Kaka and Orlando City are ready to begin their first season in MLS against fellow newcomers NYCFC and to mark the occasion, the 32-year-old Brazilian was once again kind enough to answer the questions of local school children. The following is a transcript of that session.
While being interviewed after winning 6-1 at Toulouse, Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda proved that he is without a doubt the smoothest dude alive. As he answered a question, both Mandanda and the reporter noticed a projectile coming their way — presumably thrown by an angry Toulouse supporter. And Mandanda demonstrated why he was a part of France’s 2014 World Cup squad by coolly catching the bottle with one hand and, without missing a beat, offering the reporter a drink.
They should stop filming the next James Bond film and make one about Steve Mandanda instead.
The Copa Libertadores is serious business and River Plate goalkeeper Julio Cesar Chiarini proved that during his side’s match against Tigres by putting his desire to make a clearance ahead of his own teammate’s well being. While going for the ball, Chiarini delivered an uppercut with his knee to defender Ramiro Funes Muri, putting Muri down for the count.
We all have certain things that are important to us. Aspects of ourselves that we consider to be the unshakable foundation of who we are as individuals. For Brighton & Hove Albion’s Kazenga LuaLua, the backflip goal celebration is an expression of that. And he wasn’t about to let a knee injury that kept him out for two months scare him off doing it.
The 24-year-old winger scored for the first time since returning from the injury in Brighton’s 2-0 win against Derby on Tuesday and despite his coaches’ disapproval, he celebrated with his backflip.
“Hey, Harry, I just wanted to say that I’m sorry about all this. I know it’s tough to lose a cup final. It happens to the best of us, though. See these hands? Even though you couldn’t get a single shot past them today, others have. And when they did, I was just as upset as you are. But look at me now! I’ve won yet another trophy and I couldn’t be happier. Pretty great, isn’t it?
A look at the day’s top stories reveal why it’s definitely time to ban every from football.
Nemanja Matic wasn’t available for Chelsea’s 1-0 win at West Ham since he was finishing out his two-match ban for shoving the man who went unpunished after nearly snapped his leg in two. But after the game, Jose Mourinho revealed that he couldn’t have played even if he wasn’t suspended because he injured himself while celebrating Chelsea’s Capital One Cup final win on Sunday…a.k.a. the other match in which Matic did not play.
MLS and the MLS Players Union have settled on a new five-year collective bargaining agreement, narrowly avoiding a strike days before the 2015 season is scheduled to begin. Though the league did make concessions in several notable areas — namely the addition of a very limited form of free agency and a significant wage increase for the lowest paid players — it looks looks to be yet another victory for the league’s more short-sighted and shallow pocketed owners. And many players are reportedly left unsatisfied.
However, compromises were made by both sides in the interest of reaching an agreement just before the start of the new season.
Eleven months after playing his last competitive match, testicular cancer surviver Jonas Gutierrez made his emotional return in the 65th minute of Newcastle’s match against Man United. He was given a standing ovation by the crowd at St. James’ Park and the captain’s armband by teammate and fellow Argentine Fabricio Coloccini, even though Coloccini didn’t exit the match.
Aside from the jeering fans and occasional dirty looks from Cristiano Ronaldo when he doesn’t pass the ball, Gareth Bale’s time with Real Madrid has gone swimmingly thus far. In fact, there are only two things that the Welshman says he fears in Spain: nutmegs and spiders.
