US Men vs Jamaica Thurs 7:30 pm ESPN2
The US men return to action with the 2nd leg of World Cup Qualifiers on Thurs night vs Jamaica at 7:30 pm on ESPN2. Of course Pulisic and Reyna are both missing as they are both still injured from the last round of qualifiers, also missing in John Brooks (back) and Tim Ream (personal reasons). Returning to the fold is midfielder Weston McKinney, along with phenom forward Ricardo Pepi along with the return of Gyasi Zardes. Obviously the US needs to win the home qualifying games especially and hopefully get at least 7 of 9 points out of this round of play. I will be headed to Columbus for the US vs Costa Rica game next Wednesday Oct 13th – let me know if you are going and we can hoop up downtown before the game. Also I am desperately looking for US vs Mexico Tickets in November – (willing to pay over cost for 1 or 2 or 4 tickets) please let me know if you have extras.
USMNT roster for October World Cup qualifiers
GOALKEEPERS (3): Sean Johnson (New York City FC), Zack Steffen (Manchester City), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
DEFENDERS (10): George Bello (Atlanta United), Sergiño Dest (Barcelona), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Shaq Moore (Tenerife), Walker Zimmermann (Nashville), Chris Richards (Hoffenheim), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Luca de la Torre (Heracles), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)
FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg), Paul Arriola (D.C. United), Matthew Hoppe (Mallorca), Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas), Tim Weah (Lille), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew)
Here’s the schedule (all times ET):
- Thursday, Oct. 7 — vs. Jamaica (7:45 p.m., ESPN2, Univision, TUDN)
- Sunday, Oct. 10 — at Panama (6 p.m., Paramount+, Universo)
- Wednesday, Oct. 13 — vs. Costa Rica (7 p.m., ESPN2, UniMás, TUDN) Columbus
Who Shane likes to start vs Jamaica
Pepi
Aaronson/Weah
McKennie/Lletget or Musah
Adams
Robinson/Mark McKenzie/Miles Robinson/Dest
Steffan
High School Sectionals Continue
Please send prayers for Guerin Men’s Coach Chris McGrath as he is battling Covid 19 and has been in the hospital since mid-September. Ranked No. 3 in Class 2A by the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association, the Guerin Golden Eagles (8-4) are scheduled to host Cardinal Ritter in the Sectional 26 semifinals (7:30 p.m.) tonight at Guerin. The Carmel Boys defeated Guerin 3-0 last week as they head to sectionals at Westfield High ranked 10th in the state. The CHS Boys will be at the Westfield sectional starting tonight, Oct 6th with Pike as the first matchup on Wednesday night at 7:30 pm tickets avail for $6 per session or $10 for the entire tourney – they follow Zionsville at North Central at 5:30 pm. Three of the teams are in the top 12 of the state. Good luck to our local teams !
The #3 Ranked CHS Girls are hosting their sectional at Murray Stadium and play Wednesday night at Murray Stadium vs Guerin Catholic at 5:30 pm followed by North Central vs Pike at 7:30 pm. Tickets avail for $6 per session or $10 for the entire tourney.
CARMEL GIRLS SECTIONAL at Murray Stadium $6/session, $10/entire sectional
Wednesday
M2: Carmel vs. Guerin Catholic, 5:30 p.m.
M3: North Central (Indianapolis) vs. Pike, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
M4: Zionsville vs. Westfield, 5:30 p.m.
M5: M2 vs. M3, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship: M4 vs. M5, 7 p.m.
8. Hamilton Southeastern (6): Anderson, #20 Fishers, #4 Hamilton Southeastern, Muncie Central, #1 Noblesville, Pendleton Heights
9. Ben Davis (7): Avon, Ben Davis, Brownsburg, Decatur Central, Indianapolis Shortridge, Mooresville, Plainfield
10. Carmel (7): #10 Carmel, #13 Guerin Catholic, Indianapolis Arsenal Technical, #6 North Central (Indianapolis), Pike, Westfield, #10 Zionsville
Westfield Boys SECTIONAL $6/session, $10/entire sectional
Wednesday
M3: Zionsville vs. North Central, 5:30 p.m.
M4: Carmel vs. Pike, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship: M3 vs. M4, 2 p.m.
