Tactics

A PSG kickoff strategy compilation from this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup highlights some of the madness and genius being used by manager Luis Enrique. Paris Saint-Germain’s aggressive pressing has caused opposing teams fits all tournament and it starts from the kickoff.

Probably 99.9% of games begin with a backwards pass and holding possession. Not PSG. They line up like an NFL kickoff, boot the ball out of bounds near the opponent’s corner flag and charge the enemy team to create pressure.

PSG kickoff strategy compilation

Former Everton and United States men’s national team goalkeeper Tim Howard says that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and his tactics have had a negative impact on the sport. The Tim Howard Pep Guardiola comment has garnered plenty of attention.

Howard shared his opinion during an appearance on the new podcast “It’s Called Soccer” with Rebecca Lowe, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville.

The United States will not change course in Wednesday's friendly against Brazil, head coach Gregg Berhalter said, despite a 5-1 mauling by Colombia in their Copa America warm-up last weekend.

Colombia scored three times in 11 second-half minutes to hand the U.S. team a thrashing on Saturday in Landover, Maryland, prompting alarm among the home fans.

The Bernardo Silva penalty vs Real Madrid during Manchester City’s shootout defeat in Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal was one of the most discussed points of the game.

After a brilliant game that ended 1-1 (4-4 on aggregate) it went to a penalty shootout. Silva stepped up to take City’s second penalty and stunned fans when he shot it right up the middle into the grateful hands of Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

Silva received hefty criticism online for his penalty. 

What if we told you, it wasn’t a bad kick but instead a genius bit of goalkeeping?

United States women’s national team head coach Twila Kilgore turned heads with her starting XI for the SheBelieves Cup semifinal vs. Japan on Saturday. Korbin Albert will start the game on the bench and Mallory Swanson returns for the first time in a year.

Swanson last started a game with the USWNT on April 8, 2023, when she suffered a severe knee injury. She’s back in the starting XI for the first time since.

USWNT starting XI vs Japan

United States men’s national team talent Gio Reyna has been linked to several clubs across Europe as he seeks playing time away from Borussia Dortmund. There were many reports on where he could go but, in the end, a Gio Reyna Nottingham Forest loan is the outcome.

Reyna will be loaned to Forest until the end of the 2023-24 season, however the Premier League club won’t be given the option to permanently buy. Instead, the 21-year-old has signed a new contract with Dortmund that runs through 2026.

Gio Reyna Nottingham Forest loan

An Ivan Toney free kick goal is one of the big talking points from Brentford’s 3-2 victory vs. Nottingham Forest on Saturday after the Bees striker made his long-awaited return to the Premier League.

Toney returned from an eight month ban for betting offences and only needed 19 minutes to get on the score sheet. A closer look at the free kick shows that Toney moved the foam put down by the referee and the ball before taking the kick.

Was this cheating or was this clever?

Ivan Toney free kick goal controversy

The United States men’s national team comfortably defeated Oman 4-0 Tuesday night at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota, during an international friendly game.

USMNT fans will widely agree and say it was an alright performance from the team and a slight improvement from Saturday’s 3-0 win vs. Uzbekistan. 

Let’s get into the highlights and takeaways.

Lindsey Horan had strong words about the United States women’s national team’s coaching staff and their World Cup failure when she sat down with her former teammates Christen Press and Tobin Heath on The RE-CAP Show.

Horan discussed that the team wasn’t set up for success at the tournament, had no joy throughout and dropped a bombshell about the team’s tactics during the Round of 16 loss vs. Sweden.