Futbol

[Vrede too]

Women's World Cup
https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/scoreboard/
https://www.espn.com/soccer/table/_/league/FIFA.WWC
Local times are 12-16 hours ahead of EDT.
WEEK 1: 5-7
WEEK 2: 4-7.
WEEK 3: 7-5
Knockout: 2-2
Quarterfinals: 2-2
Cumulative: 20-23, close.

3 Europe 2-1, all Europe final
Host Australia 0-1
Go Southern Hemisphere! Oh well.

Semis, GO:
My guesses are wishes based on a variety of positive and negative prejudices, not in any way informed predictions.

8/15, 4:00 AM
Spain (2) > Sweden (1, 5-0), but I don't hate Sweden.
Goals:
Spain 81'
Sweden 88'
Spain 89'
Cinderella!
Spain beat Sweden to reach first WWC final after wild finish

8/16, 6:00 AM - Cool, I can get up for that.
Host Australia (1) > England (1, 5-0), historically interesting match. GO Matildas all the way!
1-3 Exciting 2nd half. Historic run for the Matildas , maybe England, too. Can't blame the goalie, her defenders really let her down at least twice. O Really's Mum > Matildas. England > 3 of its colonies.

1-1

[Vrede too]

Women's World Cup
https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/scoreboard/
https://www.espn.com/soccer/table/_/league/FIFA.WWC
Local times are 12-16 hours ahead of EDT.
WEEK 1: 5-7
WEEK 2: 4-7.
WEEK 3: 7-5
Knockout: 2-2
Quarterfinals: 2-2
Semis: 1-1
Cumulative: 21-24, close.

Final:
Sunday, August 20, 2023 6:00 AM
Spain vs England. Go futbol!

Consolation game, GO:
My guesses are wishes based on a variety of positive and negative prejudices, not in any way informed predictions.

Saturday, August 19, 2023 4:00 AM, Brisbane
Australia > Sweden, but I don't hate Sweden.

[Vrede too]

Messi scores in 6th straight to put Inter Miami into Leagues Cup final

(video)
Messi rips it from distance for a spectacular goal Lionel Messi doubles Inter Miami's lead with a low laser from distance for a goal.

Agreed, spectacular. Pink uniforms?

Six games, nine goals, one finals appearance. Lionel Messi continued to amaze Tuesday night in Inter Miami CF's 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Union in the semifinals of the Leagues Cup at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania....

Messi then doubled Miami's lead with the second-longest goal of his career, catching Union keeper Andre Blake out with a low line drive from 31.8 meters out for his ninth goal of the Leagues Cup.

That's unreal.

... Since Messi's arrival in Miami, the team has scored 21 goals in six games -- netting four in four of those contests. Prior to him getting there, it had managed just 22 in 22 MLS matches.

Wow.

"Crowd was amazing, great atmosphere. Was there a lot of pink? For sure," (Philly manager Jim) Curtin said. "Going to be like that anywhere [Messi] goes. He is global, the best to ever play our sport. And he's humble. To produce like he does over and over when he doesn't have to ... he's a winner.

"He'll go to a final now, hurts we're not the ones to go."

[Vrede too]

Women's World Cup
https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/scoreboard/
https://www.espn.com/soccer/table/_/league/FIFA.WWC
Local times are 12-16 hours ahead of EDT.
WEEK 1: 5-7
WEEK 2: 4-7.
WEEK 3: 7-5
Knockout: 2-2
Quarterfinals: 2-2
Semis: 1-1
Bronze: 0-1
Cumulative: 21-24, close.
21-25, done

Final:
Sunday, August 20, 2023 6:00 AM
Spain vs England. Go futbol!

Consolation game, GO:
My guesses are wishes based on a variety of positive and negative prejudices, not in any way informed predictions.

