Notes
Great to see US players Christian Pulisic sign with AC Milan today, along with Jedi Robinson re-sign with Fulham for 5 more years. Combine this with Pepi finalized in Holland, Brendan Aaronson to German Champions League team Union Berlin and of course Tim Weah going to my Juventus and things for our US stars are going pretty well. Still waiting on Mckinney, Adams and Musah news to finalize things. It was 4 years ago today that the US Ladies won their 4th World Cup – 4 stars – Andres Cantor joined NBC morning news today to discuss our chances this year! 22 Years ago yesterday Gigi Buffon started his 2 decade dominance in goal for Juventus – my favorite GK and why I a Juve fan to this day. Love this story on Pep – Pep Guardiola gets Fired as Youth Ref in NYC. Speaking of great Coachess – Ancelotti still has game – with moves like this he will fit right in if he leaves Real Madrid after next season to go to Brazil’s national team coach. Cade Cowell’s First goal for the USMNT was a beauty. England’s U21’s have made the European Cup Finals and will face Spain on Saturday at 12 noon on CBS Sports Network and Paramount.
US Men vs Canada Sun 7:30 pm Fox – Gold Cup in Cincy
Excited to be headed to Cincy on Sunday afternoon for the Gold Cup Quarterfinal Double header of Jamaica vs Guatemala at 5 pm on FSI, then our US B team vs Canada’s B team after. Again I love this for the US – we have had MLS guys step up and fight to claim the right to be considered on our A team. One such player has been Jalen Neal the 19 year old LA Centerback who has been our best defender along with Reggie Cannon on the right in this tourney so far. Of course Jesus Ferreira with back to back Hat tricks (first time ever for the US) has been impressive. Listen I don’t care who we are playing a hat trick is a hat trick – we don’t have anyone else scoring more than 1 a game – give Jesus – who is only 22 – his due. I also like Milhailovic in the 10 spot – for the US – showing he can fill that Reyna role so far albeit against Concacaf competition. Lets see how we handle knock out play. The way we are playing a 4-0 result vs Canada would not be surprising here.
US Ladies Kick Off Game Sun 3 pm on TNT
As the ladies ready for the World Cup in just under 2 weeks – they will play a tune-up game Sunday on TNT at 3 pm vs Wales. It will be interesting to see how starts in this warm-up before traveling down under for the US ladies as they look to become the first 3 time (back to back to back) winner in Men’s or Women’s World Cup history. Tons of coverage below along with snipets of the ladies on the trip. I am thrilled with this team – honestly this is the most racially diverse roster the US Ladies have ever sent to a World Cup and a good mix of youth along with wiley 3 – time WC Veterans Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Kelly O’Hara. The biggest loss may well be veteran and long time captain Becky Sauerbrunn. Who will fill her shoes in both leadership (Horan or Morgan?) and in defense Girma, Cook or perhaps even Julie Ertz sliding back from the 6 with Sullivan claiming that spot? How many games will Rose Lavelle and perhaps Rapinoe miss with lingering injuries? Can Smith take over where the injured Mallory Swanson took off and be the wing scorer we need? I don’t know – but man I can’t wait !! Jealous my daughter Courtney is headed down for the Sweet 16-Final 4 (I am pretty sure I can fit in the suitcase girly). Crystal Dunn talking Right back with Roger.
Indy 11 Women Advance to W League Central Conference Final Sat
Indy Eleven handed Flint City AFC its first loss of the 2023 season to advance to the USL W League Central Conference Final. The 3-0 win sets Indy up with a Conference Championship match-up against Minnesota Aurora FC Saturday.The Girls in Blue will face Minnesota Aurora FC in the Central Conference Final Saturday at 3 p.m. ET at Atwood Stadium in Flint, Michigan. Minnesota Aurora defeated Chicago City SC, 1-0. Recap
Indy 11 Men home Sat Night 7 pm vs FC Tulsa – Pride Night
Join Indiana’s Team for our 10th annual “Pride Night” and help celebrate Indy’s LGBTQIA+ community. Indy Eleven will unveil a special Pride-themed jersey at the match, with proceeds from their sales going to benefit a local non-profit organization that champions Indiana’s LGBTQIA+ citizens and allies. Purchase a discounted $7 ticket for the Indy Eleven match on July 8th vs FC Tulsa and add on an Indy Eleven Pride t-shirt for $22. Tix avail via indyeleven.com/tickets.
Coach Shane Best “aka the Ole Ballcoach” is Training GKs Wed/Thur nights
Wed 7/12, 7/19 & Thur 7/6, 7/13, 7/20, 7/27 U10-U13 6-7:15 pm U14-U16 7:15 – 8:30 pm shanebestsoccer@gmail.com or text 317-748-7174 for more info.
Carmel High School Boys Summer Schedule
Carmel High School Girls Summer Schedule
July 17-20: Carmel High School Middle School Soccer Camp for rising 5th through 8th grade girls, Murray Stadium 2-4:30 pm Cost $90 Register T-shirt Included – work out with the current Varsity Girls team and coaches. GKs you should be going – especially 7th and 8th graders to be.
Butler GK Camp – July 10-14 cost $295
Boys & Girls Ages 8-16 Butler Varsity Grass Fields Complex Strikers/Mid/Def & GKs
GAMES ON TV
Sat, July 8
12 pm CBS SN, Para+ England U21 vs Spain U21 Euro Finals
7 pm FS1 Panama vs Qatar Quarters Gold Cup
7 pm WRTV 7 ABC Indy 11 Men vs FC Tulsa
9:30 pm FS1 Mexico vs Costa Rica QF Gold Cup
10 pm Para+ San Diego Wave(Korniach) vs Washington(Hatch)
Sun, July 9
4 pm TNT, Telemundo USWNT vs Wales Send-off
5 pm FS 1 Jamaica vs Guatamala -Gold Cup QF
7 pm Fox USA vs Canada
5:30 pm Para+ NY Gothem(Mewis) vs Portland Thorns
8 pm Para+ Angel City FC vs NC Courage
Final NWSL Games till after World Cup
Wed, July 12
7:30 pm FS1 Semi- Finals Gold Cup
7 pm TV 23 ESPN+ Indy 11 vs Charleston Battery
Sun, July 16
7:30 pm FS1 Finals Gold Cup
Thur, July 20 Women’s World Cup Starts
3 am Fox New Zealand vs Norway
6 am Fox Australia vs Ireland
10:30 pm Fox Nigeria vs Canada
Fri, July 21
1 am FS1 Phillipines vs Switzerland
3:30 am FS1 Spain vs Costa Rica
9 pm Fox USWNT vs Vietnam
Sat, July 22
3 am FS1 Zambia vs Japan
5:30 am Fox England vs Haiti
8 am Fox Denmark vs China
7 pm WRTV, ESPN+ Indy 11 vs Tampa Bay Rowdies
Sun July 23
1 am FS1 Sweden vs South Africa
3:30 am FS1 Netherlands vs Portugal
6 am Fox France vs Jamaica
Mon July 24
2 am FS1 Italy vs Argentina
4:30 am FS1 Germany vs Morroco
7 am FS1 Brazil vs Panama
10 pm FS1 Colombia vs Korea
Wed, July 26
1 am FS1 Japan vs Costa Rica
3:30 am FS1 Spain vs Zambia
8 am FS1 Canada vs Ireland
9 pm Fox USWNT vs Netherlands
Tues, Aug 1
3 am Fox United States Women vs Portugal
3 am FS1 Vietnam vs Netherlands
7 am Fox England vs China
7 am FS1 Haiti vs Denmark
Sat, Aug 5
7 pm TV 23 Indy 11 vs Memphis- Star Wars Night
Soccer Saturday’s are every Sat 9-10 am on 93.5 and 107.5 FM with Greg Rakestraw
US Men & Gold Cup
Yueill replaces injured Sonora on USMNT Gold Cup roster
Ferreira’s red-hot form offers another solution in USMNT’s striker search Kyle Bonagura
USMNT’s Jesús Ferreira scores historic 2nd straight hat trick in 6-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago to clinch Gold Cup group
Who is Jesús Ferreira, the USMNT player jokingly nicknamed ‘The Pirate of the Caribbean’?
