Robert Hay

Jonathan Wilson has established himself as one of soccer journalism’s most knowledgeable tacticians. Inverting the Pyramid made his already sterling reputation as a tactical analyst firm, and even if there are other writers whose knowledge of modern soccer tactics is better, Wilson writes in a way that is relatable and marketable. His new book is […]

Maybe the only thing that drives more debate in the soccer world than the dreaded “p/r” words is Men in Blazers. Roger Bennett and Michael Davies have a passionate fanbase that has followed them through multiple networks and iterations. They also have a number of detractors who view their schtick as tired analysis and infantile. […]

There seemingly is a coffee book for everything, the kind of book you display that people can flip through to admire great pictures and learn a bit more about a subject. With the World Cup around the corner, soccer fans finally have a book they can display as a conversation starter about their own favorite […]

There is much discussion about the best way to develop youth players in America and Europe. Often we forget that Africa and Asia are a growing source of players for European clubs. Consequently, we do not realize that there is a battle for talent in these countries. The result can make even the most dedicated […]

As regular readers of World Soccer Talk know, there is an absolute glut of soccer available to fans every week on television and the Internet. It has never been easier to watch your favorite club or catch a match when you have some free time. It was not too long ago, however, that seeing ANY […]

Author Alejandro Perez has long been an observer of the European club game. Currently he works for Telemundo, the Spanish language right-holders to the World Cup in the U.S., but he is also a long-time blogger and former ESPN employee. He sees the games millions of us watch every weekend and applies a keen strategic […]

When we see Christian Pulisic score a stoppage time goal for Borussia Dortmund, we have a general sense of how special he is and how hard he has to work to reach this level. Academically, we know he didn't walk off the street and start for a major Bundesliga club. But we really don't have […]

Covering a team over the course of a soccer season is tough, in the sense that you see your team in a different way than a fan who attends the same games. Despite rules against cheering and journalistic standards that demand an air of neutrality when writing about the squad, you cannot help but grow […]

It has been hard to determine how the U.S. Soccer Federation is using the Copa America Centenario to grade its men's team's progress leading up to the 2018 World Cup. Depending on who you ask and when, the measuring stick was reaching the semifinals, or simply playing the games, or the even more ambiguous total […]

While much has been written about the flag-waving, delusional broadcast of the United States v. Argentina Copa America semi-final, one part of the broadcast that was a pleasant surprise was the color commentary by USMNT legend Landon Donovan. This was not Donovan's first match; he had called the U.S.'s victory over Ecuador and has been […]

In 2012, I attended the Wales vs. Scotland World Cup qualifier in Cardiff. Both Wales and Scotland were towards the bottom of the group and not expected to advance, but because they were both towards the bottom points taken by either could boost a surprise run towards Brazil. As such, it was a competitive match […]

You can pardon Antonio Conte for not focusing all of his attention on Italy's Euro 2016 campaign. With his Chelsea position made even more challenging by having Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho joining the Premier League, his new job would require full time attention in any situation. Yet the manager who theoretically should have nothing […]

On Friday, the US Men's National Team kicks off one of the world's most prestigious soccer tournaments against a dark horse favorite on home soil. The enormity of the US hosting the Copa America Centenario – especially with the controversy over its selection as the host – cannot be understated. Much like the 1994 World […]

FIFA has a money problem. After years of scandals coming to the forefront of people's attentions and assets being seized in criminal investigations, the organization is finally being hit where it hurts. According to the Associated Press, FIFA's latest financials showed a loss of $122 million last year, and the organization now has had trouble finding […]

As a soccer fan, you have the advantage of being able to see any number of game day experiences at any number of stadiums and leagues. As a worldwide game, almost any location theoretically has a soccer field you can visit hopefully on a game day and have a game day experience unlike one you […]