By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 14, 2017) US Soccer Players – The long, hot summer of preseason friendlies and nonsensical curtain-raiser Super Cup matches has finally given way to the start of the domestic season across most of Europe’s five major domestic leagues. With France and England already underway, with Germany, Italy and Spain soon to follow, it’s time to take stock of Americans . . .
Tommy McNamara: “It’s good for the league”
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 7, 2017) US Soccer Players – Tommy McNamara is one of those MLS players with cult hero status. Despite being on a star-studded New York City FC team that includes David Villa and Andrea Pirlo, McNamara is often the standout player. He’s become a fan favorite because of his work ethic and dedication to his team. He’s the blue-collar star that the Yankee Stadium . . .
Who won the 2017 summer of soccer?
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (July 31, 2017) US Soccer Players – You would never think we were in the midst of any sort of a summer break with all the soccer played in July. Europe’s major domestic competitions may be in the midst of preseason, but friendlies between top clubs kept interest going. Domestically, there was MLS and the Gold Cup to keep fans glued to their TVs. With high-profile . . .
Preview: USMNT vs Jamaica
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (July 24, 2017) US Soccer Players – This summer's edition of the Gold Cup has been a strange one. Favorites such as the United States and Mexico, who fielded a B team, had struggled big time during much of the tournament. CONCACAF had egg on its face following the incident with French Guiana fielding Florent Malouda knowing he was ineligible. El Salvador displayed . . .
The MLS response to soccer analytics
By Clemente Lisi – PHILADELPHIA, PA (July 17, 2017) US Soccer Players – The Gold Cup break gives MLS teams a mid-season breather. For some, it couldn't come at a better time. The season still has enough left in it to turn things around. It's likely that trying to figure out how to win games will include the use of analytics and data to help the front office and coaches come to some . . .
What can Canada do at the 2017 Gold Cup?
By Clemente Lisi – HARRISON, NJ (July 10, 2017) US Soccer Players – For better or worse, the fortunes of Canada’s National Team program rest with MLS. Nine players on the Gold Cup roster play their club ball in Major League Soccer. That's the second-most in the tournament behind the USMNT. With that in mind, Canada's Gold Cup is also a referendum on what MLS is doing for players north of the . . .
Three reasons why the USMNT can win the 2017 Gold Cup
By Clemente Lisi – EAST HARTFORD, CT (Jul 3, 2017) US Soccer Players – The start of a major tournament such as the Gold Cup is a great time to take the National Team’s temperature. Along with Mexico, the United States has dominated the continental competition since CONCACAF re-branded it in 1991. With the Gold Cup semifinal loss to Jamaica two years ago still fresh on the minds of many, anything . . .
American soccer as the family business
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jun 26, 2017) US Soccer Players – Soccer can often be a family affair. Parents pass down the love for the game to their sons and daughters in a variety of forms. From coaching their child’s teams on Saturday morning to watching the World Cup on television, soccer’s widespread popularity builds on these rituals. In other cases, the sport has become a family . . .
In or out for the 2018 World Cup
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jun 19, 2017) US Soccer Players – The World Cup is only a year away. The party in Russia began this past Saturday with the Confederations Cup. The tournament, a dress rehearsal for next year’s month-long bonanza, serves a dual purpose. It gives organizers a chance to iron out any problems as well as get the marketing hype going. For the teams participating, it’s a . . .
The US Open Cup Fourth Round goes regional
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jun 12, 2017) US Soccer Players – The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup may be the country’s oldest club tournament, but it is often treated like an inconvenience. Akin to the domestic cups of Europe, the tournament is similar that it is open to professional and amateur clubs alike. The pros usually win in the end. Still, lower division teams have pulled off an upset or two . . .
