EAST RUTHERFORD, N,.J. — Even the field for the World Cup final is for sale. FIFA, accused of charging high prices for this year’s tournament in the United States, is selling the grass that will be used for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey at $450 per piece. – FIFA selling 1,200 WCup final tickets at $7,380 – Haaland is not just Norway’s talisman, but also…
Spain substitute Mikel Merino was left lost for words after netting a late winner for the second game running as La Roja beat Belgium 2-1 to set up a World Cup semifinal with France. Arsenal midfielder Merino came on in the 86th minute in Los Angeles and took just two minutes to fire home the decisive goal after substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens had parried Pau Cubarsí‘s drive. It was the…
Marc Guéhi and Declan Rice handed England a fitness boost as they both trained ahead of the World Cup quarterfinal with Norway in Miami. Sources told ESPN that Guéhi had picked up a hamstring injury, while Rice has been struck by a stomach bug following last weekend’s win in Mexico. However, they trained with the rest of the group at Inter Miami’s training facilities on the eve of the last-eight…
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – In an outcome that felt inevitable for most of the game, Spain beat Belgium 2-1 with a late goal from a familiar face on Friday. Mikel Merino, the matchwinner in the round of 16 against Portugal, pounced on a spilled save by Belgium backup Senne Lammens to finish into the roof of the net at SoFi Stadium and send Spain into the semifinals of the FIFA World…
The Colombia federation on Friday condemned death threats directed at midfielder Jáminton Campaz and his family following the national team’s elimination from the World Cup. Colombia‘s tournament ended Tuesday in a penalty shootout loss to Switzerland in the round of 16. During extra time, Campaz — who plays for Argentine club Rosario Central — missed a critical scoring opportunity when his shot went wide. “No athlete, nor any member of…
MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken has said their opponents England have more pressure on them ahead of their World Cup quarterfinal on Saturday in Miami and added the game is more than just Harry Kane vs. Erling Haaland. Norway defeated the Ivory Coast and Brazil in the knockout stages of the World Cup to tee up their quarterfinal with Thomas Tuchel’s side in a sweltering Miami.…
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Belgium captain Youri Tielemans was a late scratch from Belgium’s lineup for their World Cup quarterfinal match against Spain on Friday. The Aston Villa midfielder was listed in Rudi Garcia’s starting XI when the lineups came out, but he picked up an undisclosed injury during warmups and was replaced by Hans Vanaken when the players took the field at SoFi Stadium. – Follow live: Spain, Belgium meet…
England defender Ezri Konsa believes Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland could cement a Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi-like rivalry over the next two decades. The former Borussia Dortmund team-mates will have to set their close friendship aside when England and Norway clash in Miami on Saturday for a spot in the World Cup semifinals. Konsa, the only outfield player to have featured in every minute of England’s campaign, agreed the…
KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin confirmed that attacking midfielder Johan Manzambi won’t be available for Saturday night’s FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against Argentina. Manzambi missed their round-of-16 win over Colombia with a knee injury, and it continues to keep him out of action. His injury is a costly one for the Swiss attack. The 20-year-old was a breakout star in the group stage — in his…
Barcelona are closing in on the signing of Karim Adeyemi after a breakthrough in negotiations with Borussia Dortmund, sources confirmed to ESPN. ESPN revealed Thursday that Barça had made a first offer for the versatile Germany forward of around €20 million ($22.8m). Dortmund knocked back that proposal, but the two clubs are now finalising an agreement which will be worth an initial €22m ($25m), with another €7m ($7.9m) due in…