Take me home, Viking Row
Alex ConnorI have a message for Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé: Brace yourself.
OK, that’s a really bad pun. But these top goal scorers just won’t stop netting two!
Or if you’re Lionel Messi, 18 goals across six World Cups – an all-time record for both men and women. But will he hold it for long? Mbappé, at just 27, is quickly chasing the Argentina legend with 16 goals across just three tournaments and at least two more matches to play.
I’m Alex, this is “Extra Time,” and let’s dig into traditions.
What happened yesterday:
First, did you read this?
- When does Team USA play next? Full USMNT World Cup schedule.
- What teams are eliminated from the World Cup? These countries are heading home.
- World Cup hype has taken over pretty much all of Earth, and now space.
- Who is the DR Congo fan standing like a statue at World Cup? Meet Lumumba Vea.
Socks and Scots and … take me home, Viking Row?
There’s been a lot to take in this World Cup, and I’m not even talking about the soccer.
Here’s a few of my favorite storylines, from Norway’s “Viking Row” to songs that unite (such as the incredibly catchy “No Scotland, No Party!”) or the John Denver classic that has connected fans in dive bars and stadiums alike across the USA.
The origin story of “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” per my colleague Jordan Mendoza:
Ahead of the World Cup, FIFA asked all national teams for a playlist of songs to play for warmups, goals and wins, and U.S. Soccer consulted with players and people within the organization about what songs to submit. When it came to picking the song for wins, the U.S. wanted to pick one for "that were both representative of American artists and would be great singalongs for the crowd," according to the federation. Read the full story here.
Holey sock! Why World Cup stars are deliberately cutting their footwear, per my colleague Meghan L. Hall:
Some players believe that snipping the material can release the pressure on their calves and help them move more freely about the pitch. Players might also take scissors to their socks as a solution to ward off cramping or reduce muscle strains and fatigue during a grueling 90-minute game.Does it work? Read the full story here.
Viking Row is taking the World (Cup) by storm …
You simply must see it to understand it.
No Scotland, No Party! First Boston, now Tartan Army takes over Miami, per my colleague Gabe Lacques:
With Scotland gearing up to take on mighty Brazil in a World Cup Group C match on Wednesday, June 24 at Hard Rock Stadium, its spirited, soggy and fun-loving Tartan Army continued a takeover of Major League Baseball stadiums, turning one of the most nondescript nights on the calendar — Rangers-Marlins on a Monday night — into a spectacle. Read the full story here.
Did you see this?
- Celebrate Lionel Messi's World Cup records with a commemorative page print.
- Watch: Chants of "Olé Olé Olé Olé" rang out over Philadelphia’s stadium through pouring rain before the France-Iraq game got delayed.
- World Cup contenders beware: Messi and Argentina look better than ever.
Schedule
Back Wednesday,
Alex