So disappointing to see US youngster Pulisic sit the pine for 80 minutes – in the 1-0 loss for Dortmund @ Benefica.  I thought Dortmunds mistake was not putting in the American earlier – after blowing chance after chance in a game where they outshot the home team 6-1 it was Pulisic who added new life to Dortmund with his lightening quick runs.  He had a few good runs that could have led to assists and 2 blistering shots from the top of the 18 on corners.  His first deflected and would have scored if not for the lucky reaction save by the Benefica keeper.  Ten minutes earlier on the sub and perhaps Pulisic finds an assist in the game – he was that good in his 14 minutes on the pitch.  Maybe next game they will offer him the start?  Great games this week – as Bayern Leverkusen and Mexican star Chichirito face Atletico Madrid Tues and Man City hosts Monaco.  Let me know if anyone wants to meet to watch the games somewhere for a late lunch!   The Indy 11 start preseason at Butler on Friday night at 5 pm.

Champions League

Chicarito Great since the Break for Leverkusen

Oblak can Return in Net for Atletico

Can Leicester Find a Way to Get a Result Despite Recent Dropoff

Renaldo pulls off sick move in Champions League Game

GAMES ON TV  

Sat, Feb 18

9:30 am Fox Sport2   HerthaBSC (US John Brooks) vs Bayern Munich

10 am Fox Sport 1      Huddersfield vs Man City – FA Cup

12:30 pm FS1                Wolverhampton vs Chelseas – FA Cup

Sun, Feb 19

9 am Fox Sport 1         Fulham vs Tottenham FA Cup

9:30 am FS2                    Borussia M’Gladbach (US Johnson) vs Red Bull Leipzig

11:30 FS1                         Blackburn vs Man United FA Cup

Tues,  Feb 21 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Bayer Levekusen vs Atletico Madrid

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Manchester City vs Monaco

Weds,  Feb 22

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Sevilla vs Leicester City

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Porto vs Juventus

Weds, Mar 1  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs England Women

7 pm Fox Sports 1      US Women vs Germany

Sat, Mar 4  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs Germany Women

5 pm Fox                      US Women vs England

Indy 11 and MLS

Nice story in SI about Indy 11 MLS Expansion Chances. Brian Straus

US Soccer

Bob Bradley I am an American Coach – Players Tribune

Predicting the Starting 11 in Qualifiers for US – MLS.com Doyle

Champions League

Bayern Brilliant at Home in 5-1 blowout of Arsenal

How it Happened at Bayern

Hope for Barca and Gunners – Great 2^nd leg comebacks?

Madrid Scorers Show up for 3-1 win at Home vs Napoli

Barcelona undone by PSG Pressing Upfield

PSG Show their worth vs Barca

PSG Blow out Barca 4-0

Benifica slip by Dortmund 1-0 at home

Player Ratings for Dortmund in loss

MLS expansion city profile: Indianapolis

BRIAN STRAUS  Friday February 10th, 2017

Market Analysis

It may very well be the most underrated sports city in the country. Indianapolis has only two major league teams. That’s not a lot. But the public and political commitment made to the Colts and Pacers is notable, as is the region’s connection to the sports world beyond the “big four.”It begins, of course, with the iconic Indy 500, which consumes the city each Memorial Day weekend. It’s the planet’s largest one-day sporting event. There’s the Brickyard 400 as well. It’s not nearly as old as its open-wheel counterpart, but it remains a highlight of the NASCAR calendar and one of the circuit’s richest races. Back in the city, the Indianapolis Indians are minor league baseball’s second-oldest team—they first took the field in 1902—and last season they attracted the second-highest average attendance below MLB. The Indiana Fever have won a WNBA title and draw crowds that exceed the league average. And Wayne Gretzky began his pro career with the old Indianapolis Racers.Indianapolis is the site of the NCAA and the NFHS, which governs sports at the high school level. Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse is home to several well-known Cinderella basketball stories, from the Bulldogs’ two recent Final Four runs to Milan High’s stunning state title in 1954. The Hickory Huskers won their championship there as well—that one’s much easier to find on film.Super Bowl XLVI, seven men’s and three women’s Final Fours, the Big Ten football championship, the 1987 Pan Am Games, the 2002 FIBA world championship—they all were hosted in Indianapolis.Now the city that calls itself the “Crossroads of America” and its three-year-old NASL club, Indy Eleven, hope to attract MLS. And they’re using that impressive, if under-appreciated, sporting culture as a lure. “No city in the country has made sports a focal point quite like Indianapolis—and no city is better equipped to welcome Major League Soccer,” the Eleven’s bid summary reads.It calls Indianapolis, “A city that has fully embraced the role of sports as a both a driver of growth and the centerpiece of its civic identity across the last four decades.”

That civic identity and commitment will be central to Indy’s bid, since the market itself doesn’t particularly stand out from its MLS expansion competitors on raw numbers. Indianapolis anchors the 34th most populous metro area in the USA. That’s not too small for MLS—San Jose is 35th and Salt Lake City 48th—but it means Indy will have to excel in other areas. As a media market, it’s a more attractive 27th. That’s higher than several expansion rivals.Four Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the area and multinationals like Honda, Salesforce and Rolls-Royce have significant presences. Forbes named Indianapolis as the country’s 10th best city for young professionals thanks to the area’s job growth and relative low cost of living. Indy Eleven president Jeff Belskus used to be president and CEO at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He knows Circle City sports, and he said top-tier soccer would be a perfect fit.“There is momentum for our stadium. We’ve got good local ownership. Indianapolis is a sports market,” he told SI.com. “[MLS] is so logical for us … [The response to the MLS bid] has been overwhelmingly positive. Folks look forward to having MLS here in Indianapolis and feel like it would be a great addition to this community.”

Ownership Group

Indy Eleven and the MLS bid are led by Ersal Ozdemir, a native of southern Turkey who moved to Indiana to study civil engineering at Purdue. He made his millions as the founder of Keystone, a construction and real estate company now based in Indianapolis. Ozdemir launched the Eleven in 2013 and hired soccer start-up savant Peter Wilt to build the team and front office.Ozdemir is very well connected in Indianapolis. His board memberships include the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the University of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. He also co-chaired a host committee ahead of Super Bowl XLVI.Joining Ozdemir in the MLS investor group are National Bank of Indianapolis and Indianapolis Business Journal chairman Mickey Maurer, Heritage Environmental Services president and CEO Jeff Laborsky, Elwood Staffing CEO Mark Elwood and Mohr Auto Group founder Andy Mohr.

Stadium Plan

The plan is to rely on Indy’s love for sports. The city, county and state’s support for athletics is hard to miss on a stroll through Indianapolis’s small but dense downtown. The massive Lucas Oil Stadium isn’t only the “House That Peyton Built.” The $720 million venue opened in 2008 thanks largely to the collection of tourism-related taxes (food, hotels, rental cars, etc.) in the city and surrounding counties. The Colts chipped in $100 million.The Pacers’ Bankers Life Fieldhouse opened its doors in 1999 and cost $183 million. It was paid for through similar means, and the Pacers have collected additional millions since then to cover operating and maintenance costs. Marion County’s Capital Improvement Board, which managed the funding of the two major league arenas, also funneled $20 million toward the Indians’ stadium and $53 million toward renovation of Indiana Farmers Coliseum, which hosts the ECHL’s Indiana Fuel and IUPUI basketball.The key to adding a soccer stadium to that portfolio, Belskus said, is the creation by the state legislature of what is called a Professional Sports Development Area (PSDA). Once the PSDA’s boundaries are defined, the city and county can pass bills providing for the collection of taxes within the footprint. Indy Eleven is asking for the creation of a PSDA that would enclose the stadium it hopes to build between the NFL venue and the White River. Belskus said the taxes would be raised through stadium usage—from tickets, concessions and parking to the salaries of those who work there.“If you don’t go to events at the stadium or you don’t work at the stadium, you don’t pay,” Belskus explained.The stadium would be owned by the city and leased back by the club, which also intends to contribute some $10 million toward construction, which Belskus estimates would cost around $120 million. Ozdemir and his partners will foot the entire MLS expansion fee.In 2015, the Eleven’s first attempt to secure stadium funding died in committee. The Indiana State House agreed to funnel user taxes toward a new venue. The senate preferred to spend money to upgrade Carroll Stadium, the Eleven’s current home on the campus of IUPUI. The government was willing to raise $20 million and spend the money, it just couldn’t figure out how to do it. Nevertheless, Belskus said those “yes” votes indicate a genuine interest in soccer. “That’s part of the reason for our confidence and optimism about getting this done. They’ve shown support in the past,” he said.MLS’s expansion standards require the new stadium, so that’s the goal. And the key will be explaining the project to the public.“We’ve been paying attention to social media and down at the State House in terms of the reaction, and reports have been positive and the coverage has been positive by and large,” Belskus said. “The only negative we seem to run into from time to time is, I’ll call it ‘stadium fatigue.’ People don’t necessarily understand the project and they’re afraid we’re asking for tax increases or that we’re trying to take money away from other projects, neither of which is the case. That’s the only negative we run into.”

Soccer and sports scene

Despite the robust sports scene, the Eleven have carved out their niche and been a noteworthy soccer success story over the past three years. They play in a convenient stadium (Carroll is within walking distance of downtown). They’ve got a cool logo featuring the Victory statue from Indy’s imposing Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument. And at the start, they had Wilt’s experience and savvy. Combined, that helped attract sell-out crowds eclipsing 10,400 at every NASL game in 2014. That figure included 7,000 season ticket holders. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is a big soccer fan, lives near Carroll and has stopped by on occasion.Indy struggled on the field in ’14 and ’15 and attendance dropped to 8,362 per match last season. Still, over those three years, only Sacramento Republic has brought in more fans among clubs below MLS. The Eleven’s on-field fortunes turned last year, with the club finishing second in the regular season standings before losing the NASL final to the New York Cosmos on penalties.The semifinal victory over FC Edmonton, which drew 9,700, was the biggest soccer game played in Indianapolis in some time. The senior men’s national team has never played in Indiana, and the women visited Indianapolis twice in the late 1990s. In August 2013, nearly 42,000 showed up for a Chelsea-AC Milan friendly at Lucas Oil Stadium. And the city has hosted four neutral-site U.S. Open Cup finals, most recently in 1997.Bloomington, which is home to Indiana University’s juggernaut soccer program, is about 55 miles south of the city. The state boasts a strong youth soccer base, which includes approximately 65,000 registered players. Carmel United SC, which is now part of the Chicago Fire Juniors program, won U.S. Soccer Development Academy titles in 2008 (U-16) and ’09 (U-18).Beyond the soccer field, the Colts play to capacity crowds and the Pacers are averaging 16,704, which is some 1,200 seats below capacity.

MLS Pros

Indy has a strong, established fan base and a good brand. Bringing a proven entity into MLS should be more comforting than starting something from scratch. And an MLS team might provide an obvious regional rival to either the Fire or the Columbus Crew, two clubs which still haven’t managed to stoke much long-term reciprocal hatred. The proposed stadium location is attractive and pretty much the MLS ideal. Indianapolis boasts a growing downtown, and there’s plenty of food, drink, entertainment and recreation available within a short walk of the site.

MLS Cons

The Eleven are relying on politicians. That’s not a comfortable place to be, and the lack of certainty surrounding the project will turn off MLS if the league is ready to name teams No. 25 and 26 before the required votes are cast. That would lower Indy’s odds. MLS loves a public-private partnership, but sometimes those don’t work out. Soccer came close but ultimately failed two years ago, and it’s still a few hurdles away from the finish line now.In addition, Indianapolis doesn’t really represent a hole in the MLS map. The Midwest is crowded with existing teams and expansion hopefuls, and there are several other directions MLS could go. The Eleven have three years of traction. But Detroit has a bigger market and investors with NBA cache. St. Louis has those deep soccer roots, Cincinnati boasts bumper crowds and Nashville has a coolness quotient plus the Ingram family’s billions. Indy is a mid-size market that has work to do if it hopes to stand out from the crowd.

Deputy Commissioner’s Thoughts

SI.com reported that Indy planned to bid for a team on Jan. 30, the day before expansion applications were due. Ozdemir had not gone public with his intentions and as a result, MLS commissioner Don Garber and other officials hadn’t commented on the city’s prospects.MLS president and deputy commissioner Mark Abbott conducted a media conference call after applications were submitted and said, “The thing that I think is interesting is … the team there has been successful from its perspective, and they have begun work on a downtown stadium plan. Other than that, I don’t have a lot of specifics to comment on with respect to their plan, but those were two components that obviously we’re aware of.”

Armchair Analyst: Predicting Arena’s USMNT squad for World Cup qualifiers

February 6, 20179:22PM ESTMatthew DoyleSenior Writer MLS.com

LISTEN: Don’t let the Super Bowl get you down. The ETR crew is here to help you forget (unless you’re a Revs fan), starting with USMNT January camp redux and the latest MLS news. Once that’s out of the way, FourFourTwo’s MLS ace Paul Tenorio calls in to explain why it’s possible Chicharito could arrive in MLS this summer — and just how much cash it would take to get the deal done. You won’t want to miss any shows leading up to opening day, so be sure to subscribe on iTunes!

Bruce Arena’s first camp in his return to the helm of the US national team is in the books. We laughed, we cried, we learned a lot and we scored a very little. These are all things that are to be expected as players shake the rust off every winter, and as I wrote elsewhere, I’m much more pleased about The Process™ than I am discouraged by the lack of goalscoring.  Why’s that? Because when the games really matter, Arena will be able to call upon guys like Bobby Wood, Christian Pulisic and Fabian Johnson. Put those guys in a coherent system, and you’ll get results more often than not.  With that in mind, here is the 23-man roster I’d expect to see Arena call for the must-win qualifiers against Honduras and at Panama at the end of March. I’m going to include some bonus call-ups as well, since Arena has hinted he’ll be calling more than 23 players in next month.

GOALKEEPERS

• Nick Rimando(RSL)
• Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough)
• Bill Hamid(D.C. United)

Guzan would have the No. 1 job sewn up if he was playing at all, but he’s not. He’s played 180 minutes since August, and unless Victor Valdes strains a muscle that number’s not likely to budge.  So I have Rimando at No. 1, with Hamid (please get and stay healthy, Bill) edging out guys like Luis Robles, David Bingham and Ethan Horvath for the No. 3 job. If he’s not fit, one of the other guys – let’s say Bingham – gets the nod instead.

Bonus: If Tim Howard is close to healthy, he’ll get called into the squad.

LEFT BACKS

• Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
• Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna… for now)

Johnson eventually became a very good defensive player, highlighted by his performance this past summer in the Copa America.
Prior to that, when Jurgen Klinsmann was playing Johnson at RB or LB, he’d just cut our primary wing playmaker (Landon Donovan) and wasn’t calling in our creative central mids (Sacha Kljestan, Benny Feilhaber, Lee Nguyen). Our pool has now developed a few wide playmakers (Pulisic, Darlington Nagbe & Paul Arriola), and Arena has committed to getting a playmaking central midfielder on the field as well.That means Johnson is less crucial as a wide attacker, and in fact resource allocation suggests he’d be best used as a LB.
Villafaña straight up won the job with a great performance at camp, though he could lose it if he doesn’t find a club that’ll put him on the field.

Bonus: DaMarcus Beasley forever!

RIGHT BACKS

• DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United)
• Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest)

Yedlin, who’s been called “the best fullback in the Championship,” is a lock to start if healthy. Lichaj, who’s been one of the most consistent fullbacks in the Championship this decade, has plenty of experience playing on either flank and 11 US caps to his name, so there’s no real worry that he’ll be overwhelmed in the moment or suffer from the same type of adjustment pains that have plagued other Euro-based players.

Plus he’s one of the few guys out there who’s equally adept at both right and left back, which is handy when making up gameday 18s. His ability to play either spot could make it very easy for Arena to drop down to three fullbacks, and then add a bit of extra depth elsewhere on the roster.

Let’s get back to Yedlin for a minute. He’s been awesome this year, particularly on the overlap:

We saw against both Serbia and Jamaica that the US can lack both width and penetration if the fullbacks don’t push forward, and Yedlin – with his 1.3 key passes per game – brings both. He also has the kind of electric recovery speed that is necessary when pushing the game, which the US will have to do.Bonus: Graham Zusi will be at this camp as a right back, but I don’t think he’ll appear.

If you’re wondering why Timmy Chandler, who’s starting for a top three team in the Bundesliga isn’t on this list: The US are 9-10-6 all-time when he starts, and 2-3-2 in official competitions. Enough.

Hat tip to the great Paul Carr for those numbers.

CENTER BACKS

• John Brooks (Hertha Berlin)
• Geoff Cameron (Stoke City)
• Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca)
• Steve Birnbaum(D.C. United)

Brooks had the single worst performance I can ever remember from a US player in that 4-0 loss at Costa Rica, and was the man who lost Rafa Marquez on the Mexican game-winner in Columbus days earlier. I don’t, however, believe that’s the real John Brooks. I believe the real John Brooks is the guy we saw in last summer’s Copa, and the guy who goes 90 minutes every week for Hertha Berlin.There’s concern on that second part in Cameron’s case, as he’s been hurt for nearly four months now. But he’s supposedly on the verge of returning, and if he gets games over the next six weeks then there’s no reason for Arena to go in a different direction.Gonzalez, who is having another strong year in Liga MX, and Birnbaum round out my group of four.

Bonus: I expect at least one, and perhaps all three of Matt Besler, Matt Hedges and Walker Zimmerman to be called in. And it wouldn’t shock me to see Arena officially carry five CBs instead of four, at the expense of one of the FBs.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS

• Michael Bradley(Toronto FC)
• Dax McCarty(Chicago Fire)

Here’s the part where I start splitting hairs. In short: I think it’s important to carry two guys who are specifically, unambiguously defensive midfielders on the roster. Clearly that’s Bradley’s best spot and it’s his job to start, and at this point I think McCarty is the second-best option in the pool.

Bonus: You could talk me into Perry Kitchen or Danny Williams, for sure. But given the roster integration and chemistry issues at play here, I think it’s much more likely we see those guys during the Gold Cup in summer.

CENTER MIDFIELDERS

• Jermaine Jones(LA Galaxy)
• Sebastian Lletget(LA Galaxy)
• Alejandro Bedoya(Philadelphia Union)

These guys are all technically “central midfielders,” but I have a suspicion each is more likely to be used out wide by Arena in what I think will be a 4-1-3-2. If Pulisic is on one side of that “3”, then the other can/should be balanced by a more conservative, more defensively robust player who’ll tuck inside to help in possession and in maintaining defensive shape. Jones is suspended for Honduras, but I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t start vs. Panama. To me it feels like the starting role vs. the Catrachos comes down to the veteran Bedoya, or the relative newcomer in Lletget.

These guys can and do all play the box-to-box role if Arena wants to change from a version of the 4-4-2 to a version of the 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3.

Bonus: I bet Kellyn Acosta will be in camp.

PLAYMAKERS

• Kljestan (RBNY)
• Feilhaber (Sporting KC)

In an alternate universe this has been the defining positional battle of the decade for the US. Oh well, at least they’re back now!I thought Feilhaber was the better player against Serbia and Jamaica, and it was his creativity that led to the only goal under Arena thus far:

That said, Kljestan was the better player in MLS last year, and he was very good when he got on the field for qualifiers late in the summer. Creating instant chemistry with Bradley and Pulisic – even against relative minnows – is not something to take lightly.Either way, both of these guys should be on the roster, and one of them should be on the field. It’s also important to note that both are about as honest as any No. 10 in the world when it comes to defensive tracking, which should allow Arena to comfortably trot out a 4-1-3-2/4-3-1-2 without worrying about defensive structure and integrity. Nguyen’s lack of the same is why I think he’s on the outside looking in.

Bonus: If Emerson Hyndman keeps getting on the scoreboard for Rangers, I’d be happy to see him called into this camp. But I do think it’s much more likely we see him in the summer.

WINGERS

• Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund)
• Nagbe (Portland Timbers)

Pulisic is the starter, and hopefully this generation’s version of Donovan – an inventive, lightning-quick attacker who can take good moments and turn them into decisive moments.Nagbe is different in that his productivity has only sporadically matched his potential, but he showed well against Serbia in stretching the field, and will get a chance to do so for Portland this year, too. There seems to be real hope that this is the year the switch is finally flipped and he becomes a dominant attacking player.Even if that doesn’t happen, though, Nagbe still brings so much stuff to the table. I could easily talk myself into starting him on one side of the midfield with Pulisic on the other, and tasking Nagbe with staying tight to the central midfielders in order to bolster possession and gum up opposing transition opportunities. He’s done that job for his club before, and it’s literally the first job he ever did for his country when he made his debut against Trinidad & Tobago in November of 2015.That might make one of the three guys listed as central midfielders above expendable, but I’m not even close to sure of that.Bonus: I hate myself for leaving Arriola off this roster, because he’s been so good for Tijuana this year. You could argue he’s been the best two-way wide player in Liga MX, and he’s certainly been productive in his US appearances thus far.

FORWARDS

• Jozy Altidore(Toronto FC)
• Wood (Hamburger SV)
• Jordan Morris(Seattle Sounders)

These guys are pretty clearly the top three in the current forward stable, and Morris does, of course, have a level of comfort playing wide if Arena wants to switch to a 4-2-3-1.Let’s all remember that the best part of 2016 was 1) the chemistry the first-choice center defense showed with Bradley at d-mid, and 2) the chemistry Altidore and Wood showed up top together when pretty much everything behind them was falling apart:

If they’re starting in front of a midfield that has a sensible structure, Pulisic on one of the wings, a true No. 10, and a pair of fullbacks who threaten on the overlap, then I’m pretty confident they’ll figure out a way to put the ball into the net more than once.

Bonus: Gyasi Zardes is pretty clearly in the mix here if he gets healthy. And I want Juan Agudelo to be because his hold-up play is arguably the best in the pool, but he needs to start banging in goals right out of the gate for New England.  There’s also that Clint Dempsey fellow. ESPN’s Taylor Twellman reported last week that Arena swore Dempsey wouldn’t be involved in the March qualifiers, but Deuce has been cleared to play and has now actually taken the field for Seattle in preseason. It’s just 30 minutes and I’m sure it’s a long way back to full fitness, but if he’s kicking the ball in anger for the Sounders come March, I can’t imagine he wouldn’t have a role in a pair of do-or-die games for the US.

And here, for posterity, is my XI vs. Honduras:

Wood/Altidore

Pulisic//Kljestan/Lletgit

Johnson/Brooks/Cameron/Yedlin

Rimando

I Am an American Coach- Bob Bradley

FEB 15 2017

HOTO BY HARRY TRUMP/GETTY IMAGES

BOB BRADLEY   VARIOUS CLUBS / MANAGER

When I was introduced at Swansea City, I was asked what it meant to be the first American manager in the Premier League. My answer was simple and straightforward: I was proud. Very proud. But then I quickly switched gears because I didn’t think any of Swansea’s diehard supporters would care about that angle. A day or so later, a journalist wrote that I was defensive about being American. That was wrong. I just didn’t think it mattered.

Maybe I was wrong about that.The thought of being an American manager rarely crosses my mind. My ideas and philosophies have been shaped by the experiences I’ve had around the world, with players and coaches from all types of backgrounds. A great friend, former Seton Hall coach Manfred Schellscheidt who studied at the German Sport University Cologne, helped me to understand the differences between a pair of German coaching legends, the practical Hennes Weisweiler and the studious Dettmar Cramer. I coached Hristo Stoichkov, a Bulgarian, who had a lot to say about the influence of Johan Cruyff, a Dutchman, at Barcelona. The Frenchman Youri Djorkaeff told me a wonderful story about the time before the 1998 World Cup that Aimé Jacquet pulled both him and Zinedine Zidane aside and told them, “You two must be the sunshine for the French team.” I went to Egypt after the 2011 revolution to manage the national team. Just a few months after I arrived, 74 fans lost their lives in the tragedy in the stadium at Port Said. The next time the national team got together, I looked into the eyes of players who had held dying young men in their arms inside the dressing room. I challenged them to be a united example for their country.But for as much experience as I’ve had with the game all over the world, I am an American first and foremost. When I was a teenager I went to a basketball camp in northern New Jersey where Hubie Brown asked us, “What do you catch a pass with?” There was silence in the gym after somebody immediately said, “Your hands.” And then Coach Brown said, “No, my friend. You catch a pass with your eyes.” A decade later, when I was an assistant to Bruce Arena at Virginia, I became friends with the assistant coach of the women’s basketball team. His name was Geno Auriemma. The three of us would huddle quietly in the soccer office (conveniently located next to the visitors’ locker room in University Hall), where we would listen to greats like Dean Smith, Jim Valvano and Mike Krzyzewski address their teams.

I’ve learned a lot from observing Sacchi, Ferguson and Guardiola. I also learned just as much from watching Pete Carril — the former men’s basketball coach at Princeton, where I was the soccer coach from 1984 to ’95 — teach his players the importance of a good pass. I still learn from the intelligent way Gregg Popovich handles his team and the media.

When I took the UEFA Pro Licence course, which is required to coach in a top league in Europe, I explained to a few of my Norwegian friends that there are no basketball coaching licenses in the U.S. Coaching is a craft. You learn from playing, doing, experimenting, emulating, adjusting. You never stop learning. You learn from your players, from your experiences.

You learn from the game.

Before the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, I wanted our national team players to hear another voice besides my own. A voice of experience. Someone who understood winning. So I had Bill Russell join us for a few days. His wisdom on how to both compete and give to teammates fit perfectly with our work to be a team with a strong mentality. That was ready to fight until the last whistle. I think it helped us win our group, which we did when Landon Donovan scored a stoppage-time winner against Algeria.

When I was done coaching the U.S., I wanted new challenges. I wanted to get better. To prove myself. So I went to Egypt. The dream for all Egyptians was to go to the World Cup.

After the massacre in Port Said in February 2012 the Egyptian Premier League stopped play. Because of that, players went unpaid. There was great uncertainty. The national team was forced to play important home matches in empty stadiums. Nearly every day, I was asked by reporters and colleagues, “Why are you still here?” My answer was always the same: As a leader you have responsibility. You must be an example. You can’t be the first one out the door.  O BY SCOTT NELSON/SI/GETTY IMAGES

The Egypt national team won seven of eight qualifiers but did not make it to the World Cup. It will always be one of my biggest disappointments. More than anything I wanted Mohammed Aboutrika to finish his career playing in the World Cup in Brazil. During my two years in Egypt he was my blood brother. It was an honor to coach him.A few months later, I had the chance to return to club football. This time in Europe. I took over Stabæk in Norway in January 2014.The club was struggling financially and operating on a very small budget. Most of my friends and contemporaries told me to stay away — that there was no way to survive in Norway’s top league and that relegation was a certainty. But this small club had a big heart. It had soul. The first year we battled to finish mid-table. In the second season we competed with Norwegian powerhouse Rosenborg until the final weeks before finishing third and earning a place in Europa League. My players and I were proud of what we accomplished. I felt ready to take on another challenge.

I went to France and took over Le Havre A.C., a member of Ligue 2, in November 2015 — the first time I had joined a team in the middle of a season. The team did well, but the last day of the 2016 season was a roller coaster. A mix of pride and disappointment. We won 5–0 that night, but it wasn’t enough. We finished tied with Metz for third place. The top three teams in Ligue 2 would be promoted to Ligue 1. We had the same points. The same goal differential. The next tiebreaker was goals scored. Every player pushed until the very end, but we fell one goal short.

The night ended with supporters embracing players on the field.

All those experiences led to my opportunity at Swansea. The 2016–17 season had already started at Le Havre, but I got word that Swansea might be interested in making a coaching change. I knew if I went there that I would be entering a tough — maybe impossible — situation. The team had started poorly and the takeover by American owners had angered the club’s supporters. But managing at the top level of English football was the ultimate challenge. I had worked hard to prepare for this opportunity. I had to go for it.  O BY KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/GETTY IMAGES

As the first American manager in the Premier League, I fully understood how hard it was going to be to establish myself. Without the benefit of a preseason, the work to change the team would have to be done gradually. The key in the short run was to take enough points to satisfy critics and restore confidence with the players.When I first arrived I met with a group from the Swansea City Supporters’ Trust. I knew that they were disappointed that they hadn’t been consulted before I was hired. So I spoke candidly to them. I said, “I understand there’s some work to be done, and I understand what this club means to all of you. I’m here to do things in a way that makes the supporters proud of what they see on the field, and to make sure that the connection between the club and its most faithful supporters is strong.”

My first meeting with the players didn’t last long. We needed to get to work. So I gathered them together and said, “I’m looking forward to working with all of you. I don’t arrive with the answers. I have come to listen. To observe. To get to know you. For you to get to know me. To make you a better player and a better person. I have my ideas on how we should do things and what the team should be about, but this is about all of us.”

After 70 days with the club, I had dinner with the owners and the chairman. There was confidence and optimism that night following an important 3–0 win over Sunderland at the Liberty a few days earlier. We had won a respectable eight points from my eight matches in charge and, more importantly, had two wins and a draw in our last four games.

But in the week that followed we lost two away matches. The script was familiar. We’d start well, but concede the first goal. Playing from behind meant taking risks and opening up. Confidence dropped and we were not able to build on our positive results.OMy postgame interview after a 3–0 loss to Middlesbrough only made matters worse. I said that we needed to show more resilience “on the road” (the English prefer the word away), and referred to a penalty kick as a “PK.” People on social media screamed that American sports terms had no place in the Premier League.

By the time we returned home to the Liberty for our next match against West Ham, I knew the pressure was on. But I am battle tested and never doubted myself. As a coach you must understand that the one thing you cannot control is the result. You control the work. You control the message. I have always encouraged my players to play without fear, and the West Ham match was no different. Again we started well, but our failure to clear a free kick saw us go down 1–0. Changes at halftime didn’t change the result. We lost 4–1. By the end the frustration and anger from the supporters was clear.  As always, I was the first one to the training ground the next morning. My routine stayed the same. In the morning, recovery for the starters and on-the-field work for the guys who hadn’t played. In the afternoon, video work and preparation for the next match against Bournemouth. When I arrived home that night I received a message from the chairman: “Would you meet me at the academy?”

When I got that message, I knew exactly what was happening.

As they say in the Premier League, I got the sack. I failed. Failed to put my stamp on the team at Swansea. To give it a real identity. A real personality. I never managed to find the right balance between attack and defense. I couldn’t find the answers for this group to play with the commitment and passion that so many of my other teams possessed. We never found consistency or confidence.

Paul Clement followed me as manager and has done an excellent job. Team shape has improved and the confidence has returned. Yes, Paul benefitted from the transfer window that I never had. But that’s football. It can be a tough business and it’s important to respect good work. Full credit to Paul.

One last word for the supporters. I loved my time at your club. I was committed to making it work. I’m sorry I couldn’t be your manager longer.For 85 days I put my heart and soul into Swansea City. I listened and observed. I watched games over and over. I constantly engaged the players and staff to figure out how we could become a good team. I pushed training and challenged the players to believe. To get better. To understand me and my ideas. I drew on all my experiences, and was never afraid to be myself or to take responsibility. With the players. With the staff. With the media. And with all the people I met in Swansea. It’s the only way I know.To get anywhere in life you must experience failure. I remain proud and strong. I am ready for the next challenge.And yes, I am an American coach.BOB BRADLEYCONTRIBUTOR

Aubameyang, Dortmund forget their finishing boots at Benfica

Wasteful Borussia Dortmund suffered a highly undeserved 1-0 loss at the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday night, after being the highly dominant team over 90 minutes.

Positives

There are very few teams that take the game to Benfica like Dortmund did on Tuesday night. After an atrocious performance in their 2-1 shock defeat away to bottom Darmstadt on the weekend, the Black and Yellows were in need of a good performance. Although the result didn’t show it, the BVB players in unison told reporters after the game, that they will progress to the next round with the same performance at the Westfalenstadion.

 

Negatives

There is no way past looking at the spurned chances. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fluffed a hat trick of clear cut chances — including a weakly taken penalty. BVB have only themselves to blame for coming home empty-handed.

Manager rating out of 10

7 — Thomas Tuchel’s team were the dominant side and looked better prepared than the hosts but were just unable to finish off their chances.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Roman Burki, 6 — Not much to do for the goalkeeper, who was unlucky the ball bounced perfectly for Kostas Mitroglou.

 

DF Erik Durm, 5 — A solid showing by the right-back, who is often times doing the dirty work so his teammates can shine.

 

DF Lukasz Piszczek, 5 — Missed his marker when Dortmund conceded the goal in the 48th minute.

 

DF Sokratis Papastathopoulos, 7 — A resolute performance by the Greek centre-back, who had Benfica’s attackers in his pocket more often than not. With BVB putting pressure on the hosts upfront, Papastathopoulos could win many balls by moving out of his defence.

 

DF Marc Bartra, 8 — “Very good,” Sokratis said about his partner in defence after the match. There is little more to add to describe Bartra’s performance. As the game went on, the Spaniard moved further forward and conducted the play.

 

DF Marcel Schmelzer, 6 — Could have attempted a flat pass behind Benfica’s back line more often from his advanced position as left wing-back.

 

MF Julian Weigl, 8 — Weigl must like trips to Portugal as he is awarded a lot of space, especially compared to the Bundesliga where he is marked out of the game more often than not. Said after the match that he “didn’t mind” the space with a cheeky smile. He was a big reason why Dortmund could impose their dominance.

 

MF Raphael Guerreiro, 6 — Linked up well between Weigl and the attack, but lacked accuracy for a fully glorious performance.

 

MF Ousmane Dembele, 6 — The 19-year-old was BVB’s focal point in the first 20 minutes, as he wreaked havoc in Benfica’s half. With a little more calmness, he could have lobbed Ederson rather than putting the ball straight at the Benfica keeper. Went off the boil in the second half.

FW Marco Reus, 6 — The 27-year-old ran tirelessly for his team tonight, making important runs in Gegenpressing.

 

FW Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 3 –– For all the clear-cut chances he missed — including one of the most unconvincing penalties ever to be taken by a Dortmund player. Arguably a harsh rating, but it was a truly dreadful night for the striker, who has lost his finishing touch since the turn of the year.

Substitutes

FW Andre Schurrle, 3 — With Tuchel getting frustrated with Aubameyang, Schurrle got a run-out in the 62nd minute. However, it wasn’t much of an improvement.

 

MF Christian Pulisic, NR — Introduced in the 82nd minute for Marco Reus, the youngster couldn’t pull off a mazing run through the Benfica backline.  (Ok this sucks – Pulisic had 2 solid shots in 12 minutes of play – had a solid cross that Dortmund couldn’t get a head on and a mazing run through the backline that served a perfect ball across the goal that no one could get a foot on – 15 more minutes might just have lead to an assist for the American –man his deflected shot that he blasted in the 90^th minute could have changed his life! – OBC)

 MF Gonzalo Castro, NR — Replaced Raphael Guerreiro with eight minutes left on the clock. Won some balls deep in the opponent’s half, but didn’t find the right solution going forward in the hectic minutes.Stefan Buczko covers Borussia Dortmund for ESPN FC. Twitter: @StefanBuczko.Sponsored Headlines

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Anyone up for a Champions League late lunch Tues or Wed 2:45 pm of either week let me know at shanebestsoccer@gmail.com.

So Champions League Round of 16 Returns this week on Tues/Wed with 4 matches including huge games featuring PGS hosting Barcelona on Tues 2:45 pm on Fox Sports 1, while Dortmund and US youngster Christian Pulisic face Benefica on the road on FS2 and Arsenal traveling to Bayern Munich Wed at 2:45 again on FS1, while defending champs Real Madrid host Napoli on FS2.

Champions League

Champions League Predictor – ESPNFCTV

Can Real Madrid win back to back Trophies? While All Else have Failed?

Dortmund under pressure vs Benfica

Marcotti – PSG vs Barcelona both coaches on the Line

PSG captain Thiago Silva is out vs Barca

Will the EPL Strike Back in Champions League Knockout Round?

Arsene Wenger faces delicate Situation with Ozil off form for Arsenal heading into Bayern showdown

Xfactor for each team in Champions League Sweet 16

Why each team in Sweet 16 can win -Fox Sports Soccer

10 Best Goals of the Group Stages?

 

The Sweet 16 Records UEFA

Bayern’s Phillip Lahm Set to Retire after season

Biggest comebacks in Champ League History

Paris SG prepare to face Barcelona Again

How Brilliant has Falcao been for Monaco?

Monaco not looking easy for Man City

Napoli thinks they can take Real Madrid

US Christian Pulisic Assists on goal in Dortmund win in German Cup

GAMES ON TV  

Tues,  Feb 14 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Benfica vs Borussian Dortmund

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         PSG vs Barcelona

Weds,  Feb 15

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Bayern Munich vs Arsenal

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Real Madrid vs Napoli

Thurs, Feb 16 – Europa League

1 pm Fox Sport 1        Gent vs Tottenham

3 pm Fox Sport 1        Man United vs Saint Etienne

Fri, Feb 17

2:45 pm beIN Sport  Juventus vs Palermo

 Tues,  Feb 21 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Bayer Levekusen vs Atletico Madrid

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Manchester City vs Monaco

Weds,  Feb 22

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Sevilla vs Leicester City

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Porto vs Juventus

Champions League round-of-16 W2W4: Real’s chances to repeat, Bayern vs. Arsenal (again!), must-watch Monaco

Repeat? Get Real

No club has ever won back-to-back European Cups in the Champions League era. But that doesn’t mean Real Madrid cannot be the first.Things are complicated, however, by a fixture pile-up caused by the FIFA Club World Cup and the postponement of their league game at Celta Vigo last weekend. Plus, after going a record 40 games unbeaten, Real have wobbled since the turn of the year, a little like they did in Carlo Ancelotti’s final season two years ago.Real also go into the round of 16 as a second seed after failing to top their group for the first time in four years. Zinedine Zidane’s side trailed Sporting at the Bernabeu until the 89th minute and in Poland vs. Legia Warsaw until the 85th.There is a suspicion that, even for a club like Real that defines itself by this competition, winning La Liga is slightly more of a priority this season. After all, they’ve been Spanish champions only once in the past nine years.

Gabriel Jesus to galvanise Man City?

Has any other club signed as big a talent ahead of the second half of the season? Julian Draxler at Paris Saint-Germain comes to mind, but that’s it. Sure, it would maybe have been better if Man City had addressed their defence. But Jesus can inspire them.Pep Guardiola has reached the semifinals of the Champions League every year during his coaching career and City themselves reached the last four a year ago. And did they not also beat Barcelona in November with arguably the performance of the group stages?The Champions League is not the Premier League. In Europe you still have to be aggressive and control second balls — something Guardiola admits he has needed time to get to grips with in England — but the emphasis often lies elsewhere.There are other nuances. In the Champions League, Guardiola can perhaps be himself a little more and play the football he would like to play. Not that he has compromised his philosophy these past six months. Monaco will be a big test, though. A trap, even.

Auf wiedersehen, Arsenal?

Not necessarily, for Bayern Munich have their own problems. There has been a dip in intensity under Carlo Ancelotti, although his relaxed approach to high-pressure situations is often held up as the reason why he is the most successful manager of all time, along with Bob Paisley, in this competition.Bayern didn’t allow opponents to breathe under Guardiola. But that has changed. In the group stage, for example, they lost to Rostov. Changes to a more counterattacking style haven’t exactly helped Thomas Muller, while Renato Sanches hasn’t made as big an impact as was hoped, though it is early days.Then there are other personnel issues to consider. CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge criticised Jerome Boateng in November for taking on too much outside of football. Last week, captain Philipp Lahm announced he will retire at the end of the season. The timing of the announcement surprised Bayern rather than the decision itself. Not everyone is on the same page.

Can Mertens make Madrid pay?

In December, on the day Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick for Real Madrid in the Club World Cup final, Napoli’s Dries Mertens went one better and scored four. With 13 goals in his past eight appearances — that’s one every 54 minutes — there isn’t a hotter player in Europe at the moment. The papers in Italy are calling him “Dries Armando MaraMertens.”

Goalkeepers’ union

“For me, you the best!” Ikea Casillas tweeted at Gigi Buffon. “I don’t choose, we are the best!” Buffon replied. The best goalkeepers of their generation meet again when Porto play Juventus and, while Casillas has declined dramatically in comparison with Buffon, who remains as brilliant as ever, his performance against Sporting recently did roll back the years.

24 Jan

Iker Casillas 

✔ @IkerCasillas

@gianluigibuffon , what do you think? For me, you the best!! https://twitter.com/championsleague/status/823877048947142656 …

 Follow

Gianluigi Buffon 

✔@gianluigibuffon

@IkerCasillas @ChampionsLeague I don’t choose. We are the best

8:47 AM – 25 Jan 2017

Eye of the Tiger

It looked like Radamel Falcao was finished but El Tigre is back as top scorer for Europe’s top-scoring team. Falcao’s goal-per-game ratio in European competitions is 0.91. To put that into context, of players with more than 30 career goals, it’s higher than Gerd Muller (0.89), Ferenc Puskas (0.88), Lionel Messi (0.82) and Alfredo di Stefano (0.77).

Must-watch Monaco

Monaco have scored 101 goals this season, which is quite the contrast to the defensive team that counterpunched to the quarterfinals the season before last. They haven’t evolved completely, though: This team isn’t top-heavy.Instead, it has great balance between youth and experience, physicality and finesse. Plus, Bernardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Lemar are all superstars in the making. Leonardo Jardim can outcoach the best of ’em, too.

The Eagles’ nest

Benfica vs. Borussia Dortmund pits some of the best young stars in Europe against each other. Among them, the full-backs capture the imagination. Nelsinho is on Bayern’s short list to succeed Philipp Lahm and it remains a mystery why Barcelona let Grimaldo go. Meanwhile, Raphael Guerreiro, Portugal’s left-back at Euro 2016, has been reinvented as a midfielder since moving to Dortmund.

The madness of King Jorge

For the first time in four seasons, the Europa League will have a new winner because three-time winners Sevilla are not defending their title. Instead they are moving up a weight, like a prizefighter, and their knockout pedigree is second to none.Jorge Sampaoli’s crew ended Real Madrid’s record-breaking unbeaten run in January and few are giving Leicester a chance. Sevilla’s games are often spectacular — what else would you expect when you sign seven attacking midfielders in two windows — and, while Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino is out, the philosophical spirit of Marcelo Bielsa lives on.

Dortmund must grow up

“Stay young. Stay foolish” would be an appropriate motto for Dortmund right now. Thomas Tuchel’s team is very talented, but very raw. While it is hard to expect consistency from young players, some are taking longer than others to get used to the way things work.

Dortmund can blow teams away; they were the top scorers in the group stage with 21 goals, and Tuchel is one of the smartest coaches out there. But their defence is shaky and their away form miserable. They’ve won just three times on the road all season in the Bundesliga.

Have Barca forgotten how to play?

Well, that was the subject of an article in El Pais last week. Barcelona have frequently looked ordinary this season, which is quite extraordinary given that Luis Enrique has got Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar to call upon.But that’s something of a general theme this season. Real, Barca and Bayern all remain formidable but don’t appear, at least so far, to be the forces they were. Opponents have more reason to believe.

Is this the Old Lady’s year?

When you’ve won five league titles in a row and then sign your rivals’ best players, creating the (false) impression of having killed the competition at home, then greater scrutiny of European performances is guaranteed.Juventus’ midfield isn’t as good as when they reached the final two years ago and they have struggled, relatively, for balance this season. But only Atleti defend as well and Juve are every bit as reliable as they are versatile.Their new “Five Star” formation, with Mario Mandzukic sacrificing himself on the left, has brought back memories of the role Samuel Eto’o played during Inter’s 2010 treble win. Might it be the difference, the final piece of the puzzle? The Old Lady is humble enough to recognise that she will also need Lady Luck on her side.And finally …Never ever rule out Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid.James covers the Italian Serie A and European football for ESPN FC Follow him on Twitter @JamesHorncastle.

So Champions League Round of 16 Returns this week on Tues/Wed with 4 matches including huge games featuring PGS hosting Barcelona on Tues 2:45 pm on Fox Sports 1, while Dortmund and US youngster Christian Pulisic face Benefica on the road on FS2 and Arsenal traveling to Bayern Munich Wed at 2:45 again on FS1, while defending champs Real Madrid host Napoli on FS2.  Anyone up for a Champions League late lunch Tues/Wed of either week let me know at shanebestsoccer@gmail.com.

The Indy 11 have released their Spring NASL Schedule with a majority of the roster returning for this season, and the NY Cosmos a shell of their former selves, I suspect Indy will be the team to beat this spring.  Season tix and the ever popular 8-Flex Pack are on sale now as the season kicks off March 25 with the first home game Sat – April 1 vs Puerto Rico at 3 pm.  Nice story in SI about Indy 11 MLS Expansion Chances.

The US Men wrapped up their 2 week Jan camp with a 1-0 win over Jamaica as the MLS players battled to prove to new coach Bruce Arena they belong in the 23 when the US returns in late March for their ever so important next 2 matches vs Honduras and in the Hex.  I thought a few players made good impressions that should lead to their inclusion in the future including Forward Jordan Morris, MF’s Feilhaber, Lletget and Nagbe, and defenders 23 year-old Center back Walker Zimmerman of Dallas FC really looked good along with Villafana on the left.This weekend Liverpool faces a must win match at home vs Tottenhamn on Sat at 12:30 on NBCSN, while Arsenal look to get back on the winning track vs Hull City Sat at 7:30 am.

GAMES ON TV  

Sat, Feb 11

7:30 am NBCSN            Arsenal vs Hull City

9:30 am Fox Sport1   Ingolstad vs Bayern Munich

12:30 pm NBCSN        Liverpool vs Tottenham

12:30 pm FoxSport2                         Schlake 04 vs Hertha BSC + US John Brooks

2:45 pm beIN Sport                          Osasuna vs Real Madrid

Sun, Feb 12

8:30 am NBCSN            Burnley vs Chelsea

11 am NBCSN                Swansea vs Leicester City

2:45 pm beIN Sport  Caglairi  vs Juventus

Mon, Feb 13

3 pm NBCSN                   Bournemouth vs Man City

Tues,  Feb 14 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Benfica vs Borussian Dortmund

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         PSG vs Barcelona

Weds,  Feb 15

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Bayern Munich vs Arsenal

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Real Madrid vs Napoli

Thurs, Feb 16 – Europa League

1 pm Fox Sport 1        Gent vs Tottenham

3 pm Fox Sport 1        Man United vs Saint Etienne

Fri, Feb 17

2:45 pm beIN Sport  Juventus vs Palermo

Sat, Feb 18

9:30 am Fox Sport2   HerthaBSC (US John Brooks) vs Bayern Munich

10 am Fox Sport 1      Huddersfield vs Man City – FA Cup

12:30 pm FS1                Wolverhampton vs Chelseas – FA Cup

Sun, Feb 19

9 am Fox Sport 1         Fulham vs Tottenham FA Cup

9:30 am FS2                    Borussia M’Gladbach (US Johnson) vs Red Bull Leipzig

11:30 FS1                         Blackburn vs Man United FA Cup

Tues,  Feb 21 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Bayer Levekusen vs Atletico Madrid

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Manchester City vs Monaco

Weds,  Feb 22

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Sevilla vs Leicester City

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Porto vs Juventus

Weds, Mar 1  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs England Women

7 pm Fox Sports 1      US Women vs Germany

Sat, Mar 4  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs Germany Women

5 pm Fox                      US Women vs England

Indy 11 + MLS

Reactions to Bidding for an MLS Team

Nice story in SI about Indy 11 MLS Expansion Chances.

Indy 11 Releases the Spring Schedule

Indy 11 Release on Schedule

Bloody Shambles How Indy 11 Gets to MLS – Brandon Cockrum

Bloody Shambles- USSF makes D2 a Shambles with USL and NASL competing

Tickets — Season tix and the ever popular 8-Flex Pack

12 Teams Vying for MLS next 2 Teams  ESPN FC

MLS Talking Points for 2017

USA

US Starters vs Honduras?  ESPN FC?

