All About The Beautiful Game
May 5, 2018. It’s the final day of the 1. Lig season, the second flight of Turkish soccer. Samsunspor, previously a fixture of Turkey’s top flight, the Süper Lig, needs a win to avoid relegation. They take a 2-0 lead into the half, thanks to goals from journeyman striker Göksu Türkdogan and former Fenerbahce prospect…
Read More “Smurfs Up: Samsunspor’s Return to Turkey’s Top Flight” »
The Turkish Süper Lig has recently become a league known for developing young talent. I’ve long been a big fan of the league, and recent sales and player developments have increased the potential of Turkey’s top flight. However, while things have been improving for the first tier, the lower tiers are slightly dicier. Finances for…
Read More “Ayberk Karapo: Turkey’s Young Starlet Thriving in the Second Tier” »
The Turkish Süper Lig certainly has no shortage of elite goalkeepers. Trabzonspor won the league last year largely because of the heroics of Turkish international Uğurcan Çakır, who allowed just 33 goals in 36 games. Galatasaray has long depended on Uruguay’s shot-stopper Fernando Muslera, who has played nearly 500 games for the club. Rivals Besiktas…
Read More “Furkan Onur Akyüz: The Latest Exciting Goalkeeper From Fenerbahce” »
Twelve months after the Euro 2020 group stages were supposed to end, they finally have. The group stages had it all – trauma, heartbreak, relief, upsets, joy, heroics – and now it is time for the knockouts. Sixteen teams will be moving on, and eight teams have already gone home. But which sixteen, and did…
International tournaments are, and have always been, a great opportunity for players to earn transfers. James Rodriguez is the best example of this, earning a high-profile move to Real Madrid following his performances at the 2014 World Cup. Ricardo Rodriguez is another, as he moved to AC Milan following an impressive 2016 Euro tournament with…
Read More “Three Players Who Have Seen Stock Rise Following Round One of Euro Fixtures” »
The Euros have almost started, twelve months later than they were originally scheduled to take place. At the best of times, the Euros have produced surprise results (think Iceland in 2016 or Greece in 2004), and with condensed schedules for some of Europe’s biggest leagues, there could be even more surprising results. Furthermore, many star…
It’s hard to believe, but it has been only two years since France won the World Cup. More importantly, there are less than two years remaining until 32 teams head to Qatar to decide who are the new world champions. Because of coronavirus, these qualifiers will be unlike any others. With all of the qualifying…
