The soccer news starts with the January FIFA Rankings. The USMNT fell one spot to 25th in a month where there was no movement in the top 14. The USMNT played no games over the ranking period. Germany spends another month in the top spot in the FIFA Rankings, ahead of Brazil in 2nd and Portugal in 3rd-place. Argentina and Belgium round out the top five. Mexico is the top team in CONCACAF, down a . . .
USMNT interim coach Dave Sarachan on January camp
The soccer news starts with the USMNT in camp in Carson. In a mixed zone session distributed to the media, USMNT interim coach Dave Sarachan spoke about the focus for January camp. With a group of 29 players looking for an opportunity in the wake of not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, the coaching staff called in players who haven't gotten a lot of look at senior level. "The past is the past," . . .
Chicago and San Jose’s seasons
Thursday's soccer news starts with the problem scenario for MLS teams in the knockout round. It's already an issue when making the playoffs ends up meaning just one extra game. Even more so when that extra game turns into a lopsided loss. Step up Chicago, 4-0 losers at home to the Red Bulls, and San Jose who lost 5-0 at Vancouver. How you went out certainly counts, threatening to cast a shadow . . .
Red Bulls and Whitecaps advance in the MLS playoffs
The New York Red Bulls shutout the Chicago Fire 4-0 at Toyota Park in the first knockout round game of the 2017 MLS playoffs. Bradley-Wright Phillips put the Red Bulls up in the 7th minute, assisting on Sacha Kljestan's goal in the 11th. Daniel Royer scored in the 70th with Kljestan assisting on Gonzalo Veron's goal in the 87th. New York goalkeeper Luis Robles kept the clean sheet with four saves. . . .
Chicago home and away
Thursday's soccer news starts with the Montreal Impact shutting out the Chicago Fire 3-0 at Saputo Stadium. Ignacio Piatti opened the scoring in the 6th minute. Matteo Mancosu doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 37th with Piatti scoring again a minute later. Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush kept the clean sheet with two saves. "First, congratulations to Montreal, especially in the first . . .
Chicago keeps it going
Monday's soccer news starts with the Chicago Fire adding three more points near the top of the Eastern Conference table. Chicago won their ninth home game in a row, beating New England 4-1. They're 2nd in the East, three points behind Toronto with a game in hand. "I think the team knows how to play and the team knows our identity," Chicago coach Veljko Paunovic said. "The team, especially at . . .
Comeback in Liga MX, win for Chicago
Friday's soccer news starts with the scores. The Liga MX Clausura final opened with Tigres coming back against Chivas to draw 2-2. Tigres fell behind at home to an Alan Pulido goal in the 23rd minute. Rodolfo Pizarro doubled Chivas's lead in the 42nd. Andre Pierre Gignac scored for Tigres in the 85th and equalized three minutes later. There's no away goals rule in the final series, so the . . .
Pressure in MLS
Two views on the MLS experience starts Wednesday's soccer news. The Mirror's Alex Smith has Chicago Fire midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger's comments about quality of play in MLS. FC Yahoo's Leander Schaerlaeckens talks to Atlanta United coach Tata Martino about lower pressure in MLS. It's tough to argue against either point. From an elite player perspective, MLS is still a league known for work . . .
Bastian Schweinsteiger in the new era of the MLS Designated Player
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Apr 10, 2017) US Soccer Players – It was a decade ago that David Beckham left Real Madrid and signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy, ushering in the era of the Designated Player for MLS. The move shown a global spotlight on Major League Soccer at the time, while sparking a surge in jersey sales and unprecedented growth in attendance. Everywhere the Galaxy played, fans . . .
Schweinsteiger in Chicago
Bastian Schweinsteiger got in some training and met what passes for the media in Chicago. Some decided to go ahead and prove that there are such a thing as stupid questions, asking if the Fire could win the World Cup and whether or not the internationally retired Schweinsteiger hoped to regain his spot with Germany. Aside from that, it was what we've come to expect from the big name international . . .