Ferreira, Gray, Hagen lead Gold Cup Group Stage Best XI July 4, 2023
Guatemala players praise “extra boost” from fans in Gold Cup July 5, 2023
2023 Gold Cup Referee Appointments Matches 34
Source: USMNT’s McKennie in Dortmund talks Constantin Eckner
Formula for success? Inside Wiegman’s plans for England at the Women’s World Cup 3hTom Hamilton
Sources: Milan make new €20m+ bid for Pulisic ESPN
U.S.’s Ream isn’t ready to retire. He wants 2026 World Cup om Hamilton
MLS
LA Galaxy-LAFC match at Rose Bowl sets MLS attendance record
La Galaxy’s Puig Terrofizes LAFC in Front of Record Breaking Crowd at Rose Bowl
Riqui Puig shows MVP potential in El Tráfico: “I felt like a little kid”
Miami hires Messi’s old boss, Martino
It’s not just the Reds who are hot in Cincy
Indy 11
Indy Ladies advance to Central Conference Final
Indy 11 Games to be Broadcast on WTRV ABC
Quinn Named to USL Championship Team of the Week
Indy Eleven to Serve as Presenting Sponsor of the Mayor Hogsett Indy International Soccer Cup
Lindley Named to USL Championship Team of the Week
USL Rankings Week 17 – Indy 11 15th
Goalkeeping
Gigi Buffon started his 2 decade dominance in goal for Juventus
Former CFC GK Coach and Indy 11 GK now SA GK Jordan Farr in the Saves of the Week Lineup Last week
Indy 11 GK Oetti in the Tops for Week 16
Brighton sign Dutch goalkeeper Verbruggen from Anderlecht
Reffing
Ref Announcements for the Gold Cup Quarters No US refs on the field –gotta love CONCACAF
Become a Licensed High School Ref
Become a Licensed Ref with Indiana Soccer – must be over 13
Pep Guardiola gets Fired as Youth Ref in NYC
Man it will sicken me if they change these rules on the GK – perhaps if the PK taker misses he automatically gets a redo for being a pathetic forward?
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(mention the ole ballcoach)
Check out the BarBQ Ribs, pulled Pork and Chicken, Brisket and more. Sweet, Tangy or Spicy sauce. Mention you heard about it from the Ole Ballcoach — and Ryan will give you 20% off your next meal. https://www.rackzbbqindy.com/ Call ahead at 317-688-7290 M-Th 11-8 pm, 11-9 Fri/Sat, 12-8 pm on Sunday. Pick some up after practice – Its good eatin! You won’t be disappointed and tell ’em the Ole Ballcoach Sent You!
Gold Cup schedule, TV listings, odds, picks: Mexico favored ahead of Americans entering quarterfinals this weekend
By Dan Santaromita 4h ago Atheltic
Fresh off winning a trophy in the CONCACAF Nations League, the U.S. men’s national team is three wins away from another one this summer. The CONCACAF Gold Cup has reached the knockout phase, but the Americans are not the favorites to win.Mexico has that claim on BetMGM, with +110 odds despite losing to Qatar in its final group match. The Mexicans had already clinched first place in Group B before that loss, but that will not settle an El Tri fanbase that is already uneasy, to say the least.
The U.S. is next in the odds at +275. Then it’s wide open, with the rest of the quarterfinalists viewed as longshots.
CONCACAF Gold Cup odds
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Mexico | +110 |
| USA | +275 |
| Canada | +800 |
| Panama | +1200 |
| Jamaica | +1200 |
| Costa Rica | +1600 |
| Qatar | +2000 |
| Guatemala | +2500 |
The U.S. had convincing victories against Mexico and Canada in the Nations League less than a month ago, but the team is almost completely different. Four players from the Nations League roster are also on the Gold Cup squad (Matt Turner, Sean Johnson, Alejandro Zendejas and Alan Soñora). Of those four, only Turner, the starting goalkeeper, played in either Nations League match.It was apparent how different this American team is in an 1-1 draw against Jamaica that opened the Gold Cup. Jamaica led for most of the match and Turner had to save a penalty kick in the first half to prevent the Caribbean nation from going up two goals. Brandon Vázquez eventually tied the match with a goal in the 88th minute.Canada has 14 players from its Nations League team on the Gold Cup roster, but is missing most of its big name players. Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Stephen Eustáquio are among the standouts Canada does not have in the Gold Cup. The Canadians struggled in the group phase with draws against Guadeloupe (in Toronto) and Guatemala before beating Cuba on Tuesday to advance.With the U.S. and Canada playing without their top players, it’s easy to see why Mexico is the favorite. El Tri has nearly the entire squad back from the Nations League, although that team got embarrassed in a 3-0 loss to the Americans.
Gold Cup quarterfinals
Panama vs. Qatar
Kickoff: Saturday, July 8, 7 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, Univision
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Odds to advance: Panama -275, Qatar +175
Panama has been one of the bigger surprises of the tournament by winning Group C comfortably. Bizarrely, Panama allowed a goal in stoppage time in all three group matches. The first two came with Panama up 2-0 and the last one cost Los Canaleros a win against El Salvador, but that was after Panama had locked up first place in the group.Panama has made two Gold Cup finals (2005, 2013), but hasn’t made it past the quarterfinals since 2015. Panama is heavily favored to end that drought.Qatar made the semifinals of the Gold Cup in 2021 and is back in the knockout stage this year. It took a shocking 1-0 win against Mexico to advance after the Qataris got one point from their first two matches.
| TEAM | PICK TO ADVANCE |
|---|---|
| Jeff Rueter | Qatar |
| Dan Santaromita | Panama |
| Andrew DeWitt | Panama |
Mexico vs. Costa Rica
Kickoff: Saturday, July 8, 9:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, Univision
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Odds to advance: Mexico -650, Costa Rica +375
Mexico dominated Honduras and was mostly in control against Haiti, but the loss to Qatar resurfaced questions about this team. Still, Mexico is the biggest favorite of the quarterfinals.
Costa Rica had a slow start to the Gold Cup with a loss to Panama and a goalless draw against El Salvador, but put advanced with a wild 6-4 win against a Martinique team that started the day in second place in the group. The Ticos last beat Mexico in 2013. Mexico has seven wins and three draws against Costa Rica since.
| TEAM | PICK TO ADVANCE |
|---|---|
| Jeff Rueter | Mexico |
| Dan Santaromita | Mexico |
| Andrew DeWitt | Mexico |
Guatemala vs. Jamaica
Kickoff: Sunday, July 9, 5 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, Univision
Venue: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
Odds to advance: Jamaica -300, Guatemala +200
Jamaica hasn’t been a power in the region but has one of the most talented teams in this tournament. The English Premier League trio of Leon Bailey, Michail Antonio and Demarai Gray give the Reggae Boyz three of the best players in the Gold Cup. After drawing the U.S. in Chicago and blowing away Trinidad and Tobago and then Saint Kitts and Nevis in the group stage, the results have gone along with the talent so far.
Jamaica is the only Caribbean nation left in the field and the only group runner-up to be favored in a quarterfinal. The Reggae Boyz have recently succeeded in the Gold Cup, making the final in 2015 and 2017 and the semifinals in 2019.
ADVERTISEMENT
Guatemala hasn’t made it to the quarterfinals since 2011.
| TEAM | PICK TO ADVANCE |
|---|---|
| Jeff Rueter | Jamaica |
| Dan Santaromita | Jamaica |
| Andrew DeWitt | Jamaica |
USA vs. Canada
Kickoff: Sunday, July 9, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, Univision
Venue: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
Odds to advance: USA -250, Canada +175
These two nations played for a trophy less than three weeks ago, but most players who took part will not be in Cincinnati. Canada has five starters from the match; the Americans have one. The U.S. hasn’t been tested since struggling in an opening draw against Jamaica. The Americans picked up a pair of 6-0 wins since. Jesús Ferreira scored a hat trick by the 50th minute against Saint Kitts and Nevis and then pulled off the feat by halftime against Trinidad and Tobago. Canada should represent a tougher test, though.This is viewed as the most competitive quarterfinal based on the odds. There’s also a decent chance of a high-scoring match with over 2.5 goals having -110 odds.
