By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jun 27, 2022) US Soccer Players – After the pandemic suspended the regular European preseason touring schedule, the summer of soccer has returned to the United States. While Major League Soccer offers games that count, the summer touring schedule provides the opportunity to see some of the biggest clubs in the world here rather than there. In a summer with no major . . .
Waiting on the September FIFA window
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jun 20, 2022) US Soccer Players – The June international window is over. The schedule of friendlies and Nations League games for both Concacaf and UEFA have filled the time for many of us after most of the European seasons finished. Those European leagues will be back in action when the calendar breaks again for the September window, the last national team games . . .
Three games in for the USMNT in the June, 2022 window
By Clemente Lisi – AUSTIN, TX (Jun 13, 2022) US Soccer Players – The USMNT is close to wrapping up its FIFA window of friendlies and Nations League matches. After Tuesday's road game against El Salvador, the Americans will play two more September friendlies before the start of the World Cup. The games played over the past two weeks gave us the chance to see part of a unique process en route to . . .
The changing perception of soccer in the United States
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jun 6, 2022) US Soccer Players – It was 20 years ago that the USMNT stunned the world and reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup. The 2002 Korea/Japan edition of the tournament was a turning point for the team and soccer as a whole in this country. It showed the world that, for the first time in the modern era, the USMNT could compete at a very high level. It . . .
Preview: The 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (May 30, 2022) US Soccer Players – The USMNT will play games that matter this month with the start of the Concacaf Nations League. The tournament, now in its second edition, will culminate next summer. This June is the start of the league phase, continuing during the March 2023 international window. For the United States and other World Cup-bound teams, the . . .
The USMNT faces an interesting June schedule
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (May 23, 2022) US Soccer Players – It’s going to be an unusual soccer summer. With the World Cup pushed to the winter, the countries that have qualified for the finals need to use this window. In the case of the United States, that means a June schedule with two friendlies and the start of the Concacaf Nations League. The USMNT begins camp for a key period as . . .
5 USMNT players closing out interesting seasons in Europe
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (May 16, 2022) US Soccer Players – The European domestic seasons are drawing to a close. The remaining weeks of May will determine league champions, which teams will play in European competition next season, and promotion and relegation. Once again, several Americans are involved in these key matches. American players plying their trade outside the United States . . .
Seattle’s MLS situation
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (May 9, 2022) US Soccer Players – Seattle Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer is so successful in part because he truly worries about the little things. Whether it's scribbling notes on a pad during games or watching hours of videotape in between matches, Schmetzer is always concerned about what comes next. The Sounders made history last Wednesday night by defeating . . .
MLS goalkeeping continues to impress in 2022
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (May 2, 2022) US Soccer Players – MLS has no shortage of great goalkeepers. It never has. This country has turned developing goalkeepers into almost a cliche. Add to that recruiting from overseas, and there's an expectation in Major League Soccer. A competitive team needs a standout goalkeeper. That's already holding in 2022. For an MLS side to be successful, the . . .
Mixed results so far in 2022 for Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto
By Clemente Lisi – MONTREAL, CA (Apr 25, 2022) US Soccer Players – Scores of fans streamed out of Stade Saputo on a chilly April evening in Montreal. They'd just watched the hometown CF Montreal defeat Canadian rivals Vancouver Whitecaps in what was a riveting 2-1 game. The encounter was the first all-Canadian match-up of the 2022 season. The state of the game in Canada is very good, especially . . .
