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Cincy FC wins @ Miami FC 1-0 Advances to Semi Finals of US Open Cup

Cincy Special Win

GAMES ON TV

Sat, Aug 5

11 am beIN Sport PGS vs Ameins SC (French)

2 pm beIN Sport Olympique Lyon vs Strasbourg (French)

2 pm Lifetime Portland Thorns vs Houston Dash (NWSL)

2:30 pm FOX Dortmund (Pulisic) vs Bayern Munich (German Supercup)

7:30 pm Myindy TV + beIN Sport Indy 11 vs FC Edmonton

Sun, Aug 6

9 am Fox Sport1 Arsenal vs Chelsea (EPL Community Shield)

11 am ESPN2 Women’s European Champ Netherlands vs Denmark

4 pm ESPN Portland vs LA Galaxy

6 pm Fox Sport 1 NY City vs NY Red Bulls (NY Derby)

8 pm Fox Sport 1 Sporting KC vs Atlanta United

Tues, Aug 8

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1 Real Madrid vs Man United UEFA Super Cup

Fri, Aug 11 — EPL Starts

2 45 pm NBCSN Arsenal vs Leciester City

Sat, Aug 12 EPL Starts

7:30 am NBCSN Watford vs Liverpool

10 am NCBSN Chelsea vs Burnlee

10 am CNBC Everton vs Stoke City

12:30 pm NBC Brighton vs Man City

7:30 pm Lifetime Orlando Pride vs Sky Blue (Women’s)

7:30 pm beIN Sport Miami FC vs Indy 11

10 :30 pm Fox Sport1 LA Galaxy vs NY City FC

Sun, Aug 13

8:30 am NBCSN New Castle United (Yedlin) vs Tottenham (Carter Vickers)

11 am NBCSN Man United vs West Ham

2 pm beIN Sport? Barcelona vs Real Madrid – Spain Supercup

Sat, Aug 19 German Bundesliga/La Liga/Serie A Start

7:30 am NBCSN Swansea vs Man United

9:30 am Fox Sport 1 Wolfsburg vs Dortmund (Pulisic)

10 am NBCSN Liverpool vs Crystal Palace

12 noon beIN Sport Juve vs Cagliari

12:30 pm NBC Stoke City (Cameron) vs Arsenal

12:30 pm FS1 Schalke vs RB Leipzig

3:30 pm Lifetime North Carolina vs Washington Spirit (Women’s League)

Sun, Aug 20

8:30 am NBCSN New Castle United (Yedlin) vs Huddlestown

9:30 am FS1 Freiburg vs Frankfurt

11 am NBCSN Tottenham vs Chelsea

12noon FS1 Borussia M’Gladbach (Johnson) vs Koln

4 pm beIN Sport? Deportivo vs Real Madrid

9:30 pm FS1 Seatle vs Min United

Mon, Aug 21

3 pm NBCSN Man City vs Everton

3 pm beIN Sport? Crotone vs AC Milan

Earn your Degree While You Watch Your Kids Soccer Practice – ½ the time and cost of Traditional Schools

EPL 2017 Schedule

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Girls Carmel High School Soccer Car Dry Fundraiser Sat, Aug 5 – 9:30 am till 3 pm at Valero Gas Station 116^th and Rangeline. Swing on by for a Carwash !

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2017 MLS All-Star Game vs. Real Madrid sets new TV viewership record

August 4, 20171:41AM EDTMLSsoccer staff

Wednesday night’s 2017 MLS All-Star Game, which featured a dramatic finish vs. European champions Real Madrid in front of a sellout crowd in Chicago, will go down as one of the biggest soccer events in league history.The TV viewership numbers tell the story.The league announced on Thursday that the match between the MLS All-Stars and Real Madrid set a new all-time viewership record for an MLS All-Star Game as 2.1 million viewers across the USA and Canada combined to watch the event.That audience surpassed the 2011 MLS All-Star Game involving English giants Manchester United, according to Nielsen and Numeris research.Here’s the breakout of the 2.1 million viewers:

Univision/UDN (USA): 1,484,000
FS1 (USA): 420,000
TSN (Canada): 97,000
TVA Sports (Canada): 96,000

The match, which was played in front of a sold-out crowd of 61,428 at Soldier Field, was also broadcast in more than 170 countries around the world.

MLS All-Stars unfazed by shootout loss to Real Madrid on memorable night

August 3, 20172:09AM EDTJohn WilkinsonContributor

CHICAGO – Stefan Frei had already turned around to wave to the 61,428 fans at Soldier Field and say thank you, thinking he had helped the MLS All-Stars to a 1-1 draw against the champions of Europe, when he was all of a sudden informed that “no, no we’re going to PKs” and there had to be a winner in the 2017 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target.“Honestly I didn’t even know that it would go straight to PKs,” Frei said the All-Star Game, which Real Madrid won on penalty kicks. “I thought the game was over, and we’d end in a tie so I’m going to call FIFA rules on that and we’ll stick with a tie.” When asked if that meant that MLS Cup 2016 – which Frei helped Seattle win on penalties – should have been a tie, he went the other way.“Well, no on that particular one there needs to be a winner,” he said. “And I’m thankful that [in] that PK one I was on the right end of.” Even if penalties did help him win a title last year, Frei said he’s never been much of a fan of ending matches with a shootout, even if he did understand the reason for them on Tuesday.“I think it’s one of the most horrible ways to end a team sport,” he said. “I said that even when I was at the other end against Toronto. Somebody is going to have to be the one that misses and then that’s not what football for me is really about, but the spectacle for the fans I guess.”The All-Star Game got to penalties thanks to Dom Dwyer’s late goal. The second-half attacking group of Dwyer, Nemanja Nikolic, Diego Valeri, Miguel Almiron and Giovani dos Santos, seemed to combine well even before creating the goal, with Nikolic coming close to scoring a couple times before Dwyer finally got the equalizer.“It was fun. [We tried] to keep it simple, to be honest, keep it simple, try to find the passes, movements,” Valeri said. “I think we did some good movements overall in the second half. It wasn’t easy because they got the goal and they put on the field some fresh guys and some very – you know Bale, Marcelo, Benzema – it wasn’t easy, but I think it was fun and we created some chances.”While a club team might have a set pecking order of penalty takers, head coach Veljko Paunovic picked the shooters for the All-Stars.“Blame me, of course,” Paunovic said. “It’s unfortunate. PKs you never know. I think emotions – we had a drain of energy in the second half because given the circumstances of this kind of game, some guys had to run more and some guys less. But what was good for me was the reaction. We showed character and I think that the effort was appropriate and I think overall the image was good. And at the end when you came to the point where you have to go to PKs it’s not easy for the guys after they had to spend a lot of energy. And that’s it. They tried the best, for sure, for sure.”With the friendly nature of the match, the two All-Stars who made their penalties – Valeri and Almiron – said they didn’t feel much pressure.“No I wasn’t nervous, I was very secure that I wanted to go down the middle,” Valeri said. “It’s to enjoy to be honest, it’s very friendly.”It was just the second time the MLS All-Star Game had been decided by a penalty shootout. The only other was in 2009, when Frei’s current All-Star teammate Tim Howard helped Everton beat that year’s MLS side. Despite being on the losing side – or not, in his mind – Frei left Soldier Field happy with the experience. “It’s an honor when you get to play against – I mean, I’ve played against legends before, I’ve played with legends before, but tonight I was able to play with legends against legends,” Frei said. “It’s a huge, huge honor. Really cool crowd in a really awesome stadium and something I think a lot of these guys here will cherish for the rest of our lives.”

Neymar on joining PSG from Barcelona: I followed my heart

PARIS — Neymar said he followed his “heart” after sealing his €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona. Neymar became the world’s most expensive player after PSG opted to trigger his buyout clause and told reporters at his unveiling on Friday: “My heart told me that it was time to sign for Paris Saint-Germain.”The 25-year-old enjoyed a successful four-year spell with Barcelona, winning one Champions League, two La Liga titles and three Copas del Rey as well as one FIFA Club World Cup and one Spanish Super Cup, but he said he was relishing the new challenge.”I am very, very happy,” he said. “I cannot describe what I am feeling in my heart right now. I am here to help the team to win as many titles as possible. I have come to take on a new challenge and to win titles.”I have friends in Barcelona, it was not easy to leave. However, football can be like that. It was the most difficult decision of my life to leave Barcelona but I felt like it was the right moment to leave.”I have friends here in Paris and I already feel at home here. I was very happy during four years in Barcelona. I am not sad, I won lots of titles.”A source has told ESPN FC that Neymar will be paid around €30m per year after taxes and has been handed a major signing bonus in excess of his net annual sum.Told that some people think he moved just for the money, Neymar said: “Well, what I can say to these people is that they don’t know anything about my personal life. I was never motivated by money. It was never my first motivation.”What I think about is my happiness, together with my family. I want us to be happy. I must follow my heart, not considering the money. If I was following the money, I would be somewhere else with different teams in different countries.”I am really sad to think people think that way. I would like to thank PSG as they believe in my potential and I want to pay them back.”Lionel Messi had posted a heartfelt farewell message to Neymar this week, and the Brazil forward rejected the suggestions he wanted to leave to step out of Messi’s shadow.”No, quite on the contrary,” he said. “One of my motivations to play for Barcelona was to play alongside Lionel Messi — he was my role model.”There was no pressure at all, only during the first week during Barcelona I was worried about training with my role models at the time. That was a lot of pressure but after that first week I felt relaxed and in my own environment.”To play with the best is very easy actually because all the players, all the players in the world, want to play with the best players to win titles together. I would like to thank Lionel Messi because he welcomed me so well, I learned so much from him in four years together.”Neymar has built up his fitness during Barcelona’s preseason and said he was ready to make his PSG debut in the Ligue 1 clash with Amiens on Saturday.”I am ready to get started from tomorrow,” he said. “If it is possible, let’s do it!”I have seen Parc des Princes and I am itching to pull on my new shirt and play. I have not spoken with the coach about whether I will play or not, where I will play or if he wants me to play yet.”He said he does not fear the weight of expectation after PSG broke the world transfer record.”To be the most expensive player in the world does not concern me or weigh me down,” he said. “I am still the same weight as always, I have nothing on my back.”PSG chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi, appearing alongside Neymar at the news conference, said he viewed his new signing as the finest footballer on the planet.”I am very happy to present our big star, an idol to the whole world,” he said. “We have always wanted Neymar. He is the best player in the world and now he is ours.”There had been suggestions that PSG had targeted Neymar in response to Barcelona’s pursuit of their key midfielder Marco Verratti earlier in the summer.However, Al-Khelaifi said: “We did not buy Neymar because Barcelona wanted Marco. We simply wanted the best player in the world.”PSG have faced questions about whether they can now adhere to UEFA’s financial fair play rules, with La Liga president Javier Tebas saying he would file a complaint to the governing body and the EU over the transfer. “You are talking about financial fair play — we have been very transparent,” Al-Khelaifi said. “We have been from day one, and we will be until the last day here with UEFA about financial fair play.”There is no problem. I have a strong team with me working day and night working applying the regulation on the financial fair play.”However, if anyone is thinking about financial fair play I tell them please: go have a coffee and don’t worry about us, we are in good hands. Thank you.”He said the deal had improved the value of the club, explaining: “Before Neymar, PSG were worth €1 billion. With Neymar, we are now worth €1.5bn.”It is a transfer that has cost a lot today but that will surely not be the case in two years’ time…”He also defended Neymar against suggestions he had moved for financial reasons, saying: “If he was motivated by money, he could have gone elsewhere. He has come for the project.”PSG have made no secret of their desire to win the Champions League but Neymar said they would also have to work hard in Ligue 1, having lost their domestic crown to Monaco last season.”I have heard people criticise Ligue 1 but I do not agree with that,” he said. “I have spoken with others who have played here and I have learned that there are no easy matches. We are here to win titles.”He added: “We want to win the Champions League but other titles as well. We are here to write the club’s history.”Jonathan Johnson covers PSG and the French national team for ESPN FC. Twitter: @Jon_LeGossip.

Neymar’s record-breaking move: What it means for Barcelona, PSG and more

There’s a veritable kaleidoscope of vantage points from which to consider the transfer of Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, aka you-know-who.We’re not just talking the most expensive footballer of all time; we’re talking a guy who cost more than a quarter of a billion dollars. That’s Paul Pogba plus Cristiano Ronaldo with enough left over to cover their wages until Christmas.This is not, as some have suggested, the end of football as we know it. It’s either a bold, game-changing move from Paris Saint-Germain or a colossal blunder by folks with more money than sense or, perhaps, something in between. Yet the web of implications is so far-reaching that it’s worth looking at this deal from various perspectives.

Barcelona

This is probably more of a psychological setback than a footballing one. It’s the third time a buyout clause has been used by a rival club to swoop into the Camp Nou and make off with a prize asset. Twenty years ago, Inter Milan showed up with $27 million — don’t laugh, young readers, it was a world record at the time — and secured the original Ronaldo, the “Phenomenon”. In 2000, Real Madrid made off with Luis Figo for $74m, launching the Bernabeu’s “Galactico” era.Ronaldo was the reigning World Player of the Year and had yet to turn 21; you’d be hard-pressed to find a player not named Pele who had achieved so much at so young. Figo, meanwhile, was 28 and one of the best wingers in the world, but Madrid weren’t buying potential with him; they were simply rubbing the opposition’s noses in it.On the pitch, Barcelona can likely reload pretty quickly without Neymar. Not in terms of finding the heir to Lionel Messi, but in coming back as one of the best teams in the world. It’s going to be expensive — $262m is a lot to have burning a hole in your pocket and potential sellers will want a big chunk — but, if done right, it can be pretty painless.And, perhaps, simply having Messi and Suarez, instead of the much-vaunted MSN up front, will give new coach Ernesto Valverde more tactical freedom. The bottom line is that Barcelona won before Neymar’s arrival, they won with Neymar and they’ll likely win again without him.Where it does hurt is inside. The Barcelona that lost Ronaldo and Figo was not today’s Barcelona. Those sides weren’t among the top three or four in the world and the footballing landscape wasn’t as polarized as it is today. The message here is that a superstar wanted to be elsewhere and that’s tough to swallow.Equally tough to accept is how this came about. It’s not as simple as saying Barca ought to have set a higher release clause; it’s about misreading Neymar and Co. when he signed his new deal less than a year ago. Particularly when Barcelona knew full well how his camp — read: his father — operates.

Paris Saint-Germain

This is like getting the top draft pick in the NBA lottery and choosing the best player available, rather than drafting for need. PSG’s squad is already teeming with attacking midfielder/winger types like Julian Draxler, Angel Di Maria, Lucas Moura, Hatem Ben Arfa, Javier Pastore and Goncalo Guedes.Sure, Neymar is better than all of them — and you can never have too many great players — but in terms of resource allocation, figuring it all out won’t be easy. If they move some on, as you suspect they will, they’ll do so as “motivated sellers,” which knocks down the price. There’s a lot there for sporting director Antero Henrique and manager Unai Emery to sift through and not much time in which to do it.Some draw a parallel with the 2012 signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who helped deliver four straight league titles and quarterfinal finishes in the Champions League. He put PSG on the euro-superpower map, but you’d imagine Neymar would need to do better for his signing to be defined as a success.That’s a tall order and it likely will depend as much on those around him as it does on Neymar himself. At 25 years of age, how much better can he realistically get?

Neymar

Let’s start with an anecdote. While in Brazil for the 2013 Confederations Cup, I flipped on the TV. It went to a commercial break and five of the seven ads featured Neymar. He was 21 at the time, already the undisputed leader of the Selecao and he was ubiquitous. It’s pretty obvious that whatever runs through his veins is positively reptilian; few superstars in any sport handle pressure and scrutiny with his level of aplomb.Maybe that’s why there is some stock in the theory that this move isn’t just — or, only — about Euro signs. Maybe he really wants to be the superstar on a successful team he can call his own (something that won’t happen at Barca as long as Messi is around).Is it gullible to give him the benefit of the doubt? I’m not so sure. He’ll certainly earn more at PSG but it likely won’t be “move-the-needle” type more. Not compared with the opportunities that come with being a Brazil and Barcelona legend.And there’s a flip side: This move is not without risk. PSG, in terms of exposure and prestige, aren’t in the same hemisphere as Barcelona, particularly if they underachieve. A couple more seasons like last year with no Champions League football in April could see his mantle of heir apparent to the Messi-Ronaldo crown slip, even if he performs well with Brazil.Whatever you think of Neymar, this does not seem like something motivated chiefly by greed or manipulation; this is a superstar wanting to really challenge himself, rather than continue in a supporting role.In other words, I want to believe these words are genuine.

Financial Fair Play

Forget the hysterical reaction from La Liga and Catalonia and forget discussion of covert payments to be the “face” of Qatar 2022 and other such nonsense. FFP hasn’t been “relaxed.” It’s still around and it’s very real (just ask Roma or Inter or Galatasaray). And, if PSG can’t afford Neymar without breaching the requirements, we’ll find out.It’s just that we won’t know until the fall of 2018, when seasons 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 are cumulatively assessed, whether PSG violated FFP rules, which dictate that no more than $35.6m can be lost over three seasons, though some expenses and revenues aren’t included in the FFP calculation.And that last part is crucial. PSG’s official accounts show a profit of $12m for 2015-16 but that’s largely irrelevant because more than a quarter of their revenues came courtesy of a sponsorship deal with the Qatar Tourism Authority, worth some $240m. UEFA found the amount to be grossly inflated and discounted it by around 50 percent.They have the power to do the same if things don’t add up. And, by the way, spending $262m on Neymar doesn’t mean a $262m hit in their accounts. Transfer fees get amortized over the life of a contract, which means it will cost them a fifth in his first year.Throw in his wages and you’re looking at north of $100m which, while still a frightening number — Messi is costing Barcelona half of that — is possibly more manageable if you’re smart with your sales and you squeeze out commercial revenue properly.

UEFA

Europe’s governing body has a wide scope of interpretation when it comes to “related-party transactions” — basically, anything that can be traced back to Qatar, since Neymar’s new employers are effectively owned by the country — and there’s no clever sleight-of-hand to get around it.If UEFA suspect a sponsorship is inflated they get experts involved, who compare it against industry benchmarks and comparable clubs and assess a fair market value. That’s what they did in 2013 when PSG and Manchester City were sanctioned along similar lines.Back then clubs were offered a “settlement agreement” — basically a plea bargain — where they agreed to certain fines and restrictions as punishment. If other clubs don’t believe the “settlement agreement” is stiff enough, they can appeal it and send the case to the Club Financial Control Body’s Adjudicatory Branch, who have sweeping powers and are entirely independent.That’s key here. In 2013, not least because it was the first year of FFP, some felt that PSG and City got off lightly but there were no complaints to UEFA. It’s hard to see that scenario occurring again, not with Barcelona and other big clubs likely to exert pressure on UEFA. And particularly not now that they happen to be, officially, business partners in the Champions’ League and Europa League.

Transfer fees

Some fret over the “football bubble” bursting, but we’re not talking dotcoms or even tulips. When FFP was introduced in 2010, European clubs were losing, on aggregate, nearly two billion dollars a year. Now, those losses are down to just over $300m.You don’t need to be an economist to know that it’s OK to spend more if you’re earning more money; Barcelona’s revenues, for example, have gone up nearly 70 percent in the last seven years. The vast majority of Europe’s richest clubs — the ones who spend big on transfer fees — have seen comparable rises. What’s more, most of them are profitable.It’s not as if, because Neymar costs $262m, Ingolstadt or Atalanta or Celta Vigo will suddenly need to spend $20m to sign a decent right-back. What happens at the top of the market does not trickle down to the middle classes any more than a hedge fund manager blowing $1.5m on a Lamborghini Diablo means the man in the street not being able to buy a family sedan for $30,000.What’s more, markets have a way of correcting themselves, particularly now that we have oversight. Contracts expire and players — read: assets — can be sold. This is neither the end nor the beginning of the end.Instead, it’s a massive deal caused by very specific and unusual circumstances. Football will be just fine.Gabriele Marcotti is a Senior Writer for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @Marcotti.

Neymar’s Transfer from Barcelona to PSG Defies Belief on All Levels

JONATHAN WILSONThursday August 3rd, 2017 Sports Illustrated

Even in this summer of mind-boggling transfers, when it seems the entirety of football has lost its collective senses and that jaws couldn’t fall any lower, the transfer of Neymar from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of $263 million, more than double the previous world record, has taken those jaws down into the basement.It’s a complex move, a five-year deal to sign the 25-year-old Brazilian star, and one that defies belief on almost every level.Barcelona was helpless, however much it wanted to hang on to Neymar, now that PSG has met his buyout clause, but it could have never expected anybody to pay that. This raises the question not only of why Neymar would want to leave a club that over the past decade has enjoyed extraordinary success while redefining the tactical parameters of the game to join a club that has never got beyond the quarterfinal of the Champions League, but also how that club can possibly afford it while complying with financial fair play regulations.Let’s begin with the relatively simple bit: why Neymar may want to leave. Money, obviously, is a major factor, as, perhaps, is the assiduousness with which the Spanish tax authorities have begun investigating players. Last year a Spanish court found him guilty of tax evasion and fined him $66 million, reduced to $33 million this year on appeal.There are, though, football reasons. Although ostensibly the front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar get on well, perhaps there is an element of frustration that, for now, the Argentine remains the headline figure. Neymar is five years younger than Messi, and there were signs even last season that he might soon become the main man, but there would probably still be a sense that this was Messi’s team. At PSG, Neymar will be the undisputed No. 1. It’s easy to see why the idea of being the player who, at last, brings PSG to its first Champions League title might appeal.That may enhance his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or, an individual award that was once a side issue but now seems to dominate the thoughts of gifted young players, but the issue is far from clear. The award may be based in France, but no France-based player has topped the voting since Jean-Pierre Papin in 1991.Neymar’s good friend, Dani Alves, who has been savagely critical of the Barcelona board and its treatment of players, is also now at PSG after a season at Juventus.And if the French league is slightly less demanding than the Spanish league (which is far from certain) in a World Cup year, that is no bad thing either.

How, then, can PSG possible afford not only the initial fee but also wages likely to be around $600,000 a week for five years? That is where this deal gets really interesting. PSG, after all, is bankrolled by Qatari Sports Investment, the sovereign wealth fund representing the Qatari royal family. With the falling oil price, there has been widespread retrenchment in Qatar and even talk of imposing a tax system. Over the past two seasons, PSG has made only two major signings, Julian Draxler and Angel Di Maria.Smashing records to land Neymar, then, is a major departure so abrupt that it’s hard not to wonder whether it may have less to do with football and PSG than with Qatar making a statement. Over the past two months, Qatar has been engaged in major diplomatic wrangling with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain following accusations that it supports terrorism. Its response has been to strengthen ties with Turkey and Iran and to emphasize its continuing economic might; it is, after all, the country with the highest GDP per capita in the world. Shattering the world transfer record is about as a high a profile a way as possible to let the world know that Qatar is still rich.In that context, it may not be a coincidence that Barcelona’s deal with Qatar Airways came to an end on June 30, with the Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten taking over as shirt sponsor. It’s probably going a little far to see this as a punitive measure, but what is true is that Qatar’s football interests are now all focused on one club.That still doesn’t solve the issue of financial fair play–PSG was sanctioned in 2014 which in theory means a potential second offense–and it would seem likely there will have to be sales. Di Maria and Marco Verratti perhaps are the most likely to leave.In simple terms, Neymar leaving Barcelona will weaken Ernesto Valverde’s side and raise further concerns about its aging core, while all but guaranteeing PSG another French title, particularly with Monaco weakened by departures this summer.But Neymar’s move is about far more than that.

Ligue 1 preview: Neymar has arrived, as champions Monaco are dismantled

After a wonderful 2016-17 season, Ligue 1 is bracing itself for yet another top campaign. Can a weaker Monaco retain their title? Can anyone stop Paris Saint-Germain and Neymar? Marseille are stronger, Lyon have done their revolution, Nice have been clever again, Bordeaux look interesting, Lille and Marcelo Bielsa are exciting, as are Claudio Ranieri and Nantes.Ligue 1 has found itself a new King in Neymar, will meet new faces (Bertrand Traore, Youri Tielemans, Luis Gustavo and Thiago Maia) and old ones (Steve Mandanda, Adil Rami and Mario Balotelli). It also lost, as usual, some of its best talents (Tiemoue Bakayoko, Corentin Tolisso, Bernardo Silva, Ricardo Pereira, Benjamin Mendy, Alexandre Lacazette, Adam Ounas, Amine Harit and Sebastien Corchia) and more might follow (Kylian Mbappe, Thomas Lemar, Fabinho, Angel Di Maria, Jean Seri, Yann Karamoh and Dalbert.)

Key storylines

PSG with Neymar. What a difference 12 months can make. Last summer, PSG approached their transfer window in a more low-key way. Zlatan Ibrahimovic left and the club tried to do a clever recruitment more than a glittering one. Jese, Hatem Ben Arfa and Grzegorz Krychowiak arrived and all failed. This summer, Paris went big; bigger than anyone else ever. They signed Neymar for €222 million and free-agent Dani Alves, and kept their other gems, Marquinhos, Edinson Cavani and Marco Verratti.Right now, at least domestically, they are untouchable. Manager Unai Emery has learnt a lot from last season. His team’s second part of the league campaign, where they took more points than any other, shows that they have improved and got a grip on what he was asking his players to do. PSG are way stronger than last season. With Neymar and Alves, they are probably the best team ever assembled in French football history.Mbappe in or out? After the Neymar saga, French football has another one on its hands: Kylian Mbappe’s future and with him, Monaco’s future. The 18-year-old prodigy has had an exceptional rise since January. Some reports in France say that he wants to leave the French champions and that the club are demanding €180m to let him go. Are Real Madrid or Barcelona ready to pay that much? Probably. Mbappe is such a special talent and his final decision will have a huge impact on the Ligue 1 season.Obviously, Monaco will be a totally different team with or without him. After already losing Mendy, Silva and Bakayoko, as well as Valere Germain and Nabil Dirar, it would be another huge blow for the Principality club to lose their gem. Whatever happens to the young France international, it will be a transition season for the Champions. They saw the end of their golden generation and are rebuilding the next one. Radamel Falcao is still there, and, for now, so are Lemar and Fabinho.The League of Gentlemen. If the English Premier League is still, without a doubt, the home of the world’s best managers, Ligue 1 also has a very interesting lineup of No. 1 coaches on its benches. The best manager in the world, according to Pep Guardiola, is Bielsa and two years after leaving Marseille, he is back in France. He will try to lead Lille to new heights.Monaco’s Leonardo Jardim worked wonders last season, but it is a much bigger challenge that awaits him this year. Emery has to start well at PSG after a disappointing campaign last year. Lucien Favre was wanted by Borussia Dortmund in the summer but stayed in Nice after an excellent first season.Ranieri, sacked by Leicester last season, chose Nantes to continue his career. Rudi Garcia at Marseille has a solid reputation, and Bordeaux’s Jocelyn Gourvennec is the most promising young French manager around. It will be interesting to follow Oscar Garcia’s first season at St Etienne and Christian Gourcuff’s second at Rennes. On the other hand, Bruno Genesio still has a lot to prove at Lyon.

Marquee signings

Neymar, Barcelona to PSG, £198m Who else? He is the biggest transfer in the history of football. The Brazilian superstar has chosen PSG and Ligue 1 to pursue his career after deciding to leave Barcelona. He will bring his new club and his new league to another level. At 25, he is expected to make this team his own.

Luis Gustavo, Wolfsburg to Marseille, £7m Marseille needed a leader in midfield, strong, solid with great experience and a winning mentality. They found the perfect one in Luis Gustavo, 30, the former Bayern Munich and Brazil defensive midfielder. Alongside Mandanda in goal, Rami at the back and Germain up front, also all recruited this summer so far, Marseille went for experience and leadership and had an excellent transfer window.

Youri Tielemans, Anderlecht to Monaco, £22m

After selling some of their key players, Monaco are rebuilding a competitive squad and they believe the Belgium international, 20, represents the future of the club. The French champions will want him to replace Bakayoko and dictate the way Monaco will play this season. With his vision, the quality of his passes and quick feet, he has everything to be a huge success.

Alexandre Lacazette, Lyon to Arsenal, £46.5m

It was always going to happen. After spending pretty much all his life at Lyon, Lacazette, 26, left his club and his hometown for a big transfer to Arsenal. In six seasons in Ligue 1, Lacazette was the best French striker with 129 goals in 275 matches. With him, Tolisso (Bayern Munich) and Maxime Gonalons (Roma) also left, meaning the end of an era at the club.

Benjamin Mendy, Monaco to Manchester City, £52m

Eighteen months ago, he was not even always starting for Marseille. Now, Mendy is the most expensive defender in the history of football. His move to Manchester City capped a wonderful season with Monaco where he also broke into the France national team. At 23, he is in the top five left-backs in the world and seems to have no limits.

Amine Harit, Nantes to Schalke, £9m

As usual, Ligue 1 has already lost some of its brightest and youngest prospect this summer. Harit, 20, the wonderfully gifted Nantes attacking midfielder, U19 European champion last summer with France, left for Schalke after just one season in Ligue 1. Adam Ounas, 20, joined Napoli from Bordeaux for more or less the same amount, like Jean-Kevin Augustin, 20, arriving at RB Leipzig from PSG.

Who will win the league?

Now that PSG have their superhero in Neymar, and while Monaco can still lose theirs in Mbappe, the French title is Les Parisien’s to lose this season. They are the outstanding favourite to regain the crown they abandoned to Monaco last season after four coronations in a row previously. PSG simply look unbeatable at the moment.Behind them, four teams will fight for second and third places: Monaco and Lyon are in transition after losing key players while the Marseille project is interesting under Garcia with some solid signings. Nice and Balotelli are still so talented and exciting. Outside of this top five, Lille, Rennes, Bordeaux or St Etienne could be the season’s surprise package.

Battle at the bottom

Last season offered a dramatic fight against relegation with almost 10 clubs involved until very late in the campaign. It should be the same this year. The three promoted teams (Amiens for the first time, Troyes after one season in Ligue 2 and Strasbourg who haven’t play in the top flight since 2008) all look in danger. But Dijon and Metz will not be far off either, while Caen and Angers have to be careful too.Julien Laurens is a London-based French journalist who writes for ESPN FC and Le Parisien. Follow him on Twitter: @LaurensJulien.

Indy Eleven Gameday & Match Preview
Indy Eleven vs FC Edmonton – #INDvFCE Saturday, August 5, 2017 – 7:30 P.M. EST Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN

National TV: beIN Sports USA Local TV: WNDY

PICKING UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF

Opening the 2017 Fall Season with a 2-1 win over the Eddies last week, Indy Eleven welcomes their Canadian foes for the Fall Season home opener this Saturday.With the win on Sunday, Indy is now riding a six-game unbeaten streak that has seen them pick up three straight wins dating back to the July 8 match against the New York Cosmos. Now ahead of back-to-back road trips to Miami and New York, the “Boys in Blue” are faced with another 2016 Championship Semifinal rematch against FC Edmonton, who sit in 7th place in both the Fall Season and combined standings.

WHO TO WATCH INDY ELEVEN EDITION: DF DANIEL KELLER

Indy Eleven defender Daniel Keller has been an integral part of Indy’s solid defensive record this year, playing in 16 of Indy’s 17 matches so far and earning 14 starts in the process. The Carmel, IN native has already well surpassed his 2016 season total in games played and minutes featured and has matched his 2015 total of 16 games played (11 starts).Stepping up at the back, Keller has won 13 of 18 tackles this year and over half his aerial and ground duels while also collecting 37 interceptions. Keller and his oft-partnered defender Colin Falvey have eerily similar numbers, though Falvey has won a slightly higher amount of his duels. Expect the pair to be locked down again when Edmonton comes for the Fall home opener.

WHO TO WATCH FC EDMONTON EDITION: FW TOMI AMEOBI

For Indy, the main threat up top will again be forward Tomi Ameobi, who scored a goal in their 2-1 loss last weekend in his 100th appearance for the club. Ameobi has five goals in 17 appearances for the Eddies this year and showed why he is such a threat in the box on Sunday night. A dominant forward in the air, the 6-foot-3 185 lb. tower showed both his physicality and ability to play with it at his feet. With the likely return of defender Colin Falvey to the starting line-up, it will be interesting to see if Ameobi is still able to win as much off of the cross.

MATCH-UP TO MARK: MF BRAD RING vs MF BEN FISK

It will be defense-minded Brad Ring against attacking midfielder Ben Fisk again this weekend after the pair dueled last Sunday. Ring was a perfect stopper in the midfield in the Fall opening win, completing 26/38 passes but more importantly winning 100% of his tackles and 67% of his duels while collecting two interceptions to thwart the Eddies attack. Ring was often the key to cutting off direct access to Ameobi’s feet while helping to cover wide when one of midfielders Sainney Nyassi or Ben Fisk would fly forward. Ring’s likely marker this weekend will be the latter of the two mentioned above, Ben Fisk. The wide midfielder was credited the assist on Ameobi’s goal last weekend and was a spark in the 66 minutes he featured in. Creating three clear-cut chances for his side, Fisk will look to get a bit more of a run out on Saturday night.

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Aug 2, MLS All-Star Game on Fox Sports 1 Tonite 8:30 pm, US Ladies vs Japan Thurs ESPN2, Indy 11 home Sat, Germany and England Cup Games Sat/Sun on Fox

August 2, 2017August 2, 2017 gatorbest

So the MLS All-Star game has arrived as the MLS All-Stars will match up against 2 time defending Champions League winner Real Madrid. It should be a good match as the All Stars will try to prove they belong against the top team in the World (minus Renaldo of course – who is home recovering from the Confed Cup and defending his Tax fraud claim in Spain). The kickoff is 9 pm live from Chicago on Fox Sports 1.

El Classico Sat night in Miami was well – EL CLASSICO. So tickets were going for $900 outside the stadium for this once in a lifetime event in Miami and boy did they get a show. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid threw most of their starters in for the first 65 minutes and it was game on. Messi scored a stunner just 2 minutes in and Barca took a 2-0 lead just 10 minutes later to take a 2-0 lead only to be tied just before the half by Real Madrid. Of course missing Real’s Renaldo was a bummer but both teams played just like a La Liga match – complete with dives, constant complaining to the refs and well pretty darn good soccer in between. What a treat for those fans and us watching on ESPN. That brings up a point about soccer in the US. You know as stadiums fill across the country and millions tune in for these International Champions Cup games on ESPN featuring the best teams in the world from Spain, England, Italy and Germany the discussion comes up about soccer’s popularity in the US. Yes the US National team still moves the needle but the US Pro leagues MLS, NASL and USL are still getting more attention but haven’t broken into the top 3 or 4 sports in the US. A challenge is this – you know the US hosts the best pro leagues in the world in Basketball (NBA), Baseball (MLB), Hockey (NHL), and the only in Football (NFL). Soccer’s best leagues are in England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France – that’s where the best players in the world play including Americans. To expect the US top home league MLS to compete especially on TV when the best teams in the world are constantly on against them is unrealistic. I would argue that when you include the world soccer leagues that are consumed in the US the EPL on NBCSN, the German Bundesliga and Champions + Europa League on Fox, La Liga and Serie A on beIN sport, and MLS on Fox and ESPN that soccer is pushing Baseball for 3^rd in the US sports landscape especially among those 35 and younger. Don’t believe me –walk around the mall or school and look at the multiple pro soccer jerseys on kids and in the stores. I would say more kids wear soccer jerseys today than anything but football jerseys maybe. The tide is turning here in the US as soccer nation is growing – but its not going to show with our domestic league MLS – for a long time as long as the best players play overseas. But that’s ok – I for one am happy that access to the foreign leagues and watching the best players is more available now than at anytime in our history.

Tuned into the US vs Brazil ladies game last night and wow what a comeback. The US was down 3-1 with about 13 minutes to play despite outshooting Brazil in the game. All they did next was score 3 goals in 9 minutes all in the field of play as Rapino netted 1 and had an assist and the cross in for Julie Johnson Ertz’ winner in the 89^th minute. After losing to Australia 1-0 earlier – a 2^nd loss would have been devestating in this 3 game tourney on US soil. The US will wrap things up with a top 6 matchup with Japan on Thurs night, ESPN2 at 8 pm. Of course locally tix are on sale for the US vs New Zealand game in Cincy on Tues Sept. 19 at 7:30 pm. Also the NWSL – Women’s league still has games on Lifetime every Sunday see the Soccer TV Schedule below for times and games.

Of course the EPL and World League Seasons are right around the corner with the German Super Cup (Dortmund – Pulisic facing Bayern Munich) on Sat 2:30 pm on Fox and the Community Shield with Arsenal vs Chelsea Sun at 9:30 am on FS1.

Good luck to those trying out for High School teams this week !!

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Soccer Camp the Carmel High Boys Varsity Soccer Team are hosting their 3 hour camp Friday, Aug 4 – 9:30 am till 12 noon at River Rd Fields. Boys and Girls K-8 just $45 with FREE T-Shirt and the chance to be a ball boy or girl at a CHS soccer game this fall. Visit CHS website

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GAMES ON TV

Wed, Aug 2

9 pm Fox Sport 1 MLS Allstars vs Real Madrid

Thurs, Aug 3

10 pm ESPN2 US Women vs Japan

Sat, Aug 5

2:30 pm FOX Dortmund (Pulisic) vs Bayern Munich (German Supercup)

7:30 pm Myindy TV + beIN Sport Indy 11 vs FC Edmonton

Sun, Aug 6

9 am Fox Sport1 Arsenal vs Chelsea (EPL Community Shield)

2 pm? ESPNU Women’s European Championship?

4 pm ESPN Portland vs LA Galaxy

6 pm Fox Sport 1 NY City vs NY Red Bulls (NY Derby)

8 pm Fox Sport 1 Sporting KC vs Atlanta United

Tues, Aug 8

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1 Real Madrid vs Man United UEFA Super Cup

Sat, Aug 12 EPL Starts

7:30 am NBCSN Watford vs Liverpool

10 am NCBSN Chelsea vs Burnlee

10 am CNBC Everton vs Stoke City

12:30 pm NBC Brighton vs Man City

7:30 pm Lifetime Orlando Pride vs Sky Blue (Women’s)

7:30 pm beIN Sport Miami FC vs Indy 11

10 :30 pm Fox Sport1 LA Galaxy vs NY City FC

Sun, Aug 13

8:30 am NBCSN New Castle United (Yedlin) vs Tottenham (Carter Vickers)

11 am NBCSN Man United vs West Ham

2 pm beIN Sport? Barcelona vs Real Madrid – Spain Supercup

MLS Allstars Must Be Ready for Real Madrid’s Quality

EPL 2017 Schedule

MLS

MLS All-Star Game Preview – MLS.com

With MLS Maturing – All Star Game Needs to Return to East vs West – Noah Davis ESPNFC

Tim Howard Reflects on Returning to the All Star Game –

Who Should Start for Allstars? MLS.com ET

Home Grown Undre 21 Game vs Chivas U20s

What to Do in Chicago around a Game

What Happened over the Weekend

MLS Power Rankings

MLS Turns Down 4 billion dollar offer for Media Rights to include Relagation/Promotion

Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco maybe the Best Ever MLS Player – ESPNFC

Mexico’s Jonathan Dos Santos takes Risk Leaving Europe for LA Galaxy – SI

Video Review – VAR – Debuts in MLS on Aug 5^th

US Ladies Rally to Win 4-3 over Brazil – SI

US Ladies Stunning 4-3 win in comeback vs Brazil

Australia stuns US team with 1-0 win

Foudy – US 4-4-2 not working

US / Brazil the Goals video

Take-Aways from the US Gold Cup Win – Brian Straus SI

Gold Cup Win Take- Aways US Soccerplayers.com

Pulisic to Liverpool Rumors Continue

Soc Takes Radio Looks back at US Gold Cup Win

World

Best Pre-Season Game Ever – El Classico Miami ?

Barca beats Madrid 3-2

Buffon admits Juve Stranglehold on Serie A could be at end

Man U signs Chelsea’s Matic

GOALIES

ICC – Own The Save from ICC games Vol 4 – this week

International Champions Cup – Best Saves – Episode 3

Jesus Navas returns to his boyhood Sevilla after Man City Release

Indy 11

Kicks for Kids McDonalds Family Night Aug 5 vs FC Edmonton

Indy Starts Fall Season with 2-1 at FC Edmonton

ARENA LAYS A DEFENSIVE FOUNDATION

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All-Stars eager, but wary of Real Madrid’s quality: “You need to go hard”

August 1, 201711:29AM EDTCharles BoehmContributor

LISTEN: There’s no better way to prepare for the MLS All-Star Game presented by Target than interviews with Graham Zusi (SKC), Michael Parkhurst (ATL), Kellyn Acosta (DAL), Greg Garza (ATL) and Jelle Van Damme (LA)! Subscribe now so you never miss a show! Download this episode!CHICAGO – Nemanja Nikolic has crossed paths with Real Madrid before. It did not go well for his team.“It was a big experience for me to play in [Estadio] Santiago Bernabeu,” recalled the Chicago Fire’s star striker and MLS Golden Boot leader after the MLS All-Stars’ Monday morning training session at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Nikolic met the Spanish giants in a UEFA Champions League match last October while starring for Polish side Legia Warsaw. “We played against them, we lose 5-1, but the game was open.“I had a feeling at that time that they are so good that in every single moment, when they want, they can score goals. They have a lot of good characters, a lot of good players in the squad and their soccer, it’s offensive all the time.”Nikolic’s tale underlines both the promise and the peril facing the MLS All-Star Team this week as they face the 12-time European champions at Soldier Field on Wednesday (8:30 pm ET on FS1 and Univision in USA; TSN and TVAS in Canada). It’s a rare opportunity for MLS’s best to measure themselves against arguably the most talented team on the face of the earth.“When you put the ball on the field,” said All-Star and former Madrid icon Kaká, “nobody wants to lose.”But it’s also an extremely testing matchup that could very easily turn into a humbling affair, given Madrid’s fearsome arsenal of world-class attacking talent.“It’s an exhibition, but these kinds of games, you can’t turn off,” LA Galaxy defender Jelle Van Damme said. “You want to show yourself and get a result. And we have to be focused 100 percent. This is one of the best teams in the world, so you don’t want to get embarrassed. We have to stay focused and be sharp.”All-Stars coach Veljko Paunovic has been tasked with preparing the home side for this occasion, and the Chicago Fire boss is well-positioned for the job. A longtime standout in Spain’s La Liga, “Pauno” faced the mighty Merengues many times as a player, including several years as a regular with their bitter crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid.“When you have an opponent like Real Madrid, there is nothing better – there are a lot of great teams in the world but when you have the opportunity to play against Real Madrid, it’s an occasion that you just cannot let go,” Paunovic told reporters Monday.“You have try to do your best, you have to give a spectacle … but you also want to win. And that’s how we’re going to prepare. My experience with Real Madrid was always that they are a very good team, a quality team, hard mentality. Even when you score against them, they come back. And that’s all I said to our guys.”Monday’s All-Star training session was primarily a chance for the squad to regenerate and stretch their legs after their respective journeys to Chicago following the weekend’s league action.Paunovic did spend some time working on team shape, however, as he and his staff try to make the most of their limited preparation time for a high-profile match that will be viewed around the world.Though reticent to delve into too many tactical details, he made clear that the All-Stars will have to disrupt Madrid’s rhythm and patterns of play if they are to have any chance of pulling off an upset.“We know that they are comfortable with the ball if there is no pressure on the ball and on the players,” Paunovic said. “But also, they are comfortable without the ball and they are very dangerous in counterattack. We have to be also prepared to match their speed, their pace and their quality with the ball.”Savoring a rare experience while still battling tooth-and-nail? Nikolic sounds up for the challenge.“It needs to be fun, because I think we need to enjoy this moment,” said the Hungarian international, “but also on the other hand, in soccer you cannot make a joke from these kind of games. You need to go hard, you need to give your maximum. This is our work.”

For Tim Howard, All-Star Game is both a new experience and a familiar one

July 31, 201710:35AM EDTGeoff

SAN JOSE, Calif. – When it comes to the MLS All-Star Game, few, if any, players can boast of a résumé with greater breadth than Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard.In 2001, Howard represented the East in a conference-vs.-conference setup. The following year, he was part of a league-wide squad that took on US national team stars of the past and (then-)present. In 2009, Howard returned with top-flight English side Everton as the opposition in what has become the now-standard format of a single MLS squad facing a European club.This week, Howard will make his first All-Star appearance on the MLS side in 15 years, starting for Chicago Fire coach Veljko Paunovic against arguably the strongest team in the world at the moment: Spanish behemoths Real Madrid.“I think it’s exciting to have all the East and West [All-Stars] together, playing against some of the best teams in the world,” Howard told MLSsoccer.com on Saturday, after the Rapids’ 1-0 defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes. “And at the end of the day, it’s an All-Star game, right? So people want to be entertained. And that’s bringing the most entertainment value. So it’s great.”Howard, 38, wouldn’t voice a preference for one format over another – although the quality of this year’s opponent cannot be denied.“I think it’s always exciting to be an All-Star and to be recognized as such,” Howard said. “There’s a lot of pageantry involved. I’m not sure which one’s better. But it will be certainly exciting to play Real Madrid, there’s no question about that.”Even though the All-Star Game represents the end of a whirlwind, four-games-in-11-days US tourfor Real, Howard is not expecting any restraint from the visitors, who open their competitive play for the 2017-18 campaign on August 13 with the first leg of the Supercopa de España against archrival Barcelona.“When you get to play for a team like Real Madrid, there’s no days off,” Howard said. “There’s no easy games. They have a world-class coach that they’re trying to impress. They have got to play well to earn a spot coming up for the La Liga season. World football is intense and it’s cutthroat. There isn’t any days when guys just take it easy. When you put your jersey on and cross the line, whether it’s a tournament, a regular-season game, a preseason game, an All-Star Game, these guys are going to be up for it.”Howard will be up for it as well – if only to match the high bar he set in his last appearance. Playing with the Toffees, Howard saved three penalty kicks to secure a shootout victory, stopping Brad Davis, Davy Arnaud and, in the sixth and final round, Freddie Ljungberg.“It was exciting for me, playing for the club that I love, being back in America with lots of family and friends,” Howard said. “Those games are great. I have a lot of fond memories, but certainly that’s one of them.”

With MLS maturing, it’s time to return the All-Star Game to East vs. West

On Wednesday, Major League Soccer’s best will line up against Real Madrid at Chicago’s Soldier Field. It promises to be a star-studded affair with David Villa, Giovani Dos Santos, Kaka and others taking on Gareth Bale, Marcelo, Luka Modric, and the rest of Zinedine Zidane’s European champions.The match will be an exhibition, of course, but also a nice showcase for the league, a 90-minute stretch that could draw headlines around the globe. Playing a club with the international pedigree of Real Madrid, after all, will never be a bad thing.Wednesday’s game marks the 13th straight year in which the All-Star Game consisted of a group from MLS taking on an international club. It began with a 4-1 win over Fulham in 2005 and has featured Chelsea and Manchester United twice, along with Roma, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and a few other notable clubs. (The All-Stars vs. Guest format also occurred in 2002 and 2003, when the league’s stars played the U.S. national team and Chivas de Guadalajara, respectively, before reverting to East vs. West for a year in 2004.)Overall, the MLS vs. a popular European team has been a successful experiment. But after nearly a decade and a half, with the domestic league maturing, the time for the format to end is drawing near. In the near future, the MLS All-Star Game should feature only players from the league.There were three major reasons for switching to the MLS vs. World format. One was to increase the level of competition. While All-Star Games in all sports leagues are inherently free-flowing exhibitions geared toward offense, the MLS All-Star Games at the turn of the millennium were spinning out of control. In 1999, the West won 6-4 followed by a 9-4 East win in 2000 and a 6-6 draw in 2001, highlighted by four goals from Landon Donovan.Goals are fun; three straight games ticking into double digits, however, makes a mockery of the sport. That’s somewhere between 300 and 400 percent more goals than teams scored per game during the regular season. Even the NBA All-Star Game, which critics deride for its lack of defense, sees only a 50-100 percent increase in scoring compared to regular-season action.The second reason was to help MLS gain visibility around the world. An All-Star Game featuring a team such as Chelsea, Bayern Munich or Real Madrid will naturally draw more attention abroad than one in which players from the league face off against one another. It presented a way to show European audiences a stadium full of passionate fans to prove that Americans were interested in soccer.Finally, in the early days of the league, MLS lacked the depth to field two full All-Star teams. With at least 18 players per side, that’s three dozen guys earning a nod. In 2004, the last year of the East vs. West format, MLS had 10 teams, which means almost a third of each squad’s starting lineup made the All-Star team. That’s… a lot.But MLS in 2017 is not the same as MLS in 2004 or even MLS in 2010. None of the reasons for continuing to bring in European teams are as compelling as they were five, 10 or 15 years ago.From a competitive standpoint, playing a European giant is always going to be a tricky proposition. It’s a no-win situation for the domestic league’s team. If the MLS players prevail, as they have done in more than half the games in the past, it gets written off as an empty victory against a team on a preseason U.S. vacation. If they lose, the narrative is that MLS’ strongest players aren’t good enough to compete. If the MLS squad tries too hard, as it did during the 2014 match with Bayern Munich, the opposing coach and players get angry, and “Handshake-gate” ensues. No one needs that to happen again.Two teams made up of MLS players would compete against each other, bringing an appropriate level of effort to the field, focusing on having a good time and bringing the viewing audience in as well. And if the occasional game ends 6-6 or 9-4, so what? As long as the goals are good, people won’t complain.Furthermore, MLS has enough talent to make two strong rosters. The 24 All-Stars this season represent only 12 teams, which means nearly half the league doesn’t have anyone to root for. That’s disappointing, and it’s also the type of small thing that stymies growth. Fans might not watch one of MLS’ signature events because they don’t feel invested in the players. An easy fix for that problem is to have more All-Stars. Expanding to two teams of 18, or even 20, players would give more spots and get more fan bases involved.Of the three reasons for playing a European squad, the visibility it would bring across the pond remains the most useful. The All-Star Game can be a good showcase for how the league is growing — a sold-out Solider Field will make a strong impression — and clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich want to partake in the game as they try to build their brands in America.But MLS could have it both ways. They could hold a double-header, for example, with an all-MLS All-Star Game and a friendly between two European teams on the same night. Or they could hold the games on consecutive nights, with soccer taking over the host city for a weekend.If the logistics are too complicated or if there’s a concern that the All-Star Game would be overshadowed by the friendly, what about bringing in a European squad to participate in a skills competition? Imagine Gareth Bale racing Kekuta Manneh, Keylor Navas and Tim Howard facing off in a shot-stopping competition, Sebastian Giovinco and Karim Benzema battling in some sort of finishing challenge. I’d tune in for that, and I imagine I’m not the only one.MLS, now in its 22nd year, is growing up. It’s time its All-Star Game does as well.Noah Davis is a Brooklyn-based correspondent for ESPN FC

Toronto jumps over Chicago, NYCFC thanks to Giovinco; D.C. stays bottom

Lots of movement in the Power Rankings this week, as Toronto FC leapt to the top following its big win and the Chicago Fire’s loss to Sporting Kansas City.

