The image Tehrangeles presented as Iran opened its seventh World Cup — a huge, adoring crowd wrapped in the flag, wearing the jersey, cheering on Team Melli in the most Iranian city outside Iran — masks a most complicated and, in the wake of unfathomable tragedy, increasingly fractured reality. Things are not as they might […]
Scott French
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Folarin Balogun does his job
Folarin Balogun knew what he wanted from his World Cup debut. He got so much more. The Brooklyn-born, London-bred striker scored two fine goals, had a third wiped away, and with better fortune might have scored a few more as the United States eviscerated Paraguay in Friday evening’s Group D opener, making for what he […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Soccer America’s predictions for all 104 games: Vivent Les Bleus!
The biggest, longest, mostest World Cup in history kicks off Thursday, with Mexico facing South Africa in an Azteca opener, the start to a mountain of clashes that’s going to keep a lot of us from getting anything done over the next six weeks. We start here on Friday, with the United States taking on […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Australia’s Socceroos have a plan to stun the world
The likeliest scenario, the prevailing wisdom goes, has Australia putting up a good fight in Group D and heading home before two weeks are up, winning everyone’s respect but not much else. That’s how the tale goes, even when it meanders.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
The Marcelo Balboa interview
The most celebrated moment in Marcelo Balboa’s legendary U.S. national team career was a misfire, an audacious bicycle kick that sailed just wide of the left post in the Yanks’ Rose Bowl upset of Colombia the first time the World Cup traveled to our shores. It led, thanks to Philip Anschutz’s enthusiasm for it, to […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Marc Dos Santos: Life is not like PlayStation
Marc Dos Santos delivered a blistering rebuke of Major League Soccer and its failure to adequately schedule around the tournament
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Earthquakes are thriving with a ‘very, very Bruce-esque’ approach
The San Jose Earthquakes’ intent in its near-the-top-of-the-table showdown at Los Angeles FC was not to send a message.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
World Cup host Los Angeles: Through the eyes of Scott French
“Los Angeles” is three things: a city, a county, and a metropolitan area of 20 million spread through 300 cities and communities over 5,000-square miles across five counties pockmarked by mountains, hills, canyons and deserts.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
What’s in San Diego FC’s secret sauce?
SDFC dictated terms nearly the entirety of the first-round opener in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Emily Sams takes USWNT opportunity and runs
Emily Sams’ California adventure got off to a terrific start. Now it’s about extending that.