Lists

Yesterday, the New England Patriots took on the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. Everyone was ready to call it quits at halftime when the Falcons were crushing the Pats 28-3. But, the game is not over until the ref blows the final whistle, and when the time came and the ref blew the final whistle the game was tied up at 28-28. Coach Bill Belichick must have had one hell of a half time speech for his team because the Pats returned to the field after half with a whole new perspective. 

It was a surprise to everyone, but the Patriots came through and won their fifth NFL title.

Some use “soccer mom” as an insult, but in reality soccer moms are more like super heroes. They always make sure we have our belongings and help us get from place to place on time. Without them, who knows where we would be.

Soccer moms are 100% committed to the job, so shout-out to all the soccer moms (and dads who fulfill this role). We love you!

Your reasons for coaching youth soccer – for sacrificing your weekends, dealing with the headaches of communication, putting up with wall-to-wall nonsense – are selfless. You love the game. You enjoy working with kids and know that soccer is one of the most powerful ways to teach life's lessons. Generally, the rewards far outweigh any of the accompanying pains.

But, good grief, the struggle is real. You'd really like to skip the hassles of managing a team or running a club, but time and again you run into the same problems afflicting your companions around the globe. 

There are few things more satisfying in the FIFA series than taking your team of veritable nobodies and turning them into world-beaters in the FIFA 17 Career Mode. Similarly, there are few joys greater than finding the best young players and turning those undiscovered gems into champions. FIFA 17 is no exception to that rule, and so The18 is here to help with a list of the best young players to buy in your FIFA 17 career mode. 

Just a few points before we begin: 

Superstition is a vital part of any sport. Wherever someone is kicking a ball, shooting one or smashing it with a bat, there’s a good chance some sort of lucky charm or foul fear is at play. 

From Jason Kidd blowing kisses to the basket before shooting a free throw to Cristiano Ronaldo’s imperious stance before taking a free kick, if you look hard enough you’ll find the superstitious activity in any game.

2016 was a year of endless football action. We witnessed Euro 2016, the Copa America Centenario, World Cup qualifiers and the Rio Olympics to go along with the usual domestic and continental club competitions. 

We also saw a host of youngsters taking center stage with their respective sides due to the corresponding opportunities. With that being said, here are five youngsters poised to have a breakout year in 2017.

Soccer’s standing as the world’s game has opened it to a wealth of different viewpoints and cultural backgrounds, and the literature of the sport truly reflects this diversity. Whether the focus is on the game’s most interesting characters, the tactics, the supporters or the memorable events, soccer is a topic that has yielded some of the finest writing of any sport. Here is a selection of 18 of the best books concerning the beautiful game.