Nigel Reed
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.
Ben Rycroft
Toronto FC's message not matching its actions
Soccer executives are a lot like politicians, and those at the helm of Toronto FC are sending mixed messages to fans and supporters alike.
Nigel Reed
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.
Nigel Reed
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.
Nigel Reed
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.
Ben Rycroft
FC Edmonton takes 'proactive' approach to match-fixing
FC Edmonton's newly hired general manager, Rod Proudfoot, says the NASL team
is intent on stopping match-fixing before it starts. And they've taken
the extraordinary step of hiring someone who can help do it.
Ben Rycroft
Huge gap remains in Canadian men's soccer
In the week leading up to Canada's U-17 match-up against Panama, head coach Sean Fleming spoke a lot about his players learning to deal with pressure.
Ben Rycroft
American Abby Wambach's World Cup gripe off base
Soccer great Abby Wambach's critical comments on the 2015 World Cup in Canada being played on turf rather than natural grass shows the 32-year-old will go at great lengths at tipping the scale in the U.S.'s favour, writes CBCSports.ca blogger Ben Rycroft.
Ben Rycroft
Pro soccer pained by pill-popping players
Medical personnel on Canada's MLS clubs are calling for better education of youth and professional players about the potential dangers of using over-the-counter drugs.
Nigel Reed
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.
Ben Rycroft
Toronto program making soccer dreams come true
A Toronto youth development program is giving unprivileged and troubled youths opportunities to play professional soccer.
Nigel Reed
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.
Ben Rycroft
Toronto FC-Impact rivalry heightened by old tensions
The reason for the hype and excitement before the rivalry between Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact extends deeper than just a few
soccer fans attending a game up the road. The societal divisions offer up an interesting contrast and
backdrop to this provincial rivalry.
Nigel Reed
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.
Ben Rycroft
Montreal Impact: 2013 season preview
The pressure is on new coach Marco Schallibaum to unite a diverse, veteran roster that's built to win now in Montreal's second MLS season.
Ben Rycroft
Toronto FC: 2013 season preview
Every year it's seemingly the same story for TFC: new coach, new players and a
new direction. Followed by more promises, more problems and more pain. Or, this time, Payne -- as in Kevin Payne, the new president and general
manager and the latest man to be tapped to finally bring the club
to the playoffs in 2013.
Nigel Reed
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.
Ben Rycroft
Vancouver Whitecaps: 2013 season preview
Vancouver's 2-1 loss to David Beckham and the Galaxy in last year's knockout playoff round
is the farthest a Canadian MLS team has made it to date. But with
success comes greater expectations for the Whitecaps in 2013.
