Thursday's soccer news starts with another tournament and another round of complaints over the state of officiating in the contemporary game. In other words, there's more complaints about Video Assistant Replay, aka VAR, instant replay for an American audience. As usual, it's when the referee heads to the sidelines to pick apart whether or not a goal was offside, if there was a handball, or enough . . .
The final round of Concacaf World Cup qualifying
Wednesday's soccer news starts with the final three places in the final round of Concacaf World Cup qualifying. The Octagonal is set with the USMNT opening at El Salvador on September 2. El Salvador advanced 6-0 on aggregate after beating Saint Kitts and Nevis 2-0 at home. Joshua Perez scored in the 24th with Gerson Mayen doubling the lead in the 87th. The USMNT hosts Canada in their second . . .
Denmark’s Kasper Hjulmand: “You don’t necessarily find good leadership in the protocols”
By J Hutcherson (Jun 15, 2021) US Soccer Players - On Saturday, UEFA needed to address the immediate aftermath of a medical emergency. Denmark's Christian Erikson had collapsed on the field with a teammate immediately seeing the severity of the situation. What followed was a life-saving intervention that involved players, medical staff, and the fans with the presence of mind to throw their flags . . .
MLS players in EURO 2020 and the Copa America
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jun 14, 2021) US Soccer Players – It's a makeup summer in 2021, loaded with international tournaments due to the pandemic delay of the European Championship and Copa America. After taking two weeks off, MLS will resume play in the midst of the group stage of both competitions. Although some of its biggest stars will be on national team duty throughout the month and . . .
Concacaf qualifying about to set the Octagonal
Monday's soccer news starts with the second-legs of the second round of 2022 Concacaf World Cup qualifying. This is the home and away series that sets the remaining spots in the Octagonal final round. The USMNT is waiting on the result of Saint Kitts and Nevis vs El Salvador to determine their opening qualifier, with El Salvador already up 4-0 before Tuesday's deciding leg in San Salvador. At . . .
The National Soccer Hall of Fame takes a needed step
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jun 11, 2021) US Soccer Players - The first word that comes to mind with the 2021 class for the National Soccer Hall of Fame is "finally." For a pair of the figures announced as inductees on Wednesday, there's no other word that better captures the feeling. The wait has been long, but finally, their time has come. The list read: Christie Pearce Rampone, Steve . . .
Taking stock of the USMNT’s tactical identity after Concacaf Nations League
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jun 11, 2021) US Soccer Players - Before Sunday's Concacaf Nations League final, the last time the USMNT played Mexico was in September of 2019. That was a high-profile friendly at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Back then, coach Gregg Berhalter insisted on building play out of the back despite El Tri's fierce high press. The result was a 3-0 Mexico win keyed by . . .
MLS back in action with one game
Friday's soccer news starts with the return of Major League Soccer after the Nations League break for all of one game. In a push for interest against EURO 2020 and the Copa America. Mexico vs Honduras, and Canada in World Cup qualifying on the 12 and 15, it's only Sporting Kansas City vs Austin this weekend. It's a Western Conference match-up between 2nd-place and 11th, with Austin remaining on . . .
A friendly win helps further define the USMNT offense
Thursday's soccer news starts with the USMNT's 4-0 shutout of Costa Rica in Utah. The next time we'll see a version of the USMNT like this one, World Cup qualifying points will be on the line. With that in mind, USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter made significant changes while stressing the offense in the last game of the Nations League window. With trophy in hand, the USMNT looked dangerous from the . . .
Carlos Vela, Chicharito, and El Tri
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jun 9, 2021) US Soccer Players - When the Mexican national team played the US in the Concacaf Nations League final on Sunday, it may have seemed natural that the LA Galaxy and LAFC's biggest name attacking players would be in the El Tri squad. For good reasons too. Carlos Vela, a former MLS Most Valuable Player, is one of the most talented players in the league. . . .