Bruce Arena Back in Charge – SI – Grant Wahl

Arena won’t Favor Europe Based Players over MLS – it Just depends – ESPNFC = Jeff Carlisle

US Morris Scores in 1-0 Win

Zimmerman and Benny Feilhaber Show Well in Win over Jaimaica  Player Ratings Jason Davis ESPNFC

How Does Bruce Integrate MLS with Europe Based Players –  SI Brian Straus

By the #s  2017 Camp Wrap-up US Soccer

Bobby Wood scores for Hamburg

Grant Wahl – SI – Mail Bag on US

Gulati – US Soccer and USWNT will come to an Equitable Agreement on CBA-  SI

German supports US World Cup Bid for 2026

US U20 Team Announced for WCQuals in Feb.

Champions League

The Sweet 16 Records UEFA

Bayern’s Phillip Lahm Set to Retire after season

Biggest comebacks in Champ League History

Paris SG prepare to face Barcelona Again

How Brilliant has Falcao been for Monaco?

Monaco not looking easy for Man City

Napoli thinks they can take Real Madrid

World /EPL

Power Rankings

Leicester’s Fairy Tale is Turning into a Horror Story  Ian Darke ESPNFC

#INDYMLS – HEAD COACH TIM HANKINSON, M BRAD RING, AND GK JON BUSCH REACT

Part of Indy’s solid returning core comment on Indy Eleven’s MLS Expansion bid

Feb 1, 2017

When Indy Eleven owner Ersal Ozdemir delivered the team’s bid to MLS HQ on Tuesday, there was an unparalleled buzz arising in the Circle City. Through the world’s game, Indiana’s team was looking to rise to the highest level of American professional soccer and put a feather in the cap of the nation’s best sports city.Meanwhile, Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson and his team are preparing for the road ahead. The 2017 season promises to be a challenging one as clubs like the Cosmos and Miami FC reload ahead of what will be an exciting postseason push for The Championship Final, and coach Hankinson, midfielder Brad Ring, goalkeeper Jon Busch, and the rest of the “Boys in Blue” are all ready to get to work.With plenty of past experience in Major League Soccer, coach Hankinson sees a clear road ahead for the club, assuring the fans that while the process is long, they are in the right place.”I started with the league in 1996, running the first L.A. Galaxy open tryout. We had that in Pasadena and that day we assessed over 1500 players,” said Hankinson. “You could see the excitement in player of all walks of life and areas of the world wanting to be a part of it.”Since then, Hankinson’s roads have taken him all over the country, and the world, leading the way for the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer before continuing his career outside of the United States. If there is one thing he’s sure of now, though, it’s that the league is growing – and will continue to grow – past his expectations.”Being a part of the league in its first nine years, you saw it evolve from its first stages and growing pains. Now 20 years later, you look at the magnitude of the league and marvel at it. It’s recognized worldwide, and that’s why it’s attracting worldwide talent and players.”Jon Busch is no stranger to Major League Soccer, as well. A veteran of over 18 years at America’s highest level, Busch sees similarities between the markets he has played in and the City of Indianapolis.”I think [an MLS club] would be a tremendous addition to the city. As far as the fan base, the Indy Eleven fans – especially the Brickyard Battalion, Slaughterhouse group, and other supporters – are the best fans in the NASL. I think that an MLS club would be a just reward to all of their work from day one as fans.”Additionally, with his entire professional career spent in the American game, the goalkeeper believes that this city and this market have the credentials to take soccer to the top behind the support of both the fans and the front office. However, that won’t distract the team from reaching their potential this year, with the ultimate goal of winning The Championship Final come November.”It’s exciting times for everyone – whether you’re a player, a coach, a fan, or a staff member, etc. There’s a lot that goes into it from placing the bid to getting the franchise, so we aren’t going to get ahead of ourselves as players.We understand the work ahead of us and, for us, it’s business as usual for the upcoming NASL season,” said Busch.”Indianapolis has what it takes, though. I’ve been fortunate that two out of my three MLS clubs have been in the Midwest with Chicago and Columbus. This situation is more towards the Columbus side where you have an extremely passionate fan base dedicated to the team, and the fans stick through no matter what happens. This is one of the most consistent cities I’ve ever seen, and it would be a fantastic place to put a Major League Soccer club.”Another Indy Eleven star who has spent time in the MLS, Brad Ring echoed Busch’s statement with one of his own.”Indy Eleven has been the top team in the NASL since our existence in terms of an exceptional attendance and unmatched atmosphere,” said Ring. “We have a proven and committed fan base as well as a devoted owner. I have no doubt that Indianapolis would improve an already thriving MLS if selected.”Make no mistake, though. Despite all the buzz behind the bid, coach Hankinson & co. are locked in on the top prize this year. For them, it’s the only thing to fight for.”I certainly think that every player aspires to take the next step in their careers and players who perform at the highest level of the NASL might have an opportunity,” said Hankinson. “But Indianapolis is a city of winners, and we want to elevate that profile this season and in seasons to come. It all begins in two weeks with the first day of camp, and we go from there.”

Let the Games Begin! Indy Eleven Learns 2017 NASL Schedule

Regular Season Opens on the Road March 25 at San Francisco Deltas;

Slate of 16 Home Games at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium Starts April 1 vs. Puerto Rico FC   –  17-Game Season Ticket Package and New 8-Flex Voucher Pack Now Available

INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, February 6, 2017) – In conjunction with the North American Soccer League, Indy Eleven has released its 32-game schedule for the 2017 NASL regular season, to be evenly split between a pair of 16-game Spring and Fall Seasons. Within each season, every club will play the other seven opponents home and away, plus two additional matchups.Indy Eleven will begin the defense of its 2016 NASL Spring Season title on the road Saturday, March 25, by serving as the Inaugural Game opponent for expansion side San Francisco Deltas. Kickoff for the season opener at historic Kezar Stadium in San Francisco is set for 10:00 p.m. ET.A week later on Saturday, April 1, “Indiana’s Team” starts its 16-game home slate at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium with a 3:00 p.m. kickoff against Puerto Rico FC. Indy Eleven will look to continue its 19-game regular season undefeated streak at “The Mike” dating back to October 2015 when it welcomes the Caribbean Club Championship participant to the Circle City.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2017 INDY ELEVEN SCHEDULE

“This year’s roster is full of players that tasted some success and got to the cusp of lifting the Soccer Bowl Trophy last year. The fire that has been burning since last November’s final will be a great motivator to fight our way back and get the job done in 2017, and we’re excited to get things underway,” said Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson, who captured the NASL Coach of the Year award following his debut season with Indy Eleven last year.All but one of Indy Eleven’s 16 home games in 2017 will fall during weekends, the lone exception being the Wednesday, Sept. 13, contest against North Carolina FC. All other games will fall on Saturdays until the regular season finale on Sunday, Oct. 29, against North Carolina FC.The Spring Season Champion and Fall Season Champion will each earn a spot – and semifinal hosting rights – in The Championship, the league’s four-club postseason tournament. The remaining two postseason spots will go to the two clubs that collect the most combined points over the course of the overall 32-game competition (Spring and Fall Seasons).“Over the years, our intense split-season competition has produced the drama and excitement that fans crave,” NASL Interim Commissioner Rishi Sehgal said. “The 2017 season will be no different, and we can’t wait to watch our clubs battle each other week in and week out.”In conjunction with today’s schedule release, Indy Eleven is introducing its new 8-Flex Pack, featuring eight ticket vouchers that can be turned into tickets for any of the team’s 16 regular season games at Carroll Stadium. For more details, visit www.indyeleven.com/flex-pack.Fans looking to catch every game can take advantage of discounts of up to 48% versus single-game pricing and enjoy a plethora of exclusive benefits by securing 2017 Season Tickets, which will include all 16 NASL regular season matches plus a bonus game (U.S. Open Cup, exhibition or playoff). Visit www.CueTheSmoke.com for the full listing of benefits and prices.Fans can stay tuned to www.indyeleven.com/schedule to keep track of updates to the 2017 Indy Eleven calendar and visit www.nasl.com/schedule to see the full schedule for the league’s seventh season of play.

Who should Arena start when the U.S. resumes World Cup qualifying?

Now that the January camp is over for the U.S. men’s national team, attention is firmly focused on the World Cup qualifiers next month, at home versus Honduras on March 24 and in Panama four days later.We asked our writers to name the lineup they would like to see coach Bruce Arena select the next time the national team takes the field (suspended and long-term injured players were not considered).

Jeff Carlisle

With Tim Howard unlikely to be fit, Arena really has no other choice than to go with the experienced Brad Guzan, even if he hasn’t been playing at club level. The back four reprises the group that performed so well at Copa America (if Geoff Cameron can’t go, Steve Birnbaum could slot in). In midfield, Jermaine Jones’ suspension means a start for Sacha Kljestan. The big question is on the right. Gyasi Zardes would provide more speed, but the onus will be on breaking Honduras down, which suits the craftier traits of Darlington Nagbe or Alejandro Bedoya. Clint Dempsey is unlikely to be back, so Jozy Altidore and Bobby Wood play up front.

Doug McIntyre

It’s hard to see Howard being ready, but Cameron, who has been out since October with a knee injury, is close to returning for Stoke and should be match-fit by March. Jones’ absence through suspension actually helps Arena select a more balanced lineup; Bradley is the ball winner, with playmaker Kljestan behind the two strikers, while speedsters Christian Pulisic and Gyasi Zardes (whose hard running defensively will be key) are on the wings. That said, it wouldn’t be a shock me to see Bedoya on the right.

Jason Davis

Goals are needed against Honduras, and since Altidore is most effective with a strike partner, Wood is the obvious choice to play alongside. In midfield, there are obvious questions of balance; Kljestan provides better defense (to go with his playmaking) than Benny Feilhaber. Nagbe, thanks to his ability on the ball, gets the call opposite Pulisic. Lack of full-back options means Fabian Johnson plays in defence and Omar Gonzalez fills in for the injured Cameron. The only keeper getting club playing time, Nick Rimando, starts in goal.

Noah Davis

, right now, Altidore and Wood are the best options. Meanwhile, Kljestan is disciplined and covers plenty of ground and should be Bradley’s partner. (Yes, Bradley should start and continue to do so.) Run the attack through Pulisic, who’s shown in limited time that he’s the most creative and dynamic player on the field. Assuming Cameron is fit, he’s a sure starter along with John Brooks. While DaMarcus Beasley is a bit of a stretch at left-back, he knows the position and has the experience of playing in big games.

U.S. coach Bruce Arena won’t favor Europe-based players over MLS talent

U.S. men’s national team manager Bruce Arena indicated that when it comes to building his roster for the March World Cup qualifiers, “it doesn’t matter” whether a player is playing domestically or overseas.Arena just concluded the U.S. team’s annual January camp, one that saw him get a close look at 31 domestic players. But with the MLS season not set to begin until March 3, there are questions as to how sharp they will be heading into the critical matches against Honduras in San Jose, California, on March 24, and then away to Panama four days later.As a point of comparison, foreign-based players will have been playing for about eight months. But Arena insisted he’ll look at each player on a case-by-case basis.”We’re going to follow every player, both in Europe, Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, and decide on who we think are the best group of players to help us get some results,” he said on a conference call with reporters. “It doesn’t matter where they come from. We have players in Europe who aren’t playing.”We have players in Europe that are playing a lot. It’s the same case in Mexico. And then in the U.S. the players we’ve had in camp are for the most part the players that will be under consideration for the March roster.”They have a bit of a jump, so they have another six weeks or so to be prepared for the March camp.”Arena added that he’ll be visiting U.S. players playing in Germany, England, and Mexico over the coming weeks.Included in that group are fringe players like Nottingham Forest outside back Eric Lichaj and Club Tijuana midfielder Paul Arriola, with Arena stating that they were under “strong consideration” for the March camp.”[Those visits] will help us make some final determinations as to how he’ll piece together our roster,” he said.One player who hasn’t been seeing time is Middlesbrough goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Guzan, who will join MLS expansion side Atlanta United in the summer, has been stuck on the bench behind starter Victor Valdes. But Arena said Guzan remains very much a candidate to take the field against Honduras.”Brad Guzan is a very experienced goalkeeper, and as we saw in the case of Nick Rimando in the January camp, that experience means a lot,” said Arena. “Because they’re not getting games on a consistent basis doesn’t mean you can rule them out. I think Brad has shown enough that he’s still a strong candidate to be our No. 1 goalkeeper.”Guzan’s status is impacted in part by the groin injury Tim Howard sustained back in November that required surgery. But Arena wasn’t necessarily ruling out Howard being on the squad either.”[Howard] is on schedule to maybe start the first week of the MLS season. Having said that, [his recovery] could be off a couple of weeks, and perhaps he won’t be a candidate for March. But right now he’s in the picture, and that’s a positive as well,” Arena said.Arena also seemed more optimistic about the status of Stoke City defender Geoff Cameron, who has been sidelined by a knee injury since October.”[Cameron] is making progress and he’ll be back in full training shortly,” said Arena.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle. 

Arena’s next challenge: Integrating abroad-based U.S. players with little prep time

Bruce Arena will visit and evaluate players based in Europe and Mexico over the next few weeks before picking his U.S. roster for March World Cup qualifiers.  BRIAN STRAUSThursday February 9th, 2017

Bruce Arena got to spend three and a half weeks with more than 30 U.S. national team veterans and contenders right on his Southern California doorstep. Arena has lived in the L.A. area since becoming coach of the Galaxy back in 2008, and when he left the MLS club to take over the U.S. in November, he had to move his office just a few feet down the StubHub Center hall.The commute and surroundings were familiar, and Arena and his staff (comprised of his former Galaxy colleagues) were able to use weeks of practice and then friendlies against Serbia and Jamaica to make a thorough evaluation of their players’ progress and potential.Now comes the hard part.In about five weeks, Arena will have to select the players he intends to call in for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Honduras (March 24) and Panama (March 28). The Americans’ 0-2-0 record, which leaves them last in the six-team Hexagonal, was the catalyst for Jurgen Klinsmann’s dismissal. The climb out of the CONCACAF cellar must begin next month, meaning the new (and former) manager has to get this roster right. And although he now has a pretty firm grasp on the domestic player pool, Arena won’t have been able to spend any time working with the men based abroad, nor will have had the opportunity to see how they mesh with their MLS counterparts under match conditions.It’s going to take a few very productive days of practice next month, and a lot of homework between now and then, to figure it all out.“The goal now is to merge our players abroad with our domestic players and come up with the best roster for those games against Honduras and Panama,” Arena said Thursday during a media conference call. “We’re working right now with a pool of approximately 40 players, give or take a few numbers, and we need to break it down to somewhere near 25 players to call in for March when we report to San Jose [California, the site of the Honduras match].”So Arena and his staff are going to hit the road. He went abroad in early December, shortly after taking the job, and saw and/or met with Fabian Johnson, Christian Pulisic, Timmy Chandler, Bobby Wood and John Brooks during a few busy days in Germany. That was before the recent national team camp, however, so Arena now should have a better idea of the team’s needs, strengths and how those players will fit in next month. “We’re going to visit them,” Arena said of his Europe/Mexico-based contingent. “We remain in contact with all of these players and as of today, we’ll probably have had contact with every player in our pool … emails, phone conversations, and then visits. I’ve already been in touch with most of these players personally, visiting players in Germany in December and I plan to go back in the next week or so, as will other staff members. We’ll be going to Germany, England, Mexico, as well as following the players in the United States.“We understand how we’re going to play. We have a depth chart, and we’re going to sit down and have some conversations, make sure the players understand what we’re trying to do before we even get [to San Jose].” If it’s a challenge, it’s a good one to have. Arena said he thought Wood, Pulisic and DeAndre Yedlin, who’s at Newcastle United, all have been playing well and that Johnson and Brooks are healthy and returning to form. Arena also mentioned Julian Green, who scored his first goal for VfB Stuttgart on Monday, and Timmy Chandler, who’s suspended for the Honduras game but has been solid at Eintracht Frankfurt.“Certainly those players are going to be given strong consideration,” Arena said.English Championship-based defenders Eric Lichaj and Tim Ream also received a Thursday shout-out, as did Liga MX regulars Paul Arriola and Omar Gonzalez.“I think in particular Lichaj and Arriola are players right now that we have to strongly consider for the March camp. We’re going to get to see those players in the next couple of weeks to help make some of those decisions,” Arena said.Two big names that Arena likely won’t be able to see this month are veteran goalkeepers Tim Howard and Brad Guzan. Howard was hurt in the November loss to Mexico and the subsequent surgery on his groin kept him out of the Colorado Rapids’ conference finals series against the Seattle Sounders and then January camp. Guzan has been stuck on the bench at Middlesbrough. He’s played only five times for the Premier League club this season.Arena had praise for Nick Rimando, who was the No. 3 goalie for most of Klinsmann’s tenure and who shut out Serbia on Jan. 29. But the manager said he hadn’t given up on Howard and Guzan.“Brad Guzan’s a very experienced goalkeeper and as we saw in the case of Nick Rimando in the January camp, that experience means a lot and just because they’re not getting games on a consistent basis doesn’t mean you can rule them out,” Arena said. “Brad has shown enough that he’s still a strong candidate to be our No. 1 goalkeeper.”Arena added that Howard’s prognosis at the time of his injury was a break of 12-16 weeks.“He’s on schedule to hopefully start in the first weekend of the Major League Soccer season,” Arena said. “Perhaps he won’t be a candidate for March, but right now he’s in the picture and that’s a positive as well.”It’s a picture that came into slightly sharper focus last month. Benny Feilhaber and Dax McCarty are back, Sebastian Lletget and Jorge Villafaña are legit, and there is an increasing plethora of permutations in defense. There are more questions in goal than usual, and how the U.S. will balance winning the midfield while providing Jozy Altidore with the support he needs to thrive remains uncertain. Now throw in all the foreign players and the uncertainty of early season fitness and form for those in MLS, and you get a sense of the scope of Arena’s task.Now the process of narrowing that picture begins.

In-need U.S. men’s national team re-enters Bruce’s unchanged arena

• Bruce Arena guided the U.S. men’s national team to unparalleled success, and now he’s back as a Band-Aid to help the Americans qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

GRANT WAHLThursday February 2nd, 2017This story appears in the Feb. 13, 2017 issue of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. 

In mid-January, a few days before he led the U.S. men’s soccer team into practice for the first time in 11 years, coach Bruce Arena settled in for a long dinner at Mangiamo, his favorite Italian haunt near his home in Manhattan Beach, Calif. One of Arena’s companions ordered a Cabernet from Chateau Montelena and told the story of the scrappy Napa Valley winery: how in 1976 it competed in a blind-tasting challenge—the so-called Judgment of Paris—against leading French vintners and won, to the shock and consternation of Old World connoisseurs.Arena, 65, nodded, knowing full well that this was a conversation about soccer, too. If the history of a football culture were all that mattered for World Cup success, “then we should just drop out of FIFA because most of the other countries are far more advanced,” said Arena. “But that’s not the way Americans think. We can be the best. We are advanced enough now to move the sport forward on our terms with our culture. We will eventually be the envy of every country in the world. I hope to be alive at that point.”No coach has done more to raise the global profile of U.S. men’s soccer than Arena, who first took over the team following a last-place finish at World Cup 1998 and then led the U.S. to the quarterfinals in 2002 (before a first-round exit in ’06 led to his departure). Yet the challenge to start Arena’s second tenure is more immediate: to qualify for World Cup ’18, by any means necessary.“That,” Arena says, “is my only goal right now.”The U.S. is one of just seven countries to have competed in every men’s World Cup going back to 1990, but that streak is in real danger after two straight losses—zero points—to start the final round of regional qualifying, in November, led to the firing of coach Jurgen Klinsmann.“Once we decided a change was going to be made, I think Bruce was very much the obvious choice, given three things,” says U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati. “One, his record and experience. Two, his knowledge of the player base and the work at hand. And three, the timing issue: There’s a relatively short period of time to get ready for our qualifiers. You put all those together, and the catchphrase would certainly be safe hands.”Arena believes that to best position itself, his team needs to pick up at least four points—a win and a tie—in its next two qualifiers, against Honduras (in San Jose) and at Panama, in March. That would bring the U.S. out of last place in the six-team, 10-game CONCACAF Hexagonal tournament, from which the top three (and perhaps even four) will qualify for Russia.

Arena won’t make sweeping personnel changes; he believes it’s too late to experiment. But he spent the U.S. team’s January camp preaching a return to the defiant aggressiveness that defined the U.S. teams of Arena (from 1998 to ’06) and Bob Bradley (from ’06 to ’11).We need to take initiative, regardless of who we are playing,” says Arena, who famously preached “first tackle, first foul, first shot, first goal” in the locker room before the U.S.’s World Cup 2002 upset of Portugal. “We can’t be intimidated. We want to compete like we compete in everything we do in our society. We are aggressive people. We want to be leaders in every field.”Arena was plenty busy in the 10 years he was away from the U.S. job, guiding the LA Galaxy to three MLS championships, bringing his MLS total to a record five (along with five NCAA titles at Virginia). But he always watched the national team closely, and never in public. His feelings were just too personal, especially when Costa Rica drilled Klinsmann’s outfit 4–0 in November and several U.S. players appeared to quit on the field.“He felt terrible,” says his wife of 40 years, Phyllis. “It really bothered him.”The culture of pride that Arena helped build was buckling under Klinsmann.“I was always proud during Bob’s tenure,” says Arena. “Whether [the team] looked good or didn’t, there was fight—the right mentality, the understanding of team and playing together. In this business, results don’t always go your way, but you want to make sure the group is there collectively, and during Bob’s tenure that was the case.”“The last four or five years [under Klinsmann], I just didn’t feel a connection to the program,” Arena continues. “There were too many swings up and down along the way that didn’t show the same culture that was developed after ’98. Right or wrong, Jurgen marketed a concept that never got there—about how good they were going to be and the style of play. We [coaches] don’t have a lot of control over that. If you want us to play like one of the great countries in the world, it’s not likely to happen in the short term. That doesn’t mean [our style is] wrong or bad—that means we’re playing the cards that are dealt to us.”

et Arena isn’t here just to bury Klinsmann, whose U.S. team, after all, did advance from a difficult group in World Cup 2014 before performances started dipping in the two subsequent years.“He brought enhanced visibility to the program,” Arena says, “and he convinced U.S. Soccer that the national team demands a certain level of support it never had before. I remember going to Europe [on scouting trips] and having to buy a cellphone and a SIM card because they wouldn’t give me a global phone. I know I step into a position that is greatly supported.”The other side of that equation: With greater investment come expectations that are higher than ever. Hundreds of millions of dollars—and, in many ways, the continued growth of American soccer—are riding on the U.S. qualifying for 2018. Failure is not an option.

**********

On the first night of the U.S. team’s January camp, Arena spoke at a dinner for the players. He welcomed them, told them it was an honor to be back and laid out his plans for the year ahead, including July’s Gold Cup. But he couldn’t help but drop a wisecrack: “I did these camps back when we played the Gold Cup in January—remember that, Beaz?” Arena said, motioning to DaMarcus Beasley, the oldest field player in the room. “Beasley was about 30 years old at the time,” Arena deadpanned in his native Brooklynese. Everyone laughed, including Beasley (who was a 19-year-old midfielder on that 2002 roster). The Bruce was back.

Eleven years after Arena last coached the U.S., he may be older and a little wiser, but not much else has changed. “The nuts and bolts of Bruce are pretty consistent,” says U.S. assistant Dave Sarachan, who has worked at Arena’s side going back to the 1980s. “All the details are covered. His passion to win hasn’t changed. His instincts are still good. I’d say he’s got a greater perspective on what the game can bring, the highs and the lows; his patience is better. . . . But the ball-busting, the little jokes and jabs here and there? Nothing will change on that end.”For U.S. captain Michael Bradley, the shift in the team’s tenor under Arena is palpable.“From the first day Bruce came in, he’s done a really good job of setting the right tone and making sure guys understand that we let some things slip,” Bradley says. “He has been clear in terms of what he wants to see, what he wants our team to be about. It’s exactly what we needed at this moment.”Away from the field, the biggest changes for Arena since 2006 are his two grandkids—Wayde, 4, and Holden Bruce, 3—who live a block away in Manhattan Beach and are constantly visiting the man they call Pepaw. Their father, Kenny, is also an assistant on the current U.S. staff. And while Arena has never been a social media guy, his late-in-life willingness to laugh at himself has led to multiple Internet memes, whether it’s been a photo of Arena swigging from a champagne bottle at the podium after winning the 2014 MLS Cup title or a snap of him cuddling with his dog at home.To hear Arena, he’s more prepared than ever to take on the challenge. With experience, he says, he can see things on and off the field more quickly, can talk to players and already sense what they’re going to say. In comparison with 15 years ago, he says, “I’m probably more understanding—yet I also understand when you need to bring the hammer down. I still have the ability to communicate with players at any level. Anyone can put 11 players on the field, but how you deal with it off the field is equally important.”In Arena’s camp there are no curfews (as Klinsmann had), and agents are allowed in the team hotel lobby (after being banned by Klinsmann). In January, players were required to attend team breakfast and lunch but were free to go out on their own for dinner. Arena essentially has two rules: Be on time, and no cellphones at team meals.“I don’t think that being called into the national team means you need to be locked in prison for 30 days,” he cracks. “What’s the point of that? Are we going to change their diet and habits for the next 300 days of the year? If you go out and have a beer, the world isn’t over. And I have no interest in sitting in a hotel lobby, checking on curfews and all that other s—. I have enough headaches to deal with.” Don’t expect many changes to the starting lineup—Play the cards you’re dealt. A few things are clear, though:

•  He sees Bradley, 29, as a defensive midfielder.Whereas Klinsmann often tried to use the U.S. captain in an attacking role (with mixed results), Arena wants Bradley in a ball-winning position in front of the back line. “He’s a guy who can help you in buildup and possession,” the coach says. “He’s got a great work rate. He’s a leader. He’s vocal. So he checks a lot of boxes.”
•  Sacha Kljestan could get a lot more playing time.The 31-year-old attacking midfielder had a career year with MLS’s Red Bulls in 2016 (six goals, 20 assists), and he earned a long-awaited callback to the national team. Now he could become a starter. “We need a better player in the midfield in terms of passing and being more creative,” Arena says. “Sacha has some skills that we need on the field.”
•  The German-based Americans who rose under Klinsmann will still play a big part.Though none of them were involved in the January camp, which took place outside of a FIFA international window, Arena clearly values their roles. He started his new tenure in December by visiting five players stationed in Germany: winger Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), forward Bobby Wood (Hamburg), midfielder Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and defenders John Brooks (Hertha Berlin) and Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt). “That’s an important part of it,” Arena says. Their performance will be crucial in the eight World Cup qualifiers of 2017. The 18-year-old Pulisic, in particular, is on the verge of stardom.
•  Clint Dempsey won’t play an immediate role.The No. 2 all-time U.S. men’s goal scorer, now 33, has been one of the national team’s few reliable finishers in big games, but an irregular heartbeat has kept him from playing competitively since last August. Dempsey has started training again with MLS’s Seattle Sounders, but Arena has ruled him out from playing for the U.S. in March.

After four decades of coaching soccer, almost nothing is new to Arena. He has an abiding belief in the American footballer, and he thinks today’s U.S. players are technically better and more physically advanced than their predecessors.“But mentally, whether they’re better or not is a question mark,” he says. “One would think that if you’re physically and technically better, you should be better—but I’m not ready to agree with that. The mentality has to be right; the environment has to be right. There’s enough talent to get this team to Russia, but we are behind the eight ball. Zero points doesn’t look good.”And so while the only goal right now is to qualify for the World Cup, deep down Arena is aware of something else: How you reach the tournament has nothing to do with how you play once you’re there. Consider 2002, when Brazil barely qualified but went on to win the tournament. Arena’s U.S. team had the same experience that year—it struggled in qualifying but then enjoyed the best World Cup run by an American men’s team in modern history. (Arena knows how slim the margins can be; he saw the other side of that in ’06, when he says “we were probably a couple of players from being in position to advance to the next round [that year].”)Visions of the U.S. again advancing to the quarterfinals can wait for another day.“This could be a real ugly situation in a short period of time—or it could be a much better situation,” Arena says. “The best advice you could ever give a team is to expect the unexpected. Never feel real good or real bad, because s— is going to happen.”The next nine months will feature plenty of potholes and mishaps on the road through Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Arena has been here before. That’s why he’s here again.

Jordan Morris, Walker Zimmerman impress as Arena’s U.S. fringe side win

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The extended year-opening training camp for the U.S. men’s national team is over after Friday’s 1-0 friendly win against Jamaica. Now the attention shifts to two pivotal World Cup qualifying games in March that will go a long way toward determining whether the Americans can snare an invite to the global party in Russia next year.The planning for those matches will begin immediately. And while only half of the players who took to the artificial turf field against the Reggae Boyz at Finley Stadium are likely to be on coach Bruce Arena’s roster for those qualifiers against Honduras and at Panama, Friday’s contest — and the three-and-a-half-week camp overall — will in many ways serve as the foundation for what happens in March.”The game tonight was fast, not an easy game to play in,” Arena said after picking up the first win in his second stint as coach of the national team, after a scoreless draw with Serbia last week.”The Jamaican team really got after us, they attacked us well. It made it a good game for me to look at our players and evaluate them.”The biggest thing we’re trying to do is form a team out of this group of players and take a little pride in what they’re doing.”We’ve had two games where we haven’t conceded a goal, which I think is a real positive.”It was far from the only one.Before the camp-ending two-game slate, Arena said he was hoping to use the matches to answer some outstanding questions he had, mainly about individual players. Since many players in the projected American lineup for March were unavailable versus Jamaica because they’re with their club teams in Europe and Mexico — and since March lineup locks Jozy Altidore and captain Michael Bradley were on the bench to start this game — it was a golden opportunity for this squad of mostly MLS players to show what they could do.Mission accomplished on that front. Jordan Morris got the only goal the U.S. would need after a slick second-half buildup with Benny Feilhaber, who made his first international start in more than four years. Young defender Walker Zimmerman, in his U.S. debut, was flawless. Others took full advantage of their chance too, putting themselves in position to earn a recall for the games that really matter”Morris has made a statement,” Arena said of the Seattle Sounders forward, who was named man of the match. “He’s clearly a likely candidate for our camp in March.”  Zimmerman appeared to be a long shot for the qualifying squad at the beginning of January, but the 23-year-old was so poised that he might be considered a depth option behind veterans John Brooks and Omar Gonzalez. Sebastian Lletget put in what Arena called a “workmanlike” performance in the midfield, where Dax McCarty excelled in Bradley’s usual holding role. Juan Agudelo, Morris’ partner up top, was lauded by the manger for his “real good effort” despite missing a first-half chance to score.And Jorge Villafana and Graham Zusi manned the full-back positions competently if not spectacularly, which pleased Arena, too.”That’s a position that I have some concerns about, the outside back positions,” Arena said.”So to have those two both play in two games and hold up pretty well, that’s encouraging.” Clearly, the players knew what was at stake. They were also happy to get Arena, who previously led the U.S. from 1998 to 2006, his first U.S. victory in more than a decade.”That’s something that we really wanted to get out of this match, getting a win and getting that winning mentality, because that’s what’s going to help us in March,” Lletget said.It wasn’t all perfect, of course. Then again, in what was effectively a glorified scrimmage for a group of players who have been idle for a long stretch, in some cases since late October, it wasn’t expected to be.”I would’ve liked to have us to score a few more goals in these past two games, but that usually comes a little later in the preseason,” Arena said. “Usually, the attacking players need a little bit more time.”Still, Morris’ strike was a thing of beauty.”Dax played a great ball in to Benny,” Morris said, “and Benny, a very skilled player, flicked it, and I think we just played a one-two around the guy and space opened up, and luckily I was able to finish it.””Dax found a great ball to me,” Feilhaber added. “And Jordan’s ball was fantastic.”But perhaps the most impressive thing about Friday’s game was the defensive showing; keepers Luis Robles and David Bingham, who played a half each, didn’t face a single on-target shot.For a team that struggled mightily at the back in the two November qualifying losses that cost ex-coach Jurgen Klinsmann his job, that’s no small thing — even if the personnel were different this time around.”Our biggest thing, what we can influence the most with the team, is our mentality when our opponents have the ball and how we move and react,” Arena said. “I’ve been encouraged by how we’ve been able to become a pretty solid defensive group over the last couple of weeks.”It also gives Arena and his team something to build on for next month.Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @DougMacESPN.

Walker Zimmerman, Benny Feilhaber push U.S. to win against Jamaica

In the second match of the second tenure for Bruce Arena as U.S. national team head coach, the Americans managed to do two things they couldn’t in Arena’s first match in charge against Serbia: score a goal and collect a win. Despite the relative weakness of the Jamaican team, the U.S. ends January camp on a positive note with the 1-0 victory.

Positives

With two forwards ahead of creative influence Benny Feilhaber, the U.S. looked to be a more dynamic side than they were against the Serbians on Sunday. Feilhaber roamed freely under the front line, picking up the ball and dribbling into space on a fairly regular basis. The backline played a near-perfect game, especially the center-back pairing of Walker Zimmerman and Steve Birnbaum.

Negatives

Until the breakthrough in the 59th minute, the U.S. looked relatively toothless. Possession, something that was a given considering the inexperience of the Jamaican side, did not lead to enough real chances. Too much was left for Feilhaber to do and rarely did an American cross lead to anything of substance. A one-goal win hardly feels like the complete performance the Americans wanted.

Manager rating out of 10

6.5 – Arena changed up his lineup for the second match of the January camp, going so far as to leave Michael Bradley on the bench to start the game. Switching to a two-striker system paid some dividends, and the defensive set up was solid. Arena’s substitutions gave him a good look at most of his roster when combined with the Serbia match.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Luis Robles, 5 — Had very little to do in his 45 minutes on the field, though he was called upon to punch out a driven cross. Played the ball into the path of a Jamaican player, which luckily did not result in a goal.

DF Graham Zusi, 6 — Played well when pushed up and on the ball, giving the U.S. a smart option to release pressure. Struggled with one-on-one defending and beaten with speed more than once.

DF Steve Birnbaum, 6.5 — Guilty of doing very little wrong in a 90-minute performance. Made a handful of strong defensive interventions.

DF Walker Zimmerman, 8 — Excellent all night. Composed and aggressive when necessary. Passed well out of the back and showed bravery by pushing the space in front of him when available.

DF Jorge Villafana, 6.5 — Solid performance that will put him in good stead moving forward. Rarely out of position. Worked well up the left in attack.

MF Dax McCarty, 6.5 — Broke up play from his holding-midfield position well. Strong passing for most of the night but did turn the ball over uncharacteristically to start the second half. Played a great pass to set up the goal.

MF Chris Pontius, 5 — Popped up only sporadically on the right side of the midfield. Presented with a good chance to get a head on a cross in the first half and whiffed. Created a few good moments by pushing to the end line.

MF Benny Feilhaber, 7.5 — A creative force in the middle of the field during the entirety of his 60 minutes but really showed his quality by setting up the Jordan Morris goal.

MF Sebastian Lletget, 6 — Provided some good combination play with Villafana on the left side in the first half. Hit a few dangerous crosses and showed his versatility.

FW Jordan Morris, 7 — Did what forwards are supposed to do by scoring in the 59th minute. Missed a good chance when played in against Jamaica keeper Andre Blake in the first half. Covered lots of ground.

FW Juan Agudelo, 6.5 — Set the tone for the U.S. with effective pressing early. Excellent workrate but couldn’t find the ball in dangerous areas. Faded in the second half.

Substitutes

GK David Bingham, 6 — Touched the ball only twice in a very quiet second half.

MF Michael Bradley, NR — Came in just after the U.S. goal and brought composure in central midfield. Sat deep and played smart passes.

MF Darlington Nagbe, NR — Good with his touch and passing, misplaced a few passes. Did the smart thing to help close out the game.

DF Brad Evans, NR — Good on the ball. Tested by Sounders teammate O’Neil Fisher more than once and coped well.

MF Alejandro Bedoya — Added energy and ground coverage in central midfield in a cameo appearance. Missed just one pass.

DF DaMarcus Beasley, NR — Overlapped very early in his appearance at left back with his trademark speed but touch let him down.Jason Davis covers ESPNFC

Sunil Gulati: U.S. Soccer, USWNT will come to ‘equitable agreement’ on CBA

The U.S. women’s national team and U.S. Soccer remain engaged in talks over a new collective bargaining agreement, and after one meeting with the new player reps and legal representation, the tone of those talks has changed, federation president Sunil Gulati said in a wide-ranging interview with SI’s Grant Wahl on the Planet Futbol Podcast.The U.S. women’s player’s association moved on from Rich Nichols, who had been representing the players and their interests of securing equal pay to that of the U.S. men, hiring the firm of Bredhoff & Kaiser and naming Becca Roux the interim executive director. The three players at the forefront of the discussions are now Becky Sauerbrunn, Christen Press and Meghan Klingenberg.“We’ve had a couple meetings,” Gulati said. “They have new leadership in terms of their legal representation. We’ve had one introductory meeting with that leadership. There are more scheduled for the next few days and subsequent period. The whole discussion has a different dynamic, a different tone. That’s certainly a positive. That greatly reflects the leadership of the team and their views in making a decision they were going to change leadership and who that representative is. In the end, the players are the ones who set that tone.”With the equal pay discussion being a complex one given a number of factors that differ on the men’s and women’s side, Gulati says that what he is hoping to achieve is an “equitable agreement,” one that is fair for both sides based on those variables.“I always use the term ‘equitable pay.’ What is fair. And I have no doubt we’ll come to an equitable agreement with the players. There are so many differences in the agreements now in some of the benefits that the women’s players get and some of the benefits the men’s players get. There are differences in revenues. All of that will be part of the discussion. The men don’t have guaranteed contracts year-round. The women do. And it’s for a very important set of reasons.” Elsewhere on the women’s soccer front, the NWSL just signed a three-year broadcast TV deal with A+E Networks and Lifetime (with A+E Networks purchasing a stake in the league), which will increase the exposure on the growing league. Gulati sees this as a difference maker in terms of getting the league more commercial viability and greater exposure than the handful of games that have been televised in the past few seasons.“It’s a huge positive, because it gives the league exposure that it’s never had,” Gulati said. “This is 20-plus games every year … In the last three hours, I’ve had a couple emails of commercial entities which are interested now in talking to the league. You’re treated much more seriously when that happens.”Listen to the full interview with Gulati in the podcast above and subscribe to Wahl’s weekly interviews via iTunes here.

Breaking down the 12 cities vying for the next round of MLS expansion

Jan. 31 marked deadline day overseas, as the transfer windows for various leagues slammed shut. In North America, it was a deadline day of a different sort, as Tuesday was the final day for cities to submit their bids to acquire MLS expansion franchises.All told, 12 cities submitted bids, and in the coming months, they will aim to convince MLS owners that their combination of market, stadium and ownership groups should be chosen. MLS has said it will select two cities in the second or third quarter of this year, with the other two to be chosen at a later date.Here’s how the various bids shape up.

 Charlotte

Ownership: Marcus Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Stadium: The current proposal would demolish Memorial Stadium and replace it with a 20,000-seat, $175 million venue.
Overview: The stadium is often the trickiest hurdle to clear for expansion candidates, and such is the case in Charlotte. The city council declined to vote on a $43.75 million funding package after Mecklenburg County approved a similar measure, though Smith has said he intends to press on. Charlotte’s market size is in the middle compared to its competitors, and when combined with the stadium issues, breaking away from the pack during the evaluation could be difficult. Some positives are the area’s growth and that MLS is eager to fill a geographic gap in the South.

 Cincinnati

Ownership: Carl H. Lindner III, co-CEO of American Financial Group, owner, chairman and CEO of FC Cincinnati
Stadium: The team currently plays at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium but has plans to build its own venue and is currently narrowing its list of potential sites.
Overview: FC Cincinnati has been a huge success story at USL level, drawing crowds of more than 17,000 on average last season. But the club knows it can’t stay at Nippert Stadium forever, and details are still sparse in terms of potential sites. Cincinnati’s market is also the smallest of the candidates. That said, it’s a bid that has generated significant momentum in the past year, and the Lindner family’s net worth of more than $2 billion is more than enough to satisfy the financial requirements of MLS.

 Detroit

Ownership: Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, founder and chairman of Quicken Loans, Inc.; Tom Gores, owner of the Detroit Pistons, founder, chairman and CEO of Platinum Equity.
Stadium: Gilbert and Gores are proposing a $1 billion development at the Wayne County Jail site that will include a 23,000-seat stadium at a cost of $250 million.
Overview: For all the talk about expanding the league into the southeastern corner of the U.S., there are still some pockets in the Midwest that the league would like to move into, and Detroit is one of them. Among the expansion candidates, only Phoenix has a larger metropolitan area. Gores and Gilbert, owners of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, respectively, bring deep pockets and knowledge of running a sports team.

 Indianapolis

Ownership: Ersal Ozdemir, founder and CEO, Keystone Realty Group, owner of NASL side Indy Eleven; Mickey Maurer, chairman of the board, National Bank of Indianapolis and IBJ Corp; Jeff Laborsky, president and CEO of Heritage; Mark Elwood, CEO of Elwood Staffing; Andy Mohr, founder and owner of Mohr Auto Group.
Stadium: There is a proposal to build a $100 million stadium downtown. The site is still to be determined, but the preferred site is near Lucas Oil Stadium.
Overview: Indy Eleven have been a success both on and off the field in the NASL — no small feat, given the league’s difficulties in 2016. Concerns have been raised about the ownership group’s financial heft, but additional investors are being recruited. One big question is if the city and state will help pay for the stadium. The city sounds reluctant, but the fact that this is an MLS project and not an NASL project gives the bid hope that the state will be more helpful.

Ownership: John Ingram, chairman of Ingram Industries, Inc. board of directors; Bill Hagerty, former commissioner of Economic Development for Tennessee.
Stadium: The current plan is light on details, though Mayor Megan Barry has proposed a site near the Nashville Fairgrounds. Ingram hopes to build a 25,000-seat stadium downtown.
Overview: The ownership group might not be big, but the net worth of Ingram’s family is more than $4 billion, so that isn’t a concern. Nashville has historically supported national team games well. But Ingram will need to provide more details on his stadium plan and convince MLS that he can make the smallest market among the expansion candidates work. The location in the South certainly doesn’t hurt, nor does the level of support received by the NFL’s Titans and the NHL’s Predators.

 Phoenix

Ownership: Berke Bakay, governor, Phoenix Rising FC, CEO, Kona Grill; Brett Johnson, co-chairman Phoenix Rising FC, CEO, Benevolent Capital; Mark Detmer, board member, Phoenix Rising FC, managing director, JLL; Tim Riester, board member, Phoenix Rising FC, CEO, RIESTER; David Rappaport, board member, Phoenix Rising FC, partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP.
Stadium: The owners have plans for a climate-controlled stadium on a 45-acre site that is already under contract.
Overview: Among the expansion candidates, Phoenix is the largest city in the U.S. without an MLS team, and the fact that its stadium site has been secured is a big plus. The site plans include housing the club’s academy and access to light rail. That the ownership group has USL experience is a plus, though the team didn’t draw well last season.

 Raleigh/Durham

Ownership: Steve Malik, chairman and owner of North Carolina FC.
Stadium: Malik has identified three potential sites in hopes of building a 20,000-seat stadium, though he hopes to narrow that down in the next few weeks.
Overview: The area has some roots in the game, including youth, college and an NASL side that has been around since 2006. Similar to Charlotte, the area’s location would also give MLS more geographic diversity. Malik purchased North Carolina FC (formerly known as the Carolina RailHawks) in 2016. But Malik, who made his money in the healthcare sector, will need to bulk up his ownership group. There’s also a question of whether the market is big enough to support another professional sports team, in addition to the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.

 Sacramento

Ownership: Kevin Nagle, chairman and CEO, Sac Soccer & Entertainment Holdings, and minority owner of Sacramento Kings; Meg Whitman, investor, Sac Soccer & Entertainment Holdings, and CEO, Hewlett Packard Enterprise; Jed York, owner and CEO of San Francisco 49ers.
Stadium: The plan for a downtown stadium has already been approved by the city council.
Overview: Having existed as USL team Sacramento Republic since 2012 and with a stadium plan in place, Sacramento appears to have ticked all the boxes. But friction between SRFC and Sac Soccer & Entertainment Holdings (the entity that made the bid) is threatening to spill into the open. SS&EH is trying to acquire SRFC, but the two sides have yet to agree on a price. With San Diego making a strong push, Sacramento will need to get everyone pulling in the same direction to pull this off.

 St. Louis

Ownership: Paul Edgerley, senior advisor at Bain Capital, managing director at VantEdge Partners, part owner of Boston Celtics; Terry Matlack, managing director of Tortoise Capital, partner at VantEdge Partners; Jim Kavanaugh, CEO of World Wide Technology, founder of Saint Louis FC; Dave Peacock, former president of Anheuser-Busch Inc., chairman of St. Louis Sports Commission.
Stadium: Ownership is currently trying to push through a plan to build a 20,000-seat stadium near Union Station.
Overview: Given the long history of support for the game, St. Louis has all the makings of an ideal MLS city. The departure of the NFL’s Rams to Los Angeles would appear to create a sporting vacuum that the prospective ownership group would love to exploit. The presence of Dave Peacock, who worked closely with Don Garber when the former was at Anhaeuser-Busch, doesn’t hurt, either. But there are still questions about how the stadium construction will be financed. The state of Missouri has already said no, and the ownership has had to make up a $20 million decrease in funding at city level. It now looks like the city’s funding proposal will get on the April ballot. The success or failure of the project will likely hinge on that vote.

 San Antonio

Ownership: Spurs Sports & Entertainment
Stadium: The team already plays at 8,000-capacity Toyota Field, and the infrastructure is such that it could be expanded to 18,000.
Overview: The San Antonio bid is blessed with an owner with vast experience in running a sports business and one that has built up considerable goodwill through the years, thanks to the success of the NBA’s Spurs. An existing, expandable stadium would appear to be a plus, but it sits 12 miles outside the “urban core” that MLS touts. That said, the stadium location on the north side of the city puts it that much closer to another coveted market: Austin. The demographics that include a large Hispanic population are such that there is a base of support for the game, but there are questions as to whether MLS wants a third team in Texas.

 San Diego

Ownership: Mike Stone, founder and managing partner of FS Investors; Peter Seidler, managing partner of the San Diego Padres; Massih and Masood Tayebi, co-founders of the Bridgewest Group; Steve Altman, former vice chairman and president of Qualcomm; Juan Carlos Rodriguez, media executive and entrepreneur.
Stadium: Ownership is proposing a 30,000-seat stadium to be shared with San Diego State University, where Qualcomm Stadium currently sits.
Overview: Garber has been quietly advocating for San Diego since he reached out to Mike Stone two years ago, and as is the case in St. Louis, the departure of the NFL’s Charges to L.A. has left a void in the city’s sporting landscape. The stadium plan seems to have strong political support, and the market seems primed for more soccer, despite the proximity to Liga MX side Club Tijuana just over the border. MLS loves its rivalries, but Southern California will have two MLS teams starting in 2018, when LAFC comes on board to join the LA Galaxy. Does it need another?

 Tampa/St. Petersburg

Ownership: Bill Edwards, owner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL).
Stadium: The plan is to invest $80 million in expanding Al Lang Stadium from 7,200 seats to 18,000.
Overview: The Tampa/St. Pete area is the largest media market without an MLS team, and its stadium plan is solid, which is something not every bid can say. Edwards is very outspoken and didn’t hold back in his criticism of the NASL when he left that league for the USL at the conclusion of the MLS season. But he has experience running a professional soccer team, which is always a plus. One question is whether Tampa’s proximity to existing MLS side Orlando City is a help or a hindrance.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle.

