Friday's soccer news starts with the obvious. The World Cup concludes on Sunday (11am ET - Fox) with France vs Croatia and FIFA's president Gianni Infantino already letting us know that this is the best World Cup ever. Wait, what? "Since a couple of years I was saying that this will be the best World Cup ever," FIFA said. "Today I can say it even more, with more conviction... It is the best World . . .
Wins for NYCFC and Philadelphia
The soccer news starts with MLS action. NYCFC shutout Montreal 3-0 at Yankee Stadium. Jesus Medina put NYCFC up in the 60th minute and assisted on Ronald Matarrita's goal in the 65th. Matarrita assisted on Jonathan Lewis's goal in the 76th. Sean Johnson didn't need to make a save for the clean sheet with NYCFC outshooting Montreal 23 to 3 and putting 7 on goal to Montreal's 0. In the other MLS . . .
The Red Bulls and NYCFC hope for continuity
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Jul 6, 2018) US Soccer Players - It’s not often that a new era begins for soccer clubs in the middle of a season, though it happens more often in MLS than in most leagues around the world. The schedule played in the United States and Canada means that summer can bring big changes, even with teams already good, bad, or in-between. Usually, MLS-style big changes, the . . .
Juventus remembers to be a super club
The soccer news starts with something that seemed reserved for clubs outside of Serie A. That is until Italian champions Juventus went all in and set a new incoming transfer record in Italy. It cost them over $131m dollars to get Cristiano Ronaldo, and with it they sent a clear message. In an era of Premier League money and Spanish dominance in Europe, Juventus decided to play. It's not often . . .
The Champions League changes all over again
By J Hutcherson (Jul 10, 2018) US Soccer Players - The champions of Scotland began their 2018-19 season on Tuesday, with Celtic on the road in Armenia in the Champions League qualifiers. Yes, the same day two UEFA national teams meet in the World Cup semifinals in a European country, Europe's governing body needed to get on with their club competition. That the initial stage involves the winners . . .
DC United moves forward
DC United held their ribbon-cutting event to officially let everybody know that Audi Field is ready for its first MLS game. United's nice new home opens on Saturday when they host Vancouver, and with it the club sets new expectations. Those start immediately, with DC United needing to turn their back-loaded home schedule into points. Once again, the unbalanced schedule creates a slight opening . . .
Q&A with Sean Johnson: “We live to play games”
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jul 9, 2018) US Soccer Players – Look closely at how much New York City FC’s defense has improved in recent years and you’ll discover that one of the reasons involves goalkeeper Sean Johnson. In just his second season with NYCFC, Johnson has helped push the team to new heights. The 29-year-old shot-stopper had spent his entire career for the Chicago Fire, the team . . .
The World Cup where no one wants to be the favorite
It's easy to decide that the 2018 World Cup is France's to lose. They're the team playing the best soccer in the tougher bracket, the favorite against Belgium in the semifinals. That's for good reason. France is playing the type of soccer that sets them apart at a World Cup where nobody wants to be the favorite anymore. Favorites lose at this World Cup. The run of upsets took out Germany in the . . .
MLS Week 19: Atlanta wins on the road, NYCFC beats the Red Bulls
Week 19 of the 2018 MLS season resumed with Atlanta shutting out Philadelphia 2-0 on the road. Josef Martinez converted a 58th minute penalty and had the second assist on Hector Villalba's goal in the 76th. Brad Guzan made three saves to keep the clean sheet. "It was very important, a big bounce back game for us," Atlanta defender Michael Parkhurst said. "We have talked about how we do not want . . .
Pondering lessons for the USMNT from Russia 2018
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 6, 2018) US Soccer Players - It can take days, even weeks, for the most educated observer to thoroughly sift through the lessons of 90 minutes of high-level soccer, much less the entirety of a World Cup. Watching the growing ranks of teams eliminated from Russia 2018, it's tempting to try to make sense of their experience. What's there to learn for the USMNT, . . .
