Timothy Weah faces a massive uphill battle to get playing time at Paris Saint-Germain. It’s not so much that the 18-year-old American hasn’t shown quality during his brief time in the French capital but the players ahead of him in the pecking order. But the Weah goal vs Bayern Munich on Saturday was strong proof of what the youngster can do when given a chance.
DC United opened Audi Field Saturday night with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps, and marquee signing Wayne Rooney was handed his debut in the 58th minute. Rooney assisted USMNT winger Paul Arriola on DC’s third, but special mention to Vancouver’s conciliatory strike in the 94th minute — 17-year-old Canadian international Alphonso Davies ruined United’s backline before curling in a shot from distance.
Marco Silva’s first match in charge of Everton proved to be quite difficult for the scoreboard operator. The Toffees destroyed Austrian minnow ATV Irdning 22-0 to open the 2018 Everton preseason campaign on Saturday in Austria.
You read that right: 22-0.
Who needs Wayne Rooney?
For the second time in this World Cup, Belgium beat England. For the second time this World Cup, England’s loss proved to be a partial success, helping cement a Harry Kane Golden Boot on Saturday.
Belgium took down England 2-0 in the lowest-scoring third-place match since Poland beat Brazil 1-0 in 1974 (leave it to England to make a third-place match boring). It reaffirmed what most astute observers already knew: The Red Devils are far superior to the Three Lions and fully deserve their best-ever finish at a World Cup.
The common refrain throughout the 2018 World Cup from England fans is: It’s coming home. Well, the Three Lions are coming home — empty handed.
France is back in the World Cup final for the third time in the past six tournaments after a 1-0 victory over Belgium on Tuesday in Saint Petersburg. While there was just one goal in the France vs Belgium highlights, there was incredible action from two of the most entertaining teams in Russia this summer.
France made its first trip to the World Cup final in 1998 as host. Les Bleus returned in 2006 when Zinedine Zidane’s head butt ended their chances against Italy. Now France will play either England or Croatia in the final on Sunday in Moscow.
Russia’s unlikely run is finally over. The worst team in the 2018 World Cup was finally eliminated with a shootout loss for Russia vs Croatia in the quarterfinals on Saturday. After a 2-2 draw, Croatia edged the host country 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout.
In the early ’90s, pre-Wengerian Arsenal earned a reputation for playing a brand of football that was effective but far from entertaining, resulting in chants of “Boring, Boring Arsenal.” It was a refrain that easily could have been repeated throughout the Three Lions’ campaign in Russia, including at the England vs Sweden match on Saturday in Samara, Russia.
Neymar and his diving antics are going home. Belgium is through to the semifinals with a 2-1 win over Brazil on Friday, ensuring the 2018 World Cup champion will be European. And the Brazil vs Belgium highlights will show just how much the Red Devils deserved to advance at the expense of the Seleção.
Darwin Quintero, Minnesota United’s first-ever Designated Player signing, repaid in full his $1.65 million salary by scoring the club’s maiden hat-trick in Major League Soccer. What’s more, it was the greatest hat-trick in the history of the league. I can say that because I was there — look! Here’s a picture of Michael Bradley suffering in the Fourth of July heat whilst “shielding” his backline (he was awful).