Soccer Analysis

Jose Mourinho will construct United around Paul Pogba's versatility, giving him both creative freedom and tactical responsibility. He has the confidence and the ability, and that's precisely what makes his future so perilous and exciting. Read more »

A charismatic communicator with the resume to match, it's easy to see why Slaven Bilic's post-match analysis proved to be popular with audiences. Here's a breakdown of some of his best quotes. Read more »

Talent matriculates up the table in every league, reinforcing the existing hegemonies and guaranteeing that, over the long run, the continent's Napolis will never compete with its Juves. Read more »

The years after 2006 were a gesticulation period, waiting for their soccer upheaval to pay dividends. 2014 represented the pinnacle of their planning. This 2016 side was supposed to cement their dominance. World Cup 2018 will be about a legacy of players in their prime attempting to fully realize their potential. Read more »

If the two key skills of a central defender today are cutting off counter attacks before they happen while creating attacks themselves, then Leonardo Bonucci may be the world's finest. Read more »

Spain need a manager who understands the style is dead and the team requires, not a complete overhaul, but a few significant tactical tweaks in order to get the best out of a fresh generation of very good players who are differently skilled than the legends that preceded them. Read more »

It's Argentina this time around who are peaking at the right moment. Perhaps not necessarily in terms of a national playing style, but in team chemistry, their midfield and attack all in their prime, and figuring out how to play with and without Messi. Read more »

The cynic will point to the lack of quality group stage opponents, but whether through an improvement in defense, coaching, or players other than Messi, the cohesive side look poised to win their first senior title since 1993. Read more »

Antonio Conte used the 3-5-2 formation with in qualification matches and friendlies leading up to the Euros, and that same questions of how Italy defends opposition wingers and handle the press will be a common theme and define their success in Euro 2016. Read more »

Under Jurgen Klinsmann's watch, the United States has moved in no discernible direction, constantly shuttling players in and out of the squad, messing with different shapes and approaches, going young in one tournament and leaning on veterans the next. Read more »

The days of 600 passes per match may be gone as Spain will move the ball more quickly and play more directly. Unlike the 2008-2012 period, they also now represent 14 different clubs across Europe instead of loading up on Barcelona and Real Madrid players. Read more »

Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid meet in their second Champions League Final in two years. We pick five players per side to feature who will play an outsized role in the match. Read more »

Atlético are proud of needing to suffer in a way their European peers don't, and that pride filters out into the stands at the Calderón and whatever parts of Madrid are indeed red and white. Read more »

Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola are playing a zero sum game on an even higher, more difficult level sharing Manchester than it was when they shared the Clasicos for two seasons. Read more »

To take Monchi out of Sevilla would be to rob him of the intangibles and the small secrets that distinguishes his signings. He talks his role at the club as a passion first, job second. Here's how he has made it happen for more than a decade. Read more »

Those Valencia title runs from not so long ago seem deep in the past as the club has been corrupted by a failed stadium project and super agent Jorge Mendes. The fans are losing the sense that ecstatic days like those could return. Read more »

Radja Nainggolan's personality has been called a "force of nature", highlighting his mentality and desire to win. His value has risen dramatically as his skills developed and is facing an important summer with Belgium and potentially moving to Chelsea. Read more »

This season was always for editing the roster, with results and memories a byproduct of the first step of a larger process. Instead, Jurgen Klopp gave Anfield a four goal, second half comeback to beat Dortmund in a match that would be a source of inspiration for decades to come. Read more »

The difference between Barcelona of two years ago and the Barcelona of now is their ability to render the play of their opponents irrelevant, but there's vulnerabilities that Atletico is perfectly setup to exploit. Read more »

Almost two years out of the game, Luciano Spalletti's impact on Roma has been immediate, in the form of many, many goals. Roma needed Spalletti for morale and direction. And Spalletti needed Roma. Read more »