Folarin Balogun admitted Tuesday that the suspension of his red card in the World Cup after President Donald Trump intervened put added pressure on the US team. Balogun said in an interview with CBS he was “definitely in shock” when he was sent off for treading on the foot of a Bosnia-Herzegovina defender in his […]
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Posted inSoccer America Confidential
The small world of French soccer
My introduction to les banlieues of Paris came 50 years ago when I was accepted in an internship program that took me to St. Denis. I did not know a lot of French — my French consisted of a couple of college classes and what I picked up, devouring L’Equipe and France Football, which I […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
England face might of Messi’s Argentina in World Cup semi-final
England are bidding to end Lionel Messi’s dream of winning back-to-back World Cups and reach their first final in six decades as they renew their old rivalry with holders Argentina on Wednesday in a seismic semi-final showdown. An England team which has been dragged to this stage by the brilliance of Jude Bellingham take on […]
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Spain ‘favourites’ says Deschamps ahead of World Cup semi-final showdown
France coach Didier Deschamps insisted he still sees Spain as World Cup favourites on Monday ahead of Les Bleus’ blockbuster semi-final against the European champions. France take on Spain at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday in a match widely seen as a collision of the best two teams in the tournament. While […]
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Spain to go on ‘front foot’ against France in World Cup semi: De la Fuente
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said his team plan to go on the “front foot” against World Cup favourites France when they face off in a heavyweight semi-final showdown on Tuesday. De la Fuente told a press conference on Monday that Spain will attempt to impose their possession-based game on France in what is […]
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Birthday boy Yamal stands by ‘no fear’ comment ahead of France clash
Lamine Yamal insisted on Monday he would take no fear into Spain’s World Cup semi-final against France as he celebrated his 19th birthday. The Barcelona prodigy raised eyebrows following Spain’s 2-1 quarter-final defeat of Belgium last week after being quoted as saying that France rather than Spain ought to be “afraid” given recent defeats against […]
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Norway receive heroes’ welcome in Oslo after World Cup exit
Around 90,000 people welcomed back Norway’s players to Oslo on Monday after they returned home from making a historic run to the World Cup quarter-finals. Erling Haaland’s side were knocked out of the tournament on Saturday after losing 2-1 to England in extra-time in the last eight in Miami, their best result in the competition. […]
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Referees: American Ismail Elfath set to make U.S. reffing history
Ismail Elfath will become the first American to referee a men’s World Cup semifinal when he takes charge of Wednesday’s Argentina-England clash in Atlanta. Elfath, who will be assisted by U.S. ARs Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins, will also become the first American to referee a fourth game at the same World Cup. In 2002 […]
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‘VAR-gentina?’: conspiracy theories swirl ahead of World Cup semifinals
Lionel Messi’s brilliance has helped carry Argentina into a blockbuster World Cup semi-final with England in Atlanta on Wednesday. But the defending champions’ journey to the last four has been engulfed by online conspiracy theories claiming — without evidence — that the playing field has been tilted in their favour. Social media is awash with […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Thomas Tuchel: England’s World Cup mastermind
Thomas Tuchel was hired by England as head coach with a simple brief: win the 2026 World Cup. So far, so good as they prepare to take on Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the semi-finals. The German has overseen a largely happy camp, dancing with his players in the dressing room in Mexico City after their […]