Every year, billions of spectators from around the world tune in to watch the Barclays Premier League. The opening excitement, the closing suspense, the ups and downs of a legendary club’s journey are all trademark attractions of the world’s most popular sport. But the most underrated experience is the contemplation of the nonsensical league table after the first game. 

After all, how often do you get to see Swansea City ranked second while Liverpool languishes in the relegation zone? Last year’s top four of Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur make way for today’s haphazardly concoction of Fulham, Swansea City, West...]]> Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0500

In May 2007, Milan and Liverpool, two of the greatest soccer clubs, faced off in the Champions League final. Liverpool hasn’t qualified for this year’s edition of the competition, while Milan is a shadow of its former self after selling Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to Paris Saint-Germain.

Up until about three years ago, soccer had a clear hierarchy. England was dominated by a top four of Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. Italy was run by a big three of Juventus, Milan, and Internazionale. Spain was ruled by a Real Madrid-Barcelona duopoly. And Germany had a Bayern Munich quasi-monopoly.

All 10 teams were more or less on the same...]]> Sat, 04 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0500 In the next few days, Spanish attacking midfielder Santi Cazorla is expected to complete a move to Arsenal from Malaga. It is a logical move for the Gunners, who favor technical ability over physical power.

But what doesn’t make sense is why Cazorla is leaving Malaga in the first place. Malaga, owned and financed by Sheikh Abdullah al Thani, was supposed to be the most acute threat to the Barcelona-Real Madrid duopoly in La Liga.

Nearly two years after buying Malaga, investing tens of millions of dollars into players and facilities, and gaining praise for his balanced approach to club development, Al Thani wants to sell. Without his backing, the club will have to dump...]]> Sat, 28 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500

After years of rising fees and ever increasing salaries, the transfer market has slowed down this summer. But as the clock ticks toward the Aug. 31 deadline for registering transfers, clubs will speed up proceedings, and more will materialize.

Paris Saint-Germain is responsible for most of the action this summer, signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Thiago Silva, and Marco Verratti in a bid to buy itself into the European elite.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is celebrating a long awaited Champions League victory by spending heavily. Chelsea’s midfield is boosted by the arrivals of Belgian star Eden Hazard from Lille, Brazilian prodigy Oscar from Inter,...]]> Fri, 20 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Over the years, Brazil has become synonymous with success in soccer. The Brazilians have won the World Cup a record five times. They have produced many of the greatest players, from Pele to Ronaldo, as well as one of the most enthusiastic fan cultures. And, over the generations, Brazil has justifiably become the land of soccer.

But one distinction is still missing from the country’s list of honors: the Olympic Gold Medal.

So when the Brazilian delegation heads for London this summer, victory in the soccer tournament would bring about the missing link in its chain of success at a crucial moment in the history of Brazilian soccer.

After winning the World Cup...]]> Sat, 14 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The world’s most famous and ancient sports event will take place this summer in London. For thousands of athletes, in sports ranging from synchronized swimming to the modern pentathlon, participation in the Olympics is the culmination of a successful career.

And though the Olympic basketball cannot match the NBA in terms of general quality, Team USA will include such household names as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Kevin Durant, a sign that even those at the highest level hold the games in high regard.

But if you plan on watching the soccer tournament, don’t expect to see Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, whose teams are not included. Don’t look...]]> Sat, 07 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Euro 2012 was not, by any standard, a surprising tournament. There wasn't an unexpected victor, in the tradition of Denmark, in 1992, or Greece, in 2004. There wasn't even a Russia or a Turkey going all the way to the semifinals, like the last time around.

As always, some results weren't highly anticipated. Few picked Italy to reach the final, or to beat Germany for that matter. After the Russians defeated the Czech Republic 4-1, losing to Greece was an upset. And hardly any Dutch fans would have predicted that the World Cup finalists would exit in the group stage.

But Italy has always been one of the strongest national teams. Greece was only two places behind Russia in...]]> Sat, 30 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Euro Cup has come to an end for most teams. For the two remaining, Spain and Italy, it will end as it began.

On June 10, Spain tied Italy 1-1 to start off the tournament. The match was well balanced, with neither side clearly dominating.

But since then, both teams have followed completely different paths to the finals. Spain has constantly been criticized for a boring style of play emphasizing possession rather than offence, while Italy has surprised time and time again with a fearless attacking approach.

Italy, the better team, has been playing some of the most attractive soccer in the tournament, reducing England to a second-tier...]]> Sat, 23 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0500 If soccer games resolved international disputes, the European crisis would have a solution within days.

In the quarterfinals, the stable Czech Republic could not overcome debt-laden Portugal.

The bankrupt Greeks were crushed by the Germans, whose cash is keeping the losers afloat.

