Cristiano Ronaldo was upset when he was left out of Portugal’s starting lineup against Switzerland but the conversation to drop him was completely normal and it is high time the world stopped focusing on the matter, coach Fernando Santos said on Friday. Ronaldo was benched as Portugal thrashed Switzerland 6-1 …
Read More »US sportswriter Wahl dies suddenly while covering World Cup
Well-known U.S. soccer journalist Grant Wahl died suddenly on Friday after collapsing while covering a match at the World Cup in Qatar, his agent said. U.S. Soccer said it was “heartbroken to learn” of Wahl’s death. His wife responded to the U.S. Soccer statement on Twitter, saying she was “in …
Read More »Vietnamese boxer stripped of IBF Asia belt before title defense
Boxing champion Dinh Hong Quan was stripped of his IBF Asia belt before a match to defend his title on Saturday because his body weight exceeded the set limit for his lightweight category. At a weight check session on Friday night, the Vietnamese boxer was found to have exceeded the …
Read More »Argentina fans begin to believe as Messi wills them into World Cup semis
Lionel Messi had to dig deep after his Argentina side blew a two-goal lead before beating Netherlands on penalties to keep his World Cup dream alive, making one goal and scoring another before setting the tone for the emotional shoot-out triumph. Long after the vanquished Dutch had left the field, …
Read More »Vietnamese boxing champ trains with Manny Pacquiao for title defense match
After training with Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, IBF Asia belt holder Dinh Hong Quan is confident he can defend his title against fellow countryman Arnel Baconaje this December. “Training with Pacquiao has improved my technique, style and passion. I’m determined to win this match. I will approach him cleverly …
Read More »Croatia oust favorites Brazil 4-2 on penalties to reach semi-final
Croatia stunned favorites Brazil 4-2 on penalties on Friday to reach the World Cup semi-finals for the second time in a row after battling back from a goal down in extra time, in one of the biggest knockout-phase upsets in the tournament’s history. The 2018 runners-up came through their second …
Read More »Croatia beat Brazil on penalties to reach semi-finals
Dominik Livakovic saved Rodrygo’s first penalty and Marquinhos hit the post to give Croatia a 4-2 shootout win over Brazil on Friday after their World Cup quarter-final finished level at 1-1. After a scoreless 90 minutes Brazil took a 1-0 lead with a bit of extra time solo magic from …
Read More »Neymar draws level with Pele as Brazil’s top goalscorer
Neymar scored in extra time as Brazil were winning 1-0 against Croatia in their World Cup quarter-final on Friday to reach 77 goals and draw level with Pele as the team’s top scorer, a record held by the Brazilian great for 51 years. The 82-year-old football icon, who is hospitalized …
Read More »Portugal young gun Ramos faces tough test from wily Saiss
Portugal coach Fernando Santos put his faith in Goncalo Ramos when he started him against Switzerland, and the young striker responded by scoring a hat-trick and leading them to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2006. Ramos, 21, made headlines when the teams were announced, picked to …
Read More »Brazil, France favorites entering World Cup quarterfinals
Brazil will enter the quarterfinals with the same status as it did to begin the event last month — as favorites to win its sixth World Cup in Qatar. The +350 favorite at BetMGM before group play began, Brazil’s odds have shortened to +170 to win it all, with only …
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