Failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup was hard to digest, very hard, so our hot soccer-blooded hearts make us feel that everything is wrong, and our soccer is the worst. That’s just the heat of the moment; truth is that U.S. soccer is pretty good, and it has gotten better and better over the last couple of decades.
In the footballing world, there are advertisements everywhere; soccer advertising is as ubiquitous as it is loud.
Soccer was one of the first sports to embrace ads on uniforms. Pitches are rimmed with advertising boards in stadiums named after sponsors. Pre- and postgame interviews are littered with logos. Many leagues now allow ads on jersey sleeves. One club even turned its bench into a giant beer advertisement.
September 1, 2018, marks just 279 days until the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off at the Parc des Princes in Paris. The competition at the event has never been stronger or deeper, and those who illuminate the tournament will rightly be elevated to the status of legend. Historically, the best female soccer players of all time have earned that moniker by dominating one of the seven previous editions of the tournament.
The Champions League has a long history of using uniquely designed balls for the world’s best annual sporting event. With stars taking the place of pentagons, the spheres are immediately recognizable — no other competition has a similar look. But the Champions League ball 2018-19 is something else entirely, taking the concept to a bold new level.
The wheels are in motion for David Beckham’s Miami MLS franchise. Last week we saw what could very well be the new logo for the team, and if that logo turns out to be true, we can expect an entry into MLS in 2020.
So, if that’s the case, then the speculation about potential Designated Players (DP for the cool kids) will be rife. Whether it’s a seasoned vet from a top European league or a young South American looking to prove himself, the rumor mill will no doubt be in overdrive.
With FIFA 19 hitting stores on September 28 (unless you pre-order the Champions Edition or Ultimate Edition, in which case you can play three days before all of the peasants), anticipation is at an all-time high.
When most people think of the great Premier League strikers, names like Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney spring to mind. But, Sergio Aguero is better than all of them. Yes, the speedy little Argentine is the GOAT of Premier League goal scorers.
OK, so he might not be at the top of the goal scoring list. In fact, he's only just broken into the Premier League all-time top ten. His hat-trick against Huddersfield nudged him past Dutchman Robin van Persie, with Aguero now sitting on 146 goals in the EPL.
Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s move from Real Madrid to Juventus, interest in Italy’s Serie A has increased tenfold around the planet. But even before Ronaldo made the move, the division was experiencing something of a renaissance with clubs like Napoli garnering immense praise for its playing style while traditional powers Inter and Milan began targeting glory again. With ESPN now committed to broadcasting the league stateside, an Italian revolution is upon us.
Remember Martin Ødegaard? We forgive you if you'd forgotten all about the guy. Here’s a quick refresher for you: Ødegaard was the youngest player ever to play in the Norwegian Tippeligaen at the ripe age of 15 years and 118 days. Not only that, but he also was the youngest player ever to play for the Norway national team at the age of 15 years and 253 days.
The transfer window in England has now slammed shut. Well, at least for all 20 Premier League clubs. It’s been a crazy window too, especially considering the two most expensive signings in the Premier League for this window were goalkeepers. Imagine telling that to someone at the start!
Some clubs have signed over 10 players, while one failed to sign a single player (no prizes for guessing who that was).
Here’s our verdict on each club’s transfer dealings.