I have a theory as to one reason (of many) the England National Team tends to underperform in major tournaments: the players all play in the same league. Every England international plays in the Premier League. One might argue this breeds familiarity and is therefore good for the national team, but I think it leads to a lack of stylistic variety in the team and makes the payer pool stagnant. It's basically like inbreeding, is what I'm saying.
The USMNT began 2023 with a frustrating 2-1 friendly defeat to Serbia at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, taking the lead through Brandon Vazquez's powerfully snapped header before clear defensive errors ruined Anthony Hudson's debut as interim manager.
With all six substitutions being made by the 73rd minute, quite a few players graced the pitch without making much of an impression. Club América winger Alejandro Zendejas went the full 90 on the right, but the 24-year-old's talent only came through in flashes.
El misterio en torno a quién será el nuevo director técnico de la selección mexicana pareciera ir disipándose, de acuerdo a una serie de reportes que ponen al entrenador del Pachuca, Guillermo Almada, a la cabeza del proyecto.
As Major League Soccer enters its 28th season, one example of the league's growing strength is just how difficult it is to determine which 10 stadiums you'd like to visit most.
I'll whisper it, but I feel like I'm discerning some faint traces of light ahead with regards to the USMNT's direction. There's obviously still no permanent manager, but every day takes us further from Gregg Berhalter and closer to what's demanded when hosting the world's greatest sporting event come 2026.
They promised us the good old days when league-leading Arsenal welcomed third-place Manchester United to the Emirates on Sunday; a bit of blood and thunder of the Roy Keane-Patrick Vieira, Ruud van Nistelrooy-Martin Keown variety that's been largely lacking over the last 15 years of this rivalry.
Well it was just like old times with the Gunners taking the majority of possession and menacing throughout but United looking no less virile when they thundered forward on the counter (although the presence of Wout Weghorst does take some of the glamor away).
As Mary J. Blige once said, "No drama, no more in my life (no more drama in my life, no one's gonna make me hurt again)." I'm so tired of the USMNT manager discussion, so this is the only time I'm going to mention that or the fact that Anthony Hudson is serving as interim head coach for January camp. Let's get back to the only things that matter, the game and the players who play it.
U.S. Soccer made its debut on HBO Max Tuesday night with the USWNT beating New Zealand in a friendly in Wellington thanks to four second-half goals, including Alex Morgan's 120th international strike off a ridiculous Rose Lavelle backheel.
The Football Ferns were a little overmatched.
According to the latest reports, Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp are leading the race to sign 20-year-old USMNT and Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah for a modest transfer fee of just over $20 million.
On Wednesday in Valencia's Supercopa de España semifinal against Real Madrid, Musah only added to his value with a defensive performance not unlike the rousing displays he gave against England and Iran in Qatar.
With Leeds United just two points above the Premier League relegation zone nearing the campaign's halfway point, an FA Cup exit to EFL Championship side Cardiff City on Sunday would've certainly left Jesse Marsch's job security on the brink.
It looked pretty hopeless at halftime after Jaden Philogene and Sheyi Ojo scored to give Cardiff a 2-0 advantage while the 6,000 Leeds supporters who'd made their way to Wales booed their players and manager off the pitch.