Saturday, August 19, 2023 4:00 AM, Brisbane
Australia > Sweden, but I don't hate Sweden. 0-2
Best finish ever for the Matildas!
Record 4th Bronze for Sweden. The announcers discussed whether that's a good thing or not.

Go futbol!

[Vrede too]

Women's World Cup
https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/scoreboard/
https://www.espn.com/soccer/table/_/league/FIFA.WWC
Local times are 12-16 hours ahead of EDT.
WEEK 1: 5-7
WEEK 2: 4-7.
WEEK 3: 7-5
Knockout: 2-2
Quarterfinals: 2-2
Semis: 1-1
Bronze: 0-1
Cumulative: 21-24, close.
21-25, done

Final:
Sunday, August 20, 2023 6:00 AM
Spain vs England. Go futbol!
Olga Carmona nets winner as Spain edge England to lift WWC
England had been undefeated this WC, beating Nigeria in a 0-0 shootout.
Spain was a 2-seed after losing 4-0 to Japan in the group stage.
Sorry, O Really's Mum.

Consolation game, GO:
My guesses are wishes based on a variety of positive and negative prejudices, not in any way informed predictions.

Saturday, August 19, 2023 4:00 AM, Brisbane
Australia > Sweden, but I don't hate Sweden. 0-2
Best finish ever for the Matildas!
Record 4th Bronze for Sweden. The announcers discussed whether that's a good thing or not.

Go futbol!

[Vrede too]

Spain's winning scorer Carmona learns of dad's death after WWC final

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has announced the death of Olga Carmona's father just hours after she scored the winning goal in the Women's World Cup final.

Real Madrid left-back Carmona, 23, scored the only goal of the game as Spain beat England 1-0 in Sydney on Sunday to win their first-ever major trophy in the women's game.

Carmona learned of her father's death after the final. The federation did not give a cause of death.

... Carmona had celebrated her winning goal by revealing the word "Merchi" on her undershirt in memory of a friend's mother who had recently died.

"This victory is for the mum of one of my best friends who passed away recently," she explained after the game when asked about the message.

Helluva coincidence.

... It was the second time in a week that Carmona had come to Spain's rescue. She also scored a stunning 89th-minute winner in the semifinal victory over Sweden on Tuesday....

Spain's Bonmatí wins Golden Ball; Earps claims Golden Glove

Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí has been awarded the Golden Ball for the best player at the Women's World Cup after her team edged out England in Sunday's final.

England goalkeeper Mary Earps took home the Golden Glove after keeping three clean sheets at the finals, while Japan's Hinata Miyazawa won the Golden Boot and Spain's Salma Paralluelo was named as the Young Player of the Tournament....

The 25-year-old started all seven matches for Spain at the tournament, scoring three times and providing two assists.

The Silver Ball and Bronze Ball, for the second- and third-best players, respectively, went to Spain's Jennifer Hermoso and Sweden's Amanda Ilestedt....

England's Earps took home the Golden Glove after keeping clean sheets against Haiti, Denmark and Nigeria, also saving a penalty from Hermoso in the final.

Japan's Miyazawa scored five times in five games to take the Golden Boot, but her goal scoring streak was cut short by a quarterfinal defeat to Sweden, who went on to finish third.

Finally, 19-year-old Paralluelo was named as the Young Player of the Tournament for her impact on Spain's run to the trophy.

The Barcelona forward scored the winning goal in the quarterfinal win over the Netherlands and the opener against Sweden in the semifinals.

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It's almost like it was preordained:

Messi scores as Inter Miami lift Leagues Cup

Lionel Messi scored early in regulation and converted the first shot in penalty kicks as Inter Miami CF beat Nashville SC 10-9 on penalties in the Leagues Cup final on Saturday night.

Messi scored for the 10th time in seven games since joining Inter Miami -- all in the Leagues Cup competition -- converting in the 23rd minute....

Nashville tied the game in the 56th minute when Fafa Picault's header off a corner kick ricocheted off Miami's Benjamin Cremaschi and into the net off goalkeeper Drake Callender.

