Keep an eye on the Champions League where Tillman, Ricardo Pepi and Sergino Dest could all figure for high-flying PSV against Lens (Tuesday 2pm EST, Paramount+). That day, then on Wednesday, Reyna will hope to feature for Dortmund in the same competition against Newcastle United (2pm EST, Paramount+), and Pulisic and Yunus Musah will also be in Champions League action away to Paris Saint-Germain in Paris (also 2pm EST, Paramount+).
GAMES ON TV
Tues, Oct 24 — Champs League
12:46 pm Para+, TUDN Galatasary vs Bayern Munich
12:45 pm Para+ Inter Milan vs Salzburg
3 pm CBSSN Union Berlin vs Napoli
3 pm para+ PVS (Dest, Tilman) vs Lens
3 pm Para+, Gala Man United vs Kebenhavn
3 pm para+ Sevilla vs Arsenal
3 pm para+ Sporting Braga vs Real Madrid
Weds, Oct 25 — Champs League
12:46 pm Para+, TUDN Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk
3 pm CBSSN Celtic (Carter Vickers) vs Atletico Madrid
3 pm Para+, Gala PSG vs AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah)
3 pm para+ New Castle vs Dortmund (Reyna)
3 pm para+ Young Boys vs Man City
7:30 pm Apple TV NY Red Bulls vs Charlotte FC Playoffs
9:30 pm Apple TV Sporting KC vs San Jose Earthquakes Playoffs
9 pm FS2 Monterrey vs Tijuana
11 pm FS1 Juerez vs Atletico San Luis
Thurs, Oct 26 — Europa League
12:45 pm Para+ Olympiakos vs West Ham
3 pm Liverpool vs Maccabi Haifa
3 pm para+ Panathinaikos vs Rennes (Balogen)
3 pm Para+ Brighton vs Ajax
9 pm TBS, Peacock USA Women vs Colombia
Fri, Oct 27 –
3:30 pm USA Crystal Palace vs Tottenham
Sat, Oct 28
7:30am USA Chelsea vs Brentfort
9:30 am ESPN+ Werder Bremen vs Union Berlin
9:30 am ESPN+ MGladbach (Scally) vs Heidenheim
10 am USA Arsenal vs Sheffield
10:15 am ESPN+ Barcelona vs Real Madrid- El Classico
5 pm FS1/Apple TV NE Revs vs Philly Union Playoffs
8 pm FS1/Apple TV LAFC vs Vancouver
Sun, Oct 29
9 am USA West Ham vs Everton
10 am Peacock Aston Villa vs Luton
10 am USA ? Brighton vs Fulham (Ream, Robinson)
10 am 😕 Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest (Matt Turner)
1030 am ESPN2 Dortmund (Reyna) vs Franfurt
11:30 am USA?? Man United vs Man City
1 pm Para+ Inter vs Roma
3:45 pm Para+ AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) vs Napoli
5:30 pm TNT Tele USA Women vs Colombia
6 pm Apple TV Houston dynamo vs Real Salt Lake
8 pm FS1/Apple TV Cincy vs (eastern Wildcard)
Mon, Oct 30
7 pm FS1/Apple TV Nashville vs Orlando City Playoffs
9 pm FS1/Apple TV Seattle Suonders vs FC Dallas
Wed, Nov 1
7:30 pm FS1/Apple TV Columbus vs Atlanta United
MLS playoffs 2023: Schedule, TV channel and streaming
The 2023 MLS playoffs are here, with 18 teams vying to lift MLS Cup on December 9.MLS has introduced a new playoff format this year, with five separate stages taking place: the wild-card round, a best-of-three round one, conference semifinals, conference finals, and finally MLS Cup.Two teams in each conference will kick off the playoffs in the wild-card round, with both of those matches set to go straight to a penalty kick tiebreaker if the teams are level after 90 minutes.After the wild-card round, eight teams in each each conference will partake in round one, which will see a best-of-three series with the higher seed hosting games one and (if necessary) three.Like the wild-card round, games in round one will go straight to penalties if tied after 90 minutes.From there, the conference semifinals, conference finals, and MLS Cup will be one-off matches that do include the possibility of extra time if the teams are tied after 90 minutes.Below is a schedule of all the games for the 2023 MLS postseason. In all instances, the home team is listed first.
Game one: FC Cincinnati vs. East Wild Card winner — TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio. 8 p.m. ET, Apple TV/FS1/FOX Deportes
Saturday, Nov. 4
Game two: East Wild Card winner vs. FC Cincinnati. 7 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Saturday, Nov. 11
Game three (if necessary): FC Cincinnati vs. East Wild Card winner — TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio. 2 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Orlando City (2) vs. Nashville SC (7)
Monday, Oct. 30
Game one: Orlando City vs. Nashville SC — Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Fla. 7 p.m. ET, Exploria Stadium, Apple TV/FS1/ FOX Deportes
Tuesday, Nov. 7
Game two: Nashville SC vs. Orlando City — Geodis Park, Nashville, Tenn. 9 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Sunday, Nov. 12
Game three (if necessary): Orlando City vs. Nashville SC — Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Fla. 5 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Columbus Crew (3) vs. Atlanta United (6)
Wednesday, Nov. 1
Game one: Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United — Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio. 7:30 p.m. ET, Apple TV/FS1/ FS2 (Spanish)
Tuesday, Nov. 7
Game two: Atlanta United vs. Columbus Crew — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga. 7 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Sunday, Nov. 12
Game three (if necessary): Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United — Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio. 7 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Philadelphia Union (4) vs. New England Revolution (5)
Saturday, Oct. 28
Game one: Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution — Subaru Park, Chester, Pa. 5 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Wednesday, Nov. 8
Game two: New England Revolution vs. Philadelphia Union — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. 7 p.m. ET, Apple TV/FS1/ FOX Deportes
Sunday, Nov. 12
Game three (if necessary): Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution — Subaru Park, Chester, Pa. 3 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Western Conference
St. Louis City (1) vs. West Wild Card winner
Sunday, Oct. 29
Game one: St. Louis City vs. West Wild Card winner — CityPark, St. Louis, Mo. 10 p.m. ET, Apple TV/FS1/ FOX Deportes
Sunday, Nov. 5
Game two: West Wild Card winner vs. St. Louis City. 5 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Saturday, Nov. 11
Game three (if necessary): St. Louis City SC vs. West Wild Card winner — CityPark, St. Louis, Mo. 6 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Seattle Sounders (2) vs. FC Dallas (7)
Monday, Oct. 30
Game one: Seattle Sounders vs. FC Dallas — Lumen Field, Seattle, Wash. 9 p.m. ET, Apple TV/FS1/ FS2 (Spanish)
Saturday, Nov. 4
Game two: FC Dallas vs. Seattle Sounders — Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas. 9 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Friday, Nov. 10
Game three (if necessary): Seattle Sounders vs. FC Dallas — Lumen Field, Seattle, Wash. 10 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Los Angeles FC (3) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (6)
Saturday, Oct. 28
Game one: LAFC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps — BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif. 8 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Sunday, Nov. 5
Game two: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. LAFC — BC Place, Vancouver, B.C. 7:30 p.m. ET, Apple TV/FS1/ FS2 (Spanish)
Thursday, Nov. 9
Game three (if necessary): LAFC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps — BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif. 10 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Houston Dynamo (4) vs. Real Salt Lake (5)
Sunday, Oct. 29
Game one: Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake — Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, Texas. 6 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Monday, Nov. 6
Game two: Real Salt Lake vs. Houston Dynamo — America First Field, Sandy, Utah. 9 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Saturday, Nov. 11
Game three (if necessary): Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake — Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, Texas. 4 p.m. ET, Apple TV
Conference semifinals (Nov. 25-26)
Eastern Conference
Matchups and schedule TBD.
Western Conference
Matchups and schedule TBD.
Conference finals (Dec. 2-3)
Eastern Conference
Matchups and schedule TBD.
Western Conference
Matchups and schedule TBD.
MLS Cup
Saturday, Dec. 9, 4 p.m. ET
Eastern Conference winner vs. Western Conference winner.
NWSL playoffs 2023: Schedule, TV and streaming
The NWSL playoffs have arrived, as six teams aim to lift the league title on November 11 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.After winning the NWSL Shield, the San Diego Wave will be one of the favorites to lift the title and become just the second team to do so at its home stadium.Last season’s champion, the Portland Thorns, stumbled on the final day of the season to lose the Shield, but still finished second and clinched a bye to the semifinal round. The Thorns will be aiming to become the third NWSL team to repeat as champions.Only two clubs in the playoffs, the Thorns and the North Carolina Courage, have won the NWSL title before, with four teams vying for their first title.Two of those teams, OL Reign and NJ/NY Gotham FC, will be looking to send two legends of the game (Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger, respectively) into retirement with a championship.Below is a schedule of all the games for the 2023 NWSL postseason. Outside of the United States, every game will be available to stream on Watch.NWSLSoccer.com.
There is only one place to start with our weekly look at the fortunes of the U.S. men’s national team players — San Siro and a top-of-the-table meeting between AC Milan and Juventus.But American attention wasn’t just on Serie A. Germany, the Netherlands and Scotland also saw members of Gregg Berhalter’s squad in action on a busy weekend.With next year’s home Copa America and the 2026 World Cup in mind, we’re keeping tabs on how they perform each week on our player tracker.
Issue of the weekend
Sunday night’s game between Milan and Juventus at San Siro was always going to be a big one as the hosts hoped to go top in Serie A and their rivals looked to claw back ground just behind them.Milan vs Juventus is a game that transfixes Italy but the presence of four USMNT players going gave it a unique twist — and served further proof that the influence of American players in some of Europe’s big leagues is only growing.Milan opted to start with USMNT captain Christian Pulisic and midfielder Yunus Musah in their engine room, while Juventus had Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie in midfield.
Juve’s 1-0 win ensured Weah and McKennie were the ones left smiling but for Pulisic, it was a doubly frustrating evening. He was sacrificed before half time by coach Stefano Pioli after team-mate Malick Thiaw was sent off for a foul that denied Moise Kean a clear goalscoring opportunity.“I removed an attacker to maintain the same defensive structure that we had prepared during the week,” Pioli told DAZN afterwards. “I decided to make Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud work against the three Juve defenders and maintain the defensive setup we had, as there were some good reference points against them.“We believed that the contribution of the midfielders like Musah and Tijjani Reijnders, or Giroud holding up the ball for Leao, could allow us to continue being dangerous in attack.”
Yunus Musah takes on Adrien Rabiot (Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Pulisic looked understandably unhappy at making way, although he kept whatever frustration he was feeling bottled up afterwards, restricting himself to saying the result was a “tough one” on his Instagram feed.As for the Americans of Juve, there were more positives to reflect on. Weah put in an eye-catching and influential shift (none of his team-mates eclipsed his six ball recoveries) and he created the game’s crucial moment: his 63rd-minute pass supplied Manuel Locatelli, whose deflected shot sealed victory. McKennie also had the highest passing accuracy (90 per cent) of any of his midfield colleagues.The former Leeds United midfielder completed the full game, too, which will have pleased his father John, who vented his frustration on Twitter a few weeks ago when McKennie was subbed off during a game and replaced by Weah. Great night at the office for all in white and black then? Well, almost. Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri got so wound up towards the end of the tense match that, incensed his players were not keeping the ball better, he tore off his jacket and tie in frustration and was even yellow-carded for rushing out of his technical area to shout orders. A big three points presumably added more than enough consolation after he cooled down.
Allegri loses his cool (Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images)
Player of the weekend
Giovanni Reyna’s two goals lit up the USMNT’s impressive win over Ghana during the international break, with the 20-year-old stepping up his return to the fold under Berhalter following their high-profile falling-out and subsequent reconciliation. The challenge for the midfielder now is to prove he can be consistently available and influential for his club, Borussia Dortmund, too. A lot will depend on whether the pattern of injuries that have dogged Reyna’s young career can abate, but there were encouraging signs on Friday. He did not make the starting line-up but there was much to admire about his half-hour cameo after replacing Marius Wolf.
Reyna, left, continued his good form (Lars Baron/Getty Images)
He created two chances, completed 96 per cent of his passes, drew four fouls and was involved in the game’s only goal that secured Dortmund’s win, linking up with Emre Can who then played in Julian Brandt for the German to calmly convert.
Graphic of the weekend
Saturday saw Auston Trusty make his second career Premier League start for Sheffield United after previously going the distance on October 7 against Fulham. Both matches ended in defeat, as most have for Sheffield United at this stage of the season. However, the former Philadelphia Union homegrown is continuing his emergence since leaving MLS last summer.
After making his first start on his strong-footed left side of the back line, against United, he was shifted across to right center back in a 4-4-2. The unfamiliar vantage point may have played a part in Scott McTominay’s opener, as Trusty was caught in two minds between helping mark Rasmus Hojlund and converging to close the Scottish midfielder’s shooting angle. Dalot’s match-winner left Trusty with his head hung and his hands planted on his knees in frustration. Still, he finished the day second among Sheffield United players for ‘true’ tackles (five) and was only dribbled past once out of five attempts.Sheffield United are going through an injury crisis, with Trusty being just one of two senior center backs who aren’t actively stricken by an injury. The latest, Anel Ahmedhodzic, damaged a hamstring before the United match. As the team struggles to build momentum to stave off an extended relegation battle, Trusty should have ample opportunity to feature and, if he avoids the injury bug that’s feasting in the Bramall Lane dressing room, could improve his case for USMNT involvement.
Jeff Reuter
Quote of the weekend
With four of his players involved in Milan on Sunday, Berhalter was an interested spectator and spoke beforehand about the quartet’s time in Italy.Naturally, the questioning started about Pulisic and whether he was enjoying life at the San Siro but Berhalter wanted to sing the praises of all four.“Very much so,” he said when asked about Pulisic. “But Musah and McKennie also told me that they’re happy in Italy. Christian is unquestionable in terms of talent, as well as his character and tctical ability. At Milan and with Pioli, he has found the confidence to get to the top.“He defends, attacks, dribbles. He is a top player and I’m sure he will become even more complete in Italy. Tim Weah is everybody’s friend. McKennie is the funniest. And then there’s Musah, the bright light, everyone feels his warmth.“Musah is a very strong character and he never leaves you alone. He is a complete, dynamic and versatile midfielder. Weston will make the most of his opportunity, he seems very determined. He can help the team in lots of different ways.”
How did other U.S. players get on?
Name: Malik Tillman Club: PSV Eindhoven Position: Midfield League appearances: Five
He’s already been dropped from the squad for arriving late for a pre-game team meeting this season. Now in his most recent outing for PSV, Tillman cost his side a goal by conceding a daft penalty. Fortunately for the attacking midfielder, his team still won 3-1 to maintain their unbeaten start to the Eredivisie campaign. Tillman had an otherwise quiet game but has the chance to atone this week when PSV face Lens in the Champions League.
Name: Cameron Carter-Vickers Club: Celtic Position: Defence League appearances: Four
Celtic remained comfortably top of the Scottish Premier League after their win over Hearts on Sunday and Cameron Carter-Vickers played a big part in it. His 13 successful duels, the highest of any other player in the game, caught the eye as the 25-year-old nears his best after a hamstring injury caused him to miss five games earlier in the season.
Name: John Brooks Club: Hoffenheim Position: Defence League appearances: Eight
Brooks has been in fine form for Hoffenheim this season but had a rare off day during his team’s 3-1 defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. Withdrawn at half-time, the 30-year-old had struggled to cope with forward Omar Marmoush and was dribbled past three times, while winning just two of his six duels.
What’s coming up?
Keep an eye on the Champions League where Tillman, Ricardo Pepi and Sergino Dest could all figure for high-flying PSV against Lens (Tuesday 2pm EST, Paramount+). That day, then on Wednesday, Reyna will hope to feature for Dortmund in the same competition against Newcastle United (2pm EST, Paramount+), and Pulisic and Yunus Musah will also be in Champions League action away to Paris Saint-Germain in Paris (also 2pm EST, Paramount+).
Indy 11 tie San Antonio – Playoffs Sunday 4 pm @ Charleston on ESPN+, MyIndyTV 23
Indy Eleven (13-11-10) closed out the regular season with a 3-3 tie at San Antonio FC (14-6-14) on the road Saturday night. With the tie, Indy finishes the season as the No. 6 seed in the USL Championship Eastern Conference. As the No. 6 seed, Indy will go on the road to face No. 3 Charleston in the opening round of the USL Championship playoffs on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 4 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN+ and MyIndyTV 23 or listened to on Serius XM FC 157.
US Dominates Ghana 4-0
So the US righted the ship Tuesday vs Ghana with a convincing thrashing of Ghana 4-0 in Nashville (Highlights). Gio Reyna’s coming back party was highlighted with 2 goals ( 1ST | 2ND) and an assist as he garnered Man of the Match in just one half of play. Much like his play against Germany – Reyna was world class in the 10 spot feeding the forward, wingers and scoring on his own. A healthy Gio Reyna could well be the difference maker in our attack moving forward. US vs Germany (High-lights). I thought Miles Robinson looked great in the middle with Chris Richards – would have been interesting to see Robinson with Reem at some point. Sergio Dest was electric in his move from left to his natural right back spot and his combo play with Tim Weah and Reyna was electric. Balogun showed his prowess with a wonder goal and Pulisic was dangerous as always.
England certainly looked good vs Italy in their 3-1 win (high-lights) – as England clinches their spot in the Euro’s next summer while Italy has to win its next 2 to qualify.
US Ladies play Colombia Thur & Sunday
The US ladies are back in camp as they face Colombia Thursday at 9 pm on TBS as they have called a number of new younger players into camp and welcome back captain Becky Suerbrunn who missed the World Cup with injury. I will be interested to see if newcomers Olivia Moultrie, Sam Coffey, Mia Fishel and Jaedyn Shaw get any time in these friendlies.
Full USWNT roster vs. Colombia Oct 26 & Oct 29
Goalkeepers (3): Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Defenders (9): Alana Cook (OL Reign), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign), M.A. Vignola (Angel City FC)
Forwards (9): Mia Fishel (Chelsea FC, ENG), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
NWSL Playoffs Start Tonight 10 pm Rapinoe last game? & Sun
Megan Rapinoe will get one more home game in her legendary career, and it could also be her last game. Rapinoe and OL Reign will host Angel City FC on Friday night (tonight) in the first game of the 2023 NWSL playoffs. at 10 pm on Paramount Plus. Sunday The NWSL playoffs have arrived, as six teams aim to lift the league title on November 11 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.After winning the NWSL Shield, the San Diego Wave will be one of the favorites to lift the title and become just the second team to do so at its home stadium. Only two clubs in the playoffs, the Thorns and the North Carolina Courage, have won the NWSL title before, with four teams vying for their first title.Two of those teams, OL Reign and NJ/NY Gotham FC, will be looking to send two legends of the game (Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger, respectively) into retirement with a championship.
Games to Watchthis Week
AC Milan vs Juventus on Paramount Plus leads the hot games for the week for American fans who hope to see Milan’s leading scorer Christian Pulisic & fellow American midfielder Yanus Musah travel to Juventus and American’s Wes McKinney and Tim Weah Sunday at 2:45 pm. Saturday Chelsea hosts Arsenal at 12:30 pm on NBC as the league leading Gunners will travel to disappointing Chelsea. MLS host decision day on Sat @ 6 & 9 pm on Apple TV MLS Season pass as the final teams vie for playoff spots. Champions League returns Tues/Wed with the biggest game being AC Milan traveling to PSG with both teams desperate for the points on Wed at 2:45 pm Paramount plus. El Classico – Barcelona vs Real Madrid – rarely disappoints – and this year expect nothing different check out these threads Barca plans to wear the Rolling Stone hot lips version. The game will be on ESPN+ next Sunday at 3 pm.
Tough Day at Murray as Both Carmel Teams Lose Regionals to Cathedral
The Top Ranked Carmel High boys lost a close one to Cathedral 2-1 for a 2nd straight year in the Regional Finals. Carmel finished the season at 17-2-2 with its playoff journey taking it through the daunting road of Westfield, Zionsville, North Central, Pike and Cathedral. Also a tough end to the season for the two-time State Finalist Carmel High Girls lost to Cathedral 2-1 at home Saturday in the Regional Finals. Cathedral turned the tide from last year with a PK and a questionable goal In the first half and held on to win despite a Red Card controversy in the 2nd half. Still a great season for Carmel and their seniors.
GAMES ON TV
Fri, Oct 20
2:30 pm ESPN+ Dortmund (Reyna) vs Werder Bremen
10 pm Paramount+ OL (Seattle) Reign (Rapinoe, Lavelle, Cook) vs LAFC (LeRoux, Thompson)
Sat, Oct 21
7:30am USA Liverpool vs Everton
9:30 am ESPN+ Hoffenheim vs Frankfort
9:30 am ESPN+ Union Berlin vs Stuttgart
10 am USA Man City vs Brighton
10 am Peacock Nottingham Forest (Turner) vs Luton Town
10 am Peacock Newcastle vs Crystal Palace
12 noon CBSSN Torino vs Inter
12:30 pm NBC Chelsea vs Arsenal
12:30 pm ESPN+ Mainz vs Bayern Munich
12:30 pm ESPN+ Sevilla vs Real Madrid
6 pm Apple TV MLS Final Day Decision Day
9 pm Apple TV Austin vs LA Galaxy
9 pm Univision America vs Santos Laguna
11 pm Univsision Tigres vs Cruz Azul
Sun, Oct 22
7:30am USA Liverpool vs Everton
9:30 am ESPN+ Koln vs MGladbach (Scally, Pefok)
11:30 am Aston Villa vs West Ham United
12 noon CBS SN Atalanta vs Genoa
2:45 pm Paramount+ AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) vs Juventus (McKinney, Weah)
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The NWSL playoffs have arrived, as six teams aim to lift the league title on November 11 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. After winning the NWSL Shield, the San Diego Wave will be one of the favorites to lift the title and become just the second team to do so at its home stadium. Last season’s champion, the Portland Thorns, stumbled on the final day of the season to lose the Shield, but still finished second and clinched a bye to the semifinal round. The Thorns will be aiming to become the third NWSL team to repeat as champions. Only two clubs in the playoffs, the Thorns and the North Carolina Courage, have won the NWSL title before, with four teams vying for their first title. Two of those teams, OL Reign and NJ/NY Gotham FC, will be looking to send two legends of the game (Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger, respectively) into retirement with a championship. Below is a schedule of all the games for the 2023 NWSL postseason.
Quarterfinals
Friday, Oct. 20
OL Reign vs. Angel City — Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington. 10 p.m. ET, Paramount+
Sunday, Oct. 22
North Carolina Courage vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC — WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, North Carolina. 7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network.
Semifinals
Sunday, Nov. 5
Portland Thorns vs. North Carolina Courage or NJ/NY Gotham FC — Providence Park, Portland, Oregon. 7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network
San Diego Wave vs. OL Reign or Angel City — Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California. 9:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network.
USWNT’s Becky Sauerbrunn, Sophia Smith return to roster ahead of friendlies vs. Colombia Thur/Sun next week
United States women’s national team interim coach Twila Kilgore has called up 27 players for the October training camp.Kilgore kept things largely the same as last month’s roster, with 24 returning players from the September session. The U.S. will face Colombia in a pair of friendlies later this month in Utah on Oct. 26 and San Diego on Oct. 29. Center back Becky Sauerbrunn makes her return, having missed the 2023 World Cup with a foot injury. While she did not make the September roster, she attended training in Chicago ahead of Megan Rapinoe’s final USWNT match. Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith also makes her return to the roster following a knee injury that kept her out of the tail end of the NWSL season — she still secured the league’s Golden Boot thanks to her 11 goals. Keeping with the Thorns theme around the roster, Kilgore has called up 18-year-old midfielder Olivia Moultrie for the first time. Moultrie will have an opportunity to earn her first senior national team appearance this month, along with San Diego Wave’s Jaedyn Shaw, who earned her second USWNT call-up on this roster.
Full USWNT roster vs. Colombia
Goalkeepers (3): Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Defenders (9): Alana Cook (OL Reign), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign), M.A. Vignola (Angel City FC)
Forwards (9): Mia Fishel (Chelsea FC, ENG), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
Is this more limbo for USWNT?
Yes and no — the coaching search is still in progress, led by U.S. Soccer’s sporting director Matt Crocker. And while September’s games felt strange, between the retirements of midfielder Julie Ertz and Rapinoe, who were stalwarts on the roster, October is a chance to leave some of that dissonance behind and have the team move forward as much as they can while still waiting for the exact vision to take shape under the new coach. That wait could be over by the end of the year.“I am really happy with where we are with the search,” Crocker said in September. “We have an unbelievably diverse pool of exciting candidates. We are on track to be in a position to have the head coach in place ready to support the team from early December.”Meanwhile, on the pitch, Colombia has been a familiar opponent for the USWNT over the years, but they can’t be overlooked as an easy win by any means. They’re one of the few other teams who have qualified for the 2024 Olympics, and their 2023 World Cup run was one for the history books. It’s good timing for a real test for the USWNT and for players to start making their case in earnest. Certainly, any prospective coach will be watching the film.A different-looking midfield
It’s not just the now-retired Ertz’s being taken off the roster for October. Rose Lavelle was called up in September before eventually being replaced, as she continues to work back from a lower leg injury. OL Reign coach Laura Harvey addressed Lavelle’s status following the Reign’s Decision Day win that sent them into the playoffs.She said Lavelle was on the bench “if we desperately needed her to be there, and thankfully we didn’t.” Harvey mentioned Lavelle was running on the field after the match in an effort to continue her preparation for the Reign’s quarterfinal match, though her status or ability to play significant minutes remains unknown.That leaves Lindsey Horan leading the group of six midfielders. Her 135 appearances for the USWNT is more than the other five combined (85 total). The October games should provide an interesting look at potential new combos on the field, though it feels a safe enough assumption that the starting three will be Andi Sullivan, Horan and Ashley Sanchez as the like-for-like replacement to Lavelle.
What they’re saying
“If we just look at the team right now, we know change is coming,” Kilgore said Wednesday when asked about the USWNT’s biggest challenge right now. “We know that we’re coming out of a moment at the World Cup that we’re not satisfied with … We know we have an amazing opportunity to play against Colombia and come back together and continue to improve our style of play and execution of the game plan.“To continue (to) progress in the change on toward the Olympics, both individually and collectively with so much change on the horizon, is a task that we’re up for, but it’s definitely a challenge.”Kilgore also said arrivals for this camp will be staggered, with some arriving three days before the first game, but everyone should be in by matchday minus two.“There’s an opportunity to build on previous performances and make some changes, but there’s a lot of small steps that we can take to improve the performances, that are realistic within a short timeframe.”When addressing Lavelle and Tierna Davidson’s injuries, Kilgore said they’re not ready for international minutes yet and she’s being “careful with protecting players.” Davidson is recovering after suffering a hit to the face in a Sept. 30 game with the Chicago Red Stars.
MEN IN BLAZERS ROGER BENNETT
“So much quality when he’s on the field. He definitely brings it to the game. He’s one of my favorite guys to play with. I’m just happy for him. I’m happy he’s back. Hopefully he can go back to (Dortmund) and get more games. I’m just proud of him. This window for him has been amazing.”
—Tim Weah on Gio Reyna, saying what we’re all thinking: that we’re happy he’s back, and that BVB needs to get him on the pitch more
USMNT Fades Against Germany, Smashes Ghana:
The USMNT’s two “friendlies” against Germany and Ghana — a 3-1 loss and a 4-0 win, respectively — weren’t just a tale of two matches, but more a tale of four halves.
We went toe to toe with Germany in the first half of Saturday’s game in Hartford, the first 45 finishing level at 1-1. But then Die Mannschaft adjusted at halftime, us not so much, and we were left drowning in schnitzel in the second stanza. Hence the loss.
Against Ghana, our first half was all free-flowing, creative football, mixed with clinical finishing. We started out with joy and a hard edge, 11 marauding warrior poets on a cool Nashville night. “The guys really came out flying,” said Christian Pulisic afterwards.
But once again, the second half saw a dip in performance. Not to the degree of the Germany match, but still a case of us taking our foot off the gas. A habit even the players would like to rid themselves of.
“Our concentration went down a little bit,” said Sergino Dest. “We were not as sharp as the first half. And I felt like we wanted it, but not as bad as the first half. So I feel like we should improve that and keep going in the second half as well, to smash teams, you know?”
Perhaps it is just a matter of focus and staying sharp. But perhaps there’s another, more obvious reason why the U.S.’s performances dipped in the second half against both Germany and Ghana.
Gio Reyna was on the pitch for neither.
Gio the Big Winner of the Window:
By far the biggest storyline heading into these two matches for the USMNT was the return of Gio Reyna . Working his way back from an injury suffered this summer, the uber-talented 20-year-old attacking midfielder had but 27 minutes of club ball to his name coming into this window. Plus, the whole Greggate thing. So how would Gio respond? Would he fit back in with the team? And how effective would he be as our number 10 in Hartford and Nashville?
To quote the late, great Nashville musician and poet David Berman from his aptly-named song Tennessee, “You’re the only ten I see.” Which is how we were all left feeling after the two halves Gio partook in. You are now the only 10 we see, Gio.
Gio hit the ground running against some familiar faces in Germany, his 45 minutes in Connecticut a collage of saucy dribbles, incisive passes, and solid defending. But then he found another level entirely against Ghana, banging in two goals (WATCH: 1ST | 2ND) and playing with the elite skill and offensive daring that make him such an absolute joy for USMNT fans to watch.
The lad from Bedford, N.Y. ultimately emerged as the one big winner of the entire window. Literally, if you consider that in the two halves he played, the U.S. won 5-1 on aggregate. His play even left the big boss impressed.
“Besides the goals, it was how (Gio) brings players into the attack, how he is able to be calm on the ball, gives us that calm and the poise that we need at times, but then is decisive when making final passes,” said USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter after the Ghana game. “This performance was just an indicator of his entire camp. He had, as I said before, a very strong camp, great mindset, great training sessions.”
Gio was not the only standout performer over both matches, though he was the most standout-iest. But the boys from France and Italy also made their mark.
Balo did his best Hakeem the Dream impersonation against Ghana (WATCH) … Sergino Dest played like a Dutch-American Devin Hester … Puli had two goals, one an all-time Hartford Heater (WATCH), the other a cool, calm pen (WATCH) … And Timmy Weah was stealth brilliant at times, mind-blowingly brilliant at others (WATCH).
Now it’s back to Europe for the lot of them, with those heading back to Italy set to partake in an absolutely mouth-watering Americans Abroad clash between AC Milan and Juventus on Sunday. Yet another reminder of this golden age of American soccer watching that we are currently living in. May it never end.
While the USMNT was shipping goals to Julian Nagelsmann’s Flannel Army in Hartford, the USWNT’s Lindsey Horan (29; Golden, CO) was kicking some ASSE in France. The Great Horan pulled off a hat-trick in Lyon’s 6-0 win over AS Saint-Etienne on Saturday (WATCH: 1ST | 2ND | 3RD). The goals were Horan’s first of the season, and helped keep OL atop France’s Division 1 Féminine. Allez Lindz!!!
West Brom boss Carlos Corberan provided an update on Daryl Dike (23; Edmond, OK), confirming that the USMNT striker isn’t likely to return from his ruptured Achilles until after the holiday season. “He’s very committed with the club. He’s very committed with his recovery, but it’s a very long-term injury, so he’s one player that I cannot expect to play until January.”Josh Sargent (23; O’Fallon, MO) has signed a contract extension with Norwich City through 2028. “”I see myself as being a big part of the team moving forward. My family have settled really well here, we’re really happy with our time so far here. It’s a lovely place to live. I really want to get promoted with this club, it’s the biggest thing.” Congrats, O’Fallon d’Or! Congrats are also in order to the US U23s — the true Baby Eagles — who beat Japan 4-1 on Tuesday after topping Mexico 2-1 on Wednesday. Mini Medford Messi Paxten Aaronson (20; Medford, NJ) was in the goals against Japan (WATCH).
Parting Shots:
A special Parting Shot this week, as Rog provides a tribute to Michael Bradley, the Great American Midfielder and son of former USMNT manager Bob Bradley, who has announced his retirement.
Here’s to Michael Bradley, who announced Tuesday he will retire at the end of this MLS season — his 10th with Toronto FC. The 36-year-old won 151 USMNT caps (third-most all time), went to two World Cups, and had an accomplished European career with Borussia Monchengladbach, Chievo Verona, AS Roma, and others.
His legacy was forever intertwined with the darkness of the failed 2018 World Cup Qualifying cycle, but it should not be. He was a remarkable human being at his peak to witness. Before he returned to MLS, he played with the simmering intensity of Jean-Luc Picard, Yul Brynner, and Jason Statham compressed into a single human being. A ferocious player on the field, and, to be honest, a ferociously guarded interview as well.
In that 2014 cycle it felt like the whole American game depended on the balance between pushing Michael Bradley forward and keeping Michael Bradley back. He was that dominant on both sides of the ball. I interviewed him the night before the Snowmageddon game, and his methodically-selected words emerged with a fierceness that suggested each had been forged in an incandescent foundry burning somewhere deep inside of him. He kept swiping the air with his hotel key card to punctuate his points. I was sure he was going to slice my nose off. We talked for a long time, and he reminded me of his famous quote after the 2009 Confederations Cup when we shocked Spain: “All the [expletive] experts in America, everybody who thinks they know everything about soccer, they can all look at the score tonight, and let’s see what they have to say now.”
That is how he should be remembered. A player constantly written off, yet loved his chances to win, because of it, not in spite of it. And he most often did win.
Mexico and Germany play to 2-2 tie in front of more than 62,000 fans at Lincoln Financial Field It was the first time Mexico brought a “home” game to South Philly, and the big crowd was entertained by a wide-open game. Mexico’s Erick Sánchez (right) celebrates his goal against Germany early in the second half.Eduardo Munoz / AFP via Getty Images by Jonathan Tannenwald Published Oct. 17, 2023, 10:34 p.m. ET | Updated Oct. 18, 2023, 2:08 a.m. ET There are many kinds of spectacles in American soccer these days: MLS and NWSL games in big cities, lower-league games in smaller places, U.S. national team showcases, European club tours. But for many years and still today, there’s no spectacle like a Mexican men’s national team game on American shores. On Tuesday, Philadelphia got its turn to sample the noise and color that washed over Lincoln Financial Field for El Tri’s 2-2 tie with Germany. It was Mexico’s third trip to Philadelphia in recent years, after a 2011 friendly against the United States and the 2015 Gold Cup final against Jamaica. But this was the first time Mexico brought its perennial barnstorming tour of “home” games to South Philly. Some of the thousands of Mexico fans in the stands at Lincoln Financial Field.Joe Lamberti / AP The crowd of 62,284 needed a little while to fill all of its seats, and the teams to get to the stadium. Kickoff was delayed a few minutes because the buses got stuck in traffic amid 126,579 ticket-holders flocking to the Linc, the Phillies game, and the Flyers game. Everyone settled in soon enough, though, and was thoroughly entertained. Germany’s Antonio Rüdiger kicked things off with a goal in the 25th minute, Uriel Antua tied it in the 37th, Erick Sánchez put Mexico up in the 47th, and Niclas Füllkrug had the last say in the 51st.Veteran Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa, who played this game and the previous two here, said he was impressed by the big crowd.“We have to play more often here,” he told The Inquirer, having been impressed by the big crowd. “For us, this support is always important … It’s always amazing playing in all of America, because the people follow us very often.” » READ MORE: An Inquirer countdown of Philly’s Top 10 ‘Do You Remember When’ soccer moments Right after the pregame fireworks at Citizens Bank Park, the Linc took its turn as the teams lined up for the national anthems.Alex Grimm / Getty Images Santiago Gimenez was Mexico’s star attraction, a 22-year-old striker who’s his country’s next great hope for a star. El Tri has a history of valuing veteran experience over young potential, which is why Gimenez has come off the bench more than he starts. Manager Jaime Lozano, a former stalwart player for his country, got a pile of questions about Gimenez in his gameday-eve news conference Monday. That felt appropriate in a place famed for knowing the thrill of victory and the agony of reading about it the next day. “It’s the usual for the Mexican team,” veteran Fox broadcaster Rodolfo Landeros told The Inquirer before the bilingual Mexican-American worked as the sideline reporter on the English broadcast. He also knows Philly fandom, having called many NFL and MLS games over the years. “Extremists in a sports way,” he said of Mexican fans. “When [Mexico] wins, especially against teams like Germany, or if they beat Brazil, we think we’re World Cup champions, even though it’s a friendly. But if [they] lose to any team in the world, we’re the biggest losers and don’t deserve to be in a World Cup.” A more authentic form of agony came in the 33rd minute, when Gimenez received Jesús Gallardo′s free kick in the 33rd minute unmarked eight yards out and blasted it over the bar.But there were enough goals the rest of the way to make up for it.Rüdiger opened the scoring with an opportunistic finish, jumping to Robin Gosens’ header of Leroy Sané’s corner kick.Union left back Kai Wagner must have enjoyed watching his countryman of the same position take a corner a few miles up I-95 from Wagner’s turf in Chester. Gosens probably doesn’t know Wagner, but he does know one of Wagner’s former teammates: Brenden Aaronson is now Gosens’ colleague at Union Berlin. Antuna tied the game by slipping in a crafty setup pass from Mexico’s biggest current star, Hirving “Chucky” Lozano. It came after German veteran Thomas Müller put the ball in the net at the other end, but was narrowly flagged offside.Longtime MLS followers might remember that Antuna spent 2019 with the Los Angeles Galaxy after two years in Manchester City’s youth academy. He went from L.A. to Chivas of Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s biggest clubs, and is now at another powerhouse in Mexico City’s Cruz Azul.
Burke: Don’t judge the USMNT like a club team; international soccer is unpredictable
When Brazil was invited to the Gold Cup ahead of the 1998 World Cup, it was a great chance for CONCACAF to get a genuine World Cup contender on American soil. When the U.S. was drawn against the Samba Kings in the semifinals, most people would have expected Brazil to win comfortably.This was not a vintage Brazil side; Romario headlined a squad made up of fringe players, yet it was still the four-time world champions against a soccer minnow, and it was still Romario, one of the greatest strikers in history, against defenders earning comparative chump change. No amount of plucky underdog American spirit was expected to tame genuine star quality.Things didn’t quite go that way. Inspired by an era-defining performance by goalkeeper Kasey Keller, the only player to wear the stars and stripes that day playing outside of MLS, the USMNT defied the odds to win 1-0 off a goal from Predrag “Preki” Radosavljevic in front of a crowd of just under 13,000.
United States men’s soccer was hot. Including that Brazil win, Steve Sampson’s side was on a six-match winning streak, and the future of American soccer had never looked so bright. If you can beat Brazil, you can beat anyone… right? Well, that sense of belief carried into the World Cup that summer and propelled the United States to… a last-placed finish in the tournament.It’s a quintessential example of one of the main differences between international and club soccer: individual results generally don’t mean much in internationals. Most games are not in the competitions that matter (World Cups and qualifiers). Venues are various and players are unavailable for all sorts of reasons completely out of the manager’s control. It’s an unpredictable brand of the sport where success is extraordinarily hard to come by, even for so-called superpowers. A lot about soccer has changed in the near-quarter-century since USA 1, Brazil 0, but that much hasn’t.Yet I get the sense that some U.S. fans (though certainly not all of them) are watching this young, still-developing squad as if it were a club team – a situation where game-to-game results really do have a distinct impact on things. And perhaps no recent international window better encapsulates the fault in that thinking than this last one, which saw the U.S. fall 3-1 to Germany on Saturday in Hartford, Conn. before Tuesday’s dominant 4-0 win over Ghana in Nashville, Tenn.
There will be a wave of positivity after the Ghana game, just like there was marked discontent among many after the Germany game. And perhaps a certain amount of that is good: the fanbase is no longer content with being plucky underdogs against the traditional soccer superpowers. It expects to compete, particularly on home soil. But one must also acknowledge some realities.At the international level, coaches are not afforded the time on the training pitch to develop comprehensive tactical schemes to counterbalance a difference in individual quality. World-class talent often shines through. Germany had a red-hot Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala and Ilkay Gundogan as proven game-changers – the U.S. options are certainly talented and promising but comparatively untested in the biggest games. At the coaching level, small adjustments can make all the difference; in this aspect, Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann is among the world’s upper echelons. As for Berhalter, who is contracted to lead the United States’ “golden generation” through to the home World Cup in 2026, the jury is still out.The U.S. could have held on to win that game in Hartford 1-0, and all those things would still be true.A few days later in Nashville, the U.S. seemed to right its wrongs, blitzing Ghana with three quick goals in the first half and keeping the pressure on them throughout. Gio Reyna looked excellent in his 45-minute appearance, scoring two goals from the No. 10 position he has stated is his preferred spot to play.Yet still there are larger questions: If Reyna is to play at the No. 10, will the midfield unit as a whole be strong enough to control matches against better opponents? And what’s the backup plan if Reyna can’t go amid his continued injury issues? How does Tyler Adams, the U.S. captain at the World Cup who could be out for a significant stretch with his own injury, fit in upon his return?Ghana could have somehow pulled off its own U.S. vs. Brazil result in this one, and those questions would still be relevant to this team in the next World Cup cycle.
Over the next three years, including next year’s Copa America, Berhalter will oversee wins, losses and draws that may seem to be defining for one reason or another. But the journey between international tournaments is long and torturous, and putting too much stock into matches in between is something fans the world over have learned is largely futile. This isn’t a league, where a loss can dent your title hopes, or a win can steer you clear of relegation. Shutout streaks and goal-scoring runs don’t build momentum in the same way. Tactical breakthroughs can be easily abandoned. Nothing matters more than finding balance.
Still, the opportunity to face the best can be a useful measuring stick, and last year’s draw with England in the group stage of the World Cup acts as a useful blueprint for success for a team capable of hurting opposition of all levels in transition.
The reality is that winning teams at the international level often sacrifice style for substance, favoring a pragmatic approach with a sprinkling of match-winning talent to make the difference against the best. Even the great Spain sides of 2008, 2010 and 2012 prioritized a slow build-up and possession as a method of protection over the more attacking “tiki-taka” style from that era’s all-conquering Barcelona side.
The USMNT has come a hell of a long way since 1998, but the demands are basically the same. Sometimes it takes heroic goalkeeping displays, a water-tight defensive shape and goals against the run of play to find success when it matters most: just ask Morocco, who would not trade their journey to the semi-final of the World Cup for an expansive style that may have caused an earlier exit.
Or ask the 1998 USMNT, whose signature win came within months of its most disappointing performance in the modern era.
USA vs. Ghana, 2023 Friendly: Man of the Match
Gio! Gio! Stars & Stripes
The United States Men’s National Team got back on track Tuesday night in Nashville, defeating Ghana 4-0 in a dazzling first half display of offense. The USMNT looked great in rebounding from their loss to Germany over the weekend, and got some goals from some of their brightest stars.
Gio Reyna’s two goals were the highlights of the night, and the SSFC community thought he was the best player on the field. His 8.76 average rating easily earned him the SSFC Man of the Match. Tim Weah, Sergiño Dest, and fellow goalscorers Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic all earned average ratings over 7 from the community.
The full SSFC community ratings:
Gio Reyna – 8.76
Tim Weah – 7.87
Folarin Balogun – 7.86
Sergiño Dest – 7.83
Christian Pulisic – 7.74
Matt Turner – 7.34
Chris Richards – 6.58
Miles Robinson – 6.45
Kristoffer Lund – 6.40
Yunus Musah – 6.38
Weston McKennie – 6.38
Gio Reyna’s first-half brace guides USMNT to 4-0 friendly win over Ghana
By Paul Tenorio and The Athletic StaffOct 17, 2023
The U.S. men’s national team toppled Ghana 4-0 in Tuesday’s friendly in Nashville, Tenn., behind Gio Reyna’s first career international brace. Here’s what you need to know:
Reyna opened the scoring in the 10th minute, blasting home a loose ball in the box for his first USMNT goal since June 2021. He added another on a dazzling indirect free kick inside the box in the 39th minute.
The 20-year-old Reyna returned to the squad in Saturday’s friendly loss to Germany after suffering a leg fracture in the CONCACAF Nations League final in June. That game also marked his first match under coach Gregg Berhalter since their relationship came under the microscope after the 2022 World Cup.
Christian Pulisic — who assisted on Reyna’s second goal — converted a penalty in the 19th minute and Folarin Balogun made it 3-0 in the 22nd minute on a goal assisted by Tim Weah. All three goalscorers were subbed off at the start of the second half.
How USMNT performed against Ghana
It was everything Berhalter could have asked for. Coming out of the 3-1 loss to Germany, the USMNT coach said the team sat down for a video session to go over where things had gone wrong in their first friendly in this window. The U.S. needed to be more precise, more decisive and more organized in key moments against Germany. The response against Ghana was all over those things.he U.S. needed just 22 minutes to take a three-goal lead, the fastest the U.S. had taken a three-goal lead against a non-CONCACAF opponent since at least 1931, per Opta. How’s that for getting better? Ghana did not look good, and you could argue that three of the four goals came off of big Ghanaian mistakes, but the U.S. took full advantage and held a four-goal lead at the half. It was a wonderful performance that saw Reyna, Balogun, Weah and Pulisic all get involved — which is exactly what the U.S. wants. — Paul Tenorio, senior soccer writer
Evaluating Reyna’s performance
Reyna again played just 45 minutes in the game, but once again put in a very effective shift and this time got on the scoresheet with his first brace in a U.S. crest. Reyna opened the night by volleying home a rebound from a sliding clearance 10 minutes into the game, then scored another goal off of an indirect free kick from inside the Ghanaian 18-yard box. Reyna will be pleased with his output over the first two games and with his role in the team, playing as a No. 10 in midfield, which he prefers over the winger role he played for all of the last qualifying cycle. — Tenorio
Looking ahead to Nations League quarterfinals
The pairings for the Nations League quarterfinal will officially be announced on Wednesday, but results were trending on Tuesday night toward the U.S. facing Trinidad and Tobago in a home-and-home next month. A win over T&T isn’t just about booking a place in the CONCACAF Nations League final four and a chance at a third straight Nations League title, but also a berth in next summer’s Copa America.
The U.S. will go into those games with confidence, for sure, after the result on Tuesday night. — Tenorio
What they’re saying
“We learned a lot of lessons against Germany, for sure,” Balogun said “We had a lot of meetings and we decided we wanted to have a reaction tonight and I felt like we showed that with a good performance, especially in the first half. From this camp, we just learned we have to improve to compete against the top, top teams.”
USMNT analysis BRIAN SCIARETTA American Soccer Now.com
Analysis & Player Ratings: Dest, Weah, Reyna, & Balogun impress in 4-0 USMNT win over Ghana
The USMNT ended the October window with a convincing 4-0 win over Ghana in Nashville behind two goals from Gio Reyna, and one from Pulisic and and Balogun. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta offers up his thoughts and player ratings.
HE UNITED STATES national team rebounded from Saturday’s loss to Germany with a convincing 4-0 rout over Ghana on Tuesday night at GEODIS Park in Nashville. The U.S. team scored all of its goals between the 10th and 39th minutes in a relentless offensive display before coasting against a Ghana team that was very poor on the night.
For U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter, it was a great way to end camp.
Gio Reyna scored the opening and final U.S. goals. The first came at the end of a furious rush up the field led by Sergino Dest. The PSV right back played Folarin Balogun into the box and his cross was blocked by Ghana’s Nicholas Opoku and fell right to Reyna for a close finish.
The second goal was a penalty after Gideon Mensah tripped Tim Weah in the box. Christian Pulisic took the ensuing penalty and hit it up the middle past Abdul Narudeen.
Three minutes after conceding a penalty, Ghana conceded again. Opoku was stripped of the ball deep in his own third by Weah who then fed Balogun in the middle for a calm but powerful finish from close range.
Then in the 39th, the U.S. team was a awarded an indirect free kick inside its own box on a violation from Opoku. Reyna tapped it to Pulisic, Pulisic tapped it to Reyna who powered it into the top shelf.
In the second half, the U.S. continued to control the game albeit with the intensity notched down a bit. The 4-0 scoreline held, and the U.S. concluded its October window with a win.
Here are some thoughts.
DEST & WEAH LEAD THE RIGHT SIDE
The U.S. team best line of attack was the right side of the field. That is where a majority of the team’s scoring chances came from.
Neither Sergino Dest nor Tim Weah scored or directly assisted in this game, but they were the two best players in the game. Both carved Ghana apart attacking the right side by making effective dribbles, finding spaces for through balls, drawing fouls in the attacking third, and drawing attention from defenders to create space for others.
Dest has had some quality moments on the left side, but he is far more comfortable on both sides of the ball while playing on the right side. After he struggled against Germany, this game was a good game for him to showcase his ability and head back to PSV more confident.
As for Weah, he just needs to get on the field for Juventus. It doesn’t matter if he’s a right wingback for his club and a pure winger for the U.S. team. He can adjust fine. The question is just getting on the field.
REYNA CAPS STRONG CAMP
Reyna was very dangerous in this game, and he ended camp in a great position. In total, he played 90 minutes over two games and the U.S. team outscored its opponents 5-1 with him on the field. The U.S. team was outscored 2-0 without him on the field. That’s not by accident.
It’s more than the goals. Both of the goals he scored against Ghana were fairly lucky – a fortuitous bounce off a bad block and an indirect free kick inside the box are not highlight goals. But the revealing nature is what Reyna does for other players. He opens the game up offensively. He is that critical connection between the midfield and the attack that allows Balogun, Pulisic, and Weah to be far more dangerous.
FINDING BALOGUN
It was critical that the team find ways to make Balogun more dangerous. This was stressed repeatedly in camp. Berhalter said that most of Balogun’s goals at the club level come from great movements in the box that his teammates identify and are able to get him the ball. It’s harder to develop that chemistry at the international level because teams are not together nearly as much, but it can be done. It’s just a longer process.
The Ghana game was a big step in the right direction. Balogun’s goal wasn’t the best indicator of that because that was a bad turnover. But the opening goal was stronger evidence the team is finding out how to pick him up. Dest had a good idea where Balogun was going to be in the box and got it to him for the dangerous cross that was blocked to the feet of Reyna.
But a revealing stat is simply the total number of Balogun shots. In this game he had five shots in just 45 minutes of action. That is indeed a furious pace, made possible by teammates who are getting a better idea of how to get him the ball.
GHANA’S TERRIBLE NIGHT
The U.S. team played well, but it would also be fair to mention that Ghana was simply terrible in this game. It was more than just getting out-played. Ghana was making errors that were almost amateur in nature.
Mensah’s foul on Weah for the penalty showed a complete lack of awareness. It was unnecessary and Weah was in the box but was not in a dangerous position to create a scoring chance. Opoku had a nightmare performance and was at fault for the first, the third, and the fourth goals. Then conceding an indirect free kick from 10 yards was also completely unavoidable.
It wasn’t long into the first half when Ghana looked like they didn’t want to be there. They were fouling carelessly because they didn’t want to defend properly. Their fullbacks were constantly caught up the field and out of possession. And only once could they muster a shot that tested Turner.
The U.S. team played well against Ghana and made progress in key areas – such as making effective use out of Reyna and developing chemistry with Balogun.
But some key questions were left unanswered. For example, did Berhalter learn enough about central defense combination? The answer is probably not. The Germany game wasn’t great by any means, but central defense was also hung out to dry by the midfield. Against Ghana, Miles Robinson and Chris Richards (followed by Cameron Carter-Vickers) just did not have a lot to do. They were not bad at all. But Ghana’s poor outing left the central defenders with more of an incomplete grade.
There is also the question about playing without Tyler Adams. Adams was sorely missed against Germany as all three German goals came up the middle of the field. Adams likely would have been a huge help.
Johnny Cardoso got an unexpected start against Ghana. His 34/36 passing was a positive for the team, but again defense is the question at this position and Cardoso was untested. Lennard Maloney likewise had a lot of questions about what he could offer the team in terms of his foot speed, his progressive passing, his ability to hold the ball, etc. But the intensity of the game was completely dialed back when he came into the game for Cardoso in the 65th minute. It was hard to tell either way.
Finally, Kristoffer Lund had a pretty good game as well at left back, but most of the attacking came up the right side. It’s hard to say yet that he is clearly the team’s backup left back behind Antonee Robinson but Berhatler is giving him a solid look.
MOVING FORWARD INTO NOVEMBER
The U.S. team will now only have CONCACAF Nations League games and January camp through the summer. Because of that, players will need to maintain a high level with their clubs. The U.S. team won’t be seriously tested until a possible Mexico game or Canada game in March.
For now, it’s worth keeping an eye on certain players. Can Weah find his way back into the starting XI for Juventus on a regular basis – and by extension can Weston McKennie remain as a central midfielder?
The lack of playing time for Richards is a huge concern and it hurts his ability to play consistently well for the U.S. team. Will he push for a loan or transfer in January? If so, what will be his chances to start with his new club? The same with Robinson who seems very likely to move in January as well. As with any player heading towards a move, there are natural risks associated with playing time.
Tim Ream continues to impressively hold off Father Time, but eventually he will lose that battle – like everyone does. The question is how much longer? He seems to be a player who goes month-by-month.
Then there is the long list of those outside of the team who are pushing to get into the mix. Brandon Vazquez has been great for Cincinnati and is pushing for a move this winter. How does he compete with Ricardo Pepi who plays limited minutes at PSV? The same with Josh Sargent when he returns from injury or Haji Wright.
Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, and Walker Zimmerman are still in the central defense pool. Perhaps one or two of them emerge as overage candidates for the Olympic team?
PLAYER RATINGS
THE STARTING XI
Matt Turner: The New Jersey native made a huge save in the 41st minute on a shot from Mohammed Kudus. But aside from that, it was a relatively easy night. He did everything that was asked of him. Rating: 6.5
Sergino Dest: The PSV right back was one of the best players on the field as his dribbling and passing opened the right side of the field. Defensively, he was sufficient. Rating: 8.5
Chris Richards: Along with Miles Robinson, Richards was in a pairing that didn’t have to do much. But what they did, they did well. Ghana had one shot in this game that tested turner and that was from distance. Rating: 6.5
Miles Robinson: Was the same as Richards, only he went the full 90. He helped contain Ghana, who generated little on the day. Rating: 6.5
Kristoffer Lund: The Palermo left back wasn’t flashy and made no noticeable errors. He attacked well, but wasn’t as explosive as Dest as most of the U.S. team’s best chances came from the right side. Rating: 6.0
Johnny Cardoso: Defensively he was untested but with the ball, Cardoso was effective getting the ball to the attackers and being that link between defense and offense. Rating: 6.5
Yunus Musah: The AC Milan midfielder had a quiet night but he was still useful in his 75 minutes to keep possession and link the defenders to the midfield – something that was a problem Berhalter wanted to fix from the Germany loss. Rating: 6.0
Gio Reyna: It wasn’t either of his fortuitous goals that made Reyna great in this game. It was how he opened the game up for his teammates. 30/31 passing with seven passes into the final third, effective runs. He made the offense run. Rating: 8.0
Tim Weah: Was also one of the best U.S. players on the day as his right side was where almost all of the goals and chances originated. He drew a penalty. He provided the steal and assist on Balogun’s goal. He made runs that put Ghana on their heels. He was instrumental in the winning effort. Rating: 8.0
Christian Pulisic: He wasn’t as active from the run of play over his 45 minutes as the other attackers, but he made the most of his penalty and on the exchange off the indirect free kick. Rating: 6.5
Folarin Balogun: The Monaco forward played to his strengths and made a huge impact in the game. His movements helped create the first goal and score the third. It was a very good 45 minutes for Balogun who continues to grow within this team. Rating: 8.0
THE SUBSTITUTES
Ricardo Pepi: Played the second half but was hardly noticeable with 14 touches, three completed passes, and no shots. Rating: 5.0
Weston McKennie: Played the second half and did well to connect long balls to switch the point of possession. He also defended well to keep Ghana off the board. Rating: 6.0
Brenden Aaronson: Had one dangerous moment, but otherwise was quiet in playing the second half – completing all seven of his passes. Rating: 5.5
Lennard Maloney: The Heidenheim defensive midfielder made his U.S. debut and played conservatively with the ball and sat in front of the backline to help keep the clean sheet. Rating: 5.5
Cameron Carter-Vickers: The Celtic central defender replaced Richards in the 72nd minute but didn’t have much to do by that point to see out the win. Rating: 5.5
Luca de la Torre: Replaced Musah in the 75th minute and looked to get the ball forward into the attacking half, but the U.S. team was simply focused on keeping a clean sheet to end the game by that point. Rating: 5.5
Giovanni Reyna’s drought-ending goals could signal a new era
Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff WriterOct 18, 2023, 12:36 AM ET
fter two more than two years, Giovanni Reyna‘s goalless drought with the United States is over.The 20-year-old attacking midfielder bagged his first-ever international brace as the U.S. overwhelmed Ghana4-0 on Tuesday at Geodis Park in Nashville. All four goals came in the first half with the three goal scorers — Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Reyna — exiting after 45 minutes.For Reyna, the performance represents an important step forward, both for the U.S. and for his prospects at the club level, where he has appeared just once this season for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.Let’s start with what it means for him in a U.S. shirt.The past two years have been close to a worst-case scenario. That’s partly because of the expectations that accompanied his debut in a friendly against Wales as a 17-year-old in 2020. It was hard not to view him as anything other than a superstar-in-waiting. He had already broken through at Dortmund, had made an impact in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League and slotted right into coach Gregg Berhalter’s U.S. starting XI — a place he figured to occupy with the team for the next decade or so.
That status quo remained right up until the start of World Cup qualifying, when he got injured at El Salvador in the first of the 14-game process. Since then, it has been setback after setback. Injuries have been the primary culprit and, of course, there was the embarrassing family drama that tarnished the World Cup and contributed to Berhalter’s absence from the team for half a year. There will come a time when that saga won’t have to be rehashed but, given this was Reyna’s first camp under Berhalter since their once-close families’ very public falling out, this always figured to serve as a significant milestone.
We aren’t privy to an honest accounting of what the Berhalter-Reyna interactions were like this last week, but the on-field results were encouraging. Against Germany on Saturday, the U.S. was demonstrably better with Reyna on the field, and that was the case again vs. Ghana. With Reyna playing both games in more of a central midfield role underneath Balogun up top, the U.S. is perhaps as dangerous in the attacking third as it has ever been. Reyna’s position with the national team has been a topic of debate since his breakthrough. Prior to the game against Germany, Berhalter had strictly used Reyna as a winger. The logic was easy to follow: It put Reyna in a place to impact the game offensively, while allowing the midfield three of Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Yunus Musah to play together. Except as good as that trio was at times, the combination didn’t lead to much in the attack. The team struggled to consistently create chances throughout World Cup qualifying and at the World Cup.
With Reyna floating in advanced role in midfield, all of a sudden the team has someone who can create, score and dictate the game. That element combined with Balogun’s talent at striker — with Pulisic and Timothy Weah on the wings — should solve a lot of what has plagued the U.S.
Reyna’s first goal illustrated that. Balogun was played into a dangerous area by Sergiño Dest, and his strike across the box rebounded to Reyna, who calmly smashed it home in the 10th minute. It wasn’t precision execution by any means, but the result of good things happening by applying pressure. After a penalty from Pulisic, Balogun showcased an impressive turn and finish after Weah forced a turnover. The rout was on just 22 minutes into the game.
A clever indirect free kick sequence initiated by Balogun and Pulisic from inside the box set up Reyna for his second, despite all 11 Ghanaian players posted up below the penalty spot.
The U.S. was so dominant in the first half Tuesday, it was fair to question the Black Stars’ motivation. A classic chicken-or-egg dilemma to assign credit and blame. The reality, though, was the U.S. fielded a strong, motivated lineup on home soil against a team that has more pressing fixtures ahead on the schedule.
As insightful as Reyna’s 90 minutes this window were for the national team, they also could serve as a springboard to more playing time back in Germany. There were no obvious signs of rust from his return from a foot injury he suffered with the U.S. during the Nations League in June, and the hope for Berhalter was that minutes with the U.S. — his half-time substitutions were planned — would help improve his fitness and show Reyna was again ready to contribute. There’s now hope Reyna can rekindle that trajectory in Dortmund.
Did Neymar have his career derailed… before he was 21?
This was supposed to be one of the greatest players to ever play the game – yet he missed over 100 matches for Paris Saint-Germain. Injury has robbed us of an all-timer in the league of Pele – and it’s ironic, in a way.
Neymar was hailed as the new Pele while coming through at Santos. Incredibly, he played more times for his boyhood side than any other in his career. But what may shock you… is how many times that actually was.
225 – all before the age of 21. That’s an astounding number of senior matches in one of the most physical environments in professional football. Is it possible that Neymar simply burned out over time?
The Brazilian was never the most physical player, anyway. He was slight and wiry, drawing fouls from opponents as his ankles took the brunt. It was brutal in Brazil: it didn’t ease off too much in Europe.
In England, we cite the cases of Jack Wilshere and Michael Owen as wonderkid superstars who were burdened with regular roles at a young age. There’s a parallel with Neymar – and he didn’t exactly get much respite. A talisman for club and country, he was constantly being rushed back to action, whether that’s vital Champions League knockout fixtures every blooming season or World Cup games as recently as last December.
There was those shocked by him moving to Saudi Arabia at 31, yet it’s not too uncommon for many Brazilians to leave Europe at an early age, is it?
The move to Paris Saint-Germain never helped Neymar’s case to be the GOAT… and neither did Brazil
Ultimately, Neymar had a damn fine career – but the 2017 record-breaking move to PSG was the breaking point. He moved to step out of Messi’s shadow and became responsible for pushing a boulder up the hill in France.
Likewise, Brazil has not been blessed with another generation of the three Rs, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho. The 2010s gave them just one man with the talent of all three – and he couldn’t drag them to glory on his own, as he bowed out from the Selecao’s best chance, a home World Cup, with a serious back injury. Neymar may well be remembered for being a disappointment by some. He had the hopes of his country on his shoulders and Messi’s move to PSG was seen as some as proof that Neymar on his own there had failed. But it’s important to note just how big the hype was – and just how big the natural talent was to accompany it. Unfortunately, when you’re just that good… you’re going to play a lot. Seemingly, Neymar’s body couldn’t take the strain.
OL Reign vs. Angel City FC: How to watch NWSL quarterfinal, TV channel, streaming
Megan Rapinoe will get one more home game in her legendary career, and it could also be her last game
Rapinoe and OL Reign will host Angel City FC on Friday night in the first game of the 2023 NWSL playoffs.
Rapinoe, who is retiring at the end of the season, scored a double against Chicago last weekend to ensure OL Reign reached the quarterfinal, while Angel City earned an emphatic 5-1 win over Portland on the season’s final day to clinch the franchise’s first playoff berth.Watch Megan Rapinoe on Paramount+
The biggest question around this game for OL Reign surrounds the health of Rose Lavelle, who has hardly played this season. Head coach Laura Harvey said Lavelle could have played against Chicago, but only if the club “desperately needed her to be there.” The latest is that Lavelle is available, but the USWNT playmaker’s ability to play major minutes is still an unknown.There was better news on fullback Sofia Huerta, who returned from a hamstring injury against the Red Stars.Angel City will look to keep up its surge under interim coach Becki Tweed, who has led the team to just one loss in her 11 league matches in charge.The winner of this match will face the San Diego Wave in the semifinal next weekend.
Here’s everything you need to know to catch the action:
OL Reign possible lineup: Dickey; McClernon, Barnes, Cook, Huerta; Quinn, Sonnett; Rapinoe, Fishlock, Latsko; Huitema
Angel City FC possible lineup: Anderson; Vignola, Nielsen, Gorden, Riley; Hammond, Henry; Camberos, McCaskill, Emslie; LerouxWatch OL Reign vs Angel City FC
The US Men got spanked by Germany 3-1 on Saturday and now will face a Ghana tonight at 8:30 pm on TNT and Peacock. This Ghana team that lost to Mexico 2-0 over the weekend. Watch Christian Pulisic score a worldie against Germany Ok lets start with this is not a good loss to a more talented and better team. Germany sucks right now and has not played well for months – hell years to be honest. This is a poor German side that we should have tied at worst. Richards was exposed AGAIN – Miles Robinson is our best inside back with Ream and Dest is NOT and never will be. Outside back Scally showed me enough to jetison Dest unless we are down 2 at the half. Adding the Robinson’s would have kept this at 1-1. Simple enough. Now let’s see if GB has the brains to at lest put Miles in. Have to have speed next to Ream not cluelessness. Now we see why Richards can’t get time in the EPL – needs more learning. The offense in the first half especially was exciting and we created lots of chances. Pulisic was fouled by Ter Stegan (who played fantastically) should have been 2-0 early. Still we could not feed Balogun but Pulisic and Weah were electric. We lost the Dmid though – Musah can not be that guy to replace Adams against good teams. Now Ghana is not good – but I am going to guess they will slide 1 in somehow – so how about 2-1 USA.