Toronto FC (+2):Just in case anyone had forgotten, Sebastian Giovinco reminded MLS that he remains the best player in the league with two goals in a 4-0 romp over NYCFC.
Chicago Fire (-1):On the field, the Fire ran into a Sporting team with something to prove, and lost 3-2 in Kansas City. Off it, David Accam’s future remains up in the air.
New York City FC (-1):NYCFC were undone by the Giovinco Show in Toronto, with Andrea Pirlo looking decidedly ineffective in Yangel Herrera’s place.
Sporting Kansas City (+2):No Dom Dwyer, no deficiencies on the attacking end for Sporting. The emergence of Daniel Salloi in a 3-2 win over the Fire is a great sign.
FC Dallas (-1):A deflected shot and a questionable penalty had Dallas in a hole even before a red card for Carlos Gruezo, all of which resulted in a shocking 4-0 loss to Vancouver.
Atlanta United (-1):There was a bit of bad luck at play in Atlanta’s 1-1 draw with Orlando in their final game at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The frame of the goal kept out several excellent efforts.
New York Red Bulls (+2):Since losing to NYCFC on June 24, the Red Bulls are enjoying a four-game unbeaten run. Their most recent victory came in 4-0 demolition of Montreal.
Houston Dynamo (no change):Juan Cabezas’ first goal in Dynamo orange helped salvage a 2-2 draw against the Portland Timber, and kept Houston’s unbeaten home record intact.
Seattle Sounders (+2):Seattle extended its unbeaten run to six games, putting on a strong defensive performance in a scoreless draw against LA.
Columbus Crew SC (-1):After Wednesday’s 3-0 debacle of a loss in Philadelphia, Crew SC did a credible job in a 2-2 draw across the country in Utah.
Vancouver Whitecaps (+4):Not many would have picked the ‘Caps to go on the road and beat down Dallas 4-0, but a bit of a luck and a red card for the host set things up nicely for Vancouver.
San Jose Earthquakes (-2):Nick Lima’s sweet half-volley was all the Quakes needed to take down the Rapids 1-0 at Avaya Stadium.
Portland Timbers (+1):The good news is that VAR would have fixed the missed call that held the Timbers to a 2-2 draw in Houston. The bad news it that VAR won’t be operational until next week.
LA Galaxy (-2):Sigi Schmid’s Galaxy debut and showdown with his old club came and went with a whimper, as neither LA nor Seattle found the net in a goalless draw.
Orlando City SC (-2):Kaka has still got it. The Brazilian showed his quality with a wonderful goal in Orlando’s 1-1 draw against Atlanta. Now to sort out the Dwyer / Cyle Larin partnership.

Pro/rel component made $4B bid for MLS media rights a non-starter

Four billion dollars. No matter the context in which you look at that figure, it is a significant amount of money. And, apparently it could have been put in MLS’ pocket in exchange for its worldwide media rights over a 10-year period.But for MLS, the proposal contained the ultimate poison pill, that being the implementation of a system of promotion/relegation. And the proposal was made by MP & Silva founder Riccardo Silva. Silva just happens to be co-owner of NASL side Miami FC, and he’s been pushing for a pro/rel system to be implemented in North American soccer for some time. Last year he funded a study by Deloitte that looked at the potential benefits of a pro/rel system, but one that MLS president and deputy commissioner Mark Abbott dismissed as having “serious credibility questions”.Then there is the fact that the league’s current deal with ESPN, Fox and Univision prohibits MLS from even discussing a new media rights deal for several years. All of this led MLS to rebuff Silva’s offer.”We’re very fortunate that we have long-term, successful partnerships with some of the world’s leading media companies in ESPN, Fox and Univision,” MLS said in a statement to ESPN FC. “These agreements run through 2022 and provide each broadcaster with exclusive negotiating windows and renewal rights. As was stated to Mr. Silva both in person and in a subsequent letter, Major League Soccer is prohibited contractually from engaging in discussions about our media rights with other distributors. Accordingly, we are not in a position, nor are we interested, in engaging with Mr. Silva on his proposal.”Privately, more than one MLS source referred to what Silva is doing as “grandstanding”. It’s easy to make such an offer when you know the intended recipient is in no position to accept. One source indicated that Silva asked to meet with Garber, and Garber accepted without knowing that media rights were specifically on Silva’s agenda. When asked what exactly was on the agenda, and whether it was related to the league’s attempted expansion foray into Miami with David Beckham, MLS didn’t provide an answer.Silva declined an interview request through a spokesperson.So was Silva grandstanding? In some ways yes, though there are reasons why he might not have been. MP & Silva is an established player in the media rights business with existing deals in soccer, motor racing, tennis and the NFL, just to name a few.”I definitely think the bid was something that was done in earnest,” said Michael Colangelo, the assistant director of USC’s Sports Business Institute. “You want to table-set this because you want to get ahead of it. It sort of allows him to show that he’s serious. You don’t make an offer like this unless you have some sort of consistent plan that you can execute on. So by setting things up and having it so in 2023, once you have the rights in hand, you can start to figure out the more difficult things like cord-cutting, and getting viewership on a digital platform instead of a traditional platform if that’s where the market is trending.”And what about Miami FC, Silva’s NASL team? While instituting a pro/rel system would be one way to get around having to pay an expansion fee, it seems unlikely that’s the only thing that’s driving Silva.”I think when you talk about someone like Riccardo, I think he sees a business opportunity, he sees a chance to grow MP & Silva on its own, more than a chance to get his team in,” said Colangelo.But the pro/rel component remains a non-starter. Would it make the end of the MLS regular season more compelling? Without question. Such a system would also add a layer of accountability to teams as well. There are also host of negatives on the business side, however. What the game needs right now is investment in terms of stadiums, players and youth academies, just to name a few. The willingness on the part of owners to build that kind of infrastructure would lessen considerably if there were a risk of relegation.MLS is also in the midst of an expansion-bidding process with entry fees starting at $150 million. In all likelihood, the introduction of a pro/rel system would give prospective ownership groups and communities — some of whom are contemplating providing public land for stadiums — reason to have second thoughts.”No owner with deep pockets is going to say, ‘I’m going to line up all my sponsorships, and then get relegated,'” said Colangelo. “No sponsor is going to come in and be the kit sponsor if you can relegated in a year or two. Right now the system just isn’t built for the risk.”A system like England is so established. In the U.S. is there the right amount of teams to start this? Are the markets the right fit? Are the venues the right fit? Right now it’s not in the cards. Now, if we’re talking 10 to 15 to 20 years down the line, maybe it is. But right now, it just doesn’t make sense for MLS with the business structure and trying to expand the league and these franchise fees and making sure that the product is up to par. It doesn’t make much sense for the league as currently constructed.”Then there is the issue of control as it relates to media rights. MLS has historically negotiated rights deals on its own, and isn’t going to give away that kind of power any time soon.”This ensures that [MLS] and its partners can structure an agreement that addresses all elements, such as scheduling, marketing and digital distribution, that are required for a successful partnership,” the MLS statement read.Exactly how the media landscape will look in six years is another giant unknown, especially as it relates to cord-cutting, and the move to digital platforms. The advent of streaming companies wanting to get more into sports is another changing aspect. Then you have entertainment entities like UFC and WWE who own or control their own streaming rights.”MLS has time on its side,” said Colangelo. “In a few years they may know the landscape a little bit better, and how to monetize things like cord-cutters. So why rush into something right now when they may get five or six more bidders down the line? They may figure out a business model where it’s league owned and they can benefit from their own distribution model.”The number is astounding, it’s jaw-dropping. How can you turn down $4 billion? But the way the business is moving, you could have left millions and millions on the table just because of that.”Will Silva jump into the bidding fray when negotiations open up? It’s possible, though as long as pro/rel is part of the equation, MLS is almost certain to look elsewhere.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle.

U.S. Ladies score three late goals to complete stunning comeback win over Brazil 4-3

Jul 30, 2017

SAN DIEGO — Julie Johnson Ertz came in off the bench and scored in the 89th minute and the United States women’s soccer team overcame a late two-goal deficit to beat Brazil 4-3 on Sunday night in the Tournament of Nations.The United States was in danger of losing for the fourth time this year before the three-goal flurry in about nine minutes.Two minutes after Brazil’s Andressinha scored on a free kick in the 78th minute for her second goal of the game, Christen Press countered to make it 3-2 with her 43rd career goal and second of the year.Press fed Megan Rapinoe for a spectacular running blast that tied it in the 85th minute, and Ertz put the Americans ahead four minutes later. Ertz is using her married name after playing as Julie Johnston.Rapinoe, who was recovering from knee surgery for much of past year, had not scored for the national team since the 2015 World Cup. She has rebounded this season with the Seattle Reign and leads the National Women’s Soccer League with 12 goals.The United States was coming off a 1-0 loss to Australia in the team’s Tournament of Nations opener in Seattle on Thursday night. It was the first time that the Australians beat the Americans 28 previous matches.Coach Jill Ellis tinkered with her lineup against Brazil, surprisingly moving Becky Sauerbrunn to a defensive midfielder role rather than her usual spot at center back.The United States has never dropped four games on home soil in a single season. In addition to Australia on Thursday, the Americans fell to England and France in the She Believes Cup in March.The Americans have won just four matches when they’ve allowed an opponent three goals.In Sunday’s early game at Qualcomm Stadium, Sam Kerr scored three goals for her first international hat trick and the Australian women’s national team beat Japan 4-2.Kerr scored in the 10th, 14th and 43rd minutes, capping the trio of goals with a backflip.Australia, ranked No. 7 in the world, leads the tournament standings. The Matildas will wrap up the round-robin tournament against Brazil on Thursday in Carson, California. The United States will face Japan.

Aside From the Trophy, What Else Can USA Take Away From 2017 Gold Cup?

Bruce Arena learned plenty about his player pool, with all having an eye on taking the momentum generated by the Gold Cup triumph into World Cup qualifying.

BRIAN STRAUSFriday July 28th, 2017 SI

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The USA can call itself CONCACAF champion again, at least for the next two years. And if FIFA holds a Confederations Cup in 2021 (it’s not a certainty because the leeway organizers had to move Qatar’s 2022 World Cup to the less-blistering winter may not be available the year before), the Americans have punched half a ticket. Veterans like Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore scratched a lingering international itch, while the likes of Darlington Nagbe, Jordan Morris, Kellyn Acosta and Jorge Villafaña earned some pedigree.The Americans deserve a celebration, thought it must be brief. The two-game hole they fell into at the start of World Cup qualifying makes this month’s triumph taste a bit sweeter. It also cast a shadow over the tournament. This Gold Cup could never be about just this Gold Cup. In five weeks, qualifying starts up again and even the slightest stumble there will put a trip to Russia back into jeopardy and render Wednesday’s triumph almost moot. “We’ve made progress, but we have a long way to go,” coach Bruce Arena said after his team deservedly defeated Jamaica, 2-1, in Wednesday’s final here at Levi’s Stadium. “We’re a long way from qualifying for the World Cup and that’s the objective, for sure. We’ve got to evaluate this performance in July and the next couple of weeks, and I have to select a roster for our World Cup qualifying. Then we have to win some games in September and October.”The USA defeated Costa Rica relatively easily in the Gold Cup semifinals. But the Ticos team that shows up to Red Bull Arena on September 1 almost certainly will be stronger. Arena will have access to his full arsenal as well, as those European players who missed the Gold Cup will be available. He said Wednesday that it’ll be “challenging” finding the right blend after the full squad has spent almost three months apart. But in his favor, he’ll have the a much deeper knowledge of his player pool, a confident group of CONCACAF champions and some reliable trends in form.

Here is a look at a few takeaways, other than the trophy, from the Gold Cup:

VAUNTED VETERANS CEMENT THEIR STATURE

It’s tough to imagine the likes of Tim Howard, Bradley or Clint Dempsey still having something to prove, and certainly their involvement in the upcoming qualifiers never was in question as long as they’re healthy. Yet each of them, along with Altidore, somehow managed to enhance his stature during the Gold Cup. And they did so on the field and off.“In the locker room they’re such great guys that calm us down,” Morris said following Wednesday’s final, during which he careened from goat to hero. “They’ve been part of those big moments before, so for us it’s learning from them and trying to just be calm in those big moments and they really help with that.”Howard didn’t put a foot wrong. Bradley was imperious. The Americans’ midfield organization and spacing improved dramatically once the captain arrived ahead of the quarterfinals, and he performed so well, he was named tournament MVP despite missing half of it. Bradley was comfortable as both a No. 6 and in a more mobile role alongside Acosta in the semifinal and final, and the USA didn’t yield a Gold Cup goal from open play during the 270-plus minutes he was on the field.

Meanwhile, Dempsey’s denouement has been officially delayed. He may be 34 and enjoying a new lease on his soccer life following a heart ailment that sidelined him last year, but the desperate, making-up-for-lost time approach he’s had his entire career looks like it’ll continue to pay dividends. Dempsey has always played like a man delayed, desperate to squeeze the most out of every minute on the field. Arena rolled the dice this month and guessed that reducing those minutes, rather than giving reason Dempsey to sulk, might help him become even more efficient. It worked. Dempsey came on as a second-half sub in both the semi and the final. In the first game, he set up Altidore’s game-winner then scored on a beautiful free kick in the closing moments. Acosta is a two-way midfielder rather than a playmaker and was more than willing to defer to Dempsey in that space behind the forwards the latter likes to exploit. It made all the difference against Costa Rica. In Wednesday’s final, Dempsey replaced Acosta and acted as more of an attacking free agent in a game the USA was dominating. He nearly scored the winner—and the goal that would’ve lifted him past Landon Donovan on the all-time U.S. goal scoring list—in the 75th, but his sharp header was saved brilliantly by Jamaican substitute Dwayne Miller. Then in the 88th, he helped steer the ball toward Morris for the clincher.“I’m older and I appreciate it more,” Dempsey said of his third Gold Cup championship. “I know that there’s not a lot more opportunities to win cups. To say I’ve won three is something that I’ll remember, and to be able to say that I’ve tied the record during the process—three games to chip in with a goal and three assists—I’m proud of that.”Of course Dempsey’s counting. That’s what makes him so productive. Said Arena, “Our older players are unbelievable. The passion they have for this program from our oldest player, now Tim Howard [38], to our captain Michael Bradley, to Clint Dempsey … Clint Dempsey is going to do whatever is necessary for this team to be successful so this is encouraging stuff.”Arena has his veterans playing well and buying in, and that should pave the way for the rest of the squad this fall.

NEWER PLAYERS HELP ESTABLISH RELIABLE DEPTH

Qualifying for a World Cup and doing well once you get there also requires answering some key questions behind the core. And the Gold Cup helped Arena do that in a number of ways.“This was a really good experience for me and the players to get to know each other and move our program forward,” Arena said.The manager was clear that Acosta, the homegrown FC Dallas star, needed additional international seasoning. He’s far from a first-choice starter and has aspects of his game he needs to clean up. Nagbe is ahead of him if Arena has his full complement of outside midfielders, and Alejandro Bedoya remains a versatile, arguably indispensable asset. But Acosta is smart and unselfish, and he demonstrated the sort of potential he has a complementary piece in the way he played off Bradley (and Dempsey in the semifinal). He’ll get more opportunities. Morris did more than net the trophy-winner. He made it clear he has the intangibles to succeed at higher levels even as he works to round out his game. The story of the high expectations and slow start to his rookie season in Seattle, which ended with a 2016 MLS Cup title, is well known. He’s struggled early in 2017 as well, and there are players who might endure that slump, see Dom Dwyer score in his first two internationals and then yield an equalizer in a tournament final and crumble. Morris didn’t, however. His perseverance through an indifferent hour against Martinique during the group stage led to two second-half goals, and his recovery from his defensive miscue Wednesday night will become the stuff of U.S. soccer legend. Add all that to his versatility—he can play high and stretch a defense or attack from wider positions—and Morris is in great shape to continue his rise for country as well as club.Nagbe clearly has a fan in Arena, who’s lauded the Portland midfielder at every opportunity. Perhaps he reminds the manager a bit of his former Virginia and national team captain Claudio Reyna—on a relative scale—thanks to his ability to keep the ball, facilitate possession and influence team speed and shape. Neither is the assertive, game-breaking attacker some probably hoped for, but Nagbe is still relatively new to the international game and has a significant upside. He’ll play a role going forward.Gyasi Zardes is another player whom Arena favors. The LA Galaxy midfielder/forward doesn’t have Nagbe’s technique or comfort on the ball, but he makes things happen in the attacking third in a way his Portland counterpart doesn’t. Zardes is an agent of offensive chaos, and that’s not a bad thing to be able to bring off the bench. On Wednesday, he hit the cross that led to Morris’s goal.

Arena didn’t need to see a ton from his center backs during the Gold Cup. Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez will remain in the rotation, and the latter’s improved performance in the final after a more difficult outing against Cost Rica was a good sign. They’re veterans, they’re established and with Geoff Cameron and John Brooks also available for the qualifiers, Arena can take comfort in having four World Cup-level defenders to deploy. His successor can delve deeper into the potential of Matt Hedges, Matt Miazga, Cameron Carter-Vickers and others.The bigger questions had been on the flanks, where former coach Jurgen Klinsmann consistently struggled to find answers. This month, Arena found some depth. Eric Lichaj had some good moments in his long-awaited return to regular international duty and if he didn’t do enough to unseat Graham Zusi as the No. 2 behind DeAndre Yedlin, he at least pushed the Sporting Kansas City veteran and gave Arena another option. Jorge Villafaña hasn’t been perfect on the left, but he also hasn’t done enough to lose the job and, at times, he shows the sort of dynamism and range that makes him a likely first choice. Fabian Johnson remains a fallback option.There is no settled back four, but there are several combinations that could work. And that represents progress from last fall.Plus, there’s more depth in the program if Arena wants to look for it, from European players like Timmy Chandler and Tim Ream to potential January camp invitees such as Justin Morrow, Greg Garza, Steve Birnbaum and Tim Parker. That camp also may represent an opportunity for Bill Hamid, who blanked Nicaragua in the Gold Cup’s group stage finale, to make his case for a spot on the flight to Russia. It’s a flight that now, thanks to progress on multiple fronts, seems more likely to happen.

Australia earns historic win over U.S. women, who struggle in Tournament of Nations opener

By Graham Hays | Jul 28, 2017

SEATTLE — It seemed a bit of a bland name, this Tournament of Nations. It felt obvious, one step better than calling it the tournament of teams. It felt far more fitting by the end of the night.By the time the final whistle blew on Australia’s 1-0 win against the United States, the first victory for the Matildas in 28 meetings between the teams secured when Tameka Butt slipped the ball past goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher in the 67th minute, the name felt downright eloquent.This is a tournament of nations. These days, there are far more nations that matter in women’s soccer. And far more of them are capable of beating the United States than ever before.Like Brazil and Japan, the other teams in the tournament, Australia is now on that list — which is both why the United States is trying to remake itself and why that is proving so difficult.”I think any team in the top 10 or 12 of women’s football can all beat each other now,” Australia coach Alen Stajcic said after his team, ranked seventh in the world, proved just that.Just as England and France proved on American soil earlier this year in the SheBelieves Cup.This is, believe it or not, what U.S. coach Jill Ellis wanted out of this year. Well, not the third loss by shutout, but the competition. The year after the Olympics used to be a quiet one for the U.S. women, no major tournaments or qualifying events to worry about. Four years ago, for example, they barely took the field during the summer. They certainly didn’t play three top-10 opponents in eight days. But Ellis said here in Seattle this week that it was important not to fall behind as other teams benefited from the competition of the European Championship now being played in the Netherlands.So the Tournament of Nations was added to a schedule that already included the SheBelieves Cup and a trip to Europe to play Norway and Sweden. The objective wasn’t to win 2017 but to be better prepared to win in 2019 when the next World Cup rolls around.”It’s a big ask, especially for where we are, in terms of we’re a team in transition,” Ellis said the day before the loss. “But there is no better way to get ready for qualifying than to play these teams. You just learn so much about yourself. We knew we were going to be a younger team. To play the top nine teams in the world in one calendar year, yeah, it’s pretty good.”That was why Crystal Dunn, Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan began Thursday’s game healthy but on the bench. Why the back line featured one player making her debut in Taylor Smith and another earning her fifth cap in Abby Dahlkemper. It was why Lindsey Horan started alongside Christen Press as a forward, a role Horan has played elsewhere but not with the national team.What will worry, disappoint, frustrate or infuriate many is that the U.S. women again generally failed to threaten the goal until those familiar faces entered as second-half substitutes. Until the game necessitated throwing caution to the wind and attacking with numbers. The idea of a process might not worry most, but the perception of a lack of progress will.The United States had a lot of possession in the opening 20 minutes and some near chances, most often through the work of Megan Rapinoe. Playing in her professional home, where she is in the midst of a sensational NWSL season for the Seattle Reign, Rapinoe played all 90 minutes and looked indispensable. That, too, is part of the process when it comes to a player coming off another knee injury. But the initial surge abated and the United States, all too familiarly, left vast swaths of midfield unclaimed. Press and Horan were left isolated. Australia’s pressure pinned back Smith and Casey Short, the Americans’ starting outside backs. The Australians didn’t let the Americans play, and the attack bogged down.”We talk about it and we work on it,” Rapinoe said. “In the game it’s tough when you’re under the pump. I think we just need a little bit quicker thinking from everybody; that’s quicker in movement, quicker decision-making, and have those options around the ball for teams that press like that. It’s kind of hurried in the beginning, but once you break that initial pressure you can get out and run on them.”But I think we struggled to find that release ball today, and I think that really hurt us.”There were few better examples of that than Horan. The 23-year-old, the fourth-most-senior player in the starting lineup, nearly played in Press for a goal in the first half and nearly had several memorable moments. Instead, Horan left the game midway through the second half after, although not directly as a result of, what looked like a painful head-to-head collision. This developmental phase for the United States is designed for players like Horan, who is clearly talented and excelled with French giant Paris Saint-Germain after skipping college. But from an experiment deep in the midfield to a higher role to the forward role she now occupies as essentially Lloyd’s understudy, it has not been a smooth ascendency. It has been a struggle, just like Thursday night.”It was difficult,” Horan said. “Australia is a great team, and they came out and they were pressing us. Any time we would have back to goal, getting the ball into them, they would be right up on us. It was difficult to get out of pressure at points. I think a lot of the time we did find the weak side and try to get out. In the second half, we got a lot more chances off of it, so that was great as a team. Unfortunately we didn’t get the goal, didn’t get the winDunn, Lloyd and Morgan all had chances to level the score after they came on in the second half, Lloyd denied by a brilliant save from goalkeeper Lydia Williams on a ripped shot from distance that looked bound for goal. But Australia, with seven starters who also started against the United States in the World Cup two years ago and some new faces mixed in, wasn’t spooked by the close calls.”The growth of the women’s game, it’s very steep,” U.S. co-captain Becky Sauerbrunn said. “You’re seeing excellent soccer from a lot of countries. Watching Euros, you are seeing teams like Austria play some really quality football. It’s exciting — obviously we want to stay at the top of that group, but it’s definitely hard.”

MORE TOURNAMENT OF NATIONS

THURSDAY
StubHub Center (Carson, California) USWNT vs. Japan, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Australia became the 16th country to beat the U.S. women, but it was an overdue formality in many ways. The Matildas surprised Brazil in the 2015 World Cup, could have (maybe should have) derailed Germany in the Olympics a year ago, and have been good enough to beat the United States on any given day for several years. But for some fantastic Hope Solo saves and Rapinoe’s virtuoso performance, the Australians might have done that in the opening game of the World Cup two years ago.The 3-1 final score that day was a less accurate reflection of the proceedings than the score Thursday.”I think there’s been a lot of fear over the years,” Stajcic said. “But look, I think we busted that myth at the World Cup, to be honest. Even though we didn’t win that game, the players got a lot of belief out of that game. Especially in the first half that day, we walked off knowing we were the better team that half. …”I think that day was really a turning point for the team, and today was probably the result.”That result was a reminder of why Ellis believes so much in what she is doing in trying to make the United States deeper, younger and better. But it also was a performance that won’t silence doubts about the progress of that process.Graham Hays covers college sports for espnW, including softball and soccer. Hays began with ESPN in 1999.

Gold Cup Trophy Builds Confidence for USA, but Work Still Remains

BRIAN STRAUSThursday July 27th, 2017

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Goals change mood, perspective and trajectory, and winning cures nearly all ills.A little less than 40 minutes after he made the mistake that, at least in his eyes, could have cost his country a major title, Jordan Morris inked his name into U.S. soccer history and scored the goal that sealed the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup title. He became only the fourth American man to notch a goal that clinched a trophy. And eight months after a dramatic, costly coaching change left the program in a World Cup qualifying crisis and drifting in a state of significant uncertainty, the mood around the U.S. national team seems better than it’s been for years.Yet still, coach Bruce Arena said here late Wednesday night after his team’s 2–1 win over Jamaica in the Gold Cup final that, “I think we’re still behind the 8-ball.”If that’s the case—the USA is 2–2–2 and in third place in the Hexagonal with four qualifiers remaining—then it’s just about the lightest, least imposing 8-ball there is. Undoubtedly, work remains to be done. But the collective that takes the field at Red Bull Arena for the Sept. 1 qualifier against Costa Rica almost certainly will be miles from the listless, uncertain squad that was demolished by Los Ticos last November. Since Jurgen Klinsmann’s subsequent dismissal and Arena’s appointment, the USA is 9–0–5. Its 2–0–2 qualifying mark includes a 6–0 dismantling of Honduras and a draw in Mexico at the Estadio Azteca. And now, the USA is continental champion for the first time in four years. Success breeds confidence, trust, and chemistry.None of that guarantees future results of course. But the smiles on the faces of Arena and the men who passed through the Levi’s Stadium mixed zone with gold medals around their necks suggested this is a team that, despite the qualifying work still remaining, is quite happy with where it is.“If you had asked me in November if this was where we’d be with the program, I’d probably say ‘I don’t think so,’” Arena said. “For me, personally, it certainly feels good and for the players that are working really hard to represent the United States and get our national team program better, it’s a real credit to them, simply an outstanding ob from the first day I’ve taken this position. Our older players are unbelievable—the passion they have for this program …. this is encouraging stuff.”Arena cited Tim Howard, who appears on the road to starting in a third World Cup; captain Michael Bradley, who won the Gold Cup’s golden ball award despite joining the team after the group stage; and striker Clint Dempsey, who’s willingness to accept a role as a game-changing substitute sent a signal that this a squad with it priorities in place.“Those guys … really set the tone, and we have to have the tone set the right way if we’re going to get through these next four World Cup qualifiers,” Arena said. “We have to be successful in September and October and we have a group of guys who are motivated to do that.”There’s a significant chunk of the national team, led by the likes of Christian Pulisic, Fabian Johnson, Geoff Cameron and Bobby Wood, who missed out on this Gold Cup while preparing for their upcoming club seasons in Europe. Arena said integrating those athletes after nearly a month without them will be a challenge. But he’s shown an impressive dexterity in managing and massaging a roster, along with a keen understanding of on-field chemistry. Those Europe-based players will join a group that’s established a welcoming, ofessional, and motivated culture.“Any team has a bit of stagnation toward the end of an era, and that was us, probably, in November,” said Howard, who won his first CONCACAF title since ‘07. “Bruce has come in. We have a renewed sense of urgency. He lit a fire under us as a group and certain players, and the results have come our way.”Morris is among those players who still hasn’t earned national team tenure. He’s 22 and in his second year as a pro. There have been ups and downs, from an MLS Cup title last December to a brutally slow start to his sophomore season in Seattle. This Gold Cup marked his last best chance to show he had a role to play in the upcoming qualifiers, and he took it like a seasoned striker, scoring twice against Martinique in the group stage and then delivering the emphatic 88th-minute winner on Wednesday. the goal meant even more considering that it was Morris’ faulty marking that allowed Je-Vaughn Watson to get free for Jamaica’s equalizer.It’s a great championship game narrative, the mistake and then the recovery. “Redemption is a beautiful thing,” said Howard. But Morris, who took ownership of his mistake on Watson’s goal, said his rise from the ashes was as much about that collective culture as his own focus.“I’ve never really had anything like that in my career, where I was kind of at fault for the other team scoring like that. So, it was tough to get over, especially in such a big game,” Morris said. “But my teammates were great and for me. [They] picked me right back up after the mistake and said, ‘Next play. Keep moving on. Try and make a difference.’ And that’s what I tried to do and I was happy I could do that.”Said Arena, “This tournament has been a really good experience for me and the players to get to know each other and move our program forward …. We’ve made progress, but we have a long way to go.”It’s a good sign for all that his players agree on both counts.“I still think we can improve,” said Jozy Altidore, who scored the Americans’ opening goal on a stunning 45th-minute free kick. “We still have to raise our level. We’re happy with the trophy, but I still think there are points where we can dominate games better …. We’re going to enjoy this moment, but there’s still a lot of room to improve.”

Christian Pulisic to Liverpool links continue

Leave a commentBy Joe Prince-WrightJul 31, 2017, 9:55 AM EDT

For well over 12 months Christian Pulisic has been linked with a move to Liverpool, and that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon.[ MORE: Pulisic speaks to JPW ]The U.S. national team star, still just 18 years old, signed a new long-term deal at German giants Borussia Dortmund over the summer but the Pennsylvania native has once again been linked with a transfer to Liverpool to join his former manager Jurgen Klopp.A report in the Daily Mirror in the UK suggests that if Barcelona’s Neymar moves to PSG, Barca will then push through a move for Liverpool’s Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho. If that happens then per the report Pulisic would be Klopp’s top replacement.Pro Soccer Talk understands that Klopp and Pulisic keep in regular contact after the latter moved from Hershey, PA as a 15-year-old to sign for Dortmund who were then managed by Klopp.Last summer speculation was rife that Liverpool were pushing hard to sign Pulisic, but Klopp was coy when we asked him just before the transfer window slammed shut. And before you accuse Klopp of tapping up another player (fans of RB Leipzig and Southampton are likely nodding their heads), it is believed the pair have a very close relationship with the German coach influential in helping Pulisic and his father settle into life overseas in 2015 when he moved to Germany.Since then a lot has changed for Pulisic.He’s become the main attacking threat from midfield for the U.S. national team, plus a regular for Dortmund as they reached the UEFA Champions League last eight, won the German Cup and finished third in the Bundesliga.The hype is very real around Pulisic and although the talented teenager continues to impress each and every time he steps on the pitch, fans of the USMNT are trying not to get ahead of themselves.In truth, he’s the most exciting attacking talent the U.S. has had since Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey burst onto the scenes and he has the potential — seven goals in 16 appearances for the USMNT is not half bad — to surpass both of their stunning international careers.When it comes to Pulisic’s club career, many would suggest that staying in the Bundesliga for another two to three years would be the best for his development and then he’d still only be 21 or 22 if he decided it was time to move on in 2020. The world is at his feet and if he continues his rapid ascension then plenty of big money offers will come in if he ever wants to leave Dortmund, which again is another big question mark given their status in Europe and beyond.The main question, at least for me, around this reported Liverpool interest is simple: how much would Pulisic cost? A rough estimate of $35-40 million may even be on the low side, considering Dortmund would know that Liverpool has a huge transfer fee of over $115 million, or more, coming in for Coutinho.Everything suggests Pulisic will remain at Dortmund for the foreseeable future given their annual ability to challenge for the Bundesliga title and qualify for the UCL each season.Klopp is keeping a close eye on his former protege.Although Pulisic’s diminutive stature may be an issue for some around this move, anybody who has watched his breathtaking ability on the ball, pace and sublime awareness to navigate his way around the pitch know that moving to the Premier League would be something he’d take time to adjust to but would surely master.It still seems a little early for Pulisic to be heading to the PL, but there’s no doubt the top clubs in England will soon be chasing him if he improves on his breakout season at Dortmund in 2016-17.As long as Klopp is in charge at Liverpool, it’s likely they’ll be at the front of the queue.’

Three Things – #FCEvINDY 11

Three points from Sunday’s 2-1 win over FC Edmonton

Published Jul 31, 2017

GOLDIE NETS HIS FIRST

Patience and practice finally paid off for forward David Goldsmith as the new-in-blue striker netted his first professional goal in the first regular season start of his career. In the 7^th minute, Goldsmith sent a through pass from the center circle towards Indy original Don Smart near the right side of FC Edmonton’s box. From there, Smart zoomed past Edmonton’s defense where he met Goldsmith’s pass on the flank, and after a single touch, he sent the ball rocketing towards the post where it deflected off the diving gloves of Edmonton goalkeeper Tyson Farago. However, Farago’s deflection sent the ball bouncing behind him and directly in front of the open goal. Without hesitation, Goldsmith came forward to send the ball to the back of the net, giving both himself and “Indiana’s Team” the first goal of the night. The Bristol, England native signed for the Eleven prior to the start of the 2017 Season after completing his collegiate career at Butler University. Over the course of 281 minutes on the pitch, Goldsmith has now been involved in two goals this season – his first being his assistance in XI midfielder Ben Speas’ goal during Indy’s 2-0 victory over North Carolina FC on June 17. In addition, Goldsmith is the third Indy Eleven player to score his NASL debut goal this season, joining the ranks of midfielders Craig Henderson and Tanner Thompson. Moreover, Goldsmith is the 10^th player to score a goal for the “Boys in Blue” so far in 2017; scorers that precede Goldsmith include: Justin Braun, Eamon Zayed, Lovel Palmer, Ben Speas, Tanner Thompson, Nemanja Vukovic, Brad Ring, Craig Henderson and former Eleven player Jason Plumhoff.

RACKING UP THE SAVES

Acting as though there wasn’t a two-week break, Indy Eleven goalkeeper extraordinaire Jon Busch returned to action with another stellar performance between the posts at Clarke Stadium. Like a nearly impenetrable wall, Busch added another seven saves to his personal stats, letting just one slip through the cracks. Five out of the seven of Busch’s saves came within the last 10 minutes of the match as Edmonton frantically searched for an equalizer. The first of which came in the 81^st minute after FC Edmonton’s Ben Fisk won a free kick after being taken down by XI midfielder Brad Ring just outside Indy’s box. Edmonton midfielder Dustin Corea stepped up to take the kick that inevitably found Bush’s gloves in the top-center of the goal. Shortly after in the 83^rd minute, FC Edmonton found another opportunity when forward Jake Keegan sent a strike hurling in from far outside the box, but a comfortable dive from Busch kept Indy in the lead. The Eddies continued their attack two minutes later when Edmonton’s Ben McKendry sent another ball skidding across the ground from outside the box, making for another easy save for Busch. Fast forward minutes later in the 90^th minute, Fisk came charging along the left edge of the box before firing off a shot just feet away from the goal. Reacting quickly, Busch made yet another save with a masterful drop-and-stretch, sending the ball forward to be cleared by Indy’s Tanner Thompson. The last of Busch’s saves came in the final play in extra time when Eleven defender Lovel Palmer’s clearance landed at the feet of McKendry just outside the box. McKendry fired off the final high flying ball, which was collected by Busch in the center of the goal, sealing Indy’s first win for the Fall season.

Bush has collected 59 saves in total so far in 2017, putting him only 11 off from the most saves in the NASL. Fans have the opportunity to pledge a donation for every save Busch makes in the 2017 season for his SAVES for SEALS initiative. The man is also auctioning off game-worn gloves and boots, also connected to his SAVES for SEALS program.

A STRONG START

Sunday’s 1-2 win marks a strong start to the Fall season for Indy Eleven, with Indy being one of two teams to walk away with three points over the weekend. “Indiana’s Team” currently sits in second place for the Fall due to goal differential, with the New York Cosmos taking first over the weekend. However, Indy surged ahead in the combined table by overtaking North Carolina FC’s 5^thplace position, inching closer to a playoff position. In an earlier interview, Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson stressed the importance of gaining points in back-to-back matches with Edmonton:

“These are two vital games coming up,” Hankinson said. “Because they are a team that sits below us and they’re going to be fighting, clawing to get past us. With 16 games, we figure we’ve got to win about 10, 11 [games] in order to build the kind of points—30-plus-points to add to the 20 from our Spring. I feel like that’s the level we’ve got to produce to be a playoff team.”

The “Boys in Blue” will look to make the most of their early lead in the Fall as they take on our Canadian rivals once again at home. Tickets are available now for this Saturday’s match-up against FC Edmonton at “The Mike” for as low as $11.

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7/28/17 US Wins Gold Cup, El Classico in Miami Sat 8 pm ESPN ICC, CHS kids camp 8/4

July 28, 2017 gatorbest

Wow what an ending to an exciting Gold Cup Final victory over Jamaica 2-1 as youngster Jordan Morris scored an 88^th minute scrum goal to hand the US the cup. (by the way I think Clint Dempsey purposefully left that back heel to him – though my family disagrees.) Either way and exciting end to the tourney as Michael Bradley was name Player of the Tourney and Morris tied for the Golden Boot. I thought Morris, Altidore, Dempsey – (as super sub), Darlington Nagbe Zardes, and Beezler all did wonders for their chances of being on the plane next summer for World Cup. Either way it was a solid Cup Win with the B/C team with a few A;s sprinkled in late bringing home the trophy and extending AMERICAN Coach Bruce Arena’s unbeated streak to 14 games. Game 15 of course will be the big one as we host Costa Rica for basically 2^nd in the Hex in early Sept in NJ.

So the US Ladies are hosting the League of Nations Cup and face Brazil and Marta on Sun eve at 8 pm on ESPN 2, then they face Japan on Thurs night 10 pn on ESPN 2 as well. Of course locally – tickets are on sale for the US Ladies National Team hosting New Zealand on Tues Night 7:30 pm at Nippert Stadium in Cinncinatti.

The International Champions Cup has given us some exciting games with El Classico Miami – with Real Madrid facing Barcelona this Sat. night at 8 pm on ESPN. Chelsea faces Inter at 7:30 am on EPSN2, while Man City vs Tottenham with US Carter Vickers kickoff at 6 pm on ESPN2. Roma and Juve play Sunday at 4 pm right after MLS’ NY Derby at 2 pm on ESPN. Speaking of MLS – how about the return of Bob Bradley to LAFC next season and the return of Sigi Schmidt to the LA Galaxy this week. Should make the Seattle vs LA Galaxy game quite intreaguing as the former Seattle Manager canned mid last season returns on Sat night at 10 pm on ESPN. And of course the MLS Allstar Game with Chicago and former German National Team Captain Bastian Schenieger captaining the Allstars vs the 2 time defending World Champions Real Madrid with Renaldo, Bale, Benzzema, Ramos and all the stars on hand live in Chicago Wednesday night at 9 pm on Fox Sports 1. (tix still available by the way!! – only 3 hours away!) Of course the EPL and World League Seasons are right around the corner with the German Super Cup (Dortmund – Pulisic facing Bayern Munich) next Sat 2:30 pm on Fox and the Community Shield with Arsenal vs Chelsea next Sun at 9:30 on FS1.

Good luck to those trying out for High School teams this week and next !!

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Soccer Camp the Carmel High Boys Varsity Soccer Team are hosting their 3 hour camp next Friday, Aug 4 – 9:30 am till 12 noon at River Rd Fields. Boys and Girls K-8 just $45 with FREE T-Shirt and the chance to be a ball boy or girl at a CHS soccer game this fall. Visit CHS website

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GAMES ON TV

Thur, July 27

10 pm ESPN US Women vs Australia

Sat, July 29

7:30 am ESPN 2 Chelsea vs Inter ICC

3 pm beIN Sports Monaco vs PSG – French Super Cup

6 pm EsPN 2 Man City vs Tottenham ICC

8 pm ESPN Real Madrid vs Barcelona ICC

10 pm ESPN 1 LA Galaxy vs Seattle Sounders

Sun, July 30

2 pm ESPN Toronto vs NY City

4 pm ESPN Roma vs Juventus ICC

4 pm ESPN3 FC Edmonton vs Indy 11

8 pm ESPN2 US Women vs Brazil

Tues, Aug 1

2 pm beIN Sport Liverpool vs Bayern Munich

Wed, Aug 2

9 pm Fox Sport 1 MLS Allstars vs Real Madrid

Thurs, Aug 3

10 pm ESPN2 US Women vs Japan

Sat, Aug 5

2:30 pm FOX Dortmund (Pulisic) vs Bayern Munich (German Supercup)

7:30 pm Myindy TV + beIN Sport Indy 11 vs FC Edmonton

Sun, Aug 6

9 am Fox Sport1 Arsenal vs Chelsea (EPL Community Shield)

2 pm? ESPNU Women’s European Championship?

4 pm ESPN Portland vs LA Galaxy

6 pm Fox Sport 1 NY City vs NY Red Bulls (NY Derby)

8 pm Fox Sport 1 Sporting KC vs Atlanta United

Tues, Aug 8

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1 Real Madrid vs Man United UEFA Super Cup

Sat, Aug 12 EPL Starts

7:30 am NBCSN Watford vs Liverpool

10 am NCBSN Chelsea vs Burnlee

10 am CNBC Everton vs Stoke City

12:30 pm NBC Brighton vs Man City

7:30 pm Lifetime Orlando Pride vs Sky Blue (Women’s)

7:30 pm beIN Sport Miami FC vs Indy 11

10 :30 pm Fox Sport1 LA Galaxy vs NY City FC

Sun, Aug 13 EPL

8:30 am NBCSN New Castle United (Yedlin) vs Tottenham (Carter Vickers)

11 am NBCSN Man United vs West Ham

2 pm beIN Sport? Barcelona vs Real Madrid – Spain Supercup

US Wins Gold Cup Final 2-1 over Jamaica – Jeff Carlisle

International Champions Cup July Games in Nashville and Detroit

USA

Redemption for Jordan Morris As US Wins Gold Cup – Jeff Carlisle

Arena happy but Wants more from US – Jeff Carlisle ESPNFC

US Men Take Home Gold Cup Title – Matt Doyle MLS.com

Who’s Stock is Up Who Down – ESPNFC Video

Dempsey is GOAT – MLS.com Kurt Lawson

Dempsey’s Story – The Journey – 4 min Video

He’s a Smug Bastard isn’t he – Klinnsman – Every MLS team wanted my GK son ESPNFC

Mexico Issues Deeper than just Osario – ESPNFC

US Ladies

Tourney of Nations -5 things to Know

US Opponents

MLS

Bastian Schweinsteiger to Captain MLS Allstars vs Real Madrid Wed

Former Seattle coach Sigi Schmid replaces Curt Inalfo as coach at LA Galaxy

Former US Coach Bob Bradley to Coach LAFC

INDY 11

Kicks for Kids McDonalds Family Night Aug 5 vs FC Edmonton

Earn your Degree While You Watch Your Kids Soccer Practice – ½ the time and cost of Traditional Schools

Redemption for Jordan Morris, United States in Gold Cup win over Jamaica

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — It’s been said that strikers need to have short memories. If they miss a chance, they need to forget about it and focus on the next opportunity they get because that one is definitely going in.But early in the second half of the U.S.’ 2-1 Gold Cup final win over Jamaica, Jordan Morris realized his selective amnesia needed to reach a higher level. It wasn’t a blown scoring opportunity the young attacker needed to forget, but a blown assignment. He had just been overpowered on a corner kick by Je-Vaughn Watson, allowing the Jamaican to volley home an equalizer. Erasing that memory took some doing.”It definitely lingers on quite a bit, and to be honest I’ve never really had anything like that in my career, where I was kind of at fault for the other team scoring like that,” said Morris. “It was tough to get over, especially in such a big game.”The messages from teammates were all along the same lines; think about the next play, keep pushing, make a difference.”I was making fun of [Morris] because the look on his face was so sad,” said forward Jozy Altidore.Clint Dempsey added: “You have to keep fighting. If you don’t keep fighting you get left to the wayside. It definitely helps build your character.”Whatever way the message was delivered, it worked. With the match looking like it was headed toward extra time, Morris pounced on a loose ball in the box in the 88th minute, and powered home a shot past Jamaica keeper Dwayne Morris to give the U.S. a 2-1 win and its sixth Gold Cup title.”For me it was a sense of relief, trying to make up for the mistake I made earlier,” he said. “If felt good that I could help the team come back.”It also gave Morris a rather unique trifecta. In December of 2015 he won an NCAA crown with Stanford University. Last December he won an MLS Cup in his rookie season with Seattle Sounders FC. Now he has a Gold Cup to his name as well.But lest Morris get carried away, he might want to check with some of the U.S. team’s veterans to see how infrequent winning a trophy is for most players. For Tim Howard, it’s been a decade since last won his last Gold Cup title.He said: “It’s hard to get the young guys to realize that this doesn’t always last forever. When I was younger and got to a cup final, I thought, ‘Ah, the next one’s around the corner.’ And they’re not. This is sweet.”The redemption narrative could be seen everywhere in this match. There was Altidore, winning his first international trophy after it looked like injuries would forever hamper his U.S. career. He did his bit on the night too, delivering a laser-guided free kick in the first half that snuck in just under the bar, and gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead. Michael Bradley was everywhere, and for once got to celebrate winning a final that he actually played in. Howard continued to defy Father Time by delivering a clutch save on Darren Mattocks.But this was a night for some of the less-experienced elements of the roster as well. Jorge Villafana looked the sharpest he has all tournament from his left-back position, and tested Jamaica’s defense with some dangerous crosses. Darlington Nagbe was clean in possession, and found moments to drive with the ball toward Jamaica’s back line.This was supposed to be the whole point of this Gold Cup for the Americans. Try out some fringe players and see how they do. It was one that was shoved into the background to a degree once manager Bruce Arena called in six players — four of them hugely experienced — after the group stage. But there was another layer to Arena’s experimentation. For a select few who had experienced the most recent World Cup qualifying cauldron, it was a chance to take on more responsibility. Some, like Nagbe took advantage. Others, like Kellyn Acosta, struggled with consistency.All of this had value for Arena. Granted, the tournament broke almost perfectly for the Americans. For the most part the U.S. had a huge edge in experience and talent over their opponents. A much-anticipated matchup against Mexico never materialized. There was almost a sense that winning the tournament had lost some of its juice. But that changed, for the players at any rate, as the end goal came into more focus.”It wasn’t critical for us,” said Arena about winning the Gold Cup. “But as we got into tournament, as we entered the quarterfinals, it was clearly the objective and we accomplished that.”Perhaps the bigger objective was using the Gold Cup as a test case for more-important World Cup qualifying games down the road. So was there a ton of movement on the U.S. depth chart? Probably not. For some players, the next chance to impress Arena won’t come until January.But this was more about Arena being reminded of what he had and in some cases what he didn’t. Regardless of how well Altidore, Dempsey, Bradley and Nagbe played in this tournament, Geoff Cameron and Christian Pulisic remain almost irreplaceable. In five weeks’ time, Arena will get to apply what he has learned to a pair of World Cup qualifiers. For all of the joy about winning the Gold Cup, those matches remain foremost in Arena’s mind.”My focus is on, are we getting better? We’re getting better, we need to get much better than we are right now,” he said, before adding: “I’ve got to find the right blend. We’re a long way from qualifying for the World Cup, and that’s the objective for sure. So we’ve got to evaluate this performance in July and the next couple of weeks I have to select a roster for our World Cup qualifying. Then we have to win some games in September and October.”If the U.S. can do precisely that, it will be a memory it won’t want to forget.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle.

U.S. wins 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup via Jordan Morris’ late goal vs. Jamaica

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The U.S. prevailed over Jamaica 2-1 to claim the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Wednesday night at Levi’s Stadium.U.S. forward Jozy Altidore opened the scoring just before halftime with a superbly taken free kick, only for Je-Vaughn Watson to equalize in the 50th minute, volleying home Kemar Lawrence’s corner at the far post. But Jordan Morris fired home an 88th-minute winner to give the U.S. the victory.Here are three thoughts on the U.S. win, their sixth Gold Cup title.

Redemption for Morris and AltidoreWednesday night’s first half was tough and physical. Though the U.S. had the vast majority of possession as Kellyn Acosta pushed high into the attack, the Americans’ forays were snuffed out against the rocks of the Jamaica back line. Other attacks were undone by passes into the box that just missed their intended target.It was always going to take something special for the U.S. to find a breakthrough, even after Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake was forced out because of a finger injury in the 23rd minute (more on that later). Leave it to Altidore, then, to provide some heroics as he hit a sumptuous free kick from 27 yards out in the 45th minute that beat substitute keeper Dwayne Miller, grazed the underside of the bar and went in.The goal was just the latest chapter in Altidore’s tournament redemption story. Injuries robbed him of all or part of the 2013 Gold Cup, the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 Gold Cup, and it seemed as if his hamstrings would never allow his game to grow. But for the better part of the last year Altidore has been healthy, and his play for Toronto FC has improved in all facets.It has taken a while for his form for the U.S. to catch up, but catch up it has. The goal was Altidore’s second in two games, and with crucial World Cup qualifiers coming up in September, he’s clearly peaking at the right time. Some might quibble with the quality of opposition, but in Costa Rica and Jamaica, Altidore broke through against two sides with considerable strength on the defensive side of the ball. Altidore has been streaky in the past as well, which, given his current form, bodes well for the U.S. heading back into the Hex.Of course, nothing is ever easy for the U.S, with the Americans’ vulnerability on set pieces rearing its ugly head again. It has been that way for almost the entirety of this World Cup cycle regardless of who has been the manager or who has been on the field. It’s the single biggest worry heading into the homestretch for World Cup qualifying.In this instance, just over four minutes into the second half, Morris was simply overpowered by Watson, allowing the New England Revolution’s utility man to volley home at the back post.But Morris more than made amends, firing home in the 88th minute when Gyasi Zardes’ cross was deflected into the middle of the box. Clint Dempsey got a touch and Morris pounced to nab the winner.All told, Morris leaves this tournament as one of the winners. He scored three goals and showed a knack for popping up at big moments. Victory on Wednesday night continues a dizzying run of success for Morris: Since December 2015, he has won an NCAA title with Stanford, an MLS Cup with the Seattle Sounders and now the Gold Cup.
Jamaica valiant in defeat

Before the final, most conversations about the player of the tournament began and ended with Blake. He had made numerous saves throughout this Gold Cup, including plenty — like saving a deflected effort with his foot against Mexico — that were of the spectacular variety.In the 23rd minute, the Philadelphia Union keeper continued his stellar form, saving Altidore’s long-distance drive and then stuffing Acosta’s rebound attempt from point-blank range. But Blake paid dearly for his bravery: He appeared to have a mangled finger on his right hand as a result of Acosta’s attempt and had to be subbed out in favor of Miller.It was a tough end for a player whose growth as a player has been evident throughout the tournament. The Union will be hopeful that Blake isn’t forced to sit for too long.But understudy Miller didn’t do badly on the night. He might wish he had attempted to touch Altidore’s blast with his other hand. That said, he did well to touch a Morris blast over the bar in the 73rd minute and then palmed Dempsey’s header onto the post two minutes later. He could do nothing about Morris’ winner.The Reggae Boyz had their chances to grab a winner as well, with Tim Howard’s left-footed save denying Darren Mattocks.All told, Jamaica’s players can hold their heads high. The defensive solidity and discipline found under manager Theodore Whitmore has been impressive. The challenge will be maintaining this ethos until the next World Cup qualifying cycle.

U.S. achieves its goal but concerns remain

In some ways, the tournament couldn’t have gone much better for the U.S. and manager Bruce Arena. Without question, this was a watered-down version of the Gold Cup as many of the region’s top players were absent. But Arena went in with a plan that had multiple aims. He wanted to get an extended look at some fringe players. He did that. He also wanted to make sure he had the most competitive team possible in the knockout rounds, and he did that too. And ultimately, the U.S. won the tournament, giving the team some valuable momentum as it heads into the September World Cup qualifiers.But the U.S. also had everything going for it in this match and in this tournament. It boasted a roster with a huge edge in experience. Think of it this way: Jamaica’s starting lineup consisted of seven MLS players, two from the USL and another two from Jamaica’s domestic league. It would have been a failure had the U.S. not managed to win.The result also illustrated the U.S. team’s relative shortage of game-changing attackers. Dempsey did what he could, once again coming off the bench, and Darlington Nagbe continued his growth with a superb performance. But one gets the sense that the U.S. still needs more. Imagine trying to go through the remainder of World Cup qualifying without Christian Pulisic; it’s sobering to say the least.That said, the U.S mentality remains a potent force. It kept its collective head in a match that could have gotten away from it. For an imperfect team, it remains the biggest reason to believe that the Americans will ultimately reach their World Cup-qualifying goal. And on this night, it helped them secure a title.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle.

