Soccer

Aug 7, 2024, 06:53 AM ET Open Extended Reactions With the 2024 Olympic Games coming to a close, the tournament has showcased a number of men’s under-23 soccer stars who have caught the attention of fans and clubs alike. ESPN’s writers pick out the breakout players who have improved their standing, detail what makes them

Shubi Arun Aug 7, 2024, 05:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Alex Iwobi is well accustomed to the standards footballers are held to, however unfair they may be. His burgeoning rap career has only made him more aware of the lens through which they are perceived. One incident, which took place as last season’s Premier

Adriana Garcia Aug 7, 2024, 05:13 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Argentina president Javier Milei has expressed solidarity to Lionel Messi and his family after their mansion in Ibiza was vandalised by climate change activists and called for the Spanish government to guarantee the safety of the Argentine citizens. A group of vandals broke into

Jeff Kassouf Aug 6, 2024, 03:39 PM ET Open Extended Reactions The United States women’s national team’s identity is still one in progress, but Tuesday’s 2024 Olympic women’s soccer semifinal proved again that the Americans are a force on each end of the field. Even as Germany controlled the middle of the field against the

Sam Borden, ESPN Senior WriterAug 6, 2024, 02:32 PM ET Close Sam Borden is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Open Extended Reactions LYON, France — It took extra work yet again, but the U.S. women’s national team will play for the gold medal after outlasting a resilient Germany 1-0 in a semifinal Tuesday night. Sophia

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentAug 6, 2024, 04:34 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Manchester City and Atlético Madrid have agreed a deal for striker Julián Álvarez, a source has told ESPN. The LaLiga side are set to pay up to €95 million for the Argentina striker. Around £64m (€75m) will be due up front with another £17m

Sam Borden, ESPN Senior WriterAug 5, 2024, 07:00 AM ET Close Sam Borden is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Open Extended Reactions LYON, France — When Trinity Rodman came into the locker room after the U.S. women’s national team victory over Australia last week at the Paris Olympics, she was carrying a piece of paper

Sam Borden, ESPN Senior WriterAug 5, 2024, 01:19 PM ET Close Sam Borden is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Open Extended Reactions LIMONEST, France — The United States women’s national team went through its final preparations on Monday with the knowledge it will get back at least one — and possibly two — key pieces

Adriana Garcia Aug 5, 2024, 04:44 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has said he is “not worried” that his team are yet to win in preseason. The Champions League holders followed their 1-0 defeat to AC Milan last week with a 2-1 loss to Barcelona on Saturday. Ahead of taking

Adriana Garcia Aug 5, 2024, 04:44 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has said he is “not worried” that his team are yet to win in preseason. The Champions League holders followed their 1-0 defeat to AC Milan last week with a 2-1 loss to Barcelona on Saturday. Ahead of taking

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentAug 4, 2024, 12:27 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Erik ten Hag has suggested that Jadon Sancho could start the season as Manchester United‘s central striker to fill in for the injured Rasmus Hojlund. Hojlund is set to miss six weeks with a hamstring injury suffered during the first game of the U.S.

Aug 4, 2024, 06:48 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said he does not doubt his side is making progress but was frustrated after they conceded two early goals in their 4-2 loss to Manchester City on Saturday. Erling Haaland scored goals in the 4th and 5th minutes at Ohio Stadium and

Aug 4, 2024, 04:31 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Arne Slot’s Liverpool beat Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United on Saturday. Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images New Liverpool manager Arne Slot said his side still have plenty of room for improvement despite wrapping up their preseason tour of the United States with a 3-0 win over

Sam Borden, ESPN Senior WriterAug 3, 2024, 01:48 PM ET Close Sam Borden is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Open Extended Reactions PARIS — Trinity Rodman doesn’t remember much about her stunning, staggering extra-time strike that sent the United States women’s national team into the Olympic semifinals on Saturday. In truth, Rodman confessed afterward, the

Jeff Kassouf Aug 3, 2024, 12:47 PM ET Open Extended Reactions For 106 minutes, the United States and Japan slogged through their 2024 Olympic women’s soccer quarterfinal to the point of occasional jeers from the crowd due to the slow, passive nature of the game. To call it a chess match would be generous; tactical

Jeff Kassouf Aug 2, 2024, 08:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Nothing in soccer can match the drama of a penalty shootout, and there are few individual moments more exhilarating than when a goalkeeper saves a shot during penalties. U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher does it regularly. And, over the past year, she

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentAug 2, 2024, 04:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions LOS ANGELES — Erik ten Hag has had an eventful summer. There was a point at which it looked like he might not get the chance to stay on as Manchester United manager as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS conducted their review of

Sam Borden, ESPN Senior WriterAug 2, 2024, 11:18 AM ET Close Sam Borden is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Open Extended Reactions PARIS — After a strong finish to the group stage raised dreams of a surprising run for the United States men’s Olympic soccer team, the Americans saw their hopes erased on Friday —