By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Oct 19, 2020) US Soccer Players – The UEFA Champions League is the world’s biggest club competition. The tournament’s rebranding in 1992 brought with it more clubs from each country, a revamped format featuring more games and an injection of TV revenue. The planet’s best players want to take part in the Champions League, the de facto world championship for club . . .
Are fouls the key stat in MLS?
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Oct 12, 2020) US Soccer Players – The MLS regular season is nearing its end. The top of the Eastern Conference has been a battle between the Columbus Crew and Toronto FC. Over in the Western Conference, Seattle and Portland are fighting for 1st-place, adding a new chapter to this decades old Northwest rivalry. Eighteen teams will make the MLS playoffs in this . . .
USMNT players in Portugal
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Oct 5, 2020) US Soccer Players – Mention American players and Portugal, and what instantly comes to mind is the 2002 World Cup. It was at that tournament that the United States defeated Portugal 3-2 to open the group stage. That victory helped the USMNT to ultimately reach the quarterfinals, the program's best finish since 1930. Portugal has been a destination for . . .
Preview: The 2021 Gold Cup draw
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sep 28, 2020) US Soccer Players – The 2021 Gold Cup will mark the tournament's 16th edition. At the same time, the tournament will celebrate 30 years of existence. Over those three decades, the competition has both morphed and evolved with the times while making Concacaf teams more competitive at the World Cup. It's that evolving nature that, pandemic allowing, . . .
Good and bad as MLS enters phase two
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sep 21, 2020) US Soccer Players – A month into the restart of the MLS season and some trends are beginning to come into sharper focus. While the pandemic has made this an unusual season for sports across the globe, MLS has been able to persevere in a year notable for marking its 25th season in existence. MLS has been through tough times before, but nothing like . . .
5 Americans to watch in Europe in 2020-21
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sep 14, 2020) US Soccer Players – A new European soccer season is here following last season’s coronavirus-delayed schedule. As usual, there are many Americans scattered across the continent looking to make an impact for their clubs. While the potential for the coronavirus pandemic halting this season looms, Europe's leagues press forward. The season has already . . .
The early club calendar in Europe
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sep 7, 2020) US Soccer Players – The European season is upon us just a few weeks after the Champions League final ended the previous season. The pandemic pause pushed the conclusion of the continent's top leagues into the summer, forcing the Champions League to become a single-elimination event in August. What that means is a very short preseason as leagues start . . .
The summer soccer TV ratings
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 31, 2020) US Soccer Players – Modern sports can’t exist without television. The explosion of satellite TV two decades ago and later the internet helped fuel soccer’s growth in this country. While fans still enjoy attending games in person, the ongoing pandemic has put a hold on that experience for millions. In what has been an unusual year for the game and . . .
Bayern Munich’s tactics reset expectations in Europe and beyond
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 24, 2020) US Soccer Players – The European season officially came to an end Sunday with the Champions League final in Lisbon. The biggest club tournament on the planet crowned Bayern Munich continental champions for a sixth time following a 1-0 win against PSG. The tournament concluded almost three months later than usual after the coronavirus pandemic put the . . .
FC Dallas and Nashville’s unique situation
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 17, 2020) US Soccer Players – The MLS regular season officially returned with two teams we hadn't seen play since March, FC Dallas and Nashville SC. Major League Soccer dropped both teams from the MLS is Back Tournament after players tested positive for the coronavirus. Missing out on the three group stage games that also counted in the league standings, they . . .
