US Men vs Esbekistan Sat 5:30 pm, Tues vs Oman 8:30 pm on TNT
Excited to see our US boys – as the US plays friendlies Sat and Tues while Europe has Euro’s Qualifications, Africa has the African Cup and South America does World Cup Quals over the next week. Can’t wait to see Paredes and Cardoso and Malik Tillman along with newcomers Drake Callender & Ben Cremaschi from Inter Miami. It will be interesting to see if GB starts the regulars or mixes in some of the kids in the starting line-up. I like Tillman or Johnny Cardoso to slide into the midfield while Adams is still out hurt, while I think Scally slides in on the right back slot as he’s starting in Germany. Here’s my line-up for Sat evening.
Of course Pulisic has been killing it for AC Milan since arriving – he has 2 goals and an assist and is a vital cog in the attack – Milan sits tied with Inter at the top of the table in Italy after their huge win over Roma and Mourino.
US Roster (new players bolded)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Drake Callender (Inter Miami), Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)
DEFENDERS (9): Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg), Tim Ream (Fulham FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham FC), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional), Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin), Folarin Balogun (Arsenal FC), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Tim Weah (Juventus)
US Ladies – Ertz & Rapinoe to Play last games Sept 21 in Cincy/Sept 24th in Chicago
Julie Ertz announces she will retire from soccer at the Sept 21st game in Cincy vs World Cup Quarterfinalist South Africa. Tix are still avail for that game down in Cincy on a Thursday night 7:30 pm.
MLS – Messi
How about the scene last Sunday night in LA – as all the stars came out to see the GOAT and he did not disappoint as Miami beat the defending Champs 3-1. Can Miami really come back from 11 points back to make the playoffs now that Messi is there? He thinks so they are closer to the top of the MLS power rankings? Now the real champ of Miami might be Messi’s personal bodyguard – check this out. Of course Messi scored the lone goal for Argentina vs Ecuador last night. Read more Messi below.
Indy 11 Unbeaten Streak Extends to 6 games
Indy Eleven defeated The Miami FC, 1-0, on Saturday night at home to extend their unbeaten streak to six games. The Indy win moves the team to11W-9L-8D, and moves them clearly into playoff contention. Next, Indy Eleven will travel to New Mexico United for a 9:00 p.m. ET kickoff on Friday, September 15 on ESPN+ for the first game of their two-game road trip. The next home game for Indy Eleven is Sunday, September 24 against Rio Grande Valley Toros FC.
At 6-0-1 the Carmel Boys are up to #1 in the Nation now on Max Preps and tops in the state while the Carmel ladies are #2 in the state, #6 in the Nation at 8-0-2. The Boys host Pack the House night Friday night and all Carmel FC and Carmel Dad’s Club players get in free when you wear your jersey.
Congrats to the 2011 Girls Gold Team Premier Cup Tourney Champs. Great job ladies and coaches (Left Matt Sinex, Right Paul Cullington. Good luck to all the Carmel FC teams in Pike Fest this weekend – see you on the fields.
Former Carmel FC player Ellie Cirrincione after her 2nd assist of the season for Huntington University. Ellie, a sophomore, is the daughter of former longtime Carmel FC and Current Carmel High School Freshman Coach Jen Cirrincione.
GAMES ON TV
Fri, Sept 8 – Euro Qualifying
12 noon FS2 Georgia vs Spain
12 noon beIN sport Egypt vs Ethiopia African Cup
2:45 pm FS2 Turkey vs Armenia
7 pm Uraguay vs Chile
Sat, Sept 9 – Euro Qualifying
9 am FS2 Azerbaijan vs Belgium
12 noon FS2 Ukraine vs England
2:45 pm Fox Soccer+ Romania vs Israel
5:30 pm TNT, Telemundo USMNT vs Ezbekistan
7:30 pm MLS Pass ATV Inter Miami vs Sporting KC
8:45 pm Apple TV Minn United vs New England
10 pm TUDN Mexico vs Austraiia
10:30 pm Apple TV MLS Portland vs LAFC
Sun, Sept 10 – Euro Qualifying
9 am FS2 Kazahstan vs Norhern Ireland
12 noon FS2 Finland vs Denmark
2:45 pm FS2 Albania vs Poland
3 pm beIN sport Gambia vs Congo
10 pm El Salvador (Eric Zavaleta) vs T&T
8 pm Apple TV MLS LA Galaxy vs St Louis City
Mon, Sept 11 – Euro Qualifying
12 noon FS2 Armenia vs Croatia
2:45 pm FS2 Portugal vs Luxembourg
Tues, Sept 12 –
12 noon FS2 Spain vs Cyprus
2:45 pm FS2 Scotland vs England
8:30 pm TNT, Tele USMNT vs Oman
10 pm Peru vs Brazil
Fri, Sept 15
2:30 pm ESPN+ Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen
3 pm ESPN+ Champ Southampton vs Leicester city
7:30 pm Para+ Racing Louisville vs Houston Dash NWSL
9 pm ESPN+ New Mexico vs Indy 11
Sat, Sept 16
9 am Para+ Juve vs Lazio
12 noon Para+ Inter Milan vs AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah)
Thur, Sept 21
7:30 pm TNT, Uni, Cock USWNT vs South Africa Cincy Ertz Last Game
Sun, Sept 24
5:30 pm TNT, Uni, Cock USWNT vs South Africa Chicago Rapinoe last game
US Men
From no Reyna to surprise picks, USMNT roster shows new reality Jeff Carlisle EPSN le
Just a number: Age doesn’t bother U.S. vet Ream Jeff Carlisle
American’s Overseas – Turner Shines, Pulisic wins again, Aaronson assist
McKennie has ‘point to prove’ in Juventus return
USMNT forward Pefok joins Gladbach on loan
Indy 11
Boudadi Named to USLC Team of the Week
Quinn Named to USL Championship Team of the Week
MLS
MLS power rankings
MLS Power Rankings: Cincy retakes top spot, Miami marches on yan Rosenblatt
Can Messi lead Inter Miami to MLS Cup Playoffs?
