While you may have seen the occasional Vine coming up in your news feeds, the site itself is an endless treasure-trove of bite-size entertainment. While videos of almost any nature can be found, there is no better way to use social media than spreading soccer fever and after scouring through countless six-second clips, World Soccer Talk brings you the definitive top-ten list of the best Vines to follow for highlights from the beautiful game. 

1. MLS

The American competition is quickly growing a global reputation, as big name talents and new franchises continue to make headlines. With the current season nearing its end, devotees can revisit their favourite team moments from over the year as multiple clips are posted each day. The current focus of the Vine is on departing hero Landon Donovan, with the star forward’s greatest hits being shown piece by piece.

https://vine.co/MLS

2. Soccer Vines

Soccer Vines is the foremost destination on the site and exemplifies the philosophy behind Vine with clips of the sports’ daily highpoints, blunders and everything in-between. Fans can spend hours being mesmerised by Gareth Bale’s super strikes, or chuckle at the footage of Lionel Messi signing the shirt of a pitch invader.

3. Soccer Highlights 

Collecting the essential moments from competitions across the globe, Soccer Highlights should be one of the first Vines any fan of the sport should be following. Along with clips from all the first-class on field action, Soccer Highlights also posts a number of clips of lower-leagues and training sessions. 

4. Beautiful Soccer Goals 

What is better about the game than the moment a seemingly impossible 30 yard strike crashes into the top corner of the net? Or when a superstar such as Lionel Messi beats three defenders on his own before sliding the ball around a helpless goalkeeper? Everyone watching knows when one of these special goals have been scored, and Beautiful Soccer Goals assembles the best from the world’s top players.

5. Epic Soccer

One of the original soccer Vines, this page has been a home for fans to share their love for all aspects of the sport. Now reaching an astounding 35 thousand followers, Epic Soccer’s main focus is La Liga but is being updated constantly with glimpses of the best from all over the globe. Lookout for the build-up to this weekend’s El Classico, with Real Madrid and Barcelona clips going up over the week.

https://vine.co/u/1050998340994703360

6. Footmemes 

With so much at stake in every modern game, sometimes we all get caught up in the importance of this wonderful sport. However there are times when you cannot help but laugh at some of the on-field antics by the players or their managers, and most of these moments will find their way onto Footmemes. At this Vine you can see all the disastrous own goals and funny celebrations for the fans who want a less-serious soccer view.

7. Cristiano Ronaldo

When it comes to ranking the best players of all time, one name that is always near the top of any experts list is Cristiano Ronaldo. Since his debut with Manchester United at the age of 17, the Portugese superstar has left onlookers in awe and opponents on the ground with his dazzling athleticism and signature first-class footwork. At the Cristiano Ronaldo Vine fans can relive the playmaker’s greatest moments, from stunning 35-yard free kicks at Old Trafford to amazing solo runs at Real Madrid.

8. Soccer Heaven

It is s a wonderful idea that many of us were only able to dream of, but Soccer Heaven is now a reality through Vine. Featuring re-shared Vines from the other most popular soccer related pages, Soccer Heaven can take users on a journey through modern soccer history, with clips including Ronaldinho’s Barcelona highlights being posted this week.

9. Football Soccer Vines 

With over 17,000 followers, this page is another front-runner for the most active soccer related Vine. Along with the usual clips of stunning goals and jaw-dropping skills from the UEFA Champions League, La Liga and the Premier League, true soccer fanatics will love the emerging trend of FIFA players sharing videos of their best finishes.

10. Top Soccer Goals 

Because every soccer fan wants to see goals, here is another Vine dedicated to sharing all of the joy that comes when a strike is pulled off to perfection. With the level of goalscoring power in La Liga, Premier League and the Bundesliga, every match has the potential to produce a goal fans will talk about for generations. Thankfully for Vine, we can see all of them over and over again.

