In 2019, we saw the introduction the Video Assistant Referee technology in the English Premier League. The goal was to eliminate errors that tainted match results by helping referees avoid clear and obvious errors. For the most part, VAR in the league has worked well. Goals that would have otherwise been denied have been given. Red card offenses that referees miss in real time can be reviewed, and appropriate action can be taken. On the other hand, Video Assistant Referee in the EPL has also not been perfect. There have been notable mistakes made, leading to frustration and questioning of…
Author: Chris M
After a seven-year pursuit, Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid has been football’s worst-kept secret. The player has always maintained his desire to play for the Los Blancos, while the Spanish giants have always admired his talents. With their 15th Champions League crown now secured, the club swiftly announced their new marquee signing. As details of this move become clearer, there’s no doubt that it’ll have a significant impact on the World of football. But, what does this transfer entail, how much will it cost Madrid, and how much will Kylian Mbape now be earning? The Real Madrid and Kylian…
In club football, no other completion sparks emotion and controversy like the Champions League. It’s why many stars like Kylian Mbappe switch teams to pursue this elusive trophy. With the Champions League final beckoning, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid will battle for European supremacy. However, for two players, one more than the other, this Champions League final will have greater significance than for the rest of the players. It’s two players who’ve left their mark on the game but have had contrasting fortunes with injuries and trophies. For one, this is a chance to end his career with a trophy…
As the European league season comes to an end, the football world will be turning its eyes towards national team action. Along with the Euro, the 2024 Copa America will be the major tournament. As Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Vinicius Junior’s Brazil lay their stake for bragging rights as the top team in the Americas, other countries hope to disrupt the party. Under the tutelage of Marcelo Bielsa, Uruguay has a team that will pose a strong challenge to any opposition. But back at home, the USMNT hopes to use the 2024 Copa America tournament to establish itself as a…
Come summer of 2024, there’ll be a North and South American showdown at the Copa America 2024. Teams from both CONCACAF and CONMEBOL will lay their claim for the best team in the region. With most coaches already naming their provisional squads, expect a lot of star power to grace the occasion. Among the Brazil contingent, expect a final squad including Alisson Becker, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta, young sensation Enderick, and Champions League finalist Vinicius Junior. However, most expectations will be on Lionel Messi’s Argentina. Straight of a Finalissima, Copa America, and World Cup win, all eyes will be on…
Each year, there always seems to new Brazilian kid destined for football greatness. And European teams are always on the lookout. Chelsea has now become the latest club to swoop in for a wonder kid before his value goes up. To say this kid is good is an understatement. His dribbling, speed of thought, and composure on the ball are proving to be a nightmare for opposition defenses. Just like Robinho, Neymar, Vinicius, and now Endrick, he’s set to make Europe his home. So, who is this kid, and does he have as much talent as the hype around him?…
When Inter Miami announced the signing of Lionel Messi, it was clear that they had to roll out the red carpet for the megastar. Just off an emphatic World Cup win and on course for a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or, there was little doubt about the player they were signing. Close to a year after he arrived in Major League Soccer, Messi is setting records not only on the field but also off it. As things stand, he’ll break the all-time high for MLS salaries this season. But how does this compare to the other top stars in the game?…
When it comes to sports, it’s fair to say soccer hasn’t been close to traditional favorites like basketball and baseball in terms of popularity. However, Major League Soccer attendance now proves otherwise. Whether it’s due to Messi-mania or just the love of the game, there’s no denying the increasing love for the game. However, questions still linger: Is attendance in MLS rising, and what can you expect going forward? A Brief Peak into the Growth of Soccer http://gty.im/2152985948 Before going into how Major League Soccer attendance is rising, it’s important to understand the growth of the game as a whole.…
When Manchester United completed the signing of French defender Raphael Varane in August 2021, it seemed like a great piece of business. Beyond being a Champions League winner on multiple occasions, Varane also lifted the World Cup in Russia in 2022. Having been at the heart of Real Madrid’s defense for years, this signing was expected to make Man United genuine contenders. Three years later, things haven’t gone so smoothly, and the defender is set to leave. But has Raphael Varane’s time at United been a total failure? The Announcement http://gty.im/2141370035 Raphael Varane, through club channels, has just announced his…
Whether it’s a curse, jinx, or a case of being seriously unlucky, no one can argue that Harry Kane’s performances over the last decade do not deserve a trophy. Even after moving to Bayern Munich, where the Bundesliga seems to be a surety, his first season will end trophy-less. But despite not winning team honors so far, Harry Kane has been in electric form this campaign. Coming close to breaking Lewandowski’s Bundesliga goal record, there’s no doubting his class. With Bayern Munich’s season all but officially over, can Harry Kane’s goals lead him to the biggest individual accolade of the…
