US loses to Panama – Must beat Uruguay Mon night 9 pm on FS1 and outscore Panama
Wow – so the US Is on the cusp of elimination in the Group stages of the Copa America with one game left vs Uruguay. A must win game on Monday night July 1st. By now you have all heard – the US went down a player when the normally stoic Tim Weah struck a Panama player in the head in the 19th minute of the game. Down a Man the US almost immediately scored a burner when Balogun scored this marvelous goal giving us a 1-0 lead. That should have been enough to get us thru – but alas the US gave up a goal 4 minutes later. Then the US tried to hold on to the tie – but just couldn’t get it done. Funny I remember a time when a US team could find a way to tie a game like this. But with our defense in shambles and horrific Goalkeeping – (amazing we don’t 1 GK in the country who can start in the EPL) all was lost. Berhalter switched formations at the half – going to a 5 man back line – which may have worked if the WORSE CENTER BACK of ALL TIME for THE US – CCV – Cameron Carter Vickers – wasn’t the guy in the center. After almost giving up 2 PKs – he then allowed his man to slide inside and score the winner in the 84th minute. I had an issue with the move when he made it –giving almost 90% possession to Panama and begging them to break us down – which they eventually did. Why not bring in Musah to give us more help moving the ball forward from the midfield – then he pulls Balogun the only guy threatening to score for the US. The real question now is can the Golden Generation who so loves their coach actually show up and win a game against a Real World Power in Uruguay. Sorry but I don’t this Golden Generation has a backbone – much less a coach who could win a rec league U9 Girls championship in Berhalter. I have not turned my back on Berhalter before – but if he can’t get us out of the Group he must go. Period – I don’t care how much these “talented” players love him.
So the reffing at the Euro’s has been – interesting. Not sure I am on board with VAR anymore – this funny ref exchange making light of the Dutch overturned goal vs Italy has to be the funniest thing I have seen this week. Cool Fans outside Argentina’s hotel get treated to birthday Cake from the team – on Messi’s Bday. Here’s the view as over 81K were on hand in New Jersey’s Met Life. Italy ties it at the buzzer to advance to the knockout Round – the commentary from that game was legendary. In league Play the NWSL’s KC Current just won their 17th straight a new record – and this happened in that last win at home – River Ball.
Shane’s Starters for US vs Uruguay
Haji Wright, Bologen, Pulisic,
Gio
Mckinney, Adams
Robinson, Ream, Richards, Scally
Horvath
The 26-player Copa América roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)
DEFENDERS (9): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic FC), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Tim Ream (Fulham FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham FC), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
FORWARDS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Tim Weah (Juventus), Haji Wright (Coventry City)
Indy 11 8 win streak broken, back next Fri on Wish TV 7:30 pm
Indy Eleven had its eight-match USL Championship win streak halted on Saturday as it fell to Western Conference opponent Orange County SC, 1-0. The Boys in Blue fall to 9-5-2 with the loss, while Orange County improves to 6-6-3.Following an open week, the Boys in Blue hit the road to face Rhode Island FC on Friday, July 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The match will air locally on WISH-TV and stream on ESPN+.
Carmel High Girls Soccer Camp July 22-25
2-4:30 pm @ Murray Stadium Register Here contact fdixon@ccs.k1.in.us for more info
TV GAMES SCHEDULE
Sat, June 29th
12 pm FS1 Euro Quarters Switzerland vs Italy
3 pm Fox Euro Quarters Germany vs Denmark
7:30 pm Ion Washington Spirt vs NC Courage NWSL
8 pm FS1 Argentina vs Peru Copa
8 pm FS2 Canada vs Chile
10 pm Ion Utah vs Portland Thorns NWSL
Sun, June 30
12 pm FS1 Euro Quarters England vs Slovakia
1 pm ESPN2 NY/NJ Gotham vs Seattle Reign NWSL
3 pm Fox Euro Quarters Spain vs Georgia
7:30 pm CBS Golazo+Para Angel City vs Orlando Pride NWSL
8 pm FS1 Jamaica vs Venezuela
8 pm Fox Mexico vs Ecuador
Mon, July 1
12 pm FS1 Euro Quarters France vs Belgium
3 pm Fox Euro Quarters Portugal vs Slovenia
9 pm FS1 , Univision USMNT vs Uruguay
9 pm FS1 Bolivia vs Panama
Tues , July 2
12 pm FS1 Euro Quarters Romania vs Netherlands
3 pm Fox Euro Quarters Austria vs Turkey
9 pm FS1, Univision Brazil vs Colombia
9 pm FS2 Costa Rica vs Paraguay
Thur, July 4
9 pm Fox Copa America Knockouts Argentina vs Ecuador
7:30 pm TNT, Universo US Women vs Costa Rica
10:30 pm Apple ? LA Galaxy vs LAFC – El Traffico MLS
Fri, July 5th
12 noon Fox Euro’s Germany vs Spain
3 pm Fox Euro’s Quarters Portugal vs France
9 pm Fox Copa America Knockouts Venezuela vs Canada
10 pm Amazon Prime Portland vs San Diego Wave NwSL
Sat, July 6
12 noon Fox Euro Quarters Switzerland vs England
1 pm ESPN Chicago Red Stars vs Houston Dash NWSL
3 pm Fox Euro’s Netherlands vs Turkey
6 pm FS1 Copa Quarters Colombia vs Panama
7:30 pm Ion KC Current vs Orlando Pride huge game
9 pm FS1 Copa Quarters Uruguay vs Brazil
10 pm Ion Angel City vs NY Gothem FC
July 24 starts US U23 Men & US Women In Olympics
(American’s in Parenthesis)
How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action
US Men
Copa América scenarios: How USMNT can reach the knockouts Jeff Carlisle Gregg Berhalter may be facing his last stand 2024 Copa América: Scouting Uruguay
Will the brutal heat at Copa America help decide the USMNT-Uruguay match? Jeff Carlisle
Copa América scenarios: How USMNT can reach the knockouts 1dJeff Carlisle USA-Panama Copa América Player Ratings Weah should be left off USMNT Roster moving forward – The 18 Nightmare in Atlanta Panama stuns USA with Copa America upset History: USA vs. Uruguay USMNT players targeted with racist abuse
US Women
Alex Morgan Left of US Olympics Roster
Opinion: The look of the USWNT Olympic Team is a cause for celebration
Meet the 18 on the US Roster
“If one can, why not more?”: USWNT’s Naomi Girma on Ethiopian pride and passion for representation
European Cup
Euro 2024: Stars have yet to shine — will they show up for round two?
5 key questions ahead of Euro’s knockout stages
Euro 2024 Golden Boot standings: Jamal Musiala, Cody Gakpo and others battle to be top scorer in Germany
Spain the team to beat? Chris Sutton predicts the last-16 matches at Euro 2024
‘Worst Italy team in a lifetime’ as holders limp out
🔬 The Debrief as Italy crash out and Germany march on in EURO
Spalletti: Italy Euro ’24 failure my ‘responsibility’
Denmark blast VAR for deciding Germany game11mMark Ogden
Germany survive Denmark scare to ease into QF 2hReuters
What’s behind Bellingham’s struggles with England at Euro 2024? ark Ogden and James Olley
Tactical breakdown: Where England are going wrong and how they can improve
Copa America
Downward spiraling Mexico faces early Copa America exit as Coach Jaime Lozano remains the optimist
Vinícius Jr. puts in best-ever Brazil performance in crucial win over Paraguay Tim Vickery
Goalkeeping
Georgia’s Mamardashvili makes 11 Saves
Italy’s Gigi with this save v Canada’s Crepeau saved the game
Venezuela Save vs Mexico in sold out Atlanta
Reffing
Should have been a PK for Vinicius
=======RackZ BAR BQ ====Save 20% ===========
(Photo: Brad Smith/Getty Images for USSF)
Looking for a good summer meal? Try out the Best BarBQ in Town right across the street (131st) from Northview Church on the corner of Hazelldell & 131st. RackZ BBQ
Save 20% on your order
(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!
