Sport 'I want to see America win a World Cup!' - Young USMNT stars in Champions League deserve respect, says Richards

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards is impressed with the progress being made by American players across Europe, saying he wants to see the USMNT win a World Cup someday.

Tuesday was another notable day for Americans in the Champions League, with Sergino Dest scoring for Barcelona in their 4-0 win at Dynamo Kiev and Konrad de la Fuente making his club debut in the same match.

Barcelona became only the second team to play two Americans in the same Champions League match, after Tim Howard and Jonathan Spector featured for Manchester United against Fenerbahce in 2004.

With De la Fuente's entrance into the game he became the record seventh American to play in the Champions League this season, breaking the previous mark of six set in the 2004-05 season.

Rolling with it, Keith Richards is chilling in the garden

NEW YORK (AP) — Keith Richards is so old-school that when he does his interviews — he'll do so from a landline. The Rolling Stones icon isn’t a fan of technology. Years ago he admitted to not owning an iPod when the device was most popular. He’s one of the few people who hasn’t downloaded Zoom during the pandemic. And he doesn’t even own a cell phone. “I’m not at all hooked in any high-tech internets,” he says. “I don’t even have a (cell) phone, man. I’m talking to you from on a landline. Why would I want a (cell) phone? You crazy?”The unbothered 76-year-old rocker has been home for a full year now — a first for Richards, he reveals.

After March, there are more World Cup qualifiers in June, September, October and November, before the campaign comes to a close with more games in January and March 2022. And in the middle of all this, there is a Copa America - originally scheduled for this June and July, but since put back twelve

With World Cup fever sweeping the States, celebrities have been queuing up to offer their words of wisdom for Jurgen Klinsmann and his team as they And ahead of the last-16 clash with Belgium on Tuesday night, former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson has given Team USA a very colourful pep talk.

In addition to the quantity of American players this season, their young age also bodes well for the USMNT's future with Brugge goalkeeper Ethan Horvath the oldest of the group at just 25.

The other six are Dest (20), De la Fuente (19), Christian Pulisic (22), Giovanni Reyna (18), Tyler Adams (21) and Weston McKennie (22).

Speaking on CBS Sports, Richards was full of praise for the young U.S. stars, saying they could be a part of something special in the future.

"It's great to see," Richards said. "We're in a time where Americans have not really been given the respect, and now they've got all these young players at top clubs, but not just sitting on the bench or in the squads they are actually making an impact and that's what we like to see.

"Dest, De la Fuente, it's just brilliant to see because they deserve the respect now, and they've got some real good talent.

"I want to see them translate what they're doing at club football to the national team as well because I want to see America win a World Cup!

"Now that they've got some top players – Pulisic is my guy, you know he's a real superstar. We get to see him week in, week out. What a player, what a guy."

Pulisic did not take part in Chelsea's 2-1 win at Rennes on Tuesday as he recovers from an injury, but could be fit for Sunday's London derby against Tottenham.