International break could disrupt Inter Miami’s good vibes
Lionel Messi grabs 2 assists as Inter Miami beats reigning champions LAFC in Los Angeles
How good is Lionel Messi? He may lead Inter Miami from worst to first in one season
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami put on a show in stunning victory over LAFC
10 games, 11 goals: is Messi still brilliant or is MLS defending terrible?
Riqui Puig and new Galaxy players return to action with shutout of Fire
Sounders Give Game to Portland with Red Card
Landon Donovan’s San Diego Loyal to shut down after 2023 season
American Gen-Z Soccer Fans Like MLS More Than Other Soccer Leagues
World
Ukraine vs England: When is Euro 2024 qualifier and how to watch
Cristiano Ronaldo declares his rivalry with Lionel Messi ‘is over’
World Cup qualifying: Why Brazil look shaky, and Messi & Co. better than ever Luis Miguel Echegaray
US Women, Ladies World Cup, NWSL
Spain coach Vilda fired amid Rubiales scandal
‘I can walk away with no regrets’: US soccer great Julie Ertz announces retirement
Julie Ertz, a two-time World Cup champion, announces retirement from professional soccer
Spain coach Vilda fired amid Rubiales scandal
Racing Louisville, North Carolina Courage advance to NWSL Challenge Cup final on Saturday
Wave move into first place in NWSL with 1-0 home win against Dash
Why Laura Ricketts jumped at the ‘opportunity to have a culture change, to really write a new chapter’ as owner of the Chicago Red Stars
Goalkeeping
Miami’s Calender with the Save vs LAFC
Is it Fractured or Broken? YourVeryOwnAthleticTrainer.com
Reffing
Become a Licensed High School Ref
Become a Licensed Ref with Indiana Soccer – must be over 13
Listen to the Ref Anthony Taylor mic’d up talking to VAR
Can Berhalter really lead the USMNT to its best World Cup?
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentSep 6, 2023, 09:44 AM ET ESPN FC - In Gregg Berhalter’s first big interview since he was rehired as U.S. men’s national team manager, he put down a lofty marker for the 2026 World Cup. His goal, he told Vanity Fair, “is for us to go to a round that no U.S. team has ever gone to.”Wishing for it is one thing, but getting there will be a massive undertaking.Technically, reaching a new frontier at the World Cup would mean reaching the final, given that the U.S. made it to the semifinals of the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1930, where it was routed by Argentina 6-1. If one limits his statement to the modern era — loosely defined as starting in 1990, when the U.S. men qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 40 years — that means reaching the semifinals.For the sake of argument, let’s say that was what Berhalter meant, and reaching the semifinals is certainly possible for this U.S. team. It’s arguably as talented a group as the USMNT has ever had, and it’s not unheard of for a wild card to reach the semifinals of a World Cup. Turkey and South Korea did it in 2002. Morocco did it last December in Qatar. The U.S. will also benefit in 2026 from what will undoubtedly be some vociferous home support at American stadiums.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga & more (U.S.)
There is certainly nothing wrong with Berhalter stating such a lofty aim — it fits with the culture of the team and the country. But possible doesn’t mean likely. A number of things will have to line up for the U.S. to reach that goal, some of which Berhalter can’t control, such as player health and a favorable path through the tournament.So, the question remains: What can Berhalter do now to give the U.S. a better chance of getting there?
Berhalter said he has met with U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker to work on a plan to move the team forward. Yet this query is especially pertinent when it comes to the team’s attack.Reaching the round of 16 in Qatar, where the U.S. fell 3-1 to the Netherlands, was a respectable showing, but it was not a tournament in which the Americans showcased a sufficient level of attacking prowess. There was little to quibble about in terms of the U.S. team’s approach work — the U.S. averaged 187.75 touches in the attacking third per 90 minutes in the tournament, good for sixth place among World Cup teams — but in terms of creating quality chances, the U.S. was lacking.
The U.S. team’s xG, or expected goals, per 90 minutes of actual playing time (which includes stoppage time) was 0.91, a mark that ranked 22nd in the tournament among all 32 teams, and 12th out of the 16 teams that reached the knockout stages. The fact that the U.S. under-performed that mark by scoring just 0.67 goals per 90 minutes of actual playing time didn’t help. We’re talking about a small sample size against some of the world’s best teams, but even when the eye test is applied, the U.S. couldn’t be confused with an offensive powerhouse.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- Just a number: Age doesn’t bother U.S. vet Ream3dJeff Carlisle
- From no Reyna to surprise picks, USMNT roster shows new reality8dJeff Carlisle
- USMNT forward Pefok joins Gladbach on loan7d
When asked how Berhalter and the staff will move the U.S. attack forward, assistant coach B.J. Callaghan said one way to do that is play a variety of opponents.
“I think each challenge that the opponent brings is going to dictate sort of how you can create chances,” he said on a conference call with reporters. “So the more experience that we can give these core group of players playing against a diverse schedule of opponents, I think will teach us and give us ideas on how to advance that attack against different types of setups.”
With no World Cup qualification for the U.S. during this cycle, the schedule is bound to be less Concacaf-heavy. That will be in stark contrast to the 2022 cycle — from the start of 2019 onward the U.S. played 43 of its 56 matches against Concacaf opponents. In particular, the U.S. team’s participation in next year’s Copa America, against the best of South America, will offer the kind of competition outside of the USMNT’s home region that it rarely sees.
