Most American soccer fans will remember Jay DeMerit for playing every minute for the USMNT at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but before DeMerit even dreamed of an international call-up, he overcame imposing odds just to become a Watford player.
As an American soccer website, we at The18 feel obligated to cover every little thing about our beloved Americans abroad. Exactly one year and a day ago, we wrote about Gio Reyna’s first Borussia Dortmund goal, an absolute worldie against Werder Bremen. We covered him before the goal and we continue to cover him today.
There’s nothing quite like the madness of transfer Deadline Day. Top European clubs rushing to get last-minute deals done creates an exhilarating 24-hour news cycle. In the latest winter transfer window, European clubs invested their stock in USMNT transfers.
Here’s a list of every transfer, loan or signing in Europe from Deadline Day that involved a USMNT player.
Jesús Ferreira made his second game for the U.S. men's national team memorable with two goals and three assists in a 7-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago in Orlando, on Sunday.
The Colombia-born Ferreira, 20, debuted on Feb. 1, 2020, vs. Costa Rica — two months after gaining American citizenship. The FC Dallas striker did not get on the scoreboard in that game but more than made up for it against the Trinidadians.
USMNT midfielder Julian Green kept up his red-hot form in the 2.Bundesliga on Friday with a goal in his third consecutive game.
Green and Bavarian side Greuther Fürth find themselves in a strong position to make a push for promotion to the Bundesliga halfway through the season, just one point off the third-place spot that would secure a playoff against the side that finishes 16th in the top flight. Green is now the joint-top scorer for Fürth alongside Branimir Hrgota, with seven goals apiece.
Chelsea notched up their first win under Thomas Tuchel on Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Burnley thanks to goals by Spanish defenders César Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso who have both been given a chance to shine under the German coach.
Azpilicueta was entrusted with a place in Chelsea's starting lineup by Tuchel in his two games since replacing Frank Lampard and he scored with an angled shot in the 40th minute after sprinting 80 yards to seize on a lay-off by Callum Hudson-Odoi.
United States and Toronto FC star Jozy Altidore will be held out of the national team's friendly against Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday with a minor muscle strain and amid transfer rumors.
U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter on Saturday said Altidore sustained a "very, very minor strain" two weeks ago and added that "a number of clubs" are interested in Altidore.
Liverpool supporters would have found themselves sighing in exasperation when Joel Matip came off injured at halftime against Tottenham on Thursday.
There is a genuine argument to be made that, when fit, Matip is a top-five center back in the league. Much to the chagrin of Reds everywhere, the Cameroonian international is seldom fit for more than a few games at a time. He was substituted at halftime against Fulham due to injury, subsequently missing out against last month's game against Spurs, before returning against Crystal Palace.
Watching the USWNT play Colombia in a pair of friendlies last week, I was struck by two things. First: Catarina Macario is the real deal. Second: We may never see fans at sporting events again.
In between going the full 90 in Juventus’ Supercoppa victory over Napoli and scoring against Bologna in Serie A play on Sunday, Weston McKennie found time to visit Ollivanders wand shop in Diagon Alley.
This is a magical goal celebration.