Dribble Diaries

The Barclays Women's Super League (WSL) is characterized by razor-thin margins. Every tactical tweak, every individual brilliance, and every carefully considered transfer can be the difference between glory and disappointment. For Manchester City Women, a club perpetually striving for domestic and European supremacy, the recent announcement of Canadian international Jade Rose's signing for the 2025-26 season is more than just another acquisition; it's a strategic declaration of intent, particularly for their defensive line. Rose, a highly touted defender fresh off an illustrious collegiate career at Harvard and already an established figure in the Canadian national team, brings a unique blend of attributes that promise to fundamentally alter – and elevate – City’s defensive landscape. This isn't merely about adding depth; it's about introducing a new dimension of play, fostering heightened competition, and providing Gareth Taylor (or his successor, depending on futu...

Canada Soccer has responded to Bayern Munich's public criticism of Alphonso Davies' medical care. The North American federation received a call from the German club after the defender had an ACL injury during the international break. In an interview with Bild, Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen stated that the club was prepared to take legal action over what they deemed "grossly negligent" care of the player's fitness. However, Canada Soccer claims that proper protocols were followed. "We further investigated the circumstances surrounding the medical care provided to Alphonso Davies," Canada Soccer stated in a statement late Friday. "Medical documentation demonstrates that proper care practices were followed, and communication records demonstrate that our medical staff sent updates to Bayern Munich throughout the tournament. "We met with Bayern Munich again today to give them with context and details to clarify any misunderstandings. ...

Alphonso Davies' agent has criticised Canada's management of the defender following his ACL injury against the United States. Davies is expected to be out for at least six months after being forced off in the 12th minute of Canada's 2-1 victory over the United States in the Concacaf Nations League third-place playoff on Sunday. The left-back will miss the remainder of the season as Bayern compete for the Bundesliga and the Champions League. The 24-year-old's agent, Nedal Huoseh, has now spoken out against Canada, claiming Davies should not have played in the game. He stated that Davies informed the Canadian management of his injury but was still played. "He should not have played in the third-place friendly match against the United States. I was startled he started because he had stated that he was not ready to begin," he told German journalist Phillip Kessler. "A source within CSA (Canada FA) told me Friday night that Alphonso would not start b...

The United States, Canada, Mexico, and Panama are competing for a berth in the final of the Concacaf Nations League, which took place on Thursday. The hero Jimenez against Canada Mexico made their intentions against the Canadians clear right away, and they won 2-0 thanks to one guy. El Tri found the net in just 47 seconds after a bit of pinball in the area, and Raul Jimenez was fortunate to divert the ball. When facing Dayne St. Clair one-on-one, the striker scored 1-0 with ease. Canada continued to control the ball, but their failure to generate real chances in front of the goal came back to haunt them. The Canucks needed a comeback performance, but they only managed one shot on goal in ninety minutes. Later, when a VAR call went against them, Jesse Marsch and his team were furious. Derek Cornelius was booted in the leg, but no penalty was given in spite of the action being reviewed. Mexico stopped almost every Canadian threat while sticking to their inch-perfect strategy. ...

Alphonso Davies has signed a new long-term contract with Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga club announced on Tuesday. The Canadian international's contract, which was set to expire in the summer, has been extended until 2030. "We are thrilled to be moving forward with Alphonso Davies. "Phonzy has been playing for Bayern since he was 18 and has quickly embraced the club," stated FC Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl. "We regard him as part of our team's new generation of leaders who are taking on more responsibility. He's grown up here and will continue to develop alongside the team." Davies, 24, responded: "I am delighted to have extended my contract with this fantastic team. When I was 18, I came to FC Bayern with the goal of learning everything I could every day in order to become one of the greatest in my position. Now, I'm looking forward to another five years together. I've already accomplished a lot here, but there is more to...