But that will take the Americans only so far. Of greater benefit will be a couple of personnel switches — including some new players coming in and moving familiar names into new roles.The arrival of Folarin Balogun amounts to an immediate upgrade in the striker position. The expectation is that the threat provided by his mobility, and runs off the ball will open up space for the likes of Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah, and his 21 goals in Ligue 1 last year with Stade de Reims shows he’s capable of scoring in a highly competitive league (though he did underperform his xG last season of 27.2). A move to a bigger club in AS Monaco is the next step in his development.Jeff Carlisle reflects on the notable additions and absences to the USMNT roster heading into the September international window.That said, Balogun alone won’t solve the USMNT’s issue of creating quality chances. In the aftermath of the defeat to the Dutch at the World Cup, Berhalter said, “We don’t have a Memphis Depay right now, who is scoring goals in the Champions League, and playing at Barcelona and has been an international for years and years.” The U.S. also didn’t have a Denzel Dumfries, who had a goal and two assists on that night, either.
The U.S. still doesn’t, but there is upside to the attack by positioning Gio Reyna in a central attacking role, instead of out wide, where he was for almost the entirety of the 2022 cycle. It was a move that Callaghan made during the Concacaf Nations League last June, and the U.S. looked much more dynamic in attack.
The next step is to see how it works against higher quality opponents, but even that seemingly obvious move carries with it some uncertainty.
First, there is the thawing of the relationship between Berhalter and Reyna that needs to take place. It’s easy to think they’ll agree to put the past aside and move on, but what transpired, and as public as the fallout was, will leave scars for both individuals. The extent to which healing will take place is still an unknown at this point. Berhalter said recently he still hasn’t spoken to Reyna since the ordeal unfolded.
Then there is the question of whether Berhalter will actually move Reyna to a central attacking role once the latter is back to full fitness. During the past week’s conference call with reporters in which the current roster was announced, Berhalter called the midfield triumvirate of Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah “a tremendous engine that we were able to take advantage of” during the past cycle. Reading the tea leaves, it doesn’t sound like continuing with that trio in midfield — when they’re all healthy, it should be noted — is something that Berhalter has moved on from just yet.
Switching the team’s formation to a 3-5-2 could alleviate that issue in that it would allow Reyna to play as a second forward off Balogun. It suits some of the team’s other personnel as well. Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest and Weah have the skill-set to play as wing backs, and Chris Richards, Miles Robinson and Tim Ream are comfortable enough on the ball to play in a three-man back line.”For us, I think it’s more about just the general philosophy of how we want to be playing, and what we’re trying to do,” Berhalter said. “We want to be aggressive. We want to be high pressing. We want to be able to control the ball. And I won’t really get caught up on the formation. If it means that one can’t [play a certain way] because this is the personnel that we have, we need to play with three in the back, then we’ll do that.”I think that’s the beauty of the time between camps: you have the opportunity to plan what’s most effective for this given opponent. Ideally, I’d like to go into the next World Cup having a back three system and a back four system in place.”
Such an approach would require Reyna to enjoy something that’s has eluded him for much of his professional career: an extended period of durability and health. And even if he can, it might not be enough. Other players like Adams and Pulisic will need to stay healthy as well, all of which speaks to the small margins that separate success and failure at the international level.Progress is also rarely linear. Expectations were high back in 2006 coming off the U.S. run to the quarterfinals in 2002, but a difficult draw that saw the U.S. grouped with the Czech Republic, Ghana and eventual champions Italy — coupled with key players like DaMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan and John O’Brien not reaching the heights of 2002 — saw the U.S. get eliminated in the group stage.This U.S. team is deeper now than that 2002 edition, but the rest of the world hasn’t been standing still either. So, while Berhalter’s stated goal is clear, the pathway isn’t. The onus will be on Berhalter to find a way.
U.S. Soccer names Marko Mitrović coach of U-23 men’s national team for 2024 Olympics
By Tom Bogert and The Athletic StaffSep 6, 2023
Marko Mitrović has been named coach of the U.S. under-23 men’s youth national team for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, U.S. Soccer announced Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:
- The 2024 Games will mark the American men’s first appearance at the Olympics since 2008 in Beijing.
- Mitrović first joined U.S. Soccer in April 2022 as the under-19 men’s youth national team coach.
- Michael Nsien, who has led the U-16 squad since November 2022, will replace Mitrović as the U-19 coach.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Who is Mitrović?
Finally back in the Olympics for the first time since 2008, the United States men’s soccer program has finally, officially, named a U-23 coach ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Mitrović will be well familiar with the player pool as he joined U.S. Soccer 15 months ago as the U-19 coach. His first U-23 camp will kick off next month during the October international break.
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The 45-year-old was an assistant for Serbia’s U-20 World Cup-winning side in 2015 and then spent four seasons as an assistant for the Chicago Fire under Veljko Panuovic. Mitrović also served as an assistant to interim USMNT coaches Anthony Hudson and B.J. Callaghan this spring and summer. — Bogert
Top players for the squad
Crafting an Olympic squad is tricky. Clubs aren’t mandated to release players and often the top age-eligible players have already graduated into the senior national team. Federations can also call three overage players to the roster. Senior USMNT regulars like Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun, Yunus Musah, Ricardo Pepi and Joe Scally are all eligible, but it remains to be seen which (if any) will be called and released.
Likely options behind the established stars include standouts from the previous U-20 World Cup cycle, including Chelsea’s Gaga Slonina, Frankfurt’s Paxten Aaronson, Philadelphia’s Jack McGlynn, Wolfburg’s Kevin Paredes, Atlanta’s Caleb Wiley, Salt Lake’s Diego Luna, LA Galaxy’s Jalen Neal, Benfica’s Josh Wynder and Hajduk Split’s Roksas Pukstas. Aaronson wasn’t released for the World Cup itself.
New York’s John Tolkin, though not eligible for the previous U-20 World Cup, is likely to be among the first-choice options for the Olympics. The same goes for Taylor Booth, Malik Tillman and Bryan Reynolds if released.
