20 years ago today, on June 30, 2002, Brazil won the last of its five World Cup titles. La Canarinha defeated Germany 2-0 in the final thanks to an unstoppable Ronaldo. O Fenõmeno scored a brace against Oliver Kahn and was stellar during the entire tournament. However, what is the thing most people remember from the striker? Not his goals but his silly, stupid haircut.
It is one of the sweetest victories in USMNT history and one of the most painful for El Tri. Today, June 17, the most celebrated Dos a Cero victory of the United States over Mexico turns 20 years old.
The game for the round of 16 at the 2002 World Cup was the first and only time both national teams have faced each other on soccer's biggest stage. And since then, the scoreboard has become the favorite rallying cry among the U.S. fans against Mexico.
When Lionel Messi hopped off the bench in the 75th minute of Argentina's 6-0 beatdown of Serbia and Montenegro to make his World Cup debut in 2006, it wasn't as if the world stopped as one to be witness to The Child ordained for greatness.
If anything, the global reaction outside of Argentina and Spain would probably be more adequately captured as "This guy? He's the future of football? He's got nothing on Ryan Babel."
It's a little unsettling and depressing to think that, were things running as usual on the international calendar, we'd be at the start of the month-long carnival that is the World Cup.
June 13 has marked some unforgettable World Cup moments in the past, but none more so than what transpired eight years ago on this day at Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil.
The greatest Romanian footballer of all-time, Gheorghe Hagi, has still got it — the "it" in his case being all-seeing assists that are weighted like californium and the ability to absolutely crack one at the age of 57.
On Sunday at Cluj Arena, a large crowd gathered to salute the career of the country's other favored footballing son, Adrian Mutu, as a Romania Stars team took on a World Stars side coached by Cesare Prandelli.
I was 13 years old when Jeremy Lin completely took over my life.
To look at the history of American soccer is to look at a series of poor investments, aging player, and over-ambitious owners. They all had a vision of what soccer could be in the states, but most ended up in the graveyard that we currently stand on.
First came the NASL. Founded in 1968, it spent like a major league, and attendances occasionally reflected that, but its ambitions were not sustainable compared to its actual growth.
After an eight-year career with Real Madrid that included over 250 appearances, 100 goals and a preposterous haul of 16 trophies (including five Champions League crowns and three LaLiga titles), Gareth Bale has confirmed his departure from the Spanish capital following the expiration of his contract.
The Champions League — formerly the European Cup — is the premier club soccer competition in the world, annually anointing a new champion to the team in Europe able to navigate a gauntlet of matches to reign supreme. The Champions League list of winners is a history of club football at its best — the teams that defined eras as much as any World Cup winner.
Yes, it is that time of the year. The 2021-22 season is still rolling, but we are already starting to see some of the jerseys you are going to love — or hate — during the 2022-23 campaign.
Liverpool and Bayern Munich were two big European clubs unveiling their new home kits, but Werder Bremen and a few teams from South America also shared some fabulous polyester goodies.
Of course, you want to see them, so take my hand — or don't — and join me in this adventure.
Pump up music: check.
Nightclub lighting: check.