The Copa Libertadores Finals highlighted the ugliness in soccer– as well as its transcendent beauty. Does one cancel out the other? When we talk about soccer, we never just talk about soccer. This sport doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s infused with our cultures (and our counter-cultures), with our politics, with our histories, with our …
Patrice Evra’s Instagram post highlighted how absurd soccer culture can– and should– be. Austin, Texas has a reputation for being quirky. What that means, exactly, depends on who you talk to. But generally speaking, you could chalk it up to a distinct local character defined by liberal-ish social politics, active underground subcultures, a broad resistance …
The young Liverpool fullback challenged the defending World Champion to a friendly game. It went about as well as you’d expect. There really should be a complicated German word for the odd feeling that happens when several of your interests smash into each other. Before checking in with England for international duty, Liverpool fullback Trent …
When life gives you cabbage, make this quick and tasty dinner at home. Aston Villa fired manager Steve Bruce earlier today. The decision came after a tough 3-3 draw at home against Preston North End, leaving Villa with just one win in their last ten games. The fans were certainly not pleased. One supporter …
There’s something special about a rekindled derby. It brings out a certain passion and creativity that had been pent up. When spite meets lots of free time, the magic of football really shines. Hamburger SV, playing in 2. Bundesliga after being relegated last season, played host to their cross-town rivals FC St. Pauli this past …
The third edition of the FIFA Football Awards were given out yesterday. One might say meted out, as if inflicted on all of us by a vengeful and petty god, but that may be getting a little too metaphysical. As always, debate raged about the award winners. Luka Modrić won the award for best male player, …
“No one cares about women’s soccer.” Whenever the National Women’s Soccer League gets promoted on social media, whenever this past weekend’s Championship Final was hyped up, whenever the superstars of the game said anything to the media, some rando on Twitter with zero followers and a default egg avatar will feel the inescapable need to …
As we noted last month in our summer round-up, the 2018 NWSL season has been a wild ride. Two teams folded in the offseason, with one of them moving to Utah. Blockbuster trades, with one USWNT star refusing to play for the team she was traded to. Injuries. Natural disasters. Whatever’s happening at Sky Blue. …
by James Bridget Gordon Day 16 During the World Cup, Howler will feature a different writer each day sharing thoughts on the day’s action. Today, James Bridget Gordon ponders the possibility that neither of the greatest players of our era will lift the trophy that matters most. The greatest, most damnable, tragedies in our …