DEFENDERS (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 12/0),Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 28/2), DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; 7/0), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 2/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 52/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 12/1), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 26/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 6/0)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; 7/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 17/0), Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim/GER; 0/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 46/11), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 29/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 20/4), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 6/0)
FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/GER; 34/8), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 4/2), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; 1/0), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 18/9), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 62/26), Tim Weah (Juventus/ITA; 33/5)
Indy 11 Wrap Up Season with 3-3 win @ San Antonio
Indy Eleven scored a pair of first half goals then held on for a 3-3 win at San Antonio on the road Saturday evening. The win improved the Boys in Blue to 13-12-9 on the season, Indy has already clinched a USL Championship playoff spot, its third since joining the league in 2018.
Tough Day at Murray as Both Carmel Teams Lose Regionals to Cathedral
The Top Ranked Carmel High boys lost a close one to Cathedral 2-1 for a 2nd straight year in the Regional Finals. Carmel finished the season at 17-2-2 with its playoff journey taking it through the daunting road of Westfield, Zionsville, North Central, Pike and Cathedral. Also a tough end to the season for the two-time State Finalist Carmel High Girls lost to Cathedral 2-1 at home Saturday in the Regional Finals. Cathedral turned the tide from last year with a PK and a questionable goal In the first half and held on to win despite a Red Card controversy in the 2nd half. Still a great season for Carmel and their seniors.
UEFA European Championship TV schedule
Tuesday, October 17
02:45 PM ET Lithuania vs. Hungary (UEFA Euro Qualifying)
The United States Men’s National Team return to action tomorrow when they take on Ghana at GEODIS Park in Nashville. The USMNT are coming off a 3-1 defeat to Germany over the weekend and they hope to get back on track against a Ghana team that has been a real rival over the years.
The two teams have met 4 times previously, with the series split evenly. Both sides have won twice, and each match has ended with a 2-1 score. The last time the two teams faced each other was in July 2017, which was a 2-1 win for the United States. Can history repeat itself with the scoreline? It won’t matter for the United States so long as they get the win.
D (2-2) – Canada – Concacaf Gold Cup Quarterfinal*
W (6-0) – Trinidad & Tobago – Concacaf Gold Cup Group A
*Advanced on penalties
**Lost on penalties
Ghana
L (0-2) – Mexico – Friendly
W (3-1) – Liberia – Friendly
W (2-1) – Central African Republic – Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying
D (0-0) – Madagascar – Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying
D (1-1) – Angola – Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying
What To Watch For
Get the defense back on track. Germany made the American defense look disorganized for much of the second half, so it’s important for guys to not let Ghana get behind them and create chances. Ghana can get frustrated if their intensity is matched, and on the field the USMNT needs to bring the energy to keep Ghana on their heels.
Who steps up on offense? The offense was stagnant in the 2nd half, and most considered it pretty aggressive for much of the first. They need to finish chances, and that’s going to come in time. The hope is that the attackers can string a couple of plays together to get open shots on goal, or to use our set pieces to create a good scoring chance.
The subs need to make an impact. The substitutes in the past few matches haven’t given us a ton to sing about. They hopefully recognize that they have the chance to make an impact and fans want to see one of them do just that tomorrow.
Lineup Prediction
The USMNT will likely have some changes in their starting XI, but some of the continuity will continue when they take the field against Ghana:
Predicted Lineup vs. Ghana
Matt Turner will once again be in goal, with DeJuan Jones, Tim Ream, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Sergiño Dest will make up the back line. In the middle, we will once again see Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, and Yunus Musah, while up top, Ricardo Pepi will get the start alongside Tim Weah and Christian Pulisic.
Prediction
The USMNT get back on track with a 2-1 victory.
In loss to Germany, USMNT shows it has to evolve in Berhalter’s second cycle
Ahead of Saturday afternoon’s friendly against Germany, U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter said games like this were “not about being afraid of the result (or) being afraid of competing, it’s about embracing these moments.”His hope: that in the next three years before the 2026 World Cup, games like this would serve as opportunities to learn what it will take to compete — and beat — the very best in international soccer.
The 3-1 loss to Germany in front of a sold-out crowd of 37,743 in East Hartford, Connecticut, however, showed the U.S. still has to evolve – from the team that was eliminated by the Netherlands in the knockout round of the 2022 World Cup to one that can make a deep run on home soil.“We still have a lot of work to do,” center back Tim Ream said bluntly when asked what the big takeaway from the game was. The U.S. started the game well, but in the second half Germany seized control of the contest and the Americans never really found their way back into it. The U.S. was at times too stretched in defensive transition after bad turnovers, and in other moments Germany was given too much time and space near the top of the box.“We do need to not give the ball away so quickly in bad areas,” Ream said. “You give the ball away around the 18? OK, fine. In the attacking half? I get it, that’s no problem, you’re trying things. But when you give the ball away too quickly in midfield as we’re trying to get our attacking and build-up shape then it’s going to look A) disjointed, and B) guys are going to look out of position. And when you do that against good players, they punish you.”
Gio Reyna went 45 minutes in a central position (Andrew Katsampes/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Some of the defensive problems highlighted the absence of captain Tyler Adams, who has been a stalwart for the U.S. at defensive midfield and helps to break up passing lanes, make key tackles and set the tone in midfield. The World Cup captain has been out with a hamstring injury since March, and after suffering a setback earlier this month is now expected to miss a significant amount of time more. Berhalter said going into this window that Adams’ absence gave the U.S. a chance to test out some “Plan B” options for playing without him. The Germany game showed that the “Plan B” still isn’t quite clear.But it wasn’t about the absence of one player. There were disconnects that both allowed Germany to get on the ball higher up the field, and then find the small lanes around the box that their world-class players exploited. “When you watch them and what they do and it’s one of those where you break a line and you get down to their box and all of a sudden they’re behind the ball,” Ream said. “And I think that’s kind of where we need to learn, is to get guys behind the ball, get compact, especially in and around our defensive 18. And that’s something that again, it’s a learning process, and it’s something that we need to look at and make sure we do better.”Multiple players said the U.S. needs to find ways to put together more complete performances over the whole 90 minutes. The first half gave the team confidence that they could match Germany — they were able to get in behind Germany’s back line on multiple occasions and seemed to just lack that final action — but there was a drop-off in the second half performance.Yunus Musah started as the deeper midfielder on Saturday, with Weston McKennie ahead of him and Gio Reyna in a No. 10 role.Reyna, who played exclusively as a winger in the last World Cup cycle, looked dangerous and effective centrally under interim managers earlier this year. His return to the team with Berhalter on the sideline was among the headlines of this camp, and how Berhalter would utilize him was the biggest question. Reyna had a solid 45-minute outing on Saturday, and playing him in that central role showed promise. Reyna had to come out at halftime, however, as he ramps up his form and fitness.In the first half, though, the U.S. looked dangerous in attack at times and got behind Germany on several occasions. Early in the game, Pulisic was called offside on what would have been a breakaway; Berhalter felt it should not have been whistled dead. On another attack, Reyna found Balogun to set up Pulisic in alone on Marc-André ter Stegen, but Pulisic went down after taking a touch around the goalkeeper.“I went around him and there’s for sure contact,” Pulisic said.The referee didn’t blow the whistle, but a few minutes later Pulisic scored a fantastic goal, beating four German defenders and blistering a ball into the upper corner.“That’s a world-class goal,” Berhalter said.After Pulisic gave the U.S. an early lead, however, Germany pulled back even. Leroy Sané used a clever double-touch to split Musah and Reyna in the 39th minute at the top of the box, and Ilkay Gündogan played a perfect through ball to Sané to put him through on goal. Goalkeeper Matt Turner made the initial save, but Gündogan was there to tuck home the rebound for the equalizer. In the second half, Germany took further control.In the 58th minute, Germany once again enjoyed too much time and space on the ball in their attacking third, and Jamal Musiala found Robin Gosens, whose stylish one-touch pass played Niclas Füllkrug in on goal. Left back Sergiño Dest was late to step, holding Füllkrug onside, and Germany had the lead. Three minutes later, Germany once again attacked the space right on the top of the box. The U.S. was a bit unfortunate in that Ream’s tackle on Musiala deflected right to Füllkrug, who found Musiala in the box to make it 3-1. But while the lucky bounce may have helped, the goal felt reflective of the spaces Germany attacked regularly.
“It’s these split seconds where you need to be well-positioned,” Berhalter said.
In the end, as Ream said, the result showed how much more the U.S. has to do to catch the world powers. But the group also felt that, like at the World Cup last year, they’re not far off.
“It’s frustrating because it’s just little moments,” Turner said. “I sort of alluded to this recently about how little moments could have made a big difference for us in the World Cup. And it’s kind of like the same story.”
(Photo: Adam Glanzman/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
USMNT learns hard lessons vs. Germany in attack, defense
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentOct 15, 2023, 07:11 AM ET
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Prior to the U.S. men’s national team’s match with Germany on Saturday, manager Gregg Berhalter said “we need to learn” from playing such a high-powered opponent. Die Mannschaft certainly dealt out more than a few lessons in beating the United States3-1 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.The match saw the U.S. break the tie in the 27th minute thanks to a stunning long-distance goal from Christian Pulisic. But even at that point, Germany had been carving up the U.S. defense, and eventually the goals arrived on the way to a deserved win.Overall, the result felt similar to the 3-1 defeat to Netherlands that knocked the U.S. out of the 2022 World Cup in the round of 16. Granted, the U.S. on that night in Qatar had much better possession — Germany had a 60-40 edge on Saturday — but in critical moments, both the Dutch and the Germans had that extra bit of quality to turn opportunities into goals.More critically, the U.S. defensive performance left plenty to be desired. One of the glaring issues against Germany included how the U.S. struggled to handle the visitors’ press. Germany made 10 recoveries in the U.S’s defensive third — that’s the most by a U.S. opponent since the 2-0 defeat to Japan right before the 2022 World Cup, one that wasn’t as close as the score might indicate.
The frequency with which the U.S. was coughing up the ball made it difficult to get the entire team pushed up-field into the attack, which left the Americans’ defensive shape vulnerable when the ball turned over. The U.S. got “gapped” — where there was little to no defensive midfield pressure in transition — by smart passes on far too many occasions. Not even a tweak to the team’s defensive shape in the first half, when it moved from a 4-4-2 to more of a 4-3-3, was enough to stem the tide.”When you make those mistakes of giving the ball away in the midfield, then [transition chances] are going to happen,” central defender Tim Ream said. “And that’s kind of what you saw today, the breakdowns with guys being out of position and then there’s an overwhelming desire to try to win the ball back immediately. That complicates things as well. You want to press after the loss and that complicates getting into that defensive shape.”So it’s not for want of trying. I think sometimes, it’s overworking instead of maybe picking and choosing the moments.”With Tyler Adams missing due to an ongoing hamstring injury, Berhalter turned to Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie for some bite and defensive coverage in midfield. Except it didn’t work. Much of this was down to the fact that positionally, the two left too much space in the middle for Germany to exploit, whether it was in the middle third or near the top of the U.S. penalty area.It’s worth emphasizing the fact that Germany’s lineup is brimming with quality, be it Ilkay Gündogan, Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala or Florian Wirtz. And to be fair, the Germans also got some fortuitous bounces. Matt Turner‘s touch from Sane’s dribble fell right Gundogan for Germany’s first. Ream’s tackle deflected to Niclas Füllkrug in the runup to Germany’s third.But too often, the U.S. didn’t help itself, allowing Germany to make the most of its luck. On all three goals, the U.S. pressure just outside the box was lacking. Someone, anyone, needed to deliver a tackle that was going to defuse the situation. All of this left the U.S. back line in difficult situations.”It was kind of like seeing a train wreck coming, but you couldn’t quite move from it,” defender Chris Richards said. “That’s kind of what it felt like at some points.”He added about Germany: “When they’re on the ball and they have 20, 30 yards [of space], it’s a tough team to play against.”All of this pointed to how much the U.S. is missing Adams. Saturday’s game wasn’t the first time that the U.S. has had to do without the AFC Bournemouth midfielder. The Americans claimed the Concacaf Nations League title despite him being absent, but Germany is the kind of opponent to punish mistakes more ruthlessly than Mexico or Canada, and the tenacity in midfield that was missing on Saturday is precisely the kind Adams provides.It seems unlikely Adams would have missed tackles with the same regularity that the U.S. did Saturday. With him on the shelf for the foreseeable future, it’s up to Berhalter to find a way forward. There doesn’t appear to be any easy answers.
Berhalter: Performance vs. Germany should give USMNT confidence
Gregg Berhalter explains what the USMNT can take from their 3-1 loss to Germany.
There were lessons to be had on the attacking side as well, though they were tougher to spot, especially given the wow factor of Pulisic’s goal. The U.S. created some transition opportunities of its own in the first half, with Timothy Weah taking the chance to showcase his speed on more than one occasion. Germany was certainly left to scramble a few times in order to keep the U.S. at bay, and Pulisic had one goal called back for a dubious offside call. (A penalty appeal from Pulisic was also denied.)
The U.S. cause was aided significantly by having Giovanni Reyna back in the lineup. In this calendar year, the U.S. has looked the most fluid when Reyna has been on the field, especially when he plays more centrally. Reyna did float around the field a bit, but he was involved often enough in his 45 minutes of action to give some hope that the U.S. can trouble the world’s better teams.
All that said, the U.S. was still missing some precision in the final third, which remains one of this team’s biggest weaknesses and is a big reason it hasn’t yet moved closer to the world’s elite. Not for the first time, centering passes were just a bit behind their intended targets, or just a bit too high. The USMNT’s out-of-sync attack reflected in its stats: Its xG from open play in Saturday’s match was 0.09, the lowest such mark in any game under Berhalter. As dangerous as the U.S. was at times, it absolutely has to get shots off.
Is Germany an excellent team? You bet. But the chances were there for the U.S., and it didn’t take advantage of its at times excellent approach work.
“[There are] still a lot of things that we can do better. A lot of things we improve on,” Ream added. “A lot of things to work on to be able to compete for 90 minutes, not just for 45.”
The U.S. will get a chance to show that Tuesday against Ghana in Nashville.
Christian Pulisic goal not enough for USMNT in 3-1 loss to Germany in friendly
By The Athletic Staff and more Oct 14, 2023
By Paul Tenorio and Seb Stafford-Bloor
The U.S. men’s national team fell 3-1 to Germany in a friendly Saturday after a promising first half from the American side. Here’s what you need to know:
USMNT captain Christian Pulisic opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a blistering shot from outside the box into the upper right corner. But after İlkay Gündoğan tied it up in the 39th minute, Germany dominated the second half and scored in the 58th (by Niclas Füllkrug) and 61st minutes (Jamal Musiala).
Gio Reyna started for the U.S. in his return to the squad after suffering a leg fracture in the CONCACAF Nations League final in June — it also marked his first match under coach Gregg Berhalter since their relationship came under the microscope after the 2022 World Cup.
The match was Germany’s first with new coach Julian Nagelsmann, hired in September, at the helm.
How did Reyna look?
Saturday’s game was the first time in which Berhalter and Reyna were back in U.S. men’s national team camp together. Berhalter said ahead of the game he no longer wanted to look back and instead, “it’s about talking about the future.” The Germany game provided a first opportunity to do that.
One way that happened: Reyna starting as a No. 10.
After playing mostly as a winger who came inside the pocket to find the ball in a 4-3-3 during the last cycle, the 20-year-old played in the No. 10 role in Nations League games under interim managers Anthony Hudson and B.J. Callaghan this spring and summer.
Berhalter clearly liked what he saw in those games. While Reyna was on a minutes limit — he had played just 27 minutes for club or country since injuring his leg on June 18 in the Nations League final — he started in the game in that spot.The new shape allowed Berhalter to test out a formation change when the team is missing captain Tyler Adams, who is out for an extended period of time with a hamstring injury. Yunus Musah dropped into a lower role in midfield, and Weston McKennie played in a No. 8 role behind Reyna. Pulisic and Tim Weah started on the wings.Reyna had some good moments in the first half, at one point playing Folarin Balogun through on a chance where Pulisic was in alone on goal and went down looking for a penalty after taking a touch past Marc-André ter Stegen. It was an overall positive outing for Reyna, who was subbed at halftime as he works back from his injury.The U.S. will likely look to build on it on Tuesday against Ghana. — Paul Tenorio, senior soccer writer
With Adams out due to a hamstring injury, the U.S. started with Musah as the No. 6. Germany, though, found far too much space around the edge of the Americans’ penalty box, and Adams’ ability to step in, make tackles and kill off attacks was clearly missed.The outing likely will give Berhalter some headaches as he thinks through how to best set up this team when Adams is out. He could opt for a player who is more of a traditional defensive midfielder, like Johnny Cardoso or Lenny Maloney, or he might be forced to play with two more defensive-minded midfielders in a double pivot. — Tenorio
Germany’s flaws remain much as they were. Their defense is still porous and continues to look fragile against the counter-attack. A more ruthless opponent might have built a bigger lead than the U.S. managed.Nevertheless, this was still a success. One of the long-term issues that Nagelsmann inherited was an inability to create chances. It was heartening, then, to see the Germans so potent with the ball. Nagelsmann’s gegenpress seemed well-oiled and it created opportunities, but he will also have been pleased by how much movement there was ahead of, and around the ball in the attacking third. Germany manufactured plenty of scoring opportunities through the quick, intricate passing that has been so absent from their games in 2023.Leroy Sané really should have scored at the end of a slick second half move. Füllkrug might have more than just one goal.Germany looked dangerous. More to the point, Germany were actually fun to watch and that has not been the case for a long time.It matters, too. Nagelsmann is facing a technical challenge, because there are areas of his team in which the depth of talent simply is not there, but he is also — in effect — having to remarket this team to its own country. The German public has grown disinterested and disillusioned with the national team, but performances like this, that possess vibrancy and life, will hopefully start to reverse that process.This was a good afternoon for Nagelsmann and for Germany. — Seb Stafford-Bloor, Germany soccer writer
USMNT has Adams-shaped hole in midfield, no one to fill it
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentOct 16, 2023, 10:28 AM ET
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EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Saturday’s match against Germany gave U.S. men’s national team manager Gregg Berhalter a chance to try out what he calls his “Plan B” in the U.S. midfield. Otherwise known as: Life Without Tyler Adams.
It’s not the first time the U.S. has had to rummage around in its tactical bag to find a way to compensate for the absence of the injured AFC Bournemouth midfielder. Just last June, the U.S. won the Concacaf Nations League without Adams’ influence. The situation was similar two years prior, with Adams reduced to a late, 37-minute stint in the extra-time win over Mexico in that year’s Nations League final.
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But the Americans’ 3-1 defeat to Germany on Saturday gives one pause. Neither Yunus Musah nor Weston McKennie delivered the kind of bite and ground coverage that Adams usually provides in midfield, and the center of the U.S. defense was worse for it. The U.S. was more vulnerable than usual on the counterattack, and there was general ineffectiveness in terms of putting in tackles near the top of the U.S. penalty area.
So a question that has been on the collective mind of the U.S. comes even more into focus: What is the best path forward without the Americans’ World Cup captain?
That assessment puts Berhalter in a bit of a bind given how Adams’ skill set is nearly impossible to replicate. It also highlights the reality that while the U.S. established a solid foundation at the last World Cup, building on that performance isn’t straightforward. The form of players fluctuates, as does their health. That said, Berhalter prefers to look at the at the situation in a more positive light.
“It gives us an opportunity to have a Plan B when — and if — Tyler isn’t available and we’ll work through this,” he said on a recent conference call with reporters prior to Saturday’s match against Germany.
Easier said than done.
Adams is one of the most important players on the U.S. men’s national team. His aforementioned range and tackling enable the U.S. to play with a single defensive midfielder, allowing the likes of Musah and McKennie to push further forward in a bid to augment the U.S. attack, and his overall prowess helps snuff out opposition counterattacks. That latter trait could have come in especially handy against Germany, as the U.S. was continually overrun in central positions during a 3-1 loss.
Adams’ stats bear this out. Among Concacaf midfielders who logged at least 500 minutes of playing time during qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, Adams ranked second in tackles per 90 minutes (including stoppage time) at 3.01, fourth in defensive interventions per 90 minutes at 13.15 and second in duels won at 60.8%. He put up similar numbers in the Premier League with Leeds last season, delivering 3.42 tackles per 90 minutes of actual playing time along with 14.12 defensive interventions and a duel-win rate of 57%.Yes, these numbers are a function of his position, but they also reveal he did his job well. So well, in fact, that his injury is viewed in some quarters as being a primary reason Leeds were relegated to the English Championship. His play at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar drew similar praise.Now Berhalter has to find an alternative. On Saturday, he opted to drop Musah and McKennie deeper in a double pivot. That, however, is a solution that is rife with issues.Berhalter noted how in last week’s UEFA Champions League match between AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund, Musah was deployed deeper in midfield, but Musah’s preference to carry the ball out of trouble resulted in some hair-raising moments in which possession was lost in dangerous areas. He had some similar difficulties on Saturday, although not as often.If Musah really is going to be positioned in a deeper-lying role, he’ll need to come up with a greater variety of solutions than just dribbling out of tough spots. He knows it, too.”I feel like it’s an area of the field where it’s delicate, so you have to be like, try and play simple,” Musah said on a Zoom call with reporters. “So I have to simplify my game and try to play simple one-, two-touch. Obviously, you’re not in the pockets as you are when you’re playing higher.”As for McKennie, giving him more defensive responsibility could blunt some of his better attributes, namely his ability to make late runs into the box. He’s also admitted he prefers a role that’s more expansive than playing as a No. 6.”My favorite role for sure is to play an 8 on both sides of the ball,” he told reporters via Zoom. “I don’t really … I wouldn’t say that I don’t do well, but I am someone that just likes to be free to roam around the field, and I feel like I have a good understanding of the game, a good vision of the game, and I know where I’m needed at certain points and where I’m not.”The problem is that Gio Reyna, who made his first appearance for the U.S. on Saturday since fracturing his right leg last June, also prefers some freedom. At some point, there needs to be a little less freedom and more positional discipline, something that McKennie has at times struggled with. Berhalter recognized this Saturday, eventually moving Reyna further back to help McKennie and Musah, but to no avail. In the second half, Berhalter subbed in Luca de la Torre for Reyna without much impact, but dropping him deeper just might be worth trying again.One criticism of the so-called “MMA midfield” of Musa, McKennie and Adams is a general lack of creativity and precision passing. This is an area where De la Torre’s presence could benefit the U.S. team. The downside, however, is that De la Torre is light in terms of the defensive side of the ball. Over parts of two seasons with LaLiga‘s Celta Vigo, De la Torre’s win percentage in terms of tackles, duels and aerials is 27.3%, 31% and 25%, respectively, far below Adams’ numbers of 39.7%, 57% and 63.4%. In terms of defensive interventions, he averages 5.77 per 90 minutes this season, although it’s worth noting that with Celta he’s usually playing higher up the field.erculez Gomez and Sebastian Salazar debate the biggest storylines and break down the best highlights that soccer in the Americas has to offer. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only)Plenty of eyes will be on Heidenheim midfielder Lennard Maloney, Berhalter’s latest dual-national recruit. His defensive numbers over parts of the past two seasons (33%, 49.4% and 55.4%), which include a title-winning campaign in the 2. Bundesliga, veer closer to Adams, although his passing percentage of just 73.7% will need to improve.The best fit of all might be Internacional midfielder Johnny Cardoso, who has been tidy on the ball in Brazil’s Serie A (86.1% pass completions in the past three seasons) as well as solid in defense (34%, 51.1% and 57%) in the same time span. However, he hasn’t really caught the eye in the few opportunities he’s had for the U.S. (eight appearances since 2020). He’s currently in camp, and might get more of a shot against Ghana on Tuesday.
There are other options. LAFC‘s Kellyn Acosta has filled in for Adams in the past, but his play has been uneven on those occasions. Other possibilities included Venezia‘s Tanner Tessmann and the Columbus Crew‘s Aidan Morris, both of whom could get some looks with the U.S. Olympic team.Complicating matters is the question about where to deploy Reyna. Berhalter hasn’t ruled out playing the Dortmund attacker in any number of spots, be it right wing, attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 or as part of a midfield three. If Reyna is used as an attacking midfielder, that will impact the decision as to who plays behind him.The next opportunity to test out the U.S. team’s midfield options is Tuesday against Ghana, followed by next month’s encounters in the Concacaf Nations League. Based on how the U.S. midfield currently looks, more experimentation is needed.
U.S. men’s soccer falls short in major test against star-studded Germany
After Christian Pulisic’s dazzling opening goal, a defensive collapse in the second half loss showed how far the Americans still have to go before hosting the 2026 World Cup.
Germany’s Jamal Musiala tries to dribble past the United States’ Joe Scally (left) and Gio Reyna during the first half.Jessica Hill / AP
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Given a rare chance to play a major European power, the U.S. men’s soccer team’s stars showed at times against Germany that it could rise to the moment. But after playing the first half to a creditable tie, a defensive collapse in the second half of an eventual 3-1 loss showed how far the Americans still have to go before hosting the 2026 World Cup.The packed crowd of 37,743 at Rentschler Field certainly got its money’s worth. Hershey’s Christian Pulisic scored a spectacular opener for the U.S. in the 27th minute, Ilkay Gündoğan answered in the 39th, while Niclas Füllkrug and Jamal Musiala decided the game in the 58th and 61st minutes.“The first half especially, I thought we were really good, and then it came down to some moments,” U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter said. “I think the goals were conceded a little bit too easily. … Good learning experience for the group, and we know we need to get better if we’re going to win these.”Headlining the American starters was Gio Reyna, whose presence helped finally put to bed the scandal that swept up his and Berhalter’s families. Berhalter gave Reyna a further endorsement by starting him in a central attacking midfield role, unlike the right-wing position he’s played for the U.S. in the past. Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah started in the deeper central spots.
Gio Reyna (right) battling for the ball with Germany’s Jamal Musiala during the first half.Jessica Hill / AP
Germany is not as dominant a force in the soccer world as it used to be, but the Mannschaft’s roster oozes with talent and prestige — and a much-needed dose of youth. Star playmakers Musiala (Bayern Munich) and Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen) are just 20 years old.
The highlights
Without the stakes of an official competition, the first half was wonderfully wide-open. Though the U.S. was outshot, 11-4, it gave as good as it got, including a beautiful combination in the 26th minute involving Reyna, right-back Joe Scally, and the starting front line of right winger Tim Weah, striker Folarin Balogun, and Pulisic, who played left wing.
Pulisic’s goal was one of his finest in a U.S. jersey — or any jersey. He took a layoff pass from Balogun on the left wing, cut to the middle amid two German defenders, and then sent former Chelsea teammate Antonio Rüdiger (now of Real Madrid) backward as he kept going forward. Twenty yards from goal, Pulisic uncorked a dazzling curler of a shot that German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen had no chance to save.
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🚨 ¡Oooobra de arte de @pulisic! ¡Espectacular GOLAZO! 😱😱😱
The lead lasted 12 minutes. Leroy Sané, also of Bayern, shredded the U.S. back line with a run in from the right wing for which eight American players had front-row seats. A quick give-and-go with Gündoğan later, goalie Matt Turner was forced into a dive that pushed the ball right to Gündoğan’s feet on the doorstep.
Reyna departed at halftime in a preplanned move, replaced by Luca de la Torre. That also gave the midfield some defensive reinforcement, as de la Torre played level with McKennie and Musah instead of in front of them.
The lowlights
It didn’t feel like much reinforcement, though, when Füllkrug put Germany ahead. After recovering a Turner goal kick, the Germans built a 14-pass move under relatively little pressure that culminated in an open 12-yard shot.Füllkrug makes no mistake from there 💥
Musiala and Füllkrug teamed up on the third, with the former’s delicate chip to the latter starting the decisive give-and-go. Turner charged for the ball, Füllkrug slipped it behind him, and Musiala did the rest.
”We cost so much energy with our own counterattacks that it’s hard to really stay consistent in all of your actions [and] your defensive shape,” Berhalter said. “The games against opponents like this can’t be that open. It needs to be tighter.”
“They found space in the middle of the field, in the midfield and on top of our [18-yard] box,” he said. “Balls kind of bounced around and our shape was broken, sagging, and keeping guys onside.”
Five minutes after Germany’s third goal, Berhalter made a triple-substitution: Cameron Carter-Vickers for Chris Richards at centerback, Medford’s Brenden Aaronson for Weah, and Ricardo Pepi for Balogun. The Americans’ final subs came in the 75th, Johnny Cardoso replacing McKennie and Kevin Paredes for Pulisic.”I came on and just tried to do the best I could, really, and just tried to make some things in the final third happen,” Aaronson said.Aaronson had a highlight in the 78th when he spun around Rüdiger on the right wing, darted into the 18-yard box, then took a shove in the back from Rüdiger. But referee Fernando Guerrero of Mexico didn’t judge it a foul, and, with no video review in use, play went on.
Brenden Aaronson (left) chases after a loose ball in front of Germany’s Robin Gosens, a teammate at Bundesliga club Union Berlin.Winslow Townson / Getty Images
At the start of second-half stoppage time, Aaronson won a free kick atop the 18-yard box with some fancy footwork, and he got to take the shot. But as all 10 German outfield players and eight Americans took their places nearby, Aaronson’s attempt hit Germany’s jumping wall of defenders.“And they were all 6-foot-4, so that didn’t help,” he quipped.That felt like a pretty good metaphor for the task at hand for the U.S. men, in this game and for the next three years. At least it won’t be long until the next chance for a win: Tuesday against perennial World Cup foe Ghana in Nashville (8:30 p.m., TNT, Universo, Max, Peacock).
Why Gio Reyna hasn’t found his USMNT, Borussia Dortmund form
Ryan O’Hanlon, ESPN.com writerOct 17, 2023, 08:09 AM ET
The answer depends on who’s asking the question. The average American probably knows him as the kid whose parents tried to blackmail U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter out of a job during the World Cup. But I think — I hope? — we can move on from that.
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To many USMNT fans, then, Reyna represents the ceiling of the team’s potential. Imagine what might’ve happened in Qatar had Reyna been healthy and not feuding with the manager?
For all of the success of the current generation — already the most successful generation of American soccer players — the likes of Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams are top players in large part because they’re top athletes who can cover lots of space. While Reyna isn’t lacking in athletic ability or size, he offers a different kind of promise to the other top Americans — one where a playmaker steps on the ball, slows the game down, glides past defenders and slips in a through-ball. It’s a vision of American soccer that we’ve never actually seen in the real world before.When you ask everyone else in the soccer world, including his current club team, who Gio Reyna is, he exists as a projection more so than as an actual player. He’s a promising young talent in a competitive landscape with more of them than ever before. He’s a 20-year-old who has started 10 games for Borussia Dortmund since we started letting fans back in the stands.In reality, none of us really know who Gio Reyna is because none of us ever really get to watch him play.
Injured players keep getting injured, and Reyna is no different
Back in May of 2021, Reyna seemed like he was the next uber-prospect at Borussia Dortmund. We already knew about Erling Haaland by then. Jadon Sancho was pumping out goals and assists at a rate that rivaled Kylian Mbappé. Already Jude Bellingham had his jersey retired by Birmingham City.Reyna was right there with them. In fact, Reyna scored more goals, created more assists, started more matches and played more minutes than Bellingham across the 2020-21 season. At this point, Reyna was keeping elite company.Minutes played is a powerful predictor of future performance, and it’s also a solid indicator of current quality. If you’re doing winning things on a soccer field, chances are you’re going to play. And among players who are currently still in the 20-and-under age group today, Reyna had played the fourth-most total minutes across Europe’s Big Five leagues by the end of the 2020-21 season.
According to the crowd-sourced valuations at the site Transfermarkt, those four other non-Reyna players are, respectively, the 17th-, 23rd-, ninth- and third-most valuable players in the world as of today. At the top, Bellingham is valued at €150 million, while Wirtz marks the low end at €85 million. The average valuation of the four players is right around €105 million.The specific numbers matter less than how they compare to the fourth guy on the minutes list. Reyna’s current valuation sits at €25 million, which puts him in a tie with more than 60 other players for the 307th-most valuable player in the world.What happened is that, well, nothing happened. As of today, Camavinga, Bellingham, Wirtz and Pedri all rank in the top seven for minutes played among players currently age 20 and under. Camavinga is first (8,770 minutes), Bellingham is second (7,865), Wirtz is third (6,087) and Pedri is seventh (5,468). Reyna, meanwhile, has dropped down to 16th, with 3,404 minutes — now behind a pair of other Americans in Yunus Musah and Joe Scally. Put another way, Reyna has played just over 1,000 minutes over the past two-plus seasons.The main reason: injuries. Now, both Pedri and Wirtz have dealt with significant injury problems over the same stretch, and they’ve still each managed to double their minutes-played totals since the end of the ’20-21 season. Reyna, though, is injured so often that he suffers in multiple ways.
Why Gio Reyna is integral to USMNT success
Sebastian Salazar and Herculez Gomez discuss Gio Reyna’s performance on his return to the USMNT vs. Germany.Reyna misses games because he’s simply unavailable for selection. He misses games because he’s always working back from injury, so he’s rarely what any manager would consider fully fit. And he misses games because he’s so frequently out of the picture that even when he is available for selection, other Dortmund players get chosen ahead of him since they’re in front of the coach in training and matches every week.Per Transfermarkt, Reyna has already missed 67 games due to injury across his fledgling pro career. For comparison, Camavinga has missed 13 and Bellingham four. Wirtz is at 71 and Pedri is at 66, so injuries aren’t the only explanation for Reyna’s lack of game time, but all three of them have already missed a ton of matches. Perhaps the most consistently available non-defender-or-goalkeeper of his generation is Liverpool‘s Mohamed Salah. He has missed 26 matches due to injury across his entire career. He’s 11 years older than all of these guys.
How does Reyna play when he plays?
Back to that original question: Who is Gio Reyna?In his one season as a consistent starter, Reyna mostly profiled as a “dribbler” according to Michael Imburgio’s DAVIES model, which classifies players into various roles based on their statistical profiles. A dribbler, per the model, is an “attacking player that play[s] relatively high up the pitch, usually linking play between creators and finishers, and often look to beat defenders on the dribble when they receive the ball.”There are “direct dribblers” — guys who beat defenders and either shoot or create chances — and “wide dribblers” — guys who beat defenders and cross the ball — and Reyna looked like a bit of both. In his 600-something minutes from Dortmund last season, Reyna fit into a number of different roles, but he spent the biggest chunks of his time looking like either a direct dribbler or a progressive forward. The definition of the latter, from Imburgio: “Finishers that often drop deep and play progressive passes forward in addition to getting on the end of attacking move.”
Last season, Reyna attempted 3.5 shots per 90 minutes, nearly a two-shot increase on his 2020-21 rate of 1.7. While his goals unsustainably outpaced his expected goals (7 goals vs. 4.2 xG), his rate of non-penalty xG per-90 nearly tripled from his one season as a starter, from 0.18 to 0.51. Per FBref, over the last 365 days his xG-per-90 rate puts him into the 95th percentile among attacking midfielders and wingers across the Big Five leagues.
Except, more than half of all the xG he generated last season came from three shots — two of which were either from rebounds or knockdowns on set plays. While the instinct to crash the goal in these situations is a valuable one, it seems pretty unlikely that Reyna could drive this much proportionate goal-scoring if he were ever to regain a consistent spot in the Dortmund lineup.
The problem with any kind of statistical analysis of Reyna’s performance, then, is the same problem with any kind of analysis of his performance: He doesn’t play consistently enough for anyone to be confident about anything. Reyna’s career is rife with small on-and-off sample sizes.
However, if we look at all of his Bundesliga minutes over the past four seasons together, then we’re at least getting 3,000-plus minutes of game time. Over that stretch, he stands out in three specific areas among all players in Germany’s top tier. Per Soccerment, he’s in the 91st percentile for open-play expected assists. Here are all of his passes worth at least 0.05 expected assists, or xA, during his Dortmund career:
Reyna is also in the 94th percentile for the expected threat created from carries — which looks at where a carry begins and ends and then determines how much it increases a team’s probability of scoring a goal. And he’s in the 96th percentile for one-two passing sequences opened — which just means you’re the player who starts the one-two.That, overall, checks out. As a mostly teenage pro, Reyna has mainly been someone who drives the ball upfield with his feet, combines in tight spaces with teammates, and creates chances for his teammates in and around the box. If you want to take the most optimistic view possible, you can look at last season, squint a little bit, and decide that he has also added goal-scoring to that profile.I, of course, would caution against that because I’d caution against anything with Reyna, right now. At 17, he was so impressive that he looked pretty likely to become a star. In the years since, he has been so injured that it’d be hard to imagine him not continuing to get injured for the rest of his career. However, neither one negates the other. The potential for Reyna to still be a star exists, as does the potential for him to be one of those guys who never develops because he’s never healthy enough to be on the field consistently enough.
The most likely outcome, as ever, exists somewhere in between. Since 2010, 42 players have registered at least 20 non-penalty goals and assists across the Big Five leagues before their 21st birthday. Reyna is one of them. He has one fewer goal contribution than Son Heung-Min, a superstar, and one more than François Kamano, a player currently in the Saudi Pro League who you’ve almost definitely never heard of.
There’s so much that can still happen. Gio Reyna just has to play.
How Christian Pulisic’s offseason training shaped his form with AC Milan, USMNT
Christian Pulisic is a player reborn since signing for AC Milan in July. The former Chelsea winger left behind a frustrating spell in the Premier League for life in Serie A, and thus far, the American has delivered. Pulisic has scored four goals in eight games for the Rossoneri while becoming a key piece to Stefano Pioli’s new-look side.
Pulisic’s reemergence isn’t a coincidence. While he waited for a new club over the summer, Pulisic traveled to South Florida for a week of individual training with Ethan Sonis, who runs SAT Soccer in Miami. Sonis, 27, leads a five-person team of professional trainers who have amassed an impressive list of global clientele. His location in Miami certainly helps. For years, footballers have flocked to the city during their offseason.
The sessions take place under the hot Florida sun on a private field away from the cameras and scrutiny that his clients, like Pulisic, constantly attract.
“I don’t stargaze,” Sonis said. “(The players) don’t have to be perfect. I treat them like any regular human. I catch them raw. I catch them emotionally. They can get hot-headed with me. They can cry, they can scream, they can mess up.”
European-based players Paulo Dybala, Andrés Guardado, Moises Kean, Jorge Sánchez and Joaquín Correa have all worked with Sonis in Miami. A longer list of MLS players have relied on Sonis, as well. He trained Austin FC’s Sebastián Driuissi and Julián Carranza of the Philadelphia Union in 2022. Driuissi scored 25 goals and finished runner-up in the MLS MVP race last year, while Carranza had a breakout season with the Union during their MLS Cup run.
But Pulisic was the big get for Sonis. When he launched SAT Soccer four years ago, Sonis trained youth and college players. The pandemic, though, changed his business completely. When football around the world stopped, former Inter Miami winger Rodolfo Pizarro contacted Sonis and asked if he could train with him. The requests from other players continued thereafter, many of whom contacted Sonis via social media.
Pulisic’s camp reached out to Sonis before the United States’ CONCACAF Nations League semifinal versus Mexico. Milan had not yet finalized the deal to sign Pulisic for $24.2 million. French side Lyon had also shown interest. With his future briefly uncertain, Pulisic and Sonis tailored the training sessions around the three positions that Pulisic typically occupies: right wing, left wing and the No. 10.
SAT Soccer trainers Sergio Perdoma (left) and Ethan Sonis (right) with Christian Pulisic. (SAT)
“What can you do better?” Sonis asked Pulisic. “That’s the conversation I had with Christian and with any player that I work with. My goal is to prepare them to be the best. I’m not preparing them to be two or three. I’m preparing them to be number one. That’s my expectation and that’s the demand that I’m putting on them.”
“I have to get them to believe that what we’re going to do can really work and can really be successful,” said Sonis. He said that professional offseason training regimens remain “old school” with a focus on cardio.
“I’ve seen what the clubs give players,” Sonis said. “It’s just a running packet and that’s not enough.”
Pulisic arrived with his own checklist to work on, and Sonis came prepared having reviewed a number of Pulisic’s past matches with Chelsea and the USMNT. He presented Pulisic with the good and the bad, then customized a program for Pulisic that would maximize their time together – one that honed in on beating defenders off of the first touch, sharpening Pulisic’s touches in tight spaces and finishing. Because Pulisic’s next club destination was not known, Sonis covered a number of tactical scenarios as well.
“We had to be as prepared as possible and open to many different positions to get him ready for whatever league that was going to be,” Sonis said. “He does like the 10. He really enjoys that, but we said as a group, let’s prepare for everything. You’re working with such a high-level elite player, so it’s about adding pieces. Turning off his first touch. That was a big one.”
Pulisic’s injury history was another data point that Sonis had to consider. At Chelsea, Pulisic was plagued by ailments that forced him to miss more than 50 games over five seasons in London. It has become a stigma for the USMNT captain — a seemingly inevitable setback that Pulisic would face every European season.
After he signed with AC Milan, the analysis that followed centered mainly around Pulisic’s last chance to impress at a big club and whether he could stay healthy long enough to help Milan fight for their second Scudetto in three years. Pulisic’s start in Serie A is the byproduct of having had a complete and injury-free preseason under Pioli, who was among the American’s main admirers.
Pulisic takes a shot during a finishing drill in South Florida (SAT)
“For a guy like Christian, with injuries, we needed to work a lot on getting the confidence to pull through sessions without feeling anything and being confident in front of goal,” Sonis said. “That was our biggest thing.”
Pioli has been measured with Pulisic’s minutes to start the season. Through eight games, Pulisic has had just one 90-minute performance, which came in Milan’s second Serie A match against Torino. Pulisic has started eight of Milan’s 10 games (including in Champions League), often conceding his place to Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze.
Pulisic’s four goals, each one a different type of finish, mirror the work that he did with Sonis. Every session ended with a heavy workload in front of goal that stressed repetition and clean technique. Sonis said that the objective was to increase Pulisic’s goal-scoring production this season “to where he’s an all-around lethal finisher.” Pulisic isn’t known as a prolific goal scorer, but he is expected to be an integral part of Milan’s attack. So far, so good.
Pulisic’s latest goal for Milan was the winner in a 1-0 victory over Genoa on Oct. 7. It was a lovely bit of skill that featured a deft first touch, a turn in a tight space and a clinical finish — everything he worked on rigorously over the summer.
The goal Pulisic scored in his Milan debut against Bologna, however, highlighted his most dominant traits. From the right wing, Pulisic split two defenders with a quick burst then dribbled into the half space where he combined with Olivier Giroud. His former Chelsea teammate’s one-time pass set up Pulisic towards goal. After two close-control touches, he unleashed a shot into the opposite corner of the net.
Scoring again in the next match against Torino, Pulisic picked up the ball in the middle of the park and led a Milan counterattack. He played his other ex-Chelsea teammate, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, into space and then met Loftus-Cheek’s cross for an easy tap-in.
Pulisic’s goal against Lazio on Sept. 30 was a difficult left-footed half-volley from a Rafael Leão cross. But it was his movement that must’ve made Sonis proud. Pulisic came off the right wing and sprinted towards the penalty spot. He recognized his opportunity and took the space that Giroud had left behind. It was a training ground move and finish.
“I’m not the guy that’s teaching Christian something new,” Sonis said. “I’m just giving him another layer to say look, you can do this type of stuff. Go for it. You’re an elite player. No one should be able to touch him with the type of speed that he has.”
Pulisic was a big signing for Milan, but he isn’t the team’s star man. That’s quite the opposite when Pulisic represents his country, where he is relied upon heavily for goals and chance creation. He’ll lead the U.S. in a marquee friendly against Germany on Saturday in Connecticut. Speed and agility training was an important part of Sonis’ sessions with Pulisic, who was fresh off his first round of workouts with Sonis leading up to the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal. An inspired Pulisic was unplayable against Mexico, as he used his pace to overpower his markers and score a brace in the American’s 3-0 win.
Pulisic continued to work with Sonis up until his transfer to Milan was completed. The results were positive and Pulisic’s start in Italy is further proof.
“He enjoyed it,” said Sonis. “And I give him a lot of credit. This is Florida. It was hot and muggy. He felt in his own heart that he gave himself the best shot.”
Sonis stays in touch with each player and their respective camps and will travel to them if a player requests it. That’s especially true of Pulisic; working with him has been the pinnacle of Sonis’ short career as a professional trainer.
“Christian is the face of U.S. Soccer,” said Sonis. “He’s the guy. He’s the captain. Who would have thought three, four years ago when I started this whole business that I would be training the guy,” he said. “The best marketing for me is when Christian goes and puts two on Mexico. That’s the truth.”
Welcome to The Rondo, our weekly look around the USL Championship and beyond. I’m Nicholas Murray.This Rondo sounds like:Always Ascending by Franz FerdinandBut first…The brackets are set, now you can join more than 2,500 fans who have submitted their picks in the 2023 USL Championship and League One Playoff Bracket Challenge so far. Click the banner below to make your picks and you could win the grand prize of a 65-inch Hisense television.
1. One Big Thing – Meet the Playoff Dark Horses
Before we start, a caution – the winner of the USL Championship Final has never been lower than a No. 4 seed entering the postseason.No. 1 seeds have claimed five of the 11 Championship Finals that have previously been played, with No. 2 seeds accounting for three more.But, as we enter this year’s postseason, here are three teams seeded No. 5 or lower that based on form and squad could do the unthinkable in the 2023 USL Championship Playoffs.Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
COLORADO SPRINGS
Head Coach: Stephen Hogan Regular Season: 16-13-5, 53pts – 5th, Western Conference Best Prior Postseason Run: Western Conference Final, 2022Why They’ll Make a RunThe Switchbacks are the hottest team in the Western Conference going into the playoffs, undefeated in their last seven games – their longest run since the 2021 season – while claiming a Western-best 17 points from their last eight outings.
The squad has changed substantially from a season ago when the side reached the Western Conference Final, but the quality is still here. Jamaican forward Romario Williams equaled a career-best with 15 goals, while goalkeeper Christian Herrera stepped into the starting role and tied for fifth in the league with 10 shutouts and seventh with 79 saves.
Colorado Springs has shown it can measure up to the best in the West. It swept its series with No. 3 seed Orange County SC and defeated No. 1 seed Sacramento Republic FC on home turf. It also took victories against two of the top three in the East in Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and the Charleston Battery in their interconference meetings.Why They Won’tThe first hurdle is the biggest. San Antonio FC has had Colorado Springs’ number over the past four years, going 10 games undefeated in the series between the sides since the Switchbacks won 1-0 early in the 2019 season. The Switchbacks must go to Toyota Field to not only try to advance, but to end a lengthy streak of failure against SAFC.Indy Eleven
INDY 11
Head Coach: Mark Lowry Regular Season: 13-11-10, 49pts – 6th, Eastern Conference Best Prior Postseason Run: Eastern Conference Final, 2019Why They’ll Make a RunAfter a shaky start, Indy’s form has been comparable to the better teams in the Eastern Conference over the final two-thirds of the season. Since June 1, Indy’s 10 wins have only been surpassed by the top two seeds in the conference. Since August 1 the side has gone 7-3-3 to comfortably secure its first trip to the playoffs since 2019. That’s a group that’s figured some things out.
If Indy’s going to win it all, it’s almost certainly going to have to do so on the road. The good news? Indy was the second-best road team in the USL Championship in the past regular season, taking 28 points from 17 games. The Boys in Blue won away from home at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and the Charleston Battery and drew with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Memphis 901 FC. Seems good.
There might be no better motivation for a group of veterans than adding the one thing that’s eluded them so far. In players like Solomon Asante and Sebastian Guenzatti, Indy has players who’ve been to the Championship Final before only to taste defeat. In Aodhan Quinn, it has a league legend who has never played in the league’s biggest game. Expect the energy to be amped up.Why They Won’tIndy’s defense tied for third-fewest goals allowed in the regular season with 38 allowed in 34 games. It also ranked 18th in Expected Goals Conceded at 44.49xGA. It had better hope the regression that seems ready to show up doesn’t appear in the next month.New Mexico United
New MEXICO
Head Coach: Eric Quill Regular Season: 13-14-7, 46pts – 8th, Eastern Conference Best Prior Postseason Run: Western Conference Semifinals, 2020Why They’ll Make a RunYou could say New Mexico United’s playoff run has already begun. With three games to go, the side was in 11th place in the West and rated a 7 percent chance to make the postseason. Since then, it’s reeled off three consecutive wins against Louisville City FC, Phoenix Rising FC, and Memphis 901 FC to get back into the playoffs. Those are no small feats, and this side has positive momentum.
New Mexico has shown it’s got enough firepower to hang with anyone. United’s 51 goals tied for sixth-most in the league this season, and they came from a variety of sources. El Salvador international Amando Moreno led the way with 10 goals, but 11 players for New Mexico scored at least twice this season. A different hero for every game? Could be.
This group has players who know what it takes to win in the postseason. Both Justin Portillo and Kalen Ryden were on Real Monarchs SLC’s 2019 title-winning squad – at No. 4, the lowest prior seed to win the title. Greg Hurst won a League One title with Union Omaha in 2021. Head Coach Eric Quill has also guided a team to playoff silverware, winning the League One title in 2019 with North Texas SC.Why They Won’tFor all its positives, New Mexico won only four road games in the regular season. To win the title, it will have to match that number in four consecutive weekends.
The US Men get a golden chance to face the toughest teams they will face other than in Copa American this summer when they face Germany Saturday afternoon at 3 pm on TNT and again Tuesday night at 7 pm vs Ghana on TNT. For the US a chance to see how our inform group of European players can compete against a Germany team who needs to win with new manager Nagelsmann in charge.
DEFENDERS (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 12/0),Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 28/2), DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; 7/0), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 2/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 52/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 12/1), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 26/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 6/0)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; 7/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 17/0), Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim/GER; 0/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 46/11), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 29/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 20/4), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 6/0)
FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/GER; 34/8), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 4/2), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; 1/0), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 18/9), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 62/26), Tim Weah (Juventus/ITA; 33/5)
Indy 11 Wrap Up Season Sat @ San Antonio & former GK Jordan Farr on WNDY TV
Indy Eleven scored a pair of second half goals to come from behind and defeat FC Tulsa, 2-1, on the road Saturday evening. The win improved the Boys in Blue to 13-11-9 on the season, while Tulsa fell to 9-15-9 and was officially eliminated from playoff contention. Next up, The Boys in Blue close out the regular season at San Antonio on Oct. 14. Kick is slated for 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT and will air locally on WNDY and on ESPN+. Indy has already clinched a USL Championship playoff spot, its third since joining the league in 2018.
CHS Girls are at Brownsburg Thursday night with the Regional Finals Sat night at Carmel’s Murray Stadium. The #1 Ranked CHS Boys defeated Pike in OT 1-1 (PK 4-1) in OT @ Pike. They play Sat afternoon at Murray Stadium. Head on out to watch some good play.
CHS Girls Are Sectional Champs
UEFA European Championship TV schedule
The European Championship TV schedule highlights games throughout qualifying, too. With so many teams fighting for qualification, games happen in bunches during the international breaks, even though most nations only play two or three times during those breaks.
Thursday, October 12
12:00 PM ETLatvia vs. Armenia (UEFA Euro Qualifying)
Braden Ransberger, Daniel Grave and Shane at Zionsville Soctoberfest on Sun
Goalkeeping
Congrats to Carmel High and former Carmel FC GK Mary Grace Knapp for winning Sectionals and are headed to Regionals this week.
Gio Reyna returns to the USMNT for big October games vs. Germany and Ghana
It’s the first time Reyna is available to play for Gregg Berhalter since the post-World Cup scandal that rocked not just those men, but their families. Brenden Aaronson also is on the squad.
Gio Reyna playing for the U.S. men’s soccer team earlier this year.John Locher / AP
The U.S. men’s soccer team has played 14 games since departing the World Cup last December. Some of them have been exhibitions; some of them have been official. Some have had the big-name stars; some have had prospects. But none has really mattered all that much.Now that changes, and it will stay changed. The countdown to the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host with Canada and Mexico, officially began Thursday when manager Gregg Berhalter named his squad for marquee friendlies this month against Germany and Ghana.The biggest headline is Gio Reyna’s inclusion for the first time since Berhalter returned to the job last month. Although Reyna took part in U.S. teams earlier this year, this is the first time he’ll be available to play for Berhalter since the post-World Cup scandal that rocked not just those two men, but their families.
erhalter said he and Reyna met over Zoom a few weeks ago to clear the air.“The conversation was positive,” he said, though he didn’t offer much detail. “There is a difference between a Zoom call and being in person, but I think that both intentions are positive. And the idea is that, you know, we work together for the team to be successful. And I think we’re both prepared to do that.”Berhalter further said that “although it may take some time, we’re both aligned with what we want to accomplish.”Though Reyna will command the spotlight, the questions directed at him won’t just be about Berhalter. Reyna, 20, hasn’t played all season for his club team, Germany’s Borussia Dortmund because of the latest in a series of annoying injuries. He’s been on the bench for Dortmund’s last four games amid hints that he’d get on the field, but he did not.“How many minutes can we give him on the field, that he can build up in a safe way, and then go back to Dortmund and really propel him to make a big impact for his club?” Berhalter said. “We’re going to be creative with the minutes — we want to certainly get him on the field.”
Gio Reyna has been practicing with Borussia Dortmund but has yet to play this season.Martin Meissner / AP
Who’s in and who’s out
As for local representation, Medford’s Brenden Aaronson and Hershey’s Christian Pulisic made the cut, but Bear, Del.’s Mark McKenzie and Media’s Auston Trusty did not. Berhalter noted that McKenzie had a broken toe that cost him four games for his club, Belgium’s Genk, before a return to action Thursday.But even if he was healthy, he might not have made this squad. Cameron Carter-Vickers’ return from a nearly-two-month injury absence allowed him to join a quartet with Chris Richards, Tim Ream, and Miles Robinson that might just be the top of the depth chart. McKenzie, Walker Zimmerman (who likely will visit the Union with Nashville SC on Saturday), Trusty, and veteran John Brooks are in the next “You have four guys that could easily make the case to be on the roster that aren’t on it, and that’s just the depth of our player pool right now,” Berhalter said.The biggest absences overall are midfielder and captain Tyler Adams, who’s got a hamstring injury; and Antonee “Jedi” Robinson, who’s dealing with a groin injury that’s threatening to become a sports hernia.“He got injections before the last national team break, and he’s still struggling with that a little bit, and we want to get ahead of it,” Berhalter said. “I think this was an opportunity where he needs to cool this down because he does have inflammation in that area, and he’s in some pain.”
Berhalter’s first games back in charge of the program were last month, but a booked-up global calendar left the team only able to schedule relative lightweights Uzbekistan and Oman. Germany’s visit was set a long time ago, and drew headlines as soon as it was announced. The same with Ghana, a longtime nemesis of the Americans at past World Cups and a fine sparring partner anytime.It so happens that Germany and the U.S. are in similar boats right now because Germany is co-hosting next year’s European Championship. So it has room in its calendar that its star-studded continental brethren do not. Die Mannschaft, as the program is nicknamed, will play the Americans on Oct. 14 in East Hartford, Conn. (3 p.m., TNT, Telemundo 62, Universo, Peacock), then travel south to Philadelphia to face Mexico at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 17 (broadcast TBD).Ghana will travel the other way: a meeting with Mexico on Oct. 13 in Charlotte, N.C. (broadcast TBD), then to Nashville to face the U.S. on Oct. 17 (8:30 p.m., TNT, Universo, Peacock).Germany has a local tie: Its new manager, Julian Nagelsmann, is a former protégé of Union sporting director Ernst Tanner. Thirteen years ago, Tanner brought Nagelsmann into the coaching world at TSG Hoffenheim. Nagelsmann, now 36 (and still quite young by coaching standards), has since led Hoffenheim, RB Lepizig, and Germany’s biggest team of all, Bayern Munich.
New Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann is a close friend of Union sporting director Ernst Tanner.Michael Sohn / AP
The U.S. team’s next games (and Mexico’s) will be against lesser opponents, but with huge stakes: a home-and-away quarterfinal series in the Concacaf Nations League next month that will double as qualifying for next year’s Copa América. The U.S. is guest-hosting another special expanded version of South America’s continental championship, with that region’s 10 teams plus six from this one. But because the U.S. is a guest host of someone else’s event, it has to qualify.The quarterfinal opponent will be known after a quick group stage featuring lesser Concacaf teams finishes this month. Though the quarterfinal losers get a second chance in subsequent playoffs, the Americans won’t want to suffer that embarrassment.
Defenders (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic, Scotland),Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo, Italy), Tim Ream (Fulham, England), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace, England), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany)
Midfielders (7): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional, Brazil), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain), Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim, Germany), Weston McKennie (Juventus, Italy), Yunus Musah (AC Milan, Italy), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlads)
FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin, Germany), Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco, France), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg, Germany), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan, Italy), Tim Weah (Juventus, Italy)
United States have ‘most respect’ for struggling Germany
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentOct 9, 2023, 04:56 PM ET
Crystal Palace and United States defender Chris Richards said that the Americans retain the utmost respect for Germany ahead of Saturday’s friendly, despite the Euro 2024 hosts’ recent struggles.Germany has a record of 2-4-1 so far in 2023, with a recent 2-1 friendly victory over France ending a run of three straight losses — including a 4-1 humbling at the hands of Japan. That last defeat cost manager Hansi Flick his job, with Julian Nagelsmann taking his place.ichards, who spent parts of four seasons with Bayern Munich and on loan at TSG Hoffenheim said Germany’s talent requires the U.S. to believe that the four-time World Cup champions will bring their best on Saturday.I think regardless of recent results, we have the most respect for Germany and I don’t think anybody looks at the schedule and sees Germany and thinks it’s going to be an easy win,” Richards said on a conference call with reporters. “I think regardless of what team Germany puts out there, regardless of what’s going on in the background, we know they’re going to field a strong team.”And having played in Germany for four-ish years, you kind of tend to learn the German mentality and they’re all work, no play. So we expect a game like that this weekend and really looking forward to winning.”The match amounts to a rare test for the U.S. against European opposition. The last time the U.S. played a European side with at least most of its first-choice roster was in May of 2021, when the Americans lost 2-1 to Switzerland.With the U.S. co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico, there will be no qualification process to go through. Therefore, it will be important for Gregg Berhalter’s team to get the most out Saturday’s match, as well as a second friendly three days later against Ghana in Nashville, Tennessee.”I think us as a national team, we try not to focus too much on the opponents, but focus on ourselves and getting better leading up to the World Cup,” Richards said. “So we’re really going to use this game to just continue to grow and to continue to push forward.”U.S. assistant coach B.J. Callaghan confirmed that PSV Eindhoven attacker Malik Tillman will miss both matches due to an unspecified injury he picked up in last weekend’s 4-0 win over Sparta Rotterdam, a match in which he scored PSV’s opener.”It’s an unfortunate injury for Malik,” Callaghan said. “He’s been in really good form somebody that we’re looking forward to having in and we certainly wish him a speedy recovery.”
Gio Reyna’s USMNT return raises questions for Berhalter
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentOct 5, 2023, 03:07 PM ET
Reyna is included in the latest U.S. roster, which was announced on Thursday for games against Germany on Oct. 14 and Ghana three days later. The matches will mark Reyna’s first action with the USMNT since fracturing his right leg in the Concacaf Nations League final against Canada last June.More critically, Reyna and Berhalter will be working together for the first time since the 2022 World Cup, when tensions between the pair led to the families of both men being engulfed by a very public feud.There are still plenty of questions about what the future holds for Reyna at international level. Foremost among these is the extent to which Reyna and Berhalter’s relationship is really mended.There was a roughly eight-month period in which the two didn’t talk following a maelstrom of incidents that stemmed from Reyna’s limited playing time at the 2022 World Cup. Berhalter afterward contributed to the subsequent outing of Reyna’s poor attitude, and in response Reyna’s family told U.S. Soccer officials about a decades-old domestic violence incident involving Berhalter.
On a conference call with reporters after Thursday’s roster announcement, Berhalter confirmed that the first step took place “weeks ago” with the two conversing over a Zoom call. He didn’t provide much in the way of details beyond that, except for saying that he and Reyna are in a “good spot” and that it was a “positive conversation.”
Berhalter did acknowledge that the process of mending the relationship is ongoing.
“I think it will take time,” Berhalter said. “It is a difference between a Zoom call and being in person. But I think that both intentions are positive, and the idea is that we work together for the team to be successful, and I think we’re both prepared to do that.”
Time will reveal the extent to which that actually happens. There are ups and downs in any coach-player relationship, and what took place over those eight months isn’t just going to wash away.
But the two have to begin somewhere, and the upcoming camp is the place to start. Reyna’s return to the national team camp raises its own set of on-field questions, though.
Reyna hasn’t played for club or country since sustaining the aforementioned right leg fracture. He has been healthy enough to be on the bench for Borussia Dortmund of late, so how much could he see the field for the U.S. team?
Berhalter indicated his approach to using Reyna in the upcoming games will be similar to his handling of Folarin Balogun during the September window. On that occasion, with Balogun working his way back to full fitness following his move to AS Monaco, Berhalter limited the forward to 45-minute stints against Uzbekistan and Oman.
Does Gio Reyna have a USMNT future after Berhalter talks?
Herc Gomez reacts to U.S. soccer sporting director Matt Crocker saying there’s “a way forward” for Gio Reyna and Gregg Berhalter.
Berhalter said on Thursday that his goal is to build up Reyna’s fitness “in a safe way” and send him back to Dortmund in a position to make a greater impact for his club.
“We’re going to be creative with the minutes,” Berhalter said in relation to Reyna. “We want to certainly get him on the field and work through both the Germany game, and seeing what position he plays. And then in the Ghana game, same thing, seeing how we can get him in different positions throughout the camp on the field.”
Where Reyna is deployed may just be the biggest question of all. During the 2022 cycle, Reyna played almost exclusively on the wing. But against better teams, the U.S. has struggled to create chances on a consistent basis and, in response, Berhalter could look at putting the creative Reyna in a position to get on the ball more.
At the 2022 World Cup — in which Reyna played a mere 52 minutes due in part to disciplinary issues — the USMNT’s xG, or expected goals, per 90 minutes of actual playing time (which includes stoppage time) was 0.91. That xG, which measures chance creation, ranked 22nd in the tournament among all 32 teams, and 12th out of the 16 teams that reached the knockout stages. Yes, that’s a small sample size, but it still points to how the U.S. could use more creativity.
One possible solution was on display last June, when the USMNT, under interim manager B.J. Callaghan, trotted out a 4-2-3-1 with Reyna in a central attacking role. Against World Cup qualifiers Mexico and Canada, the U.S. attack looked much more fluid and the attack also benefited from Reyna handling set piece duties.
STREAM FUTBOL AMERICAS ON ESPN+
Herculez Gomez and Sebastian Salazar debate the biggest storylines and break down the best highlights that soccer in the Americas has to offer. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only)Berhalter didn’t rule out Reyna reprising that central attacking role, but he didn’t completely commit to it either.”In terms of Gio, we see him being able to play three positions: center midfielder, attacking midfielder and winger,” Berhalter said. “And we use wingers in different ways. Sometimes the wingers are wide against the line, and sometimes they’re in between the lines, and we see him as more of an in-between-the-lines winger.”The continued absence of defensive midfielder Tyler Adams due to a hamstring injury means the U.S. manager has some other questions about his midfield to solve. Does he play with a single holding midfielder or resort to a double pivot? But in the past, Berhalter has lauded how the midfield trio of Adams, Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie played togeter, hinting that he would continue with that group if all were healthy.During the Nations League, Callaghan noted that Reyna’s ability to defend is an area where the U.S. coaching staff have asked for improvement, and the 20-year-old responded well to that challenge. If that continues to be the case, the benefits of playing Reyna centrally seem to outweigh his defensive shortcomings, especially if he has two out of Musah, McKennie and (hopefully) Adams playing behind him. It seems the time has arrived to gather more data about Reyna’s ability to operate in that midfield role.Either way, the games against Germany and Ghana will certainly provide a stern test to see if the U.S. attack — as well as Berhalter and Reyna — can move forward.
Gregg Berhalter reveals ‘positive conversation’ with Gio Reyna ahead of USMNT reunion
U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter said he and Gio Reyna spoke over Zoom “weeks ago” and called it a “positive conversation” ahead of Reyna’s return to the U.S. team from injury — and his first camp since Berhalter was re-hired.
