THE SOCCER REPORT

Soccer Recap: USA, Netherlands winners during international break; Pochettino, Maradona sacked

Soccer Recap: USA, Netherlands winners during international break; Pochettino, Maradona sacked
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Darwin Quintero

Twenty European countries have booked their place for next year's EURO 2020, the inaugural Concacaf Nations League is in the books and Brazil won the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Among the other top stories in soccer this week:

  • Soccer Legend Diego Maradona resigns as coach of Argentina's Gimnasia two months after taking the job
  • Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur part ways with Manager Mauricio Pochettino just six months after participating in first UEFA Champions League Final
  • U.S. Soccer Legend Landon Donovan to debut coaching career in 2020
  • Houston Dynamo announced the acquisition of former Liga MX forward Darwin Quintero
  • Mexican clubs face off at BBVA Stadium in friendly as Rayados of Monterrey defeated Club America, 2-1

2019 FIFA U17 World Cup

Brazil came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Mexico on Sunday night and win the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2019™ at Brasilia's Estadio Bezerrao. Falling beh...

Concacaf Nations League

Highlights 🎥: @USMNT 🇺🇸defeats @CanadaSoccer 🇨🇦 4-1 in Orlando in #CNL League A #FollowTheDream

UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying

Countries qualified to EURO 2020

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Croatia
  • Denmark
  • England
  • Finland
  • France (World Cup champion)
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Poland
  • Portugal (defending champion)
  • Rep. Czech
  • Russia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Swiss
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • Wales

International Friendlies

Messi y Luis Suárez empatan el Clásico del Río de la Plata. Messi anotando de penal, en un juego que mostró otro lado de Suárez: su tiro libre. Edinson Cavan...

USL Championship

Louisville City FC squared off with Real Monarchs SLC in the 2019 USL Championship Final on Sunday night at Lynn Stadium.

Liga MX

El conjunto Rayado comenzó perdiendo el encuentro frente a las Águilas del América pero tras empatar los de Monterrey superaron a los de Coapa dando la vuelt...

Liga MX Femenil

TV listings (All Times CT):

Friday, November 22

1:30 p.m. - [Bundesliga] Borussia Dortmund vs. SC Paderborn 07 (FS2, FOX Deportes)

1:45 p.m. - [Ligue 1] PSG vs. Lille (beIN Sports)

2:00 p.m. - [La Liga] Levante vs. Mallorca (beIN SPORTS en Español)

7:00 p.m. - [Liga MX] Puebla vs. Necaxa (TUDN)

Saturday, November 23

6:00 a.m. - [La Liga] Leganes vs. FC Barcelona (beIN SPORTS)

6:30 a.m. - [Premier League] West Ham vs. Tottenham (NBC Sports)

8:00 a.m. - [Serie A] Atalanta vs. Juventus (ESPNews, ESPN Deportes)

8:30 a.m. - [Bundesliga] Fortuna Düsseldorf vs. FC Bayern Munich (FS1, Univision, TUDN)

8:30 a.m. - [Bundesliga] Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Wolfsburg (FS2, FOX Deportes)

9:00 a.m. - [Premier League] Arsenal vs. Southampton (NBC Sports)

9:00 a.m. - [La Liga] Real Betis vs. Valencia (beIN SPORTS)

11:00 a.m. - [Serie A] A.C. Milan vs. Napoli (ESPN+)

11:30 a.m. - [Premier League] Manchester City vs. Chelsea (NBC)

11:30 a.m. - [La Liga] Granada vs. Atletico Madrid (beIN SPORTS)

1:45 p.m. - [Serie A] Torino vs. Inter Milan (ESPN+)

2:00 p.m. - [La Liga] Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad (beIN SPORTS)

2:00 p.m. - [Copa Libertadores Final] Flamengo vs. River Plate (beIN SPORTS)

5:00 p.m. - [Liga MX] Queretaro vs. Morelia (UniMas)

