After Neymar’s destruction of Rayo Vallecano over the weekend, Barcelona manager Luis Enrique was lavish in his praise of his talented winger; if you learn how to play like Neymar, people could be saying the same about you:
"Neymar is electric, and at the moment, defenders only have two choices when facing him: commit a penalty or let him score. In one word, he was breathtaking."
Euro 2016 qualifiers are over besides playoffs and the real competition is fast approching. That prodded us to go and find out who the European Championships top scorers are, including some who could move up the list next summer. Michel Platini, who holds the top spot, is the current (suspended) UEFA president, and may be in line to replace departing (suspended) FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who announced his pending resignation in June. Both Platini and Blatter have corruption charges hanging over their heads, hence the suspensions.
Have you ever tired of life’s most banal small talk? Footballers, while hardly known for being the wittiest and most eloquent bunch, know how you feel. Game after game after game, they're hit with the same questions regarding the match outcome, their personal performance and what the future holds.
Despite the current turmoil and many (MANY!) calls for his dismissal, Jürgen Klinsmann isn’t going anywhere. United States Soccer President Sunil Gulati intends for his coach/technical director to stay on board for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. So with a job approval rating similar to Herbert Hoover’s after the stock market crash in 1929, how can Klinsmann salvage his second World Cup cycle? Here are 5 players that can save Klinsmann and give the USMNT a chance at making it to Russia 2018.
If you've made your way over to ESPN.com in the past week, you've likely encountered their rankings for all 122 franchises in the "four major pro sports leagues". In the ensuing quarrels concerning how the Cleveland Browns could possibly be ranked above anyone, many readers have questioned ESPN's continued noninvolvement of MLS franchises. Why, after 20 years of sustained growth, haven't they included MLS club rankings?
What a man wears says a lot about him, or so they say. If that's true, we can learn a lot by examining Mexico World Cup kits from the past 50 years.
In a World Cup match with so many elements involved, many look to their national team's jersey for inspiration.
The most recent international break featured Euro 2016 and CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers, and upsets abounded on both continents. Of course, surprise results are nothing new--they are, in fact, the hallmark of the sport. Here are some of the biggest upsets in the history of international competition.
10. Northern Ireland 2 Czechoslovakia 1 (1958 World Cup)
Celtic bills itself as a “Club Like No Other,” and that is especially true when you consider the unique bond players have developed with supporters since it was founded in 1888 by Irish immigrants to Glasgow. Here is a list of the most popular players ever to wear the green and white hoops, the Celtic fan favorites.
10. Neil Lennon
Team nicknames can be tricky things. American sports tend to struggle with this notion and usually opt for something generic, i.e. the Tennessee Titans. The NBA is especially guilty of meaningless nicknames. There aren’t too many bulls running the streets of Chicago, jazz musicians setting up shop in Utah, or grizzlies terrorizing Memphis. What draws so many to English football is the history, passion, and tribal following of each club. More often than not, Premier League nicknames are a reflection of a club’s identity and heritage.
There's never a dull moment when these two CONCACAF giants face off, especially when a ticket to the Confederations Cup is on the line.
In one of the most anticipated soccer matches in North America, Mexico, winners of the 2015 Gold Cup, face off against the United States, winners of the 2013 Gold Cup, in a playoff match that will definitely have a long-term impact on the future development and success of both teams.