It will be the first time the manager and player have been together since controversy unfolded after the World Cup. The issues began with Reyna’s behavior at the tournament in Qatar and Berhalter alluding to those problems during comments at a leadership conference, albeit without mentioning Reyna by name. That eventually led to Reyna’s parents, U.S. Soccer veterans Claudio and Danielle Reyna, providing information to then-U.S. Soccer sporting director Earnie Stewart about an incident 30 years ago in which Berhalter kicked his then-girlfriend, now-wife when they were freshmen at the University of North Carolina. That prompted an investigation into Berhalter that stretched for months. Berhalter was cleared for employment at U.S. Soccer in March and eventually re-hired as manager of the national team in June.
“First of all, the conversation was a positive conversation,” Berhalter said. “Appreciative of him taking time and being able to connect and really, for us, it’s about aligning on how we’re moving forward. And I think we did that. The exact contents of the conversation I’m gonna leave private, but we’re in a good spot to prepare for this camp and to really, in my opinion, treating this very similar to how we did with (Folarin Balogun) in last camp, is build him up, build his minutes up so that he goes back to Dortmund in a better place and using him on the field in a way that he can return to Dortmund ready to go. So that’s going to be important for this camp.”
Berhalter coached his first camp back in the job last month in friendlies against Uzbekistan and Oman, but Reyna was out with a hairline fracture in his right leg that he suffered in the CONCACAF Nations League final on June 18. Reyna still has not played for club or country since suffering that injury, however he has been on the bench for Borussia Dortmund.
While he reiterated multiple times that the conversation was positive, Berhalter acknowledged that it “will take time” to mend the relationship.
“There’s a difference between a Zoom call and being in person, but I think that both intentions are positive,” Berhalter said. “And the idea is that we work together for the team to be successful. And I think we’re both prepared to do that. So I think that although it may take some time, we’re both aligned with what we want to accomplish.”
Considering the fact that Reyna has not played any minutes since June, Berhalter reiterated that this camp will be used to find him minutes and “build up in a safe way (so that he can) go back to Dortmund and really propel him to make a big impact for his club.”
The question is what position Reyna plays, though the roster announcement may have hinted at the plans. In the previous cycle, Reyna played as a winger in Berhalter’s 4-3-3 system. He slid inside to a No. 10 role under interim managers Anthony Hudson and B.J. Callaghan, and looked comfortable in that spot. He was listed as a midfielder in this latest roster announcement.
Berhalter said Reyna is capable of playing as, “a midfielder, attacking midfield and winger” and that he can be used in any of those spots with the U.S.
“We’re going to be creative with the minutes we want to certainly get him on the field and work through both the Germany game and seeing what position he plays and then in the Ghana game, same thing, seeing how we can get him in different positions throughout the camp on the field.”
(Photo: ANP via Getty Images)Paul Tenorio is a senior writer for The Athletic who covers soccer. He has previously written for the Washington Post, the Orlando Sentinel, FourFourTwo, ESPN and MLSsoccer.com. Follow Paul on Twitter @PaulTenorio
Tim Ream, the USMNT defender who is relatable, resilient and a rock for Fulham
In their Premier League years, Fulham have welcomed American representation. From the first in Marcus Hahnemann in 1999 to the exploits of Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey in the Mohamed Al Fayed years, there has been a USMNT connection.Tim Ream stands among the modern greats. The Missouri nativemade his 300th appearance for the club on Saturday, a milestone nine seasons in the making. After taking time to at last celebrate his birthday — he was 36 last week — he will link up with the USMNT for international fixtures, having left the door open for the home World Cup in 2026.You would not bet against him, after becoming a cult hero at Craven Cottage. Ream is the first player to make 300 appearances for the club since Simon Morgan 26 years ago. Morgan played for the club in the 1990s, adapting and thriving to play for the club across difficult years and then kept his place as the team rose through the leagues.Ream typically plays the numbers down. “It’s a great personal achievement but it’s all for nothing if you don’t come away with a good result,” he said after the 3-1 win over Sheffield United. “It just tells me that I’ve been here for a very long time. And still able to play at a good level.”
Ream represented the U.S. at last year’s World Cup (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
This is a milestone that reflects his journey, and the connection he has with Fulham.Ream has spoken about how a player wants to make a mark when they sign for a new club, without necessarily thinking about time or accumulating appearances. The central defender has not always been a first choice but that has not changed his character and that sticks with supporters. He has enjoyed standout moments — the two play-off finals, a Championship title under Marco Silva and then his Premier League rejuvenation.But other things resonate, too. Like his time spent with then 13-year-old Rhys Porter, the supporter with cerebral palsy who raised more than £10,000 ($12,200) for the charity Scope after suffering online abuse. Or moments like on Saturday afternoon when, as opponent Chris Basham lay on the pitch in pain and most looked away from his leg injury, it was Ream who went over to him, held his hand and, in his own words, just told him it will be OK. “My first thought was to go over there and grab his hand so he didn’t try to get up, didn’t try to look at anything,” he says.There was a perfect symmetry to Ream’s 300th appearance. He made his debut for Fulham against Sheffield United in the EFL Cup in 2015. Fulham were coached by Kit Symons and were in the middle of their rudderless Championship years. Ream struggled to retain his place. Yet, eight years on, only he and club captain Tom Cairney remain on the books.
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“A lot has changed, I’ve changed, he’s changed,” says Ream. “There are guys that come and go and somehow Tom and I are still here. It says a lot that we could adapt to different styles and coaches.”
There is something relatable about Ream’s resilience over his time at Fulham too, a story of proving people wrong. It conveys respect and he has done it repeatedly. After the appointment of Slavisa Jokanovic in December 2015, the new coach told him that he had no future. “You can take it one of two ways,” Ream told the Fulham Fix podcast.
“You can move on and run away, or you can face up and make it a challenge. Jokanovic made it a challenge for me. To his credit, after that next pre-season, he stopped me in the airport after the tour and told me that I’m not going anywhere, that I’ll have an impact.”
The same mentality has applied on the international stage. He earned 26 caps between 2010 to 2017, before spending time outside of the squad after the failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. He returned in 2019 but then, during World Cup qualifying, he was omitted once more. Last year, his relentless consistency meant that USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter was left with no choice but to select him for Qatar.
Ream has needed to adapt. For his club, he has served five different managers and partnered more than 20 central defenders. Now, he is admired and respected as a Premier League centre-back, one whose virtues in possession were not properly sung before. With Fulham, he has ridden the waves of Symons and Jokanovic, of Claudio Ranieri and Scott Parker, and has found his best form under Silva. There have been ups and downs but the reality of a footballer is that some coaches and styles fit better.“That’s exactly it,” he says. “There are managers where you think, ‘I’m playing but not enjoying it’, or, ‘I’m playing but not being put in positions of strength’. When you have the flip side of the coin and you get to play for a manager, in Marco, who wants to play a certain style and you fit that style, you want to keep it.”
At 36, he is still fighting to evolve and that leaves an imprint.
“I overanalyse the mistakes more than I would have in the past,” he says. “Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, I’ll let everyone else be the judge. It bugs the hell out of me when I make mistakes. That would be the one thing that has changed — before I could just go, ‘There’s tomorrow’. Now, it is, ‘OK, there is tomorrow, but you still have to learn, to adapt, to do well to continue to play’.”Ream comes across as unassuming and polite. His manager says that he is not a vocal leader, but one who leads by example. But you cannot survive at the top level without drive, an inner steel that sits behind his manager’s praise concerning his professionalism and commitment.Regardless of the path he has ahead, Ream has 300 appearances under his belt, and deserves the love he receives at Fulham. He does not need to prove anything to anyone now.
Lennard Maloney’s USMNT call-up inspired by FC Heidenheim’s unlikely success
What a 2023 it has been for Lennard Maloney. On Thursday, the 23-year-old midfield received his first call-up to Gregg Berhalter’s U.S. men’s national team.“Playing for the United States is one of my biggest dreams,” he told AmericanSoccerNow in 2018. “If Germany is possible, I will play for Germany. But somewhere in my heart, I want to play for the United States. I don’t know what it is. It’s just there.”So, an ambition has been realised, but this is just the latest highpoint in a six months full of peaks.Back in June, he was part of FC Heidenheim’s miracle promotion to the German Bundesliga. Since this season began, he has also been ever-present in a team manfully punching above its weight.Heidenheim is just a speck on the map. It is a town deep in south Germany, just north of Munich, that is home to 50,000 people. Its football team is no bigger. They play in a stadium that holds 15,000 and were playing at the fourth level of German football just 15 years ago. To emphasise just how far out of their weight class they currently are, Maloney is actually the first player in club history to be called up to a senior international squad.But this has been a season of firsts. They have never played in the Bundesliga before, but have taken to it well and have begun to bruise some egos. At the beginning of September, Maloney and Heidenheim mounted a stirring comeback against Borussia Dortmund, retrieving a 2-2 draw in the Westfalenstadion. Victory over Werder Bremen followed two weeks later and, most recently, FCH beat Union Berlin 1-0, in a defiant performance against a team who are playing in this season’s Champions League. Union had the better of the chances at Voith Arena, but Maloney was arguably Heidenheim’s best player, as they survived heavy pressure and a siege of crosses.
Maloney’s part in that characterised both who he is as a player and the spirit with which he plays. Nominally a midfielder, he has the build, temperament and awareness to play deeper. As Union attacked the penalty box, he operated as an extra centre-back, dropping into Heidenheim’s defensive line to win header upon header, and help to block up whatever space appeared. The victory was their second of the season and it took them above Werder Bremen, above Borussia Monchengladbach and level on points with Eintracht Frankfurt. It is territory that Heidenheim should not even be in.Maloney has had a circuitous journey to reach this point. He was born in Berlin, to a German mother and a U.S. Air Force veteran father, and joined Union Berlin’s academy when he was 13. He moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2020 but, despite making a Bundesliga appearance — as a substitute for Mats Hummels in the late autumn of 2021 — he would spend those two years with the club’s u23 side, who play in the 3.Liga, Germany’s third tier. Then, in 2022, he joined Heidenheim on a free transfer.Promotion would follow immediately and in scarcely believable fashion. Heidenheim scored a 100th-minute goal in their final game of the 2022-23 season to leapfrog Hamburg and win the 2.Bundesliga. At full time, goalkeeper Kevin Muller held his infant son in his arms and wept. Frank Schmidt, who has coached the team since 2007 and is the longest serving manager in German football history, led a wild and uninhibited celebration as the rest of Germany looked on, rubbing its eyes in disbelief. Almost immediately — universally and not without good cause — they were written off. They would enjoy their time in the top flight, everyone wrote and predicted, but would be no match for the teams within it.That has so far not been the case – and that is the context in which to place Maloney. As a younger player, he was described in progressive terms — as a defensive player who could carry the ball forward and use it well. But he is no artisan at Heidenheim. He is an underdog and a fighter — a fortifying player for whatever needs to be toughened. He does not provide much of an attacking contribution, but that is not his job. Nor will it be why Berhalter has selected him. Instead, he will have watched Maloney function as part of a deep-lying side who defend in numbers, who play quickly and directly up the pitch, and who are developing a reputation for being far harder to beat than they logically should be.Berhalter is seeking players who may be able to fill the shoes of the injured Tyler Adams, who is known for his world-class defensive actions if not for his attacking contributions. Adams, who captained the U.S. in Qatar, did not miss a qualifier in the last World Cup cycle and was considered maybe the most irreplaceable player in the squad, but a hamstring has sidelined him for some time now and a recent setback looks set to keep him out longer.“It gives us an opportunity to have a Plan B when and if Tyler isn’t available,” Berhalter said Thursday.The depth chart behind Adams is hardly set in stone. The only natural No. 6 is 22-year-old Johnny Cardoso, who starts for Internacional in Brazil. Berhalter has deputized Celta de Vigo midfielder Luca de la Torre in the role, but he is more comfortable further up the field. On Thursday, Berhalter acknowledged he may drop Yunus Musah into the deeper No. 6 spot, a role he has played recently at AC Milan, and insert an attacking midfielder like Gio Reyna or Malik Tillman as a more traditional No. 10. But Maloney now gives him another option. Berhalter mentioned that Maloney has the most distance covered in the Bundesliga as a central midfielder, but its the way he embodies Heidenheim’s fight that stuck out.Distilling Maloney’s individual virtues from that team identity is difficult. But that is precisely the point. He is what they need him to be, regardless of what his broader capabilities are. He is a ball-winner and stealer, and a formidable opponent in the air. A brick in their wall.“What really attracted the staff to him is how he plays the game with really a lot of emotion, with a lot of passion,” Berhalter said. “You see him clapping for his teammates, you see him going into tackles, a really committed player, really team-orientated player, and we’re excited to have him into camp and see what he can do.”
USMNT captain Tyler Adams could face surgery on hamstring injury
Bournemouth and USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams could be set for surgery on a hamstring injury.The 24-year-old only made his debut for the Premier League side late last month following his summer move from Leeds United.A hamstring injury had kept him sidelined since March before he came on for his first appearance from the bench against Stoke City in the Carabao Cup on September 27.However, he missed the Premier League game with Arsenal on Saturday with the fear he will now be absent for an extended period with surgery a possibility.The USMNT are next in action against Germany and Ghana later this month and also have a two-legged CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final in November.“Tyler, we don’t expect him soon again with us,” Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said on Friday. “I think the medical staff are analysing the situation. They are asking different specialists to take the best route we have.“We still haven’t decided. But whatever the solution he takes or we take, we don’t expect him soon on the pitch. It’s the same hamstring.“He’s not feeling well. He played some minutes because he wanted to give it a try, but he didn’t have good sensations. Now, we stop because something is not going well.“Because you’ve done all the previous things, so you should be ready to perform now and things are not going well. We have to think of another solution yet. I think even surgery is not out of the question.“It’s a possibility because we have to make sure that once we have him, we have him without any issue. 100 per cent. And I think they are analysing everything now. We have to take a decision.”Bournemouth return to action on Saturday when they face Everton in the Premier League.
U.S. will need to start considering long-term plans without Adams
Analysis from senior soccer writer Paul Tenorio
Losing Tyler Adams is obviously a huge blow for the U.S., which does not have a natural No. 6 behind him on the depth chart capable of anywhere near the sort of contributions that the Bournemouth midfielder brings.U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter prefers the trio of Adams, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah in midfield, but this now opens up the potential for more change in midfield.Berhalter could start Musah as a deeper midfielder and slide Gio Reyna into the starting lineup as a No. 10, but Reyna has also been out for an extended period of time and has yet to play in the Bundesliga this season for Dortmund. Tanner Tessmann and Luca de la Torre are also options to start in midfield, or Malik Tillman could start in an advanced role.Either way, the U.S. will have to start thinking of long-term plans without Adams as they prepare for the 2024 Copa America and 2026 World Cup.(Photo: Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
Leon Goretzka and Thomas Tuchel question Germany friendlies against USMNT and Mexico
Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka and his Bayern Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel have criticised the decision for their national side to play international friendlies in North America just days before returning to Bundesliga action.Julian Nagelsmann will take charge of his first games as the Germany men’s national team coach during the upcoming international break and while his appointment promises an upswing in form, the scheduling is controversial in light of concerns about football’s schedule and the risks of player burnout.
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The game against the USMNT will take place in Connecticut on Saturday at 9pm European time (8pm BST, 3pm ET). Nagelsmann’s Germany will then face Mexico in Philadelphia the following Wednesday at 2am European time (1am BST, Tuesday 8pm ET) two days before the Bundesliga is set to resume when Borussia Dortmund play Werder Bremen on Friday evening.Dortmund trio Mats Hummels, Niklas Sule, and Niclas Fullkrug have all been selected by Nagelsmann and all three will likely be involved in that fixture, less than 48 hours after Germany’s return home.The heaviest criticism, though, has come from Bayern, with Tuchel questioning the Deutscher Fussball Bund’s (DFB, German FA) wisdom in scheduling a trip, with Germany preparing for a home European Championship next summer.“I don’t know if I’d be interested in playing against Mexico in America before a (tournament) in Germany,” Tuchel said. “I don’t know if anyone can explain this in a way that I can understand. I don’t know who decided it, but it has been decided.
“There is a difference between a busy schedule and everything away from home and in different time zones. This is at the end of the endurance. No coach in the world at this level will say otherwise.”
Plans for the trip were first reported on in January 2023, in the aftermath of Germany’s group stage elimination from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The two games were then confirmed in July 2023. During that time, Germany have won just two of their seven games, a run which led to the dismissal of Hansi Flick, who was the first manager to be sacked in the DFB’s history.
While Nagelsmann’s arrival marks the beginning of a new era, however, the negativity surrounding these upcoming games has continued. Following his head coach’s lead, Bayern midfielder Goretzka was similarly critical.
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“It’s not optimal in terms of travel and, above all, I personally find it extremely unfortunate that the second game is at 2 a.m. German time. I can’t really understand that,” he told DAZN.
“As players, we are in a situation where we do what we are told. Of course, we can be critical, but at the end of the day, we are there to perform and accept it in the best possible way.”
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann admitted he would likely have been similarly critical of the tour if he was still in club management, but called on his team to “deal with it in a positive way”.
“From the club coaches’ point of view, since we don’t need to lie around, it’s normal to be critical of the tour,” Nagelsmann said. “I would probably have the same opinion if I was still at the club. It’s a longer flight, but the boys know the stress. Our staff will be determined to ensure that the players come back as fit and healthy as possible. All of us are responsible for the team playing the best football for Germany. So we should use the time we have and deal with it in a positive way.”
It was a curious pairing that raised some eyebrows: FIFA president Gianni Infantino rubbing shoulders with Jerry Jones, the powerful owner of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, on a Sunday afternoon inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.Infantino had been invited by the Texas billionaire to watch his team take on the New York Jets, and it resulted in a rare sighting of the FIFA head in the United States, where 11 cities are preparing to host the World Cup in 2026.It was also a precursor to something more widespread: an operational planning tour to those host cities. The tour was split over two periods, with the first kicking off on Sept. 20 and lasting nine days, during which time a FIFA delegation of “operational experts” visited Miami, Houston, Kansas City, Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia and Toronto. The second leg will begin next month in Dallas, reaching the remaining host cities, and conclude in Vancouver, Canada, by early November, FIFA has said.After initially communicating to local organizers that they should anticipate a September reveal for the sites of the opening match, the final, and other key dates, sources now expect an announcement by FIFA no later than year’s end.The schedule is likely a necessary first step for local organizers, who currently face an impossible task: preparing for the largest World Cup ever, while not knowing how many or which games they’ll be hosting.The 2026 final, which will be played on July 19, remains up for grabs, with several reports alluding to Dallas and New York/New Jersey as favorites to secure the coveted match. Meanwhile in Los Angeles, once a top contender for the final, is apparently at risk of its entire hosting agreement going up in flames.In the interim, here’s a summary on the 11 U.S. host cities and where things may stand with each.Capacity and stadium notes from FIFA.
New York / New Jersey
Stadium: MetLife Stadium
Capacity: 82,500
Previous World Cups: 1994, 1999
New Jersey is no stranger to hosting World Cups.
The small town of East Rutherford, N.J., where MetLife Stadium sits, has welcomed football greats like Pele and Diego Maradona, and was once the home of the New York Cosmos. It hosted games in 1994 and 1999 at the old Giants Stadium, which was demolished in 2010. MetLife was built on an adjacent lot that same year and has since been the site of some major games, like the Copa America Centenario final in 2016, when Lionel Messi infamously quit his national team after falling to Chile in penalties for a second year in a row.
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This past summer, the stadium broke its attendance record for a soccer match with 82,262 fans at a Manchester United vs. Arsenal friendly in July. There’s support for soccer at the state government level: New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and his wife Tammy are longtime part-owners of the NWSL’s Gotham FC.The region has long been expected to be a top contender to host the final given its proximity to New York City and its stadium, which has the third-largest capacity of all 16 venues bookmarked for 2026.
AT&T Stadium is reportedly a candidate to host the final (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Dallas
Stadium: AT&T Stadium
Capacity: 94,000
Previous World Cups: 1994
Dallas has one thing that no other host city can offer – the largest capacity for games.
AT&T Stadium has a capacity of 80,000, but can expand to host an estimated 105,000 spectators. This has set the stage for record-setting crowds since it opened in 2009. That year, the stadium set an NFL attendance record with 105,121 fans. In 2010, the venue set an NBA record for the largest All-Star Game attendance with a crowd of 108,713.
Jerry Jones and the Cowboys are planning an estimated $350 million in upgrades over the next several years – a price tag that includes, among other things, converting the world’s largest center-hung HDTV video board to 4K.
Dallas hosted six World Cup games in 1994, but that was at the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park. AT&T Stadium has hosted soccer, though, including some Gold Cup games this past summer.
SoFi Stadium’s status could be in jeopardy (Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Los Angeles
Stadium: So-Fi Stadium
Capacity: 70,000
Previous World Cups: 1994, 1999, 2003
Los Angeles has long been the popular choice for FIFA when it comes to marquee World Cup games in the United States. The iconic Rose Bowl stadium, which seats upwards of 92,000 fans, was the site of the 1994 and 1999 World Cup finals.
In 2026, matches will be played at SoFi Stadium, which opened in September 2020, making it the newest of all the World Cup venues. However, tensions have risen between FIFA and the Kroenke family (the stadium’s owners), over terms of the agreement to be a host venue as recently as September.
Multiple sources familiar with the discussions have told The Athletic KSE is unhappy with the terms of the deal with respect to how revenue will be shared between FIFA, the cities and the stadiums. Meanwhile, Los Angeles has already been a key fixture of 2026, with FIFA using the City of Angels as the backdrop for the brand reveal for host cities this past May.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium draws big crowds for Atlanta United and other soccer events (Alex Slitz/Getty Images for Premier League)
Atlanta
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Capacity: 75,000
Previous World Cups: 0
He may be biased, but Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens calls his city “the capital of soccer in this nation.” That was after U.S. Soccer announced last month plans to build a national training facility and HQ in the Atlanta area funded in part by a $50 million donation from Atlanta United owner Arthur Blank.
The city’s downtown has several major development projects underway as the 2026 World Cup approaches, with local news organizations describing the boom as the largest concentrated investment in Atlanta’s history. The largest project in that wave is closest to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, called Centennial Yards, and will feature a “mini-city” of hotels, offices, retail and apartments across 50 acres, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported.
NRG Stadium hosting Manchester United (Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Houston
Stadium: NRG Stadium
Capacity: 72,220
Previous World Cups: 0
Houston has become a regular site for international soccer matches, including a friendly between Real Madrid and Manchester United in July and three CONCACAF Gold Cup matches just weeks before that. NRG Stadium was also host to Copa America Centenario games in 2016 and has hosted two Super Bowls in 2004 and 2017.
In December, Houston’s host city committee sent representatives to the World Cup in Qatar, where they took part in an observation program. The goal was to learn more about the operational demands of organizing a World Cup.
Houston is one of the largest cities in America by population – larger than nearby Dallas by about one million. That population is also a diverse one with an appetite for soccer. Census data as of July 1, 2022, estimates the Houston area is 22.6% Black, 6.8% Asian, 44.5% Hispanic or Latino and 24.1% White (alone, not Hispanic or Latino). About 10.8% of the population identified as two or more races. The city’s diverse population has prompted the city to invest in international games, fueling a vibrant soccer culture, organizers said. It’s also why their focus now is on what happens after the World Cup is over.
Seattle Sounders have called Lumen Field home since joining MLS (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Seattle welcomed fans to a Copa America Centenario match in 2016 and has long had one of the most well-attended and vibrant games in MLS when the Seattle Sounders play at Lumen Field.
The city has been particularly transparent about its actions in preparing for the 2026 World Cup. City officials have posted their agreement with FIFA online, shedding a small light onto the usually obscure negotiations between the governing body and host cities. The city’s organizing committee this week also appointed Lisa Chin as its Chief Legacy Officer –a position that, so far, no other host city has invested in.
When the hire was announced, Chin compared the World Cup’s arrival in Seattle to the historic World’s Fair in 1962. The iconic Space Needle was built in the Seattle Center for the fair and has since become a symbol synonymous with the city. Seattle hopes to replicate a similar impact in 2026 – partly by investing in programs like the RAVE Foundation’s “26 by 2026” initiative, which aims to build 26 fields by 2026 in areas where access to free play may be limited.
Hard Rock Stadium has hosted many soccer events (Angel Martinez/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
Miami
Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium
Capacity: 65,000
Previous World Cups: 0
Lionel Messi sent shock waves through the international soccer world when he announced plans to play for Inter Miami in MLS, but it was just the latest in a trend that has seen Miami become a hotbed for global soccer.
The Argentine Football Federation (AFA) is preparing to build its own Miami training facility as it targets a major U.S. expansion. FIFA also has its eyes set on South Florida; the sport’s global governing body had already begun filling its newest U.S. outpost in Coral Gables, near Miami, in preparations for World Cup 2026. Jobs have been posted on LinkedIn at the new location. Then, news broke that FIFA would be relocating more than 100 jobs to Florida from Zurich, mostly its legal department.
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It’s clear that Miami will be a significant stop for FIFA operations in 2026, despite not having the stadium capacity for a final match. The city has bid for the World Cup International Broadcast Center, Media Center and FanFest, according to the Miami Herald.
“The Linc” hosted the Premier League Summer Series in 2023 (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images for Premier League)
Philadelphia
Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field
Capacity: 69,000
Previous World Cups: 2003
Philadelphia only hosted World Cup games in 2003, when the women’s tournament was relocated to the United States from China at the eleventh hour following a SARS outbreak in the original host nation. Philadelphia hosted that year’s opening game between North Korea and Nigeria, as well as several other matches.
The greater Pennsylvania region lays claim to some big soccer names, like Christian Pulisic of the U.S. men’s national team. Hailing from southern New Jersey, Carli Lloyd played her farewell match as a local inside Subaru Park, where the Philadelphia Union plays.
Local organizers say they are aware their infrastructure is limited compared to larger cities like New Jersey and New York or even Dallas. That’s why, they said, they’ve been working closely with their host city neighbors along the East Coast corridor to ensure a seamless transition of fans between games.
Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Ca. (Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
San Francisco / Bay Area
Stadium: Levi’s Stadium
Capacity: 71,000
Previous World Cups: 1994, 1999
The Bay Area will have a very busy 2026 as Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara will host World Cup games and a Super Bowl that same year. The San Francisco 49ers, who call that venue home, are planning to borrow $120 million from the NFL’s stadium fund to upgrade seating and scoreboards ahead of the World Cup games.
The Bay Area has a rich soccer culture and is currently preparing the launch of Bay FC, an NWSL expansion team slated to begin play in 2024. During the World Cups in 2023 and 2024, city officials organized a World Cup Village in San Francisco’s downtown to host public screenings of tournament matches. The event, according to officials, drew more than 12,000 spectators for the men’s tournament in 2022.
Watch parties and activities, like fan festivals, are common in host cities while games are going on. During the 2023 women’s tournament, watch parties in Australia and New Zealand attracted standing-room-only crowds inside FIFA-designated spaces.
Gillette Stadium was built adjacent to old Foxboro Stadium (Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports)
Boston
Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Capacity: 65,000
Previous World Cups: 1994, 1999, 2003
Boston is one of two cities – Los Angeles being the other – that has hosted World Cup games each time the tournament has been played on U.S. soil. The now-demolished Foxboro Stadium was the last place Diego Maradona scored a World Cup goal, and the venue where he was infamously walked off the pitch hand-in-hand with a nurse before failing a drug test.
Though most of the focus has been on 2026, there remains an active bid by U.S. Soccer to host the 2027 women’s tournament jointly with Mexico. A successful run-up to 2026 could be enough to convince FIFA to continue investing in the North American game in places like Boston.
Arrowhead last hosted international soccer in a 2015 Mexico vs. Paraguay friendly (Omar Vega/LatinContent via Getty Images)
Kansas City
Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium
Capacity: 73,000
Previous World Cups: 0
The foundation for soccer in Kansas City is solid. Sporting Kansas City was one of the founding clubs of Major League Soccer and has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into the local soccer scene since. On the women’s side, the Kansas City Current has pushed the envelope on what a professional women’s club can do. Last year, the franchise opened an $18 million training facility. Next year, they plan to open a $120 million riverfront stadium where the team will play – calling it the first sports stadium in the world dedicated solely to a women’s professional sports team.
The city is also known for its loyal – and loud – fandom. Arrowhead Stadium, where World Cup games will be played, is believed to be one of the loudest stadiums in the entire world.
NWSL seeking new media rights deal: What the league should expect
The NWSL is at a crossroads. The league’s three-year media rights deal with CBS wraps up at the end of the year, and commissioner Jessica Berman expects a new deal to be in place by the end of 2023 season.
The stakes of that next deal are significant. Get it right, and the league gets a cash influx, greater connection with fans, and a resulting boost in team valuations and expansion fees. Get it wrong, and not only could games be more inaccessible than they are now, but the NWSL will continue to lag behind other leagues in building a solid financial foundation.
There are lots of questions to address. What’s a fair valuation for the NWSL to expect, especially when we’ve seen MLS and U.S. Soccer command large fees? Should the league prioritize the financials over exposure, or the other way around? What’s the long-term play here?
With the clock winding down on the league’s self-imposed deadline, here’s what we know so far about the decisions the NWSL and its board of governors will have to make in selecting the right media partner (or partners), and what the league’s history of media deals and the overall landscape could indicate.
What we know
Potential rightsholders
CBS, the NWSL’s current English-language partner in the U.S., had an exclusive negotiation period with the league that ended in January, according to NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman. The NWSL has not shared any other rights-holders they may be engaged with.
Sportico reported on Wednesday that ESPN is in the mix for the next deal for the “bulk” of games, with the network’s linear channels and ESPN+ streaming platform as options for distribution, plus the potential of carve-outs for another streaming or linear partner. Sportico didn’t have an estimate of a potential valuation for ESPN or the combination with another broadcast partner, but expected that “the league will likely secure at least 10x its CBS deal,” which would mean at least $15 million a season.
A deal by the end of the season
Earlier this month Berman said the goal was to “be in a position to finalize our media deal in conjunction with the playoffs and the conclusion of our season.” The hope is that viewership numbers spike again for the NWSL Championship — maybe cracking one million for the first time — which would be the league’s best shot to advertise how to watch next season’s games.
Endeavor is involved
Berman and the NWSL front office are working with Endeavor (and subsidiary IMG), which distributes the league’s global media rights. Endeavor is a major player in the sports world — the company has partnerships with the NFL and NHL, owns the professional bullriding league and is the majority owner of WWE and UFC under TKO Group Holdings.
Endeavor also signed a deal earlier this year to become the NWSL’s data and streaming provider, which includes running the streaming platform for the league’s international viewers on the NWSL website.
Media industry issues impacting talks
Before the Challenge Cup final, Berman answered a question about how the current state of the media industry could impact the deal
“It is a tough time for the media industry, it’s extremely fragmented, and there’s cost-cutting measures happening in almost every media property,” Berman said. “That being said, although that dynamic exists and we’re certainly aware of it, we feel really proud of how far we’ve come in the negotiations and we expect to have a great deal that isn’t really inhibited by those external factors.”
Players could benefit
The league’s collective bargaining agreement with the NWSL Players Association says that, if the league becomes profitable for the final three years of the CBA’s term, 10% of any media rights deals will go to player compensation (detailed more thoroughly in section 8.13). That’s a big “if” right now, but it remains a solid win for the PA from a long-term perspective.
Current numbers
The league has shared some viewership metrics updates throughout the year with the public, but they don’t reveal anything about the actual quantity of regular viewership. The latest one of these came in June, stating that “regular season viewers on CBS have increased 21 percent, total unique viewers on Paramount+ has increased more than 50 percent.”
Without the full context, it’s hard to know if this will be enough to truly vault the NWSL into a more financially lucrative media rights deal moving forward.
There’s no true standard for a men’s or women’s sports media rights deal — each is structured differently. The split between linear and streaming broadcasts, which entity covers production costs, editorial support, ad sales…all these and more are up for negotiation.
John Kosner, president of Kosner Media, and Ed Desser, president of Desser Media, are two industry veterans — both worked on the review of the NCAA’s media and sponsorship rights as part of the overall gender equity review of women’s college basketball. They spoke with The Athletic about what, in their view, the NWSL can expect from its next deal.
“You have to be a property that can generate, on average, a million people watching a broadcast if you want to be a true rights-fee sport,” Kosner said. “The traditional big-time deal that everybody wants would be a rights fee, with the (media) entity paying for production. For a variety of reasons having nothing to do with the NWSL, there are fewer and fewer of those to go around now.”
Right now, he said, there’s likely no network that considers the NWSL a “need to have,” but closer to a “nice to have,” and that’s entirely related to its audience size.
There is the reality, too, of a media ecosystem that has historically undervalued women’s sports.
“This traditional model relies on spreadsheets, and there’s circular logic in these spreadsheets right now,” said Colie Edison, the WNBA’s chief growth officer. She presented a hypothetical: a potential TV partner says they won’t give a women’s sports league broadcast windows because the league lacks advertisers. The advertisers won’t partner with the league without broadcast windows. Buyers tell the league that without the advertisers, they don’t get the windows. The cycle can be hard to escape (the good news here for the NWSL is that Ally has been a brand partner willing to step in on the league’s behalf with networks).
“We have to break the mold and introduce a new way to value women’s sports,” Edison continued. “That means pulling on levers around non-traditional aspects, such as who our audiences are, the diversity of our women who are playing, the strong stances they take on social justice, the community activism within our diverse audience spaces. That’s just a little bit of how we need to flip this narrative.”
In addition to the potential path the WNBA offers, there’s another sports property that could offer the NWSL a growth model according to Kosner: Formula 1.
When Liberty Media purchased F1 in 2017, the sport wasn’t pulling in a ton of U.S. viewers on a regular basis, and ESPN showed races without a traditional rights fee in their deal in 2018. However, Liberty was able to leverage the success of Netflix’s “Drive to Survive” series to increase viewership. When ESPN re-upped last year, they signed a three-year term that is worth $75-90 million annually.
F1 and the NWSL aren’t a one-to-one comparison by any stretch, but there is certainly a lesson there — namely, that building an audience in creative ways might mean a bigger payday the next time the NWSL shops around.
“I would argue that the dollar number is less important,” Desser said. “I mean, it’s easy for me to say that getting money isn’t important to your business — of course it is.”
For Desser though, the NWSL is still in its infancy, and just putting games on TV doesn’t guarantee viewers.
“It’s a multi-pronged effort,” he said. “Just getting the shelf space alone doesn’t get it done.”
A cameraperson at an OL Reign game in 2019 (Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The history of NWSL media rights deals
The NWSL’s current $4.5 million deal with CBS was signed ahead of the pandemic (and extended an extra year after COVID-19 upended the season). The league has lost money on this deal because it bears the costs of production for matches.
The league simultaneously signed an agreement with Twitch for their international rights, though that deal ended as originally scheduled following the 2022 season. Both deals were negotiated with the help of sports marketing behemoth Octagon, via a partnership agreement that included media rights consulting and marketing strategy before the league started working with Endeavor.
The CBS deal calls for six games to air on the main linear channel, including the Challenge Cup final and the championship game in primetime. CBS Sports Network airs another 23, including the playoffs, but CBSSN isn’t Nielsen-rated. By 2019, it was available in about 50 million households, but that number has likely decreased since then following a greater trend of cord-cutting. The rest of the matches are on the CBS-owned Paramount+ streaming service, though some also air on CBS’s Golazo network, which is free to watch online.
With the conclusion of the Twitch deal, the league put together some smaller deals with Tigo Sports for free-to-watch Spanish language broadcasts, TSN for distribution of the league in Canada, and DAZN for “non-exclusive broadcasting rights” for some international markets including the UK, Brazil and Spain. In 2023, Endeavor has run free streams for international viewers on the league’s website.
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History will likely judge the Twitch partnership to be a bust, especially when the platform stopped promoting the league on its homepage.
CBS has had its pros and cons, but overall has felt underwhelming. If not for league sponsor Ally stepping in to force the issue, the NWSL never would have swung a primetime slot for the Championship. CBS has collected plenty of soccer rights, and they have built out some programming around the league (such as Attacking Third), but the NWSL has never been its marquee property by any stretch.
Before CBS, the NWSL had only managed a short-term deal with ESPN for the back half of its 2019 season. The league needed that short-term deal after ending its partnership with A+E, which included an equity stake, a year early (disclosure: I worked for A&E and the NWSL’s joint media venture during this partnership).
Before that partnership, which ran from 2017 to 2019, the NWSL had one-year agreements since the inaugural season of the league in 2013, either with FOX Sports or ESPN.
ESPN’s deal for the WNBA comes in addition to a deal with Ion Network (David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)
The sports landscape
The MLS deal with Apple is huge ($2.5 billion, for 10 years), but it should not set expectations for the NWSL.
“It gave (MLS) an opportunity to leapfrog on revenues,” Desser said. “But they had to trade off exposure in the process.” Both experts said the NWSL still has to do the opposite in the interest of its long-term trajectory.
The NWSL could look to the WNBA as a benchmark, though Desser notes that “it’s been a long, hard road” for that league. Only after over 25 years has it reached a level where it’s “accepted in the pantheon of significant properties,” as Desser said.
Earlier this year, the WNBA signed a multi-year deal to air games on Ion Network for $13 million a year. Ratings have been up for the WNBA across the ESPN/ABC platforms, but Ion Network allows the league to build appointment viewership with its fans — and it will help the WNBA be in a stronger position to negotiate with ESPN when their current deal ends after the 2025 season.
“We understand that cable models are breaking down from declining subscribers,” Edison said about the Ion deal. “We took a bold move to go back to an over-the-air model with Ion. We’re in over 110 million homes on the fifth-largest network in the country. We’re seeing those numbers in viewership prove the point that you must reach your audience and your fans where they are.”
There are other women’s sports properties currently looking to upgrade or start their media rights deals, too, from the LPGA to the PWHL, the new women’s hockey league. Across the board though, the theme is that women’s sports viewers can be left frustrated by cost-cutting measures.
And above all of this? The NFL still rules all.
“Budgets are shrinking,” Desser said. “You’re trying to get a bigger drink of water out of a slowing flow. This is the reality, and this is at a time when the NFL just got a 40% raise. So talk about taking the water out of the pond.”
The NWSL will have to earn it
Viewership of women’s sports is on the rise across the board. According to Nielsen, the demand is there — the larger challenges are still access and lack of information. “To satisfy this demand, broadcasters need to prioritize women’s sports, make them more discoverable and promote them enthusiastically,” a 2023 report concludes.
“People look at the growth of women’s soccer, the excitement about the World Cup, and say, ‘Okay, it’s just gonna happen now for us.’ Our experience is that’s not the case,” Kosner said. “It doesn’t mean that it can’t be built, that it can’t be successful, but there’s a ton of hard work to do.”
That 915,000 viewer mark for last year’s Championship — up against the World Series and college football, to boot — is a strong data point for the NWSL, but it’s only a single data point. The NWSL does have to make some sort of financial jump in their rights fee, while hopefully keeping the term fairly short so they can go back out to the marketplace again in the next few years with an even stronger audience.
The NWSL is going to have to break through existing biases around women’s sports to show potential partners that there is a waiting, untapped market to watch the NWSL — and that they can be a part of growing that audience.
Man I missed Champions League – So excited to have it back this week. Huge upsets yesterday at Arsenal and Man United lose on Tuesday. Here are the Standings as we head to the Wednesday games. Of course Wed it’s the ALL-AMERICAN game as Dortmund and Gio Reyna host AC Milan and Christian Pulisic and Musah at 3 pm on Paramount plus. Unimas has Atletico Madrid vs Feyenoord at 12:45 pm Wed while Porto vs Barcelona will be on Univision at 3 pm. The biggest game is probably New Castle United hosting PSG as the 2 Oil Money teams go head to head at 3 pm on Paramount plus. CBS Sports Network has the Pregame at 2 pm and post game shows at 5 pm – while they will have Celtic hosting Lazio at 3 pm.
MLS
Miami plays at Chicago tonight with 60K on hand – but no one knows if Messi will play or not – as he has been out basically since he got injured with Argentina 2 weeks ago. Miami needs wins tonight and Saturday if they hope to slip in as the last place team in the Eastern Conference for the playoffs.
Indy 11
Indy Eleven scored three goals at The Mike to defeat Detroit City FC 3-0, and clinched a USL Championship Playoff spot. This will be the third appearance in the USL Championship Playoffs and the first since 2019 for the Boys in Blue. Indy Eleven now sits at 12-11-9 Next up, The Boys in Blue will travel to FC Tulsa on Saturday, October 7, 2023. Kickoff is primed for 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ before wrapping up the season at San Antonio and former GK Jordan Farr next Saturday 8:30 pm on MyIndyTV 23 & ESPN+.
High School Playoffs
At 13-1-2 the Carmel High School Boys are still #1 in the Nation on Max Preps and tops in the state with defending champs Noblesville just behind in 3rd. The Boys are in regional play this week in as they face Zionsville 12-4-1 at Zionsville this afternoon at 5:30 pm. The Carmel ladies are #1 in the state at 13-0-3 with Fishers and Noblesville right behind as Carmel is hosting sectionals this week at Murray Stadium. They beat Attucks 9-0. Carmel plays Westfield Thurs night at 5:30 pm before possibly facing Zionsville for the Championship on Sat night at 7 pm. Get out and catch some high school soccer playoffs this week – we have two of the very best teams in the country right here in Carmel.
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Expanded MLS playoff format puts the league at risk of complacency: MLS Weekly
The Athletic Soccer staffct 2, 2023
Welcome to Week 27 of our staff column collecting news, insights, and highlights from around Major League Soccer.
With just a few weeks left in the regular season, all but two teams remain in the hunt for a playoff spot. By choosing to expand its postseason this year so that 18 of 29 teams make the playoffs — 62% of the league — MLS hoped to engage more of its fan bases for longer. Never mind that the majority of teams were in the playoff picture late into last season, too. The hope was that maybe they could squeeze a few more teams into the picture and, more importantly, a few more games into the playoffs.
Is this really what a league should want, though?Playoffs are supposed to be a reward. It’s validation that a team is headed in the right direction, or that it put together a solid roster. The idea is that you earn a chance to win a championship. That is not what MLS is giving us. More importantly, failing to make the playoffs is crucial to increasing competitiveness on the field. It increases the intensity of games and pushes owners to invest more in their teams to ensure they have a playoff-worthy squad.If you went to fans of teams fighting for the eighth and ninth playoff spots, I wonder how many of them would want their teams to sneak into the playoffs rather than face the consequences of poor seasons? How many owners are going to use back-dooring into the eighth or ninth seed as a reason for not changing their investment approach, or for not making needed changes to a front office? How many sporting directors or coaches are going to use finishing in 18th place — or even 19th or 20th place — in a 29-team league as justification for a “satisfactory” approach to the season?“We made the playoffs. We were right there in the end.”The Chicago Fire lost five of seven games since returning from the Leagues Cup break. It is a reflection of the roster it built. The Fire beat a similarly bad New York Red Bulls team, 1-0, on Saturday night and suddenly it’s one point out of a playoff spot.New York City FC went from late April until mid-August winning just one MLS game. A record of 1-8-8 in that stretch. They are seven points out of what would have been the playoffs last season, a reflection of that horrid run of form. But right now they’re the eighth seed and we’re being asked to get excited to watch them in the postseason later this month.Minnesota United has won one of its last eight games. In last season’s format, Minnesota would be five points out of a playoff spot, evidence of an already-forgiving format that would have given the club plenty to play for into the final weeks, even if it still missed the postseason. This year? Minnesota is just one win away from a playoff spot.
The silver lining for MLS is that Inter Miami and Lionel Messi are alive because of the expanded format. But even that spotlights how easy it is to get into the postseason. Inter Miami was in last place before Messi arrived. He played in four MLS games and Miami went 3-0-1 in those games. Now, with its star out due to injury, Miami has been able to stay alive in the race with two draws in its last two games. They are four points out of the playoffs with four games remaining.
There is no doubt that the play-in game will be competitive and fun to watch. Knockout games bring a different sort of energy, as was evidenced at MLS is Back and the Leagues Cup. And we know the knockout games in the MLS playoffs are almost always entertaining. But it seems MLS keeps inventing ways to create do-or-die games without giving enough consideration to how a smaller playoff pool might up the intensity of the bulk of its product: the MLS regular season.ADVERTISEMENT
Are the two knockout games worth decreasing the value of the regular season so much that the 26th and 27th-ranked teams in MLS are still alive for the playoffs with just a couple of games left on the schedule?
MLS execs claim that when you look back on a season, every game matters. Sure. That’s fine. But we don’t watch sports in hindsight. Sporting Kansas City failed to win in its first 10 games of the season. Anywhere else in the world, that form is fatal. In MLS, it’s shrug-worthy. If a fan knows their team can fail to register its first win until May, like SKC, or can win one game from July 8 through Oct. 1, like D.C. United, and still have a playoff shot, why should they bother tuning in or showing up until those final weeks?
Yes, paring back the postseason means you would be forced to sacrifice inventory from the playoffs. But the hope is that in doing so you increase the importance of the entire regular season.The league wants to increase national interest in the product. It needs to find a way to get Portland fans to care about Austin-Real Salt Lake games, or Red Bulls fans to tune in to Orlando City–Charlotte FC games. It has to entice sports fans in Chicago to watch a Fire game in the summer, or New York fans to skip a Mets game to watch NYCFC. Exactly what kind of narrative are they selling that compels those fans to care? The on-field product is behind the top leagues in the world and the stakes don’t feel real until the final few weeks of the regular season.Instead of putting so much focus into developing the Leagues Cup, MLS would be smart to study whether slimming the playoffs down would help the competitiveness of its product by increasing the value of every win and thus enticing owners to invest more in the product to give their teams a better chance of making the cut. —Paul Tenorio
On Saturday, FC Cincinnati completed a remarkable turnaround that seemed unfathomable two seasons ago. Upon entering the league as an expansion side in 2019, Cincinnati quickly became an MLS laughing stock. In its first three years in MLS, Cincinnati managed just 14 wins from 91 matches. There was consistent turnover within the front office and on the touchline. Instability and a lack of vision left the club languishing in last place.But Cincinnati is now the best team in MLS. They’ve claimed their first Supporters’ Shield and first-ever MLS trophy (that isn’t wooden) after defeating Toronto FC 3-2. Under head coach Pat Noonan and general manager Chris Albright, Cincinnati has erased its previous losing mentality and replaced it with a championship culture. Even with a postseason spot locked up, the team is still chasing records. Cincinnati could overtake New England Revolution’s 2021 points record by winning its final three games and reaching 74 points. In February during the MLS preseason, Noonan spoke with The Athletic and explained why he took the job in the first place.“If you can look past (the previous seasons) you see the infrastructure, and after meeting with ownership you see the ambition,” he said. “You have a great training facility, a world-class stadium and you have the resources. At that point, it’s just a matter of getting the right people in the building to move it in the right direction.”Cincinnati is now headed toward the playoffs as the number one overall seed. They have a league MVP candidate in Lucho Acosta, a reliable center forward in Brandon Vazquez and a balanced style of play that’s perfectly suited for success in MLS. After the win in Toronto, Noonan referred to the Supporters’ Shield conquest as “a special moment for the club.” Asked if he thought it was possible when he took over last season, Noonan flashed a rare smile and revealed what is perhaps the secret to Cincinnati’s change in fortune: confidence.“You think it’s possible,” said Noonan. “Your ego, the belief always has you thinking big. Our entire technical staff, the front office, everybody. Over the two years, we’ve become so strong as a group that this was a possibility. Hopefully, it’s the beginning of more success and more trophies for this club.” — Felipe Cardenas
Sorry, St. Louis. We were wrong.
With a 4-1 win over rival Sporting KC on Saturday, St. Louis City SC broke LAFC’s record for most wins in an expansion season and became the first expansion team to win a conference crown.
With 56 points, St. Louis is just two points away from surpassing the 2018 LAFC team for most points in an expansion season. It’s a remarkable achievement for a team many picked to finish last in MLS in its first year in the league.
“You can check these boxes now, you can check a few things off the list,” head coach Bradley Carnell told reporters after Saturday’s win. “But we wanna keep on going now. We need a couple of more points to make 58 points, I believe, to make our own.”St. Louis started off the year with five wins in its first five games, and that success proved to not be an anomaly. They’ve continued to find ways to win despite having a roster that lacks a bonafide star. João Klauss and Nico Gioacchini have 10 goals apiece, while Eduard Lowen has 14 assists. A huge amount of credit goes to Carnell, who had success as an interim manager with the New York Red Bulls and has shown his high-pressing system translates to St. Louis, as well.It will be interesting to see how St. Louis can continue to push through in the playoffs. Since the midway point of the season, They are 0-4-2 against teams in the top-7 in their respective conference, with wins over San Jose (8th), Colorado (14th), Toronto (14th), Miami (13th), Austin (12th), Dallas (9th), Minnesota (11th) and Sporting KC (10th). In fact, just five of their 17 wins have come against top-7 teams this year — none since June 4. They have taken care of business against other teams, though, at a better pace than any other rival in the West, and they will enjoy home-field advantage in the playoffs. St. Louis is 11-3-2 at home.
History shows that even the best expansion teams haven’t been guaranteed anything once the playoffs start. LAFC went in as a No. 3 seed in the playoffs in that 2018 expansion season but lost to sixth-seeded RSL in the knockout round. Atlanta United was also eliminated in the knockout rounds of its successful expansion season in penalties to Columbus. Will St. Louis City be able to surpass those teams as the most successful expansion team of the modern era? — Tenorio
The newly bloated playoff picture has kept several teams in the hunt during the season’s final weeks, as Paul has already mentioned, whether they look like a team deserving of playing into November or not.
This weekend had a few high-stakes games featuring flawed playoff contenders, but LA Galaxy’s match against the Portland Timbers sums the state of the homestretch up nicely. You could forgive the home support congregated in Carson, California if they were surprised to still have a chance at a postseason berth given the team’s maddening form, the number of injuries to key players (including, at present, Riqui Puig) and the summer transfer ban. You could also forgive supporters of visiting Portland for a similar level of shock after a woeful summer swoon led to Giovanni Savarese’s dismissal.
And yet, the fact that Portland entered Saturday ranked sixth in the West while the Galaxy was only seven points out of the final play-in spot led to a wildly entertaining affair. LA center back Eriq Zavaleta was at the heart of an exciting 3-3 draw. Despite last scoring an MLS goal on April 21, 2017, the El Salvador international managed to net a brace for his team while gifting the Timbers with an own goal in between his intentional tallies. The matchup between Dairon Asprilla and Raheem Edwards featured plenty of technical tricks and back-and-forth springs, with each man netting an assist for their efforts.A tie was ultimately a fair result as neither team looked demonstrably better than the other. The point will be worth far more for Portland’s playoff hopes than the Galaxy’s, who may now need to win three of its last four games to have a hope of surpassing Dallas for ninth place. It also extended the Timbers’ strong response since Savarese’s departure, having won five and drawn two in eight games under interim coach Miles Joseph. In the end, it was another worthy installment of #MLSAfterDark. — Jeff Rueter
Trouble in Austin?
When Rodolfo Borrell left Manchester City to become Austin FC’s sporting director over the summer, head coach Josh Wolff was a big reason why. Speaking to The Athletic’s Pablo Maurer in July, Borrell, who most recently was an assistant under Pep Guardiola, believed Wolff and the positional style of play he has tried to incorporate at the club were ideal fits with his own sporting background.
“If Josh wouldn’t have been the head coach right now I would not be joining Austin FC,” Borrell said. “If I thought the style of play at Austin was too far from what I believe in, I would not have joined. That’s the reality. I am not just trying to play nice with Josh.”
Wolff on the sideline during a game between FC Dallas and Austin FC. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
There’s a new reality, however. Austin has not won a match since July 15th. Last week, the hashtag “Wolff Out” was circulating on social media platform X (formally Twitter). Austin’s current winless streak stretched to 10 games after Saturday’s loss to the Colorado Rapids. Their football has become uninspiring after expectations skyrocketed with last season’s success.
Austin was poor in its inaugural season in 2021 but improved radically in 2022. They finished second in the Western Conference and battled for the Supporters’ Shield. Star attacker Sebastián Driussi finished second in the MVP race after scoring 22 goals. Driussi’s output in 2023 exemplifies Austin’s struggles. The Argentine has had a quiet season, scoring 10 goals and adding just three assists.
From the outside, one would assume that Borrell’s confidence in Wolff has been shaken. Borrell comes from Barcelona’s school of football, so anyone who coaches in Austin will have to be a very specific fit. On the other hand, Borrell may view Austin’s talent on the pitch as a bigger problem, and continue to have faith in Wolff. How Borrell chooses to fix Austin will be one of the bigger stories of the MLS offseason. – Cardenas
MLS music to your ears
In September, we ran a survey to see how viewers are consuming MLS Season Pass’ debut campaign. Over 4,000 people took time to answer questions about the new platform, spanning topics from the glossy new visuals to how Messi’s arrival has impacted coverage of their favorite teams. While the full results are still to come, here’s a preview of who viewers’ favorite play-by-play announcers and color commentators were.
Provided a list of the 19 most commonly deployed play-by-play voices, fans deemed Adrian Healey to be their favorite in a fairly balanced contest. Healey was the main voice of ESPN’s MLS coverage from 2011 to 2018 before becoming the voice of Austin FC for the club’s first two seasons. The other seven commentators to garner at least 5% of the vote mainly worked on local, club-specific broadcasts before the Apple deal: Kevin Egan (Atlanta), Callum Williams (Kansas City and Minnesota), Max Bretos (LAFC), Jake Zivin (Portland), Keith Costigan (Seattle), Steve Cangialosi (New York Red Bulls) and Chris Wittyngham (Miami).
The competition was less balanced when it came to color commentators, with the platform’s lead analyst Taylor Twellman commanding 28.6% of the vote. Fellow former United States international Maurice Edu was next, while a quartet of former team-specific analysts rounded out the pack with at least 5% of votes: Danny Higginbotham (Philadelphia), Kyndra de St. Aubin (Minnesota), Brian Dunseth (Real Salt Lake) and Lloyd Sam (Charlotte).
For all the fresh faces and innovation on offer, it turns out that fans may just want to run back ESPN’s main MLS partnership from 2012 through 2018. — Rueter
Once again, Messi watched Inter Miami from the sideline. The international superstar has sat four of the Florida team’s last five matches. It begs the question: As Miami’s MLS season hangs in the balance, when will Messi play again?
Miami has managed two draws without Messi in MLS, but fell to the Houston Dynamo midweek in the U.S Open Cup final. Pablo shared a behind-the-scenes look at the Dynamo’s triumphant U.S. Open Cup campaign. (Ed. Note: His next assignment is finding out if Héctor Herrera successfully pressured Houston owner Ted Segal into buying each player a Rolex.)
One weird thing
Fans of teams in England’s pyramid system have been adjusting to a new rule this season which bans the use of towels before a player executes a throw-in. The idea is simple: full minutes were wasted as teams prepared their heaves, and fans seldom buy tickets to check on which linens each team prefers. However, Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro showed off the entertainment potential that the FA has cast aside.The Uruguayan was allowed to retake his attempt instead of being charged with a foul throw. His redo’s eventual target? The side netting of Nashville’s goal. — Rueter
(Top photos: Nick Turchiaro and Ron Chenoy, USA Today Sports)
When will Messi play again? Inter Miami’s MLS season hangs in the balance
As the Inter Miami players filtered off the team bus and out to the field at DRV PNK Stadium on Wednesday night and Lionel Messi was not among those to disembark, the reality started to hit: If Miami wanted to win its second trophy of the year, it would have to do so without its biggest star.
Messi, wearing a black, short-sleeved button-down shirt and black jeans, arrived with his family 20 minutes later. But even with the star in the building, Inter Miami fans were left to wonder: Just how long will his absence continue, and exactly how much will the Herons have to accomplish without the transcendent player that turned around the season?
Inter Miami clearly missed Messi on the field in the U.S. Open Cup final against the Houston Dynamo. They lacked bite in the final third for much of the game, and without having to worry about Messi — or left back Jordi Alba, who sat near Messi in a pitchside suite — the Dynamo controlled much of the first hour of the game before surviving Miami’s late push and taking the Open Cup trophy with a 2-1 win.
“It was not prudent for him to play,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said of Messi after the loss. “Too risky, even for a few minutes. He will play in league games going forward, but will go game-by-game based on what the medical team tells us.”
That Miami played for two trophies this season and won one — the club’s first in its short history — most definitely is a huge accomplishment and speaks to Messi’s impact. But now, the final and most difficult task lies ahead. Inter Miami must continue its climb from the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings if it wants to make the playoffs. Inter Miami currently sits in 14th place in MLS’ Eastern Conference, 10 points ahead of woeful Toronto FC, but still five points shy of ninth place and a spot in the postseason play-in game, albeit with games in hand on most of the teams ahead of them.
For now, there’s not much information to go off of when it comes to Messi’s health. The team has repeatedly referred to the issue as “muscle fatigue” without ever calling it an injury or indicating the specific muscle that is giving Messi trouble. But Martino said earlier this week that the team was very much focused on fighting its way to the postseason.
“Obviously the league objective was the most difficult one,” Martino said on Tuesday ahead of the Open Cup final. “But where we are right now, we’re going to keep trying (to make the playoffs).”
Inter Miami has five games remaining in the regular season, including three over the next 10 days, all against Eastern Conference foes. They host NYCFC on Sept. 30, travel to Chicago to play in front of a massive crowd at Soldier Field on Oct. 4 and then host first-place FC Cincinnati on Oct. 7.
The team will then get a welcome break for the October international window, though as the September break showed, multiple Inter Miami players could be away with their respective national teams. Argentina plays Paraguay and Peru in its qualifiers, though it would be unlikely that they would call Messi if he is unable to play for Inter in those three league games leading into the window.
Miami then closes the season with what is essentially a home-and-home with Charlotte FC: a rescheduled game on Oct. 18 in Fort Lauderdale followed by the season-ending game in Charlotte on Decision Day, the last day of MLS’ regular season, on Oct. 21.
Notably, Miami sits just one point behind Charlotte in the Eastern Conference standings, which means those final two games could determine whether or not Miami makes the playoffs. Adding another layer of intrigue is the fact that Charlotte plays on artificial turf, which means Messi might be forced to play on that surface if Miami needs the points to get into the postseason. (Messi said last month that he would have no issues playing on an artificial surface, but did not play in Atlanta due to the aforementioned muscle fatigue.)
When Messi returns to the field will hold huge sway over the playoff picture.
On Tuesday, Messi’s longtime teammate Sergio Busquets said that every day ahead of the final gave more of a chance for Messi to recover and play a role. That, like Martino’s comments post-match, seemed to indicate that Messi’s injury is not severe enough to limit him long-term. But with the October international break two weeks away, Inter Miami may be tempted to shut Messi down until those final two games of the season to see if they can get a full-strength Messi back for the two Charlotte games, and then potentially a playoff run.
At the bare minimum, Martino said on both Tuesday and Wednesday that the team wasn’t yet contemplating shutting Messi down for the season.
“In reality, it doesn’t occur to us that he wouldn’t play the rest of the year,” Martino said on Tuesday. “If we’re here evaluating whether he can play tomorrow or not, in no way are we thinking that he might miss the rest of the league’s games. Of course, the possibility exists that the medical department tells us that we’d be running a risk, we’d eventually decide not to run those risks. But as of today, we don’t consider that possibility of him missing those games.”
That decision becomes a bit more complicated, though, depending on Miami’s results over the next 10 days. If Miami does opt to shut Messi down until after the October international window, Miami could find itself out of the playoff picture by the time those final two games of the season roll around. And if the playoffs are out of the question, it might not be worth it to risk Messi playing in two meaningless games.
It’s worth noting that Argentina plays two crucial World Cup qualifiers in the November international window, however, visiting Brazil on Nov. 20 and then hosting Chile on Nov. 24. Messi will likely be motivated to get fit and return to the field for those games.
The start of Messi’s time in MLS was a dream: 10 goals in his first seven games to win the inaugural Leagues Cup trophy. That run of so many games in a short amount of time, however, caught up to the 36-year-old.
The hope, now, is that the end doesn’t feel more like a nightmare: the loss in the Open Cup final, Messi potentially missing the majority of the remainder of the season and Inter Miami falling short of the playoffs.
Yes, it was a big weekend for a number of American players including Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Lennard Maloney, Malik Tillman, and Kevin Paredes. But the latest news on Tyler Adams set a negative tone around everything. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta digs deep for all the news & games involving Americans abroad this weekend and breaks it all down for you.
BY BRIAN SCIARETTAPOSTED OCTOBER 01, 2023 10:05 PM
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THE WEEKEND FOR Americans abroad had a lot of ups and downs. Yes, the big games from Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, and a few others were very good. But there is no getting past the reinjury to Tyler Adams, which left a cloud over everything this weekend. Even as he beings rehabbing, there are now lingering questions moving forward why he can’t stay healthy.
Overall, there are more positive stories to start this season. Pulisic is finally doing well and at a place where he is appreciated. The same is the case for Sergino Dest (who is getting over an illness). But if you go through many of the key players, there is still a lack of playing time. Players like Ricardo Pepi, Brenden Aaronson, Tim Weah, Joe Scally, Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, and Josh Sargent are either injured or struggling to see the field.
Unfortunately, that was a big theme this weekend.
Here are my thoughts on it all.
ADAMS SUFFERS REINJURY
Big story this weekend was the unfortunate news that Tyler Adams has suffered a reinjury following his 20-minute midweek shift for AFC Bournemouth in a 2-0 win over Stoke City in the Carabao Cup. That was his club debut for Bournemouth and his first performance since his initial hamstring injury in March.
Following Bournemouth’s 4-0 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday, manager
Andoni Iraola spoke to theBournemouth Echo about Adams, who was not on the matchday roster.
“I don’t know what to call it, a setback, but he is not feeling well,” Iraola said. “He has been out for a lot of time, so we have to reassess, to reset, to take the good decisions, thinking in everything. It is true that he is going to be out for some time, for sure. I think it’s the same area. I couldn’t tell you if it’s exactly the same point, but it’s true that it’s his hamstring that he is not feeling well.”
This is terrible news as Adams had been rehabbing his hamstring for months and there were reports of a setback earlier the summer. Now, following just 20 minutes, he is back on the sidelines for another extended period.
For Bournemouth, this is terrible news because the club could very easily find itself in a relegation battle and Adams is the type of player they need to push towards midtable. His absence at Leeds was a huge reason for the club’s downfall in the final months. But with a reinjury, how cautious will Bournemouth be with him once he is ready?
For the U.S. national team, it is not quite as bad. Yes, the club has Nations League games in November, but the next time the team truly needs Adams will be next summer for the Copa America. There is plenty of time for him to return for that. He is also so familiar with his team that he can walk back into the team after an absence of over a year.
Now the U.S. will be forced to address the always lingering question over who is the backup for Adams? Last cycle it was Kellyn Acosta with Johnny Cardoso in consideration. Recently it has been shifting Yunus Musah deeper. Likely for the remainder of 2023, Gregg Berhalter will need to explore this.
But the long-term worry over Adams is very real. When he first moved to Leipzig, he missed several months with an injury. Then there have been other minor absences. Now there is a hamstring pull and an immediate reinjury. It does hurt his reputation as being unreliable. The worst news would be if Bournemouth goes down after this season. Adams might have to go down with them.
PULISIC ENJOYS BIG OUTING
On Saturday in Serie A, AC Milan cruised to a 2-0 win over Lazio to move to 18 points from seven games (six wins and a loss). Christian Pulisic started and played 82 minutes while Yunus Musah came off the bench in the 29th minute to replace an injured Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Pulisic scored the opening goal in the 60th minute on a play that was an excellent finish but also an even better reading of the defense.
Especially, look at the moment when Pulisic is just outside the penalty area. Lazio left back Elseid Hysaj (#23) clearly thought he had Pulisic figured out. He assumed Pulisic was going to make a direct run to the far post and Hysaj was content he could win that race to the back post and cut off a cross. But that thinking turned into ball watching and Hysaj didn’t bother to pick up Pulisic’s other option to the middle. Pulisic rand towards the middle of the box, behind the defense, near the penalty spot and was wide open for a shot.
It was an excellent read by Pulisic and another big impact game for him at Milan. He started the season very strong in the first three games, was quiet for a few games, and now has had two more big games in a row. In his first two months at the club, AC Milan are surely happy with their purchase.
AC Milan are likely very happy with the purchase of Musah as well. He’s a bit more raw than Pulisic and it is a process getting him towards extended minutes, but he’s getting there. His minutes are gradually increasing and the team is playing better when he’s on the field. His dribble is particularly useful in opening up the games for others as he draws defenders towards him to create space which he can either exploit or it gives him more room to find teammates in more dangerous areas.
