Lunchtime video distraction: 120 U.S. women’s goals in 2012

By Steve DavisJan 15, 2013, 12:55 PM EDT

I cannot exactly verify that all 120 goals struck by United States women’s national team are actually shown here.

I attempted counting, but lacking Jason Bourne-level laser-lock focus, I kept getting thrown off by a couple of quick-fire strikes that looked quite similar. (When shown back to back, they look suspiciously like a quick replay.)

Assuming veracity here, what you are about to see is:

Some absolutely awful goalkeeping to begin the sequence.
More aerial dominance than I realized.
The critical goals from last summer’s successful drive for Olympic gold.
All 28 of Alex Morgan’s goals
All 27 of Abby Wambach’s

Stay with it through the end; otherwise you miss some of the creative celebrations from 2012. And you miss a chance to remember Sydney Leroux’s awesome burst of emotion following her Olympic quarterfinal clincher.

<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/57180926″>120</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user11479277″>shandonfan</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>

Mexico receives FIFA fine for insulting chant

Kyodo News via Getty Images

By Matt ReedJun 21, 2018, 7:10 AM EDT

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FIFA handed a $10,400 fine down to Mexico on Wednesday for “discriminatory and insulting chants” that occurred during El Tri’s 1-0 victory over Germany.

[ MORE: Spain tops Iran after overruled goal ]

The FIFA disciplinary committee reportedly levied the fine to Mexico for directing a derogatory chant towards German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) with a fine of CHF 10,000 for the misconduct of a group of Mexican fans (cf. art. 67 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code) in relation to discriminatory and insulting chants during the first half of the 2018 FIFA World Cup match played between Germany and Mexico,” FIFA declared in a press release.

The Mexican Football Federation has aimed to eliminate an ongoing epidemic of homophobic chants that supporters have screamed during goal kicks for some time.

El Tri was sanctioned 12 times during CONCACAF World Cup qualifying for those chants.

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Ronaldo explains his new chin hair at World Cup

AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

By Nicholas MendolaJun 20, 2018, 10:22 PM EDT

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Now that Cristiano Ronaldo has taken to sporting a reasonable hairstyle atop his head, people are talking about the foliage on his face.

[ RECAP: Morocco 0-1 Portugal ]

Ronaldo, 33, drew speculation when he stroked his chin following a goal in his hat trick performance against Spain in the World Cup opener. Some said he was demonstrating defiance against Lionel Messi posing with a goat (Greatest Of All Time) in a recent photograph.

Ronaldo scored again on Wednesday, and there was seemingly little doubt his goatee was a wink to the speculators. But what did it mean, CR7? From ESPN:

“This goatee? It’s a joke I had with [Ricardo] Quaresma. “We were in the sauna [before Friday’s match against Spain] and I started to shave and I left the goatee. I said if I score tomorrow, I would leave it for the rest of the tournament. And it gave me luck.

“I scored in that game, I scored in this one, so it stays.”

Personally, I like to imagine Ronaldo starting to get as wild with his facial hair as he did his head hair.

Perhaps a beatnik style, or something like Serj Tankian from System of a Down. Get nuts, C-Ron.

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Report: Southampton could sell Tadic to Ajax for $20m

Adam Davy/PA via AP

By Nicholas MendolaJun 20, 2018, 9:29 PM EDT

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Could Southampton be selling one of its most creative forces?

Dusan Tadic, 29, is in the middle of a World Cup run with dark horse Serbia, but the Saints star is also being talked about as a purchase item for Ajax.

[ MORE: Serbia tops Costa Rica ]

The celebrated Eredivisie has traditionally been a selling club for the Premier League, but could be a $20 million buy for Ajax.

The report says director of players Marc Overmars and financial director Jeroen Slop have flown to Southampton to work out a deal.

Tadic starred for Dutch sides Groningen and Twente between 2010-14 before moving to St. Mary’s for a reported $12 million.

He’s scored 24 goals with 35 assists in 162 appearances for Saints, 21 and 30 of which came in the Premier League.

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Toronto locks down USMNT backstop Bono with extension

Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images

By Nicholas MendolaJun 20, 2018, 8:50 PM EDT

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Toronto FC goalkeeper Alex Bono is going to stay Toronto FC goalkeeper Alex Bono.

[ RECAP: Morocco 0-1 Portugal ]

The newly-capped USMNT backstop, 24, has been attracting interest from abroad since breaking past Clint Irwin to win the TFC job and guiding the club to multiple MLS Cup Finals.

Now general manager Tim Bezbatchenko has locked down his young goalkeeper to an undisclosed contract extension. From TorontoFC.com:

“Alex was a big part of our success last season. He set club records for wins and clean sheets and was a critical piece of our championship team,” said Toronto FC Sr. Vice-President, Soccer Operations & General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “Since joining the club as a first round pick in 2015, Alex’s ability to make key saves in big moments has been critical to our success.”

The Syracuse-born product of Syracuse University has made 64 appearances for the Reds.

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