The cycle of an underdog team capturing an unbelievable title and then providing one of the worst title defenses ever seen is a tale as old as time. After all, winning back-to-back championships is classified as one of the most difficult exercises across sports, even when you're strapped to the teeth with finances, resources and world-class depth like Manchester City.
After suffering an early elimination from the NWSL Challenge Cup at the hands of Trinity "she's feeling confident hunny" Rodman, NJ/NY Gotham FC rebounded off the pitch Tuesday by releasing the greatest clothing range the league has ever seen.
Un día después, el sublime pase de Luka Modrić que encarriló la clasificación del Real Madrid a las semifinales de la Champions League continúa dando vueltas en mi cabeza. Sinceramente, perdí la cuenta de las veces que lo vi y estoy seguro de que no soy el único dándole y dándole al play.
Soccer fans will occasionally look back at the early years of Major League Soccer and chuckle at how Americans tried to make the sport different. While people poke fun at MLS weirdness, the Chile Long Penalty from 1990 is an alteration to the rules that no one seems to remember or talk about. This rule was far more bizarre than the old MLS penalty kicks.
First let’s take a look back at what MLS did in the 90s.
When it comes to the most underrated players in the English-speaking world, you could certainly make a case for Brazil's Rivellino — a fantasy footballer with pioneering dribbling skills, an outrageous free kick arsenal and a left foot like a field howitzer. Rivellino was hugely admired by Pelé and inspired both Diego Maradona and Ronaldinho, but these names have largely superseded Rivellino's own in football lore.
African footballers have been migrating overseas since the 1920s, when French leagues attracted some West African players. The migration of African talent to Europe intensified from the 1980s to the 2000s as football became more globalized and economically viable.
Thousands of African footballers have since found their way to Europe. Many have succeeded in carving a niche for themselves, like Abedi Pele, Didier Drogba, George Weah and Samuel Eto'o. The performances of these stars have reinforced the perception that the African continent has some of the best football talent.
With a 2-0 victory over Paraguay in Lima on Tuesday night, Peru clinched fifth place in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying and a spot in the inter-confederation playoffs, knocking out sixth-place Colombia and seventh-place Chile in the process. This marks the end of the road for a couple memorable generations of players for Los Cafeteros and La Roja.
King Otto, directed by Christopher André Marks, was released in select theaters and digitally (Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vimeo, Vudu, etc.) on March 25, and we highly recommend it to anyone who has the slightest interest in Greece's incredible Euro 2004 triumph under the leadership of German manager Otto Rehhagel.
There are hundreds of "best El Clasico" list articles out there with very little discrepancy among them. Lionel Messi's 2017 last-minute winner before lifting his jersey to a stunned Bernabéu? Obviously. Gareth Bale's surging run in the 2014 Copa del Rey Final? Gotta watch it. The 2011 Champions League semifinals? Pure drama.
Ex-Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko called on Thursday for more aid and other measures in support of victims of the Russian invasion of his homeland.
Widely regarded as his country's greatest ever player, Shevchenko said global soccer authorities had done the right thing in banning Russia from international competitions, though the sport was currently the last thing on his mind.