As perhaps the most famous face of the United States Women’s National Team today, Alex Morgan is one of the top forwards in the sport. Seeing the number 13 with the ponytail and pink headband couldn’t be more intimidating for opposing defenders – from the first time she announced her presence on the USWNT with a breakout goal versus Italy in 2010. She has an arsenal of skills to get past defenders, whether it being her speed, strength or touch.
If you're left-footed, you know that you've been gifted with both a blessing and a curse. Typically, you're an oddity on the team, alone in your preference for the left foot. Left-handers make up only 10% of the general population, and only half of southpaws are also left-footed. Our numbers may be small, but we are incomparably strong. We've got Messi.
#1: You’re the first name on the team sheet
Football is played all over the world. As cities and nations grow, the stadiums that they build to play football in become beacons of pride, displays of power, and dedications to the game we all love. This video and the following pictures of amazing stadiums show just how monumental and legendary that all of those manifestations can be.
It’s an accomplishment any time a player can score for her country. Abby Wambach has done it 184 times, more than any other player (male or female) in the world. While that feat is amazing, Abby didn’t score her first goal until her second game.
We’ve all watched our favorite players clambering down the stairs of the team bus looking relaxed and prepared, the very visage of concentration.
Making their way into the bowels of the stadium to make their final preparations before the match, there’s always one constant in their appearance: headphones.
The staple of the modern athlete, these hulking contraptions, along with a carefully crafted pre-game soccer playlist, blot out any external noise, allowing our heroes to stay focused on the task at hand.
What a man wears says a lot about him, or so they say. If that's true, we can learn a lot by examining Mexico World Cup kits from the past 50 years.
In a World Cup match with so many elements involved, many look to their national team's jersey for inspiration.
Team nicknames can be tricky things. American sports tend to struggle with this notion and usually opt for something generic, i.e. the Tennessee Titans. The NBA is especially guilty of meaningless nicknames. There aren’t too many bulls running the streets of Chicago, jazz musicians setting up shop in Utah, or grizzlies terrorizing Memphis. What draws so many to English football is the history, passion, and tribal following of each club. More often than not, Premier League nicknames are a reflection of a club’s identity and heritage.
Colombian James Rodriguez has nearly doubled his value in the transfer market since joining Real Madrid. Rodriguez has done this despite not having won La Liga, the Copa del Rey or the Champions League, and despite spending time away from the field due to injuries (he suffered a thigh tear with Colombia during the most recent international break and is expected to be out for several weeks).
Rodriguez’s career at Real Madrid so far seems to be all about numbers, so here are the 20 numbers we would use to explain how it’s gone so far for the young attacking mid.
It seems like just yesterday that Chelsea paraded their 5th Premier League title down Kings Road, and yet the start of the 2015-16 Barclays Premier League is already upon us.
Since the end of May you’ve likely spent your weekends visiting relatives, enjoying summer morning walks or leisurely breakfasts with your family. You might have taken up a new hobby or started volunteering at your local soup kitchen, or perhaps you’ve joined a book club to broaden your literary horizons.
As the Premier League comes to a close, The18 has compiled our ultimate XI team with the best players this season.