The European teams that have defied the odds since World Cup break

9:05 AM ET At first glance, things haven’t changed all that much since soccer’s post-World Cup restart a month or so ago. Arsenal and Manchester City have averaged more than two points per game in Premier League play, just as they did before the break. Barcelona have dropped only two points and extended their LaLiga … Read more

How Niko Kovac turned Wolfsburg back into a Bundesliga force

9:54 AM ET After a worrying start to the season, Wolfsburg are now closing in on the top four in the Bundesliga table. Stuart Franklin/Getty Images After the first five games of the 2022-23 Bundesliga season, VfL Wolfsburg were without a win and had only two points to their name. It was somewhat reminiscent to … Read more

Varane retires from France international football

7:15 AM ET Raphael Varane won the 2018 World Cup with France. Photo by ANP via Getty Images Raphael Varane has announced his retirement from international football after France‘s failure to retain the World Cup in Qatar. Varane was part of the side that won the tournament in 2018 but was unable to help Les … Read more

Who is Chelsea’s new EUR121m midfielder, Enzo Fernandez?

Jan 31, 2023 Enzo Fernandez didn’t make his senior international debut until September 2022. Within a few months he was a starter and World Cup winner with Argentina. The 22-year-old midfielder’s ascent to the top has been rapid, even by modern football’s standards, and it was only last summer that Benfica signed him from River … Read more

Transfer Talk: Real Madrid, Liverpool turn toward signing Bellingham

play Nicol: Everton destined for relegation after disastrous transfer window (2:07)Steve Nicol feels Everton will be relegated from the Premier League after a nightmare January transfer window saw no new arrivals. (2:07) 6:26 PM ET After an incredibly dramatic (and expensive) January, the transfer window is now closed! But now we turn toward the summer … Read more

Sounders won’t look past Al-Ahly to Real Madrid

play Coach Schmetzer ‘super proud’ after Sounders CCL triumph (0:42)Seattle Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer praises his side’s effort after they beat Mexican side Pumas to the CONCACAF Champions League title. (0:42) 7:08 PM ET It will be a clash of styles when Seattle Sounders FC make their Club World Cup debut against Egyptian side Al … Read more