Tag: World Cup

USWNT fans snarkily call the post that Portugal hit late at the World Cup ‘the player of the match’

It’s true, though.

The USWNT is through to the elimination rounds at the 2023 World Cup … and it was all thanks to a goal post.

In the 91st minute, as the United States was holding on against Portugal in a 0-0 tie — the point would get them through to the next round — Ana Capeta booted a ball from just inside the box that bounced off the post. It was a heartbreaker for Portgual, which was eliminated after the match.

But for USWNT fans? It was the a sigh-of-relief moment in an uneven match, and so many — including Carli Lloyd, who criticized the team for smiling and dancing after the game — called the post “the player of the match.”

Carli Lloyd rips USWNT for dancing, smiling with fans after World Cup draw against Portugal

The former USWNT star didn’t hold back.

Carli Lloyd didn’t hold back on her former USWNT teammates after a 0-0 tie with Portugal.

The United States team will move on to the elimination rounds after getting that crucial point, but it was a close one — Portugal nearly scored in the 91st minute but banged one off the post.

And it was after the game that FOX showed images of USWNT members dancing a bit and signing with fans in attendance. Lloyd was shocked and ripped the team for that.

“I have never witnessed something like that,” she said. “There’s a difference between being respectful of the fans and saying hello to your family, but to be dancing and smiling … I mean, the player of the match was that post. You’re lucky to be not going home right now.”

Head coach Vlatko Andonovski responded to those criticisms:

Maybe that’s the motivation USWNT needs in its next match after a lackluster performance.

Boston’s Al Horford to play for Dominican Republic in 2023 FIBA World Cup

The Puerta Plata native will have several other NBA players on the roster with him.

Veteran Boston Celtics big man Al Horford will representing his native Dominican Republic in 2023 FIBA World Cup play this summer before the start of the NBA’s 2023-24 season.

The Puerta Plata native will have several other NBA players on the roster with him. They include Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl Anthony Towns, Sacramento Kings shooting guard Chris Duarte and former Portland Trail Blazers small forward Justin Minaya. The Dominican Republic should field a competitive team for the international basketball competition.

The tournament kicks off Aug. 25, 2023 and runs to Sept. 10. The Dominican National Team plays in Group A, where it will travel to Manila, Philippines to play Angola, Italy and the Philippines.

Before the tournament, it will face Puerto Rico, Latvia, Spain and Canada in a series of exhibitions.

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Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala pulls a Brandi Chastain with the best World Cup 2023 celebration so far

This was the best celebration.

What an upset!

Australia came into its game against Nigeria as clear favorites, the 10th best team in the globe entering the World Cup against the 40th, not to mention the fact that the Matildas were playing at home in front of so many of their fans.

But Nigeria scored three times in a massive upset loss for the Aussies, including Asisat Oshoala coming off the bench to score the third goal for the Super Falcons.

Her celebration was the best: She pulled off her jersey a la Brandi Chastain, tearfully put her head down to the grass, and later dropped an F-bomb in her interview.

Yep. Perfect (WARNING: NSFW language ahead!):

Lindsey Horan and Daniëlle van de Donk shared a classy moment after heated World Cup match

What a classy moment for the two Lyon teammates.

The United States Women’s National Team tied their second World Cup group match against the Netherlands 1-1 late Wednesday night and Lindsey Horan was a big reason why.

After the USWNT came out flat in the first half — facing a 1-0 deficit and without Rose Lavelle for the first 45 minutes — the United States had their work cut out for them in the last half. At around the 60 minute mark, the Netherlands Daniëlle van de Donk impacted with Horan in a rough collision. Horan was shaken up on the play, but managed to stay in the match after a few minute delay.

When Horan returned to the field, she had a tense exchange with the referee and van de Donk, who coincidentally is her teammate on the French professional team Olympique Lyonnais Féminin!

Then mere minutes later, Horan tied the game with a picture-perfect header into the back of the net!

Talk about getting your revenge. While the USWNT weren’t able to score again, getting a 1-1 tie out of that game has to feel like a relief given how the first half went.

After the game, Horan and van de Donk had an incredibly classy moment on the field, as they shared a hug and exchanged some words.

Seems like Horan and van de Donk are all good after that heated moment!

Why Rose Lavelle wasn’t starting for the USWNT’s World Cup match against Netherlands

Fans desperately wanted Rose Lavelle in the game.

The U.S. women’s national team hadn’t trailed in a World Cup match since 2011, but that quickly changed in Wednesday’s Group E matchup against the Netherlands.

In a rematch of the 2019 final, the USWNT fell behind after allowing a 17th-minute goal to Jill Roord. Yet, the hero from that 2019 final — Rose Lavelle — wasn’t even on the field at the time.

