Tag: World Cup

Refuting earlier reports, Latvian Basketball Association denies Kristaps Porzingis injury

“There has been information that questions the participation of Kristaps Porzingis in the FIBA ​​World Cup. LBS denies this information,” wrote the Latvian Basketball Association

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Fans of the Boston Celtics were biting their nails about the health of their recently extended All-Star big man Kristaps Porzingis after a report the Latvian big man might not play for his national team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup due to an undisclosed foot injury.

However, the Latvian Basketball Association denied the claim in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday. In a statement, the association declared Porzingis’s foot is not injured and that he will continue training for the tournament.

“There has been information that questions the participation of Kristaps Porzingis in the FIBA ​​World Cup. LBS denies this information,” wrote the Latvian Basketball Association (translation via Google Translate).

It also stated both individual player preparation and team training are ongoing with the lineup for the match against the Dominican Republic to be announced on Aug. 12.

In the wake of forward Oshae Brissett electing to sit out World Cup play for Team Canada as a precautionary measure as the result of an undisclosed knee injury and Al Horford (sans injury) for the Dominican Republic as well, Boston fans are likely breathing a sigh of relief.

Especially less than a year removed from another major signee — Danilo Gallinari — tearing an ACL in FIBA play.

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On Boston’s Oshae Brissett’s exit from FIBA 2023 World Cup play

The Celtics forward is playing it safe with a knee injury – is this cause for concern?

In a setback for the Canadian National Team’s World Cup aspirations, Boston Celtics forward Oshae Brissett was ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury.

While Brissett has a history of knee injuries, the move was deemed precautionary. That should help fans of the storied ball club exhale given the knowledge of veteran big man Danilo Gallinari being lost for all of last season with a knee injury suffered in FIBA play last summer is fresh on their minds.

What does the injury to Brissett mean for his first season playing with the Celtics? How will it impact Team Canada? Should Boston fans be concerned about their frontcourt depth heading into the 2023-24 season with a trio of other oft-injured or aging bigs playing big minutes?

CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning breaks down the situation with the Canadian forward and his exit from the 2023 FIBA World Cup due to concerns about his knee.

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Alex Morgan brushes off retirement talk after USWNT’s World Cup elimination

Alex Morgan has no plans to call it quits right now.

The U.S. Women’s National Team’s disappointing Round of 16 exit from the 2023 World Cup in many ways marked the end of an era.

One of the team’s stars and leaders, Megan Rapinoe, already announced that this World Cup would be her last. Following the loss to Sweden on penalty kicks Sunday morning, Julie Ertz also announced her retirement.

Add in the loss of Carli Lloyd, who retired in 2021 following Team USA’s World Cup win in 2019, and many of the squad’s longtime fixtures won’t be around the next time it competes on the international stage.

Following the loss, all eyes turned to Alex Morgan. The 34-year-old striker has played for the USWNT since 2010 and captained it in its last two World Cup runs. But following a goalless performance in this year’s tournament, some questioned if she would follow in the footsteps of some of her veteran teammates.

She put that speculation to rest in an interview with ESPN following the loss.

“I’m not planning to hang up my boots anytime soon right now, ” Morgan said when asked if this World Cup would be her last. “So, just one day at a time now.”

Though it isn’t an outright commitment to playing in the 2027 World Cup — the host nation for which hasn’t been determined — it doesn’t sound like Morgan has any plans to slow down after the back-to-back defending champions bowed out in heartbreaking fashion.

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Boston’s Oshae Brissett withdraws from FIBA World Cup play with knee injury

The nature of and severity of the injury was not immediately clear.

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New Boston Celtics forward Oshae Brissett has withdrawn from the Canadian National Team ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup according to the Toronto Star’s Doug Smith. Per the Star reporter, Brissett “has been ruled out as a precaution as he deals with a knee injury.”

The nature of and severity of the injury was not immediately clear, but it seems the Canadian big man is going to play it safe less than a year removed from another Boston forward — now Washington Wizards swingman Danilo Gallinari — hurting his knee in FIBA play soon after signing with the Celtics.

Hopefully, the injury is a minor one because Brissett is expected to play some serious minutes for Boston this season. Stay tuned for updates on this situation as they unfold.

