By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON DC (Aug 11, 2017) US Soccer Players - MLS closed its summer transfer window with a bang this week. Several current and former USMNT players found themselves at the center of the action. The process offered up a timely snapshot of the many and nuanced ways in which the domestic league both fosters and frustrates this country's players. For the players, it can be a . . .
Notes from the 2017 MLS All-Star Game
By Charles Boehm – CHICAGO, IL (Aug 4, 2017) US Soccer Players - The usual bells, whistles, and fireworks featured as Major League Soccer held its 2017 All-Star Game at Soldier Field on Wednesday. As others have written on these pages, this annual occasion is neither perfect nor putrid. It’s equal parts exhibition, party, and tent pole for myriad related gatherings and events. Most importantly . . .
The tenacious simplicity of Bruce Arena wins again
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 28, 2017) US Soccer Players - The USMNT are Gold Cup champions for a sixth time. It’s an accomplishment to celebrate, regardless of the misgivings surrounding this tournament. That much was clear to see on the faces of US players young and old as they hoisted CONCACAF’s hulking hardware at Levi’s Stadium late Wednesday night. For Jordan Morris, it marks the . . .
Worst Gold Cup ever?
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 21, 2017) US Soccer Players - Like many readers, your correspondent has grown up in a sustained era of soccer’s growth in North America. Every year the game grows bigger and more popular than the last, it seems, leading us to take for granted that the future will be brighter than the past. The 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup is doing its best to cure us of all that . . .
The USMNT and the highs and lows of experiments
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 13, 2017) US Soccer Players - Most likely, the USMNT won’t look back particularly fondly on Wednesday’s 3-2 Gold Cup win over Martinique. The underdogs roared, while the favorites fumbled, forced to sweat out a result that most expected to be a one-sided victory. A largely plodding first half gave way to a suddenly white-knuckle second, leaving many fans . . .
Five questions as the USMNT kicks off their 2017 Gold Cup run
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 7, 2017) US Soccer Players - An exciting but relatively green USMNT side kicks off the hunt for Gold Cup hardware with their Group B opener vs Panama in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday (4:30pm ET - Fox). Can the Yanks secure their sixth title in this tournament, reclaim regional bragging rights and generate momentum for a packed year ahead? Here are a few . . .
Much to gain, little to lose for USMNT in July
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jun 29, 2017) US Soccer Players - Many of us who watch soccer often try to remind ourselves that it’s just a game. Normally, that's met with limited success, but at its core soccer is a source of recreation and joy. At its uppermost levels we do tend to pile it high with meaning and intensity and consequence. Particularly at the international level, where . . .
Recalibrating our ideas about lower division American soccer
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jun 23, 2017) US Soccer Players - They arrived by the hundreds, some hours early even on a weeknight. Their vehicles backed up for miles down the small country roads and residential streets like the crowds flocking to the baseball diamond in “Field of Dreams.” The bucolic little stadium simply wasn’t ready for their numbers. The entry lines stretched easily a . . .
Jurgen and Bruce: The American soccer rift that’s here to stay
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jun 16, 2017) US Soccer Players - Sunday’s 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with Mexico at Estadio Azteca is a great result by any measure, regardless of the circumstances or personnel involved. While there’s ample work still ahead, the USMNT can now consider itself to be back on course for Russia 2018 after last fall’s queasy wobbles. Some concerns die off more . . .
Preview: USMNT heads to Mexico City with points, confidence, rhythm
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jun 9, 2017) US Soccer Players - The USMNT continue to shift through the gears under Bruce Arena. Thursday night’s 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago set the team up well for Sunday’s much anticipated grudge match against Mexico at Estadio Azteca. Bruce Arena will be happy to have bagged three points while building momentum for the weekend’s clash. It's a . . .
