0 comments by Randy Capps on 10/7/2016
On November 11, the United States will restart its World Cup Qualifying campaign in Columbus against Mexico. This afternoon, the Americans will tune up with a visit to Cuba for a friendly. It’s the first trip to Cuba for a friendly for the national team since July 1947, a 5-2 win for the Cubans in […]
during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2016 in London, England.
0 comments by Randy Capps on 9/26/2016
It’s funny how quickly 90 minutes can change a narrative for a club and its manager. Yet the story lines around Arsenal and Arsene Wenger could not be more different after a resounding 3-0 win against Chelsea on Saturday. Before the match, the win around the Gunners and its manager of almost two decades was […]
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Chris Smalling of Manchester United scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on September 24, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
0 comments by Randy Capps on 9/24/2016
With its recent losing streak, Manchester United has been the subject of intense scrutiny and criticism in recent days. After scoring four goals in the first 45 minutes against Leicester City, it might be time to move away from the panic button. Set pieces were a real issue for the defending champions, and Chris Smalling […]
FILE PHOTO – (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF TWO IMAGES – Image numbers (L) 602356340 and 514338590) In this composite image a comparision has been made between Antonio Conte manager of Chelsea (L) and Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal. Arsenal and Chelsea meet in a Premier League match on September 24, 2016 at the Emirates Stadium. ***LEFT IMAGE*** SWANSEA, WALES – SEPTEMBER 11: Antonio Conte manager of Chelsea looks thoughtful prior to the Premier League match between Swansea City and Chelsea at Liberty Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** HULL, ENGLAND – MARCH 08: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round Replay match between Hull City and Arsenal at KC Stadium on March 8, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
0 comments by Randy Capps on 9/23/2016
There are no shortage of storylines for Chelsea’s visit to the Emirates on Saturday (12:30 ET, NBC Sports Network). It’s early positioning for the top four, the first matchup between Antonio Conte and Arsene Wenger and the usual spice of a London derby. Table watch Only goal difference separates the two sides. The Gunners have […]
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 14: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City is pulled back by Julian Korb of Borussia Moenchengladbach during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City FC and VfL Borussia Moenchengladbach at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
0 comments by Randy Capps on 9/16/2016
If you ask his critics, Raheem Sterling had the world on a string before his roughly $62 million move from Liverpool to Manchester City last summer. At just 20 years old, he was the future of the English national team. He had just turned in his second strong season for the Reds, and he looked […]
JACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 06: Jozy Altidore #17 of the United States in action during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago at EverBank Field on September 6, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
0 comments by Randy Capps on 9/6/2016
The United States came in to Tuesday night’s game with Trinidad and Tobago needing a win to claim first place in Group C on its way to CONCACAF’s final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, better known as “the Hex.” It was mission accomplished at EverBank Field in Jacksonville. The United States broke […]
KANSAS CITY, KS – MAY 28: Christian Pulisic #17 of USA attempts to chip a pass past Guillermo Viscarra #23 of Bolivia late in the second half of an international friendly match between Bolivia and the United States on May 28, 2016 at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)
0 comments by Randy Capps
Barring something ridiculous, the United States in through to the next round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. Whether or not it advances as a group winner or as runners-up depends on how it fares tonight in Jacksonville against Trinidad & Tobago (8 p.m. ET, FS1). Looking at the table, it would take a […]
HOUSTON, TX – JUNE 21: United States manager Jurgen Klinsmann (R) walks across the pitch with a group of players after losing their game against Argentina 4-0 during a 2016 Copa America Centenario Semifinal match at NRG Stadium on June 21, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
0 comments by Randy Capps on 9/2/2016
The road to Russia resumes today for CONCACAF sides, and the United States will be in action against St. Vincent and the Grenadines (3:20 p.m. ET, BeIn Sports). It looks like a mismatch on paper, but there’s still plenty on the line for Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad today: Getting to the Hex: A win today won’t […]
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – AUGUST 20: Joe Hart of Manchester City (R) warms up with team mate Willy Cabellero of Manchester City (L) during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Manchester City at Bet365 Stadium on August 20, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
0 comments by Randy Capps on 8/23/2016
It hasn’t been a great summer for Joe Hart. His mistake against Iceland was part of the reason England crashed out of the European championships, and now it seems he’s fallen out of favor with his new manager, Pep Guardiola. He hasn’t played for Manchester City this season, instead sitting on the bench behind Willy […]
BURNLEY, ENGLAND – AUGUST 20: Sam Vokes of Burnley celebrates scoring his sides first goal with his Burnley team mates during the Premier League match between Burnley and Liverpool at Turf Moor on August 20, 2016 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
0 comments by Randy Capps on 8/20/2016
After last week’s win at Arsenal, Liverpool went back on the road in search of three more Premier League points Saturday against newly promoted Burnley. What the Reds found instead was frustration. Despite having 80 percent of the possession and firing 26 shots, Liverpool fell to a pair of well-taken goals from Sam Vokes and […]
SEVILLE, SPAIN – AUGUST 14: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona (L) shake hands with his team mate Munir El Haddadi of FC Barcelona (R) during the match between Sevilla FC vs FC Barcelona as part of the Spanish Super Cup Final 1st Leg at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on August 14, 2016 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
0 comments by Randy Capps
The Spanish first division cranks up this weekend, and that leads me to the safest prediction in world soccer: Barcelona, Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid will win the title. It’s not exactly a gamble to pick one of those teams, since one has to go all the way back to Valencia’s title run in 2003 […]
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford on August 19, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
0 comments by Randy Capps on 8/19/2016
It’s hard to imagine a more successful start to the unlikely union of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jose Mourinho at Manchester United. Ibrahimovic, the mercurial Swedish striker, scored a pair of first-half goals to power Mourinho’s Red Devils to their third win in as many tries on the young season — a 2-0 victory over Southampton […]
CHANTILLY, FRANCE – JUNE 07: John Stones heads the ball during an England training session ahead of the UEFA EURO 2016 at Stade du Bourgognes on June 7, 2016 in Chantilly, France. England’s opening match at the European Championship is against Russia on June 11. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
0 comments by Randy Capps on 8/10/2016
On the eve of the 2016-2017 Premier League season, an English international has changed teams. Everton center back John Stones, the subject of a failed transfer bid from Chelsea in the run-up to last season, has been sold to Manchester City for £47.5 million ($62.1 million). This signing obviously affects his new club, and his […]
0 comments by Randy Capps on 8/3/2016
For the second-straight Games, the United States missed out on the fun (and U-23 developmental opportunities) of Olympic soccer. But for soccer fans, there are still plenty of reasons to watch. Can Neymar lead Brazil to its first Olympic gold medal? Or will Argentina, sans Lionel Messi, or Germany spoil the fun? Here’s a look […]
0 comments by Randy Capps on 7/20/2016
When the draw for the second round of Champions League qualifying was done, Celtic fans were probably confident heading into a two-legged tie against the champions of Gibraltar, Lincoln Red Imps. After all, despite a 14-year run of domestic titles in Gibraltar’s 10-team first division, the gap in talent between the two teams is a […]