Messi had a shot from the area he had scored from earlier in the 71st minute, but he hit the post as the teams played to a 1-1 draw in regulation.

Miami striker Leonardo Campana had a chance to win the game in the last play in regulation, but his sliding shot on an open goal hit the post. Messi held his head in his hands when the ball trickled out of play.

Goalies rock:

Messi calmly converted the first shot in penalties, and it was Callender who scored the go-ahead PK and made a title-clinching stop....

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Lionel Messi scores in MLS debut to secure Inter Miami win

Video: Impossible pass from Messi, ball returned to him for easy goal.

That's 11 goals in 8 games, unheard of. After winning the international Leagues Cup it will be a struggle to reach the MLS playoffs, but if anyone can get them there . . .

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CTE in futbol, including women's, is sad to think about.

Akers, Chastain to take part in new CTE study

Will yet another sport be somewhat wrecked for me?

[O Really]

Who'da thought banging your head into a hard ball could be dangerous?

[Vrede too]

Who'da thought banging your head into a hard ball could be dangerous?

Opponent heads and occasionally cleats are hard, too.

Neymar breaks Pele’s Brazil goal-scoring record in 5-1 win in South American World Cup qualifying

... “Congratulations, Neymar Jr, for surpassing the King in goals for the Brazilian National Team in official FIFA matches,” it (Pelé's Foundation) said on social media. “Surely Pelé is applauding you today!”

Pelé died from cancer on Dec. 29 in Sao Paulo at the age of 82....

The record stood for over 50 years.

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Megan Rapinoe ends USWNT career with win over South Africa

In a career filled with accolades and memorable wins, Megan Rapinoe ended hers with the United States in fitting fashion Sunday: with a 2-0 victory.

The 38-year-old, two-time World Cup winner with the U.S., who ends her tenure on the national team with 63 goals, 73 assists and 203 caps (games played), was honored before the game and then took to the pitch at Soldier Field in Chicago and helped her squad to a second friendly win in less than a week over South Africa.

"It has been such an honour to be able to wear this shirt, play with all these players and live out my childhood dream," said Rapinoe, who won the Golden Boot, Golden Ball, and Ballon d'Or for her role in the U.S. 2019 World Cup campaign, at the end of the game....

Rapinoe's final match came 17 years and 63 days after making her international debut on July 23, 2006. Only three players have had a longer USWNT career: Kristine Lilly (23 years, 94 days), Christie Pearce (18 years, 204 days) and Mia Hamm (17 years, 127 days).

During her career, Rapinoe has been an advocate for social issues including LGBTQI+ rights, racial equality and equal pay for women's national team players.

Although it was her last game with the national team, Rapinoe will still finish the season with her NWSL side OL Reign, which sits in fifth place in the table and is on track to make the playoffs with three matches left.

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Rapinoe honored by OL Reign in front of record NWSL crowd

Retiring star Megan Rapinoe was honored by club team OL Reign on Friday night in front of a National Women's Soccer League-record crowd of 34,130 fans, many of whom wore pink wigs in her honor.

With her family and fiancée Sue Bird looking on, Rapinoe started for the Reign in a scoreless draw against the Washington Spirit. Lumen Field's public address system played "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone" when she took to the field with her teammates....

Rapinoe had already played her final match with the United States women's national team last month in Chicago, but Friday marked her final regular-season home game for the Reign....

Rapinoe has played in 114 regular-season games for the Reign and scored 49 goals. Her club career isn't quite over: Next week the Reign wrap up the season on the road against the Chicago Red Stars.



And there's a possibility the Reign make the playoffs. With Racing Louisville's 3-2 victory over the Orlando Pride earlier Friday, the Reign moved into sixth place in the standings, just above the playoff line.

Rapinoe announced before this summer's Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand that she was stepping away from the game after an illustrious career that included two World Cup titles, an Olympic gold medal and an Olympic bronze.

