Average, competent soccer players fit into pre-existing systems; great, tactically advanced players develop new ones. Tactical development in soccer has always centred elite-level players: Lionel Messi revolutionized the false 9, and Cristiano Ronaldo popularized the position of inside forward. As a fullback with pace and power that can take over[Read More…]
Soccer
Champions League update: Predictions for the round of 16
The UEFA Champions League (UCL) is back. Round of 16 play began on Feb. 16, and four of the eight teams have played their first leg. After Feb. 24, all the first legs will be complete. The round of 16 consists of two legs, and the team that wins on[Read More…]
The Premier League title is up for the taking
The 2021 Premier League season is halfway finished and has been rather unpredictable. Liverpool, last season’s champions, are currently four points behind current league leaders Manchester City, who have 44 points and an extra game to play compared to the rest of the top four teams. Right behind Manchester City[Read More…]
Point-counterpoint: Messi versus Ronaldo
Soccer is inherently a team sport, but it is important to take into account individual statistics when assessing the success of individual players. Each player has a unique impact on their team, but there are some statistical metrics that lend themselves to comparison. In recent decades, two players have risen[Read More…]
Facing the consequences of the second wave in the Premier League
On Oct. 13, The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) announced that Cristiano Ronaldo had tested positive for COVID-19. Before the test results were released, Ronaldo had been with the Portuguese national team playing in the UEFA Nations League. He has since returned to his home in Turin, Italy, where he is[Read More…]
In conversation with Noah Eisenberg
Born and raised in Montreal, Noah Eisenberg is the first Canadian to sign a contract with a professional soccer team in Wales. The 22-year-old will be playing for Llangefni Town FC as a centre attacking midfielder. The club was promoted to the Welsh second division in 2018 and currently has[Read More…]
Documentaries for staying in the sports mood
Although most sports are currently on hold, staying engaged with the world of sports has never been easier. Here are some of The McGill Tribune’s favourite sports documentaries that will tide you over to the next season. Athlete A Content warning: Graphic descriptions of sexual violence Athlete A is a[Read More…]
Larger rosters and greater physical demands are reinventing football in Europe
The past decade has seen a dramatic transition in the English Premier League and European Football in general. The worldwide popularity of the game has made football clubs, especially those at the top, wealthier. For example, the operating revenue for Manchester United FC has increased from 518 million euros in[Read More…]
Mewis to Manchester exemplifies the NWSL exodus
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the sports world hard, with many leagues initially cancelling their seasons. Some leagues, including the WNBA, the NBA, and the NHL, have since restarted in “bubbles,” and one of the most successful in this restart was the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The NWSL was[Read More…]
2019-20 ‘Tribune’ end-of-year athletics awards
Team of the year: Men’s swimming McGill Swimming excelled this year, with both the men’s and women’s teams finishing in first place at the RSEQ Championships. At the National Championships, the men’s side placed fourth overall and earned four medals for the first time since 2009. Second-year Clement Secchi stood[Read More…]