The Spanish will compete against the French, whose superior fiscal stability they covet.

And the English will line up against Italy, hoping that fiscal health will be a plus.

In that game, both sides could bow out with pride. The Italians are in the midst of a match-fixing scandal, and were urged by their prime minister to forfeit.

The English have...]]> Sat, 16 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0500 One of the great dilemmas in leadership is how best to start a task. When Pep Guardiola took charge of Barcelona in 2008, his first move was to fire star players Ronaldinho, Deco, and Edmilson. No matter how talented they were, Barcelona’s success hinged on Guardiola.

When Jose Mourinho became Real Madrid coach in 2010, he dispatched Michel Salgado and Raul, icons who had been at the club since the 1980s and had come to epitomize Real Madrid. Real Madrid would no longer be symbolized by crusty stars. Instead Mourinho would henceforth symbolize Real Madrid.

But when Laurent Blanc took over the battered remnants of the French national team in 2010, he went over the top....]]> Sat, 09 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Robert Lewandowski scored the opening goal in the 2012 European Championship as co-hosts Poland settled for a draw against Greece. Hours later, Russia set the tournament for Group A with a 4-1 victory against the Czech Republic.

Poland may regain its footing after the draw. The squad features forward Lewandowski, midfielder Jakub Blascykowski and defender Lukasz Piszczek, all key players in Borrussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga triumph.

Greece pulled a major upset by winning the tournament in 2004, but is the weakest team in this tournament. The Czech Republic has neither the sufficient firepower up front nor a disciplined enough defense to get much...]]> Sat, 02 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0500

At next week’s European Championship, Spain will be up against history. The Spanish will try to accomplish the unfeasible, and do what has never been done before. Winning the European Championship this summer would mean victory at three major tournaments in a row, an unprecedented exploit.

For any country to pull off a major feat — whether winning the World Cup for Spain, or just getting there for Trinidad and Tobago — an extraordinary generation of talented players is a must. Few, if any, golden generations can survive for four years, the time necessary to win three major tournaments.

To make matters worse, Spain will be without key players from past...]]> Sat, 26 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Something about the Germany’s Nationalmannschaft is different from usual. Not its position as favorite for the upcoming European Championship, but rather what is expected from the German national team. Never before has Germany been expected to light up a tournament with swift attacks and elegant skill.

Over the past 80 years, Germany’s strength in the international game was marked by consistency and efficiency. Germany went professional when the rest of the world was amateur. Its most famous players were Franz Beckenbauer, the greatest central defender in history, and Gerd Muller, nicknamed “The Bomber,” who perfected the art of...]]> Sat, 19 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Saturday should be a day to remember for Bayern Munich, with the possibility of lifting the Champions League greater than ever before. Playing such a match at home is a dream sought by all clubs.

Bayern Munich and its opponent, Chelsea, are emerging from otherwise disappointing domestic seasons after lackluster results in their respective leagues. Not, by any measure, the world’s best teams.

The home field advantage will help the Bavarians, though several months ago Bayern Munich didn’t look convincing enough to appear in the final.

A winter slow-down quickly brought the German side out of contention for the Bundesliga title, although results abroad...]]> Sat, 12 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The European soccer season is wrapping up, with Real Madrid, Juventus, and Borrussia Dortmund winning titles in Spain, Italy, and Germany, respectively.

Now is the time for many clubs to pick a new manager. A team’s choice will define performance over the next year. Twelve months ago, nobody would have expected Juventus, then an average Italian team, to win the Scudetto. This achievement was only possible under the guidance of club legend Antonio Conte.

As Sir Alex Ferguson has proved with his 26 years at Manchester United, stability is the key to long-term success. Paradoxically, stability can often be a hindrance for national teams.

A national team coach...]]> Sat, 05 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500 On Wednesday, Barcelona’s dominance of soccer came to a screeching halt as Real Madrid celebrated winning the Spanish title. Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said it was the most difficult victory he has ever achieved. This was an understatement.

The current Barcelona squad has been described by many as being the best in history. Few can remember a team that dominated the game so thoroughly. Barcelona dominates even in defeat. Some have managed to hunker down in defense and steal a goal on a counterattack, but emerging from the pitch as the better side is impossible.

Today, Barcelona recruits most of the players in its small squad from La Masia youth academy. Children...]]> Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

A Real Madrid vs. Barcelona Champions League final would be a fitting way to end a season. With the clubs sharing the world’s most publicized rivalry, an unprecedented encounter at the highest level could mark the most memorable game for many years to come.

Both teams are struggling against history. Real Madrid has waited 10 years for a record 10th European title, while Barcelona aims to be the first team to successfully defend a Champions League title since the current format is adopted in 1992.