GUERIN Boys SECTIONAL $6/session, $10/entire sectional
Wednesday
M3: Lebanon vs. Brebeuf Jesuit, 5:30 p.m.
M4: Guerin Catholic vs. Cardinal Ritter, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship: M3 vs. M4, 2 p.m.
8. Noblesville (6): Anderson, Fishers, Hamilton Southeastern, Muncie Central, Noblesville, Pendleton Heights
10. Westfield (6): Carmel, Indianapolis Shortridge, North Central (Indianapolis), Pike, Westfield, Zionsville
11. Lawrence North (7): Franklin Central, Indianapolis Arsenal Technical, Indianapolis Cathedral, Indianapolis Crispus Attucks, Lawrence Central, Lawrence North, Warren Central
26. Guerin Catholic (7): Brebeuf, Guerin Catholic, Hamilton Heights, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, Lebanon, Western Boone
UEFA Nations League Finals Wed/Thur/Sat this week
The UEFA Nations League finals with a European Cup rematch between Italy and Spain gets underway today at 2:45 pm on ESPN. The winner will meet the winners of the #1 Ranked Team in the World Belgium and 5th Ranked France on Thursday at 2:45 pm on ESPN. The finals will be Sunday at 2:45 pm on ESPN with coverage starting at 2 pm. The 3rd place game is at 9 am on ESPNU. I like Italy and Belgium with Belgium and coach Roberto Martinez winning it before he leaves to take the Barcelona job a few weeks from now.
USA
How will the USMNT line up vs Jamaica without Brooks, Pulisic, Reyna?
‘This kid has it’: Brenden Aaronson at center stage of USA’s World Cup push
5 key questions for USMNT in World Cup qualifiers
Adams: US was `just a little bit naive’ in early qualifiers
FIFA clears Julian Araujo to switch from USMNT to Mexico
Nations League
Spain’s setbacks demonstrate why La Roja need a reset
Deschamps, World Cup holders France must use Nations League to rediscover their best form Julien Laurens
Deschamps brushes off Mbappe controversy ahead of Belgium clash
France face Belgium hoping to banish memories of Euro flop
World Cup Qualifying
Mexico World Cup qualifying: Can Lozano, Jimenez shine vs. Canada, Honduras, El Salvador? Eric Gomez
Can Brazil seal World Cup qualification? What about the rest?10hTim Vickery
Focussed Brazil have one eye on World Cup qualification
Euro 2024 boss Lahm opposed to biennial World Cup project
African players in Europe: Brilliant Salah set to overtake Drogba
NWSL
NWSL’s Paul Riley controversy points to a bigger problem in which league repeatedly fails its players 1dCaitlin Murray
NWSL Sponsors Hang On as Scandals and Resignations Roil League
Washington Spirit CEO Steve Baldwin resigns amid allegations
NWSL faces reckoning amid claims of abuse, sexual misconduct among coaches
US Olympian Morgan slams NWSL’s handling of sexual harassment claims
NWSL Commissioner Baird resigns amid scandal
BIG GAMES TO WATCH
WEDNESDAY WCQ
2:45 pm ESPN Italy vs Spain (Nations League Semi)
THURSDAY WCQ
2:45 pm ESPN Belgium vs France (Nations League Semi)
7:45 pm Paramount+ USA vs Jamaica
9:40 pm Univision, P+ Mexico vs Canada
FRIDAY WCQ
2:45 pm ESPN2 Cech Republic vs Wales
2”45 pm ESPN + Turkey vs Norway
2:45 pm ESPN+ Germany vs Romania
SAT WCQ
2:45 pm ESPN+ Androra vs England
2:45 pm ESPN + Switzerland vs Northern Ireland
2:45 pm ESPN+ Poland vs San Marino
6 pm Univision NYRB vs Inter Miami
9 pm ESPN+ Seattle vs Vancouver
SUN WCQ
9 am ESPNU UEFA Nations League 3rd place
2:45 pm ESPN UEFA Nations League FINALS
3 pm ESPN+ Minn vs Colorado
5 pm FUBO Colombia vs Brazil
5pm Paramount+ USA Pregame Show
6 pm Paramount+ USA @ Panama
7 pm Univision, P+ Mexico vs Honduras
7:30 pm fubo Argentina vs Uruguay
MON 10/12 WCQ
2:45 pm ESPN2 Denmark vs Austria
2:45 pm ESPN + England vs Hungary
2:45 pm ESPN+ Poland vs Albania
TUES 10/13 WCQ
9 am ESPNU UEFA Nations League 3rd place
3 pm ESPN+ Minn vs Colorado
5 pm FUBO Colombia vs Brazil
5pm Paramount+ USA Pregame Show
6 pm Paramount+ USA @ Panama
7 pm Univision, P+ Mexico vs Honduras
7:30 pm fubo Argentina vs Uruguay
ednesday, 2:45 p.m. (ESPN2, UniMás, TUDN) Italy vs. Spain
On the men’s side of things in Europe, this month’s FIFA window starts with the Nations League’s final four. The first semifinal pits the reigning European champion against the team it beat in this summer’s semifinals to win the crown.yBoth teams bring glittering arrays of young talent to this game at Milan’s famed San Siro stadium: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Nicolò Barella and Manuel Locatelli for Italy, and Bryan Gil, Gavi, and Ferran Torres for Spain.
