Welcome to you all. Thanks for being with us on the latest edition of ESPN FC Daily.

Big news for Morocco becoming the first African nation to make it to the semi-finals of a World

Cup. And we will have all the reaction to their fantastic achievement that win over Portugal

in the quarter finals. But sadly, we do have to start on a low note because we're all still

reeling from the news in the soccer world that Grantwell passed away yesterday. A statement was

put out by US soccer last night. This confirmed the news for many as well. And it has been such a shock

for so many of us. He was a prominent American journalist. He was known in the soccer community

and way beyond by so many of us. Here's what USA soccer had to say. The entire US soccer family

is heartbroken to learn that we have lost Grantwell. Fans of soccer and journalism at the highest

quality knew we could always count on Grant to deliver insightful and entertaining stories about

our game. And it's major protagonists. Teams play as coaches and the many personalities that make

soccer unlike any sport. Here in the United States, Grant's passion for soccer and commitment to

elevating its profile across our sporting landscape played a major role in helping to drive

interest in and respect for our beautiful game. As important, Grant's belief in the power of the

game to advance human rights was and will remain an inspiration to all. Grant made soccer his

life's work and we are devastated that he and his brilliant writing will no longer be with us.

US soccer sends its sincerest condolences to Grant's wife, Dr. Céline Gounder and all of his

family members, friends and colleagues in the media. And we thank Grant for his tremendous

dedication to and impact on our game in the United States. His writing and the stories he told will

live on. Now this is just the side at the soccer side of things because Grant was also a very

talented basketball writer too. And one of sports illustrated most iconic covers was the chosen one,

the LeBron James cover. That was a feature by Grantwell two decades ago speaking about this

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