Canada last beat the Americans on U.S. soil in 1957.
| TEAM | PICK TO ADVANCE |
|---|---|
| Jeff Rueter | USA |
| Dan Santaromita | USA |
| Andrew DeWitt | USA |
(Photo of Djordje Mihailovic: Bill Barrett/USSF / Getty Images)
AC Milan sign Christian Pulisic from Chelsea
By James HorncastleJul 7 2023
AC Milan have made a second bid for Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic in a package worth up to €22million (£18.9m).Milan made an opening €14m offer for the UMSNT captain at the weekend with Chelsea valuing him higher than that.Lyon also made a €25m bid for Pulisic earlier this week, which is more in line with the figure Chelsea are hoping to receive.Pulisic, who has only a year left on his contract at Chelsea, already has an agreement in place with Milan.Chelsea and Milan have forged a good relationship in the past few years, with Olivier Giroud, Fikayo Tomori, Tiemoue Bakayoko and, most recently, Ruben Loftus-Cheek all joining the Italian club.Loftus-Cheek’s arrival means Milan have filled one of their two non-EU registration slots for the upcoming season. Pulisic would not count towards the second as he holds a Croatian passport.Milan, though, remain very keen on Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze and are in contact with the Spanish club as Stefano Pioli’s side look to bolster their front line.Pulisic played just 813 minutes in all competitions for Chelsea in 2022-23 with only nine of his 25 appearances from the start.He joined from Borussia Dortmund in a £58m deal in January 2019 before remaining on loan in Germany for the remainder of the season.Pulisic was part of the Champions League-winning squad in 2020-21, scoring in the first leg of the semi-final against Real Madrid.Despite his struggles at domestic level, Pulisic remains a key player for the United States, for whom he has 60 international caps and 25 goals.
‘He has never recaptured that early form’
Analysis by Liam Twomey and Paul Tenorio
Pulisic ranked 20th in the squad for minutes played across all competitions in 2022-23 and Chelsea have given off plenty of signals in the first year of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s ownership that they are moving on from the American, not least spending in excess of £100million ($124.1m) combined on Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk.The source of the antipathy towards Pulisic from some in the Chelsea fanbase is hard to pinpoint. His perceived criticism of hugely popular former head coach Thomas Tuchel in his 2022 book went down badly with many.Some of it may also be a reaction to the hype that continues to surround him across the Atlantic as the face of American soccer — hype that he largely justified with a series of impressive displays at the World Cup in Qatar.Perhaps it is simply born of frustration that, after a blistering end to the COVID-19-affected 2019-20 season, Pulisic has never come particularly close to recapturing such form.https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/14032574/embed?auto=1
(Photo: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
USMNT international Antonee Robinson close to signing new Fulham contract
By Daniel Taylor and Peter Rutzler 6m ago
Antonee Robinson is close to signing a new contract with Fulham.The USMNT international’s deal with Fulham expires in 2024 but he is poised to commit his long-term future to the west-London club.Robinson, 25, joined Fulham from Wigan Athletic in August 2020, after seeing off competition for Sheffield United for his signature. Both clubs triggered his £1.9million ($2.4m) release clause but Robinson opted for Fulham.Since then, Robinson has made more 100 appearances for the club, including 35 in the Premier League last season as Marco Silva’s side achieved a 10th-place finish.
For the USMNT, Robinson has made 36 appearances and become his country’s first-choice left-back. He started every match of USMNT’s World Cup campaign, next to club team-mate Tim Ream in defence.
Robinson is one of several players in the final year of their contracts at Fulham. Kenny Tete, Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Tosin Adarabioyo will see their present deals expire in 2024, with the latter set to leave this summer after contract negotiations broke down. Harrison Reed and Marek Rodak are also in the final year of their contracts, but they have one-year options for extension. Fulham face a busy summer as they prepare for their second successive season in the top flight. They have had several departures, including loanees Cedric Soares, Layvin Kurzawa and Daniel James, as well as Shane Duffy (free to Norwich) and Manor Solomon (set to join Tottenham). The club have also yet to agree new deals for Neeskens Kebano or Willian, while there has been uncertainty about the long-term future of coach Marco Silva too. Fulham are in the market for two central defenders, a left back, right back, a wide player and a forward, with more positions also possible.
Messi mailbag: Answering your questions on MLS salary cap, media access and the Florida heat
By Paul Tenorio Jun 23, 2023
The June 7 announcement from Lionel Messi that he was going to continue his career in Miami caught most people by surprise. The weeks since have been a scramble to finish his contract and prepare for his arrival. Every expectation is that Messi will debut on July 21 against Cruz Azul in the newly-created Leagues Cup, but as rumors swirl while we wait for the official announcement and hard confirmation of when we will first see Messi in the black and pink of Inter Miami, we wanted to answer some questions from Twitter about his impending arrival. These questions cover everything from the MLS collective bargaining agreement to ticket prices, Miami roster decisions and MLS media rules.
Is there any real path for MLS to change the cap/player acquisition model on the fly post-Messi or does it have to wait for the next CBA? —@BanjoLegs
There is definitely a path to do it, I just don’t think it will happen that quickly. The CBA litigates some of the major aspects of player contracts and rights — things like free agency, limits on terms of deals, salary minimums, etc. But the agreement also leaves ample room for MLS to change rules as they see fit in the “management rights” clause. In that clause, the MLSPA waives its right to bargain all roster and budget guidelines, including the establishment and termination of different player classifications, roster size, roster composition, number of players within any classification, calendar dates and team salary budgets, among many other things. The MLSPA would be informed of any changes in advance, but the league is able to change those types of rules without being blocked, provided they haven’t specifically been bargained within the CBA. So MLS could create a fourth DP spot or increase the salary budget substantially and drop down to one DP spot without having to bargain those changes. That said, it’s unlikely we see substantial changes in the middle of a season.
Will the emphasis on bringing Messi’s friends with him lead to discussions amongst owners for a shift towards less restrictive roster rules? —@williamhagens
I think it most certainly has to start conversations — or push conversations forward. The idea that MLS can stand pat and not change one thing about how they operate and how they think about building the best on-field product would be disastrous. Messi brings so many different kinds of opportunities to grow, from the audience he can pull in, to the types of players who will be watching what his experiences look like in MLS. Anyone who has not read the late Grant Wahl’s The Beckham Experiment would be well-served in doing so. The parallels between that version of MLS needing Beckham to push it forward and this version of MLS waiting for Messi’s arrival to help instruct change are striking. MLS has to be innovative, it has to think about growing and changing, and Messi provides the impetus to do just that. I’ve spoken to some sources around the league who are familiar with the workings of the MLS Board of Governors who believe it absolutely will do just that.
Does Messi’s contract contain a dual termination clause? In Argentina it was reported Messi retains the right to cut the agreement early if need be. —@KelvinLoyola
I haven’t heard anything about this on the MLS end, but the details of the deal have been tough to come by, as the league and the parties involved try to quiet down chatter until everything is signed and sealed. I do believe there is an option for the 2026 season, but I would imagine that’s a mutual option. MLS typically does not allow player-held options, but this is not a typical deal.
What is the expected response of teams/league when he doesn’t play in an away match that has exorbitant ticket prices? Any stipulations on requirements to play barring injury? —@daleh1809
Again, I’d say go back to The Beckham Experiment for your answers on this. Beckham didn’t play in many games that first season. He arrived in MLS with an ankle injury and then there were times where he had to be rested, especially as he tried to stay in the England team and was flying back and forth to split club and international duties.The stories that were written around those games will be written again: families who traveled to see Messi and didn’t get the chance, inflated ticket prices that under-delivered on the promise of seeing Messi, teams that upped ticket prices around a visiting player only for that player not to show up. It’s an inevitability. You can go down the Miami schedule and point to games right now that seem like real question marks for whether Messi goes or doesn’t. I think it would be incredibly difficult to insert any sort of clause that requires a player to play, though I imagine there are heavy incentives tied to appearances, goals, etc., as there are for players up and down the roster.
1. Will Inter Miami Keep (Leonardo) Campana and Josef (Martinez)? 2. Will Inter Miami manage to add another impact player via TAM/GAM (as opposed to DP)? —@estebanjq3
I think Miami would prefer to keep both, yes. And they don’t have to move either one, necessarily. Campana can be bought down with allocation money and Martinez’s contract runs out at the end of the season, so I’m not sure what a trade market would look like for him, or if he’d make a move easy, especially because his deal includes a no-trade clause. Campana is the interesting one, if only because he would surely bring in a massive haul of allocation money should Miami need the cash to buy down more players. But considering its recent trades and sales, Miami is sitting on a hefty amount of allocation and has the flexibility to add DPs. And it would make sense that they just buy out Rodolfo Pizarro and add players rather than move too many big names out. They likely have some cap space to add a few other non-DP players, but that will require some movement out, as well. Remember, if you’re buying down Campana and Gregore, you now have two huge salaries you have to account for with allocation money, plus you have the two new DPs whose numbers you’d also like to buy down, if possible. This is the juggling act of MLS salary caps and GAM.