Other players have established themselves in the picture this year as well, like New England’s Noel Buck, Orlando City’s Duncan McGuire, Venezia’s Tanner Tessmann and Columbus’ Aidan Morris. — Bogert
What they’re saying
U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said Mitrović “was instrumental in guiding our rising talents” during his time with the U-19s.“We’re looking forward to him now leading our Under-23 Men’s Youth National Team as this age group provides these players with an incredible opportunity to continue their development by facing elite opposition on the world stage and competing for an Olympic world title,” Crocker said. “We’re also confident that Michael is ready to lead our U-19 age group, a critical level for our young players aiming to take the next step in their careers for club and country.”
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“It’s been an honor working for U.S. Soccer and I’m tremendously proud of the opportunity to lead the USA at the Olympics,” Mitrović said. “I’ve gotten to see first-hand the high-potential players rising through our development system and I’m excited for them to represent their country proudly on such an important stage. The Olympics will be a special platform for our players and I can’t wait to continue the preparations.”
Mitrovic hired to lead the Olympic team and faces inherent challenges building his team
U.S. Soccer has announced the head coach for the men’s 2024 Olympic team and it will go to Marko Mitrovic, who previously was the U.S. U-19 head coach. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta writes about the hire and the task at hand for the Serbian-American coach.
BY BRIAN SCIARETTAPOSTED SEPTEMBER 07, 2023 2:05 AM
THE UNITED STATES U-23 Men’s Olympic head coaching vacancy has been filled as U.S. Soccer formally announced that it has hired Marko Mitrovic for the position. The Belgrade native previously served as the head coach of the U.S. U-19 team.
Mitrovic, 45, rose through the coaching ranks working extensively with Veljko Paunovic. He was Paunovic’s assistant in 2015 with the Serbian U-20 team when it won the U-20 World Cup (narrowly defeating the U.S. team on penalties in the quarterfinals). He then was Paunovic’s assistant with the Chicago Fire and then Reading. In April 2022, he was hired as the U.S. U-19 head coach.
This will be the team’s first time in the Olympics since 2008. The 2012 failed to qualify under Caleb Porter. The 2016 team failed to qualify under Andi Herzog, and the 2020 team failed to qualify under Jason Kreis. This team qualified by virtue of the U.S. U-20 team’s performance at the CONCACAF Championships in 2022, led by coach Mikey Varas who is now a USMNT assistant.
In addition, U.S. Soccer announced that U.S. U-16 coach Michael Nsien would be elevated to the U-19 head coaching position.
THE OLYMPIC RULES
FIFA has already published its regulations for the tournament and here is what we know about it in terms of the rules.
- The age limit is for players born in 2001 or later. Essentially these will be players from the pool of the 2023 U-23 team and the 2021 U-20 team (which had its cycle canceled due to Covid).
- Releases for players are completely voluntary.
- Teams will be allowed to select three overage players, as has been historically allowed.
- The roster size will be 22 players, including three goalkeepers. Historically it had been 18 but FIFA expanded it to 22 for the games in Tokyo and will continue with that in Paris.
- The tournament will take place from July 24 through August 10.
- Venues will be in Paris, Nantes, Bordeaux, Lyon, Saint Etienne, Nice and Marseille.
CLUB COORDINATION IS KEY
Mitrovic will have several challenging tasks ahead of him. For one, the Olympics is not a tournament where player releases are mandatory. Typically, releases are more difficult the older the age group because players assume bigger roles within clubs as they get older. As a result, U-23 releases are harder than U-20 releases, U-20 releases are harder than U-17 releases.Mitrovic will not have a lot of time with his group either. Gregg Berhalter said there are U-23 camps set for October and November. In 2024, there will likely be camps in January and March before final preparations in the summer.
Mitrovic will most likely have to be very proactive with engaging with clubs to see which players are in positions where they will be released. Are some players at clubs which won’t even consider a release? Are some players likely to move in January or next summer and it’s completely up in the air? Are some clubs taking a wait and see approach to releases?
USMNT COORDINATION
Then, Mitrovic will also have to coordinate his roster plans with USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter because there will be significant overlap in the player pools for both teams. The U.S. team, of course, hosts and plays in the Copa America earlier in summer 2024 and that takes priority. It is hard to see any overlap between the rosters for the Olympics and the Copa America.Age-eligible players like Giovanni Reyna and Yunus Musah will almost certainly be focused on the Copa America and not the Olympics because they are big players with the U.S. team when healthy. But there are a significant number of players who could play with the USMNT but would be backups. If they were with the U.S. U-23 team, however, they would be starters. Some of the many examples would be Joe Scally, Kevin Paredes, Paxten Aaronson, Tanner Tessman, Ben Cremaschi, Cade Cowell, Johnny Cardoso, Taylor Booth, or even Ricardo Pepi.
Mitrovic will have to coordinate with Berhalter as to which players are focused with the USMNT and which players are available for the U-23 team.As a side note, two top age-eligible American players are not allowed to participate – Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun.
FIFA has a rule that states: “A player who receives a favorable change of association decision is ineligible to participate for their new [national team] in any competition (qualifiers or finals) in which they already represented their [former national team].” Tillman and Balogun represented Germany and England, respectively, in U-21 games that were part of UEFA Olympic qualifying. That prohibits them from playing for the United States in the 2024 Olympics.
OVERAGE PLAYERS
Once Mitrovic understands his player pool for players born 2001 and younger, he will have to decide on overage players based on where there are weaknesses from the age-eligible group. The overage players will also be looked to provide leadership. Release issues will be especially difficult for older players but typically this group is chosen from players who are established in their clubs and can miss preseason or midseason games.
Historically, the overage spots have been used on a goalkeeper, a central defender, and a striker. This team, however, could be in great shape for goalkeeping from young players. Central defense, however, is thin and two picks could be used there. Center forward is also a likely pick given the growing number of older options.
BOTTOM LINE
U.S. Soccer made a smart and pragmatic pick with Mitrovic. He is coming from within the organization, but he’s also done well with the U.S. U-19 team and was popular with the players. His teams generally achieved solid results and prepared players well for the U-20 team.
