World Cup

Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo saves a penalty kicks of English midfielder Steven Gerrard (R) during the penalty kicks of the World Cup 2006 quarter final football game England vs. Portugal, 01 July 2006 at Gelsenkirchen stadium. Portugal won 3-1 on penalties. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Practice makes perfect, unless you’re an England player in a penalty shootout

When does the World Cup start?

Russia 2018: The best player on every team at the World Cup

Ranking every World Cup, from worst to best

Argentina's Diego Maradona in action during the 1986 World Cup semi-final match against Belgium. Argentina defeated Belgium 2-0. (Photo by Jean-Yves Ruszniewski/TempSport/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

The 30 best players in World Cup history

MOSCOW, RUSSIA DECEMBER 1, 2017: Winner's trophy at the Final Draw for 2018 FIFA World Cup at the State Kremlin Palace. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images)

One reason every team at the World Cup can win

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - MARCH 26: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal reacts during the International Friendly match between Portugal and Holland at Stade de Geneve on March 26, 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Portugal give Fernando Santos more problems than solutions

MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 27: Willy Caballero of Argentina during the International Friendly match between Spain v Argentina at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on March 27, 2018 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Sampaoli must act fast to turn Argentina around ahead of World Cup

BERLIN, GERMANY - MARCH 27: Players of Germany pose for a team photo prior to the international friendly match between Germany and Brazil at Olympiastadion on March 27, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Germany flash quality against Spain, but questions remain for Low

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MARCH 23: Jesse Lingard of England celebrates 0-1 during the International Friendly match between Holland v England at the Johan Cruijff Arena on March 23, 2018 in Amsterdam Netherlands (Photo by Peter Lous/Soccrates/Getty Images)

This Week in Stats: England’s World Cup preparations are on track

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - NOVEMBER 11: Lionel Messi of Argentina competes for the ball with Alan Dzagoev of Russia during an international friendly match between Russia and Argentina at Luzhniki Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Epsilon/Getty Images)

Spain vs. Argentina live stream: Watch international soccer live

Argentina's defender Ramiro Funes Mori (L) and Argentina's forward Gonzalo Higuain participates in a team training session at the City Academy training complex in Manchester, north west England on March 19, 2018 ahead of their March 23 international friendly football match against Italy at the Ethiad Stadium. / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Argentina vs. Italy live stream: Watch international soccer live

Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo gestures during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying football match between Portugal and Switzerland at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal on October 10, 2017. Photo: Pedro Fiuza ( Photo by Pedro Fiúza/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Ronaldo returns as Portugal’s World Cup preparations begin in earnest

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - NOVEMBER 11: Jorge Sampaoli coach of Argentina shouts instructions to his players during an international friendly match between Russia and Argentina at Luzhniki Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Epsilon/Getty Images)

Argentina’s Messi situation: Sampaoli’s men need to reach Leo’s level

DORTMUND, GERMANY: Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund and Makoto Hasebe of Eintrackt Frankfurt compete for the ball during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt at Signal Iduna Park on March 11, 2018 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

Marco Reus among players left off of Germany’s roster for World Cup tune-up games

KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - MARCH 6, 2018: A man holds a football on his head during a sports event marking 100 days till the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, at the Europe shopping centre. Vitaly Nevar/TASS (Photo by Vitaly Nevar\TASS via Getty Images)

What FIFA can learn from MLS about VAR

ZEIST, NETHERLANDS - FEBRUARY 6: coach Ronald Koeman of Holland during the Ronald Koeman new Holland coach at the KNVB Campus on February 6, 2018 in Zeist Netherlands (Photo by Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Ronald Koeman must rekindle Dutch sense of adventure

30 greatest teams in World Cup history

SOCHI, RUSSIA - JUNE 29: Matthias Ginter of Germany is challenged by Miguel Layn of Mexico during the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 semi final match between Germany and Mexico at Fisht Olympic Stadium on June 29, 2017 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Stuart Franklin - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

World Cup 2018 Draw: 5 first-round games you can’t miss

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 05: Antonio Conte manager / head coach of Chelsea celebrates after the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on November 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

Chelsea’s Conte is candidate for vacant Italy job

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 13: Gianluigi Buffon of Italy gestures towards the fans during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier Play-Off: Second Leg between Italy and Sweden at San Siro Stadium on November 13, 2017 in Milan, . (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

From Pulisic to Buffon, the best XI who failed to qualify for Russia 2018

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 13: Leonardo Bonucci of Italy and Gianluigi Buffon, goalkeeper of Italy during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier Play-Off: Second Leg between Italy and Sweden at San Siro Stadium on November 13, 2017 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Nils Petter Nilsson/Getty Images)

Italy fail to reach Russia 2018: Where do they go from here?

SOLNA, SWEDEN - NOVEMBER 10: Sweden celebrates scoring the opening goal during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier Play-Off: First Leg between Sweden and Italy at Friends arena on November 10, 2017 in Solna, Sweden. (Photo by MICHAEL CAMPANELLA/Getty Images)

Italy vs. Sweden live stream: Watch World Cup qualifying online

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 24: Sunil Gulati prior to the World Cup Qualifier match between the United States and Honduras at Avaya Stadium on March 24, 2017 in San Jose, California. The United States won the match 6-0 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)

No one is qualified to be U.S. Soccer president

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 02: Ciro Immobile of Italy (L) competes for the ball with Gerard Pique of Spain during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Spain and Italy at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 2, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Sweden vs. Italy live stream: Watch World Cup qualifying online

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 14: Sam Allardyce manager / head coach of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Hull City at Selhurst Park on May 14, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

Sam Allardyce, the USMNT and the price of boredom

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 29: Head coach Bruce Arena speaks during a United States men's national team soccer press conference ahead of Friday's World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica at NYCFC House on August 29, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

Bruce Arena out as U.S. soccer head coach

COUVA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - OCTOBER 10: Michael Bradley (L) and Christian Pulisic (R) of the United States mens national team react to their loss against Trinidad and Tobago during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Couva, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)

The USMNT and the heights of despair