Going from 1st to 5th in the Premier League was likely to lead to changes at Chelsea. That's the polite way to say that not staging a competitive defense of their title would lead to yet another manager. In this case, head coach Antonio Conte making way for Maurizio Sarri. Chelsea made the Sarri hiring official over the weekend, once again drawing a line underneath a successful period that didn't . . .
France at the top of world soccer
Monday's soccer news starts with the World Cup finale. France took the title 4-2 over Croatia in a game that left world soccer wondering what they'd seen from the new champions. France spent much of the game looking like a team unwilling to fully commit. Croatia ended with more possession 66% to 34%, twice the shots 14 to 7, 528 passes to 289, and higher passing accuracy 83% to 68%. Where France . . .
MLS Week 20: DC United opens stadium with a win
We start the MLS Week 20 review with DC United playing at home for the first time this season. After two "home" games earlier this year at borrowed stadiums, DC United opened Audi Field in week 20 with a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. The game also marked the debut of designated player Wayne Rooney. Yamil Asad scored the first goal at Audi Field, putting DC up in the 27th minute. Paul . . .
Saying so long to the 2018 World Cup
Friday's soccer news starts with the obvious. The World Cup concludes on Sunday (11am ET - Fox) with France vs Croatia and FIFA's president Gianni Infantino already letting us know that this is the best World Cup ever. Wait, what? "Since a couple of years I was saying that this will be the best World Cup ever," FIFA said. "Today I can say it even more, with more conviction... It is the best World . . .
Wins for NYCFC and Philadelphia
The soccer news starts with MLS action. NYCFC shutout Montreal 3-0 at Yankee Stadium. Jesus Medina put NYCFC up in the 60th minute and assisted on Ronald Matarrita's goal in the 65th. Matarrita assisted on Jonathan Lewis's goal in the 76th. Sean Johnson didn't need to make a save for the clean sheet with NYCFC outshooting Montreal 23 to 3 and putting 7 on goal to Montreal's 0. In the other MLS . . .
Big wins for the Galaxy and LAFC point to something more
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 11, 2018) US Soccer Players - The World Cup offered MLS teams a bit of downtime. A couple of weekends without league matches meant teams could focus on sorting out their issues, helping new players get acclimated to their teams, and work on getting ready for the summer and a push toward the playoffs. For the LA Galaxy and LAFC, the break also meant sending some . . .
The Red Bulls and NYCFC hope for continuity
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Jul 6, 2018) US Soccer Players - It’s not often that a new era begins for soccer clubs in the middle of a season, though it happens more often in MLS than in most leagues around the world. The schedule played in the United States and Canada means that summer can bring big changes, even with teams already good, bad, or in-between. Usually, MLS-style big changes, the . . .
Juventus remembers to be a super club
The soccer news starts with something that seemed reserved for clubs outside of Serie A. That is until Italian champions Juventus went all in and set a new incoming transfer record in Italy. It cost them over $131m dollars to get Cristiano Ronaldo, and with it they sent a clear message. In an era of Premier League money and Spanish dominance in Europe, Juventus decided to play. It's not often . . .
The Champions League changes all over again
By J Hutcherson (Jul 10, 2018) US Soccer Players - The champions of Scotland began their 2018-19 season on Tuesday, with Celtic on the road in Armenia in the Champions League qualifiers. Yes, the same day two UEFA national teams meet in the World Cup semifinals in a European country, Europe's governing body needed to get on with their club competition. That the initial stage involves the winners . . .
DC United moves forward
DC United held their ribbon-cutting event to officially let everybody know that Audi Field is ready for its first MLS game. United's nice new home opens on Saturday when they host Vancouver, and with it the club sets new expectations. Those start immediately, with DC United needing to turn their back-loaded home schedule into points. Once again, the unbalanced schedule creates a slight opening . . .
