Win, Lose, or Draw

In December of 1914, the space between the trenches, No Man's Land, became a soccer pitch. For a brief period of time, the fighting ceased, the shelling ended, and war was put aside in honor of the Christmas holiday.

While the validity of the grandeur and significance of the Truce and its kickabouts are debated to this day, the impromptu matches are another in a long line of stories of the significance of sport and soccer.

In May of 2018, Fulham won at Wembley Stadium for the first time in 139 years. In doing so, they secured promotion to the Premier League and the nearly $180 million that accompanies a spot in the English top flight. What is promotion and relegation and why is it mysteriously absent from soccer in the United States?

Plus, how can I possibly watch a sport without playoffs?! Well, have no fear. Find out all about how you can catch playoff soccer across the pond on this episode of the Win, Lose, or Draw.

Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe.

As always, you can find the Win, Lose, or Draw show @WLODShow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or email at [email protected].

The English Premier League is one of the top leagues in the world. It’s what a lot of new fans get hooked on. When they ultimately turn to Major League Soccer, it can be different animal. Unique style of play. Strange team names. Playoffs. But not too long ago, the MLS was significantly more non-traditional. Bizarre team names and Americanized rules adopted in the league’s infancy almost lead to it's demise in 2001. So what went right for the MLS and where does it stand now?

For a great oral history of the 1996 MLS season, check out this piece by Complex:

https://www.complex.com/sports/2015/05/oral-history-major-league-soccer-first-season

Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe and Wistia.

As always, you can find the Win, Lose, or Draw show @WLODShow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or email at [email protected].

Neymar is racing up the flank. Just one man to beat. That man sticks his leg out and sends Neymar flying to the turf, screaming in agony. It makes it hard to believe when he's up and playing 2 minutes later.

Whatever you call it, the dive is a part of soccer. It's a tried and tested method of gaining an advantage, but it's also a calling card for soccer haters. Why should it matter and why do players do it? Tune in as we hit on just a few memorable dives in the sport's storied history.

Dissect more of the numbers behind why soccer players are so prone to diving from the studies mentioned in this episode:

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0026017

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915202242.htm

Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe.

As always, you can find the Win, Lose, or Draw show @WLODShow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or email at [email protected].