======================RackZ BAR BQ ====Save 20% ======================
USMNT’s goalkeeper dilemma: Positive signs for Turner but will Uruguay come too soon?
Greg O’Keeffe Jun 29, 2024
Matt Turner had a bad feeling.That’s what he told TV reporters after a game that he had exited painfully, and thus increased the chances of the United States’ men’s national team doing the same from this tournament on Monday.A fractious night of drama in Atlanta spawned various concerning narratives around the hosts’ prospects at Copa America, but chief among them will be whether the 30-year-old can recover in time to face Uruguay.Turner was forced off with an injury that may yet cause him to miss the all-or-nothing final USMNT group clash in Kansas City.The good news is that early signs are positive and there is a belief around the camp that the Nottingham Forest man will be available. His left leg will be assessed over the next 48 hours.
Turner receives treatment during the Panama defeat (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
There is an argument to say, however, the robust challenge from Cesar Blackman — which was not punished by referee Ivan Barton — has already cost his team one goal. Turner seemed a split-second off when the same player beat him 10 minutes later and, unless he is moving freely by Monday, he cannot be risked against a team that just smashed five past Bolivia.It’s important to note that shot-stopping is one of Tuner’s main strengths and those familiar with his overall game would have expected he would get a glove on a shot that close to him, after he had made two small shuffling steps towards his right in anticipation before Blackman struck. It is also possible that his reactions were slower due to the ball coming through team-mate Chris Richards’ legs as he and Tim Ream faced up to the Panama midfielder.
Blackman’s strike just evaded Turner (Eduardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images)
Either way, it was costly for the U.S. but not as costly as Panama’s second. Enter Ethan Horvath, who also should have done better with the Jose Fajardo strike that condemned the U.S. to defeat. It was a rocket but it was straight at him.
The man who started last season at the same English club, Nottingham Forest, as his compatriot, could now face the challenge of replacing him from the start against Uruguay.Neither man had an especially fun season in England. Turner lost his place to January signing Matz Sels, while Horvath was left out of Forest’s squad for the entire season despite helping Luton Town into the top flight during a loan spell in 2022-23.
It has not deterred Gregg Berhalter from retaining them in the international fold but Turner is his locked-in number one. Horvath has not started for his country since a friendly win over Oman last September.He has come from the bench to be a saviour before, however. Now the Colorado native will hope to recapture the defiant spirit of his penalty save in the 2021 Nations League final. Back then he replaced the injured Zak Steffen and saved a penalty save in second-half stoppage time, in extra time, to thwart Mexico and bring the silverware home.At the Mercedes-Benz stadium on Thursday he could not manage to male a similar impact. But if called upon he can take heart from the second half of last season, when he joined Championship club Cardiff City and wrestled the starting spot from Jak Alnwick.
After joining the Welsh club permanently in January, Horvath did not look back, starting each of their remaining 16 games from February onwards and keeping four clean sheets.
Turner will be desperate to play. After all, everything is on the line for the USMNT. He has, though, already spoken of how his experience in the game has prompted him to listen to his body and put that ahead of his desire to push himself through the pain barrier.
Before the Qatar World Cup in 2022 he missed three fixtures for then club Arsenal. Turner had strained his groin during a training session the morning of Arsenal’s Europa League match at PSV Eindhoven in October. He had been set to start, but ended up pulling out. He remained out for Arsenal’s next two contests, including a Europa League match on November 3 against Zurich.
Scans taken the following day confirmed the strain. Had he tried to play in the match, Turner would’ve run the risk of injuring himself far more seriously. But it was “one of the hardest things” he has ever done. As the backup at Arsenal, Europa League contests were his only opportunities to play, while missing any matches ahead of the World Cup meant less game action for him when he was trying to get sharp for Qatar.“I actually was like on the border of tears,” he told The Athletic in 2022. “I know that sounds a bit soft, but I’ve never had to do that before. I’ve never had to really listen to my body and feel like maybe it wasn’t the right move to push through something, because I’ve pushed through many injuries in my career, many little nicks that might have held someone else out, that’s never been my M.O.“So to go against everything that was ingrained in me and look out for myself was challenging, and that can be hard in professional sports.”Everyone around the U.S. camp will hope he is not facing a similar dilemma ahead of Monday night.(Top photo: Eliecer Aizprua Banfield/Jam Media/Getty Images)
Are the USMNT out of Copa America? Scenarios after Panama defeat
By Ben Burrows and Michael Dominski Jun 27, 2024
The USMNT suffered a shock defeat to Panama at Copa America on Thursday to leave their chances of progression beyond the group in doubt.Folarin Balogun had given the tournament hosts the lead with his second goal in as many games at the competition before Cesar Blackman equalised.The U.S. had earlier been reduced to 10 men after Tim Weah was sent off for an off-the-ball incident.ose Fajardo stunned the home crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta with an 83rd-minute goal to ultimately win it before a chaotic ending with Adalberto Carrasquilla also dismissed for a late challenge on Christian Pulisic.The result now leaves Gregg Berhalter’s side with work to do to qualify for the knockout phase.
So, are the USMNT out?
No, but they have work to do.The defeat against Panama likely now leaves them in need of a positive result against Uruguay on Monday night if they are to have any chance of advancing to the quarterfinals.
What do they need to do?
For the USMNT to advance to the knockout phase, their result against Uruguay in their final group-stage game must match or better Panama’s result against Bolivia.
- If Panama beat Bolivia, the U.S. must beat Uruguay and will then depend on goal difference (the first tiebreaker)
- If Panama and Bolivia draw, the U.S. would advance with a win or a draw
- If Bolivia beat Panama, the U.S. would advance with a win or a draw, while a loss would leave goal difference as the determining factor
Panama will be favorites to beat Bolivia given they are ranked 41 places higher by FIFA, soccer’s governing body.They are also unbeaten against Bolivia in their past four matches, last losing a game to the nation in August 2008.
What are the tiebreakers?
In the event of a tie on points at the end of the group goal difference is the first tiebreaker before goals scored and then head-to-head record.
A team’s disciplinary record can ultimately be used to split a tie before the drawing of lots.
- Points obtained in all group matches (three points for a win, one for a draw, none for a defeat);
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Number of goals scored in all group matches;
- Points obtained in the matches played between the teams in question;
- Goal difference in the matches played between the teams in question;
- Number of goals scored in the matches played between the teams in question;
- Fewest red cards;
- Fewest yellow cards;
- Drawing of lots.
What now?
Monday, July 1
USMNT vs Uruguay (9pm ET, Arrowhead Stadium)
Bolivia vs Panama (9pm ET, Inter&Co Stadium)
U.S. men’s soccer team’s Copa América on precipice of disaster after 2-1 loss to Panama
Tim Weah’s reckless red card early in the game sent it cascading toward a defeat that makes Monday’s group stage finale vs. star-studded Uruguay a must-win – especially for manager Gregg Berhalter.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/pmn/VFKIUOEU6BDFVOLAEQELEKMSVM.jpg)
If you don’t take care of the things that are within your control, you’re even more susceptible to things beyond your control.
It’s an eternal lesson in soccer, and one the U.S. men’s national team needed no reminding of heading into Thursday’s Copa América group stage game against Panama. But it bit them anyway, because star forward Tim Weah’s reckless red card early in the first half sent the game cascading toward a 2-1 U.S. loss in Atlanta.
A soap opera of a first half started in the fifth minute when Weston McKennie scored off a free kick play, but it was called back on a video review because Tim Ream was offside in the buildup.
