The stadium applause was deafening and presumably thousands of kangaroos and koalas bowed their heads in respect Tuesday as Tim Cahill came on for his last international cap. The 38-year-old made his 108th and final appearance in his side’s 3-0 win over Lebanon in Sydney.
Iceland and 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar played to a 2-2 friendly draw on Monday in Belgium, and the match was highlighted by an exchange of exquisite free kicks between the two nations.
In the third minute, Qatar captain Hassan Al-Haydos (currently number four all-time in goals for his country), hammered a free kick from an acute angle across the face of goal and just inside the far post — a despairing, sprawling Rúnar Rúnarsson could do nothing to keep it out.
With a 2-1 victory over Beijing Renhe on Wednesday, Shanghai SIPG — the home of Brazilian trio Hulk, Oscar and Elkeson — captured the 2018 Chinese Super League title, bringing an end to Guangzhou Evergrande’s seven-year title reign.
Andres Iniesta is one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. Lukas Podolski is one of the finest strikers of the ball of his generation. Together at Vissel Kobe in Japan, they’re absolute magic to watch, even if they’re both in the twilight of their careers.
Podolski, a former Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Germany striker, assisted Iniesta, the Spanish World Cup winner and Barcelona legend, on his first goal when he joined Vissel Kobe in August.
When’s the last time you thought about Alexandre Pato?
Was it when you were walking your dog and he started pulling on the leash, trying to get after a cacophonous flock of ducks, and you mused: “Silly dog, you’ll never catch those patos, just like Barcelona was never going to catch Pato . . . I have a problem.”
As reported by the Mirror and The Guardian, it’s now understood that Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was one of the passengers on board a helicopter that crashed outside King Power Stadium on Saturday following Leicester’s 1-1 draw with West Ham United.
Usain Bolt has been offered a full-time contract by A-League side Central Coast Mariners, where he’s impressed enough on trial to factor into the club’s plans for the newly started season.
Bolt scored a brace in a practice match last weekend, and that viral moment was quickly followed by news of a two-year offer from Maltese club Valletta FC. Bolt, however, turned down that offer and will now be mulling the terms set forth by Central Coast Mariners.