Given that the tournament is less than a year away and there will only be limited camps, Mitrovic has the benefit of knowing the player pool given his work with U.S. Soccer.But it’s a great opportunity for Mitrovic to lead the team in the Olympics for the first time in 16 years. Historically, the Olympics have been a very useful tournament for the men’s side of U.S. Soccer in terms of bridging the gap between youth and senior national team levels. Many players have used the Olympic cycle to springboard from being part-time USMNT players to becoming members of the team’s core.In 2000, Josh Wolff, Landon Donovan, and John O’Brien went from being occasionally used young USMNT players and into a core group for the 2022 World Cup. In 2008, Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber, Charlie Davies, Stuart Holden, Jozy Altidore, and Brad Guzan all took on bigger roles within the USMNT after the Olympics in Beijing.If Mitrovic is successful, we could see many players he works with in the coming months take on important roles with the USMNT as it prepares to host the World Cup in 2026.
Can Kristoffer Lund challenge Antonee Robinson for USMNT’s left-back role?
By Greg O’Keeffeep 6, 2023
He is a Dane who played in Sweden before moving to Italy and becoming American.
Kristoffer Lund’s story sounds like a riddle. Now, he hopes he can be the answer to Gregg Berhalter’s search for competition in the USMNT left-back slot.
The 21-year-old formally switched international allegiance last week, having represented Denmark through the youth international ranks.
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He has a Danish father and an American mother, allowing him to choose the U.S. as the country he wants to represent at senior level.
It is all change for Lund. He left Swedish club Hacken last month to join Palermo in Serie B and was included for the first time on the USMNT roster for the team’s forthcoming friendlies against Uzbekistan and Oman in St Louis and Minnesota this month.
“He’s been on our radar for the last two years,” Berhalter said. “We’ve been watching him play for his club, but before the last World Cup, I just didn’t think he was ready. Since then, he’s gone on to win a Swedish league, he’s got the transfer (to Palermo), and we think he could fill the void that we had at the left-back position, in terms of our depth.”
Lund, right, in action for new club Palermo (Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)
Berhalter said that while Antonee Robinson has been the clear starter and a “fantastic player” for the U.S., “no one’s really grabbed that second position and we’re seeing what he can do and if he can challenge for that spot”.
Truly challenging Robinson, a regular in big USMNT games for the past five years, is no easy task.
With his surging runs down the left, impressive attacking output and growing defensive nous refined by the experience gained from Fulham’s assured return to the Premier League last season, he is Berhalter’s clear first choice.
But Lund will hope he can do enough to prove himself an able deputy for the man five years his senior.
According to the Total Football Analysis website, he is “an attack-minded full-back who looked eager to drive forward and played some excellent crosses into the opposition box”. It notes his strength during build-up play and ability to “do a decent job of carrying the ball forward”.
“Lund seemed fairly sound on the defensive front, although he does show some frailties now and then,” the site’s analysis (based on tracking since 2022) adds. “He can be a little sluggish to close down opponents in the vicinity of his box, while he also gave away some cheap fouls on the flank. Despite this, he was excellent during most of his one-on-one duels and looked to make the most of his challenge inside the opposition half, which negated the danger of conceding free kicks close to his box.”
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Then there is The Athletic’s analysis, which further underlines Lund’s appetite for getting forward as an attacking threat — highlighted in the Smarterscout pizza chart below.
Smarterscout gives players’ games a series of ratings from zero and 99, a bit like the player ratings in the FIFA video games but powered by real data and advanced analytics. These ratings relate to how often a player performs a given stylistic action (for example, volume of shots per touch), or how effective they are at it (for example, how well they progress the ball upfield) compared with others playing in their position.
His standout numbers are his 99 score for receptions in the opponents’ box, showing how he likes to get forward compared to other full-backs (although, this is an exceptional jump on seasons before, when he scored 50 and 39), so a larger sample size of games for his new club Palermo would be required before assessing just how consistently attacking he is. Lund has played eight games this season – six European qualifying ties for Hacken and two Serie B fixtures.
In his two years in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s top flight, Lund registered 12 assists in 59 games.
His numbers suggest he is quite involved in build-up play (link-up volume of 84). Defensively, he is moderately active for such an attacking full-back (defending intensity of 45) but the data suggests he could be exposed.
Lund is on record about how he hopes to bolster that aspect of his game through the move to Italy.
“I’m here to improve and become a better player,” he told Italy 24 at his official unveiling in Sicily, the Italian island on which Palermo play. “Italy is famous for tactics and for the defensive phase.
“I have strength and speed and Palermo will help me improve the tactical part. I’m ready, I feel I’ve played well in Sweden and I’m in good shape. It’s difficult to find space in such a competitive team, but I want to prove my worth.”
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He could just as well have been referencing the task he faces at international level, too, with that surprise call-up offering the previously little-known defender a chance to carve a place in the squad before the Copa America next summer and a World Cup on home soil in three years.
But if there were any nerves or jet lag this week as Lund tried to acclimatise before training sessions with Berhalter’s squad, a calming nightcap would not have been on the agenda. His nickname at Hacken may have been Tuborg, after the Danish beer brand, but that is as far as it goes.
“I’m not a big beer person,” Lund said. “I think it’s for my Danish — and then we’re good at drinking beer in Denmark.”
At least, as he settles in with his new USMNT team-mates, he has a track record for good first impressions.
“An opportunity arose in a young and inexperienced left-back from Denmark who had just changed clubs,” Hacken’s sporting director Martin Ericsson, told the club’s official website.
“After a meeting with the player, we made the decision to make the transfer rather quickly.”
Lund will hope his early exchanges this week with his latest new coach have a similarly convincing effect.