BALOGUN’S BIG REBOUND
I said last week that we were going to learn a lot about Folarin Balogun in the weeks ahead. Last weekend in Monaco’s 1-0 loss to Nice, Balogun missed two penalties and was visibly frustrated. It was the worst game of his young professional career, and we hadn’t seen him tested like this mentally.
On Saturday at home against Marseille, he responded with one of his best performances, so far. The New York-born Balogun, 21, ended up scoring a goal and adding an assist in a big 3-2 win. He was the best player on the field this day.
With Monaco trailing 2-1 in the 23rd minute, Balogun found an equalizer on a fantastic run, move, and finish where he beat three Marseille defenders.
Overall, the talent and the skill Balogun showed in this game was extremely impressive. But the mentality to quickly move beyond a terrible game and then play at your best was even more important. It is a skill that the best forwards have. They don’t let a bad game put them into a funk.
BROOKS STRUGGLES, GIO UNUSED ON FRIDAY
On Friday in the Bundesliga, Hoffenheim dropped a 3-1 decision at home to Borussia Dortmund. Both teams were high in the table entering the day with Hoffenheim in sixth and Dortmund in fifth. In the end, this turned out to be a tough day at the office for three Americans.
First for Hoffenheim’s American manager Pellegrino Matarazzo, this was a winnable game. After starting the season so well, there were hopes Hoffenheim could prevail against a top Bundesliga team at tome.
Second, for John Brooks, he was completely at fault for the opening goal in the 18th minute. The second Dortmund goal was due to confusion among Hoffenheim defenders and Brooks was in position to make a clearance but may have been called off by a goalkeeper. In the end, he went 84 minutes in the loss. Brooks is on the outside of the national team and this won’t help him.
Then there is Gio Reyna who was an unused substitute again for the third straight game and he is yet to play for Dortmund this season. Dortmund wasn’t great in this game, but thanks to Hoffenheim mistakes, it was a great result and that makes it harder for Reyna to play. Manager Edin Terzic seems unlikely to change a winning formula.
TILLMAN’S NICE DAY AT THE OFFICE
It was expected that Eredivisie-leading PSV Eindhoven would have an easy time on Saturday against last-place and winless Volendam. In the end, that happened as PSV won 3-1 to remain perfect with 21 points from seven games, while Volendam now has just one point from seven games.
What was a bit surprising was that American Malik Tillman was the man of the match in this game for PSV with an impressive goal and an assist. It was even more surprising because just last week, he was dropped from the matchday roster due to oversleeping. But Peter Bosz decided not for an extended punishment for Tillman and gave him a surprising start.
In the 47th minute, Tillman delivered a fantastic assist to Guus Til with a lovely chip over the defense for a 2-0 PSV lead.
Then in the last minute of stoppage time with Volendam down to 10 players, Tillman added a goal when he moved into the box and fired a shot past a frozen goalkeeper.
But this was a great outing for Tillman to establish a role at PSV that will include more playing time. Yes, Volendam is bad, but this was a starting point and Tillman showed up.
Sergino Dest returned from missing a midweek game due to illness to make the bench but he did not play. Ricardo Pepi played the final 20 minutes for PSV and it was uneventful for him. Eventually he will play more, but that will only come when Bosz realizes there is a need to rotate Luuk de Jong. That point will eventually come and Pepi has done enough to at least start building positive trust with Bosz.
Another bit of good news on the American front in this game is that Zach Booth was strong for Volendam when he played the final 18 months off the bench. He only had two completed passes ( but was 2/2) but he was also 2/2 in his dribbles, 2/2 in his tackles, and was 6/7 in his ground duels.
With Volendam struggling so badly, it’s only a matter of time before they give Booth a shot to try something different. He’s at the club on loan from Leicester but if the club wants to make a battle to avoid relegation, they need to mix things up.
Booth, along with his older brother Zach, are eligible for the U.S. Olympic team. Zach is injured at the moment but it will be interesting to see if Zach gets a look with the team in the upcoming camps.
PAREDES SHARP OFF THE BENCH
On Saturday, Wolfsburg defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 and two members of the 2003-born American class came off the bench.
With the score 1-0, Kevin Paredes came off the bench for Wolfsburg in the 79th minute and Paxten Aaronson came off the bench in the 82nd minute.
In the 84th minute, Paredes made a move into the box and drew a penalty which was converted by Jonas Wind for his second of the game and a 2-0 lead.
Paredes has had some very good moments off the bench over the past year and a half but has been unable to earn many starting opportunities. What is going to get him to that point? Will it take a loan, will it just take reps? At what point, what is the plan for Wolfsburg to help Paredes with the next step?
For Aaronson, his eight minutes off the bench were relatively uneventful but he has at least been earning the occasional start. Again, is a loan in the cards for him?
Internationally, both of these players have the talent to be on the U.S. national team but both would benefit tremendously from leading the Olympic team. But the big question is whether their clubs would entertain a release.
MALONEY & HEIDENHEIM STUN UNION BERLIN
On Saturday in the Bundesliga, FC Heidenheim stunned Union Berlin 1-0 to move to ninth place with seven points from six games. Entering into this season, few gave Heidenheim a chance to survive in its first ever season in the top flight (and was an amateur club into the mid 90’s). While in some games, the club struggles, it is also managing to pick off some big wins here and there. Saturday against Union Berlin was one of those days.
In the 1-0 win over Union Berlin, American defensive midfielder Lennard Maloney, 23, went a full 90. It turned out to be one of the best performances of his career because he played to his strengths of winning duels, aerials, and shielding the backline.
Maloney was 37/45 in passing over 64 touches with 4/7 in long balls and 2 hots. But his biggest contributions were defensive. He had 13 clearances, covered a ton of ground, and was 7/12 in his aerial duels.
Maloney is getting close to his first USMNT call-up and his first appearance for the United States since a U-20 call-up in 2018. It would make sense to give a look to him given the continued Tyler Adams absence and the lack of options at No. 6.
But it is another question of how he would fit into the team? His runs a lot, he isn’t that fast, it remains to be seen if he has the passing range Gregg Berhalter would want. But Maloney works extremely hard, fights for everything, and is a great teammate by all reports. He is a great fit for Heidenheim, but the U.S. team has a very different approach.
On another note, Brenden Aaronson did not get off the bench for Union Berlin. Union outshot Heidenheim 20-10 but couldn’t hit the back of the net. The team had its most disappointing result of the season without Aaronson, which probably helps his case.
WINGO GOALAZO
There isn’t much to add about Ferencvaros and its 6-1 away win over MTK Budapest other than this spectacular 63rd minute goal from Seattle’s own Henry Wingo to make it 4-1.
Wingo is back to starting at right back for the perennial Hungarian champions and is doing his part. This goal was unreal.
I am curious to see if an team in MLS tries to make a move for Wingo this winter. The former Seattle Sounder turns 28 this week.
YANKS IN ITALY
On Sunday in Serie A, Juventus visited Atalanta and played to a 0-0 draw. As has been the norm, Weston McKennie started at right wingback and was replaced late, this time in the 84th minute, by Tim Weah who helped see out the result. At the end, Juventus seemed happy with a draw after being outshot 15-5 (while Juve had the edge in shots on target, 3-2). That is something that you would not have seen with the older Juve teams that won the scudetto nine straight times. Those teams had a mindset to win every game.
This game was very boring. McKennie got on the ball plenty, 54 touches in 84 minutes but had no shots, two passes into the final third, and really wasn’t part of anything dangerous.
There are a lot of questions about Juve’s plans for their American players.
First, when will McKennie get a chance in the middle of the field. McKennie is not perfect, but he is very energetic and the team needs that.
Second, what does the team see in Tim Weah? If McKennie is what the team wants from a right wingback, why did they purchase Tim Weah? Weah is very, very different from McKennie at that position. What were they expecting of Weah?
It’s good that McKennie is a regular starter for such a legendary club. But the entire situation is different for him and for Weah.
In Serie B, Palermo defeated Sudtirol 2-1 thanks to a late winner from Giuseppe Aurelio. U.S. national team left back Kristoffer Lund, 21, started for the City Football Group owned Palermo and played a 60-minute shift. Despite the limited minutes, Lund had a good outing with 36 touches and 17/19 passing. He was 2/2 in his dribbles and was 2/3 with his crosses – one of which created a dangerous chance. He was 5/6 in his ground duels and won his only aerial duel. He also drew three fouls and did not commit a single foul.
Gradually, Lund has been taking on a bigger role at Palermo. It was always going to take some time given that he missed preseason, but he is getting closer. The next step will be longer outings as Palermo looks for promotion with its CFG backing.
Also in Serie B, Venezia defeated Modena 3-1 away on Saturday to move into third place of Serie B. Tanner Tessmann had a big game where he had 62 touches, was 38/46 in passing, created two chances with 10 passes played into the final third. He was 2/2 on the dribble, was 2/3 on his crosses, was 6/9 in his long balls, was successful in 3/3 of his tackles, won 6/9 of his ground duels, and won 1/3 of his aerials. He also did not commit a single foul.
Gianluca Busio also started and played 80 minutes in central midfield.
It’s a good experience for both Americans to be part of a promotional race in a tricky Serie B. Internationally, both have spent time with the U.S. national team but are probably strong candidates for the Olympic team where they can start and be difference makers. For Busio, however, the competition to make the Olympic team will be very challenging.
Finally in Serie B, Andrija Novakovich started for Lecco and was effective in his hold-up play during a 66-minute shift away at Cittadella. He left with his team winning 1-0. Unfortunately, he watched his team collapse late, squandering goals in the 87th minute and 89th minute to fall 2-1. Lecco sits last in Serie B with just one point from five games.
YANKS IN ENGLAND
On Sunday, Nottingham Forest played to a 1-1 draw with Brentford at home. Matt Turner made three saves on the day and afterward said he felt like the team squandered two points. A win would have pushed them inside the top 10 but now they sit 11th with eight points from seven games.
For Turner, he is on constant pressure to continue to play at a high level given that sitting behind him is Odisseas Vlachodimos, the Greek national team’s starter who was acquired from Benfica just before the deadline. This effort probably still keeps him in the starting lineup. The goal he conceded was probably savable, but it would have been a huge save.
On Saturday, Crystal Palace travelled to Old Trafford and came away with a big 1-0 upset win against a struggling Manchester United team that is now in 10th place. Chris Richards came into the game in the 88th minute to see out the win, which he did. He only had two touches but managed to make a nice clearance. He didn’t have to complete a single pass. Overall, this is going to be the norm for him unless there are injuries at the club. He needs to make a move in the winter.
Sheffield United are still without a win following a 2-0 away loss to West Ham on Sunday. Auston Trusty played the final 11 minutes for Sheffield United but didn’t have to do much. At some point, he will probably get chances to start as he has now been with the club for two months and is integrated (after he missed preseason). With the club sitting on just one point, they’ll probably want to try something different.
On Monday, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, and 15th place Fulham host their closest geographic rival in Chelsea, which sits in 15th place.
It was an especially tough weekend for Americans in the Championship.
Stoke City rallied for a 3-2 away win over Bristol City. Lynden Gooch started at right back for Stoke but was pulled at halftime when they were trailing 3-2.
Preston North End fell from first to third following a brutal 4-0 loss at home West Bromwich Albian (with Daryl Dike likely out until December or January. Duane Holmes, who has been having a solid start to the season, started for Preston North End and was subbed out in the 64th minute with PNE trialing 3-0.
Coventry defeated Queens Park Rangers 3-1 away in London on Saturday. Reggie Cannon is still not on the roster year for QPR. U.S. national team forward Haji Wright has been seeing his minutes decrease at Coventry recently and he only played the final 11 minutes in this game (he entered with Coventry up 3-0). He is under a lot of pressure as the club’s record signing. For QPR, American forward Charlie Kelman went as an unused substitute.
Norwich City, managed by former U.S. international David Wagner, defeated Birmingham City 2-0 to end a two-game skid. They moved into seventh place with the result. Josh Sargent remains out for Norwich.
YANKS IN GERMANY
Borussia Monchengladbach won their first Bundesliga game this season on Saturday with a 3-1 road win over winless Bochum. Joe Scally was dropped from the starting lineup after a tough start to the season. He came on in the 72nd minute with all the scoring finished. He ended up with 16 touches and was just 2/5 in passing.
Jordan Pefok started and played 64 minutes in the win. He picked up a generous assist on the team’s third and final goal but was a workhorse up top in his hold up play. He won 5/8 of his ground duels and won 3/10 of his aerials. He connected on 14/16 of his passes. He is slowly getting better after a tough season. But to get back into the national team picture, he needs goals. The forward position on the national team is improving and he needs to score to stand out.
Also in the Bundesliga, FC Koln dropped a 2-0 decision at home to VfB Stuttgart to remain with just one point from five games. One week after making his professional debut, Damion Downs made another appearance for Koln – this time playing the final 14 minutes in the loss. Unlike last game, Downs wasn’t dangerous in this one, as Stuttgart held him in check.
Still, Downs is 19 and is slowly getting integrated into a Bundesliga team, albeit a bad one. He should continue to get chances. If they get relegated, he should figure into their plans to get promoted. A German-American, Downs has played for U.S. youth national teams in the past. It will be interesting if he can sneak into a U.S. U-23 team cam to compete for a spot against players like Duncan McGuire or Matthew Hoppe.
In the 2.Bundesliga, it was mostly struggles for Americans.
Hansa Rostock defeated Eintracht Braunschweig 1-0 on Saturday. Johan Gomez started as second striker and went 82 in the loss. Overall, he wasn’t able to generate much offense and Braunschweig has fallen to 17th in the 18-team league to me.
St. Pauli defeated Hertha BSC 2-1 away on Saturday and moved to the top of the table of the 2.Bundesliga. Houston-born head coach Fabian Hurzeler has been a revelation since taking the job last December at the age of 29. Last year, he took them from the brink of the relegation zone and almost had them qualify for the promotional playoffs. Now they are leading the way in the 2.Bundesliga.
On Sunday, Greuther Furth played Elversberg to a 1-1 draw away. Julian Green was suspended for this game for Furth while fellow German-American Maximillian Dietz was subbed into the game in the 82nd minute for Furth – which sits in 13th place.
Also on Sunday, Terrence Boyd was subbed into Kaiserslautern’s 2-2 away draw with Osnabruck in the 76th minute. With Kaiserslautern trailing 2-1, Boyd missed a penalty in the sixth minute of stoppage time but saw his team equalize two minutes later.
YANKS IN SPAIN
In La Liga, Celta Vigo visit Las Palmas on Monday but Luca de la Torre will not play as he is suspended for being sent off (for his second yellow card) last Thursday in Celta’s 1-1 draw with Deportivo Alaves. Celta Vigo sits on the edge of the relegation zone with just five points from seven games.
On Saturday in the Segunda, Eibar defeated Tenerife 3-0 but American winger Konrad de la Fuente missed out on the win as he remains out injured with a muscle injury.
On Sunday in the Segunda, Mirandes defeated Real Zaragoza 1-0 on the road, aided by the fact Zaragoza had to play the second half down a man. Jonathan Gomez played the final 23 minutes for Mirandes and was on the field for his team’s winning goal, an own goal.
YANKS IN THE NETHERLANDS
On Sunday Agustin Anello, 21, made his first start for Sparta Rotterdam after his first four appearances were all coming off the bench. The winger from Florida ended up going 74 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Excelsior and left shortly after Excelsior equalized the game 1-1. It was a quiet day for him as he only had 33 touches and 11 completed passes in the defeat. Sparta remained in sixth place after the loss.
Still, Anello is eligible for the U.S. Olympic team and might be seen as a potential option for an upcoming camp to give him a chance to compete for a spot on the U-23 team next summer.
Also in the Eredivisie, Anthony Fontana as an unused substitute for PEC Zwolle in a 2-1 loss to Heracles and he is still looking for his club debut. Taylor Booth remained out injured for Utrecht and missed the club’s ugly 2-0 loss at home to Almere City. Utrecht sits 17th in the 18-team Eredivisie.
On Sunday, AZ Alkmaar defeated Fortuna Sittard 4-0 on Sunday and Djordje Mihailovic played the final seven minutes in the win and he was the fifth and final substitution. Mihailovic was decent in his limited minutes, creating a decent chance, going 6/7 in passing, and being on the field for the final goal. It’s been tough for him, but AZ has been flying with 19 points from seven games. They’re in second, just two points behind a perfect AZ.
In the second tier Eerste Divisie, John Hilton went 90 minutes for Dordrecht in a 1-1 draw with FC Eindhoven. Justin Che played the final two minutes for second-place ADO Den Haag to see out a 3-0 win over MVV Maastricht. Gedion Zelalem played 90 minutes for Den Bosch in a 3-0 away win over Groningen.
YANKS IN BELGIUM
On Saturday, Gaga Slonina started for Eupen on Saturday in a 3-1 loss at home to Anderlecht. After a strong start to the season, this was the fourth loss in a row for Eupen as they fell to 11th place in the 16 team First Division A. One of the goals he conceded was an own goal from his right back.
Slonina is doing okay. He occasionally lets in goals he should save, but he’s also letting in some bad goals too. But things are going to get more serious for him soon as the second half of the season will likely be a relegation battle and Slonina will be under pressure to keep his team up.
On Sunday, Genk hosted Westerlo and the two teams played to a wild 3-3 draw. Regarding Americans, Mark McKenzie’s toe injury continues to keep him out of action, and he again had to sit a game out. Griffin Yow also is yet to make his season debut he was out for Westerlo. The one American to play was Bryan Reynolds who played the complete game for Westerlo.
Reynolds has been playing very well defensively in recent games and in this game, he was again very important on that side of the ball. He won 5/7 of his ground duels and was 2/2 in his aerials. He had 10 recoveries and was 3/4 in his tackles. He also created one very dangerous chance for Westerlo in the first half.
Things are not great for Westerlo. They are dead last with three points from nine games. But if they can put forth an effort like this game, they should be able to make a climb soon. As for Reynolds, he’s also improving after a very slow start to the season. He should be in with the U.S. U-23 team in October to begin to make a case to be the team’s starting right back heading into Paris.
Marlon Fossey started and went 70 minutes for Standard Liege in a 2-1 win away at OH Leuven. He left the game when the score was 1-1. Standard Liege is slowly getting their act together with two wins over the last three games. Fossey hasn’t been the explosive contributor that he was last season but with Standard’s gradual improvement, Fossey seems likely to improve as well.
Sam Vines was still injured and did not play for Royal Antwerp in their 0-0 draw at Mechelen. Antwerp remained in fifth place with the result.
Alex Mighten remained injured and did not suit up for Kortrijk in a 2-1 win over Cercle Brugge on Friday. Kortrijk moved out of last place with their first win of the year.
YANKS ELSEWHERE
In France’s Ligue 1, Le Havre fell to Lille at home 2-0. Emmanuel Sabbi, 25, came into the game in the 70th minute with his team trailing by two. He made a limited impact with only nine touches over his 20 minutes and was 2/3 in passing.
In Scotland, there was a huge upset as Aberdeen defeated Rangers 3-1 at Ibrox. American midfielder Dante Polvara, 23, started and went 80 minutes for Aberdeen. He left with the score 2-1. Rangers had a 71/29 possession edge and Polvara was chasing the game, along with his teammates. But he still was good enough on both sides of the ball to lift Aberdeen in to seventh place while sinking Rangers into third, seven points from leaders Celtic. Polvara is having a good month as he also scored two weeks ago in the Conference League in an away trip against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Meanwhile in the Premiership, Scott Pittman played the last 21 minutes for Livingston in a 1-1 away draw against St. Johnstone. Pittman is Livingston’s all-time leader in appearances. Finally, Cameron Carter-Vickers remained out for Celtic and missed the 2-1 win over Motherwell.
In the Austrian Bundesliga, George Bello started for LASK against Wolfsberger, but the former Atlanta United left back was pulled at halftime. Overall, that is not a good sign for Bello who is fighting for minutes and is not considered a first-choice starter. LASK remain in third place in the league but are six points behind second place Sturm Graz.
Meanwhile, Sebastian Soto remains out following back surgery and he was not part of Austria Klagenfurt’s 0-0 draw away at BW Linz.
In the Portuguese top tier, Vizela dropped a 3-2 loss at home to Portimonense. Last week, Alex Mendez came off the bench for his season debut and delivered a late equalizing assist off a corner. In this game, he was the fifth and final sub for Vizela in the 69th minute when his team trailed 2-1. With Mendez on the field, Vizela equalized in the 85th via an own goal but squandered the winning goal two minutes later.
Mendez was busy in this game, going 21/24 in passing in his 24 minutes. He had 27 touches and was good in possession, but only managed to create a half-chance for Vizela towards the end. Still, he should continue to get rotational minutes moving forward. Vizela sits 14th in the 18-team league with five points from seven games.
In Norway’s Eliteserien, Bob Bradley and Stabaek dropped a painful 1-0 loss at home to remain four points deep in the relegation battle. This team needs a win – badly. On Wednesday, they host HamKam and it is almost a must-win.
Also in Norway, Sam Rogers was subbed out just the 34th minute for Lillestrom in a 2-0 loss at home to Brann. Given it was a double substitution, it was likely a major tactical adjustment after Lillestrom fell behind 1-0 and Rogers was already on a yellow card.
Finally in Norway, Christian Cappis made his club debut for Molde on Sunday when he played the final 10 minutes in a 4-0 win over Viking. Cappis is at Molde, on loan from Brondby, for the remainder of the Norwegian season. Molde sit fifth in the Elitserien.
In Sweden, Joe Gyau did not play for Degerfors in its 3-2 loss to Sirius. It’s a good thing he didn’t as Degerfors had a 2-0 lead into stoppage time when the conceded three goals to lose and sink four points deep into the relegation hole.
In the Greek Super League, Caleb Stanko came off the bench in the 70th minute to help preserve a 1-0 lead over Panaitolikos. The American defensive midfielder idd his job and the club held on for a 1-0 win. Lamia sits midtable in seventh place in the 14-team league.
Joe Efford recently joined PAS Giannina after his contract with Motherwell was terminated by mutual consent. On Sunday, the 27-year-old from Georgia made his debut in Greece’s top tier when he played the final 29 minutes in Giannina’s 3-0 loss at home to leaders Olympiakos. PAS Giannina have lost three in a row and are in 11th place.
Finally, Erik Palmer-Brown was injured and missed Panathinaikos’ 2-2 draw with PAOK. Midweek, he was forced out of his club’s 4-1 win over Asteras Tripolis at halftime.
In Croatia, Rokas Pukstas remains injured, and he missed out on Hajduk Split’s huge 1-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb in the Eternal Derby. Hajduk remains in first with 21 points through nine games.
In Iceland’s top tier Besta Deild Karla, second place Valur defeated FH Hafnarfjordur 4-1. Former USMNT forward Aron Johannsson, who plays as a midfielder now, scored Valur’s third goal in the 66th minute. He was subbed out in the 76th minute.
In Argentina’s Copa de la Liga Profesional, Huracan played San Lorenzo to a 1-1 away draw. Alan Sonora played 89 minutes for Huracan and was not on the field for San Lorenzo’s late equalizer. Sonora nearly scored on a 55th minute shot that went just wide. But he has found footing with his career back with Huracan after a very difficult move to Club Juarez. His younger brother, Joel Sonora, did not get off the bench for Huracan.
In Mexico’s Liga MX, Club America defeated Pumas 1-0 on Saturday night. Alex Zendejas came into the game in the 65th minute but didn’t contribute much in the win. Through 10 games, Club America sits atop the table with 21 points, one point ahead of Tigres.
After a strong start to the season, Club Juarez is starting to fade and has lost two in a row. On Friday, they dropped a particularly ugly 5-1 loss away to Tijuana. Sebastian Saucedo was subbed into the game for Juarez in the 58th minute with his team down 3-1.
In Brazil, Johnny Cardoso did not suit up for Internacional in a 2-0 loss at home to Atletico MG.
Fan of a Premier League club? Stop laughing at Arsenal and Manchester United…
The result means Manchester United have opened a Champions League campaign with consecutive defeats for the first time in the history of the tournament, after their earlier loss to Bayern Munich.
The key words in that above paragraph are this season — previous triumphs of Premier League sides, such as Manchester City’s Champions League win last season and Chelsea’s in 2021, count for nothing.
That means rival Premier League supporters would do well to put down their PSG and Leipzig scarves and pull out a St. George’s flag for Wednesday night’s games. Here’s what you need to know.
What’s this new rule I need to know about?
We’ve covered this previously but there was so much mickey-taking in our discussion tabs and on social media on Tuesday night that we thought it was worth recapping.
The Champions League is expanding from 32 to 36 teams next season and one of those additional spots could potentially go to the Premier League side that finishes fifth.
Two of those additional four extra places will be awarded to the two best-performing countries in European competitions, with ranking points are awarded for every match — group-stage and knockout — in UEFA’s three club competitions. The collective performance of all competing nations in this season’s tournaments will be determined by the total number of ranking points obtained by their clubs, divided by the number of participating clubs.
UEFA calls these places the ‘European Performance Spots’. Catchy, we know.
Had the change been made at the start of last season, Liverpool (who finished fifth in the Premier League) and Atalanta (who finished fifth in Serie A) would have made it into the Champions League as teams from England and Italy performed best in European competition.
But the fact that there are eight English clubs playing in Europe this season already makes things more difficult for Premier League clubs — and that was before Manchester United shot themselves in the foot against Galatasaray.
Manchester United have lost both their European games this season (Getty Images)
Liverpool and West Ham United both won their opening Europa League fixtures. But Brighton & Hove Albion fell to a surprise 3-2 defeat at home to AEK Athens, and in the Conference League, Aston Villa — who beat Brighton 6-1 last time out — lost 3-2 at Legia Warsaw.
It means England is currently sat, wait for it, 16th in UEFA’s seasonal rankings, behind member associations including Greece, Iceland and Israel.
UEFA season country coefficients 2022/23
POSITION
COUNTRY
CLUBS
TOTAL POINTS
AVERAGE
1
Turkey
3/4
31
7.75
2
Belgium
5/5
24
4.8
3
Netherlands
4/5
23
4.6
4
Poland
2/4
17.5
4.375
5
Italy
7/7
30
4.285
6
Denmark
2/4
17
4.25
7
Germany
7/7
29.5
4.214
8
Greece
4/5
21
4.2
9
Portugal
4/6
24
4
10
Czechia
3/4
16
4
11
Spain
7/8
31.5
3.937
12
Iceland
1/3
11.5
3.833
13
Israel
2/4
15
3.75
14
France
6/6
21.5
3.583
15
Croatia
1/4
13.5
3.375
16
England
8/8
27
3.375
Yes, there is a ridiculously long way to go. It’s only the start of October. And member associations are rewarded with a large number of bonus points if a club from their country goes on to win one of UEFA’s three club tournaments.
But English clubs are already up against it due to the large number of Premier League sides in Europe this season, and clubs crashing out in the group stages will make it far more unlikely that the fifth-place club will be rewarded with a spot in the Champions League come May.
So, if you support a Premier League club who might well finish fifth this season, you’d be wise to stop your sniggering. We’re looking at you, Tottenham fans.
Where can I find out more?
If that put you in the mood for some more UEFA rules and regulations, click here for a far more detailed look at how the Champions League is changing forever at the end of this season.And if you think this article is a load of nonsense and you want to revel in the hilarity of it all, click below.
Newcastle v PSG and the Saudi-Qatar feud that won’t go away
Matt Slater Oct 4, 2023 Press officers normally have to drag the stars of the show to the media waiting for them in the mixed zone and getting them there does not mean they will actually stop and talk.There was no dragging required, though, for Newcastle United’s ambassadors at the Champions League draw in Monaco at the end of August: sporting director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Darren Eales were delighted to be there and, apparently, even happier with the set of fixtures they had just been given.“It’s amazing,” said Ashworth. “It’s been a 20-year wait to play against the top teams in Europe and we’ve certainly got that in our pot, haven’t we? So, it’s very exciting. Brilliant for the fans, brilliant for the players, brilliant for the staff — it’s what the Champions League is all about.”Group F: Ligue 1 winners Paris Saint-Germain, Bundesliga runners-up Borussia Dortmund, seven-time European champions AC Milan, and 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup winner Newcastle United.
“It’s the supergroup of death,” said Eales, with a huge grin on his face, while Ashworth, bouncing with adrenalin, added: “We’ll embrace the challenge.”And so they have. A highly professional 0-0 draw at the San Siro a fortnight ago was a good start, but it will be the nights under the lights at St James’ Park where we will really see the tightness of that embrace. First up, on Wednesday, PSG.When asked by reporters after the draw if the games against PSG would carry a little more weight than the others, Ashworth was momentarily lost for words. He genuinely did not appear to understand the question.
Mohammed bin Salman (far right) at the World Cup talking to FIFA president Gianni Infantino (Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images)
“Qatar versus Saudi Arabia,” we prompted, reminding him that this contest is between two clubs bankrolled by neighbouring Gulf states.“Oh, I hadn’t thought about that,” he said. “I was just thinking about it in a football context.”And that is the only context, isn’t it? Qatar and Saudi Arabia have buried the hatchet after that nasty business with the blockade and are best friends again, right? Weren’t their heads of state (de facto in Saudi Arabia’s case) wearing each other’s football scarves at the World Cup in Qatar last year?“Relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia have repaired further and faster with the Saudis than with the other states that moved against Qatar,” explains Dr Kristian Ulrichsen, the author of Qatar and the Gulf Crisis, the definitive account of the colossal falling-out that erupted in 2017 between Qatar on one side and Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on the other.“The image of (Saudi crown prince) Mohammed bin Salman draped in a Qatari scarf during the World Cup sent a powerful visual signal that the bad blood of the blockade era was over, at least at the highest political and diplomatic levels.“The World Cup really brought Qataris and Saudis together at a people-to-people level after the strains of the previous few years and the celebrations after Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina showed that most people have moved on from that period.”
This writer visited Qatar during the crisis, when “the quartet” had cut all diplomatic and economic ties with the country and the small but very wealthy peninsula in the Persian Gulf felt like a place under siege. Everyone talked about how empty the hotels, malls and restaurants were and there was a heavy security presence outside every public building.But there was also a flourishing of Qatari national pride. There were flags and large pictures of Sheikh Tamim, Qatar’s emir, everywhere and everyone seemed confident the country would keep coming up with solutions to the everyday problems thrown up by the dispute.There was a lot of pride on display during the World Cup, too, but it was different. The tournament was a triumph the majority of Arabs could enjoy.“If this match was being played in 2018, then the nature and tone of it would be very different,” says ProfessorSimon Chadwick, an expert on sport and geopolitics at the SKEMA Business School.“Then, Saudi Arabia and Qatar were amid a fractious diplomatic feud, which was being fuelled by the petulance of an inexperienced, though increasingly powerful, Mohammed Bin Salman, a provocative (U.S. president) Donald Trump and his unpredictable interventions in the Gulf region, and a country focused on projecting itself through football, most notably the 2022 World Cup.
Saudi fans enjoy themselves at the World Cup (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
“Since then, things have changed dramatically and the temperature between the two nations has considerably subsided. Trump is gone, MBS (as Mohammed bin Salman is more commonly known) feels more secure and assured, Qatar has enjoyed its big moment in the spotlight, and diplomatic relations have been re-established.“Nowadays, the two nations are, in general, peacefully co-existing.”James M Dorsey, a senior fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute, agrees with Ulrichsen and Chadwick.“(Qatari-Saudi relations) have gone back to being a friendly rivalry — sport is just another part of the infrastructure of that rivalry,” says Dorsey.Great, we all agree, then: there is no added needle to this contest. All of Newcastle’s new fans in Saudi Arabia — and PSG’s fans there, too — can sit back and enjoy the game on the device of their choice, at home or in a more public space. Just like everybody else.r can they?While Qatar and Saudi Arabia seem to be on the same page with each other when it comes to relations with regional bogeymen Iran, Israel and Turkey, the need to resolve the bitter civil war in Yemen, and keeping tabs on more extreme versions of Islam, there is one area where the Arab brothers are still at loggerheads: who gets to televise or stream elite sport.A full commentary of this dispute would last longer than Wednesday’s game, so here is the edited version.When Saudi Arabia and co declared war on Qatar’s economy in 2017, one of the fronts they opened up was a sophisticated digital piracy operation aimed at beIN Media Group. Based in Qatar’s capital Doha and owned by the state, beIN dominates the sports and entertainment landscape across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, as well as having a significant presence in France, Turkey and a dozen other major markets.The name of this piracy operation was beoutQ and, for more than three years, it stole beIN’s satellite feed and repackaged it, at a fraction of the price, for Saudi customers. Furthermore, beIN was banned in the kingdom, with its staff booted out and equipment pinched.Qatar responded by making a complaint to the World Trade Organisation and also starting arbitration proceedings in London against the Saudi government. In the meantime, beIN’s bosses asked the leagues and governing bodies, to whom they had written large cheques for their media rights, to use their influence in their own countries to force Saudi Arabia to shut down beoutQ.While this was big news in Qatar, as beIN was forced to shed staff and give up some rights, it did not make waves in the United Kingdom until Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) decided it wanted to buy Newcastle United in early 2020. This presented a problem for the Premier League as PIF is the piggy bank MBS is using to modernise Saudi Arabia and diversify its economy, which is fine but not while another arm of the Saudi state is stealing the league’s intellectual property in a proxy battle with Qatar.What followed was months of confusion while beIN stood up for its rights, the Premier League fought its corner, Newcastle United’s past and present owners furiously lobbied the UK government to force the sale of the club through, and the club’s fans wondered what on earth was going on.The Saudis, offended by the suggestion that pirating Premier League content was not very collegiate, stormed off and it looked like the takeover was off.
But, as 2020 ticked over into 2021, the plates were shifting in the Gulf. The blockade had clearly not worked, tempers had cooled, and the problems had subsided. It was time to make up. So the leaders of the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — met in the desert city of Al-Ula in January 2021 and agreed to call it all off, including Qatar’s arbitration cases (there were more than just beIN’s).Ten months later, beIN was unbanned in Saudi Arabia and — in a remarkable coincidence — PIF’s takeover of Newcastle United was approved.Now, we have already told you that this was not the start of a beautiful friendship for beIN and Saudi Arabia, so we have ruined that surprise, but quite how bad things remain between beIN, one of Qatar’s most famous and successful companies, and its largest potential market is really quite remarkable.
Mohammed bin Salman (left) greets Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, ahead of the Arab League Summit in May (Bandar Aljaloud / Royal Court of Saudi Arabia / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
First, there was a long lag between the Al-Ula agreement and beIN being allowed to operate again in Saudi Arabia. Then, in July 2021, The Athletic reported that beIN staff, including its founder and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, faced “daily cyberattacks”, “malicious hacks” and “commercial sabotage”. BeIN did not point the finger at Saudi Arabia, but it did not need to.Still, things did seem to settle down for a year or so in the run-up to the World Cup, which beIN and Qatar had been building up to for a decade.However, one hour before the opening ceremony on November 20, the same opening ceremony that most experts on the region thought was the clearest signal yet for a return to the natural order in the Gulf, beIN’s new streaming platform, TOD, was blocked in Saudi Arabia.Anyone trying to log on to the service was met with a message that said: “Sorry, the requested page is violating the regulations of the Ministry of Media.
“To unblock the page, you may send an official request to: Ministry of Media — Electronic Publishing. Email: emedia@moci.gov.sa”.
The error message Saudi users receive when trying to log on to TOD
If anyone has received an answer from the ministry, can they forward it to beIN, please? Eleven months on, TOD is still blocked, nobody has explained why, and beIN has given up complaining about it, publicly anyway.
When asked for comment about the impasse, which effectively means the only way for anyone in Saudi Arabia to watch the Champions League, Premier League, La Liga, Wimbledon, the NBA and more is through a now very old beIN set-top box or an illegal stream. In fact, after more than six years of watching illegal streams of sport, an entire generation of Saudi sports fans no longer know the difference.
It is hardly surprising, then, that beIN has very quietly resumed its arbitration case against the Saudi government. It was asking for $1billion in damages last time, as that was the claimed cost of beoutQ’s piracy for the first six months of the blockade. At that rate, we are talking about a claim north of $5billion now.
“The Al-Ula agreement was supposed to end all ongoing legal cases initiated during the blockade, but it can be read as referring to state parties rather than private companies,” says Ulrichsen.
“BeIN probably straddles the two, but it may feel the Saudis have broken the spirit of the 2021 agreement to restore beIN by banning the streaming service.”
The obvious question here is what is Saudi Arabia playing at?
On the one hand, we have MBS justifying the country’s extravagant spending on sport as part of a strategic vision to make Saudi Arabia’s economy less dependent on fossil fuels by massively boosting tourism and attracting foreign investment, while also encouraging Saudi Arabia’s young population to be more healthy.
But, on the other hand, we have a nation that still seems to think all intellectual property is theft… and they’re nicking it. This seems like an incredibly counter-productive approach to a country that is desperate to host more major events and build better links with international broadcasters.
Of course, it did appear to have a plan for resolving this in the run-up to the 2022 World Cup. The plan for Saudi Arabia to buy a stake in beIN, thereby avoiding the high cost of trying to build a rival to beIN, was one of the worst-kept secrets in the media industry.
But that secret has been replaced by one of the best-kept secrets in the media industry: why that deal broke down.
Some believe it was a simple disagreement over price. Others say it was more of an age-old dispute between these two parties about control, as in Saudi Arabia finding it very hard to believe that Saudi Arabia should not be in charge of every pan-regional venture.
Either way, everyone agrees that there are really only two ways out of this embarrassing and potentially expensive situation for Saudi Arabia: take on beIN or buy it.
Dorsey believes it will be the former.
“I would expect the Saudis to launch their own thing,” he says.
“Absolutely. And that goes for every sector. As a matter of principle, Saudi Arabia has to be the regional leader in everything. Why would sports broadcasting be any different?”
Chadwick, however, sees a compromise.
“Qatari strategy has moved on from the first-mover advantages it has built after nearly two decades of spending heavily on sport,” he says. “It now faces the challenges of utilising the assets it has created.
“Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has become the archetypal fast follower, spending even more widely and lavishly than its smaller next-door neighbour. In effect, the two countries are playing different games to each other and have therefore found a way to co-exist.
“Saudi Arabia has always been the bigger, bolder, more bellicose of the two, which MBS is learning to filter through soft power strategy and reputation management. Yet its recent sport investments continue to carry the DNA of a nation that believes it plays a crucial role in regional and international affairs.
“Qatar, on the other hand — much smaller, less secure — plays the junior partner who seeks consensus through partnership and diplomacy. This is clearly evident in the activities of Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who is a Qatari strategic archetype.”
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of Paris Saint-Germain, is Qatari (Gualter Fatia – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
He is also the president of PSG and the chairman of the rich clubs’ club, the European Club Association, so you cannot help thinking that Newcastle United’s owners are going to have to come to some sort of accommodation with him and his company at some point.
Wednesday’s big game takes place two days after the fifth anniversary of the grisly assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident and journalist. Intelligence agencies in several countries, including the United States, believe MBS ordered Khashoggi’s death. He denies that but has taken responsibility “because it happened under my watch”.
If MBS truly wants the world to think that buying Newcastle United, men’s golf, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tyson Fury is about putting another one per cent on Saudi’s gross domestic product and not sportswashing, he should probably try to stop his subjects from illegally streaming the world’s best sport and entertainment.
(Top photo: Bertrand Guay/AFP; Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
American soccer was against artificial turf long before it became a big problem in the NFL
“Hopefully they can eliminate turf, especially for the pros, just because of the injury risk,” said Jim Curtin, whose Union squad will play on artificial turf on Wednesday at Charlotte FC.
Andre Blake (left), Jakob Glesnes, and the Union will visit Charlotte FC and its artificial turf surface on Wednesday night.Philadelphia Union
The debate over artificial turf fields in the NFL has certainly gotten attention in American soccer circles. But across MLS and the NWSL, there’s no debate. No one likes turf, no one wants it, and there had better be a serious reason why a stadium in either league has it.
Alas, there are serious reasons. The biggest is NFL money at four of the six turf venues. Atlanta, Charlotte (where the Union will play Wednesday), New England, and Seattle host America’s and the world’s football. The NFL and MLS teams share ownership in the first three of those cities, and used to in the fourth.
In the other two turf venues, the stadiums are owned by outside entities. Vancouver’s stadium also hosts a Canadian Football League team (and a slew of non-sports events), while Portland’s has some old infrastructure issues and used to host a college football team.
Every other stadium in MLS and the NWSL uses natural grass.
Charlotte won a MLS expansion team despite playing in a stadium with artificial turf because the owner, multi-billionaire David Tepper, also owns the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.Jacob Kupferman / AP
While there’s only so much the leagues and teams can do about it, there’s been no need for a new opinion for years. Remember when a group of star women’s soccer players took FIFA to court in Canada over using artificial turf at the 2015 women’s World Cup? It has been nine years since the suit started and a decade since FIFA first said Vancouver would host the final on fake grass.
And it has been just about as long since anyone with common sense could see through FIFA’s ploy: Surely they’d never force a men’s World Cup to be played on artificial turf.
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It would be a while before FIFA proved that right, but the time came last year. When FIFA picked the U.S., Canada, and Mexico as cohosts of the 2026 men’s World Cup, it quickly made clear that like in 1994, real grass would be installed in any stadium that currently lacks it.
Vancouver’s BC Place and every other venue at the 2015 women’s World Cup hosted games on artificial turf instead of grass.Elaine Thompson / AP
Nor will they be the kind of short-term grass installations that get used for summer soccer events these days, from Concacaf’s Gold Cup this summer in Charlotte to the many big European clubs that visit the U.S. for friendlies. Most players don’t like those setups, either, because the grass tears up and the ball bounces oddly on seams.
Big soccer cities impacted
It’s no coincidence that U.S. Soccer has deliberately chosen for years now to not play its home games on turf or temporary grass, even if it means staying out of some of the nation’s top soccer hotbeds.
Portland and Seattle have long been deprived of seeing their clubs’ stars play for their country. The men and women have stayed away from Atlanta, even though either could sell out Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The men used to visit New England almost annually but have not since 2015.
Atlanta United regularly draws huge crowds for games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, one of six MLS stadiums and eight 2026 men’s World Cup venues that currently have artificial turf.Michael Zarrilli / Getty Images
Also, some big stars who’ve come to MLS have refused to play on artificial turf, including Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović. Newly arrived Lionel Messi has said he will, but Inter Miami manager Tata Martino rested him from Saturday’s visit to Atlanta because of a packed schedule.
Could football and soccer now find common cause over ditching turf? Though the NFL Players Association’s desire to get turf out of the league isn’t new, it got a lot louder after Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles tendon tear last week sent chills through the Jets’ locker room and TV executives’ offices.
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Coincidentally, MetLife Stadium is one of the two leading candidates to host the 2026 World Cup final. The other is the Dallas Cowboys’ home — which FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited this past Sunday. He took in the Jets’ first game since Rodgers’ season ended with Concacaf president Victor Montagliani, Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks, and former U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro.
“I have to say in America you are light years ahead compared to the rest of the world.” FIFA President Gianni Infantino at AT&T Stadium with Jerry Jones before today’s Jets-Cowboys game. @NBCDFWpic.twitter.com/5GfKexoEFK— Noah Bullard (@noah_bullard) September 18, 2023
Both venues, and six others that will host in 2026, currently have artificial turf that will have to be removed. If they’re going to do it anyway, might the NFLPA’s campaign help it happen sooner?
One veteran source with connections in both sports said some quiet talks have already started.
The Union’s turn
“Hopefully they can eliminate turf, especially for the pros, just because of the injury risk — and obviously, if there are health risks as well with the ground-up tires [in the turf], that’s a bad thing,” said Union manager Jim Curtin, who played on turf plenty during his nine years in MLS.
“I think everybody would be in agreement that natural grass is the best way to go across all sports,” he added. “Always easy for me to say because I don’t buy the stadiums or do the maintenance or that type of thing. But certainly the sport of soccer, I believe the sport of football as well, is safest played on natural grass.”
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For now, Curtin and players across MLS and the NWSL can only hope. And in the shortest term, the Union have to get ready to play on Charlotte’s turf at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV, free), in their first visit since last year’s disastrous 4-0 loss that cost the Union a shot at the Supporters’ Shield.
“I think the U.S. has enough money to fix the fields and make everything grass or substitute grass for turf,” said veteran Union centerback Damion Lowe, who likely will start Wednesday with Jack Elliott suspended. “I don’t like playing on turf. I’ve had a lot of injuries from playing on turf.”
But he will soldier on, he said, with much at stake in the playoff race.
“We get paid to play regardless of the conditions — rain, snow, hail, whatever,” Lowe said. “So we just have to prepare ourselves for whatever obstacles come our way, try to beat adversity, stick together as a team. We’ll go down to Charlotte, be focused, and be ready for anything.”
For the record, there are no storms in the forecast Wednesday night. At least that will take one burden off a night that will have enough of them.
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US Women Set to Face WC QF South Africa Sun on TNT
The US ladies sent off Julie Ertz in style with a solid 3-0 win at Cincy and have a chance to do the same for Megan Rapinoe today at 5;30 pm in Chicago on TNT. Both of the ladies were instrumental in both the Championships and the Growth of women’s soccer in the US. The US will look to regain their footing as they prepare for the Olympics in France next summer.
US Ladies Roster for South Africa Series
GOALKEEPERS (3): Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (9): Alana Cook (OL Reign), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars), Kelley O’Hara (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign)
FORWARDS (8): Mia Fishel (Chelsea FC, ENG), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
GAMES ON TV SCHEDULE
Sun, Sept 24
9am peacock Arsenal vs Tottenham
11:30 am USA Sheffield U vs Newcastle
12 noon CBSSN Bologna vs Napoli
3:30 pm ESPN+ Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid
5:30 pm TNT, Uni, Cock USWNT vs South Africa Chicago Rapinoe last game
7:30 pm FS1 Orlando City vs Inter Miami
9:30 pm FS1 Austin vs LA Galaxy
Mon, Sept 25
3:30 pm ESPN+ Man United vs Crystal Palace
Megan Rapinoe talks legacy, future of USWNT, women’s sports: ‘It feels very much like a beginning’
By Steph Yang and The Athletic StaffSep 23, 202333
Megan Rapinoe took her place in front of a crowd of media members Saturday ahead of her last game for the U.S. women’s national team. While she’s closing the door on a two-decade-long career — which includes two World Cup trophies, an Olympic gold medal and a Ballon d’Or Féminin — Rapinoe is looking at the new beginning rather than an end.
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“I obviously know that this is an ending of one chapter but it feels very much like a beginning,” she said. “I’m really excited about what’s to come and love where the game is now and where the sport is now. I think women’s sports in general, the landscape around it, is in such an exciting place, and I hope to continue to be a part of that in a really big way, just on the other side of things.”
She didn’t get into the specifics, but the soccer player-turned-global icon made clear she wants to continue working in women’s sports, something she feels especially qualified to do. Rapinoe mentioned the growth of women’s soccer, the WNBA, the new Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and the dominance of tennis star Coco Gauff among things that excite her about the landscape.
“I feel like I’m uniquely suited and very much know how to talk about women’s sports,” Rapinoe said. “I hope to be a big part of that business building and marketing and branding of women’s sports and I don’t really necessarily want to be tied to one thing or one organization but looking to use my platform and the leverage that I have pretty similar to how I do now. I just will have a lot more free time to do so. ”
Rapinoe answered each question at length as she reflected on her long career, drifting toward her work off the field as standing out, particularly her and the team’s advocacy for issues around gender equity, social justice and trans rights.
“I think we’ve been a big part of pushing, talking about — whether it’s gay rights or racial justice or trans rights — more into every conversation around sports and particularly around women’s sports,” Rapinoe said. “We’ve been such a driver of that and made that just as important as what we are doing on the field. I think we really believe it is just as important.
“We understand what it means to not have to sacrifice who you are and what that means for your playing the field. So I’m incredibly proud of everything that we’ve done on the field. Obviously, we’ve been a really special generation of players, but I think it says a lot about us that everything on the field I feel like kind of pales in comparison to what we’ve achieved off the field.
“And where we’ve chosen to sort of throw our weight and the way that we have used what is our greatest gift and all of our talent, and something that’s really special that we were all born with to try to make the world a better place and to try to leave the game in a much better place than where we found it.”
On the field, Rapinoe said she feels that part of the reason she has so much peace retiring is that players like Sophia Smith, Naomi Girma and Trinity Rodman are stepping up and continuing to move the team forward — including the important lessons learned during the early exit from this summer’s World Cup.
She spoke to the pressure that has been on the field and the joy that was also a legacy she feels she will leave.
“I think, particularly for this team, there was so much pressure on it all the time, certainly on the field. But especially for us during the last seven years. So much pressure about everything that we said, everything that we did, whether we were kneeling or talking about equal pay or talking about trans rights, there’s so much pressure,” Rapinoe said. “I was like we have the right to enjoy what we’re doing as well. And I think a lot of times my joy, expressions of joy, was absolutely an act of resistance or a big glaring sort of middle finger to everyone. Like this is my life and this is my career, and I get to do with it what I want to do with it.”
Rapinoe will take the field for the 203rd time on Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago. It will be her last wearing the crest. There might be a 64th or 65th goal. There will be tears, but there will also be joy. And after a final run in the NWSL next month, there will also be a much-needed break.
Elite athletes don’t always have the power to end their careers on their terms, but no one could have predicted how Julie Ertz’s time as a professional soccer player would close. She made a surprise return to the U.S. women’s national team for the 2023 World Cup following a long injury layoff and the birth of her son. She then essentially announced her intent to retire following the USWNT’s early exit in the round of 16 on live television after playing every single minute as a center back — a position she hadn’t played in years. Then came her formal announcement in August and a send-off match in Cincinnati on Thursday.
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https://cf351683b5e28a4a38e8f78b8b736eba.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.htmlErtz said in her final press conference that sports take sacrifice, and now time with her family has become irreplaceable.“I learned that after every tournament, very successful or not, it’s always like: ‘What’s next?’ You always want to get better; there’s always the next opportunity,” she said, noting that she never wanted to have regrets about her career but that she had gotten to a point where she felt she could choose to step away.“It’s not because mama can’t play, mama can play,” Ertz said, leaning into her microphone to emphasize her point and earning a good round of laughs. “(I’ve) just adapted my priorities. That just comes with age. I’ve been so blessed to have the career that I’ve had.
She spoke at length on Wednesday about that career, about the sacrifice of playing in the early days of the NWSL, about her World Cup experience this summer and about the generation following in her footsteps. But her answer about what she’ll remember most of everything off the field reflected the culture of the team best.
“If you ever wear the crest, you are part of a family that nobody really understands, except for the players that have played here with the team,” Ertz replied. That connection, that solidarity, that shared desire to make things better, that’s the thing that Ertz said made the USWNT family special.
“You grow up here. Talking about memories, I think that’s the emotional part that I’m at right now when I step away with a player that I played with for a really long time and you start talking about memories and history and just things that you have together.”
Her time with the USWNT showed her firsthand, the power of the team’s platform. She said it had directly impacted her decision to start the Ertz Family Foundation with her husband Zach.
“I think that it’s just been an incredible space to grow up in, to make you not just a better soccer player, but a better person,” she said.
The emotions on Wednesday in Cincinnati were certainly present, especially for Ertz’s teammates, but from the other side of the press conference room, there was a noticeable comfort around her decision. Five months ago in Austin, when she made her return to the USWNT environment, those emotions — especially around her 100th cap celebration — had been much closer to the surface. Before her return to the team, she had gone over 600 days without appearing in a high-level match, the Bronze medal game in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Ertz had earned her 100th cap in March 2020, but the actual celebration of that was a moment she wasn’t entirely sure she would have. In the mixed zone in Austin before the game, Ertz got unexpectedly emotional — surprising even herself a bit, before managing to hold back her tears for the most part.
“The 100th cap was super emotional in its own way,” she said on Wednesday. This time, she’s had more time to reflect, in fact, “all I’ve been able to do is reflect,” she said.Going through those memories has been hard. “Maybe it’s like an ‘Office’ quote, ‘I wish you knew you’re in the good times when you’re in the good times,’” she said.“You remember all the hardest times of this sport. And in the moment you’re like, ‘This sucks. I want this to be gone.’ Now when you’re older, you’re like, ‘Gosh, I’m so grateful for that time.’ If I just knew at that moment that I was actually in such an incredible time,” she said. “You’re just like, ‘Dang, it goes by so fast.’”Later in the mixed zone, captain Lindsey Horan admitted that she had popped out of the locker room to do media and started crying as soon as she spotted Ertz doing an interview with the broadcast crew for no reason.
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“I’m not gonna cry,” she promised reporters (a promise she did keep, though it got close), but Horan stressed just how much she respects Ertz as a player, not just for giving her all every single time she stepped onto the field, but for her work she does on and off the field.It’s the small moments Horan’s trying to hang on to this week. They spent plenty of time next to each other in the locker room over the years when Horan wore the No. 9.“Little moments in camp,” Horan said, “like even last night we were just sitting around our little snack room, just talking about random things. Julie was talking about TikTok and I’m just like, ‘I can’t believe it, Julie’s on TikTok.’”
Lindsey Horan held off tears when talking about teammate Julie Ertz. (Photo by Brad Smith/Getty Images).
It was even something as simple as Ertz’s laugh for her. “It always makes me laugh. I don’t even have to be in the conversation, but it always makes me smile and it makes me happy.”
Horan expected tomorrow night’s game to be meaningful and wanted Ertz to enjoy those final moments at TQL Stadium.
Ertz will be missed on the field too, of course. Her partnership alongside Naomi Girma as the team’s center back pairing was the highlight of the USWNT’s World Cup performance this summer — especially considering how quickly that chemistry had to be developed following Ertz’s return in April.“Julie has been such a leader on this team,” Crystal Dunn said on Wednesday. “She’s so tenacious on the field. Everyone who watches her play knows that she is that go-getter, that ball-winner kind of player. Her intensity is going to be greatly missed on the field, just her ability to dominate the zone that she plays in.”
The next generation is ready to step up as Ertz steps away, though. She spoke of Andi Sullivan and Sam Coffey and their readiness to take over the defensive midfielder role for the USWNT. Girma showed this summer that she is the present and future of leadership on the team’s backline — and was a player that Megan Rapinoe (whose final USWNT game is this weekend) had directly compared to Ertz as immediately irreplaceable for the senior national team.
Plenty of players have had plenty of praise for Naomi Girma, but Megan Rapinoe really laid out why she thinks Girma is a generational player for the #USWNT today here in Frisco. pic.twitter.com/EnFfLDF6SB
With one final cap still to earn, Ertz currently has 122 appearances to her USWNT career with a record of 100 wins, 17 draws and only five losses. Seventeen of those games were World Cup matches, all of which she started. While her career stats don’t always reflect the contributions she made on the field for the U.S., her 20 career goals do stand out as one of the team’s favorite set-piece targets. She scored half of those with her head and 16 of the 20 were on set pieces (half from free kicks, half from corner kicks), plus eight were game-winners.
“There’s so much to learn from her, but I feel like her professionalism and attention to detail are (some) of the top that I’ve seen,” Girma said. “How she’ll break down every play and be like, ‘We could have been one step higher, or we’re one step off.’ Looking at every little detail, and the fact that she’s doing that in one of her last games for us, having that commitment throughout her career. Obviously, I wasn’t part of it for a long time, but seeing a glimpse of it is something that I’ll definitely take away and something that I hope I can continue doing throughout my career.”
For her part though, Ertz didn’t want to name an heir apparent; “comparison is the thief of joy,” she cited on Wednesday.
“Everyone brings their own thing. Having the expectation that someone’s just going to fill in the way someone (else does) takes away from what they have,” she said. “There’s tremendous space for players to grow into, and I think as I’ve been here for, what, 11, 12 years, whatever it’s been, you grow into that position off of adversity, off of experience. So I think every individual player needs to go through their own journey for what that is.”
As Ertz had said herself, she grew up within the USWNT environment. She won a couple of World Cups along the way. On Thursday night in Cincinnati, she’ll close this chapter of her life, and start another, hoping that she did her part to raise the next generation, showing them the DNA of the USWNT team, on and off the field.
(Photo: Meg Linehan/The Athletic)
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Meg Linehan is a senior writer for The Athletic who covers the U.S. women’s national team, the National Women’s Soccer League and more. She also hosts the weekly podcast “Full Time with Meg Linehan.” Follow Meg on Twitter @itsmeglinehan
How to watch the friendlies
Thursday’s game in Cincinnati will air at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT, Universo and Peacock. Action from Soldier Field will air at 4:30 p.m. CT Sunday on TNT, Universo and Peacock.
USWNT schedule
OPPONENT
DATE
TIME
HOW TO WATCH
South Africa
Sept. 21
7:30 p.m. ET
TNT, Universo and Peacock
South Africa
Sept. 24
5:30 p.m. ET
TNT, Universo and Peacock
Colombia
Oct. 26
9 p.m. ET
TNT, Universo and Peacock
Colombia
Oct. 29
5:30 p.m. ET
TNT, Telemundo, Universo and Peacock
What’s up with the coaching search?
U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker shed light on the USWNT coaching search after one of the men’s team’s friendlies earlier this month, saying “in an ideal world” the federation hopes to have the position filled by the start of December camp.
Crocker said Kilgore will remain in the interim role through the team’s October friendlies. Crocker added that the federation is looking to hire a coach who “has got the ability to make in-game changes in key moments to improve the performance of the team.”
Andonovski resigned as USWNT coach after a disappointing World Cup campaign that saw his roster and playing time decisions called into question.
Asked what attributes he’s looking for in the next USWNT coach, Crocker said: “If you look tactically, we already know that we’ve got a great group of athletic women and a huge pool to pick from, so things like our ability to transition quickly is a key strength, defensively we’ve been really strong.
“I guess what we’d like to do is maybe develop more in a possession-based style and to have maybe a Plan B and a coach that has got the ability to make in-game changes in key moments to improve the performance of the team is going to be key, and obviously a coach that is a development coach, so a coach that can integrate young players into the team is going to be important. But then probably the final attribute is going to be the human skills, the leadership skills, so a strong communicator, someone that can build fantastic relationships, someone that can drive the program forward is all gonna be key.”
What else is new?
U.S. Soccer announced last week that it will build a national training facility in the Atlanta metropolitan area funded in part by a $50 million donation from Atlanta United owner Arthur Blank.
The federation has not yet finalized an exact location for the facility, but it hopes that construction will begin next year. U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson is currently leading the search for the site, which will be selected in January 2024.
The organization has also not set a target opening date for the facility, which will serve as headquarters for U.S. Soccer, currently based in Chicago. It will include training fields, facilities for coaching and referee education, recovery and performance analysis and other infrastructure. It will also host youth tournaments and soccer conferences.
“We’re not just erecting a building or facility. This is a once-in-a-generation moment for soccer in the U.S.,” Blank said at an event commemorating the facility announcement Saturday.
Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens said his city is now “the capital of soccer in this nation,” while MLS commissioner Don Garber called the facility “one of the most important projects in the history of soccer in America.”
Megan Rapinoe from those who know her: ‘She makes the tough times easier for everybody’
To have crossed paths with Megan Rapinoe is to have a Megan Rapinoe story.
Back in 2019, following a second World Cup trophy, The Pose, and her breakout into the mainstream, I wrote a long feature about how Rapinoe was one of our Athletes of the Year at The Athletic — it was a collection of short stories about Rapinoe, the human and the player.
So when my colleague Steph Yang and I started asking teammates, coaches and staff (who have known her for years) for their Rapinoe stories ahead of her final U.S. game on Sunday, the answers didn’t surprise us. Of course they have them. There’s just one small challenge: can they be shared?
When I asked U.S. women’s national team forward Midge Purce in Cincinnati last week for her best story, she stared back at me for a second. “That’s fit for public consumption,” I clarified.
“Yeah, that’s the key!” She laughed, staring off and rummaging through what must be a pretty good mental file of options.
“I’m thinking about Cabo,” she starts, before a long pause. “No.” Definitely nothing for publication there. What about the White House, when the U.S. teammates appeared with President Joe Biden on Equal Pay Day?
“Oh, that was fantastic,” Purce said. “Pinoe has been one of the most welcoming icons from the very beginning, she’s always been super, super down to earth. It was crazy to go to the White House, and she’s been there before. I mean, I’ve been there, but she’s been there for sports reasons. She was just a friend, walking through the White House with me. But honestly, I don’t have an appropriate story even when I think about the White House. The things that went on behind the scenes, I can not share.”
Purce laughed all over again. There’s probably been a lot of that over the past few days, and there will be a little bit more on Sunday as Rapinoe takes the field one final time for the U.S. at Soldier Field in Chicago. There will be tears too. Taking the field while wearing the U.S. crest for the 203rd time, Rapinoe’s USWNT chapter will come to a close, but the stories are going to live on.
Here are a few of the ones we could get on the record.
– Meg Linehan
Lori Lindsey – USWNT teammate from 2006-2013
This is a story that reminds me of Megan a lot. It makes me laugh periodically and also, whenever we’re together, we reference it and make jokes. It was back in the Algarve (Cup) days when we used to play the championship and then we’d most likely stay up through the middle of the night, or only get a few hours of sleep because we’d have an early, like 2 or 3 a.m. bus ride back to Lisbon from the Algarve to catch an early flight.
Most of us would go to our favorite Indian food place or (get) pizzas and this random year, for some reason, there were all these pizzas delivered and one was like shrimp alfredo or something. To say the least, it didn’t sit well with some people, in particular Aaron Heifetz, our press officer.
(Ed.note: Aaron Heifetz could neither confirm nor deny the cuisine from this story to The Athletic, but was firm that it could not have been shrimp, as he does not consume shrimp.)
Megan and I were on the bus, (Heifetz) was always diagonal from us where we usually sat on the bus. And so all of a sudden we hear this kind of like, ‘blech, blech.’ Heif says, ‘Stop the bus, stop the bus,’ and then vomits everywhere. I mean, it’s a bit of hyperbole, but it did feel like the barf scene from the movie ‘Stand By Me’ because there were other people that were sick as well. Anyway, they did have to stop the bus. They pulled over. (Heif) obviously changes into other windbreaker pants — listen, it was just f—ing hilarious, but also disgusting. Also, everyone felt terrible because people had food poisoning. It wasn’t great. And we were about to go on a transatlantic flight.
Megan and I, per usual, are just full of jokes and shenanigans, and we turned it into a song. I mean, the song isn’t great, but here it goes.
It’s like (rhythmically) ‘Blech blech, stop the bus, stop the bus, too late, too late.’ Heifetz was I think so embarrassed, but he was like, ‘too late, too late’ after barf was everywhere. And so Megan and I, to this day, still sing the song. It makes us laugh. We crack up, we reference it to Heif all the time.
It reminds me of Megan because as you would know, the environment can be really competitive. It can be mundane, it can be repetitive, and Megan and I were always up for shenanigans. But Megan in particular, I think one of the reasons why she’s been able to have the career that she has is because, yes, she takes the craft seriously; yes, she takes her platform and her voice incredibly seriously; but it’s the shenanigans, these laughs, that she doesn’t take seriously. And that story just makes me laugh. It makes me think of Megan and why she has been so popular amongst teammates, but also just successful within the sport.
Megan Rapinoe addressing the media at the 2019 World Cup. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Aaron Heifetz — USWNT press officer for more than two decades
In 2019, everyone thought that the stuff with Megan and our former President was so huge. Of course, it was outside the team and in the world, but inside the team, it really wasn’t. So the tweets hit, and I’m like, “What is going on here?” You never panic, I’m not going to go rushing to Megan. We actually went to training and we’re coming back and pulling into the hotel, and Megan finds me and is like, ‘Yeah, I think we need to talk.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, we need to talk.’
We had her set to do the FIFA press conference the next day. We weren’t even thinking about pulling her from this press conference, and she was also like, ‘No way, I want to do it.’
She just goes, simply, “I’ve thought about it, this is what I want to say. What do you think?” I told her maybe you should say that the swearing was inappropriate. She said, “Yeah, maybe I’ll do that.” Of course, being Megan Rapinoe, she did not apologize for the swearing; she did eventually. But she just went there the next day and was amazing.
But that’s Megan. She makes the tough times easier for everybody. Just because she has such a high level of intelligence, emotional intelligence. She was great.
I have to give P so much credit for me really diving into my sexuality. I went to Seattle when I was in my formative 20s. I got there, I was like 25. And I walked in there being like the straight, straight, straight girlie from Birmingham, Alabama and very quickly became friends with P. All of a sudden I’m like looking around. I’m like, listen, all my friends are gay. I’m not gay. Couldn’t be me.
