David

I am a long time soccer fan who grew up in England traveling the country watching Coventry City in the 70's. Now living in the U.S. I am still as passionate about soccer as I was when I was a kid.

June 12, 2021June 12, 2021 David

Europe, Serie A, Tickets, World Cup

Mancini Happy As Italy Begin Euro 2020 With Convincing Win

Euro 2020 Italy kicked off the tournament in style on Friday with a 3-0 win over Turkey, but manager Roberto Mancini was not getting carried away after the match saying that Italy ‘put in a good performance against Turkey’ but reckons ‘there is still a long way’ to go to Wembley.

Italy scored three second-half goals at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to take all three points, and Mancini was satisfied with the performance.

“We put in a good performance. We were unable to get a goal in the first half, it wasn’t easy, as it was the debut and Turkey are a very good team,” Mancini told Rai Sport. Read more... (351 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

4 Comments

June 9, 2021 David

Barcelona, La Liga, Major League Soccer

Is Lionel Messi Coming To Major League Soccer?

Inter Miami CF co-owner Jorge Mas says he is “optimistic” about bringing Barcelona forward Lionel Messi to play in Major League Soccer some time.

Messi is out of contract with Barca at the end of the month and has previously expressed a desire to play in the United States in the final years of his career.

Whispers out of Barcelona suggest that Messi will a new contract that will keep him at the Camp Nou for two more years before coming to Inter Miami of Major League Soccer before finally retiring back home in Argentina. Read more... (294 words, estimated 1:11 mins reading time)

June 9, 2021June 9, 2021 David

Major League Soccer, Tickets

MLS All-Star Game 2021: MLS v Liga MX! 2021

More than a year in the making, Major League Soccer announced that the 2021 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target will see the MLS All-Stars face off against the LIGA MX All-Stars on Wednesday, August 25, at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles. MLS all-star game tickets will go on sale next week.

The event will mark the first time ever that the two rival leagues will go head-to-head in a battle for supremacy. The showpiece event of the summer will be broadcast in the US on FS1 and Univision, in Canada on TSN and TVA Sports, on ESPN throughout Mexico and Latin America and in more than 190 countries and territories around the world. Read more... (468 words, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)

US Men Beat Mexico To Win Nations League

If last night is any indication, the future of USA Soccer is in fine hands as Ethan Horvath, Christian Pulisic and Giovanni Reyna all stared as the USA beat Mexico 3-2 to win the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League.

Pulisic scored a 114th-minute penalty and substitute goalkeeper Horvath saved a spot-kick six minutes later as the United States beat Mexico 3-2 after extra time in a stunning final.

Poster boy Pulisic, who ended the 2020-21 campaign as a Champions League winner with Chelsea, scored deep into the second period of extra time after Carlos Salcedo was penalized for a foul following a VAR review. Read more... (911 words, estimated 3:39 mins reading time)

1 Comment

June 5, 2021June 7, 2021 David

Tickets

Gold Cup 2021 Schedule Released

The full schedule for this summer’s 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup has been released. The tournament will be played in 11 cities across eight different US metropolitan areas, with the final taking place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on August 1.

“We are extremely pleased to confirm the schedule and venues for this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup, which promises to be a celebration of football in our great region,” Concacaf president and FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani said in Thursday’s release. Read more... (855 words, estimated 3:25 mins reading time)

Arsenal, Inter Milan and Everton To Tour USA This Summer

Arsenal, Inter Milan and Everton to play in Florida Cup

Despite a global pandemic and EURO 2020 taking place this summer, 2021 promises to be a big year for soccer fans in the U.S.

While we will not have the International Champions Cup we will have teams touring the U.S., plus the Gold Cup, Nations League, 2022 World Cup qualification and some good friendlies.

Florida Cup

The first Florida Cup will involve Premier League sides Arsenal and Everton, Serie A Champions Inter Milan and Colombian side Millonarios. All matches will be played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Read more... (828 words, estimated 3:19 mins reading time)

1 Comment

June 4, 2021June 7, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets

Euro 2020 Teams To Have Larger Squads Due To COVID

Each country playing at Euro 2020 this summer will be allowed a squad of 26 and will be able to replace players who test positive for Covid-19 up until their first match.

UEFA has confirmed the increase in squad numbers from the usual 23 players to 26 in light of the tournament being played in extraordinary circumstances amid the pandemic.

The expanded squads will ease the situation if one or more players within the camp test positive for coronavirus and have to self-isolate during the finals, which begin on June 11. Read more... (994 words, estimated 3:59 mins reading time)

3 Comments

June 4, 2021June 9, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

Sergio Ramos Left Out Of Spain squad For Euro 2020

Sergio Ramos has been left out of Spain boss Luis Enrique’s Euro 2020 squad. The Real Madrid centre-back has been struggling with injury and has only played one game since the end of March.

His absence means there are no players from Real Madrid picked by Enrique for this summer’s delayed tournament.

Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte had his switch from France to Spain approved by Fifa recently and he makes the 24-man squad.

He is one of 10 players from the Premier League picked by Enrique, including Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez, Leeds United defender Diego Llorente and Wolves forward Adama Traore. Read more... (541 words, estimated 2:10 mins reading time)

3 Comments

June 4, 2021June 7, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

England Announce Provisional Euro 2020 Squad

Uncapped Ben White, Ben Godfrey, Sam Johnstone and Aaron Ramsdale have been named in England’s 33-man provisional Euro 2020 squad, while Trent Alexander-Arnold also makes the cut.

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins is also named, but Leeds’ Patrick Bamford misses out as do Leicester’s James Maddison, Tottenham’s Eric Dier and injured Burnley keeper Nick Pope.

One of the major talking points had been about Liverpool right-back Alexander-Arnold, who was dropped for Southgate’s last squad in March.

With Atletico Madrid’s La Liga winner Kieran Trippier, Manchester City’s Premier League champion Kyle Walker and Chelsea’s Reece James also in the squad, one of them is likely to miss out. Read more... (614 words, estimated 2:27 mins reading time)

12 Comments

June 4, 2021June 9, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

Billy Gilmour, David Turnbull and Nathan Patterson In Scotland Euro 2020 Squad

Steve Clarke has sprung a surprise by including uncapped trio Billy Gilmour, Nathan Patterson and David Turnbull in Scotland’s 26-man squad for Euro 2020.

Chelsea’s Gilmour, 19, Rangers’ Patterson, 19, and Celtic’s Turnbull, 21, are all under-21 internationals but have never previously been called-up.

Liam Cooper of Leeds United and Greg Taylor of Celtic, plus Hibernian’s Kevin Nisbet, are also included.

It will be Scotland’s first appearance at a major men’s tournament since 1998.

Clarke’s side face Czech Republic (14 June), England (18 June) and Croatia (22 June) in Group D, with the first and third games at Hampden in front of 12,000 spectators. Read more... (473 words, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)