Greg O’Keeffe is a senior writer for The Athletic covering US soccer players in the UK & Europe. Previously he spent a decade at the Liverpool Echo covering news and features before an eight-year stint as the paper’s Everton correspondent; giving readers the inside track on Goodison Park, a remit he later reprised at The Athletic. He has also worked as a news and sport journalist for the BBC and hosts a podcast in his spare time.
Inter Miami & Lionel Messi: Can they make MLS Cup Playoffs?
MLSsoccer staff Wednesday, Sep 6, 2023, 12:48 PM
Will Inter Miami CF and Lionel Messi actually pull it off?
We’re talking about reaching the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, a feat that’s looking more likely by the day (though by no means is guaranteed) as the GOAT has North America by storm since his mid-July debut.
Whether you’re an MLS expert or experiencing MLS for the first time (welcome!), let’s break down perhaps the question shaping the stretch run.
What are the playoffs? How do they work?
While most professional soccer leagues crown their champion via the overall table/standings, MLS utilizes a postseason tournament called the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
The top nine teams in each conference – Eastern and Western – qualify for the playoffs. Seeds get locked in after Decision Day, aka the last regular-season matchday on Oct. 21.
Once the bracket is set, teams compete to make MLS Cup presented by Audi on December 9 at a to-be-determined stadium (highest remaining seed hosts).
What do Miami & Messi need to do?
IMCF must climb to ninth place (or higher) in the Eastern Conference table, which would see them compete in the Wild Card round (held Oct. 25-26).
- Messi & Co. have nine games remaining to make up an eight-point gap, surpassing nine teams along the way.
- Current projections indicate the club will need roughly 18 points (six wins) from the remaining 27 available.
Helping Miami, they have anywhere from one to three games in hand on teams above them. That affords them some room for error, but not much. Somewhere around 43 points is historically good enough for ninth place (a playoff spot in this year’s expanded field).
International breaks and the jampacked nature of the schedule could hurt Miami, though. Head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino has noted Messi could miss up to three games as well, so depth will be tested.
When do Miami & Messi play?
Lionel Messi: MLS Regular Season games in 2023
| Date | Watch | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 26 at New York Red Bulls | MLS Season Pass | 2-0 win |
| Aug. 30 vs. Nashville SC | MLS Season Pass | 0-0 draw |
| Sept. 3 at LAFC | MLS Season Pass | 3-1 win |
| Sept. 9 vs. Sporting Kansas City | MLS Season Pass(7:30 pm ET) | TBD |
| Sept. 16 at Atlanta United | MLS Season Pass(5 pm ET) | TBD |
| Sept. 20 vs. Toronto FC | MLS Season Pass(7:30 pm ET) | TBD |
| Sept. 24 at Orlando City SC | MLS Season Pass, FS1 (7:30 pm ET) | TBD |
| Sept. 30 vs. New York City FC | MLS Season Pass(7:30 pm ET) | TBD |
| Oct. 4 at Chicago Fire FC | MLS Season Pass(8:30 pm ET) | TBD |
| Oct. 7 vs. FC Cincinnati | MLS Season Pass(7:30 ET) | TBD |
| Oct. 18 vs. Charlotte FC | MLS Season Pass(8 pm ET) | TBD |
| Oct. 21 at Charlotte FC | MLS Season Pass(6 pm ET) | TBD |
Schedule fast facts
- Miami have gone 2W-0L-1D in league play with their new-look roster, a pace that may just see postseason dreams come true.
- Of their nine remaining regular-season games, five are home at DRV PNK Stadium and four are away.
- All but one match is against an Eastern Conference team, creating a bunch of so-called six-pointers (i.e. big swings in the standings).
- Atlanta United away (Sept. 16), Orlando City SC away (Sept. 24) and FC Cincinnati home (Oct. 7) project as their hardest tests.
What happens if Miami & Messi qualify for playoffs?
They would likely slot into the Eastern Conference Wild Card matchup, either as a No. 8 or No. 9 seed. It would be a sensational turnaround, as Miami sat last (15th place) in the Eastern Conference before Messi joined and needed to make up a 12-point gap.
Check out the playoff schedule below, with a new Round One Best-of-3 series entering the mix in 2023.
- Wild Card matches: October 25-26
- Round One Best-of-3 series: October 28-November 12
- Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals: November 25-December 3
- MLS Cup presented by Audi: December 9
Wait, what about the Supporters’ Shield?
After the 34-game regular season (17 home, 17 away), the team with the most points is awarded the Supporters’ Shield. Note: This is different from MLS Cup and rewards longevity rather than the tournament-style playoffs.
Both trophies – MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield – have their merits, but the league title tends to carry more weight historically and in fans’ eyes. It’s also quite difficult to complete a Supporters’ Shield-MLS Cup double; only eight squads in league history have accomplished that.
Messi Mania goes to Hollywood | Messi Rewind presented by adidas
Messi Rewind presented by adidas has all the sights and sounds from Messi’s two-assist performance in Los Angeles.
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Current Time 0:00
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Duration 2:45
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Can Miami do it?
The odds aren’t in Miami’s favor – FiveThirtyEight, based on their statistical model, gives them a 4% chance of making the playoffs.
But the club’s transformational summer window – headlined by Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba – has turned them from looking destined for last place to storming up the table. Some stats that only bolster Miami’s case:
- Record with Messi: 7W-0L-4D across all competitions in regulation time, with the four draws turning into PK wins
- Messi’s production: 11 goals & 8 assists in 11 games
All that’s to say it’s a daunting task. But one or two losses, especially while players are away on international duty, wouldn’t be a death knell.
Don’t forget about…
Miami have already won their first-ever trophy this season, beating Nashville SC for the Leagues Cup 2023 title – a match that booked their 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup spot. Miami will also play for a second trophy on Sept. 27, hosting Houston Dynamo FC for the US Open Cup Final.
Even without playoffs, and mindful of where Miami started pre-Messi & Co., that has to be considered a success.
MLSsoccer staff –
Julie Ertz to play final USWNT match Sept. 21 vs. South Africa: What’s her legacy?
