History

Game-Changer In A Can: The Foamy Backstory Of Soccer’s Vanishing Spray

"What is that white spray?" many fans wondered while watching the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Millions watched as referees used cans of aerosol foam to mark off 10 yards of space for free kicks, forcing defending players to stay behind the newly formed white line.

The spray disappeared from the turf within minutes, leading many to call it "vanishing spray." 

Since its invention more than 20 years ago, the foaming serum is now ubiquitous across major soccer leagues. But how did vanishing spray come to be?

Mohamed Salah Will Now Be Taught In Egyptian Textbooks

Mohamed Salah, the greatest African goal scorer in the history of the Premier League, is now a part of the curriculum for primary and secondary school children in Egypt. 

What History Says About The USMNT’s Current World Cup Qualifying Chances

Qualifying for the World Cup from Concacaf is hard, the narrative goes. Away trips are brutal experiences and every point is hard earned, we’re told. And yet, a quick glance at social media over the last month or two since the USMNT began World Cup qualifying paints a different picture, one that suggests U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter is a stinking pile of flaming diapers for failing to win every single game in qualifying. It had us thinking about USMNT World Cup qualifying history, and how past teams have fared compared to this one. 

USMNT’s 2009 Confederations Cup Team Was One Of A Kind — So Where Are They Now?

The 2009 Confederations Cup was simultaneously the closest the USMNT has come to a major international trophy and a near abject failure. Bob Bradley’s Americans were extremely lucky to escape the group stage but then came within a Lucio header of global glory. A dozen years later, where are those USMNT players? Many of them remain fixtures on our TVs — not all as players, but as pundits. Others now fill the ranks of coaching and technical staffs at clubs around the world.

Women’s Soccer 'Swept A Lot Of Bad Things Under The Rug’ For NWSL Success, Says Heather O’Reilly

Women's soccer in the United States "swept a lot of bad things under the rug" to make the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) successful, former midfielder Heather O'Reilly said.

The NWSL fired commissioner Lisa Baird and FIFA launched a preliminary investigation last week following a report detailing allegations of misconduct against former North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley.

Belgium Cements Itself As Top Choker In International Soccer After Blowing 2-0 Lead To France

The last time Belgium’s national team missed a major tournament was Euro 2012. Since then, the nation of 11.5 million has quickly become the best international team in the world per FIFA’s somewhat arbitrary ranking system. Despite the success, the last time Belgium was in a final was Euro 1980, losing to Germany 2-1.

Belgium’s chances of seeing a final for the first time in 41 years was blown spectacularly on Thursday when France came roaring back from two goals down to defeat the Belgians in the UEFA Nations League semifinals.

Donovan’s Statue Looks Great From Afar, But There’s A Certain Murderous Rage In The Eyes

Ahead of Sunday’s El Tráfico between the Los Angeles Galaxy and LAFC at Dignity Health Sports Park, the Galaxy revealed a statue of Landon Donovan outside the stadium to commemorate his contributions to the club, including four MLS Cups.

This Collaboration Between AC/DC And Scotland Goes As Hard As Hells Bells

There doesn’t seem to be much of a reason behind this collaboration between AC/DC and Umbro, but who needs one when the final products look like this.

According to the Umbro press release, the inspiration is an AC/DC show at the Glasgow Apollo on April 30, 1978. This was shortly before Scotland’s appearance at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, and the band performed their encore wearing the Scotland ’78 jersey.

Después De Ver A Messi Acostado En La Barrera, Exploramos La Historia Del Cocodrilo

Además de convertir su primer gol con la camiseta del PSG, Lionel Messi también protagonizó una de las escenas más curiosas de la segunda semana de la Champions League 2021/22, acostándose en el piso, detrás de una barrera de su equipo para hacer el ya célebre cocodrilo.

Maradona-Mania: Remembering When Sheffield United Almost Signed Argentina’s Golden Boy

The deal was as good as done. The year was 1978, and a 17-year-old Argentine phenom named Diego Maradona was set to become a Sheffield United player.

Harry Haslam, manager of the Second Division side, was on a scouting mission in Argentina and looking at a pair of players but couldn't come up with the requisite funds.

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