Author Archive for Keith Hickey
How Important Is MLS To The USMNT?
Back in the sepia-toned days of the 2002 World Cup, much of the American team that reached the quarterfinals was based in the US. Integral contributors like Cobi Jones, Brian McBride, and Eddie Pope hailed from MLS teams. Now, the 15-year-old league seems marginal, at best. Out of the established core of starters, only Landon [...]
Ex-Pats: Redefining “Home” Country
The World Cup gives players a chance to represent their country, but not everyone represents the country they were born in. Sometimes through parentage, other times through naturalization, there are plenty of players who don’t play for their birth nation. Here are some of the players who might play in the World Cup for their [...]
Past And Present World Cup Greatness
He’s the headliner of the World Cup, grabbing the glory and filling the highlight reels. He sells jerseys, he sells tickets, and every kid wants to be him. His picture is on one million posters and 100 million TV sets. He’s the top scorer, that fabled figure who is half-myth, half-superman, and 100 percent legend. [...]
Top Four 2010 World Cup Dark Horses
Spain. Brazil. Italy. Everyone knows them, the favorites. The big boys of international soccer. In all likelihood, one of the big teams will go home with a nice shiny World Cup trophy this summer. But nothing is set in stone. Thirty-two teams have their eyes on the ultimate prize, and if the top dogs stumble, [...]
Top 4 World Cup Underachievers
Before every World Cup, nations dare to dream. Plucky minnows relish the prospect of taking a big scalp. More established countries seek to bring honor to their flags. And some nations dream of taking home the trophy itself. That optimism though, carries with it the weight of expectation, a weight that can be a burden. [...]
Six Players Who Stole The Show
Over the years, the World Cup has featured an astounding array of legendary players performing extraordinary feats. But occasionally, a player comes along who commands the attention of the entire globe, grabbing the headlines and bringing glory to himself, and quite often, his country. Sometimes it’s a relative unknown who bursts into international superstardom overnight. [...]
A History Of World Cup Controversy
The World Cup is played on a razor’s edge. In every tournament, national pride, personal emotion, and competitive instinct are all at a fever pitch. Perceived slights can boil over and become international disputes. Legends can become villains, and ordinary men can attain infamous immortality. Sometimes the catalyst can be simple as failing to live [...]
The Ballad of Landon Donovan
Dear TYAC Reader, I have a confession to make. I have, in the past, been critical of Landon Donovan. Not his play, as I’ve always loved him on the field, but his decision to stay in MLS always baffled me. I was under the belief that he was complacent, happy to be the big fish [...]
Five Young Players You Need To Watch
The finest players on the planet will be trying to bring glory to themselves and their country this summer, but a select few of them will not be established stars, but young players full of hope and potential. This week, we’ll be examining five young players looking to stake their claims to future megastardom in [...]
Yanks On The Bubble
There are some individuals, that, if fit, Bob Bradley will automatically take to South Africa this summer. Tim Howard. Landon Donovan. Carlos Bocanegra. Snuffles, Bob’s stuffed lamb with the nose bitten off. There are plenty though, for whom every match, every ball, and every twitch of a muscle is an opportunity to flex their World [...]
