Monday's soccer news starts with Jesse Marsch coaching Red Bull Salzburg to the 2019-20 Austrian Bundesliga title. Marsch's championship represents another accomplishment for American coaching development. Before leaving the New York Red Bulls for an assistant role at RB Leipzig and then the head coaching job at Salzburg, Marsch played and coached exclusively in Major League Soccer and with the . . .
5 things to watch in a European club summer
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jun 22, 2020) US Soccer Players – This past weekend felt normal again. Europe's biggest domestic leagues were all in action after a three-month hiatus following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. This new normal for soccer will mean a summer packed with games that matter. Gone are the meaningless friendlies. Instead, the Bundesliga, Premier League, La Liga, . . .
How good was Manchester United in 1998-99?
By J Hutcherson (June 2, 2020) US Soccer Players - On May 26, 1999, Manchester United scored twice in stoppage time to win the Champions League. It's a classic moment in large part because so many people around the world saw it live. Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel running up the field to join the United attack. Bayern Munich trying to shake off that equalizer only to see United set . . .
The Premier League reportedly sets a date
Thursday's soccer news starts with a familiar topic with the Premier League holding a Friday meeting to try to figure out if they can resume the 2019-20 season. It's the same scenario, with no clear pathway to returning to enough of a normal where closed door games make sense. Short of government decree banning games even without fans, the Premier League and the rest of Europe's major leagues are . . .
How good was Aston Villa in 1981-82?
By J Hutcherson (Apr 14, 2020) US Soccer Players - English clubs put together a run of European champions from 1976-77 through 1981-82, and it was the last one that was the biggest surprise. Aston Villa entered the tournament after finishing four points ahead of Ipswich Town with Arsenal, West Brom, and Liverpool rounding out the top five in 1980-81. They would finish 11th in 1981-82. A team that . . .
ICC cancels 2020 tournament
Monday's soccer news starts with the International Champions Cup becoming the latest soccer event to exit the 2020 summer schedule. The organizers of the ICC announced on Saturday that its regular summer tour was off due to the pandemic. With European clubs likely to need the summer if they can finish their domestic seasons, the likelihood of availability for summer touring seemed low. In a . . .
Soccer without fans
Monday's soccer news starts with the push to resume the club schedule in Europe. The likeliest way that would happen is playing games without fans, something that was already occurring before the suspension of the schedule. Perhaps the only thing stranger than playing games in empty stadiums is not playing at all, the reality for sports leagues around the world right now. Finding a way to get the . . .
Belgium and the Champions League
Friday's soccer news starts with UEFA not at all happy that Belgium went ahead and canceled the rest of their season. The Pro League still has time to reconsider their decision to keep the table as it is, sacrificing the final game of the regular season and giving up on their convoluted playoffs. The Netherlands is also considering calling time on the Eredivisie, a league with two teams tied at . . .
What happens with the 2019-20 Champions League?
Thursday's soccer news starts with more on the economics of suspended seasons. European soccer is in a situation where there may or may not be a hard June 30 deadline to complete the current seasons, with leagues and governing bodies reportedly considering options past that point. Finishing the 2019-20 season appears to be a priority across European soccer, pushing against the scenarios that have . . .
EURO 2020 and Copa America postponed to next summer
Tuesday's soccer news starts with UEFA and CONMEBOL responding to the need for a compressed club schedule by pushing EURO 2020 and the 2020 Copa America to the summer of 2021. Both tournaments are now on the schedule for June 11 - July 11, 2021. "It is an extraordinary measure for an unexpected situation, and therefore responds to the fundamental need to avoid an exponential evolution of the . . .
