World Football Columns
North America
Hot Dogs, Apple Pie & The MLS Cup: The Last Stand Of David Beckham?
For David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy, it may literally be now or never. Continue reading
Hot Dogs, Apple Pie & MLS: American Soccer Is Given A Difficult Act To Follow
MLS has enjoyed two consecutive seasons in which unexpected champions rose from the ranks to upset the big names. This year, however, baseball beat them to the punch in such spectacular fashion that the league will be hard put to reply. Continue reading
Hot Dogs Apple Pie & MLS: Beckham & Henry Begin To Pay Dividends For MLS
The MLS playoff picture is coming into focus, with one or two hard chargers causing some late surprises. Continue reading
Jersey Has Nothing To Do With It; Red Bull Are Just Not A NY Team
If Red Bull want to win, a bit of attitude is in order. Continue reading
In A New York Minute: Footy’s Place In The Big Apple’s Sporting History
For those of you who enjoy sitting on the sofa thumbing through scrap books, here’s a guide through the vignette accompanying Jersey Has Nothing To Do With It; Red Bull Are Just Not A New York Team. Obviously, soccer makes only a few brief cameos in the city’s rich sporting history, but, if you’re unfamiliar with that tradition, this video guide should give you a sense of what the Red Bull and the Cosmos v2. must live up — and down — to. Continue reading
Hot Dogs, Apple Pie & MLS: Crew and FC Dallas Both In The Hunt
When you’re wrong, you’re wrong, and you should admit it. Pass the crow, please. Continue reading
The USA v Mexico: No Pressure, Mr. Klinsmann, No Pressure At All
Sean O’Brien is convinced that the doubters will find out what everyone else has known for a long time: Jürgen Klinsmann is already an American success story. Continue reading
On Man United v Barcelona, Jellystone Park & The Need For Klinsmann
Barcelona gets dissed outside the White House, United get revenge and Juergen Klinsmann has his job cut out for him. Continue reading
South Of The Border: Xolos Chasing The Pack Early
The first half of Tijuana’s first two Primera Division matches have been a party. Unfortunately the second halves have been miserable morning afters. To establish themselves in the league, the Xolos are going to have to learn to play the full ninety minutes. Continue reading
USMNT: Klinsmann’s Hiring Proves The Third Time Is Charmed
Leave it to a friend to point out that the only reason that Juergen Klinsmann is such a good fit for the US, is that they haven’t managed to develop coaches of their own. Continue reading
On Manchester United’s US Tour, Fergie Faces Both Illusion & Truth
Sir Alex Ferguson announces, in the middle of United’s rampage through MLS, that he’s happy with the midfield he already has, thank you very much. Continue reading
South Of The Border: Previewing Mexico’s 2011 Apertura Tournament
One of the first to kick off and among the last to leave the pitch, all in the hot Aztec sun… Lazy Mexicans are one very misconceived stereotype. If you don’t see a few Primera Division matches throughout the season, you’re missing some good football. Continue reading
Are FC Dallas The MLS Version Of Arsenal?
They’re young, fast and always looking for goal but they aren’t quite able to get past the top sides in the league. FC Dallas do sound like a poor man’s Arsenal but there are some differences. Continue reading
Dwayne De Rosario: The Un-Canadian
Once every generation, a Canadian comes along who just can’t help being an embarrassment to himself and others. In the Noughties, that Canuck is Dwayne de Rosario. Continue reading
US Men Must Forget Gold Cup & Look Forward To Brazil 2014
Sean O’Brien looks at what the US can take away from a Gold Cup that saw them knocked off their perch as the region’s best side. Continue reading
Hot Dogs & Apple Pie: USMNT & Mexico Continue Gold Cup Trends
In the 2011 Gold Cup, the US are off to an all too typically rocky start, while Mexico are running away with the tournament. Time is running out for the Americans to find the form which can reel in the defending champions. Continue reading
South of the Border: Chicharito’s Gold Cup Triple Sombrero & Tijuana’s Hank In The Tank!
