Australia's slog of a World Cup qualifying campaign came to a halt on March 24 after a 2-0 defeat to Japan in the driving Sydney rain meant that after the grind of 18 games over two years, the Socceroos would still need to beat the United Arab Emirates and then Peru in the June playoffs to qualify for Qatar.
There comes a time when every footballer experiences defeat on a totally embarrassing level. Lionel Messi has lost 8-2; Cristiano Ronaldo has twice been defeated 5-0. Fortuna's wheel is always turning.
But the great wisdom imparted by this game is to "meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two impostors just the same." One must be gracious in victory and defeat, but this old cliché is always put to the test when you're on the receiving end of a thrashing.
When it comes to the most underrated players in the English-speaking world, you could certainly make a case for Brazil's Rivellino — a fantasy footballer with pioneering dribbling skills, an outrageous free kick arsenal and a left foot like a field howitzer. Rivellino was hugely admired by Pelé and inspired both Diego Maradona and Ronaldinho, but these names have largely superseded Rivellino's own in football lore.
Earlier this year, I watched part of the NCAA football title game on an alternate ESPN2 broadcast featuring coaches from Texas A&M talking about the game. It was garbage television, and I’m an Aggie. When I saw the NCAA women’s basketball title game Sunday night had an alternate broadcast on ESPN2, I was initially skeptical, but I’m so glad I watched.
The18 hosts a FanZone at a local brewery during the USMNT World Cup Qualifier vs Mexico.
Fans step up to compete in challenges to win prizes, merch and some free beer!
Juggle Balance Challenge: Hold a pint of beer and juggle 6 times without spilling a drop!
Pin the Head on Gregg: Try to place Gregg's head back on as close as you can!
Ball Pushups Challenge: With all four hands and legs on a ball, how many pushups can you do?
Back in 2017, with two matches remaining in the World Cup qualifying cycle and the USMNT on the outside, looking in, Alexi Lalas went ballistic post-match on FS1 after a 1-1 draw between the Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles Galaxy. Lalas' tirade was directed at "the supposed leaders" of the U.S. squad, and criticized them for, among other things, having tattoos and being Jozy Altidore.