At the 2019 World Cup in France, Rapinoe scored six goals, including a penalty in the final against the Netherlands....

She claimed the tournament's Golden Boot and the Golden Ball for the best overall player, and later that year was named the Best FIFA Women's Player and won the prestigious Ballon d'Or....

Among the first prominent athletes to publicly come out, Rapinoe has been outspoken about LGBTQIA+ issues. She has also advocated for racial equity and was among those who knelt in solidarity with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

"That's what really matters," Rapinoe said. "Of course we love playing, we want to make the league better in every possible way that we can. But it's a game at the end of the day and it's something that we get to use to what I feel the point of life is: To use what you have to better yourself and make people better around you and leave things in a better place than where you found them.

"To me that's the whole point and that's what I take most pride in."

Edit: Nowhere does the article mention that the OL Reign play in Seattle and that's where this final regular season home game took place. I had to look it up. What's up with that? Perhaps slightly less problematic is that the article doesn't state that the Washington Spirit plays in Washington, D.C. It could have been a different team playing in the state of Washington.

Ftr, the 'OL' comes from the team ownership, OL Groupe (Olympique Lyonnais Groupe), a French holding company. I don't mind that the article did not include that info.

I'm wearing this for a week:

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...

Megan Rapinoe's final finale - OL Reign (Seattle) in the NWSL championship game vs NJ/NY Gotham FC, 'perfect way to go out'. It's in Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, O Really, but may already be sold out. Sat 11/11 8:00 PM EST, CBS.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/ ... way-go-out



Rapinoe has not scored in the Playoffs, but she scored twice in OL Reign's regular season 3-0 finale vs the Chicago Red Stars on October 15.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/665558

Btw, OL Reign beat San Diego Wave FC 1-0 in the Semi.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/689364
Were you and Lady O trash talking?

[O Really]

...

Megan Rapinoe's final finale - OL Reign (Seattle) in the NWSL championship game vs NJ/NY Gotham FC, 'perfect way to go out'. It's in Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, O Really, but may already be sold out. Sat 11/11 8:00 PM EST, CBS.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/ ... way-go-out



Rapinoe has not scored in the Playoffs, but she scored twice in OL Reign's regular season 3-0 finale vs the Chicago Red Stars on October 15.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/665558

Btw, OL Reign beat San Diego Wave FC 1-0 in the Semi.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/689364
Were you and Lady O trash talking?

We'd probably go, except I think they're re-running appropriations hearings on C-Span.

[Vrede too]

We'd probably go, except I think they're re-running appropriations hearings on C-Span.

They're actually quite exciting and fun in person, much better than TV. You're not even asking Lady O, are you?

[O Really]

We'd probably go, except I think they're re-running appropriations hearings on C-Span.

They're actually quite exciting and fun in person, much better than TV. You're not even asking Lady O, are you?

Lady O is a football fan. With two o's. I doubt she even knows that Seattle or San Diego has a futbol team. I do know there's a league, and know a couple of team names, but that's about it.

[Vrede too]

We'd probably go, except I think they're re-running appropriations hearings on C-Span.

They're actually quite exciting and fun in person, much better than TV. You're not even asking Lady O, are you?

Lady O is a football fan. With two o's. I doubt she even knows that Seattle or San Diego has a futbol team. I do know there's a league, and know a couple of team names, but that's about it.

Ah, but is she a Megan Rapinoe fan? History on Sat, equivalent to Serena's retirement.

[O Really]

Ah, but is she a Megan Rapinoe fan? History on Sat, equivalent to Serena's retirement.

She must be - I asked her and she said "is she the one with the pink hair?"

[Vrede too]

Ah, but is she a Megan Rapinoe fan? History on Sat, equivalent to Serena's retirement.

She must be - I asked her and she said "is she the one with the pink hair?"

That's right, the stands are going to be a sea of pink heads.