Great UEFA Champions League comebacks

Monday 6 February 2017–Inspired by the New England Patriots’s stunning Super Bowl victory on Sunday, UEFA.com delved into the record books to unearth six of the greatest UEFA Champions League comebacks.

The New England Patriots’ against-all-odds recovery to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI got UEFA.com thinking: what are the greatest comebacks in UEFA Champions League history?

• 2005: AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool (Liverpool win 3-2 on pens)
  The most famous of them all, the ‘miracle of Istanbul’. Trailing 3-0 at the break, Rafael Benítez’s side stormed back in the second half with three goals in seven minutes to set up a dramatic shoot-out triumph. Andriy Shevchenko, author of the winning spot kick in the 2003 final against Juventus, was this time denied by Jerzy Dudek to give Liverpool a remarkable victory. Snap shot: Liverpool’s Istanbul heroes

1993: Werder Bremen 5-3 Anderlecht
For the second straight group match Otto Rehhagel’s charges found themselves 3-0 down, but if their fightback had come up short a fortnight earlier in a 3-2 loss to Porto, there was no stopping them this time. Incredibly they did not score until the 66th minute, through Wynton Rufer, yet when the New Zealander netted again 23 minutes later it was to complete a brilliant fightback.

2001: Deportivo La Coruña 4-3 Paris Saint-Germain
“For the first five or six minutes of half-time I just let the players sit in silence,” recalled Javier Irureta after his team traipsed in trailing 2-0. The Deportivo coach’s medicine didn’t work immediately – Laurent Leroy soon made it three – but the players eventually got the message. A furious spell of attacking football brought four goals in 27 minutes, including a hat-trick of headers by substitute Walter Pandiani.

2005: Porto 2-3 MFK Petržalka
The hosts, UEFA Champions League winners 16 months before, were approaching half-time on cruise control but Peter Petráš’s strike gave the Slovak visitors (then known as Artmedia Bratislava) hope. Coach Vladimír Weiss seized his chance, throwing on another striker. “I told the players it’s better to lose 5-2 than not try to change something,” he reasoned. Goals from Ján Kozák and Balázs Borbély were his reward.

2014: Arsenal 3-3 Anderlecht
Even the Belgian side were left struggling to come up with an explanation after they staged the most unlikely of comebacks in north London. The writing appeared to be on the wall when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain opened up a 3-0 lead just before the hour, yet two Anthony Vanden Borre strikes and a last-minute equaliser by Aleksandar Mitrović earned the Brussels club a point.

2016: Beşiktaş 3-3 Benfica
The Portuguese team were 3-0 up and coasting with almost an hour gone in this group fixture. Then came the Beşiktaş response, started by half-time substitute Cenk Tosun. Benfica still seemed to have done enough as the game entered its final ten minutes. However, Ricardo Quaresma pulled another one back from the spot and, with 60 seconds of normal time remaining, Porto loanee Vincent Aboubakar dramatically levelled.

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So our Indy 11 have finally put their hat into the MLS Expansion pot for this round.  I think with the new stadium issues and just too many other cities with deeper pockets that Indy is certainly a long shot for MLS Expansion this go round – but its nice to see we are in the running.  Someday maybe – a nice new stadium over by Lucas Oil near the White River would be nice.

So Bruce is back in charge of the US team and we still can’t score.  0-0 with Serbia was certainly not the result we were looking for  – but I thought we of course dominated possession and had some good moments in the game. I thought Benny Feilhaber brought instant offense when he check in.  I also thought Sebastian Lletget gave some really good moments in the 2^nd half beside Michael Bradley who once again didn’t really impress.  I thought the Zusi experiment at right back went well – though I still think oustarting  right back playing really well in England right now.  It will be interesting to see how the midfield plays on Friday night 7:30 pm vs Jamaica on Fox Sports 1.

Big games this weekend as Arsenal gets there shot at Chelsea without Arsene Wenger on the sideline 7:30 am on NBCSN and Dortmund and US starlet Christian Pulisic face surprising Red Bull Leipzig at 12:30 on Fox Sports 1 or 2?  Sunday Leicester tries to fight its way above the relegation zone in a huge home match vs unbeaten in a long time Man United at 11 am on NBCSN.

GAMES ON TV  

Thurs,  Feb 2

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations Semi-Final 2

Fri, Feb 3

2:30 pm Fox Sport2  Hamburger vs Bayer Leverkusen

7:30 pm Fox Sport 1 USA vs Jamaica

Sat. Feb 4

7:30 am NBCSN            Chelsea vs Arsenal

9:30 am FS1                   Bayern Munich vs Shalke

10 am NBCSN                Hull City vs Liverpool

12:30 pm  Fox Sp 2   Dortmund vs Red Bull Leipzig

12:30 NBCSN?               Tottenham vs Middlesborough  

Sun, Feb 5

8:30 am NBCSN            Man City vs Swansea

10 am beIN Sport       Atletico Madrid vs Leganes

9:30 am Fox Soccer   Frieberg vs Hertha BSC

11 am NBCSN                Leicester City vs Man United

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations FINALS

2:45 pm beIN Sport?                       Juventus vs Inter

Sat, Feb 11

7:30 am NBCSN            Arsenal vs Hull City

12:30 pm NBCSN        Liverpool vs Tottenham

Sun, Feb 12

8:30 am NBCSN            Burnley vs Chelsea

Mon, Feb 13

3 pm NBCSN                   Bournemouth vs Man City

Tues,  Feb 14 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Benfica vs Borussian Dortmund

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         PSG vs Barcelona

Weds,  Feb 15

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Bayern Munich vs Arsenal

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Real Madrid vs Napoli

Tues,  Feb 21 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Bayer Levekusen vs Atletico Madrid

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Manchester City vs Monaco

Weds,  Feb 22

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Sevilla vs Leicester City

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Porto vs Juventus

Weds, Mar 1  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs England Women

7 pm Fox Sports 1      US Women vs Germany

Sat, Mar 4  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs Germany Women

5 pm Fox                      US Women vs England

 

Indy 11 + MLS

Indy 11 Bids for MLS Spot – SI

US Defender Oguchi Onyewu Returns to MLS with Philly SI

USA

Who should start for US vs Jamaica

US goalie Dilemma- Stars and Stripes

Jones and Kljestan leave camp

Will the US qualify for the World Cup?

Christian Pulisic vored one of top youngsters in Germany

 

Indianapolis will become 12th city applying for MLS expansion

BRIAN STRAUSMonday January 30th, 2017

On the eve of Major League Soccer’s expansion application deadline, Indy Eleven has made it 12.The NASL club’s president, Jeff Belskus, confirmed to SI.com late Monday that the Eleven, owner Ersal Ozdemir and the city of Indianapolis are pursuing one of the four MLS expansion openings. Ozdemir will deliver the application by hand to the league office in Manhattan on Tuesday. Indianapolis is the 12th city to declare its MLS intentions. In mid-December, the league announced its plan to add four more teams, bringing the eventual membership to 28 (including Los Angeles FC next year and David Beckham’s quixotic Miami project). At that time, prospective investors in Charlotte, Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville, Raleigh, Sacramento, St. Louis, San Antonio, San Diego and Tampa Bay already had come forward. An 11th applicant, the USL’s Phoenix Rising, then joined the fray last week.Indy’s absence on the original list was notable, but not entirely unexpected. The Eleven have done well at the gate and Ozdemir had met with MLS officials as far back as 2013. Indianapolis seemed like a city that was on the right trajectory. But stadium legislation stalled in 2015 when the Indiana house and senate couldn’t come to an agreement on whether to funnel usage taxes toward a new facility or use state funds to upgrade the Eleven’s current home, Carroll Stadium. So Indy’s MLS plans stalled as well.Then last summer, they were back on track. Confident that usage taxes (or taxes generated by the existence of the new stadium) would get the political traction required at the state and city levels, the Eleven re-opened conversations with MLS. Those talks led to the decision to bid and Ozdemir’s trip to New York.Belskus, who was the Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and CEO before running the Eleven, said the club’s MLS stadium will be a public-private partnership and that Ozdemir and his unnamed partners would be kicking in a “significant amount of private money.” Ozdemir will remain the majority owner.If built, the new stadium would be located in downtown Indianapolis between the Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium and the White River.“We have a lot of energy for building a soccer stadium here,” Belskus said. “We’ve proven Indianapolis has the fan base to support soccer. It will support pro soccer and it will support Major League Soccer … It’s so logical for us.”Sponsors are lined up, he added, and Ozdemir’s investor group “is committed. They want to see this work. The want to see it work for this community.” The Eleven kicked off as an NASL expansion team in 2014. Although the team fared poorly on the field in its first two seasons, support was strong. Indy’s average attendance led the league in ’14 (it surpassed 10,000 per game) and 2015 before falling to second, behind MLS-bound Minnesota United, last season. But that slight slip was offset by wins. Behind former Tampa Bay Mutiny and Colorado Rapids coach Tim Hankinson and Irish-born Libyan international Éamon Zayed, an NASL Best XI striker, Indy finished finished second in the overall 2016 regular season standings and fell to the New York Cosmos in the league title game.It will remain part of the NASL this year while pursuing a place in MLS.

 

Who should start for the USMNT vs. Jamaica?

A few lineup suggestions for Bruce to ignore.by Rob Usry@RobUsry  Jan 31, 2017, 8:45am PST

The first match of Bruce Arena’s second tenure as United States men’s national team manager didn’t go as anyone hoped. It’s hard to takeaway any positives from a boring and stale scoreless draw. I’ve seen some respected media members claim that the team’s shape looked more structured as if they had a better understanding of their roles. To that I’d sort of agree, but it’s just hard to lean on that narrative after just 90 minutes. The match on Friday against a decent CONCACAF side in Jamaica should tell a better tale.We’ve already seen Jozy Altidore come out and wonder if playing with a lone striker is the right move or not, with Arena responding that he could change up the formation at any time. Assuming that he decides to stay the course and trot out the same 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 he did against Serbia, what changes could we see? Two starters from Sunday are guaranteed to be replaced with Jermaine Jones and Sacha Kljestan leaving camp. Here’s a lineup I’d like to see on Friday if the formation and philosophy stays the same:

With Kljestan unavailable that leaves a hole in the No. 10 position. In my eyes, the only two options to replace him are Benny Feilhaber or Darlington Nagbe. Nagbe’s role for the Timbers the past couple of seasons has seen him shift into a central role, predominantly as a box-to-box player to support Diego Valeri, but he has the ability to be the primary playmaker to rely on. We saw what he can do on the wing against Serbia, now it’s time to get a feel for his contribution in the center pulling the strings.Replacing Jones is a little more complicated. The obvious pick is Sebastian Lletget, who came on a halftime for the veteran and did pretty well as a box-to-box midfielder. However, I’d like to see Dax McCarty inserted into the lineup for two reasons that both include Michael Bradley. The first is, McCarty offers a more defensive pure No. 6 option that would allow Bradley the freedom to move up and down the field as he pleases. He’s a defensive midfielder who needs a more defensive partner and that’s what McCarty offers. The second is looking toward the second half. Take Bradley out at halftime and replace him with Lletget no matter how the team is doing. It’s time to see a half of soccer that isn’t dedicated to finding the right scenario for Bradley to succeed.Jordan Morris on the wing is something the Sounders did several times throughout their MLS Cup run. Specifically in the Western conference finals against FC Dallas where the move paid off significantly despite objections from yours truly. His pace and attacking mentality offers that dynamic aspect that Jozy alluded to in his 4-3-3 concerns.The back line changes are all about seeing different options. Villafana looked good in his brief substitute appearance and Walker Zimmerman has apparently impressed in camp. Give those two a full run-out and give Luis Robles a chance in goal just as a reward for a long camp and being one of the most consistent performers in MLS for a long while.If Bruce decides that it’s time to change things up and adhere to Jozy’s concerns over a lone striker formation here’s a lineup I’d throw out there:

It’s the same personnel except for the switch of McCarty and Lletget. Having both McCarty and Bradley in a narrow formation like this would seem too defensive, akin back to the four CDM days under Klinsmann.Giving Altidore some striking support in Morris would make him happy and having Nagbe behind them doing his ‘sprint dribble past five players’ thing should open up some space for everyone.It’s not the most ideal lineup, but it could be effective.What do you think about these two options? What changes would you make if you were Bruce? Show us your tactical genius in the comments.

Jones and Kljestan leave USMNT camp, opening door in midfield

Leave a commentBy Nicholas MendolaJan 30, 2017, 8:01 PM EST

Jermaine Jones and Sacha Kljesten were sent home from United States men’s national team camp following the team’s 0-0 draw against Serbia on Sunday.Jones will not play in March’s World Cup qualifiers due to suspension, so Bruce Arena sent him home to get used to his new LA Galaxy teammates.And Kljestan’s wife is giving birth, meaning he won’t play against Jamaica.That opens up the midfield for several U.S. players to seize an opportunity on Friday.It shouldn’t be hard for any one player to make a statement given the lackluster attacking performance from the MLS-only squad.Darlington Nagbe and Sebastian Lletget both impressed against Serbia, granted they stood out in a match that was offensively uninspiring.Benny Feilhaber didn’t get a ton of time to make an impact, and had a moment or two in his quarter-hour return to the fold. Chris Pontius came close to scoring during his 25-plus minutes, but neither ran wild against a team which entered the day with a combined eight caps.The only U.S. midfield player not to get a run was Dax McCarty, and it seems likely the new Chicago Fire man will see plenty of time against Jamaica.Perhaps Arena will line ’em up like so:

Robles

Zusi — Zimmerman — Evans — Villafana

McCarty — Bradley

Nagbe — Feilhaber — Bedoya

Altidore

The USMNT Goalkeeping Dilemma

The short term future of the goalkeeping position is in serious doubt.

by Adnan Ilyas@Adnan7631  Jan 31, 2017, 7:00am PST

News broke out late January that Brad Guzan would be leaving Middlesbrough in the Premier League in the summer and moving to the MLS expansion side, Atlanta United. While this is a big move for Atlanta, it does present a little bit of an issue for the USMNT. With Guzan’s move, there are no American goalkeepers left playing in the English top flight. Nor in any of the first divisions of Germany, Spain, Italy, or France. This hasn’t happened since Kasey Keller joined Leicester City in 1996, two decades ago. With Guzan leaving, there won’t be any USMNT caliber left in Europe except for Ethan Horvath, who recently moved to Club Bruges in the Belgium first division, the Jupiler League. With this change in situation, we need to evaluate the talent of the American goalkeeping pool.
By my count, these are the players who could be in the running for the starting place this year or in the near future.

Brad Guzan

Tim Howard

Ethan Horvath

Bill Hamid

David Bingham

There are other players who have played for the USMNT but who don’t appear to be in significant contention for the starting place. That includes Rimando, Robles, Cropper, and Yarbrough. But for the sake of time and relevance, I am limiting the discussion to that list of 5.

Guzan

Guzan’s been with the USMNT for a long time, dutifully serving as the backup behind Tim Howard. After Howard took a sabbatical following the 2014 World Cup, the starting position has been Guzan’s. The past few years have been a little bit rough for Guzan. An excellent stop-shot, Guzan was arguably the most important player in keeping Aston Villa from being relegated in 2013-14 and 2014-15. However, Guzan lost form with Villa in the last season and left to join Middlesbrough for free after the Birmingham side were relegated. Life with Middlesbrough has not gone as well as the Chicagoan would have hoped. The club brought in the Spaniard, Victor Valdes, to play as the starting keeper, with Guzan relegated to the backup role once again.

Guzan’s time as the starter with the USMNT has similarly been mixed. While the USMNT struggled in the months following the World Cup, Guzan played quite well. However, during the 2015 Gold Cup, he made several prominent errors, specifically in the semifinal against Jamaica. While throwing a ball to a teammate, Guzan accidentally carried the ball just past the boundary of the penalty box. The ref blew for a hand ball and Jamaica scored on the freekick. The US lost and were knocked out of the tournament (Guzan won the award for best goalkeeper, to my astonishment.) After the Gold Cup and the return of Tim Howard, Klinsmann announced that Guzan would split time as the starter with Howard. Guzan was named the starter for the Copa America Centenario in 2016, where he performed admirably. However, the policy of rotating between Guzan and Howard was re-implemented, with Howard playing in the loss against Mexico, at least until he was forced off with injury.

With a new coach leading the USMNT, Guzan’s role is, again, in doubt. Guzan no longer has the prestige of playing in the Premier League. Nor does he have consistent playing time to justify his inclusion, at least not until he arrives in Atlanta in the summer. At 32, Guzan’s age needs to be considered. While it is true that goalkeepers peak and decline later than outfield players, 32 is still towards the older side of the spectrum. He cannot be considered a project with hopes of improving. He’s at the age where his career has hit the peak and will advance no further. At worst, we could start to see the decline from age. If Guzan’s not starting, serious questions need to be asked if it would simply be better to bring in someone who will be relevant after the 2018 World Cup. Of course, this is all a moot point if Arena decides Guzan’s clearly the best talent the US has at this point. But that question has been debated, and may very well continue to be debated going forward.

Tim Howard

Tim Howard is a USMNT legend. He has the most caps for any goalkeeper in USMNT history. He’s played in 2 World Cups, setting a record for most saves in a single match in the loss against Belgium. However, at some point, the Secretary of Defense’s term must come to an end. Tim Howard is 37, approaching 38. He has seen a decline in form followed by a transfer to MLS and a long-term injury in the form of tear in his abductor muscle. At this point, if one were to ask if Howard were still the best goalkeeper for the US, the answer quite possibly could be “No”. Indeed, one could ask if Howard will even still be playing as a 39 year old by the time Russia 2018 rolls around. However, Howard is still the experienced veteran, the established name who can be depended on to marshal the defense into an impenetrable shield. If the USMNT needs results now, does that mean relying on Howard one more time to get through qualifying? Klinsmann seemed to at least consider it. We will have to see if Arena will be willing to try it, as well.

Ethan Horvath

Now we come to the prospects. Ethan Horvath is one of the brightest talents in the American Goalkeeping pool. Horvath was at Molde starting from 2013 where he eventually made 39 appearances, serving as a brilliantly effective keeper in the Norwegian League. Those consistent and distinguished performances led to a January transfer to Club Bruges, the leading club in the Belgian league. At just 21, Horvath has both a lot of talent and a lot of potential. However, he is serving as the back up for Club Bruges starting keeper, Ludovic Butelle, and has yet to make a start. Horvath certainly has a bright future ahead of him. The question is whether he will rise and become the next American starlet at keeper, and how quickly that rise will happen. There’s an opportunity for him to make a big splash this year, but it depends on how he presents himself in camp.

Bill Hamid

Bill Hamid has been the Next Big Thing for over a half-decade. While he’s been spectacular at times with DC United, including a Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2014, Hamid has had trouble turning that club success into a big offer from a European club or international success. Mostly, this has been because of a string of injuries. Hamid can’t seem to stay healthy long enough to get time with the national team, earning just 2 senior caps in 5 years. In this very January Camp, Hamid came in and was forced to leave early due to an injury. At the age of 26, Hamid has a huge opportunity to take the USMNT starting spot and make it is own, along with a big-money move abroad. But to do that, he’ll need to be consistent and, above all, healthy.

David Bingham

At 27, David Bingham is not exactly a prospect. However, the supporter turned player has performed admirably with the San Jose Earthquakes, emerging as one of the clear standouts in MLS. With Howard and Guzan aging, Bingham has a chance to eventually take the head spot, depending on how Hamid and Horvath turn out. It’s an outside shot, but he’s got a chance.

Will the U.S. Men’s National Team qualify for World Cup?

Originally posted on The Sports Daily  |  By Jack King  |  Last updated 2/1/17

Sandwiched in between a friendly match against Serbia and an upcoming friendly against Jamaica this Friday, new USMNT manager Bruce Arena has said that he sees no reason why his squad shouldn’t qualify for World Cup play.For context, we’ll take a look back to Nov. 20, when the USMNT was embarrassed 4-0 in Costa Rica. In the days following the loss, former manager Jurgen Klinsmann publicly stated that he was 1,000 percent sure that the team would advance to Russia in 2018. The U.S. found itself 0-2 in group play after losing to Mexico in a prior match, and Klinsmann was shown the door.For national team managers, their careers and team expectations are like milk carton expiration dates. Such is the case with Arena. He is well aware that the expectations placed upon him are twofold. First, he must pull the USMNT out of their slump and garner enough points in the next eight qualifying matches to compete in Russia.  With the top three teams making the trek (and a fourth involved in a home and away scenario), it would seem that the U.S. should advance. Once in Russia, it is expected that his squad will make a run deep into the competition.With two matches remaining against under-performing Panama and two against a weak Trinidad and Tobago team, ten points is likely to be earned and all twelve is not out of the question. The two games against Honduras should garner four points, and a home game against Costa Rica will produce no worse than a draw and a possible win. The other game on the schedule, against El Tri at The Azteca, will prove to be the most difficult qualifying match and even a point might prove elusive. But the USMNT will ultimately amass enough points to make the trip to Russia, which is the immediate task at hand for Arena.The CONCACAF region as a whole does not have any powerhouses, compared to what lies in Europe and South America. It relies primarily on Mexico and the U.S. to showcase its talent to the world, and both teams have underperformed in the past few years. That the USMNT has to fight its way to earn a qualifying spot within CONCACAF is not a benchmark for success, but it is a crucial first step. With all eyes on Arena as the new manager, he can only be as successful as his available talent.  The Serbia friendly that ended in a 0-0 draw saw a dearth of talent from his MLS players, given that they played against a tired Serbian squad comprised entirely of “B” and “C” team players. While most of the MLS-laden team will not make Arena’s final World Cup squad, the friendlies are critical to identifying role players, as well as providing depth to the team. While the manager was kind with his words, there were few standout performances following a three-week camp. The Jamaica friendly on Friday will be the last chance for these players to make an impact on the team before the next set of qualifiers begins on March 24th.That leaves the USMNT to rely upon their overseas players. But isn’t that where the USMNT was under former manager Klinsmann? While he favored the German system to train his players more than other leagues, the talent pool is no larger than it was last year. While the emergence of a player like Christian Pulisic is helpful to the team, at 18 years of age his biggest contribution will be in future Cups. Bobby Wood shows promise in the forward slot, while attacking midfielder Julian Green has demonstrated he belongs on the squad. While these players have value to the USMNT, if they aren’t stars on their club teams, it would be folly to expect such results as they compete on the world stage.The core of the USMNT team has quietly aged as well. Players like Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones have lost more than a couple of steps, and 33 year-old Clint Dempsey’s heart ailment leaves his playing career in question.One would think that new manager Arena has taken all of that into account and is fielding the best team available to him in a short amount of time. It appears that the shape of the U.S on the pitch has taken a more defensive posture, possibly to reduce their vulnerability from a counter-attack due to their lack of speed. All of that comes at a price, however, as forward Altidore has said that he isn’t keen on his lone-striker role. Look for the U.S. to provide more support to the flanks, which is where the team has taken a beating in recent matches. At age 65, Arena’s experience has taught him to keep the games close enough to be in a position to pick up points in each match.The Klinsmann era of the turbo-charged three-forward offense has passed. Arena’s style of play will be slower and more defensive-minded.  But if his squad is to have any chance to qualify for World Cup play in Russia in 2018, he might just need to make lemonade from lemons to advance.

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So the US Men’s National team under returning coach Bruce Arena kicks off with 2 games this week Sunday on ESPN 2 at 4pm vs Serbia and Friday at 7:30 pm vs Jamaica on Fox Sports 1.  It should be interesting to see how the US looks with just MLS players on the field- of course more interesting will be in a few months with the next round of qualifiers.  It’s a FA Cup weekend on Fox Sports so no EPL games to till the Tuesday Liverpool vs Chelsea match at 3 pm.  Chelsea then faces Arsenal with no Arsene Wenger the following Sat, Feb 4 at 7:30 am on NBCSN.  Will see if someone can bite into their lead.  Don’t forget Champions League is back the 2^nd week in Feb.

GAMES ON TV this Week 

Fri, Jan 27

2:30 pm Fox Sport 2                         Schalke vs Frankfurt

2:55 pm Fox Sport 1                         Derby County vs Leciester City (FA Cup)

Sat. Jan 28

7:30 am Fox Sport1   Liverpool vs Wolverhampton (FA Cup)

9:30 am FS2                   Werder Bremen vs Bayern Munich

10 am Fox Sport 1      Chelsea vs Brentford (FA Cup)

11 am beIN Sport       Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 1

12:30 pm  Fox Sp 2   Bayer Leverkusen vs Dortmund 

12:30 Fox Sport1        Southhampton vs Arsenal  

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 2

Sun,  Jan 29

6 am beIN Sport          Real Betis vs Barcelona

9:30 am Fox Soccer   Frieberg vs Hertha BSC

11 am Fox Sport 1   Man U vs Wigan Athletic – (FA Cup)

11 am beIN Sport       Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 3

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 4

2:45 pm beIN Sport                          Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad

4 pm ESPN            USA men vs Serbia

Tues, Jan 31

3 pm NBCSN                   Liverpool vs Chelsea

Weds,  Feb 1

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations Semi-Final 1

2:45 pm NBCSN           West Ham vs Man City

3 pm NBC Extra            Man United vs Hull City

3 pm NBC Extra            Stoke City vs Everton

Thurs,  Feb 2

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations Semi-Final 2

Fri, Feb 3

2:30 pm Fox Sport2  Hamburger vs Bayer Leverkusen

7:30 pm Fox Sport 1  USA vs Jamaica

Sat. Feb 4

7:30 am NBCSN            Chelsea vs Arsenal

9:30 am FS1                   Bayern Munich vs Shalke

10 am NBCSN                Hull City vs Liverpool

12:30 pm  Fox Sp 2   Dortmund vs Red Bull Leipzig

12:30 NBCSN?               Tottenham vs Middlesborough  

Sun, Feb 5

8:30 am NBCSN            Man City vs Swansea

10 am beIN Sport       Atletico Madrid vs Leganes

9:30 am Fox Soccer   Frieberg vs Hertha BSC

11 am NBCSN                Leicester City vs Man United

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations FINALS

2:45 pm beIN Sport?                       Juventus vs Inter

USA

US has the Players do They have the Identity However- ESPNFC – Gomez

Has Bruce got what it takes to Turn things Around for the US?

The Question of Commitment when Wearing the Red, White and Blue?  SI

Five Things to know about Sunday’s foe Serbia

US Pulisic signs thru 2020 with Dortmund

Smart Move by Pulisic to Re-sign with Dortmund – ESPNFC Video

Jordan Morris – I made the Right Choice to Stay in Seattle

US Ladies Alex Morgan and GK Ashlyn Harris are Concacaff players of year

US Ladies GK Ashlyn Harris

Champions League

Bayern expects tough match with Arsenal in Champions League

Who will be Upset in the Round of 16 UCL? Video

Can Higuain inspire Juve thru UCL?

Tues,  Feb 14 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Benfica vs Borussian Dortmund

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         PSG vs Barcelona

Weds,  Feb 15

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Bayern Munich vs Arsenal

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Real Madrid vs Napoli

Tues,  Feb 21 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Bayer Levekusen vs Atletico Madrid

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Manchester City vs Monaco

Weds,  Feb 22

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Sevilla vs Leicester City

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Porto vs Juventus

WORLD

Wenger Gets 4 match Ban

Rooney Becomes Man United’s All Time Leading Scorer with Streak Saving Screamer

Real’s 40 game Streak Comes to End – well below European Records

Real Madrid breaks Barcelona’s Record for No losses at 40

US Coach Bob Bradley Gets Raw Deal at Swansea

Steven Gerrard to Start Coaching at Liverpool

The World Order – FIFA’s Rankings over Time

MLS + Indy 11

China interest in Giovincho is worrisome – EPSN f C

Clint Dempsey Back to Training with Seattle after Heart Issue

US Defender Jonathan Spector Joins Orlando City

Kaka Plans to Stay with Orlando City

Tampa Bay Rowdies hope to be Next MLS Squad

San Diego has Investors with Hopes too

San Antonio Throws Name in Hat

MLS Schedule has Gold Cup Break in July

Indy 11 Season Starts April 1

Franco Returns

 GAMES ON TV  

Fri, Jan 27

2:30 pm Fox Sport 2                         Schalke vs Frankfurt

2:55 pm Fox Sport 1                         Derby County vs Leciester City (FA Cup)

Sat. Jan 28

7:30 am Fox Sport1   Liverpool vs Wolverhampton (FA Cup)

9:30 am FS2                   Werder Bremen vs Bayern Munich

10 am Fox Sport 1      Chelsea vs Brentford (FA Cup)

11 am beIN Sport       Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 1

12:30 pm  Fox Sp 2   Bayer Leverkusen vs Dortmund 

12:30 Fox Sport1        Southhampton vs Arsenal  

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 2

Sun,  Jan 29

6 am beIN Sport          Real Betis vs Barcelona

9:30 am Fox Soccer   Frieberg vs Hertha BSC

11 am Fox Sport 1   Man U vs Wigan Athletic – (FA Cup)

11 am beIN Sport       Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 3

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations QuarterFinal 4

2:45 pm beIN Sport                          Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad

Tues, Jan 31

3 pm NBCSN                   Liverpool vs Chelsea

Weds,  Feb 1

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations Semi-Final 1

2:45 pm NBCSN           West Ham vs Man City

3 pm NBC Extra            Man United vs Hull City

3 pm NBC Extra            Stoke City vs Everton

Thurs,  Feb 2

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations Semi-Final 2

Fri, Feb 3

2:30 pm Fox Sport2  Hamburger vs Bayer Leverkusen

7:30 pm Fox Sport 1 USA vs Jamaica

Sat. Feb 4

7:30 am NBCSN            Chelsea vs Arsenal

9:30 am FS1                   Bayern Munich vs Shalke

10 am NBCSN                Hull City vs Liverpool

12:30 pm  Fox Sp 2   Dortmund vs Red Bull Leipzig

12:30 NBCSN?               Tottenham vs Middlesborough  

Sun, Feb 5

8:30 am NBCSN            Man City vs Swansea

10 am beIN Sport       Atletico Madrid vs Leganes

9:30 am Fox Soccer   Frieberg vs Hertha BSC

11 am NBCSN                Leicester City vs Man United

2 pm beIN Sport         Africa Cup of Nations FINALS

2:45 pm beIN Sport?                       Juventus vs Inter

Sat, Feb 11

7:30 am NBCSN            Arsenal vs Hull City

12:30 pm NBCSN        Liverpool vs Tottenham

Sun, Feb 12

8:30 am NBCSN            Burnley vs Chelsea

Mon, Feb 13

3 pm NBCSN                   Bournemouth vs Man City 

Tues,  Feb 14 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Benfica vs Borussian Dortmund

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         PSG vs Barcelona

Weds,  Feb 15

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Bayern Munich vs Arsenal

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Real Madrid vs Napoli

Tues,  Feb 21 – Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Bayer Levekusen vs Atletico Madrid

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Manchester City vs Monaco

Weds,  Feb 22

2:45 pm Fox Sport 1                         Sevilla vs Leicester City

2:45 pm Fox Sport 2                         Porto vs Juventus

Weds, Mar 1  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs England Women

7 pm Fox Sports 1      US Women vs Germany

Sat, Mar 4  – She Believes Cup

4 pm ??                             France vs Germany Women

5 pm Fox                      US Women vs England

How might the USMNT lineup against Serbia Sun?

1 CommentBy Nicholas MendolaJan 23, 2017, 9:08 PM EST

It’s six days to Sunday, the first time we’ll see Bruce Arena manage the United States men’s national team since his rehiring late last year.The Yanks host Serbia in San Diego before moving to Chattanooga for a match against Jamaica. Both matches should be open-and-shut wins, as the Americans’ MLS-only lineup get “B-teams” from Serbia and Jamaica.[ MORE: Serbia, Jamaica rosters ]

Possible starting center back Matt Hedges a Carmel High Grad and his FC Dallas teammate, Kellyn Acosta, will miss through injury, while Arena sent Kekuta Manneh to Wales for Vancouver Whitecaps camp.That leaves 28 names — full roster at bottom — and the level of competition means Arena can take risks, like his choice to try Graham Zusi at right back.Arena used several different formations with the Galaxy last season, opting for anything from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-1-1.Here are some options against Serbia.

4-2-2-2

Arena could steady the middle of the pitch while using a pair of attack-minded veteran midfielders with points to prove.

Robles

Rosenberry — Birnbaum — Zimmerman — Beasley

Bradley — McCarty

Feilhaber —————————Kljestan

Morris — Altidore

4-4-2 (diamond) — Veteran heavy

Arena likes his veterans, and may want to give them the benefit of the doubt in front of fans and the eyes of U.S. Soccer.

Rimando

Zusi — Marshall — Evans — Beasley

Bedoya — Bradley — Jones — Kljestan

Altidore — Zardes

4-3-3

Bingham

Rosenberry — Birnbaum — Zimmerman — Garza

Bradley

Nagbe — Bedoya

Zardes — Altidore — Morris

Full roster

Goalkeepers: David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls), Brian Rowe (LA Galaxy)

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Unattached), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Greg Garza (Atlanta United FC), Taylor Kemp (D.C. United), Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC), Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City), Jorge Villafan (Santos Laguna)

Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Jermaine Jones (LA Galaxy), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)

Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)

Has Bruce Arena got what it takes to lead the U.S. to World Cup 2018?

By the time his topsy-turvy, five-year reign as United States head coach finally ended in November, Jurgen Klinsmann’s dismissal was greeted with relief and even joy among an overwhelming segment of fans.Bruce Arena’s hiring as Klinsmann’s replacement, however, was more divisiveMany saw the experienced Arena, who was previously in charge of the national team from 1998-2006, as the logical — and perhaps only — choice to steer the U.S. away from the bottom of the Hexagonal standings and back on course to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia. But others viewed the hire as a step back.”I might be biased, but I don’t think so: The person who can get the most out of this group of players right now is Bruce,” said Landon Donovan, the leading scorer in U.S. history. He debuted under Arena and played for him at two World Cups and during parts of eight seasons with the LA Galaxy. “I can also understand that the people who haven’t been around want to see progress. But this isn’t the time to experiment with a young coach who has two or three years of experience as a professional. This is the real deal, and we need to get to the World Cup.”But Kasey Keller, a National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee and Arena’s starting goalkeeper at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, is less enthusiastic than his former teammate.”It’s hard to look at it with total rose-colored glasses and say we’ve done exactly what we needed to do here to qualify for a World Cup,” said Keller, who was a frequent guest coach on Klinsmann’s staff. “Bruce was successful before as U.S. manager. He qualified the team twice. Bruce was also 26 minutes from getting knocked out before the Hex stage his first time around. So it will be interesting to see how it goes in his second stint. A lot of coaches in all sports have gone around the block a second time and haven’t fared too well.”Other skeptics have cited the fact that Arena has been out of international coaching for over a decade, and he admits the game has changed.”The sport is faster,” he said shortly after taking the job, citing improvements in conditioning and equipment. “Doesn’t mean that the players are better, but it’s a faster game.”The question is: Has Arena also evolved? Donovan believes so.”You can’t be successful for this long if you don’t have a firm belief in who you are and how you do things, but also if you’re not able to adapt,” he said. “[Arena has] continued to adapt to change with the times.”Arena insists he’s a better coach now than he was in 2006, when his contract was not renewed after the U.S. failed to survive the World Cup group stage. After a season and a half with the New York Red Bulls, he took over at the LA Galaxy in August 2008.In the eight full seasons that followed, Arena led LA to three championships and four MLS Cup appearances. He initially brokered a truce between Donovan and David Beckham and, over the years, won the respect of other high-profile players, such as Robbie Keane and Nigel de Jong. On the practice field, Arena’s training sessions became shorter but more intense.The Galaxy’s veteran-laden rosters were part of the reason for that switch, though, which is why it’s fair to wonder if the coach, who made Donovan and fellow 20-year-old DaMarcus Beasley focal points during the U.S. World Cup quarterfinal run in 2002, has become more conservative about giving opportunities to new players.Then again, Arena, who is now 65, helped turn raw college talents such as Omar Gonzalez and Gyasi Zardes into international regulars during his time in L.A. In 2009, Arena persuaded Gregg Berhalter to join him with the Galaxy. Berhalter, a former U.S. defender and current Columbus Crew coach, mentored Gonzalez.Berhalter doesn’t believe Arena will overlook deserving, young talent.”His intensity hasn’t wavered at all,” Berhalter said. “He still knows how to motivate young players. His strength is getting players to perform. That’s clear. He still has that, definitely. He gives young players trust. He gives them backing. And he’s not afraid to put them on the field. Sometimes coaches hesitate to play young players, but Bruce has never done that.”But Arena’s immediate remit is less to do with a process and more focused on results. He wasn’t brought in to groom the next generation; he was hired to get the U.S. to the World Cup in Russia. That means quickly restoring confidence after those ugly November qualifying losses to Mexico and Costa Rica. Two weeks into the national team’s January camp, the process appears to be well underway.”Everybody feels like they’re coming in with a clean slate,” midfielder Sacha Kljestan told ESPN FC last week. “There’s a freshness in the group again.”Part of the reason for that is Arena’s laid-back style. Klinsmann and Bob Bradley, his predecessor, liked to micromanage. But Arena is far less rigid.”He doesn’t over-train players; he’s sort of the anti-Jurgen in that way,” Donovan said. “He lets you be an adult, and that’s one thing that seems to me had gotten away from the team a little bit. It didn’t seem, at least when I was there, enjoyable to be in camp anymore. Bruce makes it fun. You can go have dinner with guys. You knew what you were there for, but he treated you like a professional. And if guys took advantage of it, then they weren’t there next time.”The first impression Arena has made on the camp’s newcomers has also been a good one.”He cracks some jokes here and there,” said Kellyn Acosta, who, at 21, was the youngest player called into the January camp. “He’ll catch you off-guard, like, ‘Did he really say that?'”When it’s time to get serious, though, Arena will ensure that everyone knows what is expected.”He doesn’t beat around the bush,” Donovan said. “If you’re going to play, he’ll tell you. If not, he’ll tell you.”D.C. United coach Ben Olsen, who played for Arena at club and international level, says Arena’s “ability to make players understand their role is very good.””It’s not that he’s not extremely sharp tactically — he is — he just understands that sometimes players need things boiled down and simplified. I don’t know what his secret is,” Olsen added. “He’s unique. Some guys, it’s easy to say he’s a disciplinarian. Or he’s a tactician. But it’s really tough to pigeonhole Bruce’s coaching style”Perhaps Arena’s biggest strength is as a man-manager, skills that will be put to the test when his full team convenes just days before what he has called a “must-win” qualifier against Honduras on March 24. It will mark Arena’s first chance to work with his European- and Mexican-based players and to address any rift either caused by, or at the root of, Tim Howard’s recent comments that suggest division exists within the national team’s locker room.It’s certainly not an ideal scenario but, given the timing and the job itself, Keller admitted that if a change was going to be made, there were not too many other options.”Who on the world stage is going to take this U.S. national team job?” he asked. “Carlo Ancelotti? Jose Mourinho? Where are we in that pecking order? Would Jurgen have taken it if he wasn’t married to an American and living in Southern California? It’s too difficult to say if this or that person is the right guy, because the reality is we’re kind of stuck in the middle as a nation. It’s not a big enough job to go grab these big-name managers, but it’s too big of a job to just give it to anyone.”For now, the job belongs to Arena and, for a side that looked lost at the end of Klinsmann’s tenure, the measure of success could not be more straightforward.”We have a team that can qualify for the World Cup,” Berhalter said. “We have the quality; it comes down to the psychological part of it. That’s a big part of the game. He’ll have the players motivated to perform, that I can guarantee.”And after 2018, it will be someone else’s turn.”If Bruce was the coach for the next 12-16 years, I’d say that’s a problem,” Donovan said. “And Bruce would admit that. He thinks we need to be developing younger coaches, and we are. But right now, his job is to coach, not to teach. He needs to get the most out of these players. And he will.”Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @DougMacESPN.

The U.S. national team and the uncomfortable question of commitment

AVI CREDITORThursday January 19th, 2017

“Think about who you try to disenfranchise.” – Mix Diskerud to Abby Wambach, December 2015

For over a year, an uncomfortable topic has been debated quite publicly by prominent U.S. men’s and women’s national team players: Foreign-born Americans and their commitment to representing the U.S. national team and the crest over the heart of the jersey they don. In the social-media-charged age of 2017, any public comment along those lines, one way or another, will be interpreted and spun a bevy of ways. And any clarification of comments can easily be viewed as an admission of guilt—a way to backtrack, placate and become more acceptable in the public eye. It’s important to note that not all comments on this topic are created equally. Some absolutely reek of tone-deafness and insensitivity, while others, although not phrased in the most appropriate of ways, may shed light onto deeper chemistry issues inside the locker room.born U.S. players, as he did in interviews in Los Angeles over MLS media day, is he making a sweeping generalization about all U.S. dual-nationals? Or is he, someone who has played for the U.S. for 15 years and seen different iterations of the team, giving a glimpse into the true, harsh reality about the state of the team? Either is possible, but it’s incredibly hard for anyone on the outside to know which it is. No matter, it opens an awkward discussion, one that emits reactions across a wide spectrum, including from those closest to the topic.  “It’s dangerous stuff where you have to be careful what you’re saying,” German-born midfielder Jermaine Jones told ESPN FC, in response to Howard, his teammate for both club (last season in Colorado) and country. “With all the respect for Timmy, I feel it’s not if you’re half American or full-American. It’s more what you have in here [your heart].”If you go on the field and you give everything for this country, then of course sometimes there’s a situation where you’re not playing good. But it’s normal. That can happen to everybody, and that’s what you have to understand.”Jones is absolutely right. Pride in the national team isn’t exclusive to someone born in the U.S., and when things go south, it’s not because of a player’s birthplace.The fact is—as has been reported over the last few years for those following closely enough—the U.S. men’s team has not always been tuned to perfect harmony, and roster overhauls haven’t always been seamless. As with teams in any sport and at any level, cliques and factions may develop, motivations can differ and unity isn’t easily achieved. When results don’t go the right way, these issues rise to the surface. That doesn’t mean it’s only because specific players weren’t born in the U.S., though it is possible that it can be a contributing factor depending on individual situations.  Howard clarified his initial remarks to try and say as much.”Some of them are [dual nationals], but I think others are players who have their roots here in America too. It’s not exclusive to them because some of our dual-nationals have been brilliant,” Howard told ESPN FC. “Jermaine Jones has been a rock for our national team. He’s been one of the heartbeats. Fabian Johnson has been brilliant for us. So, no, that wasn’t aimed at any one person in particular.”When it comes to representing a national team, certainly pride in that country and a stake in its fortunes is a factor. It has to be. For some, that may mean that if you’re involved in representing the U.S. for a longer time, then you’re more personally invested, and you’re more likely to be involved for a longer time if you’re born or grew up on U.S. soil. For example, Landon Donovan told Sirius XM Radio last December that, upon being cut from the U.S. World Cup team in 2014, he told Jurgen Klinsmann: “There’s at least a few players that are on your World Cup roster that are going that don’t care in the same way that I do. I grew up as a part of this whole system. I feel like it is a part of me and I think there’s players in that locker room who if you go three and out in the World Cup they’ll go back to their club teams and won’t even blink twice, whereas if we go three and out I’ll be devastated and I think that’s a piece that’s important.”It’s possible there’s plenty of truth to that. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an attack on all foreign-born Americans, no matter how it’s perceived. It’s an individual’s statement based on a close-up observation, and it will surely irk anyone who won’t entertain the possibility that there’s an unbiased foundation and basis for the remark.  Now, if this proves to be an issue of widespread xenophobia and jingoism on the national team, then that will be an absolute shame and disgrace. This is America, a welcoming melting pot full of differing stories and connections to the nation; and for some foreign-born players, their families have sacrificed an immeasurable amount to represent and protect this nation far from a soccer field. If you go back decades, U.S. players born both here and abroad have been important contributors to the national team and equally passionate about playing for the U.S. One of the indelible images of the 1994 World Cup is German-born Thomas Dooley celebrating the USA’s win over Colombia running around the field while carrying the U.S. flag. “The thought that the sons of American citizens who are overseas because they are serving their country in the armed forces have less of a right to play for the United States than someone else is just absurd,” U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati told SI’s Grant Wahl in 2014. “That sort of thinking is everything America shouldn’t stand for. [These players] were American citizens the day they were born.”If there are players, foreign-born or not, who see playing for the U.S. as a paycheck or a way to boost their own value and nothing more, then that’s a problem. But it’s not an excuse to generalize and accuse. There’s no place for that, and it’s on the manager—now Bruce Arena, who has had his own previous bout with word choice and opinion on dual-nationals—to navigate the issue with class and complete thought, choosing players he think can make the national team the most successful. It’s O.K. and healthy for him and others to question players’ commitment to the national team. It’s not O.K. to do that solely because of anyone’s origin. No matter if you’re the U.S. coach, a player or a fan, it would be wise to heed Diskerud’s pointed warning from 13 months ago.

Christian Pulisic made the right decision to sign a new contract with Borussia Dortmund

If Pulisic wants to become the best player he can be, he's best served by staying with Dortmund for the foreseeable future.by Kevin McCauley@kevinmccauley  Jan 24, 2017, 12:39pm EST

The United States’ biggest soccer talent will be staying put for a few more years. Borussia Dortmund has announced that Christian Pulisic signed a new contract that runs through 2020, ending speculation about an imminent transfer.Pulisic, just 18, was heavily linked to a Premier League move over the summer. He’s performed well for Dortmund this season so that interest was likely to resume this summer, but his inking of a new contract will probably keep him in Germany through at least one more summer. With Pulisic tied down through 2020, Dortmund now has zero incentive to sell to anyone, at any reasonable price.While Pulisic got a raise, Liverpool — the club Pulisic was most heavily linked to — can pay a lot more than Dortmund can, so it’s fair to say that Pulisic made a decision to prioritize other things over money in the short term. While there’s never anything wrong with players trying to get paid as much as possible, USMNT fans should be happy that Pulisic is currently putting his development as a player ahead of that.And given the playing time he’s getting at the moment, he appears to have made a good decision for the development of his career. If Pulisic moved to another country right now, he’d need some time to adjust and might fail to crack the starting lineup due to factors outside of his control. He’s made 31 appearances at a high level before his 19th birthday, and that’s something he’s probably interested in not messing up.Dortmund also has a lot of young players that Pulisic can grow alongside. It’s unlikely that the team has reached their ceiling. Just look at the ages of his teammates.

JORDAN MORRIS ONE YEAR LATER: “I MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE”

MNT Jan 20, 2017

Perspective is a powerful thing.A year ago, forward Jordan Morris was coming off an NCAA College Cup title with Stanford and found himself in January Camp weighing his professional future.Having already earned seven caps and scoring a goal for the U.S. Men’s National Team, the highest touted collegiate prospect in some time had the option of signing with his hometown club Seattle Sounders FC or making the jump to Europe with German side Werder Bremen.Taking both under serious consideration, Morris actually left MNT training camp to check out the Bundesliga club. Eventually he made the decision to start his career at home in Seattle.A Rookie of the Year award and M.L.S. Cup trophy followed, and as he finds himself back in MNT camp one year later, Morris thinks he took the right path.“I’m 100 percent happy with the choice I made,” he told ussoccer.com. “I have no regrets — it was an awesome season playing in Seattle. Obviously it went well for us, but it’s just so good being around family and being able to play in my hometown. It’s been awesome.”Morris was a clutch performer for Sounders FC, helping the club rebound from being Western Conference cellar dwellers last July to earning a spot in the M.L.S. Cup Playoffs. Once there, Morris put the club on his back, scoring in both legs of the Western Conference Final against Colorado Rapids before Seattle defeated Toronto FC on penalty kicks in the M.L.S. Cup Final.

