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Notebook: Ali Krieger in ESPN the Magazine's Body Issue

    by Jonathan Tannenwald
    Published 

United States right back and Penn State product Ali Krieger is one of the many professional athletes who have posed nude for the seventh annual edition of ESPN The Magazine's "Body Issue."

The photos don't reveal anything sensitive, and the participants include men and women across a wide range of sports. But Krieger is well aware that she's in a special spotlight right now, and said she doesn't mind the added publicity that her photo shoot will bring.

"I'm really honored, and I think it's super-empowering to be naked in the magazine and kind of show my true self," Krieger said. "It's artful, and it was done tastefully, and I was really happy with the photos. I'm excited to see the magazine and see all the other athletes, and hopefully empower a lot of other young athletes and females around the world."

Other athletes in the feature include Washington Nationals slugger Bryce Harper, U.S. men's soccer player Jermaine Jones, and former Eagles offensive lineman Todd Herremans, who's now with the Indianapolis Colts. The issue hits newsstands on July 10.

England coach calls out Canada and refs

Mark Sampson has a reputation in England for being a pretty nice guy, but he isn't afraid to stir the pot.

Ahead of Saturday night's quarterfinal showdown between Canada and England in Vancouver, Sampson accused the host nation of getting some home cooking from the referees.

"They've been given a very dubious penalty and we can look at the fouls that have been awarded against them," Sampson said, referring to the last-minute penalty kick that carried Canada past China in the tournament opener. "I hope the match referee realizes there's 22 players and two teams on the pitch."

Sampson also tossed a few friendly barbs at Canada coach John Herdman, a longtime friend who's known for being a fashionable dresser on the bench.

"I'm sure I'll see John out and about in his tight shirts and his Ray-Bans in the next day or two," Sampson said. "Our job is to turn up the notches on the cooker and make sure John's players are feeling the heat."

Consider it done.

Will Blatter show up?

Amid a new controversy over when FIFA president Sepp Blatter will finally quit, Russia's TASS news agency reported that he's scheduled to attend the 2018 World Cup qualifying draw in St. Petersburg on July 25. But FIFA still has not confirmed whether Blatter or any other top executives will be in Vancouver for the Women's World Cup final on July 5.

That's likely due to the ongoing investigations by the American and Swiss governments into corruption within international soccer's governing body and other entities. It's not known, though, whether Canada's government is involved - or even if it wants to be.

A FIFA spokesperson told Britain's Press Association that the travel plans for Blatter and his top deputy, secretary general Jerome Valcke, "will be confirmed in due course."