By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 10, 2021) US Soccer Players - It was just yesterday that USMNT and FC Dallas striker Ricardo Pepi was a precocious talent emerging from the Texas border town of El Paso. Okay, so “yesterday” is a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much. Pepi’s rise from local kid with potential to national team star happened so quickly that most of us just missed it. While some . . .
The issues for Major League Soccer’s Texas trio
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 1, 2021) US Soccer Players - As tourism efforts like to remind us, "Everything is bigger in Texas." The phrase is likely rooted in the state's sheer size, but it applies to many areas of life for Texans. Nobody does it bigger than Texas, with "it" standing in for food, football, and much more. Soccer, however, probably doesn't belong on the list. At least . . .
The MLS player development model is working for the league
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 20, 2021) US Soccer Players - Major League Soccer's evolution as a "selling league" in the parlance of the world soccer market is a net positive. For the first time in its history, MLS is fully engaging with the international market for players. Long little more than an occasional buyer of relatively cheap and/or over-the-hill talent, MLS is now a provider of . . .
Did FC Dallas make a Western Conference statement?
Monday's soccer news starts with FC Dallas beating New England 2-1 at home with both goals from Ricardo Pepi. With the win, Dallas moves up into a group of clubs tied on 10 points, 11th in the table but with a game in hand over 10th-place San Jose. In other words, the win makes Dallas slightly better than bad in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, New England remains top of the East with a . . .
Title droughts can define a soccer club… until they don’t
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jun 2, 2021) US Soccer Players - Something momentous happened on Sunday in Mexico. Something momentous in soccer and, for a long-siffering fan base, something momentous in their lives. Cruz Azul won a championship. If you don't know much about the history of the Mexico City club, you might not know that until Sunday, Cruz Azul was cursed. Okay, "cursed" might . . .
Another step for Juventus, goal for Novakovich
Wednesday's soccer news starts with Weston McKennie's Juventus advancing to the 2020-21 Coppa Italia final. McKennie subbed on in the 63rd minute of the 0-0 home draw with Inter Milan, advancing 2-1 on aggregate. The final of the Coppa Italia isn't until May 19. Juventus will play the winner of the Napoli vs Atalanta series that finishes later today. "I hoped to get to this stage of my debut . . .
The uniqueness of the FC Dallas and Bayern Munich relationship
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 6, 2021) US Soccer Players - We've lost many things during the pandemic. Nights out, large family gatherings, eating restaurant food inside. For kids across the country, that list included going to school. Even those kids who are getting in-person instruction in some measure have seen other parts of the school experience sacrificed because of the virus. Far . . .
Seattle does the expected in the West
Wednesday's soccer news starts with Seattle advancing in the Western Conference playoffs. The Sounders knocked out FC Dallas 1-0 at home from a 49th minute Seattle goalkeeper Shane O'Neill goal. Stefan Frei kept the clean sheet without having to make a save. "Very very pleased for Shane," Seattle coach Brian Schmetzer said. "He's worked hard all year long. We actually practiced that set piece and . . .
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 . . .
FC Dallas and Nashville SC face a unique situation
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 5, 2020) US Soccer Players - While the rest of Major League Soccer played its way through an impromptu and unprecedented tournament in Orlando, two clubs watched from home. Now that MLS Is Back is down to the final four teams and will wrap up with a championship game next week, those two clubs, FC Dallas and Nashville SC, can move on from "what if" to what . . .
