If ever there was a tricky soccer situation that was waiting to be solved by VAR, surely it was the problem of goalkeeper movement at penalty kicks. Rule 14 is sharp and clear and brooks no misunderstanding: “The defendinggoalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the goal posts until the ball […]
world cup 2018
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Watch: Belgium's super counterattack goal that beat Japan
Belgium capped its comeback over Japan with a stoppage-time strike by Nacer Chadli, who finished a sequence started by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, after a Japancorner kick. Courtois rolled the ball to Kevin De Bruyne, who carried it into Japan territory and fed Thomas Meunier on the right flank. Meunier found the sprinting Chadli. We dare […]
Posted inStory
From Gre-No-Li to Granqvist: 10 things to know about Sweden
After missing the last two World Cups, Sweden heads into the round of 16 with hopes of recalling its glory years. The Swedes, which won Group F and face Switzerland in the round of 16 on Tuesday, havereached the World Cup semifinals four times (1938, 1950, 1958, 1994) and boast an Olympic gold medal from […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Watch: Benjamin Pavard and Angel Di Maria join the Russia 2018 golazo club
The knockout stage started with a France-Argentina 4-3 thriller in which Benjamin Pavard and Angel Di Maria struck spectacularly. Benjamin Pavard (France) vs. Argentina: Angel Di Maria (Argentina) vs. France: Run of play golazos Iago Aspas (Spain) vs. Morocco: Nacho (Spain) vs. Portugal: Coutinho (Brazil) vs. Switzerland: Luka Modric (Croatia) vs.Argentina: Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal) vs. […]
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
World Cup is changing because of VAR — which Collina gives an excellent review
If Pierluigi Collina approves, it must be good. The former FIFA referee of the bald pate and fierce stare – think “Nosferatu” if you’re a silent-film buff– is chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee and quite adamant that use of video technology at the World Cup is doing its job admirably. caught on camera making […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Watch: Highlights of the Mexico-Brazil game that inspires El Tri
Mexico, which faces Brazil on Monday in the round of 16, beat the Neymar-led Brazilians, 2-1, in the 2012 Olympic gold medal game. Seven players on Mexico’s 2012 Olympic squad are onits 2018 World Cup roster. In their last World Cup meeting, Mexico tied host Brazil, 0-0, in group play of the 2014 World Cup.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Watch: All 122 World Cup goals in two minutes
Here’s every goal scored during 2018 World Cup group stage, an average of 2.5 goals per game. The 2014 World Cup ended with a 2.67 average, the highest since goals came at the same rate in 1998. Notsince 1958 has the average hit three goals per game. World Cup goals per gameaverages1930: 3.891934: 4.121938: 4.671950: […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Colombia's miracle escape from soccer's red-card ejection rule
A good deal of attention has been focused on the functioning of the VAR system during this World Cup. Rightly so, for it represents a revolution in soccer thinking (and how many ofthoseoccasions can you think of?), a move into allowing technology to play a major role in refereeing. So far — according to my […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Tab Ramos on 2018 World Cup tactics, quality of play, VAR, and what young players should pay attention to
U.S. Hall of Famer Tab Ramos‘ World Cup experiences include assisting on Earnie Stewart‘s goal in the USA’s historic 2-1 win over Colombia at the 1994 World Cup.Ramos, the U.S. men’s U-20 national team coach and U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director, has had up-close look at this World Cup while serving as a commentator for […]
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
How confederations fared: European teams dominate, but not against South America
One of the greatest appeals of World Cup play is so rarely do teams from the same confederation play each other. In the first round that concluded Thursday, 42 of the 48 games matchednations from different confederations, which provides a fairly large data base from which to compile head-to-head records. As one might expect, the […]