Ode to the beautiful game 2

[Buzz]

Get well soon!

Brazil football legend Pele recovering after tumor operation

The 80-year-old, who has been in poor health in recent years, is due out of intensive care on Tuesday, hospital says.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[Buzz]

Canada beats El Salvador 3-0 in WC qualifying.

 

[NeilJLeonard]

Canada beats El Salvador 3-0 in WC qualifying.

USA 4 v 1 Honduras.

 

[Buzz]

Germany becomes first to qualify for the 2022 WC

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58877095

 

[Buzz]

We are now 3rd behind Mexico and the US.

Canada defeats Panama in critical World Cup Qualifying clash

In front of a raucous BMO Field crowd, Canada continued its push for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a 4-1 victory over Panama in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying.

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[skatingguy]

We are now 3rd behind Mexico and the US.

Canada defeats Panama in critical World Cup Qualifying clash

In front of a raucous BMO Field crowd, Canada continued its push for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a 4-1 victory over Panama in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying.

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[Buzz]

Xavi Hernández is the new FC Barcelona coach

FC Barcelona have reached an agreement with Xavi for him to become first team coach for the rest of the current season and two more seasons

www.fcbarcelona.com

 

[Seerek]

This women's Paris St-Germain story has people seeing similarities to well, you know....

PSG : Kheira Hamraoui agressée, sa coéquipière Aminata Diallo en garde à vue

<b>INFO L'ÉQUIPE</b>. La milieu de terrain du PSG Aminata Diallo a été interpellée mercredi matin à son domicile dans les Yvelines par les enquêteurs de la PJ de Versailles. Elle est entendue à propos de la récente agression en pleine rue de l'une de ses coéquipières, Kheira Hamraoui.

www.lequipe.fr

 

[Buzz]

Sorry but the article is behind a paywall and in French. Could you tell me what it is about?

 

[Seerek]

Sorry but the article is behind a paywall and in French. Could you tell me what it is about?

Sorry about that - hopefully, this link works.

A member of Paris St-Germain has been arrested in connection of an attack on a teammate - both midfielders.

As a metal bar was the weapon, people have been drawing comparisons to "the Whack".

Footballer arrested in connection to vicious attack on teammate

The arrest comes after PSG women's star Kheira Hamraoui was brutally set upon by masked attackers. Details here.

au.sports.yahoo.com

 

[Buzz]

Canada wins 1-0 over Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying match at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium | Globalnews.ca

Jonathan David's 57th-minute goal was all Canada needed to beat Costa Rica 1-0 on Friday in a World Cup qualifier in front of 48,806 fans at Commonwealth Stadium.

globalnews.ca

US claims vital World Cup qualifying victory against rival Mexico | CNN

Goals from Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie gave the US a vital 2-0 victory against Mexico on Friday in the race to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

www.cnn.com

 

[NeilJLeonard]

Canada wins 1-0 over Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying match at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium | Globalnews.ca

Jonathan David's 57th-minute goal was all Canada needed to beat Costa Rica 1-0 on Friday in a World Cup qualifier in front of 48,806 fans at Commonwealth Stadium.

globalnews.ca

US claims vital World Cup qualifying victory against rival Mexico | CNN

Goals from Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie gave the US a vital 2-0 victory against Mexico on Friday in the race to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

www.cnn.com

USA plays in Jamaica at 5PM EST tomorrow on Spanish language TV or Paramount+ in the USA. Canada plays Mexico at home at 830PM EST on Spanish language TV only. I can not find an English language broadcast in the USA.

NJL (I hope that US Soccer gets a lot of loot from selling broadcast rights to pay TV......)

 

[Buzz]

And Serbia beat Portugal to qualify for 2022. Things are a bit weird right now.

 

[skatingguy]

The weather on Canada's side today in Edmonton. You haven't played football until you've played outside in Edmonton in November.

 

[Buzz]

And we beat Mexico 2-1! The weather was a big factor I am sure but I’ll take it!

 

[quartz]

Very interesting match - and Mexico almost tied it up. Pretty chippy out there, I was afraid of a brawl at the end!