El Tri followed the daytime example of Costa Rica, lighting up the Texas night in their Gold Cup debut. The founder of Xolos Tijuana, newly promoted to the Mexican top flight wasn’t able to enjoy the fireworks, however. He was in custody, after Mexican police raided his compound, subdued his security forces and confiscated a cache of weapons. Continue reading
Hot Dogs & Apple Pie: US Against The World Is Getting Old
Only in America would no one care that their country was playing the World Cup champions. Continue reading
South Of The Border: Pumas Wrap Up Clausura Title, 2010-11 Mexican Season
UNAM Pumas ruled the second half of the Mexican football calendar, claiming the Clausura championship on the strength of a scintillating goal from Javier Cortes. Next season, though, the cats will be tested by the newly promoted Aztec Dogs of Tijuana, whose 24-year-old CEO may have some fresh ideas on how to run a football club. Continue reading
South Of The Border: Pumas, Monarcas Each Ninety Minutes From Liguilla Glory
Pumas and Monarcas, knotted at a goal apiece are set for a one-off showdown to determine the Clausura championship. Continue reading
South Of The Border: Pumas Herd Goats While Cruz Azul & Monarcas Stampede
UNAM Pumas took care of business, dispatching Chivas de Guadelajara to gain a place in the Liguilla Clausura final. Cruz Azul and Monarcas, however, gave new meaning to the term Mexican standoff. Continue reading
South Of The Border: Cruz Azul Stake Their Claim
Sunday will see the second legs of the Clausura Liguilla semi-finals played out and Cruz Azul have one fit in the final while UNAM Pumas hold the advantage of an away goal over Chivas de Guadalajara. Monarcas Morelia, meanwhile, have much mucho trabajo left to do. Continue reading
South Of The Border: Pumas Claw Their Way Back, Tigres Hooked On Goats’ Horns
The Liguilla is now in the semi-final stage with one big upset in the books and one big club upset at their own inconsistency. Continue reading
NY Red Bull’s Backe Left Red Faced By DeRosario Gaffe
Red Bull coach Hans Backe found out this week that he’ll be even more short-handed than he had expected during the Gold Cup, thanks to an inattentive member of his backroom staff. Continue reading
South Of The Border: The Mexican Primera Division Enters The Octagon
The Clausura Liguilla is under way, with eight sides vying for the final trophy of the split Mexican season. Top seeds UNAM Pumas and UANL Tigres find themselves under the gun already, while Monterrey has made an excellent beginning in their quest for a momentous treble. Continue reading
David Beckham’s Weekend: A Beautiful Day For A Wedding Followed By Texas Sized English Weather For Footy
Royal Weddings come along once every generation, whereas Englishmen can play football in a downpour on a regualr basis. If you were David Beckham, holding an gold embossed personal invitation from William and Kate, would you honestly turn it down?
“No thanks luvs, I’ve got a kick-about planned for that weekend. Maybe if you reschedule….?” Continue reading
South Of The Border: Pumas & Tigres Wrap Up Top Seeds In Clausura
The final round of the Clausura is upon us and only three clubs are assured of a place in the eight sided knockout round. Monarcas haven’t nailed down a specific seeding, as yet, but they will be in the playoffs. As well, Pumas and Tigres have wrapped up the first and second seeds. Nine other clubs join Monarcas in the quest to lock down one of the other six places. Continue reading
CONCACAF Champions League Final – Monterrey Extend Mexico’s Dominance
Real Salt Lake failed to take advantage of two away goals, their home ground’s altitude and cold weather, as well as the scheduling advantages they were afforded in taking it on the chin in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Final. Continue reading
South Of The Border: America Fights Back & Monterrey Distracted
There are just two rounds remaining in the Mexican Clausura and there are still eleven clubs alive for just eight playoff berths. Martin Palazzotto sets the table for the penultimate weekend, provides some highlights from last week, spices it up with just a bit of Primera Division history and pays tribute to a Mexican La Liga legend! Continue reading
CONCACAF Champions League Final: Real Salt Lake Halfway Home
Monterrey are struggling through a heavily backloaded schedule in the Mexican Clausura run-in as they battle a well rested Real Salt Lake, whose early season matches are being rescheduled by the league to keep them fresh as they seek to become the first American champions of CONCACAF in eleven years. So a two-goal home draw in a tie which applies the away goal rule is concerning, especially as they must play at nearly 5,000 feet in the second leg, with less than 72 hours to acclimate themselves. On the other hand, RSL will be without the heart of their squad, Kyle Beckerman, through suspension. Here’s a look at how things stand between the two legs of the CONCACAF Champions League Final. Continue reading
Red Bulls and Galaxy Sing The Big Money Blues
With the Red Bulls paying out $11 million annually to Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez and the Galaxy in the last year of a $250 million dollar deal with David Beckham, fans in NY & LA have failed to realise the same return on the investment as the league has as a whole. With the ‘Beckham Experiment’ almost at an end and the data condemning the on-pitch value of European superstars, one wonders whether the Galaxy and Red Bull supporters will be asked to continue sacrificing their championship dreams on the altar of good publicity? Continue reading
South Of The Border: Goats Conquer America, Pumas Shred Tigres & Other Oddities Of Nature
The Clausura competition in the Primera Division de Mexico has entered the run-in to this year’s eight-team playoff. Some traditional powers are flexing their muscles and others, well, not so much. Continue reading
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