I am wondering how you consider the mediatic impact Messi will have on the league. Sure, he is a famous character but he isn’t the media beast that Ibra or Beckham could be back in their days. Are we really gonna see him on every talk show in the U.S.? —@CultureSoccer
Yes, I think this is where there will be a distinct difference between Beckham/Zlatan and Messi. Beckham felt an obligation to be the face of the league. His expansion clause also incentivized him to build up the league. Ibrahimovic enjoyed doing the bigger media opportunities. He’s a star who embraces being a star. Messi’s personality is far different. He doesn’t love doing media, so it’ll be a bit of a question mark how much he actually gets out there to do interviews. Surely there will be a few one-on-ones along the way, but I think the expectations for availability should be relatively low. And no, I don’t anticipate seeing Messi on the late-night talk shows, at least not as regularly as Ibrahimovic, though after watching the entertaining videos from Sergio Aguero during the World Cup, maybe they should make that a show.
Will (Messi) be able to make all MLS clubs put in grass pitches? —@TheOrangeGoats
My colleagues and I made some calls about this after hearing some rumors that teams with turf fields were considering laying temporary grass down on top of their turf. We were told there is absolutely nothing to it. It remains to be seen whether Messi will play on turf. He’ll be tested in his first season; Miami has away games in Atlanta and Charlotte this season. A midweek game in Chicago during the NFL season is another “playing surface” question for Messi’s first season. Do they put him on a plane for a midweek game in Chicago considering the history with that field?
Literally I have been sitting here with a calculator and such like a nerd — how might the typical humidity and heat (85-90 degrees F) of Miami in July change his performance, if at all? For instance on long distance runs it adds a couple min per mile to your time. —@ariellec
No doubt the heat will be different for Messi. But the good news is that he just doesn’t run very much anymore. The Athletic had a whole story about how much he was walking at the World Cup in Qatar! At the World Cup, Argentine players averaged 10.5 kilometers per game. Messi averaged 8.8, less than some of Argentina’s center backs. His teammates averaged 47.9 sprints per game. Messi averaged 35.5. Based on how he’s evolved as a player, I don’t think it will change his game.
Will Messi’s arrival spur you to starting up a new podcast? I miss Allocation Disorder! —@DanielLisi1
To be determined.
Any immediate changes to logistics with security and media protocols? Will Messi have reporters putting cameras & mics in his face in the locker room after he puts on his underwear? —@ThatCodyTho
I’ll never forget being in the locker room after Andrea Pirlo’s first game for NYCFC and seeing the shock on his face when he emerged from the showers and saw the gaggle of press waiting. At least they had us behind a rope. I can’t imagine it will be the same for Miami. A number of MLS teams have found ways to modify, work around or straight up ignore the league rules about open locker room access. Some teams say you can request any player you want and they bring them out. Some teams bring players out for press conferences and leave that as the access. Some teams put up screens that prevent you from working the locker room itself and pull players to the other side of that screen and say, ‘Well, technically you’re in the locker room so this is not violating MLS rules.’
From an American beat-writing perspective, none of those things is the same as an open locker room. Reporters surround LeBron James after every game. You can get a crack at any top MLB player in the clubhouse. Same with the NFL. But, realistically, soccer is a different beast, and MLS is trying to cope with bringing players into a new culture. In many countries, the locker room is sacrosanct. Sometimes you win out and players learn to deal with it. I was able to approach Kaká in visiting locker rooms for basically his entire first season in MLS (when I covered Orlando City full-time). With other players, the access has been more limited. I would assume Messi will be much, much more difficult to get to, and that when we see him speak to media, it will be in a press conference setting.One of the more interesting angles to this is how away teams will prepare to deal with Messi when he’s in town, and even this media angle is an interesting one. Do they limit press passes? Every reporter here has a story about witnessing a person wearing a press pass asking for a photo with a star player during the American tours from prominent teams or at all-star games. It’s against MLS rules and it’s written on the back of the press pass that your credential will be revoked, but you have to imagine there will be some people who shoot their shot with a little less concern about losing media access.
How does MLS handle closing the door on other marquee players wanting similar treatment to come to the league? —@BlueCityRadio
They say something along the lines of: “You’re not Messi.” Not sure how many players out there could argue that. There will be a time when another player like this comes along, but it’s been 16 years since David Beckham arrived and who knows how long it will be until someone like Kylian Mbappe requires hoops like this. Really, if you’re the most optimistic of MLS supporters, you dream of a time when this kind of “marquee” treatment isn’t necessary because MLS grows into a big enough league to not require it. I’m not sure how close that is to reality, however.
How badly does it hurt MLS if Messi struggles to adapt to some of the more unusual and challenging aspects of the league? Travel, turf fields, bad refs, press in the locker room, and especially the wild disparity in player quality across an MLS roster all seem like things he could throw shade on, to the great detriment of the league’s generally improving reputation. —Mike in Arlington, VA (@MostlyOverThere)
MLS survived Zlatan Ibrahimovic calling it out for multiple issues. It survived David Beckham lamenting the turf fields. It survived Gareth Bale talking about it being okay with losing and Wayne Rooney criticizing the referees. MLS knows what it is. It’s comfortable with what it is. And globally, the perception gap of where MLS actually is and where people think it operates is bad enough that I’m not sure there’s enough of a downside in any sort of public critiques from big players. The generally-improving reputation of MLS, in my opinion, is felt more strongly in actual soccer circles — the players, coaches, sporting directors, agents and executives who work in the game — than with the public. We’re at a point now where it’s going to take something more drastic to start influencing public opinion of MLS, both positively and negatively. Comments from Messi won’t move the needle. Finding ways to surround Messi with better teammates and competition? Well, maybe that could provide a boost. But even that’s not guaranteed. (Photo: Fred Lee/Getty Images)
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This USWNT World Cup roster is the most racially diverse in the team’s history for a big tournament
If you don’t think that matters, you probably aren’t a person of color or a member of the LGBTQ community.OPINION
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Four years ago, watching Megan Rapinoe’s World Cup victory speech made me think of two young girls. One was myself, a soccer fanatic who thought the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) was absolutely everything. The other was a young fan I encountered while working a game in 2013. In her speech that day, Rapinoe remarked, “Yes, we play sports. Yes, we play soccer. Yes, we’re female athletes, but we are so much more than that. You are so much more than that.”Now, as we are on the cusp of another World Cup, I am thinking of all the kids — and adults, too — who may see themselves on this particular version of the USWNT roster.A roster that is the most racially diverse in the team’s history for a major tournament.Seven Black players (18-year-old phenom Alyssa Thompson is also Filipino and Peruvian) and two Mexican Americans made the squad headed to Australia and New Zealand this summer. This is an increase from the 2019 World Cup roster, which featured five Black players, and the 2020 Olympic team, which had six. Additionally, Sofia Huerta and Ashley Sanchez are just the second and third Mexican Americans to ever appear on a roster for either major tournament, joining Stephanie Cox, who first did so in 2008.There are also three LGBTQ members competing for Team USA.
This iteration of the national team is young (14 individuals are playing in their first World Cup), Black, and queer — a significant fact for a team that has only had nine out LGBTQ players and 19 players of color appear on a roster for a World Cup or Olympics in its 30-year history.Once the team hits the field in July, 24 players of color will have suited up for Team USA in these high-profile tournaments — 26 if you include Huerta and Sanchez.If you don’t think that matters, you probably aren’t a person of color or a member of the LGBTQ community.And it matters especially now, as this roster and this team are existing in the same space where systematically marginalized and underrepresented groups are under attack all across this nation.In 2023, there have been more anti-LGBTQ bills enacted than any other year on record, and a recent report found that American adult support of same-sex relationships has dropped. Antisemitism is on the rise, with neo-Nazis convening all over the country, including at the entrance to Disney World. There are also movements to erase Black history and books from the classroom, as well as an overarching feeling in some spheres that diversity, equity, and inclusion are dirty words.
These conversations haven’t escaped sports, with racism and homophobia still ever present in soccer, both domestically and globally.While the visibility of these Black and queer players on the field for Team USA may not do much to tangibly impact either of these conversations, it will undoubtedly help others see themselves — to see potential and possibility — on the game’s brightest stage.That potential and possibility will be present every time Lynn Williams, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman carve through defenders or put one in the back of the net. It will also be there as Crystal Dunn dominates at left back, even though she’s playing out of position, or in the new center back pairing of Alana Cook and Naomi Girma.And it will be present in Kristie Mewis making her first World Cup roster at the age of 32 for a tournament hosted by the home nation of her girlfriend, Australian superstar Sam Kerr, as well as in Kelley O’Hara playing in her fourth World Cup, and her first since coming out by kissing her then-girlfriend, now fiancée, after winning the whole thing last time around. Yes, Williams, Smith, Rodman, Dunn, Mewis, and O’Hara are all soccer players. But they are also, to borrow a phrase from Rapinoe, “so much more than that.” I fell in love with the game of soccer before I fell in love with the USWNT, falling for both for a multitude of reasons. One such reason was that the women on the team looked like and reminded me of me, my friends, my family, and my teammates. Seeing them celebrated in 1999 changed my life. The 2023 version of the squad has the potential — the possibility — to do the exact same thing for a whole new group of people.