 

[Buzz]

So Man U is once again looking for a new coach.

 

[Buzz]

Norwegian broadcaster slams treatment of its journalists reporting on World Cup but Qatar says they were trespassing illegally | CNN

A Norwegian broadcaster said two of its journalists were arrested by Qatari officials after reporting on the treatment of workers ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

www.cnn.com

 

[Buzz]

Canada beat Honduras 2-0 today in Honduras!

Without key players, Canada shows flexibility in historic win vs. Honduras

Davies and Eustaquio were out, but Canada won on Honduran soil for the first time in 37 years — healing its soul from a devastating 8-1 defeat in 2012, and bolstering hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar.

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[Buzz]

I must be dreaming! We’re top of the heap!!!

Canada vs. USMNT score: USA soccer falls flat in disappointing World Cup qualifying result

The Canadians, meanwhile, are on the brink of qualifying for Qatar 2022

www.cbssports.com

 

[4rkidz]

It was an amazing game in my hometown and our local guy Milan thr goalie grew up here! Fantastic, World cup bound I am sure. Two more points we are in!

 

[skatingguy]

It was an amazing game in my hometown and our local guy Milan thr goalie grew up here! Fantastic, World cup bound I am sure. Two more points we are in!

Not 2 points - we're only 5 points up on 4th place Panama at the moment with 4 games (12 points) on the table. If we finish 4th we have to play a continental qualifier against the Oceania (OFC) Champion - likely to be New Zealand - in June. If Canada wins it's next game then we'll guarantee ourselves a top 4 finish.

2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF third round - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[skatingguy]

Sometimes it's just about having your head in the right place at the right time.

 

[Buzz]

We are all but certain of a spot now!

 

[NeilJLeonard]

OK, Buzz, the fun will start on July 4 in Mexico when 8 teams will meet to crown a CONCACAF W Champion and play for the 4 CONCACAF teams assured spots in the WWC 2023 in Australia/New Zealand. who will be the 8 teams? Who will be the Big 4? Who will the the not-so-big 2 that will play in the FIFA 10 team playoff to the slot available in that competition? Who will win the Final game in the CONCACAF playoff to be the Champion and get that trophy plus get one of the 2 allocated slots to the 2024 Olympics?

It is time for things to get real for the ladies. It is going to be interesting.

NJL

 

[Buzz]

Canada lost to Costa Rica 1-0 and will play Jamaica on Sunday. But we are still on top of the group. Italy will miss another World Cup after losing to North Macedonia.

 

[NeilJLeonard]

Canada lost to Costa Rica 1-0 and will play Jamaica on Sunday. But we are still on top of the group. Italy will miss another World Cup after losing to North Macedonia.

Canada learns the truth about away games in Costa Rica: you do not win there.

The USA has never won there either and the USA's last game is away in Costa Rica. Thus, the USA must defeat Panama Sunday to stand any chance of going to the World Cup. The USAs 0-0 draw away against Mexico put them on the right track, but a loss to Panama could well be fatal because, if memory serves, they have never left Costa Rica with a point, let alone 3. A win Sunday and a miracle point at CR and they are in.

Canada should win the next 2 games. I do not see any way that they do not go to the World Cup.

NJL

 

[Buzz]

We did it!!!

 

[NeilJLeonard]

Canada is in and should finish 1st in the Octagonal. Well done.

Now the USA, Mexico and Costa Rica will decide 2nd, 3rd and 4th on Wednesday. I am calling Mexico 2nd, the USA 3rd - on goal differential - and Costa Rica 4th. All the other teams have been eliminated.

NJL (Maybe)

 

[NeilJLeonard]

It worked as I expected. The USA's scoring differential was more than Costa Rica could overcome and the USA finished 3rd ahead of 4th place Costa Rica - who won 2-0 vs the USA - behind 1st place Canada & 2nd place Mexico. Costa Rica will now play New Zealand to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

World Cup Draw is tomorrow. We will see which groups our teams will play in when things get real.

NJL (let the good times roll!)