Soccer
Boom or bust for Gareth Bale?
Gareth Bale is finally the property of Real Madrid. The blockbuster transfer of 2013 makes him the costliest player in soccer history. Now the question: is he really worth it?
Soccer
EPL returns without United legend
Twenty-one years after breaking away from the century-old Football League, the English Premier has a fresh look about it as it kicks off the 2013-14 season.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Brazilian blend roasts Spain in Confederations Cup final
After cruising past Spain in the Confederations Cup final, Brazil has sent out a bold statement of intent and given everyone a year's notice: They are back and they mean business.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Brazil, Spain vie for Confederations Cup glory
It is the climax everyone expected, the host nation Brazil against World Cup champion Spain was the only logical finale after both teams arrive in Rio de Janeiro with perfect records, writes Nigel Reed.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Spain survives its biggest test
Spain is on the verge of greatness. History is waiting to write this team up as the best of all time. But the historians, with facts and stats at their fingertips to validate the claims, must bide their time. Another year should do it.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Soccer cheats must be punished
CBCSports.ca's Nigel Reed offers his solution to rid soccer of diving - an antic that has embarrassed the sport for decades.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Spain's reign on trial against Italy in semifinals
Expect nothing new from Spain in their FIFA Confederations Cup semifinal match against Italy as the World Cup champions will bring football excellence to the field yet again, writes Nigel Reed.
FIFA Confederations Cup
South American rivals clash in Confed Cup semifinals
After convincing wins over Japan, Mexico and Italy in the first round of the FIFA Confederations Cup, Brazil is once again the talk of international football. The last obstacle between the favourites and the final match is South American rivals Uruguay, writes Nigel Reed.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Spain can't afford to get complacent
In tournament soccer one thing counts - results. How they are achieved is always secondary to the outcome, and if Spain hopes to repeat its Euro success, it can't afford to get complacent.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Brazilian rhythm too strong for Italy
Brazil, inspired by fanatical home support and the Confederations Cup's outstanding individual, defeated Italy 4-2 on Saturday.
FIFA Confederations Cup
The force remains with Uruguay's Diego Forlan
Soccer fans have long memories. From time to time their recollections
become somewhat selective, but in the same way they never forget great
players, they also remember the duds. Depending who you talk to Diego Forlan is either a national treasure, or an over-hyped misfit.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Confederations Cup needs serious quality control
If you thought Tahiti was out of its depth against Nigeria, consider the fact its next game, on Thursday, is against Spain. The non-contest between the champions of Africa and Oceania did nothing to alter my view Tahiti should not be in Brazil.
FIFA Confederations Cup
European artistry on full display at Confederations Cup
Spain's modus operandi has not changed in years. It is entirely predictable yet virtually impossible to overcome. Don't make the mistake of confusing predictability with a certain threshold of boredom.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Brazil, Neymar kick off on the right foot
Whatever financial investment Barcelona has made in Neymar - he's probably worth every penny. In his nation's capital a young man, with the world at his feet, had the self-confidence to allow his natural talent to shine through.
FIFA Confederations Cup
FIFA Confederations Cup more than a dress rehearsal
Yes, it's a test event for the next year's World Cup, but the Confederations Cup can also be a litmus test for aspiring contenders and a proving ground for soccer's emerging stars.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Goal-line technology debuts at Confederations Cup
The FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil will be the first major
international competition to employ goal-line technology (GLT). If
successful, and it simply has to be, GLT will be part and parcel of the
game from here on, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Tiny Tahiti takes on soccer's giants
Not quite a fifth the size of Prince Edward Island, Tahiti is home to a
population of approximately 200,000. Twenty-three of them
are in Brazil to compete at the FIFA Confederations Cup against some of the world's most powerful soccer nations.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Brazil looking to recapture Samba beat
Legendary names like Pele, Zico and Ronaldo kept Brazil at the forefront of world soccer for generations, but
lately something is missing. Brazil has
not won a trophy for four years and its world ranking has slipped to an
all-time low as it prepares to host the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Soccer
U.S. 'rematch' not the end game for Canadian women
Sunday's women's soccer game at BMO Field in Toronto is a friendly international -- only without the
friendliness. And while Canada surely wants to beat the rival U.S. team, it must also start thinking about its future.