In total, Morris tallied 18 goals and five assists through 40 matches for the Sounders last year and credited his early National Team experience with preparing him for his rookie campaign.“It helps getting your first games, and then towards the end of the season when the stakes are high it definitely helps to have that experience. I was very fortunate and lucky to have played in some of those games before entering my professional career.”With 12 total caps to his name, the 22-year-old striker has more international experience than 17 players on the January Camp roster, including club teammate Chad Marshall. Currently taking part in his first MNT camp since 2010, Marshall has collected 11 caps. Morris thinks it’s an opportunity well deserved. “That can be a little funny,” Morris said of his 32-year-old teammate. “I think Chad is such a great player and I think he deserved to be in the pool. Obviously he was before, but he’s been out for a little bit. He’s such a great player and 100 percent deserves to be here.Though injuries and time spent with the U-23 MNT limited him to just five senior caps last year, Morris has his sights set one firming up his role with the full team in 2017.“The goal is to keep working and continue to have that confidence. Being in camps before definitely helps me come in and feel more comfortable. It’s just having that confidence to go out and prove that I can play and hopefully get more minutes on the field.”

Bob Bradley reflects on a tumultuous 85 days in charge of Swansea City

In the days following his firing as manager of Swansea City, Bob Bradley ran through the gamut of emotions. There was disappointment that his bosses didn’t stick with the plan agreed when he was hired, plus frustration that he had just 85 days in charge.But in a wide-ranging interview with ESPN FC, conducted in the days after he was dismissed, Bradley also gave some insight into his thinking, his experiences with the players, his hopes for the transfer window and even his approach to stabilizing Swansea’s defense. There was also introspection as to what he would have done differently if he had to do it over again.Wherever Bradley has gone, he has taken great pride in putting his stamp on whatever team he happened to be in charge of. But he admitted that, when he took over at Swansea on Oct. 3, it was obvious there were more pressing concerns. Stability was a priority and so were points. Everything else would have to wait.”The emphasis on everything we did from the time I got there was re-establish good habits, try to restore confidence,” Bradley said via telephone. “We worked in that way, and we were still fighting for consistency. When you have a team that has gone through a tough stretch, when you have a team that now is being scrutinized by the supporters, then as a manager you’re going to stand strong for your players. I made sure of that. I was positive, I took responsibility, I never blamed any players and threw it at them.”With the Swans currently bottom of the Premier League and having fired two managers already this season — Bradley and his predecessor Francesco Guidolin — it’s a squad that, as currently constituted, is facing relegation. The summer departures of defender Ashley Williams to Everton and forward Andre Ayew to West Ham left a void that has yet to be filled. Bradley admitted he was direct in his conversations with the coaching staff, board and ownership that the team needed to be strengthened in January, but wonders if that approach damaged him.”It can hurt you because it can create a feeling that you don’t believe in the squad,” he said. “But I separate two important things. First is the message that you give to the players. I went out of my way with this group of players to be very positive. Maybe even too positive, but I chose that because I knew they were down on confidence and I thought they needed someone to put their arm around them and say, ‘C’mon guys, here’s how you’ve done it in the past, we’re going to do it the same way. As long as we’re in it together, we’re going to make this work.'”Now in other moments, you have meetings as a staff and you talk with the owners and you talk with the chairman, and in those moments, for me, it was important to be very clear, that I felt we needed to improve ourselves. Now if that gets taken wrong, and people say I don’t believe in the squad because I’ve been direct and straightforward, I don’t know how you can get anywhere in football if you don’t have those kind of real discussions. But they have to be done in the right times and they have to be done confidentially. At the same time, I think some of that was taken wrong.”As for where reinforcements were needed, Bradley said Swansea needed help from back to front, but mostly in defense.”Certainly, the loss of Ashley Williams was a big one,” he said. “I felt we needed a central defender who could still, no matter who he played with, make the others better. We talked about possible additions in the midfield. We spoke about some attacking players with some speed who could play on the outside, who were threats to get behind but also worked hard. We talked about different things, and we had some good names. It was going to be interesting to see what we could make happen.”In the meantime, Bradley was left to make do and nowhere were his struggles more profound than at the back. The numbers are brutal no matter how you look at them: Swansea allowed 29 goals during his 11 games in charge.Bradley chopped and changed, using six different back-line combinations among eight different defenders, with centre-back a particular pain point. He initially opted for Guidolin’s approach of using Jordi Amat and Federico Fernandez in the center but, after his first match in charge, a 3-2 away defeat to Arsenal, the new manager didn’t like what he saw.”At the end of that match, I felt like in the center of defense we weren’t strong enough,” he said.The next match was against Watford and, in a bid to combat what Bradley described as the Hornets’ “direct” style, he started Mike van der Hoorn and Alfie Mawson, giving the latter player his Premier League debut. Swansea recorded one of only two clean sheets in Bradley’s tenure with a 0-0 draw and, during the next few weeks, he persisted with that partnership. After losses to Stoke and Manchester United, though, he used the international break to reassess.”I think our feeling was that as much as these young defenders are going in a good direction, it’s too much to expect that they can play all the games,” he said. “Now over that international break, I’ve challenged Fede. ‘We need to get your level higher. I don’t think you’re as fit as you should be.’ Now we have a good chance to work, and when we go and start with Everton, we go back and say, ‘Okay, let’s see if we can back up a little bit in terms of the way we play and see if this makes sense.'”The defense seemed to improve and only a late Seamus Coleman goal allowed Everton to record a 1-1 draw on Nov. 19.A week later came a remarkable encounter against Crystal Palace, a match that proved to be a prime example of a hollow victory. Swansea were up 3-1 and cruising before a period of calamitous defending allowed Palace to take a 4-3 lead. Bradley’s men staged a late fightback to win a thriller 5-4 but, in the manager’s eyes, the manner of the game seemed to blunt the impact of his first Premier League win.”From a confidence standpoint, man if we win that 3-1 or tack on another goal and finish 4-1 it would go a lot more,” he said. “And now, at that point, [Fernandez] breaks his toe, so now we have to make a change again.”A 5-0 hammering at Tottenham was followed by a 3-0 win against Sunderland but then came three straight defeats — against West Brom, Middlesbrough and West Ham — in which Swansea gave up a total of 10 goals.”Without a doubt, the changes that we made were constantly to find consistency and find a group that we thought was going to gel the right way,” Bradley said.The “Swansea Way” has historically been that of a slick-passing, possession-based approach. The team have gotten away from that during the past few seasons and, while Bradley felt that progress was made in that regard, it was overshadowed by bigger problems.”If you don’t combine [possession] with being good in the penalty area on both sides, then you’re not going to win enough matches,” he said. “When I talk about improving ourselves, that’s where we needed to improve.”Bradley also took issue with any assertions that Swansea played too aggressively. The one exception, he felt, was the loss to Tottenham when, with the team down 2-0 at half-time, he challenged his players to take more risks in a bid to get back into the game. Otherwise, the problem was down to basic defensive errors.”We conceded too many goals in terms of defending corners in the second phase, where we actually got our head on the ball first, we didn’t do well enough, and now the ball is still in and around the box, and when we needed to react and finish that part of the play, we were second best,” he said. “That was the very first game at Arsenal — the second goal — that was early on at Stoke to put us behind 1-0. That was a couple of the goals that turned the Crystal Palace game upside down.”And then we conceded too many goals where our initial reaction when a ball turned over, to get back, was very good. But once we got numbers back, our ability to then step up and make the play defensively wasn’t good enough. So those are the two biggest categories in terms of goals we gave up. That gets magnified in situations when you’ve gone down and now you have to take more chances.”Bradley insisted that he had good relationships with most players and that he left on good terms: “I had a number of guys when I shook hands with [Wednesday] when I said goodbye who said, ‘From the day you got here, you challenged us, you were honest with us, training was great, we were prepared, and in the end it still comes down to the fact that we’ve got to be able to do it on the field. We let you down.’ Now, not every player feels that way, not every player says that. But I had a bunch of guys that said that. I had guys on the staff who said that to me.”There’s always going to be some that maybe at the moment aren’t playing as much, or maybe now you’ve had some tough conversations and there’s something in it that they don’t like. This is what happens in football. This is what happens where in moments where some of the agents of those players have certain contacts in the media and put things out there that are totally false. But that’s not just happening to me in my first go-round in the Premier League.”As for what he would do differently, Bradley said there was plenty. Most of it centered on his individual interactions with various people at the club.”You try to tailor your message every day, with the group you have,” he said. “And so you look back on all that, and you think about, ‘This is your work,’ and so you think maybe this didn’t come across right. I think about all that.”When asked for specifics, Bradley dug a little deeper.”I’m not going to give you names, but maybe I showed trust in some players who didn’t deserve it,” he said. “I would say in both France and here, there were also days where I delegated more and I think in the long run that’s important. But does that also mean on a given day that the quality of the training session wasn’t what I thought it could have been or should have been? So yeah, I can think about stuff like that.”Sometimes we had discussions about players like Jefferson Montero and Modou Barrow. (Swansea first-team coach) Alan Curtis, who is a great guy and has been around the club for a long time, I think Alan felt that maybe these are guys that still are best for 30 minutes. I think sometimes I’ve had success in the past where I’d say, ‘Look, I understand that’s what the book says, but I think we need to challenge that to see if we can add to that and make it bigger, make it better.’ We played Mo from the start most of the games I was here and over time we would make a decision as to whether that helped or whether Alan had it figured out at the beginning. So there’s things like that you look back on.”In the upcoming days and weeks, Bradley will now have even more time to analyze his Premier League experience.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle.

The World Football Order

International football has changed a lot in the past two decades. But some things still seem to stay the same.

JAMES TYLER, WITH JESSICA LOPEZ AND GUS ELVIN

FIFA rankings may not be the perfect measurement of success but without a more coherent way to compare and contrast the world’s footballing superpowers, it’s a decent overview of where everyone stands.Since the late 1990s, the sport’s top countries have experienced significant fluctuations in FIFA’s estimations due to the rigors of tournament play. It’s worth looking at the major patterns to see what’s changed over the past two decades and, in some cases, what’s more or less the same.How far ahead are the top-tier nations? And are teams like the U.S. and Mexico that far behind?

The Rankings

HOW THE CHART WORKS: Check the boxes to the right of each nation to highlight their individual progress. Click the country name to either add or remove them from the visual. Hover over the chart to see year-by-year rankings for each country.

U.S. Vs. Mexico: El Tri Have The Edge

Even though the USMNT enjoy things like “dos a cero” (until 2016, at least) and other notable victories over their neighbors to the south — for example, the 2-0 round of 16 victory at the 2002 World Cup — they have steadily been a cut beneath El Tri in the eyes of FIFA.

Whether it’s the consistency of Mexico’s top players across Europe or the number of notable results in big games (2011 Gold Cup, 2015 CONCACAF Cup), there’s been precious little for the U.S. to celebrate. Beyond Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan and the latest crop of Americans abroad, the efforts of Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen), Rafa Marquez (Monaco, Barcelona), Carlos Vela (Arsenal, Real Sociedad) and the Dos Santos brothers, Giovani and Jonathan have outpaced the Yanks over time.

The best year for both sides was 2005: Mexico hit No. 5 thanks to a brilliant run through World Cup qualification, scoring 67 goals and winning 15 of 18 games en route to a seeded spot in 2006, while the USMNT won the Hex on a tie-breaker. However, a failure to win a single game in Germany that summer saw the Yanks plummet to 31st the following year while Mexico dropped to 20th after a last-16 exit.

The most damning thing for the U.S.? Arena takes over a team ranked worse than the one he took over two decades ago, and with a number of key players (Jermaine Jones, Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard) to eventually replace. Christian Pulisic leads the next generation, but he’ll need help.

England: The Ultimate “Nearly There”

The biggest note for the Three Lions is that they are steadily around the Top 10: in the year-end rankings since 1998, they’ve only been worse than 10th on six occasions. It’s a testament to their consistency in international play but more than that, it’s a comment on the relative ease of UEFA when it comes to qualifying for major competitions.

Whether winning eight of 10 qualifiers en route to a quarterfinal defeat at the 2006 World Cup vs. Portugal (England finished the year ranked fifth overall, their highest mark in 20 years) or going undefeated in 2011 (ranked fifth) before a Euro 2012 quarterfinal defeat to Italy, the pattern keeps repeating: qualify with ease, build expectations and let the nation down come tournament time.

England suffered just five defeats from March 2010 to November 2012, a span of 34 games, but never came close to glory. To wit, their last semifinal appearance at a major competition was in Euro 1996.

Germany: Rebuild Works To Perfection

With the exception of a huge drop from fourth in 2002 to 19th in 2004 after a humiliating group stage exit at the Euros that year, Germany are arguably one of the benchmarks in international football over the past two decades. The story is well-told: a renewed effort by the DFB (Deutscher Fussball-Bund, Germany’s FA) following similar embarrassment at Euro 2000 saw a flood of investment in national talent centers and requirements for Bundesliga clubs to build grassroots academies.

The aim was to “feed” players up through the ranks to the national team, and it worked: the emergence of anchors like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, Manuel Neuer, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller helped fuel a generation of success: they’ve not dropped lower than sixth in the year-end rankings since 2005, all while continuing to bring new talent through to form the backbone of future generations: Julian Weigl for Schweinsteiger, Joshua Kimmich for Lahm, Marc-Andre ter Stegen for Neuer and, perhaps, Julian Draxler for Muller.

And throughout this renewed focus on Die Mannschaft, only twice (Euro 2002 and Euro 2004) did they fail to reach at least the semifinals of a major tournament, even winning the World Cup in 2014 and finishing second in 2002 and at Euro 2008.

Brazil Fluctuate, Argentina Stay Steady

The Selecao lean on Neymar and as goes Lionel Messi, so goes Argentina. Yet the two stars have lived through wildly different generations with their respective countries.

Brazil were the best in the world at the end of 1998 thanks to their run to the World Cup final, remaining at No. 1 for seven of the nine years that followed including victory at the 2002 World Cup. The transition from Ronaldo to Neymar was a difficult one as they dropped as low as 12th in 2012 but despite having 10 different managers over the past 20 years, their natural talent helped mask any off-field problems. Winning three Confederations Cups and four Copa Americas since 1996 also covered up any apparent volatility or inflated expectations from fans.

Meanwhile, Argentina’s wait for a major trophy — their last World Cup was in 1986, their last Copa America in 1993 — has kept them in that agonizing “nearly there” bracket throughout the international careers of two of their biggest ever stars, Carlos Tevez (debuted in 2004) and Lionel Messi (debuted in 2005). The clock ticks for Messi on a major trophy: they’ve been runner up in four of the last five Copa Americas and never lower than 10th in the FIFA rankings since Bruce Arena’s first appearance as U.S. coach.

It feels a bit like England — great in qualifying, desperately unlucky in competition — only with, you know, Messi.

Spain: Stunning Success, Unsure Future?

La Roja feel like something of an anomaly in international football having won Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 with the same generation of players. This never happens on the national stage: too much can go wrong (injuries, loss of form, the ebb and flow of international football) but if anything, Spain have been the ultimate tournament team in modern football, never beaten even when not dominant.But with that sustained success — reflected in the FIFA rankings, they were No. 1 for six straight years, matching Brazil’s run of the 2000s — comes a tricky segue to a stunted generation who’ve waited longer than expected for their turn. As Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, David Silva (ahem) Fernando Torres fade out, the next wave is still finding its feet, as evidenced by their tepid round of 16 exit at last summer’s Euros.

Don’t Underestimate Star Power

Wales (ranked 112th in 2010, ranked 12th at the end of 2016), Chile (as low as 84th in 2002, as high as fourth in 2016 after back-to-back Copa Americas) and Belgium (steadily rising from 66th in 2009 to first in 2015) all show that you can make waves if you have a handful of world-class talent around which to build a half-decent team.The Welsh boast Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, Chile have dominated South America thanks to Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez while the Belgians are enjoying the peak of a “Golden Generation” (Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Jan Vertonghen, Thibaut Courtois).These clusters of all-world talent may come along seemingly by accident — unlike Germany’s ascent, Belgium’s crop of megastars were largely developed by clubs in other countries — but riding them high up the rankings isn’t a difficult thing to do.

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

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So sorry soccer fans I have been on an extended Holiday as we were traveling for much of the Christmas and New Year’s season.  My return still finds Chelsea on top of a very tight top 6 in the EPL, Real Madrid on top in Spain but finally lost a game for the first time in 40 matches – yes FORTY matches.  That is amazing!!

So the Indy 11 will be back and in the NASL – as it remains in the 2^nd Division in US Soccer.  Should be interesting to see where the league goes in the future now that we have NASL and USL both as second divisions.  Bottom line Is we’ll have NASL soccer back in Indy again this season.  So yea!

Interesting move by FIFA to increase the World Cup in 2026 to 48 teams.  Lets hope the US gets to benefit from that by hosting the 2026 tourney.   And lets hope now that Bruce is back in charge we actually make the next World Cup.  I am happy to see an American back in charge of the US National Team.  Bruce took this program to the Elite 8 in his first go round and I think he’s the guy to pull us out of our current Klinsy built funk.

WORLD

Real Madrid’s 40 game unbeaten streak comes to an end

Marcotti’s Musings – Weekend Results

Everton sign Man Us Schneiderlin

Soccer Dates to Remember in 2017

FIFA World Cup Expands to 48 Teams

48 Team World Cup could work – Marcotti – ESPNFC

48 Team World Cup a Horrible Idea  – Macintosh – EPSNFC

48 Team World Cup could ruin FIFAs Showpiece – Grant Wahl SI

Indy 11

Both NASL and USL Granted Division 2 Status by US Soccer

Indy 11 Statement about NASL

NASL Sets New Direction

Indy 11 begins to reset the roster for 2017

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MLS

Chicago Fire Release Full Season Schedule – including home games with Toronto FC, Seattle, Dallas, NYCFC

New Official MLS Soccer Ball Released

MLS flying Coach makes them Bush League – Washington Post

Thank You Fans – Video from MLS

US

Bruce Hopes for Quick Start for US –pro soccer talk

Top 10 Goals USWNT –

Yanks Abroad

Benny Feilhaber happy with call up to Nats

17 Goals for the Bruce Arena

GAMES ON TV

Weds,  Jan 18

11 am beIn Sport       Gabon vs Burkina Faso African Cup

2:45 pm  Fox Sport 1   Plymouth Arglye vs Liverpool – FA Cup

Thurs,  Jan 19

11 am beIn Sport       Algeria vs Tunisia African Cup

1:15 pm  bein Sport Atletico vs Eibar Copa Del Rey

3;15 pm bein Sport   Real Sociedad vs Barcelona Copa Del Rey

Fri, Jan 20

11 am beIN sport       South Africa vs Congo DR African Cup

2 pm beIN sport          Morroco vs Togo  African Cup

2:30 pm Fox Sport 1    Frieberg vs Bayern Munich

Sat. Jan 21

7:30 am NBCSN            Liverpool vs Swansea City

9:30 am FS1                   Werder Bremen vs Borussia Dortmund

10 am NBCSN                Stoke City vs Man United

12:30 NBC                       Man City vs Tottenham

Sun,  Jan 22

9:15 am NBCSN            Arsenal vs Burnley

9:30 am Fox Sports 1  Bayer Leverkusen vs Hertha BSC

11:30 am NBCSN         Chelsea vs Hull City

2 pm Fox Sports 2      Cameroon vs Gabon

Wed, Jan 25

3 pm ??                             Liverpool vs Southampton League Cup

Arena aims for quick start to save USMNT World Cup hopes

Leave a commentAssociated PressJan 12, 2017, 12:26 PM EST

CARSON, Calif. (AP) Bruce Arena realizes he has very little time to get back into his groove with the U.S. national team. After all, two vital World Cup qualifiers are looming just two months away.Luckily for Arena, he has done this job before. He’s also returning to work in extremely familiar surroundings.“I think it’s a great opportunity for me personally, but it’s an important time for this team,” Arena said Wednesday. “Our goal is pretty clear: We need to qualify for Russia in 2018.”Arena convened the first training camp of his second stint in charge of the U.S. team under sunny skies at its training base south of downtown Los Angeles. The complex also is the home of the LA Galaxy, where Arena served as the coach and general manager of the MLS club for the past 8 1/2 seasons.

Arena took over for Jurgen Klinsmann in late November, accepting the task of salvaging the Americans’ World Cup qualification hopes. Two losses last year dropped the U.S. into last place in its qualifying hexagonal, albeit with eight games to go. The transition isn’t easy, and the stakes are high. But Arena seems to be better equipped for the task than just about anybody.  “I’m having the time of my life,” Arena said with his usual sardonic tone. “I haven’t had to move. The hotel is about a five-minute drive from my house. I’ve been coming here for the last eight years. I had to move about 30 yards from my past office. So life could be worse.”  Although the U.S. players on European club teams can’t attend this camp, Arena held his first practice with 28 players, including several MLS stalwarts who couldn’t crack the Eurocentric Klinsmann’s talent pool.

Sporting Kansas City’s Benny Feilhaber, FC Dallas’ Matt Hedges, the Galaxy’s Sebastian Lletget and the Red Bulls’ Dax McCarty will get a look from Arena’s fresh eyes during the monthlong camp. Arena also has changed Klinsmann’s strict rules for diet and fitness, hoping to restore a team spirit that appeared to fade late in the German’s tenure.  “You can expect honesty from Bruce,” said the LA Galaxy’s Gyasi Zardes, who broke through on the U.S. team under Klinsmann. “He’s easing us into camp, but he’s already made a terrific speech about knowing each and every player, so you don’t have to impress him. I love playing under him.”  Arena has personal history with several camp invitees. Along with Galaxy stars Zardes and Lletget, Arena previously coached DaMarcus Beasley, Nick Rimando, Chad Marshall, Jozy Altidore and captain Michael Bradley, who had a thick, lustrous head of hair when he got his U.S. break in 2006.

“I’m very excited to be back playing for Bruce,” Bradley said. “He was the one who gave me my first opportunity with the national team, and that’s something you never forget. … He’s going to create an environment where guys are going to compete, guys are going to enjoy themselves, and there’s going to be a real team and a real spirit and a real feeling that we’re all in something together. But when it’s time to work and time to compete, we’re going to do that, and I think he’s going to be very clear and tell it exactly like it is, which is very important, which is exactly what we need.”

Bradley’s father, Bob, replaced Arena as the U.S. coach after the 2006 World Cup. Bob Bradley was Arena’s assistant at the University of Virginia and with D.C. United.“I knew Michael Bradley as a little baby, which is interesting,” Arena said with a bemused smile.  Arena is counting on Michael Bradley and fellow veteran Jermaine Jones to be leaders for the U.S. over the next few months. He also complimented Beasley, the 34-year-old veteran hoping to continue with the American team two years after announcing his international retirement.  “Obviously he’s not the same player as he was (when) playing in the 2002 World Cup,” Arena said. “But good players, guys that can think on the field, know how to compete, use their experience well, are always good to have around.”  The camp will end with friendly matches against Serbia on Jan. 29 and Jamaica on Feb. 3. The Americans face Honduras on March 24 and Panama on March 28 in World Cup qualifiers.

Qualifying for the 2018 World Cup first and foremost for Arena, the USMNT

The United States men’s national team will kick off their 2017 campaign with the traditional January camp, which opens on Friday. It’s a squad in the midst of a rebrand with new (and old) manager Bruce Arena now at the helm after the up and down Jurgen Klinsmann era came to an end in November. There’s plenty to accomplish, and little time to do so. Here are 17 goals for the Americans in 2017.

1. Qualify for the 2018 World Cup

Klinsmann’s ouster occurred at least in part because the Stars and Stripes lost the first two matches of the final qualification round (“The Hex”) and currently sit in last place. Given the large margin for error in CONCACAF, there’s still plenty of time to qualify for Russia. Not doing so would be a disastrous and embarrassing setback for an American program that hasn’t progressed as much as hoped since 2010. Arena has one priority that rises far above all others: find 15 or so points in the eight matches between hosting Honduras on March 24 and going to Port of Spain to play Trinidad and Tobago on Oct.10th.

2. Qualify for the 2018 World Cup

So important it gets the top two spots.

3. R-E-L-A-X

With apologies to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, everyone — players, coaches, media, and fans — should calm down about the state of the U.S. The current squad has one of the most talented cores in the program’s history and the player pool is deeper than ever. The ability is there; the vision and implementation of that vision has been lacking. The Americans at the beginning of 2017 need tweaks, not a dramatic overhaul. Anything more would be overkill.

4. Win the 2017 Gold Cup

Before the calamitous beginning to the Hexagonal, the low point for Klinsmann’s club had been the fourth-place finish at the 2015 Gold Cup. Getting a win at the regional championship (July 7-26) would be an excellent way to prove the U.S. can win something that matters while simultaneously building momentum for the final four World Cup qualification matches.

5. Figure out the goalie situation

Tim Howard seems to be the number one for now. But the Colorado Rapids netminder turns 38 in March, which isn’t, you know, young. Can he continue playing at the high level the Americans need, especially given the wear and tear his body will take during MLS’s non-stop flying to and from games? If Howard’s skill slips, how quickly will it be before Arena turns to Atlanta FC target Brad Guzan? And is the third-stringer really 21-year-old Ethan Horvath?

6. Win the U-20 CONCACAF Championship

In mid-February, Tab Ramos’ team travels to Costa Rica seeking to qualify for the 2017 U-20 World Cup in South Korea by finishing as one of the top two teams in a four-team Group B and then as one of the top two in the three-squad classification stage. They should do that, and then take it a step further to take home the trophy. (While we’re here, it would be nice to see the U.S. win the U-17 CONCACAF Championship this spring, then show better than the abysmal one draw and two loss performance they put up during the 2015 U-17 World Cup.)

7. Reach the quarterfinals of the U-20 World Cup

Assuming Ramos’ side makes it to South Korea, their goal should be to match the performance of the 2015 team. That group, which featured Gedion Zelalem, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Paul Arriola, Emerson Hyndman, Matt Miazga, and Kellyn Acosta, among others, lost to eventual champion Serbia on penalties in the quarterfinals. This team could be stronger, with Carter-Vickers and Zelalem potentially returning in addition to Christian Pulisic, Justen Glad, Josh Perez, Kyle Scott, Luca de la Torre, Weston McKennie, Brooks Lennon, (and, yes, Jonathan Klinsmann).

8. Let Michael be Michael

Here’s the thing about Michael Bradley: he can’t be a team’s best player, but he makes everyone else on the field a little bit better. Klinsmann never quite understood this reality, which resulted in Bradley getting put into positions that didn’t take advantage of his unique skill set. Arena, who has watched Bradley play for years in Major League Soccer and is also a better manager when it comes to deploying talent as it should be deployed, won’t make this mistake. If the new coach lets Bradley return to a place where he uses his intelligence and vision to impact the proceedings, he’ll thrive.

9. Put Fabian Johnson somewhere and keep him there

He’s probably the team’s best player at four separate positions. For the sake of the squad, it’s time to write his name down in pen somewhere permanently. My pick would be left back, although putting him on the wing in midfield is another solid option.

10. Let Pulisic drive

When it comes to creating chances, both for himself and for his teammates, is there a better attacking player on the U.S. than the 18-year-old? Pulisic is a viciously talented, game-changing winger. Put him there, get him the ball early and often, and get out of the way.

11. Find out what the MLSers have…

An abridged list of names: Dax McCarty, Keegan Rosenberry, Chris Pontius, Matt Hedges, Walker Zimmerman, Justin Morrow, Robbie Rogers, Juan Agudelo, and Kekuta Manneh. Those are MLSers who might be able to make an impact on the U.S. squad, and Arena will give them a shot. Throw in Benny Feilhaber and Darlington Nagbe, and you get almost an entire starting lineup worth of players who could impact the Russia roster.

12. …and the Euros, too…

There’s also room for players like Eric Lichaj and maybe Perez — who is making inroads at Fiorentina at just 18 years old — to get a shot, along with players in the Mexican league, including Jorge Villafana and Jonathan Bornstein.

13. …then limit the pool with an eye toward Russia

This year isn’t a time for finding a ton of new players. Arena has a couple months and a couple camps to figure out his team, then turn his focus to building a cohesive starting lineup and bench depth that can succeed at the 2018 World Cup.

14. Have a little fun

It’s not fun to lose and international soccer should be taken seriously, but for the last few years, there was little in the way of charm coming from the American locker room. That was partially a function of Klinsmann, who always wanted to be the biggest personality, and partially because of the nature of team leaders like Bradley and Clint Dempsey. Arena is a different type of manager, however, and players — both new and old – might feel okay letting loose a little now. That’s good, as the U.S. desperately needs some levity. (Looking at you, Benny Feilhaber.)

15. Find their fans

This goal goes hand-in-hand with the previous one. While attendance at qualifiers and the Copa America was strong, the team failed to draw 10,000 fans to any friendly in 2016. There’s clearly an enthusiasm gap, borne out of poor results but also from a lack of excitement. At points, rooting for the red, white, and blue felt like a responsibility. They need to figure out a way to make fans enjoy the games again. Playing in Chattanooga in February, a city that’s seen amazing support for its fourth-division side, is a good start.

16. Bring Landon Donovan back

I kid. (But also, don’t rule it out.)

17. Qualify for the 2018 World Cup

Because really, nothing else matters.Noah Davis is a Brooklyn-based correspondent for ESPN FC 

Feilhaber’s second chance with the U.S. could be just what Arena’s team needs

CARSON, Calif. — Benny Feilhaber could barely contain himself as he left his first U.S. national team practice in almost three years.The 1½-hour session was done, but the Sporting Kansas City midfielder looked as if he were ready for another. Feilhaber didn’t have long to wait, as he took part in a second practice later on Wednesday, but he was clearly savoring the moment.”It feels amazing; it’s very exciting,” he told reporters about his return to the U.S. fold. “It’s something I wasn’t sure would ever happen again, so it feels like a second chance and because of that it’s very motivating. So I’m very excited to be back and want to make my stamp in this camp.”That second chance is down to who is in charge. Bruce Arena is now the U.S. manager, replacing Jurgen Klinsmann, who made it abundantly clear with each passing day — at least in this cycle — that regardless of the numbers Feilhaber put up at club level, there was no room for the midfielder.It was a snub that Feilhaber wrestled with privately for the most part, though at last year’s Major League Soccer media day he finally unloaded, saying that Klinsmann didn’t pick the best players. As for his own situation, on that day he described it as “almost sad.” Feilhaber concedes now that he was resigned to his fate.”It didn’t feel like I would be back,” he said Wednesday as it related to the U.S. team. “I kind of turned that page a little bit in my career and tried to focus on the things that I could. I always watched the national team; it’s always something I looked very fondly back on, when I did have my opportunities with the national team with Bob [Bradley], but I had kind of closed that book. To have it reopen again unexpectedly was an amazing feeling.” Feilhaber’s opportunity comes at an auspicious time. The U.S. is in dead last in the final six-team round of World Cup qualifying. His skill set — that of a creative, attacking midfielder — is one for which the U.S. would seem to have a need.Arena remarked that Feilhaber is “a little different than most [U.S.] players,” given his passing and creativity and that he and Sacha Kljestan would both get “a good, hard look in this camp.”The question of course is: Has Feilhaber’s opportunity come too late? Players often find themselves in a race against time, and the midfielder is no different. Physical ability erodes as the years pass, but experience is acquired. It makes for an odd kind of hourglass. The sand is slipping through, but any knowledge gained adds some additional grains to the top and lengthens careers. Feilhaber’s greater attention to his fitness has added some years as well and helped rebuild his career in Kansas City after some barren seasons in Europe and with the New England Revolution.”[Fitness] has always been one of my things that I’ve really had to work on to be at my top game,” he said. “It’s something I’ve definitely taken more seriously as my career has gone on. Other than that I think you get smarter, whether it’s on the field trying to find spaces, trying to find areas where you know you’re good, trying to avoid places where you might not be as good. It’s a lot about being smarter, experiencing those mistakes and kind of learning from them and mostly a smarter player on and off the field at this point.”It’s worth pointing out that the U.S. team’s needs are more immediate at this stage. This is about acquiring results in the short term, and Feilhaber’s attributes could be just what the team needs. He’s shown a greater attention to defensive duties since joining Sporting KC. At minimum, he could be the kind of game-changing substitute he excelled at being when playing for the U.S. under Bradley.”I want to bring what I’ve learned at the club level and my experience at the national team level six years ago to make myself a better player and a more influential player for my team,” he said.”Now he’ll get his chance.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. natinal team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle. 

FIFA Council unanimously approves World Cup expansion to 48 teams

The FIFA Council has rubber-stamped plans to expand the World Cup in 2026 to 48 teams, adding 16 nations.FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s revamp plan received unanimous backing at a meeting in Zurich on Tuesday.Delegates were asked to vote on four proposals to change the existing format or stick with the current format of 32 teams.This is the first time since the 1998 World Cup that changes have been made to the makeup of the tournament, with the 2026 competition set to feature 16 groups of three.Infantino’s preferred option for change was for a 2026 competition featuring 16 groups of three, followed by a 32-team knockout, increasing the number of games from 64 to 80 but remaining inside a 32-day schedule.”We have to shape the football World Cup of the 21st century,” said Infantino, who also promised funding increases for FIFA’s 211 member federations at his election last February.”No guarantees have been made,” Infantino said. “The only sure thing is that obviously with 48 teams everyone will have a bit more than they have today.”There were also options to have a 40-team tournament, with 10 groups of four or eight groups of five, but the only other 48-team makeup would see a 32-team one-game knockout round with the winners joining 16 already-qualified teams.Infantino has also suggested that penalty shootouts be brought in to settle the results of all drawn games, thereby minimising the risk of teams colluding in their final group games to eliminate others from the tournament.The Swiss has repeatedly said his main motivation for expansion is to give more nations a chance of experiencing the joy of a World Cup, which will bolster international football in developed markets and help its growth in new ones.With 80 matches instead of 64, FIFA forecasts $1 billion extra income from broadcasting and sponsor deals, plus ticket sales, compared to the $5.5 billion forecast for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.FIFA’s six continents should find out by May how many extra places they will get.The African and Asian nations are expecting significant increases on their current allocation of four spots apiece, while UEFA wants 16 European teams in the tournament.The other major decision regarding 2026 — who will host the event — is not scheduled for consideration until 2020, with a bid featuring United States, either on its own or in conjunction with one or both of Canada and Mexico, the overwhelming favourite.The European Club Association continued its stance of opposing the move, calling it “regrettable” and claiming it had been made because of “political reasons.”

48-team World Cup will be a good thing if FIFA get details right

Gab MArcotti – ESPN FC – World Cup.Cue the outrage. Cue the anger. Cue the sneers.Because, if it comes from FIFA, it has to be bad. Or self-serving. Or corrupt.In this case, the objection appears to be driven by two things. One is that this was a decision made for the wrong reasons. FIFA boss Gianni Infantino promised to expand the World Cup in exchange for votes from middling nations who want to feed at the trough. He did it to get elected, not for the good of the sport, kind of like politicians who (depending on your political stripe) either cut taxes or increase welfare benefits so they can gain support.And, of course, Infantino also promised that he would increase FIFA’s payments to each member association, which is also a move designed to gain votes, according to the cynics.To do that, however, he needs to grow the pie, and because more than 85 percent of FIFA’s revenues come from the men’s World Cup, the only way to do that is to squeeze more cash out of the biggest sporting event in the universe. The easiest way to do it is by expanding it.The first argument can be thrown at anybody running for elected office. Would it be better if Infantino had promised more World Cup slots and then, once elected, had run out of the room shouting “Ha-ha! Psych! Fooled you guys”? Probably not. He ran on a platform; people voted on that basis; and he’s implementing it.As for the decision being a financial choice, I’m not sure that’s automatically a bad thing. FIFA’s mandate is to grow the game, and giving money back to the member associations is probably more desirable than having it sit and accumulate in a Swiss bank account.Sure, we’ve all heard about mismanagement and corruption and FIFA development funds being wasted or used to enrich friends and relatives. But if Infantino delivers on his promises of more accountability and transparency, effectively telling FAs “you can have this money but you need to account for every last penny and you need to put contracts out to public tender and you must allow for oversight and audits,” then this is far from a tragedy. In fact, it might actually give some of the less responsible FAs the opportunity to grow up and not be run like somebody’s personal bank account.On to the other big complaint: that a 48-team World Cup will dilute the quality of the competition. I’ll say it straight away. There is no rational counterargument because it’s a subjective point to make. But simply pointing to the expanded Euro 2016 as evidence that more teams equals a poor tournament won’t cut it.Why?First of all, because some — including yours truly — enjoyed the tournament.Second, because it’s one tournament. Sample size and all that. Pick and choose your moments and you can prove just about anything, even that Cristiano Ronaldo is technically awful. Third, because two-thirds of the teams at the World Cup won’t be European sides. They might be better, they might be worse, but what we do know for sure is most of the teams in the expanded World Cup won’t be the ones we saw at the Euros. It’s apples and oranges.Fourth, if it was a bad tournament, who’s to say that was down to having 24 teams and not, say, chance or fatigue after the most fixture-packed club season in recent history?Of course, having the top 48 sides in the world means the average side will be worse than if you have the top 32. By that logic, a 16-team World Cup would be even better. Maybe even an eight-team World Cup.But worse teams don’t necessarily engender worse games. Better teams doesn’t equal better games (ahem, remember last year’s Champions League semifinal between Real Madrid and Manchester City? Not exactly a two-legged humdinger, was it?).

What matters is that games will be competitive and we don’t have blowouts like this one. But, in fact, recent tournaments — not just World Cups, but regional competitions, too — have seen the number of one-sided blowouts diminish significantly. Indeed, the one notable blowout from the last World Cup was this one and the team getting stomped happened to be Brazil, who are only the most successful nation in World Cup history.

Other counterarguments?

People raise the issue of a “bloated” World Cup, but we’re talking about 80 games versus 64. The semifinalists will end up playing seven games, just as before. FIFA say they’ll wrap up the whole thing in 32 days, just as they did with 32 teams in 2014. They insist they can do it with 10 or 12 venues, which would be no different from 2014.If FIFA can keep those last two pledges, you can’t really complain about white elephants and overspending, either. What will be more problematic is finding a host nation that can provide 48 acceptable training bases. If 2026 is in the United States — as many expect — that won’t be a problem. Elsewhere, it could be.But, again, there are solutions. A training camp, more than a stadium, offers the opportunity for legacy and some of the extra revenue could be used to provide some to hosts who don’t have enough of them (they’re also considerably cheaper than 40,000-seat stadiums). Or, depending on the host nation, you could have teams based in neighbouring countries flying in for games. That would have the added benefit of spreading some of the World Cup around to smaller nations who won’t ever get to host one.The most valid reason not to do an expanded World Cup has to do with the format. A three-team group lends itself to all sort of chicanery. You want an obvious example? Let’s imagine a group with Klingons, Vulcans and Romulans. Klingons beat Vulcans 1-0. Vulcans draw with Romulans 0-0. Then, in the third game, Klingons fix a draw with Romulans and it finishes nil-nil, allowing both teams to advance.Yes, that’s a risk. It would stink to high heaven. Sure, we’ve had situations like this in past tournaments, such as Germany vs. Austria in 1982 or Denmark vs. Sweden in 2004. These were games where there was a mutually beneficial result to the detriment of one of the other teams. There’s no evidence that anything untoward happened, but it left a bad taste and a cloud of suspicion.

Or you can have a situation in which all three games end in identical draws, in which case how do you decide who advances?

Both situations could arise with the current format, too, but it’s less likely. But there are ways around it. The penalty shootout after a draw solution would have been one, albeit a foolish one.A better option is to minimize the risks by having the top seeds play the first two games. In most cases — you would hope — they’ll win one of the first two, which means the third game will have something at stake for both teams. The other is to eliminate goal difference as a tiebreaker and, instead, if teams finish level on points, determine who goes through based on FIFA ranking. Probably a revamped FIFA ranking — let’s put the eggheads to work — but nonetheless the point would be that if you want to advance, you need to win games.Incidentally, a revamped FIFA ranking would also help with another potential complaint: that World Cup qualifying, already rendered largely irrelevant in many confederations, would become even less meaningful than it is now. If countries were playing for their seeds — and the seeds were more valuable — perhaps we’d see a bit more oomph in the qualifying process.Again, another big if, but if FIFA do this or something like it, the format can work and limit the stitch-ups.We’ve been through the negatives. The positives ought to be obvious. You would have far fewer dead rubbers (provided the top seeds play first). You would have another round of knockout games, which tend to be more tense because the stakes are higher. Most of all, you would turn the game’s global showcase into a truly global event, offering a greater shot to countries who would otherwise only watch it on TV.

It’s the end of the World Cup as we know it: Expansion to 48 ruins FIFA’s showpiece

• FIFA’s unanimous decision to expand the World Cup to 48 teams has some pros, but it’s outweighed by a litany of cons.

GRANT WAHLTuesday January 10th, 2017

I want to keep an open mind, I really do. Change is inevitable in life, and it isn’t always bad.But I’m worried that January 10, 2017, will be seen as the day FIFA ruined the World Cup.On Tuesday, the FIFA Council made it official, unanimously approving an expansion of the men’s World Cup field. Starting in 2026, the field will increase from 32 to 48 teams. There will be 16 groups of 3 teams, with the top two finishers in each group advancing to a 32-team knockout stage.The number of World Cup bids per continent has yet to be finalized, but reports suggest it could look like this:

UEFA	16 (13 currently)
CAF	9 (5)
AFC	8.5 (4.5)
CONMEBOL	6 (4.5)
CONCACAF	6.5 (3.5)
Oceania	1 (0.5)
Host Country	1 or more if co-hosted (1)

What’s good about the expansion? What’s bad? Let’s break it down:

The Pros

• If you’re the United States or Mexico and purely looking out for your self-interest, an expanded World Cup means it will be almost impossible to miss out on qualifying for the tournament, as Mexico nearly did for 2014 and as the U.S. may be on its way to doing for 2018 after losing its first two games in the CONCACAF Hexagonal.

What’s more, it will be easier to advance to the knockout rounds with two teams in every three-team group advancing to the round of 32 (as opposed to two of four teams in each group advancing to a round of 16). And with more emphasis on the results of one game—in a sport where crazy bounces, fluke goals and bad officiating often decide games—it could also be easier for the U.S. or Mexico to advance deeper in the knockout rounds against easier teams than they faced before.

• If you’re a country that has never made it to the World Cup before—and there are plenty of nations in this group—your chances of qualifying just increased immensely. That is no small thing as the world’s game becomes increasingly global. In general, inclusion is a better thing than exclusion.
• Despite having a bigger tournament, it won’t take any more days to complete. The 48-team World Cup in 2026 will last 32 days, just as many as the 32 days it will take with 32 teams at Russia 2018. The tournament winner will still play seven games, no more than is currently the case, so I don’t totally understand the European Clubs Association’s opposition argument saying that the new format will put more wear and tear on players.

But then there’s the other category, which is a big one:

The Cons

• Three-team groups are a joke. Why was Euro 2016 so unsatisfying? A big reason was the expanded 24-team field, in which teams that finished third in their four-team groups still advanced to the knockout rounds. Anytime you have more than half the teams advancing to the knockout stage creates a problem, with poorly performing teams being rewarded.

Three-team groups may also incentivize teams to play for 0-0 ties, and they remove the simultaneous final group games, which may incentivize teams to lay down and play for a mutually beneficial result if they happen to be in the final group game. FIFA is considering staging penalty shootouts at the end of any tied group games to help alleviate the problem, but that’s lame and won’t alleviate it entirely.

• Bad games at the World Cup will become more frequent. FIFA’s own research says the quality of World Cup games will suffer in a 48-team tournament. Look for more blowouts between Germany and, say, Curaçao. Look for more small teams to park the bus and hope for a tie. Look for more mutually beneficial snoozers. Some of these games could be brutal. Too much of a good thing can easily become a bad thing. Again: Look at Euro 2016.
• World Cup qualifying becomes a joke. Let’s say eight CONCACAF teams end up qualifying for World Cup 2026, with the U.S., the current favorite, as the host. The top eight CONCACAF teams in the current FIFA rankings are Costa Rica, Mexico, the U.S., Panama, Haiti, Honduras, Curaçao and Jamaica. With CONCACAF promising more qualifying games to tiny island nations, look for World Cup qualifying to become a watered-down mess of easy games with next to nothing at stake for a team like the U.S. or Mexico. One of the U.S.’s biggest current problems is it doesn’t play enough games that matter against tough opponents. This system makes that problem even worse.

The club game is already being played at a much higher level than the international game. An expanded World Cup makes that worse, both during the long time period between World Cups and at the 48-team World Cup itself.

• If you’re FIFA, which has money concerns in the wake of the U.S.-investigated FIFA scandal, you’ll make more money off TV rights (more games!) and sponsorships. And if you’re Gianni Infantino, the recently elected FIFA president, you’ll increase your chances of being reelected, since so many more countries will have an opportunity to reach the World Cup. Each of those countries has a vote in the FIFA election. This is patronage politics straight out of the Sepp Blatter handbook, and it goes along with the massive increase in annual money grants that Infantino promised and got passed for each FIFA nation.

Growth and making money aren’t necessarily bad things, but the biggest problem that Infantino needs to fix is FIFA and confederation corruption—remember, there was a giant FIFA scandal!—and not the size of the World Cup, where 32 teams was just about perfect. Simply following the Blatter patronage blueprint and raising payouts only increases suspicions that the same shady folks at the end of those handouts (and most of them are the same people that there were there during the FIFA scandal) will continue with business as usual.  My hope is that Infantino will use the political support he gains from pushing expansion to address the biggest issues facing FIFA, which include becoming a cleaner organization and building women’s soccer and the role of women in soccer globally. My fear is that he will think his work was done in those areas with the passage of last year’s FIFA reform package, which should be just a start.How would I have changed the men’s World Cup? Instead of expanding it to 48 teams, I would have kept it at 32 and instituted more intercontinental playoffs to give more teams outside of Europe and South America a chance to make the 32-team field. And if the 32-team field absolutely had to be expanded, I would have gone ahead and increased it to 64, which at least is a number that makes for a competitively smart tournament. We’re probably headed for 64 eventually, anyway.But here we are. A 48-team World Cup is now official, and I worry they have ruined the showpiece event of the world’s greatest sport.

