Central & South America

Diego Costa Says What We’re All Thinking: Without Messi, Argentina Is Nothing

For anyone who paid the slightest bit of attention to Argentina throughout the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying cycle, Spain’s resounding 6-1 defeat of La Albiceleste comes as no surprise. Without Messi, Argentina has zero business being at this World Cup. The statistics, again, bear repeating:

Without Messi, Argentina played eight matches in qualifying. They won one. They scored 0.75 goals per game. They lost to Ecuador, Paraguay and Bolivia. They drew with Venezuela. Tata Martino was sacked and so was his successor, Edgardo Bauza. 

Can South America Finally Break Its European World Cup Curse?

Historically speaking, things look pretty bleak for the five South American nations set to compete in Russia this summer. Over the history of the World Cup, the event has taken place in Europe 10 times. Collectively, if you break those tournaments down by how things finished, European nations have accounted for 34 of the 40 top four finishes (85%), leaving South America with only six success stories:

The Worst Tackle In Soccer History?

Soccer mainly involves kicking, so it stands to reason that sometimes soccer players kick each other, both by accident and on purpose. Sometimes, they even kick each other in the face.

Ths, though, is just gratuitous.

Lionel Messi's Hair And Beard Through The Years

As Lionel Messi has grown more adult, so has his hair. Except for that blonde thing a while back. We'll get to that. Anyway, Messi's hair and beard have gradually mutated from a clean-shaven, moppy-haired boyish look to a bearded, crew-cutted mannish look. Let's take a look at how this transformation came about:

3 Nations Primed For Devastatingly Poor World Cups

Since the turn of the 21st century, it’s happened without fail: every World Cup, three nations that began the tournament ranked in FIFA’s top 20 have been unceremoniously dumped from the competition at the group stage. In fact, in two of the four World Cups this century, three of the world’s top 10 ranked sides have capitulated before the knockout rounds. 

Here’s a rundown of the three highest ranked sides to fall at the first hurdle in the last four tournaments:

2002 

Cavani Hits Spectacular Bicycle Kick, But We’re More Impressed With The AR

Here’s an argument against the Video Assistant Referee: having assistant referees that are 100% infallible. During Uruguay’s friendly against the Czech Republic today (it’s technically the China Cup), Edinson Cavani scored an absolute banger that, when watching live, looked miles offside.

We never give assistant referees enough credit when they greatly contribute to positive, attacking football, but the linesman absolutely nailed one of the most difficult calls in the game here, and now we have a memorable goal that stands to show for it.

Lionel Messi Surprises Manchester City’s U-7 Team And It’s Adorable

For the last four days, Argentina’s national team has been training at Manchester City’s Etihad Campus in preparation for tomorrow’s friendly against Italy at the City of Manchester Stadium. Accordingly, resident Citizens Sergio Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi have been showing the likes of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria and Javier Mascherano around.

The Manchester City social team has been all over it.

Oprah’s World Cup Advice To Lionel Messi: Find The Strength Inside Yourself

Imagine this: it’s July 15, 2018. It’s the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. 81,000 spectators are collectively holding their breath while more than one billion are tuned in across the planet. After 120 minutes of action in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final, we’re all square between Argentina and Germany. It's penalties.

Argentina now has a chance to lift the trophy with their fifth and final spot kick. It’s Lionel Messi — the perennial international runner-up — approaching the spot with German No. 1 Manuel Neuer staring him down. 

Brazil’s 2018 World Cup Jerseys Are A Fear-Inducing Shade Of Canary-Yellow

Brazil will approach the World Cup in the shadow of its catastrophic 7-1 semifinal defeat to Germany from 2014, but the Seleção has gradually let the light back in with its gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games and remarkable run through CONMEBOL qualifying. 

After losing its opening match against Chile, Brazil went undefeated over the following 17 games, recording 12 wins and five draws while scoring 41 goals and allowing only nine. Accordingly, Brazil is worthy of its FIFA ranking of No. 2 and Elo ranking of No. 1. 

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