“On average, about one in every 30 corners leads to a goal. The success rate tends to go up dramatically, however, when the goalkeeper and their entire defence are standing outside their six-yard box when a corner is taken. That was the remarkable scene during the UEFA Nations League quarter-final in Dortmund on Sunday. Germany’s Jamal Musiala turned the ball into an empty net against an Italy team who acted like they thought the game would stop for them to hold a debrief into where everything had been going wrong for them during the first half. Joshua Kimmich had other ideas and the combination of his brilliant quick-thinking and Musiala’s goal-hanging — allied to a ball boy who was, well, on the ball — led to Germany doubling their 1-0 lead from a highly unusual corner on 36 minutes, and making fools out of Italy in the process. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Category Archives: World Cup 2026
Thomas Tuchel’s England were not radically different – but that’s not a big problem
“Football fans love the idea of the clean break, the fresh start, and the new era that is unlike anything that has come before. When Thomas Tuchel got the England job, it felt like he could deliver exactly that. An unquestionably world-class manager, coaching this English generation, clearly focusing on winning next year’s World Cup. Why shouldn’t they improve overnight? But Friday’s opening 2-0 win over Albania was a reminder that maybe football is not that simple. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Mexico swings Concacaf’s pendulum back its way with Nations League title
“It was referred to as the darkest period in Mexican football history. Following Mexico’s exit in the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Mexico lost to the U.S. 2-0 in the semifinals of the Concacaf Nations League in 2023. Before that, El Tri had lost to the Americans in the 2019 Nations League final, and also suffered a defeat in Cincinnati in 2021 during the World Cup qualifiers prior to Qatar. Shortly before the 2022 World Cup, then-Mexico federation president Yon de Luisa fired his entire sporting department in what was viewed as a last-gasp effort to change the national team’s direction prior to the tournament. Yet Mexico crashed out, snapping a streak of seven straight knockout-stage berths, while the U.S. escaped its group. El Tri were no longer the Kings of Concacaf. Instead, they were forced to look up at their most bitter rivals, as the U.S. celebrated an unprecedented run of success against their neighbors to the south. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
NY Times/The Athletic: USMNT frustrations boiling over as World Cup clock keeps on ticking
Panama deals USMNT another deflating, exposing defeat in Nations League stunner

“The goal came seemingly out of nowhere. The U.S. had actually shown a bit of life in what had been a mostly lifeless Concacaf Nations League semifinal. Patrick Agyemang, the substitute forward, had a couple of good looks at goal. Weston McKennie had just unleashed a shot from the top of the box. But Panama, which had been so disciplined defensively, pushed the ball down the field in stoppage time. On the counter, the ball found its way to the right side of the box to Panamanian forward Cecilio Waterman. He took control and picked out the far post, beating the outstretched hand of Matt Turner in the 94th minute. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Raúl Jiménez and a tested Mexico crush Canada’s Nations League hopes
“In the end, experience mattered. Raúl Jiménez, playing for the 109th time for Mexico, sunk an up-and-coming Canada team trying to prove it belonged in a Concacaf final. The 33-year-old Fulham forward’s two goals propelled Mexico to its third Nations League final with a 2-0 win Thursday night. Mexico has yet to win the competition, but either way a new champion will be crowned after Panama’s surprise 1-0 triumph over the U.S., the only previous winner. Jesse Marsch’s Canada came into the game brimming with confidence, eager to prove it belonged. Jacob Shaffelburg said he was never more “excited” in a Canada camp. Alistair Johnston claimed this Canada team was never more “prepared” than it was on the eve of the semifinal. …”
NY Times/The Athletic

FIFA’s double standards
Israel football team supporter at the 2023 Euros.
“In the background of a brutal genocide, Palestine’s national team has achieved historic success. Last January, the team advanced to the knockout stages of the Asian Cup before narrowly losing to eventual champions Qatar. Al-Fida’i also advanced to the latter stages of the Asian World Cup qualification and has a chance of securing a maiden World Cup appearance in 2026. The squad is loaded with stars. Wessam Abou Ali is the best striker that Egypt’s Al-Ahly have had in a generation. Oday Dabbagh has blazed a trail for Palestinian talent in Europe, scoring goals in the Portuguese and Belgian top flights. The players’ success is even more remarkable given the death toll in Gaza. Mention of Palestine and FIFA’s silence over Gaza stands in stark contrast to what transpired in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. …”
Africa Is a Country
Thomas Tuchel’s big England puzzle: picking the right players not the best – Jonathan Wilson
“Football’s memory is short, particularly when it comes to national sides. The most successful resemble club teams in that they have a core of players and a clearly defined style of play. There’s always an in-form player around whom a clamour develops, but continuity is just as important, perhaps even more so, in the international game. But next week inevitably represents a new start as Thomas Tuchel picks his first England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia later in the month. …”
Guardian
W – Thomas Tuchel
