Opinion

10 players who only appear every 4 years to dominate the World Cup

Every four years, an elite sect of footballers emerge from their cryotherapy chambers without having aged a day since the game's last showpiece event. They have heard the call of their nation and awoken from their slumber, ready to once again take their rightful place on our television sets and to lay waste to group stage opponents with a fraction of their veteran experience. 

We've spent more time with these guys over the last 15 years than many of our relatives, and we'll finally now get to spend Thanksgiving with them too. 

Here are the three biggest snubs from shocking USMNT 26-man World Cup roster reveal

Gregg Berhalter’s official 26-man United States men’s national team roster for the World Cup was revealed and wow was it full of surprises. Some big USMNT World Cup roster snubs came with the shock inclusions.

Here is the USMNT World Cup roster.

Player name (Club Team, Caps)

Goalkeepers (3):

  • Ethan Horvath (Luton Town, 8)
  • Sean Johnson (NYCFC, 10)
  • Matt Turner (Arsenal, 20)

Defenders (9):

Tata Martino condena a Santi Giménez con una explicación que no tiene sentido

La posible cepillada a Santiago Giménez de la lista final de México para el Mundial de Catar 2022 tiene a la afición del Tri dándose cabezazos con la pared. 

La gente realmente no entiende cómo Bebote, el delantero mexicano del momento, puede quedarse sin un boleto para el evento y menos comprende los débiles argumentos que tendría el técnico Gerardo Martino para marginarlo.

Who's going to win the World Cup? The latest odds show the favorites and dark horses

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar begins Sunday, Nov. 20, with the curtain-raiser at Al Bayt Stadium between the host nation and a fortunate Ecuador. Why's Ecuador so lucky? Because, as the latest World Cup odds 2022 show, Qatar is by far and away the worst seeded team in the eight groups.

Who's on the plane to Qatar? Our final 26-man USMNT squad prediction

Monday, Nov. 7, marks exactly two weeks until the USMNT opens World Cup play against Wales at Al Rayyan Stadium. The event is almost upon us, and it all becomes very real Wednesday when manager Gregg Berhalter reveals his final 26-man roster at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

There are still plenty of question marks to discuss in our final USA World Cup roster prediction. Berhalter just wrapped up a nine-man fitness camp for MLS-based players, and he'll spend the next 24 hours gathering all the latest intel on European-based guys who are suffering with lingering injuries.  

Are players faking injuries to miss the World Cup?

I know what you’re thinking: “This is insane. Nobody would intentionally miss the World Cup. It’s the largest event on the planet, and for the players, it's something they’ve dreamed about since childhood.”

And to an extent, you’d be correct, but this story isn’t exactly about injuries. It’s about social issues and the appalling track record of the nation that's hosting the tournament. Could it be remotely possible that players would feign injury to avoid being part of an event that's riddled with human rights abuses? 

The war against Carlos Vela: LAFC's talisman faces harsh criticism after refusing to play for Mexico

Carlos Vela has been a hot topic this week. Not only because of the commanding way he led LAFC to the MLS Cup Final against Philadelphia Union this Saturday, but also because of the heavy criticism he has received in Mexico after a report emerged saying he had refused to represent the national team in the World Cup. Again.

Ranking all 8 of Federico Valverde's comically good goals this season

It's early in the race for the 2023 Ballon d'Or, but with the season now over 30 percent complete, there's no denying that Real Madrid utility man Federico Valverde has put himself in the conversation with some unbelievable contributions in the Champions League and LaLiga.

It used to be that Valverde was the unsung hero of either the midfield (deputizing effectively for Luka Modrić or Toni Kroos) or right wing (with Karim Benzema and Vini Jr in the spotlight), but this year, whether deployed on the wing or in midfield, the 24-year-old has blossomed into the star of the show.

Gareth Bale has no role to play in MLS Cup — can he even be a factor against the USA?

Toward the end of September, it looked like LAFC was about to unlock the best of Gareth Bale. He hadn't scored in his last seven appearances (totaling 245 minutes) after finding the net twice in his first four (96 minutes), but more importantly, the 33-year-old Welshman had just recorded his second start.

MLS playoffs confirm undervalued USMNT truth: Kellyn Acosta is a big-game player

From a USMNT perspective, the MLS Cup Playoffs have only served to reinforce the poorly trending narrative around the team. 

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