The French men’s national team has been looking better and better recently, rocketing up to No. 8 in the most recent FIFA World Rankings. The women, though, are still better, as evidenced by a Eugenie Le Sommer goal in a friendly against Spain on Monday.
Les Bleues are currently ranked No. 4 in the world and dispatched No. 17 Spain 3-1 thanks to a gorgeous bit of football between Ouleymata Sarr and Le Sommer.
FIFA has approved Sofia Huerta’s request for a one-time change of national association, switching her allegiance from Mexico to the United States after appearing competitively for El Tri at the U-20 level. Huerta was born and raised in Boise, Idaho, and currently plays for the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL.
It’s been nearly five months since Tobin Heath has been in action for club or country, a fact that's put a dark cloud over the women’s soccer community. The crafty midfielder is a fan favorite and has been an obvious selection for the U.S. and Portland Thorns when available. In recent months, Heath has been sidelined with a back sprain and was placed on the 45-day disabled list. Her injury has seen her miss all of the NWSL season as well as a handful of national team games.
For many, there can only be one winner in the race for the FIFA women’s player of the year award in 2017, and that’s Australia’s Sam Kerr. The 23-year-old attacker led Perth Glory to the final of Australia’s W-League while finishing second in goals, she finished top scorer at the Tournament of Nations as Australia defeated hosts United States and she’s scored 11 goals for Sky Blue FC in NWSL play.
Alex Morgan returned to action with the Orlando Pride on July 1, and she’s struck up a lethal partnership with Brazilian legend Marta since. In seven games, Morgan has scored five goals and provided two assists, but the duo was on another level Saturday after leading the Pride to a 5-0 victory over Sky Blue.
Both Morgan and Marta registered two goals and an assist on the day, with Morgan’s feed for Marta earning NWSL Week 16 Goal of the Week honors. The assist that Marta provided for Morgan was pretty special as well.
After a tournament that was the opposite of the 2016 Men's Euros in terms of entertainment value, the Netherlands have come away from Euro 2017 victorious. A six-goal thriller is exactly the type of thing we like to see in an international final, and Holland and Denmark did not disappoint.
Two goals after halftime put the 4-2 scoreline in the Netherlands' favor after falling behind 1-0 in the sixth minute and entering halftime tied 2-2.
It was an especially sweet victory for the Dutch, as it came on home soil.
The U.S. women faced off against Japan on Thursday in their last game of the Tournament of Nations. Japan-U.S. has become a particularly heated affair in recent years with the two meeting in three of the last four major finals. USWNT fans will not easily forget the heartbreaking loss to the Japanese at the 2011 FIFA World Cup nor Carli Lloyd’s rampage to win the trophy four years later.
Holland defeated England 3-0 in the semifinals of Euro 2017 in front of a packed house of over 30,000 at the Grolsch Fortress in Enschede on Thursday night. Although Holland had the backing of a vociferous home support, England entered the match as favorites after defeating France in the quarters.
As opposed to the 2015 World Cup, when England defied the odds to reach the semis before a heartbreaking defeat to Japan, the Lionesses approached this match with the burden of expectation. With Denmark awaiting the winner, England's path to a first major international trophy was clear.