THURSDAY
Thursday, 2:45 p.m. (ESPN2, UniMás, TUDN) Belgium vs. France
Belgium is the No. 1 team in FIFA’s global rankings and France is No. 4. Both teams are stacked with some of global soccer’s biggest stars, including Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku and France’s Kylian Mbappé. But the game’s brightest spotlight likely won’t be on the players in the second Nations League semifinal, which will be played in Turn, Italy.Belgium manager Roberto Martínez has been linked pretty loudly with Barcelona in recent weeks, as the Spanish club considered firing Ronald Koeman. Barcelona president Joan Laporta said Saturday that Koeman’s job is safe, but some of the Spanish media — to say nothing of fans worldwide — don’t believe it.
United States vs. Jamaica
Thursday, 7:45 p.m. (ESPN2, Univision 65, TUDN; Univision’s pregame coverage starts at 7 p.m., ESPN2′s starts at 7:30)
Though Andre Blake has been in red-hot form for the Union lately, Jamaica is off to a terrible start in World Cup qualifying. The Reggae Boyz got just one point from last month’s three-game set, sit in last place in the standings, and now begin another three-game set by facing a U.S. team that’s full of confidence.
The U.S. will be without injured attacking stars Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna, which will put a lot of pressure on Brenden Aaronson. The most pressure will be on Weston McKennie, who returns to the national team after being suspended for breaking COVID-19 protocols last month.
There will also be a lot of attention on Yunus Musah, an 18-year-old midfielder with prodigious talent but little international experience. Though he has six caps, he isn’t technically cap-tied to the U.S. yet because he hasn’t played in an official competition.
Musah is also part of a key U.S. tactical storyline to watch. We know McKennie likes to roam free in central midfield. We also know Tyler Adams can cover a lot of ground defensively to help make up for that. But if McKennie roams too much, will Musah have to help behind him? If so, how much will that take away from Musah’s attacking contributions?
Thursday, 8 p.m. (Universo, Paramount+) Honduras vs. Costa Rica
Both of these teams underwhelmed in last month’s qualifiers, each registering a tie and two losses. There’s still time to get back on track, but by the time this month’s qualifiers end, Concacaf’s 14-game tournament will have played just shy of half its rounds.Costa Rica has the bigger pedigree, but stars Joel Campbell and Bryan Ruiz are getting old and there aren’t yet top youngsters to replace them. Honduras has the better attack on paper in forwards Romell Quioto and Alberth Elis, but Quioto has been sidelined by a muscle injury.
Thursday, 9:40 p.m. (Univision 65, TUDN, Paramount+) Mexico vs. Canada
It surprised no one that Mexico stood atop the standings after September’s qualifiers, and it surprised few people that Canada stood in third.This will be a massive test for Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David and the Canucks. Raúl Jiménez has returned to El Tri’s attack to join Jesús Corona, and fans have returned to Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca after being barred last month for a homophobic chant.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/cOboOBVsbLk?feature=oembed Thursday, 10 p.m. (Universo, Paramount+) El Salvador vs. Panama
For as promisingly energetic as El Salvador looked in its home games last month, both games ended in scoreless ties. Panama was a pleasant surprise, winning at Jamaica and tying Mexico and Costa Rica at home. The Canaleros start this month’s contests in fourth place.