Bruce Arena happy with Gold Cup win but wants more from United States

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — U.S. manager Bruce Arena lauded his team’s 2-1 victory over Jamaica in the Gold Cup final but acknowledged that there is plenty of room for improvement as it prepares for a pair of World Cup qualifiers in September.”The Gold Cup is important,” Arena said at his postmatch news conference. “I think if you’re in it, you’ve got to be in it to win. We accomplished that, so that’s a real plus.”United States looked to be in total control as it took a 1-0 lead into half-time, thanks to a Jozy Altidore free kick.With Jamaica’s stellar goalkeeper Andre Blake forced out of the match with a right hand injury, everything seemed to be lining up for the Americans. But Je-Vaughn Watson equalized minutes into the second half, outworking Jordan Morris to volley home Kemar Lawrence’s corner kick at the far post.United States turned the screws thereafter, with Clint Dempsey’s header touched onto the post by substitute keeper Dwayne Miller. The Americans did have to survive a few anxious moments from Jamaican counterattacks, but Morris ultimately made amends in the 88th minute, pouncing on a loose ball to fire past Miller to secure victory.”Jamaica was a very difficult opponent,” Arena said. “We needed to score two great goals tonight to win, and we did. Give credit to Jozy and Jordan. Those are great goals.”I applaud our team, I applaud Jamaica. Their defensive performance throughout the tournament was outstanding. They’re hard to play against. Their goalkeeping was excellent.”Unfortunately Blake got injured. I don’t even know the name of the second keeper [Dwayne Miller], he was excellent, he did a great job. Give credit to them.”The victory marked Arena’s third Gold Cup triumph, though he attributed that to longevity more than anything.”I think the only reason I’ve been part of winning three Gold Cups is that I’ve been in a lot of them,” he said.Arena complimented nearly every element of his lineup, but he singled out his veterans for praise. Many of them joined up with the team after the group stage, and their consistent performances keyed the Americans’ run to the title.”Our older players are unbelievable,” he said. “The passion they have for this program from our oldest player, now Tim Howard, to our captain Michael Bradley, to Clint Dempsey … Clint Dempsey is going to do whatever is necessary for this team to be successful.”Arena was also impressed by some of the less experienced elements of his roster. In the final he gave starts to Kellyn Acosta, Paul Arriola, Jorge Villafana, Darlington Nagbe and Morris, and the decision paid off.”They are players with not that much experience at the international level, not that many caps, and to put them in the fire tonight was good. I think they walked away with passing grades,” he said. “That’s encouraging.” Bruce Arena has extended his unbeaten run with United States to 14 games.rena was especially pleased to see Morris shake off his mistake in failing to mark Watson, keep his head in the game, and eventually find a way to make a critical play.”I didn’t like the mistake on the corner kick, but to hang in there and play well and make the difference in the game is encouraging,” Arena said. “He’s a young player with a lot of talent, a lot of physical qualities.”I think he’s going to continue to grow. My predecessor did an outstanding job for getting him involved in the program. He’s a player we certainly think has a future.”But what pleased Arena most of all was the improvement his team has made in 2017. United States is now unbeaten in 14 games under his watch, though he knows there is work to be one.”My focus is on ‘are we getting better?’ We’re getting better, we need to get much better than we are right now,” he said. “But it’s a credit to these players — they’ve done an outstanding job.”Now Arena must regroup and prepare for the next round of World Cup qualifiers.”I’ve got to find the right blend,” he said. “We’re a long way from qualifying for the World Cup, and that’s the objective for sure. So we’ve got to evaluate this performance in July and the next couple of weeks I have to select a roster for our World Cup qualifying. Then we have to win some games in September and October.”Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle.

Armchair Analyst: USMNT cross Jamaica up and claim Gold Cup title

July 27, 20171:16AM EDTMatthew DoyleSenior Writer

From minutes 1 through 63, the US men’s national team hit 12 crosses. From minutes 64 through 88, the USMNT hit 14 crosses.

The last one in that second bunch led to the game- and tournament-winning goal, as the US took a deserved and dominant 2-1 win against a feisty, disciplined, but ultimately overmatched Jamaican side. It’s the first US Gold Cup title since 2013, and their sixth all-time. They were pretty clearly the better team on the night, and the best attacking team in the tournament, and they deserved the title.

They also deserved to sweat a little bit, and credit to the Reggae Boyz for bringing the heat in that regard. Jamaica, under head coach Theodore Whitmore, are fit and functional, gamers who get chippy but not dirty, and who wouldn’t quit despite playing the two giants of CONCACAF in back-to-back games, and wouldn’t quit after losing their best player – and really, the tournament’s best player in goalkeeper Andre Blake – to a gruesome first-half hand injury, and wouldn’t quit after going down a goal.

But sometimes the numbers are just too overwhelming. The US outshot Jamaica 13-6 overall and 8-3 on target, they out-possessed them 73 percent to 27 percent, and they completed 85 percent of their passes to just 64 percent for Jamaica. It was a thoroughly dominant performance even though the scoreboard was predictably tight.

A few tactical takeaways:

Jamaica come out in a slightly alteredversion of their typical, flat 4-4-2. The alteration was a simple one – they inserted Ladale Richie directly in front of the central defense as a classic destroyer, making the 4-4-2 more of a 4-1-3-2. Richie didn’t leave that spot, a symbolic figure with “dare you to play through the middle” plastered all over himself.

So the US struggled, at first, to build meaningful possession, too often shunting play down one flank or the other and just keeping it there.

Jozy Altidore, who got the opening goaland was the best US player on the night, was the one who found the key to that particular lock. Altidore, a center forward, dropped waaaaaaay deep into midfield to get on the ball, usually with his back to goal, and started creating ad hoc three-man midfield triangles with Michael Bradley and either Darlington Nagbe pinching in from the wing, or Kellyn Acosta working from his No. 8 position.
The US did not have a slow start in this game:
Jamaica’s goal came after Je-Vaughn Watsonout-wrestled Jordan Morrison the back post of a Kemar Lawrence corner. That corner, in the 50th minute, came after a needless Acosta turnover in midfield.

Watson’s shot was Jamaica’s first of the night. Acosta’s turnover continued a worrisome pattern for the FC Dallas Homegrown, who struggled mightily this month after last month’s strong showing in World Cup qualifiers. He will get better and he will surely be back in the squad come the next round of qualifiers six weeks from now, but he needs to find and influence the game more.

I banged on a bit about crosses in the ledeand on social media, and I’ll make this clear: I have zero problems with teams that cross the ball a lot as long as it comes from some sort of inside-out combination play. It’s alright to attack down the flanks – that’s part of the game, and useful if done right. But doing so in a purely linear fashion tends not to create good looks.

Worse than that, thoughtless crosses can and often do lead to counterattacks in the other direction. The one time the US put in a particularly (let’s call it) “hopeful” cross, off the foot of Gyasi Zardes in the 84th minute, it led to a Reggae Boyz breakout and forced Tim Howard into a nice save.

Crosses are fine. They are often a good and smart way to attack. Crosses against an organized, packed-in defense are more likely to hurt you than help you, though, and it’s good the US mostly avoided that.

The vast, vast majority of the US’s 26 crosseswere what I’d consider to be smartcrosses. Jorge Villafaña hit a couple of particularly good ones, as did Morris, as did Graham Zusi, as did Paul Arriola.

I thought this one was borderline:

But credit Zardes here for being decisive, which turned “borderline” into “profitable.” He took one direct touch, opened up a bit of daylight, hit the ball with pace and bend, and put it in a brutal spot for Jermaine Taylor to try to clear. Either Taylor puts it out for a corner kick, or he does… that. Usually when “that” happens, there’s a scramble and a scrum and bodies hit the floor, and the defense gets the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes, though, a clearance up the gut falls right to the feet of an attacker, and you end up picking the ball out of the net.

There is a thing that Earnie Stewart once saidabout Claudio Reyna: “He brings peace to the game.” Reyna had an uncanny knack of shaping his body in a way that threw defenders off, which allowed him to receive the ball on balance in traffic with those wonderfully soft feet that got the US out of so many jams.

Nagbe and Bradley, working together in midfield, create that same effect. I still need to be sold on Nagbe’s ability to be an elite two-way player in central midfield because his defensive recognition can be slow and he is often too hesitant to drive the game forward, but there really is something to be said for having a guy who you can just give the ball to and say “figure this out for us.” He did that repeatedly against Jamaica. “He never loses the ball” is how Bruce Arena put it afterward. Bradley doesn’t do it the same way – his feet aren’t that good – but the wild and sometimes reckless Bradley of the Jurgen Klinsmann years is long gone. He controlled every bit of this game, just as he did the previous two, with his vision, understanding of angles, and his understanding of his teammates’ strengths and weaknesses. It’s now been 840 minutes (14 hours) with Bradley on the field at d-mid under Arena. The US have conceded one open-play goal in that time. He has brought peace to the midfield, and it shows, even if nobody’s really talking about it. When a No. 6 does things right, most people won’t be sure they’ve done anything at all.

There will be bad takes in the commentsbelow, and on social media, and everywhere else about the US failing to show any creativity. Ignore them – they are wrong. The US created infinitely more against Jamaica than they did in January, and more than anybody else Jamaica faced this tournament. They pressured first Blake and then Miller into a series of spectacular saves, generally did a good job of keeping the defense scrambling, and limited their own turnovers in the process.

It would be nice if Bruce Arena could pick Andres Iniesta for this roster, but he can’t. Given what he has to work with, the US are vastly superior at using the ball to break down a static defense than they were in any of the last three summers. Anyone who’s pretends this was just a reactive, regressive showing is flaunting their own lack of understanding about the game.

Same with anyone who dismisses the value of winning this particular trophy. The Gold Cup isn’t World Cup qualifying, and Arena was sure to point that out in the postgame presser. “We’ve got a long way to go to qualify for the World Cup, and that’s the ultimate goal” is what he said.But the point of the game is to win, and if you can do so while playing well, more’s the better. Job done on both counts for the US.

I will have a “Stock Up, Stock Down”piece coming tomorrow. Be warned: I like Arriola a lot more than social media seems to.

Wiebe: Jordan Morris proved he belongs on US national team World Cup roster

July 27, 20171:59AM EDTAndrew WiebeSenior Editor

The final whistle blew, and the television cameras flocked to the man who broke Jamaican hearts and gave the United States national team their sixth Gold Cup title.The close-ups weren’t of Clint Dempsey, the talisman just one goal shy of sole possession of the all-time US men’s scoring mark. They weren’t of Jozy Altidore, whose picture-perfect free kick gave the Americans an early lead. Nor Michael Bradley, the tournament’s Golden Ball winner.As his image was broadcast to the world, Jordan Morris rubbed his eyes, tears of joyous disbelief seemingly perched on the brink of escape. His best friend in the entire world, fellow SounderCristian Roldan, wrapped Morris up in a bear hug and lifted him into the air.In 40 minutes, Morris had gone from potential goat – turned inside out by Je-Vaughn Watson on a corner kick that his fellow MLSer to bang in for the equalizer – to history maker. He felt that emotional swing more acutely than anyone else.“I was nervous,” he told FS1’s Jenny Taft after the match. “It was my guy that scored, so I was trying to make up for it any way I could. Obviously, I take responsibility for that, but luckily I put it in the back of the net.”In four short years, Morris has gone from a seemingly-out-of-nowhere prodigy to national champion, MLS Cup winner and Gold Cup hero, his 88th-minute thumper sure to be replayed every two years for at least the next decade. He appeared in every game of the tournament for Bruce Arena, and his three goals tied Golden Boot winner Alphonso Davies atop the Gold Cup charts.Morris did it under pressure, too, career-defining pressure that can make even the most seasoned pro shrink. This may have been labelled a B-team tournament, but like the rest of us, Morris knew he was playing for more than a trophy. He was playing for place on the team that boards a plane for Russia next year, assuming all goes to plan in qualifying.Bruce Arena has the final say, but Morris proved he belongs on that 747 and barring injury – knock on wood – I expect him to be there, a 23-year-old making his wildest childhood dreams come true.Bradley will be the captain and the pacemaker, Altidore the player whose talent can elevate the US from solid to special and Dempsey the swaggering super sub, but it may just be Morris who pops up in a big moment and makes the difference.Morris may not be perfect – someone in the comment section will invariably bash his left foot and occasional long touches – but he brings a skill set, level of versatility and willingness to sacrifice for the common good that no one else on the roster can match.I don’t need to explain his speed, the sort of burst that eliminates defenders entirely, or his knack for scoring big goals. Those qualities might be enough to convince Arena to bring Morris to the biggest tournament on the planet, but it’s an ability to fill multiple holes in the roster puzzle that pushes him over the edge.He can run the channels with another forward (Altidore, most likely) in a 4-4-2, he can play wide left in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 and bring both defensive industry and attacking verve and there’s no ego to tell him that he deserves more than what he’s given. All month, Morris did what was necessary, whatever Arena asked.Oh, and he played this tournament on a bothersome ankle many thought he should have rested. He was selfless, and in the end he was the man who made the difference.“It’s just an honor to be a part of the team,” Morris told Taft, the sort of quote he delivers in spades, shifting the focus from himself to the team.Come next summer, I expect that honor will thrust him on to the biggest stage the sport has to offer.Morris may not start a match. He probably won’t play hero. He may not score a goal or have a marquee moment.But through six games at the Gold Cup Morris proved he belongs in Arena’s 23-man roster next summer, that he’s an asset with a future that spans the next decade, and that it would be a mistake to leave him home next summer when yet more history is waiting to be made.

Kurt Larson: Clint Dempsey on the cusp of claiming G.O.A.T. crown for USA

July 26, 20173:40PM EDTKurt Larson

Clint Dempsey isn’t just poised to become the US national team’s all-time leading goal-scorer.He’s on the cusp of American soccer immortality — a label bestowed upon an elite group of players who’ve represented the Stars and Stripes.Tim Howard is in that mix. As is Michael Bradley, even according to Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch, who pumped Captain America’s tires last month.For most, Landon Donovan still tops the select billing of Americans who’ve posted phenomenal numbers while representing the US on the biggest stage. He might have cemented his place atop that list if Jurgen Klinsmann hadn’t botched his 2014 World Cup selections, inexplicably leaving Donovan at home.But Klinsmann did. And Donovan, while an undisputed icon, didn’t get the chance to cement his place as the greatest American to ever put on a US jersey.Three years later, Dempsey soon will become his country’s all-time leading scorer, passing his ex-teammate when he scores his 58th international goal.Whether he finds it in Wednesday night’s Gold Cup final (9:30 pm ET on FS1, Univision and TSN), or in the looming World Cup qualifiers in September, it doesn’t matter. Dempsey’s already ticked every box on the G.O.A.T. checklist while accomplishing as much as or arguably more than – both individually and collectively – any American before him.In addition to achieving the all-time goals mark, Dempsey’s 136 caps place him third on the all-time appearances list (Cobi Jones is No. 1 with 164). He’s also scored big goals in big tournaments.Most significant, Dempsey’s four World Cup goals are second all-time to Donovan (5), though Deuce could appear at a fourth World Cup next summer.But whether he does or doesn’t play in Russia, Dempsey’s legacy shouldn’t be defined solely by goals or big moments that will live on in US soccer lore.Rather, it’s about taking the road less traveled — a well-documented rags-to-riches soccer talethat, in many ways, embodies the American Dream.That unconventional path spawned an unconventional American soccer player who, as U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena once said, just “tries s***.” It was a simple two-word quote that should be carved into Dempsey’s future Hall of Fame name plate, given how well it defines his uniqueness.On top of the grit and determination that defines American internationals, Dempsey’s always had a few extra tools in his shed. The audacity to use them — without fear or reservation — ultimately is what sets the 34-year-old apart from every other American striker.It’s a style that’s borderline arrogant until you hear Dempsey explain it. Then you realize it’s merely a byproduct of his humble beginnings in East Texas, where he grew up in a trailer in his grandparents’ backyard. It included matches against grown men in the local Hispanic leagues and six-hour roundtrip drives to practices.He’s a US soccer star who reached his potential, a player who did it his own way and won’t have regrets when he features in his final international fixture.Like Dempsey, the great ones don’t look back and wonder what might have been. They leave little debate as to whether they could have gone further.That’s Dempsey — an all-time great whose all-time career should be defined just as much by his journey and personality and penchant for the head-turning play or pass or goal as it should by the numbers that ultimately could lead us to categorize him as the greatest ever to don an American soccer jersey.Kurt Larson covers Toronto FC and international soccer for the Toronto Sun and Postmedia in Canada.

LA Galaxy fire Curt Onalfo, hire Sigi Schmid as replacement

July 27, 201712:35PM EDTSam StejskalContributor

A year and a day after he was fired by the Seattle Sounders, Sigi Schmid is back in the MLS coaching ranks. The winningest coach in league history will take over the LA Galaxy after the club fired first-year head coach Curt Onalfo, the Galaxy announced Thursday. The LA Times’ Kevin Baxter first reported the news, which was later confirmed by ESPN FC’s Jeff Carlisle, who added that Schmid had signed a deal with LA through the 2018 season. “After a great deal of evaluation and careful consideration, we believe that Sigi Schmid is the best person to coach our team for the remainder of this season and into the future,” said LA Galaxy President Chris Klein in a statement provided by the team. “Sigi is one of the most experienced coaches in the history of soccer in the United States and he is an extremely successful manager that has proven himself to be a winner within Major League Soccer. Sigi has been one of the best coaches the history of our league and we have full confidence in him to lead our team moving forward.“Our goal remains to win trophies and be the best club in North America and we believe that Sigi gives us the best opportunity to achieve this.”Hired by the Galaxy to replace Bruce Arena after he left LA to take charge of the US national team last November, Onalfo was 6-10-4 in 20 regular season games with the club. Accustomed to competing for the top spots in MLS, the Galaxy are currently in ninth in the Western Conference and sit in 19th in the overall league table. They’re five points behind Vancouver for the West’s sixth and final playoff spot.“Curt Onalfo has been a loyal servant to the Galaxy and Galaxy II for a number of seasons and we wish him well,” said Klein.Schmid’s first game in charge of LA will be a doozy, as the Galaxy will host the Sounders – whom Schmid coached for seven and a half seasons before being dismissed last summer – in a nationally-televised match on Saturday night (10 pm ET; ESPN, ESPN Deportes | MLS LIVE in Canada).A longtime resident of Southern California, Schmid coached the Galaxy once before, leading them from 199-2004. He won three trophies in his first stint with LA, guiding the Galaxy to the 2001 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup before winning MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield in 2002.

LAFC to announce Bob Bradley as first manager

BRIAN STRAUS hours ago

Former U.S. national team manager Bob Bradley is on the verge of taking over at MLS expansion team Los Angeles FC, sources tell SI.com. An announcement is expected shortly.Bradley has been out of work since being fired by Swansea City in December, only 11 games into his tenure. It was a frustrating setback for an American coach who’d blazed a unique trail following the 2010 World Cup, from Egypt to Norway to France and then onto the Premier League. Now, it appears the 59-year-old Bradley will be back in MLS for the first time since 2006.

After assisting Bruce Arena at D.C. United, Bradley went on to coach the Chicago Fire, New York Red Bulls (then the MetroStars) and Chivas USA. He won one MLS Cup and two U.S. Open Cup titles and then went on to manage the national team. There, he presided over the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup title, the run to the ’09 Confederations Cup final and the USA’s first first-place finish in a World Cup group in 80 years.LAFC kicks off next season in a new stadium being built next to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The club’s technical side is run currently by former MLS, English Championship and US national team midfielder John Thorrington. Coaches like Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Hugo Sanchez previously had been linked to the LAFC job, but Bradley always has been a leading candidate. After a decade abroad, he’s now set to return to a very different league than the one he left for his second gig with an expansion team–his first started off with a league and cup double in Chicago.News that Bradley is headed to LAFC comes shortly after the new club’s future rival, the LA Galaxy, announced the firing of coach Curt Onalfo and replaced him with former Galaxy, Seattle Sounders and Columbus Crew coach Sigi Schmid.

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7/26/17 US vs Jamaica GOLD CUP Finals Tonite 9 pm FoxSports 1, ICC El Classico Sat ESPN, MLS AllStars vs Real Madrid -Chicago Wed 8/2 FS1 9 pm, CHS Boys Soccer Camp 8/4

July 26, 2017 gatorbest

Anyone Want to Gather to Watch tonite? Thinking Brockway Pub or Stacked Pickle off of Old Maridian???

So the US has a chance to lift a trophy tonight as they face Jamaica in the Gold Cup Finals at 9:30 pm on Fox Sports 1. Jamaica certainly shouldn’t be taken lightly as they have played well and have a hot goal keeper in Philly Union’s Andre Blake. Of course I always miss the chance to play Mexico so that’s a bit disappointing since they brought their B/C team into Gold Cup play. Anyway the chance to take home some hardware for the US and Bruce Arena, who has yet to lose as the US boss since his return, is always worthwhile. Great to see Dempsey tie Landon Donovan’’s record of 57 goals in his home state of Texas in Dallas close to where he grew up. His insertion as a supersub was spot on as he changed the dynamic upon entering in the 65^th minute or so with a couple of spectacular passes – one for an assist to Altidore. And of course his spot kick was fantastic. Yes Dempsey still has a place on this team for the next World Cup because honestly he’s still our most creative player and scorer. I have always thought Dempsey was better than Landon because of his work oversea’s in the EPL – and the scoring record just cements that. Tickets are on sale for the US Ladies National Team hosting New Zealand on Tues Night 7:30 pm at Nippert Stadium in Cinncinatti. Great Place to see a game my friends tell me!

The International Champions Cup has given us some exciting games with 2 more games tonite (unfortunately right around US game- bad timing for both) and of course El Classico Miami – with Real Madrid facing Barcelona this Sat. night at 8 pm on ESPN.

Good luck to those trying out for High School teams this week and next !!

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USA

Arena thinks Jamaica is a Threat to Win

The Matchup Jamaica vs USA in Gold cup Final ESPNFC

US Has Rare Chance in Gold Cup Final – no Mexico – SI Brian Straus

Bradley Enjoying Resurgence under Arena – ESPNFC Jeff Carlisle

Dempsey still vital for US as Supersub – Noah Davis EsPNFC

Dempsey ties Donovans US Goal Scoring Record

Dempsey Ties US Men’s Goal Record with 57^th – SI

MLS + Indy 11

MLS Power Rankings SI

Kicks for Kids McDonalds Family Night Aug 5 vs FC Edmonton

GOALIES

Guardians of the Galaxy Goalie Style – ESPNFC

Blake Jamaica Goalie – Saves vs Mexico

Top Saves in Gold Cup Early Rounds

Top Saves Gold Cup

Best Saves of the MLS Season So Far

Navas Save ICC

Penalties Real vs Man United

International Champions Cup Great Goalies

GAMES ON TV

Wed, July 26

7:30 pm ESPN 2 Barcelona vs Man United ICC

9 pm ESPN 2 Juve vs PSG ICC

9 pm Fox Sp 1 Gold Cup Final

9:30 pm ESPN Man City vs Real Madrid ICC

Sat, July 29

7:30 am ESPN 2 Chelsea vs Inter ICC

3 pm beIN Sports Monaco vs PSG – French Super Cup

6 pm EsPN 2 Man City vs Tottenham ICC

8 pm ESPN Real Madrid vs Barcelona ICC

10 pm ESPN 1 LA Galaxy vs Seattle Sounders

Sun, July 30

2 pm ESPN Toronto vs NY City

4 pm ESPN Roma vs Juventus ICC

4 pm ESPN3 FC Edmonton vs Indy 11

Tues, Aug 1

2 pm beIN Sport Liverpool vs Bayern Munich

Wed, Aug 2

9 pm Fox Sport 1 MLS Allstars vs Real Madrid

Sat, Aug 5

2:30 pm FOX Dortmund (Pulisic) vs Bayern Munich (German Supercup)

7:30 pm Myindy TV + beIN Sport Indy 11 vs FC Edmonton

Sun, Aug 6

9 am Fox Sport1 Arsenal vs Chelsea (EPL Community Shield)

2 pm? ESPNU Women’s European Championship?

4 pm ESPN Portland vs LA Galaxy

6 pm Fox Sport 1 NY City vs NY Red Bulls (NY Derby)

8 pm Fox Sport 1 Sporting KC vs Atlanta United

Tues, Aug 8

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1 Real Madrid vs Man United UEFA Super Cup

Sat, Aug 12 EPL Starts

7:30 am NBCSN Watford vs Liverpool

10 am NCBSN Chelsea vs Burnlee

10 am CNBC Everton vs Stoke City

12:30 pm NBC Brighton vs Man City

7:30 pm Lifetime Orlando Pride vs Sky Blue (Women’s)

7:30 pm beIN Sport Miami FC vs Indy 11

10 :30 pm Fox Sport1 LA Galaxy vs NY City FC

Sun, Aug 13 EPL

8:30 am NBCSN New Castle United (Yedlin) vs Tottenham (Carter Vickers)

11 am NBCSN Man United vs West Ham

2 pm beIN Sport? Barcelona vs Real Madrid – Spain Supercup

Earn your Degree While You Watch Your Kids Soccer Practice – ½ the time and cost of Traditional Schools

International Champions Cup July Games in Nashville and Detroit

Gold Cup final tale of the tape: United States to overcome Jamaica

It’s not the matchup that many anticipated, but it’ll decide the 2017 Gold Cup championship nonetheless. Jamaica’s stunning takedown of Mexico on Sunday night in Pasadena, California, both avenged its loss in the 2015 final and set up a showdown with a United States team that will surely like its chances of walking away with the trophy.Though some might be disappointed not to see yet another renewal of the El Tri-USMNT rivalry, it’ll certainly be compelling watching Jamaica try to become the least likely federation champion since Canada in 2000.

At first glance, the United States has a distinct edge, but there are some areas Jamaica will hope to exploit in pursuit of another upset. Here is the tale of the tape.

Goalkeeper

Just about any time in the past decade-and-a-half, the advantage would have gone to Tim Howard without a second thought. But the 38-year-old is no longer the unquestioned top goalkeeper in CONCACAF. That’s Real Madrid No. 1 Keylor Navas, of Costa Rica, who sat out this tournament to rest up after an arduous league campaign.

After Navas, though? Jamaica’s Andre Blake has as good a shout as anybody. Blake has been exceptional all month, and especially in the knockout rounds. Exhibit A: The otherworldly save the ‘keeper somehow pulled off to deny Junior Hoilett’s would-be equalizer against Canada in the quarters. He was even more dominant against Mexico.

The U.S. knows better than most what the value of a red-hot goalkeeper is. Even if the USMNT jumps on the Reggae Boyz early, Blake could single-handedly keep this close.

Edge: Jamaica

Defense

The American back line has been shaky at times. A good example being the narrow 3-2 win over Martinique during which the minnows found plenty of open space to exploit.

Jamaica’s run to the final has been built on the foundation of a stingy defense. It has allowed just two goals all tournament, and shutting out Mexico twice in as many weeks is a legitimate feat.

Edge: Jamaica

Midfield

This category isn’t all that close. Kellyn Acosta, the 21-year-old, has occasionally betrayed his youth and the Americans have lacked for a true playmaker like Christian Pulisic, who took this tournament off, or a hard-charging winger to help stretch the field.

Still, the USMNT boasts depth and versatility that give it the nod. Michael Bradley remains a bona fide game-changer on his day, and Darlington Nagbe was great in the semis. Acosta, too, despite his early unevenness, feels due for a signature moment with which to crown his first major international tournament at senior level.

Edge: United States

Forward

As much as Darren Mattocks inexplicably turns into Superman every time he dons Jamaica’s yellow, green and black jersey, based on pedigree alone this isn’t much of a debate.

Despite what has often been a frustrating sophomore campaign with the Sounders, Jordan Morris has looked rejuvenated over these past few weeks. Jozy Altidore is divisive in American soccer circles, but there is no attacking player on the other side you would trade him for ahead of the final.

Clint Dempsey is one goal away from breaking Landon Donovan’s all-time USMNT scoring record, and he’s likely to start on the bench.

Edge: United States

Coach

Full credit to what Theodore Whitmore has done with a team that was reeling when he was appointed on an interim basis following Jamaica’s disappointing showing in the World Cup qualifiers. Few gave the Reggae Boyz much of a chance to recreate their magical run to the 2015 final, but they’ve been hard to break down and opportunistic in the biggest moments. If there were a “Coach of This Specific Tournament” award, it would go to Whitmore, hands down, and he has done more than enough to earn the gig on a full-time basis. All that being said, on longevity alone, Bruce Arena has the upper hand. His second go-around as USMNT boss has gone about as smoothly as could have been anticipated when he took over from Jurgen Klinsmann this past winter.

Guided by Arena’s steady hand, the United States is on track to qualify for next summer’s World Cup and one game away from a sixth Gold Cup championship.

Edge: United States

Intangibles

Do not underestimate the historic significance of what the Jamaicans pulled off at the Rose Bowl against Mexico. Given the lack of precedent and the still-lingering sting of 2015, the victory clinched by Kemar Lawrence’s firecracker in the 88th minute will go down as one of the proudest Jamaica has ever pulled off.

It’ll head into Wednesday’s final riding a high, with the fearlessness of an underdog, and is unlikely to be intimidated by the stakes.

Edge: Jamaica

Prediction

United States 2-1 Jamaica (after extra time). It would make for a great story if Jamaica actually pulls this off, but the USMNT has too much going in its favor not to finish the job.Matt Pentz is a Seattle-based soccer reporter covering primarily the Sounders, Timbers and Whitecaps. Follow him on Twitter @mattpentz.

USMNT Has Rare Chance in Gold Cup Final, but Jamaica Represents Real Hurdle

No Mexico? No matter. The U.S. has an opportunity to win its sixth major title in the program’s 100 years, but Jamaica will prove to be a tricky test on Wednesday.

BRIAN STRAUSWednesday July 26th, 2017

SANTA CLARA, Calif.—There’s always a hefty chunk of nerves and anticipation preceding a final. They’re the matches young players dream about and the ones for which pros prepare during hundreds of repetitive and anonymous practices. Finals are—if you play to win the game—what the game really is about.

So it’s tempting ahead of Wednesday’s CONCACAF Gold Cup decider between the USA and Jamaica here at Levi’s Stadium to simply look forward—to focus on form and tactics and to make the next 90 minutes about nothing more than the next 90 minutes. But this 14th Gold Cup tournament, and the route the Americans took to Wednesday’s final, have been far from standard. The past three weeks, the past eight months and for some, the past decade, have shaped the narrative and will influence the approach and emotions of the men who take the field.

It starts on a personal level. Consider Jozy Altidore, the veteran forward who’s already the third leading scorer in U.S. national team history. Too few of those goals have come during the summer, however, as the 27-year-old been ravaged by injury during recent tournaments. He’s yet to win a trophy for his country. Altidore’s long-time friend Michael Bradley, the USA captain who’s now a teammate at Toronto FC as well, had his own rough run of luck in finals until lifting the Canadian Championship last month. Clint Dempsey is making the most of what seems like a second chance at an international career after recovering from a heart ailment. Tim Howard was there in 2011 at the Rose Bowl, where Mexico defeated the USA, 4-2, in a classic that still echoes. So was Eric Lichaj, who then was removed for the national team picture and is only now getting another long, legitimate look.Then there’s the group dynamic, starting with the two World Cup qualifying losses in November and former coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s subsequent sacking. Bruce Arena re-entered and quickly reset the tone, creating an atmosphere in which his increasingly comfortable and confident players were able to trust his approach for this Gold Cup. The plans were unorthodox: Start 22 of 23 players during the three group-stage games, then bring in five veterans for the knockout rounds who’d be expected to slip in seamlessly. Those are the sorts of wholesale lineup and roster changes that don’t typically result in championship consistency. But Arena has pushed the right buttons, gone undefeated in his first 13 games in charge and led the USA to a record 10th Gold Cup final. He’s earned the benefit of the doubt.

“We started [the Gold Cup] to try to win the thing so its not like we were every going to think that what we were doing wasn’t going to work, or else we wouldn’t have done it,” Arena told reporters here on Monday. “You make one change and you’re concerned about it, let alone 11. Every game we played, you’re never quite certain what you’re going to get. But overall, we thought the plan we had would work.”nd he had buy-in from locker room leaders because of the chemistry and trust that’s developed over time. Even Dempsey, who fought for every minute like it was his last, even before his 2016 illness, appears to appreciate the potential the “super-sub” role that decided Saturday’s semifinal against Costa Rica.“He’s been really good with his selection and the players that he’s decided to play in games. He’s been undefeated,” Dempsey said. “So all I can go out there and do is make sure that I’m putting myself in the best position [so] if I do get called upon, that I can go in and impact the game. The most important thing is the team winning. It’s not who plays. So hopefully we can go out there and win the Cup.” Bradley, who’s known Arena since he was a toddler, elaborated following his team’s Levi’s Stadium walk-through on Tuesday. “From the beginning, there was a real sense within the group that this is what it’s supposed to feel like,” the captain said. “We had let ourselves down at the end of last year, there was no two ways about that. Obviously, Jurgen pays the price in terms of losing his job. But there was more to it than that. We understood that. We knew that we had to look in the mirror and also know that we had let ourselves down on a few too many occasions.

“When Bruce and his staff came in, in January, the tone they set from the beginning in terms of creating an environment where now everybody feels a part of it, everybody’s all in, creating an environment where players are challenged and pushed to take big roles in terms of what goes on every day, this part has been great,” Bradley continued. “I certainly appreciate the trust and the confidence he’s shown in me in this stretch and for any player, when you have a coach who gives you that, you want nothing more than to repay that back every single day and ultimately in the biggest moments.”Wednesday is one of those moments, whether or not conversations among the press and fans suggest otherwise. Trophies are hard to come by, finals are scarce and careers are short. Not a single member of the American camp expressed any concern that a potential sixth major title in the program’s 100 years might be worth a bit less because rival Mexico stumbled in the semi. Teams that have won five trophies in a century-plus don’t get to debate the aesthetics. That’s for the Brazils of the world. Plus, Jamaica earned its way to Santa Clara. The rugged and robust Reggae Boyz, runners-up two years ago when the USA crashed out early, have yielded just two goals in five Gold Cup games.

“We’re both in points in our careers, where ultimately we want to win,” Bradley said of himself and Altidore. “We don’t care about much else—what people say, what people write, who scores, who doesn’t score, who gets the credit, who doesn’t. None of it matters to either of us. We want to play on teams that win and we want to play on teams that win trophies, and tomorrow’s another chance for us.” Jamaica represents a real hurdle. The Reggae Boyz are in a second straight final but were eliminated early from World Cup qualifying. Former midfielder and manager Theodore Whitmore returned to the team last year and has helped build a side that matches in defensive discipline what it’s always offered in danger on the break. Anchored by MLSers like Darren Mattocks, Je-Vaughn Watson and Shaun Francis, Jamaica went 1-0-1 against Mexico this month and was a deserving winner on Sunday. “They’re a different kind of Jamaican team than we’ve seen in the past,” Arena said this week. “They have a lot of discipline. They are very strong defensively and they’re hard to play against. That, to me, is not what you typically see out of a Jamaican team.”

That juxtaposition of a team 90 minutes from the CONCACAF title that couldn’t finish among the top six in World Cup qualifying is a fitting one for a tournament that’s been a bit odd, even by this quirky confederation’s high standards. The golden boot leaders heading into the final are a 16-year-old Canadian (Alphonso Davies) and a forward from a country of 390,000 that isn’t even a FIFA member (Martinique’s Kévin Parsemain).

Honduras got to within a goal of a quarterfinal shootout against Mexico without actually scoring one of its own in four games. It owed its place to the bizarre decision by French Guiana to play ineligible French veteran Florent Malouda, which led to the forfeit that sent Los Catrachos to the knockout stage at Martinique’s expense. That was a shame for Martinique, which overcame a two-goal deficit against the USA during the group stage. Then there was the biting and nipple twisting the Americans faced against El Salvador, and CONCACAF’s quixotic effort to convince fans to stop yelling homophobic slurs during goal kicks. Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio was jeered by El Tri supporters upon landing in Mexico City, even though he was suspended for the duration of the tournament. Dempsey was cheered when he tied Landon Donovan’s all-time U.S. scoring record in the closing minutes of the semifinal.There’s been no lack of narrative during this Gold Cup, and no dearth of context preceding this final. Jamaica (3-0-2) can become the first non-North American team to win the competition since CONCACAF relaunched and rebranded its flagship event in 1991. The USA (4-0-1) has a chance to build on the momentum generated in the past eight months. A win would provide some championship confidence to new players who’ve made a statement, while offering a lasting memory and some priceless validation to those who’ve stuck it out.That’s why finals are about much more than 90 minutes. They’re certainly about more than who might have been playing for other teams or missing out. These games are about reflection, redefinition and legacy.“This means the world to me. I haven’t had the best of luck the past four or five years. The opponent in the final didn’t matter. I had this tournament circled on my calendar, and to be able to get there and see it through with no hiccups, I’m really excited to have the opportunity to play for a trophy,” Altidore told SI.com on Tuesday.

“This is what we all play for—to win things, to have these type of memories, to play in atmospheres hopefully like tomorrow that will be special,” he continued. “For us, this is what we’re all about, getting to games that mean you’re achampion at the end of it. Everybody’s excited. We can’t wait to kick off.”

U.S. captain Michael Bradley enjoying a resurgence under Bruce Arena

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Gold Cup hasn’t necessarily been kind to Michael Bradley.In 2007, he was sent off in the semifinal win over Canada, and thus wasn’t on the field for the 2-1 victory over Mexico in the final. In the 2011 final, he was on the losing end of a bitter 4-2 defeat to Mexico at the Rose Bowl.On Wednesday, Bradley will have a chance to put that right as he captains the U.S. against Jamaica in the 2017 Gold Cup final. But Bradley insists that he’s not haunted by what happened in the past. There are no ghosts lingering in his psyche. The fact that this is a somewhat watered down version of the Gold Cup doesn’t affect him either. “I want to win because I want to win. I want to win because that’s why you play,” he said after the U.S. team completed its walk-through at Levi’s Stadium. “To win medals, to win trophies, that’s what it’s all about. People say, ‘It’s the Gold Cup.’ People say, ‘You played Jamaica in the final.’ None of it matters. At the end, they pass out medals, and they pass out a trophy. We want to be the team holding that trophy up.”The calendar year has witnessed something of a resurgence for Bradley. The end of 2016 saw a U.S. team that suffered through a collective meltdown, especially in the debacle that was the 4-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Costa Rica, which led to the dismissal of manager Jurgen Klinsmann.”We had let ourselves down at the end of last year,” Bradley said. “There was no two ways about that. Obviously, Jurgen pays the price in terms of losing his job, but there was more to it than that, and we understood that. We knew that we had to look in the mirror and also know that we had let ourselves down on a few too many occasions.”In the aftermath, Bruce Arena was hired once again to manage the U.S. team, and the uptick in the mood of the group and Bradley’s performances at international level have been evident. He called his time under Arena “very, very enjoyable. I think from the beginning there was a real sense within the group that this is what was supposed to feel like.”He added, “When Bruce and his staff came in in January, the tone they set from the beginning in terms of creating an environment where everybody feels a part of it, everybody is all in, creating an environment where the players are challenged and pushed to take big roles in terms of what goes on every day, the environment, this part has been great.”Arena’s arrival has coincided with a more defined role for Bradley, that of a holding midfielder tasked mostly with sitting in front of the back line, and letting the likes of Kellyn Acosta or Darlington Nagbe venture further up field. That said, Bradley has picked his moments to get forward, as witnessed by the wonder goal he scored against Mexico during last month’s World Cup qualifier at the Azteca. But there seems to be something deeper at work. At least outwardly it looks like coach and captain are completely in sync, something that Bradley attributes to Arena.”For me, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to play for Bruce again,” Bradley said. “I certainly appreciate the trust and the confidence that he’s shown in me in this stretch. And for any player when you have a coach who gives you that, you want nothing more than to repay that back every single day, and ultimately in the biggest moments.”For Arena the appreciation is mutual. Arena has historically relied on his leaders to take their pulse of the locker room, and handle any issues that arise. In this vein, he has relied on Bradley’s play and leadership throughout the calendar year, and Bradley has responded.”He makes my job easier because we have a really focused individual, a focused captain, and a person that wants to play in a World Cup in 2018,” Arena said of Bradley. “From January on, he has been a great leader in the program, very focused … and the players follow his lead. He’s been fantastic to work with.”Of course, Arena has practically had a front-row seat to Bradley’s entire life. The lives of Arena and Bradley’s father, Bob, have crisscrossed each other over the years, with the elder Bradley serving as Arena’s assistant more than once. And it was Arena who actually gave Bradley his first cap, a late cameo in a friendly against Venezuela just prior to the 2006 World Cup when Bradley wasn’t even a member of the World Cup squad.”I probably saw him the week he was born,” Arena said of Michael Bradley at Tuesday’s news conference. “I saw him around the game an awful lot as a young kid. First of all, I never thought he’d grow to where he’s grown, physically. If you would’ve seen his family you never would have guessed that as well. But obviously there was a focus.”He has a lot of his father’s qualities. He’s a very dedicated professional. He understands a lot of other things outside the lines, which has helped him as a player as well. He’s been terrific in that sense. And it’s interesting to me, he continues to grow every year as a player, and he’s at an age where you wouldn’t think that would happen as much, but he continues to grow and get better. I’m real pleased with Michael’s progress.”For now the focus is on Wednesday’s final. The U.S. will need to be patient with the ball, while also pressuring quickly, the better to negate the Reggae Boyz’s ability to break quickly.”You don’t get a million of these opportunities in your career,” Bradley said. “So we’re very cognizant of that, and you don’t let opportunities [pass] you by. So we have a group of guys that is excited and motivated by the chance of stepping on the field in a big final.”And this time, coming away with a victory.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle.

Clint Dempsey is as vital as ever to U.S. despite apparent “super sub” role

Salazar and Herculez Gomez break down the United States’ win over Costa Rica in the Gold Cup semifinals.

With the United States men’s national team clinging to a 1-0 lead in the 82nd minute of Saturday night’s Gold Cup semifinal, Clint Dempsey prepared to take a free kick from 25 yards. He stood over the ball, feet a little wider than shoulder-width, the picture of calm as he surveyed the defensive wall and Costa Rica goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton’s positioning.

The 34-year-old Dempsey, who had replaced Paul Arriola 20 minutes into the second half, started his run up with a half-step and a little hop, followed by a quick series of stutter steps. He blasted the ball with his right foot, sending it skipping on the ground past the leaping wall before it tucked inside Pemberton’s post.Dempsey celebrated by running away, arms out from his side, face focused and determined. It wasn’t the unbridled enthusiasm of a rookie notching his first goal but rather a veteran who has been there many times before. After all, he had been. The tally, Dempsey’s 57th for the U.S., sent them into the Gold Cup final and tied him with Landon Donovan for the team’s all-time lead.The fact that Dempsey will soon stand alone atop the American scoring charts is shocking, though more recently, it’s also felt inevitable. On one hand, it’s shocking because of the long, improbable road he had to travel to even make the American squad, much less start and score consistently. (Cue a narrator’s voice-over about growing up on the dirt fields of Nacogdoches, Texas …)Equally, it’s inevitable because, over the past few years, it has become clear how much more dangerous Dempsey is in front of net than the rest of his teammates. He was always going to get the record once he returned from the heart condition that kept him out for six months between late 2016 and early 2017.

Of course, setting a national team record for goals requires being consistently excellent over a long stretch of time. Dempsey has been just that, scoring at least two goals every year since 2005, when he found the back of the net for the first time in a friendly against England at Soldier Field. (He was even a focal point of the attack during Bruce Arena’s first stint at the top of the squad.)Dempsey has come up big in major tournaments, becoming the first American to tally in three consecutive World Cups — his 2006 strike against Ghana remains the hardest ball I’ve ever seen anyone kick in person — getting three goals each in the 2009 Confederations Cup and the 2015 Copa América Centenario,while also finding 18 World Cup qualifying goals against just 13 in friendlies.

Dempsey’s play rises with the stakes but becoming a national team’s all-time goal-scoring leader also requires something else: it means that the player remains one of his country’s top two or three attackers for more than a decade. Dempsey has done that, too, an impressive testament to his ability but also perhaps a reflection of the shallowness in the American player pool.Clint Dempsey’s longevity owes a lot to his consistent production. The U.S. will need him in 2018.How many promising forwards have come and gone, unable to grab a spot in the starting lineup? Dempsey’s record is built on his ability, yes, but also on the collective failure of the U.S. attacking corps.

Until now, mind you. The emergence of Christian Pulisic creates a bit of a conundrum since both he and Dempsey like to operate in the same space in the middle of the field. They can combine beautifully, as they did during a 6-0 destruction of overmatched Honduras in March, but more often than not, the two struggle to space themselves correctly. They can become redundant pieces. And it’s Dempsey, never the fastest player and now a bit slower with age, who loses out.

In the 52nd minute of the 2-0 qualifier with Trinidad and Tobago on June 9, DeAndre Yedlin crossed a ball into the box. Dempsey slid to reach it, the kind of classic scrappy play he has scored on so many times before. Except Pulisic was quicker, inside Dempsey and already sliding, already putting the ball into the back of the net. As Pulisic popped up and sprinted to the end line to celebrate with a knee slide, Dempsey rose and slowly jogged toward his teammate.It was a small, but telling moment. It felt like a passing of the torch at the time, and still does six weeks later. The pair can play together and do so successfully. But if Bruce Arena has to pick one, for the first time in more than a decade, Dempsey won’t win.Against Costa Rica on Saturday, the Texas forward started the game on the bench, an unusual position for him. The goal he would score was only the second one he has notched as a sub because when he has been healthy, he has been a starter for three consecutive American coaches. But just three days after going 90 draining minutes in a match against El Salvador, Arena decided to put the longtime talisman on the bench, planning to insert him if the U.S. needed late-game magic. They did, and Dempsey, to no one’s surprise, delivered.

Before Dempsey scored the clinching goal, he set up Jozy Altidore’s opener with a lovely spin move followed by a perfect pass. While “super sub” is sort of an insulting term for someone with Dempsey’s prolific resume, it fits.What a luxury it is for Arena to hand the keys to Pulisic, already high up on the list of most dynamic American attackers ever, at the beginning of the game while keeping another man on that short list in reserve. Dempsey should start some games and will continue to do so, but he also understands what a weapon he can be with fresh legs in the last 20-25 minutes. “Bruce told me that he knew the game was going to be tight and the second half it would open up,” Dempsey said after Saturday’s 2-0 semifinal win over Los Ticos. “He thought I could be someone to come on and make a difference, and he was right. When I went out there I just tried to play with confidence, tried to move the ball forward, create for others and create for myself and got into good spots tonight.”Fast forward 11 months and that quote could easily come after a 2018 World Cup group stage match. While Dempsey might not be at the height of his powers anymore, he’s far from done. He has a role to play, and one that’s larger than it might seem. He was always going to write his own final chapter.Noah Davis is a Brooklyn-based correspondent for ESPN FC and deputy editor at American Soccer Now. Twitter: @Noahedavis.

MLS Power Rankings Week 20: Resetting After Gold Cup

ALEXANDER ABNOSTuesday July 25th, 2017Coming back from vacation is always a bit interesting. These Power Rankings, for example, have been dormant since Week 17, with the Gold Cup and all its surrounding hoopla occupying most of everyone’s attention. Now, on the eve of that tournament’s final and with eyes returning to MLS, we see a league that is slightly different than the one we left. Many of the contenders are the same, but other teams have made a claim to that category as well. Some of the teams on the bottom are making moves forward (hello, Orlando City!), while others continue to be stuck in the muck.While the Eastern Conference currently boasts a number of the league’s strongest sides, two of the league’s most storied franchises are on shaky ground, suffering a series of setbacks.So how does the league shake out after 20 weeks of play and with the All-Star Game on the horizon? Let’s get to the rankings:

1 TORONTO FC

last week: 1

record: 11-3-7

We all know by now that Toronto FC boasts enviable depth throughout its roster, but that depth was given a huge chance to shine over these last few months. Just off a brutal five-games-in-two-weeks run, TFC lost Sebastian Giovinco to a minor knock, plus Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley joined Justin Morrow on the U.S. Gold Cup squad. In the four games since the last ranking, they’ve gone 1–1–2. It’s not great, but it’s also solid considering all their absences. A Sunday showdown with NYCFC could tilt the scales of power in the Eastern Conference.

2 NEW YORK CITY FC

last week: 3

record: 11-6-4

NYCFC went 2–1–1 in its four games, but the biggest of those results has to be last weekend’s 2–1 home win over Chicago. That result is impressive not just because it was against one of MLS’s best teams, but also because NYCFC accomplished it while playing down a man for the majority of the match after an early red card to Yangel Herrera.

3 CHICAGO FIRE

last week: 2

record: 11-4-5

The Fire extended their unbeaten run to 11 games with a 4–0 home win over Vancouver and a 2–2 draw at Portland, but that came to an end with Saturday’s 2–1 loss away to NYCFC. That lengthy run may be over, but in the process of making it the Fire have catapulted from “Are they for real?” status to one of the undoubted MLS Cup contenders.

4 FC DALLAS

last week: 5

record: 9-3-7

After an early-summer swoon, FC Dallas appears to be back on the right track. Oscar Pareja’s side has won three straight games, including home victories over D.C. United and Toronto FC and three points away at Montreal. Last weekend’s result in Canada may be the most impressive, and the most important; highly-touted striker Cristian Colman finally got his first two goals of the season. If he gets going alongside Maxi Urruti and Mauro Diaz’s health continues to improve after a long injury layoff, watch out.

5 ATLANTA UNITED FC

last week: 6

record: 10-7-3

Atlanta United’s biggest problem before the Gold Cup break was that it struggled to string together positive results. That doesn’t seem to be the case at the moment, as the team is currently riding a four-game winning streak. Hector Villalba has been in scorching form in those victories, including a stupendous winning goal against Orlando on Friday.

6 NEW YORK RED BULLS

last week: 9

record: 10-8-2

With no major international absences other than Kemar Lawrence, the Red Bulls have rolled since the Gold Cup break, rolling off three straight wins and outscoring teams 11–3 in that span. Austrian winger Daniel Royer has been a man possessed during this run, scoring four goals and chipping in an assist in those three victories.

7 HOUSTON DYNAMO

last week: 8

record: 9-7-5

The Dynamo have gone 2–1–1 in their last four–not a bad mark considering that all of the team’s first-choice attacking trident of Erick “Cubo” Torres, Alberth Elis, and Romell Quioto were absent at at various times thanks to the Gold Cup. Homegrown player Memo Rodriguez has stepped up in their place, scoring both of his first two professional goals in the last set of games.

8 SPORTING KANSAS CITY

last week: 4

record: 8-4-9

Say this much about Sporting Kansas City: it’s a difficult team to beat. SKC has drawn five of its last six games (four of the 1-1 variety), including home matches against Portland and Philadelphia and a chippy away tilt at rival Real Salt Lake. While that technically extends an unbeaten streak to seven games, five of those results have been draws. With Dom Dwyer on the move to Orlando and with other teams making up ground in the West, it’s hard to know what’s in store for SKC the rest of the season.

