Argentina have been labelled as a one-man team well before the start of the World Cup but how true is this? Messi's critics have long said that his impressive performances for Barcelona are only possible due to the brilliance of the surrounding cast, namely Iniesta, Xavi and co. However, why does this not apply to […]

In the summer of 2009, England and Germany faced off in the final of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship. The two sides had met earlier in the competition and had drawn 1-1. The Germans ended up routing the Stuart Pearce-led English side 4-0. Out of the players in that 2009 German U-21 squad*, six of […]

In the summer of 2014, it seemed that most of mainstream America caught the soccer bug at the same time. Overnight the entire country became a soccer nation. Work schedules were altered and tasks postponed (both business and personal) to accommodate viewing of the U.S. Men's National Team in the 2014 World Cup. Suddenly those […]

Going into the World Cup, a major storyline around the U.S. national team was the number of key players who had left overseas clubs to return to MLS.  Facing a logjam in the AS Roma midfield, Michael Bradley accepted a designated player spot with Toronto FC to earn more money and a starter’s spot.  Prior […]

Three-time World Cup loser Netherlands is the only outsider in a final four that features three of the most successful sides in history. Still, Argentina, Brazil, and Germany, despite having won more than half of all the World Cups played, have their own reasons for angst. Here then are each semi-finalists narrative along with the […]

Find out where you can watch the World Cup semi-finals between Brazil-Germany and Argentina-Holland on US TV and Internet. The excitement is building for the World Cup, to find out which two teams will advance to the World Cup final. Will it be an all-South American final, or will it be an all-European finale? Here's […]

The modern game demands many things of its footballers: Physicality, touch, technique and dynamism to name but a few. But often overlooked are the attributes of versatility and tactical flexibility. The immersive statistical analysis that’s now available at the touch of a button has channeled the game towards a host of different philosophies and as […]

Four tightly contested quarterfinals have passed us by with diligent displays and standout sensations rewarded in this Best XI of the second knockout round. Here is the team: Goalkeeper GK- Keylor Navas (Costa Rica) In case most thought that Tim Howard was the undisputed best goalkeeper of the tournament, the soon to be ex-Levante netminder […]

In the past 48 hours, I've lost count the number of conversations I've had with people or have overheard others talking about how Brazil won't be able to defeat Germany due to the loss of Neymar and Thiago Silva. In Brazil, meanwhile, the conversations have changed from “Neymar will win it,” to “Win it for […]

With the tournament in Brazil only days away, Samsung, in an attempt to explain the importance of the beautiful game (which us fans know all too well), has created a heartwarming video of how a child views the world when in the presence of one of his very best friends; their football.