Quickly becoming one of the largest online active communities, Reddit is a hive of daily debate, discussion, and news from across the globe. Labeling itself as ‘the front page of the internet’, the website is split up into specific subreddits that can deal with anything from random ‘shower thoughts’ to 19th-century Russian literature reviews. While it is fun to spend hours exploring the depths of the Internet’s opinions, with at least 5000 of these subreddits (or ‘subs’ for short), it is easy to get lost.

Here is World Soccer Talk’s guide to help the new user find the most active, accessible and informative subs that any dedicated soccer fan should be checking regularly.

Best soccer subreddits

1) r/soccer 

The collective home for fans of the world game on reddit, r/soccer is the place for all the news, highlights, results, and biggest rumors from the showcase competitions. With over 282,000 subscribers (r/worldcup is close with more than 231,000 subscribers), this sub is always packed with opinion and regularly ranks among the highest of Reddit’s pages in terms of daily activity. Posts on r/soccer can range from the famous ‘Today I Learned’ (TIL) on an obscure Pele fact, to in-depth interactive discussions on who might be the best and worst players at Manchester United. 

2) r/mls

The only dedicated sub for the North American competition, r/mls covers everything going on in one of the fastest-growing leagues in the world. No matter which team you support, this sub is united in their dedication to the MLS, with detailed pre and post-match discussion each week along with all the must-see goals and obscure information that makes Reddit great. Users will find the community welcoming and easy to navigate, enabling soccer fans even outside of the USA to keep up-to-date with every second of the MLS.

3) r/football

Even though Reddit calls the USA home, eagle-eyed Redditors quickly claimed r/football as the home of soccer, not the American throwball variety. While smaller than r/soccer, r/football features more friendly moderators as well as different articles that you may not find on other subreddits. It doesn’t have as many subscribers as r/soccer, but it’s growing quickly.

4) r/LaLiga

The wealth of talent featuring in La Liga this season is simply amazing and should be a must-watch for any fan looking for entertaining soccer. At r/LaLiga fans can see all 401 jaw-dropping goals of Lionel Messi in one YouTube video, or see pictures of Real Madrid’s new kit and join in on predictions for the new season. There are also regular posts such as the La Liga Team of the Month and the Weekly Highlights.

5) r/realmadrid

There is hardly a spot on earth where the iconic white strip and Real Madrid logo are not recognized. ‘The Galacticos’ are football’s modern-day rock stars, from Ronaldo’s dazzling footwork to the deadly strikes of Gareth Bale and the awe-inspiring abilities of James Rodriguez. With record-breaking transfers, high-scoring victories and highlight-reel goals, Real Madrid are creating football history each time the team steps onto a pitch. The only way to keep up with the constant action coming out of the Bernabeu is through r/realmadrid where you can find match previews and reports on every game, as well as player interviews, team news and tons of in-depth discussion on all things Galacticos.

6) r/PremierLeague

When talking about soccer, it’s hard not to bring up the English Premier League. The home of global giants such as Manchester United and Chelsea, the EPL always has a little bit of everything needed to keep a fan entrenched every weekend. Currently, at a competitive level that has not been seen for years, there is no better time to be following the Premier League, with new talents making big impacts and unexpected upsets occurring weekly. r/PremierLeague is a sometimes chaotic but fanatical sub, with over 5,000 followers all trying to have their opinions on the many transfers, injuries and rumors that constantly surround England’s top-level competition. 

7) r/footballhighlights

For the busy soccer fan who may not regularly have the time to watch multiple full games, r/footballhighlights is an easy-to-navigate and detailed subreddit updated daily with many illegal clips from around the soccer world. Along with game highlights from Serie A, La Liga, France’s Ligue-1 and the Bundesliga, there are also full Premier League ‘Match of the Day’ programs and thoroughly interesting soccer documentaries being posted.

Editor’s note: If you’re a Redditor, check out World Soccer Talk’s subreddit.

Photo: Imago

The Blues returned to winning form with a dominant 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Blockbuster signings Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa stood out once more as the London giants put another stamp on their Premier League title campaign. 

Here’s our player ratings from Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa.

