While every World Cup is unique in its own way, and this one especially, there are certain happenings you can count on. They come about every tournament. The pressure, the coverage, the overall oeuvre of the whole thing just drives people into the same patterns. Over the next month, you can look for just about any and all of these to happen at some point. The press conference meltdown The only distinction here is whether it’s a player or a manager. Sometimes it’s a striker who has misfired in the first two games. Sometimes it’s the captain who’s tired of eating all the shit between his manager and his teammates. Sometimes it’s a manager who knows he’s about to hit the unemployment line in the next few days. Either way, there will be a press conference where the first question sets someone off, and no matter the language, you can be sure it’ll be translated to something to the effect of, “You are not men! I am a man but you are not men!” as bewildered journalists look on. Generally, this is spurred on by a simple question like a change of formation or if he’s worried about the next opponent. Alexi Lalas reaching for some bullhorn narrative Lalas yearns to be the Stephan A. Smith of soccer, except he doesn’t have the personality, or the knowledge, that Smith has (I realize that seems like a low bar to clear, but here we are). And this is really funny because Lalas was an executive in MLS for a long while and was GM of the Galaxy when they signed David Beckham. Anyway, Lalas will do his damndest to make sure that every time he speaks he has a good chance to end up trending, trying to emit enough smoke that something catches. Last time around he couldn’t wait to jump on Spain firing their manager right before the tournament as the reason they were struggling… 45 minutes into their first match. There’s gotta be something easy for him to reach for this time around. Seeing as how Argentina joins us on the tournament’s third day, let’s say at halftime of their first match he will claim that Lionel Messi is letting his country down. It’s right there. Someone on ESPN who doesn’t know anything about soccer screaming as if they do know something about soccer This almost certainly will happen when the U.S. exits the tournament, noting how it’s a disappointment, even if it’s the semifinals. Someone sent home for PEDs With FIFA going to pull every “Hey look over there!” lever possible to try and distract from the idiocy of having this tournament in Qatar for a variety of reasons, they will do anything to look like they’re in charge and have the sport’s best interest at heart without actually offending their hosts. A burn notice During any Germany or England match, a shot of a group of fans that have attained a level of sunburn that is somewhere between “grape” and “strawberry fields.” A broadcaster making reference to the stereotyped temperamental nature of South American players Likely when there’s some kind of kerfuffle in the 70th minute of a match involving Uruguay or Ecuador. A Seoul sonic force South Korean fans don’t stop cheering during halftime (this only applies if you’re attending a match). An existential crisis for Mexico whenever they exit Even if they get bounced at the same point they always do (Round of 16). Some big team utterly burying a machete in their manager’s back (figuratively) before their tournament is over France in 2010 was the prime example when things went balls-up. Some big team that had huge expectations is pulling a full body dry heave in the group stage, and suddenly the biggest sports paper or section in their country is running anonymous quotes and stories about what a mess the whole camp has been and how every player thinks their plans and tactics were drawn up by sugar-packed kindergartners. If you had to guess, Germany and Belgium are probably the surest bet this time around. Most of Germany’s squad already has a distaste for Hansi Flick, and this is Belgium’s last real swing at a trophy. Roberto Martinez could meet the undercarriage of a bus so easily. Cristiano Ronaldo having some pre-planned celebration And it’ll be after he scores a penalty that’s the fourth goal in a 4-0 win over Ghana that will tie into his interview with Piers Morgan. A late-night host making jokes about Neymar diving Trevor Noah for sure. Get ready folks, it’s almost here.
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Real Madrid have reportedly made Tottenham s Harry Kane their top priority up forward after failed pursuits of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
Kane, 29, is a three-time Premier League Golden Boot winner, and is showing no signs of slowing down, with his 15 goals in 18 league games this season trailing only Manchester City s Haaland (21 in 16 appearances).
He is only 10 league goals away from tying Wayne Rooney for the second-most in Premier League history, while he is also tied with Rooney for England s all-time record and is one goal away from tying Jimmy Greaves as Tottenham s all-time leader.
With his individual legacy in England already secured, Kane is said to be ready to take the next step in his career and join a team capable of competing consistently fo…
Speaking to Catalan outlet L Esportiu, Alejandro Balde has reiterated his intention to sign a new contract with Barcelona and remain at the Camp Nou for the foreseeable future.
Barcelona met with my agent and it’s very clear: I want to stay here for many, many years, he said. I joined this club when I was 7 and I want to stay here for the present and the future.”
Having gone through the famous La Masia academy, the 19-year-old left-back was promoted to the first-team ranks last summer and has already made 26 appearances in all competitions, scoring no goals as of yet but producing four assists. Capable of playing on either flank but preferring the left, he is widely seen as a long-term successor to Jordi Alba.
Balde s current contract runs until the summer …
Paul Pogba remains on the sidelines but his club future is at the centre of the rumour mill.
According to a new report, Zinedine Zidane wants the Manchester United midfielder at all costs .
Links between Pogba and Real Madrid have long been established, but it seems not all in the Spanish capital are keen on the move.
