SOCCER INTERNATIONAL ARTICLES

Germany enters Euro 2016 as the second favorite to win its second straight major international tournament. We've seen champions struggle before in these events though, and this first match against Ukraine is just sneaky enough to be dangerous, yet not sneaky enough to make most believe the World Cup holders will struggle.... 

As is always the case on the eve of major international tournaments, pressure is building steadily on the English national team. This club has played so well over the course of the last year and a half, and expectations are just so high that anything short of a title would be considered a disappointment.... 

If there's one match you really don't want to miss of the 12 opening match day fixtures in Euro 2016, it would clearly be the Belgium/Italy duel in Group E to be played on Monday night in Lyon.... 

Albania and Switzerland meet up in the second game of the tournament and both teams have different expectations. Albania is happy to be here as a result of the European Cup expanding from 16 teams to 24 and are the longshots to make it out of Group A. Across the pitch, Switzerland had made some noise internationally in recent years and the Swiss are hoping to at least make it to the quarterfinals this time.... 

To say that the first weekend of Copa America didn't go well for Brazil would be an understatement. The team was lucky to get out of that first match with Ecuador with a point, and the embattled Dunga was booed off of the pitch in Pasadena. Now, the Brazilians have to travel clear across the country for a Wednesday night showdown in Orlando against a Haiti team which was incredibly unlucky not to steal a point from Peru in the opener.... 

The next goal either the United States or Costa Rica score in Copa America will be their first. Neither one got off to an ideal start in Group A of this tournament over the weekend, and all will be left to play for in what should be a pressure-packed night in the Windy City for both teams.... 

There isn't a team flying much higher heading into Copa America Centenario than Mexico. El Tri has been playing fantastic ball under new manager Juan Carlos Osorio, and they really believe they can not only win Group C, but the entire tournament as well. Their first offering will come against Uruguay on Sunday night in a match which they should have a huge home field advantage for in Glendale.... 

Jamaica has to be flying high heading into Copa America Centenario. The Reggae Boyz were finalists in the Gold Cup last year in shocking fashion, and they've still got a real chance to get to the World Cup as well if they can play well in September's final round of qualifying. There's business to handle in the United States first. Venezuela is one of the weakest South American nations, and if there was a team for Jamaica to face to kick off Copa America, this would have to be considered a dream ... 

There's nothing quite like saving the best for last. Of all of the Match Day 1 games in Copa America, the best of the bunch might be the final one. Argentina, the favorite to win the 100th anniversary of this tournament this year, will take on Chile, the defending champion of the event from 2015 in a match played in Santa Clara.... 

Normally speaking, the first match of any tournament ends up being more of a showcase for the home team than anything else.In Copa America though, a tournament hosted by a very good United States team, the Yanks are actually lined in a dead pick 'em against one of the favorites on the Copa America odds, Colombia.... 

In spite of the fact that Costa Rica has had a ton of instability at the head coaching position over the course of the last few years, it's still managing to take some massive steps in the right direction. At home, Los Ticos believe they have a legitimate chance to win Copa America or at least get into the semifinals.However, if any of that is going to come to fruition, there's really no choice but to get three points from Paraguay in their opening match of this tournament in Orlando.... 

Brazil heads to Copa America with a ton of talent, but much of that talent is unrealized at this point. That said, bettors don't seem to be bothered that the club which has come to Copa America is nothing more than a B+ team at best for the Brazilians. If Ecuador is ever going to take down the big boys in CONMEBOL, this is the time for that to happen on Saturday night.... 

The United States Women's National Team always challenges itself with the best competition in the world, and this week is no exception. While the U.S. men are going to be showcased in Copa America Centenario, the ladies are going to be busy first in Denver, then in Cleveland for a pair of matches to be played against Japan, the team which it beat to win the 2015 World Cup.... 

There are only a couple weeks left until Euro 2016, and this week ahead is a pivotal one for so many teams. Sure, the fixtures don't ultimately count for anything, but getting your squad in order is vitally important before the 24 qualifying teams descend upon France for the biggest soccer competition of the year.... 

The United States Men's National Team hadn't really played that one match this year that made you believe it had a shot of really competing in Copa America Centenario until it got on the field earlier this week. Sure, there are going to be tougher matches than the one against Ecuador from Wednesday night, but winning that match and doing so thanks to a sound defensive performance suggests that the Yanks might finally have their act together.... 

The United States didn't play a fantastic match against Puerto Rico over the weekend, but it did manage to get a victory against a lesser foe. The real questions will start being asked on Wednesday against Ecuador when Jurgen Klinsmann has a full side and is facing a fellow team the Yanks will be matched up against in Copa America.... 

It goes without saying that Spanish teams have dominated European soccer of late. Once Saturday night in Milan is over with, La Liga teams will have won the last six major European championships. Sevilla finished off the Europa League title for the third straight year last week, and it'll be up to either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid to stake their claim to European glory in the Champions League Final on Saturday night.... 

The United States Men's National Team will have a couple more prep matches to play before making their final decisions over their roster at Copa America Centenario. The first of those duels is a somewhat tricky one on the road against Puerto Rico, a team which would love nothing more than to add to the misery for Jurgen Klinsmann.... 

The Europa League has been made increasingly important over the course of the last several years with a lot of additional prize money to be won as well as a coveted spot in the Champions League for next year. For Liverpool and Sevilla, the Europa League Final at St. Jakob Park on Wednesday is even more important. One will go on to play in the UCL next year. The other won't even have European soccer to play in next year.... 

Even though it feels like Brazil should be the team reaching the quarterfinals with the path of least resistance, we can't help but wonder if Argentina is going to make absolute mincemeat of the three teams it's up against in Group D.... 

Mexico and Uruguay have to be laughing at the draw they've gotten for Copa America Centenario.These two teams do have to start by playing against each other, but Group C provides no other challenges whatsoever, and it would be embarrassing for either one to not get into the quarterfinals of this great tournament.... 

No matter the international competition, it's generally really difficult to find a cut and dry group of four teams. Copa America should theoretically not be an exception to the rule, but Group B looks to be about as obvious to us as possible, as we'd bank good money that the finishing order of these four teams is Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Haiti respectively.... 

Clearly, there are four teams which have to be wondering what they did to deserve to get lumped together in Copa America. The United States knew exactly where it was landing atop of Group A, but getting drawn in with Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay was about as bad as it gets. It's sad that two of these four teams will be sent packing after just three matches. Even the hosts are definitively on notice that this could be a short stay in Copa America Centenario.... 

There isn't a group quite like the "Group of Death" in Euro 2016. Italy, Belgium, Sweden and Ireland have to want to know what they did to deserve this group. This would've been a really tough group in Euro 2012 when there were only 16 teams in this tournament. Now that there are 24, you'd figure that these groups would've been a little easier. Unfortunately for these four, that just wasn't the case.... 

The last time Spain played in a major tournament, it was knocked out of the World Cup in just 180 minutes.The Spanish are still considered amongst the massive favorites in win Group D, and they're one of the biggest favorites to win Euro 2016 as well. Turkey, Croatia and the Czech Republic could have something to say about that, though....