9PORTLAND TIMBERS

last week: 7

record: 8-8-6

The middle of the summer hasn’t been kind to Portland, which finally got a win on Sunday at Vancouver after six league games without one. Injuries, suspensions and international call-ups have forced Portland to dip pretty far into its tenuous depth, though new signing Larrys Mabiala looks like he could be a high-quality addition to the Timbers’ first-choice back line.

10. SEATTLE SOUNDERS

last week: 15

record: 8-7-6

The Sounders are riding a five-game unbeaten streak (their longest of the year), which includes three straight wins. Of those, Week 19’s 4–3 win over D.C. United stands out if only for historic reasons. The Sounders were down 3–0 after 50 minutes, but staked a remarkable comeback to win 4–3. It’s the first time in league history a team has come from 3–0 down to win in regulation. Do the Sounders have another summer surge in them?

Indy 11 — Belief

Forward Eamon Zayed on the Spring Season, this year and last

Published Jul 19, 2017

By: Eamon Zayed

S,o I’ve decided I’m not going anywhere. Yup, that’s right. I’m going nowhere; you’ll have to personally come and take my laptop off me if you want rid of me! I am going to stay here and write more articles for you guys. Give you a player’s perspective on all things Indy, on and off the pitch! Any ideas/suggestions on future topics you the fans would like me to discuss, email my chief editor Scott@indyeleven.com 🙂

So the Spring Season has just finished and we capped it off with a solid 2-0 victory over Jacksonville on Saturday night – the same Jacksonville side that beat us 4-1 not too long ago. Although, for some reason, that defeat feels like it happened months ago. Let’s be honest, the relatively short 4 month Spring Season has felt like a full season in itself with all that has been thrown our way. The last 5 games over the span of around a month have seen results change significantly for us on the pitch. With that said, many people have asked why and how such a turnaround. First 11 games = 7 points. Last 5 games = 13 points. Everyone has their own reason or reasons why the change in results, I have my own thoughts as well…

I remember just over a month ago before a game we had our usual team meeting. Coach Hankinson does the talking. We were joint bottom of the league and were way off the group of teams at the top of table. Statistics were not on our side! Hankinson mentioned statistics and our league position briefly but he continued on to talk about something that statistics DO NOT measure. He looked around the room at each and every one of us and said hunger, ambition, courage, effort… statistics DON’T measure them. BELIEF – the most important of them all – no statistic can measure that! We may have been bottom of the league with the statistics that can be measured on paper but the ones you cannot measure, the characteristics and attributes that can not be measured, this group of guys belong at the top and coach Hankinson believed. Let me tell you two true stories. Now, before I begin, full discretion, neither Colin Falvey nor myself are physic! However, we both have very strong beliefs, we both hate to lose, and I think we have quite a few guys on our team with the same attitude. If you see something in your head and truly believe it can happen and you have the courage to put it out there in the world, I believe it can happen. People sometimes believe something but keep it to themselves, maybe in fear of it not happening and looking stupid. The power of true belief is immeasurable (my philosophy for the day!).

So, two true stories: Story number 1. Last season we claimed the Spring Championship on the final day of the league schedule needing to win by a clear 3-goal margin. Leading into that week, Colin, Nicki Patterson and myself said to each other we were going to win 4-1. All that week, in and out of training, and on game day, we continued to say 4-1. We genuinely truly believed we would win 4-1. I still do not know why we were so convinced of it, we just collectively were. Our coach also believed. We put that belief out there for everyone to see and hear. Looking back on it, we made ourselves vulnerable to that result not happening and therefore looking stupid but there was such belief and confidence that it was going to happen. Obviously as all now know, we won that game 4-1, consequently giving us the result needed to win the club’s first silverware.Story number 2. So, rewind to my previous paragraph, Coach Hankinson has given his team talk before our game. He has told us that certain statistics cannot be measured. We had 5 games left of the spring season. 15 points up for grabs. Colin and myself were chatting about it and said let’s get 10+ points out of our last 5 games. Now let me tell you, in 11 games we had collected 7 points but now with only 5 games left, we said we were going to accumulate almost double that amount. And we sincerely believed we were going to do it. Why did we believe it you ask? Because we looked around at our team, our staff, and our fans, and believed we were that capable at a time when not many others believed. But I can assure you, every one of the guys on this team believed it.Fast forward to the end of those final five games and we amassed 13 out of 15 points. Same team, same staff, same fans, the only thing that changed was belief. As Brad (Ring) tweeted after Saturday’s game, “Early season struggles never cracked our confidence. Feels good to be on a good run heading into the @naslofficial break. Proud of this team.” The Spring Season is officially over and we did not accomplish what we wanted to, but the belief that turned our form around has been deeply solidified within us, and with that, what can be achieved in the Fall Season is unlimited. #IsItFallSeasonYet?

============================================================================Soccer Camp the Carmel High Boys Varsity Soccer Team are hosting their 3 hour camp next Friday, Aug 4 – 9:30 am till 12 noon at River Rd Fields. Boys and Girls K-8 just $45 with FREE T-Shirt and the chance to be a ball boy or girl at a CHS soccer game this fall. Visit CHS website

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http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/160052F2EE895DA8 US Women’s Soccer Tickets vs New Zealand

Check out The Ole Ballcoach online www.theoleballcoach.com –

Proud Member of the Brick Yard Battalion – http://www.brickyardbattalion.com , Sam’s Army- http://www.sams-army.com , American Outlaws http://www.facebook.com/IndyAOUnite

July 18 – USA vs El Salvador Wed 9 pm Fox Sports 1, Gold Cup Quarterfinals Set for Wed/Thurs, ICC Man U vs Man City Thurs 10 pm ESPN, Full TV Schedule

July 18, 2017 gatorbest

Well the US certainly knows how to make it exciting. Knowing they needed a 3-0 win vs lowly Nicaugua in their final group stage game in Cleveland on Sat evening to win the group – the US blew 2 penalty kicks and missed tons of opportunities in front of net before finally netting the third and decisive goal on a set piece header by Miazga in the 81^st minute off a nice serve from Zusi. I was in the stands as the American Outlaws tried to bring life to the 30K or so on hand in downtown Cleveland and while their were some good moments – this team still needs to find some finishers. I guess that’s why Bruce is bringing in the big guns for the Quarterfinal matchup with El Salvadore on Wednesday night at 9 pm on Fox Sports 1. Bradley, Altidore, Dempsey and Darlington Nagbe will join the squad as Bedoya (off to see his 2^nd child be born this week), Dom Dwyer, Kellyn Rowe,

I have to say I am surprised and a little disappointed Bruce is bringing in Dempsey and Altidore especially. Bradley is the Captain and pairing him up with Kellyn Acosta or Nagbe to see if we can solidify that #6 & #8 defensive mid spot is fine with me. But I would have loved seeing Morris and Dwyer and Juan Aguadelo put in hard work up top to see who might be worth the seat to Russia next summer. I loved Dwyer’s tenacity and Morris’ pace and guile in front of net. Kelyn Rowe has been a revelation and I really would love to see him under more pressure in the knockouts rounds. I certainly think Rowe has raised some eyebrows as have the 2 center forwards thus far. Either way we are still desperately seeking a left back – I do not know why he won’t give Eric Leijia a run on the left instead of the right – the right back side is covered with Yedlin but the left is still seeking a decent starter and while its not his most natural position Leija has played that role for Notinghams Forest in England before. The Center back pairings should also be interesting moving forward will it be Gonzales, Miazga, Beesler or Hedges? I think former Carmel Dad’s Club and Carmel High MLS all star Matt Hedges took a step back and I am hopeful now that he wasn’t sent home that he might get a chance to redeem himself.

The (ICC) International Champions Cup is underway with Roma vs PSG Wed Night at 9 pm on ESPN 2, Man U vs Man City Thurs at 9:30 pm on ESPN, Juventus vs Barcelona at 6 pm on ESPN and El Classico in Miami as Barca faces 2 time defending Champions League winners Real Madrid on Sat, July 29 at 7:30 pm on ESPN (see full schedule in Games on TV below)

The Indy 11 finished the Spring Season on a roll with 4 wins and a tie including the 2-0 blanking of Jax last Sat. They return for the fall season with a game next Sat, Aug 5^th at 7:30 pm at the Mike. Getting some injured players back and the home stand have helped the 11 move out of the cellar and into 6^th place in the NASL.

CARMEL FC GOALIE TRAINING STARTS TUES -AUG 8^th at Shelbourne. U11-U13 6-7, U14-above 7:15-8:15

GAMES ON TV

Wed, July 19

7:30 am ESPN 3/Des Bayern Munich vs Arsenal ICC

6 pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup Quarterfinal – Panama vs Costa Rica

9 pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup Quarterfinal Philly (US vs El Salvador)

9 pm ESPN2 Roma vs PSG ICC

Thur, July 20

7:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup Quarterfinal Jamaica vs Canada

10 pm ESPN Man U vs Man City ICC

10:30pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup Quarterfinal Mexico vs Honduras

Fri, July 21

7 pm ESPN Orlando City vs Atlanta United

Sat, July 22

5:30 am ESPN 2 +Des Bayern Munich vs Milan ICC

6 pm ESPN Juve vs Barcelona ICC

4 pm ESPN Minn United vs NY RB MLS

8 pm ESPN 2 PSG vs Tottenham ICC

10 pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup SEMI FINAL Dallas US vs Costa Rica?

Sun, July 23

5:30 am EPSN 3+Des Bayern Munich vs Milan ICC

5 pm ESPN ? Real Madrid vs Man United ICC

6:30 pm Fox Sport1 Vancuouver vs Portland MLS

9 pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup SEMI FINAL 2 Mexico vs Canada??

Mon, July 24

8 am ESPN 3+Des Inter vs Lyon ICC

Tues, July 25

8 am ESPN 3+Des Chelsea vs Bayern Munich

8 pm EsPN Tottenham vs Roma ICC

Wed, July 26

7:30 am ESPN Barcelona vs Man United ICC

8 pm EsPN 2 Juve vs PSG ICC

9 pm Fox Sp 1 Gold Cup Final

Sat, July 29

7:30 am ESPN desp Chelsea vs Inter ICC

6 pm EsPN 2 Man City vs Tottenham ICC

7:30 pm ESPN Real Madrid vs Barcelona ICC

Sun, July 30

4 pm ESPN Roma vs Juventus ICC

Wed, Aug 2

9 pm Fox Sport 1 MLS Allstars vs Real Madrid

International Champions Cup July Games in Nashville and Detroit

Its Summer – Time to plan your Soccer Camps

BEST FAMILY GOALIE TRAINING – if anyone is interested in Goalie Training this summer – let me know. My 18 year old goalie Tyler and I may offer some evening training if we get enough interest. RE: with interest.

Carmel High School Soccer Camps – July 17-20

(called Hounds Soccer Technical/Skills Camp and Hounds Soccer Tactical/Scrimmage Camp) and they are being held at Murray Stadium the week of July 17-20. The format will be where the morning session will run 10:00-12:00. This is the technical skills training – session runs 10 am till 12 pm and it will cost $85. The afternoon session is the tactical/scrimmage session and will run 1:00-3:00 at Murray Stadium both run by Men’s Soccer Head Coach Shane Schmidt. Boys and Girls – 8-14 Cost: $85/per camper per session.

QuarterFinals set up easy path for US and Mexico – eSPNFC

Former College Coach and Canadian National Team Goalkeeper & current Carmel FC & Carmel High Asst coach Carla Baker Provides elite-level training for youth players who want to become better technical and tactical soccer players. Our camps focus on individual technical skills and game tactics in pressure situations using advanced training techniques. Come and join our staff of former Division I college coaches, National Team players, experienced youth, high school and college players for a fun learning experience.

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USA

Arena Ends Player Pool Testing by adding 4 Veterans Bradely, Altidore, Dempsey, Nagbe to Mix – Jeff Carlisle ESPNFC

3 things we learned from the Roster Changes – Stars and Stripes

3 things we learned US 3-0 win – NBCsports

US Player Ratings – ESPNFC – Arch Bell

Player Ratings NBCsprits

Winners and Losers in the Group Stages

Bedoya Leads the Young US into Quarterfinals – ESPNFC

Mexico does just enough to win Group C

This Mexico Side a Work in Progress – eSPNFC

ICC

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GOALIES

CARMEL FC GOALIE TRAINING STARTS TUES -AUG 8^th at Shelbourne. U11-U13 6-7, U14-above 7:15-8:15

Indy 11 Jon Busch with Great Saves in 2-0 Win over Jax

Saves of the Game for Each Gold Cup Game

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Lorente saves 2 PKs vs USA

Goalie Motivational Video 3 min

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Arena won’t learn more about U.S. player pool by calling in reinforcements

HILADELPHIA — From the outset of this Gold Cup, it was the plan of U.S men’s national team manager Bruce Arena to add six players to his roster at the conclusion of the group stage. The tournament rules allow it, and Arena took full advantage.All of which seems kind of a shame.The U.S. manager has brought in the Toronto FC duo of Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore. He’s also added Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe, Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey, Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard and FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez. The infusion of experience is considerable. Out of those six, four of them — Bradley, Altidore, Dempsey and Howard — have more than 100 caps apiece. Nagbe has been a steady presence for the U.S. throughout 2017. Only Gonzalez, who just recently had his one-time switch of affiliation from Mexico to the U.S. approved by FIFA, can be considered a prospect.The unlucky six who were sent back to their clubs were really an unlucky three. Midfielder Alejandro Bedoya and his wife Beatrice are expecting their second child this week, so his departure was long planned. It was also understood that goalkeepers Brad Guzan and Sean Johnson would be sent back to Atlanta United and New York City FC, respectively. That left Kelyn Rowe, Cristian Roldan and Dom Dwyer to be sent home.It’s peculiar in that Rowe and Dwyer have shown well over the course of the past three weeks, with each player scoring a goal and contributing to the attack in other ways. Roldan’s situation is easier to understand, as he had his moments of struggle against Martinique, though he did take good care of the ball. But for these three players, it’s clear that their playing time would have been severely limited going forward, considering who was called up. That is true especially for Dwyer given that Dempsey and Altidore will chew up the bulk of the forward minutes, while Juan Agudelo and Jordan Morris have the ability to play out wide if needed.”All of [the decisions] are difficult because all of the players did well,” Arena told reporters. “I thought Dom, Cristian and Kelyn did very well, and I told them that. They’re players that we’re obviously going to continue to keep an eye on, and continue to obviously have them in the program.” He added, “It’s a difficult tournament, and when you play so many less experienced and younger players together, it’s difficult. It’s not easy. Probably the perfect way to do that is to mix in more veteran players. But we wanted to give everyone an opportunity, and that’s the way we decided to do it, and I think they came through with passing grades, all of them.”It’s an odd rule to be sure, one that I can’t recall being replicated anywhere else in the world. Given how crowded the international calendar tends to get in the summer, as well as the fact that MLS shuts down for only the group stage, it’s understandable that CONCACAF would want to allow some flexibility to teams in order to get the best players on display. But at the same time, it seems to undermine the integrity of the competition by allowing such drastic changes.To be clear, the U.S. isn’t doing anything wrong here, but it still seems unfortunate, in a way, for Arena to bring in reinforcements, and not just for the players sent home. With essentially five starters added, it’s almost as if a different team will take the field for Wednesday’s quarterfinal, and playing time will be much harder to come by for those group-stage players who remain.Without question, the U.S. looked far from convincing during the group stage. It played poorly in a 1-1 draw with Panama and was given a fright by unheralded Martinique in a 3-2 win, before looking more like its old self in a 3-0 victory over Nicaragua.But the whole point of this tournament, for the U.S. at any rate, was to give some playing time to some heretofore bit-part — and, in some cases, no-part — players. During the group stage, Arena did that and then some, giving starts to 22 out of the 23 players on the roster. So why not let them finish the job? Why not see how these players can do in a knockout game possessing a very different kind of pressure from the group stage?Granted, the winner of this Gold Cup gets one foot in the door toward qualifying for the Confederations Cup, but that assumes there will be a Confederations Cup in four years’ time. Considering Qatar is hosting the 2022 World Cup in the winter, holding the tournament in December 2021 is a no-go with the game’s power brokers in Europe. Ditto for holding it in the searing summer heat. There is talk of using the 2021 Club World Cup as a dry run for the World Cup instead.So what does the U.S. really gain by bringing in five new starters? Arena highlighted the quintet’s experience, and it obviously gives the U.S. a much better chance of winning the tournament. The competition for places will certainly heat up. But it also seems unlikely that Arena will acquire more data about his player pool as opposed to if he had kept his roster the same.That is precisely the approach Mexico has taken. Certainly, it’s not quite an apples-to-apples comparison given that El Tri‘s participation in this year’s Confederations Cup added an extra competition to their calendar. But manager Juan Carlos Osorio is giving his inexperienced side — which had a stumble of its own in tying Jamaica 0-0 — the chance to win the tournament, as opposed to making changes.”I think this group deserves the opportunity to continue [in the Gold Cup] and experience this tournament and the great responsibility that representing Mexico is,” said Osorio.He added, “[I feel] happy, very optimistic about the group. We’re continuing to consolidate a very good group of talented, young players that are the future of Mexican football. That factor, for me personally, is the most gratifying and what I enjoy most in life.”As it stands now, a hypothetical U.S. lineup for Wednesday’s quarterfinal could consist entirely of players who were on the roster for the World Cup qualifiers last June. So it looks like for Arena, the search for that kind of gratification Osorio referred to has been put on hold.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle.

W2W4: U.S. and Mexico to advance from Gold Cup quarterfinals

The Gold Cup’s 12-team field has been cut down to the quarterfinals; it is now the win-or-go-home thrills of the knockout stage.But which teams will take the next step toward the July 26 final in Santa Clara, California? Here’s what to watch for.

Costa Rica vs. Panama, Wednesday (6 p.m. ET — Philadelphia)

We start with the most intriguing match. Both have played reasonably well — each can feel aggrieved to have drawn the other so early in the knockout rounds — but karma may be paying Costa Rica back for its easy group. Outside of the hot-tempered opener against Honduras, Costa Rica hardly had to break a sweat on its way to a first-place finish in Group A.Like the U.S. and Mexico, Costa Rica left some of its biggest stars off the roster (like Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas), but unlike those other regional heavyweights, Los Ticos haven’t looked any worse for their high-profile absences. Being able to bring a red-hot Rodney Wallace off your B-team bench speaks well to one’s depth.Panama, meanwhile, was just minutes away from topping Group B before American defender Matt Miazga scored late against Nicaragua. Los Canaleros haven’t been perfect, but as the U.S. learned in the group-stage opener, this is a resilient squad and a tough out.Prediction: Costa Rica 1-0 Panama

United States vs. El Salvador, Wednesday (9 p.m. ET — Philadelphia)

Despite an underwhelming performance to this point, the United States has been rewarded with perhaps the tamest opponent left. The Americans needed to scramble to avoid embarrassment against Martinique — which will be missed — and labored much more than anticipated to score the three goals necessary vs. Nicaragua to win Group B.Yet reinforcements like veterans Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard and Michael Bradley are on the way. And even the JV squad would have fancied its chances against the Salvadorans.El Salvador has just about played to type by sneaking into the quarterfinals. It lost to Mexico, beat Curacao and fought Jamaica to a draw. With backs against the wall headed into the Jamaica match, this solid, unspectacular crew at least proved that it isn’t a pushover. Still, there’s a reason El Salvador is currently 103rd in the FIFA rankings. Barring a disaster, the U.S. should move on comfortably.Prediction: United States 3-1 El Salvador

Based on recent history, this should be an easy one to call. The Reggae Boyz reached the Gold Cup final the last time around, while Canada hasn’t advanced past this point in a decade.Dig a little deeper, however, and the more this looks like a golden opportunity for the Canadians. Jamaica is vulnerable. It was disciplined and organized in holding Mexico to a dour scoreless draw but otherwise hasn’t shown much. The team has been on a gradual slide for a while now, no longer possessing the spark of the group that so memorably stunned the U.S. in the 2015 semis.For Canada, meanwhile, the future is as bright as it’s been in a long time. Their 16-year-old sensation Alphonso Davies has risen to the occasion in his first big international tournament and is currently tied for the Golden Boot with three goals; Cyle Larin, who was called up for the knockout rounds ahead of Thursday’s match, is another sturdy young building block.Canada betrayed some nerves in the group-stage finale against Honduras, but it earned its quarterfinal place. This squad has genuine promise and is playing well.Prediction: Canada 2-1 Jamaica (extra time)

Mexico vs. Honduras, Thursday (10:30 p.m. ET — Glendale, Ariz.)

Has there ever been a quarterfinalist in any tournament that has done less to earn its place than these Hondurans?To say Honduras has underwhelmed would be an understatement. Tabbed by many as the potential sleeper in this field, Los Catrachos have yet to score a goal in 270 minutes of action. Their vaunted counterattack has faltered.Yet thanks to French Guiana’s willfully accepting a forfeit in exchange for starting ineligible attacker Florent Malouda in their second group-stage match, Honduras advanced on the back of its “3-0 win” that was actually a scoreless draw. Take that away and Honduras picked up just two points from three games.Mexico has looked much like you’d expect from a team that left most of its best players at home to enjoy their summer vacations. With the possible exception of the 3-1 win against El Salvador, El Tri has neither impressed nor especially underwhelmed. But it should have more than enough to overcome a Honduras team still trying to convert its legitimate attacking talent into a more formidable foe. Prediction: Mexico 2-0 Honduras

Bruce Arena makes six changes as USA bolsters squad for Gold Cup playoffs

BRIAN STRAUSSunday July 16th, 2017 SI

Bruce Arena is going for gold. The U.S. national team coach was afforded the opportunity to swap up to six players on his CONCACAF Gold Cup roster following the first round, which ended Saturday evening. Not only is he using all six slots—he’s enlisting the help of at least five World Cup-quality starters who should help transform the USA from a team that strained to top an underwhelming group to a team that should be considered the Gold Cup favorite. Mexico, for example, intends to keep its current roster intact. Meanwhile, captain Michael Bradley, forwards Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey, midfielder Darlington Nagbe and goalkeepers Tim Howard and Jesse Gonzalez are in for the USA. They’ll join Arena’s squad ahead of Wednesday’s quarterfinal in Philadelphia against either Honduras or El Salvador (the matchup will be determined Sunday evening when group play concludes). Heading home are goalies Brad Guzan and Sean Johnson, midfielders Alejandro Bedoya, Cristian Roldan and Kelyn Rowe, and forward Dom Dwyer.Arena had always intended to mix, match, overhaul and experiment during the group stage, with an eye on getting a close look at players beyond the national team core. It was a chance to see who might help during four critical World Cup qualifiers later this year and perhaps further down the road. In that sense, this Gold Cup group stage was a success.Each of the 20 field players got a look and the last one to do so, defender Matt Miazga, was the one who scored the 88th-minute goal against Nicaragua that clinched first place. But the fact the Americans (2-0-1) needed that late header to overhaul Panama (2-0-1) on the goals-scored tiebreaker is indicative of how hard results were to come by. The U.S. looked second best during significant stretches of a 1-1 tournament-opening draw with Panama. Arena’s team then blew a two-goal, second-half lead against Martinique (1-2-0) before bouncing back with Jordan Morris’s game-winner. In Saturday’s finale, the Americans struggled to impose themselves and missed two penalty kicks against overmatched Nicaragua (0-3-0).”We have added some experienced players to the roster that can help us in the knockout round of the Gold Cup. The players leaving all made a good impression, and I’m optimistic for their future with the national team program,” Arena said on Sunday. Here’s a look at the changes and at where Arena’s 23-man now roster stands as the USA reinforces itself for a run at a sixth Gold Cup crown.

Goalkeepers

Jesse Gonzalez (FC Dallas), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids)

In: Jesse Gonzalez, Tim Howard

Out: Brad Guzan, Sean Johnson

Gonzalez’s decision to file for a one-time international eligibility switch from his parents’ native Mexico to the USA was big news prior to the tournament and certainly could be a boon to the program from 2019 onward. But the next couple weeks and the next 12 months are still about Guzan and Howard. The former, minus one mistake against Martinique, looked very good during the Gold Cup’s first two games. The latter now will take over as the knockout rounds beckon.Guzan will depart to get started at his new club, Atlanta United, while Johnson will head back to New York City FC. Hamid, who played Saturday night, remains, and if healthy would seem to have the inside track at a No. 3 role behind the two entrenched veterans.

Defenders

Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest), Matt Miazga (Chelsea), Justin Morrow (Toronto FC), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

In: None

Out: None

Arena had the option to add Steve Birnbaum, Greg Garza, Matt Polster and/or Jonathan Spector but opted to stick with what he had. The USA yielded three goals across its three group-stage games.

Midfielders

Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy) (Leaving Kelyn Rowe NE Rev MF, Cristian Roldan Seattle MF)

In: Michael Bradley, Darlington Nagbe

Out: Alejandro Bedoya, Cristian Roldan, Kelyn Rowe

Bedoya was one of Arena’s more valuable players during the group stage, whether it was for his work rate against Panama or his attacking contributions the past two games. But his second child is due, and the Union veteran is heading home to be with his wife and family. Nagbe is the obvious replacement. Meanwhile, Bradley’s arrival knocks Roldan from the depth chart in the middle. He’ll return to Seattle and warrants a more extended look at the next January camp.

Rowe showed a couple of intriguing flashes during the group stage, most notably when he set up Dom Dwyer’s goal against Panama with a beautiful settle and sombrero in the left corner. Rowe also scored against Nicaragua. But with Nagbe and Dempsey—two creative players who enjoy finding pockets between the opposition midfield and back four—coming in, it appears the New England Revolution catalyst was squeezed out. But Arena’s decision to send Rowe back to Boston and keep both Joe Corona and Chris Pontius may raise some eyebrows.

Forwards

Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders)

In: Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey

Out: Dom Dwyer

Dwyer’s departure will disappoint some. He was a great story—his career hung by a thread when he arrived in the USA from his native England to play junior college soccer in Texas. He went on to win USL, US Open Cup and MLS Cup titles. He married a US women’s star, earned his American citizenship and scored on his international debut last month against Ghana. But with Altidore and Dempsey waiting in the wings, the bar was going to be a lot higher for Dwyer than anyone else on the roster. Both Altidore and Dempsey do most of their attacking from the middle or the channels, and so does Dwyer. Unfortunately, it was a numbers game for the Sporting striker. With Besler and Zusi remaining with the national team, at least Kansas City fans will be glad to have Dwyer back. Morris’s impressive performance against Martinique, and the versatility he brings as a player who can stretch a back four and attack from deeper or wider spots, keeps him in camp. Agudelo offers similar attributes.

3 things we can learn from Arena’s roster changes

Arena clearly strengthened his side, but also kept some under-performing players. So what gives?

by Adam Whittaker Snavely@Snaves Jul 17, 2017, 5:00am PDT

e all, somehow, survived the Gold Cup group stage. The United States squeaked by to win Group B with a squad that could charitably be described as somewhere between a B and a C team. It was ugly and at times painful to watch, but it’s over and the team avoids Costa Rica in the quarterfinals. Along with that, there’s a crop of new players added to the fray specifically to raise the attacking level of this team. However, along with these veteran players, Bruce Arena has made…interesting choices of which players should be replaced. So, what do the changes tell us about the team and Arena’s coaching philosophy in regards to this Gold Cup?

Arena Wants to Win

You don’t call in Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard if you’re using this tournament purely as a proving ground for players. Jesse Gonzalez? Sure. Darlington Nagbe? Maybe so. I can even see calling in Michael Bradley as another means of testing how the younger players on this Gold Cup squad react to playing with another starter from the first team. But Dempsey and Howard have a combined age of 72. They’re the only two current players that Arena also coached in his first tenure as USMNT head coach. There’s no reason to send them out to the Gold Cup to “see what they’ve got.” Both of these guys have proven that they still have more to give to the national team, and if anyone knows exactly what they bring to the team, it’s Bruce.

Alongside that fact, however, is that Bruce has continually preached rest for the both of them. Dempsey in particular has seemed unhappy when Bruce has erred on the side of giving his legs a break, but both players are at an age where recovery time takes longer. Taking them away from their clubs to jet around the country and potentially play 3 games in 8 days is not something that Arena will do flippantly, and signals real intent. This isn’t just some no-reason tournament. If it was, you keep Dom Dwyer and Kelyn Rowe and bring in younger, lesser players. Bruce wants to win the whole thing.

Don’t Look Back in Anger

Just because people like Dom Dwyer and Kelyn Rowe are leaving camp does not mean they didn’t impress or that Arena thinks other players he’s keeping were better than them. The people who have left camp have pretty specific replacements coming in for them, and many questions seem to have been answered about them. We know Dom Dwyer is a strong, goal-scoring forward that will work relentlessly and can play the lone-forward position. He also played a lot of minutes in the group stage, and with Dempsey and Jozy Altidore coming in, Bruce can afford to give him a rest. Same applies to Kelyn Rowe. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who thinks Paul Arriola or Chris Pontius outplayed Rowe in the group stage. But Rowe also played more minutes than the other two, and Nagbe is a more than competent replacement. Cristian Roldangot his 90 minutes, but makes way for the Captain, and two keepers are replaced by another two keepers.

I don’t claim to agree with the philosophy at work here (what does Chris Pontius bring to the national team besides Google searches that come up with a member of Jackass? Not a rhetorical question), but it at least makes a bit of sense. The players kept were, by and large, people that Arena has worked with on the national team before this Gold Cup, players that didn’t get as many minutes in the group stage, and still have question marks lingering around them. So sure, I would rather have Rowe and Dwyer with the team the rest of the way. But I don’t think for a second that this tournament was a failure for them, either.

The flip-side of this is equally important. Arena was surprisingly gentle with people like Arriola, Pontius, and even Joe Corona and Gyasi Zardes, who started this camp slowly but seemed to have grown more into the tournament as games have gone on. To say Arriola in particular has been a disappointment so far this tournament would be a massive understatement, as the positive play and dependable crossing he provided in his cameos with the first team over the last year or so have dried up with bad giveaways and a lack of composure on the ball. All of these players still have much more to prove in order to gain a spot with the USMNT A team. They’ll need to take advantage of Arena’s grace in order to win them.

Defensive Pressure

One area of concern where no help will be arriving is the U.S. defense, and that was probably the biggest problem in the group stage. If the defense looked weak against nama, it looked like a wet paper towel against Martinique. The game against Nicaragua offered a little reprieve thanks to Nicaragua fielding the tried-and-true parked bus formation, but with no new defenders called in, just who is Arena’s back four? We’ve seen Jorge Villafaña, Justin Morrow, Matt Besler, Matt Hedges, Omar Gonzalez, Eric Lichaj, Graham Zusi, and Matt Miazga start at some point in the group stage, Arena’s full complement of defenders. It seems like he’s most comfortable moving forward with Villafaña and Zusi on the wings, and Matt Besler looks like he probably has the left centerback spot to himself, but who partners with him? Omar Gonzalez has the experience, Matt Hedges has the MLS pedigree that Arena likes, and Miazga has youth and promise, but all three have made their share of missteps.

This is a similar question to the one dogging the USMNT in the spring, when an injury bug forced Arena to play a back four of Villafaña, Tim Ream, Gonzalez, and Zusi in Panama. The absences of John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, and DeAndre Yedlin are huge, and there seems to be a steep drop-off in talent past the few first-choice players in defense. If any player can step up during the knockout round games, they have a good chance at riding that wave all the way to a potential World Cup roster spot. If not, Arena will be left to answer for the defenders he did bring along, and how they got it so wrong.

Three things: USMNT beats Nicaragua 3-0, wins Group B

2 Commentsy Andy Edwards Jul 15, 2017, 10:26 PM EDT

The following lessons were bestowed upon us during the U.S. national team’s 3-0 victory over Nicaragua on Saturday…

The left back search continues

This was Jorge Villafaña’s chance; it was to be his Gold Cup; it was supposed to be his coming-out party; it was his audition for next summer’s World Cup — the one where he needed to step up and say, “I am the left back,” thus solving the USMNT’s biggest, longest-running problem. After starting the first and the third games of the group, we’re no closer to having found a full-time starter. It would have been nice, but at this point, we all knew better.Villafaña’s weaknesses are, simply put, 1) he’s wasteful and unimaginative when overlapping on the attacking, and 2) he’s a second- (or third-) best in every two-man foot race. In the modern game, especially with two eyes focused on the World Cup 11 months from now, those are fatal flaws in considering the world-class talent he’d be up against in Russia.At this point, either Greg Garza fills the superhero cape Villafaña so admirably tried, but failed, to fill, or DaMarcus Beasley is heading to his fifth World Cup.

[ MORE: Bradley, Altidore to be added to USMNT’s roster for KO rounds ]

Joe Corona… not a no. 10

Here’s what I wrote about Corona in my player ratings: “Scored a goal, missed a penalty, killed the majority of attacking movements during which he touched the ball. Business as usual.” Those are very bad qualities for a player deployed, on multiple occasions, as a no. 10. Do you know who’s proven quite effective in that de facto role, and is on this same roster?

Best-case scenario: Kelyn Rowe is a no. 10. Worst-case scenario: he’s a better no. 10 than Corona, even if still slightly miscast. He’s not a brilliant chance creator, like a traditional no. 10, but he’s an effective circulator of the ball, something he does with good tempo and security. Unfortunately, he’ll either be released from camp this week, or find himself buried on the depth chart once the first-teamers make their way aboard for the knockout rounds.

The wings are, uh, also a problem

This isn’t a lesson from Saturday, per se — more so of the last few months — but other than left back, the player pool is most shallow on the wings.If Christian Pulisic’s ultimate home is as a no. 10 for the USMNT (many, including myself, think it is), we’re picking two from the following group of non-winger wingers: Fabian Johnson (true position unknown), Darlington Nagbe (central midfielder), Bobby Wood (center forward) and Jordan Morris (center forward).Watching Chris Pontius on Saturday, following wide shifts from Paul Arriola and Gyasi Zardes over the last two weeks, I suddenly feel very unwell when faced with the prospects of attempting to score goals next summer.

USMNT: Winners and Losers of Group Stage

Let’s look at who improved/hurt their stock for the World Cup Squad during the Gold Cup group stage

by seancurtis Jul 17, 2017, 6:00am PDT

The first three games of the Gold Cup campaign for the United States have come and gone, with the team managing to squeak out as Group B winners. They started with a disappointing draw against Panama, followed by a disappointing 3-2 win over Martinique. Finally, a late goal gave them a 3-0 victory over Nicaragua, the exact win they needed to win the group. Six players have been added to the USMNT squad to help them through the knockout rounds, and six (somewhat surprising) players have been sent home. Before we move on to Wednesday’s game, let’s look at the three players who most improved their stock to make the 2018 World Cup roster and the three who hurt their stock the most.

Winners

Kelyn Rowe

Probably the biggest surprise of the tournament has been Kelyn Rowe. Before the game against Ghana, he had never even stepped onto the field in a USA jersey, but he quickly became a focal point of the team. He played in three games (Ghana, Panama, and Nicaragua), and he was one of the most dangerous players in all three. The pressure of the Gold Cup and the attention suddenly falling on him never even made him flinch, and he even scored his first goal against Nicaragua. This writer doesn’t really understand why he got sent home, but he goes home with a raised stock and the approval of many fans.

Dom Dwyer

His “eh” outing against Nicaragua has tempered some of the praise coming his direction, but there is no denying he helped his stock over the last few weeks. He scored against Ghana and Panama, and he showed his hustle and work rate in all of his games. He had an opportunity to raise his stock even higher, but he took a relatively poor penalty against Nicaragua that got saved. In the end, he came into July with a lot of fans wondering where he fit into the depth chart, and he at least asserted himself into the mix with players like Jordan Morris for the fourth forward spot behind Wood, Altidore, and Dempsey.

Alejandro Bedoya

Coming into this tournament, many fans thought that we would begin to see Alejandro Bedoya fade out of the national team. He isn’t lightning fast or super flashy, but he is a great utility. He captained the team, showed his hustle, and made a number of key passes throughout the group stage (like hitting Eric Lichaj against Martinique and assisting two goals against Nicaragua). He also played wide and centrally throughout the group. Is he a starter for the World Cup? No. However, he did assert himself back into the fold as a good utility bench player.

Losers

Matt Hedges

Matt Hedges was one of the names we were all excited to see when the roster came out. Unfortunately, he had a little bit of a rough game against Martinique, and that was the only real chance he got during the group. On top of that the USA has a number of fairly established CBs in John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Matt Besler, and *cough* Omar Gonzalez *cough*. To make things worse, Matt Miazga seems to have done a better job taking his chance so far, so Hedges is going to have to have a great knockout stage to really battle for a World Cup spot.

Graham Zusi

Coming into the tournament, there were not a lot of fans very high on the experiment of Graham Zusi as a right back. Unfortunately, I don’t feel much better about it after the group stage. He struggled heavily against Panama, and his defense wasn’t great against Nicaragua. One thing he did fairly well was get forward and hit some decent crosses, including the assist on the Miazga goal, but I don’t think that does enough to cover for the liability he seems to be at right back. He is still clearly behind DeAndre Yedlin and Timmy Chandler, and he didn’t do anything to argue that he is above Eric Lichaj or some of the other reserve options the USA has.

Cristian Roldan

Cristian Roldan was another name people really wanted to see on the Gold Cup roster, but he also let us down. He only managed to get onto the field in one game, and that game was a struggle. He should have been head-and-shoulders above Martinique in talent, but he did not do much to stand out. With Michael Bradley coming in, he falls even further down the Gold Cup depth chart, so he may not see the field again this tournament. It appears that he is squarely behind Kellyn Acosta and Dax McCarty in addition to the A-squad members, so the World Cup seems like a long shot at the moment.

Bedoya stands out as U.S. gets 3-0 win vs. Nicaragua to top Gold Cup Group B

It took a little longer than expected, but the United States did what it had to do to win Gold Cup Group B with a 3-0 victory over Nicaragua on Saturday evening at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.

Positives

Out of the three group-stage matches, this was the best performance from the U.S., which really isn’t saying that much. Yet there were some positives, namely Alejandro Bedoya and Kelyn Rowe in midfield. Matt Miazga and Matt Besler also worked well as the two center backs and could be the pair that lines up in Wednesday’s quarterfinal.

Negatives

Two missed penalties will not make coach Bruce Arena happy at all, especially with the knockout round looming. The U.S. team’s disconcerting trend of letting the tempo drop after a bright first 10-15 minutes will also agitate.

Manager rating out of 10

6 — Arena elected to field a completely new squad from the 11 that started against Martinique and had a chance to evaluate all his field players. He faces some big decisions ahead of the quarterfinal.

Player ratings (1-10, with 10 the best — players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Bill Hamid, 7 — Comfortably dealt with any potential danger. Was really pressed into making a save only once in each half. Seemed to communicate well with his center backs.

DF Jorge Villafana, 6 — Probably not as clean as Arena would like. Gave away a couple of cheap balls early but improved in the second half.

DF Matt Besler, 7 — The Sporting Kansas City man had the look of a leader on a back line that has been much-maligned in this tournament. Read the game well and had good chemistry with center-back partner Miazga.

DF Matt Miazga, 7.5 — A well-taken goal when the U.S. needed a third. Outside of one instance in which he was beaten by Juan Barrera, Miazga answered the call. His composure belied his lack of international experience.

DF Graham Zusi, 5.5 — Too many giveaways to make him an automatic selection for the quarterfinal. Had a dangerous clearance in front of goal and also an ill-advised header that gifted Nicaragua a chance. Lofted a beautiful ball in for Miazga to head home for the third.

MF Dax McCarty, 6.5 — Better than his initial outing against Panama. There was a lapse in the first half when he was dispossessed too easily deep in the U.S. half but recovered nicely and put forth a workmanlike performance.

MF Chris Pontius, 6.5 — Erred on a headed clearance in the second half but did a nice job overall down the right flank. Attempted a bold overhead kick to try to lift the U.S. from its early lull. Good pass into Dwyer that earned a penalty. Also worked hard defensively, constantly battling for possession.

MF Alejandro Bedoya, 8 — Built off his good substitute performance in the Martinique game. Bedoya was in the middle of most of the U.S. chances, including the Rowe goal when he set the table for the New England Revolution man. Made the run that earned the U.S. its second penalty. His run and cutback pass also led to the Corona opener.

MF Kelyn Rowe, 7.5 — Rowe’s clever finish was a fine reward for his performance. Made a smart run to receive the pass from Bedoya and finished it off with aplomb. Played some nice early balls and did good work in traffic. There was a wasted chance on a counter to Dwyer, but that is nitpicking. A very good 60-minute shift.

MF Joe Corona, 5.5 — Had a roller coaster of a game. Lady Luck was on his side in scoring the first U.S. goal, but a weak penalty that was easily saved by Nicaraguan goalkeeper Justo Lorente drops his rating. A little too heavy with touches, but still much better in midfield than he was during the Panama game.

FW Dom Dwyer, 5 — Like Corona, did not distinguish himself with his penalty as his spot kick was also saved by Lorente. Also mistimed several runs and was flagged for offside. A frustrating night.

Substitutes:

MF Paul Arriola, 6.5 — On for Rowe and injected some energy into the U.S. attack against a tired Nicaragua defense.

FW Jordan Morris, 6.5 — Came on for Corona in the 66th minute as the U.S. searched for a third goal. Never had a good look at goal but was a constant threat.

FW Juan Agudelo, NR — Replaced Dwyer in the 73rd minute. Earned a late free kick for the U.S. in a dangerous position.

Player ratings from USMNT’s 3-0 win over Nicaragua

1 Comment

By Andy Edwards Jul 15, 2017, 9:36 PM EDT

The U.S. national team is through to the quarterfinals of the 2017 Gold Cup as Group B winners following Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Nicaragua.Wh stood out for all the right — and wrong — reasons, as Bruce Arena prepares to make as many as six changes to the USMNT roster before the knockout rounds begin on Wednesday?

GK — Bill Hamid: 6 — Challenged just twice all night, Hamid made both saves asked of him, though he did spill a long-range effort late in the second half which nearly turned into a disastrous moment.

LB — Jorge Villafaña: 5 — Villafaña struggles with two facets of playing left back at the international level: 1) he’s pretty poor attacker when he gets forward, and 2) he’s left for dead against pacy wingers. Neither of those bode well 11 months before the start of the World Cup.

CB — Matt Besler: 6 — It’s not often that a center back is completely uninvolved in everything that happens in the game, but that was the case for Besler in this one. It’s impossible to “hurt” your stock in such an event, but there’s no helping either.

CB — Matt Miazga: 7 — Again, the center backs were largely untested over the 90 minutes, but Miazga did score the late winner, albeit while completely unmarked, on a set piece.

RB — Graham Zusi: 5.5 — He’s not an international right back. What I mean by that is: he’s great at the position for Sporting Kansas City, because the entirety of the attacking and defensive systems are tailored to his strengths, and away from his weaknesses. That’s impossible to replicate during an international camp, and it’s actively hurting the USMNT.

[ MORE: USMNT miss two PKs, still finish top of Group B ]

CM — Dax McCarty: 6 — The majority of the game was played in the final third for the USMNT, and out on the wings for Nicaragua — both of which are to say, McCarty, like the center backs directly behind him, saw very little action.

CM — Alejandro Bedoya: 8 — Man of the Match, probably. Furthermore, I’ll own this: I was wrong. I thought Bedoya should be deployed as a winger and/or wide midfielder, but he’s so clearly a two-way central midfielder, and with a responsible, dominant partner like McCarty, a really good one.

CM — Joe Corona: 6 — Scored a goal, missed a penalty, killed the majority of attacking movements during which he touched the ball. Business as usual.

[ MORE: Panama win helps USMNT, Mexico into quarterfinals ]

LW — Kelyn Rowe: 8 — Best attacker during the group stage, hands down. Another strong showing, while played out of position, and a goal to show for his efforts.

CF — Dom Dwyer: 5 — Like Corona, Dwyer missed a penalty and served as the end of the road for a number of promising attacking sequences. His hold-up play isn’t strong enough to play as a target; his movement isn’t tricky, nor his finishing clinical, enough to be a poacher. It’s tough to see where/how he fits in going forward.

RW — Chris Pontius: 5 — Wings are the most wide open positions in the player pool, so it’s worth it to give anyone and everyone a look, especially during the group stage, but Pontius is neither explosive now a visionary. One or the other, please.

[ MORE: Costa Rica, Canada book quarterfinal places ]

Sub — Paul Arriola: 5 — Unable to find time on the ball, or space, to create. He’s a worker, to be certain, but offers very little in terms of chance creation. As established above, a common theme.

Sub — Jordan Morris: 5 — Let’s pick a position for Morris, and let him live there. Is he a forward? Is he an cutting-in winger? He took a knock on the hip not long after coming on, and look hindered the rest of the way. There’s a time and a place for a player with his speed, but a game where you’ve already got a 2-0 lead might not be it.

Sub — Juan Agudelo: 6 — The smallest sample size — just 16 minutes — but every time he hits the field, Agudelo gets on the ball and his first instinct is to run at defenders. It was his dribble through midfield which won the free kick that resulted in Miazga’s winner. Things happen when Agudelo is on the field. He should have started the first and the third games, with Dwyer taking the middle of the three.

Veteran Alejandro Bedoya makes mark on youthful USA Gold Cup squad

CLEVELAND — As Alejandro Bedoya slowly walked toward the team bus, it was evident that his day’s work had come at a physical cost. “I got whacked on that first assist, so my ankle is feeling it,” he said.But there was a payoff, too. Bedoya, operating as the U.S. team’s box-to-box midfielder, set up goals for Joe Corona and Kelyn Rowe, plays that proved critical in the Americans’ 3-0 win over Nicaragua on Saturday night. The result enabled the U.S. to finish the first round of the Gold Cup atop Group B, edging out Panama, which defeated Martinique 3-0 earlier in the day, on the goals-scored tiebreaker.”It was alright,” Bedoya said in assessing his own play. “I tried to find spaces in that position, that No. 8 role. I enjoy it when I try to get free in between the lines and cause their back line trouble. I’m always going to be the second runner to try to break them down, and I think I was able to do that at times. And I got two assists, so not bad.” Bedoya won’t get a chance to build on his performance in next week’s quarterfinal, which will take place in his current home city of Philadelphia. He and his wife, Beatrice, are expecting their second child, so he’s being released from the Gold Cup squad.”As much as I would have loved to have stayed, I’m welcoming my new love to this world,” he said. “I’m looking forward to that.”Bedoya is a player who has long divided opinion. He has always been a conscientious, two-way player, but some fans and pundits have made it clear they prefer a more dynamic attacking presence on the field. Competing against the likes of Darlington Nagbe and Fabian Johnson, it can be hard to argue.And so far during Bruce Arena’s second stint in charge, Bedoya has found minutes tough to come by. While he has appeared nine times since Arena took over, six of those have been as a substitute, and Saturday’s match marked the first time he had played the full 90 minutes.Bedoya has long taken such criticism in stride and remains as confident as ever in his play. Is he a starter when the full team gets together? At this stage, probably not. But his experience, defense and versatility still make him a valuable presence on the squad.”I’ve been a national teamer under three different coaches. I must be doing something right,” he said. “Everybody has got their cup of tea, and whatever. Whenever I step between those white lines, I always do my best for the team. I know I’ve got the attributes and the ability. My game speaks for itself. Some don’t like it, some do.”Among those who do is Arena, who said those calling for Bedoya to be dropped are “pretty stupid.” Teammate Dax McCarty showed his appreciation as well.”[Bedoya is] a glue guy, he’s a guy that you want on the field, he’s a guy that you want in your team because he does all the little things that make your team better,” McCarty said. “He wins second balls, he’s really clever with his movement, he’s really clever with his passing. He makes the right runs. And defensively, he’s really solid.” Bedoya provided some valuable leadership as well. McCarty said before the match he felt that there was some tension within the side as players pondered what might be their last shot at breaking into the national team during this World Cup cycle. Bedoya said he felt that vibe as well, and did what he could to settle his teammates’ nerves.”I think throughout the games, I’ve sensed a little bit some anxiety from some of the guys, the new guys,” he said. “It’s a tournament, you know? As a captain, I’m not the most vocal guy, but I try to get in there and just try to calm them down and let them enjoy themselves. It was better knowing before what the score needed to be. It gives us some sense of urgency, to put them under pressure early and try to be aggressive at them.”On this day, the U.S. looked like it coped with the game’s pressure a bit better than in its previous two group matches. Defensively, the team was more solid and did a better job of applying pressure in the opposition half. Had the U.S. not squandered a pair of penalties — both were saved by Nicaragua keeper Justo Lorente — they wouldn’t have needed Matt Miazga’s late tally with two minutes left to clinch their status as Group B winners.To be clear, not only was it helpful to know what score was needed to finish out the group stage in first place, but playing the weakest team in the group didn’t hurt, either. The U.S. cause was also aided by a red card to Nicaragua defender Luis Copete with five minutes to go and a late injury to Luis Galeano that left Los Pinoleros short-handed when Miazga nodded home Graham Zusi’s free kick.But after struggling for much of the first two games, this group will take whatever steps forward it can muster, no matter how slight. And it can’t be forgotten that the Americans ultimately accomplished their mission on the day. Granted, it’s not like a switch is flipped and all of a sudden players become immune from pressure. It’s something players become more adept at dealing with over time. That process now seems to be moving in more of a positive direction.”We put a lot of pressure on them, got two penalties that we deserved,” McCarty said. “When you don’t convert those, it can lead to a little bit of frustration. It can be a punch to the gut. But we just stayed positive. That’s what we told the guys. ‘Keep going.’ And at the end of it all, we got the win that we needed.”And a result that the Americans deserved. The question now is whether they can continue on this path in quarters. With six players being added to the roster, it will almost be a brand-new team that will take the field. But for those that remain, a boost in confidence has been generated. And as Bedoya exits the tournament, he can feel secure in the knowledge that he did his part.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle.

Three Things – #INDvJAX

Goals, saves, and the fall season – our takeaways from the Spring Season finale

Published Jul 17, 2017

After every game in 2017, IndyEleven.com’s Trey Higdon will give his three takeaways from the performance of the “Boys in Blue.” This week’s edition comes after Indiana’s Team down Jacksonville Armada FC 2-0 in the club’s Spring finale.

TALLY ONE FOR VUKOVIC AND HENDERSON

“Indiana’s Team” finished the 2017 Spring season strong with a 2-0 shutout against Jacksonville Armada FC in front of a crowd of 8,735 fans. Goals from “Boys in Blue” defender Nemanja Vukovic and midfielder Craig Henderson secured Indy’s 4^th victory out of the last five matches. In addition, Indy has collected 13 points in their last five matches; more than any other NASL side in the last five contests.

After several back-and-forth chances in the first 45 minutes, Vukovic opened the scoring for Indy early into the start of the second half. In the 48^th minute, Eleven midfielder Brad Ring sent the ball soaring from the left side of the field to a patiently waiting Vukovic at the right edge of the Jacksonville 18-yard box. From there, the Montenegrin defender danced the ball around Armada midfielder Jemal Johnson before beaming the ball at distance beyond Armada ‘keeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell into the upper left corner of the goal. The goal was the first time Vukovic had scored for Indy XI in 2017 and his fourth overall goal for his team. Vukovic last scored on August 3, 2016, in Indy’s 5-2 stunner against Jacksonville at “The Mike”.Indy’s next goal and the nail in Jacksonville’s coffin came in the 68^th minute by the way of New Zealand national Henderson. “Boys in Blue” midfielder Don Smart made an attempt at goal from just inside the right edge of Armada’s 18-yard box, but the run ended wide of his target. However, XI striker Eamon Zayed kept the attack alive when he met Smart’s cross with a quick pass to Henderson in the center of Patterson-Sewell’s box. With a quick stop and turn, Henderson chipped the ball around Armada defender Aaron Pitchkolan into the top corner of Armada’s goal.