48-team World Cup puts greed, awful group stage ahead of common sense

It’s very easy to resist change, especially in football. Partly, this is because we over-sentimentalise the sport in the form it took when it won our heart; we’re blinded to its imperfections because they’re natural to us.Sometimes we should be forced to ask ourselves if it’s the specific change that we fear or the notion of change itself. And, equally, sometimes we should answer back that, if it’s FIFA doing the changing, our fears may well be justified. The decision to expand the World Cup to include 48 teams from 2026 is precisely one of those times.The impact of UEFA expanding the European Championship last year should have been taken as a warning by the game’s governing body, but it’s entirely unsurprising that it was received in exactly the opposite way. Granted, the qualifying stage brought the unexpected bonus of energising nations that had rarely made it to finals previously, such as Iceland and Wales, but the tournament itself was a damp squib.It took a draining 36 group-stage matches to reduce 24 teams to 16, with one of those advancing being eventual winners Portugal, who didn’t need to win a single game in order to progress. On the flip side, it made record profits. And in a straight choice between good sport and big profits, was there ever any doubt where FIFA’s loyalties would lie? It’s not that expansion is wrong as a concept. In 1998, the World Cup’s move from 24 teams to 32 brought a clear increase in excitement for exactly the same reasons that going from 16 teams to 24 brought a decrease at Euro 2016. It’s not how big it is, it’s what you do with it. It’s all about the format.This new, bucket-sized World Cup will feature 16 groups of three with two qualifying for the knockout stage, meaning that we’ll endure an exhausting 48 games to eliminate 16 teams. That’s a lot of low-risk games, in which two 0-0 draws can be enough to qualify for the next stage. In other words, a lot of running around to achieve very little.FIFA has raised the prospect of putting a penalty shootout on the end of every group stage drawn game, like some kind of global Checkatrade Trophy, but when you begin to consider ideas like that, you do wonder if it’s worth having a group stage at all.If results must be distinct and there is nothing to be gained in playing for a draw, why not just have a great big knockout competition to start with? Has enough time really be spent considering other options for the group stage, or are we advancing straight to FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s preferred option?It’s a shame, because the 32-team knockout stage is actually a really good idea. It means we move from 15 to 31 all-or-nothing games where there’s no safety net for elite sides like Germany and a puncher’s chance for perennial failures like, well, England. The only problem for the those watching is that, after 48 cautious qualifiers — one after the other — you might be so footballed-out by then that you’re in need of a break.Less is generally more in football; that’s why we have one-off finals rather than five-match series to determine our cup winners. Excitement is derived from risk and there are far fewer of those in a sprawling group stage where the quality has been diluted and there is larger margin for error.That’s why the current system works. As England discovered in 2014, in a group where only two of four teams qualify, you have to be on your toes from the start. Lose your first game and you go into the second knowing that another defeat will almost certainly send you home.The last World Cup also had a 48-match group stage, but it meant that 32 nations were reduced to 16. It was long, but it had a decisive effect on the field. It made sporting sense. This does not.This expansion will make more money and new, influential friends. If Infantino, whose presidential candidacy included a pledge to increase the World Cup’s size, can offer more nations more chance to qualify, he’ll lock in political support across the confederations.There are far fewer successful nations than there are successful ones. With a three-term limit now imposed on the FIFA presidency, Infantino could oversee the 2026 World Cup and use the tournament to firm up his legacy.FIFA exists for the whole world, not just the glamorous bits. And making money is not necessarily a bad thing, given the good it can do when it’s properly distributed. But this is FIFA, so scepticism is understandable.(Up until recently, remember, one of the organisation’s leading lights was so well rewarded that he rented a penthouse suite just for his cats. FIFA’s record on wealth redistribution leaves something to be desired.) And so FIFA will grow richer and Infantino’s position will be secure for years to come. Smaller nations will do well too, taking their chance to make their mark on the world stage. And the viewers, in the stadiums and on the sofas, will enjoy more knife-edge knockout games than ever before.But that group stage … don’t let anyone try to convince you that there are any positives in that group stage. That interminable dirge will be the price we pay, partly to benefit the global game, but mostly to benefit FIFA itself.Iain Macintosh covers the Premier League and Champions League for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @IainMacintosh.

BY THE NUMBERS – Indy 11 A SLEW OF SIGNINGS

Familiar names, faces lead off Indy Eleven’s first round of player signings

Jan 13, 2017

“All around me are familiar faces…”

Gary Jules may have said it with different context in “Mad World,” but the phrase is applicable to the first nine signings Indy Eleven announced during Thursday’s frenzy. All nine players who put pen to paper are familiar to the Indy Eleven fan base – or at least they should be, as they were all a part of the team that helped Indy Eleven rocket its way to a Spring Season championship and, eventually, to a place in The Championship Final.Leading off from the back, IndyEleven.com examines the statistics behind the returning players and what they bring to the fold again in 2017.

The ‘Keepers

Jon Busch
GP/GS: 30/30              Min: 2700        GA: 27             SV: 74              SO: 12

Keith Cardona
GP/GS: 3/3                  Min: 270          GA: 6               SV: 7                SO: 0

Indy Eleven went 2/2 in keeping their ‘netminders from the 2016 season, so we will see both Jon Busch and Keith Cardona commanding the back line for at least one more year.For Busch, this is year #21 of his career, and while it may be his last he is determined to give it everything he’s got. Undoubtedly one of the top three ‘keepers in the NASL in his debut season in Indy, Busch helped Indiana’s Team earn more than its fair share of points with multiple standout performances, including six saves against Fort Lauderdale, five against Jacksonville and New York, and four against Minnesota, Edmonton, and Carolina on separate occasions.Busch helped organize a back line that began the year hot (allowed one goal or less in 12 of his first 13 contests) and finished even stronger (shutouts in his last five games, including The Championship). Constantly proving that age is just a number (he turned the big 4-0 last August), Busch will be the first to tell you there’s no reason he can’t beat those impressive marks in 2017.For Cardona, he will push to see more of the field this year after making just three league appearances plus one in the U.S. Open Cup. The will be 24-year-old Cardona’s third year in Indianapolis, and he will likely want to stake a claim for the future starting right now.

The Defense

Colin Falvey
GP/GS: 24/24              Min: 2146        G: 1                  A: 0                  SH: 5                SOG: 1

Lovel Palmer
GP/GS: 25/250            Min: 1795        G: 0                  A: 1                  SH: 4                SOG: 2

Nemanja Vukovic
GP/GS: 32/31              Min: 2818        G: 3                  A: 3                  SH: 36              SOG: 13

The core of the defense in 2017 is weakened only by the retirement of stalwart Greg Janicki, but don’t undermine the importance of returning experience in leadership in the three players listed above.Another important return that can’t be touched on enough is that of the captain, Colin Falvey. Though he did not score as much as his partner in central defense (just one goal), Falvey gave life and limb to see his team succeed in the fashion that they did in 2016. For added bulletin board material, the Irishman also made it quite clear at the end of The Championship Final that he expected to be back fighting for that trophy the next year… and he’s indeed backing those words up and ready to earn that chance.Lovel Palmer’s tenacity and commitment to his game is matched by few in the league, and his extended stay in the Circle City is just as important. Rotating at right-back with Marco Franco, Palmer was a major part of Indy’s defensive excellence in the Spring Season and also earned some looks at center back near the end of the season – and looked good in doing it. He’s a player who steps up to the call, whether that’s in the starting XI or coming off the bench, and fans won’t be the only ones glad to have ‘Balla Palmer’ back in the lineup.Ending with “Ironman” Nemanja Vukovic, the left back who shattered the record for most Team of the Week honors in one season and put in the most minutes for head coach Tim Hankinson’s side at 2,818 (though Eamon Zayed will tell you he was close behind at 2,776). Vuko’s tendency to fly up the left side of the pitch often allowed him to break forward into enemy territory, hence the high goal/assist return, and also spread the pitch giving his teammates space to work with. Having the Montenegrin back in 2017 will again pay dividends for Indiana’s Team.

The Midfield

Don Smart
GP/GS: 23/18              Min: 1589        G: 2                  A: 3                  SH: 13              SOG: 5

Sinisa Ubiparipovic
GP/GS: 15/13              Min: 912          G: 1                  A: 3                  SH: 5                SOG: 2

The duo of Don Smart and Sinisa Ubiparipovic headline the signings in midfield for the first round. Both had their part to play in Indy Eleven’s success last year and both get their chance to shine as the season wore on, but under different circumstances.One of the original members of Indiana’s Team, Smart comes back after multiple clutch performances in 2016 that included game-winning goals and assists. The steady Jamaican contributed a trio of assists for a third straight season, his nine helpers now sitting second on the all-time Indy Eleven career chart in regular season play. Injury kept him out for the early part of the Fall season, but Smart fired back and became a mainstay in Hankinson’s side by earning all of his five combined goals and assists after July 30.Out of the team through part of the Spring, Ubiparipovic saw his form reinvigorated when coach Hankinson made the move to bring him back into the starting XI on Sept. 17 vs. Miami, and it paid off greatly. Ubiparipovic turned in performances that molded the way his side attacked, and his goal in Indy’s first-ever postseason appearance isn’t exactly hidden on his resume. Should he stay fit, the No.10 has the chance to further influence the midfield this season.

The Forwards

Eamon Zayed
GP/GS: 32/31              Min: 2776        G: 15                A: 6                  SH: 69              SOG: 37

Justin Braun
GP/GS: 26/24              Min: 2111        G: 8                  A: 5                  SH: 51              SOG: 21

It’s no secret that these two formed a budding and productive partnership in the 2016 season, and it should be to the thrill of every Indy Eleven fan that they’re both back and hungry for more. Zayed smashed club records and earned his way to the top of the all-time Indy Eleven career goal scoring charts. In addition, his increasing penchant to dish the ball resulted in six assists, placing him third on the all-time Indy Eleven chart (just below Don Smart’s nine and Dylan Mares’ 13). His pair of hat-tricks last year vs. Carolina (June 11) and Jacksonville (Aug. 3) were the first two in NASL play by an Indy Eleven player, proving that he was indeed the instinctual goal scorer Hankinson brought him in to be. Falling just short of earning the NASL’s Golden Boot last year (a stated goal of his by the way), Zayed wants to make sure he’ll top the chart this time around.  Justin Braun was the perfect complement to his strike partner Zayed, but the Utahan also made a solid name for himself with solid production throughout the season. His five assists put him a tier below Zayed (and Dylan Mares) on the team’s single-season assist record chart, while his eight goals catapulted him to third all-time on the team’s list. A true work horse, Braun’s running and movement off the ball were just as crucial to the strike force as his play when he was on it. The only question remains whether the pair can replicate their remarkable success again this year.

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 –

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

So first Wow Seattle – my Sounders Gang Green –finally win an MLS cup.  Two months ago they fired their coach Sigi Schmidt and lost US Superstar Clint Dempsey (heart issues) for the season.  They also picked up Nick Lodiero as a true #10 and the rest as they say is history.  After 120 minutes of  honestly being dominated by Toronto at home, 20 shots and 8 on goal to zero shots actually on goal – the Sounders won the game on the 6th shot in the shootout 5-4.  Disappointing to see the showcase the Superbowl of American soccer come down to a zero/zero tie and a shootout after 120 minutes of truly exhilarating soccer.  Altidore was just barely off target all night long as he man-handled the center of the Seattle defense but his shots and his amazing header at the 114 minute mark which was unbelievably saved by the Seattle keeper Stefan Friei (formerly a Toronto keeper) the SAVE OF THE YEAR in MLS were not able to find the back of the net.

The over capacity crowd of nearly 40,000 red clad and maybe 3K Seattle supporters in the upper corner provided a raucous atmosphere unlike few in US professional sports.  And Fox Network and Fox Sports 1 I thought did a fine job with pre-game, post game and in game Coverage.  I would have like to have seen more shots of Seattle’s Crowd – last year in Columbus the green of Portland on the endline was overwhelming and this year is seemed to disappear because of the camera angles simply not scrolling over the portion of the crown until the shootout.  Still overall I thought it was a well delivered final.  Honestly if there was a true soccer god – Toronto deserved to win it in OT on the Jozy Altidore header but soccer can be a cruel sport in that the better team doesn’t always win.  Still make no mistake that Toronto introduced itself as MLS Soccer Royalty this season and should be a force to deal with especially at the FORTRESS in Toronto for a long time to come.

As for Seattle what can you say but perseverance was the middle name of this team, and on this night – they found a way to win on the road after beating the West’ best team in Dallas and its 2nd best team in Colorado on their long quest to their first title.  Seattle has long been a bastion of soccer in America since joining the MLS 7??? years ago – and for some like me just the chance to watch the GREEN Masses on TV is enough to make me a fan.  But for Seattle to make the run this year – with so many things going wrong by mid-season was a bit of a miracle.

Congrats to Renaldo who rode the World Cup win and Champions League win with Real Madrid to win his 4^th Ballon d’OR  – Player of the year edging out Messi and Greizmann of Atletico.  Renaldo and Real Madrid will go for their 2^nd straight World Club Cup Trophy in 3 years as they face Japanese club  on Saturday morning at 5:30 am on Fox Sport 1.  That will be followed by Man City hosting Arsenal on NBCSN at 11.

Champions League ROUND OF 16 DRAW:

The first legs will take place on Feb. 14, 15, 21 and 22, and the second legs will take place on March 7, 8, 14 and 15.

Manchester City	v	Monaco
Real Madrid	v	Napoli
Benfica	v	Borussia Dortmund
Bayern Munich	v	Arsenal
Porto	v	Juventus
Bayer Leverkusen	v	Atletico Madrid
Paris Saint-Germain	v	Barcelona
Sevilla	v	Leicester City

A quick glance at the Champions League Sweet 16 gives us some Intriguing games as poor Arsenal gets the raw end of the draw with a match-up against German power Bayern Munich.  Man City seems to have an easier draw with Monaco and Leicester City gets one of the easier Spanish teams in Sevilla.  The other battle of huge teams features Barcelona vs PSG – though PSG is not the team they were over the past 2 years.  I want to take this time to wish everyone a safe and Happy Holiday’s and a Happy New Year !

MLS Cup

Seattle Win leaves both teams in disbelief ESPN FC McIntyre

Frei’s Transcendent Save Sparks Sounders to 1^st MLS Cup Grant Wahl SI

Gritty Seattles Improbable Run – Graham Parker with hi-lites

Sounders Finally Make MLS Cup Breakthru – Jeff Carlisle ESPNFC

Win was unbelievable –Morris

Toronto vows to come back stronger next year – Graham Parker EPSN FC

Save of the Year in MLS – MLS Cup History

How Seattle and Toronto can avoid post MLS Cup Hangover – Arch Bell ESPNFC

Indy 11/NASL

The Game of Soccer in America – what about the American players?

What Does the Future hold for NASL and the Indy 11 – Indy Star

NASL Future and whats happening

Statement about 2017 season and NASL?

Vote best 11 Moments of 2016

Champions League

The Draw

Arsenal get Bayern Munich Screw

Real MAdrid Advances to World Club Cup

EPL + World

World Rankings

EPL Predictions

Loris Blunders cost Liverpool the Win again

Costa Strike keeps Chelsea on top

 

GAMES ON TV

 

Sat. Dec 17

7:30 am NBCNS            Crystal Palace vs Chelsea

9:30 am FS1                   Red Bull Leipzig vs Heatha BSC –

2:45 pm beIN Sport     Juventus vs Roma

Sun,  Dec 18

5:30 am Fox Sport 1 FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP – Real Madrid vs Club America  SET THOSE DVRs

11 am NBCSN                Man City vs Arsenal

Mon,  Dec 19

2:45 pm NbCSN           Everton vs Liverpool

Weds,  Dec 21

2 pm FS1                           Red Bull Leipzig vs Bayern Munich

Sat,  Dec 31

12:30 pm NbCSN        Liverpool vs Man City

Weds,  Jan 4

2:45 pm NbCSN           Tottenham vs Chelsea

Rumors swirl as future of NASL, Indy Eleven remains unclear

Matthew Glenesk , matthew.glenesk@indystar.com6:54 p.m. EST December 15, 2016

It’s been more than a week since the United States Soccer Federation postponed its sanctioning announcement regarding the North American Soccer League – home to the Indy Eleven – and the United Soccer League.On Dec. 6, the USSF said it was delaying its decision seven to 10 days. Friday is Day No. 10. So where do things stand?Well, that’s a question with no clearer answer than a week ago.NASL, which has lost three teams this offseason, is tenuously holding onto its second-division status. USL, which continues to grow and has the backing of Major League Soccer, lies in the third-tier of U.S. Soccer with hopes of moving up to Division 2. However, both leagues would need concessions from USSF to satisfy Division 2 requirements.Reports Thursday from Empire of Soccer and Big Apple Soccer cited sources claiming the NASL plans to stave off dissolution and will compete in 2017 with eight to 10 teams.”That is the goal,” the source told Michael Lewis of Big Apple Soccer. “Not every ‘I’ is dotted or T’ is crossed.”Which teams would make up that eight to 10 club projection is unclear.

• Defending league champions New York Cosmos disputed reports the team had folded despite canceling all player contracts and furloughing front office staff.]

The Carolina RailHawks franchise rebranded last week as North Carolina FC, eyeing a future bid at MLS expansion, but didn’t commit to either the USL or NASL in its announcement.

ll this club turmoil doesn’t paint an optimistic picture for the future of the NASL.Cosmos chairman Seamus O’Brien told The Guardian this week that playing in a league with fewer than eight teams is not an option for them.“There are a number of folks with the NASL, many of my colleagues there that believe in the future. It’s not that we don’t believe in the future of the league – it’s just that we can’t play in a seven-team league,” O’Brien told The Guardian. “As a business, you’ve got to react to that. And that is what we have done. We are trying to tidy everything up as professionally as we can in the interim and look for how to move forward, that’s what we are here to do.”Puerto Rico FC president Thomas Payne echoed those sentiments to Nipun Chopra, an Indy-based soccer blogger, and cited a potential USL-NASL merger as a potential option.“A league with only 5 to 6 teams is not competitive and not meaningful, and ultimately not something we’re interested in,” Payne told Chopra. “This is why we hope this merger will happen, or we’ll continue to explore our other options.”A merger between the two leagues was shot down at a board of governors meeting earlier this month, according to Sports Illustrated.So where does that leave Indy Eleven?A report by Sports Illustrated last week suggested Indy Eleven were one of three NASL teams ready to leave for the USL.After last week’s USSF announcement to postpone its NASL/USL decision, Indy Eleven released a statement which didn’t mention either league.“To our fans & partners. We cannot thank you enough for your incredible patience as these unique circumstances continue to be resolved. Know that Indy Eleven continues to plan ahead for the 2017 season at Carroll Stadium and that we provide updates as possible.”Part of the holdup could be the potential negotiations of exit fees for clubs leaving the NASL. FiftyFive.One delved deeper into that aspect Thursday. Wes Burdine of FiftyFive.one writes:”The current stalemate is a high-stakes soccer version of the prisoner’s dilemma. Each club that is currently viable needs to have a league to play in for the 2017 season. However, to discourage defection, the NASL made the cost of leaving its league very high under normal circumstances. And that creates a strong financial incentive to stay as long as possible before jumping ship. Leave the NASL too early and risk paying millions in exit fees. Jump too late and a club may find itself without a league to play in, suspending play for its first team for an entire season (at best).”The NASL operates in near secrecy, so gathering information on particulars is hard to come by. FiftyFive.One got its hands on 2014 league paperwork, and while things may have changed since then, if the 2014 bylaws are taken into account, the two most recent defections (Ottawa and Tampa Bay to the USL), would have been required to pay $1.5 million each, according to FiftyFive.One.”The remainder of clubs, assuming they decide before December 15, would have to pay out $2 million each, unless the league drops below seven teams, at which point a club would only have to pay $25,000 to exit.”So what’s happening with the NASL?Like we said earlier, that’s a question with no clearer answer than a week ago.Stay tuned. From Indy Star

Seattle’s MLS Cup triumph leaves Toronto and the Sounders in disbelief

TORONTO — As one would expect, the scene in the Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders locker rooms couldn’t have been more different after the Sounders beat TFC 5-4 on penalty kicks to win MLS Cup on Saturday night after 120 scoreless minutes.Champagne flowed on the victors’ side. Tears did on the other. Despite the contrast in emotions, the one feeling players on both teams seemed to share was disbelief.After all, the hosts had the better of the play all night long. They managed 19 shots in all, seven of them on goal, while Seattle became the first squad in 21 MLS Cups not to put a single attempt on target. Yet when it was over, it was the Reds left wondering how they had been beaten in this typically chippy title decider. Meanwhile, the Sounders were almost sheepish about the good fortune that landed them their first championship. They knew they stole this one, not that they really cared.”It can be a cruel game sometimes,” Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley, one of two TFC players to have his penalty saved by match MVP Stefan Frei in the tiebreaker, said afterward. “The margins are so small. We were strong and brave and went after the game in a hard way, from the first minute to the 120th. On a different night, if you get a goal — if you get the first one — you probably get a few more. But that’s the game. That’s how it goes.”The home side could have gone ahead just two minutes into the contest, when Jozy Altidore whistled a low shot just wide of Frei’s net after a neat combination with Sebastian Giovinco. The Reds absolutely should have scored in the first extra-time session, but Frei magically parried Altidore’s looping header around the post.”That save was darn near impossible, and he pulled it off,” said Sounders GM Garth Lagerwey, a onetime MLS keeper.”It looked like it was going to go in, and then all of a sudden here comes his paw,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer added in his post-match news conference. “I think we were fortunate to get the game to penalty kicks.”No doubt. And as Altidore pointed out, “it’s a game of luck at that point.”Even Frei, who spent five seasons with TFC before being traded to Seattle three years ago, admitted that the outcome was harsh on his former club.”I have to say I’m not a big fan of PKs,” Frei said. “I guess somehow you have to decide the game, but for me football is a team sport. That’s the beauty of it. It sucks that it has to come down to an individual.”This isn’t to say the Sounders don’t deserve credit for their win. They were able to limit TFC, which had scored a gaudy 17 goals in five playoff games to reach the final, mostly to half-chances in front of an overflow crowd of 36,045 at frigid BMO Field, putting them in position to take the honors.”They always had numbers around the goal and around the box when we got into those areas,” Toronto coach Greg Vanney said. “We just couldn’t get that final pass to someone who could finish it. A game like that needs a goal sometimes to loosen up one of the teams defensively. The longer the game went on, the harder they were protecting their goal.”They came into a tough place and held strong and came away with the win. Congratulations to them for doing so.”It always takes at least a little luck to hoist a trophy, though. And for whatever reason, all of it seemed to be on the visitors’ side on this night, from Frei’s save to the spot kicks that were missed by Bradley — who was flawless the rest of the way — and defender Justin Morrow and even to the winning kick by Sounders defender Roman Torres, who had failed to convert a penalty in practice the day before. “I’m glad he missed that one and not the one today,” Frei said.”I thought they dominated us, to be honest,” said Seattle midfielder Cristian Roldan, who absentmindedly wrung out a champagne-soaked Sounders scarf as he spoke to reporters, smiling faces all around him.Down the hall in TFC’s dead-silent space, Toronto native Jonathan Osorio, his eyes still red from crying, struggled to compose himself as he fielded questions.”We controlled the whole game,” he said, his voice breaking. “You lose on penalties in a game where the other team didn’t have a shot on goal. What can you say?”Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @DougMacESPN. 

Stefan Frei’s transcendent save sparks Seattle Sounders to first MLS Cup

QUICKLY-In an instant, MLS Cup turned on its head, when Jozy Altidore’s looping header that was earmarked for the upper right-hand corner of the goal was swatted by a soaring Stefan Frei.

GRANT WAHLSunday December 11th, 2016

TORONTO — Here’s one great thing about sports—and, especially, about soccer. You can slog through a night of mostly nothing, of missed chances and utterly unmemorable exchanges, and then out of nowhere comes a moment so transcendent that you know it’ll be seared into your cortex for as long as you roam this earth.That’s what happened on Saturday here in the 2016 MLS Cup final. Seattle and Toronto played a tense but unfulfilling game, the kind where even neutrals shake their heads and wonder when it’s going to get good. At one point toward the end of regulation, before the penalty kicks, Seattle star Clint Dempsey (out due to a heart condition) informed coach Brian Schmetzer on the bench that the Sounders didn’t have a single shot on goal.He was right. It was a record low for an MLS final.But then in extra time of a 0-0 game, something truly magical happened, the kind of moment that can redeem an otherwise stultifying night. Toronto’s Jozy Altidore received a cross and unspooled a looping header back across the Seattle goal. It looked certain to be the goal that would put Toronto ahead in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 36,000 mostly TFC fans.Time froze.So did the feet of Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei. He had already moved from the near-post to the center of the goal with the flight of the cross, and now Altidore, who had scored in a record five straight playoff games, was heading the ball back across the area from where he had just come.If you stop the video and look at the expression on Frei’s face, there’s a moment when something fires in his brain and you can see a look of engagement take hold. It’s a completely different expression than the one Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had recently when teammate Gary Cahill sent an own-goal looping past him. Courtois’s gaze was one of despair. Frei’s was one of possibility.As the ball that would determine the fate of the 21st MLS Cup final hung in the air, Frei exploded back to his left, took leave of his feet and stretched with the grace and determination of a soccer Nureyev. Somehow he thrust his left hand behind him and to the ball, parrying it wide of the goal.“Well done by Jozy trying to go against the side where I’m coming from—it’s probably exactly how you want to hit that one,” Frei said. “Sometimes as a goalkeeper you feel like you’re not going to get to a ball, but you never know until you try. I tried to keep my feet moving and give it my best shot.”From his vantage point on the sideline, Toronto coach Greg Vanney saw Altidore hit the ball and thought it was heading for the back of the goal.“I thought the ball had eyes for that corner it was heading toward,” Vanney said, “and I thought [Frei] was maybe caught a little bit in the middle of the goal and wasn’t going to get there.“But just because it was kind of looping and it didn’t have a lot of gas behind it, it just gave him enough time to set his feet and get back across the goal. It seemed like he almost pulled it out from behind him in some ways. It was one of the great saves I’ve seen in a big moment. Because that goal to me ends the game.” Seattle’s Jordan Morris was nearly speechless about it afterward. “An unbelievable save,” he said.How often does Frei find himself reaching behind himself to make a save?“Usually something will have broken down for you to do that,” he explained. “But sometimes it’s just ‘throw technique out the window’ and just try to make the save.”Frei would use his same left paw to make a save on Michael Bradley’s attempt in the penalty-kick shootout, the one that finished in the sixth round with Justin Morrow’s kick off the crossbar and Román Torres’s confident trophy-winning clincher for Seattle.nd so the Sounders won a final without having a single shot on goal. But that hardly means they didn’t earn it. Frei allowed this to happen with that save in extra time. And to hear him tell it, that defining moment came down not just to a man straining to make the save. It came down to all the practices and all the games since Frei came to Seattle, after two years of injuries and coaches’ choices had led Toronto, of all teams, to trade him away three years to the day before Saturday’s final.Frei thanked not just his goalkeepers coach, Tom Dutra, but also his Seattle goalkeeper backups, Charlie Lyon and Tyler Miller, and the Seattle organization for “their simple belief in me to give me a chance in Seattle. At that point I had been on the bench or rehabbing for two years. So for them to take a chance and then go through growing pains but keep on reassuring me that ‘you’re the man, we’ve got your back, we believe in you,’ it allowed my confidence to come back.”“You need people around you to believe in you so that you believe in yourself.”That belief paid off in extra time here, when Frei made the greatest high-stakes save in MLS history.

Toronto FC heartbroken but resolved to rebound, fight for MLS Cup in 2017

TORONTO, Canada — The pain on the faces of Toronto FC’s players was palpable. How could it not be after the most crushing of losses, 5-4 on penalty kicks to the Seattle Sounders on Saturday after a scoreless MLS Cup final that really shouldn’t have been?The Reds had their chances to go ahead in the match both early and late and send a record BMO Field crowd of more than 36,000 long-suffering fans into the frigid night air celebrating the championship season they’d been dreaming about since they arrived in the league a decade ago.They couldn’t do it.”Some days a team can dominate all they want and the ball just won’t go in the net,” red-eyed Reds midfielder and Toronto native Jonathan Osorio told reporters afterward. “It wasn’t meant to be for us this year.”On another night, TFC forward Jozy Altidore might have been holding the Cup and MVP trophies when it was over. But he flashed a shot wide in the opening moments and was denied by Sounders keeper Stefan Frei’s ungodly save in the first extra time period; Frei ended up taking home the hardware instead. And when the contest went to the tiebreaker, there was a sense in the stadium — and on the sideline — that the Reds had squandered a golden opportunity.”In all honesty, when it comes down to penalty kicks, I was a little bit numb,” coach Greg Vanney said during his post-match news conference. “By that time, the game was gone in a sense. I was in a position where I was disappointed with penalty kicks.”Such a hard-fought season and this game in particular, and for it to end in penalty kicks, it’s just not the way you want to finish a game like that.”Whenever the suffering eventually wears off, though — and whenever big-spending TFC inevitably does take a title — 2016 will be looked back upon as the season when the league’s most historically hard-luck club finally turned its fortunes around.”There are a lot of lessons to take away from this run that I think will only make us better going into next year and stronger as a group as we try to get back to this and come away winners,” Vanney said.Sometimes teams have to lose to win. It took seven consecutive postseason failures for the Sounders to reach the summit. Toronto used the embarrassment of being routed by rival Montreal in the club’s first playoff game in 2015 to help it get to this year’s title match, beating the Impact along the way. Getting this close to glory cuts so deep; the idea for the hosts is that they will redouble their efforts in an attempt to avoid ever feeling that way again.That was the message in TFC’s dressing room, and it wasn’t just lip service.”This one is going to sting for a little while, there’s no two ways about it,” TFC captain Michael Bradley said. “Every guy here is going to have to take the time to get over this one, to let it hurt, let it frustrate you, let it anger you.”But ultimately, the hope is that at some point when you can start to process it all, that both individually and collectively we’re able to use this as even more fuel for what we’re trying to do. That we use it to make us even more determined and make sure that the group is able to use this. Not only are we coming back to this point, but when we do get back to this point we’re better for it and we’re ready to take the next step.”

Stefan Frei came up with the biggest save of MLS Cup, batting away Jozy Altidore’s looping headed effort.

There’s no reason in the world the Reds can’t do it. Toronto’s three designated players, Altidore, Bradley and Sebastian Giovinco, are all still on the right side of 30. A revamped defense that posted three shutouts in six postseason games (including on Saturday) will have an extra year of experience together. Vanney, whose cool demeanor and tactical acumen impressed greatly during this run, will be an even better coach. The Reds have gone from being the most dysfunctional organization in MLS to enjoying one of their best runs over the past three seasons.This is not the same old TFC, even if the heartbreaking ending is a familiar feeling for its supporters. The Reds will be back.”I’m proud of the team, I’m proud of the organization,” Altidore said. “The whole city was behind us and you kind of feel like we let them down, but I don’t think we did. I think we showed them what this could be.”There’s a long period now to reflect, refuel and try to get back at it again. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but at the end of the day, we’ve made a lot of steps forward as a club.”Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN T

MLS Cup win against Toronto helps validate staying with Seattle – Morris

Jordan Morris called his Seattle Sounder team’s penalty-kick shootout win in the MLS Cup final against Toronto FC “unbelievable,” adding that he was thrilled to have stayed with his hometown club instead of making a move to Europe after graduating from Stanford.Morris, 22, was a homegrown player for the Sounders, but had trained with Bundesliga club Werder Bremen after winning the national championship in college and ultimately chose to play in MLS.Although he and his Seattle teammates were largely held in check during 120 minutes of regular and extra time against Toronto, the team prevailed 5-4 in the shootout, making for a dream ending for the player whose father is the Sounders’ team doctor.Morris said after the match: “It’s been an unbelievable year with a lot of ups and downs, but those two championships are something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid. It’s been amazing. “I love it here [in Seattle]. I love being able to play for my city and represent my city and play for the best fans in the league and play in front of my family. It’s been an absolutely unbelievable year and this just kind of caps it off. “It was a very tough game, it was cold, this is a tough environment to come into, and all credit to Toronto, they are a very, very good team and they made it really difficult for us.”But the thing about this team is we are a team and we always fight. Everyone is fighting until the last minute and at the end we were probably playing for PKs a little bit and thought we could win that way, which we ended up doing.”Seattle didn’t register a shot on goal during the match, but were kept in it by finals MVP Stefan Frei, who saved a sure Jozy Altidore goal in extra time and made a save on Michael Bradley’s PK attempt to help set up the win for the Sounders.Frei was equally ecstatic following the match, crediting his teammates for not giving up even when they were out of playoff contention as the MLS regular season entered its final weeks.”It’s just about not quitting, you know,” Frei said. “We put so much hard work into this. It’s a credit to our keeper coach and my fellow keepers, we push so hard on a daily basis and I think that save [on Altidore] was a culmination of that.The former Toronto FC keeper went through some hard times during his spell in Canada, but admitted that those hard times helped get him to the position he is in today.”It was amazing. I think success feels like success when you go through hard times and hardship,” Frei said. “I’ve always been fortunate to have good people around me and help me out and help me bounce back and they’ve got me into this situation today and we wanted to make the best of it and I think we did make the best of it and we’ll celebrate that.”As an athlete I think confidence is everything and once we strung a couple of results together, I think that confidence started picking up. We made an incredible achievement just making it into the playoffs, but we didn’t want to stop there we wanted to make history. “[Penalty kicks] are such a brutal thing you know. I love football for it being a team sport, but it’s gotta come down to something right? Roman [Torres] on the night. A big center-back to step up and be calm cool and collected and the rest is history.”Follow @ESPNFC on Twitt

How Seattle and Toronto can avoid a post-MLS Cup hangovers in 2017

MLS Cup 2016 is done and dusted, and now thoughts turn to 2017. Champions Seattle Sounders and runners-up Toronto FC will be keen to not suffer the post-MLS Cup blues that afflicted 2015 finalists Columbus and Portland in 2016. But how? Injuries are a given; every MLS team will see players miss time in the treatment room. But there are various other factors at play. Here are three steps that the Sounders and TFC can take to avoid a post-cup slump.

1. Address roster needs ASAP

The large majority of MLS teams have had nearly a six-week advantage over Seattle and Toronto when it comes to offseason planning, so both clubs need to work quickly to get their rosters firmed up for 2017 and try to avoid mistakes, such as the ones made by Portland last winter. The Timbers never recovered from the departures of left-back Jorge Villafana and winger Rodney Wallace. Their replacements, Chris Klute and Lucas Melano, respectively, failed to meet expectations, and a team that only conceded 39 goals in 2015 ended up coughing up 48 in 2016.For Seattle, adding depth up front will be a must. The status of Clint Dempsey’s heart ailment is still uncertain, and there is a good chance that Nelson Valdez leaves the club. The Sounders could also use some help on the wings, so that area of the pitch will have to be a priority of general manager Garth Lagerway.Some depth in defense would be wise too. After struggling for most of the season, Tyrone Mears did well down the stretch and in the playoffs. But he’s 33 years old, so Seattle should look to shore up the right-back position.Making sure Armando Cooper returns in 2017 needs to be one of the main priorities for Toronto FC. The Panamanian midfielder arrived over the summer on loan from Arabe Unido and extending that loan or perhaps an outright purchase would make sense. Cooper is so effective in Greg Vanney’s 3-5-2 and is just the type of player whose play can make the difference between a loss and a draw on the road. Should free agent Will Johnson also depart, bringing in some more experience in midfield would be wise.Like Seattle, defensive depth would help Toronto stave off any dips in 2017. Drew Moor was terrific in 2016 playing in the middle of a three-man back line, but he’ll be 33 when the season starts. A sturdy, versatile backup for Moor would be welcomed.

2. Limit the road woes

Out of the 34 away matches played this season by Portland and Columbus, the two teams combined for a paltry two wins, and both of those by the Crew. After a 2015 season in which they earned 23 points away from Providence Park, Portland mustered a mere six points in 2016. Columbus was not much better; 22 points in 2015 turned into 10 points in 2016.In 2016, Toronto matched Portland’s 23-point road haul, while Seattle’s late charge saw them conclude the regular season with 16 points. Keep in mind that a single road win for Portland would have made all the difference in making the playoffs, as opposed to becoming the first MLS Cup champion to miss the next postseason since 2006.

3. Spare us the drama

Outside of injuries, there is nothing that can throw a team off course more than bad chemistry and off-field issues, and Columbus and Portland had their healthy share of it in 2016. The Crew’s 2016 will largely be remembered for the bizarre dust-up between Kei Kamara and Federico Higuain back in May. Two players who were so integral to Columbus’ 2015 run suddenly could no longer co-exist, and days later the joint-top scorer in MLS for 2015, Kamara, was shipped to New England. There’s no question that impacted Columbus’ season.There were extracurricular headaches in Portland too, namely with the drunken driving arrests of Liam Ridgewell and Jake Gleeson in October, which wrapped up the Timbers’ disappointing season.Toronto remained a steady, drama-free bunch in 2016 thanks in large part to hard-working veterans like Michael Bradley, Moor and Johnson. However, if a European club swoops in and tries to pluck Bradley away, there would be a leadership vacuum in the TFC locker room.Seattle’s chemistry really came alive in their late-season charge, with the dance-loving Roman Torres leading the way after his return from injury. Will we see the same post-match boogie in 2017 now that they are champions? Or will the hunger and music fade together? Maintaining that cohesion stands to be Brian Schmetzer’s biggest challenge in his first full year as coach.Arch Bell covers CONCACAF 

UCL draw delivers big games like Bayern vs. Arsenal and lots of pressure

Take a deep breath and remind yourself: We have nine weeks, one transfer window and a whole load of holidays to run between now and the moment the Champions League anthem rings out and these teams actually stride on the pitch for the Round of 16.The landscape could be a whole lot different, for better and for worse. That said, neutral viewers got served up the two blockbuster clashes they — and broadcasters, sponsors or anyone who likes to see a potential winner out early — wanted.Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona pits two juggernauts in a high-stakes collision. Unai Emery may be a knockout competition specialist but PSG are adding up to less than the sum of their parts right now. Success in the Champions League (and knocking out Barcelona) may be his best shot at a lifeline. Equally though, Luis Enrique may have a lot more credit stored up, but his deeper squad and domestic rotation has drawn criticism. With Barcelona already six points off the pace in La Liga, an early exit might prompt some at the Camp Nou to reconsider the way forward.The pressure extends to Bayern and Arsenal, too, albeit in different ways. For Arsenal, it’s five straight seasons of Round of 16 exits and there’s obviously a cruel irony that after finally winning their group, they get stuck with the Bavarians. The Gunners’ European record hasn’t impacted Arsene Wenger’s job security and that likely won’t change here, but he knows the clock is ticking and he won’t have too many more shots at the big one.Over at Bayern, Carlo Ancelotti knows his job is probably safe — the Bavarians tend not to be trigger-happy — but having overcome a slow domestic start, he knows a misstep here won’t help his transition out of the Pep Guardiola Era, particularly given his reputation as a Champions League specialist.Speaking of Guardiola, on paper Monaco is a wonderful draw for his Manchester City side after conceding four goals in their last league game. More than most, though, he ought to be aware that Leo Jardim’s uber-tactical counterattacking style is precisely what has outdone City in recent weeks. He needs to find countermeasures.Rational observers know better than to ascribe too much importance to a knockout competition like this one but then owners, fans and media are often not overly rational. And there is little question that Champions League success can provide a lifeline; it would be somewhat ironic for Guardiola given his three years in Munich when he dominated domestically but missed out in Europe.In many ways, that will be the theme for Roger Schmidt and Diego Simeone when Bayer Leverkusen face Atletico Madrid. Both (particularly Simeone) have a strong enough legacy at their respective clubs that failure here won’t bring the sack. But it’s the converse that applies: with hiccuping starts domestically, a run in the “big cup” could turn a mediocre campaign into a success.Nuno Espirito Santo at Porto also had a star-crossed start to the season. He too will be judged more on domestic matters (his team are currently four points behind leaders Benfica) but tripping up Juventus would give him some serious sporting capital. It would also be hugely disappointing for Max Allegri in his third season in charge. Indeed, given the enormous investment on veterans in the summer and the club’s belief that they need to take advantage of this window of opportunity, a false step at this stage could be costly come the end of the season.So are there also managers who can relax a little bit, knowing the pressure is off?Sure. Claudio Ranieri for one. Leicester City have made history getting this far, just as they did winning the Premier League last year. His reckoning, if it comes, will be on the home front. Given the circumstances (lack of serious summer spending, his first season in Europe), his opponent Jorge Sampaoli could chill a little bit knowing the benchmark for Sevilla this season is La Liga, where they’re doing well. (That said, anyone who has seen him prowling the touchline knows all too well the man doesn’t really relax, ever.)Benfica coach Rui Vitoria, too, is in as solid position. He won the league and reached the CL quarterfinal last season, he’s top this season and facing a Borussia Dortmund side that blow hot and cold under Thomas Tuchel. Dortmund’s youth and frenetic style of play make them one of the more unpredictable sides (for better and for worse) in Europe and Tuchel, in his all-important second season at the Westfalen, knows he needs to find some consistency. There is little question that the screws are wound tighter on him than on his counterpart.Finally, there’s Napoli and Real Madrid and here, Napoli and coach Maurizio Sarri has little to lose. They won their group and the draw was cruel to them; all they can do is pit their wits against the defending champions and hope the Bernabeu alumni (Jose Callejon and Raul Albiol) extract a modicum of revenge. Heck, you wonder if Sarri will call upon his predecessor, Rafa Benitez, for some intel and whether Rafa will want to share some pointers given that this time last year, he was on the hot seat at Real.Speaking of which, Zinedine Zidane is obviously under pressure like every Madrid boss before him. But given their lead in La Liga, the 35-game unbeaten run, the fact that he won it last year and that he’s Florentino Perez’s hand-picked choice, you figure it’s not quite ratcheted up to 11 as it might have been with some of those who came before him.Managers come and go based on what happens in Europe. It shouldn’t be that way, not to this degree at least, but it often is. That’s why the stakes are so high for so many. But as we said at the top: Two months can be an eternity. And it can all look so different come early February.Gabriele Marcotti is a Senior Writer for ESPN FC, The Times and Corriere dello Sport. Follow him on Twitter @Marcotti. 

Chelsea stil No. 1 in Power Rankings, Real Madrid No. 2, Juventus No. 3

1. Chelsea(no change)

To win a league title, sometimes you have to nick a result when not at your best. Chelsea did that twice last week, first against West Brom and then at Sunderland. Back-to-back 1-0 victories mean Antonio Conte’s men have won 10 straight league games.

2. Real Madrid(no change)

Real Madrid refuse to lose these days as Zinedine Zidane’s side extended their unbeaten run to 36 games with a last-gasp win over Deportivo and then handling Club America 2-0 in the Club World Cup on Thursday morning. What’s truly remarkable about their form is how they find different ways to win: Sergio Ramos’ injury time header secured the victory on Sunday while Cristiano Ronaldo turned in a superb 90 minutes against the Liga MX side in midweek. Ignore them at your peril.

3. Juventus(no change)

When Torino opened the scoring on derby day, it looked like Juventus might lose for the second time in three league games. However, Gonzalo Higuain picked a good time to end a Serie A goalless run dating back to October by scoring twice in an eventual 3-1 win.

4. Barcelona(+1)

After three straight league draws, Barca needed a boost, and a trip to bottom-of-the-table Osasuna provided just that, though it took almost an hour to break through. In the end, Luis Enrique’s side cruised to a 3-0 win with Lionel Messi scoring twice.

5. Roma(+1)

In the battle of second and third in Serie A, Roma prevailed 1-0 against Milan. The win was built on a fine goalkeeping display by Wojciech Szczesny, who saved a penalty to set the stage for Radja Nainggolan’s winning goal. Next up for Roma? Juventus.

6. Bayern Munich(+1)

Since a blip at the start of November, when they took one point from two games, Bayern have reeled off three straight wins. The latest, which when combined with a Leipzig loss took them back to the top of the Bundesliga, was an emphatic 5-0 triumph vs. Wolfsburg.

7. Nice(+2)

Nice were knocked out of the French Cup midweek vs. Bordeaux but not to bother: After all, it just means that Lucien Favre’s league leaders can concentrate on securing what would be a miraculous Ligue 1 title. Last weekend, Les Aiglons swooped into the Parc des Princes and took a 2-0 lead over Paris Saint-Germain. Though Unai Emery’s side eventually rallied for a 2-2 draw, the result was yet more proof at how this team can more than handle their own in French football this season.

8. Benfica(new)

The best team in Portugal continue to stay out in front of the competition, beating their nearest rivals Sporting CP 2-1 in last weekend’s derby. Goals by Eduardo Salvio and Raul Jimenez secured all three points. Rui Vitoria’s side are four points clear atop the table as the season approaches the halfway point.

9. RB Leipzig(-5)

The surprise Bundesliga leaders suffered their first defeat of the season — an equally surprising 1-0 reverse at relegation-threatened Ingolstadt. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are now second, but they retain a healthy six-point advantage over third-placed Hertha Berlin.

10. Sevilla(new)

Jorge Sampaoli’s first European management job couldn’t be going better as Sevilla continue to flourish under his intense tutelage. Sitting comfortably in third place just a point behind Barca, they got back to winning ways last weekend with a 3-0 win at Celta Vigo, with Vicente Iborra coming off the bench to score an improbable hat trick. This team is still a work in progress, but it’s safe to say they’re ahead of schedule.Dropping out: Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan

Los Blancos arrived to Yokohama on Sunday, where they’ll try to win their second Club World Cup trophy in three years.

Zidane’s “brutal truth” policy had the French manager admitting an unconvenient fact: he is rather unfamiliar with their Club World Cup opponents next Thursday.  Back-to-back CONCACAF Champions, Club América, will be the team Los Blancos will battle against in order to reach a spot in the tournament’s final. As uncomfortable as it may seem, Zidane revealed he’s had barely a glimpse of the Mexican club’s tactics prior to Thursday’s game.”I watched their games along with my staff. I saw their game against the Korean side, a Derby they played recently and one more Cup match and that’s it. Honestly, I knew nothing about them until a few weeks ago. We have to sit down, analyze them and decide how we’ll play against them,” Zidane stated.Club América is the most-winning team in Mexico. Las Águilas (The Eagles) have won 12 league titles in their 100-year history, and they have already sealed their spot in the Apertura 2016 final, but had to postpone that matchup to play in the Club World Cup. The Mexican side has racked up 16 straight games without a loss, all of them under current coach Ricardo La Volpe, who took the job back in September as Ignacio Ambriz’s replacement.Speaking about the competition’s format, Zidane revealed that Los Blancos will have to deal with a number of issues if they want to add one more trophy, especially due to jet lag and other reasons.”This tournament is different from the one I played. Added to that, we’re a bit tired after the long flight here. We followed the advice of experts that prepared this trip, but to be honest with you, I’m really tired,” Zidane added.

HEATH, NAMED 2016 U.S. SOCCER FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Dec 13, 2016

CHICAGO (Dec. 13, 2016) – Tobin Heath and Ashley Sanchez have been voted the 2016 U.S. Soccer Female and Young Female Player of the Year, respectively.Heath, who has long been a fan favorite for her entertaining style of play and dynamic work with the ball, wins the award for the first time in her ninth year with the U.S. Women’s National Team. She won after earning 40 percent of the vote. Crystal Dunn came in second with 34 percent.

“It’s obviously an honor to win an award like this, especially when you look at the list of amazing players who have won it before,” Heath said. “This year was a difficult one for our team, but overall we played some great soccer so it’s humbling to be recognized individually. I’m just proud to be in the company of all the great players that were nominated and all of the players that played for the USA this year. I couldn’t have accomplished anything without the support of my teammates and my coaches, and while it was a fun year for me personally, I’m excited not only about my own future, but also the future of this team as I know we have a lot more room to grow and many more goals to achieve.”

This year saw the 28-year-old Basking Ridge, N.J. native elevate her game to an even higher level. Heath played in 22 games, scoring six goals while recording eight assists tying for second-most on the team with Dunn. Both numbers were career bests for Heath, who this year competed in her fifth world championship for the USA. She played 1,747 minutes in 2016, good for second-best on the team.

Heath was one of the USA’s best players at the 2016 Olympic Games where she recorded two assists. In her fourth season playing for the NWSL’s Portland Thorns FC, Heath finished the year with 10 assists – a new league record – in only 14 appearances for the club – while helping PTFC to the regular season title. She was named to the NWSL Best XI.

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

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MLS Finals Seattle vs Toronto Sat Night 8 pm on FOX, NASL in trouble?

 So its time for the finals in the MLS – with 2 of the most popular and best teams in MLS going head to head as Toronto with (Altidore, Bradley, Giavinco and Indy youngster Eriq Zavaleta) host the Seattle Sounders on Saturday night 8 pm on FOX (yes Fox not Fox Sports but Fox).  Now Fox Sports will have pregame starting at 7 pm and post game after of course.  And again I don’t care what the soccer purest say – Playoff Soccer is really cool –and I plan to be watching to see if young American Jordon Morris (yes Dempsey is still out with the heart ailment) can bring a title home to the best soccer city in America – Seattle!!  Make your plans now to clear your schedule Sat night or set those DVRs as this one should be a doozy at the 40K full BMO Field in Toronto.

