Yasmani López, who captained Cuba in a 7-0 loss to Mexico on Saturday, has defected, Cuba coach Raul Mederos has confirmed.
Cuba was routed by El Tri in their Gold Cup opener at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and López did not travel with the team to Denver, where Cuba will play Martinique on Wednesday.
The Copa América has some unconventional participants this year. Due to the small size of the CONMEBOL (10 teams), additional invitees are required in order to create the tournament's typical 12-team structure.
Normally, these spaces would be filled by teams from CONCACAF, but because the Gold Cup is also this summer, CONMEBOL offered the spots to Japan and Qatar of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). So, while certainly unlikely, there is a possibility that Japan or Qatar will be crowned Copa America champion this summer.
The eighth edition of Soccer Aid, which raises money for UNICEF UK, took place last night at Stamford Bridge, and the star-studded event featured the likes of Roberto Carlos, Didier Drogba, Eric Cantona, Usain Bolt, Niall Horan, John Terry, Michael Owen and Mo Farah.
The game finished 2-2 in regular time with F2 Freestylers baller Jeremy Lynch scoring two goals for the England XI while the World XI responded with goals from Bolt and Love Island’s Kem Cetinay. The World XI would eventually triumph on penalty kicks.
Last night, a meeting between Uruguay — eighth-ranked in the world and perhaps the biggest threat to Brazil’s Copa América quest on home soil — and Ecuador was dominated by La Celeste. First half goals from Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani and Nicolás Lodeiro effectively decided the match, especially so since Ecuador was reduced to 10-men in the 24th minute following a José Quinteros red card.
The opening goal from Lodeiro in the sixth minute was excellent, featuring a pinpoint cross from Suárez and a three-touch masterpiece from the Seattle Sounders attacker.
The USWNT defeated Chile 3-0 on Sunday with all three goals coming in the first half. Coincidentally, that was the exact same score at halftime of the Thailand game before the U.S. added 10 more over the course of the second 45. The score could’ve certainly approached that today, but for Chile goalkeeper Christiane Endler.
The 27-year-old, who plays for PSG, certainly appeared comfortable at the Parc des Princes while pulling off a string of stunning saves to keep the USWNT at bay in front of 45,594 appreciative spectators.
When Lionel Messi declared that Argentina “are not candidates like other times” and that this is a side “going through a process of change,” he wasn’t messing around. The only surprising thing about Argentina’s opening Copa América defeated to Colombia on Saturday night is that Messi himself spurned a glorious opportunity to put La Albiceleste ahead in the 66th minute.
Colombia took full advantage of that miss with Roger Martinez hitting a stunning game-winner in the 71st before Duvan Zapata added the insurance goal in the 86th.
On June 7, the eighth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicked off in Paris, France. The USWNT entered the tournament as the defending champion and the world’s No. 1 ranked side, and the team can still rely on Carli Lloyd, who finished joint-top scorer in 2015 with six goals. However, when it comes to the most Women’s World Cup goals of all time, the 36-year-old remains just outside the top 10 with eight total goals.
Cristiane opened her 2019 Women’s World Cup with a hat trick against Jamaica on Sunday, taking her to 10 all-time goals in the competition.
Let’s make that 11 after a powerful header against Australia on Thursday — with a little help from a brutal nutmeg in the buildup.
The warning signs are there for the USWNT ahead of tomorrow’s opener against Thailand: Yesterday, Italy shocked Australia to record its first Women’s World Cup win since 1999. Today, Argentina gathered its first-ever WWC point by playing to a 0-0 draw with 2015 finalist Japan.
The USMNT is ready to begin Gold Cup group play after putting the finishing touches on 180 minutes of the most pathetic soccer you’ll ever see. After losing to Jamaica 1-0 in D.C. last Wednesday, the U.S. gave up three boneheaded first half goals to Venezuela in Cincinnati on Sunday en route to a 3-0 defeat.