Highlights

Friday. On Friday, you don’t work. On Friday, you watch perhaps the most anticipated match in the history of the Women’s World Cup. The USA vs France World Cup 2019 predictions, previews and general hype train is building to a crescendo, like a Marta message to the children. 

Women’s soccer in Italy has long taken a back seat to the men’s game. The Azzurri have won four World Cups, a mark only bettered by Brazil, but the women’s game has never come close to reaching those heights.

But things are changing.

It’s been five years to the day since Luis Suárez bit Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup, resulting in a four-month ban from football, so it's only right that we return to the mad lad’s antics during tonight’s Copa América match against Chile at the legendary Maracanã. 

With top spot in Group C on the line during the final day of group play, you know that Suárez was taking it all too seriously and descending into that haze of competitive demonry that makes him both unplayable and insufferable. 

Sweden and Canada played a pretty dour match at the Women’s World Cup today, but given the added spice of knockout football at a major international tournament, the second half provided some immense drama despite the irregularity of attacking action.

The opening 45 minutes produced zero shots on target — a first at this World Cup — but things sprang to life in the 55th minute when Sweden grabbed the lead. The run and pass from Kosovare Asllani in the buildup to the goal was sensational, and Stina Blackstenius provided the finish.  

The USWNT overcame a spirited, physical and tactically disciplined Spain to advance to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup and setup an enthralling match with France, but the manner of the victory was hardly assuring. 

The U.S. required two penalties from captain Megan Rapinoe — one in the seventh minute and the next in the 76th — to overcome a defensive error that allowed Jennifer Hermoso to score the first goal against the USWNT of this tournament. 

France survived an almighty scare from Brazil to win 2-1 after extra time and advance to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup, where they’ll play the winner of tomorrow’s match between the USWNT and Spain. The goalscoring hero was Amandine Henry, who got on the end of a set piece in the 106th minute to send France through.

It’s been a vengeful week for U.S. Soccer. Last night at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, the USMNT romped to a 6-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago, exacting a small fraction of revenge for that frightful night in Couva. The win came only two days after the USWNT had vanquished its own personal demons by defeating Sweden at the Women’s World Cup.