Articles
-
![]()
How Key Stakeholders Can Mitigate Damage from the United States’s Failure to Qualify for the 2018 World Cup and Enhance the Development of Soccer in the United States
Introduction For the first time since 1986, the United States will not be playing in the World Cup. After an embarrassing qualifying campaign — which culminated in the U.S. Men’s National Team finishing below Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Honduras in the CONCACAF table — the Stars and Stripes faithful will be watching other…
-
![]()
Who is Daniel Arzani?
Yet another graduate of the ever-so-popular FFA COE, Iranian-born winger Daniel Arzani is the youngest player in the Australian World Cup squad. He’s not even 20 years old, and the fact he is going to Russia is a rare feat for an Australian. However, the national media has been raving about him and they would…
-
![]()
Top 10 summer 2017 transfer windows
Every summer, transfer windows afford clubs the opportunity to shake things up and change directions completely. While more signings equals more expectations – naturally – rarely does a team successfully alter their fortunes in one window. With so many factors at play, transfers have become increasingly difficult – especially in an era of overpriced and…
-
![]()
Reece James: Under The Radar
Football is rarely straightforward for Chelsea fans. Even after all the success, the club has enjoyed during the Abramovich era, there is always something simmering beneath the surface. Chelsea, unquestionably, have a unique ability to overly complicate matters and create chaos. After a tumultuous season that saw Chelsea lift the FA Cup, a period…
-
![]()
Rohr must continue to trust in his young guns if Nigeria are to go far in Russia
Yesterday, Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr announced the Super Eagles’ final 23-man squad for the World Cup. The likes of Leon Balogun and John Obki Mikel will be hoping to lead Nigeria in what may very well be their final international tournament, but it is the youngsters, not the veterans, who Rohr will have to rely…
-
![]()
Liverpool: 2017-18 UEFA Champions League Final Preview
When Jurgen Klopp was appointed manager of Liverpool in October 2015, he stated, “It’s not so important what people think when you come in. It’s what people think when you leave. Please give us the time to work. This could be very special, if you’re prepared to work for it. We can do it in…
-
![]()
Scouting Report: Corentin Tolisso
The 23-year-old Frenchman nicknamed “Coco” has been called up for Didier Deschamps’ 23-man World Cup squad after his first season at Bayern Munich, following a transfer from Lyon. He will be in a midfield of talent that includes Steven N’Zonzi, Blaise Matuidi, Paul Pogba, and N’Golo Kanté. Depending on the shape of Deschamps’ team, Corentin…
-
![]()
Real Madrid: 2017-18 UEFA Champions League Final Preview
The biggest match of club football is a few days away: the Champions League finals. The story couldn’t be different as to whom we expected to be in Kiev. On one side, the majority did not expect Liverpool to appear in Kiev. In fact, one could argue that Liverpool were not the favorites to represent…
-
![]()
Gianluigi Buffon: The End of an Era?
After 17 years of the Bianconeri, Gianluigi Buffon is ready to hang up his jersey. Concluding a highly successful career at Juventus, his time has come to an end after playing his final game against Hellas Verona last Saturday. Taken off at the 63rd minute to a stadium ovation full of tears and heartbreak, the…
-
![]()
Unrequited Love (For Who?)
“La deuda la tenemos con nosotros mismos, a la gente no le debemos nada.” Those words by Lionel Messi still stand out like an ice sculpture in the Sahara. “The debt we owe is to ourselves, we don’t owe anybody else anything.” It was, perhaps, the boiling point of a decade-long battle between the…