But like all fantasies, this one may not come true. Both teams suffered defeats on the road this week, with Real Madrid losing 2-1 to Bayern Munich and Barcelona losing...]]> Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Pity Liverpool. Bad luck hurt what was once a truly great club. Today, the team is unraveling. Each attempt at reform is failing. But, in the 1980s, Liverpool was the dominant force in English soccer, and a superpower in international competitions. Legendary managers such as Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley constructed a side that was among the best the world has ever seen.

Those were the days when British teams employed British players. Liverpool has never recovered from the widespread globalization of the 1990s. Twenty years ago, English first-division teams left the Football League to found the Premier League in order to secure more television funding. Financial wealth has...]]> Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

What happened to Arsenal? The team that was supposed to flounder this season is now happily sitting third in the Premier League. After giving up star players such as Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri because of significant debt, fifth place was considered ambitious for the London team.

The board has been repaid for its support for professorial manager Arsene Wenger, whose 13-year long tenure was under threat last summer. The Frenchman’s insistence on attacking play and reliance on foreigners was demonized by many observers.

Last summer, most would have agreed that only luck would allow Arsenal to reach third place. The team was already excluded from England’s...]]> Sat, 31 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500

It’s not yet April, but the coaching carousel is already spinning away. A series of high profile moves could determine the result of this season’s final sprint to the finish line and define next year’s landscape. Some teams can take their time to choose a coach, but others have a greater sense of urgency.

The English Football Association seems to have forgotten that it doesn’t have a manager. After Fabio Capello’s resignation last February, the English national team has yet to find a permanent replacement.

Interim manager Stuart Pearce didn’t win over too many critics with a 3-2 defeat to Holland in his first game in charge. Rumor has...]]> Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500

It was the 89th minute of the game, and San Lorenzo was headed to a 1-0 home victory against Colon in the Argentinean Clausura competition. After a Colon corner, the linesman’s flag went up for an offside. But referee Diego Arbel did not whistle to stop play.

Central defender Ariel Garcé scored the equalizer for Colon, which was remarkable, because he and the referee were the only people who were unaware of the decision. When the referee allowed the goal to count, there was an uproar.

San Lorenzo is a proud old team from Buenos Aires. Because of poor form in recent seasons, the team may be relegated into the second division. The blue blood of Buenos Aires...]]> Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The quarterfinals of this year’s UEFA Champions League will feature eight teams from seven countries, the most diverse lineup in 15 years. Almost as surprising as the early exits of Manchester United, Manchester City, and Internazionale is the surprise qualification of Cypriot club APOEL.

Unfortunately for APOEL, the club will face giant Real Madrid, which has an undefeated record in the Champions League this season, and probably won’t lose it against APOEL. With a star-studded bench providing more depth in talent than any other club, Real Madrid will head into the game as the overwhelming favorites.

Whatever the result, sharing a pitch with Real Madrid will...]]> Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Never in the history of sports has so much been expected by so many of so few. he Brazilian national team will head into the 2014 World Cup, taking place on their home soil, with unprecedented expectations.

Brazil, a country of nearly 200 million inhabitants, takes soccer seriously, to put it mildly. Every game needs to be won. The country is entitled to victory at every World Cup.

You can already buy a Brazil shirt with six stars on it, representing six World Cup victories, even though the team has only actually won the tournament a mere five times. However successful the team has been, more is expected. Having more World Cup victories than any other nation is hardly...]]> Sat, 03 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0600 United States' stunning 1-0 victory over Italy demonstrates how much the team has improved under coach Jurgen Klinsmann. This is a team that lost to Costa Rica last September and had the pathetic record of six victories, three draws, and a staggering eight defeats last year.

A series of disappointing performances got coach Bob Bradley dismissed. And in 2011 under Klinsmann, one of the world’s top coaches, the team barely improved. Last year, the USA’s most memorable moments ranged from the 4-0 humiliation against Spain to the 2-1 defeat against minnow Panama to the potential Gold Cup victory so unexpectedly thrown away. 

Victories against Venezuela and...]]> Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600 Despite tickets to World Cup matches, and accompanying five-star hotels and first-class travel, not to mention cash to be earned from World Cup bidders, now is not the right time to work at FIFA, soccer’s governing body.

FIFA’s attempts to reform itself haven’t fooled anyone, so reform may well be forced on it by an increasingly powerful group, the European Club Association. The ECA, founded in 2008, represents hundreds of soccer teams. Its leader, German soccer legend Karl-Heinz Rumenigge, is FIFA’s most dangerous enemy.

The ECA is a lobby for European clubs. Except that the ECA’s financial clout rivals that of FIFA.

However enormous...]]>