Andrea Pirlo and David Villa are coming to be a pair of human highlight reels. On Sunday afternoon around the 66th minute, Pirlo played a miraculous ball from just over half that led to a brilliant finish from Villa. David Villa made this finish look easy but it is far from that. Hats off to these two for providing us with yet another WOW moment.
Could Andres Guardado and Carlos Vela be headed to Atlanta United in the near future? It's possible, according to ESPN.
SB Nation's Atlanta United Blog, Dirty South Soccer, reported that John Sutcliffe, ESPN's Mexico National Team insider, had said that ATL United is interested in the two Mexico standouts (ESPN has evidently removed the video).
Jurgen Klinsmann’s record and accomplishments with the United States national team are well known. After winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2013, his fortunes have gradually taken a turn for the worse. The 2016 Copa America represents a massive chance for Klinsmann and the US squad to make the country proud again, but of the highest importance is the continued buildup to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Italy have announced their provisional squad for Euro 2016, and it’s one of the worst in recent memory. Gone are Antonio Di Natale, Mario Balotelli, Sebastian Giovinco, and Andrea Pirlo. Italy’s staunch defense is still there, but the class of their attack appears to be completely absent.
Highlights are fun, and highlights are even more fun when narrated by the WWE's Jim Ross. Because of the massive beatdown New York Red Bulls put on New York City FC, and because of the Internet, we've ended up with one of the great match highlight videos of our time, with professional wrestling commentary overlaid on Red Bulls' 7-0 trouncing of their "rivals."
Andrea Pirlo criticized MLS and American soccer, saying that there is a cultural void that holds American players back.
New York City FC midfielder Andrea Pirlo had some critical comments for MLS and American soccer culture in the lead up to NYCFC vs NY Red Bulls.
Speaking to Reuters at an MLS promotional event last Friday, he commented on a “cultural void” that he believes exists in American soccer:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's contract is up at PSG, and he will leave the Parisian club this summer. Where he will land is a matter of great speculation, with China, Manchester United, AC Milan and LA Galaxy being floated as possible destinations for the big Swede. Seemingly in anticipation of this last possibility, the Philadelphia Union have placed a "discovery" claim on Zlatan.
If the Philadelphia Union discovered Zlatan then so did I, but this is beside the point.
When 11-year-old Lexi Walker took to the field at Rio Tinto stadium in 2013, home to Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake, she was not the viral singing sensation she is today. This was before she covered Idina Menzel's "Let It Go" from the hit Disney movie Frozen. That video alone, released in 2014, has racked up over 75 million views on YouTube.
In your heartwarming news of the day, David Villa is in Portland with New York City FC to face the Timbers this afternoon. That's not the heartwarming part (unless, of course, you're really, really excited about the match). When he saw a homeless dad and son near his hotel, he took a moment out of his day to go to a nearby Starbucks and to buy them some food.
Kei Kamara has a resume that Pope Francis would applaud. He was awarded the MLS Fair Play Award in 2007, and, last year, Kamara was given the distinction of MLS Works Humanitarian of the Year. Kamara has been active in working for peace in his native war-torn Sierra Leone, but on Saturday, he was the guilty party in a conflict with his own teammate, Federico Higuain.
Kamara’s Columbus Crew were leading the Montreal Impact 3-1 in the 51st minute. After a foul by Montreal in the penalty area, Columbus were awarded a penalty with which to give themselves a three-goal cushion.