SUPERHERO-LIKE SAVES for BUSCH

Indy Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch chalked up another spectacular performance after keeping a hotly contested clean sheet to close out the Spring season. After collecting 5 saves on the evening, “Buschy” walked away with another brick in his hands and three points for “Indiana’s Team”.

The first of Busch’s five saves came in the 44^th minute when Armada forward Derek Gebhard charged past Indy’s defense into the 18-yard box before making his shot just outside the right corner of the goal. However, Gebhard’s shot met Busch’s legs, deflecting back out to Eleven midfielder Don Smart to restart Indy’s attack. Following halftime, in the 46^th minute, Armada midfielder Jack Blake looked to make his mark on the match. Fortunately, Blake’s shot from the right of the box found Busch’s hands in the center of the goal. Minutes later, in the 53^rd minute, Armada midfielder Jemal Johnson rocketed the ball towards Indy’s goal from outside the 18-yard box, but a quick dive to the left corner saw Busch collect his third save. Immediately following his third save, Busch collected his fourth in the 55^th minute when Jacksonville’s Blake sent a ball from the outside of the box to the top left corner. But once again, the ball met with Busch’s glove and the match continued. Fast forward to the dying minutes of the match, a bouncing cross met with Armada midfielder J.C. Banks’ head in front of the goal. Yet, Banks’ header was no match for Busch’s cat-like reflexes as he deflected the ball out of danger for the final time.

via GIPHY

Busch brought an end to the Spring season with a 4^th his shutout for 2017 and a total of 52 saves to his name, 28 of which came from the last five matches. Additionally, the 40-year-old goaltender ends the Spring season with the second most saves across the NASL, falling just behind North Carolina FC’s ‘keeper Bryan Sylvestre’s 66 saves.

ONWARD TO FALL

Despite an impressive 5-game undefeated streak going into the two-week break, Indy Eleven ended the Spring season in 6^thplace. Luckily, it’s not all doom and gloom in the overall standings. With 20-points, Indy remains just four points off from a potential 3^rd place position on the table and six points off of 2^nd place. Moreover, Indy remains seven points clear of falling to 7^thplace. Regaining fitness and finding form have been crucial to returning to winning ways once again. Now, it’s become a matter of retaining that momentum after the two-week break. Position aside, it’s still very much a battle for a playoff spot with 16 matches awaiting the “Boys in Blue” in the fall. Don’t miss your chance to see all the action firsthand when the “Boys in Blue” return home August 5^th.

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July 13, 2017 – USA vs Nicaragua Sat 7 pm FXX, Indy 11 host Sat 6:30 pm, ICC Cup Starts

July 13, 2017July 15, 2017 gatorbest

(Note USA game on FXX Sat Night – not Fox Sport 1 – we are in Cleveland and planning to go tonite!)

So the US is 2 games into the Gold Cup with a tie and a win – but it hasn’t been pretty. The tie with Panama was one thing, now the 3-2 win last night over Martinique who had only 2 professional players is another. This was not a good show for the US – yes I know it’s the B team – but we should be able to send the Indy 11 out there and win a game vs Martinique for heavens sakes. I thought Jordan Morris looked good with his 2 goals and some timely runs and good passing – (I would love to see him on the field with our goalscorer last game Dom Dwyer in our next match to see how that looks). The US will look to win the group by facing winless Nicaragua on Sat night at 7 pm in Cleveland on Fox Sports 1. (see the full tourney schedule below). Moving down the roster – Guzan let a bad one by last night, and the defense was shaky in the 2^nd half giving up 2 goals. I thought Leeija was our best defender on the right showing his time with Notinghams Forest in England has gone him good. (I would love to see him get a shot at the left side) as Justin Morrow was just decent on the left last night. Gonzales was OK and he scored on a header but his fellow central back former Carmel Dad’s Club and Carmel High defender Matt Hedges really struggled. I thought he had a very good 1^st half, but in the 2^nd he allowed the turn and run on the first goal and later lost some important headers that fortunately missed the mark. Hopefully Matt gets another chance on Sat, he was the defender of the year in MLS for Dallas last season, but he really struggled last night. The midfield was again iffy last night as Acosta looks lost without Bradley there to direct him, Arriola was ok, but really they didn’t settle in until Bedoya came in at the 60 minute mark and settled things down. The US needs a win in the next game now and will need to put a few goals in Cleveland.

The (ICC) International Champions Cup kicks off its 2 weeks of games on ESPN this Sat with LA Galaxy vs Man United on ESPN 2 at 10 pm, other big games include Man U vs Man City next Thurs at 9:30 pm on ESPN, Juventus vs Barcelona at 4 pm on ESPN next Sat and El Classico in Miami as Barca faces 2 time defending Champions League winners Real Madrid on Sat, July 29 at 7:30 pm on ESPN (see full schedule in Games on TV below)

The Indy 11 coming off 3 Wins and a tie will host Jacksonville this Sat July 15 at 6:30 pm at the Mike. Getting some injured players back and the home stand have helped the 11 move out of the cellar and into 6^th place in the NASL. Huge props to FC Cincy for their huge home win over the Chicago Fire at home on ESPN on June 28^th – I am afraid the dream is over now as they must travel to Miami FC tonight (honestly they should have weighted the ping pong balls for 1 more home stand for this squad vs an MLS team) – oh well – would have been fun to go.

BEST FAMILY GOALIE TRAINING – if anyone is interested in Goalie Training this summer – let me know. My 18 year old goalie Tyler and I are offering some evening training on Wednesdays in July. RE: with interest.

GAMES ON TV

Thur, July 12

7:30 pm Fox Sport 1 El Salvador vs Curucao– Gold Cup

10 pm FS1 Mexico vs Jamaica– Gold Cup

Fri, July 13

7:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Costa Rica vs French Gaina– Gold Cup

10 pm FS1 Canada vs Honduras– Gold Cup

Sat July 15

3:30 pm Lifetime Portland Thorns vs NC (Womens NWSL)

4:30 pm Fox Sport 2 Panama vs Martinque– Gold Cup

7 pm FS1? Nicaragua vs USA – Gold Cup (Cleveland)

6:30 pm MyIndy TV/ESPN3 Indy 11 vs Jacksonville

10 pm ESPN 2 LA Galaxy vs Man United – International Champions Cup

Sun, July 15

6 pm Fox Sport 2 Jamaica vs El Salvador– Gold Cup

8 pm Fox Sport 1 Cacacua vs Mexico – Gold Cup

Mon, July 17

7:30 am ESPN 2 Real Salt Lake vs Man United ICC

Wed, July 19

7:30 am ESPN 3/Des Bayern Munich vs Arsenal ICC

6 pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup Quarterfinal Philly (US probably)

9 pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup Quarterfinal

9 pm ESPN2 Roma vs PSG ICC

Thur, July 20

7:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup Quarterfinal

10 pm ESPN Man U vs Man City ICC

10:30pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup Quarterfinal

Sat, July 22

5:30 am EPSN 3+Des Bayern Munich vs Milan ICC

4 pm ESPN Juve vs Barcelona ICC

10 pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup SEMI FINAL Dallas US?

Sun, July 23

5:30 am EPSN 3+Des Bayern Munich vs Milan ICC

5 pm ESPN ? Real Madrid vs Man United ICC

6:30 pm Fox Sport1 Vancuouver vs Portland

9 pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup SEMI FINAL 2

Mon, July 24

8 am ESPN 3+Des Inter vs Lyon ICC

Tues, July 25

8 am ESPN 3+Des Chelsea vs Bayern Munich

8 pm EsPN Tottenham vs Roma ICC

Wed, July 26

7:30 am ESPN Barcelona vs Man United ICC

8 pm EsPN 2 Juve vs PSG ICC

9 pm Fox Sp 1 Gold Cup Final

Sat, July 29

7:30 am ESPN desp Chelsea vs Inter ICC

6 pm EsPN 2 Man City vs Tottenham ICC

7:30 pm ESPN Real Madrid vs Barcelona ICC

Sun, July 30

4 pm ESPN Roma vs Juventus ICC

Wed, Aug 2

9 pm Fox Sport 1 MLS Allstars vs Real Madrid

International Champions Cup July Games in Nashville and Detroit

Its Summer – Time to plan your Soccer Camps

Carmel High School Soccer Camps – July 17-20

US Narrowly Wins vs Martinique Shows Flaws – Jeff Carlisle EPSNFC

Cost: $195 per camper Location: Badger Fields Field Player Camp: July 24 – 27, 2017

USA

Player Ratings Jordon Morris is Hero with Brace for US Win – Jason Davis ESPNFC

Player Ratings MLS.con Greg Seltzer

Player Ratings NBCsports

US Hangs on to Beat Martinique – Arch Belle ESPNFC

Morris takes aim at WC spot with selfless Outing vs Martinique

Morris Breaks thru with 2 Needed Goals vs Martinique

Morris Saves the Day with 2 goals Video

Midfield with Crap Performance vs Panama – Jeff Carlisle EPSNFC

Gold Cup + ICC + Women’s Euros

Who starts for Mexico tonite? ESPNFC

Mexico beats El Salvador but defense a trouble

Costa Rica and Canada Tie to Stay atop of Group A

FIFA Scandal Whistleblower and Chief – Chuck Blazer dies at 72

Barca Brings Stars Messi, Neyar, Ramos, Suarez on US Tour for ICC games

ICC Ideal Prep for Real Madrid

Man U and Real Madrid Bicker over Facilities in LA

ESPN 3 and ESPN Networks to show Women’s Euro 2017 starting next Week

GOALIES

Save of Game 1 Guzan – in Gold Cup

Young Goalie Gigi D re-signs with AC Milan

Mexico’s Great Wall – Ochoa completes move to Belgium Club

MLS Save of the Week

David Bingham MLS Save of the Week 18

Top 5 Saves Confed Cup

World

Rooney back to Everton

Rooney scores in 1^st game back

MLS

Ranking Schedules down the sstretch on MLS season

Kaka Expects even match with Real Madrid

David Villa wins ESPY for Player of Year

Indy 11

Indy 11 Discount Ticket Link

3 things Win over NY Cosmos Sat

11 Forward Justin Braun named to NASL Team of Month

U.S. narrowly wins, shows worrying flaws in Gold Cup scare vs. Martinique

Given the B-list nature of the U.S. roster, this Gold Cup was bound to possess some good, some bad, and some downright ugliness for the Americans. But Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Martinique came dangerously close to humiliation.It took a 76th-minute winner from Jordan Morris, his second goal of the night, to finally see off a game opponent. As such, the victory should provide little comfort to manager Bruce Arena and his players, who will be left red-faced from a match that should never have been so close.Yes, soccer’s low-scoring nature makes it ripe for upsets and the potential for giant-killings is part of its appeal. Further, it can also make the expectation of a blowout a tad unrealistic.But none of that can be used as an excuse for this U.S. performance. We’re talking about a team of full-time professionals going up against a group of semi-pros.Does Martinique deserve some credit? Absolutely. It played with spirit and organization. But the Americans had the game seemingly under control, taking a 2-0 lead in the 64th minute when Morris scored his first. At which point, Arena’s side showed a complete inability to manage the game. For whatever reason, maintaining tempo — especially when leading — has been a problem from the Ghana friendly on July 1 to Panama last Saturday all the way to Wednesday.Granted. goalkeeper Brad Guzan should have saved the first of Kevin Parsemain’s two goals, but there were warning signs even before that, with Martinique hitting the post in the first half. And how is it that the U.S. coughs up an equalizer that started with a three-on-three counter-attack?

Sure, the U.S. roster is lacking some experience at international level, but it also has logged plenty of domestic matches. Arena’s understandable squad rotation — there were eight changes from the Panama game — could also be a factor. However, regardless of who is on the field, the U.S. ought to know how to manage a result against such a lowly opponent.So two games into this tournament, the U.S. hasn’t done much to distinguish itself. It has shown little consistency, both on a team and individual level. In fact, the performances of most players have alternated between frigid and scalding, oftentimes in the same game.A case in point is Gyasi Zardes. The LA Galaxy midfielder did well in setting up Morris’ winner with a smart cutback and, overall, was better in the second half. But Zardes also had his share of suspect touches and poor passes.Meanwhile, Matt Hedges, for all of his ability with the ball, struggled with his defending both in the air and on the ground, and was beaten in the run-up to Martinique’s equalizer.Even Eric Lichaj, who did his future prospects no harm, wasn’t completely immune. He assisted on Morris’ first goal thanks to a darting run, but was also guilty of a first-half giveaway that forced a sharp save from Guzan.The group that has acquitted itself the best so far in the tournament are the forwards. Dom Dwyer, who was given the night off, has two goals this month while Juan Agudelo, who did start vs. Martinique, had the misfortune of being at his best when those around him were at their worst. Otherwise, he might have had more reward for his hard work and clever touches.But this night belonged to Morris. It hasn’t been the easiest of seasons for him — his two goals equaled his 2017 total for the Seattle Sounders — and this match did reveal that his decision-making on the ball needs some work. But his pace makes him a valued part of this U.S. side and his runs in the box made him too much to handle for Martinique.So is it time to panic? Far from it. But that doesn’t mean there can’t be disappointment with the way this U.S. has performed so far.Prior to the tournament there was genuine excitement about what this team could do, and which players could emerge to take on bigger roles. For now, that has been replaced by skepticism over just how many players will be able to help out when World Cup qualifying resumes in September.The U.S. sits on top of its group after two games, thanks to the goals scored tiebreaker, but it will need more of the good in its game to emerge in order to achieve the goal of winning the Gold Cup.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC.

Jordan Morris the hero as U.S. hangs on to beat Martinique in Gold Cup

With eight changes from its opening group-stage match, the United States overcame a terrible first half performance, a goalkeeping gaffe and a defensive lapse to beat Martinique 3-2 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Positives

Considering how poor the first half was, the second half response could be called a “positive.” At least on the attacking end the Americans showed a bit more energy and sharpness, which led to three goals and the eventual win. The substitute performance of Alejandro Bedoya lifted the team too, while Jordan Morris’ brace could help pull the forward out of poor run of form for club and country.

Negatives

Too many to name. Going into halftime tied 0-0 represented a failure, especially since Martinique was actually unfortunate not to have the lead. Defensively, the Americans were slow, disorganized and too reactive. Brad Guzan’s second-half display will fill no one with confidence that there is a clear No. 2 for the USMNT behind Tim Howard.

Manager rating out of 10

4.5 — Against a team such as Martinique, tactics shouldn’t really be the issue. Still, Arena failed to provide his team a creative option in the midfield, a situation that led to a lack of connectivity through the spine of the team. The U.S. head coach wanted to see a different set of players, and he overhauled the team. That might have been a factor in the disjointed nature of the performance, though Arena might be willing to live with it for evaluation purposes.

Player ratings (1-10, with 10 the best — players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Brad Guzan, 4 — Made a strong save in the first half but will be rightly criticized for allowing Martinique’s first goal on a shot to his left inside the near post. Looked hesitant with decision-making for the rest of the match.

DF Eric Lichaj, 6.5 — Tidy on the ball for most of the night, with the exception of a turnover or two. Pushed higher in the second half, directly leading to an assist for the second U.S. goal.

DF Matt Hedges, 4 — Beaten too easily in the second half, directly leading to Martinique’s comeback on two different occasions. Poor decision-making and weak in the air.

DF Omar Gonzalez, 4.5 — Scored, which helped salvage his night. Alongside Hedges, he was too slow to react and lost his way tracking Martinique attackers.

DF Justin Morrow, 6 — Competent overall. Heeded the need for extra bodies in the final third of the second half by getting forward more often.

MF Paul Arriola, 6 — Killed a counterattacking chance in the first half with a poor pass. Improved in the second half, and hit the shot that ended up as the first U.S. goal.

MF Kellyn Acosta, 5.5 — Anonymous at times and lacked the level of sharpness required. With a chance to stamp his leadership on an inexperienced team, he came up short.

MF Cristian Roldan, 6 — Started brightly before falling off the pace of the game a bit over the next hour. Collected a handful of important recoveries.

MF Gyasi Zardes, 6 — Provided some much-needed width for the U.S. all night. Maddeningly inconsistent with his touches, but played several good crosses and set up the winner for Morris.

FW Jordan Morris, 7.5 — Saved the Americans with his two goals. Quiet in the opening half, but used his speed to stretch the defense in the second half.

FW Juan Agudelo, 6.5 — Lively and mobile, especially in the first half when his work was wasted by teammates. Pushed too hard for a goal in the second half, failing to spot better options.

Substitutes:

MF Alejandro Bedoya, NR — Made an impact off the bench with some smart, late runs. Missed an excellent chance to score.

MF Chris Pontius, NR — Added energy up the flank, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

MF Dax McCarty, NR — Helped settle the game and see it out for the Americans after coming on with just a handful of minutes to go.Jason Davis covers Major League Soccer

USMNT Player Ratings: Morris, Gyasi stand out vs. MTQ while others…do not

July 13, 20171:00AM EDTGreg SeltzerContributor

The US national team made things a bit more exciting than they needed to be, but prevailed late in a 3-2 win over CONCACAF Gold Cup Group B visitors Martinique on Wednesday night.Working with a highly experimental lineup, the Nats were patient before intermission and persistent in being decisive after it. Thanks to a Jordan Morris brace, they were able to come out with the points despite blowing a two-goal lead.

Brad Guzan (5.5) – The US netminder made a few strong saves, but boy, he should have stopped the shot on Martinique’s opener.

Eric Lichaj (7) – Aside from a bad first-half giveaway that led to long-range shot, Nottingham Forest’s Player of the Year put in a professional shift in his first international start in over six years. Lichaj didn’t burst forward often, but did notch a nice assist on the US second.

Omar Gonzalez (7) – The Pachuca center back (#3 above) did take a quick nap on one Martinique rush, but was otherwise solid at the back. Gonzo also moved the ball safely and alertly tucked home a rebound to get his side on the board.

Matt Hedges (3.5) – It was a rough night for the FC Dallas defender, who was beaten in several different ways. Most notably, Hedges was caught out by a lunging missed tackle, lost an aerial duel directly in front of the US goal despite having early position and was burned for pace on the buildup for Martinique’s second.

Justin Morrow (6) – The Toronto FC left back was decent in his return to USMNT action after four-and-a-half years. He deftly aided the team’s possession and some rushes up his flank. Though Morrow only served one dangerous cross on the night, he did split three defenders with a pass to initiate the winning goal play.

Cristian Roldan (6) – The midfield debutant was a defensive force in the opening half-hour, but somewhat faded in this regard after that. In particular, Roldan failed to mind the gate to the back line a couple times. However, his work on the ball was steady.

Kellyn Acosta (5.5) – While the FCD midfield ace improved on his Panama showing, he fell well short of shining. Acosta landed his first several restart serves in dangerous spots, but his last few went awry.

Paul Arriola (6) – It was a mixed bag for the Tijuana youngster, who was guilty of some sloppy play in the first half and lax on tracking back to disrupt the shooter on Martinique’s first. However, he was often quicker than the rest in chasing down loose balls in the attacking third, which caused havoc for the visitors’ defense. On one such occasion, Arriola’s seeing-eye drive from a busted corner kick forced the rebound for Gonzalez’s goal.

Gyasi Zardes (7.5) – More than any other US player, Zardes consistently harassed the away defense. While his touch can be inelegant at times, it was also good enough to break free down the left flank to kick-start several rushes. His cutback on Morris’ winner was a thing of beauty.

Juan Agudelo (5) – There were times when Agudelo’s (above) movement unnerved the Martinique back line, but he was inefficient on the ball and too often forced individual play.

Jordan Morris (8) – The Seattle speedster logged his first two-goal game in a US shirt, and it was well deserved. His hold-up play surprisingly provided a fulcrum for the hosts in the first half and his more characteristic runs caused other problems for Martinique. Morris both started and finished the final approach on the winner, which surely induced a widespread sigh of relief.

Coach Bruce Arena (5.5) – Is it fair to be rough on the coach for fielding a line-up that required a lot of introductions? Or is that precisely the reason we shouldn’t be so hard on Arena for what was essentially a middling display? I’m slightly leaning toward the latter because, well… Martinique. Some of those players should have reasonably been expected to perform better. In the end, though, the team got the win and grabbed first place in Group B. Call it mission barely accomplished, and hope for something more emphatic against Nicaragua on Saturday (7 pm ET | Univision, UDN, FXX in US, TSN GO in Canada).

Subs:
Alejandro Bedoya (6) – The veteran looked lively in his 28 minutes, and it his through ball released Lichaj to cross for Morris’ first goal. Bedoya’s grade was dragged back to average when he was not tuned in enough to close down Johan Audel, whose shot caromed in off a teammate to tie the game.

Chris Pontius (5) – The most notable event of his 17 minutes came when he neglected to track his opposite, who fired the shot that deflected in to momentarily level matters.

Dax McCarty (6) – Though only on for four minutes, the Chicago Fire man was aggressive in helping close out the win.

Player ratings from the USMNT’s 3-2 win over Martinique

Leave a commentBy Nicholas Mendola Jul 12, 2017, 10:55 PM EDT

It wasn’t decisive and nearly fell apart, but the United States men’s national team emerged with all three points from its second match of the 2017 Gold Cup.Bruce Arena changed eight of his 11 starters for the match. Some thrived, some middled, and some struggled.

Starting XI

Brad Guzan — 6 — Strong first half, but needs to stop the first Martinique goal. He’s being measured against his predecessors.

Justin Morrow — 5 — Would like to see him again with the nerves out of system.

Omar Gonzalez — 7 — One of his better nights in a U.S. kit. Scored the opener in a gritty and instinctive way, and did not misplay any of his 23 passes.

Matt Hedges — 5 — Outran and out-of-position in the buildup to Martinique’s equalizer. Otherwise, just fine.

Eric Lichaj — 7 — Deserves to be in the discussion for Russia 2018, should they qualify, and proved it on Wednesday.

Cristian Roldan — 6 — A bit out of position but not overwhelmed on his debut. Composure wasn’t a problem, but performance was.

Kellyn Acosta (Off 62′) — 6 — He remains a big part of the USMNT’s future, but it’s hard to say he’s built on a strong performance against Ghana.

Paul Arriola (Off 73′) — 7 — Was missing the requisite finish but has made a definite argument to get more looks from Arena.

Gyasi Zardes — 5 — Gets credit for an assist on Morris’s second, but his industry was betrayed by his touch more often than not.

Juan Agudelo (Off 86′) — 6 — Brighter than his compatriots in the first half, his work out left in the second was significant.

Jordan Morris — 8 — His dogged work was rewarded with a pair of goals in a performance which will hopefully snap him out of a long funk for club and country.

Subs

Alejandro Bedoya (On 62′) — 6 — Helped set up second goal.

Chris Pontius (On 73′) — 6 — Not a bad shift.

Dax McCarty (On 86′) — N/A

U.S. hangs on to beat Martinique in Gold Cup via Jordan Morris’ two goals

Three thoughts from the United States’ nervy 3-2 win over Martinique in Gold Cup Group B:

U.S. flounders in narrow win

While Wednesday’s victory is enough to send the U.S. to the top of Group B, this was a floundering performance from a side that nearly did the unthinkable and play to a draw after having a two-goal lead in the second half against an inferior opponent.

The best friend that the U.S. could have had on Wednesday was an early goal, but by the 20th minute it was evident that it was going to be another difficult night for the U.S., in front of a large crowd at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Saturday’s 1-1 draw for the U.S. against Panama could be understood based on the recent contests between the two squads, but Wednesday’s performance is alarming for several reasons. First, the U.S. was plagued by mistakes on defense, allowing Martinique to come back from a 2-0 second-half deficit to pull level and nearly slip in a third. Second, these was no urgency shown in the first half, essentially 45 minutes wasted.But for the U.S., there is enough individual quality in Bruce Arena’s squad to be able to avoid a disastrous result. Jordan Morris took both his goals quite well, powering strong finishes into the back of the net after Omar Gonzalez’s fortuitous opener.Yet there was plenty of bad decision-making from the U.S. all over the field. Whether it was an ill-advised shot, a heavy touch, a lightly hit ball or a failure to play a simple pass, there were too many lapses and miscues. In attack, these issues were best summed up by a late first-half break when Paul Arriola looked to play wide to Gyasi Zardes, instead of continuing his dribble into the Martinique area. Kevin Parsemaine’s shot off the post was a harbinger of the defensive issues to come.Still, the U.S. has a very good shot to finish atop the group, but a quick glance at its potential quarterfinal opponents — Canada, for example — means that improvement against Nicaragua is imperative. After this performance, any thought that Saturday’s group stage final in Cleveland is going to be a walk in the park would be mistaken.

More U.S. defensive headaches

It was another shaky performance from the U.S. at the back, allowing a pair of Martinique goals that nearly earned the islanders a stunning draw.

Things weren’t busy at the back for the first half-hour, but as Martinique grew into the match and became more comfortable, the U.S. looked more unsteady. Parsemain was a thorn in the U.S.’s side and should have scored after a dreadful giveaway from Eric Lichaj in the first half.

FC Dallas center-back Matt Hedges also struggled. He was beaten by Yoann Arquin on a header that forced Brad Guzan into a reaction save and then allowed Steeven Langil to blaze past him in the run-up to the second Martinique goal.

It seems like a broken record at this point after two Gold Cup matches, but it’s clear that this U.S. defense is out of sorts. Very clearly, it misses the presence of a veteran such as Geoff Cameron to shepherd the back line.

Eight changes do little to convince

Head coach Bruce Arena made a whopping eight changes with goalkeeper Brad Guzan, center-back Gonzalez and midfielder Kellyn Acosta the lone holdovers from Saturday. All in all, this was a fairly inexperienced starting XI, and no player showed that more than Cristian Roldan, who made his debut on Wednesday and started brightly by cutting down passes and taking Martinique attackers off the ball before settling into an average performance.

While Morris did have two of the U.S. goals, he was way too anonymous for nearly a half-hour stretch in the first half. Against an opponent such as Martinique, the U.S. can get away with that, but it simply cannot happen in the knockout stages. Furthermore, Morris’ attack partner Juan Agudelo did have some good, creative moments, but there seemed to be a lack of connection between him and the U.S. midfield.At this point, assuming the U.S. reaches the quarterfinals, Arena will have to think very hard about bringing in his A-team stars, including Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey. If he persists with this group, he might run the risk of a humiliating early exit.Arch Bell covers CONCACAF for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @ArchBell .

Jordan Morris breaks through with needed Gold Cup goals for USA vs. Martinique

BRIAN STRAUSThursday July 13th, 2017

In the midst of a difficult sophomore MLS season, Jordan Morris has kept the faith. And he came to life just in time Wednesday night, scoring two second-half goals and saving a disjointed U.S. national team from what could’ve been a historically humiliating result against tiny Martinique. Instead, the 3-2 win at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa leaves the Americans (1-0-1) in good position to move on to the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals as expected.Not much else is certain, however, as coach Bruce Arena’s makeshift squad still hasn’t found its footing.Here are three thoughts from a strange night:

USA in first as expected–but after a bizarre evening

The path was unpredictable, surreal and far rockier than it needed to be, but at the end, Arena and his team are where they expected to be after two games—atop Group B. But they’re there by a sliver, leading Panama (1-0-1) on the second tiebreaker (goals scored) heading into Saturday’s finale. Finishing first matters. The group winner meets a third-place qualifier in next week’s quarterfinals. The runner-up likey will be facing Costa Rica.Considering the stakes, it’s alarming that the USA was unable to put together a side after two weeks of training that could take the game to semi-pros representing a country that’s not even a FIFA member. This was a game the hosts easily could have lost. A tentative opening 45 minutes—during which the U.S. attack was static and predictable—gave way to a wild, entertaining and infuriating second half.Both teams squandered open looks before defender Omar Gonzalez lifted the USA into a 53rd-minute lead. Morris doubled the advantage 10 minutes later. Then the Americans collapsed. Maintaining momentum following a goal or scoring chance was an issue in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Panama, and it bit the USA again on Wednesday.Martinique forward Kevin Parsemain was the best player on the field for either team, and the former (very briefly) Seattle Sounder took advantage of goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s late reaction in the 66th and then a fortunate deflection in the 74th. Just when it was setting in that the five-time CONCACAF champs had blown a two-goal lead to a country of fewer than 400,000 people, Gyasi Zardes and Morris combined to score the game-winner.Typically, teams adopt a survive-and-advance mantra during tournament, and the USA has done that. But it’s been far more tense than it should’ve been, and there’s nothing to suggest the U.S. won’t be hanging onto first place for dear life when it plays Nicaragua on Saturday. Arena and his players promised a better showing following the Panama game. They delivered the win, but failed to make a statement.“I think we made it really tough on ourselves. We could’ve done much better. That’s the disappointing part, the fact that we let up two goals,” Gonzalez said following the game. “Moving forward, there’s a lot to learn from this, and I’m happy that we never gave up. But there’s definitely things we could improve on.”

Morris sticks with it

Morris has only two goals this season for the Sounders, but his glorious 2016 rookie campaign, obvious potential and Arena’s decision to leave his top strikers at home meant the second-year pro would get his Gold Cup shot. During Wednesday’s first half, it appeared Morris was going to waste it.But good strikers stick with it even when shots aren’t falling, and Morris’s game-winning brace was as much about relentlessness and maturity as it was about speed or skill. Both goals came thanks to his willingness to run hard, keep things smple and trust his teammates—all things that can be difficult for a scorer in a slump.In the 64th, Morris recognized a smart run by right back Eric Lichaj and was there in a sliver of space between a Martinique defender and goalie Kevin Olimpa for the near-post finish. In the 76th, two minutes after the visitors leveled terms, Morris fed Zardes through the left channel then maintained his run into the penalty area. Zardes cut a good cross back toward the center and Morris was there for a composed and accurate first-time finish into the roof of the net.Strikers have to be right in the feet and in the head. Morris made the difference his team needed on Wednesday because he maintained the latter until the former caught up. Now we’ll see if Arena will pair Morris with Dom Dwyer, his other Gold Cup scorer.

Arena left with some difficult decisions

The forward pairing is just once choice Arena faces during what might be a fitful few days for the USA manager. He surely hoped that his group-stage squad rotation would result in several players rising to the fore and claiming knockout-round spots. But that hasn’t happened. He’ll feel good about Morris’s second half, but should be concerned about Zardes’s often wasteful touches in the attacking third and Paul Arriola’s odd decision making.Juan Agudelo worked hard but lacked solutions and faded. Kellyn Acosta improved from his performance against Panama, but he was unable to impose himself or consistently orchestrate the buildup. To be fair, Arena asked more of him Wednesday than FC Dallas typically does.Morris and Lichaj, who was playing in his first competitive international (and fourth U.S. match overall) in six years, were the only American men who seemed to raise their level as the game became tougher. Guzan had been the Gold Cup MVP before his second-half mistake. Matt Hedges struggled to stay with Martinique’s quick forwards, and it took left back Justin Morrow way too long to find the right moments to jump into the attack. Against a team like Martinique, those solutions should be easy to spot and implement. When the hosts did finally create the occasional attacking overload, they seemed so surprised by the fortunate turn of events that they lost their composure.That can’t continue to happen if the USA has a shot at winning this Gold Cup. After two games, it appears Arena will have to start making some phone calls to the eligible veterans on his 40-man preliminary roster. It’s tough to imagine Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore making a game like Wednesday night’s game so difficult.

Jordan Morris takes aim at World Cup spot with selfless outing for US

July 13, 20171:29AM EDTNeil Blackmon

TAMPA, Fla. – Jordan Morris knows he can’t control whether he’s on the plane to Russia for the World Cup next summer.But he’ll do everything in his power to put himself in position. Wednesday night on a wet track in Tampa, that meant making the often-unheralded near-post run.“I can’t worry about making the World Cup team or my roster spot or things beyond my control,” Morris said after bagging the first brace of his international career in the US national team’s 3-2 victory over Martinique. “What I can do is make the runs coach stresses, do what’s best for the team, and play hard, impact winning.”After a first half where Arena said his team “wasn’t sharp” in the final third, Morris said Arena went back to a common point of emphasis: having one forward sacrifice himself by surging towards the near post to create space around him.“Bruce stresses that he wants a forward to make a near post run and sacrifice to make space,” Morris said of his opening goal. “I did that, and then [Eric] Lichaj played a great ball.”It’s a run Cristian Roldan has seen his Seattle Sounders teammate make time and time again, playing off Clint Dempsey for the defending MLS Cup champions.“Every coach wants a forward to attack the near post, but sometimes that’s just a space-creating run,” Roldan said. “Jordan does that all the time and it was good to see him get the goal, especially on a play that started from the left side and was just good ball movement. We rotated it all the way out right and Eric played a beautiful ball.”Morris also delivered when the team needed him most, and again because he finished a run.Following a stunning Martinique equalizer on a rebound from Johan Audel, the US appeared on the verge of another disappointing draw. But Morris took a ball in the center of the park and played it on the ground through to Gyasi Zardes. Sensing space in the box, he shouted and waved for Zardes to play the ball back to him.“Gyasi made a great run and I saw space at the PK spot and attacked the space. [Zardes] made a great pass and we got a big goal.”While Morris is right that he can’t control whether he makes a World Cup roster, his performance garnered praise from the one man who can: Arena.“Jordan runs very well in the penalty area,” said the USMNT coach. “We told the guys at halftime we needed to attack the near post and he responded. Then he finished another run for a second goal. He had an overall good game tonight with Juan [Agudelo]. It definitely made a good impression.”

Midfield’s ‘crap performance’ a worry in United States’ Gold Cup opener

.You know it wasn’t a good performance when a team’s best player is its goalkeeper. That was the case for the United States in its 1-1 tie with Panama on Saturday in Nashville.Had Los Canaleros been able to find the target with more regularity on the clear chances they created, we might very well be talking about the Americans’ second-ever defeat in the group stage of a Gold Cup. Soccer justice might very well have been served if that had been the case. Brad Guzan had a lot to do with preserving the tie, making several key saves, while defender Omar Gonzalez got a key touch when it looked as though Ismael Diaz was poised to poke in a rebound from all of two yards away. There will be a temptation to blame this lackluster result on the back line, and to be sure this was not the group’s best day. Graham Zusi struggled with his one-on-one defending, as did Jorge Villafaña. Matt Besler switched off a few times and wasn’t as precise with his passing as he normally is.But the source of the Americans’ struggles was actually further up field. Kellyn Acosta had what was likely his worst performance in a U.S. uniform, losing out on some key individual battles — including the run-up to Miguel Camargo’s equalizer — misplaying passes and getting caught in possession. Acosta himself used stronger words to assess the match: Acosta’s central cohorts Joe Corona and Dax McCarty, who performed so well against Ghana, also suffered through subpar days. Granted, the match against the Black Stars was a friendly, not a tournament match like this one, but the dropoff in performance was still striking.Corona was adept at finding room between the lines against Ghana, but the Club Tijuana man was deathly quiet against Panama’s central tandem of Anibal Godoy and Gabriel Gomez. Credit the Panama duo, as well as outside midfielders Camargo and Joel Barcenas, who pitched in defensively. They effectively took away the spaces where Corona thrives, leaving the midfielder with an imperfect choice of supporting lone striker Dom Dwyer or retreating deep into midfield to get the ball. As a result, the U.S. attack looked disjointed and had the effect of stranding Dwyer for long stretches.As for McCarty, the ball wasn’t his friend to the degree that it was against Ghana (81 percent versus 95.3 percent, according to ESPN Stats & Information), and found himself coming out second-best in terms of physical duels.Even Kelyn Rowe — the field player who besides Dwyer arguably helped himself the most on the day thanks to his superb effort in setting up the lone U.S. goal — had his rough moments. His decision to go to ground in an effort to tackle the ball away from Barcenas saw the Panama midfielder skip past him and create the goalmouth melee that resulted in Camargo’s score.But even more worrying than the individual performances was the collective effort on both sides of the ball. The U.S. was in prime position to seize control after Dwyer put the Americans ahead in the 50th minute, a significant advantage on a scorching-hot day that saw game-time temperatures hit 87 degrees. But instead of keeping the ball and controlling the tempo, a track meet ensued that benefited the visitors far more than the U.S. Defensively, the U.S. seemed incapable of closing down opposition midfielders, allowing the likes of Gomez and Godoy to pick the Americans apart, be it in transition or when the U.S. was defending in a low block.The benefit of the match is that it stressed a lineup bereft of first-team players. Performers such as McCarty and Acosta gained valuable experience, and will no doubt be better able to deal with difficult moments later in the tournament. The downside is that the next two group-stage games for the U.S., against Martinique and Nicaragua, will provide little insight into a player’s ability at the international level. With a schedule that sees the U.S. play its three group-stage games in eight days, coach Bruce Arena is expected to utilize his depth in a big way. Depending on how the group finishes up, Arena’s preferred starting XI might not be tested again until the semifinals.That, of course, is something neither Arena nor the players have any control over. But this Gold Cup is about taking advantage of opportunities. There are still more data points to gather, yet for the Americans to prevail in this tournament, the U.S. midfield will need to raise its game.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team

Kaka expecting tight game when MLS All-Star side meet Real Madrid

Orlando City playmaker Kaka says his MLS All-Star side can face Champions League holders Real Madrid as “equals” when they meet in Chicago on Aug. 2.Kaka is to line up alongside Chicago Fire midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, reigning Major League Soccer MVP David Villa of New York City FC, Michael Bradley of Toronto FC and Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard in the showpiece game against Zinedine Zidane’s men at Soldier Field.Zidane’s side are expected to be almost at full strength for the encounter, which comes after their International Champions Cup meetings with Manchester United, Manchester City and Barcelona, with players including Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos set to feature.Speaking to U.S. Spanish-language newspaper Hoy, former Madrid midfielder Kaka said he did not think the All-Star side drawn from around MLS would have trouble gelling together, and predicted they would give Madrid a good contest.”We do not know how the game will go,” Kaka said. “But we have the players to take on Real Madrid as equals. We have a great team. The truth is it will be a very good and attractive game as our team have great players. Although we do not play together [with clubs], I don’t believe it will be difficult to understand each other.”Kaka, 35, scored 29 goals in 130 games as a Madrid player between 2009 and 2013, although injuries contributed to the former Brazil international not having the impact expected when he moved from AC Milan for a fee of €65 million.”I have good memories of Real Madrid,” he said. “Professionally it was a difficult period, but my experience there was very good in all senses as I grew a lot, learned many things, and lived with great champions.”They were four years where we won La Liga, Copa del Rey, the Spanish Supercopa, and I scored goals. Although I expected more, my time at Real Madrid was very good. To be able to say I played four seasons there is a great pleasure.”Kaka said that coming up against old teammates including Ramos, Benzema, Marcelo, Luka Modric and Raphael Varane will make it an emotional occasion.”To take on Madrid is a very good experience,” he said. “When I was there I played once against Milan, and now with the All-Stars team I will play against Real Madrid. It is something very emotional. To take on staff at the club and ex-teammates of Real Madrid will be a very different experience for me.”

Three Things – #INDvNYC

Three points from, well, three points against the Cosmos

Published Jul 11, 2017

NO BETTER TIME FOR A FIRST GOAL

Indy original and former “super sub” Don Smart made his 2017 scoring debut in spectacular fashion on Saturday against the New York Cosmos. “Indiana’s Team” were granted a penalty kick in the 15^th minute after “Boys in Blue” forward Justin Braun was caught out in an aerial battle with Cosmos’ defenders Ryan Richter and David Ochieng within New York’s penalty area. The Kingston, Jamaica-born midfielder stepped up to the spot and graced the scoreboard in the 17^th minute when Smart’s shot skid past Cosmos ‘keeper Jimmy Maurer’s left dive into the lower right corner of the goal. For Smart, it was close to being his second goal for the evening. In the 13^th minute, Indy XI forward Eamon Zayed battled for possession along the right wing with a Cosmos’ defender. In an attempted to save a potentially dying play, Zayed sent the ball sky high and into the edge of the outer box where Maurer met it with a header. Fortunately, Maurer’s headed ball soared to the feet of Smart just outside the box, who then sent it right back towards the Cosmos’ goal. Unfortunately, Smart’s chance was cut short when Maurer’s dead sprint back to the goal ended with a dive that forced the ball back into Cosmos possession.

Smart’s goal on Saturday marks his ninth in 85 appearances for the club since his signing in 2013. Smart netted his first goal against North Carolina FC in the club’s first recorded win and away win on July 12, 2014. Saturday’s goal marks Smart’s first goal since the Eleven’s 2-1 home win over Miami on September 17, 2016. For those who love stats, Smart holds a 5W-2D-2L record in matches in which he has scored, averaging 2.25 goals per season.

BRAUN’S MOVING UP THE LIST

Another night, another goal for “Boys in Blue” striker Justin Braun has he headed home the game winner late in the evening. In the 74^th minute, Cosmos’ David Ochieng conceded a corner kick by sending the ball flying past their goal into the East End to avoid giving possession to a charging Eamon Zayed. Thereafter, in the 75^th minute, Indy Eleven’s crossing extraordinaire Nemanja Vukovic sent the ball from the corner flying over the Cosmos defense. From there, Braun slipped away from his marker to meet the ball with his head, darting it over Maurer’s left shoulder to net what would be the game-winner. So far, Braun has netted seven goals for “Indiana’s Team” as the league enters the final week of the Spring season. Taking a glimpse across the NASL, Braun sits in second place of the most goals scored this thus far in 2017. Just ahead on the list are Miami FC’s Stefano Pinho and Vincenzo Rennella tied for 1st place with eight goals to each player. Earlier this season, Braun overtook former Eleven star Dylan Mares for the second most all-time goals among Indy players with 11 goals. Since then, Braun has collected another four goals, giving the Salt Lake City native a total of 15 all-time goals in 40 appearances Indy Eleven. Furthermore, Braun’s 15 goals leave him nipping at the heels of striking partner Zayed, who sits atop Indy’s top scoring list with 18 goals in 45 appearances.

WHAT’S NEXT…? Indy Eleven remains in 6^th places after collecting another 3-points on a beautiful evening in front of a crowd of 8,748 fans at “The Mike”. Unfortunately, the Eleven can no longer advance into a Top 4 position given last week’s results in New York. Looking forward, there’s still a chance to advance into 5^th place pending our results against Jacksonville Armada FC, North Carolina FC’s match-up against Puerto Rico FC and New York Cosmos’ fixture against FC Edmonton. While 5^th place isn’t entirely ideal, a move to 5^th still puts Indy XI a step closer to an NASL playoff position with just a few points separating the gap to a T4 spot—should the Spring results end favorably for the “Boys in Blue”.

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July 7, 2017 – Gold Cup Starts USA vs Panama Sat 4:30 pm Fox, Indy 11 host NY Cosmos Sat 7:30 pm, Germany wins Confed Cup,

July 7, 2017 gatorbest

The Gold Cup starts up tonight and continues with group stage games the next 2 weeks on Fox, Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sport 2 – (see full TV schedule below). Will be interesting to see how our US team does with very few regulars – I will watch with a keen eye the new players the Bruce has brought in (Dom Dyer looked great vs Ghana as did Acousta and Kellyn along with a good mix of veterans. Hopefully Carmel’s own Matt Hedges All Star defender from Dallas FC will continue getting starts in the middle of the US defense. The US kicks off with its most difficult group game vs Panama on Sat at 4:30 pm on Fox.

Wow what a Confederations Cup this turned out to be. In Russia here 1 year before the World Cup. The final between the young German squad and Chile was must watch futbol as both teams gave their all in the exciting 2-1 Germany victory. The German’s took their young guns with very few National team veterans and took home their first Confed Cup Trophy. I thought Chile played lights out and I was surprised the young German’s pulled this one out. Overall I thought Mexico looked pretty good in making the Semi Finals – though a win over a Renaldo less Portugal for 3^rd would have been nice. Either way it was good soccer- and I especially enjoyed the Chile vs Portugal shootout and the finals.

The Indy 11 coming off 2 Wins vs North Carolina and a tie at NY on July 4^th will host the defending Champ NY Cosmos on Sat night at 7:30 pm at the Mike. Its Pride night at the Mike this week before the final home game of the Spring Season next Sat July 15 vs Jacksonville at 6:30 pm. Huge props to FC Cincy for their huge home win over the Chicago Fire at home on ESPN on June 28^th – I am afraid the dream is over now as they must travel to Miami FC next Wed July 12. (honestly they should have weighted the ping pong balls for 1 more home stand for this squad vs an MLS team) – oh well – would have been fun to go.

GAMES ON TV

Fri, July 7

7 pm Fox Sport 2 French Guiana vs Canada– Gold Cup

9 pm FS2 Honduras vs Costa Rica– Gold Cup

Sat, July 8

4:30 pm Fox USA vs Panama – GOLD CUP

7 pm FS2 Martinique vs Nicaragua – Gold Cup

7:30 pm Lifetime North Carolina vs Seattle Reign (Women’s NWSL)

7:30 pm MyIndy TV Indy 11 vs NY Cosmos

Sun, July 9

7 pm Fox Sport 1 Curacao vs Jamaica – Gold Cup

9:30 pm FS1 Mexico vs El Salvador – Gold Cup

Tues, July 11

7:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Costa Rica vs Canada– Gold Cup

10 pm FS1 Honduras vs French Guiana – Gold Cup

Weds, July 12

6:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Panama vs Nicaragua -Gold Cup

8:30 pm Fox Sport 1 USA vs Martinique – Gold Cup

Thur, July 12

7:30 pm Fox Sport 1 El Salvador vs Curucao– Gold Cup

10 pm FS1 Mexico vs Jamaica– Gold Cup

Fri, July 13

7:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Costa Rica vs French Gaina– Gold Cup

10 pm FS1 Canada vs Honduras– Gold Cup

Sat July 14

4:30 pm Fox Sport 2 Panama vs Martinque– Gold Cup

7 pm FS1? Nicaragua vs USA – Gold Cup (Cleveland)

Sun, July 15

6 pm Fox Sport 2 Jamaica vs El Salvador– Gold Cup

8 pm Fox Sport 1 Cacacua vs Mexico – Gold Cup

Wed, July 19

7:30 am ESPN 3? Bayern Munich vs Arsenal ICC

4 pm ESPN2 Roma vs PSG ICC

6 pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup Quarterfinal

9 pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup Quarterfinal

Thur, July 20

4 pm ESPN Man U vs Man City ICC

7:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup Quarterfinal

10:30pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup Quarterfinal

Sat, July 22

5:30 am EPSN 3+Des Bayern Munich vs Milan ICC

4 pm ESPN Juve vs Barcelona ICC

10 pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup SEMI FINAL

Sun, July 23

5:30 am EPSN 3+Des Bayern Munich vs Milan ICC

5 pm ESPN ? Real Madrid vs Man United ICC

6:30 pm Fox Sport1 Vancuouver vs Portland

9 pm Fox Sport 1 Gold Cup SEMI FINAL 2

Mon, July 24

8 am ESPN 3+Des Inter vs Lyon ICC

Tues, July 25

8 am ESPN 3+Des Chelsea vs Bayern Munich

8 pm EsPN Tottenham vs Roma

Wed, July 26

7:30 am ESPN Barcelona vs Man United ICC

8 pm EsPN 2 Juve vs PSG ICC

9 pm Fox Sp 1 Gold Cup Final

Sat, July 29

7:30 am ESPN desp Chelsea vs Inter ICC

6 pm EsPN 2 Man City vs Tottenham ICC

7:30 pm ESPN Real Madrid vs Barcelona ICC

Sun, July 30

4 pm ESPN Roma vs Juventus ICC

Wed, Aug 2

9 pm Fox Sport 1 MLS Allstars vs Real Madrid

International Champions Cup July Games in Nashville and Detroit

Its Summer – Time to plan your Soccer Camps

Carmel High School Soccer Camps – July 17-20

Preview USA vs Panama Sat 4:30 on Fox

Cost: $195 per camper Location: Badger Fields Field Player Camp: July 24 – 27, 2017

US + GOLD CUP –

Who’s going to win Gold Cup? – MLS.com

Can Anyone Upset US or Mexico in Gold Cup?

Gold Cup Preview – MLS.com

Preview Group B – US Group

Ten Storylines – Gold Cup

Dwyer and Rowe Impressive in US Debut win over Ghana

Ginga Ninja – Dax McCarty set as break out star for Confed Cup

5 Questions for Mexico Osario Critics – EPSNF

6 Game Ban for Mexico Coach Osario for antics at Confed Cup

Confed Cup + World

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly of the Confed Cup

Germany Takes Top Slot in World with Impressive Confed Cup

Germany’s young Guns Take it Home – Marcotti

Best 11 of Confed Cup

Mexico Wavers and loses 3^rd place game to Portugal

Top 5 Saves Confed Cup Fox

Great Saves Confed Cup

Top 10 Saves Confed Cup

Cladio Bravo Chile Saves 3 Penalties Confed Cup

Ochoa Great Saves Confed cup

Ter Stegan Great Saves Confed Cup

MLS

Chicago Takes Top Slot

Overlooked Markets are MLS most Fertile Ground

Atlanta United – It’s a Family Affair

MLS Allstar game vs Real Madrid is in Chicago – Aug 2

Indy 11

Indy Pride Night vs NY Cosmos on Sat, July 8 at the Mike

Indy 11 Draw 1-1 at NY Cosmos on July 4

Jon Busch wins Goalie of the Week in 2-1 win at NC

SMNT Gold Cup match-up vs. Panama brings deja vu over “a dangerous team”

July 6, 20176:22PM EDT Arielle CastilloSenior Editor

NASHVILLE — Hello darkness, our old friend. The beginning of the Gold Cup for the US sees them facing Panama again. And in looking ahead to the match-up, which kicks off the Yanks’ campaign on Saturday at Nissan Stadium (4:30 pm ET | FOX and Univision), nobody’s coming in hot or headstrong. “Panama’s extremely a tough opponent, especially right out of the gate,” said defender Matt Besler, of Sporting Kansas City, on Thursday afternoon, after the US’ last training session at Nashville’s Lipscomb University. “We seem to have played them a lot in recent years, and every single game’s been different, and they’ve all been very tough, physical battles.”For some at US camp, a tough opponent to start is a little like ripping off a bandage, with a positive result steamrolling into some momentum in a tournament that could be winnable. But, yes, even a draw will definitely require laser focus. “They’re a very familiar opponent… It feels like we see them every couple months,” said defender Graham Zusi, also of Sporting Kansas City. “They’re a dangerous team. They play the counter pretty well, and their set pieces are very dangerous as well. This is a game we’re gonna have to be locked in for a full 90 minutes.”Of course, the US haven’t actually met up with Panama every couple of months. But they have met them in both this cycle of World Cup qualifying, as well as the last edition of the Gold Cup, and will meet them again in qualifying in October. None of these match-ups over the last two years have proved easy; both of them in the 2015 Gold Cup, both in the group stage and the third-place playoff, yielded a 1-1 draw. The same scoreline followed this past March in World Cup qualifying. Now, though, the US come into this test in Nashville with a different coach, in Arena, and a fresher, hungry squad comprised mainly of MLS players. Many of them will potentially recognize some of Los Canaleros from league play, particularly standouts like Anibal Godoy, of the San Jose Earthquakes, and Armando Cooper, of Toronto FC. Zusi, however, quickly pointed out that focusing on any one threat from among the Panamanians would be to miss the overall danger. “We’ve just started looking at some of the film of Panama now,” he said. “As a team, they’re going to be dangerous. If we look to individuals too much, I think the other guys will hurt us.”Midfielder Paul Arriola, of Liga MX club Tijuana, also echoed the Yanks’ need to prepare for nearly any kind of strategy from their opponents. “Panama obviously is very diverse,” the 22-year-old said of their favored M.O. “They like to attack with numbers. They like to throw their outside backs forward, and I think for us it’s important to be not just defensive, but also not be scared to open up the game and trust our players.”Luckily head coach Bruce Arena expressed just that kind of trust after a training session that markedly ramped up in tactics. “Most of these guys have a hunger,” he said. “The reason they’re here is basically they’re hungry players, they’re motivated players.”

