I spend a lot of time getting around my home city of Frankfurt am Main by bicycle. This also means I spend a lot of time locking and unlocking my two-wheeled means of transport. And every time I turn the key and look at the row of secured bikes next to me, I feel a […]
Ian Plenderleith
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Euro 21, round of 16: Four days when favorites fell, but thick with thrills
Four days of knockout action at Euro 21 (née Euro 20) brought us eight games that were mainly mesmerizing, thriving on the tension even when goalmouth action was sparse. Portugal and Pepe reverted to type, accruing few new friends. The Danes continued to recover magnificently from the trauma of their opening game. The previously dynamic […]
Posted inStory
Fascinating footnotes to the NASL's weird and wonderful history
“The Detroit Cougars have caused observers to take notice with their brilliant early play,” says the newsletter. “Coach Len Julians‘ lads, who are beginning to shape as one of the league’s best teams, registered an impressive four-game sweep over Jamaican opposition in launching their exhibition campaign.” It was March 1968, and the newsletter was published […]
Posted inStory
Now landing in your inbox and not mailbox, Soccer America's strengths remain true
The first time I spoke to Mike Woitalla he was a little standoffish. Understandably so. It was back near the start of the century, and I’d called him out of the blue to ask him what he thought of two new soccer magazines that had just hit the U.S. market. Did Soccer America feel threatened […]
Posted inStory
Remembering Geoff Barnett: 'I'm not driving a ****ing Chevette!'
I was very saddened to hear that former Arsenal and Minnesota Kicks goalkeeper (and later coach) Geoff Barnett passed away last week, age 74, after contracting Covid-19. Geoff very kindly agreed to talk to me in 2014 when I was researching my book on the North American Soccer League, Rock n Roll Soccer. I met […]
Posted inStory
Rugby can show soccer the way on 'emotional' dissent
As a soccer referee, it’s been instructive to watch the game officials during the Rugby World Cup in Japan this past month. I’ve not only been impressed by their communication and the authority withwhich they control the game and the players, but almost sick with envy at the way their decisions are accepted and respected. […]
Posted inStory
Are Video Refs suffocating soccer?
“Not just an atmosphere-killer, but a wrong decision too,” said SC Freiburg striker Nils Petersen after his team were denied a 4-3 stoppage-time win over VfL Wolfsburg the weekendbefore last. Having come back from 1-3 down to seemingly win the game in the 93rd minute, the video assistant referee (VAR) intervened to declare that Freiburg […]
Posted inStory
Goalkeepers are different — but they shouldn't be
“They’re a lot more robust. They’re stronger physically, tactically. They are a better side.” That was the gracious assessment of Bournemouth coach Eddie Howe following his team’s 4-0 home defeat to Liverpool on Saturday, conceding that he could have no complaints about the result that took his opponent to the top of the Premier League. Howe […]
Posted inStory
Bayern Munich's media-bashing backfires on Rummenigge and Hoeness
On Friday evening I was in Eintracht Frankfurt’s Waldstadion watching them beat Fortuna Düsseldorf 7-1, the club’s biggest win in the Bundesliga for almost 40 years. Serbian striker LukaJovic became the first-ever Eintracht player to score five goals in a single Bundesliga game. Yet despite all the euphoria, there was plenty of room among home […]