Kate Harman is a member of the communication studies department at Rowan University, where she helped develop the sports communication and media program.
Published July 5, 2023
How the USWNT’s millennial, Gen Z stars find common ground
- Cesar Hernandez
- Jul 6, 2023, 09:05 AM ET
Even within a globally recognized U.S. women’s national team roster that is filled with celebrity superstars and World Cup winners, older co-workers can sometimes seem a bit odd to their younger colleagues.”Some of the songs they play, [what] they’re all listening to, I have no idea what they are. They sound like … what my parents listen to,” said 22-year-old Sophia Smith, who was once given a hard time by more senior players for not recognizing a song from ’90s rapper Tupac. “Or they’ll talk about the technology they had, like the CD.”
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Smith, a forward for the NWSL‘s Portland Thorns, has never used a CD player. She’s never gone to a World Cup, either.
The same could be said (at least regarding the international tournament) for the San Diego Wave‘s 23-year-old Naomi Girma. In preparation for her first-ever World Cup, the up-and-coming center-back found it amusing that veteran Alex Morgan utilized Mapquest, a website that was popular for printable driving directions in the early-2000s, in her younger days for travel.”We were joking about MapQuest … she would pull out the actual map to get to games,” Girma said with a laugh.At times perplexed by those older than them — Smith admitted that she “won’t watch any movie that’s ‘grainy,'” seemingly referencing a time before high-definition broadcasting — both Smith and Girma represent a broader youth movement for the USWNT.Of the 23 players who will be heading to the World Cup that begins on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand, a noteworthy total of 14 will take part in the tournament for the first time. Of those 14, half are 25 or younger, which means that the back-to-back winners will rely on the exuberance of youth rather than the wisdom of experience.In the 2019 competition, the USWNT had 11 debutants, and in 2015, there were only eight. Both teams also had fewer players who were 25 or younger.Aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup title and fifth overall, manager Vlatko Andonovski and his players met with media in Carson, Calif., earlier this month to discuss the presence of youthful talents within their roster, the key veterans who will be guiding them along the way, and most importantly, about building and maintaining an intergenerational link.
Finding common ground, on the field
Eighteen-year-old Angel City FC winger Alyssa Thompson, the youngest name on the USWNT roster, finds it surreal that she gets to be teammates with her heroes.”I can’t believe I’m playing with players that I’ve looked up to my whole life,” said the teenager, who was selected first overall in the NWSL draft just months earlier — the first No. 1 pick ever to be selected out of high school.Set to be one of the possible breakout stars of the World Cup, Thompson was just 17 when she made her USWNT debut last October in a 2-1 friendly loss to England. In her first camp with the national team, Thompson remembers being in awe of the soccer celebrities around her.”When I came in, every single player I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s her in real life,'” she said of her thoughts about training with the best in the country. “Literally every single player, I was like, ‘Whoa, I can’t believe I’m here.'”Although Thompson also admitted to finding it a little strange that some of her teammates grew up without cell phones, she didn’t seem to notice much of a difference between everyone once a ball was in play.”You can’t really tell on the field.”Smith agreed, noting that creating trust happens naturally.”You come into this environment and it’s so intense and it’s so hard. I think you have no choice but to kind of lean on your teammates and rely on them,” said the Thorns star about building connections, regardless of age. “Also, we spend so much time together in these camps. It’s every day. So you just get to know each other. I think we all have a common goal and that unites us and brings us together.”
EDITOR’S PICKS
- Alex Morgan is the only USWNT striker at the World Cup. Can Rodman, Smith or Williams fill in?9dJoseph Lowery
- USWNT’s 2023 World Cup roster reaction: Pressure on Morgan, who replaces Sauerbrunn, more15dCaitlin Murray
Much of that unity is thanks to the openness and support of their veteran teammates.For Trinity Rodman, a 21-year-old forward for the Washington Spirit, a high-profile figure like 37-year-old Megan Rapinoe has been a meaningful source for pre-World Cup advice.”I’ve been talking to Pinoe a lot and she’s just very open to being realistic and not sugarcoating anything with me,” Rodman said. “She says it’s a test, and the biggest thing that she kind of told me is you’re here for a reason, do you, and if you stray away from that, you’re not going to perform the way you want to.”Morgan, a three-time participant in the World Cup along with Rapinoe and Kelley O’Hara, has also been a vital mentor for the younger group of players.”Every day in camp, Alex is always kind of taking me under her wing, helping me, explaining things to me,” Smith said. “She’s someone that I’ve looked up to my whole life, so playing with her now, it’s the best thing ever and I can just watch how she goes through life and learn from it just day in and day out at practice.”
The kids are more than all right: ‘They’re really freaking good’
There’s an important but very, very obvious caveat about many of the unseasoned USWNT names: they’re incredible soccer players.
“I’m not worried about the inexperience,” said Andonovski. “In fact, I’m excited about the energy and the enthusiasm that the young players bring, the intensity and the drive as well. … I think that that will be one of our advantages.”
Lawson: Rapinoe inclusion vital for younger USWNT players
Sebi Salazar and Sophie Lawson discuss the inclusion of Megan Rapinoe ahead of what will be her fourth World Cup for the USWNT.Girma, who is expected to be one of the two starting central defenders for the USWNT, clinched the NWSL’s Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year awards in 2022. Smith, a likely name in Andonovski’s XI on one of the wings, helped lead Portland to an NWSL championship last season, while also earning the league’s MVP award. Rodman, a strong option for minutes on the USWNT’s right wing, was the 2021 NWSL Rookie of the Year. Thompson, at just 18, is already securing accolades after recently being named the NWSL’s March/April Rookie of the Month.”We do have a lot of people that are experiencing their first World Cup, but they’re really freaking good,” 28-year-old midfielder Rose Lavelle said. “So I have all the confidence in the world that they’re going to rise to the occasion.”Players in their mid-20s waiting to make their World Cup debuts, such as full-back Emily Fox, defender Alana Cook and midfielders Savannah DeMelo and Ashley Sanchez, are also part of a wider generational change. For Cook, the OL Reign defender doesn’t believe that there will be any issues regarding the transition for the national team, thanks to those above them who have steered them in the right direction.”This team has always gone through cycles and changes, and I think the incredible legacy of our older players is that they’ve made sure that everyone’s ready after them and around them. I think it’s always a next-woman-up system when it’s your turn, you have to be ready,” Cook said. “Younger players coming in isn’t a bad thing. I think it’s just a testament to how hard the veterans have worked to make sure that the things that we have, the culture, the work ethic, the tactics are ingrained in all of us.”
Maintaining a legacy
When looking at the veterans, there’s a sense of sustaining and advancing the national team leadership from those before them. O’Hara, getting ready for her fourth World Cup, remembers the impact that former USWNT players had in the early days of her international career.”I feel like I had really great teammates around me that were veterans when I came onto this team, Abby Wambach, Heather Mitts, even Lauren Cheney [Holiday], she’s only a year older than me, but she had been on the team for a while,” O’Hara said. “I’ve always tried to [help] any newcomer to make them feel welcome, to make them feel comfortable because you got to be able to feel that way to be your best self.”Midfielder Lindsey Horan, one of the leaders for the USWNT, has taken inspiration from Becky Sauerbrunn, the longtime captain who was ruled out of this summer’s tournament last month because of a foot injury she suffered in April.”She’s my first call or my first text, and what she does on the field and what she did for me in Portland, it’s just like, I’m going to follow her lead and I want to be that type of role model for the young ones coming up and the new players here,” Horan said. “Trying to be the best role model and a voice for these young players coming in, anytime they need advice or questions.”That imprint left goes far beyond the confines of the field as well.For years, USWNT players clashed with U.S. Soccer as they sought equal pay and better working conditions. After filing a gender discrimination lawsuit in 2019, the case was settled in February 2022, providing a lump-sum payment to the players for $22 million. Months later, they then agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement, which included an equal split of World Cup bonuses between the USWNT and the U.S. men’s national team.”We actually just got our first settlement check [from U.S. Soccer] in the mail a week ago,” Morgan said last week. “Naomi was joking that she didn’t get one and I was like, be grateful you just get equal.”Older co-workers can be a bit odd in the eyes of their younger cohorts, but there’s no denying that they know a little more about the job. And don’t make the mistake of assuming that some of the USWNT veterans are out-of-touch retirees. “Goodness gracious. Don’t age me,” Crystal Dunn said when asked how she can connect with someone as young as Thompson. “I’m still cool and hip, I try to tell all my teammates that. … I have a kid and all of a sudden people are like, ‘Oh, did you hear about TikTok, Crystal?'”
