Julian Draxler’s Breakout Performance Highlights Germany’s Strong Slovakia Win

World champions Germany announced their intentions at Euro 2016 with an impressive 3-0 win over Slovakia in the round of 16 in Lille, France, on Sunday. There was a sense around the team that the tournament would only truly start in the knockout stage, and, if the performance against hopelessly overwhelmed Slovakia is any indication, Joachim Low’s men have indeed kicked into another gear. Germany’s strong showing in the Stade Pierre Mauroy saw many players hit individual high notes but can be boiled to two men rising above everyone else: Jerome Boateng and Julian Draxler. An early... 

Lionel Messi Announces Retirement from Argentina National Team

A fourth loss in a major international tournament final was too much to bear for Lionel Messi. Following Argentina’s 4-2 defeat on penalty kicks to Chile in the Copa America Centenario final on Sunday night, the Barcelona star announced he is retiring from international football: Messi was one of two Argentine players to miss his penalty kick, and he was visibly distraught on the pitch after the match, per Vice Sports’ Mike Tunison: Given the emotional toll the loss took on him, Messi may have been speaking prematurely before thinking his decision through. ESPN... 

Lionel Messi’s Penalty Disaster Sums Up an Argentina That Wilted Under Pressure

Argentina’s Copa America hopes went flying out of MetLife Stadium at roughly the same height and velocity as Lionel Messi‘s skied penalty. The Albiceleste have once more choked in a major final, and the Barcelona legend must wonder if he will ever take the title he craves so badly in international colours.  As Francisco Silva tucked home the winning kick to seal the centenary Copa for Chile after a tense, nasty 0-0 draw, the cameras inevitably panned on Messi. No. 10, the source of so much of Argentina’s joyful attacking play this tournament, was visibly distraught.  Messi... 

Antoine Griezmann Finally Arrives at Euro 2016 as France Edge Ireland

France are into the quarter-finals of the 2016 UEFA European Championship after a second-half recovery saw them past the 10 men of the Republic of Ireland 2-1 at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon on Sunday. Robbie Brady’s penalty inside of the opening two minutes put Martin O’Neill’s men in front, and that lead lasted until half-time. However, the hosts woke up for the second 45 and two Antoine Griezmann goals secured a narrow victory, while Shane Duffy saw red for a foul on the Atletico Madrid man after 66 minutes. Speaking with TF1 (h/t ESPN FC) after the final whistle,... 

Argentina Have No Excuses If They Fail to Win Copa America Centenario

NEW JERSEY — Argentina national football team manager Gerardo Martino cut a nervous figure in his press conference before the Copa America Centenario final, virtually ignoring the first few questions, providing short, curt answers of around one line, often missing the point of the inquiry. After a while, someone called him out on it, asking if he felt a little unsettled. “There are too many of you. Normally there are fewer of you. You get a little flustered,” he explained. The nerves were uncharacteristic and showed how much pressure is on the coach’s shoulders to deliver... 

Revisiting Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2016 Squad Decisions Before England Face Iceland

The match had reached stoppage time, and England were still chasing the goal that might’ve ensured they topped Euro 2016 Group B. Manager Roy Hodgson made the last of his three substitutions over 15 minutes earlier, yet his team could still not break Slovakia down. Relentless right-back Nathaniel Clyne chanced another run down the right wing and crossed toward Jamie Vardy. It was cleared but soon came back in, the striker and midfielder Dele Alli among those unsuccessfully attempting to create an opening. Among the various media outlets commenting on the 0-0 draw during and after, it was... 

Spain Eye Historic Run: Blowing of Euro 2016 Opportunity Has Presented Another

They were 13 seconds that changed everything. For Spain. For Italy. For Germany. For France. For everyone.  At one end inside the Stade de Bordeaux, Aritz Aduriz had been played in by Sergio Busquets. There it was: the chance not only to settle this but to seize a colossal opportunity. But Aduriz’s shot was blocked, and the Croatian sequence that immediately followed went pass, dribble, pass, shoot, goal.  It was lethal and it was seismic. At 1-1, Spain, then-considered the tournament’s outstanding team, had been staring at the capture of Euro 2016’s Group D and a strikingly... 

Portugal Remain Unconvincing, but Croatia Win Can Be Their Tipping Point

Nothing worth winning is won easily, and as Portugal suddenly find themselves in the last eight of Euro 2016 on Sunday morning, that theme will be running through the team’s training camp. It required extra time, two hours of largely forgettable football and an awful lot of luck, but the 1-0 victory over Croatia in Lens Saturday night has ensured this Portugal side can continue what is a fantastic recent record in European Championships. Beat Poland in the quarter-final in Marseille on Thursday, and it’ll be a fourth last-four appearance in the last five Euros. Do they deserve... 

USMNT’s Copa Run Leaves a Few Important Questions About Program Moving Forward

The more we want things to change, the more they stay the same.  Instead of trotting out an experimental side in the third-place game of the Copa America Centenario, United States men’s national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann opted for a veteran-laden starting XI that produced few positives in a 1-0 defeat to Colombia.  Klinsmann, who caught criticism for using Kyle Beckerman, Chris Wondolowski and Graham Zusi in the 4-0 semifinal loss to Argentina, baffled us once again. He played Michael Orozco at left back and started just three players who will be under 30 by the time the 2018... 

Iceland vs. England Betting Odds Preview, Euro 2016 Round of 16 Prediction

After settling for a second-place finish on the Group B table, England prepares for a knockout-stage matchup with Iceland as a sizable -178 favorite (bet $178 to win $100) on the three-way betting lines at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. However, the Three Lions must be careful not to underestimate the first-time tournament participant, who are pegged as long underdogs following an undefeated run through the group stage.   Match Odds: England -178, Iceland +765, Draw +280 (Matchup Report) England will be hitting the pitch for their third straight match against a national side making... 

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