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 . . .
MLS is Back: 5 things before the final
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 10, 2020) US Soccer Players – The MLS is Back Tournament is ready to crown a winner. Despite the pandemic and the safety protocols that came with it, the league was able to pull off the tournament in Orlando. What seemed like an impossibility just a few months back, the competition allowed for MLS to return, albeit in a different form, for much of the summer. . . .
The interim tag in MLS
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 3, 2020) US Soccer Players – The MLS is Back Tournament had its first coaching casualty when Atlanta United FC parted ways with Frank de Boer. In his place, the team promoted Stephen Glass as interim. Glass, who coached USL side ATL UTD 2, takes over while the team conducts a coaching search. Moving on from de Boer seems bold, but going 0-3 last month at MLS is . . .
MLS is Back already tells a story
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jul 27, 2020) US Soccer Players – The MLS is Back Tournament rolls into the quarterfinals this week. What we got in the first round were some high-scoring games and last-minute epic comebacks. Aside from a few rough starts and teams that never got out of first gear, the tournament has not disappointed. With the competition entering the knockout stage, we can expect . . .
5 standout American players in Europe in 2019-20
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jul 20, 2020) US Soccer Players – The final weeks of the European domestic season have never stretched this far into the summer. The pandemic forced the season to take a three-month break that spanned the spring, pushing the domestic calendar into July and the Champions League to August. Once again, Americans played an increasingly important role at various clubs . . .
