Lionel Messi only played a total of 74 minutes in Argentina’s three Copa America Centenario group-stage matches. This was still enough to make him the competition’s joint-top scorer with (eliminated) Brazil’s Philippe Coutinho, but his three goals aren’t the reason his Argentina teammates think he is the key to them finally winning a trophy after two consecutive near misses. In fact, it has nothing to do with his otherworldly skill at all. It’s all down to the new hair on his face.
Tag: Dirty Tackle
The many frustrated smiles of Cristiano Ronaldo during Portugal-Iceland
Iceland came back from 1-0 down to hold mighty Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their first ever match at the European Championship. Cristiano Ronaldo had quality chances to score throughout the match, but just couldn’t quite find that finishing touch. Given that he is the tournament’s biggest star and had all eyes on him while facing an opponent he should have made easier work of, he was rather frustrated. And when Cristiano gets frustrated, he smiles. A lot.
Austria lose to old man wearing sweatpants
Austria became a popular dark horse to win Euro 2016 after their undefeated qualifying campaign, but that has come to an end after losing their first match of the tournament to a lowly Hungary side that started the oldest man in the history of the competition — 40-year-old sweatpants wearing goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly.
Tecatito Corona scores Messi-like equalizer against Venezuela
Down 1-0 to Venezuela, running out of time, and facing the prospect of playing Argentina in the quarterfinals, Mexico needed a goal to equalize and win group C of Copa America Centenario. So 23-year-old Tecatito Corona cut through the entirety of Venezuela’s defense to score the needed equalizer in the 80th minute.
Antonio Conte bleeds, Gigi Buffon falls off crossbar during Italy celebrations
Italy stunned Belgium by scoring first with a 32nd-minute goal from Emanuele Giaccherini and their bench was perhaps a bit overly aggressive in their celebrations with manager Antonio Conte.
Brazil eliminated from Copa America by clear handball goal
Peru beat Brazil 1-0 to advance to the quarterfinals of Copa America Centenario, eliminating Brazil in the process. And they did it with a blatant handball that the referee took an eternity to not disallow.
Jogi Löw provides his first gross moments of Euro 2016
Does Jogi Löw realise the camera is always watching? pic.twitter.com/0It5UAKTK3
— Ian Walsh (@walsh_i) June 12, 2016
Germany manager Jogi Löw has made a habit of picking his nose at major tournaments. But when you’re a world champion, you need to change your game up in order to keep everyone guessing. So during Germany’s Euro 2016 opener against Ukraine, Löw unveiled a couple of gross new moves that are on a whole new level.
Jerome Boateng pulls off ridiculous goal-line clearance
Jerome Boateng was able to preserve Germany’s 1-0 first-half lead against Ukraine with a truly incredible bit of body control to make a goal-line clearance. Just watch and marvel.
Football Angel of Doom Mick Jagger denies England win against Russia
It was going so well for England. They played a brilliant and uncharacteristically dynamic first half in their Euro 2016 opener and in the 73rd minute, Eric Dier shocked everyone with a tremendous free kick to break the deadlock.
0 – Eric Dier hasn’t attempted a single shot from a free-kick in his 65 Premier League games. Random.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 11, 2016
With Russia looking like the decidedly average side that they are, England looked set to begin their Euros campaign with a win for the first time ever. But— oh shit, is that Mick Jagger in the stands?
Bearded Leo Messi casually dominates 10-man Panama, jumps atop Copa America scoring list
When we last saw Lionel Messi on the pitch, he was walking off with an injury and a bit of Beckham-like stubble on face. Exactly two weeks later, a fully bearded Messi made his belated first appearance in Copa America Centenario and promptly scored three goals and set up a fourth in a span of 29 minutes to lift Argentina to a 5-0 win over 10-man Panama and become joint-top scorer for the tournament with Brazil’s Coutinho.