Got a chance to watch El Classico and boy does Ramos know how to finish things late or what?  Another almost 90^th minute header to tie the game with Barca was just what Real needed to garner the tie at Camp Nou.  I also got a chance to watch the Chelsea v Man City match –and what a job the Chelsea coach has done with Chelsea.  It’s a completely different team now with basically the same players as they solidified their top spot in the EPL.

So on my Christmas wish for the Indy 11 is that they have a league to play in next season.  Sad to hear the issues with NASL and the Cosmos – and perhaps the decline of the league?  I have no doubt the Indy 11 will land somewhere.  Perhaps a move to USL – with rivalries in Cincy, Louisville, Nashville and will be the best move for the club.  Already the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Ottawa, OKC, and San Antonio have basically bolted to the USL.  Got my fingers crossed.

MLS

Who will win the MLS Cup?  ESPN FC

David Villa is MPV

Legacies are at Stake

How’d they Get here TFC

5 Reasons TFC will Win – Arch Bell

Why Seattle Will Win – Arch bell

MLS will consider Playoff Changes for 2017

MLS not to blame for NASL issues –Garber Says

Toronto wins Classic in OT at home –must see video here is you didn’t see –best playoff game ever

Jordon Morris Goal Sends Sounders to MLS Final

Seattle Rides Wave of belief to MLS Finals Finally

3 Reasons Seattle Won ESPN Jeff Carlisle

Seattle Advances to 1^st MLS Cup – SI

Toronto becomes Model MLS Franchise ESPN FC

Classic Match-up in Final with 2 of the top teams in MLS

EPL

American fan caught wearing a Chelsea shirt to Everton Game is Ostracized

Indy 11/NASL

Statement about 2017 season and NASL?

Vote best 11 Moments of 2016

Champions League

Dream Matchups in Round of 16?  Video

GAMES ON TV

Sat,  Dec 10

9:30 am FS1                   Bayern Munich vs  Wolfsburg 

10 am NBCSN                Arsenal vs Stoke City

12:30 pm NBCSN        Leicester City vs Man City 

8 pm FOX                                                 MLS Finals – Toronto vs Seattle

Sun,  Dec 11

7 am NBCSN                   Chelsea vs West Brom

9:30 am FS1                   Borussia Mgladbach vs Bayern Leverkusen  

9 am NBCSN                   Man United vs Tottenham

9 am beIN Sport          Torino vs Juventus

9:30 am FS2                   Schalke vs Bayern Leverkusen

11:30 am NBCSN         Liverpool vs West Ham 

Mon,  Dec 12

3 pm beIN Sports       Roma vs AC Milan

Tues,  Dec 13

2:45 pm NbCSN           Everton vs Arsenal

Weds,  Dec 14

2:45 pm NbCSN           Middlesborough vs Liverpool

3 pm ??                             Crystal Palace vs Man United

Toronto vs. Seattle: Which of league’s biggest clubs will win MLS Cup?

As we gear up for Saturday’s MLS Cup final, ESPN FC asks league contributors Jason Davis and Arch Bell to look exclusively at Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders to shed some light on who’s best positioned to lift silverware on Saturday night at BMO Field.

Do Toronto and Seattle have anything left?

Jason Davis: Even if Toronto FC wasn’t buoyed by hosting MLS Cup, there would be plenty of reason to believe it had enough left to win the title. Still, the long break before the game comes as something of a mixed blessing. On one hand, it allows both Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore to recover from minor injuries. On the other, it could leach away the form and confidence that has carried them to this point.

Arch Bell: Considering Seattle handled the international break between the conference semifinals and finals so well, I see no reason why there should be any worry about the two weeks between their win in Colorado and Saturday night. If anything, the break will allow some of their recently injured players, such as Roman Torres and Jordan Morris, to heal further. Seattle will be ready to go.

Lessons learned from regular-season matchups

JD: If TFC learned anything from a 1-1 draw with Seattle back in July, it’s that Morris is a dangerous player. A weakened Toronto team went up a goal at BMO Field, only to see its lead erased when the rookie split a pair of defenders, stopped on a dime and curled in a right-footed shot. Both teams will look very different on Saturday, but Morris will be there, and Toronto will be wary.

AB: Not a whole lot. The two teams played with vastly different squads in a 1-1 draw on July 2 than the ones we’ll see on Saturday. There was no Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore for TFC, plus Armando Cooper had not yet arrived. While for Seattle, ex-coach Sigi Schmid still had the pre-Nicolas Lodeiro Sounders in a 4-3-3, and Torres was out injured. It’s hard to glean much from their only meeting this season.

What one player on your team will cause trouble for your opponent?

JD: Despite the presence of Giovinco, the answer is Altidore. Giovinco is always dangerous, but Altidore’s form is otherworldly at the moment. Every aspect of his game — from his touch to his hold-up play and beyond — has been excellent during TFC’s playoff run. Seattle has the physical center backs necessary to deal with some of what Altidore can do, but the forward’s vision and passing are impossible to counteract completely.

AB: Lodeiro. The Uruguayan international is the ultimate playmaker and makes the Sounders attack go. Whether from the run of play or on set pieces, Seattle is a pass away from scoring if Lodeiro is over the ball. Oh yeah, and he’s a clinical finisher, as evidenced by his four playoff goals.

What one player on the opposing team should you be afraid of?

JD: Lodeiro has taken MLS by storm since arriving in late July and helped Seattle push all the way to MLS Cup. Toronto will need devote serious resources to stopping the Uruguayan, a choice that necessarily opens up space and opportunity for other Sounders players. That’s how good Lodeiro is, and how wary of him Toronto must be; due to his dynamic ability to impact the game all over the field, shutting him down comes first.

AB: Giovinco. Altidore was a beast in the conference final versus Montreal, but Seattle’s two big center backs should have better success against the U.S. international. Giovinco’s wizardry creates a different headache altogether, since the former Juventus man is so good at spinning off defenders or creating space for himself. Seattle cannot afford any lapses when Giovinco is in the area.

JD: Toronto has already shaken its reputation as MLS’ most historically incompetent franchise with this run to the final. But a victory at home in front of the TFC faithful would only further establish the club as one of the league’s elite. Spending without winning is just another form of failure; an MLS Cup championship would elevate Toronto into a select group in one fell swoop.

AB: Everyone knows how big the Seattle-Portland rivalry is in MLS, so last season when the Timbers left Columbus with the 2015 MLS Cup in hand, it had to have stuck to the ribs of all Sounders fans. But redemption awaits, and a championship would be a sweet reward for Seattle followers who have put up the best attendance numbers in the league. More important, they would regain top-dog status in Cascadia.

Predictions

JD: Toronto 2-1 Seattle. With the support of the crowd and the firepower at its disposal, this is Toronto’s championship to win. Altidore’s form and a smart defensive plan will be enough to get TFC two goals (one on a set piece) and a title.

AB: Toronto 1-2 Seattle. Seattle’s late-season and playoff momentum will be put to the test by a rowdy home crowd and the TFC attack, but the visitors will hold firm, as Lodeiro’s two assists will pace the Sounders to a first-ever title.

 

Wiebe: MLS Cup is about more than hardware – legacies are at stake

December 8, 20166:43PM ESTAndrew WiebeSenior Editor

TORONTO – Twenty years from from now, a group of middle-aged men will gather to celebrate history. They’ll come from all over, bringing wives, sons, daughters, even grandchildren together to remember a moment of sporting glory that transcended themselves.They’ll tell stories, forgotten details resurfacing as they take turns driving the narrative. They’ll walk out on to the pitch for old time’s sake, highlights from long ago flashing across a massive video screen as triumphant music and soundbytes pulse through stadium speakers. They’ll wave to an adoring crowd, and mothers and fathers will tell their children about these men, the legends who captured the star stitched above the crest on the jerseys they wear proudly.These men will forever be known as MLS Cup champions, but they’ll also understand titles are about far more than the gaudy rings they wear on their fingers to commemorate that frigid December night at BMO Field. They’ll know that night was about more than a trophy, more than a ring, more than another entry in a dusty record book.They’ll know that night gave birth to a legacy, personal and collective, that lived on long after they said goodbye and their careers came to a close. Those men will be 2016 MLS Cup Champions, and that night has yet to come.On Saturday at BMO Field (8 pm ET; FOX and UniMas in the US; TSN and RDS in Canada), either Toronto FC or the Seattle Sounders will lift MLS Cup for the first time, writing the final chapter of a story that will be told for decades, a story that elevates men who kick a ball for a living to conquering heroes. They will be the winners. The losers will watch as the confetti falls and celebrations unfold in front of them. They’ll be remembered, too, as the team that inspired a city but fell just short.And while the margins on Saturday night will be razor thin, the implications are glaring and obvious. Sports are about defining moments, and none delineates between winner and loser more clearly than a championship game.Would Landon Donovan be universally remembered as the best American soccer player of all-time without the five MLS Cup championships he won with the San Jose Earthquakes and LA Galaxy? Without the record five goals he scored in those games? Without the big-game resume that screams, ‘I’m the best this league has ever seen, and I’ve got a handful of rings to prove it,’ would the league mint an MVP trophy that bears his name and image?

Would Bruce Arena, the godfather of US soccer coaches who is currently taking a second crack at the US national team job, be given that honorary title or considered for that job (again) without the two MLS Cups he won with D.C. United or the three he lifted with the Galaxy alongside Donovan? Would his coaching tree have branches across the country and globe without those triumphs?

How would our perception of the Revolution, five-time MLS Cup runners-up and never champions, change had a few of those finals gone New England’s way? Might the MLS careers of Steve Nicol, Taylor Twellman, Shalrie Joseph and Steve Ralston be remembered differently with a championship or two (or three or four)?

We know the answers to those questions. Championships change everything.

 

Michael Bradley doesn’t need to be reminded that he could be the captain to deliver Toronto FC the title that could complete the club’s transformation from laughing stock to regional powerhouse. Lifting the Phillip F. Anschutz Trophy on Saturday night could be the defining moment of his MLS – and perhaps even club – career. It could make him a Toronto icon.

 

Jordan Morris could be the hometown star who did what so many before him could not and bring MLS’s ultimate prize back to Puget Sound. He could, at just 22 years of age and in his first year as a pro, seal his place in Seattle and Sounders lore, a young man forever close to the hearts of a city full of soccer fans who helped redefine the MLS paradigm.

 

Sebastian Giovinco could lay claim to the unofficial title Best MLS Player of All-Time should he cap off the most productive two-year span in the history of the league with a championship. Nicolas Lodeiro could be the savior who finally took the Sounders to the summit.

 

Jozy Altidore could prove his doubters wrong by capping off an MVP-worthy and potentially record-setting postseason with the Cup itself. Unfair as it might be, Clint Dempsey could be remembered in Seattle for the game his body wouldn’t let him play.

Seattle general manager Garth Lagerwey could prove he’s more than Real Salt Lake’s moneyball title in 2009, a man who can spend big and win big, too. His equivalent in Toronto, Tim Bezbatchenko, could inspire Theo Epstein comparisons for his relative youth, innovative approach and turnaround of a moribund franchise with unbridled ambition and rabid support but little to show for it.Sounders fans could finally parade through downtown Seattle with the prize they’ve coveted above all others, a prize their arch rivals beat them to just last year. Reds fans, meanwhile, could claim the legitimacy they’ve craved since the very beginning, sweet redemption for all those seasons they showed up to watch a team destined to implode in the most painful way possible.Anything could happen. Only one thing will.For two clubs and two cities, Saturday night will change the course of their sporting history. Twenty years from now, one will look back on Dec. 10, 2016 fondly, memories flooding back with the sharpness and clarity that comes with victory. The other will wonder what might have been.That day has yet to come, but there’s more than hardware at stake. Legacies ride on it.

 

Five reasons why Toronto FC will beat the Seattle Sounders in MLS Cup

With Saturday’s MLS Cup tilt between Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders now just days away, ESPN FC takes a look at five reasons why Toronto will take home the championship.

1. Giovinco makes it go

Simply put, Sebastian Giovinco is a difference maker every time he steps on the field — 17 goals and 15 assists in 28 regular-season games say it all. Rarely does he ever have a bad day and Saturday’s tilt should be no different. His low center of gravity will make defending difficult for Seattle center-backs Chad Marshall and Roman Torres, and with zero goals in the two legs versus the Montreal Impact, the former Juventus man is poised for a big-time performance in MLS Cup.

2. Altidoreen fuego

Jozy Altidore delivered arguably the finest performance of his career in Toronto’s second-leg extra-time victory over the Montreal Impact. A big, physical test awaits against the Sounders’ aforementioned center-backs, but the confidence with which the United States international is playing is undeniable. For a player who has been riddled with hamstring and fitness issues, his energy in 120 minutes versus the Impact was impressive. Another outing like that on Saturday and it’s hard to see TFC losing the cup.

3. The better bench

While Seattle does have options, Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney has better offensive weapons at his disposal on the bench. Tosaint Ricketts has been terrific this postseason, with two goals and an assist, while Benoit Cheyrou filled Giovinco’s shoes with aplomb to tally the series winner versus Montreal. If the two teams are tied entering the final quarter hour, the introduction of Ricketts or Cheyrou could prove decisive for the Reds.

4. A strong spine

In Toronto’s 3-5-2, one of the things that stands out immediately is the strength of the team’s spine. The five-man midfield is led centrally by Michael Bradley, while the three-man defense boasts Drew Moor at center-back. An MLS Cup winner in 2010, Moor has the calm and experience that Toronto will need in the back while coping with Seattle’s dangerous attack. Bradley similarly marshals the Toronto midfield, while Clint Irwin is also a steady hand in goal.

5. Red storm rising

With 36,000 expected to attend MLS Cup, BMO Field will be a cauldron on Saturday night. The rowdy Toronto faithful played a big part in pushing their team past Montreal, and now with the chance to snap a 23-year title drought in all major North American sports, Toronto fans will assuredly be at their loudest. In terms of fan atmosphere, it has the makings to be the most memorable final in MLS Cup history.Arch Bell covers CONCACAF for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @ArchBell .

 

Five reasons why the Seattle Sounders will beat Toronto FC in MLS Cup

With Saturday’s MLS Cup tilt between the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC now just days away, ESPN FC takes a look at five reasons why Seattle will take home the championship.

1. Lodeiro leads the way

He has only been in Major League Soccer for a few months, but Nicolas Lodeiro has quickly risen to the top as one of the league’s best players. The Uruguayan playmaker sets Seattle’s table and his inch-perfect crosses into the area will pose problems for the Toronto FC defense. There is no denying the importance of the former Boca Juniors man to his side and the feeling is that he will get the better of Michael Bradley in midfield.

2. Big game Jordan

Whether at the collegiate, international or club level, Jordan Morris has a knack for coming through in the clutch. He scored the winner in the United State’s last victory against Mexico, a 2-0 friendly win back in April 2015, and bagged a brace in the final to help lead Stanford to last season’s College Cup. And, of course, he came up huge with his winner in the semifinal second leg at the Colorado Rapids. This is a player who thrives in the big moments.

3. The land of Oz

There will be no bigger test for Sounders defensive midfielder Osvaldo Alonso than neutralizing TFC danger man Sebastian Giovinco. Luckily for Seattle fans, Alonso is one of the best in the league at his position; he’ll tackle, deflect or block passes and frustrate opponents to no end. To boot, he’s an accurate passer. The Cuban veteran can still cover a lot of ground and assuming his knee is healthy, he can be the guy to finally halt Giovinco.

4. The boys in the back

Chad Marshall and Roman Torres make up one of the most intimidating center back pairings in the league and should enjoy more success than Montreal had in stopping TFC forward Jozy Altidore. Their experience should provide the Sounders with some needed calm in the back. Each player can also be an X factor on set pieces. With Lodeiro capable of serving up a perfect ball on a free kick, a goal via header from Marshall or Torres would be no surprise.

5. Destiny’s child

There is just something about this Seattle side that screams destiny. Other Seattle teams have had more talent, but this squad has gotten hot at the right moment and is brimming with confidence. They took down Supporters’ Shield winner FC Dallas and then went to Colorado and became the first team all season to beat the Rapids on their home turf. With players who have played in soccer’s biggest games (Lodeiro in the Argentine Superclasico vs. River Plate and Nelson Valdez for Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich), the Sounders will be unflappable on Saturday night in Toronto.

MLS will consider playoff format changes for 2017 season

MLS will consider changing its playoff format in 2017, with regular season record serving as the first tiebreaker in the conference semis and finals among the possible tweaks, the league’s Vice President of Competition told ESPN FC on Thursday.”I think we believe that the format we have now works, but we’re always open to improving as much as we possibly can to make it exciting for fans and fair for our clubs,” MLS VP Jeff Agoos said in a phone interview three days before Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders meet in the MLS Cup final.”Every year we have a discussion over our playoff format.”LS has changed its postseason set-up frequently during its 20-year history. The playoffs have grown from eight to 12 participants as the league more than doubled in size. Two new teams, Atlanta United and Minnesota United, will grow the circuit to 22 members in 2017.The league’s technical committee will discuss possible changes from the drastic — such as introducing a group stage similar to what is used in tournaments like the Copa America or World Cup — to the comparatively benign — like eliminating away goals as the primary tiebreaker in two-leg series — it meets next month.Whether that’s a World Cup-style format, whether that’s single elimination like March Madness, whether we keep the format we have now — those are all things that are on the table and open to discussion,” Agoos said. “If they can improve our playoffs, we’ll certainly take a very hard look at it.”The away goals tiebreaker was introduced in 2014 to mixed reviews.”When we didn’t have away goals, people were criticizing us for that,” Agoos said. “Now that we do have away goals, people are criticizing us for having them.”That rule ensures fewer series are determined by extra-time or penalty kicks. But it can also limit how much home teams are willing to attack, especially if the aggregate score is tied late in the decisive contest.”We will be discussing the away goals rule in our January meetings, as we’ve done in the past,” Agoos said.Only two of 12 two-leg series have been decided by away goals over the past three seasons. Nonetheless, Agoos said there is a growing sentiment to consider using regular season record as the first tiebreaker instead.”I think this will be the first year we really try to put a focus on the higher seed advancing,” he said. “We’ve had some technical directors that have wanted to have that discussion. But we will also look at different alternatives.”Whatever modifications are adopted, if any, they won’t be made lightly.”We’re very reluctant to change things unless there’s a real strong sentiment one way or the other,” he said.”We changed our playoffs a number of times, and we want to create some level of consistency so our fans understand,” Agoos continued.”But that doesn’t mean we won’t change it if we think it’s the right thing to do.”Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @DougMacESPN.

 

 

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 –

 

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

 

Ok folks I don’t care what the soccer purest, the Euro elite say – Playoff Soccer is Cool.  After witnessing a Semifinal in person for the Indy 11 and the MLS finals last season in Columbus and now after watching THE most Exciting Soccer Game I have seen this season – Toronto defeating Montreal in OT at BMO in the freezing rain Thursday night I am here to tell you Playoff Soccer can be pretty fantastic.  This winner advances game came down to a goal in the last 10 minutes to tie it up for Toronto at 5-5 on Aggregate.  Then in OT Altidore made a magical turn and run delivering the assist to take the lead followed by an insurance goal and Toronto advances to host the MLS Finals versus my Seattle Sounders next Saturday night 8 pm on FOX (yes Fox not Fox Soccer).  The title match features some of the best and most recognizable stars in MLS including local/IU star Toronto’s Eriq Zavaleta as the 2 teams will battle for their first title as neither of the storied franchises (among the most popular in both the Western and Eastern Divisions) has ever been this far before.  Make your plans now to clear your schedule next Sat night or set those DVRs as this one should be a doozy at the 40K full BMO Field in Toronto.

Looking ahead to this weekend El Classico features Barcelona hosting Real Madrid Sat at 10:15 am on beIN Sport as Barca looks to cut into the 6 pt lead the Madridistas currently hold in La Liga I like Barcelona at home in what is almost a must win for them as close to ½ billion people will watch around the world.  In the EPL – Man City hosts Chelsea in a battle of top 2 teams Sat AM at 7:30 am on NBCSN. Champions League returns Tues/Wed this week with 4 of the 16 slots in the Knockout round still available for 7 teams.

US Soccer finally did what had to be done and fired Klinsmann last Friday (right after I finished my story LOL).  I had hope when the German was hired and while he did some good things while in charge of US soccer – has he really moved the needle forward?  Honestly this past year – I think the US has looked as bad at times as at any point in the last 15 years and no further along with the PROGRESSIVE Soccer that Klinsy promised.  Now its up to the coach who some consider the best US coach ever – Bruce Arena to pick up the pieces and get the US to the World Cup.  Do I think we will qualify – sure – honestly I also think the team will play better now that Bruce is in charge.  Expect him to actually settle on a line-up and have players understanding what their role is on the team.  I certainly expect him to continue to use the German American players like Brooks and Johnson but lets hope Timmy Chandler has seen his last game in a US Jersey.  I will be interesting to see what he does for a line-up but in my mind the 4-4-2 has served us well with Altidore and Woods up top.  The defense needs to find a steady left and right back so Johnson can move up to wing to compliment Pulisic.  Don’t be surprised to see to changes in the middle as the Jones/Bradely tandum has shown to be a major weekness.  Not sure what he does with Bradley but I think if we want to get ready for Russia in 2 years Jones needs to become a super sub not a starter so we need to find a new two-some in the middle of the park somehow.  Bruce has 3 months to get his group ready for the next qualifiers in what will be key games in qualifying top 3 in Concacaff.

GAMES U MUST SEE  

Sat,  Dec 3

7:30 am NBCSN            Man City vs Chelsea

9:30 am Fox Sport 1 Borussia Dortmund vs Borussia Monchengladbach

10:15am beIN Sport Barcelona vs Real Madrid 

Tues, Dec 6

Champions League

2:45 pm ESPN2            Bayern Munich vs Athletico Madrid

2:45 pm Fox Sport2  Barcelona vs Borussia M’gladbach

Weds, Dec 7

Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport1  Real Madrid vs Dortmund 

Sat,  Dec 10

12:30 pm NBCSN        Leicester City vs Man City 

8 pm FOX                                                 MLS Finals – Toronto vs Seattle

MLS

Toronto wins Classic in OT at home –must see video here is you didn’t see –best playoff game ever

Jordon Morris Goal Sends Sounders to MLS Final

Seattle Rides Wave of belief to MLS Finals Finally

3 Reasons Seattle Won ESPN Jeff Carlisle

Seattle Advances to 1^st MLS Cup – SI

Toronto becomes Model MLS Franchise ESPN FC

Classic Match-up in Final with 2 of the top teams in MLS

USA

Classy Goodbye from Klinsy

5 Things Bruce must do

US Pulls plug on the Grand Klinsmann Experiment – SI Straus

Klinsmann undone by arrogance  USA Today

Why Bruce is the perfect guy to replace Jurgen USA today

Interesting Responses on Twitter

Which Players have New International Life with Bruce in Charge? SI

All part of why he was fired – SI Straus

How Alex Morgan’s Family Invested in her Soccer Future

EPL

Liverpool Goes Top but Contino Injury a worry

Chelsea’s is Contes Team Now  ESPNFC

Swansy wins 5 goal thriller for Bradley’s first win 5-4

US Manager Bradley gets first win for Swansea

Swansea player Ratings

World

El Classico –Barca struggling

Barca needs the Win more

El Classico subdued but still important

Argentina/Brazil 1 & 2 in the World US down to #28 lowest in 12 years

Germany Wrap-up

Serie A – Italy wrap-up

Juve -Alves and Bonucchi hurt as they lose

Best Goalie Saves Oct 16

Best Goalie saves Last Week

Indy 11/NASL

League Meetings Start – Are the Cosmos/League folding?  ESPNFC

Year in Review – Goalkeeper

Year in Review – the Defense

GAMES ON TV

Fri,  Dec 2

2:45 pm beIN Sport                          Napoli vs Inter

2:30 pm Fox Sport 1                         Mainz vs Bayern Munich

Sat,  Dec 3

7:30 am NBCSN            Man City vs Chelsea

9:30 am Fox Sport 1 Borussia Dortmund vs Borussia Monchengladbach

10 am NBCSN                 Tottenham vs Swansea

10 am CNBC                   Crystal Palace vs Southampton

12:30 pm NBC              West Ham vs Arsenal

10:15am beIN Sport Barcelona vs Real Madrid 

12:30 pm FS2                Red Bull Leipzig vs Schalke

2:45 pm beIN Sport  Juve vs Atalanta

Sunday, Dec 4

8:30 am NBCSN            Bournemouth vs Liverpool

9:30 am Fox Sports 1 Darmstadt vs. Hamburg SV

11 am NBCSN                Everton vs Man United
11:30 am Fox Sport 1 Augsburg vs. Eintracht Frankfurt

Tues, Dec 6

Champions League

2:45 pm FS1                   Man City vs Celtic

2:45 pm ESPN2            Bayern Munich vs Athletico Madrid

2:45 pm Fox Sport2  Barcelona vs Borussia M’gladbach

2:45 pm Fox Soccer  Whip Around Coverage of All Games??

Weds, Dec 7

Champions League

2:45 pm Fox Sport1  Real Madrid vs Dortmund 

2:45 pm Fox sport2   Tottenham vs CSKA Moskva

2:45 pm Fox States? Leverkusen vs Monaco

2:45 pm ESPN2            Olympic Lyon vs Sevilla

2:45 pm ESPN3             Porto vs Leicester City

2:45 pm ESPN3            Juventus vs Dinamo Zagreb

Thurs, Dec 8

Europa League

1 pm FS1                          Zorya vs Man United

Sat,  Dec 10

9:30 am FS1                   Bayern Munich vs  Wolfsburg

10 am NBCSN                Arsenal vs Stoke City

12:30 pm NBCSN        Leicester City vs Man City 

8 pm FOX                                                 MLS Finals – Toronto vs Seattle

Sun,  Dec 11

7 am NBCSN                   Chelsea vs West Brom

9:30 am FS1                   Borussia Mgladbach vs Bayern Leverkusen

9 am NBCSN                   Man United vs Tottenham

9 am beIN Sport          Torino vs Juventus

9:30 am FS2                   Schalke vs Bayern Leverkusen

11:30 am NBCSN         Liverpool vs West Ham 

Mon,  Dec 12

3 pm beIN Sports       Roma vs AC Milan

Tues,  Dec 13

2:45 pm NbCSN           Everton vs Arsenal

Weds,  Dec 14

2:45 pm NbCSN           Middlesborough vs Liverpool

3 pm ??                             Crystal Palace vs Man United

Thurs, Dec 15  –           FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP

5:30 am Fox Sport1   Real Madrid vs ??

El Clasico: Everything you need to know about Real Madrid vs. Barcelona

Saturday’s Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid is the latest in a long line of epic clashes between Spain’s top two clubs. With Real holding a six-point advantage over their rivals, a win for Zinedine Zidane’s side could prove decisive in the title race. Here’s what you need to know.

MADRID — As many as half a billion fans are expected to watch Saturday’s Clasico at the Camp Nou on television as Cristiano Ronaldo’s high-flying Real Madrid travel to a Barcelona team increasingly reliant on their superstar Lionel Messi to save their season.

Form guide and team news

Barcelona (WWWWDD): The hosts enter the game having been held to draws in each of their past two league games.

Real Madrid (WWWWWW): Barca’s stumbles have allowed Madrid, winners of six straight in La Liga, to pull away in the title race.

As for who will play on Saturday, Barca hope to have Andres Iniesta available following a month-long absence through injury. Jordi Alba is nursing ankle and knee knocks but could yet play. The home side’s formidable front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar are all fit.As for Real Madrid, well, one part of their attacking triumvirate will not be in action due to Gareth Bale’s long-term ankle injury, though Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema are available. Midfielder Toni Kroos is also out.

Real are focused on the title

Zinedine Zidane’s side are in a position they’ve not been in for a long time. They currently sit six points ahead of Barcelona — they have not been further in front since 2012 and that was after El Clasico. It was also the second meeting that season, won in the spring as the season headed into the final weeks.That night, Ronaldo’s goal at the Camp Nou completed a 2-1 victory that effectively won them the title; afterwards, Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola congratulated Madrid on being league champions. That was the only league title Madrid have won in the past eight years. Too long, they know. It’s been striking to the players and the manager at a club whose identity has been built through the European Cup, a competition they almost feel is their own, and one they have won twice as many times as their greatest rivals, explicitly say that the league is the priority this season.And so, El Clasico tends to define the season; this time it might go a very long way to actually deciding it. Win and Madrid would be nine points clear, with a head-to-head advantage, too. Barcelona would have to do four games’ worth of catching up. And yes, there are 25 games to go but that would be a huge gap. “A fist on the desk,” Nacho called it.The Catalan side are also in a position they’ve not been in for a long time. They’ve experienced something similar(ish) from the other side a few times in recent years, but not so early in the season. When these two teams last met, everyone knew that if Barcelona won, the title race would be over. They lost 2-1 and, as it turned out, it was still over although it got mighty close.That night, April 2, 2016, a run of 32 games without a Barcelona defeat came to an end, but they still won the league. They didn’t need to win then; they need to win now. Pessimism has taken hold.”If we win on Saturday, things will look different,” Gerard Pique said. But? But “if we lose, things will become very complicated.” The defender admitted: “Madrid have the luxury of being able to lose. We don’t.”Luis Enrique said: “It would be over the top to kill us.”Some fear that a defeat would kill their title chances.

How are Madrid playing?

It’s hard to really put your finger on it. Madrid are unbeaten in 32 games, a brilliant run whichever way you look at it, and yet some doubts linger, odd though that sounds. Ridiculous, in fact. They have rarely dominated in the spell, only occasionally really sparkled. That said, the variety and strength in depth is quite astonishing. No other team in Europe’s big five leagues is still unbeaten. They drew four games in a row, granted, but just when it seemed set to go wrong, just when it felt like maybe they were being found out, Madrid started winning again and never stopped. When the game that everyone declared a first real test came around, they passed it brilliantly, beating Atletico Madrid 3-0. They went to Atletico, the team that don’t concede, and put three past them. Another hat-trick from Ronaldo.

Barca are struggling badly

Madrid’s upcoming away fixtures are about as tough as it gets, offering hope that they will drop points: Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla and Celta in that order. That gives Barcelona the chance to make up ground but, with 27 points from 13 games, this is their worst start to a season since the Frank Rijkaard era.Barca drew with Real Sociedad at the weekend and their manager even said that was a “miracle,” so comprehensively had they been outplayed. After the match, Piqué talked about “attitude” and insisted: “If we play like this it will be very difficult to win the league.”That game was the worst, Luis Enrique said, but it was not really a one-off: Messi had produced a mind-bending display to pull them through against Sevilla, they had been fortunate in Valencia, they were unable to score against Málaga and they have been beaten twice. At Celta, they were overrun. Something that used to happen very rarely is being repeated now. El Clasicois an obligation, but an opportunity to. “A chance to rebel,” Javier Mascherano called it.

Will Zidane go for the jugular?

It’s a big decision for the Madrid boss. In the absence of one or more of the “BBC” — Bale, Benzema and Cristiano — he has tended to take the opportunity and add an extra midfielder, as he did so effectively against Atletico. So, with Bale out, expect something similar.But how does the lead at the top of the table impact his decisions? Does it mean caution? A desire to ensure (in so far as you can ever ensure anything) that they do not see that lead reduced and the title race opened up? Or does it mean that he will be tempted to go for it and leave Madrid in a position about which most could have barely dreamed? In big games, he has tended to tighten up.

It’s never ‘just a game’

After 114 years of the biggest footballing rivalry in the world, one thing is clear: no game has what this game has in terms of sport, politics, society and identity. “Just football?” one headline ran a few years back. They knew the answer: Madrid-Barca is never just football. But the football is the best, too. So are the players: you have to go back two decades to find a FIFA World Player of the Year winner who hasn’t played for Madrid or Barcelona.This game really is Spain’s derby: it’s not just that government figures show that over half of all football fans here declare themselves Madid or Barcelona supporters, it’s that even those who support someone else almost always support one of these two as well or at least have a non-negotiable preference for one or the other. They weren’t always the biggest, but they are now. And that’s not going to change.

Real’s historical edge

This will be the 232nd competitive Clasico although it’s only really over the past 10 years or so that they’ve started calling it that, a term borrowed from Argentina. It used to be the derbi.It’s pretty close, too: Barcelona have narrowed the gap in recent years but just when it looked like they might even it up, Madrid pulled away again. Madrid have won 93, Barcelona 90 and there have been 48 draws. Oh, and Madrid and Barcelona have scored 390 and 376 goals respectively.The chances of this finishing 0-0 are slim: the last time that happened was Nov. 2002, some 39 games ago. So, that’s jinxed it. Sorry.

The man in black

Well, he’ll be in yellow, the supporting actor so often elevated to lead role. This time, it’s Carlos Clos Gómez’s turn.Usually, the storm around the referee is decidedly ugly. Clos Gómez, curiously enough, has given both Barcelona and Real Madrid more yellow and red cards than their opponents over the games he has taken charge; there can’t be many referees with a record like that. Barcelona have never lost a league game with him, in 20 games; Madrid have won the same number — 18 — but lost four.These stats don’t really mean anything, per se, but try telling everyone that in Spain. Classy as ever, Zidane tried but they didn’t really listen. With depressing inevitability, there are some already moaning about the refereeing in this clasico, a game that hasn’t happened yet.

The return of Iniesta

Enrique would have liked him to play some minutes in the Copa del Rey in Alicante this week but he was suspended. He is, though, training fully with his teammates and his manager says he is “fully fit,” so it seems likely he will play his 34th clasico: more than anyone else, ever. They have missed him; that midfield looks very different with him in it.”We have missed him muchísimo,” Sergi Roberto said. “He is pure Barcelona.” The Barcelona that some have missed of late? After all, Iniesta doesn’t just play; he makes others play too. Over the past two years he has become a kind of combined Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez, the Barca legend with whom he combined so well for so long in midfield.”He has the same ability as Xavi to keep the ball but he also has the ability to go past people,” Enrique says. “Pure magic”, his manager called him. As for Piqué, arguably Barcelona’s outstanding player this season, he insists that, “relax, I’ll be there.”

Don’t forget the benches

Barcelona spent over €100 million on strength in depth: of their five recent signings, only one (Umtiti) was really seen as a starter but so far, it hasn’t worked. At Madrid, meanwhile, 19 different players have scored this season: of the outfield players, only the injured Casemiro and curious case Fabio Coentrao have not got goals. They have had injuries — of the team that started the Champions League final in May, only Dani Carvajal has not suffered an injury this season and he suffered on that night — and yet they have overcome them all. Sometimes, in fact, they have even looked better.Will they miss Bale, out for at least the next two months? Of course they will. Only they have done a good job of not missing anyone. Casemiro was the one they thought they would miss most, the man with no replacement. But after an uneven start, Mateo Kovacic has stepped up.

Enrique vs. Zidane

“We’ve got the best squad since I have been here… but we’re still stuck with the same lump as a manager,” Enrique said. The knives are out, that’s for sure. But then there’s always been a slightly odd sense that people don’t trust him. He has been here before and, he said, “you all ended up climbing on the bandwagon.” In 2014-15, it was a treble-winning bandwagon. The following season came a double-winning one.As for Zidane, the victory over Atlético was very much his success. Tactically, he surprised everyone with Isco just behind Ronaldo and read it right: at last, a Madrid derby where they weren’t outnumbered in midfield. Until then, most assumed that Zidane — soft, smiling, smooth, serene Zidane — was good with the group but maybe not much of a coach despite winning the European Cup. Now, it seems he has won almost all of them over. 32 games, remember. Top of the table. A European trophy.Statistically, it’s the best start to a managerial career that anyonehas ever had in Spain. Forza Football ran a poll this week: Is Zidane a lucky guy or tactical genius? The latter won, 73-27.

Players to watch? Try all of them

No game on the planet has this much talent — even without Bale, even if Iniesta doesn’t start in the end, even with Alvaro Morata and Toni Kroos still injured. Isco’s position will be especially interesting; will he be entrusted with a key role again? And will it be in what Zidane calls his “natural position,” No. 10, one that normally doesn’t exist in Madrid’s set-up?If Iniesta doesn’t play, that “other” midfielder will be under pressure to perform. Who will it be? Andre Gomes, Arda Turan or Rafinha? Denis Suarez is the player who appears best suited to their style, and best able to support Sergio Busquets in midfield. But no one has been as decisive as Rafinha, whether winning the ball back or scoring goals. For Madrid, Luka Modric’s return is cause for celebration.

But don’t forget those two

Forgive the stating-the-bleeding-obvious answer, the men to watch are clearly Ronaldo and Messi, the embodiment of their clubs for so long now. And they still are.The constituency is incredible, really. Ronaldo first came to Madrid in 2009. Seven years and 26 clasicos have passed since then. Plenty of players have been and gone, too: fourteen of those who started his first clasico are no longer around. Stars have come: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Bale, Neymar, James Rodriguez, Suárez, Isco. And they have had had an impact: Ibrahimovic scored the winner in Ronaldo’s first Clasico, Bale got that Copa del Rey final goal, Suárez scored the winner last year. Yet no one has had an impact like Ronaldo and Messi. No one has managed to eclipse them.Last year for the first time, it looked like something was shifting: arguably, Suárez was La Liga Player of the Year and Bale seemed to be becoming Madrid’s most decisive footballer. But here we are again. Them, again. Men who have marked an era, scoring just short of 600 La Liga goals between them. Top scorers in their clubs’ histories, two of the three top scorers in clasico history, too — Alfredo Di Stéfano stands between Messi, in first with 21 goals, and Ronaldo, in third with 16 — and the top two scorers in this league the season too.And so it goes on.Sid Lowe is a Spain-based columnist and journalist who writes for ESPN FC, 

Title-starved Toronto beats Impact in instant classic to advance to MLS Cup

TORONTO — If Toronto FC’s enthralling 5-2 win over the Montreal Impact in the Eastern Conference final second leg wasn’t the best playoff match in Major League Soccer’s 21-season history, it was close.The only other game that’s even in the conversation is a 2003 affair between the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes that the Quakes — who would go on to hoist the MLS Cup that year — won on a second-leg golden goal after trailing 4-0 on aggregate earlier in the decisive contest.Yet even that famous comeback by the Quakes, which took place on a narrow, pockmarked field inside a college football stadium in what was a lifetime ago for the league, didn’t have the big-time atmosphere that backdropped this match, let alone the constant momentum swings that turned Wednesday’s tilt into an instant classic.The Impact, who led the first leg 3-0 at one point, held a 4-2 advantage in the total-goals series after Dominic Oduro opened the scoring in the 24th minute in the decisive second match. But TFC roared back through Armando Cooper and Jozy Altidore to make it 4-4 before half-time and swing the series lead on away goals in their favor.Montreal edged in front once again on Ignacio Piatti’s strike early in the second half before Nick Hagglund’s powerful header sent the series to extra time, where Toronto scored twice and ultimately prevailed. TFC, which had never won a playoff game before this season, will now host the Seattle Sounders on Dec. 10 in MLS Cup. Still, the drama of how it got there won’t soon be forgotten by any of the 36,000 in attendance who watched through 120 minutes and a downpour at BMO Field.”There were so many twists and turns along the way. Down 1-0, up 2-1, 2-2,” Reds captain Michael Bradley said after the game, noting the added tension of the final 25 minutes, when another Montreal away goal would’ve required the hosts to score two more to advance.”At 3-2, it was on a knife’s edge because obviously we were pushing, we were the team that was still for the most part getting chances, but one play the other way, and all of a sudden we have a lot to do.”In most two-leg playoff series, an early goal by the visitors to go up by two overall would have been a hill too high to climb for the home side. But even after Oduro and the Impact struck first, Montreal never seemed in control and TFC never seemed likely to give up. Still, coach Mauro Biello rued the three set-piece goals his team gave up. And the Impact’s inability to find another tally before the extra period — during which time away goals don’t serve as the tiebreaker — was their undoing.”We’re disappointed,” Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush said. “We had the advantage, lost it, and got it again. Lots of emotions throughout the game. Toronto deserved the win — I think that they were the better team, especially in the overtime session — and I think that if we were to win the game, we had to do it in regulation, when the away goals gave us the advantage. Unfortunately, they capitalized on their chances in overtime.”As the drama unfolded during the match, TFC coach Greg Vanney was too busy concentrating on what he could do to influence the outcome to appreciate the craziness on display. Indeed, it was two of Vanney’s three substitutes, Benoit Cheyrou and Tosaint Ricketts, who scored in the 98th and 100th minutes to seal the victory.When it was finally over, though, Vanney, who spent 10 seasons in MLS as a player, was able to take a larger view of the contest’s — and the series’ — place in league lore.”The game tonight was a roller coaster,” Vanney said. “It went from obviously giving up the first goal, which wasn’t in the plan, to fighting back and getting back on top coming into half-time. So we’re preparing to lock down the game, and lo and behold we give another one back. … It’s been a stressful week just trying to do everything I can to make the guys feel like they’re ready to go in this game. They proved they were ready and then some.”Once I took a step back from the celebration, [I could appreciate] the excitement of the two games, the quantity of goals, the amount of attacking and back-and-forth and twists and turns,” Vanney said. “I can’t imagine that the experience of emotions that people went through, that there aren’t a lot of new soccer fans. For me, it’s the most exciting playoff event that I’ve ever been a part of or that I’ve ever seen.”On that front, he’s far from alone.Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN FC.

Jordan Morris’ goal helps Sounders reach their first MLS Cup final

Jordan Morris scored in the second half and the Seattle Sounders advanced to the MLS Cup final for the first time with 1-0 win at the Colorado Rapids on Sunday.Morris’ strike in the 56th minute opened a two-goal advantage for the Sounders after last week’s 2-1 win in the first leg, and they advanced 3-1 on aggregate while handing the Rapids their first home loss of the season.The Rapids, entering the game knowing they needed a goal, had all of the early pressure as Jermaine Jones lashed an early shot off-target before his glancing header from a corner also fell wide of the net.Midway through the first half, Kevin Doyle had a chance when he raced onto a long pass, but his ball through the six-yard box went untouched.Jones remained dangerous, looping another shot high following a corner and delivering a cross to Shkelzen Gashi, who had space in the box but decided to try for a spectucular volley that he could not keep on target.Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer, who took over in midseason after Sigi Schmid was fired, decided to show more signs of attack after halftime and was rewarded by Morris’ goal within 11 minutes.Nelson Valdez played Morris in on goal with a through ball, and the former Stanford star took a touch before beating Colorado goalkeeper Zac MacMath with the outside of his boot.Morris stayed down after colliding with MacMath, who was playing in place of the injured Tim Howard, but he quickly returned to action after having his knee taped on the sideline.Seattle’s Osvaldo Alonso was not so fortunate after picking up an injury and had to be replaced by Oniel Fisher in the 74th minute.With Morris’ goal, Colorado needed two goals to force extra time but despite increased pressure could not find a clear opportunity in the final quarter-hour.Seattle has qualified for the playoffs in each of their eight seasons in MLS but had never before made the final. The Sounders had twice made it to the conference final but fell to the LA Galaxy in both 2012 and 2014.They will host the Dec. 10 final if the Montreal Impact hold on to beat Toronto FC in the Eastern Conference final. Toronto will host the final if it can overturn a 3-2 deficit in the second leg on Wednesday.

Seattle riding a wave of belief, hard work and luck to MLS Cup final

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Brian Schmetzer had just been asked what he made of leading the Seattle Sounders to their first MLS Cup final, especially given the struggles the team had earlier this season.”I’m very proud of this franchise,” he said. Then his voice quivered, and his eyes welled up.He then said, “The fans deserve that. They deserve it.”Schmetzer’s sense of Sounders history runs as deep as anybody’s. When a reporter mentioned that the Sounders played in two NASL championship games in the 1970s, Schmetzer quickly corrected him, saying there was one in the 1980s as well. Schmetzer ought to know, as he was part of the Seattle team that lost the 1982 Soccer Bowl against the New York Cosmos 1-0. He was also the team’s manager in 2005 and 2007 when the Sounders won championships in what was then known as the USL First Division.On Sunday, Schmetzer and his players added to the team’s history. The Sounders rode Jordan Morris’ second-half goal, along with some rugged and at times desperate defending, to claim a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids in the second leg of the Western Conference finals, and a 3-1 aggregate triumph.”The significance of this is it’s now, and we are creating these moments,” he said later, having regained his composure.”The moment that we created for the 200-plus fans that drove or flew all the way here on a holiday weekend to Colorado, to the 40,000-plus fans we have every home match, it’s very significant.”It’s significant to the fans that were watching us in Memorial Stadium back in the ’70s. It is significant. It’s another chapter, but we’re not finished yet.”We have to make sure that all of this culminates with something really big, really great, a really special moment that people will take for many years.”Schmetzer is right of course, but in some respects, Seattle has already done something special this season. Back in late July, the Sounders were in ninth place, had just fired manager Sigi Schmid, and hired Schmetzer on an interim basis. Never mind an MLS Cup final appearance, a spot in the playoffs seemed to be pure fantasy. Nothing was going the team’s way.But Schmetzer rallied his side. Sure, the acquisition of Nicolas Lodeiro revived the team’s attack, even after Clint Dempsey was sidelined with a heart ailment. Roman Torres returned from a knee injury to help solidify the back line. Young players like Cristian Roldan and Morris expanded their games and emerged as players who could be counted on. Even Nelson Valdez, the poster child for Designated Player busts, regained his scoring touch once the playoffs started.Yet Schmetzer deserves his share of credit for getting the team pointed in the right direction again, and convincing the Sounders that what seemed impossible was indeed possible.That said, Schmetzer has had help of a different sort. Seattle has arguably had better teams in its MLS past, the 2014 Supporters’ Shield-winning side in particular. But there was something that always scuttled the Sounders’ MLS Cup dreams. There would be injuries to key players, like Ozzie Alonso or Mauro Rosales. Or there was a loss of form for individuals at the wrong time.Now, after seven years of MLS Cup playoff disappointment, fate, it would seem, has finally decided to smile on the Sounders. The team is mostly healthy, though Dempsey and Brad Evans can still be counted as significant losses.Seattle has peaked at the right moment. And it sure helps if your opponents start seeing attributes like health and form evaporate. If you find yourself benefiting from a dubious refereeing decision or two, so much the better. That dash of luck hasn’t been lost on Seattle, though it’s been the residue of hard work as well.”Those are all variables that are difficult to kind of align so that they come into play at the right time when we need it,” goalkeeper Stefan Frei said.”But I think for us this year, that’s what happened. We had do-or-die games for the last three months of the season.”I think it instilled a good work ethic to win playoff games. Our confidence soared. We had guys healthy.”All those things I think are factors that you need to be in your favor in order for you to have a chance of winning the trophyIt also helps when you have a goal scorer like Morris. Much like the team itself, Morris had his ups and downs during the regular season. But along the way, he has shown a greater ability to ride out difficult moments during games and stay engaged.That attribute was on display in the second leg. Morris had been battling a stomach virus for the previous two days, and looked short of his peak. But the best goal scorers in the world have a knack for converting the one chance they get in a game, and that was what Morris did Sunday, neatly putting away Valdez’s pass.”The kid is not only strong physically, dealing with the [diabetes] that he has, but he’s also strong mentally, and I think that was what you saw today,” Schmetzer said.Morris even gamely carried on after taking a knock from Colorado goalkeeper Zac MacMath right after scoring. Morris lay on the ground for several minutes, and that led to an exchange with the Sounders’ team doctor, Dr. Michael Morris, who yes, is also Jordan’s father.”He just came out and was checking that all the ligaments were in there, but he was pushing where the guy cleated me,” the Sounders forward said. “I never yell at my dad but I was kind of yelling at him there.”Morris convinced all involved that he was OK, and then finished out the 90 minutes. When asked about his ability to better deal with such challenges, Morris indicated the only change is in his head.”I think I’m just playing with more confidence, and confidence is going to help you play whether it’s at the beginning of the season or the end of the season,” he said.”You try not to think about those things, but your play on the field is going to be about your confidence, and I just feel confident that the guys have been so supportive and helped me through tough times, and so I’m just playing with more confidence.”The same can be said for the Sounders, and now they’ll carry that belief into their first MLS Cup final.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle.