7:00 p.m. - [Liga MX] Cruz Azul vs. Atletico de San Luis (Univision, TUDN)

9:00 p.m. - [Liga MX] Pachuca vs. Pumas UNAM (Univision, TUDN)

Sunday, November 24

8:00 a.m. - [Ligue 1] Bordeaux vs. Monaco (beIN Sports)

8:30 a.m. - [Bundesliga] Augsburg vs. Hertha Berlin (FS1, TUDN)

10:30 a.m. - [Premier League] Sheffield United vs. Man United (NBC Sports)

11:00 a.m. - [Bundesliga] Hoffenheim vs. Mainz (FS1)

11:00 a.m. - [Liga MX] Toluca vs. Santos Laguna (Univision, TUDN)

6:00 p.m. - [Liga MX] Juarez vs. Tigres UANL (TUDN)

Monday, November 25

1:45 p.m. - [Serie A] SPAL vs. Genoa (ESPN+)

2:00 p.m. - [Premier League] Aston Villa vs. Newcastle (NBC Sports)

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The Texans will look to get back on track this Sunday against the Colts. Composite Getty Image.

C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are looking for answers after their passing game couldn’t get going in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Houston’s passing attack had been a strength all season, and the Texans ranked fifth in yards passing per game through their first six games. But on Sunday at Lambeau Field, Stroud was limited to a career-low 86 yards in the 24-22 loss, which snapped a three-game winning streak.

Stroud was 10 of 21 and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The second-year player was under duress for much of the day and was sacked four times and hit seven other times.

“We have to go back to the drawing board and see what those issues were,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As we watch the film, we’ll see what happened, starting for me the communication and just guys being on the details of the job.”

The Texans scored a season-high 41 points in a win over New England a week earlier in which Stroud threw a season-best three touchdown passes despite being without star receiver Nico Collins.

They were unable to replicate that success Sunday with Collins out for the second of at least four games after a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve.

Stefon Diggs led the team with five receptions against the Packers, but they only amounted to 23 yards. Tank Dell, who the Texans expected to step up with Collins out, was targeted four times but didn’t have a catch.

Stroud discussed the importance of getting Dell more involved in the offense.

“We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there,” he said. “It has to be a focus for us, not only just him, but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”

Ryans spoke about his confidence is getting Dell going.

What's working

The Texans have forced seven turnovers combined in their last two games after they hadn’t caused any in their previous three games.

Houston scored 16 points off three turnovers Sunday. The Texans had two interceptions and recovered a fumble on a punt. In their win over the Patriots, they scored 17 points off a season-high four turnovers.

What needs help

The Texans won’t get to where they want to be this season if Stroud doesn’t get back on track. Before Sunday, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was averaging more than 262 yards passing a game, giving the team confidence that the problems in the passing game are fixable.

Ryans knows the line must give Stroud more time to throw and said the coaching staff will focus on improving in that area this week.

Stock up

RB Joe Mixon continued to shine Sunday in his second game back after missing three games with an ankle injury. Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, had 25 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay.

Mixon is confident the Texans will rebound this week if they quit making mistakes.

“Does it look I’m worried? I’m not worried at all,” he said. “Like I said, we got a ... good football team. At the end of the day, we are our own worst enemy.”

Stock down

Dell was unable to help Stroud get the passing game going. The second-year player had a solid rookie season with 709 yards receiving and seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. But he hasn’t been able to build on that success this year and has just 194 yards receiving with one score in six games.

Injuries

LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion), CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) and S Jimmie Ward (groin) all missed Sunday’s game and it’s unclear if any of these starters can return this week.

Key number

3 — Safety Calen Bullock had his third interception Sunday to tie Dunta Robinson and Jumal Rolle for most interceptions by a rookie in franchise history through the first seven games. He leads NFL rookies in interceptions this season and is tied for third-most among all players.

Next steps

The AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) return to division play Sunday when they host the second-place Colts (4-3), who have won two in a row and four of five.

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