Can anyone upset Gold Cup heavyweights Mexico, United States?

There isn’t much about the CONCACAF Gold Cup that is sexy. Holding the tournament every two years invites a certain amount of fatigue. Invariably, with a crowded summer international calendar, one version becomes watered down as the best teams — read Mexico and the United States — opt to send their B-teams.That isn’t to say that the Gold Cup is devoid of value, however. The winner of the tournament will be halfway toward qualification for the 2021 Confederations Cup. But for many of the participants, how that value is calculated varies from country to country.

The heavyweights

The U.S. and Mexico are co-favorites to win the tournament. What else is new, right? Since the confederation championship was revamped in 1991, the two countries have claimed 12 of the 13 tournaments contested. But both teams are also looking to determine which fringe players might be counted on for next year’s World Cup, though the Americans still have a bit more work to do in terms of securing qualification.Mexico’s exertions in the Confederations Cup mean that no frontline players will be available. Defender Ugo Ayala is the most experienced outfield player with 30 caps. Alan Pulido’s injury has created an opening for Houston Dynamo forward Erick “Cubo” Torres.The U.S. boasts a bit more experience with the World Cup veterans Omar Gonzalez, Alejandro Bedoya, Matt Besler, Graham Zusi and Brad Guzan all on the roster. More could arrive after the group stage when teams are allowed to make up to six roster changes. But for now, eyes will be on players like Kellyn Acosta and Dax McCarty as they try to stake their claim to more playing time.Overall, it will be a shock if the U.S. and Mexico don’t meet in the final on July 26, but as the 2015 edition showed when Jamaica ambushed the U.S. in the semifinals, upsets have been known to happen.

Looking for a breakthrough

The tournament comes with only four games remaining in the final round of World Cup qualifying, so for the likes of Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama, the value comes primarily from testing out some new players while also trying to fine-tune some things ahead of the next round of games in September.When it comes to the Gold Cup, all three of these teams have beaten finalists in the past, but Costa Rica looks to have brought in more of its first-choice lineup, putting it in a good position to make a deep run. The Ticos will be tested early, as its group is probably the toughest in the tournament, one that includes Honduras, Canada and French Guiana.Panama will be looking to build off its third-place finish in 2015, though oddly enough it failed to win a game in that tournament outside of prevailing on penalties. Manager Hernan Dario Gomez will be aiming to get his offense going, having scored only four goals in the Hexagonal.Honduras has the opposite problem. Los Catrachos stand in fifth place thanks to a Hexagonal-worst defense, so manager Jorge Luis Pinto will be looking to see more consistency from his backline.That still leaves seven other teams possessing a variety of motivations. For Canada — who in 2000 became the only team other than Mexico and the U.S. to have won the Gold Cup — this will mark the first tournament with manager Octavio Zambrano in charge. And his roster choices are notable in that he has the only player in the entire tournament who was born in the 1970s (Patrice Bernier) and in the 2000s (Alphonso Davies).In Jamaica and El Salvador, you have a pair of teams very much in remodel mode. Jamaica’s World Cup qualifying campaign was hugely disappointing after reaching the Gold Cup final in 2015. The Reggae Boyz needed a last-minute goal from Simon Dawkins just to get past Nicaragua in the third round. Jamaica then finished dead last in its group in the semifinal round, and was eliminated. Manager Theodore Whitmore will be aiming to get his side going again with the help of several MLS players, including Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake, and Portland Timbers striker Darren Mattocks.El Salvador is now four years removed from a match-fixing scandal that decimated the national side, with 14 players getting lifetime bans. Los Cuscatlecos’ midfield is led by the San Jose Earthquakes’ Darwin Ceren, but a youthful backline will determine whether El Salvador can reach the knockout stages.

The French twist

For Martinique and French Guiana, the Gold Cup marks the pinnacle of their international aspirations. Both are overseas departments of France, and thus not members of FIFA, which prevents both from competing in the World Cup. Given that the rosters of both sides are dominated by players from their respective domestic leagues and the lower divisions of French soccer, one might scoff at their inclusion. But there is some history of French departments doing damage in the Gold Cup. Back in 2007, Guadeloupe, with French international defender Jocelyn Angloma in its ranks, made it all the way to the semifinals, where it was only beaten by mighty Mexico, 1-0.Martinique reached the quarterfinals in 2002, and has former Seattle Sounder Kevin Parsemain leading its front line. French Guiana’s team includes former France international Florent Malouda.

The up-and-comers

If you need an underdog to root for, Curacao is the team for you. The island competed internationally as the Netherlands Antilles until its dissolution in 2010. More recently, Curacao has become a rising force in Caribbean soccer, and produced a shock when it beat Jamaica 2-1 to claim the 2017 Caribbean Cup. Elson Hooi, who has been on the books of NAC Breda in the past, is the guy to watch for a side making its Gold Cup debut.Nicaragua is making its first Gold Cup appearance since 2009 but has shown it can put a scare into teams, as witnessed by the aforementioned set-to with Jamaica. Los Pinoleros owe their spot in the tournament to Juan Barrera, who in a playoff against Haiti bagged a hat trick in the last eight minutes to claim a 4-3 aggregate triumph.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle.

Discuss: Who will win the CONCACAF Gold Cup? Who will win the Golden Boot?

July 6, 201710:30AM EDT

MLSsoccer staffWelcome to another edition of “Discuss,” in which MLSsoccer.com editors debate the topics of the moment in MLS, or, in this case, the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup. We asked two questions this time around: Who will win the tournament and who will win its Golden Boot?

Editor-in-Chief Simon Borg, Armchair Analyst Matt Doyle, Senior Editors Andrew Wiebe, Arielle Castillo, Nicholas Rosano, Ben Couch and Benjamin Baer, and Contributors Charles Boehm, Franco Panizo and Alicia Rodriguez give their takes.

Borg: USA, Alberth Elis (Honduras)

If we’re to see the first Gold Cup upset since Canada in 2000, this would seem to be the tournament for it. But a hungry US team, which could bring in the big guns for the knockouts, will prove unstoppable. Even for Mexico.

Doyle: Canada, Anthony Jackson-Hamel (Canada)

Atiba Hutchinson was offside 10 years ago. Canada will find someone who can stay onside in big moments this time.

Wiebe: USA, Dom Dwyer (USA)

History tells us either the US or Mexico will win the Gold Cup – only Canada have broken that CONCACAF hegemony. This time around, it’s the Americans turn to bathe in confetti, thanks to the freedom and urgency Bruce Arena will foster in a squad with plenty to prove.

Castillo: USA, Kellyn Acosta (USA)

The US have a real chance at this, considering Mexico are essentially sending their B-squad, and ours is full of guys extra hungry to make their mark at the international level.

Rosano: Mexico, Erick ‘Cubo’ Torres (Mexico)

OK, I’ll bite. Seriously, someone has to pick Mexico. Yes, El Tri are sending their B-squad, but their depth is terrifying and like many of their US counterparts the players will be ready to show why they are ‘A’-caliber players. Among them? My guy Cubo. They say he only scores at home? Good thing every game is a home game for Mexico in this tournament.

Baer: Costa Rica, Dom Dwyer (USA)

Costa Rica are the only nation of the CONCACAF Big 3 to bring their A-team (mostly) and they’ll be chomping at the bit to win their first Gold Cup.

Boehm: USA, Erick Gutierrez (Mexico)

I’ve got the US here. Good blend of experience, youth and above all hunger on the roster, along with some savvy leadership from Bruce Arena, will be just enough to edge Mexico’s B-team.

Panizo: Costa Rica, Erick ‘Cubo’ Torres (Mexico)

The Ticos may have lost a key player in Ronald Matarrita to injury last week, but are still taking a very strong squad into this tournament. With Arsenal’s Joel Campbell and Bryan Ruiz of Sporting CP helping lead the attack, Costa Rica finally get regional bragging rights and a shiny trophy for their cabinet.

Rodriguez: United States, Juan Agudelo (USA)

I’m taking the US here, because the United States hosts every single time and there have to be fringe benefits from time to time to give the home team a boost.

Germany top FIFA World Ranking over Brazil as Switzerland and Poland rise

Head coach Joachim Low, goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and defender Matthias Ginter reflect on Germany’s Confed Cup win.

Germany will return to the summit of the FIFA World Ranking after their Confederations Cup victory over Chile.

Brazil had held the No. 1 position since April, but the world champions just accrued enough ranking points to reclaim top spot for the first time in two years. Germany climb two places from third to usurp both Brazil and Argentina.European champions Portugal, who finished third at the Confederations Cup, climb four places to fourth with Chile falling three places to seventh after winning just one match in Russia even though they reached the final.Switzerland climb four places into fifth, while Poland shoot to their highest-ever ranking of sixth — up from their previous best of 10th in June. Before last year, Poland had never even been inside the top 15, and a 3-1 World Cup qualifying win over Romania has increased their placing further.Colombia, France and Belgium also drop three places, to eighth, ninth and 10th respectively.Peru (14th, up one), Iceland (19th, up three), Northern Ireland (22nd, up six) and Congo DR (28th, up 13) all register their best-ever ranking. Sweden rocket 16 places from 34th into 18th, helped by their Word Cup qualifying win over France, while Haiti are up 15 into 49th.But there’s not such good news for Netherlands (32nd, down one) who drop to their equal-worst ranking. United States (35th, down 12) are now just one position below their worst placing while, 12 months on from their appearance at Euro 2016, Hungary slump 24 places into 57th — their lowest position for seven years.

Mexico are the top ranked nation in CONCACAF, and remain in 16th, with Costa Rica down sixth to 26th. However, all CONCACAF nations will have the chance to climb back up with the Gold Cup taking place this month.

Egypt remain the No. 1 team in Africa, though drop four places to 24th. Senegal are up three in 27th, followed by Congo DR.

In Asia, Iran are still way out in front and moved up another seven places into 23rd in the process of qualifying for the World Cup. Their nearest challengers are Australia (44th, up four) and Japan (45th, non-mover).

The new FIFA Ranking will be officially published on Thursday.

JULY FIFA RANKING TOP 20
1. Germany
2. Brazil
3. Argentina
4. Portugal
5. Switzerland
6. Poland
7. Chile
8. Colombia
9. France
10. Belgium
11. Spain
12. Italy
13. England
14. Peru
15. Croatia
16. Mexico
17. Uruguay
18. Sweden
19. Iceland
20. Wales

Low’s German youngsters come of age as they withstand Chile’s onslaught

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia — On a day when they were frustrated, intimidated and pegged back by the red horde in front of them, Germany kept their nerve, hunkered down and punished an opponent’s mistake for a 1-0 win that sealed the country’s first Confederations Cup trophy.It’s what you’d call a veteran performance, borne out of age-old experience and tactical savvy — except this German side has an average age of 23 and had hardly played together until 3½ weeks ago.You hate to slip into stereotypes, but when a side this green in terms of experience displays such maturity, you’re tempted to credit the magical powers of the white shirt with the four stars on it. Either that or Joachim Low is simply one heck of a coach.Chile were the home side at the steeply banked Zenit Arena, in which cries of “Chi! Chi! Chi! Le! Le! Le! Fuerza Chi-le!” rained down before kickoff. It might take a minimum of 18½ hours to fly here from Santiago — with a stopover in Paris — but a surprising number of La Roja enthusiasts had made the trip.Maybe it was knowing that, for this Golden Generation, the window of opportunity won’t stay open forever — another World Cup, another Copa America maybe — and that while travel is pricey, you regret the things you don’t do more than the things you do. The dream of telling their grandkids that they saw their nation win silverware in three different continents, over three magical summers, was too special for many to turn down.But they won’t be able to do that. Instead, they will be able to go home and say that their team dominated long stretches of a final against the world champions — a fearsome side, no matter the absentees — only to see the trophy slip through their fingers like dust.”We dominated, we played very well, we controlled the game, but football is the way it is … sometimes, it’s not enough and accidents happen,” Chile boss Juan Antonio Pizzi said after the match.Despite a draining semifinal against Portugal and with Teutonic young legs in front of them, Chile came out of the gate as if the fast-forward button was stuck on. They pressed high and they pressed hard, and Charles Aranguiz, Eduardo Vargas and Arturo Vidal (twice) all had cracks at goal in a furious opening 20 minutes that had Low pacing the sideline as Germany struggled to get out of their own half.Chile’s best chance came after 19 minutes when Marc-Andre ter Stegen spilled a vicious shot from the effervescent Vidal. The ball fell to Alexis Sanchez — exactly who you’d want in this situation — but, with ter Stegen on his knees, the forward screwed his finish wide.And that’s when the totally unscientific “Law of Football” kicked in: Miss a chance at one end, get punished at the other.Marcelo Diaz, dropping deep between the center backs as he always does to build play, made an ill-advised turn into the path of the lurking, ubiquitous Timo Werner. The RB Leipzig striker nicked the ball away and knocked it into space before squaring past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo for the unmarked Lars Stindl to tap it into the empty net.The classic sucker-punch. We’ve seen this script before, though rarely with Germany — they normally take the game to the opposition — as the ones who turn the run of play on its head.Low’s initial lineup, with three center-backs and Werner on his own up front with Stindl and Julian Draxler behind, was set up to both contain and attack. Before the goal, Germany had little chance to do the latter; afterward, it made more sense to sit and unleash Werner’s wheels. A mistake by Gary Medel — not dissimilar to that of Diaz — gave Leon Goretzka a shot at making it 2-0, which would have been harsh on Chile.Pizzi’s side pushed on in the second half, but Germany were all too happy to wait and pounce. Tension rose and tempers flared: Bravo clashed with, of all people, Joshua Kimmich, who got an earful from Vidal, his Bayern teammate. Kimmich had talked about how Vidal was a kind of mentor/big brother. Not during these 90 minutes, he wasn’t.Hope for a final without video replay were dashed when Werner, chasing a long ball, was whacked in the jaw by Gonzalo Jara. Referee Milorad Mazic missed the incident, but the VAR did its job in flagging it up. Mazic, following procedure in these situations, took a look at it himself but showed Jara only a yellow card.”He hit him in the face,” Low said after the match. “You expect that to be a red, no?”The German manager was right, and Mazic’s reluctance to send off Jara is sure to further inflame the replay debate. Whatever your view on VAR, it’s worth remembering that, without the guys in the booth, Jara would have got away scot-free with what he did.Still Chile pressed on, taking greater risks and inevitably conceding more at the back. Vidal skied over a great chance, and tempers flared again when, after Sanchez went down, Mazic refused to consult replays. Vargas was booked for his protests.Pizzi rolled the dice by sending on Edson Puch and Angelo Sagal. They’re not part of the Golden Generation, but they had a gilt-edged chance to become honorary lifelong members when Puch cut a ball back for Sagal in front of an empty net. In his first competitive match for his country, the striker skied over the crossbar.”One of the most difficult things to do in football is score,” Pizzi said afterward with a trace of bitterness. “That’s why strikers get paid so much money.”(It’s not necessarily cruel to point out that Sagal is not one of those strikers with the telephone-number salary.)Testament to the red fury at the end of the game — and Low’s respect for Chile’s threat — was shown by Germany’s use of two defensive substitutions: Emre Can came on for the marauding Goretzka, and the man-mountain Niklas Sule replaced Werner. Germany finished the match with four central defenders, two full-backs and two defensive midfielders.”We had to fight for every single meter of the pitch to defend our lead,” Low said later. “They are an outstanding team. But we were single-minded about this victory. And I am so, so impressed with that. We’re talking about a team with so little international experience dealing so well with the pressure, with the nerves, with a talented, experienced opponent. I am mega-proud of them.”Pizzi was proud, too, if deflated: “We knew we can compete with the very best in the world, and we showed it again today. We have to accept that luck and incidents are a part of it. We can’t complain.”Referring to the intense, high risk-high reward philosophy that has been a hallmark for Chile under his predecessor Marcelo Bielsa and Jorge Sampaoli, Pizzi added: “We know this is the way forward for us, and we’ve had confirmation of it again. We go home with no energy left, lots of glory and no trophy. That’s football.”As for Low, Germany are like those boxers with an alphabet soup of championship belts: world champions, Under-21 European champions and, now, Confederations Cup champions. And they possess an embarrassment of riches to choose from when it comes to next summer; folks will have a lot of fun speculating who in this squad will crack the 23 for the World Cup.”You shouldn’t be asking that,” Low said, stone-faced. “You should be asking which of the guys we left at home are good enough to make it into this squad.”Then he broke into a smile. He was joking. Sort of.Gabriele Marcotti is a Senior Writer for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @Marcotti.

Confederations Cup verdict: Best game, players, Russia readiness, future

The Confederations Cup came to an end on Sunday when Germany lifted the trophy in St. Petersburg. ESPN FC writers were in Russia to follow events and we asked them for their views on the tournament.

What was the best game you saw?

Gab Marcotti: Australia 2-3 Germany
Early goals were followed by a strong reaction. Low’s men were relentless and there was brilliance from Draxler; it’s not often they’ll play a team with the style of Australia.

Mark Ogden: Germany 4-1 Mexico
Mexico believed they had a chance of defeating Joachim Low’s young team in the Sochi semifinal, but two goals inside the opening 10 minutes from Leon Goretzka delivered an emphatic signal that the Germans were on a different level. Mexico fought valiantly, but were blown away.

Nick Ames: Portugal 0-0 Chile (Chile won 3-0 on penalties)
It may have featured a goalless 120 minutes but it felt like a knife-edge match that would not have been out of place at the World Cup for tension and high stakes. The shootout was not quite as even but the Confederations Cup needed a game like this, where the smallest error or piece of genius could decide everything.

Tom Marshall: Germany 4-1 Mexico
This might have made for grim viewing from a Mexican perspective, but it was the outstanding performance of the tournament from the eventual champion and a devastating reminder of the depth of talent that Germany nation possess.

Who were your player(s) of the tournament?

Marcotti: Julian Draxler (Germany), Leon Goretzka (Germany), Arturo Vidal (Chile)
Draxler just shades it as the overall No. 1. Low tailor-made a role for him during the tournament and he responded with quality and maturity, despite a sub-par display in the final. Next season is absolutely huge for him.

Ogden: Leon Goretzka (Germany) and Claudio Bravo (Chile)
Goretzka was the emerging talent of the tournament and it is difficult to imagine the world champions returning next summer without the Schalke youngster at the heart of their team. He has pace, strength, vision, endless energy and an eye for goal. Chile goalkeeper Bravo has restored his reputation during in Russia after a disastrous first season with Manchester City. He was impressive against Australia in group play before emerging as the penalty shootout hero against

Portugal in the semifinal.

Ames: Arturo Vidal (Chile)
Vidal is simply a monumental presence and in no way deserved to be on the losing side in the final. Where he goes, others follow and it is hard to overstate his influence on the way Chile have played over the last half-decade. At 30 he is hardly over the hill but, nonetheless, his energy levels are remarkable. At times it felt as if he was on a single-handed mission to bring Chile the trophy.

Marshall: Julian Draxler (Germany)
Arturo Vidal was his usual imposing self for Chile, but it was the young Germans that set the tournament alight. Draxler was the pick, although Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Timo Werner were almost equally superb.

What were your impressions of Russia as a host nation, a year out from the World Cup?

Marcotti: Organizationally and in terms of infrastructure — at least in host cities Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi and Kazan — everything went smoothly and there were no issues of crime, violence or racism. Things can change in 12 months and it’s a big country; who knows what it’s like in the other seven cities?

Ogden: Russia has exceeded expectations and dampened the fears of many by hosting a slick, well-organised tournament. From new stadia to infrastructure within cities, it has been a big fortnight for the World Cup host nation. The unpredictable weather may catch out a few fans next summer and Moscow traffic appears permanently gridlocked but, all in all, it has been a success.

Ames: Barring a few kinks that should be ironed out over the next 11 months, all four venues look perfectly cut out for a World Cup; the stadia are modern and well-equipped, with access reasonably straightforward, while the cities are used to hosting foreigners and the welcome was universally warm. But key to 2018’s overall success may well be venues like Saransk, Volgograd and Samara, where things are not quite as clear-cut and infrastructure for international visitors is less developed. There can be no real complaints about the last fortnight, but some question marks remain elsewhere.

Marshall: The host cities and their stadia are pretty much ready. Challenges remain in the further-flung venues and in base camps for teams, but the organization was generally positive. Security issues were also taken very seriously throughout the tournament; the feeling is that Russia will do everything possible to make sure the World Cup is a success.

Should the Confederations Cup have a future?

Marcotti: Given the scheduling for Qatar, I genuinely don’t know how they’ll be able to squeeze this in next time around. That said, it’s worth sticking with and the World Cup dry run is very important. I don’t get the animosity toward it from some, mostly of British extraction. No, it’s not the World Cup but it means a lot to the teams in it. Germany resting guys this year was unprecedented and maybe more teams will do that in the future but, frankly, I doubt it. And, if you’re going to replace it, what do you replace it with? Do you really want some kind of global Champions League redux to be played every summer?

Ogden: The premise of the tournament still stacks up, with the champions of each continent playing a preparatory competition in the World Cup host nation, a year from the big kickoff. For the organisers, it is an invaluable opportunity to see how things work and identify potential problems. But does the football calendar need it? Probably not. And how can FIFA stage it in Qatar in 2021 without disrupting league seasons across the globe?

Ames: In a sense, the farce — and that is what it became — around VAR justified this tournament’s existence. It is accepted as a testing ground for all aspects of a World Cup and, as an arena for testing new technology in relatively harmless circumstances, it could hardly have been more appropriate. On the pitch, Germany showed another way in which it can be used to develop a team; although that was not the competition’s original intention and many of the games are played at around 75 percent the intensity of World Cup fixtures. But it does no harm for a tournament’s purpose to evolve and this year’s event has presented a reasonably strong case for its continuation.

Marshall: That the Qatar World Cup will be held in December means organizing a Confederations Cup in 2001 is a headache. Plus, you have to factor in the rapidly shifting order in international football, with the introduction of the UEFA Nations League and the 48-team World Cup from 2026. That said, when you witness how keen the participating teams were to win in Russia, there is still merit in the tournament. It’s also a crucial test run for the organizing country.Follow @ESPNFC on Twitter to keep up with the latest football updates.

2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Your ultimate guide to North America’s tournament

July 4, 20174:45PM EDTCharles Boehm

The 14th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which crowns North America’s top national soccer team, will see regional powers and eternal rivals USA and Mexico battle for CONCACAF supremacy. But a host of other nations will feel they are capable of springing the upset, including Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama and Canada. And there’s always the chance for a Cinderella run by smaller nations like Nicaragua, El Salvador, Curacao, Martinique and French Guiana.

How the tournament works: The Gold Cup field is made up of 12 teams divided into three groups of four. Each team plays the other three in their group. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-place teams, advance to the single-elimination quarterfinals (July 19-20), followed by the semis (July 22-23) and the tournament final (July 26). Use our 2017 Gold Cup bracket to track the tournament’s progress.

Canada

Basics	Gold Cup Group A \| Gold Cup Roster \| FIFA ranking: 109
How qualified	Automatic berth
Gold Cup history	Appeared in 12 of 13 previous editions, withdrawing from the 1998 Gold Cup (tournament record: 15W-15L-11D). They are the only nation other than the USA and Mexico to win the title (2000).
Head coach	Former MLS head coach Octavio Zambrano was recently hired on March 17, 2017. The Ecuadorean is charged with ushering in a youth movement to lead Canada into the 2022 World Cup qualifying cycle.
Top 3 stars	While veterans Patrice Bernier (Montreal Impact) and Marcel de Jong (Vancouver Whitecaps) may be the most recognizable faces, all eyes will be on young, exciting up-and-comers Raheem Edwards (Toronto FC), Alphonso Davies (Vancouver Whitecaps) and Anthony Jackson-Hamel (Montreal Impact).
MLS connections	In addition to Zambrano’s MLS past, 17 players from the team’s 40-man preliminary roster hail from the league.
Projections	The Canadians aim to send a clear message that their next generation will make them a force to be reckoned with in the region. To achieve that they’ll need to get out of Group A and impress in the quarterfinal stage.

Costa Rica

Basics	Gold Cup Group A \| Gold Cup Roster \| FIFA ranking: 19
How qualified	Fourth-place finishers at 2017 Copa Centroamericana
Gold Cup history	Appeared in 12 of 13 previous editions; finished runners-up in 2002 (won the CONCACAF Championship, prior to Gold Cup, in 1963, 1969 and 1989).
Head coach	A Costa Rican international during his playing days, Oscar Ramirez has led Los Ticos since 2015. “El Macho” has steered his country to a strong start in the final round of World Cup qualifying, where the Ticos are in second place in the CONCACAF Hexagonal.
Top 3 stars	Playmaker Bryan Ruiz has starred in top European leagues for the past decade and continues to be key for Costa Rica as he approaches his 100th cap. He will be supported by crafty Portland Timbers newcomer David Guzman in midfield. Joel Campbell has struggled to break into the lineup at Arsenal, yet remains one of his country’s most talented attackers.
MLS connections	Los Ticos are chock-full of current and former MLS standouts.Francisco Calvo, Johan Venegas, Rodney Wallace, Marco Ureña and Guzman are important contributors to their US clubs and key defender Giancarlo Gonzalez made it to Italy’s Serie A in part via sterling performances with Columbus Crew SC.
Projections	Costa Rica are one of a select few nations who can realistically aim to break the joint US-Mexico stranglehold on the Gold Cup trophy. They’re favored to advance out of Group A and from there, anything’s possible given their quality and defensive organization.

Curaçao

Basics	Gold Cup Group C \| Gold Cup Roster \| FIFA ranking: 70
How qualified	The small island nation, a constituent member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, finished as one of the Caribbean subregion’s top four teams in the Caribbean Cup.
Gold Cup history	This is Curacao’s first Gold Cup; its predecessor, the Netherlands Antilles, participated in the CONCACAF Championship that preceded the Gold Cup, finishing in third place in 1963 and 1969.
Head coach	Remko Bicentini took over from retired Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert last September and has already won a trophy, as Curacao triumphed at the 2017 Caribbean Cup in June.
Top 3 stars	Striker Elson Hooi plays in the Danish first division and was Curacao’s Caribbean Cup hero, scoring two goals to beat Jamaica in the tournament final; midfielder Leandro Bacuna is a regular at England’s Aston Villa, and captain Cuco Martina just finished a stint at Southampton and has been linked to Everton.
MLS connections	Cuco’s older brother Javier (who has also represented Curacao) played for Toronto FC in 2011, when the Reds brought in several Dutchmen during the head coaching tenure of Aron Winter.
Projections	Considering that Curacao just knocked off the Reggae Boyz in the Caribbean Cup final, Jamaica had best beware of their island counterparts to the south, who could well ambush them in the pursuit of advancement out of Group C.

El Salvador

Basics	Gold Cup Group C \| Gold Cup Roster \| FIFA ranking: 106
How qualified	Third-place finish in the 2017 Copa Centroamericana
Gold Cup history	This is the 10th appearance for Los Cuscatlecos, and they’ve gone as far as the quarterfinals on four occasions: 2002, 2003, 2011 and 2013.
Head coach	The Colombian Eduardo Lara took over El Salvador last year and has Cuscatlecos supporters feeling optimistic about their prospects for advancement out of the Gold Cup group stage.
Top 3 stars	San Jose’s Darwin Ceren is a pivotal central midfield presence for El Salvador, Rodolfo Zelaya is a crafty playmaker who’s been connected to MLS teams in the past and Andres Flores, who plays in the NASL for the New York Cosmos, can finish if provided with service.
MLS connections	Many in this Cuscatlecos team have lived and played in the United States, and four currently do so in the US lower divisions. Gerson Mayen played for Chivas USA and Junior Burgos was on Atlanta United’s books last year.
Projections	As has usually been the case in this century, El Salvador will be pronounced underdogs this summer. But with the right chemistry, some vocal support from their expatriate fans in the US and a bit of luck, they could make a run for the semifinals.

French Guiana

Basics	Gold Cup Group A \| Gold Cup Roster \| FIFA ranking: N/A
How qualified	Les Yana Dòkòs (“Strong Guiana”) worked their way through the long qualifying process (it kicked off in March of 2016) for this summer’s Caribbean Cup, where they clinched a spot as one of the Caribbean subregion’s top four teams.
Gold Cup history	This is French Guiana’s first time in the tournament. As an overseas department of France, the large and sparsely-populated territory perched on the corner of South America is ineligible for full FIFA competitions like the World Cup, but can take part in regional events.
Head coach	French Guiana feature the relative rarity of dual head coaches: Local product Jaïr Karam and Frenchman Marie-Rose Carême. Karam has rather boldly stated that his team’s goal is a run to the Gold Cup quarterfinals.
Top 3 stars	The former colony’s status as a de facto French province means that its most talented players can (and often do) play for the mother country. But France internationals of Guianese descent can also represent French Guiana. That’s how former Chelsea and Lyon star Florent Malouda, a veteran of two France World Cup teams who’s now 37 and playing in the Indian league, was able to make his French Guiana debut in the Caribbean Cup. Midfielder Ludovic Baal and striker Sloan Privat both ply their trade in France’s Ligue 1 with Rennes and Guingamp, respectively.
MLS connections	Not much to report on here. For the aforementioned, French Guianese footy has always looked northeast to France, less so to MLS to the northwest.
Projections	It’s hard to think of a bigger wild card than this one. Perhaps it’s worth noting that French Guiana beat Haiti to reach the Caribbean Cup, but fell to Jamaica via a penalty-kick shootout in the semifinals on June 22. Surviving the Gold Cup’s group stage would be a major achievement.

Honduras

Basics	Gold Cup Group A \| Gold Cup Roster \| FIFA ranking: 69
How qualified	2017 Copa Centroamericana winners
Gold Cup history	Appeared in 12 of 13 previous editions; finished runners-up in 1991 (won the CONCACAF Championship, prior to the Gold Cup, in 1981).
Head coach	Jorge Luis Pinto shot into worldwide prominence when he led Costa Rica on a Cinderella run at the 2014 World Cup. The Colombian’s subsequent move to Honduras hasn’t gone quite so swimmingly, though. “La H” sit in second-to-last place in the CONCACAF Hexagonal with a worst-in-show goal differential of -7 over six games.
Top 3 stars	MLS fans will be familiar with the menace posed by the Houston Dynamo strike duo of Alberth “La Panterita” Elis and Romell “Romantico” Quioto, teammates of veteran midfielder Boniek Garcia with both club and country. But keep an eye on young attacker Anthony Lozano, who’s fresh off a promising loan stint with Spain’s Tenerife and could use a strong Gold Cup to fuel his career progress.
MLS connections	Besides the Houston trio of Elis, Garcia and Quioto, FC Dallas’ Maynor Figueroa made the current Catrachos squad, along with a few former MLSers like Johnny Leveron (ex-Vancouver) and Mario Martinez (ex-Seattle).
Projections	Honduras have the talent to beat just about anyone in this tournament, but the program is at a low ebb right now, with Pinto on the hot seat. Given that, any run beyond the quarterfinals would be surprising.

Jamaica

Basics	Gold Cup Group C \| Gold Cup Roster \| FIFA ranking: 79
How qualified	Finished as one of the Caribbean subregion’s top four teams during Caribbean Cup qualifying, advancing to the Caribbean Cup final.
Gold Cup history	2017 marks the Reggae Boyz’ 10th Gold Cup campaign; two years ago they produced their best-ever performance, finishing second behind Mexico.
Head coach	A key member of Jamaica’s legendary 1998 World Cup team, Theodore “Tappa” Whitmore is in his second stint in charge of his homeland, having previously led the program from 2009-13.
Top 3 stars	The Philadelphia Union’s Andre Blake is one of CONCACAF’s top goalkeepers and a linchpin for Jamaica’s hopes; Portland’s Darren Mattocks is similarly crucial to their attack and his Timbers teammate Alvas Powell is an important two-way presence at right back.
MLS connections	MLS and Jamrock have a long and fruitful relationship. The league is the Reggae Boyz’ leading overseas destination and beyond those mentioned above, this squad will rely heavily on the likes of Kemar Lawrence (NY Red Bulls), Je-Vaughn Watson (New England) and other MLSers.
Projections	Jamaica should finish second behind Mexico in Group C. That said, they’re as inconsistent as they are talented, and a few hiccups could leave them on an early flight home.

Martinique

Basics	Gold Cup Group B \| Gold Cup Roster \| FIFA ranking: N/A
How qualified	Finished as one of the Caribbean subregion’s top four teams during Caribbean Cup qualifying, losing the third-place match to French Guiana.
Gold Cup history	The French overseas department has participated in four previous editions of the tournament, highlighted by an upstart run to the quarterfinals in 2002.
Head coach	Jean-Marc Civault was once again given the reins of the team last year, also juggling club duties with local sides Club Franciscain and now with Aiglon du Lamentin.
Top 3 stars	Big French-born forward Yoann Arquin is well traveled after stints in England, Scotland, Turkey and Sweden, and similarly winger Johan Audel carries ample experience in major European leagues. Forward Gregory Pastel is one of the top scorers in the domestic league.
MLS connections	Longtime Les Matinino striker Kevin Parsemain spent nearly a year with the Seattle Sounders, who currently have his countryman Jordy Delem on their roster; former Portland striker Frederic Piquionne represented Martinique after his international hopes with France had run their course.
Projections	The French islanders are another dark horse whose true prospects are tough to gauge. But they could well grab one of Group B’s advancement slots, especially given that they’re fresh off a semifinal run at the Caribbean Cup on home soil.

Mexico

Basics	Gold Cup Group C \| Gold Cup Roster \| FIFA ranking: 17
How qualified	Automatic
Gold Cup history	The kings of Copa Oro, El Tri have participated in every edition of the tourney and won it seven times, more than any other nation.
Head coach	Former Chicago Fire and New York Red Bulls boss Juan Carlos Osorio has led Mexico to first place in the CONCACAF Hexagonal, and has suffered just two losses in more than a year and a half at the helm.
Top 3 stars	El Tri‘s busy summer of qualifiers and Confederations Cup play has led Osorio to pick something less than a full-strength roster. But the domestic-based Gold Cup squad will be hungry to seize the opportunity, led by Houston Dynamo scoring machine Erick “El Cubo” Torres, Pachuca star Erick “Guti” Gutierrez and a heavy Chivas Guadalajara contingent featuring Orbelin Pineda.
MLS connections	After originally being left off the roster, Houston’s “Cubo” Torres was brought in to replace the injured Alan Pulido. Goalkeeper Moises Munoz, has been a rumored MLS target and was raised in California’s Bay Area, nearly pursuing an American football career instead of soccer.
Projections	Any Gold Cup Mexico doesn’t win is generally considered a failure; that said, with so much else going on for El Tri, Osorio seems to be approaching this year’s edition with an experimental air.

Nicaragua

Basics	Gold Cup Group B \| Gold Cup Roster \| FIFA ranking: 100
How qualified	Defeated Haiti in a playoff between the Caribbean zone’s fifth-place team and the Central American zone fifth-place team.
Gold Cup history	One of Central America’s traditional underdogs and a country where baseball has historically been as popular as soccer, Los Pinoleros have only made it to this event once before, in 2009, when they didn’t make it out of the group stage.
Head coach	Well-traveled Costa Rican Henry Duarte has led Nicaragua since 2014.
Top 3 stars	Defender Josue Quijano and midfielder Marlon Lopez are two of the most experienced players on a Pinoleros squad based almost entirely in the domestic league, mainly at Real Esteli. But striker Juan Barrera, the first Nicaraguan to gain opportunities in Europe and hat-trick hero of their playoff win over Haiti, is probably the top talent on this squad.
MLS connections	Surprisingly scant, aside from a few MLS clubs meeting Real Esteli in CONCACAF Champions League over the years, most recently when the Nicaraguan side gave FC Dallas a tough test in last year’s CCL group stage.
Projections	With little in the way of pedigree or experience, hard work, discipline and unity will be key if Los Pinoleros are to beat the odds and make something memorable of this rare Gold Cup trip.

Panama

Basics	Gold Cup Group B \| Gold Cup Roster \| FIFA ranking: 59
How qualified	2017 Copa Centroamericana runners-up
Gold Cup history	2017 marks Panama’s eighth Gold Cup; after qualifying just once over its first seven editions, Los Canaleros finished second in the 2005 tournament and have taken part in every one since.
Head coach	Hernan Dario Gomez, better known as El Bolillo to many, is a Colombian whose resume includes stints in charge of Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and several Colombian clubs; named CONCACAF Male Coach of the Year in 2015.
Top 3 stars	The San Jose Earthquakes’ Anibal Godoy will be a key cog in central midfield alongside onetime Philadelphia Union signing Gabriel Gomez, while former Colorado Rapid Gabriel Torres, now playing in Switzerland, is the most experienced striker on the roster.
MLS connections	Beyond the MLSers, current and former, mentioned above, the Canaleros will also look to NYCFC’s Antonio Camargo, the Red Bulls’ Michael Murillo and Toronto FC’s Armando Cooper.
Projections	Panama are strong favorites to advance out of Group B along with the US. Depending on their scoring efficiency and the luck of the knockout-round draw, they could easily match 2015’s run to the semifinals.

United States

Basics	Gold Cup Group B \| Gold Cup Roster \| FIFA ranking: 23
How qualified	Automatic berth
Gold Cup history	The Yanks have used the relatively new tournament in their backyard to signal their modern climb in international soccer, winning the event in 1991, 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2013 and reaching the final on four other occasions (1993, 1998, 2009, 2011). The fourth-place finish in the 2015 edition ranks as one of the USMNT’s lowlights, though.
Head coach	Bruce Arena is half a year into his second stint at the US helm, having led the Yanks from 1998 to 2006. During his first term he lifted the Gold Cup trophy in 2002 and 2005; this time around the event ranks a distant second behind 2018 World Cup qualification.
Top 3 stars	Freshly arrived at his new club in Atlanta, goalkeeper Brad Guzan brings veteran experience and leadership to a group that needs it, as does midfielder Alejandro Bedoya. And this tournament could well mark a true breakout moment in Kellyn Acosta’s international career.
MLS connections	Myriad. All but seven members of the Gold Cup roster ply their trade in the domestic league, while three of those foreign-based players (Omar Gonzalez, Jorge Villafana and Matt Miazga) made their names in MLS.
Projections	The Yanks enter every Gold Cup with the aim of winning it and this year is no exception. That said, Arena has made clear that World Cup qualification is the top priority and his roster choices reflect that this event is an audition for many players.

2017 Gold Cup: Group B Preview

Daniel Karell,NBC Sports 19 hours ago

With the 2017 Gold Cup just two days away, it’s time to take a closer look at this year’s participants.Group B includes one of the tournament favorites, the U.S. Men’s National Team, along with Panama, Martinique and Nicaragua.Here’s what you need to know ahead of the start of the tournament:

Group B

United States

How it qualified: Automatic qualification as tournament hosts.

FIFA ranking: 23

Star player: Omar Gonzalez – While Bruce Arena is resting the European-based players and some of the veteran starters for the USMNT, Omar Gonzalez comes off a terrific season with Pachuca as well as strong performances with the USMNT in World Cup qualifying to help lead the U.S. at the 2017 Gold Cup.

One to watch: Kellyn Acosta – This may be obvious, especially after his goal against Ghana and his performance alongside Michael Bradley at Mexico in the Estadio Azteca, but Acosta has a chance to have a breakout summer with the national team and solidify his place in the starting lineup for the 2018 World Cup. Another to keep an eye on is 21-year-old centerback Matt Miazga.

Manager: Bruce Arena – Back for his second time in charge, Arena is set to test the U.S. depth in the first tournament of his second spell with U.S. Soccer.

Chance of winning group: 75% – The U.S. should easily finish in the top two of the group and if it defeats Panama in the USMNT’s opening match on June 8, the schedule sets up well for the U.S. to cruise to win the group.

Panama

How it qualified: Runners-up at the 2017 Copa Centroamericana.

FIFA ranking: 59

Star player: Anibal Godoy – The holding midfielder has been a real boost to the San Jose Earthquakes since signing in MLS in 2015. He’s scored five goals in 48 games and is difficult to play through in the center of the park.

One to watch: Ismael Diaz – The 20-year-old forward impressed European scouts enough at the 2015 Under-20 World Cup (as an 18-year-old) to earn a move to FC Porto, where he’s spent the last two seasons playing for the reserve squad. While he could be changing clubs this summer, the Gold Cup is a great opportunity for him to prove himself against top regional competition.

Manager: Hernan Dario Gomez – El Bolillo has been in charge of Panama since 2014, shortly after the nation missed out on qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. Gomez has only lost two games in the past 8 months, including a pair of draws against Mexico and the U.S.

Chance of winning group: 15% – It all depends on the opener against the USMNT. If Panama can pull out an unexpected win as well as take care of business against Martinique and Nicaragua, it will win the group.

Martinique

How it qualified: Fourth place at the 2017 Caribbean Cup

FIFA ranking: Not a member of FIFA

Star player: Kévin Parsemain – The veteran striker has scored boatloads of goals for the French overseas territory, and even spent a season with the Seattle Sounders, though he missed nearly the entire campaign with a torn ACL.

One to watch: Jordy Delem – The current Seattle Sounder has looked strong and pacey down the right side of the field for the club. He spent the 2016 season with Sounders 2 before making the jump to MLS this season.

Manager: Louis Marianne. The veteran Frenchman is back in charge of Les Matinino. Fun fact. Former USMNT defender David Regis, a native of Martinique, is the general manager of the national team.

Chance of winning group: 5% – Martinique’s inexperienced squad at this level should keep them from advancing, but we’ve seen surprises before and perhaps they can stun the U.S. or Panama.

Nicaragua

How it qualified: won a two-game playoff, 4-3 on aggregate over Haiti in a battle between the fifth-place teams from the 2017 Caribbean Cup and the 2017 Copa Centroamericana.

FIFA ranking: 100

Star player: Juan Barrera – The 28-year-old winger, who in 2015 became the first Nicaraguan-born player to sign for a European club, has had a long and illustrious career with the national team and is leading La Azul y Blanco to the Gold Cup for the first time since 2009.

One to watch: Daniel Cadena – Cadena is a Spanish-born midfielder who currently plays in Iceland and played for a time as a youngster for Real Betis.

Manager: Henry Duarte – The veteran Costa Rican has been Nicaragua manager since December 2014 and by qualifying for the 2017 Gold Cup, he’s led the nation to just its second regional tournament.

Chances of winning group: 5% – Like Martinique, Nicaragua’s overall inexperience at the international level should make for easy wins for the U.S. and Panama, but perhaps Juan Barrera and co. and produce a national moment folks will talk about for years to come.

Dom Dwyer, Kelyn Rowe debut well in U.S. friendly win over Ghana

In what was unmistakably a friendly with low stakes, the United States warmed up their engines for the Gold Cup with a 2-1 result against a second string Ghana side in Connecticut.

Positives

Facing Ghana’s B team fresh off a friendly against Mexico on Wednesday, the intensity of the game was never going to be high. Still, the Americans played some bright, technical soccer that should encourage Bruce Arena moving into the Gold Cup next week. The midfield worked well together, creating several good chances. Dom Dwyer’s debut resulted in his first USMNT goal, adding an extra feel-good element to the win. Kelyn Rowe was good in his first cap, as was Kenny Saief in a substitute role.

Negatives

Aside from a drop in energy in the second half and giving away the foul that led to Asamoah Gyan’s free kick goal, it’s difficult to find too many negatives from the American performance. Dwyer’s finishing was just good enough to help get the win, but the game might have been a more comprehensive victory if there was just a bit more sharpness in the attacking third. Set piece defending is still an issue.

Manager rating

7 — It’s tough to pin down how to rate Arena because of the friendly nature of the game and the fresh-faced nature of his roster. His starting lineup played relatively well together after an opening-minute mistake. Ball movement was good, and an understanding in the midfield developed quickly. Arena waited longer than expected to use any substitutions but may have planned that pattern specifically due to the upcoming Gold Cup opener.

Player ratings (1-10, with 10 the best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Brad Guzan, 8.5 — Saved Gyan’s penalty to help the U.S. maintain their first-half lead. Looked confident and came off his line to good effect.

DF Graham Zusi, 7 — Acquitted himself well defensively and helped in possession. Got forwarded a few times as part of overlapping runs.

DF Matt Besler, 7 — Wasn’t asked to do much in the first half. Played his position well to help put out a few fires in the last 45.

DF Matt Hedges, 7 — Slow to adjust to the way the referee was calling the match. Pressed high and helped slow the Ghanaians down in the middle of the field.

DF Jorge Villafana, 6.5 — Mixed day. Pressed well to win the ball and set up Dwyer’s opener, then gave away a penalty in the dying moments of the first half. Defended well beyond that mistake.

MF Kelyn Rowe, 7.5 — Strong showing in his debut for the national team. Played several clever one-touch passes in the first half. Far from perfect, but set himself up for minutes in the Gold Cup.

MF Kellyn Acosta, 9 — Scored the free kick goal that proved to be the winner, but it was the rest of his day that should excite fans. Displayed his passing ability while working out a relationship with Dax McCarty in midfield.

MF Dax McCarty, 8 — Needed some time to work out the positional relationship with Acosta, but settled in nicely. Marshalled the American lines and played his usual heady passing game.

MF Joe Corona, 8 — Best when drifting into wide areas but did set up an excellent chance for Dwyer in the first half that should have resulted in a red card for Ghana. Good on the ball.

MF Paul Arriola, 6 — Had some bright moments in the second half but struggled to find the game for the first 45 minutes. Did not pop up in any dangerous areas when the U.S. was dominating proceedings.

FW Dom Dwyer, 8 — The newly minted American scored in his debut and harried the Ghanaian back line all afternoon. Wasted a few chances but otherwise was the presence up top Arena wanted.

Substitutes

MF Gyasi Zardes, NR — Missed a chance to play a switch into space and was too often flustered on the ball. Looked out of sync with his teammates.

MF Kenny Saief, NR — Charged around the field in his USMNT debut, showing the industry that earned him a call-up. Set the stage for an intriguing Gold Cup.

MF Alejandro Bedoya, NR — Popped up on the back post for Jordan Morris’ cross but couldn’t beat the Ghana keeper. Covered well defensively as the game became stretched.

FW Jordan Morris, NR — Pressed the Ghanaian defense and provided an excellent left-footed cross — to the surprise of many — that nearly resulted in a goal.

DF Omar Gonzalez, NR — Made a cameo appearance with time running out after Jorge Villafana went down with a cramp.Jason Davis covers Major League Soccer and the United States national team for ESPN FC. Twitter: @davisjsn.

Chicago grabs the top spot in the MLS rankings as Toronto falters in Texas

After threatening to grab the top spot for weeks, the Fire finally do the deed and move to No. 1.

Chicago Fire(+1): The Fire jump to the top spot after a comprehensive 4-0 win over the Whitecaps, and will be crossing their fingers that Bastian Schweinsteiger’s injury is minor.
Toronto FC(-2): The Reds looked flat in a 3-1 road loss to FC Dallas, finally showing the fatigue that comes with a packed schedule.
New York City FC(+2): Everything was good in NYCFC’s 3-1 win over Minnesota — except for the injury to Ronald Matarrita that will keep him out for an extended period.
FC Dallas(+1): Without their leader in the midfield and their best defender, FC Dallas handled the TFC 3-1 at Toyota Field. Something to build on.
Sporting Kansas City(-2): The man with the most circuitous homegrown story in the league, Daniel Salloi, scored his first MLS goal to help Sporting salvage a 1-1 draw with Portland.
Atlanta United(no change): Perhaps the most impressive thing in Atlanta’s inaugural season so far is their away record. A 2-0 win in Columbus gives them three away victories in 2017.
San Jose Earthquakes(+5): Another dramatic win in the Cali Clasico thanks to — who else? — Chris Wondolowski starts the Chris Leitch era off with an important win.
Columbus Crew SC(no change): It was simple stuff that beat the Crew SC defense in their 2-0 loss to Atlanta. Again, Jonathan Mensah was a liability.
Houston Dynamo(-1): Still no away win for the Dynamo in 2017 after a 3-1 loss in Colorado. To be fair, they were missing several players due to Gold Cup preparations.
LA Galaxy(+3): As if it wasn’t bad enough that LA fell to the Quakes 2-1 via a goal in the dying moments, Jelle van Damme will miss a game after a silly post-match red card.
Orlando City SC(-2): Former RSL man Will Johnson did the honors in a 1-0 away win in Utah. Breaking the four-game losing streak had to feel good for a beleaguered Lions side.
New York Red Bulls(-2): A bye gives the Red Bulls a chance to lick their wounds after a disappointing New York derby match last weekend. Next up: a home affair against the Revs on Wednesday.
Portland Timbers(-2): A 1-1 draw in Kansas City is a respectable result, but they’ll feel they dropped points thanks to a missed penalty.
Philadelphia Union(+2): Even without Alejandro Bedoya, the Union pressed their advantage in a 3-0 win over New England. After a three-game skid, Philly has now won two in a row.
Seattle Sounders(-1): A bye for the Sounders gives Brian Schmetzer a chance to reconfigure his team ahead of a Tuesday date in Colorado.

Indy Eleven Goalkeeper Jon Busch Named NASL Player of the Week

Six saves from the veteran goalkeeper help Indy earn 2-1 win in North Carolina

Published Jun 27, 2017

NEW YORK (June 27, 2017) – Jon Busch has turned in some incredible goalkeeping performances over the course of his 21-year professional career, and Saturday’s win over North Carolina FC was no exception. The Indy Eleven goalkeeper was named North American Soccer League (NASL) Player of the Week on Tuesday thanks to his six-save outing at WakeMed Soccer Park in Week 14.The 40-year-old veteran shook off North Carolina’s early goal, which was unlucky from a goalkeeping point of view, to lead the Boys in Blue to a 2-1 win on the road. Busch made six saves in the game, including an incredible double-save to thwart Billy Schuler and Saeed Robinson in the 61^st minute. The victory was Indy’s second straight, and both of them came against North Carolina. The club is now just two points shy of fifth-place North Carolina with three games to play in the Spring Season. While Indy doesn’t have a shot at the Spring Season title, which the club took home last year, Tim Hankinson’s side can put itself in a good position going into the Fall Season when the Combined Standings begin to come into play.Busch has had an exceptional two weeks as well. The Queens, N.Y., native has only conceded once in his last two games, coming up with 11 saves in the process.Now third in the league in saves, Busch signed with Indy prior to the 2016 season. In his first year with the club, he reached The Championship Final, where Indy fell on penalty kicks. Since joining the Boys in Blue, Busch has started 41 league games.Before signing with Indy, Busch spent 14 seasons in MLS with the Columbus Crew, Chicago Fire, and San Jose Earthquakes. He played in the A-League prior to that, suiting up for the Worcester Wildfire, Carolina Dynamo, Hampton Roads Mariners, and Hershey Wildcats.

