It was clear prior to the 2022 World Cup that Luis Enrique had his Spain team organized. They had been progressing well since Euro 2020 and expected to reach the semi-finals in Qatar. Whilst it’s not always wise to draw conclusions from one match, the 7-0 dismantling of Costa Rica was eye-opening. So dominant was […]

Joshua Kimmich said before the game that Germany needed to avoid a poor one-goal loss at the World Cup. They have begun their last two major tournaments the same way. And then gone out in humiliation. But the tactical staleness that characterized Germany's decline under the latter reign of Joachim Löw remains under Hansi Flick. […]

The Germany national soccer team made a protest towards FIFA and the Qatar World Cup during their prematch team photo. Players covered their mouths, alluding to the lack of voice for the players. FIFA banned the use of OneLove captain armbands at the World Cup in Qatar and has asked teams to 'focus on football' […]

FIFA has imposed sanctions against any team that wears the OneLove captain armbands throughout the World Cup in Qatar, which Germany calls blackmail. Originally, Belgium, Denmark, England, Wales, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland were all set to wear the armband. However, the world's governing body of the sport changed their minds at the last minute […]

Ever since globalization and football’s inextricable embrace in the 1990s, worldwide fans embraced the value of market language. The World Cup "shop window" showcases the best playing talent and the latest breakout stars. Scouts attend, worldwide TV audiences confirm demand and promising world-beaters are supplied to the highest bidders. Germany and Japan have plenty to […]

Japan’s national team navigated a mediocre group in 2018 (Colombia, Senegal, and Poland) to earn four points and a trip to the knockout rounds. How will they fare at World Cup 2022? Even with a better squad – their FIFA ranking has improved from 50 to 24 in four years – the draw provides a […]

The headlines were eight years in the making. Mario Götze, hero of the 2014 World Cup final and former golden boy of German soccer, is back. He’s had health problems, five years in the international wilderness, and was apparently buried as an elite performer. But, superb form since a return to Germany amidst the dynamic forward […]

Germany manager Hansi Flick named his 26-man roster for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Normally a heavyweight in international soccer, the Germans are currently 11th in the latest FIFA team rankings. Nevertheless, the four-time World Cup champions have named a star-studded squad for the upcoming tournament. Captain Manuel Neuer makes his fourth World Cup […]

England's 1-0 loss at Italy cemented its placement in the bottom of UEFA Nations League A Group 3. Next campaign, England falls back into the second tier of the competition. It was a brutal performance from much of the Three Lions. Despite going up against an Italy side that many believe is among the weaker […]

With the World Cup drawing ever closer, US Soccer scheduled two friendlies for the USMNT. The pair of fixtures test the mettle of the team and see how the stack up before they ship out to Qatar in November. The pair of friendlies are a refreshing change of pace. Opponents Japan and Saudi Arabia are […]

UEFA is reportedly ready to abandon plans of expansion for Euro 2028 to 32 teams. The tournament, hosted by England and Ireland, instead sticks to the current 24-team format. Euro 2024, with Germany as hosts, also uses the present format. Initially, organizers prepared to expand the field of team involved in the competition. It would […]

As a result of UEFA's ban following the invasion of Ukraine, Russia remains forbidden to compete in Euro 2024 qualifying. Russia's exclusion from major tournaments started in February. Consequently, the senior men's national team has not played a match in over 10 months. However, Russia is set to play a friendly match against Kyrgyzstan this […]

When thinking about the World Cup upsets ranked, there are certain runs that spring into mind. Cameroon became the darlings of Italia 90 by reaching the quarterfinals. Twelve years later, fellow African side Senegal finished second in a group featuring two prior World-Cup-winning nations. In a Final, Uruguay defeated Brazil in front of over 170,000 […]

The countries with the most World Cup soccer titles are an elite group. These nations have history of producing world class talent each year. Therefore, they are always in the mix for contention when the World Cup rolls around every four years. In the 21 editions of the tournament, only eight countries out of FIFA's […]

The recently crowned World Cup champions, Germany, haven’t had the best of starts to their Euro 2016 qualification campaign. They won narrowly against a spirited Scotland side, lost for the first time in their history against Poland and were dramatically denied by a dogged, well-drilled Irish team. Joachim Löw has been vocal in his belief […]