We’ve all heard the critique before, we’ve even been a party to it. Is Major League Soccer a retirement home for European stars seeking one final paycheck and the benefits of living in North America?
The answer to this question is clearly important with regards to the national, as well as global, perception of MLS.
World Cup 2014. USA vs Portugal. It's the 64th minute and Jermaine Jones picks up a loose ball following a corner. We all know what happened next.
Few players on the USMNT represented the American spirit better than Jermaine Jones. Sure, Tim Howard may have had the memes, but it was Jones whose indomitable presence and ferocious drive truly captured the feeling of that summer.
In 2006, Charlie Davies was the hottest prospect in all of American soccer. He’d returned from a knee injury suffered during his sophomore season with Boston College to score fifteen goals in sixteen games during his junior year. His performances made him a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, awarded to the top college soccer player, and had seen him included on the roster for the 2005 Elite Milk Cup competition.
One of the most talented young forwards in the history of the American game has officially joined Schalke 04, bringing a close to a deal that had been in the works since January.
Haji Wright, an 18-year-old from Los Angeles, California, has been on Schalke’s radar for years. However, he was unable to sign with the club, or any club abroad, until his 18th birthday, a milestone he reached on March 27. Wright and Schalke had agreed to terms earlier this year but he's finally been allowed to put pen to paper.
Bob Bradley has taken charge of some massive games over the course of his 35-year coaching career. The 58-year-old has captured an MLS Cup, two U.S. Open Cups and a CONCACAF Gold Cup. He led the United States to victories over Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup and to the top of group C at the 2010 World Cup.
He’s also been on the losing side of some of those momentous matches.
Mexico captain Andres Guardado will be out for several weeks after he suffered a thigh muscle strain in training ahead of PSV Eindhoven's game against AZ Alkmaar.
Guardado's injury couldn't come at a more inconvenient time for PSV, as they are two points behind Ajax with five games to play in the Eredivisie. Andres Guardado has been one of PSV's star players, and his trademark box-to-box style has given the Dutch side a solid spine to build off of.
On March 9, Clint Dempsey turned 33. George Best, Eric Cantona and Michel Platini all retired before reaching that milestone. Zinedine Zidane, Pele and Jurgen Klinsmann all retired at 34. With that in mind, you could forgive Dempsey for slowing down as he reaches the later stages of his playing career.
But Clint Dempsey would never forgive himself.
Dear Guatemala Football Federation,
I would like to personally offer a sincere danke schoen thank you for embarrassing my team Friday night in Guatemala City, beating us 2-0, and thus forcing me to make several changes to our squad. I learned so much from that butt-kicking on your home soil and that is precisely why we were able to beat you 4-0 in Columbus, Ohio Tuesday night. So, again, thank you!
Jesus "Tecatito" Corona is nicknamed after a famous Mexican beer. His play lives up to that nickname as he scored a beautiful goal that has football fans watching it on repeat. Mexico faced off against Canada at Estadio Azteca in the semi final round of CONCACAF WCQ. Mexico's professionalism and clinical skill on the pitch allowed for a high possession percentage and their attacking prowess created a penalty and Tecatito's clean finish.
No Chicharito goals in Mexico vs. Canada, but plenty to be happy about for El Tri, who remain undefeated in World Cup qualifying and clinch a spot in the hexagonal. Twitter has the rest.
Mexico starting XI: Corona, Aguilar, Araujo, Moreno, Layun, Herrera, Molina, Guardado, Fabian, Jimenez, Tecatito.
— ESPN FC Mexico (@ESPNFCtri) March 30, 2016