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Banning Headers in Youth Soccer will Increase Concussions
Recently, there’s been a growing movement in the United States to ban heading the ball in youth soccer. In theory, this sounds like a great idea to prevent our children, who are still growing and developing, from getting head injuries as they grow up. We don’t want our kids getting concussions that may affect them…
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The Obituary of La Albiceleste
I could’ve seen it coming from a mile away. I wanted to believe, I really did. I forced myself to think that Jorge Sampaoli could somehow instill his intensive, complicated tactics in his players in a mere span of months. It’s like thinking you could put off studying until the week of the test, and…
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Dear Antoine Griezmann: You’re Not a Gang Member, You’re a Tourist
Today, the World Cup starts, and for the next month, I, like many, will attempt to shut off and ignore absolutely everything around me that does not concern the World Cup. So why does Antoine Griezmann think he can just kick open the door while my eyes are glued to Russia-Saudi Arabia on Match Day…
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How Key Stakeholders Can Mitigate Damage from the United States’s Failure to Qualify for the 2018 World Cup and Enhance the Development of Soccer in the United States
Introduction For the first time since 1986, the United States will not be playing in the World Cup. After an embarrassing qualifying campaign — which culminated in the U.S. Men’s National Team finishing below Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Honduras in the CONCACAF table — the Stars and Stripes faithful will be watching other…
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Top 10 summer 2017 transfer windows
Every summer, transfer windows afford clubs the opportunity to shake things up and change directions completely. While more signings equals more expectations – naturally – rarely does a team successfully alter their fortunes in one window. With so many factors at play, transfers have become increasingly difficult – especially in an era of overpriced and…
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Gianluigi Buffon: The End of an Era?
After 17 years of the Bianconeri, Gianluigi Buffon is ready to hang up his jersey. Concluding a highly successful career at Juventus, his time has come to an end after playing his final game against Hellas Verona last Saturday. Taken off at the 63rd minute to a stadium ovation full of tears and heartbreak, the…
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Unrequited Love (For Who?)
“La deuda la tenemos con nosotros mismos, a la gente no le debemos nada.” Those words by Lionel Messi still stand out like an ice sculpture in the Sahara. “The debt we owe is to ourselves, we don’t owe anybody else anything.” It was, perhaps, the boiling point of a decade-long battle between the…
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Azerbaijan Premier League 2017-18 Review
For the fifth straight season, to Qarabağ ran away from the rest of the league by Easter. A bitter Azerbaijan Cup semi-final loss to Sumgayit and an even more painful Champions League exit may have soured the mood for the Horsemen, but over a 28-week schedule Qarabağ once again proved simply too good and too…
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Newcastle Must Keep Hold Of Rafa Benitez
It was a long time coming. And it was much-needed. As referee Lee Mason blew for full time at the London Stadium, faith and belief in the hearts of Newcastle fans was reinstated. This was their first win in over ten games and amidst relegation troubles and massive issues surrounding the club’s ownership, the win…
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From hero to zero: The demise of Neftchi Baku
Many football supporters like to think that their team is “more than a club”. In Neftchi Baku’s case, the claim is true. For much of its 81-year history, its accomplishments were a source of pride for supporters throughout Azerbaijan, if not for supporters of Qarabağ FK, Azerbaijan’s other big club. Off the pitch, Neftchi was…