In the 12th, U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner was slammed into by César Blackman, with American defenders Antonee Robinson and Ream heading in their direction. Blackman was not sanctioned beyond the call of a regular foul.
And in the 16th, Weah swung a fist at Panama’s Roderick Miller off the ball. Referee Ivan Bartón initially gave Weah a yellow card, then upgraded it to a direct red after a video review.
» READ MORE: Christian Pulisic led the U.S. to victory over Bolivia in its Copa América opener
It was a shocking lapse of judgment from Weah, one of the Americans’ top stars, and TV viewers at home saw a replay that made the contact clear. He will miss the Americans’ group stage finale against Uruguay in Kansas City on Monday (9 p.m., FS1, Univision 65, TUDN, ViX).
“He apologized to the group, and I think he understands what a difficult position he put the group in,” U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter said. “Nonetheless, it happened and as a result, we lost this game. And we’re going to have to move on and figure out how to win the next game.”
It was already going to be not just the Americans’ biggest game of the tournament, but their biggest game since the 2022 World Cup. Uruguay is a soccer powerhouse, with stars at both ends of the field who’ve made the Celeste one of the favorites to win the tournament. They dismissed Panama 3-1 in their opener, then routed Bolivia 5-0 on Thursday.
If the U.S. fails to advance out of the group — and a tie vs. Uruguay wouldn’t be enough if Panama beats Bolivia — the already-loud chorus of calls for Berhalter’s dismissal will grow even louder.
“That’s what we want to do,” Berhalter said of the Uruguay game, “but pressure is part of what we sign up for. That’s part of this job. Representing your national team is a tremendous honor, and there’s a lot of expectations that come along with it.”
» READ MORE: Fox’s Stuart Holden puts USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter on the hot seat going into the Copa América
Balogun scores another big goal
Not long after Weah’s ejection, Folarin Balogun swung momentum back to the U.S. in the 22nd minute with a dazzling goal off a give-and-go play with Robinson, delighting the crowd of 59,145 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
But Blackman tied the score four minutes later with a low shot that evaded Turner’s dive. One can wonder if the effects of that collision hindered Turner’s reaction.
BALOOOOOOGUN!!!! 🇺🇸🚀
What a BEAUTY for the @USMNT to take the lead 🖼️✨ pic.twitter.com/Q0qqKR6Epp— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 27, 2024
The first half remained testy, with nine fouls called on Panama and three on the U.S. by Salvadoran referee Ivan Bartón at intermission. Robinson was booked in the 33rd, and Panama’s Eduardo Guerrero was booked in the 45th.
Balogun came closest of anyone to scoring in the rest of the period, hitting the crossbar in the 48th, though he was offside.
Turner departed at the start of the second half for Ethan Horvath, one of three changes U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter made at that point. Turner was diagnosed with a left leg injury.
Centerback Cameron Carter-Vickers replaced attacking midfielder Gio Reyna, and defensive midfielder Johnny Cardoso replaced Tyler Adams in a like-for-like swap.
The moves shifted the U.S. into a 3-5-1, with the hope that outside backs Joe Scally and Robinson could provide just enough spark from wide roles to spring Balogun or Christian Pulisic for a goal.wo strokes of luck go unusedDisaster nearly struck in the 63rd when José Fajardo went over a slide by Carter-Vickers in the 18-yard box and hit the deck. Bartón initially signaled for a penalty kick, but the video review officials told Bartón to take another look. He saw there wasn’t much contact, and reversed the call.Balogun was subbed off in the 72nd minute for Ricardo Pepi, not long after Balogun whipped a tough-angle shot just wide of the far post from the left side of the 18-yard box.Pepi had a big chance in the 81st when Weston McKennie served him up a cross from the right side, but he headed it softly and straight at Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.Two minutes later, Fajardo made the U.S. pay dearly for it. Abidel Ayarza jumped on a loose ball on the right side of the 18-yard box, sent it toward Fajardo, and he thumped it past Horvath.
The Americans got lucky when Panama’s Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla was ejected in the 88th for tackling Pulisic from behind. But the Americans couldn’t find another goal, with McKennie coming closest on a header of a free kick in the 94th.
“It was an extremely disappointing result, but the effort was there,” Berhalter said, “and if we put in the same type of effort in this [next] game, in terms of the work, effort, and the togetherness, we’ll have a shot to beat Uruguay. We know it’s going to be difficult, but we’re going to give it our best.
» READ MORE: This Copa América is on track to make more money than the last edition in the U.S. did
PANAMA TAKES THE LEAD 🇵🇦😱
José Fajardo puts Panama on top in the 83rd minute
The Panama game was an important test for this USMNT generation – and they failed
By Jeff Rueter Jun 28, 2024 The Athletic
We’ll get to the Panama game in a bit, but first, think back to December 2022.The United States men’s national team had just been eliminated from the World Cup by the Netherlands, losing in the round of 16 by a 3-1 margin. A nation was looking for answers: why couldn’t Gregg Berhalter’s side get the job done?“When you look at the difference between the two teams; to me, there was some offensive finishing quality that we are lacking a bit,” Berhalter said of the second-youngest squad among the 32 in that tournament. “It is normal. We have a very young group and they are going to catch up to that.”
Ah, youth. There’s nothing more exciting in soccer than the concept of potential; the promise that for as good as a player or team may be now, just wait until they find their sea legs. With experience is supposed to come the intangibles that round out an athletic skill set. These are often the traits that turn a good player into a great one: an erudite reading of the game or an otherworldly ability to anticipate the opponent’s next move, to cite a pair.
Still, it can be an underwhelming silver lining to fixate upon after a team is eliminated in a World Cup. Those only come around every four years and besides, there’s no guarantee that a player, much less a collective of them, will have squatter’s rights over national team spots as younger alternatives rise through the ranks.
At a certain point, a person or a team has to show that the proverbial “teachable moments” from past hardships have resonated and will inform better decisions thereafter.hich brings us to Thursday night in Atlanta.For a quarter of an hour, the USMNT was up for the challenge. Panama represents the type of foe that Berhalter’s side would welcome in these circumstances. In this all-Americas edition of the Copa America, ostensibly the CONMEBOL (South American) championship, one would think it’s better to face a CONCACAF rival you play regularly than one from a different confederation altogether.After the final whistle, with his team having suffered a 2-1 defeat, Berhalter and his players repeatedly cited their familiarity with Panama. They knew Panama was a team that would play with chippiness in every action. They knew what Panama was all about and knew the approach they would take in hopes of shocking the tournament hosts.It begs the question: if you knew where the opponent would lay its traps, why did you end up ensnared by one entirely of your own creation?
(Eliecer Aizprua Banfield/Jam Media/Getty Images)
Since taking over in 2018, one of the hallmarks of Berhalter’s USMNT tenure has been his ability to stymy, overcome, and eventually run laps around Mexico. For decades, those two teams have fought for supremacy in CONCACAF’s balance of power. As nations such as Costa Rica or Canada enjoyed strong stretches this century, their success was contextualized vis-a-vis the region’s twin powers.The framing does a disservice to the rest of CONCACAF, a sort of soccer classism built on past pedigree and fame surrounding a nation’s top players. The nature of a group draw, offering every team its next three opponents, inevitably fixates on the perceived “toughest” opponent in the three matches, regardless of their spot in the queue. So when you’re focused on a game against Marcelo Bielsa’s high-flying Uruguay at the end of the group, you risk overlooking the teams you fear less.Teams like Panama.Even after watching the highlight of Tim Weah’s 18th-minute red card offense a dozen times (or, perhaps, especially after watching it so often), it’s tough to fathom his decision-making. Before and after the match, the United States emphasized they knew Panama would tap into the dark arts to wrestle control over the game.
