Last week, World Soccer Talk spent several days in Germany and attended the Bayer Leverkusen-Schalke 04 match on November 29. As the tour proves, the Bundesliga has embarked on an aggressive effort to increase its global reach including a prioritization of the American market. German soccer has long had its proponents in the American soccer community. In fact, […]

One of the latest soccer officials arrested in Switzerland in the FIFA corruption probe, Juan Angel Napout, has decided not to contest his extradition to the United States, media in his native Paraguay reported Monday. Napout, the ex-president of South American confederation CONMEBOL and a vice president of FIFA, was arrested Thursday morning at a […]

Barcelona are playing a new and exciting style of attacking soccer, and the Catalan side’s 34 goals, a total that leads La Liga, actually understates the team’s quality. By expected goals, a statistical estimate of the quality of chances created, Barcelona should have scored about 39 goals this season – only occasional struggles with finishing […]

Former France international Franck Ribery is suing the magazine Closer for 400,000 euros ($434,000) over an article which claimed he was implicated in a prostitution case. The 32-year-old is suing Mondadori Magazine France, which publishes Closer, for "serious prejudice to his image and dignity," according to a document seen by AFP on Monday. Closer had […]

Highly-rated France U-21 international Adrien Rabiot has asked Paris Saint-Germain for a January loan to gain more playing time. Recently speaking with French website Telefoot, Rabiot stated: “I’ve asked the president for a loan move in January if my time on the field is insufficient. It’s something that he can’t refuse me – I know […]

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists Sergio Aguero's heel injury is not serious even though he doesn't know when the Argentina striker will return. Aguero has missed two games since limping out of last month's victory over Southampton and will again be absent when City wrap up their Champions League group stage fixtures against Borussia […]

Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger faces a three-match ban after being charged with violent conduct by England's Football Association. The Germany international was charged after his elbow struck West Ham's Winston Reid during Saturday's 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. The incident occurred as United's players lined up at the edge of West Ham's penalty area, […]

The FA Cup 3rd Round draw has been completed, and several plum ties have been "picked out of the hat" including Exeter vs. Liverpool, Eastleigh vs. Bolton and Manchester United vs. Sheffield United. The 135th edition of the tournament began in July with 736 professional and amateur teams participating from across England and Wales. Four non-league teams are […]

The FIFA ethics committee probing allegations of corruption against suspended president Sepp Blatter and his would-be successor, Michel Platini, will hear from the pair between Dec. 16-18, a committee spokesman said Monday. "Mr Platini and Mr Blatter will have the chance to present their positions during hearings scheduled between December 16-18," the spokesman told AFP. […]

Alex Ferguson warned Jose Mourinho on Monday that soccer is a high-risk industry but backed him to find a solution at misfiring Chelsea. Speaking at an event in London, the former Manchester United manager suggested Mourinho is a good leader but is struggling to come to grips with his first period, including a home defeat […]

Now that the new 5-year TV rights deal between FOX Sports and the Bundesliga has begun, the Bundesliga and its clubs have a keen interest in expanding the interest of the German league among soccer fans in the United States. Bayern Munich already has a large supporter base in the US as well as a […]

“Eddie had a dream,” sung the hordes of Bournemouth fans tucked into the corner of Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening. And for many of the 3,000 visiting supporters, this would have been a fantasy realized, as they celebrated a shock 1-0 win over Chelsea. Regardless of the troubles endured by the Blues this season, this […]

Stoke City arrived in the Premier League in 2008, the club’s first season in the top-flight of English football for over 20 years. They’ve never left the top division since. The epitome of a club living within its means and playing a style utterly devoid of pretentiousness under Tony Pulis, they finished 12th in their first […]

In previous Swansea slumps, I was completely confident they would get out of them. With this current slump (3 wins in 15 games) and the second worst form in the league (only Aston Villa are worse), I don't have the same belief. So what's changed? In previous slumps, the team were playing very well but […]

Portland's Diego Valeri and Rodney Wallace scored in the first seven minutes and the Timbers defeated host Columbus 2-1 Sunday to win the Major League Soccer Cup playoff final. It was the first time the Timbers had lifted the champion's trophy, denying Columbus a second MLS title after their breakthrough in 2008. "This is special […]