Former USWNT Shannon Boxx on World Cup: ‘Center back pairing is going to be very important’
By Meg LinehanJul 6, 2023
Former U.S. women’s national team midfielder Shannon Boxx is flying to New Zealand for the World Cup later this month, but first, she has a slightly shorter trip down the West Coast to San Jose for the USWNT’s send-off match against Wales on Sunday as part of the TNT’s broadcast crew. Boxx has been a thoughtful, welcome addition to the desk for USWNT matches as part of U.S. Soccer’s new media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, and has also provided game analysis during SheBelieves Cup.Boxx has been heavily referenced since the release of the final 23-player USWNT roster for the World Cup thanks to Savannah DeMelo’s inclusion. DeMelo, a midfielder for Racing Louisville FC, made the roster without a previous appearance for the senior national team. Boxx was the most recent player to earn that same honor.The National Soccer Hall of Famer jumped on a call with The Athletic (on her birthday!) to catch up on all things USWNT, from what to expect in the final stateside match against Wales to her own memories of making the 2003 World Cup roster. This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Happy birthday!
Oh, thank you! It’s a really exciting day to do lots of calls.
Let’s start with the send-off game. How much do you factor this game into what’s happening at the first group stage match of the World Cup?
I think it’s going to be half and half. I would always assume that, at least from my own experience of going through it, you want that starting group to work together again — but you might not know what that is exactly yet. They still have so much time once they get to New Zealand. It feels like (you have so much time) when you’re there. For me, (the send-off game) is a great opportunity for (USWNT coach) Vlatko (Andonovski) to get the players together. They haven’t played together in a while, so you’re going to want to get that going again right away.
I can see him really putting out that starting group, and then getting a couple of other players’ minutes. With Becky (Sauerbrunn) going down, there’s always that fear (of a player injury) now, right? The last game. We’ve had that — it happened to Abby Wambach. But again, I would think that he’s going to want to come out with what he believes is going to be that starting lineup.
How do you balance hiding your hand with getting players minutes together, especially, to your point, the center back pairing?
The center back pairing is going to be very important. I talked to Becky last night actually, and I just said, ‘Vlatko thought ahead.’ Unfortunately, he has to think that way, and he definitely made sure — and that was a lot of his comments throughout the time we’ve been playing these friendlies leading up to the World Cup — these two (Naomi Girma and Alana Cook) can lead. We need someone to lead the backline if Becky’s not in the mix, or if she’s not on the field. So I think he’s done a great job. Those two are ready, and he was definitely a planner and he’s definitely going to be doing that next weekend during the game.But I agree with you, they’re going to hide things. They’re not going to let everything out in a game against Wales. They’re going to have set pieces they’re not ready to throw out and let people see it. That’s always the fun part. It’s a little bit of a chess match when you get to the World Cup and you’re like, ‘Hm, what might they throw out?”
What do you think of Naomi Girma? Back in April, Megan Rapinoe absolutely raved about her. It feels tough to try and not put pressure on her, but I feel like she became far more important to this team.
She did. But honestly, she plays like she’s been on the team forever. She has leadership ability. The part that she will continually gain now is that leadership skill because she’s always had it. I think she just felt like she was a newer person, so she didn’t want to use her voice as much. But now it’s going to be important for her to do it, and she has the ability to do that wholeheartedly. Talent-wise, she’s amazing on the field. She’s always in the right position. She’s not afraid of tackling. She’s not afraid of getting down and dirty. She’s just really shined in the last couple of years and it’s been great.
Elsewhere, your name has come up a lot in connection with Savannah DeMelo.
All my friends were texting me the first day! I was like, ‘Why is everybody texting me?’ and they all said, ‘You’re back in the news!’
You were the most recent player to be named to a World Cup roster without a USWNT appearance, back in 2003. Can we just flashback to that moment when you’re getting the call? What does that feel like?
It’s ecstatic. I was not expecting it. That was my first initial reaction, and because I wasn’t thinking I was going to make the roster, that’s the best I was playing. So for me emotionally, it was like, ‘OK, they obviously saw something in me when I was playing my best. And when I play my best, it’s when I’m not thinking about it or fearing anything.’ I thought I didn’t have a chance. I was free; I played that way.
So for me emotionally, going into the World Cup, I felt I needed to do the same thing that I had been doing. I was 26. I was old enough to recognize that it was a great opportunity, and I felt like I had experience. The league had prepared me. That’s the first thing I thought about. The league is doing what it’s supposed to do. WUSA was there for me, and any time I ever talk about making it as an uncapped player — it wasn’t like I hadn’t been playing anywhere, right? The (NWSL) has prepared (DeMelo) for this moment. That’s really important because we are constantly talking about why we need to have a league here in the U.S., and this is just another really good example of why we need one here.
Seeing the NWSL and where it is right now, to your point, it helped DeMelo and Alyssa Thompson. Does it matter more this time around than we’ve ever seen it?
Because of the way the national team hasn’t played together in two months, it really did make a difference. If you made the team or not, I truly believe that so many players stepped up knowing that it mattered. The last two months, games have been amazing. Obviously, I’m watching more of the players that have the potential to make the World Cup team, but they were crushing it because, in the end, they knew it was going to be important. Whereas I felt like in the past, you’re right, it wasn’t as important but we also had games all the way up to the send-off game, and that made a difference too. You’re like, ‘OK, well, I can show you here.’ I might have taken it easier in the league, where it wasn’t the case this year.
I think one other player that has benefitted from NWSL play is Lynn Williams.
Yeah, I agree.
Do you have her as a starter?
Not right now. We have so many hammers up top (laughs). I’m so excited for this World Cup! We have a lot of hammers, and you can imagine Lynn Williams coming in off the bench in the 60th minute. Every other team like, ‘Oh no.’ We have so many talented players up there. Vlatko is going to have to see who works the best together because it’s not just about individual talent. It will be how you work with the other players up top, how you work with the midfielders. It could change game to game, but right now, I think I see Lynn coming in off the bench at this point.
Who do you have up there with Sophia Smith and Alex Morgan?
Sophia on the left, Alex, and Trinity (Rodman).
There’s not really a wrong answer, there are so many options.
Yeah, and that’s good! You can rest some players at times, and they do different things. One thing Trinity has improved and has said this is a focus for her is not checking out. It’s making sure she’s focused on the game on both sides of the ball, and that’s where I think the league has been great for her to work on that. We lose the ball, she’s getting back on defense. Lynn has that ability already. She’s a fighter and has that personality and mentality when she’s out there.I’ve been impressed with Trinity; she’s worked on those things and she’s hot right now. So is Lynn, so you can’t really go wrong. And then you look at Alyssa Thompson. I know as a defensive player, I would struggle with all this speed against me.
What’s your biggest question mark about the USWNT right now?
It’s hard to win three in a row. No matter what we say, right? It is. It’s really, really hard to do. Do I believe they can do it? 100%. You say it’s hard to do two (in a row) and then they did two, and then you’re like, can they do three? Yes, but I think losing Becky is a big thing. I mean that on the field, off the field. It was a big loss, right before, but the back line will do well. I’m a big fan of Emily Fox. I think she’s amazing. You have Crystal Dunn back there, she can lead. And you have Girma and Cook, who have been playing together. That’s the part I would just say needs to be buckled up because it’s changed. It’s just for those players in that backline to really step up. Maybe it’s not one person, maybe it’s the collective really taking charge of leadership and keeping it tight. That would be the biggest part for me.
Shannon Boxx and Abby Wambach celebrate after a goal. (Photo by Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
To your earlier point about Abby Wambach’s injury in 2008, that changed the approach to the tournament, but that was when Angela Hucles stepped up. A real strength of this team has always been the depth and mentality. Is that enough to win the third in a row?