The thing is, this wasn’t one of those cases. It wasn’t a response to a scything tackle or an incisive elbow behind the referee’s back. It was retaliation for an otherwise nondescript off-ball bump between a defender primed for a challenge and an eager attacker. For that to be the series of events that allowed Panama to play over 70 minutes with a man advantage? It undermines claims of “knowing” what to expect.
Well, maybe that’s unfair. There’s knowing what’s coming and then there’s planning accordingly. The latter part is of greater importance.
(Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
To be fair, the gamesmanship the United States claimed to have expected did present itself.
Chief among the examples was the 12th-minute challenge by Cesar Blackman that saw the Panama player clatter into a defenseless Matt Turner in mid-air without making a serious nod toward the ball. Goalkeeper Turner suffered a knee injury in the process, which may have limited his mobility when Blackman placed an equalizer into the net just 14 minutes later.
ADVERTISEMENT
Of course, Blackman escaped the collision without seeing a yellow card, but that’s another story.
In a cruel twist, the player who seemed poised to bring the “offensive finishing quality” that Berhalter longed for in 2022 did his part. Even after Weah’s red card and before Blackman’s goal, Folarin Balogun opened the scoring with the kind of attempt that only a special striker could confidently convert.
(Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
The USMNT fought valiantly in the second half after Berhalter made a trio of adjustments to replace Turner with a fresh goalkeeper, withdraw one midfielder to add another defender, and swap out defensive midfielders to ensure stability. In theory, a 1-1 draw would have done wonders for the hosts, putting them on four points and Panama on one with one game each remaining.
What the USMNT needs to qualify for Copa America quarterfinals
Eventually, Panama’s extensive ownership of possession (74%, or 72% when only considering touches in each attacking third) gave them enough time to turn one point into three. As Christian Pulisic succinctly put it after the game, “it’s not so easy to keep the ball” when you’re playing with one man less. Panama created its best chance of the game in the 80th minute and didn’t waste it.
Weah’s teammates and coach were quick to mention that the Juventus man was contrite after the match, relaying that he’d apologized for his action and the disadvantage it caused. Seemingly, he’ll soon have another chance (whether in the knockouts or after this tournament) to make things right — as others of this generation, including Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie and Sergino Dest have done following their own incidents on and off the pitch.
For now, however, the damage is done. Weah’s ill-advised shove gave Panama an advantage it may not have needed but certainly relished. Tyler Adams referred to Weah’s infraction as a “lesson” to reflect upon for the future. Pulisic assured us that Weah is “gonna learn from it”.Haven’t we heard this before? Given how infrequently the USMNT can schedule friendlies against teams outside of CONCACAF, is there any excuse left for not having some level of mastery over the finer points of playing rivals within your confederation?How can a team expect to outfox Uruguay, or one of Brazil or Colombia in a potential quarterfinal — to say nothing of the broader field at a World Cup — if it frequently falls victim to the opponents it knows best?
‘Finally ripping off the band-aid’: Breaking down USWNT’s Olympic roster and Alex Morgan’s snub
By Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin Jun 28, 2024 The Athletic
On Wednesday, U.S. women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes named her 18-player roster for the 2024 Olympics this summer as well as four alternates who will travel with the squad in France. USWNT stalwart striker Alex Morgan was nowhere to be found.
Instead, Hayes opted for youth, with eyes toward developing the game in the U.S., naming the youngest Olympic roster for the USWNT since 2008, when the team won gold in Beijing, China. The decision was bold and a little shocking considering Morgan’s long reign as both a leader and face of the team, but not one that the newly-appointed Hayes can’t justify.
“I saw firsthand not just her qualities, but her professionalism. Her record speaks for itself,” Hayes said. At the same time, she acknowledged the constraints of the 18-player roster, with spots for only 16 field players.
Why Alex Morgan missed the USWNT Olympic roster
The current roster has an average age of 26.8, four years younger than the team that went to Japan for the previous Olympics in 2021 and had to settle for a bronze medal. More stark, though, is the difference in caps per player — at those pandemic-delayed Games three years ago the average was 111; for this team, it is only 58.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Looking through the cap accumulation of the team, there’s been a lack of development, of putting some of the less experienced players in positions where they can develop that experience,” Hayes said. “I think it’s important that we do that to take the next step. So I’m not looking backwards.”
The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin discussed Morgan’s exclusion and analyzed the entire roster on the dedicated women’s soccer podcast Full Time with Meg Linehan. Listen in full to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or read the edited conversation below.
https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/2MK6CUjaPQAIJTW50LKH0s?utm_source=generator
Why was Alex Morgan left off the Olympic roster?
Tamerra Griffin: After much anticipation, we have our 18-player, plus four alternates, roster for the Olympics in France. Roster drops always feel like a mini-holiday in the women’s soccer community, because we all know what’s coming. Everyone is seated. We know who these players are. Meg, obviously the biggest headline of the story is actually who wasn’t on this roster: Alex Morgan. What were your first reactions when you saw that?
Meg Linehan: We knew the starting forward line of this team no longer included Alex Morgan. So the question was, was she in contention for a role as a substitute? Obviously, we now know the answer, but Hayes also did not select Morgan to be an alternate, the alternate is Lynn Williams in the forward position. I described it as finally ripping off the band-aid. There has been such a journey for this team. I feel like I’ve been writing about it for three years, like an entire cycle of the swapover from veteran talent to youth. And it’s like this was the last major piece to that puzzle. So my first thought was: ‘She did it.’
Griffin: I remember after those friendlies against South Korea (at the start of June), just thinking about, even in the form that Alex was in, having to manage injuries and wanting to stem off potential additional injuries, thinking about what she offered the team in that role. I think probably the most notable was the fact she’s able to absorb both pressure and physicality.
Morgan has shifted from a goalscorer to someone who can pull defenders in and absorb pressure (Harry How, Getty Images)
Linehan: That has been ‘the Alex Morgan role’ since 2019, essentially: sacrifice her body, pull defenders, and set up other players. It’s not necessarily a goalscoring position for her anymore.
Griffin: That being said, when I think about her contributions, I don’t think they even carry the same significance now that they have in the past, because when we look at the other players named to this front line, particularly Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman, Hayes, in her press conference going over the Olympic roster, talked about the natural telepathy between Swanson and Smith. We see the impact that they have, the intuitive way in which they play, it’s fluid. It almost feels like they are speaking a different dialect of language. And it’s great because that makes them that much more lethal collectively, but it’s also hard to kind of get into that conversation if you don’t know how to speak that language, and that’s sort of how I’ve been feeling about Alex the last few games.
ADVERTISEMENT
Linehan: I also just think other teams know that that’s her role now, right? How do you drag defenders if everybody knows that’s your role? There is that sort of fluidity and the three of them are good at playing off of each other, but then take a step back and whether it’s Jaedyn Shaw at the 10, Cat Macario at the 10, Rose Lavelle at the 10, there is this sense that you’ve got a forward line that’s essentially four players deep at that point.
For me, the two biggest reasons Morgan would have been considered for this roster were not necessarily tied to what she offers on the field. I think they were about intangibles. I’ve had this conversation with athletes that are Olympians in other team sports, who have always spoken about how you need a big veteran presence. This is something I find fascinating, because it does transcend sports, where you want that one key person where, even if they’re on the bench, they are there as that leader, that sort of calming presence; someone that could go in the dying moments of a game and you trust that person to make something otherworldly happen. I do think Morgan still has a lot of that weight to her, whether that goes back to the 2012 Olympics or not.
But you listen to Hayes in her press conference on Wednesday and it’s very clear that that did not justify her inclusion on the roster. Hayes clearly respects Morgan as a person, as a player. She respects her legacy, but that is not in her vision for this Olympic team right now.