Toronto vs. Seattle presents some intriguing matchups in MLS Cup

On Sat night Dec. 10, the city of Toronto will host the MLS Cup final for the second time, but the circumstances couldn’t be more different from the previous encounter back in 2010. That edition featured two nondescript teams in the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas and was largely bereft of atmosphere.This time around, two high-profile sides will be featured in Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders. And if Wednesday’s edge-of-your-seat victory by TFC over the Montreal Impact in the Eastern Conf final is any indication, the energy from the BMO Field crowd should be off the charts.As for the game itself, there are intriguing matchups all over the field, and even on the bench. Here’s a quick breakdown of what can be expected in MLS Cup.

 The coaches

Neither Toronto’s Greg Vanney nor Seattle’s Brian Schmetzer was expected to reach the final as coach, but for different reasons. In some quarters, Vanney wasn’t expected to last the season, with reports overseas emergingthat he was going to be replaced by a foreign coach. But the TFC brass rightly opted for stability, and that has proved to be the correct call. Vanney not only has successfully melded the team’s designated players with its more humble elements, but he’s also made some astute tactical changes along the way — most notably a switch to a 3-5-2 — that have proved highly effective.Schmetzer wasn’t even a head coach at the start of the season, serving as Sigi Schmid’s assistant. But when Schmid was fired with the team in ninth place in the Western Conference, it was Schmetzer — with the help Nicolas Lodeiro’s midseason arrival — that turned the team around. He’s managed to push the right buttons as well, helping young players like Cristian Roldan and Jordan Morris grow while also squeezing some goals out of Nelson Valdez, who had been a disappointment before the playoffs. Most of this has been done, mind you, with star forward Clint Dempsey sidelined by a heart ailment.

Seattle’s attack vs. Toronto’s defense

Since Lodeiro’s arrival in late July, the Sounders have been heavily reliant — some would say too reliant — on the Uruguayan. But there’s no doubting Lodeiro’s effectiveness, and his mobility will pose an immense challenge to Toronto midfielder Michael Bradley. The U.S. captain will need to avoid getting pulled out of the center too much, but Vanney’s recent insertion of Will Johnson into the lineup should give Bradley some help in this regard.Another critical piece will be Morris. Toronto’s wing-backs, Steven Beitashour and Justin Morrow, love to get forward, and with Morris excelling on the wing in recent matches, his runs in wide areas could force them to stay home more than usual. And Morris’ speed alone will be a threat to Toronto’s back line, which struggled to defend transition opportunities against the Impact. Emerging force Roldan and Andreas Ivanschitz — who has been battling injuries but started the second leg against the Colorado Rapids — will also be relied upon to take some of the creative burden off of Lodeiro.Seattle did look vulnerable to high pressure in the second leg against Colorado, with Tyrone Mears and Roman Torres often forced to just boot the ball long instead of playing out of the back. That is an approach that Toronto might want to make use of, especially with a partisan crowd cheering them on. If Beitashour and Morrow can contribute in this manner, it could have the effect of rendering Lodeiro and Morris ineffective.Toronto’s attack vs. Seattle’s defenseJozy Altidore’s performance in both legs against Montreal was immense, as he bullied the Impact’s back line. Fortunately for Seattle, it has two center-backs in Torres and Chad Marshall who don’t mind engaging in physical battles. The pace and elusiveness of Sebastian Giovinco is another matter. Seattle’s defenders will need to avoid getting into too many one-on-one encounters with the Italian. That will require Osvaldo Alonso to be at his tenacious best while also getting help from Roldan and outside backs Mears and Joevin Jones.Toronto feasted on set pieces in the Eastern Conference final triumph over Montreal, but Seattle’s size in the back should see it compete on more level terms in this department.Finals often see supporting players pop up to take the role of hero. For Toronto, Armando Cooper could very well be that player. The Panamanian is the most creative player operating in TFC’s three-man midfield and has shown an ability to stay strong on the ball and wriggle out of difficult situations.Bradley remains TFC’s metronome in attack, despite encountering some peaks and valleys in his performances. There have been moments when he has lost some critical physical battles, including one in the run-up to Montreal’s first goal on Wednesday. But his ability to pick out teammates over distance is a key element of Toronto’s attack.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. 

Champions League – Results and What they Are Playing For on Final Group Day

Twelve teams are through to the UEFA Champions League round of 16, with seven more vying for the four remaining berths when the group stage concludes on 6 and 7 December.

• Through:Atlético Madrid (group winners), Barcelona (group winners), Leicester City (group winners), Monaco (group winners), Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern München, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid
• Can qualify on matchday six:Benfica, Beşiktaş, København, Lyon, Napoli, Porto, Sevilla
• Cannot finish in top two: Basel, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Celtic, Club Brugge, CSKA Moskva, Dinamo Zagreb, Dynamo Kyiv, Legia Warszawa, Ludogorets Razgrad, PSV Eindhoven, Rostov, Sporting CP, Tottenham Hotspur
• Qualified for UEFA Europa League round of 32: Borussia Mönchengladbach
• Will finish fourth: Celtic, Club Brugge, Dinamo Zagreb, Dynamo Kyiv
• Full standings
• TUESDAY 6 DECEMBER: all kick-offs 20:45CET

All information in this article is subject to final confirmation from UEFA. These examples may not cover all potential situations.

Group A: Basel (2 points) v Arsenal (11, through),  Paris Saint-Germain (11, through) v Ludogorets Razgrad (2)

• Paris have the head-to-head advantage over Arsenal on away goals so will clinch first place with a win or as long as the Gunners do not overtake them on points.
• Ludogorets have the head-to-head advantage over Basel on away goals so will seal third spot with a victory. Basel need to finish ahead of Ludogorets on points or will come fourth.

Group B: Dynamo Kyiv (2) v Beşiktaş (7), Benfica (8) v Napoli (8)

• Napoli beat Benfica on matchday two so will qualify with a draw. Whoever wins that game will go through in first place, and both will be through regardless if Beşiktaş lose.
• Beşiktaş qualify with a win and would top the group if the other match is drawn. If Beşiktaş draw they will only progress if Napoli lose, since Benfica have the head-to-head advantage over the Turkish side, unlike the Serie A club.
• Dynamo will finish fourth.

 

Group C: Manchester City (8, through) v Celtic (2), Barcelona (12, through) v Borussia Mönchengladbach (5)

The positions are settled: Barcelona first, City second, Mönchengladbach third, Celtic fourth.

Group D: PSV Eindhoven (1) v Rostov (4),  Bayern München (9, through) v Atlético Madrid (15, through)

• Atlético have won the group with Bayern second.
• PSV must beat Rostov to pip them to third place.
• WEDNESDAY 7 DECEMBER: all kick-offs 20:45CET

Group E: Bayer Leverkusen (7, through) v Monaco (11, through), Tottenham Hotspur (4) v CSKA Moskva (3)

• Monaco have won the group with Leverkusen second.
• CSKA need to defeat Spurs to finish above them in third.

Group F: Real Madrid (11, through) v Borussia Dortmund (13, through), Legia Warszawa (1) v Sporting CP (3)

• Madrid require a victory against Dortmund to pip them to first place.
• Legia have to beat Sporting to overhaul them in the race for third.

 

Group G: Porto (8) v Leicester City (13, through), Club Brugge (0) v København (6)

• Leicester have won the group.
• København have a head-to-head advantage over Porto on away goals so will come second if they win and Porto do not.
• Brugge are consigned to fourth position.

Group H: Lyon (7) v Sevilla (10), Juventus (11, through) v Dinamo Zagreb (0)

• Juve are through and will top the group if they win or if Sevilla fail to win (due to Juve’s superior head-to head record).
• Lyon must overcome Sevilla by a margin of two goals or more to grab second ahead of their visitors. Sevilla won 1-0 at home so OL must better that victory in order to overtake their guests. One-nil would not be enough for Lyon as Sevilla would have the superior goal difference in all matches. Any other Lyon win by a one-goal margin and Sevilla go through on head-to-head away goals.
• Dinamo will finish fourth.

New York Cosmos and NASL working to survive as league meetings open

The future of the North American Soccer League appeared to be in peril on Tuesday, as club owners and potential investors met for crisis talks in Atlanta.The NASL, which operates as a second-tier league under MLS, ended the 2016 campaign with 12 teams, but recently saw the Ottawa Fury and the Tampa Bay Rowdies leave for the third-tier USL, while Minnesota United is set to join MLS next season. Numerous reports have said the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers and Rayo OKC are in financial trouble.But the biggest blow of all could come from the league’s marquee franchise, the New York Cosmos. A report early on Monday stated that the Cosmos would be shut down. This comes on the heels of an Empire of Soccer reportthat the Cosmos had furloughed much of its front office staff.However, a club source denied that the Cosmos had ceased operations.”We’re in league meetings over the next couple of days,” said the source. “Based on the outcome of those meetings, then we’ll make a decision on the club’s future.”Another club employee added, “We’re working, but there’s no point in selling tickets when there’s no games scheduled. There’s a lot that’s up in the air.”The Cosmos have been a success on the field, winning three league titles since joining the NASL in 2013. Attendance has been another story. This season, the club averaged just 3,775 at Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, which saw them ranked eighth out of 12 teams and below the league average of 4,734.It would appear that the NASL has a stark choice in front of it. It could shut down and see some of its teams be absorbed by the USL — which is angling for Division II status — or it could attempt to carry on.According to one former NASL team executive, the Cosmos, and chairman Seamus O’Brien, have no interest in moving to the USL, and see themselves as a Division I franchise. They had hoped to accomplish that through the growth of the NASL.The Cosmos could have joined MLS in 2012, but rather than spend $100 million or so on an expansion fee to join the league, the Cosmos wanted to invest that money in the club’s infrastructure. To that end, the Cosmos submitted plans to the state of New York to build a stadium near Belmont Park in 2012, but four years later, the Cosmos and three other bidders have yet to hear back from the state’s Empire Development Corp. to see which proposal will get approved.”O’Brien’s vision is media, television rights, and with the Cosmos being a global brand, he saw the club as being at the forefront of that,” said the source. “That’s where he saw the future, so for him, the USL is just not an option. No second-division league in this country has ever been on TV. It just doesn’t happen.”That’s why the big issue for them was [the NASL] getting first-division status so they could sell sponsorships and TV rights deals. They didn’t just want to have a team. For now, they didn’t really care how many fans showed up. They were trying to get a stadium built and get TV rights down the road.”One source attending the meetings in Atlanta indicated that new owners for the Cosmos were being pursued, and that four investor groups interested in starting NASL expansion teams were also in attendance. It was unknown how far along those talks are.The prospect of new teams entering the NASL hasn’t done much to ease the sense of impending doom surrounding the league. If the Cosmos are shut down, and Ft. Lauderdale and Oklahoma City fold as well, then the NASL would be left with just seven teams, including the expansion San Francisco Deltas, who are set to come on board in 2017.According to standards for Division II leagues as set forth by the U.S. Soccer Federation, a second-tier league must have eight teams in its first season, 10 teams by its third year, and 12 teams by its sixth year, though a USSF spokesman confirmed that exceptions have been made in the past for the NASL.A USSF board meeting is set for next week, and a USSF spokesman said that “a review of all [U.S.] leagues is on the agenda.” At a roundtable with reporters earlier this month, USSF president Sunil Gulati said, “I’m fully confident based on the meetings that I’ve had that [the NASL] will go forward.”The current incarnation of the NASL was formed out of a split among teams in the USL. A hybrid league existed for the 2010 season, before the NASL emerged as a standalone entity for the 2011 campaign, and it positioned itself in direct competition with MLS.The league was much more decentralized, had no salary cap, and began competing with MLS for players. That strategy proved to be unsuccessful, as there was always the threat that MLS would start poaching the NASL’s best franchises. The Montreal Impact, part of the NASL’s inaugural season in 2011, had already committed to joining MLS. Minnesota United will now follow suit next season.Another NASL team, the San Antonio Scorpions, positioned itself as an MLS candidate, but the team folded in 2015, and its stadium was sold, paving the way for a new USL entry owned by Spurs Sports & Entertainment.Much of the NASL’s funding came from a now-disgraced sports marketing firm, Traffic Sports USA, who at one time had ownership stakes in three teams. When Traffic USA president Aaron Davidson, who also was chairman of the league’s Board of Governors, was indicted for his part in the FIFA corruption scandal, his involvement with the league ceased.But separating the NASL from Traffic’s sizable investment proved more difficult. Just last week, a report in The Telegraph stated that Traffic offloaded all of the Class B shares it owned in the league.The hope was that the settlement would spur more investment in the league. The coming days will determine if that indeed comes to pass.Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. 

Klinsmann Undone by Arrogance – USA Today Nate Scott 

Jurgen Klinsmann is out.U.S. Soccer announced on Monday afternoon that it was parting ways with Klinsmann following two consecutive World Cup qualifying defeats, including a humiliating 4-0 loss to Costa Rica.In looking back at where things went wrong, a clear narrative comes through: There were too many promises, and not enough tangible changes. In the end, Klinsmann’s arrogance did him in.Klinsmann had a tall order when he came in as the USMNT coach and U.S. Soccer technical director in 2011 — not only was he tasked with taking the men’s national team to the next level, he was responsible in overseeing a new, bold youth development plan that would foster the next generation of American talent. Klinsmann’s resume was dazzling. He had coached the mighty Germany national team, as well as mega club Bayern Munich. No longer would U.S. Soccer settle for a good American coach. It was setting its sights on the world.Klinsmann came in saying all the right things. It was time for the country to think bigger. He preached a bold vision: American players should no longer settle for MLS teams — they must reach for bigger European clubs. The national team would become more ambitious, more stylish, more forward-thinking. They wouldn’t be content to sit back and defend. It was a brand new day in American soccer.He even demanded more of the fans. He challenged America to become a nation where soccer fans would confront American players in the grocery store when they missed a sitter. He wanted his players hungry, challenged, pushed forward to greatness, and a collective nation behind them. It was all so exciting.And then it all slowly came apart. Klinsmann’s promises for a new stylish, attacking style of soccer failed to materialize. His harsh comments about MLS soon grew into a rift, especially after the domestic league kept improving, paying its players more, getting better. All of a sudden seriously talented players were popping up in the league, but Klinsmann seemed to still have his eyes set on Europe.This all came to a head before the 2014 World Cup and Klinsmann made his decision to leave Landon Donovan behind, a decision that may have been justified at the time but seemed to many fans to be a crass way to send a message about what was expected of American players.Klinsmann’s teams put in uneven performances, and his maddening tactical gambles did nothing to inspire confidence in American supporters. Perhaps what was most frustrating was the seeming lack of development — for all the talk of an exciting new style of play, the team sure looked to play a lot like it did in the past. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but American fans had been promised more, and they weren’t getting it.Perhaps most importantly, Klinsmann never quite figured out how to perform both his roles as head coach and technical director at the same time. As head coach, he was responsible for picking the best players available to him and getting results. As technical director, he was in charge of pushing the sport forward in America. These two were often at odds with one another — Klinsmann would call out a player (or entire league in MLS’ case) publicly, a fair thing to do from a technical director looking toward the future. Then, as head coach, Klinsmann would be stuck wondering why those called-out players were so reluctant to trust him.In the end, Klinsmann is responsible for his own undoing. He couldn’t get the most out of his teams, and he never figured out how to perform both roles he’d been given adequately. In a small twist of irony, it was also his call for a more demanding national team fanbase that brought about his end. Seeing what was happening, he lashed out, saying those same American fans he challenged weren’t smart enough to understand what he was trying to do.  That arrogance smacked the most. The fans got smarter, they got more demanding, and when he wasn’t delivering, they pushed for his ousting. In the end, he got what he wished.

Bruce is the Right Guy

By: Nate Scott | November 22, 2016 7:50 am  

He isn’t the sexiest pick, but Bruce Arena is the right man for the USMNT job right now.If Arena is named the next head coach of the U.S. national team, as USA TODAY Sports‘ Martin Rogers reported is likely to happen this week, it will be a smart decision from U.S. Soccer. It will also be the safe one, but in this instance, safe isn’t a bad thing. And safe isn’t a boring thing. In this case: Safe is smart.As long as Arena is only being hired to see the team through Russia, this makes sense. He’s well liked and connected in U.S. Soccer, he’s gotten better as a coach in his decade gone from USMNT, and he can do a job for now. He’s also the perfect answer to Jurgen Klinsmann, who was fired on Monday after six years as the head coach of the USMNT.Why is Arena the smart choice? Well, for one, he’s a fantastic manager, someone who’s shown an ability to win at every level. His Los Angeles Galaxy teams over the last decade have produced some of the most gorgeous, free-flowing, attacking soccer in MLS. He’s shown an ability to work with established veterans and rising stars, young and old alike.He brought along Gyasi Zardes into the first team and into the national team picture, had great success with Giovani dos Santos and Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard, and got the last bit (and more) out of Landon Donovan. He convinced Robbie Rogers to come out of retirement following Rogers’ decision to come out as gay, then helped Rogers reinvent himself as an outside defender (and one of the best in the league).Arena is also a smart choice because of his close ties with MLS, which is an underratedly important part of everything going on right now. Klinsmann spoke negatively of the domestic league many times, a decision he made to try and push players to top leagues, perhaps not realizing that by doing so he was alienating a great portion of his talent pool (and not realizing how quickly the level of MLS was improving). Arena will have no such problems. And while he will have to explain his comments about foreign-born American playersto his team, I highly doubt he’ll make the mistake of continuing to express that opinion, as Klinsmann did with his negative view of MLS throughout his tenure.

The complaints that Arena is merely a re-tread, a running back of a coach who already had his shot with the team from 1998-2006, are fair. U.S. Soccer should be looking forward, not backward. But for now, if this is merely a stewardship position to see the team through the 2018 World Cup, I’m on board. From there, U.S. Soccer can get more ambitious, perhaps bringing in someone like Oscar Pareja, the FC Dallas coach who’s shown a unique ability to foster and develop young talent and build attacking teams.This is all about the situation. The U.S. is in the middle of a qualifying campaign and can’t bring in someone right now who wants to tear the thing down and start fresh. The team needs someone who knows the players, knows the organization, and can get results quickly. That’s Arena.It’s been a decade since he was in charge of the USMNT, and he’s only gotten better as a manager. He’s more adaptable, more forward-thinking, and has built some beautiful teams in Los Angeles. If he can resist the urge to bring back his old favorites (I love Donovan but now is not the time), he’s the right choice to get the U.S. to Russia.

Which players have new international life in Bruce Arena’s USMNT?

ALEXANDER ABNOSTuesday November 22nd, 2016

In the space of a week, the complexion of the U.S. national team has changed entirely. Gone is the eternally-optimistic, build-for-the-future ethos of Jurgen Klinsmann, undone by a duo of bad results in World Cup qualifying and prior events that signaled that his project simply wasn’t quite working out the way U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati thought it should.In his place is the pragmatic solution: Bruce Arena, back as national team manager for the second time, with a simple mandate: Correct the course of the team in World Cup qualifying, and lead it to success in Russia in 2018. Hanging in the balance of the change, of course, are the players. “No names are off the table,” Arena insisted in a Tuesday conference call with reporters following his hiring announcement. “However, I’d say it’s highly unlikely that we’re going to bring many new players into the program. We’re at a time when we need to get results.” In other words, Arena’s changes will likely be incremental, not sweeping.With that in mind, here are the players who could benefit from the change in leadership atop the U.S. men’s national team–and some who could find themselves on the way out of the picture sooner rather than later.

 

Players who could benefit 

Dax McCarty, New York Red Bulls

Among Klinsmann’s missteps as U.S. national team coach was his dead-set insistence on playing Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones together in central midfield. This happened regardless of formation or tactics so long as both were even remotely healthy, and doing this created a sudden lack of experienced depth at the position. In the meantime, Jones and security blanket Kyle Beckerman got up there in age (Jones is 36, Beckerman is 34), and McCarty was developing into MLS’s best all-around midfield facilitator. However, the Red Bulls linchpin never received a cap under Klinsmann despite getting a handful under Bob Bradley (the last coming in 2011). Arena will be well aware of McCarty’s talents, having been a coach in MLS for almost the entirety of McCarty’s pro career. The Red Bulls captain has a great reputation as a teammate around the league, and is good enough of a two-way player that he would be capable of stepping in as a starter when Bradley is injured, unavailable, or badly out of form. He plays within himself, works for the team, and has shown willingness to mentor younger players; The quintessential Arena player.

Benny Feilhaber, Sporting Kansas City

In his previous stint as U.S. manager, Arena was known to reward players for consistently good MLS performances with a chance at the national team level. That’s how Clint Dempsey began his national career as a young player, and how players like Jimmy Conrad and Brian Ching were able to be valuable contributors as first-time call-ups despite being MLS vets. For Klinsmann, those situations happened far less often. Feilhaber was the prime example of this, with the midfielder receiving no call-ups since 2014 despite racking up 28 combined assists in the 2015 and 2016 regular seasons (in the league’s top three both times). A personality clash between Feilhaber and Klinsmann may have had a lot to do with Feilhaber’s absence, and the players’s pointed comments toward Klinsmann before the start of the 2016 season certainly didn’t help. On a Tuesday conference call with reporters, Arena indicated that those incidents won’t have much bearing on Feilhaber’s future. “I think they and others are good players,” said Arena in response to a question about Feilhaber and Queretaro left back Jonathan Bornstein. “We’re going to give those type of players an opportunity to be back in the national team program.”Based on play alone, Arena would be crazy not to. For a team that has talented strikers but often lacks the dynamism to break teams down in the final third, a creative presence like Feilhaber would be a welcome addition.

Matt Hedges, FC Dallas

Count Hedges in the “undeservedly spurned” camp along with Feilhaber and McCarty. The FC Dallas man has been an every-game starter for FC Dallas since his first season in the league, became club captain in 2014, and was named the 2016 MLS Defender Of The Year. That’s an impressive résumé, but it only earned him one cap under Klinsmann—a substitute appearance against Panama in a February 2015 friendly. Unfortunately for Hedges, Arena will already find the cupboard well-stocked with center back options. John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, and Steve Birnbaum have all gotten time under Klinsmann, and while all have experienced dips in performance, all have proved they belong at the international level. Still, look for Hedges to get a shot to break into that group, where he could earn a role similar to Birnbaum or, perhaps, displace Gonzlaez or Besler if either is off his game. Earning a first-choice starting nod alongside Brooks and Cameron is unlikely in this cycle, but you never know.

Robbie Rogers, LA Galaxy

Whereas McCarty, Feilhaber, and Hedges could earn roles on the national team thanks to their good MLS performances, count Rogers as a player that will benefit for some slightly different reasons. For one thing, he fills a position of need. Klinsmann never sufficiently addressed the U.S.’s gaping hole at left back in his five years at the helm of the national team, evidenced by playing Besler there this year, despite the fact that he hasn’t played there at any level since his rookie year with Kansas City in 2009. Rogers started his career (and earned 18 U.S. national team caps) as a winger, but has been a dependable member of Arena’s Galaxy teams at left back since returning to the league in 2013. In 2016 he even showed some flexibility by switching to right back to make room for Ashley Cole.There are a few other players who could benefit the same way: Jorge Villafaña, Bornstein and Justin Morrow, for instance. But none of those players has the trust of Arena the same way Rogers does, having worked with him at the Galaxy for years. That is all to say nothing of Rogers’ considerable skill set, which balances hard defensive work with intelligent runs forward and consistently good service from wide positions.

Ethan Horvath, Molde | Bill Hamid, D.C. United

Like Rogers, Horvath and Hamid are the players best-positioned to take advantage of a positional weakness. With Tim Howard injured (and aging) and Brad Guzan struggling to get time at Middlesbrough, the U.S. goalkeeper position is as wide-open as it’s been in several generations. Klinsmann declined to groom a true successor to the Howard/Guzan duo, which means Arena may decide to do so in the team’s first games under his watch.

Horvath is inexperienced at the full international level, but he has been getting consistent time as the No. 1 for Norwegian power Molde, and has experience training with the group under Klinsmann. However, Arena is a coach that values experience very highly, so Horvath’s age (21) may count against him. Hamid isn’t that much older at 25, but he already has six seasons of strong play as D.C. United’s No. 1 under his belt. Based on that and his superb shot-stopping ability, he may be the one to come out the best from this leadership change.

Players who could suffer 

Timmy Chandler, Eintracht Frankfurt

Chandler’s form for his club has never translated into consistent success with the U.S. Klinsmann insisted that Chandler was the right play over DeAndre Yedlin in the November qualifiers, and based on how Chandler was playing for Eintracht Frankfurt alone, he may have had merit in that call. But time and time again, Chandler failed to deliver with the national team, and it doesn’t appear the switch was going to flip anytime soon. Fullback isn’t the USA’s deepest position, so it’s likely Chandler remains in the conversation at the very least, but Arena needs to be turning to players who can perform when called upon, not those whose potential fails to materialize on a different stage.

Kyle Beckerman, Real Salt Lake

Over and over, Klinsmann found ways to praise Beckerman the same way: “A pure giver.” Klinsmann wasn’t wrong in that assessment—Beckerman performed a valuable role for the U.S. when he was used, shielding the back line and distributing the ball effectively. However, Beckerman is now 34, and after an uneven season with Real Salt Lake, Arena could decide that Beckerman’s time with the national team is finished. That’s due in no small part to the play of younger options that are more likely to be able to continue at the 2018 World Cup, including Perry Kitchen and McCarty. Beckerman should be considered one of Klinsmann’s success stories in his time as U.S. manager, but it’s looking more and more like his time may be up.

Chris Wondolowski, San Jose Earthquakes

Similar to Beckerman, it seems from the outside that Wondolowski stuck around in Klinsmann’s U.S. squads mostly because of intangibles. Wondo may still be a reliable goalscorer at the MLS level, but outside of a few flashes with the U.S., there was never much reason to believe that he’d be an automatic starter (again, age has something to do with that). Aside from his locker room presence, the primary reason to bring Wondolowski to a World Cup would be for his goal-scoring instinct in the box and…well…He shouldn’t be in contention for a 2018 spot, so Arena would be well within his right to drop him.

Julian Green, Bayern Munich

One of the many contradictions of Klinsmann’s tenure was his insistence that playing regularly at club level is a must for any national team player. Green’s inclusion on the 2014 World Cup squad went directly in contrast to that, as did his continuing call-ups despite a mild uptick in performances with Bayern Munich. There’s no doubt that Green is a talented player, and he’s still young enough that a long and bring national team career could be in his future. But for an Arena-led team that’s trying to win now, one wouldn’t think there would be much use for Green until he finds consistent playing time and good form at the club level.

Michael Orozco, Club Tijuana

If Hedges is to get a shot, someone else will have to make room. Orozco could well be that player, having been given multiple chances to make an impact for the U.S. and never quite seizing his opportunity, save for that memorable game-winner in a friendly vs. Mexico at the Azteca. That’s not to say Orozco won’t still get invited to a camp or two—after all, he is a veteran with international experience, which Arena values. But at this point there aren’t many signs that he’ll be involved in the U.S.’s plan for Russia. He’s sporadically been involved in Club Tijuana’s.

Jermaine Jones, Colorado Rapids

Of all of Klinsmann’s favored players, perhaps no one was as consistently relied upon as Jones. As SI’s Grant Wahl covered recently, Jones wasn’t just a lock to start under Klinsmann, he was usually a lock to play 90 minutes as well. Klinsmann proved as much in the past set of qualifiers, where he played Jones for all 90 minutes of both despite his just having returned from a sprained knee. Jones isn’t likely to be entirely dropped from the national team now that Klinsmann is gone. Ultimately, Arena values quality players with experience, and Jones has all those things in abundance. But Arena is also perceptive enough to realize that Jones’s days as a 90-minutes-or-nothing mainstay are over, particularly since he never really found a way to gel effectively alongside Michael Bradley in the middle of the park.

U.S. Soccer pulls the plug on its grand Jurgen Klinsmann experiment

QUICKLYJurgen Klinsmann promised to lead U.S. Soccer into a new era, but after over five years, his position became untenable for a number of reasons, and he’s been fired.  BRIAN STRAUSMonday November 21st, 2016

Defiant to the last, Jurgen Klinsmann maintained this weekend that a U.S. national team in “a transitional phase” remained on course to reach Russia and that he needed more time to implement his ambitious plans for the program.He’s not going to get it. After all, Klinsmann already has had more than five years, and with next to no tangible improvement evident and the pressure mounting following this month’s historic World Cup qualifying setbacks, U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati finally pulled the plug on U.S. Soccer’s grand experiment. Klinsmann was fired Monday. He departs with a 55-27-16 record (28-13-6 in official competition), one CONCACAF Gold Cup title, plenty of unfulfilled promises and what’s sure to be a complex legacy.“Many are aware of the historic victories … but there were also lesser publicized efforts behind the scenes. He challenged everyone in the U.S. Soccer community to think about things in new ways, and thanks to his efforts we have grown as an organization and expect there will be benefits from his work for years to come,” Gulati said in a statement announcing Klinsmann’s dismissal.“While we remain confident that we have quality players to help us advance to Russia 2018, the form and growth of the team up to this point left us convinced that we need to go in a different direction.”No immediate replacement was named, though SI’s Grant Wahl is reporting that Bruce Arena will be brought in as soon as Tuesday.“With the next qualifying match in late March, we have several months to refocus the group and determine the best way forward to ensure a successful journey to qualify for our eighth-consecutive World Cup,” Gulati said Monday.Klinsmann’s departure was tough to imagine a month ago, especially for Gulati, who staked so much of his own reputation and the federation’s finances on the charismatic German coach.  “We have not had a coach in 27 years that has started World Cup qualifying and not finished World Cup qualifying,” Gulati said before the U.S. kicked off the 10-game final round. “We’ve never changed coaches in the Hex … and I expect that to be the case here.”But no one expected the defeat, regression and tension that was just around the corner.

Klinsmann told The New York Times this weekend that, “If you really want to move up to the top 15 in the world, you need to have consistency in what you’re doing.” He was referring to his job security, but the comments are ironic considering his approach to managing the national team. On November 11, hours after Gulati offered his vote of confidence, Klinsmann sent the U.S. out to face Mexico in new formation that featured several players, including 18-year-old attacker Christian Pulisic, in new positions. The Americans were overrun in the first half and reverted to a more comfortable 4-4-2 only after veterans Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones requested the change during a stoppage.At the end of a troubling evening, the U.S. had lost to Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, for the first time and Klinsmann was blaming Bradley, Jones and defender John Brooks for the defeat. Four days later, the U.S. was destroyed, 4-0, in Costa Rica. Several players appeared unfit or out of place and the capitulation during the second-half in San Jose was stunning to long-time observers of the national team. The U.S. had lost consecutive qualifiers for the first time in 15 years and earned fewer than three points during the first two games of the Hex for the first time.Klinsmann was hired to do more than win games. He was tasked with setting U.S. soccer on a new course—changing and improving the way American players are developed, the way they think about the game and the way they approach their careers.There were some good results along the way. The U.S. won the 2013 Gold Cup in spectacular fashion and finished first in the Hex that same year. Klinsmann proved to be an effective recruiter and enticed several promising dual-nationals to pledge their international futures to the U.S. There were results that remain open to interpretation. The Americans escaped a tough group at the 2014 World Cup and took Belgium to extra time in the round-of-16, but were outplayed by a significant margin in three of their four games. And they finished fourth at the Copa América Centenario this summer with a 3-3-0 record, beating the teams they should beat and losing to Argentina and Colombia (twice) by a combined 7-0.Then there were the results that proved to be part of Klinsmann’s undoing. It’s tough to imagine a coach in just about any other country in the world surviving the equivalent of the fourth-place finish at the 2015 Gold Cup, which featured a moribund group-stage performance and the first home loss to Jamaica in national team history. Klinsmann lost a qualifier to Guatemala this year, suffered a four-game home winless streak to CONCACAF foes last year and saw his hand-picked coaches fail to qualify for two consecutive Olympics. As technical director, he bears responsibility for national teams at all levels.Additionally, his teams never played the proactive, attacking soccer he promised on a consistent basis. That’s evident via the eye test and is supported by plenty of statistics. For example, over the past three tournaments plus last year’s Confederations Cup playoff, the U.S. was outshot by a combined 292-169.Klinsmann has bristled when these issues are raised. He’s argued that catching up with the sport’s elite takes time—he’s surely right about that—and that those criticizing him don’t necessarily appreciate what soccer at its highest level requires. He maintained those positions this weekend, telling The Times, “What you need to do is stick to the facts. Soccer is emotional and a lot of people make conclusions without knowing anything about the inside of the team or the sport …. The fact is, we lost two games. There is a lot of talk from people who don’t understand soccer or the team.”Last summer during the Copa América, he told reporters, “Over time we always said we want to move this program to another level. I think we did that over time. There will be some setbacks and there’s also a lot of explanation from your end that needs to be done to the casual soccer fan or kind of the more emotional soccer fan, so we still go through a lot of education explaining why certain things happen when there is a setback.”Insulated by Gulati’s commitment and the idea that any criticism stemmed from impatience or ignorance, Klinsmann appeared untouchable. But alienating U.S. Soccer’s customers—the fans—became a genuine issue. Public support for the manager has waned in recent months and attendance has been down. And publicly blaming his players following defeats, to say nothing of the constant tactical uncertainty, seemed to be wearing thin inside the locker room.“There’s a need to support each other,” Bradley said following last week’s rout in Costa Rica. “In moments like this, it does you no good to point fingers, to be looking around trying to figure out who you can throw under the bus. That’s not how it works and that’s not what real teams are all about.”Without the fans, without the locker room and with the margin for error in World Cup qualifying now almost gone, Klinsmann’s position was increasingly untenable. If there was a time to cut the cord, it was now. The next qualifiers aren’t scheduled until March, as Gulati said. There were questions about whether Gulati still would have faith that Klinsmann’s vision could come to pass, that more time might do the trick or that he’d share the embattled manager’s view that criticism or pessimism are signs of the very culture he was trying to change. There were questions about whether Gulati would absorb the financial cost of the firing or whether he had tied his own ego, mandate or legacy too closely with Klinsmann. Gulati answered them Monday. There had been one too many plunges on this roller coaster ride, one too many head-scratching decisions, one too many tough results. Faith in Klinsmann had been shaken and couldn’t be recovered. After five memorable, intriguing, controversial years, U.S. Soccer will move forward without the man who promised to lead the way.

Alex Morgan shares how her family invested in her future

By Alex Morgan Posted: 10/10/16 Updated: 11/07/16

Dear seven-year-old Alex,

I know you’re still really little, and that you’re probably too busy kicking the soccer ball out in the yard to pay me much mind right now, but I want you to take a second to look around at what’s happening at home every day.If there was ever a perfect example of a family functioning as a team, it’s Mom, Dad, and the three Morgan girls—Jenny, Jeri and little Alex.Everyone is pitching in and doing their part right now.Mom is the family’s very own version of wonder woman. She just started taking night classes to earn her MBA so she can continue to help provide everything you and your sisters need. (Some nights, when she’s not around to make dinner, Jenny, who is all of 13 years old, fills in … and she’s become a really great cook! You’ll love her chicken enchiladas). Mom has virtually no time off. Monday through Friday, she’s either working or going to school. So her only breaks are on the weekends. But you know better than anyone that she’s not using those days to sleep in or relax. She’s sacrificing her Saturdays and Sundays so you and your sisters can participate in sports.From the time you started playing soccer two years ago, she’s always been the team mom. And not just any team mom — she is, like, the greatest team mom in the history of soccer.It isn’t only that she never misses a game. And it isn’t just the orange slices and strawberries she brings for halftime. She’s doing everything she can to make sure you and your teammates are having fun. In fact, Mom just finished making hair ties for everyone on your team — she even used glitter glue to put each girl’s uniform number on her hair tie. How cool is that?And while Mom is transitioning between homework and hair accessories, Dad has been busy learning everything he can about your sport.He’s always been a baseball guy; he didn’t know the first thing about soccer. But when you told him a few months ago that you’re really starting to love the game, and that it was important to you that he watch you play, he got serious. Fast.Pretty soon he will sign up for referee classes, and he’ll ask you to join him. You’ll have great fun spending time with him and bonding over the sport of soccer. You’ll even get your own whistle and ref some youth games with him. Then, in a few years, Dad will move on to taking coaching classes. He’ll coach you when you’re nine, and, like Mom, he’ll go way beyond the call of duty. He’s going to be out the door every morning at 5:30 to work at his construction company, but he’ll always — always — be home in time to take you to practice. And you won’t ever hear him complaining about it.When you’re 13, Dad will do something that you’ll remember as long as you live. By that point, you’ll have developed into one of the best rec players in Southern California … and you’ll have done it in hand-me-down cleats. You’ll be O.K. with that. But, make no mistake about it, one of the best feelings of your life is going to occur when Dad comes home one day from work and tells you he wants to buy you a brand new pair of cleats.Trust me, you have no idea how cool it will be.He’ll take you to the sporting goods store, walk you back to the shoe department, find a salesperson and then say to that guy, “Can you bring us the very best cleats that you have?”Your mouth will drop when you hear those words. You’ll think you might be dreaming. But it’s going to be real, Alex.And get this: The cleats that salesman comes back with are going to be $320.When you see the price tag, you’re not going to know what to do. You’ll be thinking about all the things your dad could’ve bought for himself with that money—some new pairs of jeans, or replacement tires, or his own pair of top-of-the-line shoes. So you’ll kind of freeze there for a second.”Well, what are you waiting for, try them on,” he’ll say. “What do you think?”You’ll love them, of course. But …

“Dad, they’re sooooooo much money.”He’ll look you in the eye, and smile, and then say, “Let’s get ’em!”And at that moment, if it wasn’t clear already, you’ll realize just how much your parents are investing in you. Honestly, those cleats won’t look much different than a $100 pair—which, of course, would’ve been fine. And that’s the thing. That’s what will make it so amazing. The ones he buys you will have nicer leather than all the others, but the average person wouldn’t know they were special.

You and Dad, though, the two of you will know.He wanted you to have the best. And that will mean the world to you. When you wear them, do everything you can to make your parents proud, Alex. They’ll be proud of you anyway, no matter how well you do, but you know what I mean. Show them how much you appreciate their support, because you’re going to continue to rely on them as you get older.Things aren’t always going to go your way.For a while there after you get the fancy cleats, it will seem like you can do no wrong. You’ll continue to improve for the next few years, but heading into your senior year of high school—very soon after you get called up to the Olympic development program for Southern California and commit to play at Cal — you’ll tear your ACL.It will be your first major injury, and you’re going to be devastated, Alex.But your parents will pull you through. Right after the injury happens, they will mobilize on your behalf. They’ll call around and find you one of the best knee doctors in the entire world to perform your surgery. Then, for the next five months, they will help you in every way possible as you rehab the knee.They’ll leave work to take you to physical therapy, then go back to work, then come back and get you, then take you over to soccer practice—and, yeah, you’ll still show up to every practice, even when you can’t play.Initially, Mom will take several days off work so she can take care of you and help you with your exercises.This will be a running theme throughout your life, Alex. Both Mom and Dad will use up all their vacation days to be with you or to watch you play soccer. Every year, when December rolls around, there will be no vacation days left for them to take an actual vacation.But you know what, that will be O.K. with them, honestly, because they’ll see how skilled you become as you get older. They’ll take so much pride in your accomplishments, and they’ll be there for you, in the stands, as you experience your finest moments on the pitch. When you score your biggest goals and turn around, you’ll always see family members … jumping up and down, going nuts, showing you love.

That’s special. Don’t ever take that for granted.

When you score that huge goal in 2010 against Italy in the 94th minute to help ensure that the U.S. would advance to the World Cup, it will be a moment you always remember—the first time you are a real difference maker for the national team. That will be the point in time when you know for certain that you belong among the best players in the country. And, of course, Dad will be there, in Padova, more than 6,100 miles from where he lives because … of course he will. He’s going to be at every game you play, Alex, no matter where it’s being played.

You still aren’t going to be a starter on the national team at that point. But almost two years later, in Manchester, England, you’ll make it clear to the entire world that you’ve earned your starting spot with the team, and that you’re among the best soccer players on the planet. At the London Olympics, you’ll score the biggest goal of your life to send the American team on to the gold medal match. That goal will come in the 123rd minute, Alex.Wow.And, you’ll be happy to know that your whole family is going to be there to celebrate with you.Plus, get this: You’ll win the gold three days later.Alex, take my word for it, this sporting life you’re about to embark on is going to be incredible. In addition to the gold medal, there will be a World Cup championship in your future. And as a professional, you’ll play before passionate fans in Rochester, Seattle, Portland, and Orlando.All along the way, your family will be there for you. Know that you can rely on them. I realize you’re only seven right now, but look closely, Alex. Things are already moving in a wonderful direction. Sure, Mom’s working a ton, and Dad doesn’t yet know how the game of soccer works.But just you wait.They’re about to become the best soccer parents a girl could have. And all that you will achieve, you will owe to them.

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

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Okay – so I have waited over a week since the horrifying loss at home to Mexico in Columbus and the meltdown in Costa Rica before writing.  I wanted to give myself time to calm down before joining the Masses in US Soccer calling for the dismissal of the GERMAN.  Those who have read my notes in the past – know I gave up on “the German” aka our US Men’s National Team coach Juergen Klinsmann long ago. Yes I will admit I was excited 6 years ago when we brought Klinsy in.  I was ready for more progressive soccer, a more attacking style of play.  But that is not what he has delivered.   I am not sure what I hate more – how horrible he is as a game day decider and manager or how smug and more intelligent he is than the rest of the soccer world.  You see Klinsy – despite the fact he has been seriously questioned at every head coaching job he has had – is untouchable in his mind.  His team loses and it’s the players fault, or it was part of the master grand plan to change things.  Listen I appreciate that he has brought in a lot of young players and given looks to a lot of players (especially players who have US parents overseas – read all our German players.)  On paper they are some of the best players we have Brooks, Johnson, Chandler, Johanson. But I think all the tinkering, the uncertainty with the players, the not confiding in players to build a base of players who trust him.  This guy has pulled idiotic move after idiotic move over the past 5+ years (Wondo for Landon in Brazil – really??).  The questionable moves have been countless, the wins impressive at times (Sweet 16 World Cup), Germany, Spain all friendlies mind you, COPA Final 4 appearance. The losses devastating – Gold Cup, losses to Jamaica, Guatemala, first home loss in Columbus, first home loss in home Qualifying, Gold Cup knocked out at Quarterfinals.  Klinsy continues to simply belittle the US fan – and act like we are stupid because we question him like any other coach in the world.  Listen in England heck in any other country playing competitive soccer – he would have been fired after the Gold Cup debacle.  Now – in this man’s opinion its time to cut ties and insure that we not only qualify for the World Cup in Russia – but that we build a good young, cohesive team of players that represent the jersey and play with the heart and skill and guile that American’s have always played with.  Sorry Klinsy you German –  your time should be over !!

MLS gets the Conference Finals started Tuesday night with the All Canadian battle of Montreal and Toronto with US stars Bradley and Altidore starting at 8 pm on ESPN.  Seattle and US youngster Jordan Morris host Colorado who will be without Timmy Howard at 10 pm on Fox Sports 1 – expect a full house in Seattle of over 45K!  Still the best atmosphere in US soccer in my mind.  Sunday Colorado will host the return leg at 4 pm on ESPN, while Toronto host their 2^nd leg game next Wed eve 7 pm on ESPN.

Back to Champions League play this week with a few big games on the docket Tues/Wed in Match Day 5 –  The winner of Juventus and Sevilla advances to the knock-out round.  Leicester City and Monaco can advance with home wins as Bayern Leverkusen, Real Madrid, Man City, Benifica and Porto can advance with road wins.   The top seed is at stake for Arsenal as they host PSG Wed at 2:45 pm on Fox Sports1.

Tues, Nov 22

12 noon Fox Sport 1                         CSKA vs Bayern Leverkusen

2:45 pm FS1                   Monaco vs Tottenham

2:45 pm FS2                   Sporting vs Real Madrid

2:45 pm Fox State      Dortmund v Legia Warsazawa

2:45 pm Fox Soccer  Whip Around Coverage of All Games

2:45 pm ESPN2 or 3? Sevilla vs Juventus

2:45 pm ESPN 3           Leicester City vs Brugge, Dortmund v Legia Warsazawa

8 pm ESPN                       MLS – East Con Finals Montreal vs Toronto 1^st Leg

10 pm FS 1                      MLS – West Con Finals Seattle vs Colorado 1^st Leg

Weds, Nov 23

Champions League

12 noon Fox Sport 1                         Rostov vs Bayern Munich

2:45 pm Fox Sport1  Arsenal vs PSG

2:45 pm Fox sport2   Celtic vs Barcelona

2:45 pm Fox States    Borussia Mgladbach vs Man City

2:45 pm Fox Soccer  Whip Around Coverage of All Games

USA

Those Questioning me Don’t Know Soccer – Klinsy Says –ESPNFC

Klinsy thinks You US Fans are Dumb –Stars and Stripes

Its Time for Klinsmann to go – Grant Wahl SI

Is it time for Klinsmann to go?  Peter Nolan – Got Soccer

More Reasons for Klinsy to go – FCYahoo

13 Worsts for Klinsy as US Coach

No Positives in Blowout Loss –ESPNFC Doug McIntyre

US Loses – Pressure on Klinsmann – Grant Wahl SI

What now ?  Jason Davis – US Soccer Players

Defensive Lapses doom US – Leaves Klinsy future in doubt –EPSNFC

Embarassing Player Ratings –ESPN

McBride – No Fight in this US team? Video

Klinsy Takes Responsibility for loss Video – 1^st time ever  ??

US Asst Coach Tab Ramos Saw Pulisic when he was 11 – Wahl Pod Cast and Story

Despite Injury expect Jones to be there – Wahl SI

MLS

Playoff Schedule

What you Need to Know – Montreal vs Toronto

What you Need to know – Seattle vs Colorado

Altidore a Key player in Toronto run to Conference Finals

What if Jordan Morris didn’t Come to Seattle?

Alonso’s Play could lead Seattle to Finals

Lampard confirms he’s leaving NYCFC

Keene Leaves LA as best DP ever

Lampard and Gerrard were a Bust – ESPN FC

Champions League

Champions League This Week What to Watch For

Who can Go Thru on Matchday 5?