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Sam Mewis went through every emotion watching her sister Kristie take a PK for the USWNT

Mewis experienced everything as her sister buried a penalty.

The U.S. Women’s National Team’s run in the 2023 World Cup came to an end on Sunday in the Round of 16, as the four-time champs lost in penalty kicks to Sweden.

The difference was mere millimeters, and it was an agonizing defeat for the Americans who – while playing without starter Rose Lavelle – endured their earliest exit ever from any World Cup. In the previous eight tournaments, the U.S. had at least advanced to the semifinals.

But beneath all the disappointment, there was a few bright moments in the match for the U.S. One of them was Kristie Mewis burying her penalty kick into the back of the net during the shootout with Sweden.

Back home in the U.S., Kristie’s younger sister – Sam, who played on the 2019 World Cup-winning team – was a total nervous wreck when Kristie jogged on to the field. And then Sam was absolutely overjoyed when Kristie connected on the crucial penalty kick.

Sam – who didn’t make the USWNT roster because of a knee injury – has spent the World Cup doing media. She watched the U.S.’s Round of 16 loss to Sweden live on Twitch with Roger Bennett of Men In Blazers, and the cameras captured Sam’s reaction in real time.

What’s really wild is that Kristie Mewis was subbed on just before the penalty shootout began. It was the only time she stepped onto the pitch in this World Cup. And her first touch was a penalty kick attempt that she couldn’t have hit any better.

Kristie Mewis’ penalty kick gave the U.S. a 3-2 lead in the shootout. Unfortunately, Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith and Kelley O’Hara weren’t as successful in converting theirs, and Sweden won the shootout 5-4.

If we’re lucky, perhaps we’ll get to see the Mewis sisters play together at the 2024 Olympics.

USWNT’s Lindsey Horan on Carli Lloyd’s World Cup criticism: ‘You have no idea what’s going on’

Lindsey Horan responded to former teammate Carli Lloyd’s criticism after the USWNT’s tie vs. Portugal.

U.S. Women’s National Team star Lindsey Horan had an answer to Carli Lloyd’s criticism following the Americans’ final game of the group stage.

After an uninspired 0-0 tie with Portugal, Lloyd — a two-time World Cup champion and retired USWNT player — criticized her former team for dancing and smiling with fans in the stands. She also suggested the team’s fame has gone to some players’ heads.

The now FOX Sports broadcaster then clarified her comments, saying she made them because she cares “deeply about this team.”

But, as ESPN reported Thursday from Auckland, New Zealand, Lloyd’s comments didn’t sit well with Horan, the USWNT current captain. Horan said the criticism was “frustrating for me to hear” because of how hard the team has worked.

More via ESPN:

“Again, it’s noise and, again, it’s an opinion and everyone is entitled to their own opinion — we know that’s how it goes,” Horan added. “But for me, I always want to defend my team and say: you have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes, you have no idea every single training what we’re doing individually, collectively, etcetera.

“So, for anyone to question our mentality hurts a little bit but at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. I don’t really care. It’s what’s going inside of the team and getting ready for that next game.”

Advancing out of the group stage and into the knockout round, the USWNT opens the Round of 16 against Sweden on Sunday at 5 a.m. ET on FOX.

MORE WORLD CUP:

5 World Cup storylines to watch in the knockout round: Is the USWNT beatable?

Also, watch Jamaica vs. Colombia!

The group stage of the 2023 World Cup is over, and we’re on to the Round of 16.

Traditional powers in the sport, like Canada and Brazil, didn’t advance. It’s surprising for the Canadians, considering they just took home the gold medal two years ago at the Olympics. For Brazil, it’s disappointing, because it’s probably the last time fans will see Marta play on a stage of this magnitude.

But other teams are on the rise. Jamaica, Morocco and South Africa are all in the knockout stage for the first time ever.

Here’s a few storylines you need to pay attention to as we enter the win-or-go-home portion of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

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Carli Lloyd on why she criticized USWNT so harshly: ‘I poured my heart and soul into this team’

This explanation actually made a lot of sense.

Carli Lloyd created quite the firestorm earlier this week.