Soccer
German soccer strength on display in Champions League final
German soccer is no longer under the radar -- it is about to be
showcased in all its glory in Saturday's Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
Soccer
David Beckham: Soccer and Spice
His brand is global, his appeal universal. He sparked debate and
polarized opinion. But underneath the gloss, David Beckham was, first and foremost, a
very good footballer.
Soccer
Moyes aims to build on Sir Alex Ferguson's legacy
To become a champion is a huge feat. To lead a club to the level of consistency Sir Alex Ferguson attained during his dominant reign as the king of English soccer with Manchester United boggles the mind. His successor has impossible shoes to fill.David Moyes's has been ready for years, and his ascension is no accident.
Soccer
Soccer power shifting to German clubs
In Barcelona's vast soccer fortress, the Germans ran amok and advanced to the Champions League final with a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bayern Munich, so often the bridesmaid of Europe's elite, was not to be denied. And the trend is continuing going forward.
Soccer
Canadian championship offers exciting battles
Like the return of spring, the Amway Canadian Championship is becoming an annual staple, and soccer fans across the country are ready to renew the rivalry.
Soccer
World Cup qualifying sways from frenetic to frantic
Three games into CONCACAF's final qualifying round, the jockeying for position is becoming frenetic if not, at times, frantic.
Soccer
Impact finding a home away from home
The Montreal Impact will have to wait until mid-April to play their first game at Stade Saputo, but a 3-0 start has the franchise off to the best record in Major League Soccer.
Soccer
Controversial call clouds Madrid's win at Old Trafford
We know Real Madrid beat Manchester United to advance to the Champions League quarters. But we also know the course of the match in Old Trafford was definitively altered by the referee, writes Nigel Reed.
Canada
Small silver linings in Canada's U-20 defeat
Canada's failure to qualify for the U-20 World Cup in Turkey this summer sends a
worrying message about the development of young soccer players in this country, but some bright spots did emerge at the CONCACAF U-20 championship.
Soccer
Canada's kids can restore pride at U-20 World Cup
The Under-20 World Cup has long been a coming out party for an abundance of future stars, and Canada isn't prepared to take anything for granted.
Soccer
Canadian men's soccer team has time on its side
Canada's next generation is not exactly up and running, but in
recent days it has taken its first tentative steps towards comprehending
the requirements of senior international soccer. It will be a slow,
painful exercise where patience and tolerance must be placed before
expectation.
Soccer
Canadian men's soccer team has loads of fresh talent
Four months after a humiliating loss to Honduras in World Cup qualifying, and not a moment too soon, Canada is turning the page. There's a new man at the helm, albeit temporarily, and a plethora of fresh talent which is being thrown in at the deep end and expected to stay afloat.
MLS
Impact head coach Marco Schallibaum ticks Montreal boxes
Marco Schallibaum is passionate about soccer and an articulate European able to speak in a number of languages, making him the ideal head coach for the Montreal Impact.
Soccer
Red-faced FIFA's show must go on
"It is an easy draw," declared FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke.He
was right. A simple matter of placing eight teams into two groups of
four. What could be easier? The look of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup
was about to take shape.
Soccer
Elite soccer nations give Confederations Cup credibility
The Confederations Cup is essentially a dress rehearsal for the World Cup itself. It has been a designated FIFA event for 15 years, yet many of us are just getting used to this competition as a regular warm-up to soccer's global showpiece, writes Nigel Reed.
Soccer
David Beckham is soccer's James Bond
David Beckham is in some respects soccer's equivalent of James Bond. He has the looks, the talent, the lifestyle, the career ups and downs and the longevity to have left his mark. Love him or loathe him Beckham has been a force for good in North American soccer.
MLS
Montreal's Hainault moving on with Dynamo
In a matter of weeks, Canadian defender Andre Hainault has gone from being humiliated in Honduras to the brink of a second consecutive MLS Cup final with the Houston Dynamo.
Soccer
Long road ahead for Whitecaps
The Vancouver Whitecaps, a second-year team with a first-year coach, stumbled into the playoffs looking a little lost and uncomfortable. They didn't stay long. Despite a valiant effort to prove they belonged, the host L.A. Galaxy eventually managed to put them in their place and persuaded them to leave.
