Mario Gotze a Bright Spot as Germany’s Second String Struggles vs. Slovakia

By now, fans of Germany know they need not put too much stock in friendlies, especially those played during the preparations for a big tournament. Head coach Joachim Low uses these games to mix and match, to experiment and to see the alternatives to a first-choice XI that’s largely in place for months. It’s a luxury a coach who’s won the 2014 FIFA World Cup can afford, even more so when his team is filled with experienced players of the highest quality. Germany don’t need to win test matches to feel good about their chances in a tournament. That being said, losing 3-1 against... 

Copa America Centenario Is Perfect Test for Jurgen Klinsmann’s Master Plan

United States manager Jurgen Klinsmann has been in the spotlight for the majority of his five-year tenure, but as the Copa America Centenario arrives on American shores on Friday, the pressure is greater than ever. The 16-team tournament that opens with the USMNT facing Colombia at Levi’s Stadium will serve as a measuring stick for just how well Klinsmann’s master plan is coming along. By bringing a side mixed with wily veterans and exciting youngsters to the Copa, the USMNT boss is trying to bridge the generational gap in the program ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Klinsmann... 

Why Portugal’s Ricardo Quaresma Can Make a Long-Awaited Impact at Euro 2016

His place on myriad “failed wonderkid” lists has long been assured, but there are signs that Ricardo Quaresma could finally—at the age of 32—be about to showcase his remarkable talents on the global stage. The early success, the money-spinning move to Barcelona, the switch to Serie A, the disastrous loan to England, a spell in the United Arab Emirates—Quaresma’s career really has ticked all the boxes of a what-might-have-been story, but as he showed in Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence in Portugal’s pre-Euro 2016 win over Norway, his second coming might... 

Why 2016 Will Be the Year Lionel Messi Strikes Gold with Argentina

If Argentina are to break their 23-year trophy drought with the Copa America Centenario crown, Lionel Messi will once again be vital to their chances. But worrying scenes in San Juan, Argentina, showed the Albiceleste will also have to keep their captain and talisman wrapped in cotton wool to make sure La Pulga can explode stateside over the course of June. It was a picture no Argentina fan could stomach. Messi was forced to limp off in Friday’s first and only Copa warm-up against Honduras after taking a nasty hit to the back on the way to a 1-0 win over the feisty Central Americans. The... 

Imprecise Italy Leaves Scotland Friendly with Few Answers

On Sunday, Italy arrived in Malta for their first friendly match in their run-up to the 2016 UEFA European Championship. The match against Scotland, played in the Maltese national stadium in Ta’ Qali, was also the only game for Antonio Conte to evaluate his 30-man provisional roster before Tuesday’s deadline for submitting his final squad. That gave the game an importance far beyond its result. The Italians won 1-0 on a delicious curling strike by Graziano Pelle, but that was never Conte’s main concern going into the match. He needed to work out who would make his final cut,... 

Can James Rodriguez Rejuvenate Himself and Inspire Colombia at the Copa America?

James Rodriguez lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy on the San Siro pitch and managed a grin. Less than 24 hours later, he strode out on to the field at the Santiago Bernabeu with a Real Madrid scarf draped round his neck, before giving a short, celebratory speech to the fans. Winning the Champions League—his first and Madrid’s 11th—before heading to the Copa America Centenario with Colombia sounds like the perfect end to the season and the start of the summer for James. The reality, though, is very different. On the surface, he looked happy and calm, but a tide of emotions... 

O Captain! My Captain! Rafael Marquez Shows His Value as Mexico Beat Paraguay

A win and a clean sheet. In terms of preparation for the upcoming Copa America Centenario, Mexico’s 1-0 win over Paraguay went pretty much to plan. El Tri scored a wonderful team goal in the first half to settle a contest that, overall, will not live too long in the memory. Jesus Duenas’ pass over the top perfectly picked out the run down the right flank by Jurgen Damm, who was able to carry the ball infield, drawing goalkeeper Justo Villar in the process. Rather than shooting, Damm unselfishly squared the ball to the supporting Andres Guardado, who only had to tap home beyond a defender... 

Spain vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina: 2016 Friendly Time, TV Schedule, Live Stream

Spain will fine tune their preparations for this summer’s UEFA Euro 2016 by hosting a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the AFG Arena in Switzerland on Sunday. Manager Vicente del Bosque may hand playing time to a host of intriguing, previously uncapped players, since he can’t call on Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid stars because of their UEFA Champions League final commitments. But the veteran coach will also be wary of the quality of a Bosnia squad boasting talents such as AS Roma team-mates Miralem Pjanic and Edin Dzeko. Del Bosque will want to see an assured performance... 

Gyasi Zardes Proves He Can Be X-Factor for USMNT at Copa America Centenario

The curious positional case of Gyasi Zardes has been a hard one to solve at both the club and international levels.  There is no doubt the LA Galaxy man is a true forward, but due to the teammates he has in Major League Soccer and with the United States men’s national team, Zardes and his managers have been forced to adjust.  In the USMNT‘s 4-0 win over Bolivia on Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Zardes proved just how dangerous he can be in the final third with his movement on and off the ball. The 24-year-old bagged a brace during his 63-minute... 

Mamadou Sakho’s 30-Day Ban Not Extended by UEFA, Could Play at Euro 2016

Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho could make a surprise late run into France’s Euro 2016 squad after European football governing body UEFA decided not to extend the defender’s 30-day ban for breaching drugs policy. The Liverpool Echo‘s Joe Rimmer reported on Saturday that UEFA opted not to extend the suspension served to Sakho last month after he failed a drugs test for a banned fat-burning substance. According to Rimmer, UEFA are set to investigate whether the drug should even be on the World Anti Doping Agency’s list of illegal substances, meaning Sakho could... 

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