As the USWNT went down a goal in the match, fans desperately called for Lavelle to get subbed into the game. Lavelle was available for the match and made appearance in the Group E opener against Vietnam. But head coach Vlatko Andonovski had been skeptical about Lavelle’s readiness to play 90 minutes.

The reason: Lavelle injured her knee in the April 8 friendly against Ireland. And though the injury wasn’t seen as a longterm issue (unlike Mallory Swanson’s patella tear in the same game), Lavelle went three months without appearing for the USWNT. She trained with the squad and was able to make the World Cup roster, but as Andonovski said earlier, she’s not a 90-minute player yet.

Via The Athletic:

“We’re not going to force a lot of minutes from the very beginning but we’ll ease everything up as we move on.”

At halftime, Andonovski clearly thought that the team needed a spark, and he made the decision to sub Lavelle in to start the second half.

In the 62nd minute, Lindsey Horan evened the score on a corner delivered in from Lavelle.

When was the last time the USWNT lost a World Cup game?

It’s been a long time since the USWNT has lost a Women’s World Cup game.

The United States national women’s team has become one of the true dynasties in soccer over the last decade, but losses befall all teams.

When was the last time the USWNT lost a game in the FIFA Women’s World Cup?

Well, you’ll have to go all the way back to the 2011 World Cup finals when the team lost to Japan on penalty kicks, 3-1. Abby Wambach scored the lone goal in penalties for the U.S. in that game.

That’s been a long time, and the USWNT has won two-straight Women’s World Cups since that finals loss.

The USWNT is one of the most efficient teams in all of soccer, and it’s impressive that the team hasn’t lost a game outright in the Women’s World Cup since the 2011 finals.

We’ll see if that streak continues in 2023 or if another country is able to defeat the favorite to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer.

When does USWNT play again in the World Cup after Netherlands match?

Here’s the answer.

If you’re reading this, it might be at the end of the USWNT game against the Netherlands in the 2023 World Cup. 

It means there’s one more game in the opening stage before we get to the knockout rounds, which means the United States team will face fellow Group E team Portugal after facing Vietnam to start the tournament taking place in Australia and New Zealand.

Which brings to the answer to your question: When will that game be?

The answer: It’ll be on Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 3 AM ET. 

Yes, if you’re an East Coast fan, that’ll be extremely early for you.

Katie McCabe’s stunning Olimpico goal for Ireland takes the early lead as the best World Cup 2023 goal

Some called it magnificent. Others said it was sorcery. Katie McCabe’s goal was incredible.

Some called it magnificent. Others said it was sorcery.

Simply put, Katie McCabe’s goal for the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday was incredible.

She pulled off a difficult score, netting what soccer fans like to call an Olimpico – meaning a goal scored directly from a corner kick. Olimpicos are super rare. There’s only been one scored in the men’s World Cup, in 1962. McCabe’s was the first in the women’s tournament. Megan Rapinoe has netted a pair of them for the USWNT in the Olympics, in 2012 and in 2021.

McCabe’s strike – which came in the fourth minute of Wednesday’s Group B match against Canada – was also the first-ever World Cup goal for Ireland.

Lining up at the corner to the left of the back of the goal, the left-footed McCabe took three quick steps before lofting the ball into the penalty area. Instead of meeting the head or boot of one of her teammates though, the ball kept soaring. It went over the mitts of Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan before bouncing off the far post and settling into the back of the net.

Here’s another angle:

Unfortunately, the good times wouldn’t last for Ireland. Canada won the match 2-1.

While folks might eventually forget that scoreline, McCabe’s outstanding goal should remain in the memories of soccer fans for a while.

Why did Americans begin calling it soccer and not football?

The term soccer doesn’t actually come from the U.S., believe it or not!

For the majority of the world, football is king. Yet, when Americans talk about the sport, it’s referred to as “soccer”. It’s one of the great differences between America and the rest of the world, but the reason why this is the case came about in quite a unique way.

Where the majority of the world thinks “soccer” is an American-created term, it actually came from the birthplace of the sport itself: England! Way back in the 1863, approximately when the modern game was invented, England formed the Football Association to create a set of rules for the game. At around the same time, rugby football was also coming into prominence and its rules differed greatly from its counterpart.

So, to differentiate the two, the game played under Football Association rules came to be known as association football. Not the most creative name, but it stuck! According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, the term “soccer” originated from a group of students at the University of Oxford who coined nicknames for the two sports: rugby became “rugger” and association football became “assoccer.” From there, the term was shortened to become “soccer” and became a nickname for the sport in England, but not what it was officially called.

In America, however, gridiron football became the popular sport in the 19th century, which had its roots in rugby and association football. When “football” became the official term for the sport, American association football players began calling their sport “soccer” instead.

Hilariously, while America is often picked on by other countries for its use of the word, Australia’s men’s national soccer team is nicknamed the Socceroos!

And don’t worry America, you aren’t alone in calling it “soccer”, as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa all call it that as well.

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