For many years now, FIFA and PES (now eFootball) have been the one-two punch at the top of the soccer video game world. But while those two franchises flex their big muscles as they quarrel over licensing rights, Football Manager (FM) has quietly stayed on the path and continues to be cherished among intellectually-minded football fans.
I’ll admit, I was curious. With PES fully rebranding to eFootball and going free to play — something I’ve long thought FIFA should do — I was willing to give the franchise another shot. And yet, I cannot even recommend downloading this janky game right now.
The 2009 Confederations Cup was simultaneously the closest the USMNT has come to a major international trophy and a near abject failure. Bob Bradley’s Americans were extremely lucky to escape the group stage but then came within a Lucio header of global glory. A dozen years later, where are those USMNT players? Many of them remain fixtures on our TVs — not all as players, but as pundits. Others now fill the ranks of coaching and technical staffs at clubs around the world.
For more than three decades, Coventry City was one of the cornerstones of the English top-flight. The Sky Blues were consistently a lower mid-table team (think Crystal Palace), but they were FA Cup winners in 1987 and an inaugural member of the Premier League in 1992.
If he were American, Didier Drogba would probably still be the starting striker for the USMNT. Instead, the 43-year-old former Chelsea star is spending this international break holding a charity match with his former club, Marseille. Even three years after he retired as a member of Phoenix Rising in the USL Championship, the Ivory Coast international’s still got it.
Samir Nasri, on the other hand, has been enjoying his retirement quite a bit, the 34-year-old having only announced he’s leaving the game a few weeks ago.
He’s here, he’s there, he’s every fucking where — Roooooyyy Keeennnt. Roy Kent.
In Season 1 of “Ted Lasso,” there was no doubt Jason Sudeikis’ eponymous character was the star of the show. As Season 2 progressed, a new star emerged: Roy fucking Kent.
Warning: The following Ted Lasso Season 2 finale recap includes major spoilers for “Ted Lasso” through Season 2.
Season 2 of “Ted Lasso” opens with a closeup of Nathan Shelley’s eyes, the assistant coach watching with youthful enthusiasm as his team earns a late penalty against Nottingham Forest. Season 2 ends with a closeup on Nate, hair turned completely gray, the sparkle completely gone from his eyes.
Nathan Shelley is now the villain of “Ted Lasso” — he is now the rival coach on Rupert Mannion’s West Ham. Season 3 is gonna be fun.
Less than two months ago Gianluigi Donnarumma was an Italian hero. His save on Bukayo Saka's decisive penalty kick during the Euro 2020 final clinched a shootout victory for gli Azzurri and gave Italy its first European Championship since 1968.
Yet three days later he was out the door. After months of failed contract negotiations between Donnarumma and AC Milan, the 22-year-old keeper and his exorbitant wage demands headed to PSG on a five-year deal.
I’m almost embarrassed to admit how much I watch the show “Survivor.” Ever since the first season, I’ve been a huge fan. All through high school, my Thursday night routine involved getting home from soccer practice and tuning in to “Survivor” with my parents. So now that I hear “Survivor” creator Mark Burnett is working on a competition-based MLS reality show for Major League Soccer, you know I’m excited.
Believe it or not, there exists a population of humans who have never seen a single episode of “Ted Lasso.” If you belong to such a group, let me tell you now is the best time to get into Ted Lasso.