https://deadspin.com/womens-world-cup-injuries-uswnt-england-netherlands-bra-1850374615 The Women’s World Cup is already a battle of attrition All the tournament's best teams are plagued by injury By Sam Fels, published April 25, 2023 England’s captain, Leah Williamson, is out with a torn ACL. The World Cup is always a measure of health and a team’s ability to deal with it. It … Continue reading Top women’s World Cup teams losing best players right and left →

http://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states-usaw/story/4877300/5-world-cup-questions-for-uswnt-to-answer-at-shebelieves-cup 5 questions the USWNT and coach Vlatko Andonovski must answer at the SheBelieves Cup 9am, February 14, 2023 The 2023 Women's World Cup is fast approaching, and time is running out for the U.S. women's national team to get ready for the summer tournament in Australia and New Zealand. This week the USWNT will compete in the … Continue reading USWNT no longer a cinch to win the Women’s World Cup this July in New Zealand — lots of info here →

https://theathletic.com/4009238/2022/12/17/lionel-messi-kylian-mbappe-world-cup-final/ Messi, Mbappe and an uncomfortable rivalry defined by mutual respect Oliver Kay, Dec 17, 2022 At some point on Sunday evening, possibly just before the World Cup final but certainly once it’s over, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe will embrace and a thousand photographers at Lusail Stadium will rush to capture the moment. Depending on the result, it will be … Continue reading Mbappe and Messi are teammates when not at the World Cup — perspective →

https://www.newyorker.com/sports/world-cup-2022/the-genius-of-lionel-messi-just-walking-around? WORLD CUP 2022 THE GENIUS OF LIONEL MESSI JUST WALKING AROUND The legendary striker can often be found off the ball, strolling and dawdling and looking mildly uninterested. Here’s what he’s actually doing. On Sunday, a global audience of a billion plus will tune into the World Cup final to behold the most transfixing … Continue reading Terrific New Yorker articles about World Cup 2022’s championship day →

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/16/messi-business-how-sportswashing-could-land-saudi-arabia-the-2030-world-cup Messi business: how ‘sportswashing’ could land Saudi Arabia the 2030 World Cup Qatar has written the playbook on how to further geopolitical aims by hosting a Fifa event. Riyadh is taking notes by Alex Lawson, Fri 16 Dec 2022 01.00 EST If Lionel Messi lifts the World Cup trophy it will not only represent a … Continue reading Will sport washing give Saudi Arabia the World Cup in 2030? →

Harry Kane has carried a heavy burden for England. I wish him a thoughtful and fully successful recovery from this blow. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/11/harry-kane-has-never-made-an-error-this-big-england-penalty-miss-world-cup Harry Kane has never made an error this big – no wonder he looked broken England captain’s career has been one of season-on-season progress so penalty miss takes him into uncharted territory Harry … Continue reading Harry Kane has a tough road ahead →

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/07/world-cup-2022-power-rankings-how-the-remaining-eight-teams-shape-up-qatar World Cup 2022 power rankings: how the remaining eight teams shape up From left; Lucas Paquetá, Jude Bellingham, Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez and Achraf Hakimi will have a say in where the World Cup ends up. Composite: Getty; Shutterstock We cast our eye over the quarter-finalists’ key strengths and assess who is most likely to … Continue reading Profiling the eight remaining World Cup 2022 teams (New York Times & Guardian UK) →

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/22/womens-world-cup-2023-the-complete-group-by-group-preview Women’s World Cup 2023: the complete group-by-group preview England will be delighted with a kind draw in Group D while the USA replay the 2019 final with the Netherlands The USA will hope to be celebrating once again when they face the Netherlands in Group E. Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA Suzanne Wrack, @SuzyWrack, Sat 22 Oct … Continue reading Women’s World Cup 2023 preview from a British perspective →

http://www.wsj.com/articles/world-cup-round-of-16-usa-france-brazil-netherlands-11670018701 The Clash of Styles That Will Define the World Cup Knockout Rounds After years of conformity, international soccer is going through an unflattening. The 16 remaining teams fall into five distinct categories. From left to right, Japan’s Hidemasa Morita, England’s Marcus Rashford and Spain’s Pedri JEAN CATUFFE/LPS/ZUMA PRESS, CARL RECINE/REUTERS, MARCIO MACHADO/SPORT PRESS PHOTO/ZUMA PRESS … Continue reading 5 Distinct styles have developed among World Cup knockout teams →

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/01/the-netherlands-usas-world-cup-opponents-and-how-to-beat-them The U.S. Met Expectations in the Group Stage. Now, It Hopes to Exceed Them. The Americans face the Dutch as underdogs Saturday. But as the U.S. captain, Tyler Adams, said about this World Cup, “A lot of teams that might be underdogs in these games have come out on top.” “We’ve been watching Holland … Continue reading The Guardian and the NY Times describe how the U.S. can beat the Dutch team at 10am EST today →

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/upshot/world-cup-standings.html World Cup 2022:How Teams Can Advance to the Round of 16 Updated 5:38 p.m. E.S.T. GROUP A »PTS.  Netherlands7 Senegal6 Ecuador4 Qatar0 Netherlands 2, Qatar 0 Senegal 2, Ecuador 1 GROUP B »PTS.  England7 United States5 Iran3 Wales1 England 3, Wales 0 United States 1, Iran 0 GROUP C »PTS.  Poland4 Argentina3 Saudi Arabia3 Mexico1 Poland v. ArgentinaWednesday, 2 p.m. E.S.T. Saudi Arabia v. MexicoWednesday, 2 p.m. E.S.T. GROUP D »PTS.  France6 Australia3 Denmark1 Tunisia1 Tunisia v. FranceWednesday, 10 a.m. E.S.T. Australia v. DenmarkWednesday, … Continue reading NY Times describes the path to the Round of 16 for World Cup as of November 29, 2022 →

Yes, I am totally obsessed with the World Cup until December 18th. Fortunately the World Cup only comes around twice every four years -- one to showcase the triumphant U.S. women's team (or it feels that way) and one for all the men to compete. I promise I will get to posting again about the … Continue reading Japanese fans go viral for routinely taking out the trash after matches →