By Meg Linehan and The Athletic StaffSep 7, 2023
U.S. women’s national team legend Julie Ertz will play her final international match with the squad against South Africa on Sept. 21 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, U.S. Soccer announced Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Ertz, a two-time Women’s World Cup winner and two-time U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, announced her retirement from professional soccer on Aug. 31.
- She will be honored before the match, her final and 123rd career international appearance for the U.S.
- The USWNT will play a second match against South Africa on Sept. 24 at Soldier Field in Chicago, where Megan Rapinoe will cap her legendary career with the team.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What’s Ertz’s legacy?
Defensive midfielders don’t always get a lot of credit, but Ertz made sure everyone realized how important the role was during the 2019 World Cup. Her shift from center back to DM to center back again for this World Cup showed just how crucial she was to this era of the USWNT, and provided one of the bright spots for the team in New Zealand and Australia alongside Naomi Girma.
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Her legacy goes beyond the senior team though, as one of a few players who also won a youth World Cup with the under-20s in 2012. Best known for her physicality, her ability to shut down opposing players with a perfect tackle and her raging competitiveness, Ertz reflects this closing era of the USWNT’s dominance and ruthlessness — in all the best ways. While her return for the 2023 World Cup was a surprise one, her retirement had felt more imminent than most following the last Olympics. — Linehan
What Ertz said
“I expected to just walk away after retirement, but to have the opportunity to say goodbye to my teammates and the fans one last time is something special that many players dream of,” Ertz said in a statement. “I wasn’t expecting this honor so I’m very thankful to (interim head coach) Twila (Kilgore) and to U.S. Soccer for giving me the chance to close this chapter of my life with those who have made this journey so memorable.”
Backstory
Ertz, 31, has recorded 20 goals in her career with Team USA. She was named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year in 2017 and 2019, and helped lead the USWNT to World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. She also spent eight seasons in the NWSL, playing seven years with the Chicago Red Stars and most recently appearing with Angel City FC in 2023.
Ertz was sidelined for 18 months following the 2021 Olympics due to injuries and the birth of her son, but came back in time to play in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. She was named to the USWNT roster for April camp, less than a year after giving birth, and played every minute of the Americans’ four matches in New Zealand and Australia over the summer.
Following captain Becky Sauerbrunn’s injury that kept her off the World Cup squad, Ertz, known as a world-class midfielder, was tasked with playing center back for the Americans. After the team’s loss to Sweden in the round of 16, Ertz alluded to her impending retirement.
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“I think for me it’s just emotional because it’s probably my last game ever being to able to have the honor to wear this crest, so I think it’s just … it’s just tough,” Ertz said. “I feel like it’s just an emotional time. It absolutely sucks. Penalties are the worst. But it’s an honor to represent this team, and I’m excited for the future of the girls.”
Required reading
- USWNT veteran Julie Ertz retires, leaves legacy reflecting team’s dominant era
- Julie Ertz at center back for the USWNT might have been a shock, but it makes sense
56% of USWNT fans surveyed say team has fallen behind, 55% disagree with Carli Lloyd
Meg LinehanAug 22, 2023
It’s a nervy time for USWNT supporters. Vlatko Andonovski is out as head coach, Kate Markgraf is out as general manager — and there’s not much else actually known about the strategic plan for the women’s program under the guidance of U.S. Soccer technical director Matt Crocker at this time. Last week, we asked for your thoughts and opinions around the team following their round of 16 exit in the World Cup and your level of concern about the NWSL, youth national teams and more. Over 2,000 of you voted, and plenty of you had even more to say when we asked for your thoughts in your words. Here are the results of our USWNT survey.
So who’s the next USWNT head coach? We’re probably not going to know the answer for at least a month or two. Unfortunately, the leading choice for most of you — Sarina Wiegman — is very unlikely to depart her role with the Lionesses. And despite the loss in the final, her name is being linked to plenty of roles.
“I’m staying out of it,” Wiegman said last week. “I’ve heard it (from the press officer) but no, I’m with England and I’m really happy with England, and I have a contract until 2025.”
Laura Harvey, who has U.S. Soccer experience and just signed a contract extension with OL Reign, earned 27.5% of the votes, and 21.7% of those who took the survey either left this one blank or wrote in a name. Write-ins obviously didn’t pick up a ton of consensus, but San Diego Wave FC head coach Casey Stoney led this category with 11 votes, followed by Nigeria WNT manager Randy Waldrum with seven.
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Some of you also used the write-in to provide more specific plans, such as Laura Harvey coaching through the Olympics, then running a coaching search. It’s an interesting premise – figure out a short-term solution with a coach that most players know, considering the tight timeline until the next major tournament, then determine if it could also be a longer-term solution through the 2027 World Cup or if a fresh search is necessary. Is a plan like that fair to Harvey, who’d have to give up the Reign job for a far less secure role? Ultimately, a decision like that is up to her.
Our next question became a bit of a moot point by the time the survey went up, with general manager Kate Markgraf and U.S. Soccer announcing that she’ll depart her role at the end of the month. It’s clear from the survey results that most of you won’t mind that decision, with 73.8% of the respondents (1,945 for this question) voting that she should not remain as the head of the women’s national team program.
Markgraf’s departure is just another piece of the turnover across the federation’s sporting side. Crocker was hired earlier this year, following the departure of Earnie Stewart, but USMNT general manager Brian McBride also left the program. It should allow Crocker to design the sporting side in his vision, but one problem that this survey might reveal is that many of you have some questions about his ability to lead.
Now, we didn’t give folks the opportunity to write-in why that might be, but considering the number of strays USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter picked up in the final write-in question on the survey, there’s definitely some influence from the end result of the coaching search on the men’s side that appears to be carrying over.