TOP STORY – ZIDANE WANTS TO POACH POGBA
Zidane views compatriot Pogba as the final piece of the puzzle for Madrid and has implored the club to secure his signature, reports Marca.
The Los Blancos boss reportedly made Pogba s arrival his only demand when he returned to the Santiago Bernabeu in March for a second stint as head coach.
However, Madrid executives are said to be sceptical about splashing at least €12…
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Simply looking to finish off the job in midweek and extend on their Champions League qualifying adventure, Ludogorets will make the trip to Shamrock Rovers on Tuesday night.
Shamrock Rovers
Starting with the hosts, coming off the back of a first-leg hammering out in Bulgaria last week, Shamrock Rovers will know that they need a real miracle here. Eventually blown away thanks to a 3-0 drumming at the hands of Ludogorets, the Irish champions also failed to pick up any real momentum a few days ago. Missing out on what they would have tipped as a golden chance as they had to settle for a sluggish 1-1 draw at home against Drogheda, Stephen Bradley s men have now failed to win any of their last three matchups across all formats. However, st…
Runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City will not be going through the campaign unbeaten after Liverpool edged past them in a seven goal thriller at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
The fixture was the stand-out match on matchday twenty-three and didn’t disappoint with Jurgen Klopp’s side taking control after a nine minute spell in the second half which saw them go 4-1 in front.
Late replies from Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan proved too little to late with the Reds holding on to climb above champions Chelsea to third place.
Commanding
Despite the defeat, the Citizens still hold a commanding lead over the chasing pack though Manchester United did close the gap to twelve points after thumping Stoke City by three goals to nil at Old Trafford.
England midfielder Jack Wilshere insisted his team-mates do not feel let down by the country s supporters at Euro 2016, despite UEFA s threat of expulsion following fan violence in Marseille.
Clashes between England and Russia fans around Saturday s 1-1 draw in Group B prompted UEFA to warn both sides that they could be kicked out of the tournament if the scenes were repeated.
Wilshere was brought on as a second half substitute at the Stade Velodrome and admitted the England players were aware of the unrest before and during the match.
But he rebuffed suggestions the supporters had let their team down, saying: Of course not. I wouldn t say that. Their support in the stadium was fantastic and it always is – it was the same in Brazil.
There was obviou…
Celtic have sacked first-team coach Alan Thompson, his lawyer has revealed.
The former midfielder, who used to play for the Glasgow side, was appointed to the backroom staff in June 2010 alongside assistant manager Johan Mjallby by manager Neil Lennon following Tony Mowbray s dismissal.
I can confirm that I have been instructed to act on behalf of Alan Thompson following his dismissal by Celtic FC, his lawyer, Margaret Gribbon, said.
Alan was informed of the decision to terminate his employment with immediate effect in a telephone conversation with the club manager Neil Lennon.
Thompson played for Celtic for seven years between 2000 and 2007, winning four league titles and three Scottish Cups, and is also a former team-mate of Lennon.
The 38-y…
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has rubbished reports linking the Premier League champions with a move for Celtic defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama, .
Mancini scouted the 21-year-old Kenya international during the Celts 3-0 UEFA Champions League defeat to Italian powerhouse Juventus in Glasgow on Tuesday.
However, the Italian boss played down reports linking City with Wanyama during his press conference ahead of his side s FA Cup clash with Leeds United on Saturday, insisting that he had never watched the Kenyan midfielder in action prior to Tuesday s match against Juventus.
I saw him for the first time against Juventus, I never saw him before, revealed Mancini.
But every time I go to see a game, the next day people say Manchester C…
Olivier Giroud is relishing facing his old club when Chelsea take on Arsenal in the Europa League final.
Giroud is expected to lead the line in the May 29 showpiece, with his 10 Europa League goals the most anyone has scored in this season s tournament.
The World Cup winner left Arsenal for Chelsea in January 2018 but has been linked with a return to Ligue 1 for more playing time at the end of the season.
Giroud therefore has the chance to sign off in style when Maurizio Sarri s side take on the Gunners in Baku.
I always like playing against my old teams, Giroud told the Daily Mail. It s going to be tough, and it could be painful if it s not going the right way, but you have to put the feelings and memories aside.
I enjoyed the years I spent …
Paulo Dybala has disputed his brother s suggestion that he could be set to leave Juventus and insists he wants to stay at the Serie A champions.
The Argentina international appeared ready to depart Turin when his brother and agent Gustavo claimed there was a good chance of a move as the forward needs a change .
But, despite making just 23 league starts in 2018-19 following Cristiano Ronaldo s arrival at Juve, Dybala has dismissed his brother s comments, stating they do not reflect his feelings.
[My brother] spoke for himself, Dybala told Sky Sport Italia.
Grazie mister per questi magnifici 4 anni dove mi hai insegnato sopratutto a vincere! Ti auguro il meglio ovunque tu andrai!
— Paulo Dybala (@PauDybala_JR)
I talked to the club and …