Griffin: Absolutely. When you think about an 18-player roster, versatility has to be within your top three priorities. I think that is one of the reasons we saw Crystal Dunn listed where she was. You can play her anywhere. She is like a dream roster player for a tournament like the Olympics, but Crystal also brings her own veteran experience. She’s only one cap off Lindsay Horan, who’s the most-capped player. You have other players like Alyssa Naeher, Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett, who also have experience playing in these big tournaments and can offer that grounding presence you mentioned.
Linehan: I do think at some point you also have to let Lindsey Horan be captain. If you have named Lindsay Horan captain, then Lindsay Horan needs to be captain, and not have this presence that’s either beside her at the same level but not with the title. We’ve also heard from Hayes during the South Korea friendlies that Naomi Girma may be next in line, so allowing Girma to develop as a leader plays a part in it as well.
Girma also plays alongside Morgan on the San Diego Wave in NWSL (John Wilkinson, Getty Images)
Griffin: You could choose to be conservative just because it’s a big tournament, it’s going to have a lot of visibility, or you could choose to sort of put your head down, stay focused on the big picture and work toward that (development of the next generation).
Linehan: But we’ve seen what happens when a head coach is conservative, right? Vlatko Andonovski had been conservative with both the 2021 Olympic roster and the 2023 World Cup roster. We saw the results of that and what happened. I think there was this sense of, again, ripping the band-aid off. It’s going to be deeply unpleasant in the moment and then expose you up to air and healing and moving forward. It’s all the same.
Analyzing USWNT coaching decisions during early World Cup exit
You cannot let history and legacy determine the team’s future. There’s a way to both honor everything Morgan has done for the USWNT and understand also that Hayes has made a decision and we don’t know right now if it’s going to be the right one or not. We also have no idea what Morgan would have done in the Olympics if she was going.
Should Korbin Albert be included?
Griffin: Someone who was very much on the bubble for reasons that have to do with her performance on the field and her activity off of it is midfielder Korbin Albert. I have so much to say about this, and I’ve had time to gather my thoughts because this has been an ongoing issue now for a few months. Meg, what statement do you think U.S. Soccer, and Hayes specifically, is making with this decision to include Albert on the roster?
Linehan: I asked Hayes about Albert and I’ve got some skin in the game on this conversation. So I asked her about Albert and she went much longer than I anticipated. It is worth listening to her full answer.
USWNT coach on Korbin Albert: ‘I think she’s had a really, really tough time’
Hayes came into this situation after the original incident had happened, after the fallout. So it is a little bit different than a coach who has managed this from the beginning.
I understand the instinct to want to defend a young athlete. I will be completely honest, the part where I really struggle is: yes, I think we’re being a little reductive by saying ‘social-media activity’ as a shortcut. It’s been so long since this started that we all kind of shorthand what happened because it’s the fastest way. I think sharing those posts did result in harm to queer communities, but also the part that I still struggle to get over is that a current player of the USWNT had liked posts about a player getting hurt. That’s the part I truly struggle to get over. That’s the part where, ‘How are you on this team?’. I’m only scratching the surface here. Something happened externally and was public, the conversations with the USWNT have been kept internal. We are being told, time and time again, that Albert is working on herself, and that part has not really been made public by her.
Griffin: I think that’s a huge problem, honestly. Because when you look at the USWNT, what they’ve been able to accomplish, the history they’ve made, the risks they’ve taken to fight for equality, to shed light on the joys of representing and belonging to and fighting for marginalized communities to pivot this way, and as you said, off the back of a very blatant interaction with a social media post that showed support of a player experiencing harm, the same player, Megan Rapinoe, who was at the forefront of so many social-justice movements, and somehow I feel like that is not the thing that gets discussed.
Albert adds a depth option in midfield for the U.S. (Harry How, Getty Images)
Everything is getting couched under ‘social-media activity’. The issue I take with that is social-media activity, as a phrase, has sort of been used as a shield to the values that informed the social-media activity. Hayes mentioned having conversations with Albert about the implications of making certain decisions around social media, but are those conversations also including the implications of having those beliefs in the first place? Beliefs are the root of the problem, and I don’t think we can expect real sustainable change or progress to be made if we’re not addressing the root of the problem.
And yes, we’ve heard work so many times whenever we discuss this that the work is being done in private. I respect privacy, but at some point you are going to have to both embrace what this team means, and has meant, to queer communities, and the responsibility that they embraced in this moment. It’s not just about wearing a Pride jersey, that is the manifestation of a lot of work. I’m not seeing that and that concerns me.
Linehan: It is a very messy situation. And when we talk about it, it is hard to get into this level of nuance beyond a longer format conversation. My job also is to report the news. So my job is to say, ‘Here’s what Hayes said’, and not necessarily throw my personal opinions in there. But I do think that when this first went down and Rapinoe saw it and reacted on social media, her big focus was, ‘I need you to think about the real-world implications of what your words are doing on this world.’
I think this impulse for Hayes to say, ‘I want the fans to embrace her’ is putting the onus on the wrong people. The fans will embrace her when they see that public accountability finally happen. You cannot just say, ‘Hey, everybody. Please be nice to Albert right now and don’t boo her, because she feels really bad and she’s really struggling.’.
We’re missing steps six through 10 that need to happen before Albert is going to be embraced like that. And I think we shouldn’t rule that out. I think there may be a universe in which she says, like, ‘Hey, listen, this is what I did. And this is what I learned.’ It’s going to be a slow thing and you cannot force it.
Griffin: The problem with that is that the more time this takes, the higher the expectation I think a lot of people are going to have about the extent of the work that she does publicly. People need to see that and they deserve to see that.
ADVERTISEMENT
But this is all off-the-field stuff. To be honest, I still have questions about whether you can separate the two, I personally don’t, because I believe the personal is political, but since we have discussed off the field, we also need to talk about her performances on the field and whether those even merited a spot on this roster. I’ve watched her at PSG (France’s Paris Saint-Germain) and she’s been impactful. For country, she’s solid. Her contributions haven’t inspired much excitement for me, but I am confused, even when we’re just looking at form, how she was able to make this roster.
Linehan: Hayes talked about Albert’s versatility. She could play any three of the midfield spots. Her best position is the No 8 role, according to Hayes, so I think she is kind of there as a direct replacement for Lindsay Horan. I do think that the other factor in this is Sam Coffey being maybe a little bit questionable. To be fair, Sonnett can also slot into that defensive midfielder role. So I do think that they already had a little bit of coverage there, but in my brain, I think that’s how it got justified.
Coffey was named to the Olympic roster despite recent minor injuries (Brad Smith, Getty Images)
Coffey has been dealing with this week-to-week ankle injury. They want to make sure that the midfield is as strong as possible. When you have Morgan out of the picture and Dunn listed as a forward, that does offer you an extra midfield spot. I had Albert as one of the alternates.
With Olivia Moultrie also injured, that is actually probably who I think it would have also been an option. But, again, the injury picture for the USWNT is always a factor. So, when you think about who the midfield alternates are (Croix Bethune and Hal Hershfelt), neither of those players have actually stepped on the field for the USWNT. Albert having 11 appearances, playing Gold Cup, playing in SheBelieves, I do think she ultimately becomes the only option for that final midfield spot.
You can listen to Full Time with Meg Linehan free every week on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you usually listen.
(Top photo: Brad Smith, Getty Images)
Euro 2024 verdict so far: Most boring team, favourite kit, best fans – and who will win it
By Oliver Kay, Matt Slater and more
Jun 29, 2024
29
Follow live coverage of Switzerland vs Italy and Germany vs Denmark at Euro 2024 today
Who will be crowned champions of Europe in Berlin on July 14? What made you feel warm and fuzzy during this European Championship’s group stage? If you had to wear one Euro 2024 kit every day for the rest of your life, which would it be, and why?
