Soccer Analysis

We've gotten nearly all the way through the group stage without many inert stinkers, and that's as it should be. Read more »

It was one thing to read of Aleksandr Golovin's quality from second hand reports, another to experience his drive and skill on the world's biggest stage. We've seen him play for 180 minutes; we can imagine Golovin dribbling, turning, and passing at Stamford Bridge or Juventus Stadium. Read more »

The goal wasn't a singular instance; Germany's midfield got passed over on multiple occasions, leaving Mexican attackers in space, with the ball at their feet. Read more »

So much can change during a four-year cycle. We look to the club game for cues on on the direction of international football, yet the current dominant pressing style is difficult to pull off in this format. Read more »

African football has always been filled with big names. And while no African side has gone further than the quarterfinals in the World Cup, the lack of results are not due to individual talent. Read more »

The top-10 unsurprisingly includes Lionel Messi, Neymar, Mohamed Salah, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane. Read more »

Spain fired Julen Lopetegui and if the players pull this off, it will mean making it up as they go along, playing only for each other and furiously against the myopic suits who have put them in this predicament. Read more »

Belgium are sixth choice as favorites from a betting perspective, the highest on a list for a country that previously hasn't won the World Cup. Read more »

On Kevin de Bruyne, Robert Lewandowski, Luis Suarez, Manuel Neuer and more. Read more »

The familial bond that runs through the national side is their defining feature. Uruguay's stability begins at the top, with manager Oscar Tabarez in his 12th season as national team manager. Read more »

On Kylian Mbappe, Son Heung-Min, David De Gea, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Keylor Navas and more. Read more »

Jorge Sampaoli is playing with house money in Russia. His true impact for Argentina will be shaped over the following years heading into 2022. Read more »

Sadio Mane, Roberto Martinez, Xherdan Shaquiri and Alex Iwobi headline the second set of our Essential 50. Read more »

Dele Alli, Maya Yoshida, Alisson and Aliou Cisse open up our list of the Essential 50. Read more »

The initial aftermath led to debates about the future of soccer in each country, and an optimism that governing bodies treat the cause and not just the symptom with a new, modern approach to tactics and player development. Read more »

Cristiano Ronaldo deserves everything he gets. Titles and criticism, glory and side-eye. Read more »

Running through each side's potential starting XI, Liverpool's defense and midfield look outmatched on an individual level against Real Madrid. But that is the art of Klopp building a side whose sum is bigger than its parts. Read more »

As Liverpool and City build upon last season's foundation to become an even more extreme version of what brought them success, the rest of the Premier League is caught in the middle in more ways than one. Read more »

There are only the basic principles: make mistakes now. Learn and pay for them, but not so much. Understand how to handle supporters and the media. And ultimately, return to the league they once defined. Read more »

Simone Inzaghi, more well known at the time as the younger brother of Filippo Inzaghi, implemented a unique 5-3-1-1 formation with an emphasis on direct, counter attacking play that takes advantage of his squad's strengths. Read more »