All posts tagged: defender

US defender Richards in race to be fit for World Cup after ankle injury

US defender Richards in race to be fit for World Cup after ankle injury

May 31 : Chris Richards’ hopes of playing for the United States in the World Cup on home soil hang in the balance because of an ankle injury, with coach Mauricio Pochettino leaving the defender out of the squad for a warm-up friendly against Senegal on Sunday. Richards tore two ligaments in his ankle while playing for Crystal Palace in a 2-2 Premier League draw with Brentford this month and did not feature in the club’s Conference League final victory this week. “We decided with Chris, with the medical and the performance staff, (for him) to not be part of the group that is going to be in North Carolina playing tomorrow against Senegal,” Pochettino told reporters on Saturday. “I think he needs to keep doing his rehab, and I think it’s much better to stay here and plan to train and reevaluate next week how he is. “I was asking from yesterday, (when Richards) arrived, to (assistant coach) Jesus 100 times: ‘What do you think, what information do we have?’. The answer was, ‘Wait, …

Willian Pacho: The kid from Quininde who rose to PSG defender heights

Willian Pacho: The kid from Quininde who rose to PSG defender heights

When Willian Pacho was asked about the number 51 on his jersey, the Ecuadorian defender’s reply spoke volumes about his rise from poverty, the challenges he faced along the way, and how it has shaped the 24-year-old Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) centre-back. “I wore that number for a long time at Independiente del Valle and then at Royal Antwerp, and I became attached to it,” he said in an interview with the official PSG website. “But the main reason behind it is related to my mother, who passed away at the age of 51. Wearing that number is a way for me to pay tribute to her, and it gives me strength in every game.” It was a simple statement, devoid of melodrama yet efficient in getting to the heart of the matter – similar in style to the economy of movement that characterises Pacho’s football. When journalists praise his defensive skills – which earned him a man of the match (MOTM) at the 2026 Champions League semi-finals – Pacho can be similarly humble and down-to-earth. “Without …

USMNT defender Tim Ream wants to make the World Cup roster : NPR

USMNT defender Tim Ream wants to make the World Cup roster : NPR

Playing for Charlotte FC, the Major League Soccer team in Charlotte, Tim Ream is hoping to make his second World Cup roster for the U.S. Men’s National Team. Courtesy of Charlotte FC hide caption toggle caption Courtesy of Charlotte FC There’s a lot riding on the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer – especially for the American co-hosts. There’s the hope that the U.S. Men’s National Team will not just play well, but make a deep run in the tournament. Then there’s the hope that the tournament – which is being hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico – will light a fuse and inspire a new generation of fans. Despite growing stubbornly on the backs of the success of the women’s national team, many have questioned the viability of a long-term American soccer audience. No one understands this more than Tim Ream. He’s been a steady presence on defense at his Major League Soccer club, Charlotte FC. And if he’s selected tomorrow in the final, 26-man roster for the U.S. Men’s National Team, he’ll …

US Defender Chris Richards on What Makes America Unique: `Maybe the TSA Lines’

US Defender Chris Richards on What Makes America Unique: `Maybe the TSA Lines’

MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) — Ahead of the World Cup, Chris Richards has a new take on what makes America unique. “Maybe the TSA lines right now, that’s pretty American,” the U.S. defender said Monday ahead of a World Cup warmup match against Portugal. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Richards lives much of the year in London, where he plays for English club Crystal Palace. He arrived in the U.S. last week for a pair of national team friendlies in Atlanta. His earlier take on what was uniquely American focused on food. During October friendlies in Texas and Colorado, he took teammates Cameron Carter-Vickers and Antonee Robinson, who grew up in England, to Chili’s Grill and Bar as part of a group with Tim Weah, Weston McKennie and Mark McKenzie, according to cbssports.com. “The Triple Dipper you have to get but then I think it’s the endless chips and salsa, but then also there’s sports on TV and also the chocolate molten lava cake and it’s just like you’re sitting there and you’re looking at the …

Harry Maguire: Manchester United defender sentenced over 2020 Mykonos incident | UK News

Harry Maguire: Manchester United defender sentenced over 2020 Mykonos incident | UK News

Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended sentence by a Greek court over an incident on the island of Mykonos in August 2020. The Manchester United centre-back faced allegations of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. He was convicted on all three counts. Maguire has always denied any wrongdoing and Sky Sports News understands his legal team will appeal to the Greek Supreme Court against the guilty verdict. The player was arrested with his brother and a friend after a fight broke outside a bar over claims his sister was injected with a suspected “rape drug”. He was originally found guilty in the weeks after the incident, receiving a 21-month suspended sentence, but the conviction was quashed on appeal and a retrial granted. A suspended sentence means a person avoids prison unless they commit another offence. The case dragged on for years after the retrial was postponed four times – but it finally took place on Wednesday. Maguire was not required to attend. Read more from Sky News:UK’s first visa ban in asylum …

The Defender Sport EV will be an ‘affordable’ electric off-road SUV

The Defender Sport EV will be an ‘affordable’ electric off-road SUV

The Defender Sport EV is to debut by the end of 2026 as a smaller, more affordable sibling to the iconic off-road SUV. What to expect from the Defender Sport EV Jaguar Land Rover gave the Defender a facelift for the 2026 model year, but the rugged off-roader is due for a much bigger upgrade. The Defender already has a unique style as one of the few genuine luxury off-road brands, distinct from Range Rover, and even other premium automakers like BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. Although JLR has been talking about a “mini Defender” for years now, it’s finally coming together. A new prototype was spotted by AutoExpress in near-production form. Advertisement – scroll for more content Like its big brother, the Defender Sport is expected to retain its upright, boxy design but with a few minor tweaks. For one, the front end is updated with a more modern look featuring slim LED lights and an improved front nose design. The prototype featured off-road tires, blacked-out lower bumpers, and flared wheel arches, adding to …

Ice hockey-Finland defender Hiirikoski out of Games with injury

Ice hockey-Finland defender Hiirikoski out of Games with injury

MILAN, Feb 14 : Finland defender Jenni Hiirikoski’s fifth Olympics has come to a premature end due to injury, the Finnish Ice Hockey Association said on Saturday, with her side preparing for a quarter-final clash with Switzerland in the women’s ice hockey tournament. Hiirikoski left the ice during the opening period of Thursday’s final Group A game against Canada, which Finland lost 5-0, with an upper body injury that requires surgery. “It’s a shame that the Games are left unfinished,” Hiirikoski said in the statement. “It has been a pleasure and an honour to be a part of this team. Good luck for tonight’s game.” Hiirikoski is a three-times bronze medallist and the 38-year-old won the Olympic Best Defenceman award twice. Finland take on Switzerland later on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals. Source link