Search "2018 world cup"

  • World Cup shall we

    Let’s World Cup, shall we?

    It’s been a long way. In four years, an unnumbered amount of situations in my life are subjected to change, but not my emotions upon the World Cup’s arrival. I can assure you that I don’t remember the last time a colossal amount of excitement invaded my system. I’m...
  • women's open cup

    Why is there no Women’s Open Cup?

    “Is John back on his rant soapbox again?” Yes, yes he is. “Well, what is it this time?” It’s simple. There is still no Women’s Open Cup. You see, the U.S. Open Cup is kind of the greatest thing in American sports. Every single year, teams from all over...
  • USL - 2018 USL season preview

    Comprehensive 2018 USL season preview

    After a long, dramatic D2 offseason fraught with lawsuits, chaos and #HotTakes, we have finally emerged at the other side with the USL as our now and future D2 league. Last year’s season broke records on and off the field, and raised the bar for what we can expect...
  • NASL antitrust

    SF Deltas and FC Edmonton did not sign letters of commitment for NASL 2018

    As Soc Takes revealed on Twitter yesterday, per the NASL’s USSF application for D2 status (in August), the San Francisco Deltas and FC Edmonton did not sign letters of commitment for the 2018 season. Soc Takes understands that FC Edmonton informed the league that they plan on joining the...
  • Dos Santos

    Dos Santos given another chance at Club America

    Football is benevolent with peculiar characters. Some of them grew up with a star on their forehead, called to be the next heroes. But instead, they spent their careers as nomads, looking for a place to fit in. Giovani Dos Santos had many chances to become the player that...
  • collision course

    USA, England on collision course for Tuesday

    The U.S. and England are on a collision course to meet Tuesday in the semifinals of the 2019 Women’s World Cup. So, how did both teams get here? USA vs. France When Megan Rapinoe plays for the USWNT, it is like knowing that Wonder Woman would be by your...
  • CCL struggles

    What’s causing MLS’ perpetual CCL struggles?

    Another year, another failure of MLS clubs in the Concacaf Champions League. Sporting Kansas City was the last American hope in the 2019 edition of the North American confederation club tournament. However, they were humiliated in the first leg of the semifinal by Monterrey, making it almost impossible to...
  • VAR process

    Why on-field officials must remain part of VAR process

    If this year’s edition of the FIFA World Cup proved anything — besides the value of a diverse, young player pool — it’s that we’ve inexorably entered a new era of professional soccer, driven by technology. The inclusion of goal-line tech and Video Assisted Referee (“VAR”) brought the minutia of the...
  • exaggeration

    Proceed with caution: Reevaluating FIFA’s standard for penalizing exaggeration

    With 20 minutes left in their World Cup round of 16 match against Mexico, Brazil’s star forward, Neymar, dashed towards the touchline in an effort to retain possession and improve Brazil’s fragile 1-0 advantage. Reaching the touchline a moment too late, Neymar broke his stride and tumbled to the...
  • France

    France: Strength in style, experience, diversity

    It’s all over now. After a month of excitement, Russia 2018 reached its end with many surprises: the early elimination of Germany during the group stage — something that never happened before in the World Cups — and the failures of Argentina and Spain during the knockout round. But...