I definitely think so. The U.S. mentality is unlike any other team. As you said, Angela stepped up, (Lindsey Tarpley) stepped up. The whole team had to adapt. We lost our scrimmage game and then we lost our first game, and we were like, ‘We don’t know how to do this without Abby.’ But I don’t think this team feels that way. Missing the leadership of Becky, that’s hard. But I felt like we only scored with Abby. They’ve defended as a group this whole time, and there have been times Becky hasn’t been in the game and they’ve already had to figure it out. So my thing is, if they can do it as a collective, it’s going to be no problem because their mentality is going to be so strong.
What’s one thing people should watch for in this send-off game that might settle their nerves?
Wow, that’s an interesting question. They’ve gone through media day. The hype, the excitement, all this stuff is swirling around them. For me, it’s what happens between the lines, what happens in the locker room. Making sure that they’re focused on each other and winning and what they need to do — and having fun. When they’re connected, no one can beat them. There’s going to be a lot of outside stuff happening. The veterans really need to take the younger players, the first-time players, under their wings to be like, ‘All this stuff has been great but remember why we are here.’ It’s focusing on each other and focusing on the process. What it’s going to take in the journey. One thing for me, I always wanted to get to the end so I would know what happened. If you forget we do this because we love it, and should be enjoying the whole journey, the whole process of it. So for me, it’s this game. Wales is a good side, but it’s not really about them, it’s about what’s happening there, in that moment.
Journey to the Cup: Sam Mewis on Player Power and the 2023 World Cup
By The Athletic Staff Jun 30, 2023
In The Journey to the Cup, The Athletic tells the stories of players and teams as they work towards a place in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Follow along as we track their progress as they prepare both mentally and physically for a chance to shine on the game’s biggest stage.This is a special “Journey to the Cup” episode brought to you by Google Chrome.Sam Mewis joins Full Time to discuss her recent trip to Amsterdam for a conference with global player union FIFPro, how the USWNT players association tries to share their expertise, and wins in increased prize money for players at the 2023 World Cup. Plus, thoughts on the USWNT roster and her players to watch this summer. Journey to the Cup Visit: https://youtu.be/Io89abCAiWM
Mewis on the United States’ roster:
“I think it’s an awesome balance of experience and new, young, exciting players. I think that blend is going to be super important. Like, you’re going to have experience on the field, but you’re also going to have to have some of these young and new players step up and make a huge impact. But they totally can. I mean, I think about – Lynn (Williams) is in such good form, Sophia Smith is in such good form. I’m so excited to see them and see them have that expectation on their shoulders. Like, if they can perform, which I know that they can at this level, the US is going to do great. They have Alex (Morgan) up there, they have (Megan Rapinoe), they have Kelley (O’Hara), they have Julie (Ertz), Crystal (Dunn), Lindsey (Horan) – players who have been through this before, and also players who are super hungry to prove that they’re going to want to be here again. So I think it’s great. I think it’s just going to be, again, that balance of experience and then hunger to prove yourself, so I’m thrilled and really excited to see them play.”
Mewis gives her players to watch in the World Cup:
“Well, I would definitely say Sam Kerr because I love her and she’s obviously so good. … Keira Walsh for England is literally my favorite player ever. I got to play with her at Man City and I’ve been raving about her to anybody who will listen ever since. She just won Champions League with Barcelona and she’s just like the smartest, most technical player, and I think she’s gonna have like an incredible tournament, so I’m really excited to watch her. And Lauren Hemp from England, too – just watch out.”
The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over, or input into, the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo by Brad Smith / ISI)
Journey to the Cup: Can the USWNT three-peat?
By The Athletic Staff Jun 30, 2023 The Athletic
In The Journey to the Cup, The Athletic tells the stories of players and teams as they work towards a place in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Follow along as we track their progress as they prepare both mentally and physically for a chance to shine on the game’s biggest stage.
This is a special “Journey to the Cup” episode brought to you by Google Chrome. Meg is joined by Steph Yang and Jeff Rueter to discuss the final USWNT roster for the 2023 World Cup, player by player and position by position. From the team’s depth to major injuries and absences, to the players who also had legit shouts at making the 23 — it’s a comprehensive look at the team that’s going to be aiming for a U.S. three-peat in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.
Rueter on the competition heading into this World Cup:
“There isn’t that same sort of ‘US vs. The World’ feel this year that there was four years ago … I don’t think that there’s that same – there’s not that same everyone’s looking up at the United States at this point. That’s not true in this tournament. … I think it would be very disrespectful to a lot of other national teams to not say that there’s level-footing for three, four, five (teams), US among them.”
Yang on a perceived gap between the USWNT and other teams:
“So the one question that keeps getting asked (of me) is, ‘What’s the gap between the US and the rest of the world?’ And I’m like, ‘I think that question’s been over for several years now. There’s no more gap.’”
Linehan on the expectation for the USWNT to three-peat:
“There is no universe in which that is a productive way of thinking anymore for the US Women’s National Team, and the fact that we have not gotten past that so far – like, maybe this is the tournament where that dies. … I really think that for the US Women’s National team it would be extremely, extremely productive if we could get past the ‘anything that is not winning is terrible, the world is ending’ – it’s 2023, we can move past it.”
The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over, or input into, the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
USWNT’s Rose Lavelle: My Game in My Words
Tom Bogert Jun 20, 2023
In this My Game In My Words series, The Athletic builds towards the Women’s World Cup by talking to leading players around the world to find out how they think about football, why they play the way they do and to reflect — through looking back at their key career moments — on their achievements so far.
It’s a pleasant, mid-May morning in a trendy Seattle neighborhood, on the kind of block with ample walkways, several stylish coffee shops and a pilates studio. Inside the pilates studio awaits U.S. national team star Rose Lavelle, plus a team of sponsors, her agents and, of course for this type of day, a photographer.Lavelle is a star with the USWNT but, at the center of it all, she doesn’t seem to gravitate towards the spotlight. Her down-to-earth demeanor and humor help alleviate the awkwardness of an overly choreographed day— Go here, stand there, pose for this picture, okay now say a few words, pose again, tilt your shoulders please, okay great one more, alright now let’s get to the next location.
Rehab and recovery for Lavelle is currently at the top of mind. She last featured in a game in the beginning of April and is yet to return to the pitch.At the time of the interview, Lavelle was thought to be nearing a return to the field after what was initially described in April by national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski as a “knock” six weeks prior. Less than a week after the interview, OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey said Lavelle suffered a setback in her recovery.The World Cup begins in a month. Fans are worrying that Lavelle’s spot at the tournament is in jeopardy, four years after Lavelle went from rising talent to a bonafide star and fan favorite, scoring in a World Cup final en route to the USWNT adding a fourth gold star above their crest.The Athletic asked Lavelle to break down a sample of moments from her career, big and small.
Goal, 2019 World Cup final
Though backheel assists (more on that below) and dribbling montages capture the essence of Lavelle’s profile best, her goal against the Netherlands in the 2019 World Cup final is her biggest moment.Does she ever get tired of answering the same questions about the same goal?“I mean…” Lavelle says as she trails off with laughter. “It’s funny. It’s obviously a big goal, but like, it’s one goal.”Let’s roll the tape.
Up 1-0 in that World Cup final, Lavelle picks up the ball in space in a rare moment of attacking transition. The Netherlands did a great job of limiting her space, Lavelle says. Driving towards the backline with Alex Morgan ahead to Lavelle’s left, the Dutch center backs keep retreating and focused on cutting off passing lanes. Lavelle keeps taking space until she gets towards the 18-yard box and decides to take the opportunity on herself and shoot.
“Alex pulls in that defender so they don’t step to me.” Lavelle said. “When I was dribbling, I was waiting for the center back to step to me so I could slip it to Alex. Obviously Alex Morgan in that spot on her left foot is so dangerous, they were concerned about defending that. Then I thought ‘oh, she’s not stepping. I guess I’m going to shoot?’ I was waiting for one of them to step.”Lavelle buried her shot into the bottom corner as she fell over. She jumped to celebrate with Morgan and Rapinoe, then ran to the sidelines so the entire squad could be part of the celebrations.The midfielder broke into the national team in 2017 but announced herself at the World Cup two years later. She started six games at the tournament and won the Bronze Ball, given to the third-best player at the World Cup.“That World Cup, my whole thought was that I don’t want to f— this up for the team,” Lavelle said. “I was so nervous, I didn’t know what to expect. I just wanted to do my job, not overcomplicate things, stick to what I need to do. Honestly, I was just more relieved that we got a second goal.”