If ever there was a player to bring Zinedine Zidane’s magic back to the game, no one expected to be an Englishman from Birmingham. Jude Bellingham is enjoying a great maiden campaign with Real Madrid, where he is creating and scoring important goals. Whether it’s at the Santiago Bernabeu or Nou Camp, the Los Blancos can count on their newfound hero. While his talent was never in doubt, there were always questions as to how much of it he could live up to. As things stand, he’s comfortably among the top 5 best players in the world. With his club preparing…
Brazil always seems to produce talented players, from Bebeto and Pele to Ronaldinho and Neymar. With the ball at their feet, magic always follows. One such player currently electrifying the world with his samba skills is Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior. Over the past three years, his quick feet and creative dribbling have allowed him to unlock the tightest of defenses and create chances for teammates. From Barcelona in the La Liga to Manchester City in the Champions League, he has managed to go toe to toe with the best defenses in Europe. But are Vinicius Junior’s contributions this season…
Man United have been linked with a lot of stars in their upcoming season. Their ownership has shown interest in rejuvenating the team and transforming the club back to their past glory. A crucial factor for that is the quality of the squad they have. This has been the companion of their neighborhood rivals Man City. City is known to possess an array of world-class players and young future talent. However, Jim Ratcliffe hoping to push Man United towards that path. To start with that, they’ve been making plans and arrangements to offload several players in the team. And as…
Atlanta overcame Marseille in a thrilling 3-0 win at home. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, they went ahead to crush the French side at Bergamo. The Italian side has been impressive in this Europa League. They’ve proven how much of a quality they are. It began for them when they led their table in the group stage. Afterwards, they defeated Sporting CP. Moreover, none of their feats was greater than a shocking win against the Premier League Giants Liverpool. They won at one of the most dreaded stadiums in Europe Anfield. This gave them the strong courage…
Dortmund has been a spectacle so far in the Champions League. Ascending from a state of nonfavorites to the finals. Even in the semifinals, they were still deemed nonfavorites. But their surprising win both home and away against a tough PSG side, silenced all doubts. As it stands they are in the finals, and they seemingly look unstoppable day by day. The intriguing thing about this Dortmund side is that their performance in the Bundesliga hasn’t been that impressive. Presently they are 5th in their table. Their hopes of qualifying for next season are on the ropes. However, they’ve managed…
Liverpool’s title chase experienced a lot of harrowing shocks and disappointments. Within April, they suffered several detrimental losses of points consecutively. So far their chances of winning the league are heavily dependent on a miracle. Amidst the Liverpool fanbase, some players have been scapegoated due to the poor April performance. The majority of the blame has spanned around the club’s point men and forwards. From Salah, Nunez, Diaz, down to Gapko. However, Darwin Nunez has been taking all the heat lately, despite his 18 goals and 13 assists this season. Although Liverpool has had a lot of crucial games that…
Liverpool experienced an unprecedented fall in the pursuit of their title race. The Merseyside club fell off from a point of title favorites to top 4 contenders. All this happened in April after encountering a handful amount of point drop-through losses and draws. Liverpool had finished the month of March on the top of the table, after a 2-1 win over Brighton. They were already deemed favorites for winning both the League and Europa. Then, the April storm came. Their first game in April ended in their favor with a hard-fought 3-1 win. However, they went ahead and faced an…
Real Madrid held their own at the Allianz Arena, thanks to some individual brilliance from their players. The 1st Leg of the Champions League semifinal proved to be a bit tricky for Los Blancos. But the array of stars and quality players they had in their team proved to be helpful. Real Madrid traveled to Germany to face off against one of their old foes Bayern Munich. However, over the past ten years, they’ve always overcome the German side one way or the other. This time it looked a bit tricky. They needed some class and experience to keep the…
Bayern Munich were held to a 2-2 draw at the Allianz Arena. In the thrilling semi-final encounter, the Bavarians were stunned by a late Madrid equalizer. They were already 2-1 up, but a late penalty from Vinicius Jr leveled the game. This set them up for a tough encounter at the Bernabeu. Bayern Munich now has the tough task of beating the Los Blancos at home next week. Their record at the Bernabeu hasn’t been encouraging over the past 10 to 15 years. Real Madrid have been known to be their downfall at any stage they met in the Champions…
Man United’s legacy in the Premier League has been garnished with a great deal of trophies in the past. They’ve been known to have won 20 league titles in English football history. The 20 is the highest so far, while the 2nd is Liverpool with 19. Man United have been one of the most successful teams in England. They’ve won loads of major and minor trophies. 15 years ago they were able to complete a three-peat of the Premier League. During that era, they possessed an array of stars that helped them clinch the famous 2007/08 treble. From the 5…