Chelsea

Thibaut Courtois – 7.0

The globally regarded Belgian goalkeeper had a relatively relaxed day between the posts, able to rely on a strong backline to shut down any challenges from Villa.

Branislav Ivanovic – 7.0

The Serbian defender continued to confuse the opposition by pressing deep into the Aston Villa half of the pitch. Hungry to keep up an unlikely goal-scoring record, Ivanovic found space near the 18-yard box while also doing his part in keeping a clean sheet.

Gary Cahlll – 6.0

The Englishman remained calm under the face of what could have been an unpredictable Aston Villa attack, either clearing his line with a long ball or initiating a counter through Fabregas.

John Terry – 7.0 

Chelsea’s captain led from the back in keeping their first clean sheet of the season, showing the Villans why Stamford Bridge is a feared place to tread for visiting teams.

Cesar Azpilicueta – 6.0

Rounding out the Chelsea backline, Azpilicueta is another unpredictable name that can hold strong in defence or push forward with a penetrating solo run.

Cesc Fabregas – 8.0 

The Blues’ new key playmaker was once again at his dangerous peak, providing an invaluable distraction to defenders and constantly searching for openings to feed Diego Costa.

Nemanja Matic – 6.0 

A surprise standout under Jose Mourinho, Matic is continuing to build successful top flight experience with the blues and will undoubtedly improve among a team that continues to put on strong performances.

Willian – 8.0

Determined to cement a position in the Chelsea starting eleven, the Brazilian looked dangerous with every move forward for Chelsea, creating yards of space by himself on the way to scoring his first Premier League goal of the season.

Eden Hazard – 7.0 

The Belgian’s link-up play down the wing caused Aston Villa plenty of headaches at Stamford Bridge.

Oscar – 8.0

There is no room for dead weight in Mourinho’s line-up and the 23-year-old went a long way in carving himself out a starting position by scoring the opening goal for the Blues.

Diego Costa – 8.0 

The Spaniard returned to goal-scoring form and once again proved to be a giant headache for opposition defence. After relying on the midfield to produce results last year, the Chelsea fans will continue to be delighted with the output of their star striker.

Chelsea Substitutions 

Andre Schurrle – 6.0

Schurrle continues to ride a wave of confidence after Germany’s World Cup win and is another Mourinho favorite that can keep their defensive composure while also looking deadly moving forward.

Jon Obi Mikel – 5.0

After over half a decade with the London giants, Mikel continues to produce results and find favor with the manager.

Aston Villa

Brad Guzan – 4.0

It was undoubtedly always going to be a tough day for the Villa goalkeeper and the cumulative pressure from the Blues was simply too much for the American.

Aly Cissoko – 7.0 

Seemingly unshaken by the reputation of the opposition, Cissoko was a rare shining light for the Villans, surprisingly able to outpace the Chelsea midfield in his pursuit from the back of the pitch along the right wing.

Nathan Baker – 3.0

The central defender was beaten far too easily by a physically superior Diego Costa, allowing the opposition far too much space where it mattered most.

Philipe Senderos – 4.0

Despite claiming the game winning goal at Anfield, Senderos has been the figurehead of a Villa backline that has failed to cope under pressure from the top sides of the competition in the last two weeks..

Alan Hutton – 4.0

With the unfortunate job of trying to stop Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas from finding space on the left wing, Hutton was overcome by pace and dazzlingly accurate passes.

Fabian Delph – 7.0

Another Villa standout, the English playmaker put everything he had in trying to create space moving up the field for the visitors.

Ashley Westwood – 6.0

Although holding his own in the centre of the midfield, Westwood could only watch as the Blues decimated his teammates on the wings.

Tom Cleverley – 5.0

Manager Paul Lambert’s line-up left huge amounts of space for Chelsea to exploit out wide, leaving Cleverly to play catch-up as Hazard and Oscar pushed into the penalty area.

