In August 1985, a little late to the party, the U.S. debuted its first full women’s national team in international competition. The first USWNT played in a tournament in Italy, losing three of four matches, drawing once.
Among the players on the inaugural squad was Michelle Akers, who would go on to become a two-time World Cup winner and be named FIFA Female Player of the Century in 2002, a couple years after her retirement.
The USWNT’s latest January training camp had players aged 19 through 35 in attendance, and that blend of youth and experience will hold true at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France (qualification secured, God willing). It only follows that these footballers were at very different stages in their respective careers back in the heady days of 2008.
Here’s 18 USWNT players as they were 10 years ago in 2008 versus now. It’s been a wild ride for some, and a measurement of resolute consistency for others.
Hola compadres welcome back to FCEPL.
First 2003-04 Arsenal players. Pop the champagne because Man City is no longer invincible. That gunners squad remains the only team in the PL era to be invinclable and it will last another season. Maybe send Liverpool a card? Lets get to it, here are the potential transfers to make this week-
3 Mans You Could Pick Up
Callum Wilson (Bournemouth):
Less than a week after Sporting KC beat the New York Red Bulls to win the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in September, qualifying for the 2018 tournament began. More than 100 amateur clubs entered the competition, dreaming of a chance to compete in the 105-year-old event against the best professional teams in the country.
Of those scores of squads, 14 Open Division Local Qualifying teams emerged, 14 flag bearers for an ever-growing stanchion of U.S. soccer.
We made it through the blitz of games over the past month folks. Now you have a fresh wildcard to use if you'd like or you can keep rolling with your squad. Oh the decisions. Here are some Lads you can pick up this week:
Ayoze Perez (Newcastle):
Newcastle host Swansea, the Premier League’s worst team, on Saturday. Ayoze Perez is Newcastle’s in-form attacker with three goals in his last two games. At only £5.2, he’s easily the biggest sleeper among FPL Gameweek 23 attackers.
Jesse Lingard (Manchester United):
Less than a month after Toronto FC took down Seattle for the MLS Cup title, the 2018 MLS schedule has been released. Major League Soccer revealed the 2018 fixture list on Thursday and there are plenty of intriguing dates to mark on your calendar.
Ever wondered how defenders in the 60s and 70s coped with Pelé, perhaps the greatest player of all time? Defending Pelé was really quite simple: They kicked the sh*t out of him. And pushed him around. And threw him to the ground. And kicked him a few dozen more times.
Pelé scored 767 goals over his storied career but he would have had more were it not for the physical play of defenders who quickly realized the only hope they had to stop Pelé was to foul him.
2017 was a pronounced year with regards to the retirement of a legion of decorated footballers. In the list below, we have an assortment of winners of the World Cup, European Championship, Copa America, Champions League and pretty much every domestic title out there.
Sadly, we’ve seen the last of this group on the professional pitch and on our gaming consoles via FIFA. Here are 10 footballers (along with a few honorable mentions) that hung up their boots this year.