MLS
Whitecaps enter soccer unknown
Not everyone agreed with the adjustment to Major League Soccer's playoff system, but one could argue the Vancouver Whitecaps timed their post-season run to perfection.
Soccer
No hex, just humiliation for Canada in World Cup qualifying
Soccer analyst Nigel Reed writes that Canada's men's soccer team may as well have been a victim of The Hex when they were routed by Honduras in their final game of World Cup qualifying. All the good that was done in the months beforehand was tossed away in the blink of an eye.
Canada
Canada, spelled with a CAN
Canada has the talent, the motivation and even the support to beat the Cubans on Friday night at BMO Field. Scoring goals, a perennial problem for Canada, remains an issue and, even without the talismanic Dwayne De Rosario, who's injured, the Canadians have enough quality to get the job done.
MLS
Whitecaps in dogfight for wild card
The Vancouver Whitecaps find themselves in a dogfight with Dallas FC as they inch slowly and unsteadily towards a potentially historic berth in the MLS playoffs.
MLS
Impact inaugural MLS season a success
They're not going to make the playoffs. They're not going to win more than they lose. They're not selling out as often as they'd like. Yet Major League Soccer's first season in Montreal has been a success.
Canada
Missed chances haunt Canadian women
Canada's loss to Norway four days earlier ultimately sealed its fate, even before the Canadians stepped onto the pitch against North Korea - one of the pre-tournament favourites in the women's Under-20 World Cup event.
Soccer
Canada's command performance
Canada opened with a command performance at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, a tournament in which momentum is key in the early stages.
Golf
Memories of Seve Ballesteros at Royal Lytham & St Annes
I always felt immensely privileged to be standing just a few feet away from the late Seve Ballesteros as he played that magical chip shot on the 72nd hole to seal his triumph over Nick Price in The Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1988.
Euro Cup
History beckons for Italy, Spain in Euro final
It is almost certainly too close to call. They know each other well - perhaps too well - for the final of Euro 2012 to be a classic, but both Spain and Italy are aware history beckons in Kiev Sunday afternoon (2:45 p.m. ET).
Soccer
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo silencing the critics
A man so supremely talented and yet so regularly chastised for failing
to show up for national service has, at last, quieted the cynics.
Cristiano Ronaldo has led his country into the final four and has fans believing he can propel Portugal into the Promised Land.
Euro Cup
Germans in gear as Dutch despair
The Group of Death is living up to its billing. Dutch heads are on the
chopping block following their second successive defeat - a sheer drop
from which no nation has survived in tournament history.
Euro Cup
Spain tested by rejuvenated Italy
Now we know. Spain's sharp edge is absent and being missed. Four years ago Fernando Torres' goal won it all. Two years ago David Villa led Spain to the top of the world. We have known for some time Villa would not be involved because of a broken leg. We've also known Torres is simply not the clinical goal poacher he once was.
Soccer
New TFC coach Paul Mariner ready to set new course
New Toronto FC coach Paul Mariner clearly wants this team to play to its strengths - whatever they are.
Mariner is not interested in discussing systems or formations, at least
not publicly.But, unlike the departed Aron Winter, he believes the players must dictate the tactics,
not vice versa, to give themselves the best chance of being successful.
Euro Cup
Euro 2012: Contenders and pretenders
If you are of Spanish, Dutch or German descent - congratulations! These three, from a field of 16, are surely the only nations which can entertain realistic hopes of Euro glory.
Soccer
Canadian pride sees Reds rise again
Toronto FC is Canadian champion for the fourth straight year but the best team in Canada? Hardly. Yet the Voyageurs Cup will get a regular polish at BMO Field until at least 2013.
Soccer
Manchester City begins quest to build dynasty
Winning the title is one thing. Building a dynasty is quite another.
Manchester City will begin next season in the unfamiliar position of championship
favourites. The pressure will be on from the get-go and they will be the
team everyone else wants to beat.
MLS
TFC's troubles coming to a head
In a results-oriented business the team owners would have no choice but to bite the bullet and relieve the TFC coach Aron Winters of his duties should the team's free fall continue.
