While most leagues around the world have suspended operations to curb the spread of coronavirus, many in Central and South American have continued to play. This could put lives at risk if players or fans become infected at these large gatherings. One soccer dog is having none of it.
Several years ago, The18 looked at different members of the animal kingdom partaking in the beautiful game. Since then more have joined including underwater footballers. Let’s take a look at the new animals playing soccer.
What a start to the 2020 Clausura season for Atlético San Luis. After battling to a 0-0 draw with perennial power Tigres at Estadio Universitario on opening day, Atlético San Luis defeated Cruz Azul 2-1 last Friday to place itself at the top of the table alongside Chivas and Pumas.
What’s more, Atlético San Luis used the victory to scout a potential new signing. In the 27th minute, Tunita made her appearance in front of an announced crowd of 21,670. They were all enthralled with what they saw.
South American football is beloved worldwide for the passion and pageantry of its fans, the rhythm and technique of its players, the narratives and legends of its past and, of course, the good boys that frequently make their way onto the pitch and into our hearts.
Who can forget the time that dog made an incredible goal-line stop in the Argentine third tier?
This dog made a heroic goal-line stop in an Argentine third tier match pic.twitter.com/BxqZgW3sTy
New USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski begins his reign tonight with a friendly against Sweden at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, and I’ve got to say, he’s already impressed me with his training methods.
Let me show you Exhibit A and then I rest my case.
The weather in Boulder, Colorado, where The18 is headquartered, has been nothing short of miserable this week. Since a snowstorm blew in on Sunday, the temperature hasn’t gone above freezing, with windchills dipping below zero. Boulder has received 16 inches of snow since Sunday in an unusually cold end to October. (Thanks climate change!)
But soccer stops for no Old Man Winter.
There may have been some big Carabao Cup headlines Tuesday, like Tottenham losing to a team three leagues lower than it and Arsenal’s youngsters thrashing Nottingham Forest, but there was an entirely different kind of story that grabbed my attention. An intoxicated Portsmouth fan was caught on video attempting to fight a police horse after the Pompey side lost to Southampton 4-0 and was knocked out of the Carabao Cup.
Here’s the video:
Meet the Malabar giant squirrel, or Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica), the world’s cutest Barcelona fan.
Photos captured by wildlife photographer Kaushik Vijayan and posted to his Instagram page show a squirrel with blue and dark-red coloring that looks a bit like the blaugrana uniforms of famed football club Barcelona.
When whoever’s in charge of the worst competition ever created sits down to look at their social media numbers, they’ll see that the most liked/shared/commented/engaged with post of the 2019 Leagues Cup was a cat. Hopefully they’ll then decide to make the 2020 edition strictly cats.
You see, it’s a helluva fine boi.
Editor's Note: The dog has been found and returned. Read below for more details.
Daniel Sturridge set social media alight Tuesday when he released a video showing the aftermath of a theft of his LA home. In the video Sturridge, who is visibly upset, shares that not only had some valuable bags been stolen and his window broken, but his dog Lucci had also been taken. (Warning: video contains inappropriate language.)