Men's National Teams

3 Nations Primed For Devastatingly Poor World Cups

Since the turn of the 21st century, it’s happened without fail: every World Cup, three nations that began the tournament ranked in FIFA’s top 20 have been unceremoniously dumped from the competition at the group stage. In fact, in two of the four World Cups this century, three of the world’s top 10 ranked sides have capitulated before the knockout rounds. 

Here’s a rundown of the three highest ranked sides to fall at the first hurdle in the last four tournaments:

2002 

MLS Players Vote Giovani Dos Santos Most Overrated Player In The League

Giovani dos Santos will not be excited to learn that his fellow Major League Soccer players think he's the most overrated player in the league.

In an anonymous survey conducted by ESPN, 11 percent of MLS players surveyed said they thought the LA Galaxy forward was the most overrated player in the league. Also voted to be overrated were Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Gyasi Zardes, Paul Arriola, Benny Feilhaber and Tim Howard. Discerning readers will notice that those are, with the exception of dos Santos, who plays for Mexico, all United States internationals. 

The Only American Bagging Goals In Europe Gives Us Reason To Watch The USMNT

Age 21, standing at 6-4 and hailing from Muskego, Wisconsin, you probably think you know the USMNT’s latest salvation at the forward position, Andrija Novakovich. You’ve probably sketched a mental outline of a big, blundering center forward with an affinity for Milwaukee’s Best, but we mustn’t forget that Harry Kane was similarly written off for being a chubby, traveling salesman-looking version of Butt-head. 

Bastian Schweinsteiger's USMNT-Eligible Son Has Been Born

Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ana Ivanovic have welcomed their first child, reportedly a boy alleged to be named Luka, into the world in Chicago this weekend.

Watch Miguel Layún Score His First Goal For Sevilla

Miguel Layún scored his first goal for Sevilla in his team's defeat against Leganés.

Questioned about his performances in recent weeks, Layún is finally showing signs of adaptation and getting back in form.

The Mexican international arrived in Sevilla a few months ago after he was transferred from Porto.

In Portugal, Layún had some excellent moments. For instance, he became one of Europe's players with most assists in 2016.

A Photographic Journey Through The Career Of Our Lord And Savior, Landon Donovan

Landon Donovan receives a lot of abuse for his playing career, and if you forget World Cups, the fact that he signed for Bayer Leverkusen as a teenager, the well-deserved accolade of having the MLS MVP award named after him, his successful loan moves with Everton, his hugely influential 14-year spell with the national team and his joyfully direct play, then he totally deserves all the criticism that comes his way.

The Legendary Panini Company Predicts Mexico’s World Cup Roster

As a little kid, I would feverishly collect Panini World Cup sticker albums every four years. The World Cup rush was even further intensified as everyone at school was collecting the stickers. Of course, all kids specially valued their national team stamps above anything else.

There was nothing a Mexican boy or girl would hold dearest to his or her heart than a Cuauhtemoc Blanco sticker.

Panini World Cup Sticker Albums  

Giovani Dos Santos Is Playing Himself Off Mexico’s World Cup Squad

With 102 appearances, 18 goals and as a veteran of two World Cups, history is on Giovani dos Santos’ side. However, his play on the field over the last year and a half makes his inclusion in Mexico’s 2018 World Cup squad, by Juan Carlos Osorio’s own stated standards, a real doubt.

When Dos Santos arrived in MLS in 2016, his initial return of 14 goals, 12 assists and a place in the MLS Best XI seemed to fully justify a Designated Player salary of $5.5 million per year. 

USMNT And Club America Midfielder Joe Corona Obliterates A Half-Volley In CCL Action

Hey, this all turned out well for American soccer. Thanks to FC Dallas’ shitshow performance against Tauro FC, the MLS side got to avoid getting spanked by Club America in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, and look who’s now doing the spanking — it’s Angeleno Joe Corona! 

Why The Christian Pulisic To Real Madrid Rumors Make Perfect Sense

According to the latest rumors from Sky Sports, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is interested in signing Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund this summer for around $100 million as he “sees the value in having the poster boy for football in America at his disposal.” 

Is the move all that far-fetched? No.

Pages