I was there for a year and Sue (Bird) and P had just started dating. I spent a lot of time at their house and they were like, “Listen, please be a lesbian. Like you’re just gonna absolutely love it. Your life is just gonna be so much better. Just embrace it.” I have to thank P for my coming out story. So thank you for that. I love her. She will never be able to like, take that away, but I will literally never forget them being like, ‘Please, please, just be a lesbian.’
Stephanie Cox – Long-time youth and professional teammate
I grew up playing club soccer with Megan and her twin sister Rachael. I remember long road trips down to Southern California and going to regionals in Hawaii and nationals in Georgia. Prior to our games in Hawaii, we got to tour and visit some beaches which was very exciting because that was my first time in Hawaii. Those were sweet and simple times for us and our youth teammates.
Megan had quite an impact on the field at (the University of Portland) as well as off the field. She had a hard time assimilating to all of the team rules and it impacted one of our road trips to BYU and her involvement. Her strong viewpoint would not be stifled. At the time this was difficult with all of the norms and unity that were stressed in college to create a cohesive team with so many individuals from different backgrounds. I honestly don’t remember the particulars, I would just stress that she wasn’t into conformity.
But over the course of Megan’s career, she has shown a new way of celebrating everyone’s unique personalities and traits that can make a team shine. I can’t help but think that this adversity only served to further galvanize Megan’s resolve into the dominant spokesperson she is today.
So the backstory to both of these stories: it’s the early days of the Reign, early days of the league. Whenever we would go to new cities on away games, because of how far we would travel, we’d always end up there early. So if you’re in New Jersey, people would want to go into Manhattan for the afternoon. Going to play Western New York, if the players wanted to go, someone would drive them to Niagara Falls. In year one, a couple of us did it. In year two, a couple of us did it. So it’s 2015, Sam (Laity) the assistant coach takes a group of about five to Niagara Falls, and the rest of us stay back. The plan is to meet for team dinner at six. Around 6:15, our phones just started blowing up in the group chat.
There are these photos of Kim (Little) and Sam, and it looks like they’ve been arrested. And we’re all like, “What the f— is going on, you were supposed to be at team dinner 15 minutes ago.” They were like, “Sam and Kim went beyond the fence, the police arrested them, and they’re just getting a court citation.” And I’m like, “If Sam Laity gets Kim Little deported, I’m gonna kill him.”
One of those photos had Kim and Sam literally on rocks in the Falls. And Sam’s doing this stance where he’s got his thumb up sideways. (Rapinoe) and all those guys are at the World Cup (in 2015), and they’re all like, ‘What the hell is going on?’
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So fast-forward to the 2021 Olympics. Pinoe scores an olimpico, top corner, there’s no one in the stands. Except me. I’m the coach in the stand. So when she scores, obviously, I’m yelling and she just turned, stands, two feet spread — you’ll have to find the photo — and massive sidewards thumb. And I’m just like, ‘How freaking cool is that?’ This has been going on since 2015, it’s the funniest, dumbest story that just lasted and she took it global. That s— went global, everyone knew about it! I’m texting Sam, ‘You’re in USA Today,’ and he’s like, ‘What do you mean?’ Sidewards thumb. Who does that? She’s got no concept that what she’s done is so funny and so impactful to everyone around her. She just took something that was so Seattle Reign and made it global.
Rapinoe celebrates after scoring at the 2021 Summer Olympics. (Photo by Jack Gruber/USA TODAY Sports)
Sidewards thumb again. Pregame, we’re in the locker room, we’re in Washington, D.C., Maryland, wherever it is. It’s a massive game, I think we needed to win it, it was towards the end of the season. I was really getting into them, ‘We’re setting the tone for playoffs,’ that sort of thing. I’m not really aggressive, that’s not just who I am, but I’m trying to do this motivational speech.
So I’m like, ‘We need to make sure that we win every tackle, that we complete every pass, and we get into it in the final third and all that.’ Then, ‘You need to do it for yourself! You need to do it for the people around you!’ Then I sort of lose track of what I’m saying. ‘You need to do it… do it for… your country!’
And Pinoe just stands up, in the middle of the group, and just gradually brings the sidewards thumb up over her head. And everyone just bursts out laughing. So my aim was to give this really good, motivational, rah-rah, we’re going to go out there and smash them speech, and it ended with everyone absolutely rolling around laughing because I lost my train of thought and Pinoe just… and that’s what sidewards thumb became. This thing that whenever it was a little bit awkward, a little bit funny, but no one was quite sure if you should laugh or not, just raise the sidewards thumb.
Oh my god, I have so many stories. And all of them, I’m like, should I tell that one?
LAFC, Union exemplify why it’s so hard to excel after making it to MLS Cup
In 2015, MLS commissioner Don Garber made headlines across the pond by suggesting the league he runs is more competitive than the Premier League. His reasoning: That while just a handful of teams in the Premier League can realistically win the title in any given season, just about every team in MLS begins the season believing they have a chance of winning MLS Cup.
“We see some of the challenges of competing in the Premier League,” he said at a Soccerex conference in Manchester. “We have wealthy owners, but we are very committed to the idea that at the start of every season, every fan can think their team can win a championship. We want someone in Kansas City, even though they are smaller than New York City, to think they can win the title.”
Since 2012, there have been five winners of the Premier League: Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Leicester City and Manchester United. In Spain’s La Liga, there have been three winners in the same span; in France, PSG has dominated the past decade, winning eight of the last 10 league titles; in Italy, Juventus won nine in a row during the 2010s and in the Bundesliga, the least “competitive” of Europe’s top five leagues at the top end, Bayern Munich have swept every league title since 2013.
By contrast, it’s extremely difficult to repeat as champion in MLS, even once. The 2023 regular season performance of last year’s MLS Cup finalists LAFC and Philadelphia Union, who meet this weekend in league play, proves as much.
Since a team last had repeat success, there have been nine MLS Cup winners. LAFC collected both the Supporters’ Shield (given to the team with the best regular season record) and MLS Cup in 2022, but this year it’s St. Louis City, playing their first season in MLS, that is leading the Western Conference despite many pundits (including most of The Athletic’s writers) predicting they would finish dead last.
For better or worse, it’s by design: MLS is supposed to have an equal playing field. The league sits in the awkward position of aspiring to grow while also making the most of its place in the food chain. When a side wins MLS Cup, for example, they will now almost invariably inevitably spend the winter preparing for bids for their best talent from abroad, and often from Europe’s top five leagues.
After their MLS Cup triumph in 2018, Atlanta United sold star forward Miguel Almiron to Newcastle United in the Premier League, and while they responded with a solid year – finishing second in the Eastern Conference and the semifinals of the playoffs – they have failed to qualify for the postseason in two out of the three seasons since.
More recently, after New York City’s title-winning season in 2021, Valentin “Taty” Castellanos departed for La Liga with Girona. After their 2022 triumph, LAFC has since lost Gareth Bale to retirement, top goalscorer Cristian “Chicho” Arango to Liga MX (only later to return to MLS with Real Salt Lake) and Jose Cifuentes, an important cog of the title-winning midfield, to Rangers in the Scottish Premiership. MLS clubs will naturally find it very challenging to create dynasties if it is more financially viable for them to sell their best players – though in most cases, the clubs do not even receive the full transfer fee.
“We want to develop young players, have them be successful here and then move them on,” Houston Dynamo general manager Pat Onstad told The Athletic. “I think when you do that, everybody in the club benefits. Not just ownership or our salary cap but the players training with that player. When I was in Columbus, and Zack Steffen moved on to Manchester City, the guys in that locker room felt honored to play with the guy that went on to play a bit in the Premier League and now the Championship. I think everybody’s desire is to play in a top-five league, so that’s something we’d like to do.”
That’s not to say LAFC has struggled mightily since winning the title last year. No club has posted a more impressive start to the season in over a decade, and only the 2020 Seattle Sounders can match LAFC’s 28 points through the opening 15 games of the regular season. LAFC’s issues have surfaced later on in the year, with performances dropping significantly following their CONCACAF Champions League final defeat to Club Leon.
If you ask LAFC manager Steve Cherundolo, the straightforward reason for his side struggling to maintain that electric early season form is the inability of smaller MLS rosters, limited to 20 senior players along with up to 10 supplemental players (usually draft picks, homegrown products, and other young or developing prospects) to cope with the schedule that qualifying for continental competition brings. By the end of this season, with a deep playoff run, LAFC could have played close to 60 games.
“In tournaments like this, if you want to consistently compete in finals and win them, you have to rethink your roster rules and regulations,” Cherundolo said after losing the two-legged Champions League final 3-1 on aggregate.
“We are at a big disadvantage… money in this game buys quality players. We have a good enough team to win this tournament, but with our scheduling and all of the competitions this year, we had a lot going on. We ended up in the final not at our best moment. Roster building is about that. Having deeper rosters, more players, and more quality players on your team will allow you to extend those periods of play. Every MLS team is at a disadvantage now.”
For the 2023 season, the MLS salary cap is $5.2 million per team, excluding designated players and allocation money that can be used to buy down players’ cap hits. These constraints were once essential to ensure the league remained financially secure. But with clubs like LAFC, Toronto FC and Inter Miami, who have signed Lionel Messi to a monster deal worth over $50 million annually, demonstrating they have the ambition to build rosters with the capabilities to compete consistently in MLS and continental competition, Cherundolo argues the league is directly hurting its team’s chances of success.
Last year, for example, the Seattle Sounders became the first club to win CONCACAF’s premier club competition since 2000. Subsequently, they collapsed to a historically poor 11th-placed finish in the West, the first time the club failed to qualify for the playoffs since joining MLS. It is not the first time a team has experienced success in a continental club competition and was unable to replicate it in the league, but the persistent underperformance for American clubs (who arguably possess more star quality than their Liga MX counterparts) after MLS Cup success is at least partly influenced by the league’s restrictions on building a roster with strength in depth.
Despite losing their primary goalscorer and Bale, whose primary contribution came in the MLS Cup final, LAFC has retained the core of their squad while using the summer transfer window to strengthen their team with versatile players capable of contributing in several positions. As defending champions in this iteration of MLS go, they are about as well placed as possible to fight deep into the playoffs. Well, about as well-placed as you can be in a format that relies on hitting form at precisely the right time.
But a front office should not have to prioritize jack-of-all-trades to compete for silverware. Messi’s arrival brings millions of eyeballs worldwide to a league desperate for coverage in a saturated U.S. sports market. Competitiveness is great within reason, but it should not hinder the franchises that aspire for sustained success.
(Photo: Rob Ericson/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
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Quite a performance for the USMNT in 4-0 win over Oman. Yes Oman is 74th in the world – but this was the type of dominance expected by a young but talented US team. Plenty of goals – as Balogun scored early on a follow, Aaronson scored on a free kick, an Pepi scored his 6th goal in 6 US games with this beauty. (full highlights). I thought the centerback play was exceptional – Miles Robinson definitely threw his name back into the mix here as he teamed with Chris Richards in a darn near perfect performance albeit against lower ranked competition. I thought Kristoffer Lund was also super steady on the left outside back spot where he might have just secured the #2 spot behind Jedi Robinson. Dest was strong again as normal and his ability to get into the attack – man he’s the perfect Barcelona player – I wish he could have made that go. Musah was also super strong in the back – man you could argue he actually controls the Dmid better than Captain Adams back there. He is just so smooth in moving the ball forward. Of course on this night it was the Weston McKennie show – he was electric with his pinpoint passing and complete control of the middle of the field. Moving forward I thought Pepi honestly outplayed Balogun again in this game – for the 2nd straight game – he got off 3 really good shots and I thought was the better target than Balogun most of the night. Listen Christian Pulisic needs to stop taking corner kicks – period – I have 13 year olds that consistently serve better balls in that he does. PLEASE STOP NOW! Speaking of Stop Now – Another half empty stadium when the US Men’s A team is playing at 7:30 pm. Listen bring these games back to the TRUE Heartland. If St Louis and Minnesota can’t fill MLS stadiums for these games. No problem – we’ll take the games to real soccer cities like Cincy and Columbus. Funny Mexico filed 75K into Atlanta last night to tie the team we beat 3-0 , 3 to 1. Is disgust me that Mexico is the True home team in America for Soccer. The US plays within 3 hours of me – I am there. PERIOD!
Sorry to see that American Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath has been left out to dry again – this time by Nottingham Forest. They have cut him from their EPL roster behind the Starter Matt Turner and now 2 other new guys. All he did was get them to the EPL – same for Luton Town and they didn’t want to keep him either. I feel like he is really getting the shaft. Hopefully he lands a last second trade out somewhere.
US Women Set to Face WC QF South Africa next Thur/Sun on TNT
The US ladies return to action with a new interim coach, old asst coach Twila Kilgore She chose a pretty familiar squad adding just 2 player from the squad that had the worse ever showing for a women’s US team in a World Cup. Replacing Sophia Smith with uncapped forwards Mia Fishel and Jaedyn Shaw
I will say anyone who can should head on over and pay their respects and watch American superstar Midfielder/Defender Julie Johnston Ertz in her last game in the Red, White and Blue – heck her last game playing professionally at all. Read below about all the accolades she has accomplished included player of the year, 2 World Cups and an Olympic Gold Medal. Tickets are as low as $25 and available here for Cincy’s TQL Stadium- which is a great place to watch a game with ample parking and lots of restaurants and bars near by. Same goes for Megan Rapinoe’s last game next Sunday at 5:30 pm in Chicago. Both of the ladies were instrumental in both the Championships and the Growth of women’s soccer in the US. The US will look to regain their footing as they prepare for the Olympics in France next summer.
US Ladies Roster for South Africa Series
GOALKEEPERS (3): Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (9): Alana Cook (OL Reign), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars), Kelley O’Hara (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign)
FORWARDS (8): Mia Fishel (Chelsea FC, ENG), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
Champions League Tues/Wed
Sure is nice to see American’s in Champions League next week as Pulisic & Musah face New Castle on Tuesday on Paramount plus at 12:45 followed by Union Berlin with Jordan Pfuk + Brendan Aaronson traveling to Real Madrid Wed at 12:45 pm on para+.
GAMES ON TV SCHEDULE
Fri, Sept 15
2:30 pm ESPN+ Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen
3 pm ESPN+ Champ Southampton vs Leicester city
7:30 pm Para+ Racing Louisville vs Houston Dash NWSL
9 pm ESPN+ New Mexico vs Indy 11
Sat, Sept 16
7:30 am USA Wolverhampton vs Liverpool
9 am CBSSN Juve (Weah, McKinney) vs Lazio
9:30 am ESPN+ Wolfsburg vs Union Berlin (Pfuk, Aaronson)
10 am USA West Ham United vs Man City
10 am Peacock Fullham (Ream, Jedi) vs Luton Town
12 noon Para+ Inter Milan vs AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah)
12:30 pm NBC New Castle vs Brentford
7:30 pm Apple MLS Philly Union vs Cincy
10 pm Apple free LAFC vs LA Galaxy (el Trafico)
Sun, Sept 17
9 am USA Bournemouth vs Chelsea
11:30 am NBC Everton vs Arsenal
245 pm Para+ Roma vs Empoli
8:30 pm FS1 Austin vs Portland
Mon, Sept 18
2:45 USA Nottingham Forest (Turner) vs Burnley
Tues Sept 19 – Champions League
12:45 pm Para+ AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) vs New Castle United
3 pm Para+ PSG vs Dortmund
3 pm Para+ Man City vs Crvena Zvezda
3 pm para+ Lazio vs Atletico Madrid
Weds Sept 20 – Champions League
12:45 pm Para+ Real Madrid vs Union Berlin (Pfuk, Aaronson)
3 pm Para+ Bayern Munic vs Man United
3 pm Para+ real Sociadad vs Inter Milan
3 pm para+ Arsenal vs PSV
7”30 pm Apple MLS Miami (Messi) vs Toronto
7:30 pm Apple Montreal vs Cincy
Thur, Sept 21
12:45 pm para+ Lask Linz vs Liverpool
12:45 pm Lergia vs Aston villa
3 pm Para+ West Ham United vs Backa Topolo
3:30 pm Para+ Brighton vs AEL Athens
7:30 pm TNT, Uni, Cock USWNT vs South Africa Cincy Ertz Last Game
Sun, Sept 24
5:30 pm TNT, Uni, Cock USWNT vs South Africa Chicago Rapinoe last game
Analysis, thoughts, & player ratings: The USMNT caps September with 4-0 win over Oman
As he does after every game, ASN’s Brian Sciaretta rewatches the performance and offers up his thougths, analysis, and player ratings. For this game, the U.S. received an improved performance to end its September window with a 4-0 win over Oman.
BY BRIAN SCIARETTAPOSTEDSEPTEMBER 13, 2023 9:05 AM
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THE UNITED STATES national team defeated Oman 4-0 in Minnesota to complete its September international window with two friendly wins over Asian opponents. For 90 minutes, the outing was a significant improvement from the 3-0 win over Uzbekistan on Saturday.
The U.S. took control of the game early and immediately began to create chances. In the 13th minute, the team broke through with some excellent ball-movement. Weston McKennie recovered the ball after Christian Pulisic slipped. McKennie sent a long and accurate pass into the box on the right side to Tim Weah. With his first touch, he teed up Sergino Dest for a shot. His shot was saved by Ibrahim Almukhaini, but the rebound fell to Folarin Balogun for a tap-in.
For the remainder of the half, the U.S. team controlled the game but couldn’t find a second. Eventually the goals started to come. In the second half, the U.S. team put the game with three goals in 21 minutes via the substitutes. It started with a Brenden Aaronson free-kick that featured a number of mistakes from Oman – from the wall to the goalkeeper. Then Ricardo Pepi had the goal of the night in the 79th minute when he took a pass from DeJuan Jones and hit a low driving shot from just outside the box that found the back of the net. The final goal was an own goal when Kevin Pardes broke down the right side and sent a low cross towards Pepi. Before Pepi could tap it in, Oman’s Khalid Al Braiki turned it into his own net.
The U.S. team finished the window with two wins and a combined 7-0 scoreline. Meanwhile, Mexico struggled against Uzbekistan in Atlanta and conceded a late equalizer in a 3-3 draw.
Here are some thoughts on the win.
VERY FEW MISTAKES
Following the U.S. team’s 3-0 win over Uzbekistan that left many underwhelmed, Gregg Berhalter said that the biggest area of concern for him was the careless turnovers. Those turnovers sprung many counter attacks for Uzbekistan which were only bailed out by either missed shots, blocked shots, or saves.
In this game, the U.S. team made a complete reversal and made no dangerous turnovers. Oman had very few chances to spring counter attacks. In particular, the midfield trio of Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, and Malik Tillman moved the ball around with easy and any missed passes were not costly in terms of gifting Oman anything the other way.
In terms of improvement, this was huge.
CENTRAL DEFENSE IN TRANSITION
Berhalter said after the game that he gave the “game ball” (equivalent of the team’s MOTM) to both central defender – Miles Robinson and Chris Richards – because he felt the defended very well whenever Oman would try to aggressively attack or counterattack. He believed they helped eliminate Oman’s possessions early, and long before they ever amounted to anything dangerous. But there was a lot of talk about transitional defense in this window – both in how it wasn’t great against Uzbekistan and how it was improved against Oman. But moving forward, this will continue to be an important topic and next month the quality of opponents will be significantly raised in Germany and Ghana, so it will be important that positive momentum from this game continue.
Central defense is completely up in the air with this team right now and the truth is that there really aren’t many young options knocking at the door (that’s the topic of a separate article but there is a huge generational gap developing at that position with few 2001-born and younger options). The pool of players in central defense is set but there is a lot of parity and some concerns with this group which include Richards, Robinson, Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie, Walker Zimmerman, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Matt Miazga, and Erik Palmer-Brown. Those players comprise of the player pool for central defense. There are opportunities and concerns over each of them.
In this game, Richards played well and had a nice window. But the concern will be over his lack of minutes at Crystal Palace. Good outings for the national team are certainly possible if a player is on the bench for the club, but consistency is another issue.
Similarly, Robinson had a nice game as well, but he looks set to leave Atlanta United after the season. Mark McKenzie replaced Richards and he is in a good situation at Genk for his minutes, but can he transition that over to consistently playing well for the national team? Then you have Tim Ream. He will soon turn 36 but has been playing incredible soccer over the past year. At some point, his level will drop. He’s doing a great job staying at a top level, but it’s always “proceed with caution” with him.
Leaving this camp, we still don’t have a set order with central defenders.
WEARING OMAN OUT
Another factor that went into the U.S. team winning this game was simply wearing Oman out. The team’s passing was so efficient, and it was equally distributed from the right and left sides of the field.
Here is an interesting statistic. Left back Kristoffer Lund had 85 touches over 90 minutes. The two right backs (Sergino Dest and DeJuan Jones) combined for 88 touches. That presents a clear picture that the U.S. team was comfortable going down either side of the field. Top teams will still defend that well, but against opponents where the U.S. team has a big edge in talent, it will help the U.S. team pick opponents apart throughout the 90 minutes.
It also shouldn’t be discounted that this was a big reason why the U.S. team was so strong in the second half and why the substitutes performed so well. The U.S. was moving the ball from side to side and Oman was chasing. When the fresh legs came into the game, Oman had been chasing for a long time and was both tired, and thrown off its game.
MCKENNIE’S DISTRIBUTION
While Berhalter gave the team ball to central defense, there was a great case that Weston McKennie was the MOTM. His diagonal passing was deadly accurate and he was a huge reason why the U.S. team was able to get the ball from side to side. In total, he was 15/18 in his long range passing (35+ yards) and that was how the U.S. was able to go from side to side.
Weston McKennie was 15/18 in long balls tonight #USMNT— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) September 13, 2023
That passing clearly gave the U.S. an edge and it directly resulted in the opening goal in the 13th minute.
McKennie was the best U.S. player over the entire window. Against Uzbekistan, he made some turnovers but was also creating chances. In this game, he was putting it all together.
GETTING BALOGUN ON THE SAME PAGE
The center forward hierarchy has always been a big question mark for this team. Every window, there is serious discussion over it. Heading into the World Cup, it was always talked about.
Now there is a little more comfort in the position. Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi are good options for now, but nothing is written in stone either. Pepi has delivered for the team in 2023 but he is likely only going to see limited minutes at PSV if Luuk de Jong is fit.
For Balogun, the issue with this team is chemistry. Most of this core group of the national team has been together for so long that the chemistry is steady. But Balogun is still a step behind in being on the same page as his teammates – or visa versa. As Berhalter noted in the press conference, Balogun made several important runs that were not picked up. It’s still a work in progress but having Balogun fully integrated will stabilize the front six of the national team’s starting XI.
WINDOW’S WINNERS
This is not the same thing as saying who were the team’s best players. McKennie was the best player for the U.S. team this window. But McKennie is a starter for the team as long as he’s healthy.
The winners of the window were those who improved their standing within the team.
Ricardo Pepi: Was the team’s most effective forward this window beyond Balogun. But Pepi will not be playing much at PSV and he will have national team competition inside of the coming year when Sargent and Dike are healthy, or if Haji Wright or Jesus Ferreira get hot, or if Brandon Vazquez continues his form now and after he moves, or if Jordan Pefok finds his groove again. But if Pepi continues to produce for the national team, he’s going to continue to get the call.
Brenden Aaronson: hybrid attacking player might have had some luck in his free kick goal against Oman, but he was very good off the bench in both games. There will be young players pushing for him, including his brother, in the years ahead. But he has a big edge.
Kristoffer Lund: The team’s new left back from Palermo made a “good first step” (according to Berhalter) in claiming the role as the team’s backup left back spot behind Antonee Robinson. In this window he played over 100 minutes and showed some qualities while also making few mistakes.
Miles Robinson and Chris Richards: When there is not a lot of clarity in central defense, these two played well together using their athleticism. Both missed the World Cup due to injury and both are in the team now. But when the central defense pool has a lot of parity, good performances are always important. Richards needed this because there were so many questions about his lack of playing time at Crystal Palace.
PLAYER RATINGS
THE STARTING XI
Ethan Horvath: Horvath had very little to do in this game. What he did do, he did well enough: Rating 5.5
Kristoffer Lund: It was a decent first start for Lund who was eager to get forward, although he wasn’t very successful. Defensively, he did his part and limited his mistakes in possession: Rating 5.5
Miles Robinson: Aside from an early foul which gave Oman a free kick from 30 yards, Robinson did well defensively and stopped Oman when it attempted to push forward. He won 10/14 of his aerials, 4/7 of his ground duels, and 3/4 of his tackles as evidence of his strong defense: Rating 7.0
Chris Richards: like Robinson, he was effective in the backline to break up Oman’s plays before they became dangerous. In his 71 minutes, he won 8/9 of his aerials to limit Oman’s ability to create with balls into the box. Rating 7.0
Sergino Dest: the PSV right back was effective in the attack in the first half. His shot created the first goal. Unfortunately for Dest, in the second half he missed two very good chances. But overall, he was tough for Oman to stop. Rating 6.5
Yunus Musah: Playing a deeper position, Musah was very comfortable on both sides of the ball – winning possession, dribbling, getting the ball forward. He helped the U.S. command possession and the pace of play: Rating 6.5
Weston McKennie: The Juventus man was the best player on the field. His long-ball accuracy gave the U.S. team multiple points of attack, and he made Oman chase the game for long stretches. He opened up the game for his teammates in an impressive outing: Rating: 8.0
Malik Tillman: Getting the opportunity to start in place of Luca de la Torre, Tillman was smooth with the ball in the attack and helped to facilitate for others: Rating 6.0
Christian Pulisic: It was forgettable game for the U.S. team’s best player, who is reliably good in big games but hit or miss in friendlies. Nothing much came from Pulisic from the run of play and he was taken out at the half ahead of the big Milan derby: Rating 5.0
Tim Weah: The Juventus wingback was at his usual wing position for the U.S. team and he had a good game. He set up Dest’s shot on the first goal. He played the ball to Jones on Pepi’s goal. He set up a chance for Dest, who simply missed. But Weah had a good game and a good window: Rating 7.5
Folarin Balogun: Playing just the first half, Balogun was in the right place at the right time to score the opener. He also was dangerous with his runs, many of which were not picked up by his teammates: Rating 6.5
THE SUBSTITUTES
Ricardo Pepi: The PSV forward missed two chances soon after coming on, but grew into the game nicely. He scored a very nice goal in the 73rd minute and he certainly would have scored the team’s fourth goal had it not been turned into the goal by a defender for an own goal: Rating 7.0
Brenden Aaronson: The Union Berlin winger was a step up from Pulisic in this game. Sure, his free kick was lucky but Aaronson brought intensity to the attack and allowed the U.S. team to pull away: Rating 7.0
Benja Cremaschi: The Inter Miami teenager looked a little nervous initially in his first cap but he nearly picked up an assist when he set up Dest, whose shot in the box went wide to the left. He then played a nice ball to Kevin Paredes on the fourth goal, an own goal. Rating 6.0
Mark McKenzie: When McKenzie came into the game in the 71st minute, Oman was tired and chasing leaving McKenzie with little to do defensively. He completed 8/10 of his passes: Rating 5.5
DeJuan Jones: The New England Revolution fullback played the final 14 minutes, completed 16/17 of his passes, with one being an assist on Pepi’s goal: Rating 6.5
Mark McKenzie: When McKenzie came into the game in the 76th minute, Oman was tired and chasing leaving McKenzie with little to do defensively. He completed 8/10 of his passes: Rating 5.5
Kevin Pardes: The Wolfsburg winger made the most of his debut when his attacking run set him up for a final ball in the box that was either going to be an assist to Pepi or an own goal, and it was an own goal: Rating 6.0
USMNT player ratings: Weston McKennie 8/10 in win over Oman
Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff WriterSep 12, 2023, 11:25 PM ET
The United States wrapped up coach Gregg Berhalter’s first window back as head coach with a dominant 4-0 win against Oman at Allianz Field in Minnesota on Tuesday.Folarin Balogun got the U.S. off to a flying start with a 13th minute goal, before Brenden Aaronson (who replaced Christian Pulisic at half-time), Ricardo Pepi and an Oman own goal rounded out the scoring in the second half.
It was clear early on that Oman, ranked No. 73 in the FIFA world rankings, would be completely overmatched by the U.S., which came in at No. 11 in the last version released in July.
Manager rating (scale of 1-10)
Gregg Berhalter, 7 — There’s not much to be overly critical of here. The U.S. won comfortably and mixed in some new faces. It was a good night for the team. From a pure results standpoint, a pair of wins by a combined 7-0 score made this a successful first window back for Berhalter, but considering the level of competition this was, more or less, expected. A much more interesting test will come next month against Germany and Ghana.
USMNT Player ratings (0-10; 10 = best; 5 = average)
GK Ethan Horvath, 6 — Was required to make just one save.
DF Kristoffer Lund, 4 — After making his U.S. debut on Saturday, Lund got his first start and, at times, his lack of familiarity with his teammates showed. He didn’t have to do much defending with the U.S. dominant in possession.
DF Miles Robinson, 7 — It was a quiet night for Robinson, who was largely untested.
DF Chris Richards, 7 — As was the case with Robinson, there was not much defending to do in this game.
DF Sergiño Dest, 7 — A ripped shot led to the first goal and he was consistently involved in the attack until getting subbed off late.
MF Weston McKennie 8 — A fully engaged McKennie is a difference-maker for the U.S. and that’s the version that showed up Tuesday night. A missed chance late was just about all that went wrong.
MF Malik Tillman, 5 — Without Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna involved this window, it opened up an opportunity for him to start in central midfield, but he didn’t threaten in the attacking third like might have been expected against a team of Oman’s caliber.
MF Yunus Musah, 7 — Sat much deeper than he usually does for the U.S. and looked comfortable in the role.
FW Christian Pulisic, 6 — It wasn’t a memorable game — or window — for Pulisic, who didn’t come close to impacting the game like he’s able to. Came off for Aaronson at the half, by design.
FW Folarin Balogun 7 — Right place, right time for Balogun in the 13th minute, when he calmly hammered home a rebound off a strike from Dest to make it 1-0. Was also a planned half-time sub.
FW Tim Weah, 7 — Pushed the game forward and was generally good in possession.
Substitutes (players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
FW Ricardo Pepi, 7 — Another goal off the bench for Pepi, who seems destined to make it an interesting competition with Balogun for the starting striker role.
MF Brenden Aaronson, 6 — Good things can happen when you put the ball on frame. Aaronson’s free-kick goal should have been easily stopped by the Oman wall, but it parted just after the ball was delivered and snuck by the goalkeeper.
DF Mark McKenzie — Not much was required of him after coming on the 71st minute,
MF Benjamin Cremaschi — From playing with Lionel Messi in Miami to making his U.S. national team debut. What a year for the 18-year-old. He nearly got an assist after coming on in the 71st minute.
DF DeJuan Jones — Jones assisted on Pepi’s goal shortly after coming on.
FW Kevin Paredes — Straight after coming on in his debut, his cross came off an Oman player for an own goal.
Ricardo Pepi continues hot streak as USMNT routs Oman: What we learned in this international window
The United States men’s national team defeated Oman 4-0 in a friendly Tuesday at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn. Here’s what you need to know:
U.S. striker Folarin Balogun opened the scoring in the 13th minute, marking his second international goal for the Americans since switching allegiances from England earlier this year.
Brenden Aaronson and Ricardo Pepi replaced Balogun and Christian Pulisic at the half, with both subs later scoring. Aaronson’s goal came off a free kick in the 60th minute while Pepi’s was his sixth goal in his last six international games.
Ethan Horvath started in goal for the USMNT in place of Matt Turner. Ben Cremaschi, the 18-year-old Inter Miami midfielder, and 20-year-old forward Kevin Paredes made their U.S. debuts; the latter sent in a cross that Oman knocked in as an own goal.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
The first window back under Berhalter
After last coaching the team at the 2022 World Cup before being rehired by new sporting director Matt Crocker after his contract expired, Gregg Berhalter completed his first window back in charge of the national team. It was a pair of overmatched opponents, but with a 4-0 win over Oman following the 3-0 win over Uzbekistan, the road to the 2026 World Cup is underway.
The USMNT dominated Oman and didn’t let up after scoring the first goal early, a critique of their performance against Uzbekistan. Balogun opened the scoring in the 13th minute and the U.S. kept attacking with urgency, finding joy particularly via big switches from Weston McKennie on the left to Tim Weah and the right flank. Kristoffer Lund provided balance on the left, constantly overlapping and allowing Pulisic to drift centrally. Balogun and Pulisic subbed off at halftime to return to their clubs in the best possible fitness.
The Americans added to the lead with three goals in the second half, a better reflection on the scoreline to their dominance.
Cremaschi’s debut in the 71st minute was also a notable moment.
Oman and Uzbekistan are ranked 73rd and 74th, respectively, in the latest FIFA world rankings. The Americans dominated weaker opponents and did their job, but the task wasn’t arduous. More can be learned and analyzed against Germany and Ghana in October. — Bogert
Standouts
McKennie: A stellar performance for McKennie, particularly encouraging in how he dictated the game with passing. That’s not typically the recipe for McKennie’s big impact on games.
Lund: A name few national team fans had on their radar before his surprise inclusion in the camp, Lund had a consistent and strong night at left back. A like-for-like replacement for Antonee Robinson — that is, a left-footed, athletic, overlapping left back — has failed to establish over the last few years, with natural right backs Sergiño Dest and Joe Scally the de facto backup left backs. Lund has firmly entered his name in the conversation now.
Pepi: Another goal off the bench for Pepi, who now has nine goals in 18 caps. Great return for the 20-year-old, including six goals in six appearances this year — all but two of those goals off the bench. — Bogert
Highlight of the game
Key stat
Pepi has scored four goals off the bench for the USMNT this year, equaling the most substitute goals by a player in a single year in team history, per OptaJack.
Why did the U.S. play Uzbekistan and Oman in this window?
As The Athleticfirst reported back in February, U.S. Soccer was looking to line up friendlies against teams like Argentina and Brazil for the final three international windows of 2023, but when it was announced at the FIFA Congress in March that CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers would be played at these times, the U.S. federation had to change course and find other opponents. With European teams engaged in Euro 2024 qualifiers and African teams doing Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, that essentially left Asian sides among the few remaining.
The USWNT’s first roster after the World Cup ends two eras and starts a new one
I’m the Inquirer’s soccer reporter, covering the Union, MLS, the NWSL, the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams, and Philadelphia’s place in the world’s game. I also pitch in with coverage of college basketball and the WNBA.
As Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe depart, young phenoms Jaedyn Shaw and Mia Fishel could make their top-level national team debuts this month. Sam Coffey and Tierna Davidson also return.
The final U.S. national team game for Julie Ertz (left) could be the first for 18-year-old rising star Jaedyn Shaw (right).Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images
When the U.S. women’s soccer team gathers next week for its first games since its disappointing exit from the World Cup, many eyes will be on retiring stars Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe as they play their final games for their country.
But a lot of people also will be paying attention to the players set to take over the mantle going forward — especially two youngsters with the potential to become superstars soon.
Forwards Jaedyn Shaw, 18, and Mia Fishel, 22, stand out on interim U.S. manager Twila Kilgore’s 27-player roster just as much as the big-name veterans. Fans, scouts, and media have been waiting to see the duo reach the big stage, and here they are.
“We’re really excited to have both Jaedyn and Mia in the squad,” Kilgore said in a news conference Tuesday. “They have a lot of talent. We view them as high potentials, but the idea with bringing them into the environment — Mia for her just her second camp and Jaedyn for her first — is just to expose them to the current environment. Help with their onboarding, get them used to what the expectations are, and make sure they have a pathway for the future.”
It’s Fishel’s second career senior-team call-up, the first having come in October 2020, and Shaw’s first. Fishel was a prolific scorer for U.S. youth teams and turned heads when she turned down being drafted by the NWSL’s Orlando Pride to go pro in Mexico at the start of 2022.
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Fishel signed with Tigres UANL, and scored 38 goals in 48 games in a year and a half. Though the Mexican women’s league isn’t as good as the NWSL or top European leagues, former U.S. manager Vlatko Andonovski drew heat for not inviting her to a U.S. camp to see how she’d stack up. She moved to English power Chelsea this summer for a reported $250,000 transfer fee.
Shaw has turned heads repeatedly since turning pro as a 17-year-old with the San Diego Wave last summer, a move that forced the NWSL to change its rules to accommodate a minor. She wasn’t the first player under 18 to join the league, but her arrival launched a leaguewide youth movement. Wave president Jill Ellis, previously a two-time World Cup-winning U.S. coach, led the charge for change and continues to lead it.
Twenty-one of the Americans’ 23 World Cup players will reunite in Cincinnati, Rose Lavelle’s hometown, where the Americans will start a two-game friendly series against South Africa on Sept. 21 (7:30 p.m., TNT, Universo, Peacock). That game will serve as Ertz’s finale. Then it will be off to Chicago for Rapinoe’s finale on Sept. 24 (5:30 p.m., TNT, Universo, Peacock).
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The two World Cup squad absentees, midfielder Kristie Mewis and forward Sophia Smith, are injured. Mewis has a seemingly minor leg injury that hasn’t been detailed yet, while Smith suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament on Aug. 27 — on a play that left everyone fearing much worse.
Also on this squad are four players who effectively were the last cuts from the plane to New Zealand: centerback Tierna Davidson, outside back Casey Krueger, midfielder Sam Coffey, and striker Ashley Hatch. All four join the race to make next year’s Olympic team, and there will be extra attention on Davidson and Coffey.
Davidson perhaps was the most notable omission from the World Cup, and 38-year-old Becky Sauerbrunn is still sidelined by a foot injury. Coffey, a Penn State grad, is a leading candidate to Ertz’s throne in defensive midfield. She has strong passing skills to complement her tackling, with seven assists and 38 chances created in 22 games this year for the Portland Thorns.
Unlike past eras, there was no collectively bargained obligation to call in the World Cup squad for the first games after the tournament. There’s little time before next summer, though, and urgency to redeem the round-of-16 departure from Australia. And no one believes the players are individually as bad as one World Cup showed. So it’s no surprise that the door remains open for the incumbents while new challengers arrive.
South Africa should provide good tests — in fact, better tests than some fans might have expected when the series was set up. Banyana Banyana, as the team is nicknamed, reached the World Cup’s round of 16 this year for the first time. The again team will be led by forward Thembi Kgatlana of Racing Louisville, whose two goals in the World Cup included a 92nd-minute group stage finale game-winner vs. Italy.
Goalkeepers (3): Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Defenders 9): Alana Cook (OL Reign), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars), Kelley O’Hara (Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign)
Forwards (8): Mia Fishel (Chelsea, England), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC), Lynn Williams (Gotham FC)
Tierna Davidson, Casey Krueger, more return to USWNT after being left off World Cup roster
The latest U.S. women’s national team training camp roster marked the return of Tierna Davidson, Casey Krueger, Ashley Hatch and Sam Coffey after they were left off the 2023 World Cup squad. Interim coach Twila Kilgore announced the 27-player roster ahead of this month’s friendlies against South Africa. Here’s what you need to know:
This will be the first camp for Kilgore after the resignation of Vlatko Andonovski.
Midfielder Kristie Mewis and forward Sophia Smith were the only members of the World Cup roster not called in for the games against South Africa as they recover from injuries.
This roster included two uncapped players, Jaedyn Shaw and Mia Fishel, who recently transferred from Tigres to Chelsea
The USWNT will play against South Africa twice — on Sept. 21 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati and on Sept. 24 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Full USWNT roster vs. South Africa
Goalkeepers (3): Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Defenders (9): Alana Cook (OL Reign), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars), Kelley O’Hara (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign)
Forwards (8): Mia Fishel (Chelsea FC, ENG), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Are there any roster surprises?
While this isn’t a total “wave of the future” roster, one eyebrow-raiser is Fishel, a player who had a hard time getting a look under Andonovski. Fishel has also taken a slightly unconventional route, declining to play in NWSL after the Orlando Pride drafted her in 2022, plying her trade at Liga MX club Tigres for about a year and a half, and then leveraging a move to Chelsea, all the while making it clear that her ambitions are aimed at the U.S. national team.
Kilgore may feel more free to start tweaking the player pool in advance of the next four years now that the World Cup is past, a sentiment that could also encompass Shaw, who at 18 years old has been more than ready for primetime at the San Diego Wave. — Yang
While a lot of focus in these two friendlies will, of course, be on saying goodbye to Ertz and Rapinoe, there are also some good indicators that Kilgore has begun the process of evaluating her options, or at least leaving more data in place for her eventual successor.
The returns of Davidson, Krueger, Coffey and Hatch, and even the continued appearance of DeMelo, say that we could see quite a different Olympic roster from the World Cup as the women’s national team tries to truly transition away from the last generation of stalwarts. — Yang
Julie Ertz to play final USWNT match Sept. 21 vs. South Africa: What’s her legacy?
U.S. women’s national team legend Julie Ertz will play her final international match with the squad against South Africa on Sept. 21 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, U.S. Soccer announced Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:
Defensive midfielders don’t always get a lot of credit, but Ertz made sure everyone realized how important the role was during the 2019 World Cup. Her shift from center back to DM to center back again for this World Cup showed just how crucial she was to this era of the USWNT, and provided one of the bright spots for the team in New Zealand and Australia alongside Naomi Girma.
Her legacy goes beyond the senior team though, as one of a few players who also won a youth World Cup with the under-20s in 2012. Best known for her physicality, her ability to shut down opposing players with a perfect tackle and her raging competitiveness, Ertz reflects this closing era of the USWNT’s dominance and ruthlessness — in all the best ways. While her return for the 2023 World Cup was a surprise one, her retirement had felt more imminent than most following the last Olympics. — Linehan
What Ertz said
“I expected to just walk away after retirement, but to have the opportunity to say goodbye to my teammates and the fans one last time is something special that many players dream of,” Ertz said in a statement. “I wasn’t expecting this honor so I’m very thankful to (interim head coach) Twila (Kilgore) and to U.S. Soccer for giving me the chance to close this chapter of my life with those who have made this journey so memorable.”
Backstory
Ertz, 31, has recorded 20 goals in her career with Team USA. She was named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year in 2017 and 2019, and helped lead the USWNT to World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. She also spent eight seasons in the NWSL, playing seven years with the Chicago Red Stars and most recently appearing with Angel City FC in 2023.
Ertz was sidelined for 18 months following the 2021 Olympics due to injuries and the birth of her son, but came back in time to play in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. She was named to the USWNT roster for April camp, less than a year after giving birth, and played every minute of the Americans’ four matches in New Zealand and Australia over the summer.
Following captain Becky Sauerbrunn’s injury that kept her off the World Cup squad, Ertz, known as a world-class midfielder, was tasked with playing center back for the Americans. After the team’s loss to Sweden in the round of 16, Ertz alluded to her impending retirement.
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“I think for me it’s just emotional because it’s probably my last game ever being to able to have the honor to wear this crest, so I think it’s just … it’s just tough,” Ertz said. “I feel like it’s just an emotional time. It absolutely sucks. Penalties are the worst. But it’s an honor to represent this team, and I’m excited for the future of the girls.”
U.S. Soccer hopes to have new USWNT coach in place by December camp, Matt Crocker says
By The Athletic StaffSep 12, 202
U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker shed light on the U.S. women’s national team coaching search Tuesday night, saying “in an ideal world” the federation hopes to have the position filled by the start of December camp. Here’s what you need to know:
In an interview with TNT following the USMNT’s 4-0 friendly win over Oman, Crocker said USWNT interim coach Twila Kilgore will remain in the role through the team’s October friendlies.
Crocker added that the federation is looking to hire a coach who “has got the ability to make in-game changes in key moments to improve the performance of the team.”
Asked what attributes he’s looking for in the next USWNT coach, Crocker said: “If you look tactically, we already know that we’ve got a great group of athletic women and a huge pool to pick from, so things like our ability to transition quickly is a key strength, defensively we’ve been really strong.
“I guess what we’d like to do is maybe develop more in a possession-based style and to have maybe a Plan B and a coach that has got the ability to make in-game changes in key moments to improve the performance of the team is going to be key, and obviously a coach that is a development coach, so a coach that can integrate young players into the team is going to be important. But then probably the final attribute is going to be the human skills, the leadership skills, so a strong communicator, someone that can build fantastic relationships, someone that can drive the program forward is all gonna be key.”
Crocker added that the role will be based in Chicago.
“(USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter) views his (role) in terms of supporting the overall pathway in the style of play, supporting the youth national coaches. And we want to do exactly the same on the women’s side,” Crocker said. “This is very much a Chicago-based role, someone that’s in and around the office environment 365. We want the men’s teams, the youth teams, the women’s teams and the youth and extended national teams. It’s 27 national teams. You want all of them to feel part of something special.”
U.S. Soccer clarified that there is no requirement for a potential USWNT head coach to live in Chicago. Crocker and the federation are looking for someone who will take a full-time approach to the role, which means they are expecting that person would spend a considerable amount of time in the federation’s offices located in Chicago. A federation employee also clarified that U.S. Soccer has, in general, shifted to a more flexible model on staff members’ locations.
Backstory
Andonovski’s resignation came less than two weeks after the U.S. was knocked out of the World Cup at the last-16 stage by Sweden with a 5-4 defeat on penalties. It was the earliest the USWNT had ever been knocked out of a World Cup and Andonovski’s decisions throughout the tournament had been called into question.Former U.S. women’s national team general manager Kate Markgraf — who oversaw the head-coaching search that brought on Andonovski — also left her role after her contract expired last month.
Kilgore’s first matches as interim coach will come later this month when the U.S. women have two friendlies against South Africa on Sept. 21 and 24. The team is also slated for a pair of friendlies against Colombia on Oct. 26 and 29.
Earlier this year, former U.S. Soccer sporting director Earnie Stewart, as well as men’s national team general manager Brian McBride, departed the federation. U.S. Soccer hired Crocker, the former Southampton director of football operations, to replace Stewart in April, and he oversaw the search for the next USMNT coach that ultimately brought Berhalter back to the team.
The USWNT’s salvation lies in youth development. Will the status quo stop it?
In most big-time women’s soccer countries, elite prospects get pro coaching as teens. The NWSL and U.S. Soccer face pressure to make that happen here. But will old-minded youth clubs block progress?
Alyssa Thompson (center) is a too-rare example of an elite American women’s soccer prospect who was able to turn pro as a teenager.Abbie Parr / AP
SYDNEY, Australia — Though Spain’s women’s World Cup triumph was the nation’s first, it was far from a one-off. It was years in the making, thanks to major investments in youth player development.There’s a lesson in that for the U.S. women, and it has nothing to do with the dreams of those fans who obsess about the team’s playing style.Spain’s most important push in women’s soccer came not from its national governing body, but from its pro teams. Their youth academy setups, especially Barcelona’s, have created a pipeline of players that America currently can’t match.If you’re the parent of a youth or college soccer player, or a coach or administrator of a league, you might have just done a double-take. How is it that a country as big as the United States, with so many players and teams and leagues and scholarships, isn’t producing enough quality?he answer is actually quite simple. In Spain, England, France, Germany and other big-time women’s soccer countries, elite prospects get coaching worthy of their pro potential starting as teenagers. In the U.S., only a tiny handful of players can dream of that.
Most of them play through their high school years for youth clubs that focus on their own interests, then hope to get to an elite-level college team that can launch them to the pros in their early 20s.
No wonder the U.S. under-20 team hasn’t won its age-group World Cup in a decade, and the under-17s never have won theirs. Meanwhile, Spain won last year’s under-20 women’s World Cup and is a two-time under-17 reigning champion.
Some players from those squads were on the field at Stadium Australia on Sunday, including 19-year-old phenom Salma Paralluelo, who won the World Cup’s top young player award.
Pressure on the NWSL
For years, close observers of the National Women’s Soccer League have complained about its lack of a homegrown player rule akin to Major League Soccer’s — a way for young players to sign directly with teams instead of going through a draft. And for years, the NWSL has promised a rule would come.
But the wait has dragged on for so long that it took a lawsuit from then-15-year-old Portland Thorns prospect Olivia Moultrie in 2021 to force the NWSL to drop a ban on all players younger than 18. And it took another year after that for the league to allow its teams to sign two under-18 players to their squads without having to petition the league for special permission.
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In the NWSL’s early years, some teams didn’t have the internal infrastructure to handle having minors in their squads. But those days are in the past as ever more investment comes to clubs and the league as a whole. Now people who’ve been pushing for bigger change are done waiting, including some of the biggest names in the game.
“I think there’s conversations that are going to happen,” said San Diego Wave president Jill Ellis, the former two-time World Cup-winning U.S. manager who chaired FIFA’s technical committee at this tournament. “I know there’s some fantastic talent. … I think there are opportunities to grow in certain areas, and pull certain levers to continue to accelerate.”
“I do think allowing the minors to sign now has been a big step,” Ellis said. “We’ve got to make ourselves so attractive [that] people don’t want to go anywhere else. And we’ve got to also commit to the development process.”
On the other end of the Pacific coast in Portland, Thorns general manager Karina LeBlanc is also pushing for reform. The former Philadelphia Independence and Canadian national team goalkeeper joined the club after the Moultrie lawsuit, and ensures no guessing is needed of her opinion.
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“What [the] Portland Thorns did and Olivia Moultrie did broke a barrier,” LeBlanc said. “I think the pathway of what it was, is going to be different from what it is in the future. And it’s about us sitting at the table and having those honest discussions of, what do we need to do differently?”
She revealed that some meetings have already taken place, with “honest conversations” about focusing on youth development.
“Everything was discussed,” she said, followed by an admission she wasn’t allowed to say what everything meant. “It was an open discussion. And I think it was important because we had owners, GMs, we had across the board — other stakeholders that are not within the league. … We all understand that the game is growing, and we have to grow with the game.”
So the ideas are there, which is a good sign. Now they need executing.
It will take a lot of money, and not every NWSL team has the funds to run its own youth academy. Some already do, and there’s a growing sense they should be allowed to reap the rewards. Those without the resources could be allowed to partner with a local youth club of choice to build a pipeline there, as some MLS teams did before they could fund their own full-fledged academies.
‘Meaningful impact on the pitch’
Proof that the matter has reached NWSL team owners’ suites came from a conversation with Julie Uhrman, president of Angel City FC. The Los Angeles-based team doesn’t just have piles of money, Hollywood fame and a willingness to push boundaries, it has Alyssa Thompson: the 18-year old winger who debuted for the senior U.S. team at England’s Wembley Stadium as a high schooler last fall, was the NWSL’s No. 1 draft pick this past winter, and charged on to the World Cup squad.
“You’re seeing younger and younger players not only enter the NWSL, but have meaningful impact on the pitch.” Uhrman told The Inquirer, name-checking Moultrie, Shaw and Thompson unprompted.
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“How do we develop the best program for young players to come in, develop and grow, learn the game, mature and have the support necessary to be successful on and off the pitch?” she continued. “We’ve started with Alyssa Thompson, and I think you’re seeing some exceptional players at a younger age. We just have to create a system that can really support them.”
The other big stumbling block isn’t about money. It’s about emotions. It took almost a decade for MLS to overcome youth clubs that complained about the pro teams taking “their players.” In some cities, there’s still ample ill will. (Fortunately, Philadelphia isn’t one of them, thanks to the savvy of the Union academy’s leaders.)
How can that status quo be beaten? Former U.S. women’s team and Orlando Pride manager Tom Sermanni has seen a lot of ruffled feathers in his years around the American game, and didn’t hesitate to ruffle a few more.
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“It is hard to beat that,” he told The Inquirer. “I would say there’s two things. One is that you’re not taking all of your players, you’re only taking a few. The second thing I would say is that from a club perspective, would it not be a big advantage to say that we’ve actually produced players who are getting identified on a level?”
Common sense to an outsider’s ear, but a stick in the chest of the youth soccer-industrial complex.
‘The ideal vehicle’
“For me, it’s selling it to the club in the sense of saying that it’s showing that your club is actually doing a very good job,” Sermanni said. “But ultimately, the state associations, probably in conjunction with the national association, have just got to sort of bite the bullet.”
His vision is state- or regional-level hubs giving players elite training under U.S. Soccer’s supervision. Sermanni added the carrot of allowing players to go back to their local clubs part-time.
Tom Sermanni coached the U.S. women in 2013 and ’14. His most recent full-time job was as New Zealand’s manager from 2018-21.Martin Mejia / AP
“If those programs are run well, players will want to go there and play,” he said. And if those programs are free, some players will want to go there and play. The other thing is that you don’t necessarily then have to take the player all the time — you might take the player in a training program, but they can go back and play for the club.”
The biggest challenge of a U.S. Soccer-run structure, even more than the nature of top-down rule, is the country’s vast size. It’s easier to scout everyone in a European or South American country with a smaller land mass.
That’s where the NWSL comes in, and the new women’s league planned by the USL to join its second- and third-tier men’s leagues. Sermanni called on the pros to lead the way.
“They’re the ideal vehicle to be that elite pathway, if it’s too challenging for it to come through the governing body and the state bodies,” he said.
For decades, the U.S. women’s team’s most prized skill has been its been its decisiveness in big moments. As a consensus forms that change is needed, one can only hope the people in charge act the same way.
There’s a dream tour of Europe’s elite for Newcastle, an easier return to the competition for Arsenal after six years away, a mixed group for United involving difficult away games and holders City were handed a section they should progress from.
Opposition: Bayern Munich, FC Copenhagen, Galatasaray
What looks like the key game and why?
Bayern Munich loom above the others. Top spot in this group really should come down to a shootout between two of European football’s biggest beasts. There is so much history too. Bayern knocked United out of the competition at the quarter-finals in 2000-01, 2009-10 and 2013-14, and drew both games when they met at this stage in 2001-02. Their only other meetings came in 1998-99, when they couldn’t be separated in the group, and it required Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s toe to do so very late on in the final.
Which opposition player are you most looking forward to seeing?
It might seem strange to suggest someone whose whole career previously has been in the Premier League, but seeing how Harry Kane fares against United for new club Bayern will be fascinating. Kane was Erik ten Hag’s No 1 choice as a centre-forward recruit this summer before changing to pursue (and sign) Rasmus Hojlund — in part due to that deal’s greater feasibility. Seeing Kane performing for one of the competition’s favourites will be fascinating. Hojlund, you imagine, will look forward to facing Copenhagen, the club where he came through and made his senior debut.
Which game are you most looking forward to?
The famous “Welcome to Hell” banner draped by Galatasaray fans as a greeting to United in Istanbul 30 years ago is part of Old Trafford folklore, and though they have been back twice since there remains a mysticism about that fixture. United are yet to score in three away meetings, so seeing if they can break that streak will be interesting. Istanbul is a brilliant city too, so vibrant and cultural, a real treat to visit.
What should the rest of the group expect from your club?
After a slow start, Ten Hag turned United into a solid team in last season’s Europa League, and Barcelona were vanquished in the first knockout round on a special night at Old Trafford. That should give United confidence against Bayern, but they can have a soft underbelly and unravelled badly away to Sevilla in the second leg of their quarter-final. Those trips to Copenhagen and Istanbul could prove tricky.
Laurie Whitwell
Manchester City
Opposition: RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys
First impressions of the draw
City would have expected to get through pretty much any group they were drawn in, even a group of death, so obviously this one does not look especially taxing. Guardiola will be especially concerned by Leipzig’s counter-attacks, but an 8-1 aggregate scoreline against them in the round of 16 last season suggests City should be alright.
What looks like the key game and why?
There is not really one that should stand out more than the others because City will be expected to win all six matches, although it is more likely that they will win their games at the Etihad and keep things tight away from home. If there is a key one then it will probably be Leipzig away, as a victory there could help set them up for an early qualification providing everything else goes as planned at home (and as long as Leipzig away is not the group finale!).
(Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)
Which opposition player are you most looking forward to seeing?
Given Matheus Nunes and Josko Gvardiol are joining or have joined City this summer having played against them in the Champions League, there is a decent chance that somebody else will be a member of that club soon. It is not a very adventurous suggestion but they might be a couple of midfield injuries away from signing Dani Olmo from Leipzig in January!
Which game are you most looking forward to?
The game in Belgrade, purely for the opportunity to see a new place and for the fan culture. City were in Leipzig earlier this year and have also played in Switzerland during the Guardiola era so a trip to Serbia is something new for fans and players (and journalists).
What should the rest of the group expect from your club?
Possession and goals. More of the latter at the Etihad and more of the former away. That’s been their blueprint for a few years now and was certainly the winning formula last season, so it would take some wild swings in form for something different.
Sam Lee
Arsenal
Opposition: Sevilla, PSV Eindhoven, Lens
First impressions of the draw?
Arsenal have a very decent group. It is by no means an easy draw, but considering the teams who were in Pot 1, Sevilla are fairly favourable. There should be a fair amount of confidence in north London ahead of the group stage now.
What looks like the key game and why?
The meetings with PSV seem like they will be the deciders, but also matches to gauge how far Arsenal have come. When they faced the Dutch side in the Europe League groups last season, particularly away, it demonstrated just how far a gap there was between their first-choice starting XI and their second string. This will be a good opportunity to test the squad as a whole and understand how good their depth really is.
Which opposition player are you most looking forward to seeing?
From an attacking standpoint, it will be interesting to see how electric Noa Lang is. The winger was highly rated as a youngster at Ajax and is now back in his native Netherlands at age 24 after three years with Belgium’s Club Bruges. Whether or not PSV are the right fit is the most intriguing thing about him. Wuilker Farinez of Lens has also been well-regarded for some time. The goalkeeper will now have a chance to prove himself among Europe’s elite, which could put him in the spotlight before the 25-year-old reaches his prime years.
Which game are you most looking forward to?
The trip to Seville may be the one Arsenal are anticipating most as they will truly be back in historic European stadia. Before we find out when the fixtures will be played, however, that first home matchday will be something to behold. It will be a moment Arsenal have been waiting for since last kicking a ball in the competition in the 2016-17 season’s round of 16, and there will definitely be a moment taken to bask in the Champions League glory back at the Emirates Stadium.
What should the rest of the group expect from your club?
Mikel Arteta has purposely muddied what teams will expect when facing Arsenal this season. Last term, they quickly settled into a way of playing and looked to perfect it. Many of the themes from that campaign have continued into this year, but the Spaniard has aimed to make his side more flexible.
Their Community Shield win over Manchester City at the start of this month may be a good barometer for what to expect from them against Europe’s elite, however. Arsenal’s approach was more combative than usual, with a midfield of Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey and Declan Rice.
Asked whether that setup may be replicated in the tougher Champions League fixtures, Arteta said: “Yes, for sure. Every game is going to have different demands and require different things from us. That’s why we have top players, to try to accommodate them in the right roles and spaces in relation to the game we play.”
BLOODY HELL! I think that probably sums it up, doesn’t it? After 20 years away from the Champions League, this could hardly be a more scintillating, high-profile, glamorous, demanding set of fixtures. Tough yes, but wow, just wow. This is a club that expects to be dining at the top table for years to come — and what a feast to kick things off with.
What looks like the key game and why?
Where to start? Perhaps other teams in other groups could look at individual fixtures and hope to attack a weaker link, but come on. Look at who they’re playing. PSG, whose superstars yearn to win the thing. Dortmund, who should have ended Bayern Munich’s 10-year run of Bundesliga titles in May. AC Milan, fresh from making last season’s semi-finals. Sandro Tonali immediately returning to his old club? Sign me up.
Which opposition player are you most looking forward to seeing?
I could be smart-arse and hipster here, but truly the thought of seeing Kylian Mbappe being shut out by Dan Burn, who watched Newcastle play in this competition as a kid, over two titanic matches is too much to bear. And to be honest, don’t we want all opposition players to have stinkers anyway?
(Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Which game are you most looking forward to?
That first one at St James’ Park. Yes, there are some incredible trips in the offing, but whoever they got in the draw and whatever the circumstances, Tyneside will be alive and abuzz for that opening match on home territory. There isn’t a better atmosphere anywhere in Europe than at Newcastle on matchdays right now — tell me I’m wrong, I dare you.
What should the rest of the group expect from your club?
Black and white mayhem. Geordies travelling in their thousands upon thousands to be part of something special. On the pitch? A front-footed, adventurous and aggressive team who will press and press, who will keep on running, who have guile and cunning in Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes and who are desperate to make their mark. Newcastle may have been among the fourth seeds, but everybody would have wanted to avoid them.
George Caulkin
Mark Carey’s data takeaways
How good was Onana in last season’s Champions League?
To succeed in any cup competition, you need a degree of overperformance along the way, and Andre Onana’s “goals prevented” rate for eventual runners-up Inter Milan was the highest of any goalkeeper in the 2022-23 Champions League, saving 7.8 goals above expectation based on the quality of shots he faced.
As shown by the graphic above, Onana was particularly strong with reaching low to his right side — most memorably making a crucial double save during the last-16 tie with Porto, keeping a clean sheet to help his side progress when the margins were tight.
Inter had a lot to thank Onana for as they came so close to landing their first Champions League title in over a decade. If Manchester United are to have a strong campaign in Europe themselves this season, they will be hoping that new signing Onana can have an equally exceptional campaign in 2023-24.
What is Haaland’s trajectory towards the Champions League goal record?
Quite simply, Erling Haaland has been an absolute machine on Europe’s biggest stage. The Manchester City striker currently holds the Champions League records for being the quickest to 15 (12 games), 20 (14), 30 (25) and 35 goals (27).
By contrast, overall top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo had to wait until his 27th game until he netted his first goal in the competition, although he did not waste any time from there with a final (unless he comes back from Saudi Arabia to get some more) all-time leading tally of 140.
The nearest player to his record who is currently competing in the Champions League is Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski with 91 — so it’s safe to say the record won’t be broken anytime soon. Nevertheless, if you look at the sharp trajectory that Haaland is on, it won’t be too long until Ronaldo starts to look over his shoulder.
Who will be Newcastle’s most important player?
Within a squad that doesn’t have too much Champions League experience, you naturally look towards those who have been there and done it before. Kieran Trippier is one with Tottenham Hotspur and then Atletico Madrid, and a more notable example is Sandro Tonali, who helped Milan to the semi-finals as recently as last season.
Not only that but Tonali was the most creative player for that Milan team, with his 22 chances created being comfortably more than anyone else in Stefan Pioli’s squad.
Sure, there were some set pieces thrown in there, but Tonali’s delivery must not be underestimated as Newcastle return to Europe’s top competition after two decades.
Champions League fixtures
(All games kick-off at 8pm GMT unless otherwise stated)
After six seasons without Champions League football, there are only two types of draw that Arsenal fans would have been longing for this afternoon: a group full of legacy clubs and mega-rich teams (the kind Newcastle got) or a favourable one that positions you as one of the favourites to progress into the knockout phase early next year.
Arsenal landed very much the latter by drawing Lens, PSV Eindhoven and Sevilla. On paper, it looks more like a Europa League group, but there are fewer pushovers in UEFA’s elite club competition, and Arsenal are unlikely to rotate as much as they did in its second-tier cousin last season.
Under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal qualified for the Champions League for 17 years in a row between 2000 and 2017. The closest they came to winning it was in 2005-06 when they lost 2-1 to Barcelona in the final, after an early red card for goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. In the last seven years of that run of getting to the party, they failed to get beyond the last 16.
That was a period when Arsenal were fading. Mikel Arteta’s current side, on the other hand, are building, and they will fancy their chances of not just making it through from Group B but finishing top of it.
This is what to expect from the teams Arsenal will face…
Lens
Arsenal are going back to the start when they travel to northern France to face Lens. In 1998, their very first Champions League match was away to the French club, a 1-1 draw in which a Marc Overmars goal was cancelled out by an equaliser in the final minute. Arsenal lost the home game, 1-0. Two years later it was a bigger occasion when they met in a UEFA Cup semi-final. Arsenal won both legs, but were then beaten by Galatasaray as the final went to penalties.Having spent five years in Ligue 2, Lens won promotion in 2019-20 under current manager Frank Haise. The Frenchman, who had only been a youth coach at Rennes and Lorient before being promoted from Lens B to their senior side, oversaw two seventh-place finishes and then last season’s runners-up spot, a single point behind a team boasting Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar.
Lens’ head coach Franck Haise giving instructions this season (Francois Lo Presti/AFP via Getty Images)
Since then, however, they have lost two key players in striker Lois Openda, who has joined RB Leipzig, and midfielder Seko Fofana, who joined the Saudi Arabian exodus with a move to Al Nassr. Openda scored 20 league goals last term to equal Roger Boli’s record goal tally in a season so he is a miss, but Lens have reinvested the money in quality young players, spending around €40million on 20-year-old Elye Wahi from Montpellier and Andy Diouf, also 20, from Switzerland’s Basel.This may be Lens’ first appearance in the competition in 21 years, but their 3-4-2-1 formation provided them with the best defence in Ligue 1 last season.