The Canadian Women's National Team has officially named former England international Casey Stoney as its new head coach. The 42-year-old takes over in North America after Bev Priestman, who was fired and later sanctioned by FIFA after CANWNT's drone controversy at the Paris Olympics. Stoney joins the federation with extensive experience, having previously led Manchester United Women and the San Diego Wave of the NWSL. She has also earned 130 caps for England and served as national team captain at numerous FIFA Women's World Cups and the 2012 Olympics. "We are delighted to welcome Casey Stoney as Head Coach of the Women's National Team. Casey's track record of outstanding leadership, her principles and strength of character, and her lifelong commitment to the promotion of women's football make her the ideal candidate to lead our national team into the next chapter," stated Kevin Blue, CEO and General Secretary of Canada Soccer. "I am delighted t...

Manchester United have reportedly requested a meeting with Bayern Munich player Alphonso Davies and his agent in January to try to strike an agreement on a free transfer. The left-back position is thought to be an area of the pitch that United would like to reinforce, either during the winter or summer transfer season. Luke Shaw's injury woes appear to be far from done, as he recently picked up another condition that will keep him out for several weeks. Ruben Amorim currently has only one natural left-back available for selection: Tyrell Malacia. However, there are still concerns about the Dutchman's conditioning following an extended stint on the sidelines. Malacia played only 45 minutes in his two appearances since his return to action, against Bodo/Glimt and Arsenal, before being replaced. In his post-match press conference following the Arsenal game, Amorim admitted that Malacia's minutes are currently being reduced to ensure that he is gradually eased back. Davies...

The drone surveillance issue that arose during Canada's women's football team's 2024 Paris Olympics campaign was a sign of a "past pattern of an unacceptable culture," Canada Soccer stated following an independent assessment. A drone was allegedly deployed to eavesdrop on one of their opponents' training sessions in New Zealand. Following the claims, FIFA banned the head coach, Bev Priestman, for a year, as well as analyst Joseph Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander. Priestman was removed from her position. On Friday, Canada Soccer, the sport's governing body in Canada, announced that it had received the report of an independent reviewer "hired by the organization's board of directors to investigate the illegal use of drones at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games," and the organization's senior officials provided their initial reactions while promising a more comprehensive response in the coming days. Kevin Blue, Canada Soccer...

The powers that be at La Liga giants Barcelona are ready to compete with their counterparts at arch rivals Real Madrid for the signing of Alphonso Davies. That is according to Mundo Deportivo, which reported on Thursday on the latest happenings behind the scenes in Catalonia's capital. Left-back Davies' name has long been prominently featured in Spanish news. This comes amid widespread speculation that, as his contract with Bayern Munich expires next summer, the Canadian international has been identified as a top transfer target by the aforementioned Real Madrid. After acquiring Kylian Mbappé from Paris Saint-Germain this past summer, Los Blancos have been quietly attempting to sign their second high-profile free agent in as many months. However, as previously mentioned, Real will not have it all their own way in the Davies transfer drama if the most recent rumor from the media is any indication. This comes as Barcelona is after the gifted left-back as well. In accordance ...

On Saturday, two North American rivals met, and Canada defeated the United States 2-1. One team was still riding high off their fourth-place result at Copa América 2024, while the other was a blend of young talent attempting to discover their identity under an interim coach. With such a significant contrast in confidence, the visiting Canucks defeated the Stars and Stripes on their home turf for only the second time in history. Canada dominated the first half, with 11 shots to one, and the first of two blunders resulted in the opening goal. A turnover gave the ball to Jonathan David, who sent it wide to Jacob Shaffelburg. The 'Maritime Messi' blasted with his left foot into the far right corner, beyond goalkeeper Patrick Schulte. 23 - Canada defeats the United States Men's National Team on American territory for the second time, and the first since 1957. The victory stops the USMNT's 23-game home unbeaten streak against Canada, the longest against any opponent in team h...

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Ad hoc division for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has denied Canada Soccer's appeal against a six-point deduction imposed on its women's team. The points were deducted after Canada was caught spying on a New Zealand training session prior to their match on July 25. Coach Bev Priestman was also banned from the sport for a year and barred from attending games, while CSA officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander were also suspended, and the Association was fined £175,720. However, a statement issued by the CAS on Wednesday revealed that the appeal was dismissed and the points reduction upheld. The 2021 Gold Medalists face Colombia in their third Group A encounter later on Wednesday, having previously defeated New Zealand and France, both 2-1. They still have a tiny chance of qualifying if New Zealand defeats France and goal differential goes in Canada's favour.