Deschamps, World Cup holders France must use Nations League to rediscover their best form.
USA vs. Jamaica, 2022 World Cup qualifying: What to watch for
It’s back to work to get 3 points.
By Donald Wine II@blazindw Oct 6, 2021, 7:00am PDT
The United States Men’s National Team is back in action for World Cup qualifying as they take on Jamaica tomorrow at Q2 Stadium in Austin. The United States are hoping to start this window out in a big way against a Jamaica team that entered the Octagonal with high expectations but only took 1 point from their first 3 matches. The USMNT, in 2nd place in the standings, hope to make it a big October to solidly maintain their place in the top 3.The USMNT are short a couple of their star players, including Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, and John Brooks. Still, they need to take care of business against a team that will have in almost all of their main players.
Latest Form
USA
W (4-1) – Honduras – World Cup Qualifying
D (1-1) – Canada – World Cup Qualifying
D (0-0) – El Salvador – World Cup Qualifying
W (1-0) – Mexico – Gold Cup Final
W (1-0) – Qatar – Gold Cup Semifinals
Jamaica
D (1-1) – Costa Rica – World Cup Qualifying
L (0-3) – Panama – World Cup Qualifying
L (1-2) – Mexico – World Cup Qualifying
L (0-1) – United States – Gold Cup Quarterfinals
L (2-0) – Costa Rica – Gold Cup Group C
What To Watch For
Fight the physicality. The last time the USMNT played Jamaica was the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup. In that match, the Reggae Boyz really brought the pressure and intensity as they had the Americans flat-footed for most of the match. These matches between the two teams are always physical, and Gregg Berhalter will have to make sure his guys are prepared to withstand that physicality. In March, they did just that in a 4-1 friendly victory over Jamaica. They did a poorer job of it during the Gold Cup, so they’ll need to learn from that and be stronger on the ball.
Utilize the flanks. The successes that the USMNT have had in both matches this year against Jamaica have come from the flanks. Those advantages continue to be there, and if they can use that to feed balls into the box and create offense, Jamaica will have a tough time with it. It will also tire out the Jamaican defense, which will lead to more holes down the stretch.
Midfield needs to have a good day. The midfield has to not only be the engine, it has to be the brick wall. They also have to be the heartbeat of the team, making sure the link between defense and offense remains constant. That was missing last window for vast stretches, so it should be a key focus during this match.
Lineup Prediction
There are a few ways that Gregg Berhalter can go for his lineup, especially with some key players not in camp due to injury. Still, there are some options that he can call upon, but he likely goes with this lineup:
Predicted Lineup vs. Jamaica
The biggest story will be who starts in goal for the USMNT. Zack Steffen and Matt Turner both have staked claims to the job, but Steffen has not sat in a competitive match when healthy under Gregg Berhalter. Because he also will not be able to play in Panama, he gets the start here over the hot Turner.The back line is a little more composed, with Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest occupying the fullback positions. At the centerback spots, the Walker Zimmerman-Miles Robinson combo worked during the group stage of the Gold Cup, and it’s likely we see that duo start.In the middle, Weston McKennie is back and will once again start in that box-to-box role, with Tyler Adams continuing his role at the 6 (where he belongs). Sebastian Lletget is the 3rd midfielder, as he’s done a great job of combating the physicality a USA-Jamaica match brings.Up front, Ricardo Pepi gets the start at the 9, with Gyasi Zardes coming in to relieve him at some point. Brenden Aaronson and Tim Weah take the wings, but don’t be surprised to see Paul Arriola on the field instead of one of Aaronson and Weah (likely Weah) if Berhalter wants another worker on the wings.
Prediction
This is a match that will have a great atmosphere, a lot of emotion, and will be a battle on the field. The USMNT don’t struggle, but Jamaica makes it a match until a USMNT goal in the middle of the 2nd half opens things up. They add another one before the final whistle blows to make it a 2-0 USA victory.
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