Premier League Team of the Week: Find out who starred on Matchday 2

By Nicholas MendolaAug 25, 2014, 11:30 PM EDT

There’s no dire need for a Dier or a Dyer when it comes to this week’s Premier League team of the week, as both Swansea’s Nathan Dyer and Tottenham’s Eric Dier are celebrated for their work on the pitch in Matchday 2.

Joining them are Chelsea backstop Thibaut Courtois, who blanked Leicester City along with defender Branislav Ivanovic.

[VIDEO: Premier League highlights, here]

Aston Villa’s Alan Hutton gets a sentimental nod for starring in two clean sheets over two weeks, as he helped Aston Villa earn a point against Newcastle, while Sunderland’s Lee Cattermole gets named for his work in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

A pair of West Ham players are recognized for their 3-1 thumping of Crystal Palace, as Stewart Downing and Mauro Zarate join another pair of London players, Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud and Nacer Chadli, on the list.

Hull’s Tom Huddlestone rounds things out as the Tigers now have four points from two matches.

Matchday 2 – Premier League Team of the Week (Formation: 3-5-2)

GK: Thibaut Courtois

Defenders: Branislav Ivanovic, Alan Hutton, Eric Dier

Midfielders: Nathan Dyer, Tom Huddlestone, Lee Cattermole, Stewart Downing, Nacer Chadli

Forwards: Mauro Zarate, Olivier Giroud

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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

WATCH: World Cup, Day 8 — Argentina on the edge; France aims for berth

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By Nicholas MendolaJun 20, 2018, 7:35 PM EDT

Halted World Cup flip-throw heard around the world

AP Photo/Sergei Grits

By Nicholas MendolaJun 20, 2018, 6:46 PM EDT

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Milad Mohammadi knew the time was right for something special, but special isn’t always good.

And good is a subjective term. Cause to us this is very good, Milad.

The Iranian national team defender failed with a flip-throw bid in the final moments of a 1-0 loss to Spain on Wednesday at the World Cup in Russia.

[ MORE: Latest 2018 World Cup news ]

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And this wasn’t like he illegally flipped or broke some other rule. No, like a kid trying an audacious jump into the deep end, Akhmat Grozny star Mohammadi just bailed and climbed in from the side (so to speak).

The kiss, the look skyward, the headbutt… all integral parts of a wonderful World Cup moment.

– "You should totally try the flip throw-in at the World Cup"
– "Really? Should I?"
– "Yeah man, it's gonna be dope!" pic.twitter.com/t60hRYs4cq

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 20, 2018

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Renard, Morocco ‘very proud’ of unlucky national team

AP Photo/Antonio Calanni

By Nicholas MendolaJun 20, 2018, 6:01 PM EDT

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If you would’ve told Morocco fans or their manager, Herve Renard, that they’d outshoot and outpossess both Iran and Portugal at World Cup, their next question would probably be, “So do we need to do against Spain to win Group B?”

Alas, Morocco lost a pair of 1-0 decisions to become the first team knocked out of the 2018 World Cup.

[ RECAP: Morocco 0-1 Portugal ]

The Lions of Atlas fell to Iran in their opener on a stoppage time own goal after carrying 64 percent possession and a 13-8 advantage in shot attempts, then lost to a Cristiano Ronaldo fourth minute goal on Wednesday despite a 16-10 shot advantage and 53 percent of the ball.

“I’m very proud of the performance and I am very proud of my players, I’m very proud of this country,” Renard said.

With no hope of advancing to the next round, the manager is finding the experience bittersweet. From RTE:

“What I am sure of at this moment is that the entire Moroccan people is proud of this team. Of course it’s easier to play with a player who has one chance and he puts it away. But we are in Morocco.

“We have quality players. Despite the ups and downs of the game, we should have been more effective. Because, like in the first game, we had plenty of chances. I won’t blame anyone. That’s football. It’s always those who know how to be present in the box, the most gifted players, who make the difference. We took a lot of risks and we didn’t get our reward.”

It’s unlikely Morocco will hold either of those statistical advantages against Spain, especially a Spanish side yet to qualify, but there is plenty to like from the tournament aside from poor finishing quality.

But the performances of 19-year-olds Amine Harit (Schalke) and Achraf Hakimi (Real Madrid) — not to mention Hakim Ziyech (25, Ajax) — seem to hint at a promise for 2022. And Renard’s men can still play spoiler for Spain, which is no small shockwave.

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