Elye Wahi is presented to Lens fans earlier this season (Francois Lo Presti/AFP via Getty Images)
PSV Eindhoven
Arsenal do not need much introduction to the Dutch side, having met them in the Europa League group stage last season. PSV proved that they were a force at home by beating visitors Arsenal 2-0 in October. It made the head-to-head one apiece as Granit Xhaka had got the only goal a week earlier at the Emirates, but just as Arsenal have changed, including Xhaka no longer being at the club, the PSV team that Arteta’s men take on will also look different.
Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy led PSV to a second-place finish in the Eredivisie but then stepped down and was replaced by ex-Ajax and Borussia Dortmund boss Peter Bosz this summer. There has also been a sizeable squad turnover, with potentially more outgoings coming on deadline day tomorrow, too.
The biggest exits from last season’s team are Cody Gakpo, who signed for Liverpool in January, PSG loanee Xavi Simons, who moved on to Leipzig this term, and Thorgan Hazard, who returned to his parent club, Dortmund. Six other 2022-23 first-team players are no longer there. They could also be without two of their star players in playmaker Ibrahim Sangare and right winger Johan Bakayoko, who are in talks over last-minute moves to Nottingham Forest and Brentford respectively at time of writing.
PSV are not without other attacking talent, though. In 33-year-old Luuk de Jong, they have a throwback striker who gives them immense physicality and aerial ability. When they overcame Scotland’s Rangers 7-3 on aggregate in the play-off round to decide who qualified for the group stage, they were a force from set plays, scoring two across both legs.Bosz is known for a fluid, possession-based style, which is pleasing to the eye but has faced the common criticism at all his most recent clubs (also including Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon) that it can leave his defence exposed. Against Rangers, it was clear that elite opponents can get at the heart of PSV’s defence and that pace will cause them problems on the break.Offensively, 22-year-old midfielder Ismael Saibari was the standout. He has just received his first call-up to the senior Morocco squad and it looks inevitable that he will go on to play at a bigger club than PSV, given he combines a stocky build and powerful running with tremendous dribbling ability.
Ismael Saibari earlier this season (Maurice van Steen/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
Sevilla
If Real Madrid are Europe’s Champions League specialists with a record 14 titles then fellow Spaniards Sevilla are their little sister, with seven UEFA Cup/Europa League trophies under their belt since 2006, the latest coming in May when they beat Jose Mourinho’s Roma on penalties.This won’t be a knockout tie, though, and the last two times Sevilla have been in the Champions League group stage they have failed to progress to the round of 16.Manager Jose Luis Mendilibar replaced Jorge Sampaoli in March when the team were flirting with La Liga’s relegation zone. He immediately improved results, losing only one of his first 10 league games. In Europe, they defeated PSV, Fenerbache, Manchester United and Juventus on the road to the final.They showed again how resilient a team they can be when they took treble winners Manchester City to penalties in this month’s Super Cup, on a night when the aerial ability of striker Youssef En-Nesyri was a major threat.
Youssef En-Nesyri scores against Manchester City in the Super Cup (Photo: Milos Bicanski via Getty Images)
Elsewhere, there are some names that will be familiar to Arsenal fans, with a 37-year-old Jesus Navas at right-back, fellow veteran Ivan Rakitic, 35, in midfield and Tottenham old boy Erik Lamela on the wing.However, Morocco international goalkeeper Yassine Bounou moved to Saudi’s Al Hilal this summer and they have started their domestic season poorly, losing all three games at a cost of eight goals (though they scored five in reply) to sit bottom of La Liga.
Jordan Campbell reports on Arsenal and the Scotland national team for The Athletic. He spent four seasons covering Rangers where he was twice nominated for Young Journalist of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards. He previously worked at Sky Sports News and has experience in performance analysis. Follow Jordan on Twitter @JordanC1107
USMNT goalkeeper Ethan Horvath left out of Nottingham Forest’s 25-man Premier League squad
USMNT goalkeeper Ethan Horvath has been left out of Nottingham Forest’s 25-man Premier League squad.England’s top-flight clubs are required to submit their squad lists for the first half of the season following the end of the summer transfer window. Each team is allowed no more than 17 players who do not fulfil the homegrown category. Under-21 players do not count towards the total.Horvath’s exclusion from Forest’s list means that he is ineligible to play in the Premier League for Steve Cooper’s side until at least the January transfer window.His absence now ensures that he faces several months without domestic football, unless a late transfer to another club materialises.Horvath joined Forest in 2021 from Club Brugge but has only made 11 appearances. He spent last season on loan at Luton Town, featuring 44 times in the Championship as they secured promotion to the Premier League. The Athletic reported in July that Luton declined their option to sign Horvath permanently following his spell on loan with them.The 28-year-old is a regular in the USMNT squad, although more often than not as a reserve goalkeeper. He has only played nine times for his country since making his senior debut in 2016.Forest, meanwhile, are next in action on Monday, September 18 when they face Burnley at the City Ground.
Noel Buck is the new kid in the England U-19 locker room. As is typically the language of love in these environments, he’s been welcomed into the group with jokes aplenty. Born and raised just outside of Boston, with a soft accent to constantly remind you of that, Buck knew he was going to be ribbed for sounding different.
“Obviously they make fun of me for being American. It’s been good,” Buck told The Athletic with a laugh. “We play some games, eat meals together. A lot of good lads there. I knew I was going to be made fun of for being American and my American lingo, even though I’ve been trying to not say too much of it.”
Buck is one of only two players in the group not currently based in England. The other, Adrian Blake, only left England this summer to sign for Utrecht in the Netherlands. The squad is filled with players from Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham, and now… the New England Revolution.
It didn’t take long to fit into the England group and it didn’t take long for him to stand out on the pitch. Buck started and scored in England’s 4-2 over Switzerland on Saturday after debuting with 24 minutes off the bench in a loss to Germany on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old breakout midfielder is eligible for England through his father, who was born in London and raised in Cambridgeshire. He moved to the United States a couple years before Noel’s older brother was born. Noel is also eligible for Wales through his grandmother. Buck and his family routinely return to England and the family are well immersed in English culture, even in Massachusetts.
“I feel connected (to England),” Buck said. “I have family over there I visit very frequently and my dad brings the culture in the house. Though I grew up in America, I still have parts of English culture.”
Buck was identified by English scouts this spring, who came to visit with him and his family during the summer. Although Buck was left out of the current USMNT senior squad, he had been part of the U.S. youth national teams recently. Buck was last involved with the U.S. youth national team via a U-19 camp in the summer of 2022 and wasn’t included in the U.S. squad at the U-20 World Cup this spring, though Buck is eligible for the next U-20 World Cup in 2025.
“It was great, a nice bit of support and confidence boost,” Buck said of England taking an interest in him. “It means a lot to me. To put in the effort and show I’m valued is an important thing, it really helps.”
Buck made waves last weekend by wearing a retro England kit to the stadium ahead of his final club game with New England before joining up with the England U-19 squad.I didn’t mean to throw off the U.S., it’s just that I was proud to be called into England,” Buck said. “England is a football nation, it’s a big honor to play for the national team. This is a great experience for me, it’s different. Change of pace, change of culture, change of people. I can use all of these experiences to grow as a player. Obviously I didn’t get called into the (U.S.) senior team. Maybe I should have, maybe I shouldn’t have. I don’t know. I’m just here trying to get better.”
USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter recently said Buck is still very much in the picture for the U.S. long-term, though.
“He’s been great. He’s been really strong,” said Berhalter. “I have spoken to him. There has been interest from England, which I think is great. Great achievement, when you have a country like England looking at you.
“I’ve communicated with him, told him that we see him as a player that can compete to make the World Cup team in 2026, based on what he’s doing now.”
With England, Buck linked up with a group of players that boasts a wealth of midfield talent, most notably 17-year-old Jobe Bellingham, the younger brother of England and Real Madrid sensation Jude Bellingham.
The younger Bellingham followed his brother’s career path by leaving boyhood club Birmingham City this summer, although instead of moving abroad — Jude honed his immense talent in the Bundesliga at Borussia Dortmund — Jobe joined English second-tier outfit Sunderland.
Like Buck, Bellingham is flexible and can play a conventional midfield role or further forward; the latter played up front in Sunderland’s 5-0 thrashing of Southampton on September 2. On his debut for England U-19 earlier this month, he was in a three man midfield for a 1-0 defeat by Germany.
If edging into the England U-19 team ahead of Bellingham proves difficult, Buck can try to supplant either Brighton’s Jack Hinshelwood, who made his first Premier League appearance last season in a brief cameo against Aston Villa on the final day of the campaign, or Southampton’s Kamari Doyle, who also made one Premier League appearance last season and is adept at taking free kicks with either foot. He can play as a No. 6, No. 8 or behind a striker.
Bellingham, Hinshelwood, and Doyle started against Germany, but with three games in six days next month (England U-19 play Montenegro on October 10, Wales on October 13 and Austria on October 16), manager Simon Rusk may shuffle his midfield pack to give everyone minutes.
Buck is one of nine players capable of operating in central midfield, making it a well-stocked position for the team — other talents include Liverpool’s Bobby Clark and Newcastle’s Lewis Miley — but the boy with the Boston accent is likely to get a chance to show he can mix it.
Buck is calm and confident on the ball — qualities in demand in the England youth setup, as exemplified by the U-21s European Championship success in July.
Buck looked comfortable in the games, even though his introduction to training wasn’t easy.
“Well, I was severely jet-lagged with no sleep for the first session,” Buck said. “It was a bit rough, to be honest. But on Tuesday, without jet lag, I had a hold of the timing. It’s intense and competitive. Being able to integrate into this group, it’s been really good.”
Buck’s international future is still very much undecided. The United States made it clear he’s still in their plans and he is likely to receive more calls from them. Now integrated with England, he’ll firmly be on their radar, as well. Buck is eligible for the 2024 Summer Olympics, a U-23 national tournament, and may have a decision to make by then.
“I’m just taking it as it comes,” Buck said. “I just don’t know. Who knows what I will get called into, who knows what I won’t get called into. I’ll have to make these decisions when they come.”
Tata Martino on what he tells Lionel Messi, working for David Beckham and his love for Atlanta
“I’m watching Argentina on mute,” Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino said over the phone on Tuesday afternoon. “There’s no need to hear the broadcast to enjoy it.”
Martino lived at a hotel near Inter Miami’s training complex in Fort Lauderdale for over a month after joining the club in late June and stayed there at the start of their remarkable 11-game unbeaten run. The move to a new apartment has been a welcome change. Martino is now more settled in the city, living with his wife and son Gerardo, 27, who’s also an assistant on the Inter Miami coaching staff.
Before Argentina kicked off their World Cup qualifier against Bolivia, Martino and his son watched Inter Miami central defender Sergii Kryvtsov start against Italy in a Euro 2024 qualifier. They then became fans and turned their attention to the current world champions as they outclassed a listless Bolivia side in La Paz.
Lionel Messi, Argentina and Inter Miami’s captain, was on the bench for the Albiceleste, but not part of the match-day squad. The 36-year-old was a game-time decision leading up to the game after admitting that he was fatigued after Argentina’s 1-0 win over Ecuador on September 7. He’s been very busy since he started playing for Miami in late July.
Messi and Martino will travel together to Atlanta this Saturday for a pivotal Eastern Conference clash with Martino’s former club, Atlanta United. It’s been a year of reunions for Martino. In Miami, he was reunited with Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, three players who he managed at FC Barcelona from 2013-2014. He last worked with Messi in 2016 as Argentina manager during the Copa América Centenario that was held in the United States.
Martino also reconnected with former MLS MVP and Atlanta United star Josef Martínez at Miami, and now the two leaders of Atlanta United’s 2018 MLS Cup success will return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in rival colors.
Martino spoke to The Athletic about his emotions ahead of the match, Messi’s availability against Atlanta United, the stadium’s artificial turf field, and what Messi, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and other sporting greats have in common.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
Did you have a conversation with (Argentina manager) Lionel Scaloni about Messi’s fitness? Was there a plan in place for him during this FIFA window?
There wasn’t a plan for Leo. The last time Scaloni and I spoke was after we won (Leagues Cup). This is the start of Argentina’s World Cup qualifying campaign and we had a series of important games to play and I didn’t think it was wise to have any type of conversations (with Scaloni). It was best to let Argentina begin qualifying calmly. Surely Leo and (Scaloni) have spoken about the situations that they were in and what’s the most convenient outcome. We’ll do the same thing once (Messi) is back here, but obviously with all of the information about what occurred over the week.
So you’ll wait before deciding how much Messi plays against Atlanta United and whether he starts the match?
Yes because regardless of anything, there’s nothing more important than the health of the players. In this case it’s Leo. It could be another player, too. Regardless of how important a match is, we have to make sure that all of the players are fit, not take risks with them or make an injury worse. We’ll evaluate him as soon as he arrives and decide what is the best course of action for our upcoming games.
You’re obviously familiar with the turf at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Knowing the surface is usually a competitive advantage for Atlanta United. But surely you saw NFL star Aaron Rodgers tear his Achilles tendon playing on turf on Monday night. Are you concerned about risking Messi’s health on Saturday?
Yes, (Rodgers) suffered that Achilles injury. My experience with Atlanta’s turf has always been positive. From the time that we made our debut with Atlanta (United) on that field, the way our players adapted to the surface. They adapted immediately and we didn’t have to continue to train on grass. And the same thing happened when we played in Atlanta with Mexico. The players adapted quickly.
It’s a very cushioned type of artificial surface. Up until now I haven’t heard any negative opinions about the surface from players that I’ve coached. That doesn’t mean that we’re not addressing the fact that we’ll play on artificial turf but it isn’t anything that’s driving us crazy. We hope to play a good game no matter what.
What’s it been like for you to have your son Gerardo as part of your Inter Miami staff?
He left home just six months ago so it hasn’t been too long since we’ve lived under the same roof. Because of the nature of our job now we spend a lot more time together talking about football, our training sessions and our opponents. It’s been good. I’m very happy to be able to work with him and share this experience together.
What’s Gerardo’s role on the staff? During games the camera often catches him next to you with a tablet in front of him.
He’s our third assistant behind me and Jorge (Theiler). He provides scouting on our opponents and compiles reports on our squad. We take advantage of his language skills during training sessions whether he runs the session himself or as a translator. Every staff member has a corresponding role to play.
A lot has been said about Messi finding happiness in MLS and in Miami, but you look a lot happier these days, as well.
Yes, yes. Six years ago I confirmed what it was like to work in MLS. I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed that project. It was different (than Inter Miami) because in Atlanta we had to build an entire squad and we started with plenty of lead time. That dynamic of building a team, from talking and convincing players to come, leaning on (former Atlanta United vice president) Paul (McDonough) for knowledge about the American players. He knew them much better than me. In that sense, we really enjoyed all of that. We enjoyed the process once we began competing and we liked living in Atlanta. Those were two wonderful years. With the opportunity to come to Miami, yes it’s a different city, and the exposure is greater now with Leo, Busquets, Jordi and the tremendous careers that they’ve had.
It’s a league that we like and we like living in the United States. We adapt right away. And now the results have come right away. That always helps. We work calmly here. The players’ reception towards us was positive and we have a very good relationship with the club’s owners and front office. There’s no reason why this moment shouldn’t be one that we enjoy.
I ask because we saw images of you and Messi embrace rather emotionally after some of Inter Miami’s cup victories. What does that say about your relationship with him after reuniting, and about the culture of the club?
I like that he’s enjoying himself. But more so that he hasn’t lost that will to compete. That’s the most important aspect. There are many ways that one can enjoy playing. But without a doubt, when there’s a will to compete, when there’s a will to continue to prove that he’s the best in the world, to help the team and earn results, well, it’s all much more valuable. His happiness is contagious and we end up demonstrating that. His will to work, to improve and to have a closer relationship with his teammates… that says everything about his state of mind.
Martino and Messi embrace after winning Leagues Cup on August 19. (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)
The impact of Messi, Busquets and Alba on this team has been incredible. The players are much more confident and the 11-game unbeaten streak proves that. But Messi has also said that your philosophy of play has been a big part of the turnaround. How would you describe the team’s evolution?
Something that’s very important to note is how the team has responded to the arrival of these three players. Because the outcome could’ve been completely different. It could’ve become an enormous responsibility for the other players and affected their production. Or they could’ve felt supported and confident enough to show the best versions of themselves, which is what I believe has happened. That makes all of us better. The group understands that the more experienced players, and those with longer career paths, take on more responsibility. They’ve understood their role and how to move forward. They’ve all adapted very well.
And from my position, I have three exceptional footballers. We’ve added pieces around them sensibly and based on a way of playing. We’ve realized that our style of play is still a work in progress. There’s a lot that we can improve. We needed results. That’s what this moment in time demanded from us.
Right now we’re not training our way of playing and then going home to rest. Training isn’t the only thing that we’re doing. We have to play games and we have to win. That requires a greater commitment from everyone because if the results aren’t there, there’s a risk that people will lose confidence in the tactics. We’re getting results so it’s been easier to refine our tactics.
There are eight games to play and clearly qualifying for the playoffs is the priority. But ahead of 2024 you’ll have a full offseason with this team. You must be thinking about making improvements.
We knew that our first task was to solve what was in front of us and to compete well in the tournaments that were upcoming. Even though our immediate priorities are short term, it’s also true that we cannot forget what’s coming in the mid-term. We have ideas. When these players arrived we had conversations with (Miami sporting director) Chris (Henderson) and (director of soccer operations) Niki (Budalic) about the future, and the future is next season. Now that this season’s transfer windows are closed, we’re focused on playing with an eye on next season. Everything falls within the scope of the league’s (roster) rules and how we can continue to improve our team.
Player recruitment and finding the right talent for your system was a big part of your success at Atlanta United. What has working with Chris Henderson and his team been like?
I have to say that it’s been very, very good. Like I’ve said before, and I’m not talking about Leo, Busquets and Jordi, but Diego (Gómez), Tomás (Avilés) and Facundo (Farías) are players who we wanted to sign. They were our names that we put on the table from the beginning. There’s a lot of communication (with the sporting office) and we all participate. That’s the best way to work. There’s a lot of respect. We listen to each other. No one is the owner of the truth. And we’re all responsible for the good and the bad.
After Diego Alonso was fired as Inter Miami coach in 2021, David Beckham told reporters that he would oversee every single player acquisition. That came during a time of turmoil at the club. What’s Beckham’s involvement now?
In our first month at the club, David was at our side the entire time. He was at every training session. He was at every game. He was very close to the team. He’s very friendly and respectful. And there’s a really nice dynamic between him, the players and the staff. I can’t comment on his involvement regarding player signings because I typically had those conversations with Chris and Niki. They kept David abreast of those conversations. But because of who he is and what he represents, he commands a lot of respect, he’s approachable and polite with the entire group.
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas is hands on, too.
Jorge and Jose (Mas) are different from one another, but they’re both very involved. They’re always supporting us. They embody the commitment and hope that runs through the club. They’re very happy with everything that’s occurred thus far. They’ve backed us. That’s why I’ve said that we work calmly here. We all listen to each other. It’s a very pleasant place to work. It’s not just about the results and whether the team is playing well or not. In the day to day, they make it all worthwhile.
I’ve seen you have a word or two with Messi mid-game or off to the side during a stoppage in play. What does a coach say to the best player in the world?
The types of conversations we have center on the opponent and their characteristics. And how we’re going to approach a match. The aspects of the game in which we’d like to be more polished, the way we’ll try to get him the ball. But we never talk about his individual role. What I believe we need is for him to have the freedom to move into the spaces where he can find the right conditions to play. What we have to do as a team is adapt to his movements, not limit his movements. I think that’s been part of Argentina’s secret to success. Have the right pieces in place as he moves about the pitch. That’s what a lot of our conversations focus on.
When we were in Rosario we spoke extensively about the league and the types of situations I faced in Atlanta, the league’s characteristics, the teams we’d face, the cities we’d visit, the amount of travel, the cold, the heat, the snow, storms and matches that are postponed until the weather clears. Flights that may or may not get off the ground, the physicality of the opponents. That’s what we discussed at that time and now it’s much more specific about who we’re playing and how we’ll approach the game.
The greatest players across sports mature and change their game later in their careers. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Zinedine Zidane all remained top players into their 30s. Would you say that Messi has evolved similarly?
I think so because all of those athletes have a similar mentality. It’s a mentality that he hasn’t changed since he was 17 years old up to this stage of his sporting career. So in that sense that’s what these athletes all have in common. The way they compete. The way that they’re always trying to be the best. In some cases it’s individual sports and also team sports. But they’re always trying to be the best, to make their teams better and to make their teammates better.
Then there’s their intellectual capacity to interpret each stage of their life and give their best in those moments. They notice how they can maximize those facets because one isn’t the same player at 20, 25, 30 or 35 years of age. No one reaches these privileged heights without having top-level intellectual capacities. They realize on their own where they are, how they can contribute, what they need to do to be the best. They do that easily throughout their careers.
Those types of athletes, like Messi, also have an unquenchable thirst for winning.
Leo was visibly frustrated after our scoreless draw against Nashville. I had to tell him “relax, we’re not going to win every game. We can’t allow draws but we have to continue to find ways to grow.” He was very bitter. It was as if we had lost the game. We’re still trying to find ourselves (as a team), but he’s on a permanent quest to win and it’s very difficult to change that mentality. I would never want to change that mentality either. That’s what makes him better.
You’ll return to Atlanta for the first time this weekend as an MLS head coach. You’ll likely receive a warm welcome from the fans. Describe your emotions.
I spent two great years of my life in Atlanta. We all enjoyed it. I felt comfortable at the club and I had a group of players that I truly valued, and I still do in a very special way. I have a different type of relationship with them.
The Latino players, the American players, the players from other nationalities. When I run into Jeff (Larentowicz), when Parky (Michael Parkhurst) texts me, when Kevin Kratz updates us on his career as a youth coach in Atlanta. Leandro (González Pírez), Tito (Villalba), Miguel (Almirón), Josef (Martínez), all of them. That marked an important part of my life. I’m very grateful for it.
No matter what happens on Saturday, Atlanta will want to continue to win. And all of our games are important for our playoff qualification, but that won’t diminish the love that I have for the club, for the city and for those two wonderful years.
It’s a completely different Atlanta United team from when you were the manager in 2017 and 2018. What do you like about Gonzalo Pineda’s side?
I’ve noticed that this Atlanta team is evolving. The new players are adapting well. I may mispronounce their names, but the French player (Tristan Muyumba) in the middle has settled in well. (Luis) Abram is now more comfortable as a center back. The Greek center forward (Giorgos Giakoumakis) is very dangerous as is the Portuguese winger (Xande Silva), the new signing who typically plays on the left.
Thiago (Almada) remains their star player and their creator. Miles Robinson’s abilities, their fullbacks… honestly it’s a team that I really like. I see them as a team that’s going to make a run during the playoffs. I have a lot of respect for their continued evolution.
Will Sancho return? Are Spurs the real deal? Key questions as Premier League starts again
By The Athletic UK Staff Sep 14, 2023
When the Premier League resumes on Saturday after a two-week international break, there will be lots of fascinating stories to look out for.
Will Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho and Erik ten Hag put their public dispute behind them? Can Tottenham, who are unbeaten and second in the table, cement their exciting start and show they have the capacity to flourish this season as they adapt well to life without Harry Kane? There are subplots to watch at lots of the other clubs aspiring to qualify for the Champions League, too, with Liverpool appearing revitalised but Chelsea still searching for a winning formula under Mauricio Pochettino.Our writers address the key issues heading into the weekend.
Is there a way back for Sancho at Manchester United?
Sancho has struggled to reproduce his Dortmund form for United (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
In the aftermath of Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat by Arsenal in their final game before this international break, manager Erik ten Hag said Jadon Sancho had been left out of the squad owing to “his performances in training”. That Sunday evening, Sancho hit back.Posting on Twitter, he said: “Please don’t believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue, I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into, I’ve been a scapegoat for a long time which isn’t fair!”This public falling-out raised questions about the player’s long-term future at the club, as well as the shorter-term issue of what happens next. Will he feature when Brighton & Hove Albion go to Old Trafford on Saturday?
Ten Hag’s current shortage of options in wide attacking areas means it is unlikely a door will be shut on Sancho returning to the matchday squad.United’s current manager has shown, most obviously with Cristiano Ronaldo, that you should cross him at your peril. But nearly a year on from the Ronaldo episode, the picture is somewhat different.Antony, the manager’s preferred option to play on the right, will not return to work “until further notice” as he continues to address allegations of assault, which he denies.
Spurs may be second in the table but after a couple of years of watching them play mostly pragmatic, underwhelming football, their fans are just delighted for the time being to “have our Tottenham back”, as they keep singing. Any apathy that developed under previous managers has gone.
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They certainly look the part — Tottenham are vibrant, clinical and fun going forward and new signing James Maddison has been a creative revelation. But they’re also better at the back. This isn’t just gung-ho football. Summer appointment Ange Postecoglou is an attack-minded head coach but he’s also a winning one, steering South Melbourne, Brisbane Roar, Australia, Yokohama F Marinos and Celtic to titles, and there is a defensive plan to complement the forward forays.
The squad looks a little light in parts, left-back Destiny Udogie and midfielder Pape Matar Sarr have made exceptional starts but are very young and will have dips in form for sure, plus Richarlison can’t score for toffee at the moment.
The much more evident deficiencies of some of their anticipated rivals for a top-six finish, though, offer hope that Spurs are in this season’s European spots to stay. Anything higher remains to be seen, but serial winner Postecoglou is their trump card.
The early form of Alexis Mac Allister suggests so, but it would be too soon to answer with a definitive “yes” or “no”.
Only Liverpool’s final Premier League standing next May 19 will tell us whether the decision to recruit multi-functional midfielders this summer rather than specific experts in individual roles has paid off.
With no Champions League football to divert attention and energy after last season’s fifth-place finish, the focus for the months ahead is very much on chasing the title.
Can that be achieved with the midfield players Liverpool have at their disposal?
Mac Allister has certainly impressed in the handful of games so far following his transfer from Brighton, showing both maturity and versatility. There was a clear need for a new No 6 following the exits of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita from midfield over the close-season, and Argentina’s 2022 World Cup winner already looks the part. He may be used in a deeper role more often than first expected.
Mac Allister has joined on a five-year deal (Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
The surprise signing of Wataru Endo will also bring some resilience in games where Liverpool need to sit deeper and soak up pressure. Whether the Japan captain is good enough for the games that really matter will only be revealed in time.
Liverpool have plenty of other options and look well-equipped to create and cause problems going forward. Young players Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott have talent in abundance, while Dominik Szoboszlai is already turning into a star following his big-money move from RB Leipzig. The late addition of Ryan Gravenberch, a player Jurgen Klopp has tracked for some time, will bring both guts and guile to a midfield blessed with so many qualities.
A quick, tough-tackling, tall midfielder who can sit and protect the defence while also playing out comfortably from the back may still be missing, but those players are few and far between, and very expensive.
Liverpool might not even need one, though. They already looked well stocked.
Gregg Evans
Do Newcastle have issues or was it just a particularly tough start?
All looked rosy for Newcastle after the opening weekend’s 5-1 win over Aston Villa. The subsequent three games have quelled that optimism — but this is not a case of them turning bad again overnight after finishing fourth in May. Their start to the season was more difficult than any other side in the league — facing Villa (seventh last season), Manchester City (champions), Liverpool (fifth) and Brighton (sixth).
A new-look midfield is still gelling as head coach Eddie Howe attempts to tweak his style of play. Summer signing Sandro Tonali has been asked to subtly change his role in each game, but with team-mates Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton out of form, there has been plenty of space left in midfield. Given the quality of Newcastle’s opposition in the fixtures so far, this is asking for trouble.
They were also without centre-back Sven Botman for the 3-1 defeat in Brighton — the poorest performance of the campaign so far — while goalkeeper Nick Pope is going through a slump of his own. When Botman returns, Pope gets back to his usual standards and the midfield begins to hum, this is still a side who should be able to compete for European football again come the spring.
Gregg Evans
How long will it take Pochettino to turn Chelsea into a winning team?
There are signs that Chelsea 2023-24 should be a winning team already; according to FBref.com data, they have the fourth-best expected goal difference in the Premier League after their first four matches, rank fifth in the division for expected goals (xG) and are third behind only Manchester City and Arsenal, last season’s title winners and runners-up, in expected goals against (xGA).
The problem is they have scored 3.3 fewer goals than expected, while conceding one more than the analytics suggest they should have. Enzo Fernandez’s saved penalty away to West Ham United contributes to that, as well as Nicolas Jackson’s gilt-edged miss at home to Nottingham Forest — Chelsea lost both games.
It may be tempting to look at last season’s scoring problems and conclude this is simply who Chelsea are, but summer appointment Mauricio Pochettino is building his team from virtually a brand-new squad. His attacking options do look a little thin without injured forwards Christopher Nkunku and Armando Broja but newcomer Jackson is a livewire presence and Raheem Sterlinghas started the season well.
Despite the injury issues, there does appear to be scope for Chelsea’s finishing to improve enough for Pochettino to make them a winning team soon.
Liam Twomey
Can anyone stop Manchester City?
Teams can definitely beat Manchester City this season, but it’s probably not advisable to play them at their own game in trying to do so.
Sheffield United showed it is possible to bunker in and hang on, even if they did need seven saves from Wes Foderingham to keep them in the game, and ultimately lost out to a thumping finish from Rodri. City will struggle to break down low blocks if they are solid enough, particularly without the incision of the departed Ilkay Gundogan and injury victim Kevin De Bruyne in these early months.
Teams such as Brentford and West Ham — so geared towards efficient, counter-attacking play and able to squeeze every last drop out of set pieces — can certainly cause a threat if they hold out for long enough.
In terms of the title, it’s more a question of another side keeping up an 85-point pace. Only three other teams have broken that threshold since Pep Guardiola came to Manchester in the summer of 2016 — City have done it in all but one of his past six seasons in charge.
Marginally, yes. Against Fulham and Wolves, two home fixtures where they lost 1-0, Everton should have taken more.
Despite injuries and (before signing Beto three games into the season) having no proven striker, they managed to create enough chances to win those matches.
Ifs and buts will not prevent another dismal season of looking over their shoulders at the trapdoor to the Championship, yet the Portuguese striker’s arrival from Udinese has had a galvanising effect.
At Sheffield United, the only league game Beto has been involved in so far, Everton took their first point of the campaign, scoring their first league goals too, and the big centre-forward’s presence was pivotal in that 2-2 draw.
They must still erase the flashes of defensive fragility that let opponents such as Wolves take full advantage and, against better teams, as seen away to Aston Villa, there is still a tendency to implode. But Sean Dyche and the long-suffering fanbase will cling to the dual positives of a return to fitness of last season’s top scorer Dwight McNeil, along with Beto’s bright start.
If another new signing, Jack Harrison, can hit the ground running when he is fit, they can claim their poor start was not reflective of their overall quality.
Greg O’Keeffe
Played 10, won none — are the promoted clubs out of their depth?
It has been an ominous start for the three newcomers, with Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town all yet to win.
There are extenuating circumstances for Luton, with work on Kenilworth Road meaning they have only played three games and just one at home.
After losing 4-1 to Brighton and 3-0 away to Chelsea — there were glimpses of hope at Stamford Bridge, particularly in the performance of former Manchester United midfielder Tahith Chong — manager Rob Edwards then watched his side put in their best shift to date, against West Ham. Their 2-1 loss felt inevitable, which is problematic, but when Mads Andersen brought it back to 2-1 with four minutes of stoppage time to play, there was a mood shift. Maybe Luton can pick up points. Had James Ward-Prowse’s late handball given them a penalty, they might have got off the ground. It does feel like their biggest chance of picking up points will be at home.
Given the fashion in which Burnley stomped back into the Premier League at the first time of asking, it seemed like they would have the best chance of staying up of the three promoted teams. But a tough start, with games against champions Manchester City, European qualifiers Aston Villa and second-placed Tottenham, has left them pointless and looking vulnerable at the back.
Burnley have already lost as many times in the league this season as they did across the 46 games of the previous one, but manager Vincent Kompany is sticking to his principles.
As for Sheffield United, they at least have something to show for their return to the top flight, a single point earned in their most recent game against Everton. It could, and probably should, have been more but they came up against some Jordan Pickford heroism in the dying seconds.
United have come close to more too. After a narrow 1-0 opening-weekend defeat to Crystal Palace, the unlucky theme of losing by a single goal continued. Chris Wood scored a Nottingham Forest winner in the last minute of normal time and then, just as United clutched at a point against imperious Manchester City, Rodri struck in the 88th minute to quickly cancel out Jayden Bogle’s equaliser.
They are getting closer and will hope for an upturn in fortunes at Spurs on Saturday. No easy feat.
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So the USMNT won but it wasn’t very convincing as they needed extra time to add insurance goals 2&3 on the afternoon. The US dominated possession scoring in the first couple of minutes on this fantastic goal from McKinney to Weah. Then it took this series of great saves – from Turner who was named Man of the Match – he’ll be headed home to see the birth of his second child. It took some late subs and Uzebecstan going down to 10 men late to score our 2nd and 3rd goals as Pulisic converted a penalty, then Pepi scored his 5th in 5 games. Full highlights I am excited to see some of the new guys in the mix for this next game – Horvath will be in goal, and I am hoping Mark Mckensie in at CB for Tim Ream. Luca de la Torre broke his nose, so I would assume Malik Tlllman will get some time at the Dmid spot and hopefully at least some sub time for the Miami man Cremaschi, Johnny Cardoso, Cade Cowell, and Lund.
DEFENDERS (9): Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg), Tim Ream (Fulham FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham FC), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United),
MIDFIELDERS (6): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional), Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin), Folarin Balogun (Arsenal FC), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Tim Weah (Juventus)
Indy 11 Unbeaten Streak Extends to 6 games @ New Mexico United 9 pm ESPN+
Indy Eleven defeated The Miami FC, 1-0, on Saturday night at home to extend their unbeaten streak to six games. The Indy win moves the team to 11W-9L-8D, and moves them clearly into playoff contention. Next, Indy Eleven will travel to New Mexico United for a 9:00 p.m. ET kickoff on Friday, September 15 on ESPN+ for the first game of their two-game road trip. The next home game for Indy Eleven is Sunday, September 24 against Rio Grande Valley Toros FC.
Huge congrats to the 2013 Boys White team Pike Fest Semi-Finalist – Coach William Graff.
GAMES ON TV
Tues, Sept 12 –
12 noon FS2 Spain vs Cyprus
2:45 pm FS2 Scotland vs England
2:45 pm ?? Italy vs Ukraine
4 Tele, UNIVERSO TUDN Argentina vs Bolivar
7:30 pm TUDN, Univision Mexico vs Uzbekistan
8:30 pm TNT, Tele USMNT vs Oman
10 pm Peru vs Brazil
Fri, Sept 15
2:30 pm ESPN+ Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen
3 pm ESPN+ Champ Southampton vs Leicester city
7:30 pm Para+ Racing Louisville vs Houston Dash NWSL
9 pm ESPN+ New Mexico vs Indy 11
Sat, Sept 16
7:30 am USA Wolverhampton vs Liverpool
9 am CBSSN Juve (Weah, McKinney) vs Lazio
9:30 am ESPN+ Wolfsburg vs Union Berlin (Pfuk, Aaronson)
10 am USA West Ham United vs Man City
10 am Peacock Fullham (Ream, Jedi) vs Luton Town
12 noon Para+ Inter Milan vs AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah)
12:30 pm NBC New Castle vs Brentford
7:30 pm Apple MLS Philly Union vs Cincy
10 pm Apple free LAFC vs LA Galaxy (el Trafico)
Sun, Sept 17
9 am USA Bournemouth vs Chelsea
11:30 am NBC Everton vs Arsenal
245 pm Para+ Roma vs Empoli
8:30 pm FS1 Austin vs Portland
Mon, Sept 18
2:45 USA Nottingham Forest (Turner) vs Burnley
Tues Sept 19 – Champions League
12:45 pm Para+ AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) vs New Castle United
3 pm Para+ PSG vs Dortmund
3 pm Para+ Man City vs Crvena Zvezda
3 pm para+ Lazio vs Atletico Madrid
Weds Sept 20 – Champions League
12:45 pm Para+ Real Madrid vs Union Berlin (Pfuk, Aaronson)
3 pm Para+ Bayern Munic vs Man United
3 pm Para+ real Sociadad vs Inter Milan
3 pm para+ Arsenal vs PSV
7”30 pm Apple MLS Miami (Messi) vs Toronto
7:30 pm Apple Montreal vs Cincy
Thur, Sept 21
12:45 pm para+ Lask Linz vs Liverpool
12:45 pm Lergia vs Aston villa
3 pm Para+ West Ham United vs Backa Topolo
3:30 pm Para+ Brighton vs AEL Athens
7:30 pm TNT, Uni, Cock USWNT vs South Africa Cincy Ertz Last Game
Sun, Sept 24
5:30 pm TNT, Uni, Cock USWNT vs South Africa Chicago Rapinoe last game
Dan Degnan and HS ref newbie Jesicca Smith with me at University High for a girls game Sat. Love this from weekend Charity game in England the player shows a Uno Reverse card to being shown a yellow card. 😛
Check out this Spread from Nate BARBQ Sinders from last weekend’s Puma Cup. Best Brisket around.
Who Knew Landon Donovan was the #1 Assist guy of all time world Wide?
Ethan Horvath to start for USMNT vs. Oman; Berhalter talks Tillman, Cremaschi
Ethan Horvath will start in goal for the United States men’s national team on Tuesday against Oman, head coach Gregg Berhalter said at a press conference at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minn. After naming ten of his eleven starters ahead of last week’s friendly against Uzbekistan, Berhalter stopped short of naming his lineup aside from Horvath.“Ethan’s gonna play in goal tomorrow,” Berhalter said. “That’s pretty clear. We’re gonna mix up some players, but it will be a very similar lineup to what we saw last time.”The United States played to a 3-0 win over Uzbekistan in a friendly on Saturday, a scoreline that flattered the hosts as they struggled to consistently break lines and create chances in front of goal in the first game of Berhalter’s second cycle at the helm. There has been some minor adjustment to the roster since that match in St. Louis, as goalkeeper Matt Turner and defender Joe Scally departed, both for family reasons. They were replaced on the roster by Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender and New England Revolution left back DeJuan Jones, who was already in Minnesota thanks to the Revolution’s 1-1 draw against Minnesota United at Allianz Field on Saturday. Jones played all 90 minutes of that match.
Tillman, Cremaschi in the picture
Although he stopped short of naming a lineup, Berhalter did single out midfielder Malik Tillman for praise when asked how the new PSV signing fits into his plans.“I think he’s a fantastic player, I really do,” Berhalter said. “That’s why we were so keen to have him commit to the United States a couple years ago. He’s a dynamic player, sees the game ahead of time. He can speed up the game, make final actions. He’s calm in the penalty box. He’s got a lot of strong attributes. For us, it’s, okay: how does he take all those qualities to the next level when he gets opportunities? I think the other day, he did a good job. He’ll get an opportunity tomorrow, so we’ll see how he can do, but the coaches are high on him.”Berhalter added separately that he hopes to give Miami midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi a senior national team debut off the bench on Tuesday, depending on game state and what substitutions prove necessary throughout the match. Cremaschi is eligible for both the United States and Argentina, and has seen his stock soar in the wake of Lionel Messi joining the 18-year-old’s boyhood Inter Miami this summer. “He fits in really well, Benja,” Berhalter said. “He’s a great kid. He learns really quickly, adapting well to the speed of the game. It’s been great having him in camp. He’s not going to start the game. We’d love to get him a debut; we just have to see how the substitutions work. You have six subs in the game, so it becomes challenging to get everybody on the field even though you’d like to.”
Berhalter also addressed the USMNT’s struggles to create against Uzbekistan, citing the opposition’s low defensive block as preventing clear passing lanes into the area. While Oman is ranked just above Uzbekistan in the current FIFA ratings (73 and 74, respectively), Berhalter projected a different kind of challenge ahead of Tuesday’s match.“Oman is completely different than Uzbekistan,” Berhalter said. “Uzbekistan was a 5-3-1, at times a 5-2-3, but a very difficult block to break down. Defending with four players on the wing, very compact. Oman has played a 4-4-2 diamond and they have a very, very dynamic counterattack. Part of the emphasis in this camp was finishing attacks against the low block of Uzbekistan, and now preventing transitions against Oman.”Berhalter specifically praised Oman for a tough match it gave Germany last fall ahead of the 2022 World Cup. In the final days before the tournament, Germany struggled to pull off a 1-0 win with an 80th minute goal despite largely playing a first-choice lineup. Oman managed to take seven shots — although none were on-target — despite seeing just 28% of possession, with the majority of chances coming through Salaah Al-Yahyaei at the top of midfield.Oman has played seven games in 2023, reaching the final of the Gulf Cup with a campaign that included a 2-1 win over a Saudi Arabia side that won its World Cup opener against eventual champion Argentina. Oman notched a 2-1 win over Palestine on Wednesday in a match played at their national stadium in the capital city, Muscat. “It’s going to be a great test for us,” Berhalter said. “We watched the game against Germany where Germany won 1-0, but (Oman) absolutely battered Germany with their transition moments. They were all over (Germany) in that game, so it’s gonna be important for us.”
In Gregg Berhalter’s first game back, USMNT starts another new era with higher expectations
Throughout his first cycle as manager of the U.S. men’s national team, Gregg Berhalter opened camps by showing a timeline of what the team had in front of them to get to the World Cup.With each camp, the timeline got shorter and shorter. It hammered home the idea of how close the team was to its ultimate goal, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but it was also a reminder of what the team had already accomplished together.th delay, during which U.S. Soccer investigated Berhalter and the U.S. men played under two interim managers, the team is moving forward under Berhalter, who was re-hired as manager in June. The new three-year timeline has fewer roadblocks — as co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup the destination is already secured — but the expectations around this team going into that tournament have them racing toward a new finish line.“For us, it’s continuing to build on the foundation of what we’ve had in the last four years,” Berhalter said on Friday. “Keep improving, and really target 2026 as an opportunity to change soccer in America forever.”The foundation was, for the most part, on the field on Saturday against Uzbekistan in Berhalter’s first game back on the sideline. The starting lineup included eight starters from last November’s World Cup. The U.S. played in a familiar 4-3-3 formation, but there were also signs of how this group is changing.
Folarin Balogun, who recently committed to the program, started up top. Chris Richards, who was out injured ahead of Qatar, started in the backline. Ricardo Pepi, one of the final cuts from the 2022 World Cup team, scored to give the U.S. the cushion it needed to see out the game. The U.S. needed just four minutes to score its first goal and, despite a sleepy pace to the game, pulled away from a 3-0 win.
It was an imperfect performance, for sure, and one that emphasized how this U.S. team still has plenty of room to grow. Players said after the game that they were working out new ways to build out. Defender Tim Ream described it as players using different movements and changing positions to alter the team’s shape and trying to pull the opponent out of position.“It’s a learning process for sure, but one that we’re working on every day,” Ream said, “and going to try to perfect and get it to where we want it to be.”The game on Saturday was a chance to tinker. It was also a sign that the process of evolving is already underway.“I think we use this game as a learning tool,” Berhalter said postgame.The team’s overall dissatisfaction with the performance, however, is also a sign of the increasing expectations around this group. The aim Berhalter laid out at the start of camp was to advance in the World Cup to a round the U.S. men have never played in before — at least in the modern history of the game. That means surpassing the quarterfinal appearance in 2002 and playing in a semifinal or World Cup final. It’s a lofty objective, but one befitting of a group many have labeled a “golden generation” for this national team. If they are to live up to that moniker, they have to set new standards.
The team that went to Qatar was the second-youngest in the tournament. That won’t be the case in three years. The key leaders of this team must mature into star players. During training last week, Berhalter said the team broke into three teams of seven — old, medium and young. Christian Pulisic, 24, and Weston McKennie, 25, were on the old team. There is still plenty of youth in the group, but a core of players — led by Pulisic, McKennie, Tim Weah, 23, and Tyler Adams, 24 — will be in its prime when the World Cup kicks off in 2026.Their individual growth, along with that of the team, is paramount.“For us, it’s really the work we can do the next three years to build a group that when we go to the World Cup, we’re confident that we can beat the elite of international soccer because that’s what it’s going to take to do what we’re talking about doing,” Berhalter said. “If we want to go to rounds that we’ve never been to before, we have to beat those teams. And we’ll use the next three years to build the team up, to gain experiences (so) that we’re confident that we can actually do that.”
(Photo by John Dorton/Getty Images for USSF)
The efforts to improve will come on several different levels within the program. First, Berhalter must find a way to build a working relationship with Gio Reyna. That is a complicated task after the events of the last year, which included Reyna nearly being sent home from Qatar, Berhalter’s comments about those events at a leadership conference being published, and Reyna’s parents, Claudio and Danielle, eventually reporting a three-decade-old incident involving Berhalter and his then-girlfriend, now wife, Rosalind, to U.S. Soccer leadership. Berhalter has not yet spoken to Gio Reyna, and the Dortmund attacker is not in this camp as he regains fitness following a leg injury he suffered in the CONCACAF Nations League final, but that task will be a vital one in maximizing a talented young prospect.
As far as the team is concerned, Berhalter said he met with sporting director Matt Crocker over three days to evaluate every part of the program to see what worked well and what didn’t and to make changes accordingly. They put every aspect of the program into “buckets,” Berhalter said and evaluated how they could be successful in those areas. He also evaluated every phase of the game with the team to search for improvements, from set pieces to mid-block defending to efficiency in the final third.“It’s literally everything,” Berhalter said. “Every aspect. … We want to be in the state of evolving because we know it’s going to lead to improvement.”Saturday night’s result showed some hints at that evolution. When it worked, the subs who came on late in the second half played with the right level of aggression and broke Uzbekistan down, it was effective. When it didn’t, the game felt too slow. But evolution isn’t about a singular performance, and Saturday was only the very first step in the process.Change is coming. The last cycle taught us as much when losses to Mexico early in Berhalter’s tenure helped shape the identity of a team that now hasn’t lost to Mexico in its last six games. This U.S. team must show consistency and that it can be aggressive and assertive in the right moments.“We like what’s been built, but we want to keep getting better,” Berhalter said. “Then it was, ‘OK, we have three years to keep improving. What phases do we need to improve and what wrinkles do we need to put in that are going to help us get there? How do we need to sort of support the players in a way that they can keep improving with their clubs?’ But overall, for us, it’s just how do we keep moving forward and not being happy with where we were.”
USMNT Player Ratings: Weah, McKennie & Robinson impress vs. Uzbekistan
Against an opponent who put up a much tougher fight than their 74th FIFA world ranking would suggest, the USMNT lacked sharpness in Gregg Berhalter’s first game back in charge, looking wobbly until two goals in second-half stoppage time put the game to bed.
The Yanks close out the September window against Oman Tuesday at Allianz Field, home of Minnesota United FC.
Turner made more saves than he probably expected coming into the match. The Nottingham Forest shot-stopper had a pair of saves to bail out his teammates after really sloppy first-half turnovers and made another key one in the second half to keep Uzbekistan off the board.
Robinson dealt well with the brunt of Uzbekistan’s attack, as well as providing plenty of output at the other end of the pitch. It was the type of showing we’ve become accustomed to from the Fulham man despite getting cut short in the 80th minute with a knock.
Ream was typically solid in his return to St. Louis. He was strong defensively and generally composed in possession, although he did have an uncharacteristically sloppy giveaway towards the end of the first half that nearly gave Uzbekistan a goal.
Richards was fine overall. He picked off a few dangerous passes and was positionally solid. He was composed, albeit unambitious, in possession, but showed moments of rust after going as an unused substitute for Crystal Palace’s first four matches of the English Premier League season.
Dest improved significantly as the match went on, growing in influence in the final third. The PSV man was involved in the buildup play for the US’s second goal and nearly had one of his own, freezing his defender with a stepover before his shot was blocked at the last second.
Musah was generally composed in possession and carried the ball through pressure well, but he wasn’t consistently able to find the breakthrough pass the US needed. At just 20 years old, though, he’s already such an integral part of how this team plays.
The Celta de Vigo midfielder was energetic from the start, playing at the base of midfield in the Tyler Adams role. He completed 39 of his 40 attempted passes, and mixed things up with a couple of marauding runs through the White Wolves‘ defense. He was unfortunate to come off with a broken nose after half an hour, cutting a standout performance cruelly short. His withdrawal coincided with a noticeable drop in form from the home side.
McKennie was sharp in midfield throughout the afternoon, especially on Weah’s opening goal. He took down a cross from Pulisic with a world-class touch before laying it off to Weah, and he continued to find cracks in Uzbekistan’s armor throughout the night.
It was by no means a vintage showing for Pulisic, who couldn’t translate his sparking club form with AC Milan to the international level. He struggled to connect effectively in the final third and his delivery from set pieces was subpar. However, he did have a hand in the opening goal and scored from the penalty spot deep in second-half stoppage time to make it three.
The newly-signed Monaco forward had a few flashes, showing good close control around the box and hitting the post with a header that could have put the US 2-0 up. He still doesn’t look quite on the same page with the rest of the attack, though, and struggled to make a consistent impact. He was taken off at the half in a pre-planned sub.
Weah was the biggest bright spot of the afternoon for the Americans. He was direct and dynamic every time he got on the ball, combined well with Dest and McKennie in particular, and had a couple dangerous looks at goal. The Juventus man also scored what proved to be the winner after just four minutes, absolutely thumping the ball into the far corner.
5.0
Gregg Berhalter
Head Coach
It wasn’t the statement win Berhalter would have liked in his first game back in charge of the USMNT since their World Cup Round-of-16 loss to the Netherlands 280 days ago. Uzbekistan were surprisingly stout defensively and threatened the home side on the break on multiple occasions. Berhalter tweaked a few things in possession, including shifting from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 in the second half, but, as a whole, his side looked rusty and ponderous. No reason to panic after one game, but the team could use a bounce-back performance on Tuesday against Oman.
It was a mixed bag for Tessmann, who came on in the 35th minute to replace de la Torre. He had good ideas in the final third and probed Uzbekistan’s defense, but had a pair of really poor giveaways in his own half that nearly resulted in goals for the visitors.
Pepi was overall less involved in the match than Balogun, who he replaced at halftime. However, the FC Dallas product capped off his 45-minute shift with a well-taken goal, coolly finishing to the near post to give the Yanks a bit of breathing room.
The Union Berlin attacker brought a spark of energy off the bench, picking up good spots to receive the ball and asking questions of Uzbekistan’s backline. He notched the assist for Pepi’s goal with a tidy little pass on the edge of the box.
Came on too late to receive a rating, but got immediately involved in the final third and drew a penalty in second-half stoppage time to make it three for the US.
N/A
Kristoffer Lund
Defender
The Palermo left back didn’t really have time to make an impact on proceedings, but earned his first minutes for the US after filing a one-time switch from Denmark.
Berhalter admits USMNT has much to improve after friendly win
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentSep 9, 2023, 10:00 PM ET
ST. LOUIS — Gregg Berhalter praised the mindset of his U.S. men’s national team in the last 10 minutes of the 3-0 win over Uzbekistan, but admitted that there was plenty of room for improvement after his first game back as head coach.The U.S. jumped on top in the fourth minute thanks to Tim Weah‘s goal, but then labored for much of the match, as Uzbekistan’s five-man backline proved difficult to break down.
It took a goal in the first minute of second-half stoppage time from substitute Ricardo Pepi to make the game safe, before Christian Pulisic scored from the penalty spot four minutes later to complete the scoring. Both of the late goals came with Uzbekistan reduced to 10 men after Khojiakbar Alidzhanov was forced to leave the match with an injury, and with the visitors out of substitutes.
“I think we use this game as a learning tool,” Berhalter said. “We can improve and we need to improve and we will.”
“I really, really liked the mindset in the last 10 minutes of the game,” he added. “You could see the guys still wanted to push. It wasn’t about holding onto the 1-0. It was about getting aggressive. As they moved to a back four, we had more space and I liked that the guys wanted to attack it.
“I think that it’s a good baseline for us to start and say this is what international competition from other regions looks like and so that we use as we go.”
The U.S. was made to work hard for its victory. Both Alijonov and Eldor Shomurodov had some clear chances to pull Uzbekistan level, but both were undone by the combination of wayward finishing as well as some stellar goalkeeping from Matt Turner.
Berhalter explained that he instituted a tactical wrinkle to try and draw Uzbekistan out of its low block, but that his team didn’t play quickly enough once the first line of pressure was broken.
“We gave the ball away in some tough spots. That was the first thing,” he said. “The second thing is when we were building, we were methodical about our buildup trying to attract the opponent. I thought then we lacked the speeding up the attack once we broke through that front five and that could have been better.
“A back five is always difficult to break down. You saw that they just dropped and we wanted to get behind ’em. We didn’t do that often enough.
“And then the other thing I’d note is that our press after [losing possession], defensive transition, needs to get better. I think we gave them too many opportunities to get behind us when we could have been positioned better to win the ball immediately after we lost it.”
Berhalter added that he didn’t mind his side playing with a slower rhythm as long as it’s accompanied by a change of pace.
“If we had to take our time to draw out their defense, and then find someone once we break their top five, then we need to speed up the attack,” he said. “We need to have numbers getting forward, we need numbers entering the penalty box, we need runs behind the backline and I thought that’s what we lacked at times.”
Saturday’s match was the first for Berhalter since last December’s World Cup in Qatar. Shortly after the tournament, a public feud with the family of midfielder Gio Reyna resulted in the revealing of a domestic violence incident from 1992 that involved Berhalter and his now wife Rosalind. An investigation by an outside law firm largely cleared Berhalter, allowing him to still be a candidate to manage the USMNT. He re-signed with U.S. Soccer in June.
Berhalter said that he only allowed himself a brief moment to reflect on all that transpired over the last nine months.
“At the anthem you reflect on it a little bit that you’re back, he said. “And then it’s back to work, and you’re on the sidelines and you’re coaching, trying to help the team win a game.”
Ben Cremaschi’s rise: Starring with Messi, a USMNT call-up and Argentina interest
Benjamín Cremaschi is living a dream. The 18-year-old Miami native has earned valuable minutes at club level with Inter Miami of MLS, playing alongside Messi since the superstar’s arrival in July. In doing so, the promising youngster has become an integral part of Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino’s tactics.Last week, things got even better: Cremaschi earned a call-up to the senior U.S. men’s national team for U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter’s first camp back in charge. The U.S. plays a friendly against Uzbekistan this Saturday in St. Louis, then plays Oman in Minnesota on Tuesday.hough he’s been seen for some time as a promising youth prospect, Cremaschi’s call-up was still something of a surprise. He’s still a teenager who has only played in 20 official MLS matches, though he has proven capable of playing at the MLS level. Cremaschi has developed important chemistry with Messi in the final third, evidenced by his assist during Inter Miami’s 2-0 win over Red Bull New York. Messi created the chance on his own, but Cremaschi’s quick decision-making in a tight space was impressive.
The question is whether Cremaschi has shown enough to be called into a senior national team camp, or whether that’s even necessary. Youth and inexperience are often overlooked in international football, especially for dual-national players. Spain, for example, included 16-year-old Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal in its squad for two European Championship qualifiers versus Georgia and Cyprus. Yamal could become Spain’s youngest-ever international, but he is also eligible to represent MoroccoFor Cremaschi, the other nation in the picture is Argentina – a fact that has made his name well-known far beyond Fort Lauderdale. He has done several interviews with Argentina’s biggest news outlets, saying plenty about Messi and the whirlwind experience that he’s currently living. “This has all been crazy for me,” Cremaschi told ESPN Argentina on August 13.In that interview, Cremaschi revealed that he has had conversations with both the U.S. and Argentine federations.“Obviously, I’m going to have to make a decision later,” he said. “Having Messi can influence a bit. But there’s time.”
Indeed, even if Cremaschi appears for the U.S. in this upcoming window, he could still choose to represent Argentina if they call him – appearances in friendlies like the ones upcoming for the U.S. do not cap-tie a player to a certain nation.For now, if only from a media perspective, having Cremaschi in camp is a good play by Berhalter and U.S. Soccer. It’s an opportunity to hear Cremaschi talk about representing the U.S. across all of the program’s social media channels while wearing USMNT gear.“All we try to do is put our best foot forward,” Berhalter said in regards to recruiting Cremaschi as a dual-national. “We try to let the environment speak for itself. We try to let the staffing and the player pool speak for itself and what we can offer the player. We talked to Ben about being able to come into the group and fit into what we’re doing to represent the United States of America, which is a wonderful honor.”
The reality on pitch is quite clear. Cremaschi has plenty of work to do in order to be seriously considered by any of Argentina’s men’s teams. He was part of an Argentina U-20 training camp in 2022 as a 17-year-old, but he didn’t make the final roster for the South American U-20 Championships or the U-20 World Cup. He reportedly turned down a chance to join the U.S. U-20 World Cup team in that same time, according to Apple TV’s Taylor Twellman.Cremaschi was also not in the squad selected by Argentina U-23 coach Javier Mascherano for an upcoming friendly against Bolivia on Sept. 9. He faced stiff competition. The players on Mascherano’s U-23 list who also train under World Cup-winning manager Lionel Scaloni during the upcoming FIFA window include Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, FC Dallas’Alan Velasco, Thiago Almada of Atlanta United, Facundo Buonaotte of Brighton, newly signed Fiorentina striker Lucas Beltrán and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, who became a starter under Scaloni since the World Cup group stage in Qatar.All that said, Cremaschi’s place in the Argentina pecking order could change if he performs well under Berhalter. His most sensible pathway should include meaningful games at the U-23 level, since he is age-eligible for the 2024 Summer Olympics, where men’s soccer is run as a U-23 tournament. Perhaps that will be the competition that forces him to make his first serious decision about his national team loyalties.Regardless of where he ends up, Cremaschi will have truly arrived when coverage in Argentina and elsewhere becomes more about his ability and less about his international future, or his relationship with Messi.
Cremaschi is a confident player who has improved over this season, benefiting from the swagger that Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have brought to Inter Miami. With his age and profile, he is trending towards an opportunity to eventually play abroad. The Athletic asked Cremaschi in July if playing with Messi trumped a move to Europe.“It’s a good question,” Cremaschi said following Inter Miami’s 2-1 win over Cruz Azul. “For now I’m focused on my day-to-day and I’m really involved with the club. If an opportunity arises to go to Europe I’ll obviously consider it. I’ll think about it, but for now I’m enjoying playing with our No. 10.”Cremaschi likens his profile to that of Argentina and Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul. “He’s a player who I really admire because of the way he plays,” Cremaschi told ESPN Argentina.De Paul is one of the world’s most tenacious midfielders. He has also been dubbed as Messi’s personal chaperone on the pitch. Cremaschi told ESPN that he wants to help Inter Miami and protect Messi like De Paul. He sounded like a starstruck Messi fan when he said that, but the sentiment was genuine.Cremaschi is a selfless player with incredible stamina. He also occupies a lot of the same areas on the field as De Paul, but that’s where the comparison with De Paul should end. The 29-year-old De Paul is valued at €40 million ($42.7 million) according to a June report on Transfermarkt. While both players are box-to-box midfielders, Cremaschi excels as an advanced playmaker in a central role, where he usually plays for Miami under Martino.
In Martino’s 4-3-3, Busquets and Dixon Arroyo hold their positions, while Cremaschi, when he starts centrally, has the freedom to find the ball and attack vertically. In fact, it’s more accurate to compare Cremaschi to the type of player that Martino was at Newell’s in the 1980s and ‘90s. Martino was a midfield playmaker who was constantly around the ball. He would likely admit that he didn’t run nearly as much as Cremaschi, however, Martino’s experience in that role bodes well for his young starlet.
Cremaschi is comfortable playing between the lines and in half-spaces. He’s also confident in his passing ability close to the opponent’s goal. He has four regular season assists this season and two more in cup play. He has also scored the winning penalty in two shootouts. First against FC Dallas in Leagues Cup round of 16 and again to defeat FC Cincinnati in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal.Furthermore, Cremaschi grew up playing rugby which explains why he doesn’t shy away from physical challenges. He can press, defend in open space and play in transition. During his first MLS season, Cremaschi has proven to be highly versatile, too. He has played on both wings and as a right fullback when Inter Miami suffered a rash of injuries earlier in the year – that much is clear from his touch map from this season involving every Miami game pre-Messi as well.
On a call with reporters on Wednesday, Berhalter said that Cremaschi’s “tenacity” and “relentless” caught his attention during a pre-World Cup camp last October. Berhalter, like Martino, plays in a preferred 4-3-3 setup.
“He was playing out of position during that camp,” said Berhalter. “As a winger sometimes as a forward, but he never quit. He never gave up, he kept running. I mean, he was running himself silly. It really showed me what his mindset was like and I was really impressed with that. And now watching his progress with Inter Miami. He’s done a great job and this it’s not only post-Messi. I think it’s even pre-Messi. I think he’s a very talented player.”
No matter what his future holds, at present, Cremaschi is in dreamland. Few players of age are given opportunities like the one that he has taken full advantage of. To coexist with Messi, Busquets and Alba in a competitive environment is simply too good to be true.
“This is the best thing that could’ve happened to me,” said Cremaschi last month. “Having Tata and those three players, people with a lot of experience who have been at elite levels. To absorb everything from them is great not just for me but for every young player at the club.”
(Photo: John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images for USSF)
Bruce Arena’s outspoken MLS coaching career ends, for now, with an apology
On Saturday night, in the moments after the New England Revolution’s 1-1 draw against Minnesota United, the club announced the resignation of Bruce Arena, its decorated, embattled and now-former head coach and sporting director.Arena, a two-time former USMNT coach, had been on administrative leave and under league investigation for over a month for alleged inappropriate remarks. The Athletic reported on Saturday that complaints lodged by his longtime assistant Richie Williams were part of the investigation. In a statement that accompanied Arena’s resignation, MLS said that “certain” allegations had been confirmed.In announcing his resignation, Arena spoke publicly for the first time about the investigation and what drove him to call time on his spell with the Revs – and perhaps in MLS as a whole (the league said the 71-year-old will need to submit a petition to the commissioner to be employed in MLS again).“I know that I have made some mistakes,” Arena said, “and moving forward, I plan to spend some time reflecting on this situation and taking corrective steps to address what has transpired. And while this has not been an easy decision, I am confident that it is in the best interest of both the New England Revolution organization and my family that we part ways at this time.”In a sense, Arena’s conciliatory tone feels familiar; a common approach in statements where a powerful person is forced to step away. But the words also feel alien coming out of Arena’s mouth. The 71-year-old may be American soccer’s bluntest and most defiant major figure, known as much for his brash, no-nonsense nature as he is for his lengthy list of honors and accomplishments. He is not a man known for apologizing, even after major failures.Arena was at the helm on the day the U.S. men’s national team failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2018, probably the highest-profile fiasco in the program’s history. He had taken over during the latter stages of a tumultuous qualifying campaign, and a year after the U.S. failure he balked at the idea that his next job as head coach of the Revolution might help redeem him in the eyes of American soccer fans.“I’ve had a very good career. If somebody wants to surpass it, they’re welcome to,” he told The Athletic. “We fell short (with the U.S.). No excuses there. That’s the way it is. I don’t know if you follow sports, but at the end of the day, not everyone wins. It’s unfortunate, certainly, but I feel really good about what we did.”Arena’s accurate self-assessment (“I’ve had a very good career”) combined with an unveiled disdain for those who question him (“I don’t know if you follow sports,” said to a sports reporter) more or less sums up his place in the American soccer landscape.
Many consider Arena the greatest coach in the history of the American men’s game. His 81 wins as U.S. men’s national team coach are easily the most in program history. He won five MLS Cups, four Supporters’ Shields, a U.S. Open Cup and a CONCACAF Championship over 17 seasons as an MLS head coach. A four-time MLS coach of the year, Arena helped craft two of MLS’ most legendary sides — D.C. United and the LA Galaxy.Before joining MLS, Arena was a dominant college coach, leading the University of Virginia to five NCAA College Cups and six ACC championships in an 18-year college coaching career. During that span he helped raise some of the most influential American players of the 90s and early 00s, including Claudio Reyna, John Harkes, Jeff Agoos, Tony Meola and Ben Olsen. A former college and professional goalkeeper himself who earned a single cap with the USMNT, Arena got his first college coaching gig in a far humbler setting: The University of Puget Sound, in 1977.Hired as D.C. United’s first head coach in MLS’s inaugural season, Arena helped assemble and coach a collection of talent that dominated the league in its infancy. They played with a flair and finesse uncommon to the league’s early teams and quickly established themselves as the league’s first dynasty. They won the league’s inaugural championship in 1996 and won the U.S. Open Cup that same year, then repeated as MLS Cup champs in 1997, then made it to the final again in 1998 while becoming the first team to win the CONCACAF Champions Cup.Yet even as Arena rose in prominence, he continually unleashed the brash, arrogant side of his persona that so many within the game eventually came to recognize as standard-issue Bruce.“The way our league is operating, this is the worst coaching job in the world,” he told the Washington Post in 1997 of his position at D.C. United, one of many criticisms of MLS commissioners over the course of his career. In 1996, when coaching the U.S. at the Atlanta Olympics, he famously said the U.S. Olympic officials were “too stupid to fix a draw” after his team was matched up against Argentina. A Sports Illustrated article from around that time described him as “amazingly graceless,” and quotes Williams, then a D.C. United midfielder, as saying “Yeah, he’s arrogant.”“The perception is that he’s a bastard,” longtime Arena assistant Dave Sarachan told Sports Illustrated for that piece. “If you talk to almost anyone in our business, they will say that.”
