHA - After much posturing, the Netherlands now need to deliver if they are to fulfill their own prophecy at the World Cup, starting with the opening clash of the knockout stage against the United States on Saturday.

There has been much talk — all from the Dutch camp — of the team's potential to go all the way in the tournament in Qatar, principally from veteran coach Louis van Gaal, who enjoys a little mental coaxing and sparring.

Delirious Canelo Álvarez threatens Messi after accusing him of disrespecting the Mexican flag

World champion boxer Canelo Álvarez is mad at Lionel Messi and warned that the next time they see each other it's not going to be pleasant for the Argentine. Why is Canelo so angry? According to him, Messi disrespected the Mexican flag and the Mexican jersey after Argentina's 2-0 win over El Tri in the World Cup. 

The big problem with Canelo's story is that Messi did not disrespect any Mexican symbol, which makes the whole situation dumb. 

So why bother writing an article about it? Because fake news and toxic nationalism are viruses that need to be eradicated. 

USMNT's Ghana scouting report #2: Mohammed Kudus is going to be a problem

When Ghana, the youngest team at the World Cup, eventually meets the USMNT, the second-youngest, in the World Cup semifinals, it's clear that the juvenile inconsistencies of both will allow one team to shine in the opening 45 before the other side comes storming back in the second half.

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