Canada
Canadian quartet locks horns
The Canadian Championship may just be the smallest cup competition in the world. The soccer snobs can go ahead and ridicule a national championship with so few contestants. But, like the Canadian weather, you have to live here to get it.
Soccer
Soccer's hidden medical dangers
The subject of professional soccer players with undetected medical ailments losing their life on the pitch is back on the front burner in 2012, with the soccer industry having done little to prevent such tragedy.
Euro Cup
Ghost goals have got to go
It is coming and it will change the game. Until its arrival, goal-line technology, like hindsight and the IT guy at work, is never around when you need it.
MLS
Winless Toronto FC severely limited in options
Get out of the way before it hits you. The revolving door is about to start spinning again in an attempt to prevent Season 6 becoming Season Sucks.
Soccer
Soccer in Canada on right path
When the Montreal Impact take on Toronto FC on Saturday at Olympic Stadium, it will signify a major step in the right direction for Canadian soccer, writes CBC Sports soccer contributor Nigel Reed.
Soccer
Canada's soccer team can dare to dream
It was a weekend for winners. Tiger Woods dominated the field at Arnie's place to register his first proper PGA victory since his world went up in smoke. Thomas Mulcair outlasted his rivals to become Jack Layton's successor as leader of the NDP and Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition.
Soccer
Canadian MLS teams are a big draw
They will say it was a fluke and could never happen again. On a single day, Canada's three Major League Soccer franchises were watched by more than 100,000 fans.
MLS
Raising the bar for MLS referees
Admission of the problem is the first step to a cure. In the glass half
full world of Major League Soccer, there are never really problems -
only initiatives.
MLS, however, has a problem which needs fixing. Like anything
worthwhile, it cannot be done overnight but the League wants it known a
serious initiative is being launched to tackle the situation.
Soccer
Soccer's big night out with the stars
The sign reads: "It should be won or lost right here." The challenge is clear. Victory must be earned. Toronto FC and Los Angeles Galaxy will be fighting for just that - victory - when they face off against each other at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on Wednesday night.
Soccer
Credibility: the key for Canada
It is no big deal. It is not the kind of story to make global headlines.
But for anyone who follows Canadian soccer, it is deeply troubling and
indicative of the problems facing the sport and its chances of
international success.
Euro Cup
Racism: Soccer's new fashion?
It is abhorrent. It is degrading and demoralizing. Racial abuse has no place in modern society or any other society for that matter. It is not cool, clever or humorous. It is simply unacceptable. But is racism becoming soccer's latest fashion?
Soccer
Harry in no hurry for England
In the uncertain, unpredictable world of professional soccer, one thing is certain. One does not turn down, arguably, the job of English manager. Saying no to the Football Association guarantees the invitation will not come a second time. So what is Harry Redknapp to do?
Soccer
Gerrard must lead England at Euro 2012
They couldn't wait to swing the axe. The canvassing of board members was
swift and decisive. As a result England will need a new captain to lead
it into battle at Euro 2012. Capello will surely turn again to Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool veteran has been leading by example for years.
Soccer
Canada must face Olympic reality
The United States and Canada are going to the London Olympics. Canada
did exactly what was expected of it in Vancouver. No more, no less.The Canadians should be happy with their performance, but their work is just beginning, writes Nigel Reed.
Soccer
Americans earned right to rejoice
I think now I have heard it all. A coach criticized for celebrating her
team's success? Not only is it absolute nonsense, it misses the point
entirely.
Last time I checked, soccer was a competitive sport. The object of the
exercise is to beat your opponent by scoring as many goals as possible
in the time permitted. The margin of victory is only relevant in a
competition where goal difference or head-to-head comparison is used as a
tiebreaker.
Canada
Canada's women's soccer team has plenty to prove
It has taken a while but finally he gets to play at home. After nearly six months in charge, John Herdman is ready to showcase his winners. They had better keep winning.
Soccer
Rongen's the right choice for TFC
He might just be the single most important signing ever by Toronto FC.
If he could turn the world's worst team into winners, imagine what
Thomas Rongen could do with some of Canada's top young prospects. The
55-year-old Dutchman is the man handpicked by TFC head coach Aron Winter
to run the club's new Academy.
