Europe

Consistency Doesn’t Sell Like Goals, But That’s What Christian Pulisic Brought This Weekend

Without a goal or an assist in Borussia Dortmund’s 2-0 win over Hertha Berlin on Saturday, Christian Pulisic mania wasn’t allowed to grip the nation. But a “quiet” week from the 18-year-old also allows us to dissect his performance in a more serious manner. 

What the analysis reveals should obviously already be clear, but let’s just belabor the point: Pulisic isn’t a gimmick. He’s not the fevered creation of a nation starved of a world-class talent. He’s actually just really, really good.

Poetic Justice Finds Falcao In The Best Form Of His Career Before The World Cup

Up until their quarterfinal defeat to Brazil, no side was more thoroughly entertaining at the 2014 World Cup than Colombia. James Rodriguez was the tournament’s standout performer and plenty of additional firepower was provided by the likes of Juan Cuadrado, Jackson Martinez and Teofilo Gutierrez.

Chucky Lozano Continued His Blistering Start In Europe With His Third Goal In 3 Games

Hirving "Chucky" Lozano continues to prove he is having no trouble adapting to European football. The 22-year-old former Pachuca winger made it three goals in his first three Eredivisie matches with a tap-in against Roda JC Sunday.

If Lozano continues to play like this, he will be a lock for Russia 2018, and Juan Carlos Osorio will be hard-pressed to keep him out of the starting lineup.

Before Andrea Pirlo, There Was Demetrio Albertini, The Human Embodiment Of Silk

Demetrio Albertini enjoys a legendary status amongst those who watched AC Milan and the Italian national team in the 90s, but the midfielder’s remarkable talent isn’t widely recognized outside of that sphere. As a ball-winning midfielder that orchestrated play from deep, Albertini doesn’t have a massive highlight reel with regards to goals, although he did score a number of long-range screamers and some gorgeous free kicks.

History Is Made As VAR Shames Despicable Bundesliga Dive

Who knows, in another era (last year) or perhaps just another league (most likely La Liga), the referee somehow gets it in his head that Cologne’s Jhon Cordoba has committed a serious foul play here and red cards him. I mean, how else could you explain rugged Hamburg center back Kyriakos Papadopoulos screaming and rolling around like this? Obviously Cordoba has done something unspeakable, so send him off.

Real Sociedad Could Have One Magical Season Before The Market Eats Them Alive

After finishing 12th in the 2014-15 La Liga season, it’s been onwards and upwards for Real Sociedad ever since. In 2015-16 they finished 9th, and last season they were the surprise European qualifiers after finishing 6th, only eight points back from Sevilla in Spain’s final Champions League spot.

Sociedad have been placed with Zenit, Rosenborg and Vardar in Europa League group play, and the club has every right to believe they can make a serious impact in the competition and even improve on their La Liga finish.

Marseille Keeper Steve Mandanda Skill Checks The Living Hell Out Of An Attacker

So yeah, the linesman has his flag up for offside, negating the reality of Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda’s actions here, but the attacker for NK Domzale doesn’t know that. He’s going full bore, which really makes this combination Cruyff Turn/Rolled Nutmeg bloody murder.

The 32-year-old French international set the tone with this skill check. Is it any surprise, with the Stade Velodrome suddenly set to lit level 10, that Marseille scored the opener only 12 minutes later?

David Villa Earns Shock Spanish National Team Recall

New York City FC striker David Villa has earned a recall to the Spanish national team for crunch World Cup qualifiers against Italy (Sept. 2) and Liechtenstein (Sept. 5). Villa last played for La Furia Roja at the 2014 World Cup, but he retired after the nation’s group stage exit.

Gylfi Sigurdsson Hits 50-Yard Screamer To Put Everton Into The Europa League

Everton held a narrow 2-0 advantage heading into their second leg Europa League qualifying playoff against Hajduk Split in Croatia. After Josip Radosevic narrowed the advantage to 2-1 with a 30-yard rocket in the 43rd minute, Everton came out for the second half knowing that their Europa League participation was well and truly in the balance. 

But less than a minute after the restart, the 35,000 packed into the Stadion Poljud in Split were silenced by what could be the best goal in the competition all season. 

Ronaldo Serves Up A Bit Of Violence In What’s Supposed To Be A Friendly

A glamour friendly between Real Madrid and Fiorentina (who knows) turned out to be a great training exercise for Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday. Ronaldo is currently serving a five-match ban for shoving the referee during the Spanish Super Cup, but his wonder goal helped Real defeat their Italian opposition 2-1 at the Bernabeu.

Pages