It’s nice to get away every once in awhile. Never underestimate the positive effect of a vacation – a change of scenery can be surprisingly refreshing. For me, the new scenery was California. Last week, I packed up a small suitcase, bid farewell to the below-freezing temperatures of the East coast, and [...]

When juxtaposed, UEFA Champions League Groups C and D show us the best and worst about the competition’s group phase, with neither group having a monopoly on the good qualities.
The difference in the groups’ depth highlights the problem Champions League accepts with four-team groups. When a tournament spreads its teams into many small groups, [...]

This morning in Zürich, FIFA drew that UEFA’s top eight group runners-up into the four two-legged ties which will determine the final European participants in the 2010 World Cup.
Those match-ups are:

Republic of Ireland vs. France
Portugal vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Greece vs. Ukraine
Russia vs. Slovenia

The draw had the eight teams broken into two tops, with the top [...]

What a difference three days made for Milan.
In that time, Leonardo revitalized the squad that only managed a scoreless draw Saturday at newly-promoted Livorno. Today, thanks to two goals from Pippo Inzaghi, Leonardo’s Champions League coaching debut ended with a 2-1 over Marseille and the Vélodrome.
This could be a crushing loss for Marseille and [...]

Seena Vali gives his verdict on United’s unconvincing win against Arsenal one week ago at Old Trafford.

The start of the English Premier League season saw World Soccer Reader’s World XI shaken thanks to some prime-time performances in the league’s marque match-ups.
If you watched the weekend’s action, it should be no surprise to see a Gunner break into the team. Likewise, there was one man whose star shined brightest at White [...]

With World Soccer Reader’s first edition of its World XI – it’s weekly, collaborative evaluation of the world’s best players – we’re aware some will see us as jumping into the debate: who is the world’s best player?
Perhaps we’re asking too much when we say that this article is not intended to opine on [...]

Seena Vali gives his thoughts on the Community Shield showdown between Manchester United and Chelsea in this week’s “United Watch”.

This week in the Premier League, Adebayor is the latest to join Manchester City and Xabi Alonso may be on his way to Madrid while Klaas-Jan Huntelaar may be on his way out.

Manchester United sign Michael Owen and Gabriel Obertan, while Rafael Benitez has a swipe at the current transfer market.