Arsenal v Paris

Sporting v Real Madrid

Sevilla v Juventus
Monaco v Tottenham

Celtic v Barcelona

Europa League Thurs What to Watch for

World

Mexico, Osario – cap tumultuous year with point vs Panama and 4 overall

Spain Late Push shocks England

Pep Guardiola’s Surprising Ban on Player Revealed No Sex after midnight

PLAYOFFS

Tues, Nov 22

8 pm ESPN                       MLS – East Con Finals Montreal vs Toronto 1^st Leg

10 pm FS 1                      MLS – West Con Finals Seattle vs Colorado 1^st Leg

Sun, Nov 27

4 pm ESPN                       MLS – West Con Finals Colorado vs Seattle 2^nd Leg

Weds, Nov 30

7 pm ESPN                       MLS – East Con Finals Montreal  vs Toronto  vs 2^nd Leg

GAMES ON TV

Tues, Nov 22

Champions League

12 noon Fox Sport 1                         CSKA vs Bayern Leverkusen

2:45 pm FS1                   Monaco vs Tottenham

2:45 pm FS2                   Sporting vs Real Madrid

2:45 pm Fox State      Dortmund v Legia Warsazawa

2:45 pm ESPN2 or 3? Sevilla vs Juventus

2:45 pm ESPN 3           Leicester City vs Brugge, Dortmund v Legia Warsazawa

2:45 pm Fox Soccer  Whip Around Coverage of All Games

8 pm ESPN                       MLS – East Con Finals Montreal vs Toronto 1^st Leg

10 pm FS 1                      MLS – West Con Finals Seattle vs Colorado 1^st Leg

Weds, Nov 23

Champions League

12 noon Fox Sport 1                         Rostov vs Bayern Munich

2:45 pm Fox Sport1  Arsenal vs PSG

2:45 pm Fox sport2   Celtic vs Barcelona

2:45 pm Fox States    Borussia Mgladbach vs Man City

 Tues, Nov 22

12 noon Fox Sport 1                         CSKA vs Bayern Leverkusen

2:45 pm FS1                   Monaco vs Tottenham

2:45 pm FS2                   Sporting vs Real Madrid

2:45 pm Fox State      Dortmund v Legia Warsazawa

2:45 pm Fox Soccer  Whip Around Coverage of All Games

2:45 pm ESPN2 or 3? Sevilla vs Juventus

2:45 pm ESPN 3           Leicester City vs Brugge, Dortmund v Legia Warsazawa

8 pm ESPN                       MLS – East Con Finals Montreal vs Toronto 1^st Leg

10 pm FS 1                      MLS – West Con Finals Seattle vs Colorado 1^st Leg

Weds, Nov 23

Champions League

12 noon Fox Sport 1                         Rostov vs Bayern Munich

2:45 pm Fox Sport1  Arsenal vs PSG

2:45 pm Fox sport2   Celtic vs Barcelona

2:45 pm ESPN3            Borussia Mgladbach vs Man City

2:45 pm Fox Soccer  Whip Around Coverage of All Games

Sat, Nov 26

7:30 am NBCSN            Burnley vs Man City

9:30 am Fox Soccer   Hamburger vs Werder Bremen

10 am NBCSN                Liverpool vs Sunderland

10:15 am                          beinSport Real Madrid vs Sporting Gijon

12:30 pm NBCSN?      Chelsea vs Tottenham

12:30 pm Fox Sport2 Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen

Sun, Nov27

7 am NBCSN                   Stoke City vs Watford

9 am  beIN Sport        Genoa vs Juve

9:15 am NBCSN            Arsenal vs Bournemouth

11:30 am NBCSN         Man United vs West Ham

2:45 pm beIN Sport  Real Sociadad vs Barcelona

4 pm ESPN                       MLS – West Con Finals Seattle vs Colorado 2^nd Leg

Weds, Nov 30

1 pm beIN Sport         Real Madrid vs Leonesa –Copa Del Rey

3 pm beinSport            Man United vs West Ham – League Cup

7 pm ESPN                       MLS – East Con Finals Toronto  vs Montreal 2^nd Leg

Fri,  Dec 2

2:45 pm beIN Sport                          Napoli vs Inter

2:30 pm Fox Sport 1                         Mainz vs Bayern Munich

Sat,  Dec 3

2:45 pm beIN Sport                          Barcelona vs Real Madrid  

7:30 am NBCSN            Man City vs Chelsea  

 Champions League – This Week’s Games !!

 TUESDAY’S MATCHES

Ronaldo returns home
Needing two more goals to reach his century in UEFA club competitions (and with 95 in the UEFA Champions League alone), Cristiano Ronaldo is heading back ‘home’ to Sporting CP with Real Madrid this week. Where better to bring up a milestone than the club where he started his professional career? The 31-year-old’s late free-kick helped turn round a match Madrid seemed destined to lose on matchday one before Álvaro Morata’s added time header sealed a 2-1 win.
Sporting v Real Madrid

Reus fit to feature?
Unable to face Bayern on Saturday due to a heel problem, Marco Reus could make his long-awaited return from an adductor injury as Dortmund look to strengthen their grip on top spot in Group F. “It’s a joy to see him in training,” says coach Thomas Tuchel, with Reus yet to feature this season, and his extravagant gifts could prove valuable against a Legia side that has improved since their 6-0 matchday one loss to BVB. Jacek Magiera has replaced Besnik Hasni in the hot seat and, after their remarkable 3-3 draw with Madrid, the race for a UEFA Europa League berth remains on.
Dortmund v Legia

Can Leicester lift the trophy?
Prior to this season, Leicester had not won a single game in European competition since 1961. However, as Claudio Ranieri’s side proved by winning the Premier League last season, the form book somehow does not apply to them. A draw would confirm their round of 16 place, and – with few expecting them to return to this competition any time soon – move them a step closer to the most improbable title success of all. Could it happen?
Leicester v Club Brugge

Sevilla out to scratch seven-year itch
Top of Group H and still unbeaten, Sevilla need just one point to reach the last 16 for the first time since 2009/10 – when they finished ahead of Stuttgart, Unirea and Rangers. Jorge Sampaoli’s attacking juggernauts have won their last three games in the section since drawing a blank against La Vecchia Signora on matchday one. Beating the Italian champions would also confirm top spot – so what can possibly go wrong? 
Sevilla v Juventus

Spurs hoping to turn corner
Tottenham travel to Monaco having finally ended a run of seven games without victory when a Harry Kane double sparked a 3-2 comeback win against West Ham at the weekend. It was the club’s first success in any competition since 2 October – and it could hardly have come at a better time, with Spurs needing all three points to bolster their Group E prospects. “It was fantastic to see Harry Kane score again,” said manager Mauricio Pochettino. “For me, he’s one of the best strikers in the world.”
Monaco v Tottenham

WEDNESDAY’S MATCHES

Big guns meet in north London
Top spot will be the prize on offer when Arsenal reacquaint themselves with Group A rivals Paris Saint-Germain on home turf, having rode their luck before claiming a 1-1 draw in France on matchday one. That result left a bitter taste in Parisian mouths, but Unai Emery feels it will be a different story this time around. “There are things we will change, mainly because we are a better team now,” said the Spaniard, who is hopeful Ángel Di María will be fit to feature. “It’s a game with big actors, great football players – that’s the beauty of it.”
Arsenal v Paris

Atleti aim to bury derby gloom 
“Losing bothers me,” said a rueful Diego Simeone after his Atlético side went down 3-0 in the Madrid derby on Saturday. “It’s not good. I’m hurting for everyone.” The pain of that result was acute, but the Colchoneros can pick themselves up by extending their record as the only team in the group stage with a perfect points tally. Already through following their last-gasp defeat of Rostov last time out, they will aim to make it five wins from five at home to PSV.
Atlético v PSV

Celtic eye 2012 repeat
Celtic fans will be dreaming of a 2012 repeat when Barcelona come to town. It was a famous European night at Celtic Park in the group stage four years ago as goals from Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt sealed a memorable 2-1 victory. Brendan Rodgers, meanwhile, may still be having nightmares about his side’s 7-0 loss at Camp Nou on matchday one. “You can park two double-decker buses in front of goal, but the world’s best players always find the space,” he said.
Celtic v Barcelona

Maradona mark in sight for Napoli’s Hamšík
Marek Hamšík has underlined his goalscoring credentials in November with goals against Beşiktaş in the UEFA Champions League and Lazio in Serie A – and for Slovakia against Lithuania in the European Qualifiers. Another strike against Dynamo Kyiv on Wednesday would move Napoli’s captain level with Edinson Cavani in third place in the club’s all-time scorers’ list with 104 goals, and edge him closer to Diego Maradona’s record of 115. The 29-year-old said: “I will never be like him, but beating his record would be special.”
Napoli v Dynamo Kyiv

Şenol Güneş’s art lesson
Beşiktaş welcome Benfica looking to leapfrog their fellow Eagles into the top two in Group B – and mindful that they will be through with a win if Napoli fail to beat Dynamo Kyiv. That would be an ideal scenario for Şenol Güneş, who raised a few eyebrows in Istanbul recently by making a bid to become the Henry Moore of football management. “I get asked what I do to mould players, but actually I don’t do anything,” he said. “I just scrape away their rough patches like a sculptor. Dealing with players and laying down principles in a team is the same as educating children. I think it’s something I’m good at.”
Beşiktaş v Benfica

Five teams are through to the UEFA Champions League round of 16, and 12 more go into the fifth set of group fixtures on 22 and 23 November able to join them with a match to spare. UEFA.com explains the permutations.

• Through: Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid, Bayern München, Borussia Dortmund
• Can qualify on matchday five: Benfica, Napoli, Beşiktaş, Barcelona, Manchester City, Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Madrid, Leicester City, Porto, Sevilla, Juventus
• Cannot finish in top two: Ludogorets Razgrad, Basel, PSV Eindhoven, Rostov, Brugge, Dinamo Zagreb, Legia Warszawa

 

 

 

USA’s dire start to the Hex shows it’s time for Jurgen Klinsmann to go

QUICKLY All of the evidence piling up points to one logical outcome for U.S. Soccer: The time has come to move on from Jurgen Klinsmann.

GRANT WAHLWednesday November 16th, 2016 Sports Illustrated

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica — It’s time for Jurgen Klinsmann to go.Whether the U.S. men’s national team coach’s boss, U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati, ends up agreeing with that opinion remains to be seen. But Gulati certainly didn’t give Klinsmann a clear vote of confidence in the moments after the U.S.’s dumpster-fire 4-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Costa Rica on Tuesday.“We won’t make any decisions right after games,” said Gulati inside the Estadio Nacional as red-clad Tico fans celebrated with glee outside. “We’ll think about what happened today and talk with Jurgen and look at the situation. Obviously it’s not a good start to the Hex, and today in particular was not a good performance.”The U.S. was putrid across the board in the second half, conceding three of the four goals and failing to execute on basic defensive aspects like putting pressure on crosses and marking the recipients of those crosses closely. The midfield gave the ball away too easily. John Brooks, Jermaine Jones, Timmy Chandler and Omar González all had poor games, but this was a total team effort when it came to the failure.Did some U.S. players quit on Klinsmann in the second half? It’s not 100% clear, but the fact that question needs to be asked says a lot in itself.  Here are the facts: The U.S. is in last place in the 10-game CONCACAF World Cup qualifying Hexagonal with zero points from the first two games—the first time the U.S. has ever lost the opening two games of the Hex (covering a span of six World Cup cycles). Thanks to the comically forgiving tournament format, the U.S. still isn’t in any acute danger yet of missing World Cup 2018. Four of the six CONCACAF teams are likely to make Russia 2018, the top three automatically and the fourth in a playoff exactly one year from now against the fifth-place team from Asia. (Have you ever visited Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates in November? Well, the U.S. might get that chance.)  How low is the bar for qualifying for Russia 2018 from the Hex? Well, keep in mind that Mexico won just two of 10 Hexagonal games in 2013—two of 10!—and still qualified for World Cup 2014. So it’s possible to say now that the U.S. is playing historically bad soccer to start the Hex, and yet chances are still good that the Americans will reach the World Cup.  “When you lose two games, there’s obviously some concern,” Gulati said. “But Mexico qualified [for 2014] with 11 points. There’s a lot of points left on the board, 24 to be exact. As I’ve said the last two cycles, the sequence of games matters a lot, and we’ve had what one would consider our two toughest opponents early … I’d be more concerned if we didn’t have any points and it was some of the other opponents.” The conventional wisdom has always held that Klinsmann would only be fired if and when the U.S. was eliminated from qualifying for World Cup 2018. But now the calculus has changed.It’s time for him to go because Klinsmann set up his team to fail against Mexico with a major formation switch that should have been tested first in a game with lower stakes, a formation switch that left his players unsure and disjointed as a unit. It’s time for him to go because the U.S. was not just beaten but overmatched against Costa Rica, and it’s a giant red flag anytime you’re wondering if the players have quit on their coach.  It’s time for him to go because you can imagine other coaches, including realistic replacements like Bruce Arena, getting more out of the same players than Klinsmann is for a paycheck in excess of $3 million a year. And it’s time for him to go when the captain, Michael Bradley, says other teams have a “clear idea” of what they’re being asked to do, one implication being that the U.S. does not.

Is Klinsmann the right coach to lead this U.S. team forward?“We’ll sit down tomorrow and look at things,” said Gulati.When asked if the results against Mexico and Costa Rica will influence the way he examines the coaching situation, Gulati replied: “Well, do facts matter? The answer is yes. It’s simple. The analysis is always different based on results and what you see. It’s not specific to the coaching situation, it’s just in general. It would be the equivalent of asking Jurgen, ‘Is your view of all the players different today than it was four days ago?’ Of course it would be when you lose two games.”After the U.S.’s 3-2 loss to Mexico in October 2015 capped a miserable year-plus following the World Cup, we suggested that U.S. Soccer would be better off letting Klinsmann keep his job as U.S. men’s technical director and bringing in another person to coach the team.  That idea still makes sense. Klinsmann is a big-picture guy whose talents lie in formulating a long-term plan. But I also think such a move is unrealistic, both on Klinsmann’s end (it’s doubtful he would accept such a demotion) and on that of a new coach (who would be doubtful to accept the job with Klinsmann still hanging around).After Tuesday’s game, Klinsmann called it the most painful loss of his five-year tenure as the U.S. coach. But does he still think he’s the right coach to lead the U.S. team forward?“I think so,” he said. “But I obviously understand when you lose two games, and especially two World Cup qualifiers right after each other, that there will be a lot of your comments. That is just part of the job. It’s part of the game. I told the team at the end, the last cycle we lost here too, so we gave away these three points here as well. We didn’t give away the three points at home against Mexico, so now we are three points behind what we did in the last cycle, and we won the group with 22 points at the end of the day.”“We know we have to come back right away in March against Honduras at home and then away [at Panama].”The crazy thing: If the U.S. were to beat Honduras 3-0 at home in their next qualifier in March, the U.S. would probably be in fourth place—and the fourth place team from CONCACAF is likely to make the World Cup.But the four months that stand between now and March would be plenty of time for a coach to come in and get familiar with everything needed to move forward with the U.S. team. Arena is no stranger to World Cup qualifying, and his contract with the LA Galaxy is set to end next month.Arena would help the U.S. rediscover an identity, one that has eluded this team since the end of World Cup 2014. It’s time to thank Klinsmann for his work. He got the U.S. out of a difficult World Cup 2014 group, and he steered the Americans to the Copa América semifinals this year. He did a terrific job recruiting dual-nationals and spotting prospects like Bobby Wood and Jordan Morris. Klinsmann also happens to be a really good guy and a World Cup-winning legend as a player.  But it’s time for him to go.

Jurgen Klinsmann thinks we’re being harsh (for treating him as he asked us to)

Leander Schaerlaeckens,FC Yahoo 16 hours ago

After almost every outlet covering soccer seriously called for his firing last week — Yahoo Sports included — United States men’s national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has hit back in a pair of interviews.On Sunday, he told the New York Times that all the critics  were “being disrespectful” and “ignoring the facts,” never mind that the USA lost both its first two World Cup qualifiers in the final round of games that will determine who goes to Russia. And that if you were to actually explore those facts, they would not be kind to Klinsmann or his record.Earlier in the weekend, Klinsmann said to Reuters that “When things go slightly wrong, there are some people who come out and are ready to chop your head off.”Klinsmann is, of course, well within his rights to defend himself. It’s just that in the context of his very own utterances and admonishments, his riposte does not just ring hollow but also hypocritical.Here’s Klinsmann speaking about the need for American soccer culture to hold its national team accountable in 2014:

“If you miss an easy shot in a game, you want the player to go to the supermarket or the butcher shop the next day and have a fan ask them why they missed that shot,” Klinsmann said then at South by Southwest, per USA Today’s For The Win blog. “We’re not there yet. But in the big leagues in Europe and South America, if you miss a shot, you’re held accountable for it. Then you don’t miss it anymore. This is something that will grow over time. The more it grows, the more often fans see [players] in the street and tell them, ‘You were crap yesterday.’ And this is important.”You can trifle with the psychological underpinnings of this motivational technique, but Klinsmann isn’t necessarily wrong about this. A certain social responsibility has helped drive players and national teams to strive for better. Public culpability can be a valuable tool, especially when you’re representing your country. This is a theme he has harped on again and again, for year after year. It’s just that when he has been criticized when results are slow in coming or altogether absent, Klinsmann seems capable of absorbing no criticism at all. Instead, he’ll invariably argue that his critics don’t understand the sport. And that they’re being “disrespectful.”“The fact is, we lost two games,” he told the Times. “There is a lot of talk from people who don’t understand soccer or the team.” Ah, another Klinsmann trope: If you think he’s doing a bad job, you know nothing.America, as Klinsmann seems to be arguing, needs to mature as a soccer nation to the point where the national team is closely scrutinized. But when his own shortcomings and failures are pointed out, they can’t possibly be coming from someone qualified to deliver that assessment. Or so goes his impossible logic.“A lot of people make conclusions without knowing anything about the inside of the team or the sport,” Klinsmann said to the Times. But then this is true of every team everywhere. And there comes a point – which is now – where what matters “inside the team” doesn’t really matter when the performances on display and the adjoining results are as bad as the USA’s have been.In both interviews, Klinsmann spoke of the need for patience with a team in transition to find itself. These are odd requests to make, since we’re almost 2½ years into the new cycle, two major tournaments have come and gone since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the Americans have already played eight qualifiers and Klinsmann has been in charge for well over five years. He’s not exactly been desperate for time.He also made sure to tell both the Times and Reuters that he’d spoken to President Obama at a German state dinner over the weekend. In the Reuters interview, with the author of the comically one-sided, fawning and uncritical Klinsmann biography “Soccer Without Borders,” the German head coach claims to have received the backing of the outgoing president.“He said, ‘Coach, it didn’t go well in Costa Rica, but it’s only the start of the World Cup qualifying and you’ll get back on the right track,’” Klinsmann claimed. “He understands that it’s a long qualifying process.”We’ll just have to take his word for it. Even though his words tend to be meaningless when they no longer serve Klinsmann himself.Leander Schaerlaeckens is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports.

Is it Time for Klinsmann To Go?

Posted on November 16, 2016 by Peter Nolan

If Sunil Gulati won’t dismiss Jurgen Klinsmann then U.S. Soccer must replace its President with someone who will after the Americans were humiliated 4-0 by Costa Rica in World Cup Qualifying Tuesday night in San Jose, Costa Rica.  Coming on the heels of Friday’s 2-1 loss in Columbus to Mexico, the U.S. has now lost the first two games of the Hex, the final round of World Cup Qualifiers.With eight games yet to be played, there is still time for the Americans to right the ship and qualify for Russia 2018, the question emerging from this performance is this; is Jurgen Klinsmann the right man for that job?The U.S. has never won in Costa Rica, so it was always going to be a big ask for the visitors to come away with a point, never mind three, but no one could have foreseen a beatdown of this magnitude.After last week’s inexplicable switch to a formation his team had essentially never used before, Klinsmann reverted to his team’s familiar 4-4-2 against the Ticos. But the coach’s stubborn insistence on staying with Tim Chandler and Matt Besler as his fullbacks seemed a curious one, and neither player repaid Klinsmann’s confidence.But his fullbacks were simply one part of the larger problem. Central defenders John Brooks and Omar Gonzalez played as if they had been introduced in the locker room immediately before taking the field, with Brooks mystifyingly bad on the night.Despite surrendering four goals, emergency goalkeeper Brad Guzan was probably the best American at the National Stadium last night and Tim Howard’s replacement almost got his team to the half with a clean sheet. Almost.Montreal Impact backup Johan Venegas ruined that plan when he sullied Guzan’s clean sheet in the 44th minute after he beat Brooks to the ball when Gonzalez allowed Christian Bolanos all too much time and space to play in his cross.Klinsmann made no changes at the half and his players did nothing with that reprieve. Bolanos, another MLS man with the Vancouver Whitecaps, made it 2-0 in the 68th minute when he powered a header past an abandoned Guzan.U.S. midfielders Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones were unable to generate any semblance of an attack throughout, with Jones especially prone to turnovers. Some, GotSoccer included, had called for Sacha Kljestan to start this match for Jones, who had to be feeling the effects of two energetic performances after his recent return from injury.Klinsmann stayed with Jones, understandably perhaps, but with the U.S. crying out for someone, anyone, to help gain some meaningful possession and complete a pass or two, Kljestan continued to sit.When Klinsmann did finally go to the bench he removed Christian Pulisic, who with Bobby Wood had provided the few dim rays of hope for the U.S on the night.Lynden Gooch showed some fight when he checked in for Pulisic and the Sunderland youngster could not be implicated for what was about to transpire.Joel Campbell, who had begun the night on the Ticos bench, entered the match in the 67th minute and within 11 minutes Campbell had doubled the U.S. deficit.Both of Campbell’s goals were gifts from the inept American defense as the U.S. did something generally unheard of from the U.S. MNT; it quit. It was not a pretty sight and afterward, Klinsmann told the press “I take responsibility and it is no problem. It is a learning experience for us.”It was an unusual, perhaps unprecedented move from the U.S. manager, who has been criticized in the past for his habit of calling out his players publicly.But it is too little and it is too late. Klinsmann took over this team in 2011 and the time for on the job training has passed. Gulati chased Klinsmann for years before he finally convinced the German legend to replace Bob Bradley, and as recently as Friday night Gulati continued to back his coach and technical director.But Klinsmann got one thing right in Costa Rica, this is responsibility and it is time for Gulati to hold him accountable. And if Gulati won’t, then U.S. Soccer has the responsibility to find someone who will.

  Jurgen Klinsmann says critics calling for his firing ‘don’t understand soccer’

United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann says critics calling for him to be fired in the wake of two World Cup qualifying defeats “don’t understand soccer or the team.”Klinsmann said he was not worried about losing his position in an interview with the The New York Times, who cited sources as saying U.S. Soccer could decide the coach’s future as soon as this week.  “I’m not afraid,” Klinsmann said. “What you need to do is stick to the facts. Soccer is emotional, and a lot of people make conclusions without knowing anything about the inside of the team or the sport. I still believe we will get the points we need to qualify, and I am even confident we could win the group.”The U.S. is at the bottom of the final stage of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying after losing the first two of 10 games, 2-1 at home to Mexico and 4-0 away to Costa Rica.But Klinsmann, who earlier on Sunday told Reuters he was “1,000 percent certain” the U.S. would still qualify for the World Cup in Russia in 2018, dismissed the criticism that has come following this month’s result. “The fact is, we lost two games,” Klinsmann told the Times. “There is a lot of talk from people who don’t understand soccer or the team.”Klinsmann denied that his players had given up on him despite the lopsided defeat at Costa Rica, where the U.S. has always struggled to perform.”There was nobody giving up at that time,” Klinsmann said. “That was a normal emotional situation when things go wrong. When they get the second goal there, it was like a knock in your neck.”I played those games many, many times. The whole stadium goes bananas. It’s totally human to put your head down for a second. And then they counter us for two more.”Those games will always happen. We just couldn’t stop it, but the players did not stop trying.”Klinsmann looked toward the larger picture and stressed that he and U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati, with whom the Times reported the coach would meet in the coming days, had an understanding about long-term goals.”I always made it clear to Sunil, if you really want to move up to the top 15 in the world, you need to have consistency in what you’re doing,” Klinsmann said. “If you react emotionally, you will become a roller coaster.”

 WHAT NOW FOR THE USMNT?

NOVEMBER 16, 2016

By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 15, 2016) US Soccer Players – If you find yourself surprised by the USMNT’s performance in Costa Rica on Tuesday night, you haven’t been paying attention. This USMNT–the USMNT that fell behind to Mexico thanks to a disastrous opening half and saw it’s unbeaten run against El Tri in Columbus come to an end as a result and then laid a massive egg in San Jose against the Ticos in a truly depressing soccer showing–is the new normal. 4-0 is the new normal. This is Jurgen Klinsmann’s USMNT.Off of the disappointing loss to Mexico on Friday, the Americans headed to Costa Rica licking their wounds and with more than a few questions about the direction of the team. Klinsmann’s 3-5-2 gambit to open the Hex had gone so poorly that any chance at building confidence into the match against another CONCACAF power, on the road, was dead on arrival. Rafa Marquez’s late headed not only gave Mexico a win in Columbus, it drove home the reality that the US is spiraling into dysfunction.That dysfunction was on full display Tuesday night. After escaping the first-half unscathed by sheer luck and Costa Rican benevolence, the US collapsed into a fiery heap in the second-half. Players all over the field looked bereft of the necessary energy and confidence needed to even make a draw possible in San Jose, much less a win.It’s true that the United States has never won in Costa Rica. So on that front the loss shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. The Americans have gone to Central American full of confidence in the past, only to see their hopes of three points on the road dashed. Costa Rica’s unique brand of fast, physical play combined with a rabid home crowd is hard to handle. Steaming into San Jose on limited power made this game nearly a foregone conclusion.It’s not the loss that’s makes the game worth talking about. It’s the evidence, for all to see, that this team has quit on Klinsmann. The defensive showing was so atrocious it doesn’t seem real. Talented players, players who can boast of being regular starters in high quality, respected soccer leagues made egregious error after egregious error. Costa Rica has dangerous attackers who don’t need help from the opposing defense to put the ball the back of the net, but they’ll certainly take it.The Americans went to San Jose bearing gifts. If this was a diplomacy mission, then job well done.It wasn’t, of course. It was a soccer game, and one that will have the American soccer media asking difficult questions about Klinsmann’s job security for the next four-plus months. The USMNT won’t play another qualifier until March. That leaves plenty of time to ponder (again) whether Klinsmann is the right man to lead the United States forward.When asked after the game about whether he would consider a coaching change, Sunil Gulati did the usual. He suggested the organization would take some time to sit down and think about the result. That’s probably wise considering the humiliating nature of the scoreline and the dander that is up across American soccer. However, even a ponderous consideration of the USMNT situation doesn’t change the troubling fact that Klinsmann’s team isn’t just failing, it’s failing in embarrassing fashion.How the players are doing at club level resonates. They’re playing excellent soccer domestically. The player pool can’t be turned over any time soon, so at some point the excuses made on Klinsmann’s behalf stop carrying any weight. Other USMNT coaches have put out more competitive teams with half the talent the current boss has at his disposal. The argument that Klinsmann should stay on the job because there’s some notion it’s not his fault is defeatist at the very least. There’s no benefit to holding onto a losing coach. Especially when there’s at least some chance someone else, bringing a fresh set of eyes and a new voice, could improve upon the current state.The are reasons US Soccer might not want to let Klinsmann go. His contract buyout is likely significant, presenting a financial problem for a nonprofit organization that has other teams and programs it has to fund. By signing Klinsmann to a contract extension before the 2014 World Cup, US Soccer locked up the man they thought would transform their men’s program. Instead, they seem to have painted themselves into a corner now that the promised revolution is clearly not coming.Gulati also said when asked about Klinsmann that “facts matter.” The fact is that the United States was never in the game against Costa Rica, four days after they gave away their psychological edge at home against their biggest rival. The facts dictate that Klinsmann should be in serious jeopardy.As for the man himself, it’s hard to tell if he’s even sure anymore. When asked whether he’s still the right man to lead the USMNT forward towards Russia, Klinsmann replied “I think so.”  Jason Davis is the founder of MatchFitUSA.com and the host of The United States of Soccer on SiriusXM.

Pressure squarely on Klinsmann after Costa Rica thrashes USA in World Cup qualifier

QUICKLY Jurgen Klinsmann is facing the heat after Costa Rica destroyed the U.S. 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier in

San Jose. GRANT WAHLWednesday November 16th, 2016

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica — Costa Rica demolished the U.S. 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, throwing the continued tenure of U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann into question and raising concerns that the Americans may not have what it takes even to qualify for Russia 2018.The brutal loss was the second in a row to start the Hexagonal, the first time the U.S. has ever done that in six editions of the Hex. The remarkably forgiving format—four of the six CONCACAF teams will likely qualify for Russia—means the U.S. still has time to recover and reach World Cup 2018, but it won’t have a chance with continued performances like this one.The Costa Rica goals came from Johan Venegas, Christian Bolaños and two from Joel Campbell, with the last three coming in a 10-minute span in the second half, which blew the game wide open.

Here are three thoughts on the game:

 

Sunil Gulati has a decision to make

On Friday before the Mexico game, the U.S. Soccer president went out of his way to say that the U.S. hasn’t fired a coach during World Cup qualifying since 1989 and didn’t expect to this time around either. But the loss to Mexico, keyed largely by Klinsmann’s overly risky decision to change up the U.S.’s formation, and a truly abominable performance on Tuesday in Costa Rica have to make you wonder if Gulati is rethinking that statement.There’s plenty of time between now and the next World Cup qualifiers in March for a new coach to come in and get settled, and it just so happens that former U.S. coach Bruce Arena, the most likely coach to come in if a change was made, is out of contract with the LA Galaxy at this point. Will Gulati consider making a move? 

The U.S. misses Geoff Cameron

Cameron is more than just the U.S.’s best center back. He’s also the vocal leader when he’s on the field, organizing the back line and setting up everyone else to take their defensive cues off of him. Cameron doesn’t get enough credit for that, but maybe he will now that the U.S. has lost two straight World Cup qualifiers without him on the field due to injury.The U.S. was a step slow all over the back line on Costa Rica’s opener, from Omar Gonzalez’s lack of pressure on the cross to the space John Brooks gave Venegas on his header. There were other breakdowns on that play, including Jermaine Jones’s poor backpass to Brooks, but it wouldn’t have played out that way had Cameron been on the field.Things just got worse on the succeeding Costa Rica goals: Brooks had an awful night, and Timmy Chandler continued to underperform in a U.S. uniform. Cameron makes other U.S. players better—especially Brooks, who was terrific next to Cameron in Copa América but struggled mightily on Tuesday.

 The U.S. central midfield needs something to change 

Klinsmann stuck with Jones for a long time in this game—too long. Consider: Jones had played close to one full game in 13 weeks due to injury when Klinsmann went with him ahead of Sacha Kljestan against Mexico. At least Jones had plenty of energy against Mexico, but that was absent for much of Tuesday’s game, and he continued to have difficulties completing passes (even some that were unchallenged). Jones should have come off for Kljestan at halftime, but that didn’t happen either.Bradley hasn’t been perfect by any means, but a partnership with Kljestan would have worked better in these games. A lot needs to change between now and next March. Jones and Chandler will be suspended on yellow cards for the next qualifier against Honduras.Will Klinsmann still be around to choose their replacements?

 No positives for Klinsmann or players after U.S.’ shocking loss to Costa Rica

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — There’s a tendency among athletes and coaches, regardless of sport, to try to look on the bright side after a crushing loss. It’s just how they’re built. The highs can’t be too high, nor the lows too low.It’s an attitude that can rub fans who live and die with their teams the wrong way at times. There’s a memorable scene in Nick Hornby’s famous football tome “Fever Pitch” where Hornby, an Arsenal lifer, comes to the upsetting realization that he cares about the results far more than his heroes on the field do.Generally, though, it’s a healthy approach for any professional to take, which is why hearing U.S. players and manager Jurgen Klinsmann talk following the Americans’ 4-0 shellacking by Costa Rica on Tuesday was so jarring. There wasn’t the faintest attempt to accentuate the positive after this one. Basically, there were no silver linings to be found.”We just weren’t good enough,” U.S. captain Michael Bradley said after the Yanks suffered their worst defeat yet in a place they’d dropped eight straight heading into the match, the last four by multiple goals, to start the final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with back-to-back defeats.”On a night like this, there’s no point in trying to look at it any other way,” Bradley continued. “You have to be big enough and strong enough to just be able to say we weren’t good enough. In terms of understanding what the game was going to be about, knowing how we needed to play in a game that had so much on the line, we didn’t have a good enough night. The reality was we weren’t good enough, and a good team in an environment like this makes you pay.”Did the Ticos ever do that. Backed by more than 35,000 red-clad supporters at Estadio Nacional, the home team took the lead two minutes before halftime when Johan Venegas nodded Cristian Bolanos’ cross past Brad Guzan.Once Bolanos doubled Costa Rica’s advantage with just over 20 minutes to play, the contest was effectively over for an American squad apparently still reeling from Friday’s last-gasp loss to Mexico in Columbus, Ohio.”I think they really gave us a psychological knock with that goal right before halftime,” Klinsmann said. “But still, you cannot then give away three more in the second half.”Klinsmann was unusually contrite in his postmatch news conference, calling the rout “the defeat that hurts the most in my five years” at the U.S. helm. He even publicly blamed himself for his role in the outcome, something that he has almost never done no matter how much his curious tactical or personnel decisions impacted a particular result.”There’s always things that you think about and say you should have done differently, you should have maybe sent in different players or different formation,” Klinsmann said. “Absolutely you question a lot of things that you have done, and I take full responsibility.”Still, it’s not as though the manager’s rare mea culpa absolves his players of blame. While the Americans have never boasted an elite squad in the 26 years since the returning to the global stage by qualifying for the 1990 World Cup and the six events since, they’ve usually punched above their weight in large part because of a never-die resolve.That determination was nowhere to be found on Tuesday, and especially after the second goal went in.”First, you have to come out here and play for the shirt,” Jozy Altidore said. “You can say whatever you want about tactics or formations, but at the end of the day, if you don’t have the desire to compete and win matchups, the rest doesn’t matter.”Both Altidore and Bradley talked about the need to “look in the mirror” and “have honest conversations” before the U.S. convenes for March’s suddenly crucial contests at home against Honduras and away in Panama. Whether Klinsmann is still in charge then remains to be seen.U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati, who said last week that he expected the coach to remain the coach at least through the end of qualifying, stopped short of guaranteeing that Klinsmann would keep his job after Tuesday’s performance.”We won’t make any decisions right after games,” Gulati told reporters. “We’ll think about what happened today and talk with Jurgen and look at the situation.”Whoever is on the sideline, though, it will be up to the players and the players alone to climb out of the hole they’ve dug for themselves when qualifying resumes next year.”Nothing is lost yet, not even close, and anyone that thinks that is sorely mistaken,” Bradley said. “In moments like this, it does you no good to point fingers and to be looking around trying to figure out who you can throw under the bus.”After the darkest four days in recent national team history, that’s about as bright as it’s going to get.Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @DougMacESPN.

 Defensive lapses doom U.S. in Costa Rica as Klinsmann’s future left in doubt

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — The United States responded to last week’s loss to Mexico by imploding against Costa Rica in Friday’s World Cup qualifier at Estadio Nacional, getting dismantled 4-0 by the Ticos on goals by Johan Venegas, Christian Bolanos and Joel Campbell’s second-half brace. Here are three quick thoughts on the match.

1. Costa Rica thumps U.S. at home yet again

After Friday’s defeat to El Tri in Columbus, Ohio — Mexico’s first win in qualifying in the U.S. in more than four decades — much of the talk in the lead-up to this match was about the opportunity the Americans had to make some history of their own. The Yanks had never won in Costa Rica, going 0-8-1 all-time, including eight straight losses in the country’s capital city. Each of the past four matches between the teams resulted in a multiple-goal defeat for the visitors.But while the U.S. started better than it did during its last visit to the Costa Rican capital three years ago, when it was down 2-0 before the game was 10 minutes old, the final result this time around was significantly worse. It didn’t matter that coach Jurgen Klinsmann went with the same lineup and 4-4-2 formation that had the better of the play against Mexico in the second half in Columbus. The Ticos still dominated the match in every way. The Americans managed just one shot on target all night.More damning was the fact that they didn’t show the resolve that one would expect from a team with its back against the wall. Of all the losses in San Jose over the years, this one was far and away the worst.

2. Defensive errors doom U.S.

Just when it looked like the Americans might get to halftime with the game still scoreless, Venegas headed the hosts in front two minutes before the break. The frustrating thing from a U.S. point of view was that the wound was largely self-inflicted.Jermaine Jones, a turnover machine all night, put center back John Brooks under pressure with a poor back-pass to begin the sequence. With Timmy Chandler caught upfield, Omar Gonzalez, Brooks’ partner, gave too much space to Ticos attacker Bolanos, who was able to turn and pick out the too-loosely marked Venegas, who easily beat Brad Guzan from point-blank range.That Venegas was Brooks’ man only added insult to injury. The German-American also lost Mexico’s Rafa Marquez in last week’s Hex-opening loss to El Tri, and he looked shaky from the opening whistle, giving the ball away needlessly time and again.The first goal was a psychological blow as much as anything, and it gave the Costa Ricans all the momentum heading into a second half in which they left no doubt about which team was the superior side. Bolanos ran by Chandler for the second. Another Brooks turnover gifted Campbell a breakaway that he coolly slotted past Guzan before the Sporting Lisbon star added a second moments later to complete the USA’s truly embarrassing performance.

3. Was this Klinsmann’s last game in charge?

The morning of Friday’s loss to Mexico, U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said he expected Klinsmann to remain in charge of the national team through at least the end of qualifying. But after the Americans started the Hex with two ugly losses for the first time in program history, Gulati will have to give serious consideration to letting the German coach go.Klinsmann’s lack of tactical acumen and odd lineup choices have confounded his players throughout his five-year tenure, but those players always seemed to bail their manager out by turning in a big performance when his back was against the wall. Not on this night.This was arguably the worst defeat the Americans suffered under Klinsmann, and it turns March’s home match against Honduras — a match that Chandler and Jones will be unavailable for because of the yellow cards they picked up in San Jose — into a must-win. Four months is a long time to dwell on a result like this one.If Klinsmann is the wrong guy, and the evidence now is overwhelming, the salary left on his contract that runs until the end of 2018 can’t be enough to save him. If Gulati is going to pull the trigger on the coach he spent five years luring before finally landing him in 2011, the time to do it is now.Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazin 

John Brooks, Timmy Chandler found wanting in humiliating Costa Rica loss

The United States World Cup qualifying campaign for Russia 2018 is in a serious condition after an alarming 4-0 defeat to Costa Rica on Tuesday night.

The Americans were poor from back to front for the entire 90 minutes, as the Ticos avenged the 4-0 walloping the U.S. served them in the Copa America Centenario.

The U.S. now sit rock bottom of the Hexagonal after two games and will have a long time to chew on this defeat until qualifying resumes next March.

Positives

There were very few positives, but in the spirit of selecting one, Christian Pulisic and Bobby Wood showed some creativity in the rare instances that they touched the ball.

Negatives

Too many to count.

The U.S. midfield failed to generate positive play and were unable to maintain possession due to the constant Costa Rican pressure. How many times was the U.S. able to string together four or five passes?

The number of errors committed by the defense was astounding, with John Brooks in particular having arguably his worst match ever in a U.S. shirt.

Manager rating out of 10

3 — You can understand why Jurgen Klinsmann opted to go with the same 11 players who featured in the second half against Mexico, but by half-time it was abundantly clear that tweaks were needed.

With the U.S. starving for a Sacha Kljestan in midfield or a DeAndre Yedlin on the wing, Klinsmann stuck with his starting XI until it was too late. The manager has a history of rallying his team when the chips are down, but the complete opposite happened in San Jose.

Player ratings: (1-10; 10=best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Brad Guzan, 6 — Made a pair of huge early saves to deny Johan Venegas and Bryan Ruiz. Was faultless on the goals. Did not get much help from his defenders.

DF Timmy Chandler, 2 — Another struggle for Chandler in a U.S. uniform. A noticeable lack of communication with Omar Gonzalez on the right side of defense. Had a second half slip that nearly gifted a goal. Was beaten by Christian Bolanos for Costa Rica’s second. Sprayed his crosses everywhere. Dismal.

DF Omar Gonzalez, 4 — Got burned by Ruiz early on and had to be bailed out by Guzan. Looked indecisive. Was beaten on a number of headers and allowed Bolanos the time and space to serve up the assist on the Venegas goal.

DF John Brooks, 2 — The titanic defender who was the best player for the U.S. at the Copa America Centenario was missing in action on Tuesday night. This was the worst version of the player who performed so poorly at the 2015 Gold Cup. Got nutmegged early on by Venegas but was rescued by Guzan. Errors aplenty throughout and was at fault for the Venegas and Campbell goals. An abysmal display.

DF Matt Besler, 4 — The Sporting KC man was playing out of position and considering the situation, he performed as well as he could. Could only look on helplessly as Campbell got behind him and Brooks for Costa Rica’s fourth.

MF Fabian Johnson, 4 — Spoiled two free kick chances in the first half. For a team that likes to use the set piece as a weapon, Johnson elected to fire one into the wall and then ambitiously tried to beat Keylor Navas on the second. Failed to offer service to his forwards. Anonymous in the second half until his substitution.

MF Michael Bradley, 5 — Not enough positive balls. Seemed like Bradley was either playing balls back or was having to track back after a U.S. giveaway. Corner kicks did not threaten. Was a safety valve when the U.S. ran out of ideas when going forward, which was often.

MF Jermaine Jones, 4 — Gave away possession a lot and also lost a number of duels. Picked up a silly yellow in the first half. The U.S. needed more from the veteran.

MF Christian Pulisic, 6 — Quiet at start, Pulisic earned one of the free kicks wasted by Johnson. Also sent in the dangerous cross for Wood. Didn’t touch the ball much, but offered hope when he actually had it at his feet.

FW Jozy Altidore, 5 — Altidore was left frustrated by Costa Rica’s physicality. His pleading of teammates to push up higher at end of first half summed up his evening. Also doomed by heavy touches.

FW Bobby Wood, 6 — On his only real chance of the first half, was unable to get on the end of a Pulisic cross at the near post. At the end of the first half he made a great run and served up a cross himself that ran right in front of the goalmouth. With more help you wonder what he could have done.

Substitutes:

MF Lynden Gooch, 5 — Replaced Pulisic in the 70th minute. With the match lost, tried to summon a consolation goal from the left.

MF Sacha Kljestan, N/R — Came on for Jones in the 73rd minute but never had a chance to leave his mark.

MF Graham Zusi, N/R — Replaced Johnson in the 77th minute. Just a few touches.

Spain’s late push shows Southgate how far England have to go

LONDON — This is how it goes for England, a team seemingly locked in a loop of unending misery. High hopes, great promise, then a kick in the teeth just as the scent of success begins to fill the nostrils.As Isco raced away to celebrate his 95th-minute equaliser for Spain, five minutes after Iago Aspas had seemingly scored nothing more than a consolation goal for Julen Lopetegui’s team, the story of the England football team had been condensed into 90 minutes at Wembley.Gareth Southgate’s players had been bright, energetic and confident. They built a 2-0 lead through Adam Lallana’s ninth-minute penalty and Jamie Vardy’s diving header from Jordan Henderson’s cross early in the second half.Yes, they were forced to endure lengthy periods of Spain dominating possession, but rather than cave in, as England teams have done in the past against superior opposition, they were solid. They held on and displayed the threat going forward that comes with pace and purpose in attacking positions.Then came the sucker punch, with England letting their guard down, failing to display the nous and game management required to succeed at the highest level. Southgate’s glorious coronation as the national team’s new permanent manager was dealt a painful dose of reality.That is no bad thing, however.Southgate, perhaps as early as next week, will be confirmed as Sam Allardyce’s full-time successor after four games in interim charge, and it might work in the 46-year-old’s favour that England’s frailties have been exposed, just as misplaced optimism had begun to grow during an unbeaten run against the collective might of Malta, Slovenia and Scotland.England went to school against Spain and were ultimately taught the lesson that nothing comes easily at the international level.There was really nothing to get excited about against the mediocre opposition England had faced under Southgate prior to Tuesday night, but a game against the dominant force of world football over the past decade will have given Southgate reason for optimism as well as cause for concern.”We played one of the best teams in the world, and I can’t have asked for any more,” he said. “But maybe not winning will be better for us in the long run, knowing what we have to do at this level.”Southgate is a smart cookie — not one to fall for hype or the misplaced arrogance that has often contributed to England’s failings — so he will use Spain’s late fight back to his advantage.He came closer than most to helping England end their wait for silverware with Terry Venables’ team at Euro ’96, and he has admitted to learning key lessons from that experience, in terms of the mindset required to end England’s days as also-rans.Can Southgate inspire this generation of England players to the success that the likes of Sven-Goran Eriksson, Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson all failed to deliver since the turn of the century?There is quality to work with; the emerging talents of John Stones, Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford are as promising as any comparable youngsters in the world game. Adam Lallana’s development into a goal-scoring midfielder at international level is another plus.The freedom of movement and pace delivered against Spain, by the likes of Sterling, Jamie Vardy and Theo Walcott, were similar to that which contributed to the 3-2 March victory against Germany in Berlin, when Hodgson’s young team sparked the kind of optimism and excitement that prompted many to believe England could win Euro 2016.That proved to be a false hope, but the ingredients in that victory remain, and at any level, pace and movement are a problem for even the best teams; Lopetegui admitted after the game that England’s “pace and quality on the break” were a concern for his players.One significant absentee against Germany and Spain was Wayne Rooney. Southgate has already displayed the single-mindedness and strength of character to drop the England captain, against Slovenia last month, and he might now be ready to contemplate going without Rooney on a more permanent basis.The 31-year-old, who is neither a forward nor a midfielder, slows the team down and makes England far too predictable. His leadership qualities are valued by Southgate, but Rooney no longer merits a place in the team.Alli, absent through injury against Spain, is a better option in the No. 10 role, while Harry Kane, Rashford, Vardy and Daniel Sturridge are all ahead of Rooney in an attacking sense.Meanwhile, given Jordan Henderson and Dier once again impressed as a midfield pair at Wembley, Southgate is likely to find it harder to accommodate Rooney than leave him out.Results and performances are the ultimate acid test, and neither has been good with Rooney in the team in 2016, so to take England forward, Southgate has to make the big call when the squad next meets up in March.”There is a lot of potential,” Southgate said of his squad after Tuesday’s game. “But there is a long way to go before we can consider ourselves to be a top team.”The building blocks are there, however, and Southgate insists he has shown the credentials to take the job permanently. “I’ve proved that I can handle big occasions,” he said. “Until this run, under this spotlight and in matches like Friday’s against Scotland under intense pressure, you’re never sure how it is going to be. But I’m pleased, and I think the remit we were given has been fulfilled.”The job will only get more difficult, but if anybody was under any illusion as to the size of Southgate’s task, Spain at least did him the favour of bringing that reality into sharp focus.Mark is a Senior Football Writer for ESPN FC.

Neat Note from the Indy 11 owner – mighty classy!!  I thought his handling of the Spring Trophy – bringing it into the stands for the BYB members to touch was one of the coolest things I have ever seen an Owner of Pro Team do!!  Congrats to the 11 !!

Fellow Indy Eleven fans, With the end of a successful season fresh in everyone’s minds, on behalf of everyone at Indy Eleven I wanted to give our sincerest thanks for your support both on Sunday night at The Championship Final and throughout a historic 2016 for Indiana’s Team.From the first game of the year, a revamped roster fed off your passion and looked to match your intensity, resulting in a remarkable 19 games without defeat at Carroll Stadium in all competitions, including claiming the Spring Season NASL title with a 4-1 victory over Carolina in June. Adding a victory in our first playoff game in club history in front of a sold out crowd made for a perfect ending to a season full of wonderful memories at home.Following that, competing in Indy Eleven’s first NASL Championship Final in New York cheered on by hundreds of fans who had made the trip from Indiana was a special moment for a club only in its third season. Coming within a penalty shootout of taking the NASL Championship to end the year only heightens our focus to build from this foundation and come back with even more desire to win the NASL Championship in 2017. The special connection between you and our players have made “The Mike” the toughest place to play in the NASL. That’s a relationship we cherish and look forward to building on even more moving into next year.Along with the magic made on the field, there are strong measures of growth for Indy Eleven off the field to take away from 2016. This includes the formation of the Indy Eleven Soccer Foundation, providing support for community projects such as Indianapolis Public Schools’ soccer program, an improved training facility at Grand Park and the debut of the Indy Eleven NPSL development squad. 2016 truly has been a landmark year for Indy Eleven.As we acknowledge these accomplishments, know that your club is working every day to fulfil our mission to win championships with and for the community. Both Indy Eleven and you, our tremendous fans, have grown a lot in three short years, and with your continued support we know bigger and better things are ahead both on the field and in the stands. We hope you will be there to #CueTheSmoke with us every game at “The Mike” in 2017. Indy Forever, Ersal Ozdemir Owner, Indy Eleven Professional Soccer

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