Kieran Richardson – 5.0 

Frustrated by a determined Azpilicueta, Richardson was unable to create space cutting back in from the wings and was stopped before the ball could be fed into the Chelsea penalty area.

Andreas Weimann – 5.0 

Villa were largely unable to locate their main targets going forward, aggravating Weimann and forcing Paul Lambert to substitute one of his most successful attacking options.

Gabriel Agbonlahor – 6.0 

Villa’s best hope for snatching a victory would have been through their on-form striker,. However a resolute Chelsea backline made sure that the 27-year-old hardly had a look on goal.

Aston Villa Substitutions 

Charles N’Zogbia – 5.0 

Villa’s attack was nearly suffocated by the Blues, managing only a few semi-threatening attempts at Courtois’ goal even after the introduction of N’Zogbia in the second half.

Darren Bent – 5.0

Paul Lambert utilized all of his offensive options in trying to make a dent on the scoresheet, however Bent met nothing but a brick wall after being introduced near the end of the match.

The thirteen cities that will play host to the Euro 2020 tournament have been officially confirmed by UEFA President Michel Platini.

The announcement came early last Friday morning following a draw to decide which of the many hopeful nations that entered bids would be successful.

Celebrating the 60th anniversary since the first European Championship was held, the historic event will cover the entire continent, with the final to be played at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium.

It will be a welcome return for major international football to England, after being denied in their bids to hold the World Cup in 2006 and 2018.

“We’re delighted …Wembley is a great stadium and what a good idea this is to play a tournament across Europe, congratulations to UEFA,” said FA Chairman Greg Dyke.

With the semi-finals also set to be held at the 90,000 seat arena, manager Roy Hodgson sees an invaluable opportunity for an England team currently blossoming with fresh talent.

“For the young team that is emerging, many of those players will be at their best football years in 2020,” said Hodgson.

“If the young players of today don’t use this to spur them on then they are making a mistake.

“By 2020 some of them will be playing their fifth tournament and that is the type of experience you can’t buy.”

The one time only format will showcase the great cities of Europe, spanning every corner of the region from Rome to Copenhagen.

Each of the other thirteen successful cities will receive different game ‘packages’, with three group stage games and a quarter-final or semi-final to be played at each location.

A number of new venues have already been proposed across the continent as smaller nations prepare for their chance to be a part of football history.

The 68,000 seat Baku Olympic Stadium will be constructed in Azerbaijan, the first time a major football event will be held in the far-Eastern European country which gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

The responsibility of hosting the tournament will bring extra incentive to the tiny Republic of only 9,000,000, never having qualified for an international football competition.

“I’m very proud and happy…It’s a big deal to get the right to host such a big tournament,” said former national team hero Nazim Suleymanov. 

“I believe our national team will give the fans something to cheer about with their performances and results.”

New stadiums will also be built in the historic cities of Brussels and Budapest, while grounds in Amsterdam and Munich will be expanded in expectation of huge attendance numbers.

The 2020 tournament will also feature an expanded line-up of teams, as 24 European nations will compete for one of the most prestigious crowns in world football.

Regardless of being granted host status or not, all teams will still have to take part in the qualification stages, which are tentatively scheduled to begin in late 2018.

The possibilities seem endless looking forward toward the tournament, as superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will probably be nearing the end of their storied careers in six years’ time.

However it will provide a continental stage for players from the new generation to create legacy-defining moments, with young standouts such as Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling and PSG’s Adrien Rabiot expected to be reaching their peak form.

UEFA’s decision has been praised by managers, players and fans across the world, all eager to prove once again that football can unite nations in what will undoubtedly be an unmissable event.

UEFA 2020 Host Cities

Group Stage and Round of 16/Quarter-Final

Baku (Azerbaijan)

Brussels (Belgium)

Copenhagen (Denmark)

Munich (Germany)

Budapest (Hungary)

Dublin (Ireland)

Rome (Italy)

Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Bucharest (Romania)

St Petersburg (Russia)

Glasgow (Scotland)

Bilbao (Spain)

Semi-Final/Final

London (England)