RECAP | Indy Eleven Draws One-All with New York Cosmos on Independence Day Clash

First half goal by Ben Speas canceled out by late second half penalty to tie honors even at MCU Park Published Jul 4, 2017

INDIANAPOLIS (July 4, 2017) – An entertaining bout between Indy Eleven and the New York Cosmos wrapped up with both sides taking home a point at MCU Park.Indy got the match going quickly with a scoring chance inside the first two minutes for midfielder Don Smart. With forward Eamon Zayed streaking down the left, the Irishman stopped on a dime to lift a ball towards Smart at the back post. However, as the ball missed the head of a Cosmos defender, Smart miscued his shot and the chance went wide.After continual pressing, though, Indy would open the scoring just after the opening half hour thanks to midfielder Ben Speas. Pushing up the right side once again, defender Marco Franco threaded the needle for one of the newer “Boys In Blue,” and a clever touch from Speas allowed him to slot the ball between Cosmos’ ‘keeper Jimmy Maurer’s legs for the first goal of the night. For Speas, it was his third goal of the year, putting him level with Eamon Zayed for second on the team scoring charts, and the second assist in as many weeks for defender Marco Franco.The best chance of the opening half for the hosts came in the 40^th minute through the captain Ayoze. With enough real estate in front of him, the defender stepped up and ripped a shot at Indy ‘keeper Jon Busch, who was able to corral the ball after making one of his eight saves on the night, an individual game record.The second half saw the Cosmos press higher up the pitch on the Indy goal, and after creating a few chances they earned another solid look in the 60^th minute. Forward Emmanuel Ledesma was in a similar position as his teammate Ayoze when taking a drive at Busch’s goal, except this time the ‘netminder could only watch as Ledesma’s bullet landed just wide of the far post. Two minutes later, Indy would get their best chance of the second half as Smart settled a ball for Justin Braun. Though Cosmos defender Ryan Richter would head the chance clear, Indy defender Nemanja Vukovic followed up on the half-volley only for the shot to settle wide.Drama ensued in the 86^th minute when Indy Eleven defender Colin Falvey came together with Ledesma in the penalty area, which resulted in the head official pointing directly to the spot. Stepping up, Ledesma beat Busch to Busch’s left into the side-netting and the Cosmos were able to pull one back for the draw.Indy Eleven will return home to IUPUI’s Michael A. Carroll Stadium to face the New York Cosmos on Saturday, July 8 at 7:30 P.M. ET. Tickets for the game – and all remaining 10+ NASL matches at “The Mike” in 2017 – can be purchased for as little as $11 online at www.IndyEleven.com or by phone at 317-685-1100.
NASL Spring Season
New York Cosmos 1 : 1 Indy Eleven
Saturday, July 4, 2017
MCU Park – Brooklyn, NY

Scoring Summary:
IND – Ben Speas (Marco Franco) 33’
NYC – Emmanuel Ledesma 86’

Earn your Degree While You Watch Your Kids Soccer Practice – ½ the time and cost of Traditional Schools

Check out The Ole Ballcoach online www.theoleballcoach.com –

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6/23/17 Indy 11 Win Home Game, Confed Cup Judgement Day Sat 11 am FOX, MLS Rivalry Weekend, TV Game Schedule

June 23, 2017June 23, 2017 gatorbest

So I am not sure if it was because we were there – but the Indy 11 finally got off the snide with a huge 2-0 win over North Carolina on Saturday night at the MIKE – I was impressed – the fans are still here – 4/5 stadium full and a raucous crowd as always in the Brickyard Batallion behind the goal on a beautiful Saturday night downtown. Two goals for Indy were actually called back on a bad night for the refs. Overall however a great atmosphere and a good game to watch – bringing the 11 off the bottom of the standings. We’ll see if they can get a road win at North Carolina Sat night on ESPN3 at 7:30 pm. They return home vs NY Cosmos on July 8.

The Confederations Cup in Russia is underway and started with some really good games on Sunday as Mexico and Portugal played to an exciting 2-2 tie and South American Champs Chile needed 85 minutes before they finally pulled away from Cameroon 2-0. Chile vs Germany was a delight as the two teams tied in a battle of the heavyweights. Saturday’s Mexico vs Russia matchup 11 am on Fox (Mexico must win or tie to advance), and Sunday’s Germany vs Cameron 11 am on Fox and Chile/Australia 11 am on FS1 will determine seeding for the Wed/Thurs Semi-Finals at 2 pm on FS1. I love club soccer too – but there is something about the national teams pitting country vs country that is more exciting to me. It will be fun to watch the Confed Cup this weekend and next (see schedule below), then a watered down version of the Gold Cup in July before the ICC kicks off in late July.

MLS celebrates Rivalry Week this weekend – with marquet matchups including NYCFC vs NY Red Bulls on Sat 1:30 pm on Fox, and Portland hosting Seattle on Sun 4 pm on ESPN and fans are excited. Speaking of MLS – the Allstar game vs Real Madrid is in Chicago – Soldier Field on Aug 2 a Wed night at 9 pm tickets are still available just $90 for good level 2’s behind the goals? Anyone interested in Road Tripping – let me know if so. Cincinatti FC’s US Open Cup battle with Chicago is going Primetime as ESPN 2 will air the game with an expected crowd of 30K on hand – man I wish I could go. Finally — Grand Park is hosting the US Soccer DA Playoffs on Saturday + Monday – U14-U18 teams boys and girls – click here for more info.

Interesting Story from NY Post about Overuse and 1 sport concentration in Youth Sports

GAMES ON TV

Sat, June 24

11 am Fox Mexico vs Russia – Confederations Cup

11 am Fox Sport 1 Portugal vs New Zealand – Confederations Cup

1:30 pm Fox NY Red Bulls vs NYCFC

3:30 pm Lifetime Orlando Pride vs Houston Dash (Womens)

7:30 pm MyIndy TV+ESPN3 North Carolina vs Indy 11

Sun, June 25

11am Fox Germany vs Cameroon – Confederations Cup

11 am Fox Sport1 Chile vs Australia – Confederations Cup

4 pm ESPN Portland vs Seattle Sounders

Wed , June 28

2 pm Fox Sport1 Confederations Cup SEMI-FINALS

8 pm ESPN2 Cincy vs Chicago – US Open Semi’s

Thurs, June 29

2 pm Fox Sport1 Confederations Cup SEMI-FINALS

Fri, june 30

9:30 pm ESPN Real Salt Lake vs Orlando City FC

Sun, July 2

8am FS1 Confederations Cup 3^rd

2 pm Fox Sport1 Confederations Cup FINALS

Tues, July 4

7:30 pm beIN Sport NY Cosmos vs Indy 11

Sat, July 8

4:30 pm Fox USA vs Panama – GOLD CUP

7 pm FS2 Martinique vs Nicaragua – Gold Cup

7:30 pm MyIndy TV Indy 11 vs NY Cosmos

Sun, July 9

7 pm Fox Sport 1 Curacao vs Jamaica – Gold Cup

9:30 pm FS1 Mexico vs El Salvador – Gold Cup

Tues, July 11

7:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Costa Rica vs Canada– Gold Cup

10 pm FS1 Honduras vs French Guiana – Gold Cup

Weds, July 12

6:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Panama vs Nicaragua -Gold Cup

9 pm Fox Sport 1 USA vs Martinique – Gold Cup

Confederations Cup Schedule June

Mexico/Portugal/Russia battle for two spots Saturday

International Champions Cup July Games in Nashville and Detroit

Confed Cup + World

Mexico under HUGE pressure to iliminate Russia Sat

Mexico earns late Draw vs Portugal SI

Mixed Fortunes for Renaldo vs Mexico

Marcotti – Chile get past Cameron – VAR questioned?

Russia can build on Win over lowly New Zealand

In or Out for World Cup 2018?

Around the World of Soccer – US Players

Summer Season in full swing – Do we have too Much Soccer ?

Former US Ladies Coach Tony DiCicco Dies at 68 NY Times

US Former Coach DiCicco – a Legacy – ESPN

How Christian Pulisic’s Success Could Change how US Athletes are Developed – Dan Wetzel Yahoo

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2713937-the-christian-pulisic-blueprint?_branch_match_id=403271276012690981

Pulisic does not plan a jump to Bayern

Pulisic is the Great American Hope – (for Real this Time!) – 5/38 sports

US lineup for Gold Cup? Brian Straus

US Player Ratings vs Mexico MLS.com

US Games are Fun to Watch Again – MLS.com

US Stands in 3^rd in Hex – Barely

Behind the Scenes at US vs Mexico

Possible US line up for Gold Cup in July

Juan Agudelo

Morris/Rowe/Nagbe

Dax McCarty/Acosta

Morrow, Matt Hedges, Miazga, Lichaj

GK Gonzalez//Ethan Horvath

MLS

All Set for Rivalry Week

How Supporters Groups View Rivalry Week

Best Games in Seattle / Portland Rivalry

NY Derby rises Fan Intensity

Power Rankings – Chicago Fire Move Up

Atlanta United – It’s a Family Affair

MLS Update on Weekend Games

The immediate future of NYCFC

MLS Allstar game vs Real Madrid is in Chicago –

Cincinatti FC hosting Chicago US Open Match on ESPN2 on Wed June 28^th

Indy 11

Indy 11 Preview Road Game vs NCFC

3 Things Indy vs North Carolina 2-0 Win

Recap Win over NC 2-0

Indy 11 Discount Ticket Link

Pride Night vs NY Cosmos July 8

Its Summer – Time to plan your Soccer Camps

Carmel High School Soccer Camps – July 17-20

Indy 11 Youth Soccer Camp at Carmel Dad’s Club

Cost: $195 per camper Location: Badger Fields Field Player Camp: July 24 – 27, 2017

Mexico set to eliminate host Russia, but can they handle the pressure?

KAZAN, Russia — The scenarios are simple. If Mexico wins or ties host Russia in Kazan on Saturday, El Tri will advance from Group A in the Confederations Cup. Lose and the criticism — which is already fierce — will rain down on Mexico, who will have failed to reach the expected goals in major tournaments for two consecutive summers.This match is being framed as “judgement day” for Juan Carlos Osorio and his Mexico team, however unfair that might seem.”We can’t play with the fear of losing,” said Andres Guardado, one of Mexico’s captains, at Friday’s news conference. The PSV Eindhoven midfielder spoke of understanding the pressure that accompanies his team and without losing his cool, launched a tirade against the media coverage that Mexico attracts.”Those of us who have been in the national team for some time know it’s always been like that and we are focused on playing a good game and qualifying,” continued Guardado. “Whether we play poorly or well, they always seek to criticize. We don’t have a problem with what is said.”A late Hector Moreno goal sealed an encouraging draw for Mexico in its Group A opener but there was a backlash against Osorio making eight changes to face a physical New Zealand side, which El Tri defeated 2-1 after coming from a half-time deficit.Now comes the big one. This is the type of test Osorio wants for Mexico, who plays almost all its games in the CONCACAF region and only rarely steps out of its comfort zone. Everything is against El Tri here: the domestic media is on the team’s back despite Mexico going into the game top of Group A on goal difference, the crowd will be supporting the home side and El Tri is a long way from the safe environs of North America, fighting for its survival in a major tournament.Even the temperature has dropped in Kazan, while Russian fans have been encouraged by their team’s performance against Portugal. It’s the kind of situation Osorio has stressed will be helpful to his Mexico squad and the national team in general.”I honestly think that this is a perfect scenario for Mexican football,” said Osorio, when questioned about the occasion. “We play away from home against the host team with a lot of support from their fans and fighting for qualification.”Osorio added that Mexico needs to control the game, describing it as “a unique opportunity for Mexican football” and highlighting “resilience” as a key trait in his squad.The Mexico manager vigorously defended his rotation policy on Friday, indicating that it was necessary against a direct and physical New Zealand side. The casualties of that encounter were defenders Carlos Salcedo — who requires shoulder surgery and will be out for three months — and possibly Hector Moreno, who Osorio said is in a “recovery process” and may not be fit to face Russia.After the wholesale changes against Russia, Osorio will likely revert to a starting XI similar to that which started against Portugal in the team’s opening game. Guillermo Ochoa is set to return in goal, with important figures like Javier Hernandez, Carlos Vela, Guardado, Jonathan dos Santos and Diego Reyes all fully rested for the crunch game. That’s the flip-side to the criticism of the rotation policy.The potential absence of Moreno is a problem for Osorio, with Oswaldo Alanis the natural replacement but not with the same quality as the Roma center-back. And with Salcedo out, the right-back position may be problematic.If you were to predict the Mexico side, it’ll probably be a 4-3-3 formation with Layun at left-back, Reyes at right-back and Nestor Araujo and Alanis as the center-back partnership (if Moreno isn’t fit). In midfield, Hector Herrera has been increasingly authoritative in the holding role with the intense duo of Guardado and Jonathan dos Santos either side of him with more attacking briefs.Up front, the fact that Raul Jimenez has played both matches suggests the time could be ripe for Hirving Lozano to make his first appearance of the tournament, although Javier Aquino was outstanding against New Zealand and may have earned his spot on the left wing. Vela has become a key player for El Tri in 2017 and will surely be on the right, with Hernandez set to lead the line.Osorio was full of praise for Russia and it should be fascinating to see if the home nation, with fans behind it, tries to attack Mexico from the start. El Tri has averaged a very high 67 percent possession over its last five games, according to InStat, compared to Russia’s 42 percent, suggesting that Mexico will be the ones taking the initiative.”We’ll need to control the game and to prove to ourselves that we can compete under such difficult circumstances,” concluded Osorio. “If we can do it, we’ll be taking a step forward. We want to show that we can do it against any opponent, regardless of its style.”If Mexico can take that step forward, El Tri will be in Russia for another eight days and will most likely face Chile or Germany in the Confederations Cup semifinal. If Mexico does lose for the third time over Osorio’s 26 games in charge, however, the questions about where this national team stands will once again be heard.Tom Marshall covers Liga MX and the Mexican national team for ESPN

Amid ongoing VAR debate, Chile put aside frustration to beat Cameroon

MOSCOW — On a night that could have ended up being defined by three letters — VAR — it’s probably a good thing that ultimately it was a “V” and an “A” that made all the difference. “V” — as in Vidal (Arturo) — who kangarooed at the far post to tuck in a cross from the “A” — as in Alexis (Sanchez) — past Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa.There were nine minutes left at the time, and the goal saw a heavily pro-Chile crowd — the total attendance was 33,492 in a stadium that holds 45,360 — erupt with relief as much as ecstasy. That’s what happens when your emotions get put through the spin cycle of a demented washing machine possessed by Nosferatu. Those present had seen Chile dominate early — Eduardo Vargas hit the post inside of a minute, and then Jose Fuenzalida, after a delicate “sombrero,” forced a fine save from Ondoa — only for Cameroon to keep them out.Supporters then groaned at two further squandered chances — Fuenzalida wasted a delightful buildup by failing to carpe his diem, and then Vargas, again, couldn’t convert from close range — in a first half that, as Cameroon boss Hugo Broos would later say, could have easily seen the Chileans 3-0 up.Then, just before half-time, Vidal’s pinpoint through ball found Vargas in mid-stride, and the striker stroked it into the back of the net. The fans roared into life; their luck had changed. Gary Medel sprinted a lung-bursting 40 yards to join his teammates in celebration.But then referee Damir Skomina signaled for the video assistant referee.”It was our first time with the VAR, and while they had explained to us how it worked before the game, the fact is that in the heat of the moment you’re so concentrated, you don’t think about it,” said Vidal. “You just wonder what’s going on.”What for Vidal was confusion was, for Broos, a glimmer of hope.”I saw the referee signaling, and I just started hoping,” he said. “They disallowed it, so happy for me.”The decision itself was close. So close that, in the pre-VAR era, we wouldn’t blame an assistant for getting it wrong. But this is a different time and the replays — with the help of horizontal lines drawn over video — showed that, yes, Vargas was offside.Just.After what felt like an eternity — it probably wasn’t — Skomina signaled the goal had been struck off, which led to incredulity among Chile’s number. Players often complain when decisions don’t go their way, but this was different: This was justice delayed, which feels like justice denied.At least, that’s the impression the Chile fans gave. And while La Roja‘s second half began with a huddle and chest-thumping from Medel in the middle of the pitch, Juan Antonio Pizzi’s crew were rather more muted after the break.”We are conditioned to having an immediate emotional reaction in football,” Pizzi said after the match. “We went from a high of having finally broken the deadlock to, 20 seconds later, going into the dressing room at 0-0. Players play on emotion, they channel it, it’s what drives them. When you have that sort of emotional comedown, it can have a major effect in the dressing room. It did for us, anyway.”That’s why, to spark things up, Pizzi threw on Sanchez for Edson Puch and, shortly thereafter, Leonardo Valencia for Fuenzalida. It took a short while, but then Cameroon began to wobble. And Vidal’s goal finally broke the ice.There was no looking back. And at the very end, Sanchez blew the chance to make it 2-0 (and become Chile’s all-time leading goal scorer as well), only for Vargas to smack home the rebound. But, as he wheeled away to celebrate, he spotted the assistant’s flag raised in the air.Vargas sprinted over wide-eyed but, in the VAR world, there’s no sense in appealing these situations. Already underway was a review of the call which apparently had to do with Sanchez’s position in the buildup. Skomina drew his imaginary TV in the air but, this time, there was less trepidation. The match was over. Chile had won and deservedly so.Still, goal difference matters and VAR had again overturned an assistant’s decision, except the second time it was to allow the goal. Vargas made history as the first player ever to have a goal taken away and a goal given in such circumstances, not that you imagine he particularly cares.Chile were impressive for most of the game — both with and without Sanchez — while Cameroon, as Broos pointed out, likely paid a price for nerves.”That, and the fact that they’re some 40 places above us in the FIFA rankings,” he said afterwards.It was left to Pizzi to get philosophical at the end.”VAR is new, this is a trial; it’s being evaluated,” he said. “Sure, we weren’t happy when the goal was disallowed, but in the end it was the right decision, however close it was. Let’s wait and see what happens; let’s let them iron out what needs to be ironed out.”Many times in the past we’ve complained because we thought there were injustices in football,” he said. “We can’t complain now if it brings us more justice, can we? Let’s find out if it can do that and then we’ll draw our conclusions.”Gabriele Marcotti is a Senior Writer for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @Marcotti.

U.S. coach Tony DiCicco dies at 68; won 1999 Women’s World Cup

By ESPN.com news services | Jun 21, 2017

Former United States women’s national team coach Tony DiCicco died on Monday night, his family said. He was 68.DiCicco led the U.S. from 1994 to 1999 and led the Americans to their second World Cup triumph at the 1999 World Cup. The U.S. beat China in the final after a penalty shootout at the Rose Bowl.The U.S. also won the Olympic gold medal under DiCicco’s leadership in Atlanta in 1996, the first year women’s soccer was played at the Games.”Last night, at his home, surrounded by his family, Tony DiCicco bestowed love broadly as he peaceful[ly] transformed from a mortal body to an eternal idea,” the DiCicco family said in a statement.”While the health challenges Tony faced were confronted head on and with eyes open, we never could have foreseen the beautiful journey that truly defined the magnificence of this man’s life.”As U.S. coach, DiCicco won nearly 90 percent of his matches, with 103 victories to eight draws and eight defeats. He also coached the U.S. team to the 2008 Under-20 Women’s World Cup title.ESPN’s Julie Foudy said of her former coach: “Tony was one of the finest to grace this planet. His spirit will indeed lie in us all Anthony. I smile thru the tears. His impact, immense.”U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati called DiCicco “one of the most influential coaches in U.S. Soccer history.””Tony’s passion for the game as a coach, administrator and broadcaster was always evident, and his relationships with everyone in the soccer community distinguished him as a compassionate and much-loved man,” Gulati said. “U.S. Soccer will forever be thankful to Tony for his vast contributions to the game.”Amanda Duffy, the National Women’s Soccer League managing director of operations, lauded DiCicco as a soccer pioneer.”Tony will be remembered for his immense passion, his dedication to the game and his life pursuit to inspire players and people,” she said. “A truly influential figure, no one will forget the impact he has had on so many people’s lives and his role in the tremendous growth of women’s soccer in the U.S.”He started with U.S. Soccer as a goalkeeper coach as the team won the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991 before taking the head job and leading the Americans to a third-place finish at the 1995 World Cup in Sweden.DiCicco went on to be the first commissioner of the Women’s United Soccer Association from 2000 to 2003, then coached the Boston Breakers of Women’s Professional Soccer from 2009 to 2011.In his playing days, DiCicco was an All-American at Springfield College before playing in the American Soccer League’s Connecticut Wildcats and the Rhode Island Oceaneers. In 1973, he toured and played for the national team.He is survived by wife Diane and four sons: Anthony, Andrew, Alex and Nicholas.

USA’s Gold Cup roster: Projecting Arena’s 23, plus knockout round swaps

QUICKLYWho will Bruce Arena turn to for the CONCACAF Gold Cup? We project his 23-man roster–and the player swaps (up to six) he can make for the knockout stage.BRIAN STRAUSTuesday June 20th, 2017

Bruce Arena is paid to coach only one team, but he’s had to build around five since taking the U.S. national team reins last November. There was the January camp group that played two friendlies (that’s usually an ad hoc roster), the short-handed team he fielded for two critical qualifiers in March and then the split squads that just faced Trinidad & Tobago and then Mexico three days apart.Now Arena has a CONCACAF Gold Cup roster to name, and that’s going to be a new team as well. The Gold Cup played the year before a World Cup—and right in the middle of the Hexagonal—often has an improvisational feel. One team, Mexico in this case, is involved in the Confederations Cup. Others are focused on qualifying or rebuilding following early elimination. The USA typically has done well under those circumstances. Two years ago, Landon Donovan and Chris Wondolowski each scored five goals as the Americans claimed their fifth continental crown. In 2009, a ‘B’ team featuring only five players with more than 15 caps (and seven with none) made the final. And four years earlier, Arena won his second Gold Cup.Expectations are high in July as well, despite the fact that busy summers this year and next (presumably) have pushed Arena to leave his European stars behind. They’re taking a break before resuming preseason training. Instead, the manager will rely on a domestic talent pool that’s probably deeper than ever, along with a player or two based abroad he hasn’t had a chance to see.But the conflicting club schedule isn’t the only wrinkle. Once again, CONCACAF will allow Gold Cup teams to swap out up to six players following the group stage with replacements named on a preliminary, 40-man roster. It’s tough on smaller nations that lack genuine depth, but it gives Arena some enticing options as the tournament’s roster deadline approaches. He’ll reveal his team on Sunday.A less challenging group-stage schedule that features Panama (July 8), Martinique (July 12) and Nicaragua (July 15) gives Arena the chance to hand the keys over to some younger/less internationally experienced players who can begin making their case for World Cup inclusion. Then once the Gold Cup’s knockout rounds begin, he can call in some big-name reinforcements for a run at redemption following a fourth-place finish in 2015.“I think we will have a good group of players coming in with a nice blend of some experienced players and some less experienced,” Arena said in a recent U.S. Soccer Q&A. “They’re going to have an opportunity to show what they’re about, and I think that part is exciting. Anytime you’re in the midst of World Cup qualifying and very close to not only qualifying, but being at a World Cup a year later, you have to have a competitive environment, and these players will push to positions themselves to be a big part of things moving forward.”Here’s a look at the 40-man preliminary roster, along with who’s likely to make the 23-man team announced Sunday and who might be called up following the group stage.

Goalkeepers

Joe Bendik (Orlando City), Jesse Gonzalez (FC Dallas), Brad Guzan (Atlanta United), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), Sean Johnson (New York City FC).

Gold Cup: Gonzalez, Guzan, Hamid.

Potential swaps: None, barring a fiasco.

There still is no successor to Howard and Guzan and although that’s not likely going to be a problem Arena has to solve—the coach’s contract expires after the World Cup—it’s an increasingly relevant issue in American soccer. This summer represents a nice opportunity to try out a couple new faces in net.Arena has nothing to gain by overworking Howard. He’s the current No. 1 and a known quantity. Guzan, meanwhile, is in an interesting situation. July will mark the start of his eligibility to play for Atlanta, and although it might make sense to give him a seamless start with his new club, Arena also may not want to leave his No. 2 out of international action for too long. He told SI.com recently that he anticipates bringing in Guzan. He’ll almost certainly start, and he’ll be available to mentor a pair of less experienced teammates.One should be Hamid, who’s the most spectacular goalkeeper in MLS and deserves a good chunk of the credit for D.C. United’s run of three straight playoff appearances. The 26-year-old also prone to the rare howler and has had brutal luck with a few injuries that have prevented him from accepting past call-ups. It’s time to see if he can perform in the tournament crucible.More eyes, however, may be on Gonzalez. The 22-year-old FC Dallas goalie has played for Mexico—his parents’ homeland—at the junior level. But his decision to request a switch to the USA, which would bind him for the rest of his career, gave Arena the option to add him to the 40-man team. The paperwork has been filed with FIFA and if it’s approved in time, Gonzalez should get his shot.

Defenders

Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Greg Garza (Atlanta United), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest), Matt Miazga (Chelsea), Justin Morrow (Toronto FC), Matt Polster (Chicago Fire), Jonathan Spector (Orlando City), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City).

Gold Cup: Besler, Birnbaum, Garza, Hedges, Lichaj, Miazga, Morrow, Spector.

Potential swaps: Gonzalez, Zusi (for Miazga, Lichaj).

Miazga and Lichaj play in Europe, but this represents the first real chance Arena will have to look at either. Miazga is a young center back with potential and Lichaj is a veteran right back who deserves another international invitation after a strong season at Forest.The USA has considerable depth at center back. Hedges may make a run at a World Cup spot and might do well paired with the veteran Besler. Birnbaum is a potent weapon on set pieces and is due for another look, although maybe D.C. coach Ben Olsen can convince his former manager not to take both Hamid and a starting central defender. Either way, Gonzalez could use a break with Pachuca’s preseason fast approaching. He then could enter service if a stronger, more seasoned spine is required in the quarterfinals and beyond. Liga MX teams will be dealing with plenty of Gold Cup absences after El Tri took most of its European players to the Confederations Cup.Morrow has done well in TFC’s 3-5-2 and is a player worth looking at if Arena continues to work on variations of the formation he used in Mexico City. Spector and Garza are veteran outside backs more than capable of getting the job done against CONCACAF opposition, and Zusi would be an experienced and versatile addition for the knockouts.

Midfielders

Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Tommy McNamara (New York City FC), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution), Kenny Saief (KAA Gent), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy).

Gold Cup: Acosta, Arriola, Bedoya, Corona, McCarty, Nagbe, Roldan, Zardes.

Potential swaps: Bradley (for McCarty).

As much fun as it might be to watch Pulisic tear up Martinique, his time is best spent on a break before returning to Dortmund. Instead, Arena has the chance to take a long look at the future of the American midfield during the group stage. It’ll be fascinating to see Acosta, Nagbe and Arriola run the show, with the likes of Zardes or Corona providing an attacking spark if needed.Roldan has proven himself with the MLS champion Sounders and is ready for a national team chance, while McCarty continues to impress in Chicago and warrants more time in a U.S. jersey. Either can shore up central midfield if Acosta or Nagbe plays higher. Bedoya will serve as a veteran leader and linchpin.Saief was born in Florida but grew up in Israel, which he’s represented multiple times at the junior level. His effort to switch to the USA is underway, however, although he’s probably not as far along in the process as Gonzalez. If it does come through in time, however, he may get called in over Corona.It makes sense for Bradley to stay with Toronto through the Canadian Championship final and then join the national team in time for the quarters.

Forwards

Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Dom Dwyer (Sporting Kansas City), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), C.J. Sapong (Philadelphia Union), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes).

Gold Cup: Agudelo, Dwyer, Morris, Wondolowski.

Potential swaps: Altidore, Dempsey (for Agudelo, Wondolowski).

Morris has hit a bit of a sophomore slump—he has only two MLS goals this year—and might get himself back on track with a vote of confidence from Arena and a brief change of scenery. Dwyer is eligible now that he’s secured American citizenship. He’s 26, so the Gold Cup probably is his best chance to establish himself as a national team option before the World Cup.Agudelo has quietly scored seven goals this season for the Revs—that ties his career high—and continues to tantalize with his skill. Wondolowski is a worthwhile presence to have around a younger team and should have little trouble sniffing out chances against the Americans’ group-stage opponents.When the big games come around, Arena can bring in the big guns. The national team scoring record and another Gold Cup title are up for grabs.

Bobby Warshaw: US national team matches are fun to watch again

June 12, 201712:30PM EDTBobby WarshawContributor

I don’t know about you, but I’m walking around with a little swag in my step today. I feel good.Sports can be many things. Inspirational. Unifying. Character building. And, sometimes, in rare glimpses, sports can be fun. Too often they aren’t, because our teams lose and/or athletes can get salty. But it’s a real treat when they are. Right now, the US Men’s National Team is fun.It’s easy to overanalyze the USMNT. Of course they could always attack more. They could have prevented Mexico’s goal on Sunday with some minor adjustments. But sometimes it’s important to step back and think about just the way we feel. Sometimes you need to ask Maximus’ age-old question: are you not entertained? And right now, yes, yes we are. And it feels good.

Giving us all the feels

Head coach Bruce Arena told the media after the 1-1 draw at the Estadio Azteca, “I haven’t spent a whole lot of time examining what happened in the past. In a lot of ways, it’s not my business.”Well, I have, Bruce. It’s kept me up at night. I didn’t like my emotional relationship with my country’s team, the way the whole thing made me feel. So I’m very aware of the differences.On Sunday, the American soccer public spent 12 hours discussing the potential formation. And we didn’t do it in the self-hating way we did it 12 months ago. We did it with general interest. We were intrigued. We felt nervous and excited and a bunch of nice bubbly sensations in our stomachs. Then Bruce went on camera and gave everyone a tease. He didn’t need to. It didn’t help him to tell the world – and Mexico – he planned to change most of his starting lineup. But screw it, he did it anyway. He went for it. We all talked about it. And it was fun.Then the team took the field. They could have – and hell, probably should have – been scared and hesitant. They could have sat back at their own 18-yard box and knocked long balls forward. But they looked anything but scared.They looked energetic and excited and downright happy and privileged to be out on the field. They didn’t carry a burden with them between the lines, but a genuine opportunity. I asked 21-year-old Kellyn Acosta after the game if he felt nervous at the opening whistle. He looked at me like I was crazy.

Plenty to look forward to

It feels like the sky is the limit for some of the guys. I’m always a curmudgeon about young players. Way too often, we hype players beyond logic and set them up for failure. But, heck, it doesn’t keep my mind from wandering, too. It’s fun to think about what could be.In his first start in a World Cup Qualifier, Acosta looked perfectly at home in a difficult midfield. New high school graduate Christian Pulisic continued to be a potential game changer. It feels, for the first time in a couple years, like tomorrow can be even better than today.More than anything, the team’s style feels like a breath of fresh air. No doubt it would been awesome to see them possess the ball more. There’s always more I’d like to see them do. But the core is back. They are currently a team I can identify with and believe in.They value hard work and camaraderie. Veteran central defender Geoff Cameron said the team can feel it on the field: “The group has been great, definitely a change in atmosphere for sure. It’s just positive; guys are clicking right now, and it’s a good thing.”They seem to like each other and enjoy fighting for one another. They seem to be proud to be on the field in our nation’s colors. They appear to grasp the responsibility of representing the country and holding the heart of its people in their hands.Captain Michael Bradley explained it nicely after the game: “A big part of that is the idea of the team, of mentality, of balls. And understanding that we have good players, we have a good team, but we’re not good enough to just step on the field and think things are going to take care of themselves.”I don’t think we should stop asking for more. We should hope and expect Arena to continue to push an attacking, proactive philosophy. But in the moment, we shouldn’t lose sight of what we have. I’m not going to argue it’s brilliant soccer or breathtaking play, but it’s fun. The whole thing is just fun.I went to Mexico, more than to cover the team, to have a good time; to get a unique, unforgettable experience. The 250 American supporters who traveled to Mexico wanted to enjoy themselves. It seems safe to say we got what we went for. A friend of mine in the American Outlaws texted me at 3 a.m.: “It was *^#+=\ crazy! Never again will I experience something like that.”We all enjoyed watching the game. When I talked soccer with the American fans around me, we didn’t use the old self-loathing tone that had become too familiar over the last few years. We were just excited.Sports have put me through the wringer over the years. It hasn’t always been that exciting or enjoyable to be a USMNT fan. Even when they’ve been playing well, it wasn’t necessarily entertaining. So in these fleeting moments when they are just fun, you’ll have to excuse me for soaking it up a little bit.

US Player Ratings: Bradley, Cameron, Arena lead the way for brave Yanks

June 12, 201712:09AM EDTGreg SeltzerContributor

The US national team put on a collectively solid, practical display in earning a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw against archrivals Mexico at the vaunted Azteca on Sunday night.USA took a shock early lead on Michael Bradley‘s wonder goal, and then spent most of the next 84 minutes effectively soaking up pressure. On a night when their organization was largely on point, the visitors were fatally stretched on one El Tri counter that forced them to “settle” for a point they’ll happily take home.

Brad Guzan (6) – The US netminder didn’t have much of a chance to get to Carlos Vela’s strike. Though he was saved by the bar on Hector Herrera’s free kick, he also was at the mercy of that near-perfect laser. Guzan did well to come up with a couple of nervy cross claims.

DeAndre Yedlin (6.5) – The Newcastle defender struggled to deal with crossers in his corner during the opening frame, but rallied big-time to shut them down after the break. Yedlin also relieved pressure with a couple of gallops into attack during the second half. He was, however, guilty of keeping Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez onside for a dangerous chance.

Omar Gonzalez (6.5) – The right center back logged seven area clearances, including a few important ones. At the other end, Gonzalez had a golden chance to play hero on two first-half restarts, only to misfire his headers.

Geoff Cameron (7) – It was a flawed first half from the Stoke City man, who unnecessarily ceded a few dangerous free kicks. Cameron also failed to recognize that his spot was covered on the Mexico goal, passing up the chance to help Beasley close down Vela. However, he was outstanding after intermission, making several key interventions among 12 defensive stops in the US end.

Tim Ream (7) – The Fulham defender was the definition of solid in defense. Ream also set up a good chance from a broken corner kick. Surprisingly, he offered little with his typically strong passing game out of the back.

DaMarcus Beasley (6.5) – The veteran was knocked around pretty good in the opening stages of the game, but hung tough to put in a decent shift. Beasley was much busier at the back in the second half, when he pitched in with a few strong tackles.

Michael Bradley (7.5) – The US captain opened the scoring early, picking off a loose El Tri touch to exquisitely chip their ‘keeper from 40 yards. It was a goal that will be remembered for a long time, and he nearly added another with a long range bomb that rang the post. Bradley did commit one bad turnover, but he made up for it by repeatedly slowing Mexico moves up the middle.

Kellyn Acosta (6.5) – The FC Dallas youngster certainly did not look awed in his first big World Cup qualifying derby. Acosta positioned himself well throughout and made some important defensive plays. He also provided some pressure-valve work, but did squander a chance to slow Mexico’s break near midfield on their goal play.

Paul Arriola (5) – Far too often, Arriola neglected to give Yedlin help tracking flank runners. Aside from one fine cross into the box, he didn’t do much going forward.

Christian Pulisic (6.5) – For much of the night, the teen Borussia Dortmund ace was the only US player capable of beating Mexico defenders on the dribble. Pulisic could have done a little more defensively, but his runs into the attacking half unsettled the hosts. Unfortunately for him, he fired wide on his late chance.

Bobby Wood (4.5) – Playing as a lone striker, Wood had a tough night with his hold-up touches, was unable to win battles on long balls and did not complete a single positive pass. When his lone chance came at close range with Mexico scrambling, he whiffed on it.

Coach Bruce Arena (8) – From a game plan standpoint, Da Bruce basically nailed it. He took smart risks with the lineup and formation, and the team could have stolen away with all three points if one of a number of things had gone right on the Mexico goal sequence or on the US restart chance that preceded it.

That said, Arena could have used his bench earlier and one must question the wisdom of sending all three center backs forward on corners when the team habitually passed up serves into the box for short takes. That definitely came back to bite.

Subs:

Darlington Nagbe (6.5) – The Portland midfielder immediately provided the team with some sorely-needed possession. It might have been nice to see him enter the fray sooner.

Jozy Altidore (6) – The Toronto FC star’s first involvement saw him put a bad touch on an outlet pass meant for a teammate, and it momentarily put the defense in hot water. Altidore also set up Pulisic’s chance at the other end, so we’ll call it even.

Graham Zusi (-) – Barely enough time to say hi.

The Great American Soccer Hope Is Here (For Real, This Time)

By Michael Caley June 8^th —

There have been roughly 100 million males born in America in the past 50 years. Among that total, there appears to finally be one who can safely be called a legitimate international soccer star.Eighteen-year-old Christian Pulisic of the U.S. men’s national team scored twice on Thursday night in Colorado, lifting the USMNT to a critical World Cup qualifying win over Trinidad and Tobago. With the game tied 0-0 in the 52nd minute, Pulisic’s smart run and cool finish put the U.S. up a goal, and 10 minutes later the teenager slipped in behind the defense to double the lead. This has become typical for the Americans. Against Panama, Pulisic held off two defenders in the box to get free and feed Clint Dempsey for the USMNT’s lone goal. He scored one and assisted two in the 6-0 romp over Honduras. All told, over its crucial last three competitive matches, the U.S. has scored nine goals and Pulisic has scored or assisted six of them.¹

Evidence of Pulisic’s quality is not limited to matches against Caribbean nations and middling Central American challengers. He has proved himself for German power Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. This past season, Pulisic scored four goals and assisted eight in the Bundesliga and Champions League. And there’s good reason to believe these numbers were no fluke or merely a function of a hot finishing run. By expected goals, a statistical estimate of the quality of scoring chances, Pulisic’s shots and passes created chances with an estimated value of roughly five expected goals (xG) and seven expected assists (xA). Among nonstrikers with at least 1,500 minutes played, Pulisic was eighth in the Bundesliga in xG + xA per 90 minutes, slightly behind Bayern Munich’s Douglas Costa.

			EXPECTED PER 90 MINS
	PLAYER	CLUB	GOALS	ASSISTS	GOALS + ASSISTS
1	Arjen Robben	Bayern Munich	0.39	0.36	0.75
2	Ousmane Dembele	Borussia Dortmund	0.26	0.47	0.72
3	Shinji Kagawa	Borussia Dortmund	0.29	0.41	0.70
4	Franck Ribery	Bayern Munich	0.26	0.37	0.63
5	Emil Forsberg	RB Leipzig	0.18	0.43	0.61
6	Paul-Georges Ntep	Wolfsburg	0.25	0.28	0.54
7	Douglas Costa	Bayern Munich	0.19	0.34	0.53
8	Christian Pulisic	Borussia Dortmund	0.22	0.30	0.52
9	Marco Fabian	Eintracht Frankfurt	0.31	0.13	0.43
10	Kerem Demirbay	Hoffenheim	0.16	0.25	0.41
11	Salomon Kalou	Hertha BSC	0.21	0.19	0.40
12	Joshua Kimmich	Bayern Munich	0.31	0.09	0.40
13	Nicolai Muller	Hamburg	0.26	0.13	0.39
14	Raphael Guerreiro	Borussia Dortmund	0.24	0.15	0.39
15	Thiago Alcantara	Bayern Munich	0.21	0.16	0.37
Pulisic was one of the most dangerous players in Germany

Statistics for the 2016-17 season.

SOURCE: OPTA

The more advanced numbers show that the young American is not limited to shooting, either. For the Panama goal, Pulisic had to beat two defenders in close quarters. His ability to break a defense by winning one-on-ones helps his team create chances even when Pulisic doesn’t get the goal himself. With 72 successful take-ons (beating a defender in an open-field contest), Pulisic was fifth among Bundesliga players in take-ons per 90 minutes, just ahead of Bayern Munich’s world-class veteran wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

And last night against Trinidad and Tobago, Pulisic scored twice after runs off the ball into dangerous areas. His ability to read space and slip unmarked into the penalty box is already elite. Thirty-six times in the last season Pulisic made a run to receive an entry pass into the penalty area, and 16 times he dribbled by a defender to get into the penalty area. In this statistic, Pulisic led all Bundesliga players. He outpaced even Bayern’s Thomas Muller, the 2014 World Cup hero for Germany who had made his name ghosting into scoring positions without alerting the defense.

Just this level of production would be enough to make Sam’s Army salivate. But at 18, Pulisic is hardly a finished product and has room to get even better. If you compare his production to players under 20 years of age in the top leagues in Europe, he stands out all the more.

	YEAR	PLAYER	CLUB	EXP. GOALS AND ASSISTS PER 90 MINS
1	2016-17	Ousmane Dembele	Borussia Dortmund	0.72
2	2013-14	Raheem Sterling	Liverpool	0.67
3	2015-16	Dele Alli	Tottenham Hotspur	0.58
4	2012-13	Julian Draxler	Schalke	0.54
5	2015-16	Marco Asensio	Espanyol	0.52
6	2015-16	Leroy Sane	Schalke	0.52
7	2016-17	Christian Pulisic	Borussia Dortmund	0.52
8	2015-16	Kingsley Coman	Bayern Munich	0.51
9	2013-14	Bruno Fernandes	Udinese	0.49
10	2015-16	Julian Brandt	Bayer Leverkusen	0.47
11	2015-16	Ousmane Dembele	Rennes	0.44
12	2013-14	Leon Goretzka	Schalke	0.41
13	2012-13	Raheem Sterling	Liverpool	0.41
14	2011-12	Julian Draxler	Schalke	0.39
15	2010-11	Jack Wilshere	Arsenal	0.37
Pulisic has been one of the best teenagers in Europe since 2010-11

Includes players age 18-19 with highest goals and assists per 90 minutes SOURCE: OPTA

Pulisic’s 0.52 expected goals+assists per 90 minutes is the best mark by any 18-year-old nonstriker in the top five leagues since 2010-11. Among under-20s, Pulisic is seventh and surrounded by high-priced stars such as Leroy Sane of Manchester City and Real Madrid’s Marco Asencio. In terms of receiving or dribbling the ball into the penalty area, he ranks only behind Manchester United’s young star Marcus Rashford and Kylian Mbappe, whose market value is reportedly north of $130 million. Right now Pulisic is not considered to be on the market, but high eight-figure fees are common for players at his level and age.

Chicago Fire extend their unbeaten streak, eye top Power Rankings spot

The Chicago Fire continue their climb up Jason Davis’s MLS Power Rankings. Who else were big movers after the weekend’s action?

Toronto FC(no change)
TFC’s 2-0 win over D.C. United wasn’t much of a surprise considering recent form, but getting all three DPs back on the field together was good.
Chicago Fire(+2)
A 2-1 win in New England extended the Fire’s unbeaten run to eight and further established their credentials as a contender in the East.

Sporting Kansas City(no change)
Sporting were held without a goal despite dominating proceedings in Saturday’s draw at San Jose, a bad habit they need to break.
FC Dallas(-2)
FCD were on their way to a road win in Vancouver when Cristian Techera struck with a well-taken free kick. They’ll take the point while feeling like they could have had more.
New York City FC(+2)
David Villa’s milestone 50th MLS goal helped his team to a 2-1 win over Seattle in driving rain in New York.
Atlanta United(no change)
All three DPs scored in the 3-1 win over Columbus, including striker Josef Martinez, who is back from a long injury break. It was his first goal since March 18.
Houston Dynamo(+2)
In a moment bound to spark conversations about looming VAR, Houston lost out on its first road win of the year thanks to a late LA goal that forced a 2-2 draw.
Orlando City SC(no change)
An emotional week was capped with an emotional 3-3 draw. Orlando held two leads but needed a goal at the very end to get a point.
Columbus Crew SC(-4)
Crew SC’s defense was more than a step slow in their 3-1 road loss to Atlanta, a problem that has prevailed all year.
New York Red Bulls(+2)
Yes, the Red Bulls needed a man advantage to get full points in a 2-0 win on the road, but they won’t care.
Portland Timbers(+3)
The Timbers controlled the game and created the chances in the first half against Colorado but couldn’t get a crucial second in a 2-1 loss.
LA Galaxy(-2)
LA pulled out a 2-2 draw at home against Houston on a controversial late goal. What happened to the Galaxy’s home dominance?
San Jose Earthquakes(-2)
Give the Quakes credit for a gutsy draw against SKC, minus several key figures. Winning at home is better, but getting anything out of that match will do.
Seattle Sounders(+1)
It might be harsh to hold a cross-country performance on a waterlogged field against them, but the Sounders’ 2-1 loss to NYCFC won’t do a lot to improve confidence.
Vancouver Whitecaps(+1)
Vancouver’s 1-1 draw at home against FC Dallas showed some promising signs. Alphonso Davies made a difference off the bench, as did Bernie Ibini-Isei in his debut.

Courtesy of the Blank family

Family affair: The father-son bond that brought Atlanta United into being

June 18, 20172:30PM EDTCharles BoehmContributor

His new team is the toast of MLS, but Arthur Blank’s first experience with soccer was not particularly fruitful.Atlanta United’s owner was first introduced to the sport while living in California in the 1970s, as an activity for his oldest son Kenny, a grade-schooler at the time. Kenny wasn’t taken with the beautiful game, though, electing to lie down on the field and take a rest during the action.“I still remember his mom and I trying to encourage him to play,” Blank recalls with a chuckle in a recent conversation with MLSsoccer.com. “We just couldn’t get him going.”Kenny found his passions elsewhere, as an Emmy-winning journalist and patron of the arts. His younger siblings gave soccer a shot, however, and his half-brother Josh fell deeply in love from an early age, rising through the sprawling Atlanta youth scene with leading club Concorde Fire and eventually competing in the country’s top league, the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. Last year Josh moved on to the squad at NCAA Division I program Elon University, and will begin his second season with the Phoenix in the fall.Along the way, he led his father on a journey of discovery that greatly influenced the birth of Atlanta United – and continues today. In fact, it’s quite possible that without Josh’s influence, this year’s biggest expansion story might never have even happened.

* * *

The co-founder of The Home Depot and owner of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons along with a suite of other sports properties, Blank says he and MLS Commissioner Don Garber first discussed the idea of a team for Atlanta more than a decade ago.The economics didn’t quite line up at that juncture. But the seed of an idea was planted, and it would germinate as Blank roamed the sidelines of Josh’s youth games over the years.“Joshua, he was always very athletic,” remembers his father. “He loved football, was a huge baseball fan, played a little bit of basketball, but he seemed to have an affinity for soccer.“He used to go out and practice til whatever time, and then he’d come back in the house, take the cars out of the garage and just hit soccer balls against the wall for an hour, an hour and a half, until he was dripping wet, sopping wet. But that was the way he practiced. I knew then that he was committed to the sport.”Josh noticed that as his own soccer sophistication grew, his father followed.“From coming to a lot of my games, he started picking up on how the game was played and would ask me questions,” Josh told MLSsoccer.com this week. “And he always loves watching the US national team play too, so we always watch those games together and I would kind of be his teacher in terms of how everything works.”The elder Blank picked up a soccer photography habit, snapping action shots of Josh and his teammates in action. It gave him a glimpse of the dramatic demographic changes taking place across greater Atlanta and the nation as a whole, with soccer playing a unifying role among the dizzyingly diverse communities. And when the chance to invest in the sport returned, he was ready.“Basically we were told by existing [MLS] owners that this is a long-haul building franchise, and you have to get into the sport because you love it, and you have to have patience to build a franchise,” says Blank.“We certainly love the sport and not only the playing of it – the part I was very attracted to was, how the game in Atlanta, with over 35,000 young folks playing club soccer … was key to the diversity of Atlanta – the diversity of America, for that matter. How it was all changing. And to see these young folks who had come, in many cases, from all over the world, bringing their sport here, was really wonderful for me.”And from that came a serious interest in creating a top-flight professional team in the city.”[My dad] just said that I know soccer is something you’re really interested in, and the South and Atlanta specifically is a city that deserves soccer, but I don’t know if right now is the time,” Josh explained. “He always thought that at some point, getting a team to Atlanta would be the right decision, because Atlanta and Georgia in general is one of the biggest youth soccer markets in the United States. So there was definitely that culture here, but it was a matter of when was the right time to have it.”

* * *

Soccer took on an even more personal place in Blank’s world five years ago, when it brought love into his life.Angela Macuga, the mother of Josh’s Concorde teammate Drew, caught Arthur’s eye as one of the team’s most dedicated and spirited supporters. Her daughter Emily (pictured below) was also a high-level youth player who will begin her second season at Wofford College later this year.“She’s a very competitive woman, doesn’t like to lose at anything and she was a great soccer mom,” says Blank of Macuga. “She wouldn’t miss a practice or a game for either her son or her daughter. So I got to know her through that and we went to some American football games as a family, and we enjoyed that and after that we started to date.”The two got married last year, and today they are an inseparable pair at every ATL UTD home game, and most of the away games, too.“She wouldn’t miss one. She’s just like I am. She loves it. She knows a lot about the sport, though she didn’t play it,” says Blank. “If you look in the dictionary under ‘soccer mom,’ you’ll see a picture of my wife Angie. We go to all the home games, some of the away games depending on where they are and what’s going on with the other children. But it’s an incredible family sport.“When I go to our home games now, to see 45-50,000 people – including kids – standing up, rooting as hard as they can, away from their electronics and focused on the field and the celebration. It’s just wonderful. It’s a great sense of community – it’s a great sense of family, it really is.”That sense extends to the Atlanta United front office. Drew works in the club’s marketing department, while Josh is gaining experience under technical director Carlos Bocanegra, head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino and the rest of the technical and academy staff as an operations assistant, with an eye towards gaining his college degree in sports management and business.“The guys on the team are great to be around, and everyone that works for Atlanta United has a ton of passion,” says Josh. “When you work for a team, you have such a strong connection to the team. You feel even more pride when you see 45,000 people at the games or see the team doing well.”Arthur clearly feels the same way. He readily reels off ATL UTD’s dazzling attendance and merchandising statistics, both of which are at or near the top of the MLS charts, and sounds a note of cautious optimism about the team’s mid-table position in the Eastern Conference standings.“I think that we touched all the right nerves here,” he says. “It’s meeting fans of soccer where they are. It’s been incredible.“And for me personally as a father, to see Joshua and Drew so heavily involved in the sport and involved in the team, to see them putting in the time and the hours and the effort they are, to see the smiles on their faces, it’s wonderful. It’s great.”

* * *

His father emphasizes that he’s always sought to give his six children and three stepchildren space to decide on their own life and career paths. Yet he sees a focus and commitment to Josh’s work in soccer that hints at a bright future in the game.“There’s nothing more important than hands-on experience, particularly if it’s close to the right people,” says Blank. “Given the quality of the organization that we’ve built, the opportunity to be trained and mentored and spend time with folks that he is – not his father, necessarily, but these folks that really know the game! – is something that you can’t replace. So I hope that he has an interest long-term; I And in the meantime, father continues to lean on son for understanding of the sport’s finer points.“He’s very knowledgeable,” says Arthur of Josh. “I enjoy watching a match with him and getting his analysis about our matches. I don’t bug him a lot, because I know he’s making notes and doing his evaluations, etc. But post-match, he gives me a good explanation of what happened and what didn’t happen. So it’s neat for me as a father to be learning from my son.”That feeling is mutual.“It’s something that, from when the club was announced, that we’ve kind of shared together and it was a bond that we had when I was a kid,” he says. “That was the sport I loved to play and he grew up watching me play, and that was the team that we both had a passion for … and I love answering his questions, because I’m furthering his knowledge and sharing my own.“I remember I was actually sitting next to him when Yamil [Asad] scored the [club’s inaugural MLS goal] goal against the Red Bulls, and that was one of the coolest moments of my life that’s happened so far, for sure. I love sharing those moments with him.”

PREVIEW | #NCFCVIND

Indiana’s Team flies to face North Carolina FC for second straight meeting Jun 23, 2017

PREVIEW:

Indy Eleven Gameday & Match Preview
Indy Eleven at North Carolina FC – #NCFCvIND
Saturday, June 24, 2017 – 7:30 P.M. EST
Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park – Cary, North Carolina

Watch/Listen Live:

Local/National TV: MyINDY TV-23
Streaming Video: ESPN3

ROUND TWO…FIGHT!

