The United States women s team lost to Sweden in the quarter-finals of the Rio 2016 football tournament on Friday, marking the first time since the women s game was added to the Olympic programme that they have failed to make the final.
It took the first-ever penalty shoot-out in women s Olympic football history for the Swedes coached by Pia Sundhage, who led the US to gold in 2008 and 2012 to knock out the Americans after the match had ended level at 1-1 after extra time.
Sweden took the lead in the 61st minute, when Stina Blackstenius beat USA defender Julie Johnson on the counter-attack and slid a shot past goalkeeper Hope Solo.
The US equalised in the 77th minute, Alex Morgan taking advantage of a loose ball in Sweden s area that ricocheted off the …
Even before opening match protagonists Switzerland and the Czech Republic had kicked a ball in anger a growing clutch of the 16 participating nations were seeking a clean bill of health in vain on Saturday.
Poland, facing Germany in their opening game on Sunday, have been hardest hit with two of their squad already having had to pull out while Portugal goalkeeper Quim has succumbed to a hand fracture.
The Swiss also lost their talismanic captain and striker Alexander Frei after just 42 minutes against the Czechs as he had to go off after tangling with Czech defender Zdenek Grygera.
The Czechs themselves had to leave out Zdenek Pospech, the defender suffering from a fever and a virus.
They were dropping like flies on Saturday afternoon when Quim made …
Georginio Wijnaldum has given a unique insight into special Jurgen Klopp s man-management methods after revealing the Liverpool boss addressed his team ahead of the 2018 Champions League final wearing Cristiano Ronaldo-branded underwear.
The Reds boss has carved a reputation for his jovial antics and, according to midfielder Wijnaldum, the German s pre-match team-talk for the showdown against Real Madrid for whom then-star player Ronaldo was the chief threat was no exception after he lightened the mood in his own inimitable style.
We saw he was wearing the boxer shorts of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Netherlands midfielder told The Athletic.
He did the meeting with his shirt stuffed inside his CR7 boxers. The whole changing room was on the floor laughing their head…
Isco scored a brilliant double as Spain defeated Italy 3-0 to take a huge step towards World Cup qualification.
The Real Madrid star, playing at his home ground of the Santiago Bernabeu, scored both of his goals in the first half as he continued his magnificent individual year for club and country.
Isco opened the scoring with a superb free-kick and made it two with a low effort, moving on to four goals in his last five internationals as Spain impressed after opting not to start with a recognised number nine.
Italy were more threatening after the break but could not find a way past David de Gea, with Spain substitute Alvaro Morata sealing victory late on as the visitors hopes of reaching Russia suffered a blow.
The convincing win sees Spain, who play Liec…
The Arizona Cardinals head to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions in Week 15 of NFL action on Sunday. This is a matchup between one of the best teams in the league and one of the worst, and the lopsided NFL betting lines for this contest reflect that with the Lions installed as 12.5-point home underdogs.
Here are our best free Cardinals vs. Lions NFL picks and predictions for Sunday, December 19.
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We’ve made it past the first half of the 2022 NFL season, and we’ve learned a lot about where the 32 teams stand. But there’s still a great deal to be discovered, especially when it seems that any team can beat just about anybody on any given Sunday through nine weeks of play.
Using trends and stats both recent and longstanding, I’ve developed a pair of two-pack parlays for Sunday’s action. I’m calling for some home cooking AFC style, and a pair of public sides to pull through. Without further ado, here are my NFL parlay picks for Week 10.
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The NFL is spicing up Week 15 odds with a bonus round of games today, and nothing defines this season more than throwing a couple of teams that are down to backup quarterbacks into a solo spot on the schedule.
Despite both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts coming off losses to franchises who were also playing backup QBs, each team has the weapons to make this interesting. Due to Gardner Minshew showing promise under center, the NFL odds have the Colts currently installed as 1.5-point home favorites.
Find out where our best bets lie in our latest NFL picks for Steelers vs. Colts on Saturday, December 16.
Make sure to also check out our Steelers vs. Colts betting preview.
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Sunday’s NFL preseason action is serving up an intriguing matchup between the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers.
The Niners narrowly lost to the Titans in their opener but our Saints vs. 49ers predictions
Saints vs 49ers prediction
My best bet49ers -1 (-105 at BetMGM)
My analysisThe San Francisco 49ers welcome the New Orleans Saints this Sunday in a game that’s seen some line movement since opening.
The total has risen from 36.5 to 38.5 despite both teams failing to hit the total last week, with sharp money backing an offensive display. The 49ers have faded marginally as favorites and are now just favored by a point. Even with that movement, the 49ers are rightful f…
Uefa has called for the removal of the Madrid judge at the centre of its legal dispute with the European Super League.
European football’s governing body has filed a motion requesting the recusal of Manuel Ruiz de Lara, citing what it describes as “significant irregularities” in the commercial court proceedings he has overseen.
The court’s rulings have obliged Uefa to declare disciplinary proceedings against Super League rebel clubs Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus null and void and not to seek payments from the other nine clubs which had been part of a peace agreement reached in May. Now Uefa is seeking Ruiz de Lara’s recusal.
Uefa warns of ESL’s ‘threat to football’ but drops disciplinary act…
Crystal Palace v West Ham
Saturday 12.30pm BT Sport 1 Venue Selhurst Park Last season Crystal Palace 2 West Ham 3
Referee Craig Pawson This season G19 Y75 R1 4 cards/game
Odds H 7-4 A 15-8 D 21-10
View image in fullscreenProbable starters in bold, contenders in light
Crystal Palace
Subs from Goodman, Milivojevic, Balmer, Riedewald, Hughes, Ozoh, Ahamada, McArthur, Lokonga, Whitworth, Richards, Tomkins, Mateta
Doubtful Clyne (knee), Anderson (muscle), Zaha (groin)
Injured Ferguson (muscle, Jul)
Suspended None
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