Launching fireworks outside a team’s hotel before their big game is a common tactic seen around the world. One of the most iconic instances of this was when Iranian fans threw a party outside the hotel where Portugal’s national team was staying for the 2018 World Cup and Cristiano Ronaldo asked for some sleep.
Además de anunciar el traslado de la final de la Champions League de San Petersburgo a París, como castigo a la invasión rusa a Ucrania, la UEFA dio a conocer hoy las llaves de octavos de final de sus otras dos competencias: la Europa y la Conference League.
En la primera competencia, la de mayor tradición y linaje, el sorteo definió la suerte de tres futbolistas mexicanos.
For the first time in history, Americans will play in all three of UEFA’s European tournaments. This season is also the first time there have been three tournaments, but minor details. There are tons of Americans playing in Europe, but only 22 have made it to the group stages across the three competitions.
Here are the numbers for Americans playing in European tournaments.
First, let’s look at the 11 in the Champions League.
What a meeting we had in the Champions League playoffs on Wednesday. Portuguese giant Benfica, a two-time winner of the contest, against the Dutch behemoth PSV, winner in 1988.
How would PSV navigate a trip to the formidable Estádio da Luz in Lisbon? Would Mario Götze orchestrate a vital away goal? Or would Nicolás Otamendi inspire the all-important clean sheet?! My brain whirled and reeled with all sorts of prognostications.
Luego de todo el fútbol de selección que hubo durante el verano, es hora de volver al fútbol de clubes, el fútbol del día a día.
Varias ligas europeas comienzan este fin de semana y es un buen momento para ver quienes serán los futbolistas mexicanos que jugarán en Europa y cómo puedes ver sus partidos durante la temporada si vives en los Estados Unidos.
International tournaments often seem like a red carpet event for the biggest names in world football, yet often the most intriguing players on the pitch are the up-and-coming stars, the b-listers of the footballing world, if you will.
Euro 2020 introduced us to a wide range of talented young players. Some were familiar by name and statistical output, but this was the first chance for them to prove themselves on such a large stage. Others were relative unknowns, ony entering the public footballing consciousness within the last month.
Having lost the KNVB Cup final in 2014, 2017 and 2018, PSV Women must’ve thought their cursed existence in the competition was rearing its ugly head again in the 2021 final on Saturday.
In the 17th minute, PSV set about defending a Den Haag corner. The ball eventually fell to Den Haag’s Jannette van Belen, whose attempted shot was blocked and ricocheted back off the top of her shoulder.
As domestic leagues across Europe enter the final weeks of their seasons, not only are league titles at stake, but qualification for next season's Champions League is also yet to be resolved.
Only 11 of the 26 automatic qualification spots for the UCL group stage have been officially determined, and more than half of the 55 playoff spots are up for grabs.
With so many bids up for grabs across the continent, tracking the qualification process can be very difficult.
When we look back at football in 2020/21 over the years to come, there will be no classics, no games to remember — because without fans, matches just don't have the same impact.
Of course, these changes were necessary to prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus, and, if current trends hold, it seems that fans will soon be allowed back in stadiums again.