After the USWNT disappointingly drew against Portugal to end the group stage, the former star ripped the current players for dancing and celebrating as if they had won. Part of Lloyd’s criticism was also rooted in her believing recent fame had gotten to the players’ heads — a point our Mike Sykes disagreed with.

In light of some of the backlash Lloyd has gotten, she took time to clarify her critique during the FOX World Cup broadcast on Wednesday. The two-time World Cup champion kept it simple:

She cares about the team greatly, and she wants them to carry on a rich tradition.

I might still disagree with segments of Lloyd’s comments, like the idea that fame hurts the players’ on-field mentality. If that were the case, none of the big superpowers would ever fare well in the tournament, let alone the USWNT.

But in terms of general substance — a team legend wants to see better play from the new generation — I can’t fault Lloyd for speaking her mind. She’s an ambassador of the USWNT at heart, and if she sees something she doesn’t appreciate, she’ll highlight it. Even with a berth in the knockout stages, the USWNT has been playing poorly during this World Cup. Anyone in her position would find it hard not to say anything.

Lloyd is closer to the team than most people. She’s at least earned that right.

FIFA 23 predicts 2023 World Cup, and it’s a winner for Team USA

We simulated the Women’s World Cup in FIFA 23 to see which team would win.

The 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is well underway, with some of the best players around the world now representing their national teams. It’s been an incredible run so far, clearly showing the world why women’s soccer deserves more attention and care throughout the season, not just when the World Cup’s around.

The World Cup has also been in the spotlight thanks to a free update now available on FIFA 23. The update comes with a variety of modes, such as Kick-off, and the ability to play the entire tournament and represent your country on the pitch.

Of course, we couldn’t miss the chance to play and simulate the World Cup to have a sneak peek at who’s going to win it according to the game. United States is the favorite with four wins in 1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019, but Spain, England, and Australia all have what it takes to reach the grand final.

So here’s all FIFA 23 had to say about the FIFA World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023.

The group stage was tough and challenging for each and every one of our favorites, but there was no surprise elimination before the Quarter Finals. Here, Sam Kerr’s Australia was defeated by Jamaica, and France smashed England for a quite unexpected 0-3. 

The semi-finals witnessed one of the biggest matches you could wish to see in the World Cup 2023, as Team USA and Spain faced each other in a dramatic 1-0 win for the USWNT. Two-time Ballon d’Or winner, 91-rated Alexia Putellas’ run ended in third place, after beating Jamaica at penalties.

On the other hand, France easily got rid of Jamaica and reached the grand final. And what a grand final it was. France had more possession, and overall had to take the initiative as the United States had the lead with an early goal from Rodman. It took a while, but the Europeans managed to draw at 84’ with Toletti, and the match looked destined for extra time.

However, at just one minute from the end, Dunn scored again for the US, granting the Americans a climatic win, and their fifth World Cup. That was intense.

Looking at individual performances, FIFA 23 also announced a few awards after the grand final. Spain’s Mariona was named the top player of the FIFA World Cup, and also won the Golden Boot thanks to her 6 goals. Jamaica’s Shaw also scored 6 goals.

Denmark’s Lene Christensen was named Goalkeeper of the tournament, with two clean sheets from 4 matches. Spain’s Putellas and Mariona also offered 3 assists in 7 matches, even though Canada’s Fleming had the best ratio (3 assists in just 3 matches).

This was the Team of the Tournament:

  • Naeher (United States)
  • Fox (United States)
  • Renard (France)
  • Girma (United States)
  • Périsset (France)
  • Mariona (Spain)
  • Horan (United States)
  • Dunn (United States)
  • Diani (France)
  • Shaw (Jamaica)
  • Morgan (United States)

Of course, most of the players were from the United States as they ultimately won the World Cup, but it’s good to see France, Jamaica, and Spain so well represented.

Could this be it? We’ll see how reliable FIFA 23 ends up being this time around in a couple of weeks, with Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand reaching an end with Aug. 20’s grand final.

In the meantime, it’s worth noting that EA Sports’ official simulation was right for the fourth time in a row with the World Cup in 2022, so maybe you’d better not underestimate our prediction.

Written by Paolo Sirio on behalf of GLHF.