Switzerland were able to maintain their 100% record in the World Cup 2018 qualification group after managing wins over Andorra and Latvia.

Both teams were not expected to offer any threat to Switzerland’s 100% record coming into the game. Along with Germany, the Swiss are the only team to have won all of the six matches before the latest round of qualification matches in September. This has put Switzerland on the verge of qualification to the World Cup 2018 finals in Russia. Vladimir Petkovic has been a delighted manager after watching his team move three points clear at the top of the table.

Switzerland only have two matches left in the qualification group and they will take place in October. If the national team manages to win both these matches, they will be able to finish ahead of Portugal irrespective of the results from Fernando Santos team. (more…)

VAR is short for video assistant referees or in other words, video technology.

This is something that for years now has been utilized by various sports including American Football (NFL) and baseball (MLB) just to name a few.

It´s designed to help officials in making crystal clear and fair decisions. However, in soccer, it has always been a subject of huge debate as there are many supporters and figures of the sport that consider it to be a negative thing if it gets implemented as it could destroy the essence of soccer.

One of the main elements or characteristics of soccer is it´s free-flowing aspect as there are generally very few interruptions in an actual match and the timer which never stops until the end.

Introducing VAR could negatively affect this component of the sport as more interruptions and consequentially hampering one of the core elements of why soccer is considered to be as a beautiful and attractive sport for many people as it almost never stops or gets disrupted. (more…)

Not too long ago, the world celebrated the achievements of famed coach Louis van Gaal.

The former Ajax and Barcelona coach led a less fancied Dutch side to the top three spot in world football’s biggest event. The Netherlands were impressive at the 2014 World Cup now the team lays almost in ruins.

The team failed to qualify for the Euro 2016 even as their former coach suffered setbacks at Old Trafford after exiting the team. Maybe the marriage should not have ended?

Memphis Depay eventually moved to the same Old Trafford where his career suffered as he failed to impress. He was key to the team that helped PSV to the Eredivisie in 2014 but he was disappointing in England.

Then 22-year old Bruno Martins who was part of the team is struggling to impress after he moved to FC Porto from Feyenoord; Joel Veltman, who was with Ajax then, is expected to exit the team after their Europa League slump; Jordy Clasie initially struggled upon moving to Southampton but he has been trying under Coach Claude Puel; Daley Blind is yet to establish himself fully at Manchester United; Leroy Fer suffered on loan at Swansea and only just returned to the national team. (more…)