If you’re a longtime, diehard fan of European soccer living in the United States, the following scenarios are likely familiar: Battling a legion of pop-ups and viruses on illegal, ad-cluttered video streaming websites while trying to access an untelevised match. Fits of rage and threats to destroy your computer as the stream freezes in the… Continue reading European Soccer on American Shores
Category: Soccer
Lionel Messi: At the Breaking Point?
At this point in his illustrious career, seeing Lionel Messi making international headlines is a rather routine affair. The four time Ballon d’Or winner is widely regarded as the world’s best soccer player, helping his team to lift three trophies last season; La Liga, the Copa Del Rey, and perhaps most coveted of all, the… Continue reading Lionel Messi: At the Breaking Point?
Premier League in 2016: Predicting the Top Four
Few other professional sports have an offseason as short as the English Premier League, and yet, every August, I nonetheless find myself thinking “Thank God. It is about bloody time.” And time it is. This weekend, we see the return of Premier League soccer, and if the league is overhyped (it is), and if the mountains… Continue reading Premier League in 2016: Predicting the Top Four
USMNT, Gold Cup, CONCACAF: All in Shambles
Mexico defeated Jamaica 3-1 in the Gold Cup Final on Sunday, bringing the shambolic tournament, finally, to a close. Despite putting in a dominating performance for 90 minutes against Jamaica, few but the most blindly partisan supporters of El Tri will claim Mexico stood out as this tournament’s clear victor. In fact, some might argue,… Continue reading USMNT, Gold Cup, CONCACAF: All in Shambles
We Believed That She Would Win: A World Cup Retrospective
The afternoon of July 5, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia was unusual in a couple of ways. A spate of wildfires in Pemberton combined with an atypical lack of wind coming in off the ocean to leave the city shrouded in a thickening cloud of smoke. By the time the sun was skirting the horizon, the… Continue reading We Believed That She Would Win: A World Cup Retrospective
Neymar Must Choose His Mentors Carefully
More likely than not, five years from now, in 2020, Neymar da Silva Santos Junior will be the best player in the world. Lionel Messi has a few years left in his prime, but when the Argentine wizard is 33, and Neymar is as old as Messi is today, 28, it’s hard to see Messi… Continue reading Neymar Must Choose His Mentors Carefully
FIFA Women’s World Cup Final Preview: USA v. Japan
After taking down top-ranked Germany, the United States Women’s National Team is headed to Vancouver for a rematch of the 2011 World Cup Final against Japan. Although Japan’s route to BC Place Stadium was perhaps not the perfect storybook narrative—barely escaping an upset against England, who went out tragically on a stoppage time own goal—the… Continue reading FIFA Women’s World Cup Final Preview: USA v. Japan
The Timbers Army: Exemplary Support
As I walked with the Timbers Army—the “ultras” among Portland Timbers fans—out of Yankee Stadium on the evening of April 19, elated by Dairon Asprilla’s 79th minute match-winner, I was stopped by a stadium security guard. He was not halting me for foul language, or trying to confiscate a flask; rather, he was thanking us… Continue reading The Timbers Army: Exemplary Support
USWNT Round of 16 Preview and American Support
The US Women’s National Team is into the knockout round of the Women’s World Cup, and will face Colombia on Monday night, as the two teams battle to earn a spot in the quarterfinals against China. The Americans will be clear favorites when they take the field in Edmonton, but they would do well not… Continue reading USWNT Round of 16 Preview and American Support
Copa America: Three Can’t-Miss Games This Week
I have a great deal of time for CONCACAF’s Gold Cup. I’ll watch, and support, the US Men’s National Team at this year’s tournament, in what might be a second swan song for midfielder-turned-wingback Demarcus Beasley. Last time round, I had the pleasure of attending the Final of the 2013 tournament in Chicago, and given… Continue reading Copa America: Three Can’t-Miss Games This Week