Next up: the biggest problem for the USWNT right now — and while this was a write-in, there were three clear threads that you all agreed on: development, coaching and tactics. Many of you simply picked one of those three options and wrote it in as a single word. Injuries also got plenty of nods, but the big three came through time and time again, no matter if it was a single word or a whole paragraph of thoughts.
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Many of you also focused on the idea of the team’s identity. Here’s a sample of some comments from this question:
“No team identity in how they play. No structure, no system.”
“Playing style vs. identity. Who are they trying to be on the field vs. who they truly are.”
“They’re rudderless.”
And there were the big-picture thinkers, too. One person wrote, “U.S. Soccer/infrastructure. It isn’t a talent issue.” Another: “Fractured youth landscape.”
But maybe this one sums it up best: “Oof. I think the biggest problem is that there isn’t one thing.”
When it comes to leadership voices you want in the mix, regardless of roles, of the 945 write-ins we received, the ‘99ers and other former players absolutely led the way. We’ve seen their influence start to grow within the NWSL, especially across the ownership ranks of teams like Angel City FC and Bay FC, but it’s clear that there’s some real trust there on their voices at every level of the game. Brandi Chastain was the most common name across the board, but Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm also got numerous name-checks. Of the more recent generation of players, everyone from Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Becky Sauerbrunn, Tobin Heath and so on earned at least 25+ write-ins, but Carli Lloyd proved another popular pick. Lloyd had a number of people specifically saying she should not be a former player in the mix, however, unlike most others.
In terms of coaches, Laura Harvey got the most write-ins here with over 70, followed by former USWNT head coach Jill Ellis with over 60.
Back to Carli Lloyd for a moment. Her comments on the USWNT turned out to be one of the biggest storylines of the tournament, for better or worse, and the team pushed back on them during the tournament itself. Over 2,000 of you voted on this one, and it was a close vote — but 55.3% decided that they did not agree with her assessment.
On the matter of U.S. players needing to play their club soccer abroad to better challenge themselves, it seems like the public sentiment is turning here — a majority of you think that they should be looking overseas. USWNT captain Lindsey Horan is staying in Lyon, and midfielder/forward Catarina Macario made the move to Chelsea, alongside forward Mia Fishel with her transfer from Tigres.
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The competition for top talent is only going to get more heated, but in reality, this won’t be a one-size-fits-all approach for the U.S. talent pool.
Onto the NWSL — and yes, there’s some concern here about the league following this World Cup. It’s more than just the USWNT exiting in the round of 16 that should be ringing some alarm bells: other NWSL-heavy national teams like Brazil and Canada also underperformed in this tournament. Germany crashing out in the group stage helps prove that it’s not just about a single league or a single root cause, but 69.1% of you think that the NWSL should be considering its global standing moving forward.
And if the NWSL should be worried, there’s even more concern about the state of the youth national teams.
As a reminder, here’s what I wrote about the U-17s and the U-20s following the 0-0 draw between the USWNT and Portugal in the group stage:
The last time the U-20s won their World Cup was in 2012. Over the next three tournaments, their final placement got worse with each successive tournament: fourth place in Papua New Guinea in 2016 (losing to Japan), ninth in France 2018, 11th in Costa Rica 2022. The last two times, the U.S. failed to advance from their group.
It’s even rougher for the U-17s. Their best performance in the World Cup was in the inaugural one for the age group, in 2008 — held in New Zealand. The U-17s finished second there, but failed to advance from their group in 2016 and 2018 (finishing 10th and 13th place, respectively), and in the most recent U-17 World Cup, they lost to Nigeria in the quarterfinal for a sixth place finish.
Finally, the big one: has the U.S. fallen behind other nations when it comes to the performance of the women’s program? A slim majority voted yes.
Is it as clear-cut as a yes/no question on a survey? No, probably not. But this is a clear reflection of some of the nervousness surrounding the USWNT right now, whether that’s the performance of the team, the coaching, the tactics, or the pathway of development. As we’ve been saying for a while, there’s a lot on the table when it comes to fallout and fixes, and with England and Spain making the final, there are some easy comparisons to be made.
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And finally, we let you have the mic for any final thoughts, and most of you used it as a chance to push back on some of the yes/no nature of the questions, especially the last one.“The rest of the world is catching up AND the U.S. has fallen behind — it can be two things,” read one answer. On the same theme: “The rest of the world catching up is a good thing for the sport as a whole, and to me, that is much more important than the USWNT’s failure.” Another pushed back that this should even be considered a failure on that level: “USWNT dominated the world for 20 years. That’s DONE. Quit obsessing about it! This is NOT a failure. The women’s game is now just like the men’s — anyone can win. Good! This is sport.”
There were a number of comments here about youth development, particularly the pay-to-play model. “The system needs more openness,” one person wrote.
And some expressed frustrations with the lack of communication at this time from the federation. For instance: “Tired of the federation being invisible when the going gets tough… Crocker and (Cindy) Parlow Cone (U.S. Soccer president) should be doing a media tour right now talking about the ‘next stage’ for both the men’s and women’s program. Instead crickets.” As someone who wrote about the vacuum of information, timelines and process right now, I agree. And some of you left us with new questions to ponder. “The performances from 2011-2019 were the (outstanding) aberration here. The USWNT performed as expected this World Cup, and a loss in penalties is heartbreakingly normal for elite teams. The real question is: what took so long for the rest of the world (i.e. England, Spain), whose soccer institutions for men far out-date ours, to catch up to a country who mainstreamed soccer in the 1990s?”Over 2,000 votes later, we’re not any closer to knowing most of the true answers to these big-picture questions around the USWNT and the program as a whole, but the survey was revealing in showing how supporters and fans are thinking about the team in this moment, a few weeks out from the loss to Sweden.
(Photo: Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
Meg Linehan is a senior writer for The Athletic who covers the U.S. women’s national team, the National Women’s Soccer League and more. She also hosts the weekly podcast “Full Time with Meg Linehan.” Follow Meg on Twitter @itsmeglinehan
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