By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jan 25, 2021) US Soccer Players – The eyes of the soccer world will be on Qatar next week with the start of the FIFA Club World Cup. The 17th edition of the tournament officially kicks off February 4, originally scheduled for this past December, but postponed because of the pandemic. What in theory crowns the world club champion is closer to reality a tournament . . .
Weston McKennie’s numbers
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jan 18, 2021) US Soccer Players – Having American players break into Serie A has been one of the most difficult things for any USMNT player to achieve. Alexi Lalas became the first in the modern era following his breakout 1994 World Cup on US soil. In the ensuing years, Michael Bradley did well at Chievo Verona and later at Roma. Otherwise, there have been few . . .
MLS in the January 2021 transfer market
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jan 11, 2021) US Soccer Players – The new year brings with it the wheeling and dealing of the January transfer market. That allows European clubs, many in need of reinforcements, to add or drop players to their rosters before embarking on the last half of the season. MLS, in the middle of their off season, should feel at least some impact from what takes place over . . .
The USMNT in 2021
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jan 4, 2020) US Soccer Players – The start of the year brings with it a new set of challenges for the USMNT. 2020 largely grounded the National Team, allowing them to play just four games after the pandemic disrupted the soccer calendar and ultimately halted all sports. That means that 2021 is full of games and tournaments that could have a lasting impact on this . . .
The 2021 soccer schedule
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 28, 2020) US Soccer Players – 2020 was an unprecedented year loaded with obstacles, rescheduled games, and health protocols. Even when soccer came back, it wasn't the same. Tournaments played in bubbles, no fans allowed into stadiums, and piped in crowd noise became common this year. Despite all of this, enough of the games continued to create a new normal. . . .
The top 5 MLS jerseys
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 21, 2020) US Soccer Players – Soccer jerseys can be iconic or ugly, classic or colorful, and oftentimes attempts at triggering nostalgia. Aside from the built-in market of fans that will buy whatever their team is wearing, jersey sales are the real metric of what people like and what they don't. A nice infographic explaining why this shirt is special only goes . . .
MLS 2020 in review
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 14, 2020) US Soccer Players – It took nearly 300 days, a tournament played in a bubble, and the remainder of the season with no or limited fans in the stands to finally end the 2020 season, the longest and oddest in MLS history. In a year where the league celebrated its 25th year, Major League Soccer marked a most unusual season. How could it not be the case . . .
The 4-2-3-1 worked in the 2020 MLS playoffs
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 7, 2020) US Soccer Players – Teams around the world have spent the past few years embracing the 4-2-3-1 formation. The tactic has been successful in MLS as a majority of teams now use it. Like all tactics, teams often don't remain in such a rigid formation for the entire match. Depending on injuries, the score, and other factors, teams often morph into other . . .
The Ben Millers helped American soccer move West
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Nov 30, 2020) US Soccer Players – Given how many soccer clubs have come and gone over the history of the sport in the United States, it's easy to focus on the most memorable. A handful of clubs can dominate an era. The further back you go, the easier it is to summarize a decade or two of American soccer history with names like Bethlehem Steel or the Fall River . . .
The 2020 Thanksgiving soccer guide
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Nov 23, 2020) US Soccer Players – The gridiron version of football is synonymous with Thanksgiving. It's a tradition that dates back to the late 1800s and something the National Football League adopted in 1934. Football, however, isn't the only sport available over the four-day weekend. Streaming services, changing habits, and a global schedule have made soccer . . .