Arena took over the U.S. in 1998. (JORGE SILVA/AFP via Getty Images)
Arena left United in 1998 to join the USMNT, which had just finished dead last at the World Cup in France. In 2002, Arena’s no-nonsense approach helped earn the USMNT its best World Cup finish since 1930, a memorable run to the quarterfinals of the tournament that included upsets over Portugal and Mexico and a near-upset of eventual finalists Germany. He coached the team again in the 2006 cycle and through a disappointing appearance at that year’s tournament. Arena also led the USMNT to three continental championships during his national team career. He joined the LA Galaxy in 2008, arriving in Los Angeles not long after English legend David Beckham in 2007 and inheriting a roster in shambles and a divided locker room. Arena eventually led that club to glory as well, winning three MLS Cups in a four-year span. Several of Arena’s Galaxy sides were among MLS’ greatest-ever teams, squads built around Beckham, USMNT legend Landon Donovan and Irish international Robbie Keane. Flying high, Arena’s continued to push MLS officials into uncomfortable water. Long before criticisms of the league’s single-entity structure became commonplace, Arena was lobbing grenades at the league office over what he perceived to be a potential overreach. In 2014, when the Galaxy tried and failed to sign USMNT midfielder Sacha Klestjan, Arena raged at the league office in an interview with the Washington Post, calling them “children.” The comments drew a fine from MLS commissioner Don Garber. “Bruce has the opportunity to be our Tom Landry,” Garber told SI.com at the time, referring to the legendary Dallas Cowboys coach. “Or our Pat Riley. And he continually puts himself in a position where he acts unprofessionally and he emotionally misstates the facts. And I think that’s a shame.” Though his gruffness had become well-known by this point, Arena had simultaneously earned a reputation as an excellent man-manager who is largely beloved by his players – many of whom spoke out on his behalf during his absence and investigation. He had a shrewd eye for role players at the Galaxy and helped foster the careers of MLS stalwarts like Omar Gonzalez, Mike Magee, A.J. DeLaGarza and many more. He was usually fiercely protective of his players’ individual and collective performances, except in those instances where they were very clearly not up to snuff. And player after player who worked under him will say that they could count on Arena for a straighforward, honest assessment.“Bruce lets you know where you stand,” said then-U.S. striker Clint Mathis in 2002. He was, and is, also the last of a dying breed. As the game has progressed and more focus has been laid on tactical details, film study and analytics, Arena has often balked at those changes — sometimes to the chagrin of certain players and, more recently, assistant coaches.“Actually, analytics in soccer, if no one here has figured it out, doesn’t mean a whole lot,” he said in a postgame press conference in 2016. “Analytics and statistics are used for people who don’t know how to analyze the game. I’ll be very honest with you; this isn’t baseball or football or basketball. We have a very important analytic, and that’s the score. That distorts all the other statistics.”Occasionally, Arena’s barbs betrayed a kind of old-school conservatism that was mostly out of line with prevailing sentiment among American soccer fans. Perhaps nothing revealed that more than his controversial comments about the direction of the U.S. men’s national team under German head coach Jurgen Klinsmann.“I believe an American should be coaching the national team,” Arena said in 2014. “I think the majority of the national team should come out of Major League Soccer. The people that run our governing body think we need to copy what everyone else does, when in reality, our solutions will ultimately come from our culture.”He espoused a similar philosophy on foreign-born players for the national team, during the very time that many were being recruited to play for the U.S.“Players on the national team should be — and this is my own feeling — they should be Americans,” Arena said in 2013. “If they’re all born in other countries, I don’t think we can say we are making progress.”Arena walked back these comments when he took the reins of the U.S. again in 2016 and was suddenly faced with the prospect of having to coach some of those players. But notably, he didn’t apologize.“If I made those comments, I certainly don’t believe that that’s my attitude,” Arena said in 2016.
Arena and Beckham at MLS Cup 2009 (Harry How/Getty Images)
Even after the U.S.’s disastrous qualifying campaign in 2018, Arena continued to throw elbows. In 2018, Arena hit out at U.S. Soccer and a host of others in “What’s Wrong With Us?,” a book he co-authored with commentator and author Steve Kettmann.“Basically, the same people have remained in control of the sport over the past twenty years,” wrote Arena. “This should not happen. The landscape of the sport has changed drastically, and there is a need for new leaders with technical experience who can bring fresh ideas to the table. There need to be some new blood and new ways of doing things.”Arena seemed to contradict his own words by taking the Revolution job a year later, but by the same token, the list of current and former MLS coaches who played for or coached under Arena is long and distinguished. Among them: former LAFC, Chicago Fire, Toronto FC and U.S. head coach Bob Bradley was one of Arena’s original assistants at D.C. United. Current USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter played for and coached with Arena in LA. Houston Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen was a player for Arena at Virginia and again in D.C..Arena took over New England during the 2019 season and guided the team to the playoffs after inheriting a poor start. The club then set a new single-season points record en route to winning the Supporters’ Shield in 2021. Arena was named 2021’s MLS Coach of the Year.The combativeness remained. Arena served a three-game suspension during the “MLS is Back” tournament during the COVID-19 pandemic for using abusive language against a match official. He initially received a red card and a standard one-game suspension but Garber extended that penalty by an additional two games.Earlier this season, he was issued a fine for criticizing VAR and calling the fourth official in a match “pretty useless for the entire game, and for some reason, she then voiced her opinion 98-and-a-half minutes into the game.”Amid it all, Arena continued to win. This year, New England is among the best teams in the Eastern Conference. They will be among the favorites to make it to MLS Cup. Behind the scenes, though, the tension Arena brought to outsiders had found its way into his circle. On Saturday, that tension led to Arena, so often the victor in the world of American soccer, issuing an unusual apology as he made an abrupt exit.(Top photo: Ira L. Black – Corbis/Getty Images)
Howard Webb: ‘Decision to let Manchester City goal against Fulham stand was an error’
Marco Silva said afterwards it had been a “huge mistake” to let Ake’s goal stand and he now has sympathy of Webb, who admits it should have been disallowed.Webb, the chief refereeing officer for PGMOL, admitted the lapse from his team this weekend during an appearance on “Match Officials: Mic’d Up”, the first in a regular series of programmes this season that will dissect VAR calls and replay the audio of discussions between the officials.Ake’s goal was reviewed by the video assistant referee Tony Harrington, who concluded that Akanji had not impeded Leno. Oliver, as a result, was not sent to the pitchside monitor to review the decision.“From the outset I want to say I think this should have been disallowed, this goal,” Webb told Mic’d Up, a half-hour show hosted by Michael Owen.“It certainly appears that Akanji has an impact on Bernd Leno who seems to hesitate.“The officials on the field gave the goal. They didn’t see an obvious action that impacted Leno’s ability to play the ball. They see Akanji moving slightly away from the ball to let it past him. There’s a flick out of the foot but that’s after the ball has passed.“They didn’t feel that that was clearly impactful on Leno’s ability to play the ball. But you can see that hesitation by the goalkeeper, who is waiting to see if the ball makes contact with Akanji, which would have deflected the ball.“So we think it’s a clear situation of offside. Unfortunately, it wasn’t identified on the day, and, of course, the learning from this one will also be shared amongst all of our group because we’re always looking to do better each and every week, and this was an error.”
That ought to have given Wolves the opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot and Webb accepted it was a “clear error” missed. Again it was a decision not recommended for a VAR review and brought an apology to Wolves from Webb.
Six incidents from the opening four weekends of the Premier League season were reviewed in all during the new programme designed to increase transparency among the PGMOL, with Webb highlighting that VAR had helped reach the correct decisions elsewhere, including an overturned penalty in Arsenal’s 3-1 over Manchester United on Sunday when Kai Havertz fell in the box.
“It was a good use of VAR,” said Webb, who saw onfield referee Anthony Taylor overturn his original decision upon advice from the VAR. “The referee believed that Wan-Bissaka had tripped Havertz, but the video shows something quite different that there’s no actual contact initially.
“Another step by Havertz, his leg goes into Wan-Bissaka. The VAR, really calm and concise, recognises all of that, thinks it’s a clear and obvious error. I agree. Recommends a review. We get to the right decision.”
Webb also took a thinly-veiled swipe at Manchester United Erik Ten Hag following his post-match comments that questioned the offside decision to rule out Alejandro Garnacho’s late strike that briefly appeared set to give United a victory.
Lines drawn on to the pitch showed Garnacho to be narrowly offside yet Ten Hag had claimed the “wrong angle” had been used.
“I was surprised by some of the comments,” added Webb. “It was a clear offside decision. The technology was used quite rightly. The calibrated cameras showed Garnacho to be ahead of Gabriel and it was quite rightly disallowed after initially being awarded incorrectly.”
Champions League group stage draw analysed: Best games, breakout stars and tough groups
By The Athletic Staff
Aug 31, 2023
50
Europe’s elite sides now know who they will face at the first hurdle as they look to capture the continent’s most prestigious prize this season.
The draw for the group stage of the competition took place on Thursday, allowing fans to start getting excited for the start of the competition. And clubs can now make plans as they look to take the trophy away from Manchester City.
The Athletic asked our European experts James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein, Mario Cortegana, Pol Ballus and Peter Rutzler to analyse the draw and give us their key takeaways.
James Horncastle: Group F should be fun. Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gigio Donnarumma will face AC Milan, the club he supported as a boy and ditched for the lucre of Ligue 1. It’s a reunion tour as Sandro Tonali, who claimed he wanted to captain and finish his career at Milan, faces his old team too. Then the Dortmund game pits Pulisic against USMNT teammate Gio Reyna with the backdrop of the Yellow Wall paling in comparison with everything that went down at the World Cup in Qatar. As geopolitics goes, the Saudi v Qatar angle to Newcastle against PSG is hotter than a summer’s day in Riyadh or Doha.
Raphael Honigstein: It has to be Group F, of course. But don’t sleep on Group E, with one of the best up-and-coming coaches in Feyenoord’s Arne Slot, Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio, a more attacking-minded(?) Diego Simeone at Atletico and Brendan Rodgers back in the saddle at Celtic. Not the biggest quality line-up but it should be lots of fun.
Pol Ballus: Group F, by a mile. There is an outstanding ’90s football vibe in this group, apart from it being clearly the only one in which you can see all four teams being real options to go through.
Mario Cortegana: I’m not going to be original: F is the group I’m going to pay most attention to, after C, Real Madrid’s group. It would be a surprise for them to go out because they are building a more balanced and hungry team, but I am very curious about what would happen if PSG were knocked out in the group stage of the Champions League. This would follow two editions in which they were eliminated in the round of 16. They have been unlucky this year at the first stage of reaching their eternal goal, winning the Champions League. Dortmund always offer spectacle, Milan are a giant awakening in recent years and Newcastle are a nouveau riche club that is doing things very well: they have not just got money, but also intelligence.
Peter Rutzler: Group F obviously catches the eye. Historic stadiums, famous clubs, and it really does feel like an open group. PSG are still a little bit of an unknown entity following so much change during the summer. It may feel despairing for Newcastle fans on the face of it but opportunities may knock…
Which big teams might struggle?
Horncastle: Arsenal are back in the competition after what feels like ages. The group feels like a trap. Lens 1-0 at the Emirates, the ghosts of ’98 suddenly apparate.
Honigstein: All of the teams in Group F will have a hard time qualifying, for obvious reasons. Beyond that, it’s a relatively benign draw for the big guns, who should all qualify with a degree of ease.
Ballus: I’d say PSG. The group is tough and Luis Enrique’s project is still at an early stage of development. Plus, there’s always in pressure in Paris when it comes to the Champions League… this is going to be fun to watch.
Cortegana: Following on from my previous answer, the biggest club that I sense may struggle the most is PSG. Although there are always surprises, the rest should have it under control.
Rutzler: This will not be a walk in the park for PSG, nor anyone else in Group F. The rest of the ‘elite’ sides seem to have safe draws, though. Arsenal might find a few potholes in the way of progress with Lens and PSV eager to bloody some noses. But they should come through that relatively unscathed.
If you could have a ticket to one match, which would it be?
Horncastle: Napoli against Real Madrid. I believe this fixture is why the European Cup became the Champions League. A group stage was introduced precisely because Madrid knocked out Maradona’s Napoli so early. Another reason to buy a ticket is the narrative around Ancelotti. Rarely for him, a player mutiny at Napoli led to his dismissal and appointment by Everton. He was supposed to be finished. He then won the Champions League with Madrid. Legend
Honigstein: Napoli vs Real Madrid at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona would be a dream to go to. All of Newcastle United’s home matches should be sensational as well.
Ballus:Manchester United vs Bayern Munich. A big European night at Old Trafford, the Harry Kane narrative and Thomas Tuchel expected to go to the next level in Europe after investment in the summer. It’s a similar thing for Erik ten Hag too. There’s loads of pressure on that game.
Rutzler: Lens’ first home game at the Stade Bollaert-Denis. The Ligue 1 side had a fantastic record at home last year, winning 18 of their 19 matches. But the atmosphere will be electric. Franck Haise has his team channeling the spirit of this old mining town, with a high-tempo style of play, and after 21 years without Champions League football, the blood will be pumping on opening night. A very tough away day for anyone.
(Enrico Locci/Getty Images)
Which group doesn’t seem glamorous but will be good to watch?
Horncastle: Group C feels novel. The Champions League group stages serve up the same old same old (City-Leipzig! Again!) So the idea of Madrid going to Braga and playing in the quarry is great. I also can’t wait to see Leonardo Bonucci’s Union Berlin take on Napoli at the Olympia Stadion. Bonucci has trash-talked Napoli in the past. He must now face Osimhen. Get the popcorn out.
Honigstein: There’s a slight lack of glamour — it’s all been hoovered up by Group F — but both Groups D and E promise plenty of entertaining football between evenly-matched opponents. Roger Schmidt’s Benfica taking on his former club Red Bull Salzburg will deliver fireworks.
Ballus: I’d go for Group D. Last year’s finalists Inter Milan will face three teams full of young exciting talent. I think Real Sociedad have a chance to go through. Keep an eye on Japanese winger Takefusa Kubo, who is some footballer.
Cortegana: It would be Group D. Benfica always play to win and try to be the protagonist in the Champions League; Inter showed what they can do in last season’s final; Salzburg are one of those teams that try to entertain and, although perhaps in Europe they are not so well known; in Spain we know how beautifully Real Sociedad play.
Rutzler: Group E should be interesting. A cool mix of styles, with Slot’s Feyenoord and Simeone’s Atletico and Sarri’s Lazio all on show. Not enough groups look competitive enough on paper — hopefully a few shock results avoid too many soulless processions.
What makes you feel happy when you look at this draw?
Horncastle: Manchester United being welcomed back to hell by Galatasaray, like in 1993. What a time to be alive that was.
Honigstein: Seeing Union Berlin take on Real Madrid and Napoli in the Champions League will never not be a wonderful thing. The east Berlin club have made it to Europe’s elite competition from the fourth division without a sugar daddy or state ownership, and they serve as an important reminder that for all the talk about football becoming a close shop, the system is still permeable enough to allow minnows to become heroes.
Ballus:Barcelona being the absolute favorites of their group — and at the same time having no excuses for failing to qualify for the knock-out stages. It’s the moment for them to start leaving past traumas behind.
Cortegana: In addition to Real Madrid’s manageable group, the competitiveness of the aforementioned Group D. We are going to see matches involving perhaps lesser names but very entertaining ones.
Rutzler: An English coach in the Champions League is a rare thing. So it’s pleasing to see Eddie Howe deservedly on the European stage. His work at Bournemouth was outstanding and didn’t always receive the plaudits it deserved. From Boscombe to Milan. Not bad.
(THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)
Which player could break through and become a star of the group stage?
Horncastle: Milan have finally balanced out their attack. It is no longer so left-sided and dependent on Rafael Leao. The impact of Pulisic has been instant but I can’t wait to see Samuel Chukwueze skate past players on the right. Tijjani Reinjders, the silky midfielder signed from AZ, is another player to follow closely.
Honigstein: It almost feels too easy to pick a Red Bull Salzburg or RB Leipzig player considering their great success in developing stars such as Erling Haaland, Sadio Mane, Christopher Nkunku and countless others. But I’ll pick one anyway. Belgian forward Lois Openda, Leipzig’s €38.5m signing from Lens, has already made a big impression in the early weeks of the Bundesliga. Watching him take on Europe’s best defences will be hugely exciting.
Ballus:Lamine Yamal. A 16-year-old winger who is not just capable of earning a spot in Barcelona’s starting line-up, but to be named MVP of La Liga games. Yamal has this kind of personality that makes him thrive in big stages, so welcome to the Champions League.
Cortegana: Harry Kane. He had several suitors this summer, but the team who really bet on him was Bayern and he will prove from the group stage that the Germans were not wrong. There is also the added bonus of him playing against Manchester United, who are long-time admirers of the striker.
Rutzler: This feels like the breakthrough season for PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery. The 17-year-old looks to be a key part of Luis Enrique’s plans this year, regularly starting games since pre-season. He is a complete midfielder who can do a bit of everything and will impress on a European stage. Forward Elye Wahi, 20, was also excellent for Montpellier last season and should stand out for Lens, too.
Name the last 16 qualifiers
Horncastle: Man City, Real Madrid, Bayern, Lens, Arsenal, PSG, Lazio, Man United, Napoli, Inter, Benfica, Milan, Leipzig, Barcelona, Porto, Atletico.
Honigstein: Bayern, Man Utd, Sevilla, Arsenal, Napoli, Real Madrid, Benfica, Inter, Lazio, Atletico, PSG, Newcastle, Man City, Leipzig, Barcelona, Porto.
Ballus: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Arsenal, PSV, Real Madrid, Napoli, Inter, Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, PSG, Milan, Manchester City, Leipzig, Barcelona and Porto.
Cortegana: Bayern, United, Arsenal, Lens, Real Madrid, Napoli, Inter, Benfica, Atletico, Lazio, PSG, Dortmund, City, Leipzig, Barcelona, Porto.
Rutzler: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Arsenal, Lens, Napoli, Real Madrid, Benfica, Inter, Atletico, Feyenoord, PSG, Newcastle, Man City, Leipzig, Barcelona, Porto.
Mark Carey’s data takeaways
Which are the hardest and easiest groups based on team strength?
Using Opta’s Power Rankings, Group E looks to be the easiest group among the four teams, with Lazio, Atletico Madrid, Feyenoord and Celtic all vying for a place in the knockout stages.
Elsewhere, Group F looks to take the title of the annual “group of death” as PSG and Borussia Dortmund had a tough draw from Pots three and four — drawing AC Milan and Newcastle United.
Interestingly, according to Opta’s Power Rankings, it is Newcastle who come out with the highest team strength despite being the least experienced on the European stage in recent years.
Do not take your eyes off Group F.
Which team are the biggest stylistic outliers in this season’s Champions League?
Union Berlin enter into the Champions League group stages for the first time in their history, and their style of play might be a surprise to some teams.
Their low-block, counter-attacking style focuses on width from their wing-backs — with 115 open-play crosses into the penalty area more than any other Bundesliga side last season.
Elsewhere, Haise’s Lens will be an interesting watch, setting up in a 3-4-3 (or 3-5-2) with a strong defensive foundation last season. Their focus on deep circulation with good off-ball running and strength in wide areas will be interesting to see, although they have lost their most valuable attacker in the summer as Openda made the move to RB Leipzig.
Who’s an up-and-coming player to keep an eye on this season?
RB Leipzig have invested their money wisely with an influx of young talent including Openda, Benjamin Sesko, Castello Lukeba, and Christoph Baumgartner — with a shrewd loan move for PSG’s Xavi Simons also catching the eye.
Simons arrived in Germany off the back of a stellar campaign for PSV Eindhoven in 2022-23, with 27 goal contributions (19 goals and eight assists) only bettered by Ajax’s Dusan Tadic.
The 20-year-old has already hit the ground running this season, netting a goal and providing two assists as Leipzig thrashed Stuttgart 5-1 in their second game of the Bundesliga campaign. The early signs suggest that he, and Openda, can fill the attacking void vacated by Dominik Szoboszlai and Christopher Nkunku.
Milan, Mbappe, Dortmund: Newcastle’s Champions League famous rivals are flawed
As Newcastle’s group was revealed, some supporters experienced a sickening lurch. One day after being drawn against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, they thought that Newcastle were now looking destined to exit two cups early. After waiting 20 years to return to the Champions League, this draw looked more like a kicking than a competition, with Newcastle the betting favourites for an early exit.
But let’s be frank. During last season’s run-in, it was the prospect of fixtures like these that meant players battled through injuries, staff pulled all-nighters, and fans rescheduled surgeries. When Joelinton screamed the Champions League anthem, it was not Serbian champions Crvena Zvezda who inhabited his waking dreams; when CEO Darren Eales repeated the chant, “Have you ever seen a Mackem in Milan”, it is not solely for alliterative reasons that the lyrics are not, “Have you ever seen a Mackem in Antwerp”.
But that is not to write off their chances on the pitch. The club has a record of making it through tough groups — back in their last campaign in 2002-03, under Sir Bobby Robson, they emerged from their pool with three consecutive wins after losing their first three games.
This Newcastle side have to believe they could do it again. Just as they have been guilty of dropping their levels against weaker opposition — such as cup exits to Cambridge United and Sheffield Wednesday under Eddie Howe — they have also raised it against the ‘Big Six’. Think of last season’s 3-3 draw over Manchester City, the win over Manchester United at St James’ Park, the demolition of Tottenham Hotspur with the top four at stake.
And while these are three excellent teams, Newcastle have the capability to hurt them.
Milan are possibly the greatest enigma, making eight additions to a much-changed squad from last season — headlined by Tonali’s shock departure. With Newcastle having beaten Milan to Botman’s signing, as well as signing the Italian giants’ captain, this is a sign of the Premier League’s power, and the new footballing order. They were overrun in midfield at times last season, even with Tonali, and much depends on how new additions Yunus Musah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Tijjani Reijnders settle — this part of the pitch is Newcastle’s great strength.
Dortmund’s mental state after choking in last season’s Bundesliga race remains to be seen. They were insipid against Bochum at the weekend, outplayed by a team expected to be relegated and fortunate to draw 1-1. They will improve, but the sale of Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid means their squad got weaker over the summer. In the last 10 years, their squads have contained world-leading young talents — Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele and Jadon Sancho — but this side has no player of that ilk. There are worries over whether head coach Edin Terzic can create an attacking structure rather than rely on counter-attacking football.
PSG appear the strongest side in Group F, and given the resources they have thrown at this competition, it is almost remarkable that the competition has eluded them. But they laboured to last season’s French title, pushed by a surprise challenge from Lens, and have lost Lionel Messi and Neymar this summer, two of this generation’s outstanding players. Having drawn their first two league matches, head coach Luis Enrique is trying to impose structure on an individualistic culture — the starkest contrast to Howe and Newcastle.
Make no mistake, this is not saying Newcastle should be expected to progress — it is still an exceptionally strong group. When the takeover happened, the lines about Kylian Mbappe walking out at St James’ Park were only partially made in jest — instead, the world’s best player will now be Newcastle’s opponent. Dortmund are filled with top-level European experience. If Milan’s squad gels, they have a higher ceiling than last season’s semi-finalists.
But it is pointing out that, just like Newcastle, these teams do have flaws and are beatable.
The main disadvantage that Howe’s side face is their lack of European experience. This is not in terms of quality of opposition — Newcastle have shown they can compete with the top Premier League sides — but in terms of scheduling, how to balance league matches with continental commitments while remaining both focused and competitive in both.
But aside from that, the strength of Newcastle’s group should not be used as an opportunity to make excuses. With the possible exception of PSG, at least for now, Newcastle are their financial equals. Their tactical system is arguably more deeply embedded by their opponents, and recruitment over the summer has provided squad-wide depth. This is a team who named a stronger bench than Manchester City when they played last month.
Newcastle earned their place in the Champions League in Europe’s toughest league, and do not need to rely on an underdog narrative. Any semblance of an inferiority complex should be swept away on the breaths of St James’ Park.
There is an oft-quoted line, originally written by Marianne Williamson, that appears in the 2005 basketball film Coach Carter as student Timo Cruz stands behind his convictions. It risks saccharine sweetness, maybe, but it also encapsulates Newcastle’s new reality.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,” he says. “Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.”
Newcastle need to take the same attitude into the Champions League. This is a side who wanted an opportunity, who wanted to be tested. These are the brightest and most exposing of lights. They cannot be afraid.
(Top photo: Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
A statement from German FA (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf read: “The committees agreed that the senior men’s national team needs a new impulse after the recent disappointing results. We need a spirit of optimism and confidence with a view to the European Championship in our own country.
“For me personally, it is one of the most difficult decisions in my tenure so far because I value Hansi Flick and his co-coaches as football experts and people. However, sporting success has top priority for the DFB. Therefore, the decision was inevitable.”
Germany were heavily defeated in Wolfsburg on Saturday (Photo: Getty Images)
Flick’s assistants, coaches Marcus Sorg and Danny Rohl, have also been relieved of their duties with immediate affect.
Rudi Voller, Hannes Wolf and Sandro Wagner will take charge of Germany’s match against France in Dortmund on Tuesday. They are aiming to find a replacement for Flick as soon as possible.
Flick underwent training with the national team on Sunday morning.
He was appointed Germany coach in August 2021 after replacing Joachim Low following the 2021 European Championships, where they were knocked out by England. He had previously enjoyed a hugely successful spell at Bayern Munich, where he won the treble in 2019-20.
The 58-year-old’s position, however, had come under scrutiny following a desperate run that stretches back to before the World Cup last year.
Germany have won just four of their last 16 matches, a run which included a group stage exit in Qatar, the second consecutive World Cup in which they had been eliminated at that period. They have also conceded 11 goals in their last five matches to leave them in crisis less than a year before they host the European Championships.
What comes next for Germany?
Analysis by Sebastian Stafford-Bloor
The first objective is to get through the game against France without suffering any more damage to the collective ego; Germany are fragile and were completely humiliated by Japan in Wolfsburg. They have the players to attain respectability and Rudi Voller remains popular with the public, so – short term – that should be achievable.
Beyond that, Germany need to settle on a new direction. One of the great flaws of Hansi Flick’s time was their inability to adopt any sort of identity. Nearly every game featured an experiment of sorts and nearly all of those failed to produce any sort of dividend. Playing Nico Schlotterbeck as a left-sided full-back was the latest and last on Saturday night.
Maybe what Germany need more than anything else is conviction. They must settle on a way of playing and find a reliable means of creating chances and preventing goals being scored against them. Flick never knew how to cure either of those issues and, eventually, that seems to have had impacted the players and corroded their self-belief.
A good change now – a start at least – would be the appointment of someone who stands for something. Nobody can immediately solve some of the technical shortcomings within this generation – no No 9, the dearth of outstanding centre-backs or full-backs – but meaningful philosophical change would help restore an identity and recapture the hearts of a country disillusioned with its football team.
Ukraine 1 England 1: Tedious tempo, quarterback Kane, Henderson fails to spark
The game — which was staged in Wroclaw, Poland due to the ongoing war in Ukraine — felt like a missed opportunity as Southgate tries to regenerate momentum after England’s fine finish to last season.
Our experts debate the big talking points from the 1-1 draw.
England’s pedestrian pace
England are moving in quite a troubling direction. Ever so slightly, they are regaining the characteristics that made previous eras such a slog.
The pitch in Poland was not a good one. It is only fair to acknowledge that. But this was still a stale performance that depended on individual quality to retain its modesty and lacked support from a cohesive system. The European Championship is still almost a year away, but disjointed England away games that follow a week of grumbling about selection patterns feels very familiar and not in a welcome way.
There is plenty of merit to Southgate’s stance regarding the players he picks. Tactical familiarity matters in international football and not everything within it should be dictated by who has and who has not had a good six weeks in the Premier League. At the same time, those ends have to justify the means; there has to be evidence that players afforded special status within this squad are worth their hall pass.
(Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
On this evidence, the critics have it right. England’s terrifying lack of confidence in defence mirrored the struggles of its centrepiece, Harry Maguire, and their physical difficulties in midfield were suggestive of the fact that one of its key components, Jordan Henderson, is an ageing player intent on seeing out his career in a second, or third-tier league.
Yes, there was more to this than that; clearly so. But in the abstract, what made people buy-in to this team was the meritocratic basis of its construction. That seems to be ebbing away.
The window to achieve something is closing all the time. At the moment, England’s biggest impediment to crossing that threshold appears to be their inability to recognise their own flaws.
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor
Kane the Quarterback is back
Once more, England reaped the benefit of Harry Kane’s vision and his long-range passing.
Kane attracts so much defensive attention and causes such defensive displacement, that it seems almost unfair that he should also have that kind of ball in his armoury.
The pass from which Kyle Walker equalised was the most vivid example of just how much value there is to that part of Kane’s game. It was not just a looping ball pass over the top, nor one knocked into an obvious space. Instead, it was well-timed enough to survive VAR inspection, but also disguised in a way that gave Vitalli Mykolenko little hope of covering Walker’s run.
This is how it broke down:
Walker signals where he wants the ball played…
Kane spots him and times the pass to perfection as Walker stays (just) onside…
Mykolenko knows he is in trouble as he realises Walker is behind him…
Too late, he is stranded as Walker curves his run to collect the ball and now just needs a good first touch…
… and that is exactly what he gets, allowing him to finish with ease.
Condensed and turned into a YouTube compilation, you could make the case that Kane is a world-class player without even featuring one of his goals; his quarterback-style playmaking is really that good.
This evening it was also timely. England looked a little lost at 1-0 down and their equaliser owed everything to attacking diversity and an element of surprise. Particularly so on a bad pitch, and against a team who were proving a physical and technical match for them, and who were enlivened by an emotional crowd.
Nevertheless, whenever Kane drops deep, complaints follow. Even now. Even when it is obvious that the trait is a response to the state of a game and his willingness to adapt to become relevant within it.
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor
Henderson’s ho-hum night
All eyes were on Jordan Henderson after his controversial move to Saudi Arabia and the, in many people’s eyes, inflammatory interview he gave The Athletic earlier this week.
It was a distraction Gareth Southgate, who was asked more questions on Henderson in the build-up than any other subject, could have done without, but a man as intelligent as him will have surely have anticipated a reaction when he called Henderson up.
There was no booing of Henderson from the away end and no obvious protests either, but Jill Scott reflected the feelings of many when she said on Channel 4 before the match: “In terms of the morals and values, I’m a really big Jordan Henderson fan, he’s a Sunderland lad and really hard-working. But for me, the fact that I couldn’t go and watch him represent his team, that’s what doesn’t sit well for me. Football for me is for everyone and the fact that I don’t feel like I would be welcome (to watch him play), that’s a very sad situation.”
(Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
After all the talk, what of the football? How did Henderson play? Well, he was typically busy and aggressive, he made a couple of important clearances in his own box and he popped up sporadically in the Ukraine third without doing anything of real note, with one shot comfortably clearing the bar. His fitness levels — which will come under scrutiny in the coming months depending on the pace of the Saudi Arabian league — were fine, and he was still darting around in the closing stages.
Like the team, it was all a bit meh, very safe, nothing to really write home about.
Basically, leaving the Saudi argument aside, whatever you thought of Henderson before the match (i.e. a good team player doing the dirty work for others to thrive, or a bit of a jack-of-all trades, master of none), you won’t have changed your mind after this.
Tim Spiers
Bellingham-Maddison axis didn’t work – but was worth a go
As is being shown by Real Madrid’s early season displays, the key to extracting the most from Jude Bellingham is to allow him freedom. He has to able to roam and interpret within a game and Carlo Ancelotti’s privilege is to have midfielders who allow that to happen — and without the team’s structure suffering.
For England the quality is not the same, but the selection of James Maddison did help to create a similar dynamic. By playing Maddison on the left of midfield and Bellingham ahead of him in the attacking line — and then allowing them to switch throughout the game — England always possessed quality of distribution in that area.
Bellingham is a superior player with broader ability, but Maddison has more similarities with him then, say, a wide midfielder or a more vertical, driving midfielder like Phil Foden.
Jude Bellingham (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Within the first 15 minutes, Bellingham had been spotted in central midfield, wide on the left, in the No 10 corridor behind Harry Kane and at the base of England’s midfield. Maddison rotated in much the same way and yet England always retained that precious ability on the ball in deep positions.
It was a good idea, it just did not work that well. Bellingham probably tried too hard to bend the game to his will. At times, Maddison seemed to have too many options around him and too often made the worst decision available. Both had trouble with their touch and with the pitch.
But that’s okay; nights like tonight are necessary. If England are to see the best of Bellingham, then they will have to suffer some risks of discovery.
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor
Nervous Guehi
With John Stones injured — and with Eric Dier, Conor Coady, Tyrone Mings and Ben White all unlikely to get back in the squad before the Euros for one reason or another — England’s defence needs new faces, especially if Harry Maguire is barely going to get a minute of football at Manchester United.
His passing was very safe and he didn’t drive forward in possession or show the calmness or composure he does at Palace. Guehi had a 98 per cent pass accuracy in the first half but only a couple of the 78 passes he made were forward, the rest were sideways or backwards and it was similar for Maguire, reflecting a tempo that was often far too sedate, albeit Ukraine defended deep and well.
As for the goal, this was the first shot on target England have conceded since they beat Italy 2-1 in March, let alone the first goal (2-0 v Ukraine, 4-0 at Malta and 7-0 v North Macedonia since then) and no one really escaped blame as Ukraine doubled up down the right and no one tracked Zinchenko’s burst into the box. Maguire and Guehi almost ended up colliding as they both got nowhere near cutting the ball out.
At least they were untroubled in the second period.
Tim Spiers
At least the occasion was memorable
For a game played at a neutral venue, this was some occasion. It is estimated that around 250,000 Ukrainians have settled in Wroclaw since the war started last year and many of them helped pack out the 45,000 capacity Tarczynski Arena.
There were, as ever, a few thousand travelling England fans, most of whom had set up camp in the city’s beautiful Market Square for the previous 24 hours, all in fine voice and with no trouble reported.
The stadium, a couple of miles out of town, was a sea of yellow and blue and to all intents and purposes this was a home game.
(Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
It was played in a respectable atmosphere (the Ukraine fans applauded the England players out for their warm-up and there was absolutely no booing of either anthem) which was no surprise given the UK’s support for Ukraine during the war and the emotional occasion these teams played out in March at Wembley. Southgate also spoke politely and courteously (not that you would expect anything less) about Ukraine before the match.
The ‘home’ fans generated a terrific, vociferous noise with an incessant chant of “Oo-kry-ee-naa” throughout and they almost lifted the roof of the place for Oleksandr Zinchenko’s goal.
Tim Spiers
(Top photo: Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
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US Men vs Esbekistan Sat 5:30 pm, Tues vs Oman 8:30 pm on TNT
Excited to see our US boys – as the US plays friendlies Sat and Tues while Europe has Euro’s Qualifications, Africa has the African Cup and South America does World Cup Quals over the next week. Can’t wait to see Paredes and Cardoso and Malik Tillman along with newcomers Drake Callender & Ben Cremaschi from Inter Miami. It will be interesting to see if GB starts the regulars or mixes in some of the kids in the starting line-up. I like Tillman or Johnny Cardoso to slide into the midfield while Adams is still out hurt, while I think Scally slides in on the right back slot as he’s starting in Germany. Here’s my line-up for Sat evening.
Of course Pulisic has been killing it for AC Milan since arriving – he has 2 goals and an assist and is a vital cog in the attack – Milan sits tied with Inter at the top of the table in Italy after their huge win over Roma and Mourino.
DEFENDERS (9): Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg), Tim Ream (Fulham FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham FC), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional), Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin), Folarin Balogun (Arsenal FC), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Tim Weah (Juventus)
US Ladies – Ertz & Rapinoe to Play last games Sept 21 in Cincy/Sept 24th in Chicago
Julie Ertz announces she will retire from soccer at the Sept 21st game in Cincy vs World Cup Quarterfinalist South Africa. Tix are still avail for that game down in Cincy on a Thursday night 7:30 pm.
Indy Eleven defeated The Miami FC, 1-0, on Saturday night at home to extend their unbeaten streak to six games. The Indy win moves the team to11W-9L-8D, and moves them clearly into playoff contention. Next, Indy Eleven will travel to New Mexico United for a 9:00 p.m. ET kickoff on Friday, September 15 on ESPN+ for the first game of their two-game road trip. The next home game for Indy Eleven is Sunday, September 24 against Rio Grande Valley Toros FC.
At 6-0-1 the Carmel Boys are up to #1 in the Nation now on Max Preps and tops in the state while the Carmel ladies are #2 in the state, #6 in the Nation at 8-0-2. The Boys host Pack the House night Friday night and all Carmel FC and Carmel Dad’s Club players get in free when you wear your jersey.
Congrats to the 2011 Girls Gold Team Premier Cup Tourney Champs. Great job ladies and coaches (Left Matt Sinex, Right Paul Cullington. Good luck to all the Carmel FC teams in Pike Fest this weekend – see you on the fields.
Former Carmel FC player Ellie Cirrincione after her 2nd assist of the season for Huntington University. Ellie, a sophomore, is the daughter of former longtime Carmel FC and Current Carmel High School Freshman Coach Jen Cirrincione.
GAMES ON TV
Fri, Sept 8 – Euro Qualifying
12 noon FS2 Georgia vs Spain
12 noon beIN sport Egypt vs Ethiopia African Cup
2:45 pm FS2 Turkey vs Armenia
7 pm Uraguay vs Chile
Sat, Sept 9 – Euro Qualifying
9 am FS2 Azerbaijan vs Belgium
12 noon FS2 Ukraine vs England
2:45 pm Fox Soccer+ Romania vs Israel
5:30 pm TNT, Telemundo USMNT vs Ezbekistan
7:30 pm MLS Pass ATV Inter Miami vs Sporting KC
8:45 pm Apple TV Minn United vs New England
10 pm TUDN Mexico vs Austraiia
10:30 pm Apple TV MLS Portland vs LAFC
Sun, Sept 10 – Euro Qualifying
9 am FS2 Kazahstan vs Norhern Ireland
12 noon FS2 Finland vs Denmark
2:45 pm FS2 Albania vs Poland
3 pm beIN sport Gambia vs Congo
10 pm El Salvador (Eric Zavaleta) vs T&T
8 pm Apple TV MLS LA Galaxy vs St Louis City
Mon, Sept 11 – Euro Qualifying
12 noon FS2 Armenia vs Croatia
2:45 pm FS2 Portugal vs Luxembourg
Tues, Sept 12 –
12 noon FS2 Spain vs Cyprus
2:45 pm FS2 Scotland vs England
8:30 pm TNT, Tele USMNT vs Oman
10 pm Peru vs Brazil
Fri, Sept 15
2:30 pm ESPN+ Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen
3 pm ESPN+ Champ Southampton vs Leicester city
7:30 pm Para+ Racing Louisville vs Houston Dash NWSL
9 pm ESPN+ New Mexico vs Indy 11
Sat, Sept 16
9 am Para+ Juve vs Lazio
12 noon Para+ Inter Milan vs AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah)
Thur, Sept 21
7:30 pm TNT, Uni, Cock USWNT vs South Africa Cincy Ertz Last Game
Sun, Sept 24
5:30 pm TNT, Uni, Cock USWNT vs South Africa Chicago Rapinoe last game
Can Berhalter really lead the USMNT to its best World Cup?
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentSep 6, 2023, 09:44 AM ET ESPN FC
In Gregg Berhalter’s first big interview since he was rehired as U.S. men’s national team manager, he put down a lofty marker for the 2026 World Cup. His goal, he told Vanity Fair, “is for us to go to a round that no U.S. team has ever gone to.”Wishing for it is one thing, but getting there will be a massive undertaking.Technically, reaching a new frontier at the World Cup would mean reaching the final, given that the U.S. made it to the semifinals of the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1930, where it was routed by Argentina 6-1. If one limits his statement to the modern era — loosely defined as starting in 1990, when the U.S. men qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 40 years — that means reaching the semifinals.For the sake of argument, let’s say that was what Berhalter meant, and reaching the semifinals is certainly possible for this U.S. team. It’s arguably as talented a group as the USMNT has ever had, and it’s not unheard of for a wild card to reach the semifinals of a World Cup. Turkey and South Korea did it in 2002. Morocco did it last December in Qatar. The U.S. will also benefit in 2026 from what will undoubtedly be some vociferous home support at American stadiums.
There is certainly nothing wrong with Berhalter stating such a lofty aim — it fits with the culture of the team and the country. But possible doesn’t mean likely. A number of things will have to line up for the U.S. to reach that goal, some of which Berhalter can’t control, such as player health and a favorable path through the tournament.So, the question remains: What can Berhalter do now to give the U.S. a better chance of getting there?
Berhalter said he has met with U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker to work on a plan to move the team forward. Yet this query is especially pertinent when it comes to the team’s attack.Reaching the round of 16 in Qatar, where the U.S. fell 3-1 to the Netherlands, was a respectable showing, but it was not a tournament in which the Americans showcased a sufficient level of attacking prowess. There was little to quibble about in terms of the U.S. team’s approach work — the U.S. averaged 187.75 touches in the attacking third per 90 minutes in the tournament, good for sixth place among World Cup teams — but in terms of creating quality chances, the U.S. was lacking.
The U.S. team’s xG, or expected goals, per 90 minutes of actual playing time (which includes stoppage time) was 0.91, a mark that ranked 22nd in the tournament among all 32 teams, and 12th out of the 16 teams that reached the knockout stages. The fact that the U.S. under-performed that mark by scoring just 0.67 goals per 90 minutes of actual playing time didn’t help. We’re talking about a small sample size against some of the world’s best teams, but even when the eye test is applied, the U.S. couldn’t be confused with an offensive powerhouse.
When asked how Berhalter and the staff will move the U.S. attack forward, assistant coach B.J. Callaghan said one way to do that is play a variety of opponents.
“I think each challenge that the opponent brings is going to dictate sort of how you can create chances,” he said on a conference call with reporters. “So the more experience that we can give these core group of players playing against a diverse schedule of opponents, I think will teach us and give us ideas on how to advance that attack against different types of setups.”
With no World Cup qualification for the U.S. during this cycle, the schedule is bound to be less Concacaf-heavy. That will be in stark contrast to the 2022 cycle — from the start of 2019 onward the U.S. played 43 of its 56 matches against Concacaf opponents. In particular, the U.S. team’s participation in next year’s Copa America, against the best of South America, will offer the kind of competition outside of the USMNT’s home region that it rarely sees.
But that will take the Americans only so far. Of greater benefit will be a couple of personnel switches — including some new players coming in and moving familiar names into new roles.The arrival of Folarin Balogun amounts to an immediate upgrade in the striker position. The expectation is that the threat provided by his mobility, and runs off the ball will open up space for the likes of Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah, and his 21 goals in Ligue 1 last year with Stade de Reims shows he’s capable of scoring in a highly competitive league (though he did underperform his xG last season of 27.2). A move to a bigger club in AS Monaco is the next step in his development.Jeff Carlisle reflects on the notable additions and absences to the USMNT roster heading into the September international window.That said, Balogun alone won’t solve the USMNT’s issue of creating quality chances. In the aftermath of the defeat to the Dutch at the World Cup, Berhalter said, “We don’t have a Memphis Depay right now, who is scoring goals in the Champions League, and playing at Barcelona and has been an international for years and years.” The U.S. also didn’t have a Denzel Dumfries, who had a goal and two assists on that night, either.
The U.S. still doesn’t, but there is upside to the attack by positioning Gio Reyna in a central attacking role, instead of out wide, where he was for almost the entirety of the 2022 cycle. It was a move that Callaghan made during the Concacaf Nations League last June, and the U.S. looked much more dynamic in attack.
The next step is to see how it works against higher quality opponents, but even that seemingly obvious move carries with it some uncertainty.
First, there is the thawing of the relationship between Berhalter and Reyna that needs to take place. It’s easy to think they’ll agree to put the past aside and move on, but what transpired, and as public as the fallout was, will leave scars for both individuals. The extent to which healing will take place is still an unknown at this point. Berhalter said recently he still hasn’t spoken to Reyna since the ordeal unfolded.
Then there is the question of whether Berhalter will actually move Reyna to a central attacking role once the latter is back to full fitness. During the past week’s conference call with reporters in which the current roster was announced, Berhalter called the midfield triumvirate of Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah “a tremendous engine that we were able to take advantage of” during the past cycle. Reading the tea leaves, it doesn’t sound like continuing with that trio in midfield — when they’re all healthy, it should be noted — is something that Berhalter has moved on from just yet.
Switching the team’s formation to a 3-5-2 could alleviate that issue in that it would allow Reyna to play as a second forward off Balogun. It suits some of the team’s other personnel as well. Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest and Weah have the skill-set to play as wing backs, and Chris Richards, Miles Robinson and Tim Ream are comfortable enough on the ball to play in a three-man back line.”For us, I think it’s more about just the general philosophy of how we want to be playing, and what we’re trying to do,” Berhalter said. “We want to be aggressive. We want to be high pressing. We want to be able to control the ball. And I won’t really get caught up on the formation. If it means that one can’t [play a certain way] because this is the personnel that we have, we need to play with three in the back, then we’ll do that.”I think that’s the beauty of the time between camps: you have the opportunity to plan what’s most effective for this given opponent. Ideally, I’d like to go into the next World Cup having a back three system and a back four system in place.”
Such an approach would require Reyna to enjoy something that’s has eluded him for much of his professional career: an extended period of durability and health. And even if he can, it might not be enough. Other players like Adams and Pulisic will need to stay healthy as well, all of which speaks to the small margins that separate success and failure at the international level.Progress is also rarely linear. Expectations were high back in 2006 coming off the U.S. run to the quarterfinals in 2002, but a difficult draw that saw the U.S. grouped with the Czech Republic, Ghana and eventual champions Italy — coupled with key players like DaMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan and John O’Brien not reaching the heights of 2002 — saw the U.S. get eliminated in the group stage.This U.S. team is deeper now than that 2002 edition, but the rest of the world hasn’t been standing still either. So, while Berhalter’s stated goal is clear, the pathway isn’t. The onus will be on Berhalter to find a way.
U.S. Soccer names Marko Mitrović coach of U-23 men’s national team for 2024 Olympics
Marko Mitrović has been named coach of the U.S. under-23 men’s youth national team for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, U.S. Soccer announced Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:
The 2024 Games will mark the American men’s first appearance at the Olympics since 2008 in Beijing.
Mitrović first joined U.S. Soccer in April 2022 as the under-19 men’s youth national team coach.
Michael Nsien, who has led the U-16 squad since November 2022, will replace Mitrović as the U-19 coach.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Who is Mitrović?
Finally back in the Olympics for the first time since 2008, the United States men’s soccer program has finally, officially, named a U-23 coach ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Mitrović will be well familiar with the player pool as he joined U.S. Soccer 15 months ago as the U-19 coach. His first U-23 camp will kick off next month during the October international break.
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The 45-year-old was an assistant for Serbia’s U-20 World Cup-winning side in 2015 and then spent four seasons as an assistant for the Chicago Fire under Veljko Panuovic. Mitrović also served as an assistant to interim USMNT coaches Anthony Hudson and B.J. Callaghan this spring and summer. — Bogert
Top players for the squad
Crafting an Olympic squad is tricky. Clubs aren’t mandated to release players and often the top age-eligible players have already graduated into the senior national team. Federations can also call three overage players to the roster. Senior USMNT regulars like Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun, Yunus Musah, Ricardo Pepi and Joe Scally are all eligible, but it remains to be seen which (if any) will be called and released.
Likely options behind the established stars include standouts from the previous U-20 World Cup cycle, including Chelsea’s Gaga Slonina, Frankfurt’s Paxten Aaronson, Philadelphia’s Jack McGlynn, Wolfburg’s Kevin Paredes, Atlanta’s Caleb Wiley, Salt Lake’s Diego Luna, LA Galaxy’s Jalen Neal, Benfica’s Josh Wynder and Hajduk Split’s Roksas Pukstas. Aaronson wasn’t released for the World Cup itself.
New York’s John Tolkin, though not eligible for the previous U-20 World Cup, is likely to be among the first-choice options for the Olympics. The same goes for Taylor Booth, Malik Tillman and Bryan Reynolds if released.
Other players have established themselves in the picture this year as well, like New England’s Noel Buck, Orlando City’s Duncan McGuire, Venezia’s Tanner Tessmann and Columbus’ Aidan Morris. — Bogert
What they’re saying
U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said Mitrović “was instrumental in guiding our rising talents” during his time with the U-19s.“We’re looking forward to him now leading our Under-23 Men’s Youth National Team as this age group provides these players with an incredible opportunity to continue their development by facing elite opposition on the world stage and competing for an Olympic world title,” Crocker said. “We’re also confident that Michael is ready to lead our U-19 age group, a critical level for our young players aiming to take the next step in their careers for club and country.”
“It’s been an honor working for U.S. Soccer and I’m tremendously proud of the opportunity to lead the USA at the Olympics,” Mitrović said. “I’ve gotten to see first-hand the high-potential players rising through our development system and I’m excited for them to represent their country proudly on such an important stage. The Olympics will be a special platform for our players and I can’t wait to continue the preparations.”
Mitrovic hired to lead the Olympic team and faces inherent challenges building his team
U.S. Soccer has announced the head coach for the men’s 2024 Olympic team and it will go to Marko Mitrovic, who previously was the U.S. U-19 head coach. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta writes about the hire and the task at hand for the Serbian-American coach.
BY BRIAN SCIARETTAPOSTED SEPTEMBER 07, 2023 2:05 AM
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THE UNITED STATES U-23 Men’s Olympic head coaching vacancy has been filled as U.S. Soccer formally announced that it has hired Marko Mitrovic for the position. The Belgrade native previously served as the head coach of the U.S. U-19 team.
Mitrovic, 45, rose through the coaching ranks working extensively with Veljko Paunovic. He was Paunovic’s assistant in 2015 with the Serbian U-20 team when it won the U-20 World Cup (narrowly defeating the U.S. team on penalties in the quarterfinals). He then was Paunovic’s assistant with the Chicago Fire and then Reading. In April 2022, he was hired as the U.S. U-19 head coach.
This will be the team’s first time in the Olympics since 2008. The 2012 failed to qualify under Caleb Porter. The 2016 team failed to qualify under Andi Herzog, and the 2020 team failed to qualify under Jason Kreis. This team qualified by virtue of the U.S. U-20 team’s performance at the CONCACAF Championships in 2022, led by coach Mikey Varas who is now a USMNT assistant.
In addition, U.S. Soccer announced that U.S. U-16 coach Michael Nsien would be elevated to the U-19 head coaching position.
The age limit is for players born in 2001 or later. Essentially these will be players from the pool of the 2023 U-23 team and the 2021 U-20 team (which had its cycle canceled due to Covid).
Releases for players are completely voluntary.
Teams will be allowed to select three overage players, as has been historically allowed.
The roster size will be 22 players, including three goalkeepers. Historically it had been 18 but FIFA expanded it to 22 for the games in Tokyo and will continue with that in Paris.
The tournament will take place from July 24 through August 10.
Venues will be in Paris, Nantes, Bordeaux, Lyon, Saint Etienne, Nice and Marseille.
CLUB COORDINATION IS KEY
Mitrovic will have several challenging tasks ahead of him. For one, the Olympics is not a tournament where player releases are mandatory. Typically, releases are more difficult the older the age group because players assume bigger roles within clubs as they get older. As a result, U-23 releases are harder than U-20 releases, U-20 releases are harder than U-17 releases.Mitrovic will not have a lot of time with his group either. Gregg Berhalter said there are U-23 camps set for October and November. In 2024, there will likely be camps in January and March before final preparations in the summer.
Mitrovic will most likely have to be very proactive with engaging with clubs to see which players are in positions where they will be released. Are some players at clubs which won’t even consider a release? Are some players likely to move in January or next summer and it’s completely up in the air? Are some clubs taking a wait and see approach to releases?
USMNT COORDINATION
Then, Mitrovic will also have to coordinate his roster plans with USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter because there will be significant overlap in the player pools for both teams. The U.S. team, of course, hosts and plays in the Copa America earlier in summer 2024 and that takes priority. It is hard to see any overlap between the rosters for the Olympics and the Copa America.Age-eligible players like Giovanni Reyna and Yunus Musah will almost certainly be focused on the Copa America and not the Olympics because they are big players with the U.S. team when healthy. But there are a significant number of players who could play with the USMNT but would be backups. If they were with the U.S. U-23 team, however, they would be starters. Some of the many examples would be Joe Scally, Kevin Paredes, Paxten Aaronson, Tanner Tessman, Ben Cremaschi, Cade Cowell, Johnny Cardoso, Taylor Booth, or even Ricardo Pepi.
Mitrovic will have to coordinate with Berhalter as to which players are focused with the USMNT and which players are available for the U-23 team.As a side note, two top age-eligible American players are not allowed to participate – Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun.
FIFA has a rule that states: “A player who receives a favorable change of association decision is ineligible to participate for their new [national team] in any competition (qualifiers or finals) in which they already represented their [former national team].” Tillman and Balogun represented Germany and England, respectively, in U-21 games that were part of UEFA Olympic qualifying. That prohibits them from playing for the United States in the 2024 Olympics.
OVERAGE PLAYERS
Once Mitrovic understands his player pool for players born 2001 and younger, he will have to decide on overage players based on where there are weaknesses from the age-eligible group. The overage players will also be looked to provide leadership. Release issues will be especially difficult for older players but typically this group is chosen from players who are established in their clubs and can miss preseason or midseason games.
Historically, the overage spots have been used on a goalkeeper, a central defender, and a striker. This team, however, could be in great shape for goalkeeping from young players. Central defense, however, is thin and two picks could be used there. Center forward is also a likely pick given the growing number of older options.
BOTTOM LINE
U.S. Soccer made a smart and pragmatic pick with Mitrovic. He is coming from within the organization, but he’s also done well with the U.S. U-19 team and was popular with the players. His teams generally achieved solid results and prepared players well for the U-20 team.
Given that the tournament is less than a year away and there will only be limited camps, Mitrovic has the benefit of knowing the player pool given his work with U.S. Soccer.But it’s a great opportunity for Mitrovic to lead the team in the Olympics for the first time in 16 years. Historically, the Olympics have been a very useful tournament for the men’s side of U.S. Soccer in terms of bridging the gap between youth and senior national team levels. Many players have used the Olympic cycle to springboard from being part-time USMNT players to becoming members of the team’s core.In 2000, Josh Wolff, Landon Donovan, and John O’Brien went from being occasionally used young USMNT players and into a core group for the 2022 World Cup. In 2008, Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber, Charlie Davies, Stuart Holden, Jozy Altidore, and Brad Guzan all took on bigger roles within the USMNT after the Olympics in Beijing.If Mitrovic is successful, we could see many players he works with in the coming months take on important roles with the USMNT as it prepares to host the World Cup in 2026.
Can Kristoffer Lund challenge Antonee Robinson for USMNT’s left-back role?
He is a Dane who played in Sweden before moving to Italy and becoming American.
Kristoffer Lund’s story sounds like a riddle. Now, he hopes he can be the answer to Gregg Berhalter’s search for competition in the USMNT left-back slot.
The 21-year-old formally switched international allegiance last week, having represented Denmark through the youth international ranks.
He has a Danish father and an American mother, allowing him to choose the U.S. as the country he wants to represent at senior level.
It is all change for Lund. He left Swedish club Hacken last month to join Palermo in Serie B and was included for the first time on the USMNT roster for the team’s forthcoming friendlies against Uzbekistan and Oman in St Louis and Minnesota this month.
“He’s been on our radar for the last two years,” Berhalter said. “We’ve been watching him play for his club, but before the last World Cup, I just didn’t think he was ready. Since then, he’s gone on to win a Swedish league, he’s got the transfer (to Palermo), and we think he could fill the void that we had at the left-back position, in terms of our depth.”
Lund, right, in action for new club Palermo (Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)
Berhalter said that while Antonee Robinson has been the clear starter and a “fantastic player” for the U.S., “no one’s really grabbed that second position and we’re seeing what he can do and if he can challenge for that spot”.
Truly challenging Robinson, a regular in big USMNT games for the past five years, is no easy task.
With his surging runs down the left, impressive attacking output and growing defensive nous refined by the experience gained from Fulham’s assured return to the Premier League last season, he is Berhalter’s clear first choice.
But Lund will hope he can do enough to prove himself an able deputy for the man five years his senior.
According to the Total Football Analysis website, he is “an attack-minded full-back who looked eager to drive forward and played some excellent crosses into the opposition box”. It notes his strength during build-up play and ability to “do a decent job of carrying the ball forward”.
“Lund seemed fairly sound on the defensive front, although he does show some frailties now and then,” the site’s analysis (based on tracking since 2022) adds. “He can be a little sluggish to close down opponents in the vicinity of his box, while he also gave away some cheap fouls on the flank. Despite this, he was excellent during most of his one-on-one duels and looked to make the most of his challenge inside the opposition half, which negated the danger of conceding free kicks close to his box.”
Then there is The Athletic’s analysis, which further underlines Lund’s appetite for getting forward as an attacking threat — highlighted in the Smarterscout pizza chart below.
Smarterscout gives players’ games a series of ratings from zero and 99, a bit like the player ratings in the FIFA video games but powered by real data and advanced analytics. These ratings relate to how often a player performs a given stylistic action (for example, volume of shots per touch), or how effective they are at it (for example, how well they progress the ball upfield) compared with others playing in their position.
His standout numbers are his 99 score for receptions in the opponents’ box, showing how he likes to get forward compared to other full-backs (although, this is an exceptional jump on seasons before, when he scored 50 and 39), so a larger sample size of games for his new club Palermo would be required before assessing just how consistently attacking he is. Lund has played eight games this season – six European qualifying ties for Hacken and two Serie B fixtures.
In his two years in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s top flight, Lund registered 12 assists in 59 games.
His numbers suggest he is quite involved in build-up play (link-up volume of 84). Defensively, he is moderately active for such an attacking full-back (defending intensity of 45) but the data suggests he could be exposed.
Lund is on record about how he hopes to bolster that aspect of his game through the move to Italy.
“I’m here to improve and become a better player,” he told Italy 24 at his official unveiling in Sicily, the Italian island on which Palermo play. “Italy is famous for tactics and for the defensive phase.
“I have strength and speed and Palermo will help me improve the tactical part. I’m ready, I feel I’ve played well in Sweden and I’m in good shape. It’s difficult to find space in such a competitive team, but I want to prove my worth.”
He could just as well have been referencing the task he faces at international level, too, with that surprise call-up offering the previously little-known defender a chance to carve a place in the squad before the Copa America next summer and a World Cup on home soil in three years.
But if there were any nerves or jet lag this week as Lund tried to acclimatise before training sessions with Berhalter’s squad, a calming nightcap would not have been on the agenda. His nickname at Hacken may have been Tuborg, after the Danish beer brand, but that is as far as it goes.
“I’m not a big beer person,” Lund said. “I think it’s for my Danish — and then we’re good at drinking beer in Denmark.”
At least, as he settles in with his new USMNT team-mates, he has a track record for good first impressions.
“An opportunity arose in a young and inexperienced left-back from Denmark who had just changed clubs,” Hacken’s sporting director Martin Ericsson, told the club’s official website.
“After a meeting with the player, we made the decision to make the transfer rather quickly.”
Lund will hope his early exchanges this week with his latest new coach have a similarly convincing effect.
Greg O’Keeffe is a senior writer for The Athletic covering US soccer players in the UK & Europe. Previously he spent a decade at the Liverpool Echo covering news and features before an eight-year stint as the paper’s Everton correspondent; giving readers the inside track on Goodison Park, a remit he later reprised at The Athletic. He has also worked as a news and sport journalist for the BBC and hosts a podcast in his spare time.
Inter Miami & Lionel Messi: Can they make MLS Cup Playoffs?
We’re talking about reaching the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, a feat that’s looking more likely by the day (though by no means is guaranteed) as the GOAT has North America by storm since his mid-July debut.
Whether you’re an MLS expert or experiencing MLS for the first time (welcome!), let’s break down perhaps the question shaping the stretch run.
What are the playoffs? How do they work?
While most professional soccer leagues crown their champion via the overall table/standings, MLS utilizes a postseason tournament called the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
The top nine teams in each conference – Eastern and Western – qualify for the playoffs. Seeds get locked in after Decision Day, aka the last regular-season matchday on Oct. 21.
Once the bracket is set, teams compete to make MLS Cup presented by Audi on December 9 at a to-be-determined stadium (highest remaining seed hosts).
What do Miami & Messi need to do?
IMCF must climb to ninth place (or higher) in the Eastern Conference table, which would see them compete in the Wild Card round (held Oct. 25-26).
Messi & Co. have nine games remaining to make up an eight-point gap, surpassing nine teams along the way.
Current projections indicate the club will need roughly 18 points (six wins) from the remaining 27 available.
Helping Miami, they have anywhere from one to three games in hand on teams above them. That affords them some room for error, but not much. Somewhere around 43 points is historically good enough for ninth place (a playoff spot in this year’s expanded field).
International breaks and the jampacked nature of the schedule could hurt Miami, though. Head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino has noted Messi could miss up to three games as well, so depth will be tested.
Miami have gone 2W-0L-1D in league play with their new-look roster, a pace that may just see postseason dreams come true.
Of their nine remaining regular-season games, five are home at DRV PNK Stadium and four are away.
All but one match is against an Eastern Conference team, creating a bunch of so-called six-pointers (i.e. big swings in the standings).
Atlanta United away (Sept. 16), Orlando City SC away (Sept. 24) and FC Cincinnati home (Oct. 7) project as their hardest tests.
What happens if Miami & Messi qualify for playoffs?
They would likely slot into the Eastern Conference Wild Card matchup, either as a No. 8 or No. 9 seed. It would be a sensational turnaround, as Miami sat last (15th place) in the Eastern Conference before Messi joined and needed to make up a 12-point gap.
Check out the playoff schedule below, with a new Round One Best-of-3 series entering the mix in 2023.
Wild Card matches: October 25-26
Round One Best-of-3 series: October 28-November 12
Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals: November 25-December 3
After the 34-game regular season (17 home, 17 away), the team with the most points is awarded the Supporters’ Shield. Note: This is different from MLS Cup and rewards longevity rather than the tournament-style playoffs.
Both trophies – MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield – have their merits, but the league title tends to carry more weight historically and in fans’ eyes. It’s also quite difficult to complete a Supporters’ Shield-MLS Cup double; only eight squads in league history have accomplished that.
Messi Mania goes to Hollywood | Messi Rewind presented by adidas
Messi Rewind presented by adidas has all the sights and sounds from Messi’s two-assist performance in Los Angeles.
The odds aren’t in Miami’s favor – FiveThirtyEight, based on their statistical model, gives them a 4% chance of making the playoffs.
But the club’s transformational summer window – headlined by Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba – has turned them from looking destined for last place to storming up the table. Some stats that only bolster Miami’s case:
Record with Messi: 7W-0L-4D across all competitions in regulation time, with the four draws turning into PK wins
Messi’s production: 11 goals & 8 assists in 11 games
All that’s to say it’s a daunting task. But one or two losses, especially while players are away on international duty, wouldn’t be a death knell.
U.S. women’s national team legend Julie Ertz will play her final international match with the squad against South Africa on Sept. 21 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, U.S. Soccer announced Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:
Defensive midfielders don’t always get a lot of credit, but Ertz made sure everyone realized how important the role was during the 2019 World Cup. Her shift from center back to DM to center back again for this World Cup showed just how crucial she was to this era of the USWNT, and provided one of the bright spots for the team in New Zealand and Australia alongside Naomi Girma.
Her legacy goes beyond the senior team though, as one of a few players who also won a youth World Cup with the under-20s in 2012. Best known for her physicality, her ability to shut down opposing players with a perfect tackle and her raging competitiveness, Ertz reflects this closing era of the USWNT’s dominance and ruthlessness — in all the best ways. While her return for the 2023 World Cup was a surprise one, her retirement had felt more imminent than most following the last Olympics. — Linehan
What Ertz said
“I expected to just walk away after retirement, but to have the opportunity to say goodbye to my teammates and the fans one last time is something special that many players dream of,” Ertz said in a statement. “I wasn’t expecting this honor so I’m very thankful to (interim head coach) Twila (Kilgore) and to U.S. Soccer for giving me the chance to close this chapter of my life with those who have made this journey so memorable.”