Soccer
Canada's MLS squads should temper expectations
Unless an MLS franchise makes the right choice for its head coach, the team
is consigned to meander through the regular season without ever making a
serious run at the playoffs. And that is where Canada's three MLS squads should be concerned.
Soccer
2011: A Canadian soccer snapshot
It has been a memorable year for Canadian soccer. A new Canadian franchise in Major League Soccer, the Women's World Cup
and a Canadian team reaching the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF
Champions League. Here are a few of soccer analyst Nigel Reed's favourite Canadian moments on the pitch from 2011.
Soccer
Barcelona's world crown proves costly
Tell us something new. We already knew Barcelona was the best club side
in the world. They didn't have to go traipsing off to Japan to prove it.
The locals loved it but few others shared their passion or interest for
a competition lacking in credibility or heritage.
Canada
Who is the next great Canadian?
Who is the next great Canadian? It is a fait accompli. There was no need for a vote. One player stood head and shoulders above the rest and is well on his way to become the greatest this country has ever seen. When Dwayne De Rosario is named 2011 Canadian Player of the Year later this week, he will have scooped the annual award four times in the space of seven seasons. His performances for club(s) and country were, by and large, professional, proficient and impactful.
Canada
Canada and the de Guzman dilemma
Canada needs Jonathan de Guzman. He, apparently, now needs Canada. He would be a valuable addition to the national team, perhaps even a game changer.
Soccer
Drawing the line with video technology
It is on the way. It is no longer a question of if but when. That merely
leads to another question, as yet unanswered, and potentially
unanswerable: where do you draw the line with video technology?
MLS
Beckham's legacy: Raising the bar
He came. He saw. He finally conquered.
It took five years and cost upwards of 30 million dollars. Along the way
he upset team-mates and fans, frustrated coaches and battled career
threatening injuries. But ultimately David Beckham emerged a winner and
Major League Soccer can count its blessings.
Soccer
Canada can be cautiously optimistic
And so the curtain falls on Act 1 of Canada's 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign. There will now be a seven-month intermission before Act 2 commences. Whether or not Act 3 ever materializes remains to be seen.
MLS
Beckham can put the 'Major' in MLS Cup
The stage is set. The pioneer is on the brink of achieving another
milestone. It could be his last in a colourful career which has spanned
nearly 20 years. If so it would be a fitting finale for the man and
provide a huge boost for the sport in a land where soccer has never been
king.
Canada
Opportunity knocks for Canada
It was always a means to an end. The finish line is now in sight and
Canada must sprint across it. This is not a time to jog the last few
metres. This is a time to complete the course with a swagger and
something to spare.
It is not about ifs, but when and how. Gaining the requisite point
against St. Kitts & Nevis to advance to the third stage of World Cup
qualifying will be achieved. It is about earning respect from future
opponents, much of which was lost at the abortive Gold Cup campaign back
in the summer.
MLS
Toronto FC - A fan's tale
He has been a season ticket holder since Day 1. He has already renewed for 2012. He has pricey seats halfway in the West stand at BMO Field. He is going to give it one more year.
MLS
Canada can be proud of Toronto FC
He didn't need much persuading. When it was over Ashtone Morgan sat in the visitors' dressing room, draped in a Maple Leaf flag he collected from a fan while leaving the field. The night belonged to Toronto FC. The victory belongs to Canada.
Canada's rare hat trick
It has been a while coming. Fifteen years to be precise. It was 1996 - a year in which football "came home" with England hosting, and failing to win, the European Championships, and the launch of a new venture in the United States christened Major League Soccer.
Nigel Reed
Nigel brings his extensive experience, passion and knowledge of the game of soccer to his role as play-by-play announcer and soccer analyst on CBC. Reed has spent more than 20 years covering the game, most notably a five-year stint from 1999 to 2004 where he was a host and producer for the English Premier League for BBC.
Since moving to Canada, Reed has become the voice of Major League Soccer on CBC. He was part of the CBC broadcast team for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, covering weightlifting, taekwondo, and equestrian in addition to soccer. He was a member of the CBC 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa panel. During the tournament he proudly became a Canadian citizen.
