Estadio Saprissa has been an unwelcome sight for many a CONCACAF visitor through the years. On the club level it has become nearly impossible for Mexican or American sides to go down to San Jose and expect a result. But on the international level it is even more of home advantage as no CONCACAF nation […]

Claude Makelele's grit in Chelsea's midfield and ability to play a quick pass made him the fitting example of the 'Claude Makelele' role, whatever that means. It's even been said that he's managed to define the holding midfield position as much as Franz Beckenbauer the sweeper role. And he's now cashing in on the footballer […]

The last dance of the season, of every season, the FA Cup Final is the jewel in the English Football Crown. Last year's final between Cardiff and Portsmouth was arguably the exception, but this year's certainly isn't: Underdogs Everton come into the final for the first time in 14 years, since Joe Royle's infamous 'dogs of war' […]

I was completely seduced by last year's FA Cup. Barnsley and Cardiff City charged toward the final in a gripping giant-killing warpath. They toppled Liverpool, Chelsea and Middlesbrough in their wake. (Boro were still a mid-table Premier League side, so their undoing was still a feat.) While only Cardiff made it to the end before […]

The profile of Germany’s champions cannot be more different from that of the winners of the other major European leagues. Few eyebrows were raised by Manchester United, Barcelona and Inter Milan winning their respective league titles, but the Wolves’ triumph was hard to predict. A fifth place finish in 2007/08 under the stewardship of Felix […]

With the Premier League race done and dusted and the Champions League trophy spending the summer in Catalonia, there's only one more piece of silverware on offer in the 2008-2009 season, and either Everton or Chelsea will lay claim to it tomorrow at Wembley. Who's in and who's out – Frank Lampard, Alex and […]

No no I am not jumping the gun about the result of FA Cup Final. But even if Everton lose on Saturday David Moyes can have the consolation of collecting a personal piece of silverware this season – The LMA Manager Of The Year Award. It is the first time a manager has won the […]

Frankie Hejduk's injury suffered on Wednesday night before an MLS match was disastrous as the US enters the most important stretch of matches since 2006. It was Hejduk who was the best US player at World Cup 1998, and filled the most critical and problematic role left back in 2002. In 2006, Hejduk's injury in […]

Ladies & Gentlemen as you well know FC Barcelona completed their greatest season ever by defeating Manchester United 2-0 in the 2008-09 UEFA Champions League Final. The win gave them their 1st ever treble as Barcelona became the 1st Spanish team to win a treble. Barca captured La Liga, Copa Del Rey, and the Champions […]

Episode 83 features a roundtable discussion moderated by host Kartik Krishnaiyer. Panelists for this discussion include Brian Zygo of 1560 the Game in Houston, and the Houston bureau of MLS Talk, Chris Webb of United Mania and Chris Riordan of MLS Talk's DC buerau. Topics discussed include the US National Team player selections, the prospects […]

Legendary British Football Presenter Jon Champion joins host Kartik Krishnaiyer on the EPL Talk Podcast. Champion currently works for Setanta Sports, ITV and TWI International. While presenting the match, Mr. Champion will be tweeting the FA Cup final at www.twitter.com/commentweeter. Hear Champion's thoughts on this Saturday's FA Cup Final, his coverage of the Premier League and […]

Liverpool have been handed a massive boost with the news that Fernando Torres has signed a new contract with the club. The extension of the Spanish forward's contract is a key step forward as manager Rafa Benitez continues to turn his side into genuine title contenders. The former Atletico Madrid striker has signed a four […]

Fresh from their UEFA Champions League victory, FC Barcelona will complete the most successful season in the clubs history on Saturday when they face Deportivo La Coruna in the league. Having become the first ever Spanish team to win the treble of European Cup, La Liga and Copa Del Rey in a single season, Barcelona […]

After years in the Serie A wilderness, Italian football could be set to witness the return of Juventus as a legitimate force at the top end of the table. Following another dismal campaign in which La Bianconeri failed to present a credible title challenge for the second year in succession after their return to Italian […]

I think it's fair to say that the Barcelona 'passing carousel' was out in force last night. Even fairer to say that the United midfield wasn't really out in any force. After a bright start, where Anderson looked to have the energy that could light up United's midfield, the Champions capitulated. Whereas Barca were looking […]