ADVERTISEMENT
These are all very important questions that need answering, we are sure you’ll agree.
Six of our writers give their verdicts on the group phase and look ahead to the knockout rounds starting today (Saturday) in Germany…
Who will win this tournament, and why?
Seb Stafford-Bloor: Spain. They have a bit of everything: pace, skill, flair — and it’s all supported by dependable world-class players. Anyone who beats them will probably win the tournament.
Jacob Whitehead: Spain — their strength in depth was shown against Albania, and in Nico Williams, they have the player of the tournament so far.
Carl Anka: Germany. The hosts have the most tactically-adept coach, a fluid front four and great options off the bench.
https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/1cMGLdv6EnCK1oYtFNs3Nr?utm_source=generator
Oliver Kay: I’m sticking with France, even though they’ve been poor so far and they are on the tougher side of the draw. Why? Quality and know-how.
James Horncastle: Seb’s gone for Spain so… Austria were my dark horse before the tournament. They’ve exceeded expectations, and shouldn’t fear England and Italy in their half of the draw.
Matt Slater: It’s coming home… if football was invented in Spain. No, that’s too obvious. It’s coming home.
Who will win the Golden Boot, and with how many goals?
Stafford-Bloor: Jamal Musiala (Germany). Five.
Whitehead: Niclas Fullkrug (Germany). Four goals, all off the bench.
Anka: Fullkrug. Six.
Kay: Kylian Mbappe (France), four.
Horncastle: Musiala, four goals.
Slater: Harry Kane (England), four.
What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen at Euro 2024?
Stafford-Bloor: Cristiano Ronaldo missing the best own goal of the tournament because he was mid-tantrum.
Zeki Celik and Altay Bayindir chase after Samet Akaydin’s errant backpass (Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images)
Whitehead: A glum Scotland being serenaded out of their base camp by the world’s jolliest oompah band after elimination.
Anka: A Scotland fan telling his friend, “When this gets to 2-0, I’m going back to town”, in Frankfurt’s fan zone on day one of the tournament. He stuck to his word, too.
Kay: Seeing people queue for a photo with a full-kit-wearing Cristiano Ronaldo lookalike who, up close, looked more like a cross between Alvaro Morata and John O’Shea.
Horncastle: Remember that scene from one of The Matrix movies about cursing in French being the best? What about a Frenchman cursing in English? Willy Sagnol’s use of the word ‘tw*t’ was magnifique.
Slater: While watching a freestyler in the Cologne fan zone before England-Slovenia, a fan behind me said, in broad Geordie, “Someone two-foot the flash git.”
If you had to wear one Euro 2024 kit every day for the rest of your life, which would it be, and why?
Stafford-Bloor: Germany’s away pink. Everyone here is wearing it and I just really want to fit in. Also, I’m really into using e-scooters, particularly at night on the streets around Munich, so… visibility.
Whitehead: Portugal away. Feels weirdly smart, but also frivolous. My girlfriend is unlikely to accept this, but once expressed an admiration for the tiling in Lisbon.
ADVERTISEMENT
Anka: France away. The pinstriping is lovely and I reckon it would match well with a nice blazer and linen trousers.
Kay: Netherlands away. The Athletic’s Nick Miller likened it before the tournament to the pattern you’d find on the seats of a rural bus. Very much like my wardrobe, then.
Wout Weghorst, Netherlands’ No 9, did not delay his impact at Euro 2024 (Joosep Martinson – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Horncastle: Italy home and France away are perfect, but I’m a sucker for a cultural motif like the Azulejos (famous ceramics from the city of Porto) detailed on Portugal’s second shirt.
Slater: Carl has already nabbed France away and we can’t go out wearing the same shirt, so I’ll go for Georgia’s home one. I love a bit of Macron.
More on the world of football kits…
- Nike’s disappearing boot deals
- The secretive, and surprising, world of printed Premier League shirts
- Why U.S. investors have bet £30m on retro football shirts
- The best and worst Euros kits of all time
Who is the player at this tournament Europe’s biggest clubs should be tracking?
Stafford-Bloor: Turkey’s left-back Ferdi Kadioglu, of Fenerbahce. Skilful and smart with the ball, resilient without it. Terrific. Perhaps there are flaws, but I have not seen any in their first three games.
Whitehead: Georgia and Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is already being tracked — but should be boosted. Outstanding in all three games, with good distribution.
Anka: Mamardashvili, 23, is going about his business like a young Manuel Neuer or David de Gea. The jury’s out on his distribution but he’s a tremendous shot-stopper.
Kay: It’s an obvious one, but Nico Williams. He’s already at a big club, Athletic Bilbao, but the 21-year-old Spaniard is certain to attract interest from higher up the food chain.
Spain’s Nico Williams serves notice – his €55m release clause looks a transfer bargain
Horncastle: Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori is a Kappa anthem jacket away from being the identikit major-tournament Italy centre-half.
Calafiori carrying the ball out of defence for Italy (Claudio Villa/Getty Images for FIGC)
Slater: Going last isn’t doing me any favours (I spotted Mamardashvili, too!). I like Romania’s Andrei Ratiu of Rayo Vallecano in Spain and David Strelec, who still plays in his native Slovakia for Slovan Bratislava… but “biggest clubs”? A stretch. I’ll go for England and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
Tell us one thing that has made you say ‘Wow!’ — or a ruder variation of ‘Wow!’
Stafford-Bloor: Probably the atmosphere in Munich’s Marienplatz on the opening day (hosts Germany beat Scotland 5-1 in Munich that night). It was one of those ‘Welcome to the tournament’ moments that set a tone which has lasted throughout.
Whitehead: Mattia Zaccagni’s late equaliser for Italy against Croatia — an Alessandro Del Piero-esque finish that knocked out the great Luka Modric from what was probably his final major tournament.
ADVERTISEMENT
Anka: Georgia fans singing their national anthem before facing the Czech Republic. Players and fanbase beaming with pride. They partied hard in Hamburg all night afterwards, too.
Kay: That run of dramatic, late, winning goals, some of them spectacular, and the noise that greeted them. A welcome reminder of how much international football means, particularly to smaller countries.
The aftermath of Cenk Tosun’s late winner for Turkey against the Czech Republic (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Horncastle: Honestly, it’s my colleague Pol Ballus telling me, in the car back from Gelsenkirchen, that Lamine Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui, is 34 years old. Check out his Instagram. Incredible content.
Slater: The flash of lightning that seemed to hit the Frankfurt Arena during the Romania-Slovakia game, which was plenty loud enough already.
England will…
Stafford-Bloor: Go far. Tournaments are about surviving, rather than playing well. England need fear to perform. There is plenty of that around the corner.
Whitehead: Lose in the quarter-finals to an Italy side who aren’t actually as bad as their defeat by Spain made them appear. It’s feeling like Euro 2012 again.
Anka: Have a workman-like win against Slovakia in the round of 16 before losing in the quarter-finals. Gareth Southgate and Kane will both hang it up after that.
Is Euro 2024 Southgate and Kane’s last dance? (James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Kay: Beat Slovakia (I think). Beyond that, nothing would surprise me. They’ve been miserable, but the draw is now favourable. They might only have to achieve competence, rather than brilliance, to reach the final.
Horncastle: Never learn.
Slater: Most likely annoy, depress and infuriate me, as they have done so many times before, but now that I have set my expectations so low, who knows, right?
Which team have been the most fun to watch?
Stafford-Bloor: Slovenia’s organisation and willingness to work for one another has been compelling. They are also a better team than assumed and have already shown themselves capable of attacking in neat, well-built counters.
