Matt Jones

For all the glamor that accompanies the Copa America, one of the most enjoyable facets of the tournament’s crazy set up is how it enhances the possibility for less illustrious sides to put together a prosperous run. This quarter-final clash between Peru and Bolivia is testament to that. The former split group winners Brazil and […]

Gerard Deulofeu possesses many rare skills. The young winger can render opposition players ornamental with his array of attributes: quick feet, searing pace and a brash soccer arrogance that so often accompanies those that have had their game refined at Barcelona’s La Masia academy. But the Spaniard is curiously divisive. Indeed, now that he has signed for […]

There may well be a backdrop of festering smog in Santiago for the first Copa America quarter-final on Wednesday, but there’s little gloomy about the mood of the Chilean public as their team gear up for the last eight showdown with Uruguay. In a tournament that has been laced with inexplicable moments of madness, the […]

Up to this point, the Copa America has delivered on its reputation for chaotic soccer. Already we’ve seen shocks, last-gasp winners, brawls, stunning displays of fandom and one of the competition’s star attractions banned for the duration of the Copa. We haven’t even gotten into the knockout stages of the competition yet either! Naturally, there […]

Major tournaments can often be a treasure trove of unheralded or undiscovered talents; managers from some of the game’s most illustrious club sides will have a keen eye on the Copa America this summer with that in mind. Running a scrupulous rule over the squads set to launch a tilt for glory in Chile, there’s […]

Usually, defensive midfielders are some of the easiest players to replace in soccer. While the role has become increasingly defined in recent years, if a man deployed to bring energy in the middle of the pitch is struck down with injury, loses form or is sold, they don’t typically leave that difficult a void to fill. But […]

The Copa America’s propensity for springing surprises was thrillingly prevalent in 2011 when Uruguay beat Paraguay in the final. Four years on, soccer supporters from across the globe will be hoping for comparable drama as the 2015 edition of competition gets underway in Chile. Brazil and Argentina are the big favorites for glory, but teams […]

If Barcelona have enough to edge past Juventus in Berlin on Saturday evening, it’ll be the fifth time this storied club has won European soccer’s most coveted prize. In seasons gone by they would have been able to keep this iconic trophy after reaching this cornerstone mark, but a rule was implemented in 2009, which means […]

For the reams of positive words that have been penned about Barcelona in the build-up to Saturday’s Champions League final, Luis Enrique’s team aren’t totally immaculate. They’ve actually slipped up in recent weeks. After going 2-1 ahead against Bayern Munich in the second-leg of their Champions League semi-final, the La Liga giants toiled in the […]

There’s an opinion building that Juventus, pursuing the third European Cup win in their history, are destiny’s team this season. The Italian champions’ run to the Berlin final has rightly been lauded and there’s no denying that along the way they’ve played some fascinating soccer. But as is so often the case with teams who […]

When Loretta Lynch and Richard Weber addressed the watching world following the launch of the federal investigations into FIFA corruption, they were clear to emphasize that this process would be a long one. But in the wake of Sepp Blatter’s announcement that he’ll be resigning as president, already the organization’s precarious house of cards is […]

Some players need to be watched in detail to get an appropriate grasp of their impact. It's not easy to do either; matches are typically taken in tackle-by-tackle, pass-by-pass, shot-by-shot, but if you consciously detach yourself from that pattern, sometimes other traits are revealed and a fuller appreciation of various duties can be accrued. Arsenal are […]

Athletic Club have always held a reputation for being the romanticists’ team in Spanish soccer. The Basque club are an illustrious, decorated outfit, with a rich history and a unique cantera selection policy. But the disparity between their eight league title triumphs and 23 Copa del Rey wins means they’ve fashioned a status as a cup […]

The song Abide With Me, the Wembley arch, a military guard for the trophy, the royal box; there’s an enamoring tradition and pageantry that accompanies the FA Cup final (live on FOX at Noon ET on Saturday for viewers in the United States). Granted, the tournament has become a bridesmaid to the premier competitions, especially […]

It’s the final weekend of domestic action in Europe, but with crucial league matches and major cup finals to sample, it’s probably the most intriguing round of matches we’ve had this season. Saturday will see the final of three major competitions, with the curtain set to come down on action in England, Germany and Spain. […]