Last Friday, the Netherlands defeated Germany in a six goal thriller. That same evening, Mexico and the United States embarked on the next chapter of their rivalry, with el Tri running rampant against an unremarkable USMNT. While any occasion to see these rivalries is welcome, some criticism arose from the repetitive nature of these matchups. … Continue reading Unrivaled: Are We Devaluing International Rivalries?
Arsenal and Chelsea supporters alike have cause for concern about the upcoming Europa League final. With Europe’s second grandest trophy on the line, some pre-match nerves would be expected. Much of these fears, though, stem from off-the-field issues arising from the location of the match itself. Why is the location problematic, and what does UEFA’s … Continue reading Baku and Forth: Arsenal, Mkhitaryan, and the Europa League Final
The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia not only provided top notch games, but also introduced the sport to VAR or the video assistant refereeing. For years now, soccer fans have watched both enviously and cautiously as American sports leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL have adopted and integrated video replays into the … Continue reading Soccer Should Adopt an Accumulation of Fouls Rule
Having the opportunity to play football at the senior level is critical for development, and finding minutes on the pitch domestically or, as more players are doing, abroad should become the next step for those who find their initial path to Premier League stardom blocked.
Chelsea. Real Madrid. Juventus. What do these clubs have in common? Besides being some of the most storied clubs in world soccer, they've all had the honor and privilege of playing in the MLS All-Star Game. MLS first began inviting European clubs to play in the All-Star Game in 2005, when Taylor Twellman and Jeff … Continue reading The Old Lady Went Down to Georgia: MLS All-Stars take on Juventus
Real Madrid have put together an incredible run in the Champions League the past three years, vanquishing every opponent they’ve faced in the knockout rounds. However, so much of Madrid’s identity hinges on Cristiano Ronaldo, the world-class winger who has ostensibly been challenging Lionel Messi for the moniker of best player in the world over … Continue reading Real Madrid Play an Unfamiliar Game: What to do Post-Ronaldo
In the 2011 Champions League Final, Barcelona eviscerated Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley Stadium. For the second time in three years and the third time time in six years, the Blaugrana reigned as champions of Europe. The starting XI for Barcelona in that game consisted of seven homegrown players, from Valdes at goalkeeper to … Continue reading The Tragedy of Thiago Alcantara
A year ago today, tragedy was averted at a small field in Austria. Dutch giants Ajax were playing a warm-up match against Werder Bremen and trailing 2-1 after 70 minutes. All of the sudden, Abdelhak Nouri, the gem of the famed Ajax Toekomst (their youth academy), fell to the pitch. At first it looked like … Continue reading Abdelhak Nouri: A Tribute and a Warning
I always eat the celery first. That initial crunch of vegetable doused in blue cheese dressing prepares me for the heat to come: those ever ubiquitous, sports bar Buffalo wings that even as they sting your mouth and numb your hands are somehow calming before a big game. And it was a big game. Spain … Continue reading The Slow, Painful Death of Spain
With only Group H yet to play, the standings after the first round of the World Cup group stage make for interesting reading: Iran sit ahead of Portugal and Spain, Serbia lie in front of Brazil, and Germany find themselves rock bottom of Group F behind Sweden, Mexico, and South Korea. In these still early … Continue reading Favorites Falter and Underdogs Soar at World Cup
Corner Kick 