Whitehead: Georgia. They play like bullfighters, though with less ethical questions: waiting until the final moment before shuffling the ball away with a flash of their blood-red cloak.
ADVERTISEMENT
Anka: Jacob has already said Georgia, so I’ll nominate Albania. A hard-working, hard-running, counter-attacking team you wish had a little more guile in front of goal.
Kay: Spain have played some lovely football, built around the wing play of Yamal and Williams. They also take risks and leave gaps at the other end, which is fun.
Lamine Yamal, 16, is lighting up the tournament (Alex Pantling – UEFA via Getty Images)
Horncastle: Spain. They do that Top Gun thing: “I’ll hit the brakes and they’ll fly right by.” I remember Lorenzo Pellegrini sliding in so fast on Yamal, only for him to lift the ball over the Italian.
Slater: I haven’t seen Spain in the flesh yet, so I’ll let the others praise them. I enjoyed Musiala, Toni Kroos et al against Hungary, and Romania are bags of fun.
Which team have been the most boring to watch?
Stafford-Bloor: England. The standard of performance was bad enough, but the noise they have inspired has been — as it always, always is — deeply tedious.
Whitehead: All of Group C. It would have been Serbia, but at least they scored a last-minute equaliser, so England get a special mention.
‘It’s a snoozefest’: What Europe thinks of Gareth Southgate’s England
Anka: Poland have struggled in the entertainment stakes since beating Switzerland in the round of 16 at the Euros eight years ago. Robert Lewandowski or bust has finally run its course.
Kay: The easy answer is England, but at least they’ve tried to keep the ball and tried to attack. Scotland, having done so well to qualify, left their ambitions in the overhead locker when they flew here.
Horncastle: I want to know at which point the England fan who woke up in the early hours in Gelsenkirchen’s Arena AufSchalke fell asleep. I’m guessing it was half an hour after England kicked off.
Slater: England, by miles. The Denmark game was so bad it conned me into thinking the Slovenia game that followed was OK. But Scotland’s insipid display against Hungary warrants a mention.
Which team has had the most ‘unusual environment‘?
Stafford-Bloor: I’ll always remember Serbian players shouting at one another about rhythm and positioning during their game with Slovenia, while manager Dragan Stojkovic was doing tricks with the ball in his technical area.
Whitehead: The Netherlands, mostly because Ronald Koeman has been insulting his players in interviews every five minutes. Check out poor Joey Veerman, who he subbed off in the 35th minute against Austria.
Ronald Koeman ‘encouraging’ Cody Gakpo (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Anka: Watching England games with German commentary/pundits puts into perspective how odd and over the top we can get about them.
Kay: It’s been strangely meltdown-free. I’ll say England. By the upbeat standards of the Southgate era, the vibes from the camp haven’t seemed right.
Horncastle: Turkey are essentially playing at home in this tournament. You might think that brings positive pressure, as multiple German cities are gridlocked by celebratory Turks after a win. But it also seems to weigh on the players and head coach Vincenzo Montella.
Slater: Ukraine. It is sad that we have got so used to the insanity of what is happening in their country we are disappointed with their performance here.
Which set of fans have been the best?
Stafford-Bloor: Romania’s. When they returned to Munich city centre after beating Ukraine out at the Allianz Arena, it began a party that lasted well into the night. Every bar, restaurant, tram, bus and train seemed to be painted with yellow shirts for at least 48 hours.
Whitehead: Turkey’s. I’ve been walking around cities they aren’t even playing in to a soundtrack of honking cars with Turkish flags waving out the windows.
ADVERTISEMENT
Anka: Georgians can party. Hard.
Kay: Scotland’s. Their team gave them precisely nothing to cheer, or even smile, about — beyond the obvious achievement of qualification — but they remained loud, passionate, upbeat and funny.
Scotland fans had a better time in Germany than their team (Michaela Stache / AFP)
Horncastle: Tough call between the spaghetti-snapping Albanians, Dortmund’s Turks and the 25,000 Croatians who made the Italy game in Leipzig so beer-soakingly hostile.
Slater: Lots of candidates for this. The Dutch have the best visuals, the Romanians the best acoustics. But the Scots are very good all-round tourists.
What has made you feel warm and fuzzy inside?
Stafford-Bloor: Musiala making the tournament his own. For many, he has become a unifying figure; an image of modern Germany to be proud of.
Jamal Musiala – made in Fulda: ‘It’s crazy to think he used to play here’
Whitehead: Fullkrug’s gap-toothed grins of glee after two goals — his blast against Scotland and that group-winning equaliser against Switzerland. Underestimated no longer.
Anka: Fans from all across Europe having a sing and a dance to whatever German folk music many of the smaller bars here like to play.
Kay: The celebrations of the Georgia players, singing and dancing on their way out of the stadium after that historic victory over Portugal.
Horncastle: Josip Ilicic coming on for Slovenia against England. Declan Rice showing his appreciation for him. That and Italy’s training base, Casa Azzurri. It has a barbershop and a pinsa oven.
Slater: I’m a sucker for good national anthems and, no matter how many times I hear it, La Marseillaise always makes me think of this scene in Casablanca and brings a lump to my throat.
A glorious gut punch, pig heads on platters and acid jazz: The Euro 2024 anthems – rated
What has made you throw your beer/would have done if you were into that sort of thing?
Stafford-Bloor: Fullkrug’s stoppage-time equaliser against Switzerland in Frankfurt. That was a header.
Whitehead: Arda Guler’s goal for Turkey against Georgia. A match played in an incredible atmosphere, with a fantastic strike to match. It felt like the emergence of a big player.
Arda Guler lets fly against Georgia (Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
Anka: Croatia have conceded two last-minute equalisers that dragged me out of my seat — Klaus Gjasula’s goal for Albania saw a stadium erupt.
Kay: My main thought here is … what happened to throwing streams of toilet roll? Think Argentina 1978. So much more evocative, so much more economical. (NB — it must be unused.)
(Staff/AFP via Getty Images)
Horncastle: “…ZAAAACCCCCCAGNNNNNNI!!”
Slater: There is absolutely no way I would ever throw a €9 (£7.50; $9.50) beer but, again, of the games I’ve witnessed, Hungary’s late winner against Scotland was a ‘limbs’ moment.
Euro 2024: Our ranking of all the games in Germany this summer
(Top photos: Getty Images)
Fox’s Euro 2024 coverage is splitting opinion. Do you have to love it or hate it?
By Greg O’KeeffeJun 27, 2024
Follow live coverage of Switzerland vs Italy and Germany vs Denmark at Euro 2024 today
It may not be a huge seller in the United States but across the pond, Marmite is both a yeast-based spread and a template for how something can utterly split opinion.Even the manufacturers have embraced the idea for their marketing — you either love or hate it. The salty, tar-coloured paste either elicits delight or gags and grimaces (so the theory goes). Stateside viewers of Fox’s Euro 2024 coverage might relate.The network is having a ‘summer of soccer’, having won the rights to screen the European Championship and Copa America across its channels (Fox, Fox Sports 1 and 2). On Sunday, it announced it had also agreed a deal to show the Women’s Euros next summer.They have gone full steam ahead with their coverage. By day the gripping dynamics of the Euros group stage, by night a feast of South American juggernauts facing off. Viewers are devouring it in great numbers.
From Sunday, across Fox and Fox Sports 1, their Euros coverage averaged 1.15million viewers — which the network says is up 30 per cent on equivalent U.S. audience figures for the 2021 tournament. For Copa America, it is 1.25m — a staggering (and partly Lionel Messi-fuelled) 453 per cent increase on the previous edition three years ago.Fox has not shown every game. They sub-licensed five of the group-stage fixtures to subscription streaming service Fubo. Some audience members felt that led to suboptimal moments. Fubo’s opening broadcast omitted a game clock and score counter, while another featured an intrusive banner with score updates of other sports, like baseball.But it is the role of controversial former USMNT player Alexi Lalas that has really divided viewers. The outspoken 54-year-old is never short of a hot take and his brash style can add an element of friction.
