headtopics
The quarterfinals of the World Cup are chock full of soccers biggest stars The possibility of having France vs.
Spain and England vs.
Argentina in the semifinals is a real one.
But all four of those teams face tough tests to get there.
The possibility of having France vs.
Spain and England vs.
Argentina in the semifinals is a real one.
But all four of those teams face tough tests to get there.
Erling Haaland leading Norway's players and fans in the Viking rowing chant that has gone viral during this World Cup.
That was just one day fewer than it took to contest the entire 2022 edition in Qatar, and four days fewer than the 2018 one that was the last mens World Cup played in June and July.
So if you feel like its been a lot, you arent alone.
Between the controversies that engulfed the U.S.
teams exit and the mania of so many other dramatic games, a day to rest and recharge wasnt the worst thing.
Now, the quarterfinals are here, and all four games have major star power.
The first one might be the best of them: France vs.
Morocco on Thursday in Foxborough, Mass.Moroccos Achraf Hakimi will face many current and former teammates at his French club, Paris Saint-Germain, while trying to lead the Atlas Lions to their second straight semifinal four years after they became the first African team to make it that far.win both games they played in town.
Now here they go again: Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, and, above all, Kylian Mbappe.Theyve been unstoppable so far, bringing not just their quality but a real motivation to carryThe France-Morocco winner will play the winner of Fridays Spain-Belgium matchup in Inglewood, Calif.
Spains Lamine Yamal keeps earning headlines as the games top young phenom, and if France andAs for Belgium, speaking of motivation, lets see how this game goes for them.
The Red Devils had all that any team could needThe other quarterfinals will be played Saturday.First, England faces Norway in Miami Gardens, Fla.
, a matchup of a lot of players who know each other.
Nine of Norways players play in the English Premier League, including superstar striker Erling Haaland at Manchester City and playmaker Martin degaard at Arsenal.newly signed $155 million midfielder Elliot Anderson , starting defenders Marc Guehi and Nico OReilly, backup defender John Stones, and backup goalkeeper James Trafford.Arsenal has wingers Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, and central midfielder Declan Rice.
Crystal Palace also has a player on each side, Norway forward Jrgen Strand Larsen and England backup goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Well see how all that familiarity plays out on the field.
Well also see what impact the weather has on the 4 p.m.
kickoff, a forecast high of 90 degrees, South Floridas humidity, and the perennial threat of thunderstorms.The hype train of a golden generation of U.S.
players and their $6 million coach crashes out of the World Cup Lionel Messis Argentina return to Kansas City, Mo.
, where the reigning World Cup champions played their tournament opener, for the last quarterfinal.
They came awfully close to not making it back, needing a stunning late comeback from a two-goal deficit to beat Egypt, 3-2, in the round of 16.Can Switzerland do what Egypt and Cape Verde couldnt: finish the job and knock Messi out of his last World Cup? The task will be especially tough if standout playmakerAll games are televised on Fox29 in English and Telemundo 62 in Spanish.
All times listed are local to Philadelphia.
The USMNT lived down to Donald Trumps expectations: They played like the losers he thought they were | Mike Sielski Meg Kane was the perfect face of Phillys World Cup campaign.Her family, and its tragedy, shaped her message.
I'm The Inquirer's soccer reporter, covering the Union, the U.S.
men's and women's national teams, MLS, the NWSL, and Philadelphia's place in the world's game.
I also cover college basketball and the WNBA, as Philadelphia pursues an expansion team.