John Herdman and Canada have laid the groundwork. Once an afterthought on the global stage, the men’s national team has been transformed – rather quickly under the influential Englishman’s tutelage – into a burgeoning program, generating excitement within the country and intrigue outside it. Simply getting to this point was a significant accomplishment after roughly…

Below, theScore picks out the best statistics and stories to surface during an action-packed international break. -1: Japan finished one goal shy of the biggest win in its history when it trounced Mongolia 14-0 in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier. The Samurai Blue’s record victory remains a 15-0 cruise against the Philippines in 1967. 0: Goals…

International soccer dud Canada could do worse than using regional foes Mexico and the United States as a yardstick for its own progression. The pair of perennial CONCACAF behemoths have earned 25 World Cup appearances and 17 confederation conquests between them, while Canada’s resume features just the lone entry in the quadrennial showpiece and a…

Real Madrid wants to organize a major tennis match between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at the fantastic Santiago Bernabeu Arena. Florentino Perez would like to arrange the tennis show at the Bernabeu, and he advised club authorities he needs to have this gathering on their pitch. As indicated by Spanish media ABC, Perez intends…

Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill says he was “pleased with a lot of aspects” of his side’s performance in the 1-0 friendly win over Luxembourg. A bizarre first-half own goal was enough to give NI victory in Belfast. “The experienced players were very good tonight, Jordan Thompson was terrific and Shayne Lavery was excellent when…