Before the USMNT vs France match on Saturday in Lyon the stadium PA played the Gloria Gaynor classic “I Will Survive.” You had to wonder if the kids Dave Sarachan opted to play could survive against the most valuable World Cup squad. The kids did one better than survive — they tied the team many consider a World Cup favorite 1-1.
Mexico vs Denmark served as the final World Cup tune-up for El Tri ahead of a huge match against Germany a week from Sunday. While the team’s fought to a deadlock in the first half, two goals in the second sunk Mexico and sent El Tri to Russia with a defeat on Saturday in Brøndbyvester, Denmark.
Serbia isn’t exactly going into the World Cup with high expectations — no one will confuse the squad with heavyweights such as France, Germany or Brazil. But what the Eagles did to Bolivia on Saturday in their final World Cup warm-up match shows they won’t be an easy out in Russia. The match served as a Serbia World Cup preview of sorts, with the team eviscerating Bolivia 5-1.
It’s terrifying, really. Saudi Arabia thought it was set up well defensively, with the ball nearer to midfield than its own goal. But three touches later from three different Germans and the Saudis were picking the ball out of the back of their net. The ruthless nature of Germany vs Saudi Arabia on Friday perfectly illustrated just how strong the defending champions still are.
It wasn’t the style that the USWNT will be looking to impose on nations exactly one year from now in France (qualifying willing), but a set piece delivered by Megan Rapinoe and finished by Alex Morgan, who now has five goals in her last three international appearances, was enough to see the U.S. over China in Sandy, Utah on Thursday night.
A strong crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium also got to see the return of Amy Rodriguez and watch Crystal Dunn play in pretty much every position on the field.
England traveled to Leeds for its World Cup send-off match against Costa Rica Thursday, and 20-year-old Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford wasted no time in delighting a capacity crowd at Elland Road.
Rashford was just a 16-year-old when Costa Rica and England played to a 0-0 draw in Belo Horizonte back in 2014 (England were already eliminated at that point following defeats to Italy and Uruguay), but the Mancunian played like a man possessed to open the proceedings today.
Last we saw Neymar on the soccer pitch he was crying as he was stretchered off the field in a Ligue 1 match. But the Brazilian is back, and if the Neymar goal vs Croatia is anything to go by, he’s ready for the World Cup.
The Mexico national dominated in its final match in Mexico ahead of the World Cup on Saturday evening at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. But despite dozens of chances and a majority of the possession, Giovani dos Santos was the only goal scorer for Mexico vs Scotland in a 1-0 friendly victory.
The youth project continued for interim coach Dave Sarachan and U.S. men’s soccer with the second of three friendlies in the span of a couple weeks on Saturday in Dublin, Ireland. A young squad showed a few positives and a few more negatives in a 2-1 loss for the USMNT vs Ireland.
A front line of Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé sounds terrifying. Italy just found out exactly how terrifying. The three-man attack played a key role in all three goals in a 3-1 win for France vs Italy in a pre-World Cup friendly in Nice on Friday evening.
France manager Didier Deschamps started the fearsome forward trio against Italy’s generally well-regarded back line in Les Bleus’ penultimate warm-up match for the World Cup.