Backheel assists vs. New Zealand, Costa Rica
Perhaps the most succinct encapsulation of Lavelle’s on-field talents is that when you search for a backheel assist, there are several options. The first of those options on display is against New Zealand in January of this year.
In the clip, Lavelle receives a progressive pass with her back to goal. A defender is pressuring her from her left on her first touch, a second defender steps up from the backline to try and win the ball as well. That creates space in behind. Between her first and second touches, Lavelle glances in that direction to process the information unfolding around her.
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She doesn’t even hint in that direction again. A second later, after a backwards touch to further draw the defenders away from the space in behind, Lavelle snakes a no-look, backheel through ball to Alex Morgan who buries the chance.
“You know what’s funny? That play right there, I got from Pinoe (Megan Rapinoe),” Lavelle said. “I remember watching her in high school and she did that, I thought ‘that was kind of cool.’ I remember going to a high school practice after that and trying it, it worked out. Like, oh, that’s so sick. Pinoe doesn’t even know she taught me that.”
The second backheel assist — against Costa Rica in July 2022 — is a bit simpler, if only because Lavelle makes it look simple. The USWNT win the ball back in the final third and the duel rolls to Lavelle at the top of the 18 with her back to goal. Again, she saw the run of Mallory Swanson a touch before she makes the pass, adding another layer of deception.It looks simple because, like dribbling, shooting and fitness, it’s a practiced skill.“Growing up, I always loved the creative side of the game,” Lavelle said. “Being able to practice moves and stuff like that – always going on YouTube to look up ‘cool soccer moves’ – I thought that was so fun. Then I’d go to my backyard and pretend to do it. I don’t know, that’s part of the game I’ve always found really fun.”Playing with this kind of creative freedom is earned.“I have the freedom to do it, but I will say, when I don’t connect it, I feel really stupid,” Lavelle said. “I know there’s people thinking ‘come on, play simple.’ But the moments it does come off? It’s really effective.”
Dribble, through ball vs. Spain
In this play, the USWNT picks up a throw in just ahead of midfield on the right touchline, and about eight seconds later, have the ball in a prime crossing position on the left channel of the 18-yard box.
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Lavelle flicks a pass on her first touch, already moving to find new space.
She gets the ball back with three Spain defenders closing in and slaloms her way to safety.
“Honestly, it’s just a feeling, not a thought,” Lavelle says when asked how she found her way out of that situation. “I’m not thinking in that moment. When I’m playing my best, I’m free flowing. I’m just doing what I feel is on, finding the space naturally.”A subtle part of the play is the timing of the through pass. Lavelle holds just a beat long enough for the opposing fullback to drop in to protect central space. That allows the pass to hit the runner in stride, who can play a first-time cross with space.“I don’t really have a great explanation for that,” she says of the timing with a laugh. “It’s feeling the game, not thinking it.”
Dribble against Russia
Lavelle doesn’t get fouled nearly as much as one may expect for a player with her dribbling ability. It’s something she’s recognizing as her career progresses.
Back in 2017 in a friendly against Russia, Lavelle dusts a defender near the corner flag and takes on another in the 18-yard box. A quick nutmeg brings her closer to goal, where a third defender stumbles with a clumsy challenge. Lavelle stays on her feet, but loses total control. A fourth defender finally pokes the ball away.
“Ugh, I should have fell there,” Lavelle said. “I should have taken the foul.”
“I just am never thinking ‘how can I draw the foul?’ I need to,” Lavelle added. “Pinoe will yell at me, like, they’re fouling you! Go down! But I’m always thinking if I can get to the ball I’m trying to stay up, but I need to be better. If I get clipped in the heels and it’s going to make me fall down, it’s okay to fall down!”
This game came just a month after Lavelle made her USWNT debut. It was clear she had something different to offer to the group, this clip a microcosm of it with tantalizing dribbling and technical ability.
Lavelle has since accrued 88 national team caps and hopes to add more next month.
The My Game In My Words series is part of a partnership with Google Pixel. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
(Photo: Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images)
FIFA referees to announce VAR decisions over loud speaker at Women’s World Cup
By Meg Linehan and The Athletic Staff Jul 5, 2023
FIFA referees will announce VAR, video assistant referee, decisions over the loud speaker during games at the Women’s World Cup this summer, FIFA said in a news conference Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:
- This was previously done at the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco and the U-20 World Cup in Argentina but this is the first time it is being used at a senior World Cup tournament for men or women.
- FIFA said this ruling is part of making decisions more transparent.
- In January, football’s lawmakers agreed to trial broadcasting explanations of VAR decisions to the crowd and television at FIFA tournaments over the next 12 months.
- FIFA has no plans to extend the information given live surrounding the decision-making process itself — only the decision itself will be broadcast.
- FIFA not considering referees being available after the game to explain their decisions to press
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
How has VAR changed?
VAR was introduced at the Women’s World Cup in 2019, but memories of the execution were not overwhelmingly fond. Reviews were lengthy and goalkeepers were learning in real time how to approach penalty kicks lest they be penalized. To be fair, FIFA adjusted mid-tournament, and the process did get better by the time the knock-out stages hit, but it was not a clean first look at VAR at the Women’s World Cup. Most of what we’ll see four years later will already be familiar, like lengthy stoppage time similar to what we saw in Qatar that allows for substitutions, celebrations and time wasting. But this is the first time we’ll get live, in-game announcements of VAR decisions like we see in the NFL. FIFA has already tested it in the Club World Cup in Morocco and the U-20 World Cup in Argentina, but this is its biggest rollout yet. Hearing right from the match official in the moment will be a massive step up from a few words flashed on the screen, and while it might not stop displeased fans from making their opinions known, it should be a key step forward in transparency. — Lineham
LAFC “pissed off” as slump continues with El Tráfico defeat
Dylan Butler Wednesday, Jul 5, 2023, 02:25 AM
LAFC have gone from a team on the brink of being arguably the greatest in Major League Soccer history to one in a serious slump.Just a month ago, LAFC were in the Concacaf Champions League final, 180 minutes away from a first-of-its-kind Supporters’ Shield-MLS Cup-CCL treble over the span of eight months.But they lost to Liga MX’s Club León and have now dropped eight of their last 11 games in all competitions. A 2-1 defeat Tuesday night to the LA Galaxy in front of an MLS record crowd of more than 82,000 at the Rose Bowl marked LAFC’s third consecutive league defeat.“We’re still not firing at full strength. It will come, but I don’t think that’s exclusive to LAFC,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said after the El Tráfico setback.“That’s a lot of clubs right now who are missing players. It’s a tough stretch for us, a lot of games, but we’ll get through it. I think if we continue to work on our effectiveness in our own end, not giving up soft goals and making sure that the chances we do get are finished with goals, we’ll see happier times here at LAFC.”LAFC were without defenders Aaron Long (Gold Cup), Sergi Palencia (injury), Jesus Murillo (injury) and Diego Palacios (suspension) for their derby clash and there’s “expectable and logical fatigue,” according to Cherundolo from their deep run in the CCL.
Still, he said, LAFC didn’t play a complete 90 minutes against the Galaxy in Matchday 23.
“I didn’t like the defensive performance in the first half. In the second half, I was very pleased with the performance with and without the ball and in transition, we created a lot of moments for us. Didn’t quite execute perfectly in those moments, but we were very close. Set pieces were better in the second half,” Cherundolo said.“A much-improved performance in the second half. But at this level, you need to play 90 minutes that way in order to come away with a victory.”The rivalry defeat was LAFC’s ninth in 20 all-time El Tráfico matches. While Cherundolo bristled when told the Galaxy have gotten the upper hand in the rivalry, he also acknowledged how much the defeat stings.”These games mean a lot and I’m pissed off, but that’s okay that it hurts and we’re upset,” he said. “It should motivate us moving forward and it will.”Still, despite their current poor run of form, LAFC are in third place in the Western Conference table, three points behind leaders St. Louis CITY SC.While rest would be nice, Cherundolo said there’s just one thing that can cure LAFC’s woes. Their next opportunity to accomplish that comes Saturday evening when welcoming the San Jose Earthquakes (10:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass)“I think we need points. Wins is the only thing that can correct your course and to gain confidence,” he said. “That’s the best medicine there is. We’ll work over the next couple of days to field a team to do that. So I think that’s our main focus right now is San Jose Saturday. Nothing else matters.
“… We need to get through this next game with three points. That’s very important for us.”
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WATCH: LA Galaxy win El Tráfico before 82k+ at the Rose Bowl
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