Opinion

National team stadiums are something of a foreign concept in the United States, where both the men’s and women’s sides play matches from Carson, California, to Foxborough, Massachusetts, and everywhere in-between. Other national teams have a similar approach — Germany, Brazil and Spain among them — but there’s something magical about a fixed location, be it the glamor of England at Wembley, the history of Mexico at the Azteca or the ferocity of Argentina at El Monumental. 

Soccer hasn't been the same without fans. The emotion just isn't there. The fake crowd noise is mediocre but matches without fan chatter (even the artificial kind) lack the sense of importance that the game is supposed to carry. It is tough to watch at times.

The one positive to empty stadiums? We have unprecedented access to the vocal expressions of the players on the pitch. Every bit of banter, every plea to the referee and every frustrated proclamation is audible to viewers at home.

What’s more important: A statement in support of human rights, or a tribute to a fallen star? According to ESPN, it’s the latter.

The USWNT returned to the pitch for the first time in 261 days by beating the Netherlands 2-0 in a friendly on Friday. The replication of the USWNT’s historic win in the 2019 Women’s World Cup final showed that even having not played in eight months, this team is still the best in the world. 

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, meaning it’s time to gather around the virtual zoom table with Grandma and Grandpa while also making sure everyone tests negative for COVID prior to entry into the annual Turkey Derby.

When Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann returns to face his former club Atlético Madrid in LaLiga on Saturday the Frenchman could be forgiven for wondering how things might have been different had he stayed at the Wanda Metropolitano.

First of all, the chances are that Griezmann will be on the bench as his current and former employers battle. After leaving Atléti, where he was the star man, for the Camp Nou in 2019 few things have gone right for Griezmann. He has struggled to find the form that persuaded the Catalans to pay his $141.98 million release clause.

The year is 2009. Argentina, under the direction of Diego Maradona, is on the verge of missing the 2010 World Cup after back-to-back-to-back defeats to Ecuador, Brazil and Paraguay. The loss to Brazil had been particularly horrifying — a 3-1 humbling in Rosario that clinched the Seleção’s place in South Africa and left midfield warrior Javier Mascherano disconsolate in the dressing room.