Alexi Lalas and Stu Holden – bold, opinionated but never just ‘fine’
Lalas is joined on the studio panel before every game, and during half-time, by the former Liverpool and England striker Daniel Sturridge, along with a revolving cast of other analysts. That has featured some impressive names. Former Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini has starred, as has Manchester United and Denmark legend Peter Schmeichel, both Euros winners. The host is British broadcaster Jules Breach.Early interactions between Lalas and Sturridge became social media memes. The latter’s expressive reaction to some of the American’s outbursts and interruptions — all side-eyes and low-key scowls — made for great clips on X.During a tirade against Gareth Southgate after England’s dismal draw with Denmark, Lalas said: “To quote the great Justin Timberlake, who’s had a hell of a week: ‘Cry me a river.’“What’s that word you guys use over there? Whinging? This whinging that’s going on right now is absolutely ridiculous. The embarrassment of talent, the wealth of ability that exists on this team. Figure it out. If you’re the manager of this team and you arrive at the tornament and haven’t figured it out, that’s on you.”Cut to Sturridge’s bemused smile.
Lalas is certainly exuberant. Whether you find it boorish or not is a matter of taste. In the same broadcast, he booed Chiellini when he suggested Southgate was unlikely to up England’s attacking ante in the second half.Then there is the jarring ‘creative moment of the half’ sponsored segment, a ham-fisted slice of analysis set to a rock soundtrack. Against Denmark, Lalas’ description of Kyle Walker’s assist for Harry Kane’s goal basically consisted of bellowed cliches like ‘pickpocket’ and ‘watch your blindside’. He is loud. He is brash. He is also, possibly, playing to type.“I’m in the entertainment business,” Lalas told The Athletic’s Adam Crafton in an interview last week. “When you say that, sometimes people cringe. By no means am I saying that I can’t be authentic and genuine. But I recognise the way I say something is as important as what I say.
“When I go on TV, I put on a costume and when that red light goes on, I don’t want people changing the channel. I don’t care if you like me or you don’t. I am as human as I possibly can be with the recognition that, on television, things have to be bigger and bolder.”
Lalas played 94 times for the USMNT (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Hashtag Sports)
There are also moments of genuine insight. After all, Lalas played 96 times for his country and reportedly speaks four languages.
Watching him again, after England’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia on Tuesday, he adds a dash of perspective to his take on yet another flat showing from Southgate’s side.
“A lot of what we’re seeing is ‘survive and move’,” he says. “It is such a different mentality in the group phase to the knockout phase. Nobody is going to look at it or put it in a time capsule. Ultimately, the result is most important.”
The occasional awkward moment is not just confined to Lalas. After neither Kane nor Conor Gallagher can connect with a Kieran Trippier cross against Slovenia, Sturridge says: “It’s just inches five inches.” There is silence for half a beat, Schmeichel guffaws and they cut to a break.It is not just Fox’s Euros coverage that has provided colourful moments. For Copa games, former USWNT star Carli Lloyd is a regular guest, and she was criticised when some viewers felt she added Christian Pulisic to an equivalent roll call of all-time greats such as Diego Maradona and Messi.At least the offering from the commentary teams during games has been infinitely more cohesive. For England’s opening game against Serbia, the regular pairing of Ian Darke and USMNT icon Landon Donovan sparked well off each other, Darke bringing experience and authority, Donovan up-to-date insight. The latter flagged an alarming statistic: playmaker Phil Foden has passed more to goalkeeper Jordan Pickford than Kane at Euro 2024.There have been other enjoyable moments from Fox’s coverage.Schmeichel interviewing his son Kasper, the current Denmark keeper, and giving him a proud-dad hug after the England game. Or Chiellini leaping to his feet, unable to contain his delight, after Italy’s crucial late equaliser against Croatia.
Most of the time, usually when Lalas is not pontificating to Sturridge, everyone looks like they’re having fun. Are the viewers? Maybe some are but, without an alternative broadcaster, they don’t have really have the option not to tune in.
One thing’s for sure: those who are finding this colourful, brash football feast hard to stomach better get used to it. Fox has the rights to Euro 2028 too.
(Top photo: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Hashtag Sports)
Berhalter was appointed U.S. coach in December 2018 (Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images)
Weston McKennie playing against Jamaica in March (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Robinson and Ream playing for Fulham in the Premier League last season (Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images)
As reigning World Cup champion, Argentina is looking to defend its Copa America title (Carl De Souza, AFP via Getty Images)
Messi earned the title of best player during the 2021 Copa America (Gustavo Pagano/Getty Images)
The U.S. has made it to two Copa America semifinals in previous tournaments (Jeremy Reper/Getty Images)
Ecuador has the fans, youth and energy to make a potential run (Michael Miller/Getty Images)
Christian Pulisic shows his emotions after the U.S. team’s exit (Maddie Meyer/FIFA via Getty Images)
(Left to right) Aaronson, McKennie and Adams at Elland Road in March 2023 (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Leeds were relegated after a 4-1 defeat by Spurs in the final day of the season (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
McKennie faces AC Milan at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California in July 2023 (Michael Janosz/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
McKennie will resolve his future after Copa America (Puma)
(Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images)
(Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
(Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Ryan O’Hanlon, ESPN.com writerJun 20, 2024, 07:00 AM ET
Share
LikeOpen Extended Reactions
265
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentJun 20, 2024, 08:00 AM ET
32
Team: 
Team: 
Team: 
Team: 
Team: 
Team: 
Team: 
Team: 
Team: 
Team: 
Team: 
Team: 
Team: 
Team: 
Team: 
Team: 
Tim Ream has become a crucial veteran presence in the USMNT’s backline. (Photo by Brad Smith, Getty Images)
A strong showing in Copa América could help Reyna overshadow the drama of the 2022 World Cup. (Photo by Shaun Clark, Getty Images)
Mbappe and Deschamps will be hopeful (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)
We all want it for Kroos, don’t we? (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Will he be smiling in July? (Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP via Getty Images)
With 175 appearances, Modric is Croatia’s most-capped player (MB Media/Getty Images)
Where/how will it all end? (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
Press during her return to training on Tuesday. (Photo: Angel City)
Press strikes the ball during training on Tuesday. (Photo: Angel City)
Weah was a rare bright spot for the U.S. against Colombia. (Photo by Greg Fiume/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Pulisic left the game at halftime due to managing his minutes. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Weah was a rare bright spot for the U.S. against Colombia. (Greg Fiume/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Kai Havertz (Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images)
(Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
(Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
(Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
Dusan Tadic is still a key player — even at 35 (Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
(Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
Koeman relies on Van Dijk’s trademark diagonals (ANP via Getty Images)
(Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
(Visionhaus/Getty Images)
McKennie believes the U.S. are contenders for the Copa America title (John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)U.S. captain Pulisic — who has scored 28 goals in 66 international caps — also believes the team are challengers for the title.“We want to win the tournament, that is why we are playing in it,” 25-year-old Pulisic said.“We want to go as far as we can, get out of the group, then go game by game from there and at the end of the day we want to win the tournament.“With the tournament being in the U.S., this is perfect for us to showcase our abilities in a big tournament. We want the big crowds against the big teams in the big stadiums. That is what you live for as a soccer player.”McKennie added that the U.S. enjoying home advantage was “important” and believes it can provide the momentum ahead of World Cup 2026, which the nation will co-host alongside Mexico and Canada.
Teammates surround Lily Yohannes after her goal against Korea Republic (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
The Ole BallCoach 