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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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 …
Miguel Ibarra could be handed a starting berth when United States host Panama on Sunday.
United States midfielder Miguel Ibarra is in line for a place in the nation s starting XI following praise from coach Jurgen Klinsmann ahead of Sunday s international friendly against Panama.
Ibarra became the first player from North America s second-tier to be called into a senior national team camp since Clyde Simms in 2005 when the Minnesota United star was selected for an October friendly against Ecuador.
The 24-year-old has impressed ever since, making his international bow in a 1-1 draw with Honduras on October 14 last year, while he did not feature in friendlies against Colombia and Republic of Ireland.
Ibarra was an unused substitute as USA twice surrendered a…
Bastia have tied down experienced defender Sebastien Squillaci until June 2016 after he agreed a new one-year contract extension.
Sebastien Squillaci has extended his contract with Bastia for a further year in a deal that will see him stay at the club until June 2016.
The central defender, whose contract was set to expire at the end of the season, moved to the Ligue 1 club from Arsenal in 2013 and has since made 58 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals.
Squillaci was also the hero earlier this month when he netted the winning penalty in a shootout to take Bastia to their first Coupe de la Ligue final since 1985, the Corsicans knocking out his former club Monaco.
Ghislain Printant s side are 13th in the table following an eight-match unbe…
Fernando Torres is in danger of missing Liverpool s Premeir League game with Wigan on Saturday after suffering a thigh injury in Spain s 2-1 win over Belgium here on Wednesday.
Torres had to be replaced by Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas in the 15th minute in this 2010 World Cup qualifier.
Spain team doctor Oscar Celada told Spanish television: He has intense pain in the back part of the thigh. It is difficult to diagnose now exactly the extent, if it is a question of a strain or a small tear. If it is a strain then he could be out for about a week.
Euro 2008 champions Spain lead Group 5 but only after David Villa struck in the closing stages.
Belgium took the lead from Wesley Sonck s seventh minute header, the first goal Spain keeper Iker Casillas has c…
George Boateng has learnt to live with the fact that he will never play international football for his native Ghana.
But the thought of playing alongside the richly-talented Stephen Appiah, Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien in the Black Stars engine room is one that struggles to go away.
As a naive teenager Boateng made the decision to switch to Dutch nationality in a bid to make it easier to get into the Feyenoord first team.
It was a choice that would end up having more far reaching consequences than he ever imagined.
At 15, I had to change my nationality from Ghanaian to Dutch, because at the time there were only three non EU (European Union) residents allowed to play in the first-team, Boateng told AFP.
I had to change it to give me a be…
Arsenal are ready to hand Mohamed Elneny a new contract, according to the the Mirror.
The twenty-five year old still has two years remaining on the deal he signed on arrival from Basel in 2016 and was linked with a move away from the Gunners in January.
However, with Francis Coquelin moving to Valencia two months ago Elneny has been called upon and is set to remain with the North London club.
Since arriving in England, the Egypt international has racked up sixty-four appearances in all competitions while he grabbed his second goal for the club in the 6-0 thrashing of BATE in the Europa League back in December.
Arsene Wenger’s men booked their place in the quarter finals of that competition after securing a 5-1 aggregate victory over AC Milan in th…