Backstory
Ertz, 31, has recorded 20 goals in her career with Team USA. She was named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year in 2017 and 2019, and helped lead the USWNT to World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. She also spent eight seasons in the NWSL, playing seven years with the Chicago Red Stars and most recently appearing with Angel City FC in 2023.
Ertz was sidelined for 18 months following the 2021 Olympics due to injuries and the birth of her son, but came back in time to play in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. She was named to the USWNT roster for April camp, less than a year after giving birth, and played every minute of the Americans’ four matches in New Zealand and Australia over the summer.
Following captain Becky Sauerbrunn’s injury that kept her off the World Cup squad, Ertz, known as a world-class midfielder, was tasked with playing center back for the Americans. After the team’s loss to Sweden in the round of 16, Ertz alluded to her impending retirement.
“I think for me it’s just emotional because it’s probably my last game ever being to able to have the honor to wear this crest, so I think it’s just … it’s just tough,” Ertz said. “I feel like it’s just an emotional time. It absolutely sucks. Penalties are the worst. But it’s an honor to represent this team, and I’m excited for the future of the girls.”
It’s a nervy time for USWNT supporters. Vlatko Andonovski is out as head coach, Kate Markgraf is out as general manager — and there’s not much else actually known about the strategic plan for the women’s program under the guidance of U.S. Soccer technical director Matt Crocker at this time. Last week, we asked for your thoughts and opinions around the team following their round of 16 exit in the World Cup and your level of concern about the NWSL, youth national teams and more. Over 2,000 of you voted, and plenty of you had even more to say when we asked for your thoughts in your words. Here are the results of our USWNT survey.
So who’s the next USWNT head coach? We’re probably not going to know the answer for at least a month or two. Unfortunately, the leading choice for most of you — Sarina Wiegman — is very unlikely to depart her role with the Lionesses. And despite the loss in the final, her name is being linked to plenty of roles.
“I’m staying out of it,” Wiegman said last week. “I’ve heard it (from the press officer) but no, I’m with England and I’m really happy with England, and I have a contract until 2025.”
Laura Harvey, who has U.S. Soccer experience and just signed a contract extension with OL Reign, earned 27.5% of the votes, and 21.7% of those who took the survey either left this one blank or wrote in a name. Write-ins obviously didn’t pick up a ton of consensus, but San Diego Wave FC head coach Casey Stoney led this category with 11 votes, followed by Nigeria WNT manager Randy Waldrum with seven.
Some of you also used the write-in to provide more specific plans, such as Laura Harvey coaching through the Olympics, then running a coaching search. It’s an interesting premise – figure out a short-term solution with a coach that most players know, considering the tight timeline until the next major tournament, then determine if it could also be a longer-term solution through the 2027 World Cup or if a fresh search is necessary. Is a plan like that fair to Harvey, who’d have to give up the Reign job for a far less secure role? Ultimately, a decision like that is up to her.
Our next question became a bit of a moot point by the time the survey went up, with general manager Kate Markgraf and U.S. Soccer announcing that she’ll depart her role at the end of the month. It’s clear from the survey results that most of you won’t mind that decision, with 73.8% of the respondents (1,945 for this question) voting that she should not remain as the head of the women’s national team program.
Markgraf’s departure is just another piece of the turnover across the federation’s sporting side. Crocker was hired earlier this year, following the departure of Earnie Stewart, but USMNT general manager Brian McBride also left the program. It should allow Crocker to design the sporting side in his vision, but one problem that this survey might reveal is that many of you have some questions about his ability to lead.
Now, we didn’t give folks the opportunity to write-in why that might be, but considering the number of strays USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter picked up in the final write-in question on the survey, there’s definitely some influence from the end result of the coaching search on the men’s side that appears to be carrying over.
Next up: the biggest problem for the USWNT right now — and while this was a write-in, there were three clear threads that you all agreed on: development, coaching and tactics. Many of you simply picked one of those three options and wrote it in as a single word. Injuries also got plenty of nods, but the big three came through time and time again, no matter if it was a single word or a whole paragraph of thoughts.
Many of you also focused on the idea of the team’s identity. Here’s a sample of some comments from this question:
“No team identity in how they play. No structure, no system.”
“Playing style vs. identity. Who are they trying to be on the field vs. who they truly are.”
“They’re rudderless.”
And there were the big-picture thinkers, too. One person wrote, “U.S. Soccer/infrastructure. It isn’t a talent issue.” Another: “Fractured youth landscape.”
But maybe this one sums it up best: “Oof. I think the biggest problem is that there isn’t one thing.”
When it comes to leadership voices you want in the mix, regardless of roles, of the 945 write-ins we received, the ‘99ers and other former players absolutely led the way. We’ve seen their influence start to grow within the NWSL, especially across the ownership ranks of teams like Angel City FC and Bay FC, but it’s clear that there’s some real trust there on their voices at every level of the game. Brandi Chastain was the most common name across the board, but Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm also got numerous name-checks. Of the more recent generation of players, everyone from Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Becky Sauerbrunn, Tobin Heath and so on earned at least 25+ write-ins, but Carli Lloyd proved another popular pick. Lloyd had a number of people specifically saying she should not be a former player in the mix, however, unlike most others.
In terms of coaches, Laura Harvey got the most write-ins here with over 70, followed by former USWNT head coach Jill Ellis with over 60.
Back to Carli Lloyd for a moment. Her comments on the USWNT turned out to be one of the biggest storylines of the tournament, for better or worse, and the team pushed back on them during the tournament itself. Over 2,000 of you voted on this one, and it was a close vote — but 55.3% decided that they did not agree with her assessment.
On the matter of U.S. players needing to play their club soccer abroad to better challenge themselves, it seems like the public sentiment is turning here — a majority of you think that they should be looking overseas. USWNT captain Lindsey Horan is staying in Lyon, and midfielder/forward Catarina Macario made the move to Chelsea, alongside forward Mia Fishel with her transfer from Tigres.
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The competition for top talent is only going to get more heated, but in reality, this won’t be a one-size-fits-all approach for the U.S. talent pool.
Onto the NWSL — and yes, there’s some concern here about the league following this World Cup. It’s more than just the USWNT exiting in the round of 16 that should be ringing some alarm bells: other NWSL-heavy national teams like Brazil and Canada also underperformed in this tournament. Germany crashing out in the group stage helps prove that it’s not just about a single league or a single root cause, but 69.1% of you think that the NWSL should be considering its global standing moving forward.
And if the NWSL should be worried, there’s even more concern about the state of the youth national teams.
As a reminder, here’s what I wrote about the U-17s and the U-20s following the 0-0 draw between the USWNT and Portugal in the group stage:
The last time the U-20s won their World Cup was in 2012. Over the next three tournaments, their final placement got worse with each successive tournament: fourth place in Papua New Guinea in 2016 (losing to Japan), ninth in France 2018, 11th in Costa Rica 2022. The last two times, the U.S. failed to advance from their group.
It’s even rougher for the U-17s. Their best performance in the World Cup was in the inaugural one for the age group, in 2008 — held in New Zealand. The U-17s finished second there, but failed to advance from their group in 2016 and 2018 (finishing 10th and 13th place, respectively), and in the most recent U-17 World Cup, they lost to Nigeria in the quarterfinal for a sixth place finish.
Finally, the big one: has the U.S. fallen behind other nations when it comes to the performance of the women’s program? A slim majority voted yes.
Is it as clear-cut as a yes/no question on a survey? No, probably not. But this is a clear reflection of some of the nervousness surrounding the USWNT right now, whether that’s the performance of the team, the coaching, the tactics, or the pathway of development. As we’ve been saying for a while, there’s a lot on the table when it comes to fallout and fixes, and with England and Spain making the final, there are some easy comparisons to be made.
And finally, we let you have the mic for any final thoughts, and most of you used it as a chance to push back on some of the yes/no nature of the questions, especially the last one.“The rest of the world is catching up AND the U.S. has fallen behind — it can be two things,” read one answer. On the same theme: “The rest of the world catching up is a good thing for the sport as a whole, and to me, that is much more important than the USWNT’s failure.” Another pushed back that this should even be considered a failure on that level: “USWNT dominated the world for 20 years. That’s DONE. Quit obsessing about it! This is NOT a failure. The women’s game is now just like the men’s — anyone can win. Good! This is sport.”
There were a number of comments here about youth development, particularly the pay-to-play model. “The system needs more openness,” one person wrote.
And some expressed frustrations with the lack of communication at this time from the federation. For instance: “Tired of the federation being invisible when the going gets tough… Crocker and (Cindy) Parlow Cone (U.S. Soccer president) should be doing a media tour right now talking about the ‘next stage’ for both the men’s and women’s program. Instead crickets.” As someone who wrote about the vacuum of information, timelines and process right now, I agree. And some of you left us with new questions to ponder. “The performances from 2011-2019 were the (outstanding) aberration here. The USWNT performed as expected this World Cup, and a loss in penalties is heartbreakingly normal for elite teams. The real question is: what took so long for the rest of the world (i.e. England, Spain), whose soccer institutions for men far out-date ours, to catch up to a country who mainstreamed soccer in the 1990s?”Over 2,000 votes later, we’re not any closer to knowing most of the true answers to these big-picture questions around the USWNT and the program as a whole, but the survey was revealing in showing how supporters and fans are thinking about the team in this moment, a few weeks out from the loss to Sweden.
(Photo: Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
Meg Linehan is a senior writer for The Athletic who covers the U.S. women’s national team, the National Women’s Soccer League and more. She also hosts the weekly podcast “Full Time with Meg Linehan.” Follow Meg on Twitter @itsmeglinehan
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Indy 11 plays Miami FC Sat 7 pm on 5 Game Unbeaten Streak
Look who has themselves back in the playoff picture. The Boys in Blue stay at home looking to extend their five game unbeaten streak in a match-up against The Miami FC this Sat night at 7 pm. The Eleven are coming off a 2-1 win vs Loudoun United FC and are 4-0-1 in their last five games. With a 10-9-8 record, Indy is sixth in the USLC Eastern Conference. Miami is 3-2-0 in its last five matches and is coming off a 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. MIA is 10th in the Eastern Conference at 7-11-8.
American’s Overseas
Captain America Christian Pulisic had a great second weekend at AC Milan as he scored this blistering goal (Italian Call) and the Italian fans are loving him. Yanus Musah also played the last 25 minutes or so and had some good moments. AC Milan will travel to defending league Champ Roma in a early season match-up at 2:45 pm on Paramount plus. Fulham American’s Tim Ream and Jedi Robinson had a solid tie last weekend with Arsenal and will travel to Man City Sat at 10 am on Peacock. Notingham Forest and American keeper Matt Turner almost stole a win last weekend in a 3-2 loss with a some great saves @ Man United before losing in ET – they will travel to Chelsea at 10 Sat on USA. Josh Sargent was off to a great start for Norwich scoring 3 goals in 3 games before this goal & Injury which might put him out for months. Loved this clip on young American GK Gaga into the stands to celebrate his clean sheet (see all the US players oversea’s games below)
MLS & Messi
Messi didn’t check in to his game in New York City vs the Red Bulls until the 60th minute – but he did not disappoint the majority Messi Crowd with this spectacular pass before his goal in Miami’s 2-0 win as seen here in Time’s Square. Here was the Messi cam from his visit to Cincy for the Open Cup win. Of course the 11 game winning streak did come to an end Wed night at home vs Nashville in a 0-0 tie. Sunday night its Miami @ LAFC 10 pm on Apple TV MLS Season Pass & Serius XM. (the Miami home radio crew is hilarious with their Spanglish coverage of the game). Another huge match this weekend has Seattle hosting Portland for the Cascadia Cup – at 10:30 pm Sat on Apple TV Free.
US Men Name Sept Friendly Camp & Team for Sept 9 & 12
Impressive roster for the Sept friendlies next weekend – as the US plays friendlies while Europe has Euro’s Qualications, Africa has the African Cup and South America does World Cup Quals starting Thursday – next Tues. Cool to see Paredes and Cardoso and Malik Tillman along with newcomers Drake Callender & Ben Cremaschi from Inter Miami.
DEFENDERS (9): Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg), Tim Ream (Fulham FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham FC), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional), Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin), Folarin Balogun (Arsenal FC), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Tim Weah (Juventus)
Games to Watch
Friday is the American must see game with Pulisic & Musah traveling to Roma at 2:45 on Para+ (why no CBSSN? Who knows). Sunday its Liverpool hosting Aston Villa at 9 am on USA Network, while the feature game is at 11:30 am Man United traveling to Arsenal. Spanish leagues Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla follows at 12:30 pm on ESPN+, while Philly hosting the NY Redbulls wraps up the evening on FS1 @ 7:30 pm.
Man check out these goodlooking Refs for the tourney at North Central last Saturday my first visit to Brebeuf for a Soccer game -great to see Coach Carlos Zavelta – here with Jason Wubu (r)
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Champions League group draw 2023-24: Man Utd vs Bayern, Newcastle face PSG
By The Athletic Staff6h ago
Manchester United will face Harry Kane’s new Bayern Munich side in the group stage of the 2023-24 Champions League, while Newcastle United will meet Paris Saint-Germain.United, who memorably beat Bayern in the 1999 final, will also take on Copenhagen and Galatasaray in Group A, while champions Manchester City will face RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys in Group G.PSG, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan have been drawn in a heavyweight Group F, alongside Newcastle United — returning to the competition for the first time in two decades.
The 32 teams were drawn from four pots into eight groups at a ceremony in Monaco, with sides from the same country unable to face each other until the knockout rounds.Real Madrid, 14-time winners, will take on Napoli, Braga and Union Berlin, while Barcelona have been drawn against Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Antwerp.The group stage runs from September to December, with UEFA set to confirm the full fixture list and kick-off times by Saturday morning at the latest.Wembley Stadium in London will host the final on June 1, 2024.
Champions League groups in full
Group A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Copenhagen, Galatasaray
Group E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Celtic
Group F: Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle United
Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys
Group H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Antwerp
When are the Champions League group games?
The full fixture schedule will confirmed in due course.
Fixture 1: September 19/20, 2023
Fixture 2: October 3/4, 2023
Fixture 3: October 24/25, 2023
Fixture 4: November 7/8, 2023
Fixture 5: November 28/29, 2023
Fixture 6: December 12/13, 2023
How does the Champions League group stage work?
Teams in each group play each other twice, home and away, with the top two advancing to the round of 16.The third-placed sides in each group transfer to the Europa League knockout round play-offs, where they will face the Europa League group runners-up for a place in the last 16 of that competition.
Other key 2023-24 Champions League dates
Wembley will host the 2023-24 Champions League final (Justin Tallis/Getty Images)
Round of 16 draw: December 18, 2023
Round of 16 first leg: February 13, 14, 20 & 21, 2024
Round of 16 second leg: March 5, 6, 12 & 13, 2024
Quarter-final and semi-final draw: March 15, 2024
Quarter-final first leg: April 9 & 10, 2024
Quarter-final second leg: April 16 & 17, 2024
Semi-final first leg: April 30, 2024 & May 1, 2024
Semi-final second leg: May 7, 2024 & May 8, 2024
Final: June 1, 2024
USMNT analysis
Red Hot Pulisic & Weah highlight USMNT roster. Cremsachi earns big callup
The new USMNT roster is out and ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks it down for you. Gregg Berhalter will make his return to the team and his roster includes many mainstays, some big dual national news, and some surprises.
BY BRIAN SCIARETTAPOSTED AUGUST 30, 2023 12:10 PM
IN HIS RETURN AS THE head coach of the United States national team, Gregg Berhalter today announced his 24 player roster for the upcoming camp that will include friendlies against Uzbekistan (September 9 in St. Louis) and Oman (September 12 in Minnesota). The roster contains surprise inclusions and a long list of players who are missing due to injury.
Specifically, the following players are listed as out due to injury
Tyler Adams
Taylor Booth
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Sean Johnson
Gio Reyna
Josh Sargent
Zack Steffen
Walker Zimmerman
Here is the roster along with some thoughts.
DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB/COUNTRY; CAPS/GOALS)
DEFENDERS (9): Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 26/2), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 0/0), Mark McKenzie (Genk/BEL; 11/0), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; 0/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 51/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 10/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 36/2), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 25/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 6/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; 7/0), Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami; 0/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 16/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 44/11), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 27/0), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 4/0)
FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/GER; 32/7), Folarin Balogun (Arsenal/ENG; 2/1), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 8/1), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 16/7), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 60/25), Tim Weah (Juventus/ITA; 31/4)
FORM WATCH
In terms of form, the players will arrive at a mixed level.
Pulisic and Weah are playing terrific soccer right now to start the season. It will be very interesting to see both arrive in camp again under Berhalter as both players publicly expressed support for him. Robinson also played well at Fulham and Turner has been strong to start his time at Nottingham Forest.
What is interesting too is that 12 players on this roster are with different clubs than where they were at the start of 2023. The player pool is largely in flux. Many players such as Brenden Aaronnson at Union Berlin or Weston McKennie at his return to Juventus are still getting their feet wet. Ricardo Pepi is also transitioning to a backup role but one where PSV will want to bring him along gradually.
DUAL NATIONAL NEWS
But the roster also includes significant dual national news is that Inter Miami’s Benja Cremaschi has been selected as he has emerged as one of the most impressive teenagers in MLS and is also a dual national with options. Last winter, he was playing with Argentina’s U-20 team and lately has stood out playing alongside Lionel Messi. In recent interviews (including to ASN in March), he has said that he is in contact with both federations.
Kristoff Lund, meanwhile, is in the process of making his one-time switch from Denmark. He has been playing with Denmark’s youth teams as a left back but has fallen out of the picture there. Recently he sealed a transfer from Hacken in Sweden to Palermo of Serie B. He is Olympic eligible.
Lund appears to be more of a wild card pick. Last season he helped guide Hacken to the Allsvenskan title and now he is in Serie B with Palermo (but he has yet to play). But the U.S. team has several players competing for the backup left back spot behind Robinson – including Caleb Wiley, Jonathan Tolkin, DeJuan Jones – and even youth options like Noah Allen. Did Lund quickly surpass these players?
YOUTH IS SERVED
Of the 24 players on the roster, nine would be age-eligible for the U.S. U-23 Olympic next year with the birth year cutoff of 2001 and younger (Lund, Paredes, Scally, Cardoso, Cremaschi, Tillman, Musah, Cowell, Pepi).
Not every player will make the Olympic team. Some will play with the full national team next year instead and some have eligibility issues for the Olympics given that they played with another country in Olympic qualifying. But nine players being born in 2001 or later shows a youthful twist.
PAREDES & CALLENDER
Aside from Lund, two players who are looking for their first national team caps are Kevin Paredes and Drake Callender. Both have earned their way here.
Paredes is coming off the U-20 World Cup and last season was a regular off the bench for Wolfsburg. He is listed as a defender but typically he plays more left wing than left back. But he has been among the most exciting players of the 2003/04 birth years. His national team inclusion always seemed as if it was a matter of time.Callender, meanwhile, has raised his game in 2023 with Miami. Even before Messi’s arrival he was making inroads into the U.S. team. But with Zack Steffen no-man’s land with his club situation and Ethan Horvath also no playing, it is important to have a goalkeeper who is playing.
REYNA/BERHALTER REUNION ON PAUSE
Gio Reyna was not expected to be part of this roster. While he just returned to training at Borussia Dortmund, he has still not played a game since the Nations League Final.We know through Vanity Fair that Gregg Berhalter is still yet to sit down and speak with Reyna and he has sought the advice of mediators. But that reunion will be a huge story and one that will still have to wait.
NOTABLE OMISSIONS
There is an interesting list of players who are healthy and not on this list.Caleb Wiley, John Tolkin, and DeJuan Jones have all been important left backs for the U.S. team and youth national teams over the past year. Tolkin and Wiley, in particular, are eligible for the U.S. Olympic team. But Berhalter instead went with Lund.
Gaga Slonina is also expected to be an Olympic option but for this camp, Berhalter went with Callender and Horvath as backup options. Slonina has made three starts with Eupen in Belgium since arriving on loan from Chelsea.
Brandon Vazquez is one of the top center forwards in MLS and is poised to make a move abroad. With Josh Sargent suffering a serious injury, it might have opened the door but Berhalter has instead kept with two center forwards in Pepi and Balogun.
Brenden Aaronson called up, Mark McKenzie returns to the USMNT for September friendlies
McKenzie got his first call-up since late March, after being left out of the Nations League final four and Gold Cup rosters. by Jonathan Tannenwald Philly Published Aug. 30, 2023, 11:34 a.m. ET
Union alum Mark McKenzie is back with the U.S. men’s soccer team for the first time since March.Christof Koepsel / Getty Images
Though the opponents are relatively minor, U.S. men’s soccer team manager Gregg Berhalter has called in his major players for his first games back in charge of the program.Hershey’s Christian Pulisic, Medford’s Brenden Aaronson, and fellow attacking stars Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Tim Weah, and Folarin Balogun are among the 24 players on the squad for games against Uzbekistan on Sept. 9 and Oman on Sept. 12.The defense includes Antonee Robinson and Bear, Del.’s Mark McKenzie, who got his first call-up since late March. McKenzie was left out of the Nations League final four and Gold Cup rosters, the marquee events of the year so far. Starting goalkeeper Matt Turner also is on the roster.“He’s always been playing at a top level in Belgium,” Berhalter said of McKenzie. “For us, when we’re looking at this centerback pool in particular, with a couple guys out, we think this is a great opportunity for him. It was a decision we made between him and Auston Trusty, and we felt like this is a good moment for Mark, a good opportunity for Mark to show that he belongs with this group.”Trusty, a Media native and fellow Union alumnus, recently joined England’s Sheffield United after it was promoted back to the Premier League.
Mark McKenzie (center) working out in a practice with Genk earlier this month.Virginie Lefour / Belga Mag / AFP via Getty Images
The roster features two notable newcomers. The highest-profile is midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi, an Inter Miami academy product, now a teammate of Lionel Messi, and the son of Argentine parents. Cremaschi, 18, has been part of the U.S. under-19 team and Argentina’s under-20 team. Messi has joined the latter’s recruiting effort, and the senior U.S. invitation is a loud countermove.Playing in these games wouldn’t tie him to the U.S., because they’re just friendlies. But if he does play, it will be notable.“We’re excited about the prospect of bringing him into camp; we’re excited to see what he can bring to our team and to our formation because we believe in him and we think he’s an excellent player,” Berhalter said. “And then it’s just going to be about the environment and him feeling comfortable with everyone.”
Benjamim Cremaschi (left) plays with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.Lynne Sladky / AP
The second newcomer is left back Kristoffer Lund. He was born to a Danish father and American mother, grew up playing for Denmark’s youth teams, and has filed a change of nationality application to play for the United States. The 21-year-old plays for Italian second-division club Palermo, and if he’s good enough to stick, he’ll be welcome depth.A long list of injured absentees includes captain Tyler Adams, Downingtown’s Zack Steffen, Gio Reyna, Josh Sargent, and Walker Zimmerman.
Lower-ranked opponents
Why are Uzbekistan, ranked No. 74 by FIFA, and No. 71 Oman the opponents? Because there were barely any better options. Europe’s nations have qualifiers for next summer’s European Championship, Africa has qualifying for this winter’s Cup of Nations, and South America has the start of its qualifying marathon for the 2026 World Cup. Traditional Asian powers Japan and South Korea are playing friendlies in Europe, and Australia is playing Mexico at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium on the same night as U.S.-Uzbekistan. Canada was available, but the U.S., currently ranked 11, has seen enough of Canada for a while — and the Canadian federation is in turmoil.
Gregg Berhalter (center) will be back on the sidelines as U.S. manager next month.Ashley Landis / AP
This year’s biggest games are yet to come. In October, the Americans will host two big-time opponents: Germany in East Hartford, Conn., and Ghana in Nashville. November will bring a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series that also will serve as qualifying for next year’s Copa América tournament that the U.S. is hosting. (Though it’s the host, it agreed to qualify because it’s officially guest-hosting South America’s event.)The Nations League opponent will be determined by qualifying games played this month and next month. The U.S. earned a bye to the quarterfinals by reaching the previous tournament’s semis.
Same as the old boss?
Berhalter hasn’t been on the U.S. bench since last fall’s World Cup. His contract expired at the end of the year, and the final months of his tenure were consumed by the scandal over his broken relationship with Reyna and parents Claudio and Danielle. He officially was rehired in June.In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Berhalter admitted that while he has spoken with many U.S. players since regaining the job, he hasn’t spoken with Gio Reyna yet. And when asked whether he could repair ties with the parents, who’d been close with Berhalter and his wife for decades, he answered after a long pause: “I don’t think that’s a subject I’m comfortable talking about.”
Gregg Berhalter admitted he hasn’t spoken directly with Gio Reyna since regaining the helm of the U.S. men’s soccer team.John Locher / AP
There undoubtedly will be a lot of noise around Berhalter’s return, whether from scandal-seekers or fans who didn’t want him back for on-the-field reasons. But it’s no longer questionable that a lot of players backed his return, and that might help the diplomatic side of Reyna’s return.“I look forward to having conversations with him, I look forward to watching his progress, and hopefully him getting back on the field,” Berhalter said. “And then for us, hopefully being able to include him in the October camp against two good opponents.”
On Wednesday, Gregg Berhalter announced the first roster of his second tenure as manager of the United States men’s national team. Among the 24 players selected, only four ply their trade in Major League Soccer. While uncapped Inter Miami duo Drake Callender and Ben Cremaschi have stayed in the headlines thanks to their new iconic club teammates, the other two, Cade Cowell and Miles Robinson, enter with something to prove as many European transfer windows close on Friday until January.When Cowell made his MLS debut in 2020 as a 16-year-old, the conversation was about his potential. The discussion remains the same today. The San Jose Earthquakes homegrown broke through two years ago, notching five goals and six assists across 1,663 MLS minutes, an impressive return for a teenage winger. At the time, head coach Matías Almeyda praised his breakout season but pointed to specific areas Cowell needed to improve to make the professional leap.“We can’t settle on his power,” Almeyda told The Athletic in 2021 amidst a solid stretch for Cowell. “We can’t settle on his pace. He has to aspire to play in Europe, and we’ve talked about this. And for that, one needs to have so many small technical skills. He still has to learn those. He’s young.”Almeyda highlighted a need for greater precision with both feet, sharper movement off the ball and development into more of an aerial threat. However, it was the coach and not the teenage sensation who first made his debut for a European side. Almeyda led AEK Athens to a 2022-23 Super League Greece title before getting the club to the brink of UEFA Champions League inclusion — Athens fell in the final playoff round against Royal Antwerp on Wednesday.In Atlanta, Robinson plays a very different role than Cowell and is at a very different stage of his career, but the center back is also waiting for a career-changing move abroad. Robinson was a staple of Berhalter’s rosters throughout World Cup qualifying, starting 11 of the team’s 14 qualifiers and forming a steady partnership with Walker Zimmerman. However, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon playing on Atlanta United’s turf, ending his hopes of a World Cup debut and opening the door for Tim Ream’s reintegration into the team sheet.
“It was definitely tough at some moments, more mentally than physically,” Robinson told MLSsoccer.com in March regarding his recovery. “Watching the World Cup was also mentally pretty tough. I use it for motivation at this point.”Although he watched the team’s run to the round of 16 from his sofa, he returned in time for Atlanta’s season opener — ironically enough, against Cowell’s Earthquakes.Diving into the data, here’s what the two players, at crucial moments in their careers, bring to the USMNT and what they can show to prospective teams.
Cowell looks to push past potential
In Almeyda’s San Jose stead came head coach Luchi Gonzalez, who played a key role in developing several FC Dallas homegrown players who turned into U.S. internationals, including Ricardo Pepi, Reggie Cannon, Bryan Reynolds and Tanner Tessman. Each earned moves abroad after debuting with the MLS side, giving plenty of reasons why Gonzalez could similarly impact Cowell’s development.
But that potential hasn’t come to fruition in the box scores. Cowell has not scored a goal this year and has three assists in 1,347 minutes of play across the regular season and Leagues Cup. Of the 19 U.S.-eligible wingers who have played at least 500 minutes for an MLS team this year, none have a lower rate of combined shots on target and chances created per 90 than Cowell’s 0.71 output. He has remained in his usual post on the left wing for Gonzalez, whose Quakes most often play as a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1. Of the 188 U.S.-eligible players of any position who have logged 500 minutes or more, only two have a worse xG performance than Cowell’s -3.53 return (Tom Barlow and Teal Bunbury, at -3.81 and -3.65, respectively).
He hasn’t been any less willing to play with the ball at his feet, though. Cowell has averaged 58.1 take-ons per 90 minutes, an impressive rate considering his average of 38.3 touches per 90. On ten occasions across the regular season and Leagues Cup, he has collected the ball and dribbled at least 13 feet before taking a shot. None of those resulted in a goal.
“Cade is a physical specimen,” Gonzalez told The Athletic during San Jose’s preseason in Coachella Valley. “He’s one of the fastest and most explosive players in the league. It’s about him evolving and growing in terms of his timing, in terms of his decision-making, in terms of his pressing, in terms of his crossing and his finishing, his combination. He’s got such a high ceiling, and he’s had a great attitude and openness to learn and get better. His training habits have been very good.”
It may not be a great sign that, 18 months after Almeyda’s observation, Gonzalez had a similar prognosis for Cowell’s prospects. Nonetheless, the winger did garner genuine interest from Serie A side Bologna during this summer window. According to the Athletic’s Tom Bogert, the Italian club put forward a loan with a purchase proposal. The purchase option involved “an automatic trigger that was very likely to be met” and was set at $3 million before possibly rising to $5.5 million with add-ons.
Cowell was keen on the move, but San Jose countered by asking for more. Bologna said it was their final offer, instead signing Swedish left winger Jesper Karlsson from AZ Alkmaar. Cowell is now expected to finish the year with the Earthquakes, who dropped to eighth in the West after Wednesday night’s MLS slate and added fellow U.S. prospect Matthew Hoppe on loan earlier this month.
That said, it makes sense why Cowell is in this U.S. camp. The pool of wingers is relatively thin for this specific group. Gio Reyna and Taylor Booth are missing due to injury, while Alejandro Zendejas has left much to be desired from his first seven U.S. caps. The main alternatives are two veterans whose roles in Berhalter’s system aren’t in question, namely Jordan Morris and Paul Arriola.
Instead, 19-year-old Cowell will get a chance to train with the United States’ top attackers after his previous call-ups came among a heavily rotated roster. Perhaps taking reps alongside Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah and Folarin Balogun will give him another chance to reflect on his approach and find room for improvement. Now, it’s a matter of turning this opportunity into further progress towards garnering another European suitor.
Robinson working on his comeback
Robinson has logged 1,917 minutes across the regular season and Leagues Cup, also making a trio of starts for the U.S. during the Gold Cup and another in the Nations League semifinal against Mexico. Fortunately for club and country, he has recovered remarkably well from his pre-World Cup injury and is getting back to his previous form.
Be it in the air or against an opponent with a ball at their feet, Robinson has been difficult to get past. Of the MLS center backs ranked near or ahead of him in terms of winning tackles or stopping opponents on the dribble, none come close to his imperious aerial ability.obinson played one of his old hits this past weekend, rising to head a corner kick home for his first goal since November 7, 2021.Robinson is in the final months of his contract with Atlanta. PSV is considering signing a pre-contract agreement with the defender to bring him over at the start of the January window. Clubs in Germany and England are also weighing that option, according to Bogert. As he has less than half a year remaining on his pact, Robinson can legally discuss a possible free transfer at this stage.His salary could make it tricky for Atlanta or another MLS team to sign him as a free agent this winter without using a designated player slot. Robinson is currently the third highest-paid center back in the league, with his $1.4 million base salary trailing only Zimmerman and Matt Miazga of FC Cincinnati. At 26 years old, he may feel pressure to earn a move to Europe before those opportunities begin to close.Whatever comes next, both he and Cowell will hope their inclusion on Berhalter’s first roster of 2023 alerts another team or two to their quality and potential.
Berhalter ‘looking forward’ to conversations with Gio Reyna; more USMNT notes
Though Gio Reyna’s recovery from injury has prevented him from joining the U.S. men’s national team for its upcoming camp, coach Gregg Berhalter said he hopes to be able to bring Reyna along in October for friendlies against Germany and Ghana, and that he expects to speak with him ahead of that camp.
“Those are conversations that I look forward to and it’s just understanding sensitivities around it,” Berhalter said. “I mean, he’s a young player, I think for everyone involved it’s been a lot for the last six months. And we just want to do it in the best possible way to put him in position to help the team in a way that we know he can. And unfortunately, he was ruled out for this camp, but I look forward to continuing to monitor his progress at Dortmund and hopefully getting him back into camp in October.”Reyna was one of several players held out of this camp due to injury or fitness concerns as they work back from injury. Reyna has not played since picking up a calf injury in the CONCACAF Nations League final on June 18 and only started full-team training with Borussia Dortmund this week.
In a Wednesday press conference, Berhalter was asked if he felt he needed to explain to the team why he made comments at a leadership conference about issues within the locker room during the World Cup. In those comments, which were expected to be off the record under Chatham House rules and were an answer to a question after his presentation, Berhalter spoke about how he nearly sent a player home from the World Cup, but that the team culture overcame the issues at the tournament. The Athletic later reported the player in question was Reyna and detailed the issues with Reyna’s effort in training ahead of the opening game against Wales.Berhalter said he “immediately” communicated with team members after his comments were published by the Charter newsletter.“I sent a note to each and every one, every player and apologized for this getting out in the way that it did,” Berhalter said. “It was never about names, it’s more about an example of our strong team culture, and I felt that if it hurt one player, then it’s worth apologizing to the entire group. And that’s what I did.”Berhalter seemed to imply that the federation has been in touch with Reyna since Berhalter’s appointment — Reyna was a part of the team that played in the CONCACAF Nations League final shortly after Berhalter was officially reintroduced as manager of the team — and that Reyna has been “responding” but that they are being measured in when the coach and player sit down to talk.“For us, it’s understanding the sensitivity around the issues, understanding the right time, in the right way,” Berhalter said. “We’re committed to every single player in this player pool. And for us, it’s about how do we maximize communication with them and target it in a way that we’re getting the most out of each and every player. So for this, it’s just being a little bit more thoughtful, a little bit more sensitive to the past. And I look forward to having conversations with him. I look forward to watching his progress and hopefully him getting back on the field, and then for us hopefully being able to include him in the October camp against two good opponents.”Berhalter touched on several topics ahead of his first camp back with the national team for September friendlies against Uzbekistan in St. Louis on Sept. 9 and Oman in St. Paul, Minnesota on Sept. 12. Berhalter noted that the two countries rank ninth and tenth in the Asian Football Confederation and could be opponents in the 2026 World Cup, for which eight AFC teams will qualify.Berhalter also spoke about Lionel Messi’s impact on MLS and the busy transfer window involving Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, and several other USMNT players.Here are some other topics Berhalter covered on Wednesday:
Crocker started in his role full-time on Aug. 2 (Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Working with Matt Crocker
Berhalter was named manager of the national team in between the Nations League semifinals and final in June, but he did not coach the Nations League final nor in the Gold Cup after that. Instead, he has been working with new U.S. soccer sporting director Matt Crocker to establish a staff and a “strategic plan” within the program and federation working toward the 2026 World Cup.“We spent three days together and really dissected every area of the USMNT, whether it’s scheduling, player pool, programs they want to implement,” Berhalter said. “Basically working on creating a strategic plan on working back from what we want to achieve, and then saying, ‘OK, here are some buckets that we’re gonna look to exploit and let’s think of programs in each of these buckets and let’s work on how we’re going to be successful in all these areas.’ So it was a really good time and I think productive, especially when now I can start and we can start unveiling this to the staff and to the players.”Asked about approaching a second cycle with the team, Berhalter said there is a freshness that the national team allows that’s different from the “boredom” that can occur with club soccer just because the team isn’t together all the time.He said the focus has been on building off the foundation of the 2022 cycle.“There’s been a lot of good work in building our identity both on and off the field,” Berhalter said. “And we want to continue that. … We want to basically acknowledge that, ‘OK, there’s been good work, but now we can take it to a different level. And here’s how we’re going to take it to a different level.’ And part of that is a player ownership model where they have more ownership in what’s happening. They are already empowered, and the leadership council has been very effective in communicating the voice of the team, but really we’re guides here and we all — the player pool, the staff — we all want the same thing, to be successful in 2026. That’s what we’re trying to achieve. And it’s just working together to do that.”
(John Todd/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Formation changes?
Toward the end of the last cycle, Berhalter’s U.S. teams functioned mostly in a 4-3-3 formation that looked to emphasize the strengths of its midfield. In Qatar, it was a system clearly built around a midfield trio of Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah.Under the two interim managers, Hudson and Callaghan, that formation started to shift some, and in the Nations League it was Reyna who stood out as a No. 10 in front of two defensive midfielders. But notably, that roster was missing Adams (and, in the final, McKennie).On Wednesday, Berhalter was asked if he was looking to use wingbacks or if he had given thought to moving out of the 4-3-3.
“I have always thought that this team could play in a system with wing backs,” Berhalter said. “Especially Antonee Robinson is a guy that could definitely do that. Lund can do that as well. On the right side, you see there’s players that have the ability to do that. For us, I think it’s more about just the general philosophy of how we want to play and what we’re trying to do. We want to be aggressive. We want to be high-pressing. We want to be able to control the ball, and I won’t really get caught up on the formation.”
Berhalter said the time between international windows allows the team to plan for opponents and adjust tactically for those teams.“Ideally, I’d like to go into the next World Cup having a back-three system and a back-four system in place,” Berhalter said. “And we’ll see how that develops over these next couple of years. But I think the biggest difference has been what we’ve been able to do in midfield, with the dynamic players that we have in midfield. When you have guys like Tyler and Weston and Yunus, it’s a tremendous engine that we are able to take advantage of.”
Balance with the 2024 Olympic team
Berhalter said that the U.S. is close to announcing an Olympic team coach, who will come from outside the U.S. senior team staff. With the men’s Olympic soccer tournament functioning as U-23 competition, the U.S. Olympic team could feature significant overlap with the senior team — nine players on this September roster are eligible. The Olympic team will have camps in September and October, but clubs are not obligated to release their players for Olympic duty.“We know how important that international experience is in terms of building a successful group and we expect to be working hand in hand with the Olympic group, especially when we’re talking about rosters because there is a lot of overlap in the rosters,” Berhalter said. “So really trying to figure out okay, what does game time look like in the senior team versus the Olympic team and trying to coordinate those efforts.”
New coaches and absentees
Berhalter announced his coaching staff would include his longtime assistant and former interim manager B.J. Callaghan, who guided the U.S. to the Nations League title, as well as U.S. under-20 coach Mike Varas. Berhalter said the team also hired Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper coach Fabian Otte and was finalizing a deal to hire Isaac Guerrero, who worked with Barcelona and Venezia.
Paul Tenorio is a senior writer for The Athletic who covers soccer. He has previously written for the Washington Post, the Orlando Sentinel, FourFourTwo, ESPN and MLSsoccer.com. Follow Paul on Twitter @PaulTenorio
The USMNT’s Folarin Balogun on swapping Arsenal for Monaco: ‘I expect to produce here’
He arrived hungry in every sense.Folarin Balogun had been unable to eat for hours due to medical blood tests ahead of a transfer he hopes will take his career to the next level. Once they were out of the way, he tucked into a plate of salmon and rice in the plush first-team dining room of his new club, Monaco.Earlier, on a whistle-stop tour of his new home, he visited the Jardin Exotique de Monaco — the best spot for views of the principality’s famously glittering harbour.“It’s like a painting,” he told the club staff accompanying him on the journey.The move is another bold stroke on the canvas for a 22-year-old who is no stranger to bold decisions. Having switched international allegiance from England to the USMNT in May, he has now chosen a permanent shift from the Premier League to France’s Ligue 1 after last season’s impressive loan spell there with Stade de Reims.“I believe that you get the best results in life when you’re not comfortable,” he told The Athletic at his unveiling on Thursday. “So that’s why I’ve taken myself out of my comfort zone, away from my family and friends, to improve as a player.”
Balogun takes in his new home (AS Monaco)
What does the €40million (£34.4m; $43.4m) move mean for the striker? Why have Monaco compromised their new policy of transfer austerity to bankroll his move? And what could it mean for his future with club and country?The Athletic examines the next step for one of European football’s, and the USMNT’s, most exciting young prospects.
Balogun joins an unusual club, in exotic surroundings, which is bidding to once again challenge Paris Saint-Germain’s supremacy in the French top flight.There are some links with his former team, Arsenal — Arsene Wenger led Monaco to the title in 1988 and another Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry, also played for and coached the club that play in red and white.Yet, in some notable ways, north London and Monaco are very different. For starters, Arsenal are a club from England’s capital that play in the English Premier League. The principality of Monaco is the world’s second smallest sovereign state, an enclave on the northern coast of the Mediterranean, sharing its land borders with France. It has its own royal family, dialect (Monegasque) and has become a major global banking hub and tax haven.Monaco have always played in the French football league, though, where they have enjoyed historic success, even if their games do not attract the same significant following as those of PSG, Marseille, Lyon and Lille.It is little wonder Balogun was impressed by his first views of the opulent harbour — luxury mega-yachts are regularly moored outside Monaco’s Stade Louis II ground — but it may take him time to adjust to the small crowds that attend matches.According to statistics site Transfermarkt, the stadium’s capacity is 18,523, but average attendances last season were just 7,095 — fewer than any other Ligue 1 club. By comparison, Stade de Reims’ was 13,602 and Marseille’s 62,623.Monaco’s owner, Dmitry Rybolovlev — the Russian oligarch and billionaire who arrived in 2011 and funds the club via a trust under his daughter Ekaterina’s name — wants to change that, although Balogun’s high-profile arrival is no longer typical of the way he wants to do it. In 2013, Monaco were one of Europe’s biggest spenders, signing James Rodriguez for €45million and paying even more for Radamel Falcao. But they also have a reputation for elite recruitment.This is the club that lured Kylian Mbappe from Paris to southern France and offered him his first taste of senior football. Monaco have leaned more heavily on their fine-tuned recruitment model over the past few seasons as the big fees have made way for even smarter value buys.
At the end of last season, Englishman Paul Mitchell signalled his intention to stand down as the club’s sporting director (he remains in post for now) and Thiago Scuro, formerly of the Red Bull group, was named as the new director of football. Although Balogun had been on the club’s radar for some time, landing his signature was a major aim of the new man and his staff, along with head coach Adi Hutter, who replaced Philippe Clement in July.
Monaco’s sparkling new training centre (Matt Slater/The Athletic)
Monaco’s training ground is at the end of a twisting road in the mountains, back over the border in France, in a small village called La Turbie. If you thought places like Manchester United’s Carrington training ground were off the beaten track, this is on another level.There were still three fans sitting on the wall outside the modern six-floor facility when The Athletic arrived on Friday for the new signing’s first press conference as a Monaco player.Twelve camera operators and reporters waited for Balogun to arrive and, when he did, the forward was man-marked by the Brazilian Scuro. Scuro and Balogun spoke mainly in English (a quick “merci” from the player to his audience aside), translated for the French journalists present, and the New York-born player was relaxed, polite and thoughtful with his responses.In his opening remarks, Scuro conceded that Monaco had been “chasing Balogun for a while — it’s a long story — but we’re delighted to have him now”.In fact, Monaco had been tracking Balogun since before last season, when he scored 22 goals in all competitions for Reims, a mid-table club based in the north east of Paris in France’s Grand Est region. Such was his fine form that they began to fear his value was inflating beyond their means.They are a club going through change, with the need for a new spearhead to their attack becoming more apparent. Despite scoring 25 goals in all competitions himself last term, their first-choice striker Wissam Ben Yedder is 33 and less able to do what the team demands.The France international is also beset with off-field problems. Last month, Ben Yedder was accused of rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault. He spent 48 hours in custody with his younger brother, who faced the same accusations, where they were questioned by police in the Mediterranean resort of Nice.On August 11, prosecutors in Nice said the brothers, who deny any wrongdoing, had been charged and the pair were now subject to a judicial inquiry. If the outcome of that inquiry concludes there is enough evidence against them, they will stand trial.ADVERTISEMENT
In April, a Spanish court also gave Ben Yedder a six-month suspended prison sentence and fined him €133,799 for tax offences during his time as a Sevilla player.
Ben Yedder playing against RC Strasbourg earlier this month (Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
Ben Yedder remains Monaco’s captain and scored again in their 3-3 draw at Nantes last week, but is also in the final year of his contract.Balogun is the future.The club’s recruitment team noted his prowess in a less attack-minded team last term and firmly believed he would flourish further under Hutter’s attacking, front-foot style, which requires a centre-forward to lead from the front. For them, that starts out of possession with a high-intensity press they no longer believe Ben Yedder can consistently perform.The latter will leave big shoes to fill. He is a fan favourite, but again, Monaco are confident Balogun can handle the expectations — as is the man himself.“There was competition at Arsenal and I wouldn’t expect to come to another top club and not face competition,” he said. “But for me, (Ben Yedder) is a legend and I’m looking forward to playing alongside him and learning from him.“I expect to produce here and a lot of the pressure is internal. Obviously, the price tag brings expectations, but I’m not afraid of that.”Over the last six transfer windows, Monaco’s most expensive signing was Dutch forward Myron Boadu, signed for €17million, so at nearly twice that fee, Balogun is a sign of renewed intent.It is also partly symbolic as well as practical. Next year is the club’s 100th anniversary and owner Rybolovlev wants the team back in the Champions League. Ligue 1’s top three clubs will qualify for that competition this season and, without any European football to detract focus from the league, the addition of Balogun is seen as the best way to achieve that return for 2024-25.“This is a statement signing,” said a club official, granted anonymity in order to protect their job. “We don’t spend this money anymore with this new management team. It’s not the Monaco of old.“But it’ll be a big year for the club and we want to get it right and have a quality team, so the signing of Denis Zakaria (the hugely experienced Swiss midfielder who spent last season on loan at Chelsea from Juventus) and Balogun are intent from the owner. Doing things right.“It’s us saying we know what Rennes and Marseille are spending so we need to be competitive.“Lens are giving it a go as well with their signing of Elye Wahi (from Montpellier) — a statement signing. It’s getting more crowded at the top of Ligue 1 with the other investment groups that have come in. Nice and Lyon want to be up there. This season, without Europe, we will be able to focus on the league and need strong performances, especially at the start of the season.”
Balogun and Scuro pose for the cameras (Matt Slater/The Athletic)
There is a lot riding on the deal.“But it’s not about gambling,” said Scuro. “It’s about trusting the character and skills of the player you’ve identified. I’ve often said that the signing is just one day. The development is just as important and it takes longer, but we have the people and the resources at Monaco to do that.”The skills they have identified were showcased at Reims last term, but less so during his previous loan spell in the English second tier with Middlesbrough in 2021-22, when Balogun scored just three goals in 21 appearances.“I was playing as the central striker at Reims last season, so it was easier for me as it was more familiar,” he explained. “At Middlesbrough, I played a different role, just behind the striker. It was a different focus but it was part of the plan to develop me as a player.”Monaco want to play to his strengths, which the club official identified as “running and attacking the depth very well”.Balogun’s impressive last-ditch counter-attack equaliser for Reims in a 1-1 draw with PSG last season is a case in point. The searing pace to burst through, round the goalkeeper and remain composed to hit the back of the net grabbed the attention of recruitment teams across Europe.For Monaco, he is not a one-dimensional sprinter, though. They see a player who can also come to the ball, link the play and allow team-mates to run in behind. In the 3-4-2-1 formation Hutter favours, Balogun’s presence should serve to liberate the likes of Takumi Minamino, Eliesse Ben Seghir and Breel Embolo.Where Ben Yedder’s physical decline means he only comes to the ball, Balogun is also expected to make clever runs off the back shoulder of defenders and find spaces with his movement.
Balogun’s stint on loan at Middlesbrough was part of his education (Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Club staff are also excited by the potential of his link-up with their Brazil international full-backs Caio Henrique and Vanderson, who like to get forward and play strikers in but can also come inside and combine with Balogun if he drops to the ball.“We see him as a really good fit for our style; proactive on the front foot,” added the Monaco official. “We have 10 goals in three games already this season. He’ll be a really big part of scoring even more.“He scored against us here late in the season while a few of us were watching and it really emphasised how he can turn the game in an instant.”
If all this makes Balogun sound like a player Arsenal may have wanted to retain, then that does not reckon for Mikel Arteta’s singular vision and the club’s willingness to sell highly-rated academy graduates when they feel the time is right. Balogun joined Arsenal in 2012 as a 12-year-old and, come scholarship decision time, he was a winger who felt he was among the weakest players in his age group. “I told myself I only had two options: go hard or go home,” he said. “And, at 16, I had my best season ever. I was the top scorer in the team — I must have scored 40 goals. Even I was shocked at the transformation.”
Despite last season’s Ligue 1 heroics, the question of whether he could do it at the sharp end of the Premier League, or even be allowed the chance to demonstrate his quality, remained earlier this summer when he returned to Arsenal.Gabriel Jesus is first choice at the Emirates Stadium, while fellow academy graduate Eddie Nketiah had an impressive spell during the Brazilian’s absence last season in which he proved he had adapted his game to be the all-rounder Arteta desires. Nketiah’s progress was rewarded with a first call-up to the senior England squad on Thursday.Then there is Leandro Trossard, who performed a false nine role at times, and the arrival of Kai Havertz from Chelsea to add further competition in that area.Balogun made it clear he had no interest in another loan or reverting to life as a squad player.That left only two options: playing at Arsenal or leaving permanently. Arsenal accepted the latter provided they would be protected in the deal. Indeed, the influx of funds would help offset heavy spending earlier in the summer.
Balogun during Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the United States (Jose L Argueta/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
In the end, a fee of €30million was struck, with €10million in potential add-ons — payments that kick in if he achieves certain challenging milestones, whether that be scoring 35 goals or making a certain number of Champions League appearances. The two clubs have also negotiated a sell-on clause.In terms of the player’s future on the international stage, the move is seen as positive by USMNT head coch Gregg Berhalter.“He’s familiar with the French league, he’s already performed at a really high level with a French team and now he’s going to a bigger club in the French league — I think it’s a really strong move,” he said earlier this week.“They’re paying a lot of money for him and Monaco is a club that is really thoughtful and smart with who they bring in. I think it’s a fabulous move for him.“We expect him to be able to score goals and continue to score goals, like he’s done. And having met him and spoken to him, he’s a really humble guy. He’s a guy who’s focused on the process and continuing to improve and he sees this as the next step for him on his way as he climbs the ladder in European soccer.”Monaco checked in with Berhalter during the latter stages of their pursuit of the forward and were given similarly positive soundings. The USMNT manager told them he wanted the striker to get regular starts.If that gave their chances of landing him a boost, then so, too, did the intervention last season of Henry.Balogun said the France World Cup winner “planted the seed” of a move to Monaco in his head when they spoke last season.“After we (Reims) played here he contacted me to congratulate me on my game,” he said. “I knew he had played here and he told me a bit about the club and that it’s a beautiful place.“That was it, really. But even after my first training session here (yesterday), he texted to say congratulations on the move. It’s a good feeling to have the support of someone like him.”
Henry playing for Monaco against Marseille in 1998 (AFP via Getty Images)
For their part, Monaco are privately pragmatic about the deal. At his unveiling, he held up a shirt with 2028 — when his contract is due to expire — on the back under his name.But while they want him to provide short to mid-term success, they would be unlikely to keep him for five years if his rise exceeds French football. They are proven at buying from and selling to the biggest clubs in the world. Their sales pitch was to come to the principality and prove what he can do.If he stays hungry, and his appetite appears big, they could be celebrating a €30million bargain in one of the wealthiest corners of the world.
Julie Ertz retires from playing soccer after 10 years as a pro and two World Cup titles
“I got to live out a dream I wish for everyone,” Ertz said, “falling in love with a sport you have played your whole life and getting to share it with your son.”
Julie Ertz has called time on her playing career after making a third U.S. women’s World Cup team in her 10 years on the field.Andrew Cornaga / AP
Julie Ertz announced her retirement from playing on Thursday, ending a 10-year pro career that included two World Cup titles and a return from injury and childbirth to make this year’s tournament.“With immense emotion and processing, I’ve decided it is time to hang up the boots,” she said in her announcement on social media. “These past 6 months have been a dream come true. After pregnancy, I never knew if I had a chance to play the beautiful game again, let alone another World Cup.”Ertz, 31, rose to prominence at the 2015 World Cup, three years after captaining the U.S. under-20 team to an age-group World Cup title. She was a centerback at the start of her career, and she was Julie Johnston before the Mesa, Ariz., native married former Eagles star Zach Ertz in 2017.They would go on to make Philadelphia a home, even though Julie never played for a team here. She famously played a game for the U.S. the night the Eagles won the NFC championship in 2018, and broke down in tears when informed of the news after the final whistle.
By the 2019 World Cup, she had moved up to defensive midfield, where she became an all-time U.S. great. Her ferocious work ethic, snarling tackles, and big aerial presence on set pieces made her not just a written-in-ink starter, but just about irreplaceable. On a 2019 championship squad full of big-name stars, Ertz was as important as any of them.Though she never lost her tenacity, she lost a lot of the next quadrennial cycle. Ertz suffered a MCL tear in May 2021 and made it back just in time for the Olympics in August, but she wasn’t her full self. She didn’t play again for the rest of the year, for her club — the Chicago Red Stars — or country.The following April, she announced her pregnancy, and in August she gave birth to son Madden.
Julie Ertz brought the World Cup trophy off the plane when the U.S. women returned from France in 2019.YONG KIM / Staff Photographer
‘You chase greatness every day’
By the start of this year, it was getting to the point where a return to playing made sense. But when the NWSL season started, she wasn’t on a team. So it was a surprise when Ertz got called up to the U.S. squad for a pair of April friendlies, some 600 days since her last game.And it was even more notable when then-manager Vlatko Andonovski made it clear that Ertz’s return wasn’t just because the U.S. women’s team’s collective bargaining agreement mandated that players return post-pregnancy if they or the coaches wanted it.
Julie Ertz (right) goes in for a trademark tackle in the April game against the Republic of Ireland that marked her return to the U.S. national team.Eric Gay / AP
“If she comes anywhere near her best, that she will certainly help us win a World Cup,” he said. “If somebody’s 80 or 90% is still better than somebody else’s best, then too bad.”In mid-April, Ertz signed with Angel City FC. She played seven games for the club before heading to the World Cup — where Andonovski had another big move up his sleeve. Instead of playing her in midfield, he returned her to centerback. This upended not just players who weren’t on the team, but some who were.Yet while Andonovski flunked his test, Ertz passed hers with flying colors. She was one of the Americans’ best players in their four games, marshaling a defense that allowed just one goal. It wasn’t her fault that the attack failed to finish at the other end of the field.“Representing this country on the national team has been the greatest honor,” she said. “To play for the USWNT means you chase greatness every day while you wear the crest. I hope that I was able to leave an impact that reflects that.”
Julie Ertz (center) played seven games for Angel City FC.Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images
‘A truly beautiful game’
Ertz admitted after the Americans’ early elimination that her national career was likely over. She hadn’t returned to the field for Angel City when she announced her full retirement, and now she won’t. But she made it clear that the club was “a huge reason” why she was able to do what she did this year.“The support from the staff and players can’t be put into words to help me get back,” Ertz said. “I’m crushed to not be able to continue the push to [the] playoffs and that made this decision incredibly difficult. The logistics of not living in an NWSL market is challenging, and I know the sacrifices it takes to be the best you can be.”Once the short-term frustrations of this World Cup recede, Ertz’s legacy will be clear: one of the U.S. team’s all-time greats, a surefire Hall of Famer, a champion and off the field, and the latest in a lineage of athlete mothers.“As I have gotten older and become a mom, it’s clear the sacrifices of time away from my family no longer seem doable with so many factors at play,” she said. “These girls gave me a gift I could never repay and I got to live out a dream I wish for everyone: falling in love with a sport you have played your whole life and getting to share it with your son.”
Julie Ertz (center) with Naomi Girma and Alyssa Naeher during the U.S-Vietnam World Cup gamee.Andrew Cornaga / AP
She thanked the fans, and she knows there are a whole lot of them around here. Though Zach now plays for the Arizona Cardinals, the Ertzes still maintain a connection to Philadelphia through their vast and heartfelt charity work.
“To the fans, you have made this journey remarkable, life-changing and so fun,” she wrote. “When playing at the highest level you never truly think about retiring, and often that choice is forced upon you. However, it truly is a blessing to walk away from this game knowing l’ve given everything I possibly had to being the best player I could be. … Thank you for showing up, for buying our jerseys and making the atmosphere unbelievable.”
Ertz concluded by reflecting on the fleeting nature of life as an athlete. Age 31 is rather young to call it quits in soccer. But as she wrote, she has greater priorities in life now.
“It’s a sad thing to reflect and know the game just moves on without you,” she wrote. “The game doesn’t owe you anything but it has given me so much. What a truly beautiful game it is. I’m just grateful for the time we had.”
Julie Ertz signed lots of autographs for fans when the U.S. women played at Lincoln Financial Field in 2019, and set a team attendance record that still stands.STEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
2023 USL Championship Records Indy Eleven: 10W-9L-8D (5), 38 pts; 6th in Eastern Conference The Miami FC: 7W-11L-8D (-3) 29 pts; 10th in Eastern Conference
Community Health Network Sports Medicine Indy Eleven Injury Report OUT: Y. Oettl (ankle) SETTING THE SCENE The Boys in Blue stay at home looking to extend their five game unbeaten streak in a match-up against The Miami FC.The Eleven are coming off a 2-1 win vs Loudoun United FC and are 4-0-1 in their last five games. With a 10-9-8 record, Indy is sixth in the USLC Eastern Conference. Miami is 3-2-0 in its last five matches and is coming off a 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. MIA is 10th in the Eastern Conference at 7-11-8.
IND
MIA
27
Games
26
34
Goals
33
29
Goals Conceded
34
23
Assists
17
91
SOT
99
99
Shots Faced
111
9
Clean Sheets
6
SERIES VS. MIAMI Saturday marks the fourth meeting between the two teams, with the series even 1-1-1 in USL Championship action. This is the second match up of the 2023 season with the Boys in Blue taking the first meeting 1-0 on the road.
IND: 1-1-1 | GF 2, GA 2 50/50 CLUB Solomon Asante and Aodhan Quinn became the first two players in USL Championship history to reach both 50 regular season goals and 50 regular season assists. Asante (51G/53A) and Quinn (54G/50A) have combined for 104 goals/assists each, placing them in a tie for fourth on the USL Championship’s all-time list.
Quinn has 54 goals, and was the 24th player in USL Championship history to hit 50. He is one of only seven players to have a combined 100 career goals and assists with 54 goals and 50 assists, and is the second player to join the 50 goals/50 assists club.Quinn has recorded 25 penalty kick goals in 28 attempts in his career in the league, the most of any individual player on record in league history.
LAST TIME OUT IND 2:1 LDN AUGUST 26, 2023 After trailing early, Indy Eleven battled back for a 2-1 victory at home against Loudoun United FC.This win moves the Eleven to 10-9-8 extending their unbeaten streak to five games. Meanwhile, Loudoun’s record changes to 7-18-3.Starting quickly, Loudoun’s Tommy Williamson found the back of the net scoring in the match’s opening minute. Indy Eleven looked to answer back possessing most of the ball which created chances in their attacking third.Kicking off the second half, the Eleven fired back after an Aodhan Quinn penalty kick was slotted home to equalize the game at 1-1 in the 73rd minute. As a result of this penalty, Quinn adds to his USL career league lead with a 25th penalty kick goal. Not long later in the 81st minute, Solomon Asante assisted Sebastian Guenzatti who scored to give Indy Eleven the winner at 2-1. This goal moved Guenzatti to sole possession of eighth in career goals rankings for the USL Championship. Asante’s assist gives him 53 across his career. As the final whistle sounded, the Eleven led possession with 53.6% and had the shot advantage with 13 to Loudoun’s six.
USL Championship Regular Season Indy Eleven 2:1 Loudoun United FC Saturday, August 26, 2023 Carroll Stadium, Indianapolis
Scoring Summary LDN – Tommy Williamson (Cole Turner) 1’ IND – Aodhan Quinn (penalty) 73’ IND – Sebastian Guenzatti (Solomon Asante) 81’
Discipline Summary IND – Jake Blake (caution) 22’ IND – Solomon Asante (caution) 42’ LDN – Houssou Landry (caution) 45’ IND – Stefano Pinho (caution) 90+4’
Yunus Musah takes on Adrien Rabiot (Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Allegri loses his cool (Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images)
Reyna, left, continued his good form (Lars Baron/Getty Images)
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Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff WriterOct 18, 2023, 12:36 AM ET
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Gio Reyna went 45 minutes in a central position (Andrew Katsampes/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentOct 15, 2023, 07:11 AM ET
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Ryan O’Hanlon, ESPN.com writerOct 17, 2023, 08:09 AM ET
SAT Soccer trainers Sergio Perdoma (left) and Ethan Sonis (right) with Christian Pulisic. (SAT)
Pulisic takes a shot during a finishing drill in South Florida (SAT)
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Ream represented the U.S. at last year’s World Cup (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
AT&T Stadium is reportedly a candidate to host the final (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
SoFi Stadium’s status could be in jeopardy (Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium draws big crowds for Atlanta United and other soccer events (Alex Slitz/Getty Images for Premier League)
NRG Stadium hosting Manchester United (Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Seattle Sounders have called Lumen Field home since joining MLS (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Hard Rock Stadium has hosted many soccer events (Angel Martinez/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
“The Linc” hosted the Premier League Summer Series in 2023 (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images for Premier League)
Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Ca. (Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Gillette Stadium was built adjacent to old Foxboro Stadium (Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports)
Arrowhead last hosted international soccer in a 2015 Mexico vs. Paraguay friendly (Omar Vega/LatinContent via Getty Images)
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman (Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports)
A cameraperson at an OL Reign game in 2019 (Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ESPN’s deal for the WNBA comes in addition to a deal with Ion Network (David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)
Wolff on the sideline during a game between FC Dallas and Austin FC. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Manchester United have lost both their European games this season (Getty Images)
Mohammed bin Salman (far right) at the World Cup talking to FIFA president Gianni Infantino (Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images)
Saudi fans enjoy themselves at the World Cup (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Mohammed bin Salman (left) greets Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, ahead of the Arab League Summit in May (Bandar Aljaloud / Royal Court of Saudi Arabia / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The error message Saudi users receive when trying to log on to TOD
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of Paris Saint-Germain, is Qatari (Gualter Fatia – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/pmn/WXHKXMIDTRCLVN7WSJQBF6YZIM.jpg)
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Lindsey Horan held off tears when talking about teammate Julie Ertz. (Photo by Brad Smith/Getty Images).
Megan Rapinoe addressing the media at the 2019 World Cup. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Rapinoe celebrates after scoring at the 2021 Summer Olympics. (Photo by Jack Gruber/USA TODAY Sports)
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Lens’ head coach Franck Haise giving instructions this season (Francois Lo Presti/AFP via Getty Images)
Elye Wahi is presented to Lens fans earlier this season (Francois Lo Presti/AFP via Getty Images)
Ismael Saibari earlier this season (Maurice van Steen/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
Youssef En-Nesyri scores against Manchester City in the Super Cup (Photo: Milos Bicanski via Getty Images)
Martino and Messi embrace after winning Leagues Cup on August 19. (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)
Sancho has struggled to reproduce his Dortmund form for United (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Mac Allister has joined on a five-year deal (Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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Arena took over the U.S. in 1998. (JORGE SILVA/AFP via Getty Images)
Arena and Beckham at MLS Cup 2009 (Harry How/Getty Images)
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Germany were heavily defeated in Wolfsburg on Saturday (Photo: Getty Images)
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Jude Bellingham (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
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Lund, right, in action for new club Palermo (Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)
Wembley will host the 2023-24 Champions League final (Justin Tallis/Getty Images)
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Crocker started in his role full-time on Aug. 2 (Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
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Balogun takes in his new home (AS Monaco)
Monaco’s sparkling new training centre (Matt Slater/The Athletic)
Ben Yedder playing against RC Strasbourg earlier this month (Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
Balogun and Scuro pose for the cameras (Matt Slater/The Athletic)
Balogun’s stint on loan at Middlesbrough was part of his education (Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Balogun during Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the United States (Jose L Argueta/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
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The Ole BallCoach 