Monthly Archives: July 2015

Qualifying play for Euro 2016 still isn't finished yet, and it still seems like the 2014 World Cup was just wrapping up a few weeks ago, but things are already getting underway for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. On July 25^th, UEFA officially announced the 2018 World Cup qualifying stage draw for all of its teams, separating 52 countries into nine lettered groups.

The qualifiers won't begin for over a year still-the earliest date of any of the fixtures is September 4, 2016. It will also be more than two years before the World Cup qualification rounds officially wrap up, on November 14, 2017. Still, while there are a lot of events on the soccer circuit that will happen before these qualifiers get started, that doesn't mean it's too early to look at some of UEFA's top soccer teams and see who they'll be facing as they take their first steps toward Russia in 2018.

Football

If you were hoping for a change of pace from Tottenham Hotspur's black and light yellow away kit, you're in luck! On July 15^th, the football club and their kit manufacturer, Under Armour, officially unveiled the Tottenham Hotspur away kit 2015 - 2016, and it's a complete change of pace from last year's design.

Indeed, the Tottenham Hotspur away jersey 2015 2016 trades the muted black design of the 2014 2015 season for a vibrant blue kit design. The shirt colors are balanced between sky blue and navy, with white detailing tying the design together for a truly striking aesthetic. Fans of the Spurs should be excited to see Harry Kane and other Tottenham players donning this football jersey for away fixtures this year.

Under Armour's Unique Touch

Just like the 2015 2016 Spurs home kit, the new away jersey design makes a unique use of striping patterns that seems to be Under Armour's unique stylistic touch

During the 2014 2015 soccer season, FC Barcelona's offensive frontline of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suarez scored a combined total of 122 goals in all football competitions. That tally was unprecedented in Spanish football history, not only setting a new record, but also encouraging soccer publications to question whether or not the partnership was "the best-ever front three." But why does the Messi, Neymar, and Suarez Partnership Work so Effectively?

FC Barca Kits

Otherworldly Stats

Even if Messi, Neymar, and Suarez were just the best front three in Barcelona history, that claim to fame would be impressive. Barca is no stranger to incredible offensive trios, and Messi himself has been a part of three of them since arriving at

Real Madrid technically walked away with the trophy at this year's International Champions Cup 2015 Australia, but there was a real spreading of the wealth as far as wins and impressive pre-season moments were concerned. Spread across three games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the International Champions Cup Australia played out like a round robin group stage style competition between Real, Manchester City, and AS Roma.

Football Jerseys

Things to Prove

All three soccer clubs arrived in Melbourne for the International Champions Cup with a thing or two to prove. For Real Madrid, the International Champions Cup Australia marked an initiation of sorts for new manager Rafael Benitez. The Vikings hadn't played a single match since the end of the 2014 2015 La Liga season

At the last CONCACAF Gold Cup, held in 2013, the Mexico national football team had missed out on a spot in the championship match for the first time in eight years. The United States ended up winning the title, beating Panama in the final while Mexico settled for a third place finish. In the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, though, it was clear from the get-go that the Mexican soccer squad wasn't going to settle at all. And now it is official Mexico win CONCACAF Gold Cup 2015! Keep reading to find out how they got to the podium.

Coming into this year's tournament, the Mexican national team had won a record six CONCACAF Gold Cups. The USA were looking to tie that record, having won their fifth in 2013. In other words, the race was on.

Ultimately, the wearers of the Mexico football kit 2015 2016 were the ones who prevailed. The United States won their group stage and flattened Cuba 6-0 in the quarterfinals, but lost 1-2 to Jamaica in the semifinals. Mexico's Tri-Color beat Jamaica 3-1

"If it's not blue, it will be."

That's the bold slogan for the new campaign that Chelsea football club and Adidas are launching for the 2015 2016 season. According to the club's official website, the slogan reflects "players' determination to dominate domestic and European football." In other words, the Blues are seriously gunning for a treble victory this year-the English Premier League, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League-and the Chelsea home kit 2015 - 2016 is a big part of that ambitious new campaign.

Chelsea Jerseys

The New Home Shirt

If you know what Chelsea's home kits have looked like in the past, then you at least partially know what to expect from this new design. At least in recent years, the club's home shirts have all been the same vibrant blue color and have featured the three

Athletic Club Bilbao have not won a La Liga title since clinching back-to-back titles in 1983 and 1984. Still, even though the Lions have not often been title contenders in recent years, they are still considered one of the greatest football clubs in Spanish history. They are one of only three Spanish soccer squads-the others being Real Madrid and Barcelona-that have never been relegated from the top-flight division, having participated in every La Liga season since the league's inception in 1929. Needless to say, most Lions fans believe adamantly that their soccer team's return to the top is coming-even if it's been over three decades since their last title. So we ask can Athletic Bilbao finish in the La Liga top 5 during the 2015 - 2016 season?

A year ago, it looked as if Athletic Bilbao

Steve McClaren, Newcastle United's recently appointed manager, is marking his territory. Since taking over the head coach job at St. James' Park, McClaren has announced that Newcastle United sign Aleksandar Mitrovic and midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, he is also reportedly eyeing a third (defender Chancel Mbemba), but they've been pricy. He laid down a reported £13 million and £14.5 million for Wijnaldum and Mitrovic, respectively, and will likely pay another £8.5million for Mbemba. And while those figures might not sound that lofty compared to what, say, Manchester City just paid for Raheem Sterling (£49 million), they are high compared to what Newcastle United has usually expended on new transfers in recent years.

The message that McClaren is sending is twofold. First, he wants fans and rival teams to know that he's not messing around; second, he is acknowledging the fact that the Magpies are in dire straits right now, and the only way out of rough waters is

Even before Raheem Sterling officially exited Liverpool FC for a fresh start at Manchester City, rumors were flying that Reds manager Brendan Rodgers was interested in signing Aston Villa striker, Christian Benteke. Now, less than two weeks after the July 12^th announcement of Sterling's transfer, it has been confirmed that Liverpool complete Christian Benteke signing - for a cool £32.5 million.

Liverpool Kit

New Blood

Benteke now becomes the latest Liverpool acquisition in what has been a highly active summer transfer season for the football club. The Reds' other 2015 2016 signings include forwards Danny Ings and Roberto Firmino, midfielder James Milner, defenders Joe Gomez Nathaniel Clyne, and goalkeeper Adam Bogdan.

Even without

Group I is the odd man out in the Euro 2016 Qualifying Competition. Where the other eight qualification groups are all comprised of six teams apiece, Group I only has five. That makes it a less competitive spot in some ways: after all, the top two teams still qualify, and the third-place team still has a shot at the wildcard spot. In other ways, though, the five-team structure of Euro 2016 Qualifying Group I presents its own challenges: with fewer squads to play, there are also fewer fixtures on the schedule, which means less time for each soccer team to find a strong footing and establish an advantage.

The Current Standings

Not that the truncated qualifying campaign has hurt Portugal or Denmark-the group's top two countries. With five games played, Portugal is leading the charge in Group I, with four wins, one loss, and a point total of 12. Denmark is just two points back, with three wins, one draw, and one loss.

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