Chile's level of expectations were raised within a decade, as a generation of players and an overarching style molded into one. They were on the verge of three international trophies in three consecutive summers. Read more »

The negativity towards Fernando Santos just a year after delivering Portugal's first senior trophy at first seems too reactionary. There's no need for an evolution from his point of view. Santos heads into the 2018 World Cup playing with house money, for better or worse. Read more »

Jorge Sampaoli's mission statement for his time as national team manager is to expand the talent pool with fresh legs. He is not one who manages through small improvements and iterations. It's either all or nothing. Read more »

In the world of agents and million dollar fees, there's a level of tapping up in every transfer. If you aren't writing public apologies, you aren't trying. Liverpool could still end up with an entire XI of players bought from Southampton by 2019. Read more »

Ernesto Valverde's initial challenge with Barcelona lies in rebalancing the club's reliance on the MSN forward line. He must usher in the next generation of players, pass the ball with purpose, and maintain a sense of self above the Barcelona fray. Read more »

The consensus is that Juventus and Real Madrid are as evenly matched as possible. This match will come down to the individual performances of both the likely and unlikely candidates. Read more »

Antoine Griezmann's been going to Manchester United for six months, if you're prone to believe the British tabloids. Read more »

Christian Eriksen is as close to an old school No. 10 as there is in the modern game. The differentiating characteristic that allows him (and other playmakers of his mold) to thrive in 2017 is the versatility and mobility off the ball. Read more »

Leipzig may be too young to have achieved a lifestyle status, but they are a philosophy - one that either represents the future of the global game or another example of the relationship between fans and supporters divided by spreadsheets and finances. Read more »

Antonio Conte has overachieved in his first season at Chelsea, but there remains doubts to how far he can take his sides in Europe. This is specifically aimed at whether a three defender backline is as effective in the Champions League as it is domestically. Read more »

Whether years from now Michael Carrick becomes a footnote or grows in history, he represented a moment and an ideal for a specific playing style. But eras go as quickly as they come. Read more »

The only factor preventing Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Mourinho from winning every trophy is the entire world. Unseen forces accentuate any storyline. Referee conspiracies are not a bug, but a feature. Read more »

If we add video assisted replay, we will reduce scoreline-altering human error. But we will also increase stoppages and turn games into forensic and epistemological exercises. Read more »

Carlo Ancelotti's present day role is turning big clubs with big ambitions into European champions, which makes judging his year to year success relatively straightforward. Yet there is more under the surface. Read more »

Max Allegri begins with an appreciation for the defensive structure of a 4-4-2 before defining the qualities he envisions in specific midfield roles with the #4 (deep lying playmaker), #8 (box to box midfielder), and #10 (attacking midfielder). Read more »

Will Monchi build a Spanish side in Italy, or shape his transfer policies for Serie A? Will he move forward with Luciano Spalletti as his manager? Read more »

Things have been difficult for the Netherlands since the 2014 World Cup, but at least their side has a pathway to once again be at the forefront of modern soccer, in whatever form of pressing, possession, or counterattacking it takes. Read more »

Barça have become more like Real Madrid over the years because occupying the moral high ground doesn't feel as good as winning titles. This is what Piqué is bristling against, when he periodically plants a couple jabs into Madrid's ribs. Read more »

It would be harsh to judge this season as a failure no matter how it ends, and Sevilla can still win matches based on sheer individual quality. But we've seen glimpses of what could be when the pieces are ticking together, and we've seen Sampaoli and Sevilla win with style. Read more »

It took three seasons at Anfield, but now we have a clear answer of who Adam Lallana is: a leader of pressing movements, a veteran leader in the locker room, and an example for future Liverpool midfielders. Read more »