The annual All Japan High School Soccer Tournament is a big deal. It's like, well, you don't really need a metaphor, do you? It's not that hard to imagine another country also enjoying youth sports. It attracts large viewership at the stadiums and on television, and I have a sneaking suspicion that among those watching are all the set-piece coaches at Europe's major clubs.
The best moments in rec league aren't often unbelievable goals or incredible displays of skill. They're things like batshit crazy tackles that aren't even whistled, own goals scored from the top of your own area and that 24 pack of beer in the cooler.
But all the hoofing, chasing and getting blasted in the face combine to make those rare moments of technique stick out all the clearer, like a Monet in a wastewater treatment plant.
The emergence of 17-year-old Pablo Páez Gavi for both Barcelona and Spain during the 2021-22 season has been criminally under-appreciated in the English-speaking world. It's a serious offense because just putting the La Masia product through the 90-minute eye test is enough to reveal a footballer of supreme talent, which is exceptionally rare when considering all the nuance and subtlety that comes with the midfield position.
It's been four days since Mario Balotelli last graced our pages after kicking a teammate in the head during a goal celebration. That's always one side to the 31-year-old striker's game, but the other is scoring outrageous goals.
Against all odds, Bodø/Glimt was just seconds away from a second consecutive Norwegian league title. Up 2-1 against SK Brann in the dying moments of injury time, Glimt just had to defend a desperation corner and they were league champions.
There would be no celebrations on that December day though, as an injury equalizer conceded against Brann prevented Glimt from sealing the Eliteserien championship on home turf.
Wow, what a year — so much so that it's almost impossible to really know where 2020 ended and when 2022 begins! The best way to get beyond this simultaneous feeling of being stuck in the past and hurtling violently towards the future is to stop and take stock of things with an awards gala unlike any other. You're on the guest list.
Evergreen Japanese footballer Kazuyoshi Miura, now 54, has no intention of hanging up his boots and said that as many as eight Japanese clubs are after his signature for next season, Kyodo News agency reported on Tuesday.
Miura, known as "King Kazu" in his homeland, became the oldest player to feature in Japan's first division when he played for Yokohama FC last season, but is now looking for opportunities elsewhere after the side were relegated to the second tier.
Soccer fans have a different circadian rhythm than others. They're up early to see what's going on in Europe, they're in bed late to follow along with Liga MX, they reach an emotional peak on Wednesday afternoons and frequently block off entire month-long periods in the summer for international festivals of footie. It's a delicate balance, but the 2022 soccer tournaments calendar is a disruptive year with the Qatar World Cup falling between Nov. 21 and Dec. 18.
Here's all the major action between January and December of 2022.
A Lucas Ocampos strike in the final minutes of the match gave second-placed Sevilla a 2-1 win over Atlético Madrid in LaLiga on Saturday.
In a feisty match between two sides that are trying to stay in contention with league leaders Real Madrid, Sevilla came out on top.
Sevilla now have 37 points, putting them five behind Real, while Atleti fall to fifth place on 29 points, leapfrogged by surprise outfit Rayo Vallecano, who beat Alaves 2-0 earlier in the day and remain unbeaten at home this season.
Barcelona’s women’s team continued its endless path of destruction on Saturday with a 4-0 defeat of Rayo Vallecano. Barcelona Femení hit a landmark number during the victory with the team’s 100th goal of the season after only 20 games. The Barcelona women goals fall like rain an overcast summer day in Oklahoma.
Jana Fernández scored the century goal in the 15th minute with a well-placed headed effort to give Barcelona a 1-0 lead.