The backlash from the Canada women's team's Drone Gate incident has now spread to the men's side, who allegedly engaged in similar behavior during the Copa América. On Monday, New Zealand's Olympic Games opponents, the Canada Women's National Team, discovered a drone spying on a training session in Saint-Étienne ahead of their match this week. In addition to an undisclosed member of staff being sent home for allegedly operating the drone, coach Bev Priestman was suspended for the duration of the tournament - and it has now been revealed that this may be a problem for all of Canadian senior soccer on the international level. "I have received anecdotal evidence in recent days that there was an attempted drone usage once during the Copa América," revealed Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue. "I have spoken with Jesse Marsch. He was aware of it after the fact, at the very least, and has opposed it as a habit to his employees. I believe the competitive integrity ...

Argentina defeated Canada 2-0 thanks to a masterful performance that earned them a spot in the Copa América final. This is our interpretation of the event. Big players excel on the big stage. Argentina has a roster brimming with quality. Fortunately for manager Lionel Scaloni, even on days when they may not have looked their best, the big stars knew how to perform on the big stage. Despite having only three shots on goal against debutants Canada, goals from Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi were enough for the World Cup holders to win comfortably. These two names, in particular, have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to carry the team for both club and nation. Alvarez's awareness and close-control talents resulted in a smooth opener. The Manchester City star is Argentina's second player to score in both a World Cup and a Copa America semi-final, after Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, even though his first goal took longer than expected, Messi's subtle flick provided insight i...

The Copa América returns, with Argentina taking on Canada and Colombia facing Uruguay in the semi-finals. Before the usual theatrics begin, here are four major questions. Can Messi reach one more final with Argentina? He won both the Copa América and the World Cup. So, what does another final entail for Lionel Messi? Well, it could imply more than you realize. We haven't seen the Inter Miami player play his best football during the competition. Even with the alien-like skills he develops and his influence off the court, his terrible statistics speak for themselves. So far, Messi has zero goals, one assist, and a missed penalty, providing ample evidence that his retirement is imminent. The beginning of a natural finish to an extraordinary career. As a result, this semi-final is even more satisfying. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has previously stated that the 2022 World Cup would be his last. This implies that a second consecutive Copa América final this summer may be hi...

Canada advanced to the Copa America semifinals after defeating Venezuela on penalties. Arlington, Texas — On Friday, Canada overcame Venezuela 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in regular time in the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa America quarterfinals at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Maxime Crepeau was busy early, saving a shot from recent Concacaf Champions Cup top scorer Salomon Rondon in the third minute. Jacob Shaffelburg put Canada ahead in the 13th minute with a right-footed tap in front of the goal. Jonathan David was instrumental in the buildup, dribbling into the box and passing it on for the assist. Shaffelburg scored from the edge of the box in the 24th minute, but Venezuelan goalkeeper Rafael Romo denied him a second. Richie Laryea fired a dangerous ball towards the left post in the 31st minute, but Cyle Larin was unable to connect to extend the lead. Salomon Rondon equalized on a Venezuela counterattack in the 64th minute, shooting just a few steps from the center ci...

Argentina defeated Canada 2-0 on Thursday as Copa América 2024 began in the United States. Here's what we created from the magic at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Holders are up and running. The pressure is most intense on the heads who wear the crowns, but Argentina never expected this. La Albiceleste are the best in the world for a reason, but they had to put in a performance against a tenacious Canadian team. It took Lionel Messi and his teammates 50 minutes to eventually break through their opponents when Julian Alvarez saw the ball fall to him from a tight angle. Argentina will be glad he took the chance after missing several in the first half. On paper, this match should have been easy. Lautaro Martinez's late goal off the bench (aided by Messi) eventually calmed nerves, but if the Canadians had a finishing touch, the outcome may have been different. Regardless, a win is a win, and this polished side excels at it. So the Copa América champions are off and running in their c...