This Saturday is the second leg of back-to-back matches for Indy Eleven and North Carolina FC. The first leg in the two round bout resulted in the “Boys in Blue” collecting their first three points of 2017 and NCFC stagnate in fifth place on the NASL table. Indy’s record against North Carolina improved to 5W-2D-3L in all competitions, giving them the best record against any team in the current NASL lineup with 17 points. Indy’s most notable win, dubbed the “Miracle at ‘The Mike’” occurred against NCFC at the end of the 2016 Spring season. A hat trick from Indy’s star forward Eamon Zayed and a goal from striking partner Justin Braun sealed Indy’s first NASL Spring Championship title after overtaking New York Cosmos on goal differential.Indy Eleven’s “Fight for Three” finally paid off with the clubs first win in 2017 last Saturday. With a 1W-7D-4L record, Indy has ascended from the bottom of the table into 6^th place. “Indiana’s Team’s” win also means that they are no longer the only team in the NASL without a win to their name in the Spring season. Last Saturday, the “Boys in Blue” walked away victorious after a 2-0 shutout against the visiting former Railhawks. After several close calls in the first half, neither team capitalize on any opportunity. Fortunately, Indy’s time to shine came in the 60^th minute when forward Justin Braun opened the scoring after a poor clearance from an NCFC defender defected off Braun’s knee directly in front of the goal line. After more chances from both sides, and many magical saves from Eleven goaltender Jon Busch, it was Speas who rose to the occasion. In the 84^th minute, Speas rocketed the ball into the right corner after a masterful cross from Goldsmith met the midfielder in the far left corner of the opposition’s box.After six days with no matches, a rested NCFC will be ready to greet Indy at WakeMed Park. Only collecting one point in their last two NASL matches and being knocked out of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last week, the hosts will be looking to find winning ways once more. Although, North Carolina will remain in 5^th place on the Spring table no matter the outcome of Saturday’s contest, a win for will put them within a point of overtaking Jacksonville Armada FC for 4^th place. In contrast, a loss to Indy will see the “Boys in Blue” within wo points of replacing the rebranded club’s fifth place position.

WHO TO WATCH INDY ELEVEN EDITION: MF BEN SPEAS

In a display of tact and determination, Eleven midfielder Ben Speas returned to scoring glory last Saturday against North Carolina FC. Looking to further Indy’s 1-0 lead, Speas sent a ball flying pass NCFC goal tender Brian Sylvestre that would be the nail in the coffin for the visiting side. His goal that signaled the first win in Indy’s “Fight for Three” was also the first goal the former Columbus Crew midfielder has scored since his return from injury. Furthermore, Speas’ goal also marked his first against NCFC during his time in the NASL. During his stint with Minnesota United FC, Speas saw a 160 minutes in two matches against the former Railhawks, both of which ended in losses for his former club.Prior to his injury, the NASL veteran opened his scoring account in his second appearance. On April 1^st, in the ninth minute, Speas bested Puerto Rico FC keeper Trevor Spangenberg with chip high over the visitor’s head. Unfortunately, the NASL Play of the Week goal from the newcomer wasn’t enough to seal Indy’s first three points early in the season.

WHO TO WATCH NORTH CAROLINA FC EDITION: MF LANCE LAING

No stranger to the league, NCFC’s Lance Laing joins his new club for his 7^th consecutive NASL season. Laing’s previous stints include time at former-NASL Minnesota United FC, FC Edmonton and now defunct Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Furthermore, the Jamaican international represented his country on multiple occasions. Laing’s made his youth international debut between 2004 and 2005. Three years later, Laing made his Jamaican first team debut in a friendly 0-0 draw against El Salvador. In 2012, Laing earned a recall to the first team once again to help Jamaica prepare for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.Working to repeat his prior NASL successes, Laing has hit the ground running in 2017. The veteran midfielder has racked up five goals so far. However, the once top 2017 goal scorer has slipped into second place behind Indy Eleven alumni Zach Steinberger’s single goal lead. In addition to his goal scoring, Laing is headlining the assist chart with three assists alongside six other playmakers across the NASL, including our own Justin Braun. Laing’s ability to find the back of the net, as well teammates, makes him a priority target to shut down before getting nto threatening territory.

MATCH-UP TO MARK: GK JON BUSCH VS. FW MATTHEW FONDY

An unmovable object meeting an unstoppable force; these are words that most accurately describe the upcoming contest between Indy Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch and NCFC’s Matthew Fondy.Busch joins Indy for his second season after making the move to “Indiana’s Team” in 2016. Last time out, “Buschy” flaunted his skills once more after six saves in Indy’s 2-0 shutout against North Carolina FC. Moreover, Busch’s six saves moved him into a tie for the #3 spot of NASL goalkeepers with the most saves so far in 2017 with 29 saves.The 2008 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year made it look easy last season after making 70 saves and keeping 11 clean sheets throughout the 2016 regular season competition. Before joining Indy, Busch was with MLS side Chicago Fire SC for a second stint in his career where he made 12 appearances for the “Men in Red”.Much like Indy’s Busch, NCFC’s Matthew Fondy made his NASL debut in 2016 after successful stints in various divisions. Picking up from last season, Fondy has continued his scoring regiment by netting three so far and collecting points for NCFC in each contest he has scored in. Moreover, Fondy’s scoring can be tied to his tenacity to getting in front of the goal. Whether it’s weaving through defenders or finding the ball from teammates, Fondy’s ability to get shots off adds a hard pressing element to NCFC’s strategy. With the second most shots in the NASL to his name (25), it’s only a matter of time before Fondy adds another goal to his stats sheet.

ESPN2 to broadcast Chicago Fire-FC Cincinnati US Open Cup match

June 23, 201711:52AM EDTSam StejskalContributor

There will be a few extra eyeballs on the Chicago Fire’s US Open Cup round-of-16 contest at MLS hopefuls FC Cincinnati next Wednesday.It was announced on Friday that ESPN2 will broadcast the match live, with Adrian Healey, Taylor Twellman and Julie Stewart-Binks providing the coverage from Nippert Stadium. The match will mark the first broadcast on ESPN networks of a Round-of-16 Open Cup match. Cincinnati set an Open Cup record for a non-final match by drawing 30,160 fans to Nippert Stadium for their fourth-round win against Columbus Crew SC on June 14. The club announced on Friday that they’ve already sold over 18,000 tickets for next Wednesday’s game, which is scheduled to kick off at 8 pm ET.FC Cincinnati were one of 12 groups to submit an expansion application to MLS in January. The club recently unveiled renderings of a proposed soccer-specific stadium, and are currently looking for a site on which to build the venue. MLS will eventually award four expansion teams from the group of 12 applicants, with the league set to announce the first two new clubs by the end of the year. Prior to taking on Cincinnati next week, Chicago will host Orlando in MLS action on Saturday (8:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE).

6/15 US Ties Mexico 1-1, Confed Cup Starts Sat, Indy 11 Discount Tix,

June 14, 2017June 14, 2017 gatorbest

Ok so it wasn’t pretty but it worked. US Coach Bruce Arena drew up a masterful plan to stop the Mexico attack at Azteca where the US has only once before not lost in World Cup Qualification games. It was such a far cry from the miss-matched mess that the German – Klinsy tried to use against Mexico at home in Feb. This US team had a plan and darn near executed it to perfection. When Bradley pulled the wonder strike in the 1^st 10 minutes and then the US won almost as many corners as Mexico in the game – you knew the counter attacking plan from Arena was the right call. Woods kept the pressure high, and both wingers and midfielders assisted in the quick strike attack. The US looked dangerous on corners finally offensively as Gonzales just missed on connecting for 2 header goals, while defensively with Cameron commanding the back – they rarely lost a corner ball and cleared most with ease. I did think he missed a chance by not getting Nagbe into the game at right wing earlier – as he was masterful at both tracking back and dribbling/passing us out of danger when he did finally come in (coming off his man of match show against T&T – I hoped he would have started). Either way – the US scored early then held on – and really only gave up a goal on a corner where they honestly should have scored (Woods flat wiffed what should have been (Dos a Cero) right before the breakaway which tied it for Mexico. While I wasn’t happy with 74 to 26% possession time – honestly the shots 10-7 for US were pretty close as was the corners 9-7, the US only gave up 1 legit shot on goal in 90 minutes while we had 3. Give Bruce credit however – the Best ever American Coach has righted the ship and has a plan – that has moved us back into 3^rd in the hex with a chance to overtake Costa Rica for 2^nd in a home stand in Sept. Just as importantly it has reminded Mexico that they are NOT the Best team in the Region hands down – the battle for Concacaff Supremacy will still come down to the US vs Mexico mano a mano.

Confederation Cup action gets underway with 2 full weeks of play between the top teams in each confederation as they get a chance to try out the stadiums in Russia 1 full year before the 2018 World Cup. Games start Saturday on Fox Sports 1 with Russia hosting New Zealand at 11 am, Sunday gives us European Cup champs Portugal and Renaldo vs Mexico at 11 am and Cameron vs Chile at 2 pm. (See Confederations Cup Schedule below)

Congrats to Christos FC Soccer Club – the Bar League Team in Maryland with all amateur players for scoring a goal vs DC United in the US Open Cup – of course DC United won 4-1 But it was fun while it lasted. MLS has some solid matches coming up with NYCFC hosting Seattle on Sat 1 pm on ESPN, then next weekend is Derby weekend with the NY Derby NYCFC vs NY Red Bulls on Sat 1:30 pm on Fox and the Cascadia Cup with Portland hosting Seattle next Sunday 1:30 pm on Fox.

Finally the Indy 11 will look to get their first home win of the season on Sat night 7:30 pm vs North Carolina at the MIKE – I actually plan to be in attendance finally use this link Indy 11 Discount Ticket Link.

June 19-22 9 to 12 noon (ages 5-14) $135

GAMES ON TV

Tues June 13

3 pm ESPN France vs England (friendly)

Sat, June 17

11 am Fox Sport1 Russia vs New Zealand Confederations Cup

1 pm ESPN NYCFC vs Seattle Sounders

7;30 pm beIn Sport Indy 11 vs North Carolina

Sun, June 18

11 am Fox Sport1 Portugal vs Mexico – Confederations Cup

2 pm Fox Sport1 Cameron vs Chile – Confederations Cup

5 pm ESPN Philly vs NY Red Bulls

Mon, June 19

11 am Fox Sport1 Australia vs Gemany – Confederations Cup

Wed , June 20

2 pm Fox Sport1 Mexico vs New Zealand – Confederations Cup

Thurs, June 22

11 am Fox Sport1 Cameroon vs Australia

2 pm Fox Sport1 Chile vs Gemany – Confederations Cup

Sat, June 24

1:30 pm Fox NY Red Bulls vs NYCFC

7:30 pm ESPN3 NC vs Indy 11

Sun, June 25

11am FS1 Germany vs Cameroon

1:30 pm Fox Portland vs Seattle Sounders

Wed , June 28

2 pm Fox Sport1 Confederations Cup SEMI-FINALS

Thurs, June 29

2 pm Fox Sport1 Confederations Cup SEMI-FINALS

Sun, July 2

8am FS1 Confederations Cup 3^rd

2 pm Fox Sport1 Confederations Cup FINALS

Confederations Cup Schedule June

Draw at Azteca Another Step in US reclaiming its Essense under Arena – Grant Wahl SI

International Champions Cup July Games in Nashville and Detroit

USA

Arena Has Exceeded Expectations in replacing Klinsmann

Bruce Gets US Tactics Spot on in WC Draw at Azteca

US Player Ratings – Jason Davis – ESPNFC

US Player Ratings – Stars and Stripes

Arena was happy with Tactical Game Plan vs Mexico

Bradley – Arena has got the US – Back to Who We Are

Tactical Review of What Happened – Doyle – MLS.com

Arena’s Tactics were Spot on to Win – Stars and Stripes

Stats

Bradley’s Goal Among Greatest in US History

Twellman Agrees Arena pushed the right buttons – ESPNFC TV

Mexico coach calls out US for playing all Defense

New US Core Emerges with younger players – Leander Schaerlaeckens

3 Things we Learned against Mexico – Stars and Stripes

CONCACAF Lessons Learned – ESPNFC – Arch Bell

Pulisic is special – SI

FC Dallas GK Jesse Gonzales applies to Switch from Mexico to US

Arena doubtful European players including Pulisic will play Gold Cup

Christen Press Gives US Women 1-0 win over Norway

4 things we learned from USWNT Scandanavian Tour

World –

Confederations Cup – What is Means to Each Team

World Cup Qualifying – Where Everyone Stands across the World

Other World Cup Qualifiers Portugal win, Sweden Stun France

France Miles in Front of England – ESPNFC

Scotland ties England is Hart to Blame?

Gigi Buffon Expects next season to be his last

Real Madrid Tops club Standings

GOALKEEPERS

30 Best Saves in Champions League 2017

Saves of the Week MLS Week 12

MLS

INDY 11

Indy 11 Discount Ticket Link

Indy 11 Drop 2^nd home Loss to Jax

Brad Ring and Colin Falvey make Team of the Week 11

Draw at Azteca another step in USMNT reclaiming its team essence under Arena

QUICKLYBruce Arena had a plan that involved unusual players in an atypical USMNT formation, but it was executed well in Mexico as the Americans continue to rebuild as a cohesive unit.GRANT WAHLMonday June 12th, 2017

MEXICO CITY — It may be the most common word in sports. Team.We say it so often that it’s easy not to think about the rich meanings the word team can have, if you care about all the factors and daily actions that go into what makes a good one. Chemistry. Trust. Belief. Commitment. Sacrifice. Empathy. Discipline. Identity. Pride.If you listen closely to U.S. men’s national team coach Bruce Arena, it’s clear that he venerates the word team and everything it represents. He does not toss off the word casually like so many of the rest of us. And so, after the U.S.’s hard-fought 1-1 World Cup qualifying tie against archrival Mexico on Sunday—just the third time ever that the U.S. had picked up a qualifying point at Estadio Azteca—the most meaningful thing Arena said about the U.S. was a simple declarative statement that contained so much more than that. “They’re really becoming a team,” Arena said.And you know what? He’s right. Arena made seven changes to the starting lineup he had used on Thursday in a 2-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago. He said he told his players on the first day of training camp two weeks ago that there would be anywhere from seven to 11 changes, owing to the short turnaround and high altitude, and as recently as Saturday he was going to make nine changes.

On Sunday, in the toughest environment the U.S. will play in all year, Arena put international neophytes Kellyn Acosta, 21, and Paul Arriola, 22, in his starting lineup. Against Mexico. At the Azteca. (He also included 18-year-old Christian Pulisic, but that wasn’t a surprise.) All of those young guys were ready for the challenge.“We have a deep roster,” said Acosta, who was poised in his two-way midfield role next to Michael Bradley. “This shows Bruce has belief in all of us. It’s great to see that Bruce can rely on other guys to come into the team and be a part of it and get the results that we need.”Added Arriola, who was relentless in his running as a winger: “Everyone here is capable of playing. The most important thing is the chemistry. We have a great mix of guys who can provide now and in the future. We shouldn’t be talking about us being the future anymore. This was a good game to demonstrate that. Obviously, we didn’t have the ball a lot, but tactically being able to stay mentally concentrated the whole time was huge for the young guys.”Arena communicates with his team. As the coach and several players said on Sunday, Arena told them from the start of camp that there would be different formations in the two games—4-4-2 against Trinidad, 5-4-1 against Mexico—and different players as well. There was a plan, a strategy, and the work that followed came out of that plan. There were no surprises. Everyone knew exactly what was expected of them.The Americans knew they were going to be out-possessed in a major way against Mexico, and they were, having only 26.4% of possession, the lowest in a U.S. game since June 2013, according to Opta. But that was fine. That was the plan: To absorb possession, concede few scoring chances and counter when the opportunity was there. In the end, Mexico had just one shot on goal.To hear Bradley, who scored on a mindbending 40-yard chip over Guillermo Ochoa, becoming a team again—becoming the U.S. again—has everything to do with the details, every single day.“At the end of last year, a lot of little things started to drop,” Bradley said on Sunday. “And when we get our blend right in terms of football, physicality, athleticism, mobility, speed, mentality, spirit—when we get that right, there aren’t too many teams in the world that are going to have easy days playing against us, and we feel like we can step on the field and beat anybody.“But if a few too many areas start to come down, then we’re also honest enough with ourselves to understand that our margin is not real big, and then we’re going to start putting ourselves in some difficult spots. For me, it was just a case at the end of last year where a few too many areas started to drop. And I think Bruce has done a very good job of coming in and little by little, working at raising the level across the board. A big part of that is this idea of team, of spirit, of mentality, of balls.”Bradley’s insight to his sixth-minute wondergoal was fascinating. He said they had studied a lot of video of Mexico’s movements and seen patterns in which Javier “Chicharito” Hernández comes back to the ball and one of Mexico’s inside midfielders is looking to run through. Bradley read that situation coming and stepped between Chicharito and Héctor Herrera to steal the ball in the center circle.As Bradley raced forward, he looked up and saw Ochoa was off his line. Was he surprised? Not at all, said Bradley, who noted the U.S. knows Ochoa well.“I took the first touch and saw that he was a good ways out. And here you know that if you catch a ball right that with the thin air the ball is really going to fly. I just wanted to make sure I caught it right, and I did.”There are some healthy contradictions in Arena’s U.S. team right now. Arena’s sole task is to pick up the pieces for the team’s miserable Hexagonal start and make the World Cup by any means necessary—and yet he has given new opportunities to younger players, both in qualifying and at the upcoming Gold Cup that will help the U.S. long after Arena is done being the coach.What’s more, Arena has been known far more for being a man manager than a tactical maven—and yet his embrace of the 5-4-1 and using three center backs (the fantastic Geoff Cameron, Omar González and Tim Ream) revealed a coach who isn’t afraid to take a risk and mix things up.Arena said he decided back in January or February that he would probably go with three center backs at Mexico. And while it took him some time to convince his assistants, they eventually came around.“We have very good center backs,” Arena said on Sunday. “That’s the key to that system. Mexico does an unbelievable job in their spacing. They play players on both [touchlines], so they stretch you out. They like to open you up and attack the gaps between your back line if you’re playing a back four. We protected all those spaces.”Afterward, Arena made sure to thank his veterans who didn’t start on Sunday—guys like Clint Dempsey, Fabian Johnson, Jozy Altidore and Tim Howard—for supporting his decisions and backing up the team.“Most of these players tonight are going to disappear until September, and to leave with the bond they’ve acquired over the last four games is very important,” Arena said. “So the next time around, I’m optimistic that we can be better in the next two games of qualifying.”This is how a team becomes, in Arena’s way of looking at it, a team, one that’s worthy of the name. Welcome back, USMNT.

Arena has exceeded expectations since replacing Klinsmann as U.S. manager

When Bruce Arena took over the U.S. men’s national team in late November, he inherited a squad in disarray. The Americans found themselves in last place of the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, mired in mediocrity and trending downward as previous manager Jurgen Klinsmann’s motivational ploys and tactics lost effectiveness.Arena, who coached the United States from 1998 to 2006, got the job because of his familiarity with the program and its players as well as his presumed ability to get the red, white and blue to Russia in 2018. He was the choice by necessity and by default, the best man to get the job done, but also the only one who could.As a result, while his hiring was applauded as the right decision, it wasn’t exactly met with overjoyed enthusiasm. The return of Arena signified a return to the past, an admission that before the Americans could move forward, they needed to go back. Arena wasn’t a forward-thinking coach; he was a pragmatic one. He probably could lead the team to the World Cup but would do so by going back to the basics, leaning on athleticism and effort rather than technical ability and tactical nuance.Now that Arena’s side has returned eight points from four World Cup qualifiers, including an impressive draw at Mexico’s soccer fortress, Estadio Azteca, on Sunday, it’s time to consider that he has exceeded expectations. Not only has the coach gotten the tactics right and brought the fight back to the U.S., but he’s building a blueprint for a team that could find success in 2018 and beyond.It starts with the appealing blend of talent Arena is deploying on the field. In the past, the coach was criticized for being unable or unwilling to give younger players a chance, but he has shown no such reluctance since getting the top job again.Christian Pulisic is now the engine that makes the attack go, and Kellyn Acosta excelled in a central midfield role against El Tri and will soon take over for Jermaine Jones as a starter if that hasn’t happened already. Arena handed Paul Arriola his first World Cup-qualifying start Sunday night, and the 22-year-old midfielder didn’t look out of place. Arena isn’t working miracles, but he is setting up his team — arguably the most talented in U.S. history — to succeed, and his players are responding positively.”I thought the mentality of the group to understand what the game was going to be about, to commit to how we wanted to play, it was amazing,” Michael Bradley said after the 1-1 draw with Mexico. “Obviously, Bruce laid out things early on in terms of his idea of how we wanted to go about the two games. You always know that things can change, but ultimately we stuck to exactly what he wanted to do.”In Mexico, two moments stood out to me. The first was Bradley’s goal. While we’ll remember it for the shock value and the pureness of his strike, the moment before was more telling. The American captain stepped into space and created a turnover, after which he went sprinting toward the Mexican net. Asked after the game how he made the play, Bradley said that he knew the pass from Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez was coming. The U.S. team watched film of their opposition and noticed that specific pattern of play. They were prepared, and the result was a goal. The Klinsmann era, it’s fair to say, frequently lacked that type of attention to detail.The second was a conversation with Arriola after the game. All week long the U.S. players talked about how they felt more prepared under Arena, but the midfielder explained specifically how this happened. “We talked about [my role] a couple days ago in breakfast,” he said. “We just had a short meeting, each person, and I think that really helps a lot; everyone really understands what their role is and what the team role is.”A bit later, he continued: “At halftime, we talked about a tactical switch. Their left back was coming up a lot, so how can we avoid him receiving the ball, or do we want to hold in and allow him to receive the ball? We kinda talked over that. And everything was pretty clear. Myself, I was never confused.”Coaching a national team, a squad that doesn’t spend much time together, doesn’t need to be complicated. The players need to know what function they play on the field, where their skill sets fit into the specific game they are playing and the larger player pool. They need one or two discrete instructions or guidelines, and the freedom and flexibility that comes from knowing that their coach trusts them in the situation where he’s put them.Arena’s impact on the state of the U.S. program was immediate — he improved morale off the field and performance on it. Increasingly, it looks to be long-lasting, too. While he was always the right man for the job, he has been better than advertised and deserves credit. (And credit to U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati for giving Arena so much latitude. It took too long to get rid of Klinsmann, but when the split came, it was clean and thorough.)”At the end of the day, what Bruce sets for us to do, we’ll be ready to do,” Acosta said before the Mexico match. He and his teammates were ready, and they nearly emerged from Mexico with three points. After the match, Arena was already looking toward the future, his vision clear.Noah Davis is a Brooklyn-based correspondent for ESPN FC and deputy editor at American Soccer Now. Twitter: @Noahedavis.

Michael Bradley the glue as U.S. earns huge point in draw with Mexico

The United States national went into a building where they’ve never won a game in World Cup qualifying and … still didn’t win. But a 1-1 draw against Mexico and the point that comes with it is more than good enough for an American squad with low expectations coming into the match.

Positives

For the better part of an hour, the American plan to flood the midfield and slow down the Mexican attack worked fairly well. After Michael Bradley’s stunning early goal, the U.S. looked to be about as comfortable as it could have hoped. Mexico’s equalizer through Carlos Vela changed the game, but the Americans showed good resolve to keep them out for the second over the balance of the match.

Negatives

There’s certainly an argument that the U.S. was overly negative, but there was never going to be another approach in the cauldron of the Azteca. Brad Guzan looked shaky at times, and there were moments when the back line’s communication was lacking. With so many players behind the ball and little press, the attacking trio of Bobby Wood, Christian Pulisic and Paul Arriola didn’t threaten Mexico with dangerous chances.

Manager rating out of 10

6.5 — A lot was made about the mass changes Bruce Arena made for this match, just three days removed from the win against Trinidad & Tobago, but the U.S. boss looks somewhat vindicated by the events at the Azteca. Mistakes combined with moments of brilliance ultimately ruled the day for the goal, but Arena’s setup did provide the defensive backbone the Americans needed to put themselves in position to get a result. (Shane – should have gone to Nagbe much earlier – 60^th minute – also Dempsey should have come in for Wood in the last 15 minutes to try to pull out that miracle goal). Overall great result though – was right on Guzan and 3/5 man back line held their own. Cameron was a STAR! Nice to have a coach NOW who at least has a plan and communicates it properly.

Player ratings (1-10, with 10 the best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Brad Guzan, 6 — Slow to react on Vela’s goal when he might have done better. May have gotten away with a foul on Hernandez. Saved by the woodwork on a Hector Herrera free kick late in the game.

DF DeAndre Yedlin, 6.5 — Rose the occasion in the second half with a yellow card already on his ledger. Mixed bag in one-vs.-one moments but mostly held his own.

DF Geoff Cameron, 7 — Slow to step out on Vela on Mexico’s goal. Improved in the second half and made several crucial interventions that kept the game level. (WHAT – Cameron made numerous saves – was damn near man of the match with Bradley!!)

DF Omar Gonzalez 6.5 — Competent defensively, including his usual good work in the air. Missed a free header that could have given the U.S. a second goal.

DF Tim Ream, 7 — Hardly stood out, which speaks to his work across the evening. Held the line well, made smart plays with the ball at his feet.

DF DaMarcus Beasley, 6.5 — Heroic performance considering his age and Mexico’s penchant for wide play. Clearly gassed in the second half, but maintained discipline.

MF Kellyn Acosta, 7.5 — Handled his big moment expertly, minus a few lapses. Set piece service was mostly poor, a lone black mark on his shift.

MF Michael Bradley, 7.5 — Scored the U.S. goal that set up the opportunity to grab a point. Did what he could against mobile midfield target, including a tactical fouling program that broke up Mexican rhythm. Also almost scored a second. Would have been wonder strike for Captain America.

MF Paul Arriola, 6.5 — Feisty evening that included a few slashing runs that opened up the Mexico defense. Worked hard on defense and left everything on the field in 64 minutes.

MF Christian Pulisic, 6.5 — Occasionally looked nervy on the big stage. Made clever runs that went unrewarded. Worked back on defense. Missed a late chance he’ll want back. (Missed Altidore or Dempsey kind of service at times)

FW Bobby Wood, 6 — Fought like hell for almost 80 minutes. Whiffed on his best chance, which led directly to Mexico’s goal at the other end. Showed off his strength with his holdup play.

Substitutes

MF Darlington Nagbe, NR — Added energy when it was vital to do so. Pushed out through midfield to relieve pressure. (Should have come in at 60 minute mark if not earlier – might have changed the game!!)

FW Jozy Altidore, NR — Came on and pushed a few Mexican defenders around.

MF Graham Zusi, NR — No impact after coming on in added time.

Jason Davis covers Major League Soccer and the United States national team for ESPN FC. Twitter: @davisjsn.

Stats

Possession – Mexico 74% US 26%

Shots Mexico 10 US 7

Corners Mex 9 US 7

Fouls Mex 13 US 21

Armchair Analyst: US take a page from Costa Rica’s book in draw at Mexico

June 11, 201711:24AM EDTMatthew DoyleSenior Writer

Cheers to ESPN’s Marc Connelly for giving me my lead – I mostly agree with him, though please rest assured this doesn’t mean I’m going to avoid discussing tactics after USA’s 1-1 draw at the Azteca against Mexico, a result that leaves the Yanks in strong position to qualify for next summer’s World Cup and damn near memory holed – finally – the disastrous start to the Hexagonal.The whole point of this column of mine is to get lost in the weeds about the granular stuff in the game, but in so doing I (and you, my lovely readers, occasionally join me in this I’m sure) occasionally lose sight of the obvious: Sometimes great players make great plays. Michael Bradley gets a read half-a-step before anybody else on the field and takes a gamble that results in the goal of a lifetime. Carlos Vela realizes that Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez’s gravity has drawn both Kellyn Acosta and Geoff Cameron out of the lane, so he scorches one to the near post.Those were great goals. Blame will be assigned and distributed of course, and every tape of every meaningful incident is worth both watching and dissecting. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that great players making great plays is why we watch this game in the first place.Anyway, the USMNT now have eight points from four qualifiers under Bruce Arena, and six games overall. That’s good for third behind El Tri and Costa Rica, the latter of which will play on Tuesday night.

Here’s what I saw:

There’s literally nothing I can say about Bradley’sgoal that will improve the experience of watching the actual highlight, so here you go:

As you can see, he both jumped the angle of Chicharito’s attempted lay-off, and wrong-footed Hector Herrera in the process so that the seas parted. It was as great a goal as the US have ever scored in qualifying.The thing that struck me about it, though, was that the US were much more front-foot than I’d expected for the first 15 minutes of the game. I expected them primarily to absorb pressure, even in midfield, but for the first quarter-hour both Bradley and Acosta, as well as Paul Arriola and Christian Pulisic, were quick and specific at pressuring their counterparts in certain zones.This group was dialed in.• The 5-4-1 has been around two decades longer than I’ve been alive, though it’s never been a formation particularly in vogue because of the obvious: It tends to play very defensive. And such was the case on Sunday as the US were out-possessed 73.7% to 26.3%, which is a lot of pressure to absorb even for a well schooled team.

But Arena’s no dummy, and my guess is he’s been watching Costa Rica play in this very shape for the better part of a decade. The Ticos flummoxed all comers with this exact 5-4-1 back in the 2014 World Cup, and they danced a jig on the USMNT’s head while playing out of a 5-4-1 last November in Jurgen Klinsmann’s managerial swansong.Great managers steal what works and make it theirs. In CONCACAF, and at altitude, and on short rest, the 5-4-1 works.There are two keys to this formation, which naturally slumps off into almost a concave shape, conceding central midfield diagonals to the flanks but refusing penetrative, between-the-lines passes into the gaps.

First is that the left center back and the right center back have to act as pistons, popping off the backline and into central midfield to add ad hoc numbers in that part of the pitch when the attack threatens to flatten the lines too much. Think back to this game, and recall how many times Omar Gonzalez or Tim Ream (who had, by far, his finest performance in Red, White & Blue) would come out into the channels and be defending along the same latitude as Acosta or Bradley.I’m stunned at the coordination they had, together, in their first outing and on such a big stage. Mexico were not able to create chances from possession.Second is that the wingbacks – the wide defenders in the back five – have to get out wide early and never allow opposing wingers to get around the edge. If that happens, a back five falls apart.This is why DaMarcus Beasley deserves almost zero blame for Vela’s goal. He did the right thing in forcing Vela inside, but the help wasn’t quite sorted, and Vela made a great play. So it goes.

Notice how both Cameron and Acosta are so concerned about Chicharito that they run themselves out of position to help Beasley? That’s about as good an example of “gravity” as you’ll get. Chicharito is such a scoring threat that guys overcompensate in an effort to track him, and smart teammates can and do use that to their advantage.About the only risk Arena took today that didn’t pay off was sending so many players forward on that particular corner kick, and the killer thing about this dumb game of ours is that it should’ve paid off. Bobby Wood – who put in a dogged but ultimately ineffective shift, and has very much earned a summer off to rest – somehow whiffed from five yards out. That would’ve made it dos a cero, but 15 seconds later it was 1-1.

So it goes.

Juan Carlos Osorio made the right subin bringing Jesus Gallardo (a very attacking fullback) on for Oswaldo Alanís (very not that) after half an hour, but Gallardo and Hirving Lozano never could quite get into sync while the guy they were mostly going against, DeAndre Yedlin, seemed to get stronger as the game went along.

Yedlin, save for one blown offside trap in the first half, was outstanding.

Mexico crossed the ball 25 times against a five-man backline with three central defenders standing 6-foot or taller. They managed just one shot on goal, and just 10 in total. So while Osorio made the right sub, he never really did find the right tactical answer to what the US were doing.

This game was screaming out for Oribe Peralta from a Mexico point of view, for his ability to pull off the line, occupy one of those defenders with his back to goal, and create plays. It’s bizarre he didn’t get on the field, because doing that exact thing would’ve opened up plenty of space for wingers like Lozano and Vela to duck inside into the gaps that are created by that type of forward play.

Today was obviously a good exampleof why I’m still a firm believer that Bradley is and should remain the man for the US at defensive midfield. It’s also a good example of why Cameron has to remain on the backline.

When he’s out there, the US shape is always good and the whole line is always connected. Pulisic’s is the first name on the teamsheet for me, Cameron’s is the second and Bradley’s the third.

Acosta has maybe become a starter?At the very least he’s giving Arena real options, and many of the best bits of US play came from both his passing and movement. The US have never been particularly good in a 4-2-3-1, but with him as a box-to-boxNo. 8 next to a more stationary Bradley, and with Pulisic as a free roaming No. 10 in the middle of that “3” line (nominally)… that’ll give teams fits.

It’s a young man’s game, and the youngsters in the US keep getting better.

Brad Guzanhas started two qualifiers at the Azteca and the US have two draws in those games.
The US are now 3-0-4 across all seven gamesunder Arena. Vela’s goal was just the third conceded in those seven games, and the first from open play.
It feels like the US are just about throughto the World Cup, but beware:

Costa Rica will come to town in September knowing exactly what they want to do, and exactly how to do it. It’ll be a dance with which the US are – as they showed tonight – perfectly familiar.

The pragmatism of Bruce Arena key for USMNT

Why the American manager’s five-man defense was a stroke of genius, not preservation

by Joe Patrick @japatrick200 Jun 13, 2017, 8:30am PDT

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Buoyed by Michael Bradley’s incredible 40-yard lobbed goal in the 6^th minute of the game, the U.S. Men’s National Team fought hard to share the spoils against Mexico in a raucous Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

If the decision to make seven (count ‘em SEVEN) changes from the side that beat Trinidad and Tobago three days earlier wasn’t surprising enough, Bruce Arena doubled down on the madness by deploying three center backs – a formation the United States has struggled to use effectively for years. Competitive matches against Mexico, especially at Azteca, are some of the most daunting and demanding games any of these players will play in for club and country. Understandably, many fans frantically tweeted their displeasure when they saw the likes of Tim Ream, Paul Arriola, Kellyn Acosta and DaMarcus Beasley in the Starting XI. But what none of us knew was that Bruce Arena had meticulously planned for this moment, and it turned out to be a tactical masterclass. The physical and mental preparations were spot on, and the team setup offered the U.S. the ideal balance between thwarting Mexico’s dynamic attack while affording the opportunity to nick a goal or two.

To Bruce Arena, winning is all that matters. In that respect, he’s the antithesis of Jurgen Klinsmann – a pragmatist to Klinsmann’s idealism. What Arena understands that perhaps Klinsmann did not is that the team who displays the most quality on the day isn’t necessarily the team that will win the game. No matter who you support, everyone has seen their favorite team “outplay” yet still lose a match. Sunday, Arena banked on this understanding and put his players in the best position to come away with points.

Playing direct

It was clear from the outset that the U.S. planned to play in a deep block, keeping all the play in front of them and then breaking as quickly as possible. When playing as deep as the USMNT were, the common problem team’s face is that they can’t sustain any attacks because the striker is left too isolated and can’t retain possession or get in behind (usually) two defenders marking him. The U.S. combatted this by play Christian Pulisic as far up the field as he possibly could while keeping close tabs on Mexico RB Carlos Salcedo, always making sure he could cover his mark when the U.S. lost possession. Fortunately for the the USMNT, Salcedo is a natural center back, and wasn’t as aggressive in pushing forward and therefore pulling Pulisic away from Wood. Together, Wood and Pulisic provided the main attacking threat and they combined well throughout the first half. When the ball was cleared down the opposite flank, Arriola was able to effectively chase and push Mexico back to relieve pressure. Arena was smart to favor the physical attributes that Arriola provided opposed to a more skilled, but slower player in Darlington Nagbe (who, remember, was coming off a start three days prior).

Where the term “playing direct” is misconstrued at times is when it’s mistaken for “crossing a lot.” Playing direct simply means going from back to front and going toward goal as quickly as possible, and these players were incredibly well drilled in this respect. The ball rarely moved backward when U.S. were in possession, and Pulisic and Wood carried the ball forward with purpose.

Center backs in support

The additional center back used by Arena gave the United States a much more solid foundation than they would’ve had playing with three central midfielders. That’s because, in Arena’s mind, this was never going to be a battle over midfield. The game was going to be played predominantly in Mexico’s attacking third, and this was by design (which I’ll get to later). But essentially, the third CB (which we’ll call Cameron since he played in the middle) allowed Ream and Gonzalez to offer support to the central midfielders and fullbacks. Mexico simply couldn’t find space between the lines through Marco Fabian and Jonathan Dos Santos – the two Mexicans trying to exploit these areas. Watch here as Fabian receives the ball initially but Omar Gonzalez is there to usher him away from the danger area. The ball is recycled to Dos Santos in the same position on the other side, where Ream does the same exact thing.

Mexico piles on pressure in second half

Arena made a key switch in the second half that helped preserve the point for the Americans, but it wasn’t with a player swap. Instead, he clearly directed Pulisic to play closer to Beasley so that he could offer support to the left back as his primary purpose. Pulisic’s ability to sprint upfield so quickly on turnovers is incredible. The stamina and effort levels from Pulisic, Arriola and Bobby Wood were off the charts.

With everything in the middle so congested, Mexico was forced to be overly aggressive with its positioning at times. The fullbacks were pushed extremely high, and obviously this forced U.S. players back. But since the away side was so well drilled at playing quickly upfield, they needn’t worry about trying to manipulate Mexico to force an opening. Mexico was forced to leave opening themselves as they chased a result they were so desperate to get. Tactically speaking, while the personnel and setup was no doubt defensive on the part of the USMNT, it still offered balance in that the Americans were able to conjure up decent scoring opportunities, even if they were few and far in between. Pulisic, Wood and Omar Gonzalez all had very good opportunities to score – as good as any of Mexico’s wayward chances.

So yeah, Bruce Arena nailed it, and the postgame quotes from the players really tell the story about how well the manager prepared them to achieve such a result. And this isn’t the last time they’ll need to be prepared to play in this style. If this team is to compete with the best teams in the world (like Mexico) at the World Cup, they’ll need this level of effort. But they took a big step Sunday in proving to themselves that they’re more than capable of pulling it off.

As a new USMNT core emerges, the timing of generations is everything

Leander Schaerlaeckens,FC Yahoo

The ebb and flow of generations does not concern itself with the soccer calendar. The waves do not hold back in order to accommodate a World Cup cycle. Nor do they linger a little longer because a major tournament is just a few months away.The prime of a soccer player is a fickle thing. Some primes come early, some late. Some are brief, some long. Some don’t come at all.United States men’s national team head coach Bruce Arena once said that his 2006 World Cup team had peaked in 2005 – when they won the Gold Cup – but was already past it by the time the big tournament in Germany rolled around. The Americans went winless and flamed out in the group stage.Bad timing. It happens to many national teams whose peaks and valleys don’t always align with the years that are important and those that are not. Winning a World Cup is a function not only of form and fortune, but also of the best years of the top players happening to coincide with the right summer.Let’s circle around to the point: A young core of enormous promise is assembling within the U.S. national team in the eighth month of Arena’s second stint in charge. Of course, 18-year-old wunderkind midfielder Christian Pulisic has probably been the team’s best player for some nine months, pushing through under Arena’s predecessor Jurgen Klinsmann. Likewise, Bobby Wood, 24, had broken out at last summer’s Copa America Centenario. As did central defender John Brooks, also 24.DeAndre Yedlin, 23, has been in the mix for a while – and has somehow raced out to 46 appearances – although it can feel at times like he’s still learning his position at right back, after being converted from a winger. Up front, the 25-year-old Gyasi Zardes has shown well in spasms. So has 26-year-old playmaker Darlington Nagbe.Jozy Altidore, it’s easy to forget, is still only 27, even though he is the program’s third all-time leading scorer with 37 goals. He more or less dangles between the younger generation and the veteran core. Most of that older group of Clint Dempsey (34), Michael Bradley (29), Tim Howard (38), Alejandro Bedoya (30), Jermaine Jones (35) and Fabian Johnson (29) is likely headed for its final World Cup, assuming the Americans qualify for Russia.Yet Sunday’s hard-fought 1-1 tie with Mexico at the feared Estadio Azteca seemed to announce the arrival of at least one other player – and maybe two.The 21-year-old FC Dallas star Kellyn Acosta was fielded beside Bradley in a tandem shielding the unexpected five-man defense. And while it’s hard to distinguish yourself as a holding midfielder in a game when your team has just a quarter of the possession, he did exactly that.In just his eighth national team game, Acosta was largely authoritative – except for the rare midfield turnover – that he seemed to immediately become a rival for Jones, who has partnered with Bradley for more than half a decade. Acosta, while not permitted to do so against Mexico, also has something to offer going forward and has shown flashes of the potential to become an outstanding passer. As such, he can shuttle between the boxes and free up Bradley to sit deep and distribute from there, where he’s at his best.Further up the field, Paul Arriola, the tiny 22-year-old Xolos winger, was lumbered with a fairly thankless assignment in his fifth USA game. As a forward in a front three for a team designed to absorb pressure on the day, Arriola essentially had the job of running after the opposing defenders as they pinged the ball around. Nevertheless, he gave a composed performance, just as he’s previously impressed in flashes with the team having scored in his first two caps, including in a World Cup qualifier.When the 40-man preliminary Gold Cup roster was released last month, there was a pleasant surprise in there for attentive U.S. national team fans. Mexican-American FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez was listed, suggesting that the 22-year-old might be picking the Stars and Stripes over the country of his ancestry, following earlier reports to the contrary.It’s premature to speculate over what sort of national team career he might have. That is, if he’s even one of the three goalkeepers from the six on the preliminary roster selected for the tournament, and if he makes an appearance to cap-tie him to the USA in perpetuity.The succession issue has hung heavily over the program for a few years now, with Howard slowly aging out and Brad Guzan – who is 32 and, as a goalie, has time on his side – once again looking like a most average goalkeeper in Mexico on Sunday. The heir apparent to Howard is a mantle never quite seized by Bill Hamid, Sean Johnson or David Bingham. But between Gonzalez and Ethan Horvath, the issue might finally be solved.But where does all this leave the national team right now? Or in a year, when the World Cup is here again? Is this a team with a nice blend of young and old? Or is it a band of veterans that are either over the hill or descending its summit, with a few not-quite-ready younger players mixed in?That will be determined entirely by results in Russia – again, assuming the U.S. is going to Russia, which seems fairly safe now. A stray goal here or there will cast a verdict on the 2018 incarnation of the national team – as it must on all teams at the World Cup end game – to decide whether it was a year past its best, or a little ahead of its time, or just the right combination after all.And if this isn’t the U.S. team to break through to another quarterfinal or further, perhaps the next one will be. The talent seems to be there. The trick is to get the timing right.

Leander Schaerlaeckens is a Yahoo Sports soccer columnist. Follow him on Twitter @LeanderAlphabet.

More soccer coverage from FC Yahoo:
• USMNT makes a point about Bruce Arena in 1-1 draw with Mexico
• U.S. ties Mexico to earn just its third-ever World Cup qualifying point
• Arena, USMNT players vocal about mending political divide with Mexico
• How Mexico’s Trump tone has changed since last meeting with U.S.
• Why the U.S. men’s national team belongs to Christian Pulisic now

Glory, proving ground, experience: What Confederations Cup means for 8 contenders

QUICKLYThe FIFA Confederations Cup serves a different purpose for each of the eight, wide-ranging contenders heading to Russia.

BRIAN STRAUS SI Wednesday June 14th, 2017

FIFA took over administration of the Confederations Cup ahead of the third edition in 1997 and so decided to create a new trophy. The governing body had a blank slate. It could’ve gone in any direction. And what FIFA came up with was a golden globe sitting atop a sort of swirly column. Seem derivative? Sound familiar?

The Confederations Cup features “two gold ribbons [that] are wrapped around the central body in a festive, dynamic movement.” The iconic World Cup trophy introduced in 1974 has “lines that spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world.” And they’re about the same height. The newer trophy is only 3.2 centimeters taller. From a distance, they’re almost interchangeable.FIFA could’ve made something that set the Confederations Cup apart, something that indicated the honor was distinctive and worth winning. Instead, the new bauble symbolized the tournament’s place as a very poor-man’s version of the World Cup—a skinnier, less appealing version of the real thing that means different things to different nations. It’s a proving ground for smaller countries, sure. But it’s positioned as nothing more than a World Cup warm-up for others. And to some, it means almost nothing at all.

France, Italy and Germany (twice) each declined to participate in past editions. FIFA cut the frequency from once every two years to once every four and in 2005, it took honest stock of the the competition’s place on the football landscape and turned it into a World Cup dress rehearsal. For many, the Confederations Cup now is a means to an end, rather than an end in itself. In 2015, as his U.S. team prepared to play Mexico for a spot in this month’s tournament, which kicks off Saturday, Jurgen Klinsmann spoke about the importance of getting an early look at Russian logistics and the rare opportunity to play European or South American sides in official competition. There wasn’t much talk about any glory, accomplishment or sporting immortality associated with the trophy itself.For sure, there have been some memorable moments during the nine tournaments played since 1992. American fans will always savor the stunning semifinal upset of Spain in ‘09. Australia and Japan have also made unlikely runs to the final. The world got a good look at Ronaldinho’s potential in ’99 and mourned the death of Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foé four years later. Cuauhtémoc Blanco scored six goals as Mexico triumphed in ’99, and the semipros of Tahiti yielded 24 in ’13. Spain’s historic reign finally ended that year. Kaká’s began in ’05.Some of the entries in this summer’s tournament, like New Zealand or Cameroon, will hope to make memories of their own. For others, such as Russia or Mexico, there’s a chance to ease doubts. For world champion Germany, it’s merely a test of depth. For Chile and Portugal, there’s an opportunity to begin prepping for the long World Cup run they crave. This Confederations Cup, too, means something different to each participant. Two will contest the final on July 2 in St. Petersburg.

GROUP A

MEXICO

Qualified as: 2015 CONCACAF Cup winner

Best previous finish: 1999 champion

Schedule: June 18 vs. Portugal, June 21 vs. New Zealand, June 24 at Russia

Meaning: Brazil isn’t the only nation haunted by a seven-goal ghost. El Tri’s humiliating 7—0 loss to Chile in last year’s Copa América Centenario quarterfinal will sting and linger until coach Juan Carlos Osorio and his talented team replace it with something better. Mexico falters too frequently outside CONCACAF, and it doesn’t want to head into the World Cup second-guessing itself. Osorio told SI.com recently that he felt “almost paralyzed” during the loss to Chile. “I had no Plan B,” he said. “Now we do, because from that experience we have learned so much. Now we have Plan B and even Plan C. We know how to react.” A run to the final will prove they do.

NEW ZEALAND

Qualified as: 2016 Oceania Nations Cup champion

Best previous finish: Group stage (three times)

Schedule: June 17 at Russia, June 21 vs. Mexico, June 24 vs. Portugal

Meaning: Australia’s departure to the Asian Football Confederation practically guarantees the Kiwis qualification for just about every FIFA competition, barring the occasional Tahitian miracle. New Zealand gets no competition in its vast, watery backyard, so it must rely on these infrequent opportunities to test itself against better sides. Only a handful of All-Whites, including San Jose Earthquakes defender Kip Colvey and PEC Zwolle winger Ryan Thomas, play for top-tier clubs outside Australia or New Zealand.

PORTUGAL

Qualified as: 2016 European Championship champion

Best previous finish: First appearance

Schedule: June 18 vs. Mexico, June 21 at Russia, June 24 vs. New Zealand

Meaning: Nobody grinds out results like Cristiano Ronaldo, and his knack for mastering the moment—or surviving and advancing—spread to his Portuguese teammates last summer. It was ugly. It was drudgery. But at the end, after scoring five goals in 450 minutes of knockout-round soccer, A Selecção was European champ. Most of that squad is back, even though it would be understandable if Ronaldo, Pepe, João Moutinho and other busy stars needed a break. The Portuguese core is aging. But momentum must be maintained, and winning is its own reward. “I hope Portugal is lucky enough to win yet another trophy for the first time in history,” Ronaldo said. “It would be beautiful.”

RUSSIA

Qualified as: Host

Best previous finish: First appearance

Schedule: June 17 vs. New Zealand, June 21 vs. Portugal, June 24 vs. Mexico

Meaning: Russia isn’t exactly heading toward its World Cup on a good run. Concern surrounding its bid, its geopolitics, worker safety and hooliganism dominate the headlines while its struggling national team kills time as an automatic qualifier. It has played only four friendlies this year, and the Confederations Cup represents its only chance since a winless Euro run to contest competitive matches. There are questions to be answered as Russia, which is comprised entirely of domestic talent and has only one player who’s scored more than five international goals, hopes to avoid a humiliating exit next summer.

GROUP B

AUSTRALIA

Qualified as: 2015 Asian Cup champion

Best previous finish: 1997 runner-up

Schedule: June 19 vs. Germany, June 22 vs. Cameroon, June 25 vs. Chile

Meaning: The Socceroos joined Asia in 2005 in search of better competition, and the move has been a smashing success. Australia has qualified for every World Cup since then and advanced to the past two Asian Cup finals, winning in ’15. All but two players on the Confederations Cup team now play outside Australia. The next step is to compete with South American and European powers, and it’ll get one of each this month. The draw is tough, and the task will be tougher without injured captain Mile Jedinak, who plays for Aston Villa. “It’s about the experience of what we’ve done in the last two-and-half-years and to build on it,” the ageless Tim Cahill said. “The Confed Cup is where we really put it into practice and make a mark on the world stage.”

CAMEROON

Qualified as: 2017 African Cup of Nations champion

Best previous finish: 2003 runner-up

Schedule: June 18 vs. Chile, June 22 vs. Australia, June 25 vs. Germany

Meaning: Tuesday’s 4-0 loss to Colombia and the loss of Montreal Impact defender Ambroise Oyongo to a knee injury aren’t good omens for a team expected to struggle and a federation whose politics are in controversy. Benjamin Moukandjo (Lorient) and Vincent Aboubakar (Besiktas) can score goals, but this is mostly a young or unproven team. Coach Hugo Broos will hope some answers emerge this month that might help the Lions get their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track.

CHILE

Qualified as: 2015 Copa América champion

Best previous finish: First appearance

Schedule: June 18 vs. Cameroon, June 22 vs. Germany, June 25 vs. Australia

Meaning: For decades, Chile couldn’t get out of its own way. Then Marcelo Bielsa took over in 2007, overhauled tactics and culture and created the foundation for a team that shut down Lionel Messi in the past two Copa América finals. Chile now understands what it means, and what it takes, to be a champion. And coach Juan Antonio Pizzi has brought his first-choice squad to Russia. Do well there—and that means reaching the final—and Chile can return next summer (assuming it survives the CONMEBOL gauntlet) with the sort of swagger usually reserved for its South American rivals.

GERMANY

Qualified as: 2014 World Cup champion

Best previous finish: 2005 third place

Schedule: June 19 vs. Australia, June 22 vs. Chile, June 25 vs. Cameroon

Meaning: Remember when Germany’s World Cup-winning goal was scored by a substitute off an assist from a substitute who replaced a guy who wasn’t supposed to be starting? That’s symbolic of how deep Joachim Löw’s player pool is. Even though Germany hasn’t won the Confederations Cup, defending its world title next summer is far more important. So Löw is resting most of his first-choice team this summer while he takes a look at players in frame to make a run for a spot on next year’s return trip to Russia. There’s still plenty of talent. Germany can field Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Julian Draxler, Liverpool midfielder Emre Can, Barcelona goalie Marc-André ter Stegen and two of the more promising pieces to emerge from the German pipeline in recent years, Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich and Bayer Leverkusen’s Julian Brandt. Those players and more will hit the Russian turf running in 2018.

Its Summer – Time to plan your Soccer Camps

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